Redbrick Issue 1504, Vol. 83
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Friday 8th March 2019
The importance of Jasmine Gardosi
Features Culture 12-14 19
FREE
Honouring twenty years of Jar Jar Binks
New York: the best of the Big Apple
Film Travel 22-23 30
Guild Elections Conclude page 3
Redbrick
The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936
Guild Approves Pro-Life Society The controversial decision by the Student Groups Executive has triggered the formation of a pro-choice group at UoB Megan Stanley News Editor
The Guild of Students has approved a pro-life society, Birmingham Students For Life (BSFL). The group’s Facebook page was created in July 2018 but was only officially approved last month. A spokesperson from BFSL told Redbrick: ‘We decided to start Birmingham Students For Life, because we felt that pregnancy and its implications were topics not being readily discussed on campus, and so, to provide another perspective on the process. ‘Primarily, we want to enable women, on campus, and nationally, to be able to continue on with pregnancy, in situations, where pregnancy may seem either circumstantially or financially unfeasible.’ BSFL told Redbrick that they intend to fundraise for charities such as Family Lives. A spokesperson from the Guild of Students told Redbrick: ‘The Pro-Life Group at the Guild
was officially approved after a considered discussion between the students proposing to establish the group and the Guild’s Student Groups Executive; a body of students elected to approve new groups.’ Izzy Bygrave, the Guild’s Welfare and Community Officer, told Redbrick that BSFL ‘were approved on the condition that they work with members of staff in the Guild to develop their constitution in order to help them run their events safely and to mitigate potential risks to other students running activities on campus.’ In an interview with the Women’s Officers in Redbrick last semester, before the society’s approval, Alif Trevathan said: ‘We’re worried that this means their events won’t simply be private discussions, but instead opportunities to impose whatever sexist attitudes they have across campus. [...] We don’t want people who can get pregnant, women or other, to feel like they are on a campus that is not safe for them, or that the Guild officially endorses ideologies that attempt to remove their autonomy.’ Holly Battrick added: ‘When you are look-
ing at a group that has the potential to do a lot of harm, you really have to weigh up whether it is worth upholding freedom of speech. Therefore, we do not believe they should have a platform.’ According to their Facebook page, BSFL intends to follow the Guild’s zero-tolerance policy: ‘We want to ensure that we do not upset or offend any persons, and have no desire whatsoever to do so; we do not tolerate any form of aggression or discrimination.’ In light of this announcement, another society, Birmingham Students For Choice Association (BSFCA) has been formed, although the group is still waiting to be officially approved by the Guild. Nicole Donaldson, Chair of BSFCA, told Redbrick: ‘BSFCA might have seemingly come about as a reaction to the (so-called) “pro-life” group on campus, but we are absolutely not pitting ourselves in opposition, or even in relation, to them. ‘However, the fact that this group was formed indicates a worrying feeling in the stu-
INSIDE: News Editor Sophie Woodley Goes Behind the Scenes of Tonight’s Reclaim The Night Event
dent body as a whole, and so it seems that the climate on campus makes an active, pro-choice society absolutely paramount. We want to make it clear that this “pro-life” perspective does not control the dialogue here at the University of Birmingham.’ The BSFCA Facebook page has over 800 likes and says that they intend ‘to “give a voice to choice,” protecting and campaigning for bodily autonomy and reproductive health, particularly in relation to abortion.’ A spokesperson from the University said: ‘Universities are places for informed debate and discussion with space to accommodate differing Bir views, something demonstrated by the over 300 different student groups, societies and associa- Conse tions already in place. ‘Student societies are run by students, for students, as part of the remit of the Guild of Students. We believe that universities are a place for acquiring knowledge and challenging ideas in a civil way and we are clear in our expectation that students should treat each other in a respectful and dignified way at all times.’ www.redbrick.me
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Friday 8th March 2019
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Letter from the committee... Being International Women’s Day on the day this print is released, it was a no-brainer that us female deputy editors had to co-write the editorial for it. In a world where women are often pitted against each other and seen as competitors rather than co-workers, we can safely say that Redbrick provides a huge counter-example. In addition to our own roles where we work together closely (and love it), the strong women in our editorial team continuously prove how much we can achieve, especially when we band together. Our incredible female editors have also helped us to create a feature this issue, looking at the women ready to take over our future, from activists to journalists – these are the women breaking the mould and inspiring us to make a difference. It has been such a joy to create and we hope you find it just as empowering as we do. You can find this feature on pages 12-14, as well as a great piece from News Editor Sophie Woodley on page 16 which looks at the importance of this year’s Reclaim The Night event, taking place tonight in Birmingham city centre. This year’s campaign is all about balance and striving for
gender-equality, and we are proud to be part of a society which allows for female students to be heard, platform their views, and showcase their incredible talents. Looking once again to the future, our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is round the corner and we are excited to see who will be leading the next chapter of Redbrick. It’s scary that the end of our tenure is only 3 months away, but we know that whoever gets elected, we’ll be passing the paper over to safe hands. It seems like a lifetime ago that we were debating what positions to run for ourselves and prepping our own speeches. We are both so proud of how far we, and the rest of this year’s committee, have come. It has been an honour to work with you all. From members of committee, to editors and writers, we could not have made Redbrick what it is without you. Being a member of the Redbrick committee has undoubtedly been the best thing we have done at university and we couldn’t recommend it more. The highs make the stresses worth it, especially when we see the fruits of our labour both online and in print.
Redbrick will always hold a dear place in our hearts, and we can’t wait to see where the next year’s committee will take it. From the dungeons, etc.
Issy Campbell & Kat Smith Deputy Editors One Final Reminder! Inspired by Issy and Kat? If you’re interested in running for committee or voting to decide our future, this is the place to do it: Redbrick AGM 2019 Thursday 14th March 7pm Guild Council Chambers Erin Santillo Editor-in-Chief
Follow us on Instagram @redbrickpaper Want to be featured? Send us your photos at: deputy@redbrick.me and/or tag us in your photos by using #redbrickinstagram
Online this week at redbrick.me... NEWS
LIFE&STYLE
FOOD&DRINK
COMMENT
Guild Elections 2019: The Full Results
Social Media and Plastic Surgery
Recipe: The Cakes of Comforting Discounted Valentine’s Chocolate
The Lady is for Turning (and so is He)
Redbrick Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Erin Santillo editor@redbrick.me
Deputy Editors Issy Campbell Kat Smith
News Editors Tom Leaman Megan Stanley Liam Taft Sophie Woodley
Film Editors Lucy McCann Todd Waugh Ambridge Josh Woods
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Comment Editors Natalia Carter Emily Chapman Alex Cirant-Taljaard Amelia Hiller
Television Editors Niamh Brennan Morgana Chess Jessica Green
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Print & Features Editor Thom Dent print@redbrick.me
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Marketing Secretary Theodore Wrigley marketing@redbrick.me
Social Secretary Sorcha Hornett social@redbrick.me
Travel Editors Laura Botia Evangeline Hunt travel@redbrick.me
Life&Style Editors Yasmine Kennedy Sophie Kesterton Imogen Lancaster Ellie Silcock lifestyle@redbrick.me
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Culture Editors Olivia Boyce Natalie Welch culture@redbrick.me
Gaming Editors Christopher Hall James Law Imogen Mellor Sam Nason gaming@redbrick.me
Music Editors Emily Barker Letty Gardner Harry Hetherington Kieran Read
Food&Drink Editors Emily Calder Lydia Waller
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Editorial Assistants Corinne Atkinson Natalia Carter U Cheng Chan Tom Denham Romana Essop Hannah Lay Tom Leaman Ailsa Lewis Lottricia Millett Laura Mosely Katie Norris Bethan Parry
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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 8th March 2019
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2019 Guild Elections: The Results
Dubai Campus to Expand Aneesa Ahmed News Reporter
The University of Birmingham has signed an agreement to build the second phase of its campus in Dubai. Located within Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the facilities will open in September 2021 and provide an academic home for up to 2,900 students. The second phase of the campus will be built opposite the city’s first purpose-built student accommodation community and is being designed by Hopkins Architects. The 50,000 square metre cam-
pus is designed to encourage collaboration across all academic disciplines, with flexible learning spaces and formal teaching spaces ensuring that both teaching and research can benefit students. There are also plans for a student ‘hub’ which will locate student services in one space, while other facilities will include a 300seat lecture theatre, an auditorium and three laboratories accommodating 200 students, along with seminar and tutorial rooms. Dr Ed Smith CBE, University of Birmingham pro-chancellor and chair of council, said: ‘this is a truly exciting milestone for the University of Birmingham. ‘From the outset, council members have wholeheartedly
supported this visionary project to build a campus in Dubai.’ Mohammad Abdullah, managing director of DIAC and Dubai Knowledge Park, said: ‘We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with the University of Birmingham.
“This is a truly exciting milestone” The establishment of the University of Birmingham at DIAC represents an important step towards a long-term relationship that will enhance educational experiences for local and transnational students alike.’
The current UoB Dubai campus was opened and welcomed students in September 2018 and was built to show the University’s ‘global mission’ according to Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood. Students attending the UoB Dubai campus can get a full University of Birmingham degree without having to leave the Gulf. Dubai already has branches of UK universities such as Exeter, Bradford, London Business School and Heriot-Watt. Birmingham was the first global top 100 and UK Russell Group university to establish a campus in Dubai.
New Welfare Zone in Library Liam Taft News Editor
The University of Birmingham library has opened a new welfare zone where students can relax and learn about their wellbeing. UBWell@MainLibrary was conceived in partnership with the Guild of Students and the University’s student support schemes. It is located on the ground floor in the Library Information Centre, next to the laptop lockers and just across from the Research Reserve. The space includes seating, as well as a range of literature on health and wellbeing. There are leaflets including information for students in need of welfare support, as well as literature about Guild Advice and the Not On Campaign, which tackles sexual harassment on campus.
Also included in the space are more detailed folders containing information on controlling anger, domestic violence, and mental health. There are also popular books available such as Fearne Cotton’s Quiet: Learning to Silence the Brain Chatter and Believing that You’re Good Enough. Coloured pencils are also provided for colouring book activities – a recent craze which has been known to have therapeutic mental health benefits, such as reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety. The area was opened last week with the help of the Guild President, Reece Patrick Roberts. He posted on Fab N’ Fresh, saying: ‘some of my favourite people at the University have to be the library staff. [...] The library can be a very tense environment, especially when your deadlines
are looming. So, if you feel yourself needing a break, pop down to the welfare zone on the ground floor!’
“The library can be a very tense environment, especially when your deadlines are looming” Students have largely been positive about the new space. Greta, a second-year English Language student, told Redbrick that she is ‘impressed’ that the library is ‘actually doing something to help students’ mental health.’
She continued, saying: ‘The library can feel like a pressure cooker environment sometimes, especially during exam season, so it’s good that there is support available in the library to help students out if they need it.’ First-year History student Lionel agreed. ‘I know there’s lots of mental health guides online, but it’s nice to know that we have easy access to them here in the library too, because they can be hard to find online sometimes,’ he said. Others have been slightly more sceptical. One postgraduate English Literature student told Redbrick: ‘It’s obviously a great thing that the library is doing this, but students still need mental health support elsewhere. This doesn’t take away from the fact that there aren’t enough counsellors for students.’
News Reporter
An £800,000 research project led by the University of Birmingham and Warwick University has been launched in the hope to reduce social inequality and improve productivity in the West Midlands. Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick will partner with CityREDI from the University of Birmingham. Both institutions will analyse the constraints that threaten productivity and innovation levels of local companies. The project will focus on the key areas of skill shortages, supply chains and foreign direct investment and their impact on industries in the region. Investors in the study include big names in the private sector
such as Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin, while regional shareholders will include the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Midlands Engine and five Local Enterprise Partnerships. Professor Nigel Driffield, leader of the project from WBS at the University of Warwick, remarked: ‘The West Midlands is known as the manufacturing hub of the UK, but it needs to build on this reputation, attracting more investment and more jobs to the area, particularly with the threat of Brexit looming.’ Outside of the West Midlands, the research project will also work closely with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Chambers of Commerce, Trades Union Congress (TUC) and investment company Unite. Redbrick spoke to a final year UoB student who said, ‘I think it’s really great the University are collaborating with Warwick, to
ensure the West Midlands economy is stable for its future employees - especially those leaving university.’ Further to their investment in local industry strategy, researchers hope to reveal new methods of increasing productivity. The ‘foci of the research,’ according to Anne Green from City-REDI, will be on ‘skills and inclusive growth issues.’ Green reaffirms that the aims of the investigation are ‘in line with key concerns with regional policy makers,’ as understanding policies that improve productivity can reduce social inequalities across the region. The project will also examine how such policies may be exacerbating the degree of inequality across the region, instead of resolving it. Director of City-REDI, Professor Simon Collinson, who is leading the project on Birmingham’s side commented:
Elections Editor @tomleaman_
Charlotte Gill
After months of preparation and a week of campaigning, the sixteen successful Guild Elections candidates . were announced. A new record total number of votes were recorded this year, with 8,980 students taking part in the elections. To fund their campaigns, every candidate was given a budget of £50 by the Guild of Students. Unlike last year, where the UK was hit by the ‘Beast From the East,’ the campaigners in this election were blessed with warm weather. The winning candidates in the 2019 Guild Elections are as follows: Full-Time Officer Team: President: Joshua ‘Just-Josh’ Williams Activities and Employability Officer: Ryan ‘Gingerbread Man’ Ginger Education Officer: Amanda ‘Sefton’s On It’ Sefton International Officer: Joanne ‘Old JoJo’ Park
UoB and Warwick Aim to Boost the Local Economy Emily Darby
Tom Leaman
Postgraduate Officer: Tobiloba Adeyemi Sports Officer: Josh ‘JD Sports’ Dooler Welfare and Community Officer: ‘Mermaid’ Millie Gibbins Part-Time Officer Team Minkai Zhang
Anti-Racism;Anti-Fascism Officer: Manisha Dhaliwal Commuter Students’ Officer: Jules ‘Return of the’ Singh Disabled Students’ Officer: Alice Fowle Ethical and Environmental Officer: Nicola Williams Ethnic Minority Students’ Officer: Tukeer Hussain
‘By contributing to a reduction in social inequality, alongside promoting economic growth, we are continuing the legacy of the University of Birmingham as a long-standing anchor institution in the Birmingham city-region.’ Do you have any opinions about this story? Contact us on Twitter @redbricknews.
LGBTQ Students’ Officer: Amber Culley Mature Students’ Officer: Alex Sinclair Trans Students’ Officer: Em Andress Women’s Officer: Shirley Ibegbulam
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NEWS
Friday 8th March 2019
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Redbrick News Investigates: How Safe Are Student Cylists? News Reporter Florence Jones investigates road safety in Birmingham meets Bristol Road. He told Redbrick that he was cycling to News Reporter the front of the traffic lights queue @Florence_Jones_ and was almost injured by someone pulling onto the wrong side of Safety for cyclists across the UK the road. The student recalled askremains a significant issue, with ing the driver ‘to check his wing three-fifths of adults aged 18 and mirrors next time, please. over feeling that it is too dangerBut then the driver ‘switched ous to cycle on roads, according off his car and scrambled out and to a 2017 report by the Department [...] proceeded to shout abuse at for Transport. me.’ The student noted: ‘None of The issue came to national the other drivers waiting at the media earlier this year when lights did anything.’ This student Graham Simmons, a 28-year-old did report the incident to the man from Hampshire, tweeted a police. However, their case was video taken on his helmet camera. dropped after the only witness to He hoped to raise awareness of come forward wasn’t willing to car drivers not paying speak in court. attention to cyclists and The West Midlands repeatedly nearly has seen cycle safety causing collisions. measures impleHe tweeted: ‘I’m mented successgoing to die on fully in the past. this roundabout In August 2016, of students do and no one seems West Midlands not cycle for fear Police willing to do anywere thing about it.’ nationally recogtheir bike will be Within a week of nised for their inistolen posting the video, it tiative to improve had been viewed the safety of cyclists more than 75,000 times on the roads. In addiand reported on by many tion, ‘Operation Close national news sources, includPass’ launched in 2017, which ing the BBC. is an initiative to keep cyclists With this in mind, Redbrick safe by ensuring that vehicles spoke to students at the University leave at least 1.5 metres of space of Birmingham, conducted a sur- when passing cyclists. vey and spoke to key figures Vehicle drivers are pulled over including UoB’s Sustainable by the police when passing too Travel Coordinator, Birmingham close to plain-clothed officers on City Council, and the Commuter bikes, acting as members of the Students’ Officer for the Guild of public. The scheme seeks to avoid Students. the victim-blaming of cyclists, In a Redbrick survey posted to instead placing the responsibility Facebook page popular amongst with car drivers. In the same year UoB’s students, ‘Fab ‘N Fresh’, the initiative was launched, West members of the group were asked Midlands Police reported a 20% why they walk to campus instead reduction in cyclists being severeof cycling. Of the 557 people that ly injured or killed on the roads. responded to the poll, 196 What’s more, in the 12 months respondents said they simply pre- since the scheme was launched 13 fer to walk rather than cycle, with motorists were prosecuted on the 116 people stating they feel una- spot and a further 350 were fined ble to cycle in the first place. 130 and given licence points after do not own a bike, meaning their reviewing footage from dashboard only option is to walk. However, and helmet cameras. 54 students in the survey said they are worried about their bike being stolen and 44 simply don’t feel safe cycling on Birmingham roads. Redbrick reached out to UoB students who cycle in Birmingham to ask how safe they feel on the roads. Some students came forBirmingham City Council is ward claiming that they have working to alleviate the dangers almost been knocked off bikes or of cycling in Birmingham by conbeen in collisions. structing a cycle path alongside One second-year student was the A38 into the city centre. This hit by a car while turning at a is part of the Council’s junction in Selly Oak. ‘A black ‘Birmingham Cycle Revolution’ Mercedes decided to overtake me initiative, which aims to make [....] knocking out my front tyre. cycling ‘easier and more accessiLuckily, I was wearing a big coat ble’ in the city. The new cycle and gloves so I avoided any road route is designed to link Selly burn, but I jarred my elbow a bit Oak and the University of and my new laptop that was in my Birmingham with the city centre. bag got a big dent. The car slowed In total, there will be 4 kilometres down after it hit me so it was of cycleway completely segregatobvious they knew what they did ed from the traffic flow, providing and then drove off.’ students with a safe route into A second-year student, who town. lives in Selly Oak, was the victim The project began on 5th of an incident on the junction March 2018 and was due to last where Edgbaston Park Road approximately 50 weeks as part of
Florence Jones
9.7%
“The driver [...] proceeded to shout abuse at me ”
Birmingham City Council’s plan for safe cycle ways which stretch from the East to the West of the city. By 2033, councillors are hoping 10% of all journeys in Birmingham will be made by bike. In light of the new scheme, the Council said: ‘We want our city to be less congested, greener, safer and healthier.’ In regards to cyclists’ safety in Birmingham, the Council told Redbrick that ‘all road users have equal rights to use the highway safely’ and hope that the new A38 cycleway can help achieve this. The City Council have also been working in partnership with CEMEX UK, a multinational building materials company. Together, they have released newly designed slogans on the sides of lorries to remind road users to pay attention to pedestrians. These new vehicles were presented as part of the Guild of Students ‘Go Green Week’ on campus. The environmental-focused week took place from Monday 4th February to Friday 8th February and celebrated a ‘national week of action to help raise awareness of environmental issues.’ In an interview with Redbrick, Peter Edwards, Sustainable Travel Coordinator at the University, sought to advise students on how to make themselves safer on the roads without blaming them for the motorists’ mistakes. Along with the importance of using lights, which are a legal requirement in the UK, he also recommended wearing a helmet and high-visibility clothing. Edwards outlined the importance of cycle training and ability. ‘I see a lot of cyclists cycling right in the gutter which encourages vehicles to overtake you badly.’ He encouraged students to take what is known as the ‘primary position,’ meaning cycling in the centre of the road as a car would at unsafe points such as tight spots between parked cars and at junctions. Bikeability training, which teaches participants how to cycle safely on the roads, is offered at the University, as well as by the Guild during Go Green Week in February. Edwards would like to remind students that local police have said they will accept cyclists on the pavements, if they are being considerate, despite it being illegal. An interviewee agreed with Edwards that it is common to see ‘people pulling out and turning without checking for bikes.’ They noted that being in the centre of the road can help increase your chances of being seen. Finally, Edwards suggested that whilst the completion of the Council’s new cycle path is underway, cyclists should try and find the safest route possible. ‘At the University, we’re quite privileged to have the canal which goes directly to the city centre,’ he said. ‘I probably wouldn’t advise stu-
Sophie Woodley
dents to cycle down there at night in the dark, but absolutely during the day, it’s safe, it’s very well used and it’s completely flat and traffic-free.’ A final-year student recommended others to install cameras on their bikes, similar to the helmet camera used by Graham Simmons. Peter Edwards confirmed that this evidence can be used when reporting incidents to the police. Further ways of increasing safety, as mentioned by students, include planning routes beforehand to avoid busy roads or busy times. Another example is avoiding the blind spot of large vehicles and not passing along the inside of them. Izzy Bygrave, Welfare and Community Officer told Redbrick: ‘I can appreciate that many students may feel unsafe cycling in Birmingham. Our roads are some of the busiest in the country and the prospect of cycling can feel pretty daunting – especially for anyone not used to cycling in a big city. I look forward to the new cycle route opening soon, which will connect Selly to the city with a cycle lane running down the Bristol Road.’ Bike collisions are not the only issue relating to cycling at UoB. Redbrick’s survey found that 9.7% of student respondents choose not to cycle because they fear their bike being stolen. Some students are left frustrated after what Peter Edwards referred to as a ‘spate of bike theft’ on campus. One student told Redbrick that they had their bike stolen from outside the Guild after only leaving it there for 25 minutes. ‘I went to the Guild for help but they seemed to not care,’ they said. The 2018-19 Commuter Students’ Officer, Jules Singh, said he was sorry to hear that this student’s complaint wasn’t taken seriously. He told Redbrick that ‘the Guild will take every opportunity to help avoid theft and
maintain safety by providing advice to students where possible.’ He also said that the Guild of Students is doing more to reduce bike theft on campus, including handing out bike locks. Specifically, D locks are the more secure option, according to Edwards. While traditionally cyclists themselves are blamed for a lack of safety, both the University and West Midlands Police argue that car drivers need to protect the most vulnerable of road users. Birmingham roads are dense with traffic and pose a risk to students who cycle.
“The Guild will take every opportunity to avoid theft and maintain safety ” However, the interviewees in this investigation argue that this is a problem that can be overcome with education, carefully chosen routes, and safety equipment. West Midlands Police and the Guild of Students continue to take measures to ensure the safety of students who cycle, ensuring that cycling is an efficient, environmentally friendly, and safe way for students to travel around Birmingham. If students are interested in undertaking a Bikeability course they are offered by the sustainable travel systems office on campus sustainabletravel@contacts. bham.ac.uk. West Midlands Police note that you can report a collision by contacting the police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk or call 101 anytime. The University’s Police and Partnerships Hub, located in University Centre, has a regular drop-in service.
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Friday 8th March 2019
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UK to Leave But Erasmus to Stay? Charlotte Gill News Reporter
Two weeks ago, Redbrick reported that a no-deal Brexit might put Erasmus grants under threat. This would potentially affect hundreds of UoB students who study abroad in Europe. Redbrick met with Robin Mason, International Pro-ViceChancellor, to discuss the University of Birmingham’s Erasmus study abroad plans regarding Brexit. As stated on its website, UoB has collaborated with organisations such as Universities UK and Russell Group to ‘influence Government and put forward the strongest possible case for universities.’ Mason clarified that this has involved lobbying Chris Skidmore, the Universities and Science Minister. It has also necessitated the provision of information about the Erasmus programme’s importance for the University, for whom studying abroad is an integral part of their degree, and evidence of the
benefits such as improved academic attainment and employment prospects. Mason told Redbrick that almost weekly meetings have taken place between university executives, which continue as the Brexit state of play continues to change. For students currently studying abroad, funding remains and the University feels confident that their eligibility is secure, though UoB had measures in place to support students academically and personally in the unlikely case that their mobility should have been cut short. Students have still been encouraged to apply for an Erasmus grant for the 2019-2020 academic year. When asked why this was the case even though there is uncertainty around funding, Mason explained the University feels optimistic that the UK will remain in the Erasmus scheme. He believes it has a lot of ‘political recognition’ and notes that it is possible even in the case of a nodeal Brexit for the UK to remain
part of the Erasmus programme. It is worth students submitting an application as there is the possibility that the UK will continue to be a part of the scheme. UoB has provisions in place for the combination of a no-deal
“The University feels optimistic that the UK will remain in the Erasmus scheme” Brexit and exclusion from Erasmus, recognising that if the government fails to commit to underwriting Erasmus funding, this would have to come from the University. UoB would underwrite the Erasmus grant - at an equivalent level as 2018-2019 - for students for whom studying abroad is an integral part of their course. This would also apply to Widening
Participation and Access students, even if study abroad is not integral. For these two groups, funding would come from a central university budget which exists for such contingencies. Mason assures, therefore, that students not studying abroad would not see a lowered standard or negative impact on their experience due to a lack of funding elsewhere. In order to commit to this funding, the University concluded that it would not underwrite the grant for students who are not Widening Participation and Access students and who want to study abroad in Europe, but do not have to for their degree course. Mason confirms that the places would still be available for these students, as would the exchange agreements on a fee waiver basis, if they still wish to study abroad and self-fund. When asked if the University worries that study abroad targets could be affected by Brexit, as students may be deterred by the uncertainty or potential lack of funding, Mason says it would be a ‘mistake to dial back aspirations
Pixabay
for student mobility.’ UoB is continuing with its restructuring measures to make study abroad a more flexible option, such as the possibility of one semester placements, which would keep mobility within a 3 year degree course and lower the cost. There are currently around 650 outgoing students and over half study abroad without Erasmus funding already, either because they self-fund or choose non-Erasmus countries. Therefore, Mason feels confident that mobility will not be enormously affected and assures that the University has measures in place to cater for whatever the Brexit outcome.
UoB Nursery is First in Birmingham to Take Environmental Steps Charlotte Gill News Reporter
The Maples Day Nursery is the first nursery in Birmingham to pledge its commitment to creating a more sustainable environment for young children. The Maples Day Nursery, situated at Winterbourne House and Garden, is the newest addition to the University of Birmingham Day Nurseries group, which includes The Oaks on Bristol
Road, and The Elms on Edgbaston Road. The Maple’s sustainability pledge means cutting out singleuse plastics, which in practisemeans taking steps such as no disposable wipes, no glitter, no one-use aprons and the welcoming of cloth nappies. It will also introduce plastic-free play using all natural or recycled play resources. The Maples is working towards an Eco Schools Award and the Curiosity Approach
accreditation, an approach to learning and development which incorporates ideas from Reggio, Steiner, Te Whariki and Montessori. The two Midlandsbased co-founders of the Curiosity Approach, Lyndsey Hellyn and Stephanie Bennett, attended the opening of the nursery at Winterbourne. The Maples claims to foster creativity and imagination, encouraging natural, open-ended play with an emphasis on the learning experience rather than a
fixed outcome. It is working towards level 1 of the RHS Gardening Award, embracing outdoor play and keeping an allotment in Winterbourne’s gardens for the children to grow their own vegetables. Manager of The Maples, Heather Bench, has praised the ‘innovative and inviting setting’, explaining that the sustainability approach is a ‘unique opportunity’ for the team at The Maples to introduce children to ‘ideas which could impact not only their own
development but that of the wider community.’ The Oaks and The Elms accept babies and children up to the age of four, while The Maples accepts children aged two to four years old. It is not necessary to have a connection to the University as the nurseries are open to all.
NUS Reveals Statistics on Student Gambling Over the Past Year Christina Manns News Reporter
A recent survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) has suggested that as many as 59 per cent of students have gambled over the past year, and 48 per cent did so to supplement their income. The survey of 1,600 students revealed that nearly 1 in 10 of the students who gambled in the past year used some or all of their student loan for this purpose. If this statistic were reflected across the UK, it would mean that around 100,000 students are using their student loans to gamble. Speaking about the results of the survey, the NUS said that stu-
dent financial support has fallen NUS Vice-President for welfare, behind the rising cost of living, commented that ‘students have which has pushed some students said the only way that they can towards gambling to make ends pay rent is to gamble. That is meet. However, gambling really worrying.’ to supplement student In response, a loans is a risky busiDepartment for ness, and nearly half Education spokesof those who have person said: accumulated gam‘Students from the bling debt owe more lowest-income of students have than £1,000, and households who one in five owe more started their courses gambled over the than £5,000. this year have access past year The NUS has to the largest ever urged the government amounts of cash-into overhaul the higher-edhand support for their livucation funding system and ing costs.’ provide more financial support In an interview with The for students to halt this rising Independent, University of gambling issue. Eva Crossan Jory, Birmingham student Jason
59%
Heffron discussed his experience of gambling. Heffron lost £500 in just a few weeks in his second year and ended up struggling to pay rent. In an interview with The Independent, he said: ‘At vulnerable times I’d often end up losing money that I couldn’t afford to lose. ‘Rent prices are crazy for most major cities now. Most student loans don’t cover rent, so you need financial support before you even think about living.’ Another UoB student, who competes in poker tournaments, agrees that students feel the need to turn to gambling to supplement their student loan, as ‘gambling seems like an easier way of making money for students who don’t
have the time for a part-time job.’ The fourth-year student added: ‘The ease of gambling online worsens the problem.’ A spokesperson from the University said: ‘The University would always want to support students with financial difficulties as an alternative to the potential harm that is caused by gambling. ‘Gambling can be addictive and we would recommend that anyone with or who suspects a friend might have a gambling addiction to seek help. ‘The University provides opportunities for part-time work as a source of income and operates a student hardship fund for students facing genuine financial difficulties.’
06
NEWS
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricknews
Fewer Middle Class Students Will Increase Diversity at University Emily Darby News Reporter
Top universities will have to admit fewer middle class students if they are to meet vital diversity quotas, according to higher education regulator Office for Students (OfS). The university watchdog has advised that some of the UK’s top institutions must ‘considerably reduce’ the intake of students from well-off backgrounds. Russell Group universities still account for the largest gap between wealthy and poorer students, which they will have to ‘eliminate’ within 20 years if they are to meet targets relating to diversity, says the regulator. In order to help UK universities meet these objectives, the Office for Students (OFS) has offered two solutions. While one approach would see Russell Group universities double their annual intake of students, the alternative strategy proposes to
significantly reduce the number of admissions of students from wealthier backgrounds. However, statistics from the Department for Education indicate that it is unlikely that there will be a significant increase in students applying to universities in forthcoming years.
“Institutions must ‘considerably reduce’ the intake of students from well-off backgrounds” OfS says that it could prove difficult to boost student numbers in the next few years, meaning that top universities face the alternative of lowering the amount of students from middle class and well-off backgrounds at their
institutions. Professor Claire Callender, higher education policy expert at University College London's Institute of Education, commented on the legal problems the move could face, saying: ‘If the only option is to have some form of positive discrimination, I am not clear whether it would be permitted under the law.’ Admitting that ‘targets are very useful and certainly it is important that universities do everything they can to widen the participation of underrepresented groups,’ Professor Callender warned of the ‘quite considerable resistance’ that the policy could face from not just the institutions but parents and students. Conversely, Sutton Trust founder, Sir Peter Lampl defended the Office for Student’s plan to limit the number of well-off students in higher education, saying that it could evoke positive change. ‘Despite efforts and some progress in the past two decades, the gap remains wide,’ he said.
The founder of the Sutton Trust, a charity focused on improving social mobility, commended the implementation of a ‘contextual admissions’ strategy, by which students from less affluent backgrounds receive university offers based on lower A-Level predictions than fellow, wealthier pupils.
“Universities do everything they can to widen the participation of underrepresented groups” Sir Peter Lampl advocated the new approach from the OfS: ‘Doing this could radically shift the balance and increase the numbers of the poorest students studying at the most selective universi-
ties.’ A series of documents containing the targets were revealed at a board meeting that focused on boosting participation rates. So far these documents have only revealed diversity targets for Russell Group universities and those with high entry requirements. The regulator says it will set diversity quotas across the higher education sector once Theresa May’s education review is finalised. A post-18 education review that began in 2017 is currently being carried out, after the Prime Minister opened an investigation into the sector. The move came after Jeremy Corbyn won over young voters by promising to abolish tuition fees during the last general election. The ongoing inquiry led by Philip Augar is set to conclude later this year, with the results to be examined by the Department for Education.
Birmingham Labour MPs Stay Loyal Aneesa Ahmed News Reporter
Birmingham Labour MPs have issued a statement pledging to stay in the party after a number of their colleagues defected in recent weeks. Birmingham’s nine Labour MPs have vowed to stay in the party. In a statement they said: ‘We will continue to fight for the better future we know is possible, standing together as part of the Labour family, with our trade unions, socialist societies and in Parliament as Labour MPs.’ The statement continues by reminding Birmingham constituents that ‘for more than a century
our movement has fought for social justice, for the many and not the few.’ This joint statement was issued following Labour MPs from other constituencies nationally leaving the party. A total of eight Labour Party MPs left the party to form a new group in parliament, sitting as the new Independent Group. The eight Labour MPs were then joined by three MPs from the Conservative back benches. These MPs issued a joint statement when leaving the party and said that they chose to leave Labour because their ‘progressive values’ have been ‘abandoned by today’s Labour Party.’ They mentioned Labour’s for-
eign policy, economic policy, Brexit stance, ideological dogma and anti-Semitism. Birmingham’s Labour MPs say that they ‘wish our colleagues had not chosen to leave.’ However, they acknowledged that ‘Labour must not think itself beyond criticism.’ Finally, they said that ‘it is important that we listen to the concerns that have been raised.’ Redbrick spoke to a second year history student who said: ‘It’s good to see a bit of solidarity and togetherness during such a turbulent time for the Labour Party.’
Sophie Brown
Do you have opinions about this story? Contact us on Twitter @Redbricknews
Regional Politics Linked to West Midlands Homlessness Increase Diana-Andreea Mandiuc News Reporter
Regional politics is said to be one of the key reasons for the increase in homelessness across the West Midlands, according to Chief Executive of YMCA Birmingham, Alan Fraser. Following his election in May 2017, the West Midlands Mayor Andy Street affirmed his top priority was the reduction of rough sleeping, but recent numbers show an increase from an average of 55 to 91 homeless people in the city centre.
Coventry has also witnessed a 300% increase in rough sleeping figures. Writing in The Guardian, Fraser says that ‘the disparity between city-regions is deeply frustrating.’ Reports have shown a decline of rough sleeping in Greater Manchester by 19%, but this has increased by 42% in the West Midlands. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s campaign ‘A Bed Every Night’ has helped more than 1,200 people since November 2018. This campaign has also led to new facilities which provide
accommodation and support for individuals. Salford reportedly saw a reduction from 49 to 17 rough sleepers.
“The disparity between cityregions is deeply frustrating” Fraser argues that ‘everything that has happened in Greater Manchester should be deliverable in the West Midlands.’ In December 2017, the West
Midlands rough sleeping working group had generated a plan which asked for £15.2m in funding from central government. The plan intended to fund new projects to address domestic violence, challenges of homeless EU migrants, and increased usage of substances among rough sleepers. The West Midlands, instead, received £9.6m for the Housing First pilot scheme. Three regions across the UK received funding: Liverpool City Region received £7.7m, Greater Manchester was allocated £8m, and the West Midlands received the highest amount of £9.6m. The funding allocated was
based on the number of rough sleepers in each region. The scheme is aimed at helping move people into stable, affordable accommodation and giving them support to help them deal with any mental health issues or substance misuse issues. Greater Manchester has a long history of local authorities working effectively. However, the Conservative Mayor Street chairs a council cabinet of Labour leaders which makes implementing new initiatives difficult. In 2015 the government proposed on the introduction of ‘metro mayors’ as a condition to unlock funds for projects.
NEWS
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricknews
07
City Council to Cut Over 1,000 Jobs Sophie Woodley News Editor
A total of 1,095 jobs are set to be lost over the next twelve months, Birmingham City Council has announced. Over the last nine years, over 12,000 jobs have been lost from the council. According to Birmingham Post, by 2020 this figure will be over 13,000. Councillors were due to debate Birmingham’s financial plan for 2019-2023. They have revealed that they ‘anticipate a further reduction of up to 1,579 full time equivalent staff by 2022-23, with up to 1,095 full time equivalents anticipated to exit the organisation in 2019-20.’ Council leader Ian Ward, in his foreword to the financial plan, said, ‘It is clear that after almost a decade of austerity driven cuts, this continues to be the most challenging period in Birmingham
City Council’s history.’ Ward also commented on the funding for ‘vital services,’ which has been cut by more than £690m since 2010.
“This continues to be the most challenging period in Birmingham City Council's history” With the demand for such services growing, and therefore ‘tougher budget decisions,’ Ward wants to ‘pay tribute’ to council staff ‘who continue to provide a vital safety net for the most vulnerable people across this city.’ In future, Ward says that the
council ‘must now find further savings of £85 million over the next four years, including £46 million for 2019/20, taking the total annual savings over this 12-year period to £775 million.’ Council staff affected by tightening budgets includes Angela Probert, Chief Operating Officer for strategic services. Probert’s role involved managing human resources, policy, procurement, information communication technology, communications and customer services. After the council announced the highly paid post of Probert, this has been ‘deleted’ as part of the cuts. Birmingham City Council are expected to fund roughly £12m of redundancy payouts, using capital receipts, over the coming year. A spokesperson from the council told Redbrick: ‘The budget... has now been agreed by cabinet and full council.’
Elliot Brown
Children Should Learn About SameSex Couples, Says Head of Ofsted Christina Manns News Reporter
Amanda Spielman, Chief Inspector of Ofsted, has recently stated that all children must learn about same-sex couples as part of sex education in the school curriculum. Spielman has said that it is important that children know ‘there are families that have two mummies or two daddies.’ These comments emerged in light of the recent protests outside Parkfield Community School in Birmingham, as hundreds of Muslim and Christian parents claimed that teaching their children about homosexuality and
gender identity contradicted their faith. Protesting parents criticised assistant headteacher Andrew Moffat, who started these lessons and is gay himself, by claiming that he is ‘promoting personal beliefs’ about the normality and acceptability of homosexuality, which they disagree with. Last Friday, The Guardian reported that around 600 children aged between four and 11 were withdrawn from school for the day. The following Monday, the school published a letter that said they would be stopping all LGBT lessons as part of their 'No Outsiders' programme. However, the head of Ofsted has condemned these protests, saying that ‘the essence of democ-
racy is that we don’t all get our way’ and that children need to understand differences in society.
“It is important to let children know there are families that have two mummies or two daddies” As well as criticising the inclusion of same-sex couples in the school’s ‘No Outsiders’ programme on the basis of religion,
some parents have also expressed concern that the topic is too mature for children. One anonymous parent said her child is too young to be taught ‘what goes on in someone’s bedroom.’ She added that it feels like the school is ‘forcing it upon our children’ and ‘planting ideas’ in their heads and says that she thinks children should be taught about homosexuality when they’re older. Spielman disagrees with this view, saying that the lessons aren’t too mature as they teach children ‘just enough to know that some people prefer not to get married to somebody of the opposite sex and that sometimes there are families that have two mummies or two daddies.’ She added that the les-
sons would also help children to realise that it’s ok to ‘not fit a conventional pattern.’ This protest in Birmingham comes during LGBT History Month. The University of Birmingham has held LGBTQ+ events throughout February, including open mic nights and talks to raise awareness of sexual violence. Professor Tim Jones, Provost and Vice-Principal of UoB, stated that the University is ‘proud of its diverse staff and student bodies’ and is committed to ‘supporting LGBTQ equality amongst our staff, students and the wider community.’
Editor’s Pick
News Editor Megan Stanley discusses the importance of representational beauty campaigns after Avon employs Catrin Pugh
Pressures for women to look and follow suit. behave a certain way are slowly In 2013, Pugh suffered burns being challenged by activists and to 96% of her body after a crash in campaigns such as ‘I weigh’ the French Alps and docby Jameela Jamil. tors said she had a one However, we arguably in 1,000 chance of have a long way survival. Pugh had before all bodies to spend eight and appearances months in hospital are represented and will continue equally in mainto have checks of women do not stream media. and procedures feel represented Beauty company for the rest of her by mainstream Avon has recently life, despite having hired burns survivor already four years media Catrin Pugh to be the of rehabilitation. face of their new camSpeaking to the paign. This is definitely a BBC, Pugh said that she is step in the right direction and determined to increase represenhopefully more beauty brands will tation within mainstream media:
40%
‘Every single page was about looking a certain way, all these things that were completely unattainable for me,’ she said. ‘It does make life difficult because I look so different in a world where people are supposed to look a certain way... I don't meet the standard what that should be, there's this idea that beauty is one way.’ Pugh has said that working with Avon has been ‘empowering.’ ‘At the time [of the accident] I didn't feel like there were many role models at all,’ she added. She is also an ambassador for Changing Faces, a leading charity that campaigns for ‘Face Equality’
and encourages beauty brands to represent people who are visibly different.
“I look so different in a world where people are meant to look a certain way” Pugh told the BBC that while representation is improving in terms of race, size and age, it is still lacking for people with visi-
ble differences such as scarring. Changing Faces recently issued data that showed 40% of 14,000 women from 15 countries do not feel represented by mainstream media. A third of those surveyed said they felt pressure to meet certain standards of beauty. Demands for diversity and representation in beauty campaigns have been around for years. While Avon should receive an element of praise of hiring Pugh, it is still unfortunate that it isn’t the norm for beauty companies to hire diverse people to represent their products. Hopefully this move by Avon will inspire other companies to increase representation within their campaigns.
08
COMMENT
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickcomment
Poll of the Week: Would You Use An Essay Mill? This week, Redbrick Comment asked students if they would ever use an essay mill Abby Spreadborough Comment Writer
Following the appearance of essay mill leaflets in the Guild and targeted advertisements online, we asked students whether they would ever use an essay mill. The overwhelming response was no as it is ‘unethical and devalues education.’ This was a sentiment shared by many. Students expressed that they would feel extremely guilty if they were to use an essay mill as it would not only mean cheating themselves but their course mates too, with one student saying that they would ‘feel too guilty to accept their degree.’ Some conveyed concerns for the university itself as using an essay writing service would ‘undermine the university’ as well as the individual’s degree. Others asked ‘What’s the point? You know a degree is hard work when you sign up for one and for most of us essays are part of that hard work.’ Students raised the issue of the continuous use of essay mills. If someone were to consistently pay for essays this would not prepare them for a job at the end of their degree, having made university a complete waste of time and money. Some were more concerned about its reliability. Websites such as ivoryresearch.com, that have been advertised on campus, were a scam seeking to exploit desperate and often wealthy students. Even if an essay mill were able to deliver some doubted the quality of the essay they would receive. Most of all, students feared being
caught, saying that ‘lecturers can often tell’ if an essay is not the work of a student. However, the success of essay mills is dependent upon Turnitin not detecting that essays are the work of professional writers. Whilst Turnitin is able to pick up on plagiarism from published works it cannot detect the work of essay mill writers who produce bespoke essays. These essays can range from £106 for B grade piece of GCSE coursework to £1236 for a 2:1 in a 5000word essay and even an astronomical £82,000 for a 1000 word PhD in criminal law (ivoryresearch.com). Another respondent highlighted concerns surrounding student wellbeing and difficult essays, ‘it’s stressful and can take its toll on you physically and mentally but the answer is not to cheat.’ As rates of anxiety and depression amongst students rise the number of essay mills sites and users will rise as well. Last year, 20,000 students used essay mills with a third of all customers enrolled at Russell Group universities. The university strictly opposes the use and existence of essay mills and as a member of the Russell Group has called for a ban on essay mills. In a letter to the secretary of state, universities called for ‘legislation to ban the provision and advertising of essay mills before the end of this Parliament,’ in addition to a ‘UK Centre for Academic Integrity, with a formal remit to research, analyse and combat academic misconduct.’ They seek to follow in the footsteps of USA, Australia and New Zealand which have all banned
1 No - 00 %
Would You Use An Essay Mill?
“[They are] dishonest and a disservice to your own intellect” “...don’t trust them. But also, were they reliable, I probably would” "I’d be too scared that the university found out" “You should get through university using your mind, not your money” “I won’t be able to do the jobs my degree qualifies me for if I haven’t done the work myself”
essay mills. So, whilst 100% of respondents would not use the services of an essay mill for a multitude of ethical and practical reasons there are clearly thousands of students paying their way through university. The rise of essay mills is understandable given increased pressure to not only progress to high education once compulsory schooling is completed but to also excel in your chosen field as dream jobs and internships become all the more difficult to secure. The university has measures in place to deal with essay
pressure, students are able to seek an extension in the event of bereavement or a traumatic incident and reasonable adjustments are granted to those with a diagnosed disability. Yet, more could be done for students who suffer from a proven technical failure close to the deadline. Nevertheless, given students clear concern about the rise of essay mills, it is promising that that UK universities are taking collective action to push this issue through parliament. But as the ever-looming Brexit issue occupies Westminster and the national consciousness it may be
a while before any concrete change is made. Ultimately, as one student wrote ‘You should get through university using your mind, not your money,’ using an essay mill doesn't only devalue your degree but that of everyone at university. Take part in our polls: Redbrick Comment Contributors
@RedbrickComment
Humanity Must Overcome Anger Give Shamima Begum a chance to rehabilitate in the UK, argues Tom Leaman Tom Leaman News Editor
When asked about the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, Shamima Begum said: ‘Their [Islamic State’s] justification was that it was retaliation so I thought, okay, that is a fair justification.’ She has stated that she does not regret her decision to travel to Syria, but now wants to return to the UK and has said that she ‘supports some British values.’ Initially, it was difficult to perceive a way back into Western society for Begum after reading her comments. Her justifications of both the Manchester attack and of other atrocities committed by Islamic State in the Middle East did, to a degree, make the idea of her return to the UK seem irresponsible. In a hypothetical scenario where a high-profile individual was attempting to enter the UK having been involved with any dangerous organisation,
including white supremacist groups, I’d expect similar caution to be taken.
“Initially, it was difficult to perceive a way back onto Western society for Begum after reading her comments” This issue came to the fore on Monday 18th February, when the Home Secretary Sajid Javid revoked her British citizenship. My initial thoughts on this were that the logic behind it was understandable, but ultimately flawed. On one hand, the benefits of the decision from a perspective of national security and financially made some sense (for example, in 2016-17, every prisoner in
England and Wales cost £22,933 per year, which in this case would be for crimes committed outside of the UK if she does become incarcerated here). However, on a human level, all of this just seems wrong. Obviously, this situation is incredibly complicated, especially after Bangladesh claimed that Begum has never applied for dual citizenship – one of the few factors supporting the Home Office’s decision to withdraw her British citizenship. The removal of her citizenship was an imperfect but understandable step to take, but it’s now even more controversial with allegations that this would make her stateless. From here, it’s difficult to see where else she can remain safe with a child besides the UK. However, it might not necessarily be a bad thing if the Home Office can see through the decision to revoke her citizenship, assuming she’s allowed to claim it back.
According to the government’s website, new residents to the UK can gain a ‘permanent residence’ status after living in the UK for five years and can start the application process after twelve months.
“It would be immensely unfair not to give her the chance to regain her citizenship” If the government do opt to stick to their guns regarding her citizenship, it would be immensely unfair to not give her the chance to regain her citizenship if she can demonstrate that she does reflect ‘some British values’ and can be trusted to reintegrate back into society. She is, after all, only the age of a fresher. From here, getting Begum on a de-radicalisation scheme in the
UK seems to be the only way forward. She has suggested that she’s willing to face prison time, which is more likely to be for remaining in an overseas terror hotspot than for actually committing acts of terrorism. With a sentence of up to ten years for this, the relevant authorities have the time and resources to offer Begum the help that she needs, though she has to demonstrate a willingness to cooperate to ensure that she can safely integrate back into British society. The situation that Shamima Begum has found herself in is immensely difficult to navigate, and each day seems to bring up a new controversy or debate. With all of the new information that arises, it makes more and more sense to allow her back into the UK (with or without her citizenship) to give her the chance to rehabilitate. As George Freeman MP tweeted on Tuesday 19th, Begum ‘was born here, educated here & is our responsibility.’
COMMENT
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickcomment
09
The Independent Group: Doomed to Fail
Wikimedia Commons / Maurice
Jonathan Korn argues that the newly-formed Independent Group will be lucky to succeed in the current electoral climate Jonathan Korn Comment Writer
Can you even have a group of independents? Because I’d have thought you stop being quite so independent once you team up with loads of other people. Not that it really matters. The new Independent Group, formed of eight Labour (Luciana Berger, Ann Coffey, Mike Gapes, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith, Chuka Umunna and Joan Ryan) and three Conservative (Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston) MPs disillusioned with the state of their parties, hasn’t got the legs to last.
“Once the question of Brexit is eventually settled [...] what really unites these MPs?” We’ve tried this before. The Social Democratic Party of the 1980’s promised a new kind of politics, pledging to fill the vacuum left by the Tory move rightwards and the Labour shift leftwards. It had considerably more high-profile figures in its ranks than the current Independent Group, and significantly more support amongst the general public. And it still failed, because Britain is a two-party system. Be it due to entrenched tribalism or the peculiarities of the First Past the Post electoral system, it is
enormously difficult for a new party to break through. This group also seems a single issue one. Granted, Heidi Allen spoke out against austerity, and Luciana Berger bravely called out anti-Semitism within the Labour ranks. However, the only thing that really unites these eleven MPs is their opposition to Brexit. We’ve already seen that simply being a ‘Remain’ Party does not translate into electoral success – just ask poor Vince Cable. And once the question of Brexit is eventually settled (a far-flung utopia as things stand), what really unites these MPs? Opposition to Corbyn and the European Research Group is not enough for electoral success. The Independent Group (IG) has already been extraordinarily effective as a pressure group. Jeremy Corbyn’s glacial move towards backing a Second Referendum has picked up pace, as the Labour leadership scrambles to avoid further defections, both from Remain-backing MP’s and from Party members disgruntled with Brexit. Similarly, Theresa May’s decision to allow a vote on delaying Article 50 rather than risking a no-deal Brexit has IG fingerprints all over it. The defection of three Tories has reminded the Prime Minister that Cabinet colleagues like Greg Clark and Amber Rudd will walk if the government appears to be leaving the EU without an agreement. With a majority of just eight, May has to keep such people on board if she wishes to go on governing, and the defections of Allen, Wollaston and Soubry are a stark
reminder of that. Oddly, the most obvious political comparison to the Independent Group is that of UKIP. As a pressure group, Nigel Farage and co were extraordinarily successful in getting David Cameron to call the 2016 Referendum. The fear of backbench defections was so strong that for purely party-political reasons, the then PM was bounced into a promise he never really wanted to make. Yet UKIP’s success was also its gravedigger.
“If they continue to push both parties to the centre, they'll be happy, but they’ll also lose the distinctiveness which is the basis of their appeal” Following the Leave vote, UKIP were rendered pointless, having achieved their sole aim as a movement. The Tory shift to the right allowed them to recapture the Brexiteers who had gone purple in 2015. And even at UKIP’s high-water mark, they only ever won one seat in Parliament, because of the UK’s electoral system. The Independent Group are the same. If they continue to push both parties to the centre, they’ll be happy, but they'll also
lose the distinctiveness which is the basis of their appeal. Voting IG to get a Second Referendum is pointless now – you can just vote Labour. And once Brexit is done, the IG, like UKIP, will likely fade into the dust as an internally divided and insignificant footnote of history. However effective they are as a pressure group, they can’t ever succeed as a party. And they know it, hence their collective refusal to call by-elections. For a group of politicians who call for a second Brexit vote because ‘Circumstances have changed,’ this is the height of hypocrisy. Soubry, Umunna and co surely cannot be arrogant enough to think they won their seats because of their individual capabilities rather than their political party. Elections are a fight between parties, and the electorate votes on party lines. The people of Broxtowe were promised a Conservative MP for the duration of this Parliament, and now are left without one. For the Labour MPs who achieved increased majorities on the back of the ‘Corbyn bounce,’ it is even more hypocritical to cling on as Independent MPs. It is only right that all eleven should call by-elections so that voters can make it clear who they want representing them. Without the Party machine supporting them, both ideologically and organisationally, it is hard to see many getting re-elected, and they know this. Hence the pretty shameful decision to carry on as if nothing has happened. By-elections aside, I wish I was less cynical about the Independent Group. As the
Labour Party membership shifts irreversibly to the left, and the Conservative government continues to resemble a hostage in the grip of the ERG, there is certainly an ideological vacuum in the centre of British politics. For those who champion capitalism whilst wishing to curb its excesses, and who emphasise the importance of enterprise and aspiration alongside fairness and social justice, the last few months have been a depressing affair. You can see how much the struggle has worn down the eleven MPs who defected, and the palpable relief on their faces that they are free from the chains of party.
“You can see [...] the palpable relief on their faces that they are free from the chains of the party” However, the IG’s portrayal of themselves as providing a political home for millions of the disenchanted doesn’t really ring true. Beyond Brexit, there seems to be no vision for improving the country. There is no obvious leader amongst the eleven who can inspire the British people. And in a two-party system, the odds are heavily stacked against them. A lot can change very quickly in politics, but as things stand, a radical reshaping of the British political system seems a long way off.
10
COMMENT
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickcomment
My Body, My Choice
When Paula Smith* discovered she was pregnant, she exercised her choice to have an abortion, knowing that it was the right decision for her. Here she recounts her experience of the abortion process, and outlines why she believes pro-life activism is unhelpful to women facing pregnancy Paula Smith* Comment Writer Content Warning: This article contains themes of abortion, including a description of the process which some readers may find distressing *Paula Smith is a pseudoym used at the writer's request
In December I had an abortion. You don’t know how incredibly hard that is to say. I still have to whisper it to those that know, and the word pregnancy is not something I like to say either. I couldn’t tell people why I looked like crap all the time, why I couldn’t bare to be in lectures because sitting up for too long made my head spin. I couldn’t do any sport, I couldn’t study, I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t live like that. Even now this piece is written under a psydomn because I know of people in my life that have expressed pro-life opinions. I don’t feel threatened by these people. I just don’t want them to approach me asking why I did it, or whether I feel bad for killing a baby. I don’t need that. So that’s why I’m here as a real life example to tell you what happened for me to be pregnant, why I chose to have an abortion and why I don’t need a society to tell me what to do with my body. Firstly, I am super fertile, apparently. I’m that case where the pills or contraception should
have worked, and didn’t. I did what I could to not be pregnant and yet still when I took two pregnancy tests at home on my own, those red bars stared back at me with a look of disappointment. I laughed, called the person who was jointly responsible and without hesitation knew I was going to have an abortion. There was not a beat between knowing I was pregnant and knowing I had to get a termination as soon as possible. That might be pretty upsetting for some to hear but let me break down what my pregnancy was like. I didn’t feel like a human being. In fact for me, I felt like a creature pretending I could laugh and eat and move normally. My boobs ballooned and became painful when I walked. I felt nauseous continuously no matter the medication or time of day. There was no end to me feeling like I was dying, although I never once threw up. I had headaches, I couldn’t sleep properly. I couldn’t work which meant I almost dropped out of a degree despite all the effort I had put in until that point. I couldn’t function as a human being, all because of something I had no power to stop despite me trying my absolute best. I have never heard of another undergraduate at Birmingham talking about their pregnancy experience. So let me fill you all in. One of the things I didn’t expect was how long the process takes. I found out I was pregnant at the beginning of November. It
was sudden and I hadn’t told anyone but the guy I had slept with so the next thing was to call a doctor. Despite me telling them what was going on, pregnancy is not considered any sort of emergency. So, although I had called for appointments, I was turned away because they were too full on that day. I called around to clinics listed on the NHS site, who also say they aren’t abortion related and so point me to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS).
“One of the things I didn’t expect was how long the process takes” BPAS is a blessing to all women affected by pregnancy. I called them and they answered with understanding and options of what I wanted to do. They do not offer an abortion unless you ask for one yourself and then they provide a date at one of their clinics to discuss it further. This, however, is two or three extra weeks, or even more if you aren’t available at that date. Three extra weeks of feeling like your insides are being churned every time someone moves around on a sofa beside you. Two more weeks of knowing you can’t eat or sleep properly. But that's fine because you know it's better than suffering for several more months. Those weeks passed. I sat in
Proportion of safe to unsafe abortions worldwide (Guttmacher Insititute, 2017) Safe 12.6%
74.8% 87.4%
25.2%
Abortion Unrestricted
Abortion Restricted
Unsafe
a clinic full of women of differ- knowing how awful you feel ent ages, shapes and sizes. A every day and still having to woman who already looked smile at friends when they like a mother, a girl joke about being pregwho looked about nant or ask you 18, a woman in why you aren’t her 20s huffdrinking. ing and Two weeks. puffing The day a b o u t came. I b e i n g had a there discusof abortions in 2017 a n d sion in everym y carried out due to mental/ thing head as taking I showphysical health risks t o o e r e d long. o v e r (Department of Health We all whether and Social Care) knew we I should had one shave my thing in pubic area common but because it wasn’t much would that of a conversabe... you know tion starter. I was ... polite? I went to in that waiting room the clinic with everyover two hours before being thing they ask you to have. Pads, seen. a night gown, ibuprofen and The nurse asked me my name snacks. You sit in a waiting and hurried me to a dimly lit room, surrounded again by a room where I had an ultrasound. variety of women. Some telling Knowing I was inclined to have people down the phone that an abortion she asked if I wanted they’ll be okay and others being to know how far along I was and reassured by friends whilst they if there were multiple pregnan- share a packet of biscuits. All cies there. I said yes, because while Judge Judy is on in the my grim curiosity got the better background. of me. I was 8 weeks and 1 day I was called into another along. She didn’t mention more room, and asked if I know what than one pregnancy. I was hur- is happening that day. They ried off to the bathroom with an asked if I am being pressured STI kit once she had cleaned the into it. I said no. They asked if I gel off of my stomach. Then I sat wanted a packet of biscuits. I in a room with her to discuss said yes. They took my temperawhat happens next. ture and blood pressure and then She asked what I want and I gave me the pill to start the procreply saying an abortion. She ess. To have an abortion you asked if anyone has forced me really need your cervix to be into it. I truthfully respond with relaxed so they give you a pill no. She asked if I experienced under your tongue to help that any violence at home from a process. It tastes awful and partner. Again, no. She took my crumbles in an undesirable way. blood pressure as well as a blood I was thankful for the biscuits. I sample to see if I am HIV posi- was sent out again to sit in the tive which, thankfully, I was not. waiting room. And then my options were given to me. I could either have an abortion in the form of a pill which induces a miscarriage or have vacuum aspiration. Neither seemed pleasant but when I went into that room I intended to have the pill. Be at home, carry on like there was nothing wrong. But after being given a list of symptoms, my final termination process would be vacuum aspiration under conscious sedation. Twenty minutes later it’s This basically means you get a time. You are sat in a small cubilot of drugs injected into you, cle along a wall with other girls and they take five minutes to do in. Each sitting in a gown waitthe entire process and then you ing for a stranger to call you into recover. If you’ve watched Sex a new room all over again. I was Education, it’s explained (but a told to go to the bathroom whilst little romanticised) there. I chose waiting, and I glance into the that option and then was even recovery room to see several asked what I wanted done with girls looking sick, pale, sad and the remains, to which I admitted tired. I knew I am about to be I didn’t know. I left the clinic one of them. It didn’t stop me. and went for dinner. Again, Here I am going to put a disyou’re on a waiting list. One of claimer. None of this process is two weeks. Two weeks again pleasant but this is certainly the
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“She asked what I want and I reply saying an abortion [...] and then my options were given to me”
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Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickcomment worst part. If you don’t want to know how an abortion feels, do not read this. I heard my name called and I respond as cheerfully as appropriate. A w o m a n asked me if I know what's about to h a p pen, and I
responded with ‘vacuum aspiration under conscious sedation.’ The woman looked mildly shocked and let me know how very few women actually remember the name of the process. I was shown into a brightly lit room with a doctor and nurse. Admittedly my memory gets hazy here due to me lying down and getting a bunch of drugs injected in my arm, essentially making me too high to register most of the pain. They work fast and hard, yet what happened next is still incredibly unpleasant. Your legs are placed on two holds and a man scoots in with a machine you can hear but cannot see. All of a sudden you feel your gut start turning over with something very intrusive moving around. It sort of feels like how it’s described medically. They put a vacuum, or something similar, very deep into your vagina and move it around to every corner until there is nothing left. My hands clenched and I tried to be as motionless and emotionless as I could. It hurt but because the process only last 5-10 minutes, you grit your teeth not wanting to look weak. At least that’s what I did. They told me it was over and sat me up. No sign of the machine. They must hide it from patients to not let them see anything too traumatising. There was blood on my legs and where my buttocks had just been. I was immediately given my underwear with a large pad on it and stood up. I stumbled a little into yet another room where I was placed in a large arm chair and given a hot chocolate and water. It was done. It was over. There was nothing more I could do. I heard a girl crying near me about how she didn’t want to be a failure of a mother because she was a failure in everything else. I felt sick. Very sick. I just wanted to go to bed. After a quick consultation of what happens after next, I did. I immediately felt better. No more nausea. No more pain. No more stress. I felt okay. I felt human. Sad, but human. The next day I felt revived. Friends who knew what happened saw an immediate difference in everything I did. I smiled more, I ate, I danced around the kitchen. I was me again. But, at what cost? I’m not a fool. I know what happened. I know how sad I am about what happened on too many levels to talk about here. I wonder frequently, if there is a hell, am I eternally doomed? I wonder if it was going to be a boy or a girl. I wonder in an alternate universe what I’m doing now. I thought about how I would have raised that kid, what its name might be, how I would juggle starting a career and a child. I worked it all out. I made that life in my head good. But I knew I couldn’t have it. I couldn’t do it. The man who impregnated me didn’t want a child this early and I couldn’t blame him. I knew he was less ready than I was and no matter his good intentions and willfulness to support me, I knew it would be too much for him to
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Abortion access in Europe (Centre for Reproductive Rights, 2019)
Restricted: procedure has to be justified Unrestricted: no questions asked
handle. I spent weeks thinking about what might become of my life if I kept the child. Pro-life advocates did not. They didn’t have to sit there thinking constantly about every potential consequence of actions past and future. What each option could offer and how a termination in the end, was truly the only option you had. It was out of everything, truly the lesser evil. I did. I thought about it.
“I spent weeks thinking about what might become of my life if I kept the child” Pro-life advocates try to make my experience one of irredeemable shame.They have never suffered through what I did, so I cannot believe that they think they’re an authority on the matter, or in fact have any right to advise others what to do. Some of their ‘well meaning’ arguments also rub me up the wrong way. The day – and I mean the day – I found out I was pregnant, I started calling every doctor and clinic near me to try and stop the process as soon as possible. It was made clear in that moment what I wanted to do. That was at 4 weeks. Before a fetus’ heart starts to beat and yet, no matter how hard I fought, there was no physical way for me to get an abortion earlier than 10 weeks. If pro-life advocates really cared they’d push for better funding of early pregnancy technology. Instead, they cite articles using terms like ‘pre-born children’ or say that an at-home abortion is comparable to ‘back alley’ abortions, which is both laughable and misleading to what medically happens in pregnancy and pill-induced miscarriages. They believe that new
abortion legislation makes abortion legal up to the point of birth for normal abortions, which is fundamentally not the case. This is about life endangering situations, yet pro-life advocates rely on sources that gloss over this, with no hesitation in trying to mislead your supporters. Their goals are about themselves. They are not supporting women like me. They are talking between themselves about hypothetical situations in which you might be pregnant and give the baby to someone who wants it, or how you’d raise them themselves. They aren’t people who are affected by the process because it hasn’t happened to them. Stop feigning some sort of victimisation because fetuses are aborted. I had an abortion because I needed one. Physically,
mentally, emotionally, financially, I could not support another human.
“I could not support another human” No one is asking for their help. No one. If women are looking for advice, they can go to medical professionals as I did. Or friends, or families or loved ones. Women need doctors, nurses and clinics to discuss the process of both birth and termination. They do not need or want pro-life groups.
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, the following organisations can be contacted for guidance and support Telephone: 03457 30 40 30 Email: info@bpas.org
Telephone: 0345 300 8090 Website: https://www.mariestopes.org.uk/ Telephone: 0121 237 5700 Website: https://umbrellahealth.co.uk/
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Redbrick’s International Women’s Day 2019
To celebrate this year's IWD, Redbrick's female editors discuss the women making the future a brighter place, helping to create a society that has #BalanceforBetter Issy Campbell & Kat Smith Deputy Editors
This years International Women’s Day campaign is calling for a more gender-balanced world. Stating that ‘balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue’, the campaign calls for collective change and cooperation
Issy Campbell Deputy Editor
Alex Scott – Pundit Ex-professional football player Alex Scott has made a career move we see many footballers make once they’ve hung up their boots. She has become a football pundit, sitting alongside the likes of Gary Lineker and Ian Wright. Yet, despite the quite natural career change, Scott is breaking the mould as a female pundit. Football is so often percieved as a man's game, not only in the sports itself, but for those who watch it and even more specifically, those who report on it. Her critics argue she is not qualified to comment on Premier League games because she has
Instagram / @alexscott2
Letty Gardner
Jess Green
Music Editor
Television Editor
Princess Nokia – Musician Although, already two LPs deep, it is difficult to label Princess Nokia as ‘up and coming,’ I feel like her career is still developing towards the recognition it warrants. Exploring genres, identities, art forms, and styles across works such as 1992 Deluxe, A Girl Cried Red, and Metallic Butterfly, Nokia is endlessly intrigued by what she can do with her music. At a time when female rappers are becoming focal and recognised in the music scene, Nokia is one artist who is not to be ignored. Whilst being exciting, energetic tracks in themselves, her music tackles ideas of sexual identity, self-love, intersectional feminism, and being a woman in a malecentric music industry. Aiming to pave the way for female artists from a similar background, Nokia asserts that ‘A Princess Nokia show is this place where girls can [...] take the space in the way that men and the brotherhood do.’ Slowly but surely gaining more headline slots such as California’s Noise Pop festival later this year, Nokia’s career is bound to grow even further, and she entirely deserves it.
Beth Reekles – Author (The Kissing Booth) At fifteen years old, avid writer Beth Reekles managed to balance school life alongside penning a bestselling YA romance novel in her spare time. Beth’s journey to becoming a successful author began when she started to upload her first book
Yasmine Kennedy Life&Style Editor
Jodie Comer – Actress Liverpudlian actress Jodie Comer may ring a bell to you as Chloe from My Mad Fat Diary or Kate Parks from Doctor Foster. Now, Comer graces our screens in arguably her biggest role to date as Villanelle in the hit series Killing Eve, propelling her into the Hollywood limelight. Playing a chic and witty assassin with killer charm and even more killer clothes her performance has grasped the fascination and admiration of many. Playing alongside Grey's Anatomy legend Sandra Oh, the refreshing series demonstrates Comer’s undeniable talent and has been labelled as ‘thought provoking and implicitly
between men and women. Gender imbalance can be seen in all areas of life and things need to change. The FTSE 100 list for 2018 lists only six women. The Telegraph reported that this figure is so small that women are ‘outnumbered by the number of male FTSE CEOs called Steve/Stephen, which is currently at seven.’ It is statistics like this which prove why this year’s campaign,
#BalanceforBetter, is so important. To honour this cause, Redbrick are celebrating the women establishing themselves in male dominated sectors. Women campaigning for equality and change. Women hoping to make a world a more balanced and better place. These are the women of the future, and we are proud to be part of their journey.
not played at the same level, but her 140 England caps and expierence at the top level of female football say otherwise. It was this expertise that saw Scott become the first ever female pundit taken to the World Cup by the BBC in 2018. She has paved the way for the future of women in this male dominated industry. Scott has a bright future ahead of her and I hope it won’t be long until we are celebrating the first female host of Match of the Day.
crazy for women to have a place in the sports industry, and one of the women featured is a powerful example. Becky Hammon is the first female Assistant Coach on the NBA. Before Hammon, the idea of a woman coaching men’s basketball was unthinkable, but her presence in the NBA has challenged this concept. People’s initial reluctance stemmed from blatant sexism. Men coach women all the time, so why is it so controversial for a woman to coach men? Hammon has proven gender does not have a role to play in sports coaching. Thanks to Hammon, teams are no longer asking why they should hire a female but rather why shouldn’t they.
Isabel Baldwin Sports Editor
Becky Hammon – Coach Nike’s new ‘Dream Crazier’ advert promotes the inspiring message that it is not
The Kissing Booth onto Wattpad, receiving over 19 million views. Two years later, having picked up on the attention Beth’s novel was garnering, publisher Random House took the young writer on and offered her a three-book deal. Now 22, Beth has completed a Physics degree and published a further three immensely successful YA romance novels which have been adapted onto the screens of teens all across the world as a
Netflix Original film. After achieving more in half a decade than most young writers could hope to in a life-time, I have every faith that Beth will continue to dominate fiction as an established author.
feminist.’ Seamlessly stunting a slick Russian accent with the face of a schoolgirl and style of a Parisian socialite, her performance is truly mesmerizing. So much so, you end up googling her birthday, binge watching every interview and following her brother on Instagram before the first episode has even finished. But when she’s not murdering men in suits all over Europe, the Liverpool local lives at home with her family and continues to charm off-screen with her distinct scouse accent and amicable charisma. With Killing Eve swiftly recommissioned for a second series and the trailer already circulating social media, expect to see a lot more of magnetic rising star Jodie Comer. Stating her ultimate career
goal is to work alongside Julie Walters, I predict it won’t be long before Comer hers e l f becomes a household name.
Jodie Comer in Killing Eve Image by BBC
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Emma Gonzalez speaking in 2018 Photo by Barry Stock
Emily Chapman
Lydia Waller
Comment Editor
Food&Drink Editor
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Bimini Love – Street Camps Emma Gonzalez – Activist Org. After the tragedies that occurred at the Parkland School shooting in Bimini Love is a 15 year-old Florida last year, Emma Gonzalez, young, innovative and astoundalong with some of her class- ingly compassionate female from mates, refused to be branded as Cornwall who started an organisavictims and decided to take a tion named ‘Street Cramps’. The stand. From giving a powerful aim is to provide sanitary prodspeech on gun control a mere two ucts of pads, tampons, heat-pads days after the event, to being a for cramps, wipes for cleanliness lead organiser of the March For and fresh underwear to 35 women Our Lives movement, Emma for a whole year. Love states that Gonzalez is an incredibly brave, this should cater for all homeless intelligent young woman who is women in her community in now using her platform to not Cornwall. In an eloquent and only be an advocate of gun reform, brave TedTalk, Bimini reported but to also speak out about other how she was inspired to consider the extremities of menstruation political issues. As such a young woman, for homeless women when large Emma’s passion and anger make populaces moved into Truro over her uniquely qualified for such a the winter months. Bimini states demanding and frustrating politi- how women on the streets should cal debate as gun control. Her and not have to choose between food her classmates are frequently and pads, or if they have the organising marches and funds, get rejected from liaising with politishops because they cians to open up look homeless. the debate, but Her passion to you can see support these how her unrewomen who lenting enerhave been gy for this failed by fight comes systems in from a the hands place of of people grief. older than I hugeher, is evily admire dent in the her strength success of (Danielle Rowley, and tireless her cama r g u i n g paign. Starting Labour MP) against memwith a crowdbers of the funder target NRA, and I believe of £300, she went that this young woman on to achieve an amazis truly the key to a future ing sum of £5,432 to support where children will no longer die these homeless women throughin their own classrooms. out their lives.
“We know that the average cost of a period in the UK over a year is £500”
Sophie Woodley News Editor
Scarlett Curtis – Pink Protest As an activist, Sunday Times Style Contributing Editor and Author of Feminists Don't Wear Pink, Scarlett Curtis is certainly establishing herself as an up-and-coming influential figure. Curtis has recently initiated the ‘Pink Protest’ campaign which advocates towards feminist rights, ranging from periods, female masturbation and more controversial issues in society such as Female Genital Mutilation.
“A lot of people are still unaware of the work she has done” After her campaign received recognition in parliament, the vote for FGM to be included in the ‘Children’s Act’ was spurred. The fact that Curtis’s campaign work was recognised by parliament says a great deal about her activism. Unfortunately, despite the range of awe-inspiring things that Curtis represents, a lot of people are still unaware of the work she has done. With such a down-toearth and endearing character, Curtis certainly deserves appreciation for all she’s done. At just 23, living in New York and working to inspire young women and men across the world, Scarlett Curtis truly is an inspiration of mine and
is someone whose book we could all do with taking a leaf out of.
Emily Calder Food&Drink Editor
Amika George – FreePeriod Amika George is a 19-year-old student on a mission. Whilst studying for her A-Levels in April 2017, George began the ‘FreePeriods’ movement to fight period poverty. She believes that everyone has a right to menstrual protection and such products should not be limited to those in certain financial situations. George is campaigning not only to eradicate the ‘tampon tax,’ but she is also aiming for England to follow in Scotland’s footsteps in providing free menstrual products to those who need it most. George has been named one of TIME’s ‘25 most influential teens,’ and is not giving up until she has eradicated period poverty in the UK.
Megan Stanley News Editor
Christabel and Ruby Reed – Environmental Activists British sisters Ruby and Christabel Reed are promoting sustainability and encouraging everyone to live environmentally friendly lifestyles. Their two campaigns – The Avaya Initiative and My Eco Resolution – are making them two women who might be making
big waves in the future. Created in 2016, the Avaya Initiative is a think-tank aimed at finding solutions to issues such as mental health and environmental crises. It aims to inspire and influence people to become activists to make change by raising awareness of issues, improving wellbeing, and creating a community through different programmes and events.
“[They] encourage people to make lifestyle changes” In collaboration with Cara Delevingne, this year the sisters created My Eco Resolution – a social media campaign to encourage people to make lifestyle changes that will benefit the environment. Instagram users are being encouraged to share the hashtag #MyEcoResolution with a promise to change something in their life for the better of the planet and their own wellbeing.
Morgana Chess Television Editor
Gina Martin – Upskirting Campaign Gina Martin was at a festival in Hyde Park in 2017 when a man took an up-skirt picture of her crotch without her knowledge. Despite presenting the phone to festival security and the police as evidence, Gina was told that noth-
ing could be done because she was wearing underwear so that it couldn’t be classified as obscene. Further research into this grey area of the law revealed that ‘upskirting’ was not a criminal offence. So she set out to make it one. After an 18-month campaign of petitions, public appearances, and raising awareness on social media with the hashtag #StopSkirtingTheIssue, Gina’s ‘Upskirting Bill’ was finally passed in January 2019. The will of one woman made a big impact. Gina has transformed her victimhood into a positive law change, and she’s found that activism rather suits her. This woman is one to watch.
Lucy McCann Film Editor
Greta Thunburg – Environmental Activist In a world where adults make the decisions – be they flawed or just plain stupid – one teenager has truly come to represent what it means to be a ‘Woman of the Future.’ For me, that is Greta Thunberg, a Swedish sixteenyear-old who made a powerful speech to the UN on environmentalism, and how youngsters are the foundation for change. Considering the recent February heatwave, her words seem to resonate months after her viral speech late last year, despite her presence in society seeming to wane. For a teenager to have such foresight, and to be resolute in her ideals at such a young age only
indicates to me how brilliant and inspirational Greta is. It makes for a woman worthy of admiration.
Niamh Brennan Television Editor
Mari Copeny – Young Activist At just 8 years old, Mari Copeny wrote a letter to President Barack Obama requesting his help to bring clean water to the town of Flint, Michigan. Their water had been contaminated as a result of changing the water supply without first treating it. Obama visited Flint himself, authorising $100 million to contribute to a water repair system, proving that you’re never too young to make a change. And she hasn’t stopped there. Now 11 years old, Mari continues to raise funds and awareness for the conditions that the children of Flint are living in. She has organised backpacks with school supplies for underprivileged children, handed out bottled water to local families impacted by the water crisis, and regularly organises cinema trips for children who otherwise couldn’t afford to go. Through her global fundraiser, the Dear Flint Kids project, she has brought Flint’s crisis to the world’s attention and in doing so has proved that she is a force to be reckoned with. Mari Copeny’s main goal is to one day be president, stating that she knows she ‘can use that office to change the entire world for the better’ – and I don’t doubt that one day we will see her achieve this dream.
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Kat Smith Deputy Editor
Pandora Sykes – Journalist Perhaps most well-known for her role as co-host of the fantastic The High Low podcast, Pandora Sykes has also made her name as a journalist, brand consultant and speaker. In addition to having one of the most wonderful names I have ever heard, she exudes intelligence, is unrelentingly funny and has a CV I dream of acquiring – one look at her ‘about’ page on
pandorasykes.com says it all. I credit her for being a reliable source of inspiration, information and entertainment. Though Pandora has achieved so much already, I know that 2019 and beyond will continue to see her grow. She speaks candidly about everything from the latest books she has read to the Kardashians. There’s simply no platform or topic she is incapable of conquering and I am continuously in awe of her. Having interviewed the likes of Margot Robbie, Alexa Chung
Natalia Carter
Ellie Silcock
Comment Editor
Life&Style Editor
Soraya Chemaly – Writer and Media Critic Soraya Chemaly, an award-winning writer and media critic, first came to my attention when I saw her TED talk from TEDWomen 2018, entitled, ‘The power of women’s anger.’ She discusses how anger can be a powerful and useful emotion, often indicating threat or insult. Yet women across the globe are encouraged to supress this anger, instead remaining silent, due to the misconception that anger isn’t feminine. Instead, Chemaly argues that anger is a vital tool for change. Chemaly campaigns for this change. She is the Director of the Women’s Media Centre (WMC) Speech Project. The WMC is a non-profit organisation that works to ‘raise the visibility, viability and decisionmaking power of women and girls in media [...] ensuring that their stories get told and their voices are heard.’ The Speech Project is more specifically aimed at expanding women’s freedom of expression and reducing online harassment and abuse, hoping to expand women’s civic and political participation. As a female writer hoping to pursue journalism, her work could drastically impact my future career.
Niomi Smart – YouTuber and Activist With 1.6 million followers on both her Instagram and YouTube Channel, social media personalities such as Niomi Smart have a vast amount of influence over a very impressionable population. The word ‘influencer’ is often used when it comes to social media. Instagrammers show people what to wear, what to eat and where to go for brunch, but it is rare to find an influencer who is encouraging a positive change in the world. Fast fashion is particularly prevalent in the social media world, with people wanting to follow the latest trends, and not daring to wear the same outfit twice, yet Smart encourages her millions of followers to live consciously and sustainably. S h e appeared in a BBC documentary alongs i d e Stacey Dooley about t h e impact of fast fashion, and since then has created a ‘smart swap party’ where women could take their unwanted clothes and swap with one another, instead of buying new items.
and Chloe Sevigny, alongside being a successful podcaster and having written for Vogue, The Telegraph and The Guardian, I am grateful to have a successful woman like Pandora to look up to as I venture into the big wide world of media post-graduation. For your first insight into Sykes’ pandora’s box (I had to) of achievements, listen to The High Low, the weekly news and popculture podcast, which she cohosts with the equally incredible Dolly Alderton. Determined to play her role in minimising our environmental impact she tries to promote natural beauty products and even brought out her own book ‘Eat Smart,’ encouraging healthy eating whilst on a plant-based diet. Using her influence for good makes her stand out from the crowd of social media ‘stars’, and hopefully will inspire others on social media to do the same.
WOMEN IN JOURNALISM As a student publication, many of our members wish to enter journalism or other elements of the media as a career after we graduate. It’s interesting to see some of the latest statistics, some of which suggest our prospects are hopeful, and others that are somewhat disappointing...
Journalism is 45% female and 55% male.
Journalism is 94% white... almost all ethnic groups and religions are significantly under-represented.
Sorcha Hornett Social Secretary
Emily Coxhead – Founder of The Happy News Emily Coxhead has firmly become one of my favourite humans on the internet and is definitely my woman of the future. You may know her as the founder of The Happy News, a newspaper dedicated to providing positive journalism on all the good things happening around the world, which began after her Kickstarter campaign was successful and raised triple its target. Following this, she released a
“It's refreshing to find someone so colourful and positive, and following her [Emily Coxhead] journey through social media makes you feel like she's an old friend” range of greeting cards and merchandise, and last year she published her book Make Someone Happy. She deserves more credit for her commitment towards making the internet a more positive place amongst the doom and gloom of everyday life. Her Instagram is devoted to her beautiful illustrations of quotes that will definitely make your day a little bit brighter and is a regular on Instagram stories from sharing videos of her singing to chatting about everyday life. It’s refreshing to find someone so colourful and positive, and following her journey through social media makes you feel like she’s an old friend. She deserves so much praise, especially for The Happy News, as shining a light on positive news is definitely something the world needs more of.
Women remain underpaid and under-promoted. 2/3 male journalists earn over £2,400 a month. Only half of women in the industry earn over this. All statistics: The Guardian (2016)
Imogen Lancaster
Imogen Mellor
Life&Style Editor
Gaming Editor
Jameela Jamil – I Weigh Model, actress, columnist and radio and TV presenter Jameela Jamil has had an undeniably diverse career in the public eye. But despite becoming a wellknown name in these various industries, Jamil’s latest ventures also give her the well-deserved title of ‘activist.’ In the last year, Jamil has undertaken numerous endeavours to fight against the celebrity culture of airbrushing and fat-shaming, an issue that incites insecurity with body image and contributes to a rise in mental health issues and eating disorders. In her efforts to combat the often unrealistic and potentially damaging images on social media, Jamil launched an Instagram account called ‘I Weigh’ in March 2018. The movement aims to make ‘us feel valuable and see how amazing we are beyond the flesh on our bones.’ In doing s o , Jamil encoura g e s men and (Women in women to s h a r e untouched pictures of themselves on social media with qualities they value about themselves. Jamil has also argued against airbrushing. With this in mind, it is unsurprising that she was listed as one of the BBC’s 100 top women last year. And with all she has accomplished for body positivity in such a short space of time, she is certainly one to look out for in 2019.
Emma Kent – Gaming Journalist When thinking of a woman of the future, I used my section for inspiration. Women in gaming are few and far between, but that doesn’t make them any less powerful. As for the woman I want to highlight, I thought of someone closer to home for Redbrick. Emma previously was a section editor for Redbrick last year who went on to become an intern-turned-reporter for Eurogamer whilst challenging major industry leaders on topical subjects. So far she has questioned the gambling aspects of loot boxes, exposed a wider audience to the likes of Bowsette and been named a ‘Rising Star’ by MCV, all in less than a year. Not to mention she partly got her internship by asking hard questions of male journalists w h o couldn’t answer w h y t h e y didn’t have m o r e female Journalism) writers. I think it’s easy to forget that those shaking up industry standards or those who will become leaders in their respective fields start somewhere. They aren’t just created, they work for their place and that’s why I think Emma is an example of a important woman in her field. It’s also personally inspiring to me, because she is doing what I dream of.
“The media is the mirror that society holds up to itself”
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‘When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.’ ‘Been there, done that, messed around / I'm having fun, don't put me down’
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‘Did you know there are more people with genius IQs living in China than there are people of any kind living in the United States?’
Anagrams Can you rearrange the words below to find the names of ten inspirational figures from our International Women’s Day feature?
1. YODA SPANKERS 2. LATEX SCOT 3. CRATER CULTISTS
4. SPIKIER CANONS 5. MARINATING 6. JAMIE JAM LELA 7. MEME TANK 8. MOB HYMN CAKE 9. MAGGIE KOREA 10. GLAM MAZE ZONE
Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me
LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1. Promoted; 2. Hiccup 3. Cheetah; 4a. Degree; 4d. Debonair 5. Represent; 6. Prescription; 7. Course; 8. Employee; 9. Manhattan; 10. Narrow; 11. Angels; 12. Toxic; 13. Moniker; 14. Kangaroo; 15. Miller; 16. Appendix; 17. Gild; 18. Life of Brian; 19. Adaptor | First Lines: The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood); ‘Heart Shaped Box’ (Nirvana); Iron Man (Jon Favreau) | Anagrams: 1. Yesterday; 2. A Hard Day’s Night; 3. I Am The Walrus; 4. Come Together; 5. Here Comes The Sun; 6. Drive My Car; 7. A Day In The Life; 8. Let It Be; 9. Back In The USSR; 10. Eleanor Rigby
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FEATURES
Friday 8th March 2019
www.redbrick.me
March, Chant, Protest: Behind the Scenes of Reclaim The Night News Editor Sophie Woodley interviews the Guild of Students' Women's Officers to find out more about this year's 'Reclaim The Night' and what marchers can expect in a new, bigger location Picture Capital
Sophie Woodley News Editor
This marks my first ever feature for Redbrick (and the first article I’ve written outside of the News section for a very long time), and it comes as no surprise that it relates to women’s rights and protest. As a firm feminist and lover of all things female, Reclaim The Night is something I’m completely in awe of and encourage everyone to get involved in. I reported on the protest last year for Redbrick, (which also made my first ever front page!), where hundreds of us marched in the snow to say no to sexual assault. This, of course, inspired me to talk to Holly Battrick and Alif Trevathan – the Women’s Officers behind this year’s event. Last year, the march took place on 6th February, where students protested through campus to stand in solidarity with the survivors of sexual assault. As this was the
Unsplash / Jerry Kieswetter
first protest march I had been to, I didn’t quite know what to expect. But, once the chants started and the placards were lifted, I was inspired and proud to be a female student at UoB surrounded by a like-minded, feminist-motivated community. Reclaim The Night takes place tonight (so be sure not to waste any time), and has been long anticipated by many. The march itself involves protesting the lev-
els of sexual violence that women face in general, but particularly on the streets. It’s about protesting the injustice that survivors of sexual violence face in the criminal justice system and encouraging everyone, of all genders and sexual orientations, to stand together.
“Once the chants started and the placards were lifted, I was inspired and proud to be a female student at UoB” If you want to find out more details about the history of the campaign and how it all began, head over to Redbrick Life&Style writer Frankie Rhodes’s article in the previous issue. It’s a goodun. However, this year, Reclaim The Night comes back to Birmingham bigger and better than ever before. Taking place at Victoria Square in Birmingham’s city centre, the event has gone beyond the boundaries of UoB’s campus and appealed to a wider audience across the city. Considering the bigger aspirations of the march, I spoke to Holly and Alif to find out more. They said that the march represents hearing and listening to the experiences that people have been through – ‘we hear you, we believe you, you’re not alone in this.’ The plan to hold the march in Victoria Square is about visibility, Holly and Alif told me: the aim is to make Reclaim The Night ‘as visible as possible – we’re targeting people who may not normally go to the march and therefore trying to appeal to a wider audience.’ They also said that the new location is to make the march not only a university-related event, but an annual tradition for Birmingham – ‘it’s for the city.’
Holly and Alif also discussed the normalisation of sexual assault and harassment in everyday settings. They said that it’s the ‘smaller jokes’ that cultivate a culture and ‘normalises comments that happen on a micro scale.’ With 1 in 3 women experiencing some form of sexual assault across university campuses, the recognition of this is growing and crucial, and is exactly why Holly and Alif are appealing to wider audiences and those who may take part in these ‘jokes.’ I asked the Women’s Officers if attendees can expect anything different this year, besides the location. Both said that the march will stick to normal traditions – with similar placards, chants, routines to last year hoping to generate the same power. The one thing that will differ is the march’s inclusivity, which London’s Reclaim The Night event organisers have recently been criticised for. London’s march has recently had problems with trans-exclusionary behaviour, Holly and Alif stated, which both officers want to make clear will not be tolerated within their march. As an all inclusive, welcoming event, they hope that Reclaim The Night in Birmingham will appeal to all. In terms of positivity and support for the march, Holly and Alif said that Birmingham City Council has shown a great deal of support, with local MP Preet Gill in particular. Gill herself will feature in the march as a main speaker, as well as Lisa Thompson, CEO of the Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP). Thompson has been known for her ties to the University of Birmingham, having spoken previously at ValeFest and various other University events. There has also been a great deal of support on social media for the event, with people sharing Holly and Alif’s advertisement on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. In its lead up, Holly and Alif told
AnonMoos me the extent of nerves and pressure they have been feeling – ‘we are hoping all of our hard work will pay off.’ Placard-making sessions have also been held at the University, encouraging people to attend and contribute to the creative and artistic side of the march. This was something I particularly enjoyed last year, with the inspiring quotes and colours giving vibrance to the snowy, cold march around campus, whilst setting the tone and conveying a clear message. Some chants that particularly resounded last year were, ‘2,3,4,6,8, stop the violence stop the rape,’ and ‘Feminists unite, reclaim the night!’ But, amongst the nerves and anticipation, both note the sheer excitement and sense of pride they feel in organising such a large, influential event for both the University’s and city’s communities.
Pixabay It is the atmosphere that Holly and Alif are particularly fond of ‘it is unreal as there’s a real sense of community – a sense of joy. We all know we agree with each other and are willing to put up a fight.’ The Women’s Officers are halfway through their tenure at UoB and have thoroughly enjoyed the work they’ve been part of. ‘We’ve tried to be as approachable and as visible as possible,’ they said, which certainly rings true in what is planned for tonight.
“We hear you, we believe in you, you're not alone in this” So, whether you have taken part in a protest march before – whether this be Reclaim The Night or not – get yourself down to Victoria Square for 7pm tonight. Expect chants, placards, inspiration and a few goosebumps. Indeed ‘It will be powerful, it will be radical,’ and it will inspire Birmingham to take a stand for something that is so poignant and important to society.
FEATURES
Friday 8th March 2019
www.redbrick.me
Felix Parkin MONDAY 26TH NOVEMBERprocess of finishing a radio play. The Music BurnFM Studio Manager team hosted a fantastic Burn Live at the THE INDIE LOUNGE @Burn_FM Indie Lounge. The shows have been at an unbelievable standard. We have successfully FROM 7.30PM live podcast. The Production team are in the
We are coming towards the end of another busy term at Burn FM and for me personally, it is one tinged with sadness as my time as a Burn member comes to an end. It feels like only yesterday that I was elected onto the committee as Studio Manager but alas, it has been twelve months. I think that when I look back at my time at university, it will be these twelve months that stands out because we have achieved so much as a collective and I have achieved things personally that I always wanted to before coming to uni. Beginning with the former, the group of 21 came together as a new committee knowing we owed it to those before us to continue the success they had, with them having overseen a phenomenal studio upgrade and winning Outstanding Society at the Guild Awards 2018. I feel this year we have produced some outstanding content which began with our first committee assignment at ValeFest and will end with the first ever all-committee show for Hello Brum Day on the 14th March. The Sports team have broadcast live for xpLosION, covered Lockdown and BUCs Nationals brilliantly and have fostered a new relationship with Birmingham City FC, which members can benefit from for years to come. The News team interviewed an American government minister brilliantly and covered Guild Elections live for the first time. The Arts team delivered our very first
gained SRA Member status allowing us to host the SRA Conference for the Midlands and apply for SRA Awards. We are hosting a Burn specific careers event so that our 150 members can explore the option of radio as a career. We have done all this as volunteers and, even more impressively, we’ve had fun whilst doing it. On a personal level, I have had success hosting an entertainment show for the first time, The Circo of Life, alongside Luke Bosher and Esther Tickell. We, as well as other shows, have really benefitted from the higher production value the new studio brings and this has been reflected in some of our clips’ traction on social media. We have succeeded in attracting a variety of university guests from Karaoke Soc to the new Guild President and it is nice that in my final year, I have been nominated for a Burn Award for the first time, with my co-hosts, for Best Daytime Show. I knew I wanted to do student radio but Burn FM has captured my heart like I never thought it would and the saddest thing about leaving university will be leaving Burn and the friends it has given me behind. Luckily, I know it will be in safe hands and will continue to give UoB students fantastic media opportunities. Tune in at burnfm.com
This ad space will be seen by over 1000 students across campus. Make it yours. Discounted advertising for University of Birmingham societies, only in Redbrick. Contact marketing@redbrick.me for details.
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CULTURE
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickculture
Review: Metamorphosis Frankie Rhodes Culture Critic
‘Esse quam videri’ – to be, rather than to seem – is an integral theme of Franz Kafka’s novel The Metamorphosis, and indeed, of the stage adaptation that I witnessed at The Old Rep Theatre this week. What the audience may seem to witness is a grotesque, repulsive insectoid, but what this creature really is might well be something altogether different. Metamorphosis is the tale of a young travelling salesmen who awakes one morning to discover that he has been transformed into a large insect, or a ‘monstrous vermin,’ as Kafka originally stated. This ambiguous label leaves it open as to whether Gregor’s transformation is truly physical, or perhaps instead the reflection of a psychological demise. Whilst seemingly occurring overnight in the novel, the Beyond The Horizon Theatre Company depicts the process as gradual, unpredictable and increasingly graphic. First appearing with a few weeping sores, and ending with peeling skin, rust-coloured scarring and huge, cloudy eyeballs, Gregor’s metamorphosis showcased astonishing visual art, the likes of which I have never witnessed before.
“Gregor's metamorphosis showcased astonishing visual art” The majority of the play focuses on society’s reaction to this baffling creature, particularly that of his family, who struggle to maintain normality within their home. Liz Hume portrayed the apologetic, at times desperate Mother who never ceased to mourn for the loss of her son in his former state. She was able to capture that pure sense of maternal loyalty, forever prioritising the love of her children over rationality. At her side was Mike Harley, as the short-tempered Father who responded to his son’s condition with confusion and anger. Whilst this role had the potential to be compelling, it was disappointing to notice Harley stumbling over lines and delivering gestures in a way that was more exaggerated than convincing. Yet, redeeming the family unit was Ellie Ekers’ performance as Grete, the headstrong daughter who balances her devotion to her brother with a desire to protect her family. Lingering onstage for just a moment after her parents’ heated brawls, she induced pity as the one forced to shoulder the burden of Gregor’s crisis. As the sister who firstly reaches out to Gregor and then dismisses him as a lost cause, it would be easy to regard her as the villain of the play, but instead I saw an intelligent and practical young woman faced with unforeseeable circumstances. Luke Hardwell embodied the voice of wider society as the Lackey, the Manager, the Vendor, the Client, the Receptionist, the
Doctor and the Lodger, each interacting with Gregor’s life in different ways. Each character was excessively exaggerated in a way that corresponded with Kafka’s absurdist style, yet at times this risked rendering the audience uncomfortable. Nonetheless, it was powerful to witness Hardwell taking on characters in such an elaborate, wicked and even insectlike manner, suggesting that the real monster was not Gregor, but in fact society itself. In comparison to Hardwell's multifaceted performance, Adam Lloyd-James was humble, quiet and convincing in his role as Gregor. Even when clad in hideous prosthetics, he was so startlingly human that he was able to invoke a response of unexpected empathy from the audience. The production brilliantly emphasised the desolate aspect of Gregor’s demise through staging. Gregor’s bedroom, visible to the audience at the back of the stage, had only a door separating him from the foregrounded kitchen and living room. This meant that the audience were able to witness an isolated Gregor, clutching a childhood toy for comfort, whilst his worried parents anxiously prepared dinner in the room just next door. There was a sense that whilst in terms of proximity the family were incredibly close, they could not be further apart on an emotional level. Yet, one aspect of Kafka’s novel that I felt was lost in this production was the family's reception of Gregor’s physical appearance. Whilst Kafka imagined their response as flippant and ambiguous, as if the physical change is perhaps non-existent, the cast were vocal in their disgust. This eliminated the possibility that Gregor's transformation was a purely psychological one, missing out on what could have been an interesting development. Nonetheless, the production’s decision to opt for a domestic rather than abstract setting meant that it was able to explore fascinating ideas about the monotony of everyday life. A pre-insect Gregor was presented standing on a bustling train of commuters, displaying outward politeness, whilst a voice-over revealed the honesty of his inward thoughts. During the family scenes, a ticking clock highlighted the mundane aspect of daily living, so that when Gregor did transform, it was almost a refreshing alternative to the preceding dreariness. The more that he transformed, the less that his voice-over was heard, indicating the loss of his personal autonomy in exchange for a more animalistic existence. In fact, during each stage transition, flashing lights and eerie, beetle-esque vibrations reminded the audience that Gregor was venturing further and further away from his original self. This was a play that left me regrettably confused, yet fully immersed within Gregor’s story. It left me wondering, who was the real monster, the insect itself, or the society that refused to accept it? Catch this production as it tours across the country to hopefully grow a little closer to answering this question, whilst also witnessing some astounding visual art along the way.
Beyond the Horizon
Joe Samuels
CULTURE
Friday 8th March 2019
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@redbrickculture
Book Review: The Book Collector
Culture Editor Olivia Boyce reviews the deftly woven and chilling gothic tale of Alice Thompson's The Book Collector Olivia Boyce Culture Editor
Whether it be with Sarah Perry’s The Essex Serpent or Laura Carlin’s The Wicked Cometh, there has been something of an excellent Gothic literary revival in recent years, with deftly woven tales that become very difficult to put down once begun. Alice Thompson, author of The Falconer and Burnt Island, returns with perhaps the most chilling of her many novels with The Book Collector, an almost dreamlike short novel that is equal parts enrapturing and devastating. Thompson’s novel focuses on Violet, a pretty and quite quiet young woman who meets and marries the dynamic, enchanting older Lord Archie, falling for him almost from the moment he first leaves a business card at her cafe table. They appear to have a wondrous marriage, with their young son Felix their greatest joy, and a shared interest in the stories contained within the pages of a
book. However, Violet’s discovery of an unusual forbidden book of fairytales hidden away in a safe, dedicated to Archie’s deceased wife ‘Rose’ begins a series of events that quickly reveal the unsavoury truth behind their illusion of normalcy, and send Violet on a difficult journey into her own psy-
che. With the arrival of Clara, an enigmatic nanny, and the discovery of a unique book binder, Thompson’s eclectic cast of characters draw us in to this pulse-raising tale. Thompson is a gifted wordsmith, and the novel reads at times much like the storybook that Violet returns to again and again. It is unflinchingly in keeping with the more brutal of fairytale fables, with horrific dreams recounted and unexpected twists that drop jaws. Thompson expertly wields moments describing a flayed corpse or a horrific murder, and jarring and sobering as they are, they punctuate a broader uncertain, dreamlike haze in which Violet lives, and in which Thompson places us, leaving us as off-kilter and unsure as Violet is. Everyday actions become langorous and ethereal, with Violet remarking ‘It was sensual, her husband’s experience of books, the texture, the sweet or acrid colours, the feel of a rough, uncut page.’ This is a book that luxuriates in its bookiness, which is all the more compelling due to the unusual
story book at its heart. Violet possesses remarkable depth for a character created for a novel of 150 or so pages, and you cannot help but root for the vulnerable woman who doubts her own perceptions, is committed (sometimes involuntarily) to the local asylum, and who against all odds begins to piece the truth together.
“Thompson's work is always interesting, but The Book Collector entrances” It is through her that we too play detective by proxy, seeking the truth beyond a series of gruesome fairy tale like moments in the narrative, and though Thompson is sometimes a little too keen to key us into clues, it leads to a chilling ending and a satisfying denoue-
ment. This is perhaps the strongest of the novel's many strengths – one cannot help but feel rather satisfied, and then perhaps guilty of this satisfaction, for the events at the close of the novel, for like Violet, we have completed an unthinkably horrific puzzle. It is safe to say then that this is no Disney fairytale, with a happy marriage and the glimpse of any horrors hidden away from view. The Book Collector is more than at home between the grotesque narratives of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde or Dracula, and is an unforgettable work of modern gothic fiction. Thompson’s work is always interesting, but The Book Collector entrances.
Book Cover: Salt Publishing
Spotlight On: Jasmine Gardosi Why Jasmine Gardosi’s poem ‘Unidentified Crying Objects’ is so important Emily Breeds
cope in a repressive society. The poem explores these themes through the recurring images of air and breathing, beginning with instructions to the audience of how to breathe.
Culture Critic
Birmingham native Jasmine Gardosi is the current Axis Slam Champion and former Cheltenham Poetry Festival, Mix It Up Midlands and International Pangaea Poetry Slam winner. She has appeared on BBC Radio 3’s The Verb, BBC Asian Network and at Glastonbury Festival. A recent BBC Slam Finalist, she has also been shortlisted for the Outspoken Poetry Prize for Performance and for Birmingham Poet Laureate 2018/20.
“Jasmine vocalises the problems LGBT people face, rather than simply celebrating queerness” A previous BBC Arts Young Creative and Poet in Residence at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, she has since worked on digital storytelling project New Birmingham and is currently collaborating with Autin Dance Theatre on a sexual health show combining dance and spoken word. She continues to combine
“Gardosi's performance really adds to the effect of Unidentified Crying Objects” Suzi Corker
creativity and sex education through other workshops and performances. A Ledbury Poetry Festival board member, she also runs West Midlands Poets’ Place, as well as regular school and community workshops. Her debut pamphlet Hurtz is forthcoming from Verve Poetry Press. Jasmine was most recently published by Button Poetry in January after being awarded an Honorable Mention for Outstanding International Entry in their 2018 video contest. The published poem, ‘Unidentified Crying Objects’ is about the struggles of young LGBTQ+ people who are starting to come to terms with their sexuality, and how they
This poem is particularly significant because Jasmine is one of the first poets to be published by Button Poetry, which is the largest spoken-word platform in the world. Last year, Button Poetry also published her poem ‘Raise Your Hand’, a poem about sex education with an LGBT focus. It is extremely rare for a UK poet to be published with Button Poetry, so for Jasmine to be published with them twice is a huge achievement. Jasmine vocalises the problems LGBT people face, rather than simply celebrating queerness. Whilst celebration is wonderful, it is important to realise the struggles that the LGBT community have faced, and still face today. Gardosi’s performance really adds to the effect of ‘Unidentified Crying Objects’, the title coming from a line in the poem describing
a young LGBT person crying in the school toilets. She inhales and exhales homophobic slurs, then hits the audience with ‘what they speak, you absorb’, relating to growing up in a society that often demonises queerness. Breathing becomes a key part of the poem’s performance; it later becomes reminiscent of a panic attack, then switches to Jasmine sounding strained as though holding her breath. The lines that struck me most were ‘[T]rust me, that’s quite a long time to wait. / You might find it tempting to make it
stop all together’, subtly reminding the audience of the intense repression young LGBT people often go through, as well as the brutal realities of suicidal thoughts. The poem ends positively, asking other LGBT people to share their stories for people that need them, asking ‘what will they absorb once you speak it?’. Through flipping the repeated image of air into something hopeful, Jasmine turns coming out into something not scary but comforting to others.
Apples and Snakes
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MUSIC
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickmusic
International Women’s Day: The Alternative Scene Music Critic Romana Essop celebrates six female-led bands in punk and alternative music, and discusses redressing the gender imbalance on the festival circuit Romana Essop Music Critic
The alternative scene, like so many music scenes, is dominated by male-led bands and artists. Poppunk, metal and everything in between are genres too often saturated with all-male groups, with few people able to name bands with female leads other than wellestablished groups like Paramore, PVRIS and Against the Current. Indeed, these groups frequently feature in festival line ups and on magazine covers, but festivals such as Download and Slam Dunk are still consistently imbalanced in terms of gender representation, with most lesser-known femaleled bands getting overlooked. Promoters claim that such bands are simply not popular enough to enhance their line ups and sell tickets, but programmes like the Keychange initiative - encouraging festivals worldwide to pledge a 50:50 gender balance in their line ups by 2022 – aim to change this. It appears that many festivals are at least making progress towards equal representation. Here are some of the lesserknown bands set to grace the stages of the UK in the near future, with empowered frontwomen included. Yours Truly Following in the footsteps of pop-punk’s most recent successes, Stand Atlantic, Australian quartet Yours Truly are seriously on the up. Their two most recent singles – ‘High Hopes’ and ‘Circles’ –
have gained them significant international attention due to their Paramore-esque sound and catchy choruses. With their new EP Afterglow set to be released shortly before their slot at this year’s Download festival, Yours Truly are expected to catapult to the frontline of the genre, with powerhouse vocalist Mikaila Delgado leading the way. Pagan As one of the few female-led post-hardcore bands currently on the scene, and with a slot at this year’s Slam Dunk festival, Pagan are sure to be yet another Australian alt-success in the making. The four-piece now have a well-received debut album, Black Wash, under their belt, as well as some well-deserved attention from Kerrang! magazine who are optimistic for the band’s future. Their riotous, experimental and honest debut has earned them a following in their home country, but it is equally likely to impress in their upcoming appearances in the UK. Pagan are ones to watch. Milk Teeth British three-piece Milk Teeth combine elements of punk, grunge, and indie-rock to create the charged songs of their EPs and albums which are widely well-received by a variety of alternative music fans. Led by vocalist and guitarist Becky Blomfield, the Gloucester based band are heavily involved in this year’s festival circuit, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to catch their head-bang worthy hits live. They
are set to play at Slam Dunk, 2000 Trees, Camden Rocks and Truck Festival this summer. RedHook Despite having only released three singles since forming, Australian three-piece RedHook have already amassed over 14,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and bagged a slot at Download festival. Describing themselves as ‘screaming rap rock electro pop mutants,’ the band are certainly an eclectic and experimental new addition to the alternative scene, covering many bases within one song and achieving unique but surprisingly successful results. Promising an energetic performance fronted by versatile vocalist, Emmy Mack, the group’s modern take on music is sure to take them places in 2019. Petrol Girls The self-confessed ‘feminist’ band, Petrol Girls, embody the spirit of International Women’s Day as they undoubtedly aim to promote female empowerment through their music. Dedicating the messages of their songs to issues like sexual violence based on personal experience, their raging lyrics are hard-hitting and dominant, even against their punk-rock tones and heavy riffs. The band is built from British and European members, all of whom are clearly committed to spreading their politically-charged music as much as possible. As a result, the group are constantly touring, with 2000 Trees, Handmade Festival and The Great Escape
being their biggest UK appearances this summer. VUKOVI Bursting back onto the scene after starving fans of new music for almost 2 years, Scottish-based VUKOVI have impressed many with their latest single ‘C.L.A.U.D.I.A.’ Whilst absent from this year’s festival line ups, the alt-rock group are soon to embark on their own headline tour of the UK where fans hope to hear more new music belted by vocalist Janine Shilstone. The band’s self-titled debut album, released back in 2017, was widely well-received and quick to earn them a dedicated fanbase. ‘C.L.A.U.D.I.A’ provides an exciting premise for their next era, which many eagerly anticipate.
Music Critic
As the second single from JAWS’ upcoming third album The Ceiling, ‘Do You Remember?’ only hints further at the Birmingham trio’s progression into hazy dream pop with a slightly darker twist, developing from second album Simplicity. The single opens with a foggy and almost unclear sound as the distortion pedal seems to be in full motion, ready to complement the confusion expressed through the song lyrically: ‘I wanna look like you / I wanna look like I don’t care.’ Vocalist Connor Schofield captures the anxiety of young adulthood and the feeling of needing to have figured yourself out by your early 20s. The Ceiling, it
seems, is about learning to be comfortable in your own skin. ‘I always have to stop and tell myself it’s not a race’ highlights the importance of taking a breath and
knowing that it’s okay to step away from the demands of a fastpaced life. This is particularly resonant as a university student as it can become a bit of a whirlwind
Rattlepop
Editors’ Picks: POWER: International Women’s Day, Mama Roux’s, 8th March Following its successful event last year, POWER is back for this year’s International Women’s Day. Celebrating an all-female line up of DJs and musicians, the night will bring a host of talent to Digbeth’s Mama Roux’s. Run by New Street Records, Birmingham’s student-run record label, the event is sure to supply an exciting mix of up and coming DJs, with UoB’s own Hoodbyari being the first act announced.
New Street Records
Damo Suzuki, Hare & Hounds, 19th March The legendary former frontman of krautrock outift Can even had a Fall song named in his honour back in the day, and half a century after he arrived in Germany to start making music he comes to the Hare & Hounds, a venue reliably supplying boundarypushing and refreshing music to the city.
Chloe Chaplin/ Flckr
Single Review: JAWS - Do You Remember? Laura Mosley
Upcoming Events:
Nick Soveiko / Wikimedia Commons
experience sometimes. For a track that’s four minutes long it seems to be over far too quickly, yet this could be one of the band’s biggest singles to date. With an intense instrumental ending propelled by a guitar riff filled to the brim with euphoria and a sharp feeling that each day is your own to grab, the single will undoubtedly resonate amongst the crowds of JAWS’ upcoming tour dates.
Best of the rest:
The Ceiling is out on the 5th April. This will also be accompanied by a tour, including a gig at the O2 Institute Birmingham on the 27th April.
AJ Tracey, O2 Institute, 21st March
Smokepurpp, The Mill, 12th March The Wailers, O2 Academy, 15th March Percolate (Skream etc.), The Mill, 16th March The Stranglers, O2 Academy, 16th March
James, O2 Academy, 21st March Sleaford Mods, O2 Institute, 23rd March
MUSIC
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickmusic
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Redbrick Meets: Busted Maddie Bourne Music Critic
What a revelation to find out that the noughties’ quintessential poprock boyband Busted, the core component to every single feelgood throwback playlist, never intended to write ‘Year 3000’ or ‘Crashed the Wedding’ the way the songs ended up. In fact, this is the truth. Speaking about Busted’s hugely anticipated fourth album which was released in February, Willis is pleased to say the band now has full control of creative direction. ‘Oh, we have one hundred percent control these days, which is something we did not have in the early days. This new album is the album I have always wanted to make. Finally!’ As for the shocking fact that the tracks to many a millennial and Generation Z’s childhood are not quite how the Busted members intended them to be, Matt Willis is quick to confess this fact. ‘With the first Busted album, we wanted to be Blink 182! That’s who we thought we were! We heard the album back and we were like “what the fucking hell,” Don’t get me wrong – it worked really well. We were always like “oh, this isn’t quite what we intended but fuck it, it’s working, go with it!” This time we make every single decision- rightly or wrongly, sometimes.’ And what decision have Busted made exactly with their next album, Half Way There? ‘To regress!’ Matt chuckles. ‘But that’s a good thing. If I’m honest, this was the hardest record I’ve ever made. We wrote about four albums worth of material and nothing was right. We tried to work with certain producers whose job is to just get things on
the radio but that made it sound like it could have been any fucking band. Then we wrote this song called “Nineties” where the riff was really old-school pop rock. We wrote it in an hour. And then we realised, fuck, we’re Busted! We should just write a Busted album! It made perfect sense.’
“Willis is pleased to say the band now has full control of creative direction” For fans of the classic noughties hits, Busted are planning on dosing up another helping of infectious pop rock in 2019. But as much as the band have reverted to the classic Busted again, they’ve managed to secure help from legendary producer to the Foo Fighters, Gil Norton, this time around. And in Willis’ eyes, Norton’s help has made Busted create their dream record. ‘Not to give secrets away about the music industry, but there’s a little saying of “that’ll do.” Producers can often nip and tuck things into place afterwards. But Gil doesn’t believe in any of that shit – he’s all about the performance. For instance, with “Nineties”, I played that riff thirty-six times. On take thirty-six my fingers started to bleed!’ But being Matt Willis isn’t enough to put a lid on those nerves before encountering a producer as legendary as Gil Norton. ‘It’s a bit daunting walking into a studio and thinking, “oh my God, you’ve fucking recorded Dave Grohl and now you’re going
Warner Music
to hear me play bass!”’ Since Busted have progressed and developed over the years, due to the band’s impressive longevity, these guys know what works and what doesn’t for their careers now. After frontman Charlie Simpson famously left the group in 2005, when the band reformed, they knew not to let creative differences affect them, something they’ve taken into the production of this new album. ‘We’ve had a few bust-ups [creating the new album] and we’ve learnt from our past in Busted that that’s not good! We take our music seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. And with this record, until we got it right, we had begun to take ourselves too seriously, which is the
wrong thing to do. So we ended up writing a really fun, Bustedstyle album and it was great.’ Infamously, many a successful band has fallen apart through creative differences. When asked exactly what each member of the band would go off and do had they been given the chance to do solo projects in 2019, Willis laughs. ‘I think Charlie’s would be a really intense, romantic, singer-songwriter record. I think James’ would probably consist of Backstreet Boys covers. And mine? I don’t know – maybe reminiscent of The Streets.’ Speaking of personal tastes, Redbrick asked Matt Willis – praying and hoping – that on his own feel-good, party playlist, there’d be some classic Busted
tracks. ‘I don’t know – it’s a bit weird, isn’t it? Like whenever I’m in a bar or something and Busted comes on, it’s always a little bit embarrassing. However, I’ve been DJing for a few years and whenever I pop on ‘Year 3000’ the place goes fucking nuts! So maybe it just would have to be on my playlist.’ And from playlists to setlists, Redbrick ended the conversation with Willis by settling on Busted’s upcoming tour, which visits Birmingham on 29th March. ‘We feel like we’ve made the perfect Busted album- now we want to make this the perfect Busted tour.’ And if fans purchase tickets, they’re in for a treat: a longer Busted set than ever before. ‘When you start putting new songs on [a setlist], you’ve got to start taking old songs off. And then people start getting pissed off that you didn’t play the songs they wanted to hear. So, we’re like, fuck it – let’s just add some new songs in and keep the bangers people want to hear!’ Half Way There is truly shaping up to become the ultimate Busted album. The reason why? It’s clear that everything these guys do is for the fans. Willis cherishes his privileged position, as do Simpson and Bourne, and this time they’re giving something back to the people who have got them where they are now. ‘This is something that shouldn’t be happening. I’m thirty-five. I shouldn’t be in a band that I started when I was sixteen! I know that and I’m so grateful for that. We never thought we’d ever do Busted again, so we cherish it and we try to do the very best for the people that go out of their way to support us.’
Live Review: Tears For Fears Nina Avitabile Music Critic
Perhaps the greatest feature of mainstream pop in the 1980s was the proliferation of artists that created hugely commercially successful albums that retained deeper meaning and artistic integrity (although this is sometimes more obvious in retrospect). Searching the decade for some of the best examples of this leads us directly to a sold out evening at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena and one of the biggest bands from the era, Tears for Fears. A perfect example of the type of album previously mentioned is 1985’s Songs from the Big Chair. The album features some of the band’s biggest singles such as ‘Shout’ and the U.S number one ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World,’ the phenomenal and final track on the album. The album is undoubtedly the band’s commercial and artistic peak, a concise eight-track wonder featuring luscious production with lavish reverbs and extended saxophone
intros. The record explored much broader social and political themes
“Their set was a perfectly constructed blend of sound, ranging from the darkly meditative to the gloriously melodic” than that of their introspective debut The Hurting. The iconic sound of TFF was prominent in their performance on the 12th February as founding members Roland Orzabal (lead guitar) and Curt Smith (bass) took the stage in front of some fifteen thousand fans. Their set was a perfectly constructed blend of sound ranging from the darkly meditative ‘Memories Fade’ to the gloriously melodic ‘Head
Over Heels’. The latter was featured in the 2001 cult hit Donnie Darko and the song sounded so euphoric and relevant, considering its release in the mid eighties. It was evident that TFF had not lost any of their technical ability as a live act with Curt Smith easily handling the complex runs of their early materials. Their keyboard-heavy sound was also well replicated in the vast cavern of the arena which made for a great live performance. What was perhaps more surprising was that even on some of the more challenging songs, both Orzabal and Smith remained more than capable of lending their voices to the anthemic sounds of some of their finest moments as songwriters. They had an impressive ease and presence on the stage and the intermittent jovial and anecdotal chats to the crowd (of the curry they had eaten backstage and stories of Smith’s mother in law) made the huge arena seem smaller and more intimate. The audience was made up of a wide range of age groups; as well as some diehard fans who had been following the band from the eighties, there
Ralph_PH / Wikimedia Commons
was a clear presence of the younger millennial generation, showcasing TFF’s timeless popularity. Finally, perhaps the most poignant feature of the evening was the closer, the aforementioned single, ‘Shout.’ With the repeated chorus of ‘Shout, Shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without’ the atmosphere in the stadium was electric and at times contemplative. It was hard not to
be reminded of just how uniquely brilliant this act are and how important the 80s were in creating the best popular music of recent times. Although many fans were dispirited when the original Birmingham Tears For Fears gig last May was cancelled, it felt like no one could have left that gig disappointed. The iconic duo and backing band had created truly a tremendous show.
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FILM
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickfilm
Film Flashback: Iconic Films of 1999
Redbrick Film collectively reminisce and re-evaluate the movies turning 20 this year
Ellen Macleod Film Critic
10 Things I Hate About You Without a doubt, 10 Things I Hate About You has got better with age. What was a hilarious romance 20 years ago remains today one of the few films set in tweenhood that does not patronise its audience. The charm of this movie lies with Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles). Her character gave audiences a female teen protagonist, not vapid or conceited, but angry and independent – someone to relate to much more than, say, Cher Horowitz in 1995’s Clueless. Other cast members also give surprising acting performances, not least Joseph Gordon-Levitt whose turn as Cameron James stands out next to the performances of similaraged actors. Allison Janney, now an Oscar winner, is amusing in her minor role as Ms. Perky the counsellor/chick-lit writer. The story, much like the cast, is spotted with surprising moments. What to ten-year-old me was a hilarious romcom is now a highly intelligent and sometimes satirical movie, taking on gender roles, vanity, and teen cliques. The script must be mentioned for its rare achievement of successfully integrating Shakespeare into a modern context, something that so often falls flat. Yet this romcom’s incorporation of The Taming of the Shrew enhances the script, making the film funnier, wittier and more rounded. 10 Things I Hate About You cannot be discussed without a mention of Heath Ledger. His performance is effortless and his character, much like Stiles’, adds depth and genuine pathos to the movie. Their characters are wonderful and no two other actors could have portrayed them so well. Despite its age, 10 Things I Hate About You will stay in the hearts of everyone who watches it, not least because of Ledger’s classic scene in which the actor performs ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’, a song now more associated with Ledger than with Frankie Valli. If you remember this movie from your teen-hood, watch it again. The older you get, the more it has to offer.
Sam Denyer Film Critic
Kim Garande Film Critic
Grace Baxendine Film Critic
The Virgin Suicides
Toy Story 2
Notting Hill
Sofia Coppola, daughter of cinematic legend Francis Ford Coppola, came into her own with The Virgin Suicides, a meandering story ostensibly about death. It ends up being more interested in the birth of teenage desire and the inherent complications of femininity. It is fitting that this story of the new was released at the end of the millennium and also saw the arrival of a directorial talent as unique as Coppola. ‘You are not old enough to know how bad life gets,’ Danny DeVito’s psychologist tells the youngest of the Lisbon girls after an attempt to take her own life. ‘Clearly, doctor, you have never been a 13-year-old girl.’ Coppola peppers her script with such barbed lines, demonstrating the rebellion brewing amongst the five sisters who have lived for too long underneath their strict mother’s conservative eye.
Toy Story 2 is one of the best animated sequels I have seen, rivalled only by the specimen that is Shrek 2. The movie, directed by John Lasseter, is 95 minutes of absolute glory, and Andrew Stanton’s screenplay is well written, thoroughly engaging, comedic and heartfelt, too. The drama kicks off within the first fifteen minutes as Woody is kidnapped by Al the ‘Chicken Man.’ Although the film’s plot is fairly simplistic – a rescue mission – it is undeniably fun and retains its freshness. Andy’s mother says that ‘toys don’t last forever,’ a sentiment particularly poignant in our everadvancing technological climate. We inhabit a society in which children seem to be growing up quicker and toys are easily discarded for more favourable electronic devices. Toys don’t last forever, but neither do the imaginations of the humans that once played with them. Watching Toy Story 2 years later, I became nostalgic for my younger self: someone who would spend hours inventing worlds with inanimate objects, who did not know or care about Apple devices. It did not make me sad to feel this way, but appreciative that I was able to have a childhood not centred around phones and social media – which are not inherently bad things. However, this perhaps cannot be said for those born after 2005. Silent scenes, like Woody’s cleaning and repair scene, are aesthetically pleasing and give the film a nice break from the action-packed adventure. Likewise, the montage depicting Jessie’s past with her old owner, albeit short, is ever so captivating. It is unsurprising that Randy Newman’s ‘When She Loved Me’, which underscores this scene, was nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars. 20 years later, Toy Story 2 manages to preserve its charm, wit and emotion, and I am confident that the competitive, yet endearing, friendship between Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear will still be appreciated in years to come.
Timeless and charming, Notting Hill has remained just as popular as it was on release in 1999. Perhaps this is due, in part, to the romance: who doesn’t love (and need, at times) a good romcom to cuddle up to? When shy-yet-endearing William (Hugh Grant), a bookshop owner, falls for a world famous American actress (Julia Roberts), an inevitable love blossoms. The visuals of the film are perfect – the setting an ode to trendy Notting Hill, London – and the characters and script sublime. The quirky, comic scenes and one-liners are typical of writer Richard Curtis, a guru of the nineties romcom. William’s Welsh roommate Spike (Rhys Ifans) has a particularly memorable scene, in which he opens the front door in his underwear, to a crowd of journalists on the doorstep.
“Coppola paints a dreamy landscape which eventually turns into a melancholic nightmare” The titular suicides are not exactly a spoiler; Coppola provides any number of reasons as to what may have triggered them and flavours the entire film with fatalistic narration which removes any doubt. She uses these tragedies as a framework to explore the idealism of growing up, and how this is broken when one actually experiences it instead of merely fantasising about it. Such heady ideas mean that The Virgin Suicides is more concerned with mood than plot. You melt into this drowsy world just as the boys across the street become entranced by the five ingénues who have slipped into their lives. Coppola paints a dreamy landscape which eventually turns into a melancholic nightmare, paving the way for a career full of bittersweet stories about women struggling to find a place in the world.
“The two create a tenderness onscreen which is not as common as you would think for romantic comedies” Grant is utterly charming and his authenticity throughout the film makes him very loveable. Roberts, who always appears to me to be in the same film roles, that of the beautiful yet troubled heroine, portrays a woman in search of genuine love and acceptance. I am sure everyone remembers her telling Grant that she’s ‘just a girl standing in front of a guy asking him to love her.’ The two create a tenderness onscreen which is not as common as you would think for romantic comedies. We are very used to overexaggerated, soppy scenes filled with tears and huge musical numbers. Notting Hill, perhaps in the most British way possible, deals with this in a very subtle and beautifully poetic way. It will always be one of the greats for me.
Matt Taylor Film Critic Ellen Macleod Film Writer Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace Wow, did I misremember this one. The Phantom Menace is an iconic film from my childhood – the first new Star Wars movie of my lifetime. I remember it being the first I owned on DVD, as opposed to VHS. As such, it seems that nostalgia has clouded my judgment. For all it tries to do, The Phantom Menace is a steaming pile of garbage. Most of this can be put down to the film’s frankly abysmal script. There is an infamous story from the set of A New Hope that details Harrison Ford going through his script and telling George Lucas that real people don’t actually talk like this. Sadly, it seems that no one was on-hand to tell Lucas this for the filming of Phantom Menace: his dialogue is so stilted, so unnatural, that not even the best actors in the film can breathe any life into it. There is a great cast, too, including Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Samuel L. Jackson, to name but four. But not a single person gives a good performance, a fact that is as baffling as it is tragic. The meandering plot does nothing to help the film on its way; the 136-minute runtime could undoubtedly have had half an hour shaved from it, were the story a tad more streamlined and the dialogue less inhuman. There’s also the editing; as soon as we get comfortable in a scene, Lucas cuts away from it for some inexplicable reason - it is so, so frustrating to watch. Even the film’s two best scenes (or rather, the only good ones), the pod-race and the duel against Darth Maul, are undermined by cutaways to other, much less interesting scenes. That’s not even mentioning Jar Jar Binks, who serves the plot in no way, and is more of an annoyance than anything else. Ahmed Best is decidedly not at fault here – there’s absolutely nothing he could have done with material as poor as this, and the same goes for Jake Lloyd as Anakin. So, is The Phantom Menace iconic? Sure. Is it good? Not even close.
FILM
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickfilm
Tom Smith-Wrinch
Film Critic
The Blair Witch Project If there was ever a film to truly terrify you, a film to leave you awake on restless nights and even make you question your love for woodland camping, it would be The Blair Witch Project. Paving the path for countless found-footage horrors we have seen on our screens since (Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield and REC., for instance), this budget movie found its feet with the help of a trusty video camera and a mere $60,000 budget. It is impressive that, despite this, they managed to haul in a staggering $248.6 million and transform Hollywood’s beloved horror genre in the process. Blair Witch tells the story of three film students (Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams) in their quest to find the eponymous local murderer within Maryland’s unforgiving forests. Unfortunately for them, the fabled witch turns out to be notso-fictional as first assumed. This is all presented as actual ‘found footage,’ meaning that, as viewers, we are supposedly watching recovered video footage from these students who
Samuel Zucca
disappeared several years prior to initial viewing. As a result, we are forced to endure the 81 minutes with anxious dread, awaiting the eventual downfall of these young characters as they are drawn deeper into these woods, and finally uncover the dark and deadly truth that lies ahead of them.
Film Critic
The Iron Giant Before Brad Bird began his run of Pixar classics – directing The Incredibles and Ratatouille, and working as a creative director any many others – he helmed The Iron Giant, his first feature film. Bird had worked on animated sitcoms The Simpsons, King of the Hill and The Critic before getting his first directing gig, and the film is packed with sharp, witty dialogue typical of cartoons of the 1990s. At the same time, The Iron Giant looks back to an era of American culture that was slipping out of view, with themes of McCarthyism and nuclear war that would seem more at home in a 1950s sci-fi flick. It is perhaps not a film that was entirely relevant to 1999, but its success story is one of an era we are unlikely to see again. The film was a major dud upon release, but over time became a cult hit on home video. It is also a reminder of what used to be the future, with its combination of hand-drawn and CGI animation, which has slowly been eradicated from modern mainstream animation. You can maybe compare its themes to E.T., or the Ted Hughes novel
“We are forced to endure ... the eventual downfall of these young characters” This film is undeniably creepy, filled with tales of dead children, mutilated campers and twig-men, littered around the forest foliage. And yet, as the trio are encased further and further into this hostile environment, so too are we. As they break down, so too do we. And, as they finally comprehend a horrifying truth, so too do the audience. It is this proximity with horror that has ultimately forged it into one of the most iconic films of the last twenty years – and encouraged many a budding naturalist to lock their doors, barricade their windows and stay well away from any nearby forest hiking paths.
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which it was very loosely adapted from. However, The Iron Giant is something that exists entirely on its own, not talking down to its young audience but taking them seriously. It tackles complicated and, at times, dark themes that would continue through films like WALL-E and Zootropolis, all while retaining its U classification. It may not have been a success in 1999, but it has come on leaps and bounds right into the new millennium.
“It is perhaps not a film that was entirely relevant to 1999, but its success story is one of an era we are unlikely to see again”
Images from left: Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Disney, United International Pictures, Lucasfilm, Artisan Entertainment and Warner Bros. Entertainment
Interview: Richard Billingham
Local BAFTA-nominated photographer-director discusses his feature debut, Ray & Liz Alex Green Film Critic
Debuting directors are always intriguing, and new filmmakers with new visions entering our film airspace is interesting in and of itself. In the case of Richard Billingham, ‘interesting’ is just the beginning of his story. A man who grew up in Cradley Heath, Billingham picked up drawing in his youth and would later turn to photography. Over 20 years, his amazing work has seen him depict his home in Black Country, animals in Zoo and, most personally, his own family in his biggest work Ray’s A Laugh in 1996. His first short film, Fishtank came in 1998. After a nomination for the Turner Prize in 2000 for his photography, he now has produced his first feature film, Ray & Liz, and is nominated for the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a Writer, Director or Producer. A distin-
guished man indeed. Funded in part by the BFI, we see the titular Billingham’s parents try to deal with a poverty-stricken situation in the 80s and 90s, while raising their sons Richard and Jason. It is a dark, grounded look at a family struggling with rejection from society, and the difficulty of raising a family amongst so many demons. It is a strong debut, deserving of the nomination. So, Ray & Liz is your first feature film, an impressive debut I must say. You have made two short films before this, Fishtank and Ray. And once again, the story is biographical, about your own titular parents. How did that period of your life shape you? RB: Well, as an example, I have three kids. They are into computer games now. I remember not having those things, so you had to look around and explore for things to do. My
LuxBox Films
thing was drawing, my childhood was all about finding things. What challenges did you face personally going from the short films you have made to a feature length time of 1hr 48min? RB: The short gallery pieces were more sort of documentary pieces, in the sense of the way they were shot using a video camera, whereas Ray & Liz involved constructing a whole world with actors and sets and filming it. It was not as difficult though, as you have people around you. What advantages would you say your photography experiences give you as a director? RB: Photography forces you to really look. I studied painting, and it forces you to look closer, and that gave me an advantage. The other thing is, with my books, I had to put one photograph after another. Each image had to interconnect, similar to scenes in a sequence, which also gave me an advantage. Within your photographic work, your depiction of poverty is incredibly prevalent. How important was this to get across in the film? RB: I'm not sure. It was important to record the memories as close to how I remember. It wasn’t something I thought of; it was something more embedded within the memories. It wasn’t something at the top of the list as there was a risk of it forcing the feelings as opposed to them being inherent and embedded.
On a lighter note, one of the more touching elements of the film was your brother Jason’s connection to animals and his kinship with them, such as the panther and the giraffe. Do you feel this is the film’s emotional centre? RB: I’m not sure if it was about emotion. That was one of the things, but not a core aspect. When growing up, you had to find things to do; you did go out and look at snails. It was about connecting with the natural world a lot more. I remember looking at stripy caterpillars and butterflies and birds. I went out the other day to film birds and you cannot see any! They're not there anymore. What felt interesting to me was the frequent use of stills in Ray & Liz and locked down shots with little movement. Was this a directorial choice or something you carried over from photography? RB: It might be, but I saw The Terence Davies Trilogy, a film about his childhood and growing up in Liverpool. He focuses on objects and spaces and uses this to build intensity and emotion visually. I felt that stuck in my mind when making the film. How important was the BFI funding for this picture and how have they helped you to create the film? RB: Oh, it was very important. It would have been impossible to make the film without it. Once they agreed a big chunk of funding, everything was possible and easier.
What do you hope viewers will get out of the film when they see it? RB: Well, I hope people are moved and I hope the film makes them think a little bit. How did you react to the BAFTA announcement? RB: I couldn’t believe it. Somebody told me I’d be nominated while I was shooting, and I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t expecting it; I didn’t even think about it to be honest. Do you have any plans to make any more feature films, biographical or not? RB: Yes, I do want to make another one! I really want to build on this experience and continue with it. Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring artists, whether photographers or filmmakers? RB: I don’t think people are born with talent, it is developed. You have to do it every day; you have to, whether it’s to take pictures or write. If you do it long enough, you can accomplish a lot. It can’t be a hobby. He certainly has worked at it, and he certainly has accomplished a lot. Ray & Liz feels like a great debut for Billingham, an incredibly grounded and upfront picture of his youth in the West Midlands; and, with more feature films in his future, we could be seeing more greatness on the horizon.
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TELEVISION
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricktv
Best Book-to-TV Adaptations
TV Critic Nicola Maclean counts down her favourite shows that have been translated from the pages of books to our TV screens Nicola Maclean Television Critic
5. The Handmaid’s Tale Hulu In times of political uncertainty, dystopian literature allows us to explore our fears of what the world may become from the safety of an armchair. Nowadays, it can be difficult to find something new and exciting from this genre, as what could be worse than what is happening in front of our very eyes? While Margaret Atwood’s 1985 feminist novel is certainly not new, the 2017 adaptation is very much exciting and a seamless translation of the source material. The camerawork in particular is stunning, with intensive close-ups on Offred (Elisabeth Moss) capturing the subtlest flickers and changes of emotion. The lighting and colour palettes perfectly reflect the tone of each scene, with the handmaids’ blood-red robes a literal stain on the grey city walls. The first series was widely regarded as the most important television show of 2017, and while the later series are beginning to wander, nothing can compare with the cultural shockwave that those first episodes produced. It is an adaptation that refuses to be ignored.
“Nothing can compare with the cultural shockwave that those first episodes produced” 4. The Haunting of Hill House Netflix The Haunting of Hill House is not widely recognised as a true adaptation because the plot differs so hugely from the novel it is based on. The original storyline of The Haunting of Hill House, written by Shirley Jackson in 1959, centres around four unrelated protagonists that explore a haunted mansion due to their interests in the paranormal. Stephen King himself called it ‘as nearly perfect a haunted-house tale as I have ever read,’ so any adaptation would be at serious risk of falling short of the source material. It was a wise decision, then, that the makers of The Haunting of Hill House decided to reimagine the plot entirely, instead focusing on the Crain family whose summer spent in Hill House as children has led to serious psychological ramifications in their adult lives. Although the show went viral when it was discovered you could play ‘Where’s Wally?’ with th ghostly figures that haunt the background of almost every scene, viewers stayed because of its gripping narrative and layered charac-
ters. This is adaptation at its best: reimagining for a modern audience while preserving the integrity of the source material.
“Viewers stayed because of its gripping narrative and layered characters”
What makes this adaptation so brilliant is how the medium of screen has been used to the fullest. In the first scene alone, we are given intimate details of Villanelle’s psychology with a few looks, an attempt at a smile, and some well-timed music, with not a word spoken. Killing Eve beautifully demonstrates that adaptation is not just translating a text from one medium to another: it takes just as much skill, perhaps more, than writing something original. Hulu
3. A Series of Unfortunate Events Netflix This adaptation, when first announced, came with a great deal of suspicion. Memories of the 2004 film resurfaced in the public consciousness, something that we’d purposefully pushed to the dark recesses of our minds. But with the reassurance of author Daniel Handler’s involvement in both writing and production, we crossed our fingers and hoped for a miracle. And we got one. Every novel in the series is given the space it needs to shine: two hour-length episodes each. This allows greater fidelity to the source material whilst interacting in new ways with the fictional world of the Baudelaire orphans. Every costume, prop and set piece has been meticulously considered, and the world seems almost Burton-esque in design. The villains counterbalance comedy and darkness with ease, especially with the introduction of Esmé Squalor in series two. With the story’s complexity, a perfect adaptation seems nearly impossible to achieve. But this show’s unapologetic absurdity makes for a vibrant and engaging adaptation, a credit to the book series that captivated me as a child.
“A credit to the book series that captivated me as a child” 2. Killing Eve BBC America Many people I’ve spoken to about Killing Eve know that it was written by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, but are unaware that it began life as an adaptation of Luke Jennings’ novella series, Codename Villanelle. Translating this from prose to screen was always going to be challenging because there just wasn’t that much to work with: each novella averages about fifty pages. WallerBridge sidesteps this issue by playing fast and loose with the source material, ditching much of the first novella in order to immediately introduce the cat and mouse dynamic between Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle (Jodie Comer).
“Waller-Bridge plays fast and loose with the source material” 1. Pride and Prejudice BBC One I hate romance. Despise it. But this? I watch this religiously once a year. This has managed to melt the ice that encases my cold, cold heart and break through to the one small piece capable of love. Dividing Austen’s novel into six hour-length episodes may seem daunting, but in fact it mimics how contemporary readers would have first consumed the story: in instalments, within a magazine, after which you would run to your neighbour to discuss that scene, or that character. But it is not just a love story, and a shorter adaptation would have risked losing town hall dances and sitting room conversations that intricately explore women’s roles in Regency England, and the political and economic motivations behind every marriage. Some may say that I only include this because of Colin Firth, and they aren’t completely wrong. The image of Mr Darcy emerging dramatically from a lake is the lasting image of BBC costume period drama, which makes this an adaptation to be extremely thankful for.
“It mimics how contemporary readers would have first consumed the story”
Netflix
Netflix
BBC
Honourable Mentions: American Gods, Starz Roots, ABC The Long Song, BBC The Miniaturist, BBC Game of Thrones, HBO BBC
TELEVISION
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricktv
The Umbrella Academy: The Heroes That Netflix Needed
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Top TV Picks for March
TV Critic Amrita Mande shares her thoughts on the newest superhero series to hit Netflix Amrita Mande Television Critic
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I clicked ‘play’ on Netflix’s new original, The Umbrella Academy. A lot of Netflix’s shows tend to suffer from the same problems; they're overly-dramatic, bloated and filled to the brim with twists that were obviously unplanned in desperate attempts to try and hold the viewer’s attention (I'm looking at you, Riverdale). It can be especially hard to make superhero shows and find that balance between creating a visual spectacle while keeping it grounded enough to have the audience care about the stakes. But it seems like Netflix has finally cracked the formula. The Umbrella Academy follows seven people who were raised by an eccentric and insane billionaire. As children, all but one discovered incredible superpowers and formed a group of crime fighting superheroes. As they grew older, they also grew apart, but are reunited at their adoptive fathers’ funeral. Now, this dysfunctional family has to come together as a team to stop the apocalypse. Pretty general superhero stuff so far then, but this is where the clichés end. It’s not a wholesome story about people coming together, saving the world and then going out for shawarma (now I’m look-
Netflix
ing at you, Marvel). It’s a story about seven dysfunctional people who never really grew up. The characters grapple with their messed-up childhoods, obviously struggling under the weight of who they are versus who they could have been. Their emotional scars follow them throughout the show, at times causing them to falter when trying to work as a team. They barely even come together in any meaningful way. The show is not about a team of superheroes saving the world; it’s about a broken and damaged family trying to repair decades of anger, hurt and damage. The show perfectly juggles the seven main leads, making each of them compelling and fully realised characters with their own motivations and histories. The actors fully embody their charac-
ters and deliver an incredibly realistic portrayal. They aren’t playing larger-than-life superheroes who are fully embracing a fate greater than themselves. They’re playing parents, addicts, people who were essentially stunted as children and don’t know who they are. They’re playing real, genuine people responding to an absolutely insane situation, which makes the story all the more compelling. It’s so refreshing for a show to be so grounded in reality, while still having time for travelling assassins, a 58-year-old teenager and a talking chimpanzee. The show is also particularly remarkable in how well it executes its storytelling. Surprisingly, the story is where many shows fail as networks prioritise the number of views they can pull over telling a cohesive and well-planned story.
The Umbrella Academy certainly has a complicated plot, a given with any story involving timetravel. But all aspects of the story are perfectly interwoven, creating natural set ups for plot twists that create exhilarating revelations. You’re constantly holding your breath, waiting for another piece of the puzzle to fall, or for the characters to learn a new dynamic-changing twist. It’s impressive how well the show is able to find the balance between drama and comedy, and it’s fascinating how they achieve this. The director liberally uses magical realism to contrast the gritty reality of the main characters. The cinematography and soundtrack is also perfectly in sync with this, creating a show that can be whimsical and lighthearted, even in the most intense moments. While binging the show, I’ve definitely laughed a few times at some very, very inappropriate moments. This show is easily one of my favorites. There’s something so captivating in the juxtaposition between mundane reality and limitless fantasy. This is a show with an interesting concept, but more importantly, stellar execution. Give the first couple episodes a try and if you don’t fall in love with Klaus, I’ll eat this article.
American Gods Amazon Prime 11th March
Queer Eye Netflix 15th March
Addicted to Netflix?
Morgana Chess explains how the popular streaming site is keeping us binge-ing through clever algorithms Morgana Chess Television Editor
‘Next episode in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...’ Oopsie, looks like I’ll just have to watch this one as well. Streaminggiant Netflix has perfected the art of producing binge-able content and hooking us into spending hours and hours with our favourite TV shows. 80 percent of the shows that people watch on the platform are found through Netflix’s recommendation system. That means that you’re not making the decision about the content you watch, – Netflix is. Or, more specifically, Netflix’s clever algorithms are. Every action you take is recorded. The shows you watch, the time of day you watch them, what you watched before and after, how quickly you binge a series, the moment you get bored and stop watching, how long you scroll for, and every single click of the pause and play button. This behavioural data is a goldmine for Netflix. Through a detailed tagging system and by grouping us
into ‘taste communities,’ Netflix is able to recommend us content that they know will be exactly our cup of tea. Is Breaking Bad or GLOW more likely to tickle your tastebuds? After we spend time on the platform, Netflix has this information at its fingertips. If, like me, you share a Netflix account with family members, you’ll understand how quickly the algorithm responds to behaviour; my recommendations heartbreakingly change to the likes of Blue Mountain State and 2 Fast 2 Furious after my younger brother has been streaming.
“You're not making the decisions about the content you watch - Netflix is” Netflix knows that a picture speaks a thousand words and they have used this knowledge to cre-
ate a very successful image-based marketing strategy. All of the pictures we see are personalised. Say you are watching Good Will Hunting, and you’re a fan of romantic films, you’re likely to see an image of Matt Damon and Minnie Driver together. If you watch a lot of comedies, an image of Robin Williams would probably be used to hook you in. But it’s not just a case of ‘Netflix recommends’: Netflix creates. Netflix Originals have a success rate of 80 percent compared to other shows with an average of only 30-40 percent. Why? Because algorithms provide a step-to-step recipe for success. For example, Netflix could see a lot of people streaming films directed by David Fincher (such as The Social Network) and films starring Kevin Spacey, and spot an overlap with those watching the original British version of House of Cards. Suddenly, bidding $100 million for a full two seasons of a new House of Cards straightaway doesn’t seem so much of a risky gamble, but rather
a sure-footed success. Netflix can afford to drop whole seasons at once because it knows they will do well, thus creating our modern binge-culture. Big data removes uncertainty, but does it also remove creativity? Cary Fukunaga, the creator of Netflix’s new series Maniac, describes how certain creative decisions from the writing-room were squashed in response to evidence from the big data; ‘The algorithm’s argument is gonna win at the end of the day’. Will this make everything same-y? Will we get caught in a cycle of churning out the same old ideas whilst neglecting creative human minds? How very Black Mirror. On the flip-side, Netflix’s algorithms also reduce genre-bias since we are not clouded by our own preconceptions and the platform does all the decision-making. So perhaps there are some positives to this mind-reading business. Because at the end of the day, Netflix knows our minds better than we do.
Turn Up Charlie Netflix 15th March
The OA Netflix 22nd March
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GAMING
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickgaming
Nintendo
Redbrick's Top 5
Tom Martin Gaming Critic @tomallanmartin
New Region: It finally happened, we are finally getting a Pokémon region based on the UK... or so we think. The evidence is strong however that ol’ Blighty at the very least provided a framework for the Galar region. For example, the – presumably – central town in the first trailer seems to show a heavily industrial town – presumably London – featuring a large clocktower – presumably Big Ben – and, according to the world map, a large wheel – presumably the London Eye. London isn’t all Britain has to offer however, alongside the cities, the trailer also showed off ‘idyllic countryside’ featuring hill figures – designs principally found in the UK – reminiscent of the Uffington White Horse or the Cerne Abbas Giant. Trainers shown also seem to be sporting blazers and short ties which should be enough to send any British player back to fourteen years old. There are a few notable differences between Galar and Britain.. For example, we see a train actually moving in the trailer. There is also a noticeable lack of Greggs and bald-headed bikers campaigning outside them about the introduction of a vegan sausage roll. Obviously however, we have only
“The Galar region has a beautifully fresh look to it” New Starters: If the Galar region represents three main ideas: athletics, music and anxiety. Scorbunny appears to represent the first, introduced in the trailer hurtling through the seemingly London-inspired city. Sporting a small plaster above its nose, reminiscent of nasal strips most commonly worn by athletes, as well as being described by director Shigeru Ohmori as ‘always running about, bursting with energy,’ the evidence is great that we will be getting a fiery, fast and attack minded starter in the red-hot rabbit. The grass type starter, Grookey, was the last to be revealed in the animated trailer. It is a small chimp-like cutie defined as ‘as a mischievous Pokémon full of boundless curiosity.’ The little monkey was introduced banging the stick in its hair against a rock, and theories are rife as to whether this alludes to sport e.g. cricket, or if it alludes to music. If the latter is true, it is my pun-based hypothesis that in this evolution line we’re in store for a more all-round grass and rock type Pokémon. Last but by no means least we have Sobble, a lizard-like creature with the ability to turn invisible. The starter’s worried expression, as well as Ohmori’s description: ‘a bit timid, shooting out attacks as it hides itself in the water’, has made Sobble an instant fan favourite, triggering maternal/paternal instincts in fans across the world.
Features: No series has a backlog of impressive features, unique challenges and diverse gameplay as Pokémon does. With this, however, comes the inevitable disapSam Nason pointment of old things missing to Gaming Editor make way for the new. A recent @samjnason case in point would be the oversimplification of Pokémon Let’s Graphics: Go, with many criticising the lack The world of Pokémon has of additional Pokémon, absence never looked so vibrant as the one of wild Pokémon battles and a Sword and Shield present. More disappointing post-game. Which reminiscent of the 3DS’ Sun and features, then, are fans nervously Moon as opposed to the more anticipating making an appearrecent Let’s Go, the trailer depicts ance? country sides, castles and cities, Perhaps most popular would bursting with character and charm. be the Battle Frontier. Last seen Refined and sharp, the game looks all the way back in 2009 in to incorporate the more propor- Pokémon HeartGold and tional look of Generation VII with SoulSilver, the Frontier boasts the more advanced hardware several different facilities that capabilities of the Nintendo challenge trainers to compete and Switch, making for an experience battle in a multitude of unique enjoyable on the TV or in the ways. Adding endless replayabilpalm of your hands. ity to the games it features in, the While obviously not as reimplementation of this feature demanding as Breath of the Wild, would be a delight for many fans the graphics are extremely suita- to test their skills in, new or old ble and partner beautifully with alike. A shot at the end of the the sprawling world of trailer revealed a stadiumPokémon. Of particular like building trainers can note was the Pokémon enter, leading some to battle footage speculate it may be a shown. Pikachu facility akin to the was seen outlined Battle Frontier and shaded more before it. dynamically, as Another feature opposed to the sorely missed was games in the more natural and that of your Pokemon ‘realistic’ look of Pokémon walking franchise the Pokémon in alongside you. Let’s Go. This has Showcased most led many fans to draw recently in Let’s Go, the a comparison between feature was a nice personal the game’s look and that of the touch that resonated with many anime, making for a truly unique fans on their journeys. It may very but fulfilling art style. well be making its return but is to If the (albeit small) bit of be a surprise later on. gameplay we’ve seen is any incliIt’s an inevitability Sword and nation, the game is bustling with Shield will introduce a number of delightful environments and draws exciting new features while pusha nice divide between the look of ing a few older ones aside – but the Let’s Go series and the main with the wealth of extras to draw one. We may have only just been on from past games, these newest introduced to the games, but more Switch entries have the potential gameplay cannot come soon to be the greatest Pokémon games enough. yet. Overall however, there is very little we can confirm about the new trio, only that they’re good, and that I love them.
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Nintendo
seen one trailer, these things may be explained in the future. Regardless of its inspirations, the Galar region has a beautifully fresh look to it that I can’t wait to explore and learn more about in the coming year!
4 Torchic
Nintendo
The two newest games in the Pokémon franchise, Pokémon Sword and Shield, were announced Wednesday 27th February in a Direct video. A brief three-minute trailer was presented, showcasing the all-new Galar region and some of the Pokémon that inhabit it. With that in mind, Redbrick writers Tom and Sam have furiously taken to their laptops in excitement to give their thoughts on Pokemon’s latest entries, and to speculate on what we may see from the games in the future.
Treecko
3 Mudkip
Nintendo
Avid fans Sam Nason and Tom Martin walk us through what we know about Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield
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2 Charmander
1
Nintendo
News: New Pokemon Generation Announced
Nintendo
Starter Pokemon
Piplup
GAMING
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickgaming
Review: Burly Men At Sea Gaming Editor Imogen Mellor takes a look at the austhetically striking indie title Burly Men At Sea - can it live up to its looks? Imogen Mellor Gaming Editor @ImoMellor
Burly Men At Sea is described, quite rightly, as a ‘quiet adventure.’ You play as three brothers, who come across a map without anything on it, and set off to try and fill it in. The brothers and other characters never seem to have much more description than their role. The siblings are simply named Brave, Steady and Hasty with the only difference between them being their beard colour, which makes for an aesthetically pleasing premise. The entire game is aesthetically pleasing really. The colours, the shapes the feel. Even the sound design is engaging to listen to, mostly made up of what sounds like a man making little sounds with his voice to reflect water or
eerie, mysterious noises. It’s honestly such fun to observe and imagine the way that the soundscape is created Still though, something wasn’t right. I couldn’t put a finger on it. Then it hit me. I keep waiting to be charmed by this game. It’s beautiful, the characters are sort of quirky, as is the music. Even the title, Burly Men At Sea, is adorable. Shouldn’t I be giddy looking at it and feel excitement just to jump into this world? But I didn’t. I never connected with it, whatever ‘it’ may be. It makes me sad, as I can’t say it did anything particularly wrong. My one gameplay issue was controlling the camera was the only way to control the characters. You’re presented with a limited amount of space to look at and using bumper buttons you can look left or right, and the three brothers would fol-
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low. Stopping the camera in the right place for them to interact with what you want was a bit tricky and annoying at times, but not particularly bad in any way. I guess my issue was that the game didn’t’ concern me. It’s based on the build your own adventure premise, but I didn’t even feel as if the choices were significant enough for me to care. This type of game could never kill off the main characters, because the main characters don’t even have names. Why should you care? The most I cared in the game was when I left a small chatty mountain behind because the three brothers were getting annoyed at its attempt to bring you flowers. It made me even dislike the siblings. I was just filled with a nonchalant attitude to the gameplay and it’s presentation of the characters I was playing. I just did not care.
The one other person I know who has played the game also said he couldn’t be bothered to play it through again after finishing a second storyline. It troubled me that it wasn’t only myself that felt this way, as I was hoping my lack of connection with the title was just down to me rather than something the game did wrong. Despite me not feeling invested in Burly Men At Sea, please don’t take it to be a completely negative view of the game. Like I said before, it’s perfectly pretty in graphics and sound. It’s cutesy and harmless and I’m sure, if you wanted a relaxing gaming experience, there aren’t many titles that could beat this one. Unfortunately, as much as I tried to love this game as it was, I can only love it’s concept and the dream it was borne ou of, rather than the produc itself.
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Gaming at a Glance Stardew Valley to release on Android The popular farming simulation role-playing game is launching on Android devices March 14th, according to developer Eric ‘ConcernedApe’ Barone. In a tweet sent out on the game’s third anniversary, Barone revealed the date of the anticipated port. Much like the iOS port before it, one can imagine a multitude of control schemes will be available for the game in order to make it more accessible to a mobile device. The Android port marks the 9th release from Stardew Valley, showcasing its versatility and massive success.
New Hero, Same Problem? Alex Green investigates the implications of Overwatch’s latest changes, and whether the meta will shift positively Alex Green Gaming Critic @AlexGreen9898
Last week Blizzard introduced the 30th and newest hero to their ranks, the support-DPS hybrid Baptiste. With the excess damage characters, more support characters are needed. The hero, a Haitian orphan who joined the villainous Talon organisation and turned his back on them, is available on the PC’s testing servers, the PTR and is bringing all sorts of new, fast support play to the game. Armed with a burst rifle and a healing grenade launcher, Baptiste comes with some gamechanging cooldowns in the form of a regenerative healing field around him, huge jumping via his passive ability. He also has an unbelievable powerful immortality field that does what it says on the tin unless it is destroyed (it’s so good it prevents characters dying from ultimates such as D.Va’s bomb and Junkrat’s RIPtire) and a huge support ultimate in Amplification Matrix, creating a field doubling all projectile damage and healing teammates send through it. Examples of this include Ashe’s dynamite, Reinhardt’s firestrike and most importantly, all of Bastion’s damage. With the new hero, Blizzard have announced numerous changes buffs and nerfs to various characters. Lucio, Zenyatta and Zarya are big examples of characters getting the short end of the stick in this regard whilst Symmetra, Orisa, McCree and Soldier receive upgrades to make them more viable. So many balance changes have been announced by Blizzard over the last couple of weeks, all
with a common theme of tryingofto words Baptiste combo, this may be Number stop the composition that has been tricky for many attackers. in this page's However, dominating the high level of play: Blizzard has a probheadline lem it needs to address going forThe infamous GOATs comp. Those watching season 2 of ward to make sure Overwatch the Overwatch League will be doesn’t fall behind competitors. very familiar with the triple tank It may be strange to say so given and triple support meta that has the new map and character, but taken over play at the top ranks. the last three events Blizzard have Blizzard seems especially keen to run have been repeats of previous quash this issue; hence their key events. The game’s lauded story nerfs coming to heroes frequently m i s s i o n s and used in the GOATs comp. Lucio, archive events a character that gives the comp haven’t bee speed and healing, has received seen since the nerfs to his speed boosts, reducing R e t r i b u t i o n the bass effect from 30% speed event last April, increase to 20% to make the comp with development less mobile. Zenyatta’s orb of dis- seeming to be shiftcord ability, making an enemy ing towards new take more damage, has been simi- characters. Whilst larly reduced in effectiveness as Geoff Goodman, a lead has Zarya’s alternate fire. Where designer at Overwatch, has you see the attempts to hit the said Blizzard are ‘pursuing composition are not only here, but more’ in this direction, this in buffs. Junkrat, claimed by lack of unique content has not Blizzard as one of the ‘best barrier satisfied players. This is an and tank busters in the game’, has issue Blizzard needs to an increase to the impact damage address and with new characof his grenades from 40 to 60. ters in the game, there’s no Doomfist has reduced cooldown better time to go about it. times for his abilities, coupled Stories that could see Ashe with buffs to Soldier and McCree’s and McCree explore their ultimate abilities. Whether this story, maybe a new mission will be enough to overcome the focused around Baptiste’s strength of the GOATs comp is time at Talon, or anything unclear. But Blizzard have thrown really would be great at revithe hail mary at it. talising the fan interest in the Blizzard has introduced story. To put it simply, the Baptiste as well as a new map, lack of investment into story Paris. Paris operates as an assault by Blizzard has been disapmap with two control points, very pointing. New characters similar to the Hanamura map in all the time will lead to layout. Where Paris tries to dif- diminishing returns. ferentiate itself, aside from its Give the players fantastic character, it tries (a bit what they want too forcefully) to make point ‘A’ and maybe they’ll trickier than most other maps for be able to look the offense, providing a funnel past the balance that is easier to set up at. With the issues. aforementioned Bastion and
PS Vita ceases production in Japan The ill-fated Sony handheld has officially closed production, marking the death of the PlayStation Vita. Originally released in 2011, the Vita was released as a competitor for Nintendo’s DS and 3DS systems. Despite its impressive graphical capabilities and big-budget exclusives like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Killzone: Mercenary, the console ultimately failed to compare, many noting expensive price points and poor memory capabilities as reasons for its downfall. In recent times the console experienced a slight resurgence given its support for Indie titles, but it proved to be too little, too late. Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remaster rated by PEGI A remaster of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s campaign has been rated by PEGI, all but confirming the title’s existence. A key difference between this remaster and that of its prequel, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, is that MW2’s appears to be the campaign mode only, as opposed to the online. Some have speculated the reason for this could be the adverse effects releasing two multiplayer CoD titles last time had on each other, with player bases of both Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered both impacted. Whatever the reason, evidence to suggest the fan-favourite Call of Duty is returning to our screens soon is piling up at an exponential rate. Image: Sony
Blizzard Entertainment
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FOOD&DRINK
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickfood
A Fine Serving of Feminism in the Food Sector Food&Drink Editor Lydia Waller celebrates ‘Girls Who Grind’, two women roasting a male-dominated coffee industry Lydia Waller Food&Drink Editor
In the weeks coming up to International Women’s Day, my mind has been buzzing about all the women I can see in my social media pools, national news consumption and general surroundings. We are most definitely caught in a cultural moment of female-awakening and a recognition of the power and capability of the female force, amongst the #MeToo rhetoric. As an avid foodie, news about independent food and drink start ups is so exciting for me, and when they are driven by an all-female force, catering to empower women across the globe with their production companies and businesses, my sisterhood soul is well and fully nourished – just like when I discovered Girls Who Grind Coffee.
“Only working with female cooperatives, to empower the women at the forefront of their company” Girls Who Grind is a wittily named, punchy brand of coffee roasters, founded by two women, Fi O’Brien and Casey Lalonde – setting up a coffee brand that empowers females in the maledominated world of coffee; despite the farm work and unskilled labour in the production of coffee being disproportionately carried out by women. ‘Grind’ carries punny yet powerful connotations of what the role of women in the coffee industry and society holds – having its associations with working on the grind, as these labouring, roasting and barista girls do. Also its sexual connotations of women being ‘grinded’ on act as a commentary of correction for the use of the verb grind when it comes to women, and lastly and most obviously, the women who are literally grinding coffee, for this awesome, woke and wonderful company. O’Brien and Lalonde founded their own small roastery in the little corner of the south-western English world that is Scudamore. From this small patch of countryside, these two innovative women have founded their own roastery that only buys their beans from female farmers and producers; only working with female cooperatives, to empower the women at the forefront of their company with their branding, and the women in the background,
working on the farms and producing the coffee beans. This threading of the omnipresence of the female in their company is so powerful and prevalent, particularly in the way they speak about their company. O’Brien, in an interview with WeHeart, states their roasting machine is named ‘Aunt Edie’ (even the mechanics in their company are symbolic of female power), which they use to make floral or chocolatey and richer roasts, by either roasting lightly or longe; describing their different blends and moistures with so much detail and passion, you really get a feel for their dedication to their craft. They make exceptional coffee, influenced by exceptional women – branding each of their 5 blends after women who inspire them. For example, one roast is entitled ‘DR Congo Coffee’ which supports Rebuild Women’s Hope Program, an organisation that transforms lives of Congolese women through entrepreneurship and economic training in the Ethan coffee industry. Even from their launch as a brand at a House of Vans Breast Cancer Aw a r e n e s s evening, they have been supporting and donating to non-profit organisations that empower women across the globe, through the world of caffeine. GWGC support female coffee producers from Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Colombia and
T h i s female-directed commercial conversation, through working with female- managed roasteries and coffee producers, is an endorsement of working with autonomous women and agents over their own work and story. O’Brien and Lalonde are illustrating the power in ‘reversism’ of injustice: when women aren’t allowed to have Cedar Film & Photo Co a say in an industry where their labour is The Dominican Republic of the priceless, they Congo, demonstrating intersec- can and will reclaim the resources tional feminism in the most effec- and liberate and celebrate their tive and creative way – two white silenced sisters with it. western women, using their posiThe goal of representation, tion of management and imagina- working and willing women tion to reach out to the less repre- across the world who are producsented grafters of coffee across ing the world’s morning coffee the globe, who have less say and fix, is epitomised in their punky, less pay. bold and dynamic branding. The company’s branding is mainly crafted by O’Brien’s husband Ben, which in itself also demonstrates effective feminism with male allies helping empower the representation of women, using their skills and efforts. O’Brien and her partner have described the brand as ‘tattoo type,’ (perhaps mimicking O’Brien’s own very cool ink) – it’s gutsy, grabbing, and gorgeous. O’Brien opted for a black basis to their brand, as she feels ‘too many female brands use pink,’ choosing not to endorse the reclaiming of effeminate assigned colours to her girl power aesthetic. Girls Who Grind have designed a ‘girl’ for
“50-70% of manual lesser skilled tasks are performed by women in coffee production”
each coffee, imitating the woman who inspired or literally brings, the blend. The pop-art-esque cartoon figures of the stylish and edgy packaging are said to mimic the women who have ‘long-inspired’ Girls Who Grind – such as Vivienne Westwood and Michelle Obama.
“Using the medium of food and drink, so relevant to everyone’s lives on the daily, practices integrating empowerment of women, every day” It is brands and company founders like these, that are materialising daily gender-equity. From their recognition and research of their under or misrepresented sisters across the globe such as the 3 Boza Sisters, from ‘Finca San Antonio Amatepec,’ who grew up on a family coffee farm and were not provided teaching in the trade because of their gender but now run the whole show, that are initiating an emancipation of unrecognised, grafting, crucial women, in industries and spheres that are relevant and accessible to them. The power of food and independent food businesses are perfect for enabling a change in the narrative around what roles women have in global and daily production and resources. One cup of coffee can represent the female scientists who calculate and create the perfect roast, shade and note for the coffee; the women who grind, who serve the coffee with a smile everyday on your way to work – all of those valuable women who go uncelebrated because of the hipster cliche of coffee roasting and management as a typically male sphere. Using the medium of food and drink, so relevant to everyone’s lives on the daily, practises integrating empowerment of women, every day. From Girls Who Grind Coffee, to Ellen Bennett, the creator and founder of the Hedley and Bennett apron that all the disproportionately male professional chefs wear, women are creating and supporting businesses in the food industry, that celebrate and empower women working at the front and in the background of the food sector, constantly. Women in the kitchen has been a historically problematic and misogynistic trope, but women such as Girls Who Grind are reclaiming that narrative to inject some bad-ass empowerment of women and their key role in the world of food.
FOOD&DRINK
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbrickfood
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REVIEW: Digbeth Dining Club Food&Drink Writer Meriel Ledwith reviews Digbeth Dining Club’s ‘No Bones’, your Thursday fix of Birmingham’s finest independent plant-based dishes Meriel Ledwith
vegan companies, don’t miss out on what all vendors have to offer. Dim Sum Su attracted my attention immediately when doing the rounds in the yard.
Food&Drink Writer
With three bars, resident DJs and Birmingham’s best street food, It’s no secret that Digbeth Dining Club garners foodie attention Birmingham wide. Thursday through Sunday, its award winning venue in the industrial heart of the city is famous for the dining experience, date potential and insta-worthiness it has to offer year around. From 2019 this venue has opened up an exciting weekly evening for the Brum vegan community: DDC’s backyard is now
Meriel Ledwith
Meriel Ledwith
host to cruelty-free regular fixture ‘No Bones’, every Thursday. Digbeth’s mid-week vegan dining experience has been on the radar for my vegan household since its opening in the new year, so armed with my life-long vegetarianism and celebrating my anniversary being vegan, I swung by to see if it lived up to the hype. I feel inclined to make clear that it is only the backyard which hosts ‘No Bones’, offering four different vendors with something for all vegan tastes. In the front the permanent residents which also offer vegetarian and vegan options are still in business so, depending on your stance on supporting non-
“Hash browns with spiced seitan, pickled cabbage, sweet shredded cabbage, gherkin slice, garlic mayo and charred lemon” We opted to share a crispy aubergine vegan bao with siracha mayo and crispy broccoli Bombs. I personally would encourage sharing food to cover more ground. A steamed bao bun is an old friend for vegans scoring the menu for options but this one was strong. The soft bun complimented the umami fritter and fresh coriander. The deep-fried broccoli bombs are a must if your visit coincides with a Dim Sum Su appearance. Gamechanging broc usage, I am reformed in my broccoli apathy. NB: opt to add old faithful siracha mayonnaise when offered. Zingy, fresh and the chew experience that recently converted vegetarians
browns with spiced seitan, pickled cabbage, sweet shredded cabbage, gherkin slice, garlic mayo and charred lemon. This was, as it sounds, an experience. The seitan döner had unrivalled meat texture imitation however it must be noted that this truck sold out at 8pm so mid-evening arrival is advised. I would recommend ‘No Bones’ to vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike for a cruelty-free mid-week treat. there were very strong meat-free options here, and more stalls to be put into rotation in the coming weeks. With good vibes, great food and £2.95 drinks I am already planning my return.
Döner Summers
may miss from meat eating. Tash n Dash, a plant-based food vendor, deserves a shout out for two reasons. The first being it’s a wholly vegan enterprise so if your ethical eating extends to striving to support exclusively vegan food servers, buying their BBQ jackfruit and vegan coleslaw Burger is a great way to do that. Secondly, the truck is unparalleled for student friendly prices, starting from £2 (subject to availability) for a delicious vegan patty. The Döner Summers truck had attracted quite a queue on my arrival, so I knew she was one to watch and she definitely delivered. We got ‘Disco hunks’ – hash
Döner Summers
Food of The Fortnight: Pancakes
Food&Drink’s Emily Breeds and Josie Hart provide some flipping good recipes to make sure your Pancake Day does not fall flat Emily Breeds Food&Drink Writer
Pancake Day is one of my favourite times of the year. Although pancakes are really popular nowadays, I have fond memories of looking forward to pancake day as they were such a rare treat. I remember waiting all day to have pancakes for pudding, or in more recent years waking up knowing I’m having them for breakfast. There is no better sound than
Creative Commons
sizzling pancakes, followed by your mum calling for you to bring your plate. And there is something very special about creating memories around food, with the whole family in the kitchen sharing fillings and making a treat they can all enjoy together. Vegan Banana Pancake Recipe This recipe only uses three key ingredients, and is a perfect way to use up any leftover milk and bananas.
Ingredients: 1 ripe banana 150g plain flour 150ml plant milk of choice (e.g. almond, soya, rice) 1 tbsp oil for frying (may need more as you keep cooking) To serve (optional) Maple syrup Fresh fruit Method: 1. Mash the banana well until it resembles a pulp. 2. In a measuring jug, whisk the banana, milk and flour together until you have a smooth batter. 3. Heat the oil in the pan over a medium heat. Test the heat by spooning a tiny bit of batter into the pan. If it sizzles and begins to cook straight away, the oil is hot enough. 4. Pour enough batter into the pan to form two pancakes (or as many as your pan will hold). Remember to keep them fairly thick. When the tops of the pancakes begin to bubble, flip them over and cook until both sides are golden brown. 5. Repeat until you’ve used all the batter, or made as many
pancakes as you wish. You may need to heat extra oil for the following pancakes. 6. Serve with maple syrup and fresh fruit and enjoy!
Josie Hart
Food&Drink Writer
Three ingredients, endless pancakes. After spending time on the internet sifting through endless different, complex recipes in preparation for pancake day, it is difficult to understand why so many aren’t preaching the age-old, traditional recipe. It literally cannot get easier – and this isn’t even an egg/banana or whatever other healthier variation of pancake. This is simply the ageless traditional pancakes that you can surprise everyone with when you reveal you didn’t go for a packet mix this year. You won’t even need the recipe in front of you once you’ve made these once. If you can remember any content for your course at all, you can definitely remember the easiest recipe of all time. Three-Ingredient Pancake Recipe Ingredients:
1 Cup of Plain Flour 1 Egg 1 Cup of Milk Method: 1. Add all the ingredients to a large mixing jug. 2. Blend using a handheld blender. If you don’t have one you can whisk THOROUGHLY (you want to make sure there are no flour lumps). 3. Pour a quantity of the mix into a greased, hot frying pan. It’s personal preference how much you pour in depending if you’re going for stack pancakes or crepes. If you’re going for crepes, you’ll probably want to pour in a little more mix and move the pan around until it reaches all edges. 4. Flip (try not to let it end up stuck to the ceiling). 5. Serve once both sides are light brown. It is quite likely that your first pancake won’t turn out quite as planned – but this is often because the pan needs time to properly heat and, honestly, this is a common necessity of the pancake making experience. However, it’s worth sticking it out when they are this easy to make.
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TRAVEL
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricktravel
My Favourite Place: New York City Hannah Lay Travel Writer
New York is a favourite destination for many and, I must admit, it is my favourite too. I have been lucky enough to visit four times and I want to share some things I think you should definitely consider if you are visiting the Big Apple any time soon. New York boasts a huge variety of things to do, which means that even after visiting multiple times there is still plenty left on my wish-list. This leads me to my first tip: do not try to do it all. You may want to do as much as you can but be realistic with your time. Doing too much will make you too tired to fully appreciate everything. Do some research and choose the top few things that you would be gutted if you did not manage to do. Once you have done these, if you still have time, take in some more sights. If you
do not have time, at least you have ticked off your priorities and can leave without feeling disappointed. I strongly recommend Top of the Rock, an observation deck at the top of the Rockefeller Center, as a must-see. The Empire State building is perhaps the more famous observation deck in New York but, having done both, the view from Top of the Rock was much better. If you decide to visit, a tip is to get there for opening even if you book ahead, queues can still be long. I would also suggest not booking in advance as this gives you more flexibility in terms of weather. We decided what day we wanted to go when we were in New York based on the weather forecast. This paid off as it was the best weather we had, and meant the views were not marred by clouds. Central Park is as incredible in person as the pictures suggest and another must-see. Whilst there are
things you can pay to do in the park, I found just strolling through it was really enjoyable. The park is filled with beautiful plants, ornate water fountains, and lakes so there is lots to admire. Also, the park is home to hundreds of street performers that range from opera singers to magicians. As cliché as it sounds, there really is something for everyone. A tip here would be to dedicate at least half a day to visiting. The park is huge so you need a decent amount of time to be able to see it and appreciate all it has to offer. If you want something a bit different from the stereotypical tourist attractions in New York, a tip would be to venture over the river to the trendy Brooklyn district known as Dumbo. Dumbo is located along the riverfront between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and is easy to get to using the subway. The district boasts numerous independent shops, restaurants and cool street art. Also, the view from Dumbo over to Manhattan is incredible and gives you a unique perspective on the famous skyline. Brooklyn is often overlooked but Dumbo is a vibrant district with a great vibe so it is well worth a visit. Whilst New York may not be the most unique destination, it is my favourite place I have been to so far. Its eclectic mix of things to see and do makes it an exciting place to visit. There are very few places I would keep going back to but, even though I have been to New York four times, I still plan to return again one day.
MericDagli
Brexit: What Does No-Deal Mean for Travellers? Travel Writer Katie Norris discusses the impact of a no-deal Brexit agreement on travelling inside the EU Katie Norris Travel Writer
It’s been a long two years, but the 29th of March is looming as the deadline for the split of the UK from the EU. On the 30th March, I’m heading to Copenhagen as the busy Easter season for air travel begins, incidentally also one day after the UK is scheduled to leave the EU, and alongside many other travellers, the effects of a possible no-deal Brexit are a key concern. So, what does a no-deal Brexit mean for travel? Flights will continue (phew) Regardless of whether a deal is made or not, the European Commission has confirmed that UK airlines will still be able to operate flights between the UK and the EU. This has been assured by the government so there should be little difficulty travelling to and from places. However, The IATA (International Air Transport Association) warns that up to 5 million extra airline seats are at risk of being cancelled if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, as
flights on UK airlines to each EU country will be capped at summer 2018 levels. Therefore, many may face disappointment this summer when its impact will be felt the most, so even if travel seems unaffected to begin with, the effects of a no-deal Brexit could be felt in the longer-term. You may need to check your passport is up to new regulations The UK government has released a ‘check a passport’ service, which can be accessed through gov.uk; if a no-deal Brexit takes place UK passport holders will need a minimum of six months left on their travel documentation. After Brexit, British passport holders will also need to make sure they get to the airport just that bit earlier, not being able to rely on the ‘fast-track’ European Union and EEA citizen queues to ensure they make their flights in the nick of time. The European Commission has also recently confirmed that travellers from the UK will need to buy a travel permit, for the small cost of €7, in advance of travel. Although this
could be an easy-to-forget detail for those accustomed to travelling in Europe, travel documentation will remain fairly straightforward, similar to the ESTA visa-waiver system in the United States.
“In a no-deal scenario, data roaming charges won't be regulated” So now you’ve sorted your passport, what about your pets’? That’s right, a no-deal Brexit will also make it harder for pets to fly too! Currently, it is estimated that you would need to contact your vet at least 4 months prior to travelling, to prepare your pet to fly out with you, in order to provide health certificates for each trip. Therefore, even if you have planned your trip in advance, it could now be jeopardised if you are taking a pet.
What changes will affect you whilst on holiday? Driving abroad Without a deal being reached, motorists may need a ‘Green Card’ as proof of insurance to drive in the EU, in addition to a possible two International Driving Permits, with different EU countries using different permits, as the government warns: ‘Your driving licence may no longer be valid by itself when driving in the EU.’ Although a Green Card would be free of charge, insurers could increase administration fees to reflect the cost of providing them, adding an extra fee to holidaymakers’ budgets. Worst-Case Scenario: you fall ill The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which allows EU citizens to access healthcare in other EU countries will become invalid, so travellers will have to rely on taking out travel insurance. Those that have pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, will need to put in the time to get specialist insurance, to ensure they’re covered if the worst
was to happen. Data roaming We are more dependent on the internet whilst travelling than we realise, whether it be for directions or recommendations for local restaurants, it is pretty handy to have internet access abroad. In a no-deal scenario, data roaming charges won’t be regulated, therefore you could be left with the decision between spending more on the internet or to search for the nearest McDonalds (a guaranteed free Wi-Fi source). All in all, the implications of a no-deal Brexit will complicate certain aspects of the travelling process, with an increase in paperwork and hidden extra costs. The main lasting impact of a no-deal Brexit will be the cost of travelling to Europe, therefore, as ever, being travel-savvy will mean that many holidaymakers will have no drastic impact on their holidays, causing Europe to remain a key destination for British holidaymakers!
TRAVEL
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricktravel
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100 Years of British Airways Tom Leaman News Editor
On August 25th, British Airways, the UK’s flag carrier airline, will be turning 100. Although the company did not adopt its current name until the 1970s (and was state-owned until 1987), BA’s lineage can be traced back to various forerunner companies that started carrying passengers shortly after the end of the Second World War. To celebrate its centenary, the airline released a Made by Britain advert, starring a diverse range of British celebrities such as Olivia Colman, Grayson Perry, Ellie Simmonds, Anthony Joshua and Paloma Faith. Alongside this, one of the company’s Boeing 747s has been decorated with special retrostyled British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) livery to celebrate its origins. In August 1919, an early
forerunner company of British Airways, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, launched the first ever daily international scheduled flight service. The first ever flight of what later became BA carried a single passenger and cargo (including newspapers and Devonshire cream) from Hounslow Heath to Paris.
“Every day, 123,000 passengers fly with BA on twelve different models of aircraft” In 1974, British Airways took its current name after two other airlines (BOAC and British European Airways) merged. Today, British Airways serves 183
destinations worldwide using a fleet of over 280 aircraft. Every 90 seconds, a British Airways flight takes off somewhere in the world. These figures represent an astonishing rate of growth, not just for BA, but for the air travel industry in general. According to Forbes, there were 4.1 billion air passengers in 2017, representing a 7.6% increase from 2016. Citizens of the United Kingdom made up 4.3% of all passengers that year with a total of 147 million, putting us fourth in the global list of journeys by nationality. While BA is not the world’s busiest airline by a long stretch – American Airlines carried almost 200 million passengers in 2017 – the statistics surrounding the airline on the approach to its centenary year are mind-blowing. Every day, 123,000 passengers fly with BA on twelve different models of aircraft. The company owns twelve Airbus A380s, which
can carry up to 469 customers on each flight and can fly at 587 mph. Though Airbus is set to discontinue production of the A380 by 2021 due to a lack of sales to airlines, such figures raise the question: where will air travel be in another 100 years?
“If space travel becomes a reality, space hotels will have to develop to cope with demand” In April 2016, the travel magazine Travel + Leisure interviewed Brian Tillotson and Kevin Bowcutt, two Senior Technical Fellows at Boeing, to predict what the future holds for the industry. Amongst other
things, they suggested that small flying vehicles may fly passengers to the airport, which would reduce traffic and congestion around airports. In a Black Mirror-esque twist, Bowcutt said that flights may be booked ‘on something that’s implanted in your brain.’ Commercial space travel seems to be within the realms of possibility within another century, with some companies (such as Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic) already looking into the technology. If space travel becomes a reality, space hotels will have to develop to cope with demand. According to Bowcutt, space hotels could exist in low orbit to accommodate space travellers. Though much of this seems like a stretch to us now, with the evolution of British Airways over the last 100 years, who can really say where travel will be in 2119?
Summer Versus Winter: Berlin Travel Writer Laura Moseley shares her thoughts on visiting the German capital in both summer and winter Laura Moseley Travel Writer
Markus Spiske
Although you might associate Germany more with snowy forests and Christmas markets than hot hikes in the sun, the country varies across the year with cold winters and warm summers meaning that it can be perfect for any holiday occasion. Berlin, the city’s capital and a cultural melting pot for art, nightlife and history, is no exception to the seasonal climates which flush the country, and as one of Europe’s most visited capital cities, it attracts tourists all year round. Below, I will list the pros and cons I found about visiting the city in both summer and winter, and which I would recommend to a first-time traveller. Summer Imagine seeing the East Side Gallery for the first time with all its bright intense colours gazing back at you under the sun’s light. Its rays reflecting off the gallery’s neighbouring canal whilst a pale Irish mans strums his guitar, offering the perfect backdrop to the surrounding scene. Whilst I can’t promise this would be exactly something you would experience, exploring Berlin’s outdoor monuments such as the East Side Gallery and Checkpoint Charlie are inevitably better when the sun is beating down. Eating food outside, exploring the city’s parks and getting an ice pop outside are also all part of the romantic and relaxing side of Berlin and therefore, much more enjoyable in the summer. It also allows more opportunity to meet other travellers and sit outside for drinks. Whilst the sun is enjoyable, our journey peaked with a temperature of around 30°C and
this can be far from convenient when you intend to spend most of your days walking around and taking in the city’s sights. It is always a great excuse to stop every 500m for a nice ice drink, but if you have to do that multiple times a day to prevent yourself from heat exhaustion, it is quite a long-winded and impractical way to get around. Apart from this though, I would say there are little disadvantages to travelling around Berlin in the summer, although you have to bear in mind that summer is always going to be a busy time for Berlin.
“I think Berlin in the summer [...] is the most productive way to explore the city” Winter Berlin truly is something out of a fairy tale when it’s covered in ice and glistening frost and there’s nothing better than sipping on mulled wine and grabbing a hot meal in order to get cosy in this weather. When I visited Berlin in the winter, I also went to the nearby city of Potsdam which I thought was stunning under the winter sky – as long as you wrapped up warm. Aside from this, the temperature of -2°C left me constantly seeking solace for a warm nearby shopping mall and a nice café. My trip up the Reichstag dome was spent shivering and wishing you could
bring in your own portable heater, so as not to spend the whole visit slightly wishing you were some place warmer instead. The early sunset was an impressive and nice touch but unfortunately, I don’t think it made up for my lost body heat. If you were to visit in the winter, I would advise planning your activities in advance to ensure that you don’t freeze in your aim to uncover Berlin’s hidden depths. Summer at least allows for less planning and more impromptu decisions that allow you to walk around to your heart’s content. As such, I think Berlin in the summer, (although this article ignores of course, that you have the autonomy to travel in Spring or Autumn), is the most productive way to explore the city if you are exploring it for the first time and are looking to see a side of the city that is more than just Christmas markets. Although, if you’re not wild for the influx of tourists that hit the capital in its summer months, then pack heavy with maximum layers. Berlin is one of my favourites cities and I would encourage anyone to visit whatever time of the year it is.
Julius Drost
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LIFE&STYLE
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricklife
The History of International Women’s Day In light of International Women's Day 2019, Life&Style's Aimee Cashmore gives us the rundown of this important movement over the years Aimee Cashmore Life&Style Writer
The First National Women’s day was observed in New York on 28th February 1909, organised by the Socialist Party of America. The day was formed in honour of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in NYC, which saw women protest for voting rights, shorter working hours and greater pay.
International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates the extraordinary achievements of women throughout history and
1909
On 19th March 1911, International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time by over a million men and women in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Women demanded the right to vote and to hold public office, as well as protesting against sex discrimination in employment.
observed since the early 1900s and is now recognised each year on March 8th. But how exactly did this celebratory day begin – and
what are women uniting against this year?
In August 1910, during The Socialist International Women’s Conference, it was announced that an International Women’s Day was to be established in order to build support for achieving universal suffrage and gender equality. The proposal was brought forward by Luise Zeitz, the first woman to occupy a leading party position in Germany, and Clara Zetkin, German activist and advocate for women’s rights. The decision was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries – however, no fixed date was selected for the observance of the day.
1910
1911 On the eve of World War I, campaigning for peace, Russian Women observed their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. Following discussions, International Women’s day was transferred to 8th March and this has remained the global date for celebrations ever since. On International Women’s Day the following year, women across Europe held rallies against the war and expressed their solidarity with women across the globe.
1913
Although International Women’s day remained an important event for many worldwide, the United Nations did not formally celebrate the date until 1975. Two years later, the UN officially added International Women’s day to its calendar of observances, helping to solidify the date as a rallying point to build support for women’s rights across the globe.
1975
2011 marked the 100-year centenary of International Women’s Day. In response, in the United States, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 2011 to be ‘Women’s History Month,’ calling not only Americans, but the world, to reflect and pay tribute to the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.
2011
Each year, the UN has created a theme for the celebration and this year’s theme is ‘Balance for Better,’ part of a broader initiative to help push towards a genderbalanced world. Described as a ‘business issue,’ the aim of the theme is to encourage gender balance in specific sectors such as the boardroom, government and media but ultimately, across all areas of society. Every year, International Women’s Day inspires women and celebrates their achievements. This year’s celebration is just as important, perhaps more so, than it was 100 years
across nations. It is a day to reflect on the progress made by women, but also a time to call for greater change and equality. It has been
2019
Images: Kisspng; Shutterstock/mypokcik; US Department of State; BBC; United Nations; Shinobi Stickers; Town Press South Africa
ago. We have still not fulfilled the original aim of the day – full gender equality. A gender pay gap persists across the globe and women are still not present in equal numbers in
business or politics and globally, women’s education, health and the violence against them, is worse than that of men. According to the World Economic Forum, the gen-
der gap will not close until 2186, a bleak prospect. Let’s hope that in 100 years from now, the world will be celebrating gender equality, but for now, this March 8th will mark a
time to recognise these injustices, push for further equality and celebrate the triumphs of women who have overcome extraordinary barriers to get to where we are today.
SAGE
LIFE&STYLE
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricklife
33
Bo Peep 2.0: Out With the Dress and In With the Trousers Life&Style's Emily Burnett discusses how Bo Peep's new look is reinventing Disney's prototypical female protagonists Emily Burnett Life&Style Writer
This year, Toy Story will be making a comeback with its fourth instalment, and if the latest trailers are anything to go by, it will be challenging gender norms.
“Several Disney films have begun to move away from the traditional Disney narrative, where women are helpless objects whose sole purpose is to be saved by men” The latest teaser reveals that Bo Peep has had a dramatic new make-over, now sporting blue trousers instead of her traditional pink dress, giving her a much more modern and gender-neutral appearance. Bo Peep launches
into the scene in her new outfit, much to the surprise of both the characters on screen, and presumably the audience too. After being absent from Toy Story 3,, and therefore not being seen on screen for 20 years since the release of Toy Story 2 back in 1999, it seems that Bo Peep has been updated for the 21st Century. To fit the latest Disney trend of promoting strong independent women, she will finally play a significant role in the narrative, rather than simply being a passive love interest for Woody. In recent years, several Disney films have begun to move away from the traditional Disney narrative, where women are helpless objects whose sole purpose is to be saved by men. One example of Disney chal-
lenging gender roles in their films is of course Frozen,, a story of two sisters who are strongwilled, independent and not reliant on men. However, in terms of their appearance, Anna and Elsa are undeniably feminine, still sporting the traditional ‘princess’ look which defines women in Disney films. So, whilst films are focusing more and more on strong female l e a d s , women in films still seem to
Disney Pixar
be defined by their appearance, rarely taking on a more genderneutral or traditionally masculine appearance. In this way, male voyeurism, or the male gaze, still seems to be very much a part of Disney films, which is perhaps disturbing due to the target audience being children. Disney’s reinvention of Bo Peep is a reflection of our changing attitudes towards gender identity. In an age of gender-neutral clothing lines and the rise of male make-up stars, Bo Peep is just the latest sign that gender neutrality and flexibility is becoming acceptable and celebrated in our society.
“Disney’s reinvention of Bo Peep is a reflection of our changing attitudes towards gender identity” This is undoubtedly a good thing for young audiences. According to Common Sense Media, ‘media that perpetuates
rigid gender roles and stereotypes can affect children’s sense of self, relationships, and career aspirations,’ meaning that it is vital for young audiences to be exposed to films which offer a representation of gender which is non-binary and subversive. Strict gender ideals undoubtedlly result in low self-esteem and guilt for children who don’t feel as though they conform to the stereotypical appearance of their gender. Inevitably, the challenging of gender norms in children’s films can encourage children to be comfortable in their own gender identity, and dress in whatever way they choose despite what society may expect of them. Ultimately, the reinvention of Bo Peep as both a fierce heroine and a gender-neutral fashion icon, reflects a shift in society’s attitudes towards gender, and hopefully marks what is only the beginning of the mainstream media’s efforts to challenge the rigid gender norms that have been perpetuated by Disney for so long. Have an opinion? Let us know @redbricklife
KKW Speaks Up About Psoriasis Life&Style's Alice Landray discusses the importance of celebrities bringing awareness to their health conditions Alice Landray Life&Style Writer
Whether we like it or not, celebrities ubiquitously set societal standards for body image. They mold our perception of beauty, our goal aesthetic, what we see as an acceptable and desirable way to look. Through exposure to arguably unrealistic and extreme body appearances in the media, the famous have an indisputable power to influence how we feel about our own bodies. This is usually viewed as a damaging influence: models, such as those representing Victoria’s Secret, face frequent disapproval for setting unattainable goals for young women. But can this phenomenon be made good? What if popularly attractive celebrities can spread body positivity through exposing their own ‘flaws’ or struggles? Is this public vulnerability helpful, or is it simply glamourising disorders in an unrelatable context where they
can access healthcare services that others can only dream of? Recently, Kim Kardashian West exposed images of herself on Instagram, showing a flare-up of psoriasis: an autoimmune skin disease characterised by red, flaky patches. As someone who is responsible for some of the most prevalent trends amongst 21st century young women, namely extreme face contouring and the desire for a big bum, it is unsurprising that these images attracted media attention. My immediate response to the images was positive. As someone who has always struggled with various skin conditions, such as eczema, it was nice to see a representation of this in the media. This is especially true where, as in this example, the celebrity is generally deemed as particularly attractive. Although we strive towards a world where this is not the case, seeing someone with Kim’s status in the modelling world show her struggle with such a relatable, real-life issue can help
others suffering from similar conditions, like me, to feel more ‘normal’ and ‘accepted.’
“Is this public vulnerability helpful, or is it simply glamourising disorders” My thoughts were validated, as popular beauty magazine Allure reported: ‘it’s pretty great that someone like Kardashian West is so open about her skin issues, seeing as it’s one of the most relatable things about her life.’ And it certainly helps normalize the condition. When celebrities admit that they, too, suffer from common diseases and openly share this in the media, individual peo-
ple’s self-esteem and body confidence can be boosted. As this reaches such a wide audience, this could provide necessary movement towards a more representative, realistic perception of the norm. After further consideration however, Kim sharing her experience with psoriasis may not be as beneficial to the public as it initially appears. Whilst being careful not to belittle her condition and her own battle, it is important to underline the number of healthcare services and treatments readily available to someone in her public and financial position. Where others have to wait months for as little progress as a consultation with a dermatologist, Kim could afford to buy a $1,450 light therapy device immediately, amongst other expensive and highly sought after treatments and healthcare services. This is simply not possible for most of the 125 million people, worldwide, that suffer with the condition. As a consequence of this,
celebrities showing their disorders to the public may not provide the supportive media content intended. It is possible that sharing such images could be problematic: glamourising the frustration and struggle experienced as a part of daily life for most sufferers. The inaccessibility of celebrity lifestyle for the average person presents problems with how effectively the famous represent and relate to the general public. Despite all of this, celebrities play an undeniably major role in shaping modern day society’s concept of a desirable body image. Thus, is it not better that skin disorders are represented in some, albeit slightly problematic, form in the media, rather than being ignored completely? Doesn’t creating an association between such conditions and famous, attractive models promote a level of awareness and acceptance, enhancing body positivity for others with skin diseases?
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SCI&TECH
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricktech
Insectageddon
Sprogz
Farhana Alam examines evidence that suggests that insect populations are declining at an alarming rate Farhana Alam Sci&Tech Writer
Many people will have noticed declining insect numbers over the past decade or so; native ladybirds being replaced by harlequin beetles, a lack of butterflies in summer months, and visibly fewer insects succumbing to untimely deaths on the windscreens of vehicles. The authors of a recent review published in the journal Biological Conservation went several steps further, collating data from 73 historical reports of falling insect numbers from around the world, with the aim of identifying the causes of their decline. They concluded that insects are declining eight times faster than mammals, birds and reptiles, with an annual 2.5% rate of loss over the past three decades. They warn that the Earth is at the start of its sixth mass extinction event, with 40% of insect species in decline and a third of insect species being endangered. Of particular concern amongst terrestrial insects are butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, and dung beetles, the latter of which are instrumental in recycling waste.
Species under threat in aquatic environments include dragonflies, damselflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and mayflies. These losses could result in cascading effects throughout ecosystems, including the loss of animals that feed on insects, such as birds, bats, small mammals, reptiles and fish, the loss of plants that are pollinated by insects, which includes 75% of all crops, and the spread of pest species, whose numbers are usually kept in check by insects.
“They warn that the Earth is at the start of its sixth mass extinction event” In identifying the causes of falling insect numbers, the authors identified four broad reasons, none of which are very surprising: 1) habitat loss, as a result of urbanisation and intensive
agriculture, especially over the past sixty years, 2) pollution, particularly from synthetic pesticides and fertilisers used in agriculture, 3) biological factors, such as pathogens and introduced or invading species, and 4) climate change. Suggested actions to tackle these include reducing the use of pesticides in agriculture, restoring habitats (e.g. hedgerows) to help recover declining populations, and utilisation of remediation technologies to clean polluted water. Despite acknowledging the importance of raising this important issue, critics have levelled several criticisms at the way in which this review study was conducted. The 73 studies were identified using the search term ‘[insect*] AND [declin*] AND [survey],’ entered into just one of many databases of peerreviewed literature; this means that all studies identifying increasing or stable populations were discarded, and studies naming a specific insect were also excluded from the search results. Furthermore, the vast majority of studies were from developed countries in western Europe and North America, meaning that the situation in the tropics was likely
Imogen Claire Sci&Tech Writer
to be vastly underestimated. Criticisms of the findings include downplaying the importance of global warming, as this disproportionately affects insects in tropical regions, which have narrow temperature tolerance ranges. The impact of certain additional factors were not reported, such as light pollution (e.g. on moth numbers), the replacement of wild land with manicured lawns, and widespread use of crop monocultures. Furthermore, all four of the identified causes of falling insect numbers could be explained by one underlying factor: human overpopulation and overconsumption. Insects have been around for almost 400 million years, since the end of the Devonian period, and can be considered the most successful class of animals on Earth. However, an estimated one-fifth of extant insect species are unknown to science, and we only really have data on the most common or economically-useful species. Despite the criticisms, studies such as the one reported here are crucial for raising awareness and calling for greater action, before it is too late.
Faecal Transplants Saving Lives Amandeep Kaur Sci&Tech Writer
Healthy individuals donating their poo can help restore the bacterial environment in the gut of the sick. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or trans-poo-sion, quite literally involves the transfer of stool samples from a ‘super-pooper’ to treat disease. Noted to be effective in fourth century ancient medical literature, FMT has recently made an explosive comeback to the world of modern medicine with promising results in treating gastrointestinal diseases, including Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The human gut is colonised by up to a thousand different bacterial species. The resulting diversity of the gut microbiome varies from one individual to another, which is effectively as unique as a fingerprint. Although it is unclear what exactly makes a healthy gut microbiome, it is generally accepted that having a stable and diverse gut microbiota helps to maintain health and develop good immune function. And as with any biological processes that regulate the health of the host, dysregulation of the gut microbiome often leads to impaired function and thus disease. In recent years, FMT has become an effective therapy for C. diff infections, an opportunistic pathogen that infects the bowel after a primary infection treatment with antibiotics, causing multiple bouts of diarrhoea a day, fever and
tummy pain. CDI can be treated with another course of antibiotics, but around 20% will experience recurrence due to antibiotic-resistant C. diff spores in the intestinal microbiota. Multiple CDI recurrences ultimately lead to the destruction of the gut microbiome. Transplanting stool from ‘superpoopers’ - donors whose stool provides successful FMT results, - can help repopulate the microbial diversity of the gut, with up to 92% cure rates. Typically administered via endoscopy, enemas and naso-intestinal tubes, therapeutic effects can last anywhere from a few days to a few years. Following the success of FMT in treating CDI, scientists have turned their attention to other gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease, colitis and constipation. The effectiveness of FMT as a therapy in these areas, however has been variable compared to CDI. This is mostly due to the differences in the biology of the conditions, but the studies collectively indicate that the donor plays an important role in the outcome of the transplant, suggesting that perhaps FMT is not a ‘onestool-fits-all’ therapy. In addition to selecting donors with favourable gut microbiomes, FMT is shifting towards a capsule-based approach for an easier and noninvasive alternative to current methods. This end-of-the-line treatment (pun intended) requires further detailed investigations into the mechanism of action to fully understand and exploit this method for success, potentially as a personalized therapy.
Creature Feature: Night Parrot
NIAID
Martin Thompson
The night parrot is a small bird endemic to Western Queensland, Australia. Seeing an image of this bird would make you almost as rare as the animal itself, which is highly mysterious and sightings are exceptionally few and far between. No recorded evidence of the bird was collected for 67 years, and owing to the predominantly anecdotal observations, it was believed to be extinct. In fact, it is so reclusive that naturalist John Young undertook 17,000 hours of searching over 15 years to achieve only a few photos and a 17-second video of an individual in 2013. It is no small task to locate this elusive creature. They are ground parrots, so they hardly ever take to the skies unless they are startled. And they don't startle easily, because despite their small size, their plumage is a wonderfully analogous yellowgreen to their home of choice, the spinifex grass. Spinifex grass is thin but dense, and a quintessential feature of the Australian Interior biomes. Combine all of the above with its nocturnal behaviours and even the most daring of ornithologists tire endlessly to recover just a feather of the species. Their diet, their migration patterns, their habitat distribution and their potential endangerment continue to be speculation. Conservation efforts are strained due to the elusory nature of the bird, but also due to other pressures like predators, poaching and urbanisation. Young's photographic and video proof and the capture of a female bird (named 'Pedro') by ornithologists Steve Murphy and Rachel Barr in 2015 drummed up considerable ecological enthusiasm for the recovery of the night parrot population, which is estimated to be around 50-250 individuals strong. Bush Heritage Australia, an environmental not-for-profit, created the Pullen Pullen Reserve to safeguard the identified home of the night parrot population, which spans 56,000 hectares. The charity appreciate the significance of the opportunity to revive the night parrot species, drolly described as the 'equivalent of finding Elvis flipping burgers in an outback roadhouse'. Thanks to continued and industrious research into perhaps the rarest bird in the world by the international collaboration of scientists, its zoological mysteries are deciphered one by one.
SCI&TECH
Friday 8th March 2019
@redbricktech
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Interview: Lilium Takes To The Skies Emily Chapman talks to Oliver Walker-Jones, Head of Communications at a company that aims to revolutionize how we get from place to place Emily Chapman Comment Editor
Lilium is a company, established in 2015 by four founders, that is developing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) electric jets. I’m greeted by Oliver Walker-Jones, Lilium’s Head of Communications, and he takes me up to a room with huge glass windows, comfy chairs, sofas (and even a hammock), reflecting the effortless comfort that Lilium hope to bring to the world. Oliver explains that the benefits of the VTOL system take away the need for a runway, and the jets are smaller and less noisy than helicopters. The technology uses 36 rotating jet engines along two sets of wings that rotate from vertical to a horizontal position during flight, which can reach speeds of around 300km/h. The jets will, eventually, operate autonomously. What sets Lilium apart from their competitors is their focus on clean energy. ‘We’re not burning fossil fuel or carbon, we’re using electricity. And that’s really cool because it means we have zero operational emissions when we’re flying.’ When asked further about the company’s ethos, Oliver explains ‘We think developing any technology that isn’t electric today would be irresponsible. We all know there’s an issue with the environment, and we know it’s the right thing to do to reduce our carbon footprint. What we don’t want to do is to just come up with a new form of transport and for it to contribute to all the same problems that we know are damaging the environment. For us, it’s part of our ethical belief. It
has to be electric-powered, it has to be emissions free, because otherwise, what’s the point?’ Oliver makes it clear that the company is focusing on user experience. They plan to run the business as an airline, rather than selling the jet privately. ‘[Our] vision is to create a transport option that is democratically available to everyone. It’s not for the elite, it’s not just for anyone who can afford it, it’s for everybody. It’s a principle thing, more than anything, but the economics of it work really nicely as well. If you can share an aircraft and travel from the centre of Munich out to Munich airport, if you can do it with 5 people then it’s cheaper.’ I ask Oliver what attracted him to the company. ‘Lilium is going to change the world. Absolutely, definitely going to change the world. Urban air mobility, which is the world of air taxis, is something which people have talked about for decades and it’s appeared in all sorts of sci-fi films, so it was always a future vision which was amazing but totally incomprehensible. But something has changed in the last few years, about the technological advances particularly in battery, but also the amount of money coming into sector to support the development of aircraft.’ The Lilium jet is aerodynamically designed so that it requires no stabilising tail or steering flaps, and the electric technology negates the need for water-cooling systems or propellers. The idea is simplicity. ‘People will be able to travel say from the centre of London to Oxford, without ever having to go on ground transportation, so if they
can walk to their Lilipad – or whatever we end up calling them – and they can fly there, what you can do is a whole host of different things.’ Lilium imagine a world of greater connectivity and longer commuter distances, bringing together communities and cultures. In terms of scale, it’s a big one. ‘We can imagine a future where there are hundreds in each city, and because we’re not just talking about cities, we’re talking about regions, maybe there are thousands. We don’t really know, and it will be subject to the market, but we will start small and we will grow big.’ Their vision extends not just across Europe, but also to global communities. ‘If we talk about Africa, and we’re connecting communities there, maybe we don’t need the train lines that come through and take away all the trees and the countryside environment, we can have a much lower-impact infrastructure. There’s no reason why it can’t exist basically everywhere.’ Lilium are making huge strides with this technology very quickly, and only seem to be picking up the pace. They are confident that they will be operational in multiple cities by 2025, although I’m not given too many specifics on where they are now. ‘What we have shown last year was our flight of a two-seater prototype. So, we flew this amazing twoseater thing around our airfield here, and what we said at the time was we are now working on our five-seater prototype. So that’s what we’re doing,’ he laughs. ‘What comes next, well, watch this space.’
Lillium
Sharks Give Cancer Clues Natalia Carter Comment Editor
Wessex News Agency
The great white shark has been part of our oceans for at least 16 million years. The largest predatory fish on Earth, great whites can grow up to an average of 15 feet in length, weighing 5,000 pounds. Whilst this is all impressive, it has been discovered that great whites have the potential to do something extraordinary. Scientists have revealed a crucial discovery in their efforts to map the genome of a great white shark. The first complete genome of the predator has been published by an international team in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, showcasing genes with specific function alongside DNA that currently has an ambiguous or unknown role. According to the study, the great white’s genome contains advancements in genes that underpin blood clotting. Blood
clotting is essential in the process of healing injuries, and the enhanced qualities of their genome demonstrate ‘fundamental pathways in wound healing.’ Dr Michael Stanhope, a co-author to the findings, has said that ‘These adaptations involving woundhealing genes may underlie the vaunted ability of sharks to heal efficiently from even large wounds.’ However, there is more to this research. One of the study’s authors, Dr Mahmood Shivji, identifies that ‘Genome instability is a very important issue in many serious human diseases.’ The discovery of the shark’s ability to ‘maintain the stability of genomes,’ could prove an exciting find for cancer research. The genomes ability to react to environmental carcinogens, which can lead to cancers in humans, is partly what makes this discovery so important. Since multiple studies have demonstrated how being larger (both in height and weight) is associated with an increased risk
of cancer, great white sharks hold a tantalising possibility. A great white shark’s cancer risk, based on this principle, should be astronomical in comparison to humans - whose genetic code is 50% smaller than that of a great white. Yet, cancer causing mutations do not appear to be prolific in these sharks, suggesting that their genetic adaptations could help prevent their cancer risk increasing. Adaptive changes in regulatory genes closely linked to repairing DNA has made the great white shark more effective in reacting to mutations and wounds. Dr Shivji stated that this information ‘will potentially be useful to fight cancer and agerelated diseases, and improve wound healing treatments in humans, as we uncover how these animals do it.’ The initial research therefore offers a hopeful future for current cancer research as these animals undergo further investigation. Wikimedia Commons
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Health&Fitness: Gym Intimidation – Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Alex Kirkup-Lee and Harry Wilkinson discuss breaking through gym intimidation, and how stepping out of your comfort zone should be seen as an opportunity Harry Wilkinson Sport Editor
Gym intimidation is something that has affected pretty much all of us at some point. At one point, all the people you saw in the gym were the newbies. Even the massive blokes in the corner bicepcurling 50kg. He once had gym intimidation too. Going to the gym initially will be stepping out of your comfort zone, but you can treat that as a positive – an opportunity to improve yourself. Besides, once you start going consistently, you will realise that each time you go it gets easier, and you get stronger, or fitter, or leaner. Consistency, without a doubt, is the single most important aspect of fitness. Just turn up, over and over again. Make it a habit, and you’ll get results. All you need to do is start, make a commitment, and stick to it. So if you are thinking of joining a gym, or you feel guilty about not making use of your current membership, make a decision. Enjoy the experience of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Then go again. And again. And again. Some practical advice: make sure you are fully prepared before walking into that gym. This means not only to prepare a plan or programme, but to make sure you get the basics right. The basics would include bringing things like water (absolutely essential), and ensuring you have eaten right beforehand. Although some studies have shown that fasted workouts can be very beneficial, I would not
recommend doing so the first time you enter. Give yourself a decent meal with plentiful carbs and protein prior to the session, this will not only help maximise your performance, but will be one less excuse stopping you from entering. Similarly, don’t give youself the excuse of being too tired. Get a decent sleep beforehand. I’m a big proponent of a hungover work-out, but again, maybe not the best idea if you are new to the game. Another tip I would give you, especially if you plan to go the gym early in the morning, is to prepare all your attire and equipmeent beforehand. Literally make it so all you need to do is get dressed, put your shoes on, pick up the bag and go. The key to gym consistency, particularly in the early stages, is to minimise the opportunity for excuses as much as possible. If you do this, you are setting yourself up to win. You will be laying the foundation for successful, happy and long-term consistency in fitness. But ultimately, there’s only so much advice you take in. Ultimately, it’s up to you.
“Consistency, without a doubt, is the single most important aspect of fitness. Just turn up”
Alex Kirkup-Lee
Sport Reporter
Challenge yourself If stepping completely out of your comfort zone straight away seems too daunting, take it more gradually. Every workout, challenge yourself to do one thing that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Maybe you’re nervous about going into the weights section. If so, try and just do a couple of exercises there at first. Then eventually, you’ll feel more confident and be able to perform your whole workout there.
Train with a confident partner Joining a new gym can be difficult when you don’t know your way around or how to use unfamiliar equipment. Ask a friend who already goes to that gym if they can show you around and do a session together. Even just doing one session with someone else can help you feel more confident in yourself next time. Most gyms will often provide an induction session or a first personal training session for free when you join, so take advantage of this! It can really help you feel comfortable in a new gym.
Never enter without a plan
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
If you go into the gym with no idea what you are going to do in that session, it’s going to be a lot harder to get a decent workout done. Not only will you have no structure to your workout, but you’ll end up wondering around, doing random exercises based on what ever equipment takes your fancy. If you go into the gym with a programme, you’ll feel more confident and focused. This doesn’t mean you have to shed out lots of money on a programme. Take five minutes at breakfast, or when you’re wasting time scrolling on your phone, to write out your own program. This means you can go into the gym confident and focused, knowing exactly what you’re doing in that session.
PTs are there for a reason! They’re used to people coming up to them and asking for help so don’t be afraid to use them! If you don’t know how to use a machine, they will happily show you. This is a much better option than relying on YouTube / Instagram videos, which are never as useful as a trained professional showing you the real thing and being able to correct your form.
Avoid peak hours Going to the gym when it’s packed to the brim with sweaty people throwing weights around can be extremely intimidating! Even if you have written your programme out and come prepared, the chance of equipment being free in the order you need it is slim. If you can, try to avoid peak hours! There’s nothing worse than writing out a good workout, finally feeling confident, and then entering the gym and not being able to do anything you’ve planned.
Don’t compare yourself to others
Thought Catalogue
People in the gym can be very intimidating: they have amazing bodies, and know exactly what they are doing, and they’ll be staring at you because they’ll know that you don’t know what you’re doing. This isn’t true. In fact, no one in the gym is bothering to look at anyone else most of the time, because they’re too focused on what they’re doing to pay much attention to anyone else. Confidence is key, and as long as you look confident, no one will question what you’re doing. Also, even if you are performing exercises wrong, there are so many variations of exer-
cises that they’ll probably just think you’re doing a cool new alternative move that they haven’t tried yet! So be confident in what you are doing and no one will question it.
“Every workout, challenge yourself to do one thing that pushes you out of your comfort zone” Arnold Classic Strongman Results 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Hafthor Bjornsson Martins Licis Mateusz Kieliszkowski Mikhail Shivlyakov Matjaz Belsak
The Mountain took the title, and $72,000, back to his native Finland for a second successive year. Thor lead the contest from the first event- in which he broke his own world record, with 475kg the Elephant Bar Deadlift- all the way to the last. Bjornsson was simply unbeatable. Other than Thor's dominant performance, it must be acknowledged that the Arnold this year has its fair share of injuries. JF Caron, Jerry Pritchett, and Brian Shaw (arguably Thor's biggest competitor) all sustained injuries. Shaw tore his hamstring attempting to beat Bjornnson's intial Deadlift record, and this massively affected his performance for the rest of the competetion, forcing him to even pull out of the final event. We look now to the equally formidable competition: World's Strongest Man which will take place later this year. The question is, can The Mountain be defeated?
Image: Paula R. Lively
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Friday 8th March 2019
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Zion Williamson: The 18-YearOld NBA Prospect That Obama is Tweeting About John Rogers Sport Reporter
Every year, college basketball produces a sparkling array of talents for the NBA draft, but this year an 18-year-old freshman has emerged as head and shoulders above the rest, and not just because of his 45-inch vertical jump. His name is Zion Williamson, currently playing at Duke in North Carolina, and despite his youth he is already a household name across the Atlantic. The stardom has been cultivated by his highlights package which his 2.5 million Instagram followers keep up to date with; at 18 Zion already
has a collection of dunks to rival any professional in the game. Freakish athleticism is the first thing that you notice when watching him play. At a reported 2 8 5 pounds (130kg), Z i o n would already be the second heaviest player in the NBA, yet he stands at only 6 feet 7 inches - the league average. These attributes have already got the fans flocking to watch Duke play, with tickets
to a recent game against rivals UNC reselling for over $3000. Amongst these fans was one Barack Obama, who watched on as Zion sprained his knee with barely thirty seconds on the clock, prompting the tweet (inset). He is not the only one to heap praise on the player. Two-time NBA-finals MVP Kevin Durant described him as a ‘once-in-a-generation type athlete,’ and his coach Steve Kerr
somewhat controversially even likened him to LeBron James. The pressure is certainly on Zion ahead of his first NBA season, but the talent and raw attributes are there for a potentially all-time great career. Having averaged 22 points along with 9 rebounds in only 28 minutes so far this season, it remains to be seen whether he will retake to the court following his injury or wrap himself in cotton wool with an eye on the 20th June, NBA draft night. Barring catastrophe, Zion is a lock for the number 1 overall pick, and whichever team claims his talents will have one of the hottest prospects in the past decade.
MLS 2019: Atlanta Favourites to Retain Title Jake Davis Sport Reporter
With the 24th season of Major League Soccer opening last weekend, the competition is continuing to grow at an exhilarating rate and this season there are a multitude of teams who could lift the MLS Cup come the playoffs at the end of the year. The bookies’ favourites to win America’s premier soccer competition this year are last year’s champions Atlanta United FC. The Five Stripes claimed their first title in 2018 alongside the
Supporters Shield and look set to defend this silverware this season. Pity Martinez is the latest high profile player to join their ranks and the Argentinian international is hoping to benefit from Frank de Boer’s coaching as the former Crystal Palace manager begins his debut season in the MLS. DC United are also considered to be in the running for the MLS Cup this season, despite coming up short in their playoff game against Columbus Crew in 2018, which they lost 3-2 on penalties. Wayne Rooney proved to be a pivotal signing in June as he went on to score 12 goals and
assist another 7 in just 20 appearances for the club to help them claim a playoff spot. There is no telling how far he can take the East Coast side in his first full season for the Black and Reds. New York Red Bulls are hoping to win their first MLS Cup after winning 3 Supporters Shields in the last 6 years. Meanwhile, LAFC could compete with the big boys in just their second season in Major League Soccer, following a successful inaugural season in which they reached the playoffs. Montreal Impact won 11 and drew 6 of their last 21 games of the 2018 MLS season,
and could prove dangerous if they carry this form into the new year. The opening weekend saw DC stake their claim for glory as they conquered defending champions Atlanta 2-0, whilst elsewhere NY Red Bulls drew 1-1 with Columbus Crew and LAFC edged past Sporting Kansas by 2 goals to 1. Football is growing more and more popular in the US and this season, with more teams than ever before and stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney taking centre stage, America is set to witness some spectacular football. Long may this new American sporting revolution continue.
Sports Club of the Fortnight: Cheerleading Jack Simpkin Sport Editor
Already very much part of the furniture at all big sporting events on campus, the Cheerleading squad have been enjoying another very impressive and successful year both in the big events they are renowned for starring in, and in smaller team disciplines. This year, under the leadership of President Jessie Albutt, the squad has clearly gone from strength to strength. One key moment of success for them to be immensely proud
of was the recent victory at Nationals for their Jazz team. Led expertly by Lauren Shirley, Jazz makes up one of the three smaller teams alongside Hip-Hop and Pom that compete individually at their respective competitions. Having finished third at Nationals two years ago, and second last year, coach Shirley was understandably keen not to ‘break the pattern.’ Owing to an impressively-challenging and well-executed routine that she choreographed herself, this year’s Jazz team certainly did not. Speaking to us this week, Shirley identified last year’s runners-up finish as a key factor in helping them clinch top spot his year, ‘We’ve learnt from everything that has happened in the past. I saw what went wrong and what went well, so I was able to react off that this year and work towards what I know that they like now at the competition, like telling more of a story with the dance.’ Albutt was full of praise for
Shirley’s work: ‘When Lauren was elected Jazz coach last year, I had no doubt that she would choreograph a winning routine.’ When Albutt leaves her post as Cheer President, she’ll leave behind an exciting group who have grown and improved to noend under her commitment-focused leadership, as was clear by the quality of their landmark halftime performance at xpLosION last term. Speaking very openly about the culture she has instilled in the squad, Albutt explained how ‘commitment on the team has been my main focus – introducing a three-strike policy this year. Since introducing this policy attendance at training sessions and our weekly meetings has seen a big improvement which hopefully is reflected in our success at competitions.’ Discussing xpLosION, both were keen to highlight just how stressful the build-up to the event can be, but not without expressing just how rewarding it is in the end. Shirley described the excite-
ment in the squad as ‘contagious,’ whilst Albutt justified all the stress with the euphoria of producing in the moment, ‘the feeling when we all came off the pitch made it all worth it and seeing the coaches proud of the performance is a relief too.’
A note from the Sports Officer: Simon Price Sports Officer
Cheer have undoubtedly been a group that have been excellent in the last few weeks! Their Jazz Team have become National champions, Hip-Hop came third, and Pom also did fantastic in their National Championships. Away from the performances, they have also teamed up brilliantly with B-Eat to promote their ‘Sock It to Eating Disorders’ campaign.
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Kepa Him on the Bench Jake Bradshaw Sport Editor
The League Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester City on 24th February was an extraordinay match. Unfortunately, this was not due to it being a rip-roaring, edge-of-the-seat match between two giants of the English game, but rather because of the actions of Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arizzabalaga in extra time. With the match headed to penalties, much to the relief of pretty much everyone watching, Chelsea boss Mauricio Sarri gave the order for his keeper, Kepa, to be substituted for Willy Caballero, a former City player and skilled shot-stopper – a trait that tends to come in handy during shootouts. Cue the chaos. In what was an unprecedented act of defiance, even for the temeramental Chelsea players, who it could be argued forced previous managers Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho out of the club, Kepa simply refused to come off the field. Sarri probably made the decision because Kepa seemed to be struggling with cramp in the closing stages of the game, as well as Caballero's pedigree in penalty shoot-outs- he saved three in City's League Cup win in 2016 against Liverpool. Not only this, but the veteran Argentine would have intimate knowledge of the City players, as he trained week-in-week-out with them until his departure in 2017. Despite Sarri’s attempt to cover for his keeper by afterwards stating the incident was a ‘misunderstanding,’ the fact that Kepa was subsequently dropped for Chelsea’s next game against Tottenham showed there was a genuine problem. Moreover, anyone watching the game could see the sheer anger in the Chelsea boss’ eyes as he shouted and raged on the touchline, at one point almost storming from the pitch in disgust. I also found myself feeling frustrated with Kepa. His arrogance to subvert his manager's orders exhibited everything that is wrong with modern football – players have too much individual power, and in some cases are happy to do whatever they want rather than follow the ideas of their boss. I would argue that the one-week’s wages fine and one match ban imposed on Kepa by the club was not enough to make up for what he did, as the Spaniard was drafted straight back into the starting eleven for their next match against Fulham. Player power in the right hands can be a good thing, with responsible, sensible players able to help their team succeed. But unfortunately, many footballers are not these. Kepa, being Chelsea's record signing at £71m, and bearing in mind their upcoming transfer ban, is unlikely to face more punishment, but we can only hope the impact of his actions does not set a dangerous precident for the future of football.
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Friday 8th March 2019
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International Women’s Day: Women’s Sport is Growing, But There’s Still Work to Do
Sport Reporter Dan Hague reviews the recent advancements in women's sports Dan Hague Sport Reporter
If you’re an England Rugby fan you will be looking for some sort of consolation after last week's defeat to Wales. You need not worry. In the corresponding women’s fixture, it was a story of David vs Goliath, and Goliath came out on top; England Women dominated Wales Women 51-29. But why was this victory so convincing when an England and Wales fixture is usually anything but? There is a simple answer; professionalism. The English players have professional contracts. They are paid by the Rugby Football Union, which means they can afford time off work and train appropriately throughout the week. Wales do not have this same luxury. One Welsh player had to drive straight from the
Welsh training camp at 3:30am in the morning to arrive at work for 7:00am. Hence, we can see that the care given to female rugby players can vary considerably from nation to nation, but what about from sport to sport? Which sports are doing the most for women?
“One has to look
no further than Dina Asher-Smith to see a female athlete as recognisable as any man” One example that springs to mind is Athletics. Women compete in the same arena, at the
same time, and are supported by just as many spectators as their male counterparts. One has to look no further than Dina AsherSmith to see a female athlete as recognisable as any man.
“Women in sport do not get the recognition they deserve” Nevertheless, more work needs to be done to provide a completely equal environment. Just think, you will never see a women’s relay final follow from the respective men’s final. Therefore, even in one of the most progressive sports, women do not have the same platform to perform on as men. There are some sports which provide a platform for women to
ODI Cricket: England still World Cup Favorites if they Learn from Blips in Windies George Garrett Sport Reporter
Cast your mind back to 2015, where England’s One Day side were blown away in the World Cup group stages. Hardly competitive, not making it out of the group stages, and only managing to beat Scotland and Afghanistan – England had failed in yet another World Cup. Roll on 2019, and England will go into this year’s World Cup
on home soil as favourites. A testament to the transformation under the guidance of Eoin Morgan. England have not lost a home One Day series since the World Cup, meriting their existence as most fancied for the tournament. They have reinvented themselves as a One Day outfit, replacing conservatism with energy, and bringing fire power to their ranks. They have a batting line up with no fear, with all current batters having a strike rate of over 85, illustrating England’s potential
for big scores. It was only a few weeks ago England amassed an incredible 418 runs in 50 overs, proving that when they get it right, the likes of Jos Butler, Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan et al. can be devastating. Likewise, England’s bowling has a knack of producing when they really need to. Take Adil Rashid’s four wickets in an over against the West Indies when his team desperately needed him. Or how Liam Plunkett has the best strike rate of any English player
shine. In exclusive sports, that only allow female teams, women are the stars. Think back to Sports Personality of the Year. The English Netball team won both the ‘Team of the Year’ and ‘Greatest Sporting Moment of the Year’. Thus, when women are given the limelight their extraordinary achievements are just as enthralling. However, this is still an all too infrequent occurrence. Returning to the example of Sports Personality of the Year; since the turn of the century only three women have won the title, and none in the last decade. This is a major fault in how we engage with sport in society. It seems clear to me that women in sport do not get the recognition they deserve. Their stories are just as engaging as their male counterparts’ and yet are not appreciated in the same way and this is the most substantial problem the sporting population has to solve. (31.2) to have played One Day International Cricket for England. Eoin Morgan has an array of different options to call upon when necessary. That said, the recent series against the West Indies reaffirmed that for all England’s bravado and charisma, they are susceptible to batting collapses which lead to heavy defeats. The Windies bowled England out for a feeble 113 in the series' last game, likewise inflicted another batting collapse in the second game of the series, losing five wickets for just 35 runs. Both games ended in defeat. The occasional blip is no rarity either. Despite already winning the series in Sri Lanka before Christmas, the final game of the series was the largest ever English defeat in a One Day game (lost by 219 runs). Similarly, in the Champions Trophy in 2017, England were blown away by
Filip Bossuyt
Clive Jones
Pakistan in the semi-final, bowled out for 211- a major disappointment. There’s no denying this side’s transformation has been magnificent , and when they get it right, which is more often than not, they are the best side in the world. Not only have they reinvented themselves as a team, but they've reinvigorated the nation’s interest in 50 over cricket. However if Eoin Morgan is to lift the World Cup come June, England will need to make sure they leave their demons in the West Indies, otherwise the World Cup will be going elsewhere.
Cricket fan? Listen to The Corridor of Uncertainty on Burn FM with George Garrett every week on Thursdays at 10PM.
Hot Prospects: The Two GB Rookies Making the Jump from Formula 2 this Season Luke Bosher examines the chances of Britain's representatives in F1 Luke Bosher Sport Writer
Andrew Locking
Not since the Japanese GP in 2017 have there been multiple British drivers on a Formula 1 grid, but come the first race in
Australia on March 16th, household name and five-time champion Lewis Hamilton will be joined by rookies George Russell and Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton is arguably one of the greatest drivers of all time and needs little introduction. In 2019, he faces his 'toughest battle yet' in his quest to retain the World Drivers' Championship as Ferrari have proved to be quicker in all conditions at pre-season testing in Spain. Much can change during the season, and whilst Hamilton will expect podium finishes in most races, retaining his title might prove to be an unachievable goal. George Russell comes into the
season as reigning FIA Formula 2 champion. The 21-year-old has driven in practice a few times for Force India, but will partner fanfavourite Robert Kubica for Williams this season. It may well be a difficult year for Russell, with Williams setting by far the slowest pace at pre-season testing. Despite a title, last year was not all plain sailing for Russell, enduring clutch and engine failures with his French team, ART, and spending two races outside the points. His maturity in dealing with challenging circumstances, alongside natural racing ability, is what impressed Williams bosses, and will be crucial this season in
the slowest car on the grid.
“George Russell comes into the season as reigning FIA Formula 2 champion” Lando Norris finished second behind Russell in last year’s Formula 2 campaign, and this year the Bristolian will drive for McLaren, a team he has been a part of since 2017. McLaren have
two new drivers with Carlos Sainz Jr. partnering teenager Norris, and will hope that these two young drivers will fill the void left by Fernando Alonso. The team are now in their second season with Renault engines after a difficult spell with Honda, and have been showing promising signs during pre-season, with Norris’ times close to Sainz (a fifth-year veteran) throughout. Consistency may prove to be an issue for McLaren and Norris if pre-season is anything to go by, with highs of fastest times in Week 2 to lows of hydraulic and mechanical issues, but Norris will hope for a midtable finish for himself and his team.
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Friday 8th March 2019
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Still Favourites? England Need to Bounce Back from Wales Defeat
Ben Garrett looks at England's chances to win this year's Six Nations tournament Ben Garrett Sport Reporter
If you are an English rugby fan, then there is no doubt that their 21-13 loss to Wales in Cardiff was a disappointing and surprising result to witness. But the bookmakers still place England as favourites to win the Six Nations as Wales face two tougher tests, away at Scotland and at home to Ireland, while England go against Italy and Scotland at home, which are theoretically easier games and, all being well, should be ten points in the bag for England. Also, because Ireland, Scotland, and France are still theoretically in with a chance of taking the title, this means that there is still very much everything to play for. If England do live up to their label as favourites and obtain ten
points from Italy and Scotland, then a Wales Grand Slam is the only chance that they have at claiming the title, and even with an injury to Courtney Lawes, England still look very strong, largely owing to the return of the formidable second row force of Maro Itoje seemingly imminent.
against Wales they continued to play the same kicking game, where Farrell would kick it for May to run onto, but this didn’t work as effectively as it did against Ireland and France.
“England need to change their tactics for the next few games”
“There is still very much everything to play for” Along with the return of Itoje, English players such as Jonny May, Mako Vunipola, Tom Curry, Owen Farrell and the potentially soon to be Racing Metro player Manu Tuilagi are still playing very well together. Despite this, England need to change their tactics for their next few games. Up
Cynulliad Cymru
Warren Gatland's Wales beat England 27-13
Hopefully, Eddie Jones realises that teams have sussed this out about England and Kyle Sinckler keeps his cool and doesn’t give away needless, crucial penalties. Unless they both change their ways then maybe those ‘dead certain’ ten points may not be so certain after all, and the trophy will be heading elsewhere.
W
BON
PTS
WAL
3
0
12
ENG
2
2
10
IRE
2
1
9
FRA
1
2
6
SCO
1
1
5
ITA
0
0
0
Round 3 Results: FRA 27-10 SCO WAL 21-13 ENG ITA 16-26 IRE Round 3 Fixtures: SCO-WAL - Tomorrow 14:15 ENG-ITA - Tomorrow 16:45 IRE-FRA - Sunday 15:00
Cheltenham 2019: Four to Look Out For
Sport Reporter George Garrett gives four of his favourites for this year's Cheltenham Festival races George Garrett Sport Reporter
12-15 March A year of waiting is almost over: The Cheltenham Festival beckons. 28 races over four days between Tuesday, March 12 and Friday, March 15. Boasting Grade 1 races aplenty, including the famous Gold Cup, it promises to be an enthralling four days of National Hunt racing. With plenty of races to choose from, we’ve picked four horses from the four biggest races to keep an eye on.
1) Buveur D’air (2/1) Champion Hurdle Tuesday 12th March, 15:30
2) Altior (4/9) Champion Chase Wednesday 13th March, 15:30
3) Faugheen (4/1) Stayers’ Hurdle Thursday 14th March, 15:30
4) Presenting Percy (4/1) Gold Cup Friday 15th March, 15:30
The eight-year-old trained by Nicky Henderson seeks to replicate his performance in the same race last year where he claimed a second consecutive Champion Hurdle. If he is to win again, he will have triumphed in the race three years in a row – a feat only managed by select few. That said, he was beaten by stablemate Verdana Blue on Boxing Day, proving he’s not invincible. He also has highly rated oppositions to contend with, namely Apple’s Jade and Laurina, who haven't tasted defeat this season. It’s a race full of promise; a three horse race, with Buveur D’air leading the way.
Never beaten over jumps, another horse trained by Nicky Henderson, Altior, is the hot favourite for the Queen Mother’s Champion Chase. He’s had an uncomplicated build up, running well at Ascot last time out, and he will look to replicate his performance in the same race in 2018. Barring any disasters, Altior should make it two in two. Doubt him at your peril.
Probably the least fancied of our picks, Faugheen is one to look out for in Stayers’ Hurdle, the headline race on the Thursday at Cheltenham. Last year he raced in the Champion Hurdle, coming a disappointing sixth, but this year he makes the switch to the Stayers’ where he is one of the favourites. Despite falling on his last outing at Leopardstown when he looked set to challenge the inform Apple’s Jade, his run over this extended distance at Punchestown last year shows that he retains the ability to win what looks like a weak renewal of this race.
The bookies’ favorite for the grand finale, The Gold Cup. Surprisingly, he hasn’t run over fences since his win at Cheltenham last year in the RSA Chase, leading pundits to question his preparation for this year’s Gold Cup. That said, he has been victorious in his last two visits to the festival, and rightly this year he makes the step up in the biggest race of all. Whether he has what it takes when up against the best is all to be revealed. Presenting Percy has been wrapped in cotton wool in the build up to the race, but come Friday all eyes will be on him.
“Altior is the hot favourite... Doubt him at your peril”
US U-Turn: What has changed for AJ? Andy Brennan Sport Reporter
Jarrell Miller v Anthony Joshua 1st June 2019 Madison Square Gardens, NY
Back in the middle of 2018, promoter Eddie Hearn declared that England was now the home of boxing, announcing that it was unlikely Anthony Joshua would fight in the USA anytime soon. However, cancelling a highly anticipated Wembley venue fight
in April for his prized possession Joshua, Hearn has now opted to fight at Madison Square Gardens in New York on June 1. It is a fight many boxing commentators and fans alike have labelled as unadventurous and many, myself included, see Joshua as the clear and obvious favourite to win against his challenger Jarrell Miller. So, what has caused this sudden swing in opinion about fighting stateside? Well, the answer may come as slightly unsurprising, it is... yes... money. Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing has recently launched a
gigantic Boxing streaming service in the USA known and ‘DAZN’, signing some of Boxing’s biggest stars in ‘Canelo’ Álvarez and Daniel Jacobs. AJ, as a part of Hearn’s stable, is automatically placed onto this service, and it is thought that he intends to use the Miller fight as a way to boost AJ’s profile in the USA. Miller, while not the most accomplished fighter, is enough of a promoter and entertainer to attract a good number of new fans to the service. While I feel this match is rather safe and unadventurous for AJ, and that he should have been
ordered to rematch Dillian Whyte or fight Cuban boogeyman Luis Ortiz, I understand Hearn’s intentions in trying to marinate Joshua’s brand in the eyes of a more global audience.
“This match is rather safe and unadventurous” However, the seismic rumbles that the gigantic heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder have generated
also rustled the feathers of team Joshua. Post-fight, both fighters taunted Joshua and his apparent lack of willingness to fight the pair, citing themselves as the two best in the division. This conversation inevitably spilled onto social media where a plethora of fight fans jeered Joshua and Hearn’s swerving of big fights. This seems to have irked the pair as this bout can be seen as the precursor to a heavyweight showdown in Las Vegas against one of the two – most likely Wilder, who Joshua believes to be a one-trick pony.
SPORT
08.03.2019
Netball League Champions Advance to Cup Semis
Clive Jones (CJ)
44
UoB 1sts
Leeds Beckett 21
Isabel Baldwin reports from the UB Sports Centre where UoB Netball 1sts continued their impressive season Isabel Baldwin Sport Editor
University of Birmingham’s sports hall played host to the Netball First Team’s quarter final clash against Leeds Beckett last Wednesday. Having already secured the league win, the squad were looking to advance their cup run. Birmingham were clear favourites against a Leeds Beckett team that only finished in fifth place in the league and the girls in red did not disappoint. A 44-21 victory kept the home side on the path to cup glory. The game got off to a dramatic start when, only minutes into the first quarter, Leeds Beckett were forced into an early change after their Wing Defence went crashing to the ground in agony following a collision with a Birmingham player in an attempt to gain possession. However, this did not deter the visiting team, who quickly took the lead with two quick successive shots. Birmingham were not to be left behind though as Kat Short soon retaliated with a point. If Leeds seemed threatening at first, it was not to last. The visitors’ undisciplined defence gave away numerous penalty shots in Birmingham's attacking D which the Lions pounced upon to take the lead. Birmingham’s domination continued to be the theme through the remainder of the game. The girls played with incredible fluidity in front of the home crowd with the ball flowing effortlessly between players for star shooters Kat Short and Louise Marsden to put the ball through the net to give Birmingham a 24-12 lead in the second quarter. Heading into the third quarter, changes were made to the Birmingham side as Helen Cater-Roberts replaced Marsden in GA and Katie Bowen came on for Ellie Rattu in WD. The second half of the game followed in a similar fashion to the first. Birmingham dominated in possession whilst Leeds became slack and sloppy in
defence. Victory was in sight as the home team headed into the final quarter of the game, however, Leeds were not about to give up easily as they attempted a small comeback snatching a few points. Yet, it was not enough to rescue the visitors’ damaged hopes of a quarter final victory as Birmingham prevailed to secure a 44-21 win. An extremely successful league season in which the Birmingham 1sts won eight of their ten games has given the squad a taste of triumph, but they are hungry for more. The quarter final win sees them through to the semi-finals which is sure to be a tough game when they take on Bath on 13th March but the girls will be gunning to go all the way. With the league already in the bag and the cup in sight, the double could very much be on the cards for the Netball 1sts. CJ
Interview With Ashleigh Dekker After the victory, Sport Editor Isabel Baldwin (IB), spoke to the ever impressuve Birmingham captain, Ashleigh Dekker (AD):
IB: First of all, congratulations on the win, how does it feel? AD: Oh yeah it feels good, really good. IB: How does it feel having the possibility of winning both the league and the cup this season? AD: Well, we’ve obviously got the first one which was the league, so yeah to win both is the aim but we’re taking each competition at a time. IB: And do you think you can carry the success of the league into the cup run? AD: Yes, 100%. We’ve got a tough game in two weeks time with the semifinals but hopefully we can get that. Yeah, I think we can with a big push. IB: What do you think the squad owes their success to this season? AD: I think everyone’s commitment to training and everyone turning up for stuff out of training like Strength and Conditioning and physio. And we’ve got some great support around us. IB: And looking further into the future, do you think this has given the squad the foundation and the encouragement to push for further success next season? AD: 100%! I think our success this season is attracting people to coming here as well, so we’ve got loads of girls looking to join. IB: How does the squad get on with each other both and on off the court? AD: We’re very close. We’re basically a squad and a team both in and outside of training. IB: And do you think this helps when you’re on the court in a game like this? AD: Oh yeah massively, I think the one thing that breaks a team down is when you start getting angry at each other on the court which our team doesn’t have so it definitely helps. IB: This paper is actually going to
come out of International Women’s Day and obviously that was a great example of powerful women in sport. But, how do you think netball as a whole is encouraging female athletes and promoting powerful women in sport? AD: Oh 100% it is. I mean the coverage of us [England] winning gold [at the 2018 Commonwealth Games] is a great push for girls. They’re willing to train, they’re willing to play. They’re willing to play netball. It’s also great to see netball at Birmingham as a sport that everyone talks about. It’s not just the male sports, it’s not just rugby, it’s not just hockey. Netball is right up there. IB: Building on that, here at Birmingham do you all feel like you’re recognised as a squad of powerful women? AD: 100%. The power the university uses to publicise us is fantastic. BUCS Netball 2018/19 - Premier North How it finished... P W
GD
PTS
BIRM
10
8
167
24
M.MET
10
7
92
21
LBORO
10
7
98
21
MAN
10
4
-102
12
L.BECK
10
3
-75
9
NORB
10
1
-180
3
Up Next: Intercept Championship Semi-Final Birmingham vs Bath Wednesday 13th March - 14:00 Munrow Arena Show-Court (Spectator Seating available)