Issue 1499

Redbrick Issue 1499, Vol. 83

Friday 23rd November 2018

Will Brexit ever happen?

The student perspective

Reviewing Julia Holter’s stunning new album

News 7

Music 21

FREE

Alyssa Edwards returns to our screens

Can llamas cure the flu?

Television 25

Sci&Tech 34

Is Selly Safe?

News investigates the realities of life in the student borough

Redbrick

pages 4-5

The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936

Pressure Builds on UoB over Dubai Campus Safeguards Tom Leaman News Editor

The University’s new campus in the UAE photo credit: Reece Patrick Roberts

The University of Birmingham has come under fire from academic unions and an LGBT group over its decision to begin operating in Dubai, where the new campus opened in September.

Concern has been raised by these groups over the safeguards put in place by the University for students and staff working in the United Arab Emirates, a country that has been heavily criticised for failing to uphold human rights.

In advance of the release of his Dubai Report, Guild President Reece Patrick Roberts told Redbrick that he believes that a member of Guild staff should be working in the region to ensure that the University quickly delivers on implementing provisions, such as ‘LGBT safety and support for victims of sexual assault.’

Roberts outlined that, whilst he opposes the development of the UAE campus, he is committed to working with the University to ‘represent and protect the students in Dubai.’

The UoB branch of UNISON, a trade union with almost 1.4 million members, has expressed concerns regarding its lack of involvement in the making of key decisions about the Dubai campus and over its members’ safety in the region. It released a letter to the University, saying: ‘As recognised trade unions representing support and academic staff, we are disappointed that we have not been consulted on the opening of the Dubai campus, or on the policies that will apply to the members of staff who

INSIDE: An Ex-UoB Student Speaks Out on their Experience of the 1968 Occupation of Aston Webb

will be working for the University in Dubai.’

Furthermore, the University’s Rainbow Network emailed staff members to say: ‘The [Dubai] campus cannot be considered to be private due to the number of people and external visitors who will be there, so anything illegal which happens on campus’ is ‘at risk of being reported to the authorities.’

In Dubai, acts such as displays of public affection in a same-sex relationship or identifying as transgender are against the law. Gay marriage is illegal in the UAE while, according to The Independent, only married heterosexual couples are allowed to have sex or share a bed.

An Independent article titled ‘What Not to Do in Dubai as a Tourist’ reports that: ‘in 2016, a British woman was arrested for having extramarital sex after reporting to police that she had been raped by a group of men.’

In addition, just this week, Durham PhD student Matthew Hedges was sentenced to life imprisonment for ‘spying’ during a research trip to the Gulf state in a trial that lasted less than five minutes with no legal representation.

Redbrick spoke to a representative from the University of Birmingham, who said: ‘In establishing our Dubai campus, we have spent considerable time considering all aspects of working and living in Dubai and have drawn on the experience and expertise of a range of organisations - including specialist equalities bodies such as Stonewall, law firms and other universities and businesses operating in the UAE - in order to develop extensive advice and guidance for staff and students thinking about working or studying in Dubai.’

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02

Redbrick

Friday 23rd November 2018

www.redbrick.me

Letter from the committee...

In his editorial last year, then Digital Editor Alex McDonald wrote that running the website was a job he could do from his bed. I decided to take this to its logical extreme and do the job from my Erasmus year in Amsterdam.

For very obvious and sensible reasons, nobody has been on the Redbrick committee while on a year abroad before. Though whether or not doing this was a good decision or objectively bonkers is still up in the air, I am unquestionably glad that I chose to.

Being Deputy Digital Editor has led me to work with an utterly fantastic group of people who... well, do I need to finish that sentence? Surely the gorgeous newspaper you’re holding speaks for itself.

Running the website can be demanding, but it is also rewarding. Alongside Digital Editor Jonny Issacs, I read every article that is published on the website. There have been many times when I have left the next day’s scheduling until the evening and have had to reluctantly log onto the website while wanting to just go to bed, only to find myself laughing out loud at the wit of a Life&Style writer or fiercely signing a petition that a Comment piece suddenly made me incredibly passionate about.

There are very real challenges, however, that the Redbrick website is facing right now. At the start of October, we and the Guild of Students, who provide Redbrick’s legal cover, made the decision to reassess the way online-only articles are proofed.

This was at the time of year when Redbrick has its greatest influx of new members and produces the most content: the current proofing system (which we were assured in October is a temporary measure) only sees a handful of online-only articles approved each week. Though a number of highly dedicated people in the Guild and on the Redbrick committee are trying to fix this, there are over 100 articles awaiting Guild approval as I write this, and we have been unable to publish several that were, at the time of writing, timesensitive. Redbrick hopes that the hard work of our online writers and editors is soon vindicated by the implementation of a new, less problematic system.

Despite these challenges, Redbrick remains the best thing I have done at university. I am so immensely proud of this professional-standard newspaper, produced by a community of 294 writers, reporters, critics, and editors.

We have hit several milestones on the website recently, publish-

ing our 15,000th article in October (Film critic Rory Applin’s review of Jonny English Strikes Again, if you were curious), and reaching 3,000 likes on the Facebook page just last week. The print edition is planning to follow our award-winning website and hit a milestone of its own in a fortnight, with Redbrick’s 1500th issue. #CountdownTo1500 From (technically another country to) the dungeons, I salute you.

John Wimperis Deputy Digital Editor

Clarification: In last issue’s feature, ‘Life During Wartime: The Bold Women of WWI UoB’, Redbrick innacurately reported the total of UoB affiliates to lose their lives during the First World War. In reality, an estimated 176 lives were lost. The total published in our issue 1498 was a sum of lives lost during both WWI and WWII. Ed.

Online this week at redbrick.me...

Follow us on Instagram @redbrickpaper Want to be featured? Send us your photos at: deputy@redbrick.me and/or tag us in your photos by using #redbrickinstagram

NEWS

LIFE&STYLE

GAMING

CULTURE

UoB Student Goes Viral After Rolling Her Eyes at Nigel Farage

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - How Can You Help?

EGX Hands On: Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise

Review: Rock of Ages at the Alexandra Theatre

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Erin Santillo editor@redbrick.me

Deputy Editors Issy Campbell Kat Smith

News Editors Tom Leaman Megan Stanley Liam Taft Sophie Woodley

Film Editors Lucy McCann Todd Waugh Ambridge Josh Woods

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Comment Editors Natalia Carter Emily Chapman Alex Cirant-Taljaard Amelia Hiller

Television Editors Niamh Brennan Morgana Chess Jessica Green

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Print & Features Editor Thom Dent print@redbrick.me

Digital Editors Jonny Isaacs John Wimperis digital@redbrick.me

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Marketing Secretary Theodore Wrigley marketing@redbrick.me

Social Secretary Sorcha Hornett social@redbrick.me

Travel Editors Laura Botia Evangeline Hunt travel@redbrick.me

Life&Style Editors Yasmine Kennedy Sophie Kesterton Imogen Lancaster Ellie Silcock lifestyle@redbrick.me

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Culture Editors Olivia Boyce Natalie Welch culture@redbrick.me

Gaming Editors Christopher Hall James Law Imogen Mellor Sam Nason gaming@redbrick.me

Music Editors Emily Barker Letty Gardner Harry Hetherington Kieran Read

Food&Drink Editors Emily Calder Lydia Waller

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Sci&Tech Editors Francesca Benson Katie Jones Will Nunn tech@redbrick.me

Sport Editors Isabel Baldwin Jake Bradshaw Elizabeth Conway Jack Simpkin Harry Wilkinson sport@redbrick.me

Editorial Assistants Corinne Atkinson Molly Bailey George Biggs Romana Essop Roisin Evans Amelia Hiller Tiana Kelley Harriet Laban Nicky Maclean Lottricia Millett Sam Nead Olivia Platten

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The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the editor.

Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.

NEWS

Friday 23rd November 2018

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03

Students Warned of Tax Scams Megan Stanley News Editor

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have warned that university students are being targeted by scammers with fake tax refunds to steal personal details and money.

Using fake university email addresses, scammers are avoiding detection and duping students across the country.

Thousands of fraud reports have been received by the tax authority from students from universities and colleges.

This is reportedly the first tax scam which targets students in high volumes, according to HMRC. Mel Stride MP and Financial Secretary to the Treasury said in a press release that HMRC will never inform the public about tax

refunds via email, text or voice mail and encouraged students not to engage with these messages.

Instead students should forward them to HMRC phishing email address.

‘Although HMRC is cracking down hard on internet scams, criminals will stop at nothing to steal personal information. I’d encourage all students to become phishing aware - it could save you a lot of money,’ Stride said.

Director of Action Fraud, Pauline Smith added: ‘Devious fraudsters will try every trick in the book to convince victims to hand over their personal information, often with devastat-

ing consequences. It is vital that students spot the signs of fraudulent emails to avoid falling victim by following HMRC’s advice.

‘Together with HMRC, we work tirelessly to stop fraudsters in their tracks and to prevent unsuspecting members of the public from falling victim to fraud.’

Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for cybercrime and fraud.

M a s t e r s International Relations student Andreea Manduic received one of these fraud emails from an address ending in @lists. bham.ac.uk: ‘I was pretty sure that [the email] is phishing, even though I received that message on

the uni email.’

Manduic told Redbrick that she then searched for the HMRC phishing email and forwarded the email she received.

“I'd encourage all students to become phishing aware” Similarly, Charlotte Staines, a history student, received an email on the 10th October and said ‘it looked like a fraud email as it was just laid out oddly, and from a weird email address. I didn’t do anything with it I just ignored it.’

Many fraudulent emails feature the branding of GOV.UK and popular credit cards to look authentic. The students name and email address may also be repeat-

ed multiple times in the email.

These emails and texts will usually feature links that will steal valuable information.

HMRC recommend that students never give out private information, reply to text messages or download attachments and click on email links. Students should never give out their PIN, password or other bank details.

HMRC requested 7500 phishing sites be deactivated between April and September this year.

This is compared to 5200 requests during the same period of 2017.

Universities are being encouraged to raise awareness of scams to make sure their students know what to look out for.

HMRC are requesting that 16 UK universities take immediate action in raising awareness. The University of Birmingham was missing from this list.

PhD Student Jailed for Life in UAE Megan Stanley News Editor

PhD student Matthew Hedges has been convicted for life after being found guilty of spying in the United Arab Emirates.

The Durham student was visiting UAE on a research trip when he was convicted of ‘spying for or on behalf of’ the UK government.

Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, said that he was ‘disappointed’ by the verdict.

Hedges had been detained in UAE since May, after attempting to leave the country following a study trip. Hedges had been reportedly researching the effect of the Arab Spring on the UAE’s foreign policy and security strategy.

Hedges’ wife, Daniela Tejada, told the BBC: ‘Matthew is inno-

cent. The Foreign Office know this and have made it clear to the UAE authorities that Matthew is not a spy for them.’

She further said that the no one had taken the case ‘seriously’ and that the British government ‘must take a stand now.’

“The academic community is united in its profound concern about Matthew Hedges” ‘I am very scared for Matt,’ Tejada continued, ‘I don’t know where they are taking him or what will happen now. Our nightmare

has gotten even worse.’

Tejada told The Times that whilst she visited him in solitary confinement, her husband was suffering from depression and panic attacks. However, a statement released by the UAE government said that a welfare review has shown that Hedges had access to ‘constant medical attention and psychological care.’

On the evening of the 19th November, Birmingham University College Union (UCU) held a candlelight vigil on UoB’s campus, to support Hedges.

According to the Facebook event created, the vigil intended to ‘put pressure on the UAE authorities to release Matthew and to draw attention to risks students and staff face studying and working in the UAE, including the University of Birmingham’s controversial new Dubai campus.’

UCU representative James Moran read a statement from the Hedges family while members of UCU stood behind with signs.

‘The academic community is united in its profound concern about Matthew Hedges after almost six months of detention in the UAE,’ Moran read. ‘The move to charge Matt with espionage coming after more than 5 months of detention and conditions that fall short of any executive international standards is entirely without justification.

‘The allegations of espionage are baseless and are a found threat to the pursuit of legitimate academic enquiry, not just by Matt but by all academics working on or in the UAE.’ Hedges originally appeared in court on 24th October, and the hearing was rescheduled to the 21st November while an Abu

Dhabi court re-examined the evidence. Since the vigil, Hedges has been found guilty of the charges.

A representative from the University of Birmingham spoke to Redbrick on Matthew’s vigil, saying: ‘We understand the high level of concern around the recent case of a Durham University PhD student. However, it is important to note that every university has its own policies that govern the way staff and students live, travel, study and undertake research internationally.

‘As such individual universities would expect to manage any issues relating to their own staff or students in accordance with their policies and with informed assistance from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and from their own insurers; interference by other institutions would then potentially be unhelpful.’

Almost Half of Students Admit to Feelings of Loneliness Sophie Woodley News Editor

Recent studies from a new university survey show that 46% of UK students at university admit to feelings of loneliness.

Fresh Student Living published the studies in light of ‘Self Care Awareness Week’, which took place last week from Monday 12th November.

Studies show that globally, 32% of students feel lonely during their time at university.

Fresh Student Living manage student accommodation buildings across the UK and provide homes to over 16,000 students. They have investigated the top reasons why students may experience loneliness.

It was found that being away

from friends and family, feeling difficulties. isolated from groups or events, Redbrick spoke to a final year and having high expectations of Theology student who said, ‘First university life are amongst year was both the most the list of reasons causlonely and sociable year ing loneliness. of university. One day According to I could be surroundSodexo’s 2017 ed by everybody I global report, had just met, on 37% of students my course and in are likely to conmy accommodasider dropping tion, and then the of UK students out of University, next I could spend and 42% have the majority of the admit to considered dropday alone. I was ping out due to meeting new people loneliness physical or mental everyday, but even so, health issues.

I felt the most lonely I 2017 statistics from have felt at university’. the Higher Education Fresh Student Living have Statistics Agency (HESA) also also suggested ways to combat show that 1,180 students left their loneliness at university, which degree course in the 2014-15 aca- include joining a society, getting a demic year due to mental health part-time job, and talking to some-

46%

one about your feelings of loneliness.

Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, works with students, academics and professionals to find ways to improve students’ mental health.

Student Minds aims to ‘empower students and members of the university community to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to look after their own mental health, support others, and create change.’

Their studies show that approximately 50% of young people enter Higher Education, and 75% of those face mental health difficulties by their mid-20s.

Fresh Student Living have labelled Student Minds as an organisation to get in touch with if students are facing difficulties with loneliness at university.

Wokandapix Other organisations such as Samaritans, who provide 24/7 support for those experiencing feelings of distress, despair or depression, have also been recommended

by Free Student Living.

More information on how to combat feelings of loneliness and difficulties with mental health at university can be found on Fresh Student Living’s website: https:// freshstudentliving.co.uk/

04

NEWS

Friday 23rd November 2018

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Redbrick News Investigates: Student Safety in Selly Oak

Amidst the controversy of Selly Oak's safety, News Editor Tom Leaman investigates if students have as much of a cause for concern as they might be led to believe Tom Leaman News Editor @tomleaman_

A Redbrick survey, alongside statistics from Police UK, student interviews, and monitoring of the ‘Fab N Fresh’ Facebook page, found that a misconception exists amongst students regarding a lack of safety in Selly Oak. The area’s crime rates are not abnormally high for a student area with a high population density or even for a district in Birmingham. However, there are still suggestions amongst students that the University and the Police could be doing more to prevent crimes from taking place in Selly Oak. Speaking to Redbrick, the Guild of Students’ Welfare and Community Officer, Izzy Bygrave, said that ‘relative to the rest of Birmingham, [Selly Oak] is not the most unsafe area.’ The University issued a statement on October 7th which said: ‘While generally Selly Oak is a safe area and incidents of this nature are rare, students are encouraged to be vigilant and look after one another.’ In response, Bygrave said: ‘I don’t think it’s right for the University to think this message is enough for the students who live there. Students don’t always feel safe in Selly Oak and it’s unfair for the University to be simply telling students we shouldn’t feel this way.’

The University’s claim that Selly Oak is ‘generally’ a safe area has been supported by recent actions by the University, alongside other organisations. There are ever-growing connections between the University and the Guild with West Midlands Police, which has led to new initiatives such as Street Watch and the Blueline scheme which help make a difference both on campus and in the streets of Selly Oak. Whilst the University has softened the idea of Selly Oak being an unsafe area, a significant amount of students still feel unsafe. A survey published by Redbrick Comment in Redbrick’s issue on Friday 26th October,

gained 71 responses. It said that only 11.3% of UoB students consider themselves safe in Selly Oak, with 83.7% declaring themselves unsafe. The remaining 5% considered themselves neither safe nor unsafe.

“The area's crime rates are not abnormally high for a student area” Redbrick has found that the primary issue regarding why students feel unsafe in Selly Oak is the lack of publicity of what is being done to protect students in comparison to the publicity surrounding the crimes themselves on pages such as ‘Fab N Fresh’, leading to a disparity between how safe students are and how safe they feel. This raises the question of how the Guild and the University will continue to act in raising awareness of their work to improve safety in the area, thereby making students feel more safe in their own homes.

This feeling of a lack of safety becomes apparent on social media and through media reporting on the crimes that occur in the area.

These reports can then be shared between mass audiences, which inflates the idea that Selly Oak is perhaps a more unsafe place to live than statistics would suggest.

A survey published by Redbrick in June - which was met with 248 responses - found that 42.9% of respondants considered themselves unsafe residing in Selly Oak. What’s more, 75% of respondants believed that the Guild and the University are not doing enough to ensure that students feel safe in Selly Oak. There is evidence to suggest that the student conception regarding safety in Selly Oak is unfounded. A report by Birmingham Live, published in September, listed all of the ‘areas of Birmingham and the surrounding regions’ using

Police UK statistics from June.

The statistics showed that in September, Selly Oak had 195 reported crimes, which was the 14th least out of the 51 areas listed. Significantly, the city centre had 1,030 reported crimes in the same timeframe, while Edgbaston and Bournville both had higher crime rates with 289 and 221 respectively.

Moreover, there are examples of positive measures being put in place in Selly Oak by the University, the Guild of Students and West Midlands Police. This includes the ‘Selly Express’ bus service, which launched on Monday 15th October; the continued work of Community Wardens, and a safety day event on campus, which occurred on the 5th of October. The plans for the Selly Express bus service were accepted 74% of students believe that the University of Birmingham and the last year with the intention of it Guild of Students are not doing enough to promote student safety in being implemented by the end of Selly Oak October.

The University’s Academic Registrar, Stephen McAuliffe, to your door will stop people from the Street Watch site says that outlined the funding for the Selly being discouraged from staying ‘Street Watch is not about policExpress to Redbrick, saying: ‘The late on campus.’ ing or about replacing police budget for the bus is there for a Like McAuliffe, Bygrave said officers,’ but instead it ‘empowers year. We’d want to see that it was that she hopes the bus is justified communities to promote and set used and that students felt that it as a measure by its usage to their own standards and for resiwas making a difference ensure it can become an dents to reclaim their open spaces for them and making enduring part of stu- and to provide visible reassurance them feel safer. An dents’ lives at the to others.’ empty vehicle going University: ‘If the Additionally, the University is backwards and fordemand is providing funding for five fullwards would be a enough we will time officers as part of the Blueline waste of money.’ be looking into scheme to operate in Selly Oak. He also praised getting the bus Five students were selected by the of students the Guild running as a University and trained by West President, Reece permanent serv- Midlands Police to work for a consider Selly Patrick Roberts, ice to help stu- year in Selly Oak, on campus and Oak saying he ‘worked dents stay safe.’ in surrounding areas. Unlike some unsafe very hard and tried After the serv- other universities running the to bring it earlier, ice’s first month, same scheme, the University is which is one of the things the Community paying a salary to the five officers that was important in his Wardens announced on to ensure they do not have to work campaign.’

Twitter that ‘we have officially part-time alongside working as a When asked about the Selly taken over 1,000 passengers home police officer.

Express, Izzy Bygrave told safely at night in our first month!!

Redbrick: ‘I really hope that it is Thanks for riding the Selly already making a difference and Express!’ will continue to do so – especially The Selly Express is one as we get closer to winter. We’ve measure that is being taken to try all experienced having to walk to make students feel safer when through Selly on your own in the leaving campus late at night. dark and we know that it can be However, another result from the quite a scary experience. Hopefully Redbrick survey revealed that having the option of a bus straight 52% of students labelled police presence as ‘insufficient’ in the area. 19.8% said it is ‘very insufficient.’ One new policy that the University has implemented in partnership with West Midlands Speaking to Redbrick News Police is Street Watch. The West shortly after a major incident on Midlands Police website describes the 7th October, involving a stabStreet Watch as ‘a community-led bing on Heeley Road, Director of initiative based on street patrols Student Affairs Jon Elsmore said carried out by members of the of the Blueline Scheme: ‘The public with no police powers.’

University provided funding for Street Watch volunteers are that, and West Midlands Police managed by a volunteer coordina- provided the initiative and a traintor who consults with local police ing programme. The extra capacto patrol areas. If the volunteers ity that that represents is signifispot suspicious activity, they can- cant.’ not directly prevent or stop a More is being done to try to crime themselves if they see one improve police presence in Selly taking place. The West Midlands Oak and around campus, although Police website says: ‘If volunteers the University’s campus PC, spot suspicious activity they Charlie Richards, told Redbrick should report it to the police but that some crimes that are disnot get involved.’ Furthermore, cussed on social media are not

42.9%

“It’s unfair for the University to be simply telling students that we should't feel this way”

NEWS

Friday 23rd November 2018

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Does Fab N Fresh make you feel more or less safe in Selly Oak?

reported to the police, which and then not being reported to the makes it impossible for them to Police, Richards said: ‘I love the act accordingly. idea of Fab N Fresh, and I love This is the potential downfall the fact that people are talking and of the Facebook group ‘Fab N trying to empower each other and Fresh,’ which is used in great spread the word about things.’ regularity by students to warn Having monitored the page for other students of potential threats. this investigation, Redbrick found Speaking to Redbrick, Richards that crime-related posts were few said that, in some cases, there are and far between. On October 20th, incidents where ‘no one’s both- of the first 215 posts on the page, ered to tell us, which makes it only one was reporting a crime, really difficult for us to put while there was one meme poking resources into an area where we fun at crime rate in the area. This don’t know where there’s an issue equates to only 0.93% of posts in the first place.’ discussing crime, though this was Redbrick’s survey found that on a night where the majority of only 32% of students feel safe posts were trying to sell event because of social media platforms tickets. such as ‘Fab N Fresh,’ in comFurthermore, of the top 150 parison to 44% who claimed it posts on the page on the night of made them feel less safe, with the Sunday 21st October, there were remaining 24% feeling indifferent two posts directly reporting on the matter. crimes, while another two were When asked if the ‘Fab N related in some way to Selly Oak’s Fresh’ page is a force for good crime rate. This means crime-rewhen it comes to crime reporting, lated posts made up only 2.66% Bygrave replied: ‘I think it’s good of these 150 posts. and bad. It’s great that we can This does suggest that, on an share experiences so quickly with average weekend, the number of other students and it can help to crimes reported amongst students warn students if someone else has is low. In the two days following been burgled on your road – the Sunday 7th October attack, reminding you to check your door there were over 60 posts to the and make sure your house is page regarding crime, demonstratsecure before going to bed.’ ing that one major event can sig‘However, it can tend to over- nificantly increase crime fervour. exaggerate the actual amount of The stabbing on Sunday 7th was crime, as multiple people often described by PC Richards as ‘rare’ post about the same incident. and ‘opportunistic,’ though it led Also, people often end up just to an increase in the amount posting about a crime into of attention crimes Fab N Fresh and not actureceived in posts ally reporting it to the on the page in Police meaning they following cannot respond and weeks. incidents don’t get However, investigated.’

R e d b r i c k ’s When discussing monitoring of students have ‘Fab N’ Fresh’, of the page Charlie Richards shows that not been affected brought up the online the relatively by crime reporting function on few posts the West Midlands regarding crime Police website which can are pushed to the be used for minor crimes, top of the page due much like the 101 phone to their high reactions number. She said: ‘101 is for and comments figures. This algolower-level incidents, where life rithm also means that crime-relatisn’t in danger but I need to report ed posts are more likely to show a crime, though online reporting in students’ Facebook News might be quicker and more Feeds, or even send out notificadetailed in some circumstances, tions. This can make it it seem and it’s probably more convenient like there are always very regular in some respects.’ problems with crime experienced Besides the problem of crimes by UoB students. When viewing being described on ‘Fab N Fresh’ the page, altering the settings to

70%

show ‘new posts’ rather than ‘recent activity’ helps to demonstrate this.

The page certainly does bring up some troubling account of crime in Selly Oak. One post on 18th July to the forum warned of ‘terrible instances of sexual assault/harassment’ on campus and accused the University’s security of being ‘non-existent.’

However, the post’s writer seemed to only have alerted campus security to the issue, when commenters suggested that calling the police non-emergency 101 line would have been best to ensure a response.

Another ‘Fab N Fresh’ post from June claimed that the victims of car vandalism did not call for police, saying ‘ain’t no time for police.’ Such stories quickly gain momentum through reactions and comments, greatly increasing the post’s reach, potentially allowing isolated incidents to become disproportionate.

However, one post did present a potential improvement to the University and the Guild’s system for helping to prevent crime, by suggesting that the accommodation office could pass out panic alarms instead of energy drinks in their welcome packs to freshers.

The University does suggest attending one of their bi-weekly drop-in sessions at the police room in University Centre, where panic alarms are available for free.

“Some crimes that are discussed on social media are not reported to the police” The idea of scaremongering does not end with social media, as local news outlets also report crime figures for Selly Oak out of context with that of other areas. A Birmingham Live article published in May reported 365 sexual assaults between January and December 2018 - ‘one for each day of the year.’

While these statistics are shocking, in a wider context this figure seems relatively low.

According to Police UK, the primary student area in Cardiff, Cathays, had 1,836 offences of a violent and/or sexual nature between June 2017 and May 2018.

In the same period, Selly Oak had 394, despite having a population of almost 5,000 more people.

Cardiff University’s most popular student area has considerably more crimes of all types listed on the police website, suggesting that Selly Oak is, in fact, a relatively safe area when compared to others. Campus PC Charlie Richards suggested that other Birminghambased students choose to live in Selly Oak, showing that perhaps even other parts of Birmingham are less safe student areas.

Additionally, research by the Complete University Guide shows that Edgbaston is far from the most unsafe University area. The data, compiled from Police UK, shows that Edgbaston has 34.3 incidents per 1,000 residents.

This makes Edgbaston the 32nd safest university campus of the 127 listed, putting the University of Birmingham above Birmingham City University and Aston. However, it must be acknowledged that Edgbaston and Selly Oak are distinctly different

05

bordering regions. any safety concerns that she had Redbrick’s own survey found about Selly Oak, Megan told that over 70% of students in Selly Redbrick: ‘my main worry regardOak have not been directly affect- ing safety I think would have to ed by a crime of any nature, be theft.’ despite the perception that people Regarding the role of the feel unsafe living there.

University and the Guild of While 30% is still a Students have in making significant figure, students feel safer in many of these Selly Oak, she says crimes would that: ‘I think the likely have been uni do as much as more minor they can do.’ crimes, as vioInstitutions lent and sexual such as the of students think offences made University have a the Guild and UoB up 18.16% of lack of control are not doing crimes commitover the safety of ted in Selly Oak. students in Selly enough In the same period, Oak. The Academic 15.26% of crimes Registrar, Stephen reported to the police McAuliffe, told Redbrick were for burglary. that the University ‘want to This implies that it is a percep- work with’ landlords more through tion of danger, rather than the schemes much as the Midlands immediate threat of danger, that is Landlord Accreditation Scheme the major issue that is making (MLAS), but pointed out that the students uncomfortable while liv- University cannot fit home safety ing and studying at the features to students’ houses in University.

Selly Oak, adding, ‘I suspect it’s While such statistics cannot illegal!’ downplay the seriousness of According to the ‘Love Selly crimes committed in Selly Oak Oak’ website, students can and the effects on the victims, improve their safety by ensuring they do show that the district is houses are securely locked, walknot abnormally dangerous. ing home in groups rather than Despite this, students interviewed alone with valuables hidden, and

by Redbrick did suggest that the drinking responsibly.

Guild could do more to promote Overall, statistics from Police the idea that Selly Oak is, in fact, UK and other sources suggest that safer than students suggest.

Selly Oak is indeed a ‘relatively One second-year student, Liv, safe’ student area. However, there states that she has been catcalled is a disparity between this and in the area and told Redbrick that how safe students feel when livshe believes that ‘there never ing there. seems to be any discussion about Rare major incidents suggest safety. It’s all under the surface as that more needs to be done to far as I’m aware.’ She also sug- keep students safe. Though, gested that such safety discus- regarding the stabbing incident in sions are ‘swept under the rug.’

October, PC Richards told Liv does, however, point out Redbrick, ‘you will never stop an that the ‘drunken hedonism’ of the incident like that, which was a student area makes it particularly random act of opportunistic viodifficult for the University and the lence.’ She also emphasised that Guild to act to improve student the arrests and charges were made safety in the area. within 48 hours of the attack takOne Harborne-based History ing place. student, Megan Millen, suggested While more could be done to that students can always do more address the feeling of being unsafe to ensure their own safety. in Selly Oak, the usual precauRegarding her housemates’ deci- tions should be taken by students sion to move to Harborne rather to make sure they are safe. This than Selly Oak, Millen says that includes avoiding being alone at ‘the unsafe reputation of Selly did night, not getting into unmarked have a role’ in choosing where to taxis, and carrying a personal live. This is amongst other factors attack alarm. such as house price and quality.

Selly Oak is a densely-popuPolice UK’s website shows lated student area and should be that Harborne had 290 burglaries lived in with safety as a clear prifrom June 2017 to May 2018 ority for both students themselves compared to Selly Oak’s 378. and the relevant institutions and When queried further about authorities.

75%

Megan Stanley

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NEWS

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricknews

University Hosts Discussion With IFS on Local Funding News Writer Florence Jones and News Editor Megan Stanley attended UoB's event discussing devolution and how it will affect local funding Florence Jones News Writer

Megan Stanley News Editor

The University of Birmingham (UoB), is in partnership with the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), and hosted an event discussing funding for local services on November 7th.

The UoB event was chaired by Professor Simon Collinson, Deputy and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Regional Economic Engagement for the University.

He introduced the event saying how pleased he was that UoB was able to host such an important event, given the political shift towards more local government.

‘The devolution agenda in the UK is happening as we speak and in a sense there’s massive questions around whether government will devolve any power or any funding to the UK regions,’ Collinson told the audience, adding that the UK has one of the most centralised systems compared to other countries within The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

David Phillips, Associate Director at the IFS, discussed the general opinion of the British public which looks for local control as well as consistency in services such as health services and education.

‘While people like the idea of more local control and power, they also quite like the idea of there being the same provision broadly of services around the country. That is, they quite like

the idea of consistency and they don’t like postcode lotteries,’ Phillips said.

Localisation of funding gives a voice to local voters but can lead to a ‘postcode lottery’, meaning that people living in different areas of the country may have access to better services than others.

The West Midlands, under control by Mayor Andy Street, is a combined authority formed partly of devolution and encouragement from central government for councils to band together.

Street has powers over transport, economic development, housing delivery, adult skills and longterm unemployment. This was done to help local areas improve their areas to improve their economy; for instance, improving transport so people can access jobs more easily.

Despite this seeming like more power is being given to local authorities, Phillips said that there has been a trend of centralisation in areas such as school and social care. Funding for these two areas comes from central government and must be spent on that area.

Councils can still decide how much goes towards each school.

However, plans are in discussion for councils to issue the same amount of funding to each school regardless of pupil numbers and needs.

‘The government seems to think [that the] councils’ [...] strength lies in knowing what’s going to help the local economy, and actually on the other hand there should be more national standards when it comes to big public services,’ Philips said.

Jonathan Tew, Assistant Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, identified himself as a fan of localised spending. He underlined the fact that we need 'genuine local involvement' in politics for devolution to be successful, adding 'I think we’ve lost a local audience in local government'.

“There should be more national standards when it comes to big public services” The councilman also discussed youth engagement and the need for young people to get involved with local politics, especially students. ‘I think we’ve lost a younger audience in local politics,’ he said.

Professor John Fender, of the University of Birmingham, shared a very different point of view. To some extent he agreed with localisation of government, stating that: ‘I am sympathetic to the idea that if people in a locality wish to increase their spending on a local service and are willing to pay for it themselves by extra local taxation they should be able to do so.'

However, he suggested that this should be for smaller scale issues such as rubbish collection.

If local people wish to have their bins collected more regularly and are willing to pay for the service, it is a local level decision that they should have the power to make.

However, Fender maintained that larger scale decisions should be reserved for a centralised government. He is concerned by what he terms ‘local political imperfections.’ Fender introduced the idea of reform to the local political system in the hope of making it a more democratic system.

He also highlighted the importance of local people paying their taxes. ‘If most people don’t pay the tax [...] then there’s a risk that those who don’t pay the tax will always vote for more public services since they don’t pay for it and we get an excessive level of local spending.' This would cause problems for local government resulting in debt and an inability to pay for necessary services.

The final panelist to speak was Emma Woolf, someone whose work is inextricably linked to local government and reliant on the funding provided by Birmingham City Council. Woolf is in favour of localising government as ‘what works for one service won’t work for another service’. She described herself as being at ‘the sharp end’ of local government spending.

“What works for one service won't work for another service” She felt unenthused about the current state of government and how little spending local initiatives have.

The event was closed with

remarks from David Phillips who, whilst unsure about the direction that local government will progress in, called for ‘stronger local media’ and ‘stronger local public debate.'

This event was part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.

In its 16th year, the festival provides opportunity for social scientists to debate and discuss their research,and for members of the public to engage with their research. The festival is run by the Economic and Social Research Council and features over 300 free events across the country.

Do you have any opinons on this article? Contact us on Twitter @redbricknews

New Proposal to Increase Tuition Fees of Science Degrees Emily Darby News Writer

Theresa May has launched an investigation into higher education fees, to ensure students are getting ‘value for money’.

Headed by Financial Services expert Philip Augar, a review of post-18 education could lower fees for Arts-based degrees to £6,500. However, degrees in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Medicine could increase to £13,500.

Any definitive key changes will not be announced until next year.

Recent reports have suggested that the review is on course to alter tuition fees according to degree-type, proposing an elevated cost for degrees with higherearning prospects, particularly maths and science-oriented

degrees.

The revised system would charge more for degrees in fields that generally lead to more wellpaid careers, as opposed to humanities and arts degrees, which are generally less wellpaid.

This comes after the Institute of Fiscal Studies found that medicine and dentistry graduates earned the most after their study, earning £46,700 five years after graduation while creative arts degree-holders earned the lowest at £20,100.

In response to these proposals, final year Computer Science student Thomas Williams said: ‘Sounds like it’ll just discourage people going into STEM subjects and just screw up their career prospects long-term.’

Another final year English student Jaggeryadded: ‘It cuts off poorer children from higher earning

careers and will inadvertently perpetuate class gaps.’

A final year Human Biology student told Redbrick: ‘Truthfully, I wouldn’t have done biology if there was a price gap like that.’

Universities Minister Sam Gyimah also announced plans to introduce two-year degrees that would cost 20% less than current three-year undergraduate courses, with a proposed pricing of £11,000 a year.

The plans will make university more cost-effective for students who are less well-off. The shorter courses aim to appeal to commuter students and mature students.

The current post-18 education review is one widely criticised by academic teaching staff who fear that adjusting fees according to courses would create division within universities that would lower the value of arts and

humanities degrees as well as reduce their funding.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds defended the reasoning behind the proposals: ‘With a system where almost all institutions are charging the same price for courses – when Paseidon

some clearly cost more than others and some have higher returns to the student than others – it is right that we ask questions about choice and value for money.' A decision is expected to be made in the next few months regarding the tuition fee change.

NEWS

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricknews

07

News Analysis: Brexit Leaves May's Cabinet in Turmoil Sophie Woodley News Editor

On Wednesday 14th November, Prime Minister Theresa May proposed her draft withdrawal deal with the EU before her cabinet.

Brexit negotiations have taken a front seat in the media in recent months, which has had everyone talking.

The 585 page draft, which outlines how the UK will withdraw from the EU in March 2019, has caused turmoil in May’s government.

Since Wednesday 14th, more than 20 Tory MPs have made themselves known in calling May to leave office. The number of public protests from Tory MPs who have rejected May’s drafted EU withdrawal goes to show how double-edged the Brexit controversy is; with some of May’s MPs backing her moves, and others utterly rejecting it, the divided cabinet is clear.

Key members of May’s cabi-

net have also resigned. On the day Rudd made a comeback to the when May introduced the with- cabinet, after resigning earlier this drawal draft, Brexit Secretary year in April. Rudd has taken Dominic Raab resigned. Along McVey’s role, differing from her with Raab, Secretary of State for recent duty as Home Secretary.

Work and Pensions, Esther Brexit is anticipated to McVey, also resigned. have detrimental effects One MP who has on a number of areas. claimed full support This includes the for May’s new draft UK’s economy, deal is our access to Environmental European counSecretary Michael tries, trade, Gove. housing prices of women aged Recent develand the NHS. opments throughHowever, 18-24 voted out this week have Brexit will also included ministers have significant Remain convening in consequences for Brussels on Monday UK students. In 19th to discuss their politRedbrick’s latest edition, ical declaration regarding their it was shown that Brexit may future with the UK. Theresa May affect academic research, includand the Labour Party’s leader, ing that at the University of Jeremy Corbyn, also attended a Birmingham. business CBI conference on There will also be repercusMonday. May proposed her plans sions for students who plan to to business leaders, resulting in study abroad. With tighter control CBI president John Allan calling on UK borders, Brexit will create for MPs to back her draft deal. difficulties for those wanting to On 16th November, Amber study in EU countries. It has been

80%

thought that students who want to study abroad may have to apply for a student visa. Students who are currently in their second year at university are the last to be given an Erasmus grant.

Redbrick spoke to students who are considering an Erasmus scheme, who said, ‘Brexit will really hinder people trying to travel in Europe, make it more expensive, and a much longer process.'

Redbrick asked if the Erasmus grant changes their opinions on studying in the EU. One student said, ‘It’s not that I wouldn’t be doing it, but I would definitely be looking at the International scheme more, and by not having the Erasmus grant I don’t know if I’d be able to do the year abroad at all, because of money issues.'

Another way Brexit can be viewed from a student perspective is the voting disparity between younger and older generations.

The distribution of EU Referendum votes by age and gender shows that it was the older generations voting in favour of Brexit.

Statistics show that 61% of males aged 18-24 voted Remain, whereas 38% of males aged 65+ voted Leave. Similarly, 80% of women aged 18-24 voted Remain, in contrast to women over 65, of whom only 34% voted Remain.

Not only this, but current 18-19 year olds were not old enough to vote on the referendum.

This particularly affects students wanting to study abroad, as they are living with the consequences of something they perhaps would not have voted for.

Redbrick spoke to a final year student who said, ‘I don’t feel the younger generation are being represented as much as the older generations.’

The deal is due to be signed off by the EU this Sunday, on 25th November. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has described this subsequent week to May’s draft as ‘crucial’, in terms of the ‘preparations’ that have taken place for the summit on Sunday.

Time will truly tell if May can save her country and government.

Birmingham Cathedral to Feed 300 Homeless People At Christmas Christina Manns News Writer

Building upon the success of last year’s charity initiatives, Birmingham’s St Philip’s Cathedral will be serving 300 Christmas dinners to homeless people with the charity ‘Let’s Feed Brum’.

The event is set to take place at 2:30pm on Saturday 22nd of December, which will be the final day of the Christmas market at Cathedral Square. The cathedral’s

website states that 300 homeless people will be able to ‘enjoy an afternoon of food, soft drinks, music and gifts’.

‘Christmas at the Cathedral’, including a John M market and grotto in Cathedral Square, is running between Thursday 15th November and Saturday

22nd of December.

In addition to the market stalls and events available, ‘Christmas at the Cathedral’ is also hosting charity events to help those in need.

As well as the annual ‘Let’s Feed Brum’ Christmas dinner,

Birmingham Cathedral is also continuing its 2017 #WrapUpBrum campaign throughout the period.

Visitors to the Christmas market can donate coats, which will then be placed on a rail outside the cathedral for those in need to collect.

3,000 coats and jackets were donated during the 2017 appeal, and the cathedral hopes to be as successful in 2018.

According to The Guardian, the number of homeless people in England has increased by 15%

between 2016 and 2017, and has been on the rise for seven consecutive years.

An estimated 4,751 homeless people slept outside overnight in 2017, also according to The Guardian.

The charity ‘Let’s Feed Brum’ states that the homeless community in Birmingham is ‘the second largest in the UK, with 1,152 registered cases’ – and many more undocumented cases are believed to exist.

Editor's Pick

News Editor Liam Taft writes on Scotland's decision to implement compulsory LGBT education Scotland will become the first country in the world to make LGBT education a compulsory component of state school curriculum, which campaigners have described as a ‘historic moment’.

The Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign put forwards 33 recommendations to the government regarding inclusive education – which the Scottish government accepted in full.

As part of the new scheme, all state schools will be required to teach students about significant moments in LGBTQ+ history.

They will also have to address issues such as homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and inclusive terminology. There will be no

exemptions to the policy, making this piece of legislation a world first.

“There will be no exemptions to the policy” Scotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney said: ‘I am delighted to announce we will be the first country in the world to have LGBTQ+ inclusive education embedded within the curriculum.’

Jordan Daly, Co-founder of

TIE, said that this marks a historic moment in which the ‘destructive legacy’ of Section 28 has finally come to an end. Section 28 was introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980s and made the promotion of homosexuality illegal, meaning that schools could not teach students about LGBTQ+ issues.

Last December the UK government launched a public consultation regarding relationships and sex education, although no clear LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum has yet to be implemented.

As it stands, in England only some schools have to teach students about LGBTQ+ issues, because legislation regarding this

has remained unchanged since 2000.

As a gay man, I welcome Scotland’s decision to make LGBTQ+ education compulsory.

At my school there were no PHSE lessons dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues, which meant that I had to PxHere

go online to find information.

These sources were often uninformed and inaccurate.

Introducing LGBTQ+ topics in the school curriculum will give young LGBTQ+ people the tools and knowledge to make safe and informed decisions about their lives.

As Stonewall points out, LGBTQ+ inclusive education also is more likely to make students feel welcomed, included, and accepted.

Scotland’s decision to implement TIE’s recommendations is a positive step forwards and I hope that England and other countries across the world quickly follow suit.

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COMMENT

Friday 23rd November 2018

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The Issues Which Stem From the Art of Tuition Fees Hannah Lay discusses Theresa May's review of tuition fees, and whether they would actually provide better value for students in England Hannah Lay Comment Writer

In February of this year, Theresa May launched a review of tuition fees and university funding, calling for better value for students in England. Over the past week, an article surfaced on the BBC discussing a recent proposal within this review. The proposal suggests reducing fees to £6,500 for an arts or humanities course at university, and increasing fees to £13,000 for medicine, maths, engineering and some science courses. The idea behind the proposal is that those studying the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects or Medicine are likely to earn more in the future than those studying arts and humanities.

I am a second year Political Science student and I have nine contact hours per week for my subject. According to the website Save the Student, each hour costs me £34.26. In contrast, for second year Chemistry students (who according to the university website have an average of fifteen contact hours per week), each contact hour costs £20.56.

Considering that a Chemistry course requires more lectures and the use of high-tech equipment, surely logic dictates that their contact hours would cost more.

“Although I value lectures, seminars and access to academic resources I do not see how they can be worth £13.70 more” Although I value lectures, seminars and access to academic resources I do not see how they can be worth £13.70 more. I do not understand how the cost of nine hours’ worth of time and access to some literature can equate to more money than the cost of running labs and receiving more contact hours. I do not think the current system is fair.

Maybe arts and humanities stu-

dents should pay slightly less than STEM students given the amount of contact and the use of resources however, it is not fair to charge STEM students double that of some other students for numerous reasons.

Firstly, this will ultimately have an impact on those choosing to study STEM subjects at university. If studying a STEM subject is going to cost someone double the amount of an arts or humanities subject, many may decide that they cannot justify the larger amount and opt to study a subject purely because it will cost less rather than because of a genuine interest.

Some may make the argument that given the tuition fee loan system that is in place, the cost of a course should have relatively little impact on the student as they do not need to pay anything upfront. However, I would argue the cost of a course is a significant factor when deciding to come to university; it was definitely something I discussed with friends when applying at sixth form.

Given the loan system, the cost of a course may be more of a psychological barrier than a

financial one as most people are eligible for the tuition fee loan, but the type of barrier is irrelevant. I think that if STEM and Medicine subjects were to increase to £13,000 this would put a lot of people off and make the current system even more unfair.

“I also question the argument that those studying STEM subjects should pay more because they will earn more” I also question the argument that those studying STEM subjects should pay more because they will earn more. For a lot of people a degree is the chance to study something they are interested in and equip them with a qualification that allows them to progress into graduate level schemes. Just because someone is studying Biology does not

mean they automatically want to work within this field when they graduate; they may choose to work in a completely different, perhaps lower-paid sector.

Unless your degree is vocational, like Medicine, there is no set career route or guarantee that you will work in the sectors which statistically pay more. In light of this, a Maths student may end up paying £13,000 a year for their tuition fees and then end up in a graduate role alongside an English graduate who is earning the same amount, despite paying far less for their education.

As well as this, the BBC recently highlighted that this proposal could create a two-tier system. The arts and humanities course would be granted a lower status and be starved of funding compared to the STEM courses.

The proposal would imply that some degrees are worth more than others which is not an accurate representation at all. All degrees, regardless of their specialism, serve to equip students with transferable skills to carry into their future careers, therefore all degrees are equally valuable.

Laissez-Faire Language Learners As a whole, the British population are lazy and consistently exhibit a laissez-faire attitude towards learning languages, argues Alice Macfarlane Alice Macfarlane Comment Writer

Us Brits love a bit of foreign culture. We love to travel to hot countries, stay in exotic all-inclusive hotels and spend all day on the beach. We love eating their food and exploring European cities, and most importantly, we love spending all of our retirement money on a swanky new villa in Spain. But there remains to be one huge aspect of foreign culture that British people aren’t all that crazy about: languages.

If I told you that 62% of British people are unable to communicate in any other languages apart from English, you

might initially be quite shocked.

But take a moment to think back to all the times you have been on holiday, staring blankly - for an awkwardly long amount of time - at someone speaking their own language, until they finally say those magic words: ‘Oh, you’re English.’ Suddenly that statistic doesn’t seem quite so surprising.

The fact is that British people, for the most part, are uninspired, uninterested, and quite frankly lazy when it comes to learning languages. But this lack of interest isn’t exclusive to students, it is an attitude that has been ingrained into every aspect of our society, particularly state school education.

I have been aware from a

young age that languages were near the bottom of the pile when it came to education, when just myself and two others attended the weekly French class ran by my primary school. Moving forward to secondary school, and I’m quite certain that anybody reading this who took a foreign language for GCSE, knows that the grade on your little piece of paper doesn’t quite reflect your actual competence of the language. Nevertheless, at least you came out of it with the invaluable skill of being able to tell someone how you earned your pocket money last weekend.

A-levels told a similar story with my French class being comprised of a total of just three students. Fast forward another two years and my younger brother was unintentionally treated to one-to-one French tutoring, after becoming the only person in his entire year group to choose a language at A-level. This may be an account of my personal experience with language learning, but the narrative I just described is far from unusual.

So why are languages so neglected here in the UK? I suppose it comes down to a ques-

tion of necessity. In a fortunate turn of events, the language that developed on our tiny little island has somehow managed to become the lingua franca of the world. One of the most global languages, English is spoken in just over one hundred different countries, dominating the internet, publishing, and film industries. British people have an advantage like no other when it comes to having English as their native tongue and this has simply squandered interest in learning foreign languages. State schools and universities face continual budget cuts and languages are almost always the first to be hit.

Moreover, with more importance being placed on subjects such as maths and sciences, the number of students choosing to study languages has faced an ongoing, steep decline since the 1990s, with languages such as German decreasing by a worrying 45% since 2010.

These statistics paint a rather bleak picture for the future of modern languages in Britain.

Since embarking on my year abroad, I have met Erasmus students from all over Europe, and

it didn’t take me long to realise the vast differences in both the value and teaching of languages between us and our European cousins. Committed to learning multiple languages from a young age, I couldn’t help but feel a bit ashamed of my comparatively slow progress in French. I myself am far from multilingual, and I only speak two languages, yet being able to speak just one other language besides English still puts me very much in the minority.

Of course, if it were simply a question of necessity, then it may be easy to adopt this laissez-faire attitude, but the importance of learning foreign languages cannot be overstated.

Not only does it improve your cognitive skills, academic performance and employability.

But, the ability to communicate with people around the world and immerse yourself in other cultures is incredibly rewarding, improving your confidence and your connections with others. In the words of Frank Smith, ‘one language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.’

COMMENT

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickcomment

09

Hate Crimes Are Not Punchlines Following the recent controversy surrounding transphobic jokes on Fab N Fresh, Velvet Jones argues that we must no longer be bystanders when hate crimes are reduced to punchlines

People are often unaware of the fight that minorities go through to be viewed as the same as everyone else. Concepts such as ‘normal’ pervade our society like a leech unable to let go. This is why jokes or phrases that are ‘okay because I don't mean it in a nasty way’ are devastating. They reinforce this idea of the ‘other.’ By someone on Fab N Fresh using the transgender community as a tool for a joke they were reinforcing the idea that this is not the norm and is something laughable. This is no laughing matter. People fight to be for their expression of gender to be accepted, a fight which still today hasn’t fully culminated in total societal acceptance. What is so funny about mocking a fight for the right to be seen?

Jokes are often laughed off with phrases like ‘it's just a joke get over it.’ But I'm afraid the answer is no. Check your privilege is something I would like to encourage. To make a joke as someone who is part of a minor-

“I myself have often had to remind people of their 'ableist' language”

tect your friends whose sexuality might come under fire in our society. Protect your disabled friend from feeling alone. Protect your transgender or non-binary friend from feeling like an outcast. Just because some parts of society allow this passive hate, doesn't mean that we should all fall in line with this.

Be the person who stands than stalks away. Be the person who fights than flies. Be the person who protects not oppressess.

UK Hate Crimes 2017/18 (Home Office)

Race

Sexuality

7,226

Sadly, this commonality of oppressive jokes is reinforced by peers who continue to laugh rather than make a stand against this. As one anonymous member of the UoB Drag Society commented ‘this is why people who are complicit annoy me more because they know what's happening is wrong and still do nothing.’ To laugh is to encourage, to watch is to facilitate, and to allow is to participate. Have you ever watched someone, desperate for some form of support or alliance with them, and turned away? This is being complicit.

You may not wield the sword but your mark was still made.

An anecdote from my first year relates to this idea perfectly. Often in group chats, remarks were made in relation to my disability, until one day I kindly asked for another term to be used in relation to mocking someone being what they viewed as stupid. Sadly, this led to further mocking of me which made me feel inferior. Now let me reiterate, this was in a group chat, where some participants merely watching ongoing as this continued. This is being complicit.

Another story from a member of the UoB Drag Society noted how on the tube they would often get their hair pulled but not a single person would step in. This is being complicit.

I shall not undermine how hard it is to defend someone when it feels like you're the only voice speaking out, but just remember how alone the person feeling victimized may feel.

Rather than fostering an allowance for oppressive jokes, maybe it's time we fostered a culture of protection. Be that

battle alone.

This is why people joined in with defending the LGBTQ community when the joke was made on Fab N Fresh, because communal participation is the opposite of complicity. To fight becoming complicit sometimes means making a stand. This is why it's important to make sure you help in protecting your friends whose ethnicity may mean they are often bombarded with cruel jokes and isolation.

This is why it's important to pro-

Religion

1,651

“It is about the systematic oppression which continues to be an integral aspect of society”

person who educates your friend, taking the load off from those being oppressed. Regularly I am reminded how I should always be the one to educate people on why what they're doing is hurtful, but why is it the members of a minority who are responsible alone to educate? Why can’t other people participate in this advancement of awareness and kindness? The moment a friend opened her mouth to defend me, was the moment I realized I should never be fighting this

8,336

It's easy to think to ourselves that we would never stand by and watch someone getting beat en up for reasons such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity or disability. But have you ever wondered if many you have stood by while someone does this in more passive ways? Hate crimes are often portrayed as the stereotypes in the media, i.e. beating someone up. But hate crime is so much more than that; it is about the systematic oppression which continues to be an integral aspect of society, which we often getting a glimpse of through the societal acceptance of jokes.

The kick-starter for this article is the joke which was made on ‘Fab N Fresh’, wherein one student under the guise of ‘freedom of speech’ used a joke to oppress and belittle the lifestyle of the non-binary and transgender community. This article is not going to go into the nuances of freedom of speech, as this is not the crux of the issue. Instead, it’s crucial to question why people think these jokes are okay to make in the first place. Why is it okay to further deride those who are already minorities in society?

ity community is different to someone who is not, and is therefore in a position of privilege to oppress through these jokes. I myself have often had to remind people of their ‘ableist’ language in relation to disabilities, or jokes surrounding disabilities which continue to make people feel oppressed, unable to speak up through fear of being mocked. This is the same for all.

To laugh at someone’s ethnicity, gender, sexuality or disability is to tell them they are beneath you. It is telling them they are laughable. It is telling them they are inferior.

I do understand many readers will disagree, as you have the right to do. However, once again I will ask you to check your privilege.

11,638

Comment Writer

71,251

Velvet Jones

Disability Transgender

LGBT Hate Crime Reporting (Home Office, Stonewall)

Reported 12,389

Unreported 35,000 (Estimate)

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COMMENT

Friday 23rd November 2018

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Bang Out of Order We must adapt our use of fireworks to be more considerate to our surrounding environment, argues Natalia Carter AngMoKio

Natalia Carter Comment Editor

Now that Bonfire Night is over, and I am no longer at risk of being a ‘spoil sport’ on everyone’s festivities (which, by the way, should be more than over by now), it’s time to talk about fireworks.

Fireworks are a great source of festivity and fun, they make a wonderful display and can be used to celebrate near enough any occasion. It’s not surprising that so many people still use them for their Bonfire Night celebrations. However, whilst everyone is distracted by the brightly coloured displays in the sky, no one is looking at the ground around them. It appears that the world forgets about the wildlife around them.

“Research has shown that both wild animals and domestic animals are seriously affected by fireworks” Research has shown that both wild animals and domestic animals are seriously affected by fireworks. The loud obnoxious bangs created by the explosives can generate a severe amount of anxiety in wild animals, often

pngimg.com

causing them to flee away from their habitats and into roads – resulting in a huge increase of dead animals. It has also been documented that many small mammals and birds will abandon their young as a result of the noise, often becoming so disorientated that they struggle to find their way back. The young are left to defend for themselves, frequently resulting in their premature deaths. If the thought of injured animals doesn’t move you, then maybe consider what would happen if a panicked deer were to run across the road, putting both your lives at risk and possibly damaging your car if you were to hit it.

Furthermore, any pet owner will tell you that fireworks are exceptionally worrisome to domestic animals. Blue Cross has stated that when Bonfire Night comes around, ‘Blue Cross animal hospitals across the country see a marked rise in pets requiring medication during stressful times, and many pets are brought into Blue Cross re-homing centres having run away from home’. The charity even lists multiple ways to care for and relax your pets when the fireworks begin since it is estimated that 45% of dogs in the UK show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. I cannot be the only one who witnessed the countless videos circulating social media of multiple helpless domestic animals, frightened and unaware of what was happening around them.

It’s not just fireworks.

Bonfires are also a major risk to wildlife, specifically hedgehogs. As the weather gets cold and damp, hedgehogs often look for new hibernation sites – such as giant piles of leaves and branches that create the perfect shelter. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society urged people to check the area surrounding the bonfire, especially if the bonfire was built in advance.

Often hedgehogs find bonfire sites and shelter there, resulting in unimaginable suffering when the pile is set alight without being checked for living animals. They also highlight that going to an officially organised fireworks display is by far the safer option for all involved, humans and animals alike.

This raises an important question. Should we be asking for greater restrictions on fireworks? I have to say that the answer to this is painfully obvious. Yes, we should.

Even if we ignore the wildlife aspect, whilst fireworks are great fun for all the family when lit in a controlled and safe environment, it only takes a few hooligans to ruin the celebrations for everyone. Sadly, many people find fireworks an exciting way to torment people. This year alone we have seen a man looking at a potential leg amputation after a group of individuals dropped a lit firework into his pocket, as well as two people injured in Selly Oak after fireworks were thrown into Kimchi restaurant. This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. The British Association of Plastic,

Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) have called on the Government ‘to introduce graphic warnings on all firework packaging, as the number of patients attending A&E due to related injuries has more than doubled in recent years’. Last year in England alone, 4436 individuals attended A&E because of an injury caused by a firework. It seems that people are forgetting that they are handling explosives.

So, if we were to limit the sale of fireworks, so that they can only be sold for large displays, I believe that we would greatly reduce the number of injuries, as well as related crime. Whilst this might sound like I’m the biggest party pooper in the world, I genuinely believe that this would be for the benefit of all involved. Not only does it keep all individuals at a safe distance and limited from stupid firework stunts in which they light a rocket in their bare hands and then complain about the heat, but it is safer for all animals involved.

Bonfires will be built and checked, and generally fireworks for large displays are in large open spaces, equipped with a team of people to clean up the polluting rubbish steeped in chemicals that effect our environment. But how do we limit the wildlife disrupting noise?

Whilst this may be shocking to some, silent fireworks do in fact exist. In fact, in 2015 Collecchio (a town in Italy)

passed a law that all fireworks displays must be quiet. So, why can’t we all follow suit? If we were to eradicate loud disrupting fireworks, opting for the silent displays instead, we would have a lesser effect on everything around us – children, the elderly, pets, and wildlife alike. I can’t think of any reason why silent fireworks should not be adopted since the pros massively outweigh the cons.

“If we were to eradicate loud, disrupting fireworks, opting for the silent displays instead, we would have a lesser effect on anything around us” When you look at the negative impacts of Bonfire Night seriously, it’s time we adapted our celebrations to be more considerate to the world around us.

It’s either time to ask for fairer fireworks, as the RSPCA is currently campaigning for, or it’s time to consider why we celebrate a foiled plot to kill the King. Maybe it’s time to focus on the effects Bonfire Night has on today, rather than memorialising the past.

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A New Form of Nationalism Nathan Clarke urges respect and reflection surrounding the dangers of nationalism and far-right populism, arguing that we must work towards peace in Europe Nathan Clarke Comment Writer

The First World War was a conflict born out of nationalism and, one hundred years on, nationalism is on the rise again. The centenary of World War One should have offered us a chance to reflect on the dangers of nationalism and far-right populism.

French President Emmanuel Macron felt compelled to warn Europe of its old demons resurfacing. In a poignant address, he warned of the dangers of nationalism, urged for peace in the face of populism and a reinstatement of moral values across Europe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated these claims and warned Europe of the dangers of ‘nationalistic arrogance.’

Macron and Merkel are right to be concerned. Over the past decade the far-right have been on the rise throughout Europe; sending shockwaves through mainstream politics. In Austria and Hungary (two countries pivotal in the outbreak of the Great War) the far-right have made significant gains through the promotion of eurosceptism.

Marine Le Pen in France and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands have enjoyed great electoral success in recent years through Islamophobia, with Wilders going so far as to label the Koran as ‘fascist’; exploiting the cultural disorientation brought about by decades of globalisation.

“Over the past decade the farright have been on the rise” The election of Donald Trump (a self-proclaimed nationalist) and the Brexit vote have served as catalysts for these causes, giving voters a sense of belief that populist nationalism can succeed in giving power back to the people.

These groups share many things in common. They are opponents to globalisation, multiculturalism and immigration.

They are all europsceptic, seeing the European Union as a grave threatPhotograph to their national security; from Pixabay trading on fear and economic uncertainty. Far-right national-

ists have placed sovereignty above the needs of international cooperation and threaten to, as French historian Buisson argues, reject the post-war consensuses of democracy and inclusivity.

This is a new form of nationalism: one which is different, yet equally dangerous, to the type which brought about the First World War. Nationalism has become more inward looking, more isolationist, less militarised and more articulate. Their main focus is not on building an empire, but on the protection of their sovereignty. They are not at war with each other, but at war with the system. They aim to dismantle the European Union, reverse globalisation, and restrict continental integration. This poses as much of a threat, if not more, to European peace.

The EU was founded to combat aggressive nationalism.

Those who seek its demise display ignorance to its role in maintaining continental peace over the last 60 years. The European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for ‘the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe’ and being instrumental in ‘trans-

forming most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace.’ This is a fact so overlooked by eurosceptics who fail to grapple with our troubled history and gamble with our collective peace. Even Boris Johnson, a prominent campaigner for Brexit, recognised how the EU was ‘born of the highest motivesto keep peace in Europe.’

Macron’s recent proposal for an EU army is perhaps slightly provocative and ambitious; but undoubtedly acts as a deterrent and reminds us all of our collective duty as EU citizens to protect our continents peace.

“This is a new form of nationalism” The EU has been vital in blurring borders, ensuring mutually beneficial trade networks and tolerant attitudes towards minority groups. All this has been thrown up into the air by this new style nationalism. A nationalism born of hatred, not of a particular country, but of an ideology.

Peace is never inevitable.

Our generation has been privileged in that we have not experienced major continental warfare first-hand. But this should never be taken for granted. This new form of patriotic nationalism threatens the very foundations of our society. By promoting a country’s own interest first, nationalists simultaneously weaken collective security. The far-right are no longer hate-filled yobs using violence to attract media attention, they are sophisticated, articulate people, gaining much support from a population that feels alienated and threatened by an the enemy within.

The left should be worried.

They must work tirelessly to engage these voters in a way which prevents them from succumbing to hate-filled, reactionary politics.

So in remembrance of the First World War, let’s show some real respect and take time to reflect. Let’s ensure these toxic forces which led men and women into war a hundred years ago do not do the same to those of our generation. Let’s all work towards a peaceful, inclusive and tolerant Europe; one which values peace above all else.

Poll of the Week: Should Seminar Contribution Be Compulsory?

In some countries, it is compulsory to contribute in university seminars, but is this something which should be introduced in the UK? Ye s

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“Some people get extremely anxious about speaking in front of people or being made to speak on demand” “If it were compulsory it would drive me to not attend” “Not contributing not only hinders your own learning but the learning opportunities of everyone in class” “I think there are better ways to engage people in a topic than forced participation”

“People basically do nothing and then steal your ideas” Take part in our polls:

This week we asked students at the University of Birmingham whether they feel that contribution in seminars should be compulsory across UK universities.

This was an extremely popular poll with the highest amount of responses we've ever received, so clearly students feel strongly about this question. Overall, 59.6% of respondents argued that seminar contribution should not be compulsory. Many students stated that because they are paying £9,000 per year in tuition fees, it should be their choice to decide how much they choose to contribute in seminars. Others cited that being forced to include themselves in seminar discussion could be detrimental to mental health, as some students suffer from anxieties surrounding talking in public.

I agree that students should never feel like they are being penalised

@RedbrickComment

because of a lack of contribution to seminars.

However, I think it’s important to address the dreaded ‘seminar silence’ which I’m sure all of us have experienced at some point. More often than not, a select few people in a class will ‘carry’ the group, and according to the responses, those who voted that seminar contribution should be compulsory are fed up of being the only ones to contribute, with one respondent stating that being the only person to speak in a seminar makes them feel ‘obnoxious and uncomfortable.’

Whilst there were less votes via Twitter, the outcome was far more decisive, with 80% of people voting that seminar contribution should not be made compulsory. From this final result, I think it’s clear that students at the University of Birmingham believe that compulsory contributions in seminars would be detrimental, rather than beneficial, to their learning.

Redbrick Comment Contributors

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Fifty years ago this week, students from the University of Birmingham seized occupation of the Aston Webb building in protest against a lack of student representation at the University. Half a century later, Jenny Wickham shares her experience as one of the protesters involved

Jenny Wickham Redbrick Alumna

It is said that if you can remember the 1960s, you weren’t really there! So when I was asked to talk about the University of Birmingham sit-in of 1968, at a meeting of the BRIHC (Birmingham Research Institute for History and Cultures) in May 2018, I initially remembered very little. My most enduring memory was that the Vice-Chancellor’s office carpet (pale green I think) was softer and more luxurious than any carpet I had seen before.

How do I know? Because I spent the night on it during the occupation. It was much more pleasant than sleeping on the Great Hall floor, which was hard and dusty.

I want to give a little context to the sit-in, in relation to the wider world, and why we were so keen to challenge the establishment.

Our parents had lived through world war and austerity. But we, post-war baby boomers, were let loose as teenagers into the swinging sixties, popular music and

culture, anti-establishment comedy, the connectedness of the global village when mass media enabled us to know, in ways we could not know before, what was going on in the world – and to challenge it. Sex, drugs and rock and roll were all tools of revolt, and fun as well.

“Protest was on the agenda from the time I arrived at the University in 1967” There was a lot going on which we wanted to challenge. The Vietnam War sparked massive protests against American action from around the world; on 17th March 1968 a huge demonstration outside the US embassy in London protested both US action and the heavy handed police response. In the US Martin Luther King, indomitable fighter for civil rights,

was, shockingly, assassinated on 4th April.

In May 1968 ‘Les Événements’ in Paris began with student protests against capitalism, US imperialism, and traditional institutions, spreading to strikes involving 11 million workers. In August the Democratic Convention in Chicago was disrupted by five days of street demonstrations by thousands of anti-Vietnam War protesters, who adopted the chant ‘the whole world’s watching’ – which we certainly were.

So where does the Birmingham sit-in fit in to all of this? Student protest became widespread in many British universities. Indeed, protest was on the agenda from the time I arrived at the University in 1967, encouraged both by students and by a key talk to freshers

by Stuart Hall; I remember attending my first ever protest meeting in the Great Hall soon after arriving. Dissatisfaction was rife and the management of the University was seen as out of touch and patriarchal (it is near-impossible to find any women involved in the Senate, Council or the running of the University at that time).

Students occupy the Great Hall inside the Aston Webb building, November 1968. Image: University of Birmingham

The Guild of Students published a document on ‘The Student Role’ in February 1968, which called for student representation on the University Council, Senate and departmental committees.

The students wanted a commission to look into these issues, with 50% student representation, some of which was agreed; however, the Council were unable to agree on student representation and the inexperienced Vice-Chancellor, Robert Hunter, said he would let students present a case but not remain for the discussion.

“Dissatisfaction was rife and the management of the University was seen as out of touch and patriarchal” The Council would not concede to the (quite reasonably expressed) demands and so the students threatened direct action at the end of October; they refused to withdraw the ‘Student Role’ demands and felt that the University was misleading the Guild. Sue Jackson, the Guild vice-president, called for direct action; when asked at the Guild of Students’ meeting what was meant by direct action she said ‘I mean strike, I mean blow this place up...’, which was greeted with applause and stamping.

The occupation began on Wednesday 27th November, first in the Great Hall and then the

wider Aston Webb building, including the Vice-Chancellor’s office. The next day more than one thousand students joined the occupation; during the weekend that followed students organised their own teach-in, at which there were many discussions on the nature of the University, its relation to society, political theory, the relevance of individual courses, and student representation on University committees. The teachin came up with four key demands: 1. No victimisation.

2. All University committees to meet in public.

3. The right of students to a say in University government.

4. A Commission to examine the role and structure of the University.

I want to try to explain our feelings at the time. We had little experience of protest, but very much wanted to be given a say, treated as grown-ups. Some of us were nervous about what we were doing – invading a vice-chancellor’s office seemed to be not quite right and yet absolutely the right thing. The Guild of Students carefully steered the sit-in via its rules, led (in a very mature way) by its President Ray Phillips and Sue Jackson, with the backing of some academic staff, such as Stuart Hall, Dick Atkinson and Bob Holman (possibly to the detriment of their later careers).

We took our politics very seriously; however, there was a febrile atmosphere, with rumours flying around of left-wing agitators and undercover journalists infiltrating the University (certainly students came from other colleges to support us, and journalists from local

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Friday 23rd November 2018

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and national media covered the story). The suggestion of agitators may have been true, but fundamentally the action was initiated and driven by the Guild. Tensions arose because some students, and the few academic staff who supported them, feared victimisation as a result of participation in the sit-in.

express views, to protest when necessary. I am sure it eventually made some difference to the University, but a screengrab of the 2017-18 membership of the Senate shows that although six places are now allocated for students, only one was taken up.

Why was that? However, students seem much more involved at a Departmental level.

“The meetings that led to the sit-in were full of an energy and passion which lasted for several days, though it waned as time passed without a concession from the University” A huge amount of work went on in the Great Hall, where we established an alternative community, (complete with delivered trays of sandwiches), and elsewhere were efforts to provide posters, fliers and general information to the protesters; there was silkscreening, roneo printing and production of an extra edition of Redbrick. We enjoyed doing something different from normal coursework and lectures, which seemed often quite dry and irrel-

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“For students today there is still plenty to protest about” For students today there is still plenty to protest about: student mental health; high fees for little tuition time, high-interest debt and lack of maintenance grants; wage and pension inequality among university staff. Racism, sexual harassment, homophobia, issues around free speech regularly seem to crop up on campuses. Protesting may not always be the appropriate answer, but there is always something to protest about.

Signs are hung on the outside of University buildings during the occupation. Image: University of Birmingham

evant. The meetings that led to the sit-in were full of an energy and passion which lasted for several days, though it waned as time passed without a concession from the University.

The sit-in tailed off after the weekend (perhaps we wanted to sleep in our own beds, have baths

and proper meals) and eventually ended on Thursday 5th December after a general meeting of the Guild of Students (possibly the vote to end the sit-in was driven by engineering students being given the afternoon off classes, as the sit-in had previously largely involved students from Arts, Law

and Social Sciences); however, the issues were not settled and fractious discussions between students and University authorities continued for more than a year.

I have been asked ‘did the sitin make a difference?’ It certainly did to me, convincing me of the importance of involvement, to

The Guild of Students will be hosting an event on December 7th to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1968 occupation, featuring speeches and attendees from those who took part and copies of Redbrick from the week of the protests. More information can be found on their website.

Step into The Theatre of Light and Dark

Trips Through Life and Imagination Former English student David Hamilton has his 7th book out in December.

It is Step into The Theatre of Light and Dark: Trips Through Life and Imagination.

A book of experimental poetry as advertised in the Literary Review.

www.davidhamiltonauthor.co.uk

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SPORT

Politics in Sport: More Damage Than It’s Worth?

George Garrett questions whether the sporting arena should be exempt from political statements, and why a close relationship between the two is inevitable In this case, politics could have been untouched. An act of defiance or not, it provoked a backlash of conflict, without any urgent need. Then again, were Xhaka and Shaqiri acting on behalf of their native nation that had suffered under Serbian influence, an oppression which culminated in the Kosovo war? Even if they were, there was no pressing need. They both scored goals anyway, an act of defiance in itself.

Compare so to the racial injustice in America, where there is a pressing need for change in the current situation as proven by the statistics. Kaepernick goes as far to say, ‘I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football.’

Is Kaepernick making a point by himself here? Are certain political matters bigger than the sport themselves? Racial inequality in the 21st century certainly is.

Before there are measures that are put in place to tackles certain political inadequacies, these players are well within their rights to voice their concern.

George Garrett Sport Writer

Over the summer, the English nation was hooked on England’s impressive World Cup campaign.

Political uncertainty over Brexit was put to one side, it felt as if football was ‘coming home’ during the July heatwave. Summer barbeques, parties in the streets, red and white shirts everywhere politics were far from our thoughts.

Yet, despite jubilation, the plight of politics had its say in Russia. When Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, both KosovoAlbanians playing for Switzerland, scored in their game against Serbia, they both celebrated by making an eagle shape with their hands.

This represents the eagle on the Albanian flag; a symbol of defiance against the Serbian crackdown on Albania during the Kosovo war in the 1990s, a tension which resulted in NATO intervention. To this day, Serbia do not officially recognise Shaqiri’s birth state of Kosovo.

Xhaka’s father spent time in the as a political prisoner following his involvement in the 1986 anticommunist student demonstrations in Yugoslavia. Even 30 years later, the nationalistic celebration displayed by the two footballers was a clear political message.

Links can be made between these footballing actions, and those of former San Francisco 49ers American Football quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who decided to regularly ‘take a knee’ during the American national anthem (which is traditionally played before all NFL games) in 2016, demonstrating his discontent at police brutality and racial injustice in the US - a subject that is still at the forefront of American politics. As a result, his actions have resulted in many other NFL players following suit.

“Where there is a need for action, then it seems justifiable for sportsmen and women to voice their concern” A similar situation occurred in the US in 2012, when Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, was unjustifiably shot dead by police. NBA star Lebron James, and his then Miami Heat teammates, retaliated by wearing black hoodies whilst bowing their heads as they walked out onto the court.

Swiss footballer Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates the second of his side’s two goals in a victory over rivals Serbia during the 2018 World Cup. Shaqiri and teammate Granit Xhaka, both ethnically Kosovo-Albanian, were fined 10,000 Swiss francs for their controversial celebrations, but escaped further punishment. Image: Reuters

There are countless examples of politics that creep into sporting arenas worldwide. However, with politics comes disagreement.

Should these sporting stars expose their political views, when their job is primarily to entertain as professional athletes? Or, to the contrary, does the fact that they are role models mean that they surely have a right to voice their views when they deem it necessary? It is a debate that won’t go away.

“Sporting arenas are an ideal stage for politics and sport to mingle” When we look over the Atlantic to America, racial injustice still seems very much a huge problem. In fact, a third of the unarmed people killed in the

United States in 2016 were black males, yet black males only make up six percent of the population.

There is a clear problem within the United States, where there are numerous examples of these people being shot dead unjustifiably.

There is a need for change to happen, which is why the likes of Kaepernick and James take it upon themselves to voice their concern - actions that seem justifiable.

Especially in the 21st century, the media world reports on these political demonstrations in sport almost immediately once they have happened. After all, they are taking place at high profile sporting matches. And so, the sporting arena seems the ideal place to make a stand where it is necessary. Eyes are watching, events get reported on and, eventually, people get talking, provoking a greater possibility for change.

When there is a need for action, then it seems justifiable for sportsmen and women to voice their concern. Yet, when one looks

at the acts of the Swiss-Albanian footballers, are they not just igniting further conflict between the two nations? A Serbian news outlet in the aftermath of the gestures read ‘FIFA shames us,’ when the two players were allowed to play in the following match against Costa Rica. Furthermore, when Shaqiri’s club side Liverpool were to play Serbian side Red Star Belgrade earlier this year, it was deemed ‘unsafe for the player to travel.’

“In an ideal world, sport and politics shouldn’t be intertwined.

Unfortunately, they always will be”

“Before measures are put in place to tackle certain political inadequacies, players are well within their rights to voice their concern” America has a rich history when it comes to demonstrations being made in defiance of racial inequality: Muhammed Ali refusing to fight under the American flag in Vietnam; Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico Olympics with their notorious black power salute.

Kaepernick has continued their legacy. All these athletes were within their rights to confront politics in their sporting environments.

In an ideal world, sport and politics shouldn’t be intertwined.

Unfortunately, they always will be. Sportspeople, where there is a genuine need to speak out against a topic such as racial injustice, have a right to speak out just as far as everybody else does.

With sport there is mass interest, with interest comes coverage.

Sporting arenas are an ideal stage for politics and sport to mingle.

Whether they should or shouldn’t can be disputed forever, the reality is that they always will.

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Mind+Solve Issue 1497 Puzzles compiled byThom Dent and John Wimperis

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The Redbrick Crossword Across 1. Utter nonsense (10) 7. The cure for a relative’s uncritical affection (8) 8. Statue often destroyed (6) 9. A bony way to describe somebody (8) 11. We just made this one up (7) 13. Every two weeks (5) 14. For example: (5) 15. Extrap– you can work out the rest (11) 16. Enjoying my life in France (4,2,5) 17. A challenging spice (8)

Down 1. Colourful old ladies dye their hair (4,5) 2. Lost terribly, but entirely legal (6) 3. Stress causes cracks to recede (8) 4. Winnings from unlikely jumble given to Tyler (7) 5. Copy of plic in a Birmingham river (7) 6. Floating foliage attempts yoga (5,6) 10. Pinchpenny not able (5) 12. Weighty issue on page thirty-four (8) 13. Confusing flavour to irk papa (8) 14. Can’t eat bread (6)

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First Lines The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various novels, songs,

poems and films. All you have to do is tell us which novels, songs or films the lines come from.

‘If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, there is no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle.’

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‘Desmond has a barrow in the market place / Molly is the singer in a band’ ‘Alright everyone, this is a stick-up! Don’t anybody move! Now empty that safe!’

Anagrams Can you rearrange the words below to find the names of ten notable British politicians?

1. BOOR JAGS MCGEE 2. MERCY OR BENJI 3. COME VILE HAG

4. MEATY HARES 5. ALGERNON COITUS 6. HAMLIN HIPPO MD 7. CORAL LUNACIES 8. FINAL REGGAE 9. ATTAINED BOB 10. JORIS BOHNSON

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Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me.

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1. Diplomat; 2. Lunacy; 3. Membrane; 4.

Beatnik; 5. Tartan; 6. Likely; 7. Albatross; 8. Status Quo; 9. Handmaid; 10. Dalmatian; 11. Stuntman; 12. Movember; 13. Fawkes; 14. Summon; 15. Quasi; 16. Answers; 17.

Casbah; 18. Benefactors; 19. Unite; 20. Thermos | First Lines: The Bloody Chamber (Angela Carter); ‘Cloudbusting’ (Kate Bush); The Dark Knight (Jonathan Nolan / Christopher Nolan) | Anagrams: 1. Australia; 2. South Africa; 3. Vietnam; 4. Argentina; 5. Netherlands; 6. Nigeria; 7. Mongolia; 8. Pakistan; 9. United States; 10. Ivory Coast

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i_weigh: Jameela Jamil's Revolution

Deputy Editor Kat Smith explores the actress, presenter and activist's latest endeavour to measure ourselves in our qualities, not in how much mass we have Kat Smith Deputy Editor

From T4 to Netflix, Jameela Jamil has enjoyed her share of success.

Though her fame may stem from her presenting on TV and radio, as well as her acting on The Good Place, recently Jamil has hit the headlines for her activism for body image and her battle for respect for women.

After seeing pictures of celebrities with their weight plastered over them, Jameela Jamil retaliated by posting a picture detailing what she ‘weighs’ – her relationships, her job and also the elements of her life that aren’t so perfect. The response was so vast that she set up an Instagram to share the hundreds of submissions she received. After a matter of months, @i_weigh has 205k followers, over 2,000 posts and is growing every day.

It’s pushing back against the countless ‘fitspo’ accounts aiming to convince us that they are promoting body positivity through #strongnotskinny, booty guides and discussion of their own insecurities. In reality, they are firmly keeping the conversation concentrated on our bodies... and profiting off of it at the same time.

“We are continually fed the message that... we can and should be always doing more for our bodies. We can always get closer to perfection” When the likes of Kim Kardashian post pictures of their bodies online, It’s been argued that she is merely celebrating her body and has a ‘right to be sexy’.

When Kim has clearly had cosmetic procedures and displays the conventionally beautiful body of our time, Jameela Jamil is right to call her a ‘double-agent of the patriarchy.’ And when such successful women become defined by their aesthetics, hipto-waist ratio and cup size, it’s a problem. I am all here for body confidence, but the point is that we are all so much more than the flesh on our bones.

When you relentlessly post pictures o f your body while also

urging your followers to buy appetite-suppressing lollipops, self-confidence is definitely not what you’re selling.

“I hope that Jamil's social media revolution will encourage us not only to celebrate our bodies but also the elements of our lives not normally broadcast on a rose-tinted Instagram feed” I_weigh’s home being Instagram is highly appropriate.

The image-orientated platform is responsible for grinding down so many of our self-esteems and so is the perfect place for Jamil to push back.

Studies have found that a 30-minute scroll on Instagram can cause a negative fixation on their appearance, with fitspo and celebrities also causing dissatisfaction. As Jamil says, we are surrounded by these images now, whereas years ago you would need to buy a magazine to compare yourself. Though eating disorders are the most extreme implication, even without a diagnosed illness body image can have an overwhelming effect on our lives when it’s forced to the forefront of our minds.

We are continually fed the message that no matter our accomplishments in academia or work, no matter the strength of our relationships with others and no matter how happy we are, w e

can and should be always doing more for our bodies. We can always get closer to perfection. With the tsunami of workout videos, calorie counting apps and social media ‘influencers’, it is almost impossible to escape

consideration of our bodies. We are invited to analyse other people’s bodies to distract from our own, with the latest bombard of hate at Tess Holliday’s Cosmo cover demonstrating how many people feel like they have the right to pass judgement on other people’s bodies. This does nothing for our own self-esteem, reinforcing that we should be selfconscious and that others have a right to attack us for our dress size.

There’s also something to be said about expressing gratitude for the good and acknowledging the bad in our lives when the internet puts such a filtered lens on reality. Even excluding our bodies, it’s easy to compare our lives to our friends, celebrities and influencers and feel dissatisfied when ours aren’t as shiny as

theirs. Though many have spoken and not thinking about what you up about mental health and other weigh when you don’t seem to struggles on social media, the have any issue with your looks, overwhelming majority of images right? Maybe it’s easier to digest are portraying an airbrushed, the message when someone less flawless existence. conventionally beautiThrough i_weigh, ful is communicatmen and women ing it. But Jamil alike are sharing has openly the elements discussed that make her strugthem them, gle with including anorexia the strugas a gles they child, are endurwhere ing and the she lost perceived her periflaws they ods as a people are estimated to have have. These child. an eating disorder in the UK posts are a She has declaration stretch (BEAT) that nobody’s marks like life is perfect the rest of us. and that is absoAnd while lutely okay. I hope those deemed to be that Jamil’s social media attractive enjoy a bias revolution will encourage us not towards them, it’s still problemonly to celebrate our bodies but atic for them to not be valued on also the elements in our lives who they are and their accomnot normally broadcast on a plishments but instead their rose-tinted Instagram feed. cheekbones and hourglass figure.

Jamil’s good looks that While beauty may be aspirational, generally accompany a being valued for only that is pretty career in modelling (tall, soul-sucking as well. slim and in many ways, I wholeheartedly agree with conventionally beauti- everything she says, which is rare ful) may make her mes- for someone who started out in sage feel inaccessible. opinion writing. As a 20-year-old And with the many woman who’s relentlessly strugsuccesses she’s had gled with my body, it’s invaluable so far in her career, to have a successful, strong she does seem to woman telling me that my accomhave it all. After plishments in life matter so much all, it must be more. We all need to stop toreasier to menting our minds and torturing preach about our body in the pursuit of a body l o v i n g that is not only unattainable, but yourself, simply not worth it. Eating healthloving ily and exercising to be healthy y o u r and happy is far different to l i f e obsessing over our bodies and doing anything we can to change it.

Jamil’s message is reaching wider than those following her Instagram account. With articles in the Guardian backing her comments, her face and accompanying message on the likes of The National Student and countless interviews across many media platforms. I look forward to the day these aren’t interspersed w i t h ‘ L o s e 10lbs of belly fat in 10 minutes’s t y l e workouts Flickr:georgedarrell and diet plans, but at least the conversation is starting.

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FEATURES

Friday 23rd November 2018

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www.redbrick.me

Empowering Instagram Accounts

Despite being an aesthetically-based platform, there are plenty of accounts focusing on the more important things in life...

I’m not denying it can be fun to follow the lives of the beautiful, rich and famous.

It’s a guilty pleasure that many of us indulge in, but it’s important to intersperse your social media feed with more down-to-earth content.

These three Instagram accounts, alongside @i_ weigh, will remind you to remember that you’re doing better than you think and the airbrushed lives on your feed are not reflective of reality.

From photographers to poets and artists, these accounts won't only brighten your feed with their imagery and accompanying messages.

@girlgaze

@recipesforselflove

Flipping the infamous male gaze on its head, girlgaze sees women from the eyes of other women.

Celebrating our bodies and womanhood, it is one of the most aesthetically pleasing accounts on Instagram while being empowering as hell.

This account is definitely my favourite.

Accompanied by stunning illustrations, recipesforselflove are positive affirmations, which we can all do with from time to time.

From validation when you're angry to providing visiblity for people of all colour, sexual orientations and abilities, there's a recipe for self love for everyone on this account.

Instagram: @girlgaze

Instagram: @cleowade

@cleowade Wade’s mini poems and statements, scrawled in a distinct all-capitals font, are a perfect dose of positivity.

From self-care to reminding us that other people's lives aren't always what they seem, with 452k followers Cleo Wade is obviously doing something right.

Instagram: @recipesforselflove

MONDAY 26TH NOVEMBER THE INDIE LOUNGE FROM 7.30PM Alev Omer & Luke Jobling BurnFM Co-Heads of Music @BURNFMmusic

Burn Live is back and better than ever! On Monday the 26th of November, Burn FM will be returning to The Indie Lounge for a night of brilliant live music and entertainment. There is an abundance of talent at UoB, and this means every now and then Burn FM need to take a break from the airwaves to showcase this talent in a live setting! From 7.30pm onwards, some of UoB’s finest artists will be performing, with a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy.

First on the stellar line up is the multitalented Matt Romo, aka Ro-Motion.

Swapping the DJ decks for his acoustic guitar, Matt is known for pouring his heart out in his acoustic sets. Over the past three years Matt has hosted and played in all of the venues in Selly Oak. He will be bringing a fresh take on old and new classics with his signature percussive guitar style, and is guaranteed to start the night in style.

Next up is up and coming seven piece jazz, funk and soul band Phunk You Up, performing both original music and covers.

Certain to put a groove in the air and a step in your feet, the band focus on high energy

and above all having a good time!

Headlining the show are four piece band Pipe Dream. Having recently recorded a 3 song EP, they’re ready to debut the tracks for the first time at Burn Live! With all the band members coming from a diverse musical background, with influences such as Classical, Emo, Metal and Blues, Pipe Dream have crafted their own unique sound. They have an original take on classic numbers, and we can’t wait for them to share what they’ve been rustling up in the pipelines.

Burn FM’s very own LEV (External Head of Music) will be closing the night with a funk and disco DJ set. A relatively new DJ on the scene, LEV’s mixes focus on the soulful side of house and bringing back old school funk, soul and disco. The night is bound to end on a high, leaving everyone grooving and in good spirits after this set!

It’s set to be a great night, and the best of all, the whole night is free of cost!

Donations to Burn FM are welcome, and there will be a raffle on the night with a number of prizes up for grabs. Come down on the 26th to see what Burn are all about!

Tune in at burnfm.com

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CULTURE

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickculture

National Galleries of Scotland

National Galleries of Scotland

Maman: Vuillard and Madame Vuillard Orla Taylor-Davies reviews the Barber Institute of Fine Arts exhibition ‘Maman: Vuillard and Madame Vuillard’, a refreshing revision of what it means to be a female muse Orla Taylor-Davies Culture Critic

Where it is customary to reflect on a male artist’s tragically romantic (or just eye-wateringly toxic) obsession with their female muse, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts provides a refreshing alternative to this conventionally sexualised, passive figure of creative inspiration. ‘Maman: Vuillard and Madame Vuillard’, curated

by Dr. Francesca Berry, is the first exhibition to focus on the artist’s numerous depictions of his mother and muse, seamstress Madame Marie Vuillard, and the petit-bourgeois domesticity she inhabited.

“The exhibition emphasises Vuillard’s unusualness as a modernist figure” The exhibition begins by familiarising the audience with the artist; Vuillard lived with his mother until her death in 1928, when he was 61. He always installed a studio in the houses they moved to, and from 1892 onwards, his mother’s sewing atelier became a dominant subject in his work. Three years prior to the inspiration Vuillard found in his mother’s domestic activities, he joined the modernist group the Nabis. The Nabis were inspired by the painterly, vibrantly coloured appearance of Gauguin’s work, and the flat, haziness of Impressionist painting. While Vuillard’s style became more naturalistic after the turn of the century, the presence of Madame Vuillard in her son’s work was a constant.

Indeed, that his mother was the dominant subject of over five

hundred paintings shows the extent to which she provided artistic stimulation for Vuillard.

Even the works in which Madame Vuillard does not feature still incorporate her indirectly- most of the works in the exhibition are painted onto cardboard or millboard from his mother’s workroom.

Not only does Madame Vuillard differ from the conventional female muse as the artist’s mother rather than his lover, she also differs in her active, multifaceted role within Vuillard’s paintings. The exhibition’s selection of paintings captures her going about a range of tasks, all of which present her as the capable, admirable matriarch of the home. In ‘The Cook’ (1899), Vuillard portrays his mother’s industriousness in the kitchen, tidying and arranging crockery.

The choice of title of the work, and title given to Madame Vuillard- the cook- elevates her status to more than a woman doing a woman’s work, but a skilled professional.

Vuillard further captures Madame Vuillard’s competency navigating motherhood, as seen in several paintings that reveal the intimate relationship between his mother and sister, Marie. In ‘The Chat’ (1893), Madame Vuillard is painted initiating the chat on the day of her daughter’s wedding, asserting the role of wise older woman passing down womanly knowledge. Vuillard depicts the tenderness of motherhood in ‘The Lullaby’ (1894), as his mother soothes a bed-bound Marie. The blurred, bright shapes of these paintings, in the Nabis style, heighten the impression of Vuillard gazing through a lens of comfort or familiarity with his subject matter, and convey the artist’s affection to the viewer.

Vuillard is remarkably atypical in his choice of subject matter. During the late nineteenth century, the domestic space was thought to be the strict ‘sphere’ of

femininity, while the male modernist was free to roam the streets unaccompanied, exploring the unbounded space available for him to observe. In capturing domestic scenes, especially intimate female moments such as the one in ‘The Chat’, Vuillard removes himself from the prescribed space of the male modern artist and submerges into the female realm.

“Vuillard removes himself from the prescribed space of the male modern artist and submerges into the female realm” The exhibition emphasises Vuillard’s unusualness as a modernist figure; his lifestyle, his subject matter, the spaces he occupied to capture these subjects, and certainly renders him in a more flattering light than others such as Gauguin, Picasso and Rossetti. The course mates I visited the exhibition with all left with the impression that Vuillard was, in his context, ‘not like the rest of them’. Small but selective, the exhibition encouraged us to reconsider the conventional figure of the muse and a modern artists place in domestic space.

‘Maman’ is on until the 20th Jan 2019.

Top (L): ‘Deux ouvrières dans l’atelier de couture (Two Seamstresses in the Workroom)’ © National Galleries of Scotland.

Top (R): ‘La causette (The Chat)’ © National Galleries of Scotland.

Presented by Sir Alexander Maitland in memory of his wife Rosalind 1960.

(R): ‘Le Déjeuner’ © Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Oxford.

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Oxford

CULTURE

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickculture

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Preview: GMTG’s Legally Blonde Jessica Capper Culture Critic

With semester one now in full swing and each society planning their events for the upcoming year, Guild Musical Theatre Group (GMTG) have been well ahead of the game. Their semester one main show, the acclaimed Legally Blonde: The Musical, had already held auditions, cast their parts, and began the arduous rehearsal process just three weeks into the Autumn term.

Kindly, multiple members of the production agreed to speak with me and explain what happens behind the scenes of GMTG, including Tash Wills, President of the society. She explained that prospective shows are not the choices of the committee, rather they are decided through a proposal and voting process with input from the entire society.

Potential directors and their would-be production teams pitch their ideas and let their peers decide the winning choice. All the way back in May, Legally Blonde and its production team (led by director Thomas KershawGreen) won out, announcing on social media that they would be bringing the musical to the Deb Hall stage come November.

When asked ‘Why Legally Blonde,’ Kershaw-Green spoke of the fun, exciting nature of the production, citing that the ‘wonderful company feel,’ and the fact ‘everyone has a part to play’ are what makes the musical so

enticing. In addition, Legally Blonde is strongly underpinned by deeper issues that many audience members might relate to in today’s political and social climate. Protagonist Elle Woods, a fierce feminine character, is subject to sexual harassment instigated by a Professor, an event that impacts her decisions and choices throughout the remainder of the show. These hard-hitting topics cast parallels with the campaigns of the #MeToo movement – a protest that has been instrumental to giving victims of harassment a worldwide voice, and one that we can all be sure Elle Woods would have strived to advocate for if given the chance.

“Legally Blonde is strongly underpinned by deeper issues” While speaking to Wills and Kershaw-Green, the topic of diversity was also prevalent.

GMTG’s last main show was a spectacular rendition of Hairspray during the 2017/18 Summer term, and diversity was showcased abundantly. While Legally Blonde may not, at first glance, offer the same opportunities, Wills noted that GMTG ‘would not want to choose a show for the sole purpose of diversity,’ for fear of it

being considered forced (not to mention it might go against the voting process GMTG abides by). On the other hand, the committee are pleased that Hairspray has seemingly encouraged more people, of all diverse backgrounds, to audition for their productions, and they continue to hope that the diversity and inclusivity shown in Hairspray will be continued into future shows produced by GMTG. When it came to the Legally Blonde auditions, the entire committee and production team were thrilled that so many Freshers have auditioned this year. Emily Taylor, an external student, will take on the fabulous role of Elle Woods, while multiple freshers will be portraying principle characters. Kershaw-Green was ecstatic regarding the ‘amount of talent’ the University showcased.

Himself and the show’s musical director, Alice Brown, explained how truly difficult it was to narrow down the final cast, and how petrifying a process it is having to disappoint people. ‘It’s easy to forget you have this horrible responsibility in the midst of the excitement, it’s feels a little treacherous,’ Brown said mournfully, before perking up, ‘We’re very excited about the cast we have though!’

Indeed, now they have their cast, we spoke about the upcoming rehearsals, the first of which was that very night. At the reminder, Kershaw-Green and Brown grinned from ear to ear and cited they ‘honestly could

not wait to get started.’ They’ve been making notes and revisions all summer long and even redesigned the set a total of four times (since writing the first draft of this article even more changes have been made, so one could argue that total has risen to five).

Kershaw-Green seemed relieved to finally be beginning the next step, while Brown wisely stated that ‘the prep on paper is all done, now it’s just a case of building everything and bringing it all together!’ The rehearsals start with read throughs, and then they will be focusing on the dance numbers as Legally Blonde is, in Kershaw-Green’s words, ‘quite a dance-y show,’ and those energetic performances will provide good bonding experiences for the cast.

As we finished our conversa-

tion, I asked them what they were most looking forward to about the upcoming production.

Brown was quick to reply with, ‘the cast curry!’ – a tradition whereby the entire cast and production team have a meal together post the first rehearsal. Besides that, their answers were almost identical – seeing their ideas come to life on the stage. ‘We got teary eyed in auditions.’ KershawGreen said. ‘We saw two people acting together during the call backs and the production team started to get teary eyed – you can see it coming together, that’s the most exciting thing.’

The production will open on the Deb Hall Stage on the 27th of November and run until the 1st of December. More information can be found on GMTG’s Facebook page.

GMTG

Review: Watch This Improvabunga Kieren Williams Culture Critic

What do bucket loads of Christmas spirit, a prison break, the death penalty, four prisoners of questionable IQ but impressive digging skills, often forgotten daughters, improvised musical numbers, a mince pie factory, a single case of self-dismemberment, and a possibly murderous or maybe redemptive Santa Claus/St Nicholas have in common?

‘Prison Pies’, the Improvabunga Watch This

Christmas Special. That’s what.

Five actresses and actors took to the stage on November 14th with the promise of a Christmas musical Improvabunga – and they delivered emphatically. An award winning troupe, fresh from the summer of smashing the Edinburgh Fringe festival to highly commended reviews, they came flying back into this academic year and this marks the third of three shows this term. Hosted by Will Smith and Elliott McDowell and along with Hannah Clay, Antonia Stafford-Taylor, and with

Taiwo Oshodi and Callum Thompson doing a wonderful job on the keys, the troupe began with a few warm-up games including a wonderfully hilarious flatmate disagreement over the lacking use of the flushing mechanism on a toilet and more. They wasted no time after that, flying straight into the main event, the Christmas special! They crowd sourced genres and sub-genres (thriller and prison break) and locations (a mince pie factory) and titles as well (PRISON PIES!).

And just like that we were off

on one helluva rollercoaster that would take us across complex father-daughter relations, the moral debates of the death penalty, a possible metaphor for the corrupt capitalist nature of Christmas in the form of a murderous Santa Claus, camaraderie and kinship and, of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

Of course, due to the nature of improv it is unexpected by all, especially so by those on stage.

So in no time at all our prisoners were in a race against time to save their fellow inmate from the death penalty to give him one more Christmas with his daughter. Heart strings were tugged, tears flowed, and smiles creased and stomachs ached from endless laughter throughout as they dipped effortlessly in and out of musical numbers covering - yep, you guessed it - the death penalty, forgotten daughters who just wanted their dads back for Christmas and elaborate distractions of prison wardens along mince pie assembly lines.

A few personal highlights of mine include one of the single sassiest hair flips of all time from Antonia Stafford-Taylor as another forgotten daughter just wanting her father home for Christmas, and the single most spontaneous and hilarious hand regrowth I have ever been witness to by

Elliot McDowell.

The show was amazing, something legitimately special. And, despite what you may think, it has actually put me in a Christmassy mood despite it being mid-November.

“Heart strings were tugged, tears flowed, and smiles creased and stomachs ached from endless laughter throughout” There is a reason this troupe goes to the Edinburgh Fringe festival every year, a reason why they’re award-winning and lauded by every audience who comes through their doors. I cannot encourage you enough to come to one of their shows. Whilst over for this term, there will be another three coming thick and fast after the new year, so keep your eyes peeled for Facebook posts and your ears peeled for the laughter.

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MUSIC

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickmusic

Flickr / James Jin

Blackbox Shut Down

Editors’ picks: Christine & The Queens, O2 Academy, 26th November

As Nathan Davies writes, the closure of Blackbox is the latest setback for Digbeth in an ongoing struggle within a strict licensing environment Nathan Davies Music Critic

Precisely one fortnight after reopening its doors, a statement released Saturday 27th October announced that the Blackbox would once again be closing.

Unbeknownst to its operators, a three-bedroom holiday let had been developed next door to the venue, with a number of noise complaints having already been raised to the landlord by its residents. Currently a single registered complaint from neighbours can trigger a license review, and as such the operators have preemptively closed the venue to avoid losing their license whilst remaining locked into a long-term lease.

As part of the newly opened Finders Keepers (formerly The Rainbow pub), this comes as yet another instalment in a long history marred with set-backs. The Victorian venue had long been a bohemian hotspot on Digbeth high street before its takeover by Lee McDonald in 2005, which subsequently set in motion the establishment of The Rainbow Venues.

Hosting a range of events within the pub and its courtyard catering to a wide range of musical tastes, the venue’s success and rising popularity eventually saw it condemned once again due to an insufficient number of fire exits.

However, The Rainbow soon returned with a vengeance, having improved the Courtyard and boasting a new sound system.

“The 350-capacity, dark, intimate setting of the Courtyard was the ideal candidate to rehouse the nowdisplaced Blackbox” A noise abatement notice received in 2009 from the residents of newly-built flats nearby posed The Rainbow Pub’s next obstacle, in circumstances not dissimilar to recent events. The ‘Save The Rainbow’ campaign this prompted quickly gained momentum, with its Facebook group reaching 22,000 members within 10 days and the BBC even doing a live broadcast from within the pub. In order to continue operating, a £30,000 insulating roof had to be installed over the Courtyard, the cost of which being partially

raised by an event staged by Birmingham natives UB40.

Having successfully handled the complication, the operators pushed on, converting the Cellar into an additional space in 2012. However, following this, a violent incident in 2015 provoked an expedited review and temporary loss of the site’s license.

Finally, on 28th May 2017 the venue shut its doors as The Rainbow pub for good, as its operators sought to concentrate their efforts into the many sites it had spawned around the corner on Lower Trinity Street. Somewhat ironically, plans to further develop The Rainbow Arena, The Rainbow Warehouse, Blackbox, Roof Garden, Spotlight and Mama Roux’s were cut short later that year when many of these venues had their license revoked.

Nevertheless, the site did not lie dormant for long, reincarnated as Finders Keepers by its current owners who took over the lease in August. The 350-capacity, dark, intimate setting of the Courtyard was the ideal candidate to rehouse the now-displaced Blackbox, and the revived venue hit the ground running.

Playing host to Nicolas Lutz for its opening night on 13th October, O Flynn and Bobby Pleasure & Wes Baggaley also headlined over the subsequent fortnight. Unfortunately, a venue change for Shadow City’s event with Jeremy Underground on 26th October foreshadowed the Blackbox’s closure the next day, due to which the sold out Hot Since 82 show had to be cancelled. Whilst Finders Keepers was not shut in its entirety, with the This Ain’t Berlin event still going ahead in the Cellar, seemingly its time entertaining some of the most prominent and interesting DJs within their respective areas of dance music had ended as quickly as it (re)started. The 10th November event with Binh was cancelled, Mella Dee’s return to Birmingham has been moved to Amusement 13, Objekt & Jane Fitz’s show will take place at the newly opened Twenty2, and HAAi will now play at The Mill.

The comments section below

the closing statement released by the Blackbox is littered with both those venting frustration at the operators and those lamenting another loss to Digbeth’s nightlife. Certain other comments see Birmingham council labelled as unsympathetic at best, or at worst, involved in a wider scheme of gentrification within Digbeth, ushering out the elements interfering with this; a notion already proposed in relation to other highprofile closures in the area.

Sensationalistic or not, the situation certainly does pose some interesting questions. Despite a much larger backlash following the revocation of The Rainbow Venues’ license in late 2017 and the wider conversation surrounding the appropriateness of this course of action, the deaths prompting this were undeniably tragic. However, the differing circumstances of the Blackbox’s closure brings to the fore ongoing debates regarding British nightlife, particularly the ‘agent of change’ principle.

“The ‘agent of change’ principle shifts the burden of responsibility to the incoming party” It has long been the case that, if locating nearby to existing residential properties, entertainment venues must ensure that their activities do not cause problems for those living nearby. As such, the onus is upon a new venue to implement measures mitigating any adverse impacts it may cause, including those resulting from noise. On the contrary, previous legislation with regard to new residential properties being located near pre- existing noise sources was less clear. The ‘agent of change’ principle addresses this, essentially shifting the burden of responsibility to the incoming party, positing that when an entity introduces a new land use or locates a new development, they must consider the existing businesses (such as entertainment venues) nearby, and mitigate the impact of noise and other potential nuisances.

This principle was a key pillar within the manifesto of the 2016 ‘Night Life Matters’ campaign launched by the Night Time Industries Association, a body representing ‘independent bar, nightclub and restaurant owners, pubs, festival and live music event operators.’ Supported by the

Upcoming Events

Housing White Paper ‘Fixing our Broken Housing Market’ published in February 2017, in April the House of Lords Select Committee on the Licensing Act 2003 recommended ‘that a full ‘Agent of Change’ principle be adopted in both planning and licensing guidance to help protect both licensed premises and local residents from consequences arising from any new built development in their nearby vicinity,’ with its chairman recognising both the rights of residents as well as the need to support businesses and prevent the decline in night-life.

French singer, songwriter, and producer Christine & The Queens has been enthralling listeners with her inventive, performative pop since her debut record Chaleur Humaine. Now, after the release of Chris this year, which delves further into the gender-defying art pop she has always channelled, Christine & The Queens promises a visually stunning show at the O2 Academy.

Leon Vynehall, Hare & Hounds, 7th December The Portsmouth DJ brings an allnight live set to the Hare & Hounds, in a year which has seen his dramatic leftfield foray into ambient-inspired tunes and jazzy instrumentation on his album Nothing Is Still. Expect down-tempo deep cuts to go alongside his earlier, but equally fantastic, house material.

“Finders Keepers and, by extension, the Blackbox might be considered the incoming agent of change” Following 29,000 responses to the Government’s consultation which demonstrated ‘strong support’ for the ‘Agent of Change’ principle, the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF2) came into force on 24th July 2018. NPPF2 explicitly references and clarifies the concept, preventing unreasonable restrictions being placed upon existing businesses due to new developments in the area. Local Planning Authorities should therefore consider this when setting their policy, and provide guidance to developers in this regard.

I cannot claim to understand the finer details of the new framework; it may well be that under its new lease Finders Keepers and, by extension, the Blackbox might be considered the incoming ‘agent of change’. It may also be the case that after bearing witness to the ultimately doomed legal struggles of The Rainbow Venues earlier in the year, its owners wished to avoid a similar ordeal. Regardless, operators obviously felt it necessary to take action before the matter was beyond their control.

Unfortunately, this would appear indicative of a continued oppressive licensing environment and does not bode well for new venues looking to set up in the area. For now, the long-standing venue continues on in a limited capacity, whilst the Blackbox finds itself once again without a home.

Best of the rest: Skegss, Actress & Bishop, 23rd November Stage 3, Cafe Artum, 23rd November Raul Lai and the Rockets, Castle & Falcon, 24th November Jamie Isaac, Hare & Hounds, 26th November Raleigh Ritchie, O2 Institute, 26th November Artwork, Hare & Hounds, 30th November Freedom of Movement 001, Cafe Artum, 30th November Napalm Death, The Mill, 1st December Sunflower Bean, Castle & Falcon, 1st December Mabel, O2 Institute, 6th December Soweto Kinch, Hare & Hounds, 6th December Blossoms, O2 Academy, 7th December

MUSIC

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickmusic

21

Album Review: Julia Spotlight On: Billie Eilish Holter - Aviary Alexander Brooks Music Critic

For her fourth album, Have You in My Wilderness, LA composer and musician Julia Holter constrained her more experimental tendencies, composing songs that had more traditional song structures, and fit into a more pop framework, earning her widespread critical acclaim and substantially raising her profile. From the first moment of her new album, Aviary, it is evident that any constraints have been lifted—opener ‘Turn the Light On’ is a cacophony of harp, discordant violins, and clattering drums. Above it all is Holter herself, her voice breaking and cracking. It is immediately clear that Aviary is a very different listen to Wilderness—and significantly more challenging.

Holter is a uniquely conceptual artist, with previous works inspired by Hippolytus, French art films, and the musicals Gigi and Cabaret. Aviary is no exception, with songs referencing Dante, quoting Sappho, and being inspired by events such as St. Vitus’ Dance - a phenomenon that occurred in Europe throughout the early 14th Century, where people danced erratically, potentially in groups of up to a thousand at a time, for hours, days, or weeks, until they collapsed from exhaustion. As such, it is easy to see why Aviary garnered a reputation for being difficult immediately after its release.

Aviary is Holter’s most experimental album to date, and by far her longest—it runs to an hour and a half, and the majority of the

songs exceed five minutes. The influences on this album are unique, with Holter and her band taking auditory cues from avantgarde jazz, medieval choral chants, and modern classical. The album does have its difficult moments—the four minutes of bagpipes that open ‘Everyday is an Emergency’ is particularly challenging to listen to. However, the next four minutes of the song are tranquil—Holter’s piano crystalline and delicate, her vocals hushed and whispered as synths hauntingly drone quietly in the background.

The duality of this song is reflected throughout the entirety of Aviary, however. Take ‘Chaitius,’ for example. The song opens instrumentally, with lush strings and piano accompanied by ascending vocals. After a short interlude where Holter speaks in broken English, the song transmutes into a lilting, spritely piece of jazz-inflected pop. ‘Voce Simul’ starts out as delicate chamber jazz, before voices are layered on top of one another, repeating “Voce”, in a polyphony inspired by medieval chants. Each song on this album is changeable, never static, and consistently surprising.

However, despite the inherently experimental and sometimes challenging nature of Aviary, there are sometimes moments of pure beauty. ‘I Shall Love 2’ begins as a gentle piece of ambient pop, before ending in a crescendo where vocals are layered upon each other, all singing, euphorically: ‘I shall love!’ ‘In Garden’s Muteness’ is gentle, tender, and achingly beautiful, with Holter’s vocals, drenched in reverb, backed

by serene piano. ‘Underneath the Moon’ is one of the most straightforward moments of the album, despite the complex interplay of Holter and her band’s instruments and the complex drum patterns that underpin the song; it is also one of the album’s most joyous moments.

Similarly joyful is ‘Les Jeux to You,’ which sees Holter playfully singing nonsense lyrics with total conviction, as all the instruments combine together to create one of the most propulsive moments on the album.

Conversely, ‘Words I Heard’ is composed of strings layered on top of one another, with Holter’s vocals languid and impassioned as it unhurriedly reaches its climax. And closing the album is ‘Why Sad Song,’ elegiac and gentle, with Holter’s vocals barely rising above a whisper and her band’s instruments muted and calm. The closing sound—a cymbal gently being brushed —is the antithesis of the crashing which opens the album.

Aviary is an overwhelming, ambitious, and intense album, but it is also beautiful, tender, and enchanting, with inventive and constantly surprising production.

It may require significant investment on the part of the listener, but Aviary is a truly rewarding listening experience. It confirms Julia Holter to be one of the most original and innovative artists of the twenty-first Century, and may well be the best album of the year.

Kat Smith Deputy Editor

She’s been making waves in the US for over a year, but sixteenyear-old Billie Eilish is beginning to make her mark this side of the Atlantic.

I first heard her on the 13 Reasons Why soundtrack where her collaboration with Khalid on ‘lovely’ stood out on an already emotional collection of music.

Thinking she was merely a helping hand for her already-famous friend, I neglected to listen further. But after ‘when the party’s over’ made its way onto my Spotify recommendations, I was hooked. I can assure you that after hearing a few songs, you will be too.

With a song writing prowess and vocal ability many artists can only dream of, Billie demonstrates skill that surpasses her years. And while a sadness may permeate most of her songs, it’s not draining but hypnotising. Her mixing of personal and universal experience, alongside quirkier lyrics (‘He loves his friends like I like my split ends’ in ‘my boy’ is a particular favourite of mine) makes her lyrics a masterpiece alongside her melodies.

Her discography is cohesive beyond her consistent avoidance of combining uppercase and lowercase letters. But there’s still a sense of experimentation and playfulness, with the differences between ‘ocean eyes’ and ‘when the party’s over’ proving her progression over a short amount of time. ‘party favor’and ‘COPYCAT’ on her debut album don’t smile at

me further demonstrate the range of sounds Eilish is capable of.

Describing herself as primarily a visual artist, Eilish accompanies her music with haunting videos which stand out for their simplicity and darkness, whether it’s crying black ink or spiders crawling on a crown. Through this, social media and her style, she’s established a distinct aesthetic which has earned her a loyal legion of fans who can’t be much younger than herself.

Though being four years her senior and subsequently feeling significantly unaccomplished, Billie is an inspiration not only as a musician but as a visual artist and her fearlessness in exploring her pain.

In the age of social media where the expectations of a celebrity are ever more demanding, I hope she stands the test of time .

I’m confident Billie has a lot more to give yet.

Wikimedia Commons/ Justin Higuchio

Live Review: Kamaal Williams Seb Rolley Music Critic

‘This ain’t jazz no more,’ stated the Carhartt-sponsored sign in front of Kamaal Williams’ keys as people made their way into the rarely used Birmingham venue, The Crossing, for one of the most highly anticipated instalments of the Jazzlines concert series in collaboration with Leftfoot. Despite being seen as one of the key members of the modern resurgence of London jazz, Kamaal labels his music as ‘wu funk,’ rejecting the ‘jazz’ label in favour of his own brand of funk, jazz and club music. His visit to Birmingham clearly demonstrated this, as his blend of styles came together to form a gig which demonstrated some of the most incredible musicians around, and most importantly, was simply really fun.

Kamaal’s opening track ‘Situations’ gave the exceptional tones of his keys room to shine as he lay down the song’s rich chords on his Rhodes. This was the first of a handful of tracks played from his latest album, The Return, with ‘Broken Theme’ being a highlight. Its angular, driving groove took on new life in a live setting

as the performances from the musicians added more energy and funk into the song. Kamaal was joined on stage by bassist Pete Martin and drummer Dexter Hercules, both of whom proved throughout the set that they could

instagram.com/kamaalwilliams

keep up with Kamaal’s relentless passion and creativity. The lengthy solos taken by both were undoubtedly fantastic, but their true strength came when acting as equal parts with Kamaal as the gig’s core trio fell into the groove

of the tracks with ease.

Towards the latter half of the set Kamaal, Martin and Hercules were joined on stage by Mansur Brown, perhaps the most exciting up-and-coming guitarist of the resent jazz resurgence in the UK. Throughout his appearance he went from luscious chords, to funky rhythm parts, to full-on shred solos, signposting him as a singular talent among guitar players. Whilst clearly able to keep pace with the others on stage, it would have been nice if Brown had been given more of an opportunity to stand out during the set, as he often felt lost in the mix and unable to showcase his full capability. What we did get to see of his playing was stunning, but the overwhelming feeling after the gig was that it would have been great to see more.

Large sections of the set were comprised of entirely improvised jams, often beginning with Kamaal laying down some chords before Martin and Hercules (and later in the set Brown) would join in. Never more in the set was the evolution of jazz to ‘wu funk’ highlighted better, as these tracks felt like they owed as much to club culture as jazz. These sections really highlighted the chem-

istry between the musicians on stage, as their effortless communication and understanding of each other’s style allowed these jams to be as integral to the set as any rehearsed song.

“Williams’ tracks felt like they owed as much to club culture as jazz” The set closed with a fantastic rendition of the iconic Yussef Kamaal track, ‘Strings of Light,’ perhaps the biggest of Kamaal’s career and certainly one of his best. His inclusion of this song at the end of the set showed a musician not afraid of celebrating the success of his past work, perhaps since his new material is just as fantastic. What the show may have lacked in catchy hooks, it made up in energy and musicianship. If UK jazz is to continue its seemingly unstoppable momentum, it is musicians and shows like this one that will provide the driving force behind it.

FILM

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Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickfilm

Multi-Review: Fantastic Beasts 2

Warner Bros.

Redbrick Film explores whether The Crimes of Grindelwald spellbinds or stupefies Sam Denyer

Film Critic

Gellert Grindelwald's (Johnny Depp) surprise appearance at the end of the first Fantastic Beasts clearly signalled the direction this new franchise was going to take. He is essentially the new Voldemort, but not quite so follicly challenged and less focused on pureblood domination than freeing wizards from living in secrecy.

Now, months later, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) heads to Paris to confront both him and Tina (Katherine Waterston), going rogue on a quest of her own.

Director David Yates has assembled a charismatic cast but deploys them with frustrating inconsistency. Jude Law is a charming young Dumbledore but appears too briefly. Depp is less grating than in his bewildering appearance in the finale of the first instalment. Waterston is dramatically underserved by the script considering that she is one of the most talented performers on screen. Yates's sixth Potter film makes it hard not to long for the diversity that the original series initially provided. His style is too familiar now; one wishes for the injection of new blood which Alfonso Cuarón offered to Prisoner of Azkaban.

“[The plot] has almost no payoff” Your mileage will vary wildly depending on your affinity for the first, but Rowling's world undoubtedly retains some magic, even if it is blunted this time by a plot which has almost no payoff (besides one throwaway line) and spends two hours working towards a single moment which is more baffling and exasperating than exciting. At least the first had the good grace to end on a note which was simple and sweet enough to leave you with a smile instead of a groan.

Samuel Zucca

Film Critic

I had fairly low expectations leading into Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The first film had some fun set-pieces and lovable new characters, even if it didn’t quite have the same emotional impact as any of the Harry Potter films. One of the lowest points for me was the few minutes in which Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was revealed onscreen. So you can guess my apprehension when presented with a sequel in which he is now a title character.

The Crimes of Grindelwald is very difficult to watch in a vacuum; it both being a prequel, and the second in a series of five films. Yes, there are some very entertaining moments, and some beautiful visuals and music. In particular, the scenes in Hogwarts are especially dazzling and bring back nostalgic enchantments of the years spent there by Harry, Ron and Hermione. Yet the film in general is wobbly at best, even when viewed as a mere setup for its predestined sequels, as it struggles to even do that effectively.

The climax substitutes action spectacle for what is essentially a PowerPoint presentation delivered by Grindelwald. There is exposition so dense you may need a few tabs open on the Harry Potter Wiki to keep up.

Another evident limitation to the film’s focus is its compulsion to cram in many Easter eggs and references; both to the lore of the Wizarding World and the general context of its late 1920s setting. Fantastic Beasts is not alone in this compulsion; in a cinematic age dominated by sequels, prequels and remakes it becomes inevitable. To be fair, some of these nods are quite delicate or tongue-in-cheek, but with fan service taken to this extent, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fantastic References and Where to Cite Them coming to our screens in the next few years.

Alex Green

Film Critic

The first Fantastic Beasts was a surprisingly good trip back into Rowling’s wizarding world and – with a new cast, a more global adventure and a five-film series planned – returning to this universe has been a bit of a gamble.

The sequel is a decent movie, anchored by some strong performances: Eddie Redmayne as hero Newt Scamander and Jude Law excellently portraying the young Dumbledore. It boasts some of the prettiest visual effects of the year, a classy flowing soundtrack and a strong finale.

Truly, The Crimes of Grindelwald had the potential to be a sequel better than the original. Sadly, it does not reach those heights.

Whilst the bells and whistles are there, with magic dazzling and bursting off the screen, some issues prevent the film from attaining the success that the first did. The first half is criminally slow and some action sequences, in particular the opening action sequence, suffer from hyperactive editing. Johnny Depp as Grindelwald is fine, but lacks any real nuance and depth, as both a character and in his performance.

However, the greatest crime is the messiness of the plot. There are far too many characters in this film. From returning characters such as Tina and Queenie Goldstein, Credence and Jacob Kowalski, to the new characters such as Newt’s brother Theseus, Leta Lestrange and Nagini (in both snake and non-snake form), there is far too much going on. It is a classic issue of a lack of focus that means some characters are poor here. Katherine Waterston’s return as Tina is especially badly handled, and her character is left with very little to do. Others like Queenie and Leta do have some of the more interesting strands of the plot, but the lack of narrative cohesion really hurts this movie.

This is a film that could have been great but sadly is just fine.

Hopefully, the next film will be more focused and less messy; and maybe then it can truly entrance me to the wizarding world.

Alisha Shah

Film Critic

The perfect casting of Jude Law as Dumbledore is enough reason alone to watch this movie.

While the film as a whole is good – and a welcome improvement from the first Fantastic Beasts movie – The Crimes of Grindelwald is not without its issues, in particular the confusing and dull first half. It mostly functions as a mere ‘in-between’ movie, not caring for creating a clear storyline as it is dependent on its further three instalments.

Hence, important moments to define certain characters are saved for future films, with Grindelwald being the ultimate example of this. Some characters (like Tina) are criminally neglected, while others (Queenie and Jacob) do have their own moments to shine.

However, The Crimes of Grindelwald does indeed have more of the magic that ignited my love for the overall franchise in the first place. The fleshing out of the wider wizarding world feels natural for the most part, and is enjoyable to see. This includes more of the Ministries both in Paris and New York, as well as a brief ‘freak show’ circus that emphasises the darker aspects of the world. This is a common theme throughout the movie and is good for the franchise to focus on, pushing the storylines into areas that the original Harry Potter films only touched on. The most interesting element of the entire Fantastic Beasts series for me is how it addresses the global wizarding war, and this movie does take the first few steps in moving towards this World War II-era storyline.

The magic and monsters also continue to delight. Overall, I enjoyed the movie (despite key flaws) as it resonated with me far more than the first Fantastic Beasts. Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) continues to shine as a fun lead, and I hope further movies do elaborate on the other such likeable and engaging characters.

Lucy Ellen McCann Macleod

Film Editor Writer

The second instalment of the Fantastic Beasts series is one that definitely has a lot of fundamental flaws. The first half has a tendency to drag, and one of the key narrative points is rushed through (if only they could speak a bit slower). But what the film somewhat lacks in clarity, it makes up for with a range of full-bodied characters, a plot that (once grasped) is fun to go along with and – as one would expect from a wizarding world film – some cute creatures that are constructed with stunning special effects.

“Eddie Redmayne is, undeniably, the highlight of this film” Eddie Redmayne is, undeniably, the highlight of this film, keeping all the different plot threads tied together in a neat little bow. His performance is so grounded in reality that it almost seemed that Newt Scamander is separated somehow from the other characters, whose backgrounds are enveloped in magical history and lore. The relationships between all of the characters are beautifully laid out, with some serious character development occurring from those you wouldn’t expect. My one issue in terms of characters is with the writing of Tina, who is tragically reduced from a determined and intelligent woman to a mere love interest.

She had so much potential in her new role as an auror, but unfortunately we barely see any of that.

That aside, The Crimes of Grindelwald is a film full of colour, heart, and characters that are entertaining and truly something to watch. Though there are flaws, it does a perfect job of setting up future instalments of this amazing series.

FILM

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickfilm

Review: Suspiria

Guadagnino's homage to 1977 classic continues horror's golden age Matt Taylor Film Critic

I feel as though I am running out of words to describe good horror films. It seems we are in a golden age for the genre, being treated to so many unique, original, innovative and terrifying flicks with each year that passes. I’ve seen more than my fair share of horror movies, but never have I seen anything like Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria. This is a film that is an utterly unique experience. It is haunting, unsettling, brutal, masterfully directed and fronted by three powerhouse performances. If I may be so bold, it is one of the most profound and blood-curdling films of the 21st century thus far. It is most certainly not an easy watch.

“Guadagnino has a perfect sense of what atmosphere is appropriate at any given moment” Described as an ‘homage’ to Dario Argento’s 1977 original rather than a direct remake, Guadagnino’s Suspiria follows the same basic plot of an American dancer who moves to a prestigious academy in Berlin, but things quickly (or perhaps slowly – the film is over two and a half hours long) take a turn for the suspicious. Several aspects of the original are more present here (for example, it is clear from the off that we are dealing with a coven of witches), but Guadagnino chooses to go above and beyond what Argento did, overriding and overpowering the senses in even more alarming ways than we see in the original.

Amazon Studios

There were perhaps fewer than twenty people in my cinema screening to watch Suspiria.

Five of these walked out over the course of the film. That is a testament to how difficult it is to make it to the end; it is brutal, in every sense of the word. The scares themselves are few and far between, but when they do come they are fantastic moments of gut-wrenching body horror.

“Suspiria is fronted by two magnificent actresses” Guadagnino has a perfect sense of what atmosphere is appropriate at any given moment.

For much of the film it is one of extreme unease, but there are moments of levity and the climax is a scene of pure terror unlike anything I have ever seen.

This is helped by beautiful cinematography thanks to Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, and harsh editing courtesy of Walter Fasano. The editing comes to the fore in brilliantly lucid dreams that haunt the protagonist, which are some of the film’s most unsettling moments – they are expertly cut and visually beautiful. Mukdeeprom’s magnificent cinematography is never better than in Suspiria’s final act; a gorgeous, sweeping, horrifying long take is the film’s standout moment. It is impossible to unsee what is put before us. I will never forget that scene.

It is more terrifying than words can do justice to, a visual and aural feast of utter horror that leaves us entirely numb.

Special effects are put to great use here, and – in an earlier, just as gruesome scene – a lens filter sets us even more on edge, giving us a striking primary colour in a film deliberately bathed in blandness, only

to be furthered by the torrent of blood that explodes forth. This scene in itself is a masterclass in psychological terror, and exemplifies Guadagnino’s magnificent work beautifully.

It helps, of course, that Suspiria is fronted by two magnificent actresses: Dakota Johnson as Susie Bannion (the protagonist) and Tilda Swinton, who plays both dance instructor Madame Blanc and psychoanalyst Josef Klemperer (as well as a third, best-left-unsaid character.) Swinton’s powerhouse triple role serves to make a grand statement about femininity, as well as exploring ideas of id, ego and superego through her characters. Johnson is superb in the lead role – perhaps a surprise given her two wins at the Razzies for her performances in the Fifty Shades franchise. Susie undergoes a fantastic and terrifying transformation over the course of the film, and we see this mainly through her dance. To begin with she is controlled and beautiful in her movements, but she gradually becomes more erotic and sexual as other, more sinister forces start to move in on her. Mia Goth also deserves a mention for her wonderfully human turn as Sara, a dancer who befriends Susie. Though Susie is our protagonist, Sara is our emotional counterpart. She feels what we feel, and is the one that leads us down the rabbit hole, into the mystery and uncertainty at the film’s heart.

“Swinton's powerhouse triple role serves to make a grand statement about femininity”

The two main themes that permeate the film are motherhood and abuse of power. The idea of a mother’s importance is explored through Susie’s relationship with Madame Blanc, as well as flashbacks detailing her biological mother. Matriarchal leaders also serve as mother figures, and the conflict between these leaders and actual mothers offers up another point of horror in the climax. Abuse of power is also essential, and is meditated on through Klemperer. He serves as a ‘witness’ as he is both a Holocaust survivor and is present for the film’s more sinister events.

“Suspiria is a unique film” It is safe to say that Suspiria is a unique film. Expertly combining body horror and psychological terror, it is an experience unlike any other we may ever see. Its powerful lead performances serve to ground events, and Guadagnino’s superb direction, along with his team of editors, cinematographers, camera operators, sound designers, and composer Thom Yorke of Radiohead make this a must-see for anyone who claims to be a horror fan. Just be sure you have the stomach for it.

VERDICT: Suspiria is nothing short of a masterpiece of modern independent cinema.

Among the most horrifying films of modern day, it is gut-wrenching in its brutality, yet oddly, undeniably, and terrifyingly human. Its scares are unparalleled, its performances unmatched – it is, in every sense of the word, a triumph.

23

Thank You Stan Lee Rhys Lloyd-Jones Film Critic

My first encounter with the world of the late Stan Lee came in 2004, in a McDonald’s.

Spider-Man 2 had just been released to critical acclaim and so came the wave of merchandising. Still unaware of SpiderMan and all superheroes, I found inside my Happy Meal a plastic Doctor Octopus figure. Poorly sculpted and badly painted, the toy had nothing special about it.

His face was lopsided and one of his metallic tentacles was missing a claw. But for some reason it fascinated me. It captured my four-year-old imagination. A man with octopus arms? How strange, how bizarre, how wonderful! Who had came up with such an idea?

I didn't actually see SpiderMan 2 for many years after, but from that toy I launched into comics, specifically Spider-Man. I never thought too much about who was behind these creations, I just knew I enjoyed them.

Heroes like Superman or Captain America had always been too safe, too plain. Muscles aren't substitutes for personality. But Spider-Man had the integral trait that made him the most relatable, the most engaging hero in the world. A lot of the time, he was an idiot. A teenage genius to be sure, but an idiot in everything else. He was funny, he made mistakes, he tried to do the right thing but sometimes made things worse. He had the qualities and flaws that everyone has and the fact he could crawl on walls seemed like an afterthought.

In 2008, Iron Man was released and the $10bn behemoth that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) began. The MCU and the impact it has had on cinema is a testament to the legacy that Stan Lee leaves behind. And the reason it works, the reason the MCU can be larger than life and also feel so human, is the exact reason that I fell in love with Spider-Man. Because, be it Tony Stark and his raging narcissism or Bruce Banner and his meek demeanour, the characters never fail to be human above all else. This comes from Stan Lee and his love of that messy, complex business of being human. Anyone in his eyes could save the world.

Stan Lee had a boundless imagination that the world will likely never see again. Whether it be octopus arms and billionaires in flying suits, or green monsters with a big heart and teenagers who can walk on walls, he reinvented the superhero medium.

But to me, that isn't his greatest impact on pop culture and now, so many years later, modern cinema. To me, his greatest impact is the reinvention of the hero.

The world has enough of men in suits with fancy gadgets, or soldiers with guns. Stan Lee was a great believer that anyone, in a stroke of luck like a radioactive spider bite, or hard work, like building a robot suit, could find themselves in the shoes of a hero. And even if you made mistakes, you had a great responsibility. His characters have reinvented cinema and Stan Lee reinvented heroes. Excelsior!

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TELEVISION

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricktv

The Hyper-Sexualisation of TV's Teens TV Critic Holly Pittaway argues that Netflix's Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina portray their high-school characters in an overtly sexual and inappropriate manner Holly Pittaway

singing.

It seems that the showrunners of both series are willing to use any excuse to justify these teenagers taking their kit off. It’s not exclusive to their female characters either. Riverdale’s Archie is pretty much semi-naked in every other episode, because who needs a decent plot when you’ve got abs like that – right?

As a result of their hyper-sexualisation of teens, both of the Netflix shows have received a hefty amount of backlash. After Sabrina depicted the young witch taking part in yet another orgy, viewers took to Twitter to express their outrage, and critics marked the episode as a continuation of a ‘troubling trend’.

Television Writer

The hit shows Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina have more than a few things in common. They share the same cinematic universe (both originating from Archie Comics, and allowing them to recruit the former’s ready-made fan base for the latter) and they both debuted on Netflix under the same production team. And, of course, they both feature uncomfortably cringe-worthy characters and revolve around a highly repetitive plot.

The most troubling aspect of the two shows (and the wider TV genre of high-school drama), however, is their shared determination to overtly and inappropriately sexualise their teenage protagonists.

“Riverdale's plot has become secondary to its characters flouncing around in bikinis and stilettos” For those of you who have so far remained blissfully ignorant to the two shows, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is the newest instalment to the Archie comics universe by Roberto AguirreSacasa. It markets itself as a new and progressive version of the classic Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Like the original, it follows 16-year-old Sabrina (half magic, half mortal) as she struggles to choose between her life as a human and life as a witch.

Riverdale, now in its third season, is not so easily explained –

Netflix

mainly because the plot has become secondary to its characters flouncing around in bikinis and stilettos at pool parties (because, you know, that’s what kids do). However, the basic premise is similar to that of Sabrina; it’s supposedly a more modern and forward-thinking version of the original comics, depicting the lives of Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica.

Most of the central characters in both shows are still in high school. In other words, many of them cannot be considered to be consenting adults – something that the show’s creators seem incapable of recognising.

Episode 2 of Sabrina stands out as particularly chilling. Its main focus lies in preparing the titular character for her so-called ‘Dark Baptism’, a satanic ritual that would see her sign her soul away to the Devil. It also features the protagonist seeking revenge against a group of school-boys who insulted her non-binary

friend. Sabrina does this by by enlisting the help of the ‘Weird Sisters’ to create a twisted orgy scene – girl power, am I right?

Together, the young witches cast a spell to make the boys think they’re getting lucky with four girls, when in reality, they’re being tricked into making out with each other. As if this isn’t bad enough, the 'Weird Sisters' decide to then go rogue and ‘take their boyhoods’ – that is to say, the young men won’t be rising to the occasion any time soon.

“Sabrina is left standing in a skimpy slip in front of an entire crowd of witches and warlocks”

And it’s all downhill from here. Later on in the episode, Sabrina attends her ‘Dark Baptism’ clothed in a sombre black wedding dress, and is immediately told to disrobe by the High Priest.

She is left standing in a skimpy slip in front of an entire crowd of witches and worlocks – something I consider to be slightly inappropriate seeing as she has only just turned 16.

It’s a similar story with Riverdale. Many will have witnessed the most uncomfortable scene in television history when high-schooler Betty decides to strip in front of an audience and perform a pole-dance routine whilst singing, only to be ushered off-stage by her boyfriend’s dad (once she had finished, that is).

There’s a multitude of reasons as to why this is downright wrong.

For one, she’s underage; secondly, her audience consists of mainly middle-age men; and thirdly, it’s just plain bad – bad acting, bad ‘dancing’, and bad auto-tuned

“It seems that the showrunners of both series are willing to use any excuse to justify these teenagers taking their kit off” The show creators are surely to blame. They hire adult actors to portray 16-year-old kids, and then promptly forget that the characters they’re meant to be portraying are exactly that – children. And no one in their right mind wants to see children strip off or partake in orgies on a weekly basis.

Sabrina and Riverdale are hardly the first shows on our screens to sexualise teenagers – just take Gossip Girl, 90210, or The O.C., for instance. But the fact is that it is still happening in 2018, and in two shows that claim to be modern and progressive, is simply unacceptable.

Netflix

TELEVISION

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricktv

Review: Dancing Queen Alyssa Edwards is back, back, back, back again in Netflix’s latest series Amrita Mande

Television Critic

Alyssa Edwards, a.k.a. Justin Johnson, rose to international fame after appearances in two seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race and from the web series, Alyssa’s Secret. Whilst Alyssa Edwards, undeniably one of the most iconic and beloved queens to come from the show, is known world-wide for her dancing skills and being effortlessly funny, Justin Johnson’s real life was always kept pretty private until now.

“The show never feels weighed down by trying to emulate other reality shows” Described as a mixture between So You Think You Can Dance, Dance Moms and RuPaul’s Drag Race, the docuseries follows Johnson, who owns the Beyond Belief Dance Company in

Mesquite, Texas, as the Company prepares for the competition season. But the show never feels weighed down by trying to emulate other reality shows; Johnson, his life and his passions are truly at the heart of it and that’s whatmakes the show unique.

Throughout the show, the viewers get to see Johnson in action as he coaches his two elite dance teams of ‘minis’ and ‘seniors’ for competitions across the country. The show gets the audience rooting for the kids, many of whom, just like Johnson, have overcome obstacles to do what they’re really passionate about: dance. The ‘dance moms’ really make the show, with their passive aggressive and often downrightaggressive ways of trying to make sure their kids make it to the top.

At the end of the day, Beyond Belief is a family, and they go through all the successes and disappointments together.

When opening a window into Johnson’s personal life, the show doesn’t shy away from anything, the good, the bad or the ugly. The series follows Justin’s personal journey as he tries to rebuild his family after his mother’s death,

trying to bridge the decades olddivide between him and his sisters. The show also hints towards Johnson’s abusive childhood as he consciously tries to not follow in his family’s footsteps and be a role-model to his students that he never had.

“Johnson tries to be a role-model to his students that he never had” We also see some really beautiful and touching moments, like when Johnson buys his first home, the first person in his family ever to have done so, and when he visits his mother’s grave.

‘Dragsgiving’, Johnson’s version of Thanksgiving, was heart-warming to see as he celebrated the holiday season with his drag family, his chosen family, including his drag daughters Shangela and Laganja Estranja.

And whenever the show begins to get a bit intense, be it because of the dance moms going crazy or

family drama, Alyssa Edwards steps right in. She makes frequent appearances throughout the show, each time in a fabulous dress, dangerously long nails and wigs bigger than the state of Texas. She adds balance to the show, making viewers laugh with her signature quirky and ditzy humour. Her tongue popping, twirling and high-kicking definitely make Dancing Queen unlike anything else.

Dancing Queen is a unique show. In a world where story and entertainment are now just synonyms for drama, it’s endearing to be reminded of the people behind it all. The show’s strength lies in its heart; no one’s a villain, no one’s a hero; everyone’s human and they’re all doing their best.

While it may be cheesy, the message that hardwork pays off really rings true. Several times Johnson expresses his own disbelief that he gets to pursue his passions, drag and dance, for a living. Johnson is the definition of self-made and has certainly proved that he’s ‘still got it’.

The World of Michael Schur

Niamh Brennan discusses why Michael Schur's genius creations are an important addition to comedy television

NBC

Niamh Brennan Television Editor

What do all your favourite sitcoms have in common? Answer: Michael Schur. He is the mastermind and genius responsible for co-creating Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place, and was also a producer and frequent writer for The Office amongst many other directing, producing and writing credits. You may also visually recognise him as Mose Schrute from The Office, a role he once referred to as a ‘waking nightmare’.

Although not the only individual responsible for the success of each respective show, Schur is the key link between them all.

Every comedy show that he has created or contributed towards has helped to craft a world of

comedy magic. They are a form of escapism, a safe space for many viewers who need a quick respite from their own lives. But what is it about Schur’s shows that continually make them a universal success?

Friendships lie at the centre of each show. From Leslie’s incredible love for her best friend Ann Perkins, the power bromance of Jake Peralta and Charles Boyle, to the ever-evolving alliance between Eleanor and Chidi (plus many, many more), the friendships know no boundaries or limits. They are overt and all encompassing. No character shies away from or avoids emotion towards their friends. What we see are healthy relationships between co-workers and strangers placed in unusual situations that bloom fantastically. Even when relationships develop from

these friendships, the former relationship lies at its centre. Couples are devoted to each other and respect each other. They are strong relationships and perfect examples for people to aspire to in real life, a premise that other shows could definitely learn a lesson or two from.

Schur’s shows are also amazing examples of diversity and representation in television. Each show is pushing further than what came before it, making sure anyone who watches them will have someone to look to and see themselves reflected back. This is specifically notable in Schur’s use of people in positions of power.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Captain Holt is a black gay man in charge of a New York police precinct whilst Parks and Recreation depicts Leslie Knope’s progress through the government system from Deputy of the Parks and Recreation department of her town, to eventual (implied) President of the United States.

Each presentation shows that no job or position is off limits to anyone regardless of race, sexuality or gender.

In fact, Schur’s creation of women in general goes against stereotypical TV representations, and depicts women of all different personalities and bodies being sucessful in their respective lives.

Significantly, he stated in an interview with Vanity Fair that he ‘personally hates, more than anything, stories in which women fight over men’. Women in Schur’s world are no longer defined by their male counterparts, but as characters in their

own right. And it is wonderful.

Wide representation and diversity is so important for the success of each of Schur’s respective shows - the comedy is for everyone. It doesn’t get laughs by exploiting a stereotype, it rises above and is humorous on its own terms, not at the expense of anyone else.

To round it all off, Schur places two of his shows in everyday workplace environments.

Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine depict average working life in an idealistic manner without being too far removed from reality. And although The Good Place does not represent a familiar environment for anyone, it focuses in on individuals who have come from ordinary, flawed lives. Jason Mendoza is an incredibly foolish failed DJ, whilst Tahani Al-Jamil (although incredibly rich) is increasingly revealed to be astoundingly insecure.

Schur’s shows see the best in ‘average’ lives and show that no matter what kind of job or life path you find yourself on, there is always good to be found. No one is perfect, and everyone has their flaws, but this is the very thing that makes each person special and unique.

Schur’s comedies are exactly what we need in the world right now. These wholesome and lovable sitcoms have the ability to resonate with every single viewer, no matter who they are. When the future is uncertain, and life is often terrifying, there are few places you can find such a welcome release.

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Top TV Picks for November/ December

I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here ITV 17th November

Kidding Sky Atlantic 29th November

F Is For Family Netflix 30th November

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Amazon Prime 5th December

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GAMING

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickgaming

Recap: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct

Redbrick's Top 5

Soundtracks in Gaming

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5

This extends to all 74 characters and I imagine is how you can unlock each one. Battles take place under certain specific conditions as you move across the world map in a dungeon-crawler setting with skill trees and equipable abilities. It also seems bosses will be back, a la Subspace in Brawl. Overall the mode looks to be a return to a more story-based Adventure mode as opposed to the previous game's more straight-forward Classic mode.

Thus ends the final Smash Bros.

Ultimate Direct; we learnt a significant amount about the game and my hype levels are at an alltime high. The reintroduction of an Adventure Mode, as well as the concept of Spirits, look to reinvigorate the franchise for solo players. Meanwhile online is as robust and exciting as it has always been.

All this, coupled with the insane roster of fighters, guarantee this is truly the ultimate Smash game.

December can't come soon enough.

Nintendo

Animal Crossing

4 The Mii Channel

Toby Fox

With just under two months to go until the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Nintendo have presented one final Direct to tie up any loose ends concerning the game. This follows a turbulent few weeks, where it appeared features and characters of the game had been leaked multiple times.

Nevertheless, Mr. Sakurai sat down in this video to dispel any rumours and reveal the final roster, amongst many other aspects of Ultimate.

The presentation began with a trailer for two new fighters, Ken from the Street Fighter series and the PokĂŠmon Incineroar. Ken is Ryu's Echo fighter and is distinguished in a few ways, including his Heavy Shoryuken and different shaped Hadouken. Like Ryu, his moves change depending on button commands; he also has two Final Smashes, one close range and the other longer.

Incineroar uses a wrestling-esque moveset, including Darkest Lariat, a devastating mid-air Cross Chop and a timing-based grab move. It also has a counter in its downspecial, Revenge, unleashing a powerful retaliation to any attack.

Mr. Sakurai noted these are the last new challengers.

While Ultimate's character select screen is initially small (starting with the original eight from the Nintendo 64 game), it will grow to the final 74 as you unlock more! There was also confirmation that every single fighter would (eventually) get an amiibo, though release times for these may vary.

Next was the introdution of Spirits mode. They replace trophies in being the main character collectible of the game. These power up your fighters during battle, giving stat boosts and extras depending on the ones you use. They come in the form of a number of recognisable characters, ranging from Liquid Snake to Knuckles.

There are a

3 Undertale

Image Credits: Nintendo

2

Game Freak

Gaming Editor @samjnason

huge amount of these split into and Hand from Mario Paint, Tiki four classes; Novice spirits have a from Fire Emblem, Vince from Art standard strength, Advanced a lit- Academy, Guile from Street tle stronger, Aces are especially Fighter and Akira from powerful and Legends are the SEGA's Virtua Fighter, to total most powerful. One 'primary' 59 Assist Trophies.

Spirit can be assigned to a fighter The Help section features at a time, who in turn can be many guides and tips for assigned support Spirits. While new players. Mob Smash primary ones enhance stats, sup- encompasses Century port ones give additional skills to Smash (vs 100 others), your fighter.

All Star Smash (vs all These are acquired through win- currently avaliable ning Spirit Battles; at any time characters) and Cruel you can select a Spirit on the Smash. Replays are Spirit Board to fight for and also avaliable and videngage in a themed battle that, if eos can now be created you were to win, gives you a with your highlights. chance to collect the Spirit.

Challenges are once again Primary Spirits have three types; avaliable for rewards, be it Spirits Attack, Grab and Shield, that or music. The Shop is also once work in a kind of grass-water-fire again avaliable for this end, too. system in that they cover each 11 languages are also supported other's strengths and weaknesses. with the game, with characters Some are therefore more suited to and the announcer changing certain fights than others. accordingly. A radar is now disWhen fighting with a primary played in the main Smash mode, Spirit equipped, it will level up so one can see where their characafter battle. This in turn allows ters are at any times. Balance has your fighter to grow even strong- also been added, to place a handier. Spirits can be trained at cap on a single player or dojos or sent away to give another an advanfind treasure (a la tage - obviously this what one may expect is only avaliable from a smartphone offline. game). Spirits can New Mii Fighter also be used to costumes were train up amiibo also shown, Assist Trophies in fighters. including the Yiga Local and online Clan set, Splatoon Super Smash are once again 2 set, the Ribbon Bros.

Ultimate avaliable, as is cusGirl set, the Chibitomary. There is no Robo set, the Ray longer For Fun or For Mk III set and the ToyGlory, but matchmaking Con set. is instead decided through rules Mr. Sakurai was excited to you yourself select prior to enter- mention the prospect of DLC ing a lobby; you are then matched coming to Ultimate - these will be with people with similar perfer- all new characters (not Echo ences. Global Smash Power is Fighters). These will be avaliable also factored in, pitting you in sets of a fighter, a stage and against people of similar skill. some accompanying music. Five There are also a few new online will be released and you can make features. Every player has a Smash a one-time purchase for the Tag and, as you beat them, you Fighters Pass which will give you collect Tags - it's a nice way to access to all five as they release. have something to show for your This is ÂŁ22.49. online efforts. You can also enjoy Since these characters are all-new, other game modes while waiting it will take time to work on them, for a match. Battle and Mr. Sakurai stressed all five Arenas also debut, would be avaliable by Feburary where you can join 2020. a waiting room, spec- Hilariously, the Piranha Plant tate or fight with a select group from Super Mario is a playable of friends. character! It looks to be a really Smash Bros. Ultimate is com- fun and intuative character to play patible with the Nintendo and (obviously) came significantSwitch Smartphone app and ly out of left field. Nevertheless, if will have its own exclusive you register Super Smash Bros. page known as Smash Ultimate before January on My World, tracking a multi- Nintendo, you can claim the plant tude of stats. for yourself.

A number of Assist While stressing that Ultimate's Trophies were revealed, Adventure mode is nothing including Isacc and like Brawl's Subspace Emissary, Shadow (falsely implicat- the World of Light mode was ed as playable characters in revealed, which explains why the last week's leaks), Black Spirits exist in the first place. The Knight from Fire trailer showed off a mode that is Emblem, Thwomp more reminiscent of an RPG than from Super Mario, expected. Beginning as Kirby, Spring M a n your job is to one by one recover from ARMS, Dr. lost Nintendo characters from Wiley from Mega an evil entity consuming Man, the Flies them.

Pokemon Emerald

1

Studio MDHR

Sam Nason

Nintendo

Gaming Editor Sam Nason looks back at the final Smash Bros.

Ultimate Direct, charting new features, characters and modes

YoshiCuphead (Super Mario Series)

GAMING

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickgaming

Review: Spyro: Reignited Trilogy Is the long-awaited collection a red hot remaster or a drag-on?

Gaming Critic @tomallenmartin

I remember it like it was yesterday: whilst other kids were playing Call of Duty: World at War, Fallout 3 or in the weirdest cases Spore, I would be booting up PS1 classic Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer (known also as Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage). Or, rather I would be booting up the first level of Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer for I didn’t have the PS1 memory card, leading to me having to replay the first few levels every time. In what can only be described as a prime example of Stockholm Syndrome, “Glimmer” cemented itself as my favourite level of any game.

For this reason, I will admit the bulk of my time with the game has been spent in Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage, I felt that this was the game I played most in my youth, and thus this was the game I’d be most equipped to assess the game as a remaster. I have however played small amounts of the first and third in the interest of maintaining the stalwart ethics of gaming journalism so that r/Spyro doesn’t come after me with the same anger they came after the remastered baskets.

It seems like an obvious place to start, and is perhaps a given for a remastered game, but what should be noted is how beautiful this game looks. At one point in the level the player is asked to utilise the “look function” (‘Triangle’) to check around the cavern, this moment truly brought me a sense of wonderment. The Unreal Engine may be the cruel and vengeful god that gave us Fortnite, but the way Spyro looks inside of it is nothing short of breath-taking. The softly-edged cartoon style of the remaster brings Spyro into the modern day whilst retaining a sense of sentimentality for the sharper polygon style of classic games.

“Firstly, what should be noted is how beautiful this game looks” With the exception of Spyro himself, the remastered cast felt strangely unfamiliar during the marketing for the game, leading me to speculate whether I would struggle to love the characters in their defined forms as much as I did when they were blocky nightmares. This anxiety was put to rest immediately however as the faithful scripting and largely returning voice-cast immediately reinserted me into the light up trainers of my young self. I quickly settled into the new character designs, and before long I was quite happily watching Moneybags charge me for my help in HD. In another throwback to the

original trilogy, the player is given the opportunity to enjoy the game to the tune of Stewart Copeland’s classic soundtrack, or to a painstakingly reimagined version headed by Stefan Vankov (in an interview with the PS Blog, Vankov revealed the team behind The Reignited Trilogy painfully “reconstructed all 120+ themes from the original trilogy, transcribing each piece note-by-note[!!!]”).

Whilst the option to return to the original music is a very thoughtful addition - providing a nice few minutes of schmaltz as I made a cup of tea with the game running in the background - as the updated soundtrack retains the fun energy and simplicity of the originals so well that I didn’t feel the need to swap whilst charging around the splendorous new surroundings. It felt as a whole that the new soundtrack fitted better with the crisper sound design (the ‘patter’ Spyro makes as he runs is literally the most incredible feat in gaming).

I also appreciated the addition of a “dynamic music” option, which fades the music to a transient atmospheric style if the player stops moving. This, alongside new idle animations for Spyro, makes the game weirdly fun to watch as well as play. Whilst stopped, Spyro might surprise the player by adorably yawning and stretching; he can also surprise the player by sneezing, setting light to a nearby patch of grass. The idle animation which brought a genuine squeak of excitement out of me however was Sparx the Dragonfly’s breaking of the fourth wall, adorably coming close to the screen before smiling and waving out at the player.

In all its new reignited splendour the game is also incredibly satisfying to play. I find just as much joy in holding ‘square’ and charging from basket to basket like some sort of alternate reality Beerus come to wreak havoc on all that is wicker. Familiar players will have no difficulty diving back into the game, within minutes I was seeing the ones and zeros, collecting hidden gems and obtaining even the most challenging orbs like that kid from The Wizard.

But perhaps this is what concerned me, I was able to so enjoy the game as a returning player, able to bypass the game’s strange tendency to drop gameplay hints at points where you’ve already had to utilise the abilities to get there. For example, in the first home world in Spyro 2, ‘Summer Forest’, the player is taught how to jump, glide and hover by Hunter.

By the time of reaching the home world the player has already completed the first level and made their way through a portion of ‘Summer Forest’, which requires gliding.

Waiting for someone to learn to ride their bike before giving them training wheels is a strange way to go about things. This is especially the case in a remastered game such as Spyro: The Reignited Trilogy. Unless your primary aim

Gaming at a Glance Playstation Skipping E3 for the First Time Sony won't be holding a press conference or offering any handson experiences at this year's E3.

In a statement to Variety, the company said they "always want to innovate, think differently and experiment with new ways to delight gamers."

This announcement comes after Sony's cancellation of this year's Playstation Experience, citing a lack of substantial games to show.

Speculation is rife as to whether Sony are planning an alternative, especialy given the recent confirmation of a successor to the PS4. These could include their own conference or a dedicated video presentation a la Nintendo Directs.

Activision

is to alienate new players, it is always worth making sure your remaster has (optional) clear and accurate hints and guidance. All newcomers are gifted: in the trilogy is a new – albeit handy - minimap.

What I tolerated in gaming as a 10-year-old, I will probably not enjoy as much as a 20-year-old.

Returning to old favourites in the past such as Spider-Man 2 and Sonic Heroes recently has made me all too newly aware of just how janky controls were back in Spyro’s era of gaming.

Unfortunately, it must be said, these awkward controls seem to return in the remasters; albeit only when I got the chance to watch a less-experienced Spyro player attempt to grapple with the game’s mercilessly awkward camera.

Jankiness in all its horror is especially problematic in some of the game’s notoriously hard sections.

My best point of reference for this is Spyro 2’s ‘speedways’. Here the dissonance between how the camera follows Spyro and how he moves – which during flight can itself be slightly sluggish – can be a problem.

“Awkward controls seem to make a return in the remaster” I myself also took issue with one in particular of the game’s brand-new controls: In the original Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage, the player was able to cause Sparx to point in the direction of the nearest gem by holding both bumpers and triggers. In The Reignited Trilogy however this has been changed to the simple act of clicking in the left stick, the bumpers instead cause Spyro to roll left or right. On more occasions than I’m proud to admit, this resulted in my innocent wish to amass shiny things leading to me rolling into the downswing

of some giant club or even just off the edge of the level itself.

There are positive additions to the controls however. In a touch that reminded me of an old Destiny/ Destiny 2 controversy, players can now control Spyro in loading screens as he flies between worlds.

You can: press ‘X’ to make Spyro flap his wings, press ‘R1’ and ‘L1’ to make him Barrel Roll right and left respectively, control his flight up/down/left/right with the left analogue stick and press ‘O’ to breathe fire. I am also happy to report that some of the original secret codes still work in the game.

These allow players to change Spyro’s colour, dimensions and head size. So, it is thankfully still possible to save Avalar looking like a rejected NBA Jam character.

In the interest of bringing my dissection/nostalgic diatribe to a conclusion, I will simply say that the truth is I was anxious to return to Spyro after the strange fever nightmare that was the Skylanders series, the previous incarnation of Spyro under the development of Toys for Bob. Thankfully however, in Spyro: The Reignited Trilogy older and perhaps similarly disenfranchised players will find a beautifully faithful rekindling of the much beloved series. As with the Crash Bandicoot: N-Sane Trilogy however, I do doubt how much draw the game will have with a younger, newer audience; in a world filled with fast paced shooters and vast cowboy sims, a small game about a purple dragon and his dragonfly sidekick collecting gems, headbutting sheep and burning flags might seem just a little bland.

Nevertheless, as I finish this review, I am filled with excitement at the prospect of heading home to my trusty PlayStation 4. Whilst other kids are playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Fallout 76 or in the weirdest cases still Spore except now it’s even weirder, I will be booting up Spyro: The Reignited Trilogy.

XBOX acquires Obsidian In line with recent rumours, Microsoft has acquired the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas and Alpha Protocol. This is the sixth new studio to join Microsoft only this year, ahead of Ninja Thoeyr, Playground Games, Compulsion Games and Undead Labs. With a fifth generation of consoles on the horizon, it will be interesting to see Microsoft's efforts with an upholsted first party studio lineup.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite announced Revealed through the game's official Twitter account, Wizards Unite (pictured) is developed by Niantic and looks to be a Harry Potter version of their first game, Ingress. The game's concept involves traces of magic appearing in the Muggle world, with players having to find them and protect the wizarding world. The game comes on the tail of the leaked Harry Potter RPG, which hasn't yet seen any more news.

The Hundred Acre Wood returns to Kingdom Hearts III. The fan favourite world returns to the latest instalment of the RPG franchise. A minigame-centric world in previous games, the Hundred Acre Wood looks to follow suit in this third game, sporting vibrant cell-shaded visuals. With the reveal of this world, Kingdom Hearts III now has ten confirmed worlds.

Niantic

Tom Martin

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FOOD&DRINK

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbrickfood

A Student Guide to Thanksgiving

Food&Drink Writer Emma Stephenson gives her top tips for the perfect turkey Emma Stephenson

Ranging in price, the pennypinching student can acquire a bowl of vegetables for as little as 50p. However, vegetables are also cheap in most supermarkets, especially Aldi. Thanksgiving can include any sides you want, but traditionally the table features green beans, mashed potatoes, cauliflower cheese and yams. All of this is easily sourced in the UK, except for yams; but most comparisons equate yams to sweet potatoes which again, are easy and cheap to buy.

Food&Drink Writer

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and is being celebrated in the UK more and more every year.

Whether you are an international student feeling a little homesick, or just a British student looking to get involved in the festivities, here is how to create your own Thanksgiving dinner from the comfort of your student kitchen.

Admittedly you will not find all your usual ingredients in British supermarkets, but this guide will provide some advice on how to source and cook a Thanksgiving dinner on a student budget.

The Main Event The most iconic and commonly circulated images of a true Thanksgiving dinner feature a perfectly golden turkey. A whole turkey will usually be more on the expensive side, and may be hard to find at this time of year as supermarkets and butchers only usually order them in for Christmas. Never fear, you have plenty of other options! For one, you could roast a chicken instead.

A whole chicken averages at around £10 in a supermarket such

Marty Cathrae

as Morrisons. Choosing chicken would be both more time effective (having a shorter roasting time) and cost effective. While a supermarket is convenient, a local butchers or market will be much cheaper and much better quality.

The Birmingham Open Market on Edgbaston Street, in between the Chinese Quarter and New Street, is the best place to go for market goods. If you do choose to get your chicken through this route,

here is a top tip: go between 3:00pm and closing time (varying day to day) for the best deals. This is when the vendors will be trying to sell off their produce at reduced prices.

On the Side Birmingham Open Market is not only a great place to acquire your bird, but will also be the best place for high quality vegetables for your Thanksgiving feast.

The Best Bits This may not be quite the same as Mum’s homemade stuffing, but using the packets of justadd-water stuffing could save you a lot of time, trouble and probably disappointment. Aldi’s own sage and onion stuffing is a mere 34p.

Or, if you are feeling luxurious, you could punt for Paxo, a very reputable brand that has served families across the UK for over a century who offer a basic sage and onion packet for just 68p in Morrisons. Likewise, cheat gravy simplifies the effort put into the meal, as you simply have to add hot water. Depending on your budget, most supermarkets will have their own brand for a reason-

able price, or you can buy granules from Bisto or Schwarz.

Getting Saucy Cranberry Sauce is a Thanksgiving staple, and while simply buying a jar would suffice, you can easily make your own if you wish to do so. A basic cranberry sauce is made up of just cranberries, sugar, water and optional lemon juice. You will probably have the most success by buying frozen cranberries and cooking with these as cranberries don’t commonly grow in the UK, but as we approach Christmas these will be relatively easy to find in supermarkets.

This Thanksgiving may not be the traditional affair many international students might be used to. However, hosting a dinner with your flat or house is totally feasible in a small student kitchen, and is a great way to get everyone involved. You will be surprised by how enthusiastic your friends will be about helping you celebrate. At the end of the day, Thanksgiving is a holiday, so there is no reason not to have a go at celebrating it as a student. Gather your friends together, crack open a bottle of wine, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Mock Meat: What’s the Beef About?

Food&Drink Editor Lydia Waller questions the ethics behind ‘mock meat’ products Lydia Waller Food&Drink Editor

This week, Tesco has released news of a new ‘bleeding’ vegan burger by ‘Beyond Meat,’ to appear on their shelves by August, alongside actual meat products.

The burger itself is made entirely from plant products, such as pea protein, coconut oil and potato starch; the ‘blood’ is made from beetroot juice, to give it that meaty hue that veggie burgers are somehow ‘missing.’ Seth Goldman the CEO of ‘Beyond Meat’ has stated that these sorts of products are targeted towards the UK’s estimated 22 million flexitarians, hence their slotting in by the actual meat products on the shelves.

Many other food retailers will be following suit, such as Iceland with their ‘No Chicken-Chicken,’ to appeal to the vegan-vegetarian obsession in today’s dietary rhetoric.

Yet, all this imitation of actual meat products and the essence of meat, by vegan and vegetarian brands, all appears slightly oxymoronic; if you disagree or dislike the concept of meat, why would you want to recreate it? Why would you want the ‘meaty hue’ of blood seeping out a veggie burger if the idea of slaughtering animals for consumerism upsets you?

There seems to be a few layers to this supposedly ethical dilemma in ‘mock-meat,’ yet the ‘bleeding vegan burger’ appears just a little too paradoxical to support some of these companies’ allegedly ‘ethi-

cal’ motives.

One of the most poignant developments in today’s food and science world, is the curation of ‘Cultured Meat,’ also known as ‘clean meat.’ Lab meat is meat produced by a process called in vitro cultivation, of animal cells. A man named Mark Post in 2013, created the first lab grown burger patty, without having to slaughter any animals. To give a quick rundown of the process of lab-grown meat; you start with collecting cells that have a fast rate of proliferation such as adult stem cells of mytoblasts, which either haven’t specified what they are yet or are fully developed muscle cells. The cells are then treated by adding protein to them, encouraging tissue growth, in a culture medium.

To make the ‘meat’ look 3D, the cells grow on a scaffold, ideally edible, to stretch the muscle. Once this process is started, it is logically possibly to continue the production of ‘meat’ without introducing a living organism. It might make you feel uncomfortable thinking of your ‘meat’ as this stretched random bunch of cells, bred on constructed proteins and scaffolds, as opposed to pigs bred on grain in an organic field. There is a feeling of the unnatural when you hear about this process, yet does its environmental and ethical alleged benefits outweigh these feelings?

Although this may all seem glowing in ethical eaters’ reports, there are immense complications and layers to this process, which are the reasons why lab-meat has

not made it to commercial sales yet. For starters, it is not intrinsically vegan; the cells do come from animals themselves and in the research process, many animal carcasses are fished around in, until they find the right type of progeniture cell. These cells are then tricked until thinking they are still in their owner, which again is innately an unnatural process, and cultivated serums typically made from animal blood to feed them protein. Again, not sounding super veggie or renaissance in reverting back to natural ways of producing foods.

“This imitation of actual meat products and the essence of meat all appears slightly oxymoronic” Additionally, these serums are very expensive; another lab-meat company from the States named ‘Finless’ stated it would cost approximately $850 to source fish serum. The nature of these serums is another set-back for these ‘clean-meats’ to go commercial, as they are not meat-free and in principle would not fit the vegan criteria or be economically viable. The grounds for cultured meat to substantiate a vegan and meat-free market and argument, do not appear established enough yet for

us as consumers to trust them and feel as though we are genuinely buying into an ethically beneficial concept.

Other mock-meats that have been on the market for a while also include ‘Quorn,’ which mimic meat products such as bacon, ham, gammon, nuggets, steaks, sausages and burgers. As a vegetarian and occasionally vegan-based brand, it seems extremely paradoxical that their main commercial aim is to imitate meat products. Quorn itself is made from a fermented fungus that produces a dough called mycoprotein that is very high in protein and fibre. Yet the rest of many of Quorn’s products ingredients lists contain rehydrated egg, potassium sorbate, palm oil which is extremely morally questionable despite the brand’s contribution in campaigning against deforestation, and other chemical ingredients which venture far away from natural produce.

It seems baffling that a movement such as veganism, that is almost violently against the use of animal products and meat, and is campaigning a revolt back to supposedly more natural means of eating, is now cultivating a market for mock-meat and fake bleeding burgers, to almost replace the murderous aspects that plant-based diets are missing? Not every vegan will support these products and brands, which then leads to questioning if these vegan brands are merely manipulating a hyper-active food market. They have identified that people, particularly the

middle-upper classes, will still buy into meat and are just making the transition easier for them to eat a meat-free diet, without consumers having to question too much the nature of what they’re eating, if it appears like what they are used to.

So then, does it matter what vegetarian food looks like as long as we are recruiting more people to plant-based diets and saving more animals? Is it then an ethical or environmental question? Do we want to desensitise people with mock meat, or normalise nonflesh like protein and nutrients to encourage more meat-less diets?

It appears that ‘Beyond Meats’ strategic placing of the vegan burger by their own meat-products on the shelves, shows a consciousness of the continuing meat-market and the ease of converting a carnivorous consumer market to a meat-less diet, when it looks like what they already know. It is the consumer’s decision whether there are any intrinsic ethics in imitating meat, when the concept of meateating is so ethically questionable.

Food Republic

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 23rd November 2018

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@redbrickfood

The Best Brunch in Birmingham

Food&Drink's Charlotte Gill shares the best local spots for breakfast food Charlotte Gill Food&Drink Writer

1. York's Cafe and Coffee Roasters As their menu reads, Yorks was recently listed as one of the UK’s top 10 brunch destinations

by The Sunday Times and The Observer, which is understandable from its wide-ranging and tasty menu. Along with the classic Charlotte Gill brunch menu options of a full breakfast, eggs galore (I went for the scrambled eggs on toast and was not disappointed), homemade beans on toast, porridge and as it roasts its own coffee on site granola, there are some slightly and you can even buy a bag to take different options, too. You can away. The interior is cool and choose from spiced banana bread, stripped back, and the atmosphere sage & chilli mushrooms on toast, is bustling yet chilled out. There or go all out and have shakshuka, are now three locations: Stephenson greek eggs, arabian buttered eggs Street (my preference, right by or even fried chicken & bacon New Street Station), Colmore Row and a smaller version in waffles. There are many veggie the Ikon Gallery. dishes, some vegan options, some dairy2. The Plough free options (but The Plough unfortunately no “If you consider may conjure gluten-free yourself a coffee up images of options on the Sunday dinbrunch menu). connoisseur then ner, and Brunch is certainly visit Yorks, while it has served until won awards 4pm and pricas it roasts its own for that, it es are reasondoes a great able, with porcoffee on site and brunch too. ridge costing you can even buy a Brunch is £4, breakfast served until sandwiches and bag to take away” 12.30pm on toasts around £5-6 weekends and and larger dishes though the menu costing up to £10. You offers a modest seleccan add extras on for a tion, it offers a tasty one. You small cost if you are feeling hungry and if you have a sweet tooth, can choose from pasties, granola make sure to have a nosy at the and your trusty breakfast ‘sarnies’. cake stands by the counter. If you If you want a bit more, there are consider yourself a coffee con- classic egg dishes, homemade noisseur then certainly visit Yorks, baked beans on toast and a full

breakfast (both veggie and house).

Smoked salmon and avocado of course make it to the menu as the top dogs of brunch, as does a stack of pancakes served with blueberries and maple syrup (bacon optional). The potato & okra hash is a refreshing change and the slow cooked beef brisket with poached egg & English muffin is also a more unconventional brunch option. There are some nice juices and smoothies, though unfortunately not homemade (I had the açai, strawberry, blueberry and mango one which I can recommend).

“Smoked salmon and avocado of course make it to the menu as the top dogs of brunch” Some parts of the menu are slightly overpriced -- the £3 half pink grapefruit springs to mind --

but generally the pricing is fine.

Dishes range from £6-11 and are consistently tasty and the service is always very good. The Plough has a lively and comforting vibe -- it is often filled with families and larger groups. The smart, airy decor adds a bit of modernity to the familiar pub experience. As The Plough is in Harborne, it gets you out of Selly for a little while and makes for a nice walk there with a group of friends at the weekend.

3. Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party's menu is strong, and breakfast & brunch is served all day, so you can take your time. There are veggie, vegan and gluten-free options galore, making it great for a group with various food requirements. The sweetcorn hash and the chorizo hash are worth talking about (I had the chorizo hash and of all three brunches, I would say this one came in first place). Expect to see your trusty egg dishes (royale, benedict, florentine) as well as a fancy twist of sourdough eggy bread with bacon and avocado. If you are not a breakfast-eater nor-

York's Cafe

Boston Tea Party

mally, you can choose one of the lighter bites such as spelt granola or brown rice porridge. You can even order their flatbreads and paninis, or a burger -- break that breakfast status quo! They do all manner of hot and cold drinks (they even have some festive additions now), as well as milkshakes and smoothies which are made fresh and are really tasty, and not badly priced compared to many other cafés which tend to overcharge on drinks. They also have a cake counter, so you could have breakfast-dessert if you are feeling indulgent. The menu as a whole comes in at about the same price as Yorks cafe, ranging from around £5-10. The Boston Tea Party cafés are bright and friendly inside, as is the service. I also like that they have banned single use coffee cups -- you can buy one of their reusable cups with #noexcuseforsingleuse written on them. BTP, too, has been voted as one of the top UK brunch stops by The Sunday Times. There is one on Corporation Street in the city centre, one in Harborne (my favourite of the three) and now one in Edgbaston.

Happy brunching!

Reading Week Recipes: Matilda Cake Food&Drink Editor Emily Calder recreates literature’s most famous cake Emily Calder For many students who head home for reading week, this means eating out of a full fridge, sleeping in your own bed and enjoying precious time with your dog.

Reading week also, for me, means taking advantage of being out of my student kitchen and doing some baking. I cannot think of a better time to share what I have been making than in Redbrick’s post-reading week edition! These recipes are relatively fool-proof, so suit anyone from the inexperenced baker to the aspiring Mary Berry.

Ingredients: For the cake: 225g plain flour 350g caster sugar 85g cocoa powder 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 medium free-range eggs 250ml milk of your choice 125ml vegetable oil Two tsp vanilla extract 250ml boiling water For the icing: 100g milk chocolate broken into small pieces (I used Cadbury’s Dairy Milk) 200g softened butter 400g icing sugar 4 tbsp cocoa powder 2 tbsp milk of choice

‘Matilda’ Cake The majority of us watched the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’ as children, but my lasting memory of it is how delicious the giant chocolate cake looked that Bruce Bogtrotter eats. If you feel like treating your friends (or just yourself!), here is an easy guide to baking what is potentially literature’s greatest cake.

Method: 1) Preheat your oven to 180 degrees and grease (and line, if you have baking parchment) two sandwich tins.

2) Place the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl and stir until well combined 3) Beat and add the eggs, and then add the milk, vegetable oil

Food&Drink Editor

and vanilla extract. Use a wooden spoon (or whisk) to beat the mixture until everything is combined and you have a smooth, lump-free batter.

4) Boil and measure out your water, and add a little at a time (stirring each time) until smooth.

You should now have a very thin batter.

5) Pour cake batter in equal amounts between your sandwich tins.

6) Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until you can insert a skewer in the centre and it comes out clean.

7) Allow the cakes to cool in their tins whilst you make your icing.

8) Place your chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir occasionally until melted. You could alternatively melt the chocolate in the microwave in 20 second bursts (stirring each time) but be careful that it does not burn! Once all melted through, leave to cool a little.

9) Combine your butter and icing sugar in a large bowl, whisking until smooth and fluffy.

10) Add the cocoa, melted chocolate and milk and combine until lump free. You should be left with a velvety icing!

11) Remove your cakes from their tins once cooled. Spread a little icing over one cake, and top with the other. You can then ice it all over; a palette knife would work best but feel free to use a spatula or just the back of a tablespoon can also work well. Enjoy!

Vegan Bake: Banana Bread Banana bread is an absolute favourite of mine – and this recipe is just perfect! Not only can you use up your ripe, spotty bananas but you can make a bake that everyone can eat. Cinnamon gives this recipe a lovely kick, and you could add 50g of chocolate chips or nuts if you want to make it a bit more indulgent.

Ingredients: 3 ripe bananas 6 tbsp vegetable oil 100g sugar (light brown works best) 225g plain flour 3 tsp baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon Method: 1) Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease (and line, if you have parchment) a loaf tin.

2) In a large bowl mash your bananas using a potato masher until smooth and there are as few lumps as possible.

3) Add the oil and sugar to the mashed banana and stir until well combined.

4) Fold in the flour (sieved), baking powder and cinnamon and mix to form a smooth, thick batter.

5) Add any extra ingredients (nuts, chocolate etc) at this stage.

Then pour into your loaf tin and smooth over – you could top the loaf with banana slices at this stage if you wish to do so.

6) Bake for between 40 and 50 minutes. Check after 20 minutes and cover with tin foil if the top has already browned. You will know it is finished when you can insert a skewer to the middle and it comes out clean.

7) Slice and enjoy hot or cold, preferably with a cup of tea!

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TRAVEL

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricktravel

Two Weeks In: Turkey Jacky Sy Travel Writer

I spent two weeks with my best friends in Turkey after graduation. We travelled around the three major tourist cities: Istanbul, Izmir and Cappadocia. Here are some of my best moments of the trip, giving an insight into the real Turkey.

Turkey’s location as the bridge between Europe and Asia has been a battleground over the centuries. There are two sites showcasing this history – the first being Hagia Sophia. This was originally built in 360 AD and served as a Christian church for thousands of years, until the invasion of Sultan Mehmed in 1453 which turned it into a mosque.

This stands directly opposite the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque which was built in 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. They are regarded as the indication of the ever-lasting physical and ideological warfare.

Lonely Planet describes Cappadocia as ‘if plucked from a whimsical fairytale and set down upon the stark Anatolian plains.’

If you are a history or geography lover, then I would highly recommend taking a local tour of the

area. There are four tours in total, of which I joined the Green one.

Cappadocia was where the Christians avoided persecution by the Roman Empire. They utilized the soft stone and sought shelters underground. The tour gives an insight into their daily life living underground. Furthermore, you will have the chance to observe the cone-shaped rocks by going through the Ihlara Valley, Selime

Monastery, and Fairy Chimneys.

The legendary Star Wars once considered this Göreme area as the basis of one of the scenes.

If you are an adventure lover, the hot air balloon experience is something you should not miss, either as an observer or a participant. I advise you to stay in Cappadocia at least two to three days. Staying for this amount of time you will inevitably gain the experience of living in a real cave hotel – I had one of the greatest Turkish breakfasts in Cappadocia – and you will also witness the stunning spectacle of the hot air balloons under the sunrise. The sky becomes decorated with a hundred colours, however to fully experience it at sunrise there is one condition: wake up at 3am and occupy a comfortable position on the mountain.

It is well known that architec-

ture is deeply rooted with Turkish history and religion. However, for those of us that are not interested so much in the history of Turkey, here are a few cultural and living aspects to discover.

Pamukkale, literally ‘Castle of Cotton’ in Turkish, is a unique experience and something not to be missed. Although it is a three hour bus journey from Kusadasi to Pamukkale, it still attracts over two million tourists annually. This UNESCO World Heritage site was shaped by calcium-rich springs over millions of years.

The spectacular stone-white limestone makes you fall in love at first sight. We were lucky enough to have a sunny day, enjoying these outdoor pools in great weather and at a reasonable price.

Make sure you bring your swimwear and sun cream, alongside a bag as wearing shoes or sandals is prohibited to prevent staining the delicate calcite deposits.

If an outdoor activity is not your cup of tea, why not enjoy the Turkish bath? It was inspired by the traditional bathing habits of the Ancient Romans. Instead of steaming, the Ottoman Empire put more attention on the process of cleansing and relaxation. There are a wide range of services available when visiting a Turkish bath; we tried something called the ‘Istanbul Dream’. After a 15-to20-minute sauna, a member of staff brought us to the central room and started our massage.

The cleansing room was completely covered in marble, featuring a big dome and several basins.

The most magical moment was when the member of staff used a huge bubble of soap to cover our body before the tip-to-toe massage. The Turkish public bath has long served as a social pastime, regardless of gender or class.

The actual bath element is only half of the service. Each customer is then assigned to a cubicle where you can choose to take a nap after the relaxing bath or

enjoy Turkish delight and a cup of Turkish tea with your friends.

Remember when Edmund Pevensie sold his family and soul to the White Witch for just a box of Turkish delight, in ‘the Chronicles of Narnia?’ The appeal of Turkish delight does not need to be further explained. It is a Turkish tradition to start the daily or after-dinner conversation with Turkish delight and Turkish tea.

Turkish delight is still common in Turkey and is readily available from corner shops.

If the architecture and culture is the vein of a country, then humanity is the blood activating the whole region. One may forget the taste of Turkish cuisine, but the service is unforgettable.

Airbnb is largely available in Turkey. Of course, the service and quality depend heavily on how much you are willing to spend on accommodation. But frankly speaking, the living environment

is comfortable within a reasonably attractive price. One of the best Airbnbs is located in Izmir. The owner Tess kept everything clean and tidy and the service was thoughtful, from cleaning clothes to helping plan our trips. On the last day, we were offered a big bowl of fresh fruit and fizzy drinks as a goodbye gift. We left the Airbnb early in the morning, but she insisted on saying goodbye to us and even arranged her relative to send us to the airport for free.

We were unbelievably touched at this as we had to be at the airport at 5am, but this was not a considered a concern.

We were slightly concerned with the thought of travelling to Turkey as a red outbound travel alert – the second highest level – was highlighted by the Security Bureau before our departure. They advise Hong Kong Residents to adjust travel plans and avoid nonessential travel to Turkey. Not to mention the media covered countless stories about how dangerous Turkey is! However, Turkey is actually a relatively safe, touristfriendly country. Of course, it is always worth considering the risk and checking the specific areas you are travelling to before going.

All pictures taken by Jacky Sy

Final Sunset Over Club 18-30

Travel Writer Joshua Williams explores the reasons behind the collapse of the infamous ‘party holiday’ Joshua Williams Travel Writer

Club 18-30, the brand that bought the infamous ‘party holiday’ to over 100,000 young British people has officially come to an end. Despite bringing in £48m in sales each year, the brand has officially ceased to be after a rise in young people turning to more photogenic and cultural destinations.

With the slogan ‘It's go big or go home and only the legendary will do,’ Club 18-30 spent decades specialising in trips to party hotspots such as Magaluf, Malia, Zante and Ayia Napa.

Now however, in part due to the rise in popularity of social media,

especially sites such as Instagram, young people are increasingly exposed to once unknown locations leading to a large influx of city breaks and cultural travel.

“Club 18-30 spent decades specialising in trips to party hotspots...”

Speaking to the Guardian, Ingo Burmester, UK Chief Executive of the tour operator stated that the brand no longer fits in with their wider programme. He goes on to

say, ‘having taken the summer to explore our options we have, in the absence of a viable alternative that makes sense for Thomas Cook or the brand, decided that Club 18-30 will close at the end of this season.’ The fact that Thomas Cook were unable to attract a suitable buyer only emphasises the outdated nature of the Club 18-30 brand.

We are now deep into an era where have more choice of travel destinations than ever before. The diversification of options has led to an increase in young people seeking specialist trips. With 1624 year olds in Britain ‘less likely to drink than any other age group’ the idea of the party holiday has officially lost its appeal. With the loss of Club 18-30 brings the opportunity for young people to

travel to countless new countries and with it experience cultures far superior to the typical bar crawl.

A rise in destinations inevitably comes with the question of how to stay safe overseas – especially in countries culturally opposite to Britain.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have created leading travel information specific in its appeal and accessibility to young people but, due to the death of the package holiday, it now rests on their shoulders to utilise this.

Partly due to Club 18-30, young British holiday makers have gained a reputation in Europe for their alcohol-fueled party antics; often resulting in intervention by the relevant authorities. Last year, in Spain alone, 1,317 Brits were arrested

according to British Foreign and Commonwealth Office figures, largely in part due to alcohol – something synonymous with the brand. As Thomas Cook attempts to distance itself from the reputation gained by Club 1830, it has become apparent that young British travelers must also improve their image due to its legacy.

Make sure that you do your research on the laws and customs of the places you’re travelling to, especially if it’s somewhere you’ve not been to before. You can find safety specific travel advice on the government website.

TRAVEL

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricktravel

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Working for a Travel Company Ellie Rickards Travel Writer

With as many as 11 million people in the UK having a physical disability of some kind, it is both logical and natural to assume that sufficient help is in place to ensure these people can partake in one of Britain’s favourite pastimes: travel. This assumption would be incorrect.

In his twenties, a man named Angus Drummond was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle wasting condition that will one day leave him unable to move independently.

However, seizing life by the horns – while he still could – he set out to travel the world. The difficulties, physical hardships and prejudices he faced changed his view of the world; how could assisted disabled travel be such unchartered territory?

Returning home, Angus ventured to put an end to that by

founding Limitless Travel Ltd, a truly wonderful small business facilitating incredible holidays in the UK and Europe for those with reduced mobility or a disability.

Recently celebrating its 3rd birthday, this company has grown at an extraordinary rate (500% growth just last year) and is thus sending hundreds of people away on a holiday they often never thought they’d be able to have.

Awards, interviews and numerous magazine articles can only begin to describe their success.

With destinations vetted by the team (most of which have, or have experience of, a disability), beach wheelchairs allowing holiday-goers into the sea, an accompanying team of professional carers, specialist equipment, or the exceptional level of support from those working hard behind the scenes, Limitless Travel provides a holiday to remember for its customers.

I was lucky enough to be welcomed into this wonderful team

on a summer internship several months ago, and enjoyed every day there (who needs sunshine, friends or summer parties anyway?) This was soon extended from one month to four as I came to see the magic the company was creating. Chatting to people on the phone who haven’t left their village in over two decades and then seeing them laughing on a Spanish beach was a frequent occurrence at the office, as were regular meetings whereby the team attempted to reshuffle, alter and change everything possible at considerable effort, just so that one elderly couple can bring their own wheelchair away with them. Never have I met a group of young professionals so brilliant at their jobs and with such a passion for their work. Their innovation, efficiency and commitment bring endless joy to individuals, families and carers alike.

Without giving away any top-secret company plans, I can proudly say that holidays all

around the world, suiting all needs and age-groups will be available for our generation, and I am truly proud to have been a part of that.

“Limitless Travel provides a holiday to remember for its customers” The difference a holiday can make to someone with a disability is unimaginable to someone ablebodied like me, but it is so much more than a change of scenery. It instils a deep sense of pride, allows a week of laughter with newfound friends, gives carers a welldeserved rest and most importantly gives people a confidence which is transferable to all aspects of life. It seems unrealistic that one phone call to Limitless Travel can lead to regular trips abroad

with your family, a network of understanding and supportive friends and a new love of life, but it happens. In fact, it’s probably happened several times today.

My involvement is this burgeoning industry has changed the way I see travel, something I have loved and respected from a young age, but something I didn’t realise was only easily accessible to able-bodied people. The times are changing, and soon the rest of the world will follow Limitless Travel forward: the pioneers of accessible travel.

Angus is the kind of person I would call a Dreamer. He envisions a greater world for himself, his family and the entire population, and has the skill and passion to bring those dreams to life. With an unquenchable desire to change the world, Angus and his team have proven that humanity, and life itself, is Limitless.

Day Trips: In and Around Birmingham Sorcha Hornett Social Secretary

If you decide to stay in Birmingham for the next reading week and find yourself a little bored, then look no further. These places are the perfect excuse for a day trip; with all either close to Birmingham or under an

take a break from the bustling city and mounting University work.

Or, if you’re looking for a change of scene to be more productive, this is the perfect place to spend the afternoon.

The Tolkien Trail This is for anyone that is a fan of The Lord of the Rings. J. R. R. Tolkien lived in nine homes in the

Dave Hamster

hour away by train, they won’t break the bank but will provide a change of scene. Most are also great places to visit and take work if you fancy something a little different to the library but are also excellent to visit with friends as there is plenty to do.

Stratford-upon-Avon Just under an hour away from Birmingham is Stratfordupon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare and a market town with more than 800 years of history. There is a wide range of things to do including seeing a play at the Royal Shakespeare Company, taking in the Tudor architecture, going on a river tour, or grabbing a cup of tea or a bite to eat at the numerous cafes and restaurants. This is the perfect place to spend a day and

south of Birmingham and was the place where he drew inspiration for his writing from the people, buildings and landscapes in the city and the surrounding countryside.

“Stratford-UponAvon, the birthplace of Shakespeare and a market town with more than 800 years of history” The trail features 10 different places around Birmingham that

supposedly inspired, and featured in, his work, including the University itself. Other notable ones are Perrott’s Folly, a 29metre tall tower in Edgbaston built in 1758; Sarehole Mill which had an exhibition called Signposts to Middle Earth which details Tolkien’s connections with the area; and The Shire Country Park and Cole Valley which hosts a variety of animals, plants and insects and has a river you can walk by, perfect if you’re looking to escape to the countryside but don’t want to stray too far.

Lichfield Another easily accessible place to visit close to Birmingham is Lichfield. It is most known for being the birthplace of literary figure Samuel Johnson, and there is even a museum there celebrating his life and works with interactive displays and activities. Lichfield also has an Anglo-Saxon cathedral with three spires - perfect Insta-worthy architecture. There is also Beacon Park which has foot golf, a good time to bond with your flatmates, and if you fancy a peaceful walk the Stowe Pool is perfect and also has amazing photo opportunities.

It goes without saying there are also plenty of restaurants and cafes; Lichfield would also be great if you wanted a change of scene for the afternoon without straying too far from the city.

Leamington Spa Only a 30-minute train ride away from Birmingham is Leamington Spa. Bursting with culture, it’s the perfect place to take a day trip. It has beautiful regency architecture, over 60 cafes and restaurants, a wide range of independent shops and plenty of parks, museums and gardens to visit; you may have to do multiple day trips to fit it all in! If the weather is good you can visit the Jephson Gardens, which has a glasshouse with tropical

Leon Hawley

plants and a goldfish pond, a sensory garden and a sculpture collection or visit the River Leam which flows through the town centre - you can hire a rowing boat or go for a walk if you fancy some fresh air. Alternatively, if the weather is bad you can visit the Royal Pump Rooms Art Gallery and Museum, the famous 18thcentury healing spa in town or visit the Loft Theatre and catch a show. If you have a car, Warwick Castle is close to Leamington Spa David Stowell

and is often referred to as Britain’s greatest medieval experience. You can catch a tour and see the towers and dungeons and then visit the Rose Garden and 60 acres of ground that surrounds the castle if you want to explore.

These trips should hopefully keep you entertained during reading week. All are the perfect excuse to get a change of scenery away from the city and most offer a little taste of the countryside without breaking the bank.

LIFE&STYLE

32

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricklife

CoverGirl: The Largest Beauty Brand to Be Awarded the Leaping Bunny Life&Style Editor Yasmine Kennedy reports on CoverGirl taking the leap by making all their products cruelty free, setting a precedent for all makeup brands worldwide Yasmine Kennedy Life&Style Editor

The cosmetics giant CoverGirl has officially received the leaping bunny (the gold standard in cruelty-free certification) and is now the largest beauty brand to ever go cruelty free. This means none of the company’s products or specific ingredients are tested on animals, inclusive of the products and ingredients of their suppliers.

Now all of their products will be proudly marked with a leaping bunny logo on their packaging congrats CoverGirl! Consequently, the brand is not sold in China as animal testing is sometimes required there by law. CoverGirl’s parent company Coty has now dedicated their efforts into making all of their brands cruelty free by 2020.

For the beauty industry and animal cruelty as a whole, this is a massive step forward that has gained plenty of media attention, being recognized and celebrated by the likes of Allure and Harper’s Bazaar. CoverGirl speaks for the majority, labelling animal testing as ‘cruel and unnecessary’ and they hope to ‘encourage more cosmetics companies to do the right thing.’ Hopefully this will create a ripple effect to result in cruelty free companies becoming the mainstream, as for too long

small, independent brands have been leading the way to end animal testing. Although other large brands such as Dose of Colours, Jeffree Star Cosmetics and Milani are amongst those with the leaping bunny, many brands are yet to make the vital changes necessary to acquire this certification. The demand for cruelty free brands is stronger than ever and CoverGirl states: ‘we believe you shouldn’t have to choose between the beauty products you love and the values you believe in.’

This is not the first time the iconic brand has been an inspiration to beauty companies world-

wide. Covergirl has proven to be a pioneering company cornering the market for diversity in more ways than one. Their ‘TruBlend Matte Made’ foundation has 40 shades, the same amount as Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty foundation which has been endlessly praised for its inclusivity. For a high-street brand, 40 shades in a foundation is pretty impressive considering some of its competitors struggle to get over the 15 mark (though this is still very much the norm). CoverGirl’s most recent campaign has seen them change their 60-year-old ‘easy, breezy beautiful’ iconic slogan to

‘I am what I make up.’ The new phrase is arguably a well overdue reinvention and redefines their brand to represent authenticity.

The campaign aims to focus on telling real women’s stories whilst showing what we all actually look like. Ambassadors of the campaign include Ayesha Curry, Issa Rae and Katy Perry.

Other campaigns surfacing this year show representation of models with vitiligo as well as the addition of 69-year-old model Maye Musk being added to their roster in September of last year.

They also had their first model in a Hijab, Nura Afia, in January of

CoverGirl

2017, while it took British Vogue until April of this year to introduce their first Hijab-wearing model on the cover. And to top this, in 2016 CoverGirl announced their first ever CoverBoy, YouTube Makeup Artist James Charles.

Clearly here the brand’s ode to makeup not being gender inclusive was taken on board by other brands as Maybelline Cosmetics announced their first male model around six months later, who is also a YouTube star; Manny Gutierrez (Manny Mua).

The beauty industry has undoubtedly revolutionized over the past few years and has achieved massive milestones in diversity, ethics and gender inclusivity. However, CoverGirl in particular is the protagonist of doing all the right things before it seems to become a trend. The list of all they have achieved on behalf of women of colour, for men in makeup, for religion and now for animals should stand as an inspiration and precedent to beauty companies worldwide. Welcoming a new wave of customers, CoverGirl’s commitment to the cause is just the beginning for another exciting advancement in the company as they plan to continue their fight, stating it is their ‘mission to eliminate unnecessary animal testing from the industry.’

Ballet Shoes On Pointe

Life&Style Editor Imogen Lancaster praises the long-overdue release of ballet shoes in multiple shades of nude to accommodate dancers of all skin colours Imogen Lancaster Life&Style Editor

Diversifying the concept of nudity in the realms of fashion and beauty is nothing new.

In fact, certain beauty brands are finally expanding their shades of makeup products, and some designers of nude lingerie have started producing their garments in various colours beyond the bog-standard beige. And in terms of high-end fashion, Christian Louboutin even released a nude heel collection in 2017 to accommodate an array of skin colours.

However, it wasn’t long ago

Freed of London

that what was traditionally considered ‘nude’ was limited to the likes of creams, pinks and beiges, despite being so blatantly inconsiderate to a large portion of the population. Thankfully, this discriminatingly narrow spectrum is slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past.

“Black and Asian dancers have had no other choice but to buy pointe shoes that simply do not match their skin tone until now” In fact, representing people of colour has now been explored by another avenue: dance. Like many things, ‘nude’ ballet shoes have only been produced in var-

ious shades of white to suit Caucasian dancers, and Caucasian dancers only. And whilst this luxury is likely something many white dancers take for granted, black and Asian dancers have had no other choice but to buy pointe shoes that simply do not match their skin tone – until now.

Indeed, Fashion brand ‘Freed of London’ has begun selling pointe shoes in shades of bronze and brown to accommodate all dancers. This promising development is a result of the brand’s collaboration with dance company ‘Ballet Black,’ a professional ballet company which aims to diversify the art by celebrating black and Asian dancers. And this little win for minority communities should not be taken lightly.

Although to some it may only be a mere ballet shoe, what this represents is far bigger, and far more meaningful than just that.

What some may not realise is that only manufacturing ballet shoes to accommodate white dancers goes hand in hand with

the assumption of ballet being exclusive to white dancers. With this development, hopefully we can confront this harmful message and stop it in its tracks, whilst encouraging inclusivity and equality of representation and opportunity.

Although this progressive example may be a little too late,

and may not exemplify full representation in every spectrum of culture and society, it sure is a step forward in the right direction.

Have an opinion? Let us know at @redbricklife

Freed of London

LIFE&STYLE

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricklife

33

The Dirty Business of Lingerie Clothing brand 'Organic Basics' tackles the lack of sustainability in fashion by introducing Silvertech technology in their underwear and sportswear ranges Harriet Laban Life&Style Writer

Environmental consciousness has seeped its way into many people’s lives, yet most of us have never considered the environmental impact of our wardrobes. Indeed, fast fashion is a prominent issue which has begun to receive muchneeded attention, but what is the impact of washing clothes we already own? This part of the problem hadn’t adequately been addressed. That is, until brand Organic Basics created a line of everyday men’s basics in 2015, complete with cutting edge tech-

nology. As they realised that they had caught onto something good, they later expanded to include women’s basics.

The Danish brand recognises that the volume of water we use each day to maintain hygiene standards is contributing to climate change. Items such as underwear and sports kit require more regular washing than other items of clothing, unfortunately using more water during their lifetime.

And the more an item of clothing is washed, the more the fabric itself begins to deteriorate; a sad fact we all note when a muchloved t-shirt becomes faded and misshapen.

Organic Basics

The brand’s solution to these issues is to introduce SilverTech technology. Silver has been noted for its antibacterial properties for millennia, so it makes sense that it should be used today. By preventing bacterial growth and the buildup of nasty odours in clothing, it helps cut down on how often you need chuck your pants and bra in the wash. This in turn helps the environment by saving water and is more budget friendly too, as it means you spend less money washing your clothes. It also prolongs the lifetime of items of clothing, as frequently washing garments wears them out more quickly. It’s a win-win situation, for us and the environment.

This smart fabric is made from a polyamide fabric (known to you and me as ‘nylon’), which is then coated with silver and spun with organic cotton. The SilverTech is then woven into their products.

The material does not break down over time, so you don’t need to be concerned about the oceans filling up with tiny pieces of metal, or your skin gradually turning silver!

In fact, the silver should last longer than the textile product itself!

Perhaps the thought of not washing your knickers might turn up a few noses (and of course it’s personal preference as to how often to wash your underwear), but the beautifully minimal styling of Organic Basics’ garments is sure to attract you to this

Scandinavian brand. Featuring simple colours and timeless styles, there is something to appeal to all tastes. In the women’s section, there are streamlined t-shirt bras with matching hipster pants, soft recycled material t-shirts, and a variety of sleek sportswear, all using SilverTech technology. The men’s SilverTech product line includes similar products, although there is a greater selection of sportswear colours. Each item is sleek, with delightful cuts of fabric, making even these pared down basics highly desirable.

“This developing technology could bring a new advent of conscious clothes shopping” It is undeniable that this developing technology could bring a new advent of conscious clothes shopping. Although many brands focus on the ethical sourcing of their fabrics used in manufacturing, once the garment has been bought, care for its environmental impact ends. Organic

Basics appear to be the front-runners of positive, long-term environmental wardrobe choices.

With climate change quickly escalating into a growing crisis, consumers really must become more aware of issues often hidden from them by retailers. This brand highlights that as buyers, we have the power in our hands to make a difference. By making the switch to a more sustainable choice, we do ourselves a favour, and relieve the burden on our planet.

Although individual items using SilverTech technology are on the pricey side, a way to rationalise this to yourself is to view them as an investment. Not only does the nature of the innovative fabric mean that items of clothing will last longer than usual (a bonus once Organic Basics’ socks become your faves – less chance of holey toes!), but you will also save on the cost of detergent, and your electricity and water bills, because of the decreased need for washing. These other ways of saving money are pocket-friendly, and your student loan will certainly thank you. However, it does mean that dirty work-out gear is no longer an excuse for avoiding the gym – maybe this is a good Christmas present idea to tie in with the inevitable new year’s resolutions?

For more information on Organic Basics, go to: www. organicbasics.com

The Silent Epidemic of Men's Mental Health

Life&Style's Elizabeth Winter discusses why the conversation of men's mental health needs to be had this Movember (and always) Elizabeth Winter

The majority of people will death in men under forty-five. As know of the Movember well as being incredibly Foundation, the multinahard-hitting, this statistional charity for men’s tic is difficult to Described in the media as a ‘silent physical and mental attribute to one indiepidemic,’ mental illness among health that promotes vidual cause - the men continues to lack the appro- awareness for probcurrent ideals about priate awareness and action lems men face. Over masculinity and a man dies from suirequired for a crisis of such mag- the years, the charity emotional coping cide worldwide nitude. Despite statistics demon- has worked on breakmechanisms for strating that three quarters of sui- ing the silence of men are under so cides in the UK are male, there male suicide and menmuch scrutiny in the remains an ongoing refusal to tal illness in order to current social climate accept men’s mental health as a promote preventative stratand have therefore public concern deserving of mass egies to address the epidemic. become very convoluted. While exposure. Issues surrounding the Movember acknowledges the there is a process of transformawellbeing of men are products of complex intersection of factors tion in the movement towards a systemic confluence of that many men grapple with equality, outdated models of masexpectations that place concerning mental health, culinity still continue to thrive in men in positions of including: poor engage- communicating traditional ideals extreme pressure ment with health serv- of the all-powerful alpha male. from wider sociices, adherence to Throughout the Twentieth ety – but this toxic masculine ide- Century, being the household narrative that als, and lack of source of income and possessing men must emotional discus- control over the family’s future of people who commaintain both sion among friends was an advantage for men, lendmit suicide in the emotional and and family. They ing them to greater education, UK are male p h y s i c a l are working towards career prospects and economic strength to avoid the re-construction stability than women. However, emasculation must of what masculinity this trickle effect throughout the be filtered out of means, reframing help- ages of structural gender bias has social discourse. seeking as a show of led many men to continue to have However, this filtration strength and control in a situa- their sense of worth intertwined will only occur through raising tion, whilst also demonstrating with external indicators of sucawareness on the severity of the that it is okay not to be okay. cess. This merger of identity often male mental health crisis.

Suicide is the leading cause of leads to a reliance upon these facLife&Style Writer

Every minute

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tors as a source of purpose which, these matters as emasculating. when removed, births a loss of This stigma requires demolition identity. in order to pave the way for a Due to such outdated repre- modern representation that sentations of masculinity, men depicts everyone’s mental health are often led to believe that the preservation as vital expression of negative emotions Through the implementation is an indication of weakness, of charities such as Movember, which can lead to the unhealthy the approach to male mental internalisation of feelings. For health will continue to improve, some men, the burying of mental as the evidence surrounding the health issues may manifest itself crisis will become something through the use of substances society can no longer ignore. such as alcohol, on which This Movember is an men are nearly three opportunity to talk times more likely to about men’s mental become dependent health in depth: it is than women. not simply an issue There is a strong to by-pass. In of men would be correlation order to remove embarrassed to take between the lack the stigma surtime off work for of discussion surrounding the epimental health rounding men’s demic, frequent mental health and conversations need the severe rates of to be had both about suicide among men in and between men conthe country. Although cerning their mental wellasking for help is difficult for being. This year, the Movember anyone, men make up only 36% mental health campaign promotes of people accessing psychologi- being ‘a man of more words.’ cal therapies, reinforcing the need Check in with all the men and to encourage more men to start boys in your life this month, talking about their mental health because that conversation could - something that recurrently bat- be the starting point towards tles to surface due to the years of more positive mental wellbeing social stigma that have rendered for them and many to follow.

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SCI&TECH

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricktech

SI of The Times: Definition of Kilogram Has Changed Francesca Benson

Sci&Tech Editor

On the 16th of November, the way that the kilogram is defined was voted to change drastically.

From baking to BMI, units of mass hold a lot of weight in our day to day lives. Despite this, people rarely wonder how and why these units actually came to be.

There are many systems used to quantify the world around us, but the metric system – now known as SI, from the French ‘Système International’ – is the most widely used and least convoluted. It has six base units which include the second and the metre, almost all of which are based on unchanging features of nature such as the speed of light.

The base units of the SI each have a ‘mise en pratique’ defined by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures explaining how to derive them.

Up until now, the kilogram was the only remaining SI unit that is defined by a single object since the metre was redefined in 1960. The object is a small cylinder made of 90% platinum and 10% iridium, the same weight as a litre of water at freezing point. Since 1889 this International Prototype Kilogram (IPK) has been locked away in a carefully controlled basement vault on the outskirts of Paris, encased within nesting doll-like glass bell jars, needing three keys each held by different people to access. It was unveiled once every 40 years, to be compared to copies of itself owned by different nations in order to check that their mass has remained constant. Much care was taken to make sure the IPK remained untarnished, and yet it is possible that it still decayed in mass. The copies have shown slight variations in

mass compared to the IPK over the years, but as the IPK was the standard by which the others are measured it is unclear whether this was a change in the replicas or the IPK itself.

These inconsistencies highlighted a need for a more consistent definition of the kilogram which does not rely on a single object somehow evading the laws of entropy. Instead, it is proposed that the kilogram be redefined around the Planck constant, an

unchanging value to do with the energy of photons. As the constant is measured in kilograms per metres squared per second, this would mean that the definition of the kilogram is now also reliant on the definitions of the metre and the second.

Complicated as it may seem, this change in definition represents a move away from more archaic methods of measurement towards a more accurate future for science.

Sci&Tech Writer

Contrary to type, bonnethead sharks are the first of their species to be identified that survive on an omnivorous diet, through research at the University of California.

This is in fact a retroactive discovery. Miniscule amounts of seagrass are found in the guts of bonnethead sharks, however it was thought this was perhaps accidental ingestion during their hunting for crabs, shrimp and squid. Scientists at the University grew seagrass in water containing sodium bicarbonate powder, so

that the marine plant would then develop a certain type of carbon in its structure. This specific carbon was then found in bonnetsharks' livers, plasma and red blood cells, which implies that the animals were purposefully consuming the grass.

Now knowing that the sharks are partial to grazing, the next step researchers took was to ascertain why they also ate plant matter as well as their usual crustacean and molluscan staples.

Five captive sharks were fed a diet of 90% sodium bicarbonate seagrass and 10% squid over a three week duration. Excitingly,

Pixabay: videorevive

Erin Santillo Editor-in-Chief

all five sharks showed weight gain during the experiment resultantly, the bonnethead sharks consciously seek out seagrass and can effectively digest it to supplement their nutrition. After analysis, a significant 45% of the organic matter of the seagrass was digested, through enzymes in the sharks' stomachs suited for cellulose breakdown. As one of the oldest animal species on the planet who shared rent space with the dinosaurs, it is at once humbling and electrifying that we are still learning more about our oceans and its inhabitants today.

opencage.info

Fight Against Flu – Are Llamas the Answer?

Antibody research has shown a potential fix for vaccines needed repeatedly Charlotte Begley Sci&Tech Writer

For years, many have attempted to design an effective all-in-one vaccine against the influenza virus, commonly known as the flu. However, this has proven difficult due to seasonal genetic changes the virus undergoes, leading to the need for constant research and updates on available vaccinations regularly.

Such vaccines typically utilise proteins on the surface of the virus to initiate an individual’s immune response against it. The body then has the ability

publicdomainpictures.net

to retain memory of this reaction, so should infection reoccur in the future with an influenza strain containing the same protein, it can react at a faster rate and symptoms of the infection are not experienced. A key feature in this process is the formation of antibodies, proteins which can bind to disease-causing organisms at complementary sites to directly interact with the virus and initiate other branches of immunity.

However, human antibodies are somewhat larger than those of other species and can typically only target the outermost protein presented by the influenza virus; this is also the region where most genetic changes occur, leading to new proteins and as a result, ineffective vaccines. Because of this, it would be of greater worth to target constant regions of the virus instead. But these tend to be closer to

Greg Schechter

pxhere.com

First Ominvorous Shark Discovered Imogen Claire

Creature Feature: A Tale of Two Possums

the virus itself, so human antibodies are unable to reach such areas as they are physically too large. This is where, recently, llama blood has been brought into the equation.

Antibodies found in the blood of llamas have been characterised as physically smaller than those in humans. Therefore, they are able to reach protein regions closer to the virus itself, where little change is noted between viral strains. If a vaccine could be developed to initiate an immune response against this part of the virus specifically, it is possible that this would provide long-term protection against multiple influenza virus strains despite seasonal changes.

Though in early stages, recent studies have shown great results so far. A team based at the Scripps Institute in California tested select llama antibodies to determine

whether they would act against different viral strains; of 60 different viruses of human and non-human origin, only one strain was not neutralised. Even so, this single strain was a form of bird flu never known to infect humans.

The hope from these findings is to develop a single vaccination with the ability to protect against the majority of flu strains, whilst also providing protection against epidemics that may occur, such as bird and swine flu. Even so, there are still hurdles that must be overcome in the near future before this vaccination can come into practical use. This includes ensuring the treatment is effective, safe, and inexpensive.

However, these findings still provide a new and exciting outlook on a highly discussed area in the field of science and technology.

Both the North American possum ( Didelphis virginiana ) and the Australasian possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) are solitary, nocturnal marsupials around the size of domestic cats. Also semi-arboreal with prehensile tails, both spend much of their time in trees, so it is unusual to hear that they are not in fact the same animal at all.

In North America, possums – also called opossums – are typically grey and white in colour, with long and hairless tails, such as the omnivorous Virginia Possum. On their own in the order Didelphimorphia, they have adapted to an urban habitat and are often seen rummaging through bins and stealing pet food opportunistically.

They have also developed an infamous response to highstress situations; involuntarily playing dead and emitting a putrid anal fluid to deter predators. Yet, despite being highly immune to snake venom and most diseases, they only enjoy a two year life span in the wild.

Possums in Australasia, meanwhile, have silver, brown, black or cream coats and bushy tails – characterised typically by the Common Brushtail Possum. Traditionally killed for their fur, they are now protected and live in the wild for up to 13 years on a primarily folivorous diet of eucalyptus leaves. However, like their American namesakes, possums have become accustomed to urban environments in Australasia by raiding kitchens at night.

Possums here exist in the order Diprotodontia, so are closely related to kangaroos and koalas. Unlike their cousins, however, they are known to secrete an iconic red stain from their chests to mark their territory.

So, the next time you consider these humble creatures, remember that it really is a tale of two possums.

SCI&TECH

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricktech

The Link Between Parkinson's Disease and the Appendix Farhana Alam Sci&Tech Writer

The appendix has a reputation for being unnecessary to humans; a relic from our evolutionary past.

However, there is increasing evidence that this organ plays a major role in the immune system and in the composition of the gut microbiome (i.e. the bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract). New research published in Science Translational Medicine now links the appendix to the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder, characterised by the death of brain cells, especially those responsible for motor functions. This results in visible symptoms, such as muscle tremors and slurred speech. It is currently incurable and affects around 128,000 people in the UK, with the numbers predicted to rise to 162,000 by 2020.

The research, led by Dr Viviane Labrie at Van Andel Research Institute in Michigan, USA, found that removing the appendix early in life can reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 19–25%. Parkinson’s disease is more common in rural populations, possibly due to increased exposure to pesticides.

Interestingly, the study found that appendectomies resulted in the greatest reduction in disease risk for these rural populations.

Furthermore, an appendectomy in early life can slow down the rate of disease progression in individuals who do go on to develop Parkinson’s, with their diagnoses being delayed by an average of 3.6 years. However, for those whose development of Parkinson’s disease is linked to inherited genetic mutations (less than 10% of people), an appendectomy provides no benefit.

The study, which utilised epidemiological data from over 1.6 million people over 50 years, involved visualising proteins called alpha-synuclein in the appendix; they were found to closely resemble proteins found in brain biopsies from Parkinson’s patients. The researchers concluded that the appendix acts as a major reservoir for these diseaseassociated alpha-synuclein proteins which, when misfolded or shortened, are linked to the onset and progression of Parkinson’s.

However, the mechanism is more complex than this; the researchers also found clumps of alpha-synuclein in the appendixes of healthy people of all ages, and not only in Parkinson’s patients, indicating

that there are more factors at play.

It may be that Parkinson’s is triggered by the dissemination of these proteins from the appendix to the brain, via the vagus nerve, which connects the gut to the brain stem. This may explain why gastrointestinal dysfunction is a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s, often appearing as early as two decades prior to the manifestation of any motor symptoms.

“This is the first time that an organ other than the brain has been implicated in causing a neurodegenerative disorder...”

This is the first time that an organ other than the brain has been implicated in causing a neurodegenerative disorder. If a causal link between appendectomies and reduced risk of Parkinson’s is

corroborated by further research, this could pave the way for drug treatments targeted at preventing the alpha-synuclein proteins from reaching the brain.

This is therefore an exciting first step towards reducing the incidence of Parkinson’s, or perhaps even eradicating it, in the near future.

Although this particular study did not focus on gut bacteria, but on proteins in the appendix, it is just one example of a wide range of research that is ongoing into the ‘gut–brain axis’ (or the ‘microbiota–gut–brain axis’). Gut bacteria have been implicated in modulating the immune response to affect stress, anxiety, depression, obesity, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), to name a few. Studies such as these are leading to a more holistic view of the human body, whereby organ systems are no longer studied in isolation, but are considered to be engaged in constant molecular crosstalk. This embodies the notion that everything is connected.

The Ozone Layer: What You Need To Know Joseph McGrory Sci&Tech Writer

The Earth System Research Laboratory releases a report every four years assessing the state of the ozone layer. Recently, ‘Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2018’ has been released and the results are very promising.

What is Ozone?

Simply, ozone is a gas composed of three atoms of oxygen instead of the two found in conventional oxygen molecules.

Ozone is found at ground level where it is generally considered a pollutant, but it is very important in the upper atmosphere. Ground level ozone is created when pollutants emitted by humans react with organic compounds in the presence of sunlight (more specifically, nitrogen oxides reacting with volatile organic compounds). Ozone can cause breathing difficulties in people with asthma as well as young and older people. It can also damage sensitive vegetation, particularly during growing season.

While Ozone can be very dangerous at ground level, it plays an incredibly important role in defending the Earth. It forms a protective shield in the upper atmosphere that defends the Earth from the harmful rays of the Sun. It absorbs the shorter wavelength (and therefore higher energy) light that otherwise would cause serious damage. The layer is found between 15 and 30 kilometres above the Earth’s surface and is formed when oxygen molecules

(O2) react in a reaction catalysed by sunlight.

What would happen if the Ozone layer wasn’t there?

If the Ozone layer wasn’t there, all of the sun’s radiation would reach us, having serious effects for all living things on Earth. The numbers of people with skin cancer would soar and going outside would become extremely dangerous, as little as five minutes would cause painful sunburn.

However, even if we covered up and stayed inside, things would not be nice. The intensity of light reaching the Earth would make photosynthesis nigh-on-impossible for all plants. This would collapse the food chain leading to widespread extinction and a scramble by humans to find some other way to survive in this new, very hot world.

“Ozone has recovered at a rate of 1-3% and the prediction is that the ozone layer will have completely healed by 2060” Why was Ozone in danger?

So it should be obvious that overall, ozone is key in keeping us

happy, healthy, and alive. However, for a long time our protective shield has been threatened. One of the biggest threats came from chemicals called CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons). These were invented in 1928 by Thomas Midgley Jr. to act as refrigerants and carriers in chemical sprays (interestingly, he also invented leaded petrol which is known to release dangerous amounts of lead into the atmosphere which is hazardous to health). These chemicals solved the previous problems with refrigerants, which was that they were toxic, flammable, or explosive. CFCs were incredibly effective, quickly becoming widespread and commonplace.

“CFCs can hang around in the upper atmosphere for decades...”

It wasn’t until the 1970’s and 1980’s that researchers began to discover how reactive the CFCs are high in the atmosphere.

Sunlight causes the CFC molecules to break apart into extremely reactive chlorine and bromine that readily react with the ozone molecules. The worst part is that the chlorine and bromine are left behind at the end of the reaction meaning CFCs can hang around in the upper atmosphere for decades, continually breaking down ozone.

In the 1980’s, it was discovered that CFCs had opened a ‘hole’ in the ozone layer and the world’s eyes turned skywards.

The Good News In 1987, the World Meteorological Organisation and the UN Environment program gathered scientists, governments, and other bodies to create an agreement to phase out the use of CFCs and other ozone-depleting chemicals.

By January 1989, the new Montreal Protocol had come into force and became the first international agreement on the regulation of chemical pollutants.

‘Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2018’ shows that the concentration of these dangerous substances continues to decrease and that the Ozone layer has seen an improvement since 2014. Ozone has recovered at a rate of 1-3 percent and the prediction is that the Ozone layer will have completely healed by 2060 with the Northern Hemisphere being completely healed by 2030.

A UN report has hailed these findings as a demonstration of how much we can achieve with global collaboration. The Montreal Protocol is a great example of scientists being listened to and global action happening in response. So international ‘teamwork’ is good for us and for the planet, thanks to Brexit, though, we will be on the outside of this.

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This Week in Sci&Tech...

A huge, 12,800 year old impact crater has been discovered half a mile under ice in Greenland. The impact has been suggested to be the cause of a significant drop in global temperatures just after the last ice age, causing a period known as the Younger Dryas, for which a meteorite crate had long been suggested as a possible cause.

The Earth BioGenome Project has set itself the ambitious aim to sequence the genomes of every known plant, animal and fungus in the world, or 1.5 million species.

This comes at a cost of $4.7 billion.

As of writing, only around 0.2% of all known eukaryotes have had their genomes sequenced. It is estimated that the project will generate more data than ever accumulated by YouTube, Twitter and the entire field of astronomy.

Your genes may be a factor in your preference for either tea or coffee according to research from Northwestern University in Illinois. Those with genes linked to a heightened ability to detect the bitterness of caffeine saw an increase in coffee consumption, while those with an increased perception of quinine tended to have lower consumption.

A study has found a dramatic decline in fertility rates across the globe, with the average number of children per woman falling from 4.7 to 2.4 since 1950. The cause has been put down to improved access to contraception, a lower infant mortality rate and increased numbers of women in education and work. This means that, in the future, aging populations will likely only be sustainable if migration takes up the slack in economically developed countries.

Images: Wikimedia Commons

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SPORT

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricksport

Health&Fitness: The General Principles of Resistance Training Harry Wilkinson Sport Editor

It’s bulking season: a phrase you might hear thrown around a lot this time of year. Time to ‘make some gains.’ Some of you might be thinking: ‘What do these words even mean?’ Well, in this article all will be explained, along with the general principles of resistance training, for beginners.

First up, resistance in this context basically means ‘weight’: i.e. by lifting weight, you put a resistance on your muscles, which you must overcome in order to lift the weight. Over-time this resistance becomes easier to lift as your muscles have adapted so as to be capable of overcoming more resistance, so in order to keep challenging the muscles you increase the resistance (weight) and make gains. Doing this over and over again is resistance training. This gives you the capability to lift heavier and gain muscle (but in general NOT lose fat).

Did you know that in order to lose 1 lb of fat you would have to do 17,500 sit ups? Crazy, right? In theory that means even if you did 1,000 sit-ups every day for two weeks, you would still be 3,500 sit ups away from losing 1 lb of fat (SelfGrowth.com). So if your only goal is to lose fat, resistance training is not the one: I just wanted that to be clear from the start. Resistance training (in general) does not burn fat. Fat loss occurs through a diet in which there is a calorie deficit - helped to achieve by cardio-vascular exercises such as running.

One more thing. Toning is simply a word that describes losing fat layers to expose established muscle, thus revealing said muscle when before there was fat.

It is impossible to tone muscle, but it is possible to lose fat that reveals muscle, creating a toned appearance.

Right, now that is all clarified, let’s get in to the principles which will be split into two parts: Strength and Muscle Building, which are different styles of training, but are closely connected.

A beginner's guide to resistance training, focusing on the slight difference between Strength Training and Muscle Building Matt Madd

Strength Training Despite strength and muscle building being in separate categories here, it does not mean that muscle growth is non-existent in strength training. That would be absurd. Muscle building is just a type of resistance training that is tailored towards building muscle as the primary goal, rather than becoming stronger. Whereas strength training is primarily concerned with becoming stronger, but as a happy side-effect muscle growth occurs. It is entirely common to mix-up the types of training engaged in: training strength and muscle building will compliment each other.

“Resistance training (in general) does not burn fat.

Fat loss occurs through a diet in which there is a calorie deficit”

always mean you have to lift at 100% intensity every time (100% would be the maximum weight you could lift for 1 rep).

In order to lift heavier in the long-term it is helpful to train at lower intensities eg. 80%, completing more repetitions. Your strength will increase more quickly this way, because although you will be lifting lighter loads, more repetions are completed. It is important to test your 1RM regularly though. Rest periods for strength should usually be around 3-5 minutes, but it is not really an important factor when lifting around 100% intensity.

Muscle Building Strength and muscle building are not enemies, just different types of training. Think of it a bit like a football, whereby the centre-back (strength training) has a different priority to the striker (muscle building). The striker’s aim is to score goals, but that does not necessarily mean that the centre-back will not occasionally score goals too. (I hope that makes sense. If not - apologies).

Volume is basically how many sets and repetitions you might want to do. Repetitions are the number of times you perform a specific movement of an exercise (eg. 6 bench presses), and a set is the number of cycles of reps you complete (eg. 4 sets of 6 reps of bench presses, would equal 24 bench presses in total).

Intensity is amount of resistance you use, or weight. (More specifically, the percentage of which you are lifting compared to your 1RM - so if your 1RM was 100kg, then 60kg would be a 60% intensity). Rest is simple - basically the amount of time you rest for between each set eg. 3 minutes.

For strength training, the overall goal is to lift as heavy as you possibly can. Now, this does not

For muscle growth, muscle gains, or muscle hypertrophy, resistance training is carried out slightly differently. Firstly, the volume is different to strength training in that there should be a higher number of repetitions, with less sets. For example, when bench pressing you might do 8-12 reps with 3 sets. Secondly, the intensity or weight should be decreased; rather than benching towards maximum, the weight should be somewhere around 60-70% in order to complete a higher number of reps. As reps goes up, the weight goes down. Next, the rest time is much less muscle building - as the aim is to overload the muscles. 60 seconds is the standard rest time used for muscle building, sometimes less, sometimes slightly more. Anything over 2 minutes is too long.

Now, to introduce a new principle: Tempo. Tempo is basically the time in which you are moving the weight, up or down. So you might say that a bench press has a tempo of 1 second up, 0 seconds at the top, and 3 seconds down (this would look like this 1:0:3).

But don’t worry too much about all of this: the only thing you really need to remember is to

MOVE THE WEIGHT SLOWLY ON THE ECCENTRIC part of the movement - that is the WAY DOWN. This increases the ‘time under tension;’ basically the stress that is put on your muscles.

Example Week of Training for Muscle Building Mon - Chest and Triceps 1) Barbell Bench Press: 4x12, rest 90 secs 2) Tricep Cable Pushdowns (straight bar): 4x12, rest 60 secs 3) Dumbbell Incline Bench Press: 4x12, rest 90 secs 4) Dumbbell Incline Flyes: 3x10-12, rest 60 secs 5) Dips: 6-10x4 rest 90 secs 6) Tricep Overhead Extension (rope): 12x3, rest 60 secs Weds - Shoulders 1) Dumbbell Shoulder Press: 5x8. rest 90 secs 2) Seated Lateral Raises: 12x4 rest 60 secs 3) Rear-delt flyes (either using machine or with DBs): 4x12-15 4) Upright Row: 10-12x4, rest 60 secs 5) Dips: 12x3, rest 60-90 secs 6) Lateral raise (lighter weight): AMRAP (as many as possible) x3 Friday - Legs and Back 1) Squat: 5x6-8/4x10-12. rest 90 secs 2) Bent-over Row: 4x10-12, rest 60-90 secs 3) Leg Extension 10-12x4, rest 60 secs 4) Lat Pulldown 4x10-12, rest 60 secs 4) Seated Leg Press 5x8/4x1-12, rest 90 secs

odgorchuk/

Credit: Arthur Edelman

SPORT

Friday 23rd November 2018

37

@redbricksport

Lionesses set sights on World Cup 2019 Glory in France Isabel Baldwin Sport Editor

Twitter / @Lionesses

With less than a year to go, England’s women’s football team are beginning to set their sights on the 2019 World Cup in France.

Since finishing third in Canada in 2015 - their best result ever at a World Cup - the Lionesses matched their World Cup success at the European Championship in 2017. However, after last year’s managerial shake-up, with Mark Sampson being ousted and replaced by Phil Neville, it will be interesting to see if England’s women can continue their success of the Sampson era or even go further under the management of

Neville.

Neville’s first games in charge at the SheBelieves Cup this year saw success for England as they went into the final game with an opportunity to win the tournament, only to be narrowly beaten by the highly competitive USA team. The Lionesses went on to secure World Cup qualification and even rose to second in the FIFA World rankings - their highest position. Performance verdict; so far, so good.

“The England squad is now completely professional, unlike the other home nations” All this success stems from the positive development the FA women’s division is witnessing.

The England squad is now completely professional, unlike fellow home nations Scotland and Wales.

The Lionesses are also benefiting from the FA’s financial sup-

port which is providing an army of support staff, charter flights and ice baths. Long gone are the days of players sleeping on gym floors, washing their own kit and training after a 9-5 job. This is a reborn and rejuvenated England Women’s side.

This increased development of women’s football stands England in good stead for the upcoming World Cup, however they will have to fight off tough competition if they want to bring home the glory.

The USA have dominated women’s football in recent years, as the most successful team in women’s footballing history, they have racked up a total of three World Cup titles, making them the team to beat in France next June. Yet, if England keep focused and determined, there is no reason why they cannot be serious contenders at next year’s World Cup.

Daniel Hague discusses the difficulties facing Television Match Officials and the impact they are having on the game Sport Writer

The TMO has a thankless task; to watch all the video replays and inevitably break one team's heart.

This task might be bearable were it the case that every decision was clear cut. For example: a cricket umpire has Snicko to decide whether or not a batsman is out, a football referee has VAR to decide whether or not a striker is onside and a tennis umpire has Hawkeye to decide whether or not a serve is in. These usually black and white calls are a far cry from the murky grey verdicts a TMO has to make.

“The TMO has a thankless task” When the on-field match official refers a decision to the TMO he can ask two questions: 'Try, yes or no?' or 'Is there any reason I cannot award the try?' This dra-

matically affects the outcome of the TMO’s decision. In one case he has to find evidence a try has been scored. In the other, he has to find evidence that the try hasn’t been scored.

“Ambiguous laws have made the job of the Television Match Official exceptionally challenging” Take a recent example. On November 10th, in England's match against New Zealand, Sam Underhill sent Beauden Barrett chasing shadows as he dived over for what is probably the greatest try he’ll ever score.

However, Jerome Garces refered the decision to the TMO, asking: 'Is there any reason I cannot award the try?' This meant that Marius Jonker has to find

A word from the Sports Editor

“This is a reborn and rejuvenated England Women’s side”

World Rugby Will Face Fan Fury if TMO Controversies Continue Daniel Hague

The Future of Cricket is in Both Hands

‘clear and obvious’ evidence that a try should not be awarded. We can all agree that Courtenay Lawes’ charge down was probably offside, but, was this clear and obvious? I don’t know.

Ambiguous laws have made the job of the Television Match Official exceptionally challenging and complex. World Rugby needs to address these grey areas or the die-hard fan will become disinterested, and the casual punter will never fully grasp the wonderful game that is rugby.

David Davies

Gareth Copley-Jones

Jack Simpkin Sport Editor @jacksimpkin9

England’s cricketers have made plenty of headlines since heading to Sri Lanka last month for the first of their tours this winter, from their explosive white-ball batting, to canny red-ball spin bowling. However, whether it be Joe Root, Moeen Ali, or Jack Leach, no one has made more headlines than Sri Lanka’s 20-year-old ambidextrous spinner, Kamindu Mendis. Yes, that’s exactly what you think it means, Sri Lanka have produced a young spinner that is equally comfortably bowling right-arm off-spinners, as he is orthodox left-arm spin.

In his young career thus far, which has only seen him play one full international for his country, the one-off T20 International against England last month, Mendis has shown off his skills, switching between bowling styles on a ball-by-ball basis if needed.

“Sri Lanka have produced a young spinner that is equally comfortably bowling right-arm off-spinners, as he is orthodox leftarm spin” In this, the early stages of his career, the youngster from Galle has opted to always spin the ball away from the batsmen, which means bowling left-handed to right-handed batsmen, and viceversa. England as tourists got their first taste of Mendis in an ODI warm-up fixture against a Sri Lanka Board XI (pictured above) in the build-up to their five-match ODI series on the sub-continent.

Coming on in the 14th over, Mendis, who had already scored 61 (batting left-handed incidentally), bowled right-arm off-breaks to the left-handed Eoin Morgan, and left-arm spin to the righthanded Joe Root within his first

over. On his full debut in the T20, he repeated the feat, bowling right-arm off-breaks to Ben Stokes, before left-arm spins to Jason Roy in his opening over.

Whilst he failed to take a wicket in either match, recording figures of 3 overs 0/27 in the T20, Mendis was raising eyebrows all around the cricketing world as he showed incredible control regardless of which hand he was bowling with.

Action Images

In an era of incessant innovations and developments, us cricket fans have developed quite an appetite for unprecedent moments such as this one, from the moment Kevin Pietersen first switched-hit off Muttiah Muralitharan in a Test Match in 2006 (pictured above), to the first time Tillakaratne Dilshan got down on one knee and showcased his ‘Dilscoop’ in the 2009 T20 World Cup in England.

Speculation and discussion as to what might be next is a regular feature on cricket terraces around the world, and the idea of making a left and right-handed bowling option out of a single player is just one suggestion that might have been greeted with laughter not so long ago. Young Kamindu Mendis, however, has gone a long way to breaking that mould, proving how it can be done.

In recent years we’ve seen innovation in batting surpass that of bowling, which has led to suggestions that more should be done to level out the battle between bat and ball. Could unique skills such as this one be the answer? If it isn't, then something needs to be done soon. Knuckle-ball slower deliveries and jumping wide of the crease have been but two recent innovations we have seen from bowlers, both in vain however as batting records continue to tumble as the disparity between the game's main two facets has continued to widen. Can young Mendis help restore parity?

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SPORT

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricksport

Curtain Call: Boisterous Bellew Bows Out in Defeat to Usyk Sport Writer Andy Brennan reviews Tony Bellew's final professional match Andy Brennan Sport Writer

Tony Bellew called time on his boxing career with a spirited effort against Undisputed Cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk.

In what was undoubtedly the biggest fight of his career, Bellew unfortunately fell short as Usyk’s relentless pressure-fighting style and lethal left cross ultimately proved too powerful for him.

However, there is no doubt amongst the boxing community that Bellew proved himself to be one of the top Cruiserweights of his generation. He rose to the

titanic occasion when all four Cruiserweight belts were on the line, in only the fifth four-belt unification fight in the 40-year modern era.

“Bellew proved himself to be one of the top Cruiserweights of his generation” Bellew started well, laying traps for a slightly tentative Usyk,

as he repeatedly counter-punched the Ukrainian with his straight right. Bellew’s intense desire to brawl Usyk instead of allowing the better technical fighter to outbox him soon caught up with him.

However, despite a clear lead being established over the first three rounds, his inferior conditioning in comparison with Olympic gold medallist Usyk led Bellew to exhaustion. It became apparent that Usyk’s victory was inevitable once the Liverpudlian was heavily rocked by a left hook at the bell of the sixth round.

From then on, the stylish Usyk beautifully weaved together his punches which culminated in a

brutal knockout of Bellew in round eight.

“Bellew has solidified himself as a beloved figure of British boxing” While Bellew may feel disappointed by failure in his biggest test, the Liverpudlian calls time on an incredibly illustrious career.

He has managed to completely turn his life around after a turbulent childhood and rose up to

Getty Images

overcome all the odds by winning a Cruiserweight title at Goodison Park in front of his home crowd.

With the bragging rights gained over David Haye, Bellew has solidified himself as a beloved figure of British Boxing.

Trouble in Munich: Are Bayern's Ageing Legs Finally Giving Way?

Sport Writer Luke Bosher examines just what is going wrong at Bayern Munich Luke Bosher Sport Writer

The Mirror / X06742

On the surface, a 3-2 defeat for Bayern in the first Borussia Dortmund 'Der Klassiker' encounter of the season may appear surprising, given they have lost only once in the league to Dortmund in the last four years, but Bayern’s problems have been evident all season.

Since the departure of popular figure Jupp Heynckes in 2013, Bayern have struggled to find a manager capable of dealing with the heavy demands of the fans and board. Even the enigmatic Pep Guardiola, who lost just nine league games in three years, never fully established himself as he has at Manchester City.

Bayern see themselves as the biggest club in Germany and as Champions League contenders every season, yet their record transfer of Corentin Tolisso, signed as a 22-year-old from Lyon for just £37m, speaks volumes about their lack of investment compared to other European heavyweights.

German clubs are known for trusting young players due to their inability to compete financially with their English and Spanish counterparts but where Dortmund, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig stand out, Bayern’s record with developing youth is comparatively poor. The careful use of stalwarts

Arjen Robben (34), Franck Ribéry (35) and Jérôme Boateng (30) have kept Bayern ticking over domestically for several seasons, but clearly, they are no longer elite players.

“Bayern's stars have been dominant in Germany for too long” Manuel Neuer (32) is a legend, but his injury and rushed return has seen a massive dip in

form for the captain. Age plays a big factor, but so does motivation; Bayern’s stars have been dominant in Germany for too long.

This campaign more than ever, the hungry youth are triumphing over seasoned professionals.

Bayern’s serial winners seemed unable to match the intensity of a young Dortmund side, and injuries to Tolisso, Thiago and James have exposed their lack of depth.

Bayern are desperate for an overhaul of personnel, and whilst manager Niko Kova� finds himself seven points behind firstplaced Dortmund, his experience means he still could be the man to oversee a much-needed change.

All Eyes on Unai: Has Emery helped Rediscover the Old Arsenal Again?

Sport Writer John Rogers discusses Unai Emery's impact at Arsenal John Rogers Sport Writer

As Unai Emery approaches six months in charge, Arsenal fans are on the whole are pretty content with the progress made under the Spaniard. Yet, in the league, Arsenal sit only one place and two points better off than they were this time last season. This begs the question: is the optimism justified?

On the one hand, Emery has achieved a lot of goodwill simply by not being Arsene Wenger.

Wenger is undoubtedly a legend of the club, but fans were fed up

with his teams repeating the same mistakes season after season.

Consequently, Emery has inherited a fan-base ready for something fresh.

However, Emery has made the most of the hopeful atmosphere with an encouraging start to the season, both in terms of performance and results. Pragmatism has been the theme of his reign, with the Spaniard picking formations and personnel to suit the opposition, and regularly making early changes if things aren’t working.

Meanwhile, work-rate and fitness levels are clearly up, with Arsenal ranking among the top teams in distance covered and sprints per

game. The approach has proved fruitful: after two losses to start the season, Arsenal are unbeaten in 15.

“Emery has achieved a lot of goodwill simply by not being Arsene Wenger” They are not the finished article of course. The defence is just as leaky as last year, and while their offence is firing, in the sec-

ond half at least, there is a need for a top-class winger to supplement the evident quality in the number 9 and 10 positions. Clearly time is needed to address these problems, but Emery’s utilitarian approach is the right one if Arsenal are to push for a top four finish this year.

Right now, Arsenal are not much better than last season, but optimism is not misplaced. There is an upward trajectory under Emery that hasn’t been seen for a good few years at Arsenal. It is human nature to be optimistic about something new, and in this case why not? After all, Arsenal haven’t had much change recent-

ly, and early signs suggest they might be on to a winner with their new Spaniard at the helm.

Twitter / @Arsenal

SPORT

Friday 23rd November 2018

@redbricksport

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Lions 40-34 UWE: Tough Victory Sends Lions into xpLosION full of Confidence

The Lions beat UWE in their final match before xpLosION, Ben Garrett reports Ben Garrett xpLosION Correspondent

UWE

The Birmingham Lions maintainted their 100% start to the season last time out againt UWE, making thier season record 2-0 going into xpLosION. The Lions went into the game against University of West England with all to play for and knowing that a

win would give them momentum going into their stand-out fixture of the season. The game got off to a quick start with UWE's running back Thomas Campbell receiving the kick off and then running the entirety of the field to score a touchdown. The Lions bounced back a touchdown through the offensive captain, Dara Adedayo, but only before UWE then scored twice more to take the score to 20-6. UoB again fought back through wide receiver Ben Murphy, which took the score to 20-14 to UWE. The Lions’ defensive then came on and inside line-backer of Matt Taylor caused a fumble and the ball was recovered by the Lions putting their offense back

on the field. Quarterback Rohan Sandhu scored the next touchdown levelling the score at 20-20.

The Lions were right back in the game. Finishing the first half with that score gave the Lions great momentum going into the second half.

At the start of the second half the Lions were full of confidence and this was shown within the first couple of drives with Sandhu making a great run to take the Lions deep into the UWE half. No touchdown was scored from that drive, but the Lions defence was formidable again with corner, and Great Britain player, Eddie Onamade making an interception touchdown to put the Lions in the lead at 26-20. The fourth quarter

came around and UWE were making yards deep into the Lions half with their quarterback scoring, but there was a failed two-point conversion meaning the score was level again, this time at 26-26.

The UWE’s defence then made an interception which they duely converted with a touchdown. UWE led 34-26, but this match was far from over because Dara Adedayo made another incredible play by running the whole length of the field and beating the entire UWE defence to score a touchdown from the kick off, which took the score to 34-32 with all to play for. The last couple of minutes of the game were decisive for the Lions and they made sure they came off the bet-

ter. This was done by Ben Thomas scoring at a very crucial moment in order to take the Lions into the lead to 40-34. To finish the game off in style, Eddie Onamade once again made another very crucial turnover for the Lions, which then put the Lions offence back on the field and they were able to run down the clock taking the Lions to their second victory of the season, winning 40-34 and being full of confidence heading into their upcoming Xplosion game tomorrow against the Swansea Titans.

Lions Results this season: Portsmouth 13-16 Lions Lions 40-34 UWE

Sports Club of the Fortnight: American Football Ben Thomas xpLosION Correspondent

Depending on your various university experiences, if I were to utter the words ‘men’s sports team captain’ a number of different thoughts might pop into your head – not all entirely positive.

Often one might fixate on bravado, booze, and bulk; imagine a toxic testosterone-fuelled machine set on ruining every freshers’ Wednesday night (and indeed Thursday morning); or even simply picture the superstar of the team – earmarked for stardom ever since the day they rocked up at trials.

Yet, tomorrow, when the Birmingham Lions take to the field in xpLosION, they will be led out by Nottingham-born center Tom Henley, who’s openness of conversation on mental health and selfless embrace of vulnerability

in the commonly dismissive world of a sports team, has defined a new mould for all who seek to be a leader when the bright lights shine.

“Henley has faced a less than conventional journey to captaincy” Henley has faced a less than conventional journey to captaincy, and while the sporting rags to riches story is undoubtedly a bit of a cliché in American sports, this particular tale shall be told in a distinctly Brummie accent.

Despite taking the short trip down the A42 to arrive in Birmingham, the journey has been far from easy for Henley, who had high hopes of competing to start at quarterback for the Lions dashed as instead he found himself running

with the 4th team and earning little valuable playing time. Yet this frustration on the field would soon pale in comparison to the challenges he would come to face off of the field.

His father’s cancer diagnosis mid-way through his first year, served to transcend all things American Football and plunged Henley into a vicious battle over his mental health. Trapped in a state of limbo, increasingly detached from both the pain back home and the ongoing demands of university, sport and indeed life had pushed his body and mind to breaking point. But it was at this point that the team and the gym became his ‘safe space’; a forum to talk about his suffering; and later a pathway to his ongoing salvation, as Henley subsequently underwent a decisive position change from quarterback to center. This switch enabled him to make use of his added physical strength, while he too found the

he hadn’t ‘lifted the lid’ and broken his silence.

A note from the Sports Officer: Simon Price Bec Edwards emotional strength to share his powerful testimony with his teammates. Since then, Henley has earned himself a long-desired starting spot and the prestigious honour of being voted the ‘Player’s Captain,’ while steadily rebuilding himself in the process.

So now as he gears up to take centre stage at xpLosION tomorrow, and the time comes for Henley to face the bright lights and embrace the raucous crowd, remember the story that lies under big number 55’s helmet, and where he might have ended up if

Sports Officer

I've picked American Football as my ‘Team of the Fortnight’ this week firstly because of their impressive win over UWE, but also for all of their really hard work in making xpLosION happen once again this year after a lot of financial difficulties which led to some fantastic sponsers such as the Digbeth Dining Club. Their work on the continuation of their Lifting the Lid mental health campaign has also been great to see, and a very important topic that needs exposure in the modern game.

Hope Restored: Solid Autumn Gives England Reasons to be Cheerful Again Sport Writer Kit Shepard examines how England have bounced back this month Kit Shepard Sport Writer

RugbyPass

The landscape of international rugby can transform in an instant.

England began 2018 ranked second in the world and were considered the best bet to prevent New Zealand from winning their third successive World Cup in 2019.

One disastrous Six Nations campaign and an unsuccessful summer tour to South Africa later, and England’s hopes of a second Webb Ellis Cup had plummeted. Now, after three eventful Autumn Internationals, Eddie Jones’ men sit somewhere in the middle.

First off, let’s ignore those refereeing decisions. Whether you believe England should have won one, two or three games so far this November is irrelevant.

The fact of the matter is they have won two, beating South Africa, just, losing to New Zealand, just, and defeating Japan, as expected. They now close 2018 against Australia tomorrow with a great opportunity to end the year on a high.

“The victory over the Springboks was a major moralebooster” England somewhat limped into the autumn due to a plethora of injuries, with the back row in particular missing several incum-

bents. However, the likes of Sam Underhill, Brad Shields, and Mark Wilson have proved that they are solid replacements, indicating impressive squad depth in this area.

The victory over the Springboks was a major moralebooster, a notion highlighted a week later as England pushed the mighty All Blacks all the way.

They could not quite get the win, but England proved they can compete with the best team in world rugby who, after recent defeats against South Africa and Ireland, have lost a little of their invincible aura. Additionally, although England did not pull away from Japan until the hour mark, they

ultimately won comfortably against a team who are probably better than they get credit for.

Nevertheless, regardless of the outcome against Australia, England still have plenty of room for improvement with the World Cup just ten months away.

However, that is plenty of time for a team’s fortunes to change, as 2018 has proven.

England’s Autumn Results: England 12-11 South Africa England 15-16 New Zealand England 35-15 Japan Australia – Tomorrow (3PM)

SPORT

Bec Edwards (BE)

23.11.2018

xpLosION 2018 Preview Special

Bournbrook Expects as Lions Enter New Freeman Era xpLosION Correspondents Ben Thomas & Ben Garrett bring us the very latest in the build-up to this weekend's showcase American Football fixture as the Birmingham Lions face the Swansea Titans Ben Thomas xpLosION Correspondent

After 19 years at the helm, Wayne Hill decided last year to step down from his position of Head Coach of the Birmingham Lions, paving the way for his successor, Greg Freeman, to take over. Tomorrow, Freeman leads his side for the first time in an xpLosION fixture. Having only lost one of the showpiece fixtures during his mammoth tenure, two years ago at the hands of the Bath Killer Bees, Hill has left big boots to fill at the club. However, confident in his balance between impressive rookies, and experienced seniors, Freeman and his side head into the tie against the Swansea Titans with as much confidence as ever.

Tomorrow, UoB students will once again witness the biggest university sporting event outside of the Oxford-Cambridge boat race, and this year in particular the game will have a very different flavour to those previous.

The attendance of the acclaimed Digbeth Dining Club alongside the more typical concoction of cheerleaders, dancers, and fireworks serves as a testament to the growth of the event and the work of President Charlie Pearson who has fought through funding difficulties in order to secure the game’s position at the forefront of university sporting calendars for another year.

Going into this campaign, many had predicted troubles and growing pains for a young Lions team, coming off of the back of losing a number of key players, including the likes of Elliot Walters and Will Stone, as well as of course long-time figurehead Wayne Hill. But the squad, with Freeman now at the helm, has prioritised an infectious embrace of diversity and individuality which has driven them already to two sensational come-from-behind victories over the Portsmouth

Destroyers and the UWE Bullets (p. 39).

The Lions' offensive prowess has centred around the Rohan Sandhu (QB - #9) to Dara Adebayo (#88) connection, and Sandhu will look to his electrifying wide receiver to continue to make plays both in the short passing game and down the field on Bournbrook's 3G surface. Adebayo leads a deep and versatile receiving corps, while Eddy Oguns (#24) heads up a rugged complimentary ground game.

Defensively, team captain Michael Priest (#90) is undoubtedly the heartbeat and a huge presence on the defensive line, while superstar fresher Eddie Onamade (#2) looks to be even better than advertised at cornerback – snagging two crucial interceptions against UWE. The Titans themselves have also started 2-0 behind the play of quarterback Sam Huxtable and linebacker Gethyn Chadwick, and the squad will pose a stern test for the Lions. As with years gone by, the home crowd could be the difference once more for the Lions as thousands invade the banks of the Bournbrook to get a taste of the ‘American dream’.

Ben Garrett xpLosION Correspondent

Interview with Head Coach, Greg Freeman

BE

Ben Garrett (BG) sat down with Greg Freeman (GF) this week to find out exactly what his thoughts are in the build-up to

his first xpLosION fixture in charge.

BG: How are feeling about the build up to xpLosION? GF: Momentum is great going into the game, which makes the build up to xpLosION extremely exciting for us and we are coming off the back of a very important win versus the UWE Bullets.

We are going to get some old boys to come back to speak to the team and undoubtably everyone is going to be on top of their game for Saturday. The whole week should be a build up towards that crescendo on Saturday night.

BG: What is it like being in your first year as the Head Coach?

GF: I have been surprised by my first year as Head Coach, it is a lot more emotional and stressful than I thought it was going to be. From my perspective, all I have asked from the guys is to buy into what we are trying to achieve. The way that the guys have approached that has been excellent.

BG: Who are the players to watch out for?

GF: Dara Adedayo, Rohan Sandhu, and entire D-Line has very good up front.

BG: What do you think about the rookies this year? And how they have bought into your vision and ethos for the club?

GF: This is the best rookie group of players we have had in several years.

They have been excellent, but it is more about how the rookies have come in and shown that they have talent and they have really brought it into the programme.

BG: Where do you feel the future of the xpLosION event is heading?

GF: xpLosION is getting bigger every year and we have constantly worked hard to make it a big event each year. We are really thrilled to have Digbeth Dinning Club down with five of their stands, and this will hopefully

bring in lots of people from Selly Oak who will then stay around to watch the game.

We are always grateful to have the input of the cheerleaders and the UoB Dance Society. We are always open to ideas to how people can add to the event.

Follow xpLosION 2018 Live: 24/11 - 4:30PM - Bournbrook 3G WATCH it live at guild.tv LISTEN live on Burn FM Live on TWITTER @RedbrickSport

MORE XPLOSION:

UWE Victory

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Ben Henley

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