Redbrick - Issue 1479 by Redbrick

Friday 17th February 2017

Redbrick Issue 1479, Vol. 81

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Who Should Get Your Vote? Redbrick News interviews this year's Guild Election candidates

Redbrick

The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936 University of Birmingham Alumni

Redbrick Travel writer Charlie Dakin discusses her restricted visit to the secret state of North Korea accompanied by original photography

Charlie Dakin

Redbrick Film preempt the winners & losers of the 2017 Oscars

Kara Watson reviews the UoB Guild of Students' new app

Redbrick Careers talks to students about their work experience

Abbie Pease asks should crimes ever be turned into drama?

Features Page 14

Sci&Tech Page 26

Careers Page 23

TV Page 34

REDBRICK

Friday 17th February 2017

redbrick.me

Letter from the committee... Redbrick is a society with an extensive, and tangible, sense of legacy. Anyone that’s visited our office in the Guild’s basement will be able to see editions from the past ten years blue-tacked to the walls, and just a quick peruse of the filing cabinets dotted about the room will unearth Redbricks from even further back – from the ‘90s, the ‘80s, the ‘60s and further still. As a History student, for much of this year I have looked back on this legacy – at the various deputy editors to have come before me; at the papers they made, the things they did. It’s only been of late that I’ve begun to look ahead, to the years to come. Our AGM is fast approaching (now with a revised date of 3rd March), and with it, comes the beginning of the end for committee members. I’d be lying if I said I don’t hold a certain animosity at a prospect of someone else arriving to take over my job – but that’s the way of things; and, despite myself, I can’t recommend spending a year on a committee enough, whether that be at Redbrick or elsewhere. This year has been my best at uni, and that is in large part to being on this committee – working with a team, and making new, close friends in the process. So if you’re reading this and are considering going for a committee position in the coming weeks, I’d say go for it – because if you get it, you’re

likely to have a fantastic year. The same applies for if you’re eyeing my job – just be ready for some Golem-esque feverishness on my part (joking, mostly). The AGM isn’t here yet, however – and though the year may quickly be coming to an end, there’s still plenty in the works in this nuclear bunker of ours. In the near future, we have the Guild Awards on March 21st, which we will be attending in the hopes of finally snatching an award for the society (or, in my case, getting merry over my finished dissertation). If Redbrick has done anything for you this year, or in years past, we would be ever-thankful if you nominated us for one of the night’s various awards. Looking further ahead, however, we have our very own awards ceremony – aptly named the Redbrick Awards. Last year, this took place at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in June, and though the location of this year’s has not yet been decided – it will likely be taking place in the week beginning June 5th, and will be, as before, an opportunity to celebrate this society’s many members and all their hard-work this year. Last year was a blast – so save the date, keep your eyes peeled, and get in touch if you want the judging panel to be in your favour, I will be taking compliments as well as cash (not actually joking this time).

A number of other socials and events, much closer than Redbrick Awards, are also in the works – both section-specific, society-wide, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic – so be sure to be keeping tabs on the Redbrick Socials page to stay in the loop. One which I am closely involved in is the Birmingham 10k in late-April – which, unlike the half-marathon last October, is seeing a number of editors and writers from the society taking part. We’ll be starting our fundraising soon, so be sure to keep an eye out (the four of us who ran the half-marathon raised almost £600, so let’s try to top that!). In the here and now, however, be sure to enjoy this edition of Redbrick. We’ll see you in two weeks’ time for our penultimate edition of the semester. From the dungeons, we salute you.

Harry Turner, Deputy Editor

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Online this week at redbrick.me... COMMENT

CULTURE

FILM

MUSIC

Theresa May-be Doing the Right Thing

Review: ‘Howl’, a Spoken Word Event

Review: Hacksaw Ridge

Twitter Beef: Rihanna vs. Azealia Banks

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor Anna Griffiths editor@redbrickonline.co.uk

Deputy Editors Harry Turner Imogen Lancaster deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk

Print & Features Editor Gabriella Marcucci print@redbrickonline.co.uk

Digital Editor Conrad Duncan digital@redbrickonline.co.uk

Lead Developer Andreea Gheorghe developer@redbrickonline.co.uk

Marketing Secretary William Baxter marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk

Social Secretary Laura Burgess social@redbrickonline.co.uk

News Editors Beriwan Ceren Erin Santillo Grace Duncan Gregory Robinson Joseph Timan

Music Editors Giulia Bardelli Greg Woodin Holly Carter Phil Jones music@redbrickonline.co.uk

news@redbrickonline.co.uk

Comment Editors Aamina Siddiqi Joe Goodsall Harry Tennison comment@redbrickonline.co.uk

Culture Editors Imogen Tink Olivia Boyce Sophie Taylor

Film Editors Alex McDonald George Griffths Joe Ryan film@redbrickonline.co.uk

culture@redbrickonline.co.uk

Travel Editors Carys Bedford Delfina Rainoldi Sophie Braybrook

Life&Style Editors Kamila Geremek Nia Roberts Sophie Kesterton Zoe Screti

Television Editors James Tyson Lara Billington Tamsin Hackett

lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk

travel@redbrickonline.co.uk

tv@redbrickonline.co.uk

Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TT 0121 251 2462

Sci&Tech Editors Ellen Daugherty James Pettit Kara Watson

Careers Editor Lael Hardtman Mira Lodhia

tech@redbrickonline.co.uk

Editorial Assistants Alvia Zaidi Redbrick is printed through www.mortonHannah Ledlie sprint.com Kseniya Shrimpton 01507 523 456 Lara Abibe Laura Burgess To advertise in Redbrick, get in touch with Peggy Jones marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk or visit Philippa Baker www.redbrick.me/advertise-with-redbrick Spandan Manwatkar for more details, and to see our rate card. Will Gillingham Zee Olukay Designed and typeset by Redbrick Copyright (C) Redbrick 2015

Food Editors Lauren Kelly Phoebe Radford Tasha Smart Tamar Smith food@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sport Editors Dan Steeden Harry Wilkinson Nancy Frostick Nicola Kenton sport@redbrickonline.co.uk

Gaming Editors James Lentschner James Marvin Nick Burton Roshni Patel gaming@redbrickonline.co.uk

careers@redbrickonline.co.uk

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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.

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Friday 17th February 2017

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UCAS Reports 5% Decrease in Applications Astrid Skjold News Reporter

Daniel Hickey News Reporter

UCAS recently released numbers that show a decrease of 30,000 applicants in the last undergraduate recruitment cycle, a 5% decline compared to last year. Two areas that experienced large drops in applications, responsible for large portions of the overall decrease, are applications from the EU, which dropped by roughly 6,000 this cycle, and nursing applications, which dropped by 5,000. The decrease in EU applicants is not even across the EU. The biggest decreases came from Ireland, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, and Italy, all of which experienced drops of at least 10% in applications to UK universities. At the same time as the

decreases in these countries, however, applications from Norway, Lithuania, Denmark, and Portugal have increased, although this is not enough to counteract the overall drop in EU applications. Nursing applications experienced the largest fall in applications of any subject, a drop of 23%. The Royal College of Nursing cited the removal of NHS bursaries for nursing students as a factor whilst Janet Davies, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, blamed the switch from maintenance grants to loans. Ms Davies said ‘We warned the government the removal of student funding would see a sharp drop in nursing applications,’ Ms Davies said in reference to the recent figures. ‘These figures confirm our worst fears.’ Mature students account for a large portion of the fall in applicants. UCAS estimates the fall in applications from people aged 19

and over to be 12,000, which, considering a total drop of 30,000 students, makes up more than a third of the total fall. Compared to the last cycle, numbers of applications are down by 9% among 19 year olds, and down 23% among 35 year olds. The trends do overlap. About half of all applicants over 25 apply for nursing. The main causes for the drop in mature students applications is assumed to be growth in labour markets and wages, alongside the decline in nursing applications. Additionally, these numbers are of the intake prior to the January deadline. A further 100,000 applications, 16% of the total number, come after this deadline, and much of this group consists of overseas and EU applicants and mature applicants. As a result, applications for this post-deadline group may experience an even more severe drop than the current numbers.

The vice-president of the National Union of Students, Sorana Vieru, reflecting on the overall decrease in applications, said that the drop was ‘disappointing, but not a surprise.’ ‘Uncertainty around increases in tuition fees, loss of maintenance grants, and the rising costs of living and studying at university are too much of a risk to some potential students.’ more effective than simply acting in their interests.’

23%

Decrease in nursing applications

Stirchley Fitness First and PSL Bowling To Be Demolished Emily Youlton News Reporter

Birmingham City Council has ignored public opinion by allowing plans for a new Lidl, on the Stirchley site of Fitness First and PSL bowling, to go ahead. Despite a petition gaining over 2,250 signatures public opinion was ignored in favour of the supermarket giant. The application was approved on February 9th 2017 meaning that these local facilities will be demolished to make way for a new Lidl. This news has fueled considerable feelings of anger from the general public and especially from local students who are regular gym users. Despite the gym facilities seeing major success and popularity amid a national obesity crisis, the City Council have pushed ahead with the redevelopment of the land.

Fitness First, which has around 3,500 members, is popular among students because of its proximity to Selly Oak and the availability of facilities at affordable rates. Questions have now been raised as to whether the opening of the 360 Sports Centre at the University of Birmingham will be able to cope with a potential influx of new members. This doesn't look hopeful with some sources suggesting that the gym is already at full membership capacity before even opening. Another serious consideration for students is the cost. Fitness First offers a monthly payments facility allowing students to be flexible with their budgets and fitness routines whereas the new sports centre only offers one-off yearly payments. This huge financial commitment for students could deter their use of facilities.

Trump State Visit Could Move To Birmingham Grace Duncan News Editor @gracieellen_

The controversial state visit of Donald Trump could be moved from London to Birmingham according to new reports. Trump himself is apparently keen to visit the West Midlands because it is an area with a high level of support for Brexit which he was a vocal supporter of. Whilst the vote for Leave won by a slim majority in Birmingham, the rest of the Midlands was much more decisively on the side of the win-

ning vote. The idea would be for President Trump to address a rally in Birmingham where the audience would pay to enter with profits going to the Royal British Legion. However, Birmingham councillor and anti-war campaigner Salma Yaqoob believes that protests would take place in Birmingham too. ‘If Donald Trump comes to the great city of Birmingham, our diverse communities will take to the streets in our thousands - and show him what we think about his misogyny, racism, and Islamophobia.’

Trump remains positive however, with one source close to the President saying: ‘It would be his biggest rally with 85,000 people coming together to celebrate the US-UK special relationship. If he is not speaking to the Houses of Parliament, let’s go to the people.’ In Birmingham, his anti-immigration policies are what have most come under fire due to the diverse community living in the city. Although the city is predominantly White British (53.1%), this is still a figure that is lower than much of the rest of the country. The suggested move has been

condemned by Kerry Jenkins, Labour councillor for Hall Green Ward, Birmingham. ‘I really hope that Donald Trump is not welcome here,’ she said. ‘He is a racist and a misogynist who is using his power to divide.’

"He is a racist and a misogynist who is using his power to divide" She

not

the

only

Birmingham MP to suggest that Trump won't be welcome in the UK’s second city. Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood said, ‘Birmingham is a wonderfully diverse city, home to people of every background, every faith President Trump with his hateful and divisive rhetoric, policies and Muslim ban is not welcome here.’ Stop Trump Coalition is already organising events across the UK including a planned day of action on 20th February to support the rights of migrants.

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Friday 17th February 2017

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Guild Elections 2017: Who Should Get Your Vote?

With the names of candidates announced, Redbrick News spoke to all of those running for full-time officer positions to find out who is the most worthy of your vote.

Guild President Grace Duncan News Editor @gracieellen_

Kris Burnett Kris Burnett believes that he has the experience to make an excellent Guild President as he has ‘a good feel for the university’. He told Redbrick that through his work on a sports team committee last year he got to work with all students, ‘from students who have been here for seven years and are about to become doctors and students who have been here for three weeks’. One of his main policies is about finding more study spaces that work for students. He aims to achieve this by opening the Murray Learning Centre so that it runs 24/7. He ‘appreciate[s] the university aren’t magicians, they can’t just magic up more space in the library’, although he does propose getting the library ‘to assess how they are using the space, as at the moment there are spaces that I think could be better utilised’. When questioned whether there is enough demand for more 24 hour spaces he said that the first exam period of the new library would demonstrate this and even so he ‘would rather the university had too many study spaces than not enough’. He also voices the perks of opening the Murray Learning Centre for 24 hours a day as it is closer to the station; so, for students who travel in, it would be a lot more convenient than the library. His main priority if he were to be elected would be to implement his ‘Make Selly Safer’ scheme. The scheme involves setting up ‘a

sub-division of Nightline about safety for those who think something is not worth reporting to the police’. The idea of this is that students could report an incident to the Guild who would then be able to monitor the situation and pass it on to the police. He also wants more of a physical presence of Guild staff in Selly Oak after nights such as Fab or Sports Night, although he does acknowledge the difficulty of this, noting that he is ‘not promising to cure the world of crime’. One other of his policies is to reduce the prices of food at the Guild. When questioned whether this is in the Guild’s budget, Burnett said that ‘I think people would go to the Guild more if it was cheaper’ and in the case of Fab that people ‘would spend more money’ as it is currently ‘ridiculously expensive’. Ellie Keiller Ellie Keiller, the current Guild President, is running for re-election with a 5 point manifesto, each with an appropriate Jelly Bean nickname. Her first, Very Cherry Voices, is all about standing up for students both on a UoB level and nationally in issues such as Erasmus. One of her main ideas within this is introducing an annual Vice Chancellor question time as ‘we should be able to hold him to account as students’ and she states that she has managed to make the Vice Chancellor agree for this to hap-

pen. But also more generally, since she has found that every single day ‘something arises where you have to stand for students’. Her second, Strawberry Study Spaces, has a goal of improving and finding more spaces that work for students as there is a ‘dire need for more’. She believes that she is the person to do this as after a year in office she has learnt how to ‘make that change and change the capital plan of the university’. She also wants to improve study spaces by making areas more clearly marked by purpose such as for silent or group work and to invest in under-seat sensors as ‘other universities have got it, so we should get it too’. She also wants to make sure that students are paid the living wage and help students save money. One of her other main manifesto points is designed around helping students to get more involved in university life and activities. Her main way of doing this is through a Participation Bursary to decrease the cost of sport and other activities. Although expensive for the Guild and the university, she states that ‘we should be able to support students in trying something new and getting involved’. Improving the Guild is also of importance with her ‘Peppermint Priorities’ manifesto point. She aims to make the parttime officer roles more manageable by offering the option to run for the position in a job-share type of structure, which incorporates

online manifesto tracking, as she claims that currently it is ‘easy for people to drop off’ once elected. When asked which of her manifesto points was her priority going forward she said she didn’t have one. She told Redbrick that ‘I have the experience to know that every single thing on that manifesto is achievable’. So why should you vote for her re-election? She said ‘Now I know how to have such monumental impact nationally and in the university’ and she ‘still care[s] so much for students and for making the Guild better’. Xenios Matjilla If Matjilla were elected, he would carry out a ‘6 month plan’ to work on his main manifesto points which include starting a World Culture Day during Freshers Week, safer Selly Oak and increased focus on mental health. His primary concern, as it is for many candidates, is mental health, ‘a lot of people on campus are speaking about it but there doesn’t really seem to be much action’. He will carry this out by ‘communicating with those who know what need[s] to be done’, such as charities within Birmingham who would be able to guide him. By bringing both student groups and charities together to work towards better mental health, he believes that higher goals can be set and then carried out. One of the things he is most intent on is trying to fight for NUS democratic reform. He thinks that it is vital that Birmingham ‘stay in the NUS’

but push for ‘one member, one vote system’, rather than a delegate system which he deems to be not ‘representative’. The Guild budget is also something that Matjilla wants to reform in terms of efficiency and transparency. He currently aims for the budget to be ‘as transparent as possible because that’s what the students deserve’. Although he cannot speak for the entirety of the Guild budget, his position as Mason RA last year showed him that there is often waste in the system. Money that is allocated for RAs and events for students is often not completely spent on the purpose it is intended for. He wants to make sure that students know where this money ends up, although he recognises that this is very difficult task which he could not fully understand until he was elected. Perhaps one of the most interesting of his promises is the return of £2,000 of his pay to the Guild for the investment into the things that matter most to students, with evidence to prove what he is spending the money on. His plan for a World Culture Day would be for it to happen during Freshers Week with participation from the relevant heritage and culture societies to show freshers the breadth of culture within Birmingham. He says that you should vote for him because he ‘is in it for the students’. ‘I am just a normal student and I want to give back to the students’. Also running for the position is Thomas Skuse, who was offered an interview but did not accept.

Representation and Resources Officer Gregory Robinson

News Editor

Erin Santillo News Editor @ErinSantillo

Jess Levy The current Vice President of Carnival RAG and 3rd year Economics student Jess Levy spoke to Redbrick before launching her campaign for the role of the Representation and Resources Officer (RRO). Having worked in Joe’s Bar since first year and led a national youth group at college, for which she was president, Levy

believes that she has ‘established a great relationship’ with the Guild and has proven herself a good leader. On her manifesto, Levy’s key policies have been organised into four categories. Under ‘Giving’, she indicates her plans to improve the Joe’s+ card into a way of ‘rewarding students’ for societal work, to push for student staff support, both in terms of pay and security, and to review the ‘Your Ideas’ democratic structure to ‘get as many people involved’ as possible; ‘I want to find out why students aren’t engaging’. Levy then reveals, under the title of ‘Greater’, to research pos-

sibilities for additional events, such as laser tag – which ‘is the dream’ in her eyes – at times when the Guild is quiet. If elected, she also plans to work with students to ‘take Fab to a whole new level’ by being ‘open to all [...] suggestions’; she expressed in interview that she was particularly keen on a karaoke in Beorma Bar. The final two categories include improving sustainability in terms of catering packaging, toilet water efficiency, and pushing for a more vigourous lights-off policy across campus – citing the Old Library’s lights, which can be seen to be turned on some nights, as ‘just ridiculous’. Furthermore, Levy aims to develop support for

international and year-abroad students by focussing the work of the ISO to ensure that students ‘feel like the student union is there for them’.

"I actually really care about this building" Levy stated that ‘although it sounds corny’, her ‘love for the Guild’ drove her to candidacy; ‘I actually really care about this building’.

Nicola Woods In an interview with Redbrick, Representation and Resources Officer (RRO) candidate Nicola Woods divulged many of the points listed as part of her manifesto. When asked why she decided to run for this particular role, Woods said ‘I feel like I would be quite good at representing a whole range of students because I have had a fair bit of experience talking to different people and getting to know different people.’ Woods stated she intends to make empty rooms in the Guild available to students as study spaces due to the lack of space in the library. The environment is a key

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aspect of Woods’ campaign. In addition to being the current Ethical and Environmental Officer, Woods is also the VegSoc President and is part of the ‘Your Ideas’ assessment group. She wishes to focus ‘on food waste on campus. That will probably involve redistributing food waste, looking into

@redbricknews

how we can take food waste from the campus outlets and redistributing them to people in need’. Woods also intends to work closely with the other liberation officers and minority groups, to represent all and to give students a voice. She wants to help international students with things such as

"It’s a progressive move which lots more places are introducing"

support ‘when setting up their bank accounts when they first get here’. During the interview, Woods listed several ways to improve Fab, which is now open until 4.00am. Woods proposes extending the last entry time to ease queues, stop the rush and give

students who work late on Saturdays a chance to attend. Woods said: ‘I used to work late and I could never really go out on a Saturday because it would be really difficult with last entry time!’

Activities and Development Officer Erin Santillo News Editor @ErinSantillo

Gregory Robinson News Editor

Adam Elmi Adam Elmi’s five years’ experience at the university has seen him become a committee member for Footnotes Comedy and Islamic Society, as well as holding roles such as a Guild councillor, NUS delegate, and student staff – experience that he believes has made him understand how the Guild runs; ‘I’ve got the connections; I’ve got the know-how’, he told Redbrick in a recent interview. His Activities and Development Officer (ADO) manifesto is split into three main categories, with the first calling for increased societal support. Elmi does not criticise current Guild policy, but states that ‘at the moment, it might not be clear how [societies can] get that support’. He proposes to hold weekly drop-in sessions and workshops that run throughout the year, training student groups in skills such as event management and social media awareness.

"[...] be able to create an environment for groups to really excel" Elmi’s manifesto also pledges further cohesion between UoB and the Guild; he plans to ‘fix the relationship’ to create the potential for societies to be able to use larger venues, such as the Elgar Concert Hall and the Great Hall, for performances in the future. His final point is to organise a careers week for student groups ‘in collaboration with Careers Network’, in order to cater for ‘non-traditional jobs’ such as those in the charity sector. As ADO, Elmi claims he would ‘be able to create an environment for groups to really excel’. Shannon Farmer When asked why she decided to run for Activities and Development Officer (ADO), Shannon Farmer said: ‘I have been a part of loads of societies since second year and being part of the Live Music Society has been the

best part of uni for me.’ Farmer intends to change the way students interact with the Guild’s app by making room bookings available through it. Farmer said: ‘everything is moving digital now.’ The Guild’s Media Centre, which is home to Redbrick, Burn

"being part of the Live Music Society has been the best part of uni for me" FM and Guild TV, is one of the areas Farmer intends to improve by making the university’s media more ‘interlinked.’ Farmer said ‘In the library, they have a TV there. There is no reason why they can’t be playing Burn FM in the library or in the Guild.’ When asked how she intends to protect live music at the Guild Farmer stated: ‘I don’t even know if it’s protecting but starting and making sure it’s happening’. Farmer went on to discuss the two large spaces at the Guild: the Underground and the Debating Hall. ‘Those are spaces that have stages and can be used for live music.’ With support from the Guild, Farmer suggests students will gain a better experience of live music. She said ‘I think students will love it.’ Awati Mohammed The International Student Officer (ISO) for 2016/17, Awati Mohammed is campaigning to graduate from her Business Management course and enter the office of the Activities and Development Officer (ADO) in September. From her various societal roles, such as the College Representative for Social Science, she believes that she ‘know[s] how to work with students very well’. Alongside using social media to promote student groups,

"keep students aware of what is happening in each of the societies" Mohammed proposes in her manifesto to compile a weekly newslet-

ter or events guide in order to ‘keep students aware of what is happening in each of the societies’. She also pledges to help societies with the Guild’s administration processes so that they can ‘work effectively and efficiently’, such as by improving the room booking system with an online vacancy timetable similar to those used in other buildings, such as the library. Another point in Mohammed’s manifesto is to ‘enhance student nightlife’ by encouraging involvement in groups that attend social events. Alongside increasing numbers attending socials, she told Redbrick, this would have a positive effect on student integration. Mohammed highlighted that this integration is particularly difficult for younger and international students. This would just be one issue that could be resolved with her proposed weekly newsletter, she suggested; ‘it is not that people don’t want to engage, but that they don’t really know what is happening’. Alina Morosan For Alina Morosan, the office of the Activities and Development Officer (ADO) is like an ‘arena’, a ‘place where you challenge yourself’, and she believes that her experience as a committee member this year qualifies her for the role. Speaking to Redbrick, Morosan emphasised the importance of societies in university life: ‘it’s not just about going to lectures [...] it’s about what you can do to develop your skills and develop as a person’. Thus, the central point on her manifesto is aimed at increasing students’ involvement in societies via an online newsletter or platform that would offer students ‘an overview of everything that is happening on campus’ at all times of the year. She indicates that although Societies Fair is ‘very helpful, it just only happens once or twice a year’, and therefore, currently, students believe that they cannot get involved throughout the year – a newsletter would remedy this, she believes. Additionally, as ADO, Morosan would push for collaboration with other student unions nationwide to ‘give students opportunities to do bigger things outside of the university’. This relates to her final manifesto pledge, which is ‘an idea in development’ regarding the boosted funding of groups through

regular events, such as ‘Charity Ball[s]’, which could ‘reconnect previous alumni’ with societies

"it’s not just about going to lectures [...] it’s about what you can do to develop your skills and develop as a person" and hence offer students opportunities further afield. George Thomas George Thomas’ Activities and Development Officer (ADO) campaign revolves around the character of ‘Curious George’, a cartoon monkey who, speaking to Redbrick, Thomas described as ‘cheeky, exciting and fun - a bit like me’. Having developed from ‘someone quite shy’ to ‘someone quite loud, bracing and expressive’ through UoB societies, resulting in his leadership of the design team for the 2015 ValeFest, Thomas views himself as ‘an incredible candidate for the role’ of ADO. His manifesto focuses on ‘growth and development’, the ‘buzz-words’ of his campaign, in areas such as the improvement of inclusivity in societies through increased quality of training.

potential collaboration with UoB staff so that societies could use ‘empty university rooms’ for sessions and storage. Reflecting on his ‘#BeCurious’ branding, Thomas stated, ‘“curiosity” isn’t a pejorative term, it’s an incredibly optimistic, exciting expression’. Maddy Tysoe During her interview with Redbrick, Maddy Tysoe revealed the three main pitches for her campaign; maximising society potential, assisting events management, and developing media collaboration. The Activities and Development Officer (ADO) candidate, who previously held the role of president of BEDSOC (UoB’s English society), claims she wishes to campaign for more funding for UoB’s media groups, which include Redbrick, Burn FM and Guild TV. Collaboration between these media groups, other

[...] she would host one-on-one meetings with the heads of societies and committee members

Alongside offering budgeting and risk assessment information, Thomas’ proposed a ‘training pack’ would also help group leaders to become aware of ‘social needs and mental health’, so that all students feel comfortable: ‘societies could become more of a support network’. Another key manifesto point is to modernise the ‘outdated system’ used by the Guild for room bookings through an app. This would involve a transition to online booking, since Thomas believes that the current paper system ‘may be a restriction for hopeful new societies’, and a

non-media based societies, and the university are central to Tysoe’s campaign. In regards to how she would be involved with managing the events for UoB’s student societies, Tysoe stated that she would introduce more taster and welcome events in an attempt to make Taster Day a better experience for students and society members alike by finding a ‘bigger area’ for the event to take place. This improvement in events management and coordination would be driven by her own experience in the sector; she is responsible for organising the National Student Television Association (NaSTA) conference later this year. When asked about how she plans on maximising society potential, Tysoe revealed that she would host one-on-one meetings with the heads of societies and committee members to ‘find out what they want’. In summary, Tysoe’s campaign attempts to discover the needs of student groups through regular conversations with society leaders, and tailoring her services to their own unique needs.

the key focus of her plan to improve lecture materials, making it available to more students as well as looking into other forms of technology that would suit courses better. She also plans to improve sup-

port for students on years abroad (YA) by opening up lines of communication between the university and students, so that there is better support when YA students are struggling, as well as preparing Continued on page 6

His manifesto focuses on 'growth and development'

Education Officer Holly Carter Music Editor

Rosemary Clark Education student Rosemary Clark, or ‘Rosie Posie’ as she is on

her floral manifesto, has been involved with the Guild and student groups. Her course has given her insight into what is possible in terms of improving education and she is pushing for a three pronged approach to her prospective role as

Education Officer – support, quality and represent. Rosie hopes to increase study space throughout campus and to ensure students have a say in what happens to the study spaces that have been shut down. Panopto is

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students better to embark on years abroad. She also proposes to improve postgraduate taught hours and support for postgraduate researchers by working with the

"She also proposes to improve postgraduate researchers by working with the Postgraduate Students' Officer"

Postgraduate Students’ Officer, and to help undergraduates by improving the roles of student reps. Her final key focus is fighting against fee increases on a national level and making sure students are not badly affected by Brexit. Adam Goldstone Adam Goldstone, previous Guild Council member, NUS delegate and student rep, says that he wants to ensure student voices are heard and there is student consultation on all issues. With one of his key focuses inspired by the reaction to the new library, he wants to create a website to inform UoB students where to find free study

spaces and utilize those spaces that students aren’t so aware of. His plan to improve study spaces also includes the creation of varied areas to reflect different ways of working and the creation of clearly labelled silent and eating areas. He also adds that he wants to push for a compromise on the issue of eating in the library, which has been so controversial. Moving academic experience online is also at the center of Adam’s manifesto, and using Canvas’ potential with Google docs and group chats more effectively for group work is a big part of this, as well as moving to exclusively online hand-ins. Adam’s final focus is on fight-

"Moving academic experience online is also at the centre of Adam's manifesto...using Canvas' potential with Google docs and group chats"

on making sure there are strong voices to fight against the Teaching Excellence Framework, believing that charging higher fees is not the way forward. Keanna Williams was running for education officer but has since chosen not to stand.

ing the challenges to higher education that some students will face as a result of Brexit and recent government policy. He puts emphasis

Welfare Officer Megan Stanley

News Reporter

Alex Binnie After spending two years as the women’s officer for the Guild, Alex Binnie is running for the Welfare Officer position this year. A main focus of for Binnie is the Not On campaign: ‘The Not On campaign is something I’m really passionate about. I’m looking into providing some sort of incentive for people to get involved. We want to make sure they are gaining something by getting involved, maybe put it onto the PSA system. In general, we need more funding, I want to work with the university to make sure they get the best funding they can which will mean we can expand the campaign exponentially.’

"We don't want to scare people" Further points that Binnie is including in her campaign is to restructure counselling services and mental health support, she told Redbrick: ‘we have welfare officers in every department now but there’s not really direct training, as Welfare Officer I would be directly involved, plus bringing in student voices to help find out where it is lacking. I know for a fact people have to wait for a long time and staff are overworked.’ Binnie also wants to create a safe Selly Oak. ‘it’s been a concern at the moment. I’ll get more safety alarms and walking buses. We don’t want to scare people but make sure it’s an option so that if someone is scared to walk home alone they have the

choice’ . Henny Green The Sports Science student told Redbrick that her role as course representative and summer camp mentor have given her adequate experience to be Welfare Officer.

"I’d actually like to have a sexual health clinic" If elected she hopes to provide night buses: ‘Students have felt unsafe walking home at night and I want to change this. I’d quite like them to be on Sports Night and Fab because that’s when most of the issues have happened. Also on certain days from the library, because sometimes students won’t go to the library because they’re scared to walk home at night.’ Green also wants to increase awareness about sexual health: ‘I’d actually like to have a sexual health clinic on campus, this would help increase awareness and remove stigma. It would be targeting the Umbrella Health group, who are currently helping out giving free condoms.’ She would also continue to work with the welfare tutors: ‘Ross has been working on providing training but I would like to build on this by having welfare tutors actually check in on students because I think some students are scared about asking for second help.’ Green would also like to implement a ‘buddy system’ in departments, she told Redbrick: ‘Some subjects might have a mentor scheme, but no one knows about it. By calling it the “buddy scheme” it will be generalised between departments and I’d like

to encourage others to be a buddy by putting it on the PSA system.’ Rob Lawler The current Vice-President of Brumsurf, Rob Lawler, told Redbrick that if he is elected he would want to ‘make a happier university, I want to make sure people have the same access I had, if not better.’ A main point within his campaign is a 'university happiness index', when asked by Redbrick about this, Lawler did acknowledge the difficulty of implementing the scheme: ‘I want to see what kind of events and social media campaigns would make people less stressed. We would need a certain amount of funding.’ Regarding activities he wants to implement, Lawler told Redbrick: ‘we don’t really leave Selly Oak. However, Cannon Hill Park are always up for getting events in that park. It’s walking distance away and it’s a nice area for people to chill.’

"make a happier university" Lawler also includes increasing awareness of mental health within his campaign: ‘We have Mental Health Awareness week and last year they [Guild Officers] were really vocal about that. I think societies could do more about getting involved. Many members do suffer from mental health issues, but we don’t really talk about it. Obviously they can’t provide professional help but they can open up about it and make it a more discussed thing on campus.’ Anna Lyndon Fourth year psychology student, Anna Lyndon told Redbrick

she feels her four years at UoB have given her good experience to be Welfare Officer: ‘I’ve seen a lot of uni life and I’ve been involved in various societies and sports. Whatever sort of problem would come up, I would have a good understanding.’

"It's sort of glossed over as a taboo subject" A main focus of her campaign is to normalise mental health: ‘I want to improve awareness and access to the facilities we already have, as it’s not really clear where to go for help. We have Mental Health week, but other than that week it’s sort of hushed. Even if it’s good mental health and wellbeing, it’s sort of glossed over as a taboo subject. I want to support the “it’s okay to talk” campaign, because male mental health is very much overshadowed.’ In connection to this, if Lyndon is given the role of Welfare Officer, she hopes to increase mental health training. She told Redbrick: ‘As a psychology student I get access to it but it’s still quite limited because it’s so popular. So I’d like to make it so that anyone can sign up, and give everyone the chance. Outside of university it costs almost £300, so is almost inaccessible’. Cat Spencer The founding president of the BEAT society told Redbrick that through her time as president she: ‘realised there are a lot of issues that need to be changed and [that she’s] very passionate about changing them’. She told Redbrick that she wants to create welfare training

for sports and society committees: ‘They need to have basic fundamental training to support the wellbeing of their members. It’s one of the areas that isn’t welfare trained at the moment. It’ll probably take the form of a mega forum. It wouldn’t be a longwinded system.’ Another part of her campaign is representation for religious groups: ‘As a theology student, I’m exposed daily to the negative ways religions are spoken about in current media, and I don’t want those to be paralleled here at university. You should be able to have freedom of religion, I want there to be more prayer rooms on campus and make sure that extenuating circumstances are being met. I want them to have the opportunity to have bigger celebrations. I believe they should have the platform to advertise without the fear of stigmatisation.’ Spencer also wants the installation of gender neutral toilets: ‘I would make it my priority to

"they should have the platform to advertise without the fear of stigmatisation" install gender neutral toilets campus wide. People shouldn’t have to actively seek them. I want to push to make it compulsory to have a gender neutral in every department.’ Also running for this position is Huma Shaafie. who was offered an interview but did not accept.

Housing and Community Officer John Wimperis

News Reporter

Kris Ali Kris Ali thought that the Housing and Community Officer was the ‘perfect role’ for him because he’s been involved in the Guild and running events since he ‘first started at uni’. Ali told Redbrick, ‘not only do I have the credentials for [being Housing and Community Officer] but I’m also experienced as well’.

Ali also claimed to have experience with the housing side of the role too, having worked for an estate agent in the past. He said that this helps him understand landlord procedure and regulations and so he ‘can offer good advice to everybody’. One of Ali’s policies is to create a Vale Village bus service to run in the evenings so that people are not deterred about staying on campus late. It is something he would want to find money in the budget for, although pricing would

depend on the bus company. Another policy of Ali’s is to create a ‘housing app’. This would have several features, including a way for students to rate lettings agencies and landlords, Ali explained. He also said he planned for it to include a platform for students to advertise spare rooms and ‘find more compatible housemates’. Ali also spoke to Redbrick about his idea to make Meal Plan an ‘opt on’ service, as he believed this would be preferential to first

years. Asked why students should vote for him, Ali told Redbrick, ‘I think having the experience from previous events with CarnivalRAG [...] is perfect for what I can do’. Louis Holliday Louis Holliday said that he decided to run for Housing and Community Officer because ‘I do a lot of volunteering and I really enjoy being part of the community, so it really fits with

what I enjoy and what I do at university’. ‘You can get so stuck in the bubble of students,’ Holliday told Redbrick, ‘and then you realise there’s so much more out there for you to get involved in’. Holliday is involved in several volunteering programmes and is president of the Monday Night Club, which works with adults with learning disabilities. Furthermore, Holliday described the potential postponement of landlords releasing their

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Friday 17th February 2017

properties onto the letting market until January as ‘something I’m really keen on but something that I want to stress I can’t promise’. He stated, ‘I just want to take the stress out of it’. Holliday is also proposing the creation of ‘Birmingham Games’ between the city’s universities. ‘It would be more of an event in an arena-style venue where you’d have teams competing against each other,’ Holliday told Redbrick, ‘but they wouldn’t be your stereotypical sports, it would be more like activities. [...] It’s meant to be a big community event’. Another manifesto policy of Holliday’s is to give postgraduate students more housing options. Holliday highlighted an idea in which postgraduates lodge with elderly people for a lower rate of rent, a scheme currently adopted at the University of Worcester. Asked why, out of all the candidates, people should vote for him, Holliday said ‘I know that I would put in 100% effort [...] to make it a better place for students’. Grace Lynskey ‘In first year I had a lot of disruptions with not getting accommodation, commuting, changing

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halls. Pretty much every issue; I’ve had it’ said Grace Lynskey when asked why she decided to run for Housing and Communities officer. Lynskey told Redbrick that she believes ‘students really need more platforms to get support when it comes to housing.’ One of Lynskey’s policies is to give first years moving into accommodation more say in who they live with, something that Lynskey says has been effective at other universities where the accommodation application includes a ‘personality traits’ questionnaire. ‘I think it is important to mix with different kinds of people,’ stated Lynskey, ‘but also its important to be happy in your flat.’ Lynskey is also advocating for an ‘online platform’ that would ‘give students the opportunity to rate their landlords and houses,’ as currently ‘students just aren’t given the platform to speak out’. Acknowledging that ‘the issue of safety in Selly is never going to fully go away,’ Lynskey said ‘we need to think of a long term strategy’. Her idea is to create a ‘Selly Oak equivalent’ of the Residential Association scheme currently used in UoB’s halls of residence to make Selly Oak more inclusive, as

well as making it ‘quicker and easier’ to report issues. When asked why students should vote for her, Lynskey said that in ‘All areas: not just housing, not just accommodation. Every single aspect of this job role, I really feel like I’m suited to,’ Lynskey told Redbrick. Joanna Prejbeanu Joanna Prejbeanu was motivated by the issue of safety ‘in the campus and in the Selly Oak area’ to run for Housing and Communities Officer. However, she also cited how difficult it is to find a good affordable house as a reason she decided to run for the position. Prejbeanu spoke of having experience in working with people when asked what made her qualified for the role. She is currently a student representative for Government and Society. Prejbeanu told Redbrick she liked hearing feedback and that ‘where there’s more ideas, you can definitely make something great’. Prejbeanu has plans to work with the police and UoB Security to bring about night-time patrols, as well as proposing the installation of CCTV cameras in ‘areas that lack a lot of light’ to the coun-

cil. When asked how she planned to deliver on her policy of making more affordable homes in Selly Oak available through Guild Lettings, she said ‘I want to bring new landlords and I want them to co-operate with us without going to other lettings agencies’. Improving the Resident Associations’ mentor scheme is another policy of Prejbeanu’s. Prejbeanu also has plans for Freshers’ Week, including using different ‘underground clubs’ as she believes many students are tired of the week’s events being centred around the same clubs each year. When asked why students should vote for her, Prejbeanu told Redbrick, ‘I’m really passionate about people, their safety and wellbeing. I want to listen to the students’ ideas and feedback’. Tom Thornhill Tom Thornhill cited his experience with landlords as the main reason he decided to run for Housing and Community Officer. Thornhill told Redbrick, ‘I’ve seen how landlords can really take the mick with students: rip them off, threaten them with legal action.’ In fact, Thornhill’s top policy

is to ensure free legal advice is available to students. Thornhill told Redbrick that, thanks to living with the sons of two lawyers, he was able to get free legal advice when a landlord threatened them with legal action and so found that their landlord was in the wrong. He said, ‘I want to make sure that all students get the support like that they need’. Thornhill said that he was ‘pretty confident’ that local law firms would be keen to support students without a fee. However, he said that ‘if lobbying [the Guild] for money was what needed to be done, then I would do it.’ Another of Thornhill’s policies is to set up a ‘Guild supported landlord rating website’ which Thornhill described as a way for students to give their landlord a rating ‘like an Uber rating.’ Thornhill also wants to set up a ‘drop-in support centre for victims of crime’ because he claimed that often small crimes such as ‘someone’s laptop being stolen’ do not interest the police despite having a massive effect on a student’s life. Citing having worked with the Guild and run Guild societies in the past, Thornhill said ‘I really do feel like I’m qualified’ for the position.

Postgraduate Students' Officer Astrid Skjold News Reporter

Rose Bennett Rose Bennett currently serves as Postgraduate Students' Officer, and is running for the same position in the 2017 Guild Elections. Her primary motivation for reelection is to continue the work and projects she has started, as in her opinion it takes several months to properly settle into the position. In her manifesto, Bennett has identified six areas of focus.

(1) 'A graduate school that works for you'. This includes increasing the prestige and voice of the Graduate School at the University. (2) 'Include PGT students in University structures'. She thinks that postgraduate taught students should be included in the Graduate School as they are currently left out on several areas. (3) 'More Study and Social Spaces'. This will be a continuation of a project she started this year. While the lack of study spac-

es is an issue for all students, postgraduate students often feel left out and without a 'home' on campus, according to Bennett. (4) 'Better international student support'. Since the international student officer is not a full-time position, Bennett would like to take increased responsibility for the international postgraduate students. (5) 'Dedicated Academic and Welfare Support'. The Academic Skills Centre is funded by and works for undergraduate students,

postgraduate students do not have access to it. Bennett wants to expand the centre so that they are included. She also aims to establish a welfare support service specifically for postgrad students, as mental health is a pressing issue. (6) 'A fair deal for postgrads who teach'. Not much is known about the conditions for postgraduate students who teach. Bennett proposes to set up a charter, in cooperation with UCU, to make sure the students who teach are aware of their rights.

Bennett is content with her achievements from the first year, and feels like she has settled well into the role in terms of knowing who to speak to and where to go in different situations. Most satisfied is she with having arranged a welcome week for postgrads at the beginning of this academic year, emphasising the importance of a strong postgrad community.

community she proposes a monthly magazine in her manifesto to increase sponsorship and draw people into watch University sport. The magazine would include match reports and special features on events like Lockdown or Xplosion. Believing that sport is a big part of university that everyone should be able to experience, widening sports for all abilities is key for Lewis and has proposed more ‘Try Sports’ sessions to encourage newcomers.

as soon as it opens, she remains confident that it will be a fantastic addition to campus worth waiting for. Lewis combines a passion for helping sports clubs not only in higher performing areas but at grassroots level with a dedicated and determined attitude.

community and work on establishing drop-in netball or football sessions which students would be able to easily opt in on a no-commitment basis.

Also running for the position are Sarah Chung and Rosanna Rackley, who were offered interviews but did not accept.

Sports Officer Emily Darby News Reporter

Helena Bailey While studying Sport Science as well as in her role as Social Secretary of Cheerleading, Helena says she has always been passionate about making a difference in sport at Birmingham, which pushed her to run for Sports Officer.

"campus wide sports day which would involve activities from as many sports teams as possible" As part of her manifesto, she hopes to develop an app that will focus on improving the availability of Sports Night tickets, featuring a reserve and collection system – it would also display results for minority and majority sports equally. Speaking about the delayed

opening of the new 360 sports centre, Helena understands the delay may be incremental in perfecting new facilities but above all emphasises the importance of students gaining priority times above the public and hopes to work towards scrapping 12-month contracts for a more flexible system. She praises current Sports Officer Georgie Freeman’s progress with the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign and hopes to further the success. The final part of Helena’s manifesto discusses a campus wide sports day which would involve activities from as many sports teams as possible, all-inclusive activities and performances. Helena reaffirms that her passion and commitment to sport drives her to fight for the student voice to be heard across sport at Birmingham. Georgie Lewis Club Captain of Netball, Georgie Lewis tells Redbrick she’s been involved in sports the three years she has been here, dedicated and passionate about her sport, she decided to run for Sports Officer to enact substantial change. To increase knowledge of Birmingham sport in the local

"widening sports for all abilities is key for Lewis and has proposed more ‘Try Sports’ sessions" Lewis tells us she was lucky enough to have been given an exclusive tour of the new sports centre which has given her a special insight into the high-tech facilities inside. Although she plans to utilise it

Alice Perkins Being on the scholarship programme for Athletics, Perkins says she had strong connections with sports at UoB from the beginning, something she believes will help her to make an impact as Sports Officer. She proposes improved connections between sports clubs, starting off by sharing club successes on social media and celebrating Birmingham achievements in the wider community rather than exclusively amongst teams. Mental health workshops will also be a key focus for Perkins who hopes to improve provisions and access to mental health organisations across sports clubs, culminating in a fundraising sports day to raise awareness with activities that everyone can get involved in. Accessibility to sport is therefore pivotal in her campaign. She wants to eliminate the elitist attitude within the sporting

"She wants to eliminate the elitist attitude within the sporting community" Perkins also expressed her frustration at the lack of clarity surrounding the opening of the new gym but proposes sport club specific inductions to the hightech facilities once it’s open as well as throwing out 12- month contracts. Perkins says her confident and open personality fused with realistic goals is what makes her stand out and urges you to expect big things if she were to be elected. Also running for the position is Julio Tugnoli, who was offered an interview but did not accept.

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University Of Birmingham Gets With BAE UoB has formed a partnership with UK weapons manufacturer BAE Systems that will lead to closer work on ‘exciting research and innovation’ John Wimperis News Reporter @john_wimperis

The ‘strategic framework agreement’ will allow BAE Systems to share its future aims with the University of Birmingham (UoB) and to ensure its expertise is more closely aligned with the company's activities. UoB is one of a small number of universities to sign such an agreement with BAE systems as it reviews its university partnerships. The University’s website states that this will strengthen UoB’s relationship with the company in terms of research, education, and consultancy. BAE Systems has employed UoB students taking a Year in

Industry. It has also collaborated with the University on projects such as SAMULET, a programme to accelerate development of more productive and environmental

"BAE Systems has been at the centre of a number of corruption scandals and cases of wrongdoing" methods of manufacturing, and the ORCHID project, which looks at how humans and computers can work together more effectively. However, BAE Systems is pri-

marily a weapons manufacturer, It was also revealed by the drawing over 90% of its revenue Guardian to have made secret payfrom its activities in defence. In ments totalling over one million 2016, it was ranked as the pounds to former Chilean third largest defence dictator Augusto company in the world Pinochet. and the largest in Furthermore, as the UK. recently as 2010, BAE Systems the company has been at the plead guilty to centre of a ‘conspiring to BAE Systems' number of cordefraud the ruption scandals United States’ Revenue from and cases of and was ordered defence wrongdoing. In a to pay a criminal move condemned fine of $400 milactivities by the World Bank, lion. the company once UoB has only attempted to sell outdated released vague details of technology to the developing what its partnership with such a nation of Tanzania at what was company will entail, but reportedly eight times the price of Engineering Pro Vice Chancellor an up to date system. Professor Andy Schofield said

90%

‘our partnerships with industry are key to delivering our strategy and this agreement will support the continued growth of this relationship over the coming years.’ Jennifer Osbaldestin, BAE Systems' Land Managing Director, was also optimistic and claimed that the partnership was ‘great news for BAE Systems and the wider UK engineering industry.’ She claimed that it ‘ties in perfectly with our business strategy to develop new technology and give our customers an essential edge.’ Customers of BAE Systems include Saudi Arabia, to whom they continue to sell planes despite the Kingdom having used BAEmanufactured planes to bomb hospitals in Yemen run by the Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières.

Birmingham Student Unions Unite Over Brexit Astrid Skjold News Reporter

Representing more than 74,000 students across Birmingham, Student Union presidents from the University of Birmingham (UoB), Aston University and Birmingham City University (BCU) unite to confront central government with concerns over the uncertainty Brexit poses to Higher Education in the UK. In a manifesto submitted to several politicians, including 10 Downing Street, the three presidents outlined their concerns over the ‘threat that Brexit poses to both our city and education system [which] is severe and must be taken into account'. They challenge the government on five key issues: ‘community cohesion, the right for EU citizens to live and work in the

UK, the preservation of the Erasmus Scheme (which allows thousands of students to study abroad every year), the ring-fencing of £836 million research funding (equivalent to that attracted from the EU) and protection of apprenticeships for Birmingham’s young people'.

"The manifesto calls for priority to the promotion of community cohesion in EU negotiations" The concern for community cohesion is a response to the increase in hate crime and racial harassment since the EU referen-

dum last June. The manifesto calls for priority to the promotion of community cohesion in EU negotiations, as well as protection and rights for the families who have built their lives in the UK. The three presidents celebrate, on behalf of thousands of students, the diversity that EU citizens bring to Birmingham. Ellie Keiller, President of UoB's Guild of Students, told Redbrick that she is concerned about the future of the Erasmus scheme in the UK. Between 20142020 the Erasmus+ programme has secured £14.7bn in investment, which has benefited many Birmingham students. While the government has promised that students currently under the scheme will not be affected, the future of Erasmus in the UK will be a part of the Brexit negotiations. The manifesto asks

that continued access to Erasmus becomes a key part of the negotiations.

"A letter from 10 Downing Street states that Prime Minister May's schedule does not allow for a personal meeting" By February 9th, when Redbrick spoke to Keiller, she had received three responses from central government. The first response came from the Department of Education, and states what is

already known: current Erasmus students will not be affected, but the future of the scheme will be determined in the negotiations. A letter from 10 Downing Street states that Prime Minister May's schedule does not allow for a personal meeting, but they have forwarded the manifesto to the Department for Exiting the European Union. Roughly a week later, a letter from the latter Department arrived expressing the possibility of a personal meeting with the authors of the Manifesto. Keiller will continue to push Higher Education's agenda, and hopes to arrange a meeting with the Department for Exiting the European Union. She is also content that the Department of Education has stated that they will take the Manifesto into consideration in the following negotiations.

Bournbrook Halls Ready For September Intake Astrid Skjold News Reporter

Among the current development projects on campus is the Bournbrook hall of residence. The construction of the halls by the University's Grange Road gate will be ready to welcome students arriving in September 2017. The £20 million project was announced in August 2014, and the construction began last spring. In September, the University's newest student hall of residence will be ready to accommodate 178 students across 34 flats. The flats are self-catered with en-suite bathrooms, shared kitchens and lounges. 11 of the rooms will have wheelchair access. The total cost of a 42-weeks contract for the 2017/2018 academic year is £5928, a weekly cost of £143. A second year History student told Redbrick, ‘I would never pay that amount for halls accommoda-

tion and I can’t believe that that is a reasonable price for the facilities. It makes me wonder how much profit the university is making and where it goes’ Located by the Grange Road gate, the communal areas of the halls will have open views towards campus and Selly Oak. The halls also aim to contribute to the local atmosphere with a café open to the community. Bournbrook is situated right across from the sports pitches, with which the residence shares its name. Although not ready in September, Bournbrook will at some point during the next academic year become the home of the University's new sports pavilion. The pavilion will include eight changing rooms, a cafe, a bar, and a function room with sports facilities, and will work in conjunction with the new sports centre now scheduled to be completed this spring.

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Government To Sell Off Student Loans

News' Emily Darby reports on plans to sell off student loans for a £12 billion profit Emily Darby News Reporter @themainemily

Billions of pounds worth of student debt will be sold to private investors by the Government which could prove problematic for both students and taxpayers. Students who took out loans before 2012 may now have to make payments to private companies instead to the Student Loans Company. This that will mean private investors will be able to control the amount they take from students. The Treasury is expected to gain £12 billion from the sale. The NUS have criticised the government’s ‘ugly move’ on students, despite reassurances from University Minister, Jo Johnson that the changes would have minimal impact on graduates’ loans. Sorana Vieru, NUS Vice President of Higher Education, said, ‘selling the loan book to investors is privatisation through the back door. It is outrageous that bankers will profit off the backs of graduates who took out loans

because they had no other option’. Although it is thought that the money gained from the sales is likely to be less than the face value price, due to the fact that a huge proportion of student loans will not be repaid in full, the government will make a profit in selling the 2002/06 student loan book, which had a face value price of £4 billion in the 2014/15 financial year.

"Students and graduate borrowers will be right to be alarmed" The move to sell the student loan book was thrown out by former business secretary Vince Cable in 2014 who thought it would not prove profitable enough to the Government. However, in the next year the Government plans to sell off loans taken out

before 2012, valued at £9,000 per student. Estelle Clark, advisory board member for the Intergenerational Foundation think-tank condemns the move, calling it a ‘bad idea for students and taxpayers’. She commented, ‘students and graduate borrowers will be right to be alarmed by this announcement: their loans will be controlled by private purchasers whose legitimate intention is to extract as much money as possible from graduate borrowers’. A major concern amongst financial experts is that although the Government has reassured students will not be made worse off by the sales, it has frequently broken its promises in the past. Clarke warns, ‘the government has a track record of breaking its promises; its "press" position cannot be relied upon’. Students in the UK have faced constant changes to the cost of their student loans which prompts uncertainty amongst the undergraduate population. This is something that has been reiterated by the University and Colleges Union.

They said, ‘this is a government that has already moved the goalposts on loan repayment to sting graduates with higher charges, so you can forgive our scepticism when the minister says people with student debts have nothing to fear.’

"This sale will have no impact on people with student loans" However, amongst the scepticism, both the Department for Education (DfE) and Nick Hillman, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, have praised the positive outlook of the move. Hillman argues that by selling off student loans the Government will be forced to make payment agreements clearer in the future. Universities Minister Jo Johnson has said that this is all part of the government’s plan to

bring ‘public finances under control’ and that ‘this sale will have no impact on people with student loans’. Nevertheless, UCAS has claimed that they have experienced a drop in applicants due to the financial burden placed on students, this new move by the government sparks fears that the situation will only get worse. With Brexit added into the mix, Clarke ponders what impact the Government’s latest move will have on applicant figures: ‘as students and their parents begin to understand the impact of this, more and more people will shy away from university at a time when receipts from EU students are less certain because of Brexit’. Much uncertainty remains over the structure of the proposal though it is thought that investor groups would include insurers, pension funds and asset managers who would buy into the securitised student debt. The process would take several months and would be dependent on ‘market conditions’ according to the Government.

‘Snowflake’ Students Threaten University Free Speech John Wimperis News Reporter @John_Wimperis

Senior academics have been critical of ‘snowflake’ students and their efforts to restrict hate in universities, fearing that it will constrain free speech. Such criticism was prompted by the progression of the Higher Education and Research Bill through Parliament. The Bill, if passed, would allow universities to raise fees by a certain amount each year. How much would be decided based on a score determined by a number of factors, including student satisfaction as measured in the National Student Survey (NSS). Baroness Wolf, a professor at King’s College London who was

given a seat in the House of Lords by David Cameron, told the Telegraph that she feared taking student satisfaction into account would have ‘a real effect on the willingness of universities to stand up to student demands.’ Examples of student demands which Wolf gave were, ‘removing statues, safe spaces, and no-platforming’ which she claimed are ‘a threat to academic standards and the ability of universities to stand up for freedom of speech.’ Safe spaces are offered at UoB in the form of the Guild Building and the option to choose an LGBT accommodation when applying. Guild of Students President Ellie Keiller defended the use of no-platforming at UoB. She told Redbrick that the Guild is ‘committed to upholding freedom of

speech on campus and supports student groups to host external speakers and debates’ but that they had a responsibility to ensure that

"Guild of Students President Ellie Keiller defended the use of no-platforming at UoB" students could make use of the Guild ‘free from any fear of discrimination or threat due to their ethnicity, sexuality, disability or any other factor.’ Keiller claimed that ‘this

means, on very rare occasions, providing no platform to groups that pose a threat to the safety of our students.’ Nevertheless, Wolf’s negative views of such practices are shared by many others, including the Prime Minister herself. In September, May called the concept of safe spaces ‘quite extraordinary’. Safe spaces are areas which operate zero-tolerance policies for behaviour such as racism or homophobia and are designed to offer a retreat to students that experience them. In her criticism of safe spaces, Theresa May said that she wanted universities to be places of ‘open debate which is challenged and people can get involved in that.’ Other academics have also shared similar concerns to Wolf.

Gill Evans, an emeritus professor at Cambridge University told the Telegraph that universities would be more likely to give in to students’ demands because they would ‘stand more to suffer for fighting.’ Another peer, crossbencher Baroness Deech, attempted to add two amendments to the bill to defend what she believes is essential to maintain academic freedom. She told the Telegraph that one amendment requires universities to protect free speech that is within the law ‘so that lecturers on unpopular subjects are not shut down’ while the second compels universities to act harder to prevent illegal hate speech.

Black Students Struggle To Gain University Places Gregory Robinson News Editor

Figures released by UCAS have revealed Black students continue to struggle to gain undergraduate university places in the UK despite a record number of applicants with stronger qualifications in comparison to previous years. The figures show the number of admissions granted to Black students failed to match what their qualifications and subject choices would suggest. A record number of applications were submitted by Black students in addition to better predicted A-level grades and equivalent qualifications, which are used by universities when granting students places. Only 70% of Black applicants were offered a place in comparison to 78% of White applicants

and 73% of Asian applicants. According to UCAS’s predictions, 73% of Black applicants should have been successful. The number of Black students applying to Russell Group universities receiving offers also decreased despite a rise in applications from ‘qualified’ students – students who meet the criteria of the university. While 61% of Black applicants were awarded places, according to UCAS calculations, 64% should have been successful. Speaking about the issue, a representative for Cambridge said the University’s admissions were based on ‘academic considerations alone.’ Meanwhile, Oxford said it was aware that ‘there is still work to be done, particularly in terms of offer rates to Black and Asian students’. According to UCAS data from 2016, ‘only 756 young Black stu-

dents applied with grades equiva- ties. lent to AAA or better. Just 17% of The news prompted Professor Black students applied with grades Les Ebdon, Director of Fair equivalent to AAB or better Access to Higher Education to compared to 29% of Asian call on universities to students, 339 mixed work harder to attract ethnicity students more young people and 31% of White from underreprestudents.’ sented groups. While univerEbdon said: ‘I sities are encourstrongly encouraged to give age universities Number of offers to students to make use of Black applicants this data when from a wider range of backplanning their with AAA grades strategies grounds, the probto in 2016 lem may lie with improve access. students from workAn evidence-based ing class or ethnic approach is crucial if backgrounds not receivwe are to make further, ing the academic support they faster progress in opening need during their time at second- higher education to everyone ary school and/or sixth form in with the talent to benefit from preparation for applying to pres- it.’ tigious Russell Group universiEbdon added that he hopes

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the data will help universities to ‘identify cold spots in their student population.’ Wendy Piatt, Director of the Russell Group said: ‘The root causes of underrepresentation are complex and a wide range of factors need to be taken into account to fully understand them. However, we must remember that this data does not take into account some important aspects of the application such as subject choice and relevance to degree course, the exact profile of the predicted grades, or other factors such as the personal statement, teacher references or interviews. The new UCAS data comes after university’s face criticism regarding their representation of Black and Asian students and those from disadvantaged areas and working class backgrounds in comparison to their White peers.

COMMENT

Friday 17th February 2017

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Speak Out, Labour! Zoe Olukoga wonders where is the voice of the opposition in today's government Zoe Olukoga Comment Writer

At the end of January, the Supreme Court of the UK ruled that Britain could not trigger Article 50 of the TFEU, thereby removing Britain from the EU, without the consent of Parliament in some form. While incredibly, the involvement of the court received a significant amount of backlash, for me it was a welcome reinforcement of the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty - which says that no one is above the law and the Government is subordinate to

"A strong opposition to ensure that the views of those, both in support of and opposed to the policies of the party in Government are heard" Parliament who is elected by the people. Honestly, whether you agreed with Brexit or believed that Remain was the name of the game, I don’t think you can

credibly dispute the fact ‘Brexit’ needs to be in accordance with due process in order to ensure that we do not replicate the ‘illegitimate’, ‘undemocratic’ leadership of the EU, which some argued as their cause for voting to exit. The Courts certainly didn’t think this would work in any case. And to me, the alternative, in which we had ‘Brexited’ without parliamentary consent, would set a new precedent for essentially autocratic action of the government, which is a little scary to think about. In the wake of a similar action of the court in the US putting a halt to President Trump’s immigration ban, I have thought about the checks and balances needed in a proper and working (liberal) democracy; this includes a strong opposition party to hold the party in Government to account. A strong opposition to ensure that the views of those both in support of, and opposed to, the policies of the majority party, are heard. A body engaging the ruling party in debate issues for the benefit of the public. A necessary requirement that currently is just not fulfilled in this country. Now, this isn’t another article about what the Left needs to do, or whether Corbyn’s stint as Labour leader has been a mad, bad, sad or perhaps even a necessary period in Labour’s political history. The attempted coup

of Jeremy Corbyn has been, politically-speaking, one of the most fascinating things that I have ever watched in my life. So used to seeing insults traded across the floor in the last almost 2 years, we’ve watched such sentiments directed at each other while the PLP has decidedly turned in on itself. As an interested spectator of ‘the game’ that is politics, I have been sorely disappointed at the wasted opportunity that the Brexit campaign, vote, and events in its wake have been for the Labour Party. The last 9 months presented an opportunity for Labour to capitalise on the often turbulent post-brexit political landscape and appear a strong, united party with the interest of the average person at heart. But, as a citizen, I am given pause by a present situation, where in the sustained absence of a strong opposition, for most intents and purposes, the status of a one party state is not such a fallacious claim to make about the country. In an interview earlier this month with Sophy Ride on Sky News, Labour MP Harriet Harman proposed that Labour is currently failing in its role as the leading opposition party. She suggested Labour are not presenting a credible alternative to government, resulting in a scenario where polls demonstrate extremely low support for the

party, and leaving the Government with nothing to worry about where Labour is

"The status of a one party state is not such a fallacious claim to make about the country." concerned. People will debate her motives for saying such things; not that I’m a cynic, but where you find political statements

made on public platforms in this way, there are always agendas to consider, whether magnanimous or otherwise. Yet, honestly, in a situation where shadow front bench MPs have shifted position as though in a game of musical chairs, and with all the strategy that suggests, unfortunately she’s right. At present, no one can claim that to be the case for the party as a whole. Despite the tension that acting purely on behalf of the public interest can have, with full engagement with ‘The Game’ on both sides, a strong Labour party is necessary for the fully functioning liberal democracy in which we purport to live.

Farewell to Wigs in The Commons Bea Harvie is concerned about social progress in 2017 Bea Harvie Comment Writer

Quick, someone call the sixteenth century! They’ll want to hear about this. It isn’t really as dramatic as it seems. John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, has announced that House clerks are no longer required to wear powdered wigs, in a bid to make Parliament 'less stuffy'. In a speech to the House, he announced that a parliamentary committee had made the change at the request of the clerks themselves, ruling that the senior clerks who sit 'at the bench' are no longer required to wear 'full court dress'.

"This country is absolutely obsessed with tradition, it’s an inescapable fact of the British" Full court dress involves a powdered wig, a gown and some peculiar looking collar which looks like someone stapled two pieces of card together. Under the

new House rules, clerks only have to keep the robes to distinguish them from the members of parliament and denote them as experts in the practices of the House. But no more stuffy wigs. I imagine a sigh of relief went through the senior clerks at this. Can you imagine how uncomfortable those things must be? Imagine having to wear a wig every day, just because someone a couple of hundred years ago decided it was fashionable. Of course, the traditionalists are in uproar! How could he denounce tradition like that! It’s almost as if they’ve expected time to stand perfectly still the past

couple of centuries. I imagine being told that wigs aren’t actually necessary for the running of parliament, might actually make them put their tea down. But they aren’t going to press too hard, clerks still keep the robes. Baby steps. This country is absolutely obsessed with tradition, it’s an inescapable fact of the British. I mean, there are a whole wealth of people determined that tradition should not hamper progress, but at the same time, those in positions of power cling to the trappings of antiquated practices. In 2008, there were reforms in the formal dress of barristers at the

criminal and civil courts, asking that formal court dress be relaxed, as least. It took quite a while for any sort of changes, but the distinct formal dress of all courts above the Magistrates were changed little. Cap and gown were still expected, because it leant 'familiarity' and gave a 'strong identification' with others

"By doing “what is done”, the illusion of power, of a specific hierarchy, is maintained" of their profession. The rule still stands that if a judge is robed, the barristers must also be robed. In America, they wear suits, in the UK, they look like they’ve stepped out of a barely identifiable time period. Barristers represent modern period dress. What is the point of tradition? Some is merely ornamental, like the Queen. There was the big 'sapphire jubilee' excitement a few days ago. I mean, kudos for staying in the job that long Your Majesty, but what is the purpose

of the Monarchy nowadays? They’re just there for tourism really. All the power is (regrettably) in the hands of Theresa May, our current Prime Minister, and her yes-men government. Tradition is about maintaining power. It’s about doing things purely because ‘it is what is done’. By doing 'what is done', the illusion of power, of a specific hierarchy, is maintained. But tradition is outdated, it is stuffy and it doesn’t fit with the 21st century way of doing things. Removing wigs from clerks in Parliament seems like a tiny little thing, but to some, it is a huge step towards chaos and disorder, maybe even a revolution. Who knows. Maybe they’ll take tea time and digestives away next. Imagine the horror! As for the wigs, I think it is only fair. Those poor clerks have to listen to MPs go for the jugular repeatedly (can you imagine having to scribe Question Time?) and they have to do so in wigs and gowns where the MPs just have to wear something resembling a suit. Cut the clerks some slack, they just want to avoid overheating and embrace the 21st century. Times move on, some of our older institutions need to catch up.

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Friday 17th February 2017

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Donald Trump And Theresa May: They Don't Speak For Me Kat Smith wants the government to speak out against Trump's state visit Kat Smith

Comment Writer

Throughout Trump’s position in the public eye, during his initial rise to fame, the election campaign and eventual win for Presidency in November 2016, he has gone far from unnoticed by us in the UK. Our newspapers, Facebook feeds and conversations have been flooded with his ludicrous remarks and propositions displaying possibly every form of ignorance possible. The occasional meme has lessened the pain of knowing that such a man is now the most powerful in the world but since his inauguration, the reality is starting to hit. As of this article being written, a petition asking for Trump to be prevented from having a State Visit to the UK has gained over 1.8 million signatures. The petition states that Trump’s 'misogyny and vulgarity' means he shouldn’t be allowed to be in the company of the Queen or the Prince of Wales. The thought of appeasing Trump just because of his power is ludicrous to me; surely we need to show that we don’t stand for such behaviour so that there’s some kind of chance that it’ll stop.

Nonetheless, Theresa May has stated that the invitation remains. It must be questioned whether the voice of the British people is valued. After huge protests all over the UK (and many other countries) last week, against what’s been called by the press and public the ‘Muslim Ban’, it’s clear that the masses are disgusted with Trump’s behaviour. This travel ban is now in limbo after unsurprising questions over its lawfulness, yet where is the Prime Minister's condemnation of it?

"We are living through something that will one day make up the pages of a history book" I can’t help but feel that the sign stating 'Appeasement doesn’t work with tyrants. Just ask Chamberlain' couldn’t be truer in such a situation. We spend years in school learning about tyrants in history and how we should condemn those who try and pull society down and isolate groups of people, yet as soon it happens in front of our

eyes, when we protest and petition and make our voices heard, our leader fails to listen. We are living through something that will one day make up the pages of a history book. It’s still a mystery to me how Trump was allowed to become President of the United States in the first place but, now that our own Prime Minister is failing to consider the uproar over it, there is little incentive to act against it. So many of us are united in our opposition to Trump, but it’s disheartening to see little done about it. One positive development is Speaker John Bercow saying that President Trump will be unable to address Parliament, calling it an ‘earned honour’. You don’t need reminding of Trump’s views and personality; there’s no doubt that this honour hasn’t been earned. Despite applaud from many in the House, there has been uproar about Bercow’s comments about Trump from senior Conservatives amongst others. A place for debate and differing political views, it may be said that Bercow’s opposition to Trump poses a threat to freedom of speech. Others have commented that Bercow’s position means he should be above such debate.

Bercow commented that, in relation to Trump’s visit, 'I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.' I firmly agree; it’s not an acceptable form of freedom of speech if that speech intends to impeach on the rights of other people. When you are able to find a ‘Donald Trump sexism tracker’ online, there’s quite clearly a problem. It’s

ridiculous that this has to be said about a political leader, but Trump would add nothing valuable to a political discussion. It seems that Trump’s ignorance would ensure that any explanation and debate showing why he’s wrong would go in one ear and out the other. We need to show our contempt for Trump, even if May doesn’t. I didn’t sit through years of history classes to suddenly believe that appeasing a tyrant could ever make them less dangerous.

No More Fake News! Jadzia Samuel implores for media outlets to tell the truth Jadzia Samuel Comment Writer

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. We hear people say this over and over again and we have become accustomed to mistrusting online articles which pump the masses with misleading or false information. We know that to find a more reliable source, we should turn to respected newspapers, news channels, or politicians with power and knowledge about our country. Shouldn’t we?

"One of the most influential women in the American Government... repeatedly portrayed an entirely fictitious event" We trust that politicians will speak with facts based on grounded research. They are, after all, the people who have the most access to information and the most influence over the countries which they serve. Or

at least that is the theory. Only last week, in an interview with Chris Matthews on MSNBC, Donald Trump’s Counsellor, Kellyanne Conway, referenced a 'Bowling Green Massacre', and claimed that 'most people don’t know [about it] because it didn’t get covered.' This massacre never happened. It was an entirely fabricated event. Although, two Iraqi men from this area were indeed convicted of attempting to send weapons to al-Qaida, no violence and no 'massacre' actually ever took place. Despite Conway’s claim, after having received an incredible amount

of backlash, that this was simply an 'honest mistake', she had also previously spoken to Cosmopolitan about the 'Bowling Green massacre [which took] innocent soldiers’ lives away', and therefore was evidently invested in the creation of this blatant lie. We cannot ignore the fact that one of the most influential women in the American Government has repeatedly portrayed an entirely fictitious event – a lie which has been projected on platforms that are accessible by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Conway’s lies contribute to the fear-mongering attitude in the Western world, designed to rally people

in a frenzy of Islamophobia. This perpetuation of lies and vindictive mindset is the very sort of thing which fuels hate crimes, such as the horrific shooting in Quebec Mosque in Canada on January 29th. It is not only this one-off

"It is shocking and terrifying to see how Trump’s control of the media appears almost dictatorshiplike" occasion wherein deliberate fabrications have been broadcasted globally; the President himself can be found guilty of spreading countless lies, including ones regarding climate change. Trump’s infamous denial of global warming as 'a hoax invented by the Chinese to undermine US economy', has not only been widely repeated, but has had genuine consequences. In addition to his denial, Trump successfully erased all mention of the global crisis from the White House Website, banned all Environmental Protection Agencies from access to social media, and had Badlands

National Park’s twitter account temporarily suspended after some tweets regarding climate change. The National Park, whose account was later restored, then tweeted an apology claiming to 'regret the mistaken RTs from our account yesterday'. It is shocking and terrifying to see how Trump’s control of the media appears almost dictatorship-like. He has the power to impose censorship in the media, controlling what ‘truth’ is received by the public, and allowing his lies to dominate. I am sat here asking myself, how is this legal? When politicians spread such weighty lies with such potential for disastrous consequences, is it time to question the legality of these actions? When they consciously lie about matters of such extreme importance, should there be legal consequences? We cannot allow this misrepresentation of information to be perpetuated without some sort of retaliation. There must come a point at which these lies become too harmful to the public to be allowed to continue. The law must take a stand in order to protect us all; we are all endangered by this formulation of ignorance and deceit.

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UoB gets to the Heart of Cardiac Screenings with CRY Sports Officer Georgie Freeman, the Guild of Students and UB Sport endorse cardiac screenings which are due to take place at the UoB School Nicola Kenton Sports Online Editor @Nicola_Kenton

shown that 80% of those who have an undiagnosed condition will have no signs or symptoms, thus the screenings are very important. After Freeman and UB Sport promoted the events through social media, both days of scheduled appointments were fully booked. When speaking about the screening, Freeman said, 'It's such a good thing, it's a free service which is happening down the road and the process is easy so people should take advantage of it.'

On 21st and 22nd February, the University of Birmingham school will host Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) - a charity dedicated to helping raise awareness of potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions and to provide cardiac screenings for those aged between 14 and 35, as well as having a bereavement service to deal with sudden cardiac death. Every week in the UK, 12 young people aged 14-35 die from an undiagnosed heart condition. This fact is shocking, but there is something that can improve this statistic - cardiac screening. If cardiac screening was compulsory for those between the ages of 14 and 35, the risk would be significantly reduced. The screening process itself takes less than 20 minutes. It is an Electrocardiogram (ECG), which takes only 5-10 minutes to perform. In order to be tested by CRY, you have to prebook onto a session and fill in a form about your medical history, as well as a consent form. Once the test has taken place,a doctor Originally the idea was for the uses the results and your personal screenings to take place on camand family’s medical history to pus, but that proved difficult and establish if there are any cardiac the UoB school had the space that abnormalities. Of those who are was needed. If you have booked tested, approximately 5-10% an appointment, you can either require a follow up test of an walk to it or catch the shuttle bus echocardiogram with 2-4% being to the Selly Oak campus and walk diagnosed with cardiac abnormal- to the school from there. Guild ities. Advice will be on hand if anyThe screenings that CRY pro- body is worried about the appointvides are funded by those families ments or the potential outcome who have lost a loved one to sud- and as stated, even though heart den cardiac death. For example, abnormalities are found, it is usuthe upcoming screening at the ally only among 2-4% of those UoB school is funded in memory tested. UB Sport will also be on of Kevin Paterson and has been hand with advice for any athletes organised by a lecturer at the who have decided to get tested university. Initially the dependent on their plan was to have athresults. letes at UoB’s Although sports clubs testundiagnosed ed, however heart condiafter working tions are rare, with Sports there have Officer been many Georgie high profile Freeman examples of aged 14-35 die screening sportspeoevery week from has now ple being undiagnosed heart been opened affected in up to all UoB the last five conditions staff and stuyears. dents. One of the Recent studmost well known ies have shown cases in recent that it is not just years was Fabrice competitive athletes Muamba, who collapsed who are at risk of young sudduring an FA Cup match in den cardiac death. Over a period 2012 and went into cardiac arrest. of four years, approximately Muamba, whose heart stopped for 30,000 young people were 78 minutes, later retired from screened via an ECG, had their football and now has an ICD; an medical history reviewed and internal defibrillator to prevent were given a physical examina- him from entering cardiac arrest tion. Findings showed that 87 again. conditions which are identifiers Last year, England cricketer for young sudden cardiac death James Taylor had to retire due to were diagnosed and of these, 72 Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular were diagnosed directly from an Arrhythmia (ARVC). The condiECG test. Moreover, it has been tion was discovered after Taylor

"Approximately 5-10% of people require a follow up test of an echocardiogram with 2-4% of those being diagnosed with cardiac abnormalities"

12 young people

missed a warm-up game against Cambridge MCCU thinking he had a viral condition but instead tests revealed the underlying heart condition and he has also had an internal defibrillator fitted. Another example is that of former footballer Tobi Alabi - a professional who collapsed during a match aged 19 years old. Alabi now campaigns to raise awareness of cardiac health in the game of football with the goal of providing community screenings and CPR training for those at academy level. National Badminton League player for the University of Birmingham, Gary Fox, is another athlete who has a heart condition. Fox was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat, and has had a catheter ablation to try and fix the condition. February is National Heart have screening dates throughout Month and there are many cam- the month. The Chief Executive paigns which are taking place of the charity has also stated to raise awareness of difthat although the BHF ferent cardiac issues. are correct in stating The British Heart that 12 young peoFoundation have ple die every week released their from an undiagannual advert, nosed cardiac which is demcondition not onstrating that all of these conis National Heart heart disease ditions are can strike at inherited or due Month, a month of any point and to a genetic raising awareness kill somebody cause and thereof cardiac health close to you. fore it is imperaMoreover, those tive that screenwho have inheriting takes place so ed heart conditions that these deaths are can pass them onto stopped. their children unknowingThe Heart4More ly. The BHF’s research is helping Foundation is run by Tobi Alabi. to discover which genes are faulty Recently, his campaign has seen and causing these inherited heart Arsenal FC players Alex Oxladeconditions. Chamberlain, Hector Bellerin, Cardiac Risk in the Young Chuba Akpom and Danielle Carter

February

My Story For much of my school life, I swam competitively and I had my heart tested aged 13 due to other medical conditions. It was at this point that I discovered I had a low pulse rate of 42 beats per minute, but at the time, I was told this was because I swam five times week and I was just an incredibly 'fit' person. I stopped training for swimming in my last year of school and did not start again until the second year of university. I took up a membership with Munrow and was swimming every week, sometimes twice. In February I went for a routine doctor's appointment and my pulse was queried as it was very low and my blood pressure was high. At a followup appointment in March, my blood pressure was back to normal, however my pulse rate was even lower at just 34bpm.

I was advised to have an ECG and some blood tests, andwhen the results came back they were abnormal. I was told that I potentially had a heart condition similar to Fabrice Muamba and that I should go to A&E to make sure. After a few hours and many tests, it was found that I had congenital heart block and would need a pacemaker. This was

take part in cooking challenges with recipes that are good for cardiac health. This is alongside the workshop programme that he runs in conjunction with schools and football clubs to teach staff and students about symptoms of arrhythmia’s or cardiac arrest, as well as how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator. So, if you haven't managed to book onto this free screening session there are many that take place up and down the country. All you have to do is check Cardiac Risk in the Young's website: www.testmyheart.org or for more information about undiagnosed heart conditions visit www.c-r-y.org.uk.

shocking but also reassuring. I had my pacemaker fitted in June 2015 and since then I regularly have my heart monitored while gradually increasing the amount of exercise I do. None of this would have happened without that ECG test. I was lucky to find out about my heart condition when I did. I’ve had it since I was born and it had silently been there throughout my competitive swimming days; things could have ended badly. Thankfully my increased amount of exercise at university meant that an abnormality was spotted and I could have the life-saving device of my pacemaker fitted. I was 19 at my diagnosis and 20 when it was fitted, but I could have continued for years without it ever coming to the fore. Due to that one test I now know that I’m safer than I was before.

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Buttermilk Pancakes with Maple Bacon Will Haynes

Onion Bhaji Pancakes

Sahar Jamfar Food Writer Serves 4

Food Writer

You Will Need:

This is an overindulgent American take on the Shrove Tuesday staple. With a hint of sour buttermilk, sticky sweet syrup and salty smoked bacon, this flavour combo could be the one to dethrone that stalwart of pancake toppings sugar and lemon.

2 eggs 3 sliced onions 120g plain flour 1 teaspoon coriander 1 teaspoon cumin seeds Oil for cooking Yoghurt to serve

Makes 12-15

Method:

You Will Need:

Beat the eggs in a bowl and add the onion. Then add the flour, coriander and cumin seeds and mix until it’s all combined. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add some mixture to the pan to form a pancake and cook until golden brown (30-45

225g plain flour (or any glutenfree alternative) 2 tbsp caster sugar 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp salt 2 free-range or organic eggs 300ml buttermilk (or yoghurt) 50ml milk 50g melted butter 8 slices smoked streaky bacon or pancetta 2 tbsp soft brown sugar

Method: Sieve the flour, caster sugar and bicarb into a mixing bowl. Separate the eggs, adding the yolks to the flour and the whites to another bowl. Add the buttermilk, milk and butter, and mix until lump free. Whisk the egg whites with the salt until they form stiff peaks. It’s best to use an electric mixer (unless, of course, you’re looking to work off those bingo-wings). Gently fold this into the batter mix, taking care not to beat the air out. Heat a frying pan and brush with some oil or butter. Next, add a ladleful of batter (or more if your frying pan is larger). Wait until bubbles start to appear at the top before flipping with a spatula. Cook until golden brown and fluffed up. To cook the bacon, coat the slices in sugar before grilling or frying until sticky and crisp. Serve a stack of pancakes topped with bacon, maple syrup and butter. There's some flexibility with this recipe; buttermilk pancakes taste great with any topping, so substitute in your favourites!

seconds). Once it’s cooked on both sides, drain on some kitchen paper to remove the excess oil. Once they’re all cooked (adding more oil each time), serve with yoghurt and enjoy!

Courgette Pancakes Sahar Jamfar Food Writer Makes 6

You Will Need: 200g grated courgette 3 eggs 5 tablespoons plain flour Some mixed herbs Pinch of salt Oil for frying 1 large sliced red pepper 100g diced feta cheese

Delicious Pancake Recipes Redbrick Food team up to help you make the most of Pancake Day Method:

Protein Pancakes Emma Chambers Food Writer

A healthier version of pancakes for pancake day! If you are more of a gym-bod you can still take part and enjoy pancake day with this simple recipe!

You will need: 1 banana 15g oats 1 scoop of protein powder (choose your flavour!) 1 tsp baking powder

For the batter, beat the eggs, flour, herbs, salt and courgette in a bowl. Heat the oil in a frying pan and add some of the batter to make the first pancake. After a few minutes, once the first side is golden brown, flip it over and cook the other side for the same amount of time. Once each pancake has been cooked (making sure to add more oil each time), keep it under some foil so that it keeps warm while you’re still cooking. Now that they’re cooked, it’s time for the filling. Heat more oil in the pan and sauté the peppers for a few minutes. Remove from the pan and add the feta and some seasoning. Spoon the filling onto the pancakes and enjoy!

Optional Toppings! Peanut / almond butter Greek yoghurt Stewed raspberries Melted chocolate

Method: Simply blend all the ingredients listed above. Then, heat a little bit of oil/ butter in a non stick frying pan. Pour a small amount of mixture into the pan and flip when ready. Stack your pancakes and add toppings of choice.

A Cheat Option...The Best Pancake Spots in Bham Caitlin Dickinson Food Writer

With pancake day fast approaching, if you don't consider yourself to be the savvy chef when it comes to flipping a pancake in the air, consider celebrating Shrove Tuesday at some of the best places in Birmingham that serve pancakes. It might seem like you are cheating the authenticity of homemade pancakes, and the fun involved in making them, but the following four places will no doubt satisfy your pancake day needs on the 28th of February.

Ed’s Diner in the Bullring is likely the most expensive of the places you could eat this pancake day.

As a traditional American Diner, their pancakes served with maple syrup and bacon (for an extra £1) are unsurprisingly on the menu. Situated in the accessible centre of Birmingham the food will cost around £5.15 if you were to just order the pancakes with blueberries and strawberries. The benefit of going to Ed's Diner is that you will be able to combine your pancakes with their large homemade milkshake, which is to be considered their speciality 'dish'. On Broad Street, the Coast to Coast café is another great place to try out this pancake day. All the pancakes there are made with buttermilk, giving a rich taste to the cooked batter mix. The variety of toppings range from blueberries to peanut butter to sausage and

you may have as much or as little as you like, in any combination you wish. It will cost around £4.95- £7.95 dependent upon your preference. with toppings each having individual prices. Meanwhile The Cosy Club, which possesses a rich interior of traditional English furniture and 1920’s American elements, is arguably the most scenic place to devour your pancake. It serves a delicious brunch all day long, so you can have pancakes however early or late you wish! It can be found on Bennett’s Hill disguised by the traditional architecture of an old bank, which makes it difficult to find. However, the variety of toppings on a traditional pancake such as peach, crème fraiche and golden syrup make the steeper price of £6 worth every bite.

Boston Tea Party is a chain of cafés with branches in Birmingham Corporation Street and Harborne. This handy local café puts exciting twists on traditional pancakes, using the Scottish batter mix. It is an incredibly popular place that commits itself to using organic and free range ingredients. Most of the pancakes are served with maple syrup and cured bacon, but staff recommend that the addition of Greek yogurt with this traditional combination is delicious.

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Winners, Losers and Snubs: A preemptive breakdown of the 2017 Oscars With the Oscars looming, Redbrick Film editors and contributors give their opinions on the films that will win, those that should, and the biggest snubs for the film industries most famous awards ceremony Best Picture George Griffiths (Film Editor)

Will Win: La La Land Arrival Lion Hell or High Water Hidden Figures Should Win: Moonlight Hacksaw Ridge Fences

La La Land has dominated most of the Awards Season and is exactly the type of film that the Academy likes to award; a film about Hollywood itself and the enduring power of making films and telling stories. Not only is it the best movie-musical for nigh on a decade, it brings a must-see performance from Emma Stone (also nominated for Best Actress) that is at once breathtakingly confident and fragile as glass. Stunningly shot, lovingly made and imbued with an almost overwhelming sense of humanity, whimsy and nostalgia, La La Land is not only a shoe-in for Best Picture, it stands a chance of being a film that is going to be talked about and loved for many years to come. Barry Jenkins’ heartfelt, year-straddling exploration into the life, longing and loss of a gay black man in America is one of this years most essential watches. A stunning moment for modern film-making, this intimately personal opus is able to find poignance in an overly oppressive and masculine world. Top marks go to Mahershala Ali and Naomi Harris for their brutally honest (and definitely as is the case with Harris, sometimes uncomfortable) performances. A stunning and memorable moment, this is the type of film that the Academy should award and, with any luck, it will walk away with the highest accolade in film if there is indeed any justice (but as Brokeback Mountain will tell you, don’t hold out too much hope).

Barry Jenkins' Moonlight

Best Actor Patrick Box (Film Critic)

Believe it or not the Oscars have got it mostly right this year. The Academy tends to go in for flashy performances and often ends up overlooking more understated, but more believable, turns from other actors. However this year the Academy seems to have clocked onto this and nominated Casey Affleck and Viggo Mortensen for performances that aren’t your typical Oscar-bait. However Joel Edgerton’s Robert Loving in Loving seems to have been too understated for the Academy’s liking, which is a shame considering how it is easily his best performance to date; an almost unrecognisable turn of the fewest of words that still effortlessly helps you empathise with his distress and affection surrounding his unlawful-marriage. He probably deserves it more than Andrew Garfield if we’re all being honest.

Snubbed: Joel Edgerton - Loving Casey Affleck’s performance in Manchester by the Sea has already won him a Golden Globe and is a masterclass in understatement. It is difficult how this performance can be seen as anything other than a career-best: reserved, hunched, and irreparably broken Affleck is 100% believable. Although Oscar nominated, and the original frontrunner, Affleck has become less likely in the the wake of the SAGs. His nomination has also brought back into light his previous charges of sexual harassment which has made him a more controversial figure than his fellow nominees. The debate over whether a nominees’ personal history should affect their career or award prospects is one the Academy will more than likely wish to sidestep by choosing a more acceptable winner. Despite already being a two-time academy award winner, Washington has recently become the bookies’ favourite after winning the Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. For the last 14 years the winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor has been the same as the SAG winner, and with the rave reviews Fences has been receiving there is little to suggest 2017 will buck the trend. It’s also unavoidable to point out that Denzel Washington is African American; with last year’s controversy still hanging over the Academy’s head it’s likely that Washington is emerging as the most attractive candidate.

Andrew Garfield - Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling - La La Land Will Win: Denzel Washington - Fences Should Win: Casey Affleck - Manchester By The Sea Viggo Mortensen - Captain Fantastic

Snubbed: Nocturnal Animals Tom Ford’s relentlessly violent and visceral neo-noir is a breathtaking experience of an almost all encompassing adherence to visual aesthetic, from a director who, along with the tender A Single Man, is genuinely one of the most promising and powerful visual filmmakers around at the moment. It also helps that Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are firing on all cylinders here, all giving near careerbest performances. Yes, it is almost unbearably grim and, yes, in many ways it is an exercise in style over substance, but when the style is this flawless, there can hardly be many complaints. Not everyone’s cup of tea, for sure, but as a display of talent approaching its creative peak, a little recognition would have been nice.

Best Actress

Emma Stone in La La Land

Joe Ryan (Film Editor)

Meryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins Will Win: Emma Stone - La La Land Isabelle Huppert - Elle Ruth Negga - Loving Should Win: Natalie Portman - Jackie Emma Stone’s presence in La La Land is somewhat of a paradox. Her performance as a struggling actress is so convincing that is almost impossible to imagine her struggling. She steals the show in every frame. Tired, ambitious, fragile and a little bit silly, Mia is an intriguingly flawed character and Stone tackles the role confidently. Of course, it must be remembered that the La La Land is prime Oscar-fodder for the Academy, with films about Hollywood historically performing well (The Artist, Birdman and Sunset Boulevard to name but three). Stone’s romanticised yet consistently grounded performance makes her an easy pick for an Oscar from the Hollywood romantics of the Academy who, with 14 nominations, have shown that they love this film. Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Jackie Kennedy Onassis is spot-on. Going beyond impersonation, Portman is utterly lost in the role. The recognisable breathy voice, the sharp gazes and the vulnerability belying incredible fortitude. Technically, she is flawless, but that is almost irrelevant. The true brilliance of her performance lies in how humanising and relatable she is. Stripped of all romanticised glamour, Pablo Larrain’s uncomfortably intimate camera pulls the opposite of La La Land, unyielding in its dispassionate gaze, yet Portman fills the screen with a towering portrayal of grief, confusion and despair. As nuanced and expressive in the long silences as in the monologues, Portman’s Jackie is not some nebulous idea of a First Lady, rather an almost tangible human being, capable of much more than the confines of the film. Never skipping a beat and daring you to look closer, Portman's work demonstrates an actor in full command of her abilities.

Natalie Portman in Jackie

Snubbed: Sandra Hüller - Toni Erdmann

The much-lauded diversity of this year's Oscars clearly does not extend to German comedy. Sandra Hüller is a consistently phenomenal actress and Toni Erdmann, as a favourite to win Best Foreign Language Feature, provided the Academy with ample opportunity to celebrate her work. Instead, they decided, in their infinite wisdom, to nominate Meryl Streep for the bizarrely rubbish Florence Foster Jenkins. Such is life.

FEATURES

Friday 17th February 2017

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Best Director Alex McDonald (Film Editor)

Mel Gibson - Hacksaw Ridge Will Win: Damien Chazelle - La La Land Kenneth Lonergan - Manchester By The Sea Denis Villeneuve - Arrival Should Win: Barry Jenkins - Moonlight There are few films that I would describe as perfect, but Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight is just that. Moonlight is an extremely intimate and beautiful portrait of a young black man dealing with his homosexuality in an overwhelmingly masculine world. Poignant and powerful, Jenkins doesn’t drown us in misery with Moonlight; impeccably timed moments of soaring wonder are key to the director’s vision that counter balances the weight of the story. But he doesn’t pull any punches either. The scars of abuse are all too visible in every aching glance but the haunting honesty keeps it from falling into the trappings of melodrama. Moonlight’s narrative is so investing and tightly scripted that it could be six hours longer and it wouldn’t drag. Chazelle’s La La Land might be very stylish, but Jenkins backs his aesthetically beautiful film with challenging substance that will move even the most stoic of audience members.

Director Damien Chazelle is tipped to win for La La Land

The Academy loves films about itself, so Damien Chazelle’s fantasy of Hollywood in La La Land is sure to scratch that narcissistic itch. Somewhat justified shade aside, this film is a mesmeric spectacle and Chazelle’s artistic vision is certainly what has made the musical the global smash hit that it is. With a record equalling fourteen nominations, La La Land seems destined to sweep at this year’s ceremony, and no award seems more assured than Chazelle’s in the director’s chair. While there is potential for an upset in the Best Picture category, the bookies' favourite already has two hands on that coveted golden statue.

Snubbed: Martin Scorsese - Silence The Academy’s love for directing legend Martin Scorsese did not extend to his latest religious epic and decades long passion project, Silence. This is by no means a comfortable film to watch but a tortured discomfort is exactly what Scorsese is trying to achieve here. Silence is a staggering film and it is probably the director’s most emotionally impactful work in years. This film tackles the concept of faith head on and doesn’t hold back; his distanced camera forms a collusion between the audience and the silent God with which his characters struggle, leaving us powerless to help them. What Scorsese was able to achieve behind the camera is nothing short of remarkable given how beautiful this film looks despite the confined nature of most of the set pieces. The Academy’s silence towards this film is deafening and Scorsese has certainly been snubbed.

Best Supporting Actress Jessica Norton (Film Critic)

Should Win: Michelle Williams - Manchester By The Sea Naomie Harris - Moonlight Octavia Spencer - Hidden Figures Will Win: Viola Davis - Fences Nicole Kidman - Lion

Mahershala Ali at the 2017 Oscar Nominees Luncheon

Best Supporting Actor

Joshua Woods (Film Critic)

Michael Shannon - Nocturnal Animals Should Win: Lucas Hedges - Manchester By The Sea Jeff Bridges - Hell or High Water Dev Patel - Lion Will Win: Mahershala Ali - Moonlight Hot favourite this time around is Mahershala Ali for his portrayal of Juan in Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, a drama depicting the upbringing of shy and sensitive Chiron in the tough housing projects of Miami. Ali’s character longs to be a protective and positive influence in the young Chiron’s life. But his honest intentions are compromised since Juan is also a drug dealer. The crack he sells to survive is the very thing that is destroying Chiron’s relationship with his mother. Ali handles a heart-breaking scene where Chiron confronts him and walks out forever with great emotional subtlety. Though he disappears a third of the way through, his void haunts the rest of the film, holding a disturbing influence on Chiron as he grows into a man. A truly astounding performance, and a likely winner. Whilst Mahershala Ali would certainly be a deserving winner, I would personally like to see the young Lucas Hedges lift the accolade for his role as Patrick Chandler in Manchester by the Sea. Hedges stood out as the foul-mouthed teenage nephew and adoptee of lead character Lee (Casey Affleck). The two are forced into an uneasy guardianchild relationship after the death of Joe, Patrick’s father. Patrick appears bratty, distant and downright rude (oh, and he has multiple girlfriends), but Hedges’ performance juggles this excellently with scenes that expose his emotional vulnerability. Hedges may or may not become a Hollywood megastar, but he is already a superb actor.

Snubbed: Peter Sarsgaard - Jackie Natalie Portman is tipped to win Best Actress for her titular performance in Jackie, but co-star Peter Sarsgaard can consider himself unlucky to have missed out on a nomination for his portrayal of brother-in-law Robert Kennedy. When all around there are White House officials neglecting Jackie’s space to grieve her husband’s shocking death, Sarsgaard actually shares her pathos. His anxiety over his brother’s legacy (will he forever be simply the 'beautiful' President?) strikes with particular resonance. It doesn’t matter that Sarsgaard’s appearance doesn’t particularly resemble Robert Kennedy, the depth of performance in Jackie brings a believability that is hard to achieve when portraying such a renowned public figure. Perhaps not enough screen time to gain a nomination.

Viola Davis is almost certain to win this award. In the past, she has been nominated for an Oscar twice, Best Supporting Actress (Doubt) and once as Best Actress (The Help). However, she has not yet picked up the trophy, so it is high time that she gets the recognition she deserves. In Fences, Davis is magnetic as Rose Maxson, the long-suffering but devoted wife of Denzel Washington’s Troy. As usual, Davis delivers a powerful and subtle performance bursting with emotional integrity and heart. Davis has already won a Screen Actors’ Guild award for her role in Fences, indicating that she will win again at the Oscars, and has already made history by being the first black woman to be nominated for three Oscars. If anyone can knock Viola Davis off the top spot, it will probably be Michelle Williams. Both actresses put in equally stunning performances, but Williams's pitiful lack of screen time in Manchester by the Sea might just pull her down, allowing Davis to clinch the title. Williams is the one who has waited the longest for this award, having been nominated for best Supporting Actress once (Brokeback Mountain) and Best Actress twice (Blue Valentine & My Week with Marilyn). In playing Randi Chandler, the ex-wife of Casey Affleck’s character, Williams manages to portray Randi as a multi-dimensional and nuanced character. If anyone deserves this award, it is Williams, simply for managing to make the most of every moment that she was given.

Snubbed: Greta Gerwig - 20th Century Women Greta Gerwig deserves Academy recognition for her role in 20th Century Women. Gerwig is yet to receive a single Oscar nomination, but she has been nominated for several other awards for this film alone, including the Critics’ Choice for Best Supporting Actress. Gerwig tackles the role, a punky art student and outspoken feminist recovering from cervical cancer, with startling dexterity and sympathy, balancing vulnerability with strength, and uncertainty with confidence. 20th Century Women has been criminally underrated at the Oscars this year, only garnering one nomination for Best Original Screenplay, with even the film’s shining star, Annette Bening, being overlooked. Unfortunately, it seems that Greta Gerwig has also fallen victim to Hollywood’s dismissal of this magnificent film. Greta Gerwig in 20th Century Women, she remains off the list of nominees

Michelle Williams at the 2017 BAFTAS

FILM

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickfilm

Review: Moonlight

Redbrick Film's Matthew Freddura's glowing review of Barry Jenkins' second feature and Best Picture Oscar - nominated film Matthew Freddura Film Critic

Going into Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, my expectations were very high. The Oscarnominated, Golden Globe - winning feature has been lauded by critics across the board and yet, initially I was left feeling conflicted. Upon reflection, this film is little less than an unconventional masterpiece.

"Little less than an unconventional masterpiece"

emotional turmoil which never comes to the surface; manifesting instead in the form of his reluctance to speak. As a boy his silence is presented as a symptom of his inability to fully understand the intricacies of his life. His conversations with Juan, the local drug baron (played skilfully by Mahershala Ali) and Juan's partner Teresa (Janelle Monáe), about his m o t h e r ’s (Naomi Harris) drug

Moonlight is a three part coming - of - age story following protagonist Chiron from childhood, through adolescence and into adulthood, as he tries to find his place in the world, exploring masculinity, sexuality and race. Yet, for a film that discusses so much, it does so with so few words. Conflict is at the core of this narrative and Chiron is full of inner

Review: Gold Redbrick Film prospector William Baxter pans Matthew McConaughey's gold-mining biopic, showing that all that glitters is not gold

problem and why he is picked on by the other kids at school, are emphatically understated. Maybe the perfect word to describe Moonlight is tacit. It is implicit in its dealing with difficult issues produced by the culture that Chiron is living in. The environment of the downtrodden Miami projects during the war on drugs fosters a culture of survival; a culture which rewards hyper - masculinity and pushes Chiron to the margin. The people who could rescue him: Juan, his father figure; Kevin, his friend come - love interest and his drug - addicted mother are also the ones who cause him the most conflict. His sources of rescue are also the ones who cause him the most resentment leaving Chiron at an impasse. An impasse that leaves him with no visible way out, resulting in an uncharacteristic outburst which significantly changes the course of his life. Jenkins manages to take a story that is very personal and make it universal, with the help

William Baxter Redbrick Treasurer

If you only intend to sit through Gold’s bloated two - hour running time in order to witness McConaughey’s iconic three word catchphrase, then I’m afraid to say that you’ll leave disappointed. If one could only use three words to describe Stephen Gaghan’s latest directorial effort, ‘alright, alright, alright’ would still appear to overvalue the film. In short, the most impressive thing about Gold is how it manages to turn a tale of precious metal mining, business betrayal and a classic rags-to-riches story into a finished product that is more dull than the face of a

"McConaughey fails to inject the much needed action" month-old, fake Rolex. Having picked up the Oscar award for ‘Extreme Weight Loss in a Leading Role’ with 2013’s Dallas Buyer ’s Club, McConaughey clearly had larger ambitions for Gold. His character, Kenny Wells, is grossly overweight, deeply unattractive and almost unrecognisable from the rom - com eye candy McConaughey used to be famed for. Of course, now that he is a ‘real actor’ this is to be expected. To be fair to him, McConaughey’s commitment to the role is fantastic, and the characterisation of Wells is one of the few aspects of

of James Laxton’s hue - heavy and intimate cinematography and the sparing yet effective score of Nicholas Britell. He leans heavily on the severity of Chiron’s situation. Chiron's story is one that we have not seen before but in one way or another is a story we all know. He is a victim of circumstance; he is an outsider and his struggle to fit in is one that everyone can recognise. However, Jenkins' occasional assumption that the gravity of Chiron's situation is cause enough for empathy could fall short for some. The final scene, in which Chiron is reunited with Kevin, is one of the film’s most powerful. The pair have an intimacy based on mutuality, one that is profound because it is of great absence everywhere else in Chiron’s life. Despite there being such a kinship between them, the issues surrounding the nature of their relationship are never directly addressed. Chiron is stuck between who he really is and who he feels that he needs to be. Upon reflection, Jenkins seems to be aware of this and his lack of catharsis - the deprivation of emotional release - is exactly how he wants us to feel because that’s exactly how

Chiron has felt his whole life. Rather than giving his audience a great emotional outpouring, we are left feeling not for Chiron, but with him. In the film’s final moments there is no revelation, no penance. Jenkins’ film is rare in that it disavows showcases of cheap sympathy in favour of allowing his audience simply to empathise. He puts us in the shoes of his characters and like them, we may not get the ending we necessarily want.

the film that feels authentic – the smell of Kenny’s cheap aftershave seems just as vivid as the brightest shots of the

to muscle in on country bumpkin Kenny’s riches by floating his mining company on the stock exchange. If you enjoyed the fun and engaging explanations of detailed financial dealings in films like The Big Short or The Wolf of Wall Street, you’ll hate the way Gaghan presents bland brokers operating without purpose in dull boardrooms. Despite shouting, screaming and throwing things, McConaughey fails to inject the much-needed action into his limp affair subplot, or the more important failed takeover bid. From this point the film lurches back and forth across the globe as Wells’ mining operations begin to spin into trouble. McConaughey and Ramírez fail to form any meaningful bromance, although to their credit the plot doesn’t always gift them the opportunities given to DiCaprio and Hill in The Wolf of Wall Street. The ending, without giving too much away, seems like a shallow resolution for all involved, with some plots tying up a little too neatly and some being swept away completely.

"If Hollywood has taught us anything, men wearing contrast collars and braces are always the enemy" Indonesian jungles. The start of the film sees Wells inherit the family mining business, immediately struggling to emulate the success of his father. Eventually, desperate, he turns to maverick gold prospector Mike Acosta, played by Édgar Ramírez, (it is without irony that Gold presents the concept of a ‘maverick prospector’ as a fair and reasonable plot device). The pair buddy up and promise to split any of their profits down the middle, paving the way for some mild peril, as the audience worries about whether or not this fairly comfortable white man is going to get his gold. Good news, he does, and how happy it makes him - even if McConaughey does have to spend five minutes in a hammock, nearly dying from Malaria. Back in America, Wall Street villains (if Hollywood has taught us anything, men wearing contrast collars and braces are always the enemy) are plotting

VERDICT: A great example of storytelling, managing to make the very personal seem universal. It is a beautifully important film that tells a story that needs to be told. But don’t go in expecting to ball your eyes out, Jenkins' emotional palette is much more subdued.

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VERDICT: Overall, Gold is a mess of a film. McConaughey’s strong characterisation fails to save a weak plot, with Gaghan’s sloppy directing offering little in terms of storytelling. The film compares poorly to previous films of its ilk such as American Hustle or the contemporary classic The Wolf of Wall Street, lacking both humour and style.

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FILM

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickfilm

Review: T2 Trainspotting Review: Fences Redbrick Film editor Joe Ryan returns to Trainspotting for the sequel no-one thought they wanted

Joshua Woods looks at the Oscars favourite from Denzel Washington Joshua Woods Film Editor

Joe Ryan Film Editor

Feet pounding in time with the sountrack, friends stood sideby-side on a train platform, a shock of bleached blonde hair, the worst toilet in Scotland, an adrenaline-fuelled grin viewed through a car windscreen, Choosing Life. Each of these images has become cemented in the history of British cinema. The impact of Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting in 1996 cannot be easily overstated. Drawing from Irvine Welsh’s excellent writing, the adventures of Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie gave a voice to a hitherto dismissed corner of society, those with nowhere to go, nothing to lose, and who found they had to intravenously inject a sense of purpose to cope. Despite this, the manic energy and surrealism of the film distinguished it from more sober explorations of addictions such as 1971’s The Panic in Needle Park, rendering it quite unlike anything that came before. 21 years on and what’s changed? Not all that much it would seem. Each of those iconic moments from the original are referenced here, and the story once again takes a back seat to the more pressing matter of watching the characters we all know and (to our shame) love do little other than mess around for 2 hours until we need the plot to kick in and wrap everything up. There is a constant struggle to retain the energy of the first film and a creeping suspicion that maybe Trainspotting just isn’t what it used to be. Technically, this film is a marvel, but at this point we should expect nothing less from Boyle and his shockingly accomplished Director of Photography Anthony Dod Mantle. The inspired use of colour, meticulous and layered framing and quintessentially Boyle-esque editing along with a soundtrack that references, yet in some respects surpasses, the original means that this film is a joy to witness moment-to-moment. On top of this, the older, wearier central characters, now fittingly dropping the nicknames as Mark, Simon, Daniel and Frank, are as captivating and poignantly funny as they always were. Particularly impressive are Ewen Bremner and Johnny Lee Miller.

Miller’s Simon seethes with hatred for the friend who betrayed him whilst coping with self-loathing and a cocaine habit, teetering precariously on the edge of a full-blown meltdown. Bremner meanwhile, provides the heart and soul of the film as the continuously downtrodden Spud, peppering his melancholic performance with excellent comic-timing and a genuine hope of redemption. Through his wonderfully expressive performance and haggard body language, he remains the only one who looks convincingly like a 40-something recovering addict.

"21 years on and what's changed? Not all that much it would seem" So far so good, picking up where the last film left-off, Mark’s return to Edinburgh to deal with the fallout of his actions in London is a fitting means to revisit this world. Yet whilst the continuation of the plot is convincing, the film all too readily wallows in its own former glory. The continuous self-referential jokes are cute and elicit wry-smiles with a sense of shared nostalgia but they come so thick and fast that T2 is never able to find its own feet and justify its existence beyond reminding the audience that they ought to go back and watch Trainspotting. The most memorable sequence of the film takes place in a Protestant sectarian pub and is almost unique in being a wholly original contribution to the story. With tension, social commentary and a genuinely hilarious punchline, it is regrettable that there is precious little else about this film that reaches the same heights. New characters, such as Begbie’s son Frank Junior (Scot Greenan) and Simon’s “girlfriend” Veronika (Anjela Nadyalkova) fulfil important roles in the story yet are utterly unremarkable in their writing and characterisation. They feel like characters from a different film and watching them interact with the central four is jarring and mismatched. Through the lacklustre script from the normally excellent long-time-Boyle-collaborator John Hodge, one struggles to understand why a young woman

like Veronika would hang around with a group of ageing heroin addicts, a dynamic that becomes all the more baffling once we uncover her full backstory. Of course, a film about a group of friends re-uniting after 20 years is not going to shock you with its thematic focus. Middle-age, waning friendships, resentment, regret and guilt are all prominently featured and each character carries their own burden, weighed down by their youths and the subsequent years of hardship. The thematic substance to work with is fertile enough for a mini-series, never mind a single sequel and there is a heavy focus on the passage of time and slowing down as life gets in the way and your body deteriorates. McGregor, a farcry from the pale, emaciated skinhead of old, has bulked up and spends much of the film in running gear, a recent health scare spurring him on to better himself. However, this preoccupation with age is not matched by the presentation of the film. In attempting to recreate the energy of the old film, the film fosters this tonal dissonance between youthful effervescence and middle-aged ennui that it can never really resolve. Of course that is a part of the experience, with much of the purpose of T2 being to show us the attempts to cling to youth no matter how futile that may be. However, Simon telling Mark that by returning to Edinburgh he has become a “tourist in [his] own youth,” does not excuse the film for making the same mistake, rather it expounds how tired this revisit can feel at times. VERDICT: The returning cast and director have crafted a visually beautiful film with excellent performances and the occasional flash of brilliance. There is a genuine affection for the original that is palpable in almost every frame. However, T2 is so aware of its progenitor that it completely forgets to be engaging outside of being a surprise sequel to a bona fide classic. Although, more than worth watching for the technical mastery from all involved, there’s little more than nostalgia to be found here.

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This movie has been a long time in the making. The late August Wilson had insisted that were Fences (part of his famous “Pittsburgh Cycle” of plays) ever to be adapted to the big screen, it would specifically require an African-American director to properly convey the experiences of a poor black family in 1950s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Such is the backward nature of Hollywood that, for years, the big film companies were reluctant to hand over such a high-budget project to a black director. Step in Denzel Washington, who directs and stars as the middle-aged Troy, a bitter former baseball player now working as a garbage man. Washington and his cast embody the complex sadness and frustration of being confined: they are fenced in by the limitations of racial barriers, financial scarcity and familial obligations. Affable and colourful on the surface, Troy’s superficial charm belies the deep emotional wreckage he has bestowed upon his loved ones over the years.

Now living a modest life and working long hours, Troy harbours great resentment at being held back by segregation in professional baseball – he could only compete in the 'Negro Leagues', not the Major Leagues. Times have changed since his day, but Troy is too blinded by his own experiences to notice. His denial extends to the point where he derides the abilities of Jackie Robinson (all-time baseball legend and Civil Rights icon), a moment that is funny but also tragically illuminating. Having walked out on his own dysfunctional Alabama family at the age of 14 and fled to the North, the treatment he faced in Pittsburgh struck with a greater blow. Troy’s disillusionment embodies a commonly shared experience of the Great Migration, and the broken promises of equality in the North have made him deeply cynical of any notions of progress for African-Americans. Troy refuses to support either of his sons who, just like he did, want to pursue personal goals beyond merely working hard

and surviving. It is understandably frustrating that his thirtysomething son Lyons (Russell Hornsby) seems to stop by and visit only on Troy’s payday, but Troy’s restricted ideas on personal responsibility mean he is too proud to see his son’s band perform. In a particularly arresting scene, the teenage Cory (Jovan Adepo) asks his father “how come you ain’t ever like me?”. Troy torments his son by reminding him that looking after him is simply his duty, and jealously disrupts Cory’s bright prospects as an American football player. Fences is not light entertainment. The emphasis on rich dialogue and lengthy running time mark it out as an adaptation of a play, and it’s easy to imagine this drama on the stage - for instance, we get a lot more screen-time of Troy lecturing on the importance of honest hard work than we do of him actually working.

"The main strength of Fences lies in its ambiguity" Troy is overburdened with dark forces. He recalls wrestling the Grim Reaper in disturbing detail, whilst his brain-damaged brother Gabe wears a trumpet, fights demons and attempts to summon Judgement Day. His wife Rose, superbly played by the Oscar-nominated Viola Davis, too has deep and dark regrets but draws strength from her devotion to family and her ability to accept change. Where her husband denied that fortunes were changing for black athletes, Rose selflessly welcomes the prospects of a brighter future for her children. A flash forward depicts her home adorned with the portraits of Martin Luther King and JFK. Troy resigns himself to his fate, whereas Rose boldly asserts her agency, insisting that it was her decision to sacrifice the last twenty years of her life to her marriage. The main strength of Fences lies in its ambiguity. In the claustrophobic confines of family home, where violence and alcoholism are let loose, it is hard to fully understand the relationships between the characters. Do they want to stay together or do they feel they have to stay together? Fences is an excellent film because it resists satisfying resolutions and moral certainty. VERDICT: Fences is a straight adaptation of the original play. As such, it eschews much of the creative visual language of cinema for a focus on writing and character. This is the film's great strength, showcasing some excellent performances and exploring the darker side of family life through the ever-pertinent lens of race in America.

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TRAVEL

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricktravel

Hidden Gems: Luxembourg Alvia Zaidi Travel Writer

Whilst nearly everyone is aware of the country’s existence, few have actually visited or even considered Luxembourg as a travel destination. Sandwiched between France, Germany and Switzerland, Luxembourg has the same to offer for a fraction of the price. The country’s population is 540,000 which is roughly half of the population of Birmingham. So, you're pretty much guaranteed to see no crowds or stand in a queue, even in tourist areas! The capital city Luxembourg City - is home to the only airport, the only university and most of the tourist destinations. Trains and buses run pretty frequently all across Luxembourg so it’s easy to travel between cities. Luxembourg City is divided into two sections - “downtown” and well, town! Downtown is mainly called “Die Grund” meaning, 'the ground' and is quite literally a layer below the rest of town. Picture a city at the base of a hill and then the rest of the city

"navigate the winding medieval streets" at the top of the hill - except no gradual change. This means downtown is pretty much only accessible by a glass lift operated from the edge of town which travels vertically down the side of a hill. Whilst downtown can feel a little eerie, the glass elevator gives it a secret agent/spy headquarters feel. If you're not a big fan of lifts, there’s a particularly steep ramp beginning at the end of the bridge which looks fun to run down. I suppose you could also take the stairs too, if you love cardio. Naturally, there’s a bridge connecting two sides of town over downtown. The bridge splits the town in half, with the markets on

one side and the train station on the other. Of course, there's much more on both sides but for direction purposes it serves pretty well. Most hotels are located on the train station half and most tourist attractions are in the market area, which results in frequent bridgecrossing. Looking over the b r i d g e a c r o s s downtown into the hills in the distance can settle a feeling of wanderlust. The most interesting part is the street art and graffiti. On every lamppost and fence, there’s a ton of small signatures, phrases and drawings. Sure, Luxembourg is a beautiful country with stunning architecture and intricate streets, but whilst gazing in awe at different buildings can be quite fulfilling, sometimes the evidence of raw personality gives you a better insight into a country way more than a museum ever could. Due to the close proximity of all major tourist spots, walking is the most efficient and most engaging mode of transport. Not only are you able to navigate the winding medieval streets, but you're also able to spot all the small

quirks of the city. There are several notable places to visit for both their architecture and their content. The Grand Ducal Palace is popular for its manor house setting and extended build. Probably also because when the flag is up it means the Grand Duke is actually there. Notre Dame cathedral, located in the centre of town, h o l d s serenity whilst maintaining wellpopulated sermons. All members of the public are invited to all sermons, hymns and activities which is a profoundly welcoming environment for both religious and non-religious visitors. A mustsee is also Fort Thüngen because of its impressive structure as it showcases the significance of preserving historical monuments in still developing the city. Typically, Luxembourg follows a European tradition where shops and sites are closed on Sundays. Fortunately, travel is cheap and this is a perfect opportunity to explore the country outside the main city. Luxembourg is

home to the most castles in Europe, so on a hunt for castles, Vianden is the perfect place to start. Located on the North East border of Luxembourg to Germany, Vianden is a small village with colourful buildings dotted on steep hills and does look like the film set of The Grand Budapest Hotel. It requires a train taken from Luxembourg city to Ettelbruck (which strangely looks similar to San Francisco) and then a bus from Ettelbruck to Vianden. Both forms of transport are perfect for observing other small cities and villages. The castle takes a ghostly silhouette on the skyline and was originally home to Count Vianden. The Romanesque composition has been so well preserved, it is easy to identify all components and how the village around it would have been.

"The National History and Art Museum is a secret wonder" Historically rich and structurally magnificent, Vianden castle opens a window to the largely hidden cities of Luxembourg. The National History and Art Museum is a secret wonder. Despite being in a fairly contemporary building, it is home to plenty of local and famous artworks and artefacts, holding both free and paid exhibitions. Four floors of ceiling to floor artwork and sketches allows for a few

hours of undisturbed wander into the history and depictions of Luxembourg from local and foreign perspective. It is most definitely a beautiful museum. The Bank Museum is a fascinating building located on the opposite end of town which features the evolution of money and economic development in Luxembourg. Most definitely an economist's and architect's dream. Having an idea of which sites to visit is always good, however, it may be of best interest to take aimless walks around town as there are many unaccounted buildings designed with significant focus. A building near the train station looks similar to a town hall yet has no label nor historical plaque features cherubs and ethereal characters adorned as motifs on the front roof. Detail in the eyes and on the soles of the feet seem bizarre yet overlooked and considered normal. The cuisine is inspired by neighbouring countries and features many pastries and cheeses. Farmers’ markets are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays and are a perfect opportunity to taste authentic food and partake in an unfiltered experience of a Luxembourger's day-to-day life. It may be a cause of the small population, but there is a strong atmosphere of peace and positivity. The communities are not invasive nor disgruntled at the sight of tourists so if you're looking for a calm holiday to unwind and absorb a different heritage, Luxembourg is undoubtedly a place to consider.

A Post Card from... Caceres Matt Dawson Travel Writer @mattdawson_96

Whenever I would say to people that I am spending part of my Year Abroad in Cáceres, most of the time their reaction would be along the lines of “where?”. One of Spain’s relatively unknown cities, Cáceres is also one of its best kept secrets. It is located in the central-western part of the country, in the region of Extremadura and is the capital of the province with which it shares its name. Famous for being an UNESCO world heritage site, Cáceres offers an authentic taste of Spanish life. Easily the most recognisable part of the city is the Casco Antiguo, a beautifully preserved medieval quarter dating back to

the 13th Century. You can spend hours wandering around the maze of cobbled streets, appreciating the architecture that makes you feel as if you’re wandering around a film set. In fact, the city and its surrounding locals have been used in the filming of many films and TV shows, most recently the seventh season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Its numerous towers are home to Cáceres’ famous stork’s nests, and if you are lucky, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the birds basking in the Mediterranean sun. The centrepiece of this is the magnificent Iglesia de San Francisco Javier that dominates the skyline with its white towers. Just in front of this, you can find Plaza Mayor that is frequently used as a meeting point, connecting the Casco Antiguo with the high street and

the many bars and taperías in the area. This brings me to another highlight of the Cáceres, its nightlife. Due to recent political events (*cough* Brexit *cough*), travelling in Europe is set to become more expensive. But given its fairly remote location, and its lack of tourists, prices in the bars and nightclubs are set to accommodate the locals. This makes it great for authentic Spanish cuisine, as well as the price of drinks, for example one plate of tapas and a local pint of beer on average costs no more than €3. Due to the compact nature of the city, everywhere in the central area can be travelled on foot, adding the unique element of bar-hopping through a medieval city. Outisde of the urban area lies some spectacular countryside.

Surrounded by verdant Extremaduran hills, it’s impossible not to be astounded by the views if you make the trek to higher ground. Probably the most well-known is Nuestra Señora de la Montaña which, at 600 metres above sea level, is home to an ornate 17th Century Catholic sanctuary that is almost as beautiful as the panorama. While it may be slightly awkward to get to (the nearest major airports are Madrid, Seville or Lisbon), Cáceres is definitely worth the trip for those seeking a Spain away from the hustle and bustle of larger cities and the “Little England” atmosphere of the holiday resorts on the south coast. Despite its condensed size, the city is by no means a ghost town, with its rich heritage, active night scene and magnificent

countryside making it a hidden gem of the Iberian Peninsula.

Photograph by Matt Dawson

TRAVEL

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricktravel

Photo Journal from... North Korea Charlie Dakin Travel Writer @packatoothbrush

In some ways, Pyongyang was exactly what I imagined it to be. Enormous bronze monuments of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jon-un, communist propaganda in its purest form, murals of happy workers and military strength, and men all dressed in the same uniform. But in other ways, Pyongyang broke down most of my preconceptions of North Korea. Pyongyang is a clean and pretty city. It has highrises and an underground metro. It boasts three theme parks, as well as bowling alleys, microbreweries and an aquarium. There are universities, an Opera House and an Italian Restaurant. In some ways, Pyongyang has all the elements of a modern Capital City. However, Pyongyang is a Capital for the elite, and it only represents how the elite and middle class live. The ability to live in Pyongyang is decided by a hierarchical system. For example, Political elites, scientists and descendants of war heroes from the Korean War can live here. But the majority of the

population can’t step foot inside the city. Even Pyongyang has its difficulties. Citywide blackouts occurred fairly regularly; I first experienced this when I went to take a photo of the city from my hotel room, all the city lights against the night sky made for a striking photo. But just as I was about to take it, the city went black, the only lights left on were the ones in our hotel. Moments like this, when it became so clear that we were being shown preferential treatment, made it difficult to trust anything we had seen or been told. While I was in North Korea, I had the chance to visit a school. I was told that we would sit in on an English lesson, and afterwards, we would have the opportunity to ask the children questions about their lives, and they could ask us questions about ours. Watching their English class, it became apparent that it was very similar to the French classes I was in at school. During their role plays, they asked each other questions like “what is your favourite hobby?”, “what day would you like to go swimming?”,

And "what are you doing on the weekend?". It was strange to see something which reminded me so strongly of my schooling as a child, in a country which is so alien to the rest of the world. The only difference was that they kept responding with “I do not want to go swimming, we should go and study physics instead”. I couldn’t help but smile, a response that would never have been said in my French classes seemed so foreign to me that it fit in well with my idea of North Korea. Later, our tour guide, Mrs Kim, explained how students are placed into Universities and then jobs. While you are at school, you apply to your top three universities, and then dependent on your grades, you are placed into your first, second or third choice. What was interesting is that the jobs they go into afterwards are decided in the same way. They choose three professions, and depending on how well they did throughout university depends on which job they get. Mrs Kim, for example, wanted to be an English teacher, but seeing her grades were not up to scratch, she got her second

choice of being a Tour Guide. She didn’t make it clear whether or not they had the chance to change profession at all, or whether she will forever be a tour guide. It surprised me that North Korean's had some choice in what they did and that they weren't arbitrarily assigned jobs. As my preconceptions were being challenged it highlighted the extent to wich we do not understand life in North Korea, or more accurately, Pyongyang. We only left Pyongyang for two days, travelling down to the DMZ and on the way back to the city we stopped at a collective farm. Although Pyongyang looks like a modern city, the countryside looks as though it is stuck in the years before the industrial revolution. Something I did not expect, was their openness about how they struggle to feed their population. Even if their techniques weren’t pre-Victorian, it would still be difficult for the North Koreans to provide food because mountains cover 70% of the country, so farms tend to be small and nestled between mountain ranges. To try and increase

food supply, everyone helps the farmers plant the seeds once a year, regardless of their profession. They have also begun to harvest crops three times per year to try and increase the supply of food. But there are worries that in the long run, this is going to damage their soil severely. Leaving North Korea, I felt as though I had a much better understanding of a country that is continuously portrayed as two-dimensional, war mongering, isolated and backwards. Although there is truth in this, I realised that it is full of people trying to get on with their daily life. Working hard in school to get them into University, and then working hard at University so they can get the job they want. Many of the children we spoke to understood the challenges that their country faces, and want to improve it. For a country that is characterised as being so alien to the rest of the world, there were so many aspects which were so familiar with home. For full article visit: www.redbrick.me/travel

Photographs by Charlie Dakin

LIFE & STYLE

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricklife

Whatever We Wear, Wherever We Go: Yes Means Yes and No Means No Life&Style writer Caitlin Steele investigates why so many women are still blamed for their sexual assault Caitlin Steele Life&Style writer

ITV’s news and chat show ‘This Morning’ provoked a fiery debate on Monday 23rd Jan when they discussed the results of a survey undertaken by The Fawcett Society in 2015 (a UK gender equality charity), the results of which were published last week, in which 8,000 people were asked “if a woman goes out late at night, wearing a short skirt, gets drunk and is then the victim of a sexual assault, is she totally or partly to blame?”. The disappointing and frightening results revealed 38% of all men and 34% of women agree that the women in question would be partly or totally to blame, rising to 41% of men aged 18-24, whilst decreasing to 30% of women in the same age category. Hosts Philip Scofield and Holly Willoughby mediated the debate between journalists Angela Epstein and Alison Phillips, with the former emphasising her belief in the importance of women taking responsibility and “lowering vulnerability”, drawing comparisons between leaving your door unlocked to burglars. Alison Philips retaliated, questioning “if what people wear was proven to increase the chances [of rape], then why are there not dozens of

attacks on beaches where women are wearing bikinis?”. Her opinion was echoed by Willoughby and Schofield, as Willoughby quizzed Angela on her comments concerning “vulnerability”, stating “[telling women to be in] a safe environment is different to what you’re wearing”. Schofield

"The only person responsible for rape is the rapist. No-one else. Nothing else" was even clearer in his approach, stating “you’re making it sound like women are to blame here; why don’t we educate our young boys?”. ‘This Morning’s’ discussion followed an equally disheartening conversation during Sunrise on Sky News, where news presenter Stephen Dixon questioned whether women “provoked” attackers, by wearing short skirts or drinking. Guest Sarah Churchwell asked if “you were walking down the street and you got punched in the face, are you responsible for having left your house?”, to which Dixon replied “I’d be responsible if I was provoking someone”. The problem here lies within

the assumption that certain items appalling opinion. of clothing that women choose to Many headlines that followed wear are deemed provocative, or called the debate “eye-opening”, that the body parts they reveal and “shocking”, but sadly, this mean that we are ‘asking for it’. isn’t the case. This readiness and But we know this is not true. Rape eagerness to blame women is echhappens to men, to children, to oed in other results from the sober women and to women wear- Fawcett survey, which also found ing trousers. How it can be argued almost 1 in 5 males aged 25-34 that the items of clothing a woman “do not want the women in [their] wears, or the amount of alcohol lives to have equal opportunity consumed has any bearing on the with men”, 20% of men in the circumstances of an attack? It same age category believe “womdefies logic. The only person en’s equality has gone too far”, responsible for rape is the rapist. and 33% oppose feminism. No-one else. Nothing else. It is Individuals were not given any irrelevant and offensive to even definition of the word, but the discuss the factors surrounding connotations for them are enough the attack. A rapist rapes because to elicit this response. he is a rapist, not because the The issues raised on ‘This woman ‘asked for it’, not Morning’ only skim the because of a short skirt, surface of a deeply disa low-cut top, or one turbing problem in too many drinks. our society, where Following we allow and widespread critiaccept the blame cism, a spokesperof women. There of men feel a son for Sky News is no other crime woman is partly or claimed Dixon in which we are so totally to blame if was “playing devwilling and ready il’s advocate”, but to blame the vicshe is sexually even if this is the tim, and yet women assaulted case, it doesn’t make are routinely held the argument any more responsible for the vile acceptable. Introducing an actions of their attackers. argument like this into mainstream These stories are far too familiar, media paints it as a valid opinion. yet there are still many who Though the overall response from believe a woman is “partly or Twitter condemned him, we can totally to blame”. see from the stark Fawcett results that Dixon is not alone in his

38%

Top Six: Women's March Banners

With American politics taking a mysogynistic turn, women across the globe are standing up for the rights of minority groups. Jessica Rowley gives her pick of their best banners No matter what your political standing is, it is seemingly difficult to ignore or overlook the Trump phenomenon consuming America and the rest of the world. In light of his controversial appointment to office, crowds three times larger than those found at his inauguration ceremony took to the streets to protect legislation and policies regarding human rights – including women’s rights, racial equality, LGBTQ rights and religious freedom. Women (and men) of all ages, ethnicities, religions and backgrounds came together in a sign of solidarity, bringing with them banners which made powerful, and often humorous statements as a rejection of Trump's presidency. Perhaps most poignant of all was the amount of children and teens who attended these marches.

Their presence serves as a reminder that perhaps the future won't be quite as dismal as we think it might. Young people can clearly see the flaws of the world today and that definitely gives us hope. Trump’s heavily documented misogynistic and minority-threatening rhetoric sparked the Women’s March, and provided a platform from which we can confidently speak up for ourselves and others in a peaceful yet powerful way. The women’s marches will go down in U.S history as the largest single-day demonstration, and with almost 700 marches worldwide (1 on every continent, yes – even Antarctica!), they will forever act as a reminder that our rights and our voices matter, encouraging us all to be more united, more pro-active, and more engaged. Here is a collection of some of my favourite signs from the day:

hirky

LIFE & STYLE

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricklife

Chanel: Haute Couture '17 Life&Style writer Alvia Zaidi explores Chanel's 2017 recent haute couture show in Paris Seeing double? In the mirror clad walls of the Grand Palais, Karl Lagerfeld debuted a calm haute couture spectacle. Going back to the roots of Coco Chanel herself, Lagerfeld mimicked the art deco stairwell Coco had in place in her atelier. Certainly no chance to miss any details. Continuing with the Coco inspo, Karl reinvented the original Chanel suits with an 80s twist and candy colours. Arizona Muse opened the show wearing a muted green tweed suit, cinched at the waist with a statement silver belt. Thick statement belts were then seen on every outfit from daywear to evening gowns. Sister suits followed the collection with colours ranging from pale blue to lilac. Complemented by matching hats, each silhouette was kept very traditional - a calf length blazer being the most outrageous change. A quick change to wistful music and the collections continued. Necklines were either high or plunging - I suppose there was no in-between. Following the suits, cocktail

dresses were sent out and a “high neck, high hem” theme was evident whilst evening gowns went in reverse with plunging v-necklines and feathers gathering at the feet. The river of soft, delicate pieces was interrupted by yet another change in music. French electro music introduced the most eclectic pieces of the show - shimmering blue and purple evening g o w n s . However, we were only honoured with two. The show s w i f t l y returned to the fairy chain of elegance, featuring 50s style dresses with graceful shawls of lace and sheer fabrics. Lagerfeld was not shy with material; showcases of tweed, satin, suede and sequins - all within a pastel theme complimented by glitter - embodied the show. Accessories were kept to

a minimum and beauty was at a doll-like simplicity. All models had gelled down hair, parted to the side and pinned in a scalp-hugging swirl. Make-up was left to a flawless face and rosy lips. Iridescent glitter matching majority of the outfits and, keeping to the space feel, was blended into cheekbones and up to the brow bone. A few models had the same glitter used on their nose and inner eye corners. The monotony highlighted by each model wearing a pair of mirrored courts complimented the decor and provided a rhythm to the show. A single pearl anklet fasted on the left ankle of each model. Shoes reflected off the mirrored floors as though the models were a floating parade. Attention to detail did not stop there. Whilst every evening gown showcased

ing the importance of the problem. This belongs to the greater debate of inequality within the work place and embodies an out-of-date view that women must act and dress a certain way to further themselves professionally and receive the same opportunities as men. Sure, heels can make your legs look d a m n great but they are objectively bad for you if worn for long periods of time and on a regu l a r b a s i s . Arthritis, spinal problems, shortening of calve muscles, knee, hip and back pain from excess pressure, muscle pain: the list goes on. Employers should not be able to make heels mandatory. Some may say that if you look good, you will feel good and by wearing heels you will feel smarter and more confident and your

Fashion Week It's that time of year again when all fashionistas watch with a keen eye to see what the next biggest trends will be. From Paris to London, the world's best designers are coming together to put on shows which are some of the highlights of the fashion calendar. From famous designers to new talent and from the front row to the city streets, there is always a lot to see at these fashion weeks.

L'Oreal has announced the launch of a new collection which is based on the popular Disney classic 'Beauty and the Beast' ahead of the release of the new live action version starring Emma Watson. Not only is the packaging of each item gorgeous but the make-up is stunning too. The lipstick range is a red lip lover's dream! Unfortunately though, this is only available in Italy at the moment. Fingers crossed it comes to the UK soon!

What was your highlight from the show? Let us know: @redbricklife

Pizza Cutter Eyeliner

Life&Style writer Charlotte Gill investigates the controversy over heels in the workplace experienced this very situation she set up a petition to defend women’s right to wear flat shoes to work. Her role involved completing a nine hour shift on her feet as she escorted clients around and this was a role she felt she could not do in heels. The Equality Act of 2010 should ban discriminatory dress codes but, as ever, there is a disconnect between legislation and practise. Sadly, Thorp’s case is just one of m a n y : w o m e n have been asked to wear shorter skirts, unbutton blouses, reapply make up, even change their hair colour. One might (naively) argue that it was just a pair of heels – not worth being sent home over, right? – but the issue is far larger than that. 152,420 people had signed the petition by 10th November 2016 when it closed, demonstrat-

FIERCE

floor-length intricacy, a featured piece worn by Mariana Beltrame showed a glimpse of sheer trousers. Made using black sheer and embellished with jewels, it definitely highlighted the precision of Chanel’s ateliers. Goodbye Cara! Lily-Rose Depp closed the show with Karl’s masterpiece for 2017. Lily held the position as Chanel’s bride with a pale pink, heavily ruffled dress. Beginning with a bib collar and falling as a drop-waist, the dress even included the statement belt as seen before. Organza ruffles coated her arms, reaching her elbow, and continued even as far as the train to create rippling waves as Depp walked. Karl took to the stage to introduce the parade of all looks and yet again Chanel epitomised Parisienne class. In the words of Vanessa Paradis - or ‘mother of the bride’ - “c’etait divine’.

Sexism in The Workplace: The Heels Enquiry Trainers, loafers, ballet pumps, espadrilles, slingbacks. You name it and it has been paraded on the catwalks and featured in high-street window displays for the past couple of years. And our luck is in because the trend looks to continue unabated. Flats are better for posture, comfier and you won’t have to return home from a night out early because you feel as if your feet may well fall off. This happened to me once and I was the only one to blame. No one made me wear those horridly high heels, that was a (foolish) decision of my own and one which I have not repeated. So, if I had worked hard to apply for a job, been accepted for the job and arrived for my first day wearing flat shoes, only to be sent home (without pay) because I refused to wear a pair of heels between 2 and 4 inches, I would be appalled. Because – and take a seat if you need to, as this may come as shocking news – there is no direct correlation between success in a job and wearing high heels! It is no surprise, therefore, that when Nicola Thorp

behaviour at work will reflect this. Of course, we want to feel good about ourselves and if wearing heels gives you that extra boost to get you through the day then really who am I to stop you (though remember that arthritis!). And of course, we cannot turn up to work in anything we like simply because it is ‘comfy’ – wearing swimming trunks and flip-flops may not go down well or give off a particularly professional vibe, that’s for sure. However, if you ensure you look smart and well-presented for work then whether your shoes have a 2 to 4 inch pole sticking out of the bottom of them or not should not matter. If you feel more comfortable in flats then you may even do your job better than if your feet are hurting in heels. Either way, heels should be a statement of personal style, not a requirement. Parliament will debate the issue on 6th March 2017 and let’s hope they agree with us and say: to heel with discriminatory dress codes.

Beauty and the Beast Make-up

We all love a good wing and know that a precise, neat, sharp line is anything but easy to achieve. MAC's latest solution to this problem is a new tool which resembles a pizza cutter. Whilst the promise of on-fleek flicks makes us curious to try the tool, we're not 100% convinced by it just yet.

Unpredictable Weather You leave the house in bright sunshine and by the time you reach your lecture or seminar, the rain is pouring, the wind has ruined your hair, your make-up is no longer in place and you are freezing cold. This time of year definitely makes planning an outfit difficult.

Easter Eggs Come on guys, it's only February! It doesn't seem that long ago since we were scoffing mince pies, unwrapping presents, and spending time with our loved ones. It is definitely not time for the shops to be filled with chocolate eggs and bunnies just yet!

Zoe Screti Life&Style Editor

FINISHED

CAREERS

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickcareers

The Many Faces of Experience What is Work Experience, and why is it important to you? Having a degree is only half the battle, as I’m sure we’re all aware. But it’s no longer enough to walk out of university with just your diploma in hand. Work experience is one way to make yourself stand out of the crowd; on the one hand it helps build your workplace readiness and teach you skills that you can’t learn in seminar rooms, but it also builds contacts, vital for getting any job.

Indeed, 72% of all people undertaking work experiece are between the ages of 18-21, so don't miss your opporutnitiy to try as many industries as you like! In honour of Work Experience Week last week, here we explore the variety of work experiences you can undertake, and equip you with some tips for preparing yourself to start your work experience.

Did you know?

What's in a Public Serivce? An insight into the variety of careers avaliable in the Public Sector, as hosted by the Careers Network Mira Lodhia Careers Editor @LodhiaMira

As part of work experience week, the Public Service Academy held a Careers in Public Service event with some of the largest employers in the public sector. Organisations representing several parts of the public sector were present, from local government, healthcare and emergency services to housing and public affairs. The information and networking event gave an important insight into the possibilities for those considering a career in public service. Local government representatives from both Birmingham and Wolverhampton City Councils explained the benefits of working in a local government institution. They can provide a specific career route in such fields as human resources or marketing for those sure of the career path they wish to take, or a varied one for those who have yet to decide. A recent recruit of the Wolverhampton City Council Business Development Scheme, now a business manager, relayed the varied career he was able to take as a result of working for the Council. He had been given opportunities to work on projects within democratic, policy, equalitiy and regeneration services. Careers in local councils are advertised by individual councils or can be applied to via the Local Council Graduate Scheme. Interns from Birmingham

Children’s hospital were also present. A corporate nursing intern explained that a year- long internship would be a great opportunity for someone who is keen to experience involvement in the organization and running of a hospital, while playing a role in the community. This could involve the running of patient feedback groups, or working on wards and liaising with medical professionals.

"A year long internship [is] a great opportunity for someone who's keen to have involvment in the organization and running of a hospital" An operations management intern, also from the Children's Hospital, echoed these sentiments, and added that the interns enjoy a high degree of independence and responsibility throughout the internship, a factor which sets these internships apart from others. Perhaps the most refreshing public service program on show

was Unlocked, a graduate scheme which offers prison officer training in the form of an intensive summer course. The aim of the scheme is to tackle the crisis of violence in prisons and high reoffence rates by training graduates of high caliber to inject new energy and ideas into the prison system. With a current 46% rate of inmates reoffending within a year of release, Unlocked hopes that bringing fresh talent into the prison service will instill a focus on rehabilitation and compassion. The two year program involves an intensive training academy over the summer, working full-time in prisons around South London for two years, whilst working towards a masters degree in leadership and rehabilitation. It also offers the opportunity to contribute a policy paper on the prison service that could influence its operation. Supported by several large graduate employers such as the Civil Service, PwC and Ernst and Young, graduates can go into careers in one of these organisations or continue in the prison service. As a graduate of the scheme you would be part of the first Unlocked cohort, presenting a great opportunity to have a real, lasting impact on this innovative initiative, and in your initial years as a graduate.

Work Experience: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Careers Editor Lael Hardtman unpackages the relevance of work experience, evaulating its effectivness in improving student employability. Lael Hardtman Careers Editor @ehardtman

Employability is a deeply personal thing, and there are as many paths to being employed as there are opportunities for participating in work experiences. But what are the gains and the costs of this system? In America, the federal government has gone so far as to install a work-study program, which 'provides funds for part-time employment to help needy students to finance the costs of postsecondary education', providing monetary aid and work experience in one fell swoop. That’s a good thing, surely? Indeed, data on the effects of work experience is still imperfect, but it provides important estimates on how work experience potentially impacts the prospects of future employment for those who participate in work experience. Both

participants and employers gain much from work experience; it gives students and graduates much needed experience and access, and employers see similar benefits.

"Remember, nothing after university is guaranteed. So go out and get some experience!" The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) found that, loosely, work experience had 'strong and beneficial impact on the likelihood of a participant being in employment compared to nonparticipants', and furthermore that those who participated in work experience were 'more likely to be

in employment than non-participants'. They further found that participants of work experience were around 28% more likely to be employed than non participants. However, to gain the most from your work experience (and this might go without saying) you must be willing to work with your advisor. Of course, work experience gives the opportunity to put something substantial on your resume. Organising spreadsheets, filing, keeping to a schedule (or even organising someone else’s schedule) is all valuable experience and ultimately prepares you for the real world. This increased sense of responsibility cannot be bartered or bought, but rightly earned through slugging through your first job. All of this brings you closer to your first paid job and fills those gaps in your CV, and (arguably most importantly) a work-related reference. The employer benefits too, by directly impacting the lives of local stu-

dents in their respective communities as well as receiving an extra helping hand simply at the cost of training them. Work experience is certainly the popular option, with roughly 62% of students in 2015 participating in some sort of unpaid internship during their time at university. The BBC has previously condemned this 'hidden economy' of work experience for the reason that many of these opportunities are unpaid, and no matter how impressive the work experience, it certainly doesn’t always guarantee a job at the end of it. Furthermore, the culture of replacing entry level jobs with work experience or internships is dangerous, as it leaves students and graduates restricted to the periphery of the job market, with no security in sight. Surely, if companies wanted the best of the best, they’d consider paying their interns or students on work experience, but companies see unpaid interns as reducing labor costs. The not-forprofit industry, for example, is powered largely by its unpaid

labor and interns. So, it’s a double-edged sword really. Not participating in work experience makes a graduate student dangerously unready for the realities of the real world, but employers not paying them their worth and employing them on an ad hoc basis in short term periods doesn’t help them find jobs either. Our advice? Get as much experience while you’re still at university! Use the security of your time to capitalise on our universities bursaries and internships to get as much experience to fall back on when you graduate. Remember, there’s no job guaranteed after university that you don’t earn— so go get you some experience!

CAREERS

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickcareers

What to expect when you're expecting (to get employed)

Student Testimonials

Take it from your fellow students: the real deal on what you gain from work experience

Here are some of the bursaries and internships offered by our very own university to help you get started finding work experience suited to your needs.

Work experience when you're in the Arts Tasha Smart Food Editor @tashanotsmart

It’s hard when doing an arts degree to decide on the course you want to take after university. Our subjects are transferable and our options open in terms of the job market. This in my eyes is a complete positive, as it means we won't be forced into a career we’ve trained three years for and suddenly realise we don’t like. What is undoubtedly key in deciding on that dream job however, is work experience! As someone not 100% sure on their future career I simply got the idea of publishing into my head and decided to test it out and, since then, I’ve had three placements: one with Penguin, one with Little Tiger Press, and one with Hachette. My initial placement was a bit of a fluke, with the work experience appearing as an event on my Facebook timeline. I applied and got a role in the Children’s Publicity and Marketing sector, a role I was absolutely thrilled with being a big kid myself. As part of the two week placement I was involved in numerous activities such as creating press releases and managing competitions set up for kids. I absolutely loved this, and I knew that it was exactly the job I wanted after graduation. Though my first week didn’t go perfectly, I was able to raise my concern and go to the main offices on the Strand. This allowed me to

witness the inner workings of the company. I learnt from this that it is certainly a ‘don’t ask, don’t get’ system when it comes to work experience: you absolutely have to put yourself out there, be brave, and it will be rewarded.

"It's important to undertstand that you'll gain the most from talking to those around you about the job"

is to an extent about who you know, but once you have one contact it’s more than possible to gain another. The important thing is to stay positive throughout a placement. Whilst I’ve been lucky and enjoyed each one, it reinforcing my determination even more, as occasionally things don't go so well. It is easy to become disheartened when the commute is long and expensive and the job is not what you hoped. You’ve got to remember, it’s experience and it can only be contributing to your future goals.

WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENTS Be it a term or a week, many courses now offer a 'Professional Development' type module which will offer a number of opportunities to participate in work experience alongside your course. See your course supervisor or email your personal tutor for more information. UoB BURSARIES UK Professional Work experience Bursary

It’s important to understand that you gain most from talking to those around you about the job. You will be given the minor tasks, so what the person next to you is doing is much more interesting to talk about and will be more beneficial when it comes to deciding if that’s the job for you. It’s always a good idea to see if people want to get a cup of tea and chat with you, they’ll have tips on how to get into the industry and can definitely advise you on your next step. I was lucky enough to actually gain another contact in another company: how I got my placement at Hachette. Networking and gaining contacts is the best thing, as emailing someone directly is more likely to gain a response. Unfortunately, it

This scheme offers financial support of up to £800 for undergraduate students including inernational students (except final years) to undertake work experience in the UK in the summer vacation. Application deadline: 2nd April 2017 Research Experience bursary scheme Offers up to £500 for undergraduates to undertake research related work experience or a research placement in the summer vacation. Application deadline: 2nd April 2017

A Week with The Guardian Nancy Frostick Sports Editor @nancyfrostick

Work experience can be a great way to get your feet under the table in competitive industries and help give you a sense of which direction you want to pursue in your career. During the summer I spent a week with the sports desk at the Guardian, which was a fantastic way to get a glimpse of the day-to-day life of a journalist at a national newspaper. Initially it was hard to gauge if I would actually get any hands on experience, but by the end of the week there is no doubting that I picked up some vital skills that will improve my future employability. Most importantly, I didn’t have to make anyone cups of tea, and I even made it into print! It became clear pretty quickly that work experience in the newsroom is what you make of it – if you don’t have the courage to go over and introduce yourself to people and offer your help then it could be a very long and boring week. Everyone is very busy, so there really is no ‘good time’ to approach, however if you are offering to light-

en someone's load by taking on some research then they will be very grateful. I was lucky enough to get the full experience on the sports desk: I researched and wrote content for both print and online during the week. As much as this still surprises me considering my total lack of professional experience when I arrived, everyone at the Guardian was really happy to help when I needed it. After all, somebody did the same for them once and they know more than anyone how hard it is to make it in journalism.

"Contacts are by far the most valuable thing you can pick up from work experience" Contacts are by far the most valuable thing you can pick up from work experience. As impressive as it can be to have a reputable company on your CV, more often than not it is a case of who you know there. Leaving a good impression with as many people as possible is

Gateway bursary scheme something that will really improve your employability in the future, whether that’s with the same company or someone else. I came away with some great contacts both at the Guardian and in the wider world of sport that will definitely be useful in the long run. There is no limit on how useful a week of w o r k experience can be: even if it is only to learn that you don’t like that job, or that company. My time with the Guardian was pretty intense to say the least, as we were juggling covering the Olympics, preparing for the Paralympics and looking ahead to the start of the football season across print and online. When I was going home at 5pm, the sub-editors had not long arrived to start putting

the next day’s edition together. Although I didn’t stay for one of their shifts, the unsociable hours are something that I hadn’t really considered until I was forced to do so. Spending some time immersed in a career you want to follow is the most useful way of finding out inside tips and tricks, and really knowing if it is the job for you.

Offers up to £2000 for undergraduates (except final years) from the following priority groups to undertake work experience: A2B students, registered disabled, leaving care, first generation of the family into higher education, in receipt of a grant or scholarship, lone parent, ethnic minorities. Awards are available for work experience placements throughout the academic year. Application deadline: 15th April 2017

GAMING

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickgames

Preview: Mass Effect: Andromeda Deputy Editor Harry Turner shares his hopes and concerns on Bioware's latest Harry Turner Deputy Editor @acynicalsloth

In little over a month, the Mass Effect franchise will be making its return, after what has now been a five-year hiatus. Yet the videogaming world that Mass Effect: Andromeda will be releasing in is quite different to the one which the franchise’s last entry saw – both in terms of the industry at large, and, more specifically, in terms of BioWare’s (and Mass Effect’s) standing in it. With this in mind, as that March 21st release-date creeps ever closer, let’s take an extended look at what Andromeda has to offer. The trailers and gameplay reveals for Andromeda – somewhat strangely for such a big release – have been quite scarce, and only recently have we been getting a better look at what the game has to offer. So far, these glimpses have almost entirely emphasised Andromeda’s graphics and gameplay – and, from the looks of it, rightly so. Running off the Frostbite 3 engine, the trailers suggest a game full of sweeping, vibrant alien vistas, and worlds rife with density and detail – whether that be the urban sprawl of a recently set-up colony, or the wild wastes of the untamed planet. Whilst it’s unlikely the game will be able to run at its highest fidelity for most – a 4K TV being just one of the devices needed to run the game at its max (and even then, the higher-end visuals likely being reserved for the monster PCs) – it’s impressive nonetheless, and certainly a selling point. As with the graphics, the gameplay department appears to have been kicked up a notch too, with Andromeda offering a marked upgrade to the combat that the previous games offered. Undeniably the original trilogy’s combat certainly improved with each game, yet even with Mass Effect 3, combat revolved around basic cover systems, a limited use of your class’s powers, and – somewhat amusingly – an overreliance on the A/X button. Whether that latter feature has been rectified remains to be seen, yet, even so, Andromeda seems set to offer a much more mobile, much more creative combat system than previous instalments. Armed with a jet/booster-pack and a neural interface that allows the tweaking of classes and powers on the fly, Ryder – the game’s new playable protagonist – is a much more mobile combatant than Shepherd ever was: capable of

zipping across the battlefield, and made all the more special since of generating personal biotic shields they’re only a relative handful in instead of hunkering down behind this vast new galaxy. Likewise, the cover. Perhaps taking influence fact that these handful are effectively from the speedier shooters of late ambassadors for their species, and and their booster-packs, this is a encountering an entirely new refreshing change. Whilst it’s a galactic system, is an exciting one. shame Andromeda didn’t take the Added to this are the theories opportunity to allow the playing of surrounding the Andromeda the series’ various alien races to mix Initiative, and some of the characters up combat, what is there is an that will serve as your companions. undeniable improvement over the Without spoiling anything for original trilogy – and something anyone that wants to go in clean, that could, perhaps, rival the likes both suggest that the game will not of straight-up shooters and action be leaving the original trilogy behind completely. games alike. Yet for all this, Andromeda’s On a similar note, Andromeda boasts a rich open-world to explore story otherwise looks somewhat – purportedly allowing the travel underwhelming so far. The game is between ship-to-planet without any relying on tropes that the original loading screens. With open-worlds trilogy, and other games, long-since being the big craze at the moment exhausted. A highly advanced – be they for RPGs or action games precursor race: a 'big bad' that so far looks like just – Andromeda appears to be "Andromeda's story another Corypheus from Dragon Age. offering one of the With such an largest and most otherwise looks interesting setting, versatile – and all why not take the somewhat brought to life opportunity to tell with the Frostbite engine’s already underwhelming so a more complex story – where the mentioned far" main drive is graphical fidelity. ensuring that your, With the development of the new Nomad humanity’s, and maybe even the vehicle having been assisted by the Andromeda Initiative’s, interests team behind Need for Speed games, are preserved in this uncharted exploring the Helios Cluster’s rich, galaxy? More significantly, there new worlds looks to be as much of was the opportunity with Andromeda for BioWare to weave its gameplay a treat as seeing them. But what about the story? What into its narrative – with the most about Andromeda’s cast of recent trailer stressing the limited characters? Whilst the Mass Effect resources that the Andromeda series has always tried to emphasise Initiative has at their disposal, and the action part of its action-RPG the need to find a new world before identity, for everything the original they run out. This could have been trilogy did right, it was the story another suicide mission scenario – and characters, the RPG, that made as in Mass Effect 2 – something for Mass Effect the juggernaut it is the game to work around, and today – and it is perhaps telling that something for all the game’s major it’s taken this article this long to choices to revolve around, and have come to these things. Only with the an impact on. Admittedly, perhaps most recent trailers have we got a this is all too harsh and too premature good look at what Andromeda’s – as said, the game’s marketing has story is, and who will be revealed markedly little in terms of accompanying us for it – which is the story’s themes or central conflict, strange, considering how acclaimed and perhaps BioWare and EA are the previous games were in this deliberately keeping story details department – and to a certain extent, close to the chest. A bigger problem, and a bigger what has been shown so far hasn’t been particularly impressive in its concern, however, is that Andromeda’s story has been made own right. Certainly, the game’s concept is to fit its preoccupations with intriguing: an ambitious program to gameplay – or more specifically, a expand beyond the Milky Way, a certain style of gameplay: the crew awakening after centuries of endless checklists. This wouldn’t be cryo sleep in a galaxy lightyears something new for BioWare. from their own, and one populated Arguably what brought Dragon by new, unknown alien species’ and Age: Inquisition’s story down the their civilisations. There’s a lot to most was the game’s fixation on play with there. The likes of krogan, MMO-esque tasks – collecting turians – even humans – are now enough elfroot to upgrade a potion,

enough iron to craft new armour, or something else entirely to create a new dye, repair the keep, etc., etc. Whilst your advisors dealt with court intrigue in faraway lands or helped unearth the secrets of the game’s villain, you were out scouring the game’s various environments for plants. Worryingly, Andromeda’s marketing has presented the game as perhaps having a similar fixation on item collection and crafting – with trailers repeatedly emphasising how this is an uncharted galaxy rich with resources, and how you are on your own, and need to rely on yourself to upgrade your gear. Done in moderation, this style of gameplay is fine – but done to the extreme, as Inquisition arguably did, the game becomes a checklist of hunting down items of insignificance en-masse. This is the Ubisoft style of open-world – populating a massive space with various collectables and repeated tasks (be they watchtowers to climb or bases to clear out – of which Andromeda seems to have analogues for both). Recent action-RPGs like The Witcher 3 have done well to skirt away from this emphasis (or mostly, anyway), populating its massive world with stories spanning numerous quests to just one, and filling them with characters both strange and serious. This was better than any of the mindless searchand-collect busy work or tick-box tasks that Inquisition, and Witcher 3, offered – and is something that Andromeda could do to much better utilise its own open world. Once again, this may be too harsh, too premature – time may tell that Andromeda was paying attention to some of the best RPGs and open-world-games to have come out since the conclusion of the original Mass Effect trilogy – but BioWare isn’t the developer that it was ten years ago, and the gaming industry today isn’t the same either. The likes of The Witcher 3 changed the role-playing game landscape by, in some ways, subverting the trends that BioWare had for years used to great success, whilst the likes of Dragon Age: Inquisition saw BioWare following a somewhat paradoxical philosophy that a single-player MMO is a great thing. It wasn’t; it isn’t. Whilst there’s a conversation to be had about the prioritisation of gameplay over story, with RPGs – even actionRPGs – that choice is simple. Engaging stories and memorable characters (admittedly through gameplay interaction most of all) are the single-best thing that RPGs have to offer – which is, fundamentally, why Andromeda’s emphasis thus far on the combat and graphics in place of these things is so concerning. Nobody wants Mass Effect: Andromeda to fail. The original trilogy remains one of the greatest RPGs of all time, its cast of characters beloved by the world over. Yet there remains reason to be tentative about the series’ latest entry. With the gameplay running the risk of being a repeat of some of Dragon Age: Inquisition’s worst moments, and with the story and characters thin on the ground so far, I know that I, for one, won’t be purchasing the game until I know for certain the kind of action-RPG that Andromeda really is.

GAMING

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickgames

Feature: Why COD returning to its roots is great! James Marvin gives his insight into the direction of the iconic franchise James Marvin Gaming Editor @js_marvin

A few days ago, Activision’s Chief Operating Officer, Thomas Tippl, as part of a conference call with investors, announced that in 2017 the publisher will “take Call of Duty back to its roots and traditional combat will once again take centre stage” with the next entry in the series. The title is being developed by Sledgehammer Games,

who previously assisted with development on Modern Warfare 3 and took lead development duties of Advanced Warfare.

"Call of Duty is a dying and fatigued franchise." The news, no doubt, comes, at least in part, because of the underperformance of the latest entry to the series, Infinite Warfare, when

compared with the previous year’s Black Ops III, which, coupled with the fact that fans have been begging non-stop for a return to at least a present day setting, explains Activision’s being so forthcoming with this information, no doubt in an effort to please fans. And, quite frankly, it’s about time. It’s no secret that Call of Duty is a dying and fatigued franchise. Even though it still sells incredibly well, the sales, and to an extent the critical performance of the series, has slowly declined with each and every new entry. But why is this? What happened to Call of Duty in that time frame? I put it down to a gross over complication of what made Call of Duty so great back in the Modern Warfare and World at War days. Recently, in my review of Resident Evil 7, I said that stripping back the series in the latest entry and making it more simplified and focusing on what makes Resident Evil, well, Resident Evil, is what made that a revitalisation of a fatigued franchise. Call Of Duty should take a note of that effort. Now I haven’t properly played a CoD since Black Ops 2 way back when (and when I say ‘properly’ I mean putting the days into that play time counter). One of the main reasons I started to

slowly check out of the series since then, until my inevitable withdrawal, was the fact that it got so bloody complicated that CoD lost what made it great to me: simple and quick fun. Back in the day with the original Modern Warfare (still my personal favourite), the perks were few in amount and simple in what they did. The amount of guns was enough to be enjoyable, but not overwhelming. The way classes and killstreaks worked didn’t mean you had to do a quick bit of math and too much thinking to decide what the hell you should be taking out with you into a round. The maps were simple and yet had depth, this

"The days of the future shooter are over" being one of the main reasons people remember maps such as Overgrown and Crash, but nothing of note has been mentioned since. Now, of course, since the original Modern Warfare, the series has had good entries: the sequel Modern Warfare 2 and the original Black Ops were both absolute belters because they fol-

lowed a similar pattern with slight improvements and meaningful changes that just added onto what was already great. It was around the time of Black Ops 2 that it just started to lose interest, both because of the amount of releases (since CoD is annual), and the fact that there was just too much going on. If I want to play a shooter I really have to think about, I’ll play Battlefield, when it’s time to just mess around and have mindless fun that’s what CoD is for, and it will always be at its best to me when it is just that. On top of that the days of the future shooter are over. Only Titanfall is the one that can pull that off nowadays. A simplification of CoD’s mechanics, whilst also trying to make it feel up to date with today’s games, as well as a pull back to the past (or at least present), is exactly what the franchise needs to really get back on its feet. Thank you for finally acknowledging this Activision, but let’s just hope that Sledgehammer Games actually pull it off.

Do you have opinions on this article? Tell them to us: @RedbrickGames

Redbrick AGM Monday 3rd March 4pm to 6pm Guild Council Chambers Would you like to be on the new Redbrick committee? Whether you can see yourself as the next Editor-in-chief or even our social secretary, come along and run for one of the eight committee postions. Don't want to run for a position? Come along and support your fellow Redbrick members and vote for the next committte or just come along to enjoy the free pizza!

Vote for your new committee! Free pizza! Post-AGM pub social! Did we mention the free pizza?!

SCI & TECH

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricktech

Sci&Tech's App Review Special Join the Troop - the New Social Network Created by UoB Alumni Ellen Daugherty Sci & Tech Editor

Nearly four years after graduating from UoB with a Sports Science degree, I doubt Matt Cleary thought he would be sat, talking to Redbrick, about the launch of his very own mobile social network that he has come to design, develop and produce all by himself. Matt has now found himself at the beginning of an exciting journey into tech entrepreneurialism. His app, Troop, is being given priority to UoB students, and aims to create a level playing field for all its users. With links to Silicon Valley, this app has proved time and time again that it is bringing something new and refreshing to the convoluted world of social media.

"The motivation... is an online space where everybody is heard equally" With Syrian bombings by the UK government, a misogynistic businessman rising to power in the US, and the UK leaving the European Union - the last few years have been a time of tremendous political change. However, those who are listened to in these situations, are often not the people actually affected. Online personalities, celebrities, and politicians (in which the line between each is often blurred), are paid more attention to by the masses, especially during times of uncertainty. Current social media, such as Twitter, fuel people’s elevated social status, thus encouraging more people to listen to them. Most of the time they do not have the best, or most interesting views on current events. Perhaps rather than listening to Kanye rant about

what he thinks should happen in Syria - maybe we should be listening to a 13 year-old girl in Lebanon who has useful insights on the situation. The problem is we can't hear her over the noise of celebrity and “important” people when looking online. This is the motivation behind Matt’s vision of Troop, to create an online space where everybody can be heard equally. It doesn't matter, who you are, where you are, or what you do, if you have something interesting to say it can be heard. Thus the tag line - 'Join the Troop. Be heard.' The name and the whole campaign behind Troop is in line with its vision, to create a equal community based on similar interests. The collective noun given to gorillas is in fact a troop, in which every individual contributes to the group and benefits from others. This community-orientated theme was behind the name, and tries to reiterate the idea of a level playing field.

With this in mind, users are given semi-anonymity, with only your first name and University shown. At the moment the app is only available to UoB students, but has plans in the future to expand to universities across the country and beyond. Matt made this decision, as being a UoB alumni, he felt he should start with the people he could relate to the most and then expand from there. He believes starting here is going to connect the leaders of the future, our generation, together. Each post on the app is given a shelf-life of 12 hours, and users have the chance vote on each post, which extends its lifetime on the app. The more the users vote, comment and share posts, the more points they can earn. Thus creating a social currency based around your contribution to the Troop, which gives an incentive to engage with other users. Also, options to filter the posts they see give people a chance to see only the posts that interest them, and to

get them interacting with others that have similar interests. So when sharing on the app you can make sure you're heard by the right people, who can give more leverage to your ideas and posts. Matt, with no computer science degree, managed to develop the Troop app from an idea he had whilst living in Dubai. Moving to Silicon Valley and self-teaching himself an online computer-science course allowed him to gain the technical skills to create the app himself. Money and fame has never been at the centre of Troop, and the philosophy behind the app stays as true as when it began to create a truly level playing field so everyone, no matter who you are, you can be heard. On Sunday 19th February, Matt is due to give a talk at 11am on campus at the B StartUp Boot Camp. Unfortunately, University of Birmingham's intranet makes it clear that due to unprecedented demand, the event has been booked to capacity in advance. Those that are

"At the moment the app is only available to UoB students" lucky enough to attend this enterprising Boot Camp will be able to find out more information about Troop and the story behind it, as Matt is the guest speaker for that day. Troop is released on 17th February, and is available for free from iOS and the Google Play.store...

App Review: UoB's Guild App Kara Watson Sci & Tech Editor @Karaml_watson

The Guild of Students released their new app for students last week, so I decided to give it a test run. Simply titled ‘UoB Guild of Students’, the app promises to provide a quick and easy service for buying tickets for events, or for society memberships. It is also a way for students to keep up with Guild news, providing information about curent events. To register for the app, you need to put in your University email address. You then have to wait for an email so you can confirm your email address and registration. This link takes you back to the app where you then have to put in your phone

number and a chosen 4-digit pin code. This process is a bit long, and the pin code seems unnecessary. It is supposedly for logging in at other times, although if you never logout then you just don't need it. The app itself is very easy to navigate, with a clear, fresh appearance. It does present Guild News in a simple way, and it is quick to access as opposed to the website. You can easily catch up on what's going on at the Guild and other stories of interest. Guild Events has the same clean look, and the process for purchasing society memberships and event tickets is indeed as quick and easy as they claim. On each of the students groups’ pages on the app there is the description of the society and the link to add the membership to

your basket. A great feature of the app is that on the these pages, there are quick links to the group's Facebook, Twitter, and email accounts, lit up in a bright blue colour if they have these social medias. There is also a link to the group's website if it has one. If you want to contact the society, just press the email icon, and the mail app will open within the Guild app for an easy way to send off a message. However, the app does have its downsides. For one, the home page on the app is virtually empty and seems a bit pointless. When you first open the app, it contains a welcome message you can press on. Perhaps as time goes on you may get more messages? But still, it would make more sense to have Guild News as your homepage, or maybe

have a way to customise what appears there according to the societies/type of events you're interested in. The biggest flaw I think the app has is that I can’t see it being used much. I personally very infrequently use the Guild website, and so the app will be no different. Also a lot of the information on the app is available on various social media outlets. However, if you want to have it on your phone to quickly buy some event tickets, it is a good platform for doing so. Perhaps I am just disconnected from the Guild, but I don't think this is an app I will be checking very regularly. The UoB Guild of Students app is available for free on both iOS and the Google play store.

Creature Feature Fish-Scale Gecko Kara Watson Sci & Tech Editor

Last week, a new species of fish-scale geckos was discovered for the first time in 75 years. Geckolepis megalepis has previously been confused with another closely-related species. Identifying these geckos is made particularly difficult as they can pull their skin off at will. Fish-scale geckos have large scales that are similar to bony plates, and has the largest scales of any gecko. The large size of the scales allow them to be easily torn off, splitting along a specialised layer of cells known as the “tear zone”. The species sheds its skin at the slightest touch, leaving their muscle exposed. They then retreat to a safe location where they can grow back within a matter weeks. As they are difficult to catch in tact, careful methods were devised for their capture. Often, lots of cotton wool was used to delicately pick them up, or sometimes they could be lured into a bag to avoid touching them. One of the main ways to distinguish reptile species is to look at scale pattern. However, this is almost impossible when your study subjects have discarded their scales so many times that they have lost any discernible pattern. To get around this, the researchers use micro-computed tomography, which allows them to create a 3D x-ray image of the geckos skeleton. They used this to identify differences in their skulls that separated them from other fish-scale gecko species. Fish-scale geckos are found in Madagascar, and are under threat from nearby mining operations and habitat loss. As such, despite having only just been discovered, one of the study authors, Mark Scherz, has recommended they be listed as near threatened. Hopefully these delightfully gross reptiles will be studied further, so we can learn more about them.

SCI & TECH

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricktech

UniDosh: the New Student Marketplace and Savings App

Sci & Tech Editor Kara Watson talked to the founders of a recent app that allows students to buy and sell their own services at affordable prices As students, we have precarious financial situations. With most of our time focussed on our university work, it is hard to keep a parttime job as well without causing a lot of stress and exhaustion. But as our student loans often don’t completely cover the cost of living, sometimes a job is essential, despite the difficulty. Having witnessed this struggle for themselves, current students Joseph Black and Oliver Jacobs decided to design the first marketplace app exclusively for students – UniDosh. They wanted to provide a way for students to earn and save money by getting students to

UniSell is where you can advertise your service to other students. You can easily adjust your availability by setting specific time slots on your profile, then you simply fill out a biography about yourself and set your price. There are a range of categories for services you can provide, including tutoring, cleaning, music, and hair & beauty. If you can’t find a category that fits, you can suggest one for the app to have, but it’s likely that whatever your skill is, you can advertise it on UniDosh, with no cost to yourself to do so.

provide and buy services at prices that suit them. 2 years later, and UniDosh has been launched. UniDosh is comprised of two sections: UniSell and UniBuy. You can be certain that the sellers and buyers are students, as to log in to the app you must enter your university email address and student ID number. The founders of UniDosh spotted a gap in the market for this app, with no other student marketplace apps currently available on app stores. UniDosh offers a safe and secure way to either find an

UniBuy is where you search for people who can provide the service you need, all of whom will be fellow students, with studentfriendly prices. You can also set your preference for a date and time that you are free, and see if it matches up with any of the sellers. UniDosh has its own in-app messaging service for you to easily contact each other. There is a review system for sellers to let other students know if they provide a good service, and you only pay when the service has been completed and both sides are happy.

affordable seller, or to earn some extra money for supporting yourself at university. The app has a clean, clear, and modern look, as well as being easy to navigate. It also delivers an alternative method to entering the working world as UniDosh is a middle-step in learning how to advertise your skills. As they keep money within the student community, UniDosh could be the next big thing among students that need that extra cash or an affordable service. At the moment, UniDosh is available in Birmingham, Leeds,

Manchester, and Nottingham, with plans to expand in the summer. Tours around these campuses are being planned to engage more students with the app. You can find UniDosh on both iOS and Android, and you can follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up with the latest updates and information.

App Review: 1 Second Everyday Looking for the next big vlogging app? Phil Jones checks out 1SE - an app focusing on making a video diary An app growing in popularity, 1SE offers users the chance to capture and crystallise key moments of their lives every day and relive them at the users’ leisure. The app has a fairly simple premise: you record a video, edit it down to a one-second portion and then store it. Once you’ve done this for a certain number of days (a week, a month, a year) the app allows you to collate the clips together into one long memento of your life, which can then be uploaded to social media/YouTube or kept for your personal records. The app is fairly straightforward to use, with useful tips displayed on screen when first opened and easily attainable should you forget how to do certain tasks. Should you miss filming on certain days, the app allows you to import a video taken on a different day to trick everyone into thinking you’ve never missed a day. A sneaky feature, but something very welcome. Having used the app for a year, it quickly becomes part of your daily routine and the software is very easy to use, even when in a hurry. Although the app does occasion-

ally freeze or crash at times, future updates have almost always fixed these issues. Beyond simply taking one second clips, the app also allows you to add short diary entries to complement your videos. Although this is not a feature I personally use, it is easy to see the appeal to those who truly want to document their lives on a daily basis. One of the biggest selling points of the app for me was the fact that it is free to download, a fact which is no longer true for the Apple App Store (although it appears to still be free on the Google Play Store). Although the app is the easiest way to record, edit and collate together your one second clips, it doesn’t really do anything that somebody couldn’t do with the regular iPhone camera and some basic film-editing software such as Windows Movie Maker. Overall I would highly recommend this app. It is easy to use, and is a great way of creating short videos of your life without having to go to the effort and complications of video editing. This app would especially benefit

those looking to jump on the online video/vlogging bandwagon without the time to dedicate to filming large portions of their life. However, the app’s current retail price on the app store is questionable, as it really doesn’t seem to offer enough unique features to justify the money being asked for it. If this app returns to being free,

then it would again become a must-have application for those looking to create lasting mementos of their lives. 1 Second Everyday: Video Diary is available on iOS and from the Google Play store.

Bison Return to Canada After an Absence of 100 years Ellen Daugherty Sci & Tech Editor

On 1st February, 16 Bison were reintroduced back in Canada’s oldest National Park to restore the environment. Reintroductions of wild species are rapidly becoming a hot topic in environmental conservation, with the likes of wolves and lynx being suggested for reintroduction to Scotland. Despite the controversy surrounding the issue, reintroduced species can rejuvenate the environment, especially if the species used to exist in the area but went extinct due to human exploitation. If a reintroduced species is a keystone species, it has the capability to exert a huge amount of positive influence on its surroundings. This was the case with the famous example of wolf reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park, after their absence of 70 years. Here the reintroduction of wolves led to demographic and behavioural changes in red deer, which meant they spent more time in the uplands, and less time in the river valley. This consequently meant the woodland by the river could rejuvenate because it had less browsing pressure from the deer. As such the rivers started to fill with wildlife again, and native fish, beaver, otter and water bird populations began to flourish. The idea behind reintroductions is to relocate a once native species, thus causing a plethora of changes in the environment and restoring the ‘true’ landscape. The bison were relocated to the Banff national park in Alberta, Canada, as a keystone species for that environment. It is hoped that this will lead to a return to the full biodiversity of the national park, and natural processes within the ecosystem being restored. At the moment the 16 new individuals have been confined to a 1200km² enclosed pasture, until 2018, where their health and progress can be measured in their new environment. If this preliminary period is successful, the bison can have free range over the whole site and establish a wild population once again in the park. Reintroductions are an important process to consider when restoring an environment. It has huge potential for a knock on effect to all aspects of the ecosystem. More research is needed into how this could be implemented into UK landscapes, using the Scottish Highlands as a key area for potential reintroductions. Who knows, perhaps one day wolves, lynx and bison will roam across the country once again!

CULTURE

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickculture

Review: Eurohouse at the Birmingham REP Alice J Kiff Culture Critic @alicejkiff

Nasi Voutsas, Greek, and Bertrand Lesca, French, live in the Eurohouse – a metaphysical, absurd, political space where push quickly turns to shove, dreams are quickly shattered, and friendship and co-operation just as soon turn to a living nightmare.

"an utterly personal piece" Through dance, improvisation, skits and audience interaction, “Nasi” and “Bert” tell a haunting story of Greece’s relationship with the European Union, exerting wit and charm the whole way through, whilst honestly and engagingly presenting a very grim issue. Voutsas and Lesca were a warm and engaging duo from the

offset. Their first act was asking the whole audience to hold hands. We just about managed, through some moving about and awkward fumbling. “This is nice,” Lesca, the more extroverted of the two, says, once we’ve settled down. “It doesn’t seem like much, but it is. Because by doing this, we’re challenging the outside.” This engagement was nice, but also very misleading, and probably intentionally so. If anyone approaches Eurohouse thinking the handholding will last, they will be very mistaken. But it does take a while to build, and in the first half I wondered whether perhaps this was more stand-up comedy than theatre. Both young men dressed in simple plain clothes, standing in a black box theatre with minimal props, a couple of chairs, a couple of bottles of water and a microphone. And the comedy builds – Lesca and Voutsas are friends, they complete amusing circus acts, dance together, sing together, and have a very strong bond.

Until they don’t. And it all goes awfully wrong. It would be a disservice to give an exact play-by-play of how it unfolds, but it was nothing less

"Eurohouse' tells the haunting story of Greece’s relationship with the European Union, exerting wit and charm the whole way through" than unsettlingly transfixing to witness Lesca’s love for his friend Voutsas start to become obsessive and abusive. The metaphors are not covert as Lesca demands more and more from his Greek friend.

“I love the way you dress, I really love it,” Lesca fawns over Voutsas, “Especially that t-shirt, wouldn’t it look good on me? Do you think it would look good on me?” Lesca is soon wearing Voutsas’ t-shirt, his jeans, stripped him of his shoes and is demanding more and more. Voutsas commitment to this narrative is powerful and at times uncomfortable, when he literally pushes the emergency doors of the Rep’s DOOR wide open and gets out in the minus-degree Birmingham cold after Lesca has stripped him of his clothes. Voutsas wants us to know unequivocally how damaging international relationships can be when you are left out in the cold with nothing. What is really chilling about this piece, and really key to its impact, is how utterly personal it is. Lesca and Voutsas wrote and devised this piece themselves, across France and the U.K. They operate all of the sound and music themselves, unapologetically tapping onto their macbooks to select

the songs and play them. We are reminded of some statistics near the end, how following the financial crash, fifty-two per-cent of young Greek people are unemployed, and at the time of the horrific referendum on the bailout terms in 2015, suicide rates were at an all time high. And after all this – 95% of the bailout money went into the pockets of the French and German banks, whilst the Greeks were left barely afloat. The piece strikes a really effective balance between commenting, and not being “preachy”. It doesn’t mention Brexit, or the Trump administration once. But is it about these events, as it is about all international “co-operation” based on cruelty, self-interest and manipulation? Simply put, the Eurohouse – in all its understated, homemade charm – is very good. It is reactive and hand-made, a small piece of resistance in a very big, and very cold world outside.

Review: The Buddy Holly Story at the Wolverhampton Grand Rebecca Moore Culture Critic

Johan Perrson

‘A hey, a hey–hey!’ Buddy Holly is in town and he’s brought the swinging sixties with him. Avid fan or partial listener, Matt

Salisbury’s musical biopic will have anyone head-bopping and toe-tapping within minutes. A histrionic voice booms out over the speakers and gets the crowd going before the show starts. The curtains open to reveal a pastel-coloured, Mondrian print stage that immediately takes the audience back to 1956 with its tacky charm. The radio presenter of KADV is the host for the first half of this performance, and his ‘on air/off air’ switch becomes a symbol of musical censorship. Buddy Holly (Glen Joseph), with his adorable goofiness and unwavering dedication, modestly agrees to play the country songs asked of him, but his creative intuition overspills between the live broadcasts, and we are treated to some cheeky snippets of lively rock n roll. The studio scenes, that see Buddy Holly and The Crickets chipping away at their early hits, such as Everyday and Peggy Sue, add a drive and suspense to Alan Janes’ stage-play that otherwise has little substantial action. This is by no means a criticism of Janes’ writing: the play rightly gives more weight to Buddy Holly’s greatest hits than to his personal life, which results in a vibrant and lively celebration of his musical achievements. There are some slow transitions and amateurish black-outs that last a little too long, but in most parts the play moves along chirpily, sharing the quick tempo of a Buddy Holly hit. There’s a lot to look forward to after the interval: Buddy performs at the height of his success and is joined on stage by The Big Bopper (Thomas Mitchells) and Ritchie Valens (Jordan Cunningham). The fourth wall is fabulously broken as the audience of this musical become the audience of a fifties ballroom dancing club, being encouraged to sing and click along, and occasionally

Johan Perrson

instructed to applaud. It is an amalgamation of fifties rockabilly, from Buddy Holly’s Heartbeat to the Isley Brothers’ Shout, that blurs the lines between stage-play and tribute act. Cunningham’s performance of La Bamba is a highlight of this section, his ener-

"The play rightly gives more weight to Buddy Holly’s greatest hits than to his personal life, which results in a vibrant and lively celebration of his musical achievements" getic stage-presence and fastmoving snake-hips has everyone smiling and swaying along. Despite a few melodramatic

‘shouty’ moments, some clichéd jokes that fall a little flat, and a shaky American accent from Kerry Low as Maria Elena Holly, the cast give strong performances as both actors and musicians. Glen Joseph and Josh Haberfield carry the performance, whilst Miguel Angel brightens the stage with his shimmering purple suit in the supporting role of an Apollo Performer. The allusion to the tragic death of the three musicians in the plane crash of 1959 is understated and powerful. It provides the audience with a short moment of reflection before taking them back into Buddy’s live show, in what is a buoyant climax in commemoration of Buddy Holly’s musical legacy. By the time Glen Joseph strums the chords of the popular classic Johnny B. Goode, half of the audience will be on their feet clapping. It is a performance for the young and the old to enjoy, and the only disappointment is that the seats cannot be moved out of the stalls, to make space for everyone to jive long into the night.

CULTURE

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickculture

Review: Wonderland at the New Alexandra Theatre Olivia Boyce Culture Editor @liv_boyce

Lewis Carroll's Wonderland series has made something of a cultural resurgence in the last decade or so, with feature films and even videogame appearances taking up the mantle of realising Carroll's irresistibly bonkers creation. Now, a musical by Tony nominated Frank Wildhorn embarks on a tour of the UK, inviting audiences of all ages to take a trip down the fabled rabbit hole to visit a Wonderland much similar to our own world than we might expect... The curtain rises on a scene many might recognize - in front of a tower block, we see a woman having, as she and the ensemble emphatically sing, the 'Worst Day' ever, with disaster after disaster befalling her. This is Alice, but not the Alice of the fable that we might know - she's still attached to a manipulative ex, fired from a job she didn't like, and unaware of the affections of those around her. Now forty and feeling increasingly disillusioned in a modern world she feels powerless to change, she is taken to Wonderland in an elevator, accompanied by daughter Ellie and neighbour Jack. Here, she faces a choice continue with her unhappy life, or make some profound changes. It's clear Wildhorn's show is a looser adaptation of Carroll's narratives, though his books, characters and themes still have a heavy presence. The show has a varied and enjoyable score of toe-tapping tunes, featuring several songs performed by recognizable characters from Carroll's universe. The Caterpillar (Kayi Ushe) has a fab jazzy number, and the Cheshire Cat (Dominic Owen) also has a suitably enjoyable number early on. The Queen of Hearts, played by Wendi Peters of Coronation Street fame, sings an unnervingly upbeat rendition of a song based on her literary counterparts most famous saying, 'Off With Their Heads'. Peters is quite the scenestealer, and her fine voice and comic timing, as well as the per-

fect balance of the melodramatic and the somewhat evil, is enjoyable and memorable, though a little underused. Jack (Stephen Webb) is Alice's love interest, and has a few numbers that sit somewhere on the musical spectrum between Wicked's Dancing Through Life,

“There's a sense or selfexamination, of the need to look inwardly at who we are, and who we want to be, that settles just beneath the musical's surface" and the rather cheesy back catalog of a great many eighties/noughties boy bands. Ellie, played by Naomi Harris, is a delightful presence on stage, and her vocals on Wildhorn's beautiful ballad 'Home' are superb. Even as her experience in Wonderland changes her, there's a constant sense that she's longing for the return of the mother she loves, as well as her own need to recapture a little of her childhood innocence. Of course, what would Wonderland be without its Mad Hatter? Natalie McQueen is in fine voice, and mad spirit, as the unsettling yet lovable character who here receives quite the plot twist. Through a mixture of Ellie's naive advice and the desire for something different, she ends up as the leader of a revolutionary faction against the Queen, with some suitably fabulous songs to boot. 'I Will Prevail', the second act opener, is particularly memorable. However, the night really belongs to Alice. Alice is here played by Kerry Ellis, a name I suspect will be familiar to those aware of the British theatrical scene. Ellis has been hailed as the

'First Lady of the West End', with starring roles in Cats, We Will Rock You, and perhaps most iconically, Wicked, accompanied by a successful recording career and multiple collaborations with Queen guitarist Brian May. Her vocal prowess is on show here, with Alice's songs ranging from soulful ballads to powerhouse numbers, allowing Ellis to show off her remarkable and almost unparalleled talents. When the curtain call comes around, Ellis bounds on to rapturous applause with a joyous expression that suggests Ellis lives, breathes and loves her profession and performing, and it's this infectious passion that spills into her characters, making her Alice all the better for it. Her duets with McQueen's Hatter are particularly, hair-raisingly excellent, and indeed Ellis and McQueen have played many of the same roles, even alternating in the recent production of Murder Ballad - here, their voices are perfectly complementary, and are a joy to behold when combined. The set is versatile, with little flairs that evoke Wonderland's surreal setting perfectly. Costuming is particularly strong, with the Mad Hatter looking rather fabulous, the Caterpillar and White Rabbit looking suitable suave, and Wonderland's inhabit-

I'm left wanting a pair after the show!). Wonderland has been criticised for being formulaic, and I concede that there are moments of predictability and at times jarring dialogue, though I'd argue the score and cast more than make up for any momentary plotting lapses, offering an upbeat, uplifting and surprisingly didactic show. There's a sense or self-examination, of the need to look inwardly at who we are, and who we want to be, that settles just beneath the musical's surface. It emerges perhaps strongest in one of Alice's revelatory speeches, as she realises the true oppressive nature of her now distant marriage to her ex-husband. Calling for women to

realise self-worth and the power of self-acceptance and unity, it's a speech Ellis clearly revels empoweringly in, and one that feels almost poignant in today's uncertain world. After an enjoyable evening, I find myself leaving the theatre wishing for three things - tickets to see it again, a much-deserved cast album so that I might relive Wildhorn's score once more, and perhaps most ardently, a white rabbit to whisk me off to the Wonderland itself. With its enjoyable score, great performances and uplifting messages, Wonderland is a little bit of magic indeed.

Paul Coltas

“Ellis bounds on to rapturous applause with a joyous expression that suggests she lives, breathes and loves her profession and performing" ants looking as versatile and odd as we might expect. Alice's rather striking shoes are also a cool costume choice, and a subtle reminder of the modern world, even as she seems to return to her classical wonderland roots (Side note -

A Brummie Burns Night Naomi Simpson Culture Critic

The name may sound alarming but fear not, Burns Night is not some health and safety defying bonfire ritual gathering cultural force. That’s not to say there isn’t a potentially terrifying aspect to the proceedings, at least for those of you who were brought up south of the wall (Hadrian’s Wall to be specific, but when has a Game of Thrones reference not gone down well?). The greatest threat and ultimate joy of Burns Night is this: the celebration of Scotland’s nationally adored poet Robert (Rabbie) Burns with a few toasts of whisky and some haggis, dare you try it. The evening of the 25th of January sees people of Scottish

descent the world over come together to enjoy a moment of nostalgia in the form of fairly outdated but charming traditions, artery-clogging food and mindfogging drink. This is what I, a proud member of the miniscule group of Scottish students at the University of Birmingham, decided to inflict upon my housemates last week as reading lists piled higher and we all needed a little late January cheer. At its core, Burns Night is an evening of recitation. Poetry is obviously central to this, and I would like to thank my obliging housemate who navigated his way between a crisp RP accent and Burns’ broad Scots dialect to recite his well-loved tongue twister ‘Selkirk Grace’ (“Just don’t pronounce any ‘t’s and you’ll be fine!”). Burns was a true poet of

the people, a unifying voice who could write about love as easily as folk tales with a deft manner of taking the specific occurrences of

" Burns was a true poet of the people, a unifying voice who could write about love as easily as folk tales..." his rural life and the rhythms of the Ayrshire Scots dialect and making them universal. If you think this sounds like patriotic

hyperbole, it’s worth bearing in mind that John Steinbeck used one of Burns’ lines for the title of his canonical American novel Of Mice and Men. Recitation takes on a role of cultural reaffirmation in the evening, as bagpipes blare out of ballrooms from Elgin to Edinburgh and kilt-wearing partygoers get a wee bit closer to their roots with each bite of haggis. As we progress through our university careers, I have noticed that there is often a sense that to return home after moving away to study is a step in the wrong direction. Those of us lucky enough to be able to study abroad are even more likely to be constantly looking forward and outwards to new cultures and experiences, but we run the risk of overlooking the joy in where we came from. It may not have been the most elegant or

traditional night, but indulging in a little home-cooked culture is something to be treasured. As an English Literature student, I spend an awful lot of time thinking about poetry and its supposed impact, but very little time living poetry. If you’re looking for a sense of Celtic connection and want to explore the actual cultural impact poetry can have, I urge you to give Burns Night a go next year for a perfect excuse to drink nicer spirits than normal, taste some haggis (vegetarian options available!) and enjoy the fact that some national celebrations have earned their place in your phone’s calendar for their inclusion, lightspiritedness and general delight. It’s Scottish homespun hygge, and I’m all for that.

MUSIC

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickmusic

Single Review: London Grammar - Big Picture Luke Charnley Music Critic @lukechazza97

Exactly one month after releasing ‘Rooting for You’, their first new music in over three years, London Grammar have released a second single ‘Big Picture’, which seems to be a rather definitive confirmation of an album release in the near future. After the highly positive critical reception of 2013’s If You Wait, expectations for a follow-up are riding high, and to me ‘Big Picture’ is an indicator of their ability to meet these expectations.

As opposed to ‘Rooting for You’, ‘Big Picture’ feels far more direct and urgent in its composition, without losing any of the dreamy, ethereal song-writing that the trio have become knownfor.

"These songs are a continuation of the act's unique sound" A song of two halves: the first is led by vocalist Hannah Reid’s powerful baritone over sparse arpeggiated guitar chords, while the second features more of an emphasis on instrumentation with

the introduction of soft percussion and spacey synths. The imagery that London Grammar hope to invoke in the song is conveyed in the accompanying video: clear night skies over vast open plains and storms raging in the distance. The versatility of the two singles released thus far (the first brooding and slow-building, this one quiet yet energetic) strongly exemplify the strengths of the trio: these songs are a continuation of the act’s unique sound and are strong markers of their musicianship, yet they are also accessible, enjoyable and cathartic.

Single Review: Mac Demarco - This Old Dog and My Old Man Jack Lawrence Music Critic @r3dclyffe

Indie-pop icon Mac Demarco is back after a year’s break to deliver two new tracks that show both a continuation of his usual sound and somewhat of a progression from it. The first track, ‘My Old Man’ is a bright and catchy offering; 'it seems like I’m seeing more of my old man in me' is a chorus that feels both optimistic and ominous when considering the difficult relationship Demarco has with his own father -

'look at how lonely, old and tired he’s become'. The second track, 'This Old Dog', is the weaker of the two, though is likewise a surprisingly personal track that also touches on topics important to the singer. Despite the personal nature of both tracks, the themes of aging and memory are broad enough to be relatable for all listeners. Mac Demarco’s sound has clearly seen a move towards maturity over the last year, something that is reflected in the clean and poppy production that abandons the singer’s previous tendency towards lo-fi recordings and intentionally de-tuned guitars. Furthering

the theme of maturity are the lyrics of both songs. It is no coincidence that both titles of these tracks feature the word

"Mac Demarco's sound has clearly seen a move towards maturity over the last year" ‘old’, as Demarco seems to use them to reflect on his age. Though he is beginning to see himself as resembling an ‘old man’, he also notes that 'this

old dog ain’t about to forget’, seeming to be a personal comment on his growing maturity. The welcome addition of synths and a drum machine to Demarco’s sound never feels artificial, allowing these new songs to retain a warm naturalness fitting with the singer’s previous songs. Though some fans will likely miss his signature jangly, slightly-out-oftune guitar melodies, it is nice to hear progression after the somewhat safe and unambitious previous album Another One. Something that seems to be missing however (at least in these teaser tracks) is Demarco’s typically laid-back

humour. Though this could be seen as an artistic progression towards a more ‘serious’ or introspective sound recalling Beck’s Sea Change, I would guess that Demarco’s upcoming album will see more of a humorous tone when considering his previous work and image. If these tracks are anything to go by, the upcoming album should show a progression in Demarco’s music whilst still maintaining his typically laid-back attitude. In his own words: 'expect mainly acoustic guitars, along with plenty of synths— but they are, like, pretty mellow'.

Single Review: Superfood - Double Dutch Holly Carter Music Editor @holscarts

After a three-year hiatus for the b-town indie rockers, Superfood are finally back with pastelcovered new single, ‘Double Dutch’. Opening with the voice of a teenage girl saying ‘I tried to jump in, and realised I was good at it’, we can see from the start that this seems to be an edgier effort than those found on debut Don’t Say That. This voice becomes the central sample of the track, being extended, cut and changed throughout to

create a street-voice backing for the three piece’s drum-driven sound. 2017 seems to have brought a darker sounding Superfood. Gone are the happy-go-lucky riffs of ‘You Can Believe’ and ‘Right On Satellite’, leaving in their place a more gritty, sullen sound from vocalist Dom Ganderton. It seems to epitomise unpolished teenage sass, a feeling mainly perfected by the use of a moody bass riff, coupled with a more drawn out version of Superfood’s classic repetition-and-build lyrical model. Its rhythms make you want to move, but it’s a lot more

subtle and understated than the bopping drum riffs of the band’s 2014 incarnation. It’s refreshing to know that the first offering from album number two is not just a slightly modified carbon-copy of the songs that brought the band success. They seem to be experimenting with something different, which is a mature move from a band made successful by the idiosyncratic sound of their debut. I’m so glad to see Superfood back on the scene, and from the sound of ‘Double Dutch’ their second album and upcoming tour are to get buzzed about.

Single Review: Zak Abel ft. Wretch 32 - Rock Bottom Issy Campbell Music Critic @issycampbell

Zak Abel is fast becoming one of my favourite artists. He has previously featured on tracks such as ‘Beautiful Escape’ with Tom Misch, as well as ‘Unmissable’ by Gorgon City. I was instantly overwhelmed by his soothing vocals, falling in love with his soulful voice. After seeing him at Pangea Festival in Manchester last month, I have struggled to contain my

excitement for the release of his new album Only When We’re Naked. ‘Rock Bottom’ is the second single he’s released from the new album, and I love it.

"This is the sort of song you want to listen to with your eyes closed" The single features Wretch 32, who makes a great contribu-

tion to the overall sound of the track. His introductory rap is more like spoken word, which furthers the emotion which lies behind the lyrics and theme of the song. This leads nicely into Zak’s vocals, which are as expected; elegant, graceful and full of meaning. This is the sort of song you want to listen to with your eyes closed, allowing your imagination to take over. With Valentine’s day just gone, this is a perfect song to listen to if you’re just getting over someone. The chorus is catchy, with the repetition of ‘I hit rock bot-

tom’ over a steady and mellow beat. Despite the sombre theme, the production and rap from Wretch 32 prevent it from becoming another typical whiny sad song.

"Overall, 'Rock Bottom' is as slick as Zak's hair" The focus of the song is clearly on the vocals and I think it’s a great choice to leave the backing fairly minimal. This is

especially true when Zak’s hair-raising vocals are merely accompanied by elongated strings, adding a sense of magnitude yet vulnerability to the song. Overall, ‘Rock Bottom’ is as slick as Zak’s hair, his effortless harmonies and meaningful lyrics add depth and emotion that many artists today struggle to achieve. Only When We’re Naked will be out March 10th, and if this is anything to go by, 2017 is going to be a huge year for the young singer.

MUSIC

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickmusic

Soundtrack of my Life

Naomi Penn picks the five tracks that summarise her life in music

First Song I Heard Live: Fall Out Boy - Thnks fr th Mmrs

I have absolutely no shame in admitting that eleven-year-old Naomi was an emo, and I can proudly say that my first ever gig was as emo as it gets – Fall Out Boy at the O2 Arena. I impatiently sat with my mum, counting down the seconds until my favourite band took to the stage. Suddenly, I heard the opening guitar of ‘Thnks fr th Mmrs’ and what followed was the most incredible night of my life. This song will always hold a special place in my heart because, upon seeing it performed live, it created a feeling of such euphoria and joy that I’ve since only been able to recreate by seeing live music. It took another eight years for me to see them perform it again, this time at Reading Festival last summer, and after not listening to the song for a while it was equally as brilliant as it was the first time, reminding me why I love the song, and the band, so much.

The Song That Makes Me Cry Everytime: Queen - Who Wants to Live Forever Anyone who knows me at all will know that my all-time favourite band is Queen, and that my love for Freddie Mercury is infinite. What makes this song so emotional to me are the lyrics, which are about timeless and eternal love. Every time I hear it, I’m forced to remember how Freddie died far too young, and in a way the lyrics relate to my love for him. It may seem crazy, and somewhat obsessive, seeing as he died years before I was even born, but he means a lot to me for numerous reasons. There is one particular moment in the song that gives me chills, which is the line in the bridge ‘And we can love forever’, solely due to the fact that it contains a high note that Freddie belts with such power, but is backed with such heartwrenching emotion, it’s as if he’s singing directly to someone, and I can’t help but shed a tear every time I hear it.

The Song That Always Cheers Me Up: Limp Bizkit Break Stuff

Captions go in the corner of pictures and shouldn't be hyphenated

I’m not entirely sure why a loud, explicit, nu-metal song is what never fails to cheer me up, but I guess I’m weird like that. For some reason, whether I’m stressed, upset, angry, or just feeling generally low, as soon as Fred shouts ‘It’s just one of those days’ everything seems to be a little bit better. I don’t know if it’s the fact that having a good scream and attempting to start a mosh-pit by myself in my bedroom helps to release anger and stress, or whether the lyrics can actually be analysed to have a much deeper meaning, about how today is just one of those days, but tomorrow will be better. Either way, I’m glad I came to this discovery, as it hasn’t let me down.

A Singalong Song: My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade Returning to my inner emo, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that as soon as you hear this song, you know exactly what is going to happen and there is nothing you can do to stop it. I have lost count of the number of times I’ve been on a night out, dancing casually to a different song, when I unexpectedly hear that all-important G note. Suddenly, nothing else in the world seems important and you find yourself in the middle of the Propaganda dance floor screaming ‘When I was a young boy�’ until your vocal chords are bleeding, as you fumble around in your bag trying to find some black eyeliner and wishing you were wearing an oversized band t-shirt instead of a figure-hugging crop top� No? Just me?

Soundtrack Review: T2: Trainspotting Letty Gardner Music Critic

With the popularity of Trainspotting came a deep connection with its soundtrack, which captured the spirit of British music in 1996. Lovers of the film will instantly think of Renton’s chase scene upon hearing Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust for Life’, or the psychedelic scenes of his heroin hits to Eno’s ‘Deep Blue Day’. We cannot separate these songs from the cult scenes they accompanied, and so the original soundtrack became as important as the visuals of Trainspotting itself. The uncertain and wary hype around T2: Trainspotting concerned itself not only with the film and its characters, scared of how director Danny Boyle was going to revisit such a famous cliff hanger, but with the music. Would T2’s soundtrack capture 2017 as well as the original had captured the 90s? We cannot help but compare T2 and its sound-

track to the original that we all hold so dear, yet as it nods to the past, it is the new music that really stands out. It holds its own, where it so easily could have slipped into repetition. The soundtrack is both nostalgic and new, equally respecting the original, whilst saluting new British music. Trainspotting followed the dark lives of young heroin addicts Renton, Sickboy, Spud and Begbie, but was matched with a black comedy that lightened the dark narrative it accompanied. T2: Trainspotting focuses on the fall-out of their actions, a shattering wake up call. Their lives have continued past the screen, and past the cliff hanger, and we revisit the characters that pop culture instantly idolised. Old songs paired with new, darker scenes dim the bright light of the characters’ youth, as we are faced with their current lives. Alongside old favourites, such as The Clash, Iggy Pop, and Underworld, stand modern-day

bands Young Fathers, Wolf Alice, and Fat White Family. The upbeat hip-hop of Young Fathers features repeatedly in the film, making up the main bulk of the soundtrack. The use of tracks such as ‘GET UP’, ‘Rain or Shine’ and ‘Only God Knows’ suggest an unfaltering optimism, a sign that Renton, Sickboy, Spud, and Begbie can still manage to have a good time, despite the betrayal and depression. Yet Young Fathers still manage to match the tone of regret that runs through the film, with ‘Dare Me’ being perfectly set to scenes of violent, and saddening confrontation. Wolf Alice’s beautiful track ‘Silk’, famously played on the film’s trailer, excellently contrasts dreary lyrics with a blossoming chorus, bleakness with joy; a prominent theme in the sequel. Fat White Family’s ‘Whitest Boy at the Beach’ fits the film’s darker scenes perfectly, with its tempered, whispery lyrics complementing Boyle’s sickly colour schemes and themes.

We are reminded of 1996, and so are the characters, as we reminisce, sometimes painfully, alongside them. Boyle expertly uses flashbacks alongside memorable tracks ‘Lust for Life’ and ‘Born Slippy’ to assure us that Trainspotting has not been forgotten in the making of T2. How could it be? Lovers of Trainspotting had their reservations about Boyle resurrecting the iconic four, yet T2: Trainspotting was an excellent comment on nostalgia, the confusion of the modern-day, and friendship that transcends all of this. Music is what ties us emotionally to what we see on the screen, and the soundtrack cleverly plays on reminiscence, giving us the songs that we associate so strongly with the original, whilst reminding us that we, and the characters, have moved on from 1996.

A Song That Brings Back Memories: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - Megamix

6 Between the ages of seven and twelve, I was lucky enough to be able to perform in two separate West End productions of Joseph, as part of the children’s choir. It made up such a large part of my childhood and I can honestly say it was the most amazing experience. Being a shy child, it helped me to become much more confident and I have so many fond memories. It was hard to choose just one song, as I’ve known every word for as long as I can remember, so instead, I’ve taken the easy way out, and chosen the medley which includes all of the best songs. My personal favourites include ‘Song of the King’ and ‘Joseph’s Coat’ (yes, I still remember the colours).

Track of the Week: Stormzy Big For Your Boots Thom Dent Music Critic @ThomDent

This first single, although Stormzy only released it a week ago, has already amassed 2.5 million Spotify plays. Listen to the song and it’s obvious that this is business as usual for Stormzy: a fluttering 140bpm beat, sinister choral loops and a swelling bassline underpinning bars that flow at a relentless pace. The lyrics however seem to show that the big man is starting to mature, as he tells us the correct way to pronounce ‘Hublot’ and reminds us ‘rudeboy, you’re never too big for Adele’. If this track is anything to go by, don’t be surprised if Gang Signs and Prayer does for Stormzy what 21 did for her.

FOOD

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickfood

Birmingham Coffee Shops: Top 5 Food Writer Antonia Mills takes us through the best independent coffee venues Birmingham has to offer One of my favourite things to do at the weekend is to explore Birmingham and everything it has to offer, including it's wide array of independent coffee shops! Here’s a list of my top 5 favourite independent coffee shops you have to visit during your time here.

6/8 Kafé

6/8 is about a 10 minute walk from central town, located on Temple Row. It epitomises everything an independent coffee shop should be: the staff are friendly, the coffee is good quality and it has a really nice atmosphere.

Boston Tea Party

Faculty is Birmingham’s coffee classroom! It’s a really unique experience which aims to provide customers with great tasting coffee and to help them understand more about it. I love the industrial stripped back décor, with lots of exposed brick and pipework. There are lots of new things to try here as well, including a Madagascan Hot Chocolate which I would highly recommend!

Channelling shabby chic vibes, Boston Tea Party is a foodie’s heaven! The coffee here is really good quality and there are always so many yummy cakes and pastries to choose from, which are really reasonably priced. Thankfully, we have been blessed with not one, but two Boston Tea Party cafes which are local to us: one is in Harborne and the other is on Corporation Street in the City Centre.

Yorks Espresso Bar

Located along Colmore Row, Yorks is such a lovely little rustic café. The coffee is absolutely amazing and there are so many pastries and paninis to choose from, you’ll be stuck for choice! I love coming here: it’s definitely one of Birmingham’s hidden gems. I’ll certainly be visiting Yorks a lot during exam season for a coffee break while doing some revision.

Second Cup Coffee Company

Canadian company Second Cup Coffee is conveniently located near the Bull Ring by Victoria Square, which is perfect for a quick coffee break after a day of shopping. Second Cup serves coffees from around the world, including my personal favourite, Sumatra Mandheling, which has a dark and rich flavour.

Review: Not Dogs Tasha Smart Food Editor @tashanotsmart

Drawn in primarily by the catchy name, I headed on over to Not Dogs to test out their veggie hotdogs! The company was created by Katie and Jane and has spent the last few years travelling round the UK in their little purple food van, providing people with great veggie fast food. Fortunately, they have now set up shop in Link Street, making it easy for us Birmingham students to give their

creations a try. I see this little food stop as providing something new for those vegan and veggie, and even for those just looking to reduce their meat intake. We’ve all been there when the fast food craving hits but all that’s available is fried chicken or greasy beef burgers. Now, when us veggies want to gorge, we can head on down to Not Dogs and stuff our faces with some amazing tasting ‘meaty without the meat’ hotdogs! It's a small venue, but cute, and certainly providing something new.

Faculty Coffee

Their Not Dogs come in a variety of awesome flavours and, struggling to decide, we went for the ‘Cha-Cha Chilli Dog’ and the ‘Kickin’ Kate Nacho Dog’ (with a side of vegan nuggets!). The chilli dog was covered with some great quality quorn chilli and was probably my favourite, though the kickin’ Kate cannot be complained about with its yummy topping of guacamole and nacho dust! We were thrilled with both options, and you could certainly taste how high quality the veggie dogs were. It goes to show

The Highstreet Vegan Holly Carter Food Writer @holscarts

just how excellent meat alternatives have become in recent years, not having to suffer through subpar options. The toppings were certainly creative and I’m certain any meat eater would have been just as satisified with their fauxmeaty offerings. The nuggets were also great, adding an extra little treat to our gorging, though certainly the Not Dogs stole the show. Each Not Dog came in at around £4 which, considering the portion you got, I felt was quite decent and it was a nice little treat for a weekend lunch. I will be certainly going back and testing out their other options - The Ticklish Tikka Dog sounds amazing! In a world becoming increasingly veggie, they answer a call for more variety in the meat-free food offered. When constantly bombarded with options consisting predominantly of vegetables upon going out to eat, sometimes it's easy to become frustrated. Hopefully others will follow their lead and we'll see more of this. In the long-term, who knows? Replace meaty options with still meaty alternatives and see who can be converted! I personally wish Katie and Jane the best of luck in promoting their products and hope they stick around for a while. Afterall, only good can come from their success!

January saw thousands of meat eaters and vegetarians taking on the cause of veganism for ‘Veganuary’ – a month of giving up animal products and meat. The campaign’s aim is to introduce more people to the vegan diet, and apparently it did the job. Popular Italian restaurant chain Zizzi has been kind to the vegan cause for a while, having had an alternative vegan menu available since early last year. However, this week the restaurant have reported a 150% increase in sales of its vegan mains, making January 2017 the strongest ever month for vegan and vegetarian dish sales. Veganism used to be seen as a niche diet, mainly populated by middle-class, grass-eating hippies, but this past year has seen a massive rise in the popularity and understanding of veganism. Not only are people taking on the diet in a committed, full-time manner, but many people are choosing to be part-time vegans, or to make more vegan choices in restaurants. Being a long-term vegetarian used to only 2 choices per menu, it’s so exciting to see more vegan and veggie options out there (although choosing between them is hard)! The rise of the highstreet vegan can only be a good thing – people making informed choices about their food and where it comes from, demanding that restaurants do the same, is a further step towards a more responsible attitude towards our consumption of food.

FOOD

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbrickfood

Courgette Crisis

Food Writer Sophie Webb comments on the growing hysteria as courgette stock dwindles The latest food scare which is gripping us all is the 2017 courgette crisis. Yes, you heard me right, there is a national shortage of courgettes. It may not be the first thing you think of when asked to name a vegetable, but courgettes are becoming increasingly popular in the UK both by fitness fanatics and anyone simply trying to get their five-a-day in a more imaginative way. Although courgette is its more common name in the UK, they can

"The latest food scare which is gripping us all..." also be known as zucchini or even as marrows if allowed to grow to a certain size. They are an incredibly versatile vegetable, something which surprises many people, as they can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in a wide variety of ways. However, now may not be the right time to be inspired to experiment with different ways of cooking this green vegetable. Owing to the bad weather in Spain, where the majority of the UK’s courgettes come from during the winter, the harvests have been ruined, resulting in a national shortage and prices rising by 60%.

And it’s not just courgettes that have been affected. Reports say that aubergines and many salad vegetables have also been hard-hit owing to the heavy rain, frost, and snow. As the weather is too cold to grow these vegetables in the UK during the winter, we rely on these foreign imports. Some people have got around this crisis by freezing their home grown courgettes from last summer. Incredibly, many predicted this event and took precautions against being left with no courgette for their ratatouille! However, the rest of us who either don’t have green fingers or the room to try, have ended up having to either pay extortionate prices and hunt through multiple shops for the elusive vegetable, or being forced to have an involuntary courgette detox for the rest of the winter. Of course this has come at the worst time for anyone trying to start the New Year with a healthy diet, especially since the crisis isn’t just limited to courgettes. However, the only advice experts are offering is to experiment with other vegetables instead. However, University of Birmingham student Leisha Mulvey argues this just isn’t the same. As a Sports and Exercise Science student, athlete, and committed health food blogger, Leisha explains that there are simply some foods that cannot exist

without courgettes! ‘This is every food bloggers nightmare! No Zoats, no Courgetti, and no Courgette cakes!’

"Every food bloggers nightmare!" Typical, isn’t it? That just when we find out about all these interesting ways to use this underrated vegetable, there are barely any available! One thing is for sure, the return to the normal production of courgettes will certainly be welcomed back with open arms!

A year’s-worth of rain in less than 24 hours Lost over 5m heads of lettuce Quoted over £20 a box for a 5kg box

How To Make: The Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Will Haynes Food Writer

On Sunday 5th of February we celebrated the best British national day of them all - National Yorkshire Pudding Day 2017. To honour the day, here's a recipe on how to cook fool-proof crispy yorkies. Makes 12 medium puddings or 8 large

You Will Need: 200g plain flour 1 tsp salt 4 eggs 250ml milk Sunflower/vegetable oil or beef dripping

Make Your Own: Pho Ga Will Haynes Food Writer

Hot steamy broth with notes of aniseed and ginger; soft rice noodles with crunchy beansprouts and tender chicken; garnished with bright green fragrant herbs: this traditional Indo-Chinese street food dish is healthy, warming and adventurous.

You Will Need: 1 whole free-range or higher welfare chicken 1 white onion 1 medium sized piece of root ginger 2 whole star anise A few whole cloves

1 tablespoon whole coriander seeds A handful of fresh coriander stalks 2 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons rock sugar or dark brown sugar 75g banh pho rice noodles 50g bean sprouts (optional) A handful of fresh coriander leaves 3 spring onions 1 stick fresh lemongrass A wedge of lime 1 red chilli (optional) A sprinkle of crispy shallots (optional)

Method: Start by blackening the onion and ginger, with the skin on, in the flame of a gas hob or under a grill on full heat (this will sweeten and caramelise the inside). Peel the black skin off both and slice in half. Add to a stock pot or large saucepan with the whole chicken. Toast the coriander seeds, cloves and star anise in a hot dry pan for a minute, then add to the pot. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 1h15m, then remove from the heat. Remove the chicken from the broth to rest and cool. Once cool, pull all the meat from the carcass and store.

Wash the carcass with cold water in the sink and then return to the broth. Add the fish sauce and sugar, and season with salt. Bring to the boil and gently simmer again for at least two hours, or up to six hours for more flavour, stirring occasionally, and topping up with water if needed. Allow to cool and then skim off the fat, before straining through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Place your rice noodles in a bowl, pour over boiling water and cover for 10-15 minutes. Strain and place in a large dinner bowl. Portion off a few ladles of broth and add the lemongrass and white part of the spring onions, sliced diagonally. Reheat gently while preparing the garnishes. Blanch the beansprouts for a minute so they retain some crunch. Take the green ends of the spring onions, flatten into a sheet and slice finely at a slight angle. Plunge in cold water for a minute and they will curl up to form a lovely green nest. Shred some chicken meat, and add to the bowl next to the beansprouts. Ladle the hot broth over the chicken and noodles, filling the bowl. Arrange the green onions, coriander leaves, lime wedges and sliced chilli on the top. Eat with chopsticks and a soup spoon to slurp the broth.

Method: Pre-heat the oven to 220C/430F. Start by sifting the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Then add the eggs and beat until a thick lump free paste is formed. At this point, grab a muffin tray and pour the oil or dripping into each cup – up to a depth of about 1cm. Put the tray in to the hot oven to heat the oil for at least 10 minutes. Add the milk gradually, beating each time as the batter becomes thinner. Once all the milk is added the mix should be the consistency of double cream. Transfer the batter mix to a jug for easy pouring. Remove the muffin tray from the oven and pour the batter evenly into the middle of each cup and return to the oven, working as quickly as possible. Bake for 20-25 minutes until puffed up and crisp. Ensure not to open the oven door for the first 15-20 to avoid your puddings sinking. Serve with beef and gravy.

TELEVISION

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricktv

Should real life crimes be turned into TV dramas? Abbie Pease TV Critic @pease_abbie

In 2008, the country was stunned by the bizarre and shocking case of Shannon Matthews, whose mother hoaxed the world into believing that her daughter had been kidnapped. At the age of nine, Shannon was drugged and hidden in the basement of her step-uncle’s home, whilst her mother shed crocodile tears on national television. Nine years later, the BBC has decided to turn the story into a television adaptation, a move that Shannon’s grandparents argue is “sick and disgusting.”

"The case has called into question the morality of turning real crimes into television dramas; does the BBC have the right to turn the case into a TV series? " The case has called into question the morality of turning real crimes into television dramas; does the BBC have the right to turn the case into a television series? The resurrection of the

story will undoubtedly have an impact on both Shannon, who now lives under a different identity , and the Moorside estate, which shall be pulled back into the limelight. Keen to arrive at my own judgement surrounding the controversy of the adaptation, I tuned into the first episode of the The Moorside. Although at first apprehensive, I was surprised by the delicate way in which the BBC depicted Shannon’s case. By angling the programme towards a focus on the estate, The Moorside reveals a story underpinned by a class divide, in which the people of the community bump heads with the authorities on the topic of hope. By capturing the essence of community spirit that tied together the estate during the search for Shannon, the first episode does the area justice. As argued by The Guardian, through shedding a positive light over the estate, The Moorside seems to represent a finger up to David Cameron, who referred to the area as “a place where decency fights a loosing battle against degradation and despair.” In fighting against this image, the first episode focuses on the effort of the community, who re-opened the community centre during the weeks in which Shannon was missing. In particular, this focus involves a stunning display of Julie Bushby by Sheridan Smith, who valiantly depicts the courage and stamina with which Bushby led the search for Shannon. A friend of the Matthews, Bushby is unaware of the truth surrounding Shannon’s disappearance. As this story line develops, the episode to come

will reveal the extent to which the community was shattered by the reality of Shannon’s disappearance.

"Should Shannon and the community of Moorside have had to relive these upsetting moments from the past?" However, should Shannon and the community of Moorside have had to relive these upsetting moments from their past? The

Trailer Review: Marvel's Iron Fist

unnerving truth of crime dramas based on real events is that they impact the lives of real people. By looking forward to the next episode, can viewers be deemed disrespectful? Being the same age as Shannon, it is fair to say that from what I previously knew of the series, I found it an unsettling concept, as it turned a horrific crime into something intriguing and enjoyable. Before it aired, the BBC defended the series, claiming that it would not directly show the horrors that Shannon had to endure. Some saw this as an attempt to tiptoe around the topic, which could have been avoided altogether. Prior to watching the series I was on board with such an opinion. Despite this, having

Phil Jones Music Editor @PhilRDJones

Iron Fist is the final piece of the puzzle for Marvel and Netflix, being the last member of The Defenders roster to get his own eponymous show before the debut of the team-up series, later this year. Taking a more light-hearted tone than the previous teasers, the show appears to be aiming for the mid-point between Daredevil and Luke Cage, with the mystical elements which formed the backdrop of Daredevil season 2 on fullshow here, proudly sound-tracked by the more urban sounds that Luke Cage utilised. Providing us with enough context for Iron Fist virgins (child of wealthy parents is stranded after plane crash and miraculously becomes a ninja warrior), the trailer holds back just enough info to get you intrigued and couples this with action-packed visuals to wet your martial arts-loving palette. As with Marvel’s other street-level heroes, Iron Fist’s move-set is based around handto-hand combat, and so expect to see the brutal fist fights you know and love from the earlier Netflix series coupled with more of an acrobatic flair. The appropriateness of Luke Jones for the part is not proven by this trailer; although he certainly looks like a karate badass, it remains to be seen whether he has the charisma to shine as a leading man (and to silence the confused

watched episode one, my view has changed. By praising the efforts of the community involved, the BBC has turned the series into something with positive connotations for those living in Dewsbury. The BBC has so far done the community and the story justice, validating their choice to turn the crime into a drama.

Do you have opinions on this article? Tell them us @redbricktv

cries of whitewashing). The supporting cast looks rich for the show, with a returning Rosaria Dawson and Wai Ching Ho being welcome additions to the cast list. As with the early teaser material for Daredevil, the trailer shies away from giving us a glimpse of Iron Fist’s trademark costume, but there have been heavy suggestions that we will indeed be seeing Danny Rand sporting the yellow and green by the end of the series.

"The show appears to be aiming for the mid-point between Daredevil and Luke Cage" As for fans of Daredevil season 2, classic kung-fu movies or people who like to see ninjas kicked by athletic white dudes, Iron Fist looks to continue Marvel and Netflix’s critical roll and push us further towards the long-awaited Defenders series.

TELEVISION

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricktv

Review: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Morgan Williams TV Critic @ragga_moffin

With the show back on hiatus after its season two finale airing last week now is the perfect time to see what the critics have been raving about. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend tells the story of Rebecca Bunch, played by Rachael Bloom, a highpowered New York lawyer who, upon seeing old flame Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III) in a chance encounter, decides to leave her life in the big apple and follow him to a sleepy suburb in California. I have been an avid fan of Rachael Bloom since I found her at 2am while aimlessly browsing YouTube videos. Yes you guys, I knew her before she was cool! Fifty hipster points to me. Online, she was the girl who was known for her bizarre yet catchy musical comedy videos. Videos which have titles

such as ‘Fuck me Ray Bradbury’ and ‘You Can Touch my Boobies’ and a personal favourite, ‘I Steal Pets’. So, when she announced she was doing a television show, I was ECSTATIC. Seriously you guys, you have no idea what level my hype was at. Still, there was a nagging voice in the back of my headwhat if network television would take this beautiful messy form of musical comedy and put it into a corporate box? How would Rachael Bloom handle the horror of the Hollywood censor? I needn’t have worried. In the first episode of the first season my expectations were blown out of the water- the executives at the CW have let Bloom and co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna (she wrote The Devil Wears Prada people!) keep Bloom’s special brand of bizarre musical comedy. That said, be sure to check out the uncensored versions of her songs on YouTube- the stuff the censors couldn’t quite stomach. The season kicks off with the execution of the immediate premise- we see Rebecca move to West Covina, pour all her pills down the sink and begin her pursuit of Josh Chan- starting with taking his best friend on a date to a party he might be at. The show kicks off its now typically on-point musical repertoire with a song expressing the pain women go through to prepare themselves for the company of men- the ‘Sexy Getting Ready Song’. In this number, a rapper shows up to drop his verse, only to be repulsed by all the hideous torture instruments Rebecca

has laid out to prepare herself for Chan. Horrified, he leaves to call up women in his life he has previously disrespected or objectified, because now he understands- the way women get ready is so fetishized by the beauty industry, but the realness of it is horrifying. From there the show continues to subvert its seemingly obvious

"Bloom's portrayal of Rebecca is so heartbreakingly honest that even through her insane web of lies, you can't help but root for her." premise into something strange, different and beautiful- from its Asian-American boy-next-door love interest (which puts a giant middle finger up to the Western habit of desexualising Asian men) to it’s bisexual middle-aged divorcé Daryl (who comes out in the duration of the show, and begins dating another male character- ‘White Josh’). Honestly, there are too many reasons to list why this show is so wonderfully accepting, but still manages to be funny, sweet and charming, and one reason being Bloom herself. As Rebecca, she manages to toe the line so well between relatable and crazy that it has you questioning what we mean by the word crazy itself. You will find yourself rooting for her when she breaks into her own house, when she finds herself so deep in a lie about being a good ping pong player that she recruits a child pro to help her, and when she moves across the country to be with a man who is already in a long-term

relationship. Without a doubt, one of the best aspects of the show is its use of the medium of sitcom as a plot device of its own. As you watch the show it’s easy for you to think that Rebecca’s insane and erratic behaviour has no consequences within this bright, shiny world of television. However, her actions are consistently shown to have repercussions. She isn’t just cute and quirky- she is quite seriously mentally ill, and the show is almost a chronicle of how she chooses to engage or try to escape her illness. In this way (and many others), the show redefines crazyshedding stereotypes in favour of intimate explorations of each character’s psyche and how they deal with their own problems. The show even refers to this ability in a wonderfully self-aware song ‘Who’s the New Guy?’ with the lyric: ‘Is this someone new we’re going to have to grow to care about?’ when referring to the introduction of a new character in season two. Those who have been holding off on watching this show because of the titlegive this show another thought. Though you would think the title would limit Crazy Ex to a s i n g u l a r premise, season two’s finale

showed us all that this is far from the case. The show continues to be fresh, creative and quite unlike anything that has come before it. Bloom’s portrayal of Rebecca is so heartbreakingly honest that even through her insane web of lies, you can’t help but root for her. Her thought process is a camped up version of what we all feel, and at one time or another, her crazy choices are ours too. Things that might only briefly cross our minds before we think twice about it, she executes it to varying degrees of success. I too, like Rebecca, have daydreamed about breaking into someone’s house to delete the text I accidentally sent them, I just never had the balls to do it. The show effectively redefines what we mean by crazy, urging us to take a closer look at people whose actions seem insane and make us see that they are human too, not just caricatures. As Rebecca urges in the season one theme song- the situation is a lot more nuanced than that.

Panorama reveals a mental health system in crisis TV Critic Abbie Pease reacts to Panorama's latest enquiry Mental health is an unavoidable problem in British society that is continuing to escalate. By focusing on the state of the UK’s mental health system, Panorama’s Britain’s Mental Health Crisis offers viewers a look into an increasingly alarming problem that is continuing to impact those who are most vulnerable. Mental health is a problem that will touch on all of our lives, whether it is directly or through those around us. Personally, I have experienced the full force of pain that mental health can cause through the people that are closest to me. Because of this, I am pleased that the BBC is touching on the issue of mental health funding, which has been declining whilst the number of those in need is rising. Presenter Sophie Hutchinson begins by revealing the extent to which our government is failing to help those suffering from mental health problems in the UK. Despite five years of government promises, including a direct reference to the problem in Theresa May’s first speech as Prime

Minister, funding has dropped for mental health service in the NHS by £150 million. Despite May’s claims that the government represents a transformative power in health care, not enough is being done. Panorama’s Britain’s Mental Health Crisis reveals that it is in fact those at the local level who make the decisions concerning the allocation of money in our health system. Due to cuts, this money is tight, and despite making up a quarter of the diseases affecting those in the UK, mental health is only being allocated 11% of government health funding. What many don't understand is that these cuts have human costs. Moving away from a general picture of the mental health system, Panorama investigates the lives of those at the forefront of the war against mental health, with which they are receiving

limited support. Firstly, Hutchinson speaks to Sheila Preston, whose son Leo recently died following an overdose. Despite having previous access to the Norfolk and Suffolk Trust, the 39 year old was recently denied access to treatment for schizophrenia. Following a series of investig a t i o n s , Panorama found that of those with mental health problems in the area, unexpected deaths had gone up by a half in the last three years. In 2013, the Norfolk and Suffolk Trust saw cuts of 20%, leading them to lay off staff and let go patients. Since these cuts, unexpected deaths have nearly doubled, rising to 157 last year. Furthermore, the Panorama team discovered that these cuts have caused insufficient staff levels;

one care professional would be allocated 95 patients. Speaking to a staff member, Hutchinson reveals that the care being provided by NHS trusts is “inadequate, unsafe and a disgrace to a so-called civil society.” Following this, Panorama looks into the case of Sophie Gathercole, a 20-year-old suffering from a personality disorder, anxiety and delusions. Her case is just one of many up and down the country that reveal the difficulties patients face in trying to access help. Just before the new year, Sophie’s self harming escalated, and on New Years Eve she was sent to the hospital. The morning after being admitted, she was promised help by the mental health unit, but failed to follow through. Her parents contacted the crisis team, who refused to offer Sophie any help, sending her instead to A&E. 36 hours after she first cut her wrists, and four pleads for help later, she was found dead on a bed at the Hellesdon Hospital. The speed with which Sophie

and her family were able to access help is shocking and unacceptable. To finish their investigation, Panorama looked at the case of Kerry Hunter, a girl with borderline personality disorder who committed suicide in 2016. When asked about the mental health care his daughter had received, Kerry’s father replies with 'what mental health care?' After multiple attempts on her own life, not even Kerry’s case was deemed severe enough. This is a story that rings home the crisis that our current mental health system is facing. Speaking to a professional working at the Norfolk and Suffolk Trust, the programme reveals that even professionals defend the claim that the system is doing everything it can. Not only are we avoiding the issue, but we are denying that it exists. It is fair to say that more needs to be done to save people, just like you and I, who are being denied access to lifesaving treatment for mental health problems in the UK.

Sport

Friday 17th February 2017

@redbricksport

The Problem with Goalkeeping Analysis Print Editor Harry Wilkinson criticises the lack of constructive goalkeeping analysis in football punditry, and asserts how particular saves should be interpreted before being labelled

Harry Wilkinson Sport Print Editor

Goalkeeping has always seemed to be massively misunderstood. The ‘man between the sticks’ is often portrayed as this lone wanderer, almost alien-like being that is completely separate from the other ten players on the pitch. Most people seem to understand that the GK is important, but the lack of constructive analysis by pundits gives people a limited insight as to why and how this is. The influence of punditry and media on spectator’s opinions on football is perhaps most evident when looking at goalkeeping analysis. Regarding goalkeepers, interpretations of everything from overall ability to specific saves is provided by football media. But the descriptions always seem to be so inadequate and meaningless, especially when compared to the depth of analysis in other areas of football.

"The descriptions always seem to be so inadequate and meaningless, especially when compared to the depth of analysis elsewhere in football" Passes, goals and assists are analysed in incredibly intricate detail, with their skill, intelligence and technique broken down systematically by pundits. Pieces of goalkeeping, however, are often vaguely described with little elab-

oration or reason attached to such statements. For many people watching it provokes a deep dissatisfaction and frustration, particularly for people who know goalkeeping. Football pundits are often former players, which is good because they can provide expert accounts that are backed up by real experience. But it is perhaps worth considering that the expertise provided, particularly regarding aspects of the actual game, are limited to the specific position or clubs in which they are played. Therefore, the opinion of formerstrikers on goalkeeping analysis should be given no more credibility just because they are ex-players, unless of course they were goalkeepers. The amount of times lame and uninformed observations are made by pundits on goalkeeping scenarios is pretty staggering- but what is more surprising is the seldom amount of times they are pulled up over it. Gary Neville is an exception to this rule. He makes an effort to add some extra dimension to his analysis as he actually thinks about what he is saying, and goes into the details of his interpretation, rather than making feeble and flimsy comments like many others in his profession. Clichés are tremendously common hearing in the football world, and with goalkeeping, it is hugely prevalent; the same descriptions seem to be used interchangeably between scenarios that vary massively. There is nothing more annoying in football than a goalkeeper getting under or over-credited for their performance and actions. One problem that occurs is that all too often a

‘good save’ is synonymous with a ‘great save’ , but there is a difference between 'good' and 'great'. Using intuition, a ‘great’ save should be one that the goalkeeper is not expected to make; if he does not make it, he should not be

"There's a difference between 'good' and 'great'. A 'great' save should be one the goalkeeper is not expected to make; if he does not make it, he should not be criticised" criticised. Likewise, a ‘good’ save should be one that the ‘keeper is expected to make but performs competently and sufficitently (eg. parrying the ball away from danger instead of back into the mix). Meanwhile, a ‘fantastic’ save should be one that is truly exceptional- rare, surprising and incredibly skilled. It does not have to be the most aesthetically pleasing, but oftentimes naturally are. There is a kind of spectrum, whereby a save goes up from ‘good’ to ‘very good’ to ‘great’ to ‘fantastic’, and then up to ‘exceptional’ or ‘world class’. The trouble is pundits and commentators often go up and down the spectrum without considering the connotations attached to their descrioption. Adjectives

such as ‘good’, ‘great’ and ‘fantastic’, are used almost synonymously. The correlation seems to be that if the save is from point blank range, then it is automatically a ‘great’ or a ‘fantastic’ save- but this is not always the case. There are times where the ball was struck within the direct proximity of the goalkeeper, and if they didn’t make the save it would have been a mistake. Point-blank range saves sometimes (not always) that involve little skill and reaction- just the goalkeepers being at the right place at the right time. For professional goalkeepers these should be considered ‘good’ saves, not exceptional or superb as they are so often described. Moreover, there are saves made from long to mid range that the keeper is expected to make simply because ‘he had a lot of time to see it’, which is a pretty unfair assumption to make, particularly when taking into account the ways in which the ball moves around in the air nowadays. Such saves could be compared similarly to when a striker has a lot of time to think about a finish. Intuitively it may seem fair enough to correlate distance to difficulty when it comes to saves, but it really is not that simple. In addition, often the aesthetics of a save misleads the amount of skills involved, but not always. The idea of a save being “one for the cameras” has become a bit of a cliché, so much so that it is sometimes used unfairly, discrediting goalkeepers for ‘good’ or ‘great’ saves. It’s just a lazy punditry. Another problem with goal-

keeping analysis is the lack of knowledge around collecting balls from crosses. Many pundits don’t seem to understand the dynamics of whether it is right to punch, catch or stay on the line. If a goalkeeper chooses to come out and claim the ball and succeeds, little is said but “and that’s an easy take for the keeper”, or alternatively, the cross itself is criticised, meaning almost no credit is given to the goalkeeper. However, if a goalkeeper comes out to claim the ball, but does not succeed (by either dropping the ball or not getting there), they are heavily criticised for bad decision-making. This is usually accompanied by “he should have punched it”, even if prior to this the same keeper had been catching the ball and starting counter-attacks all season.

"With its vague assertions and clumsy labels, lack of knowledge and lack of insight, goalkeeping analysis is not what it should be" Despite goalkeeping being an obviously crucial part of the game, there are just not enough pundits willing to spend time providing it with proper analysis. With its vague assertions and clumsy labels, lack of knowledge and lack of insight, goalkeeping analysis has got a long way to go before it can even be considered satisfactory. The media owes it to not only the goalkeepers, but the spectators too.

Quiz Question: How many goals did Peter Schmeichel score in his career? Was it five, seven, 11 or 13? The answer is eleven, including 6 in 78 for Hvidovre, 2 for Brondby and 1 for Manchester United, Aston Villa and his national team, Denmark.

Sport

Friday 17th February 2017

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Redbrick Debates: Gerrard or Lampard? Following the retirement of two of the Premier League's best ever midfielders, members of Redbrick Sport offer their opinion on which player they think was better and why. Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard: that is the question Alex Alton Sport Writer

Choosing between Gerrard and Lampard is an incredibly difficult choice to make, both were worldclass players and proved it over a sustained period. In terms of career success, you would have to opt for Frank Lampard, bearing in mind he won 3 Premier League titles 4 FA Cups and 1 Champions League title with Chelsea. In addition, Lampard scored more Premier League goals than Gerrard and more goals for England too. Despite all of this, I will say Gerrard. Steven Gerrard is the Liverpool Football Club. He will be forever immortal in the hearts and minds of Liverpool fans, and as someone who appreciates the work of Frank Lampard but not in the vastly moneyed circumstances in which he has been successful at Chelsea, I would say that bearing in mind that Gerrard never won a Premier League title but has a record close to Lampard’s is remarkable. Both are legends of their respective clubs, but for me Gerrard edges it on the basis of what he symbolises to Liverpool, a true diamond in the rough and the best player his club has ever had.

Harry Wilkinson

Nancy Frostick

Sport Print Editor

My choice is Lampard, but instead of going through the exact reasons why, I'd prefer to share some strange paralell both of these players have whilst playing against Aston Villa. Both of these players have displayed their devastating quality against Villa Park over the years. In August 2007 Steven Gerrard scored a 87th minute free-kick from about 35 yards to steal a late 1-2 win for Liverpool. In May 2013, Lampard scored his record-breaking 203rd goal to become Chelsea's all-time leading goal-scorer, to equalise at Villa Park. Villa lead 1-0 for most of the game from a Benteke opener, but a point would have been fine with the threat of relegation still tangible. But Lampard then had the audacity to score another: a winner in the 87th minute to make it 1-2 Chelsea. What a strange phenomenon that is- seeing the pair both scoring 87th minute winners at Villa Park to make it 1-2. After the game Frank was clapped off by the Villa fans; a resigning clap acknowledging the class of a player who had scored 13 goals against them throughout his career.

Sport Online Editor

"Super Frank"

"Stevie G" Dan Steeden

Sport Print Editor

Frank Lampard has 177 Premier League goals, the second most assists in Premier League history, and is Chelsea's top-scorer of all time, from midfield. I'd take Gerrard (in his prime) to win me a game, but I'd take Lampard to win me a title. Frank Lampard has to be the ultimate winner here.

As they always used to tell you at school when the teacher wanted someone to stick their head above the parapet with a bold answer, there’s no right answer to this question. There’s no doubting that our generation is incredibly lucky to have witnessed, taken for granted and no doubt unfairly criticised two of the best midfielders the Premier League and England have ever seen. Despite that, I came to this conclusion relatively easily – it’s got to be Frank Lampard. To have such a devastating presence in a Chelsea team that had a revolving door of overpriced foreign talent for so long is certainly a sign of Lampard’s presence and quality. Even when he left for New York and Manchester City, he was able to effortlessly slot into another equally talented team and play a vital role like he’d been there his whole career. For a long time, Liverpool was Steven Gerrard and Chelsea was Frank Lampard and their rivalry was intense – there’s no doubting that both clubs are the poorer for their retirements. On this occasion, however, Lampard is king of the number 8 shirt for me.

Olli Meek Sport Writer

Despite my massive respect for Steven Gerrard and his career, for a number of reasons, it is Frank Lampard for me. Lampard played more games, scored more goals, and won more silverware- statistics are simply better than that of Gerrard’s. On top of these, Lampard is able to parallel Gerrard's biggest achivements: where Gerrard captained a Champions League final winning side, so did Lampard. In the circumstances whereby people say Gerrard was more of a “one club player”, I would argue that his putting in of a transfer request to join Chelsea in 2005 places him at no advantage over Lampard, who, with his ability and career, deserved to play until he felt he no longer could, and few at Chelsea begrudge his move, however painful. Frank Lampard was an essential part of a four-man Chelsea spine that inspired them to their most successful decade ever, also becoming the club's record goalscorer, breaking records and leaving a legacy that few, if any, will ever repeat.

Sport

Friday 17th January 2017

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Spotlight On: Ultimate Frisebee Sports Online Editor Nancy Frostick speaks to Josh Chapman, Club Captain of Ultimate Frisbee at UoB Nancy Frostick Sports Online Editor @nancyfrostick

It might not be one of the most well-known BUCS sports, but Ultimate Frisbee is certainly booming at UoB. Following the most successful season by any UK University Ultimate team in history, the club is going from strength to strength. The club has teams for a range of divisions and abilities, both competitive and casual, including men’s, women’s, mixed, indoor and outdoor teams. With over 100 new members this year, there are plenty of reasons to get involved. So, what is Ultimate Frisbee and how do you play? Josh explains; ‘Ultimate Frisbee is the world’s fastest growing sport. It is usually described as a cross between American football and netball - you can't run when you have the disc and you score by catching the disc in an ‘endzone’. Training sessions with UBU involve preparing for upcoming tournaments, fitness, skill drills and practice matches. As such a fast-growing sport, training is important to hone your skills and can lead to rapid progression. Josh said: ‘Despite being

an easy sport to pick up, it is quite a difficult sport to master. But the satisfaction you get from throwing a Frisbee 80 yards with no effort is quite cool. And, although technically a non-contact sport, it can get quite physical and is very athletic at the top level.’ Speaking of the top level of Ultimate Frisbee, Birmingham is one of the leading clubs in the country. Last season they won five out of a possible six BUCS gold medals, with just the men’s 1sts outdoor team narrowly missing out at nationals, but still picking up third place. Both the mixed and women’s teams won their indoor and outdoor divisions, and the men’s 1sts won the indoor title.

gold medals.’ The club is all about the growth of individual players as well as the squad as a whole, as Josh tells us that every year beginners are encouraged to try out for Great Britain. ‘Every year at least one person makes the GB squad. In my first year, the first teams were made up almost entirely of GB players, which meant the coaching we received was top notch. We still have competing GB players and have even had members win bronze medals at international competitions.’

Contact details and training info:

Club Captain: Josh Chapman Twitter: @unibhamultimate Instagram/Snapchat: @ubultimate Training: Wednesday and Friday, and fitness sessions on Saturday morning.

After such a successful season, what are UBU’s hopes for this year? Following such a triumphant year, expectations are a little lower as the club goes through a transitional phase. Josh explains; ‘At the end of that glorious season, we lost a lot of our core members meaning this season will be a “development” year. We are still up to our winning ways, having placed top ten at nationals so far, and with the outdoor season ongoing, our aim is still to push for

5 Reasons to get involved in Ultimate Frisbee

1. Ultimate is a relatively easy sport to pick up, and one in which you can progress very easily. 2. Some of the throws can look pretty cool, and when everyone is in the park or at the beach you can be that guy or girl everyone is looking at and thinking ‘whoa’! 3. The community. We are a fun club and do a lot of socialising together – from sports nights to sober socials like Zorb football, climbing, bowling, five-a-side football and laser quest. We even have an annual camping trip to The Gower where, we try not to play Frisbee at all! 4. Fitness. We prioritise fitness at the club and if you want to get fitter and have fun at the same time then joining UB Ultimate is the best thing you could do! 5. There is a place for everyone at the club. From beginners to GB players to members who don’t train with us but still come out to sports night with us – everyone is welcome.

BUCS Nationals Weekend: Preview Sports Online Editor Nicola Kenton previews the upcoming BUCS Nationals weekend taking place in Sheffield Nicola Kenton Sports Online Editor @Nicola_Kenton

It's that time of year where the biggest names of the BUCS world descend on Sheffield to take part in the BUCS Nationals weekend. Over 6,000 students will compete in 9 different sports from 17th-19th February. Ponds Forge will host the Long Course Swimming Championships, as well as the Karate; the English Institute of Sport will see the Individual Badminton Championships and the Indoor Athletics, while the Trampolining Championships will take place just across the road at the ICE Arena. In addition to this, there will also be championships in judo, fencing, climbing and short range rifle. 2016 saw Birmingham take home three gold medals and two bronzes in karate, Birmingham's

Campus Sports Results February 15th

men came sixth at the climbing championships and there were positive results at the judo and trampolining. In the pool at Ponds Forge, the swimmers came away from BUCS Nationals with 18 personal bests and 7 club records, finishing 7th overall. At the English Institute of Sport, Birmingham reached three semi-finals in the badminton - two in the men's singles and one in the mixed doubles. On the track, Birmingham won four gold medals: Imran Rahman in the 60m sprint, Andrew Heyes took the 3000m title, Sarah MacDonald won gold in the 1500m and Birmingham's

The UoB Swimming team after a successful weekend at Ponds Forge last year

men snatched the title ahead of Bath in the 4x200m relay. As well as the best of the BUCS elite, BUCS Nationals will see UoB mascot Rory the Lion try to redeem himself in the mascot race at the indoor athletics. After an unfortunate fall in last year's race put him out of contention, Rory will be trying his best to bring the title home to Birmingham and all in aid of a good cause, Anthony Nolan. Sheffield Marrow will be on location at the English Institute of Sport and Ponds Forge to raise awareness and sign up new donors. Redbrick Sport will be travelling to Sheffield and covering the events on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter: @redbricksport where you'll be able to find our live blog to keep up to date with what is happening.

Badminton (men's) 2nds 8-00 UEA 1sts Badminton (women's) 1sts 6-2 Imperial 1sts Hockey (women's) 2nds 4-3 Leeds 1sts Lacrosse (men's) 1sts 14-1 Nottingham Trent 2nds Rugby (women's) 1sts 31-18 Swansea 1sts Squash (women's) 2nds 4-0 Swansea 1sts Table Tennis (men's) 1sts 5-12 Notts Trent 2nds

Sport

Friday 17th January 2017

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American Football: Birmingham Lions vs. Kingston Cougars Sports Writer Tom Peploe reports on a shutout home victory for the high-flying Birmingham Lions over the Kingston Cougars Tom Peploe Sport Writer @TomPeploe

On a very sunny, dry Saturday in Birmingham, the Lions, who sit 2nd in the table and have the highest scoring offence in the Premier South, played the Kingston Cougars who have failed to win away all season. Quarter 1 Birmingham started strong, with their first play, an 81-yard touchdown from Dara Adedayo on a jet sweep (7-0). From here on, though, the Lions offence was stagnant - the play calling was relying too heavily on the sweeps that originally put the offence up one score, but were shut down soon after. Questionable refereeing led to incompletions instead of fumbles on more than one occasion, but the Lions defence was too strong for a sub-par Cougar offence, producing a safety by Chris Moreau (9-0). After an interception from Lions Quarterback Sammy Lee Baker, Kingston’s offence appeared to find holes in Head Coach Wayne Hill’s defensive play calling, although the Lions defence eventually forced a field goal on 4th down. The 35-yard attempt was blocked, instigating the ensuing shutout. After a three-and-out by the Lions offence, Joe Hamilton punted and forced the Cougars to start from their own 15-yard line. Kingston’s QB tried to throw a slant route to a receiver that wasn’t GB sensation Tim Thomas and was picked by Defensive Back Papa Sefa.

Quarter 2 After a relatively quiet quarter, Birmingham were forced to use all of their first half time-outs by 5:11 because of the repeated memory loss of some Lions special teams players. Reno Jaconelli stepped up for a 35-yard field goal but missed wide right. With 1:14 left in the half, the Cougar Offence drove down the field and almost reached field goal range, however Defensive Tackle Will Stone sacked the Cougars QB for a massive loss, from which they could not recover. Half Time, 9-0 Lions. Quarter 3 Kingston received the opening kick-off and instantly lost yardage to another Will Stone sack; this loss forced the Cougars to punt 15 yards, only just kicking it further than the first down post. Juke after juke from Lions QB Sammy

"Birmingham started strong, with their first play, an 81-yard touchdown from Dara Adedayo on a jet sweep." Lee Baker started a drive that ended with a corner route by Wide Receiver Louis Haines, his 4th of the season; and the extra-point by Jaconelli was good (16-0). George Flesher, Brandon Hattiloney and Will Stone provided repeated pressure, forcing the Cougars to

Volleyball (women's) 1sts 3-1 Southampton 1sts Lacrose (women's) 2nds 18-8 Exeter 3rds Fencing (men's) 1sts 87-135 Warwick 1sts

change their QB to all round “Action Man” Tim Thomas, who needed 26 yards but could only muster 6. Quarter 4 The Cougars tried to punt on their 4th down, but the snap was too high and forced a 40-yard loss, allowing the improving Birmingham offence to start in Cougar territory. After a strong drive led by Baker, the offence forced a defensive offside, moving a 4th and 8 to a 4th and 3 on Kingston’s four yard line. The Lions kept their offence on the field and went for it, getting inches short on a dive play. The Cougars’ offensive woes continued through to the 4th quarter where an uninspiring drive of repetitive run plays forced another poor punt back to the Lions. Immediately, WR veteran and captain Ollie Waldron-Smith caught a pass from Baker and sprinted his way into the end zone

for another Lions touchdown (23-0). Cougars star Tim Thomas’ poor game would continue after a fumble and recovery of the resultant kick-off, forcing yet another poor starting position for the Cougars’ weak offensive front. Will Stone was hungry on this drive, helping himself to two sacks on consecutive plays, and it seemed as though Kingston had given up. A strong drive by Baker led the Lions to 1st and goal from the 2, where after the play #23 for the Cougars tripped up a Lion on

Golf 1sts 3-3 UCLAN 1sts Rugby League 1sts 68-6 Lincoln 1sts Ultimate (men's) 1sts 15-7 Warwick 1sts

the way back to the huddle, allowing a one yard touchdown from rookie Running Back Edward Oguns. The following extra point was faked with the holder, Baker, throwing a dart to kicker Jaconelli for the 2 point conversion (31-0). The Lions decided that they didn’t want to risk injuries to their starters, resulting in substitutions which added salt to their wounds, after a beautifully executed fade pass from Matt Gray to Matt Cox, where eventually play expired. Full Time, 31-0.

Lockdown Belongs to Lions Again 17.02.2017 Harry Wilkinson discusses issues with goalkeeping analysis

Page 36 Redbrick Sport

asks the age-old question - Gerrard or Lampard?

Page 37

Photo Credit: Katie Ball

Nancy Frostick Sport Online Editor

@nancyfrostick

Nicola Kenton previews the upcoming BUCS Nationals weekend

Page 38 For more, follow us on Twitter:

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Lockdown 2017 saw a triumphant night for both Birmingham’s men’s and women’s basketball teams as they won their fixtures against Nottingham and Manchester respectively. In front of a raucous sold-out crowd in the Munrow Sports Centre, Birmingham secured their third successive Lockdown victory in what proved to be a night of classy performances and comfortable team victories. The opening match of the evening came for UoB’s women’s 1sts against Manchester - the match proved quite the spectacle. The Lionesses got the first points on the board with a midrange shot, although the visitors responded quickly with a three. Manchester’s over-reliance on longrange shots was to be the story of the match thanks to an impressive interior defence display from Birmingham, earning plenty of turnovers and keeping any drives to the basket at bay. A dominant performance from team captain Rochelle McKenzie-Spooner earned the home side a 12-10 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter proved to be where Birmingham inflicted the most damage – at one point it looked as if they might run away with the match, although Manchester were able to rally and go in at the break with the score at

28-20 to the Lionesses. Following a dazzling half-time performance from Birmingham’s Dance Society, Manchester opened the scoring in the third quarter with a midrange jumper. The main talking point of this period was of missed opportunities for Manchester after they failed to convert at least five free throws. This came after a telling off for Rory the Lion from the referee for distracting the free thrower, although the crowd couldn’t be silenced so easily and were certainly affecting the visitors’ confidence. At the start of the fourth quarter, Birmingham had well and truly pulled away, amassing a 49-27 lead. From then on it was a case of how many points the Lionesses could add to their tally, and some great work from Tess Madden certainly helped them on their way – particularly a sweet three that sent the crowd wild. Claire Gold put the finishing touches on a comprehensive performance for Birmingham by converting two free throws to wrap up a 61-30 win. The Birmingham Pussycats took to the floor to provide stellar entertainment between matches whilst the men’s 1sts warmed up for their clash with Nottingham. The home team got out of the blocks quickest, advancing to an early 11-5 lead before a time-out. Club captain Lewis Davis started bright and dominated all night, making a difference at both ends, particularly after a huge three sent the Lions ten points

clear at 23-13. The first quarter ended with a buzzer-beater from Nottingham to bring the score to 27-23. The second quarter saw the game settle a little, but the same could not be said for the Birmingham faithful in the stand who kept the party atmosphere alive and lifted the team to a 41-35 lead at the interval. The Spectacle at this break came from Birmingham’s talented Hip-Hop Society before the third quarter got underway with the visitors immediately turning over possession due to miscommunication. Stefan Stojsavljevic was another Lions player to leave a mark on the game, not least for a couple of outrageous dunks and a huge bear paw of a block late in the game. The end of the quarter saw Csongi Barabasi come to the fore, driving some great attacks and putting three free throws to bed before the buzzer, with the score at 61-45 to Birmingham. The final quarter saw the Lions extend their lead, with Kievon Turner a man on a mission – battling for possession and smashing holes in the Nottingham defence on the way to the basket. Amid rumours of an NBA scout watching the game courtside, Birmingham turned on the style and pulled ahead 78-52. With 'You are my Birmingham' ringing around Munrow at the buzzer, the match finished 86-59 to the Lions, securing their third successive Lockdown victory in emphatic fashion.