Redbrick: The University of Birmingham's Official Student Newspaper Since 1936
Higher or Lower? The Great Tuition Fee Debate Zach Bailey on why higher tuition fees means a fairer society Comment / page 8
Top Five Student Superfoods Sophie Neal gives us the roundup of feel good food Food / page 14
The Brit Awards 2015 Daisy Holden reports on one of the biggest events of the year TV / page 19
PhotoSoc
New Guild officer team announced News / pages 4-5
• • • •
Turnout up on last year as over 5600 students cast their vote Jack Mably first Vice President to be elected President Sports Officer election comes down to 18 votes 17 officers elected after 10 days of campaigning
Is Topshop Overrated? Rebecca Bulman has some stylish tips to save you money Life&Style / page 20 www.redbrick.me join@redbrick.me @redbrickpaper /redbrickpaper
Tuesday 10th March Thursday 19th March 2015 Vol. 79, Issue 1459
Maggie Lieu, the Mars Girl!
Review: Focus
by Devon Smith / Sci&Tech, page 27
by Jess Ennis / Film, page 25
02 10th - 19th March 2015
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Editorial
Redbrick's frustration at the Guild Elections James Phillips Editor
@JMPhillips92
With campus dressed in soggy cardboard adverts and ragged-looking candidates, there’s no doubt that the Guild Elections period is here. This is your prime opportunity to have your picture taken with a stranger in a cardboard frame, and line your pockets with penny-sweets. Of course, alongside this is the serious message that you should be choosing your Guild of Students’ officer team for 2015-16, but how do you make that choice? As you rush your way across campus to lectures, attempting to dodge the many candidates reaching out for your vote, there are mere seconds to communicate their policies to you. And with final assessments looming, you might only end up looking through their policies online out of sheer procrastination. In their quick summaries, many of these candidates’ policies will seem incredibly appealing and you’ll be nodding your head furiously as you look forward to their implementation. To be perfectly honest, most of these policies sound pretty great!
"many votes placed in the Guild Elections will be the result of which name you remembered best" So, it is almost inevitable that many votes placed in the Guild Elections will be the result of which name you remembered
best, and which buzzwords on those soggy pieces of cardboard stood out most to you. What this results in, simply, is an inability to make a truly informed choice. I don’t blame you – juggling the third-year of my degree, the duties of being editor of Redbrick, and also an attempt at a social life leave me with little time to really sit down and think about the policies being pledged. How is it then that you can easily sort through the achievable and unachievable policies presented? This is where your student media groups should step in. As we voluntarily cobble together all of the candidates’ information, conduct interviews and promote the elections, we get to know the candidates quite well. Year-after-year, for those involved for a long time, we can see which policies keep returning and which seem fairly new. We also feel that we have a duty to let you know this. We should write up an article scrutinising the policies of these candidates, as most media outlets would do for an election that affects you. As the General Election draws closer, you’ll see more and more situations where party candidates and leaders are asked questions about how they will achieve their policies – just look at Natalie Bennett’s interview on LBC last week. The reality is, we can’t do that. We want to, but we’re not allowed. The Guild of Students has regulations that state “No Guild Committee or Guild recognised Student Group shall support a candidate.” Because Redbrick is a guild recognised student group, we can’t write an article exploring and scrutinising the policies of candidates. Despite knowing their policies weeks before the elections period starts, we can’t properly investigate what they hope to achieve and work out whether that’s going to be possible.
"Because Redbrick is a guild recognised student group, we can’t write an article exploring and scrutinising the policies of candidates."
tion that will help you make that all-important informed decision. Remember, for the full-time (previously sabbatical) officer candidates, you’re voting them into £17,000 jobs. You’re agreeing to pay them to fulfil their policy promises. But if no-one can tell you whether they can truly complete their mandate, how can you be sure that you’re going to get what you voted for?
All in all, we can’t tell you whether you’re going to be able to get what you voted for. We feel that it is our duty to help you know your candidates better. This is why we volunteer hours of our time every year to provide you quality information on the Guild Elections website, tirelessly follow candidates around and find out about their campaigns, and provide live updates throughout the campaign, hustings and results night. But we can’t do this effectively if we can’t publish the all the informa-
"We feel that it is our duty to help you know your candidates better. "
Redbrick Editorial Team Editor James Phillips editor@redbrick.me
Comment Editors Daniella Bassett James Lentschner Mason Cusack
Deputy Editors George Bearman Safiyyah Gareeboo deputy@redbrick.me
comment@redbrick.me
Digital Editor Julia Yan digital@redbrick.me
Sport Editors Alex Kronenberg Tom Dodd Will Robey sports@redbrick.me
Culture Editors Lead Developer Charlotte Spence Andrew Spencer Lucy Mounfield developer@redbrick.me Andrea Giannini culture@redbrick.me News Editors Sabrina Dougall Film Editors Danyal Hussain Hayley Allanson Isma Azad Jay Crosbie Sophie Dober Tom Lofkin news@redbrick.me film@redbrick.me
Music Editors Hannah Coles Blaise Radley Matt Moody music@redbrick.me
tech@redbrick.me
Life&Style Editors Amy Wakeham Bethany Barley Elizabeth Green lifestyle@redbrick.me
Food Editors Rosie Twells Sarah Dickinson Jo Yorke food@redbrick.me
Travel Editors Tashaa Naidoo Jessica Flanagan Sara Tryon travel@redbrick.me
Photography Editors Cherona Chapman Evie Ford
Television Editors Jaffrina Jahan Shannon Carey tv@redbrick.me
Sci&Tech Editors Emma Houghton Rachel Taylor Amy Thompson
photography@redbrick.me
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
The Guild’s election regulations need to change. This article hasn't even touched on the limits on our publishing ability. Your student media outlets should be able to carry out their duty. But we can’t and, in all honesty, it’s incredibly frustrating.
Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TT 0121 251 2462 editor@redbrick.me Redbrick is printed through www.mortonsprint.com 01507 523 456 Paper Advertising Contact Linda Langley in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524 Online Advertising Contact marketing@redbrick.me Designed and typeset by Redbrick Copyright (C) Redbrick 2015 The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.
redbrick.me/news
10th - 19th March 2015
03
Freedom of Speech Amnesty International campaign on campus
Women’s Association Knock Down Wall of Oppression
Lucie P. Norris
Jess Syposz
Birmingham Correspondent
An awareness campaign run by Amnesty student group encourages students to question free speech rights at university. After two campaigns during the first term, one on the ban on abortion in El Salvador and one on freedom from torture, the University of Birmingham Amnesty International has delivered its first 2015 campaign on freedom of speech. Focusing more specifically on the University of Birmingham, the society attempted to raise awareness on how free our speech really is, by launching a campaign on Thursday 26th February.
"is spech free at University of Birmingham?" The campaign launched at 10am and ended around 4pm. The main goal was to encourage students to ask questions regarding their experience of free speech in their everyday lives. Activists and committee members took turns during the day to campaign, even though the poor weather forced the committee members to move locations several times between the Mason Lounge and the Main Library. For the campaign, a big banner was displayed just outside the Main Library that read ‘is speech free at University of Birmingham?’ Additionally, a ‘freedom scale’ was made where people could rate their freedom of speech at the University of Birmingham. Participants were also invite to pen a letter to David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor, regarding their opinions on free speech on campus.
There were many students who approached the stall to ask questions about the campaign and to receive further information. Amnesty International society stated that the University obtained an order from the regional division high court in 2011, to be able to ban ‘occupational protest action’, on the university campus. The order directly followed the occupation which occurred in November 2011 by a group of students at the University. The Society also pointed out that in 2013, after the occupation of the University's Senate Chamber and Hornton Grange, the University obtained another injunction, again effective for 12 months, for the entire campus in regards to protests and sit-in campaigns. The University has released a statement in which they reiterate their commitment to free speech. It reads: ‘Universities are places of free speech and we respect the rights of students and staff to protest peacefully and within the law’. It adds that they would not tolerate ‘behaviour that causes intimidation, harm to individuals, damage to property, or significant disruption to our University community’. As for the injunction granted in 2013, the University underlined the fact that ‘the orders do not prevent lawful peaceful protest on campus’. The University Code of Practice on freedom of speech states, ‘the right to free speech is not open-ended or absolute. On occasion, we have to weigh conflicting demands for free, public expression of ideas against concerns, on its part, regarding public order and safety, or the potential for breaches of the law to occur’.
News Reporter
In preparation for International Women’s Day, the Univeristy of Birmingham's Women’s Association built a ‘Wall of Oppression’ in the University square. Written on the cardboard bricks were messages highlighting many of the issues and structural barriers women still face in society. The event was intended to draw attention to International Women’s Day, as well as acting as a stand against sexual harassment and misogyny of all kinds. Passers-by were also invited to help contribute to the 'Wall of Oppression' by adding in their own message and phrases. .
"stand against sexual harrassment and misogyny" Many messages on the wall were clearly about rallying against catcalling, the gender wage gap, and the harmful nature of stereotyping. Contributors drew on their own experiences of gender equality, whilst also commenting on the part of racism and Islamophobia within gendered oppression. The famous 'I need feminism' campaign was also happening simultaneously, alongside the 'Wall of Oppression' event. At 3:45pm the wall was smashed down in a symbolic gesture, and the assembled crowd trampled upon the remains. Guild Election candidates also joined in the destruction, ahead of the closing of the
vote at 4pm. International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th every year. Depending on the region, the focus can range from recognizing the need for respect, appreciation and love towards women to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women.
"... respect, appreciation and love towards women " For many, overseen by the United Nations and the Human Rights Act, the day is an opportunity to bring political and social awareness to the struggles of women worldwide. International Women’s Day is also a time to look forward and think of ways of bringing about a positive change. To celebrate International Womens Day on Sunday 8th March, the Womens Association screened a viewing of ‘Whip It,’ which starred Ellen Page and is directed by Drew Barrymore. Addtionally, March is also Women’s History Month and the University have organised a host of events. These include film screenings of 'The Runways' and 'Persepolis' which will be also screened on Sunday's and organised by the Womens Association Additonally, on campus there will be talks from Professors, on issues such as 'Women in Academia' and there will be an open mic night on the 19th March. . To find out more on the events taking place this month, check out the Women’s Association UoB Facebook page.
Students shout at Council leader during budget meeting
Plans approved to create 650 new homes in Selly Oak
Sabrina Dougall
Amal Osagie
News Editor
@Sabrina_Dougall
A group of protesters, including students from the University of Birmingham, disrupted a Labour council meeting with shouts and heckling yesterday. Council leader Sir Albert Bore (Labour)
"shame on you for turning blue" called a pause to the meeting amidst cries of ‘shame on you for turning blue’. The meeting was interrupted three times as protesters were removed and later re-entered the public gallery of the Birmingham City Council House. The protesters consisted of a ‘coalition group’ of several direct action collectives including Defend Education, Birmingham Left Unity and some who affiliate with the Green party. A community member involved in the demonstration told Redbrick that they condemn the council for ‘rolling over and accepting cuts from central government’. A student who took part in the protest told Redbrick that the aim was ‘to highlight the hypocrisy of Labour party cuts and how much worse these are going to make living for people here in Birmingham’. As of last month, around half of the
"£821 million yearly savings... to be made " £821 million yearly savings which need to be made on the 2010 budget have been
made. Cuts to council services include those made to the new Library. A spokesperson from the Labour Council told Redbrick that there will be ‘terrible consequences’ as a result of the cuts being passed. She affirmed: ‘The cuts are from central government’ although yesterday’s council meeting was ‘far from a rubber-stamping’ of cuts suggested by Westminster. She cites the council commitment to increase investment in child protection services by £1.6 million as part of the new budget. Sir Albert Bore has said that the cuts have been decided and there is ‘not much room for manoeuvre’, although the proposed savings so far have been ‘reduced by £3.8m’ by the Birmingham City Council. ‘We’ve been open and honest with the people of Birmingham about the unfair financial situation we face when compared to other councils across the country,’ Bore has said.
"hypocrisy of Labour cuts" Last week’s budget meeting was held following a public consultation period since the budget white paper was published in December 2014. Rachel O'Brien, Community Action Officer at the Guild of Students told Redbrick: 'I fully support the actions of the University of Birmingham students that disrupted the Council meeting. It is necessary that the council knows that their austerity agenda will not go unchallenged, and that people from all parts of society make a stand against the cuts and their devastating consequences.'
Birmingham Correspondent
Plans to create over six hundred new homes at the former Selly Oak hospital has been approved. Developer Persimmon Homes South Midlands and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust have exchanged contracts on a multi-million pound land deal for the former Selly Oak Hospital site. The 42.5- acre site, which became redundant with the completion of the QE Hospital in 2011, has been identified as one of the most exciting development opportunities in the city for years. The overall development is expected to
"exciting opportunity for... developers to build homes which meet local needs and reflect history" see the creation of 650 homes, with the first phase comprising of 98 homes. The plans also include 18 affordable units, a new cricket pitch and pavilion, an open space and parking land. Persimmon Homes South Midlands has purchased the land with planning permission already in place. Building work for phase one is expected to start in April. Persimmon Homes South Midlands, Managing director Andy Peters publicly said: ‘We are investing £100 million in this iconic site and look forward to beginning work on what will be a six- to sevenyear project that will breathe new life into
Selly Oak and create up to 1,560 jobs.’ Peter adds, ‘It is an exciting opportunity for us as developers to build homes which meet local needs and reflect the history and unique situation of the site, integrating into Bournville and the surrounding areas'. The managing director of Persimmon
"we are investing £100 million in this iconic site" Homes explains Selly Oaks history, 'The site has developed over 140 years from the 1870’s workhouse and later the Selly Oak Infirmary. The masterplan proposes 650 new homes, and some of those will be incorporated in the existing buildings which are of interest and have a local listing with Birmingham City Council.'
04 10th - 19th March 2015
redbrick.me/news
News Guild Elections
New officer team take centre stage Poppy Wilkinson congratulates Jack Mably on his election to President of the Guild of Students. As campaigning drew to a close on the afternoon of Friday 6th March, the 41 hopefuls for the seven full-time and ten part-time roles packed up their signs and banners. Gathering the following evening in the Debating Hall at the Guild, the candidates and their campaign teams eagerly awaited the announcement of the winners. Results night, hosted by the outgoing Sabbatical Officer team, saw the return of Sabbatical Officers from previous academic years welcomed as guests. Around 200 students were present, many of whom had been involved in publicity and door-knocking on behalf of their chosen candidate over the past 10 days. A total of 5630 votes, representing 16.4% of students, were placed this year - this is an increase of 5% on last year. Brendan Casey, Director of Academic Services and College Administration at the University, gave an opening address. He praised the current Sabbatical team for their 'professionalism and strong leadership' this year. As a representative of the returning officer, Casey said: ‘the elections have been run in a free and fair manner' stating that the results are provisional for five days until any complaints are resolved. Jack Mably was announced as the successor to Poppy Wilkinson, President at the Guild of Students. Mably, who is the incumbent Vice President (Housing and Community) at the Guild, became the first Sabbatical Officer to win the election of President. The Politics student, who put his degree on pause between his second and third year in order to take up the role, won this year’s election with a clear majority in the first round of voting. Mably everyone who voted and his campaign PhotoSoc thanked team, and said 'This year was a much more difficult
Roberto Sorrentino
Ross Strong
Housing and Welfare Officer Community Officer
Izzy Lenga
Ben Chapman
Education Officer
Activities and Development Officer
How does the voting work? The Officer elections use the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system, which is a form of proportional representation. As opposed to the First-Past-The-Post system which is currently used for General Elections in the UK, STV enables voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Currently used in all elections in the Republic of Ireland and many student unions in the UK, candidates in STV elections need to reach a quota - a certain share of the total number of votes - in order to be successful. The quota is determined by the number of people eligible to vote and the total number of votes cast, and is therefore different for each Officer election. One benefit of this system is decreasing the likelihood that votes are ‘wasted’, and increasing the probability of the winning candidate having secured more support from the voters. One downside is that research has shown that voters may be inclined to vote for candidates in the order that they are listed on the ballot.
year compared to last year'. He added, 'A lot more needs to be done to make the elections a lot more accessible to everyone.' The names of the Sabbatical Officer roles will change as of next year, with the 'Vice President' title being replaced with 'Officer'. In this year's election, the role of Welfare Officer received only one student applicant for the position. Frankie Greenwell, the incumbent Vice President (Welfare), announced that Ross Strong would be succeeding him as of next academic year. Having received 3005 votes, Strong thanked voters for choosing him to replace Greenwell on the basis that he was right for the job, not that he was the only student in the running. Last year, three positions received only one student applicant: Democracy and Resources, Housing and Community and Sports. 'Re-Open Nominations' (RON) was an option for voters in all Officer elections, as is the case annually. This year, all of the positions were filled by candidates other than RON. Several of the positions went to second, third and fourth rounds of voting, as candidates did not reach the necessary quota in the first round. The most dramatic election was for Sports Officer, where fewer than 35 votes stood between the winner, Remy Claustres, and the second place candidate, Allan Stewart. Several light-hearted awards were handed out at the results ceremony. Haley Graham, winner of the Disabled Students Officer, was also given the accolade of 'most likely to have excelled at arts and crafts at primary school'. The 'Copycat Award' was given to Roberto 'Super' Sorrentino and Ian 'Super Fabio' Kafka who were Superman and Super Mario respectively during the campaign period this year.
Daisy Lindlar Representation and Resources Officer
Remy Claustres Sports Officer
Listen to interviews with the winning candidates at: www.soundcloud.com/redbrickpaper/sets/ guild-elections-2015 Re-live results night with our liveblog: http://www.guildelections.co.uk/live
redbrick.me/news
10th - 19th March 2015
05
Part-time officer team raring to go Isma Azad News Editor
@ismaazad
After an intense 10 days of campaigning, the results for the part-time officer positions were finally revealed on March 7th. On Wednesday 25th February, the banner drop revealed all the full-time and part-time officer candidates running for positions for the next academic year of 2015/2016. Many part-time candidates had already put together their campaign teams including their campaign manager, in preparation for the leafleting and doorknocking that occurred throughout the week. The part-time roles are undertaken alongside a student's degree and are unpaid. Based at the Guild of Students, the parttime officers work throughout the year to represent minority groups on campus. For the Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism Officer role, the candidates were Katie ‘Spider’ Webb and Maaria Ashraf. The Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism role is to help promote and educate students about equality and tolerance of other cultures, religions and multi-culturalism. Katie Webb won this election. The winning Community Action Officer candidate was Lewis Addlington-Lee, who aims to build a better relationship between the Guild, students and the University in ensuring all students have a support system in place. The role is also there to build
and maintain a relationship between internal and external institutions and to allow external organisations to be used as a resource for volunteering opportunities in and around the community that surrounds the university. Next, the Disabled Students’ Officer had just one candidate also running, Hayley Graham against RON. The Disabled Students’ Officer helps to create more awareness of the services available to students through the Guild, such as the Disability & Mental Health Students’ Association (DAMSA). The Disabled Students’ Officer also works with the welfare system in place to help provide greater support for students. The Ethical and Environmental Officer position had 2 candidates running for the position: Samuel Benson and James Honke. The role of this position is to tackle and raise awareness on the environment, and to help work with the Guild and help organise Go Green week here on campus. Samuel Benson was the successful candidate. For the Ethnic Minority Students’ Officer position, candidates running were Hannah Sharron and Mohamed Hussain. The Ethnic Minority Students’ Officer works with the Black and Ethnic Minorities Association (BEMA) and other liberation associations to help tackle the barriers BME students face at university. The Ethnic Minority Students’ Officer works alongside cultural societies at the Guild to help promote and bring diversity to the university. In particular, the officer works
Referendum fails to engage enough students to reach quoracy James Phillips Editor
@JMPhillips92
Although 57% voted in favour of the proposal, too few students voted for the result of the recent referendum to be passed. The referendum on the proposed democratic structure has failed to reach quoracy; not enough students voted in order for it to be considered legitimate. A total of 3441 students, 10%, needed to vote in the referendum but only 1994 students, 5.8%, voiced their opinion. At the close of voting, the proposal received 1127 votes (57%) in favour, 748 votes (40%) against, and 69 votes (3%) in abstention. Although the majority of those who voted agreed with the proposal, the lack of quoracy means that the proposal cannot be put into effect. The Guild was put in a similar position last year when the referendum on a similar proposal failed to have enough votes placed despite being open for voting for seven weeks. In a post on Facebook, the Yes Campaign said 'Sadly, we didn't manage to hit quoracy, but we did return a yes vote from the student body. We'd like to thank every single member of the Yes campaign for all their hard work over the last week or so. It's been really difficult at
times, but we've been tenacious and supported each other, and the cause. Thank you also to every student who voted and took part in the democratic process, and all the people who engaged in friendly debate about the issues at hand.' On the other hand, the No Campaign said 'Having the referendum at the same time as Officer elections was, we feel, a mistake, because although it was intended to be used to increase voting numbers, it meant a great deal of students didn't hear about the proposed changes, or confused the referendum with the elections based on the amount of cardboard on campus. 'We don't know which way the vote would have gone had it been quorate and there had been a fully competitive campaign outside of the election period. However, we shouldn't mistake the lack of quoracy for a lack of interest in either campaign from students.' Abstain was also an option on the referendum, but did not have a campaign group. Voting for the referendum was open alongside from 10am Monday 2nd March to 4pm Friday 6th March. As of 2pm, 5131 students had voted in the Guild Elections, 3137 more than the in the referendum. The current system will remain in place, with Guild Council meeting in the Guild Council Chambers next on Thursday 26th March from 6pm.
Guild Extradordinary Meeting: March 24th Muirhead Tower - room G15 All students welcome to attend
with BEMA for Black History Month. Adam Elmi ran for the Home Students’ Officer position this year. The Homes Students’ Officer position must be fulfilled by a student who lives at home and commutes to university. The Home Students’ Officer works alongside the Home Students Association to bring together commuting students, and organise events to provide home students with the same university experience as those who live in halls or near campus. Next, the LGBTQ Students’ Officer position also had just one candidate running: Chavonne Brown against RON. The position entails working with the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Queer) Association to help tackle stigma and discrimination, and to promote awareness of the issues LGBTQ students face. The officer also helps to organise and run the LGBT history month and to strengthen the welfare support for students. The Satellite Sites Officer position also had one candidate running: Eleanor Keiller. The officer helps to bridge the gap between students who are studying at off-campus sites, such as the Selly Oak campus and the Stratford Institute, and those on campus. The International Students’ Officer position had 3 candidates running: Abdulmutalib Shittu, Nivedita Kulkarni and Khadijah Rahmani. The officer represents all international students on all welfare, social or academic issues. Alexandra Binnie and Zoe Salanitro
went head to head for the role of Women's Officer. The officer works closely with the Women's Association throughout the year. In addition, the Women’s Officer has an active role in the Women's History Month, to raise awareness on women’s oppression and the issues they face at university and in wider society.
New Part-time Officers Anti-Racism, Anti-Facism: Katie Webb Women's: Alexandra Binnie Disabled Students: Hayley Graham Community Action: Lewis Addlington-Lee LGBTQ: Chavonne Brown Ethnic Minorities: Mohamed Hussain Environmental: Samuel Benson International: Abdulmutalib Shittu Satellite Sites: Eleanor Keiller Home: Adam Elmi
06 10th - 19th March 2015
redbrick.me/news
News Politics
Tories pledge to keep Library open all week Sophie Dober News Editor
Conservatives have proposed to keep the Library of Birmingham open all week. Birmingham's Conservatives say they would keep the Library of Birmingham open seven days a week in their alternative council budget, which is a stark contrast to the proposals made by the current Labour Council. As part of the recent budget plan from Birmingham City Council, the Library of Birmingham will undergo a £1.5 million cut. Opposing the Labor-run council, the Tories have highlighted libraries and bins as priorities for funding, rather than cuts. The proposed cuts by the current Council to the Library of Birmingham would mean a reduction in opening times by 40%. In addition, there will be no new purchases of books to add to the libarary's collection, and there is plans for a restriction to the access of the archives the Library maintains. In addition, the cuts will put at least a hundred members of staff at risk of redundancy, and as well as this there will be a limitation to the housebound and community library service of expert help. The budget plan has caused protests and petitions. On 7th of February, a public rally was held in an attempt to protect the
library from the Birmingham City Council’s cuts. In a response to this, the Tories have publicly commented that they would in comparison keep all 39 community libraries open. This was not in the current Council’s plan. In their overall proposed budget plan, the council intended to cut at least four of the community libraries and restore the free garden waste collections to every household; but this service has now been cut by the Labour party. Conservative leader, Robert Alden said: ‘We think it is vital services like our local libraries that offer a variety of help to local residents are protected.' The Tories prepare to present their alternative budget plan to the council, which is to keep all library opening hours the same as before the library cuts were proposed and put into initiative. Alden has added, ‘we will also be showing how the council could help hard-working families by scrapping the garden tax which at the same time would help increase the city's recycling rates.’ However, Labour Council leader Sir Albert Bore, defends the party's decision to reduce the opening time of the library, He says, 'the Government cuts that are being handed down to us [City Councils]' and this means 'things will undoubtedly need to be significantly reshaped in the years ahead.'
Labour to cut student fees down to £6,000 Duncan Kenyon
Education Correspondent
Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has pledged to cut tuition fees in England from £9,000 to £6,000 from Autumn 2016. This pledge had been hinted at since his Party conference speech in October 2011, but has not been finalised until now. In his speech, Miliband called higher tuition fees a ‘betrayal of an entire generation’ with average student debts totalling to around £44,000. The Labour leader has said his oarty would pay for this by reducing tax relief on pensioners who earn around £150,000 a year. He declared this would be non-negotiable in any post-election coalition agreement. Labour believes that this move will save £40bn for the taxpayer by 2030. They also plan to give universities an extra £2.7bn per year to replace the cut in fees and graduates earning over £42,000 will pay 4% interest rates, up from 3%. Gisela Stuart, Labor MP for Edgbaston, said: ‘We need to find a way that balances the need to fund universities adequately with providing access to students from all backgrounds. The reduction in fees is one step, but, when in government, Labour will also have to make sure that cities like Birmingham provide the right employment conditions for graduates.’
Tuition fees in England were raised for those who began their course from 2012 by the current Coalition government. The tripling of tuition fees has been widely attributed as a reason for the unpopularity that the Liberal Democrats have recently enjoyed, especially amongst students. Nick Clegg has previously publicly apologised for the raise. The Green Party have declared that they would go further if they were elected into government, by scrapping tuition fees entirely. UKIP’s position on the tution fees and the reduction of these fees has not yet been made clear. Tuition fees currently have a cost of £9,000 for English students, whilst at the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, they have pledged to keep subsidising the costs for their students who study at English universities, to £3,000 per year. Joe Armer, Vice President of Education, tells Redbrick his views on Labour’s pledge. 'Labour's fully costed announcement on tuition fees and maintenance grants is really positive, pro-student and a progressive announcement. The increase in maintenance grants is long overdue. Most importantly... the reduction in tuition fees... will benefit first and second years'. Armer adds, 'I will be interested to see the other parties costed proposals on student finance before the general election'.
Political figures hosted for student-run General Election debates Sam Bartlett and Taahira Khan report on the debate hosted by Policy, Politics and Economics Society, featuring Andrew Mitchell MP, on 19th February. As a former cabinet minister and local MP for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell is the highest profile politician to have taken part in the PPE debate series to date. Mitchell began by emphasising the importance of economics to the future of young people, and this being the prime issue in the upcoming election. He argued that a Labour majority in government risked the ‘chaos’ of overspending and growth of the deficit. Mitchell made the case for the Conservatives' ‘long term economic plan’, citing low unemployment figures and growth of full-time jobs under the Cameron-Clegg administration. The main point here, one which would resurface throughout, was that it was wrong to burden our future generations with debt. Consequently 'difficult decisions' to cut the deficit have been made. In regards to youth unemployment and graduate opportunity Mitchell said: ‘I want to make the promise to every young person that they will either be learning or earning’. Countering a member of the audience's view that austerity measures have created poverty and 'isolated young people', In a related question about tax avoidance, he argued that his party had done 'an enormous amount' to stop companies going into tax havens and promote transparency. Mitchell lamented the Conservatives' failure to reach out to minorities and the
north of the country before the last general election, stating his belief that ‘if we had done we wouldn’t be in coalition with the beastly Lib Dems.’ Regardless, he said that he was ‘enormously proud of this government' which has supported diversity 'by safeguarding international development funds’. Regarding the EU, Mitchell said: 'The only way to get an in-out referendum is through a Conservative majority' in government. He stated that while immigrants' access to benefits should be constricted, he is in support of the free movement of capital and people as a core requirement of the Union and UK membership. Citing a number of abuses of power in recent years, such as the War on Terror and use of secret courts, he made the point that the state should serve all in society, as ‘the State is not an all wise entity, it is made up of us.’ At the mention of the recent ‘I can’t breathe’ campaign for equality in policing, Mitchell stressed that police reform was needed. He proposed several reforms including having cameras on the lapels of officers and significantly enhancing the powers of the IPPC (the Independent Police Complaints Commission). Like the other guest speakers, Mitchell emphasised the need for students to vote in the upcoming May elections, even if it was not a Conservative vote.
Danyal Hussain was at the debate with guest John Blewitt, Chair of the Malvern Green Party on 26th February. John Blewitt of the Green Party was the latest guest speaker to attend the student-led PPE General Election debate series for the May General Elections. Blewitt, Chairman of the Malvern Green Party, spoke about a variety of issues, ranging from localism to housing and alternative energy sources. He also answered a series of audience questions, among them questions on his the stance his party takes on the size of the military and on the European Union. Additonally, Blewitt discusses the key beliefs and aims of the Green Party. He stressed the importance of localism, which he believes to be the overarching theme of Green policies. Regarding transport, he spoke about his belief that privatisation of railways ‘hasn’t worked’ and stressed his belief in their re-nationalisation. Blewitt spoke of how his party were one of the first to turn away from fossil fuels and reiterated their commitment to renewable energy and their opposition to nuclear power and fracking. Throughout the debate, Blewitt spoke of how his part is a ‘movement with a strong belief in greener life’. He was also keen to point out that his party were concerned with ‘more than conservation’ and spoke of how Natalie Bennett, party leader, still enjoyed ‘considerable’ support despite her troubled recent interviews. Blewitt then answered questions about party identity and whether socialism had
become more important than environmentalism. He replied by stating that it is important to ensure that the Greens aren't seen as a single issue party. It is a responsibility of the green movement to show that environmental policy is related to the economy and politics in general. Asked about military strength, Blewitt was adamant that too much is spent on defence and that the Trident system is unnecessary. He also commented that ‘there is no special relationship between the UK and the US’ and Britian needs to accept we ‘are'nt a big country anymore’. In regards to the EU, Blewitt stated it is a difficult issue with no easy solution. Blewitt admitted that if his party entered into a coalition, they may have to compromise on some issues, but also reterated, that he hoped they would remain firm on the key issues. The debate ended on the discussion on energy. Blewitt, said, we need to reduce our energy and consumption demand, as the UK isn’t meeting its energy demand. He added, Britain has not created a market to replace fossil fuel energy. Louisa Murray, 2nd year PPE student and event host, said that 'despite Blewitt not being a Parliamentary Candidate, he was very well informed about his party's policies'. The next PPE debate will take place on March 12th, with UKIP Parliamentary Candidate for Selly Oak, Steven Brookes attending.
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10th - 19th March 2015
07
Comment
Tonight on Channel 4 News: Europe's War on Jews Aamina Siddiqi Commentator
In an interview with Iain Dale on LBC radio last month, the actress Maureen Lipman spoke for many of her fellow British Jews by making an extraordinary statement which has shocked many, even triggering condemnation from certain quarters. Reflecting on the rapid rise of anti-Semitism currently sweeping Europe, Ms Lipman stated that she no longer feels safe in Britain and is strongly considering leaving for Israel or the USA, a sentiment which she encapsulated succinctly by stating 'when the going gets tough, the Jews get packing.'
longer be voting for them due to their attitudes towards Israel. The political establishment bend over backwards to accommodate people of various faiths and races, and rightly so, yet British Jews constantly slip through the net. No matter how guilty our politicians may be over this issue, the mainstream media remain the worst offenders. After decades of pursuing political neutrality, the BBC has now all but abandoned this facade
man Jon Snow pulled no punches in his numerous condemnations of the world's only Jewish state. He depicted Israel as bellicose and expansionist, using disproportionate levels of force in order to assert itself, whilst off camera he was criticised for a tweet expressing concern that the downing of a Malaysian Airlines plane over Ukraine would distract public attention from the events in Gaza, and thus 'provide cover for an intensification of Israel's
with Andrew Marr claiming that 'the BBC is not impartial or neutral,' whilst former Director-General Mark Thompson admitted 'a massive bias to the left.' This is a bias which is reflected in the corporation's coverage of the Arab-Israeli conflict, with the worst of its distorted reporting fully on display during last summer's violence in Gaza. Channel 4 News also has a history of anti-Israeli reporting, one which is even more virulent than its state-funded rival. Whilst the BBC subtly undermined Israel's actions in Gaza last year, Channel 4 anchor-
ground war.' With a left-wing reputation similar to that of America's stridently liberal MSNBC, no one expects Channel 4 News to provide impartial and balanced content. After all, as a privately-owned channel it has no responsibility to be politically neutral, despite still having to operate within Britain's strict broadcasting regulations. However, when the channel moves from criticising Israel to criticising Jews it crosses a line between presenting a legitimate political position and being guilty of offering a platform for bigotry and hate.
"Sadly, there are those within the political establishment and mainstream media who place the concerns of the Jewish community at the bottom of the pile." The rising tide of anti-Semitism across Europe is something which matters for everyone, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. If we are to learn anything from history, we should know that spikes in hostility towards Jews is symptomatic of a society gone wrong - as Maureen Lipman points out, the Jewish people have consistently been the scapegoat when the economy crashes, and as such we need to make sure that combating anti-Semitism is at the top of the political agenda. Sadly, there are those within the political establishment and mainstream media who place the concerns of the Jewish community at the bottom of the pile. Again, Lipman offers a perfect example of such attitudes; despite being a lifelong Labour supporter, she announced last year that she will no
Such a line was crossed last week in a piece featuring an Israeli journalist, Zvika Klein, who has filmed the abuse he received whilst walking through Paris wearing a kippah. During his 10-hour walk through the French capital, Mr Klein was spat at, verbally insulted and mocked purely for his Jewish faith, thus proving the frightening levels of anti-Semitism currently on display on the Continent. However, the response of Channel 4 News presenter Jackie Long was not one of sympathy, concern or anger - instead, she posed the confrontational question of whether Mr Klein's actions were 'an act of provocation.' Let's not forget that Mr Klein's supposed crimes were simply to walk through Paris wearing a symbol of his Jewish faith. Nothing more than that, and certainly nothing provocative, yet the response of Channel 4 News was to present him as the aggressor rather than the victim. This is not just a grotesque display of the channel's own prejudices, but it also reflects wider social attitudes towards the Jewish people, attitudes which cause the likes of Maureen Lipman to feel as if their only option is to leave their home country. This year marks 70 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, an event which exposed the horrific consequences of a society which turns a blind eye to anti-Semitism. We must strive to ensure that such a dreadful stain on world history is not repeated, and as such we need to protect Jews rather than vilify them. Here in Britain we pride ourselves on our tolerance, but we are clearly not doing enough to create a society which values all races and religions equally. Indeed, this particular incident highlights the immense double-standards at work - if we were to replace Mr Klein's kippah with an Islamic hijab, one can be sure that Channel 4 News would have David Iliff been far more sympathetic and supportive in its line of questioning. The European war on Jews needs to stop at once, and the media have a duty to treat all people fairly and equally. Such equality is clearly not on display at the moment, and until the balance is redressed it is inevitable that people such as Maureen Lipman will be driven to leave Britain for countries which practice true tolerance.
Equal-Access: Should asylum seekers pay more? Katy Spencer Commentator
It’s hard to ignore the debate over the current rise in tuition fees, which many argue is placing poorer students at a disadvantage. Less well known is that asylum seeking students at the University of Birmingham are forced to pay even higher ‘international’ fees, which according to
"this group of students is effectively excluded from higher education even when they have been offered places based on their academic achievements." a recent HSBC report range between an average of £18,759 and £38,532 per year. The ‘Equal Access’ campaign, a partnership between Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and the NUS, aims to change
this. While waiting to be granted asylum in the UK, most asylum seekers are not entitled to work, and instead must live on Asylum Support. This allowance can be as little as £5 a day (compared with the average daily jobseeker’s allowance at £17.51) this ‘support’ barely covers living costs, let alone university fees. When one considers that asylum seekers are also unable to take out loans, it becomes clear that fees upwards of £12000 per year are completely unaffordable, meaning that this group of students is effectively excluded from higher education even when they have been offered places based on their academic achievements. Students who have finished school therefore find themselves faced with an unexpected barrier to further education. The ‘Equal Access’ campaign, which is now officially supported by the Guild of Students, calls for these barriers to be minimised by providing greater financial support at both a national level and within individual institutions such as ours. Students fleeing war and persecution cannot be compared to privileged international students who are choosing to
migrate for their education. In fact, despite widespread assumptions, asylum seekers often have not chosen to be in the UK, and they cannot return home or seek education in another country. Furthermore, Home Office decisions to grant asylum can take years, and the lives of asylum seekers should not be put on hold in the meantime by denying access to higher
"The 'Equal Access campaign... calls for these barriers to be minimised." education. Our university needs to grant equal access to students seeking refugee protection by reclassifying them as eligible for home fees, and providing additional financial support in the form of bursaries similar to those available to other vulnerable groups such as care leavers. This would represent only a small cost for the university, as the number of students likely to take up this offer would be small and would remain subject to grade requirements. Asylum
seeking students would not be afforded ‘special treatment’; Equal Access merely aims to promote equality between students seeking refugee protection and their British peers, and act as a symbolic gesture of welcome. The University of Birmingham claims to be an international institution, but it needs to do more to help the most vulnerable students, and to recognise the value of diversity (after all, where would we be if the academic achievements of Marx and Einstein had been overlooked because of their refugee status?). Scotland already has a policy of classifying asylum seeking students for home fees and offering loans to cover these. In England, universities such as Manchester and Queen Mary have likewise started to offer tuition fee concessions and provide bursaries. One advantage of the commodification of university education is that as consumers paying fees, we arguably have greater power than ever to drive change from within the university, and we should use it to advocate for the rights of marginalised groups. The University of Birmingham should be the next to join the growing list of universities proud to offer equal access to all students.
08 10th - 19th March 2015
redbrick.me/comment
Comment
Higher or Lower? :The Great Tuition Fee Debate Selly. The final flaw in a policy designed to connect with the disillusioned young voter, is the effect that this would have on university funding in the medium to long term. Does it really make sense to stem the flow of investment in innovation and scientific research? As the Western world faces the oblivion of falling real incomes, and sluggish low growth, surely as a nation we need world leading research and high technology developments to make us stand out. Labour do guarantee that they would give universities an extra £2.7 billion per year from the government coffers, although in the age of cuts and austerity, what’s to stop this falling in real value over time. As I’ve made clear, I don’t think there is much to gain from changing a progressive policy of redistribution, which allows our world-leading institutions to invest in people and projects that will no doubt in the words of David and George be ‘key to our nation's long-term economic health’. It is true that in the future much of this
Zach Bailey Commentator
Ed Milliband has announced this week that if Labour are elected in 2015, they would cut university tuition fees in England to £6000. Tuition fees have been a precarious issue in party politics, largely due to the 2010 coalition decision to raise the maximum tuition fee in England. Not only has that decision single handedly led to the catastrophic demise of the LibDem’s student support, it also means that the average student graduating this summer will enter the world of work with a staggering £44,000 of debt. Whilst this may seem catastrophic compared to the gritty minimum wage I’m paid for working at the Guild, as a supporter of the Scandinavian style welfare state, it’s hard to see how the current policy won’t deliver a more equal society in the long run. At present, although I doubt most students realize it, the stock of debt you begin with when you graduate isn’t fixed for your working life, instead it rises by inflation, plus up to an extra 3% depending on how much you earn. The basic
"Higher fees haven't actually discouraged the number of applications" principle is the more you earn, the more you pay off. The more you earn, the larger the overall sum you will have to pay back. In other words those paid hundreds of thousands in the city pay back more debt and at a faster rate, than your average teacher or nurse. Labour argue that the current system is broken given that the large majority of students will fail to pay back their student debt over its 30 year repayment period, and by the 2040’s the government will be writing off a stagger-
ing £21 billion per year. On the whole, they argue that it will encourage more students from poorer backgrounds to consider going to university, and ensure that the debt repayments system is far more sustainable both for students and the government in the long run. The problem post-credit crunch is that the higher fees haven’t actually discouraged the number of applications, with a record number young people applying for higher education courses in 2015. The stark truth is that tuition fees are a worry for the future, and it’s the day-to-day costs of accommodation, food, books and booze that matter to us. They also plan to introduce a £400 maintenance grant, available to students whose family incomes are less than £42,000 per year, but lets face it, that’s a drop in ocean compared to the 4 or so grand we all fork out to live the slummy
"Instead of focusing on fees, the next government really needs to look at the affordability of student living" debt will be written off, but so what if in return we generate the ideas, and train the workforce that will serve our high-technology economy in the future. Instead of a tuition fee cut I’d recommend that several improvements be made to the current system, to increase the affordability of study for all students, and ensure that we have one policy for all of the students of the British Isles. Instead of focusing on fees, the next government really needs to look at the affordability of student living, adjusting
our maintenance grants to cover the spiraling cost of housing and food over the past few years. In addition if they really want to encourage students from poorer background to attend university, then they need to increase the means-tested amount they can borrow and should consider creating a comprehensive nation wide bursary scheme that targets students from schools in economically deprived areas. The second problem with the current system is that we have a four-tiered system of tuition fees, which means that a child born in a poor district in Birmingham pays £9000 per year, whilst a wealthy private-school-educated Scottish child can be educated at our governments expense for free. Yes the English are on average better off than the declining Welsh mining regions, and the conflict torn areas of Northern Ireland, but what about the impoverished areas of London, Birmingham and Manchester, the rapidly declining North East and the mass migration of young people out of Cornwall and Devon. I do strongly support devolution to the British regions, but their are some areas such as income taxation and tuition fees policy where differential rates are simply unjust. In this proposed system the amount you pay would reflect the area and the financial background that you come from. In other words our national higher education policy would encourage the development and investment in skills and industry in the regions that need it the most. Given that employees in London earn £8000 more than the national average, is it really unreasonable to ask them to pay a proportional tuition for their children’s education. Whilst such a policy would obviously be very contentious and hard to implement, I truly feel that in a similar manner to the European Union's regional development fund, it would create a more equitable, balanced society for all.
Khaled Hosseini and the Disappearing Written Magic Olivia Hyde Commentator
Since reading ‘The Kite Runner’ in 2010 and falling in love with Khaled Hosseini and his powerful written word, I have been one of his biggest fans, continuously recommending his novels to anyone who cared to listen. When I began reading ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ and found I loved it even more than his first novel, it was like a dream come true. Not only are the main female characters some of the most inspiring and compelling in twenty-first century literature, but the story overall has to be one of the most devastating and simultaneously hopeful. With the ‘Kite Runner’ and ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’, Hosseini broke my heart and put it back together again within 384 pages. So, you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Hosseini’s latest novel, ‘And The Mountains Echoed’ was to be released back in May 2013. I rushed to Waterstones to get my copy as soon as possible, all the while in blissful anticipation of lying on a sunbed on the coast of Florida with one of my favourite contemporary authors for company. Nothing could be sweeter, right? Wrong. It didn’t hit me until quite a way in. In fact, looking back, perhaps I told myself to give it some time, let it get going...but, that was the thing. It never did get going. The story never really took off. It breaks my heart to admit it, but the entire novel passed by and nothing really touched me. Nothing
broke my heart, nothing made it warm up. The major issue, for me, was that the novel flitted between several different stories, which was a break from Hosseini’s usual tradition, where he immerses you so deeply into the life of a single character, it’s often easy to believe
they exist. But with this book that never happened. I had no time to fall in love with a character because I never spent long enough getting to know them. For once, Hosseini had broken my heart for the wrong reasons. Despite this, I still return to ‘The Kite Runner’ and ‘A Thousand Splendid
Suns’ quite often. I still stand-by my claim that they are two of the most beautiful stories ever to be told. I still love and admire Khaled Hosseini for everything he is and believes in. For it is his previous novels that make me forgive him for causing me to doubt him, and apologise that I ever did.
redbrick.me/comment
10th - 19th March 2015
09
Press Review: The Daily Telegraph vs. The Guardian Robert Jones Commentator
As it has done so frequently in recent history, the ugly side of print journalism has reared its head once again. Over the past few weeks several voices within the press have, perhaps unintentionally, managed to detract all attention away from one of the biggest UK financial scandals since LIBOR rigging. Shortly after its explosion as a major news story, the HSBC tax avoidance scandal was set upon by exDaily Telegraph Chief Political Commentator Peter Oborne as a spring-
"The ugly side of print journalism has reared its head once again." board to accuse his former employer of allowing commercial partners to influence the quantity and placement of reputation damaging coverage within the paper. The exposé may not have come as much of a surprise to many but the key difference between Oborne's piece and the shower of self-righteous editorials in other publications that followed it was the simple fact that it acknowledged that such corporate interference is an industry-wide practice. In the days following, The Guardian jumped on the Oborne bandwagon seeing it as an opportunity to humiliate its conservative rival. A leading article was published detailing everything Oborne had to throw at his former employer minus the
admission that they themselves were also probably guilty of allowing commercial partners to influence news output. The Times followed suit with a further irresponsible attack on The Telegraph. Both attacks paved the way for a potentially unfounded and possibly libellous retaliation from the Telegraph who plastered their front page with dangerous claims that the owners of The Times had overworked its Commercial department staff to the point where two had taken their own lives. In the same issue editors subtly threw a low blow back at The Guardian accusing them of hypocrisy in allowing Apple to influence the content of a Iraq war piece which can only be seen as a prime example of 'pot calling the kettle black' . The unnecessary spite and vehemence of the Telegraph's response however seems almost insignificant however by comparison to the unintelligence of The Guardian editors and co. who should have seen the hypocrisy accusations coming from the off. The entire fiasco has seemed to have served no one and once again put into question our faith in print media. Peter Oborne and
"The bottom line for The Daily Telegraph, like any other corporation, is its profit margins." readers of the Telegraph have every right to be angry, but in fairness the rest of the print media were blatantly uncalculated in their self-righteous response to Oborne's accusa-
tions. If anything though, the fiasco should raise the question of press freedom. The bottom line for The Daily Telegraph, like any other corporation, is its profit margins. I would never excuse their coverage (or moreover, lack of it), their overzealous response to criticism nor their pandering to big money advertisers but their primary duty is unfortunately to its shareholders, not its readers. At its core the issue of press freedom revolves around this apparent paradox that our free press
"Our free press as an industry is not a united body, by its very nature no one faction of it has a monopoly of influence" may in fact not be the champion of free social democracy we see it to be. Business interests' influence over news coverage is an alarming, but unsurprising, demonstration of how blatantly incompatible liberal democratic systems and capitalism can be. I believe however that we should consider ourselves lucky. If one paper, for whatever reason, chooses not to publish a story deemed to be in the public interest you can almost always guarantee that the very same story, if big enough, will be broken by any number of other rival publications (as was the case with the HSBC tax scandal). Our free press as an industry is not a united body, by its very nature no one faction of it has a monopoly of influence,
it is a competitive smorgasbord of competing rival voices. Therefore what does it matter to The Guardian and others that The Daily Telegraph failed to publish anything of any significance on the HSBC scandal when the truth is that nobody with any knowledge of how the free press funds itself would be surprised that a newspaper could be so restrained by its commercial partners? The public's right to know about HSBC's tax setup was fulfilled when it was disclosed by BBC Panorama, The Guardian and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists to name but a few. I can only hope now that if loyal Telegraph readers were in anyway disappointed or left in the dark then they will in future they consider getting their news from multiple outlets. All I would expect however is for readers to not let our press establishment wither on the vine. It may be a dirty industry but with a significant lack of any real competition between the alternative of rolling TV news channels, it's a industry which needs to be saved. The press may pander to big money advertisers but at least all its factions don't pander to just one investor so uniformly. Ultimately this leaves me in a very confused position, for all its morally questionable practices, sensationalism and pandering to private enterprise I cannot even begin to suggest that the press should be anything other than self-regulated: it's a shame but I can accept the press only for what it is, all its faults accounted for, and not for what it could, or should, be.
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10 10th - 19th March 2015
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Music
Redbrick Meets: The Cribs Matt McCrory Music Critic
We're chatting with Gary, Ryan and Ross, the three brothers who make up The Cribs. We're sitting in Alfie Birds, a restaurant adjoined to the Oobleck, and chatting about their new album, air-miles and playing in smaller venues.
"It's difficult not to recognise a Cribs song from the signature sharp guitar lines and shared vocals" A few hours later and 350 people pack the sold-out venue, chanting the riff to 'Another Number' and waiting for the boys. It's a comfortable but excited atmosphere and the small venue amplifies it to fever pitch. 'It's nice to mix it up from time to time,' Ryan states. 'Yeah, it can be a little bit too intense with people in the crowd at times. As soon as you start playing the stage gets invaded and at that point the music sort of becomes secondary.' 'We still thrive off of playing smaller venues,' Gary adds; 'for a lot of people it's about the overall experience and having that interaction'. With super-hits like 'Men's Needs' and 'Our Bovine Public' amongst the set, there was no surprise at the sheer amount of crowd participation. Crowd-surfers flew towards the band and infectious riffs caused huge jump-alongs from wall to wall. Hits from their previous albums populated the majority of their set and saw the most enthusiasm from the audience. Songs from the band's upcoming effort For All My Sisters also saw some coverage in the set-list. 'An Ivory Hand' and 'Burning For No One' were already recognisable to
Live Review: Leddra Chapman @ The Sunflower Lounge Cate Spree Music Critic
@katespree
On Wednesday evening I headed down to the Sunflower Lounge (for the first time!) to see the lovely Ledra Chapman and the equally lovely support act Lee Broderick. Ledra Chapman has enjoyed great success: Radio 2 named her song 'All About You' single of the week, she's supported Tom Jones and has worked with Ed Sheeran, so she's kind of a big deal!
"The two had great chemistry and visibly enjoyed sharing the stage" When I descended the stairs into the unbelievably intimate venue, Lee was just commencing his polished set. Decked in a checked shirt with a beard to boot, he was every inch the typical acoustic singer songwriter. The tiny venue created a unique intimacy that made Lee's performance incredibly touching; as if he were playing for his mates in his bedroom. A song dedicated to a friend who had passed away had me questioning the strength of my tear ducts. He went on to abandon his 6-stringed friend, sliding the guitar to the side and using his hands and feet for a percusive accompaniment. The crowd was quick to clap and stamp along to the beat, for which Lee was grateful, claiming this was the only
fans after their recent release ahead of the album and prompted happy sing-alongs. Unheard new songs, like 'Mr Wrong' and 'Pink Snow' were unveiled and received positively despite being unfamiliar to the audience. 'The album kind of sub-consciously became more of a New York record. Our producer [Ric Ocasek] lives over there and so do I, so it was sort of the natural thing to do', Gary tells us. Their new material definitely has a feel of the familiar about it. It's difficult not to recognise a Cribs song from their signature sharp guitar lines and shared vocals, but with international writing sessions and recording done in New York, the new material debuted at The Oobleck takes on a much more mature aesthetic. Explaining the more rock-and-roll side of touring, Gary explains how the brothers see each other over such large distances; 'We've got it all figured out. We tour so much that we accrue a lot of air miles. So whenever we're not on the road we can just visit each other with air miles'. They may live in different countries, but hearing older classics at the show later it sounds like the boys have never been apart.
"Crowd-surfers flew towards the band amongst countless infectious riffs" The Cribs put on a rousing performance at The Oobleck. Packing out one of the smallest venues in Digbeth definitely added to the frenzied atmosphere, and moments like 'Another Number' and 'City of Bugs' set to unify a passionate crowd. Gary, Ryan and Ross proved to be three of the nicest guys to talk to and their fun and jokey atmosphere came across as infectiously onstage as it did over a drink and a chat.
night of the tour when the audience had actually joined in! After Lee's beautiful performance he was joined by Ledra for several duets that were reminiscent of those she did with Ed Sheeran. Lee and Ledra performed together effortlessly. The two had great chemistry and visibly enjoyed being on stage together, so much so that I couldn't resist asking Ledra after the gig if their was anything going on between them, but alas there was not. Ledra's solo performance was charming. She sung funny songs that were very easy for me to relate to, as a girl similar to Ledra in age. Her songs about ex-boyfriends made me feel like we'd bonded in a way normally exclusive to drunk conversations in girls' club toilets. One of my favorites was 'I Got Rhythm,' about stalking your exboyfriend's new girlfriend on Facebook and comparing yourself to them in every way: story of my life. Her cover of Jamie T's 'Sheila' got a great reception as the audience, by this time quite merry, began singing along and dancing and it was a really nice twist to hear it sung in a high pitched voice and to a more optimistic tune than the original, assisted by Ledra's natural cheer.
"Her cover of Jamie T's 'Sheila' got a great reception" After the gig Lee and Ledra stayed at the Sunflower Lounge for a few drinks and ended up heading to Snobs with myself and some friends. They were both so down-toearth and I hope to have the chance to see them perform again some time.
redbrick.me/music
10th - 19th March 2015
11
Tweet of the Week: @NMELists: "15 Questions We Were Going To Ask Alex Turner But Instead We Just Sat There Twirling Our Hair And Giggling"
Single Review: Warpaint - No Way Out (redux) Blaise Radley
Music Editor 'Never again/ Will I play that game with you' sings Emily Kokal on the first in a series of new singles from Warpaint. These opening lines lay out the haunted character at the centre of 'No Way Out (Redux)', and though it's a character fans of Warpaint will be familiar with, it's no less effective. Though it starts off solemn and contemplative, with a melancholy central riff to boot, the band refuses to sit still. Despite being just over 3 minutes long, the song has several clear-cut sections, veering from Emily's woeful initial statement to a pareddown yet melodic chant, before shifting up a gear to what you might even call angsty.
Conrad Duncan Music Critic
@conradduncan1
Before he was Father John Misty, Joshua Tillman escaped his oppressive Christian upbringing, moved to Seattle to make a collection of lo-fi folk records and gained minor fame as the drummer in Fleet Foxes. Then, at some point in 2009, something changed. Tillman cleaned up his act, got a haircut and a collection of suit jackets and traded earnest sincerity for witty cynicism. The result of this experiment, 2012's Fear Fun, was interesting but somewhat incomplete. Three years later, on I Love You, Honeybear, Tillman has looked inward to make something more complex, wiser and open-hearted than anything he's produced before. Anyone who sets out to write a concept album about themselves should be heading for a fall yet somehow it's arguably the first exceptional album of 2015. Starting with the title track, much of the album is concerned with Tillman's relation-
"Even when it seems like he's joking, he brings something genuine" ship with his wife, and elsewhere, he criticises the emptiness of modern life... It all seems at first like fairly standard stuff for an album filled largely with heavily orchestrated ballads but these topics are viewed from unusual angles, whether with the faux, cutesy pet-name of the title track or when he unloads some of his unappealing character traits on 'The Ideal Husband'. Musically,
Tillman takes his cues from the singersongwriters of the 1970s, with influences from Elton John and Harry Nilsson appearing throughout. Only on 'True Affection' does the album really deviate from traditional territory, introducing a synth-pop backing to lyrics about Tillman's frustration over his inability to connect with people through technology. If it wasn't for the often disarming moments of honesty on the record, I Love You, Honeybear could easily have become a pretentious mess. However, Tillman manages to incorporate elements of his early sincerity into his new sound. Even when it seems like he's joking he brings something genuine to his writing. On the album's highlight 'Bored in the USA' he starts as a pastiche of the earnest singer songwriter, slumped over his piano. Towards the end, a sitcom laugh track appears as Tillman laments his 'useless education' and 'sub-prime loan' in a moment that's equally disturbing and heart-breaking. When he appeared on Letterman to play the song last year the audience stayed silent for a few seconds after finishing, unsure whether they were meant to laugh or cry, and that effect is what makes the album so special. Throughout the album, Tillman is keen to avoid clichĂŠs but does not shy away from heartfelt emotions. His expressions of love are as honest as any songwriter around today even when they are presented through a deeply cynical alter-ego. Sincerity can often be clunky, most often when it's genuine. I Love You, Honeybear embraces that idea and may prove to be the turning point in Tillman's career. It may only be March but as Father John Misty, Tillman has made the first contender for album of the year.
Album Review: Father John Misty I Love You, Honeybear
Single Review: Everything Everything Distant Past from previous singles. This quick-tempo song is full of energy and represents a new Rosie Goldsmith Music Critic
Everything Everything's previous single release was back in 2013, and the recent unveiling of 'Distant Past' marks the band shaking off the dust and rekindling the attention their music should be receiving. It has been a long time coming, and does not disappoint. The track sees Everything Everything surface from the still waters of the last two years with a gulp of fresh air - the buoyant, electronica beats demonstrating a step up
By gradually introducing various instruments whilst also slowly turning up the reverb and distortion, the band successfully convey the image of someone who is truly lost. You can feel the change in emotion from regret to fear to frustration, and though it could sound forced, it somehow avoids feeling contrived. Thanks to its bite-sized length and addictive tonal shifts, 'No Way Out (Redux)' has become my latest aural opiate. Each time the vocals begin to fade out I find my finger inexplicably reaching for the replay button, whilst a lone bead of sweat crawls down my forehead. Though it may have only been a year since their last album, it's still damn good to have Warpaint back.
chapter for Everything Everything, despite its title. Lyrically, 'Distant Past' is a feast for puzzle-lovers, with the obscurity of Everything Everything's word choice exemplified throughout: 'Two thumbs across the Rubicon / Slack jaw but you'll never be passing it on'. However this does not detract from the catchiness of the song, which will sneak its way into your head until you realise you're humming the melody with reckless abandon in the quiet zone of the Library. The band flourishes in fusing motifs created from an assortment of sounds, melodies
and vocals to create a track that somehow completes itself. Lead vocalist Jonathan Higgs' distinctly falsetto voice brands 'Distant Past' as irrefutably Everything Everything's and demonstrates the band's ability to jump around musically whilst maintaining the essence of what can be found at their nucleus.
"The track represents a whole new chapter for Everything Everything, despite the title" Although they may be looking deep into the past on its lead single, Everything Everything's new album sounds like one to look forward to.
12 10th - 19th March 2015
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Culture
RENT at the Guild Imogen Tink went along to the latest Guild production and let us know what she thought. 'RENT' is the acclaimed rock musical brought to the stage by Jonathan Larson in 1996. It focuses on a group of people, the 'Bohemians', living in New York at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the late 1990s, who form a community based on the values of living life through love. Their highs, lows, heartbreaks and joys are documented throughout. However 'RENT' is not comfortable viewing, as the show deals with the unsettling and harsh realities of city living: sexuality, drug abuse, AIDS and poverty are subjects that guide the plot. One particular song begins with the lyrics 'living in America', but this eventually changes to 'dying in America' - not your average 'Mamma Mia' or 'Grease'. Yet this simply does not matter. The dynamism and vivacity of the small but strong cast conveys the values of the 'Bohemian' community to great effect. It was clear to the audience that strong friendships within the cast were made in the creation of
the performance, and this came across very well on the stage. The amount of energy required was phenomenal and was delivered by each member of the cast. Many numbers required vigorous movement and dance, but this did not take away from the power of the singing. I was impressed with the clarity of the voices – bearing in mind that there is very little nonsinging dialogue, the lyrics were not lost in the action of the songs like they often are in musicals. A particular favourite was 'Tango Maureen', performed by Mark (Geddy Stringer) and Joanne (Ami Love), where the two characters essentially 'tango it out' to vent their frustrations over fellow Bohemian, Maureen (Alice Edwards). Incidentally Maureen’s rendition of 'Over the Moon' brought the house down, as did the whole cast’s performance of 'La Vie Bohème'. But the most powerful performance goes out to Angel (James Kitching), with 'Contact', a
song that conveys the terror and isolation of someone dying from AIDS, with a profound and upsetting effect.
"the quality of the cast was matched by the excellent accompanying music." Of course the quality of the cast was matched by the excellent accompanying music. The atmosphere of the entire production was enhanced by the presence of a live band, providing the mixture of mellow and energetic tunes. They almost became part of the set, hidden beneath some of the staging. The set itself was well designed, with scaffolding showing the zig-zag nature of New
York’s skyline. Most of the action happened on the stage rather than the scaffolding, showing the difference between the highflying and wealthy New York scene, and the real people on the ground. Affectionate references to popular culture of the time, such as posters bearing the message 'Clapton is God' and advertising 'The Clash', were distributed around the set and made me smile - little details like this created a sense of authenticity. 'RENT' concludes with an overwhelming sense of love, but not in a sentimental way. The musical shows the lives of real people with flaws and problems just like anyone else, and how they struggle in the face of diversity. One of the concluding songs, 'Finale B', contains the lyric 'No other road, no other way, no day like today' – this ended the show with optimism, leaving each member of the audience feeling uplifted for a long time afterwards.
Coming soon to Birmingham: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Editor James Phillips has a sneaky preview of a fantastic show which is on its way to Birmingham! Mark Haddon’s novel has always been one of my favourite books and so when it was announced that it would be made into a stage production, it became one of my dreams to get along to the theatre and see it. This year, this dream materialised. The play (and book) follows the life of Christopher Boone (Graham Butler), a teenage boy who has an unspecified mental disability often considered to be a form of autism. Christopher, who lives with his father Ed (Nicholas Tennant) after the death of his mother Judy (Emily Joyce), narrates the book and it is entirely from his perspective. It begins with the discovery of the murder of a neighbour’s dog, and Christopher’s decision to investigate the death of the dog. As he proceeds with his investigation, he discovers new things about his past and his family, and old tensions resurface. Throughout, Christopher records his find-
ings and thoughts in a book, a school project, which becomes the real-life published version. The rather small but grand theatre gave the audience a sense of intimacy with the cast and this was only intensified with infrequent lines directed at the audience and almost in-jokes at points. Every line kept you enthralled and, when the interval arrived, you just wished for the play to start again already. There were even moments where I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat (and not just to see over the edge of the balcony). Graham Butler portrayed Christopher perfectly, accurately demonstrating his thoughts, feelings, and the experiences associated with the disability. His relationship with his mentor Siobhan (Sarah Woodward) was effectively displayed and how core this bond was in his life was emphasised perfectly. Nicholas Tennant and Emily Joyce as
Christopher's parents Ed and Judy respectively gave sterling performances, demonstrating the anguish, heartbreak and conflict within the family’s circle, leaving the audience with tears in their eyes and shivers up their spines at moments. Many of the cast members also played minor characters, but their transition into these roles was seamless and, whilst caught up in the play, it was difficult to even notice that this was happening. The use of the stage was magical. As a book with so many locations to portray, it was perfectly designed and utilised to distinguish where Christopher was. When Christopher was on the London Underground, an escalator popped out of the back wall and tube tracks out of the floor. Projectors were used to aid our understanding of Christopher’s senses and the sensory overload he experiences as part of his disability. Both the floor and the walls were cupboards, where he
would withdraw items from throughout the play, and he used chalk considerably to demonstrate his points. Some seats were designated prime number seats 'by Christopher', although the importance of the prime number was not alluded to throughout the production. If you were unfamiliar with the book, this would seem almost entirely random. However, lucky theatregoers in these seats could win a prize if the letters in their name added up to a prime number. The play was magnificent and all credit is due to Simon Stephens, who adapted it from the novel, the director Marianne Elliott, and the cast who provided a first-rate performance. But, the fantastic use of the stage and technology to illustrate the story proves that you should never forget about the behind-the-scenes technicians, so they should be particularly applauded for their incredible effort in this premier production.
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10th - 19th March 2015
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Cirkopolis at the Hippodrome Imogen Tink interviewed Ashley Carr from Cirkopolis to find out more about this new production which everyone is talking about! 'Cirkopolis' is a show containing a combination of circus arts, music, dance and theatre which aims to transport the audience into a world where the distinction between dreams and reality is blurred. Twelve multidisciplinary artists perform circus acts that will captivate and amaze the audience. I was lucky enough to chat with Ashley Carr, a member of this incredibly talented group. When asked whether he had always been interested in circus performance, Ashley revealed that he came into the industry quite late, at the age of 25, and apparently used to be more interested in jogging! Inspired by the street shows he saw whilst spending time in Greece, he joined the National Centre for Circus Arts and graduated in 2001. Since then it has been onwards and upwards – Ashley participates in juggling
and floor acrobatics. He is interested in becoming more involved in the clown aspects of circus performance as he wants to establish a connection with the audience and to encourage them to appreciate the simple pleasures of live performance. In a world where consumerism, electronic screens and mobile phones are so prevalent, this is an excellent message to send out. Ashley also said that he would like people to come out of the show feeling uplifted: the opening scene mimics a mundane, monotonous office environment that many people can relate to, but this is transformed into something completely different throughout the performance. Along with this, the show has something for everyone – Ashley warmly encouraged people of all ages to come and see this broad reaching performance.
In discussion of his fellow artists, he described them as generous performers, putting their bodies on the line for the show;
he concluded by describing 'Cirkopolis' itself as 'exhilarating, touching and humorous' and 'full of humanity'.
Coppélia at the Hippodrome Dean Eastmond makes a visit to see Birmingham Royal Ballet in their latest production Having found myself completely enchanted by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of 'Serenade', 'Lyric Pieces' and 'In the Upper Room' in their show 'Moving Stateside', I somehow find myself located back at the Birmingham Hippodrome for 'Coppélia'. I think I’m hooked, and rightly so... Writing a review for a ballet is hard when it leaves you speechless. Everything was en pointe (it seemed a fitting phrase to use; pardon the pun). Act I opened with Coppélia’s infamous 'Prelude', composed by Leo Delibes, revealing an eloquent set that the Birmingham Royal Ballet was to immerse themselves within. The show centralises around the story of Dr Coppelius, a magician (and a bit of an idiot) and his doll whom he tries to bring to life: Coppélia. Virtuosic mannerisms emitted from the orchestra pit, aided both the gentle
comedy and the raw talent that was seen.
"Five stars could not even do Coppélia justice." As expected, Céline Gittens and Tyrone Singleton, who played 'Swanilda' and 'Franz' respectively, completely stole the show. Not only were they incredible performers in their own right, but the bond between them was so clear that it left us, the audience, itching for more. Having seen them both, alongside the majority of the case, in 'Moving Stateside', it was incredible to witness how versatile the Birmingham Royal Ballet are in terms of switching between different forms
of ballet. This was extenuated further in Act II, when Gittens not only effortlessly adopted the role of Coppélia, but a Scottish and Spanish doll. Classical ballet does not get any better than this. We are so lucky to have such an incredible and prestigious group of dancers right on our doorstep. Minus a slight wardrobe malfunction in which the lining of a dress came undone, everything was as perfect as I imagined it was going to be. The problem with the dress made no difference, proving that the BRB can work through anything. Act III was the Act that saw the Birmingham Royal Ballet mean business. In a narrative-driven section, soloists and group dances would take place at the 'Festival of the Bell'. Delia Matthews completely blew the Hippodrome away in her solo, with the guy sat behind me murmur-
ing 'amazing' to himself. Everything was of military precision, but it still felt real. Likewise, the all-male fanfare-esque dance, led by Oliver Till, left me completely awestruck (I’m still trying to comprehend how bodies are able to do the things I saw them do).
"Writing a review for a ballet is hard when it leaves you speechless." I cannot stress enough how imperative it is that you go and see a BRB production. Five stars could not even do Coppélia jus-
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10th - 19th March 2015
Food
Freezer-Friendly Foods A helpful guide to freezing food, from food-safety tips to suggestions for freezing everyday foods that you may not have ever considered doing until now. Carys Allott Food Writer
Cooking meals then freezing them is a great way to save time and money. If you cook in bulk the first time around all you need to do is defrost and reheat when you fancy it, and voilà you have a decent meal ready in minutes! Additionally, it is a great way to make your food go further and prevent waste. This guide will give you the do’s and don’ts of freezing food and hopefully suggest some freezer-friendly foods that you may not be aware of. Curry, lasagne, soup, sausages, bolognese, casserole and chilli con carne are all great hearty home comfort foods that can be made then frozen for you to enjoy in the future, but here is a list of some other foods that you can keep fresh by freezing.
Cake
Freezer food tips:
Yes cake. On the rare occasion that there is cake left over it can be frozen. Make sure it is well sealed and when defrosting leave for around 3 hours.
Portion friendly- Freeze food in portion sizes (split packages of sausages/ bacon etc.)
Grated cheese
Bag it up / seal it well- Make sure the food is sealed or covered, squeeze all the air out of the bag if using freezer bags
When frozen it can last up to 4 months and can be used straight from the freezer in or on hot meals, or straight into a sandwich where it will be defrosted by lunch time.
Know when it was frozen- If possible label the date and what the food is
Garlic This is particularly useful when you have no choice but to buy the 3 pack of garlic bulbs. Simply put the other two in the freezer to keep them fresher for future.
Freshly squeezed juice If you only like the fresh juice you can still stock up but just freeze the other cartons for use at a later date.
Milk Bread Don’t let the rest of that loaf go to waste! Stick it in the freezer. It can be put straight in the toaster for toast, or defrosted in the microwave for a few seconds and it will be sandwich-ready.
Only freeze if unopened. It can take up to 3 days to thaw in the fridge but it will still last 5-7 days after thawing. Some of you might find it easier to just pop to the shops to buy milk as and when you need.
Eggs If cracked first, these can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer or frozen into an ice cube tray then transferred into a freezer bag. Make sure they are completely defrosted when you need to use them.
Pizza dough Herbs If you are a dab hand in the kitchen and use fresh herbs then these can be cut up and mixed with a bit of olive oil then frozen in an ice cube tray. Pop out the cubes and store in a freezer bag, then when needed simply add the cube to the meal you are making.
Making pizza from scratch is a more fun and healthy option to takeaway or shop bought pizza. Have a night in with your housemates, buy whatever toppings you fancy then freeze any leftover raw dough so you can do it all again another time (but without the messy dough making part!)
Yogurt Add chopped up fresh fruit to yogurt of your choice then freeze to make a delicious low-fat and low-calorie substitution for ice cream. Yogurt tends to separate when thawed, so I suggest sticking to the frozen yogurt pudding!
Defrost correctly- Thawing food at room temperature can encourage bacteria growth so defrosting in the microwave or fridge can be safer. Always ensure it is completely thawed and cooked before eating it. Avoid re-freezing- If the meat was defrosted correctly then it can be cooked into a sauce and the sauce can be frozen e.g. mincemeat in bolognese sauce. Double check this for specific foods though If in doubt. throw it out- It's better to be safe than sorry but check online for advice about freezing foods.
Top Five Student Superfoods Sophie Neal Food Writer
As students, we are all guilty of resorting to fish fingers and curly fries for dinner because it’s quick and easy. However, eating meals like this every night results in a horrible sluggish feeling as well as making you feel a little bloated. Contrary to the belief of many,
it is entirely possible to find foods that nourish your body and give you a kick start to improving your daily eating habits. Versatile foods are essential in making these foods work for you and make your meals extra delicious whilst keeping you fuller for longer. You can now put your Mum’s mind at rest that you’re getting your vitamins without the help of Berocca. I guarantee these foods will make you feel awesome!
Eggs Easy to find in every supermarket, eggs are probably the most versatile ingredient for students. They make an ideal breakfast as they will fill you up until lunchtime. Scramble, boil, poach or fry them the possibilities are endless. Eggs are underrated for their nutrition as well. Packed with vitamins, calcium, protein and omega 3, an egg a day surely keeps the doctor away? Though I’m not sure whether this is still maintained if you use them to make cake. Avocados Did you know that avocadoes are a fruit? A berry to be exact. They are a great way to get your 5 a day and are more versatile than people realise – not just for guacamole! With a rich buttery texture, you can spread avocado on toast then top with tomatoes or poached eggs for a filing breakfast to take you through until lunchtime. You can also use them in fajitas and salads. These are also packed with vitamins that will benefit the health of nails, hair and skin. A serious super food. Bananas They aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but if you start swapping your mid-morning Mars bar for a banana, you could start to see a difference to your energy and concentration levels. They contain potassium which is an essential part of our diets. Bananas also aid digestion as well as helping low moods and
(Photo credit: sweat.burnthis.com)
irregular sleep patterns as they help the production of serotonin. Now do you like the sound of bananas? If you can’t eat them, introduce them into your diet by putting them into smoothies or on your morning cereal. Salmon This is a little more expensive, but you can keep it cheap by buying frozen fillets. Salmon is known for its high omega 3 content. This is your brain food! Salmon is also high in protein and vitamin D which is the vitamin most of us lack in the winter. A vitamin D deficiency is attributed to low moods so this versatile fish could give you a helping hand. Perfect in a stir fry or on its own with some steamed veg, this is a great meal for hungry students in need of some brain food! Blueberries A known true ‘superfood’ blueberries are the perfect sweet fruit to snack on if you’re craving sugar. They help to speed up the metabolism making them the ideal snack or ingredient in smoothies. These little babies are also packed with antioxidants and vitamin K which is crucial in helping cuts to heal as it assists the blood to clot. They are an easy way to eat your way to five a day and are delicious with yoghurt and cereal! They are reasonably cheap from places like Aldi so you can afford to add them into your weekly shop!
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10th - 19th March 2015
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Recipe of the Fortnight: Lemon cake with lemon cheesecake icing Ideal for Mother's Day! Take a look at our recipes on www.redbrick.me/food/recipes
Review: MinMin Noodle Bar It's the battle of the Asian cuisine restaurants but who comes out on top, the much-loved chain Wagamama's or the Japanese authentic independent alternative MinMin? Georgia Priestley Food Writer
Like most people I have grown to love East Asian food. Within the last couple of years the chain giant Wagamama has taken the world by storm, introducing us all to the delights of comforting Ramen and delectable Donburi; of moreish Edamame and vibrantly flavourful Pad-Thai. However, whenever I take my place in the line of fellow Japanese-loving diners, I always feel slightly depressed. Yes the food is good, but it is none the less a chain restaurant; a faceless institution focused around raking in the big bucks. Maybe it’s the lefty in me, but I’d just rather eat at an independent restaurant; somewhere more authentic that has a passion for serving delicious food, rather than a commercialised chain interested solely in making big profit (last year Wagamama’s pre-tax profit was £17.6 million). So I was delighted when I came across MinMin Noodle Bar. Located in the Chinese Quarter on Bromsgrove street, this small independent restaurant offers a wide range of traditional Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese dishes. The cuisine is inspired by local cafes encountered on their travels of East Asia, bringing an authentic atmosphere of the Orient to Birmingham. I was highly excited to pay it a visit and compare it to the dining experience at Wagamama. Would I be able to find the authentic taste of Japan, rather than the toned down version Wagamama offers for the more delicate Western palate. When we arrived at MinMin I found
"MinMin's version of the Chicken Teriyaki Ramen is farpunchier and fuller in flavour" myself pleasantly surprised by the interior. After reading up about the place I foolishly expected the restaurant to be decked with light wooden benches, and dimly lit with soft Oriental music playing. Maybe there
would be an old lady wearing a kimono in the corner lighting incense sticks and cutting noodles by hand. But I encountered the complete opposite. The place is decorated in bright white and electric green, giving it a super modern feel. And there are tables! Unlike at Wagamama where us Brits are forced to confront our innate social awkwardness by sitting next to strangers on the long benches, MinMin allows you to enjoy your meal with the comfort of having your own table. Yes, this means you won’t be able to eavesdrop on the awkward first date sat next to you, but then again you shouldn’t be so nosy anyway. Once seated we were left to peruse the menu. Immediately the authenticity of the food was evident; there were definitely some very adventurous options including pork ear, duck tongue and jelly fish. On this occasion however I plumped for the grilled Chicken Teriyaki Ramen. The noodles are imported from Hong Kong, and you can choose which ones you want to absorb all that Ramen goodness. The broth was incredibly rich, with a real depth of flavour and the perfect balance of heat, sourness, sweetness and saltiness. There are perfectly cooked vibrant greens and a rich soft boiled egg marinated in soy. The chicken was moist on the inside and delightfully sticky on the outside from the Teriyaki glaze. To conclude, this is the best ramen I have ever tasted. The Chicken Ramen in Wagamama is good, but MinMin’s is far punchier and fuller in flavour. My friend ordered the beef Massaman curry; tender strips of beef in a rich coconut cream sauce, subtly spiced and served complemented well with perfectly sticky rice. We also shared fried Wontons and the mango and prawn salad. The salad was deliciously sweet and refreshing, and the addition of peanuts created a pleasant crunch. However I found the Wontons to be slightly greasy. The alternative at Wagamama, the Gyoza, are lighter and more crisp in texture. And while we’re on the subject of sides, I was very disappointed my beloved Edamame was not to be found on MinMin’s menu. It would have been nice to enjoy my favourite salty savoury snack while we waited for the
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"Pricewise MinMin is muchkinder to your wallet, their Chicken Ramen costs £7.50 compared to Wagamama's at £8.95" food. Unfortunately the food did take a long time to come. We dined on a quiet Wednesday evening, yet the food took around 30 minutes to arrive. But at least our meals came at the same time, unlike at Wagamama where one of you will inevitably be left waiting for your food once everyone has been served. In terms of price MinMin is kinder to your wallet. The chicken ramen cost £7.50 whereas Wagamama’s version costs £8.95
for the same sized portion. A small difference, but that extra £1.45 is enough to buy you nine and a half tins of Aldi’s finest rice pudding, or is nearly enough to buy you an extra bottle of Carlsberg at Snobs. On average all of MinMin’s dishes are slightly cheaper. Only three of their dishes break the £10 mark, whereas Wagamama has twentyone dishes that are over £10. In summary, MinMin Noodle Bar is the perfect independent alternative to the chain giant Wagamama's. The portions are equally generous in size yet are packed with more flavour and cost you less. If you can’t live without the classic Chicken Katsu Curry or a side of Edamame beans then I suggest you stick to Wagamama’s. If you want to be more adventurous and experience an authentic taste of the Orient, whilst simultaneously supporting your local independent food scene, MinMin is a must to visit.
Stress Busting Flavonoids Do you feel guilty after comfort eating? Food Editor Sarah Dickinson investigates the unexpected benefits of our favourite temptations. Sarah Dickinson Food Editor
As students we are all surely already feeling the mounting pressures of academic work to be completed. With the end of the spring semester in sight and the fears of having to sit end of year exams in a few months quickly becoming a reality, there’s no question that the stress of it all is reaching a definite peak. Being a 3rd year final student I know I would definitely include myself in this category. I remember I first came to Birmingham excited to start living the totally independent (well, to an extent) student lifestyle, with good intentions to cook and continue cooking a wide variety of homemade meals that I might have never attempted at home before. Due to a combination of general laziness and lack of dedication to academic work for the majority of my first year I managed to accomplish this challenge, although I can
safely say that my good intentions have slowly gone downhill since then. Nowadays more often that not I find myself reaching for the nearest convenience foods I can find and at this point in time worrying about dramatic changes to my diet is the bottom of my priorities. We all know carbohydrate and fat-rich foods are bad for our health in the long-haul but sometimes even that knowledge doesn’t prevent us from indulging in these oh so tasty treats when we’re experiencing increased levels of stress. So why? We’re all familiar with the drive to consume more comfort foods when in low mood states in order to make ourselves feel better about whatever it is that’s causing this low mood. However, there has been scientific research conducted to show that consumption of some comfort foods, such as chocolate, can actually help to reduce stress by decreasing levels of stress-related hormones in the body. Not only has consumption of
chocolate been linked to decreases in stress levels but also extensive research over the years has also suggested that dark chocolate in particular is associated with better cognitive functioning in the long-term. Specifically, the organic plant compounds known as Flavonoids that are found to naturally occur in foods such as dark chocolate seem to be behind these positive effects on cognitive well being. In a research review in 2008 it was highlighted that Flavonoids can improve memory and learning by having both an enhancing and protective effect on cells in the brain that are required for these processes related to good cognitive functioning. Flavonoids are also a naturally occurring element in various foods
"Flavonoids can improve memory and learning by having both an enhancing and protective effect on cells"
and drinks we have in our diets today. For example, grapes, green tea and blueberries all contain some form of Flavonoid. Which is good news for us, we already know that red wine and dark chocolate have some physical health benefits when eaten in moderation but the awareness that they have profound positive effects on learning, memory and general cognitive well-being is an added bonus! Not to mention the links between dark chocolate consumption and reductions in stress levels. Obviously we can’t speak for the potential positive effects of other known comfort foods, such as everybody’s beloved pizza –although once in a while never hurt right?!- However, if you’re going through a period of high stress and maybe wanting to maintain good cognitive well being through your diet; dark chocolate may just be the best friend you’ve needed all along. Remember though, everything in moderation, even dark chocolate overloads can bring foodie indulgence regrets later on!
16 10th - 19th March 2015
redbrick.me/photography
Photography Covert Campus
Cherona Chapman: Spring-time Daisies
Daniel Xu: Learning Centre and Computer Science
Faith Cooper: Aston Webb and Bramall
10th - 19th March 2015
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Kirsty Wu: Ashley Building, Strathcona and Muirhead
Liam Miller: University Centre
Tyler Green: Old Joe
Alexis Wright: Iris Flowers
Zoey Carter: Worcester and Birmingham Canal
18 10th - 19th March 2015
redbrick.me/television
Television
EastEnders' Live Week: Killer Drama?
Last week EastEnders became the soap on everyone's lips as the killer of Lucy Beale was revealed on live television: but was it the climactic ending we all hoped for? Critics Lauren Andrews and Nancy Turner debate the storyline's conclusion
"The emotional performances given were devastatingly good"
by Lauren Andrews
When it was first announced EastEnders’ writers were planning on killing off Lucy Beale, the daughter of Ian Beale, one of the longest-serving and most iconic characters on Albert Square, it came as quite the surprise. Even more surprising was the fact writers were going to keep viewers, and even some cast and crew, in the dark until almost a year later, when the soap would be celebrating its 30th anniversary. I was sceptical about the idea. I was positive dragging out the storyline for so long would lose the soap some interest. Having said that, I have been glued to my TV screen, constantly changing my mind about who I thought Lucy’s killer was and coming to the conclusion I had no idea (although, if I was going to bet money on any character, it would have been Lucy’s twin brother, Peter Beale). Thankfully, I am not the gambling type. After ten months of speculation, it was revealed live in last Thursday’s special flashback episode that innocent-faced Bobby Beale, Lucy’s 11-year-old halfbrother, was the killer. Jane Beale, Bobby’s adoptive mother, Lucy’s step-mother and the woman Ian married (again) merely hours before the truth came to light, had been covering up for the youngster. Talk about keeping it in the family.
This left me wondering how a child of such a young age had managed to cope for so long, knowing he had killed his sister. Of course, EastEnders answered this in last Friday’s fully live episode, where Jane confessed she had lied to Bobby by telling him Lucy had left the house after he hit her and been killed by someone else. I, for one, did not see this shocking final twist coming and I was impressed by the quality of the acting in the live episode. The emotional performances given by Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), Ben Hardy (Peter Beale) and Laurie Brett (Jane Beale) were devastatingly brilliant and Eliot Carrington (Bobby Beale) also performed excellently under the pressure, despite being only 12 years old, and thrust into the spotlight as the killer. The idea that an 11-year-old boy could accidentally kill his own sister is about as tragic as it gets, hence why I’m sure this storyline will be one of the soap’s more memorable ones. With over ten suspects in the frame for Lucy’s murder, Bobby, who cleverly hasn’t been featured in any publicity as a suspect, was definitely the most unlikely killer. This storyline has been the biggest ‘whodunit’ featured in EastEnders since Archie Mitchell was killed on Christmas Day in 2009 and Stacey Branning was exposed as the killer two months later. Don’t be surprised if the writers of EastEnders are hard at work as you are reading this, plotting another murder mystery that won’t reach its conclusion until at least the soap’s 50th anniversary. Although, something tells me this current storyline is far from over.
"This reveal on the other hand felt predictable and anti-climatic"
by Nancy Turner
Anyone who is an avid EastEnders viewer like myself will understand that storylines such as the Lucy Beale murder can start to take over your life, with every conversation centring around the question “who dunnit?” to the point you begin to forget that these are fictional characters. The way that a story can draw the audience in like this is a reflection of the great acting and writing teams and respect should definitely be given to Dominic Treadwell Collins and the rest of the team for keeping the interest of the nation on such a drawn out storylin,e and making the audience become suspicious of every character that stepped on to the square. However, after sitting on the edge of their seat for ten months the nation was feeling uncomfortable and they wanted something to make it all worth it, a reveal so shocking it would blow their socks off. We wanted the kind of surprise we got in the live episode 5 years ago when Stacey was revealed as Archie’s murderer and Bradley met his fateful end. We wanted fireworks – and not the literal, poorly timed fireworks at the end of Friday's episode that we did get, which felt more like the lead up to the big musical number at the end of a Disney film. This reveal on the other hand felt predictable and anti-climatic. When Jane was first revealed on the Thursday we were instantly promised ‘A Killer Twist’ later on in the evening in the flashback episode. This twist, however, was nothing more than what the majority of the audience had already sussed. Indeed I think its fair to argue it would have been far more shocking if Jane actually had murdered Lucy in cold blood, and was currently choosing her next Walford victim. It would have been ridiculous – but it would have at
least been surprising. And, after 10 months of waiting to find out who the murderer was, what drama did we get? A dramatic flood of police cars and sirens whilst a character shouted their innocence? A quick flee to Portugal in true EastEnders style? No. Just a nice big family hug and yet more tears – because we haven’t had enough of that in the last ten months. Who would have thought that Dot Cotton would end up being the biggest delinquent of the square? The live segments of the shows were interesting elements in terms of highlighting the acting talents of Adam Woodyatt and Laurie Brett – not forgetting of course Elliot Carrington (Bobby Beale), who dealt with the pressure of the live episodes better than some of the more experienced actors. However, the live sections did at times seem nothing more than a novelty. There is no doubt a merit to using a live episode for such a long awaited reveal in order to heighten the drama and so that the mystery within the cast can be maintained for longer. The idea of an entire week featuring live segments however felt slightly pointless – especially as in some episodes there were hardly any live moments at all, and those moments that were live weren’t even particularly significant. It also meant that inevitably the only really memorable moments from the live shows were the blunders – most notably Jo Joyner's “How’s Adam?” comment. Overall, the week was not a complete flop, but the predictability of the murderer and the needless live sections managed to undermine what had until then been a brilliantly written and performed script. Moreover, whilst I acknowledge that as an anniversary episode we were bound to get a few cheesy sentimental moments, nevertheless the poorly timed fireworks at the end and Windsor and Dyer’s “get out my pub moment” were enough to make even the most dedicated cheesy-soap viewer cringe. Tweet us your opinions @RedbrickTV
10th - 19th March 2015
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TV Quote of the Week: House of Cards and its definition of a coward: Frank Underwood: "What's the face of a coward? The back of his head as he runs from the battle"
The Brit Awards 2015
It's the biggest night in the year for British music, and the televised BRITs ceremony is watched by millions - but did this year live up to expectations? Writer Daisy Holden gives her verdict This year was the 35th edition of one of the biggest nights in British music. After a fourteen year break, Ant and Dec returned to our screens to once again present the Brit Awards. Arguably, the awards show is the boozy British counterpart to American Grammy awards. With guest presenters and live music, there is always room for surprises, and this night was full of them! The ceremony played host to live performances by some of the best artists in the industry. Taylor Swift opened the show with her latest single ‘Blank Space’ and showed us how faultless American artists’ performances are. She later went on to win her first ever Brit award for International Female Solo artist. Newcomer Royal Blood won the award for Best British Group and later performed their single ‘Figure It Out’ transforming the stage from pop to rock. Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran were the big winners of the night, each taking away two awards. Both gave performances on the night, proving why they each deserved their awards.
"The night was not shy of a few awkward moments" It seemed to be the year of the acceptance speech, with many winners giving heartwarming and honest accounts of what the award meant to them. Paloma Faith gave a long tear-jerking speech for Best British Female Solo Artist, paying tribute the “underdogs” and “grafters” in the industry. Taylor Swift thanked friend Ed Sheeran, who in turn forgot to collect the microphone when he went to collect his second award for Best British Album, giving a slightly inebriated speech, he told presenter Russel Crowe that meeting him was “sick”!
The night was not shy of a few awkward moments. Rita Ora and Orlando Bloom flirting with each other, as they presented the first award for Best British Male Solo Artist, was nauseating! Then the stage cooled down with Ellie Goulding and Lewis Hamilton. In the history of award presenting, this commentary was one of the most awkward I have ever had to listen to! The attempted banter between the presenters fell flat, and was filled with more awkward pauses than a Made in Chelsea episode! It would also not have been the Brits without a few surprises in the evening. Kanye West’s last minute performance was just that. His choice of song was interesting to say the least, well the little we heard of it anyway! His controversial performance of ‘All Day’ was muted throughout the majority of the song, due to its expletive-laden lyrics, even though it was performed after the watershed. After being welcomed by his wife Kim Kardashian-West, Kanye was joined onstage by a mob of backing dancers, illuminated by a flame thrower - not exactly the choice of backdrop for a family viewing! Madonna closed the Brits with a performance of her new single ‘Living for Love’, which was shortly interrupted when she took a tumble off the stage. The painful fall happened when a backing dancing tried to tug off her large cape, and pulled Madonna down too! Like the pro she is, her Madgesty got back up and carried on dancing as though the incident had never occurred. If you missed the show, catch-up with it on ITV online as you can see it was not one to be missed. After that roundup of this years Brit Awards, I cannot wait to see what is in store for us next year!
Broadchurch Finale
Series One left us shocked and hooked but did the series two finale do the same? TV Critic Matthew McCroy reviews
The modus operandi going into series two of Broadchurch seemed to be simply ‘double the action, double the excitement’. However, this rings untrue as the two storylines of the show’s second series concluded, with loose ends being tied up into a disappointing fray. With half of the episode being dedicated to the trial and aftermath of the confessed villain, Joe Miller, and the other devoted to the resolution of the Sandbrook case, the show presents an uncomfortable situation of balancing two barely-related plots. This is a balance that the finale fails to pull off convincingly and results in two separate storylines that only get half the attention that they deserve. The trial of antagonist Joe Miller has probably been the strongest side of the series. Carrying on from the events of the last season, this is the side of the story in which the audience feels the strongest emotional connection. The trial provided some powerful insights into the characters surrounding Joe Miller, stellar performances from Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker resonate, providing a detailed and intense look at the lives affected by crime and punishment. However, the conclusion of this story seems weak in the finale of the series. Taking eight episodes to mount the tension, the final verdict was met with more of an ‘oh’ than a ‘woah’. The decision to focus the final episode on the community impact that comes with such a controversial verdict definitely works to the benefit of the series and provided some anticipated confrontation between opposing characters. Sadly the one character we did not get to hear anything from is Joe Miller himself, a character who has been silent
for the majority of the series. It would have been nice to see some of the motivations behind the murderer and see his struggle as a character, unfortunately this opportunity is not seized and Joe is, quite literally, pushed out of the door without a word at the climax of the episode. Broadchurch has also focused on a case from character Alec Hardy’s past. This was hinted at throughout the first series but has come sharply into focus throughout the last eight episodes. This is definitely the weaker half of the show, new characters conflict with each other, but do so with very little
connection or empathy with the audience. The finale successfully wraps up this story line, but the audience is left disappointed once again with David Tennant deciphering that the three main suspects were all guilty through the detective powers of simply asking them. This ended up with a number of characters that the viewership had very little connection with being quietly arrested with very little conflict and a flashback to the crime. It may sound like I’m treating Broadchurch a little too harshly but I found the second series of the show engaging and
moving. However, it’s the superb directing talent of Mike Barker and acting of Tennant, Colman and D’Arcy that shines through and makes Broadchurch an intriguing watch, as opposed to the writing, which struggled at the climax of the series. Broadchurch has already been commissioned for a third season, which has naturally led to speculation on where the show can go next. It’s well worth the watch, but the finale of Broadchurch does very little to live up to the stellar reputation that the first series rightly earned. Perhaps the third series can redeem the show.
20 10th - 19th March 2015
redbrick.me/lifestyle
Life & Style
Is Topshop Overrated? Life&Style Writer Rebecca Bulman debates the ubiquity of the high street shop. It seems impossible to walk across campus or through town without much more than a glimpse of Topshop clothing. You can’t deny it: we all love it. They do sell some beautiful stuff. But it seems that, as nice as some of the clothes are, we all end up looking the same. The prices keep on slyly rising, while the quality staying stubbornly low. I won’t deny it, my wardrobe definitely contains a lot of Topshop. And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing! But, when I go out with friends and two of us are wearing the same top or skirt, it’s less than ideal. We don’t all want to look like sheep, albeit stylish sheep.
up in the same outfit as the girl next to you. It also has its own ASOS Marketplace where people sell old and individual clothing at much lower prices, which you should definitely check out if you haven’t already. Charity shops and vintage shops are also definitely places to go. As well as being full of quirky and original things at low prices, it’s also great fun to wander round these places looking at some of the absolutely ridiculous pieces hung next to the perfect skirt. From jackets fit for a clown, to rails of glittery, sequinned dresses perfect for any Great Gatsby themed party, it’s definitely entertaining – even if you don’t find anything to wear. Harborne is full of charity
"We don't all want to look like sheep, albeit stylish sheep."
"There are so many places to go that are a lot more affordable and a lot more individual than Topshop."
What many people don’t seem to realise is that you can get very similar or even nicer clothes at much lower prices elsewhere. And the best thing is that they’re individual. You can wear them with no fear of wearing the same outfit as someone else. Individuality is great, especially when it costs less! You don’t even have to go into charity shops (although I highly recommend them); there’s much to be found in other high street shops that are less likely to contain every girl your age you know. TK Maxx has such a brilliant range of fabulous one-offs at lower prices, and New Look always has a wide range of clothes in stock.
shops, and when you’re done, you could even treat yourself to lunch at the Boston Tea Party with all that money you’ve saved! I’m not saying completely give up on Topshop – we’ve all been in there and seen the dress or top of our dreams at one point or another. But if you’re definitely a Topshop princess- with a style doppelganger around every corner on campus- then why not mix up your wardrobe with something more individual? There are so many places to go that are a lot more affordable and a lot more individual than Topshop; maybe it’s worth saving buying stuff from there for a more special occasion than payday. A Topshop skirt and a groovy vintage top could be the perfect combination – but you’ll never know unless you try!
"The prices keep rising, while the quality stays stubbornly low." And don’t forget about online shopping. ASOS, as popular as it is, has so much choice that you’re less likely to end
5 Of The Best...DIY Tricks For Your Bedroom Hebe Hatton rounds up the best ways to transform your room. Homemade Bunting I think bunting is the best way to make a room feel more homely. It was the first thing I put up in my tiny room when I first moved into halls and it just immediately felt a bit more personal, and was a big distraction from the awful bright turquoise wall! You can easily make you own too, or do what I did and buy some bunting and just customize it.
Jam Jar Tealights Every girl loves candles but this new obsession is an expensive one. Whilst I would love to blow my entire loan on everything Joan Malone, £40 for a candle is just unreachable for the majority of us and sometimes we just have to settle for a 50 pack of vanilla tea lights from Ikea. But hope is not lost, they still make your room smell lovely and you can make them look super cute. Instead of chucking all your jars in the recycling bin, wash them out, wrap some lace around them
and drop a tealight in the bottom - the effect of the flickering light through the pattern in the lace is beautiful.
Motivational Wall This is my favourite thing about my room. I wasted a whole afternoon procrastinating trying to find the best quotes to cover the wall around my pin board. Not that I am encouraging procrastination but once it's up, it helps so it was worth the time it took. Find some quotes that really motivate you, choose ones from your favourite films, book and TV shows or just ones that make you feel a little bit guilty if you aren’t working as hard as you could be!
Photographs Covering your room in photographs of friends, family, amazing holidays and embarrassing nights out is such a great way to stop you room feeling bare and empty. It’s also really lovely to be sitting at your desk, stressing about your
dissertation or a looming deadline, and look up and be reminded of all the great times you have had. You can be a bit more creative with how you display you photos, and these ways don’t require you having to repaint your whole room to get rid of those blutack stains! Try buying some tiny pegs (Paperchase sell some really cute ones) and stringing up your photos along some fairy lights. To add that extra touch, try ordering your photos from websites like Photobox so you can get that Polaroid effect.
Cork Boards Sticking a large piece of cork on your wall is not the most aesthetically pleasing thing you can do to your room, but they are so useful! There are also of plenty of ways to make them look great too! You could cover the background in some cool wallpaper or even some nice patterned wrapping paper. If you are up for something a bit more time consuming, try turning it into a calendar.
redbrick.me/lifestyle
Budget Beauty Buys
10th - 19th March 2015
Hidden Gems
Daisy Holden
Rebecca Bulman
Topshop Lipstick £8.00
Boxxed
Life&Style Writer
For us makeup lovers, lipstick plays a vital role in our make up bags. Topshop lipsticks are affordable and come in many different shades. They are moisturising and have a creamy texture so they do not dry out your lips. I was surprised by the quality of the lipstick, as I did think at £8 you were more likely to be paying for the brand name rather than its staying power. However, these lipsticks give a strong colour which stays put, even after a few drinks! You can get change from a £10 note and 10% off with student discount - you definitely would not get that at MAC!
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Fierce
Life&Style Writer
Work the Fringe
If you’re getting a bit bored of the same old nights out on Broad Street, a sparkly night out at Boxxed might be just the thing for you. Just across the road from Rainbow Warehouse in Digbeth, this cosy little warehouse has hosted events such as Magic Door, as well as its own fabulous themed nights. If you like glitter, you’ll like Boxxed. Becoming more and more popular with each night that it hosts, Boxxed boasts nights such as Unknown (think outer space – rockets and aliens) and Arabian Nights that have happened already this year, with more to come. If you’re itching to get your groove (and your glitter) on, there’s a 90s rave on at the end of March. What could be better? Get it in your diaries now!
Matthew Williamson and Burberry agree that fringing is a must this AW15! Plus it was all over the S/S 15 catwalks too. Check out the fringe jackets for a boho- chic look from Zara and Missguided before you step into spring.
GBB Yes the Comic Relief Great British Bake Off has returned! Catch it every Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One. In fact why not try some baking yourself; it’s an incredibly productive- and deliciousway to procrastinate.
Contouring It doesn’t have to be completely Kim Kardashian-esque, but contouring is an excellent way to highlight and sculpt your face. So no need to worry about how Saturday’s Fab photos are going to turn out because contouring is your answer! Try the Sleek MakeUp Contour kit (Boots, £6.49).
Online Dating: Truth and Lies Life&Style Writer Louise Chapman discusses the pros and cons of internet dating. Online dating has increased massively in the past five years, with sites such as match.com and eharmony.co.uk constantly growing in popularity. Many British couples now end up meeting online and it isn’t difficult to see the appeal of this form of dating. Not only does online interaction provide people with a less awkward means of meeting potential partners, it is also particularly useful for those who are less confident in those initial social introductions, allowing couples to build up a relationship through messaging before actually meeting face to face.
who have falsified their profiles and pretended to be other people. Whilst entertaining and often funny, the show still demonstrates just how easily people can deceive others online and the extent to which this deception can take place; some of the couples featured in the series had actually been communicating online for a number of years before it’s revealed that neither are quite who they claim to be.
The sheer amount of people who use these sites also means a much higher chance of actually meeting someone, as these dating websites allow users to search through hundreds of profiles with a few clicks of a button. There are far more people available online than anyone could ever dream to meet through an everyday social situation such as the workplace. Mobile dating apps such as Tinder have become prevalent in recent months, enabling users to search for people nearby and easily arrange a date. And with our growing technological age, what’s not to love about these websites and applications? They’ve made modern dating easier, more accessible, and often more fun!
Photographs can also prove to be deceptive. Many of us choose to use a particularly flattering profile picture and, with the use of filters and Photoshop, pictures can easily be digitally altered. It can be difficult to determine how realistic a person’s photograph truly is and this can have serious consequences. A recent example in the news is that of Xiaojin Tuan, who met a man on a Chinese dating site. The two chatted online and then agreed to meet in person but Xiaojin was beaten up by her date who claimed she had a ‘fat face and spots’ and that she did not resemble her profile picture at all. Social media allows us to convey idealistic representations of ourselves and this is not always a truthful picture of who we really are. Without meeting face to face, it is difficult to be certain of whether an online profile is a true portrayal of the person involved.
But as with any form of online interaction, there are also various problems. In the most extreme and rare of cases people have been attacked and raped by a person they first met through a dating site. In other situations people have created false identities. Catfish: The TV Show on MTV purports to expose people
Online dating can be a brilliant way of meeting a new partner and for some it works perfectly and they end up in a long term relationship or even a marriage. However there are risks involved with meeting strangers online and it is important that those who use dating websites are aware of such dangers.
Winter - At Last! I think we are all starting to feel the slightly warmer British temperature rising and it is actually still light at 5pm! Say goodbye to overbearing winter coats and layers, and add some colour into your wardrobe for the spring season.
That Dress Why has the world suddenly become crazy about the colour of this, tbh, not so flattering dress? Some see black and blue while others see gold and white. Taylor Swift and Kanye West saw the colours blue and black, while Kim Kardashian tweeted that she sees it as white and gold. It’s a mystery- and a pretty dull one at that.
Tango Tans Leave your St Tropez and Fake Bakes until next winter, au natural is the way forward! There is nothing worse than patchy, orange skin, so either tone it down or catch some real sun this Easter!
By Ayshea Baker
Finished
22 10th - 19th March 2015
redbrick.me/travel
Travel
Brum Students Abroad Two of our Travel writers tell us their different experiences of studying abroad in Italy and France...
Hope Brotherton
Lucy Moseley
Birmingham, England's second city with a population of just over 1 million people and my home for the last twenty-one years. Bari, a relatively unknown city in the south-east of Italy, with a population of just 300,000. It was this place that I would call home for the next year. Before going on a year abroad, I had read a plethora of study abroad articles, but nothing prepared me for the culture shock I was about to get. Not even the multitude of travel guides, blogs and Google map stalks I conducted – nothing. The week before I left was a haze of packing and unpacking and seeing as many of my friends and family as humanly possible. I arrived a few days before classes started, prompt and efficient – the English way - but Italy is anything but prompt and efficient. The Erasmus office was only open two hours a day and closed on Fridays; people sat in queues on the floor waiting for the office to open. Then there were the lectures - or lack of! No lectures happened the first week, each and every lecturer postponed theirs until the following week. And, many times when I did arrive, lectures were cancelled, rooms changed and I'd suddenly be in the middle of a Spanish class (I speak no
What’s the difference between the university in Aix-enProvence in France and the University of Birmingham? First of all, it’s like going through a time machine to the previous century. The buildings are quite literally falling to pieces; they have metal nets to catch the pieces that fall off daily. Every wall in every classroom or lecture theatre is covered in graffiti, and teachers actually write on chalkboards. There’s no such thing as technology; no online system, no PowerPoints – I’m surprised they even have lights. Aesthetics can be overlooked, but everything else doesn’t even make up for it. My first four weeks of university consisted of aimlessly wandering around buildings to try and choose which modules I would take. From a scrap piece of paper I had to assemble my timetable for the next year from the title of a module outside a classroom. Everything clashed, and the ones that didn’t were so oversubscribed they had people bringing extra chairs in and sitting blocking the doorway whilst balancing a notepad on their laps for three hours. Yes that’s right, each class is 3 hours long. I’ve also had a module that the teacher didn’t turn up to for four weeks running, who then proceeded to shout at us for half an hour about how every single one of our essays
"I have made friends from around the world, friends I couldn't even begin to imagine."
"My first four weeks of university consisted of aimlessly wandering around buildings."
Spanish). Even when classes started, there just weren't enough chairs. The facilities were sparse to say the least, plaster would crumble off the walls and chalk boards were adorned over it. The most mortifying part was yet to come, in each and every lecture, lecturers introduced me and made me stand in front of 300 odd students so they could see who this “exotic,” (I use that adjective very loosely) new English girl actually was. After those embarrassing few seconds, I found myself approached in corridors and people added me on Facebook the first chance they got. But, after being embarrassed and awkward I found their approach and need to go out for coffee highly comforting. My lecturers are accommodating and my peers are friendly, each offering to show me their home town as many live at home with their parents. Aside from the aesthetics, life in Bari is great! I spend the majority of my weekends on excursions and day trips. I have seen the second oldest constantly inhabited city in the world, the Sassi of Alberobello, as well as a plethora of cathedrals - it is Italy after all. I have been to Milan, Naples, the Amalfi coast and Pisa. I have made friends from around the world, friends I couldn't even begin to imagine. All whilst I soak up the sun and the Italian lifestyle. Yes, the academic side is very different to Brum, but I can honestly say I am living my dream and I love it.
were “merde” because they weren’t done the way she wanted..I also tried to join the journalism society by turning up at the time and place I was told to but no one else showed up. I’m still not sure whether that was some kind of practical joke, so I decided it was best to stick with Redbrick. To attend your first grammar class in France is nerve wracking enough, but not to be allowed in was an unexpected twist. When the teacher finally had the courtesy to show up to the lesson, it became evident from the crowd in the shoebox-sized room that not everyone would be making it in. The teacher slammed the door in our faces and the class commenced. My reaction was not in the least bit subtle, as the noise of shock came out before I could think and my mouth gaped wide open. All these things drove me mad at first as I kept comparing everything to Birmingham, but as the memories of glossy handouts, PowerPoint’s, modern buildings, clean toilets, 24-hour libraries and helpful teachers started to fade, I began to get used to it. The lessons themselves aren’t so bad; my timetable is a total of 16 hours a week and I do feel like my French is slowly but surely improving. So, if you are thinking of spending your year abroad at a French university, I wouldn’t advise against it but don’t expect the same standards you are used to at Birmingham.
Travel Writer
Travel Writer
The 5...
Places to spend St. Patrick's Day Travel Editor, Sara Tryon, gives us her top places for getting in the Irish spirit ahead of the celebrations on March 17th...
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St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Rainbow Venues
O’Neill’s, Broad Street
The Dome, Digbeth
Manchester Irish Festival
Birmingham’s annual Parade is taking place in Digbeth on Sunday, 15th March. The parade is the third biggest of its kind, following New York and Dublin. This year’s theme is the contribution of the Irish to Birmingham.
The Rainbow Warehouse is holding a St. Patrick’s Day Parade after party from 3pm-12am. Its convenient location near to the parade route makes it an accessible venue to continue the festivities.
An Irish pub is the perfect place to spend St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and O’Neill’s is one of the busiest in Birmingham. Try it on St. Patrick’s Day itself, the 17th, to continue the party atmosphere through the week.
In the week leading up to the parade, a free exhibition of archived Irish photographs and stories will be on display in The Custard Factory in Digbeth. The exhibition will reflect the theme of the parade.
If you want to travel a little further afield, Manchester’s Irish Festival culminates in a St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, 15th March. The parade is free and there are a number of events in the city across the weekend.
redbrick.me/travel
10th - 19th March 2015
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Exploring the Sunshine State Travel writer Pippa Smith explains why there is more to Florida than Mickey Mouse and theme parks...
Despite often being considered synonymous with the likes of Disney World, Florida has proved that it is a destination with an abundance of entertainment- that doesn’t always come in the form of a rollercoaster. That being said, the appeal of Orlando- to everyone’s inner child- is undeniable; something that attracted nearly 60 million Disney-lovers in 2013, making it America’s most visited city that year. The combination of Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios (to name but a few) makes Florida a firm family favourite every summer, with tourists flocking to meet their much-loved film characters or swim with the dolphins. Once again, Orlando shows us that the Americans do things bigger and better, including their theme parks. However, this far-away land of family fun is not without its controversy. The same year that Orlando received its record-breaking number of visitors saw the release of Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s documentary, Blackfish, exposing the consequences of keeping orcas in captivity, which included the deaths of three trainers at SeaWorld. The film relates specifically to the orcas that perform in the whale shows at SeaWorld, under the name of ‘Shamu’, which form the star attraction for visitors to the park. Unfortunately, the documentary reveals the real price of a family day out at SeaWorld; namely that these highly intelligent creatures are confined to small spaces, frustrated and suffer a reduced life expectancy as a result. Nevertheless, if you want to see some spectacular marine life in its natural habitat, then head south to the serenity of the Florida Keys. For the perfect antidote to an energetic and adrenalinefuelled week in the Orlando theme parks, look no further than the Florida Keys. Beginning just 15 miles south of Miami, the Keys are a group of islands with a tropical climate, forming the southernmost part of the United States; in fact, the Southernmost Point buoy can be found in Key West and claims to be just 90 miles away from the coast of Cuba. Literature enthusiasts may also be interested to note that Key West boasts the official residence of Ernest Hemingway, which remained registered in his name until his death in 1961. Furthermore, the exotic aura of the Keys, with its white sands and turquoise water, mean that you might as well be in the Caribbean. The diversity in marine
wildlife in that part of the world also makes it the ideal location for snorkelling or scuba diving. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, found off the coast of Key Largo, was America’s first underwater park and attracts many visitors to see the coral reef and marine life, via organised expeditions and glass-bottom boat tours. These trips are one of the best ways to maximise the amount of wildlife that you see, given that visitors are taken a few miles off the coast, near the perimeter of the infamous Bermuda Triangle. If you don’t fancy taking the plunge and getting upclose-and-personal with the local barracuda, however, Florida offers an alternative water-based activity from the comfort of an airboat. These flat-bottomed vessels are a prominent ecotourism attraction in Florida and the only way to fully explore the world famous Everglades. The Everglades form a vast expanse of tropical wetlands, spanning southern Florida, and are also home to the majority of America’s native alligators. For a more interactive experience, try visiting one of Florida’s many alligator parks, where staff can tell you more about the animals and you may even get the chance to hold one of the babies if you’re brave enough. In fact, you might not even need to venture as far as the Everglades to catch a glimpse of Florida’s resident reptiles, given that they inhabit pretty much any water that they can find, including drainage canals along the side of the road. Somewhere that you won’t experience any unwanted alligator encounters, however, is Florida’s famous Daytona Beach. As one of the most iconic beaches in the US (and the self-confessed ‘most famous beach in the world’) Daytona has everything you would expect in terms of sun, sea and sand. Its 23 miles of coastline makes Daytona Beach a hotspot for surfers, in addition to being lined with a variety of bars, restaurants and shops. There is also an assortment of amusements to be found along the boardwalk and pier, including several fairground rides to still give you that hint of Orlando. For all the petrol heads amongst you, the area additionally boasts the Daytona International Speedway, home to the most prestigious race in NASCAR. So, whether you’re into racing or relaxation, Daytona Beach is
24 hours in... Bristol
Nadhirah Syalin suggests how this city will inspire you with its' vibrant atmosphere... How to get there Getting to Bristol is a convenient and painless affair with frequent trains running from Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads. The journey takes approximately an hour and a half, but if you’re strapped for cash, taking the bus is cheaper and is only around half an hour longer. What to do Climb up to the top of Cabot Tower, located on Brandon Hill, to be rewarded with a glorious view of the whole city and enjoy the picturesque scene of the hilly park itself. The St Mary Redcliffe Church boasts Gothic architecture whilst the majestic panorama from the Clifton Suspension Bridge will take your breath away. Pop into the many quirky and quaint stores lining the streets and soak up the artistic vibe. Street art will greet you on almost every corner, so keep your eyes peeled for the brilliant pop of colours. Bristol’s pride includes world-
renowned street artist Banksy, whose work is a must see for all who enjoy his work. Where to eat Discover various eating spots when strolling by the Bristol Harbourside. One of such is Bristol’s Bordeaux Quay, a restaurant, brasserie, bar, deli, bakery and cookery school, all under one roof. For those who prefer a bustling environment, St Nicholas Market combines food and shopping with over 50 stalls located amidst the historical architecture. Insider’s tip Tailor-make your own walking tour by doing some research online. This will allow you to efficiently visit everything you want at your own pace. Banksy’s street art pieces are quite spread out throughout the city so it might be worth picking and choosing which ones you really want to see for yourself.
America’s answer to the perfect seaside holiday; accommodation can be found along the coast to suit all budgets and you are only a couple of hours away from Orlando if the local rollercoasters aren’t cutting the mustard. For an alternative beachside destination (with some partying thrown in) Miami is, of course, a must. South Beach, inspired by Art Deco, is a seaside resort combined with interesting architecture and a reputation for world-class nightlife. However, the beach is also lined with restaurants that boast culinary excellence for a price that more than surpasses the student budget. For a cheaper substitute, venture into some of the locally owned cafes that serve traditional food with a Hispanic influence, often for less than $10. To add an educational element to your trip to Florida (because holidays can’t all be fun and games!), the Kennedy Space Centre is definitely worth a visit. Originally built as a launch centre for the most powerful rocket in history, the Saturn V, the Kennedy Space Centre is a NASA facility that has been used to launch every human space flight since 1972. The Kennedy Space Centre also has the prestige of being the site that launched Apollo 11 for the first moon landing in 1969. However, as far as an informative day out goes, the Kennedy Space Centre is enough to enthuse even the biggest of museum-phobes. The Centre embodies many interactive elements, including a shuttle simulator experience, IMAX theatre, the opportunity to sit in some of the disused space shuttles and even have lunch with an astronaut- enough to make your childhood dreams come true! Overall, when visiting Florida, it is important not to be blinded by the allure of rollercoasters and Mickey Mouse; whilst Orlando is undeniably tremendous fun, Florida is a state that has so much more to offer. The diversity of Florida, as a destination, is something that remains arguably unmatched in comparison to other American holiday destinations. The tropical climate makes Florida an area of stunning natural beauty and home to an enormous variety of wildlife. It is this unique combination of attractions that is what probably makes Florida so appealing to its millions of annual visitors, so come and see what all the fuss is aboutafter all, 60 million other people can’t be wrong!
24 10th - 19th March 2015
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Film
Focus on: Post-Oscar Flops Critic George Griffiths looks at the questionable career decisions some Oscar winners have made following their success...
Review: It Follows
Details Release date: 27 Feb 2015 Director: David Robert Mitchell Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi Running time: 100 minutes IMDB rating: 7.3
««««« George Bearman Deputy Editor
For many actors, the achievement of collecting an Oscar can be seen as the one ultimate career goal; the one true pinnacle for any actor worth their salt. And for many of the people who actually do walk away clutching that little gold statuette, that is what is remains - the pinnacle of their career. Sadly, for the (no doubtledy talented) people who are indeed lucky enough to win an Oscar, they may find that instead of leading their career down many diverse and equally critically acclaimed paths (see the career of Oscar women du jour Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence), that they have, accidentally, peaked with their Oscar winning performance. Here’s our top pick of three unlucky
"Her turn in Catwoman more or less killed her career as a viable comercial actress..." actors whose careers have flopped post oscar win. Halle Berry Halle Berry made actual history when she became the first (and so far only) woman of colour to win an Academy Award for a leading role for her performance in Monster’s Ball. Surely a historic achievement would only be the start to her stellar career? Unfortunately, her turn in Catwoman more or less killed her career as a viable commercial actress, which is a small price to pay considering half of her on-screen time was via CGI. However, you can catch Halle doing her best to salvage what little lines she has in the
ever-expanding X-Men franchise, in which she plays the role of Storm, who utters approximately 5 important lines per movie but, hey, she controls the weather and her hairs white so we’ll let her off this once.
"Do audiences really want another Spiderman reboot? There have been five Spiderman movies since 2002..." She’s now made the move to TV with her leading role in the serial Extant, but let’s be honest here, it’s no Game of Thrones. Charlize Theron If there’s one thing the Academy loves more than a good old racial bias scandal, it’s a role where an actor plays a real-life person. Extra points if they have some shocking physical deformity/disability. Charlize Theron ticked both these boxes when she portrayed serial killer Alieen Wurnos in the actually spine-tingling Monster in 2003. She then, somehow, decided that it would be a good idea to star in Aeon Flux, an actual candidate for worst film ever. Talk about a Monster. Poor Charlize had to resort to fronting perfume campaigns to pay the rent, until she basically resurrected her career by being a monumental revelation in Snow White and the Huntsman, where she was absolutely captivating/terrifying/amazing. But then she decided to star in the (actually not that bad) Prometheus and the offensively un-funny A Million Ways to Die in West. But we won’t talk about that.
Cuba Gooding Jr. Let’s not forget that some Oscar winning men have also made some monumentally tragic acting choices post-Oscar and Cuba (who scooped the gong for his work in Jerry Maguire) went on to star in two “familyfriendly” pictures that I’m sure many of you will (read: will not) recognise from your
"If they make another Spiderman origins story I will shoot Uncle Ben myself." youth; Daddy Day Care and Snow Dogs. Two stone-cold, modern classics right there.. And let’s not forget his role in the so-badit’s-still-actually-really-bad comedy, Norbit. Good work Cuba. However, it seems good old Cuba is hitching his star to a select few wagons nowadays, and has featured (read: not starred) in Oscar nominated flicks The Butler and Selma. There are actually many, many more actors who have peaked with their Oscar winning role who have actually somehow managed to stay quite culturally relevant given their roles they've chosen. Looking at you Gwyneth Paltrow. However, future Oscar winners, do not lose hope. You only have to look at the careers of Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Angelina Jolie to see that an Oscar can both be a career stepping stone or the diving board from which you plummet back into the swimming pool. At least count your blessings that poor old Leonardo DiCaprio hasn’t even had a chance to flop post-Oscar, since he’s never won one. Sorry Leo.
It Follows has one of the cleverest premises of any horror film that I’ve seen for a while. Rising up from the Indie scene at the Cannes Film Festival, It Follows departs from the usual gore and exorcist films that currently plague the horror genre. Taking place within suburban America, the movie’s opening scenes are wonderfully enigmatic. A young girl runs outside her house, exasperated and in a hurry. She looks down the street and her expression is one of sheer terror. The thing that’s tormenting her is elusive and invisible to the audience. Later we are shown the remains of a brutal homicide. This beautifully sets up an air of startling mystery. Following the young, blonde, 19 year old Jay (Maika Monroe), we are brought into a teenage world full of opportunity, freedom and above all else sex. This sophomoric world is torn apart by 21 year old, hotshot Hugh (Jake Weary) who leaves her with a haunting curse. It Follows has that classic horror vibe reminiscent of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th. It seems to mimic the American teen horror formula of a group of friends being pursued relentlessly by a foe cryptically bent on exacting revenge. The only thing that is disappointing with It Follows is that, with such a strong beginning, by its finish a lot of the suspense is already lost. This is probably because the more it has to reveal, the less it can maintain its witty charm. Indeed, the best part about this horror is what’s left to the imagination. In this way, its ending is perfect, because it doesn’t come to any real resolution. This is truly a horror for the sexually promiscuous. It’s not going to keep you up at night, desperately trying to keep yourself awake, for fear of being paid a visit by Freddy Krueger. On the other hand, it might leave you with second thoughts about your next sexual encounter. You might find yourself wondering, do I really know this person well enough?
redbrick.me/film
10th - 19th March 2015
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Film News Tom Swinford Critic
Leonard Nimoy, the much-loved actor and long-time Star Trek lead, died in Los Angeles, aged 83. According to The New York Times, his wife Susan Bay Nimoy, attributed the cause to chronic pulmonary disease. The Boston born actor born was made a house-hold name after earning the role of Spock, in the 1965 pilot episode of Star Trek going on to play the character across countless episodes and eight movies.
Fans of Blade Runner have been battling for a sequel to the sci-fi hit for over thirty years and now finally actor Harrison Ford, famous for headlining the 1982 original is officially on board once more to play Rick Deckard. Ridley Scott is taking a producers seat this time and Prisoner’s Denis Villeneuve is in negotiations to take over as Director on the project.
Review: Focus Critic Jess Ennis reviews Focus starring Margot Robbie and Will Smith...
Details Release date: 27th Feb 2015 Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Rodrigo Santoro Running time: 105 minutes IMDB rating: 7.0
««««« Jess Ennis Critic
If you are a fan of well-executed stories, smart plots, and the stylishness of the modern heist movie, see this film. If you have trust issues, however, do not. Focus had me checking on my purse for the rest of the night and second-guessing people that bumped into me on the street, and I suppose it’s a testament to the craftsmanship of the film that it provokes such a response. Focus tells the story of Nicky, a master con-man, who takes Jess, an aspiring pickpocket, under his wing. He teaches her the trade of conning for business, turning mass profits in an operation that almost gave me flashbacks to the Facebook development scenes in The Social Network. His operation, too, is smart, successful, and smooth. Only with more jewellery. Under Nicky’s direction, Jess excels in her trade, and the pair fall in love; it’s the classic romantic spin on the heist film. However, the story itself is much smarter than the brief synopsis I’ve given. With more turns than the Singapore Formula 1
circuit, Focus is the most refreshing heistslash-petty-crime-caper in recent years because it’s smart, but it doesn’t talk down to its audience. It leaves you in the dark to work out what happened, but it explains it in a way that makes you appreciate the intellect, rather than feel duped. It’s cryptic, but it isn’t so wrapped up in itself that it becomes impossible to understand or believe. Stylistically, it’s got all the flashy qualities that make the Bond films so watchable; fast cars with loud engines, necklaces worth millions and, at one point, an actual money printer. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a laser pen thrown in there somewhere. It’s extravagant and vibrant, taking the audience through New Orleans, Las Vegas and Buenos Aires, and the visual pay-off is brilliant. The bustle of Mardi Gras and the fast pace of the many casinos the heist team frequent work well with the speed at which the film progresses – it’s just frenetic enough to make you miss what you should
"It's extravagant and vibrant...and the visual pay off is brilliant." have seen, whilst still toeing the line between action and over-stimulation. Another thing that’s actually very surprising about Focus is the way that it seems to combine the thrill of the heist with a really grounded sense of humour. Where Bond might make a sly comment with a smirk as he holds a gun to the head of the bad guy, the humour in Focus comes from the relationships constructed between the characters. Nicky and Jess have a very real, witty banter as a pair, and the con team as an ensemble are all very funny. Special mention must here go to Adrian Martinez as Farhad for some of the most well-timed,
hilariously inappropriate lines that you might expect to find in the latest Seth Rogen comedy. Strange though it might seem, it works. Combining the extravagance of the traditional heist movie with such a sense of humour means that the film doesn’t appear to take itself too seriously; it’s dramatic when it needs to be, but it’s
"The chemistry between the two hangs between playful and intense throughout." nice to see that Focus understands the craziness of its own plot. While Smith as Nicky is closer to the confident, boisterous character we’ve come to know him as, he’s got a soft side that does the film a favour in keeping him from becoming too much of a cliché. As Jess, Robbie – well, you’d probably fall in love with her too. She’s just as beautiful as any Bond girl might be, but she’s conscientious, smart, talented, and a lot more complex than you’d expect. It’s a nice change from using the female as a constant affirmation of the protagonist’s intelligence, because she’s got just as much to offer as Nicky. The chemistry between the two hangs between playful and intense throughout, and it’s done well. In terms of flaws, on first time viewing they seem few and far between. While the plot-obsessed might find the seeming lack of resolution on the first major twist to be annoying, I’d argue the case for overlooking it for the sake of seeing the larger astuteness of the film as a whole. Though the use of the 70s music is apt, the score can sometimes get in the way of a moment, particularly earlier in the film. Overall, though, Focus holds its own well, and comes across as an exciting new take on the con-man movie that’s genuinely fun to watch.
The first post-Oscars acting picture has been released of Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl. Redmayne plays Einar Wegener, a Danish-born artist who was one of the first known people to undergo sex reassignment surgery. Born male, she underwent a series of experimental surgeries in Germany, beginning in 1930 and changes her name to Lili Elbe. In an interview with The Wrap Redmayne stated “I haven’t worked since The Theory Of Everything...so it’s been really good to get the muscles exercised again."
Adventure Time, the new age Cartoon Network classic that first aired in 2010 is set to receive the film treatment. The basic setup of the show finds 12-year-old Finn and canine best friend Jake questing to protect their beloved land of Ooo, which is under threat from a variety of villains, most famously the Ice King. Warners is hoping for a big success, hiring Lego Movie editor/ animation director Chris McKay and producer Roy Lee to oversee the project.
26 10th - 19th March 2015
redbrick.me/tech
Science & Technology
Disposable Syringes for HIV Emma Houghton Sci & Tech Editor
Imagine the horror of going to the doctor to get vaccinated against a disease, only to find that you contracted another through the injection. This is the situation that many people across the world find themselves in, as a result of needle sharing. With the majority of cases occurring because of unlicensed doctors in the third-world, it is still not unheard of in wealthy countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) wants to eliminate the risks of both accidental and deliberate needlesharing by introducing smart syringes.
This equipment is designed to be disposable and has certain mechanisms that prevent it from being used multiple times. For example, the needle may retract after use, or the plunger may lock once it has been pushed down. Although the disposable needles are more expensive than those currently used, the WHO predicts that they will save money in the long term. This is because less will be spent on treatment for the diseases that are spread through bloodblood contact; the most common of which include HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and hepatitis (an infection of the liver). HIV is a retrovirus, which infects key components of the immune system leading to cell death. As a result, the
immune system becomes progressively weaker and secondary infections occur more frequently. Eventually, HIV sufferers develop AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which is when their bodies no longer respond to infection; even a simple cold could be dangerous. Antiretroviral drugs are used to delay the progression of HIV symptoms (they slow down the rate at which the virus can replicate and infect new cells), but there is currently no cure. Hepatitis is the name given to infections of the liver. There are five types but B and C are those which pose the most threat to sufferers and are also the ones most associated with blood-blood transmission. They both cause flu-like symp-
toms, which are accompanied by nausea, vomiting and jaundice (yellow skin). The infections can either be acute (up to six months) or chronic (longer) depending on the immune system's recovery from the virus. Patients are often treated with antiviral drug therapies. We are yet to discover a medical cure for either of these diseases, so prevention is the best form of treatment. According to the WHO, these smart syringes should help to prevent “the 1.7 million new hepatitis B cases, the 300,000 hepatitis C cases and the 35,000 HIV cases every year” that are the result of needle-reuse. The hope is to have replaced standard needles with their new counterparts by 2020.
Do You Wash Every Day? Rachel Taylor Sci & Tech Editor
Many surveys have been circulating recently, shocking the public on the issue of personal hygiene. Washing hands is an imperative for stopping diseases; many of us will recognise the NHS hand-washing poster explaining the process with diagrams, so that people of all abilities can understand the process. A nice easy reminder, right? Wrong. In fact, Initial Washroom Hygiene carried out the largest survey on toilet habits questioning 100,000 people
- and they found that 62% of men and 40% of women do not wash their hands after using the toilet. It is imperative that these numbers are reduced to stop the spread of diseases in the population. The same firm also found that on average there are 200 million bacteria per square inch on each hand of every person that goes to the toilet. Such a high number could be due to touching door handles or tissue dispensers where other people have not washed their hands previously. So washing efficiently means that this number could reduce too! So keeping hands clean after a trip to the loo is extremely important, but is
showering your whole body a daily necessity? Could it actually be bad for us to be super-clean? Another recent study by skincare range Flint + Flint found that of the 2,000 women surveyed, over half do not clean daily because the modern world stresses make them too tired. Additionally, one in three women have gone as long as three days without washing at all. However, this may not be as bad as it seems. The NHS maintains that as well as washing hands every time after using the toilet, face, genitals and anal area are to be washed daily and teeth must be brushed twice a day. However, when it comes to
showering , this only needs to occur at least twice a week. Obviously if you are active in sports or physically dirty with mud et cetera, then this needs to occur more often. In fact, showering too frequently can actually dry out and irritate skin as it washes away all the naturally existing bacteria that do us good. This can then cause cracks in the skin, exacerbating conditions such as eczema and actually making you more prone to infection. If you were exposed to dirt and mud a lot as a baby, your skin will be less sensitive as you age, preventing allergies and illnesses.
YouTube's10th #TheDress YouTube celebrates it's 10th Year in 2015. We look back at the moments that made it so big! Roshni Patel Sci & Tech Writer
It all started above a pizza delivery in California, when 3 ex-PayPal employees bought the domain YouTube.com with little inkling of its future. Now it's what makes the internet! From viral videos to celebrities, YouTube has blown up since its first 19 second video of its co-founder Jawed Karim at the zoo and used for much more than Karim's original goal of viewing Janet Jackson's 2004 wardrobe malfunction. YouTube founders released the website for testing. Seven months later, it was officially launched to the public and users began uploading hours worth of videos every day, a value which was rapidly increasing day by day, as the previous ones went viral and drew in more users. Just 11 months later, Google saw the potential of the company and bought YouTube for $1.65 billion (£1.07bn) which is now a mere fraction of the site's current value at over $40 billion (£26bn). Despite the public backlash of Google's ownership and influence, in 2007 adverts were introduced to the site, allowing almost anyone the opportunity to start earning actual money. YouTube now has over 1 billion users, uploading over 300 hours of content a
minute and streaming 4 billion hours daily. What were once raw, spontaneous clips like 'Charlie Bit My Finger' are now rehearsed and scripted with green screens, uploaded by popular users or 'YouTube celebrities.' Some even trade in their day jobs and school for YouTube careers and many more are rising to stardom with original content. From PewDiePie's slices of life to the hilarious videos from SMOSH, not to mention the vloggers like Zoella, YouTube has certainly exceeded the founder's original dream of becoming “the ultimate reality TV”. Users are uploading almost anything, from 'how tos', educational documentaries to trailers and clips from every film and show to date. Not to mention all those cat videos! Record companies and bands, both big and small, are uploading their tracks for mass streaming to YouTube. Nobody can forget PSY's 'Gangnam Style', currently holding the title for most viewed video with over 2.24 billion views - it was the first video to reach 1 billion views, breaking the view counter at one point and forcing an upgrade. Justin Bieber's music video for 'Baby' currently holds the title for most comments with 6.73 million and counting. So here's to 10 years of YouTube. May the site continue to grow and evolve into new things and ventures and last for the next decade and beyond!
What is all the fuss about with this dress, it's definietly blue and black! Claudia Efstathiou Sci & Tech Writer
You have probably seen this picture of a striped dress floating around the internet. If you haven't, have you been living under a rock in the last week? Half of people asked say they see it as blue and black, while the others say its white and gold. The reason for the difference is not that you're going mad or colour blind and it's not a conspiracy, this picture is an optical illusion, showing how people's eyes adjust for light differently. When you look at an image your brain has to subtract any glare from light to show the true colour of the image, much like changing the white balance on a camera. Your brain will pick a spot that it regards as white and adjust the other colours in the image to fit. For some reason this photo seems to highlight the differences in people's internal white balance. It may be that it is a different ratio of rods (receptors that detect light) to cones (that detect colours) making the white balance calibration of the brain different. Regardless, it's a pretty cool effect and will definitely get people talking about our colour perception. In fact the dress was made blue and black, but its
creators, Roman Originals, are now considering making a white and gold one. Now that will really freak people out!
redbrick.me/tech
10th - 19th March 2015
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Maggie Lieu, the Mars Girl! Sci and Tech interviews the UoB PhD student with a one-way ticket to Mars. Devon Smith Sci & Tech Writer
Maggie Lieu, a PhD student from The University of Birmingham, has been shortlisted from 202,586 hopefuls to take part in the Mars One mission. She will spend the next 10 years in training, learning a variety of jobs including plumbing, medicine and construction so she will be fully self-sufficient on Mars. The mission, although extremely exciting and captivating, is very expensive. The aim is to send groups of 4 up to the Red Planet every two years beginning in 2024, costing around $6 billion each time. It is projected that a group of 40 will ultimately be living on Mars by 2044. To help fund the project, the training regime will be aired via a reality TV show, where viewers will make the final decision of who will be shuttled into space first. However, the trip must not be taken lightly, as it is a one-way mission, due to a return journey being economically and practically impossible. Despite this, Maggie remains positive and confident in the rapid technological developments, with the possibility of maybe returning to Earth with NASA when they launch their own mission to Mars. She also believes that she will make a new family with her fellow astronauts, and speaking with her Earth family via the Internet will be sufficient. I met up for a coffee with Maggie to find out a little more about why exactly she wants to live on Mars and never return to Earth. Let me begin by congratulating you on being shortlisted for the Mars One mission. Do you know your role yet? So the idea is to go to Mars to colonise it, and that means we're going to try and find a way to be completely independent of the resources on Earth. Will you be taking any resources with you to start you off? Initially, yeah. When we're on the journey there we will be living off dried and canned food, but when we get to Mars we hope to grow our own food so we don't have to rely on the supplies. We also want to see what resources there are on Mars and what we could do with them, like 3D printing, things like that. So do you know what food you could potentially grow on Mars, or will it be a big experiment? Well on the ISS (the International Space Station) they can grow lettuce, so probably an all lettuce diet! When we go to Mars we want to maximise the ability to grow food, so we'll grow in specific frequencies of light to save as much energy as possible. What do you hope to find on Mars? I think so many people are determined to find life on Mars, but I'm not very hopeful that we will see any form of life on Mars at all. I think if there is any it will be contaminated by us previously, because we've sent so many rovers and stuff up there it's very likely we will have taken some bacteria up too. People think that life on Earth came from panspermia, a comet that landed on Earth. When we get meteorites that hit the Earth, they eject particles on the side and they fly out, so that's why we get Martian meteorites and Moon meteorites found on the Earth. Similar things would be found on Mars, so they'll be Earth rocks that will have been ejected from Earth and landed on Mars. It's very likely that they'll contain some sort of bacteria. We have lots of satellites around Mars
also, so we have a very good resolution of the surface, and we haven't resolved any people up there. Mars is pretty big, so it might be that if there were small things up there we would miss it. But it's not very likely that there is anything. If there is, it might be deep underground. The belongings you take up to Mars will be your last ever purchases. Will you go on a huge shopping spree and stock up on the latest fashions before you leave? We can't take a lot of stuff up there. The astronauts that go to the ISS have a very limited luggage allowance, and they actually take disposable clothing because there are no washing machines. After they've used it they eject it, so even if I bought loads of clothes I wouldn't be able to wear them. It will be interesting to see what kind of resources we find on Mars to grow materials to make clothing with. I guess we could use hemp and other plants we may be able to grow, so it will depend on how we resource materials to make our own fashion. It will be interesting to see how that develops over many years. Many students might be wonderingcan you drink and party on Mars? As part of our medical test that we've had, and will continue having every six months, we're not meant to drink any alcohol. So Mars will be a teetotal planet! I guess it would be kind of dangerous driving rovers and being drunk. There is water on Mars in the form of ice, so I'll probably just be drinking water, unless we can flavour it somehow. They won't be sending any alcohol up with us, but we could grow our own potatoes and make vodka! How do you think your university studies will help you up on Mars? I did my undergraduate degree in Space Science, which was based a lot on space missions and disasters, so that was really useful. I think my PhD has allowed me to be very independent. What are you most looking forward to in the training programme? Interacting with all the amazing people. Everyone that will be there is really passionate about space so I'm really excited to meet them! I've only met one person so far. There's so much to learn, it's going to be a huge learning process. There's no dentists or surgeons up there, we'll have to do and know everything. Have you been in contact with any other shortlisted candidates? Have you added them on Facebook or Twitter? No, I'm waiting to meet them. Also, I'm pretty nervous about being influenced by their views. I want to keep my originality and I don't want my thoughts to be influenced by everyone else. I want to go to Mars because I want to go to Mars, not because everyone says all these great things. On your Mars One profile you state that you are a photographer. Will you be taking your camera to Mars and sending us back some pretty cool snaps? Definitely. I think it's so cool on the ISS, they use Twitter and things, and put up pictures and selfies. There are so many amazing views on Mars. The sunsets are blue! It will be nice. You also say that you are training for a Mudrun and you seem a pretty active person. Will you miss this when you are on Mars, even just the inability to be able to run around? Most of the exercise I do now is in the gym anyway, and I go to classes. When we're training for Mars and when we're
there we have to exercise constantly, a minimum of six hours a day! This is because of the low gravity; our muscles and bone will waste away and it's a lot of pressure on your heart. More blood will be pumped to our heads. There are lots of space-related films such as Gravity and Interstellar, many with tragic endings. Will you be watching any of these in the run-up? I'm not really scared about anything like that happening to me, because I did a space degree. I know a lot of space missions fail just on launch, and some past missions have failed because different components come from different countries who all use different units. So because of some confusion of measurements, a spacecraft blew up. It's quite common that space mission blow up. There is a huge risk going to Mars, as more than a third of Mars missions have failed. I'm aware of the dangers, but prepared. As long as I'm going along the road of what I want to, do I'm going to enjoy it. There's risk with everything at the end of the day, for instance car crashes, and people still get into cars. How about the dust storms? When the dust storms happen, we will have to turn off our solar panels as they won't work. All our recycling, oxygen, electricity and water production will have to be shut down also. They typicallu last a couple of days, so we should be okay.
If the mission falls through, what will you do next? I'm pretty prepared for it not to work out, as so many missions fail anyway, and there are so many delays in the space industry. I think it's worth it anyway because I've got so much media attention from it already and that's allowed me to get the public interested in space. It's crazy that the general public are interested! Playing a role in that is amazing. What is your advice to students who have extraordinary dreams similar to yours and wish to follow them? Never give up on your dreams! As a child I wanted to be an astronaut, but it kind of faded out when I reached sixth form. It seemed unrealistic as there aren't many astronauts. I was going down the route of becoming a rocket scientist, as there are plenty of them. The UK has a great space industry and that's why I originally went into space science. Now I'm back en route to becoming an astronaut, and it's really crazy and unbelievable. I have so many messages on Facebook from old classmates and teachers saying 'Oh my God, I can't believe it! When you used to say I'm going to the Moon or I'm going to be an astronaut I didn't believe you.' They are amazed, but they're so proud of me, so it just shows you just have to keep going and trying. Don't take in what other people tell you you can't do - if you want to, you'll do it.
28 10th - 19th March 2015
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Sport
Top 10
Tiger Woods’ weeks as the World’s Number 1 Golfer (683):
Ricky Ponting’s test victories (108):
Michael Schumacher’s Formula 1 W
Woods has spent more than twice as many weeks at Number 1 as the second on the list Greg Norman, demonstrating the stranglehold that the 14-time major winner has had on the game. Since Woods first took over the mantle 18 years ago, he has spent an incredible 13 seasons ranked at the top. With fields getting deeper we’ll never see anyone in the game dominate for so long.
Ponting’s career in the longer version of the game lasted an amazing 17 years. Part of a golden generation for Australia, ‘Punter’ led a side which included Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to name but a few, though none of those players can boast nearly as many wins as their captain. The nearest non-Aussie is Jacques Kallis with 75 victorious and sadly no Englishman makes the top 15.
Schumacher has won 40 more races th and 52 more than the most successf Vettel. The seven-time champion reach in his career. 17 victories with Bene between 1996 and 2006 leave ‘Schuey
Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The all-time NBA points scorer (38,387):
Eddy Merckx winning all the Jerseys in a single Tour de France:
Just Fontaine World Cup Goals (13
Not the most well-known NBA player, but Jabbar’s record has now stood for the 26 years since his retirement, withstanding the media-hyped careers of Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Many players have scored more in a season than Jabbar but few can match his longevity. Kobe Bryant looked set to re-write the record books but with his career past 2016 currently in doubt he doesn’t have nearly enough time.
Yellow for overall, Green for the best sprinter, Polka dot for the best climber, Merckx took the lot. The Tour de France is brutal and nowadays riders specialise but in 1969, Merckx found himself, metaphorically, with all 3 jerseys on his back as he rode into Paris. Furthermore, had there been a White Jersey for the best Young Rider back then, at 24, the Belgian would have won that too.
Fontaine is 4th on the all-time list of g However the Frenchman only played i the biggest footballing stage came in j Miroslav Klose took 4 tournaments to Nowadays with teams fitter and more witness so many goals from one playe
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10th - 19th March 2015
29
Sporting records that will never be broken... Tom Dodd
Sports Online Editor
Wins (91):
Wayne Gretzky career points in NHL (2,857):
Jimmy Connors ATP Tour Match Wins (1253):
han his closest challenger Alain Prost ful currently active driver, Sebastian hed the top step of the podium 91 times etton in the 90s and 72 with Ferrari y’ in a class of his own.
Type ‘NHL records’ into an online search engine and only one name comes up. Gretzky’s point’s record stands alone by far in the history books of the game. The fact that 20 full seasons of 140 points or more would be nowhere near enough to catch Gretzky demonstrates the enormity of the record. Evgeni Malkin amassed 109 points in 2011/12, but in the context of the ‘Great One’, that’s nothing.
While Roger Federer has many of the biggest and most sought after records in tennis, this is one even the Swiss Maestro will almost certainly never get to. Connors’ impressive tally of 1253 victories came in a career spanning 24 years that saw him eventually hang up his racket in 1996 at the age of 43 with an astonishing 81% win percentage and 109 career singles titles.
3):
Emil Zátopek at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics:
goalscorers at World Cup Finals. in one tournament. His 13 goals on just 6 games. Current leading scorer o amass 16 goals. organised the finals will never again er in a single tournament.
Mo Farah’s 5k and 10k double at London 2012 was impressive, but he would have had a way to go, 26 miles and 385 yards to be precise, to match Zátopek at Helsinki in 1952. The Czechoslovakian runner had already won the 5,000m and 10,000m golds when he decided to enter the Marathon as well. Hours later he crossed the line victorious to complete a historic and unprecedented treble.
Fred Everiss - The longest serving manager in Football League history (46 years): Most people probably think the longest serving manager in English football is Sir Alex Ferguson, but even his record pales into insignificance compared to Everiss’, who spent 46 years as secretary manager of West Bromwich Albion between 1902 and 1948. The current longest serving manager Arsene Wenger would need to manage Arsenal until his 90’s to overhaul Everiss. Ferguson, by the way, is only 11th on the all-time list.
30 10th - 19th March 2015
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Sport
Mo Farah smashes two mile indoor record in Birmingham Katie Manzi and Andrea Giannini report on an historic day at this year's Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix from the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham
Katie Manzi & Andrea Giannini
Athletics Correspondents
On the 21st February, the Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix returned to Birmingham, taking place at the Barclaycard Arena. This was one of the last qualifying meets for the athletes to move on to the British World Championships. The Indoor Grand Prix turned out to be a historic event in the world of Track and Field. Many athletes set personal records, including Sharika Nelvis of the USA who won the Women’s 60m Hurdles with an impressive 7.87 seconds. Continuing the impressive finishes, Nigel Levine won the Men’s 400m Dash for the fifth year in a row with a time of 46.43 seconds. About the finish, he said: “It didn’t all go as I planned but I’m so glad to get the win out here today against a good field. This is the fifth time in a row here so I’m so pleased to get a win in Birmingham again”. Other great performances on the track
"There was some drama in the 60m Dash Final where two competitors were disqualified for two false starts"
included Seren Bundy-Davis in the 400m Dash, who broke the Welsh Indoor record in the event. Axumawit Embaye won the Women’s 1 Mile with 4.23.50. She 1set the African record and was very happy with her performance after her race. “It 1 was good, very good - I did well. I really like running here - it’s compact which gives a lot of atmosphere”, said Embaye. There was some drama in the Men’s 60m Dash final where two competitors were disqualified separately for two false starts. The race ended up being won by Kim Collins, a longtime favorite in the world of British Athletics. He was happy with the result but felt the false starts affected the entire field’s performance, “I am happy but I wanted it to be even faster. The two false starts made it a lot more difficult - you sit in your blocks longer than you normally would. The reaction
"Greg Rutherford won with a distance of 8.17 metres" times were terrible. I’m pleased to remain undefeated this year.” Throughout the day, many accomplishments were also reached in the field events. One of the many notable finishes was Greg Rutherford of Great Britain, in the Men’s Long Jump, who won with a distance of 8.17 metres. He made a comeback to beat Xinglong Gao of China in his final attempt. Another impressive finish came from the Women’s Pole Vault.
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou of Greece and Fabiana Murer of Brazil were the final two left in the intense competition. With the bar raised to 4.80 meters,
"The Big story of the day, and the event that made this meet truly one for the history books" Kyriakopoulou was the only one to successfully clear it on her final attempt. She
took home the win and set a new record for Greece. The Men’s High Jump was a little slower. After many of the competitors clearing the bar, it was moved up to 2.29 meters, which no one could clear. This gave Allan Smith of Great Britain the win for this event. The final field event to be completed was the Women’s Long Jump. Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Great Britain won the event and broke the British National Indoor Record in the long jump, with a distance of 6.93 meters, concluding the impressive field events of the day. The big story of the day, and the event that made this meet truly one for the history books, was Olympic medalist Mo Farah’s world record-setting performance in the Men’s 2 Mile. A few laps into the race he was already way ahead of his competitors and, nearing the end, he had left everyone else behind. The entire arena was on their feet as he sprinted the last
"The Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix is a prestigious sporting event for the city of Birmingham." two laps, pushing as hard as he could to beat the world record. He crossed the finish line at 8:03.40, beating the previous record by 0.9 seconds. He looked exuberant after his success, already looking to the future and how he would celebrate, saying “I’ll never give up chasing medals or chasing world records - medals mean a lot to me. This week inspired me, I’m an athlete so I just did what I’m supposed to do. It feels amazing to break the world record - I’ll now fly home tomorrow to see my family and celebrate with them”. The Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix is a prestigious sporting event for the city of Birmingham, and this year delivered a meet that was historic and impressive from start to finish.
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10th - 19th March 2015
Picture of the week
Wednesday's results
31
Redbrick Predicts This week's predictions pits two of our Sports Editors against each other and a guest editor, as they aim to correctly guess the outcome of six of this weekend's football fixtures.
Men Badminton 1sts 8-0 Bedford 1sts Basketball 1sts 77-63 Staffordshire 1sts
Alex Kronenberg Football 2nds 3-1 Notts Trent 1sts
Chelsea v Southampton
3-2
Everton v Newcastle
1-1
Man Utd v Tottenham
3-3
Badminton 2nds 5-3 Oxford 1sts
Cardiff v Charlton
0-0
Football 2nds
3-1 Notts Trents 1sts
Barcelona v Man City
3-1
Hockey 2nds
2-1 Cambridge 1sts
B Munich v Shakhtar
4-1
Lacrosse 2nds
14-7 Nottingham 2nds
Monaco v Arsenal
2-0
Bor Dortmd v Juventus
1-2
Lacrosse 1sts 22-1 Oxford Brookes 1sts
Women
Things to look forward to
Will Robey Chelsea v Southampton
1-2
Everton v Newcastle
1-1
Saturday: Six Nations Rugby
Man Utd v Tottenham
2-0
Wales v Ireland England v Scotland
Cardiff v Charlton
1-3
Barcelona v Man City
2-0
B Munich v Shakhtar
2-0
Monaco v Arsenal
0-3
Bor Dortmd v Juventus
1-1
this week 14:30 17:00
Sunday: Barclays Premier League Chelsea v Southampton Everton v Newcastle Man Utd v Tottenham
Newcastle Captian Fabriccio Coloccini hands the Captain's armband to fellow Argentinian Jonas Gutieriez; the midfielder makes his first appearence since being given the all clear following treatment for testicular cancer. Touch of class.
13:30 16:00 16:00
Monday: Barclays Premier League Swansea v Liverpool
Spotlight: Aston Villa FC
20:00
CONGRATULATIONS! On behalf of the Editors and writers of Redbrick Sport, we would like to offer our congratulations to all BUCS sports teams who have finished their seasons this week. We would also like to wish good luck to all those teams still competing in their respective competitions and wish them continued success for their season ending fixtures. All of us at Redbrick Sport would urge you to go and support our BUCS teams still in action as they pursue glory.
Want to write for us?
Catch Up: Astom Villa picked up there first win of 2015 in the Barclays Premier League, their first under new Manager Tim Sherwood. A late Christian Benteke penalty, after Foster brought down Matthew Lowton. The Belgian confidently stepped up to slot away and give his side a much needed 2-1 victory over Tony Pulis' West Brom. FA CUP: Want to read Alex Kronenburg's match report as Aston Villa took on West Brom in the FA Cup Quarter Final at Villa Park? www.redbrick.me/sports is the place to be.
Email us at: sports@redbrickonline.co.uk
Thomas Dodd Chelsea v Southampton
3-1
Everton v Newcastle
1-1
Man Utd v Tottenham
3-2
Cardiff v Charlton
1-0
Barcelona v Man City
2-0
B Munich v Shakhtar
3-0
Monaco v Arsenal
1-2
Bor Dortmd v Juventus
2-1
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1. Habitual, constant (7) 5. Hurricane (5) 8. Flightless aquatic bird (7) 9. Homer's epic poem (5) 10. Dance hall (5) 11. Eye lash makeup (7) 12. Slow to understamd, dull (6) 14. Elf, fairy (6) 17. Tornado (7) 19. Cartoon mouse in 'The Simpsons' (5) 22. Monastery (5) 23. Roman goddess of wisdom (7) 24. Subject, topic (5) 25. Dyson vacuum cleaners supposedly don't lose any (7)
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1`2`3`4‛5`6`7 `‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛` 8``````‛9```` `‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛` 0````‛-`````` ‛‛‛‛`‛`‛‛‛`‛` =`q```‛we```` `‛`‛‛‛r‛`‛‛‛‛ t```y``‛u`i`o `‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛` p````‛[`````` `‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛` ]````‛\``````
32 10th - 19th March 2015
Sport
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P 28 & 29 - Tom Dodd's top 10 sporting records that will never be broken
Archers host BUTTS League in 20th anniversary year Bryony Peters provides a summary of the University's Archery club's performance in the BUTTS League Tournament held in Birmingham in celebration fo the 20th anniversary of the competition Bryony Peters
UoB Archery Press Officer
On the 28th of February the Birmingham archery club hosted one of the biggest tournaments it has ever put together in recent memory, the final leg of the BUTTS league tournament. Split over two venues, the Munrow Sports Centre and the Gillett Centre in Selly Oak, right from the start there were worries about communication, or the lack of, leading to some issue. Not only this, but due to it being the 20th anniversary
"The tournament was split into two morning sessions, the first beginning bright and early at 8.30 am sharp" of the BUTTS league, the local archery league based around midland universities, a special head to head round had been added on to the day to celebrate it, meaning that time was in short supply. The tournament was split into two morning sessions, the first beginning
bright and early at 8.30 am sharp. The second would begin at 11.15 am, with a very short switch over period between the two. Both the Gillett and the Munrow had archers shooting in these sessions, and so it was vital that everything ran to time, so that both venues would have finished simultaneously. To everyone’s relief this was pulled off successfully, the only significant problems being that some archers were slightly less skilled at maths than would have been useful for our scorers. Head scorer and Birmingham alumni Zoe Hawken had this to say about that particular experience: “It's always a struggle getting students to add up numbers correctly but thankfully the experience and excellence you find in the BUTTS league meant that running scoring for well over 100 archers on the day had few issues!” She testified to the success of the day, saying: “It was great to be able to run a tournament of this size and complexity with the Birmingham archers, and we've definitely proved our club to be one of the best in the country not only in performance but organisation
and hosting abilities”. Our archers did very well individu-
"The first real challenge of the day came at the culmination of the official tournament and the beginning of the extra head to head round" ally on the day. Catherine Jackson gained first place in novice ladies recurve and David Jennings and Munir Suleman claimed first and third places respectively in novice gents recurve. Ashe Morgan came third in experienced gents recurve, and Katie Wood came a very respectable sixth in ladies experienced recurve. Sadly, despite a fantastic effort from everyone, our experienced team placed seventh out of eight teams overall in the league, although due to the fear that the team would have placed last, this revelation was still met with happy, if maybe slightly sarcastic, cheers. Our novices, however, managed to gain a strong first place overall in the league, coming first in every leg of the tournament! The first real challenge of the day came at the culmination of the official tournament and the beginning of the extra head to head round; the main reason both venues had to run exactly to time, particularly the Gillett centre. This round had no impact on BUTTS league scores and was primarily a tournament for individuals, rather than focused on university teams. The top eight scoring archers in each recurve category would qualify for this part of the tournament. Since this was being held at the Munrow, any qualifying
"The head to heads became tense quickly, as archers were knocked out one by one and the numbers dwindled" experienced archers from the second session in the Gillett centre had just about half an hour to pack their kit and jump in a car to get there. There was even less time for novice archers, whose head to head round was up first. The five novices that were found to have likely qualified were bundled quickly
into two cars with bows still mostly set up, as there was no time for them to pack down properly. It was tight, but this too was pulled off in time. A word from our Tournaments Officer Joe Preece sums up the energy and excitement of this final part of the day: “The highlight of the day was, without doubt, the head-to-head round. After a tense wait, the top eight archers from each category took to the line. The first few arrows flew, and the atmosphere soared. The support from all universities was overwhelming, from the quarter-finals to the gold medal matches. From a UBAC perspective, it was wonderful to see the spectators getting involved”. The head to heads became tense quickly, as archers were knocked out one by one and the numbers dwindled.
"The gents' experienced head to head was another nail biter, perhaps even more so than the novice round" The final rounds for both ladies and gents novice recurve were particularly exciting for Birmingham as both had a Birmingham finalist. They did us proud, with both Catherine Jackson and David Jennings winning gold. The gents' experienced head to head was another nail biter, perhaps even more so than the novice round, as it was between Nottingham Trent sports scholar Robert Gray and our own gold scholar Ashe Morgan. It was a close run thing, but unfortunately Ashe ultimately lost out, but came away with a very respectable silver. His opponent, Robert Gray, had that day just broken a BUTTS league record, putting in a remarkable 594, so he was definitely good competition! In the words of our Tournaments Officer “it was a fitting end to the day for Birmingham to win three medals in the gold medal matches, the most from any team! The gold and two silvers were another testament to the club's success”. With the culmination of the indoor BUTTS league the team now look forward to the move outside, with the new challenges this brings, and the new tournaments!