Redbrick Issue 1493, Vol. 82
Friday 16th March 2018
FREE
New Guild Order
Redbrick
A breakdown of the incoming guild officer team
The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936
pages 6-7 Sven Richardson
When Did It All Go Bong? It has been over 3 weeks since Old Joe last chimed and UoB students are beginning to feel more than a little ticked off Emily Roberts News Editor
Old Joe, the University of Birmingham’s treasured landmark, is currently being repaired, after mechanical issues were identified with its clock face. As Redbrick recently reported, Old Joe started to run slow in February, causing confusion within the student community. On February 15th, a tweet posted on the University of Birmingham Estates twitter account announced that clockmakers would be brought in on the 21st to ‘tighten up [Old Joe’s] nuts and bolts’, and confirmed that, until then, ‘he will display the time as 12 o’clock and will not be lit up at night’. However, over three weeks have passed, and Old Joe unfortunately remains broken. According to the University of Birmingham Estates, the repairers discovered that the clock’s pendulum ‘stops swinging between 40 and 50 minutes past the hour’, and added that the clockmakers would return the following week to attempt to fix the problem. However, clock repairs were further delayed when the cold freeze – also known as the ‘Beast from the East’ – hit the UK. The date for Old Joe’s restoration was
subsequently pushed forward to March 6th – almost a month after issues with its timing were first identified. On March 6th, this update was posted on the University of Birmingham Facebook page: ‘Oh dear. It looks as though our clock tower’s bearings are faulty and the whole mechanism needs to be stripped down and rebuilt!’ The post also confirmed that, until these issues are addressed, Old Joe will remain at 12 o’clock. The most recent announcement from UoB was posted on the University of Birmingham Estates twitter page, and it stated that ‘surgical enhancements will be taking place on Tuesday [13th March] and parts will be taken away for repair later that week’. Speaking to Redbrick, third year Political Science student, Oli, said, ‘I usually glance up to check the time whilst walking across campus, so not having Old Joe working is slightly annoying, but not the end of the world by any means’. Third year English Literature student, Katie, added, ‘while it’s a bit jarring seeing the wrong time on the clock face, it’s not really much of an inconvenience’. When asked for his thoughts, Parth, a final year Computer Science student, said, ‘hopefully the landmark that is Old Joe is back on its feet soon’.
Culture: Poet Benjamin Zephaniah on his new novel
Music: An interview with the eight-person Superorganism
Food&Drink: Examining CocaCola's foray into alcoholic drinks
Travel: Three days in Portugal's second city, Porto
Culture page 18
Music page 22
F&D page 28
Travel page 30
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REDBRICK
Friday 16th March 2018
redbrick.me
Letter from the committee... Overseeing the freshers edition of Redbrick last year back in mid-September, I was filled with excitement mixed with trepidation. Looking back over what has happened this year, I struggle to understand where the time has gone. A redesigned paper, the introduction of new fixtures and features, some of the best pieces Redbrick writers have ever produced, a whole new team of editors each bringing their own vision to their sections and greater links between us and the other media societies have made this year a barnstorming success. Like any society we have our ups and downs - moments of stress and strain are hard on all of us putting this paper together and filling our website with compelling, entertaining and thought-provoking articles. However, times like this serve only to make these moments, in which you pick up our paper to read those stories from our campus and beyond that much sweeter. As Print and Features Editor, I am so proud to be able to pin my name next to this paper, the result of countless hours of tireless work from our entire team, all done in the name of bringing you a final product that you actually want to read. Now however, the one thing left for me is to gracefully bow out. This edition, the last of the term and penultimate for the academic year, is the final one I can truly say I have edited. I would be sad if it wasn’t for
two things, the first being that I am confident that I will be leaving the paper in a better state than I found it. Far be it from me to take any credit for this, all thanks go to the countless writers, editors and EAs who continue to outdo expectations even at this stage of my tenure. The second is Thom Dent. Elected as Print and Features Editor for next year, I could not have imagined a pair of hands more capable than his to take the paper forward next year. As a Print Editor for Music, alongside incoming Deputy Editor Issy Campbell, their section this year has gone from strength to strength - look forward to seeing that throughout the whole paper, and the very best of luck to them both. Hopefully 12 months from now Redbrick Print will look completely different and infinitely better, so no pressure. Of course the rest of the incoming committee is just as strong. Your new Editor-in-Chief will be current News Editor Erin Santillo, who I’m sure will be the best Editor since William Baxter. Kat Smith from Comment will be working next to Issy as the second Deputy Editor, stepping into Kirstie Sutherland, Holly Carter and Harry Wilkinson's shoes, which is a hard act to follow so you’re all very lucky! Jonny Isaacs is taking over from Alex McDonald as Digital Editor, with John Wimperis taking up the new role of Deputy Digital Editor, so all that
website business about which I know nothing is on the up and up. Supporting them is your new lead developer Jivan Pal, continuing the excellent work of Tom Galvin. Marketing Secretary has gone to Sci&Tech’s brilliant Emilia Rose, who will inherit a society that has emerged from a difficult financial year stronger than it was thanks to outgoing Secretary Kamila Geremek. And last, but by no means least, Sorcha Hornett takes over from Laura Burgess as Social Secretary to ensure that we are a society in the truest sense of the word. On that topic, I’m sure Laura would have words for me if I didn’t plug the Redbrick Awards! Coming your way on 4th June at a new and exciting venue TBA, the most exciting night in the Redbrick calendar is almost upon us. A night of relaxed fun and celebrating all our hard work, Redbrick Awards is not to be missed. Keep an eye out for ticket info. And with that, I’m done. Thanks to everyone, it’s been an honour. From the dungeons etc...
Joe Ryan Print and Features Editor
Follow us on Instagram @redbrickpaper Want to be featured? Send us your photos at: deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk and/or tag us in your photos by using #redbrickinstagram
Online this week at redbrick.me... TRAVEL
GAMING
FILM
LIFE&STYLE
Photographin London's Skyline
Alfie Bown is Wrong About Video Games and the Far Right
Review: Red Sparrow
A First Look at the Erdem x Nars Collection
Redbrick Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief William Baxter editor@redbrickonline.co.uk
Deputy Editors Holly Carter Kirstie Sutherland Harry Wilkinson deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk
Print & Features Editor Joe Ryan print@redbrickonline.co.uk
Digital Editor Alex McDonald digital@redbrickonline.co.uk
Lead Developer Tom Galvin developer@redbrickonline.co.uk
Marketing Secretary Kamila Geremek marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk
Social Secretary Laura Burgess social@redbrickonline.co.uk
News Editors Grace Duncan Phoebe Radford Emily Roberts Erin Santillo John Wimperis
Music Editors Emily Barker Issy Campbell Luke Charnley Thom Dent music@redbrickonline.co.uk
news@redbrickonline.co.uk
Comment Editors Alex Cirant-Taljaard Alex Goodwin Amelia Hiller Kat Smith
Television Editors Amelia Bacon Matt Dawson Abbie Pease tv@redbrickonline.co.uk
comment@redbrickonline.co.uk
Culture Editors Olivia Boyce Hannah Brierley Rebecca Moore Natalie Welch culture@redbrickonline.co.uk
Film Editors Patrick Box Emillie Gallagher John James film@redbrickonline.co.uk
Gaming Editors Nick Burton Jack Cooper Emma Kent Roshni Patel
Travel Editors Iesha Thomas Phoebe WarnefordThomson Olivia Woodington travel@redbrickonline.co.uk
Life&Style Editors Tara Kergon Sophie Kesterton Imogen Lancaster Nia Roberts lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk
Sport Editors Alex Alton Olli Meek Leanne Prescott sport@redbrickonline.co.uk
gaming@redbrickonline.co.uk
Food&Drink Editors Caitlin Dickinson Adele Franghiadi Dean Mobbs food@redbrickonline.co.uk
Sci&Tech Editors Ellen Heimpel Katie Jones Emilia Rose tech@redbrickonline.co.uk
Editorial Assistants Jake Bradshaw Aishwarya Chandran Luke Charnley Rebecca Cutler Ellie Duncan Olivia Frankel Jessica Green Jonny Isaacs Tara Kergon Alisa Lewis Bethan Parry Liam Taft
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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.
NEWS
Friday 16th March 2018
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Princess Anne Opens New Gym John Wimperis News Editor
On Monday 5th March, the UB Sport & Fitness Club was formally opened by the Princess Royal, Princess Anne. She was given a tour of the facility by Director of Sport Zena Wooldridge, before attending a reception where she unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the club. At the reception, the Princess met students, alumni and staff, as well as national sportspeople, dignitaries, University of Birmingham Vice Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood, and Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, the university’s Chancellor. Eastwood described it as ‘an honour and a privilege to welcome Her Royal Highness to our
major new sports centre’. He claimed that the sports centre and its team ‘reflects Birmingham's status as one of the top universities for sport in the UK’. After she had unveiled the plaque, the Princess Royal gave a speech in which she congratulated UoB on its support for Birmingham’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Birmingham was ultimately successful in its bid for the Games last December, after the deadline was extended due to Birmingham being the only city to apply. The Games’ Hockey and Squash events are to be held at the University. In some closing remarks after the Princess’ speech, Bilimoria said he was ‘delighted’ she had attended. He added that the ‘outstanding facility [...] will not only help to produce high performing
athletes and the next generation of Olympic heroes, but is also benefiting the wider community as it takes advantage of having access to these state-of-the-art facilities’. The £55 million sports centre opened its doors last May, after almost a year of delays. Among the facilities which the Princess saw on her tour were the 50 metre swimming pool, fitness studios, squash courts, sports hall, climbing wall, and performance centre. Wooldridge described it as ‘so exciting to see this fantastic facility go from an idea, to plans, to construction and opening.’ She continued, ‘its first months since opening have been tremendously successful, with many hundreds of students, staff and community members using these unparalleled facilities'.
University of Birmingham
Ribbon Cut at UoB Dubai Millie Gallagher Film Editor
The University of Birmingham (UoB) has become the first global top 100 and UK Russell Group university to establish a campus in Dubai's International Academic City. UoB’s Principal and ViceChancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood as well as many more distinguished guests gathered to cut the ribbon as the University of Birmingham Dubai (UBD) phase 1 campus was officially opened. Eastwood and the group of guests toured the University’s new facilities as works are completed in preparation for the first cohort of students arriving in September this year.
The ceremonial opening was then followed by an evening reception at Dubai’s British Embassy, where approximately
"University of Birmingham will be a world-class partner committed to enhancing the UAE’s vision to drive innovation and diversified growth"
100 guests attended from both Dubai and the UAE, as well as senior members of UoB. The opening of UBD supports Dubai’s goal of building an international education hub, as the university looks forward to welcoming students and offering degrees that will be taught, examined and accredited to the same high standards as delivered on UoB’s Edgbaston campus. UBD will offer opportunities to study a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, initially including Business, Economics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and teacher training degrees. They plan to offer further programmes subsequently. Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of
KHDA has said, ‘the opening of University of Birmingham [...] represents new opportunities for students who can now look at a wider offering of education and research led programmes’. UBD is located in the international education hub, Dubai International Academic City, which is home to 26 universities. Mohammed Adbullah, Managing Director of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park looks forward to the influx of international students in Dubai due to the university’s long-standing reputation. Adbullah states that the university is ‘recognised as among the top 1 per cent of universities across the globe and renowned for its academic research’. He goes on to state his confi-
dence that the ‘University of Birmingham will be a world-class partner committed to enhancing the UAE’s vision to drive innovation and diversified growth’. University of Birmingham Principal and Vice-Chancellor Sir David Eastwood has similarly presented his own enthusiasm at this global expansion, stating: ‘With strategic partnerships in the USA, Australia, China, and Brazil and active research collaborations across the world, opening a campus in Dubai is the next step in our global mission and demonstrates our ambition as an outward looking, world-class institution’.
UoB Finds New Street NO2 Levels Breach EU Safety Limits Madeline McInnis News Reporter
A new study has been published on the levels of air pollution at New Street Station (BHM) by researchers at the University of Birmingham. Network Rail and the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education worked together on the process that saw comprehensive analysis of the air quality at the station at the end of 2016 and early 2017. The research was published in the Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, and it saw results from all platforms and common lounges at Grand Central. In particular, the study measured NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide) levels over both long term and short term trends.
The study found that, though NO2 levels met workplace standards, they were above the EU Public Health requirements. New Street Station is the busi-
est train station outside of London in the United Kingdom. Though most trains run on electric power, some still run on diesel fuel and the air quality is the worst on the
Paul Hudson
platforms adjacent to these trains New Street station opened just a in particular. few years ago in 2015. The Furthermore, the new concourse is supstudy found that NO2 posedly three and a levels were worst half times larger than when these diesel the previous buildtrains were idling ing, and the first thing in the Network Rail morning and late website boasts Number of people in the evenings. that nearly who travel through 140,000 people A press release from the University travel through the BHM every day stated that these station daily. findings are already The Birmingham sparking a change in Centre for Railway Network Rail’s approach Research and Education to the station. The company is a division of the University is working to ‘optimise the venti- of Birmingham that offers a range lation system within the station, of both undergraduate and postand to develop other methods in graduate courses that focuses on conjunction with the train opera- railway systems in the present day tors’. and for the future. The new redevelopment of
14,000
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NEWS
Friday 16th March 2018
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Millennial Railcard Given the Signal to Go Ahead
Library Live Occupancy Trial Phoebe Radford News Editor
past week, the library has Railcard for 26 - 30 year olds is approved by the govern- This been running a trial of a live occupancy display, showing either ment to be available nationwide green, amber or red for each floor to denote availability of seats.
Issy Campbell Music Editor
Tuesday 13th March saw the introduction of the millennial Railcard for those aged 26-30. The card entitles owners to a third off most train tickets, much like the current 16-25-year-old card on offer. There are only 10,000 Railcards available, meaning just one out of every 500 eligible candidates are able to purchase one. The card itself, which costs £30, is only available to buy for one year and is available as a digital entity intended to be used via the Railcard App on smartphones. However, not all fares will be
reduced in conjunction with the Although March 13th marked millennial Railcard; cardholders the first nationwide release of the must spend a minimum of 26-30-year-old Railcard, a £12 on Anytime and pilot of millennial Off-Peak tickets Railcards has been in between 4:30am and operation in the 10:00am. Aside Greater Anglia from the limitaarea since tions, owners can December 2017, otherwise expect a with 10,000 also cost of the cut of 34% to all having been sold railcard per year other tickets. A as a result of the 25-year-old regular trial run. train commuter told A 22-year-old Redbrick: 'I am glad I history student will not have to start argued that whilst the paying full price for tickRailcard was a good idea, ets once I turn 26. Rail travel 'it does not address the wider would get very pricey for me as I issue of extortionate public travel make a trip to London [from costs in the UK'. She continued, Cardiff] once or twice a month.' ‘it seems ridiculous to have to buy
£30
a Railcard in order to afford rail travel’. Another student said that it seemed unfair that the card can only be purchased for one year, as the 16-25 Railcard can be purchased for up to three years. She explained that ‘I bought my threeyear 16-25 Railcard for £70, saving £30 over the three years compared to if I bought annually. I don’t see why this is not an option for 26-30-year olds, no-one wants to spend more money if they don’t have to’. To apply for the Railcard, you need to pay via credit or debit card, have a passport or driving licence for proof of age, as well as a passport-style photo which can be uploaded digitally.
Harry and Meghan Make Birmingham Visit Millie Gallagher Film Editor
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Birmingham on March 8th as part of the city’s International Women’s Day celebrations. In the official visit, the pair learnt more about and got involved in projects supporting young people in the local community. The couple visited Millennium Point in Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter to meet the next generation of women - often referred to as ‘Stemettes’ - in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths fields. This group of young women is made up of school and college students, local business leaders and entrepreneurs. Following this visit with the Stemettes, the pair spent the rest of their visit in the Nechells area, supporting a training programme
- the Coach Core apprenticeship scheme - which focuses on those in need of help as they pursue a career in sports coaching and mentoring. The scheme operates in Birmingham, along with nine other cities, and is run by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to give young people aged between 16 and 24 the chance to become the next generation of inspirational coaches. The Coach Core was set up by Prince William and Prince Harry to support a range of projects they are most interested in, including projects supporting mental health and military veterans. Along with the Duchess of Cambridge, Markle will be the scheme’s fourth patron following her wedding day. Markle was a UN Women’s Advocate for Political Participation and Leadership and publicly sup-
ported movements for women's progress, including Emma Watson’s HeForShe campaign. Last month, she told crowds there has been ‘no better time’ to empower women. The recently engaged couple are to be married in May this year at St George's Chapel at Windsor
Castle in England. Their visit to Birmingham was the latest stop of their pre-wedding UK tour, as they try to visit as much of the country as possible. They have recently been to Cardiff, Edinburgh, Nottingham and London.
"Bare in mind, it’ll only show red/ amber/green for each floor. It might still take time to find seats, but this should be an improvement!" Guild Education Officer Adam Goldstone announced the news on Facebook in a note covering progress on various policies and ideas. He wrote, ‘there is a trial running next week that’ll show you the live occupancy on different floors of the library when you arrive’. In response to a comment on another Facebook post regarding the trial in which a student claimed she’d sometimes spent up to twenty minutes looking for a seat, Goldstone said, ‘bare in mind, it’ll only show red/amber/green for each floor. It might still take time to find seats, but this should be an improvement!’ Live occupancy is being displayed on screens in the lobby entrance to the library. Goldstone also pointed students towards the website http:// uoblivestudy.space/ which lists live occupancy for many study spaces on campus, along with their total capacity. The introduction of live occupancy trackers follows months of student dissatisfaction with the number of seats available in the new library.
"I don’t even go to the library anymore, because there is no space" A third year history student said, ‘I think that there is space if you don’t come in a big group. If you are just looking for one seat, or willing to sit on a shitty sofa, then you’ll be able to find a space.' However, a second year student said, ‘I don’t even go to the library anymore, because there is no space.’ Instead, she said she preferred the Arts Lounge. An English second year student said he had ‘a secret space’ that he always returns to. In his note on Facebook, Goldstone wrote that he ‘inherited’ a mandate on the ‘lack of space in the Library, and the uni opening up new study spaces.’
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Friday 16th March 2018
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Jacob Rees-Mogg Visits UoB Erin Santillo & John Wimperis News Editors
Invited by the University of Birmingham Conservatives, controversial backbench MP Jacob Rees-Mogg visited campus on Friday 9th March, speaking about his views on free speech, housing, mental health, Russia and tuition fees to a packed lecture theatre of around 300 students. Held in Mechanical Engineering with a considerable security presence, the session lasted an hour and consisted of a twenty-minute speech on the principles of conservatism from the Member of Parliament for North East Somerset followed by forty minutes of open questions from the audience. Although the event was organised by the UoB Conservatives, members of rival political societies were also present, including around thirty protesting outside of the venue. The non-violent protest was organised by the Socialist Students and the Women’s and LGBTQ Associations to demonstrate opposition to Rees-Mogg’s hard right traditionalism, which has seen him vote against samesex marriage and abortion rights.
"[Rees-Mogg] has a right to freedom of speech, but under that same right, we are able to protest him" Speaking to Redbrick, protester and first year English student Marion said: ‘[Rees-Mogg] has a right to freedom of speech, but under that same right, we are able to protest him. He has repeatedly shown to have no respect for people he deems to be lesser than him, and if he can’t respect other people’s rights, I should not be told to respect him or him coming to the university.'
Inside the lecture theatre, after all students present were cleared by security after bag checks, society president Luke Caldecott introduced Rees-Mogg to the room and presented him with his first ever Freddo chocolate bar. Praising UoB for its ‘Conservative tradition', the politician received a small standing ovation on his arrival, including from one audience member wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat, before making a speech on the values of conservatism.
"The non-violent protest was organised by the Socialist Students and the Women’s and LGBTQ Associations" During the subsequent Q&A, Rees-Mogg praised the protest against him outside the venue as ‘marvellous’, seeing it as a representation of the freedom of speech that upholds national democracy. The MP then went on to criticise the ‘lily-liveredness’ of ‘fanatics’ attempting to introduce safe spaces at universities or increase noplatforming legislation. When questioned on this issue again by Education Officer Adam Goldstone, Rees-Mogg added that no-platforming is an attempt to ‘shut down free speech’ and that instead controversial speakers should be allowed to have their opinions heard, regardless of ‘angry protests’. ‘Politicians shouldn’t be snowflakes either,' he said, generating applause from the audience. Turning to other questions, on the topic of the Trump presidency, Rees-Mogg praised the recent tax reforms and criticised anyone who holds ‘contempt’ for the US President as being ‘disrespectful’ to his office: 'it is in our national interest to get on with whoever the President of the United States
happens to be’. Later, responding to a student’s criticism of his support for welfare cuts, Rees-Mogg defended his government’s spending plans and stated that the best way out of poverty is for people to seek employment. He added that he doesn’t believe the statistics about the high number of people using foodbanks but commended the charity of volunteers who run them. Rees-Mogg also called mental health support ‘a service that has been left behind for decades’, but he said that the recent reduction in stigma surrounding it is ‘very refreshing’. He wants to see more qualified mental health specialists and a dramatic decrease in patient waiting times. Concerning university tuition fees, the MP said that parents have ‘a responsibility’ for subsidising the higher education of their children. Hence, a lack of maintenance grants is fair. ReesMogg did, however, criticise the current 6.1% interest rate on tuition fee loans.
ernment, which is leading to other important areas being ignored.
"We haven’t been tough enough on Russia" On the recent nerve agent attack in Salisbury on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Rees-Mogg said that rumours of Russian state involvement are ‘almost bound to be correct’. The MP stated that ‘Russia is a men-
ace’ and that the UK government should ‘go after their money’ if the trail leads back to the Kremlin: ‘we haven’t been tough enough on Russia’. The final question of the session concerned his ambitions to become leader of the Conservative Party. He replied, ‘I’m supporting Mrs May; there is no vacancy’. Rees-Mogg also added: ‘I’m a backbench MP... I would not be a credible candidate’. Following a standing ovation from a few members of the audience, Rees-Mogg was escorted out by security while students were told to stay in their seats until he had left.
"Russia is a menace" Following a question about the foreign aid budget, ReesMogg stated that whilst he is in favour of emergency aid, for example those which fund refugee camps, he does not support what he called ‘failed schemes’, citing the ‘Ethiopian Spice Girls’ project. Based on a conservative model, the MP wants to see our 0.7% of GDP spent on investments that facilitate economic growth overseas, such as the construction of power plants. Turning to Brexit, the politician told the audience that they ‘will be the judge’, as students will have to live with its effects. In thirty years, we will need to ask ourselves ‘do [we] believe in democracy?' rather than compare the country then with the preBrexit one, Rees-Mogg urged. He also added that too much ‘mental energy is being expended on Brexit’ at the moment within gov-
300 Die Without Organs in Brum Sophie Woodley News Reporter
Recent figures show that more than 300 people have died in the West Midlands in the past ten years after not receiving the vital organs for an organ transplant, which could have potentially saved their lives. A total of 302 deaths occurred of people on the transplant list between 2007/8 and 2016/17. 19 of these deaths occurred in 2016/17. As a result, MPs have started to take action to prevent these figures rising in the future. For instance, Geoffrey Robinson MP presented a Private Members’ Bill in the House of
Commons on Friday 23rd February; a Bill which aims to change the current organ donation law to an ‘opt-out’ system. Thus, people will automatically be considered an organ donor, unless they opt out of doing so. Robinson states, ‘it is a preventable national scandal that so many people die waiting for transplants when we could give them the gift of life’. He claims that we have to take action to change the law as, despite the ‘goodwill’ and willingness of people to donate their organs, they merely 'never get round to signing the register’. The current law states that people have to opt in, in order to become a donor after their death. The law that MPs wish to impose could
still be overruled by family members, should they wish. Yet, England is aiming to follow the footsteps of countries who have already implemented the ‘opt-out’ system, such as Wales and also Scotland who is set to follow.
"The law that MPs wish to impose could still be overruled..." The urge for this law change follows the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign, which
claims it is a ‘scandal’ that ‘thousands of patients [are] dying needlessly while waiting for an organ transplant’. The campaign has been encouraging people to contact their local MPs to push for the change in current law. People felt particularly strongly about this issue after hearing Max Johnson’s story. At just aged 9, Max was waiting for a heart transplant at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. After undergoing the transplant, Max is currently well and recovering and is also calling for MPs to vote to change the law. He says, ‘politicians have the chance to change the law to help all the other kids who I left behind in hospital’. One student told Redbrick, 'I
really do believe with an opt-out scheme, if you don't care enough to opt-out, of course your organs should go to someone who needs them.' More information on the Mail’s campaign and the steps people can take to help change the current law can be found here: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/ uk-news/call-change-organdonor-laws-12029016?_ga=2.545 96459.159715585.1520885748567399665.1490269808.
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Friday 16th March 2018
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Guild Elections 2018: The Results
Following their conclusion on Saturday 3rd March, News' Erin Santillo, Phoebe Radford and Sophie Woodley bring you the results and reactions from this year's Guild Elections Erin Santillo News Editor
Phoebe Radford News Editor
Sophie Woodley
* Update app to flag unused study spaces
really crucial at the moment to the uni and that’s the thing I would definitely start working on first’.
* Improve access to welfare services
Education Goldstone
Officer:
Adam
News Reporter
Speaking to Redbrick, Roberts said: ‘I’m really really excited. Students on the doorstep Saturday 3rd March have been wanting saw the conclusion of change and wanting a week of campaignsomething really ing and months of positive to come policy preparation out of their Guild as the results for and I’m really the Guild excited that Elections 2018 they’ve put their Total votes were revealed. trust in me to move this year Fifty candidates forward with that. battled out for posi‘I was not tions on the part-time expecting to win, Dan and full-time officer and Harry put up a realteams, but only fifteen ly really strong campaign. could win. Myself, Dan and Harry as three The total number of votes candidates who all ran a very recorded at this election was strong campaign deserve a lot of 8,160. All results published here gratitude. I really wasn’t expectare provisional until officially ing it!’ confirmed by the returning officer. Welfare & Community Officer: All candidates were given a Izzy Bygrave budget of £50 of Guild money to fund their campaigns. Following Results Night, the Guild media groups caught up with the winning candidates for their immediate reactions to their appointments. The 2018/19 Officer Team consists of: Reece
Patrick
* Improve room booking system
* Encourage inclusivity through a Society Accreditation Scheme * Prioritise societies with regular office hours
Adam Goldstone won the EO election in the first round with 5,132 votes out of 6,345 cast (80.1%). Both RON and Max Palmer were eliminated in the first round with 162 and 1,051 votes respectively. Goldstone’s manifesto pledges to:
Speaking to GuildTV after her election, Macpherson said: ‘It’s really surreal, it just doesn’t feel like it’s really happened yet. But I’m really happy and I can’t believe that everyone’s voted for me, I’m so grateful. ‘Probably one of the high points [of campaign week] was having my campaign team all out in the cold weather running around campus [...] it was so good to have everyone’s enthusiasm there. To feel the support from so many people was just great’.
* Introduce earlier lecture timetables
Sports Officer: Simon Price
Reece Patrick Roberts won the presidential election in the fourth round with 2,753 votes out of 7,076 cast (38.9%). RON (Re-Open Nominations) was eliminated in the first round with 107 votes, Dan Wootton in the second round with 1,475 votes, Harry Hall in the third round with 1,650 votes, and Kris Burnett in the fourth round with 2,113 votes. Roberts’ manifesto pledges to: * Support student-led campaigns
* Introduce a late night library bus * Create a comprehensive list of good student lettings agencies
* Lobby NUS for a full-time Postgraduate Officer
* Listen to the needs of postgraduates
* Bring more structure to personal tutor meetings
Speaking to GuildTV after her election, Small said: ‘I don’t think I can sum up [how I’m feeling] in a few words. I’m over the moon of course, I’m not processing it right now - it’s all been such a whirlwind this evening. ‘[Campaign week] has been really stressful [...] the weather did not make it easy at all. There were some times when I just wanted to cosy up in blanket, but I was like “I have to keep going”’.
Speaking to Redbrick, Goldstone said: ‘I’m really excited, I’ve really enjoyed the job so I’m really excited to continue it, and hopefully I’ll be more successful next year so I’m excited to carry on’. Activities & Employability Officer: Robyn Macpherson
Simon Price won the SO election in the fourth round with 2,948 votes out of 6,626 cast (44.5%). RON was eliminated in the first round with 51 votes, Rachael Potter in the second round with 871 votes, Kate Seary in the third round with 1,610 votes, and Zak Viney in the fourth round with 1,969 votes. Price’s manifesto pledges to:
International Park
Officer:
Cho
* Introduce more sport taster sessions * Increase awareness of ‘big event days’
* Work with police to make Selly Oak safer
* Improving mental health support at UBSport
* Improve postgraduate support during welcome week
* Lobby for better kit support
Speaking to GuildTV after her election, Bygrave said: ‘I didn’t think this was going to happen, I didn’t think I had it, but thanks to everyone who voted. ‘Counselling services [...] are
* Introduce new study spaces
* Create an online platform advertising free study spaces
* Improve halls meal plan
* Expose hidden course fees
* Extend welfare services for postgraduates
* Encourage a wider academic participation strategy
* Reduce waiting time for mental health services
* Move free sanitary products from Guild reception to toilets
Jessica Small won the PGO election in the first round with 3,343 out of 5,314 cast (62.9%). RON and Matthews were eliminated in the first round with 140 and 1,831 votes respectively. Small’s manifesto pledges to:
* Campaign for more manageable exam timetables
* Boost support to academic societies Izzy Bygrave won the WCO election in the sixth round with 2,504 votes out of 6,454 cast (38.8%). RON was eliminated in the first round with 64 votes, Joe Cooper in the second round with 465 votes, Josh Williams in the third round with 611 votes, Emily Wigston in the fourth round with 835 votes, Lucy BleichroederBaker in the fifth round with 1,223 votes, and Josh Williams in the sixth round with 1,807 votes. Bygrave’s manifesto pledges to:
Postgraduate Officer: Jessica Small
* Strengthen relationships between student groups
8,160
President: Roberts
fourth round with 1,377 votes, and Federico Urciuoli in the fifth round with 1,677 votes. Macpherson’s manifesto pledges to:
Robyn Macpherson won the AEO election in the fifth round with 2,895 votes out of 6,595 cast (43.9%). RON was eliminated in the first round with 75 votes, Matthew Mayer in the second round with 327 votes, Rachel Tindall in the third round with 1,170 votes, Curtis Collins in the
Speaking to GuildTV after his election, Price said: ‘[Results Night was] probably the most stressful time of my life, ever. But it’s really good that so many people have voted, a really great turnout, and I just can’t wait to get started now’.
Cho Park won the IO election in the seventh round with 2,633 votes out of 6,088 cast (43.2%). RON was eliminated in the first round with 54 votes, Muhammad Afzal in the second round with 106 votes, Sam Kocheri Clement in the third round with 128 votes,
NEWS
Friday 16th March 2018
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Yang Yang in the fourth round with 277 votes, Abubakar Garo in the fifth round with 303 votes, Chad Moss in the sixth round with 315 votes, and Ya-Chun Yang, Mirabel Chu, Piangfan Naksukpaiboon and Namrata Ramchandra Bhoir in the seventh round with 374, 648, 733 and 799 votes respectively. Park’s manifesto pledges to:
to:
pledges to:
* Offer greater transparency to the ARAFO role
* Fight the privatisation of mental health services
* Provide one-to-one advice on how to deal with racism and fascism on campus
* Campaign for more counsellors
* Introduce international days and festivals
* Work with other officers to ensure tolerance and acceptance of all
* Increase academic, employability and mental health support for international students * Create a year abroad community to prepare students for going overseas * Boost socials for international students Speaking to Redbrick, Park said: ‘I still can’t believe this happened to me, its the best thing I’ve ever achieved in this uni. ‘I’m thinking because it’s turned from a part time to a full time role I really want to make sure students can hear voices from an International Officer that I am representing’. Anti-Racism; Anti-Fascism Officer: Janiece Jackson Janiece Jackson won the AntiRacism; Anti-Fascism Officer election in the first round with 2,888 votes out of 5,543 cast (52.1%). RON, Ramatou Sako and Jennifer Chu were eliminated in the first round with 163, 1,215 and 1,277 votes respectively. Jackson’s manifesto pledges
* Improve accessibility on campus
* Increase ways to connect with the ARAFO
Commuter Students' Officer: Jules Singh Jules Singh won the Commuter Students’ Officer election in the first round with 5,009 votes out of 5,327 (94%). RON was eliminated in the first round with 318 votes. Singh’s manifesto pledges to: * Form a society to support commuter students * Ensure the views of part-time students are heard * Provide open dialogue to reduce commuter students’ difficulties
Ethnic Minority Students' Officer: D a m i l o l a Oyeleke
£50
Shamima Akhtar and Jay Martin jointly won the Disabled Students’ Officer election in the first round with 175 votes out of 201 cast (87.1%). RON was eliminated in the first round with 26 votes. Akhtar & Martin’s manifesto
* Drive support for LGBTQ students at the Dubai campus
Damilola Campaigning Oyeleke won the * Campaign for budget Ethnic Minority more gender-neuStudents’ Officer tral toilets on camelection with 163 pus votes out of 333 cast (48.9%). Aminat Onileere * Increase welfare tutor was eliminated in the first round awareness of LGBTQ issues with 8 votes, Kaitlin Joseph in the second round with 10 votes, and * Implement more inclusive lanRON and Fardawza Ahmed in the guage within lectures third round with 12 and 147 votes respectively. * Encourage societal equality and Oyeleke’s manifesto pledges diversity training to: * Create a more welcoming atmosphere for ethnic minority students
Mature Students' Lauren Kennedy
Officer:
* Work to advance equality among BAME and non-BAME students
Lauren Kennedy won the Mature Students’ Officer election in the first round with 3,901 votes out of 4,543 cast (85.9%). RON was eliminated in the first round with 642 votes.
* Increase awareness of opportunities for international students
Trans Students' Officer: Finn Humphris
LGBTQ Students' Officer: Josie Hyde & Jess Rutland
Finn Humphris won the Trans Students’ Officer election in the first round with 42 votes out of 53 cast (79.2%). RON was eliminat-
* Organise student-led pastoral care Disabled Students' Officer: Shamima Akhtar & Jay Martin
Josie Hyde and Jess Rutland won the LGBTQ Students’ Officer election in the first round with 340 votes out of 615 cast (55.3%). Hugo Snape, RON, Joshua Swanbrow and Sorcha Hughes were eliminated in the first round with 16, 21, 52 and 186 votes respectively. Hyde and Rutland's manifesto pledge to:
07
ed in the first round with 11 votes. Humphris’ manifesto pledges to: * Improve training of staff and students for trans and non-binary inclusion * Push to solve university admin issues, e.g. name and title changes * Increase the number of genderneutral toilets * Improve inclusivity in sport Women's Officer: Holly & Alif Holly and Alif jointly won the Women’s Officer election in the first round with 767 votes out of 1,461 cast (57.7%). RON and Emily Petch were eliminated in the first round with 15 and 679 votes respectively. Holly & Alif’s manifesto pledges to: * Implement Not On training for all society committee members and tutors * Introduce an annual Reclaim the Night event * Create a monthly drop-in for women and non-binary students * Work with other officers to ensure student safety on the Dubai campus * Commit to liaising with liberation associations and officers.
News in a Nutshell... News Editor Grace Duncan looks at the biggest stories from the past fortnight Russia Spy Attack The big story this week was the Russian spy and his daughter found poisoned by a military grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia in Sailsbury. A police officer also affected tending to the pair remains seriously ill in hospital. It is believed that Russia were behind the attack and the country has been told to provide ‘full and complete’ disclosure of the Novichok programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Restaurants and diners in the local area have been told to clean all their cutlery and clothing extra carefully in order to make sure that there is no remaining evidence of the agent. Lowest Rated Oscars Ceremony Ever The 90th Annual Academy awards was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and was the lowest rated awards in its history. The big winners of the night were Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing,
Missouri. Viewers were most disappointed in the lack of recognition for Call Me Be By Your Name and Get Out. Givenchy has died The French designer died at the age of 91 earlier this week. Givenchy was born into a noble French family and was going to go into law before he persuaded his family to let him follow fashion. The designer most famous for the little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s which came to be synonymous with elegant simplicity. Friendship between Givenchy and Hepburn lasted for 40 years. Sir Ken Dodd has died Sir Ken Dodd, British comedian, has died this week at the age of 90. Son of a Liverpudlian coal merchant, Dodd rose to fame in the 1950s. He was knighted 2 years ago and was married to his life -long partner 2 days before his death. He had 19 UK top 40 hits and 1,500 jokes in a world record joke-telling session. North Korea America
to
speak
to
Last week Donald Trump accepted North Korea’s invitation to direct talks. South Korean officials have stated that they believe the North Korean leader is prepared to give up his nuclear weapons. While there is no confirmation of the talks, analysts still remain sceptical about what can be achieved through talks considering how complicated the issue is. Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky implicated in drugs report Both Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins have been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France in 2012. The drugs in question can be used as treatment for legitimate medical conditions, though Wiggins’ actually need for the drugs has been queried. It calls into question the ways in which the nationally-linked cycling team have managed to win such prestigious races, especially within a notoriously drug-affected sport. The team had been using corticosteroids in preparation for the Tour de France despite branding themselves as having a ‘winning clean’ ethos, which includes a ‘needlefree’ commitment.
Another Beast from the East The UK was hit by the ‘Beast from the East’ storm last week which saw temperatures fall to as low as -8 which felt colder due to the winds. Red weather warnings were issued for multiple days during the week. In Birmingham alone it is believed that there was around £10 million worth of damage to cars. It also coincided with the Guild Election campaigning season with the trademark signs and banners looking snowier than normal. It is also believed that a second 'Beast from the East' will hit Birmingham in the coming weeks although it is not confirmed.
be treated for injuries. A survivor told the BBC that the plane had begun to behave strangely as it approached the city. It remains to be seen the true extent of the damage and the causes for such a catastrophe. Helicopter Crash in the East River, NYC kills 5 Earlier this week, a helicopter crashed into the East River in New York City, killing all five passengers but sparing the life of the pilot. The helicopter was chartered for a private photo shoot. All those killed were in their late twenties and early thirties. It is believed that the crash was caused by a passenger’s bags that may have inadvertently hit the emergency fuel shut off button.
Plane crash in Nepal 49 people died following a plane crash in Kathmandu. The Bangladeshi plane was carrying 71 passengers and crew while landing at the airport on the afternoon of the 12th March. The exact cause of the crash remains unclear although the Prime Minister of Nepal has promised an immediate investigation. 22 people were taken to hospital to
Trump sacks Rex Tillerson Donald Trump has fired his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, replacing him with Mike Pompeo, the current director of the CIA. The US President took to Twitter to thank Tillerson for his service and state that Pompeo will do a 'fantastic job' in his place. Gina Haspel has been nominated to replace Pompeo at the CIA.
08 COMMENT
Friday 16th March 2018
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Say No to No Platforming Tom Rose reflects on the controversial apperance of Jacob Rees-Mogg at UoB, and argues that free speech is a vital part of student life Tom Rose Comment Writer
The appearance of Jacob ReesMogg at the University of Birmingham was always going to be a matter of controversy. Despite being founded by Joseph Chamberlain, whose two sons would go on to lead the Conservative Party, the University of Birmingham, like many other educational institutions, has many powerful movements within its student body who support numerous liberal and left-wing ideals, and would undoubtedly be present to protest against his appearance. The prominent backbench MP, known for his polemic views on abortion and same-sex marriage, was surprisingly met with huge applause from the audience at a university whose Students’ Union has repeatedly been issued with red warnings from the Free Speech University Rankings. After being introduced by the outgoing President of the University of Birmingham Conservatives, Luke Caldecott, Mr. Rees-Mogg’s address focused on two key issues – his rationale for Conservatism and interestingly, what he defined as
‘the issue of the day’, freedom of speech.
"The prominent backbench MP ... was suprisingly met with huge applause from the audience" Rees-Mogg’s opening statement was that ‘conservativism is about preserving what is good, not preserving everything’. He was very quick to reinforce this with the idea that ‘conservatives believe that society is built from the bottom up, not from the top down’. For some, these would automatically appear to be controversial statements, considering the backdrop of austerity and cuts to public services under various Conservative-led governments. It was, however, a breath of fresh air for Mr. ReesMogg to not commit Theresa May’s usual crime at PMQs of simply criticising Labour Party policy and not suggesting an appropriate alternative. Instead, he referred to his belief that
economies grow by giving members of the public freedom of choice with their money, warning the audience that ‘borrowing is merely taxation postponed. It has to be paid for at some future date and borrowing today, you’ll be really pleased to know, is taxation to be paid by all of you in the future.’ This was compounded by a passionate question from within the audience, outlining many shortfalls of Conservative policy with its detrimental effects of austerity. On the issue of food banks, Mr. Rees-Mogg spoke about how it is ‘surely a good thing that people voluntarily want to help their fellow human being and we should be thankful for those who have helped their fellows [to] have a better standard of living. But it doesn’t mean that the government [and] you, as taxpayers, aren’t providing the basic welfare support that we feel is the right thing to do in our society.’ Addressing how ‘there aren’t lots of mystery rich people who will pay extra tax to provide this funding’, he rightly spoke about how getting people into work is the best way out of poverty, referring to the Conservatives’ impressively low unemployment figures. This
response was met with huge applause and was an extremely plausible comeback to a question on the Conservatives’ track record. Whilst his answer will certainly not convince everyone, as a non-Conservative voter, I do not feel he could have provided a more convincing case (although I wouldn’t use the word ‘justification’ here) for the Conservatives Party’s actions.
"Politics would not be politics without contrasting views" However, this is the issue with Mr. Rees-Mogg. His talent with words allows him to make controversy sound plausible. This applied to questions on foreign aid, Trump and same-sex marriage (in relation to the views of his constituents). However, when asked about tuition fees – an issue of great significance to the audience – he was remarkably honest. His response to the sensitive issue of student maintenance, and more specifically whether higher earning parents should have to ‘subsidise’ their
children’s living costs, did not appear as satisfactory. Citing how he was ‘not eligible for a maintenance payment because [his] parents’ income was of a level where [he] wasn’t entitled to do it’ was a very impractical example, considering his family’s relative historic wealth. This certainly doesn’t do the Conservative Party any favours in its battle to help those ‘just about managing’. However, politics would not be politics without contrasting views and Mr. Rees-Mogg seemed to champion this. Talking about how he believes ‘it’s really important that politicians discuss political issues – the controversies of the day – with students [and] young people’, demonstrates his essential appreciation of freedom of speech. Referring back to the earlier passionate question from the audience, he said how ‘brilliant’ it was that she ‘politely but nonetheless forcefully made her argument’, saying that ‘that’s what public debate should be about’. The no platforming movement clearly has no place at any university, but as he fantastically put it, ‘politicians shouldn’t be snowflakes either’.
It's Time to Get Educated on Syria The widespread ignorance towards the situation in Syria must be acknowledged and reformed, comments Helena Shaw Helena Shaw Comment Writer
On Sunday, the Syrian government forces captured towns bordering the last rebel enclave surrounding the capital, Eastern Ghouta. This comes after weeks of ferocious assault that the citizens have been subjected to including airstrikes and artillery bombardment. Due to this capture, aid from the UN is being prevented from entering and the citizens are not able to flee, being surrounded by both rebel and government forces. This action by the government has severed supply routes, hindering the rebels, and attacking the civilians with chemical weapons, raising the total death toll of the attack on Ghouta to within the thousands. Does this all sound like gibberish to you? Then welcome aboard! I will be the first one to admit that until relatively recently I was ignorant of the majority of the situation in the Middle East, let alone that of Syria. Of course, I knew that there was
conflict, someone was fighting someone else, and religion was often mentioned, and we definitely needed to sort it. But other then that I was completely lost. In fact, I thought the ‘Arab spring’ referred to a place, not one of the most important revolutionary periods in recent history.
"Until relatively recently I was ignorant of the majority of the situation in the Middle East, let alone that of Syria" What’s more, I’m willing to say that I’m not alone in my ignorance. So why do so few of us know what is actually going on? And why are we afraid to admit and learn more? The sim-
ple answer is, because it is really bloody complicated. Firstly, we must recognize that the ‘Middle East’ is not one homogenous place. Whilst the conflicts may hold similarities, it is a smorgasbord of different religions, cultures and people, all shoved together by colonial powers in countries that don’t really work and tend to promote a minority rule. Here we have a root to the problem, where conflict was born from the beginning. Understandably with a place so large, 3500,000 square miles (almost as big as America, but without the patriotism, but with similar amounts of Russian interference), it is hard to understand what is going on and pinpoint one conflict. Furthermore, the situation is not clear cut. With most wars in history we have been taught to see black and white, good and bad. But unfortunately, with Syria the situation is not so simple, there are many players, all with different faults and all being influenced by international backers. So, when it comes to reporting the news or forming an opinion, it is easy to get lost.
As you can see, the Syrian conflict is a hard pill to swallow and most of the information we get on it can flow right over our heads. So, I’ve done the dirty work for you. Here is your cheat sheet to the Syrian civil war, so next time it comes up you don’t have to awkwardly change the subject, or admit your naivety and risk not being as ‘woke’ as you once thought you were. Syria was created in 1920, post the first world war. Its president was Hafaz al-Assad who ruled for 30 years, and was succeeded by his son Bashar al-Assad. Following the example of the Arab spring (rebellions and protests across the Middle East), Syrian protests began. Whilst the government aimed to quell and prevent these protests by releasing prisoners of war and amending the constitution, they quickly turned to violence. With this, the protestors resolved to violence and so the Syrian civil war was born. With a death count of over 500,000 and 13.5million refugees, the situation is dire and long. Why has there been no intervention you
ask? This is due to a Russian and Chinese veto over UN resolutions, due to their interests in the Asad regime. Bear in mind this is a very simplified version of the conflict and there are many more details that should be recognized. But it is due to these details that the whole situation is so complicated. So, in recognizing the complexity of the situation, is it permissible to not know what’s going on? Yes and no. It is a complicated situation that tends to be talked about between people in the know who don’t bother to simplify it. What’s more, there are many other situations going on in the world that your attention may be taken by. But its complicated nature should not prevent us from inquiring. Asking for information, asking to be educated, asking for the information to be more a part of our society for young and old. It is time to recognize our ignorance and do something about it. Knowledge is for the masses, not just for The Time’s subscribers.
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Friday 16th March 2018
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What Exactly is The Guild? Jadzia Samuel questions why the inner workings of the Guild of Students are so mysterious in the aftermath of the Guild Elections Jadzia Samuel Comment Writer
The Guild. To many of us, the university’s student union (the Guild) can feel like a distant, immaterial entity, absent from the realities of student life. Just a building on the edge of campus with a naked mermaid fountain, where you sometimes go on Saturday nights to indulge in a bit of Fab n Fresh. Is anyone actually aware of the behindthe-scenes happenings of the Guild? Does anyone actually know what it does?
"When asked whether they voted in the most recent elections, the student replied that although they did indeed vote, they hadn't really known what they were voting for, and 'only did it for the free pizza'" I know that when I was a Fresher I vaguely knew that it was our ‘student union’ (whatever that meant), and that it was in charge of the various societies. Beyond that, I was (and if I
am honest, still mostly am) clueless.
"Candidates could make realistic propositions behind which students could genuinely rally" The pervading question which emerges is this: why is the Guild so distant from the student body itself? It is an everpresent, yet persistently invisible entity in the university, only really brought to light during that two-week campaigning period for the Guild Elections. Ah, yes. The Guild Elections. At some point in March every year the Guild seems to suddenly materialise for a frenzied fortnight, in the form of hand-painted bed sheets strung up around university, endorsed with strange and seemingly unrelated slogans which make dodgy word play out of candidates’ names. For me, the problem with these elections is simple; nobody has any idea for whom or for what they are voting for. Although one first-year student I spoke with was very wellinformed and keen on the democratic structure of the Guild, others I interviewed were less enthusiastic. One student aptly commented that, ‘we are told “vote for this person!” for Guild Officer or Sports Rep or whatever, but none of us actually know what that means. For the
rest of the year we never hear from the Sports Rep or see what they actually do, so why should we care about electing someone else for the role?’ When asked whether they voted in the most recent elections, the student replied that although they did indeed vote, they hadn’t really known what they were voting for, and ‘only did it for the free pizza’. If we want students to care about these elections, the Guild clearly needs to feel more relevant to student life; the lack of transparency between the Guild and the student body is evident. Student officers need to make an effort to share their achievements and the work they do around campus (that doesn’t involve a daily email which would merely spam our inboxes), so that students feel involved and are able to view the union as a body which represents them.
"Many people are unaware that the Guild is actually a charity organisation, reinvesting any profits back into development of student facilities on campus" In addition to issues with the alien-feel of Guild Elections,
students have also found problems with the candidates’ apparently unrealistic claims in their campaign policy. One secondyear student expressed her frustration, saying that the newly elected Guild President Reece Roberts’ proposition to start a door to door night bus from the library is absolutely ridiculous considering the budget available. It was one of the main things people supported, but it was never even a slight possibility so it’s not fair how candidates can get away with such absurd campaign policies and not get called out on it’. This again highlights the poor communication between the Guild and student community: if more people actually knew the responsibilities and implications (and budget) of each role in the elections, then perhaps more people would be inclined to vote, and candidates could make realistic propositions behind which students could genuinely rally. Many people are unaware that the Guild is actually a charity organisation, reinvesting any profits back into development of student facilities on campus. The current crop of freshers are apparently far better informed about the Guild than my friends and I were last year, and one praised it for being ‘a link between the students and the University’ and for ensuring ‘our voices [are] heard’. However, she did mention that, as a first year, it was only during the elections that the reality of The Guild was brought to light for her. The work of the Guild is
often left in the shadows; it was only when writing this article, for example, and actively researching the achievements of Guild Officers that I learnt that the Guild has been working towards creating a safer Selly Oak by working with police offers to increase crime reporting, handing out personal alarms, and creating a University Guarantor scheme to ensure the quality of landlords from whom students rent.
"We students should feel welcome, included, and represented" Even seemingly minor aspects of university life, such as the increase in vegan and gluten free options available around campus, and the availability of free hot water, are all policies which have been successfully implemented by current officers in order to improve student life on campus. This communication between Guild and student body could come in the form of a feature article in Redbrick once every semester, a Facebook page with weekly updates, or even a formal review once a semester, open for students to attend. The bottom line is that we need to open up the mysteries of the Guild so that the work of Guild Officers is not left in the dark. We students should feel welcome, included, and represented, helping everyone to understand its inner workings.
COMMENT
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Friday 16th March 2018
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Charity Does Not Solve Everything The actions of St Mungo's reveal that charity is a flawed system and reliance on it cannot solve socially ingrained injustice, comments Rhi Storer Rhi Storer Comment Writer
There’s something quite British about charity. Whether that be a base-camp trek to Everest for Children In Need, riding a 300 mile bike ride for Sport Relief or just simply holding a bake-off for a local hospice, it’s clear the British people give generously to others less fortunate than themselves, time after time. In fact, our country has such a deep connection with generosity that in 2016, Britain was ranked within the top ten of the CAF World Giving Index Ranking. Often we donate to charities in the hope that our cash, items, or spare voluntary time will make a real difference to the lives of others. We trust charities in a social contract to do good work on our behalf and play a vital role in our society. Yet, public trust and confidence in charities has been falling over the last decade - distrust over charities spend donations, and consequently, a lack of knowledge among the public about where their donations go. Take, for example, the Oxfam scandal in which a much loved British charity has been engulfed by a sex scandal. It doesn’t help that St Mungo’s, one of the largest providers of homelessness outreach services in the UK, has worked
with the Home Office patrols as they go out on the streets in search of rough sleepers deemed to be in the UK illegally, in order to arrest and deport. This is despite a recent high court challenge that ruled it unlawful to deport rough sleepers from countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). It is a small relief, but not enough for those who have sought refuge from others countries. Here is something deeply rotten in the charity sector. A process of changes have led to those whose mission is to protect rough sleepers to become ‘informers’ of a cold and callous government. Sometimes the hostile environment in effect enforces compliance through fines or a reduction in funding, but what is so shocking here is that it was entirely voluntary by St Mungo's. St Mungo's had to be working with ICE (Immigration, Compliance, Enforcement) teams, in their words: ‘Help people resolve their immigration status. That means working with the Home Office – with the person’s consent – when people haven’t got documentation’. No wonder homeless people are suspicious of charities, and would rather freeze on the streets than to ask for help. It is a complete manipulation of trust to masquerade as a homeless charity while handing people over to the Home Office to be deported.
Using homeless charities to spy on the homeless is a new low, even for our current government bent on bringing border controls across all parts of our lives.
"Charities have become a refuge for careerists without a humanitarian impulse or common decency" And while in a response statement, St Mungo's said: ‘We took the decision that it was better to be there to provide support to vulnerable people sleeping rough than not be able to advocate for them at these times’, charities cooperating with immigration enforcement is troubling precisely because it threatens their independence. How can a charity spend its income on political campaigns targeted at the same government from which it gets money and on whose behalf it acts? It is as Chris Snowden, author of The Shock Doctrine, says: ‘Charities have become “sock puppets”, taking money from the government to lobby the government’. It seems then, the hypocrisy
of biting the hand that feeds it seems not to cross the minds of senior management. Charities have become a refugee for careerists without a humanitarian impulse or common decency, and if a charity is to make a real difference in our society it needs to be truly independent of government funding and its managers need to show a personal commitment to charity. But more to the point, should we be relying on charities in the first place? Rather than focusing on the acute issue - that there is a homelessness crisis in the UK - we should be focusing on the chronic issue - that there is a wholesale dismantling of state intervention with regards to housing, and no immediate replacement. It is a question of whose rights will be violated as
time and time again cuts are introduced. Benefit payments, state services and public goods exist because it is the duty of the state to ensure the rights of its citizens are respected. Charities often target symptoms, not causes. It certainly is true that some charities do stopgap or 'band-aid' work, but it is a real substitute for true justice when it patches up the effects of injustices interwoven into the structures and values of a society. Instead of fixing homelessness based on monetary terms, it should be fixed based on solidarity, and furthermore, we should be questioning the allocation of resources. Only then can we tackle this problem that is blighting our country.
Poll of the Week: Main Library
Ye
The Main Library at UoB is open 24/7 during term time. However, evidence shows that sleep deprivation has a negative impact on working memory, and that as the day progresses our brain performance decreases. So... should it be open all day?
s
% 92
No
"It encourages unhealthy schedules and work ethics among students"
8%
"I only do essays at 3am in a coffee-fuelled state of panic" "There are never any seats during the day so late at night and early morning is the best time to go"
Should the Main Library be open 24/7?
"No because of the costs of staffing" "We are adults and can decide when to go to the library and when to go to sleep" "The students would just study elsewhere, otherwise"
Take part in our polls:
@RedbrickComment
Redbrick Comment Contributors
Natalia Carter Comment Writer
In response to the question ‘Should the library be open 24/7?’, 91.2% of people said that the library’s open hours were beneficial. The main response was that many students have different working patterns, and that limiting the hours of availability in the library would only result in students pulling all-nighters in their bedrooms. Since working late is something seemingly ingrained into student life, having the library open was considered important in order to supply students with a safe, relaxing environment to work in when their flats or houses are too noisy. There was a general consensus that due to the library’s ongoing seating issue, students were forced to work later at night in order to be able to find a seat and use the library at all.
To contrast this, those who disagreed said that the library being open 24/7 is dangerous, encouraging students to cram. One student suggested closing the library between the hours of 3-6am to accommodate those who favoured early hours, and those who liked working late, whilst another argued that it was unsafe since students would have to walk back to Selly Oak in the dark. I do not see any reason why the library can’t close for a few hours each night as suggested. It would ensure that everyone can use it when they need to, both early in the morning and late at night. If anything, it’s good practice to adjust to the pattern of working during the day as many careers will revolve around day time hours. Overall, it seems that the library needs to be available to everyone if and when they need it, no matter what time of night. It is up to us to care for our own health and wellbeing.
COMMENT
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickcomment
11
The Reality of Fat-Shaming Alice Macfarlane criticises the backlash over Cancer Research UK's campaign Alice Macfarlane Comment Writer
Body shaming has long been one of the most hotly contested issues in modern society. With what constitutes a ‘normal’ or ‘attractive’ body type coming into question, conventional ideas of beauty are continuing to be challenged.
"The charity is not interested whatsoever in physical appearance or the promotion of a 'perfect' body type" However, when it comes to issues of health, this increasing acceptance towards extreme weights is highly damaging. At the beginning of the month I observed on Twitter as Cancer Research UK reignited the debate on ‘fat-shaming’ with their informative advert, revealing that obesity is ‘the biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking’. Though an undeniable fact, this statement received backlash from angry tweeters who apparently failed to understand its perfectly rational premise: that obese people are at a higher risk of developing cancer. Pioneering for justice against
this supposedly outrageous cam- overweight and obesity. Not paign was plus-size comedian only this, but outside of cancer Sofie Hagen. Branding it ‘dam- statistics, obesity leads to a aging’, Hagen erupted in a whole host of other health comTwitter tantrum, boldly claiming plications such as heart disease that ‘society viewing fatness as and diabetes, officially rendera negative thing is a thing that ing it one of the leading risk kills more than the cancer’. This factors for death in the world. was followed by a series of Cancer Research UK are angry statements from the come- concerned with educating peodian that I can only describe as ple about the disease and proboth ignorant and unfounded. moting the importance of a Frankly, I’m not sure what healthy lifestyle. The charity is Hagen was trying to prove when not interested whatsoever in she claimed that the elderly, who physical appearance or the prohave ‘lived on kale and misery motion of a ‘perfect’ body type, all their lives’, are a compara- and so in my opinion, to receive tive drain on NHS funding to the this advert as a personal attack obese. Perhaps she feels that is not only narcissistic but simthose with obesity, ergo those ply unnecessary. with a shorter life expectancy of Whilst Hagen vainly attemptup to fourteen years (according ed to make this into an issue of to the NIH), are doing the NHS ‘bullying’ and ‘harassment’, the a favour by reducing this alleg- reality is that these organisaedly money-draining elderly tions have a duty to inform the population? Of course, with public of the risks associated irrefutable logic like that, with obesity, regardless of there is no way on whether people choose earth the taxpayer to take offence or not. could disagree. The suggestion that In my opinbeing heavily overOnly 15% of the ion, Hagen’s weight is linked rant is comto multiple health UK know the link pletely deludproblems is hardbetween obesity ed. As it ly a recent, or stands, obesisurprising reveand cancer ty remains to lation, and quite be one of the frankly we need leading preto stop skirting (Cancer Research ventable causes around the issue in UK) of several differworry of being ent types of cancer, branded ‘fat-shamincluding uterine, kiders’. ney, oesophageal, gallThis fear of offending is bladder, bowel, pancreas and more prevalent than ever in our breast cancers. In 2014, a stag- social climate, particularly when gering 630,000 people in the US it comes to weight, so people were diagnosed with a form of would often rather hold their cancer that is associated with tongue than face the abuse of an
angry Twitter crusade. But this desire to appear unprejudiced has resulted in the acceptance, and even the glorification of obesity. Body positivity is an important issue and I absolutely believe that different shapes and sizes should be celebrated in our society. However, body positivity can still be encouraged without ignoring the obvious physical and mental health issues that are linked to obesity. There is a clear difference between advocating self-love and advocating what is a blatantly unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity is damaging and
unhealthy. That is an undeniable fact. To brand anybody who shares this view as a ‘fat hater’, or to consider a cancer health warning as prejudiced, is completely irrational. Educating us on the dangers of obesity is no different to educating us on the dangers of smoking or drinking, so why not take equal offence to those campaigns? The simple fact is that although different body types are becoming ever more celebrated in society, obesity never has, and never will be, rightfully encouraged, and that is the reality of ‘fat shaming’.
Why the Cold Deserves Our Respect Holly Pittaway warns about the dangers of the sub-zero temperatures recently experienced in the UK and Europe Holly Pittaway Comment Writer
Last week the United Kingdom experienced one of the coldest bouts of winter weather since December 2010. Over the period of just a few days, the country was savaged by snowfall, bitten by freezing temperatures as low as -8.9 degrees Celsius (recorded in Hampshire), and daily life was momentarily disrupted. Many students felt the brunt of the Beast from the East after lectures were cancelled, appointments were rescheduled, and transport services were delayed. But while most of us were huddled up in the warmth of our student accommodation, many people throughout the UK were not so fortunate. One such person affected by the cold weather was my 82 year-old Grandmother. While
temperatures plummeted, instead of staying warm inside her bungalow, she was forced to temporarily move into my parent’s house after her boiler broke and she became unable to heat her home.
"The only way to prevent this issue from worsening is to encourage increased government investment in the home energy sector" Luckily for my Nan, it was easy for her to find alternative
accommodation to live in while she waited for her boiler to be fixed (a project that took the best part of a week), and thankfully now she can go home feeling sure that an issue like this will not put her in any danger. However, cases like these are not always resolved with such ease. In a recent article from The Independent, journalist Ben Chapman revealed that at least 3,000 Brits were dying every year because they were unable to heat their homes, a death toll number similar to that of victims of prostate and breast cancer. Further research found that over the last five years the total number of excess winter deaths has amounted to 168,000, with over 10% of these deaths estimated as a direct result of fuel poverty. Not only is this fuel crisis directly affecting those of us
who are not able to heat our own coughing and homes, it is also having an indiwheezing. rect impact on the NHS, The cold which is being strained even crisis is further due to the high c e r influx of people seeking tainly Brits die every year care for health sericomplaints o u s due to an inability caused by a n d the cold. o n to heat their While t h e Of houses in the homes the cold rise. m a y The (The UK are in fuel s e e m o n l y Independent) fairly way to poverty harmless, prevent this t h e s e issue from (gov.uk, 2017) freezing worsening is to encourage temperatures increased government investcan cause a range o f ment in the home energy sector, issues such as cardiovascular as until then, the many of us and respiratory disease. who can’t afford to turn the Furthermore, young children are heating past 15 degrees Celsius often even more severely affect- or fix our broken boilers could ed, with infants living in cold be at risk of becoming just homes having a 30% greater risk another statistic in this fuel criof developing symptoms like sis.
3,000
11%
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Festival Guide 2018
No Glastonbury, no worries... Redbrick Music talks you through every festival you need to get to this summer
MUSIC
Our top pick... Primavera Sound Thom Dent Music Editor @thomdent
Taking to the Barcelona coastline for its seventeenth successive year, Primavera Sound has already long since established itself as the most dynamic and successful festival in mainland Europe. And this year, with Glastonbury taking a step back from the fore, there is no better summer to make the commute to Catalonia for a sun-soaked week of eclecticism and debauchery. With past headliners as varied as Arcade Fire, Public Enemy and Iggy Pop, Primavera Sound has become reknowned (in a similar fashion to Glastonbury) for presenting lineups which showcase the best in almost every genre under the sun, helping it pull in crowds from all over the world. Headlining in 2018 is Iceland's
JUNE Field Day Field Day has announced its eclectic 2018 line-up, hinting at what will be a great two-day event at the festival’s new home: Brockwell Park in Lambeth, London. The festival, headlined this year by Erykah Badu and AJ Tracey, was a standout event of last year’s festival season, with UK exclusives from both Aphex Twin and Nicholas Jaar, alongside great acts such as Run the Jewels, Flying Lotus and Slowdive. Now, spanning two days rather than just one, Field Day has grown, and the line up is both expansive and exciting. Yet again, Field Day has offered a wide-ranging mix of genres and sounds for their 2018 event. Loyle Carner is returning to the bill, after playing the 2017 festival, whilst audiences are being treated to everything from the ambient instrumentals of Nils Frahm to the loud-mouthed witty rap of Princess Nokia. The Friday line-up, consisting of Erykah
queen of crystaline-electronica Björk, alongside US alt-rockers The National and Sheffield’s own Arctic Monkeys, artists who are sure to bring vastly differing but equally spectacular live shows to the main stage. Elsewhere, Vince Staples and Tyler, The Creator will be continuing their crusade across Europe’s festival circuit, leading a plethora of hip-hop talent including Madlib and Migos - that will be performing at various stages across the four days. For those of a more indie persuasion, sets from Haim, Chvrches and Car Seat Headrest are just some of a selection sure to whet your appetite, while Superorganism and Lorde are sure to provide enough glittering pop to ensure the sun stays out. Primavera Sound runs from 30th May - 3rd June. Final release tickets are on sale now 215€, with day tickets starting at 85€.
Badu, Madlib, Gilles Peterson, and Moses Boyd, promises an energy-fuelled day of irresistibly feel-good performances. Saturday will see AJ Tracey and Earl Sweatshirt perform, as well as a great mix of lo-fi house music from DJ Boring, DJ Seinfeld, and Ross from Friends. Standout acts for Field Day 2018 are Four Tet, Thundercat, and Mount Kimbie, all of whom have had notable releases over the last year. Four Tet’s New Energy is the perfectly warm soundtrack for a summer festival, whilst Thundercat’s Drunk and Mount Kimbie’s Love What Survives are both important 2017 albums that will work wonderfully on Field Day’s stages. Field Day will take place at its new location on the 1st and 2nd June. Tickets are now available for the two-day event.
Secret Solstice A festival situated in a place where the sun never sets is bound to attract a certain type of party-
MAY Love Saves The Day The two day Bristol festival will be opening for its seventh year on May 26th in Eastville Park. Their two headliners are Fat Boy Slim and Sampha with Tom Misch and Loyle Carner, also featuring amongst other notable talent. Tickets are still available and cost under £50 for the Saturday and £55 for the Sunday, or alternatively get the whole weekend for only £82.50 before it goes up to final release.
Live At Leeds Live at Leeds returns on May 5th for its 11th year, bringing a host of indie’s brightest emerging talents and established heavyweights to the city’s multitude of venues. This year sees The Vaccines, Peace and Circa Waves topping
the very impressive bill, showing the festival’s indie roots. Rising stars Pale Waves, Tom Walker and The Magic Gang all return for a second successive year. With alumni such as Ed Sheeran and Alt-J, Live at Leeds is an unmissable yearly showcase of the UK’s newest talent and 2018 is shaping up to be no different.
Slam Dunk Your bank holiday weekend is about to get better! With the recent additions of nine bands on the Rock Sound Breakout Stage, including Palaye Royale and Holding Absence, this Slam Dunk lineup is their most diverse for years. Co-headliners Good Charlotte and Jimmy Eat World are guaranteed to bring back the emo nostalgia to the NEC, while heavier bands such as Every Time I Die and Northlane will please the metal heads. What is more, afterparty hosts Uprawr are throwing a pre-party on Saturday May 26th, where you can pick up your wristbands to skip the morning queue! An entire day of music for less than £50 - it does not get better than that.
All Points East If you like the lineup of Primavera Sound or NOS Alive, but want your festival experience to have more overpriced B&Bs and annoyed commuters, then look no further than All Points East, a brand new festival taking over London’s Victoria Park from May 25th - June 3rd. Set over two weekends, the festival (first weekend) features headline slots from London’s own art-pop trio The xx (far and away their largest gig to date) comfortably wedged between veteran acts LCD Soundsystem and Björk. A festival with a certain electronic edge, sets from Hookworms, Sylvan Esso, Rex Orange County and Tom Misch are certain to take your mind off the price of the pasties. The second weekend compromises 3 headline shows from Catfish and the Bottlemen, The National and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, with support from the likes of Future Islands, Blossoms, Courtney Barnett and St Vincent. The centre of London might lack the character of Glastonbury, but All Points East might be the only UK festival boasting the name-power of those on the continent this year.
Authors in order: Grace Duncan, Joshua Parker, Naomi Penn & Luke Charnley ing crowd: a seriously fun one. Aside from the endless hours of warming sunlight, this festival in Reykjavik, Iceland, has even more to offer. Jaw drop inducing scenery serves as a backdrop to one of the best up and coming European festival. Think of it as a cooler alternative to Sziget or Outlook. Party in natural hot springs and idyllic lagoons or, maybe you would rather attend after parties and DJ sets inside the depths of a glacier. There is even a music experience held in a volcano if the two previous venues were not quite unique enough for you. The promising lineup ranges from the likes of Stormzy, Skream and Clean Bandit, as well as Gentleman’s Dub Club and Artwork, to name a few. Mixing an assortment of genres in this event, Secret Solstice also features an abundance of local Icelandic talents, such as Högni and Fox Train Safari. This festival incorporates incredible music with spectacular scenery to create a festival unlike any other in the world.
Authors in order: Letty Gardner & Isabel Shaw
Our top pick... Love Supreme
Kieran Read Music Critic
Continually boasting a fantastic, decade-spanning lineup of jazz innovation, Love Supreme returns to Glynde Place in Sussex between the 29th May - 1st July for a sixth consecutive year. Topping the bill for its 2018 dates are seventies groove legends Earth, Wind & Fire and guitar hero Elvis Costello. Across the two days you can catch the genre-defying genius of funk forefather George Clinton Parliament-Funkadelic, Steve Winwood headlining the legendary Big Top stage and the soulwarming vocals of R&B gospel
superstar Mavis Staples, a collaborator of everyone from Ray Charles to Gorillaz. Elsewhere Tom Misch, Mr Jukes, Songhoy Blues, Ezra Collective and Moses Boyd Exodus represent a crop of fresh, exciting musicians championed by the diverse festival, as proud to promote the new pioneers as it is the old. With many names to be added, Love Supreme, once again, proves itself an experience centred on the best that music can offer, a must-go to anyone looking for a chilled out weekend soundtracked by the far reaching, smooth cosmic corners of jazz and its all influenced offspring. Coltrane himself would be proud.
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Our top pick.... NOS Alive Lydia Waller Music Critic
On the sunny skirts of Passeio Marítimo de Algés, eight minutes from the city of Lisbon, NOS Alive will be revitalising the warmth, sounds and euphoria of summer from 12th - 14th July. This three-day experience, with the indie aura of the Arctic Monkeys, energy of Queens of the Stone Age, nostalgia of Snow Patrol and many more epic headliners, will be momentous to say the least. This year’s lineup covers all genres, platforming the new sounds of BeatlesqueFloydian band Real Estate, hiphop trap artist Dead End, and celebrating the established sounds of The Kooks, Wolf Alice, Rag n’ Bone Man, Jack
White and many more. The unique character of NOS in comparison to other British and European festivals comes from the sunny climate demanding a relaxed daytime and long night. This allows for the day to be easygoing and low-maintenance, giving you beach and city time, to actually experience the culture of Portugal as well as the festival. Accommodation possibilities range from camping to hostels, hotels and ‘Sleep em All’ tents, catering to all preferences of festival experiences. With the entire weekend for 149€ (£133ish), mellow camping settings by the beach and pretty much guaranteed decent weather, NOS Alive promises a spectrum of genius artistry and the cultural experience of Europe at its finest.
JULY British Summer Time British Summer Time 2018 will be taking place throughout July in one of London’s most glorious green areas: Hyde Park. Headliners include Roger Waters, The Cure, Bruno Mars, Eric Clapton, Michael Buble and Paul Simon, with more acts yet to be announced. Alongside this will be an ‘open house’ event which includes outdoor film evenings, street food stalls, bars, live music and a fun fair, as well as live screenings of Wimbledon games. While it is set to be more of a family affair than a global music event, there is going to be something for everyone at BST, and will be a great way to kick off the summer. Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th July are already sold out, though there are still some tickets available for the four other days of live music, now starting at around £90.
Open’er Now in its sixtheenth year, Open’er Festival is promising another huge lineup including the best in alternative rock and pop.
South West Four South West Four returns this August Bank Holiday, at its Clapham Common turf, to celebrate its fifteenth year. For a relatively small festival, SW4 boasts an impressive lineup of house and dance artists. Performing on Saturday are Sigma, Armand van Helden & Jonas Blue, wellestablished artists in the house scene for their remixes and noteworthy collaborations. Dizzee Rascal is an exciting addition to the lineup, a national favourite who will no doubt be a crowd-pleaser, especially if he performs any of his older singles. Taking the Main Stage on Sunday are dance favourites Chase & Status, Craig David, Disciples and Andy C, and Birmingham’s own Hannah Wants. My Nu Leng will also be there to bring some drum and bass, and British rappers Lethal Bizzle and Bugzy Malone.
Lost Village Somewhere deep in the forests of Lincolnshire is a place where nothing is quite as it seems... This is Lost Village, a boutique festi-
val experience like no other featuring performances from the biggest names in underground electronic music, from Four Tet and Mall Grab to Peggy Gou and Goldie. While the sun shines, take a dip in one of the hot tubs surrounding the Lake of Tranquillity, or enjoy routines from some of the UK’s finest funny men and women in the comedy tent, and enjoy the delicious street food on offer. As night falls, lose your mind to the primal beats pounding out of the speakers. The LV team posted a picture of the Abandoned Chapel stage, a sea of hands raised in exaltation – the caption: ‘was it all a dream?’ And that is exactly how it felt: like something from another life, reality replaced temporarily by something more spectacular. From 23 - 26th August, allow yourself to get lost.
Godiva Returning a little later than usual is one of the Midlands’ finest free festivals: The Godiva Festival. Held in Coventry every summer, the festival has boasted a range of music acts: from local bands, DJs and vocalists, to bigger names such as The Wombats, Scouting for Girls, and Example on the main stage, whilst acts such as
Jurassic Fields Back for its fifth year, Jurassic Fields festival in Bridport, Dorset, is once again shaping up to be a wonderful showcase of musical talent from across the board. One might expect a festival situated in a small field next to a Morrisons not to be worth checking out, but
Jurassic Fields has consistently proved such assumptions to be mistaken. Heading down to Asker’s Meadow this year, are countrywide festival favourites Dub Pistols, bringing their energising, funk-powered rap to the main stage. Also on the billing are a healthy number of acts with styles carved into the Dorset landscape, such as rootsrockers Rusty Shackle and versatile folk band The Leyliners. If you are in the area, Jurassic Fields is not an event to be passed up on, and if you are not, Dorset is a lovely place for a holiday, and the weekend of the 13 - 15th July is as good a time as any to come set up camp.
Rock Wertcher With six previous Arthur awards for best festival in the world, the European goliath Rock Wertcher seems set to have another great year. Running since 1975, the festival has a huge legacy as one of Belgium’s biggest. This year, the fesitval is hosting the likes of The Killers, Arctic Monkeys as well as Queens of the Stone Age. It will also see David Byrne’s play, a perfomance which will mark forty years since Talking Heads’ first Rock Wertcher perfomance in 1978. The organisers have also done well to sprinkle in a number of emerging hip-hop and electric talent, giving real variety across the four days.
Authors in order: Amelia Hiller, Louisa Bebb, Jonah Corren & David Evans Mallory Knox and Neck Deep in the Rock and Rhythm tent and Carly Smallman in the Paradise tent. While this year’s lineup has yet to be announced, there is likely to be a range of musical genres for everyone to enjoy. Due to run from the 31st August - 2nd September, this is a free festival not to be missed.
Sziget Sziget festival is based in Budapest, Hungary and is being held from the 8 - 15th August. This year sees the lineup including the Arctic Monkeys, Dua Lipa, Kendrick Lamar, Gorillaz, Mumford & Sons and Kygo. It pretty much has every massive name you could think of in the industry, hence why it is a perfect all-rounder; there is something for everyone. It started out as a student-run festival founded 25 years ago based on the idea of creating a temporary ‘dream nation’, and now prides itself on its ‘Love Revolution’, celebrating diversity and people coming together from more than 100 different countries and using the power of the community to support causes that could help the planet become a better place. Day tickets start at 70€ and prices range to 299€ for a 7-day pass to experience the whole festival. The festival is such good value for money for the amazing lineup and to spend seven days in Budapest, enjoying the amazing music but also being able to explore the city sounds like the perfect festival to me. Getty Images
AUGUST
Taking place in a huge military airport in the polish city of Gdynia, the festival has twice been named as the ‘Best Major Festival’ at the European Festival Awards, with previous headliners including Kanye West, Coldplay and Radiohead. 2018 sees the return of Arctic Monkeys, who will be releasing their highly anticipated sixth album at some point this year. Visitors to Open’er will also be treated to the electronic symphonies of Depeche Mode, with Gorillaz, Talking Heads’ David Byrne, and Bruno Mars also headlining. Offering a massive 4 days of music, Open’er is Poland’s biggest music festival, also boasting fashion shows, volleyball courts, football pitches and even an onsite museum. And if all that is not enough to sway you, you can always leave the festival site and hit the beach before catching the first act. All that for a price cheaper than your average UK festival; it is looking harder and harder to say no.
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Authors in order: Anna Wise, Greg Woodin, Roshni Patel & Sorcha Hornett
Our top pick... Bestival Issy Campbell Music Editor @issycampbell
Bestival is back, and it is not messing around. After facing some pretty heavy backlash over the last few years, Rob da Bank and his team have pulled out all the stops to attract the festival-goers and restore its former glory. After the terrible weather last year really putting a dampener on the weekend, quite literally, the team have made the call to move the festival forward a month. The hope is that this will bring better weather, allowing things to run more smoothly and avoid the catastrophes of last year. The lineup boasts all genres and showcases a serious array of female talent, including headliners London Grammar and M.I.A.. Other Castle Stage headliners include Mura Masa, Thundercat, First Aid Kit and Grace Jones. These are not the only notable acts however: the Big Top stage
hosts Jorja Smith, (a UK festival exclusive), Django Django, Mabel (who is currently supporting Harry Styles) and Mr Jukes, amongst many other acts sure to create a real buzz. In true Bestival style, David Rodigan is once again returning with his Ram Record sessions in the Bollywood tent. As well as impressive live music a c t s , B e s t i v a l ’s Temple stage is a clear standout. Whether you are after the f u n k y beats of Artwork, Mall Grab and Denis Sulta, the heavier drops of Flava D and Darkzy, or the techno vibes of Objekt and Mella Dee, Bestival has you covered. With tickets starting as cheap as £149 and a lineup this impressive, there is really no reason not to give Bestival a go. This could be its comeback year - I truly hope so.
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Changing The Shape of Things to Come
In the face of shifting expectations for women's body image, is it right to focus on so heavily on 'the perfect body' with no consensus on what that may be? Kat Smith Comment Editor
Body image: a buzzword that has circled social media, dinnertime conversations and probably countless therapy sessions across the nation. It haunts people of all ages, genders and backgrounds and is something we are encouraged to improve by our teachers, parents and friends throughout our lives. It is becoming apparent that, although we all want to accept ourselves as we are, we are existing within and encouraging a society that continually perpetuates unrealistic body standards. I know this isn’t exactly ground-breaking. The pressures on women in particular (although I wholeheartedly agree that there are expectations for men also) are undeniable. Anyone saying otherwise would probably be ridiculed. Historically, or at least in the scope of my relatively short lifetime so far, the pressure has been for women to be slim. Thigh gaps, flat abs, narrow shoulders, slender legs the list goes on. But over the last few years, this has transformed. Waves of fitness fanatics and everyday people on ‘fitness journeys’ have taken to social media to preach about why and how women can lift weights too. Women can be strong too. It can be perceived as somewhat empowering; taking ownership over a section of the gym that has usually been reserved for men. But I can’t help but feel that the latest fitness fad are not all that innocent. Building the peachiest bum possible and using your ‘booty-building’ guide bought online from your favourite Instagrammer is all well and good, but the focus on building muscle is tailored to crafting a certain body meeting current trends. I
don’t think that really, the desire for strong women is about their strength, but over the appearance that comes with it. There’s still a concern of getting ‘too muscly’ or the muscles making your frame larger than is socially acceptable (whatever that even means).
“'#StrongNotSkinny' is still demonising a certain body type” Championing strength over slimness is simply not a call to arms against body shaming and ‘thinspiration’. There’s something a lot more sinister in this movement of resistance bands and squats. Waves of fitness Instagrams asking us to count macros and do cable kicks only intensifies the pressure appearance on women. ‘#StrongNotSkinny’ is still demonising a certain body-type, it is still setting a convention for what a woman should look like. Even if you do not consider yourself to have disordered thoughts/ behaviours or low self-esteem, this is still all fuelling the obsession with how we look. If you don’t have a GraceFitUK arse, you should be aspiring to get one. If your hip to waist ratio isn’t exactly 1:2, get outta here. If you’re proud of your size 6 frame, you should be aiming to get #thicc. But not too #thicc. It’s quite frankly bullsh*t, and I can’t be arsed with it anymore. Ultimately, you can’t really win. No matter how curvaceous your derriere is or how flat your abs are, there’s always room for improvement. We’re taught how to cut and bulk to sculpt the perfect figure, with progress always possible, and the end-goal never reached. Furthermore, there seems
to be no consistent desire when it comes to bodies, with trends constantly altering when it comes to female bodies in particular. Remember Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging? How could you forget? ‘Slaggy Lindsay’ was criticised by the Ace Gang for her ‘massive bum’ a term that would be used with admiration and received with gratitude now. I’m sure you’ve all seen videos circulating the internet about how the ‘perfect’ female form has changed over time. From what would now be considered overweight to size-6 slim, the standards for our bodies are ever-changing. By the time something we naturally have comes into fashion, we’ve already turned ourselves inside out in order to keep up with the previous trend. So unless you’re Mystique from X-Men, you don’t really have a shot.
“If you're proud of your size 6 frame, you should be aiming to get #thicc. But not too #thicc.” I’m not saying that men do not experience such pressures, just that I have the experience of the turbulent requirements outlined for women. With the charity B-eat predicting that 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder, weight-lifting and bootybuilding may be seen to combat such struggles. Focussing on good nutrition in order to build your perfect arse or create those washboard abs is surely healthier than restricting or purging your food. Yes, acknowledging food as fuel and finding exercise empowering
Popular fitness blogger GraceFitUK
is great and can transform your mentality towards your body, but the expectation continues to be focused on how we look. We are still encouraged to be dissatisfied. I’m still trying to practice what I preach. Struggling with body image and trying to turn an obsession with being small into a passion for the gym isn’t going to fix
my attitudes towards myself. But it’s a systemic problem that means our self-esteem is never quite high enough when it comes to our bodies. While the media and general society compliment certain shapes and demonise others, there is no potential for us all to tell these expectations to sod off. Eventually, the only way to solve pressures on is to eliminate them completely. Complimenting and criticising alike, putting the spotlight on a body for whatever reason is inadvertently feeding the pressures. Telling your friend her waist looks thin in a dress as a compliment or that her bum/boobs etc. look big in another outfit is reinforcing that bodies need to look a certain way to be attractive. You’re appealing to the convention you’ve been told to consider beautiful. Has anyone ever lovingly told you your waist looks large or boobs look small? Probably not, because we haven’t been told that they’re beautiful attributes to possess. It’s hard to find the balance between boosting your friends’ self-esteem and feeding into societal conventions but we all need to start focusing on things that actually matter. So go compliment your friend for their kindness, wisdom or intelligence and let’s stop focusing on the size of our arses.
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15
Are We Heading Towards a Second Cold War?
With allegations of Russian involvement in the 2016 US election and the recent nerve agent attack in Salisbury, Helena Shaw assesses claims of a new cold war Helena Shaw
Furthermore, with a president as controversial as Trump, its stability and reputation are failing in the eyes of the western world. What’s more, during the cold war, America certainly didn’t have a president who held a soft spot for Russia. Truman and Trump, although alliterating well together, definitely have opposing views on the Russian leadership. Trump, being pro-Putin, does not seem to me, a leader who would drag the western world out of the stalemate and tensions of the previous century. Although America has recognized Russian influence and released an official national security strategy that includes the approval of sales of lethal weapons to Ukraine to fight its Russian backed militias and sanctions that target the Kremlin, it currently has a president who within the week of this release talked to Putin twice via telephone, that’s more then I call my mother in a week.
Comment Writer
On March the 4th, an ex-soviet double agent was poisoned along with his daughter in Salisbury. Sergei Skripal had been an agent for the UK from the 1990s. discovered and sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment in 2006, he was released in a celebrated prisoner exchange in 2010. Taking refuge in England, his life seemed as ordinary as any other, until he and his daughter were discovered in a comatose state outside a Sainsburys, having been poisoned with a nerve agent. As one MP, Bob Seely, highlighted “is very likely the Russians, you don’t get nerve agents down the freezer aisle of morrisons”. The Russian government is suspect in the investigation, with Theresa May vowing retaliatory measures if Russia cannot explain the situation. Russia is venomously denying any connection, at a time during strained Russian and British relations and is sure to build exist tensions to a formidable height. Currently in hospital, the fate of this soviet dissenter is not unfamiliar. It mirrors previous unexpected deaths of individuals involved with the discovery of the ‘doping scandal’ in 2014; as well as other critics of Russia and Putin, such as Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence officer, who was murdered through drinking tea laced with a radioactive substance in 2006 in London. These deaths seem straight out of a James Bond movie, however unfortunately for us these problems won’t be solved with a martini and a fast car. Not only does the familiarity come from the big screen, but this recent alleged Russian attack seems to add on too many growing tensions that mirror the cold war.
“A second cold war is not a new concept, having had spikes in Google history whenever tensions with Russia are high” A second cold war is not a new concept, having had spikes in Google history whenever tensions with Russia are high. IT has also been mentioned by numerous prominent figures with German officials warning Donald Trump during a visit soon after the beginning his presidency that Putin “is back to fighting the cold war” (Politico). MP Bob Seely has also told Sky News that regardless
'Trump... does not seem to me, a leader who would drag the western world out of the stalemate' of the Russian involvement in the poisonings “they are fighting a new cold war against us and you need to wisen up to the fact”. So, are we back to the last half of the 20th century? Is the Berlin wall still up? Is our biggest fear a Russian president? Possibly. We can certainly see parallels with the cold war in the world today. Firstly, if we look at the interference of the 2016 Presidential election by the Russians, we can see an attempt to influence US politics, one that was familiar during the cold war. Whilst the use of social media such as Facebook, and websites like Google and Microsoft for influence is new to this period, the use of propaganda and fake news is not. It has been revealed that around the period of the 2016 American election $100000 of ad spending on Facebook can be linked back to a Russian online footprint. The use of ads to spread social tension during this period was aimed to create tension and fear in the country, as well as find those susceptible to messaging and target with election orientated ads. With a clear Trump bias, the Russian internet research agency (also known as the ‘troll farm’) worked hard to damage the image of Hillary Clinton. The hacks of democratic secrets, also employed by the Russians, furthered this. We can see impact on the election as well as the two main states targeted were Michigan and Wisconsin, which were key to Trump’s campaign, but saw stupendously narrow defeats for Clinton. This is not the first time Russia has aimed to influence American politics, with propaganda and fake news fed in to the world media during
the cold war to stir up discomfort. For instance, exaggerated stories of racism and terrorism helped to instil fear in citizens and widen domestic divisions. Even with the recognition of Russian influence now, we still see divisions being widened both domestically and worldwide for instance with Donald Trump's visit to the UK in 2018 being downgraded. There is a loss of faith in one of the major super powers in the world, as attempted during the cold war.
“The playing field has changed and the results don't seem to favour the west” Not only was their influence during the election, but Russian media has managed to gain traction as a legitimate source, something that they lacked 40 years ago. For instance, organisations such as Sputnik and RT are modelled on western media institutions and are accepted, with RT even being legitimised by the UN. This allows for a spread of news not seen in the mainstream media. The issue with criticising these organisations, is that whilst same if their news may appear to be fake, a simple rebuttal is that they are aiming to cover issues not seen in the mainstream and to ignore them is to harbour a far too westernised blinded view. Therefore, these Russian media outlets can not be delegitimized, so Russian propaganda remains with a foot in the door.
The current proxy wars also play into this cold war narrative. Whilst the battlefield may have originally been Korea and Vietnam, the new landscape is the middle east with battles such in Syria increasing Russian-Western tensions. We can also see an expansion of Russian power with the annexing of the Crimea and the invasion of Georgia in 2008. Further to this, Putin is well known to have an ambition to restore Russia to its previous soviet glory. Maybe the tensions of the past and the fiction of these spy movies aren’t as far removed as one may think. A new cold war could be what’s heating up right now. What’s more, the playing field has changed and the results don’t seem to favour the west. We can see disadvantages on the Russian side; Russia has a far worse off economy than America, no ideological position (as they had the first-time round), and the world is no longer centered on two world powers as it was then, however, the West and America similarly lack their original advantages. When the cold war began, in 1947, the US had a distinct advantage. Having begun employing the Marshall plan, a country united from winning the war was pumping money ($13 billion) in to the rest of the world. It was, domestically and in the eyes of the world, the land of fortune. Russia had a contrastingly negative reputation. However, currently America no longer holds this sign of perfection. With conflict within the county, divided on issues of racism and sexism which are amplified by social media, its starting base is not great.
“Putin is well known to have an ambition to restore Russia to its previous soviet glory” Not only is anti-establishment feelings and tension growing in north America, but also it is increasing in Europe. With the rise of terrorism and Britain leaving the EU, we see a further crack in the western block, that were there to be a cold war, it would surely be to Russian advantage. Whilst there may not be the purges and the communism of the post WW2 period, we can certainly see the antagonism of the cold war being played once again. Whilst small aspects such as naming the street outside the Russian embassy after a Putin opponent, and the Russians retaliating by considering having the American embassy address changed to ‘1 north American dead end’, may seem like playground insults that result in simply a bruised ego and a time out, there is no dying that officials seem to fear a new cold war. From the prime minster of Russia, to German officials, to an MP from the Isle of white, this fear is wide spread. We may think these poisonings and propaganda seem far fetched for the real world, but currently they are more fact then fiction. With the globalisation of today, will the western world be at a loss to Russian influence, and do we have to fear a new cold war? Quite likely we do, so start hoarding like the Beast from the East is on us once again and learn some Russian, because this time the outcome may be significantly different.
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FEATURES
Friday 16th March 2018
www.redbrick.me
Douglas Frank Twiss: The University of Birmingham's First Student Peter Vessey Redbrick Contributor
When this University first opened its registers for applicants in the Year of Grace One Thousand Nine Hundred, the first student to enrol was Douglas Frank Twiss. He had been born in Birmingham on 19th February 1883 to parents Douglas Frank (senior) and Isabel. His father appears to have remarried at some point between 1891 and 1901. Which educational establishment had the honour of schooling him is unrecorded. At the fledgling University of Birmingham, he studied chemistry in the existing Mason Science College buildings in Central Birmingham taking an Honours B.Sc. in 1902. This was followed in 1903, by a London Master of Science by Research. On leaving the University he then got his first posting: as the Lecturer in Chemistry at Birmingham’s well established Municipal Technical School. This post he held until 1914 when he went to work for the rubber company Dunlop’s at a salary of three hundred pounds per annum with a promised annual increase of twenty-five pounds. His contract of employment included clauses to the effect that, on leaving their employment, he would not work
in a similar field anywhere in Europe, North America, South Africa or Australia for at least three years.
“At the fledgling University of Birmingham, he studied chemistry in the existing Mason Science College” Dunlop’s were so taken with their new recruit that they appointed him Chief Chemist a year later. His first office/laboratory was one room bare of any equipment. By the time he retired he had built up a department of over three hundred staff. And, when his contract came up for renewal in 1919 his salary was trebled to nine hundred pounds per annum, with increments of fifty pounds a year. During his time at Dunlop’s, he was one of the main instigators and developers of cold vulcanisation, together with artificial rubbers such as are used in surgeons’ and household cleaning gloves, and including Dunlop’s foamed
latex “Dunlopillo”. In 1908 he became a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemists, eventually serving on its Council for nine years. In 1910, in Aston, he had married Mabel Aaron; the same year that the University of Birmingham awarded him his Doctor of Science. They set up home in Grosvenor Road, Harborne. Douglas and Mabel had three sons, one of whom, Eric, studied medicine and became a General Practitioner in Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire. A progressive illness forced his retirement in 1946 at the age of sixty-one; and he and Mabel moved to Barton-on-Sea near to his son Eric. Douglas died on 23rd May 1951. There were many obituaries in Trade Magazines and Dunlop’s Staff Magazine, claiming that he only survived that long because of the care from his wife and family. One brief version was repeated in about eight local papers across the country. He left behind a legacy of over seventy publications, including the co-authoring text books on both organic and inorganic chemistry, and he had his names appended to over two hundred patents across the world, including US1921108A, granted 8th August 1933, relating to “Tennis and the Like Playing Balls.”
Cadbury Research Library UoB's first student Douglas Frank Twiss (not pictured: tennis ball)
Cadbury Research Library The Chemistry Lab in the Mason Science College where Twiss studied (1898)
Tennis ball patent US1921108A (not pictured: Twiss)
FEATURES
Friday 16th March 2018
www.redbrick.me
17
Save The Date!
REDBRICK AWARDS 2018 The Most Glamourous Night in the Redbrick Calendar 4th June. Black Tie. Venue To Be Announced
Redbrick Revisits Historic Appetite For Spring Student Hunger Strikes Bryony Parsons Redbrick Archivist @parsons_bryony
March appears to be quite the month for a University of Birmingham hunger strike. I assume the inspiration for choosing March came from the traditional links to Lent, and these 3 hunger strikes were run to raise funds and awareness for issues across the globe. Two of these March strikes were organised by ORD, the student-run Organisation for Research and Development. They were both large scale, theatrical affairs. In March 1963, in aid of the national ‘Freedom from Hunger Campaign’, 10 ORD students fasted for three days in a specially constructed hut in Chamberlain Place. They chose to hold the fast publicly to raise greater awareness of the issue and make their campaign less easy to ignore. This tactic was clearly successful, as the stunt raised £1900. Two years later, in March 1965, ORD decided to launch a very similar campaign in aid of Oxfam and Birmingham’s Mentally Handicapped Children’s Society. The Rover Factory donated a large crate which the students lived in, in Birmingham City Centre, for
the duration of the strike. For both ORD strikes, the aim was not just to raise money however. The students were monitored by University Medical Professors’ in both cases, to aid medical research. In March 1970 UOB students were once again on hunger strike, but this time independently of ORD. As mentioned in several of my previous articles, UOB had a partnership with University College Salisbury in Rhodesia, so many felt a great deal of sympathy for Rhodesian students as the Smith regime seized the country. With political repression rising and the increased expulsion of black students from educational institutions, many Birmingham students campaigned passionately for the British Government to do more to assist the Rhodesian people. And in March 1970, 8 students went on hunger strike in the Great Hall, to press the University of Birmingham Senate to do more to assist the students of their partner institution.
Dan Wootton
BurnFM Head of Station @WootonDaniel
With every moment now as the end of term draws in I realise how lucky I am to have led Burn FM for the past year. We had our AGM just a few days ago at time of writing, and it doesn’t feel two weeks since March 2017 when I was elected Head of Station. It’s flown by, especially this final term, and I’ve been looking back on all that we’ve achieved in the past twelve months. In February, Burn FM hosted the SRA (Student Radio Association) for a training day for the first time. When I joined Burn back in 2015 we weren’t members whilst last year we were but didn’t engage with this body representing 30 student radio stations in the UK. I have always been impressed by the quality of radio and commitment of members at Burn FM, so I felt we were well within our rights to become a bigger player in this organisation. Our training day had an array of speakers, including a female-only panel talking about being a woman in the radio world, talks from SRA professionals about how to win awards, and a closing speech from David Lloyd, a long-time broadcaster and producer, about how to make great radio. Hosting a small training day was a step in the right direction, and hopefully one day Burn will go on to host the SRA Conference. We’ve hosted the University of Birmingham School pupils for a radio experience day, played a charity football match against Redbrick for the Manchester Bombing Recovery Fund and hosted our first careers event in two years – ‘Burn in Conversation’. We’ve had the first ever Media Ball, collaborating with five other
societies, collaborated with Guild TV on xpLosION 2017 coverage, a joint Burn FM-Redbrick social, committee socials and team socials, all helping to make Burn FM the community it has become. We’ve had 171 members, received over 190 show applications, covered university and national sports, put on our own live music night, reviewed gigs from artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Wolf Alice, covered the BBC Good Food show, the 2017 General Election and even made our first radio play in two years. There’s been so much going on in Burn this year it’s been hard to keep track! I’ve been enormously lucky with the committee on Burn this year. All are immensely talented and driven individuals who have worked well as a team since day one to make sure this year in Burn we did everything in the previous two years in one. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been worth it. I have no doubt in my mind that next year will be just as strong as this year for Burn, so I’d like to conclude my final Burn FM-Redbrick column by wishing the next committee the very best of luck, and by thanking everyone who has made Burn FM so enjoyable over the past three years. Without a shadow of a doubt it’s been the highlight of my uni experience. If I could do it all again I would in a heartbeat.
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CULTURE
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickculture
Interview: Benjamin Zephaniah
Holly Reaney sits down with poet and author Benjamin Zephaniah, to discuss politics, poetry and his new novel, Gangsta Rap Holly Reaney Culture Critic
Benjamin Zephaniah has been producing literature and impacting upon the political and literary scene since he burst onto the page in 1980. An honouree doctor of the University of Birmingham and a teacher in Creative Writing at Burnell University, it seems that he is a world away from the excluded school pupil of youth. However, that schoolboy is never far away, his early experiences inform the majority of his published work, and his roots in sharing his poetry started around the childhood kitchen table in Handsworth, Birmingham. Bridging the gap between poetry and people, he speaks to Redbrick whilst promoting his young adult novel, Gangsta Rap, which has been redressed in celebration of World Book Day 2018.
“If you really want to liberate yourself from the conditions that you live in, then read” Gangsta Rap tells the story of a group of kids who don’t thrive in mainstream education but ‘feel like they’re really creative and that they shouldn’t be put to one side’. A story that partially echoes Zephaniah’s own, his characters get excluded from school, however, it is the actions of a teacher that redeems them, guiding them through their education in a music studio rather than a classroom. ‘Through working in a studio, you can learn maths, co-operation, teamwork, responsibility for the things you create and the relationships you have. They become a successful rap band but they have some opposition from people at the other end of the city.’ Zephaniah celebrates the creative individuals in a time where mainstream education is
rejecting and dismissing the arts in favour of maths and sciences and subsequently manufacturing a generation which will increasingly struggle to place value in creativity. Performance is an essential part of Zephaniah’s art, he revels in the feeling of performance and feeding off the energy of the audience, something he encapsulates and transcribes with a beautiful vivacity into the novel. ‘I loved writing about the feeling when the band are on stage and the audience are reacting to them because I know what it’s like. Sometimes I’ve been on stage and I’ve said to the audience ‘come on in buddy, I want you all to touch your toes’ and they all touch their toes and I’m like God. If I was walking down the high-street and was like ‘touch your toes’, I’d get ‘Go away!’. But when I’m on stage suddenly you’re suddenly worshipping me. So, for these kids that have come from the streets who’ve been pushed aside by their teachers, and their parents, the police don’t like them, nobody likes them, they’re the kind of dregs of society, then to be so successful that they’re filling concert halls. I love that because it is a kind of mark of success and a mark of personal power which they have which can be used, or abused, or misused. There’s something very powerful about being on stage and you’re just a human being, in front of other human beings and all you’ve done is write a poem or a song but they’re all looking at you’. Of course, it is poetry for which Zephaniah is most popular. His poetry is characterised by a merging of powerful words with a powerful rhythm. At the point that we, as readers, hear them, whether read to ourselves or performed to a crowd, the rhythm and the words are inseparable and appear completely effortless. However, there is only some truth in this effortlessness. ‘The best performance pieces I’ve written happen almost naturally and very quickly. I find words that fit into the pockets that make the rhythm and it happens quite naturally. And sometimes you have to stop and think that needs adjusting, I need to change that word there to make this rhythm right, so in that case you are making the words fit that rhythm.’ The poetic process is itself an art form. However, poetry, as it is traditionally considered, is becoming increasingly unpopular. Yet, the same marrying of words and rhythm crop up in rap music, spoken word and slam poetry. In spite of this rebirth of the traditions of poetry through new media, Zephaniah reveals that there is still some truth in the concept of the muse. ‘Some of the poems that I love best are those that don’t rhyme when I perform them but they almost sound like they rhyme. They don’t have like a Reggae rhythm, but instead they have a natural rhythm. I love those poems, but on the whole, they
come from a moment of inspiration, they aren’t contrived. I know that I’m the one writing them and I know this is going to sound a little hippy but it’s almost like there’s a greater power. Sometimes I look back and I’m like ‘Wow! Did I write that? What came over me!’ And that is real, true inspiration’.
“Performance is an essential part of Zephaniah’s art” Zephaniah’s poetry has a vast and varied fan-base, not something most poets can claim. In a time when poetry can seem the stuff of academics and elites, Zephaniah’s poetry and performances still draw huge crowds. Even people who ordinarily shy away from Armitage and Duffy or downright reject Shakespeare and Wordsworth absolutely love Zephaniah’s poetry. So, what makes Zephaniah’s poetry so popular? Perhaps it is because he is one of those people who originally shunned Shakespeare and Wordsworth, he knows what it’s like to struggle and not connect with poetry. ‘Many years ago, I said in an interview, that I started writing poetry because I didn’t like poetry, and they said, but does that really make sense? I loved using words but the poetry that they tried to get us to read in school was poetry that really didn’t connect with us, with me certainly. So, when I started creating poetry, I thought, ‘right, I want to take ideas that are serious and sometimes complex, and write about them in a way that every day people could comprehend them’. It's a mantra that I hear a lot from people, especially after performances, ‘I don’t like poetry but yours grabs me’. I think that’s because I put my poetry to music, and because I famously put a lot of poetry on telly in the 80s and 90s which was quite unusual. Now, obviously there’s online, and I probably don’t put as much online as I could do, but it wasn’t just about putting poetry in a book. Obviously, I do put poetry in books but I wanted people to hear my poetry. I keep the words simple even though the ideas are complex, sometimes everyday people can connect with it. I realised that when I’m performing a poem, I can’t use great big fancy words because the audience aren’t sitting there with a dictionary in their hand. It was my mission to make poetry accessible, to take it off the bookshelf and give it back to people.’ Now in its twenty-third year, World Book Day was founded by UNESCO in 1995 with the aim to promote reading, publishing and copyright. It is marked in over 100 countries all over the world. Their famous tokens provide children across the nation with the opportunity to explore the pleasure of reading whilst also giving them the opportunity
to have a book of their own. For Zephaniah, reading wasn’t always easy and school was more of a battle ground than a learning environment; until the age of thirteen he was regularly thrown out of schools for his argumentative behaviour and fighting. In his early poetry he relied on his sister, then later his girlfriend, to transcribe the poems he created. It was only later, whilst studying reading and writing at a night school, aged 21, he learnt that he was dyslexic. With more guided instruction and a lot of hard work, Zephaniah’s learnt to write his poetry himself with his occasional phonetic spellings capturing his own unique voice in the works he creates. However, it is the ability to read which transformed Zephaniah’s experience of life so greatly.
“His poetry is characterised by a merging of powerful words with a powerful rhythm” ‘Reading has really helped liberate me. I always tell people, if you really want to liberate yourself from the conditions that you live in, then read; you can go on journeys everywhere. When people want to oppress women or a particular group of people, one of the first things they do is to stop them having access to certain types of literature or burning
their books or things like that, so it’s really important that we educate to liberate. Books are a great way of spreading ideas. I remember the 14-15-year-old me that didn’t like reading books. I grew up in Birmingham and when I saw people who went to the Grammar School or university and they used to read, we used to take the mickey out of them. We would just mock them, and we’d see them walking down the road so we’d go ‘what you doing that for, just smoke a spliff ’. And then, I kind of realised, you know actually I’ve got to turn this around, we really need to educate ourselves. I remember the 14-15-year-old me, and I’m really passionate about telling those kids now, actually if you want to do what you want to do, you can do it better if you’re educated and if you are enlightened. The way to be enlightened is to share ideas, look into the window of people’s ideas. The other thing about when I talk about World Book Day, is that I don’t just talk about young people reading books but writing books as well! I mean look at me, I’m not from a writing family, no one in my family is particularly educated but if I can do it you can do it bruv, sister. Your story is important.' Above is a selection from a longer interview, in which Zephaniah also discusses modern politics, BAME literature in education, and his favourite works to perform. To read the full interview, head to www.redbrick.me/culture Photos: Corner Shop PR & Bloomsbury
CULTURE
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickculture
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Review: WNO's 'Don Giovanni’ Ruth Horsburgh Culture Critic @RuthHorsburgh
The Welsh National Opera’s production of Don Giovanni is part of the company’s ‘Rabble Rousers’ season, which also includes Verdi’s La forza del destino and Puccini’s Tosca. The WNO were performing all three of these operas across three nights at the Birmingham Hippodrome, and Wednesday evening brought the turn of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Based on the story of the libertine figure, Don Juan, and set during the Spanish Golden Age, we may think of this as a mannered period piece. But with the prominence of the Time’s Up campaign in recent months, this tale of the domineering Don Giovanni who has seduced thousands of women using his wealth and status, has a decidedly modern resonance. Don Giovanni moves from lover to lover, with no feeling of guilt or remorse. He even maintains ‘a list of conquests’. But his luck runs out when one of his liaisons ends in murder. Forced to go on the run with his loyal and faithful servant Leporello, he is chased by spurned lovers including Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, and even a supernatural force. Yet, he remains defiantly unapologetic. Such arrogance secures his downfall, and as vengeful figures circle in on Don Giovanni, his demise is assured. Don Giovanni is a raucous and ridiculous figure, with a seemingly insatiable desire for women. The troubling libertine was excellently portrayed by Gavan Ring, who captured his character’s malice and menace. His ability to be cruel was emphasised by his
duplicitous serenading and constant lying about his motives. His villainy even included an evil cackle. His performance powerfully demonstrated the horrific potential of a man of authority and means abusing those around him. Don Giovanni’s grotesque abuse of women was met with the female characters’ demonstration of defiance and unity. Donna Anna, passionately portrayed by Meeta Raval, is determined to seek revenge for her father’s death, and she emotively recounts how she fought off Don Giovanni’s advances. Donna Elvira, who was well realised by Elizabeth Watts, explored how complex the emotions are of those who have been abused and misled. It was reassuring and uplifting to see the loving loyalty and support in Donna Anna’s fiancé Don Ottavio (Benjamin Hulett), and the caring and sensual love of the newly wed Masetto and Zerlina (Gareth Brynmor John and Katie Bray).
“This salutary tale of sexual obsession ensures that the victims have a powerful voice” A real treat of the evening was the live orchestra, conducted by James Southall which brought a real vitality to the performance. Beautifully sung in Italian, with the effortless interweaving of melodies, the English surtitles were particularly helpful in ensuring the audience understood both the detail of the narrative and
nuances of the playful libretto. Mozart’s score ingeniously captures both moments of tragedy, including the stunning contemplative arias of Donna Anna and Donna Elvira, as well as the much-needed comic episodes. One of the highlights of the evening was the ‘Catalogue’ aria, which detailed Giovanni’s list of 2065 lovers and his ludicrous, season-changing preferences. This aria was performed by Leporello, who was fantastically brought to life by David Stout. His entertaining performance, with brilliant comic timing and facial expressions, ensured that there was light relief from the darker themes explored throughout the evening. The costumes, designed by John Napier and Yoon Bae, were memorable and had a Goyaesque quality. In stark contrast to the cowled monks and cloaked aristocrats, Don Giovanni strutted around the stage in a white hat and coat, complete with gold lining and white and red feathers. The use of gold, beiges and creams contrasted well against the brooding darkness. Also designed by John Napier, the dark sculptural set, inspired by Rodin’s sculptures, contained severed limbs and anguished human faces as well as skulls, which cleverly moved to create new spaces on stage. The dramatic set was particularly effective as the opera reached its dramatic finale. Don Giovanni is finally captured and consumed by the encroaching gateways, complete with the flames and fumes of Hell. This salutary tale of sexual obsession ensures that the victims have a powerful voice. Through their collective courage and action they obtain revenge and Don
Giovanni gets his come-uppance. A great live orchestra, beautiful vocal performances and a stunning set and costumes all contribute to a memorable production.
For reviews of WNO's productions of Tosca and La forza del destino, head to the Redbrick website. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith
in this fantasy within your own world. The book itself is not terribly scary, but the concepts it forces you to confront can still make me lose sleep. It deals directly with the agency each one of us has over our own lives, and what happens when that is taken away. It forces you to think about who is writing the story of your own life, and it makes you question if you’re really living for yourself or if you’re living for people’s perception of you. That was pressing as a teen, but rereading it now would probably make it all the more horrifying, as each of us is at — or is close to — a major turning point in our lives as we leave our schooling behind. Are we going to write our own stories, or are we going to let them be written about us by someone else?
was particularly worried about the state of my mental health, so I bought a visual reminder of my goal. That year, I decided that I wanted to go and see Raphael’s 'School of Athens' in person, so I bought a laptop skin of that picture and stuck it on my laptop to remind myself of my goal every day as I worked. Out of the blue, I got the opportunity to see it that December. I stood in the room and just wept for what seemed like a minute, but turned out to be closer to an hour.
What the picture represents to me is hope, and I think that I probably placed that interpretation onto it myself. It shows a whole whack of really important people throughout history, all talking together, if arguing and disagreeing. That incredible painting just reminds me that the important things and the important people will stand the tests of time. It encourages me to make something that might survive that long as well. Photo: Raphael via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Culture Corner Madeline McInnis Culture Writer
Culture critic Madeline McInnis discusses three of her culture favourites in the Culture Corner. Toronto Symphony Orchestra - Fantasia Back when I was in high school, all of us band geeks got to go on a yearly week-long holiday trip to celebrate all of those 5:45 AM practices being over. In my final year, we went to Toronto, which wasn’t really a new thing for any of us, growing up only about two hours away. In the two years previous, we’d been to both the Boston Pops and the Cleveland Orchestra, so something so close to home wasn’t really going to really engage many of our imaginations. At least, those were my expectations. The show that we saw was a screening of Disney’s Fantasia with live accompaniment and I immediately fell in love with the idea. There was something completely magical about the pairing of professional musicians and a film that relies so heavily on its musical accompaniment. I’m sure I’m remembering it through rosecoloured glasses, but I remember it being absolutely perfect — not
a bowstring or half-beat off. I was just so completely in awe, and it felt like an intimate behind-thescenes look at an iconic classic — something I shouldn’t have been seeing, but just made the movie that much more impressive. I’ve been to several live orchestra screenings since, but none have given me the same feeling that Fantasia did that day. In retrospect, this probably should have been the first indication that I was going to switch into Film Studies at university. Poison by Chris Wooding I was far too young to be reading this book when I did, but I think that made it all the better. It’s a fantasy novel about a young woman named Poison whose sister was kidnapped by otherworldly creatures, so she goes on a quest to get her back. It sounds like your typical “hero’s journey” story, and I really can’t prove you wrong without giving away the ending. I always found the beginning a bit dry, but once you start getting into the world beyond Poison’s everyday life, things start speeding up — literally and figuratively. This is a book with a twist that will leave you both scratching your head and finding the horror
Raphael's 'School of Athens' Each year, I set aside a big goal of something that I want to accomplish by the end of that year. As much as that sounds like a New Year’s Resolution, I do mine at the beginning of each school year for my mental health. If I give up, or if I give into my mental illness, I’ll never be able to accomplish this wild and crazy thing that I want to do. At the beginning of my second year of university, I
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FILM
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickfilm
Netflix Review: Veronica
Film Critic Matt Taylor cowers behind his Netflix subscription Matt Taylor Film Critic
Horror is a tricky genre. It’s perhaps the one that’s easiest to get wrong; if a horror movie isn’t scary, it’s a failure – the same can’t be said of, say, an action film. It’s also perhaps the area of film where older ones are more talked-about than new ones: how many recent horror movies, for example, have lived up to the likes of The Shining, Halloween, or The Thing? But for every five or ten duds such as Annabelle or Ouija, there’s a gem like The Babadook or The VVitch. Spanish horror flick Veronica (from director Paco Plaza, and new to Netflix) is one such gem.
"If a horror movie isn't scary, it's a failure" The film, like many horror movies, claims to have a basis in fact. We open with a police detective responding to a call at a house in Madrid, and return by the film’s end to him filing a report of the events that night. In the interim, we backtrack by three days to discover what happened that night: as it turns out, a teenage girl (the titular Veronica) finds herself haunted by a malicious presence after messing
around with a Ouija board with her friends. While this may sound a little by-the-numbers, it’s the basis for a brilliant horror that packs some solid scares.
"The film claims to have a basis in fact" Veronica is a film that has a very minimalist feel to it – as with recent horrors such as It Follows, it’s sometimes the tiny background details that are the scariest. Things such as little hand movements; a shadowy figure spotted in a hallway as the camera glides nonchalantly past; or the appearance of a bruise following a dream make us feel constantly uneasy – there’s a fantastic sense of atmosphere all the way through, even when we aren’t within a setpiece. That’s something that is, in part at least, down to the incredible performances. Newcomer Sandra Escacena puts in a superb turn as Veronica; her chemistry with her three younger siblings (played by Bruna González, Claudia Placer and Iván Chavero, all also making their first featurelength appearances) is fantastic. Their domestic life together is one that feels real and relatable, and as such it isn’t long before we become invested in them as a both a unit and individuals. When they
eventually start being attacked by the presence haunting Veronica, we realise that we really care about them; in a modern horror, that feels like something seldom seen. What really makes this film something special, though, is its beautiful direction. Paco Plaza (of the [Rec] franchise) very clearly knows what he’s doing; he directs with such elegance and control, and there’s a clear sense that he really cares for the art and craftsmanship that go into making a good horror movie. His camera is gorgeously fluid, even in the scarier scenes – a rotating shot around the Ouija board as the creature nears is terrifying, and a several minute-long single take in the final act is just breathtaking. It’s such a complex scene, but Plaza feels so confident in his ability that it’s done as if it was the simplest thing on Earth.
creativity). There’s also a duo of gorgeous shots in front of a painting in the hallway of the apartment we’re in for much of the film; it shows a deer being chased by a pack of wolves, and is immediately ominous the first time we see it, and downright terrifying the second. It’s also fantastically scored; Chucky Namanera’s music feels very retro, and is reminiscent of the likes of The Thing, but quicker and more upbeat. It adds beautifully to the intense atmosphere that Plaza creates all the way through the film, and is especially effective when
it’s used in the film’s scarier scenes. As one could say about the film as a whole: it’s a rarity. VERDICT: While its story isn’t exactly groundbreaking, Veronica is an elegant, beautifully made horror film that’s genuinely scary, and is anchored by fantastic debuts from its core cast. Definitely one to watch with the lights on.
"Plaza directs with elegance and control" His use of symbolism is a stroke of genius; as is set up in the first act, there’s a particular relevance of the solar eclipse, and as such Plaza has a fondness for differing visual takes on this, particularly as transitions (some of which are so good as to rival even the likes of Edgar Wright for sheer
Review: Gringo
Film Critic Madeline McInnis cries alone in the darkness Madeline McInnis Film Critic
Have you ever wanted to see all the ambitious characters of Wolf of Wall Street put into a Sicario setting with a discount hippie Matthew McConaughey as a hitman? Yeah, me neither. Unfortunately, Gringo is just about as forgettable as it sounds. It relies too heavily on its starpower to get it through its runt-
ime, and even the big names couldn’t do a thing with the awful script they were handed. The jokes fell so flat that I actually got second-hand embarrassment for the filmmakers. The only jokes that were actually funny were the seemingly random concoctions of words that Theron used as insults. It was worth a cringe at some of the obviously pointed jokes that not a single person in the audience laughed at. Of all of
their jokes, I’d say about one in every thirty got a laugh. I think it was supposed to be a comedy, but the fact that I have to question that, should really tell you something about the film. Frankly, it has no point. Every time I thought it was getting somewhere — greed, race, public health care — it got off track again. Really, the takeaway from this film is run away from your problems and everything will work out for the best. Nothing
more complicated or nuanced than that. Theron is absolutely wasted on this movie. To put it nicely, it was below her pay grade. To put it honestly, I’m not sure why her agents ever let her do this film. She has maybe one scene that adds a bit of depth to her character, and even that falls dangerously close to playing into tropes.
"Gringo is just about as forgettable as it sounds" What was especially disappointing was that I thought this was the exact type of character Theron has spent her entire career trying to avoid. Here, she’s just a stereotype of the ambitious woman — not getting anything on her own accord, just sexualizing her way into profit and tearing other women down to get there. And that’s not just Theron’s character, either. Instead of their choice of characters — two women and a black man in some of the more prominent roles — coming off as progressive, which I think is what they were going for, they came off as stereotypes. Wow, Charlize Theron as the hot
blonde who uses her sexuality to get to the top of the company and says ‘fuck' a lot? A black man who can’t afford to pay his bills and only got his job because of a white man? A positive woman, mistreated by her boyfriend, called Sunny? Really guys, pat yourselves on the back for your representation of complex characters. And there’s this stupid running metaphor of gorillas wanting bananas that maybe worked the first two times, but after that, it just came off as totally racist and uncomfortable. There are thousands of other metaphors and experiments that could have been referenced without those uncomfortable connotations. That also extends to the reputation of Mexico. Literally everyone is in on the crime in one way or another if they’re Mexican. Honestly, it’s no wonder everyone is afraid to leave their resort when they go there on holiday because this is how they’re represented. VERDICT: If it's a comedy, it's not funny. If it's a drama, it's more of a bore. If it's supposed to be progressive, it completely missed the mark. Even if you were to see it for free, it's not even worth your two hours.
FILM
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickfilm
21
Review: Game Night
Film Critic Todd Waugh-Ambridge rolls the dice and comes up trumps Todd Waugh-Ambridge Film Critic
American comedies are in a bit of a dire state. The only good ones I can recall from the past couple of years are those masquerading as another genre – like Get Out or Thor: Ragnarok. While British comedies are bending the rules with Three Billboards and The Death of Stalin, Hollywood seems hellbent on getting Charlie Day, Mila Kunis and Will Ferrell in a room and scraping the bottom of the barrel of amusing content together. But when I saw the first trailer for Game Night, I was intrigued. It looked like an interesting mix of traditional comedy and unexpected thriller. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star as an overlycompetitive couple Max and Annie, who regularly host game nights with their four friends. When Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler), turns up out of the blue with a promise of a games night they’ll never forget, the three couples instantly accept. However, the evening takes a turn for the weird after one of the group is seemingly kidnapped – and everyone else has to work out what is part of the game, what isn’t and how to win.
"A traditional mix of comedy and unexpected thriller" Right from the get-go, the film had me hooked with its stylistic approach. The opening titles and logos of the film are presented in a unifying format, with synth undertones highlighting the foreboding nature of the film. And then, the film instantly cuts to a two-minute ‘relationship montage’ showing how
Max and Annie met, fell in love and married. It’s impossible not to get behind this couple straight away; the chemistry between Bateman and McAdams is undoubtedly there, but the film does the impossible and makes their relationship convincing in a way I’ve rarely seen in cinema. If this all sounds a bit quick-fire, then you’ll have trouble: the film doesn’t slow down... ever. The plot beats come fast, while the jokes come far faster; even though – surprisingly – almost all of them hit the bullseye. There are all the standard popculture jokes, witty one-liners and hilarious, overactive characters; but there’s much more than just that to Game Night.
"The film doesn't slow down... ever" Unlike many other recent comedies, this film really gets what a comedy film should be. It’s not just about the funny jokes that could equally work as a radio play or stand-up performance: the framing, cinematography, music and acting all work together towards the comedy. There are framings and camera movements in this film (notably, the knife scene) that are both hilarious and a piece of cinematic genius. That being said, there are moments where the film glosses over a fantastic joke just to set up another; or explains something that was funny enough already. The writers just need to trust their ability a bit more and give their jokes the breathing space needed.
"A piece of cinematic genius" The rest of the writing here is solid enough, but not extraordinary. There are several character arcs interwoven with the
main thriller-esque narrative that hold the film together well enough but don’t do much more than that. In fact, many of the B-plots to do with the other characters end up hitting a wall and not really mattering. And while I won’t say too much to spoil the main story, I will say that it is very interesting but perhaps not quite as clever as I suspect the writers believed it was. A weaker cast would not have done as well with the film’s screenplay, but thankfully Bateman and McAdams are perfect choices. Both are actors at the height of their careers (see: Ozark and Spotlight) and their abilities in both the dramatic and comedic worlds really bring the script to life. The rest of the cast is also fabulous, with special note going to Sharon Horgan as the enigmatic Sarah, who has some of the best one-liners in the film. Jesse Plemons, however, takes home the trophy of biggest comedic surprise: cursed to play a loner, the character of
Gary is heartbreakingly hilarious and Plemons delivers some of the film’s most quotable lines while keeping a completely straight face and perfect comedic cadence.
"Bateman and McAdams are perfect choices" What strikes me most about Game Night is how finely crafted a movie it is. The transitions, where each building and car look like a piece on a board, are so much better than they need to be. There’s a hilarious long-take sequence in the second act of the film that really is as brilliant as it is unnecessary. And the soundtrack isn’t just generic filler, it’s actually superbly composed and heightens the action and comedy. The film’s closing credits, too, hide tens of visual jokes that alone will make Game Night worth a second viewing.
Directing duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have put the extra time and effort into creating something that is not just a good comedy, but a good film. And while the plot drifts a way a little in the third act, the laughs never do. This film may not be as irreverent as the smartest comedy films of Edgar Wright, but it is nowhere near as stupid as some of the stuff that has passed for acceptable in the past few years of Hollywood comedies. This is a step in the right direction, and a big one at that. VERDICT: A smart, funny, solid comedy highlighted by two headline performances by Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, Game Night is much better than it needed to be and is exactly what the comedy genre needs right now.
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MUSIC
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickmusic
Spotlight On: Superorganism
Plucked from the four corners of the globe and assembled via the forums of the internet, Superorganism are effortlessly redefining what it means to be a pop band Emily Barker Music Editor
Superorganism are on an unstoppable climb to the top of the psychedelic pop game. And that is exactly what it seems to be for the eight-piece, cross-continental ‘collective’ - a winning streak of continual sixes, aces, full houses and slam dunks. Whatever you want to call it, they mosey on through with their youthful and ever-so-current hodgepodge of electronica and internet memes, appealing to millennials on a mass scale. The most intriguing thing of all is that they seem to do it blindfolded, unaware of their uncanny knack of condensing the post-truth, post-caring millennial mindset into three minutes of pop gold.
"Superorganism show no signs of slowing down their evolution into pop giants" ‘I don’t even know what that means, actually. What is millennial culture?’ asks lead singer Orono Noguchi, when asked about the band’s seemingly inextricable connection with the generation of Twitter and pumpkin spice. This seems to be a case of not being able to see the forest for the trees: the band’s aesthetic is embedded in a world of GIFs, their music videos are dominated by the distinctive MS Paint Lasso tool and following their social media requires an emoji-fluency rarely seen in the over-25s. At only seventeen years old however (over a decade younger than any of her fellow band members) Orono’s obliviousness, or sarcasm, is easily understandable. Yet she shows discipline and
drive far beyond her high school years; after a casual message suggesting that she add some vocals to an attached demo, Orono drew together a finished track within mere hours, swiftly lyricising and laying down vocals that became the band’s first, and biggest, hit to date - ‘Something For Your M.I.N.D.’. When asked about her impressive work ethic, which unarguably played a large part in catalysing the band’s initial success, her response is down-toearth and straightforward: ‘I didn’t see the point in not doing it. When I’m feeling inspired, I just get it done, why not?’ It is a pace that has been kept up relentlessly ever since. New songs, ‘It’s All Good’ and ‘Nobody Cares’, quickly followed, bringing increasing critical and commercial success, as well as forming a trifecta of singles that would form the basis of their debut album and fledgling live shows. Everyone from Annie Mac to Ezra Koenig was providing radio play, exposure and advice on how to keep up to date with ‘2017’s buzziest and most mysterious new band.’ The explosion led to the band finally assembling from their various, remote corners of the world - flocking from Maine, Auckland, Lancashire and Seoul to convene under the roof of one small house in London. ‘It’s so full,’ Orono says, ‘it’s like, a tiny shithole that we pay way too much money for. I lived on a couch ‘til, like, January? It was several months.’ ‘Now she’s got a bed,’ backing singer and dancer, Soul, chips in. ‘Yeah, but it’s still a piece of shit bed.’ Sitting in a small room backstage at Digbeth’s O2 Institute, we ask Soul and Orono the reasoning behind choosing London as the base for their international project, and what their experience is of the UK as a whole: ‘I like London because it’s so multicultural,’ answers Soul, ‘I
love walking down the street, or being in a supermarket and hearing lots of different accents. I grew up as a South Korean in Auckland, which is a multicultural place as well, so I felt really comfortable. The weather’s a bit crap but that can be a good thing, you don’t go out and have lots of fun, you stay at home and get stuff done. You create your own warmth through music and art, you create worlds.’ Orono is rather more succinct in her assessment: ‘I like how the museums are free.’ Luckily, the smokescreen shrouding Superorganism in mystery for at least their first year of existence is starting to dissipate enough for interviewing to be possible. Having first seen the band at their debut UK show last October, questions that had been boiling inside me for months could finally be answered: at this show, for example, audience members had still seemed to cheer for and even sing along to thenunreleased songs like ‘Reflections On a Screen’ and ‘The Prawn Song’. This surprised Orono as much as it did me: ‘It was crazy. I was like “what the fuck, you know this song? Who the fuck leaked our album?” But I don’t care, it was cool!’ ‘I think aesthetically it’s changed,’ says Soul about the live show, ‘I feel like the vibe’s kind of grown and matured. That’s kind of an abstract thing but I feel like as performers we’re more seasoned. It just feels like we’re comfortable onstage.’ ‘Now I’m yelling too much,’ adds Orono. Soul nods, ‘She’s definitely grown as a performer. She’s unpredictable, it’s exciting to see what she might do.’ Soul’s assessment of the band’s live capacity proves entirely true. The staples of that original Superorganism show are still in place: coordinating rain macs; a solemn procession onto the stage
while ringing handbells; an array of backdrop screens plastered with heady, psychedelic visuals. With the debut album being a compact ten tracks, the setlist has stayed predictably similar and predictably short, but it was immediately clear at their Birmingham show just how much Superorganism have progressed since the autumn. The choreography was slicker, harmonies were stronger, and, overall, we seemed to be in the hands of a better-oiled band who marched their way through the set with complete confidence. Orono’s stage presence had been altered the most although her contemplative singing stance, with head down and eyes closed, was still there, it was interspersed with spontaneous banter with the crowd, and she was clearly enjoying going off script, jumping up onto pieces of equipment, editing vocals, and swaggering crowd interaction, at one point shouting from atop a speaker, ‘Birmingham, I heard you like to fucking mosh!’
"The band's aesthetic is embedded in a world of GIFs, their music videos dominated by the distinctive MS Paint Lasso tool" Superorganism show no signs of slowing down their evolution into pop giants. The summer is bringing with it a hefty festival schedule for the band, with appearances across the continent for two solid months, and I was assured that recording for the sophomore album will be underway at the same time: ‘When we finished the record we actually ended up with way
too many songs, and we’re already working on other stuff on tour,’ reveals Orono. ‘Whether that’s a second album or something else, there’s definitely more stuff,’ Soul concurs. ‘We do get little pockets of time, and we’ve all got laptops. It is an inspiring time I reckon. I think part of the charm is that we do it all on a computer at home, not heavy industry-standard analogue gear. Which is our generation’s thing, that you can just get a cracked copy of Logic or Protools, download all the plugins and just get YouTube tutorials.’ Superorganism define the DIY ethos that the internet generation is adopting. If a record as great as theirs can be made on a Macbook in somebody’s bedroom (Orono recorded the vocals to ‘Something For Your M.I.N.D.’ in her dorm room back in Maine, before she had even met the rest of the band), then the gap between professional and amateur art is becoming more and more negligible - with fantastic results. ‘It’s not even about sound so much,’ is the ethos Soul explains to me. ‘That’s the abstract thing about it, it’s about the personality. Does success coincide with quality? I heard something on Radio 6, with David Byrne, where he’s going “I can listen to something hugely successful and something that no one knows about, but there’s no difference in the quality of music, it’s the same.”’ Let us hope that the band’s busy European festival schedule this summer will provide the inspiration, and not over-exertion, that will allow them to continue their rise. With their widespread talents and ability to not only steer into the skid of current trends, but embrace and uniquely build upon the über-contemporary ‘homemade music’ sound that currently sets them apart from the competition, there is no reason why Superorganism cannot become one of the defining bands of this generation.
MUSIC
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickmusic
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Album Review: Young Fathers Cocoa Sugar Letty Gardner Music Critic
Young Fathers have released their third studio album, Cocoa Sugar, a quickfire collection of twisted sounds and experimentation. Building on the success of previous releases White Men Are Black Men Too (2015) and the Mercury Prize-winning DEAD (2014), Cocoa Sugar is the band’s most varied record yet. In this way the three piece avoid any loss of momentum, or signs of being put into a box, as they display here the continually intriguing development of their sound. The album opens with ‘See How’, an instantly jarring, echoing, and empty track. This is classic Young Fathers - to open a track sparingly and build it up, layering textures and sounds to create something that ends powerfully. This seems to be the trend for a lot of the tracks on the record, and with its twelve songs coming in at only thirty-six minutes in total, each one is a concise exploration into sound and texture. The album is clever in how it places the tracks alongside each other. Songs such as ‘Lord’, ‘In
My View’ and ‘Border Girl’, which tread most closely to pop, are instantly erased from our minds by the abrasive tracks that follow them, showing how this album needs to be listened to in its entirety in order to fully understand its ingenuity.
"The record is rife with contrasts, the tracks purposefully disconnected and not playing together harmoniously - but within this disparity is where the interest lies" ‘Lord’ and ‘Turn’ are two examples of the direct contrasts present on Cocoa Sugar. The former is simple, pure, an unconvoluted beautiful gospel-inspired song in amongst the warping dark sounds of the album’s other cuts. It was the first single to be released from the record, creating a wari-
ness around whether this album would aim to tap into the mainstream, and yet is still a cut above your average pop song, Young Fathers are always taking tracks further into the unknown, even if done subtly like with ‘Lord’.
Yet ‘Turn’ presents the group distancing themselves from any associations with easy listening R&B, turning instead towards the entirely artistic and experimental; it plays expertly with different textures, vocals, rhythms, and
styles. In this way the record is rife with contrasts, the tracks purposefully disconnected and not playing together harmoniously but within this disparity is where the interest lies. The dark humour of ‘Wow’, where beautiful musicality is interspliced with odd interjections and uninterested vocals, makes it one of the most interesting tracks on the record, and one which stands out. Similarly, the playful throwback to the band’s earlier sounds on ‘Border Girl’, and the abrasive but lively hip-hop cut ‘Holy Ghost’ show the breadth of Young Fathers’ musical experimentation. Cocoa Sugar is not an easy listen by any means, but Young Fathers have never promised this, even on their more popular moments such as ‘Rain or Shine’ and ‘Get Up’. This latest record does exactly what the band have always wanted to achieve, avoiding the cushy excesses of chart pop and seeking instead to make us uncomfortable, make us question, and make us listen.
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Greatest Hits: Thom Dent
Music Editor Thom Dent casts a wistful eye back on five tracks from his past that form the soundtrack to his life
The First Song I Ever Bought: Jay Sean - ‘Down’ Objectively, Jay Sean’s 2009 single ‘Down’ is never going to be remembered as one of pop music’s all-time classic singles, and it is far from the most pioneering or distinctive songs of all time. I do not know what it is – maybe it is the glitzy chart perfection of that 3:32 runtime, maybe it is the way that an economically-astute Lil Wayne compares himself to the downturning economy, perhaps it is simply the sheer amount of dreamy six-pack on display in the music video. The point is, to me this is far, far more than just a throwaway single from some relatively obscure slice of muscle with a buzzcut and a record deal. I have long maintained that 2009 was one of chart music’s absolute vintage years, and I will always maintain that the 99p that I spent to put ‘Down’ onto my secondhand iPod was money well spent.
The Soundtrack To A Thousand Car Journeys: Gorillaz - ‘Dirty Harry’
I was thinking of putting a Radiohead tune in this section, considering the obsession my dad had with forcing Thom Yorke’s whale-esque falsetto down mine and my brother’s preteen ears, but in the end, it matters not how much I loved bumping Hail to the Thief back in the day, it never came close the hype generated by the first few bars of ‘Dirty Harry’. There are so many distinctive things I remember about this song: the way the lo-fi drumbeat sounded through my dad’s Peugeot 407 speakers; the way my parents used to cringe at the bizarre sample that precedes the rap verse, which sounds like a fly scraping down a window-pane; the weird way the recording skipped and stuttered as it played (I am still not sure if this was a production choice or a damaged CD, but nevertheless it is golden).
A Song You Need To Hear: Empress Of - ‘Woman Is A Word’ I first came across this song about a year ago, during some casual surfing of Spotify. It was on a playlist of music made exclusively by women, compiled by Noodle from Gorillaz (it is a good playlist, you should check it out if you can). And what a happy accident it was to stumble across this gem, this absolute worldie. I do not think I have ever fallen so far in love with a song so instantly – it must have only taken me one verse to commence furiously sharing ‘Woman Is A Word’ amongst my friends. It is a storming, diamond-shimmering anthem for the ages, a life-affirming feminine battle cry from Empress Of, the nearest thing pop music will ever have to a Boudicca. I cannot remember having ever been left more stunned, or empowered, by a track – and it only took ‘Woman Is A Word’ 3 minutes to do it.
The Sound Of My Adolescence: Merchandise - ‘Telephone’
I am sure a lot of people’s journey through puberty can be tracked quite nicely through a selection of indie hits from the last 7 or 8 years – whether it is The Vaccines, Peace or even those greasy northern bastards the Arctic Monkeys, pop on anything from 2012 and I will be the first one to break out the jeans I stole from my mum at fourteen. For me, no band sums up those wavy, lager-tinged years of hedonism as well as Tampa Bay DIY folks Merchandise. ‘Telephone’, with its stupid toy bass hook and the yawning, Elvisaping delivery of Carson Cox’s vocal, seems to perfectly sum up every decadence, every excess, of my teenage venture through the indie resurgence. Plus, I am pretty sure Carson is the only man I have ever properly, properly fancied (although Jay Sean’s abs are, again, very impressive).
The Greatest Sound In The History Of Music: Kate Bush - ‘The Big Sky’ There are of course many great moments littered throughout the history of recorded music: Hendrix’s rendition of ‘The StarSpangled Banner’, the first appropriation of the ‘Good Times’ bassline by the MCs of late-70s Harlem, the insane vocal crack during Merry Clayton’s shrieks on ‘Gimme Shelter’... but rising high above all these magnificent noises is Kate Bush’s pronunciation of ‘honey’ on my favourite Hounds Of Love tune ‘The Big Sky’. The utterly delicious way in which she rolls the initial ‘h’ at 1.42 is, quite simply, the single most evocative vocal inflection I have ever heard, and in my opinion the greatest noise ever put to tape. Although the way Bush snickers as she says ‘that cloud looks like Ireland’, and her ridiculous ultrasonic wails during the last chorus, do come close.
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TELEVISION
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricktv
The Bold Type: Fearless Feminism Jessica Green Television Writer
Being hailed as the new Devil Wears Prada for a generation of young women empowered by movements such as the #MeToo campaign, The Bold Type follows best friends Kat Edison, Sutton Brady and Jane Sloan and the upwards trajectory of their careers at global women’s magazine Scarlett. Going far beyond the bounds of a mere office drama though, this hit US show leaves no stone unturned when interrogating issues surrounding gender, sexuality, friendship, and love by delving deep into the personal lives of these three young New Yorkers. Seen throughout the series sporting an enviable collection of outrageous heels, it’s only fitting that we’re first introduced to Editor-in-chief of the magazine Jacqueline Carlyle with a close up of her striking red stilettoes marching down the hall. Everyone’s thinking the same thing; this woman means business, and if she can do it in 6-inchers on a daily basis, then props to her. Jane is eager to impress her no-nonsense boss on her first day as a newly appointed writer, but is instantly shot down when she receives an email saying that her pitches aren’t quite up to scratch. It turns out that the email is from Jacqueline herself, who casts Jane a meaningful glare and a pursed lip across the room to go with it – not quite how you want your first day at your new job to go, and Jane is understandably stressed out about the whole thing. It soon becomes clear though that the people behind The Bold
Type have no intention of falling victim to the overused stonecold-female-bitch-of-a-boss stereotype. They instead opt to characterise Jacqueline as an employer who truly cares about her staff, often spending more time giving pep talks than actually doing any editing for the magazine. In particular, she decides to take Jane under her wing and relentlessly push the young journalist out of her comfort zone. Set on writing big political stories about the important issues of today’s world, Jane is less than impressed when Jacqueline repeatedly assigns her sex columns to work on for Scarlett. However, in allocating her features on what Jane considers to be trivial subjects, Jacqueline is in fact encouraging the often uptight writer to embrace her own sexuality and make her writing more personal – not just a concoction of facts and figures. Whilst she (begrudgingly) explores these new avenues, Jane is forever conscious of being branded as a ‘sex writer’ or a ‘fashion writer’, and continues to search for bigger subject- matters to write-up. Jacqueline occasionally relents, praising Jane in particular when her profile piece on congresswoman Helen Woolf has an unexpected angle. Jane ends up with a series of both political articles and relationship columns published in the magazine and the message to viewers
here is clear; if a woman enjoys reading about fashion, makeup, sex and relationships, she can still be smart and politically engaged. If a woman picks up a copy of the magazine to read about world issues, she can still be feminine and care about her appearance. And the novelty idea that a woman could be simultaneously interested in a feature on
oppressed groups breaking through the glass ceiling, and an advice column on the best technique to get their winged eyeliner looking on point? That’s okay too. It’s a learning curve for Jane and for us as viewers, as we real-
ise that a woman doesn’t have to be shoehorned into a one-dimensional category – she can be interested in multiple things, and by extension, be multiple things. As well as being able to rely on their Editor’s unyielding support, Kat, Sutton and Jane are always on standby to lend each other a shoulder to cry on after a ruthless breakup or a much-needed confidence boost during a particularly bad day at the office. Having started at the magazine together as interns four years ago, the trio formed an unbreakable friendship based on trust, loyalty, and secret heart-tohearts in the fashion closet at Scarlett. W h e n asked how she would define her sexuality in the first episode, viewers see Kat declare herself a ‘proud hetero’ – but that’s before she develops feelings for professional female photographer Adena El-Amin whilst simultaneously struggling to envisage herself being attracted to a woman’s anatomy. Rather than pushing Kat to label herself and define her sexual orientation to them, the girls’ focus remains firmly on helping their friend through her confusion and encouraging her to go after the woman that we all
know she’d be pretty damn good with. Despite struggling with her own identity, Kat still has plenty of time for her two besties, in particular encouraging Sutton to take a massive leap and go for her dream job within the fashion department, despite her having limited experience in the industry. The show is also unafraid to confront more difficult issues too, with Kat and Sutton relentlessly pushing the reluctant Jane to attend a medical exam for the BRCA mutation, which led to her mother’s battle with breast cancer and subsequent passing. The two friends reassuringly grip the hands of their fondly nicknamed ‘tiny Jane’ as she bites the bullet and takes the test, remaining firmly by her side when she receives the distressing news that she has indeed got the mutation. In a series that could very easily portray women as tearing each other down in order to make their own way to the top in a highly competitive work environment, the writers instead place the emphasis on women supporting women in this wonderful display of female friendship. Some have branded The Bold Type as just another rom-com, attempting to entertain its viewers with nothing more than trivial relationship crises and a couple of makeup and fashion tips thrown in for good measure. But to those people I say, give Amazon’s American drama another chance. So much more than a mere chick-flick to myself and many other young women, this show is unembarrassedly bold, unabashedly brave, and most importantly, unashamedly feminist.
Review: The Walking Dead
Niamh Brennan reviews the mid-season finale of The Walking Dead's eighth season Niamh Brennan Television Writer
The Walking Dead season eight is now over half way through and it’s difficult to know what we have to show for it. The season has so far consisted of the residents of the Hilltop, Alexandria and the Kingdom repeatedly trying and failing to take out the Saviours, a storyline has been dragged out since the sixth season. It is therefore unsurprising that the viewer ratings are the lowest that they have been since season one. Following on from the midseason finale reveal that Carl Grimes had been bitten by a walker, the midseason premiere explored the days leading up to his death. It was a bittersweet episode. Carl used his final moments to write goodbye notes to all his loved ones whilst bonding with his sister Judith one last time before helping the remaining residents of Alexandria get to safety before another attack by the Saviours. The most upsetting moment of the episode came in Carl’s
final goodbyes to Rick and Michonne. Up until his dying moments, accompanied by only his father and best friend, Carl remained a symbol of hope, reminding Rick of the good that still remains in him and others within the death-ridden world that they now inhabit.
"Throughout the episode it was easy to feel a disconnect" However emotional this was, Carl’s final episode was also underwhelming. Carl was one of the few original characters still remaining and he definitely deserved better from the writers. Apart from Rick and Michonne, the reaction of the other characters to Carl’s death felt muted. Whilst Daryl seemed to finally appreciate Carl for his strength and leadership, ultimately, they all walked away without a word. To kill Carl off from one single
walker when he had previously defied so much more seemed shocking enough without not giving it the intense immediate reaction that it needed. Throughout the episode it was easy to feel a disconnect between what the writers were trying to achieve and what the audience needed. Although Carl was given a degree of respect in his death in being able to gracefully say goodbye, as opposed to a brutal and immediate death such as with Glenn or Beth, it just simply did not add anything of value to the season so far. In fact, it is difficult to see what benefit killing Carl off will ever give to the show. We can only hope that this death gives Rick a drive to bring the climax of the season to the ‘all-out war’ that we were promised. Meanwhile in the episode, following an ambush at the Kingdom in the last half of the season, Morgan and Carol returned in an attempt to save King Ezekiel from the Saviours. Here, the downwards spiral of Morgan was explored further, looking into his relentless murderous attitude towards all those
who oppose him. Again, the writers seem to be rehashing old storylines. It is difficult to be interested in Morgan’s downfall when we have seen him spiral and ultimately save himself before.
"We can only hope that... the exciting well earnt household name is on its way back" Alongside his spiral came his influence on Henry, desperate to avenge his brother’s death he kills a Saviour who otherwise would have surrendered. It is easy to see a correlation between Henry’s storyline, and that of a young and impressionable Carl in the third season killing his opponents without thinking through the consequences. Both Morgan and Henry’s
storylines need to be taken in a new direction if they want to avoid boring the remaining viewers. The only hope of any excitement in the near future of the series comes in the final scene. Rick has clearly gone though some physical and emotional trauma, and sits bloody and beaten, perhaps on the brink of death. This seems to suggest some sort of end point to the Negan storyline. We can only hope that this is the case, and that the end of this slow and tiresome version of The Walking Dead is on its way out, and the exciting well earnt household name is on its way back. Will The Walking Dead become outdated and boring, or will it bounce back and refuse to fall into the black hole of television? For me, I hope that we can count on seeing more exciting and engaging storylines in the future. What do you think of the new season of The Walking Dead? Let us know @redbricktv
TELEVISION
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricktv
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#TimesUp Examples of allegations made by prominent female actors
Weinstein: The Inside Story Panorama offers a glimpse into an industry that failed so many women Morgana Chess Television Writer
Gross stories of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and the suffering of his accusers have been unavoidable in recent months. We’ve all blanched at the extensive headlines, articles and twitter feeds detailing his vile exploits as more than one-hundred women have so far come forward to accuse him of sexual harassment and assault. Christened the ‘Weinstein effect’, the fall of Weinstein has also led to the Hollywood blacklisting of other big stars, such as Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K, or at least questioning, as is the case with Aziz Ansari. The real question on everyone’s lips, though, is: is this the watershed moment? Has the industry really been changed for good? The high-profile #MeToo and Time’s Up movements have continued to gather momentum and awards season has been awash with speeches about equality and permanent change, but
Panorama’s new BBC documentary makes you realise that there are well-ingrained systems to unravel and that these crimes go much deeper than the perversions of one man. Panorama significantly chose to release their one-hour documentary just ahead of the Academy Awards, where Weinstein has always been such a dominant presence, and focus their attentions on the complex machinations that he and his team used to conceal his crimes. We see a web of lawyers, journalists and even an Israeli intelligence agency, operating through the dirty trade of stories and blackmail to keep the mainstream press off the scent and suppress all suspicion surrounding Weinstein. Because suspicion certainly existed. We observe the varying degrees that other people were involved, from active manipulations and shady cover-ups, to simply turning a blind eye. The documentary shines when it offers us glimpses of Weinstein’s personality, vile as that may be. People who were close to him
speak of his abusive, bullying character and how it wouldn’t take a genius to translate that to his behaviour in the bedroom, and yet, almost everyone remained silent. People knew, that much is certain. We also learn, however, that Weinstein’s notorious arrogance was mingled with a level of insecurity and a fascinating paranoia about the press, helping to provide the momentum for his publicity machine and its deceptions.
"'It's not about sex, it's always about power'" We hear from several of his female victims, and their raw, emotional stories never end in the bedroom. Having escaped the physical clutches of their abuser, the women are then routinely met with bullying, intimidation, and the threat of losing their careers, as everything possible is done to
suppress their stories. Victims were dismissed as liars, as Weinstein’s machine would force them to sign non-disclosure agreements and literally buy their silence, then humiliate and demonise them in the press as money-grabbers to deflect all attention away from Weinstein’s own misdeeds. As one woman accurately puts it, ‘it’s not about sex, it’s always about power’. The documentary lets us hear nauseating secret recordings, proving Weinstein’s vile arrogance and persistence, and we learn how meetings were literally engineered so that Weinstein had access to hundreds of women, one-on-one. An hour is barely enough to scratch the surface and achieve any true depth in this documentary, but that is by dint of the horrific extent of Weinstein’s exploits, rather than Panorama’s efforts. The episode still offers an important insight into an industry that enabled such crimes to be suppressed for so long, and gives us a more poignant understanding of the victims who suffered for it.
"I was so ashamed of what happened." Annabella Sciorra
"Before long he said he wanted to take off his pants." Lupita Nyong'o
Working With Weinstein Channel 4 explores the abuse that Weinstein inflicted on his employees Kimberley Malek Television Writer
Since the scandal in October last year it has become almost impossible to avoid the name Weinstein. With numerous Hollywood actresses speaking out about their experiences of sexual assault, harassment and rape by Miramax founder Harvey Weinstein, the public grew understandably outraged. The Channel 4 documentary Working with Weinstein that aired on the 20th February put a new twist on the Weinstein case focussing not on the accusations of Hollywood actresses, but on the treatment of male and female British employees of Weinstein. The programme is narrated by a former employee, Zelda Perkins, who after being silenced for twenty years finally speaks out about her experiences with Harvey
Weinstein. She details how she confronted The Weinstein Company regarding the alleged rape of a co-worker; rather than taking matters to the law, the company coerced her into signing a non-disclosure agreement and accept compensation, meaning she has been legally silenced ever since. Perkins thought her conflict would cause Harvey to stop his behaviour, yet this non-disclosure agreement became the first of many, in fact they became unavoidable within The Weinstein Company. The hour long documentary tells the tale of five other employees, all of whom suffered at the hands of one man. Laura Madden, an assistant and victim to Weinstein, became one of the first to speak out against him triggering a “wave of revelations across the globe”. Madden too, details how Harvey used his status, power and intelligence to
manipulate and “bully” her, eventually leading to her sexual assault. Both women, and others within the documentary, depict Weinstein as having two distinct personas. On one hand, he seemed full of knowledge regarding film, often charming and even comical. Yet on the other, he was aggressive, manipulative, and hungry for dominance. This aggression not only manifested via sexual assault but physical violence as well. The documentary shows how he physically bullied his employees, with Perkins referring to him as a “black cloud” that hung above everyone’s head. David Parfitt, director of My Week with Marilyn, reveals how he was physically assaulted by Weinstein upon a disagreement about his film. Furthermore, Gaia Elkington describes how Harvey physically pushed her to the floor and fired her upon their first meet-
ing deeming her a “mongoloid c*nt". Despite the wealth of accusations against Harvey Weinstein, he denies all allegations of non-consensual sex revealed in the documentary and remains legally unpunished. However, accusers and victims are working with lawyers to attempt to prosecute Weinstein for his unlawful and immoral behaviour. The UK Metropolitan Police specifically are working on fourteen allegations of sexual abuse against Weinstein and his companies. Furthermore, the #MeToo and Time's Up campaigns that have followed this scandal are giving people a voice and a chance to get justice that hasn’t been possible before. It is as lawyer Jill Greenfield closes the documentary; “he may be a powerful man, but he is not above the law” and hence justice must be done.
"I got into my car and I cried." Lena Headey
"I was a kid, I was signed, I was petrified." Gwyneth Paltrow
GAMING
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickgames
“The President will leave some stones ‘unturned’ so long as they fund his campaigns” This focus on the entertainment industry is frustrating enough in the face of the common-sense claim ‘video games don’t make you violent,’ even more so in the face of hard evidence. A 2017 University of York study found no evidence linking video games to violence. Dr David Zendle, from the University’s Department of Computer Science said of the studies results: ‘The findings suggest that there is no link between these kinds of realism in games and the kind of effects that video games are commonly thought to have on their players.’ As far as the video game ‘violence reel’ shown by Trump, how can a one-and-a-half-minute video be thought to be an acceptable way of justifying a discussion into the roles video games – above actually, physically owning a gun - play on the making of a violent killer such as Nicolas Cruz? The reel – described by Newsweek as an ‘awesome [..]88-second tribute to why people love video games’ –
contains completely clips completely absent of context from games such as Call of Duty, Wolfenstein and Fallout 4. After showing the reel, Rep. Hartzler quotes the President as commenting, “This is violent, isn’t it?” – How inciteful. I was however, unsurprised to find one particular scene in the video game violence montage: footage from Modern Warfare’s infamous “No Russian” mission. In this mission the protagonist is urged to take part in the mass slaughter of civilians as part of the infiltration of a Russian terrorist group. The mission was swamped with controversy from its launch, critics used it to shove the idea of what video games should show under the spotlight. However, what often went unspoken was the option within the level not to partake (the player was even afforded the opportunity to skip the level at no penalty). “No Russian” sparked a discussion in gaming morality which, as a community, most gamers treated with respect and the level is perhaps one of the most famous in the series as a result. But what about kids seeing such violent scenes? Dr. Zendle of UoY acknowledges the study was done on adults and that further study would be required on the effects on children. In this case, it is definitely worth mentioning that the games chosen by the White House for their reel were all R-rated in the US, and ‘18’ in the UK – kids aren’t meant to see this content. This brings in the ever-grumbling argument of parental supervision: provided parents are actively aware of what their kids are playing, and are vigilant and smart about the way games may affect their child there should be no issue in this respect. Further, what this debate fails
to address is that these video games are released world wide – and thus if the case was that such things turned kids into violent adults then would this not be the case all over the world. This argument brings to mind the headline of an article from the Onion news: “‘No Way to Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens.” It might also be worth bearing in mind that this fake article was created in 2014 in the wake of a different shooting, after which congress danced around the subject of gun control – it seems that they’re doing the same now, with the multimedia industry in their sights.
Gaming Critic
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a jetpack cat? It is none of these things! Leaping from the workshop to the battlefield, Overwatch's 27th hero is Brigitte Lindholm. As the new paladin on the streets, her abilities meld the chivalry of Reinhardt with the assist duties of her father Torbjörn. Her shield bashes and blocks, and if you nail the timing the dash will launch her over walls and gaps. And if you like all your teeth in your mouth, keep your distance from those enthusiastic swings of her flail. When Brigitte whales on enemies, allies are ‘inspired’ and passively receive healing. Along with a repair pack healing ability, her ultimate ‘Rally’ provides temporary armour and speed buffs. A tank-y support, she has
fantastic disruptive potential on the front line but given the opportunity Sombra and Widowmaker can pick her off easily. Excluding party poopers who are again trying to claim feminism is ruining Overwatch, Brigitte has been welcomed by the community, many praising the undeniable entertainment of pulverising feeble DPS mains and her cuteness. It can not be helped: we all love a woman that can bench-press. However, now that some of the initial hype has dissipated, players are beginning to make valid criticisms. Brigitte’s face looks excruciatingly similar to Mercy, Widowmaker, Tracer and Sombra. Conspiracies aside, the range and variety of male hero silhouettes proves that Blizzard's art and design department possess boundless creativity. Time and
time again, this just has not extended to the female roster. And for a game that marketed itself on championing diversity, this speaks louder than any Rally. But what's she actually like to play? On the Public Test Realm, I have conducted extensive research as Brigitte. Here are some observations that I hope will serve you well.
“Risk it for a biscuit if you think stealth will snag you the objective” Much like Reinhardt, Ana and Brigitte are a dangerous duo. Brigitte has a larger hitbox than the other supports which is a boon to the sniper class, creating a symbiosis to this pair. Brigitte can keep Ana safe with passive healing and neither will be out of the other's range. Additionally, Ana's sleep darts enable Brigitte to launch her flail precisely at a
5 Age of Empires II
“Study found no evidence linking video games to violence” As a final point, amongst the clips shown by Trump was a demonstration of the V.A.T.S. aiming system from Fallout – in the reel it is specifically Fallout 4. V.A.T.S. is a system which allows the player to target a specific section of an enemy target – dangerous indeed. Whilst I cannot confirm whether Nicolas Cruz had access to the V.A.T.S. aiming system or not, on the day he murdered 17 in a Florida school, I can confirm that he had a AR-15 rifle, something not available in Fallout, but readily available in most sporting goods stores across America. So perhaps it’s about time the so called ‘Leader of the Free World’ started a discussion on the one thing we know allows the continuous death of his people.
Overwatch Hero 27 Revealed Imogen Claire
Ensemble Studios
Last Thursday, on the 8th of March, President Donald Trump held a private meeting with members of congress, dubious video game sceptics, and industry executives to discuss the place of violence in video games. The meeting was pegged as a meaningful response to the recent shooting which took place at a Florida school in February. Those in attendance were shown a oneand-a-half-minute clip of video game violence from popular titles. It was a meeting that could perhaps be seen as just another battle in Trump's war against the media. A distraction, priming multimedia to be the scapegoat of America’s problem with mass shootings and violence. Amongst those in attendance was Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who made the following comment on the meeting: “Discussions should not be limited to just video games and guns. The President’s approach of leaving no stone unturned is prudent and similar meetings with the movie industry pertaining to gun violence on film should also be conducted” (From Twitter: @RepHartzler). It does seem, however, that the President will leave some stones ‘unturned’ so long as they fund his campaigns. CNN reported on March 1st,: “Just a few hours before the meeting [Trump held a one-hour televised meeting with lawmakers on guns], any concrete plans for a Senate gun debate or amendment votes had officially fallen apart, according to multiple sources. There was brief optimism on Tuesday something on guns could occur next week. That is very clearly no longer on the table.” The ‘something on guns’
that did occur, a discussion of video gaming, was not quite what was hoped for; this frustrating dance around facing the true issue which ‘7 in 10’ (CNN) Americans want discussed could only grow more mind-numbing if Rep. Hartzler is correct in assessing ‘gun violence on film.’
target, nailing those satisfying kills. Tussles with heroes that also share self-healing abilities like Roadhog or Bastion can feel a little even-stevens, to counter this, watch for their cooldowns and try to split their attention to win. As a side note, her shield lights you up like a festive parapet, so risk it for a biscuit if you think stealth will snag you the objective. However, the shield does afford you a tad extra breathing room if you get flanked, though you will need to be hot off the mark. All in all, as someone who favours supports but doesn't like the ‘invisibility’ that comes with their playstyle, it's awesome fun to just run into the fray no holds barred. With the security that you are healing the team combined with a sense of scary invulnerability, Brigitte is an excellent addition to the meta. Due to go live soon, we may even begin to see her in a future stage of the Overwatch League. Image Credit: Blizzard
Insomniac Games
Gaming Critic @tomallanmartin
4 Ratchet & Clank
3
KnowWonder
Tom Martin
Childhood Games
Harry Potter and The Philospher Stone
2
Insomniac Games
Dear Mr Trump: Please Don’t Make Us Your Scapegoats
Redbrick's Top 5
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!
1
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Radical Entertainment
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GAMING
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickgames
Switch Impressions: Super Smash Bros Is it a sequel? Is it a port? Sam Nason gives his impressions on the recent announcement Gaming Critic @samjnason
This month Nintendo has completely blindsided everybody by revealing Super Smash Bros was coming to the Nintendo Switch in their latest Nintendo Direct. The trailer saw two Inklings from Splatoon duking it out in what was a bait-and-switch, revealing the Smash logo just as fans were nervous the trailer was simply going to be new Splatoon content. The trailer was very mysterious and secretive, revealing very limited concrete information about the upcoming titles. A few things we can infer from the teaser include the fact that the Splatoon Inklings look to be confirmed fighters (I imagine the boy and girl Inklings will be alternative skins and it will be very interesting to see their move set in action) and a load of characters are already implied to be returning from brief silhouettes shown at the end.
“Information has left some people wondering whether the game is a port” Other than that, the trailer gave no information; in many ways the confirmation of a Smash Bros game for Switch at all is a blessing, yet the lack of definitive information has left some people wondering whether the game is a port of Super Smash Bros for Wii U instead of a unique, isolated experience. Speaking purely speculatively, I can see arguments for both sides. In terms of the Switch’s Smash Bros being a port, the Wii U game
only came out roughly three years ago, a rather short amount of time to wait in-between instalments when you consider the time in development between Melee and Brawl, and then Brawl and 3DS/ Wii U, both being six years. While it’s not completely inconceivable, such a (comparatively) short time between games makes one question whether the Switch is being given an enhanced port as opposed to a new title. Another thing giving credence to this theory is its release window, that being 2018. Smash Bros games have had infamously long marketing cycles, progressively building fan hype as new fighters and stages are revealed to please the masses. For Smash Bros for Wii U, this was a year and a half, whereas the Switch game will see only a matter of months if it does indeed release this year. Again, while certainly not confirming it, the short marketing window seems a bit fishy for a Smash title. My personal belief however is that Smash Bros for the Switch will be an entirely new game, and I really hope it is. A big piece of evidence in the teaser was the appearance of Link, not in his Twilight Princess attire like previous Smash games but instead dressed in his Breath of the Wild clothes. Maybe it’s my English degree talking, but we can infer from this updated Link that the Smash Bros experience will be entirely new and updated. Also key to note is that the Direct website calls the game Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros (working title); if it were a port of the previous game it would most likely be called Super Smash Bros for Nintendo Switch to follow the theme of its predecessors - this intentional vagueness, to me at least, points towards the title being entirely new. With the Switch’s online services looking to launch this autumn, a killer app will be needed for Nintendo to convince the
masses their service is worth investing in. It would make sense then to release an all-new Smash experience to capitalise upon it, as opposed to simply rereleasing the most popular online game for Wii U to what I imagine would be resounding disappointment. It’s also worth mentioning Sakurai is behind the game, rather surprisingly since it was widely reported he was in great pain through the development of the Wii U version. Returning to his directing post after the last four previous Smash games, the fact there was no noted collaboration with Bandai Namco in the trailer (rather instrumental in the production of Smash Bros for Wii U) hints at the game being its own diverse entity as opposed to the previous instalment.
“One fact is clear. Smash Bros is coming to Nintendo Switch this year, and that is an extremely exciting prospect” Alternatively it might also go a third way - like many fighting games released nowadays, it may be an enhanced version of the Wii U game but with a couple of new characters, some cosmetic and mechanical changes and a new wave of support. There are still a lot of unanswered questions - will the DLC characters from Wii U make it in? How about Pacman and Mega-Man? Regardless of the answers and regardless of whatever the game is, one fact is clear. Smash Bros is coming to Nintendo Switch this year, and that is an extremely exciting prospect.
Interview: Hugo ‘Coldhands’ Kay Roshni Patel
of coursework and essays, as a result I have to find a balance, where sometimes I’ll do mostly work days or mostly Hearthstone days.
Gaming Editor @Roshofalltrades
How would Hearthstone?
you
describe
It is a card game, which is fun and quite fast. It is one of those games which people say is easy to get into, but hard to master, as it is quite clear, and you can generally get a sense of what’s happening in each match. However, once you think about the strategy more, you begin to realise it has that depth that all eSports games have, which is why it is so interesting to me. How long have you been playing Hearthstone professionally? I first started 3 ½ years ago, playing casually for the first year or two, gradually climbing up the ranks and playing more as a result. I kind of got to the point where I was thinking “I’m getting quite good at this now”, which encouraged me to begin competing in tournaments just over a year ago, which led me to qualifying for the ESL Autumn Premiership. This my first ESL Premiership season, where I qualified formally in September, played the season through the Autumn term, and played the Finals in January, just before term began. It is thanks to the NUEL that I really got into the competitive scene so quickly, as the university's eSports society posted about a Hearthstone tournament quite early on into my first year, and I basically thought, I may as well play, and ended up placing 2nd in both semester’s tournaments. How do you Hearthstone?
Nintendo
Sam Nason
27
train
for
On average I try to get around 3 hours practice a day, sometimes a little more, with some days where I’ll just play all day. Practice mostly involves playing, but playing with a purpose, to try and play different things, experiments and gain a larger knowledge base of what strategies are good and what plays are possible. In the down time when I feel I’ve played too much or I’ve started to lose rank, I like to watch Hearthstone, which is very popular on Twitch, so I can take time off, watch someone else play, and still make decisions and think about the strategy required, without it affecting my own game. While I don’t have many contact hours as a politics and international relations student, I do have a lot
Have you ever needed to take a break to focus on your studies? While competing in the ESL Premiership, I had a bunch of deadlines, around 4 or 5 essays due for the end of last term. So I qualified for the finals 3 weeks before and took all that time off to complete my essays, which was perfect, as the week I finished, the new expansion had just been released, which meant I had all of Christmas holiday to practice. All in all, it actually worked out quite well, and I personally quite like that on off approach from time to time, because sometimes you do need a break from playing and you can get burnt out. What advice would you give someone considering competitive Hearthstone? Just have a good attitude towards learning the game. Often people talk about natural talent, especially in the mechanical games, but you have to take the approach of learning as much as you can, putting in the work and keeping a good attitude. As long as you keep these things in mind, I think eventually you will improve and if you generally keep working your game awareness and strategy, you’ve got a pretty good chance. What’s next for you? Next match? Future eSports plans? I’m currently in some downtime, and just casually playing some weekly online tournaments, which are UK based, in which I’m having some success, winning small amounts of prize money as I go along. It’s all about keeping my skills up, as the next season of the ESL Premiership, starts in a few months. In the future I hope to continue playing in the ESL Premiership, I currently have just over a year left on my degree, so I’d love to keep playing part time, as I think I have a fairly good balance between work and eSports right now. Though I’m currently not considering becoming a full time eSports player, as it’s currently not a consistent income. I would also love to go to a Dreamhack, where I can immerse myself in the eSports scene and gain more recognition, while experiencing the skills of perhaps more professional Hearthstone players.
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FOOD&DRINK
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickfood
Review: Trashy Food? Review: Mixing things up Khan, mayor of London, to ban junk food ads on the Tube. But how big of an impact will Food&Drink Writer these restrictions have on obesity? Recently, there’s been increas- It’s hard to predict how much ing anxiety over the rising levels advertising affects our need to of obesity in the UK. The NHS buy unhealthy foods, and it is revealed a 2017 study stating that, understandable that advertisein 2015, 68% of men and 58% of ments for fast food like McDonalds women were overweight or obese. should not be shown in the advert Moreover, in the same year, 1 in 3 breaks of children’s TV as chilYear 6 children were either dren are easily impressionable. overweight or obese. However, do adults need Consequently, there the same censorship? have been a number And where do we of calls for the govdraw the line? I bareernment to take ly drink fizzy drinks action against this but still wait for the millennials will rising problem of Coca Cola Christmas be overweight unhealthy eating advert each winter. in the UK. How will we know or obese after D e s p i t e when Christmas is 35 Theresa May inicoming now? Yet the tially disregarding power of advertising is health secretary unquestionably strong, Jeremy Hunt’s wish to and it’s true that fast food restrict ‘junk food’ advertisadverts should be clamped down ing, May has apparently changed on, especially if they are targeted her view on the matter and is cur- at children. Maybe it is time to rently making plans to implement say RIP to the Milky Bar Kid and a ban on advertising unhealthy other beloved childhood food food before the watershed of 9pm. advert campaigns. At the moment, regulations are It also has to be remembered already in place which prevent that fast food is generally more adverts for unhealthy food appear- affordable for lower-class famiing during children’s TV pro- lies. The NHS states that in 2015 grammes. 26% of children living in the most However, this will be extend- deprived areas were overweight ed to family shows as early as the or obese, in comparison to 12% of summer, and celebrity endorse- children living in the least ments of unhealthy food will also deprived areas. be banned. Cancer Research UK Therefore, although restricting has played a large part in cam- advertising is likely to help curb paigning for this advertisement cravings for unhealthy food, the ban. bigger problem is that it is cheap They have been trying to and easy. Consequently, the govspread awareness that obesity is ernment needs to focus on making the second biggest cause of can- healthy food more accessible to cer (after smoking), stating that poorer people who may be work7/10 millennials will be over- ing long hours, or more than one weight or obese between the ages job, and thus don’t have the time of 35 and 44. Additionally, Jamie to cook a healthy, homemade meal Oliver has also called on Sadiq each night.
Sophie Rashley
7/10
Lauren Vick
Food&Drink Writer
After 132 years of sobriety, the Coca-Cola Company have decided to spill over into the world of alcoholic drinks. For years the company has been recognised as the ‘world’s largest non-alcoholic drinks company’ - but this is all about to change. This decision comes from Coca-Cola’s Japanese President, Jorge Garduño, in light of the rapidly growing Japanese market of a drink known as ‘Chu-Hi’. This drink consists of sparkling water, flavouring, and, most importantly, a distilled beverage called shochu. This alcopop has taken the Japanese market by storm, becoming particularly popular among female consumers after being advertised as an alternative to beer. As expected, the alcohol content is relatively low, with the drinks ranging between 3% to 9% in alcohol by volume. Due to the success of the ‘Chu-Hi’, also known as ‘Sorchu Fireball’, CocaCola have decided to begin devising their own take on the drink.
The alcoholic Coca-Cola drink is in the US alone the recorded to be introduced in Japan immi- drop in the total volume of soda nently, to capitalise on the ‘Chu- consumed stood at 1.2%. Driven Hi’'s current success. The Coca- by a generation more conscious Cola Company are eagerof their health, Coca-Cola ly anticipating the have been releasing and release of their new devising new prodalcopop; a senior ucts on an almost Coca-Cola execdaily basis. utive stated that In the UK the decision there has been an billion in was a ‘modest introduction of experiment for Coca-Cola global sales a specific slice brands that sell of the drink, of our market’. iced tea (Fuze even with Should CocaTea), and a range Cola’s divergence of juice drinks decline into alcoholic drinks (Minute Maid, etc.). come as a surprise to In order to help proconsumers? Probably not. mote the main Coca-Cola For many the decision to incorpo- brands ‘Coca-Cola Classic’, rate alcohol into the range of ‘Coca-Cola Light’, etc. it was drinks they produce comes as a clear that a significant and radipivotal moment in the history of cal change needed to be made; the company, yet this decision can this change has come in the only be described as inevitable. form of a premixed alcoholic Whilst the global sales of the drink. drinks remain at staggering $11.5 Once this drink hits shelves billion there has been a continu- in Japan, it is expected to stay in ous decline in sales of fizzy drinks Japan, with no suggestion that in recent years. the drink will be sold in any Coca-Cola has also been the other country. victim of a loss in sales and profit: However, I believe that the success that will greet this product will drive the company to reconsider their ‘non-alcoholic’ status in other countries. I would not be surprised if, in the next ten years, a variant of the ‘Chu-Hi’ alcopop became available in UK supermarkets. Now, I don't know about you, but whilst I am a little apprehensive, I will certainly be giving it a try. Coca Cola is a timeless drink that hasn't disappointed yet, and hopefully they will continue to provide their customers with drinks that we love so very much.
$11.5
Review: Cutting Calories Out For Good Food&Drink Writer Tim Abington voices his opinions on our recent attempts to have all the taste, with none of the guilt Tim Abington Food&Drink Writer
It is a well known fact that as a country our calorie intake is monumental, and something needs to be done to sort it out. But, how does one go about reduing such an ingrained part of our society? Well, amongst this we shall take a look at attitudes towards food by both the industry itself, and the consumers, and also provide an insight into what actually makes up our food as a society. You may not want to hear it (or read it) but, as I'm sure you'll come to find, it is much better to be aware of these things sooner rather than later. Let's tackle this together. Succulent, is the plumpness of the potato dumplings; emulsified in a rich, garlicky, buttery sauce lifted by the unami of the parmesan; smothered in a warm crust of the panini. Sharp, is the peppery skin of the brisket; the richness of the deep brown gravy; the collective
enjoyment of the atmospheric has announced further measures throb of the kitchen. to reduce calorie consumption in Sombre, the smell of luke- the continued march upon the warm sandwiches, snatched from obesity crisis that perpetuates our the supermarket aisle clossociety. est to the exit, eaten In the triad of resohurriedly amidst the lutions, the institution clattering of keyis to establish quanboards and the titative targets for silence of the the calorie conlonesome indisumption of vidual. adults and chilYet the latdren whilst calorie ter meal conencouraging reduction goal forms to the the industry to to be hit by boundaries of reduce calories the calorie by twenty per industry in count and so, in cent. coming years achieving this Ultimately statistical target, the agency has the it fulfills the only right intention, requirement of our though it has adopted food. an incorrect approach. Derived of fulfillment or Single issue solutions are not pleasure, it appears that our food the means by which society is to is to now satisfy only the numeri- avert this crisis. cal figures and nutritional agreeThought and discussion is ments of state and industry. already limited to a tweetable two In the latest in a series of pub- hundred and eighty characters, lications, Public Health England and international relations have
20%
suffered as a result. Limiting our food to a quantifiable figure is not the solution to a issue that spans the breadth of society. Ensuring that the output of cooking is suited to a graph, and stripping it of all notions of pleasure, are not the means by which to reestablish the passion for quality food which is needed to avoid this social crisis. If, as a society, our meals are dictated by grams of protein and vitamin percentiles then we have lost all notion of what it is to eat. The pleasure of food, evocative mouthfuls of fulfillment, the company kept whilst breaking bread amidst family and friends. All of this is to be burnt before the altar of statistics. The reduction of what we eat to mere nutritional intake is as disastrous for the quality of food as the industrialisation of food production that it is attempting to alter. The reformulation of products is a unsustainable antidote that allows the commercial sector to continue to compromise on quali-
ty whilst retaining control of fiscal margins. Cholesterol, fats and carbohydrates have all previously been targeted, before a change in times put paid to the preoccupations of previous generations, and disproved the factual inaccuracies that bred them. Meals have become cold as lobbyists seek to banish entire cuisines and rid food of all fulfilment. A prepackaged meal, devoid of the care and emotion that one should contain, can be reformulated to reflect statistical trends; yet it will remain just that - a combination of macronutrients, consumed to fulfill the quota necessary for participation in the rat race of life. Do not attempt to reduce food to the depressive state where one spends more time antagonising over the nutritional value of a meal than eating it. Instead, to paraphrase Bewick, eat it with a relish that needs no sauce.
FOOD&DRINK
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbrickfood
29
Review: Chicken, Chicken, Chicken
Food&Drink Writer Ed Doxey looks at Selly Oak's best-loved hangover cure Ed Doxey
Food&Drink Writer
A good night, in my opinion, is rarely complete without a visit to some form of high-street chicken and chips dispensary. However, with so much choice available in Selly Oak the selection can seem daunting to the uninitiated. Discounting takeaways that specialise in foods other than chicken (sorry Luciano’s), the establishments that follow are your best bets for an emergency portion of chips and six wings. After much deliberation, I have also excluded Pepe’s Piri Piri due to the fact that it closes at 11pm, and is thus irrelevant to the presumed readership of this
review. In order of a prospective customer’s progress down Bristol Road as they stumble their way downhill:
CHICKEN.COM
– Immediately suspicious about its name in the form of a false website address (what else could they be lying about?), I avoided Chicken.com in my initial culinary forays into Selly Oak. On subsequent visits, I’ve been adequately unsurprised by a perfectly average chicken shop; while still more expensive than other options further down the road, it offers tasty food and a wider selection of menu items. I’ve also been assured that their wedges and chicken wrap are better than their Bristol Road
equivalents, although I can’t personally account for this.
DIXY CHICKEN – I’ve been
to Dixy Chicken several times in several cities, and while I can confirm the quality and pricing there are top notch, I’m an advocate of supporting your local when it comes to fast food and can’t condone feeding the national corporate tycoon that is Dixy Chicken. Before long they’ll be expanding into other industries and I don’t want to see my future children paying back their own student loans to Dixy Inc., so on that basis alone I recommend proceeding thirty metres further down the road, because it really will be worth your journey.
ROOSTER HOUSE – If I
were a food critic (I’m not) or if my own health placed high on my list of priorities (it doesn’t) then I would advise the reader to avoid Rooster’s at all costs, just as any of the aforementioned establishments. However, the noisy tranquility of Rooster House in the small hours can often provide the most memorable part of a night, as well as the reason for the garlic mayo stains down your new jacket. Cheap, tasty chicken, speedy service, and nostalgic memories of inebriated combo-snack boxes past make this my top recommendation in Selly Oak. So, there's really nothing more to say, other than if you're hungry,
hungover, or just in the mood for some outrageously cheap, yet good-quality chicken, get yourself down to any one fo these, because you will not regret it. Trust me when I say, these shops are definitely some of the best attractions of the university experience here, because without them I have no idea where we would all be after that messy night out. With the exception of those reasons previously mentioned, there really isn't anything wrong with these places, and I would even go as far as saying: if you haven't been to any of these, (or all of these), then you have not had the full Selly Oak experience yet, and you definitely need to hop on this chicken wagon!
Recipe: Taglia-Tell Me More Food&Drink Editor Dean Mobbs shares his favourite, accessible pasta dish Dean Mobbs Food&Drink Editor
Okay everyone, prepare for the most overtly novice recipe you’ve ever read! I’m not much of an experimenter when it comes to food, so I thought I’d give you a quick overview of probably one of the nicest meals I’ve ever made (DISCLAIMER: it’s really not that impressive – please hold all judgements)! So, as a fussy vegetarian, it’s extremely difficult to find a meal that is somewhat adventurous, and that I can still eat all of without having a bit of a meltdown... Hence why it’s taken me so long to actually come up with something I can make, is relatively incorporative of a lot of ingredients, and also tastes damn fine – if I do say so myself. So, to begin with I guess I should tell you guys exactly what it is we’ll be making; if you like pasta, you’re in for a treat! Now, when I found this particular recipe
it didn’t have a name, so you can either give it one yourself or use mine: The Dean! I know, simple and yet equally as effective – plus, you’ll never forget it, or me! And as well as being particularly easy to make, it’s cheap; literally every single thing can be bought at Aldi so don’t worry about those purse strings. Let’s jump in with our ingredients: - 125ml Garlic and Herb soft cheese - 125ml milk - 250ml double cream - 4 garlic cloves (chopped) - Spring onions/regular onion (chopped) - Blue cheese (Stilton) - Fresh tagliatelle - Quorn chicken pieces (bacon for meat-eaters) - Butter - Black pepper Now that we have all of our
ingredients (which should come to less than £10 - BARGAIN), we can begin by cooking the tagliatelle in salted boiling water for a few minutes. Be careful though guys, because I definitely overcooked mine for the first time; fresh pasta isn’t something I’m used to!
"It's taken me so long to actually come up with something I can make, is relatively incorporative of a lot of ingredients, and also tastes damn fine" Once cooked, add a knob of butter and some black pepper, and leave it to the side. It’s time to
begin the (meat?), so get chopping those garlic cloves and onions! Whack them straight into a frying pan with oil alongside your (meat?) and cook them all the way through; put them to the side, and get excited, because here comes the sauce! I couldn’t tell you why but the sauce is my absolute favourite to make, because I actually feel like a chef, you know? It’s just constant stirring, and the entire time I’m cooking it I feel like if one tiny thing goes wrong then I am well within my rights to throw a massive fit and just drop the entire pan into the bin... Perks of being an actual chef!
"I actually feel like a chef... I feel like if one tiny thing goes wrong then I am well within my rights to throw a massive fit and just drop the entire pan into the bin" But anyway, reining my ego all the way back, let’s get you started on that sauce. So, to begin, get your garlic and herb cream cheese and whack that into a saucepan with the milk (am I the only one who has just realised why it’s called a SAUCEpan?) Keep stirring these two together until the mixture has no more lumps in it from the cream cheese. Once you’re satisfied that you haven’t totally screwed that up like I may - or may not - have the very first time (don’t ask me how), then it’s time to add in your double cream. I personally just pour it all straight in – we don’t have time to dribble it in here and there, just shove it in – and stir through constantly.
Now, this is where it comes down to personal taste, because it’s time to add the blue cheese! Depending on how strong you want the sauce, just keep crumbling the cheese in until it tastes right for you and is heated all the way through! But you have been warned: the cheese is horrendously gross to the touch, and it isn’t a pleasant feeling to keep prodding and poking it – it is mould after all! Right chefs, I think we’re pretty much there! If you’ve tasted your sauce and it is absolutely perfecto, then its time for the finale...
"You have been warned: the cheese is horrendously gross to the touch, and it isn't a pleasant feeling to keep prodding and poking it - it is mould after all!" I always find it a much easier process to add the pasta and (meat?) to the sauce, not the other way around. So, if you’re following me all the way here, grab your pasta and meat from earlier and pop them into the saucepan with the sauce (it just makes it easier to mix – trust me!). Well, I guess there’s nothing else to say except for BON APPETIT (I think that’s how you spell it)! Enjoy the Dean, I hope you found it fun to make, and let’s be honest here... You feel as accomplished as I did when I first made it. You know what that means: TWO IN ONE! Not only have you cooked a bang-up meal, but you’ve also given yourself something that you can’t normally make with blue cheese and a bit of fresh pasta... Self-worth.
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TRAVEL
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricktravel
Three Days In: Porto Tom Belcourt-Weir Naturally, me and my friends' winter blues led to Skyscanner. com. Porto was the first city to
we wasted no time getting stuck in to Porto’s delicacies. Having taken an earlier flight and scouted out the nearest bakery beforehand, my friend greeted me at the hostel with pastéis de nata, Portugal’s iconic puff pastry custard tarts
pique our interest at £40 for a return flight. Living in Birmingham, we had no trouble in seeing the potential of Portugal's second city, learning that Porto is often wrongly overlooked by travellers in favour of the capital, Lisbon. Leaving behind an icy Manchester and arriving in Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport after a quick 2½ hour flight, the main benefit of Porto in February was immediately obvious; sunshine, blue skies and a balmy 19 degrees. While this was slightly above average weather for the month, it’s a reliable choice for a spot of late winter sun for Vitamin-D deprived Brits. Hopping on the Metro, 25 minutes and €2 later I was checking into the hostel. For £12 per night, the Rivoli Cinema Hostel is one of the nicest hostels either of us has stayed in and has an unbeatable location near all the sights. As well as the weather, we all love to travel for the food and
(which any avid British Bake Off fans should be familiar with). After enjoying the pastéis on the hostel’s rooftop terrace, we headed out for some sightseeing. Whether you are religious or not, Porto’s churches (Igrejas) represent an important part of the city’s culture and architecture. First up was Igreja dos Clerigos, with its white-panelled walls and 75 metre high bell tower which soars above the city. There was a very long queue, however, so we visited the Church of Carmelitas and Carmo, two separate churches built directly side by side and separated by a one-metre wide house. Inside they feature ornate gold-gilded wood carvings and outside the Church of Carmo is an amazing example of detailed 18th century Baroque architecture. The great thing about this church is that it offers another of Porto’s famous sights; the blue and white tiled walls known as ‘azujelo’. We continued to wander around the ‘Ribeira’ district,
Travel Writer
which is picture-postcard Porto and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tall pastel-coloured houses, which are the classic vernacular style in Porto, jumble together tightly along medieval cobblestone alleyways, which zig-zag steeply down to the riverside. The best viewpoint was Miradouro da Bataria da Vitoria; a small, nondescript square with a half-wall to sit on facing out over a sea of terracotta roofs. We made our way down along the river promenade, passing tavernas and peeping into a carpenter’s workshop where three elderly men were making wooden boats. At the end of the promenade we arrived under the iconic Ponte de Dom Luís I, the almighty double-deckered bridge spanning the river. Climbing over 200 steps to reach the top deck, we passed through what was a surprisingly run-down area of housing within the Morro de Sé district. While the rustic housing and street art may give off an ‘authentic’ feel for a tourist, it represents the urban decay and degradation which occurred due to poor housing policy during the Salazar dictatorship in the 1970s. The first day was wrapped up with dinner at Arroz de Forno, which serves traditional Porto cuisine such as the Bacalhau cod supper, as well as catering well for vegetarians, all for decent prices. For a cheap dessert on the way back to the hostel, more pastéis de nata were in order. The city lights up spectacularly on both sides of the river at night, which provides a great sight to take in before hitting the hay. The next morning we decided to take a day trip to Foz do Douro - Porto’s nearest beach town just 20 minutes downstream from the city centre. You can take the airconditioned 500 bus, but we opted for the old and rickety charm of tram one, which trundled along the riverside. After hopping off, we made our way through some lush botanical gardens before getting to the palm tree-lined beach front. Despite the warm weather the Atlantic waters were still bitterly cold, but not too cold for a
quick paddle. A classic red and white lighthouse sits on the end of a long pier and makes for a great spot to watch huge waves crash up against its walls. A supermarket lunch was followed by coffee on the seafront (plain espresso, as is traditional in Porto, a city which increasingly came across as refreshingly unfussy and unpretentious). That evening we decided to cook at the hostel; the resulting search for an open supermarket on a Sunday night was good fun. Next it was out to the bars and we found a great place called Bonaparte Baixa. It was a cosy but lively bar with a relaxed vibe and quirky interior; a random selection of props lined the walls and lamps made from bottles dimly lit each table. After sampling their selection of port, we unsuccessfully tried to find another open bar nearby (Sundays) and ended up back at Bonaparte to wind up day two. The final morning we walked North to the more residential Cedofeita district, passing quaint little book stores and visiting the most beautiful church of the trip; Igreja da Lapa, which isn’t often mentioned in tour guides and is well worth the
walk outside of the main city. We made our way towards the Bolhão Market, stopping off at the Confeitaria do Bolhão directly opposite; built in 1892, it’s worth a visit for its green tiles and wallto-wall mirrors. The market itself was brilliant to walk around. The fruit, veg meat and cheeses are from local farmers, and you’ll also find arts, crafts, fabrics and woodwork too. Despite the inevitable souvenir stands, you still feel like you're immersed in the ‘real’ Porto. A final stroll on the Dom Luis bridge is a nice chance to take in the views one final time and visually connect the dots between all of the places you’ve been. With just enough time for one more pastéis de nata, we collected our bags and caught the 4pm flight home. Without having known much about Porto, the overriding sense from the trip was an old city of history, rustic charm and cracking views, with all you would expect in a modernised country like Portugal. The size meant that it had more than enough to see but was very walkable, which is ideal for a long weekend - especially in the low season when there are fewer tourists. Obrigado Porto!
Best of Britain: St Ives Grace Duncan News Editor
After a long weekend in the small coastal town of St Ives, I was fully converted into thinking that it's the perfect place for a quiet UK break. To get there, you can take a normal train which takes about five hours from London or, if you're feeling fancy as my mum and I were, you can take the sleeper train from London Paddington which I loved, having never been on a sleeper train before. On a student budget this probably wouldn’t have been possible, but with a parent/proper adult paying you’d be a fool to say no. The galleries in St Ives are often its biggest attraction. If you're interested in art then St
Ives is the perfect place for you, with everything from the Tate to the Barbara Hepworth to independent gallery owners in the back lanes. My personal favourite was the Barbara Hepworth Museum, which is located in Hepworth’s St Ives home and studio where she spent much of her life and created many of her works. The gallery starts as an informative museum and then takes you into her studio and then into the garden, which is the real highlight. From the garden, you can see the coast and how the sculptures that Hepworth created fit perfectly into the landscape. Other than Jack Wills and Joules, which are apparently obligatory in British coastal towns, St Ives boasts a selection of small shops including an excellent liquor store, a handful of
book shops and more fudge shops than you know what to do with. And also, bizarrely, a knock-off Build-A-Bear Workshop. While you might not go to St Ives for the shops, the art and jewellery made by independent artists are items that you can't find anywhere else. Although I am a London girl, and I could never live outside a city, there is something about a walk along the coast that is therapeutic - everything a walk along Oxford Street is not. The paths go for miles and the views are lovely. Dotted along the coastline are small and secluded beaches, which make for a welcome alternative to the larger beaches in Cornwal, which are mobbed in the height of summer. On the coast, obviously, the seafood is the real winner in terms of food, with the crab sandwiches
being highly recommended. There are also lovely bars along the marina to have a cocktail and watch the sunset.
If you're looking for a relaxed and calming weekend in the UK this Summer, St Ives is a great place to check out.
TRAVEL
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricktravel
31
How To: Travel Europe by Plane Laura Botia Travel Writer
For most people, interrailing is the best option for cheap travel around Europe, as it offers discounted ticket prices for numerous trains. But for those of us who do not have a month to spare or would rather spend longer in a few different countries, travelling by plane can actually be vastly cheaper. I was able to travel to Amsterdam, Venice and Malaga at the start of June, all for just
£170! In comparison, the cheapest interrail global pass (allowing travel to multiple destinations in Europe) costs £190 for discounted travel on five days within a period of fifteen. Comparison sites such as Skyscanner, Kayak, or Momondo show flights from all airlines on the same day going to the same destination. This allows you to judge the flight prices against one another, so you can find the cheapest flight on the best day. In my experience, an effective way to travel (providing you have no current plans of what countries
to visit) is to begin in those nearest the UK – such as France or Amsterdam – and continue on from there. Having a methodical plan of the order of countries visited means the overall cost of all travel will be abundantly cheaper. This is because usually the shorter the flight time, the cheaper the flight is. Another top tip is to avoid travelling on popular days and at busy times. For example, if you can travel outside of school holidays then this would be extremely valuable in saving money, as flight prices tend to
double during the Summer months. A d d i t i o n a l l y, travelling on weekdays is cheaper than travelling at the weekend, with Tuesday being the cheapest day to fly. If you can, try to pick this as your flight day and leave the others for exploring the city and taking in the sights.
There is nothing quite like booking a holiday and having something to look forward to, so try to keep the process of planning as stress-free as possible. Occasionally, you may choose a flight that is £4 more expensive but at a suitable time, or from a closer airport – this will help massively when it comes to the actual journey!
Insight Into: Studying in the UK Madeline McInnis TV Editor
Coming to the University of Birmingham was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made. Within a day of my acceptance to the year-abroad program, I was offered the part-time job of a lifetime. Since I’m writing this article, I’m sure you know what I chose. At Birmingham, it is so different to what I have at home. Here, I have four modules which are fully assessed at the very end of the academic year. At home, I take five courses per semester that are usually assessed over three main assignments and participation. I’ve heard from all of my friends studying in Canada from the United Kingdom that
there is so much more work at my home university - and now I can see why. I am certainly not complaining about all the free time, though. Since coming here, I’ve taken on so many amazing opportunities. I’ve been to more museums than I have classrooms, and I actually have the time to go to the cinema, something I never have time to do at home - even as a film major! The very fact
that national museums here in Britain are free is so surprising to me. At home, I can’t even get into a museum gift shop without getting charged a head-fee, but we have a Botticelli right here on the university campus that anyone is free to see. That’s my biggest impression of the United Kingdom so far - there is a huge emphasis on history and culture. As much as maths and engineering degrees are encouraged, it’s not as stressed as it is at home. I can’t remember reading a single Canadian book or seeing a Canadian artist while I was in high school, but here they are celebrated as a huge part of society. It’s very comforting to know that the arts - and the people who produce and engage with them - are truly appreciated. Canasian artists only seem to be in
Hollywood films and are always mistaken for Americans. That’s fair - I’ve been mistaken for an American more times than I can count. It’s not as bad as people make it out to be, as long as you don’t think I voted for Trump. I think it also comes down to the fact that Canadians aren’t as nationalistic as Americans or Brits are. As a collective group, we understand that our country has been quite awful at times.
Colonialism is talked about in virtually every class from grade nine onwards, which is very diffeent to the UK. None of us go around chanting that Canada is the best, unless ice hockey happens to be involved. It’s rare to find a Canadian flag anywhere in the city that isn’t attached to an official building. In America, you’ll find them everywhere you go. Here, it’s not as obvious, but it’s still there. One of my friends here will only watch and write on British films to avoid the Hollywood influence, for example. That’s perfectly understandable, but why only British, then? Why not Korean, Russian, Nigerian, Australian, Brazilian? There’s certainly an air of British nationalism that Canadians don’t seem to have, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Nothing is ever really good or bad about comparing cultures — it’s just different. No one ever warns you that it’s the little things that will be the biggest burdens about going on exchange. They warn you about cultural differences, language barriers, academic expectations, and flight delays. They don’t warn you that roundabouts are absolutely deadly and you won't figure out how they work even months into your stay. It’s the little things, the subconscious things, that are by far the most difficult to deal with. I still look the wrong way while I’m crossing the street. I still don’t know what to call the loo - is it the bathroom or the washroom? When I’m flipping through my coins at the grocery store, I’m so used to the sizes of coins determining their value like it is at home, so I’ll consistently pull out 50p coins instead of the two pound ones. Speaking of money, the currency is still a major struggle for me. The pound is nearly double the Canadian dollar when you factor in all of the transfer fees and everything. In the beginning, I found myself just doubling the cost of every price tag when I went out, but I’ve had to stop doing that now, especially for food. It took me a while to accept that prices here would be higher, and that’s what I had to deal with. Rather than comparing it to my home currency, I started looking at what’s a good deal here from place to place. Some of the best deals I’ve found here are when I've been
travelling around Birmingham. I don’t understand what everyone is complaining about with public transport. It is cheap, it is fast, it is convenient, and it is effective. For the cost of one roundtrip train ticket to the city centre, I could only buy one bus ticket at home. What I’ll miss most about the United Kingdom will definitely be the trains. If you’ve ever tried to travel by train in North America, you’ll know what I mean. Here, you can get anywhere and you can get there fairly quickly. And the Tube? Toronto, Canada’s largest city, has a whole three subway lines. Imagine if the Tube
only connected Charing Cross to Baker Street. Yeah, it gets pretty annoying. Coming to Birmingham was an absolute whirlwind — my acceptance never came and I had to search it out myself. Due to hiccups in the system, I had been overlooked and I never would have been here if I hadn’t taken matters into my own hands. I think, overall, that’s kind of the main lesson from a year abroad: things will get hectic. Sometimes, you will be in over your head, you will be stressed and you will be scared. But if you really want this experience, you’ll make it work.
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LIFE&STYLE
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricklife
There's Nothing Selfish About Self Care Lydia Waller emphasises the importance of recuperating in spite of social expectation Lydia Waller Life&Style Writer
We have now made a dent in the new year, work is in full swing, it’s still bloody freezing, life is busy and the prospect of exams are looming. But there are a few handles we can take on these inevitable anxieties. Self-care can be viewed as unnecessary and privileged ‘me time,’ which others who have ‘real worries’ can’t afford to have. Well oddly enough, we all have our issues and stresses to deal with. Whether they be more stressful or trivial than others, it is the epitome of human nature to need to be alone and recuperate. Self-care is obviously critical for mental-health, but even for the more daily and common pressures of university life, a healthy routine and also, unhealthy slumps in the weekly regime is important to reminding yourself that you are only human. At university there are social, financial and academic pressures that we seem to think define a ‘successful’ university experience, but we must be reminded that there is no such thing. Without just stating the blatantly obvious, none of our experiences and circumstances are going to be the same. Just because you didn’t manage to find your soul-mates in halls doesn’t mean you aren’t going to find best friends later in your first term. Just because you don’t feel like going out every night, doesn’t mean your idea of staying in with
a bottle and Monopoly isn’t going to be just as fun. We need to stop letting stereotypes define what’s a good time for us and feel apologetic when we don’t feel up to going out. Sometimes we need to just say and be ‘selfish’ to have that time that’s going to make your week easier.
“Routine turns the cogs of the day and disconnection oils them back up” In terms of the more mundane stuff that we can prioritise to care for ourselves, we need to consider sleep, technology detox, regular meals, water, genuine conversation, going home, going outside, meditation and sometimes just sitting and thinking and doing absolutely nothing. University life is tailored so you always have something to think about; when to go to Aldi, whether you have enough money to get a Mother’s Day present, deeper and more emotional things and whether you’re going to pass this module. Which you will. So, sometimes deleting all these concerns from your mind, by just sitting on your bed, phone off, and thinking of nothing, is the peace we need. Then we can get into perspective what needs prioritising, that the stillness of these
moments and all the things that continue to exist even when we are passive, will still be there and the world will keep spinning. It is also more than okay to have a vile day, where you eat four times the amount you should, do none of your work, and totally slump and disconnect from all your responsibilities. It’s exhausting being put together all the time, no one can do it. But it’s also important to use these moments of disconnection to revitalise, to come out the next day feeling recharged. Go back to regimented meals, make plans for you work, make sure you get time in with friends to enjoy Uni as well. Routine turns the cogs of the day and disconnection oils them back up. We need the balance of healthy methodical regime but also the elevation from the pressures to be functioning. It’s difficult, but by cutting off, we can get a perspective on what’s worth worrying about. And you’ll find not a lot of it is. Everyone has to be the fun-sponge once in a while and say no to plans, there’s no reason to feel apologetic because we all have to take a day-off. It’s an unsigned mutual agreement. So, don’t take offence from those need space and don’t want to see you today. But also don’t feel guilty in yourself if you want to be that person. Self-care never needs to be justified. Share your opinions on self care with us via Twitter: @redbrickpaper
The Top Trends for Autumn/Winter 2018
After the buzz of fashion month, Life&Style Editor Tara Kergon runs down next season's must-haves Tara Kergon Life&Style Editor
After a few days to digest the delicious collections on offer across the four cities of style, certain trends can be seen emerging. Across the board there was a sense of fashion as bridging fantasy and reality: we can escape into sheer fabrics and heady embellishment for evening, but it’s also time to update your daywear with leggings, checks and granddad knits - then mix the two together for an effortlessly puttogether look. So if you want to be ahead of the trend for AW18, here’s what needs to be on your wish-list and in your wardrobe.
Luxe Leggings
After the horror of the 00s leggings-so-thin-they’re-tights worn in place of trousers entirely unironically, there’s a deep aversion to leggings-as-pants within me. But AW18 has given me pause for second thought – as long as they’re luxe, structured as opposed to poured-on, and sturdy enough to leave perhaps a little something to the imagination, then perhaps they’re in for a renaissance. Pair a structured peplum top with a high-shine pastel pair a la Mary Katrantzou, or soak up the 1980s vibes of Tom
Ford and either pick a zebra print, or play it cool with high-shine vinyl incarnations.
Checkin' It Out
Following the now-omnipresent Prince of Wales check which stormed the catwalks last season, it seems tartan (and houndstooth, and anything check-related) is here to stay. From the continuation of the neat, heritage checks in classic grey (as in Versace’s homage to Westwood), to the oversized tartan check, to Burberry’s rainbow reinvention, the easiest way to look on trend is to deck yourself in checks. Overcoats featured heavily at Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs, but don’t stop at just one piece – take inspiration from Gabriela Hurst and The Row and opt for a tailored two-or-three-piece suit.
High Shine
Whether it’s a classic metallic, some holographic iridescence, or reflective vinyls, we’re shining on into AW18. The new musthave texture is patent: Tom Ford’s vinyls have me doubting my hard-and-fast ruling on leggingsas-pants, especially in classic black or burgundy, and that same glossy finish appeared on darkhued trench coats at Fendi, Versace, Victoria Beckham (and more), while Mary Katrantzou
showed patent pastels. But the easiest way into the trend are the metallics: think Jeremy Scott’s gold jeans for a quick denim update, Alexander Wang’s spaceage silver accessories, or the array of rhinestones, sequins and embellishment on display throughout fashion month.
Knitwear
Knitwear for autumn/winter seems as groundbreaking as florals for spring (to paraphrase the iconic Miranda Priestly), but this perennial favourite is back and it’s not just about the piece – it’s also about what you pair it with. While blanket-style cover-ups were the name of the game at Roksanda, Erdem updated granddad knits for cocktail hour: flapper-esque sequins, rhinestones and brocade texturally clashed with cable knits or Fair Isle for a refreshing, cosy chic that’s perfect for fending off the chill. And at Calvin Klein, oversized jumpers came matched with balaclavas (which frankly I could have used during the recent snowstorms), but elevated with loose, light maxi skirts.
Millennial Pink
Two years after its emergence as Pantone's colour of the year, millennial pink is decidedly not dead. In fact, it walked the cat-
walks in a variety of incarnations. From Jeremy Scott’s Jackie O-style suiting to Alexander Wang’s bouclé , pink is the shade to be seen in, and it’s not just the staple of the feminine anymore. Extra points if you’re willing to take a sartorial risk and pair it with red – just get your hues complementary rather than uberclashing. Think Prabal Gurung’s reclamation of the shade and you’ve nailed it. Images: vogue.co.uk/gallery/autumn-winter-2018-tweed-trend (far left); http:// www.vogue.co.uk/shows/autumn-winter2018-ready-to-wear/prabal-gurung/collection (below)
LIFE&STYLE
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricklife
Male Makeup: Revolutionary? Life&Style Writer Lydia Waller discusses the rise in beauty trends amongst men Lydia Waller Life&Style Writer
There is a gradual emergence of male beauty bloggers and makeup artistry, popping up in the corners of YouTube, minimally advertised brand ranges and uncovered media of beauty pageant take-overs by the male makeup user. What questions arise from breaking the mould of typically female makeup: is this revolutionary? What does it mean for the male makeup users in terms of identity? What does it mean for women? And a poignant question for ourselves: should we celebrate this? In recent years YouTube beauty blogging, stemming from the millionaire success of bloggers such as Zoella, has formed itself as a new competitive industry. Being predominantly female in accordance with historical association of makeup with women, the fresh male faces on the scene have caused a little bit of a brush-up. Bloggers as young as Jake Warden, starting blogging from the age of 11, are redefining the motives and meaning of what it means to wear makeup. Warden has become an emblem of an agenda of male beauty, the celebration of identity and the significance of gender identity from such a youthful perspective. Although this may seem ‘radical’ to a typically Western perspective, Korean male beauty and makeup is highly popular particularly in the
southern society. The appeal to participate of male makeup stems from the rise of iconic K-Pop performers and their performative use of makeup. The inspiration to model our appearances on famous androgynous and genderfluid figures is not revolutionary to our society; the likes of David Bowie and Boy George have been key to our understandings of fashion and self-expression. What is most challenging about the emergence of male makeup use is the redefinition of why people wear makeup, yet oddly enough it’s not interwoven with gender. Although makeup is historically bound to femininity, due to the pressures to cater to societal images of beauty, today we see both men and women feeling insecure about signs of fatigue and blemishes. These sorts of insecurities are neutral and natural - wearing makeup to make yourself feel comfortable isn’t radical at all. Essentially, the fact that L’Oreal have featured a male blogger on their adverts and that ASOS have started stocking male targeted makeup ranges (MMUK), expanding their markets from £42,000 in 2012 to £79,000 in 2015, isn’t a radical shift in advertisement. It’s just a wakeup call to society that it is not only women who are insecure about appearance. Despite there being a small niche in the makeup industry for male products, it still is really a ‘small’ dent. According to research firm Mintel, male
makeup accounts for 1% of the makeup market globally. Makeup is still associated as a female medium and concern, people will remain sceptical about its appeal to men, due to its relation to femininity and links to ‘vulnerability.’ It’s a long road to wholly celebrated use of makeup across all sexes and identities. Yet it is good to see a shakeup in make up’s commercial image. Many male youtubers and beauty bloggers have been demonstrating to society the non-gender specific nature of glamour and confidence, such as James Charles and Patrick Starr; alongside pageant queens challenging the relevance of gender in beauty standards. In recent weeks Ilay Pyagicev got to the finals of beauty contest Miss Virtual Kazakhstan, until he revealed his identity as a man and was then disqualified. His intentions were to promote a more neutral image of beauty and highlight the extent to which women feel they must perform in their beauty; a very powerful image of a man beating
Your Type On Paper?
4,000 women in a beauty contest to then be denied a celebration of his beauty due to his gender. This sort of activism in the makeup and beauty industry is provokes cultural understandings of beauty and its relevance to gender and sexuality. Does it actually matter to young boys’ sexuality and gender identity if they do start a beauty blog in their teenage years? Or is it society’s understanding of makeup and beauty care as ‘feminine’ that makes it and challenging to their identity? It is a very human and natural concern to be insecure of our appearances, it is even tied to our capitalist concerns of employability and keeping a youthful look for the job. Therefore, male makeup use should not be sensationalised as its motives come from the same place as female use, which hasn’t been challenged for years. Societal pressures and beauty standards are nonbinary, so the ‘revelation’ of men wanting to feel more confident should not be challenged.
Imogen Lancaster explores the choosy attitude we are all guilty of when it comes to dating Imogen Lancaster Life&Style Editor
Almost everyone will claim to have a romantic ‘type’: in other words what an individual considers to be ideal characteristics in a match. Inherently we seem to have biological preferences that we are naturally attracted to, whether it be particular ethnicities, height, hair colour or body types...the list goes on! And whilst there are immediate turn-ons, almost everyone has turn-offs which are deal breakers when it comes to one’s appearance. More often than not, we make our romantic endeavours and choose our partners based on this. Of course this goes without saying: attraction is a key and necessary component of a romantic relationship. But with the prospect of an all time high in singles, I must pose the question: are we being too picky? I too am victim of this fussy and choosy culture. It is instilled into us that we
shouldn’t settle for second best and should wait for the perfect partner who ticks all the boxes. And who can blame us? We have watched endless rom coms and Disney fairy tales that feature only the most attractive stars and characters. These stories are painted as both aspirational and attainable and we convince ourselves that Mr or Mrs. Right is within reach. At the end of the day, we are all aware that nobody is perfect. Many will claim their significant other or celebrity crush to be so, but humans are not without their flaws. We have to compromise when settling for our significant other. Compromise is undeniably a part of life, and relationships. So perhaps we are being too closed-minded and not giving someone the benefit of the doubt. Maybe we’ve disregarded and friend-zoned potential interests before we get to give them a chance. Maybe he or she isn’t tall enough or doesn’t have your preferred hair colour or is car-
rying a few extra pounds. In reality, overlooking someone for such superficial characteristics or ‘fatal flaws’ may be a wasted opportunity and a shallow judgement to make. As cliché as it may be, one’s personality, similarities and values are arguably the most important considerations in finding a significant other. We live in a society preoccupied by looks. Take Tinder for example, a dating app revolving around one’s appearance whilst one’s personal biography comes secondary. But maybe we have our priorities all wrong. Whilst there are undeniably non-negotiable turn-ons and turn-offs, perhaps we should be more open minded in looking beyond our ‘type’. Having a ‘type’ in the first place is a restrictive mind-set. Of course it’s not about forcing something that isn’t there, but widening our horizon and at least considering other options may be the best thing you’ve ever done.
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Manthropology By Yatin Arora
Happy International Women’s Day! Given that the whole world is celebrating the movement for women’s rights, what could be a better occasion to find out what Birmingham’s boys have to say on the matter. So, in this week’s Manthropology, I asked our participants what they think of female empowerment and whether they believe a boy can ever consider himself to a feminist.
Name: Mohammed Umar Abid Course: Law (second year) “Every decent boy should support equal rights and want equality for all genders. At the same time, many guys still want to be gentlemen. They like to hold the door open for women, for example, which some may not like. I personally would say I am a feminist, but not every guy would consider himself a feminist”.
Name: Suraj Hallan Course: Law (second year) “Hell to the yeah! Is that even a question? Of course I am a feminist! Just because I am not female doesn’t mean I shouldn’t take an interest or not care about advocating for the rights of others. I care about issues humans face whether female, male or non-binary and I believe everyone else should to. Sexism is a thing that has confused me a lot in my life, I have never understood why people have been judged based on their gender. Instead, we should base our judgements on the content of people’s character and independent merits. Believe it or not, Mr Harry Gordon Selfridge, founder of world-famous department store Selfridges, supported the women’s suffrage in the early 20th century. If a man of the 20th century supported such a cause, then so can men of the 21st century. After all, women are the reason we exist, ‘and everybody knows that it’s a fact kiss, kiss’”. The word is out! The boys of Birmingham’s boys are not only intelligent and ambitious, but when it comes to equality they hold progressive and admirable views of which we should all be proud. As for me, I am a proud feminist...and before you ask, no, feminism is not about femininity; it is about equality. Contrary to popular belief, gender equality is not only an issue for women; we all gain from women having the same opportunities as us. Although such a world doesn’t yet exist, having open-minded young men like those at Birmingham means that we can take a step in the right direction.
We’d love to hear your views on the matter: are you a feminist? Let us know by tweeting us: @RedbrickLife @redbrickpaper
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SCI&TECH
Friday 16th March 2017
@redbricktech
A Healthy Glow
Creature Feature A new glowing cell technique allows the observation of cells from outside Geckos of the body
Ellen Heimpel Will Nunn Sci&Tech Writer
The chemical reaction behind the bioluminescent glow of fireflies has inspired a novel technique for observing cells from outside of
the body. Using mice and marmoset monkeys, a team of Japanese scientists has adapted the mechanism of the luciferase enzyme to cause an infra-red glow strong enough to all individual cells to be detected by specialised cameras in real time from outside the body. In fireflies, the action of luciferase on a compound called luciferin releases their trademark glow. Some describe the new technique as shining a thousand times brighter. In previous experiments, luciferin had been modified to release enough energy to be detectable from the outside of animal bodies, but the natural firefly enzymes were not optimally compatible. The challenge was therefore to improve the natural enzyme so it was better suited to the synthetic compound, allowing the release of more energy.
The team essentially evolved their way to the result by selecting cells. They inserted the gene for the enzyme into bacteria and triggered random mutations so that brand new forms of luciferase developed. The synthetic luciferin was then sprayed on the cells and the process was repeated with the cells that glowed brightest. After twenty-one generations, an optimised form was reached. Once the new luciferases have been inserted into the target cells, be that by genetic modification of the host or by injection, the synthetic substrate can be introduced to the body. The reaction will then cause an infra-red glow which can be clearly detected and can last for over a year. The potential applications of real-time bio-imaging in both medicine and research are broad. Many have pointed to the poten-
tial for cancer treatment. It could be possible to watch the growth of tumours or to follow the spread of metastatic cancers around the body without the need for any invasive surgery. Alternatively, the luciferase genes could be used alongside gene therapies to directly measure the success of treatment. The RIKEN Institute team tagged the hippocampus tissue in the brains of mice and observed how they reacted to new conditions in their cages. Senior team leader, Atushi Miyawaki, noted that this was the first time neurons associated with deep learning had been visualised outside the animal, demonstrating the new ground this technology is already breaking. Perhaps in the future, this technique could help to clarify the inner workings of the brain.
Is Sleep the Key to Improved Memory?
An overview of an exciting new discovery made by researchers at UoB Emilia Rose Sci&Tech Editor
In a study conducted by the Universities of Birmingham and York, researchers have made an exciting new discovery about the way in which memory is consolidated during sleep: oscillatory bursts of brain activity called ‘sleep spindles’ can play a vital role in strengthening new memories after learning. Sleep spindles are half-second to two-second bursts of brain activity which play an integral role in the formation and retention of new memories. Previous studies into sleep spindles have shown that the number of spindles that occur at night could predict memory the next day. However, the
link between sleep spindles and the reactivation of recently acquired memories was not fully elucidated. The researchers at Birmingham and York have now shown that there is a particular pattern of brain activity that supports this reactivation process and that the content of reactivated memories can be decoded by brain activation patterns at time the spindles occur. They devised an experiment in which people learned to associate particular words with particular objects and scenes. Some study participants then took a 90-minute nap after their study session, whereas others stayed awake. While people napped, the researchers cued those associative memories and unfamiliar words. The team monitored the participants’ brain activity during sleep
using an EEG (electroencephalogram) machine. The results showed that sleep spindles occurred when the words were presented to the participants, reactivating the memories associated with them. Importantly, the researchers were able to differentiate the brain signals associated with reactivated objects and with scenes. Dr Bernhard Staresina, of the University of Birmingham’s School of Psychology, said: “Our data suggest that spindles facilitate processing of relevant memory features during sleep and that this process boosts memory consolidation.” Dr Scott Cairney, from the University of York’s Department of Psychology commented: “When you are awake you learn new things, but when you are asleep you refine them, making it easier to retrieve them and apply
them correctly when you need them the most. This is important for how we learn but also for how we might help retain healthy brain functions.” This new understanding of the way the brain normally processes and strengthens memories during sleep may help to explain how that process may go wrong in people with learning difficulties, according to the researchers. It might also lead to the development of effective interventions designed to boost memory for important information. These findings are also particularly relevant to students, as they demonstrate that taking a short nap during revision may actually help with storing information in the brain as a memory and retrieving it in future.
Antibiotic Resistance: A Gripping Solution Francesca Benson Sci&Tech Writer
For most of human history, methods to avoid infections have been determined via guesswork and anecdotal evidence. Discoveries of antibiotic drugs – one notable example being that of penicillin in 1928 by Alexander Fleming have revolutionised modern medicine. Bacterial infections that would otherwise have severely damaged, incapacitated, or in some cases even killed a person can now be effectively dealt with via a prescribed treatment regime. Antibiotics even enable important surgeries with a high risk of infection to take place, as they can be used to prevent surgery wound infections in a process known as antibiotic prophylaxis.
Unfortunately, overzealous and improper use of antibiotics has led to the rise of antibioticresistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA. Strains, such as this, develop when an antibiotic is used enough to kill all susceptible bacteria, but allows some to survive. These resistant bacteria then go on to multiply, forming a colony that is entirely resistant. This has horrific implications due to the live-saving nature of antibiotics. However, not all hope is lost, as a new method of removing bacteria from the bloodstream may be on the horizon. A group at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a method of doing so which is inspired by the natural feeding habits of the Venus flytrap. In this method, the blood of an infected individual is passed through a device which is filled with tiny claw-like structures.
These are made from carbon foam with flexible nanowires grafted onto the surface, the nanowires coated with a protein called lectin that binds to carbohydrates on cell surfaces. When a bacterial cell comes into contact with the nanowires, they are triggered. This causes the claw to close, trapping the bacteria. This method is very effective, with the experimental data showing a capture rate of 97% compared to 10% and 40% using other similar methods of blood filtration. This is partly due to the structure of the claws not being deformed by the fast velocities of blood flow. The research on this method of removing bacteria from the bloodstream looks very promising, with high effectiveness rates and minimal interaction with other materials present in blood. It is even hypothesised that this could
be effective on other dangers which can circulate in the blood, such as viruses and cancer cells. Soon, this method of bacterial removal and others like it may be the new frontier of treatment in the face of widespread antibiotic resistance.
Sci&Tech Editor
Lots of creatures have a superpower; however, geckos have been blessed with not one, but three of them. It is therefore no suprise that their fossil record stretches back more than 100 million years, given the evolutionary advantages they have. One extraordinary ability geckos have is that of distinguishing between colours at night by the light of the moon, a trick that evades humans. We have rod cells which can see at low light intensity, but not distinguish colour. As ghekos evolved to be nocturnal, however, their colour-sensitive cone cells became larger and more sensitive to light, growing to be more rod-like whilst still being able to distinguish colour. Nocturnal geckos can also dilate their pupils to become up to 300 times larger than normal, letting in far more light that humans, who can only dilate their pupils to 14 times their original size. Geckos also have multifocal lenses to prevent the images they see from becoming blurry. These lenses have different zones that bend light to a slightly different degree to bring into focus the colours to which geckos are sensitive. These multifocal lenses have been studied in the development of human multifocal contact lenses. Geckos' second superpower is their ability to defy gravity and walk up walls and along ceilings, despite weighing as much as a small rodent. This is possible because of their fat, sticky toe pads which hold their weight as they climb up walls. These can also lift off easily, enabling geckos to move at gravity-defying angles. Studying these toe pads has led to the development of powerful adhesives, with many geckoinspired sticky tapes now on the market. Their third superpower is their ability to instantly shed their tail and grow a new one. When attacked by a predator, geckos will detach their tail, which wriggles about to distract predator while they escape. Geckos have a pre-formed cellular score line, where tissue is weaker, allowing the tail to be detached. It is still unknown for sure how they regrow them, but genes have been found for wound healing, cell growth and tissue regeneration in high concentrations in the tail stump. We have learned so much from geckos, and who knows how much more they, and other animals, can teach us. The possibilities are endless!
SCI&TECH
Friday 16th March 2017
@redbricktech
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Sand is a Finite Resource Katie Jones Sci&Tech Editor
When we think of finite resources, sand is probably not one which comes to mind. Fossil fuels, such as crude oil and coal are much more in the public consciousness. In the past, sand has often been known for being ubiquitous, as it covers a lot of the Earth’s surface and is found in abundance in many areas. Because of this, we have developed a dependency on it for its uses in our infrastructure; a dependency which is bad news. The majority of sand’s uses are in the formation of concrete, an industry which used around eleven billion tonnes of sand worldwide in 2010 (New Scientist). Concrete
This Week in is an essential component in creat3. Tsunamis will now be more or bacteria to fill in the holes, as Sci&Tech... ing buildings and infrastructure, dangerous in the future, due to the they can produce calcium carbonbut the sand needed to make it unfortunately cannot be collected from deserts, as these grains are too fine. It must instead be mined at beaches and river banks, or under the sea. The mining of this sand has created enormous upset in the ecosystems of these areas, with some disasterous consequences. To list a few: 1. 24 islands have now disappeared from Indonesia. 2. Coral reefs and associated plants have been negatively affected due to the blanket of sand that descends on them when the substance is collected, stopping the plants from photosynthesising and the coral from feeding.
lack of sand dunes which protect the coast lines. 4. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes have been found in pools made by sand mining in Iran, potentially furthering the spread of this disease. These are only some of the consequences which the endangered wildlife that rely on these areas as habitats now face. It is clear this problem needs to be addressed quickly. Luckily, many people are already working to lower our sand consumption. Concrete is now being recycled as more companies become aware of the situation. Rather than rebuild old structures, like cracked bridges and other infrastructure, scientists are also trying to use either fungi
ate fillers. Other ways in which people are trying to cut down is through the use of 3D printers, which, for future buildings, can work out exactly the amount of sand needed to make a building safe. This can be done through experimenting with different 3D structures to before building them to scale for efficient concrete usage. It might seem a little paranoid to think that something so seemingly infinite as sand might not be as bountiful as first believed. However, this is a real problem and with an increased knowledge of our situation and careful laws to make sure that we do not surpass our limits, our sand timer might not run out.
Donald Trump is holding a games violence conference with top gaming companies following the school shooting in Florida. The gaming industry claim that there is no link between video game and real life violence. A London-based company, Always Efficient LLP, has been linked to the money laundering of £4.5 billion in Bitcoin. The money was taken by hackers from the Tokyo exchange Mt Gox.
Becoming Intolerant to Alcohol Ellen Heimpel Sci&Tech Editor
According to new research, humans could be evolving a gene which causes adverse physical responses to consuming alcohol. Sufferers break down alcohol less effectively and feel unusually sick after drinking even a small amount. This response can last for days. The result of this gene means that people with it are unlikely to drink at all. This ‘alcohol intolerance’ gene
was discovered at the University of Pennsylvania. They filtered the findings of the 1000 Genomes Project, a seven-year study to catalogue human variation, analysing 2500 people over 20 populations. This gene was observed in five populations across the globe. It affects a group of enzymes called alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) which normally help break down alcohol in the body. In people with alcohol intolerance, these ADHs have seen variation which increases enzyme activity and leads to strong physical reactions. There is a theory that this gene
is under positive selection and over time will become more common in the human population, eventually stopping our species from drinking at all. This is because of the various, sometimes extreme, negative effects of alcohol. It can cause many life-threatening diseases, such as liver diseases, and can also encourage people to put themselves in dangerous situations, for example fights. In 2015, there were 8,758 alcoholrelated deaths in the UK, with people with drinking disorders three times more likely to develop the majority of diseases (Office
App Review: Monzo Will Nunn Sci&Tech Writer
Aiming to become the Google or Facebook of banking, the innovative app “Monzo” provides a current account specially built to suit modern smartphone users. Once registered, the user receives a striking coral-coloured debit card and is immediately ready to go. Everything is controlled on your phone. The broad range of intuitive features Monzo provides is immediately obvious. The most useful function is its clear and informative spending tracker. Each time you pay for something using your card, you receive an immediate notification. The app keeps you posted on how much you spend, where, the names of the businesses you spend
at, and the types of products you buy. Helpful graphics and monthly summaries make budgeting effortless. The current account update supports a 'pots' function to segment savings into separate groups, which makes it even easier to control how you spend. The service would also be ideal for travelling, since Monzo does not charge fees for payments made abroad. There is also a convenient feature for transferring money between friends who also use the app. The company makes their intent to put users first very clear. The team emphasises interaction with their customers. On their forums, they post ideas for new features for their customers to discuss and give feedback on before they are implemented. This is reflected in the user experience. The entire app works seamlessly
and is completely intuitive, cutting down on financial jargon and providing a clean user interface. Drawbacks are few. For many, the current lack of an interest rate prevents it from competing with mainstream banks. Perhaps future updates will overcome this. To register, photographic proof of ID is required. This has led to a waiting list for registration, but this can be skipped by using a “golden ticket” from another user. Monzo would be a useful tool for anyone looking for an efficient, modern way to spend and track their money. For students in particular, the budgeting tools would be a great way to keep their finances in order and make those student loan instalments last.
««««
for National Statistics). Therefore, according to the laws of natural selection, people with this alcohol intolerance gene may be more likely to survive and reproduce, passing this gene onto their children. The likelihood that this will have a large enough effect to become common throughout the world remains to be seen, but it shows potential for a future with no alcohol. So next time, think twice before making fun of your lightweight friends or those that do not drink - they may be more evolved than you!
A member of the weasel family, the pine marten, might be helping red squirrel numbers by preying on grey squirrels. They would normally be predators to red squirrels but due to the high numbers of greys, reds are thought to have the selective advantage. The five most prolific emergency service callers have together made 8303 calls to 999 over past year, and have been admitted to hospital 169 times (BBC News). People are being urged to only use the number in emergencies. The smallest bird fossil has been discovered, weighing just ten grams. The chick lived 127 million years ago.
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SPORT
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricksport
What is Wrong at West Ham? Sport Editor Alex Alton analyses the East London club's recent fall from grace, culminating in last weekend's 3-0 home defeat to Burnley Alex Alton Sport Editor
A 3-0 loss at home to Burnley. Multiple pitch invasions. Players scuffling with fans. Kids forced to sit on the bench to avoid fighting. Owners told to leave for their own safety. It would be fair to suggest that Saturday 10th March was a reasonably important day for the fans of West Ham United. 2 years on from the move to the Olympic Stadium, some would scarcely believe the current plight of the Hammers. In their last season at Upton Park, West Ham were brilliant. A side which had everything a team would need to break into the upper reaches of the Premier League hierarchy: a strong defence, committed midfielders, combative wingers, and their star man, Dimitri Payet. Slaven Bilic’s side managed to finish 7th in the league, breaking their own points and goals record in the process. The final game at their stadium Upton Park was a very emotional one, involving a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester United, perhaps displaying how far the club had come during just one season. The sad goodbye to Upton Park felt somewhat momentous for many fans who had seen generations of their families go through the turnstiles. Yet it was all to be ripped up on the basis of one promise. The board, with their plan to move to the Olympic Stadium, promised fans that an increase in gate receipts would mean better players at the club, which would result in the team finishing higher up the league, cementing West Ham’s place as a de facto force in the top flight. However, it is fair to say that everything has not gone quite to plan at the club; the microcosm of this idea was portrayed on Saturday in East London.
There have been a number of problems with West Ham’s business strategy since moving to the Olympic Stadium, one being the stadium move which gambled an immense amount of history and threatened the fans' dream of success.
"Some would scarcely believe the current plight of the Hammers" By relocating 2.8 miles away to the Stratford area, the executives at the club have lost part of the soul of the club. As previously iterated, for the extreme majority of fans, the place in which their team plays football is sacred ground - somewhere to cherish visiting. Fans had this in the immediate area around Upton Park, with the wider community built around the club. In Stratford, the Westfield Shopping Centre no doubt leaves some fans feeling that their experience has been somewhat sanitised. Add to this the notion that there is a lack of “West Hamness” around the ground, with very little of what was left behind at Upton Park moved to make fans feel comfortable in their new surroundings. West Ham could have taken example from other London clubs such as Arsenal, who imported the Highbury clock in to the Emirates Stadium to synthesise old with new. In addition to the relocation, the Hammer’s reluctance to spend money highlights another issue with their new business strategy. Although commitments to financial prudence in English football may appear admirable (given the massive issues with debt), the Premier League has entered a new
financial era. This means that clubs further down the pecking order in the top flight must spend in order to maintain their status. Since moving to the Olympic Stadium, West Ham’s net spend is around £29m. This is despite the fact that the club has 50,000 season ticket holders, paying an average of £500 each. In itself, this raises £25m for the club in ticket receipts, which is widely thought to make up around 17% of club revenues in the league.
"For the extreme majority of fans, the place in which their team plays football is sacred ground" Contrasting this to the newly promoted Huddersfield makes the board of West Ham appear somewhat feckless in their business approach. Despite selling the cheapest season tickets in the league, Huddersfield have spent around £70m on players and are currently sitting above West Ham in the league. Fans are now demanding to know whether they are going to gain the reward promised to them by the three key executive members at West Ham: Karren Brady, and Davids Gold and Sullivan. What is the club doing with the money promised propel the Irons into a new era of success? Why has the incredibly fortuitous deal, given to West Ham by the tax payer, not conversely increased funding for players? If West Ham go down this season, how on Earth will they manage their wage bill in the Championship? As of yet, it would seem that the board at West Ham have no
answers. It has been disappointing to note that they have been supported by members of the media.
"In their last season at Upton Park, West Ham were brilliant" Although Jeff Stelling may have a point about fans targeting 82 year old owner David Gold, it is no surprise to see them doing so: if Gold is too old to own a football club, he must sell his stake within the club to someone who wants to represent fans appropriately, rather than neglecting the needs of fans for notoriety or private gain. However, although it must be said that the behaviour of pitch invaders is strongly condemned -
it will inevitably lead to a stadium ban for a lengthy period of time, there has to be a reason as to why fans decided to come onto the pitch. Though these fans acted in an embarrassing fashion, removing the corner flag among other things, many have said that they do not represent the fans at large. However, what would these same critics say of the sheer amount of people stood on the massive platforms of empty space in the Olympic Stadium, criticising Gold and Sullivan?
"Perhaps it is unfortunate that all dissenting West Ham supporters will now be typecast as hooligans" The point is, whether or not you believe these fans have the right to protest in this way, they definitely have the right to protest in some way. Perhaps it is unfortunate that all dissenting West Ham supporters will now be typecast as hooligans. Some do have genuine grievances about the shambolic running of the club and have no real outlet to express this. Regardless, if West Ham were to have won that game, and a few others earlier in the season, it is highly unlikely that fans would be venting in the same way as they are now. If West Ham are to use the example of other clubs who are financially mismanaged - e.g. Sunderland who are now plummeting towards League One there is definitely reason for fans to be legitimately concerned. The stadium move has caused all of this. It promised everything, and, so far, has delivered nothing.
SPORT
Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricksport
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Rivals Demand Wolves Investigation Sport Writer Haydn Dupree examines the investigation into Wolves' links with global super agent Jorge Mendes Haydn Dupree Sport Writer
Immediately after a 3-0 defeat to Wolves, Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani took to twitter to vent his distaste over the ownership structure at Wolves. Radrizzani specifically questioned whether Wolves’ relationship with superagent Jorge Mendes, stemming from links from Chinese owners Fosun International, was a legal one. Debate sparked as Mendes is seen to have a very influential advisory role for Wolves. The Leeds owner wrote postdefeat, “Congratulations to the best team but hope the league can be fair and equal to all 24 teams treatment? It is vital for clubs in the Championship to operate on a level playing field." Such concern of the legality of the structure at Wolves motivated
the EFL Board to discuss, last Thursday, whether Wolves’ operations have broken any regulations based around third-party ownership.
"Jorge Mendes' influence in world football is well known" This demonstrates that the EFL are more than aware of the concerns of Championship clubs such as Leeds United and have attempted to address the situation. It is said that the English Football League will arrange a meeting with Wolves as a way of ‘reiterating the requirements’ of the league and as a way of enforcing the FA’s regulations on transfers.
Jorge Mendes’ influence in world football is well-known, evident from the fact he represents a plethora of big football names including Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho and James Rodriguez. His strong association with Wolves has developed through Mendes working closely with Fosun International, not only has Mendes advised the club on specific transfer targets, but also even on the purchase of Wolves in 2016. A handful of rival Championship clubs have lambasted Mendes’ role at the club, suggesting that there is an evident conflict of interest involved as he is seen to work for both the club and a large number of its employees. Such clients include Wolves’ head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and key players including the Portuguese trio of Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Ivan Cavaleiro
"A handful of rival Championship clubs have lambasted Mendes' role at the club " The problem that other Championship clubs have with Jorge Mendes is that they suggest that his influence within the club is too great, he is seen to advise the club and simultaneously represent many of its players and even the head coach. The FA is responsible for the regulation in regard to the role of agents within football clubs and has strict rules to do with clubs and intermediary abilities. The FA have confirmed that they obtained the relevant “confirmation from Wolves and all relevant parties, including Mr. Mendes, regarding the sale of the club in 2016 and their ongoing compliance with The FA's Regulations on working with Intermediaries." Although, Wolves have responded vehemently that the club has not broken any rules imposed by the FA or EFL and have always been very vocal of Mendes’ activities within the club. Wolves believe that they are merely using Mendes as an advi-
sor due to his connection with their owner, this alone does not break any regulations imposed by the relevant governing bodies. Amongst the recent heat of the debate, a number of Championship managers have added their opinions on the matter. Aston Villa’s Steve Bruce, speaking at a pre-game press conference against Wolves, stressed that rivals have to be only interested in how to beat Wolves as a team. Bruce acknowledged that Wolves have built a good side with a host of Champions League players in the mix and admitted that the quality of these players will inevitably create a challenge for clubs to come up against. Ultimately, Bruce referred to the situation as nonsense about which other people, presumably governing bodies such as the EFL and FA, should worry. This view was echoed by Neil Warnock, manager of promotion rivals Cardiff City. Warnock has responded to the debate over Wolves’ connections with agent Jorge Mendes by emphasizing he is apathetic to the situation, even stating that he wouldn’t be bothered if the club signed Neymar. Warnock concluded that this debate has come about from other clubs simply being jealous and
wishing that they could acquire contacts like Wolves have.
"Wolves have responded vehemently that the club has not broken any rules" Mendes’ worldwide reach is certainly beneficial to Wolves and the Cardiff manager compared the situation that Wolves are in to his time at QPR in the Premier League when many names were coming into him from his players, Wolves are utilising this influence and that’s football. Wolves were undoubtedly using the influence of super-agent Jorge Mendes last year seen through the arrival of many of his clients, although this season, instead of sitting miserably midtable like last season, Wolves sit top of the table and can certainly expect that many jealous rivals will throw things into air in order to reduce their league dominance.
Selected BUCS Results - 07.03.18 It was a very good day for basketball as 3 teams were in action and 3 teams came away with the win. Women’s Lacrosse 3s delivered an incredible score line against De Montfort 1s, finishing the match at 32-0. With a 3-8 victory over Loughborough 2s yesterday our Men’s Lacrosse 1s have claimed the top spot of the league with one game remaining against bottom of the league Leicester next week and so begin looking towards playoffs for the Premier League. Women’s Volleyball 1s, Netball 2s and Golf 4s are all crowned Midlands Conference Cup Champions. Women’s Rugby Union have qualified through to the Vase Final to be played at BUCS Big Wednesday with a 85-0 win over Gloucester.
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Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricksport
F1 Season Preview
Sport Writer David Garbutt gives us a team-by-team breakdown and his predictions for the upcoming season David Garbutt Sport Writer
With pre-season testing now completed, and the new season just a few weeks away, do we have any idea at where the teams stand? Who is in for a season of progress? Who is in for a season to forget? Well, despite the teams covering 37,178km in practice laps- nearly the entire circumference of the globe- a lot of guess work is still required. However, testing did give some insights as to what to expect from the respective teams over the coming season. Mercedes Although during testing, the Silver Arrows only recorded the seventh fastest time, most people tip Mercedes to be the favourites for the constructors’ title again, thus making it five consecutive triumphs for the team. Last season the car was criticised for being a ‘diva’, as although it was unbeatable on some tracks, at others it lacked considerable speed and the Ferraris and Red Bulls were able to out-pace them.
"McLaren will hope they finally have a competitive car" This pre-season, the signs suggest they have ironed out the car’s flaws. Although rumours that Mercedes have a second advantage over their competitors have been rejected by the team, the prospect of a consistently performing Mercedes throughout the season will likely be feared just as much. Ferrari Having licked their wounds following their capitulation at the
end of last season, Ferrari look like they have a very quick car again, with Vettel posting the fastest time of pre-season testing by far. Ferrari will hope that they have narrowed the gap to Mercedes, but at this stage it is hard to tell if they have. All we know is that this season looks like it will be as hotly contested as the last one, with the Mercedes and Ferraris fighting for podiums. Red Bull After a terrific ending to last season, the Red Bulls will hope to continue where they left off, challenging for podiums and race wins. The one thing that held the team back last year was their Renault engine, as it was not as powerful as the Mercedes’ and the Ferrari’s, whilst it also was much less reliable- so many good results went begging last season due to engine retirements. However, again it looks like their effective aerodynamics will be undermined by their engine. This season, Renault says that it will focus on reliability rather than speed, so it looks like the Red Bull will not be able to bridge the gap to the top two teams, at least for the first half of the season. Also, Renault’s commitment to the Renault F1 team will probably come as a detriment to Red Bull, because as a customer team they will not get engine upgrades first. Renault Renault look like they have made significant improvements this preseason compared to their disappointing 2017 season, as the team try and follow a long-term plan, which their executives hope will ensure they are challenging for the constructors’ title in 2-3 season’s time. This season, Renault will be happy enough to consistently fin@nick.w.minter ish in the points, and they have an outside chance of finishing ‘best
of the rest’ and gaining fourth place of the constructors’ championship.
"This season, Renault says that it will focus on reliability rather than speed" McLaren McLaren will hope they finally have a competitive car, after their nightmare relationship with Honda ended. Now with Renault engines, they can be directly compared to Red Bull, so we should be able to see if McLaren’s claims that they had the best aerodynamic package alongside Red Bull is true or not. However, it seems like unreliability is a curse that they have been unable to lift, as their preseason was beset with six breakdowns and mechanical faults, albeit these were not due to the engine. It seems like the late decision to change engine has meant that the car is yet to be finished, so we can expect them to have a slow start of the season. Despite this, Alonso’s rapid lap on the last day of testing was the second fastest of pre-season, which surprised everybody. It’s hard to know what to expect from McLaren this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they finish in the top ten in most races. Williams After rumours the ex-F1 driver Robert Kubica would be their replacement for Felipe Massa for this season - which would have been a romantic story for F1, as the Pole has only limited movement in one hand following a rally crash - in the end they went for the young Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin.
Therefore, Williams have a very inexperienced line-up this season, as their other driver, Lance Stroll, only has one season’s experience. However, their drivers have bags full of potential, and after last season’s disappointing results, they do not have to do much to improve on last season. Toro Rosso It looks like Toro Rosso pulled the short-straw this season, as they swapped their Renault engine for Honda with McLaren, so it is hard to see them making huge improvements this season due to the severe power deficit they have compared to the other teams. Force India Force India, who may possibly change name before the season starts, had a quiet pre-season, and did not set any particularly quick times. However, they did the same thing last year before comfortably finishing fourth in the constructors’ championship, and they managed to gain some podiums to their name. If their two drivers, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, behave themselves and do not crash into each other, which happened a lot last season, they will probably be in a similar position this year. Nevertheless, it looks like they will have a bigger fight for fourth spot this season, as Renault and
McLaren look like possible challengers. Haas Haas had a very good pre-season, posting consistently quick times. The team’s close relationship with Ferrari, although criticised by some in the paddock, looks to be helping them out.
"Williams have a very inexperienced line-up this season" Last season they started off tremendously well, before the other teams caught them up through development. Due to Haas’ smaller resources compared to the more established F1 teams, this may occur again this year. Sauber Sauber have managed to bring a famous old car manufacturer back into Formula One in Alfa Romeo, and they will hope this will see them catch-up with the rest of the grid, as last season they were always well-last. This aspiration will be helped by the fact they no longer use a year-old Ferrari engine, so this season they will probably be closer to the rest of the field.
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Friday 16th March 2018
@redbricksport
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"Simon Says" Price: Your New Guild Sports Officer Sport Editor Olli Meek introduces Simon Price, who won your vote in the Guild Elections to be named as UoB's newest Sports Officer Olli Meek Sport Editor
Saturday 3rd March saw the conclusion of a hectic elections week for candidates in the Guild Elections. These were for the 7 full time sabbatical officer roles as well as the team of part time officers who undertake their roles in the Guild alongside their studies.
"Price comes to the role having had two years of experience as Club Captain of TableTennis" Over 30 candidates put themselves forward for roles on the officer team, four of these being for Sports Officer. Zak "Vardy" Viney, Kate SEARYous About Sport, Rachael Potter, and "Simon Says" Price went up against each other throughout a week of intense campaigning. This included knocking on doors around campus, giving out flyers, and giving lecture shoutouts alongside their social media presence. The role of the Sports Officer is to ensure as many people as possible can get involved with
sport whilst at UoB, whether this is through making UBSport as accessible as possible through the Sport and Fitness centre, sports teams that represent the university in BUCS leagues, or getting people into new sports at TrySport sessions. Simon ran on five key manifesto points: making gym memberships available to all, organising better kit support for sports teams, bigger event days in the image of XpLosION and Varsity, more TrySport taster sessions, and better engagement with mental health services. Third-year Sports and Exercise Science student Price comes to the role having had two years of experience as Club Captain of Table-Tennis which has exposed him to all areas of sport at UoB. He is also a popular member of the Vodbull team, and collaborated with multiple other officer candidates on his way to victory, including a fellow-victor in Activities and Employability Officer-Elect "Robyn Your Vote" Macpherson. The voting system happened over multiple rounds, taking into account second through fifth preferences, including the four candidates plus Re-Open Nominations, or R.O.N. for short. The number of valid ballots was 6626 so the quota for immediate victory was 3313. No candidates reached this quota in any of the rounds, however Price won the day with a
tally of 2948. This was 979 votes more than the nearest candidate who was Zak Viney on 1969. He has worked with sport at UoB extends to initiatives such as This Brum Girl Can as well as the Global Buddies scheme to try to make sport at UoB as inclusive as
possible. In an Instagram post after his election to the post, Price thanked everyone o his campaign team as well as everyone who voted for him, stating: "Running a campaign has been an amazing experience and I truly have loved
every moment!... I can't thank everybody enough who has voted, doorknocked, flyered, shared my posts and generally just shown their support to me for the last month! It really means a lot!".
-ond half with a try and conversion that was rolled over in the corner by the forwards. Predictably, Chaumeton followed up with a successful conversion and UBRFC were in dreamland at 42-3 to the good. Soon afterwards, however, the wait was finally over and the Medics' perseverance paid off, their first and only try of the game coming mid-way through the second period much to their relief and celebration. It did look for much of the match as though they may not reach the white line at all in the game, so to have achieved this target was no mean feat for the team. Mackie then stepped up to convert from a tough angle and take the Medics' score into double figures for the first time. It was then time for two more Uni substitutions and they brought on Jones and Proctor for the final knockings. The final action of the game was for arguably a man of the match performance from Josh Amadi to be rounded off with his final try, completing a memorable hattrick. The perfect end was not to be had, however, as the conversion did not make it and the score remained at 47-10 to UBRFC. This was how the match finished then, a resounding victory for the University 1st XV, who have re-cemented their place at
the top of the pecking order and brushed off the cobwebs of the Medics' away victory of two years ago.
of the boys involved for their hard work in getting to this point, and of course commiserations to the Medics' side who fought valiantly but could not match the aggression and team cohesion of the University side. This should not overshadow, however, what has been a positive season for the Medics with a good cup run and some solid performances along the way elsewhere. With both sides almost at the end of their seasons, all that is left to be said is congratulations to both on their campaigns, and we will see you next year for Varsity 2019.
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UBSport
"It did look for much of the match as though they may not reach the white line at all in the game" Congratulations must go to all
16.03.2018 Alex Alton looks at the on and off the field issues enveloping West Ham United Page 36 Haydn Dupree examines the investigation into Wolves' finances Page 37 David Garbutt previews the upcoming F1 season Page 38 Simon Price is introduced as your new Sports Officer Page 39 For more, follow us on Twitter @redbricksport
University Take Spoils In Varsity 2018 Sport Editor Olli Meek reviews the University 1st XV's win over the Medics in Varsity 2018 Olli Meek Sport Editor
UBRFC took the spoils in this year’s Varsity match with a 47-10 victory over the Medics. Varsity is an annual match where the University 1st XV Rugby Union side take on the Medics' 1st XV for campus bragging rights, taking place this year on the new Bournbrook 4G pitch for the first time. A strong crowd turned out to watch a highly physical contest in the incessant drizzle of a Friday evening, the precipitation not doing much to help the dwindling temperatures. Prior to kick-off the crowd were treated to a performance from the MedSoc Dance troupe and the Red Bull team were down doing their part to pump up the atmosphere. The Medics then entered the field of play to the tune of Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack”, followed shortly after by the University side who were buoyed by the larger contingent of the crowd and the electronic symphony of Darude’s “Sandstorm”.
"UBRFC took kick-off, the forwards immediately making their impact at the breakdown" The toss took place between captains Barnaby Hayward for the Uni and Adam Mackie for the Medics. This resulted in the Uni, playing in red, attacking the Mech-Eng end from East to West, and vice versa for the Medics in their navy with gold hoops. UBRFC took kick-off, the forwards immediately making their impact at the breakdown and their presence felt by the Medics’ pack. This heavy pressure resulted in scrummages on either side of the pitch, the patient build up play from the Uni making an immediate statement of intent for all to see.
It was not long before this paid off for them, with outside-centre Josh Amadi going over in the corner and fly-half James Chaumeton adding the conversion to get his kicking game off to an impressive start with a challenging nudge. The Medics hit straight back upon the restart, their renewed vigour resulting in a penalty in the middle of the pitch just shy of the Uni’s ten-metre line. The brave decision was made to kick for the posts, but as they say if you don’t buy the ticket you can’t win the lottery. It was not to be this time though, as the score remained at 7-0. The Uni then added insult to injury as they went up to the other end of the pitch and scored, with full-back Rich Galloway breaking the line on the left wing and powering over the line after a short run in in the 13th minute. Chaumeton was again on hand to convert, this time from the other side of the pitch, making the score 14-0. The tries kept on coming for the Uni, as only 15 minutes later their score was again boosted by Josh Amadi just shy of the half-hour mark. This was to the delight of many supporters who had turned out for the Uni side, and Amadi’s name could be heard all around Bournbrook being sung for the remainder of the game. At last the Medics scoring drought was quenched, with the next score of the game going to them. Undeterred by the consistently increasing deficit that they needed to make up, they kept plugging away in the middle third until such point that the discipline and resilience of the Uni side was broken and they gave away a penalty in a promising position. This was successfully put between the posts to get the Medics on the scoreboard and make it 21-3 after 30 minutes. This reprieve for the Medics was not to last long however, as number 8 Will Onslow-Wyld and second-row Bill Fisher scored on 31 and 35 minutes respectively, to make the score a whopping 35-3 to the Uni at half-time, Chaumeton maintaining a 100% conversion rate from the tee. It was unfortunate for the game to be at this stage already because everyone who turned out wanted to see a tense and close-cut competition, but barring a complete meltdown from the Uni and some superhuman improve-
ment from the Medics, Varsity 2018 was already wrapped up.
"The second half was a far more subdued affair than the first had been" Half-time saw the mascots for either side race each other from the tryline to the half-way line, which Rory the Lion won for the Uni. This was not to be the end of the pleasantries between the two however, as part-way through the second half an off-the-ball incident occurred where both mascots heads were removed and both could be seen sprinting up and down the touchline after one another with the aim of retrieving the aforementioned body parts. From afar it was unclear what caused such animosity between the two- it was hard to tell whether the punches being thrown at one another during the first half were out of genuine malice or were playing to the whims of the excitable pitch-side crowd. The second half was a far more subdued affair than the first had been, with both sets of players starting to tire, the urgency displayed was considerably reduced. With this in mind it was also time to make some substitutions- for the Uni trying to protect their significant lead, and for the Medics trying to get as many points on the board as possible in the remaining 40 minutes. The first of these for the Uni was in the second-row, where Matthewman was replaced by Lort, and then Grundy came off the wing for MaxwellWhiteley, who spent most of the remainder at fly-half. After a long period of back-and-forth between the two sides with a reasonably equal share of possession, it was again the Uni that opened the scoring in the sec-
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