Monday 18th September 2017
Redbrick Issue 1483, Vol. 82
FREE
Welcome to Birmingham
Redbrick
Your comprehensive guide to making the most of first year
The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936
University Prepares as Students Arrive for Freshers' Week Holly Carter & Kirstie Sutherland Deputy Editors @holscarts @whatkirstiedid
This special freshers edition of Redbrick is tailor-made for all of you new to UoB. As an introduction to your student newspaper, this miniature paper is your guide to everything you could possibly need to know to help you settle into your new life as a Birmingham student and resident. You may be studying in the UK’s second city, but with five universities, Birmingham is first class for students. A thriving multicultural hub, your new home town is always buzzing with something for everyone, meaning you can get to know the place in no time. For the nature lovers amongst you, you are just a stone’s throw away from the open spaces of Cannon Hill Park, while a long walk in the beautiful Lickey Hills country park is just a few stops away on the train perfect for escaping the stresses of undergraduate life. The town centre boasts some of the best live music venues in the country, from the giant Barclaycard Arena to the tiny and intimate Sunflower Lounge. The Bullring and its surrounding streets are the biggest and best shopping hub of the West Midlands, so you’ll never run out of places to spend your loan. The town also offers vintage shops and record stores galore, while the old district of Digbeth boasts some of the best warehouse clubs in the country. Peppered with independent cafés, great for an off-campus study space, and restaurants for celebrating when
Julia Yan
you truly want to relax and unwind after those dreaded deadlines, Birmingham city centre has it all. In this issue, we’ve made settling into Birmingham as easy as possible for you, recommending the best places to see the latest film releases, the TV shows perfect to watch with your new housemates to break
the ice, as well as making sure you can indulge your theatre, art and music tastes, whatever they may be. We’ve got the lowdown on the newest part of campus, the Sport and Fitness centre, to help you decide if you should invest a good chunk of your student loan on membership. And if writing is your thing, you can
spend just £8 on a Redbrick membership and exercise your journalistic muscles, allowing you to write for any and every section you’d like. Come to our welcome meeting in the Guild Council Chambers (Guild Building) at 7pm on the 22nd September to find out more. Welcome to your first year at UoB, we can’t wait to meet you!
Meet the Sections: An introduction to Redbrick and how to get involved
Redbrick Sport with all the details on the brand new sports centre
Redbrick Music showcases the best venues Birmingham has to offer
Redbrick Food on the best food to be had on campus and in town
Page 3
Sport Page 8
Music Page 4
Food Page 7
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REDBRICK
Monday 18th September 2017
redbrick.me
Letter from the Editor... Joining Redbrick is not something I did immediately upon arriving at Birmingham. In fact, it actually took until Christmas of my first year for me to get my act together and join the society I’m now involved with daily. Like everyone I’ve spoken to who didn’t join straight away, I’ve spent a lot of the last year saying “I wish I joined much sooner.” So if you are reading this as a second, third, fourth or indeed fifth year student (or however long PhD students study), don’t feel like you have left it too late. Getting involved with Redbrick is by far the best thing I’ve done at university, even if the stress has at times contributed to my drastically diminishing hairline. This being a freshers’ edition, it goes without saying that if you have just joined university now really is the best time to get involved. Redbrick is the official student paper here at Brum. We’ve been kicking around here nearly as long as Old Joe itself – we’re turning 82 this year, and personally speaking I think we’re looking pretty good for an octogenarian. We print fortnightly, and all twelve of our sections produce content for every issue. The best thing about Redbrick is that it
gives you the opportunity to have a voice on any topic you could be interested in or passionate about. See the next page for a list of all our sections, and remember that you can write for as many as you like. Even if you do not see yourself as a natural writer, Redbrick might still be the perfect society for you. If you have got a great eye for detail and like the idea of working with the paper just before it is sent to print, Editorial Assistant roles are a great way to get involved whilst not giving up too much of your time. It also helps if you have a bit of a fondness for grammar and spelling. Redbrick always needs photographers to cover events on campus, sports fixtures and special photo feature pieces – last year, our photographers were some of the very few people on campus allowed up Old Joe. Beyond the newspaper, Redbrick is fundamentally a society at heart. We are an inclusive and eclectic bunch, so even if you feel your degree programme is not a traditional ‘writing’ degree, you are guaranteed to fit in. Over the course of the year we organise lots of fun and varied events, from the fortnightly post-print
‘Pub & Papers’ to the grand, annual Redbrick Awards, recognition at which is far more important than an Oscar or Grammy. Frequent ‘Societies Nights’ also see team Redbrick dressing up and generally embarrassing ourselves, and are an amazing way to meet writers and editors from other sections. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy this special freshers’ edition of Redbrick and indeed all of the issues this year. It is the result of very hard work by writers, section editors, print and features editor, Joe, and Holly, Harry and Kirstie, deputy editors for this year. From the dungeons we salute you,
William Baxter, Editor-in-Chief
Follow us on... Instagram @redbrickpaper Want to be featured? Submit your photos to us at: social@redbrickonline.co.uk or tag us in your photos by using #redbrickinstagram
Twitter @redbrickpaper For updates on the latest online Redbrick content from all of our sections
Facebook /redbrickpaper To see what each section has on offer, get involved with our sectional facebook groups Left to right: Harry, Alex, Holly, Laura, William, Kamila, Tom, Joe
Meet your committee for 2017/18 Editor William Baxter
Digital Editor Alex McDonald
Social Secretary Laura Burgess
editor@redbrickonline.co.uk
digital@redbrickonline.co.uk
social@redbrickonline.co.uk
Deputy Editors Harry Wilkinson Holly Carter Kirstie Sutherland
Marketing Secretary Kamila Geremek marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk
deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk
Print & Features Editor Joe Ryan print@redbrickonline.co.uk
Lead Developer Tom Galvin developer@redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TT 0121 251 2462
editor@redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick is printed through www.mortonsprint.com 01507 523 456 To advertise in Redbrick, get in touch with marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk or visit www.redbrick.me/advertise-with-redbrick for more details, and to see our rate card. 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.
FRESHERS'17
Monday 18th September 2017
www.redbrick.me
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Meet the sections... A basic introduction to all twelve of our sections, and where you can get in contact MUSIC
FILM
EDITORS:
EDITORS:
Emily Barker Issy Campbell Luke Charnley Thom Dent
Patrick Box Emillie Gallagher John James
music@redbrickonline.co.uk
film@redbrickonline.co.uk
@redbrickmusic
@redbrickfilm
Redbrick Music Contributors
Redbrick Film Contributors
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CULTURE
TV
LIFE&STYLE
EDITORS:
EDITORS:
EDITORS:
Olivia Boyce Hannah Brierley Rebecca Moore Natalie Welch
Amelia Bacon Matt Dawson Abbie Pease
Maddie Bourne Antonia Miles Nia Roberts Zoe Screti
culture@redbrickonline.co.uk
tv@redbrickonline.co.uk
lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk
@redbrickculture
@redbricktv
@redbricklife
Redbrick Culture Contributors
Redbrick TV Contributors
Redbrick Life & Style Contributors
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FOOD
SPORT
EDITORS:
EDITORS:
Emma Chambers Caitlin Dickinson Phoebe Radford
Alex Alton Olli Meek Leanne Prescott
food@redbrickonline.co.uk
sport@redbrickonline.co.uk
@redbrickfood
@redbricksport
Redbrick Food Contributors
Redbrick Sport Contributors
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NEWS
TRAVEL NEWS
COMMENT
SCI&TECH
GAMING
This section is for all news writers, reporters and photographers. We cover news that affects all students at the university. If you're unsure how to write a news story, don't let that hold you back!
Redbrick Travel is the place for the latest destination articles, travel tips, and more! Even if you're not travelling anytime soon, tell us about past adventures.
The home of debate, conversation and free speech at Redbrick. If you're passionate about it, we are!
Reporting on the latest breakthrough technologies and scientific advances in the modern world. If you have a passion for all things technical or even if you're just interested in the newest iPhone, this is the section for you.
The latest gaming news, reviews, discussion and events, from the student perspective.
EDITORS:
EDITORS:
EDITORS:
EDITORS:
EDITORS:
Grace Duncan Emily Roberts Gregory Robinson Erin Santillo
Iesha Thomas Phoebe Warneford-Thomson Olivia Woodington
Alex Cirant-Taljaard Alex Goodwin Kat Smith
Katie Jones Emilia Rose
Nick Burton Roshni Patel
news@redbrickonline.co.uk
travel@redbrickonline.co.uk
comment@redbrickonline.co. uk
tech@redbrickonline.co.uk
gaming@redbrickonline.co. uk
@redbricknews
@redbricktravel
@redbrickcomment
@redbricktech
@redbrickgames
Redbrick News 2017-18
Redbrick Travel Contributors
Redbrick Comment Contributors
Redbrick Sci and Tech Contributors
Redbrick Gaming Contricutors
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MUSIC
Monday 18th September 2017
@redbrickmusic
The Musical Guide to Birmingham
Whether you're into cheesy bangers, warehouse raves or the thrill of live performance, Redbrick Music highlight the best of Brum
Club Venues Snobs
Fab 'N' Fresh
Players
This club may not be on Broad Street, but don’t let this dampen your view of possibly the best club in Birmingham. As you’d hope, the drinks and entry are decently priced, but the tunes are far above-average; it’s the only place in Brum where the DJ will take you seamlessly from Arctic Monkeys to Alphabeat in minutes. It’s one of those places where you tell yourself you’ll leave after one last song, and then end up staying for another 2 hours because it’s just too good. I’ve found some strong friends by observing how many lyrics they sing along to at this fine establishment. Kat Smith
Arguably your most reliable night out, Fab N Fresh is your Saturday standard. Hosted in UoB’s very own Guild of Students, you can avoid the usual Uber fees and 2-star rankings that come from pre-drinking in a taxi, with a short walk from most halls and Selly Oak. Fab’s convenience and familiarity makes it the easiest night out to organise. Being a student union, expect mainstream party bangers. Joe’s Bar has a fine selection of pop and cheese, whilst Underground often provides the R&B classics.
Home of Stupid Tuesdays, Players will undoubtably become a staple of your week. The layout is simple. Upstairs for chart toppers and downstairs for more hip hop and DJ mixes. Both are long rooms with a decent amount of space for dancing with mates, getting drinks and for looking for friends because who are we kidding, that always happens. It’s student friendly, has a great atmosphere and you are always guaranteed to bump into people you know. Grab your tickets online to avoid the disappointment of being turned away at the door due to full capacity (yes, this really does happen).
Beth Roskilly
Imogen Mellor
Players, Broad Street
Event Venues
Rainbow Arena, Digbeth
Live Music Venues
Rainbow
Amusement 13
Lab 11
Situated in Digbeth, Rainbow is Birmingham's Mecca for lovers of house, techno and drum and bass. Head here if you enjoy accessorising with heaps of glitter and dancing to heavy bass until the early morning. Rainbow is famous for big nights like The Haunting, Cirque du Soul, 02:31 and Carnival Magnifico which are all about spectacle; think big name DJs like Toddla T, Hannah Wants and Bicep, crazy light shows, confetti canons and crowds of enthusiastic ravers all partying under one roof. Keep an eye out for Rainbow, it promises some of the best nights out Birmingham has to offer. Emily Roberts
Dive a little deeper into the underworld of Digbeth and you’ll discover a lesser-known gem hidden beneath the railway arches: Amusement 13. Located on Kent Street, Amusement 13 boasts a brand-spanking new VOID sound system – arguably the best in the whole of the second city – so expect your favourite uplifting vocal house cuts or wonky bassline wobblers to sound crisper and harder-hitting than ever. And if you fancy venturing down any soon, consider heading to BASS Collective’s event on 29th September – be sure to check Facebook for more information. Greg Woodin
Located in Digbeth, LAB11 regularly invites world famous DJs to its stages. Created by TRMNL, LAB11 is predominantly an electronic music venue but hosts many other different events such as Itchy Feet, an old school rock and roll, swing and blues night. Its smaller size, along with the high-quality artists and TRMNL name, attracts all kinds of people across all ages, making LAB11 the perfect place to get away from the student population and meet the local ravers of Birmingham. It’s a fitting destination for both beginners and experienced techno heads who enjoy a heavy night but in a pleasant environment. Beth Roskilly
O2 Academy and O2 Institute
The Hare and Hounds
The Sunflower Lounge
If you’re a music fan, chances are you’ll experience the O2 venues throughout your time at Birmingham. With the Academy located just a short walk from New Street Station and the Institute in the heart of Digbeth, you can see some of your favourite acts in a much more intimate setting. The Academy tends to play host to larger artists, with the likes of Lorde and Clean Bandit gracing the stage in the following months. If you’re fan of up-and-coming acts such as Tom Grennan, Fickle Friends and Declan McKenna, the 2,000max capacity Institute is the right place for you. Kirstie Sutherland
If you fancy a break from Fab’s sticky floor and sweatiness, the Hare and Hounds is the perfect chilled alternative to a club night. A local gem and a cornerstone of alternative Birmingham, the downstairs pub is often packed with a balanced mix of local crowd and the hip community of King’s Heath. The upstairs is one of the hottest indie venues in town, having hosted artists like Albert Hammond Jr., Hinds and Los Campesinos in the last year or so, to name just a few. The same room also hosts a DJ set from Birmingham’s own Mike Skinner three times a year, which is a mustgo if you ask me. Francesca Ventura
One of the smallest but best live venues in Birmingham is the independent Sunflower Lounge. With a capacity of less than 200 people, this underground gig space is a truly intimate experience. The upstairs bar is a common drinking spot for Birmingham band members, and great for running into acts after shows. Mostly home to small, up-and-coming musicians, Sunflower Lounge is the exciting hub of new music in Birmingham. For smaller bands on city tours or local bands playing sell out gigs to friends and fans, the Sunflower Lounge is high on the list of places to visit for live music fans. Holly Carter
Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath
FILM/CULTURE
Monday 18th September 2017
@redbrickfilm/@redbrickculture
05
A Cinematic Tour of the City
From the 20-screen multiplexes to the 20-seat arthouse venues, Redbrick Film curates your trips to the movies Emillie Gallagher Film Editor
If you are a film-loving fresher who is new to the city, you will be pleased to know there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in the world of film this year. With cinemas across the city screening films of all genres, old and new, there is definitely something out there for everyone. If you love new releases then you are in luck with an Odeon cinema conveniently located on New Street in the city centre, just a quick train ride away from University station, and a Cineworld branch at Broad Street Plaza for those of you living near Five Ways station. For those of you looking for a more unique cinema experience, Birmingham has you covered. The
Electric Cinema is the UK’s oldest working cinema with a truly vintage feel. Its 'Cinematic Time Machine' scheme allows you to watch your choice of classic movie in comfort, with seating replaced with sofas, a bar and waiter service. The cinema has two digital screens, showcasing an array of films, meaning the Electric is home to the the city's widest variety of contemporary, classic and international cinema. Located directly outside New Street station, this cinema has all the appeal of an undiscovered gem without the inconvenience. Similarly, Birmingham’s Mockingbird Cinema is also a great place to visit if you love both new releases as well as revisiting the older classics. For example, on 22nd September you can catch a screening of the much-loved 2009 hit (500) Days of Summer starring
The Electric Cinema
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. This independent cinema paired with the Mockingbird Kitchen allows you the perfect opportunity enjoy great food, drinks and movies. If you are the kind of cinephile who is bord of conventional cinemas and is looking for something a little different then try mac Birmingham’s diverse cinema programme which includes screenings of new releases, art-house films, foreign language films as well as special live screenings. This September their screenings range from the Indian foreign language film Hotel Salvation, a film about relationships, family and a son’s journey; a Buster Keaton Double Bill with 83 minutes of the silent cinema icon's classics accompanied by live music; the prison documentary Inside Peace which follows criminal offenders who cultivate a desire to change from a Peace Class in a Texas prison; and the live theatre production of Angels In America: Part Two – Perestroika, a powerful exploration of the AIDS crisis starring Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield. Also for planning ahead, when you come to love the charming cultural vibe of Brindley Place with its bars, restaurants and art galleries, make sure you get the annual July open air film festival in your diaries ready for post first year celebrations.
Cultural Highlights for UoB Students On campus and in the city, Redbrick Culture showcases the highlights of Birmingham's bustling theatrical and artistic scenes
The Birmingham REP
Olivia Boyce Culture Editor
Birmingham has a wealth of theatres, museums, galleries and events spaces, including some on the University of Birmingham campus, leaving students spoiled for choice when looking for something to see or do. Many have student priced tickets or promotions that make it easier to see something on a student budget. Below are just some of the things on offer for students in Birmingham and the surrounding area. The Birmingham Hippodrome is renowned as a
fantastic regional venue, hosting musicals such as Wicked and Miss Saigon, operas performed by the likes of the internationally-acclaimed Welsh National Opera, and ballets from all over the world; they are all part of their extensive programme. Upcoming productions include Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard and their record-breaking annual pantomime, this year being Cinderella. Their 'First Night' scheme has tickets for reduced prices for a range of productions. Also, with several performance spaces and a packed programme, the REP is a great place for an evening at the theatre. From
Shakespeare and Wilde, The Exorcist and Jane Eyre it offers something for everyone. Upcoming shows include Nativity! The Musical and Duet For One. Their Preview Club scheme offers reduced price tickets for select shows, alongside their usual lowcost tickets for shows in their STUDIO and DOOR spaces. Town Hall and Symphony Hall offer a diverse range of performances, from world-renowned classical, rock and pop artists to award-winning comedians, musical sing-alongs to symphonic marvels, in venues classed as being some of the best concert halls in the world. With Stratford-Upon-Avon just a train journey away, students may want to see one of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s legendary productions. The RSC’s three theatres are home to both Shakespearean classics and contemporary pieces, with upcoming shows including Coriolanus, Twelfth Night and A Christmas Carol. Their RSC key scheme, for 16-25 year olds, offers tickets for £5 for many of their shows. Other venues in and around Birmingham include The New Alexandra, The Old REP, The Blue/Orange Theatre, The
Crescent, The Glee Club, and mac. Art aficionados will enjoy visiting Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. With a wide variety of permanent pieces across all mediums and styles in the main areas, there is also ample gallery space that has housed exhibitions ranging from an exploration of the New Romantics to National Arts Council touring exhibitions. Alternatively, the Ikon Gallery, housing a range of installations of contemporary art in many mediums, is currently showcasing its brand new exhibitions of some leading German and Polish
born female artists. Even closer to home, The Barber Institute on UoB campus hosts an enviable gallery of art, including works from the likes of Monet, Turner and Renoir. The Bramall Music Building, also on campus, has various events including comedy nights and symphonic performances, and UoB’s several well-established drama and theatre groups mean there are things to see on campus throughout the academic year. From wellknown classics to brand new plays written and produced by students, there really is something for everyone right here on campus.
The Bramall Music Building Auditorium
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TELEVISION/LIFE&STYLE
Monday 18th September 2017
@redbricktv @redbricklife
Redbrick TV’s Finest Distractions for Students Redbrick TV recommends the perfect series for breaking the ice with your new flatmates or relaxing after a long, hard week of partying University can be overwhelming, repetitive and stressful. Luckily for us, television was invented! Binge-watching television can act as a welcome distraction to students on the darkest of days, and there are a few special shows that can offer a better escape than others. Here are our top three picks.
The Defenders Matt Dawson Television Editor @m_dawson96
Four distinct personalities from different walks of life are thrust out of their comfort zone to face a challenge that unites them. While this may sound like a uni group project, it is in fact the premise for the latest Netflix series set in the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a culmination of 5 different TV series, The Defenders attempts to recreate Marvel's magic Avengers-formula for the small screen in that it brings together Daredevil , Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Each superpowered protagonist is led by their own investigation into the mysterious organisation known as The Hand and so they are thrust together to defend the city of New York. At only 8 episodes long, The Defenders is shorter than previous offerings, but it makes for con-
densed and easily watchable viewing. The pace is quick to match the action and the dialogue, providing a decent distraction for when student life gets a little hectic.
Rick and Morty Abbie Pease Television Editor @pease_abbie
Gracing screens since 2013, the ingenious Rick and Morty follows the intergalactic adventures of Rick, an alcoholic scientist, and his awkwardly pubescent grandson, Morty. Currently releasing its third season on Netflix, the cartoon
series balances its time between the duo's expeditions through space and time and the affairs of their unconventional family. Pushing boundaries in its use of science and humour, the programme never fails to shock and confuse, making it the perfect tool of distraction from a day of lectures and assignments. Laced with dry, adult humour, the clever plot lines delve into a world of multiple realities and time frames. Don’t be put off by the apparent complexity of the show, as just with TV classics such as The Simpsons, each episode of Rick and Morty contains its own storyline and conclusion. The show's ability to come up
with wacky and ridiculous ideas makes it intensely distracting. Although light-hearted, the show touches on real issues such as alcoholism, divorce and social anxiety, with this dimension making the show more relatable and grounded. Ranging from adventures in which Rick transforms into a pickle, to meet and greets with alternative versions of Morty, the show is anything but conventional
Ru Paul's Drag Race Amelia Bacon Television Editor @baconamelia
Grip your housemate's hands, start your engines, and leap into the world of Ru Paul for the perfect Netflix binging experience. Ru Paul’s Drag Race is the ultimate show for your uni house to get stuck into, and undeniably provides a drastic but welcome change to your average Netflix viewing. In the format of America’s Next Top Model, contestants compete weekly in a series of challenges to win the title of America’s next drag superstar, as well as a bundle of prizes including a year’s supply of make up and a $100,000
cash prize. The stakes have never been higher, the only difference being of course that the competitors consist of drag queens as opposed to aspiring super-models. Netflix currently has nine seasons ready for viewing with no sign of stopping, with talk of expanding to a UK version meaning dragtastic enjoyment for you and your friends indefinitely. Aside from all of the gossip, entertainment, and outlandish outfits, at the very least you will learn how to glue down your eyebrows and have a handful more sassy Dynasty references in your repertoire.
Freshers' Week Survival Guide Starting university can be a nerve-racking experience so Redbrick Life&Style share their top tips for settling in Maddie Bourne & Antonia Miles
Be Sociable
Life&Style Editors @maddiemae_xo @antoniawritesx
Prop open your flat door to have a chat to those across the hall. Be friendly and make an effort to find out about your flatmates, where they are from and what their lives are like. If you are a little shy, asking people questions deflects the attention from yourself and onto them, which makes them feel all-important and is a great way to open the door to a budding friendship. As weird as it may sound, get a doorstop for your uni room so your flatmates feel comfortable to approach you. Freshers truly is the time when you can make lasting friendships, so make sure you are giving off all the right signs!
Budgeting Freshers Week is all about having fun and enjoying yourself before the reality of uni life kicks in. Make sure you can make the most of it by setting yourself a rough budgeting guide per night to allow yourself the funds to buy as many VKs or Jägerbombs as your heart desires. After all, when your textbook list arrives, you do not want to be asking your parents to help you out with money a week and a half into the year!
Course Prep We all know ‘adulting’ isn’t fun, but doing some early course prep will really benefit you when you start heading to those dreaded '9ams' (sigh!) If there is an advance reading list, go through and read it. If you have to register for your course, register.
Getting things done before a night out makes you prepared for the slightly less exciting weeks to come.
Be Yourself
If you are someone that doesn’t enjoy going out all that much, that is absolutely fine! Uni isn’t about turning all of its students into the same partyloving clone. Nonetheless, it is important to make an effort with
your new flatmates. Being yourself from day one and not acting like someone else just to fit in is going to make your uni experience far more enjoyable. Check out the Freshers' and Societies Fairs and get involved with everything Freshers Week has to offer together. Have a flat takeaway night, watch scary movies or go to the Bullring for a flat outing; there’s plenty of ways to make friends in Freshers without compromising who you are.
Get Involved We are not biased here (ahem) but joining a society like Redbrick is one of the best ways to meet new people. In your halls, you are kind of lumped together with a bunch of people you may not have all that in common with, but joining a society is the perfect way to
meet like-minded people with the same goals and interests as you. Widening your social circle at uni is a good way to step out of your comfort zone and find the people who you are most likely to click with.
Curate Your Survival Kit Before the onslaught of night out after night out, the key to surviving and not burning out is preparation. Some things to get you through. Tissues, for the inevitability of catching freshers flu the moment you enter Snobs. A sleep mask, to block out the sun’s rays when you arrive home at 6am and drunkenly crawl into bed with the hope of finally getting some shut-eye. Plenty of pyjamas, because let’s be honest, during the day you are not exactly going to be feeling up to getting properly dressed and you are now a student, so you may as well milk the lazy lifestyle. One more thing, plenty of water and some painkillers, because hangover headaches are not going to go away by themselves, trust us.
FOOD
Monday 18th September 2017
@redbrickfood
07
Redbrick Food Recommends... Campus
Phoebe Radford Food Editor
Library Café Conveniently located and accepting meal plan, here you can fuel your study sessions with a coffee, cake, or a selection of sandwiches, wraps, paninis and toasties. The Main Library Café also serves soups and has a salad bar. If you’re an early riser, you could even enjoy your breakfast in the library with a bowl of porridge! However, be warned: if you snack while you study, you can only eat in the café itself or in the Wolfson room opposite.
Street Kitchen Newly opened, this eatery changes its menu daily and also offers vegetarian and vegan options. You can count on trying something completely new and different each time you go, as the menu is inspired by countries around the globe. A tad more expensive than getting a meal deal from Spar, but certainly worth it.
Selly Oak
Town
Costa With four outlets of Costa on campus, found at University Centre, the Guild, Bramall Music Building and Sports and Fitness Centre, it is almost impossible to avoid treating yourself to coffee dates with your friends in between lectures. You can even use meal plan in Costa. However, if you’re without meal plan, perhaps you’ll get lucky and have a friend with meal plan money to burn at the end of the week, treating you to a latte and croissant.
University Centre University Centre has a cafeteriastyle food outlet downstairs called ‘Go Central' which serves a daily selection of hot meals. The food court upstairs offers a wide variety of food from sandwiches and wraps, to salad bowls, soups and baked potatoes. Undoubtedly, the most popular option is the Mexican burrito bar which is a Subway-style setup where you choose your fillings.
Joe's Bar Most students become familiar with the Guild through Fab, but visit during the day and Joe’s serves relatively standard bar food at student-friendly prices in a familiar, friendly environment. The best options are the wide range of pizzas, the nachos and the huge ice cream dessert, the University Challenge. Don't forget that there's 2 for 1 on pizzas every week night between 5pm and 8pm with a Joe's card.
Subway Everyone loves a Subway especially if you spend any amount of time in the Guild! Anyone who is anyone in a society that meets regularly in the Guild will eat more Subways than is good for them (or their bank account). If you join Redbrick, you can spend enough time in the office to justify your sub indulgence. You have to eat, right?
Caitlin Dickinson Food Editor
Emma Chambers Food Editor
The S'Oak
Dilshad
The S'Oak is arguably the most popular student pub in Selly Oak, and there is rarely a quiet night. Like a typical British pub, it serves burgers, fish and chips and has a weekly (and very popular) quiz night. One of the best things is range of sharing platters they offer, which are great for drinks with friends. The well priced chicken platter comes in at £6.99, but what is better is that they are half price after 3pm on a Thursday! In addition, there is always a choice of local ales for you to choose from, whether you prefer the hoppiness of a pale or just fancy a bitter.
Birmingham is famous for the Balti Triangle and world class curry houses, and right here in Selly Oak is the traditional curry house Dilshad on Bristol Road. One of the oldest Bristol Road establishments, Dilshad is a staple of Selly Oak life. A Redbrick Food favourite here is the salmon tikka speciality starter (£4.25), which is a generous portion. What’s best about Dilshad is that you can bring in your own alcohol. Yes, you read correctly - you can bring in your own drink for your meal. UoB life doesn’t get much better than this!
Boston Tea Party
Digbeth Dining Club
Do you like brunching? Well, at Boston Tea Party you can brunch all day! From avocado toast, a full English and some of the best eggs in town, to vegan and vegetarian friendly options, there's a brunch option for everyone. It is also well known for its wide range of homemade juices and smoothies, as well as great coffee and cakes for those with a sweet tooth. Though breakfast is served all day, there are also great lunch options such as salads, lamb koftas and pittas. Its rustic, farmhouse chic feel makes it stand out from other popular chains, and it’s also wellpriced, usually between £5-10. You can find it on Corporation Street, a 10 minute walk from New Street station, as well as branches in both Harborne and Edgbaston.
Digbeth Dining Club is all things street food! Offering a different mix of stalls every week, the options can range from Greek souvlaki, burgers, Mexican and Indian cuisine, to pizza, mac and cheese and barbeque. There are also dessert stalls serving pancakes, donuts, cheesecake and more for an after dinner treat. Not only is the food amazing, but the atmosphere is too. Set in Digbeth's Spotlight and Mama Roux venues, there are two bars with live DJs and it is always busy. Be sure to check this one out during termtime, on Trinity Street in Digbeth every Friday and Saturday from 4pm-late, as well the occasional extended street closure. This is a special favourite here at Redbrick Food - you can never go wrong with DDC!
Yakinori Yakinori is a bustling Japanese restaurant with an eat-in area as well as take-away options. Our personal favourite is the chilli ramen (£11.50). This is a hot noodle soup filled with vegetables, chicken and stock that is splashed with chilli to give it a heated taste. Although slightly pricey, the vast menu that caters for vegetarians and vegans is made from the freshest ingredients and has an authentic Japanese feel. A takeaway box is only £5 and there is a 10% discount for students on the eatin menu.
The Warehouse Café An award-winning vegetarian restaurant, this unique café is set between new and old Birmingham on Allison Street, nestled in a converted warehouse. As one of the first vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Birmingham, Warehouse know their veggies! The menus are influenced by seasonal British fruit and vegetables, and use as much local produce as possible, so the options change on a regular basis. Often including burgers, curries and Mexican fare, it is typical comfort food, but completely suited for the veggies and vegans amongst us. It also boasts a wide range of coffee and tea, and vegan desserts to die for. If you're veggie, don't miss The Warehouse!
Sport
Freshers' 2017
Your New £55 Million Sports Centre Harry Wilkinson Deputy Editor @harry_wilks
You freshers really don't know how jammy you are. For the last 5 years or so, UoB has always been building this new sports centre, announcing an opening date, delaying it, re-announcing, delaying it again before finally opening it in May. So don't take it for granted. As a whole, the place is pretty decent. As you walk in the first thing you see is a novice climbing wall, creating a dramatic entrance. On the top floor of the gym there is a variety of brand new, high-tech machines, mostly cardio machines like treadmills, crosstrainers and cycling machines. There are also plenty of resistance machines and a 'functional zone' with a cable machine, dumbbells and mats. The free weights area is very long but also narrow, hopefully with an adequate amount of space to meet the demands of peak times. For those interested, it has 8 Olympic lifting stations; a variety of benches; a long rack of dumbbells; 2 leg press machines; 1 seated barbell shoulder press station; 3 pull-up/cable stations; 1 quadruple cable station for lat pulldowns, seated rows etc; 1 dip/pull-up machine; 1 selfpowered treadmill; and a kettle-bell area. There's also a bowl of chalk next to the Olympic lifting stations, which is handy. As for changing rooms, the keyless lockers are pretty cool in the way they are secured by your wristband. However, the men's area is not the most private place to get changed. It's not a big problem, but some people
might be put off by that. The women's changing facilities are similar, but hold more cubicles for private use. The motion-sensor showers can also be a bit dodgy, but are perfectly usable. The new swimming pool had much attention over the course of the centre’s construction. It is 50.001 metres in length, with a boom that is used to separate it into two separate 25 metre pools when needs require. The reason the pool cannot be called Olympic-size is because it is narrower than Olympic specification. However, this is a detail that was intentionally incorporated into the design, because of the heightened demand and obligation that Olympic specification would place on the new sports centre to hold bigger events and galas. These high-profile events would in turn impede on the experience for regular customers, so not having them is in line with the centre’s emphasis on the University and local community gaining the most possible benefit from the facilities. The main sports hall in the centre is designed to be a multi-purpose venue for a large range of sports including badminton, basketball, and volleyball. It features 12 professional size badminton courts and bleacher seating to hold 781 spectators. To contribute to the versatility of the space, this seating is divided into three independent sections, as well as the hall being divisible into three as well. 1000 lux LED lighting means it will be able to host televised events without the need for additional lighting equipment to be brought in, with the energy usage of these lights being considered in line with the university’s green footprint policies. The vision for the future of the hall is
that all students will have access to it for specific events, such as some BUCS Wednesdays competitions, so that they can spectate and encourage greater all round support for sporting competitions at the university. Other features of the centre are the six squash courts, the dojo, and a variety of multi-purpose spaces and studios that can be used for group exercise classes and tournament offices for bigger events. The centre also gives you the opportunity to attend a range of 'heartpumping fitness classes', which can be discovered and booked on the sports centre website. These range from Zumba, 'Vive' and Body Attack, to spinning, pilates and yoga, offering something for everyone. There are dedicated rooms for each of these activities, including a large, mirrorred room for aerobic classes and a softfloored 'dojo' for holistic exercise. The work currently being carried out on the pitches at Bournbrook is a further investment in sport at the University of Birmingham. The old rugby pitch is being relayed with an all-weather 4G surface that will also be able to hold sports such as football, and the hockey pitches have been rotated through 90 degrees. The reason for this rotation is because of their current orientation as facing East to West rather than North to South, which is an issue in sunny conditions, especially for goalkeepers.. It is envisioned that the space this adjustment will create can play host to tennis courts between the hockey pitches and the rugby pitch, and it will soon have a new sports pavilion alongside as well.
Prices 12 Month Memberships
Peak
Off-Peak
Gym Swim Gym & Swim Gym & Squash Swim & Squash
£205 £205 £309 £252 £252
£137 £137 £206 £170 £170
9 Month Memberships
(only available to purchase between 18 Sep-31 Oct)
Saver Gym
£75
Saver Swim
£75
9am-2pm 9am-2pm
Off-Peak Gym & Swim £176 Facilities not available for off-peak members: Weekdays 11.30-13:30; 15:30-20:00 and Saturday 8:30-13:00
Meet Your Guild Sports Officer Helena Bailey
Guild of Students Sports Officer @Guild_Sports
Hi! I’m Helena, your Sports Officer at the Guild of Students. I’m thrilled to be the student voice of sports, working alongside both the Guild and UB Sport to encourage as many people to get involved in physical activity as possible this year! Over the summer I have been working on my action plan which I will carry out throughout the year. The first event I have planned is the 'This Brum Girl Can Night In' free sessions which take place every Saturday. These will be free sport taster sessions and exercise classes for all women and non-binary people which will run for 10 weeks throughout the first term. It will be a great opportunity for people
to try new activities and see what they would like to get involved in! I'm also very motivated to push for better welfare support in sport, especially in our sports clubs. I am working with Henny, our welfare officer at the guild. We want to push for a welfare position in every sports club in addition to planning a campaign on mental health - ‘Get the ball rolling’. It’s so important to reduce the stigma around mental health; through approaching sports clubs I think this is a great platform to reach out to lots of students, raise awareness and spread the word to look out for our friends and teammates. The sports day event is something I am really excited to plan this year. I am hoping to have this at the end of the academic year, in a true old school sports day style. Including the egg and
spoon race as well as sack racing, I’m hoping this will be a great way to engage with lots of people who aren’t necessarily already involved in sport, to come along and have fun - be it to take part or even just watch the day’s events unfold. Finally, another campaign I am hoping to run is around LGBTQ people in sports. The aim is to have all sports clubs wearing rainbow laces and have a universal rainbow themed sports night as well as a social media campaign around sports men and women who consider themselves part of the LGBTQ community. I truly want to make the most of the opportunity I have been given this year to represent what the students want. Please feel free to get in contact with me if you have any questions or ideas throughout the year!