Redbrick - 5th February 2015

Redbrick: The University of Birmingham's Official Student Newspaper Since 1936

How to Smell True Love?

Amy Thompson on how genes could find your ideal partner Sci&Tech / page 15

On Campus: Yeoman of the Guard Imogen Tink reviews 'Yeomen of the Guard' Culture / page 19

Prepping for Pancake Perfection Daisy Holden spins the wheel of pancake flavours Food / page 20

The Pyschology of an Anti-Hero

Eva Momtaz

Students unite against religious hatred Idman Hussein and Taahira Khan / News, page 3

• Over a hundred students turn out for campus demo • The protest responds to the recent anti-semitic and Islamophobic graffiti • University comes under fire for its delayed response Online: See our dedicated election news hub: www.redbrick.me/ge2015/

Matt Dawson on why our favourite heroes are unhinged TV / page 22 www.redbrick.me join@redbrick.me @redbrickpaper /redbrickpaper

Friday 6th - Thursday 19th February 2015 Vol. 79, Issue 1457

Dropping out of University: The Best Decision You'll Ever Make?

by Hannah Coles / Comment, page 08

Review of Mathew Vaughn's latest film Kingsman: The Secret Service

by Tom Swinford / Film, page 13

02 6th - 19th February 2015

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News Tweet of the Week

Society Spotlight

Kashmir Awareness Society Kashmir Awareness society is a student society dedicated to promoting and raising awareness of the Kashmiri cause and working with respect to, and in the interests of, self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

They do this by promoting a non-partisan approach to resolving the conflict by focusing on the Kashmiri peoples’ need for self-determination and highlighting the issues surrounding the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir

@DawgSports '"To Kill A Mockingbird 2: Tokyo Drift" is going to be epic"

To contact the Kashmir Awareness Society, you can email: kashmir@guild.bham.ac.uk You can also visit the Facebook Page: facebook.com/UoBKashmir

LGBTQ History Month acivities commence on campus this February see Old Joe turn all the colours of the rainbow

Online in Redbrick News

Begging problems return to Bristol Road News Reporter Carys Bedford investigates reports of increased beggars in and around Selly Oak, who can earn up to ÂŁ70 in a single day. http://www.redbrick.me/news/sellyoak/begging-problems-return-to-bristol-road/

'A Mermaid and a Snowman' James Philllips

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor James Phillips editor@redbrick.me

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Deputy Editors Safiyyah Gareeboo George Bearman deputy@redbrick.me

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Lead Developer Culture Editors Andrew Spencer Charlotte Spence developer@redbrick.me Lucy Mounfield Andrea Giannini News Editors culture@redbrick.me Sabrina Dougall Danyal Hussain Film Editors Vanessa Browne Hayley Allanson Vedika Bahl Jay Crosbie news@redbrick.me Tom Lofkin film@redbrick.me

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Food Editors Rosie Twells Sarah Dickinson food@redbrick.me

Travel Editors Hannah Stevens Jessica Flanagan Sara Tryon travel@redbrick.me

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Senior Editorial Assistant Hannah Sharron ea@redbrick.me Editorial Assistants Anna Gunn Amy Hunt Emma Roper Gurnesha Bola Jess Allsopp Rachel Deevey Sophie Preece Stefan Pace Pippa Smith

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6th - 19th February 2015

03

Over 100 students protest against fascism on Campus Idman Hussein News Reporter

Taahira Khan

News Reporter A demonstration has been held against fascism following multiple instances of anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish graffiti on campus.

Earlier this week students from a range of societies of the university held a demonstration against fascism outside the library. The protests responded to the recent incidences of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic graffiti, with swastikas and the words ‘Islam Must Die’ being found across campus.

Among the crowd, which numbered over 100, were the university chaplains and members of different faith groups. A committee member of the Jewish society (who were also present to mark the anniversary of the liberation of AuschwitzBirkenau) stated that demonstrations such

as these were ‘an example for the rest of the world that different people are united against hate’. He emphasised that although he is the only person on his course that wears a kippah, he has never experienced any discrimination on campus; which is something that another member of the crowd also agreed with, stating that she is similarly the only one on her course who wears a hijab and has not experienced any issues because of it. However, some students at the protest expressed that the recent action has caused them to feel too scared to come to campus.

The demonstration comes at a time of increased anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish hate acts on a national scale. For example, Tell MAMA, who monitor anti-Muslim hate crimes, and the Independent have recently reported on British Muslim school children being bullied and targeted following the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

Rabbi Fisher Cohen, the Jewish chaplain at the university who was present, mentioned that he had also been the subject of anti-Semitic verbal abuse on the streets of Birmingham. Similar attacks against syn-

agogues, mosques and ‘visible’ Jews and Muslims across Europe are on the rise.

The demonstration organisers responded to rise in attacks on their Facebook page, stating that “we all have the right to live together in society, without fearing for our lives, merely because of the beliefs we hold, or because of who we are”.

"example for the rest of the world that different people are united against hate" The initial statement released by the university was met with a backlash.

Various students found the delayed response of the university unacceptable, criticising it for not condemning the racist graffiti immediately. Some also believed it to be a weak response to a crime that has left Muslim and Jewish students on campus feeling unsafe. Similarly on Twitter, users also expressed their dissatisfaction, subsequently leading to the release of a second statement deeming the

act as ‘unacceptable’ and emphasising that students have ‘the right to feel safe from discrimination.’ Students writing on the comments questioned why it took three graffiti attacks and a demonstration for the university to release these statements. The Jewish Society and Islamic Society were however swift in their response to these hate crimes, declaring that ‘we stand together in an unequivocal condemnation of the recent Islamophobic and anti-Semitic graffiti.’

According to the statement released, the university is currently working with the West Midlands Police on this issue to identify those who are responsible. The Guild has also recommended the ARC (Advise and Representation Centre) for those students who are feeling unsafe on campus.

Any students with further information on the graffiti are requested to contact the West Midlands Police on 101, or Crimestoppers.

Additionally, the University and Guild have offered a variety of support services for any staff and students affected by the graffiti.

Vice-Chancellor condemns plans UoB breaks ties with University to lower tuition fees and College Union Duncan Kenyon News Reporter

Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, has signed an open letter condemning proposed lowering of tuition fees. Eastwood is one of twenty Vice-Chancellors and Professors singing an open letter to The Times condemning Labour’s plan to reduce university tuition fees to £6,000 a year if they form a government in May. This letter warned that ‘at least £10bn of additional public funding would need to be found and ring-fenced over the course of the next parliament to close the gap’. It has also claimed that ‘cuts to universities that would damage the economy, affect the quality of students' education, and set back work on widening access to higher education’.

They have also argued that the reduction would hurt people from poorer backgrounds and the government should seek to increase financial support to help better cover living expenses.

Vice-Chancellors from other universities, such as Surrey, Stafford, Brighton and Liverpool have also joined Eastwood in condemning Labour’s pledge.

Eastwood has said that ‘both new Labour and the coalition have taken bold

decision to support higher education.

They have been rewarded with a highly efficient system and some of the world’s finest universities. The priority must be to sustain that system and address realterms reductions in funding we face.'

Liam Byrne, Labour’s higher education spokesman, has commented, ‘it is crystal clear that the student finance system is going bust, saddling students with debts most will never repay of £43,500 on average and costing the taxpayer more than the system it replaced.'

Labour introduced this pledge at its Party conference in 2011. Labour has said they will pay for the cut in fees by reversing a cut in corporation tax for banks. Graduates earning over £65,000 would also have to pay higher interest rates on their loans than others. Their overall plan is to shift toward a Graduate Tax in the future.

Carys Bedford News Reporter

@carysbedford

This week the University made the decision to halt relations with the University and College Union (UCU). This is in response to a recent decision by the UoBbased branch of the union (BUCU) to change agreed disciplinary procedure.

BUCU is a body that works to promote the interests of the academic and academic related staff, and is made up of over 1000 members across campus.

In March 2013, after six months of negotiations, the University and BUCU reached an agreement regarding performance management and monitoring of staff.

Problems then began in November last year as BUCU members started to complain of unreasonable treatment by the University after the implementation of these new performance management procedures. In response, BUCU implemented a new, independent panel to deal with performance management. However, the University management felt this panel was not made up of unbiased members.

In a statement the University said, ‘The University therefore feels that trust in the BUCU has been completely lost as they continue to undermine previously agreed negotiations.’. Nevertheless, the

statement adds that the decision was made ‘reluctantly’.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Principal of the University of Birmingham, commented, ‘It is extremely regrettable that we have had to take this decision after a disciplinary process had been agreed by all sides.’ He said it is ‘hugely disappointing that we have had to revoke the Memorandum of Understanding because UCU have been unable to uphold its side of the negotiated agreement.’

The BUCU defends its actions on its website stating they wish to, ‘challenge unfair and aggressive management actions’ through choosing to ‘highlight and publicise unfair and unreasonable management practices’

"The University therefore feels that trust in the BUCU has been completely lost" ‘The branch therefore reaffirms its commitment to create an independent panel of BUCU members to investigate alleged instances of poor management behaviour in the field of performance management.’

04 6th - 19th February 2015

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News

UoB does Valentine's Day 'Take Me Out' Duncan Kenyon

News Writer This Valentine's Day, the University of Birmingham will be holding its own version of ITV's Take Me Out. The event will follow the show's 'no likey, no lighty' format. However, instead of lighted podiums, there will be balloons that female contestants will pop when they decide the male applicant is not for them.

The evening will be hosted by Alex Liptrot from the Footnotes Comedy Society on campus. There will also be special appearances from comedy duo ‘Down and Bluer’. The prize for matching couples will be to go 'for a Nandos'.

There will also be a free prize draw where audience members can win champagne and other prizes.

Over 800 people have registered an interest in attending the game show evening on the Facebook event page.

The event is the brainchild of Accounting and Finance student Jack Kelly, a first

year with an interest in social enterprise.

Jack began planning the event at the beginning of the year, deciding he wanted to plan a 'fun, social event' for Valentine’s Day. Prospective participants were required to add themselves to a specially made Facebook account and fill in a questionnaire about themselves. 15-20 females and 4-5 males will make it on the shortlist to appear on the mock-up of the game show.

A diverse range of people will be selected to fill the places, reflecting the different sorts of people and cultures that attend UoB. Around 120 people have applied to be on the show, of whom about 40% were male. Applicants have

"Over 800 people have registered an interest in attending" ranged from freshers to fourth years and mature students.

25% Rise in UoB Student Admissions Farah Sheraz News Writer

The University of Birmingham, has seen a 25% rise in student admissions from 2012. The university’s domestic and EU intake has also increased by 405 places in 2014 and 745 places in 2013.

Following the receipt of the Sunday Times' prestigious University of the Year award for 2013-14 and ranking 12th in the UK in the Research Fortnight University Power Ranking, Birmingham also has become a popular amongst many international students. The university has been ranked amongst the top 100 most international universities in the world rising by five places to 81st place as published by Times Higher Education, with almost 5000 students coming from over 150 countries and 31% of academic staff coming from overseas.

"...domestic and EU intake has increased by 405 places in 2014" First year Chemical Engineering student, Githana explained her reasons for choosing the University of Birmingham, describing her course as being ‘highly respected both nationally and internationally in terms of industry and in research.’ She went on to state that ‘the university provides links to companies (potential future employers) and loads of

opportunities to students’. Amanda, a first year Computer Science with Business Management student stated that she chose Birmingham as it was ‘voted University of the Year 2014’ and as she believes it is ‘one of the best in the country’.

Some students also attributed their decision to study at Birmingham to the structure of their courses and the university’s position in national rankings for their course as well as facilities and resources available on campus.

"...ranked amongst the top 100 most international universities in the world" First year Medical student Alisha, expressed that one particular factor impacting her decision to study at Birmingham was the access to ‘early clinical experiences such as meeting patients and attending GP and hospital placements’. She also expressed how its location played a significant role in her decision as it was ‘close to home’.

Rising tuition fees have not held people back according to some students at the University of Birmingham. First year Medical Science student, Jusveen stated that she believed that despite the increase in tuition fees, people continue to go to university as ‘they enjoy a subject and want to expand their knowledge in that area, hopefully pursuing a career in it one day.’

‘I am running the event for the purpose of bringing a new experience to the University of Birmingham,’Jack said.,‘I’m excited about this event, it’s fun, relaxed and a great way to enjoy Valentine’s Day evening.’

‘I’m no cupid, but I’ll give him a helping hand here in Birmingham.’ There has been a mixed reaction to the show from various groups. One student has told Redbrick: ‘It would be good for the comedy factor. It would be a laugh if students didn't take it too seriously’. A fourth year American Studies student

"I'm no cupid, but I'll give him a helping hand here in Birmingham" has commented: ‘It's a bit desperate [to take part in the show] on Valentine's Day.’ ‘I'm not sure if people would be willing to come onto campus on a Saturday night,’ she added. Some student expressed

surprise at the decision not to donate proceeds of the event to charity. However, the organiser responded saying the event will be ‘operating at a "as close to cost" basis as possible’ and the ticket charge is

"I want to make this event as good an experience as possible" ‘to cover costs rather than to attain profit’. The charity Action Against Hunger is understood to be collecting donations at the event.

‘I want to make this event as good an experience as possible for University of Birmingham students, so right now this event is intended as a one-off,’ said Jack.

Similar events are planned this year at the Universities of Lincoln, York, Northampton, Bath and Queen Mary University.

The price for a ticket will be £5 and the event will be held on Saturday, 14 February in the Guild of Students.

New University Library set to open by 2016 Sophie Dober News Editor

@sophiedober

The University is currently under huge development with the sports centre, student hub, school of Dentistry and the new library, as well as other off-campus building work.

Building work on the new library began this February; construction is set to finish in March 2016 with the opening in September of 2016, ready for the beginning of the new academic year.

Currently only the ground floor concrete slabs have been cast and the basement has been built, with the ground and first floor taking shape. A workforce of 75 to 100 people are working on the library with a number of different contractors involved.

‘Associated Architects’ designed the new University main library with a concrete finish and four floors including a basement, with a tower section nicknamed ‘The Lantern’. Work desks will be around the side of the library near windows, so students can overlook the campus and work in natural light. A café is planned to be built to the left of the main entrance. Furthermore, planned construction work includes study rooms with televisions and several bookshelves for the 50,000 journals available to UoB students.

Sam Griffiths, a UoB student, is currently on a year placement working on the new library site. Griffiths is taking a

year out of his four-year Civil Engineering degree to be part of the construction. He told Redbrick the new library will be ‘modern’ and ‘open plan’ with rooms for both staff and students. By working a lot with the structural plans, Griffiths highlighted the use of a concrete frame meaning there will be ‘less steel and concrete’ used in the library’s construction, therefore it will be ‘more environmentally friendly’ and ‘cheaper.’

This venture will cost around £42 million. Communication and stakeholder engagement manager Kara Griffiths told Redbrick: ’The funding is part of an investment programme by the University to improve facilities for students and researchers.’ She continued, ‘the investment programme is supported by the Circles of Influence which includes charitable donations from alumni and friends of the University.’

Once the new library is complete, the old library and the North gate car park will be demolished and landscaped. This open space will be known as ‘The Green Heart’ and is estimated to be completed by 2017.

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6th - 19th February 2015

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‘NOT ON’ Campaign launches on campus Sophie Dober News Editor

@sophiedober

Monday 2nd February saw the launch of the Guild and University officially launched the ‘Not On’ campaign today in a bid to reduce sexual harassment amongst university students. The campaign was launched in response to the National Union of Students (NUS) research into complaints against unwanted sexual contact or comments amongst university students.

In 2012, an NUS report entitled ‘That’s What She Said’, revealed that ‘50 per cent of study participants identified "prevailing sexism, 'laddism' and a culture of harassment" at their universities’.

The results of an NUS survey of 2000 students in summer 2014 revealed that more than a quarter endure unwanted sexual comments about their body.

37% of women said they had experienced unwanted touching, bumping or groping whilst at university. By comparison, just over one in ten male respondents said they had experienced this.

A UoB student agreed with the prevalence of the issue of lad culture on campus and told Redbrick that, on a night out, she would ‘expect to be groped in a club.’

However, around half of students surveyed reported that they had never experienced unwelcome sexual advances.

The ‘Not On’ campaign promotes the view that any form of sexual harassment is completely intolerable. Indecent sexual behaviour can include: unwanted groping, wolf whistling, inappropriate sexual comments and uninvited sexual contact.

Redbrick spoke with Poppy Wilkinson, President of the Guild of Students, who is leading this campaign. Wilkinson believes that ‘sexual harassment is becoming normalized in society’ despite many seeing such behaviour as demoralizing.

Wilkinson pointed to personal experiences of sexual harassments. During her campaign in running for her position, she recalls receiving ‘messages from guys saying that they are voting for me simply based on my looks’.

‘Not On’ wants to empower students to feel they can call someone out for inap-

propriate sexual behaviour, which the campaign reinforces through the pledge, ‘Sexual harassment is not on, not in our community and not on our campus’.

Alternatively, there are facilities available for students to discuss personal experiences of sexual harassment with trained advisors. These include ‘The Harassment Advisory Service’ and ‘Advice and Representation service’.

The launch of the ‘Not On’ campaign is just the beginning of the work that is being done by the Guild and University. Teaming up with the Woman’s Association, ‘Sexpression’ events are being organised informing students about consent and healthy relationships. Wilkinson also adds ‘we hope to tie in with existing events like sports night and ‘Fab N Fresh’ to raise awareness of sexual harassment since such behaviour may occur at these nights out.

Students and staff are urged to sign the ‘Not On’ pledge to challenge all sexually indecent behaviour on the University campus and within student communities. The promotional video and pledge are now online.

Tough New Rape Guidelines Place Greater Burden of Proof on Rape Suspects Farah Sheraz News Writer

In a bid to reduce inconsistencies with rape prosecutions, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have introduced and issued new guidance to all police forces and prosecutors requiring suspects of date rape to prove that sex had been consented to.

The new guidelines cover circumstances in which an individual is incapacitated due to alcohol consumption or drugs as well as situations where ‘a suspect held a position of power over the potential victim – as a teacher, an employer, a doctor or a fellow gang member’. Where the individual reporting rape has mental health problems, learning difficulties or was asleep or unconscious at the time of attack, consent must also be questioned.

Additionally, this guidance addresses cases where an individual reporting rape was ‘financially or otherwise dependent on their alleged rapist’, hence incorporating cases of domestic abuse. Campaigners have described the new guidelines, as a ‘huge step forward’.

The Director of Public Prosecutions,

Alison Saunders, stated that: ‘For too long society has blamed rape victims for confusing the issue of consent - by drinking or dressing provocatively for example - but it is not they who are confused, it is society itself and we must challenge that. Consent to sexual activity is not a grey area - in law it is clearly defined and must be given fully and freely. It is not a crime to drink, but it is a crime for a rapist to target someone who is no longer capable of consenting to sex though drink’.

Having explored the new guidelines, an anonymous first year Law student expressed her opinion, ‘I think the new guidelines are much needed, does it have to be a straight yes or no? Implied consent?’ She went further to suggest that ‘there needs to be some form of definition of consent in order for this proposal to work, and this definition needs to be widely publicised to ensure that people clearly understand that law's stance on this issue’.

To get involved with the University’s ‘Not On’ campaign, students and staff are encouraged to sign the pledge to challenge all forms of sexual harassment available on www.guildofstudents.com/noton/

Women's Association Committee Statement: ‘The new guidelines are a step in the right direction. Far too often the defence that 'she/he did not say no' has been used by rapists, but silence is not consent. Rape is a traumatic experience, and people’s reactions are often greatly varied. They often stay silent or freeze if they are afraid as a means to protect themselves from greater harm, or simply because they are unaware of what is happening. In these cases they are not capable of consent. Vulnerable people are often the target of attacks, and it is not enough to simply go by a lack of a ‘no’. In subscribing to the concept of clear, ‘enthusiastic consent’, this guidance is a positive step in theory. However, it's too early to tell if it will help in practice. For anyone wanting to know more, we will be running talks and workshops on the theme of consent during SHAG [Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance] week in March.’

Go Green Week stirs up change on campus Sabrina Dougall News Editor

@sabrina_dougall

7 days of fun events will challenge university students to fight climate change – starting with their campus.

Starting from Monday 9th February, those who live and study at the University of Birmingham will have the chance to take part in a week of events surrounding the issue of environmental damage. Go Green Week is a scheme originally started by environmental charity People and Planet. Now, students from the University are running their own version.

As part of the initiative, students will be invited to take part in a number of

activities to increase awareness of their impact on the environment. On Tuesday, students can get involved in making a video highlighting key environmental issues which will be shown at Shackleton reception in days to come. A static ‘smoothie bike’ will be set up in The Hub on the Vale on the same day, allowing students to blitz up a healthy drink using their own muscle power.

As a follow-up to the awareness events, a quiz will take place on Sunday 8th February at the Duck and Scholar at the Hub on the Vale to test if students know their polar caps from their glacial melts. A similar event is planned for Pritchatts Park as well.

GREG and a small staff team of three

students and twelve volunteers are working together with the University and the Guild of Students to encourage environmentally friendly habits amongst the student population. Working predominantly within student accommodation, the team are also behind the GREG recycling campaign which runs throughout the year.

‘Many university students are good at separating rubbish and recycling where they can. However, there’s still improvements to be made in terms of raising awareness of the issue,’ said a spokesperson from the team.

Also in the pipeline are information videos for international students who arrive at UoB for pre-semester language courses.

As a result of differing recycling habits,

many of these students end up disposing of re-usable materials as general waste.

Later in the year, students can expect to see the return of the annual ‘Bottle Amnesty’. Residents of the Vale, Pritchatts Park and Jarratt Hall will have the opportunity to recycle glass bottles typically leftover from pre-drinks and parties.

‘Lining up bottles alongside the windows of kitchens is actually against the accommodation contract,’ one of the GREG team told Redbrick, ‘It also puts some pressure on students who don’t drink to conform to a culture of alcohol consumption and doesn’t give a great impression on open days.’ Last year over 4000 bottles were collected and sent for recycling.

06 6th - 19rd February 2015

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News

Community divided over EDL ‘super mosque’ demo Sabrina Dougall News Editor

@Sabrina_Dougall

A demonstration will take place next Saturday in Dudley against plans to build a ‘super mosque’. The rally is being organised by the far-right English Defence League (EDL) to take place in Priory Street, with a counter-demonstration planned. Both will take place at 2pm.

Members of the EDL have been handing out leaflets in town over the past week to promote the event. Posters advertising the counter-demo have been found on the walls of the University Grange Road Gate as well as The Goose and nearby sites.

Planning permission was granted to Dudley Muslim Association to build the £18 million mosque in November last year, after initial proposals were rejected in 2007.

Since then, the scale of the build had been downsized. The dome of the roof will stand at 52ft (15.8m) with a 62ft (18.9m) minaret alongside.

Some, including Bill Etheridge, UKIP MEP candidate for Dudley, have called for EDL to desist from protest action on the

mosque and scrap plans for next Saturday.

Over 1,000 people have indicated on the group’s social media page that they are planning to come to the demonstration.

EDL supporters are thought to be travelling from towns such as Nottingham, Newcastle and Manchester in what is billed as a ‘National Demonstration’.

"EDL protests have been scenese of violence and unrest in the past" EDL say the group is 'Leading the Counter-Jihad fight. Peacefully protesting against militant Islam’. However, their protests have been scenes of unrest and violence in the past. An EDL demonstration against this mosque in 2010 saw vandals cause damage to local businesses and residences. Nevertheless, Commander of Dudley Local Policing Unit, Chief Superintendent Chris Johnson, has expressed confidence that the event will be ‘peaceful’.

Johnson told Dudley News that the EDL had been ‘helpful’ in working with the

police to work out a plan for the day.

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) in association with the Dudley Trades Union Council will be one of the opposition groups leading a counter-protest on the day in Castle Street.

Over 100 prominent members of Dudley community have voiced objection to the EDL demonstration in a so-called ‘unity statement’. Those who have stated their concern include politicians, participants in faith groups and trade unionists, as well as Dudley Council leader Pete Lowe.

Cllr Lowe told Dudley News that the council is waiting for the outcome of a High Court appeal hearing later this month which may see the land in Hall Street bought back from Dudley Muslim Association.

This follows the news that a further two men have been sentenced for violence during an EDL protest in Birmingham on 20th July 2013. A total of 52 EDL defendants were brought before court after the protest.

The protest was regarding the outcome of a High Court appeal hearing later this month which may see the land in Hall Street bought back from Dudley Muslim Association.

Student society hosts pre-election debates

Liberal Democrat

The Policy, Politics and Economics department are hosting a series of student-led debates in the run up to the 2015 General Election. The events will see representatives from all of the major parties visiting to give a speech and answer audience questions. Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP and the Green Party will all send representatives, as will a range of pressure and advocacy groups. Following the success of the Liberal Democrat and Labour debates, Andrew Mitchell of the Conservative Party will be visiting the University on February 19th. The Green debate will be 26th February, and UKIP on 12th March. Students can register on the University website.

Sophie Dober

"There is nothing more distressing than when people don't vote, particularly students" - Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Edgbaston

Labour Danyal Hussain News Editor

The series of student-led General Election debates hosted by the Policy, Politics and Economics department continued on Friday 30th January, as Labour MP and election candidate Gisela Stuart visited the University. Stuart gave a speech, outlining the importance of the upcoming General Election and branding it ‘the most unpredictable election that I will be going into’.

She talked at length about the issues that concern her most, including the NHS and the need to tackle voter disillusionment.

Following the brief speech, Stuart answered a host of audience questions and discussed a variety of topics, ranging from education and the European Union to social housing

and political ideology.

Stuart outlined economic growth and education as areas that are particularly important to voters, especially as ‘Birmingham [has the] fastest growing youth population in Europe'.

Questioned on whether her longevity made her feel ‘safe’, Stuart was quick to refute the claim. She believes that her longevity is as a result of her putting her ‘constituents first’, and that this relationship is the reason for her successes in 2005 and 2010. Stuart says that she should definitely have lost her seat in 2010 and that David Cameron gave her a ‘survivor’s award’ as hers was the only seat that the Conservatives had targeted and failed to win.

Stuart also answered questions on the European Union, saying that the UK was in danger of being ‘left by it’. She believes

Isma Azad News Editor

News Editor

This series of political events are organised and hosted by the Policy, Politics and Economics (PPE) students. The aim of these discussions with local MP candidates is to get students politically engaged and to inform them of the party candidates standing for seats in the local area.

Liberal Democrat MP for Edgbaston Lee Dargue discussed issues such as civil liberties, immigration, prisoner’s right to vote and segregation in schools with those in attendance.

The main issue that was debated was the alienation of the student vote after the increase in tuition fees, with the Liberal Democrats in particular losing significant student support. Concerning the Coalition’s decision to increase tuition fees, Dargue stated, ‘It has caused us a lot of damage.’ He did highlight the fact that ‘not all Lib Dem MPs voted in favour of the tuition fee rise.’ However, he stressed the positive realities of the that ‘economics will drive the EU’ and that this deeper political and economic integration will leave the UK behind as ‘we have lost all our friends’. When questioned on exactly how the UK should redefine its relationship with the EU, Stuart believes we should follow the ‘Norwegian option’, as 'The Norwegians, are more deeply integrated into the European Union than any other country, even though they don't have MEP's and a commissioner'. Finally, she was asked if she believed that Greece should leave the EU. To the surprise of a number of the audience, Stuart replied that ‘if any country should leave, it should be Germany’. She stated that if Germany were to leave, France would follow and the remaining, economically weaker countries would be able to set more universal and helpful policies.

new system, comparing it to a ‘Graduate Tax’ and reminded students that these loans are ‘no longer tied to your credit rating.’

To continue the discussion, a student asked what the Lib Dems believe is the greatest student problem. In response, Dargue stated that ‘Tuition fees are a red herring.’ He added that his party were more concerned about ‘the cost of student accommodation and transport’ since these are more immediate factors that affect students.

After the event, Dargue spoke with Redbrick about the student vote and its importance in the upcoming general election. He stated that all demographics of voters are ‘important for the party’.

He was ‘enthused by the passion shown by students’ and credited students for being ‘brilliant’ at campaigning on the issues that affect them.

In regards to the event and others like it, Dargue stressed their importance, stating that they were ‘worthwhile.’ To conclude, the prospective Liberal Democrat MP of Edgbaston confirmed that he ‘would love to come back to the University of Birmingham’ for similar events and would like even more interaction with the student population.

Ben Whale, 2nd Year PPE student and host of the debate, was pleased by the depth and consideration in the answers that Stuart gave, ‘I was particularly impressed with her willingness and ability to explain and break down complex issues - which seemed in stark contrast to the black and white, simplistic sound bite politics we often seem to get’. Stuart highlighted the importance of the student vote, something that Ben appreciated, ‘she was clearly passionate about getting students to use our voice and vote’. Stuart, like previous guest Lee Dargue, was at pains to express the importance of the student vote, saying 'Please vote. There is nothing more distressing than when people don't vote, particularly with students. You can vote against me or even for me, but please do take the opportunity to voice your opinion'.

redbrick.me/comment

6th - 19th February 2015

07

Comment

Protect Trans Kids Dean Eastmond Commentator

I would like to dedicate this piece to Leelah Alcorn.

I am somewhat lucky to be a gay male in Birmingham. I am graced within an amazing community of LGBTQ+ people. My best friends are gay, and, for the first time in my life; I feel safe to express who I am. With February being LGBT History Month, Old Joe turning purple and true representations of gay life (Banana, Cucumber, Tofu) being shown on TV, it already looks like being a gay student in 2015 Birmingham is looking to be a promising aspect. I am a lucky minority.

Having only been called a “faggot” on a few occasions and getting into a rather heated argument with some homophobic ape on the first night of freshers, university has been widely accepting, and I’m so thankful for that. I am still angry however.

Homophobia may have died down a little in more educated and urban environments, but only to have been replaced by Transphobia.

A concept that is worsened by the lack of education that there is regarding Transsexuality and Transgender. It is literally killing Trans members around the world.

From misgendering an individual and ignoring their preferred pronouns, to global cases of murder of Trans men and women, Transphobia is becoming ever more prominent and it is frightening. I am very aware of the issues the LGBTQ+ community face across the UK and further afield, with my ex-boyfriend’s dad wanting to send him to a “gay conversion” camp on finding out that his son was in fact seeing a Dean; not a Dina, Deanna or Diana.

On the 28th of December 2014, Leelah Alcorn, a Trans teen, committed suicide after her family rebuked her gender. Her suicide note was posted on social media outlet, Tumblr, stating how “the only way [she] will rest in peace is if one day Transgender people aren’t treated the same was [she was]” continuing into, “[that] they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights”. I am so sick of members of the LGBTQ+ community having their rejection from society trivialised.

We are as natural as you.

To the cowards using religious texts out of context as weapons to an ever loving community, please, I’m aware it wasn’t Adam and Steve, but I’m pretty sure God would’ve loved Adam and Steve the same way as Adam and Eve. Every time you tell a young Trans boy or girl that what s/he is is not real or natural, you are creating a sense of social detachment. Every time you tell a gay, lesbian, asexual, bisexual, pansexual, demisexual and all of the likes that they’re going to Hell, that they’re greedy or in a phase, that their parents didn’t love them, that they have daddy issues or are just plain disgusting; you are to blame for the driving forces behind teenagers taking their own life.

Sedimented oppression through the use of words is seemingly commonplace in both the worlds of yesterday and today. It is a human right to feel loved, safe and accepted within the environment that one lives in.

Though I personally do not know any members of the Trans community, it is still just as quintessential to advocate love and protect LGBTQ+ individuals from harassment and hatred.

A recent study by UK LGBT mental health charity PACE found that 48% of Trans people under 26 said they had

attempted to take their own lives and 30% said they had done so in the past year.

That’s almost half of the entire Trans community.

The key to tackling such issues is through education. This is not exclusively bound to institutions of education, but through television, social media, newspapers and magazines. “Phobia” suggests fear, which comes in forms of ignorance that can only be reversed with such means of exposure and education.

Faggot. Queer. Unnatural. I am proud to be gay. I am proud of my gay flatmate’s confidence with his boyfriend in public. I am proud of every gay person I know who, on a daily basis, show their identities with dignity. I am proud at how the straight and LGBTQ+ community reacted to Alcorn’s death. But I am still angry.

Rest in Power: Leelah Alcorn.

What do you think?

Get your VOICE heard!

Redbrick Comment @redbrickcomment comment@redbrick.me

Where is the USA heading in 2015?

Matt Capaldi

good scientists” such as those at NASA and top American universities, who all say our activities ARE causing climate change.

The state of the economy was a key a success outlined in the start of his speech, with the USA’s growth and job creation at its highest rate since 1999, as Obama pointed out, highlighting the success of his “middle class economics.” The key economic policies mentioned were more along the lines of equality creation, rather than growth stimulation, for example he made a challenge to any member of Congress who thought it was possible to live on less than $15,000 a year to “try it.” He also called on congress to pass a law that actually ensures equal pay for men and women doing the same job, because as he put it “it’s 2015, it’s time.”

Commentator January 20th, President Obama delivered his penultimate State of the Union address.

This is a speech the President of the United States delivers at the start of every year to set out their legislative plans. So, where’s the USA heading in 2015?

One thing Obama has always been an advocate for is the rights of the LGBTQ community, supporting gay marriage, stopping the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy in the military, and this year he was the first president to mentioned the words “Transgender” “Lesbian” and “Bisexual” in a State of the Union Address. He said Americans condemn their persecution and, although these words had no legislative significance, they were highly symbolic of a more inclusive America and achieved a standing ovation from many members of the audience. Furthermore, in the middle of this coming year the US Supreme Court will rule whether or not it is constitutional for states to ban gay marriage, a practice that is now legal in 36 of 50 states. So it looks like there should be a good year ahead for America’s LGBTQ community.

"better education without the worry of debt."

"That's not to say there was any illusion of peace."

This year’s state of the union was also the first one since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 not to mention the words ‘Al Qaeda,’ as of course it was also the first one since the end of the combat mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s not to say there was any illusion of peace, Obama called for people across the world to “stand untied” against violent extremists, and said that he will “continue to hunt down terrorists”

David Iliff

whilst putting the pressure on congress to authorise the use of force against ISIL. But at least it shows America is moving on and maybe one day there will be a State of the Union with no mention of war at all, maybe. Just look at Cuba (50 years later).

Climate change makes an appearance once again, this time coming off the back of the successful climate talks in Beijing where China agreed for the first time to cut

its emissions and the USA agreed to double the rate it is already cutting its emissions. Obama claimed “no challenge, poses a greater threat to future generations” than climate change, with 14 of the 15 warmest years on record falling in the last 15 years. He also challenged climate change sceptics and those politicians dodging the issue with the ‘I’m not a scientist’ excuse, by saying “I know a lot of really

But perhaps the policy that will hit home hardest with us as students, is his plan to create 2 year community colleges (the equivalent to half an undergraduate bachelor’s degrees, designed as lower entry/mature student higher education) wait for it... FREE! These are currently on average the cheapest of the USA’s universities, and the proposal won’t affect full 4 year colleges, some of which charge astronomical fees. None the less, this will open up new opportunities to those who need them the most, including veterans retraining and those from the poorest backgrounds, allowing them to get a better education without the worry of debt.

Overall the USA appears to be heading in a positive direction for the coming year, let’s just hope the reality lives up to the speech!

08 6th - 19th February 2015

redbrick.me/comment

Comment

Private Education: The Cause of Societal Segregation?

Satya Mouland

Commentator Democracy is built on freedom of choice which is secured by the rule of law. The idea that the continuance of private schools serves this aim is ludicrous. Statistics still show that whilst a small number of the population attend private school in the UK, this minority is more likely to secure a place at a top university and thereafter a good job. Therefore, it will be argued that private schools not only provide this "freedom of choice" for a very small minority who can afford them, but also that they could maintain deep-rooted social and economic divisions, which will negatively affect the chances of the majority from a young age.

The preservation of private schools is feeding economic inequality which we should be trying to eradicate in a fair, democratic society. The argument is that it is important to provide parents with freedom of choice as to whether they would like to send their children to private or public school but this is no choice at all.

On average, the cost of private schooling is more than the minimum wage - at £12,000 with the highest fees at £30,000.

This average private school costs around 39% of the average salary, which makes them unaffordable for most. Only around 7% of children go to private school.

Therefore, even if a small minority might

"The preservation of private schools is feeding economic inequality which we should be trying to eradicate" enjoy a greater freedom of choice, this can surely not be reason to restrict the freedom of choice of the majority, most of whom could not even consider sending their child to private school for financial reasons.

It might also be a better solution to not

concentrate on abolishing private schools, but rather putting more money into public schools by raising taxes. However, despite the millions of pounds which have been spent on trying to increase opportunity, by for example providing more places at university, the top places at university are still taken up by kids who have attended private schools. This shows that the inequality does not stop at the school level, but the generally higher level of education provided in private schools gives children with more money a better chance in life.

In 2010/2011 two thirds of A Level students from independent schools went on to the UK's top universities, whilst less than a quarter went from public schools.

Despite attempts to close this gap of inequality, it has widened over the last few years, with the majority of top places going to children who have been educated at private school. Given the lack of apprenticeships (the provision of which would also improve the issue of jobs for those who cannot afford university), not going to university is seen to really limit a

child's chances of earning a good wage in the UK. Private schools also feed social segregation. There is certainly a feeling of distrust amongst those that are against students who have been educated at private school, as they are seen to enjoy bet-

"Young people feel cheated by a system in which money seems to be everything." ter chances in life for just having more money. Indeed, many of the top positions in government seem to be taken by those who were privately educated, which begs the question as to whether this influences policy making. The unequal distribution of wealth is unfortunately a fact of our world today, with around 1% of the world enjoying 50% of the wealth. We should be trying to lower this number rather than

enabling those with more money to have more choice. Especially at a young age, young people can use economic differences against others which leads to bullying. Young people feel cheated by a system in which money seems to be everything and can use it against the most vulnerable, whose parents only had good intentions to give them the best chance in life. If this choice did not exist, there would arguably be more room to improve public schools for all. Equality of education, even if at an initially lower level, should be preferred in a society which professes to promote equality for all.

One solution would be to encourage private schools to work together with public schools to enable public schools to raise their standards of teaching. The Labour Party is in fact proposing that those with expertise at private schools must share their knowledge with public schools to avoid paying business rates relief. It is an incentive to get private schools to work together with public schools to avoid paying potentially tens of thousands of pounds a year. David Miliband also proposed considering the impact of the charitable status of private schools. This enables them to certain tax exemptions. If this were to be removed unless they cooperate with improving the public sector, this would also incentivise change. This would be a way to slowly phase out private schools by the sharing of knowledge and cooperation. The private funding would effectively feed indirectly into the public system, thereby creating a diverse, yet unified education system.

It cannot be denied that private schools create more division than cohesion in a society which tries to provide equal opportunities for all. There is no sense in securing freedom for some to the detriment of many. On utilitarian principles, private schools do more harm than good. As with most policy considerations, it is a balancing act between preserving an excellent standard of education for some versus equalising education for the many. If we are truly working in the public interest, then the latter must surely be the preferred option.

Dropping out of University: The Best Decision You'll Ever Make?

Hannah Coles Commentator

When I dropped out of York University two years ago, I thought I was losing my mind.

Like toothache, the slow agony of realising I had made a mistake accompanied me as I gradually stopped eating and attended fewer and fewer crucial seminars. Is this just homesickness? I would ask myself, as I burst into tears over Skype, over the phone, over a nonsensical text book. My emotions slipped out of control, with my routine of heavy drinking and sleeping through the daylight hours propelling me from artificial enjoyment to a dark place of illness and exhaustion. The rock was expectation, the hard place was the reality of my future without a degree; as a ‘drop out’.

I frantically scoured the internet for anybody who had left University and come out relatively unscathed but found pitifully few positive accounts, if anything at all. It is still taboo. In this world where we are engaged in silent but fierce competition with our contemporaries, leaving York felt to me like stumbling for the first time. I was Head Girl at school and a Senior Prefect at college.

Now I was inadequate, I was weak, and worst of all, I was a disappointment. Yet I soon grew tired of self-pity and knew that I needed to make a decision. We are expected

to go from college to University, but the penny dropped when I realised that expectation and obligation are two entirely different things. Whilst applying for University, I spent an inadequate amount of time researching courses and had simply made a bad decision. I recall a tiny, barely recognisable spark of exhilaration when I

came to the firm conclusion that I would leave after only one term. The worst part was leaving the friends that I had made, who were cross when I left without saying goodbye. I just couldn’t face it.

Now it seems that I should address how angry my parents were, but they weren’t.

Both were obviously concerned and the

word ‘disappointed’ did crop up on one occasion, however I had never really thrown them a curveball like this before. Also having spent hundreds of (their) pounds on redundant work supplies and ruinous nights out, I can see their point. All in all, my transition was positive, marked by the fact that I regained the ‘sad weight’ I had lost along with my appetite. I also began to wake up at a normal hour, which was nice. I found myself some full time work and learned a hell of a lot about how to function as an actual grown up. During that time I had the opportunity to think about my future and my aims. How had I ever fallen into fulfilling the expectations of others at the expense of my own desires?

The other day a friend living across the hall left Birmingham for good. Apparently she left without saying goodbye and I can only hope that this will be the best decision she has ever made. Even more recently, a friend admitted that she wanted to drop out over the Christmas holidays, but had been persuaded to keep at it. Likewise, I hope she is making the right decision for herself.

Of course, leaving University certainly comes with risk, but as Steve Jobs most accurately states: Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

And from my desk, tear-free and utterly content to be studying here, I couldn’t agree more.

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6th - 19th February 2015

09

Plain Food, Plane Robbery?

Elizabeth Rose Wootton Commentator

As a relatively new flyer, atleast as a single traveller, I am still learning the do’s and don’ts when it comes to airline food. Many a time I have been subject to my mother’s sandwiches on short flights. Somehow they always made their way to the bottom of the bag and, subsequently become warm and deformed. Worst of all undeniably soggy.

Now, as someone who despises sandwiches anyway, I would complain to high heaven.

Never the less it was always squashed sandwiches, broken crackers or nasty and artifi-

"EasyJet brag on their website...about the quality of their 'bistro' food...I can't say there's a notable difference from any other plane food" cial children’s snack boxes. Recently, on an Easyjet flight to Tenerife I discovered why.

Due to my lack of funds, being a poor student and still not quite having mastered the art of something called ‘budgeting’, I chose the cheapest flight early in the morning. EasyJet sounded a safe bet as a wellknown brand. The early flight left no time for breakfast and no stomach for one either.

Little did I know the horror I was to discover.

At the risk of sounding atleast 40 years my senior I was astonished.

The cost of food on these flights is ridiculous. Deciding on a ham and cheese toastie I coughed up £4.40, a price almost double that of any other food outlet. It led me to think should companies, and airlines

in particular, be able to charge astronomical prices for products that are needed and, that customers have no other choice to purchase elsewhere. Or should I endure the four-hour flight with no sustenance and no idea of where I could get food in an unfamiliar country?

Easyjet brag on their website, where they

do provide a full menu, about the quality of their ‘bistro’ food. Despite claiming their ingredients are ‘fresh’ and ‘local’ I can’t say there’s a notable difference from any other plane food – certainly not worth paying almost double the price for. After some further investigation of their menu the cheapest ‘meal’ I could find was Heinz soup for £2.50. Considering I can buy a whole can for on average 89p in a supermarket shows how insane Easyjet’s pricing is. £2.50 for a cup!

After scouring the internet for hours to find the best flight prices, holiday deals and accommodation gems, the last thing I considered was the fact I’d have to spend a small fortune on in-flight food and drink if I was to eat at a reasonable time. The easy solution is just to take your own food. But I can’t help but wonder how airline companies can get away with ripping off their customers. Sometimes you get caught without a meal. I even witnessed many passengers with young children that just had to feed them, and cough up the £20-£30 for a family of four to have a sandwich each.

High street chains wouldn’t dare charge customers as much for a simple meal, so how can Easyjet, and seemingly many other travel companies, justify their prices. There’s no reason at all other than as a hidden moneymaking scheme. When you’re aware of your expenses, and chose a particular flight because of the £10 difference between competitors, it seems inconsequential when food prices are close to that saving.

All in all I learnt my lesson the hard way.

I well and truly fell into Easyjet’s trap and it is something I will not be doing again.

What do Zoella, Elvis Presley and Shakespeare have in common?

Daniella Bassett Comment Editor

Having been brought back into the spotlight, I feel now is as good a time as any to discuss the issue of ‘ghost-writing’ and the fact that it has been around for much longer than many people think. The concept of ‘ghost-writing’ and collaborations in literature can be traced back to Shakespeare’s contemporaries, and even beforehand. For centuries people have been pillaging ideas, collaborating, and passing other people’s work off as their own. So why is it that people are only starting to care about it now?

Internet sensation Zoella, or Zoe Sugg, experienced the full wrath of the media's criticism last Christmas with the release of “her” debut novel ‘Girl Online’.

Allegations against the 24 year old beauty-guru having “help” with her work quickly spiralled out of control revealing, rather unsurprisingly, that only the “characters and the story” were the ‘author’s’ own ideas. Despite the actual author, Siobhan Curham, defending Zoe in a blog post, Miss Sugg suffered a battering from the media and the public, enough to warrant her own removal of herself from the internet as an online presence on YouTube.

Although I cannot admit to agreeing with the false exhibition of the novel ‘Girl Online’ as the YouTuber’s original work, I can’t help but question why it was this one instance, in which the actual creator’s identity was not openly and truthfully accepted, that created such a stir.

Everyone knows that Zoella didn’t write her book, right? But what if I told you that Elvis Presley, the ‘King of Rock

and Roll’ was merely the mouthpiece of someone else’s genius? What many people don’t know is that these allegations are not only true, but appear throughout history on countless occasions.

Literary critics have debated countless theories about who Shakespeare really was and whether he even existed, whether he was a man or woman, a single person or an army of scribes and playwrights, and his works are still unquestionably some of the greatest literature produced by humankind.

If we can accept Shakespere's works even though they may not have been completely his own, why is it that we cannot accept the work of Miss Sugg?

Aside from the fact that Shakespeare's works are, one would hope, better written than Zoella's novel, there is one clear difference between the two authors: the extent to which they openly decieve their readers.

For many it is not the concept of ghost writing that has outraged them in Zoella's case, but the unjust, horrifically commercial and horribly deceptive way in which the presence of the ghost author was glossed over. Whereas Shakespeare can make no case for the legitimacy of his authorship due to his, unfortunately, being dead, Zoella, aside from acknowledging that she "worked closely" with Siobhan Curham, actively and shamelessly tried to pass the work off as her own.

But can we blame her entirely for this?

Or are we to blame our media driven culture which condemns us to follow like sheep what is 'in' and 'fashionable'? Some might argue that, in selling more copies than J.K. Rowling and EL James did with their debut novels, that the idea was to use an internet sensation to encourage young people to start reading again and to reach a

wider audience with the issues of sexuality, self-confidence and (ironically) online hate. Whether she wrote it or not, Zoella's book has reached millions of people and there are just as many people defending as condemning her.

When you think about it more widely, it's clear to see that our culture is continuously hiding the true talents of artists behind the idealised and Photoshopped figures of art trades like the music industry. Do we see artists such as Katy Perry and Ke$ha acknowledging the people who wrote their music on stage during concerts? No. The artists that moved the spec-

tators to be there are condemned to the fine print in the 'acknowledgements' in the programmes.

If we can appreciate the artwork being produced, why then are we so concerned with who produced it? This is a question I will leave to you, readers. But perhaps next time you scoff at the flaking facade of someone like Zoella, you might consider whether your favourite song or book was actually the work of the person whose name is on the cover, or someone entirely different who has been smeared into the background of one big commercial stunt.

10 6th - 19th February 2015

redbrick.me/film

Film

Focus on: Reboots

Review:

Critic Gurnesha Bola discusses upcoming remakes of classic franchises...

Big Hero 6

Details Release date: 30th Jan 2015 Director: Don Hall, Chris Williams Cast: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung Running time: 129 minutes IMDB rating: 8.1

««««« Stefan Pace Critic

What would the modern day cinematic calendar look like without some beloved franchise being dragged back out of distant memory and obscurity (and in some cases not too-distant and extremely popular memory) for a new generation of cinema-goers? Major production companies continually look back and attempt to rejuvenate past successes into future profit.

The past few days have brought well-received casting news from the new all-female reboot of Ghostbusters, whilst Chris Pratt continues to dominate the big blockbusters as his name is attached to a possible Indiana Jones reboot.

Mad Max: Fury Road (May) Who could possibly dare to fill Mel Gibson’s shoes? If any man is up to the task, it has got to be the consistently brilliant Tom Hardy. However, that was not always going to be the case and a return of the all-leather loner to the big screen came close to being a very different version than the one we are all currently anticipating.

"Major production companies continually look back and attempt to rejuvenate past successes into future profit."

Initially, Mel Gibson was in talks to return to the role in a fourth instalment and it was only on the brink of shooting that the film collapsed. When talks recommenced Hardy was cast (long before his casting of Bane in the finale of The Dark Knight trilogy) and again shooting was delayed. Nevertheless, obstacles have been overcome and director George Miller promises that Mad Max’s return to screens

is exactly how he wants it – an awe-inspiring visual experience.

In fact, he has even suggested that despite playing the titular role, Hardy will actually have very little dialogue in the film. Throw in a bald and anarchic Charlize Theron and an unrecognisable Nicholas Hoult who must all navigate the unrelenting barren wasteland of a post apocalyptic near-future glimpsed at in an intense trailer; this could be the reboot of the year.

Terminator: Genisys (July) Sequel? Prequel? Or 300-style parallequel? This return to the Terminator series, which was catapulted to classic status by Arnold Schwarzenegger 31 years ago, sees Schwarzenegger come back as promised (again) in a narrative that follows a time-travelling soldier of 2029 being sent back to 1984. However, this is not the James Cameron version of the 80s that we know and love; Sarah Connor has been brought up by Arnie’s T-800 and they form a dysfunctional father-daughter dynamic.

Since we last saw Arnie he has let himself go a bit, as producers decided to show the human tissue of the T-800 aging rather than trying to over-CGI. This is another reboot packed full with fresh and exciting talent including Jai Courtney (Unbroken) as Kyle Reese and Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) taking on the role of Connor.

Arnie’s return to the franchise has sparked the most excitement followed by the selection of Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World) as director.

As with all reboots, the question remains whether Genisys will be able to live up to the success of the original, particularly given the unenthusiastic reception of 2009 reboot Terminator Salvation.

Nevertheless, the studio has already greenlit two future sequels so it looks like Arnie and co. may be back for a while.

Fantastic Four (August) The first teaser trailer has been released for the fast-approaching reboot of the Fantastic Four as Marvel continues to capitalise on the current industry dominator that is the superhero movie. Like many of its genre peers, the film seems to be taking a darker turn from its unashamedly fun predecessors, and as it has only been 8 years since the Silver Surfer divided opinion, for many audience members the scars will still feel relatively fresh.

Nevertheless, this is a film that will not be lacking in talent. After pretty much all

"As with all reboots, the question remains; will it be able to live up to the original?" the young actors of today being linked to the film in some way or other, the titular team has finally come down to Miles Teller (Whiplash), Kate Mara (House of Cards), Jamie Bell (Filth) and Michael B Jordan (Fruitvale Station).

Some early details received a mixedreception from fans, particularly Toby Kebbell’s revelation that his incarnation of the villain Doom will be an anti-social programmer/blogger. Interestingly, further speculation has filtered through online, suggesting that the film will be sticking closer to its comic book origins for key details including how the team acquire their powers (teased at in the trailer.)

However, fans must wait until the summer to see whether Chronicle helmer Josh Trank can bring the Fantastic Four into the crowded upper echelons of superhero teams.

Hiro Hamada, a 14 year old supergenius, spearheads the Big Hero 6 team, with his late brother’s latest invention: Baymax, a non-threatening healthcare robot dedicated to protecting Hiro.

Navigating personal loss, Baymax’s presence as Hiro's symbolic surrogate brother works as the film’s strongest relationship, resulting in some genuinely heartfelt and well executed moments. The pair are easily the film’s strongest attribute, with both receiving plenty of screen time to be adequately fleshed out and likeable.

Contrastingly, the fellow Big Hero 6 team members suffer from a distinct and disappointing underdevelopment.

Thankfully, none of this is a deal breaker; the other members of Big Hero 6 are all loveable enough despite their lack of depth. As with any Disney production, all voice-actors are perfectly suited to their characters, although no performance particularly stood out as being excellent.

The setting, an awkwardly named San Fransokyo, creatively fuses the visual style of the American West Coast with the colourful neons and high-rise buildings of Tokyo. Much of Big Hero 6’s action takes place here, although the beauty of the setting is often obscured either by the frantic pace of action sequences, or the fact that much of the film’s narrative occurs either at night or inside relatively uninteresting interiors.

The film’s major conflict may be its weakest constituent part. The nameless villain has motivation enough for their actions, yet the conflict Big Hero 6 chooses to focus its action around is almost entirely derivative of any given superhero movie out there. It is possible that working with an established Marvel property may have prevented Disney from taking more creative risks with Big Hero 6, but for its sporadic shortcomings, the film is often touching, well-crafted and simply fun. Whilst it may feel like a missed opportunity in some respects, Big Hero 6 still delivers an enjoyable and mostly well told story, for audiences young and old alike.

redbrick.me/film

6th - 19th February 2015

11

Film News Gurnesha Bola Critic

X-Men Apocalypse has unveiled the younger incarnations of some of the franchise's original line-up: Cyclops will be played by fastriser Tye Sheridan; Alexandra Shipp, last seen in the recent Aaliyah biopic, will play Storm, while Game of Thrones’s Sophie Turner will take on the role of Jean Grey.

They will join returning ‘young faces’ Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy as well as new villain, Oscar Isaac.

Two of the most hotly-anticipated British festival favourites have released their first trailers. Carol Morley’s second feature outing takes her into the claustrophobia of a female boarding school, plagued by an outbreak of mass hysterical fainting in The Falling. In the meantime, Daniel Wolfe follows a young woman (promising newcomer Sameena Jabeen Ahmed) who runs away with her boyfriend only to be chased down by her brother in Catch Me Daddy.

Review: Inherent Vice Critic Vafa Motamedi reviews Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film...

Details Release date: 30th Jan 2015 Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson Running time: 148 minutes IMDB rating: 7.2

««««« Vafa Motamedi Critic

From Cheech and Chong to The Big Lebowski, stoner movies are nothing new.

From a distance, Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, Inherent Vice, belongs in the same category. Yet whilst other films merely show drug use as part of the narrative, the act of watching Inherent Vice is like taking part yourself. The film is less a stoner movie, more of a stoned movie. The plot concerns Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Doc’ Sportello, a weed smoking hippie and private eye living in 1970s Los Angeles. Doc’s ex-girlfriend visits him and informs him that she is wrapped up in a scheme to get a rich land developer committed. When the developer and exgirlfriend go missing, Doc starts to investigate just what the hell is going on.

Any further discussion of the film’s plot would quickly turn convoluted; such is the bizarre labyrinthine nature of Doc’s investigation. Coincidences pile on coincidences, conspiracies exist within conspiracies and poor old Doc (and by extension, the audience) stumbles from one inexplicable event

to another in a desperate attempt to make sense of it all.

" Any further discussion of the film's plot would quickly turn convoluted...

The film plays like a fever dream, small intentional continuity errors abound.

Anderson has departed from the Kubrickian undertones of his previous two films and embraced a warmer and surreal style, obviously returning to the work of his mentor Robert Altman and his PI masterpiece The Long Goodbye.

Much has been said about the film's incomprehensibility (PTA himself dubbed it Incoherent Vice). The twists come thick and fast and it can be hard to digest them all at once. There are moments when even the dialogue is inaudible. As a result, watching the film becomes a hazy experience, paranoia and confusion seeping out of every frame. This is a world where the hippie dream was dying, the Woodstock high morphing into the Manson family comedown.

‘The Man’ has won and not only do people no longer care but they’re no longer even aware that they’ve lost. The drugs are not a tool for transcendence anymore but a means of escaping the failure of the counterculture movement.

The idea that the film makes no sense (as has been touted) is ludicrous. With a little afterthought, all the pieces slot into place quite neatly. If you try to wrestle the film as you watch, trying to stay one step ahead, it is quite natural that you would become confused. Yet if you allow the to film wash over you and absorb you into its hypnotising pulses then Inherent Vice becomes a vivid experience. The film takes its cue not only from the Pynchon novel but the works of Raymond Chandler, where it was not the answer to the mystery that was important but the journey you had getting there.

One of the film’s greatest achievements is its comprehensive representation of the time in which it is set. From the impeccable set design to the gloriously silly costumes, the film creates a vision of 1970 America that feels utterly real. Seen through the eye of stunning 35mm cinematography, the film is a visual feast if nothing else.

Phoenix is on his A-game here and is proving himself to be one of the most engaging and transformative actors of his generation. Josh Brolin shows off his humorous side as Doc’s foil, the straightlaced proto-fascist police detective whose love/hate relationship with Doc provides the film with some of its best moments.

The film’s treatment of its female characters, from Doc’s ex-girlfriend (Katherine Waterson) to his current one (Reese

"One of the film's greatest achievements is its comprehensive representation of the time in which it is set" Witherspoon) is rather unfortunate, all mostly unengaging and two-dimensional, and occasionally the film delves into leery gratuitousness (one scene with Waterson is particularly uncomfortable in this regard).

The film is overlong, running at a borderline exhausting 148 minutes. A short shaggy dog story is amusing; a long one quickly becomes irritating. PTA’s professed love of the source material has led to a reluctance at the editing stage to chop away the fat in order to create a more satisfying cinematic experience. As it is, the film feels less like a woozy odyssey and more a series of stops and starts.

All in all, Inherent Vice is compellingly and fascinatingly fresh amidst the rote structural expectations of modern Hollywood though frustratingly, one that is just a few edits away from being a masterpiece.

In other festival news, the Coen Brothers will take their places as co-Presidents of the competition jury at the 68th Cannes Film Festival, taking place later this year. The Oscar-winning directors won the festival’s Palme d’Or award for Barton Fink in 1991 and have taken seven of their features to Cannes over the years. This will be the first time that the jury has been chaired by two people. The festival will run in May with its full line-up being announced in April.

More news and rumours continue to emerge from the upcoming Suicide Squad film. First was the news of Tom Hardy’s departure over ‘scheduling conflicts’ and then the proposal of Jake Gyllenhaal taking his place came and went. The most recent suggestion is that our newest Batman (yet to be seen on screen) Ben Affleck may be making an appearance in the film – with potential to then star in his own standalone.

12 6th - 19th Febuary 2015

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Film

Focus on: Paul Thomas Anderson Critic Vafa Motamedi looks at the work of the auteur filmmaker...

Focus:

Streaming Services George Bearman Deputy Editor

Netflix - Verdict: 3.5/5 Netflix originated in the US; here in the UK, it can be easy to get the impression that we have access to the American version's little brother.

There is a healthy line up of films, like The Hobbit, Sin City and Dallas Buyers Club. The TV exclusives are where Netflix really shines with award-winning series such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, not to mention the complete box set of Breaking Bad. But for those that are just interested in films, this may not tip the scale. Price plans start at £5.99 a month for one screen in standard definition and goes up to £8.99 for four screens, with some content in HD and Ultra HD. Netflix is available on a range of different devices, from game consoles and Smart TVs to laptops. Shared accounts become slightly more expensive, but also much better value.

Netflix is a great all round streaming service, but for those just interested in their library of films it may not be the best option.

Now TV - Verdict 4/5

Cinematic Auteurs are in short supply these days. With the gradual move towards a Blockbuster-centric culture in the past few decades, the making of a motion picture has been turned into art by a committee, the director merely a journeyman trying to bring a set of disparate elements together. There is nothing wrong with this inherently; many good films are produced in this manner. But there is nothing quite like the clarity of vision that a single auteur provides.

Paul Thomas Anderson is one such auteur and is perhaps the greatest still working in English language filmmaking. He writes all the films he directs, possessing full creative control all of the way and is remarkable in both his longevity and his consistency. His near contemporary Tarantino has now fallen into self-parody, his once exhilarating iconoclasm giving way to a series of derivative self-indulgences.

The only other filmmakers who started in the 90s and are still as good as ever are the Coen brothers - and even they had a lull during the early Noughties, but as of yet, Anderson has never dropped the ball. Every one of his movies balances perfectly between being engaging and profound. Three (Boogie Nights, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood) are certainly modern classics.

What marks Anderson out from both his contemporaries and his forbearers is his ability to be chameleonic. Anderson doesn't have a 'style' as such. His style changes drastically depending on the nature of the story he is telling, the topics of which range greatly, from the porn industry to dope fiend detectives. Sometimes having too strong a voice can limit the storytelling, like a painter who only uses a couple of colours.

Anderson is a director who wears his influences on his sleeve yet never becomes a slave to them, nor does he wave them

around pretentiously. Boogie Nights owes much to Goodfellas, with its long tracking shots and two act narrative. Magnolia resembles Nashville, with its interconnected stories. There Will Be Blood tips its hat to Kubrick with its clinical starkness and use of long silences. Yet these influences do not overwhelm the movie. Like the movie brats before him, Anderson has absorbed the movies that he loved as a youth and uses them as a springboard to create something fresh and unique.

He has the ability to draw career-best performances out of actors who are the best in their field: Julianne Moore, Daniel Day Lewis, Joaquin Phoenix and of course the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman. This is, after all, the director that managed to squeeze an amazing performance from Adam Sandler, of all people. This probably has little to do with any actor-directing skill, and more likely comes from the quality of both the characters he writes and the actors that he chooses to cast.

"Anderson said in an interview once that the only thing that scared him was 'bad actors" The skill of directing actors, then, is not in herding them like cattle but in giving the best possible actors the best possible material. After that, it all falls into place.

He refuses to bow to modern screenwriting convention, with its emphasis on rigid structural formula and paint-by-numbers storytelling. Think of the harmonium in Punch Drunk Love, a rich piece of symbolism that would be cut out in a screenwriting

class for being too strange and superficially pointless.

Looking at Boogie Nights, what is most astounding is not just its impeccable cinematic technique, nor its empathetic intelligence and blistering exuberant confidence.

It is the fact that it possesses all these things and was only Anderson's second feature.

Not bad for a film school dropout.

There Will Be Blood is clearly his (and perhaps America's) crowning achievement of the last decade, a ferocious excavation of the American soul with its twin pillars of Big Business and Big Religion falling under the spotlight. It features Daniel Day Lewis's greatest performance as Daniel Plainview, capitalism personified as a malicious scenery chewing monster. Plainview is as awe -inspiring as he is terrifying and has entered the pantheon of Great Movie Characters, alongside his spiritual cousins, Charles Foster Kane and Gordon Gekko.

Prior to Inherent Vice, The Master was perhaps the most coolly received of Anderson's films, though there is still much to love. Aside from the Joaquin Phoenix's jaw-dropping turn as the damaged Freddie Quell, the film's most notable triumph is its thematic confrontation with the Church of Scientology, a religion that has exerted a strange grip over the filmmaking community. The audaciousness of tackling such a large and influential organization is something to be admired and The Master is a film that will be looked back on as another masterpiece in years to come.

Now Inherent Vice is further solidifying Anderson's place as the great director of recent years. It may be a bold claim to make, but in fifty years' time when we talk of Welles, Ford, Scorsese and Kubrick, we will also talk of Anderson in the same hushed reverent manner.

Sky-owned Now TV may not be worth it for those already on the Sky Movie package as both offer a very similar selection of movies. There is an extremely impressive selection of films, ranging from exclusive access to shorts, such as Toy Story: That Time Forgot and 2015 Oscar nominee The Grand Budapest Hotel. Now TV is constantly being updated with new releases, however many of the biggest and best films have an expiration date attached to them. At £9.99 it's the most expensive of the big three streaming services. Where it differs is in the way it manages access to the streaming service. You're limited to registering your account to four different devices at any one time. Another notable selling point is its low cost Now TV Box often bundled in with deals, which can connect to your TV and turn it into a Smart TV. It might seem strange to knock off a point for its cost, given its incredible selection of films, but a monthly subscription of Now TV is going to add up.

Amazon Instant Video - Verdict 3/5 Many are already familiar with the internet's biggest superstore, Amazon, but recently they have been making leaps and bounds into the streaming services market. They offer one of the biggest selections of films to stream in the UK, but if you're interested in new releases this is where it can seem a little lacklustre, though it does have many of the last few year's must see movies, like Django Unchained, Life of Pi and Twelve Years a Slave. Also, Amazon will allow you to pay extra to rent or buy movies, but this only makes things more convenient and not better value. Amazon's rate of £5.99 a month puts it at an extremely competitive price point with Netflix, especially considering that it does not charge you extra for access to HD content. Where Amazon Instant Video becomes extremely good value though is when you subscribe to Amazon Prime, at £79 a year for next day delivery and unlimited streaming of movies from Amazon Instant Video, it offers an excellent value annual package. For students, this deal is even sweeter, as Amazon offers them Prime for just over 50% off at £39 per year.

redbrick.me/film

6th - 19th Febuary 2015

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Top Three:

Valentine's Releases

Alice Sheppard Critic

The Wedding Singer (February 13 1998) Our favourite combo of Barrymore and Sandler presents the perfect Valentine's movie, and whilst their latest film Blended served itself as less comical with a particularly absurd plotline, without question The Wedding Singer is one of their finer films as heart-warming rom-com with a real flavour of humour.

From Billy Idol to Boy George and all the delights of classic 1980s fashion and music, The Wedding Singer is romantic but without the soppiness of later Valentine's releases. If you don't finish this film dressed as Madonna and listening to Van Halen then at least you'll be left with a warm fuzzy Mr Kipling-feeling that stems from its abundance of hilarious one liner's and sweet sentiments.

Review:

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Critic Tom Swinford reviews Matthew Vaughn's latest film...

Details

50 First Dates (February 13 2004) Okay, so it's the same combo of actors but honestly, compared to the other sickly sweet Valentine's offerings over the past few years, this film comes off tame in comparison! The film echoes the hardships faced by families and partners of people suffering from extreme memory loss, and the support and determination that radiates from the people that love you in such difficult situations.

Adam Sandler's approach to winning over a girl whom has the same memory capacity of Finding Nemo's Dory is endearing, whilst the comedy of its characters – Sandler's androgynous work partner and bumbling Hawaiian friend – provides a solemn plot line with much comic relief. It's a light-hearted film that's not too heavy for a first date (just don't make them watch it 50 times, okay?)

The Lego Movie (14 February 2014) For those avoiding slushy rom coms, The Lego Movie is fun without the cutesy rubbish dreaded by most guys on a date. This film is not only star-studded but discovers the inner child within you whilst you uncontrollably bop your head to Avicii or your new favourite – 'Everything is awesome!' track. The interplay of famous moguls such as Batman and Abraham Lincoln with popular cultural ideas means that this film is a family favourite with humour for everyone.

The film seems to travel backwards with the nostalgia of childhood memories filled with assembling Lego creations and yet simultaneously leaps forward into a magical virtual world where anything is possible. As long as it doesn't inspire you to take over the world Lord Business style then I think it's a safe bet!

Release date: 29th Jan 2015 Director: Matthew Vaughn Cast: Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Taron Egerton Running time: 129 minutes IMDB rating: 8.3

""""" Tom Swinford Critic

Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust), new release Kingsman: The Secret Service stars Colin Firth as Harry 'Gallahad' Hart, tailor-come-gentleman spy for British non-government secret organisation 'Kingsman'. Hart takes council estate criminal youth Taron Edgerton Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin under his wing, whilst Samuel L. Jackson stars as the film's psychotic Bondstyle super-villain Richmond Valentine, a spectacularly fiendish and fantastically played comedic villain in perhaps one of Jackson's greatest performances (lisp included). There are also great supporting performances by Vaughn regular Mark Strong playing Q-like Merlin, a pre-Star Wars 7 Mark Hamill and veteran Michael Caine who plays Arthur, the Kingsman head.

Just as Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight re-invented the superhero film genre, the same can be said for the spy-thriller, which brings a darker realism to the screen.

After watching Kingsman the term 'fresh' comes to mind, a vast leap away from the

realistic or 'gritty' (a terrible but constantly used term) reboots and remakes of the past decade. By all means, the content of Kingsman is not 'light'. It has a large range of sex and violence, almost on a greater scale than Vaughn's other genre reinvention (2010 superhero blockbuster Kick-Ass, also based on a comic book written by Kingsman writer Mark Miller.)

Vaughn told the Hollywood Reporter that he "was born in 1971, so they were very formative years for [him] growing up. [He] was inspired by all of it." Colin Firth's Galahad states that he only loves "the old

"It is a stylish, subversive and most importantly fun film with great performances and a stellar cast."

Bonds" and to "give [him] a far-fetched theatrical plot any day". This is precisely what Vaughn sets out to do: the film is essentially Vaughn's and Miller's love letter to 70s Bond and the 'gentleman spy'. With hi-tech gadgetry, a bright colour pallet and henchwoman 'Gazzelle', an acrobatic martial artist with lethal blades for legs (yes, you read that right), the film is swimming with references to 70s spy films. Here, though the film does stumble a little. It seems unsure of its position between parody (in some scenes it drifts almost too close to Austin Powers) and a critique of the modern and the 70s style spy thriller. But the film is not an exact copy of the Connery/Moore Bonds, evidenced by both the violence and Jackson who states "it's not that kind of movie".

The second words that resonates after viewing this film is 'guts'. Without Matthew Vaughn's fantastically gutsy directing, and the scope and scale of exploration a 15 certificate brings, I fear the film would become the watered down, bland repetition that dilutes many Hollywood blockbusters.

Kingsman is not all sex, exploding heads,

pugs, parachutes and bulletproof umbrellas (though it does have its fair share), and film does not need these qualities to be great.

There are deeper connotations: essentially, Kingsman represents anti-conformity, from Eggsy (a teen from a working class background) unconventionally becoming the gentleman spy, to an impressive display from Colin Firth, who is not known for such incredibly choreographed brutal fight scenes (aside from with Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones.)

This, however, could be where the film suffers. The stark divided representations of the upper and working classes could be interpreted by some audiences (not myself in particular) as an unfair portrayal of the British working class, however I believe this is not the case. The sheer difference between the classes, represented along with the inclusion of sex, violence and language, allow Vaughn to intensely explore this theme of anti-conformity, on both the conventions of the spy genre and the modern Hollywood blockbuster as a whole. I believe Vaughn is actually attempting to critique why Hollywood does not explore these classes more.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a stylish, subversive, and most importantly fun film with great performances by a stellar cast. It is a terrific achievement for both

"The film is essentially Vaughn's and Miller's love letter to 1970s Bond and the 'gentleman spy'."

Matthew Vaughn, who directs incredibly, and the spy thriller genre. Kingsman manages to put the thrills back in spy thriller, with an unexpected and unpredictable plot, bristling equally with comedy as it is drama and action. A modern, fresh and gutsy take on the 70s gentleman spy, with the added political and social context of today.

14 6th - 19th February 2015

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Beer Blanket Find out if the elusive beer blanket actually exists?

Ellie Patten

Sci & Tech Writer

When venturing out to Fab (or any other club for that matter), wearing a coat becomes an inconvenience. You can’t dance in your coat: the sweat will soon be dripping off you when you reach the main dancefloor and the queue for the cloakroom can take half an hour to negotiate. This is when we like to break out the “beer blanket”. If you don’t know

body temperature is in danger of rising or we’re too hot. Blood, which carries a lot of heat, is diverted towards the skin, by constricting the blood vessels which are further inside our body and dilating the vessels at the surface of skin so that heat can escape, allowing organs to cool down.

This also explains the characteristic rosy

cheeks we get when we’re too warm, and also that lovely red alcohol flush, as more blood is near the surface of our skin.

So when drinking alcohol, we actually lose heat from our body, though we feel warmer, as the heat escapes from our skin. This is actually incredibly dangerous, as we don’t realise how cold we are,

"but a beer blanket will not keep you warm".

so are more likely to stay outside in dangerous temperatures. In fact, people have died from passing out while drunk in the cold, not realising how low their core body temperature had become, or the effect that a decreased body temperature can have on the function of our vital organs. According to a study by the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, our ability to keep ourselves warm under the influence is also hindered by the body’s reduced ability to shiver; shivering usually aims to increase movement and build up heat, but alcohol prevents this response from occurring.

"shivering usually aims to increase movement and build up heat, but alcohol prevents this reponse"

what I’m talking about, a beer blanket is the phrase we use to describe the fact that we don’t seem to feel the cold after a few drinks. The alcohol keeps you warm right?

Sorry to burst your bubble, students, but a beer blanket will not keep you warm. It only makes us feel warmer.

Even after the first drink, alcohol begins to have an effect on our circulatory system. It diverts warm blood away from our internal organs and towards our skin.

This makes us feel warm, as the blood warms our skin, but actually allows the temperature of our vital organs to drop, a potential harm to our health. This is a response that usually occurs when our

Although you probably won’t freeze to death on your way out this weekend, your beer blanket’s not quite as safe and warm as you think, and is incredibly dangerous if outside for an extended period of time. If you’re looking for warmth, maybe it’s worth braving the cloakroom queues this weekend, or investing in an actual blanket. They’re the next big thing in clubbing outfits and you can even snuggle up in the chip shop at the end of the night.

Kepler Strike Top 5 Apps The University announces the discover of a new planetary system.

Roshni Patel Sci & Tech Writer

NASA’s Kepler spacecraft strikes gold again with the discovery of an ancient solar system outside of our own.

This semester, an international team led by University of Birmingham astronomers announced the discovery of the Kepler-444 planetary system. The sunlike star, which dates back to the dawn of the galaxy, is orbited by 5 planets.

Kepler-444 is 25% smaller and around 700 degrees cooler than our own sun.

Estimated to be 2.5 times older than our own solar system, which is only a youthful 4.5 billion years old, the star is orbited by 5 planets that vary in size. From as small as Mercury to as large as Venus, these planets orbit very close to their sun, resulting in an inhabitable surface and a year which lasts a mere 10 days.

Dr Tiago Campante, lead researcher from the University of Birmingham said, “There are far-reaching implications for this discovery. We now know that Earthsized planets have formed throughout most of the Universe's 13.8 billion year history, which could provide scope for the existence of ancient life in the Galaxy.”

The discoveries were verified using

the techniques of asteroseismology which helped to date and measure the star and its planets with great accuracy. It works by measuring the minute changes in brightness. By measuring the host star’s diameter, mass and age, researchers were able to detect and measure the planets by the dimming that occurs as they pass across the star.

Although we didn’t find life this time, the discovery of solar systems other than our own bodes well for the future.

Professor Bill Chaplin, from the School of Physics and Astronomy, said “We are now getting first glimpses of the variety of Galactic environments which contributed to the formation of these small worlds. As a result, the path towards a more complete understanding of early planet formation in the Galaxy is now unfolding before us.”

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Find out the top apps that will make sure you have the best valentine's day Beth Holland Sci & Tech Writer

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and in the midst of many Easter chocolates in the supermarkets there is a whole lot of romantic red hearts with Be Mine written on them, cards, and cuddly teddy bears that are just too big! And the app stores are no different, here are some of the best ones for valentine’s lovers and haters.

Interflora 1 If you’re a bit forgetful and haven’t planned anything for valentine’s this a great app to get next day deliveries for romantic gifts of flowers or chocolates.

Though a little on the pricey side a bouquet of flowers delivered to the door with a personalised message would definitely win you some brownie points.

Red Stamp This is perfect for sending a personalised card to a loved one. It’s simple to use with a range of different templates which you can personalise with photos or your own message. You can either have the cards printed and posted or sent as an ecard. And not just for valentine’s day either remember mother’s day is coming up next!

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OpenTable 3 Valentine’s Day is always a difficult day to find a table for two. So if you want to go for a romantic dinner this restaurant booking app is great for getting your reservations sorted quickly. The app includes directions to the nearest restaurants, menus, and customer reviews.

Pinterest An app for the hopeless romantic.

Pinterest is pretty much dominated by women designing their dream wedding or pinning their favourite recipes and outfits; and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Though not as big as other social networks it’s perfect for finding new ways to celebrate valentine’s with your other half or for some not so subtle gift hints.

Just Eat Finally for the lazy couples (who are content with watching Netflix and not conforming to the commercial holiday) or the valentine’s haters. You can order a laughably small personal size domino’s pizza, because even though you feel like eating a large Texas BBQ all to yourself you are still trying to stick to your New Year’s weight loss resolution,without even having to leave your bed. Then you can relax watch way too many chick flicks and have food handed to you at the door. Don’t worry about being judged by the delivery man-they’ve definitely seen worse!

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6th - 19th February 2015

How To Smell True Love?

Did you know you could find Mr or Ms Right from smell alone?

Amy Thompson Sci & Tech Editor

Scientists have discovered that people find others more attractive depending on their smell. Humans surprisingly have a very sensitive nose and can pick up the smell of certain pheromones which they find attractive from up to 5 meters away.

For example, new-born babies can identify their mothers smell within just a few hours of birth and will remember the smell. The way we smell is determined by our genes, the most important genes are a set of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. These make up part of our immune system, creating pheromones and explain why we may find certain smells attractive.

Typically our body will be attracted to people whose MHC genes are different to our own, therefore producing a different collection of smells. This is important in a number of ways: it stops us being attracted to people we may be related to, this can be bad as it makes our gene pool smaller and leads to offspring that are more susceptible to disease.

Also, it allows us to ensure that our offspring have a broad range of immune cells as our partner will have different MHC genes to our own.

However it has been shown that women are more sensitive to smell than men. This has been shown in experiments where men are told to wear a

t-shirt for several nights without wearing any products that could change their body smell like deodorant and aftershave etc. These shirts are then placed in carrier bags and each bag is numbered. The female partner then goes through the bags with the shirts, smelling each shirt and tries to identify their partner’s smell.

This experiment has surprising results with 8 out of 10 female partners being able to identify the shirt that matches their partner. With the quickest response to identifying their partner’s smell being from women who had been in a relationship with their partner for over 5 years.

An internet dating site called

"women can identify their partners from smell" LoveGene has been using this science to their advantage. LoveGene uses genetic tests based on saliva samples sent to them by participants to find out a person’s pheromones. They are then able to match people based on their opposing pheromones, therefore increasing the chance of finding a date that you may have the right ‘chemistry’ with.

So, science may now have shown that putting on perfume could be hindering our chance at finding the one! So maybe this Valentine’s we should skip the traditional spritz of perfume and go au naturale in order to find our one true love.

Creature Feature: Colugo Rachel Taylor Sci & Tech Editor

This interesting creature is extremely mysterious, not only is there very little knowledge on it’s biology and habits, it also has a number of different aliases. Known to most as the Colugo Flying Lemur, it is also known as the Cobego or the Malayan or Sunda Flying Lemur. Despite all these name changes, it is not a true lemur and doesn’t fly as it’s name suggests.

Confusingly, the flying is actually a very large jump aided by the help of a huge flat membrane that allows the squirrel-like animal to glide through the forest. They have been seen making spectacular leaps across the Asian rainforest canopy throughout the night.

With these extraordinary leaps, this animal is only 34-38 cm in length and the balancing tail extending another 25 cm. They are surprisingly poor climbers, they are clumsy without opposable thumbs and are not very strong and quite shy creatures. They are just as comfortable hanging below a branch as they are sitting above one, leading many to believe that they have a common ancestor with bats. Recently a view has come about that finds them as actually the closest living relative to primates.

Despite the mystery surrounding this creature, it has been labelled as a least concern of conservation due to its diet being quite a varied range of soft leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits. However, at one point it was labelled as vulnerable as it is hunted for it’s meat and fur and the habitat is under threat of destruction. Additionally, the creature only takes a 60 day gestation period for young to be born and carried in the mother’s pouch like a kangaroo.

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Music

Album Review: Peace - Happy People Matt Moody Music Editor

@mattmoody17

19 years ago this summer, the Gallagher brothers asked the immortal question ‘where were you when we were getting high?’ For members of Peace, the answer is ‘still in nappies’. Despite the twenty year gap, their second album Happy People is so 90s that references to 21st century things like Bitcoin seem almost anachronistic. They missed the champagne supernova the first time round, so they’re doing it for themselves in 2015.

The inspirations behind some of the tracks on Happy People are crystal clear: the delay-drenched melody floating in the background of the title track is straight out of 90s one-hit-wonder ‘You’re Not Alone’, and singing along to ‘Gen Strange’ with the words from EMF’s ‘Unbelievable’ is a little too easy (but still great fun). If you know the songs that inspired Happy People, listening to it can be a distracting experience; if you don’t (which the next generation of music listeners that make up a good chunk of Peace’s fan-base may not), they’re just great riffs. When does grave-robbing become archeology?

While some ideas on the album work better than others, there’s one feature that links almost every song together - massive singalong choruses. Along with their impressive live show, Peace’s success is largely down to frontman Harry Koisser’s way with a pop hook. Early single ‘Money’, for example, is let down by heavy-handed ‘money is bad!’ themed lyrics, as well as committing the cardinal lyrical sin of referencing contemporary technology with the line ‘bitcoins pay for beatings' (lest we for-

Album Review: Mark Ronson - Uptown Special Phil Jones Music Critic

Mark Ronson is an intriguing character.

Despite releasing a series of hugely popular singles in the mid-2000s, Ronson’s skills as a producer and songwriter are often overlooked. With his fourth album, however, he presents a much more cohesive affair, suggesting there's more to him than just quirky covers.

The opening track of the record mixes an unmistakably Stevie Wonder harmonica line with ambient sounds, and Wonder's vocal line harks back to his glory days of the 1970s. Although Wonder only appears on two of the album’s tracks, his influence runs deep throughout, most evidently on ‘Crack in the Pearl’, which would not have seemed out of place on Innervisions or Talking Book. It's a real coup for Ronson to have Wonder as a guest on the album, lending some star power and credibility to the LP. Three of the album’s tracks feature guest vocals from frontman of Australian psych outfit Tame Impala, Kevin Parker. Parker and Ronson may seem like a strange pairing, with one more famous for space-age noodlings than the other's chart-friendly horns and melody. However, their collaborative efforts produce a number of stand-out tracks, with ‘Daffodils’ in particular representing one of Parker’s best tracks, which is impressive considering the quality of Tame Impala’s output. ‘Daffodils’ appears to have been in Parker’s repertoire for a number of years, as a quick YouTube search reveals footage of him playing the track at an early gig in 2013.

You have to wonder why such a gem of a

track has been kicking up dust for so long, but it's a welcome sight to see it appear on Uptown Special’s track-listing.

The party aspect of the record really kicks in to gear on ‘Feel Right’, which features guest vocals from Mystikal. The track comes across as a mixture between James Brown and Outkast, and it's a dancefloor dead cert for the coming year. Later tracks are less dance-orientated, but this does not detract from their quality, with the spikey guitar lines of ‘Leaving Los Feliz’ and ‘In Case of Fire’ being particular standouts; the former blurs the line between instrument and vocal, and the latter moes from a lateBeatles-esque guitar to a slice ofclassic funk.

"Stevie Wonder lends some real star power to the record" With all of the hype over 'Uptown Funk', it could easily have reached saturation point by the album's release. However, the track still sticks out as the album’s centrepiece, wearing its influences proudly on its sleeve and drawing out a career-best performance from pop maestro Bruno Mars. This is the closest that Mars has come to truly emulating the showmanship and talent of his idols, and the influence of Ronson makes the track come across as much more genuine than the rest of his discography.

With Uptown Special, Ronson makes a strong case for his talents as a songwriter and shows he'ss more than just a cover artist. Don’t believe him? Just listen.

get Beyoncé hoping for a message on her pager on ‘Crazy in Love’); as soon as you hear the irresistible chorus however, all that seems irrelevant. Mid-album acoustic number ‘Someday’ is similar - Koisser’s ode to the passing of time is, at face value, a less than subtle cross between ‘Wonderwall’ and Green Day’s ‘Good Riddance’, but you’ll still find yourself singing along to the hook hours after. The only exception to this is the totally forgettable late album filler 'Under The Moon'.

"If 'World Pleasure' is their 'Bentley in a swimming pool' moment, then 'I'm A Girl' is their 'Song 2'" By far the most impressive aspect of the record is Koisser’s lyrical grappling with issues including gender identity and selfesteem - themes rarely given much thought in rock music. If album closer ‘World Pleasure’ is their ‘Bentley in a swimming pool’ moment, then ‘I’m A Girl’ is their Song 2 - musically it follows the tried and tested loud/quiet formula, but Koisser’s disdain for the masculine stereotype in his lyrics are what set it apart. ‘Perfect Skin’ is another highlight - the increasingly hysterical healous of the chorus is like Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ on a sugar rush.

Almost three decades since pop was first forecast to eat itself, what's changed?

Is there any place in modern music for a band looking so brazenly to the past for inspiration? On this evidence, the answer is yes, as long as it’s just as fun this time round.

redbrick.me/music

6th - 19th February 2015

17

Tweet of the Week: @JamesBlunt: "Not even I think you're beautiful"

Album Review: Charli XCX - Sucker Laura-Beth Green Music Critic

Until fairly recently Charli XCX was probably best known for her collaborations with Iggy Azalea and Icona Pop (on 'Fancy' and 'I Love It' respectively), both of which reached charted highly in the UK. However, last year her single 'Boom Clap' (which features on her new album) reached number six in the UK charts and has since been nominated for Best British Video at the 2015 Brit Awards. Unsurprisingly, it caught the attention of teenage girls everywhere as the highlight of the 'Fault In Our Stars' soundtrack, which marked the start of her true rise to fame. Most of the songs on the album are the kind you can imagine girls dancing around their bedroom to when no one’s looking, so a spot on the hugely popular film's soundtrack definitely did her a career a favour.

"The later tracks cover themes of fame and partying, but with a slightly edgier feel" The album opens with the track 'Sucker', of which the only memorable lyric is ‘f*ck you, sucker’, repeated over and over again with a certain kind of defiance. After this in your face opening comes 'Break the Rules': a three minute ode to truancy with serious attitude. Like much of the album, it 's undeniably catchy - you’ll probably find your-

Album Review: Meghan Trainor - Title Hannah Coles Music Editor

@HannahMColes

Meghan Trainor’s debut is nothing if not divisive. With her first single ‘All About That Bass’ sparking fierce debate, Trainor certainly had us talking with her assertions on femininity and body image. Although tempting to brand this do-wop, hip-hop album as more ‘please-stop’ than ‘tip-top’, there are some pleasant surprises along the way that undeniably demonstrate Trainor’s writing ability and musical flair.

"It's tempting to brand this do-wop, hip-hop album as more 'please stop' than 'tip top'" After a pointless ‘interlude’ (which should surely be called ‘prelude’ as it is the first track) her infamous single ‘All About That Bass’ wiggles its ample backside at you, and tells a sad story of skinny shaming underpinned by the idea that girls should define themselves based on the desires of men. Despite the infectious melody of this track, it’s easy to be turned off by the selfindulgent lyrics and her cheap South American English Patois. Not off to a good start, Trainor goes on to attempt some kind of sassy independent woman anthem (‘Dear Future Husband’) to the backing track of Olly Murs’ ‘Dance with Me Tonight’.

‘Close Your Eyes’ is certainly more promising, with a tranquilised do-wop beat

that makes for a safe addition to a date-night playlist. Conversely, ‘3am’ flies under the radar, but ‘Like I’m Gonna Lose You’ (featuring John Legend) again demonstrates Trainor’s capability in penning and producing a good slow jam.

Next is something quite unexpected Trainor tries her hand at rapping. ‘Bang Dem Sticks’ is like something from a more grown up High School Musical. It’s cheesy and, thanks to a brass-studded bass line, exceptionally catchy. Although her reference to swine-flu is questionable, many will be guilty of having a secret dance to this.

The same goes for her second single ‘Lips are Movin’, which may just creep onto your iPod in a moment of whimsy (it happens to the best of us).

Something that Meghan Trainor does well overall is musical theatre style writing.

Her diction is crystal clear in ‘Walkashame’, with her amusing, relatable lyrics overlaying a kind of goofy Disney-esque backing melody. In the same comedic vain, despite perhaps provoking some feminist debate, ‘Title’ is a persistent ear worm. With the cheeky lyrics ‘Baby, don't call me your friend/If I hear that word again/you might never get a chance to see me naked in your bed’, Trainor actually proves a point that the “friend zone” is not just a masculine notion.

Overall it seems Trainor has partially redeemed herself from the backlash that followed ‘All About That Bass’. Although not everybody’s cup of tea, she’s certainly made her voice heard. Whether you love her frankness and irresistible melodies, or hate her world of husbands, wives and contrived sassiness, there's no doubt she’s here to stay.

self unwittingly singing along to lyrics like ‘I don’t want to go to school, I just want to break the rules’.

"It's undeniably catchy, and you'll find definitely find yourself singing along" The later tracks cover tried and tested themes of fame and partying, but with a slightly edgier than usual feel. The catchy, upbeat 'Famous', for example, is about partying ‘like we’re famous’, whilst 'Hanging Around' is about following your dreams no matter what. During the last few tracks the intense pop gives way to slightly more melodic sections like in 'So Over You', which combines a memorable chorus with softer lyrics, more vulnerable lyrics.

Overall, Sucker is full of tracks that will have no problem getting everyone up on the dancefloor on a night out. There's an unmistakeable (and intended) 90s aesthetic throughout, particularly on 'Doing It', which features guest vocals from Rita Ora. The album itself seems to improve as it goes on, with some of the earlier tracks feeling a bit repetitive. The later tracks, particularly 'Die Tonight', seem much more powerful, whilst still managing cover the same themes of defiance that pervade most of the album.

So, if you’re looking for the upbeat, catchy pop that Charli XCX has already mastered on her collaborations, this album is for you. If not, chances are you'll be hearing it on your next night out anyway.

18 6th - 19th February 2015

redbrick.me/culture

Culture

Birmingham Royal Ballet Interview Culture writer Sophie Neal interviews Birmingham Royal Ballet rising star Alexander Bird to find out more about the life of a dancer It’s a quiet Friday evening in Yorks Bakery on Newhall Street. I’m here to meet Alexander Bird, an artist at Birmingham Royal Ballet to chat to him about life as a professional dancer. Originally from St. Ives, Alex is 19 years old and joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in August after graduating from the Royal Ballet Upper School based in Covent Garden, London.

Alex attended White Lodge from age 11, a boarding school in Richmond Park for aspiring young dancers to learn their discipline from the best. Before this, he went to a small local school that had just opened. “I did tap and jazz for about a year and then I started ballet,” he says, “It was just me in my first class and I had to persuade my friends to join!” His dance teacher saw potential and suggested he audition for the Royal Ballet Junior Associates, a Saturday morning class for children to nurture their talents in pre-vocational training. He was successful and was offered a chance many students could only dream of. “They called my parents and asked if I could audition for the school. I didn’t even know where White Lodge was, I just remember showing my friends photos of it and say ‘I’m going there!’” I asked him when there was a point where he suddenly realised that his talent and love for dance could turn into a career; surprisingly it wasn’t as early as I’d assumed.

“I think the turning point was when I auditioned for Upper School. It becomes much more dance focused. There’s no academic study and you are much more involved in the Company.”

I questioned how he and his family coped with the change and distance. “It is a huge adjustment, but you’re with like-minded people which makes it so much easier. I think my family probably found it harder than me as they realised how much I wanted it and I was barely home. I went home every three to six weeks, which was hard because some of my friends lived so close to London and were going home every weekend. I

don’t think I really felt homesick until I was half way through my time at White Lodge. I felt so bad for my family because they would have to drive me to and from school at the beginning and end of term. It’s a long drive. When I was in The Nutcracker at the Opera House, I think my Dad spent about thirty hours travelling!”

" I flew all round Europe auditioning and then I got offered something in the UK. It was so ironic.” " During their final year at Upper School, the young dancers begin looking for jobs.

It’s notoriously difficult to find a place and they must demonstrate their talents, over and over again in front of numerous companies. Alex auditioned for eight companies until he found a job. “It was tough. I auditioned all around Europe. I spent so much money on travelling and there are about ninety people auditioning for three or four places. Sometimes they would get rid of you after a few exercises. It’s a huge relief finding a job everyone wants something and there’s so much pressure as you’ve invested so much. Even if I graduated and didn’t want to dance I think I would spend a year doing it, just so that the investment didn’t go to waste.” Alex was offered a job with BRB after performing with the Company in Prince of the Pagodas last year. “I flew all round Europe auditioning and then I got offered something in the UK. It was so ironic.”

Alex is an artist at BRB, which is the lowest rank of the company. He tells me he’s happy though, for him it is a starting point to work his way up. Most dancers who graduate straight out of school go into a company

as an artist unless they are experienced. His typical routine is unsurprisingly, quite intense. “We have one hour and a quarter class every day, Monday to Saturday – that includes when we have performances or on tour. When we have a show we rehearse until 5 or 6pm but it varies. Since I started back after Christmas I’ve had barely anything but when we get close to performances, we maybe average six hours a day and then have the show in the evening.” Alex was involved in The Nutcracker, which ran for two weeks at The Hippodrome. They performed 22 shows over the period. It was no surprise when he told me he was absolutely exhausted afterwards! He tells me they often work on two things at a time, usually a full length ballet and a triple bill.

Whilst on tour, they’ll rehearse for the shows they are due to perform in the UK. At the moment, the company is working towards Coppelia, a classical ballet about a living doll. As well as the Hippodrome, they’re taking it to Edinburgh, Salford and Plymouth. Alex tells me that it’s great being with a touring company. “We’re touring to Japan in April to perform Swan Lake and Cinderella which is really exciting.”

"We’re touring to Japan in April to perform Swan Lake and Cinderella which is really exciting."

A career as a dancer is often perceived as unstable, usually because of the danger of injury. Alex isn’t too worried about it, though. “I’ve been very fortunate. I haven’t suffered any injuries yet but it is so easy to do.” His future also seems quite secure in Birmingham, and he appreciates the security.

“I’m nearing the end of my six month proba-

Preview: Anton and Erin Katie Hutchinson tells us why Anton and Erin should not be missed!

The Strictly Come Dancing Tour departed Birmingham a few weeks ago but the real stars of the show visit our city on Valentine’s Day with their own exciting new tour, ‘That’s Entertainment’.

Anton du Beke and Erin Boag have been ballroom dance partners since the late 90s and are now arguably the most well known and loved ballroom dancing couple in the UK. Their show aims to bring a touch of Hollywood glamour to Birmingham with an exciting mix of stylish ballroom routines, including some cheeky Charleston and passionate tango. Not only does the evening promise some fabulous dancing from Anton and Erin but also gives audiences a chance to see the entertaining personalities behind those great dance moves with a fun Q&A session and amusing banter between the pair.

The dancing duo rose to fame on the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing, where they have been an integral part of the show since it began back in 2004.

Unbelievably, neither of them have lifted the Strictly Glitterball Trophy but have always been popular with the public due to some truly memorable routines. Particular highlights for me include Anton’s valiant

efforts with Ann Widdecombe, Erin’s unforgettable pasodoble with Austin Healey and their performance together with the cast of the musical ‘Top Hat’.

Erin took a break from Strictly and touring in 2014 to start a family, so it will be great to see the pair reunited in their 2015 production following on from Anton’s brilliant tour (‘Ballroom to Broadway’) last year.

The show also comprises of 6 world class ensemble dancers, amazing vocalist Lance Ellington and the incredible London Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe. It features catchy tunes such as ‘Steppin’ Out With My Baby’, ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ and ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’, amongst many other musical classics.

I have been fortunate enough to have seen Anton & Erin perform at the Symphony Hall in each of my 5 years at University here in Birmingham and it has always been a fantastic evening. Their tour is something I look forward to every year, I can’t recommend it enough!

‘That’s Entertainment’ is at the Birmingham Symphony Hall on Saturday 14th February at 2.30pm & 7.30pm

tion. If I pass, it’s basically a life-long contract. Lots of companies offer year-long contracts which I guess keeps you on your toes. Some people freelance but then you risk not finding any work. I prefer a stable contract as I can pay the bills!”

When I ask him what plans he has for the future, his modest ambitions are still in dance. “I want to stay with BRB for around five years unless something comes up. I’d like to move onto something more contemporary but it’s easier to move on if you have a classical grounding. I’d love to work with William Forsyth or Wayne McGregor. So many of the dancers at BRB have been with the company for nearly 20 years, but I don’t want to be 30 and still touring the world, finding places to stay. It will get tiring.”

Apart from being extremely talented, there are a few essential qualities to be a dancer. “You learn obvious things like dedication and self-motivation. I took them for granted until I got a job and realised they were really important. It’s a very competitive environment and you’re taught to be a perfectionist from a young age. I think that gives you a good work ethic as a dancer.”

Finally, we talk about his inspiration.

There are a few iconic dancers throughout the world of ballet, including the country’s beloved Darcy Bussell, now retired. Young dancers look to their contemporaries, often a few years ahead of them. “I saw Steven McRae [Royal Ballet] the other week. He’s amazing. He can literally to anything, he’s so diverse and can dance any role. Chi Cao [Principle with BRB] is also really impressive. He’s a very experienced dancer suited to lots of roles.”

To many people, ballet is an alien world.

Many aren’t aware of the schools that send competitive youngsters to some of the most renowned companies in the world. It’s easy to forget that each dancer is full of determination to succeed in their field and has worked incredibly hard to reach perfection, just like everyone else.

redbrick.me/culture

6th - 19th February 2015

19

New at the Barber: Culture Editor Charlotte Spence takes a look at the newest piece to be acquired by the Barber Institute Kept under tight wraps by the Barber Institute a new piece has arrived and it really was worth the wait. A painting formerly owned by none other than Andy Warhol himself had been purchased for the gallery by the Henry Barber Trust.

Director Nicola Kalinsky explains that the piece is the "first major purchase for some years".

This is only the second UK public collection to own a George Bellows' piece and it is the Barbers' first nude. If you are not into “avante garde” painting or, like me, do not really know what that even is you will like this piece. Bellows was a keen sportsman and acclaimed early 20th Century American artist, traditionally known for his paintings of slum children, boxing matches and building sites. Bellows typically favoured the nitty-gritty of urban life. Nude: Miss Bentham was only Bellows' second piece, and pre-dates the signature style he was known for.

Check it out and be a part of history; the painting can be found in the Blue Gallery, which is up the stairs. If you walk straight along until the end the painting is on your left hand side.

Acquisition: George Bellows, Nude: Miss Bentham

The painting was formerly owned by Andy Warhol.

This is the first nude to ever be owned by the Barber Institute.

The Barber is only the second UK public collection to own a work

by Bellows.

On Campus: Yeomen of the Guard The Gilbert and Sullivan society's most recent production left Imogen Tink impressed This performance of The Yeomen of the Guard marked my very first experience of a Gilbert and Sullivan musical, and what a brilliant first encounter it was. The quality of the UoB Gilbert and Sullivan society has been proven already, winning the ‘Best Chorus Award’ at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in August 2014, and we were not disappointed. The Yeomen of the Guard showcased great directorial debuts; from Anthea Ma as director, and from Claire Hughes and David Woods, as musical director and assistant musical director respectively, both also new to directing UBG&S. The Yeomen of the Guard focuses on the fate of Colonel Fairfax, who has been imprisoned in the Tower of London and sentenced to death for ‘dealings with the devil’, in the form of scientific knowledge.

The raucous events that follow depict the attempts of the Meryll family to help him escape, the attempt of the jailor Wilfred Shadbolt and the Yeomen of the Guard to keep him imprisoned and the role of two travelling entertainers, Elsie Maynard and Jack Point, who wander into the story.

Resembling a Shakespearian comedy, characters swap identities, the plot becomes farcical and the play’s conclusion has a sense of ‘all’s well that ends well’.

The show itself was very traditional: mediaeval costumes were worn, simple but effective props were used and the presence of the live orchestra, conducted by Claire Hughes, was wonderful and so much more effective than pre-recorded music used so

often in modern theatre. The medley of songs played by the orchestra at the very beginning whetted our appetites with the promise of what was to come.

Certainly, there were some stand out songs - ‘Is Life a Boon?’, performed by the Meryll family (Bryony Burnham, John Guelke and Tom Dalton) was very impressive, as was Fairfax's ‘Strange Adventure!’

(Chris Bailey). Sergeant Meryll (John Guelke), Dame Carruthers (Katie Paterson) and Kate (Charlie Cameron) were more than a match for the tricky Gilbert and Sullivan harmonies. In addition, ‘I Have a Song to Sing, O’ performed by Elsie Maynard (Lizzie Lister) and Jack Point (assistant musical director David Woods) was beautifully done. However, often it was difficult to hear the lyrics of certain songs, as the performer’s voices were drowned out by the music and some of the meaning of the plot was lost. There was discussion amongst audience members as to whether the use of microphones may have not gone amiss.

Each member of the enthusiastic chorus and main cast were brilliant; but perhaps a special mention should go out to assistant musical director David Woods and his portrayal of the jester Jack Point. As a jester he must remain resolutely cheerful despite everything, as demonstrated in ‘O! A Private Buffoon is a Light Hearted Loon’ - however he is the only character who doesn’t get a happy ending. Jack Point provides often much needed humour to the production, and, channelling his inner Graham Norton, David Woods certainly made the character

his own. It was interesting to see how Jack Point is initially animated and hyperactive, but as his situation becomes more desperate, his costume and his manner become more and more disarrayed. This climaxes in the finale song ‘Comes the Pretty Young Bride’, where whilst all the cast are celebrating and merry, Jack Point is alone in a corner watching the woman he loves marry another man; the show ends on his collapse, providing a sober conclusion to an otherwise light hearted show.

Overall, the UBG&S production of The Yeoman of the Guard was very enjoyable.

"Each member of the enthusiastic chorus and main cast were brilliant..."

As a first time audience member of a Gilbert and Sullivan show, I was a little daunted but still very much enjoyed myself. The quality of the performers and the quality of the music ensured that everyone had an evening well spent.

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redbrick.me/food

6th - 19th February 2015

Food

Prepping for Pancake Perfection With Shrove Tuesday coming up on the 17th February we've got top tips from the pancake pros, inspiring ingredient ideas and an insight into the world of pancakes from across the globe.

Daisy Holden Food Writer

Ultimate Pancake Toppers: When it comes to choosing a pancake topping there are endless options to choose from. Here are a selection of my favourite ones: 'The Classic': Lemon and Sugar This is a classic pancake topping, and you cannot really go wrong with it. It is an easy and quick choice to even to those most cooking-averse! Moreover the toppings are inexpensive, ideal for a student budget.

Freshly squeeze a lemon over the pancake and sprinkle crunchy sugar on top.

'The Savoury': Ham and Cheese In the midst of the sweet toppings, you might prefer a savoury filling! Cook a cheese sauce, add ham, sweetcorn and spring onions and fill the pancakes.

'The American': Maple syrup and berries Instead of making the traditional flat pancakes, swap to the fluffy thick American ones! Jamie Oliver has a perfect recipe for them, and includes lots of different toppings.

With choices ranging from maple syrup with berries (a personal favourite) to crispy bacon!

'The Perfect Combination': Strawberry and Nutella This is such a perfect combination of flavours and makes a delicious pudding.

Spread the Nutella on the warm pancake so it starts to melt and add the roughly chopped strawberries. Roll the pancake up so the strawberries soften into the chocolate.

Peal the pears and brown them in a saucepan with a lump of butter. Then add 3 tablespoons of golden syrup to the mixture.

Spoon them into the pancake and drizzle melted chocolate over it.

Food Writer

Gluten-Free Pancakes: This is a great alternative gluten-free recipe for pancakes, using bananas as a substitute base ingredient instead of the usual fats you find in typical pancakes- it's both health conscious and diet friendly!

Online Food Editor

How do you like your pancakes?

Pancake Day may be nearing as another marker for celebration in the food calendar comes round once again. This cyclical approach, however, should not create cause for concern with regards to the event turning into one of old habits or repetition.

Rather, it should be an opportunity to unleash the culinary (master) chef inside of you, in the attempt to try something new by way of pancake toppings.

Every year I always try to create something different, whether that be experimental, eccentric or easy. Instead of struggling to remember all the many pancake possibilities, stocktaking the ideas in a quick survey was suggested.

As a result, a question was distributed for market research purposes: what is your favourite pancake topping?

The responses were varied and provided some extremely interesting food for thought.

•Out of the thirty participants, twenty-one different flavours were produced, revealing an enormous selection of toppings.

'The Indulgent': Pears with chocolate syrup

Jennifer Cook

Rosie Twells

•Just over one quarter of the survey selected ‘lemon and sugar’ as their favourite. This surprised me greatly; I thought that many may have looked to put a new spin on this old classic. This topping was described by one food critic as ‘too mainstream’ and I would have to agree – it’s time to try some-

thing a little out of our comfort zone in the form of pancake toppers!

•90% of participants voted sweet over savoury. From cheese with spring onion to sausages and brown sauce, the savoury options were certainly bold combinations. It does appear, however, that pancakes are the sweet treat to indulge in on Tuesday 17th February.

•Chocolate, in any form, melted, whole chunks, Nutella, was the also a firm favourite and was mentioned in one third of responses.

•As well as the classic pancakes that are often thin and resemble a crepe, a few other suggestions were made for the base structure

"There were some bold combinations for savoury choices, From cheese and spring onion to sausages and brown sauce! of this dish. American pancakes, which are slightly thicker and fluffier in texture, were popular. I make lots of these at university – they are very simple as you can prepare the batter beforehand and are enjoyable on a Friday morning to make that 9am lecture a little more bearable!

Whatever topping you decide this Pancake Day, a firm favourite or if you’ve been inspired to try a concoction from this, make sure that there’s plenty of batter and you stack those pancakes high!

• • •

For the Pancake Batter: 1.In a separate bowl thoroughly whisk 4 eggs together

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2.Add the vanilla essence 3.Combine the egg mixture with the mashed banana and carefully sieve in the plain flour (if you do not sieve the flour, lumps will form in the batter) 4.Heat a small amount of oil (olive/ coconut oil are healthier alternatives) in a frying pan

Ingredients:

5.Ladle the pancake batter into the pan and fry until golden brown on both sides

•4 eggs •2 very ripe bananas •3 heaped tablespoons of plain flour* •1 tsp vanilla essence

6 These pancakes can be enjoyed on their own or with toppings such as chocolate spread with some additional sliced banana.

"What's your favourite pancake topping?"

Although this recipe was devised with the primary intention of being a healthy, gluten-free alternative to regular pancakes, the origin of the recipe actually has roots in the Caribbean and with the Jamaican favourite Banana Fritters.

Rebekah Coates

*Gluten free flour can be found in most supermarkets Prepping the Bananas: 1. If you haven’t bought your bananas in advance, you can easily speed up the ripening process by placing the fruit into a roasting tin and cooking at 230c for 30-40 until blackened and soft.

2. Carefully remove the bananas from the dish and set aside to cool.

3. When the bananas are cool enough to be handled, cut down the length of the banana and scoop out the soft insides with a spoon.

4. Gently mash the banana, allowing for some texture to remain and place in the fridge to cool.

Food Writer

Top tips for perfect pancakes Ever wondered how to get the perfect pancake? Do you have nightmares of batter stuck to frying pans, and fears of pancakes falling to the floor after failed flips? Worry no more my pancake loving friends, Anthony from 'Platinum Pancakes' has all the answers you need.

First of all, track down the best quality eggs and flour you can find: the best pancakes need the best ingredients after all. Mix the eggs and flour, but to make sure your pancakes stay soft and fluffy, mix gently. A gluey mixture means the gluten in the flour becomes stretched and the pancakes will be tough. Add milk, and when your batter is the

• •

Bacon and syrup Bananas with chocolate sauce Blueberries with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate Brownie pieces with chocolate sauce Cheese and spring onion Lemon and sugar Maple syrup Marmite Nutella Nutella with bananas Nutella with sprinkles Nutella with strawberries Peanut butter and banana Raspberries with greek yoghurt Sausages with brown sauce Strawberries with chocolate sauce Strawberries with chocolate sauce and ice cream Strawberries with icing sugar Toffee sauce with biscuit pieces

consistency of single cream, its ready to go.

Anthony suggests using rapeseed or any vegetable oil for frying the pancakes in.

Butter will burn and olive oil taints the pancake, something we definitely do not want!

Now to the fun part. Platinum Pancakes consider themselves “flippers not tossers”.

So flip your pancakes to ensure even cooking, and avoid any messy, inedible lumps of batter shamefully filling your pan.

Classic flavours are always the favourites, and the same goes for Platinum Pancakes: Lemon and sugar and Nutella topping the list. For Anthony though, Cinnamon and sugar is best, closely followed by boozy berries and ice cream, for something a little different.

Good luck with your pancake flipping, but if you fancy having someone do it for you, you can visit Platinum Pancakes at Digbeth Dining Club on the 13th and 27th February.

redbrick.me/food

6th - 19th February 2015

21

Recipe of the Fortnight: Traditional Crepe Pancakes Take a look at our recipes on www.redbrick.me/food/recipes

Discover 'Independent Birmingham' Think you know Birmingham? Prepare to be inspired as Food Writer Sophie Neal introduces us to 'Independent Birmingham', the best way for students to explore the vibrant, buzzing city that is Birmingham Sophie Neal

say is that there are some ridiculously amazing places to eat in Birmingham and street food is also emerging as one of the defining attributes of the fantastic food scene in Birmingham. So you’ll just have to all go out there and try these restaurants and eateries for yourselves in a noble and tasty quest of your own.”

Food Writer

One of the best things about going to university is having a whole new city to explore and call home for three years. But, how much do we actually explore what’s within reach of us?

Birmingham is the UK’s second largest city and is quickly becoming a buzzing hive of activity for food, entertainment, shopping and so much more! Meet the Independent Birmingham Card – one of the best investments you could make giving you an excuse to explore and make the most of wonderful Birmingham.

"An incredible discount card and access all areas pass to the best independent businesses" Joe from Independent Birmingham, is keen to show students (and the world) what an incredible place Birmingham is and why we should get out there and explore the plethora of places that are right on our doorstep. It’s time we started believing in Birmingham!

Independent Birmingham started as a blog showcasing and celebrating Brum and its independent businesses. Fast forward nine months, and the IBcard was born. The IBcard is a year-long valid discount card which gives you incredible discounts in Birmingham’s unique establishments.

A new business is currently being added every week (to the current 60 on the card) which means that these wonderful businesses are getting some well-deserved

exposure. Think of it as your access all areas pass to the independents, perhaps the most important things in a growing city.

The independents give Birmingham its unique personality. “The response has been fantastic,” says Joe, “More and more independents have been looking to join the card, which means people can make it their mission to get out there and explore all these wonderful independent businesses – which in turn is great for the independents and the local community.”

The Independent Birmingham card is a brilliant way for students to get to know their city. Combined with ‘The Blog’, you can discover all the best bars, coffee shops and restaurants to hang out in – places that push the boundaries and create something special in Birmingham. “The benefit for students is not only learning about all the incredible independents our city has to offer, but you can save money at the same time!” Joe says it’s a win-win situation, and it most definitely is. Plus, it isn’t just limited to marvellous eateries and fancy restaurants.

How does 2 for 1 tickets at the Electric Cinema sound?

I tried to ask Joe what his favourite Independent was but... “You wish! I can’t be picking out favourite just like that. All I will

"Street food is also emerging as one of the defining attributes of the fantastic food scene in Birmingham"

(Photo credit: http://independent-birmingham.co.uk/alfie-birds/) One of the places I recommend that you can visit with your IBcard is Alfie Birds.

Located in Birmingham’s uber-trendy creative sector, The Custard Factory, couldn’t

be a more perfect location for Alfie Birds, ‘the home of gourmet eats and trendy beats’.

Alfie Birds is a pizzeria and a cocktail lounge rolled into one; as you step in the door, you’ll find yourself in the pizzeria which at lunch time is also home to an incredible sandwich deli.

On the second floor is ‘Libby’s Lounge’ with décor that screams Seventies. On the third floor is ‘The Loft’, an open space used for events and their live music nights, which are well worth a visit. The pizzas come highly recommended, a gourmet luxury in all sense of the word; top it with salmon, chicken, pulled pork, rocket...they truly are a feast!

IBcard holders get 2 for 1 on pizzas from Monday – Thursday, making your lunch come in at just under a fiver. They have various deals on during the week for everyone too, such as 2 house burgers for £10 on Tuesday. If that doesn’t give you an excuse to head down and soak up the atmosphere, I don’t know what will.

So there you go. What are you waiting for? If you want to get yourself an Independent Birmingham card to kick start your exploration of the city, you can buy them from the website for £15 each or 2 for £20.

They are a small investment with rewards you will continue to receive throughout the year, hopefully making Birmingham a more memorable place for you, just like it deserves to be!

To order your Independent Birmingham discount card and find out what other fantastic places they represent, visit their website at www.independent-birmingham. co.uk You can check out Sophie's other top rated places to visit with your IBcard on our website also.

Review:Turtle Bay If you fancy something a little different why not give Turtle Bay's exotic Caribbean cuisine a try, you won't be left disappointed!

Rebekah Coates Food Writer

Hidden behind New Street station, Turtle Bay is an unusual type of restaurant. With barrels for tables, and a huge mural of Bob Marley on the wall, it differentiates itself from the chains of the Bullring, or the traditional pubs of Selly Oak. I’d never tried Caribbean food before, but will definitely consider going back for more after tasting Turtle Bay’s treats. If you like food with a kick to it, then you have to try anything they serve with their renowned

"Their exotic tastes and 'beach shack vibe' makes you forget you've just walked in from the drizzly streets of the city centre" jerk spices on, which is complimented well with sweet potato fries.

It's also a great place to try if you’re bored of the typical chicken or fish options of most restaurants – goat curry is on the menu for any adventurous eaters out there.

Their exotic tastes and the “beach shack vibe” that entices you in, makes you forget that you’ve just walked in from the drizzly streets of Birmingham’s city centre shivering.

"Every cocktail has some form of Rum added to it, warming you with it's Caribbean spirit" If you need more convincing to try Turtle Bay, go during Happy Hour (every day 12-7pm, 10pm-close). Every cocktail has some form of Rum added to it to, warming you with it's Caribbean spirit. I recommend a ‘Vanilla and Passion fruit Mojito’, a tropical twist on the favoured classic, or a zesty ‘Limin Punch’. Or if you’re feeling brave, a ‘Beachcombers Zombie’, with 4 shots of rum and one of absinthe, is guaranteed to get you in the party mood.

22 6th - 19th February 2015

redbrick.me/television

Television

The Psychology of an Anti-Hero

Matt Dawson explores the damaged psyche of our favourite anti heroes and why the audience identifies with them.

Recently there has been a trend in modern television to focus on a protagonist or central character that is psychologically damaged in some way, and it makes you wonder, why are they so compelling?

"It makes you wonder why are they so compelling?"

These characters could potentially be unsympathetic, but in the case of sociopaths such as Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall in Dexter) some great writing and acting can make someone who would ordinarily be considered a villain into an interesting antihero. As a serial killer who has a strict code to only murder other murderers, yet at the same time working as a blood splatter analysis for the police, we get to see him play both sides of the system and watch him explore the needs of his “dark passenger”. This premise also grants a lot of potential, since in some of the later seasons, Dexter is allowed to develop as we see him come to terms with his dark back-

ground as well as a transition to family life and fatherhood.

Sometimes it's great to see how their minds work, such as the case of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock).

Classifying himself as a “high-functioning sociopath”, the audience witness him willing to sacrifice innocent lives in order to continue his investigation and play sinister mind games with his nemesis, Moriarty (Andrew Scott). Uniquely here, cliff notes appear on screen as he’s working on a crime scene, so we get an insight into his mind and how unconventional his manner of thinking is.

But some of the most memorable characters have been those who started out as normal, reserved people who get sent over the edge into madness. The most obvious case of this is Walter White (Bryan Cranston) from Breaking Bad. He turns from a mild-mannered chemistry teacher into a power-hungry drug baron known only as Heisenberg throughout the show’s five seasons. At first he only acts to pay for treatment and save money for his family,

and kills only in self-defence. But as Heisenberg becomes less and less of an act to put on, we see him taking pleasure of using other people as pawns and killing purely to retain control over his empire.

Much like Sherlock, his damaged psyche is exacerbated when he comes into contact with rival drug kingpin Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), and their conflict escalates to the point of both men killing other people purely to intimidate the other, and keeping

"There are some characters that are so damaged we just can't help but hate them" the audience on edge.

To a lesser extent, but no less impressive, is the transformation of Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) in Fargo. He starts off as an insurance salesman who is kept under the thumb by his wife, and still tormented by his school bully, but his dark side is let loose by a single conversation with Lorne

Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) who is essentially the devil personified. The most distinctive point about Lester’s character is that the audience revels in his acts of violence instead of being horrified by them, chillingly reminding us that we all are susceptible to similarly dark thoughts.

Conversely, there are some characters that are so damaged we just can’t help but hate them. One key example of this is Jack Gleeson’s brilliantly sinister turn as Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones which made legions of fans despise him. His tyrannical acts made him a savage ruler, like beating and killing prostitutes just for fun, and he makes strategically bad leadership decisions purely on impulse. He has the effect of getting under the skin of the audience as well as the other characters, to the point that we want to kill him ourselves.

So looking at all these types of damaged characters, TV has become a medium to fully explore the most extreme parts of the human mind and with how popular they have become, it looks like they are here to stay.

Cucumber, Banana, Tofu It's Channel 4's latest trio of series' all linked by LGBT relationships - but is it another of writer Russell T. Davies successes? Ella Downing explores.

This January, Channel Four debuted their new three part series exploring the realms of LGBT relationships. Written by Russell T Davies who is previously known for his 1999 drama Queer as Folk which also explores sexuality, dramas Cucumber and Banana tell the interlocking stories of several LGBT characters and their lives and relationships. Tofu is a short ten minute documentary web series that reveals the sexual habits and opinions of both members of the public and some of Cucumber and Banana’s cast members.

"Watching Banana was a bit like getting flung around in a sweaty club" If listening to people talk in an extremely candid way about sex makes your skin crawl then the series might not be for you.

However, I personally found watching the

shows sort of satisfyingly uncomfortable, it is frank and candid but this is refreshingly engrossing. Banana was very fast paced from the outset and throughout which immediately got you hooked. Actor Fisayo Akinade gives a brilliant performance as lead character Dean. Charismatic, poignant and promiscuous, watching Banana was a bit like getting flung around in a sweaty club for thirty minutes, dizzying, trying, and overly sexual but enjoyable in a slightly sordid kind of way.

Cucumber was just as action packed despite having a longer forty minute time slot. Acting was impeccable and the story line was engaging. The Thick of It's Vincent Franklin plays lead character Henry who represents the pitiful, anxious confusion that many people feel towards their sexuality.

What really came across with Cucumber was that it was challenging to watch because of the all too familiar challenges that many face in modern relationships, not the slightly

more difficult subject of LGBT sexualities.

Although it was also engaging I feel as though Tofu, as a ten minute web documentary series, may not be as popular as the other two but it was nevertheless interesting, witty and great at exploring the point that while The UK is probably at the most sexually liberal point it has ever been, for some reason we still find it incredibly hard to talk with complete honesty and ease about sex. I think this is the central theme of the whole series. On the one hand it contains some of the most overtly sexual material on television at the moment, but it also portrays an ongoing struggle to come to terms with sexuality that even the most confident characters are susceptible to.

When watching, look out for the ‘definitions’ of Tofu, Banana (peeled and unpeeled) and Cucumber and prepare to see Ryan Reynolds in a totally different light.

Tweet us your opinions @RedbrickTV

6th - 19th February 2015

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23

TV Quote of the Week: Cucumber and marriage proposals: Henry: "Will you marry me?"

Lance: "No, why on earth would we do that?".

House of Cards In Tights: Wolf Hall Review

The BBC are officially bringing back the historical drama, but can Wolf Hall beat it's predecessors? Writer Olivia Tracey gives her review of the opening episode of the new series.

It’s been a while since we had a proper, literary costume drama from the Beeb. With previous classics including Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth in a wet shirt and the 2005 version of Dickens’ Bleak House, any attempt to bring a modern classic like Wolf Hall to the screen would have very large shoes to fill.

I have to confess that I have never read either of Hilary Mantel’s epic tomes Wolf Hall or Bring Up The Bodies from which the TV series is based – I regularly pass piles of them in Waterstones and feel daunted by the sheer size, despite many of my friends urging me to read them. When I heard that the BBC was producing a version based on both novels, I was excited to see what all the fuss was about.

The opening episode certainly didn’t disappoint. Mark Rylance (The Other Boleyn Girl) brought his towering stage presence to the screen as a brooding Thomas Cromwell, lawyer to the doomed Cardinal Wolsey played by the estimable Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean). Although

"The series makes a concerted effort to stick to the facts" it was disappointing that we didn’t get to see much of Damian Lewis’ King Henry, his brief appearance at the end more than made up for it and his pivotal role in the story guarantees we’ll be seeing a lot more of him through the course of the six-episode run.

Certainly, if you watched and enjoyed the BBC series The Tudors which concluded in 2010, you may find the slow pace of Wolf Hall a little difficult to get used to.

While The Tudors appeared to be the six-

teenth-century version of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, Wolf Hall focuses more on the political ramifications of Henry VIII’s split from the Vatican. You’re more likely to see serious men staring out of windows considering the changing role of the Catholic Church in English politics than King Henry getting one of his many mistresses up the duff.

Despite this, the series has made a concerted effort to stick to the facts, which makes for a very gripping history lesson.

Thomas Cromwell’s intelligence and ability to remain in the shadows watching everyone else incriminate themselves makes compelling viewing: like many career politicians today, he is biding his time while slowly moving into the King’s closest circle. In the final minutes of the first episode, Cromwell’s reply to Henry’s indignant shout of “do you want a king to huddle indoors like a sick girl” is a confident “that would be ideal, for fiscal purposes”. His lack of qualms to tell the King like it is indicates a man quietly acquiring more and more power.

If the politics seem a little dry, Wolf Hall is still unflinching in its portrayal of daily life in the Tudor age. The sudden deaths of Cromwell’s wife and daughters from a mystery sweating sickness causes his happy family life to unravel and the flashbacks of his blacksmith father’s abuse are difficult to watch. Not only are we given an impression of Thomas Cromwell as a clever lawyer, but also as a human being who has experienced extraordinary suffering.

Wolf Hall is more House of Cards than The Tudors. It is the kind of quality drama the BBC is so famous for and I for one am very happy to pay my licence fee to make it.

If you’ve not started watching it yet, you can catch it on iPlayer and the series continues on Wednesdays 9pm on BBC 2.

Games of Thrones: Season 5 Trailer

We've all seen it: but what does the trailer reveal about Season 5? Critic Harry Turner fills us in.

It’s a testament to HBO’s fantasy epic that just one trailer managed to remind me why I should give it the benefit of the doubt in regard to its upcoming season. To say that I was worried for the season would have been an understatement, but the season 5 trailer for Game of Thrones showed it would be an entertaining series.

For one, according to the trailer, this series will have a strong focus on Dorne.

From the sandy aesthetic to the titles to the multiple shots in the trailer dedicated to Westeros’s seventh kingdom, Dorne seemed to be almost everywhere. It is a region of Westeros that we have yet to see, and is easily one of the most interesting for how diverse its culture is. Yet with Dorne more closely connected to the action geographically and narratively, and with Jamie Lannister seemingly visiting the kingdom, it looks as though this season we shall enjoy even greater focus on such locales. I’ve always enjoyed the series for depicting a far more diverse, and thereby more realistic, medieval environment than what is usually found in mainstream fantasy, and in this regard, this season looks to continue that intriguing quality.

The Lannisters also appeared front and centre in this new trailer. Although the strong presence of the enduringly popular Tyrion is of little surprise, both Cersei and Jamie appeared to be far more central to this trailer than past ones. As my favourite House, this was good to see – particularly in knowing that Cersei’s pivotal story will not be overlooked for any of the more popular characters. In relation to this, the Sparrows are teased in this trailer as well, which looks to continue the series’ trait of events that often parallel with real histori-

cal ones – in this case, the Protestant Reformation. Regardless, I’ve always found that one of the book’s strongest element was how over the course of the series the Lannisters emerged as the most prominent family in the place of the Starks – with each child of Tywin getting a POV as the books continued. From the looks of the trailer, this will be reflected in the show, as well as the darker days of House Lannister. Indeed, though in Game of Thrones the noble and heroic are the first to fall, even for the ruthless and conniving, misfortune eventually catches up – as the trailer tantalisingly shows with how splintered the Lannister children have become, much like the Stark children.

Speaking of, the remnants of House Stark were as present as ever – with Sansa

falling under Littlefinger’s wing, Arya discovering the Faceless Men in Braavos and the fight against the Wildlings enduring for Jon Snow at the Wall, with season two’s iconic Lord of Bones making a comeback.

Daenerys was equally at the forefront in the trailer, forming the final piece of the triad of Game of Throne’s most popular Houses.

Although her continued storyline in Meereen runs the risk of dragging, from the looks of it they are going to be accelerating the Tyrion plot-line, which could prove its saving grace. Meanwhile, the fleeting clip of the arena appears to depict Daenerys alongside Jorah, Daario as well Missandei surrounded by masked soldiers, possibly indicates that the threat of the Harpies will be even greater here than in the book, as well as suggesting alterations to the Jorah

plot-line too, if only in accelerating it.

There were a number of characters that were left noticeably absent in the trailer.

Although the Bolton’s sigil was present, they themselves were not, whilst Theon is present for only a fleeting second with the rest of the Greyjoy’s seemingly completely absent. Save for Melisandre, Stannis and company are also mysteriously absent, and Brienne likewise being nowhere to be found but for what might be her riding outside the crossroads inn. For those fans of Stannis Baratheon who found his presence last season lacking, it would seem that, so far, season five does not look to change this. But that all said, considering its nature as a two-minute trailer, none of these are of great concern, only mild suspicions. A greater suspicion of mine is that this season may prove to be almost filler – a smaller number of events stretched out to last longer so as to give George R.R. Martin more time to finish the next book, though at this point it seems likely that the show will catch up regardless at one stage or another.

The fact that Jamie’s rumoured detour to Dorne appears to be true only seems to make this more likely. Although that said, this is a detour that I can’t say I dislike – truth be told, I’m all for it.

There really isn’t much to say that hasn’t been already said a hundred times before.

Game of Thrones is a great, consistently entertaining and often shocking show that looks set to maintain its winning streak into its fifth season – even if this season has been intentionally designed to stall for the sake of the source material it’s based off. If you haven’t watched the trailer, go watch it, and if you haven’t seen the show? Well, we all know there’s only one answer to that.

24 6th - 19th February 2015

redbrick.me/lifestyle

Life & Style

Paris Couture Week Life&Style Writer Ayshea Baker rounds up the most fabulous week in fashion of the year.

From Valentino to Versace, on January 25th – 30th 2015 the capital of fashion, Paris, was graced by some of the world’s greatest designers. There is without a doubt lots to fall in love with on the couture catwalk this year and, although the garments shown might be a tad above the average student’s price point, there was still lots to be inspired by.

"Although the garments shown might be a tad above the average student’s price point, there was still lots to be inspired by."

Valentino, inspired by the works of Shakespeare and Dante, showcased their romantic and folksy collection with beautifully embroidered midi skirts and accompanying jackets; a humble, yet utterly elegant and poetic vision. Elie Saab’s sugarcoated, watercolour wedding dresses were indeed the envy of every little girl inside of us. Saab’s signature sparkle prides itself on a certain ‘nonchalant extravagance’, brought to life with plunging necklines and feminine florals, creating the ultimate modern- day fairytale. Dior similarly dazzled with florals and stripes, leaving us head over heels for their dramatic vinyl thigh-high boots.

Elie Saab

Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel catwalk became a ‘blooming bolero’ style garden, tempting us all with wide- brim hats, floral embellishments and vibrant tulle skirts.

Splashes of orange and cobalt also added a contemporary twist to the 80s- inspired designs. You too can rock this retro look like ‘it girl’, Kendall Jenner, who is clearly transforming into quite the couture icon as she made her 2015 catwalk debut in Chanel’s prominent pastel colour palette.

For me, the standout statement pieces that stole the show were Giambattista Valli’s frothy skirts and extravagant gowns, and Chanel and Viktor & Rolf’s flowery headpieces. Make-up was minimalistic and took a back seat to the extravagant designs, as Chanel, Giambattista Valli and Schiaparelli opted for signature veils and hats instead.

Budget Beauty Buys Zahraa Vindhani Life&Style Writer

Rimmel Brow This Way Styling Gel: £3.99 Thicker, fuller and perfectly groomed eyebrows have taken the first the runway and now the red carpet by storm.

Re-create an iconic brow or enhance your own simply by combing lightly through brows. This gel not only adds colour, but also keeps unruly eyebrows in place all day; while filling sparser areas to achieve ultimate definition. The smaller brush is incredibly simple to use and comes in shades suited to the lightest blonde as well as the darkest brown. There’s even a clear gel option to those who prefer a neat yet minimalist look. It’s rain, sweat and smudge proof, and at this price it’s an absolute must for achieving a flawlessly on-trend look.

"Make-up was minimalistic and took a back seat to the extravagant designs."

Your overdraft may not stretch to the real thing, but take inspiration from the Paris catwalk for summer 2015 by working into your wardrobe some of the vibrant colours, whimsical silhouettes and decadent textures of lace, tulle and silk that were paraded down the couture runways.

Giambattista Valli

Christian Dior

Valentino

5 Of The Best...Bars Lily Rayson reviews some of Birmingham's central bars and pubs that offer a satisfyingly affordable night out.

Indi Vidual Bar – Located in the Arcadian amongst some of Birmingham’s other bustling bars, Indi Bar offers a range of cocktails and other refreshing beverages that are all reasonably priced. Wednesday night’s offer £1 drinks alongside £8 fishbowls and ‘Amnesia’ Tuesdays comes with a complimentary shot before 11.30pm, plus £1 Jagerbombs. Who wouldn’t want to splash their pounds here?

Island Bar– Say “Aloha” to Friday and Saturday nights at the Island Bar! They have the largest range of cocktail drinks in Birmingham - many of which are their own concoctions.

Cocktails start from around £4.50, dropping to £3.50 if you want your tipple without an alcoholic kick, but priced no higher than £6. The names alone add the fun to this night with their “Boondoggle,” “Kaffir Caiproska” and “Pornstar Daiquiri” to name a few.

Ginger's Bar - Within Purnell’s Bistro, Ginger’s adds a dash of fabulous combined with a hint of panache to the Birmingham bar scene. Offering a range of ciders, spirits and ales on their vast list of drinks, Ginger’s is sure to spoil you for choice. Despite being dearer in price than the first two bars, Monday nights allow you to get 50% off your food, as well

as offers on the various drinks. Cocktails are happily priced at £4.95 between 4:00pm and 8:00pm, so your week is sure to start with a bang.

Spotlight, Digbeth – Part of ‘The Rainbow Venues’ and located further out than the previous recommendations, Spotlight offers a chic and chilled atmosphere that also pairs as an event space built underneath. The prices are moderate for both food and drink and often attract students for a chilled, relaxed night. They have a weekly event called the ‘Digbeth Dining Club’ which is free entry every Friday from 17.30 – midnight. Spotlight is definitely worth checking out!

The Victoria - The Victoria is a pub that offers a different atmosphere compared to a more glamorous bar night. The interior is very chic, but in a more traditional and shabby way, which creates a welcoming and homely feel to the haunt. The pub offers a range of beers, whiskeys and cocktails. The price range is somewhat dearer as cocktails start from £6.50 up to £9, so you might want to save this for a more sporadic treat than a weekly visit!

redbrick.me/lifestyle

6th - 19th February 2015

3 Celebrities Too Hipster To Function

25

Fierce

Whilst we’re wrapped in our thick knits and relying on coffee to preserve some body heat, these celebrities soldier on with their beards, morning yoga and green juices. By Rebecca Pugh.

Valentine's Day Fun For the lucky few, Valentine’s Day is a flurry of thoughtful presents, dinner dates and cute declarations of love.

Romance is heavy on the agenda, so make the most of it!

Hozier The rapidly rising Irish singer has won the hearts of many with his self-titled, indie folk/rock album released late last year. From his disturbing music video for his debut single “Take me to Church”, to his incredible Live Lounge cover of Arianna Grande, Hozier is definitely one to look out for over the next few months.

Couture Beauty

Shia LaBeouf: From his sizzling days beside Megan Fox in Transformers, Shia’s reputation, and beard, has only grown.

Whilst he still holds a special space in our hearts, his ‘I am not famous anymore’ paper bag stint tipped him over to the dark - *cough* hipster - side.

Kelly Osborne: Not the shy-and-retiring type (we suspect she inherited that from Ozzy), Kelly’s style has officially reached hipster status. Or rather, her hair has - currently sporting a rather alternativelilac-do that’s shaved down the sides.

Russell Brand: As much as we love the hair, the recent ‘Parklife’ mockery pushed us over the edge that and the constant stream of mustard leg warmers paired with flip flops. A* for the layering though Russ.

Paris Couture Fashion week brought us bundles of new beauty trends for SS/15.

While Valentino went with delicate romantics, Dior rocked the understated beauty style and Versace went heavy on the eyeliner this season, allowing you to take your pick!

Valentine's Day Vom

Best Beauty Apps From skincare to style, every girl appreciates the work, time and effort that goes into keeping on top of your beauty routine. Beauty apps are a fabulous way to discover tips and advice for every avid beauty addict. Here are the best kept downloadable beauty secrets.

Idrated Drinking plenty of water is a top tip for radiant skin.

However, it can be difficult to stay hydrated! With the help of this unique app, you can now easily track your water intake, so you have no excuse to retain bad hydration habits. A must have app for all.

(Itunes: 69p) The Colour Genius by L’Oreal Paris A portable personal stylist every woman’s beauty app dream! With the help of The Colour Genius, it’s never been easier to find the perfect make-up combination to match your outfit; depending on the colour, time of day and location. There are hours of fun to be had, matching and blending a vast array of make-up looks, whilst learning which looks work well together. (Itunes: free) Nail Designs If you often lack inspiration when deciding on a nail design or colour, then this is a brilliant app to download. This is the only nail app which comes with loads of unique patterns as well as simple step-by-step tutorials; specifically chosen so they can be done by anybody at home, not just a professional. Get creative and make your nails look stunning! (Itunes: free) Pretty In My Pocket When buying new beauty products, lack of knowledge can make it hard to choose which items to buy. The Pretty in my Pocket app allows you to scan or search over 100,000 beauty products in shops, and read honest reviews from beauty bloggers and consumers. This app is a true gem and the best in beauty reviews!

(Itunes: free) Mirror. Just another forward facing camera? Think again. This mirror app is a mirror with a twist, providing a tool which allows you to zoom in on a certain part of your face, or freeze an image increasing its resolution. Discovering this app means an end to taking out a pocket mirror! (Itunes: free)

By Bethany Whiteoak

Hidden Gems...

Magic Door

An alternative to the adorable couples, here we find the resenting onlookers – complete with scornful stares and the less than convincing “I love being single” chats.

“This is not a sex party; there is a real Magic Door.”

This attention-grabbing tagline accompanies every Magic Door Facebook event, and its mystery and intrigue captures the real essence of a Magic Door night.

Gym Wannabes

If you enjoy good nightlife and are sick of staring blankly into space, VK in hand on the middle of (insert generic Broad Street club here)'s dancefloor, then Magic Door could be the glittery, mythical relief you’ve been waiting for.

A night truly like no other, Magic Door takes place in different Digbeth locations, but its most frequent venue has been Boxxed Warehouse. Upon entering Magic Door you are handed a ‘magic bean’ which you exchange with the ‘crafty girls’ for face paint, glitter, hats, masks or wigs. To take part in this exchange you enter through an actual ‘magic door’ guarded by the one and only ‘Guardian of Door’. Is he a man? Is he a wizard? Is he something else entirely? That’s one for you to decide.

Once you’ve been glittered up you can head off into the night.

Expect Disco, Techno and ‘Spooky House’ music, with resident magic door DJ’s Deano Ferrino and Jukes of Hazzard delivering this along with a different guest DJ every time. Outside a canopied smoking area and ‘disco caravan’ await.

The best thing about Magic Door however is the atmosphere. It attracts all different kinds of people from all walks of life and brings them together for a night of sparkly madness. The attendees and organisers are welcoming and vibrant, the music dynamic and the outfits inspired. If you’re looking for a new, unique and tailored nightlife experience, look no further than Magic Door.

By Eleanor Downing

I’m all for getting fitter in 2015, and long for the dedication of those who have a great work out routine! But realistically, do we care what you ‘benched’ last night or desire to see you flexing vigorously while you discuss your work out? Bore off!

SS/15 already?

Do they need to be stocking summer fashions already? With temperatures still low enough for us to consider taxiing to Fab, we’re barely through the winter season and certainly aren’t ready to ditch the boots and don the bikinis just yet!

By Courtney Barclay Life&Style Writer

Finished

26 6th - 19th February 2015

redbrick.me/travel

Travel

From Brum to Bordeaux Travel writer, Claire Lynch, gives an insight into the essential differences between these two university cities...

According to the weather reports, I should have arrived to a rainy and grey Bordeaux, however, I was pleasantly greeted with bright sunshine and a blue sky when I landed at the airport. Locating the correct bus in to the city centre was pretty straightforward, even with my broken French, and the journey was no more than an hour. I arrived at Gare Saint Jean, the main train station, and made my way to the city’s one and only youth hostel to forge a plan of finding somewhere to live for the next four months.

Most Erasmus students have hopes of living with natives, sharing stories over wine and cheese whilst overlooking city life. I too had this in mind especially after 4 months in Quebec where I hung out mostly with international students, all of whose English was undoubtedly better than my French. However, finding French people who were willing to take me in proved more difficult than expected, largely due to the fact I only wanted a room for one semester. I spent a fortnight emailing landlords and getting lost trying to locate postcodes – in one case the tenant came to pick me up on her motorbike, giving me an unexpected tour of the city.

Through a Facebook group I finally found my bordelaise collocation, and while I did succeed in sharing wine and stories on a daily basis, I scrimped on speaking French as my flatmates were Belgian, German and Dutch.

Our apartment was basic but central, and after perusing the university halls, I would highly recommend not living in them, even if it means hostel bunk beds and stale cereal for a few weeks. Although they are cheap to live in, the bedrooms are tiny, kitchens are shared amongst 30 people and the buildings themselves look like they could tumble at any minute. Wherever you end up living, in most cases you can claim back a percentage of the rent, due to a rather generous government scheme known as CAF. While a bit of a minefield to access, the university (after about 5000 emails to various people) should be able to point you in the right direction. Or to save some trouble, just Google your nearest CAF office.

Just walking around the city of Bordeaux, taking in the immense sandstone buildings and quaint cobbled streets, is an enjoyable experience in itself, made even better by stopping for a coffee or a glass of wine in one of the many cafes, and watching the fashionable French go by. If you’re interested in theatre, or even just fancy a look at some beautiful architecture, a trip to the Grand Theatre is a must, with tours

"Take in the immense sandstone buildings and quaint cobbled streets." running daily. For the sunny days make use of the bike rental-scheme and cycle around the city or along the bustling quay, stopping off to dip your feet in the mirror d’eau (fountains that turn in to mist, then a pool of water mirroring the buildings around it.) If it interests you, and money allows, take a trip to Saint Emillion, the famous wine region, where you can wine-taste and gain valuable skills in pretending to know what you’re talking about. On a day when you’re not suffering from a gueule de bois (a wooden mouth hangover)

then take a train out of the city to the town of Arcachon. If feeling particularly energetic, take a hike up the dune du pilat – an enormous sand dune with forest on one side and the sea on the other, and take in some incredible views.

After all these activities you will surely need some nourishment, and Bordeaux certainly does not disappoint on the food front. Whether you shop at a local market, supermarket or a boulangerie, you can guarantee good quality, freshness, and usually a good price. My personal shop of choice was the not very frenchly-named Simply Market, where I could pick up anything from lychees to lobsters. My Belgian flatmate was a whizz in the kitchen and would often whip up delicious and interesting dishes. On my first night we ate a rabbit risotto; which in this case was my first and probably last. In terms of nightlife, Erasmus parties were frequent and hit-or-miss really. On our first week we were coerced

into attending a night at the questionably named Dirty Club.

Aside from its dodgy location by the train station, we had to check in all our belongings, pay way too much for drinks and deal with an abundance of leering men. Dirty Club’s neighbour La Plage was slightly better, and Iboat, despite being located literally miles away (about 45 minutes on the tram), was probably the best bet for a good night out. Pubs and bars were definitely the way to go and we managed to make our way around a good percentage of them returning numerous times to favourites such as La Grange, HMS victory, the Globe and Café Brun.

One (literal) grey area of Bordeaux would be that of the University; both physically and in terms of teaching. When told that French universities would be ‘different’ I don’t quite know what I imagined, but it certainly wasn’t grey upon grey upon grey. Shadowy corridors, ancient staircases and lecture halls so cold and echoing, I wondered how anybody got any learning done. This feeling was amplified when I discovered there would be no PowerPoint or dossier to aid my poor mollycoddled brain. While standards often seemed verging on unacceptable, in hindsight the discrepancy between British and French Universities is not

altogether surprising when you think of the vast difference in fees – with French students paying a few hundred Euros per year (at most) in comparison to the extortionate amounts British students part with.

My Bordelaise friend currently on her Erasmus year in Birmingham is enjoying the British system of her well structured programme and good communication from the lecturers. She also prefers the campus here, with its green

"She compares our addiction to tea with the French love of coffee." spaces, and beautiful old buildings, commenting on how it makes for a stimulating learning environment. Several French students I spoke to echo this thought, adding that the community spirit of student life in Birmingham is much bigger, and admire the breadth and availability of interesting organisations that students can get involved in. Several of them had joined societies such as Unicef and Cool Runnings and felt this really aided both their integration with home students and language practice.

In terms of housing, this particular student feels she has the best of both worlds as her house is a mixture of nationalities, including one other French girl. As the students come from a variety of countries, they have made English the common language and so have constant opportunities to practice and improve.

While most international students don’t rave about the cultural delights of Birmingham, they find Digbeth to be an interesting part of the city with its alternative nightlife, pop up vintage shops and art exhibitions around the Custard Factory. Several Erasmus students told me of their trip to the Jewellery Quarter Museum (I didn’t even know there was one!) and while they say it wasn’t bad for a one-off trip, they preferred their visits to Cadbury World and the Wildlife Centre on Pershore Road. One thing they all are in favour of is the excellent transport links from Birmingham, which have allowed them to visit surrounding areas such as Stratford upon Avon, Oxford and London.

While England is not especially well known for its culinary delights, my French friend complimented her flatmate’s homemade Sunday roast and says she enjoyed experiencing ‘real’ fish and chips. She compares our addiction to tea with the French’s love of coffee, and we agree that British bread and £2.50 bottles of wine leave a lot to be desired when compared to the fresh French baguettes and Bordeaux grapes. It's true that Birmingham was recently named the UK’s foodiest town by Olive, the BBC’s food magazine, and while our student budgets may only allow us to go on special occasions, when we do dine out there is certainly plenty to chose from. As well as loads of great Indian restaurants scattered around the city and many unique eateries around Brindley Place, the up and coming area of Digbeth also has a lot to offer such as Alfie Birds, Digbeth Dining Club and the Warehouse Café.

So to conclude; while Birmingham and Bordeaux are two very different cities, varying immensely in their offerings of cultural attractions and culinary delights, they are both certainly worth visiting.

The 5...

Best pubs to spend Valentine's Day Sophie Milligan tells us the ideal locations to cuddle up in front of the fire in some of the Midlands's top country pubs...

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The Barnt Green Inn

Old Thatch Tavern

The Old Recitfying House

The White Swan

The Oak Tree

A 20 minute train journey from the university station takes you to out into Barnt Green, and a short walk to the pub. Set amongst countryside perfect for a winter’s day walk, they are also providing a special Valentine’s Day menu.

Slightly further afield is this pub in Shakespeare’s county, StatfordUpon-Avon. Following an affordable homemade meal and a pint of real ale at this pub, you can then embrace the local history and a visit to the Bard’s birthplace.

Seated on the River Severn, this pub is a 10 minute walk from Worcester Forgate Street station.

With an extensive cocktail list and locally sourced food, this is an ideal pub for a small budget, with main courses starting at £12.

Situated in Edgbaston, and only five minutes walking distance from the Vale, this pub is ideal for last minute plans. The Valentines Day meal here is also an absolute steal; four courses and a glass of Prosecco for under £30.

Located next to Birmingham’s oldest park, Lickey Hills, this contemporary pub in Rednall boasts a simple and affordable menu. The locality and inexpensive dishes make this an ideal spot for any lovebirds on a budget.

redbrick.me/travel

6th - 19th February 2015

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Skiing: An Insider's Guide Travel writer Sophie Milligan explores the best options in The Alps and beyond...

The skiing season is well underway and our closest range is the French Alps. French ski resorts are notoriously expensive, whilst Austria and Italy lend themselves more to a smaller budget. However, France has the best range of ski resorts in Europe, offering a diverse skiing experience for all abilities.

The most popular times to go are during Christmas and New Year, February Half-Term, and the Easter holidays. If you want to go during these dates you will have to book well in advance, as they will be the most expensive.

However, there are lots of ways to organise a bargain; websites like SkiBeat offer last minute deals making it possible to stay in a catered four-star chalet booked two weeks prior for as little as £399. An obvious downside of this is you may have to compromise on which resort you wish to visit. In order to help you in your decision making this season, here is a list of French Ski resorts which cater to a range of needs.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is the best resort for variety as it comprises of six ski areas: Grands Montets, Brevent, La Fiegere, Les Houches, Le Tour and La Wormaine. A Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass for six days will cost you just shy of 300 euros, but if you ski between the 11th of April and 3rd of May, ski passes are discounted by 50 euros. Its place on the rail line linking France and Switzerland makes the night train from Paris a fantastic means by which to travel.

This will set you back only £50 after getting the Eurostar from Kings Cross to Paris, which is much cheaper than most Airport transfers.

With such a huge variety on and off the piste, Chamonix is best for your family holiday. With lively bars for the younger members, and lots of restaurants for dinner with your parents, there is something for everyone. Should you choose to visit St Gervais unfortunately there is only one club so you won’t be spending money on après or bars, however this does reduce your budget. Despite being one of the smaller French resorts, this is the best place for avoiding tourists. If you want a pure experience of the mountains unadulterated by wild bars and drunk English and Germans

this is the resort for you. Situated on Mont Jolly, this is your perfect place to visit in the February reading week. Most resorts are overrun by English families on holiday, because this is a holiday week for the French, but here you are free to roam the mountain. The busiest day is Wednesday because the local schools have a sports day, so the children are out in Lycra catsuits practicing and competing in the slalom.

The closest airport is Geneva, but if you’re coming in a large group it's probably cheaper to drive. Take the Eurotunnel and share the driving hours and you’ll be in your chalet in 12 hours. Due to the comparative lack of popularity with tourists, St Gervais Ecole du Ski has fewer English speaking instructors, so is perhaps not the best for absolute beginners, however the runs are majority greens and blues so good for skiers of intermediate ability wishing to improve and gain confidence.

If you’re visiting Les Arcs it is essential that you bring your steeziest tee, as this French resort has much to offer for the skier enthusiast. This year in January the resort held the Redbull line catcher, a free ski event where riders compete in jumps. Additionally, Les Arc is also holding the B&E Invitational, a park freestyle event offering the oppourtunity for the worlds best freestyle skiers to showcase their skills.

A quiet place to stay in the Les Arcs area is Plan-Piesey which is a quaint and quiet village. A ski pass for six days will cost around £240, however this is great value as it includes skiing in both La Plagne and Les Arcs. The resort is situated at 1600m and in order to get here fly to Lyon and take a two and a half hour transfer.

With its highest point of 3455m, Tignes is best for snow all season round. A lift pass in the self proclaimed 'sportiest ski resort’ will cost you 260 euros. Every year the Oxbridge Varsity trips go to Tignes and it is home to Blue Girl, Jack's Club and The Melting Pot, three nightlife hotspots in the resort. Also home to several après bars including the world famous La Folie Douce, Teignes is the party resort.

Arguably the best part of skiing is an activity called Après.

24 hours in... Cardiff

Pippa Smith gives us her top tips for spending a day in the Welsh capital...

How to get there If you fancy a visit to the Welsh capital it couldn’t be more convenient, as services run directly from our very own University station straight through to Cardiff Central.

However, as a slightly cheaper alternative, National Express also runs a regular bus service from the coach station in Birmingham city centre.

What to do Boasting the title of Europe’s largest waterfront development, Cardiff Bay is a top attraction when visiting the city.

At the Bay there is something for everyone; it is lined with an array shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels and attractions - not to mention a fantastic view!

Diehard Dr Who fans will also be pleased to know that Cardiff is home to the official Dr Who Museum. In addition to this, Cardiff is home to the Millennium Stadium. This venue, with a capacity of 72,500 people, plays host to a variety of exciting events throughout the year ranging from

sport to live music.

Where to go out If you’re in the mood for a classic night out then the Cardiff club scene has everything you could ever need. Branches of some of the nation's favourite clubbing venues such as Revs, Oceana and Tiger Tiger stand alongside some firm favourites that are Cardiff born-and-bread, such as Glam. If you’re looking to let your hair down in Cardiff, you really can’t go wrong!

Insider’s tip If you’re anything like me and have watched every episode of Gavin and Stacey about fifty times then you will be pleased to know that Barry Island Beach and Pleasure Park is easily accessible from Cardiff, and is approximately 20 minutes by bus. Even if you haven’t watched the show, Barry is ideal for a quintessential day at the seaside with a few fairground rides thrown in.

Après ski literally means ‘after skiing’ and begins any time after you’ve done a few runs. Take a chairlift up the mountain and ski to your bar of choice. All après bars have their own resident DJ’s and outside bars, so by the time of last lifts at four o’clock you’re dancing on the tables in your ski boots with a pint and the sun setting behind the mountains. Skiing back in the dark is a little perilous as very few pistes are lit, but the French are more than prepared for the British binge drinker and have their own army of skidoos to take the plastered students to safety.

The main airport used for travelling to the Alps is Geneva in Switzerland, and flights leave both Birmingham and London airports regularly during the winter season.

However, it is also worth looking at flights to Lyon and Grenoble as transfer prices vary. To plan your trip to Tignes, do your research and look for the best transfer times.

Skiing and snowboarding are both brilliant sports, offering the experience of skiing in a group or flying solo, making this a fantastic way to spend a family holiday. Many resorts have their own team of Ski Instructors who double up as private instructors, so if you and your family or group of friends are beginners you can all have lessons together whilst simultaneously getting to know the mountain.

Perhaps the best introduction to snow sports is on your university ski trip. This year on their Christmas holiday Brumski visited the French resort Val Thorens. Think Fresher’s Week, three different universities, 1000 students and nights where everyone commits to fancy dress. Resorts dissolve into chaos as a result of cheap booze and high altitude. Other universities' destinations include Austria, Tignes, Les Deux Alps.

For their 2015 Easter Trip Brumski are visiting the tax haven Andorra. Where a litre of vodka costs as little as €2.99, supermarkets are now forced to battle their competition with items sellotaped to bottles, including cigarettes and single shot bottles of alcohol. At £359 including a return coach journey, six day ski pass and six nights accommodation with the optional add on of group lessons, this is the perfect introduction to skiing this season.

28 6th - 19th February 2015

redbrick.me/sport

Sport

Super Bowl XLIX Review Sam Harrison gives Redbrick Sport his verdict on last weekend's Super Bowl, an event watched round the world by 114.4 million people.

Sam Harrison Sports Reporter

On February 1st 2015, the 2014 NFL season reached its climax, with one team standing tall to be named World Champions.

This year’s Super Bowl was every bit the spectacle it was built up to be, from the back and forth first half, all the way down to a game-sealing play with 20 seconds on the clock, via a transfixing half time show courtesy of Katy Perry. Once the confetti had settled, it revealed the four-time champion New England Patriots, led by Head Coach Bill Belichick, and quarterback Tom Brady.

Though Brady took home the Most Valuable Player award, with the truck that accompanies it, the real hero was rookie free agent Malcom Butler. A virtual unknown before the game, he recorded his first career interception with 20 seconds to go to end the Seattle Seahawks’ hopes of back to back championships one yard short. The decision to run a passing play in that situation is one that has been widely criticized in the aftermath, and is ever more curious due to Seattle having Marshawn Lynch, also known as ‘Beast Mode’, a player that rarely ever loses yards, and quite probably would have scored, thereby winning the game for Seattle.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Patriots opened the scoring, through Brady’s touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Lafell. The Seahawks levelled the scores at seven apiece, with Lynch running it in from three yards out. Both teams were to score again before half

Superbowl XLIX

New England Patriots

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time, with Brady finding tight end Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown, and Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson finding Chris Matthews, who had never caught an NFL pass prior to the Super Bowl, to level it up.

In the third quarter, the Seahawks scored ten unanswered points, giving them a 24-14 lead, but those were to be their last points. Right on cue, Brady pulled it out of the bag, with two fourth

quarter touchdowns to Danny Amendola, and Julian Edelman.

With two minutes to play, Seattle had to drive the length of the field, and required a touchdown to win it. Showing true resilience, Jermaine Kearse caught a pass that looked as though it had been broken up, only for it to bobble right into his hands. One Lynch run later and the Seahawks attempted that fatal pass, only for Butler to intercept it on the goal line.

Six Nations Preview Rugby Union correspondent Sam Harrison gives his insight into the Upcoming 6 Nations tournament, which kicks off next Weekend.

The start of a new calendar year can mean only one thing for Rugby Union in the Northern Hemisphere: the Six Nations competition.

The annual tournament that sees England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy compete against each other for the title of best in Europe is always entertaining, but it is a little bit different this time around. This year, the competitors will not just be playing for pride, but will also be playing to showcase their strength ahead of the World Cup that commences at Twickenham in September.

Let’s start with the hosts of this year’s World Cup: England. The main issues that need to be addressed are very similar to those that have been there for much of Stuart Lancaster’s tenure. The most talked about issue is in the centre, and finding a partner for Manu Tuilagi in the long-run. In the short term, they need two players while he returns from injury. The contenders for the open spot include Brad Barritt, Luther Burrell, Kyle Eastmond, and Billy Twelvetrees. Of the four, only Barritt and Twelvetrees have been given extended runs in the side. Barritt is a solid defender, but is largely anonymous in attack, which doesn’t fit with what the current regime want.

Twelvetrees is a fly half turned centre, and supposedly brings creativity, but has yet to really impress, as shown by the continued

"The annual tournament that sees England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy compete against each other for the title of best in Europe is always entertaining, but it is a little bit different this time around" search. Of the others, Burrell is a power player in a similar fashion to Tuilagi, while Eastmond is an attacking centre who is suspect in defence. Another name to watch is Rugby League convert Sam Burgess, who many have seen to be a potential star.

There are also issues that need fixing with regard to the wings, as well as in the front row, where injuries continue to alter selection.

Up north to Scotland, who shouldn’t yet be aiming to beat the established powers of England and Ireland, but should beat Italy, and could stand a chance against Wales and France, both of whom are known to be inconsistent in recent memory. Rebuilding under former Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter, hired last summer, and with a

few young stars at multiple positions, they could be one to watch for the future.

To the other neighbours, Wales. On paper, a very dangerous team with stars at almost every position, notably George North, Jamie Roberts and Leigh Halfpenny, they lack a world-class fly half, and consistency. Having ended a long losing streak in last year’s Six Nations competition, and lost in the semi-finals four years ago at the World Cup in New Zealand, they could be one to watch for both the Six Nations and the World Cup.

"This year, the competitors will not just be playing for pride, but will also be playing to showcase their strength ahead of the World Cup that commences at Twickenham in September" Last year’s winners, Ireland, seemingly have little to improve on. The most consistent team since the last World Cup, they haven’t lost a stride since losing centre Brian O’Driscoll to retirement at the end of

last season. Expect them to be in contention for another Six Nations title.

It’s time to focus on the competitions wildcard now, as we take a look at France.

The French have a long history of selecting a scrum half to play fly half, and it has not worked out for them. They need to find a specialist to step in for them, and soon.

They have one of the best playmaking centres not just in Europe, but in the world, in the form of Wesley Fofana, but they have failed to build a team around him. There is also an issue surrounding their consistency, which makes them the hardest team to read, as you never know how they will perform from one week to the next.

Finally onto Italy, who, like Scotland, are an up-and-coming team who could surprise someone this year. This time around, the Italians host the French, and the last two times that happened, Italy emerged victorious. There are still holes at many positions, and there are also issues surrounding their ageing yet brilliant captain Sergio Parisse.

The Six Nations, always a highlight of the year for die hard and casual rugby fans alike, is given even more importance this year by the fact it is followed in the autumn by the World Cup, in England, and performances will be seen as an indicator of each country's chances in that most important of competitions.

redbrick.me/sport

6th - 19th February 2015

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Interview: Lottie Kennedy Sports Editor Alex Kronenberg speaks with Lottie Kennedy, captain of University of Birmingham's Equestrial club, about her successes as the Great Britain student representative at the World Finals

Alex Kronenberg Sports Editor

Lottie Kennedy is the University of Birmingham’s Equestrian club captain and recently represented the Great Britain student riders at the World Finals in Florida, winning gold at the tournament alongside her two teammates. Sports Editor Alex Kronenberg caught up with Lottie after her success.

Alex Kronenberg: You helped claim gold for the GB student riders, ahead of 15 other nations - did you go into the competition believing you could win?

Lottie Kennedy: No I certainly did not think we could win it! I knew we had a strong team and we had some recent strong performances under our belt, but being the world finals we also knew the competition was going to be really tough.

We couldn't believe it when we realised we were in with a chance!

AK: Having finished top of the yearly rankings, you were also awarded the Presidents Cup. How proud are you of this achievement?

LK: It was so amazing to be able to

bring the President's Cup home to GB. It really reflects the strength of the squad we have this year and the great performances we have managed to achieve together this year as a team. The fact that GB hasn't won it for a long, long time made it even more special!

"You aren't allowed to ride the same horse twice, as it would give an unfair advantage. It is all about getting the best out of an unknown horse."

AK: What did you do to celebrate?

LK: All the nations stayed for the night after the competition ended so we all celebrated together - it was a great night!

AK: The tournament lasts 4 days, how often do you have to compete over the course of the tournament?

LK: It is a knockout competition in both the dressage and the show-jumping; therefore it can range from as little as twice (if you were knocked out in both first rounds) to up to ten times if you were to qualify for the finals in both the

dressage and the show jumping!

AK: How difficult is it with all three riders having to use the same horse throughout the tournament?

LK: Not all 3 riders from a nation ride the same horse. Each rider from a given nation rides a different horse, however each horse is ridden by three or four different riders, depending on the round.

The highest placed rider on that horse goes through to the next round. For each round you ride a different horse. You aren’t allowed to ride the same horse twice, as it would give an unfair advantage. It is all about getting the best out of an unknown horse. It is rather complicated!

AK: The tournament was all the way

"The ultimate dream would be to compete for GB on a senior team, however we will have to see what the future holds!" out in Florida, where are the most exotic places your riding has taken you?

LK: Florida is the most exotic place,

it was amazing! Other than that I have mainly competed in Europe - France, Germany, Portugal, Romania (that was an experience!) and Belgium.

AK: Which event do you prefer - show jumping or dressage?

LK: My background is in eventing dressage, show-jumping and cross-country. When I was younger I definitely preferred the jumping phases (I thought dressage was boring!), however as I have got more experienced I have learnt the value of dressage for the other phases and now can safely say I enjoy that too.

AK: What's in store for you in 2015?

LK: In 2015 I hope to take part in the Nations Cup series along with representing Birmingham in the BUCS competitions, with the aim of qualifying for Nationals and repeating our national success of 2013 when we won team gold. I am also working hard to establish myself outside of university riding, producing young event horses.

AK: How did you get into the sport?

LK: I grew up around horses, with both my mother and father keen riders (they enjoyed team-chasing). They used to keep their horses at a livery yard with numerous ponies also stabled there. As soon as I could sit up I was put on a pony and it sort of went from there!

I started riding competitively when I was 5 in the local pony club (Heythrop) and started eventing when I was 9 - representing the pony club on a regional and national level. I was selected to be part of the GB pony squad (competing internationally) aged 12 and competed at Pony internationals and Europeans until I was 16. I then moved onto horses and competed on the Junior European team aged 18 AK: How long have you been part of the GB student riders team?

LK: I have been part of the student rider squad for 2 years - and have been very fortunate to have been selected to compete a number of times.

AK: What's the plan for after you graduate?

LK: After I graduate I hope to go into horses full-time, riding for owners and producing young horses for eventing.

The ultimate dream would be to compete for GB on a senior team, however we will have to see what the future holds!

AK: Finally, how has the year been so far for the University of Birmingham equestrian team?

LK: So far we have only had one competition in our league, which we came second in as a team and I won individually. We have our second competition on Wednesday.

Lottie Kennedy and her team Jess Campbell and Lauren Innes won gold at the World Finals in Florida

See more of our interviews at www.redbrick.me/sports

30 6th -19th February 2015

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Sport

Redbrick Insider: University of Birmingham Jitsu Club Sports Editors Thomas Dodd and Alex Kronenberg went down to the Dojo in the Old Gym to observe as the University of Birmingham Jitsu club carried out their Monday evening training sessions, as Redbrick Sport continues its exploration of some of the lesser known clubs at Birmingham Thomas Dodd and Alex Kronenberg Sports Editors

It’s easy to create a mental image of what someone is talking about when they say ‘martial arts'. The majority of onlookers will simply think of a group of people kitted out in dressing gowns, trying to push each other to the floor using a variety of aggressive yet sportingly fair manoeuvres. So it was with heightened interest that we made our way to the Dojo on the bottom floor of the old Gym on a Monday night to observe a training session of the University of Birmingham Jitsu club. An early session warm up all seemed routine enough, the 20-odd group members going through their

"The majority of onlookers will simply think of a group of people kitted out in dressing gowns" paces and warming their muscles and limbs for the following two hours.

The opening exercise, however, instantly revealed something slightly different about

a sporting practise that traces its roots back to Japan. The whole concept of the move-

"So much of what is practiced and refined has a real-world intention" ments is about defence, but this stretches far beyond simply being able to disarm an attacker or dispel a potentially dangerous situation. As a result participants are not simply taught how to attack and defend but also how to be thrown, and some opening ‘falling’ drills were designed to make sure that the main forearm hits the ground in a way that protects the head and spine.

As with all skills of this nature, a tremendous amount of respect is heeded by all and the traditional value aspect is still a fundamental part of the sport. From a competitive perspective too, it is easy to see how Jitsu can be lost among the general hypernym of the term 'martial arts'. Yes, there is sparring involved and yes, the overall aim is to overhaul and defeat your opponent. Furthermore, the recognised area marked out for bouts evokes the sense of an arena - but so much of what is practiced and refined has a real-world intention in mind,

stretching far beyond the red lines of the dojo mats. This was demonstrated mid-way through the session, when the group began to bring in fake weapons to their training.

Blunt wooden tools in the shape of a knife and plastic bottles to represent the more dangerous variety suddenly seemed to transport the ‘Ju-Jitsuers’ outside, as they demonstrated how they would deal with somebody attacking them in a real-life situation, one more likely to be seen on the streets or in a bar at weekends and not the ground floor of an old Gym on a Monday night.

"Truly this is a club that teaches transferable skills to suit a variety of situations" Truly this is a club that teaches transferable skills to suit a variety of situations and whilst we did not totally enjoy being thrown to the floor as part of a demonstration at the end, we quickly agreed that Jitsu would be worth a go for anyone seeking self-confidence, self-esteem and discipline, as well as providing a fantastic way of improving or maintaining fitness levels.

With the first two sessions free for new-

comers, UoB Jitsu (expertly led by Sensei James Owns) offers a great chance for anyone and everyone to give it a go, and many well find themselves calling the Dojo their second home before long.

Did you know?: The ordering of the colours of the belts in Jitsu comes from how the original competitors in Japan would see their belt colour change naturally the more they practiced. Where as nowadays belts can be bought in separate colours, those in Ancient Japan would start with a white belt and see the colour become darker.

Interested?: The UoB Jitsu club hold 2 sessions of 2 hours every Monday and Thursday from 8-10pm in the Dojo on the bottom floor of the Old Gym. Online: Interviews with Sensei James Owens and two UoB Jitsu squad members will be available on the Redbrick Sports website at the end of the week.

Are you a member of a sports team which you believe needs more coverage? Contact sports@redbrickonline.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you, with the view to sending some of our reporters out to try whatever sport it may be.

Peter Saxon

redbrick.me/sport

6th - 19th February 2015

Quote of the week

Wednesday's results

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Redbrick Predicts

Men

This week's predictions pit our three Sports Editors against each other, as they aim to correctly guess the outcome of six of this weekend's football fixtures. a correct result will receive 1 point and a correct score will receive 2 points.

Hockey 1sts 1-5 Sheffield Hallam 1sts Hockey 3rds 0-2 Cambridge 1sts Hockey 4ths 5-3 Oxford Brookes 2nds Tennis 1sts 10-2 Warwick 2nds

Alex Kronenberg

Tennis 2nds 8-4 Warwick 3rds

Tottenham vs Arsenal 2-2 Everton vs Liverpool 1-3 Women

Leicester City vs Crystal Palace 0-2

Hockey 1sts 5-0 Manchester 1sts QPR vs Southampton 0-4 Hockey 3rds 0-3 Cambridge 1sts Middlesborough vs Charlton Athletic 2-0 Hockey 4th 6-0 Nottingham 4ths Colchester United vs Crewe 1-1 Lacrosse 1sts 15-4 Manchester 1sts Netball 1sts 48-30 Loughborough 1sts Will Robey Tottenham vs Arsenal 2-1

Round-up of the week Football: Chelsea maintained their 5 point lead at the top of Barclays Premier League after a 1-1 draw at home to title rivals Manchester City. The Blues were also active on a relatively quiet Transfer Deadline Day, signing Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina.

Cricket: Australia thrashed England in the Tri-Series final in preparation for the upcoming World Cup. England were bowled out 112 runs short of Australia's 278-8 target, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell taking a career best 4-46 whilst adding 95 runs with the bat in the process.

Everton vs Liverpool 0-2

Online Content

Tennis: Serbian Novak Djokovic defeated Britain's Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open. The World No.1 triumphed in 4 sets 7-5 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0 to lift his 5th title in Melbourne and his 8th Grand Slam in total. Serena Willams beat Maria Sharapova in straight sets to take the Women's crown.

Also check out Redbrick Sports Birmingham 2015 calendar of events, so you can keep up to date with all the sports showcased in Birmingham, not just within the University.

Included are events such as the 2015 Ashes Series, with one test taking place at Warwickshire's Edgbaston cricket ground.

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32 6th - 19th February 2015

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UoB Korfball set up shot at title defence UoB Korfball player Emma Butterworth describes her squads' successful weekend at the BUCS National Qualifiers in Sheffield.

Emma Butterworth UoB Korfball

The top eight University Korfball teams throughout the Midlands region battled it out to qualify for BUCS Nationals in March. At the final reckoning after several tough matches, UOB 1 stormed to 2nd place with UoB 2 close behind in 5th. Our first team will go on to defend our national title at the start of March in Norwich. Our second team will go on to compete in a separate tournament, the BUCS National Korfball trophy. We are striving for gold in both!

Both teams put in stella performances throughout the day. Team spirits were high and we displayed some of the best action we have yet produced.

With an early start at 5am to travel up to Sheffield, we did not possess the home advantage that saw us take 2nd place in the BUCS preliminary round back in November. However cars loaded and carb loaded, this would not stop us.

UoB 2 started the day with a tough match against Sheffield Hallam. Despite fantastic defence, this game didn’t go our way. However, the second match against Leeds saw the 2s earn their first

victory with a 7-5 win. The last match of the group round saw UoB 2 face rivals Nottingham. An absolutely fantastic first half performance saw them take the lead. However a mighty fall from George shook the team up.

Nottingham displayed their skills and claimed the match, later going on to win the regional tournament.

The first game for UoB 1 was against our hosts, Sheffield University. With 4 goals within the first 5 minutes, there was no stopping the team. The top male scorer of the day, birthday boy Andrew Bovey, began his winning ways, putting in a hatrick in early on in the game seeing us easily take the win. The next game was another win against Leeds Beckett. Birmingham finished 17-1 in just a 30 minute game, possibly the best game of the day with fantastic shots all round. The last match of the group round saw UoB 1 face Nottingham 2s, with some cool, calm and collected play, UOB 1 took the win 13-5.

The quarter finals began after a rapid lunch break. Unfortunately our 2s faced a tough match against Sheffield and couldn’t quite get the win. However, there was some fantastic play with a special mention to Jack Faulkner, who defended and shot brilliantly. UoB 1 took to court against Leeds. Another

great team performance on court as well as support from the sideline saw us take the win. Special mention to our second team who also managed to locate a screwdriver to remove a nail which had found its way into Butterworth’s shoe.

UoB 1 went on to face the already

Both teams put in stella performances throughout the day. Team spirits were high and we displayed some of the best action we have yet produced. defeated Nottingham 2 in the semifinal.

Fantastic long range shooting from Bovey and Seabright handed us the 11-2 win. UoB 2s last match saw them play Sheffield Hallam. Despite losing to them earlier on in the day, they claimed victory in a tension filled game with a score of 9-8. An incredible performance from all with a special mention to captain Leah Elston Thompson, who scored 4 out of the 9 goals.

The final match of the day, UoB 1 v Nottingham 1 was always going to be tough, having been narrowly beaten by them in the preliminary round in

November. With a lineup of support on the side line, Brum wanted to win.

They took the lead in the first half with a score of 5-4, with some solid play and a fabulous one handed long shot from Bovey. Tensions were mounting in the second half and Nottingham found themselves 1 up. Unfortunately Nottingham were being awarded free passes, penalties and were making some nifty running in shots which we couldn’t quite get round. The final score finished 14-9 to Nottingham.

But, although Nottingham got more goals, we scored the better goals. This gives us confidence and drive to push through and defend our title at Nationals.

The two team captains, naturally delighted with the results for their respective teams, were in a jubilant and bouyant mood at the end of the day: 1st team captain Harry Andrews: “I thought our performance throughout the whole tournament was of the highest level and every single player contributed hugely to what was a very successful day. We were obviously disappointed not to finish first but have so many positives to take from this round.

We now know what to work on in training which will help us to reach the finals at Nationals in March.”

2nd team captain, Leah Elston Thompson: “The second team put in a really strong performance throughout the day and the fact that we beat three other University 1st teams shows how far we have come. Our highlight was in the last match with a hard fought victory over Sheffield Hallam which has guaranteed us a great seeding for the second team nationals in March.”

1st Team: Harry Andrews (Captain), Andrew Bovey, Emma Butterworth (Vice Captain), Dannique Fintelman, Rachel Flight, Bethan Hughes, Bethany Jones, Kelly Lippett, Chris Mannix, Alex Seabright, Andrew Bovey 2nd Team: Sam Bailey (Vice Captain), Leah Elston Thompson (Captain), Jack Faulkner, Ollie Friston, Ikhlaas Kasli, Jules Macadam, Jessica L Maguire, Clarissa Price, George Rourke, Bryony Snelling, Peter Tasker, Louis Tunnicliff.

Redbrick Sport would like to extend its congratulations to all who competed last weekend (listed above), and wish UoB Korfball the best of luck for the BUCS Finals in March.