Redbrick: The University of Birmingham's Official Student Newspaper Since 1936
Women: Are You Free? Olivia Beesley questions traditional feminist icons Comment / page 7
Majestic Morocco Valerie Ogadi advises on volunteering in the North African country Travel / page 10
Review: Cockroaches Lucy Turner reviews the latest addition to ITV2's schedule TV / page 24
Internships: How to Succeed
Police investigating racist graffiti on campus and Selly Oak mosque Tara Dein and Sabrina Dougall / News, page 3
• Nazi Swastikas and Islamophobic statement daubed on Psychology building • More Islamophobic graffiti on Jalalabad Trust Mosque on Dartmouth Road • Police treating incidents as related • Guild of Students 'unreservedly condemns' graffiti
Amy Rose Wakeham gives us her top tips for internships Life&Style / page 26 www.redbrick.me join@redbrick.me @redbrickpaper /redbrickpaper
Friday 23rd January Thursday 5th February 2015 Vol. 79, Issue 1456
Review: Ex Machina by James Cox / Film, page 15
Food Recommends: Chocolate Fudge Cake by Rebekah Coates / Food, page 22
02 23rd January - 5th February 2015
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News Tweet of the Week
Society Spotlight
Lunar Society Originally set up by Redbrick Event guest and alumnus Nick Petrie in 2003, Lunar Society hosts relaxed discussions based on current affairs. In an effort to provide an alternative to more formal debates, students get together on Tuesdays 8-10pm 0in the Pankhurst Room in the Guild.
Seems it's alive and well.
The idea for the society was inspired by the 18th century collective of alternative academics. Early members included entrepeneur Matthew Boulton, engineer James Watt and polymath Joseph Priestly. Today’s city-wide group can be contacted here: info@lunarsociety.org.uk. To contact the Lunar society email: lunar@guild.bham.ac.uk, or Facebook https://www. facebook.com/groups/LunarSociety/
Online in Redbrick News
Redbrick Presents: The BIG Media Event video roundup Our digital editor Julia Yan takes you through the highlights of our first ever careers event held in the Arts Building on 14th January. http://www.redbrick.me/news/the-bigmedia-event/ Welcome to 2015, by Kia Hunt
Redbrick Editorial Team Editor James Phillips editor@redbrick.me
Comment Editors Daniella Bassett James Lentschner Mason Cusack
Deputy Editors Safiyyah Gareeboo George Bearman deputy@redbrick.me
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Digital Editor Julia Yan digital@redbrick.me
Sport Editors Alex Kronenberg Tom Dodd Will Robey sports@redbrick.me
Lead Developer Culture Editors Andrew Spencer Charlotte Spence developer@redbrick.me Lucy Mounfield Andrea Giannini News Editors culture@redbrick.me Sabrina Dougall Danyal Hussain Film Editors Vanessa Browne Hayley Allanson Vedika Bahl Jay Crosbie news@redbrick.me Tom Lofkin film@redbrick.me
Music Editors Jack Crowe Ludo Cinelli Matt Moody music@redbrick.me
Sci&Tech Editors Emma Houghton Rachel Taylor Amy Thompson tech@redbrick.me
Life&Style Editors Amy Wakeham Bethany Barley Elizabeth Green lifestyle@redbrick.me
Food Editors Rosie Twells Sarah Dickinson food@redbrick.me
Travel Editors Hannah Stevens Jessica Flanagan Sara Tryon travel@redbrick.me
Photography Editors Cherona Chapman Evie Ford
Television Editors Jaffrina Jahan Shannon Carey tv@redbrick.me
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Senior Editorial Assistant Toria Brook-Hill ea@redbrick.me Editorial Assistants Anna Gunn Amy Hunt Emma Roper Gurnesha Bola Jen Payne Jess Allsopp Rachel Deevey Sophie Preece Stefan Pace Pippa Smith
Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TT 0121 251 2462 editor@redbrick.me Redbrick is printed through www.mortonsprint.com 01507 523 456 Paper Advertising Contact Linda Langley in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524 Online Advertising Contact marketing@redbrick.me Designed and typeset by Redbrick Copyright (C) Redbrick 2015 The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.
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23rd January - 5th February 2015
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Nazi swastikas and Islamophobic statement found graffitied on campus Tara Dein
News Reporter
Incidents of Islamophobic and antisemitic graffiti were reported at the University of Birmingham at the weekend. Multiple swastikas were sprayed outside the psychology building and another saying ‘Islam must die’, with a swastika underneath. All relevant groups have now been informed, including campus security and the police, with the West Midlands Police now investigating the matter. The graffiti has now been removed by the University. It has also emerged that a mosque in Selly Oak was attacked with Islamophobic graffiti. The West Midlands Police Sergeant for Edgbaston, Pete Sandhu, said: 'Mindless hate of this kind has no place in 21st century Birmingham and work is underway to find the person responsible. My officers have visited both sites and spoken to a number of people. Evidential photographs have been taken and CCTV which may have captured the vandal is currently being reviewed'. The incidents are being treated as related. The
police are asking anyone with information regarding the vandalism to call 101 or Crimestoppers. Some students have raised their concerns that religions and minority groups, particularly Islam and Judaism, are being targeted. Jewish students have expressed concern over the graffiti, with many seeing it as anti-Semitic as well as Islamophobic. Nick Gee, who witnessed the graffiti told Redbrick, ‘in light of what has happened in recent weeks, it is scary to think there are people out there who have these thoughts. Campus should remain a safe space for everyone. Every student, irrespective of his or her race, religion, gender or sexuality should feel no fear or intimidation walking into campus’. Emily Kay, third year psychology student, 'It's shocking and unsettling that, even in places like UoB that prides itself on its rich multi-cultural and multi-faith make-up, hostility to any minority group exists to this degree. It's also saddening that in the aftermath of the Paris attacks people have seemingly decided to react with anger rather than coming together to eliminate hatred'. A representative from the Islamic Society
Police link campus graffiti with vandalism of local mosque Sabrina Dougall News Editor
@Sabrina_Dougall
A spokesperson for the WM police said, 'Islamaphobic graffiti was daubed on walls at the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston and a mosque in Selly Oak overnight between Friday (16 January) and Saturday (17 January).' Officers have spoken to a number of people at both sites, and are currently reviewing CCTV footage. A statement was issued by the Guild of Students this afternoon deploring the racist message sprayed on the wall of the Psychology building. The Sabbatical Officers 'unreservedly condemn' the hateful anti-Islam message and swastikas. The statement said, 'Student safety is of the utmost concern for both the Guild and the University, and we are working together to do all that would be expected to ensure the safety of all of our members.’ 'The Guild of Students stands firmly opposed to any form of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism or similar discriminatory behaviour.' It added, 'As soon as we were made aware of the graffiti, police and campus security were informed, and it was swiftly removed.’ The Sabbatical Officers are working with the police on the investigation.
Jack Mably, the Vice President (Housing and Community) at the Guild said that he is ‘appalled that this has happened on our campus and in our community’. He is urging students who are the victims of verbal or physical abuse to discuss these issues with himself and the other Sabbatical Officers at the Guild. A third-year Politics and Philosophy student who saw the graffiti on her way to the library on Saturday said she was shocked and disgusted. 'I don't think there's a true political foundation behind it, I think it's just an ill-founded reaction to what happened in Paris.' The authorities are appealing for further information, and anyone who witnessed criminal behaviour should contact Sgt Sandhu of the WM police on 101.
Jalalabad Trust Mosque
told Redbrick, ‘we are deeply saddened and shocked at this Islamaphobic campaign, which condemns all Muslims without justification. This is a prime example of racist propaganda, designed to stir up hatred and only serves to alienate Muslim students from the rest.’
"It has also emerged that a mosque in Selly Oak was attacked with Islamophobic graffiti" Chloe Rose, a third year English Literature student told Redbrick, ‘I’m definitely not surprised by it. After the rise in tensions in Israel over the summer it was definitely a worry what the public reaction would be, especially coming back to university, with such a large Jewish presence’. She went on to state, ‘It's disgusting that people think it's okay to draw swastikas on campus, but I will not let anti- Semitism push me into hiding and fear. The actions last week in France show that there has always been a latent anti-
Semitism and now its rising to the surface again.’ Another third year philosophy student told Redbrick, ‘I still feel safe to be open with my religion on campus. I believe this is the result of the actions of a small, ignorant minority and most students are incredibly supportive of diversity, equality and freedom to express yourself in any way you wish’. He continued to state that ‘any incident of racism, prejudice and discrimination is disgusting and should be condemned’. In regard to the University policy, Chloe told Redbrick, ‘I feel like the best thing for the university to do would be to openly condemn it and ensure that we have more support, so we don’t have to be afraid on campus in fear of anti-Semitism.’ The Guild has a Zero-Tolerance approach stipulating that all forms of harassment whether based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other characteristic should not be tolerated. The University additionally states, ‘we celebrate our diversity and provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the community’.
BEMA hosts Boko Haram vigil on campus Isma Azad
News Reporter
A vigil for the Boko Haram massacre, organised by the university’s Black and Ethnic Minorities Association (BEMA), was held outside the main library on campus on Friday. Around 40 people attended the vigil to hold a two minute silence for the 2,000 people killed in Baga, northern Nigeria, on the 3rd January. Those who attended held up signs with the words, ‘Mu Ne Nijeriya’ – meaning ‘I am Nigeria’. The massacre in Nigeria occurred on the 7th of January, the same day as the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, France. The continued attacks on young girls and Nigerians at the hands of the extremist Boko Haram group was the main focus of the vigil. BEMA allowed speakers to express their feelings regarding the massacre and kidnappings of young girls in Nigeria, whilst the surrounding attendees observed. BEMA commented that the event was held because ‘the world focused on the attacks in Paris, [yet] not many felt obliged to express the same amount of attention, emotion and concern towards those brutally killed in Nigeria.’ The vigil has occurred a few months after the social media trend ‘Bring Back our Girls’ saw a huge increase in media attention to the Boko Haram brutality being
res Reveal Extent of Burglaries
inflicted upon Nigeria and its surrounding region. Miriam, a second year Law student, said at the vigil: ‘“The Bring Back our Girls” trend on social media was just that. A trend. After the trend became less popular and less important, people began to forget about us Nigerians. Human lives aren’t trends, they’re much more valuable than that.’ The two minute silence was not only to pay respects for those killed in Nigeria on the 3rd January, but to also to remember those in Sudan, Kashmir and other places in the world where lives were being lost. The solidarity seen at the vigil was a response to the lack of media coverage on the massacre that occurred in Nigeria. One attendee expressed, ‘Black lives do not matter to the western world or media. They merely care about their own problems and issues. 2,000 people being killed in Nigeria isn’t a concern for anyone. Is Nigerian blood not important?’
"The massacre in Nigeria occured on the 7th of January, the same day as the Charlie Hebdo attack"
04 23rd January - 5th February 2015
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News
Vice Chancellor criticised for hefty pay packet Carys Bedford News reporter
@carysbedford
Students from campaign group Defend Education criticised the pay package of Vice Chancellor David Eastwood in a protest last week. The group allege that it takes Eastwood just 13 days to earn the annual salary of the lowest paid job at the university. A recent pay rise of £10,000 has sees Mr Eastwood now earn £410,000 a year. Defend Education Birmingham organised a protest in which they presented Mr Eastwood with a giant cheque signed from the ‘Bank of Fat Cats’ on 13th January. Students have reported that they chanted outside his office on and waited for him to make an appearance but he remained behind closed doors, leaving the students to have to settle for sliding the cheque beneath his door. Each day, the Vice Chancellor earns £1123. In 13 days he has earnt £14,602, which campaigners say is equivalent to the yearly pay of the lowest earning staff
member at the University. The protest comes as a part of a series of nationwide #payday actions of students protesting against vice chancellor wages set up by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts. The actions began last Tuesday when it was released that Andrew Hamilton, the vice chancellor of Oxford University, makes more money in 12 days than some of the staff do across the whole year. The University of Warwick was next to get involved with #payday by releasing an online petition, which has so far got 300 signatures, calling for David Cameron to withdraw the knighthood that the Vice-Chancellor, Nigel Thrift, was rewarded with. This was partly a protest against his pay rise, but was also a statement against other discrepancies within his role as vice chancellor. UCL and Royal Holloway are set to join the protests next week along with other universities as the campaign continues throughout the month. Those who are part of the campaign have set out 3 demands. The first being a 5:1 pay ratio, with all in-house and outsourced workers paid at least the living
wage. Secondly, action to close the gender and racial pay gaps. Finally, they call for democratic structures which put workers, students and local communities in control of our universities. Hattie Craig, former Vice President of Education at the Guild, comments on Birmingham’s contribution to the #payday campaign: ‘We wanted to highlight with the action the vast pay disparity between management and support staff and call for this gap to be closed. Our management is also overwhelmingly white and male, whereas women and black workers are disproportionately concentrated at the bottom of the pay scale, helping to perpetuate wider inequality in society.’ Rachel O’Brien, Community Action Officer at the Guild, further commented on the events: ‘We’re at a time when our lecturers are fighting to stop their pensions being decimated and when [the University] continually justify not listening to students due to a lack of funding, yet the University management clearly have enough money to pay the Vice Chancellor more than any other in the
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country.’ In a request made under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) in November 2014, the University responded to Redbrick with the information that 100% of all staff earn at least £7.65 an hour, known as the minimum ‘living wage’. A spokesperson from the University issued a statement to Redbrick which said: ‘Professor David Eastwood is recognised within the higher education sector as a successful and experienced head of a very complex organisation.’ The statement continued ‘The University takes its responsibilities as an employer very seriously and offers all staff a generous package of benefits, holidays, pensions and sick pay. For the last four years our support staff pay awards have been above those negotiated nationally because we recognise that staff at the lower end of the pay spectrum may be disproportionately affected by increases in the cost of living.’ The spokesperson said that the rise in Eastwood’s salary in 2013/14 ‘reflects the University’s improved performance across all league tables’.
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Students to host #JeSuisCharlie debate night Sabrina Dougall News Editor
@Sabrina_Dougall
Three students who were behind last week’s #JeSuisCharlie vigil in Victoria Square last week will be inviting the public to engage in debate and conversation about the recent terror attacks in France. They are hoping to synthesise what the violent intrusion on a satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo means for today’s creatives in Birmingham. The evening, to be held on 30th January in a coffee bar or similar venue in town next week, will be billed as ‘an evening of free speech’ and see spoken word artists, film-makers and photographers gather for debate and collaboration. The death toll of the three-day series of violent attacks reached 19. The group alQaeda in Yemen (AQAP), who had previously praised the attack, claimed they financed and supported the attack in a video which emerged online this week. Twelve were killed at the offices of Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday 7th January, followed by a French police officer and four hostages in the ensuing days. At least twenty-two people were injured in total. Gunmen Chérif, Saïd Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly were shot dead by police. A fourth terror suspect, Hayat Boumeddiene, is believed to have fled to Syria and is
sought in connection with assisting Coulibaly. Zoe Pelletier, the Birmingham City University (BCU) student who instigated the candle-lit remembrance rally for the twelve Charlie Hebdo employees shot dead last week, will also be heading up the debate evening. Pelletier, along with Birmingham-based businessman Martin Monnier and spoken word artist Nathaniel Grant, led a march of around 500 people in the city centre on Sunday 11th January. Grant, a part-time MA Philosophy and Theology student at the University of Birmingham, explained that the grassroots activism he is part of is ‘not political’, rather, it is a show of defiance against attempts to repress art which may be deemed offensive to certain individuals or groups. Speaking about Sunday’s
"Here in Birmingham, we are defending our artistic community" march, Grant told Redbrick that it was important the demonstration was ‘not just an isolated mourning’ or ‘an aggressive act of self-assertion’. Rather, he and the other leaders see the protests as a gateway for rethinking what western society val-
ues in terms of art and the press today. The plans come as French authorities carry out special measures to crack down on any who defend the Paris attacks. 54 people who were seen to be 'glorifying terrorism', hatred or anti-Semitism have already been arrested, CBC reports. Grant commented, ‘Is it a French problem? I would say no. Here in Birmingham, we are defending our artistic community.’ The organisers feel that in a multicultural city like Birmingham, it is important to represent a wide range of perspectives. The aim is to include a range of faiths and cultures in the line-up. ‘There will be a place for angry young Muslim women,’ says Grant. Nafeesa Hamid, a young Muslim poet from the collective Beatfreaks, will be one of the artists speaking her mind at the event. Charlie Hebdo printed its first edition since the terror attack on Wednesday 14th January. Usually circulating at 60,000, the satirical magazine published 5 million copies of its ‘survivors’ issue’. Proceeds are going to be donated to the families of the victims. For Grant, Charlie Hebdo ‘represents the right to defend your view in a way that may offend but doesn’t harm.’ In their activism, the organisers want to stimulate debate surrounding the question of what it means to have freedom of the
press. However, for many, the satirical drawings of Charlie Hebdo are seen as offensive towards a range of world-views and mainstream religions. American blogger Jacob Canfield argues in an article for Hooded Utilitarian that the viewpoints in Charlie Hebdo are ‘incredibly racist’ and do not deserve to be defended on the grounds of free speech. The blog writes that to adopt the slogan ‘Je Suis Charlie’ constitutes the defence of artwork which ridicules free religious expression. ‘The editorial staff of Hebdo consistently aimed to provoke Muslims,’ it alleges.
"The viewpoints in Charlie Hebdo are incredibly racist" A second year English and Creative Writing student at UoB commented, ‘[Charlie Hebdo is] a bizarre publication, incredibly anti-religious, known for mocking all religious figures.’ The news comes after the former Lord Mayor of Birmingham and Labour councillor Anita Ward was forced to delete her Twitter account after receiving abuse for accidentally tweeting in support of the Kouachi killers on 11th January. Ward has apologised for any offence caused.
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Redbrick Presents: The BIG Media Event Sophie Dober
Campus correspondent
On Wednesday 14th January, Redbrick organised ‘The BIG Media Event’ for those students interested in a career in media and journalism. Keynote speakers were alumni Jonathan Levi, an Executive Producer at Renegade Pictures (Warner Brothers UK TV Production) and Lizo Mzimba, BBC Entertainment Correspondent and former presenter of Newsround. Nick Petrie, Deputy Head of Digital at the Times and Co-Founder of Wannabe Hacks joined the event for a concluding panel discussion. Over two hundred students turned up at the Main Lecture Theatre in the Arts building to acquire the answers to ques-
tions such as: ‘What are employers looking for in a graduate today? How can you break into such a competitive field?’ The event began with Jonathan Levi, whose advice focused around work experience. Levi stated the best way to begin your path into news reporting is to ‘start as early as possible.’ During his studies at the University of Birmingham, Levi obtained work experience in the BBC Radio 4 newsroom during holidays. From his involvement with the media, he established ‘mentors’ that helped him learn from the bottom, and guide him in his development. His talk ended with the guidance that ‘failure and rejection is key to succeed in the media.’ Lizo Mzimba was the second speaker of the event. Mzimba said that getting a good degree is important because of the competition, as well as work experience
Julia Yan
Julia Yan and extracurricular activities. According to the BBC Entertainment Correspondent, this balance will demonstrate to your employers that you have a ‘passion’ for the media in addition to having the ability to examine a subject in great depth. From the twitter feed #RedbrickPresents, the general consensus after Mzimba imparted his knowl-
"What are employers looking for in a graduate today?" edge was one of inspiration, humor and childhood memories: ‘@lizo_mzimba is a really interesting speaker... And a great comedian.’ tweeted one student. A panel discussion with Levi, Mzimba and the new speaker Nick Petrie, was the final section of the event. Students had the chance to ask the notable panel any questions and queries they had about journalism and the media. When Redbrick asked students whether the panel discussion was a worthy part of the event, many said they enjoyed it because it added a different dimension to the format, keeping it interesting. A range of questions regarding skills, music journalism, and the advantage of attending university for a career in the creative industry, were asked. All of which were answered with useful infor-
mation. Petrie highlighted the fact that ‘talent is the most valuable commodity’ within the media, and so advised putting yourself forward as an individual who will enhance the work environment. Overall the reaction to The BIG Media Event was positive. Students felt ‘inspired’ having listened to ‘great speakers’ with a wealth of experience. In response to, ‘What would you have improved about the event’, a student suggested that there ‘should have been a female speaker’ to cover a wider range of perspectives in journalism and different experiences of becoming involved in news reporting. Redbrick aims to do another career event in the near future. Further careers advice, internships and work experience opportunities are listed on the College of Arts and Law section of the Careers Network web portal. Students who would like to know more about media careers can book an appointment to speak to a careers advisor by logging on to the Careers Connect with their university ID and password: https://bham.targetconnect.net/leap/ login.html or by contacting Sarah Whitely, the Internships Officer on: s.whiteley@ bham.ac.uk. For more general information on internships , get in touch with internships@contacts.bham.ac.uk. For more journalism career ideas, visit http://journograds.com/ or http:// wannabehacks.co.uk/.
UoB number 10 for graduate employability Carys Bedford
News reporter
@carysbedford
As the deadline for UCAS applications closed last week, statistics released by the online database, Emolument Alumni, may have been a last boost for those selecting the University of Birmingham as one of their options. The data listed UoB as the tenth best university for graduate employment prospects following study of the average salaries of graduates, five years after graduating. The average salary for a UoB graduate within 5 years of graduation was put at £46,500. The news comes at a time when the first students paying up to £9,000 yearly fees are nearing graduation. They are now stepping into a job market where in there are 8% more vacancies than last year, higher paid internships and graduate jobs. The data was collected anonymously from over 35,000 individuals spread across a variety of different professions,
sectors, locations and university courses, giving insight into how their pay compares to peers in their industry and elsewhere. There are now record numbers of students graduating with top class degrees. On average, one in ten graduates achieves a top class degree. Eluned Jones, the University of Birmingham’s Director of Employability, said: ‘We are delighted that this survey reinforces the benefits of studying at Birmingham. The University of Birmingham is fourth in the country for graduate prospects according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015 and third among the Russell Group of universities.’ Anna Doyle, first year English Literature and History student, told Redbrick: ‘Statistics like these definitely make students more confident about their ability to enter the highly competitive work market.' She added: 'It still means there is a long, hard road ahead in reaching a job with such highly paid prospects.'
06 23rd January - 5th February 2015
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News
Student vote could swing the General Election Duncan Kenyon
News Reporter @DuncanKenyon1 Campaign season began for the major political parties when David Cameron unveiled the Conservative’s first political campaign poster: ‘Let’s Stay on the Road to A Stronger Economy’. A recent study conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) suggests that the student vote could have a decisive impact on the upcoming General Election. The study shows that 51.8 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds voted in the 2010 election, meaning that nearly half of them didn’t, a significant number that could make a difference this time around. In 2010, 44 per cent of students voted for the Liberal Democrat Party, 28 per cent for Labour, 23 per cent Conservative and 3 per cent Green. Recent figures have suggested a collapse of the Liberal Democrat support from students and an upsurge in Green support. This was reflected in the 2014 European
Parliament election as the Greens won 25 per cent of the student vote, with the Liberal Democrats amassing just 13 per cent. If this trend continues into the 2015 election, the Green Party could potentially take a number of ‘student’ constituencies, possibly at the expense of the Liberal Democrats. Furthermore, the HEPI study predicts that Labour will see a significant increase in student support. In a crucial period, where
"The HEPI study predicts that Labour will see a significant increase in student support" poll numbers put Labour at 3 per cent clear, an upsurge in student support could win them enough seats to form a Government. This is supported by opinion polls in Selly
Two Muslim-owned businesses attacked Mandeep Heer News Reporter
Police in Birmingham are investigating two separate attacks on Muslim-owned businesses on the nights of the 10th and 12th of January. The attacks took place in the areas of Small Heath and Sparkbrook. Witnesses say they saw groups of men armed with guns and hammers smashing the windows of several local shops and restaurants. It is thought that eight businesses in total, all Muslim-owned, were targeted. There were no reported injuries. Chief Superintendent Richard Moore, from Stechford police station, stated: ‘At this time there is nothing at all to suggest that the crimes were motivated by the shopkeepers’ race or faith. In fact we believe that the damage caused was by individuals specifically targeting these three businesses.’
Inspector Jenny Richards at the Stechford police station said, ‘Our investigation suggests that the attacks were not random, but we continue to appeal to the local community for information'. BBC correspondent Peter Wilson noted that because the incidents happened soon after the attacks in Paris, ‘people are jumping to the conclusion that they are somehow linked’; however, West Midlands police continue to stress that the attacks were not racially or religiously motivated. ‘We are taking this very seriously, we have a team of detectives on the case and we will release images of anyone we want to speak to as soon as we have them.’ Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain has released a statement to ‘urge for calm’. Police patrols have increased in these areas to reassure the public that efforts are ongoing to trace those involved. After consulting CCTV footage, a silver Ford Mondeo Titanium is now believed to be involved.
Oak, where Labour candidate Steve McCabe is favourite to keep his seat. Unsurprisingly then, the Birmingham Edgbaston constituency is a key battleground. Any UoB student living on The Vale or in Edgbaston can register to vote in this constituency. Labour’s Gisela Stuart took the seat from the Conservatives in 1997, the first time they had lost the constituency in 99 years. In 2010, Stuart retained the seat with a 1,274 vote majority. This is less than the student population of The Vale, reflecting the significance of the student vote. This year both Labour and Conservatives are pouring a lot of time and money into the seat’s campaign, meaning it will be a very close call. The student vote could make a difference in this area. Similarly, in 2011 the Edgbaston council by-election saw the Labour candidate lose to the Conservative candidate by just 21 votes. Even in 2012, when there was another council election, Labour lost by just 241 votes. Another university constituency, Sheffield-
Hallam, also has an interesting dilemma. The seat is home to Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who relies on the student vote to be reelected. Latest polls have put him at 3 per cent ahead of his Labour challenger. In 2010 he was elected with an 8.5 per cent majority. The students will decide the constituencies fate. Previously, the Guild of Students automatically registered all students to the electoral register when they moved into halls. However, this is no longer allowed under new laws, so all students must register individually. The voting process is simple and can only be done online. You will require your National Insurance number to register. You can register both at university and at home, but you may only vote in one constituency. To vote in both is illegal. The date as to when we must register by has not been announced, but it will be several weeks before the election on Thursday, 7th May 2015.
Birmingham student decries antisemitism Vanessa Browne News Editor
@nessabrowne94
University of Birmingham student Izzy Lenga was invited to represent Jewish students an event held in London by Jewish Board of Deputies on Sunday 18th January. It was held to commemorate the loss of Jewish lives in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. Following the incidents in Paris, in which a kosher market was attacked and four Jewish people were killed, there have been increasing concerns in the European Jewish community regarding the rise in antisemitism and hate crimes in France and elsewhere in Europe, including the UK. A one-minute silence was held, during which participants held up signs reading ‘Je Suis Juif’ - meaning ‘I am Jewish’, amongst others. The memorial event was attended by leading figures of state including Home Secretary Theresa May who noted the Paris
attacks as a ‘reminder of the serious terrorist threat that we face’, and spoke of concerns over the ‘appalling’ rise of antisemitism in the UK, and how more must be done to confront the issue. ‘The events that took place [in Paris] are deeply sad and harrowing’, said Lenga, a second year Theology and Religion student. ‘It’s so near, and the threat is so real. I went to my local kosher supermarket on the same day around the same time.’ Lenga, who is an elected representative of the Union of Jewish Students, also spoke to the board about the recent graffiti incidents at the university, in which swastikas - a symbol widely regarded as antisemitic, were spray painted on campus. Regarding the incidents, Lenga maintained that ‘every student, regardless of race, sexuality, religion, et cetera has the right to walk around campus without fear of intimidation’, and that in spite of the events, students should not ‘hide away, as it’s giving in, which is the opposite of what I want to do’.
Cadbury factory sees 200 job losses Duncan Kenyon News Reporter
@DuncanKenyon1
An agreement reached between the Mondelez International company and Labour Unions has confirmed that 200 of around 900 jobs at Cadbury will be shed in a bid to make the factory more competitive. This is part of an initiative to invest £75m in new production lines at the company. The Unite union has announced that these job losses will consist only of voluntary redundancies. Each redundancy will be paid four to six weeks of salary for every year of work as a pay-off, working out as an average of £100,000 for each person made redundant. Unite has said that this will secure the future of the plant for the next 20-25 years because of the increased efficiency added by
the new pipelines. Joe Clarke, Union representative, has said that most people who will leave are over 55 and it will be a ‘good deal’ for them. He added: ‘The individuals that wish to remain employed will be able to do so because the threat of compulsory redundancy has been removed. It’s a good deal from our members’ point of view.’ The remaining staff will have their responsibilities increased and receive 2% pay increases above annual pay award. Evie Brooks, first year English and French student, commented: ‘it is a real shame that the Cadbury company have had to reduce their staff numbers by so many. But I suppose this is necessary in the competitive chocolate market that the company must face today.’ Mondelez International, forerly Kraft, took over the Cadbury brand in 2010 for £11.5bn.
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23rd January - 5th February 2015
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Comment
Defence of Sanaz Raji Jaffrina Jahan Commentator
Last Guild Council, a motion was passed in defence of Sanaz Raji, joining five other students unions- SOAS, Royal Holloway, Bradford University, Kings College London, and Bristol University. She has been embroiled in a dispute with her university since 2011, after the revocation of her PhD scholarship. The motion, supported by the VicePresident of Welfare and the Ethnic Minorities officer, strives to identify similar cases experienced by non-EU international students here, improve access to pro-bono immigration advice, and coordinate campaigning efforts with student unions who passed similar motions. The motion highlights xenophobic immigration policies, and the institutional racism in Britain’s universities that students like Ms. Raji endure. But her campaign is more than about advocating for herself- even though Ms. Raji’s case is
"Ms. Raji... was told that she should be grateful for ever having a scholarship in the first place." increasingly being brought to light, sadly this is nothing new for non-EU international students. Ms. Raji’s ordeal with her university began in 2009, upon discovering that a supervisor specialising in her field- research of the Iranian Diaspora- was no longer available. Ms. Raji raised concerns about this, but was met with dismissal, and was told that she should be grateful for ever having a scholarship in the first place- an attitude that resonates with associating women of colour as “angry” and “aggressive” for no other reason, than asserting themselves. In August
2011, Ms. Raji later discovered that her PhD scholarship was revoked by her department 2 weeks before the start of the new academic year, violating the guidelines set by the Research Students Handbook, which states that PhD students must be notified 4 weeks in advance of their scholarship revocation, so they can make alternative arrangements for their studies. Individuals usually protest that, surely Ms. Raji violated the terms of her contract in order for her to be removed from her course. If that was the case, then why would her department say that if she can find £13,400 in two weeks to pay for the rest of her course, then she would be welcome back? It is not an issue of Ms. Raji having done wrong- rather, it is thanks to the rampant neoliberalisation of
university life that means students like Ms. Raji are nothing more than cash cows, and that predominantly white universities exercise less empathy towards people of colourespecially given how she was told she is not “grateful enough” for her scholarship. Last year, a piece by Amrit Wilson in Ceasefire magazine described how a Freedom of Information request submitted by Ms. Raji revealed the pernicious racism of her department. In a private exchange of emails, Helen Kennedy, Ms. Raji’s former supervisor, stated: “The good news is that her was required to leave the country (not by the university, but by border control) by the end of end of last month, November, so maybe this was her last hurrah. I hear she was going to try
Women: Are You Free? Olivia Beesley Commentator
The Spice Girls, Britney, Bridget Jones; are these women the symbols of 90’s ‘girl power’ and feminism, or a mask to cover society’s reversion to the days of female oppression? In our younger years, while lyrics and movies of female solidarity were blurring out of our Walkmans and TVs, many women may have perceived themselves as strong, powerful and independent from men. But what if this was all a soft, cuddly form of feminism, designed to make
"Firls can choose between red or pink lipstic, tanned or pale foundation, black or brown eyeliner... But do they truly have the choice to reject all of the above?" women believe they were empowered, all the while keeping them in a ‘safe zone’ where they could not threaten society or men? These 90’s girl power icons embraced everything that was previously labeled ‘feminine’ and rejected in the 70’s; makeup, girlish clothes and perfume. This was all in aid of reclaiming femininity because it was their ‘right’ to do so. Being fed such messages,
and with the media producing adverts declaring that women had ‘choices’ and ‘freedom’ in the consumerist world, many became deceived that they were actually free to choose. But what choices were they given? Girls can choose between red or pink lipstick, tanned or pale foundation, black or brown eyeliner, straight or curly well kept hair. But do they truly have the choice to reject all of the above? ‘Women don’t have to wear makeup!’
you may say, ‘Of course they have a choice!’ Well, maybe they do. But what price must they pay for this? Those who do not abide by the social regulations and standards are left feeling isolated, and afflicted by others and words of judgment. Is anyone else familiar with these conversations: ‘She looks tired today’, ‘She really shouldn’t be wearing that’, ‘Maybe she shouldn’t eat that anymore’. It’s easy to say that women have a choice, but what kind of
to go to Amsterdam then come back in on a tourist visa-if that’s the case, I hope she fails.” Critics of Ms. Raji’s campaign suggest that the experiences endured by her are nothing more than an individual case. In reality the institutional aggression that Ms. Raji is facing is due to power structures laden with racism and xenophobia: evident not only in Ms. Raji’s treatment, but Theresa May’s recent announcement that international students should not remain in the UK after graduation, for example. Because Ms. Raji’s struggle is one against institutional and structural aggression, she is certainly not the only person to face racial discrimination in higher education. Ms. Raji is fighting a battle on two fronts: one to remain safely in the UK, and one to challenge her university’s treatment of her. So far, Ms. Raji is managing to get by thanks to her close friends and supporters, who have provided her with accommodation and financial support, otherwise Ms. Raji would find herself destitute, as well as being under the impending threat of deportation. Cases like Ms. Raji’s should prompt those vocal against tuition fees, to pay more attention to the needs of these students. Even though the student movement is gaining better traction, it needs to be more inclusive of non-EU international students of colour. On top of that, challenging austerity, and its impact on higher education is not enough, given the stringent immigration controls that non-EU international students of colour face. Due to the lack of solidarity expressed from the Leeds student union officers, Ms. Raji is urging student activists to support her in propelling the campaign. Funds are needed not only for her daily expenses, but also to cover legal fees. If the campaign is successful, then hopefully, it will prove to be a foot David Iliff in the door in challenging the higher education establishment’s treatment of non-EU international students of colour- something that today’s student movement needs more than ever.
choice is deciding between consumer products and being judged? Many women feel that they have been given sovereignty over their own lives due to the new images of ‘career women’ who have successful jobs, families, social lives and all the while appear to be the picture of health and beauty. But I suggest that these ‘empowering’ images only cage women more into cells of ‘failed’ perfection and high expectations. It appears that we as society have happily bought into a ‘soft’ feminism, a ‘safe’ feminism and, ultimately, one that is not offensive. But maybe this is the way that the greatest powers in society intend it to be. Capitalist companies benefit from female (and increasingly male) insecurities, governments who withdraw from public welfare schemes want women to have more ‘autonomy’. But do you really have autonomy if someone has determined for you to have it? We can be control of our own lives completely*. *as long as it abides by the rules that have been created to keep us in our place. The post-feminism that our generation embraces may appear to be empowering, but I can’t help feel that I’ve been brainwashed into thinking I have more power and control in my life than I actually do. While I see these restrictions upon my life, you won’t catch me any time soon walking around without makeup - unfortunately, these are the realities of our society. I can only hope that one day a release will come from such subtle restrictions that rule our lives.
08 23rd January - 5th February 2015
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Comment
Should British Muslims be proactive in the fight against home-grown terrorism? George Reeves Commentator
It has been over two weeks since the tragic Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris, yet the debate created by that incident concerning freedom of speech and race relations rumbles on. Here in Britain, the focus this week was on the government after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles sent a letter to 1,000 Islamic leaders, urging them to tackle extremism and to help ensure the assimilation of British Muslims so that Islam 'can be part of British identity.' Although the letter was moderate in its tone and had the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron, several Muslim leaders have been somewhat less than positive in their response, believing that the government is once again unfairly targeting them due to the actions of an extremist minority. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth; Mr Pickles and Prime Minister Cameron have both affirmed their belief in the important contribution that British Muslims have to offer, whilst also acknowledging that Islamist terrorists (such as the Paris gunmen) are not at all representative of the wider Islamic faith. Indeed, the letter was a necessary intervention from the government, striking the right balance between being fair to our nation's Muslims whilst reinforcing their responsibility to take a proactive stance against the rising tide of extremism and home-grown terrorism. One of the biggest objections that some Muslims have had with the letter is its alleged implication that British mosques have harboured extremism yet, despite their protestations, this is not an unfair accusation. That isn't to say that all mosques are guilty of this charge, but the
facts are that there have been several incidents of Islamic places of worship in this country hosting individuals with some rather unsavoury views. One such example is that of Finsbury Park Mosque, in north London, which was famously led by radical hate preacher Abu Hamza for many years and served as an ideological incubator for shoe-bomber Richard Reid. Although Finsbury Park Mosque has been run by moderate Muslims since Abu Hamza was deposed in 2003, there are other places where extremism remains largely unchallenged. In recent years, the
East London Mosque has attracted widespread attention for controversial statements made by some of its preachers; these have been largely of a sexist, homophobic or anti-Semitic nature. A colossal structure with an unmissable presence on London's busy Whitechapel Road, the ELM is one of the largest and most prominent mosques in the country; yet it is most renowned for the medieval views of its clerics on issues as diverse as wifebeating, capital punishment for homosexuals, and the evil nature of music. It is important not to get irrationally
apoplectic or to jump to wildly inaccurate conclusions in the manner of US terrorism expert Steven Emerson, who has been widely ridiculed for his comments on Fox News last week in which he claimed that Birmingham is an all-Muslim city.
"It is vital that where there is extremism and radicalisation taking place, it is rooted out in order to wipe out the threat of home-grown terroism" However, just as Emerson's assessment was laughably off the mark, so too are the complaints of those Muslim leaders who believe that they are being victimised by the government- whilst denying that extremism takes place in British mosques. It is vital that where there is extremism and radicalisation taking place, it is rooted out in order to wipe out the threat of home-grown terrorism, but Muslim leaders must also step up to the plate and realise their own responsibilities. After all, they are in a unique position of authority and leadership within their faith communities and are, therefore, in a much stronger position to counter extremism than a white, middle-class politician from Westminster. It is time for sections of the British Muslim community to put their perpetual victim mentality to one side, and to cooperate with the government in the fight against the common enemy - those who wish to destroy this country whilst distorting the Islamic faith.
Better Than We Were Before: The Paris Attacks Francesco Finucci Commentator
The attacks taking place in Paris – later named the Three Days of Terror – left Europe with a scar. Often, with time passing by, I looked for words, something meaningful to say, and at the same time,something not ringing pathetically banal. So that I began sharing information I considered relevant,but no more than that. In these days it came to my mind what a friend told me, while discussing about the reaction of philosophers face to the rise of Nazism: arguably, silence meant much more than many words. It was louder. Nevertheless, some elements can be sketched. In a first instance, we can perhaps sketch out some of the processes behind the Paris attacks, that could help us understand what exactly happened and why. In fact, they only represent the last step of a wider phenomenon: something we could tag as a wave of significance. Attacks took place in Canada where, in October, a gunman assaulted the parliament, days after a soldier was killed in a hit-and-run by a man who had converted to Islam. Similarly, in the United States, a man assaulted police officers with a hatchet, while another was found in Ohio preparing an attack against the Capitol Building, in Washington. Then was the time for Sydney. France reached the point of no return in a
more gradual way: it began in 2012 with a shooting in a Jewish school in Toulouse, then there was a bank siege, a stabbing in Joue-le-Tours, a hit-and-run in Dijon and the attacks in Paris. Finally, another shooting took place in Mountrouge. We can consequently hold with a reasonable degree of certainty, that a long list of individuals - petty criminals, volunteers in Syria, or simply marginalised and unstable people – found an instrument of redemption and achievement in these acts. Consequently, the prevention of further attack will depend on intelligence monitoring, but also on the addressing of marginality and exclusion. The other side of this process are terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State, but also al-Qaida. Despite many of the individuals involved in attacks being inspired, but not directly linked or supported by these organisations, it is important to consider them as an active member in this “game”. In fact,competition among terrorist groups is a key factor in their road to violence. The more they feel threatened by rivals, the more they escalate their attacks to maintain their supremacy. This is not actually the most prominent feature of the attack, but it also tells us something relevant: terrorist groups need those people, need our societies to produce marginality, poverty, exclusion and rage, so that they can use them as nails, putting them on society and hammering. Consequently, it must be absolutely clear that they are mere tools
in the hands of organisations and self-made Imams; and also, that their role is to trace a division on the imaginary border- dividing the Christian, Islamic and Jewish communities living in all European countries. Indeed, divisions abruptly showed, almost as brutally as the violence of the attack itself. French people reacted magnificently, betting on all the instruments of their republican history. The 100,000 people's march in Paris raising the slogan “not afraid”, the Eiffel tower turning off its lights, the parliament singing the national anthem are and remain the best reaction to violence and intimidation, something similar to the “wisdom with light stride” described by Giuseppina Quattrocchi as the target of Nietzsche's philosophy. Nevertheless, signals of suspicion, fear, hostility emerged, both in France and all around Europe. In France, about 60 Islamophobic attacks were registered on 26 mosques, including “firebombs, gunfire, pig heads, and grenades”. One man was stabbed to death in Beaucet, near Avignon. This happened while Jewish people were feeling so threatened that many shops were closed, Paris' synagogues were empty and many were thinking about moving somewhere else. One can easily understand the feelings of French Christians after the attack. Abroad, the situation didn't get any better. The claim for national unity had no effect outside France, resulting in islamo-
phobic graffiti found at the University of Birmingham, death threats sent to London mosques and eight Muslim-owned shops in Birmingham were attacked with gunfire and hammers, perhaps as an act of retaliation. Finally, anti-Semite graffiti appeared in East London on a poster concerning the Holocaust Memorial Day. Tension is on the rise in the UK, and it comes with no surprise, as Farage talked about a “fifth column” moving into the country. Needless to say, at stake here is once more what we consider indispensable for us, and thus many European intellectuals mobilised to find explanations to these facts, and the best way to react: Lucia Annunziata, Angelo D'Orsi, Giovanni Fontana, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Simon Jenkins, Seumas Milne, Fiyaz Mughal, Guido Olimpio, Piero Ostellino, Roberto Saviano, Mark Steel. Whatever the position, all intellectuals seem to be aware of a threat: the spillover effect. A risk that we shouldn't underestimate, but we also should consider for what the intellectual ground of these terrorist is: “the attack will divide individuals according to their religions, as European democracy is a fake, a reiterated hypocrisy. So, it won't stand the weight of an attack, that will be followed by retaliation, counter-retaliation and so on”. We can't let this happen. We must be as we expect from ourselves to be. We must be better than we were before, more united than we were before.
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23rd January - 5th February 2015
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In Defence of Sia's "Elastic Heart" Video Dean Eastmond
being shown, instead of criticising it. Dance is a full contact sport. Obviously LeBeouf and Ziegler will touch each other in the imperatively moving piece. To suggest that contact between adult and child equates to paedophilia is to say that all parental connections are non-platonic. Right. It is also problematic to assume that a male and female can only exist in a sexual context and never in any other form and the dance would seem less raw if the contrast between the pair wasn’t so evident. Also, to suggest that paedophilia is evident is to suggest that the dance is provocative, which leads onto the sexualisation of a twelve year old girl. A women’s body, regardless of age, is not sexual until she so decides for it to be. The video wasn’t meant to be sexual, so it wasn’t. A woman’s body should not be sexually offensive, when it isn’t sexual. And, to advocate the argument that a twelve year old girl was showing too much skin, perpetuates a culture of victim blaming in rape cases and extenuates the use of the female form as a weapon against a gender or an object to be desired. This correlates with LeBeouf coming out last year as a victim of rape and receiving hateful messages over Twitter on how “men can’t be raped”. Sia, nor LeBeouf, nor the filmmakers sexualised Ziegler in the slightest; the audience have done. The responses that the video have received are hence responsible for the audience’s interpretation of the piece, which in place is their fault. Sia should not have had to apologise for the video.
Commentator
Sia, the 39 year old Australian singer, known best for her collaboration with David Guetta in “Titanium” and her internationally successful single “Chandelier” last year, has recently encountered unjust criticism on social media about whether the video for her upcoming single, “Elastic Heart” conveys paedophilic ideologies. The song was originally written with The Weeknd and Diplo for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and now has a video depicting a young girl (Maddie Ziegler) and older man (28 year old, Shia LeBeouf) performing contemporary dance within, what seems to be, a large bird cage. Ziegler is best known for her appearance on hit American TV show “Dance Moms”, whilst LeBeouf has been saturated within American film and television, featuring in “Even Stevens” at a young age, resulting in him land leading roles in the “Transformers” films and “Indiana Jones”. Controversy arose when individuals commented on the nude coloured leotard and unitards worn by the dancers, in addition to the contact the dancers had and the raw relationship that was conveyed in the video. The video is nothing more or less than an incredible and artistic interpretation to the music, featuring two extremely talented actors who are actively able to perform what is being asked of them. We should be celebrating the talent we are
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Travel
Majestic Morocco Travel writer, Valerie Ogadi, provides advice on volunteering when in this enchanting land in the tip of Africa... Last summer I spent three weeks volunteering and travelling around Morocco. It is rich in culture and offers diverse landscapes such as the beaches, mountains and the Sahara. Scouring the internet for volunteering organisations, I was keen to find one that was affordable, trustworthy, provided an environment to meet other volunteers and offered excursions to make exploring Morocco with the other volunteers easy. I soon came across “Riad 9 Volunteering” (R9V for short)- a student volunteering organisation providing a wealth of volunteering projects such as teaching English and feeding the locals for affordable student prices. As a student organisation, only students need apply which was a perfect way to meet people from the University of Birmingham and other universities across the UK and the EU, especially as I was travelling alone. I participated in a range of volunteering projects but the one that stood out to me the most was the feeding project. A couple of hours before breakfast, a meal eaten after a 25 hour fast during Ramadan, I helped to prepare food with the other volunteers and the locals at a restaurant. We served the food at an outside seating area and at breakfast the Shofar sounded across Marrakech, giving us the signal to eat. Eating with the locals and participating in this cultural event was a truly rewarding and eye-opening experience. Jemaa el-Fnaa, also known as the main square, is adjacent to the riad I was residing in and other hotels catering to tourists. During the day it is packed with outdoor markets, offering souvenirs and jewellery, and restaurants located in the Old City. The square is also filled with orange juice stalls with different sellers vying to catch the attention of tourists. As I was in Morocco during Ramadan, the square was quieter than usual during the day. By night, the entertainment increases and the square is crowded with street performers, music, henna artists and food stalls. I often saw stray cats taking cover from the scorching heat in the souks or simply sleeping in the middle of the streets. The souks features an array of small markets devoted to leather goods, jewelry, spices, argan oil and perfume. This is all located in one place along winding streets and is to the north of the square. Although it is a compact area, it is challenging to navigate
"By night, the entertainment increases and the swaure is crowded with street performers, music, henna aritsts and food stalls. ." and is quite easy to get lost in during the first few visits. Only a 30 minute walk from Old Town is New Town, appealing to those after Western comforts. Although it’s a short walk from Old Town, I would recommend hailing a taxi as the 50 degree weather makes the walk quite unbearable. Popular western shops such as H&M, Zara and Starbucks can be found there as well as spas and various restaurants offering a myriad of cuisine. Essaouira is a laid back seaside town three hours from
Old Town. It’s perfect for a day trip to escape the mayhem of Marrakech. My fellow volunteers and I visited a restaurant along the coast before exploring the outdoor markets selling unique goods. Sports enthusiasts can take advantage of the cooler weather by participating in wind surfing along with various activities such as quad biking. My favourite thing was horse riding along the beach, a perfect way to see the Moroccan landscape. The Sahara was a ten hour drive from Old Town, giving us the opportunity to see numerous towns and spectacular mountain views along the way (making the long distance travel bearable!). Don’t bother taking a mini fan to get you through the sweltering heat, it just blows hot air! I would recommend hiring a van with air conditioning to make the heat more manageable. Following the long journey, we were welcomed by Berbers who provided camels for us to ride to the camps. As this lasted another forty five minutes,
I would strongly recommend taking a lightweight scarf to protect your face and neck from the heat as the soaring temperatures reached highs of fifty degrees, along with sun screen of course. The journey came to an end when we reached the campsite where we settled for the evening, which was more luxurious than I had imagined. We were welcomed by more Berbers who served us food and mint tea, and provided entertainment. The following morning we had the opportunity to watch the sunrise after a short trek up the sand dunes. The stunning waterfalls of Cascades d’Ouzoud is 150km northeast of Marrakech, surrounded by green valleys. The short walk to the falls is perfect for novice hikers as it is easy to navigate and isn’t too steep, so a guide is not necessary in my opinion. You can swim at the bottom of one of the smaller water falls but adrenaline seekers can cliff dive from a safe distance. Morocco has a breathtaking mountainous scenery giv-
World vs. Food Sara Tryon tells us how to experience the delights of this North African dish, without having to dig out your passport...
Moroccan Tagine If you want to savour a taste of Morocco from the comfort of your own home, try a traditional Moroccan tagine for a warming winter treat. Packed with plenty of vegetables, this dish is a great way to eat healthily whilst also experiencing cuisines from around the world. Serve on its own, or with couscous as an accompaniment. Origin: Morocco Main Ingredients: Lamb, potato, carrots, squash, onion, garlic, dates, chickpeas, coriander, mint, cumin, ginger, chilli. Where best to find in Morocco: Cafe restaurant Tiznit, Marrakech Where best to find in the UK: Tagine Restaurant, London
ing hiking enthusiasts the chance to challenge themselves with some of the highest peaks in Africa. We decided to climb Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167m, spanning a total of two days. The first half of the hike lasts approximately five hours, depending on how
"I experienced the biggest culture shock when exploring and shopping at the souks or indoor markets, as the owners are generally more insistent." many breaks you take. There are small shops along the first stretch of the mountain providing energy drinks and snacks. A large hostel and campsite is available at the halfway point, also providing dinner. At night I had the opportunity to see the stars, a rare experience as I come from London. The second half is steep and requires more care when hiking due to the high altitudes and wind. I strongly recommend using a Moroccan guide to lead the way up the mountain, to prevent groups from splitting and for safety precautions. As a tough mountain to conquer, I didn’t make it to the peak but from what I heard from a few of the other volunteers, it offered rewarding views. Morocco has a wide selection of traditional cuisine to indulge in at very affordable prices. Most restaurants serve Tagine, a stew made with meat, fish or vegetables, available in many flavours - my favourite being the egg and meat tagine. Another traditional dish is Shawarma, a wrap filled with meat or chicken, vegetables and dressing usually served with fries. During the day, you will be able to find a few food stalls preparing flatbread with a tomato and onion filling. Moroccan mint tea is worlds apart from the well-known English staples. It is traditionally served in a small, handleless tea glass and has an acquired sweet taste. There is even a technique to serving it where it is essential to pour the tea from a high distance, in order to make a thin foam layer at the top of the glass. There are several tips that I could offer were you to choose Morocco as your next destination. Learn basic French; French is one of the official languages in Morocco so it is useful to learn for communicating with the locals. When in Souks, give a firm response to sellers if you don’t want to purchase their goods. I experienced the biggest culture shock when exploring and shopping at the souks or indoor markets, as the owners are generally more insistent when trying to sell their goods to toursits. Be willing to haggle; even if you don’t succeed, it doesn’t hurt to try. In terms of road safety, watch out for the motorcyclists along the narrow roads and streets. Stay hydrated, as the unforgiving climate will certainly drain your energy. Lastly, when I chose to visit Morocco it was during the entirety of Ramadan. Be aware that if you do the same, some shops in New Town and museums close early. Restaurants remain open during the day but I personally did not eat outside out of respect to the locals.
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23rd January - 5th February 2015
11
Dining around the world... Travel writer Joe Taylor suggests his do's and dont's when it comes to sun, sea and suspicious stomachs... Most students are used to sampling a wide array of culinary delights at their term-time addresses, from post-night out takeaways to ‘Ready, Steady Cook’ style evenings when the only food available is half a packet of noodles, a garlic clove and a tin of beans for dinner. But even this may not fully prepare students for the food they’ll experience on their travels to the far corners of the world. So in preparation for your summer trips we’ve teamed up with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to take a look at some of the delicacies you may experience abroad – the good, the bad and the ugly. Many of us have fond memories of our pets growing up, but in some places across the world, our pet would be served as dinner. In South America, for example, guinea pig
"Fried tarantulas are a regional delicacy and are marinated in sugar, salt and spice before being fried in garlic. ." is a regional delicacy and commonly added to casseroles or soups. You can also buy them roasted from street vendors much like you’d buy a burger from a festival in the UK. With a texture and flavour similar to rabbits, the culinary consumption of these rodents is also used as an effective way to control their population. So if you are travelling around South America be prepared that you may be asked if you want cheese with Mr Pickles! The home of pasta, pizza and spaghetti, Italy has long since become synonymous with good food loved across the globe. So if you find yourself skiing in the Alps or enjoying a weekend retreat to Rome this summer, it’s probably reasonable to expect to arrive back into the UK at least 4 stone heavier. However, something that might help you lose your appetite is a less well-known Italian dish called ‘casu marzu’ literally translating into ‘maggot cheese’. This dish involves maggots being added to pecorino cheese, which is made from sheep’s milk, supposedly to enhance the flavour. Some Italians remove these ‘added extras’ before serving but others prefer to enjoy the cheesy larvae. For those connoisseurs who are brave enough to try this speciality, a quick piece of advice - the maggots used in this dish have the ability to jump up to 6 inches, so it’s custom to cover your eyes before you take a bite. Cambodia Now if you are a self-confessed arachnophobic and cringe at the thought of having a spider invade your bathtub then you may want to think twice before grabbing something on the go in Cambodia. Fried tarantulas are a regional delicacy and are marinated in sugar, salt and spices before being fried in garlic. They are usually served with a lime and black pepper dip for that extra kick. In fact, fried spiders have become even more popular than the other favourite Cambodian dish, grasshoppers. Do be warned though, the tarantula’s abdomen is served as part of the dish meaning that you’ll enjoy a black ‘sludge’ containing the innards,
eggs and excrement of the little critter. Bon appetite! If we take a trip to the USA you may expect to land in a sea fast food chains and coffee houses, with nothing too different to what we experience at home, but you would be wrong. In the Mid-West ‘Rocky Mountain oysters’ are a common dish enjoyed during sporting events and are especially popular among cowboys. Alas though, these oysters are not the ones you would expect to find in one of Marco Pierre White’s restaurants, but are simply deep-fried bull testicles. And that is not the only grizzly speciality you will find in the States, with ‘Southern-fried rattlesnakes’ fast becoming a popular dish across America. The serpents are boiled in order to strip the meat off the bones before being dipped in eggs and covered in seasoned salt mix, flour and breadcrumbs. I imagine this dish may have some bite! We have all cringed watching ‘I’m a Celebrity’ bushtucker trials at some of the delights the unlucky contestants have to consume, but some of these treats are quite common in Australia. For example, ‘witchetty grub’ is a dish often found in the outback. This is a large white moth larvae and is part of the ‘bush meat’ family which was traditionally a staple for indigenous Australians. These are eaten raw or cooked, with the raw taste being compared to almonds and cooked depicted as crispy like roast chicken with the consistency of scrambled eggs. Japan is well known for its unique cuisine which has recently become hugely popular in the UK, with many Brits now enjoying sushi as a lunchtime snack. However, if you are looking for the authentic Japanese food experience then be warned it can be potentially deadly. ‘Fugu’ is a speciality that can be lethal when prepared incorrectly; therefore only chefs who have been drilled to perfection are allowed to handle the serving of pufferfish. The deadly chemical is call ‘Tetrodotoxin’ with symptoms beginning with a numbing sensation in the mouth area, swiftly followed by paralysis,
"Rocky Mountain oysters are a common dish enjoyed during sporting events...and are simply deep-fried bull testicles." and then death. At this time, there is no known antidote. Since 2000 there has been at least 23 people in Japan that have died after eating Fugu, however most of these were caused by D.I.Y attempts. So if you are ever in Tokyo and you fancy some fish and chips just make sure your chef is licenced and ‘ofishal’. Even if your dish isn’t well known for it’s deadly side it is still important that you make sure you’re covered for bouts of ‘Delhi Belly’ by having the right travel insurance to cover your fees if you end up in hospital. The bill for the treatment is a lot more expensive compared to a scorpion stick or a bowl of witchetty grub. Wherever you are, if you fancy indulging in some of the culinary delights of the world, it is always wise to ‘Know Before You Go’.
The 5...
Top Wanderlust Films Claire Burling recommends the movies that will help you escape those January blues...
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Elf Christmas might be over, but this festive film has to make the list. New York is one of the most iconic cinema locations, but seeing it through the eyes of Buddy the Elf makes the whole city more exciting and magical than ever.
The Beach Hopefully no one’s trip to Thailand would be as terrifying, but the idyllic sandy beaches and crystal blue waters almost make up for it. The peaceful isolation of the exotic Thai island is the perfect contrast to these freezing grey days.
Lost in Translation Full of neon lights and karaoke bars, Tokyo is a wonderful city to explore in this film. The high rise hotels and buildings are like nothing we have here in England, and the peaceful Japanese gardens embody all the beauty of Japan.
Eat, Pray, Love. Julia Roberts stars in this whistlestop tour of Italy, India and Indonesia, indulging in endless pizzas, pasta and ice creams, meeting an elephant, cycling through padi fields and falling in love as she goes.
Lord of the Rings With sweeping panoramas of snowy mountains and rolling hills, it is clear why New Zealand was the perfect choice for these epic films. And if those little Hobbits can survive their travels, then so can you!
Birmingham Stay at home and enjoy the UK’s largest market! Brum is twinned with Frankfurt and
12 23rd January - 5th February 2015
redbrick.me/travel
Travel
Winter Getaways Quebec
Claire Lynch
With its winding cobbled streets, 400 year old walls and horses and carts, Quebec City is magical any time of the year. However in wintertime, after a blanket of snow has descended and hundreds of twinkling lights have been draped, the city could be the setting for a fairytale. Despite the freezing temperatures (sometimes dropping as low as -25) and dark evenings, life in the city not only doesn’t stop, it thrives. The cosy pubs and family run cafes offer a sanctuary of warmth where punters can relax with a pumpkin beer or some hot poutine. A walk around the city’s walls, heading down into Old Quebec and finishing at the pier, is a mesmerising experience as you take in the many beautiful buildings and exquisite views of the village of Levi across the water. The glistening ice rink in the centre of town provides entertainment for beginners and experts and, with all day tickets for a fiver, it is well worth a try. Just 30 minutes out of the city more adventures are waiting to happen. Take yourself dogsleding through enchanting forests, visit the frozen Montmorency waterfalls or enjoy an evening at a cabin à sucre for a buffet of meatballs, waffles and pumpkin pie all lathered in copious amounts of sweet sticky maple syrup.
Cancun
Nadhirah Syalin
Why wait for the summer to get the sun and warmth? Escape the cold and jet off to the beautifully warm and sunny Cancun. The Mexican tropical paradise is located in the Northeast corner of the Yucatan Peninsula. Pristine white beaches and the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea make Cancun an incredible coastal destination. The city was developed by the Mexican government from a small fishing village into a thriving tourism hub and now boasts an array of wonderful resorts dotted along the coastline. Home to the second largest reef in the world, snorkeling and diving is a must while there, and the diverse underwater ecosystem and the extensive submerged cavern system leave a lot to appreciate. Out of the water, Cancun is equally interesting to explore as it is considered to be the gateway to the Mayan world. Be Indiana Jones for the day and delve into the mysteries of the ancient civilization by visiting the Mayan ruins. For those craving an adrenaline rush, head over to Selvatica and zip line through the Mayan jungle on the fastest zip line in North America. Cancun is definitely a great place to have fun and to chill away from the chills.
Iceland
Sara Tryon
Seeing the Northern Lights would be considered by many to be the trip of a lifetime, but Iceland offers a relatively affordable and accessible way to experience it. It is possible to see the Northern Lights here between late September and early April, and the optimum time is in the middle of this period. There is no guarantee of seeing the Lights, but travelling at the right time and having a bit of patience to spend the night out in the cold will significantly increase your chances. However, Iceland has more than enough to offer to make it a fantastic destination, making seeing the Lights the icing on the cake. With glistening white landscapes and some of the most stunning National Parks in the world, Iceland’s natural beauty makes the country worth visiting anyway. Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, is the most accessible airport to fly to and makes for an unusual destination for a city break. With an up-and-coming arts and culture scene, you will always have something to do despite the relatively small size of the city. It is also the perfect starting point to explore Iceland’s glaciers and volcanoes, making it the perfect destination for a winter getaway.
Italy
Ally Head
The awkward transition phase between end of the Christmas break and start of the New Year never fails to bring those January blues. Sleet, showers and the bitter cold can get the best of us down, and yearning for a bit of sunshine. Where better than the Almalfi Coast? A hidden gem on the coast of Southern Italy and snuggled high in the mountains on the coastline, this classic Hollywood-inspired beauty is for everyone. Not only does this stunning chunk of authentic Italy offer beautiful food, dazzling beaches and magnificent views, it also offers the rarity of cosiness on a beach holiday. With many villas to rent nestled amongst the rugged hilltops, you can almost escape the tourism. With the bright blue Mediterranean on your doorstep and the scent of sweet, sharp lemons lingering in the air, what more could help you to escape from the gloomy English weather? Whitewashed houses cling to the cliff edges and narrow alleyways boast bohemian coffee shops and bustling restaurants. Almalfi Cathedral offers some culture amongst the many cafes and pizzerias, with the neighbouring islands just a boat ride away. The culmination of all the above adds up to one stunning, unforgettable holiday.
A week in... Aix-en-Provence Lucy Moseley gives us her advice for spending a week in the South of France... Although Provence’s main attraction is its glorious weather in the summer, it is the perfect place to visit in any season. At the end of October it is still warm enough to be sunbathing on the beach, and by the time it gets cold the Christmas markets appear with wooden huts lining the streets offering mulled wine, churros and Christmas gifts.
Parks & Cocktails If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy the sunshine, Aix has some well-maintained parks which are perfect for relaxing in. In the evening, head to ‘Place des Cardeur’s’; it's a huge cobbled square filled with bars and restaurant, that come to life in the evenings.
Exploring Aix The historic centre of Aix is a maze of narrow cobbled streets full of shops, cafes and markets. If all the shopping tires you out, pick up a crêpe from one of the numerous street vendors who make it right in front of you in only a minute.
Sainte Victoire Less than half an hour’s bus ride from the center of Aix is the amazing ‘Barrage de Bimont’, which channels the water that runs off the Sainte Victoire mountain- painted over 50 times by Cezanne.
Culture Vultures The famous artist Paul Cezanne lived here in Aix, so galleries such as ‘Atelier Cezanne’ and ‘Le musée Granet’ have many of his paintings; you can even follow a trail of where Cezanne lived and worked.
Day Trips Aix provides a perfect starting point for a number of day trip. The closest beach to Aix is Cassis, which in itself is a beautiful town. Avignon is just over an hour bus ride away and is home to the famous Avignon Bridge and the lavender fields which bloom from July-August.
redbrick.me/travel
23rd January - 5th February 2015
St. Petersburg
13
Lucy Harkins
With fantastic architecture, a wonderful history and a variety of different attractions to discover, Saint Petersburg is one of the world’s most beautiful cities to visit. Notorious for its cold winters averaging around -8° C, Russia makes for the perfect winter getaway. Key points of interest for tourists normally include St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Heritage Museum, Church on Spilled Blood and the Bronze Horseman (representing the figure of Peter the Great). These attractions would be even more spectacular when visited in the snowy season of winter, in which lakes are frozen over and imperial buildings are covered with blankets of snow- turning the whole city into a white winter wonderland. Though St. Petersburg has managed to retain its historical and architectural appearance, unlike Moscow, the city is also very much westernised in terms of nightlife. It is, therefore, not only an enthralling destination for art and history lovers but also has a lot to offer in terms of nightlife; there is mixture of bars and clubs to try out, including an ice bar. Winter activities include a production by the world renowned Mikhailovsky ballet company in their home city of St Petersburg or perhaps outdoor ice-skating on one of the biggest ice skating rinks in the world. Whatever you choose to do, St. Petersburg will never fail to make your experience a truly memorable one!
Japan
Jessica Flanagan
Although not a far cry from UK’s cold winds, Japan is a beautiful location to embrace that last icy winter feel. Whether dipping in the hot spring water of Japan’s many ‘onsens’ while snowflakes fall, or hitting one of the country’s 600 ski slopes, there is not a shortage of winter activities. Areas such as Takayama and Kinosaki on the Japan Sea coast, are particularly beautiful in winter, and have plenty of snow. Temples, castles and shrines are open all year round, so there is no lack of culture or opportunity for self-reflection on your trip. Similarly, a long train journey through the country’s many mountainous regions will provide an air of calm and tranquility. If the minus temperatures are becoming extreme, a trip to Tokyo could be in order. Although not particularly warm at a cool average of 2 degrees, the capital’s shopping malls and museums could do a good job of warming you up. Finally, a winter trip to Japan would not be complete without a glimpse of a Japanese macaque, or snow monkey as they are more commonly known. Whether bathing their young in the natural spring water, or hiding from ferocious snow, these creatures are sure to warm your heart during a winter break.
Egypt Amsterdam
Molly McKay
The capital city of the Netherlands is a great spot for a short wintery getaway. Amsterdam is a vibrant, beautiful and exciting city. From the multitude of museums, to the canals which stretch around the city, Amsterdam has so much to offer. In the winter, the city retains its charm and is a great place to go for a weekend away; it is easily accessible, with flights taking less than an hour and great coach links. While visiting the city, one must-do is to rent a bike. The best way to see Amsterdam is by bike, and the extensive cycle lane network makes this easy and safe. Vondelpark is a great location for a long bike ride, and even boasts its own Picasso sculpture. Albert Cuypmarkt is a must-go for any foodies or market-lovers, it is full of a diverse range of stalls, including plenty selling must-try Dutch foods such as cheese and herring. If you want to give something new a try, hire a small boat and drive it yourself around the city’s canal, taking in the Amsterdam Light Festival which annually lights up the city’s canal during the winter months.
Pippa Smith
Whilst having been thought of as a potentially volatile choice of holiday destination in previous years, Egypt has since proven itself to be the perfect destination for a spot of winter sun. During the summer months, the 40+ degree heat can prove a little too much for some; however, with winter comes slightly more comfortable temperatures that regularly reach approximately 25° C. You can even fly out there right here, from Birmingham, for as little as £200 with some airlines. Popular Egyptian holiday destinations tend not to be in mainland Egypt, but rather located in the more popular resorts on the Sinai Peninsula. The most frequented Egyptian holiday resorts include Taba Heights and Sharm El Sheikh, where you can find a variety of 5* hotels along the Red Sea coastline. Even if 5* accommodation seems a little ostentatious for your taste (and budget), it is recommended that you avoid any resort below a 4* if you want to avoid a serious case of Delhi Belly! The hotels are, nevertheless, very reasonably priced and many include excellent seasonal offers during the low season. Admittedly, these resorts have little else to offer in terms of the surrounding area; but if all you’re looking for is sun, sand and sea - with a fantastic opportunity to observe the marine wildlife - then Egypt is the perfect destination to beat the January blues.
24 hours in... London Tasha Naidoo tells us her top tips for spending a day in the capital... How to get there You can get the train from Birmingham to London Euston, taking you directly into the heart of the city. Trains are fairly regular but you can take a mega bus too.
your taste buds, but Fire and Stone is a personal favourite, with themed pizzas from around the world. Borough Market and Carnaby Street will also guarantee you some great food and are fantastic eating spots.
What to do If you fancy a bit of culture try visiting some of the free museums the city has to offer like the British Museum, the National Gallery or the Natural History Museum. Hop onto a sightseeing bus and travel around the city looking at some of London’s most iconic buildings and places such as Buckingham Palace and, if you’re lucky, you might catch the changing of the guard! Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral are also must-sees. Catching a show is a must in London and cheap tickets are available around Leicester Square.
Where to go out Depending on what you’re looking for, London has some very different clubbing scenes. High end clubs tend to be centred around the Oxford Street area (but not exclusively) and Soho has some smaller bars and clubs if you fancy bar hopping. But, for a more student-priced night out, Shoreditch is the best option- so try XOYO or Cargo.
Where to eat Covent Garden has a lovely selection of cuisines to tickle
Insider’s tip If you want something a bit different try visiting Richmond Park, London’s famous deer park for a lovely stroll. Equally the Camden Passage is one of London’s less obvious places to visit and is home to a number of dainty antique shops and cute eateries.
Birmingham Stay at home and enjoy the UK’s largest market! Brum is twinned with Frankfurt and
14 23rd January - 5th February 2015
redbrick.me/film
Film
Focus on: The Oscars
Review:
Critic Matthew Robinson does the Redbrick Film Oscar 2015 round-up...
Foxcatcher
Details Release date: 9th Jan 2015 Director: Bennett Miller Cast: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo Running time: 129 minutes IMDB rating: 7.4
««««« Natasha Whearity Critic
With the Academy Award nominations having been announced last Thursday, it is perhaps time for Redbrick to weigh in and kick a little dust around. It has been a controversial old time for Oscar, the poor dear is being attacked from all angles: too white, too British, and not awesome. But let us not begin by drowning in a sea of other people’s opinions; let us begin at the beginning. First of all you must be warned to expect those ghastly, unoriginal headlines which claim the ‘Brits are coming’. Certainly it has been a good year for those members of the film industry who claim the UK as their home. Eddie Redmayne is nominated for his role as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones for playing Hawking’s wife, Jane. Benedict Cumberbatch continues his advance towards world domination with a best actor nomination for his role as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. Also from The Imitation Game, Keira Knightley gains the second Oscar nomination of her career in the best supporting actress category. To end the theme of British geniuses, Rosamund Pike gains a best actress nod for her scheming and vicious role as Amy in Gone Girl. There was also disappointment for British hopefuls, however, David Oyelowo was overlooked, as were Timothy Spall and Mike Leigh.
"Not only are the films mostly independents...No film with a Best Picture nod this year has made more than $100 million..." Independents will be the big hitters of the evening with only one film in the Best Picture category, American Sniper, being made by one of the ‘big six’ studios. Not
only are the films mostly independents, but they are not exactly money spinners either. No film with a Best Picture nod this year has made more than $100 million and only American Sniper looks within a chance of even getting close to that. In some cases however it does feel as if the nominations are undeserved, with Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game having some brilliant performances, but not being wonderful in themselves. If they had been left out it would have made space for films such as Selma, which, by all reports, is more deserving. The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman gained the most nominations, nine each, making the announcement both predictable and surprising simultaneously. It is clear that Birdman, quite deservedly, is the toast of Hollywood, but surely The Grand Budapest Hotel had fallen off most people’s radar. It was released in early 2014 and although a quirky and inventive film, Wes Anderson has never found himself in reach of anything more than the best screenplay gong. Some have explained the film’s success because of its early release date, giving voters chance to see it more often than some of the other films, but perhaps this view is rather cynical and maybe the Academy are just trying to award creative film making. Another deserving nominee was Whiplash, with five nominations. But quite how they justify putting J K Simmons in the best supporting actor category I will never know. Surely the process, in which the film makers enter themselves into the category where they are most likely to receive a nomination and thus a win, needs to be reviewed. Simmons dominates the film, and I am sure Terence Fletcher would have something to say about it. Another film with five nominations is Foxcatcher, the story of the murder of Dave Schultz by multimillionaire and wrestling fanatic John Du Pont. Steve Carrell completes his transformation from brilliant comedian to serious dramatic
actor by gaining a best actor nomination, while Mark Ruffalo gets a nod in the best supporting role category. It is surprising to see Channing Tatum overlooked for his role in the film but maybe the Academy couldn’t cope in a world where both stars of 21 Jump Street had Oscar nominations. The voters clearly didn’t take to The Lego Movie’s philosophy of all awesome, all of the time as, in one of the most upsetting snubs, they failed to give it anything but a nod for best song. It was good to see Song of the Sea and The Tale of Princess Kaguya make it in to the animated feature category however, so I suppose we cannot have our cake and eat it too. Speaking of cake, Jennifer Anniston was left out of the best actress category for her role as a woman suffering from chronic pain who becomes fascinated with the suicide of a woman in her support group in Cake.
"The process, where film makers enter themselves into the category where they are most likely to win, needs to be reviewed." Leading myself away from any embarrassment on Oscars night, I will not make any predictions here, but from the quality of the nominees it appears to have been a good year for film. Yes there have been omissions, and I will leave the debate on whether the nominations are too white to another, but all in all it will be an interesting night when all of Hollywood gathers at the Dolby Theatre on the 22nd February to see who has won and who must paint a Cheshire cat grin onto their face while applauding their rivals. All Redbrick must do now is wish them luck, or should that be break a leg?
On the 26th January 1996, Dave Schultz, gold-medal and Olympic wrestler wrote a reminder on the back of his hand: “Pick up kids”. Before he set off into the snow, he decided to fix up his car with a new stereo. Whilst he was fixing his car, another pulled up next to him carrying his employer and co-wrestling coach John E. Du Pont. He rolled down the window, pulled out a revolver and said: “You got a problem with me?”, then shot him three times at close range. Dave Schultz died in the snow with his reminder still inked into the skin of his hand. Bennet Miller’s new drama Foxcatcher recounts this event and the lead up to it, but unfortunately, does not quite capture the heart-breaking and devastating death of Dave Schultz. The story follows the Olympic gold wrestling brothers Mark (Channing Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo) who are lured into training by wrestling coach and multimillionaire John Du Pont (Steve Carrell) at his state-of-the-art training facility in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Apart from the fantastic array of performances which effectively carried the film, the pacing and plotting of events, particularly in the second half, were extremely slow. It was like turning the wheel of a jack in a box and waiting and waiting for it to jump out at you, only when it does you’re so bored of cranking the lever, that it comes as no surprise and has absolutely no effect. The film still had promising moments. Its voyeuristic nature was really prevalent, capturing the jealousy and paranoia Du Pont felt over the two brothers’ relationship, but also the underlying homoeroticism that seemed to caress the film, through Du Pont’s power over Mark and the animalistic connotations of wrestling. All in all, Foxcatcher was an enjoyable film to watch. All of the performances were outstanding, propping up a slow second half which unfortunately seemed to die with Du Pont’s remark and slap.
redbrick.me/film
23rd January - 5th February 2015
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Film News Vafa Motamedi Critic
Its that time of year again and the Oscars nominations have been announced. Yet what's been attracting most interest is not what's been nominated but what hasn't. Notable snubs include The Lego Movie and Mr Turner, but the lack of nominations for Selma is what has caused the most controversy. Coupled with a lack of women's stories films running for Best Picture, this snub has led many to accuse the Oscars as bigoted and lacking in diversity...
Similar accusations of whitewashing has met the casting of Scarlett Johansson for the remake of Ghost in the Shell. The remake will keep the original anime film's Japanese setting and supporting cast, yet the main character is to be white, highlighting the paucity of major roles for Asian actors in Hollywood. A petition to have Johansson be removed from the film has reached over 20,000 signatures. The film is set to be released April 14 2017.
Review: Ex Machina Critic James Cox reviews Alex Garland's latest film...
Details Release date: 21st Jan 2015 Director: Alex Garland Cast: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac Running time: 108 minutes IMDB rating: n/a
««««« James Cox Critic
From the Latin meaning “from artifice”, Ex Machina follows Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), a computer programmer who is “randomly selected” to join his enigmatic boss for a week away. However, upon arrival to the CEO's secluded island Caleb soon realises that his true purpose is to test the consciousness of Ava, an artificial intelligence. Written and directed by Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Dredd), Ex Machina explores themes of humanity and morality in this science fiction thriller. The film is exceptionally written and Alex Garland’s pedigree as a novelist and screenwriter is evident in the dialogue and the ideas presented on screen. Whilst artificial intelligence is a trope that has been explored multiple times in science-fiction, Ex Machina doesn't feel derivative. It manages to bring a fresh approach to a wellworn idea and focuses more on the moral implications than on artificial intelligence itself. Ironically, despite focusing on artificial intelligence, the film is about
humanity and what it means to be a human.
" The Film is exceptionally written and Alex Garland's pdigree as a novelist and screenwriter is evident in the dialogue and the ideas presented on screen." Garland also makes his directorial debut, and to great success. The film is stylishly and lavishly shot, with a minimalist production design that effectively communicates the key concepts of the film. The interior is cold, clinical and functional, and beautifully juxtaposes the spectacular scenery of green trees and tall mountains that lie outside of the facility. It helps to create this sense of being trapped and longing to escape and be free. Even Caleb’s room has no window, reinforcing the claustrophobic nature of the set. The film has a small cast, focusing primarily on the three main characters. Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) makes a brilliant turn as the troubled creator Nathan. Nathan’s character is complex and compelling, perfectly written and acted with the subtlety and nuance that requires the audience to think much harder about their moral leanings. The way in which Nathan and Caleb’s philosophies are presented is extremely effective and is one of the most refreshing aspects of the film. Our impression of Nathan is deliberately thrown off and contradicted, clashing with our predetermined opinions of the two male leads. Whilst our sympathies are with Caleb, the more the audience thinks about what each character is actually saying, the more the morality of the story becomes ambiguous. Domnhall Gleeson's (Frank) performance as Caleb is sincere and touching, with a great range of emotions and some very effective scenes – one in particular, involving a razor
blade and a mirror. Without a doubt the standout performance is Alicia Vikander (Testament of Youth) as the artificial intelligence, Ava. Alicia is able to portray Ava for exactly what she is – a living, thinking consciousness but still holds a level of artificiality. In the past, it has been very easy for actors to slip into cliché filled performances – monotone voices and jaunty movements. The fact that Alicia has to play Ava as a being with the emotional range of a human gives the performance an extra depth and showcases Alicia as an exciting talent and one to watch in the future.
Alfred Hitchcock is widely regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time yet one of his films, a documentary about the Holocaust, has been left on the shelf, unseen, for decades. The untitled film was commissioned by the British Government to demonstrate to the British people the horror of the concentration camps. Yet the events depicted in the film were so horrible that it was suppressed. Now the film is to be released and remastered and will be shown on TV sometime in 2015.
" Reservations are few, however the film doesn't hold together completely." Reservations are few for Ex Machina, however the film doesn't hold together completely. Clocking in at 108 minutes, the B-movie concept does begin to feel stretched towards the end and despite its direct beginning (taking a matter of moments to reach the island) some scenes feel superfluous and baggy in parts. The B-movie problem also underlines the main issue with the film. In an obvious attempt to subvert the pulp-style story, Garland has layered the film with profundity – or at least attempts to. This manifests in some scenes where Caleb and Nathan literally sit around and discuss philosophical conundrums. Whilst interesting, some of the allegory and metaphor does seem forced and contributes to the runtime as the film struggles to come to terms with what it wants to be: a science-fiction B-movie, or a morality thriller? Ex Machina is a gripping and thoughtprovoking science fiction thriller that will leave audiences in heated debate over the labyrinth of moral questions. Well performed and well written, Ex Machina is a refreshing take on an old idea.
After their success with Gone Girl in playing with Hitchcockian themes, Ben Affleck and David Fincher have decided to tackle the real thing and remake Hitchcock's 1951 classic Strangers on a Train. The story, based upon Patricia Highsmith's novel, follows two men who meet on a train and 'exchange' murders. The new film will be written by Gone Girl's Gillian Flynn and is expected to be updated to modern day, with the strangers now meeting on a plane.
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redbrick.me/tech
23rd January - 5th February 2015
The Cold Truth
Can you get a cold from actually being cold? Sci&Tech investigates the virus we all suffer from. Emma Houghton Online Sci & Tech Editor
If you don’t put your coat on, you’ll catch a cold! We’ve all been warned at some point in our lives – but is their truth behind the warning? A lot of people simply believe it is an old-wives’ tale, made up so that parents do not have to put up with their children’s complaints of being cold, while out and about. However, recent studies, which were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, suggest that cooler temperatures reduce the effectiveness of the immune system. A less active immune system makes it is easier for viruses to replicate, leading to infection and illness. The researchers at Yale University in America, chose to focus on the Rhinovirus in their experiments. This species of virus is so named because “rhino” stems from the Greek word for “nose” and the initial infection tends to occur in the nasal cavity. It then often spreads to the throat and sinuses, causing the well-known symptoms associated with the common cold:
sneezing, coughing, rhinitis (a runny or blocked nose), a sore throat and headaches. In the experiment, epithelial cells, which were taken from the airways of mice, were infected with a mouse-specific version of the Rhinovirus. Half of these cells were then exposed to temperatures typical of the body’s core (37°C), while the other half were exposed to lower temperatures, typical of the nasal cavity on a cold winter’s day (33°C). When infection occurs, cells respond by expressing particular genes, known as antiviral defence response genes. This expression occurs in two stages – transcription and translation – and it results in the production of proteins that help to fight the infection. In this experiment, it was the level of transcriptional response that was measured. They found that there was a much greater response in the cells at 37°C, in comparison to those at 33°C. They also compared the expression and activity of interferon glycoproteins, produced by the infected cells. These act as chemical messengers, informing neighbouring cells of the infection so that they can start producing the defensive proteins
early and prevent the infection from spreading. Not only was expression higher at 37°C, but there was also a much stronger response to the interferons in the nearby cells. The results from this experiment suggest that the Rhinovirus prefers cooler temperatures, meaning that we are actually more likely to catch a cold in the winter! However, putting on a coat may not be the best solution, as it is the temperature of your nose that makes the difference. Dr Iwasaki, who was one of the researchers involved in the project, suggests “staying in warm tropical weather or trying to prevent the nasal cavity experiencing very cold air.” Finally, although these results seem conclusive, it is important to remember that, as humans, we have many seasonaldependent behaviours that could increase our chances of catching a cold in the winter. Take the infamous “(re)freshers flu” as an example – students tend to become ill during the cooler autumn months because they return to university and come into contact with pathogens that they haven’t experienced before from other regions.
Huge Step Forward for Antibiotics Resistance to antibiotics has had a massive effect on the National Health Service, it's time we looked for new ones! Ellie Patten
Sci & Tech Writer
In a time we consider to be full of scientific innovation, it’s been a long wait in the world of antibiotics. The last time a new antibiotic made it into our pharmacies was in 1987, nearly thirty years ago. Since then, the problem of antibiotic resistance has grown vastly, sparking increasing concern amongst both scientists and the public, with antibiotic resistance horror stories springing up everywhere of how superbugs will destroy us all. But there is a new hope! 25 new antibiotics have now been discovered by scientists at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, using a novel method of culturing bacteria, with one of the antibiotics discovered described as showing very promising results. Using bacteria to make antibiotics may seem a little backward to some, but this is actually how most antibiotics are discovered. Microbes which live in areas full of other microbes need a mechanism to fend off and kill their competition, hence the existence of antibiotics. For this very reason, soil is an ideal place to look for bacteria which produce antibiotics, although only 1% of bacteria which grow in the soil seem to be able to be grown successfully in the laboratory. To navigate this problem, the team of scientists used a device called an ‘iChip’, which allows bacteria to be cultured in their natural habitat, which in this case is soil, by allowing them to be studied. Bacteria are separated by being placed between two semi-permeable sheets, and then placed in the ground. This keeps them in place, so they can be tested for
antimicrobial properties after being left in the soil for long enough for colonies to form. The promising antibiotic in question is called teixobactin, which tests show is toxic to bacteria, but not to mammalian tissues, as it targets fats which are used to build cell walls. This component is not present in our own body cells, along with
other molecules specific to bacteria. Teixobactin has been shown to clear a deadly MRSA dose in mice, and works on gram-positive bacteria (such as mycobacterium tuberculosis and MRSA), and scientists believe that resistance to this particular antibiotic will be difficult for bacteria to develop, meaning it could be around 30 years before any kind of
resistance begins to evolve. Of course, human tests are still required for teixobactin, and if these are successful it will be a few years until we find any sort of prescrption drug. Even if teixobactin never makes it into the pharmacies, this new method of culturing bacteria is likely to help us to develop more antibiotics, which is certainly a big step forward! If we can avoid over-prescription and over-use, maybe the antibiotics we discover this time will be in it for the long haul – or for at least another 30 years. Either way, doors have been opened for more antibiotic discoveries, and with a diverse range of bacteria living in the soil still to study, scientists hope there will be many more to come.
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23rd January - 5th February 2015
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Dragon Docked, Falcon Failed! SpaceX founder and CEO, Elon Musk’s New Year’s resolution: make space cheaper!
Roshni Patel Sci & Tech Writer
Space, famed as the final frontier and sometimes for the final cost. NASA keeps no secrets when it comes to the cost of their space program. To send an unmanned rocket with supplies and equipment to the International Space Station (ISS) costs over $60 million (£40 million) alone, with fuel costing a meagre $200,000 (£130,000) of that. SpaceX, an independent space exploration technologies corporation, hope to change all of this, their method cutting the cost of space missions by half. On Saturday 10th January 2015 at 09:47 AM GMT, the Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon spacecraft was launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Just minutes later and the Dragon spacecraft deployed its solar arrays and headed towards the ISS, to deliver around 2,300kg of cargo. This included belated Christmas gifts, much needed supplies, spare parts and over 250 experiments, which were delayed when Orbital Science’s Antares rocket exploded back in October. Meanwhile, SpaceX sought to make history as they attempted the first successful recovery and reuse of a jettisoned rocket. One of the reasons space is so expensive is that most of the expensive equipment is destroyed after use. CEO Elon Musk has famously likened this to
throwing away a Boeing 747 after a single transatlantic flight. The Falcon 9 rocket is made of two disposable parts, the first is a 14-storeytall rocket booster designed to propel the craft to an altitude of 50 miles before
disengaging and the second is a 5-storeytall booster, which breaks off about five minutes later. To solve this expensive problem, they planned to guide the first stage onto a floating landing pad stationed 300km from the coast, with the
Space X
hopes that the recovered the booster could be refurbished and reused for another mission. Unfortunately, nothing is as simple as it seems. The process described by the company as: “trying to balance a rubber broomstick on your hand in the middle of a wind storm." And they were absolutely right as the rocket crashed into the landing pad. Hard. Running out of hydraulic fluid for the aerodynamic paddles during descent, the rocket was unable to make a stable landing. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom as Musk later tweeted: “Close, but no cigar this time. Bodes well for the future tho.” Despite the inability to reuse the Falcon 9 booster, the Dragon capsule docked safely with the space station on Monday and will remain there for over a month while the crew unload its cargo and reload it with experiment samples, redundant gear and rubbish to be returned to earth in February. For now, SpaceX will be busy making adjustments and analysing the telemetry data in preparation for their next attempt. An attempt which could be soon, as SpaceX have planned another launch at the end of the month for Al Gore’s Deep Space Climate Observatory instrument (DSCOVR), an early warning system against dangerously strong solar flares. As the famous proverb goes: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again.” Hopefully soon we will be seeing more ideas on re-usable rockets in this technology-heavy era!
No More Worms Attention Hack The second human disease close to being eradicated. Beth Holland Sci & Tech Writer
In 1980 smallpox was officially declared eradicated worldwide by the World Health Organisation, becoming the first human disease to ever be fully eradicated. And now we are getting closer to eradicating another disease, the less widely known guinea worm. Guinea worm is a disease not many people have heard of and is rarely in the forefront of the media’s eye, but it is an incredibly debilitating disease that has been widespread in thousands of villages across 21 countries in Asia and Africa. The disease, unlike many that affect the poorest parts of these continents, is rarely fatal but incredibly painful for the person suffering from it. The disease is spread through people drinking unclean water containing guinea worm larvae; the larva bore into the intestines and grow in the body for around a year and can grow up to 80cm in length! The worm then moves through muscles to eventually leave the body through a blister usually on the foot. The process can take up to 30 days and is extremely painful, to relieve the pain the infected person will put their foot in water which only equates to releasing
the worm’s eggs and continuing the cycle. It is also common for the worms to infect one human several times and even "manifest in any parts of the body" explains Craig Withers of the Carter Center, "use your worst imagination". The process of eradication is the first to be done without the use of vaccination or medicines because it is only transmitted by the route of drinking contaminated water. By educating villagers about the disease, and by distributing water filters (cheap plastic tubes with steel mesh filters) to affected areas that people can use to eliminate parasites from the drinking water, the chance of being infected was significantly reduced. The eradication of guinea worm after almost three decades of work is getting closer because of the Carter Center foundation (founded by US president Jimmy Carter). In 1986 there were over 3.5 million cases of guinea worm, this month a foundation at the American Museum of Natural History amount has gone down to just 126 cases. The World Health Organisation has a global eradication scheme, citing that it is an eradicable parasite because it is easily detectable in the water and the disease is limited to just 30 villages in four countries.
Learn how to hack your brain into paying attention. Rachel Taylor Sci & Tech Editor
As students, we all know of the tiresome Monday 9am wake-up call. Some of us even accidentally nod off during those first few lectures wishing there was a way to fight the tiredness and concentrate. Well now there is! Cognitive scientist at University College London, Professor Nilli Lavie, suggests that actually giving your brain more to do could actually help. Her load theory suggests that there is a limit in the brain for sensory processing and once this has been reached nothing else can be taken in, even distractions, so your brain starts up again, like a computer restart switch. In her 2014 paper, she describes the two attention systems of our brain; the 'top-down' system and the 'bottom-up' system. The ‘top-down’ system involves deliberate, focused attention and is essential for long stints of concentration. Whilst the ‘bottom-up’ system constantly switches your awareness to something that could be of use. This could be a car about to hit you or someone grabbing your arm, as long as you’re awake this last system is fast and always on. The problem is that the 'top down' system requires a lot of energy to main-
tain and the 'bottom-up' system takes over. This is when you zone out of your lectures and start thinking about lunch for example. However, a few simple tricks will keep you alert and paying attention for those 50 minute stints! Firstly, cut down on the 'bottom-up' email notifications and texts by putting your phone on silent and away from reach. Then, as Professor Lavie’s load theory suggests, we should give our brain more things to do that are related to the topic such as adding in visual aids to your work, adding a colourful border, switching pens etc. It is unusual that putting in more distractions actually helps, but as long as it is relevant to your work, it manages to trick or ‘hack’ your brain into thinking it is being distracted already. Attention is actually one of the most important things that a brain can do as it determines your consciousness of your environment and thus safety. Our brains work in over-load to block out the unimportant background to focus solely on relevant surroundings. This focused attention is essential for learning and memorising. You’ll definitely reap the rewards come exam season, because as long as you pay attention to something, you can boost your ability in revision or other skills.
18 23rd January - 5th February 2014
redbrick.me/music
Music
Album Review: Sleater-Kinney - No Cities To Love
Conrad Duncan Music Critic
@conradduncan1
Even with the frequency of surprise comebacks and reunions in the past few years, the announcement from No Cities to Love late last year was unexpected. Not because Sleater-Kinney looked like they’d never reunite, but more because there didn’t seem to be any reason why they would. Over the past 10 years, all three members have kept themselves busy with side-projects and there wasn’t any sense of unfinished business with the band. Similarly, the band’s hiatus was announced with little fanfare; they released The Woods, their most acclaimed album yet, toured it and then revealed they had no plans for releasing any future music. As a result, No Cities to
Love feels less like a comeback and more like picking up where things were left off. That’s not to say there’s been no progression in the past decade. The album does have the mood of a return to basics, but this doesn’t feel like a band retracing
"No Cities Left To Love feels less like a comeback and more like picking up where things were left off" their steps, instead they prefer to not dwell on the time away. In fact, the only clear reference to the reunion comes on ‘Surface Envy’. Elsewhere, we have references to consumerism on ‘Price Tag’ and a critique of the infatuation with big cities on the title
track. It all feels contemporary without desperately seeking relevance; the sound of a band reforming from an overwhelming desire to write music together again. It’s this desire that allows No Cities to Love to fit in easily among Sleater-Kinney’s best records. It also helps that as usual the songs here are incredibly high in quality. First single ‘Bury Our Friends’ ranks among the band’s best, combining their brand of punk rock with a deliberately awkward shuffling groove. Later on, ‘Fade’ harks back to The Woods’ classic rock influence, alternating between a Roxy Music-styled verse and a stadium sized chorus to close the album in ferocious fashion. For a band that has now written 8 albums sticking only to rock music, Sleater-Kinney have always managed to sound surprisingly diverse. There’s a lot to love about No Cities to
Love in a way that’s unusual for a reunion album. There are no signs of rust or desperation and musically it sounds as vital as any debut released in the past 12 months. Lyrically, Sleater-Kinney are cutting and
"As usual, the songs here are incredibly high in quality" frank, musically they’re urgent and incisive. If anyone expected this to be a warm up after so much time off, they are in for a very pleasant surprise. Sleater-Kinney have returned in earnest. In that decade of absence it became clear that they were one of the great bands of their generation and now they’re returning to gain the praise they’ve always deserved.
Live Review: Deaf Havana @ Coventry Kasbah Matt McCrory Music Critic
Deaf Havana rock the Kasbah (apologies for the unavoidable pun) in Coventry. With each of Deaf Havana’s three releases, the band have made efforts to pursue a different musical direction and this show, coming a year after their most recent album Old Souls, makes efforts to combine each of these styles into one cohesive performance. The six boys, headed by brothers James and Matthew Veck-Gilodi, entered the stage with high spirits, a few crates of beer, a full bottle of Jack Daniel's and a set-list packed
"The setlist was marked as a point of interest before touring even started" with some of their biggest hits. The setlist was marked as a point of interest before touring even started, with the band offering to ‘play the dream set-list for one lucky winner’. Before the show started,
you could hear fans chatting about the sets that they’d sent in or the songs that they wanted to hear that night. A trio of hits from the new album open up the evening. Driving acoustic and electric guitar chords and big choruses are a staple of Deaf Havana’s alt-rock sound and this is
"Driving acoustic and electric guitar chords and big choruses are a staple of Deaf Havana's alt-rock sound" exemplified by tracks ‘Boston Square’, ‘Speeding Cars’ and ‘Kings Road Ghosts’. The set starts out strongly with passionate crowd responses to newer tracks and older ones alike. Singles from earlier in the band’s career, like ‘Leeches’ and ‘Smiles All Round’ also make an appearance within the first half of the night. A cover of Counting Crows’ ‘Round Here’ is interrupted by technical difficulties. While sound engineers dive on-stage to fid-
dle with microphones, the band take the time to chat with individual members of the crowd, tell jokes and see how many cans of Fosters they can all down. After a stagehand fishes himself back out of the bass drum, sorting out some microphone problems, the band re-start the song to a hushed crowd. For the second half of the set Deaf Havana pick up the pace. Guitarist Matthew Veck-Gilodi calls out for some dancing as the band play tunes like ‘Everybody’s Dancing’ and ‘Mildred’. The latter is introduced (half-truthfully) by Matthew as ‘a song I wrote about my best friend’s dog’. This fast-paced run of songs sets the audience in good spirits. The lines of each song are sang enthusiastically back to the band. To finish their 16-song set, the band play a slower run of classic hits. The loved but scarcely-played first album single ‘Nicotine and Alcohol Saved My Life’ gets a run, as well as a piano ballad version of ‘Anemophobia’. The set ends on ‘Hunstanton Pier’, a deeply personal song relating to the past of singer and guitarist James. The band leave the stage with high spirits, an empty bottle of Jack Daniel's, and an audience cheering for more.
redbrick.me/music
23rd January - 5th February 2014
19
Tweet of the Week: @thomyorke: "crawl up in a ball kicking and screaming and you don't where you are"
Redbrick Meets: Saint Raymond Are you excited to do your own tour next month? Yeah, it’s an exciting one. Obviously touring with Ed Sheeran is incredible but you go to playing those crowds from a festival vibe -it’s exciting that people are there, knowing that people have bought tickets to see me and it still plays on my mind a little bit but I’m excited.
Kirstie Sutherland Music Critic
Kirstie Sutherland chats to Notts singersongwriter Saint Raymond ahead of his headline tour. You spent the majority of last year touring with Ed Sheeran. What was that like? That was amazing. I think it’s an experience that kind of comes around once in a lifetime. I’ll remember being on the road for a long time and I learnt a lot from it as well which is exciting.
How does it feel knowing that in a few months’ time you’ll have released your debut album? It still freaks me out a little bit. As an artist, that’s the dream, to get that album out there. Obviously I’ve been writing and touring for a few years now so to be at that stage, yeah, it freaks me out.
Was it quite different performing to much bigger crowds? Yeah, I think it’s really weird because you get into that mind set of being scared because it’s so big but when you step on stage and you know, you can’t really see people close, in one way it’s less scary. I used to go out to the queue outside and do a couple of songs acoustically and for me that’s more nerve-wracking than playing to all those people because they’re just there and you can see if they’re not enjoying it, so it was a different experience for sure.
How have you found the album-writing process? I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve spent a few years doing it and to be fair, until it’s released, I’ll still be writing. That’s one thing Ed told me: don’t stop writing because you might get your best song a week before the album. I’m just well excited. Ed was telling me the same thing with ‘Thinking Out Loud’, which became one of the biggest tracks of the album, he wrote that not too faraway from the album coming out -- you just never stop basically.
What’s your favourite thing about performing live? Something that never gets boring is people singing songs back. You never expect it to happen. You see it on telly, watching Glastonbury, like “I’d love that one day". And when it happens, it keeps you going. A lot of people say “don’t you get bored singing the same stuff for nine weeks on tour?” but you don’t. That thrill of the crowd enjoying it is something that makes it feel like you’ve played it for the first time every night.
Was there any kind of pressure for you when writing the album due to the success of your previous EPs? Such as Zane Lowe making your song Hottest Record of the Week? Yeah, I think in one respect the praise was amazing and it really keeps you going. But for me personally, the way I’ve always looked on praise is that it’s brilliant, but if you focus on that too much you take your
Album Review: Rae Morris - Unguarded Sophie Neal Music Critic
She’s been named the female voice of 2015, picked as one of Zane Lowe’s top 15 for 2015 and has already had an EP in the iTunes top five album chart. Rae Morris is setting herself up for a whirlwind year and
"The album is teeming with honesty and tackles relationships head-on" her debut album, Unguarded, is a real treat. Morris has given herself a good grounding in the music industry so far, supporting class acts over the past few years such as Bombay Bicycle Club and George Ezra who are among her famous fans. She also has the support of Chris Martin, which should surely be a hint to how successful this girl could be. Rae began writing tracks in her garden shed, and the release of Unguarded is much anticipated after her successful EPs. The album is teeming with honesty and tackles relationships head-on. Her lyrics are infused with emotion and wisdom, making her sound much older than her years. 'Closer' is about being far away from her family and appreciating her own identity whereas 'Skin' follows the guilt of continuing a love affair. 'Do You Even Know?' talks back to someone who misunderstood her and doesn’t consider what she wants. So, as well as romantic relationships playing a part across the twelve tracks, Rae’s relationship with herself and
her identity is also at the forefront. You get the sense of her person through the tracks, a real window into her thoughts. She described it as a ‘coming of age album’ and likens each song to diary entries documenting experiences and feelings throughout years of growing up and learning. It’s apparent that this is an album that Morris wanted to make – the time it’s taken her to release it shows the thought put into it. It’s an album to listen to, not just to play in the background whilst you’re cleaning your room; her sophisticated melodies and lifting vocals are just too good not to absorb properly. It is easy to fall in love with the songs and forge a connection to lyrics. Her voice is hypnotizing, unique and will send shivers down your spine. It won’t be something you’ve heard before, and every track is
"She likens each song to diary entries documenting experiences and feeling throughout years of growing up and learning" entrancing as the last. Morris is a humble performer, overwhelmed by the fact that people enjoy listening to her music. Her voice reaches every corner of each venue she visits, a demonstration of her true talent. Rae’s UK tour is on sale now and her debut album is released on 26th January. Expect to see her name everywhere this year. She is certainly one to watch.
eye off the ball. For me I’ve always been focused on the music, focused on what’s important and when you get this praise it just keeps you going and encourages you to crack on. Do you have a favourite time of day to write a song? I’m really weird – I just write whenever really. I might have an idea for something first thing in the morning but then I’ve got my own studio set up at home so sometimes I’ll go there at 11 at night and I’m there until 4 in the morning. I just go with the flow really. What do you think your favourite song is of the ones you’ve released so far? That’s a tricky question. A personal favourite of mine is probably my most personal song ‘As We Are Now’ [taken from the Young Blood EP]. You’ve been dubbed as one of 2015’s most up-and-coming artists, but is there anyone else that we should look out for, anyone you’d pioneer for this year? I’m in to quite a few people at the minute. I’m a big fan of a Scottish band called Model Aeroplanes -- they’re really cool. I’m a really big fan of Prides, Fickle Friends there are quite a few cool little bands coming up that I’m excited about. One final thing - are you any good at a Birmingham accent? This is the thing that annoys me, I’m actually alright at accents but the Birmingham one. I suck. [attempts to say ‘Burminghum’] That’s all I’ve got. I want to master it. Saint Raymond stops by Birmingham at The Institute on the 9th February.
20 23rd January - 5th February 2015
redbrick.me/culture
Culture
Book Review: Books
Culture takes a look at critically acclaimed author Charlie Hill's new book and meets up with him to chat about the writing process. William Carroll Critic
Perhaps the most common words one hears when independent bookshops are mentioned in the media are 'death', 'dying' and 'decline', but rarely is it the books themselves causing the death. Charlie Hill, author of 'The Spaces Between Things', has subverted this common misconception in his latest publication: 'Books'. For protagonist Richard Anger (borderline alcoholic and bibliophile), death slowly becomes an occupational hazard among the dusty tomes of erotica and genre fiction that sit in the darkened corners of his shop. After a holiday in Corfu where he and University of Birmingham neurologist, Lauren Furrow, become entangled in a literary plot the size of, well, Corfu, Richard must forsake his snooty literary habits and his overactive libido to solve a truly novel global catastrophe. Meanwhile, Gary Sayles (best-selling author and pompous, self-entitled writer extraordinaire) soon becomes the target of not only Anger and Furrow but bohemian art duo Pippa and Zeke as his literature begins to plague society with its genre-fiction malaise. Pippa and Zeke hope to film Sayles and his campaign - the 'People's Literature Tour' - and not only ruin his career but his personal life as well, all in the name of art. At the centre of this crisis is Richard Anger, Hill's lovable but cynical protagonist who runs a Birmingham bookshop and dreams of a world where people care about real books. Richard's store, Back Street Books, is a patchwork of literary past and present, with 'long forgotten noir-fiction' and 'translated erotica' found on the shelves among the classics that he himself reads,
believing a writer can only achieve success from reading the historic greats. In Lauren Furrows he finds a grounded woman with troubles of her own, troubles that diminish Richard's aloof conceptions of literature and life in general. "People should read books that bash them over the head." ('Books') Richard Anger's obsession with the literary past is something many readers can relate to, particularly in an academic setting. So many people, like Richard, have become disillusioned with literature because of the inordinate number of titles out there that all feel like cheap imitations of last year's hits. Whilst Richard is aloof and arrogant about his literary tastes, many students of literature can appreciate the value of classical novels and the invasive nature of mass-produced popular literature. "If you really wanted to make money out of writing you just have to read books, see what everyone else is writing, and then write the same." ('Books') Another droll and cynical comment from the novel on literature focuses on the book's main antagonist of sorts, though he never fully realises this fact, and his view that genre fiction is soulless and void of any emotional depth. Gary Sayles writes to make sales; to make a name for himself and to become immortalised by readers and writers alike. He does not, however, realise that his literature is causing mass deaths across the country, inducing SNAPS (Spontaneous Neural Atrophy Syndrome) on all who unfortunately find themselves staring at his lifeless pages. Underpinning Hill's energetic page-turn-
Interview with Charlie Hill: Q. Beginning in the exotic location of Corfu and then returning to Birmingham is quite a setting shift, what made you choose your local city for your major setting? Charlie : Well most of my sort of energies go into ideas and characterisation, the sense of place was actually that important in the novel. It didn't really matter where it was set, unless it absolutely needed to be set elsewhere. It was more about the character of Richard Anger rather than where he was found in the novel. Q. How much of yourself do you see in the character of Richard Anger and the other characters in the novel? Charlie: There's bits and pieces of quite a few different people in all of the characters. I've personally never owned a bookshop but I've been a manager in a bookshop, at Waterstones. I worked there part-time for about six years. It was alright, it's retail isn't it? It was where the idea for 'Books' came from. All the front tables would be piled high with the books that publishers had paid Waterstones to promote. It's partly that there's an element fed into frustration with publishing; the array of titles out there are not always brought to the eyes of the general public. Q. How long did it take you to write 'Books' and do you have any quirky writing habits?
Charlie: Er, I don't really have any quirky writing habits because I've got two kids! My only quirky habit really is that whenever I have a spare five minutes I'll do a bit of writing. I don't have a routine, some writers will say that you should try and knock out a thousand words a day and I just think to be honest it's what kind of works for you, know what I mean? If you start searching for top ten tips on how to write you'll get a hundred within seconds and they're all contradictory and lazy. Just do what works for individuals. There is no formula. The thing that gets me is that publishers invest in books that have been very successful and imitations, and they might sell some but they will never replicate that success. 'Books' probably took me about ten years to write; I wrote another in-between. Fortunately it got quite decent press, which was great. There are plenty of people who write great stuff who haven't got the confidence to send them out. Q. How did you go about getting published and what are your tips for aspiring writers? Charlie: In my experience any piece of positive feedback, if you send it off to a publisher and you get positive feedback, use that and stick it in your next covering letter. That at least gets it read, you know? There are no guarantees, there is no formula, you will still get rejection slips, but positive feedback can justify your writing. There's no excuse for not finishing stuff and not putting it out there, it's the only way you find your own way.
ing plot is the question of art and its place in today's society, whether it has become more a statement of the self rather than capturing humanity as a whole. Sayles cares about himself only, though his thinly-veiled literary campaign suggests otherwise to the consumer. Pippa and Zeke are so determined to become artistic paragons that they would willingly sacrifice the life of a writer they do not know to achieve their success. Richard and Lauren are the two most relatable characters and it is through them that we see that life is not just about art, but is about enjoying the smallest of amenities we are afforded almost every day. Richard realises that love and contentment are not found in pages alone, but in companionship. Lauren realises that the grief she endures for her late husband can be healed and alleviated through Richard, and in their partnership we see a clichĂŠ-thatknows-it's-a-clichĂŠ that ends in an endearing relationship. 'Books' is undoubtedly a pertinent novel to today's modern literary landscape, with its metafictional commentaries on the state of publication and mass-produced fiction of enduring significant relevance , particularly when one looks at the contemporary rise in e-readers and the decline of the independent bookshop. With a dry and, at times, surreal sense of humour, Hill manages to craft believable characters working in a believable world on believable subjects. Books surround us every day and people's lives change because of them, so naturally Hill's take on the cult of books in the modern world results in a fantastic, energetic and, at times, hilarious, novel. Fans of page-turners and satires will all find something worthwhile and rewarding between the covers of Hill's wry elegy to the book industry.
Like the sound of this? Check out Charlie's new book: 'Stuff' which comes out next year.
Not to be missed at the Birmingham Hippodrome: Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands: 10-14th Febuary Top Hat: 10th March Shrek the Musical: 31st March Cirkopolis: 25th March
redbrick.me/culture
23rd January - 5th February 2015
21
Review: Fleabag! Read all about the new play which follows a sex-obsessed cafe owner! Dean Eastmond Critic
Rom-Com's ugly yet beautiful sister. One hour. One actress. One stool. And one too many jokes causing the older generation to erupt in prudeness. Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the award-winning production of 'Fleabag', starring the hilarity of Maddie Rice, follows a 26-year-old, sex-obsessed cafe owner, monologuing day-to-day life. Sex, work, femi-
"It's clear as to how the production is a multiaward winner..." nism, family, suicide, guinea pigs, 'Fleabag' is one controversial joke after another. And it was great. It's clear how the production is a multiaward winner, including the Fringe First Award 2013 and The Stage Best Solo Performer 2013. The production felt like stand-up comedy, but with the story and eloquence of theatre (and an awkward amount of porn). I swear the pink-washed, 90-year-old woman in the row in front of me
"Phoebe Waller-Bridge has definitely become, the funniest writer."
was going to pass out into an innuendo-induced coma. Rice single handedly encapsulated a vast audience and had everyone begging for more. It was impeccably refreshing to witness comedy of this kind in Birmingham and I recommend that everyone in Birmingham see Fringe events as they come about.
'Fleabag' is what I wished most of my lectures were like. Rice addressed the audience with sophistication while screaming as Hamlet's teen angst, journal writing, 'bad feminist' alter ego. Pain was felt trying not to erupt into laughter at quiet points of the show. That's when you know an actress is funny.
Before the show I had no idea as to what to expect. In a play centralised around awkward sounds and sex, dominated by comedy and working with your flaws, and polished off with the abdominal muscles formed after laughing so hard, Phoebe Waller-Bridge has definitely become, the funniest writer to have graced Birmingham's REP. Five stars.
On Campus: The Bramall Comedy Night Culture sent our American Critic Katie Manzi along to the Comedy Night, with some mixed results. The monthly Bramall Comedy Night had its first show of 2015 this past Thursday. It featured the comedic talents of Ivo Graham; Holly Walsh and Nathan Caton. Ivo Graham, the host of the evening, started with a monologue that was self-deprecating and heavy on audience interaction. It was funny, light- hearted, and entertaining. Graham focused on his own disappointing sexual history; his new girlfriend and the University for most of his material, which was well-received by the audience. However, after a lengthy conversation with one of the audience members, Ivo began to flounder, and at that point, introduced the first act, Holly Walsh.
"Walsh [was] using jokes and themes that lacked originality..." Walsh began her set with a questionable joke about how she expected Birmingham to be an unfriendly place because of all the Muslims living here, taking her cue from the recent Fox News scandal. She then proceeded with 'Americans are stupid' jokes, which are apparently always good for a laugh in the UK. These jokes were made more (or less) funny by her use of actual Americans in the audience, whom she insulted directly. This type of comedy can
"[Caton's] set was hilarious and original." be funny with certain audiences, but in this case it fell flat. Unfortunately, the rest of her show went much the same, using jokes and themes that lacked originality. Some of these included making fun of new mothers who take too many photos of their children, as well as some other unmemorable jokes. She also interacted with the audience, who, after the introduction by Ivo, had gotten tired. Overall, her set was relatively funny and entertaining, but not enough to make a lasting impression. Sadly, there were no jokes that made the audience burst into laughter, and many of them just fell a little flat. Thankfully, the headliner for the night, Nathan Caton, delivered a great performance. His set was hilarious and original. He told jokes that were relevant to current events, as well as more general ones about the British. For example, he mocked the British fear of snow and even how Americans incorrectly believe the British to be polite people. He drew from personal experiences with his family and did comical impressions of his mother and grandmother. Overall, the best thing about Caton’s humor was that he never stooped to insulting other people to get a laugh - a sign of true talent. The laughs he got from the audience were loud and
genuine. Laughter was heard during the entire set, and the only disappointing part was when he left the stage. Overall, the Bramall Comedy Night put on an enjoyable show with lots of laughter to go around. This is a great event that takes place every month on campus, and it is one that more students and members of the Birmingham community should check out. It is definitely worth it.
"Laughter was heard during [Caton's] entire set, and the only disappointing part was when he left the stage." Check out the Bramall website for more events like this! http://www.birmingham. ac.uk/bramall
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redbrick.me/food
23rd January - 5th February 2015
Food
Burns Night Celebrations Food Writer Jennifer Cook delves into the food history of this traditional Scottish event that is today famously celebrated across the world. Jennifer Cook
Method:
Food Writer
The 25th of January marks Burns Night, an evening that witnesses people gathering together around a Haggis in celebration of Scottish icon and renowned poet Robbie Burns. Whilst the tradition has obvious roots within Scotland, the event has captured the hearts and minds of poetry lovers and whisky drinkers globally. The Caledonian Society has been instrumental in installing the tradition far and wide, with events being held in locations such as the United Arab Emirates and Hawaii.
"Burns Night has captured the hearts and minds of both poetry lovers and whisky drinkers globally" Despite the geographical expansion of the event, many Burns Night celebrations continue to replicate the traditional order of the evening with the Selkirk Grace still being recited at the beginning of the meal: ‘Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, And sae let the Lord be thankit’ Traditionally a Burns Night dinner consists of a cock-a-leekie (chicken and leek) soup. which is served as the starter, followed by the main event of haggis, neeps (turnip) and tatties (potato) and concluded with either a cranachan (Scotland’s answer to an eton mess) or clootie dumpling (a fruit pudding). If you’re feeling in the mood for some neeps and tatties this month, the Library of Birmingham is hosting their annual ‘Burns Night Whisky and Poetry Evening’ with a
sheet, prick with a fork and sprinkle with sugar
•Preheat the oven to 160c •Mix the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy
•Cook them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, making sure to check the underside is baked
•Add the vanilla essence
•Carefully transfer the biscuits onto a cooling rack and enjoy!
•Sieve in the flour and combine, trying to avoid over working the dough •Roll out onto a floured surface and cut out (you can choose to cut them into traditional rectangular fingers or simply use a shaped biscuit cutter) •Place the biscuits on a floured baking
For a slightly alternative take on the classic, you can try mixing 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon with 3 tablespoons of sugar and sprinkle over the biscuits before cooking. Or, if you have a sweet tooth, melt 200g of chocolate and drizzle over the biscuits for an indulgent decoration.
guest appearance from Birmingham’s very own Poet Laureate, Adrian Blackledge. If you would like to mark the occasion
"Traditional Neeps and Tatties can be enjoyed at the annual 'Burn's Night Whisky and Poetry Evening' held at the Birmingham Library " but don’t yet feel prepared to face a haggiscentric evening, cast any thoughts of highly-calorific battered Mars bars aside and perhaps try baking some quick and delicious Shortbread, what’s not to love about this classic Scottish sugary treat? Shortbread Recipe Ingredients: •100g Sugar •200g Butter •300g Plain flour •1½ tsp Vanilla essence
Food recommends: Chocolate Fudge Cake Listen up Chocolate Fudge Cake lovers, we tell you where you can find the best versions of this classic indugence that Selly Oak has to offer Rebekah Coates Food Writer
I must admit it was challenging, as I’m sure any chocolate lover would agree, when recently I was given the odious task of testing all the Chocolate Fudge Cake in Selly Oak and picking the top 4. I’m sure no one will be surprised when I say that there is a lot of choice of chocolate fudge cake in Selly Oak, but here is a selection of some of the varieties available to students. 1. The Bristol Pear – 9/10 (£4.45 and 2 for 1)
2. The Soak – 7/10 (£2.49) A decent effort from The Soak, the cake included a layer of real fudge, which was probably the highlight of the cake overall. 3. Frankie and Benny’s – 6/10 (£5.25) Definitely a good end to a great meal from Frankie and Benny’s, however I was just so full from the main course that I couldn’t physically fit anymore in. 4. Big Johns – 3/10 (£1.99)
This triple layer monster was the biggest slice of cake I’ve ever seen! I personally felt that it could have done with more fudge sauce on it, but only because the sauce was that amazingly moreish.
This version I would class as simply ‘cheap and cheerful’, not up to the same standard of their pizzas unfortunately. For the price of £1.99 it's perhaps not surprising why Big John's Chocolate Fudge Cake doesn't quite satisfy my tastebuds.
"A triple layer monster with an amazingly moreish chocolate fudge sauce"
I would definitely recommend trying the Pear's take on Chocolate Fudge Cake as it is both tasty but most importantly good value for money, because after all who doesn’t like a good old classic chocolate fudge cake?
redbrick.me/food
23rd January - 5th February 2015
23
Recipe of the Fortnight: Mushroom, Sweet Potato and Bacon Risotto Take a look at our recipes on www.redbrick.me/food/recipes
Worry About Waste?
Holiday Reminiscing
We have some simple ideas for turning your leftovers into classic student-friendly meals in a few easy steps.
Online Food Editor Rosie Twells shares her thoughts on the best foodie gifts she received this Christmas.
Ella Downing
Rosie Twells
Food Writer
Leftover food: Sausages
Online Food Editor
So you’re (hopefully) starting the semester with a fully stocked fridge thanks to the generosity of your parents- result! However, having a load of food in one go can cause problems with waste, sell by dates and portion size. Here are a few quick, cheap and easy ideas as to what to do with your leftovers to help avoid these common food problems. All additional ingredients included here are available at Aldi, which their prices are based on.
New meal: Sausage casserole
Christmas may have come and gone, but there’s no need to be feeling the January blues just yet! 2014 provided several food moments, many of which were highlighted in ‘A Food’s Eye Look on 2014’, simply visit the Redbrick Food page to reminisce with us. We also asked you to get involved, tweeting your favourite food moment to @RedbrickFood and our dearly departed editor, Millie Walker, got in touch to say: ‘eating lobsters and oysters fresh out of the sea, relaxing in the sun on the Isle of Wight, and baking with a broken wrist!’ This is an opportunity to reflect on some of the most useful and interesting gifts to be sent or received during the holiday season. The Christmas market is certainly an ever expanding one, with the average household in the UK spending £835. Of this sum, nearly one fifth is spent on food and drink, approximately £161.
Additional ingredient cost: About 40p for a tin of beans/tomatoes Sometimes when cooking sausages you might find you have to cook them all at once because of sell by dates or defrosting issues. To make good use of your leftovers simply slice the sausages into small chunks and combine with a form of tomato based sauce -baked beans work best but you could also use tinned tomatoes- now you have the makings of a basic casserole. Add any veg that you need to use up and serve with a jacket potato if you’re using beans or pasta if you’re using tomato sauce. You could even just keep it simple and have it on toast!
"These Munchstaches Cookie Cutters put the fun back into baking, you can choose from five distinctive styles including tthe 'bristle brush'" 'Lakeland Santa and Reindeer Chocolate Moulds': This mould may look intricately designed and difficult to put together, but it’s actually really simple. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and the chocolate needs to be well set before emptying out of the moulds. Buying one now would mean there is plenty of time to practise before next Christmas! (£11.99)
"The average household in the UK will have spent up to £835 at Christmas, approximately one fifth of this sum goes towards food and drink"
Leftover food: Chilli/ Bolognese New meal: Burritos Additional ingredient cost: About 75p for a pack of tortilla wraps All you need to transform your Chilli or Bolognese into Burritos is some tortilla wraps. Pack your wraps with your leftover mince; you can add some chilli powder to a Bolognese, and anything else you have in the fridge such as cheese, salad and a little rice if you want to pack it out. Almost as good as the ones on campus!
Leftover food: Roast meat- chicken/beef/ pork New meal: Stir Fry Additional ingredient cost: Around £1.70 for a pack of stir fry veg and a pack of noodles If you’re lucky enough to have a roast dinner at university it is actually a very economical meal as you can get a lot out of the meat - particularly chicken. Stir fries are great meals to have on the go, just add your cooked meat to a bag of stir fry veg and cook in a wok or large frying pan for around five minutes. Then boil instant noodles or add fresh noodles straight to the veg mixboth are very quick!
Leftover food: Mixed vegetables New meal: Spanish Omelette Additional ingredient cost: Around £1.20 for a six pack of eggs Fresh vegetables are much tastier than frozen veg but their freshness often means they go bad before you have the chance to use them. Spanish Omelettes are a great way to use up leftover veg as they work better with slightly soft vegetables. If you have don’t have potatoes you can still make a regular omelette that’s just as tasty! Cook the vegetables first then add the eggs to the pan (use as many as you like for different sized meals), cook for around ten minutes on the hob then cook in the oven or grill for a further five minutes.
If you are looking for other creative recipe ideas for making the most of your leftover fridge ingredients then send us an email to food@redbrickonline.co.uk or tweet us @ Rebrickfood
With that in mind, here are a small selection of gifts my family received that have elements of the wonderful and the wacky. Is it too early to suggest buying them for next year?! 'Fred’s Munchstaches Cookie Cutters': Suitable for all ages, this present puts the fun back into baking. With five distinctive styles: the imperial, the baron, the bristle brush, the woolford and the walrus, foodies will love choosing the moustache before munching it! (£5 from Amazon)
'Viner’s Cheese Board': If you had room to squeeze a slice of Stilton or a few crumbs of Cheddar on Christmas Day after a filling dinner, then a board will have been your centre stage showstopper. Parmesan, Cheddar and Stilton knives, as well as a cheese fork, all fit neatly in the storage space provided under the high quality rubber wood board from Viners. (around £15 from Amazon).
24 23rd January - 5th February 2015
redbrick.me/television
Television
Redbrick TV Interviews Esther Smith
TV Editor Shannon Carey interviews the lead actress of new ITV post apocalyptic comedy Cockroaches ahead of the series' debut.
Q: Cockroaches has a plot that is really original – there aren’t many ‘post nuclear holocaust romantic comedies’ around. What did you first think when you were approached about the show and what made you want to do it? ES: Freddy [Syborn, writer of Cockroaches] is such an amazing writer, he added really quirky ideas to it. The plot is amazing, with these insane, wacky storylines, and I loved it, because I love all that kind of thing – dark as well. And I just thought it was a great concept – because obviously we’ve not been through it, we have no idea what it would be like. So it was a great idea to ask that question, like ‘What if this happened?’. And yeah, it just marries a lot of different ideas in a very funny yet dark kind of way which was exciting. Q: With the show having a plot that is so abstract, did you have any problems making it accessible to the audience? As you said, none of us have been through it, so was it hard to still make it relatable or the audience? ES: I think what makes it relatable is the
people in it. Because we are all human beings and I think all of us at one point have thought “Oh god, what would I do if it was the end of the world? What would I miss or what would happen?”. And I think what makes it accessible is that you see the journey of the characters Suze and Tom, played by myself and Daniel Lawrence-Taylor, and we’re almost like the audiences’ eyes really going through it. So we’re kind of experiencing all of this mentalness and darkness with the audience and they experience it too for the first time so I think that’s the link. Also, there’s a huge range of characters and I think they’ve all got their flaws but they’re all kind of great in their own little way so I think people will relate to different characters. Q: Despite the crazy plot, the show addresses many issues key to young people: such as sex, dealing with exes, and general stresses of becoming an adult – do you think young people can learn anything from the show? ES: I think so. The characters themselves are still fairly young and I think what’s great about it is that it puts situations and dilem-
mas we have today and it puts them in that world, and we still see that people are threatened by new girls coming on the scene and losing their boyfriend and all that stuff. Literally, I just think it puts it in a different role and in a more heightened world, so I still think it is relevant and I think people can learn from that – and learn to deal with cannibals too! Q: ITV2 have recently been showing a lot of scripted comedies and many of them are extremely popular, like Plebs etc – do you think Cockroaches will continue this trend and carry on boosting the quality of dark comedies on television? ES: I hope so, I really hope so! It was so much fun to make, the bits that I’ve seen I would watch. It’s the kind of thing, you know, when you’re looking at jobs you think “Would I like that?” and it is. It’s so different, it’s so out there and it’s got great ideas in it. I hope so, because it’s like nothing I’ve worked on before or seen, so selfishly, I’d quite like to do it again because I really enjoyed it! Q: Do you think the emphasis on rising talent, yourself included, in the show will
make it stand out from similar shows and appeal to a younger audience? ES: Yeah, I think so. There’s a lot of established, comedy people and actors in it, which was really exciting. I think there’s a lot of people you would have seen before on various things and I think there’s a great crew of people there who are really unique. Like Tom Davies is brilliant and hilarious, he plays an amazing part in this. Q: Cockroaches is based on challenging the ideals which society is built on: if you had control of society for a day, what is one thing that you would change? ES: Oh God! I would change so many things. Money is a big issue, I would change that. I think I would make things a lot more equal. As a female, I would definitely want more gender equality and that’s one of the reasons I love playing that character of Suze because she’s feisty and she’s not meek and mild – she really gets involved and she’s a fighter and that’s why that was an amazing role to play. Even though the bar has shifted there’s a long way to go with gender equality. To read the full interview go online: http://www.redbrick.me/television/
Cockroaches Review The end of the world, cannibals and awkward sex: a perfect recipe for ITV's latest dark comedy? Lucie Turner gives her opinion on the opening episode. I have high hopes for any show which uses So Solid Crew in the first minute of their pilot. And for Cockroaches, the new brainchild from the creators of Bad Education, hopes are what I’ve got all my pins in. It’s not going to surface any deep feelings of existentialism, nor is it going to have you run screaming into the hills. But ITV2’s newest show will make you laugh. Well, Jack Whitehall’s hybrid accent of a Jamaican war-lord/Cockney gee-zah will. Tom (Daniel Lawrence Taylor) and Suze (Esther Smith) thought they’d see out the end of the world on a high; having awkward friend sex whilst trying not to wake Suze’s sleeping brother. Ah, that old nugget. What they got instead was a forced alliance via the magical marvel that is parenthood, proof to all that even though the world may
be ending, it is still best to ‘wrap it before you tap it’. We see them and their adoring child
"Yes it is a bit sweary and yes the humour is a bit overegged ("we get it, you've got a funny accent")" Laura (whose first toy was the skull of the next door neighbour) pushing a trolley through abandoned Essex before happening upon Suze’s ex-boyfriend (and resident apocalypse/cult aficionado) Oscar, who welcomes them in to his bosom (before promptly sleeping with a frustrated Suze). We see glimmers of hope for our own
potential life-on-earth crisis. Scooters, the vehicle of the 00’s, have made a triumphant return, though questions must be raised as to how they were scootering through leaves (magic? A new post-apocalyptic miracle?) The fashion is strictly grunge meets newwave raver which again is only good news to those of us who haven’t quite let punk go. And the topics of conversation are believable. How would you describe the taste of chocolate to a child that’s never had some? It hurts my heart, it really does. Yes it is a bit sweary and yes the humour is a bit over-egged (“we get it, you’ve got a funny accent.”) There are moments where it seems a bit too accepting of the situation, e.g. the killing of a potential “cannibal” in the first 5 minutes. There is no Walking Dead zombie-herd and Cannibalism in Essex
sounds like a terrible (read potential) reality show, so the way they just assumed death was coming and that the only way to beat it was to join it was a bit much. That being said Taylor and Smith show promise as likeable leads (I’m undecided about Whitehall) and with a cast list boasting names such as Nigel Planer, Jaime Winstone, Tom Davis, Sarah Daykin, Dan Renton Skinner and Caroline Quentin promised for future episodes, it might be worth waiting for. All six episodes are currently available on ITV player.
Tweet us your opinions @RedbrickTV
redbrick.me/television
23rd January - 5th February 2015
25
TV Quote of the Week:
2015: TV Preview
Cockroaches and end of the world expectations: Suze: "What did you expect? Chessington?" Tom: "Zombies. Evil robots. Evil mice on motorbikes".
The new year heralds new shows and new episodes of our favourites. But with so many offerings which ones are worth watching? Roshni Patel and Olivia Tracey give their recommendations. Online Services Internet TV services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime are taking the country by storm with their innovative new programmes and foreign imports to bingewatch, which is sure to continue in 2015. However, it’s important not to forget the brilliance of the traditional broadcasters. Top Gear (BBC 2) The long-running cars-‘n’-controversy series returns at the end of January after several high-profile scandals for the BBC last year. Love it or hate it, it’s the most exported British programme around the world and average audience figures amount to around 5 million. With such enormous popularity, Clarkson, May and Hammond must be doing something right. Indian Summers (Channel 4) Set in 1932, the ambitious new 10-part drama from Channel 4 chronicles the last days of the British Raj in India from both points of view. Co-produced by US channel PBS and starring Julie Walters, it looks as good as some of the BBC’s best flagship drama. Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe (BBC 2) Charlie Brooker’s style of cynical acerbic satire shines as he rants his way through the week’s news, from the leading headlines to hilarious observations from TV programmes and foreign news bulletins. The new series starts at the end of this month. The Casual Vacancy (BBC 1) Based on JK Rowling’s novel of the same name, The Casual Vacancy boasts the acting talent of Keeley Hawes (Line of Duty), Rory Kinnear (Penny Dreadful) and Michael Gambon. The book received a mixed response when it was first released (centring around rural English life, it couldn’t be more different from Harry Potter) but the stellar cast of the screen adaptation means it should be worth watch-
ing. Happy Valley (BBC 1) The first series of Sally Wainwright’s police drama starring Sarah Lancashire (Last Tango in Halifax) gripped the nation last summer and it wasn’t long before a second run was commissioned. While some criticised it for the amount of violence presented, the programme-makers defended its inclusion because the audience cared about the characters’ suffering. Filming on the new series is set to begin early this year. Downton Abbey (ITV) It’s very easy to mock Downton for its apparently ageless characters and increasingly ridiculous storylines but the beautiful setting at Highclere Castle and a mostly undemanding script means the show is wonderful escapism. There have been rumours that the 2015 series is the last as writer Julian Fellowes wants to concentrate on other projects so if these prove true it could be an exciting finale. The Great British Bake Off (BBC 1) The only programme on TV that could have millions of viewers on the edge of their seats over people proving dough for bread or making baked alaskas. Judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood give sound advice and presenters Mel Geidroyc and Sue Perkins provide the laughs. If you’ve not started watching the previous series, make it your 2015 New Year’s Resolution. Wolf Hall (BBC 2) Adapting Hilary Mantel’s door-stopper novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies into a series totalling six hours must have been no easy feat but early previews suggest writer Peter Straughan has managed to preserve the subtle political intrigue of Henry VIII’s court for the screen. Starring Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis and Jonathan Pryce amongst a host of British talent,
these epic adaptations are what the BBC does best. Sherlock (BBC 1) We may have a long wait until Christmas for this but with Sherlock, it is always worth it. Filming has just begun on the as yet untitled special single episode of the BBC juggernaut and the cast and crew are remaining characteristically tight-lipped surrounding plot details. With recent photographs released of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman pictured in traditional ‘Holmesian’ Victorian costume, the fans can only speculate. The Mentalist (Channel 5) Entering its last ever series, we’ll all be keeping our eyes peeled for the premiere date to start watching the beginning of the end. With the red washed from the episode titles, how will The Mentalist continue to keep us hooked till the end? Gracepoint (ITV1) The US do it again, as they remake beloved Broadchurch, with a new name, but oddly with the same actor, as David Tennant stars as the lead detective, Emmett Carver. But don’t write it off so soon, as Tennant promises a different ending to this all too similar tale. Revenge (E4) Miss Thorne started afresh for the New Year on the 5th January, catch up on her schemes so far on 4OD and tune in Monday nights at 9 to see the latest action from the Hamptons. The 100 and Supernatural (E4) The Winchesters returned to our screens only a day behind Revenge, airing after The 100, season 9 began with a strong heavenly presence. While The 100 returns to follow the escapades of a group of a hundred teens or rather what’s left of them. Catch up on 4OD and tune in Tuesday nights at 9 to catch them both. Extant (SyFy)
CBB: Conceited, Brash and Bitchy
Previously an Amazon Prime exclusive, this Halle Berry Sci-fi is being aired again episode by episode as Berry, returns to earth after a 13 month solo mission to find herself pregnant.. How? Tune in Tuesday at 9 to find out! Catch the first episode on demand. Mr Selfridge (ITV1) Jeremy Piven brings his “manic energy” back to our screens to reprise his role a third time as retail magnate Harry Selfridge. Keep up with Mr Selfridge Sundays at 9 on ITV1 Grimm (Watch) The cop drama with fairy tales returns for a fourth series, catch it Wednesday nights at 9 or on demand the next day. 2 Broke Girls (E4) Max and Caroline are back for a 4th season of sass, sarcasm and wit. Join in Thursday nights at 8:30. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (E4) If you enjoyed the first season of this American comedy cop show, you’re sure to love the second. Catch it after 2 Broke Girls on Thursday nights at 9. House of Cards (Netflix) Kevin Spacey returns for more two-faced backstabbing and political intrigue in this Netflix exclusive, which will release its entire third season on 27th February. Bloodlines (Netflix) March will see the release of a new Netflix original, but with a more than ambiguous trailer, will it be the one to watch? These are just some of the many new and returning shows for the year ahead. But with the calendar only reading January, there’s many more shows to come, in various forms from online exclusives to Freeview and satellite. With shows like Luther (S4), Jekyll & Hyde, Game of Thrones (S5), New Girl (S4), Humans and The Mindy Project (S3) still to come, 2015 is lining up to be a great year in TV.
Celebrity Big Brother is back. But as it enters its fifteenth season, is it still worth watching? Ella Talbot discusses. Another set of desperate has-beens have had their bank accounts topped-up by Channel 5 in exchange for a few weeks of their freedom. It’s back for what is now the fifteenth edition of the celebrity version of the show, and although the novelty of seeing how celebrities look with no make-up on has worn off, producers keep finding new ways to attempt to catch the interest of the nation. This year’s theme is ‘twisted fairy-tale’, and although they’ve used what looks like the remains of a panto set to decorate the house, no costs were spared in adding many a wicked witch to this year’s line-up. Katie Hopkins (cue the boos and hisses) has for the last few years, happily played the nation’s most hated woman with outrageous views about the unemployed, the overweight, and well, anyone with a pulse really. Originally a reject from an early series of The Apprentice, and later caught bonking a married man in a field, Heinous Hopkins went on to make a career for herself as a venom tongued columnist, ranting about anything and anyone that came into her mind. Having said that, Katie only managed to keep up the cruel façade for a few days before becoming ‘one of the girls’, as part of a pact with Chloe Goodman and Cami-Lee (a pair of nobodies- even in the all-accepting world of reality TV). In fact at one point, Hopkins began to well-up when being told what a nice person she actually was- proving that the heart of the Ice Queen is beginning to thaw. Other female power houses in this year’s
series include American TV personality Michelle Visage and outspoken Loose Woman Nadia Sawalha who have both had their fair share of arguments in the most controversial series to date. Having said that, the biggest Drama Queen this year has to be Perez Hilton. If he’s not throwing a theatrical strop in the diary room, or talking to his plastic bunny mannequin, he’s pretending to have sex with himself against the window in the garden (providing us with one of TV’s most uncomfortable scenes of the year- and it’s only January!). One thing that producers have failed to account for with this controversial cast is the amount of unplanned exits that have already occurred. Starting with Jeremy Jackson’s swift removal on day 4 following a minor sexual assault, followed by Ken Morley being asked to leave due to unacceptable language and most recently Alexander O’Neal’s mysterious and unexplained departure, the house is beginning to run low on numbers. Though it must be said that if Channel 5 are going to do most of their recruiting for the show by trawling round rehab clinics, then they may need to have a plan B in place for when things go wrong. This year, at least half of the contestants have previously suffered from substance and alcohol addictions, which are only highlighted by the copious amounts of alcohol provided to the house each night. It appears as though Celebrity Big Brother is being used as a ticking time-bomb, waiting for a Z-list celebrity to have a meltdown on national TV.
26 23rd January - 5th February 2015
redbrick.me/lifestyle
Life & Style - Careers Special
Internships:
How to succeed Life&Style Editor Amy Rose Wakeham advises on how to make the most of your placement. Internships have now become so ubiquitous that they’re deemed absolutely essential for most careers imaginable, from engineering to advertising to journalism. They’ve become the yardstick by which to measure your postgraduation potential, and without one up your sleeve that job application is going to look an awful lot more sparse. But how do you maximise your employability potential when it seems that everyone and their scarily connected friends have had work experience? From the handful of placements that I’ve undertaken, I’ve learnt that there are several things that you need to do to ensure that you get more from the experience than just learning how to change photocopier toner (I’m an expert), and remembering how an entire office takes their tea.
Show your passion. So somehow you’ve wangled your way into that lucrative internship in that top name company. This is where the fun starts. Rest assured, you will not be the only intern that they see that year, and just turning up will certainly not guarantee you a job offer. To make yourself stand out from the numerous hopefuls who enter and leave their doors every year, you’re going to have demonstrate just how passionate you are about the area you want to go into. From pitching new ideas to the team, to simply undertaking every task with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, the best way to stand out from the crowd is to be memorable. Whether it’s fashion, marketing or aero-nautical engineering, you’ve got to show how much you know and love your subject. Whilst
being passionate sounds like a cliche, you won't get anywhere without it.
Grit your teeth and smile.
of the morning.
Network, network, network.
No matter how patronised you feel, no matter how many hours of transcription you’ve done so far that day, one of the most important things to do is to avoid looking like you’ll scream if you have to assemble yet another Excel document. A cheerful, can-do persona will get you miles in an office environment where you’re definitely at the bottom of the food chain. These days, interns are plentiful and usually indistinguishable, so you really need to fight to get yourself noticed. It sounds obvious, but being a delight to sit next to will get you far.
You only get one stab at making the most out of an internship, and that means that it’s imperative that you leave with a whole roster of contacts that you can exploit in the future. Each internship that I have attained has been due to contacts that I made on previous placements. Networking to build your list of contacts in the area that you’re interested in is beneficial in numerous ways. You can mine them for info on how they got their jobs, and for any advice that they might have for someone wanting to break into the industry. Who knows, they might be the person who leads you to your next internship, or even to your very first job.
Be prepared for more than the 9-5.
Remember how the entire office takes their tea.
In my experience, the media is not an industry that works a 9-5, 40 hour week, and I suspect that the same is true for any internship position in which you want to impress. Be prepared for long days, early starts and staying in the office until 8pm. You’ve got to go the extra mile if you want to impress. Arrive earlier than your boss, never be the first to leave, and always volunteer for extra evening duties, as this can open so many doors. Sometimes these can be truly awesome, like the fashion shows and the Harrods party I got the opportunity to attend at London Fashion Week. On the other hand, it can mean sitting in bed transcribing interviews (that you didn’t even get to do) into the early hours
Although I've said that the most important thing to do in an internship is to impress, if I'm truly honest, finding the opportunity to do this is often the hardest part. When your duties are basic (which they often are when interning), time consuming and arduous, there’s often not much opportunity to show off all of your skills the passion for the industry that you may have. In this case, I found that the best thing to do is to do every task, no matter how mundane, to the very best of your ability. If this is just making endless cups of tea, make sure that it’s the best damn tea they’ve ever tasted! Use the opportunity to learn names, faces, jobs and network like hell.
How Much Do Jobs In The Fashion Industry Actually Pay? Life&Style writer Louise Chapman investigates how much you would earn in your dream job. Jobs in the fashion industry are often perceived as glamorous and lucrative, with invites to all of the exclusive events and hundreds of well-connected friends. Whilst for some this is certainly the case, many people actually work for less than minimum wage at the beginning of their careers. The variation between salaries can be huge, and so it's important to know what to expect. Starting off from the very bottom as an unpaid magazine intern is extremely common in this industry. These internships provide a useful insight into particular jobs, as well as making connections with those higher up the scale. Unfortunately, the lack of a wage means that they are not a viable option for some. The hours involved are often very long and the quality of internships can vary massively, with some interns being used for little more than coffee runs. For fashion writers in magazines, wages range from about £18,000 to £35,000, depending upon the location and size of the magazine. Whilst there is no set degree required for this role, many writers will have a degree. Freelance writers can often struggle to get work and may write their articles alongside a different job until they earn enough to make a living. Salaries for magazine editors can also differ immensely, depending upon experience and the publication they are working for.
Whilst editors of popular high-end fashion magazines can make millions - such as Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who is believed to earn around $2 million per year - the overall average wage for magazine editors is about £43000. For other roles in the fashion industry, experience is also vital. Make-up artists, although very important, often find themselves having to work for free when they are newly qualified until they gain clients and build up a portfolio of their work. Senior make-up artists, on the other hand, can earn £500 per shift, and those working at fashion shows of the highest level can make £3000 for a day’s work! Fashion photography can also be surprisingly lucrative, with those at the height of their careers earning an average of £65,000, and very famous photographers earning sixfigure salaries. A lot of photographers are freelance however, which means that in some cases work can be pretty sporadic. Working in the world of fashion is highly competitive and salaries vary massively, but those who reach the upper echelon of the industry can become incredibly wealthy. It is also a thriving and ever changing business with an extensive amount of roles. Despite being highly competitive, there is a lot of room for progression. You’ll have to start at the bottom, but it will be worth it in the end!
redbrick.me/lifestyle
23rd January - 5th February 2015
Alternatives to a Master's Coming to the end of your undergraduate degree? Chances are you'll be thinking: what comes next? Whilst many choose to continue their education in the form of a Master’s degree, there are many other options out there which guarantee to get you noticed, whilst you also have a great time. Here are our top ideas:
Volunteering Volunteering isn’t just about spending a few hours a week sifting through new stock at a charity shop (although that is a good way of putting back into your community). There are many incredible opportunities available that will look great on your CV and see you travel around the world. Whether it’s teaching children in Africa, lake conservation in Guatemala, supporting women’s rights in Morocco or helping preserve historical sights and objects in the UK, there’s something out there for everyone. Check out these organisations to find out more: www.volunteerhq. org, www.thebigproject.co.uk, www.projecttrust.org.uk
Internships Interested in a specific career path? Internships are some of the best ways of getting your foot on the employment ladder and making a name for yourself. Whether you are a budding banker, fabulous fashionista, a keen journalist or an aspiring architect, there are plenty of internships at varying companies. You never know, it might even end in a job offer. For more information, try these websites: www.topinternships.com, www.inspiringinterns.com, www.internwise.co.uk
27
Fierce
Travelling Always wanted to travel the world? Wanderlust kicking in after spending three years in the same place? Now is the perfect time to see the sites and experience all the world has to offer. What better way to celebrate graduation than taking time out to travel before having to settle into a career?
Set Up Your Own Business Have you got an eye for business? Perhaps you should consider setting up your own business. You could be the next big thing! There’s plenty of support out there in the forms of advice and loans but be warned, deciding to do this requires a lot of research and confidence- it could be brilliant but make sure you think things through properly. Try contacting UoB’s very own Entrepreneurship and Innovation service for more advice.
Get A Job This is probably the most obvious alternative to continuing your education in the form of a Master’s. If all those nights out, comfort foods, early morning coffees and accommodation fees have left a dent in your bank account this is probably the best way to replenish your bank balance. There are plenty of employers seeking graduates to fill positions- your dream job could be one application away.
She's the Man With everyone from Cara D to Jennifer Aniston rocking the tuxedo look in recent days, the androgynous trend is definitely here to stay. Accessorise with bright red lippy and some killer heels.
Elastic Heart - Sia The topic that's on everyone one's lips. Whilst some people may focus on the controversy surronding Shia LaBeouf and Maddie Ziegler, we think it's the most artistic music video produced in a long time. See it and make up your own mind.
Pyjamas Baby it's cold outside... So all the more reason to stay indoors then. Shelter from the January freeze in the toasty pyjama sets that you received for Christmas. We're not getting out of ours until at least February.
Zoe Screti, Life&Style Writer
Man Buns
5 Simple Things To... Maximise Your Interview Image. Laura-Beth Green
Budget Beauty Buys Hebe Hatton Life&Style Writer
Life&Style Writer
Nails Inc. - Porchester Square
Interviews seem to get everyone flustered and it is true that what you wear says so much about you. The last thing you want is to be having an outfit crisis at a critical moment. So here are a few things to help you maximise your interview image and stop that last minute stress. Firstly, a good quality diary or organiser can be a good investment. It is great alongside your work wear to make you seem organised and it shows you’re taking it seriously. Paperchase provide a good selection at a range of prices. They also stock Filofax, which are quite expensive at £30, but can really add to your image. A good bag is also key. You want something smart, stylish and practical but not too bright. A black, brown or navy bag is perfect and it is great to get one you can take to an interview or a night out. TK Maxx stock loads of designer brands (that won’t break the bank) and will see you through from the interview to the celebratory drink. What you wear to an interview is important and we’ve probably all spent ages trying to decide on an outfit. A smart but stylish Little Black Dress is a staple wardrobe item and you can accessorise it for an interview or a party. Miss Selfridge have just got a new range of LBDs in and are offering 20% off for students. For any interview having clean, polished nails and a smile never goes amiss. Try some neat nail polish (check out Hebe's Budget Beauty Buy for inspiration!) and a day to night lipstick. Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick is part of the budget-friendly 2 for £10 deal at Boots and comes in several different shades to suit any complexion. Finally, for most girls shoes provide the ultimate challenge. They can’t be too high or rub too much, and you need to be able to walk in them. Clarks have an excellent range of black high heels that will be comfortable, smart and suit any occasion. Snap them up now, while there’s still a sale.
Continuing on the daunting theme of careers and job prospects, this week’s Budget Beauty Buy is admittedly not exactly ‘budget’, but if you’ve landed yourself an interview then you deserve a treat anyway and this Nails Inc. varnish is so classy it is bound to make a good impression! The colour is subtle and sophisticated and perfect for adding something chic to your professional wardrobe. The colour Porchester Square comes in the gel effect (£14) or the original formula (£11).
Potentially the worst male fashion trend in history, the man bun is a 2014 obsession that needs to die. Now. As more and more men try to work the scruffy lumberjack look, we find ourselves desperately looking for the scissors. Ditch the long hair and leave the buns to us, guys!
Student Loan Whoosh! That was the sound of our student loan taking a nice mini-break in our bank accounts, before jetting off to greener pastures. Our old friend Mr Overdraft is back on the scene, but we're not happy to see him.
New Year's Resolutions Hands up anyone who is actually still clinging on to theirs? Nope, us neither. It turns out that the only thing that will get you through January is alcohol and carbs - the more the better.
By Amy Wakeham & Bethany Barley
Finished
28 23rd January - 5th February 2015
redbrick.me/sport
Sport
Exclusive Interview: Simon Brotherton, Sports Editor Alex Kronenberg caught up with University of Birmingham Alumni, Simon Brotherton, whose Day and took time over the hectic Christmas sporting schedule to answer some questions. Alex Kronenberg Sports Editor
Alex Kronenberg: When were you at the University of Birmingham? Simon Brotherton: I was at the University from 1987 to 1990 and lived at Maple Bank on the Vale in the first year, before a group of us moved out to Harborne and then to Harrow Road for the final year. AK: What did you study? SB: My degree was in Public Policymaking and Administration. At that time you just didn't have the proliferation of media based courses there are now, and the ones that were available didn't really float my boat. I'd gained plenty of hands on experience in local radio since the age of 15, so preferred the option of a politically based degree. Had I ended up going into news it would look like an inspired choice! Nonetheless, I enjoyed the fact it was relevant to what was actually going on in the world and subjects you were studying would often be on the front page of the broadsheets at the same time. AK: Were you part of any of the Guild's media groups during your time at Birmingham? SB: No, as I was able to get some shifts with BBC, CWR and BBC WM at Pebble Mill, which has been knocked down now, but was really handy to get to from campus. I used to pop down after lectures sometimes and borrow the spare media pass for Edgbaston, watch the last hour's play at the cricket and then take the pass back to Pebble Mill and head upstairs for a subsidised meal on the top floor. I nearly blew my chances with them on the very first day though. Ian Winter, now of Midlands Today, was the sports editor and agreed to give this pushy 18 year old a couple of breakfast sports shifts when Ian Bolton (now with Sky Sports News) went on holiday. The plan was for me to shadow Ian one morning to learn the ropes and we arranged for me to be there at quarter to six, as the first headlines would be at ten past and the first main bulletin at 06.30. Imagine my alarm when I woke up in Maple Bank and saw it was 08.15. I've never run so fast in my life, but still arrived after the last of Ian's sports desks. When he came down to pick me up in reception he looked at me as if to say, "What are you doing, you clown?" I'd never been late for anything before and have never been late since, but was nearly struck out that day. AK: Did you always want to go into commentating? SB: I used to commentate under my breath while having a kick about in the back garden or the park like a lot of kids do, but didn't grow up thinking that was the specific goal. I just absolutely loved football and then also cycling as a kid growing up. Being a sports reporter on the radio was definitely in my mind by
the time I left school though, but the careers people there basically laughed me out of the door. "Oh yes, well everyone wants to do things like that, but what are you really going to do?". You know, a bit like saying you wanted to be an astronaut or play for England. I'd already started at Radio Sussex by then and enjoyed mentioning it to the careers person, but I've never forgotten the negative attitude. If eleven year old me could know that I would be commentating at the World Cup for Match of the Day or on the Olympics and Tour De France, for example, he would be pretty happy with that. It's surprising how far you can go sometimes if you really want to do something. AK: What sports were you interested in as a child? SB: I've been mad on football since I was about five and then started to get into cycling through my Grandad, probably from around the age of about eleven. The cycling took over a bit in my early teenage years and I was out for an hour or two after school everyday. I was in the school team at football and raced on two wheels as well, but put it this way, there wasn't exactly a decision to make between doing it and talking about it! Horses for courses and all that. AK: Which football team do (or did) you support? SB: I don't like to bang on about it in interviews because commentators can't really win, can they? Unless they support a team that's so small or so bad that no one cares anyway. My fandom mostly revolves around the Chicago Cubs. I'm keen enough to fly all the way over just for a couple of games and then home again. AK: Do you find it hard to remain neutral when commentating on a team you like or dislike? SB: I know it sounds like a company line, but honestly, it's not something I think about at all on Match of the Day. It's about doing the best job of covering the game and what happens at any given moment. I'll take a great goal from anyone. AK: How does commentating on television compare to commentating on the radio? Do you prefer one to the other? SB: Commentating on TV is certainly different. It's as though you say half as much but need twice the vocabulary. Words get lost in a 90 minute live radio commentary, but two similar sounding phrases fifteen minutes apart may get stitched together in a seven minute TV highlights package and make it appear as though you tend to repeat yourself if you're not careful. Radio can be great fun and it has an immediacy TV sometimes lacks. You can respond immediately to things and take the conversation wherever you wish. On TV you always need to be aware of what the audience can see at any given time. I think provided they trust your judgement, a radio audience is more on your side too, because you are helping them out by telling them what's
Peter Saxon
redbrick.me/sport
23rd January - 5th February 2015
29
BBC Match of the Day Commentator voice is one that is familiar to many sports fans. Simon is well-known for his commentary on Match of the going on whereas on TV people can see what's happening for themselves. I also think more of your personality comes out on radio because you say more and have to give more. On TV you're just guiding the ship really, but having said that, its very rewarding when you can find a few decent words to put over a nice shot. When everyone does their job well on a TV broadcast and it all dovetails together it's great to work on.
if I had to pick one? Well, Formula One can be quite hard work if the cars are basically following each other round the track for lap after lap1 with very little overtaking or action. I only commentated on three races as cover for the regular correspondent many years ago and enjoyed the experience, but any sport that needs to change its rules every year and offer double points for the last race has an issue, in my opinion.
AK: Aside from football, what other sports have you covered? SB: It's football and cycling all the way now, but I've covered all sorts of things including 5 Olympic games, 5 World Cups, World Title fights in Las Vegas, Grand Prix athletics including the Weltklasse in Zurich, the Le Mans 24 hour race, Formula One, cricket at Lords and the baseball World Series half a dozen times.
AK: Everyone loves a football cliché, but do you try and avoid using them when commentating? Or, at the end of the day, are they just part and parcel of the game? SB: Obviously I try to take each game as it comes, but yes, clichés are best avoided if possible. Each sport does have its own language and phraseology though. For example, game one of a World Series is always tough because it'll be the first baseball game I've called for at least a year and its a different style and groove of commentating to get your head into. Game 2 onwards, no problem because you are up and running.
AK: Which has been the most interesting to commentate on? SB:. Most interesting? Difficult choice as some of the fights and characters in Vegas were something else, particularly around Mike Tyson, but I'll go with the World Series, as baseball is a real passion of mine. The 2004 series stands out because it was when the Boston Red Sox ended the "Curse of the Bambino" after 86 years. People had supported the Red Sox their entire lives and never seen them win, yet we were lucky enough to turn up and see them sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in four straight games. AK: ...And which has been the least interesting?! SB: I've actually enjoyed all of it, but
AK: When did you first commentate on a game for Match of the Day? And who was it between? SB: It was a one all draw between Charlton and Middlesbrough at the Valley on the 14th November 1998. I knew it was only for highlights on Match of the Day, but I do remember crapping myself all week thinking about it. Having grown up watching it, I was about to appear on the show and it meant a lot. My first football commentary was for Radio WM at Highbury on 11th April 1990 when I was still a student at the University. Paul
Simon Brotherton and his BBC Colleagues at the 2014 World Cup
Franks and Andy Blair were along side me and Villa beat Arsenal in a midweek fixture by a goal to nil. Franksy said "You'll be fine, just remember to keep talking". He went first to give me more time to settle, but in the end it just gave me an extra 22 and a half minutes to feel increasingly nervous. AK: What are the most memorable sporting moments you have witnessed from the commentary box? SB: The most memorable moments have come in cycling. When I was growing up, there was never any thought that a British rider would win the Tour De France, yet Bradley Wiggins actually went and did it 3 years ago. There will never be another moment in British cycling to match Wiggins, in the yellow jersey, leading Mark Cavendish, wearing the rainbow jersey of World Champion, onto the Champs Elysees for the sprint at the end. Cavendish took the stage and Wiggins crossed the line as the overall winner. Proper Roy of the Rovers stuff. The other moment was in the Velodrome at London 2012, when Sir Chris Hoy won his 6th Olympic Gold in the men's Kierin in a nail biting final. The atmosphere was sensational, as was the race. They're the kind of moments where you know its as good as its going to get and have to try to take it all in. Brilliant. AK: Have you managed to meet or interview any of your sporting idols? SB: Of all the famous names I've been lucky enough to interview, Pelé was among the nicest. He actually made you feel as though he was interested in talking to you and answering your questions, even though I'm sure he's heard it all a
million times before. I also made a Radio 4 series with Jurgen Klinsmann when he was at Spurs, which involved going back to all the cities where he'd played. Luckily that meant Milan and Monaco, as well as his home town of Stuttgart. Klinsmann was, and still is, a class act and the series had it's moments. We were eating at a pizzeria in Monaco with some of his friends from his time there and these two guys were out jogging and stopped when they saw some of the diners. Slowly, one of the joggers started going round the table shaking everyone's hand and he looked vaguely familiar. As he got closer it suddenly dawned on me the reason he was familiar was that I'd seen his picture everywhere in the principality, because he was Prince Albert! AK: What would be your top tips for any budding sports journalists or commentators? SB: My advice is to realise there's no reason why you can't get to the top or achieve what you want to. Work hard, go the extra mile and try to make it happen. You'll be amazed at where it might lead you. I don't know whether a degree in media is considered preferable now, but I didn't suffer for not having done one and I believe if you've got a talent for broadcasting or commentating it will show itself pretty quickly anyway. Getting your foot in the door with either a work experience placement or part time work in local media isn't always easy, but editors and producers will always make time to meet over a coffee for a chat at least and you never know where that could lead if you impress and make yourself available, even for an early shift. Just don't be late!
Simon Brotherton, although impartial on Match of the Day , is a big Aston Villa fan.
"Based on the first week end of matchs, it's very difficult to say if any one
30 23rd January - 5th February 2015
redbrick.me/sport
Sport
Rebrick Insider: Birmingham Lions Ice Hockey News Editors Sabrina Dougall and Vanessa Browne put on their skates and adorned protective clothing to join the Birmingham Lions squad and try out for the team. Sabrina Dougall & Vanessa Browne News Editors
In September, the University ice hockey club were awarded £500 from the University Hands Up initiative which supports studentled projects. The club have set aside the cash for three women-only sessions, and are looking for new female students to get involved this year. Right now only around 30% of club members are female, with just one woman on the A team and none on the B team this year. With its reputation for being aggressive and dangerous, why would a woman want to take up ice hockey? Redbrick Sport sent two intrepid writers to brave the ice and find out. On a freezing December afternoon, we certainly felt a warm welcome from the gathering of ice hockey beginners outside the Guild. Mostly made up of second years, the students we met were chatty and easygoing. Easily recognisable with hockey sticks in hand, a group of around twenty of us then divided into students’ cars to drive to the ice rink in Solihull. As we pack into the car alongside dozens of wooden hockey sticks, we get talking to Dave, the vice-captain of the club. Having only played the sport for just over a year (he started in his first semester at university), Dave tells us that in April, the Lions will be entering the national university ice hockey tournament in Sheffield. He and the other captains are hoping to take a women-only team alongside the A, B and C teams. The Lions ice hockey team is made up of students from the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Aston University and Newman University. This means it’s one of the few groups run from UoB where students can get to know others from local universities. Vanessa: What surprised me most about
the team was how many people were virtually beginners. Lots of people had never played before, but had joined up after the sports fair and had really taken to it. 1 This at least partially has to do with the team’s spirit and camaraderie. ‘We connected as a 1 year team really quickly’, mused one first UoB student, who had been attending since September, ‘Ice Hockey is lots of fun, and has really good socials’. After spending the afternoon with them, I had to agree that there is something special about the team’s atmosphere. As a beginner in every sense of the word, I was far out of my depth, having not ice skated in about six years or held a hockey stick since year nine. For some reason, prior to the session, I seemed to think that skating on ice was like riding a bike, in that I would pick it up again as soon as I slipped my feet into the sturdy, if not slightly pungent, rented skates. Needless to say, I was utterly wrong. My lack of coordination was laughable as I staggered (not skated) around the rink, eyes fixed on the ground in spite of well-meaning onlookers repeatedly advising me to ‘keep my eyes up, as it would be easier to stay upright’ - natural athlete, I am not. The relaxed vibe of the group really did put me at ease, and as the day went on I was surprised by how much I enjoyed myself, and actually did start to feel more confident - I gained a bit of balance, tried my hand at skate stops which involves positioning your feet to bring yourself to an abrupt stop, and I even managed to shoot some pucks in the right direction during team exercises. Speaking to female members about why they chose to play such a reputationally male sport, one second year BCU student, who adapted quickly to the sport due to a background in figure skating, recalled that she was in fact ‘surprised [by] how many girls showed up to the first session’.
Apparently, there has even been talks of setting up a female C-team. Sabrina: I got talking to Tash, a second year Environmental Geology student who first got involved with the club just a few weeks ago.’It’s something different from normal uni life,’ she told me, ‘I’ve made friends here and I’m looking forward to playing in more matches.’ Whilst other students are out clubbing on a Saturday night, the Lions are taking on other university teams until the early hours, as this is the only time when ice rinks are available for hire. Asking around, most students didn’t own a full match kit (which can set you back a good £200), but the club had enough equipment to lend out for the training session. At £10 a session, the cost would have to be something to budget for. For such a unique sport with a friendly group of students, I can say that the price is worth it. Suited and booted, I was handed a hockey stick and ventured onto the ice. Before I knew it, skaters were whizzing past me, tapping black hockey pucks as they skimmed the outskirts of the rink. I thought I’d better get on with it, and pretended to know what I was doing as I copied their confident manoeuvres. More experienced students acted as coaches, and soon I was practising a snow plough stop (apparently skidding into a wall isn’t the proper way to come to a halt. Who knew.). It was shaping up to be a really fun and enjoyable session. I had been ice skating a bit at Christmas, but learned that with a visored helmet and a long hockey stick, it’s a whole different ball game (well, puck game) and I was not expecting the concentration skills needed. Needless to say, I got a bit confident and decided to reach for a puck that was a bit too far away from me. That’s when I fell on my face. With no one near me, I decided to test if gravity was working that day and intro-
duced my jaw to the rock-solid ice. What I thought was just a minor bump turned out to be an open wound and resulted in my immediate ejection from the arena. Leaving my blood on the ice and my pride severely damaged, I was driven to A&E by a sympathetic but derisive BCU student and went home with six steri-strips on my chin. That was the end of my ice hockey adventures for the day, but I wouldn’t say that would prevent me from having another go in the future. Honestly, I was gutted that my session ended early, just as I thought I was getting the hang of it. If you’re looking to challenge yourself and have a bit of a knack for ice skating (and a decent sense of balance), I would highly recommend you give ice hockey a try. Vanessa: I suppose I had preconceptions of Ice Hockey being intimidatingly hypermasculine, full of people twice my size who took the sport devotedly seriously. What I found was a varied crowd of regular students, whose primary motive genuinely was to have fun together over the shared love of a sport. I can’t say when I’ll be playing Ice Hockey again, mainly because I generally steer clear of prolonged periods of activity. But, if I ever did decide to join a sport, it would absolutely be my first choice. Anyone interested in joining the club should contact the club captain Benjamin Giblin on giblinthelion@gmail.com or bmg150@bham.ac.uk. Are you a member of a sports team which you believe needs more coverage? If so than do not hesitate to contact sports@redbrickonline.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you, with the view to sending some of our reporters out to try whatever sport it may be. We're a pretty adventurous, free-spirited bunch here at Redbrick who are willing to give anything a try (in a sporting sense).
redbrick.me/sport
23rd January - 5th February 2015
Tweet of the week
Wednesday's results
31
Redbrick Predicts:
Men
This is the very first round of Redbrick Predicts. Each edition one of our Sports Editors will take on another member of the Rebrick team, predicitng results from a selection of upcoming fixtures from the world of football. This week its the FA Cup 4th Round and its our Sports Editor Will Robey, up against the king pin, the man who holds everything together, the Editor himself, James Phillips.
Football 2nds 0-2 Liverpool JM 1sts Fencing 1sts 105-133 Edinburgh 1sts Rugby 1sts 37-19 Manchester 1sts Tennis 1sts 4-8 Oxford 2nds
Women
Little bit of background here. I (Will) am a self-confessed football addict, James on the other hand openly admits to being a football virgin. Rather embarrassing for me if I lose this one, better start drafting that resignation letter just in case....
Basketball 1sts 52-71 Worcester 1sts Football 1sts 3-3 Northumbria 1sts Netball 4ths 40-40 BCU 1sts
James Phillips' Predictions Cambridge vs Man Utd 0-3 Chelsea FC vs Bradford 2-0
Whats on this week:
Liverpool vs Bolton
3-1
Birmingham vs West Brom 1-2 Cambridge vs Manchester United: FA Cup 4th round. Friday 23rd January.
Tottenham
Minnows CambridgeUnited host 11 time FA Cup winners Manchester United and will be looking to cause an upsetagainst their far superior opponents . Louis VanGaal will be hoping to put the 'Queens ParkRaisins' embarassment behind him and see his team safely into the hat for the 5th round of the competition. Van Gaal will also be hoping to see Radamel Falcao on target, as United continue to ponder whether to make the £50 million transferpermanent from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.
2-1
Will Robey's Predicitons Cambridge vs Man Utd 0-2 Chelsea FC vs Bradford 5-0 Liverpool vs Bolton
2-2
Birmingham vs West Brom 1-3
Online Content
Wasps vs Leinster: European Champions Cup. Saturday 24th January A big clash in Pool 2, as first placed Leinster take on second placed London Wasps. Both sides have performed exceptionally in this competition. A win for London Wasps would send them to the top of the pool, and Leinster will be wary of the threat the Coventry based side pose. Leinster have a fantastic record in European rugby and have their sights firmly set on winning the competition this season. They certainly have the pedigree to, and this match will certainlty provide a tough examination of Leinster's title credentials. For Wasps a win here could kickstart a surprise surge towards European glory, with many tipping them to be the surprise package in this years competitiion.
vs Leicester
Don't forget to follow our live UOB Sportsday next wednesday. We will have reporters covering fixtures across the University. If you want to keep up to date with the action as it happens then be sure to go to www.redbrick.me/sports/ and look out for UOB Sportsday. Also checkout Redbrick Sports Birmingham 2015 calendar of events, so you can keep up to date with all the sports showcased in Birmingham, not just within the University. Events such as the 2015 Ashes Series, with one test taking place at Warwickshire's Edgbaston cricket ground.
Want to write for Redbrick Sport? sports@redbrick.me @redbricksport Redbrick Sport Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and online at www.redbrick.me/sports to keep up to date with all the latest sporting events. If you are interested in writing for Redbrick Sport, please get in touch by emailing sport@redbrick.me
Tottenham
vs Leicester 3-0
The predictions are in. Having explained to James how the FA Cup works, and pointing out which leagues each respective teams are in, James has managed to produce some fairly promising looking predictions. For those wondering how we get on, you can obviously research the scores for yourself and match them against our predictions. However, if you like to live life on the edge and enjoy suspense, then the results will be published in the next issue. An even quicker way to see who has won this round, however, is to check to see if I am still Sports Editor in the next issue. Yes it's that serious..I'm putting my (foot) balls on the line for this.
The Redbrick Crossword
Successfully complete the crossword and you could win a £5 voucher for food at any GO restaurant in University Centre! Crossword by Thomas Hutchinson
Please send a picture of your completed crossword to crossword@redbrick.me, or fill in this form and put your completed crossword in the Redbrick pigeon hole in ,Student Development. Name: Email Address: Phone Number:
Across
7. Literary ridicule utilising sarcasm and irony (6) 8. The East (6) 9. Animal fur (4) 10. Watched (8) 11. Corrosive (7) 13. Very small island (5) 15. Confuse (5) 17. Boat race (7) 20. One of eight (8) 21. Iron oxide (4) 23. Piles of hay (6) 24. Areas of rule (6)
Down
1. Grotto (4) 2. Break (6) 3. Depending on oxygen (7) 4. Awaken (5) 5. Metric measure of volumes (6) 6. Obscene (8) 12. Renounce a throne (8) 14. Unsettle (7) 16. Send off (6) 18. In foreign lands (6) 19. Nonchalant (5) 22. Japanese wrestler (4)
‛1‛2‛3‛4‛5‛6‛ 7`````‛8````` ‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛ 9```‛0``````` ‛‛‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛ -=`````‛q```` ‛`‛‛‛`‛w‛‛‛`‛ e``r`‛t``y``` ‛`‛`‛u‛`‛`‛‛‛ i```````‛o`p` ‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛ [`````‛]````` ‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛`‛
32 23rd January 2015 - 5th February 2015
redbrick.me/sport
Sport
P 28 - Redbrick News Editors take to the Ice!
Liverpool sucker punches leave Brum feeling blue Online Editor Thomas Dodd watched the Birmingham Men's 2nds Football team in their first fixture of 2015, a home Trophy Cup match against Liverpool John Moores Thomas Dodd
Online Sports Editor
Birmingham Mens 2nds Football team were left to rue a series of missed chances as they went down 2-0 at home to Liverpool John Moore's and saw their 2015 Trophy cup run cut short in the first round at Metchley. "We've dominated play, we've dominated the final third, we've played well and done everything right, but that's just how our season's gone", lamented coach Matthew Rodney, speaking after a defeat that despite giving the side many positives, will ultimately leave a sour taste in his side's dressing room. The home side controlled possession and created numerous chances to get something from the game, but came up against an inspired opposition Goalkeeper in Josh Welsby, who pulled off several stunning stops to prevent the Brum attack finding the back of the net.
"We've dominated play, but that's just how our seasons gone" Birmingham, coming off their first victory in the league so far this season last time out against Bedford, came out of the blocks fast and Jake Williams broke free to create space before poking wide when under pressure from the Moore's defence and the same player shot just over the bar moments later after cutting in from the right hand side. But it was a lapse in concentration at the other end that led to the opener moments later when Brum failed to deal with a corner and Piaras Webb fired home unmarked from just inside the area. Having already conceded 11 goals so far this term it was hardly the perfect start for a side that sat bottom of the Midlands 1A division but they kept coming at their Northern Premier opponents. Alex Donker's rasping drive was just to high to sneak under the upright and captain Jack Davies was thwarted from point blank range by Welsby seconds later. With Brum still
Football Men's
Birmingham 2nds
0
Liverpool John Moores
2
dominating possession it was hard to see Moore's adding to their lead in the first half, though Max Pashley had to be alert to clear off the line when visiting striker Chisom Amile had chipped the ball over the onrushing Ben West in the UoB goal. As the half came towards a close the hosts pushed forward once more and Donker was only prevented from a wonderful individual goal by Welsby, whose flying save denied the Birmingham midfielder after he'd turned and beaten two men 40 yards from goal. From the resulting corner, Moore's were lucky not to concede a penalty, when the referee waved away strong claims after Ibrahim Jabbie was felled 14 yards from goal.
Birmingham continued to lay siege to the Liverpool goal at the start of the second period and Welsby was on top form to again deny Davies from 8 yards
"But it was a lapse in concentration that led to the opener" when it looked for all the world that the home captain would draw his side level. Restricted to tame long range efforts, Moore's were beginning to rely heavily on their keeper and the one time he was beaten, the post came to the away teams' rescue, substitute Jack Crompton somehow contriving to hit the post with Welsby stranded in no man's land. But so often in games such as these, it is those who are on the attack that are the more vulnerable and immediately after seeing their opponents hit the
woodwork, Moore's broke up the other end to put the result effectively beyond doubt when Jamie Stephenson was left
" But so often in games such as these, it is those who are on the attack that are more vulnerable" with the simplest of finishes after being put through by Darren Coyle, and in the blink of an eye Birmingham had a two goal deficit to overcome, just seconds after being on the brink of drawing level. Undeterred, the home side kept pressing on the edge of the visitors box, and there was time for Welsby to pull off two more outstanding saves to confirm his status as man of the match and leave Brum out in the cold in their first outing of 2015.
Peter Saxon