EST. 1936
Redbrick Friday 8th June 2012 | Volume 76 | Issue 1413 | redbrickpaper.co.uk
Interview with Apprentice winner Ricky Martin TV asked Ricky Martin how life has gone after winning The Apprentice, p.22
UoB courses under threat AT RI SK
The Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity
CANCE LLED
proposed reforms to the existing structure of the School. Redbrick was informed of the meeting after publishing an article on 16th March about a review of the course taking place. Items considered at the previous review included the direction in which research and teaching may be taken in order to maximise the reputation of the department on an international scale. In addition a review of the academic activity undertaken across the School also took place. Although Redbrick is unable to confirm the proposed reforms, it has been hinted that the changes may lead to job losses in line with a general downsizing within the department. Students voiced concerns at the meeting that due to the timing of the publication of the proposed reforms they would be unaware of the consequence of specific module tutors leaving until September, and therefore the
VPE arrested & suspended from the Guild and University
R E D W N U VIE RE The School of Nursing and Physiotherapy
effects on the modules themselves. At the meeting students sought reassurance of the effects that may ensue if these changes were to take place. The Head of the College of Arts and Law, Professor Michael Whitby, reassured students that he was dedicated to the continued and increasing quality within the courses. Following the meeting, one student questioned the extent to which these changes would benefit current cohorts. The student who did not wish to be named said, ‘One of the strengths of the Birmingham department is the variety of modules that you see. It’s simply not the case that with ten people you can offer the same variety of modules that you could offer with forty people, for example.’ Edd Bauer, Vice President of Education, offered his opinion, 'The cuts hurt the entire University.
It's doubly worrying in the context of wider society. For the last generation we haven't had a tiered education system.' He continued, 'They are handling [the cuts] badly with little thought for the lives of students and staff in the University. Combined with pay and pension cuts it is hurting front line services, even in those departments that have been untouched so far.' Guild President Mark Harrop said his comments represent the official Guild stance, 'The University often reviews courses and this isn't necessarily a bad thing if it's for the good of students. 'However, when the University decides to close courses and is not fully transparent about it then this leads to suspicion. We are obviously in a time of cuts to the Higher Education sector and we are now seeing the full extent of the Browne Review and changes made.'
September 2011
Daily Mail blogger brands Guild 'bigoted' 'Polar Bear' sabb officers cause disruption
The School of Education - the home of the ELLIE course
Redbrick investigates the course cuts and closures sweeping the University Students at the University of Birmingham have faced uncertainty over the future of their courses in the past academic year, culminating in the ‘Institute of Archeology and Antiquity’ (IAA) facing serious reviews. Redbrick has reported previously on the course ‘English Language and Literature in Education’ facing closure from 2013. Students also told Redbrick they felt that the consequences of the decision were already taking effect; as they tried to seek assistance from lecturers who were no longer available at the University. Redbrick also reported on the proposed changes to Nursing and Physiotherapy degrees following concerns voiced by students. The IAA is the third department to face uncertainties. The Head of the College of Arts and Law, as well as lecturers from the departments concerned, held a meeting on 6th June to discuss
The year in review
Students o c c u p y North Gate gatehouse
UoB takes out injunction
V O N C against President rejected
VPE and VPE-elect ejected from Bullring
Selly Oak burglaries rocket by 300%
President faces vote of no confidence
Reclaim the Guild launched
'Safe space' lost in Guild reorganisation
May 2012
See pages 4 and 5 for the sabbs' take on this past year.
2
redbrickpaper.co.uk
News Shorts
Redbrick Editorial Gaffer Glen Moutrie Editor Elect Raphael Sheridan Deputy Editors Victoria Bull James Phillips Owen Earwicker Lexie Wilson Digital Editor Chris Hutchinson Art Director Alexander Blanchard Multimedia Editors Rian Lennon Owen Earwicker multimedia@redbrickonline.co.uk Photography Editors Freddie Herzog Anna Kirk chiefphotographer@redbrickonline.co.uk News Editors Kerrina Gray Rhiannon DoyleMaw Patrick McGhee Freddie Herzog (Online) news@redbrickonline.co.uk C&F Editors Oscar French Elisha Owen James Dolton (Online) features@redbrickonline.co.uk Arts Editors James Kinsey Rebekah McDermott Anna Lumsden (Online) arts@redbrickonline.co.uk Music Editors Tamara Roper Jonathon Milnes Josh Holder (Online) music@redbrickonline.co.uk Television Editors Charlotte Lytton Russell Webb Charlotte Goodwin Abigail Salter (Online) tv@redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
8th June 2012
Film Editors Natasha Lavender Aisha Bushby Josh Taylor (Online) film@redbrickonline.co.uk
News Shorts compiled by Ryan Jones
MIDDLE EAST
SPACE
Safe splashdown SpaceX rocket
Food Editors Izzy Gibbin Josh Oxley (Online) food@redbrickonline.co.uk
Travel Editors Emily Booth Chloe Osborne Will Spence (Online) travel@redbrickonline.co.uk
AVIATION
Lagos plane crash kills all 150 passangers
Technology Editors Ruth Bradley Sam Atkins Andrew Spencer Dan Lesser (Online) technology@redbrickonline.co.uk
On Sunday afternoon a passenger plane crashed in a densely populated area of the Nigerian city of Lagos. The plane was carrying around 150 passengers and none of the passengers survived. Since the crash, the plane operator Dana Air has had its license suspended.
Sport Editors Sam Price Raphael Sheridan Joel Lamy (Online) sport@redbrickonline.co.uk
Senior Editorial Assistant Isabel Mason Editorial Assistants Ellie Jarvis Sarah Musgrove Ravina Khela Ellie Smallwood Junior Art Directors Lauren Wheatley Sophie Rogers Akhil Kothari Proofreader Nicola Barton
An investigation by the Syrian government into the Houla massacre has blamed rebel forces. Over 100 people were killed in the massacre, many of whom were children. The results of this Syrian investigation have been subject to widespread accusations of falsification.
The American SpaceX company's capsule landed safely in the ocean last week, near the California coast. The Dragon cargo capsule, the first privately operated vehicle, had successfully docked with the International Space Station before. The capsule was unmanned.
Life&Style Editors Lucy Whife Megan Nisbet Megan Jones (Online) lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk
Crossword Editors John Rizkallah Antonia Morris
Investigation into massacre condemned
for
TELEVISION
PROTEST
Ricky Martin wins BBC's The Apprentice
Protesters disrupt the Olympic torch relay
Ricky Martin has won the latest BBC series of The Apprentice. The recruitment manager from Portsmouth will now work with Sir Alan Sugar upon a business project – furthered by a £250,000 investment from Sugar. He beat former Aston University student Nick Holzherr (see p22 for winner's interview).
On Monday in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, the relay route was disrupted by protests from dissident republicans. This was the first incident so far in the torch relay, and one man has since been arrested. The torch was forced to divert from its planned route.
Community Manager Sophie MurrayMorris
CRIME
International manhunt ends in arrest in Berlin Luka Rocco Magnotta, the 29-yearold Canadian wanted on suspicion of murder, has been arrested in Berlin. The arrest follows an extensive international manhunt for Magnotta, who is wanted for killing his lover Jun Lin and sending her body parts to Canadian political parties.
Designed and typeset by Redbrick. Copyright (C) Redbrick 2012 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. Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TU 0121 251 2462 editor@redbrickonline.co.uk Redbrick is printed through www.quotemeprint.com: 300667.
SPACE
Venus viewed as it crosses the sun's surface 08451
Advertising: Contact Lakhvinder Sira in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524
Venus was visible on Tuesday night as it moved across the face of the Sun. This was an extremely rare astronomical event; and such an occurrence will not be seen again until approximately 2117. People across the world were able to witness the historic sight.
STORY OF THE WEEK ROYALTY
Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee with four day bank holiday The Queen celebrated sixty years on the throne with four days of celebration including two bank holidays. Highlights included a Thames River Pageant with 1,000 boats and a jubilee concert organised by Gary Barlow.
News 3
8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
Women under-represented James Phillips Deputy Editor
A Redbrick investigation has revealed the disparity in numbers between male and female sabbatical officers across 24 leading universities. Following this year’s Guild Officer elections, it was confirmed that for the third year in succession the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students will only have one female sabbatical officer on the team of seven. Across all universities the trend is not as severe but 61.11% of current sabbatical officers are male as opposed to just 38.89% who are females. This includes a 100% male sabbatical officer team at the University of York. This does not represent the majority of student bodies as there are more female students than males at 20 of the 24 universities investigated. At the University of Birmingham, 55.1% of students are female, making even more surprising the fact that there is only one female on the sabbatical team once again. King’s College London has the
highest proportion of female students (62.44%) and this is reflected in the sabbatical team ,where three of the four incumbents are female. Similarly, the university with the highest proportion of males (63.74%), the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, has four males and only one female sabb. Only six of the 24 universities have more female sabbs than males - these being the University of Cambridge, King’s College London, the University of Leeds, the University of Manchester, the University of Newcastle-upon-tyne and the University of Nottingham. This year only seven of the 25 candidates who ran for sabbatical positions were female. Current Vice President for Activities and Development Fliss Cross, the only female on this year’s team, said, 'Many female friends have expressed Guild politics as a reason for not running in elections. The hostile nature of Guild Council needs to be looked at to engage more women, which often leads onto students running in the Officer elections ’.
Tomorrow Glen Moutrie Editor
The representation of female sabbatical officers to female students at a selection of UK universities. Full data at www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Library hours face student criticism Zahra Damji Reporter
Students were forced to sit on the floor in the Learning Centre after the Main Library finished its trial twenty four hour period as the exam period began. The Main Library doors were open to revising students around the clock for a two week trial period earlier this term after feedback received from students in past years. Amanda Moorghen, a second year philosophy student said, ‘It was nice and quiet. Shame they stopped it when exams started.’ However, since the Main Library’s 24/7 trial only stretched into the first week of the exam period, for the remainder of this
Main Library
time, most students were left with only the Learning Centre where they could stay to revise after 12am on weekdays and until 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Because of the increased demand for the Learning Centre during the Main Library’s closed times, there have been several complaints about a lack of work spaces available and the rooms being crammed above capacity, with students opting to sit on the floor and on window sills. The problem was exacerbated because some of the rooms were closed off to be set up for exam use and staff training. One student posted on a Better Guild Forum discussion, ‘I ended up sitting on the floor with an exam the next
Freddie Herzog
day, which is quite frankly absurd at an institution such as ours. It was not a working environment in any way.’ Guild President Mark Harrop said, ’I did receive complaints regarding the Learning Centre and rooms being booked out and not used. There is currently on-going work to look into this issue, because ‘training days’ for staff in these rooms during student exam time is unacceptable. I am currently speaking to the University regarding this and hope to have something sorted ASAP. It will also be something for the PresidentElect to keep an eye on which we will cover during handover.’ One student who didn’t want to be named said, ‘I liked the idea of not having to worry about what time the Library closed on each day so that my work flow isn’t interrupted and I can revise at my own times. I hate losing a train of thought because the library is about to close and I have to move myself!’ Mark Harrop continued that the University was looking into reviving the extended opening next year, ‘The feedback I have received about the extended Library open-
ing hours have been massively positive. This gives us a strong case to have the library open for the entire exam period next year - as this was only a trial. I am currently discussing this with the library, who have shown support for it, as well as academic services which ultimately decides.’ There are other twenty four hour study spaces across campus including in the newly refurbished Medical School and the Frankland building. However these spaces are only open to the relevant Medical and Psychology students.
Learning Centre Freddie Herzog
Sexual assault on Pritchatt's Road Rhian Lubin Reporter
A student was sexually attacked on Friday 18th May on Pritchatt’s Road at around midnight. The 19 year old female student was on her way back to halls of residence, Pritchatt’s Park, after a fundraising event at the Guild of Students. The man began asking the woman a series of questions before walking away, however as the woman continued along Pritchatt’s Road she was grabbed from behind, forced to the ground and subjected to sexual attack. A taxi pulled up during the attack, at which point the woman used the opportunity to flee from
Police efit of suspect
her attacker, who did pursue her. A group of young men were walking along the other side of the road and scared her attacker away. A flatmate called the police when she returned to halls of residence. A statement on the Birmingham South Police website describes the woman’s attacker to be white, slim, 5’9” height with darkblonde hair. Birmingham South Police Department have released an efit (Electronic Facial Identification Technique) of the man in an attempt to appeal to any witnesses who may recognise him. Detective Inspector Darren Lee, from the force’s Public Protection department, said that ‘I hope that the efit picture will trigger the
memory of a possible witness, or someone may recognise the image as someone they saw acting suspiciously in the area.’ His statement also said ‘This was a horrific ordeal for the young woman and we are doing everything we can to find the man responsible.’ Police are working with the University to help the victim of the attack and to catch the man responsible. The police have been patrolling the area to reassure any students who have been worried by the attack. Anyone with information should contact the Birmingham Public Protection Department at Ladywood police station on 101.
A year for a 76 year old paper is a very short time, and even shorter still for a University that was established 112 years ago. Editors, members of Redbrick, and undergraduates of the University are ultimately small parts of the institution’s history. Yet this short period of time can be of great importance to the individual graduate, potentially impacting the rest of their life. The transience of undergraduates, society members and sabbatical officers for me is what makes the university experience special. Yet in a few years' time I doubt that many of the current graduates will be remembered, especially as most students only have an institutional memory of three years. This year we have expanded our website, changed the way we approach journalism, taking the first steps towards becoming a digital-first publication; proving what we could achieve through our coverage of live events such as the Birmingham Riots and Guild Council. For the first time Redbrick also won a Guardian Media award for the category Website of the Year. Whilst I hope these practices continue and that the award is remembered, I doubt it will be remembered that it was in this year that it had been achieved. Nor should it be. Redbrick is a continuing effort as it is at every society; so these successes have grown from the work of previous years as it has from this year. Whilst we shall be quickly forgotten, there will be new younger individuals who will have a fresh perspective, eager to learn with a fearless ability to try new things. So as I leave university and Redbrick, I do so excited for what will be done next year. I have been lucky enough to see some of the new things that the 2012-13 committee intend to try to implement next year. Within this edition you should have a taste as for what is to come. They have approached Redbrick with a fresh perspective without straying from the focus of practising good journalism. There will be some things that will not work, but what is important is that they never become scared of failure. I have every faith that they will achieve great things. The transience of sabbatical teams should also mean that as they start out, they should do so with the same fearlessness. This year has seen numerous blunders from the mundane to the serious, from 'admin errors' to bickering over emails in which we were CC’d. It is sad to say that some cases have overshadowed the sabbatical officers’ achievements. There is no reason why next year’s team cannot, or should not seek to do better; I wish them the best of luck. This said there are many people who have worked tremendously hard within the Guild with little recognition to keep societies like Redbrick working, many of whom could not be mentioned in print. On behalf of Redbrick, thank you. In my first editorial, I said that innovation is key for Redbrick, and I still believe that this is the case, and will be for a long time to come. Technology is still changing the fundamentals of how news is reported, and so the industry will have to innovate for many years to come. I look forward to see how tomorrow’s Redbrick will do this.
4 News
8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
The Sabbatical year
This week Redbrick interviewed all of the outgoing sabbatical officers as their tenures draw to a close, focussing on whether they achieved their initial manifesto policies. The seven officers, who were elected by the student body in March last year, have all taken a year out to work at the Guild full time as part of the wider team of Guild officers. This is made up of 18 officers in total, the seven sabbatical officers and a further eleven officers who work in various other non-sabbatical roles. Check online at www. redbrickpaper.co.uk for what the sabbs think their biggest achievement has been, what they'd do differently if they had their time again, and what the future holds for them after University, as well as their full answers.
Redbrick
Have POLthe Better Guild ICY 1 :'Love Forums been conyour library - better ducive or detrimental to hours, better power' Guild politics? I make no secret Yes – 300 more sockets in that I think they are vile, inward-lookthe library and a 24 hour trial ing and off-putting to students wanting period which I hope to secure to get involved. If I could delete them I for the next exam period in the would. I think students should come to the next academic year. I did this by real forums and speak to officers face-to- doing my research and lobbying face rather than being keyboard the University as to why it was warriors. Having said that they important and how it can have real potential for positive help students in their change if people stick to the academic needs. mantra of ‘Better Guild’ POLICY and not ‘bash the sabbs/ 2: 'Loyalty card Mark & Hugo’. for Joe's Bar' Yes and Have did so on the 4th day internal of taking office. We did divisions been our research, we linked detrimental to the it with the strategic plan, sabb team this year? spoke to departments, got There are no massive it ordered, got it marketdivisions in the sabb ing, ran it, reviewed it and team. We have 6 officers now we move into year 2 who look out for each of it being a smart card. other like family and Saving students £39k one other who, from in the first two terms the beginning, didn’t Responsible for the – I am very proud want to be part of overall leadership of that. that team. and governance of the POLICY What Guild, organising and 3: 'Let your have you motivating the officer Guild work for team and upholdmost enyou' Yes and no. joyed about ing the interests of This was always a very students. the role? I like open-ended question it when I see the and we won't really know until positive effect of something I we get the market research rehave done or helped with. I also sults from what students tell us love that I am part of such a but from preliminary results historic union. However the it seems that students are highlight has to be workmore aware of officers ing with the sabbs and so that is a massive staff, I love them! win!
Mark Harrop
President
POLICY 1: 'Fight departHave ment cuts and course the Better closures' Who can say? Have the Guild Forums been actions taken by the student moveconducive or detrimenment on campus this year influenced the tal to Guild politics? I was University management's mindset? Are they instrumental in pressuring for the more afraid of student resistance to cuts now forums to get set up so I’m going to than they were a year ago? Yes, definitely they defend them. People say that they put are more afraid; we can see this from things like people off the Guild because of the con- the protest ban. However are they cutting less tent, yet they have grown all year and because they are afraid of the consefar more people than ever know about quences of doing too much at once? Guild politics and how it works. We may never know, however, What is putting people off is not the certainly if you look at the pattern forums but some of the content; this of the cuts and the low research is not a product of the forums but of intensity courses that they are people. We need to return to large trying to get rid of, they could regular meetings in person. If we be cutting faster. don’t we will continue with POLIthe development of polarCY 2: 'Protect ized cliques battling each contact hours' Every other for majority job cut proposed I have control. fought for the strongest objection possible to keep Have lecturers in work teaching internal divistudents. From the Educasions been detrition Department to Biologimental to the sabb cal Recording I’ve tried to team this year? Certain Works to improve throw every spanner in sabbatical officers left me the quality of educa- the works that I possibly with an unfortunate choice could. this year; they decided to use a tion at the University. Includes representsimple majority on SOG to get POLwhat they wanted and attempted ing the interests of ICY 3: 'Emto marginalise me. I was left with students at important power student the choice of either speaking out University meetings reps' I have done my in public or being left as a 'Nick including the Senate, best democratising the Clegg-esque' figure, an unhappy, education committee system making Senate very junior member of a coali- and also communicatreps elected rather than tion. Neither option is ideal; ing with student reps. simply appointed by the nobody likes a critical voice. VP Education, creating the However I feel vindicated in my decision, now massive departmental as clearly deciding to not go down the associations to improve What 'Clegg' route has led to a stronger communication. have you movement and a better chance most enjoyed of change in the long about the role? run.
Edd Bauer VPE
I haven't.
POLICY 1: 'Driving down crime and litter' We Have ran a crime campaign back in the Better October for only the second time Guild Forums ever which aimed to raise awareness been conducive to those moving into the community or detrimental to about the risks of crime. Burglary has Guild politics? You sadly increased on last year but is down mean the Facebook compared to previous years (last year was forums? HA! What an extreme record low after the first crime a waste of the campaign). I have also lobbied to achieve internet… the implementation of wheelie bins Have inin Bournbrook come Septemternal divisions ber (pending confirmabeen detrimental tion of some funding to the sabb team this arrangements). year? I’ve found that I’ve got POLICY on amazingly with the sabbati2: 'Steering accal officer team this year and I’m commodation in the grateful to have been able to right direction' Yes, I have work with such tremendous worked with the Univerpeople. Unfortunately, a sity to secure a real-term fellow Vice-President who decrease in hall fees this year I struggle to consider to be which is a promising step at a part of the team that I work time when the national trend is with has been pretty obquite the opposite. I have also structive and I think this is taken steps to improve value for reflected by his distinct lack money for students in halls by of achievement over the securing WiFi implementation past year. The rest of us, across all accommodation by Responsible for we’ve disagreed, yes, but September following a Guild improving and achieved a lot and I’m Council mandate and have proud to have been supporting student begun to look at ways for accommodation, as a part of it! all residents to get better well as liasing with value from their ResiWhat the RA. Also works to dents’ Associations. have you encourage community POLICY most enjoyed volunteering and to 3: 'Putting the about the role? The support the Commupeople. The staff that I nity Warden scheme to brakes on the rush for houses in January' work with at the Univerreduce crime. Yes I have, and I’ve gone sity and Guild are simply beyond this promise! Admitunbelievable; the students that I work tedly the rush is still a problem but with are (mostly) absolutely incredible and the other officers (well, 5 of them) are the support has been better than ever some of the most incredible people I’ve before. My Zuki Says RELAX campaign engaged over 2,000 first year students ever met. I feel truly honoured to have through videos, presentations and worked with people who care so much handbooks providing information about improving life for students on and tips on house-hunting on an this campus and I would like to unprecedented scale. I have also thank everyone who’s been launched the first ever ‘Movpart of it. ing In’ campaign this week.
Zuki Majuqwana VPHC
News 5
8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
Have Have POLICY POLICY internal diviinternal divisions 1: 'Cheaper 1: 'Online platsions been detribeen detrimental to the drinks on campus' form for groups to intermental to the sabb sabb team this year? Every Drinks in Joe's Bar are now act and get online resources' team this year? I think the sabbatical team will have internal dicheaper thanks to the Joes+ loyalty This year the Guild has been fortunate term 'divisions' is very misvisions between them. It is a guarantee card. The card continues to develop, with enough to be one of four development leading; 6 out of the 7 Sabbati- the most recent upgrade giving us data capwith seven people having very different partners with the NUS as part of their digital cal Officers have been very close ture technology, allowing us to know who's viewpoints about the direction of the Guild scheme. This has involved building a custom and together have achieved and with the various, often conflicting, made web platform that is specifically created just using Joe's, what they're buying and when. a lot for students here at remits they represent. The difference in our for student unions. I have been to many meetings This way we'll be better able to tailor offers to Birmingham, by working year is that many of these disagreements a wider demographic of students. Additionally with a particular focus on the benefits to student together as a team and have been made public. What students if you compare Joes+ prices to the rest of groups. Online membership remains a priornot individuals. look for from their sabbatical team Selly Oak, lager, VK, snakebite and soft ity this September and down the line I'm Have is strong leadership and a clear drinks such as coke and lemonade are hoping a forum 'add on' module will be crethe Better united direction. This is unall cheaper in Joe's. ated to increase interaction. We have made Guild Forums dermined by public dischanges to the layout of the website and I POLbeen conducive or agreements. have created 'miniforum' groups. ICY 2: 'Fight for detrimental to Guild POLHave lower tuition fees' The politics? The Online 'BetICY 2: 'Enhance the Better tuition fee debate seems to be ter Guild Forum' is in development between Guild Forums largely over, with accommotheory a very good idea. student activities and the been conducive or dation and hidden course costs Unfortunately the negajob market' I have been workdetrimental to Guild being the real battle ground for tive atmosphere cultivated ing very closely with the Careers politics? The Better Stustudents. One way the Guild can in the forum is very offCentre and have set up monthly dent Group Forum which I help is to ensure that the serputting for a lot of students meetings with them. Many student administrate works very well vices we offer are of the best value and reduces participation group members' future careers are for promoting society activity possible to students, and that and consequently the effecinfluenced by their society activity and is used regularly to discuss we're lobbying the University to tiveness of them. For them so we are working to promote work society issues. The problem come clean over the real cost of to work how they should, experience opportunities to relevant I have with the Better Guild Higher Education, something Responsible for Oversees finances it's going to take a culture societies. Also, we are exploring ways Forum is the language and tone the entire team has been supporting student and democracy of the change from all students to assist student group members to that is used to discuss matters. I proactive in this year. groups and tasked Guild, ensuring that in there. Additionally realise how their society involvethink these discussions are very POLwith representing money spent benthe factual accuracy of important to be had but the man- student committees ment can improve their employICY 3: 'Better efits students. Also a lot of comments in ability. I have also worked with ner on which they are conducted and ensuring faciliGuild media' In there is question- responsible for com- January we changed the the PSA to develop a postputs people off from engaging in ties are available for municating the Guild's able at best! graduate pathway to be the conversations. This makes their activities. Also message to the wider Guild website to improve What piloted next year. the forum less representative navigation and embed social liaises with groups student body and have you most as many students have told me to enhance personal POLmedia streams. Additionally supporting student enjoyed about the this year that they are afraid ICY 3: 'Improve from September 2012 the Guild development. entertainment. role? The Guild really is to voice their opinion online marketing of student will have a brand new website, a student led organisation, in that environment. groups on campus, in halls and thanks to NUS Digital, a multiand being given the chance to lead What around the Guild' This year I launched million pound scheme which we have been a dea 28,000 member, multi-million velopment partner in and will consequently be one have you most the first ever 'society awareness week' in paralpound organisation is an incredible of the first student unions to move over to the new enjoyed about the lel with Interfaith Week to create a spotlight opportunity for somebody who has platform. Additionally, our social media presence role? Going along to society on our religious and faith forum. This featured only just graduated. With the influ- has been much more visible this year, with each events has been fantastic as it information about our 16 faith and religious societence you are able to have, you have always reminds me about the posiies as well as a timetable of events and activity Officer having their own Facebook and Twita unique chance to change things tive work groups are doing for their taking place over a two week period. I have also ter profile and keeping students up to date for the better and improve the members. The celebration of their been working on a media strategy for all of our with weekly Vlogs. Moreover, the ground lives of all students studyhard work at Guild Awards was media groups and looking at how they can be floor of the Guild has been subject to a ing here at Birmingprobably the highlight of instrumental in raising the profile of our new 'wayfinding' project, raising the ham. my year. other student groups. This should profile of the Officer Team and hopefully be finished before I other projects the Guild Have leave in July. does. internal diviHave sions been detrimental POLICY internal divisions POLICY to the sabb team this year? 1: 'Better promobeen detrimental to the 1: 'Student wellInternal divisions haven't been too tion of matches' The main sabb team this year? I believe being, finance support, much of a problem this year. Most aspect of this manifesto point was 6 of the 7 team members have mental health and sexual of the team have a great work ethic worked well together, and achieved a to hold more big sporting events for and even though I have had differ- awareness' I picked three main students to come down and enjoy, like lot this year. The apparent divide is areas of wellbeing; mental health, ing opinions than other officers Xplosion. Despite pressing for not ideal, but the rest of us have finance and sexual awareness. on one issue or another we this, for a variety of reasons this knuckled down and done our Mental health got covered during have worked well to get wasn't viable this year. However best for our constituMind Awareness Days and part of the best result. throughout the year I have been ents. Have the Welfare Wednesdays campaign. working with UBSport staff and Have the Better Guild This saw multiple events and boards club committee members to refine the Better Forums been conducive across campus challenging stigma the Big Events scheme for next Guild Forums been or detrimental to Guild around mental health. I stated that I year. Clubs will be able to apconducive or detripolitics? Better Guild Forums wanted to bring back Shag Week in ply to hold a Big Event, and mental to Guild politics? have been one of the most time my manifesto which is something the best 6 of these will also Whilst sometimes the forums consuming, waste of spaces this I haven't done this year. Sexual be live streamed on the do bring up important issues, year. These forums have been used health is an important issue but internet thanks to Unmany real student issues are by trolls to have fun and attack also a message that is hard to iSport Online, which missed and the atmosphere of people on issues they hold little or communicate . With finance I will give further the forum puts many people no interest in. Officers have little have worked with the University coverage. off contributing. I believe an time in the week to go on Facebook to push the messages of grants POLIonline alternative should anyway and students have tagged available around campus and CY 2: 'Tourbe sought. officers within hours due to lack been looking at the packages naments held Responsible for Works to support they will be offering for new of response, being an annoyance What for students, raising representing student for both parties. In their current students experiencing students. have you money for charity' Yes, interests in sport and usage, I would delete the online difficulties by making POLICY most enjoyed although only one tournahelping to lead Uni- ment – not as many as I would forums and encourage people help available on cam- 2: 'Student enabout the role? I versity sport clubs and have hoped at the start of the to come to the forums held pus. Also responsible gagement', includhave enjoyed most getting societies. Also tasked year. The work was by no means for protecting and im- ing services explained, in the Guild. out and about on Wedneswith widening parproving student rights, review services and indays and weekends and supdone alone; I worked with the What as well as supporting ternational students' A lot porting our sports clubs. I have ticipation, maintaining Dodgeball Society and Carnival have you most equal opportunity and lifestyle changes to of this section of my manifesto managed to get to most clubs RAG to host a Dodgeball tournaenjoyed about the enhance student well- has been covered by 'Welfare this year, and my apologies that improving the quality ment at the Munrow in autumn. role? The best part of this being. Wednesdays', which engaged I haven't got round to all. Equally of University sport. We had 20 teams (120 students) job is the people you work over 2000 students across the pleasing is seeing clubs grow and participate and raised over £500 with; not only do we have great POLfirst two terms. These covered issues around healthy develop – being at Dodgeball socifor charity. The blueprint is now staff in the Guild who work hard ICY 3: 'Two living, alcohol, personal safety, finance, housing and ety's first ever session where they there for this to be a recurring every day but also we have great sports fairs' had over 200 people attend in students. In this job I have managed the benefits of getting involved with societies and Yes, we had the 'Get event. Unfortunately plans for volunteering. The second main section of this is the September was amazing! I have Involved' Sports & Rec- further tournaments didn't to engage, meet and work with a reviews of services I have been undertaken. I have also particularly enjoyed holding reation Fair in January, quite hit off, but I have been vaster range of students than I did reviewed the Mental Health Advisory Service, Sports Forums and Mini-Fo- with over 700 students at- supporting the RAs in the in my time as a student. It has also Disability and Learning Support Service and rums – we changed around tending and many people organising of their Sumgiven me the opportunity to try the Advice and Representation Centre the structure this year and mer Sports Festival things I have always wanted to signing up to clubs and (ARC) as part of this and worked with it has been a real sucfor post-exbut never got round to, like classes. This is now the group setting up the Bircess with brilliant ams. skydiving and ballroom planned to be an mingham Foundation engagement. dancing. annual event. Academy.
Fliss Cross
Hugo Sumner
VPAD
VPDR
Tim Smith
Luke Reynolds
VPS
VPW
6 redbrickpaper.co.uk
8th June 2012
Comment & Features Feature
PASTBRICKS: Take a trip into the past as Redbrick explores its varied and colourful archived history. Compiled by Oscar French, Elisha Owen, James Dolton, James Phillips and Raphael Sheridan.
1946
Redbrick's New
Years' resolu
tions
1983
Art Lover: To speak in my no rmal voice when making observances on Art Guild Coun cil: Not to am end the consti tution again. -
Bluebrick:
A rival Tory paper set up after Redbrick is accused of being too left wing.
Slacker: To do something occasionally to justify my exis tence. English Stu dent: Remem ber, even subjects like Econo mics may be co nsidered branches of le arning. Medicals: To go up and danc e at a hop before reachi ng the bar sm ashing-up stage.
1981
Killer Chip on the Run!
1965 How times change.
Redbrick's Regressive Pdeabastte on women, in the union,
tured an advert for a 1938 February 24th fea Is The Home’ with the motion ‘Women’s Place men’ with ‘Cookery Notes’, ‘How to Hold your March 17th saw the ‘Page for Wo er coat.' Man’ and ‘Making your new swagg for a ‘Beefy n's Sports editor, Redbrick asked me Wo w ne a for ing tis ver Ad 1941 young woman.’
Daniel Stapeley -
Redbrick's Worst Misogynist To Women's Lib - 'For god's sake, men find women sexually exciting - get over it!'
k bric Red o see e h d t rday t ssistere I ence yeste lled a psed Offi disheve r colla cigao f a edit pile o overtant een a nd an s. In betwe ends aer-glas front rett ed be iter in ce of turntypewr s a pie e folthe im wa ing th of her bear ds... pap ing wor o and low s to d oney y a s h es d no m rant g t wit Wha rick, anis term's g viob n h i d l t t e re ut of abou th fe left o what wi worried g able n and y ill and not bei d the lentl ird and night an d my the bleep at o bits an er my to s falling t ut all ov , and car falling o pullover ff my hair et and falling o y very jack clothes k and m aking the king bac g and fl bills crea crackin ith gas ent to skin what wonths' r tch up and three ming to ca issed and and hav eks of m I am pay even we classes g exon s ures and g... doin next letct emplatinme thing cont the sa actly . term
Redbrick's front page critiques the Vice Chancellor.
Editors coined this rather humourous headline after student Michael Tomlinsons ate a chip with serated edges
The 1970s was a particularly distasteful era for Redbrick, particularly during the editorial reign of...
2 7 9 1
1972 Redbreast
The women's section, edited by the only female on the editorial team in this academic year, Barbara Slomnicha.
Fron
t Pag
Clim b the g ing a stai rway irl yo u the u t niver 've all se o success e sity l ibrar n handin is Martin g out a y the b Kelly, ooks in
e Mo
del
Redbrick Staff: "Around...
Caroline Harmer and Kate McDermio" official position of the only two women on team
Comment & Features 7
8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
Goodbye from ...
1997
Caroline Mortimer
s e t o u Q s Priceles
'Cabbies clobber clubbers'
– 1981, 'To produce Redbrick weekly would be an impossible task for a volunteer staff'
Three students beaten up by 15 cabbies: Students rowdy in back after coming home from Pulse (an old nightclub in Birmingham); cabbie wouldn't let them out, locked the doors, U-turned out of Dawlish Road onto Bristol road, then started driving wildly, braking hard etc., and throwing the students around. Wound down window and encouraged other cabbies to follow them. Found some abandoned wasteland behind Dome nightclub and beat them up. Students memorised the number plate, cabbie company can't be named for legal reasons; one charged for assault.
1936
Vol.1 N o. 13 on an EM ERGEN 10th June 193 6 was CY ED of cens ITION ur , 'Vote The en e moved on G tir uil nounce e Guild Execu d Council'. d their tive an resigna tion.
– 1937, Overheard on Campus: 'all my motives are ulterior,' and 'yes, come to house play but bring some trousers' – 1938, Egyptian Society Advert: 'Buy a ticket off any egyptian' – 1962, 'The wedding took place on Mon, 15th Jan of Vivienne Stodard to John (God's gift to women) Guiness. '
1997
Gay Lib eration objecti ves
'Being ag lonely, ay can be it unlikel is extremely y that t he know a ny othe y will r gay person in sity, pe the univerrh not eve aps they are n awar e they are any .'
n
twee Oak' be y l l e S for nts. 'Battle d stude n a s t n reside
tside u o k r pa se... 'Don't u o h g kin my f** **king rf it's you ' m. proble
1972 A student's diary entry
'Drove Bentley into University, splashed Selly Oak's unemployed with mud as I drove past them. They hurled stones and abuse . Note to self – splash them again on the way home.'
First Front Page
Redbrick's First Crossword Editor
Redbrick has been pretty good to me over the past three years. As an eighteen year old girl, fresh out of school and in a strange city with no friends I really only joined Redbrick so I'd have someone to talk to. Then I realised that I was really, really good at talking and decided I may try writing some of it down seriously. Of course, the quality of what I have written is debatable but the encouragement I've received for it is not. I haven't always had an easy time during my time at university and as the people who I spend a lot time with they have sometimes bore the brunt of it but they still never gave up on me and for that I will always be grateful. They say your friends are the family you choose. Redbrick is a group full of differences, oddities and absurdities. However, had I had the choice, there is no way on earth I could have chosen better.
Rachel Moriarty In general, goodbyes make me feel very uncomfortable and sad, so I usually just disappear without saying goodbye to whomever or whatever it might be that I am leaving, which does not always go down very well. However, to break from this somewhat unhealthy tradition I thought I would say a short farewell to Redbrick and the university. Short-lived though my time with Comment and Features has been, the experience has only made me wish that it had been longer. Despite joining late I always felt welcome, valued, and free to write about and discuss topics that interest me. Leaving a place where you are free to endlessly explore your interests and try new things in favour of the 'real world' is not an easy step to take, but I would like to think that I made the most of my time here, and advise others to do the same.
Andy Peck I'm terrible at goodbyes, especially to huge, venerable institutions such as yourself, but you've been such a large and happy part of my university career, it'd be rude to leave without saying anything. For three years you've been a staple of my Tuesday afternoons; giving me reason to think deeply about current affairs, to follow up the fascinating facts that can be picked up in idle conversation, as well as given me the opportunity to meet with dedicated, friendly, fairly like-minded individuals, to discuss and clash over politics, philosophy, religion, student life, international relations and the dire need for a gold standard. More than a paper, you're a way of thinking, a way of life and as we go our separate ways, I thank you for memories, the good times, and for the chance to create food for thought on the one hand and sighs of exasperation on the other.
8 Comment & Features
8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Campus
written by J. Dolton
News Views James Dolton Elisha Owen Owen Earwicker Samuel Lear Freddie Herzog
in
Chaos
Some would say there have been some fairly spectacular cock ups at the Guild and University in the last nine months, the highlight of which was the suspension of an elected official for three months. Perhaps worse was their thinly veiled attempt to dissuade anyone who attended the amusingly confusing “protest against the protest ban” into future inaction and passivity by sending aggressive and ambiguously worded letters requesting their full co-operation with an “investigation” into the events of the protest. However the ultimate winner must be spending a preposterous fifteen thousand pounds taking out a high court injunction to ban “occupations” on campus. Think what could have been got with fifteen thousand pounds... Computers for a new suite? Half of a sacked academic’s annual salary? Seven and a half thousand pints in Joes? (As long as you have a Joes Card)Even the honour of 1/28th of David Eastwood for a year? More malevolent than this vast spend however is the vague wording the definition of such “occupations.''. The delicious irony of the University now having this power to crush all protests when their own union building’s rooms are largely named after famous protestors and political activists was a joke that didn’t need writing, which made it something of a shame that users of the short-lived “University of Birmingham Memes” Facebook page kept writing it. Moving onwards and debatably upwards, the Sabbatical Officer team. To say that they have been totally hamstrung by engaging in petty squabbling all year is unfair. The VPHC’s excellent work on his “Zuki Says Relax” campaign in relation to student housing is to be credited, whilst El Presidente Mark Harrop succeeding in vastly increasing the number of plug sockets in the main library (albeit at the expense of having to sit alongside smug little notices pointing out how many more plug sockets there are now if you want to actually use one) and dragging through a 24 hour library trial. VPAD Fliss Cross worked tirelessly for student groups and VPS Tim Smith for UoB Sport, especially key this year with our prevalence in Olympic preparation. VPDR ran a successful if stressful two week election period, whilst VPW Luke Reynolds rescued many a distressed Fab goer with free condoms. Even everyone’s favourite target of controversy Edd Bauer, though limited by being suspended for almost half the year, still attended and organised some key protests against the Coalition, austerity cuts and fee increases which (whatever your opinion on his politics or methods) was what he set out to do in the manifesto he was elected on. However, it isfair to say that they have beenguilty of engaging in trivial dispute on occasions this year. Snide messages on public Facebook pages, pointed out blocking and starring of one another’s motions and open infighting in Guild Council as well as a general lack of camaraderie or even public appearances together made for a rather frosty atmosphere. By the end of the year, Bauer sat so far from his fellow Sabbs in Guild Council that he any more sessions would require an extension of the Chambers for him to be present. Petty squabbling is indeed a theme of this year continued through the frankly terrifying “Better Guild Forum” on Facebook became a den of bickering and fighting across and throughout factions, as well as being home at various points to casual misogyny, humiliatingly outdated attitudes and some atrocious grammar and spelling errors. The year ended with the University continuing its now traditional annual slump down the league tables, this year falling six places to thirtieth in the UK on the Guardian list and three places to one hundred and forty eighth in the Times World University Rankings. Welcome to the University of Birmingham.
Sport Ukraine’s president has this week attempted to downplay fears of racism at Euro 2012. This came after a BBC panorama documentary showed examples of racist abuse, an attack on a gang of Asian supporters by fans of the same team and flagrant neo-Nazi chanting and support. President Viktor Yanukovych declared that hooligans were 'known to the authorities' and 'security services will be watching the matches closely.' However, even if the championships pass without incident, the question must be asked that if these hooligans are known, and the security services to control them exist, why is such behaviour tolerated and allowed to pass unpunished
Jubilee Close Protection UK, a security firm that will be involved with the Olympics, has been accused of 'developing labour camps', after using unpaid stewards during the weekend Diamond Jubilee celebrations. As well as working 14hour shifts, they were asked to sleep rough under London Bridge, given n o access to toilets for 24 hours and made to change into their work outfits in public. Whilst the company's director has been quick to sweep over such an appalling mistake, this is yet another incident that questions the suitability of using private contractors instead of trained police officers. This blatant disregard for the care of workers will not be as easily hidden in the summer event that will put the UK in the world's spotlight.
8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
Comment & Features 9
COMMENT CARTOON Illustrated by Elin Stone
MARK HARROP
EDD BAUER
Check out redbrickpaper.co.uk this summer for more comment, debate, and exclusive content.
Patriotism If Twitter trends are anything to go by, we are a nation that is #proudtobeBritish. But what exactly are we proud of? Under closer scrutiny, it is difficult to find qualities that are particularly salient or that are particularly desirable. Is it our love of a heritage that contains many empirical atrocities? Or our penchant for literature, parties, and an unelected head of state? Like any other nation, ours has its qualities and its faults that are largely shared by our culturally similar global partners. With this in mind, we need to refocus on a global society – one that we are all a part of. The epoch of inwardlooking patriotism has passed.
Eurozone
Syria
Spain's announcement that it does not need a bailout of its banks is simply political filibustering. It is quite clear (despite a rise in world stock markets after the announcement) that Spain is in a dire situation and when Greece leaves the Euro, Spain will very quickly follow. While politicians across Europe may be trying to present a picture of recovery and stability, we are now teetering on economic disaster that can only be solved with quick action. A single economy without a united political system was never a good idea in the boom period, and we are now suffering for it in a bust period.
Vladimir Putin's visit to China for talks on Syria naturally had the media discussing a 'return to the days of the Cold War'. The Sino-Russian stance of non-interference against the Western calls for intervention encapsulates past feelings of division, over an issue which should be far from divisive. Ultimately what is most worrying about the language used is that if we are talking of a return to Cold War-style relations, who's to say that the crisis in Syria could not become another proxy war, like Korea, Vietnam and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. But the Syrian people are suffering, and reports of massacres are becoming far more commonplace. It's no longer a question of diplomacy.
10 redbrickpaper.co.uk
8th June 2012
Food
Redbrick
Food Fact
Each strawberry contains approximately 200 seeds!
When whisky goes wrong... Raphael Sheridan Sport Editor I'm a bit of a whisky fan. Actually, that's an understatement – I love the stuff. And, if you're staring incredulously at the page justifiably wondering 'why?' then you're not alone. I'll be honest, it's not easy to pull off in a club, especially when you're having it neat and trying to carefully savour and appreciate it when you've got LMFAO blasting out of a speaker six feet from you. Definitely not sexy. Despite this, whisky companies are desperate to shake off the 'old man's drink' label and break into the young person's market. It's an admirable and lucrative cause, but you've got to be a marketing genius to pull it off: Jack Daniel's
do a pretty good job, but they're still some way off breaking fully into the mainstream à la Smirnoff. Picture a VS bottle in your head or similar and you're instantly transported to a chaotic, drunken scene in Snobs. Picture any whisky and, well, you can't help but be surrounded by old men. So what happens when a whisky company occasionally takes the bold step and attempts to become hip? In one instance, disaster. Probably the most famous case was when a whisky distillery called Mannochmore decided in the mid 1990s that they were going to create a whisky for young drinkers. With a blaze of promotion, they emerged with 'Loch Dhu', unfortunately a whisky so apparently revolting that it has achieved infamy in the whisky world (unfortunately
yes, there really is such a world). In fact, it was so disgusting that it quickly acquired a reputation for being the worst single malt whisky ever made – some feat considering thousands upon thousands exist. Its 'unique selling point' (to use that dreadful phrase) was its colour, which verged on jet black, highly unusual for any whisky, and which the promotional material suggested was because it was aged in double-charred barrels; rumour has it that, even if this was the case, it was aided by a significant amount of caramel colouring. Anyway, it quickly sank like a stone and disappeared from the shelves, but Loch Dhu has unwittingly inspired some brilliant creative writing for those few unlucky (or lucky) enough to have tried it. The blogging world has had a lot
of fun reviewing it: Johannes van den Heuvel of Malt Madness labels it 'Aqua Crematoria', commenting that it was 'the only single malt I ever threw down the sink'. In a quite hilarious review, Nathan Keeny called it 'the nasal equivalent of a horrible traffic accident – you can't help rubbernecking to look for body parts'. He was brave enough to taste it. 'Every time I swish it around
Is HotCan the new student lunch? James Dolton
Online Comment & Features Editor
'No microwave, no kettle, just good hot food where and when you need it'. This is the slogan of fledgling company Hot Can, who swear to having invented the first 'selfheating meals' and, perhaps more boldly, claim that despite requiring no cooking equipment, they taste great. Bold assertions indeed, but they are so sure that they sent some samples for Redbrick Food to test. The first thing you notice when you get hold of one of the eponymous cans is the sheer mass of the things. They weigh 415 grams and
are around twice as tall and wide as your average tin of beans. This would probably mean they are not appropriate foodstuffs for times when space and weight are at a premium, such as, a hike or on a holiday. When you open them up and read the instructions, it emerges that the science behind them is truly remarkable. As the useful insert explains, the 'inner can' that contains the food is encased within an 'outer can' filled with limestone and sealed packets of water. When you drive the rather fancifully titled 'Activation Key' into three holes spaced equally about the rim, the packets of water are burst and react with the limestone inside this confined space. This reaction is what the heats the 'inner can' and thus also the food. The holes that the key is pushed into act as vents, from which steam gushes throughout the reaction. It's all rather exciting to watch. Upon beginning to eat, the first thing that struck me was that they weren't kidding when they elected on their company name: these cans become fiercely, powerfully hot. A plastic lid is provided to stick over the metal base and prevent you from burning your hands, but after fifteen minutes had elapsed, (the instructions suggest leaving it for eight to twelve) and the hissing and steam-shooting had stopped, I gin-
gerly stuck in my fork only to find it still ferociously hot, to the point that every morsel required extensive blowing upon to become edible. By the time I had got through, it emerged that the inside of the inner can had bowed under the pressure. This is a seriously impressive bit of science. Perhaps predictably, the spectacle of watching a can fiercely hissing and heating up unaided on a kitchen table was more interesting and more spectacular than actually eating the meal inside. I had the extravagantly titled 'Balls and Beanz' which consisted of lamb meatballs and baked beans in a tomato sauce. The meatballs were the most flavoursome part, a fairly spiced and soft lamb, but they were sparsely provided in comparison to the number of beans and particularly to the amount of sauce. Final verdict then: at £5.99 RRP, these are unlikely to be something I would buy rather than simply cook a meal myself. But that's not really the point of them: the self-heating element means that at events such as a festival, a camping trip or a long trip via public transport, a Hot Can would provide a filling, reasonably tasty and (crucially) hot meal in places where such features of foodstuffs are useful. Final Score: 7/10
Cheap and easy barbecue food Jack Saunders Food Writer Every student craves the same fundamental things in summertime; food, beer, music and good company. This summer, enjoy the end of exams with an ideal student barbecue. A small outdoor space and a little imagination is all that is needed to create the perfect summer knees-up. So be adventurous and make your own food. Don't splash out on frozen burgers – get cooking your own!
BBQ Burgers
Hot and Spicy Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients: 1kg ground beef 2 cloves of garlic 1 onion 2 teaspoons of BBQ sauce Cheese, to top
Ingredients: 2 Sweet Potatoes 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons dried thyme 1 tablespoon chilli powder
Finely chop the garlic, and grate the onion using a cheese grater. Mix the beef, onion, garlic and sauce in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and place on the grill until browned. Serve in fresh buns with the cheese and BBQ sauce.
Peel the potatoes and chop them into small chunks before laying them on a sheet of tin foil. Drizzle them with olive oil, dust with chili powder and thyme, and wrap into a parcel. Cook the foil parcel for 30-45 minutes until the potatoes are soft.
my mouth I get a fresh wave of rotten banana peel. Just as you settle in and start to think 'this isn't so bad', the plastic and rubber notes enter, and start to smoulder.' Perversely, it makes me quite curious to try it, although I'll struggle because its reputation has made it a bizarrely collectable item. You'll be happily sold a litre of the stuff, but only if you part with £200 of your money. Sadly it seems that, as a student, that I can't even afford what is widely agreed to be the world's worst whisky. Supply, and demand, eh?
12 redbrickpaper.co.uk
8th June 2012
Arts Crisis of the Individual Arts editor James Kinsey interviews Photographer Mahtab Hussain about his latest exhibition at the MAC, which questions the identity crisis of Asian males in Birmingham.
Why did you originally embark on this project? I have always questioned my identity but the trigger to start this project began at Goldsmith College, I studied a modular titled, ‘Post Colonial Studies’. We studied black identity within art, which made me question my own identity as a British Pakistani. When returning to Birmingham over the ten years whilst living in London, I saw a shift in identity of the Pakistani/Asian community and I felt a need to document it.
vealed people’s racist views. I think racism is on the up in Britain, I have experienced racist abuse frequently again, perhaps caused by the recession and how the media portrays Pakistanis in the community. Is the tension perhaps caused by some sections of white British communities and Asian communities uncompromisingly at logger heads?
After ten years away I noticed a change with the social scene in Birmingham. There are, for example, now a Halal takeaway and shisha lounges in the centre of the city. There is definitely a larger Asian presence in the city.
There are Muslims who feel a deep need to form an identity and a connection with their religion and it is their duty to go out and educate, a very sensitive subject. Some guys hold onto something, the other day I was out photographing and was pressured into praying at a mosque. I was later barraged with religion and scripture by a young twenty-yearold man. He clearly had a checkered past, he was a guy who had spent a lot of time on the streets but was interestingly now a bearded, devout, religious young man. He had revolted against religion and describing his life in ‘sin’, “you know girls, drink, drugs”, but then explained how he got tired of that life and reverted back to Islam. I am personally very interested with how this transformation happens. He seemed to be blinded by his past and unaccepting of people who see religion in a different way and that saddened me the most.
What was your thinking behind presenting your photography as three stages of identity?
Your project is about male identity, but what about female identity?
Firstly, this year it was an introduction to open up the debate and question identity within the Pakistani community. I wanted to keep it simple, intending it to be easily read. I plan to follow up next year with a larger project. The question of identity is too big for one project, so I decided to focus it down and address the Pakistani male and specifically, masculinity. This year I presented it in three stages: the child growing up within religious and cultural constraints; the teenagers forming a new identity on the streets away from the security of family; and the young man who presents himself with muscular bravado and ghetto bling, heavily influenced by American hip hop. You can see it in my pictures of Asian/Pakistani body builders and the influence of American gang culture. I don’t know if you have seen the graffiti around Birmingham, there has been in increase of tagging area post codes, guys are now gesturing post codes with their hands; you can see the gang mentality coming though here. American culture has filtered into communities over here, perhaps more so in the Pakistani/Asian community than in others.
I plan to focus on women and have started making work addressing femininity. Interestingly, they seem more sure of themselves, and appear to have less confusion with regards to their identity. There is just as much to say about women, as men, of course. In terms of photography, the modern Pakistani woman in their hijabs contrasted with their western fashion, visually, it looks amazing from a photographic level.
What was the shift that you saw in Birmingham?
Why do you think masculinity is such an important part of their identity? There are so many different identities they can relate to, from religion, family and society, that it is easy to become frustrated and confused; they don’t know who they are. But what they do know for certain is that they are men. This is through cultural and religious upbringing but also their obvious sexuality. But in a sense, I feel like they have lost the roots of their religion and family because there is a pressure from their religion and family, and they feel they can’t be themselves. The community tries to mold them into a particular image, which causes an opposite reaction. It can make people act aggressively, act hard, with the ultimate aim of trying to be an individual. But what I have found is that these guys are all fragile, sensitive and intelligent thinkers. But when they get together in a gang, they hold each other back trying to act the hardest but not being themselves. It is a crisis of the individual in a collective community. Is it possible to get out of this cycle as you see it? You can get out of the cycle. I know from experience it is done by closing yourself off, by removing yourself from it. The social scene definitely can have a bad impact. I know from friends who removed themselves, who are now successful, contrasted against those who didn’t and continue, in a sense, to struggle. How does white racism effect Asian identity? White racism is a real problem. Within my exhibition at the mac birmingham there is a chance to allow participants to write on post-it notes, to explain/understand their identity. It allows people to be honest without the barrier of political correctness, to say what they think. The post-its have re-
Mahtab’s exhibition at the mac birmingham is on until the 10th June. And you can see his work at: http://www.mahtabhussain.com
Redbrick
Redbrick
redbrickpaper.co.uk
8th June 2012
13
The City Is A Work of Art In recent years, there has been some unerring connection between the city and creativity. What started in the decades following the Industrial Revolution as a projection of the exhilarations and anxieties of a more modern era was made tangible by a breed of authors like F.S. Flint and Ford Maddox Ford and their giddy clamour of clauses and had, by the turn of the twenty first century, become something cemented as a symbol of a modern ideology. Conceptually, the city is seen as the centre of the creative universe. There is a quote unapologetically emblazoned on the wall of a building in the Custard Factory complex which reads ‘The City Is a Work of Art.’ To merely look at the industrial block at the back of New Street station or the vomit infused streets of Selly Oak is to miss the point of this great city. For somewhere so often written off as ‘cultureless’, there is an abundance of artistic institutions that pepper the seemingly perennially grey landscape. The Birmingham Royal Ballet is at the very height of its game and The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is world renowned. Even as a university, you can barely move for falling over the city’s cultural heritage, with our ties to talents from Edward Elgar to David Lodge and Victoria Wood. Not to be undervalued is that one of the world’s best small art galleries, The Barber Institute, is located on the campus itself. Whilst the city’s past is certainly impressive, to me it seems that the future looks set to keep the bar unwaveringly high. The street art scene in Digbeth is growing rapidly; the monthly Hit The Ode events augment the accessibility of performance poetry and the reopening of arguably the city’s most innovative institution: The Rep, in 2013 looks set to ensure the theatre within Birmingham remains razor sharp. Potentially somewhat ironically for an Arts editor, one Lexie Wilson Arts Editor
thing I love most about Birmingham and its inhabitants is the intrinsic sense of self-deprecation and the mistrust of pretension. Art is taken off its lofty and unreachable shelf and becomes something through which important and universal things are said. One of the city’s most prestigious galleries, The Ikon, is situated just behind Broad Street, and on the outside of The Bullring, our shopping Mecca, a wall boasts the poem ‘Everything Is Here’ written by Simon Turner and Polarbear and commissioned by the performance poetry organisation Apples and Snakes. Equally, the use of the former warehouse, the A.E Harris Building by various theatre collectives seems to cement the city’s unabashed rejection of preconceived ideals of art as something to be kept for the elite few. In our pocket of this vast city, art is no less integral. As a nation that so often adheres to a rigid cynicism, it’s important never to overlook the beauty and the power of youth. Rather than frostily tarring students with the ‘amateur’ brush, we should hold on to the fact that we are privileged to be surrounded with an immense wealth of talent. In the opening throws of On The Road, Sal Paradise asserts ‘the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.’
To be surrounded by so many of these ‘mad people’ is something marvellously rare and inexplicably valuable. University is undoubtedly a life altering experience, and I will be forever proud that Birmingham is a part of mine. And with that, on behalf of Alexander and myself, I want to thank everyone who has made our time as the Arts editorial team one that I’ll treasure forever and we’re proud to leave you in the wonderfully talented and exceedingly capable hands of James Kinsey and Rebekah McDermott.
Human, All Too Human scendence of nature itself, and a counterpoint to nihilism. Art is a process of self-aggrandizement that doesn’t result in a god (and if Jacques-Louis David’s six metre by ten metre It doesn’t exactly take an unwavering nihilist or a devout Le Sacre de Napoléon, commissioned by Napoleon himself, atheist to agree with Nietzsche that existence is, fundamendoesn’t scream self-aggrandizement, then I don’t know tally, meaningless. The universe simply does not owe us a what does). sense or a reason. We stumble, we get up; we cry, we laugh; This stands in contrast to the aesthetic perspective of we fall in love, we suffer; we make friends, we lose Immanuel Kant, and his Critique of Judgement. For others. And in between all of this we all in our Kant – an ancestor of formalism in art - we have in own way seem to experience the most intense the beautiful and the aesthetically pleasing a beauty and the most agonising pain (at least disinterested interest. The beautiful brings us for those aware of the party on terra firma). an objective pleasure There’s not much more, that seems to be it; in as far as we contemplate it, and it and one can’t see the use in asking for much pleases us apart from any desired end, use more either. or interest. Nietzsche mocked Kant for this Yet, though it may be superfluous to position – “without interest!” he exclaims ask for meaning, that doesn’t mean that we before continuing in a condescending tone don’t, unwittingly or not, create it of our own that if a Kantian aesthetician finds it ‘possible volition – therein lies the true beauty of a to contemplate statues of naked women “without meaningless existence. For Nietzsche this interest”, one is entitled to have a little laugh at volition finds one of its manifestations in their expense’. art. Art justifies existence whilst giving diDuring one and a half years of editing the rection and meaning to it; ultimately, for NiArts section of Redbrick, I have found that etzsche, ‘only as an aesthetic product can pieces and features debating the perenthe world be justified to all eternity.’ It nial ‘what is art?’ question have found is a metaphysical solace, the tranthemselves settling on either side of this Illustration by Elin Stone Alexander Blanchard Arts Editor
Cabaret Jenna Clake Critic
Previews
From 1st - 5th May the Guild hosted a production of ‘Cabaret’. The audience was promised music, dancing and lacy pants - and they got it all. The show follows the relationship of Kit Kat Klub performer Sally Bowles and American writer Clifford Bradshaw during the rise of the Nazis in Germany. ‘Cabaret’ surpassed my expectations of university drama: the principals’ performances were flawless, with consistently strong vocal ability in every number,
Kill For A Seat hosted by Silky 4th May - 6th July The Mac £8
whether jovial or serious. The audience was easily charmed by Sally Bowles, played wonderfully by Nanci Veitch, who mastered Sally’s range of flirtatiousness and later turmoil in a vulnerable and relatable way. Ben Norris was an equally brilliant Clifford Bradshaw, conquering the American accent and delivering a convincing exploration of the ethical debates presented in the show. Standout performances were also given by Mike Howie as Herr Schultz and Emma Marchant as Fraulein Schneider, whose onstage chemistry was a hit with the audience. Chazz Redhead gave an enthusiastic performance as the Emcee, reminding the audience of the underlying moral tone, whilst often providing comedic relief.
Barry & Stuart: Show and Tell 8th June Town Hall £12.50
Article 19 presents: As You Like It 8th-10th June The Vale Lawn £4
aesthetic divide. These two sides are not quite as incompatible as Nietzsche would have them, but there is something to be said of Nietzsche’s life-affirmation when attempting to understand our own relationship to art. Life-affirming as it is, if art ferments our ‘meanings’, then it follows that we can understand life through art. Take the example of perhaps one of the most divisive artists living today. The work of Damien Hirst seems to be, as far as I can personally deduce (and I admit, something may well have gone over my head), materialistic tripe. But the ironic, macabre humour that can be found in Mother and Child Divided (a cow and a calf cut into sections and exhibited in a series of separate vitrines), for instance, offers something of a penetrating insight into the human condition. Take also the literature of the early 20th-century existentialists; one can learn a lot more about the travails of life from these texts than any didactic religious text. And to take a personal favourite, Lowry’s Coming from the Mill, there is something cathartic, reassuring even, in seeing those stooped, emaciated figures and understanding that perhaps we all feel the same weight at some point. The question is, was this feeling, in all its nuances, intelligible before the painting? If Nietzsche’s aestheticism elucidates one thing it’s that the reason great art says so much to us is simply because we’ve already absorbed it into our cultural fabric.
The orchestra, led by Jack Blume, was also excellent; they were wellrehearsed and incredibly professional. Their contribution cannot receive enough praise. The only criticism of the production may be directed at the choreography, which at times seemed relatively under-rehearsed and could have better integrated the set into the routines. Nonetheless, the dancers’ performances were confident and enthusiastic, and the space in the Deb Hall was utilised well, including the audience by dancing on tables and through the seating, although this was made awkward in one performance in which the an error with seating had occurred. It will certainly be exciting to see what GMTG does next.
Shake the Dust Poetry Final 9th June The Drum £4
Nurvrax Jam: The John Morris Trio 13th June The Yardbird Free entry
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Technology
Redbrick
8th June 2012
Be sure to check our twitter @RedbrickTech and the website for all the latest news from E3.
Five reasons to spend summer playing games
Putting the book in Facebook
#1 Mass Effect Trilogy
Ruth Bradley looks at this interesting new app
#2 Diablo III
Are you a PC gamer looking to lose yourself in a game for the rest of the summer? Then Diablo III is the only choice worth considering. It’s already broken the record of being the fastest selling PC game of all time with over 3.5 million copies sold in 24 hours, and there’s a reason for that. Diablo is deep, you can’t just skim the surface of this Action RPG, you have to dive in, taking your barbarian, wizard or another of the character classes available and hack your way through the many dungeons to be found here. Exploring these expansive areas for loot is the main draw here, and it’s easy to lose track of time powering up your equipment, expanding your skill-set and beating a plethora of enemies. Next thing you know, the sun has gone down, and it’s time to head back in for the first semester. A brilliant way to keep you inside this Summer.
#3 Retro Classics Summer is perfect time to dig out the console from your childhood gathering dust under the bed. Getting some mates round to play Goldeneye on your N64, or speeding through Final Fantasy VII on your Playstation over a few weeks can be more fun than most 360 and PS3 games. There’s sure to be games you remember from a childhood full of Spyro, Mario and Sonic whether they be obvious choices, or obscure classics. New to games? This summer could be your chance to catch up on some of the industry’s best titles. You can even download most of the true classics on your Wii, PS3, 360 or PC through their various download services, so there’s no excuse not to learn some gaming history this summer.
#5 New Releases Still got some of that student loan leftover or just the sort of player who can’t help but need a new game? There are plenty of interesting games set to come out this summer kicking off with Lollipop Chainsaw in June which sees a cheerleading zombie hunter who carries the decapitated head of her ex boyfriend on her belt taking on a zombie outbreak. As barmy as it sounds, it may not be for everyone tastes. Instead maybe go for Spec Ops: The Line, a cover based third person shooter with a strong emphasis on setting and narrative. Need your games more cutesy? Then Theatrhythm Final Fantasy on 3DS is a rhythm action game that incorporates tunes and characters from the popular RPG series. There are plenty of games to look forward to over summer, enough to keep any player satisfied until September.
Sam Atkins
Technology Editor
Our top choice of how best to spend your time this summer is Mass Effect. With three 60 hour games to get through, it's sure to last you the whole summer break and more. Never played the series before? Then now is the perfect time to dive in, with all three games costing less than one regular priced game. All three games are available on Xbox 360 and PC, while the catchup sequence on the PS3 version does its best to allow you to start from the second game. Taking your self-created Commander Shepard across space can take upwards of 150 hours, a small amount of time to invest considering you are saving the galaxy! If you've already played through the series, now may be the time to try the opposite gender, which opens up a whole new set of relationships to embark on. Sci-fi action, explosions, politics, romance, drama and a whole load of aliens make this the best way you can spend your summer break inside!
#4 PS Vita
Publishing company Hachette have announced the launch of their new Facebook app called ChapterShare. The app will allow authors and publishers to post exclusive chapters from upcoming books on Facebook. Readers will then be able to sample the chapters and, if they like them, share them with their Facebook friends. This will hopefully get people talking about books online and will drum up publicity and free advertising for the author and publishers. However some critics have noted that while the idea of sharing books online like this will generate good publicity, it all relies on getting initial interest in the app. If nobody knows about the app and the excerpts available, then there will be no one to share them with their friends. Hachette need to make enough of an initial splash with this idea to get the word around. If they can get some viral advertising out there then interest in the
app should snowball with more and more people using it and sharing it with their friends. The app doesn't just let you get a sneak peak at future releases, it also allows readers to instantly preorder the books that have taken their fancy. This could give books the sales bump that they need although there is nothing to stop users reading the extract on Facebook and then, rather than buying through Hachette, heading over to sites like Amazon to pick up the book at a cheaper price. Despite the flaws, this idea is definitely on the right track. Publishers are already embracing online opportunities, with big names such as Penguin holding competitions for readers using Twitter and Facebook, this app will be the next step in harnessing social media to help raise the profile, and sales, of books both in print and available for e-readers.
HTC One S at a glance Dan Lesser
Online Technology Editor
Going away on holiday this summer? Don't worry you too can spend your time playing games with the recently released Playstation Vita. Though there may not be many games to play on it just yet, the few essential titles will make this summer one to remember. Uncharted: Golden Abyss is as grand in scale as the PS3 games, while Wipeout 2048 is one of the best racing experiences you can get on a handheld. Being able to play through two PS2 classics on the go in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is impressive too. Throw in a front and rear touch screen and a host of downloadable games, movies and other media and you have the must have device for those long plane journeys.
The Good Speedy performance; slick software; great camera; attractive design; strong battery life. The Bad Gimmicky ‘beatsaudio’; slightly disappointing screen. The Verdict If you can look past the dis-
tinctly average screen, you’ll find a phone that zips through Android with barely a hiccup. It can take great photos and videos, will last you an entire day, and just looks and feels really good. When you take the price point into account, the HTC One S also represents great value. The One S is available on Three from £69 upfront on a £24 a month contract, or £369.99 on Pay As You Go.
For the full review and our thoughts on the HTC One V check out the website:
www.redbrickpaper.co.uk/tech/
It's a ketchup revolution! Technology Editor Andrew Spencer explains The frustrations of getting that last bit of ketchup or mayonnaise out the bottle may finally be alleviated. There has been some exciting news recently from an MIT Research group regarding a non-toxic spray that would turn the insides of a condiment bottle from rough and sticky to a surface that would let the contents slip straight out. The transformation is miraculous. A huge amount of ketchup is wasted each year because it gets stuck to the sides of the bottle and the costs of buying a new bottle often appear psychologically less than the time and effort put into getting absolutely everything out of an old one. Furthermore, according to Heinz, ketchup exits the bottle on average at 0.0450 km/h. A spray that could be applied to the insides of a bottle such as the one that MIT has developed would mean the contents would pour out much faster. It is remarkable how long it has taken to solve this age old problem and unfortunately it will have less of an impact now because of the fact that many condiments come in squeezable plastic containers. Applying the manufacturing across all types of bottles for all condiments could take some time. However, it is hoped that bottles coated with this spray will be available very soon.
Fun Fact On Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottles, hitting the 57 will actually make the ketchup slide out faster.
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8th June 2012
Music Raphael Sheridan Sport Editor
Tamara Roper
Redbrick
Nicki Minaj rejoins Twitter after a 9 day hiatus. A few of her 11 million followers upset the rap star last week causing her to delete her account. As a result her followers have dwindled to less than 1 million!
Our Monarch in Music
Music Editor
Poor Liz. What did Sex Pistols get her for her Silver Jubilee in 1977? A nice bouquet? Rather, three minutes of angry punk about her fascist regime and England’s lack of future. Punk in the 70s was the antithesis of the monarchy and everything it stood for. The birth of bands with names such The Snivelling Shits reveals a reluctance to don their Union Jack bunting and dust off their teapots in celebration of their beloved royals. UK Number 1 in 1972: TRex - Metal Guru
Amy Davidson LUMsoc President
Josh Holder
Jonathon Milnes
Lyle Bignon
Online Music Editor
Music Editor
Contributor
In March 1952, the first Rock and Roll riot broke out, which police attributed to overexcited teenagers. That is not surprising, for the 50s was the decade that Rock and Roll was born. Chuck Berry sang bluesy numbers about teen life; The Everly Brothers cheekily sang ‘Wake up Little Susie’ in 1957; and by the decade’s close the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley was serving in the military, but not after forever shocking the sleepy American suburbia.
In 1962, The Beatles were plying their trade in grimy Hamburg clubs and a young Bob Dylan had dropped out of college, releasing a first album that barely registered in the charts. Their influence, the singer-songwriter Roy Orbison, was dominating the US and the UK with a string of number one hits between 1960 and 1964. It was also the year when six young men got together and formed a band they spontaneously called The Rolling Stones.
UK Number 1 in 1952: Before charts began
UK Number 1 in 1962: Before charts began
In the post-punk world of 1980, Mark Chapman had killed John Lennon. Six months earlier, Ian Curtis had hung himself. Disco had faded away, and yet the 80s was the decade that produced London Calling, Graceland and Thriller. Hip-hop had muscled its way into the charts to provide an alternative soundtrack to the pomp of Charles & Diana’s wedding and we all went Radio Gaga with the other Queen and sang along with The Smiths' 'The Queen is Dead'.
Queen Lizzie has seen several modern musical revolutions during her 60 years, but perhaps none quite as exhilarating as the birth of Britpop, which saw guitar music retake its place as the sound of the nation. With its optimistic and witty lyricisms, Britpop was a fitting commentary for 90s Britain. Of course, who can forget the rest of the 90s, from the Spice Girls to Britney Spears. We can only hope Liz enjoyed the 90s as much as we did.
UK Number 1 in 1982: Madness - House of Fun
UK Number 1 in 1992: KWS - Please Don't Go
60 years on, much like the monarchy itself, music has changed drastically. You only have to look at this week's midweek chart to realise there are few similarities between the Rock and Roll vibes of Elvis and the Drum 'n' Bass beats of Rudemental's current chart topper. Through the 60 years of the Queen's reign, music has transformed from a humble art to a global commercial business. For the Queen in 1952, composer Healey Willan was commissioned to pen a coronation anthem. Fast forward 60 years and its X Factor's Gary Barlow that has released
It’s 2002 and the British flag is no longer flying above Buckingham Palace, but is instead draped around the shoulders of a fresh faced Pete Doherty. Britpop has evolved into the juggernaut that will soon become Indie, and London ruffians The Libertines are fast becoming the leaders of a scruffy new guitar movement. Lyrics will shift from bolshy, lad-driven anthems to musings about gin laced romance and riots. UK Number 1 in 2002: Will Young - Light My Fire
both a single and album for the jubilee that is bound to top the charts after the bank holiday celebrations. Not only this, there is also a jubilee concert on June 4th with headlining acts including JLS and Jessie J. I am sure the Queen is ecstatic at the thought of hosting some of her favorite artists in her back garden. Throughout her 60 years on the throne, the Queen has witnessed huge amounts of change, not least in the music industry. UK Number 1 in 2012: Rudimental - Feel The Love
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8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
Tamara Roper Music Editor
There's something stirring in the Birmingham music scene. Once regarded as almost non existent, 2012 has seen the emergence of a fresh and young hive of talent that seems to have come from nowhere. The billboard above has appeared on the Digbeth High Street at the demand of Peace, who after the success of their debut single, 'Follow Baby', have signed to monster record label, Colombia. Currently finding themselves
coveted by the later DJs on Radio 1, Swim Deep are certainly a band to keep an eye on this summer. Their sound sounds more like West Coast USA than South Birmingham, and their new single King City is being dropped onto every major radio playlist. It's not just shout outs to the Birmingham boys , either. Poppy and the Jezebels are returning for a second wave of success with their pop injected witticisms and charming style. Both Swim Deep and Poppy and the Jezebels will be headling the One Beat Sunday in Canon Hill Park on the 22nd of June.
The Carpels Hare and Hounds 23/05/12 Joe West Critic
As evening set in at the end of a scorching day in the Midlands, the beer tasted especially good for The Carpels who'd graduated from college that afternoon. Typical-looking indie frontman Dylan Williams didn't display any signs of nerves ahead of opening
the stage for Poppy & the Jezebels. I was surprised by the intimacy of the space, and with people still squeezing in, the Birmingham based quintet began their set. Initially the crowd remained static but were transformed by the anthemic nature of Williams’ vocals over an isolated bass drum on their track ‘Khan’, building to the most frenetic of guitar riffs at its climax. Switching to and fro from a guitar and synth focus Williams remained the focal point of the band’s energy, steering clear of the often awkward pre track storytelling to deliver the songs at a pace
which really swept the crowd along. Seizing the chance to perform some of their newest material the band were rewarded with a strong response to ‘Towelie’, where every band member proved their instrumental adeptness. The quality of the sound in the small venue served to highlight their playing ability and once their relatively short set came to an end The Carpels left the stage to great support. An accomplished set from a band who won’t be playing such small and cosy venues for long.
Birmingham's Best: Top 5 Independent Music Venues Hare and Hounds Rachel Marclar-Plant chooses her favorite independent music venues around the city ranging from laid back Jazz bars to full throttle warehouses.
The Rainbow High Street Deritend Digbeth
The Yardbird Paradise Place City Centre The Victoria John Bright Street City Centre
Hare and Hounds High Street Kings Heath
The Bulls Head St Mary's Row Moseley
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Film The Fall
Tarsem's other efforts may have suffered in the story department but his visuals are always stunning. The Fall is perhaps the best looking of all as well as having a sweet, well-formed script in which two hospital patients, a young girl and an injured stuntsman form a bond, escaping in a fairytale world from heartbreak and poverty.
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Redbrick
8th June 2012
'Glad to meet you, kid, you're a real horse's ass.'
The Sting (1973) Avengers Assemble It may have only been released in the past month but as soon as I saw it, Avengers Assemble ticked every comic movie box I could ever have imagined. This was never going to work without a director who understood character but they got just that in Joss Whedon (deservingly no longer only Buffy's Joss Whedon) and this is absolutely where the film thrives most. Be it Hulk's irritation by Thor or the bromance of Bruce and Tony, the dynamics are fantastic and are complemented by excellent acting, especially in Tom Hiddleston's villain, Loki, as well as stunning action sequences.
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The Lion King
Good Will Hunting
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The first Oscar-winner on my list is the brilliant first film of famous acting buddies Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. It follows Will (Damon), a university janitor who is a secret maths genius. He's discovered by Stellan Skarsgard's professor and is sent to therapy with the heart-wrenchingly excellent Robin Williams. It's an extraordinary tale and one delivered with a lot of soul. Damon is gutsy but vulnerable and the ending is probably my favourite of all time.
Like many of my fellow students the cinematic highlights of my childhood were the films of Disney. Everyone's favourite is different and Aladdin, Mulan and even the recent Tangled are all close runners-up, but the one House of Mouse release I will never tire of is The Lion King. Come on, it's Hamlet (loosely) with cartoon lions! Perhaps blasphemously I'd argue that it betters even its Shakespearean source. It's got brilliant, memorable songs, a wonderfully talented voice cast and one of the most heartwrenching deaths in cinema history.
5
Film Editor's
TOP 10
1
Benny & Joon This might be the best film you've never seen. Johnny Depp, romance, drama, physical comedy, The Proclaimers; Benny & Joon has it all, tied in an incredibly watchable (I've seen it at least 30 times!) filmic package. The eponymous duo are played by 15-minutes-offame-in-the-90s Mary Stuart Masterson and Aidan Quinn. Quinn's Benny is romancedeprived, his life is divided between his job at a car garage and caring for his mentally ill sister. He even takes her along to poker nights with his friends and it is here that Johnny Depp's Sam enters, won by Joon in a game. While he's not a titular
character he is undoubtedly the star of the show; it's perhaps Depp's best performance to date, his trademark quirkiness being used to the fullest in this Buster Keatonidolising, illiterate sweetheart. His romance with Joon is one born of total innocence but fraught with drama, and this isn't your Sex and the City-style oh-god-he-doesn'tlike-my-shoes drama, it feels real and the film stands out all the more for it. The comedy too is fantastic, Depp really shining in the slapstick. Benny & Joon is not easily categorised and while this can lead to ruin for many releases, here it results in unique, unmissable magic.
Willow
Words by Genevieve Taylor
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If you caught Warwick Davis's Life's Too Short you'll know that Willow was his big starring role... and that noone saw it. I could never understand why Willow wasn't a bigger success as I loved it. It's a great fantasy with a brilliant baddie, a handsome anti-hero in Val Kilmer's Madmartigan and an extremely endearing lead in Davis.
Sleepy Hollow As you may be able to tell from my number one pick, I'm a pretty big fan of Mr Depp. And Mr Depp and Mr Burton was a match made in film heaven. This is comedy horror at its best; both genuinely scary and seriously funny. As always with Burton the film's aesthetic is absolutely engrossing down to the very last medieval torture instrument. Sleepy Hollow is the best Burton/ Depp to date.
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Fellowship of the Ring You may not like me for saying it but I will: I was never a fan of The Lord of the Rings books. Tolkien's vision of Middle Earth was clearly stunning but where he had to take up page upon page with description Peter Jackson's epic adaptation covers half a chapter in one visually luxurious shot. Everything from the casting, to the music, to the locations and effects is superb and The Fellowship of the Ring unquestionably changed cinema, and New Zealand, for good.
7 Ferris Bueller's Day Off I'm not a huge fan of out-an-out comedy but when it's done well it's incredibly re-watchable. Ferris Bueller is done very, very well. Ferris is so likeable that you really just wish you were his friend, and in a way, when watching the film, you are; it whisks you along on his hilarious 'day off' and you have just as much fun as him.
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Meet Joe Black
If you can cope with the running time (a pretty hefty 3 hours and 21 minutes) Meet Joe Black is a rewarding watch. It's a gentle romance with dark undercurrents and a very poignant look at the afterlife. Brad Pitt plays Death, who has taken annual leave, and decides to experience life, and love. He stays with Antony Hopkins, his next victim, and develops a relationship with his daughter. The film's score is perhaps what makes it so memorable, Thom- as Newman's music conveying love in the fullest and most beautiful way possible.
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Redbrick
8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Reviews Avengers Assemble UNMISSABLE
EXCELLENT
GOOD
POOR
TRAGIC
Silverscreen
Charlotte Lytton TV Editor
Eleanor Dobson Critic
Director: Joss Whedon Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo Cert: 12A Is there anything Joss Whedon can’t do? Avengers proves that the answer is no, and sees him propelled (finally) up into the movie stratosphere. Demonstrating that he can work as well with superheroes as he can with vampires and space cowboys, Whedon’s vision is an action-adventure masterpiece, and the first Marvel film to make $1 billion in global ticket sales. Avengers sees Nick Fury
(Samuel L. Jackson), the director of an international peace-keeping agency, assemble a group of superheroes in order to thwart the plans of Thor villain Loki (Hiddleston), who is intent on wreaking his revenge on his brother and the planet he has come to love. Loki gains access to an otherworldly energy source, the Tesseract, which he uses to open a portal through space, allowing an alien army to attack Earth. The Avengers, Fury’s unlikely band of heroes, must set aside their differences in order to have any chance of saving the world. Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth return as Iron Man, Black Widow, Captain America and Thor respectively, as well as Jeremy
Renner, who had a cameo role as Hawkeye in Thor, while newcomer Ruffalo sparkles as intellectual nice-guy-come-monster, Hulk. With its emphasis on familyfriendly comedy that keeps the film’s tone relatively light, Avengers will delight both die-hard fans of the original comics and newcomers to the franchise. If you can’t wait until Avengers 2, there will be about 30 minutes of cut footage included on the DVD, due for release in September. In the meantime, fans in the UK should check out the shawarma scene that rolled at the end of the credits at the film’s US screenings, which is brilliantly understated and the perfect conclusion to this veritable juggernaut of a movie. !
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Chick flicks have become the stuff of nightmares for most modern cinema-goers, but before the high pitched squealing and lengthy chats about lip gloss, there was a time when movies of the genre were more meaningful. The First Wives Club (1996) is easily the best, and most underrated, feel good female film of all time, and its stellar cast and soundtrack have secured its status as a classic. The plot of the film may sound a bit passé – three wives seek revenge on their husbands for leaving them for younger women – but the talent of its leading actresses set it apart from other girl-power-esque movies. With Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keating in the central roles, and Maggie Smith and Sarah Jessica Parker popping up in the supporting cast, this hilarious anti-romcom never fails to entertain. Whether it’s Elise (Hawn)’s
Film 19
obsession with looking younger, Brenda (Midler)’s desperation to seem cool in the eyes of her teenage son, or Annie (Keating)’s attempt to juggle her opinionated mother, newly-out daughter and husband, who has been sleeping with her therapist, things never feel melodramatic or silly. While each of the stories have of course been Hollywood-ised, there is always the feeling that this could happen to any one of us, and their motto ‘don’t get mad, get everything’, seems dangerously enticing. But everyone loves a moral to a story and this film is no different, as the ladies use the money they have secured from their errant hubbies to pay for a help centre for women. First Wives Club will have you laughing, crying, cursing men, feeling sorry for men, thinking men are quite silly, and then getting rowdy at the end with a rousing number from the leads. If you’re ever in need of a pick-meup, grab a bottle of red and take a pew in front of this 90s feast for the eyes, ears and emotions.
The Beginner's Guide to... Video Game Adaptations Redbrick's Technology team, Sam Atkins and Ruth Bradley, talk us through perhaps the most derided of movie genres K.Os While this genre has a lot of, and often well deserved, negative press, there are some gems to be found. If you want action you can do worse than Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Despite the fact that she never actually goes to any tombs, Angelina Jolie gives a good performance as our favourite female archaeologist. Similarly the Prince of Persia film, sub-titled The Sands of Time and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, is a fun, family-friendly action film that sticks reasonably close to the games although without all the falling-down-pits and getting killed again, and again, and again. One film franchise we have to mention as hugely successful is Resident Evil. With the fifth film coming out this year, there seems to be no stopping this game-based zombie series. But the out and out best film based on a game has to be Pokémon: The First Movie. Although it is technically based on the TV show, which is itself based on the game, it is undoubtedly a classic of every 90s childhood.
Game Over It’s easy to notice the bad films based on games as there are so many of them. From Hitman to Max Payne, gruff heroes played on the big screen by Timothy Olyphant and Mark Wahlberg respectively, actors who don’t reflect the original characters at all.
Worse than that we have the plethora of video game movies directed by Uwe Boll. These 'classics', based on such games as House of the Dead, Alone in the Dark, Bloodrayne and Far Cry, have all scored less than 25 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, and received countless awards at the Golden Raspberries (the anti-Oscars). Films so bad that they have destroyed everything good about the original game franchises, they are part of the reason we are always scared when our favourite games are set to get the movie treatment.
Next Level? So what does the future hold for this questionable genre of films? Despite the project being officially declared dead in 2007 and the funds instead being given to District 9, Peter Jackson is still optimistic about the long-awaited Halo film. Other big names that are rumoured to hit our screens in the future are Heavy Rain, Dead Space and Assassin’s Creed. Let’s just hope that those that do get made are worth watching and don’t just add to the long list of video game adaptation flops.
20 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Life&Style
Redbrick
8th June 2012
Sophie Cowling reviews the British sportswear trend online at: www.redbrickpaper.co.uk/category/lifestyle
The Naked Truth of Birmingham: How Nude Is Too Nude?
Emily Booth Travel Editor
Since lying down to write this in Selly Park, I have seen two pairs of nipples (female), three bruised waxing rashes (male) and enough chest hair to satisfy the most ardent cavewoman. It is as if the sun we have been enjoying over the past week has fried away all sense of decorum as nakedness has become the clothing of choice and amidst the abandoned barbeque sets and beer bottles, reams of half-clad bodies grope for the sun's rare rays. Toned and flabby alike, Selly Oak has turned into Magaluf as wobbly bottoms flip-flop their way down the streets, and it draws the question: how naked is too naked? Britons are, as a rule, a selection of prudes. We are a collar-up nation who, once summer hits, don't know what to do with ourselves and we tend to go to the
extremes. It's either skulking around inner city fountains wearing slinky bikinis on our lunch breaks, or applying factor 50 sun block every ten minutes, hiding beneath khaki tents or white linen trousers. No such extremes in Selly Oak however, where the choices seems to be reduced to naked or naked-er. I am no prude, and being one who believes in free love, free spirits and general nakedness, my prude-o-metre is rarely raised. However, when wandering into Tesco Express last week on a balmy evening I encountered a young woman idling by the avocadoes wearing little more than a bejewelled string bikini. Admittedly she was as lithe as the day is long, but surely this was taking it too far? I wanted to floss w i t h her, let alone throw her a kaf-
tan, and it begged the question of whether some kind of sunbathing etiquette needs to be instigated. Of course, outfits of this nature also serve another purpose, and back on Selly Park the groups of half -naked youths are insuring more than equal bronzed coverage. Indeed, on most afternoons it has become a mating ground for the sexes. Like Adonis's, the boys play at looking sporting, providing ample opportunity to show off their gym hours, whilst the girls play at reading magazines, secretly feasting their eyes behind dark shades; the ultimate poor girls' porn. I am no judge, and am certainly not one to stop them. Indeed, after weeks of library induced male starvation I will gladly join the sunglasses parade as the peacocks throw, bat and catch in front of me. Us
girls are just as bad; topless and bikini-ed, the residents of Raddlebarn have never had so much viewing pleasure as girls wearing little more than bunting saunter past the male watering holes. It is, perhaps surprisingly, for this very reason that I am, from my currently topless position, proclaiming the anti-prude anthem. Yes there is a time and a place, Tesco Express not being one of them, but if you are discreet and subtle then let's embrace the sunlight. Laugh at the peacocks and let the hackles raise when a gorgeous cellulitefree girl struts passed. Nakedness is one the joys of summer and one day we'll be using parks for Yoga exercise classes a n d the mati n g ground will be a distant memo r y of when we were young.
Laura Rudolph Writer
Life&Style – A big thank you to the two fantastic Life&Style Editors of this year; Lara Edwards and Sophie Cowling, who are replaced by Lucy Whife and Megan Nisbett. Keep updated with Life&Style over the summer at redbrickpaper. co.uk and @Redbricklife. End of exams – Beginning of the summer! Beyonce is back! – Back on stage already and Jay-Z's tweet 'Beyonce is the best performer in the world. Period.' Welcome back Bey, we have missed you! Loved-up celebs – Kiera Knightley's engagement to James Righton. Swoon! Agent Provocateur – Check out their new additions to the soiree collection. Just heavenly.
Cheryl's performance on The Voice – Cheryl performed her new single 'Say My Name' on The Voice two weeks ago and she wowed the audience. She has come back better than ever.
Desert Island Beauty Product Rebecca Francis Writer
Sarah Musgrove Editorial Assistant
away). However, any maid-like duties were kindly refused. Whilst this was only a small detail, it meant a lot to be treated as a fellow worker when I was very aware of my inferior status. I would have come in early to hand-polish their desks if they'd asked (reeking of desperation) but thankfully this never transpired. 3) I found out that money does not make the world go round. As a student with a well-exercised overdraft limit, I was very aware of handling items of clothing in the fashion cupboard that cost more than a year's rent. But amongst these rarities was a plentiful supply of high street gear, and an attitude to mula that I found, frankly, a relief. A particu-
Fierce
Sunshine – Need I say more?
The Times Fashion Desk: What I Learnt...
After being lucky enough to have recently completed a work experience placement with the Fashion section at The Times, I found myself surprised by a number of notwhat-I-expected moments. In fact, nearly everything contradicted the Devil Wears Prada stereotype of fashion-journalism internships. So, rather than listing what I did (there's a million and one blogs that will tell you that), here's what didn't happen: 1) I met no 'fashion-daahling' types. In fact, everyone was downto-earth and very hard workers. Nobody sneered when I didn't know the answer to something, but they were grateful and gracious when I asked questions (no matter how small or silly). Yes, they were well dressed – what do you expect? – but people rarely clopped about in heels and diamonds. Friendly and practical was the general air, which made for a healthy, hard-working mentality. 2) I didn't make one cup of tea. I offered, many times. In fact, probably too many times (as it turns out, the drinks machine at The Times was free-for-all, and had the best hot chocolate. I could barely keep myself at my desk when I knew free, unlimited hot chocolate was a mere twenty paces
Fierce & Finished
lar revelation was the Editor (the big dawg) asking for my views on particular high street stores – had their OTT prices gone too far to make them viable options for normal shoppers? 'YES!' I thought – it is what I spend most of my time thinking about when I walk around the Bullring. Unfortunately, my shock at being asked for an actual opinion meant that my answer was less than eloquent. But hopefully she got the gist. TOP TIP: To secure this work experience, I bit the bullet and rang The Times directly– they are inundated with emails of work experience requests, so a phone call makes all the difference when trying to get yourself noticed.
With the sun finally making a belated appearance, summer makeup trends are firmly on the agenda and this Boots No7 Tinted Moisturiser (£12) is my summer staple. Not only does it provide great coverage without the perils of sliding and stifling foundations, this lightweight formula also contains SPF 15 to help protect against UV rays. Available in 3 different shades, I was initially slightly sceptical of the deep colour of the liquid as it appeared on my hand. However, the sheer liquid adapts perfectly to your skin tone, effortlessly disguising blemishes, bags and pores in a single application. Moreover, the light-defusing technology adds radiance, creating a fresh-faced look that lasts all day. Home or abroad, No7 Tinted Moisturiser stands the test of heat and coverage.
Beautiful Becks – David Beckham on the front of Elle magazine. Picture a muscular Adonis walking out of a pool dripping wet. Ladies all over the world are dribbling. A designer Jubilee – Dior's regal crown nail transfers. Patriotism at its best. Sample sales – Designer bargains galore. What's not to love?
Finished Karl Lagerfeld – His new Chanel Cruise 2013 creepers collection. Those pesky brothel creepers just won't go away! Brum weather – End of the sunshine and back to the rain. Just what are we supposed to wear with this ever changing weather? Concert cancellations – Lady Gaga having to cancel her Asian gigs due to protestors calling her 'The Devil'. Disappointing. MIC confusion – Spencer Matthews to be the star of The Bachelor...isn't he meant to be with Louise? The end of Desperate Housewives – The series has been running since 2004 and has finally come to an end. What will we do with our Sunday evenings now? Absolutely devastating. The Flatform – This shoe does nothing for the figure expect raise you off the ground by an inch. The constant hangover – With post-exam celebrations in full swing, the constant hangover seems unavoidable.
Life&Style 21
8th June 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
Advice To The Single Male Confessions: Online Dating Tom Walters & Robbie Tuffley Writers
It is very easy to settle in Selly Oak with any girl, but to actually get the girl there is an obstacle course of knockbacks, backfiring dates and exes to navigate. Romance always includes a string of difficulties. Recently, I slightly alarmed the girl I liked with my all guns-blazing romantic strategies and I was forced to retreat to more subtle forms of seduction, which ultimately - and unfortunately - led to the girl questioning whether I still existed... Despite this, one should never have regrets in pursuing attractive strangers because in courtship you’ll never get what you want unless you ask. Yet similarly, don't pursue the girl that you know is uninterested in you, because intrigued Redbrick reader, as confident as I am with some aspects in life, that girl you like, will be able to break down your self-assurance and ego with a casual: 'Hello.' To find yourself an introduction to the perfect partner who is going to feel exactly the same way, it is all about being in the right place at the right time. Therefore, it's important to put yourself out there and embrace the carpe diem attitude - don't rely on the Hollywood cliché of serendipity. If you've found the perfect girl, don't muck it up whilst trying to impress her. The fine line between suggestion and 'making things too obvious' must be observed with care. Girls appreciate the honourable attention of a gentleman but sometimes the aforementioned attention can be misconstrued as being solely a 'good friend'. To dodge falling into the dreaded 'friend zone', a subtle
mix of backhanded compliments and badly mixed cocktails is essential. A final top tip is to not always listen to your best friend's advice. Often, and especially in the midst of Selly Oak, a man can be confused by feelings for more than one girl. In this situation, it is important to follow one's heart rather than your friend’s ultimately prophetic advice, because in life, it’s you who has to swim through rivers before finding a relationship-worthy lagoon. So, gentlemen of Selly Oak, abate your sexual extravagance and if there is a lady who instils a genuine feeling of enticement, pursue them with a candid confidence, brushing aside the advancements of any competition as the girl might just be worth the perilous chase.
Sarah Welsby Writer
'Oh my God, are you being serious?' 'What the hell is someone like you doing that for?!' These are just two of the reactions I received from friends when I told them what I had done. No, before you ask, I have not committed any kind of crime, nor become an online sexual sensation overnight... I have simply signed up to an online dating site. You're probably categorising me as one of three descriptions: desperate, sad, or 'has no social life'. In reality, I am none of the above; in fact, I'm far from it. I originally thought the only people who used dating sites were 40-year-old overweight perverts with nothing to offer, or, women who were suffering a mid-life crisis. Truth be told, the variety that you find is unbelievable. I signed up three months ago to c o m pletelyfreedating.com. Signing up was easy: I made my profile,
wrote about myself and added pictures I thought represented me well; pictures I felt showed a) I am not afraid of the natural, no-makeup look and b) Yes I do in fact have a social life. I wrote about studying Spanish at University and my hobbies that include writing, swimming and going out. And also what I was hoping to find on the site. I browsed the site while waiting for responses. Guys without pictures I dismissed straight away. These are the 40-year-old perverts everyone warns you about. However, there were far more males to view; overweight, skinny, muscly, married, seeking sex, seeking relationships, single for years, just come out of a relationship with baggage (aka children), but also, students like myself, fed up of meeting the same one-night-stand material falling out of a club. Over the next few days, I had a variety of messages. From the normal 'Hey, you look nice, how are you?' to the strange 'If I were to ask you what you'd rather: Go on a glorious date with me, throw me off a cliff into a bay of starving sharks, cover me in cheese (like this opening gambit), what would your response be?' Honestly, I could write a book about all the responses I have received! I am yet to go on a date, but I have got to know a few guys quite well over Facebook/Skype etc. and a meeting is on the cards. The point of this article is to say if you are considering it, go for it! You are not sad or desperate, merely curious. My cousin met her boyfriend on a dating site; eight years later they are going strong and getting married next year... Anything is possible!
An Editor's Goodbye Sophie Cowling Life&Style Editor
Having the opportunity to be Life&Style Editor for the last year has been an exciting and enabling one. Exciting in terms of the articles, issues and events our lovely team of writers have covered, and enabling in terms of the doors it has opened up. No matter what's going on, whether it be the Birmingham riots or student tuition fee increases, the escapism and light-hearted humor that an article such as 'Vajazzling and Feminism: A not so unlikely combination?' can provide is what makes the Life&Style section (in my biased opinion) so fantastic and necessary to Redbrick. The exciting elements of the year have included attending the September London Fashion Week, Style Birmingham Live, the Harvey Nichols Anniversary Press party, the 'Ask-Men' Valentines special on campus, as well as interviewing Theo Paphitis and Amy Childs' mum (not together I must stress). The down sides have included occasionally putting Redbrick before my degree and making enemies when acting as office DJ on Spotify due to my questionable musical taste… Yet the career opportunities writing or editing the paper opens up further emphasizes how worthwhile, as well as enjoyable, working for Redbrick is, and I would therefore urge anyone thinking of writing to get involved! I would finally like to wish the new Life&Style Editors, Lucy and Megan, the best of luck for next year as I head off on my year abroad – their fashion and relationship expertise will make sure you are kept in the loop and entertained! Love Sophie, xoxo
Hollywood in Selly Oak? The Red Carpet Look On A Budget Rebecca Francis Writer
At this time of year, browsing through glossy magazines packed with pictures of glam celebrities on the red carpet can often be a disheartening affair. With an abundance of gorgeous female celebrities styling their designer (and unaffordable) garments at the BAFTAs and Cannes, magazine readers are swooning with jealousy. Even with a flair for fashion and a love of designer glamour, the measly remnants of the last student loan instalment frequently means little room for myself to have any Hollywood glitz. So whilst Cartier jewels and towering Louboutins are off the cards for the moment (dream graduate job impending…), red carpet style is still achievable on a student budget. With graduation celebrations imminently looming and the regular 21st summer birthday invitation arriving on the doormat, Life&Style provide a guide for achieving that red carpet glamour with a tight budget. Check out the high street equivalent of these celebrity trends and rock a summer wardrobe Hollywood would be proud of.
20s Glamour With Baz Lurhman's hotly anticipated adaptation of The Great Gatsby set to be released later this year, sequins, delicate fabrics and flapper dresses have frequented the red carpet of late. The best Daisy Buchannan-wannabe accolade goes to model Irina Shayk, whose embellished mini-dress turned heads at Cannes Film Festival. This River Island 'Black Embellished Fringe Tunic Dress' offers a similar style at a fraction of the price and also comes in nude: perfect for those summer celebrations when the sun does decide to emerge.
River Island: £60
Topshop: £65 Pop Colour From Kim Kardashian to Made In Chelsea star Gabriella Ellis, colour blocking has also been a staple of red carpet season. Topshop's yellow beaded bodycon dress not only ticks the neon colourblocking trend but also adds extra glamour with its figure-enhancing embellishment. See H&M for a gorgeous aqua coloured peplum dress which steals the rainbow hued show. Sophisticated enough for summer weddings and family gatherings yet fitted and sexy enough for nights out, the dress is versatile, fresh and even includes a nod towards another major summer trend: the peplum.
Splits and Cut Outs The maxi dress has long been a summer staple. Cool, effortless and long enough to hide a multitude of sins, it provides an easy way to nail sunshine chic. However, since those infamous photographs of Jolie's endless legs peaking out of her black maxi dress as she posed for photographers at the Oscars, this summer's maxis have taken a decidedly more revealing turn. Miss Selfridge's Black Cutout Maxi Dress (£28) offers a way to flash a bit of summer skin without the threat of revealing all in a gust of wind. Just be weary of a few awkwardly placed tan lines!
Miss Selfridge: £28 www.kenzas.se
www.kenzas.se Tiffany Bowers Writer
Kenza Zouiten is already famous in Sweden for being a model and a fashionista, but her blog has gone global and now girls all over the world can appreciate her impeccable style. At just 20-years-old, it is slightly depressing how beautiful Kenza is, but her quirky charm and love for all things fashion makes her blog fun and accessible and a great source for fashion inspiration. One cannot really label Kenza's style. From rocking casual distressed denim shorts and leather jackets, to sleek Calvin Klein style white dresses, Kenza can nail any trend, and with regular snaps of her model boyfriend being posted too, the blog is definitely worth a visit!
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8th June 2012
Television
Redbrick
Emma Harding sees if Revenge is a dish best served cold at redbrickpaper.co.uk
Interview: Fresh Meat's Charlotte Ritchie
Charlotte Lytton talks to the BAFTA nominee about playing Oregon in the TV smash hit show of the year
While some might argue that Kate and Wills getting hitched was the big news of 2011, Fresh Meat fans would say otherwise. The first series began airing in September to critical acclaim and has scooped a range of accolades including the British Comedy Award for Best New Comedy, the NME Award for Best TV Show and three nominations at May's BAFTAs. Charlotte Ritchie, who plays Oregon in the hit programme, says of their success: 'You read certain scripts and some grab you and some don't, but this one really did. But I don't think anyone expected we'd win so many awards!' Fresh Meat's cult following undoubtedly comes from its apt depiction of university life, with many of the leading roles based on characters we all recognise from around campus. 'Oregon is always trying to be someone she's not, and I think a lot of people tend to do that when they're growing up. I think everyone can identify with that, and many people who have watched the show have told me
they have Oregons at university. She's an amalagamation of people I know and myself.' Getting involved with the show was a speedy process for Charlotte: 'I hadn't finished university when I first auditioned, but I got cast three weeks later. A lot of people had auditioned months before me, so when I went for my fourth audition alongside everyone else, they had already been cast and I was still being tested out! After that audi-
I didn't make it big until year three, where I played Little Red Riding tion, I spent two hours pacing around the hotel room they'd put me up in, wondering if I'd be staying there in Man-
chester for three months or going home - it felt like a reality show!' But things moved quickly after that, and after getting the part, the actress had to return to university in Bristol, pack up her room and be back in Manchester the next day to begin filming. 'Recording the show coincided with my last two weeks of uni - I hadn't even handed my dissertation in yet!' And this wasn't the first time Charlotte had to juggle her performing arts career with her studies as she has been one quarter of classical crossover group All Angels since 2006. The quartet supported Katherine Jenkins on tour in 2009, and also have the Queen, Manchester United's fans and the viewers of Emmerdale to add to their ever growing list of audiences worldwide. She reveals, 'For a while, I tried to do everything at once, but for the last two years of my English Literature and Drama degree, I realised that singing and my studies should be my main focus. I didn't do much acting during that time, so auditioning for Fresh
Meat was to check if I still could!' Fresh Meat is perhaps what Charlotte is now most recognised for, but she says, 'I didn't make it big until Year three, where I played Little Red Riding Hood!' Her acting career gathered steam when she joined the National Youth Music Theatre. Her first big break came at the age of 11, when she toured Japan in the company's production of Pendragon, and her next role came in a short film starring Michael Sheen and Cherie Lunghi. 'Doing The Open Doors really boosted my career, and I got my professional agent after that.' Fame has been an interesting development for the young star: 'People recognise me, but they're never sure where from, so we end up waving at each other pretending we know who the other is! I was worried that people might not react positively, but everyone has been lovely.' But while she may be a girl of many talents, instruments are not one of them: 'I played the clarinet for 11 years but only got to Grade Three. I was terrible!'
Interview: The Apprentice's Ricky Martin Charlotte Lytton speaks to Lord Sugar's new business partner. Is he livin' la vida loca? Time to find out... Congratulations on your win, Ricky! How does it feel? Incredible. It’s all very surreal to me to finally get the opportunity to set up the business I always wanted. What made you apply to the show in the first place? I applied to it because I’ve always wanted to make that leap of faith to set up my own company. I’ve been in recruitment for the past six years and I’ve always wanted to go out and make a
higher return on money than what I could make working for a business. Not only is getting a quarter of a million pounds during recessionary times difficult, but Lord Sugar’s involvement and his expertise made me want to get involved. I applied for the process to ultimately win it: I never would have applied to the old format only because this one offers a business partnership rather than a job. How will your new business be different to other recruitment agencies? The main difference is that it’s focussing on supporting areas of ethical need –it’s ethical recruitment, so it’s not recruiting for everything, just the things that matter. But there are a lot of things that Lord Sugar and I need to sit down and explore before we really advertise what’s going to make it so
different and unique. He’s already brought some new ideas into the business and I’ve got a few ideas, so we want to find the synergy between them. Would you ever want to front your own business show? The showbiz element isn't something I'm interested in right now. As a by-product of The Apprentice, there are a lot of people recognising you and wanting to speak to you but actually, I don’t really want to enhance that, I just want to get my company set up and run with that. If I can help to inspire enterprise in some way whatever that might be in the future then of course I would want to encourage that, but right now having my own Apprentice type show is bottom of the list of priorities! Lord Sugar described you
as being a safe option. What do you make of that? I think that’s absolutely fair. When Lord Sugar says 'safe', he means he can see my business working – I didn’t take that as an insult or a backhanded compliment. I think that's recognition that what I’m doing tailors to what he’s looking for which is to do what you know, keep things simple and to be straight forward and that’s exactly what I offered him. Would you encourage others to follow a similar path to you? If they’re passionate about doing something, they should follow their heart and go for it. Without the wrestling talk, though! Karren, Alan and Nick snog, marry avoid? I can't possibly anwer that!
The year in Redbrick TV
The University of Birmingham this year entered a team into University Challenge and we quizzed the team in our own exclusive podcast.
Apprentice reject Stuart Baggs interrupted his toilet activity to tell us about his failure with women and why Alan Sugar thinks he's a c**t in our weirdest interview of the year.
Wilderness explorer Bear Grylls took time out of his adventures to give us an insight into his undomesticated lifestyle including a possible singing career. Hit BBC drama Sherlock got a grilling from our reporters when we went to the preview and interviewed star of the show Benedict Cumberbatch and its writers.
Hit ITV dating show Take Me Out had one of our own as third-year Nursing student Maddie was looking for a man, and we got the inside scoop.
We had a touch of nostalgia when we took a look back on the child stars of the 90s and where their careers have taken them. Not far really.
Redbrick
Travel
23
Summer Travel Quote:
'Summer is kind of like the ultimate one-night stand: hot as hell, totally thrilling, and gone before you know it'
A traveller's checklist
r a e r e
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Lucy Rowland gives her 5 top travelling tips
So, you’ve made your mind up. Summer’s here, and now’s the time for that trip of a lifetime. You’ve graduated/finished your exams, and booked your flights after months of forsaking uni nights out to save your pennies. It’s all very exciting. But the few weeks before you set off can actually rival finals in the stress stakes if you haven’t planned ahead. Use this list to sort out the nitty gritty before buying that 200 lbs backpack in a fit of hysterical anticipation. You can thank me later.
redbrickpaper.co.uk
8th June 2012
?
Visa: Do you need one? If so, what type? If you’re volunteering or
working abroad, the costs are probably going to be considerably higher than a tourist visa. Make sure you factor this into your budget to avoid a nasty shock. Also, apply for your visa ASAP – they may say three days’ processing time, but don’t trust them. Leave a month at least.
North America & Canada?
Passport:
Check that it’s not only in date, but is valid for a few months after your return. Seriously. Go and check it, now.
Insurance: Shop around – if you’ve booked your trip through a
travel agent, they’ll try and flog you their own insurance, usually at a totally unnecessary price. Use price comparison websites to find the best deal, and make sure when you buy your insurance that it covers everything you’re going to be doing – extreme sports may be less than thrilling when you have to pay thousands of pounds in medical fees for an impromptu X-ray.
Europe?
Africa?
Jabs: Go on the NHS Fit for Travel website to check the ones you need – some, like hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and cholera are usually free, but you’ll probably have to pay for rabies and Japanese encephalitis. Check their prevalence in the areas you’re visiting, likewise with malaria – it’s more common in humid, tropical environments, and if there’s one souvenir you do not want to bring home, it’s a life-threatening disease. Just sayin’.
South America?
Packing list: Do you really need your straighteners? Your beer
bong? Hiking boots? Didn’t think so. Get the essentials, then see what else you can fit in. Comfy shoes, cheap-but-wearable clothing, a guidebook/phrasebook and all your important documents are the bare minimum – followed by travel adaptors, a cheap unlocked phone if you’re going to be away for a while, toiletries (including contraception, guys and gals), and room for things you want to bring back. If you’re going somewhere with a low cost of living, you can even get your clothes out there – you’ll fit in better. Nothing screams ‘TOURIST!’ like those North Face khaki cargo shorts.
P.S. Follow us on Twitter
this summer and let us know know your travel plans - send us in your holiday snaps and see if they make next years online travel photo album! @redbricktravel
And you’re sorted. You’ve booked your transport to the airport (no? Better get on the Megabus website then…), you’ve exchanged heartfelt goodbyes with your dog and your parents are worryingly sorting through your suitcase. The time has arrived! Last few words of advice: plan ahead, have fun, be safe, but don’t be too sensible.
Your complete Greek Geek's Guide to the islands... Lucy Whife Life&Style Editor
On a night out last week, a fellow student told me he studied Spanish and Mandarin to which I replied ‘Mandarin? Where do they speak that?’ Evidently, I lack some serious geographical and travel knowledge (and quite clearly some intelligence); however my limited travel awareness is somewhat justified by my outstanding knowledge of Greece. Having spent every single summer on a Greek island since I was a littl’un, it is safe to say I know more about the country than I do my own degree. So to part with some of my wisdom, here is my Geeky Greeky guide to the perfect Greek destinations for your summer getaway. Take a look at some of these options to see which would suit your perfect getaway destination and then get onto lastminute.com to book that holiday away; even if you do it just to taste a real Geek salad, I can guarantee you will not regret it.
The Family Holiday: Kefalonia:
Kefalonia comes under the family holiday category as its main drawback is its expensive prices; Kefalonia is super, super pricey and thus, you need mum or dad accompanying you with a copious amount of generosity and a healthy bank account. However, the island is beautiful with stunning views and possibly the clearest water of all the Greek islands. Dotted around the island are five sheltered ports, making it ideal for any family who enjoys boating or sailing. Kefalonia is also the setting for Louis De Berniere’s novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. His regular references to the island’s monuments, places and history make it a recommended read whilst away.
The Real Greek: Andros
For those of you back-packing, Greece has an abundance of untouched traditional Greek islands. If you’re looking to experience the real Greek-donkeys, traditional Greek dancing, wrinkly Greek grannies on the side of the road and a place where no aspect of life remotely resembles modernity, Andros is your guy. In this teeny island, with picturesque villages and beaches, there is an unashamedly small proportion of habitants who speak English and therefore the island is one of few that is not predominantly dependent on tourism in the summer months. Tranquil and relaxing, Andros is ideal to experience true Greek culture.
The LAD Holiday: Malia
Greece offers many an island to suit the party-animal LAD holiday; Zante, Kos, etc. Malia is a small town in the Greek island of Crete that separates itself from the other ‘piss-up’ destinations due to its short strip of bars and clubs and extremely safe atmosphere and reputation. On finishing Sixth Form, 10 of my innocent school friends and I ventured to Malia for a week of drinking and tanning celebrations in search of our Shirley Valentine Greek romance. We returned a week later having met Frankie Cocozza (pre X-factor stardom), watched The Inbetweeners film their and, needless to say, had acquired a couple of drunken tattoos.
The Romantic-Break: Skiathos
This island is for all you lovedup students who want to take full advantage of Greece’s euro crisis cheapness whilst seemingly treating your boy/girlfriend to a romantic holiday. Skiathos was the location for the film Mamma Mia and the place where supposedly drinking the tap water, although not recommended for hygienic reasons, makes you destined to find true love. The idyllic setting of the film is even more perfect in real life; Skiathos is an island where you can be serenaded by a guitarplaying duo whilst enjoying a candle-lit dinner on the beach before ending your night in a classy bar on the coast, sitting on cushions and getting drunk on cocktails.
All photos by Emily Booth
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Sport
2012: the year in sport Redbrick Sport run through the sporting events that will combine to make this year a special one for sport, page 27
Hughes 'peaches' for the stars
A fantastic election campaign under the moniker of 'James and the Giant Peach' saw James Hughes elected to the sabbatical position of Vice-President for Sport with a resounding number of votes. Departing Deputy Editor James Phillips caught up with Hughes to find out more about his ambitious plans for university sport, and about the man himself...
Nearly three months have passed since the end of James Hughes’ victorious VP Sport election campaign yet there is still no stopping the enthusiasm of the 21-year-old Devonian. ‘I have a number of ambitions’ he tells Redbrick Sport in an exclusive interview, ‘to improve elite sport and increase participation. I want to work with as many sports clubs as possible - to bring as many people in as I can.’ It is difficult to fault Hughes’ ambition, and his passion for university sport comes across strongly when anybody talks to him. As well as trying to involve more people with sport at the University of Birmingham, he also aims to introduce ‘ten session packages’ for gym and swim at the Munrow sports centre, continue the successful ‘second sports fair’ which current incumbent Tim Smith introduced this year, and implement a push on healthy eating. It is clear that the Guild of Students have landed themselves a dedicated Vice-President for Sport (VPS) and Hughes stresses that his tenure will be based upon organisation. Hughes, who grew up in the village of Ilsington, realises that there are many challenges facing any incoming sabbatical officer at the Guild and he mentions that ‘working as a team’ with his fellow officers will be a key aspect of the role. ‘As VP Sport, not only do I have to work well with the other sabbs and the team working at the Guild but also staff at the Munrow centre and the University. My biggest challenge will be managing to balance all those relationships.’ Hughes also realises that it may be difficult to achieve all that he said in his manifesto, yet it won’t stop him trying. ‘I know what people think from campaigning and gauging opinions. I’m going to compile evidence for different gym and swim memberships and really try to create participation wings for other sports’. This is where Hughes’ background in University sport comes into play. ‘I was part of a group that founded Cool Runnings, and it was a brilliant experience.’ Cool Runnings is a ‘participation wing’ of BUAC, the University’s athletics club. People can join and run for the exercise and social aspect without the pressure of training with the rest of the University athletes. In their own words it is ‘as competitive as one wants to make it.’ Hughes’ involvement with the club means he knows exactly what being on a committee of a UB Sport club is about, ‘Being involved with Cool Runnings was the reason that motivated me. Tricky points like ordering kit - I’m aware of that.’ Hughes also plays intra-league football with his team ‘Politics Chess Club’ as well as tennis, but claims that he is ‘not very good at many sports.’ However he is ‘keen on learning the rules of every sport’ and looks forward to ‘going down to watch people play different sports on Wednesdays next year.’
Training for the position commences on 18th June with Hughes set to take over from Smith on 16th July. The younger man speaks highly of his predecessor saying, ‘he always gets back to all sports clubs that contact him and I’m looking to push on from there. He’s stressed building relationships and the idea of “give and take”. He’s a very dedicated VPS and I’m proud to take over from him.’ One of the on-going issues which has been announced during Smith’s time in the position is the new sports centre which is set to be built where the Gun Barrels pub currently is. Hughes expects construction to get underway in January 2013 although he admits it is ‘likely to be under the next VPS’ that the sports centre is finally finished. The VP Sport’s involvement in the plans for the new sports centre exemplify what Hughes describes as a ‘year split into three’, where he expects to be dividing his time between the Guild, UB Sport and his own ideas. Relating to Guild matters he says he is ‘excited for Guild Council, the trustee board and involvement with plagiarism cases (one of the sabbatical officer’s duties)’ and that ‘politics is politics so I expect there will be fallout like there has been this year. I’m looking forward to it - I’ve done a
political science degree and look forward to being a mediator if necessary.’ Hughes believes that he can apply what he has learnt during his degree to his course, ‘like any degree I have learnt practical skills such as dealing with people and solving problems. Some might say I’m overly organised as I always meet deadlines and I like being at places on time. I’ll try to be as friendly as possible - I only have one year in the role, and it goes quickly, so friendship is important.’ Looking to the future, Hughes has ‘three avenues’ in mind for post-VP Sport life. Firstly, and least likely, he would like to travel around the Far East, secondly, he is considering doing a Masters qualification in Birmingham and finally, he would like to enter the world of work doing ‘something politically related, potentially in Westminster.’ Before then though, his greatest ambition is to ‘increase the amount of people that are aware of what is going on with UB Sport. Lots of people don’t know, it’s not their fault but I’d like to change that’. Will he miss being a student? ‘Massively, this responsibility will be different but I’m still looking forward to Fab.’ The year ahead is bound to be an interesting one for James Hughes and University Sport.
Hughes with his intramural football team
Jimmy Hughes on... 'Torquay is the closest major town to my village of Ilsington. I’ve watched them since I was six and seen two relegations but only one promotion! I’m a passionate football fan and I find the grit and tenacity of the players in the lower leagues more exciting than Premier League football. I admire the sheer commitment of the players.'
Jimmy Hughes on... 'I’m absolutely in favour of it. One argument against it is that it could lead to more technology which wouldn’t suit football. As long as it’s limited it will be fine as it would be in the referee’s ear in seconds and ultimately millions of pounds could be lost if a mistake was made in a big match. It’s already worked in sports like rugby, cricket and tennis so why not?'
Jimmy Hughes on... 'I’ve played tennis since I was a young boy, it’s a big passion. I didn’t quite make the University team but that led to me running! Tennis is a great game and Roger Federer has such grace and skill. People criticise his record but there were a lot of major challenges. 16 majors is a great achievement. I’m also an Andy Murray fan!'
Jimmy Hughes on...
Hughes is relishing his upcoming role as VPS
Freddie Herzog
'The pressure is off England with a new manager and new ideas. I have no other logical reason to think England will win but since World Cup ‘98 I have always thought England would win every tournament, it’s just bias! Beyond England, it’s hard to see past Germany and Spain.'
Freddie Herzog
Torquay United
Goal-Line Technology
Tennis
Euro 2012
Sport Thoughts Redbrick Sport writer Frankie Conway looks ahead to an exceptional summer of sport.
Pinch yourself- 2012 is upon us. After years of anticipation, speculation and wonderment the most historic of sporting summers has arrived on our shores. Taking centre stage for the season’s entertainment is the London Olympics. The Olympic fever is truly engulfing the nation as we approach the 50 days to go mark. As the Olympic torch works its way across the towns and cities of Britain, people everywhere are embracing the excitement. The nation eagerly awaits the appearance of top sporting stars such as Bolt, Ennis and Federer. But the Olympic occasion brings more than sporting entertainment. The Games will transform lives. Seeing the world’s best sports men and women in the flesh will only inspire people to further their own ambitions and improve their lives. The Games also has the power to bring people together, to unite people from all countries under the Olympic ideals of cooperation and fair play. But the 2012 sporting line-up does not end with the Olympics. Starting this week, the Euro 2012 Championships will undoubtedly provide a rich feast of footballing theatre. Defending champions Spain will have to fend off the stern challenges posed by a star studded German line-up as well as the flair of a Dutch side seeking to land their first major title since 1988. It will be interesting to see how Roy Hodgson’s young English brigade fares against the highest grade of competition. Of particular note, rising stars such as Danny Welbeck, Alex OxladeChamberlain and Phil Jones will have the opportunity to show the world England’s new brand of energetic, bright and youthful football.
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Edgbaston hosts Aegon Classic
Heather Watson (on court with child, left) and Elena Baltacha (right) are two British hopes competing at both Edgbaston and Wimbledon Joel Lamy
Online Sport Editor
The cream of the British crop head to Birmingham on Monday 11th June to compete at one of the principal warm-up events before Wimbledon. The top four ranked females in Elena Baltacha, Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson will all be competing at the Priory Club in Edgbaston, close to the University of Birmingham, as they build up to the prestigious home grand slam. Standing in their way of a victory in the Aegon Classic will be a host of the world’s top 50 who will be looking to gain a morale boosting victory, as relative unknown Sabine Lisicki did last year when she defeated Daniela Hantuchova in the final before reaching the semifinals at SW19 two weeks later after being given a wildcard.
Go to www.redbrickpaper. co.uk/sports for a full interview with Elena Baltacha.
Unseeded this time last year, Lisicki is now ranked 13th in the world and will be favourite to retain her title, despite the continued presence of Slovakian Hantuchova, currently world number 18, and the threat of the big-hitting Kaia Kanepi, who recently knocked out Caroline Wozniacki at the French Open. However, much attention will be placed on the four British players who all recently took part at Roland Garros and will be seeking victory in one of the few home tournaments they play during the year. Baltacha has had a difficult year but won a similar tournament last year in Nottingham and will be keen to turn things around with a good grass court season. With the automatic Olympic placements finalised after the French Open, Baltacha will hope to make sure that even though she isn’t guaranteed to be in London, she will at least earn a wildcard with some promising performances. Her closest challenger for the position of British number one is Keothavong, who has been inside the world’s top 50 before and will want to return there once again having recovered from surgery in
2009. Slightly further behind these two in the rankings are youngsters Watson and Robson, who have tasted victory in junior Grand Slams. Watson has progressed slightly the quicker of the two and achieved a brilliant victory over world number 25 Lucie Safarova in Miami this year, winning 6-2, 6-1, while she also made round three of this tournament last year. Robson is the lowest ranked of the four and has so far struggled to live up to the hype of winning the Wimbledon junior title as a 14-year-old in 2008, but if firing with her big ground-strokes then she will be a match for anybody. Redbrick Sport spoke exclusively to Baltacha, who outlined her aims ‘to just keep improving and keep climbing up the rankings. I know that I can improve a lot and it’s just all about keeping it all together and winning as many matches as I can.’ On the British competition in the women’s game at the moment, she said, ‘There’s always a friendly rivalry, you need that in any sport, you need to respond to someone else doing well. It’s good because it means that if one of the girls do well I’ve got to
The Aegon Classic takes place from 11-17 June, with tickets priced at £10 a day for students. Monday 11th is officially Students Day where the ticket includes a free glass of Pimms or bottle of Budweiser, while those attending can win prizes for going as the best dressed tennis player (think Federer, Borg, McEnroe etc).
Burgess set to sign for Boro Sam Price Sport Editor
Not to be forgotten are the usual mouth-watering annual sporting extravaganzas which light up every English summer. The Wimbledon Championships promises to be the best ever. Andy Murray will re-launch his pursuit of grand slam glory as he assumes battle against the formidable trio of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. On the women’s side, seasoned champions Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will look to thwart the challenge of the up and coming stars Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova. Both the British Open golf championships and Royal Ascot horse racing meeting will also be memorable events. In an action packed summer, the sporting enthusiast will be in dreamland watching a never ending supply of unmissable entertainment.
try and work harder to move away from them.’ The Aegon Classic begins on June 11, with singles and doubles competitions, and spectators making their way to the Priory Club will be in for some great tennis over the week. It will be interesting to see how Britain’s best get on against some well-established top 50 players next week and with the Priory Club on our doorstep, it is a great opportunity for students to attend a top-class tournament. It promises to be a belter.
Recently elected men’s football captain and second year University of Birmingham student Christian Burgess is set to be offered a professional contract by Championship club Middlesborough in the coming days, Redbrick Sport understands. Burgess, who was undergoing a medical at the time of print, is set to drop out of Birmingham and accept a full-time contract from the North-East club in pursuit of a career as a professional footballer, while completing his degree parttime. The centre-back has featured at the heart of the Birmingham defence in the past two years, and impressed on trial with Boro, for whom he has appeared in a number of reserve games. Burgess, who has been studying History at the University, has played with Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur at youth level, and most recently played for semi-pro side Bishop Stortford.
Burgess (left) in action on trial for Middlesborough reserves The defender was recommended to Middlesborough by Mark Burke, recently a coach with the University and himself a former professional with Boro among other clubs. It was Burke who spotted Burgess' vast potential, and the 20-year-old now has an opportunity to establish himself within the professional ranks.
Talking to Redbrick Sport, Burgess appreciated the significance of the step up: ‘University football’s a funny one, the boys play a good standard but it’s a big difference to full-time football to be honest.’ Indeed, it’s very rare for University players to be signed by professional clubs, and the list of
modern footballers with degrees is extremely scarce. Asked if he had thought his chance had gone when he reached university, Burgess said ‘it was in the back of the mind, but my plan was always to get a degree to fall back on and work my way up from semi-professional level.’ It is testament to the talent and dedication of Burgess that he has been picked up by the Teeside club, and the defender has caught the eye of respected Boro manager Tony Mowbray. Speaking to the Evening Gazette, Mowbray said ‘There's talent there, there's game understanding there, there's physicality there, he's a very intelligent boy.’ Burgess is set to sign a contract imminently, before moving to Middlesborough and beginning pre-season training with the club. He said: 'I'm looking forward to the challenge that full-time football poses, and will be doing my upmost to make my mark on the club and get in and around the first team.' Redbrick Sport would like to wish Chris the best of luck with his career.
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Cruchley raises the bar with Olympic Stadium heroics
Redbrick
Archery Hannah Lake reports back from a sterling season for the University of Birmingham Archery club.
University of Birmingham pole vault star Nick Cruchley performed immensely at the BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships last month, taking a gold medal after jumping a BUCS Championship record of 5.22m. Redbrick Sport writer Tom Garry caught up with the athlete to discuss the Championship success, the Olympic Games and Cruchley's hopes for his future in pole vault...
Name: Nick Cruchley Age: 22 Degree: Sports and Material Science (4th year) Hometown: Stourbridge Local Club: Halesowen Athletics Club Personal Best: 5.42m – Finland, July 2011 British Record: 5.80m Nick Buckfield, 1998 World Record: 6.14m Sergey Bubka, 1994 Athletes from the University of Birmingham certainly made their mark on the newly-built Olympic Stadium during the venue’s official test event last month, with the club achieving an outstanding 2nd place overall in the BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships. One man who grabbed the headlines for Birmingham was 22-year-old Pole Vault star Nick Cruchley. Not only did the Sports and Materials Science student win gold but in doing so he also set a new BUCS championship record, clearing a staggering height of 5.22m. Already the last man standing in the final, Cruchley raised the bar above the previous record, which had stood for 26 years, and secured his place in the history books with a flawless leap that demonstrated calm nerve under pressure as well as great natural talent. Despite vaulting higher than any student before him at the BUCS championships, Cruchley was modest about his success. ‘I wouldn’t say I’m the best ever at this level. There are a lot of good guys around so I don’t expect that record to last forever.’ Nevertheless, to put the achievement into perspective, 5.22m would have been a world record as recently as 1964 and is just 58cm lower than the current British record. Remarkably though, things could have been very different. ‘My abiding memory of the weekend is that I had probably the worst warm-up I’ve ever had in my life. It was awful. My coach and I were shouting at each other, trying to work out what to do because I had nothing to go on. In the end we decided to just do what I do best which is compete. Thankfully, it worked out.’ The crowd were none the wiser as Cruchley eased over the sub-5m bars whilst his rivals faltered. When asked if he was surprised that his fellow competitors hadn’t pushed him further, he said: ‘I was a little but I think the cold got to everyone. It wasn’t nice and we were out there for 3 hours or more.’ Originally from Stourbridge, Cruchley began his sporting life as a swimmer but claims to have ‘got bored’ of the pool aged 13, and followed his brother in taking up
athletics. Initially a cross-country runner, Cruchley gradually progressed to shorter distances on the track before making his transition to Pole Vault aged 15. His success since then is clearly down to a lot of hard work; his usual routine involves training six days a week but increases to as many as 16 sessions a week at times. An intense schedule by any athlete’s standards, Cruchley admits that it doesn’t leave him as much time to socialise with his Birmingham teammates as much as he would like. After four years Cruchley has now finished his undergraduate degree, having split his final year, and now hopes to do a postgraduate degree at Birmingham, which would enable him to continue training at the nearby Halesowen Athletics Club whilst studying. ‘Realistically, Athletics isn’t going to be around for me forever. To carry on training and studying here would be the perfect scenario.’ Looking ahead to the Olympics for Team GB, Cruchley expects the media spotlight to fall on heptathlete Jessica Ennis. ‘For the British media, it’s all about Jess. They don’t want to take their eyes off her, but Chernova of Russia is going to be tough to beat so she’s not going to have it as easy as people are hoping. I think Jess is dealing with things quite well, but there’s a lot of pressure on her to get the gold medal.' In his own event, Cruchley is tipping Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie to succeed this year but also has high hopes for his British colleagues, including former training partner Steve Lewis. ‘The British girls are really on fire. As for the guys, I’m hoping Steve will jump big. I’ve said to a lot of people that he’ll break some records.’ The current stadium record holder also knows that the atmosphere will be a lot different from the test event when it comes to the games. ‘With only a few thousand spectators for my event, it felt empty and it was a slightly weird atmosphere. It was clear to everyone it was a world-class facility though. When you walk out on to a warm up track that costs £1m, you know you’re walking into something special.’ Looking to the future, Cruchley doesn’t expect to make the Olympic qualifying height of 5.72m this year but has set his sights on competing at the upcoming European championships. A level-headed guy, Cruchley is a pleasure to watch, and with most pole vaulters reaching their peak around 28, still has time yet to improve on his BUCS success. Reflecting on BUCS Championship Gold, he said: ‘I had my moment on the podium! That was a cool experience.’ Yet if the UB Sportsperson of the Year nominee can keep up his incredible level of dedication, surely there will be more moments on the podium in the future.
Cruchley is now a BUCS and Olympic Stadium record holder UB Sport
Birmingham medallists at BUCS Outdoors Gold Pippa Woolven - Women's 2000m Steeplechase (also set a BUCS Championship record) Silver Harry Harper - Men's 1500m Hannah Walker - Women's 1500m Bronze Rebecca Linney - Women's 800m Read, Clifford, Linney & Barrow - Women's 4x400m Laura Riches - Women's 2000m Steeplechase Niall Fleming - Men's 5000m
2012 has been an extremely successful year for the University of Birmingham Archery Club (UBAC). They have achieved team BUCS points in the Experienced and Novice categories this year at the Telford International Centre, as well as two gold medals, for Jos Sarsby and Allan West, and a bronze medal for Sarah Russel. This success was continued within the local league, with the Novice team taking second place in the Indoor Championship, due to their successful medal haul throughout the season, which shows great promise for next year’s indoor season. The outdoor season began at the start of April, and UBAC were chosen to host this year’s Outdoor BUTTS League Championships, which took place at Metchley Lane on Saturday 26th May, in absolutely brilliant sunshine. It was the most eventful shoot that UBAC have hosted, with an archer from Loughborough having to deal with her longbow shattering mid shot, and a pause in shooting during the middle of the day to enable a medical helicopter to land on the field! However, apart from these issues the competition ran incredibly well, and UBAC had a very impressive day, coming away with six individual medals, five of which were gold. Chris Tombe set a new league record for Gents Compound, followed by Dan Cross achieving the same feat in the Novice Compound category. Jos Sarsby and Elspeth Arthur took the gold medals in Ladies Barebow and Ladies Longbow respectively, as well as Allan West taking home a Bronze in the Novice Gents Recurve, and Eloise Cornish receiving Gold for Novice Ladies Recurve. In the team competition, Birmingham finished as league champions, with a team of Andy Iles, Zoe Hawken, Jack Bryant and Jos Sarsby, and the Novice Team placed third, with a team of Eloise Cornish, Allan West, Alice Fawdrey and Joe Ingledew, with VPS Tim Smith making a trip up to present the medals and trophies. The last competition of the year will be the Outdoor BUCS Championships on 16th June at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre, with great hopes of medals and BUCS points in a number of categories, finishing a very impressive year. To top it off, coach Mel Clarke (pictured below) will be looking to build upon her bronze medal success in Beijing four years previously having been picked for the team for London this summer.
Bayern pay penalty
the
Having narrowly avoided elimination against Napoli, Benfica and Barcelona, Chelsea completed mission impossible by beating a superior but wasteful Bayern Munich on penalties following a late equaliser from the departing Didier Drogba.
In the most exciting start to a Formula One season in recent memory, the first six races have seen six different winners with Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Pastor Maldonado and Mark Webber all taking wins. Just three points separate the top three; Alonso, Vettel and Webber.
Royal Ascot The most prestigious flat racing meeting of the season will see the best horses, jockeys and trainers pitted against each other for the biggest prizes. The highlight could be an appearance from Australia's unbeaten Black Caviar, who will be competing in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
In the most dramatic finish to a Premier League season in history, Manchester United thought they had done enough to win their 20th title, only for two stoppage time goals at the Etihad Stadium to give the 'noisy neighbours' their first taste of Premier League glory.
Watson wins Masters
Haye vs. Chisora
In a thrilling finale at Augusta, the hugely popular Bubba Watson triumphed in a play-off against Louis Oosthuizen. Watson's shot out of the trees on the final hole and his emotional celebration will live long in the memory.
In one of the most shameful incidents in the history of boxing, an appearance from David Haye at Dereck Chisora's post-match press conference sparked a mass brawl. The two meet in the ring on the 14 July; expect further drama.
2012
JUST ANOTHER YEAR IN THE WORLD OF SPORT? Euro 2012
Wimbledon
Beginning today and finishing on July 1, the 16 team event contains 14 of the top 19 in the Fifa rankings. Holders and World Champions Spain go in as favourites but Germany and the Netherlands are hotly tipped and there are many potential dark horses, including England (we hope).
The unrelenting excellence of men’s tennis moves on to SW19 with Andy Murray seeking to dethrone current champion Novak Djokovic and a resurgent Rafael Nadal. There are no shortage of contenders in the women's competition, with Petra Kvitova the holder.
The Redbrick Crossword
The Olympic Games The undisputed highlight of the summer sees the biggest stars of world sport descend upon London for what represents the pinnacle of their careers. British hopes rest on the likes of Jessica Ennis, Chris Hoy, Tom Daly, Kerri-Anne Payne, Ben Ainsley and Dai Greene.
Mordo Nahum Puzzles Editor
This week's prize is a £5 Waterstones Gift Voucher Completed crosswords to be submitted to the Redbrick office. (Redbrick Office located in the basement of the Guild)
Please complete this form before you hand in your completed crossword into the Redbrick office.
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Djokovic triumphs in Melbourne
Man City 3-2 QPR
Six races, six winners
Name:
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Across
1. Spanish goodbye (5) 4. Head cop (anag.) (7) 8. Single point in time (7) 9. _____ and Jim, children's TV show (5) 10. Repulsive (4) 11. Capital of Ukraine (4) 12. Help (3) 14. Fabric used by painters and sailors (6) 15. String instrument (6) 18. Finish (3) 20. Woodwind instrument (4) 21. Kiln (4) 24. Hawaiian goodbye (5) 25. Shade of red (7) 26. Graceful (7) 27. Female reproductive organ (5)
Down
1. French goodbye (5) 2. Hormone associated with diabetes (7) 3. Influence; move from side to side (4) 4. Rotten (6) 5. French goodbye (2, 6) 6/16. Spanish goodbye (5, 2, 5) 7. German city heavily bombed during World War II (7) 13. Japanese goodbye (8) 14. Burn (a corpse) (7) 16. See 6 17. Wild feline found throughout North America (6) 19. Autonomous vehicle; continuous sound (5) 22. Childminder (5) 23. Italian goodbye (4)
Having overcome Andy Murray in a thrilling semi-final, Novak Djokovic somehow raised his game to uncharted levels to beat Rafael Nadal 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5 in the longest and perhaps greatest Grand Slam final ever to win his third Australian Open title.
Hodgson gets the nod With bookies' favourite Harry Redknapp widely expected to be offered the England's manager job, it was a surprise when Roy Hodgson was appointed on 1st May. Indeed, an underwhelming feeling seems to have engulfed the nation after a questionable squad selection and series of injuries have already put a sizable dent into England's Euro hopes.
South Africa series The top two in the Test rankings face off in the three match series. The most feared bowling attacks in world cricket – headed by James Anderson and Dale Steyn – will come face-to-face whilst England’s large contingent of South African born-players adds another fascinating dimension.
1_2_3=4_5_6_7 _=_=_=_=_=_=_ 8______=9____ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ 0___=a___=b__ ==_=c=_=_===_ d_____=e__f__ _===_=g=_=_== h_i=j___=k__l _=_=_=_=m=_=_ n____=o______ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ p______=q____
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EURO 2012:
Who will win?
France - 10% (10/1)
Since taking charge after the disastrous tenure of Raymond Domenech in 2010, Laurent Blanc has reinstilled the same optimism that saw France clinch the World Cup in 1998. 'He made us forget the last World Cup, which was a complete failure,' said Yohan Cabaye. 'He has instilled a group mentality and team spirit like you find in a club.'
Wedge lengths represent exact odds at the bookmakers as of 6th June. The shorter the wedge, the shorter the odds and the more likely that the team will win the tournament and vice versa.
Chris Hutchinson Digital Editor
Raphael Sheridan Sport Editor
Country - % surveyed (odds) Holland - 11% (13/2) Bert van Marwijk's side have sacrificed pretty football in their quest for a trophy. That they made the World Cup Final in 2010 justifies this change in footballing mentality. However, with Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie, they certainly aren't lacking in the superstar department,
Germany - 30% (3/1)
Joachim Loew is expected to name a German side composed largely of Bayern Munich players when his side face Portugal on 9 June. If Germany are following Spain's example (who have a core of Barcelona players), then they will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.
205 students surveyed
Spain - 19% (11/4) The pre-tournament favourites and reigning champions are without record scorer David Villa, although Fernando Torres has reiterated his desire to have a good tournament. This will provide the perfect stage for him to bounce back after a torrid season.
Rest of Europe - 14% (5/2)
Odds
Italy - 4% (14/1) Portugal - 3% (20/1) Ukraine - 1.5% (50/1) Poland - 1.5% (50/1) Ireland - 1% (80/1) Croatia - 1% (50/1) Sweden - 0.5% (66/1) Greece - 0.5% (66/1) Czech Republic - 0.5% (50/1) Denmark - 0% (100/1) Russia - 0% (20/1)
England - 16% (10/1) Joshua Reynolds Sport Reporter
It’s Euro 2012. It’s a major tournament. It’s the beginning of a new era. It’s a chance to make up for the shortcomings of 2010 (and 2008, and 2006, and 2004…). England expects! Except it doesn’t anymore. In fact, it finally seems as if the public have accepted our mediocrity as a footballing nation: I for one have seen very few flags draped from bedroom windows or stuck on car bonnets this year. On paper, you would have to say that the absence of the blind optimism that usually goes hand in hand with the build-up to a tournament in this country is wholly justifiable: the current manager has had but a month and two friendlies to prepare his team, while the squad itself is full to the brim with players lacking experience in internation-
al competition. The injuries have been coming thick and fast, but the same cannot be said of the goals, with only two having been scored in matches against two teams who failed to qualify for this summer’s main event. Oh, and then there’s the slight problem of the likes of Germany, the Netherlands and the reigning European and World Champions, Spain, the latter of whom potentially await Roy Hodgson’s men in the quarter-finals, that is, should they qualify from their group. If all that hasn’t served to adjust your expectations accordingly, then clearly I ought to think twice before I jack in the law degree in favour of a career in sports journalism. However, it would be narrow-minded to think that it
is all doom and gloom. This newfound realism as regards the Three Lions’ chances of success will, it is hoped, allow the team to play without being overburdened with pressure, which has not been the case for many a year, or even decade. Article Continues Online.
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INSIDE Turn to page 26 to read an exclusive interview with University pole vault star Nick Cruchley, who set a new BUCS record last month