Redbrick Issue 1505, Vol. 83
Friday 22nd March 2019
The best of this summer’s festivals
Bouncing back: Alan Partridge returns
Music 20-21
FREE
Did Kylie Jenner earn her billions?
How to treat your mum this Mother’s Day
Television Food&Drink 25 28
Ryan Gamblin (Twitter: @loveblindeyes)
Life&Style 33
Youth Strike 4 Climate
University students in solidarity with striking Birmingham school pupils
Redbrick
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The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936
Trans Staff at Risk From New UoB Database Megan Stanley & Liam Taft News Editors
The University of Birmingham Staff House
The New Core online staff system is set to launch in June but will only allow legal names to be displayed, meaning that transgender staff members could be outed by the database. A representative from Unison has expressed concerns to Redbrick that the system will reveal information such as a transgender person’s birth name, potentially revealing protected characteristics such as their biological sex. Referral to this rather than a person’s preferred name, also known as ‘deadnaming,’ could cause distress to current or future transgender staff. This may also be classed as harassment in the workplace. New Core is set to go live in June and will change the way that finance, HR, and payroll systems are carried out at the University of Birmingham. All staff, including students who also work for the University, will be able to search for their colleagues. Legal names will be visible on the dashboard and in the staff directory, as well as to line managers. The representative from Unison suggested that this may be a breach of people’s personal information: ‘literally anyone who works in the
University can search this directory,’ which Unison claim could be ‘a data breach but also quite cruel to those staff members.’ Finn Humphris, Trans Officer for the Guild of Students, stated to Redbrick that: ‘Although an individual’s legal name is required for tax purposes at the point of processing payment to allow identification with HMRC’s records, there is no need for this information to be accessible to anyone not processing payroll. It will likely result in staff being outed and/or having their deadname known without their consent. Not only is this disrespectful to trans and non-binary people’s autonomy, it places people at risk of transphobic harassment and backlash. Any system that allows for “legal names” cannot be considered to take the rights and needs of the community into account. At best, the University moving to such a system is a harmful oversight.’ In a statement to Redbrick, the Rainbow Network (whose aim is to support and improve working conditions for the University’s LGBT staff and PhD students) said: ‘Since we initially informed the University of this potential issue facing trans staff, we have continued to provide advice and guidance on how to mitigate the situation and protect their rights and anonymity, as well as meeting with affected staff to offer sup-
INSIDE: Redbrick Writers and Editors Past and Present Discuss the Vitality of Student Journalism
port. In all circumstances our top priority remains the wellbeing of our members and LGBTQ staff and PhD students across the University.’ An official statement from Unison expressed their ‘deep disappointment’ regarding the University leadership’s oversight. ‘The expectation that staff should bend to fit New Core, rather than correct this error, is indicative of the leadership’s attitude to individuals unlike themselves. The University’s Charter and ideals are important to students and staff alike and it is disheartening to see these principles eroded by those currently in power.’ When contacted, a spokesperson for the University said: ‘We believe our diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of our academic mission. As such, we remain committed to promoting equality, diversity and fairness irrespective of age, disability, gender, pregnancy or marital status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or gender identity.’ They went on to state that ‘the New Core team are investigating options for future development’ and are in ‘ongoing contact with those staff who may be affected to provide additional assurance, and continue to engage with the University’s Rainbow Network to resolve the issue.’
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Letter from the committee... On Sunday evening, the nominations for the 2019 SPA Awards were announced. These awards are designed to champion the very best of student journalism in the UK, and we were thrilled to receive five nominations across four categories. Although this committee was slightly disappointed not to recieve recognition for the Best Publication award (it’s like they haven’t even seen our crossword!), congratulations are in order for Liam Taft, Natalia Carter and Charlie Avery, who all recieved individual nominations. Myself and Deputy Editor Issy Campbell were also shortlisted, with Issy and Natalia both in the running for the Best Comment category – proof, if it were needed, of the quality of opinion journalism Redbrick has produced this year. Last week was one of turnaround for the paper, with our AGM taking place on Thursday evening. Alongside the usual reports from this year’s committee, the AGM also saw the election of those taking over the paper for the next academic year. News Editor Tom Leaman will be taking up the mantle of Editor-in-Chief, supported by the new Deputy Editor team of Emily Calder and Lydia Waller. The online side of the paper will be under the supervision of current Film Editor Lucy McCann, along-
side incoming Deputy Digital Editor Holly Pittaway. Our new Lead Developer will be Joseph Chotard, and the role of Social Secretary will be taken over by Rebecca Hall. Theodore Wrigley, this year’s Marketing Secretary, will be resuming his duties for 2019/20, as well as assuming the new role of Outreach Secretary – as part of a new drive to engage with Redbrick alumni and improve our capabilities as a springboard into professional journalism and postgraduate careers. Finally, my own duties as Print & Features Editor will be taken over by Natalia Carter. Although I am naturally sorry to be leaving behind the care of this wonderful paper, this sadness is more than made up for by my confidence in Natalia as a successor. She has the perfect temperment and work ethic for the role, and I have absolutely no doubt that the print side of Redbrick could not be in safer hands come 2019/20. These next few months are set to be a bittersweet time for our outgoing committee. Although there is still plenty left to do before we hand over in June, to know that our days are numbered is a very melancholic thought. I know I am not alone in saying that Redbrick has absolutely been the highlight of my university career: I still re-
member signing up in September 2016 as a rosy-cheeked fresher, and writing my first article for the October print of that year. To look back now, even upon last year’s AGM (which still feels as though it happened only a couple of days ago), I can define my entire time at university through my involvement with Redbrick. To know that after today I’m just one issue away from leaving the paper is a very hard thing – although I know that my time here has been a series of experiences that I will never forget. It also consoles me and the rest of this committee to know that, while we may be moving on, the future of Redbrick itself is as exciting as it has ever been. If the AGM showed us anything, it was the extent of the fantastic new ideas that our new committee and editorial team will be bringing to the table. The people change, but the paper perseveres. From the dungeons, etc.
Thom Dent Print & Features Editor
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Redbrick Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Erin Santillo editor@redbrick.me
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Travel Editors Laura Botia Evangeline Hunt travel@redbrick.me
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Gaming Editors Christopher Hall James Law Imogen Mellor Sam Nason gaming@redbrick.me
Music Editors Emily Barker Letty Gardner Harry Hetherington Kieran Read
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UoB Students Show Solidarity with School Pupils in Climate Strike Florence Jones News Reporter @_Florence_Jones
On Friday 15th March, a number of University students attended the ‘Youth Strike 4 Climate’ in Birmingham City Centre. The strike consisted of local school pupils refusing to attend school for the day to go out and protest against the current government’s inaction on issues of climate change. ‘Youth Strike 4 Climate’ have been organising school strikes across the UK on the February 15th and the March 15th. The strikes have been organised by a group of young people, including 16-year-old Swedish Activist Greta Thunberg who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. According to the strike’s organisers, ‘this is our final chance to fight for our futures, and our ages will not be what stops us.’
While attendance is less strict at university, a number of students from the University of Birmingham (UoB) chose to attend the climate strike in solidarity for the younger school students. Second-year Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences Student Abi Chapman told Redbrick that she chose to attend the protest ‘to show support for Generation Z.’ Another second-year student, Eleanor Teather, said ‘I feel helpless and this makes me feel less helpless.’ Redbrick spoke with the Social Secretary of UoB’s Environmental Society, Charlotte Balchin, about why the society chose to support the strike: ‘I think group action and protest is the only way the government will come to see the climate needs to be a priority, not just an afterthought. ‘I think that young people striking is significant as, not only does it show that climate change is a critical issue which is going unaddressed, but also that young people
feel the need to make a statement as their concerns are not being represented or discussed enough in parliament.’ A number of local school students spoke at the protest. One student summed up her feelings towards her teachers who forbade them skipping school with the statement ‘what is the point of preparing for a future that we don’t even have?’ One 76-year-old Greenpeace Campaigner told the students how impressed she was with the attendance, and she apologised on behalf of people her age: ‘It’s my generation that has done this to you.’ Charlotte Balchin told Redbrick that she is ‘in awe of all of the young people I’ve seen taking action and would encourage them to continue doing so, as this is an issue that will affect young people the most.’ One school student had a message of hope for her peers: ‘by being here our generation is making a difference and we should be
proud of that.’ Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Waseem Zaffar, also spoke at the demonstration in the City centre.
He encouraged the students in their protesting and lobbing. He also promised that ‘we will leave this society in a better place for you, your children and future generations.’
Pixabay
Guild Hosts Second Ever VCQT Megan Stanley News Editor @oh_itsonlymegan
The second ever Vice-Chancellor Question Time (VCQT) took place in the Guild of Students on Monday 18th March. Students were invited to the Debating Hall to raise any issues and concerns with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Eastwood. Joining Eastwood on the panel was Academic Registrar Stephen McAuliffe, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education Kathy Armour, and Director of Hospitality and Accommodation Services Paddy Jackman.
Ellis Palmer, who is a journalist for the BBC and the former Guild of Students Disabled Students’ Officer, chaired the event. Low staff wages and mass casualisation were targeted during the first question in the ‘academic experience’ section. The ViceChancellor disagreed with the notion that there is a staff ‘crisis.’ He defended the amount of temporary contracts by explaining that the staff members on these contracts bring skills and knowledge that would otherwise be absent from the University. One student asked how students are meant to have a good university experience when socie-
ties often have to offer support where wellbeing and mental health services fail. McAuliffe said the University’s aim is to ensure that 85% of students will meet with a councillor within 20 working days, but that urgent students are seen within two days. ‘We are proud of what we have done – we are leaders in the support that we give to students with mental health challenges,’ Eastwood told the audience. The Guild’s Trans Students’ Officer, Finn Humphris, asked how academic spaces can avoid providing a platform for harmful rhetoric, especially towards LGBT students.
Eastwood responded by saying: ‘a university must be a community which understands and celebrates diversity.’ He added that the University must be a safe space for free speech and freedom of expression, ensuring both remain appropriate and respectful. In response to a question about UoB’s Dubai campus, McAuliffe said that the University has been working with the LGBTQ Society, but also said that 96% of the students at the Dubai campus are from the UAE, and thus would have lived their lives within the laws of that nation. Armour said: ‘of course this is a difficult issue, we don’t always
agree with the policies of other countries.’ She continued by saying that the Dubai students are getting an education ‘they absolutely would not have had otherwise.’ Other concerns regarding sexual assault on campus, anti-Semetitic incidents and high fees for international students were also raised throughout the evening. In his closing remarks, the Vice-Chancellor told the audience that he hoped students deemed the evening ‘appropriate.’ Jackman thanked the audience for a ‘heartening’ evening. Visit www.redbrick.me for Redbrick News' Live Blog coverage of the evening.
‘Abhorrent’ Pritchatts Road Housing Plans Conclusively Denied Emily Darby News Reporter
Plans to build new accommodation that would house over 500 University of Birmingham students have been conclusively denied by councillors at the final round of discussions. Redbrick reported on the Council’s initial rejection in the first stage of the planning process on the 8th February, but the plans have been given a final refusal after councillors formally voted in the first week of March. The final vote was deferred after the general consensus of the committee during a January planning meeting was to oppose the
plans – the plans were also met with hostility by Metchley Park Residents Association who termed the plans ‘abhorrent.’ A spokesperson for the University told Redbrick: ‘we are of course disappointed with the decision taken by Birmingham City Council regarding our proposals for new student accommodation and car park on the existing Pritchatts Park site. We are now looking at a number of different ways forward, as we seek to ensure we have adequate high quality accommodation for our students, and appropriate parking capacity for campus.’ The news comes after Tim Owen, General Manager for Student Accommodation, told
Redbrick last month that after a disappointing initial response, a ‘re-design’ more in-keeping with the community’s wishes was being drawn up. ‘Everything we do is designed with student experience in mind,’ Owen told Redbrick, revealing that discussions between residents close to Pritchatts Park, the University’s hotel and the surrounding community were in place to help re-model the plans. The University had previously stated that they believed ‘very firmly’ that the application was ‘a positive one [...] for the University, for our students for the neighbourhood, and for Birmingham as a whole.’ There are now concerns about
how the decision will impact future students seeking accommodation, with both student numbers and the cost of living on the rise.
“We are of course disappointed” With UoB ‘expecting a rise in student numbers over the next decade,’ the University of Birmingham said in a statement to the council: ‘the increased pressure on capacity due to student admissions numbers makes it difficult to uplift and improve these existing facilities due to the constant demand on usage.
‘There is need to be able to offer more accommodation at midrange cost for new students entering the University [sic].’ As well as the need for ‘varying levels of improvement work’ and a more diverse range of accommodation types, the University also addressed the possibility of a student housing crisis if new housing plans are continually rejected: ‘This will inevitably put further pressure on the provision of accommodation on campus and around the local area, as a greater number of students will require accommodation in purpose built accommodation (both university and privately owned) for their first year and also the HMO market in subsequent years.’
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Friday 22nd March 2019
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UoB Announces Interdisciplinary Links With Singapore University Florence Jones News Reporter
The University of Birmingham (UoB) is hosting a major global multi-disciplinary initiative on the Edgbaston Campus from the 18th – 27th March in partnership with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. ‘Intercontinental Academia (ICA) – Laws: Rigidity and Dynamics’ will feature 40 leading academics and researchers, including three Nobel Prize winners. The event hopes to bring together leading minds from multiple disciplines, allowing them to share perspectives and address societal changes. During the week, a series of ‘mentors' lectures’ will be taking place which are open to staff, students and members of the public. The planned lecturers include
the three Nobel Laureates. The first is Jean-Marie Lehn, who won the prize for his research in Chemistry on the synthesis of cryptands. Also speaking will be Ada Yonath, known for her pioneering work on the structure of the ribosome, and David Gross, a theoretical physicist and string theorist known for the discovery of asymptotic freedom.
USA. When commenting on the conference Professor Michael Hannon, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies at UoB, said: ‘We’re creating a global mentoring
and research network to help researchers collaborate across culture, continents and disciplines. The Mentors’ Lectures provide inspiration for participants in Intercontinental Academia, as well
“The event hopes to bring together leading minds” The event features academics at a variety of stages in their careers from various part of the world including Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa and the
as enriching the lives of Birmingham people. ‘As a leading international “civic” university in the 21st century, Birmingham is committed to enriching the life of both our home city and the wider world. This event represents another exciting opportunity to foster strong research partnerships across the world.’ Interdisciplinary research is relatively new to academia and the University of Birmingham and Nanyang Technological University are clearly proud to be at the forefront of this movement. Professor Phua Kok Khoo, Founding Director Emeritus, Institute of Advanced Studies, NTU said: ‘as an alumnus of the University of Birmingham, I am delighted to see some of the world’s finest researchers delivering fascinating lectures that will inspire a fresh generation of minds.’
UoB Researchers Receive Funding to Reduce STIs in Men Aged 16-25 Aneesa Ahmed News Reporter
Academics at the University of Birmingham are collaborating with researchers from the University of Southampton, the University of Westminster and Coventry University to launch a new study to help improve condom use amongst young people, especially men, aged 16 to 25 in the UK to tackle sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Clinicians from Solent NHS Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust are also involved. The National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR), the nation’s largest funder of health and care research, have awarded the researchers £1.5million over a period of 5 years to investigate the best ways to promote correct and consistent condom use. The study aims to give insight to health professionals about how best to deliver information and educate young people about using condoms with the hope of reducing STI rates as a result. The NHS has revealed that STIs including HIV are on the rise. The 16-24 age group accounts for almost 55% of cases. STI treatment currently costs the NHS £620m a year and a record 3.3 million visits were made to sexual health clinics in England in 2017. Young people, particularly men,
have been identified by the Department of Health and Social Care as an ‘at risk’ group for these types of infections. The study will use approximately 2,200 men between 16 and 25 years old who don’t currently use condoms during sex with casual or new partners. These young people will take part in either the face-to-face or digital programmes. Alternatively, they will receive the normal, standard sexual health advice, and information will be collected about how well these programmes have been received by the young people. Then over a period of 12 months these participants will be asked about their sexual behaviour, condom use experience and get tested for chlamydia.
Researchers will then be able to compare results for three different groups based on which method was used to inform them about condom use. They will then evaluate how their experiences differ and the best way to encourage condom use amongst young people. A report has stated that as many as 1 in 4 students will catch an STI during their first year of university. 63% of students engage in unsafe sex, according to a study by The Student Room. A further 15% of students admitted to having unsafe sex with two or more partners whilst at university. Redbrick spoke to a final year student at the University of Birmingham about the new research. He said, ‘I think it’s
really great that universities are collaborating and working together to tackle such a large issue that affects students in particular.’
“I think it's really great that universities are collaborating” Professor Kevin Fenton, Deputy Chair of the NIHR Public Health Research Programme's Prioritisation Committee, said: ‘This is an important area of research, following widespread public health concerns that men aged 16-25 are among those most at risk of STIs.’
Dropping Out of University Could Cost Students over £20,000 Aishwarya Chandran News Reporter
Students who drop out of university in their first year could face the consequences of paying thousands of pounds to repay tuition fees and maintenance loans. Currently, tuition loans stand at a maximum of £9,250 per annum, and the maximum maintenance loan available to UK and EU students is £8,944. Withdrawing from university after the first term or at the end of the year could result in an expen-
sive repayment. The cost of repaying the loans depends on the time of year, location, and living arrangements of the student. Students studying outside London would be expecting their total repayment to be £18,194. This figure increases further for students studying and living in London at £20,992. In addition to these amounts, fluctuating interest rates further add to the total costs of repayment. Students repaying the money back can gradually pay back the entire amount over several years
providing they earn a salary of £25,000 or higher. The remaining sum of money is automatically written off after 30 years. Research from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) showed that for 2016/17 entrants, 6.4% of students across the UK had dropped out of university after their Pixabay first year. Furthermore, HESA also reported that there was a higher dropout rate
(8.8%) of students from disadvantaged backgrounds compared to students from advantaged areas. The Student Room has provided a comprehensive list of factors to consider before finalising the withdrawal from university. For example, talking to parents and course leaders to get an alternative opinion and advice. Additionally, Which? has warned prospective students to first research and evaluate alternative options before accepting
university offers, in order to prevent them from making hurried decisions which they may regret. A second-year Business Management student spoke to Redbrick, saying they felt shocked about the size of repayment figures. They said: ‘I feel that not enough students are aware of the implications of dropping out of university, especially the financial factors. ‘It’s a huge amount of money that needs to be repaid, so students should carefully assess their situation before confirming their decision.’
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One Third of Young People Across the UK Are Registered to Vote Florence Jones News Reporter @Florence_Jones_
According to The Electoral Commission, the independent body which oversees elections in the UK, only a third of young people are registered to vote. They recently launched the ‘Got 5?’ campaign, which hopes to encourage online registration in advance of Theresa May’s local elections on the 2nd May. The campaign emphasises how little time it takes to register for voting and targets not only young people but those who have recently moved home, private renters and those that are less likely to register to vote. People who are not registered to vote by April 12th will be una-
ble to have their say in local elections in May. When commenting on the issue, Craig Westwood, Director of Communications and Research at the Electoral Commission, said: ‘we are encouraging young people to register and have their say on important local issues. ‘It only takes five minutes to register to vote online, time that you might otherwise spend waiting for the kettle to boil or for a gym class to start. ‘So, if you want to make sure your voice is heard, go online and register now.’ Redbrick conducted a survey to see whether the national trend is represented amongst University of Birmingham students. Of the 149 UoB students Redbrick surveyed, 10 were not registered to vote. Five out of
those 10 people intend to register, and a further five cannot register to vote (for example, as international students). No students in the survey expressed no intention of voting.
“The campaign emphasises how little time it takes to register for voting” Students have been reminded by the Electoral Commission that they are able to vote at both their term time and home time addresses, having a say in the local governance of both areas.
secretlondon123
‘Alarmingly High’ Levels of Mental Health Issues Amongst Students Christina Manns News Reporter
The largest ever mental health survey of UK students has reported ‘alarmingly high’ levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness and thoughts of self-harm in universities. The poll of 38,000 selfselecting students was conducted by the Insight Network, a group of psychiatrists and therapists, in partnership with freshers’ welcome box company Dig-In. In the report, it was revealed that 44.7% of the students who took part in the online survey used alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism for psychological distress, and 9.5% said they did this often or always.
In addition, 50.3% of the stu- suffered from loneliness. dents surveyed reported thoughts The report reveals that second of self-harm, which doubles the and third-year students have the 2017 statistic. 9.4% of these highest levels of substance students said they thought abuse, loneliness and of self-harm often or anxiety. Second-years always. also have the highest 21.5% of the sturate of persistent dents said they had thoughts of selfa current mental harm at 12.1%. health diagnosis. The report of students use Depression (10.2%) attributes this trend alcohol or drugs and anxiety (8.4%) to ‘intensifying’ to cope with are the most comacademic pressure disress mon diagnoses. and the fact that ‘supIndeed, the students in port initiatives trail off the online survey reported after the first year.’ extremely high levels of anxiDr Stephen Pereira of the ety, with 87.7% struggling with Insight Network said: ‘More feelings of anxiety and 42.8% research is needed to Richard understand Vince being often or always worried. the specific risk and protection 33% of the students said they also factors at play during different
45%
years of university, in order for support services to effectively meet these year-specific demands.’ Mental health support is a contentious issue for University of Birmingham students, many of whom are unsatisfied with the amount of funding allocated to student wellbeing, as indicated by the focus on mental health in candidate manifestos in the recent Guild elections. The Guild President-elect, Joshua Williams, had two clear mental health campaigns on his visual manifesto, while the Welfare and Community Officer-elect, Millie Gibbins, also placed emphasis on decreasing waiting times, guaranteeing follow-ups and improving mental health welfare provisions for post-
graduates. Speaking to Redbrick, one second-year student said: ‘the University doesn’t offer enough support as the demand far exceeds the resources available, especially during exam season, when everyone is stressed and anxious.’ In response to these significant rises in student psychological distress, Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said: ‘we know that university-wide approaches are vital in tackling this important issue, which is why the government is backing the university mental health charter led by Student Minds, which will encourage universities to improve the pastoral care they provide and will set a high standard for mental health support.’
Lessons Introduced to Fresher Students About ‘Pressures’ of Uni Aishwarya Chandran News Reporter
The government has recently announced that new ‘training courses’ will be introduced for first year students, in order to subsidise the pressure of starting university. The new initiative comes as part of the Department of Education’s drive to address the increasing number of mental health issues that students report during their time at university. The training programme will cover issues such as managing finances, expectations of student
life, managing social media and making friends. According to Universities UK, the number of undergraduate and postgraduate students entering higher education and disclosing mental health conditions to their university institution has increased significantly in the last 10 years. Figures from 2016-17 show that 49,265 undergraduates and 8,040 postgraduates reported their struggles with mental illness. The Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, acknowledged that moving away from home for the first time can be ‘daunting’ for young people. Hinds also states that young people who are learn-
ing how to balance independent study or finances and being in a new environment with new people can be ‘overwhelming.’
“Moving away from home for the first time can be daunting” With an increasing number of students applying for higher education and greater awareness on the topic of mental health, more
support will be given to students in their first year at university to cope with the demands of university life. The Government is urging institutions to make a more vigorous attempt at educating young people about the reality of studying at higher education. Since The Prince’s Trust started reporting mental health issues in 2009, it has found that young people have the lowest levels of happiness and confidence in their mental health. For instance, 50% of mental health issues are established by the age of 14 and 75% established by 24. Redbrick spoke to a final year
Business Management student at UoB who said, ‘it is good that such training will be provided to future university students as it will make them aware of the different methods of tackling student life as well as the support they can receive at university. ‘Many students are unaware of the large step between studying at school compared to university – it’s a different experience and can be a lot to handle, especially as a fresher.’ Do you have an opinion on this article? Contact us on Twitter – @redbricknews
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Clean Air Zone to Come to Birmingham City Centre Christina Manns
your vehicle is not CAZ compliant, and you have lived in the News Reporter CAZ area since before September 2018, we are not planning to The government has approved charge you to drive in the CAZ plans for a new Clean Air Zone in until January 2022, two years Birmingham, which is due to take after the CAZ is introduced.’ effect from January 2020. However, Birmingham taxi This comes after the European drivers have protested the Clean Commission warned Birmingham Air Zone, saying that the newlyCity Council in 2017 that they approved scheme is a threat to could be fined £60 million if their livelihood. the city didn’t significantly In response to this reduce air pollution by concern, the Council 2020. will provide up to The new Clean £15 million to Air Zone, within but support Hackney not including the Carriage and priA4540 ring road, vate hire drivers. fine if the city does will result in drivers It is hoped that not reduce air of highly-polluting this money will vehicles paying a fee enable taxi drivers pollution by to drive within the to upgrade to more 2020 area, and vehicles will environmentallybe seen entering the zone friendly vehicles and by automatic number plate avoid the potential damrecognition (ANPR) cameras. age of the Clean Air Zone’s Drivers of petrol cars manu- charges to their businesses. factured before 2006 and diesel This money will come from cars manufactured before 2015 the funds granted by the Clean Air will be charged £8 to drive in the Fund to pay for mitigation measzone. A much higher proposed ures. Birmingham City Council charge of £50 for buses and HGVs has been granted £38 million out will also go ahead. of the £50 million requested for Birmingham City Council has mitigation measures, and £14.2 pledged additional support for million out of the £17.8 million some people affected, saying: ‘if sought for implementation costs.
This leaves the Council short of £16 million. The Government has also denied the Council’s plans to create funding-controlled parking zones just outside the Clean Air Zone. Transport and Environment Chief Councillor Waseem Zaffar has reassured residents living in the area just outside the zone that the Council would find another way of preventing motorists from ‘dumping’ their cars to avoid paying charges in the Clean Air
£60m
Zone. Councillor Zaffar added: ‘Getting more than three quarters the money we asked for is substantial.’ ‘I am disappointed we didn’t get 100% but we can certainly move forward in delivering this scheme this city desperately needs.’ ‘It is the start of the fightback against the public health crisis in this city which causes 900 premature deaths a year.’
Stephen McKay
Brum School Suspends LGBT Lessons Indefintely Emily Darby News Reporter
A Birmingham primary school that was recently the centre of controversy, after introducing a new curriculum that taught its 4-11 year olds about LGBT rights, has postponed the lessons until further notice. The news came days after Ofsted officially cleared the school of any misconduct. Ofsted inspectors visited Parkfield Community School in the Saltley area of Birmingham in February after parents complained that lessons teaching their children about LGBT rights were not age-appropriate. The report found no misconduct or inappropriate practice at the school during their visit, instead commending the school’s ethos for ‘tolerance, acceptance and mutual respect’ and confirmed the ‘outstanding’ rating of the school in the report. Nonetheless, following a meeting with parents on Tuesday 12th March, the school announced that they would halt the lessons indefinitely, instead hoping to work with parents to find a solution to the debate. Staff members suspended the programme on one other occasion earlier this year but had said the
move was planned and that the curriculum would continue after the Easter holidays but, in light of recent events, the school currently has no plans to continue the lessons. The Ofsted report suggested one possible measure for improvement, which would be for the school to ensure that ‘all parents have a clear understanding of the school’s policies and procedures, and the curriculum content and how it is taught.’
“The report found no misconduct or inappropriate practice at the school” The Parkfield Parents Community Group, who organised the rallies, have agreed to put an end to their protests and engage in talks with the school. Earlier this month, around 600 pupils were taken out of school by their parents in protest against the classes that taught the youngsters about LGBT issues. Parents argued that their children were too young for the curriculum, which award-winning
assistant headteacher Andrew Moffat had given the name ‘No Outsiders.’ Moffat, who has recently been nominated for a global teaching award and given an MBE for improving equality in education, hoped the scheme would tackle homophobia and promote values of equality and diversity. However, the assistant headteacher soon found himself to be the target of a threatening leaflet campaign by disgruntled parents, who felt the lessons were not appropriate for primary school-age children. On top of the leaflets, protests took place weekly outside the school gates, with one banner tagged to the railings reading ‘Stop Confusing Our Children.’
“Earlier this month, around 600 pupils were taken out of school” Whilst the Senior Inspector for the investigation concluded that the majority of 95 parents who filled in an Ofsted questionnaire were in support of the school, he noted that ‘a very small,
but vocal minority of parents are not clear about the school’s vision, policies and practice. This group of parents feel that staff do not sufficiently listen to their concerns.’ However, a number of parents have refuted the report’s statement. Representing the parents of the schools pupils, Mohammed Aslam was dissatisfied by the reports findings. ‘The inspectors spoke to lots of parents during the visit, many of whom raised concerns about No Outsiders, but their grievances have not been reflected in the report,’ he said. ‘If the school had good links with parents then why have hundreds of parents been protesting about the lessons every week?’ Mr. Aslam added. Hazel Pulley, chief executive of the academy group responsible for the Parkfield Community School remarked: ‘We are absolutely thrilled with the Ofsted report and feel that it accurately sums up the fantastic work going on in the school.’ After deciding not to resume the ‘No Outsider’ scheme, the school stated that more meetings will be held with parents in the coming months. They said: ‘Nothing is more important than ensuring our children’s education continues uninterrupted.’
Strikes Binned by Birmingham City Council Diana-Andreea Mandiuc News Reporter
The bin strikes planned last week in Birmingham were cancelled after an agreement was reached between the workers and the Birmingham City Council. This is according to Unite who reported the news to the BBC. The workers walked out due to the ‘secret payments’ that were made to GMB (a general trade union) workers who worked during the strikes in 2017. Birmingham City Council have said they will pay each worker £3,500 to avoid future strikes. The offer ‘will go before cabinet on Friday,’ according to BBC. The total cost of this settlement will be more than £1.78m. Ian Ward, the Council leader, affirmed that the sum of £3,000 was already settled and another £500 will be added ‘to end all litigation and all disputes that are currently underway’ between Unite and the authority.
“They will pay each worker £3,500 to avoid future strikes ” Mr. Ward added that there is ‘a determination on all sides that we’ll move forward to deliver a service that people deserve.’ Councillor Brett O’Reilly, who is in charge of waste and recycling, said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted we’ve been able to come to an agreement on this and settle the dispute not least for the longsuffering residents of Birmingham that can now look forward to normal service resuming and improving as we move forward.’
“There is a determintion on all sides to deliver a service that people deserve” ‘Unite is pleased that it has been able to reach agreement with the council to finally bring an end to this lengthy dispute,’ said Howard Beckett, the Assistant General Secretary for Unite. ‘By standing together, our members have secured an excellent settlement and ended the injustice that they had been subject to,’ he continued. A report has revealed that the latest strikes have cost the council more than £5.8m. In 2017, strikes lasting over three months came to a total loss of £6m. Do you have any opinions? Contact us – @redbricknews
NEWS
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricknews
07
News Analysis: Knife Crime Increases in the West Midlands Rebecca Hall News Reporter
Birmingham knife crime is on the rise, according to new data released by the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In the West Midlands, knife crime has increased by nearly a fifth in a single year. The statistics work out at an average of just under nine incidents a day. According to the BBC, in 2018 19 deaths occurred as a result of knife crime in the West Midlands. In total there were 3,108 knife crimes in the West Midlands during the same year. This demonstrates a significant increase when compared to statistics from 2013, that show 1,585 knife crimes were committed in the region. In particular, violent crimes have seen a large increase. In 2018, victims experienced over
13,000 more offences. Of the accept certain crimes, particularly 65,914 violent crimes recorded by violent crimes, have increased and the West Midlands Police last year, we are doing everything possible 29,778 led to ‘violence and injury’ to reverse the trend.’ However, and 12,978 crimes were described knife crime is not only affecting as stalking or harassment. the West Midlands, but across The Home Secretary and MP England and Wales as a whole. for Bromsgrove, Sajid For instance, official figures Javid, is introducing show a 45% increase in the plans to give police number of total stabbing more powers to victims aged 16-24, impose ‘knife across England and crime prevenWales. tion orders.’ Chief Constable S i m i l a r l y, Bill Skelly, member of increase in the Policing the National Police number of stabbing Minister Nick Chief’s Council and victims aged Hurd said he is head of crime recording also working to and statistics, said that 16 - 24 alleviate knife ‘there are real rises in sericrime issues. Last ous crimes like robbery and month, Hurd pledged to violence with weapons, with a help police and community lead- devastating impact on victims and ers fight violence in the area. families. The statistics show an Hurd added, ‘statistics show increase in violent crime and those that your chance of being a victim being in possession of an offenof crime remains low, but we sive weapon.’
45%
He assured the public that the police force are ‘committed to tackling’ these issues. He also added that the force ‘will continue to work with the Home Office and other partners to deal with growing violent crime because this is not something that can be solved by policing alone.’ In recent weeks, Prime Minister Theresa May has stated there is ‘no direct correlation’ between increasing crime rates and police numbers. As a result, she has faced significant backlash from the force. The Metropolitan Police have said they cannot ‘magic officers out of thin air’ to alleviate crime across the country. Chairman of the police federation, John Apter, also added that May ‘cannot ignore’ that the ‘government’s policies of austerity were always going to have a consequence.’ Apter continues, ‘the correlation between the increase in crime, and other aspects of
crime, has matched the significant decrease of not only police officer numbers, but also police staff, police community support officers and the wider public service.’ However, May has said that a ‘cross-government’ approach was needed as ‘it’s not just about the police; it’s about the whole of government and it’s the whole of government that’s responding.’ Clearly, there remains debate and controversy in government over the rising crime rates in the country. This is certainly being reflected in public discourse. For example, a recent report by the MPs and Parliament spending watchdog has suggested that public confidence in the ability of police officers has been ‘severely dented’ as forces struggle to cope with fewer resources. Cuts in funding and reductions of roughly one-fifth to staffing levels have left the forces under ‘increasing strain.’
Selly Oak MP Accuses Theresa May of £212 Million Brexit ‘Bribery’ Alex Boscott News Reporter
Labour MP Steve McCabe has questioned the sincerity of Theresa May’s latest funding promise to the Midlands, claiming ‘she must think we’re all stupid.’ In an announcement, May pledged an extra £212 million for the Midlands as part of the government’s ‘Stronger Towns Fund,’ which totals £1.6 billion for regions across the country. This latest cash boost promise comes at a crucial time in the Brexit process, as MPs vote in
crucial amendments to the deal. ‘These towns have a glorious heritage, huge potential and, with the right help, a bright future ahead of them,’ said May. She continued, ‘for too long in our country prosperity has been unfairly spread. Our economy has worked well for some places but we want it to work for all communities.’ However, McCabe has publicly condemned May for this pledge and has accused her of attempting to bribe Midlands MPs so that they will back her deal. ‘It looks like she’s as good at bribery as she is at negotiation,’
Mr McCabe told the Birmingham Mail. In a tweet, the Labour MP labelled this proposed cash boost as ‘daylight robbery.’ May’s motivations for this sudden funding pledge was also brought into question by Yardley’s Labour MP Jess Phillips. Speaking in the Commons last Monday, Phillips claimed that this promise ‘shows the complete lack of understanding by Theresa May.’ Uncertainty over Brexit and whether the UK will trade freely with the EU after the 29th March could still hamper this recent pledge by the Prime Minister.
In the event of any type of Brexit, the promised £212 million
could still have to be revised by the government. Kuhlmann/MSC
Editor’s Pick
News Editor Sophie Woodley reports on the Government's recent decision to provide free sanitary products across schools
Chancellor Phillip Hammond Amika George, 19, started camrecently announced in his Spring paigning on period poverty two Statement that the Government years ago and has said the governwill start funding free saniment’s move will make a tary products for second‘massive difference’ to ary schools across girls across England. England. Not only does Hammond said this story mean the plan has great things for stemmed from young girls at concerns across school, but also of girls have schools and head for those who missed a day of teachers who say have been workschool because of ing hard to make that girls are missing school because such steps in period their period they could not afford poverty. sanitary products. For instance, Campaigners have Scarlett Curtis – an activist called the Government’s move a and journalist, who is particularly ‘huge step’ for period poverty. renowned for her group The Pink
49%
Protest, has worked incredibly hard over the years. I think this is why this story means so much to me, and stands out as something that deserves to get recognition. With a striking one in 10 girls between the ages of 14 and 21 being unable to afford sanitary products, people certainly need to be aware of such a prominent issue that affects both young girls’
physical and emotional health. These statistics come from research by Plan International, an independent development and humanitarian organisation. They have also revealed that a total of 49% of girls have missed an entire day of school because of their period. Work is also being done in Scotland to alleviate the problem, with a £5.2m Pixabay scheme announced last year to provide free sanitary products in
schools, colleges and universities. Although steps are certainly being taken to help resolve the issue, there is still more work to be done, particularly in terms of society’s awareness of period poverty.
“A huge step for period poverty” However, as a strong believer of young girls’ rights and admirer of activists, this story means a lot to me and will to thousands of girls across England.
08
COMMENT
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickcomment
Poll of the Week: Do You Care About Brexit?
After multiple parliamentary votes, do students still care about Brexit? Comment Writer
-
.4 40
%
“I am completely disillusioned with Brexit... It's pushing other political problems to the sidelines”
Yes
-5
9.
6%
For the past three years, all we have heard in this country is nonstop Brexit – even more so now, as the provisional departure date of the 29th March comes closer and seems ever less likely. But amongst all the media coverage, the parliamentary votes, and the day-to-day conversations we have about the ‘B’ word, we wondered – does anyone still care about Brexit? This week Redbrick Comment asked UoB students, ‘Do you care about Brexit anymore?’, to which 40.4% of you said no, while 59.6% said yes (a split only a little more divisive than the referendum outcome of 2016). For the majority who said ‘yes’, it seemed to be the future that was their primary concern. ‘As a Languages student planning to live and work abroad in the future, the outcome literally determines my life,’ one worried student disclosed. Another expressed similar concerns saying, ‘it is going to have a huge impact on my future in terms of where I can work and travel.’ Some responses
were even more impassioned, with one respondent venting, ‘I’m still angry that I was only a few months too young to vote [and] that my future was decided by people that are dead now.’ On the other side of the coin, however, the ‘no’ responses all expressed a sense of frustration, pointlessness, and disillusionment with the process. ‘Brexit shmexit,’ one student wrote (and personally, I think this phrase deserves to catch on), while another simply put, ‘no point.’ On the whole, people seem to be completely bored of Brexit – ‘I’m sick of it – it’s taken too long and I get screwed over whatever happens,’ wrote one disheartened respondent, with another confessing that the whole thing just ‘depresses me.’ Overall, almost all of the responses, whether ‘yes’ or ‘no’, spoke about Brexit in a negative light, a factor that I think perfectly encapsulates public feeling right now.
No
Holly Pittaway
Do You Care About Brexit?
"It's going to have huge effects on my future graduating this year, and that of loved ones" "Can we get this nonsense over with and just leave already?" “We're living in a state of limbo, everyone just wants it to be resolved” “We're being unfairly stripped of opportunities generations before us ungratefully benefitted from”
“The moment we give in to apathy is a sad day for democracy”
Take part in our polls:
Redbrick Comment Contributors
@RedbrickComment
Don’t Subscribe to ‘Poverty Porn’ Tom Denham argues that Comic Relief's formula for fundraising must stop being so one-dimentional in its portrayal of African nations Tom Denham Comment Writer
Comic Relief is a British charity which aims ‘to create a just world free from poverty.’ Founded in 1985, it has continually succeeded in raising vast amounts of money to help tackle some of the most poignant global issues. I’m sure there are many students out there who, like me, have fond memories of participating in various modes of fundraising for ‘Red Nose Day’, the profits of which go towards helping ‘people living tough lives across the UK and internationally.' The tag-phrase ‘Do something funny for money’ encapsulates the charity’s hope of bringing people together to get involved with some altruistic fundraising and to have a laugh while doing so. However, in the last month the charity has come under fire for its imagery and methods of publicity regarding fundraising for African nations. David Lammy, a Labour MP for Tottenham and historically avid campaigner, recently condemned the charity for perpetuating ‘an age old colonial troupe that encourages supine Westerners to give but continue in total ignorance of what’s really happening
in the continent.' Lammy’s comments were stimulated by a publicity photo of British documentary filmmaker Stacey Dooley with a young African child. Lammy further explained that ‘Stacey’s Instagram posts continue a very long established trope of white female heroine with orphan black child with little or no agency or parents in sight. Comic Relief do this because it makes people give money.’ In response to Lammy’s comments, Dooley tweeted: ‘David, is the issue with me being white? [...] because if that’s the case, you could always go over there and try raise awareness? Comic Relief have raised over 1 billion pounds since they started. I saw projects that were saving lives with the money. Kids’ lives.’ Lammy was quick to respond that his remarks were not intended to be ‘personal’ and that he did not question her good motives. However, Lammy made clear his frustration with the ‘distorted image of Africa’ which Comic Relief broadcasted to advertise their charity work. Alongside his argument against outdated colonial images, Lammy contends that Comic Relief does not do enough to educate its audiences on African history and culture and does not
portray African nations’ social, political and economic growth: ‘Africa may have changed beyond recognition, but over the generations knowledge and attitudes in Britain haven’t. [...] Comic Relief has tattooed images of poverty in the African continent to the point where few of us can escape the guilt of not donating.’ While accepting that the charity has done much good, Lammy holds that the Comic Relief should be ‘helping to establish an image of African people as equals to be respected’; the politician believes this could be achieved by utilising African social figures (actors, comedians, musicians, etc.), rather than Western celebrities, to speak about the continent they know and love. Although no true change has come yet of Lammy’s comments, it has raised some serious questions regarding charity, international aid and publicity: through what means should charities encourage fundraising and donation for foreign aid? Should charities such as Comic Relief even exist when changes in global economic trade regulations could provide African nations with greater financial-agency? There is seemingly no one simple answer. As someone who has grown up
viewing Comic Relief as a British institution which benefits people home and away, I find it difficult to accept the fact the charity could be accused of any wrong doings. However, the truth of the matter is that, regarding Comic Relief’s methods, there is no disagreeing with Lammy: the techniques through which charities encourage donations and publicise African people must change. The images broadcasted of African citizens, although charged with good intent to pull on people’s heart strings and boost dentations, are distorted: the depiction of African children in impoverished and destitute circumstances, only to be changed when a white Westerner shows up, is not reflective of how far African nations have come socially, politically and economically. As Lammy states, British citizens should be greater educated on African history and culture by Africans themselves. Further yet, a broader change in economic regulations should be considered to allow African nations greater
agency on their financial futures so such charity work would not be necessary. It is a difficult thing to outwardly condemn a charity considering the vast amount of good and real difference it has brought about. But there is little room to draw different conclusions: the images on our televisions must change; the narratives we are supplied referencing African children, families, peoples must not be so one-dimensional; and Comic Relief’s formula for fundraising must be changed and modernised.
sjdooley / Instagram
COMMENT
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickcomment
09
Marching for the Future Abby Spreadborough insists that students deserve the right to strike to ensure that the government and big business finally acknowledge environmental damage Abby Spreadborough Comment Writer
On the 15th of February 2019 thousands of students up and down the country went on strike. Although striking is often thought of as a form of industrial action which only working people could participate in, the idea has now been extended. In boycotting their schools for a day, students had hoped to raise awareness of climate change. Many have felt powerless in the face of a fast approaching and bleak future, dominated by an ever-thickening smog, oceans filled with plastic and whole species going extinct. The strike was meant to put pressure on the government and business leaders to halt the world’s rapid advance towards catastrophe. However, the strike has instead ignited a debate about the value of student protest and whether or not young people truly care about the environment or simply wanted to take a day off school.
“In boycotting their schools for a day, students had hoped to raise awareness of climate change” Protests have played a major role in the 20th century. The anti-Vietnam war protests, campaigns for nuclear disarmament and civil rights movement were all incredibly influential, so why
Kate Chard
are so many questioning the credibility of today’s student protestors? These protests and movements have stood the test of time. We still remember them today whenever an anti-Trump protest or Women’s March echoes their approach. However, in order to assess the immediate value of these marches, we must consider what their aim is. Whilst each movement is different, they all broadly aim to raise awareness for their cause. This awareness is hoped to create change, to inspire new supporters, awakening a passion and perhaps a degree of anger within them which will compel them to take to the streets. Some are more successful than others when it comes to their ultimate aim. The anti-climate change march has already raised awareness for the issue after catching the attention of national papers and television. However, in many cases, it has caught their attention for all the wrong reasons. The idea of sacking off school to yell in the streets is abhorred by many adults. Yet, if these were adult protestors would the march really attract the same attention? Simply put, no. Students, those who truly care for the cause, have spotted an opportunity to highlight their concerns but their age has led to another debate entirely. Nevertheless, their age is crucial. Generation Z is one of the most politically engaged and radical generations for many years. But the government fails to respond to them. In light of their first protest only a few MPs showed up to debate climate change. The students protesting recognise that we are on the
edge of annihilation, themselves being the most vulnerable. Empty classrooms, lecture theatres and libraries that their absence has created are a wakeup call, not only for those parents and teachers directly involved with students but for the entire nation that relies on students to be the leaders of the future. They are right to march.
“Generation Z is one of the most politically engaged and radical generations for many years. But the government fails to respond to them” Their protest is all the more relevant given the recent spike in unseasonably warm weather which we have had. Some noted how worrying the warmth was, whilst other sipped on cider on the Green Heart. Admittedly, the British public loves the prospect of glorious sunshine year round, but not at the cost of the planet. Also, there is a fundamental flaw in the way in which global warming is conveyed to us in the media. We are told to go vegan, bring reusable coffee cups to cafes and recycle. Whilst adopting these lifestyle changes is important, the media and politicians should be putting pressure on big businesses, prioritising the creation and enforcement of
effective climate change policy. Some groups have recognized this. For example, ‘Extinction Rebellion’ glued themselves to the windows of a Mayfair hotel protesting the International Petroleum week event. One activist Sam Knight conveyed his concern at the protest; ‘They refuse to change. They continue to put private profit over human life. The fact that they are still talking about acquiring new fossil fuel reserves at this point in the climate crisis is not only deeply immoral, but it is also evidently criminal. We all have a moral duty to stop them.’ Other groups have opted smaller scale action. The movement ‘Birth Strike’ was set up earlier this year by Blythe Pepino as she stated that she would not have children because of climate change. She and her supporters hoped that their decision would draw attention to the threat which climate change poses but much like the student marches it had been misinterpreted. In interviews, Pepino has frequently had to clarify that she is not condemning those who wish or who already have as irresponsible. Instead ‘Birth Strike’ is an act of rebellion, like the student marches it hopes to attract attention towards the urgent need for action. These movements are wellintentioned, but critics doubt the intentions of young people. They are not taken seriously. This was something I encountered when I was involved with the Reclaim the Night march in Birmingham. Often observers missed the point only to film you then promptly post it to social media with the caption ‘the feminists are at it again’ – just as many have
remarked that ‘the students are at it again’ when they protested on the 15th of March. Nobel Prize-nominated climate change activist Greta Thunberg recently stated ‘We will have to go for a very, very long time, I think.’ She is right. Students are the future, but they are progressing towards a future already spoilt by their predecessors. They have every right to go on strike. It is the media, government and businesses who are at fault. Consumed by the Brexit bubble, they have neglected the importance of climate change.
“Students are the future, but they are progressing towards a future already spoilt by their predecesors. They have every right to go on strike” I may even go as far as to say that they have been and will continue to be willfully ignorant in the face of the facts. Arctic ice is down 12.8% in the last decade, over the past 100 years sea levels have risen by 7 inches and 18 of the 19 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001 (NASA). If you need any more proof simply look outside and Britain’s increasingly extreme weather, or rather look to the city centres where students are fighting for their futures.
10
COMMENT
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickcomment
YouTube is a Breeding Ground for the Alt-Right In the wake of a terrorist attack on two mosques in New Zealand, James Law explores the issue of PewDiePie and other YouTubers acting as gateways for the alt-right, and the prevalence of online hate-speech James Law Gaming Editor
‘Subscribe to PewDiePie.’The rallying call of internet edgelords and unwitting bystanders everywhere. Innocuous enough. Support an independent creator as opposed to a corporation. As Indian record label T-Series threatened to beat Felix Kjellberg as the most subscribed YouTube channel, a campaign was started to put him back on top. It’s hard to quantify the impact of this campaign. Kickstarted by YouTuber Mr Beast, it’s become more widespread than anyone could’ve imagined. You see the phrase in the comments of YouTube videos, Twitter threads, and billboards. It’s a cultural phenomenon.
“He didn't start the whole 'Subscribe to PewDiePie' debacle. He didn't stop it either. He allowed the infection to fester, creating controversy” ‘Subscribe to PewDiePie.’ The words uttered by a white supremacist terrorist before murdering 49 Muslims in two mosques in the beautiful city of Christchurch, New Zealand. ‘Subscribe to PewDiePie.’ How did this happen? How did an internet meme become a terrorist’s battlecry? It starts with online fandom. PewDiePie has been a huge figure in the online community for years now. From screaming at the top of his voice in an exaggerated manner at video games, he has emerged as the man who rules YouTube. Their biggest star, he’s obviously got a lot of diehard fans. So when his stardom was threatened, they rose in support of him. YouTube stars like Markiplier, JackSepticEye and more voiced their support for the Swedish star, despite his numerous and egregious controversies. PewDiePie is the symbol of ‘new media.’ Back when his network dropped him for using racial slurs and paying freelancers on Fiverr to hold a sign up saying ‘Death to all Jews,’ the news was reported in
the likes of the Wall Street Journal. Instead of learning the lesson that maybe using your online clout to normalise antisemitic rhetoric, Kjellberg instead took this to mean ‘mainstream media is out to get me.’ Online personalities see themselves as the important replacement of the old guard, and that’s not necessarily a lie. This being said, surely you can find a better ambassador than a grown man who thinks that ‘ironic’ racism is a substitute for comedy. But no, fellow online stars remained supportive of him, from h3h3 to Philip DeFranco. It doesn’t matter whether or not what Kjellberg did was taken out of context if it emboldens disgusting and racist rhetoric. No, he didn’t start the whole ‘Subscribe to PewDiePie’ debacle. He didn’t stop it either. He allowed the infection to fester creating controversy after controversy until neo-Nazi outlets like The Daily Stormer began to praise Kjellberg. When the same people saying ‘subscribe to PewDiePie’ are committing terrorist atrocities, we have to look at it with the same scrutiny as we’d look at any terrorist’s battlecry. Mass murder doesn’t just happen. He was radicalised. And radicalisation can have the most humble beginnings. Many have criticised the YouTube algorithm for directing people to increasingly rightwing content.
Starting with gaming YouTube, you can quickly be autoplayed through to Jordan Peterson’s videos where he misapplies aspects of psychology to the realm of sociology, then you get InfoWars’ conspiracy nonsense. YouTube takes you on a journey along the right wing, all the way through to a Lauren Southern video about ‘the great replacement’ a conspiracy theory that falsely claims that white people are at risk due to immigration and mixed-race relationships. This theory was directly quoted in the terrorist’s manifesto. He was radicalised online, and acted upon it.
“Many have criticised the YouTube algorithm for directing people to increasingly rightwing content” ‘Subscribe to PewDiePie.’ What does this have to do with anything? The terrorist had a manifesto.
Lauren Southern / Gage Skidmore / camknows
Lauren Southern, Stefan Molyneux and the like popularised the ‘great replacement’ myth, and it was quoted in that very manifesto. Somehow though, this man remained comfortable in PewDiePie’s fanbase. Only one person is responsible for that. You can say you don’t want to appeal to white supremacists, but when you continue to gain their support, your argument holds no water. Alienate your fanbase. Get the racists out. It’s been done before. While not perfect by any means, YouTube personality Quinton Reviews has made changes to his content upon realising his audience was full of bigots. Nothing major. He’s commented on how Donald Trump is dangerous. He’s supported trans rights. This has led to bigots whining and complaining, but ultimately leaving his fanbase. The bar is low, but still so many online stars fail to clear it. I’m sure it feels horrible to be named in a live streamed massacre, but the victims are the ones killed and their loved ones, as well as the global Muslim community. You have to ask why the perpetrator said those words. Many have criticised the ‘subscribe to PewDiePie’ movement for being steeped in racist rhetoric, being as it is a backlash against an Indian channel being top of the charts. Kjellberg has failed to distance himself from this
so far, and has even been fanning the flames, retweeting aggressive references to the ‘subscriber war.’ PewDiePie has continued his ‘edgy’ persona past the antisemitism and racial slur controversies. He is part of a long chain of online radicalisation, and is not stemming the flow. You can remove yourself from that chain. Some people just don’t want to. It’s never ‘just a joke’ when some of your fans take it seriously.
“PewDiePie has continued his ‘edgy’ persona past the anti-semitism and racial slur controversies. He is part of a long chain of online radicalisation, and is not stemming the flow” This all leads to an environment that coddles racism and white supremacy in a way that fosters an environment for these kinds of atrocities. Start with edgy YouTube comedians. Move on to Joe Rogan repeatedly and uncritically giving a voice to Ben Shapiro, Steven Crowder, and Gavin McInnes. Pretty soon you’re consuming racist and islamophobic conspiracy theories that fuel your hatred and tacitly endorse the idea that something should be done about this ‘great replacement.’ And then: ‘subscribe to PewDiePie.’ 49 killed. Streamed online. It has to start somewhere.
COMMENT
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickcomment
11
Guild Elections: Encouraging Engagement Hannah Lay argues that by making more original yet realistic manifesto promises, Guild Election candidates can increase voter engagement Hannah Lay Comment Writer
At the beginning of March, 8,980 students voted in the Guild Elections to elect the new officer team for the 2019/20 academic year. This was a record turnout in terms of Guild Elections. But with the total of number of enrolled students exceeding 34,000 people, this turnout is only just over a quarter of the student population. I really enjoy the Guild Elections and greatly admire the hard work, dedication and passion shown by the officers and candidates. However, given such a low turnout, I cannot help thinking that the elections are missing the mark. What is the problem and how can it be fixed?
“I want to emphasise that I think the Guild officers are important and do make a valued contribution” For me, the policies pitched by some of the candidates placed too much emphasis on improving welfare provisions at the university. There is a dedicated Welfare and Community Officer yet officers campaigning for other roles also had a strong welfare focus in their manifesto. Welfare provisions are extreme-
ly important, however, if there is already a dedicated welfare officer, surely the other officers should stick to their remit? This is especially so when we consider the diverse range of issues that students have with the university, not just with welfare provisions. I agree that welfare issues span across multiple areas but so do issues that were not discussed by the candidates. Perhaps the turnout was so low because students did not feel their key concerns were represented by any of the candidates. A similar concern I have with the Guild Elections is the lack of originality. I felt like I had read a lot of the manifestos before because the policies were regurgitated from last year. It also seemed like they had culminated the buzzwords used by students on Fab N Fresh and Brumfess to make their policies. Whilst it is important to give students what they want, making grand promises that are made year in, year out with no success is pointless. Because these policies had been regurgitated, multiple candidates had extremely similar manifestos in some areas. If the opposing candidates for one role have the same policies, it becomes more of a popularity contest rather than a consideration of how effective the candidates would be in their role. I think an important point to note is that because a lot of the policies are just repeated from previous years, it is clear that they are not implementable. If the previous policies had been implemented then there would not be a need for them to continually feature in candidate manifestos. I want to be clear
that I do not think this is the fault of the officers; there is clearly a lack of funding and overall support to deliver on the key student concerns. However, candidates should perhaps scope out the likelihood of their promises being deliverable before creating their campaigns. If they know they cannot deliver on a promise due to a lack of resources/support, it should be left out of their manifesto.
Proportion of students who voted in Guild Elections 2019
“I think an important point to note is that because a lot of the policies are just repeated from previous years, it is clear that they are not implementable” There may not be a magic formula to resolve these key issues but, I think there are some things that can be done in future elections. Candidates need to be more original and not just make the same promises as their predecessors every year. I am not saying there was no originality, but on numerous occasions I honestly thought I was reading last year’s manifestos. If the same issues continue then candidates should think of innovative policies to combat them; because
equals 2000 students
Voters (8,980) clearly the existing attempts were ineffective or rejected by the Guild/university. Promising the same thing is unrealistic as there will be a reason the initial promises have not been fulfilled. As well as being more original, candidates should stick to their remit. Welfare is extremely important but if candidates who are not running for Welfare and Community officer make promises to improve welfare provisions, they will have to pass this responsibility to the Welfare Officer. Other officers are elected to fulfill their specific roles and therefore will not be able to dedicate the required time to implement their promised welfare policies. Alternatively, where officers have similar concerns, perhaps they could collectively lobby the Guild or the university to deliver a solution to the concerns in question. The strength of multiple voices should not be underestimated.
Non-Voters (34,000 approx) I want to emphasise that I think the Guild officers are important and do make a valued contribution in some areas. However, as the record voting turnout was such a small fraction of the overall university student population, future candidates need to make changes that will increase engagement in Guild Elections significantly. There clearly is not a magic solution. The Guild offered free pizza if students voted, but this still was not enough to increase turnout dramatically. I do think making policies more realistic and being clearer about what officers can actually achieve will make a big difference. If candidates make more realistic promises that they then go on to successfully implement, more students will see the importance of the Guild Elections and maybe turnout will be higher next year.
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Brexit For Breakfast
How do you like your Brexit in the morning? A forecast for the food sector pngimg.com
Lydia Waller Food&Drink Editor
With all the uncertainties of whether Brexit is likely to actually happen, when it will happen, or what will happen – with 73 of the UK’s MPs not even sure if they will have a job in a fortnight or three months time – technically the official date for Britain’s departure from the EU is still 29th March. Many things are forecasted to happen, to relocate, to end and to start, but the uncertainty over what these things may be has people biting their nails in anticipation. Fortunately Redbrick Food&Drink has something larger for you to bite into during the weeks building up to the alleged date of implementing Article 50 – that is, a big bowl of Brexit for breakfast; a forecast of how Brexit is said to impact the food sector if Britain really does leave the EU. Beef grown with hormones and chlorinated chicken are looking like likely suspects on the menu, if Britain does make trade deals with Australia and the US. There are many foods that the EU have actually banned from their approved meat imports from Australia, as they use growth hormones. So what should we be stockpiling, and what really is for breakfast this Brexit?
Emily Breeds Food&Drink Writer
When is a Jägerbomb Not a Jägerbomb? Wetherspoons will definitely be affected by Brexit, due to its large importation of European alcohol and the fact that chairman Tim Martin is a strong Brexit supporter, even going as far as putting leaflets in Wetherspoons pubs across the country. As a result of Brexit, the large quantities of European alcohol being sold are due to be replaced with non-EU products at a cheaper price. German herbal liqueur Jägermeister will be replaced with an English alternative, Strika. As well as this, the French brandy Hennessy Fine de Cognac will be replaced with an Australian brandy, Black Bottle. Whilst it’s good that the drinks will be made cheaper, this raises questions of authenticity. Champagne, named so because of the region in which the grapes are grown, is being replaced with sparkling wines from the UK and Australia. Sparkling wine just doesn’t have the same high-profile air as Champagne. And does ‘Strikabomb’ really have the same ring to it as ‘Jägerbomb’? pxhere
Emily Calder Food&Drink Editor
Pixabay
Charlotte PrenticeGarner Food&Drink Writer
Flickr/Bodo
Emma Stephenson Food&Drink Writer
To Brie or Not To Brie: Brexit and Cheese What will become of cheese? Brie, Roquefort, Camembert, Mozzarella – all imported from Europe. It is safe to assume that the post-Brexit import tariffs of such dairy produce will inevitably drive up the supermarket price, turning cheese into a luxury product. Although many of us may think that Britain boasts many of
its own cheeses, you may be surprised to find that even the classic comfort of British Cheddar is a major import, with 82% of it being imported from Ireland. This leaves the future of cheese in Britain uncertain. Perhaps we will see an increase in regional cheeses such as Red Leicester and Stilton. We could soon instead see cheese crop up in future trade deals, although I am not so sure that the government will be prioritising cheese if we do achieve a Brexit deal successfully.
Reddit/Yohanfunk
“Beef grown with hormones and chlorinated chicken are looking like likely suspects on the menu, if Britain does make trade deals with Australia and the US”
A Bittersweet Deal for Cadbury If we look closer to home, we are almost certain you would be concerned to hear that, amongst other chocolate and confectionery brands, good old Cadbury’s chocolate might be badly affected by Brexit. Only just down the road in Bournville, Cadbury has recently featured in the news with revelations that they are stockpiling ingredients in case of a hard or no deal. Due to the UK not being selfsufficient in its food industry, Hubert Weber, vice president of Mondelez (the company that currently owns Cadbury) has mentioned the prices of Cadbury products may increase; other chocolate companies have predicted products to become as much as 10% more expensive. Imagine it – we already complain about the rising cost of a Freddo bar. On top of paying more, there is likely to be less choice of products on the shelves for British consumers. Weber says Cadbury requires the free movement of ingredients across our borders to sustain its business, but of course Brexit is threatening this freedom too. Even more tragic to hear is the prospect of a shortage of Easter eggs this Easter, just shortly after Brexit. Large manufacturers including Ferrero are warning of such products going stale after Brexit, because they rely on EU manufacturers in the likes of Ireland, Belgium and France. The same companies are also fearful of any new UK food standards away from EU regulations, which could be unfavourable for their business models. The verdict is, if you want to keep chomping on Chomp bars and crunching your Crunchie bars, it might actually be worth considering stockpiling, in case our beloved chocolate companies do not have an effective back-up plan for Brexit.
What Came First: the Chicken or the EU-gg? A no-deal Brexit has potential to be catastrophic for the UK’s meat industry, with the proposed EU tariffs, which could apply to Britain, being 65% on beef, 46% on lamb and 27% on chicken. You may find that your peckish cravings for chicken nuggets soon become a desire you cannot afford to satisfy, as chicken breasts are particularly under threat – whilst the UK produces 60% of the chicken it consumes, we consume little of the ‘dark meat’ and export 70% of this to the EU. A no-deal Brexit therefore hatches up a potential shortage of chicken breasts, as we are left with little capacity to store the extra ‘dark meats’ and would therefore have to make cuts to the poultry industry in general. Furthermore, lamb exports could be taking a ramming, with an estimated tariff of around 50% looming, and Minette Batters of the National Farmer’s Union claims that leaving the EU without a deal would ‘decimate’ the industry. With many sheep farmers earning less then £20,000 a year and 90% of our lamb exports going to the EU, the UK may be left with no choice but to make serious amendments to the way the lamb industry functions. Nick von Westenholz – director of EU and international trade at NFU – summarises the lack of interest in lamb outside of the European Union in saying ‘if there isn't a deal with the EU in a few weeks, tariffs could effectively mean we have no market for four-and-ahalf million lambs.’ With prices soaring and the meat industry forecasted to be hit hard in the event of a no-deal Brexit, we may be presented with the choice of increasing the cost of our weekly food shops by a substantial amount, or cutting down on our meat consumption for financial reasons, at least until the meat industry finds a way to stabilise itself. Bidfood UK – a huge food supplier to British pubs, prisons and hospitals – are a prime example of this potential need for a shift in the way we consume and shop for food. Andrew Selley, chief executive of the company, expressed that many meat products in the UK come from ‘Holland and Poland,’ and so food suppliers may have to turn to a greater number of plant-based ingredients. With one in five UK adults already following flexitarian diets or reducing their meat consumption, a no-deal Brexit has the potential to push this even further, but in doing so it will drastically impact the British farming industry as a whole, and in turn the British economy.
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Redbrick Revisits: The Architect and the Union Building Peter Vessey shares a letter from Redbrick's precursor publication ‘The Mermaid’, in which the architect responsible for today's Guild of Students explains the design process behind the building This article was originally published in October 1930, in that month’s edition of ‘The Mermaid’, a student publication that preceeded Redbrick. It has been reprinted with the permission of the Cadbury Research Library.
H. W. Hobbiss Guild of Students Architect
The problem that confronts an architect when commissioned to prepare plans for a building can be compared to a mathematical formula - the component parts being the known element, and the building itself being the unknown. The correct result depends on the accuracy of the construction of the formula. But, whereas the mathematician may test and prove his formula by solid experiment and arrive at definite conclusions, the architect may find his formula overloaded with extraneous matter. The human mind has not been standardized. We may all want the same things, but we express our wants differently. An architect, then, has to be something of a psychologist. The mind being so much greater than the matter, he may find himself confronted with conditions that cannot form themselves into material fact. The more he leaves in, his problem will be more difficult, and the final result will be less satisfactory.
Furthermore, he has to become, especially in the first stages, a sort of medium, influenced by all kinds of currents and crosscurrents. But, he must be a conscious medium with power to reject undue influence and modify suggestion. It may be that he has a problem such as the Undergraduates Union. The first influence that he would find would be that of the Union Commission. An energetic and efficient body of bright young people who spread themselves North, South, East and West, and collect valuable data varying from the area of Debating Halls to the menu of 1/6d lunches. This survey resulted in a report and contained definite information which your architect doubtlessly found highly valuable: he was able to make deductions and construct more than one part of his formula. But here again, he must have had to be careful when he found he would have to provide a Debating Hall about 200 feet long and 45 feet wide, a building similar in dimensions to the famous Trajan Basilica. It is not to be wondered at, threfore, that he wandered off on his own account, in company with the Secretary of the University, to bear witness to some of these Undergraduates Unions. It is also a fact that he confined his attention only to Universities north of Birmingham. There is evidence that much was seen in these few days, and
from nebulous matter the plan began to take concrete form in his mind; so much so, in fact, that in a few weeks he was able to prepare lantern slides and to show to the Union Committee not only the plans of the buildings that were visited, but a preliminary plan of the building much as it was finally built. The plan showed the principal accommodation on three floors. The lower ground floor provided for Cloak Rooms, Lavatories, Baths, Dressing rooms, Stores, etc. The ground floor provided for social, clubbable accommodation, such as Billiard rooms, Writing rooms, Reading rooms, Common rooms, Entrance Halls, Tea rooms and Buffet.
“An architect [...] has to be something of a psychologist” The first floor provided the Ceremonial accommodation with its wide corridor, and its Debating Hall and Gallery, the smaller Hall, etc. Here also will be found the nerve centre of the organisation, the Union Council room and the Union Offices. There is another floor devoted to the important provision of the Union Kitchen, the Caretaker, more Committee rooms and
The University of Birmingham Guild of Undergraduates, photographed just before its opening on October 15th, 1930. Image courtesy of the Cadbury Research Library.
The main staircase, 1930. Image courtesy of the Cadbury Research Library.
offices, and lastly the Property room – a cave-like place devoted to the mysterious activities of the Dramatic Society. There are three principal entrances: the one to the East is for Women Undergraduates, the one to the west for the men, and the Central Entrance on the North for men, women and visitors. The East wing can be regarded as providing exclusive accommodation for the women, whilst the West wing was reserved for the men; the centre of the building is common to both. So much for the plan. However, your architect may be helped, advised and coerced by his Committee as to the plan; he may throw off the influence of purely scientific consideration and soar into the rarefied atmosphere of art as expressed by the shape, craftsmanship, detail and finish, when he comes to consider the elevations. It can well be supposed that with the example of a distinguished architect’s work so near, whose style is strong and distinctive, he might have felt some diffidence in departing from the example set before him. It should, however, be remembered that the purposes and character of the two buildings are different. The one is entirely devoted to the uses of education, and the other is for domestic use. The scale of the buildings is so different. Had a style similar to the University been followed, the result would probably not have expressed the intention for which it was built - it might have been mistaken for a Library or Museum. Moreover, a peep behind the Union President’s chair revealed a still-higher authority: the University Council, a body of Olympians, sage, benign and considerate, but ready to hurl thunderbolts on anything which did not add to the dignity and reputation of their University. Here was a force which must have greatly influenced the architect; in fact, they laid down that the materials used in the elevations must be brick and stone. This provided him with another part of the formula. Now there are two beautiful buildings of this material in the vicinity of Birmingham, Aston
Hall and Castle Bromwich Hall. They are both domestic in purpose and dignified in appearance; and, moreover, they are thoroughly English. They were erected during that period of English history which was particularly associated with the advancement of Education; so much so that most of the Colleges of the older Universities and the Public Schools in England were erected within a hundred years of their date. Here was the source of inspiration. The plan was therefore clothed in the raiment of our forefathers with a few modern touches added when required.
“The building as complete is linefor-line in accordance with the original design” A model of the design was submitted to the Olympians and all the lesser authorities; this, too, was passed. Then came the greatest consideration of all – the cost. Apparently, there was no difficulty about that, for the building as complete is line-forline in accordance with the original design. For the rest, credo experto, go and see for yourselves. There is no space to tell how the heat is generated or how the foul air is removed. There is no space to tell of the vacuum which is to extract the dirt; or of the targets of gold, silver and precious metals; or the oak timber from Bagshot Woods; or the teak from India; or the tint of the teacups; or the cunning selection of fabrics; or the beer engine, the buffets, the stage contraptions with its dimmers and its lighting controls. These and many other things are there to be seen. The formula, in fact, has been worked out and the result standing at the corner of Edgbaston Park Road and University Road, to be known henceforth as the Guild of Undergraduates Union.
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Mind+Solve
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Across 2. Envelop a conspiracy (5,2) 6. www.redbrick.me (6) 7. Some-body once told me (3,4) 9. Nu Alan gets confused every year (6) 10. Something sung within a churchy mnemonic (4) 13. Insulate windows with doughnuts (7) 15. Flowers sound like what mouths are made from (6) 16. Old cloth and a cake are afar fuming (10) 17. Unusual sexuality (5) 18. Birmingham’s latest East Asian partner on page 4 (9)
Down 1. Dutch artist hard of hearing (3,4) 2. Catch by the scruff of the neck (6) 3. Countryside mural rhyme (5) 4. Jacket in a teapot at Oxford (6) 5. Beefy boots good for winning battles (11) 7. Machines act without thinking, but not without reason (10) 8. Our next Editor-in-Chief (3,6) 11. This one’s a bit rubbish, you can get rid of it (10) 12. Mixture of epic diets used to kill insects (9) 14. Cat hairs a useful tool when baking (8)
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First Lines
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The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various novels,
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songs and films. All you have to do is tell us which novels, songs or films the lines come from.
‘May in Ayemenem is a hot, brooding month. The days are long and humid.’ 16
‘All along the western front, people line up to recieve / She got the current in her hand, just shock you like you won't believe’ ‘It's really good seeing you, Benjamin. You haven't been into Shakey's for so long.’
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Issue 1505 Puzzles compiled by Issy Campbell, Holly Carter, Thom Dent and Kat Smith
Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me
Anagrams Before we leave the EU behind forever, can you rearrange the words below to find the names of ten of our European neighbours?
1. BUG MILE 2. STERN HANDLE 3. ULTRA POG
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LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1. Fjord; 2. Just; 3. Kings Heath; 4. Disturb; 5. Brexit; 6. Debut; 7. Reserve; 8. Narnia; 9. Magnetic; 10. Coalition; 11. Highlights; 12. Election; 13. Ariel; 14. Daredevil; 15. Habitat; 16a. Reptile; 16d. Rotate; 17. Emu; 18. Toast; 19. Heatwave | First Lines: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee); ‘Bulletproof’ (La Roux); The Social Network (Aaron Sorkin) | Anagrams: 1. Pandora Sykes; 2. Alex Scott; 3. Scarlett Curtis; 4. Princess Nokia; 5. Gina Martin; 6. Jamila Jamil; 7. Emma Kent; 8. Becky Hammon; 9. Amika George; 10. Emma Gonzalez
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The Value of Student Journalism
Redbrick discuss the value of student journalism, why it is important, and what it means to the individuals who take part Natalia Carter Comment Editor
Student journalism is often swept under the carpet as another extracurricular activity to appease those budding writers and broadcasters with a creative outlet. Yet I would argue that student journalism has a great deal of value both within each participant’s life, and within the University as a whole. With journalism constantly under attack from the President of the United States, I think that now is a time in our history in which it is vital to be encouraging young minds to pursue a career in journalism. Or, at the very least, gain an understanding of what this field requires and demands. To explore the value of student journalism more extensively I reached out to a variety of individuals ranging from those involved in Redbrick and BurnFM, to those working in services within the university. I hope that this will truly showcase some of the values of student journalism, and encourage even more people to get involved.
Nicola Taylor AWAS Advisor
Getting involved in writing (or editing other people’s writing) in a range of contexts for a variety of audiences is a fantastic way to hone your communication skills. But student journalism doesn’t only give you a platform to air your opinions! You need to construct an argument, get your ideas across clearly and succinctly, and develop your own identity as a writer so that your readers want to pick up the next i s s u e . Wo r k i n g w i t h Redbrick writers and editors who come to the College of Arts and Law Academic Writing Advisory Service (aka AWAS), I notice that they not o n l y clearly enjoy writing, they are also keenly aware that argument, clarity and developing your own voice are key to academic success. And writing to frequent
deadlines to produce copy for the paper keeps you going between essays – which can only be good!
Erin Santillo Editor-in-Chief
Whether reporting on a conflict in the Middle East or a planning application in Middlesbrough, a journalist’s job is to make sense of events and hold individuals to account. Student journalism is no different. It is perhaps easier to explain its importance by describing what the world would look like without it. First off, the readership – primarily students – would be much less informed about decisions that affect them; the introduction of education legislation or the sizeable expenditure of funds on a lawn would go more unnoticed and even more unchallenged. Secondly, institutions, such as the Guild and University, would be subject to far less accountability. The role that this plays in democracy is evid e n t . F i n a l l y, the all-important student voice would struggle to be heard
amidst the twenty-first-century hum of sensationalised gossip and updating statuses. Student journalism is central to the development of tomorrow’s professional journalists, yes, but its role has always been – and will always be – much, much more than that.
Kat Smith Deputy Editor
The importance of student journalism is regularly overlooked by other students, the wider media and the institutions in which it is based. Student media has doubtlessly had an impact on me as an individual. It’s always been a comfort to have a place to express my opinions, speak to like minded people and create a publication that I am proud of. It has taught me skills across the board, from diplomacy and communication, to digital design and people-management. I am sure I wouldn’t have developed these elsewhere. Student journalism contains some of the most passionate people, working long hours (with no pay at UoB) to create a publication comparable to those created by full-time, paid adults. I am constantly inspired by those around me and what we have achieved alongside our degrees. Our articles have historically created controversy within the University, whether it be comments on meal plan, careers services or the Green Heart. This demonstrates that student journalism is a force to be reckoned with, it is pivotal for discussion amongst students and a way for us to communicate with the world. The student voice deserves to be heard, and journalism is the best way to platform it.
James Law Gaming Editor
Writing hasn’t always been what I’ve wanted to do. I kind of stumbled into it when the gaming editor posted a request for more writers and I thought I’d give it a go. Since then, Redbrick has given me an outlet to make myself heard and opportunities to meet other writers who have inspired me and given me ideas on what to do as a career. It’s not easy for me to put myself out there, but the support from others in student journalism helps you immeasurably. Whether it’s by giv-
ing me tips on how to make my articles less profane (sorry), helping with the notorious Adobe InDesign or by coming with me to cover events, my colleagues at Redbrick have given me the confidence to keep going, and I don’t doubt that these feelings would be echoed by student journalists around the country. That sense of belonging makes things so much easier than going it alone, and now I’ve found the only career option I’ve ever genuinely been excited about.
Grace Baxendine Redbrick Writer
I had never before considered myself a writer. It was only after being persuaded by a friend to write about a subject I had been ranting about continually, that I thought I could attempt to channel it into an article. Since then, I have been prompted and encouraged to contribute to Redbrick more and more. I have since realised the importance of student journalism. It offers a rare opportunity to practice writing styles, as well as gain insight into the world of printing and publishing. It seems to me, more than just reporting facts, but also the inclusion of personal opinions and comments; a fantastically diverse collection of student views. Writing for Redbrick has shown me that writing, in some form or another, is most likely something I wish to pursue after University. This was a very important realisation as I had absolutely no idea what career I wished to follow. Redbrick itself is a truly fabulous thing. Not many universities can boast of such high-quality writing, and the sheer quantity of it at that. I for one am very proud to have the chance to contribute to such a wonderful student newspaper.
Sam Denyer Redbrick Writer
Student journalism is an outlet for expression. As a writer for Redbrick Film, this mostly means expressing how much I love (or loathe) something I have seen. The unseen value of student journalism is the opportunity it gives us to participate in broader cultural conversations. Several of our writers weighed in on the successes and significance of Black Panther during both its release last year and its awards season run last month, a microcosm of the broader discussion concerning the success of a
mainstream film so directly addressing racism. These debates spark discussions on issues which are vital to discuss and culture which is fun to dissect, conversations which might have passed us by without the prompts offered by journalism. Student journalism creates a greater sense of community in doing so. University life can often feel alienating, particularly if you were used to a school where everyone knew everyone. Our writing is one of the ways in which university can feel more like a community; it amplifies student ideas and allows for them to be scrutinised by the rest of us in a way that nothing else can.
Harriet Laban Redbrick Writer
Student journalism seemed like an inevitable part of my experience as an English Literature student. Tales of graduates always seemed to involve writing for their university’s newspaper, and it felt as though almost every course mate I met contributed to a student publication.For most of my first year, I regarded them with a mixture of disregard and envy. I didn’t feel I wanted to join in, because everyone was doing it. Yet I envied them greatly, for belonging to a long tradition of grassroots journalism, and creating pieces of writing beautifully exploratory of contemporary issues. My own feelings of inadequacy prevented me from having the courage to join them. Yet during my second year, my mentality shifted. I admired the insightful articles they produced and wanted to have the opportunity to share my own thoughts, in areas which mattered to me. I have developed greater confidence in my voice and discovered that the cathartic liberation of writing is somewhat addictive, whilst realising the intense mental energy required to produce seemingly effortless articles. My admiration of my fellow students has deepened, as I realise the huge dedication they all have towards their involvement in student journalism.
Tom Denham Redbrick Writer
Student journalism is important for numerous reasons. Firstly, Redbrick affords students the opportunity to discuss and initiate debates on issues or topics surrounding our university, its running, and matters which directly impact students (with such topics as Selly safety, the Green Heart
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and the Guild Elections exemplifying university-based focusses). Secondly, student journalism enforces the notion that there is something for everyone at university. With so many varying sections, Redbrick provides ample opportunity for students to write on what interests them and to meet others who share these interests. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, student journalism is refreshing in ways in which much of current journalism is not. University students are perhaps the largest group in society which debates a variety of issues, topics, theories, etc. on a regular basis. Whether studying for a degree in the sciences or humanities, we are perpetually encouraged to think for ourselves, voice our opinions, and ask ‘why?’ When this mindset is applied to journalism, students produce and express poignant and insightful opinions which confirm our place as one of the most engaged and expressive groups in society.
Abby Spreadborough Redbrick Writer
Student journalism matters. I got involved with Redbrick at the start of first year simply because I loved writing and sharing my opinion. As I have grown as a writer over the past year, Redbrick has become the basis of my CV and has proven to me that I want to pursue journalism after I graduate. It has helped me to secure internships but more importantly, it has allowed me to make connections with others. I have written freely about my experiences of spiking, assault and harassment. In light of this, I had many individuals reach out to me to share their experience, not only students at Birmingham but those beyond too. Seeing this article in particular in print made me feel that I had reclaimed some agency over what had happened to me. However, as much as Redbrick is about its writers and editors it is about its readers too. Redbrick’s reach is vast, making it an ideal space to discuss representation and create change. For me, this
desire for change has often been grounded in a lack of class representation in Britain’s top universities but for other writers, their concerns may be race, gender, the environment, reliable news and so on. All valid areas of interest which are granted a voice and therefore some impact through Redbrick.
Emily Chapman Comment Editor
Student journalism is an invaluable part of encouraging young writers and thinkers to begin sharing their thoughts and feelings with the world. I feel incredibly proud to help give a voice to students across campus, to bring a greater connectivity to all of our university experiences, and allows us to break down barriers that may otherwise keep us apart. As part of a higher education environment, we should be striving to promote discussion and the sharing of ideas, even on topics that are somewhat delicate, controversial or politically charged, because that is how we grow as young people and form our own ideas. As someone who doesn’t currently intend to enter a journalism career in the future, my experience with journalism has allowed me to grow not only as a writer, but as an editor, a thinker and a team-player, skills which I can and will employ in every job I enter. The huge passion that every member of Redbrick feels is something that everyone should have instilled in them, in order to be able to contribute to many different fields of employment. Student journalism breeds powerful and passionate young people: and people like that change the world.
Sarah Robinson Careers Advisor for CAL
If a career in journalism is your dream, then gaining experience is an important step to show your commitment to writing. However, many student journalists get
The most popular platforms for accessing international and local news (Ofcom)
Catrin Osborne
Redbrick Writer
Being a part of Redbrick has improved my first-year experience by helping me bridge the gap between adolescence and adulthood. An aspect of growing up is becoming an active member of society, and participating in student journalism assisted me in doing this. It motivates me to keep updated, constantly checking a range of news sources and considering how I would approach the topics in article format. Also, attending Redbrick’s meetings has introduced me to students that refuse to be docile in the university system. Whether it is for News, Comment, Culture etc., all writers are given a chance to consider their views on the world around them. This is important considering that the last election saw the highest number of young voters for 25 years. The university students of today are more politically engaged, and student journalism is an excellent way to continue crafting them into active, opinionated individuals.
Emily Calder
Food&Drink Editor
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involved to acquire transferable skills that can make a big impact on their employability and add value to their CV, regardless of their career aspirations. It involves working with others, not only within student media, but also with a range of connections you make through researching your pieces. You need to be organised and see through projects to the end, whilst working to deadlines and strict word limits. There may be a chance to be involved in other parts of student journalism such as marketing, working with advertisers, designing page layouts, or managing social media. If you aspire to work in politics, you can write political stories accessible to the student audience. If you’re interested in marketing, look at ways you could help to draw in new readers, or develop a sponsorship package to market to businesses. Developing your writing skills via your degree studies alone is not going to help you stand out from other graduates. There is so much more you can gain from the experience of being involved in student journalism.
Redbrick is a thriving community of people studying various disciplines, from various backgrounds, who are brought together by a passion for student journalism, writing, and involving themselves in something special. The variety of sections mean that there really is something for everyone, and as a cohesive team we are all able to indulge in our passions, and in doing so produce a beautiful paper every fortnight, and a fantastic repertoire of articles online. Redbrick is consistent throughout what for many of us is a time of great change and turbulence, and I am so thankful for its ability to hold my hand throughout my studies and life’s ups and downs.
Lydia Waller
Food&Drink Editor
Speaking your mind will never become outdated, as much as peo-
Emily Youlton
BurnFM Station Manager @Burn_FM
One of the first things that people ask me when they hear I am part of student radio is ‘how many listeners do you have?’ The truth is, we don’t know, but in my opinion, it doesn’t matter. We don’t do this for huge listener figures, we take part to learn and express our opinions. Student media to me has an impact by purely existing, it not only allows a gateway to many career paths but it provides a chance for students to express themselves. Just this year on ple fear the Orwellian landscape of governmental surveillance and politics is encroaching on our liberty to express ourselves. If anything for me as a student, involved in student journalism, it makes me want to react to any attempts to control the voices of those who feel the urge to speak out. We as students, are involved daily, in a hugely multi-faceted experience at University; exposed to all social groups, minorities, privileges, cultures, identities, you name it and you have the opportunity to be educated in peoples’ opinions. So why not channel all these stories, lessons, disputes, disagreements, joys, in sophisticated journalism that is accessible to all, in free print and online publication, that epitomises what the documentation of human experience should stand for- equity and enjoyment.
Conrad Duncan Redbrick Alumnus
When I went to my first Redbrick Music meeting, I barely said a word. But if I hadn’t gone to that meeting, I wouldn’t have written my first review, or later put myself forward to be Digital Editor and been inspired to do a journalism MA. Student journalism gave me the opportunity to prove myself and the confidence to believe I could make a career in this industry. Right now, you might feel like you’re not good enough to turn your hobby into a career. I can tell you that at every moment – whether that’s writing for Redbrick or working for The Sunday Times – I’ve felt that too and learned that I was. I’m sure you are too.
Rhi Storer
Redbrick Alumnus
I’ve wanted to be a journalist ever since I can remember. I’d read the newspaper and would always watch BBC News. It also stems from seeing injustice and privilege around me, and looking for ways to challenge it. Good reporting enriches readers, makes them curious, and drives them to want to find out more. It also offers answers away from the interest of the powerful. Student journalism is different because it’s a peer-to-peer discus-
BurnFM, I have been blown away by our diverse show schedules, opening conversations about living as a minority, toxic masculinity and LGBTQ+ rights. These conversations are vital to a healthy student population where students feel able to express themselves, whether it be through spinning their new favourite music or debating the latest Brexit news. If you end up spending your time at University doing any sort of student media, you will spend far more time working on creating William something Baxter for your article, radio show orAlumni TV production than Redbrick you will on your degree. To me, that shows the importance of having something to say and actually going ahead and saying it. sion. It’s us telling our friends and classmates the news which affects them. It’s important because we’re forming the next generation not only of journalists, but readers. After all, who better to publish articles encapsulating the ethos of student experiences than the students themselves? Since graduating from university the skills I have learned at Redbrick have transferred to my role in PR. You’ll find that the versatility of writing something other than a dissertation is valuable when you’re speaking to clients about their copy requests!
William Baxter Redbrick Alumnus
I’m probably more than a little biased, but I think student journalism is of tremendous importance. Obviously, if you’re looking to get a job in journalism, you can’t really succeed without it, but I think there’s much more to it than that. Working with Redbrick was certainly the best thing I did at university – it taught me so much about managing multiple deadlines, making decisions and more importantly, justifying them. I think those skills are marketable to almost all employers across pretty much every field.
How to get involved If you would like to learn more about getting involved with student media whilst at university, head to the Guild of Students Wesite to find out more. You can also contact the groups via email or twitter. If you would like to talk to us in person, our offices are in the basement of the Guild. We are always happy to respond to your queries. https://www.guildofstudents.com/studentgroups/ editor@redbrick.me @redbrickpaper stationmanager@ burnfm.com @Burn_FM
18
CULTURE
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickculture
Brinkhoff / Mogenburg
Review: Macbeth (NT Tour) Naomi Simpson Culture Critic
Fair is foul and foul is fair. This simple line is perhaps the closest Shakespeare came to providing his audience with a mission statement for The Scottish Play. This timeless tragedy is an inversion of expectations, from the prophesy that Macbeth will be a barren king, to Lady Macbeth’s desperate cry to be unsexed, to trees marching in military formation. The headiness and heat of the play is unparalleled. It is a shame then, that Rufus Norris’ National Theatre production, now playing at the Wolverhampton Grand, kept
Brinkhoff / Mogenburg
the pulse of over-heated testosterone flowing, but failed to acknowledge the magic and mystery that should cloak any performance of Macbeth.
“If foul is fair then this was a beautiful performance” Set in what appears to be a contemporary or nightmarish nineties Civil War Scotland, Norris’ Macbeth is bare and deeply impactful, but decidedly lacking in subtlety. Michael Nardone’s Macbeth is a fairly standard tough-guy Scot you wouldn’t want to meet after he’d had a wee dram or two. From the opening, in which a battle-weary Macbeth beheads an opponent, this play has none of the milk of human kindness, and all the vaulting ambition to go deep into the heart of political corruption. But this play needs contrasts. If Shakespeare says the castle has a pleasant seat, then make it pleasant. He did know what he was talking about. The nuclear fallout shelter/warehouse rave setting of the Macbeths’ home is lacking in any intimacy that makes you believe that these two love each other as much as they profess: this has surely never been home to a loving family, but always a head-
quarters for ambitious usurpers. It can feel almost sacrilegious to criticise the National Theatre, and indeed this remained an excellent performance. The school children in the audience cheered in response to the steamy onstage kisses of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth (played by a powerful Kirsty Besterman), proving that the heat of the play worked. The fights were vicious and the lewd humour of the Porter was blatant enough to shake off any notion of Shakespeare being stuffy. But Macbeth needs a sense of place. In the tension between the Scots and the English, in the landscape of the Highlands, this is a play tied to place. I’m all for adaptation, but show the audience why you made those changes. Macbeth is famous for reflecting timeless truths about politics, but it works best if it shows you this timelessness within a specific location. From the many gangster adaptations, to Akira Kurosawa’s film adaptation set in feudal Japan, to the lines that crop up in politically tense moments of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, historical adaptation can be highly effective when it proves the universality of the play’s emotions. But Norris’ world failed to go beyond the aesthetic. Rather than being set in a concrete location which justified why men and women would go into battle over the land, it felt as if what we were watching was set in a violently beautiful moodboard of future humanitarian crises. A word on the witches: no doubt one of the play’s strongest
features (quite literally, they clambered up trees and hung from them acrobatically throughout lengthy stretches of dialogue). The witches were played as the kind of demon you would see in a modern horror film, all unnatural vocal rhythms and eerily synchronized movements. It was an undeniably shrewd move by Norris to have them seem to fly as they slipped down the trees into the realm of the human characters. They brought back the supernatural and surrealism of the play and it was all the stronger for it.
“The Witches were played as the kind of demon you would see in a modern horror film, all unnatural vocal rhythms and eerily synchronized movements” If foul is fair then this was a beautiful performance. Its aesthetic vision may not have been entirely convincing, but it was certainly provocative and communicated well the masculine militarism at the heart of the play. I just would have liked to see a little more of the fair.
Culture Preview Culture Editor Natalie Welch gives her picks of the upcoming and current events on in Birmingham The Half God of Rainfall (The REP) The contemporary epic, The Half God of Rainfall is the new play by the award-winning poet and playwright, Inua Ellams. The Half God of Rainfall is about a young boy, Demi, who is half-Nigerian, and half-Greek God. Visit The Rep’s website for more information. Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life in Pictures (BMAG) As part of a nationwide event to celebrate the 500th year anniversary of his death, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are hosting 12 of Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawings. The exhibition is acompanied by an education programme that teaches visitors about Leonardo’s artistic techniques. It is open until 6th May. From Outside: Tess Jaray (The Barber Institute) If you’re looking for something a little closer to campus, The Barber Institute is hosting five new paintings by Tess Jaray in an exhibition called ‘From Outside’. The exhibition is also enhanced by a number if artworks from throughout Jaray’s career. It is open until 12th May, in the Lady Barber Gallery.
CULTURE
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickculture
19
Review: GMTG’s RENT Frankie Rhodes Culture Critic
From hearing my friends singing praises about the musical, to having seen GMTG’s stunning performance of Legally Blonde last semester, their production of Rent certainly had a lot to live up to. Yet, the cast and crew were able to exceed any expectations I may have had, delivering a performance that was packed with emotion, humour and vibrancy. The 1993 musical Rent focuses on a community of young people shivering through Christmas in New York, whilst dealing with issues such as homelessness, addiction, and the HIV/ AIDS crisis. At the centre of this is aspiring film-maker Mark, struggling to document and manage the lives of his friends, including his melancholy flatmate Roger, explosive ex-girlfriend Maureen and warm-hearted friend Collins. The makeshift gang endure the gains (and losses) of new friends and lovers, whilst also battling against their ex-flatmate Benny, who threatens to evict the homeless in order to expand his business. Whilst the plot is arguably a bit complicated, it is essentially a musical about suffering, social justice, and above all – love. It is this theme of love that was foregrounded in GMTG’s production, with the chorus’ rendition of ‘Seasons Of Love’ providing a beautiful, harmonious centrepiece. For a musical that concentrates primarily on the principal actors, GMTG were able to make impressive use of the chorus, who peformed every-
thing from chaotic market scenes, to smaller comedic interjections and the particularly spirited café scene of ‘La Vie Boheme’. As for the staging, despite a minimalist structure, the colourful lights and gloomy lighting effectively portrayed a bleak yet bustling New York City.
“I left the Deb Hall not subdued, but filled with a new respect for life” But of course, it was the main cast who were thrown under the spotlight, achieving more notable moments than it is possible to mention. Will Jackson as Mark was able to capture the character’s
profound awkwardness and resilient love for his friends, whilst Joe Griffiths-Bloor’s Roger was captivating as he struggled to cope with HIV. Particularly when acting alongside Mimi (who Claudia Sugarman expertly portrayed as feisty yet despairing), the pair had such chemistry that each heartfelt ballad became even more tragic. And bursting into this world of suffering - in platform heels - was Fergal Mullan Wilkinson, who breathed life into the musical in such a way, that once he had left, it was all the more heartbreaking. This brings me on to my favourite scene of the musical Jason Obiri-Yeboah’s rendition of ‘I’ll Cover You’. Even the way that Jason walked onto stage amongst the solemn funeral party was deeply moving, before he had even begun to sing with soulful, bass tones. Indeed, his stunning performance has been the topic of many ‘Brumfesses’ since the
show, and it’s not difficult to see why, with the compelling performance leaving few dry eyes among the audience. Completely contrasting this, was Rae Doyle’s hilarious opening monologue, during which she literally sparkled, both in terms of her outfit and in terms of her indefatigable stage presence. The audience were drawn to her during every one of her scenes, with her performance proving that this production of Rent was able to produce as much comedy and entertainment as it could tears. Other entertaining elements of the show included the voicemail messages from the parents of the main characters, positioned to the side of the audience so that the main action on the stage was still visible. An impressive dance routine was incorporated into Mimi’s number ‘Out Tonight’, in which the girls dazzled in fish-net tights. It was these elements that kept the audience hooked, despite a plot that was arguably difficult to follow. Unfortunately, as I was seeing Rent for the first time, there were some aspects of the show that I couldn’t fully grasp, such as the nature of Benny’s character as a villain-turned-hero. Yet, the cast and production team were generally able to take a complex plot
and make it consistently engaging, which must be credited. Perhaps the reason that this show was so engaging was due to its relevance within our current society, and the skill with which the ensemble were able to get this point across. Individuals all over the world struggle with homelessness, poverty and disease, facing not only the severity of the issues themselves but also the stigma built up behind them. It was honourable that the cast were collecting money at the end of the show to support HIV/AIDS charities, as they had done every night, and this sense of dedication to the cause was something that also came across strongly in performance. Despite the show’s distressing themes, I left the Deb Hall not subdued, but filled with a new respect for life. The cast and crew of Rent should be extremely proud of their production which was overall a celebration of diversity and the mutual struggles faced by so many people in New York City, and beyond.
Image: Spandan Photography
Book Review: Vox
Culture Editor Olivia Boyce reviews Christina Dalcher’s deeply affecting novel Olivia Boyce Culture Editor
At thousands of dinner tables, families sit down to discuss school and work – or, that is, the men do. For this is an isolationist America run by an extremist government, in the grip of the ‘Pure’ ideology which reduces women to little more than silent objects. This is an America in which women wear wordcounters, limited to 100 words a day on pain of electrocution. This is an America of packed labour camps, forced conversion therapy and ever-expanding discrimination. This is the horrifying America of Christina Dalcher’s Vox, a bestseller recently released in paperback. These words would be my 100 daily words. Dalcher’s novel is rightfully fear-inducing from the start, just as potent as it is spiritual, it equals The Handmaid’s Tale and Naomi Alderman’s The Power. It focuses on Jean, an accomplished sociolinguist now reduced to an almostsilent housewife, as she navigates the oppressive culture around her, and unwillingly finds herself
involved in a scientific project with impacts far beyond what she could imagine. She worries for her daughter, who gleefully wins prizes for the fewest words spoken at school, and who does not know the danger the object around her wrist poses. She worries too for her sons, the oldest of whom
seems increasingly radicalised towards the ‘Pure’ ideology, and increasingly likely to jeopardise everything she fights for. Dalcher makes an accomplished creation in Jean, whose thoughts we are privy to throughout. Jean is conscious of the apathy she showed as America changed, regularly self-deprecating in retrospect as she thinks ‘you can’t protest what you don’t see coming.’ This is all the more powerful a condemnation of intentional apathy when she begins to push back more forcibly against the regime that constrains her. Her outward silence gives way to a well-realised and deeply compelling internal narrative, with Dalcher beautifully capturing the frustrations and resentment that Jean feels. Jean is surely one of recent fiction’s more brilliant protagonists. Accomplished too is how Dalcher deftly interweaves the scientific narrative surrounding aphasia, and the concerted efforts of Jean and her colleagues to reverse this. Jean’s work in curing aphasia in the Wernicke area of the brain is what gives her tempo-
rary reprieve from her silence, as her research is requested by the president, but it is also yet another threat that underpins the novel, and provides a second and very global concern. The science is easy enough to follow, and the irony of a woman being the one required to finish her work escapes neither Jean nor the reader.
“Vox is a brilliant debut novel, full of anger-inducing and deeply moving moments” Dalcher’s novel seems especially prescient in the current cultural moment, resonating with contemporary America easily, even as her setting may seem a far more dystopic one. Women’s healthcare is restricted, with contraception a distant memory, and there are discussions of a conservative push to take over the
Supreme court. One character reminds Jean of her own twisted privilege, asking how long it might be before racial segregation returns in full, and Jean describes with horrified resignation the attempts to force LGBTQ+ Americans to form a ‘traditional’ relationship through the currently all too common and widely discredited practice of ‘conversion’ therapy. So much of Dalcher’s book is an extension of practices and prejudices we see today, and it is this startling realism that makes her novel all the more powerful, and all the more angerinducing. Vox is a brilliant debut novel, full of anger-inducing and deeply moving moments, and Christina Dalcher is one to watch out for in coming years.
««««« Book Cover: HQ
MUSIC
20
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickmusic
Redbrick’s Festival Guide From Bristol to Barcelona, Hatfield to Hungary, Skepta to Skee Mask and Britpop to hip-hop, Redbrick Music look ahead to a summer of festivals across the UK and overseas
MAY Slam Dunk 25th-26th May To any fan of mid-2000s pop punk and the emotional lyrics of your early teenage years, Slam Dunk Festival will be an old friend to those of you attending this year. Taking its name from Slam Dunk Records, founded in Leeds in 2007, the record company first envisaged the festival all the way back in 2006, when it was just a small event held in Leeds’s Millennium Square. Now in the dual event locations of Leeds on the Saturday and Hatfield on the Sunday, this year’s line-up promises to be an explosive one. With All Time Low headlining the Monster Energy stage, accompanied by Simple Plan, Neckdeep, Waterparks, New Found Glory and As It Is (to name just a few), the selection of bands immediately transports me back to a simpler time. Along with the main stage, they’ve also managed to secure Bullet for my Valentine and NOFX as headliners on the smaller stages. The choice of locations allows you to pick whichever is easiest for you to travel to, with Hatfield only being an hour outside of London (traffic permitting), or half an hour by train. For those of you more inclined to the northern region of the UK, the Leeds event is being held at Temple Newsam Park, where Temple Green Park and Ride allows easy access from the north of the city. Failing that, it is just half an hour by train, followed by a short walk. If you want to relive your teenage years, or just revel in the sights and sounds of a true homegrown music festival, then grab tickets soon.
Norwich Sunday Sessions 26th May Sunday Sessions returns to Earlham Park, Norwich this May for a thrilling day of entertainment, with headliners including Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Razorlight and The Coral. With Noel Gallagher and his band being renowned for rocking huge, outdoor venues, this gig is a chance to witness hits from their three charttopping albums (and maybe even a few nostalgic Oasis tunes.) With all of the action taking place on one main stage, fans are able to experience every second of the live music, perhaps taking a few breaks to explore the multiple bar and food options on offer. If the promise of an afternoon of indie artistry isn’t enough for you, there are also workshops provided by Bigtopmania Circus, face painting, crafts and a funfair. Children go free to this event, so why not invite your whole family along for a bank holiday of fun in the Norwich countryside?
Frankie Rhodes
Wikimedia Commons/ Jose Francisco
Eleanor Jeffery
Junction 2 7th-8th June
Top Festivals Abroad Primavera Sound 30th
Lowlands 16th-18th
May-2nd June
August
Primavera Sound has established itself as Lowlands returns for its 27th year of everone of the most popular European festivals, more-spectacular entertainment this August. and is now the go-to for those with an From 16th-18th, the festival will take over eclectic taste looking for a few days of sun, Biddinghuizen, NL, with an eclectic mix of Estrella, and an array of artists spanning all psych-rock, hip-hop, pop and so much genres. This year is set to be no more. Tame Impala, ASAP Rocky, exception, as the Barcelonaand Anderson .Paak & The Free based festival boasts an Nationals will be fronting impressive line-up with one of the most diverse headliners such as R&B line-ups around, and the queen Erykah Badu, to smaller tents are hardly psychedelic pop/rock having to make do, band Tame Impala, with Billie Eilish, Jorja and producer-singerSmith and Idles, just songwriter Solange. to name a few, already Primavera’s diverse confirmed. In short, line-up, unlike other the whole line-up is as festivals, features an stellar as always, and abundance of excepwill be accompanied tional female talent. by renowned afterparIncluding big names ties. Not once has there such as Kali Uchis, FKA been a whisper of a noise Wikimedia Commons/ Twigs, and Robyn, it curfew on the Lowlands terPistenwolf alsoextends to other equally rain; every night they go till impressive, if more obscure, artthe not-so-small hours of the mornists like Marie Davidson, Nilüfer Yanya, ing. The only unenviable thing about the SOPHIE, and CHAI. Ranging from Mac whole weekend is trying to get yourself out DeMarco’s alternative-indie sound, to tech- of your sleeping bag before 4pm so you can no DJ Avalon Emerson, and rapper check out the extensive range of daytime JPEGMAFIA, there’s certainly something activities, including yoga, swimming, arts for everyone on the Catalonian coast this & crafts and, of course, shopping for festisummer. val fashion – continental style.
Frankie Stott
JUNE
Field Day 7th-9th June
Parklife
Emily Barker
8th- 9th June
Community
30th June
Junction 2 continues to go from strength to The consistently outstanding Field Day strength having secured DJ Mag’s ‘Best of once again boasts a weekend of fresh, British’ Best Festival award in December dynamic talent. London-local Jorja Smith for the second year running, despite only takes a deserving headlining spot alongside bursting onto the scene in 2016. The Skepta, who spearheads a crop of the greatWest London festival has now est modern rappers around today, expanded across two days, from elusive wordsmith Earl with a corresponding extenSweatshirt to volatile iconoclast sion of its enviable line-up. JPEGMAFIA, cocaine lyricist Whilst Saturday remains Pusha T to grime fusionist largely dedicated to preOctavian. Diplo, Bonobo, senting some of the most Skee Mask, The Black renowned names in techMadonna and Leon Vynehall no, Friday broadens upon proudly rep Field Day’s the variation in offerings infatuation for electronic piothat was mostly contained neers, and experimental rock to The Woods stage in 2018. is showcased by the likes of Sabrina To name but a few acts from Deerhunter and Julia Holter. Campagna the initial day’s assortment of Besides the stellar line-up, the most choice selectors, Daphni, Mr. G, and exciting evolution to the Field Day forDJ Koze are amongst those returning to the mula is perhaps their latest venue: Meridian festival, whilst the likes of Bicep, Ricardo Water in Enfield. With ten acres of outdoor Villalobos, and DJ Stingray are set to make space and four gigantic warehouses at their their debut. Junction 2 therefore seems to disposal, the event is now open to both be both sticking to a winning formula and daytime and late night events, promising to pushing its boundaries in 2019, a prospect provide a wholly unique experience within which is very promising. a price range that is more than reasonable.
Another year, another impressive Parklife Set in the iconic location of Finsbury Park, line-up. Sacha Lord and his team always Community Festival is returning for its want to please, ensuring they get third year on the 30th June. Previously some of the biggest names in the headlined by Two Door Cinema industry. This year is no differClub (2018) and Catfish + The ent, with artists like Cardi B, Bottlemen, the London day Eric Prydz and Kaytranada festival has quickly become topping the bill on Saturday, a staple of the indie music and Solange, George Ezra calendar. and the Streets appearing Though still in its on the Sunday. Parklife is youth, Community has showcasing some of successfully set itself apart music’s most established through impressive lineand current icons, and with ups, great value for money names like Little Simz, and an undeniably stunning GeorgeMichaelBaker Slowthai and Krystal Klear, atmosphere. festivalgoers will also be able to This year’s main stage linesee up-and-coming talent. up is being led by old favourites The Taking place in early June, the festival Kooks, who will be enjoying their largest begins post-exam celebrations and kicks headline show to date. The chart-topping off a summer of good music. Selling out in Blossoms and the likes of Kate Nash and record time, there are now only Sunday Don Broco will warm the stage up for general admission, or VIP Weekend tickets them. The N4 stage, graced last year by available. Whatever your interests, it has Tom Grennan and many others, will be something for you, there is a reason that it headlined by The Amazons, supported by is one of the most anticipated events of the The Night Café and more. Tickets are curyear. rently on sale for just £40.
Nathan Davies
Issy Campbell
Kieran Read
Kat Smith
MUSIC
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickmusic
Sónar
JULY
18th-20th July
Sónar festival in Barcelona is an internationally renowned three-day festival of electronic music and digital culture that has been growing in popularity and numbers since 1994. Hundreds of thousands of music enthusiasts from around the world fly to Barcelona to experience dance and electronic music like no other. This year’s line-up boasts huge names such as A$AP Rocky, Andy C, Artwork, Disclosure (DJ set), DJ Koze, Floating Points, Four Tet, Kaytranada, Skepta, Underworld and Vince Staples. Recent reveals include: Bad Bunny, Lil Uzi Vert, Louie Vega & Honey Dijon, Dj Krush and more.
“A festival of electronic music and digital culture” Be prepared for a crazy and intense experience with live shows around the clock with both Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night. With the growing popularity of the festival, these are now held in separate venues, the former on the outskirts of Barcelona (Fira de Barcelona) and the latter in a exhibition hall near the Plaça d’Espanya.
Nina Avitabile
Latitude
18th-21st July
For anybody that wants everything from music, dance, comedy, DJs, and much, much, more, then Latitude Festival is the one. What started off as a small boutique festival in Suffolk has grown into one of the most lauded festivals in the UK. George Ezra will lead proceedings on the Friday, before handing the torch over to classic band Snow Patrol who will headline on Saturday, which will also feature a special performance from dance icons Underworld.
“Closing Latitude will be enchantress Lana Del Rey”
Upcoming Events: Truck
26th-29th July
Going strong since 1998, Truck festival boldly wears its label of being the ‘Godfather of the small festival scene’ and ‘antimajor festival’ with pride. In its twentysecond year, Truck is bringing back a lineup of indie nostalgia.
Closing the festival will be enchantress Lana Del Rey, who will headline the performances on Sunday in a UK festival exclusive. Fresh from putting the Trump administration in its place as the host of last year’s White House Correspondents Dinner, American comedian Michelle Wolf leads the line-up of the comedy aspect of the festival. TV favourite Jason Manford will also headline, with The Mash Report’s Nish Kumar and Rachel Parris, and Russell Kane just some of the names from a highly impressive list.
This year’s headliners include Two Door Cinema Club, Foals and Wolf Alice, and whilst there is a decent spattering of other veteran indie bands (Slaves, Futureheads), Truck does a good job of fitting newcomers onto the bill and catering for a range of tastes. Easy Life, Shame and Idles are prime examples of the more alternative guitar-heavy music that has emerged in recent years that’s getting a spotlight on this year’s set list. Truck also presents the perfect chance to switch up from the regular muddy scrum of some British festivals and relax in the uncrowded, picturesque fields of Oxfordshire whilst listening to an indie-tastic line-up. Late July, get yourself down to Truck, scream aloud to Kate Nash singing ‘Foundations’ and relive some of those guilty indie pleasures.
Ben Johns
David Evans
Houghton
8th-11th August
30th August-1st September
Cornwall is perhaps best known for its idyllic beaches and being the birthplace of the pasty, not so much its music festivals. However, the organisers of Boardmasters Surf and Music Festival have spent the last fourteen years growing its reputation to make it one of the most highly anticipated events in the UK music calendar. From legendary East Coast hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, through alternativerock heavy hitters Foals, to genre-defying megastars Florence and the Machine, the event boasts a veritable smorgasbord of musical talent, meaning that there’s no way that you’ll be leaving disappointed. Set practically on the water’s edge at Watergate Bay in Newquay, Boardmasters is a truly unique and unforgettable experience that all music fans should try and, with the calibre of acts lined up this year, it’s as good a time as any to tick this one off your bucket list.
Within the grounds of the stately hall that shares its name, Houghton enters its third year having retained a near-mythical status, despite the pre-existing hype and decidedly more treacherous conditions it contended with last August. A secluded, picturesque woodland setting permits its extended license, with some sets during the seventytwo hours of non-stop music surpassing the seven-hour mark. As such, artists can dig deep into their records to showcase a diversity in style and track selection that other festivals cannot facilitate. Whilst the team behind the similarly-acclaimed Anglesey festival Gottwood oversee production, the festival is curated by Fabric resident Craig Richards. Drawing upon his comprehensive expertise, Houghton’s schedule boasts the widest range of electronic music, aiming to exhibit first-rate talent, both established and unknown. Exactly who this includes in 2019 is as-yet undisclosed, but it is hoped that Richards can once again retain and expand upon an impressive previous line-up.
Described as a ‘no frills rave’, Field Maneuvers is an intimate electronic music festival over three days, with only 700 people. The festival has a top-class line up with the likes of The Black Madonna and Ben UFO headlining, along with Luke Slater and DJ Stingray. The setup of Field Maneuvers takes the festival back to its fundamentals, channelling the spirit of 90s free raves. Décor is kept to a minim and there are only three tents, ensuring all energy is focused on creating good music. Entering its sixth year, Field Maneuvers still manages to maintain its feeling of community. The festival is held at a secret location near London that is revealed to ticket holders closer to the event. This is arguably one of the UK’s best small festivals, and if you can get hold of a ticket in time, it’ll be an experience unlike any other.
Alex Kirkup-Lee
Nathan Davies
Editor’s Pick Love Saves The Day 25th-26th May
Playing host to a range of artists across two days, LSTD captures Bristol’s renowned underground scene alongside showcasing an array of international musical heavyweights. Day one boasts Lily Allen, Jimothy Lacoste, lo-fi pioneers Ross From Friends, Northampton’s Slowthai, IAMDDB and the DJ legend Artwork. Day two brings trailblazers of electronic music to the Paradiso Stage including female powerhouse Peggy Gou, a Bonobo DJ set, plus performances from Chaos in the CBD and
NoName, O2 Institute, 28th March The Chicago rapper released the best hip hop album of 2018 by a distance, her softly-spoken lyrics making their subject matter - police brutality, depression, loneliness, sexuality even more stark and vital. You’d be daft to miss her.
Tirzah, Hare & Hounds, 31st March With her debut album, Devotion being one of the best of 2018, Tirzah is an act hotly tipped for success. Her stripped-back, honest style paired with the intimate Hare & Hounds will make for a chilling performance that is not one to be missed. It will be interesting to see how Tirzah works with the crowd; whether she will sink into the personal and reflective tone of her album, or invite the audience in.
Field Maneuvers
7th-11th August
Jake Sandy
Editors’ picks:
“Godfather of the small festival scene”
AUGUST Boardmasters
21
Best of the rest: NAO, O2 Institute, 22nd March Skinny Living, Castle & Falcon, 22nd March Sleaford Mods, O2 Institute, 23rd March Drake, Genting Arena, 26th-28th March Slowthai, O2 Institute, 27th March
Method Records
DJ Seinfeld. Sunday also sees Octavian, Ray Blk, HAAi and dancehall veteran David Rodigan amongst the acts. The full line-up is available on the LSTD website. Whilst the music is the main draw, inspiring production, non-musical attractions and an unrivalled inclusive ethos creates a great vibe for the festival. Make sure to checkout the afterparties too, as Bristol is home to some of the UK’s most renowned clubs which host some huge acts over the weekend.
Rebecca Payton The full version of Redbrick’s Festival Guide will be available online at www. redbrick.me
Deaf Havana, O2 Academy, 28th March Busted, Genting, 29th March Pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs, Hare & Hounds, 29th March Yak, Castle & Falcon, 29th March My Nu Leng, Lab11, 30th March Orchards, Sunflower Lounge, 31st March Bloxx, Castle & Falcon, 4th April Henry Wu (DJ set), Hare & Hounds, 5th April Artwork: No/Name; Domino
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FILM
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickfilm
Review: Triple Frontier
Netflix
An all-star cast just about saves this action flick Matt Taylor Film Critic
The action genre is one that is especially well-worn. Many action movies of the past decade or so have been forgettable affairs, with remarkably few being any fun to watch. Even fewer manage to put an entertaining spin on the genre’s tropes, or find space to be original (recent examples of these would be Steve McQueen’s Widows, or WWII zombie flick Overlord). JC Chandor’s Triple Frontier is new to Netflix this past week, his fourth directorial feature since his debut in 2011. Coming off the back of successful films such as All is Lost and A Most Violent Year, Chandor’s latest hopes to continue the good run that he’s on.
“Triple Frontier's biggest strength is easily its cast” The film follows a group of US military veterans, played by Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, and Garrett Hedlund. Years after retirement from service, each is struggling to get by in their own way, until Isaac’s character recruits them to plan a heist that will take down one of Colombia’s biggest drug lords. A recon mission quickly turns into execution of the heist, with an expected
take of $75 million that would set up each of the men nicely on returning home. Triple Frontier’s biggest strength is easily its cast. With four actors who have proven themselves multiple times as being fantastic leads, and Hedlund on great form too, solid performances are what we would expect. Chandor’s script gives the five of them plenty to work with, and all are clearly dedicated. Affleck’s Tom Davis was among the best of his unit, but since retirement has been divorced and is selling condos when we meet him at the film’s beginning. Though at first he is resistant to the idea of getting back in the field, he relishes the opportunity to carry out some proper work again. Isaac plays Santiago Garcia, the only one of the five still involved in military work. He works as a private military advisor in Colombia, and when he gets some info on drug lord Lorea, who he has been after for years, he recruits the gang. It is these two who get the most focus and development – indeed, they are the only two that have ‘arcs’ as such – but the easygoing chemistry between the whole group makes it extremely easy for us to believe that they were in the military together. Hunnam puts in an especially good shift. Since his excellent stint in FX’s Sons of Anarchy he has sadly had very few roles, but his turn here as Will Miller serves to ground the film in realism. Miller is never afraid to call others out, and his dynamic with his brother (Hedlund) is
especially rocky, but he is constantly an engaging screen presence who also manages to be the group’s moral compass. Hedlund and Pascal get less to work with, but again give engaging performances to ensure that we never bore of their characters.
“For an action movie, it has disappointingly little action” However, the same cannot be said about the film’s narrative. For an action movie, it has disappointingly little action. The sequences we are treated to are fantastic – it is just a shame that there are so few of them. The gaps between them are so long that the film struggles to keep its momentum for the 125-minute runtime, meaning that, sadly, there are spots of it that drag, and noticeably so. The narrative itself takes place over too long a time period, resulting in long spells where very little of consequence happens. For a Netflix Original film, this is a killer. The reasons to stay tuned into Triple Frontier are definitely here, but they are so spread out that I would not be surprised if many people switch off around the halfway point. Perhaps ten minutes shaved off its runtime, and a stronger sense of immediacy would have helped things along hugely, resulting in a tight, tense thriller that we only see flashes of
here. Those flashes, however, are superb. The heist sequence itself is worthy of special mention; it is a brilliantly shot and directed sequence of prolonged tension. In the best way possible, it feels as though it is never going to end – the infiltration of Lorea’s house is unbearably tense, as is the group’s prolonged exit strategy. The revelations and conflicts that arise within the house serve to keep us on the edge of our seats, and the sheer skill with which the group carries out the operation reminds us of their combined experience and expertise in this area. A later ambush sequence is just as tense, if not more so. The shock, uncertainty and paranoia that the scene pushes make it clear to us that Chandor knows how to write and direct an action sequence, and how to work in character as well. It is unfortunate that there are not more scenes such as this throughout the film. The film’s ending feels a little lacking, too. The resolution to the narrative itself is fantastic – again Chandor shows us that he does
know what he’s doing – but the final moments somehow manage to undercut one of the most compelling character arcs. Without spoiling anything, a superb piece of character work is seemingly undone, ending the film on a frustrating note. Aside from this and the uneven narrative, Triple Frontier is perfectly watchable and entertaining. It’s just a shame that it could have been so much more. VERDICT: While JC Chandor’s latest is a harmlessly watchable affair, it fails to live up to the standards he has set himself. Triple Frontier has plenty going for it, not least of which are the incredible performances and superbly tense action scenes, but a wonky narrative, an overlong runtime, and a frustrating ending sadly hold it back from being something truly great. While it is hardly a game-changer, it is at least reasonably entertaining.
Review: At Eternity’s Gate
Film Critic Grace Baxendine rediscovers Van Gogh in this unconventional biopic Grace Baxendine Film Critic
I first saw this film in a small cinema in Bologna, Italy, three weeks ago. As a student of Italian, I was worried that I would be unable to appreciate the beauty and subtleties of the film, due to concentrating so much on the language. However, like Van Gogh’s paintings, the combination of music, fantastic acting and minimal dialogue is a feast for the eyes; and indeed all other senses. Unlike Loving Vincent, which was released last year, the film takes a very personal approach to Vincent’s final few
months. At Eternity’s Gate is an unconventional and impressionist approach to this well-known and tragic biography.
“[This] is an unconventional and impressionist approach to this well-known and tragic biography” Willem Dafoe plays the worldfamous Dutch artist in Julian Schnabel’s artistic masterpiece. A
Curzon Artificial Eye
painter himself, Schnabel is said to find the film and story very close to his heart. Predominantly set in Arles and Auvers-Sur-Oise, the film follows Vincent through the final years of his life, as his world slowly deteriorates around him. Underappreciated and considered insane, Van Gogh is portrayed when free and alone on a hillside or sunflower field, as well as when captive in an asylum. The film begins in darkness. The solitary voice of Dafoe begins to talk of his isolation and detachment from his peers and neighbours, 'I just want to sit down with them and them to just ask me how I am.' Van Gogh’s journey throughout the film is on the whole very solitary, even when interacting with others, he is detached and cannot fully function within late 19th century French society. He concludes several times in the film that this is due to being born in the wrong age and that perhaps in years to come his work may be better appreciated: he couldn’t be more right. In fact, throughout the film, the audience are showered in allusions to Van Gogh’s work. The framing of Van Gogh in his bedroom in Arles, for example. The iconic painting is undeniably recognisable and yet in the film, Schnabel alludes to it without having to directly say. In a very
similar way, Sunflowers -- perhaps Van Gogh’s most famous and recognisable painting -- is shown hanging upon Vincent’s wall seconds after we are taken, through Vincent’s eyes, through a field of sunflowers. These subtle references offer the audience a welcome familiarity; we can empathise with the artist as we feel close to him, his work and his invaluable influence on western art and culture which continues to this day.
“The camerawork [...] offers a sense of the frenzied mind of Van Gogh” Dafoe is joined by a fantastic cast which compliment his masterful portrayal of Vincent. Rupert Friend makes an appearance as Theo Van Gogh, Vincent’s brother, perhaps the only true affection that Van Gogh receives in the whole film. Likewise, Oscar Isaac portrays Van Gogh’s fellow postimpressionist, and for a time friend, Paul Gauguin. The two hit it off but their ideals and visions collide and result in a rupture of
the friendship. Ultimately, Van Gogh spends the most part solitary and this is expertly captured by Schnabel. The camerawork throughout offers a sense of the frenzied mind of Van Gogh; his inability to conform and accept the lack of creativity in his world. Long shots pan the vast fields that he wanders across to an endless goal: his search for eternity, which he arguably finds within painting. Dialogue comes secondary to visuals in this film, Vincent’s journey is that of the tormented artist, misunderstood and ahead of his time. VERDICT: Schanebel’s film explores the extensive creativity of one of the world’s most cherished and influential artists. As a lover of art, especially Van Gogh, I wish he could see the influence he has on the world; that he could see the queues of tourists flooding to Amsterdam to see his work, the endless freedom that artists are accustomed to today, and the beauty he saw in the world is now recognised. At Eternity's Gate is an ode to that beauty, and as Dafoe’s Vincent concludes in the film, his artworks are truly his eternal gift to the world.
FILM
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickfilm
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Laika: Stop-Motion Storytellers In advance of their fifth film Missing Link, Alex Green looks back at Laika's history Alex Green Film Critic
The last ten years have brought us to the pinnacle of the animated medium. We live in an age where so many animation studios find success with both child and adult audiences. Pixar, despite a recent sequel obsession, continue to produce quality animation, with 2018 adding Coco and Incredibles 2 to an extensive résumé of quality franchises. Disney’s turn to live-action adaptations is a shame but at least the teaser for Frozen 2 looks promising. While Disney themselves are not in the same ballpark, DreamWorks continue to make some satisfying western animation, recently capping the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy so gracefully with a fun third instalment. Aardman continue to chug along, releasing the overlooked, but charming Early Man last year. Even Hollywood greats have recognised the potential of animation, with Wes Anderson dipping his proverbial toe into the medium with Oscar nominated Isle of Dogs, and Angelina Jolie collaborating with Irish animator and director Nora Twomey to bring us The Breadwinner, one of the more poignant animated films of recent years. But with all these players kicking around, it is easy to lose sight of some of the best minds. With their latest film Missing Link approaching our screens, now is a good time to recap one of the most unique, bold and brilliant animation studios in recent memory, Laika. Every film studio is made of people, so let’s start this story with the late Will Vinton. Born in 1947, Vinton burst onto the animation scene in 1974 with his Oscar-winning short film, Closed Mondays. He continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s with clay-based animated shorts, even trademarking the term ‘claymation’ and establishing Will Vinton Studios in the late 1970s. In the late 1990s, the studios sought after extra investors: enter Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Approached by Vinton in 1998, Knight jumped at the chance to invest, buying a 15% stake in the rising studio and becoming a major investor. The third person in this story, Knight’s son Travis, was then hired to the company. Phil Knight took a controlling stake and his son, an animation prodigy at this point, was promoted to the board of directors in late 2003. Six months later, Vinton left the company, and the studio re-emerged under the name Laika in 2005.
“Laika announced its arrival to the animated stage with a bang” To their credit, Travis Knight and his father reinvigorated the company’s structure, bringing in Henry Selick, director of the Oscar-nominated The Nightmare
Before Christmas. Selick set to work to make the studio’s first (and still one of their most beloved) feature Coraline, released in 2009. It received plenty of nominations in award season and introduced Laika’s unique style and process: blending handcrafted 3D puppets and built models with a few computer tricks, 150 sets in a huge Oregon warehouse and hours upon endless hours hand-painting and sculpting models. With that work, Coraline caught the eye of audiences for its gothic atmosphere. The film would make back the production budget with a bit more on top and Laika announced its arrival to the animated stage with a bang. Selick left the studio later that year, but Laika clearly saw something in Coraline’s success, and they would cut their computer animation department down to focus on the style that had been a huge hit with critics and audiences. This additional focus would lead to two more films, ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls released in 2012 and 2014 respectively. Whilst these two may not have stood the test of time as well as Coraline, both followed the trend of being well-received family entertainment that floundered in the US, but did well enough internationally to profit and receive awards recognition. Still, they were slight dips in quality given the cult following Coraline would amass.
“[Kubo is] a marvel, a masterclass in everthing Laika has built” Then in 2014, Travis Knight was approached by production designer Shannon Tindle with an idea: a stop-motion samurai film. It was a concept Knight was eager to run with, owing to his own interest in epic fantasy. Keeping the core creative members on board, Laika would attempt their biggest project ever, with new facial animations and a brand-new visual style to tackle based on traditional Japanese art. This massive endeavour gave us 2016’s Kubo and the Two Strings. The film is truly a marvel, a masterclass in everything Laika has built, combining amazing animation with a heartfelt story at its centre. The studio used huge models, even building a sixteenfoot tall behemoth of a skeleton, considered one of the largest stop-motion puppets ever. At its core is a story inspired by Studio Ghibli legend Hayao Miyazaki. For such a fantastic film, it is a shame that Kubo and the Two Strings’ niche appeal meant it only just recouped its production budget. Kubo was not just a critical success for Laika, but also a personal for Travis Knight, who later directed the well-received Transformers spin-off Bumblebee. Laika continues to produce films, with the studio
announcing an expansion plan in 2015. Though their output has varied in quality, it is fascinating to look behind the scenes of each of them. Laika’s filmmaking process and craftsmanship has continually changed, as they increasingly take on more challenges. Designers must knit together models. The skeleton from Kubo required numerous planning and construction phases. Various sets need to be put together, every intricate detail from a doorknob to a chandelier modelled. Like the ever-changing history of the studio, these films have creative people at their heart. A number of animators and designers have endured countless hours putting together these films that are unlike anything else in the animation industry. While the likes of Pixar and DreamWorks may operate in largely similar areas, no one is like Laika.
“No one is like Laika” The studio’s fifth feature Missing Link hits our screens this April, and will feature the voices of Hugh Jackman and Zoe Saldana as explorers of the wild Pacific Northwest. The Knights have certainly made waves in the film industry with Laika. Some say that with every ending there is a beginning. After the unfortunate end of Will Vinton Studios, Laika emerged and became something truly special, truly original and truly artistic.
Laika’s Five Films:
Coraline (2009) Directed by Henry Selick, this Neil Gaiman adaptation stars Dakota Fanning as the titular eleven-year old girl who stumbles upon a hidden world. ParaNorman (2012) Kodi Smit-McPhee plays a young boy who can talk to the dead. British animator Chris Butler writes and co-directs alongside Sam Fell. The Boxtrolls (2014) Isaac Hempstead-Wright and Ben Kingsley lend their voices to this tale of a boy raised by rubbish-hoarding trolls. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) An all-star cast bring Travis Knight's magical directorial debut to life. Laika take home their first BAFTA for Best Animated Film.
Missing Link (2019) Chris Butler returns to direct this adventure concerning an explorer's search for the mythical, man-like creature. All images from Laika
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TELEVISION
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricktv
Leaving Neverland: Michael Jackson and Me
Abby Spreadborough questions whether the shocking claims made in the Michael Jackson documentary are enough to make the world stop listening to the King of Pop Abby Spreadborough Television Critic
When Michael Jackson sang ‘you know I’m bad, I’m bad’ as he dominated the music charts of the 1980s the world would never have contemplated that he may have been revealing a devastating truth. Hearing this song after watching almost four hours of shocking testimony from Jackson’s alleged victims Wade Robson and James Safechuck, these lyrics no longer possess the same playful pop flair Jackson was so renowned for. Leaving Neverland has come to dominate the news cycle in recent weeks as we begin to question the ‘King of Pop.’ Revered for his charity work and superstar status, many of his fans could never have imagined that he would come to be regarded by many as a child abuser.
“Jackson’s sleepovers involving candy and cartoons came to be seen as ‘natural’ by their parents”
Only a child himself, Jackson was propelled to fame in the Jackson Five before embarking upon a hugely successful solo career. His influence on pop music can still be felt today with him having sold 350 million records worldwide, making him the third best-selling music artist of all time. Some fans may not know that Jackson had a troubled childhood himself, details of which have been publicised in recent days as a possible reason or even defence of his suspected abusive behaviour. Wade Robson had first encountered Jackson at only five years old when he got to meet him in Australia after perfecting and replicating some of Jackson’s signature moves in a dance competition. Two years later his parents contacted Jackson when in America and were invited to ‘Neverland’, Jackson’s own childlike paradise. Here, like many of Jackson’s alleged victims, Robson slept alongside Jackson with his parents in the adjacent room. This was only the beginning of what would be reported as years of abuse from the age of seven until the age of fourteen. Safechuck retold a similar pattern to the one Robson alleged after meeting Jackson on the set of a Pepsi advert. He went on to travel the world with Jackson on tour and the two even had a mock wedding ceremony. In the documentary Robson, as well as Safechuck, go into graphic detail about the sexual abuse they claim to have suffered and how Jackson supposedly normalised these experiences, apparently silencing them with threats of jail time, rewards of designer jewellery and supposedly authentic expressions of his love for them. The two men then recount how they were both eventually replaced with other young boys, including famous faces such as Macauley Culkin, who has denied all sexual assault allegations against Jackson. They continue to allege how Jackson hid his abuse in plain sight. Safechuck’s mother describes Jackson like a son to her, recalling how a stylist had said ‘he’s like a nine-year-
old boy.’ Thus, Jackson’s sleepovers with the boys involving candy and cartoons came to be seen as ‘natural’ by their parents. Jackson even admitted to sleeping alongside young boys during his own lifetime, a statement which raised the suspicions of many that have now been supposedly confirmed by the documentary. The young boy’s parents were seemingly blinded by Jackson’s fame and influence as well as his ability to put the two young dancers on stage and further their later careers in choreography and directing. To them, he was simply a lonely man seeking to live the childhood he had been denied, an irresistible ticket to guaranteed success and stardom.
“The young boy’s parents were blinded by Jackson’s fame and influence as well as his ability to further their future careers” Although Safechuck and Robson’s alleged abuse concluded in their teen years, the spectre of the global superstar persisted to haunt them. Wade spoke out in support of Jackson on television in 1993 and again on the stand in 2003 when sexual assault charges were brought against him once more. For some viewers of Leaving Neverland these previous testimonies prove that Robson is lying, merely seeking to make financial gains and degrade the reputation of an artist who can no longer defend himself. Some superfans even stood outside the Channel 4 offices protesting the documentary before it aired. Jackson’s family members have also come out in support of him; his daughter Paris Jackson urged the public to think about ‘the bigger picture,’ whilst his nephew appeared on Good Morning Britain to defend his reputation.
“Is it okay to appreciate Jackson’s charity work such as his Heal the World Foundation?” As the credits roll at the end of Leaving Neverland, the viewer is confronted with Robson burning some of Jackson’s iconic records alongside other memorabilia such as the jacket Jackson wore in the ‘Thriller’ video: a fitting conclusion to the convincing testimony of the two survivors. It asks us to
consider what we will do with Jackson’s work in response to their recounts. Can we still watch the ‘Thriller’ video and enjoy it? Is it okay to listen to the Bad album? Or appreciate Jackson’s charity work, such as his Heal the World Foundation? As debate about whether Michael Jackson is guilty or not erupts across the internet, we are left with a familiar question: can we separate the art from the artist? Similar questions have emerged more and more frequently in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Following allegations of sexual assault and harassment made against Kevin Spacey, can we still enjoy his performances in American Beauty, The Usual Suspects or House of Cards? Similarly, must we feel guilty when seeing the Weinstein Company logo flash across the screen when we watch Django Unchained, The King’s Speech or Carol? These are difficult questions to answer, but they preceded the #MeToo era. May we still look upon the impressionist masterpieces of Gauguin and admire them even if we know that he had three teenage brides while in Tahiti? What about the mid-20thcentury writer Norman Mailer, who shot his wife for insulting him? Or William S. Burroughs, who accidentally shot his wife in a drunken game but spent only 13 days behind bars? These questions seem impossible to answer. Nevertheless, as these issues have been ever-present in our history, we must endeavour to provide a solution. Artists accused and even named guilty of crimes should not have their works be banned. In the case of the film industry, movies are collaborative pieces of art. To ban the movies of the Weinstein company would deprive us of Oscar-worthy performances and pioneering screenwriting. To ban the works of Gauguin would deny their innovation in the field of modern art and therefore their vital place in art history. Similarly, to ban Burroughs and Mailer’s writing would also leave a gap in our understanding of literary history. So, it follows that to ban Jackson’s music would deny his influence on modern pop and the quality of his work. We cannot erase works from history but must instead allow them to exist in context. Although difficult, it is often necessary to separate the art from the artist if we can. It is possible to revere cultural productions and their legacy but not their creators. What we can do instead is highlight how toxic celebrity culture is. It turns artists into idols and makes them untouchable so that they have the option to abuse their power. Artists must be held accountable for their actions: their work, although it may be of good quality, cannot excuse their actions and should, if possible, be seen as separate. In the internet age, this celeb-
rity culture may be dying out. Call-out culture dominates social media platforms, with problematic tweets uncovered almost every week. Ironically, the ease with which global superstars may be present online and so spread their influence now also has the power to prevent their troubling comments, views and behaviour. Today we hold celebrities to different standards – the storm over Jackson’s alleged actions proves this. We can only hope that the celebrities and influencers of today are held accountable so such abuse which was rife in the 70s and 80s cannot plague the entertainment industry again.
“It became apparent that coming forward was a crucial part of the healing process for these men” Returning to the question of how it may or may not be possible to separate the art from the artist, it is ultimately up to individuals and institutions as to how they will respond to allegations. So far, BBC Radio 2 have taken the decision to no longer play Jackson’s music and many former fans have followed suit. I certainly won’t be able to enjoy his music as I once did. Yet questions about the impact of an individual’s biography on their art must be taken on a caseby-case basis. We must consider whether they were the sole producer of an artwork, the circumstances and conditions surrounding their crimes, the impact and quality of their works and so on. The list of possible considerations is endless.
“His daughter Paris Jackson urged the public to think about ‘the bigger picture’” Jackson’s alleged victims are still living with the trauma of their abuse. Robson conveyed how his experiences had led him to seek therapy as he grappled with depression and anxiety, much like Safechuck. As I watched the documentary it became apparent that coming forward seemed like a crucial part of the healing process for these men. It raises awareness of these issues in the seemingly rosy world of entertainment and highlights the need to hold powerful figures accountable, even if they have died or suffered abuse themselves. Guilty or not, it appears that the King of Pop has fallen from grace.
TELEVISION
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricktv
The Return of Partridge
Tom Denham reviews This Time With Alan Partridge, considering how Steve Coogan continues to make his caricature a success
Tom Denham Television Critic
‘A tumbled-down farmhouse nestled in the cleavage of soft bosomy downs. Can you say cleavage? Can you say bosom? It might not be a woman! It might just be a smooth, fat teenage boy.’ Partridge is back. Not only back, but more awkward, pedantic and unfiltered than ever before. His resurrection takes the form of This Time with Alan Partridge, acting as a stand-in on a The One Show-like magazine chat show. This is his first return to the BBC since accidentally shooting a guest and attacking a BBC commissioning editor in the late 90s. With Partridge’s return comes a few questions: what has changed for Alan? How has he achieved any personal development? Is his return perfect timing regarding the current British political and social climate? One thing’s for
sure, Partridge is just as comical and tragic as when he first appeared on our TV. Here’s how This Time pans out: amongst the hectic starting procedures of the show, Alan sits nervously ready for his big return to television. After an awkward interaction with his co-host (brilliantly played by Susannah Fielding) regarding his radio show, which she claims to have ‘seen a couple of times before’(!?), Partridge desperately and frantically pleads for a glass of water as his ‘mouth is dry!’ From here, in the classic Partridge style, things begin to unravel and descend into televised carnage. From referencing his cohost’s separation from her partner to defending Shell’s oil spill; from an unecessary and emotional anecdote about his grandad’s generosity to feigning love for a seal pup (‘I don’t know whether to eat him up or wear him!’); from misinformed or ignorant interruptions
when discussing gambling machines to likening hills to cleavage, Alan provides plenty of opportunities for comical awkwardness and discomfort. More, Partridge’s despair caused by ‘sidekick’ Simon Denton’s painful interactions with a ‘digi-board’ proves very humorous. Equally so is his segment on cleaning hands (including overdone voice-overs, interviews with BBC staff outside of toilets, and finishing with a sexually charged reaction to a hand-cleaning demonstration performed by a scientist), which concludes with Partridge’s detailed physical demonstration of how to use the bathroom without using your hands. Things descend into chaos as Partridge confronts, exposes and then pursues off-set a ‘Hacktivist’. The show finishes with Partridge stuck acting as a lobby boy in a lift filled with BBC staff.
“Partridge is just as comical and tragic as when he first appeared on our TV” With so much golden Partridge material it is amazing that Steve Coogan, alongside fellow fraternal writers Neil and Rob Gibbons, has been able to keep Partridge’s comic capabilities so fresh over so many years. Perhaps the comedy of the Partridge caricature is
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Top TV Picks for March / April
accentuated by Britain’s current political and social climate; Alan is the perfect satire on such slimy television figures as Piers Morgan.
“Alan is the perfect satire on such slimy television figures as Piers Morgan” Yet Partridge is almost a richer character than this: he has developed. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Coogan noted how Partridge is ‘economically conservative but he understands you’ve got to be socially liberal. He tries to embrace things and tries to be “on message,” but he’s not really.’ Partridge, both comically and tragically, gets things so wrong; he misinterprets situations and attempts to act in a way which will please an audience. As Coogan later notes, ‘it’s funnier to go for people who are attempting to adopt what is known as correct thinking and not quite getting it right.’ Partridge’s desperation, euphemized by his claim that he is ‘keen to give [his] best,’ leaks through his awkward facial expressions, movements and outbursts. He is incredulously foolish, and yet we love such folly as we squirm with cringe at his inelegance.
Hanna Amazon Prime 29th March
Santa Clarita Diet Netflix 29th March
Review: After Life George Biggs checks out Ricky Gervais' latest dark comedy George Biggs Television Critic
Ricky Gervais’ After Life is deserving of a title so morbid, despite its moments of light. In this Netflix series, written and directed by Gervais himself, comedy and tragedy are blended to create a bittersweet story both funny and sad. Gervais portrays Tony, a local journalist totally devastated by the death of his wife. Woeful and bitter, Tony unlocks what he calls his ‘superpower’ – a total intolerance of everyone around him. He juggles his unfulfilling job at the local newspaper with the few things that keep him from ending it all: his young nephew George, his dementia-stricken father and his dog, Brandy. He reluctantly lives on and does so without care for anyone else, stranger and friend alike. This truly depressing premise allows Gervais’ comedy to flourish. Tony’s job forces him to investigate absurd local news stories, created by people who will do anything to get famous (my personal favourite is a man who found a wall stain that apparently
looks like Kenneth Branagh). Tony’s generally hateful disposition gives Gervais room to rant and rave in ways that are sometimes hilarious (though distractingly reminiscent of his stand-up material), touching on topics from atheism to celebrity culture to dream analyses. Finally, Gervais is devilishly crude and outrageous, insulting everyone from small ginger children to his local postman. As with all his work, some jokes miss the mark and edge into shock-humour: they’re offensive merely for the sake of it and quite unfunny. But do not write off After Life just yet. It is so much more than a vulgar comedy, and this is largely down to the characters. Despite the show’s name, they’re full of life. They have an emotional depth that transcends the comedy genre and makes them truly human. My personal favourites include the newbie journalist Sandy (Mandeep Dhillon), who acts as the emotional heart of Tony’s workplace. Dhillon’s fantastic performance manages to express sadness that Tony has locked away and optimism that he has forsaken. Lenny (Tony Wey) – the middle-aged, Tambury Gazette photographer –
is nearly as likeable. He mostly functions as Tony’s verbal punching bag, the subject of Gervais’ jibes and fat-jokes, but even he has further complexity that is revealed throughout the series. Gervais, perhaps uncharacteristically, also offers us insightful social commentary that humanises the most beaten-down in society. Tony befriends a homeless drug-addict and a pragmatic sex worker (the latter is played brilliantly by Roisin Conaty). Both are constructed as complex, compelling individuals, not caricatures based on their situations. Kerry Godliman delivers the standout performance in After Life as Tony’s late wife, Lisa. She is brought to life through Tony’s home videos and her own farewell video to him, recorded once her cancer is terminal. Tony watches these videos obsessively, and we hurt with him when he does. Godliman gives us a fleeting glimpse of the lovable, kind man Tony once was, while painting a beautiful picture of two people in love. Her performance colours Tony’s grief in the most painful way. If this isn’t clear yet, I’ll spell it out: After Life is heart-wrench-
ing. Every single episode was a tear-jerker at points – so much so that occasionally it was too blatant to be truly successful. Although the constant misery can make After Life an exhausting watch, it is impossible not to be moved by Tony’s grief. He’s suicidal, and the points when he nearly kills himself are devastating. Gervais can convey an impressive range of emotion at once, from sadness to anger to relief. The moments when the other characters reach out to him in the simplest ways (like when he and Sandy are alone, and she regards him tearfully and whispers, 'please be happy') are very powerful. Tony’s scenes with his father are also upsetting, as Tony must constantly remind him that Lisa is dead – he must vocalise this awful truth almost daily. Ultimately, After Life is worth a watch. It’s a funny and poignant exploration of loss, depression and idiots. Anyone who has grieved will be moved, and anyone who likes swearing and absurdity will laugh.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 5th April
Game of Thrones Sky Atlantic 15th April
GAMING
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickgaming
Winding Back the Clock
“Time mechanics can ratchet up the pace and tension across a game”
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rounding their respective games argument applies to 2014’s with other key elements such as Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy beautiful visuals or gorgeous XIII, using a week-long timer that atmosphere. Other games could be extended to have tried similar ideas to thirteen days. The frame their gameplay system received around time, like mixed reception, 2016’s Quantum with the game Break basing its providing entire plot around urgency, but time and incorpoclashing with timed quests in rating it wisely into the open-world. Dead Rising 2 play. 2012’s Long To be honest, Live The Queen was that was the set over 40 weeks, least of the trying players to keep game’s problems. protagonist QueenNever the less, elect Elodie alive to something highlighted the end of the game, leading is how modern openevery micro-decision into an world games struggle to use the extreme importance. A similar mechanic effectively. Just creatapproach succeeded in XCOM 2, ing a world and cramming it with where the alien’s Avatar project stuff and a time mechanic is just was an omnipresent threat, with a throwing paint on the canvas, and, timer at the top of the screen forc- as Bob Ross would remind us, ing players to consider the scien- paintings take patience to make tific research options carefully things cohesive. Something else and adding tension outside of the games do is used timed events to already nerve-wracking field create the illusion of progression. operations. How many games run timed A trend stands out amongst all quests that promise SPECIAL of these. These examples all work ITEMS and LEVEL UPS? Games because of context. All these tim- such as Destiny 2 and The Division ers are set within a contextual 2 run ironically endless ‘timed sense that also benefits the game- events’ to get new items and expeplay. They are lore-based first and rience. So many games fall on this gameplay second. They work nowadays, and I don’t want to because of these ideas. The game- sound like a jaded old man hating play is made to be built around millennials’ obsession with avothese mechanics to fit them in cados, but timers are becoming a meaningful ways. The disappoint- lost art. A way for developers to ment I mentioned is because say they are supporting players games are increasingly throwing without evolving their games over in timers for other arbitrary rea- time and changing up the experisons that don’t work to improve ence. gameplay in a meaningful way. Whilst I praised XCOM 2 earlier, it did go overboard with the timers, incorporating them into almost every single mission, forcing the player to play the missions quickly. At least they were justified in the game. Meanwhile, the Dead Rising franchise has conThe 80s showed how games sistently used timers for all their built with these mechanics at their quests. All of them. Every. Single. core could become hugely signifiOne. Often these timers were cant beyond their own decade. seemingly arbitrary, with no real But here we are in 2019, and story reason for the timers and whilst indie developers are trying they really undercut the core fun their best, I put it to the big boys. of running around endlessly in a To all AAA developers, challenge mall mowing down the undead yourself to work with time restricwith endless creativity. Adding tions at the core. Who knows, we timers adds restrictions to a series may get the next timeless game that doesn’t need them. The same that limits time.
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Telltale Nintendo
Images from Nintendo and DONTNOD
4 Star Bunnies
Nintendo
Fiction and art have often been obsessed with time. Whether it be action films like Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow or TV shows like Doctor Who and Timeless, all have time centralised in their lore and art often comments on the inevitability and passage of time. The gaming medium however has provided an interactive way for games to discuss the conceptual and everchanging flow of time. Or, more Regardless, these three games generally, to change things up are perfect testaments on how arbitrarily to illustrate game pro- time mechanics can ratchet up the gression. pace and tension to provide a To understand why gaming memorable experience across the has so often deployed time into game and not just in sections. their games, we look back to ye Many games inversely have taken olden times of the 1980s. The the approach to just individual original Prince of Persia would sections of gameplay to change come around to change platform- the pace, as opposed to keeping a ers with cool animations and com- game constantly frenetic. It has bat when it released in the US in proven to be effective with two 1989. However, one intriguing great and strikingly similar franaddition was a game-wide time chises in the Metroid and Halo limit. Gamers had one hour to series. Metroid showed all the beat the platformer, most likely to way back in 1988 that doing a help with console limitations, but final escape mission from an also helping to provide urgency to exploding ship set to ominous the game as well. Whilst a famous music with an on-screen timer can example, many games and devel- really end a game on a huge bang, opers toyed with the idea at the a template that 2001’s Halo: same time. Take 1987’s Bio- Combat Evolved would then use Senshi Dan: Increaser to no for their final escape mission from Tatakai. Released in Japan, the an exploding ship set to ominous . game depicted a 2081 alien inva- . . you get the idea. sion and a revolt against them, but Disappointingly, it seems like the game employed a mechanvery few games use timers in ic not seen too often, in inventive ways nowawhich the speed at days that benefit the which you got to the gaming experifinal boss then ence. That determined said being said, there boss’ power. Go are some diaquickly and risk monds in the not being powerrough, mainly awards won by ful, or take it at a revolving around leisurely pace to games incorporatLife is Strange be more powerful ing time into their but face an expogameplay. Most of nentially stronger these have proven enemy? Whilst the successful such as the game sadly didn’t get a time-bending puzzles in western release, this bold Jonathan Blow’s 2008 classic approach is a fantastic example of Braid and the more thematic use how great time can be utilised. Of of time in Dontnod’s Life is course, the most well-known Strange. The key to both those western example comes from The was using their mechanics in Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask interesting puzzles whilst sur-
Max
3 Rabbid Peach
Nintendo
Gaming Critic @AlexGreen9898
with its infamous 3-day countdown to prevent a very angry moon smashing into Hyrule. Whatever the moon’s problem with Hyrule is, it’s obviously big enough to kick up that much of a fuss.
Gaming Rabbits
5
Alex Green clocks in and investigates how time mechanics influence games Alex Green
Redbrick's Top 5
2 Buneary
“Timers are becoming a lost art”
1
Sega
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Cream the Rabbit
GAMING
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickgaming
News: Xbox Live Coming to iOS and Android
Sam Nason explores the implications of Xbox Live arriving on iOS and Android devices, as announced this month by Microsoft Sam Nason Gaming Editor @samjnason
Recently, Microsoft have been making a larger effort to push Xbox games and their accompanying online service across multiple platforms. It has now been confirmed the latest systems to receive Xbox Live capabilities will be those running iOS or Android. An all-new software development kit from Microsoft is what makes this cross-platform incorporation possible. The integration will allow game developers to choose the elements of Xbox Live they wish to see incorporated into their games, all connected by a player’s Microsoft account. These
could be achievements, Gamerscore or any other settings one might have applied to their account. A key difference here, then, is that any developer now has the ability to merge their games or apps with Microsoft’s Xbox Live capabilities should they use their new software development kit – previously this was limited only to games published by Microsoft. Evidently Xbox Live is becoming increasingly connected to a multitude of platforms – and by exten-
sion closely tying together those playing on them. iOS and Android functionality was teased by Microsoft last month – but a third system, the Nintendo Switch, was also listed to receive Xbox Live capabilities soon. Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft’s gaming cloud chief Kareem Choudhry stated ‘Our goal is to really unite the 2 billion gamers of the world and we’re big fans of our Xbox Live community, but we don’t have any specific announcements as it relates to
Switch today’. One can technically already connect to Xbox Live on the Nintendo Switch when playing Minecraft, yet it does not appear anywhere else on the system. Time will tell whether this marrying of the Nintendo and Xbox online services will occur, but Microsoft’s quest to blanket Xbox Live across as many platforms they can is certainly one to keep an eye on. Image: Microsoft
News: MKLeo Wins Smash Ultimate Summit
James Law gives a recap of the first ever Smash Ultimate Summit, a fast-paced tournament where MKLeo took the win James Law Gaming Editor @JamesMacLaw
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is in full swing. With a new game trying to break into the esports scene, especially a genre as contested as fighting games, it’s always helpful to have an enthusiastic community backing you up. Enter the Smash Ultimate Summit. Some of Smash’s biggest names showed up, from Melee ‘gods’ Armada and Mew2King to Smash 4 greats ZeRo and Samsora. Smash Ultimate Summit wasn’t your standard esports fare with flashing lights, huge crowds, and great spectacles. No, it had a much more casual feel, and the organisers know exactly how to cultivate this given the seven previous Summit tournaments featuring Melee as the main game. It speaks to Ultimate’s potential longevity that the notoriously picky Melee players take part and promote a tournament for a different game, and it went fantastically. Expertly hosted by VikkiKitty, Vish, Chillin, EE, and many other rotating personalities, the flow was there, time between matches filled out by a combination of discussion of the previous contest and comedy interludes. Seeing esports icons dressed as Pikmin in a Jerry Springer parody was completely ridiculous, and a hilarious Interstellar trailer for Ultimate showed editing that was a perfect
balance between serious and silly. Smash Summit tries to get some behind-the-scenes looks at the players you come to know, and brings out the personalities that many wouldn’t have known existed. Particularly brilliant were the several games of Mafia that were played when Smash wasn’t on. The deception at play being visible to all stream viewers was great to watch. Twitch chat, for once, was in good spirits (mostly) and it added that layer of personality that really made the audience feel welcome in the tournament.
“Smash Ultimate Summit wasn’t your standard esports fare with flashing lights, huge crowds and great spectacles” There were even supplementary tournaments that put some twists on normal gameplay, my favourite being the ‘Random vs. Random’ bouts, forcing players to leave their comfort zone and play off-meta characters like Mr Game And Watch and Piranha Plant. Nairo came out on top, but it’s worth watching any of the matches played in that format. Watching
the players’ reactions to their characters, and matchups that you’d never usually see in a highlevel tournament really makes Smash Summit special. There was also a ‘Melee vs. Smash 4’ faceoff, playing on the latest drama in the Smash community, and a commentators competition where some slightly less high-level play was on show. The main attraction though, is the world’s best players coming together to fight it out and show off skills that you can only dream of replicating. The singles tournament. In a hard-fought competition, 18-year-old Mexican smasher MKLeo (pictured) took the win, showing off his flexibility using four different characters across his matchups. The final faceoff was against Olimar main Dabuz, and Leo demolished him 3-0, having previously only lost one game to Nairo in the pool stage. As winner of major tournament Genesis, MKLeo looks like an early favourite for future tournaments, and one we’ll need to keep an eye on. Smash Ultimate Summit though: a brilliant success! Tens of thousands of viewers were present for most matches, and the more casual aspects of it meant that personalities could be showcased more effectively.
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Gaming at a Glance Halo Master Chief Collection coming to PC The popular compilation of Halo games is heading to Steam this year. The collection includes Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4, with Halo: Reach scheduled to be added alongside the port. The games will reportedly release one at a time in order to make sure they are working as intended. While the game requires the use of an Xbox Live account, it does not require the Gold membership to play online, allowing players to play multiplayer modes for free. Stardew Valley now available on Android As reported in Redbrick last issue, Stardew Valley arrived on Android devices on March 14th. This marks the ninth release the game has seen across a multitude of different platforms. The game has already garnered very positive reactions online, with many citing the numerous control schemes and portability as prime factors to purchase the port. The Android version is missing the multiplayer update from the PC release, yet maintains the rest of the game’s content.
When players weren’t playing, or after they had been knocked out, they joined the hosts on the couch for some analysis and humour. Personally, I’d say Leffen brought a whole lot to the table when added to the hosting roster. Let’s hope we see more of this kind of tournament, and maybe one day Nairo will bring out his Ganondorf in a major. We can dream.
SEGA
Latest major Sonic the Hedgehog game now in development
MKLeo
Production of the next major Sonic the Hedgehog game is now underway according to Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka. This was announced at SXSW Gaming 2019, an American gaming expo taking place over the past week, yet no further details were given. The previous major Sonic game, Sonic Forces, came out in 2017 and was met with considerably mixed reviews despite a positive initial reception – however Sonic Mania, the last Sonic game released, was met with extremely favourable feedback. There is no indication as to the type of game Sonic Team look to make, but confirmation of its existence is better than nothing.
FOOD&DRINK
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Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickfood
Eating Disorder Awareness Week: Dispelling the Damaging Myths Deputy Editor Kat Smith discusses how to channel awareness around eating disroders and our attitudes to food consumption following ED Awareness Week Kat Smith
Beat
Deputy Editor
Content Disorders
Warning:
Eating
Eating disorder charity Beat estimate that 1.25 million people in the UK have a food-related illness, such as anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder or an unspecified one (EDNOS – Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). This Eating Disorder Awareness Week, it is vital to acknowledge that these disorders manifest in different ways, as failing to do this can have devastating effects. They affect people in a range of ways and are not always the easiest to spot – there are many cases of people not even realising they have a problem.
“It is not a requirement of eating disorder diagnosis that you be severely underweight” The common perception of someone with an eating disorder is that they are emaciated, frail and on the verge of being hospitalised. It’s been perpetuated by many triggering pro-ana accounts on social media, as well as Louis Theroux’s 2017 Talking to
can reframe the way you see your body, the shame of not feeling like you are ‘ill enough’ to get help can stop people from seeking the support they need. It’s time to reassess what we see as an eating disorder, and educate ourselves on the devastating effects of these myths.
“It’s damaging to make people think that you have to look a certain way, or weigh a certain amount, to be classified as ill” Anorexia documentary. While this is the grim reality of many cases, they are dangerous expectations to have. It is not a requirement of eating disorder diagnosis that you be severely underweight. There are no set amount of calories you have to eat for you to be classed unhealthy. Eating disorders do not always entail dramatic weight loss. They can sometimes cause weight gain. Sometimes there is no visible change from the outside, though the internal effects (both mentally and physically) can still be devastating. It’s damaging to make people think that you have to look a certain way, or weigh a certain amount, to be classified as ill.
Adopting and voicing this perception of what an eating disorder ‘should’ look like is ridiculous, inaccurate and quite frankly, disgusting. It can make the problem even more aggressive, it can bring an even greater sense of shame to an already horrific situation and it can stop people from seeking help. EDs are becoming even more ambiguous due to the rise of social media. We doubt that the #fitspo we see on our Instagram feed can be achieved through anything other than hard work and health, but the dark side is rarely seen. As early as 2015, Grazia reported on ‘instarexics’ such as Celia Learmonth, who admitted to followers she was seeking help
for an eating disorder, in spite of regularly posting recipes and her workout routines alongside founding ‘London Fitness Guide’. It’s clear that a seemingly healthy lifestyle can have a much more problematic underbelly. Over three years later, social media has become evermore prevalent. It is clear that we have no idea what the reality of someone’s relationship with food is really like, especially when it can be hidden behind a filter of wellness. It’s an undeniable sign that we need to reassess our perception of eating disorders and know that they do not come as a one-sizefits-all. Especially when the illnesses
If you or someone you know have (or think you/they may have) an eating disorder, please visit www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ support-services for help and advice.
Mother’s Day Foodie Gift Guide
Food&Drink Writer Caitlin Talbot provides her top edible gifts for Mum this March Caitlin Talbot Food&Drink Writer
As Mother’s Day approaches, you (and your bank account) may be searching for the best way to show your Mum how much you care. What better way to say thanks than with something delicious to munch on? Whether she’s a chocolate, cheese or afternoontea lover, here are some budgetfriendly ideas for a happy Mum and a happy tum! Chocolate: Does your mum have an insatiable sweet-tooth? Look no further. Bargain: Your local supermarkets are a secret haven of cheap but impressive chocolate gifts. If you live in Selly Oak, why not check out your local Tesco’s or Sainsbury’s. They offer some great family favourites such as Lindt and Green
& Blacks. More to spend? If you want to splash out this Mother’s Day, why not pop into Hotel Chocolat in The Bullring? For £10 you can spoil your mum with ‘Pink Champagne Chocolate Truffles’. They also offer a ‘Yummy Mummy’ pocket gift set for only £2.50, proving even the most indulgent brands don’t have to break the bank. Savoury: Is she more of a cheese and wine type of girl? Bargain: A cheese board is a very tasty way to thank your mum. Aldi does a great one for only £4.99, which includes cheddar, brie and red leicester. Pair this with a bottle of wine for a perfect palatepleaser. More to spend? A savoury Hamper, delivered right to her door could be the per-
Magnolia Market
fect way to surprise and delight your mum. Hamper.com does a range of hampers and has free UK delivery. For £20- 30 you can get
a ‘Wine and Cheese Gift Hamper’. They also have an array of special Mother’s Day hampers, such as ‘Tea and Treats for Mum’ if you want to really go the extra mile. Going Out: Really indulge your mum by taking her out. Bargain: A bit of creativity can go a long way, so why not take your mum out for a picnic? You easily keep costs low by getting buffet foods from Aldi or Tesco. This is a lovely way to spend some quality time with your mum, hopefully in the sun. If the weather fails you, eat the food inside with a nice cosy film instead! More to spend? Virgin Experience Days is offering some great deals this Mother’s Day. For £29 you can treat your mum to an afternoontea at Café Rouge. With availability at over 71 locations in the UK,
this is the perfect flexible gift. You can do it in Birmingham, or at home if you live further away. Make Your Own: Mother’s Day Bakes Baking can be the most costeffective and thoughtful way of surprising your Mum. There are some great, easy recipes online, and ingredients are cheap, or free if you find the ingredients already in your cupboard at home. The Tesco’s ‘Real Food’ webpage has everything from easy cupcakes to tricky cheesecakes and tarts if you’re in the mood for a challenge! The website also has some great vegan recipes, including a ‘Vegan Victoria Sponge’ for anydairy-free or vegan mums out there. But remember, Mother’s Day is a day to thank your mum for everything she does. Spending the day with her is more important than any gift money can buy!
FOOD&DRINK
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbrickfood
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REVIEW: Vegetarian Sausages Food&Drink Writer Laura Mosley tries a variation of vegetarian sausages in order to find out the best and the wurst on offer Laura Mosley Food&Drink Writer
2019 seems to be the year of vegan with supermarket chains, cafés and restaurants releasing meat-free products faster than ever before. As Sainsbury’s recently reported, 91% of people in the UK are choosing to cut down their meat consumption, following flexitarian diets or more. As anyone with a tenuous awareness of veggie cuisine would know, Linda McCartney vegetarian sausages are often the go-to for people wishing to switch to meatfree options. But there is far more to veggie food than Linda
Sainsbury’s
“The texture is firm, and they fry in a pan like real sausages - I even tricked one of my house mates into thinking they were real meat” McCartney, and more to veggie sausages than this staple. So, this is why I have chosen to rate and review alternative brands of vegetarian and vegan sausage so whether you are a keen vegan, extending Veganuary or just fancy a change for your palate, there will definitely be something for you. Sainsbury’s Love Your Veg! Vegan Cumberland Shroomdogs (£2.50 for 6) These sausages are described as ‘vibrant and peppery’ and are made of 26% mushroom. What struck me most about cooking with these is how much they resemble real, meaty sausages. The texture is firm, and they fry in a pan like real sausages – I even tricked one of my house mates into thinking they were real meat sausages which is incredibly
impressive. The flavour is mild without being underwhelming so don’t let the mushroom content put you off if you’re not a fan of the vegetable as this is not the central taste. Overall, these sausages are incredibly versatile with a perfect texture and whilst they may not be the cheapest on the market, they are worth every penny if you’re looking for a delicious dupe.
««««« Aldi Masala Roast Cauliflower Sausages (£1.49 for 6) If there’s one thing Aldi has always been lacking, then that is a good range of vegetarian food. But 2019 seems set to change that and with the release of their own deli range of vegan sausages in February, Aldi have joined the battle! Though having released two flavours of sausage, the other being Red Pepper & Butternut Squash, this review will focus on the sausage flavour listed above. My first impressions were mixed, whilst the rich smell of curry and spices was enticing, the texture was disappointing it began falling apart in my hand. I had to perform the manoeuvre from packet to pan swiftly to ensure the structure remained sausage-like rather than a cauliflower mush. Once cook-
ing, the sausages became firmer and fried fairly well but it was pretty clear that this product isn’t trying to resemble sausages in any form apart from its shape. I enjoyed the flavour, but I think it is very distinct and would only work with certain types of meal rather than as a versatile sausage.
Quorn
«««
Quorn Lincolnshire Sausages (£1.59 for 8 in Aldi) Quorn is a classic in most people’s fridge-freezer collections as its protein-heavy branding makes it appealing to veggies and meateaters alike. These sausages are frozen so are firm and compact when putting them in the oven, but their exterior, whilst sausage-like also resembles a frozen log. These
“My first impressions were mixed, whilst the rich smell of curry and spices was enticing, the texture was disappointing”
sausages are delicious in a fry-up, but their frozen nature makes them stay slightly hard and crunchy rather than soft and juicy, so once again, they may not be suited to every meal. They also don’t have any additional flavouring so may require extra components to ensure they aren’t bland. Nonetheless, these are a great freezer staple if you don’t think you’re going to eat these frequently enough. Although just to note, these are vegetarian and not vegan.
«««
Sainsbury’s sausages are a definite winner, and in my opinion better than Linda McCartney’s sausages. Give them a go!
Food of The Fortnight: Lasagne Food&Drink’s Katie Norris cooks up her signature ‘Food of Friendship’ Katie Norris
Food&Drink Writer
Eating with friends, whether it be out at a restaurant, street-food vendor, or just at home, has always been a treasured pastime for most of us. The University of Oxford has even done research to prove that the more often people eat with others, the more likely they are to
feel happy and satisfied with their lives. I have recently formed a tradition of cooking with two of my close friends on Monday evenings, making the beginning of a stressful week just that bit more tolerable. This means that when the demands of university life and general life get too much, a simple meal can be all it takes to reach out and bond with friends. After all, it is said that the way to the heart is
Anna Reg
through the stomach! As there are three of us, we delegate the different parts of the meal to make it as easy as possible androtate these – with one of us cooking the main meal; one the dessert; and the other, drinks. As thestress mounts in the approach to Easter and with the exam period looming in the background, one of the recipes that is the easiest yet also most comforting to cook for friends is the all-time Italian classic: lasagne. This recipe combines the traditional recipe with nutritious vegetables, to create a flavoursome and colourful soulreaching veggie version! Roasted Vegetable Lasagne: Ingredients: 2 peppers 2 aubergines 2 courgettes Salt and pepper Mixed herbs 2 garlic cloves 8 tbsp olive oil, plus a dash for greasing 300g fresh pack lasagne sheets 125g ball mozzarella (or a vegan alternative) A handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
Tomato sauce and white sauce, shop-bought or homemade Method: 1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C/ fan 160C/gas mark 4. 2. Prepare the peppers by deseeding them then cut them into chunks after halving. Cut off the ends of the aubergines and courgettes, then cut each into slices about ½cm thick. 3. Crush the garlic cloves using a garlic crusher, or cut them into small pieces. 4. Using the oil lightly grease a frying pan then place in the veg, seasoning with the garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper. 5. Gently fry the veg until lightly browned. 6. Using the oil again, lightly cover an ovenproof dish which you wish to serve your lasagne from 7. Arrange a layer of the vegetables on the bottom, then pour over a third of the tomato sauce. Place a layer of lasagne sheets on top of this, then top with just over a quarter of the white sauce. 8. Repeat this layering until there are 3 layers of pasta. Spread the remaining white sauce over the
top of the pasta – ensuring that the surface is completely covered. 9. Thinly slice up the mozzarella ball then use it to top off the lasagne. 10. Bake for 45 mins until the cheese is bubbling and the pasta golden. If you don’t have time for a meal, a good alternative to this can be a simple cuppa. Most of us use a cup of tea as a solution to pretty much anything, and therefore it’s also a good go-to to help comfort a friend who’s going through a rough patch. Had a tough day? Pop on the kettle. Stressed? Crack open a packet of biscuits. Whether it is to gossip or to comfort, a cup of tea will always work to help lift any weight off your chest amongst your friends, especially as research in 2010 at University College London discovered that tea drinkers recovered faster after stress. At university especially, with everyone working around different timetables for lectures and social commitments, eating alone can be frequent, and it is important that whether it be for a cuppa, or a meal once a week, that we share the comfort of food with that of friendship.
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TRAVEL
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricktravel
The Ups and Downs of a Year Abroad Grace Baxendine Travel Writer
I am a third-year language student currently abroad in Italy, and it’s safe to say there have been challenges I hadn’t expected, from the lack of university support to the drastic community and cultural change from Selly Oak. I wanted to shed light on some of the unrealistic expectations set up for us as second-year students, so eager to take the plunge into an experience which we are told will be life changing. I have seen many people writing about how fantastic year abroad is, and it is, I can vouch for this. I have had some of the most wonderful times and wouldn’t change an awful lot of it. But that doesn’t change the difficulties we seem to face during this year. I have missed Selly Oak, as strange as it seems to say out loud. I had such a community of friends and sense of roots back in Birmingham, and then to suddenly be uprooted from that security is scary. I have lived with Italians who speak no English, a University system with limited student support and days of isolation on arrival, not knowing what to do with myself, despite being in such a beautiful city. This in itself was frustrating and did not match up to the expectations that I had built up for myself over summer. However, instead of just my own experience, perhaps a mixture of students would be more telling. Speaking to students placed all across the globe has shown their enviable Instagram feeds may not be the fairest representation of year abroad life. I am not here to write a depressing tale to scare students interested in this
opportunity, as I believe a year abroad to be fantastic and truly one of a kind, but perhaps it would be more accurate to provide a balanced account of the inevitable highs and lows. I think it very easy to rave about the highlights of such an experience as there are undoubtedly so many, but it is important to make clear that year abroad comes with its own challenges. One student studying American and Canadian studies in Cincinnati, Ohio, told me that 'applying here was honestly painful at times' and went on to argue that the way in which year abroad is advertised to second-year students is unrealistic. He states that fourth-year returning students attending lectures saying, 'how it was "the best year of my life" etc. is obviously understandable, however, builds the year up to be something that it’s not going to be all the time.' Yet, 'this is the nature of reflecting on an experience like this' continues the student 'as there are so many amazing things that happen, but the mundane day to day things can be forgotten.' Despite this criticism, the student was 'pleasantly surprised by the number of international friends' that he has made on the condensed campus and has 'found it easier to do well academically than at UOB.' Overall, saying that he wouldn’t have changed the experience for the world and has now settled in fine. Perhaps in contrast to this, a student 3000 miles closer to home has been studying Philosophy in Amsterdam for 5 months now. She explains the difficulties of living in this huge, multicultural, student city as opposed to our familiar Selly streets. She says
that 'it’s really great to be part of an international community and having so much culture around you, but it’s difficult being thrown into a city where everyone is placed all around in flats/studios and there is no communal campus feeling which means it’s harder to involve yourself in a community life at uni.' It seems a world away from our close-knit Selly community we take for granted, friends
Marten Bjork
only ever a few streets away. This student has actively got involved in Amsterdam University and is now a green community ambassador for the University, showing the power of initiative and how necessary it can be in a situation
like this to take matters into your own hands. Studying abroad undoubtedly poses challenges, let alone studying abroad without the comfort of your mother tongue. Twenty-twoyear-old Italian and History of Art student, Freya, spoke to me about the difficulties she has faced while undertaking a placement in a Neapolitan Art Gallery. Freya said the gallery placement was 'so worth the effort' and although Naples is a 'tough place to live,' she 100% recommends living there. However, 'overall, the experience isolates you from Birmingham.' Freya suggested constructively that it is perhaps sensible 'to try and visit the city you choose to work/ study in before you go so you have a bit of an idea about size/lifestyle. Take a break and come home for a bit, there is an Erasmus pressure to stick it out, but it’s not failing! It can be so hard. It’s a language struggle and the logistics of living abroad can be overwhelming. But you settle in to it and it gets easier.' Freya has now started her second semester studying in Bologna, leaving her 5 months of Neapolitan life behind her. Another language student, Rebecca, spent her first semester on a work placement in Belgium. 'They don’t tell you it will be hard, that there will be days where you feel you’ll never learn your target language.' Rebecca describes the experience of a work placement as “especially isolating” and therefore the need to be proactive and keen when suggesting nights out and trips etc with co-workers. She does not regret the choices she made but she tells me that she just wishes she had 'realised what it would actually be
like'- a lot harder than the stereotypical image of a year aboard student sipping wine all day on the French Riviera! Now studying at Bologna University in Italy, Rebecca says that it is so much easier than working, as you are meeting new people of similar ages, all the time. She wouldn’t have changed her experience in Belgium, but perhaps would have appreciated more warning of the difficulties she encountered. You should not be put off a year abroad if you are considering or indeed have to complete one, it is truly rewarding and full of the most wonderful people and opportunities. But do be aware that it is not a holiday, and there will be practical and emotional difficulties along the way.
“I believe a year abroad to be fantastic and truly one of a kind” I suppose the beauty of these accounts is their diversity, and indeed similarities, as everyone is having unforgettable experiences that perhaps Birmingham cannot rival, confirming for me that year abroad, without any desire to sound cliché, is in fact life changing. However, keeping in mind the other cliché that not everything is perfect, is key to understanding the truth behind Year Abroad. For every idyllic Instagram post, there will have been hundreds of problems, lonely days and moments of complete unease in these foreign countries.
Top Tips: Mental Health and Overseas Travelling Travel Writer Joshua Williams shares his top tips for dealing with mental health while travelling Joshua Williams Travel Writer
When planning a holiday, or even a quick city break, we all know the basics. We all check our passports. We check our flight information. Get our insurance and vaccinations. However, one thing we don’t really pay attention to is the impact of our mental health. When studies show that psychiatric emergencies are the leading cause for air evacuations overseas, it’s clearer than ever that we need to give mental health equal preparation and attention prior to departure. Below are some top tips for ensuring your mental health can be protected whilst travelling overseas. Insurance Ensure your travel insurance is up-to-date, valid for the entire trip and covers everyone who is travelling. This is something we
all know! However, you should also look carefully at exemptions to the policy, including any relating to alcohol and drugs or preexisting medical conditions. Be aware that some insurance companies will exclude cover for a mental health condition. Always check the small print. When looking for an insurance supplier, you should bear in mind any rights you may have under the Equality Act and any corresponding obligations of the insurer. If you feel that you have been discriminated against within the meaning of the Equality Act then you should raise this with the insurer. Medication It’s incredibly important, not only to take enough of any prescribed medication with you, but also a copy of the prescription. It’s vital to know that some medications can be illegal in the country you are visiting which can be a daunting, but completely manageable, situation to find yourself
in. Be sure to check whether you can take your medication into your destination country, you can do this on The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s website, and speak to your prescribing doctor for advice.
“It's clearer than ever that we need to give mental health equal preparation and attention” Deterioration Though important not to dwell on a worst case scenario, it can be good to think and prepare for this should anything trigger a mental health decline. It can be really helpful to take with you a ‘travelling letter’, which details a brief
description of your mental health needs, diagnosis and, if appropriate, details of any difficulties that could occur and what assistance you might then need. This may be part of any Wellness Recovery Plan or Advance Directive you already have in place. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also has the power to contact friends and family in the UK or in the country you are visiting. They would usually need your permission and their details to do so. So keep details of friends, family and/or carers with you when you travel and, at minimum, fill in the details at the back of your passport. Mental Health Services Prior to departure, be sure to research what mental health facilities are available in your destination. Facilities and resources available to those experiencing mental health issues, as well as the understanding of these issues, vary greatly in different countries.
The FCO can support you in finding these services however you cannot gain preferential treatment to the local populace with these services. Travel Aware Travel advice is available, and constantly being updated, from the FCO through the Travel Aware campaign. For information regarding the country your visiting, safety tips and what they can offer you whilst overseas, be sure to view the website prior to departure. Holidays and trips overseas can be amongst some of the best times of our lives. No individual should feel isolated or limited due to mental health that could prevent them from having an enjoyable experience. These top tips can help ensure that, should you suffer from a mental health illness, your trip can be defined by the positive memories you make; not by your mental health.
TRAVEL
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricktravel
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My Favourite Place: Isles of Scilly Teän Stewart-Murray Travel Writer
I’m definitely biased. Being named after a place is going to have that effect. A little vain? Perhaps. But unwarranted? Not at all. The Isles of Scilly are an archipelago 45km off the coast of Cornwall. Whilst close to home, even if it is a little cliché, they really do feel like another world. The unique location of the Scillies in the gulf stream means that they benefit from a milder climate than the rest of the UK, resulting in an incredible diversity of animal and plant life. I’m no David Attenborough, but walking the quiet streets, surrounded by the intoxicating scent of sweetsmelling semi-tropical flowers makes me want to ditch my life on the ‘mainland’ (as the Scillonians call it) and live bare foot in nature
with silver sand between my toes forevermore. There are five inhabited islands, with the largest being St. Mary’s which serves as the access point for all the off-islands. St Mary’s is the only island that allows people to drive but, being only 6.5km², it’s easily navigable by foot. The main settlement - Hugh Town bustles with activity in the summer season, as locals and tourists alike browse the independent shops and boutiques. However, walking just ten minutes from the main high street takes you away from civilisation and inland to the lush countryside, where there are many hidden gems to be found such as the restaurant Juliet’s Garden with its home-made lemonade, and the traditional Kaffeehaus which serves great coffee with huge portions of apple strudel in a sea of cream. Whilst St Mary’s has a lot to offer, including horse
riding and high-speed speedboat, exploring the off-islands brings a new sense of adventure and a change of pace. Most locals and regulars to the islands have their own boats for pottering around, but several launches a day serve the off-islands. This is probably my favourite thing about Scilly, having the chance to visit multiple islands each with their own feel and appeal. St. Agnes has a sea-front pub called The Turks Head with an incredible view and serves homemade ice-cream from Scillonian cows that even my lactose-intolerant self is ready to sell her soul for. St. Martins has endless pristine beaches, a vineyard and a hand-made jewellery shop; all this and the opportunity to go snorkelling with seals (Yes, wild seals!). Bryher is famous for its locally caught crab and scenic coastal walks, and finally the nearby island of Tresco has a worldfamous tropical botanical garden based in the ruins of a Benedictine monastery and the New Inn which serves the best beef burgers in the world. Each island has its own unique feel and speciality, but all unite with an overriding sense of peace and calm. More often than not most beaches will be pretty empty, and you can even get a whole island to yourself by hiring Kayaks or a boat to go to one of the many uninhabited isles such as my namesake (the best view of the islands is from the top of the hill on Teän – just saying). Because of my family’s history with the islands, I’ve been lucky enough to visit them every year since I was born. Despite my love for international travel, something about Scilly will always draw me back. Don’t get me wrong - it is not always blue skies and sunshine.
Without a doubt, every year a bank of fog and 40 mph winds will descend and turn a perfectly sunny day into Armageddon, but that’s the beauty of it. Like its weather, Scilly is always changing, whilst still retaining everything that makes it so special. Just this past summer, my family and I discovered the Low Tide Event: a pop-up festival on the sandbank between Tresco and Bryher which is only possible a few times a year during the Spring Tides. At midday we were munching on fresh lobster sandwiches and enjoying the live band, and by the late afternoon we were sailing over the same spot where we had been eating lunch just a few hours before, now under ten feet of water.
It still surprises me how few people know about Scilly. In a selfish way I’m almost glad, as I just want to keep it all for myself. It really is the jewel of the British Isles, and I can’t recommend visiting the islands enough. The newly opened hostel on St Mary’s - the Longstone Lodge - means it’s now far more affordable as students to visit. With events such as watching the pilot gigs race and the Camel Rock music festival there’s a real mix of people to meet and fun to be had. Perhaps I’ll see you one evening next year, watching the sun sink into the sea in a blaze of pink and red from the balcony of the Atlantic Inn – the next rounds on me...
Taking Time Out to Travel Deputy Editor Kat Smith discusses why it is important to take time out to travel during final year Kat Smith Deputy Editor
The words ‘final year’ connote the following: dissertation, exams, stress, existential crises, more dissertation, more stress. I can vouch for the viability of all these elements, which is why taking a break is all the more important. Alongside the stress of the majority of our degree being assessed in the last year of our course, we are reminded of the impending adulthood around the corner. Daily conversations consist of stress-infused questions: Have you applied to grad jobs? How are you going to fund your masters? How many hours did you spend in the library? You get the gist. There’s so much pressure put on us, to the point that taking a break for more than 2 days can seem impossible. But I’m a
champion for taking some time off days to see a friend on her year – some real time off - where you abroad, and during Easter I am don’t even think about work excited to go to Lisbon for a while. And holidays for a few days. I and trips are the best way know it is a to do this. Completely huge removing yourself from a work environment and the reminders of impending deadlines d o e s wonders for the brain. It’s a chance to refresh, OpenClipart-Vectors step outside of the easilyoverwhelming university bubble, and centre yourself again. It’s an act of self care, albeit an expensive one. At Christmas I was lucky enough to visit Amsterdam for 5
privilege to do these, even if they are out of my own money, but if it can simultaneously reset my mind and be an amazing few days, holidays are the perfect medicine to university stress. If money is short, I give myself days off in the town
centre where there is plenty to do for free, or take a day-trip elsewhere. It can seem silly to flee to another country, especially
when assignments have heavier weightings than ever, but it’s not always about how much time you spend studying. I could spend 4 hours of ‘studying’ when actually I’m just scrolling on my phone or binge-watching Sex Education, or whatever my latest Netflix obsession is. If I counted up all the hours spent wasted, I might as well have gone on holiday or at least worked to make money to go on holiday. It also acts as a sort of beacon of light, knowing that I have a few days of fun to break up the deadlines. Now until June, when exams are over, is a long old time. It’s somewhat of a reward system; I know I can go abroad because I have worked hard both in a job and at my degree. If you are able to afford a mini-break in the tornado that is university, both in terms of time and money, you deserve it.
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LIFE&STYLE
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricklife
NHS Tackling Period Poverty Food&Drink Editor Lydia Waller discusses the new NHS initiative to provide service users with free sanitary products, a decision which finally sees women’s needs in hospital receive the same attention as the needs of men Lydia Waller
suffice through a bleed. here through free public services equality in public services – as life should never be compromised After the many camto male grooming preferences Philip Hammond announced for a natural bodily process that is Food&Drink Editor paigns against period illustrates the ingrained last week, that English out of your control, so these poverty and the narrative of male privi- secondary schools schemes are imperative lege and the silencing will provide free and essential, even if The period is having its moment. voicing of the of the interior work- sanitary products they are a bit late to I do not think there has ever been British Medical ings of females and to their female the game. a more open discourse about men- A s s o c i a t i o n menstruation. The students, from It is a sad realistruation before; all thanks to the against the irradialogue around September. sation that it had to pioneering female minds of today. tional services periods and female The plan is take an evaluation From organisers of ‘Freedom4girls’ for male groomof NHS trusts do not The cost of the scheme genitalia has his- said to mimic of what men are and other period poverty cam- ing choices in have anywhere to torically been inter- the scheme entitled to on the paigns, people are battling the hospitals and not in Scottish Schools buy sanitary prodnalised because it is already in place NHS to realise their institutional injustice of sanitary for female mensomething deemed in Scotland which female counterparts products being capitalised on, struation, from the ucts on site taboo and not worth was said to have were not entitled to when many NHS hospitals have summer the NHS are addressing. But the cost around £5 the same or more essenprovided men’s razors and shav- going to start providing extortionate price of million, but tial means of hygiene proding foam, for free. Although some free tampons, towels, pads Hammond said ucts. However, this does demonsee hair-removal as a necessity to and liners for patients in NHS women spending on hospitals. Medical student, average £4,800 on there will be no strate how we have to keep weighmaintaining self-pride, it is Eleanor Wilson, highlight- sanitary products in cap on who is eli- ing up the rights and needs of still a grooming choice, ed the imbalance of their lifetimes, and gible for these human beings, women in particuwhereas menstrual services as she states the female collecproducts, like lar, against the ingrained male bleeding is an ‘we do not ask tive rising up to free school privilege in our society, to realise involuntary fact patients to bring toi- demonstrate this meals were inequities that are gendered in a of some womwomen aged 14-21 let paper and food,’ ridiculous expectaassessed. The certain way. en’s and non-biare unable to afford yet we expect them tion to provide for a charity ‘Plan This is a wonderful step fornary people’s sanitary products to bring sanitary function which is International’ car- ward to end period poverty and bodies. There is The average amount products in times not a choice but a ried out a survey in restore more essential dignity to a helplessness a woman spends on where they are at reality, has forced this 2017 of 1000 girls women, but also a reminder that inherent in menperiod products in their most vulnera- realisation into recogniand women aged 14-21, we must keep self-checking what struation, which ble and helpless – and tion. and the results were that 1 is institutionally catering to and can lead to women her lifetime that is not just the periThe conversation about peri- in 10 females were unable to protecting both men and women. and girls from low od, that includes their ods and the institutional inequity afford sanitary products, leaving income backgrounds medical circumstances in of not considering female bodily them missing their own education missing work and school, necessities is evidently having a and work when menstruating. and improvising with materials, hospital. The inequality demonstrated positive effect on the trajectory of Your income, education and daily due to not having the means to
14%
£5 million:
1/10
£4,800:
Upcycling: The Latest Fashion Trend Life&Style Writer Grace Baxendine reports on Stella McCartney’s sustainable clothing range debuted at Paris Fashion Week Grace Baxendine Life&Style Writer
Stella McCartney has once again upstaged her peers with an innovative new range of upcycled pieces for her Paris Fashion Week runway collection.
“McCartney is drawing attention to an industry causing catastrophic damage which will only continue without change” A business woman, designer and activist, McCartney is quite the pioneer and advocate for sustainable fashion. In recent years, she has pushed for recycled materials to be used for her clothing lines with great success. Her new
collection for Adidas, for example, is made of 70% recycled fabrics and fibres. Her collaboration with Adidas has lasted for 10 years and since 2008, the percentage of sustainable fabrics used has been on a constant rise. ‘Our goal is to create a business that is restorative and regenerative by design, striving to incorporate as many circular materials as possible into our collections,’ says McCartney. The reasoning behind McCartney’s passionate drive on sustainable clothing is in no way a new concept to us. The fashion industry is one of the main polluters endangering the planet, perhaps only eclipsed by the damage done by the oil industry. Cloth for example, a staple fabric used frequently and in excess, requires thousands of chemicals during production. Likewise, cotton production uses pesticides affecting the surrounding environment. Even human beings are affected by these pesticides – the World Health Organization estimated in 2012 that 3 million people are affected annually by pesticide poisoning. Nylon and polyester have similar harmful consequences, as they are forms of plastic and
therefore cannot decompose. McCartney is drawing attention to an industry causing catastrophic damage which will only continue without change. Paris Fashion Week was the base of her latest drive. McCartney’s sustainability initiative was expertly handled with stylish dresses made from sustainable viscose sourced from certi-
fied rainforests and the introduction of vegan leather, a first for Paris fashion week. ‘We had two exits in this show that were completely upcycled and circular. There were second hand t-shirts that were going to get thrown away or burned or landfilled, which we cut into strips and made knitwear out of,’ she said. Supported by a front row of
Pascal Le Segretain
influential celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Drew Barrymore, the collection was well-received and created an ecofriendly awareness of the harm done by the fashion industry, and the alternatives available. Sustainability seemed of the upmost personal importance to McCartney for this show. Her collection will back a campaign to protect the ancient and endangered Indonesian rainforest, found in Northern Sumatra. All aspects of the Sumatran ecosystem are at risk. This is mainly due to the particularly toxic dissolving pulp mill which make the rayon and viscose used to make our affordable high street fashion. A huge mass of the rainforest was bulldozed to make this factory, and as a result, farms and forests were all but destroyed. On top of this, the chemicals produced by the mill continue to pollute what’s left of this precious eco-system. It seems to me that Stella McCartney is not simply a casual promoter of sustainable fashion, seeking personal kudos, but in fact, truly passionate and keen to make long-lasting change to an industry that is overlooked as a key cause of a dying planet.
LIFE&STYLE
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricklife
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Kylie Jenner: A ‘SelfMade’ Billionaire?
Life&Style’s Hannah O’Reilly questions whether Kylie Jenner truly deserves the title of ‘self-made’ billionaire, considering the undeniable prominence of the KardashianJenner family Hannah O’Reilly Life&Style Writer
Whether you like her or not, Kylie Jenner is undeniably one of the most influential women in the world at this moment in time, and now she has a title to really establish her impact. As predicted last year, Kylie has been crowned the youngest ever ‘self-made’ billionaire by Forbes magazine, at just 21 years old.
“The question posed is how exactly can Kylie be defined as ‘selfmade’ with a family as powerful and dominating as the KardashianJenner clan behind her?” She reached this position by raking in the cash from her makeup business, Kylie Cosmetics, a company established in 2015 – a mere 4 years prior to her billionaire status. While her wealth can-
Forbes
not be denied, the question posed is how exactly can Kylie be defined as ‘self-made’ with a family as powerful and dominating as the Kardashian-Jenner clan behind her? It seems incredibly unfair to place her in the same sphere as those who earned their fortune without this extreme head start. Amid the backlash, Forbes has come out with a new article explaining why Kylie is indeed, in their eyes, self-made. A self-made billionaire is one who earned their money not through inheritance, but off their own back and with their own entrepreneurial skill. Contrary to popular belief, Kylie actually had no financial help in her business from her family. In an interview with Paper magazine, she claims that her parents ‘cut her off at age 15’ and prompted her to start earning her own cash, and since then has ‘not received a single cent’. So, technically, there is an element of truth by defining her as selfmade. However, realistically, regardless of the financial situation, Kylie has had enormous publicity and exposure since her initial debut on Keeping Up with the Kardashians at just ten years old. It prompted her rise to fame and gave her an incredible social media following, and therefore has had a platform to promote her makeup line already set up for her by the fame of her family. In doing so, Kylie hasn’t had to pay for any advertisement whatsoever.
Kylie has never exactly lived in poverty or had to work her way up. In fact, Bybreen Samuels, author of the business book NonProfit Booster – 10 Steps to Building a Successful Organisation, believes ‘describing Kylie Jenner as a self-made billionaire’ is a ‘misnomer’ because ‘at no time has she faced true entrepreneurial challenges.’ Dictionary.com chipped in, tweeting ‘Haven’t we gone over this? Self-made: Having succeeded in life unaided.’
“A self-made billionaire is one who earned their money not through inheritance, but off their own back and with their own entrepreneurial skill” Unaided in terms of inheritance perhaps, but it should not come as a surprise to learn that Kylie’s business has a large amount of help from her mediasavvy mother, Kris Jenner. Kris handles all the PR and finances of Kylie Cosmetics, taking in 10%
Forbes
of the company’s earnings, and so it’s clear that Kylie would have struggled to reach this level of wealth and success so quickly without this help. It only reinforces the argument that her connection to the Kardashians was paramount in her success. Her ability to utilise the power of social media cannot be questioned, however – she’s used the Instagram phenomenon to her advantage and has capitalised on the controversy of her lip fillers and her popularity. But is it her products or her name being sold? When customers buy her products they’re buying into a part of her lifestyle, and feel in a way closer to the celebrity. It becomes difficult to give her credit when she’s compared to other billionaires such as Oprah Winfrey, famously from an impoverished background, who never had this fame and the various assets Kylie has to enable her wealth. We could all debate her credibility and dig deep into the ins and outs of her success, but the fact still stands that no other entrepreneur in the world has had this type of platform to pretty much guarantee a degree of success. Kylie has done well to make it in this far without any sort of inheritance, but ‘self-made’ really feels like a stretch considering her circumstances. Have an opinion? Let us know at @redbricklife
Kylie Cosmetics at a glance: Kylie Cosmetics was launched in 2015. Kylie became the youngest celebrity on the Forbes ‘100 List’ in 2017. ‘Momager’ Kris Jenner has a 10% share in Kylie Cosmetics. $29 – the price of Kylie Jenner’s lip kits. Kylie’s sole means of advertisement is through Instagram, to her 129 million followers. Kylie Jenner is the youngest billionaire in history, as of 2019.
SCI&TECH
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Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricktech
Creature Feature Special We take a look at some of our writers’ favourite critters, delving into why they are interesting and highlighting some remarkble facts along the way...
The Dark Side of the Syrian Hamster James Law
Gaming Editor
James Law
Hamsters are messed up. You might not expect such things from a species whose Arabic name translates roughly to ‘Mister Saddlebags’, because of the absolutely massive amount of stuff they can keep in their cheeks. To be fair, I’d do the same if it meant I didn’t have to go to the kitchen every time I need another packet of monster munch. But for real, Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) have evolved to survive, and sometimes it isn’t pretty. They breed extremely fast, kill each other if left alone together, and even eat their young. Yep, that’s right. Hamsters practice infanticide on their own kids, and it’s all because of their evolutionary quirks. If a mother doesn’t think she can provide for all her children to thrive, she’ll eat her least favourite. If there’s not enough food and clean water, the herd must be thinned. If one of the babies smells funny, then bam: On the dinner table. This is because a mother recognises her young by scent, and if they’re suddenly stinky because you put your human hands on them, there’s not much the mum can do at that point. You’ve ruined everything.
Pablo Escobar’s Illegal Colombian Hippos
The Sea Slug With a Disposable Penis Farhana Alam Sci&Tech Writer
Tom Leaman News Editor
It’s quite unusual for a creature feature to mention Pablo Escobar, but the drug lord did have a significant effect on the Colombian ecosystem. In the early 1980s, he illegally imported dozens of wild animals to his Hacienda Nápoles estate, including elephants and giraffes – as well as four hippopotamuses. Most of Escobar’s animals were sent to safer nature reserves and zoos. The hippos, however, have remained virtually untouched and have continued to multiply in what the Colombian Minister for the Environment has called ‘hippo heaven.’ The region does not experience droughts, for example, which in their natural habitat helps control the size of their populations. In Africa, the animals normally become sexually active between the ages of seven and nine for males, and nine and eleven for females. In Colombia, the hippos are becoming sexually active at the age of three, with some females reportedly giving birth to one calf per year. As a result, there are now around 50 – 60 hippos living in Colombia, and they are beginning to roam away from Hacienda Nápoles. Not only are the hippos an invasive species that pose a threat to the ecosystem, but they are potentially dangerous to humans. To add to the problem, local residents do not perceive just how deadly they can be; the El Colombiano newspaper has reported that local school children share a pond with the hippos and often come into close contact with them. Hippos cause more human deaths in Africa than any other wild animal, which makes these lost hippos a huge problem with no obvious solution.
Paul Maritz
Steve Childs
Chromodoris reticulata are a species of sea slug, or nudibranch (From the Latin term ‘nudus’ meaning naked; and the Greek ‘brankhia’ meaning gills), found in the Pacific Ocean. They are ten centimetres in length, with red and white speckled colouring. C. reticulata are simultaneous hermaphrodites, i.e. they have fully functioning male and female reproductive organs at the same time. Some nudibranchs can self-fertilise, but C. reticulata are a nonselfing species. However, they can both donate and receive sperm simultaneously during one copulation event. Mating pairs will crawl towards each other, orient themselves on the right-hand side of one another, and then simultaneously penetrate each other. Copulation lasts approximately ten minutes and, once complete, each sea slug crawls away with around one centimetre of its penis still extruding from its body. Eventually, this external section breaks away and is discarded. The internal, threecentimetre section remains behind and adopts a coiled conformation. This will transform into a new, operational penis within twenty-four hours, ready for a new copulation event. In this way, C. reticulata can copulate on three consecutive days, with a brand new appendage each time. The surface of the C. reticulata penis is covered in backward-pointing spines, which must make it difficult to retract. It is hypothesised that the spines remove previouslydeposited, rival sperm from the copulatory pouch of the mating partner. Although this is not confirmed, displacement of a competitor’s sperm may be a sufficient reward to counteract the cost of a lost penis.
A Whole Lotta Axolotl Courtney Kousser Sci&Tech Writer
According to the ancient Aztecs, the unassuming axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), with its smiling face and feathery gills, is the embodiment of a deity. The legend describes the god of fire and death, Xolotl, rebelling against the wishes of the other gods to sacrifice themselves to the Wind God, giving movement to the Sun. He ran, changing into an axolotl and hiding at the bottom of lake Xochimilco. While this is only folklore, axolotls are still amazing creatures that have baffled scientists for decades. This salamander, also referred to as a Mexican walking fish or water dog, is unique because it can sexually reproduce without metamorphosising into an adult and remains aquatic for the entirety of its life. This is known as neoteny and is caused by a lack of thyroid stimulating hormone, though they can be forced into adulthood through iodine or thyroxine hormone injections. While all salamanders have the capability to regenerate, these creatures display extreme regeneration, and can re-grow entire limbs, tail, spinal cord, jaw, even pieces of brain hundreds of times over without a single scar. They are also 1000x more resistant to cancer than humans, played a role in the discovery of thyroid hormones, and helped scientists understand the cause of spina bifida. While commonly found in captivity as pets or laboratory animals, they are critically endangered in the wild. They are only naturally found in lake Xochimilco, just outside of Mexico City, which is now polluted and home to artificiallyintroduced predators. It was estimated that in 2014 there were less than 1000 individuals, and this number has likely decreased. Without drastic conservation intervention, these worshipped animals may completely disappear from the wild. Meanwhile, the inbred, disease prone captive axolotls may one day lose the genetic diversity that is key in understanding their super powers and in possible advancing human medicine.
Tiia Monto
SCI&TECH
Friday 22nd March 2019
@redbricktech
Sea Walnuts: Occasional Anuses Francesca Benson Sci&Tech Editor
How Octopus Camouflage Makes Them Invisible... Will Nunn
Dassie the Way (Uh Huh, Uh Huh) I Like It Thom Dent Print & Features Editor
Stephen G Johnson
Although it looks similar to a jellyfish, Mnemiopsis leidyi is part of an entirely separate family called comb jellies or ctenophores. Also known as the sea walnut or warty comb jelly, they have four rows of fused cilia known as combs that are used to propel them through the water. These combs are not bioluminescent, however they refract light and appear to glow a blue-green colour. Comb jellies are the largest known organisms to use cilia for movement. The warty comb jelly is a hermaphroditic species, meaning that they produce both eggs and sperm and are thus capable of self-fertilisation. They are also carnivorous, consuming smaller organisms such as zooplankton and sometimes even resort to cannibalism. New discoveries about how it expels waste have made Mnemiopsis leidyi a talking point in the news. Unlike jellyfish, which eat and defecate out of the same hole, the warty comb jelly does so out of two separate orifices. However, it has been found that their anus only appears when the time to poop arises. A recent study showed that the warty comb jelly expels waste on a set time schedule, and the anus vanishes between these set times. The gut and epidermis are both one cell thick, and are thought to form a ‘ring of fusion’ to produce the anus when contact is made as the gut fills up and expands. According to the researcher who made this discovery, no other animal has been shown to share this physiological quirk. This means that the warty comb jelly could represent a missing link between organisms that evolved a separate anus and those that didn’t.
Pseudopanax
Minette
Chromatophore in Octopus Skin
Sci&Tech Editor
Though chameleons get all the fame, nature’s true king of camouflage, or queen of the unseen, is the octopus. Octopuses (the correct plural) are able to blend into their surroundings almost perfectly. In footage it can be impossible to see one is even there before it springs out of nowhere and swims away. To achieve this, octopus skin contains a specialised type of cell containing pigments called chromatophores. These cells are under the control of the nervous system which stimulates muscular contractions to change the size and shape of the cells, in turn changing the colour of the cells by altering the way light interacts with the pigment. This can be achieved at high levels of precision, with octopuses able to produce complex patterns to accurately mimic their surroundings. Beyond colour, their skin can also imitate the texture of seafloor features by altering the papillae on their skin. To control which colours and patterns they form, octopuses are thought to use their excellent eyesight to detect their surroundings. Their eyes are highly evolved, and much like human eyes they contain both rods and cones, meaning they can detect both the intensity and colour of light. This remarkable talent has a number of applications. Primarily it allows octopuses to hide in plain site, helping them to catch prey and avoid predators. It also plays a key role in attracting mates. Some species, such as the blue-ringed octopus, rapidly flash iridescent blue rings to scare off predators as a warning sign.
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Flickr: Regina Hart
On the rocky top of Table Mountain, overlooking the beautiful bay of Cape Town, South Africa, live a colony of creatures as majestic as they are bizarre. The dassie, which a more scientific mind would call a rock hyrax, looks like a strange amalgamation of every other chubby rodent – with its squirrel-like snout and cosy guinea pig fur. Some call it a ‘rock badger’, others call it a ‘rock rabbit’, and my own experience of the creatures means the best way I can think to describe them is as a fat beaver without a tail. Strangely though, the dassie’s closest relative is none of the above. In fact, the small fluffy rock-lovers are most akin to elephants, a species which is rather well-known for being a lot bigger and, well, a lot more leathery. Their genome becomes even stranger when you realise that their second-closest relative is a sea cow. Although I encountered them on the top of Table Mountain, dassies live all across southern and Saharan Africa – essentially, anywhere altitudinous and with lots of rocks. They eat mostly leaves, alongside the occasional unsuspecting insect, and chew with their mouths open, making a distinctive ‘grunting’ sound as they do so. For a species that live on a tabletop, they have terrible table manners.
Pixabay
Wikipedia: Rainer128
A hamster cramming its cheeks, earning the title “Mr Saddlebags” Colombian National Police
Pablo Escobar: Hippo Menace
Honourable Mention: Anna Griffish, Redbrick office pet and defacto Editor-in-Chief
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Friday 22nd March 2019
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Health&Fitness: Fat Loss Alex Kirkup-Lee and Harry Wilkinson discuss the perplexing struggle of fat loss, somewhat due to the excessive and contrasting information on it Harry Wilkinson Sport Editor
Fat loss can be very difficult, even if you know every theory or technique available. There is just so much information about fat loss. It has to be one of the most over-saturated topics in fitness, with everyone wanting to weight-in with their opinion and newfound method. So why am I writing about it? Well, since fat loss can very confusing, I wanted to write an Bruno Branco
Alex Kirkup-Lee
Sport Reporter
1. Resistance training While many people think cardio is the best way to lose fat, resistance training actually is a key component. Resistance training allows you to build lean muscle which will show through your skin whilst your burn fat. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue that burns carbs and fats and uses them as energy. Therefore, the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn. Keeping up resistance training while dieting also prevents muscle loss. This is beneficial due to the increased oxygen consumption of muscles during and after resistance training, which allows you to continue to burn calories even after you have finished your workout.
“Studies have shown that most dieters underestimate how much they eat” 2. Eat in a caloric deficit Studies have shown that most dieters underestimate how much they eat. Tracking macros can be
article that just talks about the absolute basics, so as to remind the advanced or provide a foundation for the beginner. I want to show that if you follow just a few fundamental principles – the basics – and execute them well, you are likely to be successful, whether you are advanced and are cutting, or just want to lose a few lbs for the beach. If this article helps even one person, in any way at all, I'll be happy. Now, put simply, fat is used as an energy store that our body resorts to when it does not have sufficient fuel to function – it is basically back-up fuel. So, when we consume fewer calories than we need, our body turns to these stores in order to carry on functioning. Our bodies burn the fat in order to carry on. So, if you consume fewer calories than what is needed for your body to maintain optimal function, you will lose fat eventually. The larger the deficit of calories you have compared to what your maintenance calories level is, the faster you will burn fat. To discover the amount of calories you would need to consume to maintain the same level of body fat, you would need to experiment and find out for yourself. However, there are some useful tools, such as BMR (basal metabolic rate) calculators online
that can help you find that number. BMR gives you the amount of calories you would burn if you were to lie in bed all day. This number, combined with your activity level (calories spent walking etc.) will give you a general idea of your maintenance calories. If you want to be more speciifc, you can do more research, more calculators, more tests. You will get out what you put in, at the end of the day. Once you have that numberor somewhere near you can then dicern the amount of calories you would need to be in a siginicant enough calorie defict to lose fat (by subtracting 300-500 from that number). This all sounds a bit tedious, and it is, but even having a basic idea of your maintenance is so important, otherwise you will just be guessing. If you want to commit to doing something difficult, like losing fat, you might as well put in a little bit of effort to make sure what you are doing makes logical and mathematical sense. The time frame of your cut is important, as you want to make sure you give yourself enough time to actually make the difference you want. Fat loss takes time and requires patience. I would say three months is a good starting time frame for a cut (there’s a reason this article was written three months before the start of
summer). Note that this is just the basics and doesn’t take into account macro-nutrients (carbs, protein, fats), which are important too. For example, during a diet in a deficit it would be wise to consume more protein than usual, as it’s more satiating (keeps you feeling full for longer). When counting calories, although the quality of food is not reflected in the calorie number, it is reflected in the appetite, so if you used up your 2000 calories in one McDonald’s meal, you’re not exactly going to be satisfied.
a great way to keep track of this. Macros should be split roughly between 1g of protein per lb bodyweight, then the rest split between fats and carbs. However, tracking is not for everyone. If you do not want to commit to tracking, make sure you know your portion sizes. It is very easy, for example, to be eating far more than a portion of cereal for breakfast without even realizing. For a meal, you should have roughly a portion of protein the size of your palm, a serving of vegetables the size of your fist, a cupped hand of carbs and a thumbsized amount of fat. If you do not want to track for a long period of time, tracking your food for a week or a couple of days can be a good way to see what you are eating at maintenance (the amount of calories needed to consume in order to maintain the same body weight), and how many calories you are consuming, and then you can workout how much you need to cut down from there. Tracking for a couple weeks gives you a good general idea of how much calories is in the meals you have commonly, meaning you are less likely to overestimate your portion sizes.
ing like you’re doing anything extra. Also, take a water bottle wherever you go: drinking more water is an easy change to make and can increase fat loss. Studies have found that drinking eight glasses of water a day can burn roughly 96 more calories.
likely to snack if you work on getting eight hours sleep a night.
4. Get plenty of sleep Not enough sleep leads to a decrease in fat loss. Studies have found lack of sleep leads increase food cravings, even after satiety was reached. Nighttime consumption of post dinner carbs was also found to be higher after loss of sleep. Sleep also has a negative impact on carb metabolism. You will be less likely to experience an afternoon energy slump during the day, meaning you will be less
“Motivation gets you started, but discipline makes you consistent, an consistency makes you finish” I believe it’s good to have a decent external reason for the fat loss (such as a beach holiday) because: 1. it provides a timeframe; and 2. it gives you extra motivation to stay consistent. The internal reason, however, is the primary one you should consider.
“Steer clear of celebrity diets and detox teas that promise weight loss: these diets are not sustainable” 5. Eat foods you enjoy Restricting certain food groups can often lead to the cravings for that certain food, which is not ideal. Steer clear of celebrity diets and detox teas that promise fast
It should be something specific, something that might trigger you. Perhaps you want to prove your mate wrong, I don’t know. The more powerful it is, the more initial motivation you will have. But motivation is not everything. Motivation gets you started but discipline makes you consitent, and consitency is the most important. Sure, it’s easy to be motivated to lose fat when watching the Instagram story of your favourite influencer flexing their abs in the Maldives, but will you have the same motivation when looking getting home a day of revision, opening the cupboard, and seeing a jar of Nutella just waiting to be consumed in one sitting? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with having a table-spoonful of Nutella in your diet (about 90-100 cals), but if that one spoonful turns into 8, for some people that would make up about half of their daily amount of calories. The point here is, just be smart. Count your calories (even for a short period). If you hate counting calories, do it for one week, as this will at least give you an idea of how many calories are in the food you eat repetetively, meaning you have a better idea of portion sizes. Some things will definitely surprise you.
weight loss: these diets are not su tainable and detox teas contain laxatives, which do not cause real or lasting fat loss. If you restrict food and you are left feeling hungry, this will lead to increased snacking. Try and eat foods you enjoy. If you feel satisfied from your meal, you’ll be less inclined to snack afterwards. If you make bland meals that you don’t enjoy, you may be left feeling disappointed, you’ll be left wondering what else you can eat instead. With so much different advice around, it can be extremely confusing to know exactly how to lose fat. Losing fat does not have to be expensive, complicated or confusing. If you stick to the basics, keep it simple and stay consistent, then you will be successful.
3. Be active in your daily routine and drink more water To lose fat you need to be burning more calories than you consume. Low intensity exercise is great for burning fat. Try and hit at least 10,000 steps a day – take the stairs not the lift. This way you will be upping your movement and fat burning without even feel-
Victor Freitas
SPORT
Friday 22nd March 2019
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Mari Smith: UoB’s 800m Golden Girl
Zidane’s Madrid Masterplan
Isabel Baldwin interviews the Biochemistry student who won silver at the Britsh Championships Isabel Baldwin Sport Editor
Mari Smith is an exciting, up-andcoming track star for British Athletics who also happens to be one of the University of Birmingham’s very own. Alongside studying Biochemistry at Birmingham, Smith has been setting the track on fire with a remarkable start to 2019. The 800m runner claims that this season has been filled with the highest quality of races she has ever competed in, but that does not seem to have intimidated
her as she has found excellent form to win a silver medal at the British Championships and finish 6th with a PB at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix to secure her place at the European Championships, where she came in 5th. These highlights of her season so far prove that Smith deserves to be competing with the elite of the athletics world. The 22-yearold enthused about racing against other incredible athletic talent saying, ‘competing against professional athletes I’ve been watching race for years is very exciting. It’s made me realise how much I have achieved in the last few
years to get where I am now. [...] I do feel like I belong in their company now, and am looking forward to more high quality races this summer.’ Looking to the summer, Smith has set her focus on running a PB in both the 800m and 1500m. Smith will be hoping to carry on her success from the start of the year to make 2019 her breakthrough year as she heads to Oregon University on a scholarship following graduation. Many would presume balancing both academic and athletic lifestyles would be difficult for anyone but not for Mari. The UoB student says until the Europeans
Jack Simpkin Sport Editor
Mark Shearman
she had not needed to ask for extensions but when she did need extra support leading up to the championships the university was very accommodating. She further added that the emotional and physical support she has received from the Sports Scholarship team and BUAC has been essential in her journey to success and her refound love of running. With success stories like Mari Smith, UoB appears to have the potential to become a hub of sporting excellence for future stars.
UB Racing: The Society that Builds Racing Cars from Scratch John Rogers Sport Reporter
Tucked away at the back of the mechanical engineering building I visited the home of one of the university’s most high-budget and hardest working societies that nobody really knows about: UBRacing. I was lucky enough to sit down with the committee of UBR, including team leader Andrew Evans, lead designer James Davies, and project manager
Hannah Swinbourne, to ask them why we were surrounded by several track cars in varying degrees of completeness. In a nutshell, the aim of the society is to build a racing car from scratch each year to compete in Formula Student, an end-ofyear competition featuring hundreds of student teams. The event takes place at Silverstone, this year between the 17th and 21st of July, and features a range of tests assessing the cars attributes. Since UBR’s inception in 1997, the team has attended every
Formula Student event, achieving their best finish of 2nd overall in 2017. This is no mean feat, especially considering the small budget of the team compared to some of their rivals on the continent. The team primarily rely on sponsors and donations to complete the yearly project, which comes to around £30,000 annually. It is a huge project for students to handle, so the committee members are some of the hardest working around. Andrew Evans tells us how, on a normal day, he is in the lab from 9am and 9pm, and mem-
bers have been known to spend nights among the tools. James Davies is also keen to point out that success for the society is cumulative, as one committee passes the torch to the next, ensuring the secrets to success remain and mistakes aren’t repeated. ‘Is it worth it?’ is my final question. Was the long summer work and the hundreds of hours in the lab worth it for just a 4-day event? Davies responds: ‘I ask myself that question every day,’ but the committee laughter suggests they would hate to be anywhere else.
Sports Club of the Fortnight: Jiu-Jitsu Jake Bradshaw Sport Editor
Fresh off the heels of an inspired performance at the Randori Nationals competition towards the end of February, UoB Jiu-Jitsu have managed the (nearly) comparable achievement of being named this edition’s Club of the Fortnight. We caught up with club captain Andy Parr to discover what makes the club so attractive. UoB Jiu-Jitsu has 64 members, which are split by a system of grades. Novice grades, which span yellow, orange, green, purple, light blue, and dark blue, are followed by the instructor grades including brown and Dan ranks (first to tenth). It’s clear from this alone that the sport can accommodate any skill-level for those wishing to take part. The club takes part in two national competitions per year, one being the Atemi Nationals, which focus on the throwing aspect of the sport, and the other
being the Randori Nationals, which judges contestants’ grappling abilities. As mentioned previously, at the Randori Nationals club members obtained seven gold medals, three silvers, and three bronzes, making them the highest scoring team at the event, and were awarded the Club Shield for their efforts. This marked the first time UoB Jiu-Jitsu has won the Shield at either of their main events.
“This marked the first time UoB JiuJitsu has won the Club Shield at either of their main events” Andy was keen to stress the safety aspect of Jiu-Jitsu. ‘We learn grappling and throwing, mixed in with self-defence like
wristlocks and armlocks,’ he explains, adding, ‘we also learn how to deal with weapons ranging from bottles and clubs, to knives.’
“I've made so many close friends, and gained an important skill” Although you would hope these skills were never needed outside of the Dojo, they would be sure to come in useful if called upon. Not only does the club teach incredibly important self-defence, but there is also an extremely welcoming and friendly environment. This fact is highlighted by some conversations Andy recalls with members. Perhaps the most pertinent was one who said, ‘I’ve made so many close friends, gained an important skill and have become fitter in the process.’ This
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sums up everything good about the club, not to mention their success in competitions too!
Simon Price Sports Officer
This week I have picked UoB JiuJitsu club. On Saturday 23rd February, 30 members from the club went to Northampton for the Jiu-Jitsu Randori Nationals. The morning was split into grades and mixed events, with the afternoon consisting of both ground fighting and standing fighting. After a successful first day, UoB had the chance to win 19 potential medals split between 14 members. The Sunday morning was made up of heavy train to give members their best possible chance of taking home medals. Seven gold, three silver, and three bronze medals were won throughout the competition! This was a great weekend for all members and certainly a memory to be proud of for a long time.
When Zinedine Zidane announced he was leaving his post as Real Madrid Manager just five days after he secured the club’s third consecutive Champions League triumph, not even the most pessimistic of Real fans would have foreseen the incredible demise in the club’s fortunes that followed. Julen Lopetegui was embarrassingly announced as Zidane’s replacement just two days before Spain’s opening World Cup fixture against Portugal. Already in Russia in his role as manager of the national side, Lopetegui couldn’t help but let the cat out the bag that he was set to join Los Blancos after the tournament. Infuriated by his betrayal, the Spanish FA sacked the then 51-year-old on the spot, and he was free to join Madrid a month earlier than anticipated, with his tail between his legs. After just four-and-a-half months in the role, he was dismissed after a spineless performance at the Nou Camp that saw them slide to their fifth defeat in six games as arch-rivals, Barcelona came out 5-1 victors. Club legend Santiago Solari was promoted from the Real Madrid B-team to take over first team responsibilities, but despite the experience of 131 Real La Liga appearances behind him and a slightly encouraging start, Solari’s influence failed to reverse Lopetegui’s failures, culminating in an embarrassing exit from the Champions League in the last 16 at the hands of Ajax, which left President Florentino Pérez with no option but to pick up the phone to Zidane as seemingly beg him to come back to recover the situation. Zizou duly accepted in what appears to be the final piece of the unbelievable masterplan that the Frenchman might have unintentionally completed. With absolutely nothing to lose and with no threat of losing his perfect Champions League record, the man with 225 appearances for the club now looks like an even better manager than he did at the end last season. Despite having barely lifted a finger since then, he has the rest of this season to experiment with the squad, find out which parts of his old plan he needs to go back to, before then having what will undoubtedly be a huge wallet to play with in the summer as Pérez will inevitably react to what has been the worst season in the club’s modern history. Even in his one match in charge so far, seeing Zidane show his faith in Keylor Navas, Marcelo, Isco and Gareth Bale, which Solari clearly didn’t want to do, brought a smile to the faces of most of those in the Bernabeu who witnessed his 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo on his return. In the summer, expect as many as any two of David de Gea, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar to join Madrid, ready for a new season under Zidane that he will then be very confident in making a success.
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Liverpool or Manchester City: Who Will Go All the Way in May? Sport Reporter Jake Davies reviews the chances of the Premier League's top teams Jake Davies Sport Reporter
As another international break arrives, Liverpool sit on top of the table, two points above City, albeit one game ahead. Jurgen Klopp’s side are in a much more precarious position than just three months ago, with the Reds seven points clear at the start of January. City, meanwhile, have been resurgent, winning the EFL Cup and progressing to both the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the FA Cup as the Sky Blues continue to pursue the quadruple. In the process, they’ve also closed the gap on Liverpool and now regu-
larly play leapfrog at the top with them, but who can actually maintain the momentum until May?
“The opportunity is the best the Reds have had since that fateful 2013/14 season” Will City slip up and drop vital points which could allow Liverpool to lay a finger on the trophy? And can Liverpool sustain this level of performance and avoid ‘bottling’ this golden oppor-
tunity? This opportunity is the best the Reds have had since that fateful 2013/14 season, when a loss to Chelsea (that slip) at the end of the season and surprise subsequent draw with Crystal Palace meant Liverpool finished in second place, just two points off champions Manchester City. Fans of Klopp’s side harbour anxieties surrounding their team’s consistency, fearing that a similar incident could occur in these final, crucial, Premier League games. Recently, the side has certainly lost momentum, with 4 draws in their last 8 games allowing City to gain the upper hand. This will be their greatest fear and is, in all honesty, the reason why I believe
City will win their second Premier League title in as many years.
“City are undoubtedly the best side in England and their squad depth is ridiculous” Pep Guardiola has had a few blips in his well-oiled machine this season, with four defeats thus far. However, they have drawn only two games and have won 10
out of their last 11 Premier League matches, including a memorable 2-1 victory against Liverpool in January. That game proved to be a turning point, as Liverpool’s vast lead crumbled and worries began to develop. City are undoubtedly the best side in England and their squad depth is ridiculous. Sergio Aguero leads with 18 goals this season, one more than Mo Salah, who has not quite been as electric as last year. Pep demands perfection from his team and he comes closer to achieving this goal every game, hence I believe that it will be him and City lifting the trophy come May.
The Next AJ? The Best Upcoming Stars Emerging in British Boxing Andy Brennan Sport Reporter
British boxing is on a high. Now more than ever, talent is flourishing in every division and this is evident in how many British names are holding belts or have held belts in the past five years. With that being said, I have chosen three fighters who I believe are the ones to watch in the coming years, and are guaranteed to be involved in world title fights of their own.
Josh Taylor 14-0, Super-lightweight The young Scot has been raising eyebrows ever since he won Gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Currently competing in the World Boxing Super Series, Taylor breezed through the earlier stages of the tournament as his opponents seem unable to answer his relentless work rate and killer left hook, as he constantly swarms and suffocates them. He fights the undefeated Belarusian prospect Ivan Baranchyk in the Super
Series semi-final on May 18th, in his quest for the WBA belt. Joshua Buatsi 9-0, Lightweight Currently under Anthony Joshua’s wing, the Ghanaian-born Croydon brawler is known for his ruthless ring-aggression and terrific punching speed. However, there is method in the madness, as Buatsi is renowned and respected for his high in-ring IQ. His degree in Sports Science has helped him
manage his training and conditioning, as he maintains high punching intensity with his incredible stamina. He fights on the 23rd of March where he will contest the British light-heavyweight belt, a bout in which he is not only expected to win, but dominate in brutal fashion. Expect to see him contesting more prestigious belts very soon. Daniel Dubois 10-0, Heavyweight
affectionately known in the ring, possesses all the tools needed to succeed in boxing’s most glamorous division. The youngest prospect on our list at only 21 years old, he was originally planning to represent Britain at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, before being advised and fast-tracked to the professional scene. He is very much seen as a younger Anthony Joshua, and if sparring rumours are to be believed, he is just as dangerous.
‘Dynamite’ Dubois, as he is
Antonio Brown Switches Pittsburgh Steelers for Oakland Raiders Ben Thomas discusses the impact of 'diva wide receivers' Ben Thomas Sport Reporter
There is no ‘I’ in ‘team’, but there is an ‘I’ in Antonio – and after the events of recent months that ‘I’ might as well be in bold and underlined. Antonio Brown, or ‘Mr. Big Chest’ as he now bizarrely requests to be called, has established himself as the latest in a long line of diva wide receivers who have prided themselves in holding both their quarterbacks and indeed their franchises to ransom in a self-centred attempt to satisfy the remains of their famished egos. Brown has this month, at long last, been traded from his careerspanning home of the Pittsburgh Steelers to his new destination – the floundering Oakland Raiders. Overlooking the undeniable
travesty – a rampant offense, led by the other-worldly triple-headed monster of Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, and Brown himself, failed to deliver even a sniff of a Super Bowl – Brown’s (and Bell’s) antics add even more credence to the argument which dictates that investing big in talented skill-position players is simply not worth the hassle in the NFL.
“There must be liberating freedom in not being bound to one elite ballcatcher” Unlike the increasingly rusting Steelers, the recent Super
Bowl champions New England Patriots have had a perpetual revolving door at both receiver and running back but year-onyear stand exactly where they need to be to claim yet another championship.
“Investing big in talented skill position players is simply not worth the hassle in the NFL” Though you could certainly argue that the Patriots are a systematic anomaly, there must be something in the liberating free-
dom of not being bound to one elite ball-catcher who desires to throw a tantrum every time a quarterback doesn’t give him his favourite ball back. With this in mind, it is entirely possible that the years of Roethlisberger, Brown, and Bell will be looked back on with much of the same nostalgia as that of the band Oasis. That being a group of insanely talented men, each exceptional at their own craft, who might have gone on to become the greatest in the world if only they’d have just got along occasionally for a few hours on a Sunday. Having said that, it is equally as possible that it was their desperate hatred of each other that ultimately made them the chaotic brilliance they were in the first place – I suppose your guess is a good as mine.
Keith Allison
SPORT
Friday 22nd March 2019
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Irritating Italy: Should the Six Nations Start Using Promotion and Relegation? Dan Hague debates whether the competition would benefit from rule-changes Dan Hague Sport Reporter
This year’s Six Nations has seen many thrilling games. England steamrolled Ireland in the opening round, Wales snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against France, and Scotland fought back from 31 points down to hold England to a 38-38 draw. It is the Six Nations’ greatest gift that fans are left on the edge of their seat every time their team takes the field; or almost every time. Against Italy the tension that makes your heart beat twice as fast never seems to materialise. Italy were added to the Five Nations in 2000 to make it the Six Nations. This heralded a new era for the Six Nations and Italy looked set to become a new rugby Goliath. 19 years later and Italy have never won the competition.
They have won the wooden spoon 14 times and their highest placed finish is fourth. It is fair to say the Italian experiment has failed.
Tonga and only lost to semi-finalists Argentina and eventual champions New Zealand. It is only fair that the Georgians have a chance to test themselves against the powerhouses of European rugby. Who knows; in 19 years Georgia might have won the Six Nations.
Italy are the better team. Italy also have a better developed corporate infrastructure. Georgia only have a 9000 seat stadium and as such for travelling fans it would be exceedingly difficult to get tickets. Moreover, it would be bizarre to see a top tier nation play a test match in such a mute atmosphere.
“Italy looked set to become a new rugby Goliath [...] “Italy have won the 19 years later they wooden spoon 14 “It is still worth have never won the giving Georgia the times and their competition” chance” highest placed finish is fourth” If we are to boot Italy from the championship who might fill their place? Georgia have won the Six Nations understudy championship, the Rugby Europe Championship, 11 times, with eight of those victories Grand Slams. Furthermore, in the world cup they beat both Namibia and
Inevitably, it is not quite as simple as ejecting Italy and introducing Georgia. The last time Italy played Georgia the Italians were triumphant, running in four tries in a 28-17 victory. Maybe
Despite these setbacks it is still worth giving Georgia the chance. In 19 years Italy have made little impact on the championship. What might Georgia achieve given the same amount of time?
Italy’s 2019 Six Nations Results SCO 33 – 20 ITA ITA 15 – 26 WAL ITA 16 – 26 IRE ENG 57 – 14 ITA ITA 14 – 25 FRA Italy’s Six Nations Record over the past decade 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
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6th 6th 6th 5th 4th 6th 5th 6th 6th 6th 6th
All Four Through: UCL Quarter-Finals Preview Sport Reporter Jake Davies previews the next round of the Champions League, which includes all four of the Premier League teams that started the competition Jake Davies Sport Reporter
Man City vs Tottenham Two teams that have never lifted the trophy, this all-Premier League tie promises to be a thrilling one. With City still fighting on all fronts, Pep’s men will be hoping they can match their best ever Champions League run by reaching the semi-finals for the second time in four years. Momentum seems in their favour, with their performance in the league since Christmas closing the gap on the Liverpool and proving their strength as a team. Spurs will believe they can upset the odds now Kane is back fit, but I think
the quality of Manchester City will allow them to prevail.
“Spurs will believe they can upset the odds now Kane is back fit”
revealing frailties that could be their undoing. Barcelona meanwhile continue to flourish thanks to Messi and his brilliance. The 31-year-old scored twice and assisted two more as Barca thrashed Lyon 5-1 to progress to this stage and has since scored a hattrick in La Liga. OGS has been impressive so far, however I think the Catalonians are going to be a step too far for the young manager.
Man Utd vs Barcelona Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw a spectacular comeback against PSG in the last round, one which really cemented his team’s progress since the Norweigan replaced Mourinho in December. However, the Red Devils have since capitulated to Wolves in the FA Cup and Arsenal in the league,
Liga-leaders, scoring six goals in Europe’s elite competition so far. However, Virgil Van Dijk will look to stop that tally from growing, as arguably the best defender in the world hopes to help Liverpool secure their sixth European trophy. Klopp’s squad is fit and have displayed a consistency throughout this season which I believe suggests that they have the ability in the changing room to reach back to back Champions League finals.
Liverpool vs Porto One of the shocks of the Round of 16 was Porto’s stunning victory over Roma, as the Portuguese side laid their claim to their first UCL trophy for fifteen years. Moussa Marega has been lethal in front of the goal for the joint-Primeira-
Juventus vs Ajax Porto’s result may have been impressive, but Ajax’s was unbelievable. Their demolition of holders Real Madrid 4-1 at the Bernabeu in the second leg was
jaw dropping and proves that the Dutch side are a force to be reckoned with.
“Ajax may just be able to pull off another shock here” Ronaldo meanwhile has kept up remarkable form for a 34-yearold striker, singlehandedly carrying Juventus into the quarter-finals with his hattrick against old rivals Atletico Madrid. I think that Ajax may be able to pull off another shock here, but with Ronaldo amongst their ranks Juventus look strong contenders for the title.
Cruyff: ‘I’ve Never Seen a Bag of Money Score a Goal’ Luke Bosher Sport Reporter
‘Why couldn’t you beat a richer club? I’ve never seen a bag of money score a goal.’ Johan Cruyff’s famous words have been reinjected into the public forum after Spanish giants Real Madrid were toppled in the Champions League last 16 by relative minnows Ajax. Cruyff is an Ajax legend, winning 16 major honours with them as a player in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, but his contribution to Ajax, and the sport itself, is far greater
seen in his footballing philosophy. Crucially, Cruyff’s ‘total football’ doctrine extends beyond a style of playing the game. It is about instilling the right principles, both in terms of football and life, in footballers from a young age, with development favoured over results. Cruyff restructured the Ajax academy in the late 1980s in his first managerial role, and seven years later they won the Champions League. Even before managing Barcelona, he wanted to install an Ajax Academy-style programme, now known as the fabled La Masia.
His spell at Ajax as a director from 2011 ended officially in 2012, but coaches and disciples Wim Jonk and Ruben Jongkind remained until 2015 and laid the foundations for a redesign of Ajax’s youth programme.
“Football is about instilling the right principles” It is no coincidence that their influence is coming to fruition
now, with Ajax reaching the Europa League final in 2017, and reaching the Champions League knockout stages this season for the first time since 2006. The idea of a clear football philosophy at a club at every age group is why Ajax have had success playing relatively inexperienced academy graduates against seasoned professionals; players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Donny Van de Beek and Noussair Mazraoui are already attuned to the style of play. Ajax may never compete for European titles in the manner they once did, and are perceived to be
a factory for talent rather than serious contenders, but part of Cryuff’s legacy in Amsterdam is that an academy player can easily transition into the first team with no need to spend to replace. Ajax face Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals, and will again be underdogs. However, Ajax’s talent and explicit football philosophy as envisioned by Cruyff enables them to compete above their financial station time after time, if a patient and consistent approach is followed.
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22.03.2019
Are the Grand Slam Dragons Now the Ones to Beat this Summer? Kit Shepard discusses what we learnt from the Six Nations ahead of the World Cup knack of winning ugly will be priceless in the tight, tense World Cup games that are just around the corner.
Kit Shepard Sport Reporter
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BON
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WAL
5
3
23
ENG
3
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18
IRE
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14
FRA
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10
SCO
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ITA
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0
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With the Rugby World Cup just six months away, this year’s Six Nations was about making statements. Since it would be worthless analysing a predictably poor Italy, and impossible to evaluate a French team that was as erratic as ever, let’s focus on where the home nations stand after their last competitive matches before Japan 2019.
Wales The standout team in the tournament by quite a margin. Warren Gatland’s men won all five matches to extend their streak of victories to 14, capture their first title since 2013 and, of course, secure the coveted Grand Slam. Whether it was by recovering from a 16-point deficit in their opening match against France, holding their nerve in the titanic clash with England, or totally outplaying Ireland to secure the Grand Slam, Wales passed every test. Best of all, they did this without playing to their full potential, and this
Star Man: Alun Wyn Jones
Scotland It is difficult to judge what this Scottish side is capable of, as they were utterly ravaged by injuries throughout the tournament. Yet, despite missing crucial players in pretty much every position, they will feel that, with a more clinical attack, they could have won all three games that they lost (to Ireland, France and Wales). Nevertheless, the remarkable second-half comeback to earn a draw with England showcased their strength in depth and flair with the ball in hand. If Scotland can become more ruthless and shake off the injury bug, they will be more than capable of springing a surprise or two in Japan. Star Man: Darcy Graham
Ireland This was a hugely disappointing campaign for the men in green. After an incredible 2018, which included a Grand Slam, a victory over the fabled All Blacks and only one loss, Ireland took a step backwards in the Six Nations, bookended by a pair of comprehensive defeats to England and Wales. Although he was not the only player to struggle, the form of flyhalf Johnny Sexton is a particular cause for concern, with the reigning World
Player of the Year’s poor performances serving as a microcosm for his team’s regression. Ireland are notorious underachievers at World Cups, and their start to 2019 suggests that history could repeat itself.
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Star Man: Peter O’Mahony
England Where do you begin? England scored the most points and tries in the tournament, showing shades of the side that won 18 straight matches following the disastrous 2015 World Cup. Their sensational opening weekend performance in Ireland caught everyone’s attention, and there were several periods across the campaign where Eddie Jones’ team looked devastating. However, second-half collapses are becoming a recurring theme, punctuated by the failure to withstand a Welsh onslaught when they had control of the game in Cardiff, and the inexcusable leaking of four tries in 13 minutes against Scotland. England have done enough in stretches to show that they can compete for rugby’s greatest prize, but they have precious little time to iron out what is a fatal flaw.
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Star Man: Tom Curry
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