The highs and lows of 2010 The year that was, News p5
Redbrick
The University of Birmingham's Student Newspaper since 1936
Monday 13th December 2010 Volume 75 | Issue 1381 redbrickonline.co.uk
Thomas Walters, Edwina Moorhouse
The protests began peacefully but turned violent as news of the vote spread
Judgement day for Higher Education Chaos on the streets of Westminster as £9,000 fee cap is passed by just 21 votes in Parliament Helen Crane, Edwina Moorhouse News Editor, Senior Reporter
On Thursday evening, the fates of future students were sealed as the coalition’s proposals to raise the upper limit on tuition fees to £9,000 per year were passed in Parliament. The fee hike, which will be put into place from 2012, went through by 323 votes to 302; a majority of just 21 votes. This was less than expected by many - the result of the coalition's first major backbench rebellion. Six Conservative MPs voted against the proposals, compared to 21 Lib Dems. 28 Liberal MPs voted with the Government, whilst eight abstained. Amongst the Lib Dem leaders voting against the proposals were former party leaders Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell. Meanwhile, in a final attempt to sway the vote, an estimated 20,000 students gathered in central London for a mass protest. Students and lecturers from a wide range of institutions gathered at the University of London Union, Mallett Street, and marched
through the streets of London. It was by Trafalgar Square and the Cabinet War Rooms that the police presence first became obvious, as they lined the road watching students pass. Two coaches of students from Birmingham were present in London, accompanied by Guild Sabbatical officers. Although it was intended to be peaceful, the protest turned violent as news of the vote's outcome reached the crowds at around 5.40pm. Reports of protesters using missiles such as snooker balls on police officers are widespread. The message from protesters was clear: 'Who goes to University should not be affected by how much money you have', said Lindsay Gunn, a Year 12 student from Camden. Fabian Neuner, ex-Birmingham student and Guild President, said early in the day that it was: 'Absolutely ridiculous that MPs want to vote to increase tuition fees […] let’s make some noise to make sure students and families actually win the vote - real people win the vote.'
Protesters forced their way into Parliament Square, smashed windows at the Supreme Court and broke into the National Gallery to stage a sit-in. There were also attempts to vandalise the Treasury building. As night fell, the protest moved on to Oxford Street where shop windows were smashed. The car of Prince Charles and Camilla ParkerBowles also had its window smashed and paint thrown at it whilst they were inside. Latest reports estimate that 38 protesters and 10 police officers were hurt. 26 arrests were made on charges of drunk and disorderly behaviour, criminal damage, arson, violent disorder, assault on police and burglary. There will be a full police investigation into the disturbances. David Cameron said of the violence: 'Responsibility for smashing property, for violence, lies with the people that perpetrate that violence and I want to see them arrested and punished in the correct way. But of course we must learn the lessons from what was a very regrettable lapse of security and
that needs to be dealt with and lessons must be learned.' The police tactic of 'kettling': confining protesters in one place so the violence does not spill out into other areas - was intended to calm the protesters down, but has been criticised as ineffective by those in charge. This began on Parliament Square, where people were contained for much of the afternoon. When trying to leave they were pushed back by police on foot and horseback. An unnamed protester said: 'A policeman said to me: 'Say that to me again and your face will be right down in the dirt.’ And what because I’m not happy with this? The vote?' Some of the worst kettling took place towards the end of the day on Westminster Bridge, where violence began after around 1,000 protesters were contained and rumours spread that they may have to give their name and a photograph to the police before they were allowed to leave. However, this was ultimately found not to be the case. Conditions on the bridge were described as extremely cold
and excessively cramped, with police in full riot gear attempting to reign the students in as they charged to get off the bridge. Speaking to the BBC yesterday evening, Vice-Chancellor David Eastwood said: ‘I think it’s better to think of [higher fees] as an investment…we need to get the right balance between the contribution students and the taxpayers make. I think some people are clearly angry and this is regret table. How ever there is support amongst some students along with those against them.’ In what may be an early sign of things to come for Birmingham students, English Language and Literature in Education students were informed on Thursday that their course will be discontinued for new applicants from 2011.
INSIDE COMMENT ON ARTS CUTS >> Page 7 | COLIN FIRTH >> Page 10 | FANTASY CHRISTMAS COLLABORATIONS >> Page 16
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13th December 2010
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James Reevell, Comment and Features p9
Redbrick Editorial Editor Samuel Lear Deputy Editors Victoria Shires Sam Langtree Thomas Walters Online Editor Micaela Winter Treasurer Jonathan Craven Art Director Thomas Walters Chief Photographer Mike Roberts chiefphotographer@redbrickonline.co.uk Technical Director Jeremy Levett News Editors Helen Crane Glen Moutrie Anna Hughes news@redbrickonline.co.uk Features Editors Rosa McMahon Seb Mann features@redbrickonline.co.uk Film Editors Elmley de la Cour Matt Davis film@redbrickonline.co.uk Arts & Culture Editors Sian Gray James Reevell Alexander Blanchard arts@redbrickonline.co.uk Music Editors Will Franklin Charlie Bailey music@redbrickonline.co.uk Television Editors Natalie Timmins Joe McGrath Amber Alexander tv@redbrickonline. co.uk
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now covers the Aston Webb building. Last week saw devastatingly heavy snowfall throughout much of the UK, although Birmingham seemed to avoid the worst of it. Katy Wilson Send your pictures and a brief summary to pow@redbrickonline.co.uk
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Full events listings available online
Angels in America
ST STEPHENS CHURCH, 15 DECEMBER, 7.30PM A traditional carol concert for all of Selly Oak to celebrate the festive season. Including traditional carols, with some added extras from the vocal groups of Tutti and new acoustic guitar groupbranch of the Anthony Nolan Trust. Entry free with a collection for the Lauren Page Trust.
Angels In America DEB HALL, 14-17 DECEMBER, 7PM Tony Kushner's epic and gay fantasia on national themes is now presented by Article 19 in a new, edited adaptation. See http://www.guildtickets. co.uk/Article19 for tickets and more information.
Dick Whittington HIPPODROME, FROM 18 DECEMBER, 7.15PM Get into the Christmas spirit with the classic pantomime Dick Whittington, starring Joan Collins, Julian Clary and Nigel Havers. Tickets from £13.50. Visit http://www.dickwhittingtonpanto.co.uk/ for booking details.
Sports Women's Hockey BOURNBROOK PITCHES, 15 DECEMBER, 2.15PM Women's hockey take on Manchester. Show your support at one of the last matches of the year.
Alternative Christmas Party UNDERGROUND, 14 DECEMBER, 8PM Rocksoc presents the Alternative Christmas Party. Anyone is welcome, including members from Rocksoc, Gothsoc, Metalsoc, Fetsoc, Circus, LGBTQ, DAMSA and Humans Vs Zombies. Black tie event, tickets £2 from invited societies, £3 for non-members
Baha'i Society talk on religion BASEMENT REHEARSAL SPACE, 14 DECEMBER, 6PM Baha’i society present: ‘religion: a disruptive or a constructive force in social and technological development? Talk and discussion, with senior lecturer Dr SM Holland.
Christmas Event Women's hockey
Alternative Christmas Party
Workshops & Events
Sports Personality of the Year LG ARENA, 19 DECEMBER, 6.15PM The prestigious sports awards are being held for the third time at Birmingham. Tickets available from £10; see http://www.theticketfactory.com for more details.
Sports awards
Charity
POLSIS, MUIRHEAD TOWER EAST, 2-13 DECEMBER A Christmas Charity event organised by Polsis in association with Birmingham Children's Hospital. Visit the Christmas Tree on the 3rd floor of the Muirhead Tower, pick a label and buy a present for a child in hospital. Email eleni.cyp@gmail.com for more information.
Discover Japan ST FRANCIS HALL, 17 DECEMBER, 7PM The International Students' Association and the Japan Society present Discover Japan. Event to include samples of Japanese food, Origami lessons and quizzes. See www.facebook.com/ event.php?eid=150813568299445
Redbrick
Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes
News 3
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
V.C. leads debate on the future of higher education
What is the future of British politics? Judith Hawkins Reporter
EMA and the AimHigher programme. In response to one Arts student’s view that contact hours must increase as the tuition fees rise, Professor Eastwood said he couldn’t make guarantees but hoped ‘to increase tutorial support.’ He also named other priorities for investment as feedback within departments and employability, with particular focus on the ‘quality of the learning environment.’ As for the Government’s proposals to scrap EMA and the Aim Higher programme, Dr Carr said it was ‘an absolute disgrace,’ and that there is a ‘need for fair and balanced information.’ At the end of the discussion Mr Collie asked the panellists what they thought the higher education landscape look like in five years, which drew a variety of opinion. Whilst Professor Eastwood argued the investment in lower education would ‘float through to higher education’ making the system ‘socially progressive,’ Ms. Meredith insisted that there were ‘worrying prospects’ concerning ‘abandoning higher education to the market.’
On Wednesday student campaign group Take Back Parliament presented a Question Time style debate in the Guild Council Chambers, which sought to answer the question, ‘How should we change the future of British politics?’ Chaired by Cory Hazlehurst, a committee member of the TBP group which campaigns for electoral reform, the panel consisted of Professor Colin Thain, Head of Political Science at the University of Birmingham, Jonathan Pyke from the Electoral Reform Society, James McKay, Research Fellow in Contemporary History and Labour Council Candidate for Harborne, Steven Haynes from the Liberal Democrats society and Daniel Cowdrill from the Conservative Future society. Focusing on the electoral referendum in May 2011, the panel was first asked of their opinion for the change from first past the post to the alternative vote. Jonathan Pyke spoke in favour of the AV system, which gets voters to rank candidates in order of preference, as he believed this would make politicians ‘go beyond their usual core support’. James McKay agreed that ‘anything that makes MPs work harder to connect with voters is a good thing’, with voter disengagement also being considered during the debate. Daniel Cowdrill on the other hand described the referendum as ‘an expensive waste of time’, arguing that the public did not want a new voting system. The audience challenged the panel further on this point, asking if those who would prefer proportional representation should vote for AV, to which Steven Haynes replied that it was in their interests to do so, describing it as ‘a fairer system than first past the post’. Professor Colin Thain said that he too would vote for AV, but warned against any expectations that this would necessarily lead to proportional representation being introduced at a later date. He predicted that if the majority did vote positively in the referendum, ‘we are going to have AV for generations.’ Other topics of discussion were the House of Lords and the
The debate participants, including the Vice Chancellor David Eastwood Edwina Moorhouse Senior Reporter
Last Tuesday, students gathered for the highly anticipated debate on 'The Future of UK Higher Education', featuring our own Guild President Dora Meredith and Vice-Chancellor David Eastwood. These two figures from the University were accompanied by Claire Callender of the University of London and London School of Economics lecturer Nick Barr, whilst the discussion was chaired by broadcaster Michael Collie. Hosted in the Business School, the debate lasted an hour and half, drawing a large crowd of students who were encouraged to ask questions of the panel. Before interaction with the audience began, each panellist was given five minutes by Mr Collie to declare their position on the current situation, this began with Dr Barr. He declared that widening participation was an issue more situated in education 0-18 years and not ‘eighteen years plus.’ The Professor of Public Economics
then went on to say he was in favour of the tuition fee raises, and why the proposals were beneficial. He argued that competition helps students, that graduates (not students) should contribute and there should be a good system of student loans. Dora Meredith spoke next, and focused on why ‘the Government needs to value education’ and declared that ‘Universities must be a place based upon your ability, not your ability to pay.’ Whilst our Guild President had looked to the future, the ViceChancellor chose to reflect back on the series of changes to higher education beginning in the 1970s when grants were being phased out. Professor Eastwood insisted that: ‘in the new environment […] there will be real value.’ The final stance was given by Claire Callender, who addressed the issue of part-time students and the conflict with their eligibility for loans despite Browne’s greater recognition of them. Questions raised from the audience drew concerns over contact hours, ‘mickey mouse’ degrees,
Mike Roberts
monarchy, with audience members asking the panel whether or not they thought both of these should be elected positions, eliciting a mixed response. There was general agreement on the last point of the evening, concerning the recent campaign by the NUS to give voters the right to recall their MPs. The panel questioned the practicality of this initiative, which would see MPs facing a by-election if 10 per cent of their constituents petitioned for it. Professor Thain saw this as an opportunity for ‘mischief-making’, a view which the others shared, bringing an evening of heated debate to a unanimous end.
AdeRussell @Flickr
University Watch Manchester
Brown
Oxford Brookes
York
Cardiff
A University of Manchester academic has won a 2010 British Composer award. Professor Philip Grange, Head of Music at the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures, received the prize yesterday at the Stationers' Hall near St Paul's in London for his large-scale work for symphonic wind band called Cloud Atlas.
Brown University has created a lesson about the recent Pakistan floods for its students. The lesson includes an introduction to the disaster and encourages them to consider the impact of history, climate vulnerability, and current politics as they attempt to understand the terrible flooding in Pakistan.
An award-winning Oxford Brookes professor has hosted the UK's 1st international functional food conference. Nutrition experts met in Oxford last week for the food conference hosted by Professor Jeya Henry. Functional foods include products that have health-boosting properties on top of their nutritional value.
The University of York has submitted plans for a £9 million new sports facility on its campus expansion. Plans include a 25 metre pool, learner pool, 100 station gym, full size 3G astroturf pitch and three further five-a-side pitches. All of the facilities will be open to students, staff of the university and to the public.
Cardiff University has created a Liftshare Scheme in the hope to save unnecessary journeys to and from university in turn to save energy. Cardiff have commented that the scheme is an integral part of the University’s Travel Plan and was originally set up to reduced the University’s carbon footprint. Laura Frost
4 News
MP Lorely Burt defends coalition Glen Moutrie News Editor
Last Thursday Lorely Burt, Liberal Democrat MP for Solihull, visited the University of Birmingham to talk about the formation of the coalition and how its policy for tuition fees had been put together. Ms. Burt emphasised that there was a connection between the coalition agreement that was formed and the Government’s policies, including those for higher education. The formulation of the policy for tuition fees was heralded by the MP as a policy that had been improved by the Liberal Democrats, against the odds, from the Browne Review. Her justification for the shift from the party’s original stance was that the coalition agreement did not give way to the Lib Dems policy on tuition fees. The only way that she felt that the party could look to further help students at this stage is in future policy decisions. Lorely Burt has since abstained on the vote held in Parliament last Thursday. She pressed that for the coalition to remain a strong Government there must be a trust between the Tory party and the Liberal Democrats; hinting that a failure to pass through Thursday’s vote could break it. As the Liberal Democrats only
won 57 seats, Lorely ‘couldn’t believe’ that a party so small got so many of their party’s policies into the initial coalition agreement; such as an increase in the tax threshold and a pupil premium of £2.5 billion. Lorely did acknowledge that there could be strained relations within the coalition as they headed towards election. She did, however, state that as that time approaches the coalition would seek further advice from Europe in regards to providing a united government while campaigning.
Liberal Democrats on flickr
News Editor
A world record attempt to get the most people in one room wearing cavemen costumes has been made by first year halls Hunter Court. 75 people took part in the event on Tuesday night, which involved wearing identical caveman costumes with batons, playing games and taking part in
group Hunter Court chants. Hunter Court residents each paid £3 to take part in the world record attempt, with all money to be given to children's hospice charity Acorns. To be recognised as an official Guinness World Record the group had to be wearing matching outfits, provided by the Hunter Court RA. Participants had to sign in when arriving at the event, which
Residents of Hunter Court in caveman dress
Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes
David Willetts: 'I am not against people going to university' Helen Crane News Editor
In a press conference attended by Redbrick last week, Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willetts attempted to justify the changes to University funding to a group of student journalists. Firstly, he spoke of a concern over young people who are yet to apply to university getting a confusing message from the current spate of protests and resulting media coverage. ‘The most important single concern I have is young people who believe that they are going to have to reach into their back pockets and they or their family will have to pay for them to go to university. The system is broadly the same as the one we have inherited', he said. He defended the decision to raise the upper limit on fees to £9,000 per year, claiming that the extension of the income threshold for paying back loans from £15,000 to £21,000 per year will mean that monthly repayments for graduates are lower but will begin later and last longer. 'The problem with the current system is that you pay back the money in your 20’s and 30’s when you’ve got particularly heavy expenses. I thought that spreading it out would ease the burden a bit when people are first starting work.’ Willetts admitted that fees had
Hunter Court attempt caveman world record Anna Hughes
Redbrick
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
was then checked over by two independent adjudicator. Photographs will also act as evidence when submitting the group's attempt. Sarah Lansdell, Hunter Court RA, said: 'We wanted to do something different for our residents. We raised £255 for Acorns and hopefully next year's RA will keep fundraising for this brilliant cause.'
Mike Roberts
the potential to be preventative to poorer students, but claimed that when covered by loans they would not be a deterrent. 'The evidence shows that if you have fees on their own that will put people off, but fees covered by loans does not put people off. We have actually seen a surge in applications since fees came in. I understand the concern, but the fact is that that has been proven empirically, and it is for that reason that my party took that position.’ He described them as a 'third way' which meant that student numbers or course quality would not have to be cut. ‘It would have been possible to save money by reducing student numbers, which I think would have deprived young people of an opportunity that many of them want to take. We also could have saved money by cutting the teaching budget, which would have meant more crowded lectures and seminars, less well-equipped libraries and rather older equipment in laboratories…there probably wouldn’t have been mass protests, but we would have just given students a less good-quality university experience.’ He described the decision as one that was not easy, but one that would ultimately benefit higher education in this country. 'The easy short run option is just to grind away and lower the quality of the student experience.
It would be easy to make a populist gesture and say ‘we won’t have fees.'' He also spoke of the value of vocational courses, but stressed that more information must be available on which courses employers value. He mentioned the golf management course at Birmingham, saying that it was a valuable course with good links to industry but that it is ‘very hard if you’re sitting as a 17 year old to work out where golf course management is a useful version of applied business studies and where it’s not serious.’ Willetts stressed better careers provision for young people as the only solution for this, claiming that: ‘This is an empowering students policy – the courses that survive will be the ones that students think will give them the information they need to make an informed choice.’ He added that institutions charging the highest will have to improve accessibility. 'We now have a very strong bargaining position because if [institutions] want their fees to go over £6k they are now going to have to show what they are doing to broaden access to their university.’ When asked how the plans will affect student numbers, he said: 'I think the number of students in university would probably plateau over the next few years, but I’m not trying to deter people from going to university. I am not against people going to university.’
Uni academic makes GQ Top 100 Sinead McVeigh Reporter
University of Birmingham academic Dr David Evans has recently been mentioned in the top 100 most influential men in Britain, according to GQ magazine. Dr Evans, a nuclear physicist, was part of the UK team in Switzerland who successfully recreated the start of the universe in November at the Large Hadron Collider. On his position in the magazine Dr Evans said he was ‘absolutely delighted’ with the achievement and that it was ‘a big surprise’. He said it was an honour to be considered and that his placing is a reflection of the work of ‘the group researching ALICE, the physics department and the University’. He went on to emphasise the importance of the support of the University in his research. Dr Evans read physics at the University of Oxford before joining the University of Birmingham to undertake a PhD in particle physics. He is currently head of first year undergraduate physics at the University and heads up the team working on the ALICE experiment (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) which he has been involved with since receiving funding in 1999.
Dr Evans also noted the prestige the experiment has brought to Birmingham, and in October of this year the University’s Vice Chancellor Dr David Eastwood visited CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) to view the experiment. Dr Evans’ involvement with this research has spanned 20 years and he expects to spend at least another 10 years ‘just analysing data taken from this year’. It is a notable achievement to have been a new entry to GQ’s list, which also places Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne as the most influential man in Britain for 2011.
Courtesy of Dr Evans
Redbrick
Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes
News 5
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick review 2010
Ash clouds, Assange and angry students - my 2010
The year in numbers Toy Story 3: Highest Grossing Film Worldwide earning
Caroline Mortimer remembers some of the bigger events of the year.
A new political landscape
Iceland closes Europe
The general election this year brought many firsts to Britain; most notably a Conservative-Lib Dem coalition. It brought an end to over 12 years of Blair-Brown reign both in the UK and the Labour party itself. This year also gave a reminder of trade union power in the current opposition, as the younger Miliband beat his brother in a tightly fought leadership battle.
All of Northern European flights were grounded in April and millions of travellers were stranded as the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajökull, erupted expelling volcanic ash into airspace all over Britain and stretching as far down as far as Spain. After the ash clouds lifted, recriminations were launched at airline bosses such as Ryanair for refusing to reimburse passengers, travel insurance companies for not covering customers and even the government for imposing an over-cautious flight ban.
Student Fees Hike After the Government announced that it was planning to follow the recommendations of the Browne Review in October and increase tuition fees to as much as £9,000 a year, protests erupted at nearly every university in country. Riots broke out at the Millbank Building, Conservative Party Headquarters in November and 153 were arrested during protests in central London last Wednesday. The protests have spread across Europe with Greek students storming the British Embassy in Athens as a mark of solidarity with British students.
Bigotgate During the final few days of his election campaign in May, Gordon Brown hit the final nail in his political coffin and cemented his reputation as ‘Britain’s Unluckiest Man’ as he was caught on tape getting into a car calling Gillian Duffy a bigot for challenging him on immigration- a major issue in each party’s election manifesto. The outburst highlighted attention on his supposed short temper and inapproachability as opposed to David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s ease in front of the cameras.
The Wikileaks saga An ongoing controversy over the international whistle blower website, whose founder, Julian Assange, was arrested in London last week on rape charges from Sweden. Last week, a full blown cyber-battle between those who did not back the site ensued after Assange's arrest. The website published a series of leaked cables from US diplomats criticising various World leaders such as Silvio Berlusconi and Nicholas Sarkozy and discussed a range of issues from domestic policy to international matters such as Guantanamo Bay and the Middle Eastern conflict.
A ‘Ginger Rodent’ Harriet Harman, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, created a storm of protest at the Scottish Labour Conference in October when she called Lib Dem MP for Inverness, Danny Alexander, a ‘ginger rodent’. The former Equalities Minister later apologised personally to Alexander. Alexander responded by tweeting that he was ‘proud to be ginger’.
Most searched topics
Celebrity Couple: Ashley and Cheryl Cole
News Topic: The General Election
X Factor Ever since X Factor returned to UK television screens in August it has been filling every tabloid and celebrity magazine with controversy. Amid rumours of infighting and conflict between the judges, contestants have created a stir over issues of immigration, favouritism and concerns over certain participant's mental health. The notorious Wagner Carrilho was eliminated in the eighth week after drawing seemingly endless criticism from his poor singing and bad behaviour- including allegations of drug use, sexual harassment and benefit fraud.
Katy Perry on Sesame Street Never one to shy away from controversy, in September singer Katy Perry incurred the wrath of concerned parents of Sesame Street viewers when she allegedly flashed too much cleavage with a revealing top during a segment she were she performed ‘Hot N Cold’ with Elmo which was never aired but later released on Youtube.
*Source: AOL
Music Group: JLS
Music Artist: Lady Gaga
by August
2000 new words have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year. Here are a pick of the best: Bromance: n. informal a close but non-sexual relationship between two men.
Hater: n. a person who greatly dislikes a specified person or thing Informal a negative or critical person
2010 by month
The chart represents the number of Google searches for 'BBC' throughout the year, reflecting people's interest in news. January A 7.0-magnitude earthquake occurs in Haiti's capital Port-auPrince. The death toll was over 230,000.
29,691,380 Number of people who voted in the General Election
February The President of Niger, Tandja Mamadou, is overthrown after a group of soldiers storms the presidential palace and form a ruling junta.
990.6
March Michael Schumacher returns from retirement to Formula 1 at the age of 41.
Average number of passes per match in the 2010 world cup
April The Pope's Deputy states that homosexuality is to blame for paedophilia.
688,310 Number of people applying to University Over 2m singles and 450,000 albums: Sales of The Beatles’ music in their first week on iTunes
May For the first time since 1974, the British election result leads to a hung parliament with the Conservatives winning the most votes and seats. June Spain win their first World Cup at the South African finals.
July 1,600 people are killed due to severe flooding in Pakistan after heavy monsoon rains.
Dictionary additions
Exit Strategy: n. a pre-planned means of extricating oneself from a situation that is likely to become difficult or unpleasant World News: Rescue of the Chilean Miners
£500m
A dirty World Cup Final Although Spain eventually took the title at the 19th World Cup in South Africa during June and July, during the final Holland racked up a staggering nine out of fourteen yellow cards (more than twice the previous record) due to resorting to brutality in an attempt to win the title. After 116 minutes of a full frontal assault from the Dutch (including a kick to Xabi Alonso’s chest by Nigel de Jong), Spain managed to win 1-0 in extra time. It was the first time the World Cup had been won outside of the winner's own continent.
Additional thanks to Freddie Herzog, Kerrina Gray, Ryan Jones, Emma Roberts and Edwina Moorhouse
LMAO: abbreviation. V u l g a r slang. Laughing my arse off. Tweetup: n. a meeting or other gathering organized by means of posts on the social networking service Twitter.
August For the first time United States representatives attend a minutes silence in Hiroshima to mark the 65th anniversary of the atomic blast. September BP successfully seals the Deepwater Horizon spill, after 4.9 million barrels of crude oil had been released into the Gulf. October The Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo is awarded the Nobel Peace Price. Damaging the West's relations with China.
Vuvuzela: n. a long horn blown by fans at soccer matches in South Africa
November CERN trap 38 antihydrogen atoms, the first time that antimatter has been isolated.
Zombie Bank: n. informal a financial institution which is insolvent but which continues to operate through government support.
December Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, is arrested in London for multiple sexual harrasment charges.
6 redbrickonline.co.uk
13th December 2010
Comment & Features Editorial Rosa McMahon Comment and Features Editor
Life imitates art, so why make the cuts
Silver Lining
The Monty Python school of thought suits me very well: always look on the bright side of life. In many ways I am an unshakable optimist. There must always be a silver lining, everything will work out in the end, and most importantly I believe that nothing lasts forever, or at least nothing that is dreadful will. Running parallel with this, is my feeling that the outrage and frustration shown on the streets of England at the tuition fee rise, which has now passed in Parliament, does have lashings of positivity applicable it. I do not mean institutionally, as there are very few redeeming features of an elitist educational system where by we are educated based upon wealth, and truthfully this narrative has been told many times. However the number of well meaning individuals protesting for their right to fairness does seem to be somewhat forgotten. Opinion of friends points to the idea that protesting is bad, unproductive, and all rooting from the aggression shown over the last few weeks. Some say any kind of social or political action directed from the public, especially students, should be welcomed. Yet smashing things up, is the wrong way to go about spreading the message. I suppose after Thursday’s vote, which wasn’t a landslide but which is not a good omen (even for an optimist), my silver lining is that there is political and social apathy amongst the Facebook and BlackBerry generation that we are so often labelled. Accused are we of caring more about who ‘likes’ our updates online than what is happening around us. Critics have been proved wrong: we do care, and we will try to not make it happen. And so the news last week that more billionaires have promised to donate half of their wealth to Bill Gates’s charity, partially, reinstates my belief in the good of humankind. Yet again my idealism knows no limits. To clarify, Gates’ charity isn’t a revenue for himself, but for 'philanthropist causes', and almost personifies Christmas cheer. I promised myself I wouldn’t mention the ‘C’ word. Mainly because my favourite part of festivities is mulled wine and being with lots of people I love, rather than shopping like mad for ungrateful family members and eating lots of meat which tastes a lot better drenched in well seasoned gravy. The end of term marks a scatterings exchanging of words like ‘miss you’, ‘love you’, ‘I’m going to eat you if dinner isn’t ready soon’, ‘go away’, ‘I have the receipt’, and for many ‘amen’. However the holiday period is celebrated, remember Redbrick makes great wrapping paper.
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Ali Hendy
Senior Commentator
or the Arts or Humanities student, the recent Browne Review and accompanying press attention may as well be subtitled with the words, 'you will not get a job, your interest in culture, history and literature is of no interest to the economy'. The announcement that the government will give itself scope to withdraw funding from all but 'priority' subjects such as medicine, engineering, science and modern languages. The axing of two cultural quangos: The UK Film Council, and The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, hallmarks a new era of philistinism. Indeed, with an already saturated job market it seems illogical, if not moronic, to pay three years worth of fees, a proportion of which is essentially used to subsidise other prioritised subjects-into a degree which is going to receive less funding, and which will har-
vest fewer employment opportunities at its conclusion. These are bleak times for the Arts and Humanities student. Go ahead, sniffle into your pashmina or take a moment to scribble some cathartic verse, but don't crinkle the heavily biro-ed pages of your Chomsky tome quite yet; this is my justification, apologia pro vita sua, for the Arts and Humanities. The governmental standpoint on education, as seen through some farcical pair of money-goggles, betrays a perception of universities as factories, in which certain types of brain power funnel out big, grey plumes of economic expansion; the doctors who will work in the NHS, the engineers and scientists who will create wide-ranging products for mass commercial use, and the translators who will barter with the rest of the world over loan reparations. Unfortunately for us, our poor, pathetic Arts and Humanities labelled pipe-although powered by hundreds of thousands of students-emits a puff barely wor-
'It is essential to ensure that government investment is helping the child rather than handing an unconditional gift for the parent' thy of the accountant's attention. And this is the very difficulty with providing a convincing argument for the necessity of supporting the Arts and Humanities in education, or society as a whole: it is impossible to evidence its contribution to rapid material prosperity. Instead, the role of an education in the Arts and Humanities should be considered in a wider context; as a letter signed earlier this year by the Directors of major arts institutions and a number of university vice-chancellors to The Observer eloquently phrased it: 'People's complexity comes from their language, identities, histories, faiths and cultures'. This is the very
ungovernmental viewpoint that there is some value in studying the more abstract 'why?' prompted by literature, history and art. Placing high value only upon things which net fat wads of cash is reductive, no doubt important in saving the nation's pennies, but taking this to its extremity causes a distorted view of the importance of cultural relief and questioning academia. An education in the Arts and Humanities is essential in the preservation of an immense cultural heritage, and in continuing to catalyse the evolution and creation of aesthetic thought. Understanding the historic and cultural artefacts that swamp our lives-the Van Gogh reprint blu-tacked to millions of walls, some Miltonic allusion on TV and the reproduction of a Winston Churchill quote in a political speech-no doubt leads to cohesion between individuals: these are 'things' we all own and share. Not only this, but deep study in these subjects is relevant to questions over our happiness in modern living, and as a society. Are there psychological repercussions of incessant social networking? What is the complex causation behind the 'war on terror'? How can social policy help break the cycle of deprivation? The point is that constructing concepts of 'worthy' and 'non-worthy' subjects, and widely publicising a snobbish divide between the two totally contradicts the ideal of education as creating inquisitive, well-rounded individuals. The Arts and Humanities are not discrete areas of knowledge which can be amputated without causing a haemorrhage to learning as a whole. To imagine the prospect of a future in which the Arts and Humanities are ignored, is to say 'RIP Education' and welcome in the new university as a hothouse for industry. Ironically, these are the very subjects that can be considered the butterfly in our collective Pandora's box; cultural escapism in which to take refuge during a bleak economic period.
Time for some serious delegation Tom Pratt Commentator
The furore over the government's plans to raise the cap on tuition fees has brought the world of student politics back into prominence. On campus, the campaign against the Coalition has been complemented with an equally vocal debate about the role of the Guild of Students and, on a wider level, the National Union of Students. Critics have accused the Guild of not doing enough to support student activism – a charge also levelled at NUS President Aaron Porter who recently signalled a change in his policies, taking personal responsibility for perceived failings in the NUS' response to the proposed implementation of the Browne Report. The debate in Birmingham has been played out most significantly in the NUS Delegate elections (to represent the Guild at forthcom-
ing events), where a diverse range of candidates offered polarising views on how best to represent the student body. While all candidates criticised the government's plans to raise fees and at the same time cut investment in education, some went further in their manifestos. Several proposed to campaign for reform of the NUS – one going so far as to say that the Guild of Students should leave the 'exorbitant' NUS. It should be noted that a significant proportion of those who proclaimed their desire to change the mindset of the NUS have been highly active campaigners against the fee increase, including involvement in the recent occupation of the Aston Webb building – clearly, these campaigners have been unhappy with the direction of the NUS for some time and recent events have compelled them to speak out.
On the other hand, Robert Hunter, our very own Vice-President for Education and Access cited his view that the Guild must work closely within the NUS to remain 'a respected contributor to the debate' surrounding education cuts and tuition fees. He was joined by two other Vice-Presidents, Ashley Chambers and Matthew Lamb who called for, if anything, greater participation in the organisation. They cited their previous experiences of represent-
ing the student body of the University of Birmingham, including their current roles in the Guild, as making them the ideal campaigners for the voice and pulse of Birmingham's students. Whatever the outcome of these elections, the issues raised by the various candidates will be relevant for a good while yet. Fundamentally though, everyone is committed to the same goal, but all have different ideas on how to achieve it.
Redbrick
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann
Comment & Features 7
The face of higher education changed indelibly Seb Mann Comment and Features Editor
Last week, by a majority of 21, Parliament voted to increase the cap on tuition fees for English students to £9,000. Amid cries of ideological motivation, lack of cogent political opposition and assault on social mobility, it’s easy to lose sight of the direct impact this is going to have on the dynamic of English higher education. Many students and prospective students have been criticised on the grounds that they don’t fully understand the plans for higher education reform. Amongst them, former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown urged one student to look more closely at the proposals before protesting, making the argument that under new plans students will pay less year on year than at present. Perhaps he is right, but the legislation is still in its infancy and exact rates of interest on student loan repayments are yet to be fixed. One concrete facet of the shake-up, however, is the plan to up the threshold at which students begin repayments from £15,000 to £21,000. This is supposedly more progressive because it means those who never benefit financially from their degrees will not have to pay a penny. This is problematic though. If inflation remains anywhere near
its current rate of above 3% (where it has been for the last 12 months) for the next few years then, by the time those affected by fee increases come to paying back their loans (in, say, 2016), the real terms value of the current repayment threshold will be almost £18,000. In short, the impact of raising the repayment threshold by £6,000 will be negated by half in just six years. As Shadow Business Secretary John Denham has pointed out, the re-
'Despite what those in ivory towers may think, most of us do understand the mechanics of the tuition fee loans repayment system' payment threshold suggested by these proposals is, in real terms, almost identical to what the £15,000 repayment threshold was worth when it was introduced. These proposals are not as progressive as some would have us believe. A large part of the argument for the tuition fee increase rests on the understanding that, in order to preserve the prestige and quality of our universities, we need to up their funding. This is not news to
anyone. The fact that our universities have been strapped for cash of late has been well publicised. But, in tandem with heavy cuts to state funding of higher education, hiking up fees payable by the student it seems, worryingly, will only be plugging a gap. In addition to this, coalition prized short-term deficit reduction will not be aided by these changes because, until the students faced with higher fees begin repayment, the state will continue to fund higher education. This hardly chimes in tune with coalition rhetoric regarding the importance of dealing a swift blow to state overspending. The sound left ringing in my ears in one of ideology and not necessity. Despite what those in ivory towers may think, most of us do understand the mechanics of the tuition fee loans repayment system. We know, for example, that the rate of interest payable on student loans will vary in accordance with income. We just also understand how money works. Even if the repayment mechanism is more progressive, that doesn’t change the unalterable fact of these plans that the amount graduates are to end up paying is greater than it is at present. And the last time I checked, paying twice as much for something was quite a good way of disincentivising purchase.
Political Correctness: in need of rationality, not hysteria Matt Flatman Commentator
Does anyone really know what political correctness is anymore? The definition seems to have been lost, but the phrase does seem to have a pragmatic meaning. It tends to be enthusiastically bandied around to dismiss the latest mandatory overhaul of behaviour or speech. It's assumed to be allied with other serial culprits like positive discrimination and the nanny culture of overbearing health and safety regulations. Together, we're told they represent an ideological movement pressurising us towards Richard Littlejohn's nightmare: some sort of over-censored, offence-less, sterile future. But is this really what political correctness is about? At heart, political correctness is supposed to be about making slight alterations to our behaviour in order to avoid causing offence. Doesn't sound that unreasonable, does it? Political correctness means changing with the times, because time can significantly change a lot of our attitudes and values. This is certainly quite divorced from the severe Orwellian agenda that some would attribute. Social progression and transformation is undoubtedly a good thing, and this seems to have been overlooked. I think most people now would be quite offended by the sort of behaviour that used to be socially acceptable. Abolishing slavery, for example, or allowing women the right to vote, they aren't really cases of political correctness gone mad, are they? More like socially necessary revelations. Now these are exaggerated cases but they demonstrate how time can change our attitudes of what is and what isn't acceptable. Deviat-
Presenting such absurdities will only fuel the anti-PC brigade's argument. This just detracts from the central issue: to make small alterations to prevent unnecessary offence.
ing away from antiquated values is a good thing and requires that we adapt our behaviour and language accordingly. This is what political correctness is all about. But then of course, political correctness 'went mad'. You've probably heard about it; it's been pretty well publicised. You can find reminders everywhere, like practically every other Daily Mail article. So perhaps it's not political
Leinz (www.leinz.co.uk) correctness itself that people find so objectionable, perhaps it's this madness. The symptoms attributed by the political correctness detractors are things like ubiquity, megalomania, and a sort of repressive paranoia. In other words, to paraphrase The Daily Mail's Littlejohn, political correctness is everywhere, taking over everything and won't let us say or do anything anymore.
This reaction is hysterical, but there are some examples that evoke the image of overly-anxious Equal Rights bureaucrats defining what can and can't be said. The sort that wince at any comment that tilts even slightly away from the realm of political neutrality. The sort that wouldn't allow us to say that political correctness is going mad but that it's 'increasingly inclining towards cognitively and logically challenged behaviour'. For this reason, there now appears to be a significant disconnect between the people who decide what is acceptable and the vast majority of the public. They seem to be alone in seeing the logic behind some of their decisions; decisions such as banning the phrase 'black coffee'. Instead of which, we're advised to use the more racially neutral 'without milk'. This sort of thing smacks of over-anxious
sensitivity to the issue. In banning such terms, the implication is that they're in some way racially offensive or exclusive. I really struggle to see how 'black coffee' is at all insulting. It just doesn't imply any negative racial connotations and, as such, should not be deemed offensive. There is a real danger in attempting to 'ban' such innocuous language and behaviour. Presenting such absurdities as the latest political correctness revelation will only fuel and strengthen the anti-PC brigade's argument. And this just detracts from the central issue: to make small alterations to prevent unnecessary offence. We shouldn't have an employed minority making wholesale amendments to our language and behaviour, dogmatically issuing us with a reviewed version of social etiquette for each year. The parameters of offence and the place of political correctness should be decided by real people who are actually affected by these issues. The point here is that, although some people have developed a warped case of political correctness anxiety, this does not mean that we should abandon the cause altogether. Political correctness may have gone mad but it's not beyond treatment or recovery. All the situation requires is reappraisal; it needs to be readdressed with rationality and common sense instead of hysteria. Sexual, racial and gender differences aren't the sort of thing that should be awkwardly hedged around. They shouldn't make people resort to sifting uncomfortably through their vocabulary to find the acceptable words. We live in a multi-cultural society and such diversities should be recognised and accepted, perhaps even celebrated.
8 Comment & Features
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann
The Tory HQ demo violence caught public attention, but continued violence endangers faith in the cause Joe Jervis
Political Commentator
Just over a month ago, we saw the protests of November 10th gain nationwide publicity due to the actions of 2,000 radical students, supported by 'professional' anarchists and revolutionary socialists. The media coverage of the Millbank riots elevated the National Campaign against Fees and Cuts into the conscience of ordinary members of the public who, if it had been for the damage caused to Tory HQ, would have dismissed the scenes as an innocuous case of 'students being students.' The violence was attributed to a small number of deviants and succeeded in showing that the campaign was serious but while simultaneously maintaining the image of the average student as a law-abiding citizen. However, the seemingly constant rioting in London over the past few weeks is utterly negating the value of the publicity gained
52,000
people took part in the 10th November national demonstration
from the initial spontaneity at Millbank. A continuation of such violence will have serious consequences both for the campaign at large and, more generally, the reputation of students. One afternoon of vandalism by a radical minority will have done little to change perceptions. Countless afternoons of truant youths battling police in central London is a different story. The most damaging aspect is that a campaign designed for a particular cause has been hijacked by adolescent school pupils and anarchists who are committing violence for the sake of violence. One protester offered the reasoning of, 'I don't really like the police – they took my iPod and didn't give it back.' Another exclaimed 'we've found our riot.' Inexcusable attacks on duty-bound police officers attempting to keep the peace
are in complete contrast to the largely ideological – and therefore somewhat comprehensible – attack on the headquarters of a political party. At this rate it is only a matter of time before both the government and the media use the incidents to portray the student population as delinquents who are refusing to do their bit for the economy. The campaign may even start to echo incidents in the 1980s which saw previously innocent and respected groups in society labelled as violent trouble-makers after clashes with heavy-handed police officers. Arthur Scargill's mining strikes is an obvious example but the most appropriate illustration is that of the media backlash against pacifist group Women for Life on Earth who were campaigning peacefully against the positioning of cruise nuclear missiles at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire. The first blockade in 1982 saw negligible violence yet 32 arrests and this quickly led to largely popular portrayal of those exercising their democratic rights as an 'unpatriotic' enemy. Those protests were subdued whereas the campaign against fees and cuts has been raucous, thus lending more ammunition to both the media and the coalition government to create negative depictions of protesters. Continuous stories on news bulletins of violent students clashing with police will only serve to create a 'here they go again' syndrome in British living rooms. It is therefore no surprise that Aaron Porter, President of the NUS, was reluctant to publicly support such protests. Eventually Porter denied accusations that in the last few weeks the NUS has lost control over the student movement, declaring that 'wherever there is non-violent student action, NUS will support that' but that the violence is 'despicable' and only serves to 'undermine the cause.' Porter's problem is the difficultly in separating the two. In order to remove the feeling of monotony, these large-scale protests are in desperate need of a break from the headlines. By the time of reading the House of Commons vote will have been and gone. If, as expected, the current proposals are supported it may be
by Neil Chanchlani
It sounds glorious at first: freshly baked gingerbread cookies, a lot of gift-wrapped presents and, for most of us, four weeks of pure, glorious time on the couch and with the remote. But that's not the reality, is it? More likely, you'll be faced with relatives slobbering on your cheek, your dad and his brothers fighting over who gets to cut the turkey, your parents' constant eye on you, and having to dip further into your overdraft to afford even the most basic Christmas presents. But what can you do about it?
Millie Guy
'At this rate it is only a matter of time before both the government and the media use the incidents to portray the student population as delinquents who are refusing to do their bit for the economy' more productive to organise another centralised national demo a few of months down the line rather than create an opportunity for mob rioting every few days. In the meantime protesters must turn to other forms of peace-
ful protest more akin to gaining sympathy. The bombardment of MPs with emails and letters and encouraging the public to sign petitions could carry more weight than chaotic protests which are only destined to alienate students.
That really reminds of the time I couldn't afford a gap yah Lucy Holligan Commentator
'Banter!' is the phrase you can't fail to hear at least twice a day thanks to the YouTube sensation 'Gap yah'. The video parodies a posh, public schooled male who recounts endless tales of his 'Gap Yah' that inevitably end in him 'chundering everywhere' as he trails the globe. Unfortunately for prospective students, the proposed increase of tuition fees to come into force for 2012 is anything but 'banter'. This year, according to UCAS, the number of university applications increased by 100,000 compared to 2009 and the rush for university spaces was further agitated by the fact that there were 6000 fewer places than last year. It raises the question of who
How do you solve a problem like... Christmas insanity
will be able to access Higher Education in the future as some institutions could charge as much as £9,000 per year, a threefold increase from their current levels. It will therefore not come as a shock to learn that a lot of people are going to try to apply to university before 2012 in order to avoid paying higher fees. However, some people have pointed out that because of this rush to 'get in under the wire' they will miss out on the opportunity to take a gap year, an experience that can equip a person with new skills and enable them to experience situations outside of their normal parameters. Taking a gap year is no longer the preserve of the middle classes as the whole concept can be spent in a number of ways: for example many people take the opportunity
to work for a year in order to save for university thus enabling their participation in university life. Other people may wish to spend it travelling and doing community work that no doubt provides well needed support to the recipients, and with the average cost of a gap year for 18-25 year olds being £3000-4000 (according to the NUS), it certainly helps the economy. The people who will not be put off having a gap year will of course be those who are moneyed, the ones who can afford to pay an increase in fees without batting an eyelid and thus perpetuating the stereotype that in order to take a gap year you must be 'privileged'. As a result, this will mean that for many less affluent students, 'Perah', and others, will just have to wait…
How to smoke a cigarette when you don't have a dog to walk? This one is easy. Go to your high street (however far it is) to go 'shopping for presents,' and have a quick one. If they suspect anything upon return, blame it on the chavs hanging around the pound shop. If you live in the countryside, I'm sorry, you're screwed. How to act happy with disappointing gifts? Practice. It has to be impeccable really: ear-to-ear, but natural. The wide smile is the first thing a relative will notice when you are opening his or her gift. With a new pair of socks, it's important you act as if it were a Playstation. Forget about the glimmering wide eyes; they're long gone. It's about generic added vocals as well – 'I needed [insert name here] so badly.' Practising in the mirror at least 20 poses a night for about two weeks should do the trick. How to avoid midnight phone calls telling you to come home. You're lucky if you're one of those new-age kids with an iPhone or Blackberry – when battery life is so bad that between leaving your house and getting to the pub, your phone has died. However, if you have an old-school phone, there is hope. 'My crappy phone never gets calls and never even tells me I have missed any – that's why I need an iPhone. Is it too late to exchange whatever you've already got me?' Two birds. One stone. To solve a few other annoying situations you are bound to encounter: drive instead of drink to save some pennies, fake an injury and get TV preferences, pretend you have an exam or lots of coursework to get away from awkward family situations or lingering cousins. Starting to think about it, my fingers are hurting a little, better go rest them…
Redbrick
13th December 2010
www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann
Comment & Features 9
All your friends have changed their profile pictures We are part of a generation that is used to getting what it wants for free, and now it seems we have applied this same principle to charity James Reevell Commentator
So did you change your picture last week, did you avert child abuse? Did you give anything other than the click of your finger to a cause? If so congratulations: you are part of our generation's failing. In case you missed it, or don't have Facebook, last week a viral campaign encouraged people to replace their profile pictures with a Disney character to support the NSPCC and, I quote, 'fight child abuse'. How exactly? We as a society are quite anti-child abuse; it's pretty much a given. What next week? Put up a Looney Toon to fight murder? Why don't we just admit that it was not for a campaign but for ourselves. Child abuse seems to be something that we should be against, so supporting it makes
sense and salves our liberal guilt. Yet how many of us reached into our wallets after this campaign? How many social workers will this recruit? Growing up with the internet, we are part of a generation that is used to getting what it wants for free, and now it seems we have applied this same principle to charity. We have managed to develop a form of giving that is purely intellectual, that has the benefit of costing us nothing in either time or effort. Some may say that there is no harm in this campaign and that it helps raise awareness. However, I would suggest that it is far more insidious than this, as it is an easier form of help, and history shows us that the easier way will always replace the hard one. Equally, by giving the campaign the label of 'fighting child abuse' it elevates this act
to the same level as the countless volunteers who work with abused children. This is not the first instance of this distasteful phenemenon. Think back to 2005 and Live8 with its 'three clicks' campaign, denoting the length of time between each AIDs related death in the world. This was represented in online media, by a huge number of people adding (3) to their MSN Messenger status. If you were one those whose mortality was defined by the number 3, would you like to be immortalised via MSN? Or take the more recent case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for the supposed crime of adultery. This cued convenient international outrage, giving the West the perfect opportunity to whip up condemnation against a state they
see as a threat, while only having to commit to nagging. In the meantime reports of what many would define as institutionalised rape at Kabul University were quietly swept under the carpet, despite the fact we have a large military presence in Afghanistan supposedly bringing about democracy. Surely here, rather than with Ashtiani, there was an opportunity for real change, however arduous this may have proved to be. Both causes are clearly worthy, but it is telling that we chose the lazy and convenient one. It is time that we took responsibility for our consciences. If you don't wish to volunteer or donate to causes then that is fine, just please don't pretend that clicking actually matters. It cheapens not just you, but the people you are purportedly helping.
Background to the Facebook campaign No one really knows where it came from It isn't an official NSPCC campaign The NSPCC have, however, welcomed the Facebook group as drawing attention to the work they do Rumours have circulated that the page was created by a group of paedofiles
10 redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
13th December 2010
Film
Enron film rights bought
Producer has secured George Clooney's interest to co-produce and possibly direct
The King's Speech – may cause Oscars
Film News
Elmley de la Cour meets Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter ahead of the release
What did you know about George VI before you took on the role?
How are you with public speaking? Geoffrey Rush: The only experience I've had, was in the early 90s when I was working in the theatre and I went through a very bad period of dread-inducing panic attacks before going on stage. Then I got an international film career and they kind of disappeared. I think that was the cure.
Colin Firth: I didn't know very much. My parents were children during his reign and I remember my mother talking about his reluctance to take the throne and what a crisis that would have been for him personally. There was an expression of admiration for him because of that, I think. I remember her telling me about the stammer, but these are vestiges of my childhood memory. I really knew nothing else at all. Were you very aware of George VI and his personality? Helena Bonham Carter: I wouldn't say I was unaware. I vaguely knew that he had a stammer, but not to the extent of how chronic it was. What I think the film shows is a completely new angle on a very famous period in history, for us: the abdication. The proper crisis is that it came within the monarchy, the pressure on this man and the personal crisis was totally new to me. But what is most interesting is that it's a story of the most reluctant king.
Colin Firth: What I think happens is there's a tension that can be debilitating, but then there is a tension that can be converted into something functional. How much research did you do to achieve the stammer? Colin Firth: A lot, but I've done it a lot of my life, as it's the third time I've played somebody with a stammer. What was interesting to me was that you don't just pull out your stammer from the drawer, it really doesn't work that way, and that was an education for me because I thought perhaps I could. It wasn't so much what's happening physiologically that was interesting to me; what interested me most was what the fears are.
On the Horizon – 2011
Lucy Steiner Film Writer
As 2010 draws to a close we can start to look ahead to 2011 and the cinematic delights that it holds in store. Reinvention is a big theme for 2011 with the Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson collaboration on the new Tintin films at the forefront. Transformed into motion capture 3D, and featuring a strong British cast of Jamie Bell and Andy Serkis, these masters of cinema guarantee that The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn will be a triumph. Continuing with this theme, the remake of the Swedish Millennium Trilogy begins next year with the first instalment of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Despite much speculation over the necessity for a Hollywood remake so soon after the original release, under the direction of David Fincher, our minds should be put at ease. Revamping the Swedish precedent with newcomer Rooney Mara taking on the feisty Lisbeth Salander, this is one of the most
anticipated films of 2011. Let us hope we are not disappointed. 2011 will see the continuation of a few long-established series. The conclusion of Harry Potter part seven, and the Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn will dominate the summer, along with the return of Pirates of the Caribbean. The fourth instalment, On Stranger Tides, features a new cast including Penélope Cruz and looks to reinvent the seafaring escapades. Moving away from the Hollywood blockbusters, the British contribution is impressive. Never Let Me Go has been acclaimed as a moving adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel. Thriller Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy unites a stellar British cast and its star Benedict Cumberbatch also will appear in Steven Spielberg's Warhorse. Danny Boyle looks set to have another strong year with his survival epic, 127 Hours (reviewed on page 12) and thespian Kenneth Branagh will give us his imagining of Norse mythology in Thor. All in all, 2011 will certainly not be a dull year.
After the abdication of Edward VIII (Guy Pearce) chronic stammerer, George VI (Colin Firth) must become King - cue unorthodox speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). David [Seidler, writer] had overcome a stammer himself and he said that when it was bad, it was all you could think about. It doesn't matter what else was at stake that day, the issue is can I say it?
How important is it for the film to be validated by talk of awards for next year? Colin Firth: I don't know what's going to happen next year. The fact that people are talking that way is a sign of how positively they've responded to this, which is incredibly gratifying. People don't owe you their gratitude just because you've tried very hard. So yes, it's very gratifying. The King's Speech is out on 7th January and reviewed on p12
Lost that Xmas Feeling?
Lucy Bedford Film Writer
Everybody loves a good Christmas film and with the early arrival of snow there seemed no better excuse than to grab my housemates and curl up with some of our festive favourites. However, after watching Home Alone, Home Alone Two, (one of those rare films where a sequel lives up to its predecessor), and The Holiday, we began to question our ability to suspend our beliefs and succumb to the Christmas magic.
Surely social services would want words with the parents in Home Alone? It might just be my growing age and apparently growing cynicism but it got me wondering: surely social services would have wanted strong words with Kevin McAllister's parents after leaving
him home alone, fending for himself and defending his house from two local burglars who threaten to bite off every one of his fingers? Bringing me on to Home Alone Two, where for the second year in a row, the bandits are subjected to bricks thrown at their heads, staples in the groin, falling through holes in the floor and electrocution, to name just a few punishments – surely if not one of these things, then all of them would've rendered the characters unconscious and possibly dead, especially as they were probably still recovering from last Christmas. I wont even begin to get started on The Holiday. Obviously all Brits live in picturesque cottages and all Americans live in sprawling Los Angeles Mansions. It's no wonder we have such warped views of one another. If like me, you find yourself growing cynical and previously loved films have become a little too unrealistic, then the only advice I can offer is to try to embrace the ridiculousness. Failing that, stick to a film like Elf, where you are required to suspend your belief system entirely and let your imagination take over absolutely. An elf, lost in New York? Sure. Oh and if all else fails, watch out for Hugh Grant's tie in Love Actually when he first enters Downing Street. Someone didn't do a very good job with their consistency.
RIP Leslie Nielson and Irvin Kershner This week the movie world mourns not one but two film icons. Leslie Nielsen, comedy legend and star of such classics as Naked Gun and Airplane! was a beloved, active entertainer, and passed away on Sunday 28th November aged 84. Irvin Kershner, director of the much-loved Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, was 87 when he passed on the 27th November. Both will be fondly remembered as fantastic contributors to the film world.
Oscars James Franco and Anne Hathaway have been announced as next year's Oscar hosts. The two young actors have been seen as a controversial choice by some, as both may be nominated for turns in 127 Hours and Love and Other Drugs, respectively. The glitzy annual awards will be held on the 27th of February.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Yes, that's right. For some unknown reason Hollywood has decided that TV gold must yet again be destroyed to earn more cash. Buffy fans may remember that the TV series stemmed from a particularly dire 1992 movie. Well, the franchise is going back to its roots as a movie reboot has been announced this week, without the involvement of creator and geek god Joss Whedon. Shocking.
Comic Con – UK Finally, the comics, movie and TV Mecca is coming to Britain! Mark Millar, creator of Kick-Ass, has created 'Kapow! Comic Con'. Already announced panels include the new Judge Dredd reboot starring Karl Urban, and no doubt he'll invite friend Matthew Vaughan to present his X-Men: First Class. More details are available at www.kapowcomiccon.com Genevieve Taylor
Student Voice
MOTIONS SUMMARY GUILD COUNCIL IS THE DEMOCRATIC VOICE OF STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM. MADE UP OF ELECTED STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES, GUILD COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO SET GUILD POLICY THROUGH VOTING ON MOTIONS WHICH CAN BE SUBMITTED BY ANY STUDENT.
THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS WERE MADE AS A RESULT OF NOVEMBER’S GUILD COUNCIL: • Harvey Milk Room - To rename the space formerly occupied by HSBC bank in the Guild of Students to the Harvey Milk Room, in honour and recognition of the American LGBTQ activist and politician. • Guild Officer Review - The Guild will review the current structure of the elected Officer Team to ensure that it is fit for purpose and in line with the needs of the students at the University of Birmingham. • Officer Accountability - The elected Officer team will ensure that their blogs are updated at least every 30 days to ensure students are aware of the work they are doing and can hold them accountable for it. Find the officer blogs at www.guildofstudents.com
• Amendments to the Suppliers List - The Guild currently operates a suppliers list used by RA’s and Student Groups when making purchases. The Guild is to change the format of the list to ensure that it works in the best interests of students and gives good value for money, for all. • Take Action on Access - The Guild will ensure that widening participation remains a priority for the University of Birmingham and that all students have access to university education. • Mobility and Access Policy - The Guild will establish a Mobility and Access Policy working group, to monitor access to the Guild and its events, and ensure all disabled facilities are working correctly, and accessible.
• Birmingham Uni Students say NO the Cuts and Higher Fees The Guild of Students will continue to fight locally and nationally against further cuts to the education sector and against the implementation of higher student fees.
ANYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND GUILD COUNCIL TO GIVE THEIR OPINION ON THE ISSUES RAISED
For more information and to access full motions,visit
www.guildofstudents.com
or email council@guild.bham.ac.uk
Redbrick
Film 12
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Matt Davis, Elmley de la Cour
Reviews
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UNMISSABLE
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127 Hours
pushing oneself to the brink of physical breaking point. Ralston's contagious fervor for the fast lane is highlighted in the initial, rousing elements of the story that set the scene for the unfortunate atrocity that is to come. And once the boulder falls maliciously upon Ralston, a collective empathetic camaraderie pitters round the movie house, and it is the pooled silence of the audience that should be branded as the film's greatest accomplishment. Franco's interpretation of Aron Ralston is as despairing and disturbing as the role demands. As Ralston comes to the heartbreaking terms of his own death, Franco injects a fusion of humour in an attempt to half-stifle the misery of a premature death. The hours turn into fiendish nights as Ralston attempts to free himself from his incarceration, and
whilst battling with recurring hallucinations, the protagonist uses his video camera to keep a diary. Ralston tributes family, friends and condemns his own foolishness for not letting anyone know the path he took. After five days, the delirious Ralston has an epiphany. Rearranging the crushed mutilated bones of his jammed hand, Ralston proceeds to sever off his forearm with a blunt knife. Danny Boyle and the production team immediately utilise this scene to provide horrific imagery of the dull blade carving through the screeching and shrilling nervous system. Franco provides a phenomenal performance whilst Danny Boyle further glues his position as Britain's best director. 127 Hours is a typhoon wreaking havoc on the senses. Matt Davis !
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land deserves its label as one of the best films of the year. DiCaprio's acting is the business. The plot is incredible. Top cinema.' Adam Bricknell
4 Kick-Ass
For the Top 10 of the year, we polled over 20 of our writers and collated their answers. As a result, the list is truly representative of what we, as a section, thought. From over 70 films nominated, these are, definitely, the year's best.
10 Iron Man 2 'The original was lauded for being a cheeky, off-beat approach to the comic-book novel. The sequel was even better, with Downey Jr fully growing into the Tony Stark role.' Elmley de la Cour
8 A Single Man 'A Single Man witnesses the fashionista Tom Ford unveiling his stunning directorial debut. Colin Firth provides a deserved Oscar winning performance, and A Single Man serves up as a cinematically-delicious, strong and emotional cocktail.' Matt Davis
7 Harry Potter 7 'The best of all the Harry Potter films, it stays truly loyal to the book, makes you cry and laugh and ends at the perfect moment. I can't wait for the last one!' Rachael Hewison
'A sugar rush of everyday, loser-ish boy turns comic book action hero with a twist. Littered with an awesomely talented cast, you'll come away with a burning desire to don a diving suit and master martial arts.' Gemma Fottles
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POOR
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TRAGIC
'We love Scott Pilgrim vs The World for being an awesome cross between a comic strip and a computer game; it's set somewhere other than New York or LA, and most of all for not taking itself too seriously.' Wilhelmina Gylmah
9 The Town
'The Social Network does for us what Wall Street did for the 80s; it defines our generation and truly is a product of our time. A real contender at next year's Oscars.' Sandip Pamar
2 Toy Story 3 'A heart-warming feast of spectacular animation, Toy Story 3 is beautiful, exciting, terrifying and endearing. It's quite simply the greatest sequel ever made. I cried. A LOT.' Genevieve Taylor
1 Inception
5 Shutter Island 'Clever, thought provoking and reeking with suspense Shutter Is-
Gareth Edwards' Monsters is an interesting attempt to refresh the largely stagnant and repetitious alien invasion genre. Rather than simply depicting another attack with slightly different creatures, Monsters looks at the world several years after aliens have landed, much like District 9. Documentary photographer Andrew Kaulder (McNairy) is charged with escorting Samantha Wynden (Able) through the 'infected zone' in the top half of Mexico back to the US. Much was made of the 'low budget' nature of last month's Skyline, as it 'only' cost around $10 million to make. Monsters makes a mockery of this claim, having been made for an estimated $200,000, and still boasting Hollywood-quality special effects. However, whilst the effects are extremely impressive, there are other film parts that are considerably less polished. Several conversations between the main characters are simply dull, and some of the dialogue is extremely clunky (a particularly memorable example is Andrew saying 'the vibe just changed', having just walked from a party area in town to a street lined with memorials to those killed by the aliens and piles of bones marked 'unknown dead'). Rather than being a Godzillatype film, Monsters takes more of
a Blair Witch approach, focusing on the developing relationship between the two lead characters, with the creatures more often heard than seen. However, this is one of the main problems with the film. It lacks any real intensity, with some scenes showing characters quite nonchalant about being sat in a walled in area, surrounded by huge land Octopi, but the love story seems contrived and not particularly believable. An interesting premise, let down by getting caught in two minds about which genre to focus on. Matthew Clough !
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The King's Speech
3 The Social Network
6 Scott Pilgrim
'Fast-paced and relentlessly gritty drama that both entertains and draws the audience into this explosive world, The Town is a film to be reckoned with. Ben Affleck leads a strong cast that delivers powerful performances that are not easily forgotten.' Lucy Steiner
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Director: Gareth Edwards Cast: Whitney Able, Scoot McNairy Rating: 12A
Top 10 – Films of 2010
Redbrick Film
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Monsters
Director: Danny Boyle Cast: James Franco, Kate Mara Rating: 15 127 Hours is Danny Boyle's latest release following his Oscar success with Slumdog Millionaire. And boy, this bound-to-be-huge-blockbuster is a hellish rollercoaster for adrenalin-junkies. The unashamed entertainer, Danny Boyle, relays the true story of Aron Ralston, an American climber who is halted by nature, which in this circumstance, is a boulder that has fallen on his arm. Boyle employs the rising star, James Franco (Milk, Spiderman), to portray Ralston in what requires a skittish and wired, solo performance. The cinematography is beautiful in capturing the hazelcoloured, yawning canyons, and daubing the picturesque setting against a backdrop of mesmerisingly azure, powder blue skies. As sunrise sprays the canyon with glorious mustard-coloured sunrays, Ralston (Franco) enthusiastically cycles into the open space. The plot's blistering pace ensues, depicting Ralston as a character devoted to the passion of
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'Simply put, Inception is ingenious – Nolan's finest work. Every actor perfectly cast, every scene perfetly shot, every line perfectly written And like any great film should it will compel you to watch it again.' Kenji Lloyd
Director: Tom Hooper Cast: Colin Firth, Helen Bonham-Carter, Geoffrey Rush Rating: 15 The King's Speech is an interwar period drama, which tells the story of King George the VI, portrayed masterfully by Colin Firth (A Single Man), and his debilitating speech impediment. The plot charts his unwilling ascension to the throne in a time of both political and familial crisis, and his efforts to combat his speech with the help of an eccentric elocution expert played by Geoffrey Rush (Elizabeth: The Golden Age). Hitler and Stalin are on the march, his father George V is dying and his older brother Edward is unable to rule. It is through this crisis that the Duke and then King must win his subjects, and the film does an excellent job of convincing the audience that if he cannot overcome his impediment the whole empire is at stake. The film is both an intimate look into one particular facet of the titular King's character and
also a fascinating glimpse into the world of the 1930s; both the world of royalty and of the common man. Every scene and every shot is composed and arranged with such skill they are beautiful to look at and could pass for professionally staged photographs or even oil paintings. Despite the obvious care taken to the arrangement of scenes the action feels real and the viewer is expertly made to empathise with the troubled royal and feel real emotion. Every moment of frustration and anger, sadness and fear that is felt by the characters is emotively conveyed to the audience. In addition, the moments of humour are well earned and do a good job of maintaining a terrific atmosphere through a primarily somber story. This fantastic film does everything right- it is a masterpiece of filmmaking. I would highly recommend anyone see it, regardless of ones interest in the era or opinion on the monarchy. Francis Shaw !
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Community
Dear students, As we approach the end of term there are a few things I’d like to make students living in rented accommodation aware of… Burglary I am pleased to say incidences of burglary in the area have dropped by 70% when compared to the previous four years; this is partly due to the work of the Guild, police, local Council, and our Community Wardens. Christmas, however, is a prevalent season for crime, so make sure to lock doors and windows and secure your house before you leave for the festive break. Also, if you haven’t already, sign up to Selly Watch at www.guildofstudents.com/sellywatch to receive up to date crime alerts.
CLEANER, , R E F FOR A SA ELLY OAK S R E N E GRE
Tenancy Deposits If you rent a property, your landlord, by law, should have confirmed which Tenancy Deposit Scheme your deposit has been secured in. If you are yet to receive this information contact your landlord and request the details immediately. It is essential that you know where your money is being held, so that when you come to moving out you’re able to recover your deposit through the appropriate channels. The Tenancy Deposit Schemes acts as an impartial body to manage the landlord’s request for money from the deposit, if required, and to help you challenge this if necessary, so it’s very important!! House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) If you live in a house of five tenants or more over three floors, you should have seen a HMO licence, and with it a Gas safety and an Electrical safety certificate. If your house requires a HMO license but hasn’t been properly licensed your landlord could be prosecuted, and you may begin proceedings to recover the rent you have paid so far. More importantly, if it isn’t licensed, it could mean it is a dangerous place to live. Make sure your landlord provides proof your home is safe and ask to see a HMO certificate. It is recommended that a landlord with a HMO provides an area for storage before waste is collected too, so it’s definitely worth asking about this. If you have any queries about deposits, HMOs, security or another community issue, please contact the Community Wardens on 0121 251 2502 or community@guild.bham.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can contact me directly (details below).
Merry Christmas! Jonny Kirby Vice-President (Housing & Community) vphc@guild.bham.ac.uk 0121 251 2342
www.guildofstudents.com/ilovesellyoak
14 redbrickonline.co.uk
Television Top Ten Christmas Specials
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A Child's Christmases in Wales
What is Christmas without Dylan Thomas? Not much as far as Ruth Jones is concerned, celebrating a child's many Christmases in South Wales. With Welsh Cakes instead of Mince Pies, Owen has a lot to deal with every year with thanks to his OCD mum and feuding uncles Huw and Geraint.
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The Office
Karaoke, drinking and snogging in the photocopy room, it sounds like your average Christmas do; however, there's a present for everyone this year, when Tim may get his long awaited chance with Dawn and David finally gets a date.
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Blackadder's Christmas Carol
A Dickensian classic but completely mucked up. Blackadder and his faithful sidekick Baldrick must go from saints to sinners after a Robbie Coltrane induced revelation. Blackadder finds that an evil Christmas present can lead to a wealthy Christmas ahead.
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Vicar of Dibley
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Gavin and Stacey
Oh, it's Christmas and the Welsh army are on route to Billericay. With Bryn wrapped in Mistletoe and baby Neil in the house, Gav and Stacey reveal some exciting news, what could possibly go wrong?
Empty Box?
With Nan's Christmas Carol and plenty of liberties being taken, Catherine Tate certainly has a lot to offer at Christmas with appearances from Bernie the Nurse, Lauren the mouthy teenager and even Charlotte Church now and then!
Father Ted
Nothing says Christmas like holy water and lingerie. Finding themselves and six other priests lost in the knickers section of a large department store, Father's Dougal and Ted attempt a bit of Christmas shopping
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Doctor Who
Another day, another dimension and Christmas is no different for Dr Who. Flying around in his Tardis, not unlike Father Christmas in his sleigh, the Doctor fights off demon Santa robots and even snatches a bride from her wedding, before hurtling into the starship Titantic to saving the world from the end of time!
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Is TV on a winter break? Sarah Pullen
The Royle Family
Christmas in the Royle household is all about new sofas and Nigella Lawson. The Royle's pack a lot into a Christmas including arguments, Christmas games and all you can eat turkey legs, although it's never the same without Nana.
Geraldine has a lot going on for a vicar during the festive season, including three Christmas dinners, proposing to a Bishop and seeing a very naked Rachael Hunter, not to mention delivering Alice's baby in a manger. She must be exhausted, bless her.
'I have to go learn some people's names before I fire them' – Roger Sterling, Mad Men
Catherine Tate's Christmas Special
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Redbrick
13th December 2010
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Only Fools and Horses Famed as one of the most memorable Christmas television moments of all time, Del Boy and Rodney return but not as you know them. Decked out as Batman and Robin the boys gate crash a wake, apprehend a mugger or two and announce that a new baby is on the way.
Sarah Murphy
Reporter
With all this snow around and most of us battling a fresh round of coughs and colds you would be fully justified for just wanting to curl up and watch a bit of decent TV. Unfortunately the TV schedule is making that a little difficult at the moment. The British TV shows are generally coming to their close while the American shows tend to be hitting mid – season. And it happens every year. During the course of September we are hit by a veritable tidal wave of new programmes as well as returning favourites, yet by early November they are already beginning to dry up and nothing is cropping up to fill their place. In previous years, this would
mean putting up with the same old chick-flicks and festive favourites on loop between now and Christmas. However, technology has provided us with a solution – the internet. With the increase in questionable file sharing sites, the main British broadcasters have been forced into action, the BBC and Channel 4 in particular. They have begun, what must be, the rather tedious task of uploading whole past series' onto their respective websites. Channel 4 is certainly ahead of the curve on this one and have allowed many of us to discover the crude hilarity of the Inbetweeners, the teen drama, Skins, or the rather intrusive documentary that is The Family, having missed it all the first time around. It allows us to catch up on previous series before starting on the current one
and rediscover old favourites. And it makes sense for the broadcaster too. Most people would rather watch a programme online through legal means than through a site with a shaky legal premise – even if it means sitting through a few adverts. Of course, this might well explain why the BBC are a little more reluctant to put up whole series. Their no-advertising policy on live television means that people often expect the same online, which is rather unfair. However, the BBC do put up with a large amount of their past content being posted on Youtube, claiming copyright far less often than Channel 4 and ITV. ITV is currently lagging behind the other main broadcasters by continuing a policy of thirty day catch up rather than allowing the public access to their programme archives – a policy that American networks are strong advocates of, which is a great shame. The American networks even go as far as to disallow British broadcasters to place American shows on their websites for more than the thirty days – as I found out when trying to catch up on previous series of The Big Bang Theory. With the ever-expanding reach of the internet this problem of questionable file sharing is not going away any time soon. Surely, it is better for the networks and broadcasters to recognise this and to fulfil this demand, rather than to pushing viewers who are struggling to find something to watch in the dead period before Christmas towards legally ambiguous sites.
Comedy Genius Rebecca Hardwick Reporter
Are 'comedy' acts ruining talent shows? This year, both Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor have been plagued by awful comedy acts that the public persistently voted to save. Until Sunday viewers of Strictly Come Dancing voted in their droves for Ann Widdecombe, who was perhaps the worst contestant the show ever had. Meanwhile, for seven weeks The X Factor's Wagner, the continually out-of-tune and almost frightening Brazilian singer, was repeatedly kept out of the bottom two by the public. The question is: are these acts ruining talent shows or merely giving them a bit of colour? Wagner was the source of much of The X Factor controversy this year. He continually failed to impress the judges with his awful performances: his medley of I'm Still Standing and Circle of Life comes to mind. Sometimes he forgot the words, he was certainly not tuneful and there were some questionable dance routines. Some will argue he brought a bit of fun to the show and he did definitely stand-out from the other contestants. Nevertheless, the fact remains that whilst Wagner made it to the seventh week of the live
Strictly a nightmare: Ann Widdecombe on Strictly Come Dancing shows, several talented singers, such as Trey-c and Aiden, suffered the chop as Wagner survived. If nothing else, Wagner damaged the credibility of those acts that are actually talented. So although to some extent Wagner did make the show more entertaining, it was right time for him to go before another talented act suffered. After all, these are people's lives! Ann Widdecombe excited similar controversy to Wagner, concerning her hugely poor dance routines in Strictly Come Dancing. Widdecombe is such a bad dancer that her partner, Anton du Beke, resorted to dragging her across the floor and used elaborate tricks, such as strapping her into a harness to make her fly.
As you can imagine, the judges' comments haven't been kind; she's been dubbed a 'Dalek in drag' and a 'dancing hippo'. Many able dancers have been voted out of the competition while Widdecombe remained, such as Jimi Mistry and Flavia Cacace who went out despite performing their best dance. Before Ann was eliminated from the show on Sunday there were calls for her to bow out of the competition, as John Sergeant did in the 2008 series. These acts will always plague these competitions. However, there is a fine distinction between comedy and atrocity. Ultimately, it's up to us as the fifth judge to call time on the dodgy dancers and scary screechers.
Redbrick
Box Bites: The Latest TV News Jennifer Anderson previews the television to snuggle up with this Christmas
It's that time of year again when the TV channels are all working their socks off in an attempt to wow the nation with Christmas specials bursting with gripping drama, laugh-out-loud comedy and festive cheer. So here's a quick run-down of what we can look forward to this year! Matt Smith and Karen Gillan will return this Christmas in what the BBC promises to be a 'funfilled and heartfelt festive story': 'A Christmas Carol'. The cast will be joined by Michael Gambon and glamorous opera star Katherine Jenkins. The lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat has high hopes for the episode saying: 'Oh we're going for broke with this one. It's all your favourite Christmas movies at once, in an hour, with monsters. And the Doctor. And a honeymoon. And… oh you'll see. Besides Doctor Who, the BBC promises a great line-up (as usual), with everything from drama, to comedy, to factual shows; there is something for everyone. In Top Gear find out what happens to Jeremy, the 'Hamster' and 'Captain Slow' when they find themselves in Iraq for their Christmas special. Meanwhile in Albert Square tensions are running high (what's new?), with the big story looking to be the Janine, Ryan and Stacey love triangle as Janine catches Ryan kissing Stacey under the mistletoe…All we can hope is that Ryan wears some body armour if
Television 15
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Joe McGrath, Natalie Timmins
he's going to upset Janine! Speaking of Eastenders, Dot Cotton (83 year-old June Brown) dons her dancing shoes for the Strictly Christmas special along with John Barrowman – recently dubbed 'Man of a Thousand Sequins' by Buzz magazine. It looks set to be a good-un… On ITV it's all about the X Factor obviously. Who's going to win? And will they get that all-important Christmas number one? Coronation Street also looks to be a hive of activity and packed with drama. This week's £1 million tram crash will leave the futures of some of the soap's best-loved characters uncertain and make for some nail-biting cliffhangers, including the Kevin, Molly and Tyrone love-triangle… Who will live to see Christmas? Channel Five plans to get viewers in the Christmas spirit with a three hour marathon of some of Christmas television's greatest moments. The countdown will include scenes from The Royle Family, Morecambe and Wise and Only Fools and Horses. And if this is your thing then watch out for the Christmas advert countdown too.
The Royle Family
Fancy a Fry up? Hugh decide
Which is the better half of Fry and Laurie? Martha Hill-Cousins TV Critic
It is hard to know how to begin writing about Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie as I know I could never do them justice. But that doesn't mean I won't try! The comedy duo have immensely successful careers. They are known together for their roles in Blackadder and Jeeves and Wooster, as well as their own comedy series A Bit of Fry and Laurie. The two had not appeared on television together for fifteen years until their recent collaboration in Fry and Laurie Reunited, which saw them reminiscing about when they first met and how their careers began. I feel
I have more knowledge of their separate careers and it is this I wish to focus on. They are both extremely talented men, but I want to see which is the better half of Fry and Laurie. The challenge begins then, with Stephen Fry who is probably better known to our generation. His most well-known work is QI, which stands for 'Quite Interesting', and it really is. Fry's charm and charisma makes him the perfect host of such a programme. Other achievements include starring in numerous films, such as Gosford Park and Tim Burton's remake of Alice in Wonderland. Radio 4 has often been graced with Fry's presence, appearing on Just a Minute, as well as his own comedy series
Saturday Night Fry. I am not ashamed to admit that one of my favourite things about Stephen Fry is his fantastic narrations of the Harry Potter audio books. His voice is so soothing; I would happily listen to it all day. I have by no means mentioned all of Fry's achievements but I must move on to the other half of Fry and Laurie; who should be given credit for his portrayal of Gregory House in the series House. Laurie is brilliant as the cuttingly witty doctor who is obsessed with finding answers to medical puzzles. He has received two Golden Globe awards and is currently the highest paid actor for a US drama. Like Fry, Laurie has starred in many films including Sense and Sensibility, Disney's 101 Dalmations and Stuart Little. His brief cameo appearance in Friends is excellent. As well as this, Laurie has a talent for music which he puts to use in his early shows with Fry and numerous episodes of House. Again, this has only brushed the surface of Laurie's solo success, but I must try to conclude. Both men are immensely talented, humorous and successful. I see Fry as more of a lovable uncle and as for Laurie, all I can say is I wish I were thirty years older! They are fantastic together and apart. They have the success that one could only dream of and I apologise for chickening out, but I cannot decide which I prefer.
16 redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
13th December 2010
Arts
World's most expensive book sells for £7.5million in London. It's about birds... www.bbc.co.uk
It's Christmas, lets spoil it
The Redbrick Arts and Culture Team suggest unlikely Christmas collaborations they want to see happen. Cliff Richard vs. The Pogues. Sophie Lawrence – Critic
SAW: The Panto
'It was Christmas Eve baaaabe', Shane MacGowan growls, whilst Cliff skanks out in his white suit to 'Christmas time, mistletoe and wine'. Although Shane's clearly a whisky man. 'The wind goes right through you, it's no place for the old' Cliff, please take note. You're seventy. It's time to spend Christmas sipping sherry, not prancing around in a crisp white suit.
Alex Blanchard – Arts Editor Move over Dave Benson-Phillips, a good gunging is so 1990s. This is the Call of Duty generation; kids want to see bloodied limbs flying at them. Parents may have their reservations, but given the potential for a spectacle involving the mutilation of Dick and Dom, they're sure to come round.
The Queen's Address Burlesque
A Christmas Carol: The Dodgy 90s musical?
Will Franklin – Music Editor
Lexie Wilson – Critic
Her Madge slinks on stage, dropping her robe and fluttering feathers over her nethers, and softly coos. 'This year, the exchequer will be cutting company tax by 2.8%'. Never before has oppressive legislation been more alluring.
Featuring Mariah Carey as Tiny Tim. I'm sure there'll be a fair few volunteers who've heard All I want for Christmas one too many times to make the limp permanent. Good ol' Noddy Holder as ghost of Christmas past, Mr Blobby as the Ghost of Christmas present, and Bob Geldof can freak us all out again as the Ghost of Christmas Future.
Grinch Ballet
Sian Gray – Arts Editor Move over Ballet is now ready to welcome a true superstar to the canon. Moving with poise and grace, please
The Nutcracker: The Porno Matt Saull – Critic
A Christmas institution consisting of two simple words. Nut and Cracker... Balls and Hammer? Perfect sadistic porn material? The next big thing in the Two girls, one cup trilogy? I know a few who'd watch it.
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*All cartoons by Beth Richardson
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Bin Laden's Grotto
James Reevell – Arts Editor
He's got the cave, got the beard, the only problem is that he won't smell of stale whisky like all the great Santa's do. With a long list of people who have been naughty this year, he has a sack full of intolerance to offer the western world.
Up-close and personal, Redbrick gets intimate with Popshot Sian Gray Arts Editor
Last year The Observer included the poetry and illustration magazine Popshot as a 'one to watch'. A year on and Redbrick meets the creator and editor-in-chief Jacob Denno to find out the future for the magazine and for poetry. Why did you feel that there is a need for a poetry magazine? Because somewhere along the line, poetry got hijacked by horrific design and a strange compulsion to produce poems that no-one could relate to. I think poetry is an incredible art form that when written well can cause the person coming into contact with it to stop, reflect and question. For that reason, I would hate to see poetry slip away because no new blood was coming to it.
covered it's actually a porn industry term. What were the aims of Popshot and have they been completed? The initial aims have remained exactly the same – to try and bring contemporary poetry to a wider, younger and more diverse audience and to update peoples perceptions of poetry. I certainly don't feel it has been completed and upon reflection am a little unsure as to whether it ever will. However, I would love it if one day people flocked to festivals and tickets sold out at o2 Academy's because a few incredible poets were going to read some of their newest poems.
Where did the name Popshot come from?
One of the poets to have featured in Popshot was Jack Stannard, who has also appeared in Vogue as a 'one to watch'. Is it important for poetry to be seen as fashionable?
It's a bizarre amalgamation of various words and as soon as I heard it, I knew that was it. It was only after Issue 1 came out that I dis-
Definitely. As shallow as it may be, in order for things to generate interest and appeal to newer and wider audiences, they have to be
presented in an attractive way. Poetry suffers from a rather terrible reputation amongst younger audiences. A large amount of this is down to the actual poetry itself but I think an even larger part of this is down to the way poetry is presented to the general public. As for how Popshot is contributing to changing that – you're probably better equipped to answer that question than I am! What, in your opinion, makes a good poem? A good poem addresses things that we can all relate to yet still refer to the finer details of this odd little planet we spin around on. As Luke Wright said in an interview in the last issue of Popshot – 'Most poems don't tell us anything we don't already know. What delights us is the way it's told.' Why did you decide to combine poetry with illustration? They were two art forms that in my mind come hand in hand. I felt illustration could make poetry more accessible by helping to tell the story of each poem. Words compliment pictures and pictures
compliment words – it's the best relationship I know of.
What is Popshot?
What are the boundaries of the poetry you can publish in Popshot in terms of 'explicit nature'?
To expand our readership, get the magazine into more countries, keep on improving the design/ layout/content and eventually, be the first result in Google when people type in 'brilliant'. It's a tall order.
I like to think the boundaries are pretty wide in terms of explicit content but I prefer not to publish poems that are littered with expletives. Mainly because those with a stronger command of language can usually convey the feeling in a far more articulate and imaginative way than by just saying something is 'fucking shit'. Saying that, in Issue 3 we published a poem about masturbation... How important do you think performance is to the success of poetry today? Ridiculously important. It's a more digestable version of poetry on the page, if it's well crafted that is. Performance poetry and spoken word is a brilliant way to introduce people to poetry. As a general rule, 'page' and 'stage' poetry are two very different things but I like to think that Popshot can act as a slight bridge between the two.
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What would be your three desert island poems? Gosh, picking out three would be difficult. I've always liked the tight rhyme and meter of W.H Auden and John Betjeman but I tend to prefer contemporary poetry to the classics. I might have to be an arrogant arse and take a copy of Popshot with me... What's the one item/possession you cannot live without? The Royal Mail. They may get slagged off on a regular basis but ultimately, the fact that you can send out copies of Popshot to Scotland for less than a pound is consistently baffling. www.popshotpopshot.com to buy a copy of Popshot or submit work
Redbrick
The Alexandra
Rob Hanson Critic
Over 30 years ago Monty Python burst on to our televisions with a show; a show of indecent taste, surreal comedy and unrefined silliness. I am overjoyed that their legacy lives on through Spamalot. It's hard to define what the show is; a musical comedy, a showcase of the best of eccentric British humour or simply a homage to the Pythons film based on the legend of King Arthur's search for the Holy Grail (with new jokes, and more impor-
John Bishop
tantly more memorable characters and songs). It was a pleasure to see what the Pythons can achieve now without the censorship of the 1970s.. Eric Idle is able to produce a show that catches his audience off guard and assaults them with the humour we shouldn't find so funny. The cast excelled themselves in this unique show; one of strict comedic timing and yet with a pantomime feel. The cast were an excellent example of trained pratting around. The Lady of the Lake (Jodie Prenger) was the finest example of this; her songs, on some occasions irrelevant to the story, and in one case breaking the forth wall as the actress was demanding more stage time. What was original was the audience participation. I would think it hard to find a Briton who has not seen the film which this was based on, and this was clear from the fact that the audience cheered when familiar characters appeared and old jokes were referenced. The show most brilliantly achieved this whilst bringing the crowd together during the song 'Always look on the bright side of life' where, unprovoked the majority of the audience started to sing along with the cast. This is what, in particular, makes Spamalot stand out today. Python is such a huge part of comedy and it's silliness allows us lose our inhibitions. It was really a memorable and highly entertaining night for all of the audience.
The Hare And Hounds
Live Box
Symphony Hall Alice Young & Sophie Rogers Critics
Look closely: Is their head leaning to one side? Have they lost movement in one side of their face? Does their ability to talk seem affected? No, you're not identifying a stroke victim; according to John Bishop, you're dealing with a teenager. This fresh brand of charming anecdotal humour kept the audience of a sold out Symphony Hall in hysterics. If you're struggling to work out where you know him from, he's the middle-aged, and somewhat inexplicably attractive, Liverpudlian comedian who's been doing the rounds of all the usual
Critics
When three unassuming lads in beanie hats on a bitter Sunday evening in Brum strolled onto the stage at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath, it was difficult to know what to expect, but what we got was something entirely unique. This is spoken word poetry with an edge. An evening with LiveBox was the perfect end to an uninspiring week. Jonathan Morley forms the backbone of this talented trio. An award-winning poet, he is joined by Simon Hayden, who delivers a mesmeric performance on double bass, and Ben Haines on drums. Morley performs with ease; his presence is undeniable, but Morley ,Hayden and Haines together are a force to be reckoned with. Initially the hypnotic skills of Hayden on bass were captivating – meaning the poetry almost took a back seat. But as we began to see glimpses of a Birmingham we recognised through Morley's haze of
poetry, we really settled into the performance. It shouldn't work but it does. The rhythms are as bizarre as the poetry and the result is a perfect marriage. Morley's Birmingham pans from rat-faced school boys to scrap-metal skies and if the city is his muse she is undoubtedly one you can relate to. If we thought the first half was special, add in a cheeky bit of improv from Soweto Kinch on saxophone and the performance reached new heights. For those who haven't heard of him, he's a critically acclaimed artist who, he assures us, is the leading exponent of jazz hiphop. And with MOBO and Mercury nominations under his belt, who are we to argue? It's certainly not the type of poetry we are typically used to, but the group fuses words and music in a way we've never experienced before. The sole disappointment of the evening was the lack of audience. This eclectic mix of poetry, drum, bass, funk and jazz is something spectacular.
panel shows. This tour, ironically named Sunshine, seemed to be less about polished jokes and oneliners, and more like his personal arena for venting his frustrations about his age, marriage, kids, and the accompanying dramas. All this and he managed to avoid whinging like Jack Dee, or bitching like Jo Brand. John Bishop is the enigmatic embodiment of someone who doesn't quite get just how funny he actually is. The show was full of spontaneity, with sharp observations of audience members and many jokes at Birmingham's expense – he hopes that somewhere in Frankfurt right now there is a Brummy Christmas market. An engaging element to Bishop's comedy is his continued ability to embarrass and poke fun at himself. The evening featured short videos of Bishop, one showing what his life could have been like if he hadn't failed his audition to be the voice of 'Bazuka that verruca!' – a far cry from where he has ended up! As someone who faced some difficulty breaking into the comedy scene, the self-proclaimed Bez look-alike seems to think that this is his 'year in the Sunshine', modestly assuming his fame will be short-lived. However, in a climate where even the Prime Minister is concerned with the happiness of the nation and the demand for laughter is high, it's likely that John Bishop will continue to entertain with his profanity-ridden, selfdeprecating comedy.
Article 19
Article 19 David Campbell Critic
Dance club music filled the ears whilst the eyes were met with a variety of bar chairs littered across an urban nightclub inspired set. Call girls approached from every angle asking whether the audience might 'want a dance?' This was a performance that got straight to the point. The action started and ended with Hippolytus; son of King Theseus. The character is instantly exposed to the audience by allowing us to view him at his home, surrounded by litter, fast food and contraception. He is, however, kept something of a mystery at first by strong backlighting; only allowing the audience a silhouette of his face. As the play develops, the character gets ever more interesting and complex. The audience is also pulled into his obscure philosophies until his final demise. Hippolytus was exquisitely portrayed by Luke Shepherd.
Handel's Messiah
Town Hall 13th December The outstanding City of Birmingham choir bring their acclaimed performance to the audience of the Town Hall. Tickets £12
Ragarella
The Drum 17th December It's got the music, the Ugly sisters and the claim that it gives Britain's Got Talent a run for its money. This is a classic tale with a twist. Tickets £13
Carols by Candlelight
Phaedra's Love
The Drum Sophie Lawrence & Liz Murray
Editor's Choice
Symphony Hall
Spamalot
The Alexandra
Arts 17
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Sian Gray, James Reevell
From beginning to end his performance was a delight to watch. The character had real depth, which was fully sustained throughout. A quite simply inspired portrayal and reflection of the character. Lauren Carse, as Phaedra, also gave a staggeringly passionate performance that flowed effortlessly from emotion to emotion. The heated scenes with Hippolytus and Strophie, played by Ellie Scott, were of particular enjoyment and intensity. Throughout, the play was spectated by a group of rowdy onlookers that blended into the audience. These actors transpired to be a representation of the mob. This was a great twist in emphasis, as the mob took centre stage towards the end and shifted the drama from the royal family's individual promiscuous actions, onto the social effects on society. Directors Serafina Kiszko and Kate Baiden should be congratulated on the success of the production, as should all the cast who allowed it to come to life.
Symphony Hall 17th December It might seem old fashioned but is there anything more festive than carols by candlelight? We don't think so! Tickets £12
Martha Reeves
HMV Institute 17th December Soul legend, pioneer and megastar Martha Reeves has been entertaining audiences for 30 years. Having worked with the likes of Marvin Gaye, prepare to be blown away by this diva Tickets £18.50
18 redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
13th December 2010
Music
Will.I.Am suffering from tinnitus – an incessant ringing in the ears caused by noise exposure www.nme.com/news/dailygossip
2011 Wishlist
Essential Albums: Christmas Special
Single Reviews Funeral Party
NYC Moves To The LA Sound
Diane Krall
Christmas Songs (2005)
What we want the New Year to bring Dr Dre – Detox If this really is going to be Dre's last solo outing as he claims, then you can bet he'll go out with a bang of biblical proportions. It's been nearly six years in the making and will hopefully benefit from all the stellar production work he's been doing for his loyal pack of proteges. His reputation as a patron of hip-hop's brightest and best could spell some cracking collaborations, that might even rival Kanye West's 'rap camp'. Otherwise, expect the usual formula: 'blunts, 40s and bitches'. I can't bloody wait. Hercules & Love Affair – Blue Songs Their debut in 2008 was an intoxicating blend of house, disco and art-house pop. An interview with the project mastermind Andy Butler revealed there's a little more experimentation in the follow-up, with some Eno-inspired soundscapes. But don't worry, there's still plenty of 'jacking house' and even more full-blown disco'. Could be just the thing to fight off the icy-grip of English January.
Anna Lumsden Critic
Christmas is well and truly on its way and trust me: nothing will get you feeling more festive than a good dose of cheesy big band jazz, especially when mixed with the entrancing voice of jazz singer Diana Krall. Her album Christmas Songs (2005) is a collection of well loved hits, spiced up with Diana's own original twists; she pulls around the melodies and vocally improvises new rhythms, giving a sassy kick to familiar festive favourites. The opening track, a fast, swinging rendition of Jingle Bells, captures a kind of cool excitement, as the exquisite playing of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra seems to whip up a blizzard of sound. The interplay between the horn section of the band and Diana's improvised scatting on this
track creates great energy and a joy in the music. Also, her skills as an accomplished pianist are demonstrated through an energetic solo and the addition of tongue-in-cheek fills and licks to gaps in the texture. In Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Diana's smooth vocals effortlessly move over the notes, lulling the listener into the groove, only to be taken by surprise by sudden stab chords and joyous exclamations of the tune from the band. Amongst this raucous party of traditional big band jazz, the album also contains tender ballads such as Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and the beautifully haunting Christmas Time is Here. These expose the soft intimacy of Diana's voice in the setting of a small jazz ensemble, creating a warming, peaceful sound – perfect for making you want to curl up in a cosy blanket by the fireplace on
Album Reviews
Robyn
Body Talk
9
Both Morbid Angel and Deicide have confirmed that albums can be expected in 2011. With Deicide opting for the subtle To Hell With God as the title, and Morbid Angel headlining festivals in summer, 2011 is looking like a good year for classic death metal. Charlie Bailey Follow us: Redbrick Music on facebook Email us: music@redbrickonline.co.uk
..."she pulls around the melodies and vocally improvises new rhythms, giving a sassy kick to familiar festive favourites." too cheesy to swallow. However, the outstanding musicianship on this record cannot be overlooked, and in my opinion, there's nothing quite as stirring as quality jazz on a snowy winter's night to make you enter into the spirit of the season.
Karl Phillips And The Midnight Ramblers Liam Phillips Critic
James Blake – James Blake After three masterful EPs Blake has finally announced his debut. 7th February will hopefully bring more of his vague, dizzying R&B; soaring vocals and wistful ambiance. In fact, the only worry I have with this is the title, yes it's a little arrogant, but after the gushing critical praise of Feist cover Limit To Your Love, he seems to have every right to be. William Franklin Sludge titans Eyehategod have hinted that they will release an album in conjunction with touring next year according to an interview in late 2010. However, knowing the band's past trouble with certain narcotics, this might be presumpuous.
Christmas Eve. Overall, Christmas Songs is a fantastic way to step into the festive season with a smile. Some may find Diana Krall's jazzy take on Christmas tunes a bit
Sam Atkins Critic
There are very few artists able to release three albums, tour the world twice over and still have time to make a show-stopping appearance at the VMAS in under a year; Robyn is one who has. New release Body Talk marks the Swedish electro-pop diva's final release in her 2010 trilogy; taking five tracks from Pt 1 and 2 and adding five new songs too. Quintessentially Robyn throughout, she flits through styles effortlessly, from the robotic dance of Fembot, to the heartbreak disco of Dancing On My Own. The quality pop melodies and
production keep on coming across the disc, an art Robyn has been perfecting since her debut back in 1995. Robyn is a force to be reckoned with, swaggering her way through a rap off with Snoop Dogg on U Should Know Better, and becoming the boyfriend stealing mistress she so often loses to on Call Your Girlfriend, the best of the five new tracks here. Body Talk may suffer from the process in which it was created-both Pt 1 and 2 are tighter records-but as an overview of what some deemed an impossible task, Robyn has emerged with 15 dance pop songs every music fan needs to hear. Body Talk is most definitely the best Pop album of 2010.
Karl Phillips & The Midnight Ramblers' debut leaves you feeling both lost and confused; unfortunately in an awkward rather than interesting way. The separate influences of grime, dubstep, indie, rock and ska are intertwined throughout; creating a mess of sounds that, on this occasion, has not worked together. It is admirable of them for trying however and the strong guitar riffs evident on songs such as The Liabilities and Biggy 2 Shoes is only partially ruined by the overarching attempt at mimicking the successful rap style of Mike Skinner (The Streets), seen from beginning to end. Moreover, after hearing 'mate' chorused for what feels like the millionth time on the album, coupled with lyrics such as 'you
made me spill my strongbow' and references to 'vindaloo curry' and a 'Mcflurry', it becomes clear that the lyrical content is not going to redeem its sound. Is this their at-
Do you miss the Rapture? Can't say I do. Had they come around six years earlier, Funeral Party would have been on the cover of NME in a flash. Typically kitsch indie vocals inform us incessantly that 'New York City loves to mess around!' Does it now? I'd rather mess around with Mumford and Sons. They're so dreamy. Oosh. Matt Saull
Eliza Doolittle Skinny Genes
Eliza 'Doolittle' – perhaps a fitting name, for yet again she enables a whistling male to fill the gaps in this summery tune, which strikingly echoes her previous hit single Pack Up. In fact, I'm not even sure if I can tell the difference between the two. Similarities aside, her voice is effortless yet soulful, but this song seems to lack punch and direction. It may be out of place in the festive season, but this easyto-listen to, light-hearted song is definitely fitting for cheering one up, which is never a bad thing. Jessica Holroyd
2 tempt to capture a teenage audience? Are they desperately struggling to fuse everything together to be unique with no care of the outcome? Whatever the reason, it is another pitfall for what could have been a refreshing and promising album and another blow to the UK music scene. That being said, they are different and some people may find the change refreshing as opposed to annoying. The few strengths come from the ska infused tracks On The Level (Whiskey Twin) and Pink Champagne. Here they seem most comfortable with the fast paced lyrics finally suiting their surroundings. Unfortunately surrounded by songs like Beef Teeth, whereby the lacklustre guitars are surrounded by shouts of 'beef', the strengths are easily overshadowed. If each genre from every track was split and composed separately there may be five strong albums; together it fails to deliver.
Music 19
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
Editors – Charlie Bailey, William Franklin
Live Reviews Jimmy Eat World There's always an anxious eagerness that comes when you're about to see one of your favourite bands for the first time. Part of you hopes it'll be amazing and the other part is praying that it won't be a huge, earth-shattering disappointment. What could be worse than discovering that your heroes are nothing but very skilled with auto tune? Despite it being my first time seeing Jimmy Eat World, I knew I would not be let down. They're not a young band. Formed in Arizona in 1993, they now have seven studio albums under their belt. You'd think that with that kind of a career they might get a little complacent. But the only way a band can keep a career going for that long and retain the same fans for over ten years is to be good at what they do. After a pleasing support act from bearded fellows Minus The Bear, Jimmy Eat World took to the stage with no gimmicks and not a skinny jean in sight. The force with which they stormed into Bleed American and powered into second song A Praise Chorus showed the band meant business and had me wondering how four people could create such a wall of sound. The impressive 21-song set was comprised of surprisingly few tracks from the new album Invented and a huge mix from the band's previous four albums. Crowd pleasers The Middle and Pain had
the audience punching their fists into the air, while the haunting 23 and poignant Hear You Me demonstrated the band's incredible ability to vary from take-no-prisoners rock tunes to mellow ballads, perfect for those emo night-drives in the rain. Sixteen-minute epic Goodbye Sky Harbour had the crowd mesmerised with a marvellous display of audio-looping from lead vocalist Jim Adkins. New tracks My Best Theory and Action Needs An Audience confirmed that Jimmy Eat World have not lost their talent for crafting aggressive tunes to head bang and crowd-surf to. They ended the show with an encore that included Invented and Get It Faster. Final song was the anthem Sweetness, which had the audience roaring along with the band. What was clear throughout was that the band had no motivations. Sure, the recently released album was a good reason to tour, but the diverse set list of both popular and lesser-known songs coupled with the no-nonsense delivery displayed one core message: it was all about the music. From the way a sweat-soaked Adkins pounded his heart when he belted out 'I'm a New Jersey success story' during Big Casino, it was clear to see that the band's success means just as much now as it did ten years ago.
Tryst
Part Chimp
Tonight sees the first gig by Birmingham progressive metal band Tryst in quite some time, and the first with new drummer Jack. Tryst always had a high standard of musicianship, but tended to lapse into a slightly plodding, pedestrian sound – a common issue for progressive bands. However, with Jack setting the pace, this is no longer the case; his background in a more straightforward rock band serves him well, offering the band heavy hitting, aggressive rhythms to ground the band. The effect it has on the band is startling, with the performance easily the most inspired of the three times I have seen them. The concert was not flawless of course – the band even ran out of songs before their set ended. At first, guitarist Rob Griffiths looked a bit uncomfortable. Rob is usually the band member with the most flair, and just seemed to be struggling with something. Fortunately, other guitarist James Nestoruk suffered from no such problems and the band carried through confidently. Soon enough, Rob recovered himself and was back to his usual high standard. The rest of the band suffered no such problems; bassist Sam is spurred on by an eager audience of close friends, and vocalist Liz – occasionally the victim of claims that 'girls can't sing in rock bands' seems utterly rejuvenated by the time off, outdoing herself utterly. The line-up can only gel further.
Despite being high up this reviewer's list of best band names, it was Stinky Wizzleteat's seemingly thankless task to get the rather hesitant crowd moving as they opened the night's proceedings. United by a love of hardcore, their roots are evident with vocalist James getting stuck inin front of the stage and other band members content to thrash the hell out of their instruments. On a night that deals primarily in stoner haziness, Stinky Wizzleteat were energetic and passionate and oddly out of place. Part Chimp on the other hand were exactly what the crowd wanted. Simultaneously lazy and raging, sludgy riffs poured out of amps and mixed with some precision drilled percussion to finally provoke a reaction from the crowd. Flitting from genre to genre, in the course of a single song sometimes, Part Chimp tread the fine line between familiar stoner-rock tropes and uncomfortable noise rock elements with enough skill to hypnotise when they get into their element. Whilst the performance isn't perfect, occasionally straying into listless cyclical riffs that grate compared to their tighter more focused material, it was a great showcase for a band who should be making bigger waves. Honourable mentions to Torche who headlining the event with their self-coined genre of 'thunder pop'. As labels go, this one makes a lot of sense: harmonised vocals, great guitar melodies, thundering riffs and drums? What's not to like? Charlie Bailey
Roadhouse 24/11/2010
Emma Redfern
Hare & Hounds 25/11/2010
Richard Warrell
Echo & The Bunnymen
We Have Band
On an arctic Saturday night the O2 academy was packed with a sizable crowd ready to watch Echo and the Bunny Men's Masterclass of rock and roll tour. It's one thing to call your tour that, it is another to produce an actual masterclass on stage for a whole set. They arrived on stage at dead on 8pm (which took me by surprise, I thought it was only the supporting act coming on) and announced that they were going to play their first two studio albums in full. First up was the whole of their critically acclaimed first album Crocodiles. Between every song front man Ian Mcculloch addressed the crowd on a number of important issues like which footballer he wanted to have a fight with (Joey Barton) the fact that if he made album covers they would probably be the best album covers in the world and a number of drunken slurs which nobody could make out. It seems like the booze helped the music though as there wasn't a pitch out of place, the only fault would be for half the gig the volume was slightly distorted on the guitars so a touch of unnecessary feedback could be heard for the first half of the set. Echo played for two and a quarter hours, some sublime guitar work was heard throughout, especially during songs like A Prom-
Sounding like a hellish collaboration between Mark Ronson and Yoda (although the Force could probably do with more synthtrumpet hooks) We Have Band's name is truly awful. Judging by the scores of young-hipsters in Academy 3 however, scene-kids obviously don't care for coherent sentence structure anymore. I blame education cuts. Support act Mirrors's meandering synth didn't set any pulses racing. See men misleadingly dressed up as Kraftwerk and read poor man's Human League. We Have Band came to Birmingham with an obviously loyal following and yet didn't seem to live up to the hype. They opened with debut single Divisive (their own stab at '80s throwback) which was unfortunately the first in a series of songs that flatter to deceive. You Came Out was a perfect example of a song full of great ideas that just didn't seem to go anywhere. WHB do however have potential; How To Make Friends was an afrobeat tour de force with an almost soukous percussive breakdown and a vibrant tribal mantra, while latest single, the encore Oh!, could be a party anthem. Reminiscent of a less cohesive The Go! Team and a less innovative New Order, they got the crowd dancing, and what need they more do? Matt Saull
O2 Academy 3 30/11/2010
O2 Academy 04/12/2010
O2 Academy 12/11/2010
ise. The setlist flowed smoother than a lot of gigs where bands churn out their greatest hits and a few people around me remarked on how they, 'never thought Echo would play some of these album tracks live ever again'. When it came to the encore they produced an intense rendition of their hit The Killing Moon and for the first time that night the crowd really sang along with confidence. Last song of the night The Cutter finished the masterclass showing this band was still at the top of their game after 30 years. Noel Byrne
Leftfield
Music Diary 10th – 16th
Custard Factory 30/11/2010
Friday 10th
Faithless and Example NIA Amy Can Fly O2 Academy 3
Saturday 11th Madness Matinee O2 Academy Mona The Flapper Leftfield are playing the completely unheated Space 2 warehouse part of the custard factory and most people present are not wearing usual rave attire; it's all hats, scarves and bulky coats, which makes the evening already a very odd affair. The gig doesn't draw the usual student crowd and I realised I must have been one of the youngest there, which is a pity really considering the show I witnessed. The warm up act DJ Breakage played a nice mix of early 90s rave, garage and the odd bit of dubstep to keep the crowd entertained. Most people seemed more concerned about the bar running out of Grolsch however and when Leftfield arrived onstage at half nine most people only just then realised that this show is going to be ridiculously loud. The huge speakers came alive and the bass vibrates through everyone's bones and that's just the intro.
Onstage, Leftfield have an array of keyboards, laptops, a live drummer, bass guitars and some bongo's. The whole wall behind them is turned into three huge screens which display unique trippy video's to each song. Along with the shuddering bass, some of their best songs like Phat Planet and Song Of Life produce a brain-melting audio-visual experience. It's easy to tell after 20 plus years in the business that they have their live shows honed to perfection. This show, provided the lucky crowd who ventured through the ice, is a chance to see one of the pioneers of dance music playing a superb set of very, very loud techno, dub and electro that most of the bands and Dj's they inspired would kill to be able to produce. All round a very impressive experience from these rightful legends of electronic music. Noel Byrne
Sunday 12th Bonobo HMV Institute
Sunday Night Scene HMV Insitute
Monday 13th Sonic Boom Six O2 Academy 3 Room 94 O2 Academy2
Tuesday 14th
Manic Street Preachers O2 Academy
Wednesday 15th Simply Red NIA
Jolly Boys HMV Insitute
Thursday 16th Kings Of Leon NIA
20 redbrickonline.co.uk
Lifestyle
13th December 2010
Redbrick
Lifestyle wants for Xmas...
Christmas shopping nightmares
Rosie Collins Reporter
Admit it, we know the face all too well. That look of disappointment when your mum or auntie opens their Christmas present, anticipating something great, only to find an unimaginative grey scarf folded up inside. On December 25th, this face is displayed in households all across the country. I hate buying Christmas presents. There's too much pressure
to make the right choice, and even more so if you have the perfect present in mind but can't seem to find it anywhere. I for one find it impossible to buy for my boyfriend. Maybe it's because he is the fussiest person I know, or perhaps because he is also the person whose judgement I care about most – I'm not exactly sure. Either way, the hours I spend wracking my brain for that 'perfect gift' could be better spent elsewhere. As the lights go up on the high
street and the stores put up their displays, we know it's only a matter of time before we must start trawling the shops to find presents for our nearest and dearest. Some people have perfected the art of Christmas shopping, starting early and creating meticulous lists. But for most, Christmas shopping is sadly a case of your family and friends becoming your nemeses and all you want to do is go home (the minute after you've ventured into the cold I add) – it's really no fun. This is somewhat ironic considering that Christmas is supposed to be a period of happiness and cheer. Yet, when I start thinking about Christmas, all I'm contemplating is what I should get my granddad this year, or whether it's okay to do Boots' 3 for 2 Mix and Match for the third year running. Christmas shouldn't be as stressful as it is, but somehow we Brits choose to make it that way. If anything, the amount of people I've heard say that Christmas is the date on their calendar they dread the most by far outweighs those who look forward to it. With the Bullring as busy as it is and the weather so cold, the last thing I want to be doing is traips-
ing into town with no idea of what to buy. But there's no doubt about it – Christmas is now as much about consumerism as it is about anything else. Ask any child what they like most about Christmas and their answer is inevitably going to be 'presents.' To be quite honest, I would probably say the same thing. Without coming across as too much of a scrooge, would I be wrong in saying that unnecessary, random gifts should be scrapped altogether? By all means, give gift vouchers or money, the exact thing they've asked for or even treat them to a meal out, but don't hand over another box of toiletries to be pushed to the back of the bathroom cabinet. I suspect there are Christmas lovers everywhere shaking their heads in disappointment, crying out that I need to get into the spirit of things. But I bet they're having the same problems too. So for those of you who can't bring yourself to give any of the above, my advice is this: start shopping early, ditch the cliché option and go for something really unusual. This way you avoid that awkward smile and the face of disappointment.
spotted you and has managed to casually introduce himself and unbelievably he remembers your name half an hour later. It must be love! Now he is talking to you and he catches your eye and smiles for a little bit longer than is absolutely necessary causing you to begin blushing, heavily. He also doesn't stink of B.O. like most of the other boys in the club and, what's this? He has used a touch of cologne? Brilliant.
Rosie Collins Reporter
Girls? Like televisions, human beings can be turned on... providing you find the right buttons to push, that is. Variety is the spice of life, so these turn-ons don't include appearances. Let's just assume the attraction is mutual. Initial reactions: The boy has
In the bedroom: You've kissed, sealed the deal and he hasn't slobbered on you too much. Obviously everyone has very specific preferences but, guys, a happy medium between being confident and taking direction when you get down to it is always a winner. The favour shall be returned. Likewise a quickie may be exhilarating from time to time, but perhaps a few hours should be set aside if you really want to turn her on. There you go lads, start pressing those buttons. Honesty and tact are key to keep you flavour of the month. Any other guy can give her a cute smile and charm her, the turn-ons are definitely what will give you staying power.
A double martini in Pegu's Martini Lounge in NYC. A pair of ACNE's Hybria suede wedge boots to strut around campus in style. A big hug and well done from Dermot O' Leary – everytime I walk out of the library after a hard study sesh! A Mulberry 'Alexa' satchel bag – My university books won't settle for anything less. An Alexander McQueen skullprint, nappa leather hold-all bag. £1420.00 – we can dream. Christian Louboutin Studio 120 peep-toe pumps – anyone got £1225 they want to spend on us?
Boys and Girls: What turns you on?
Seeing each other: Congratulations! The boy has done good and he has had the initiative to invite you round to sample his attempts at cooking. He starts cracking out the jokes, really makes you laugh and that text he sent you before you went to sleep has kept you smiling all the next day. A good sense of humour is essential (not banter though, banter is for LADS). It's the little things in life that are worthwhile so a bit of thought can go a long way. Good communication is key. Relationships are mutual, remember, so (listen up boys) listening to her and expressing a few positive emotions can only win you points.
We asked our writers and fellow Redbrick editors what they wanted for Christmas if money was no object. Here is what we came up with...
pact in deserve it!
The fabulous Dior Minaudiere make-up comGrey Golds. Our eyes
An Ipad engraved with something romantic from an eligible bachelor. A romantic ski break in Aspen with a rather dashing young man.
Marcus Bott Reporter
Boys? There's definitely a trick to approaching girls. It's a trick that I'm pretty sure no one told me about. So when that girl across the room is giving you a cheeky smile, that's a definite sign right? Initial reactions: Pick your tongue up off the floor and pop your eyes back in place. This girl is gorgeous and talking about things that interest you, not about her last boyfriend. Could she be any more perfect? Oh yes! That husky voice is causing some serious stirrings down below. An agreeable scent is vital. If it's not perfume, then body wash is fine – just as long as it's not body odour. Long hair is definitely a turn on, though if you're rocking the Emma Watson, then it's not all over. Seeing each other: So you're out for dinner with her and she
actually knows how to use a knife and fork and isn't spraying food everywhere whenever she tries to talk. Not so much a turn-on but rather a necessity if this is going to go any further. She's got a brilliant sense of humour and can give as good as she gets. As you leave she's turning heads. Perfect! You know you're on to something special here. Surely it can only get better as you return home… In the bedroom: She's wearing that sexy underwear for you. This one's definitely a keeper (for the time being at least). She seems up for most things, so at least you wont be stuck in the same position for the next twenty minutes. Twenty minutes?! She wants to go longer. This really couldn't get any better. Naturally everyone has different tastes but I think there are a few qualities us guys can all agree on. A good sense of humour will go far. Dressing well and good manners are a must, whoever you are. Finally, being sexy and not slutty is bound to get more looks, and, if you're lucky, a date.
Iwan Rheon aka Simon from Misfits. Please? A year's supply of Kiehl's Creme de Corps. Eyesight correction in the form of laser eye surgery (even if it isn't completely permanent!) VIP tickets to go and see Burlesque with a meet and greet with the leading ladies Cher and Christina Aguilera. A girl can dream, right? Damir Doma silk bomber jacket. Delicate, ephemeral and totally fierce. A Tardis, complete with David Tennant/Matt Smith of course (delete as appropriate) . The ideal way to re-live that perfect Christmas again and again and again...
Redbrick
Clothes Show Live: reviewed
Sophie Cowling Reporter
The Clothes Show Live at the NEC Birmingham – the perfect opportunity to go and spend money you don't have on clothes you don't need, but desire desperately just before Christmas. The fashion event held every year attracts a huge number and variety of people, from celebrities and wannabe models looking to be scouted, to (predominantly) girls of all ages looking for, as Gok would call it – a 'Fashion Fix'. The very structured, but not entirely effective system of 'zones' aims to indicate the different fashion sections available to shoppers – the Purple Zone consisting of 'fashion inspired by the streets' and the 'Offbeat boutique', whilst the Blue Zone is for 'High Street Honies' and 'Classic Vintage Vixens'. Whether it was the number of people or the fact the zones did in
fact merge style-wise, there was a definite overlap of clothing in these supposedly different sections. Nevertheless, once you had accepted your challenge to take on the maze, the shopping experience was exhilarating. Particular highlights included the brand Strawberry Kats with 'fresh femininity and fashion' at its heart. The vintage lines and stalls present at the show were numerous, reflecting the focus this year upon vintage style. A fashion lowlight was 'Vixen Couture' offering tshirts with 'I love One Direction' blazing proudly across the front. The day itself offered a host of activities besides shopping. This year there was a whole section dedicated to the new celebrity craze of 'Sknitching' (sewing and knitting). Classes called 'Sknitch'n'Bitch' took you through steps of knitting your own accessories and how to sew and revamp your old clothing. Plus, free balls of yarn and knitting needles were available – what more could you want? The most anticipated event of the day is, without a doubt, the fashion show, incorporating celebrity presenters, dancers, models and singers. Gok Wan, all-round fashion diva and ultimate-gaybest-friend, introduced the show this year, asking for the house lights in the fashion theatre to be raised
to see 'how fabulous you all look' (pretty fabulous, for the most part). The theme of this year's show was 'A Night at the Movies' commencing with a James Bond inspired fusion of dance and fashion, displaying this year's military trend coupled with the current winter obsession with elbow length gloves on the Bond girls. Another theme was 'High School Rocks' featuring the hits of High School Musical, Glee and Britney Spears– always a recipe for success. The clothes included Paul's Boutique handbags, kneelength socks, cropped jackets and a splash of tweed to incorporate accessible high school fashion with current trends. The 'Science Fiction' section saw Lady Gaga/Alexander McQueen-inspired theatrical headpieces, metallic colours and angular fitted clothing. These were made complete with extreme accessories including a large silver dog collar and topless men with gas masks. Other influential pieces included in the show were black leather skirts, and below the knee dresses – set to be the must-have for Spring/Summer 2011. The fashion show was, in the typical words of Gok, fabulous, with the day only made better by bumping into Mark and Lauren from 'The Only Way is Essex' on the way out.
You little bloggers!
Sabah Yaqoob discusses the complex world of fashion blogging
Picture the scene: you are on the front row at the 2010 Dolce and Gabbana Spring/Summer show. Camera bulbs flash frantically to catch the glamorous guests who have been strategically placed on the most coveted seats. Who are these guests one might ask? Anna Wintour, the reigning empress of the fashion realm, of course, along with fellow Vogue editor Sally Singer, photographer Mario Testino and British It-Girl Daisy Lowe. This is all to be expected at a Dolce and Gabbana show. What was not predicted, however, was the presence of two young men, peppered between these fashion heavyweights. They were fashion bloggers Tommy Tom and Bryanboy, who sat with their laptops perched by their sides. Their faces may not be as famous as some of the other front-row guests, but to say that Tommy Tom and Bryanboy are unknown would be a mistake. The concept of a blog is no longer unfamiliar in a time when people would expect the Amazon Kindle for Christmas as opposed
Lifestyle 21
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Briony Singh and Rob Lewis
to an actual book, but fashion blogs are a whole other ball park. The most successful ones receive thousands of hits per day and have loyal followers the world over. The question, however, is do these bloggers deserve this attention and a place within the industry? It is no secret that Anna Wintour does not think too highly of the blogging phenomenon. She is the archetypal fashion figure and we're talking about an industry which has always been viewed as not only consisting of, but almost admiring the idea of elitism – that one ought to either have proved one's talents or 'be somebody' to make their mark. The words 'fashion intern' usually denote organising fashion closets and running menial errands for editors, yet it is a position that any aspiring fashionista would gladly take. Where then, lies the respect and the esteem in gaining recognition for posting pictures onto a website from your couch? Many young fashion enthusiasts, however, see fashion blogging as a positive for the very reason that it paves the way for another,
albeit less traditional, route to getting your voice heard. One could argue that it makes the industry more egalitarian and that it ensures it is not only socialites and celebrities-turned-designers who receive attention and recognition. But only a handful from the plenitude on the web are as well known now as Tommy Tom and Bryanboy. Hence the existence of blogs is not detrimental to the industry's requirement for genuine talent. Those blogs are followed religiously because what they post is exciting, genuine and provides a fresh takes on style and taste. Many industry professionals still regard fashion bloggers as a threat in that it seems to suggest that anyone with access to the internet and a computer is able to have a meaningful opinion within the industry. It may bring into question the very idea of who an arbiter of style is: the trained minds of editors, buyers, designers or bloggers? Successful bloggers such as Jane Aldridge from seaofshoes. com or the chic Parisienne Betty from leblogdebetty.com have an innate knowledge of fashion, and immense respect for it. Such blogs have started a revolution and have broken through the somewhat unattainable Swarvoski crystal ceiling of fashion. Perhaps it needs to be considered that Tommy Tom and Bryanboy were seated front-row, as their blogs show that their voices are meaningful. These blogs allow fashion to create an international and instant platform. This means that when one blogger is invited to New York for fashion week or to Chanel HQ in Paris, we all get to go along for the ride. Vive la revolution.
The bane of 'frenemies' Lady X
Columnist
It's that glorious time of year again when you start to hyperventilate at the mention of the word 'deadlines', you've sunk so deep into your overdraft you're scared to look at your bank statements and you've had that horrible realisation that you only have a couple of weeks left with your love interest before the holidays begin. The pressure is mounting and I'm starting to understand why suicide rates apparently increase over Christmas. So who can we turn to in this period of desperation? The obvious answer seems to be our housemates, but I'm not so sure. They say you don't really know a person until you've lived with them and ten weeks into term many students are finding themselves in 'The Grim-Reality Zone', where the true colours of the lovely people they chose to reside with have, at long last, been revealed to them. On top of this, you've started to find the 'hilarious' antics of your wild friend slightly embarrassing, you're becoming suspicious about the whereabouts of missing pairs of tights and you've had to inwardly count to ten when you've realised that your infuriatingly cheery friend has been harbouring a collection of your cutlery. You can't help it and you really don't want to feel this way but you've taken to lying in bed
at night, dreaming of all the gruesome accidents that could befall your housemates. So many people I know have found themselves 'living with the frenemy' and not everyone is willing to stay silent in order to keep the peace. A certain Chemistry student became so angry at her rather promiscuous housemate (who was admittedly sleeping with her ex) she unleashed an unrestrained tirade on Facebook, in which she christened her housemate 'a silly little girl who had no respect for herself.' An English student became so sick of his flatmate eating all of his food, he poured a bottle of Frosty Jack's in his Wellies. Meanwhile, I find myself constantly on edge around my once carefree friend, who has taken to storming around the house in random fits of anger. Sitting in my room, listening to her approaching footsteps, I cross my heart and pray that I'm about to face Dr Jekyll and not Mr Hyde. Whether you live with the people you signed your contract with or sufferers of multiple personality disorder is purely down to luck, either way you just have to make the best of what you have (until you graduate and you never have to see certain people again). As my good friend said about her housemates recently: 'We all hated each other last year but we're getting on great now!'
Modern dating etiquette Sophie Everett Reporter
I have spent the best part of this term reading novels about 1930s society. A society in which you dolled up, went out, met some suitable young gentleman or lady, said something witty, and presently saw them again at varying dinner parties. Presumably, this would continue until somewhere between the trifle and cheese course the sexual tension becomes too much and said dreamboat leans over you to get the sherry, their shoulder brushes yours and snap! You know it – you love them. It all seems so simple in comparison to the dating game that we are forced to play today. No playing hard to get, no fighting off the competition, no need to prove that you have that winning formula of humour, grace, sexiness, innocence, confidence and shyness all at once. But perhaps today's dating game is all part of the fun. We could all crack the Da Vinci Code single-handedly after all our practice deciphering the horribly familiar text, 'Yeah speak soon' – what does it mean? Will we simply speak soon, or sleep together (as the wink may suggest)? There is only one kiss - are just we friends now, or something else? When is soon? Cryptic texts aside, other dating areas have seen improvement. For example, today's courtship is kinder on the pockets of most male students. Whilst no girl is going to say no to a drink or a post-Gatecrasher
visit to Adam's Place; most, I'd like to think, would feel quite uncomfortable letting the bloke pay for everything. But amongst all the leaps and bounds we've taken, we seem to have forgotten some of the things that make dating so exciting and thrilling. If you know for sure that someone grabbing your wrist and dragging you to the floor is going to lead to some tongueon-tongue action, it removes the butterflies of days gone by, when dancing together facilitated conversation instead of near fornication, and a kiss remained up in the air until the night after date one. Modern courtship seems to me a sped-up version of its predecessor. Sexual tension these days probably only lasts as long as Usher's Make Love in This Club. This new wave of dating is nothing to be ashamed of, however. If it works for you, go for it, neither myself nor modern society is going to judge you. I'm sure most would agree that it wouldn't be all that bad to bring back a little of the old mystique. Maybe instead of taking my bra size you should just take my number and drop me a text that has more substance than a grimacing emoticon. We can all have our trifle and eat it, but it tastes better if it's given some good old fashioned time to mature.
22 redbrickonline.co.uk
Food
Treat Yuleselves this Christmas... James Morrisson Food Writer
10th December 2010
Redbrick
Did you know?
93 per cent of the population in the UK will eat turkey on Christmas Day; this means 11 million turkeys being cooked!
Redbrick Food does the Good Food Show!
With thousands of food lovers storming Birmingham's NEC, Redbrick Food Editor Dami Olugbode to went along to the BBC Good Food Show to find out what qualifies for this year's perfect winter menu
For many, a university Christmas lunch - be it with a society, flat mates or friends – can be something really to look forward to as the deadlines draw near and the term draws to a close. Yet getting the right atmosphere, while ensuring it to be a success, can often be a hard to balance to strike. So to make the job of picking a venue that little bit easier, here is Redbrick Food's top 4 . . .
1. The Green Man – Harborne
For the traditionalists amongst you, The Green Man offers everything you could want for a great Christmas carvery. Boasting a wide range of real ales, and a Christmas menu starting from under £10, you would be hard pushed to find a more festive (and affordable) lunch out.
2. Winterborne
House – Edgbaston Park Road
For those of you who have not yet discovered the wonders of Winterbourne House, you have been missing out on a real treat. As well as being a great place for taking guests when visiting you at university, they routinely lay on a number of special events throughout the term. This season features a 'Tradition Edwardian Christmas' along with carols by candlelight in this gorgeous country house (tomorrow, Saturday 11th of December). Be sure to check out their quaint little tearoom and scrumptious winter warming lunches.
3. Pizza Express – Oxfam Charity Christmas If you are looking for something a little less traditional this holiday, there is another reason to make Pizza Express your choice apart from the smart, fresh cuisine. This holiday season, Pizza Express will be trying to raising enough money to help Oxfam give up to 6,000 goats to the people who need them most.
4. Our Reviewed Restaurants
If you in fact want to bar all tradition and go for something entirely different this Christmas, why not try one of the restaurants we have reviewed for you this term? The new and exciting menus from The Dilshad and Wagamma, provide a great alternative for any occasion this holiday season. Or for something a bit special The Vaults is a must. If cooking at home is more you thing, we have got it covered – check out our recipe for that ultimate Christmas dinner (with all the trimmings).
As the moving walkway drew closer to the entrance, I was quickly overwhelmed by an exquisite aroma and the huge crowd of people sur rounding me. This event was already proving successful, even before we had entered the main hall. Upon receiving our press passes, we made our way through entrance and were immediately blown away by the striking colours and shapes featured on over a hundred stalls, serving innovative variations of the nations favourite foods, as well as aromatic wines and welldesigned kitchen utensils. There were hundreds of exhibitors offering an array of delicious samples to purchase and we were spoilt for choice as we explored all the exciting demonstrations the event had to offer! I had the opportunity to sample some unique dishes that would provide any home (or better
yet – student flat) with the ultimate finger-licking Christmas feast. The Mediterranean food stall offered a range of olives and nuts to nibble on; I sampled the mango slice coated in a spicy tomato sauce. The crunchy texture of the mango combined with the thick spicy tomato sauce was a perfect match; an unusual yet delightful taste. I then went on to sample some exciting new additions to the Carte D'or range, made especially for this Christmas. For all those with a sweet tooth 'Lavazza Latte Macchiato' is the one to look out for! This chocolate chip ice cream with a strong sense of coffee, that isn't too overpowering, will provide a light relief after a flavoursome dinner. I was so impressed with the taste that I snuck over for a cheeky second sample pot. Another indulgent treat came
from the Fudge Kitchen stall. I'm sure the name speaks for itself. Their homemade toffee fudge was rich in flavour and soft in texture; an exquisite taste. To top off my sweet tooth marathon, I sampled the Rubis Chocolate Wine, an indulgent blend of red wine and the finest chocolate and at only £9.99 it was great in value and taste. After having digested some scrumptious products, we made our way to the super theatre for the
Since the realisation that Father Christmas is nothing more than a tipsy parent stumbling around your bedroom in the dark hours, Christmas just hasn't been the same. As we get older we attempt to find our festive pleasure in other ways. Here at Redbrick Food, it will come as no surprise that we find ours in food... and drink (in a purely dignified way of course!) Currently, in the city, there is no better place to find this than the Frankfurt Christmas Market. Admittedly it isn't the most student friendly of events, the average cost of almost everything being around three pounds, but if Christmas isn't the time to indulge, when is? For all you foodies out there, I have taken it upon myself to blow the weekly budget to sample as many seasonal delights as I can stomach. In order to fully appreciate the plethora of multi-coloured lights, it is advisable to attend the market at night despite the incredibly low temperature. To combat these near arctic conditions, I would recommend beginning your visit with a hot beverage. To start with I tried an indulgent mug of Bailey's Hot Chocolate, with whipped cream, complete with jaunty Christmas cup. If this doesn't tickle your fancy then make your selection from an
array of mulled cider, wine, Winter Pimms or hot toffee apple juice, and enjoy the slow creeping sensation of warmth in the tips of the fingers you forgot you had. For something more alcoholic in content, pretend you made it to Oktoberfest and sample some German beer from one of the busier wooden huts. Once a festive drink has made you feel warmer and merrier, the potato pancake stall should be next on the agenda. The unusual concept of sweet meets savory lured me in and I opted to have mine with sugar and cinnamon. The shredded potato is deep fried
until crispy and golden and then sprinkled with the topping of your choice. At three pieces for three pounds, you certainly get a lot for your money but, to avoid the feeling of an imminent coronary, I would advise sharing with friends. There are plenty of options for a hearty meal at the market and all are authentic German dishes. Savoury options can be anything from fried potatoes, red cabbage and knuckle of pork to bread dumpling with a mushroom sauce. If there's still money in the kitty and room in the belly then a bowl of Dutch Boffertjes should help to combat
This brilliant event is an experience everyone should share, after all... who doesn't love good food?
Sainsbury's 'Taste the Difference' session, with Rachel Allen. The session was hosted by wine expert, Olly Smith. The audience was filled with glee as we watched Rachel Allen prepare some beautiful Christmas dishes made entirely from the Sainsbury's 'Taste the Difference' range. The highlight of the session was having our tweet, sent to Olly Smith, read on stage. Rachel Allen kindly provided us with a quick, student-proof winter recipe, which we will feature online. Our tweet also gained Redbrick Food a bit of the star-studded spotlight which was hugely exciting for us foodies! My personal highlight of the day however had to be Gordon Ramsey's cooking session in the super theatre. He provided three easy Christmas inspired recipes to make at home. My favourite was a pan fried duck breast with spiced orange and cranberry sauce: it looked and smelled absolutely delicious. Gordon's charisma, culinary talents and repartee with his souschef, who also happens to be his sister, provided a sort of cinematic experience for everyone seated in the theatre. For me, an event designed to get you in the mood for the delicious festive season will always go down well, and this one certainly catered to all tastes. For a great day out with both family and friends where you can sample and purchase exciting new products The BBC Good Food Show is the place to go. If you can't wait till the next winter show, why don't you try the BBC Good Food Show Summer? This brilliant event is an experience everyone should share, after all... who doesn't love good food?
A German Christmas in Birmingham .Food Writer Sophie Pryn explores the digestibale delights that The Frankfurt German Market has to offer this christmas
this. These small, fluffy pancakes are served with a topping of your choosing, my personal favourite being a velvety chocolate sauce. Finally, when I was bursting at the seams, I stopped to soak up the atmosphere. The snow was falling, the lights were glistening and everyone appeared to be cheerful and spirits seemed high. Perhaps they'd sampled a few too many German lagers. Maybe they were just relieved it was the weekend. Personally, I would like to think that it was the delicious, hot food and Christmas spirit.
Redbrick
Winter at Wagamama Jordan Murphy & Chelsie Collins Food Writers Fancy a change from your traditional turkey dinner? Wagamama has the answer for you with their new winter seasonal dishes. We were given the opportunity to sample their Japanese style festive menu which included the very tasty chicken tebasaki wings, spicy garlic beef, and Japanese cherry cheesecake. OK, not an overtly Christmas menu, but certainly a spicier and warmer alternative to the monotony of your typical December roast. Within minutes the first dish 'teriyaki chicken donburi' had arrived, one of the most popular new main meals on the menu. The sweet glazed chicken breasts were complimented by the sticky white rice and fresh crispy carrots and pea shoots: an extremely tasty dish which epitomised true Japanese cuisine. Next up was the 'spicy garlic beef, ginger and basil donburi' which is slightly pricier and therefore not so popular but the extra £1.85 was definitely worth it. Invoking the Christmas flavour of ginger, the spicy, tender beef strips worked well with the more subtle, mild vegetables. Our side of 'asparagus and shiitake mushroom
gyoza' shortly followed, and served well as a palate cleanser after our more intensely flavoured dishes. The final savoury dish, which was our favourite, was the 'chicken tebasaki' wings which were coated in the tangy, Asian barbecue sauce. The first bite of the crispy skin revealed the succulent chicken underneath where one wing will inevitably lead to another until the bowl is empty. At this point we were truly stuffed but our second stomachs were ready for dessert. Without hesitation we ordered the new 'Japanese cherry cheesecake', which promised a traditional biscuit base and creamy filling, topped with tangy Japanese cherries. This was a definite winner and lived up to expectations. We ended our meal by sam-
pling the new cocktails now featured on the Wagamama menu: a great way to brighten up your gloomy, chilly days. We tried the 'harajuku', which reminded us of a pina colada with a blend of vodka, pineapple juice and honey that offers a sweet, summery taste to wash away your winter blues. Finally, the Wagamama 'miyagi mojito' was a perfect take on the classic cocktail mix with a twist of passion fruit. Overall, it was a fantastic meal that we would recommend to family and friends. If you're in the mood for some delicious, winter inspired Japenese cuisine, go to Wagamama this Christmas and make sure you keep your eyes peeled for special offers in the New Year.
Festive Drink Mulled Wine
3. Add the cinnamon and the ginger.
This Christmas classic is best served with cheesy tunes, mince pies and plenty of fairy lights... You Will Need: 1 bottle red wine 100ml orange juice 110g sugar 15 cloves 1 apple 1 lemon 1 orange 1 cinnamon stick 1tsp ground ginger
1.
Heat the red wine, the orange
4.
Simmer gently, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Heat for 15 minutes, taking care not to boil. Ladle into mugs and enjoy! Alternatively, why not try Winter Pimm's?
juice and the sugar in a large saucepan.
2. Stick the cloves into the fruit. Add to the liquid.
Food 23
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Dami Olugbode, Harriet Constable
Combine 250ml Pimm's, 250ml brandy, 750ml apple juice, 1 cinnamon stick, a sliced apple and a sliced orange and gently heat in a large saucepan.
Christmas recipe of the week Roast Dinner
Christmas Gifts go Homemade For me, Christmas isn't just a time for last minute shopping and Boxing Day sales, but one of culinary indulgence – sampling some great food while getting everyone stuck in and sharing the experience together. But this Christmas, why not turn your love for food to the presents themselves? If you're stuck for a prezzy idea, or simply want to give something a little of the beaten track (and save some money in the process), look no further. Here are a few simple gift ideas which are certain to be met with a smile...
3.
Your very own flavoured chocolate
1. Chocolate Truffles Simply mix 100g of butter, with 400g of icing sugar and 100g of cocoa powder in a large bowl. Then, a small amount at a time, stir in 120ml of double cream. Chill in the fridge until firm, before rolling into small balls and return to chill. Finish by dusting with more icing sugar or cocoa powder.
2. Fudge
3. Bring your largest pan, filled with salted water (a teaspoon of salt), to the boil. 4. Cut the peeled potatoes into medium pieces, the size of, oh let's say, a shot glass. Put the chunks into the salty water with the whole lemon and the garlic cloves, and cook for 12 minutes. 5. Drain and allow to steam dry for 1 minute and remove the lemon and garlic. Then toss the potatoes in the pan whilst they are still hot so their outsides get bashed about and fluffy.
After carefully considering what the scholars of University of Birmingham want from a student Christmas dinner, the three factors that came up were: cheap, easy to prepare, and tasty. You may well tuck into an incredibly complex Christmas roast when
you go home, that has taken years to perfect, but let's assume you are a complete amateur (like me). Here is a recipe to satisfy your appetite. Don't forget the classic vegetables to go with your roast: sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and parsnips. You Will Need: 1 x 2kg chicken
2kg potatoes, peeled (optional: parsnips and onions) 1 large, unwaxed, lemon 1 bulb of garlic, broken into cloves Fresh/dried thyme and fresh rosemary sprigs Olive oil 1. Preheat your oven to 190°C/Gas mark 5. Then take your chicken and rub the skin with some salt
Melt two bars of either dark or milk chocolate in a bowl, over a pan of warm water with ½ a tspn of oil. Once fully melted, pour onto a sheet of baking paper and cover in any of your favourite toppings. Crushed almonds and hazelnuts work well, or why not try some dried cranberries for the ultimate festive treat! Once cooled, break into rustic chunks and wrap in some cellophane or baking parchment, then tie with your favourite festive ribbon. James Morrison
Start by greasing a tin with butter. Pour 300g of milk, along with 150g of caster sugar and 100g of butter into a saucepan. Slowly heat until the sugar has dissolved and the butter melted. Turn up the heat and continue to boil for 1520 minutes – stirring all the time. Using a sugar thermometer, when the mixture reaches 115°C, remove from the heat and stir in a small and black pepper.
Vicky Hodgkinson Food Writer
amount of vanilla extract. Having left to cool for 5 minutes, beat the mixture with a spoon for a few minutes until it starts to thicken and the gloss disappears. Pour into the prepared tin and leave to set at room temperature. Once set, cut the fudge into small squares.
6. Get your chicken, pat it with kitchen paper and rub it all over with olive oil. Get your bravest housemate to push the garlic cloves, the whole lemon (stab it ten-ish times) and the thyme into the cavity, then put the chicken into a roasting tray and cook in the preheated oven for around 45 minutes. 7. Remove the chicken to a plate
and in the roasting tray should be some chicken fat. Toss the potatoes into this fat with the rosemary. 8. Equipped with oven mitts, shake the tray around, and then make a gap in the centre of the potatoes to put the chicken back in. 9. If you are feeling flash, use the bacon, lay the rashers over the chicken breast and cook for a further 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and the potatoes are golden. (You can tell the chicken is ready when the thigh meat pulls easily away from the bone and the juices run clear – don't rush it). 10. Remove the lemon and garlic from inside the chicken, squeeze all the garlic flesh out of the skin, crush it, and smother the chicken in it.
24 Editorial
3rd December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
Redbrick Editorial 2010
Samuel Lear
I suppose it is somewhat of a tradition for the last editorial of the year to reflect on the events of the last twelve months - a year that has seen radical change in many areas. Perhaps none more so than the political establishment itself, and the result of the vote held in the House of Commons on Thursday night is a particular testament to that. Everyone will have different views on the outcome, and it is not for me to determine those, and as I stated in my first editorial, the views I hold are by no means held by most at Redbrick. Therefore, leaving aside the debate over whether it was the right course of action for the Government to take (and I think it was the best possible outcome, considering the circumstances that we find ourselves in), the focus needs to be redirected towards a more local level. How can we ensure that students of the future are dealt with the best hand possible in spite of the cuts to Higher Education, and as the Vice-Chancellor likes to emphasise, how can we ensure that students of the future receive the best value for money from their increasing tuition fees - that could reach as high as £9,000 should the University pass the highly stringent demands set by the Government in order to pass the £6,000 mark. Friday morning's news was a good measure of how effective vio-
Editor
lent protesting can be - and that is not at all. Nearly all media is united in its condemnation of the monstrous vandalism, which has overshadowed the vote itself - which although a win for the Government, was definitely a hollow victory, as they would have hoped for a larger majority than the mere 21 they received. Those responsible were warned before at Millbank-gate, which also saw public opinion shift considerably in the other direction, and their actions on Thursday have not helped their cause. With this in mind, how can we, as students, ensure that the University of Birmingham remains as attractive a proposition as when we submitted our UCAS forms? The Vice-Chancellor in the debate last Tuesday stated that he wanted to engage students thoroughly throughout the decisionmaking processes, and this has to be an attractive offer. As I have stated before, we should unite as students and back our elected Guild officers to continue the healthy dialogue with the University - that way, we leave a legacy that will be appreciated by students of the future. For those that haven't guessed already, this issue has broken protocol by being released on a Monday, rather than a Friday. I hope that this
has not inconvenienced too many people, and I apologise if it does. However, the importance of the vote on Thursday - perhaps the largest in a decade, led us to believe that we should cover this fully, rather than hypothesise what we thought might happen. On the topic of Redbrick, this holiday will see some changes that we hope will further improve the service that we provide. One particular example will be the introduction of a new website that will be at the forefront (in terms of quality) of student journalism, and we hope that it will provide a more appropriate platform for you to interact and engage with us. On a final note, I should sincerely like to thank Natalie Timmins and Sian Gray for their sterling contribution to the newspaper over the last year. We wish them the best of luck with their course.
1. Item commonly found in glovebox? (4, 3) 8. "Call me _______", first line of Moby Dick (7) 9. Saintly (7) 10. Blissful state of mind; American band (7) 11. Central "trunk" of human body (5) 13. Small, smooth peach (9) 15. Headwear to be found at a Rodeo? (6, 3)
18. Soft drink; Mancunian band (5) 21. Male demon; Californian band (7) 22. Brand of 15 Across (7) 23. Incinerate (7) 24. One who postpones (7)
Down
1. Respond (5) 2. One of the seven deadly sins (5) 3. English town famous for pork pies (6, 7) 4. Meal visited by ants and wasps? (6)
We would like to apologise to Sarah Coe, who should have been credited to the Ellie Goulding review in the Music Section in last week's issue. We would like to clarify that Oliver Beach wrote the Christian Scott review in the Arts section last week.
All that leaves me to do is to wish you all a thoroughly enjoyable holiday, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year - let's celebrate 2010, and welcome 2011!
Mordo Nahum Puzzles Editor This week's prize is a choice between either 'Superfreakonomics' by Steven Levitt or 'Voodoo Histories' David Aaronovitch
Across
Apologies and Clarifications
I should also like to take this opportunity to congratulate and welcome the new committees of BURN FM and GTV, and I look forward to strengthening further our relationship. There is so much we can achieve together next year.
The Redbrick Crossword
1_2_3_4=5=6=7 _=_=_=8______ 9______=_=_=_ _=_=_=0______ ab___=_=_=_=_ =_==c______d_ =_==_===_==_= e_f___g__==_= _=_=_=_=h_i_j k______=_=_=_ _=_=_=l______ m______=_=_=_ _=_=_=n______
Hideo Nishimatsu
5. It is paved with good intentions (3, 4, 2, 4) 6. Expedition; internet browser (6) 7. Asleep (anag.) (6) 12. Norwegian capital (4) 14. National Socialist (4) 15. Grasp (6) 16. Evil, cruel (6) 17. Dishes (anag.) (6) 19. Weakling (5) 20. Method of navigation used by submarines (5)
Sudoku The objective of the game is to insert the numbers 1-9 into each row, column, and 3x3 box once Medium
The Nightmare Before Christmas - 'What's this?' Whilst a certain online fashion store has taken upon itself to ruin this childhood classic, at least it's reminded us of Henry Sellick's brilliance. Now go and rent the film...or just find the song on youtube.com Hard
There were no correct entries for the crossword last week so we will roll the prizes over to this week. Finished crosswords to be submitted to the Redbrick office. Deadline 08/12/10.
Did you know? Mistletoe is symbolic of romance, and cheeky kisses. However its historical meaning is quite the opposite. ‘Mistel’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon for ‘dung’, and ‘Tan’ meaning twig. So a kiss under mistletoe is really a kiss under ‘dung on a twig’. It's not quite the same.
Last issues solution: =seamusheaney o=m=e=p=x=i=a noble=expands a=a=k=e=l=j=s karl=advocate n=g=r=y=r===r ironed=redsea f===i=s=r=u=r emmental=ursa e=i=d=r=b=f=f dungeon=akira g=o=e=i=s=n=t errormessage=
Video of the week
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body.
Scribble box
Indonesia consists only of islands - 13,667 in total. Fried spiders taste like nuts.
On this day 1995 - Brixton Riots: the third riot since 1981 broke out following the death of a 26 year old who was in police custody.
Redbrick
redbrickonline.co.uk
13th December 2010
Sport
Netball girls defeat Leicester in style to progress in cup
25
Confident Brum performance, p27
Eagles spreading their wings
On the day of their fixture against the Oxford Vikings, Luke Durston sat down with Birmingham Eagles’ club captain Natt McConnell and fellow player Phil Pattison to discuss how ice hockey is taking off at the University of Birmingham
75 17 7 26 60
Club Profile Name Birmingham Eagles (unified team with Aston and BCU) Division BUIHA (British Universities Ice Hockey Association) Division 2 South League position 4th Home Fixtures Solihull Ice Rink Club Honours Brum battle it out against Edinburgh with Pattison (right, white) at the heart of the action ing on and off constantly to keep people fresh’ says McConnell. The necessity of this becomes clear as Pattison describes the play as ‘sprinting full-out followed by more sprinting full-out.’ However, they are both keen to emphasise that this does not detract from the enjoyment and really adds a breathless excitement to matches that few other sports can produce. The pair also allay any fears of over-physicality, claiming that the full-scale fights synonymous with ice hockey in North America simply aren’t seen as much in this country. An added bonus of ice hockey at Birmingham is how accessible it is. ‘It’s a great way to get involved in university sport if you don’t excel at the fiercely competitive sports like rugby, hockey and football’ enthuses McConnell. ‘I went for it because, inspired by The Mighty
The Week In Numbers Ballon D'or nominee Lionel Messi has scored a goal every 75 minutes and 23 seconds for Barcelona in all competitions in 2010. The Ashes second test was the first defeat by an innings at home for Australia’s cricket team for 17 years. The last was against the West Indies in Perth in 1993. years since legends Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry had met in a major tournament until Hendry beat White 9-8 in the first round of the UK snooker championship last week. the amount of years the European Tour Golfer of the Year award was in existence before it experienced joint winners for the first time this week. Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer shared the honour. days until Wladimir Klitschko is expected to be boxing fit again after a back injury forced him to cancel his fight with Dereck Chisora.
Ducks, I had always wanted to play and Birmingham provided the opportunity.’ Little over a year on and McConnell is club captain and playing as a winger for the team, whilst Pattison has had a similar rise to prominence within the squad. Playing at centre he is top scorer in the league with an exceptional 13 goals in just three games. This high scoring is the story of the season for the Eagles with a tally of 25 goals in three games, the best total in the league. Unfortunately the lack of a regular strong goalkeeper has cost the side dearly and had close encounters like their 14-12 loss to the Oxford Vikings gone the other way they would be sitting comfortably higher than their current position of fourth in the league. Pattison and McConnell echo this statement assuring me that ‘a
Richard Skinner
lot of the senior players in the team agree that we are a better standard than most of the universities in our league and we are confident that we can push for second place by the end of the season.’ And it would be hard to argue with them as novice players are helped along by the squad’s more experienced members including Canadian Geoff MacPhee, Czech player Jindrich Springl and Finnish Antti Koskelainen. Pattison hopes this nurturing atmosphere will help the club continue to grow as they introduce more and more students to the game. ‘When I first got involved I was the only fresher in the team but putting on more beginner sessions year by year has increased participation enormously and next year we hope to even expand to two teams to cater for different skill levels.’
Division 2 cup 06/07 McConnell is testament to how easy it is to get involved in the game and is well entitled to urge others to do the same. His advice is to ‘come along and give it a go, don’t worry if you can’t skate or play hockey’. Pattison adds: ‘Some people are put off by the intensity of it but the main thing you get out of it is enjoyment, it’s so much fun just shooting a puck at the goal.’ It’s clear that the two players brim with enthusiasm about playing for the Birmingham Eagles, fuelled by the excitement of donning ice skates for a dose of high octane sport, whilst others wait impatiently for sports pitches to thaw. So if you’re looking for a new sporting venture why not embrace the ice? You never know, you might soon be skating gracefully through the pavements of Selly Oak with your childhood love of all things snowy restored.
The Week In Quotes
The Redbrick Sport Quiz
‘Sometimes at clubs, when a manager goes, there will be some players who are pleased to see the back of him, but everybody liked Chris’
1) Who won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987?
Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan on sacked manager Chris Hughton.
2) Who is the shortest footballer in the Premier League this season?
‘We have got a lot of work to do and we've got some soul-searching to do as individual players’ Australia captain Ricky Ponting after second test defeat to England.
‘It felt as if I was being bullied around the table. I was second to Stuart in every department' Ronnie O’Sullivan after being knocked out of UK Championship in first round by Stuart Bingham
‘Suffice it to say that the Fifa ExCo as a body could not have voted for England having been insulted by their media in the worst possible way’ Controversial FIFA executive Jack Warner points the finger straight at the British media for England’s 2018 bid failure.
3) Who finished the F1 season sandwiched between Red Bull team-mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber? 4) When has London previously hosted the Olympic games? 5) Who is the UEFA Champions League’s all time top scorer? 1, New Zealand 2, Aaron Lennon 3, Fernando Alonso 4, 1908 and 1948 5, Raul
Last week, snow, sport’s old nemesis, returned to wreak havoc on sporting fixtures once again, but there is one team at the University who will have been less concerned than most about the cold snap; the Birmingham Eagles ice hockey team. The slippery pavements were no nuisance but simply a bit of extra training for second year Biochemistry student Natt McConnell and third year Mechanical and Materials Engineering student Phil Pattinson who have both embraced an exciting new sport. ‘I had played roller hockey from the age of 15 and got into ice hockey through a friend’ says Pattison. ‘I enjoyed it so much I even based my university choice on who had the best ice hockey set-up and Birmingham is one of the better ones.’ McConnell on the other hand, despite his status as club captain, engaged in the sport as a complete novice in his first year at university. ‘I had no background in skating and had only played field hockey so I started completely from scratch, but it was fine because there’s such a welcoming atmosphere and lots of new players come to the beginners sessions.’ So what exactly does ice hockey involve? Games take place between two teams of six players; a goaltender, two defensemen and, going forward, a centre with left and right wingers either side of him. Their aim is to evade body checks from the opposition as they pass and dribble their way towards shooting the puck into the opposing goal. My only pre-conceptions of the sport were formed by childhood fun on the Playstation game ‘NHL Hitz’ which can only be described as field hockey on acid…on ice. McConnell and Pattison confirmed that it’s a very intense activity but this was the main attraction for them, a sport which presented something thrillingly different. ‘There are lots of subs com-
26 Sport
Redbrick
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall
Fencers not disheartened despite Durham defeat Sport Shorts 0
Women's Fencing
Birmingham 1sts Durham 1sts
91 125
Joseph Audley Sport Reporter
The University of Birmingham's female fencers had a tough time coping with the talented Durham side, losing in the final category of the day. Although the scores were even after the Épée and Foil bouts, the visitors dominated the Sabre
category to confirm the win. It came as no surprise to the girls as Durham arrived with the three best sabre fencers in the country, including Kira Roberts who is now the best individual sabre fencer in the BUCS league. Captain Jen Waghorn explained the difficult task ahead of them, 'The top half of the league has a very high standard and Durham is first at the moment. We are currently third and are very happy with this position.' Eryn Spinlove, Becky Mason and Helena Eastham represented the home side in the first Épée
competition, which proved to be a fairly even tie. The lead was exchanged several times but Durham took the lead in the last few bouts, with the score at 31-35. However, Spinlove took on Felicity Moon in the last bout and won several points, overtaking the visitors. Spinlove held her nerve and took six points from the last bout, resulting in Birmingham winning the Épée round 40-37. However, the home side were not complacent as they then had to focus on the Foil category, whilst dreading the following Sabre competition. They certainly deserve
Fenced in: Brum battled hard Rita Toth (left and right middle) Dmitry Trushchenkov (top and bottom right)
credit as they did not let their spirits drop and put up a good fight, with Spinlove taking the first bout 5-1. Once again the teams exchanged the lead with Waghorn and Kate Cholerton taking points for Brum. However, Elsa Oakley and Moon stayed focused and fought back, eventually taking a five point lead with the score at 3035. A second late flurry of points from Spinlove reduced the deficit to three making the score 40-43, but Moon played for time and the Foil category went to Durham. At this point the overall score was 80-80 which showed that up until this point the game had been very even and could go either way, as the lead had been exchanged several times and most bouts had been closely contested. However in their previous meeting Birmingham had struggled to get any points at all from the sabre bouts and felt defeat was inevitable. With each bout lasting less than one minute, Durham took most points with ease. The visitors showed their presence with the best sabre competitors in the country by winning every bout, and only allowing Birmingham to take 11 points. With the final score at 91-125, the Brum girls still remained positive and seemed surprised to have even entered double figures in the sabre category. Although the visitors proved their class in the final round by significantly increasing the deficit, the home side weren't too distraught about the game as captain Waghorn reiterated: 'We did well with the usual weapons and improved on the score from when we played them away. The girls fenced really well and we hope to win next week.' The girls travel to Manchester in their next fixture.
Badminton boys shuttle past Sheffield Men's Badminton
Birmingham 1sts
8
Sheffield Hallam 1sts
0
Matthew Sharpe Sport Reporter
Birmingham's men's badminton first team completed a second whitewash of the season over Sheffield Hallam on Wednesday afternoon to move top of the men's Premier Division North. Brum have still only lost once all season, and will no doubt have come into the match in confident mood following their last outing which saw them thrash Midlands rivals Nottingham 7-1. By contrast, Sheffield Hallam are yet to register so much as a draw so far this season and consequently find themselves cast adrift at the foot of the table. It was expected then, that Birmingham, even with a slightly patched up side, would secure victory and they duly delivered. The home side's first pairing of James Lauder and first team debutant Andy McCulloch saw off the challenge of Sheffield pairing Liam Burton and Tom Rippin with relative ease, winning 21-11 and 21-9. Meanwhile, the second doubles pairing of Rich Doyle and Dong Furze also comfortably navigated their way to victory in a
Smashing: Brum show off their power match which produced several fine rallies, but was ultimately one in which the hosts proved too strong, overcoming their opponents 21-10 and 21-12. In the singles, Mark Coppleman and Richard Collier both produced solid performances to win their respective opening round matches and open up a 4-0 lead for Birmingham in quick time. Despite holding a comfortable lead at the half way stage, the hosts refused to let their foot of the gas and continued to press in the second round of fixtures. By now the result was in little doubt and the second round followed an almost identical pattern to the first as Brum enjoyed complete domination without ever re-
Rita Toth
ally having to particularly excel. England international Lauder and his partner McCulloch had now settled into a rhythm and both began impressively in the second round, Lauder in particular producing several delicate drop shots which the visitors were unable to deal with, only serving to highlight the gulf in class between the two sides. The pair, seemingly in cruise control, managed to convincingly see out the rubber to secure a 2111, 21-13 win. Coppleman and Collier were following in similar suit in the singles, the latter showing excellent agility and some fine touches at the net, coupled with excellent smashing as he eased his way to victory by 21-11 and 21-10. First
seed Coppleman meanwhile, proved too strong for Josh Wright, as the hosts opened up a 7-0 lead and a whitewash was now looking increasingly likely. Second doubles pairing Doyle and Furze finally completed a rout which not only sent the Birmingham top of the league, but also provided a much needed boost to their rubber difference, which now stands at a healthy +18. After the game, Captain Lauder was pleased to see one or two fringe players get a run out and applauded the manner in which his team went about the task: 'We were up against quite a weak Sheffield Hallam team and it was good to see the team not get too complacent'. The manner of the victory will have served as ideal preparation for January's game against Leeds Met, which is now of paramount importance such is the congested nature of the league this season. Birmingham, Loughborough and Leeds Met all find themselves within just a couple of points of each other at the summit and it would appear that an exciting finish to the season is in store with the three teams all tussling for the title. Unfortunately for today's visitors, it would appear that relegation from the Premier Divison is an inevitability as they seek to restore some pride against Loughborough next time around.
Sports Night The last official sports night of term takes place next Wednesday in the Guild of Students. If you participate in, support or even just take an interest in the University's sporting exploits then come down for one of the biggest events of the year. Tickets are available from all of the usual outlets.
Ironman
Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington will return to the University of Birmingham next week to receive an honorary doctorate. Her exploits in the triathlon and brutal ironman events have really helped to put the University on the sporting map.
Events officer
Are you interested in event coordinating or event production? Well VPS Julian Adeniran is looking for a student to take up the role of 'acting events officer' on the new UBSport Executive he is setting up. If you are intersted please email vps@guild.bham.ac.uk for further details.
Performance of the month
UBSport have announced that November's performance of the month has gone to athlete James Wilkinson for his outstanding performance in the European Cross Country Trials in Liverpool. He tore through the field to claim silver in the senior men's category, picking up the under-23 title in the process. A magnificent performance from one of Birmingham's rising stars.
Weather issues
For the second week in succession, the bitterly cold weather wreaked havoc with the UBSport fixture list. Many of Wednesday's matchups were postponed or rearranged as the temperatures plummeted. Let's hope for more action next week as Brum's teams look to end the term on a high. Match reports will be available online.
First team fixtures Weds 15th December Support our clubs! Game of the week: Women's Hockey vs Manchester 1st. Bournbrook. 2.15pm Women's Badminton vs Leeds Met 1st. Munrow Sports Hall. 2pm Women's Basketball vs Leeds Met 1st. Munrow Sports Hall. 5.30pm Men's Fencing vs Leicester 1st. Munrow New Gym. 2pm Women's Football vs Brunel West 1st. Munrow Track Pitch. 2pm Women's Rugby Union vs MMU Cheshire 1st. Bournbrook Campus. 2pm
Redbrick
Horslen's men ride to victory at the Munrow Men's Squash
Birmingham 2nds
4
Loughborough 3rds
1
Rory Millar Sport Reporter
Birmingham's squash second team overcame bottom of the table Loughborough 3rds 4-1 in a onesided affair at the Munrow Sports Centre on Wednesday afternoon. Prior to the game, the hosts had won their opening seven fixtures and were nine points clear of their nearest rivals so the win confirmed them as champions of the Midlands Conference 1A with two games of the campaign still to play. Home skipper Jake Horslen said ahead of the clash 'we have one of our key players, James Ryan missing today through illness but we are playing the bottom of the league team so I'm still very confident of winning.' He can be forgiven for being so confident based on the respective league positions and also that Birmingham beat the away side 4-1 when they made the reverse trip last month. The first match of the afternoon was between the second ranked players from both sides, Chris Blakey for the hosts and Steve Kettlewell for the visitors. Blakey won in straight sets, the first game finishing 11-6. The second game was slightly tougher for Blakey but his class shone through winning 11-8. He then started to run his opponent around the court in the third set winning a number of points with drop shots before Kettlewell made a spirited comeback. It wasn't enough though as Blakey took the game 11-9. In the second game, Rob Harrison from the home side defeated Ben Warren of Loughborough, again in straight sets. The first two
Sport 27
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall
were comfortable, winning 11-3 and 11-6 respectively while the third and final set was slightly closer but Harrison still ran out a comfortable winner at 11-7. Horslen said: 'Rob hasn't been playing very well recently, but he has returned to form today with a clinical and solid performance.' Loughborough tried to find a route back into the match with Jonny Taylor overcoming Adam Hildred in straight sets to make it 2-1 to the hosts. In the first set, Hildred stormed into a 5-0 lead but Taylor responded brilliantly claiming 11 of the next 12 points to win 11-6. Taylor then won the second set 11-8 in a closely fought affair but in the third set Hildred got increasingly frustrated, allowing his opponent to take advantage and comfortably win 11-2, sealing the game 3-0. In the penultimate game the Birmingham skipper ensured there was no chance of an upset, defeating Rob Stephenson in straight sets giving the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead. The first two games were close, Horslen winning 12-10 and then 11-8 before playing some very good squash in the final set to easily run out as an 11-1 winner. With the game already won, the game between Pete Fozard and the away side's skipper Elliott Green (the top ranked players from both sides) was a dead rubber. Fozard was dominant in the first winning 11-1 and the top seed ultimately ran away with the next two by a margin of 11-6 to win the game in straight sets. After the game, Brum captain Horslen was content with the win saying: 'It's good to keep the unbeaten run going and win the league before Christmas. I think we have won about 25 games in a row now so we are just happy to keep up the good reputation the second team are creating.'
Strong showing seals netball success against limp Leicester
Tip-top form: Hannah Strong gets to the ball before her Leicester opponent Netball
Birmingham 3rds
50
Leicester 2nds
27
Sam Price Sport Reporter
Birmingham were confirmed as champions on Wednesday
Rita Toth
The University of Birmingham netball thirds moved into the third round of the BUCS Midlands Conference Cup with an efficient display to see off the challenge of Leicester seconds by a scoreline of 50-27. The hosts came into the knockout tie as strong favourites facing a Leicester team playing three leagues below them in the BUCS tier system, and who had only narrowly seen off Staffordshire seconds in the last round. Leicester captain Becky Groves acknowledged this before the game saying: 'It's a tough draw with them being a few leagues ahead, but we're just going to try and play our best'. Even so, her team were unbeaten coming into the game, and the fact that Brum coaches Dionne Williams and Joan Hunter gave the home side the hairdryer treatment for warming up halfheartedly showed that they were taking the match very seriously. Indeed, the hosts showed no signs of complacency as they raced into a 4-0 lead, with the visitors looking nervous as they tried to find their feet. Birmingham centre Harriet Rogers started particularly brightly, showing good athleticism
to create a number of early chances which goal shooter Rachael Clark lapped up gratefully. The away side eventually settled down and pulled a couple of goals back, but Brum were on the front foot and soon had a lead of 11-2 thanks to some incisive movement from Rogers, Clark and goal attack Hannah Strong. At this point, Leicester staged a comeback of sorts with goal shooter Huela Sulaiman showing deadly accuracy to reduce the deficit and put Leicester in a much healthier position in which they trailed just 12-8. However, Strong was rising in stature as the match progressed and had the last word in this quarter to leave the scores at 15-8 in favour of the home side. Still, there was an air of disappointment in the Birmingham camp that they had conceded eight goals as the players regrouped for the team talk. The second quarter was characterised by a more patient build up to attacks, which appeared to pay dividends as the hosts enjoyed the Lion's share of possession and took a 20-11 lead. However, again they were pegged back by a resilient Leicester team who brought it back to 21-14 after precise finishing from goal attack Samantha Race, who began the second quarter in the same threatening way that she ended the first. This was as good as it got for the visitors as Birmingham stamped their authority on proceedings and ended the quarter
Tom Flathers
strongly. Seemingly telepathic link up play between Rogers and Strong, complemented by prolific shooting from Clark, led to a flurry of goals leaving the score 29-14 at the halfway stage. In the third quarter, Birmingham dominated, with captain Emma Thomas and goal defence Imogen Cornick tightening the ship to keep Leicester at bay, forming a solid base from which to counter attack. Substitute Alice Jeffrey showed some pinpoint passing to create more opportunities for the home side, and the floodgates opened with the score poised at 33-14, Birmingham registering three goals inside a minute. This was Brum's best period of the match as they showcased some excellent passing and movement with the effervescent Strong in supreme form, and the score at the end of the third quarter read 46-19, suggesting there was no way back for the opposition. Leicester came out in the fourth quarter with nothing to lose, and with the result a formality Brum saw out the contest, which fizzled out into a 50-27 win. Skipper Thomas after the game said: 'I'm just pleased to get the job done, and we're very happy to be going through to the next round'. She also singled out Hannah Strong for praise, who you get the impression will be a key player for the Reds in sustaining this cup run as they move positively into the new year.
28 Sport
Sport
Redbrick
13th December 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall
Ice hockey sliding up in popularity Redbrick Sport get to the bottom of one of Birmingham's more slippery sports, p25
Brilliant Burns and Blachford secure victory Men's Tennis
Birmingham 1sts
8
Nottingham 1sts
0
Luke Durston Sport Reporter
'The biggest match of the season' is how tennis captain Rich Burns described this fixture against Midland rivals Nottingham and it truly lived up to its billing. Brum fought their way to an 8-0 points victory in a match where they were battling against the clock as well as the opposition and the victory was finally sealed by captain Burns with the pre-booked court time rapidly ebbing away. Going into the game there was little to choose between the two teams with Birmingham placed second in the Midlands 1A division, a solitary point behind their opponents. With the season drawing to a close, a victory would provide a huge boost to either side's ambitions of promotion to the Northern Premier division, 'we beat them 8-4 last time' said Burns, 'so we hope to do it again.' In the initial doubles pairings the home team's Joab Wayne and Alex Henderson faced Charles Mason and Filip Panouski of the opposition. Play was cagey initially but it was the East Midlands side that settled first, taking the first set 7-5 thanks to powerful serving from the towering Panouski. But Brum clawed their way back into the match through powerful groundstrokes from Wayne complimented by assured volleying from his partner Henderson. They won the second set 6-4 before taking the third set match tiebreak 10-6 with a wonderful cross-court backhand from Wayne providing the winner. The second doubles pairing for the home team saw Burns and Simon Blachford play the visitors' Luca Sidhu and Peter Blythe. This time the East Midlanders were more comfortably dispatched in
Freddie Herzog
The tennis boys served up a beating for Nottingham at the Priory Club a 7-5 7-5 straight sets win which showcased more deft net-play than the brute force of the previous match. At this point it emerged that the teams had little over an hour of court time remaining and it became clear that only two of the four designated singles games would be played. There was consensus amongst the Birmingham camp that the opposition would claim the points for the two unplayed games, effectively making the score 4-4 at this stage. With shades of the ashes in Australia, this left the Brum squad with a race against time to win the two singles matches and claim a vic-
tory that would keep their promotion hopes alive. First Blachford faced the opposition's Blythe and the added urgency was clear to see in the home player's lashing forehands and quickened pace in between points. Blythe on the other hand was happy to stroll back to the baseline after points and seemed to develop a pronounced twitch which halted Blachford's serve on numerous occasions. This time-wasting left a sour taste in the mouths of Brum's on-looking players but Blachford seemed unperturbed. Consistently strong play from the baseline brought him a comfortable 6-4 6-2 victory and silenced the bra-
vado of the visiting Blythe. 6-4 to Birmingham but crucially there was little court time remaining. Finally it was down to home captain Burns to keep his nerve against fast-serving Panouski and seal the victory. At first the ticking clock seemed to disrupt Burns' focus and he wilted at 5-3 up in the first set to lose it in the tie break. Buoyed by his teammates on the sidelines though, he managed to fight back courageously and win the second set 6-3 with minutes remaining on court. Both sides' promotion hopes hung in the balance as the whole fixture came down to a nerve-jangling final match tie-break. Relentless pres-
sure from Burns on Panouski's tight backhand eventually paid off as the final shot was sent over the baseline to hand Brum a breathless victory. Burns summed it up as 'a fantastic performance and hopefully promotion winning.' Ultimately Nottingham didn't claim the points for the unplayed games, leaving the score 8-0, a result which doesn't tell the story of a match in which Brum showed great character. Nottingham captain Mason agreed admitting that 'Birmingham were simply the better team today.' Promotion is now firmly in sight for the impressive Birmingham team.
in March, commented that she 'felt good all the way round and that she loved the long and snowy course', stating that it was a 'proper cross country course'. Indeed the Birmingham athletes had faced what can only be described as less than favourable conditions, when they all stripped down into their vests and shorts to form a shivering queue on the start line. What faced them was a few miles of slush and ice that had accumulated around the undulating course in Perry Barr. Walker was followed by the 800 metre specialist Alison Leonard, who battled around the course to finish in sixth position,
whilst the Birmingham contingent was completed by Dionne Allen who rounded up a successful day for Birmingham's women in 14th place. After two matches, Birmingham's ladies are in third position behind Coventry and Loughborough universities. With the absence of many of their top runners, who had comfortably won the first fixture, Birmingham's men still provided some good performances. Dan Cliffe was the first man home for Birmingham in 20th place with his trademark hat still neatly on his head. Jack Swallow was next in 28th position, followed by the ever efficient Carl Smith (31st) and Joe
Gratton (40th). Ollie Ziff just missed out on 43rd place in a sprint finish, but secured 44th for Birmingham. Birmingham's final counter James Mee finished back in 61st place in a tough cross country race over the Siberia-like conditions. Birmingham's show saw them slip back to fifth place in the league, and they now sit behind Loughborough who lie in 4th. Three athletes who were missing from the race in Perry Barr were Nick Goolab, James Wilkinson and Sara Treacy. The trio will be taking part in the European Cross Country Championships in Portugal on the 12th of Decem-
ber. Goolab and Wilkinson will be representing Great Britain, whilst Treacy will be representing the Republic of Ireland after winning the under 23 category in Derry last week. Birmingham's next fixture will be in Coventry in January, where they should be back to full strength. The team will try to catapult themselves back up the league to where they were after the first match, and the girls will utilise their good start to try to secure a good position. All this just before BUCS cross country which will take place just a stone's throw away from our University in Sennleys Park, Birmingham.
Walker in a winter wonderland Peter Whitehouse Sport Reporter
First year Hannah Walker took all the plaudits as she cruised to victory on her league debut in the second match of the Birmingham League Cross Country Series which took place at Perry Barr, Birmingham on Saturday. Walker produced a master class performance over the snow and ice to run away with a victory by a comfortable margin from Telford's Claire Martin and Coventry's Rowena Cole. The 18 year old, who finished 32th in the World Under-20 Cross Country Championships in Poland back
INSIDE 2010 review >> 5 | Arts cuts >> 6 | Firth and Bonham-Carter >> 10 | Lifestyle Christmas presents >> 20 | Editorial and Puzzles >> 24