Aliens do exist
Redbrick Film meet Simon Pegg and the cast of Paul Page 10
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The University of Birmingham's Student Newspaper since 1936
Friday 18th February 2011 Volume 75 | Issue 1385 redbrickonline.co.uk
What will Birmingham charge? Imperial confirms it will charge £9,000, Oxbridge likely to follow
Should convicted criminals get the vote? Pressure from the EU, anger from MPs which side do you lie on? Features, page 8
Watch This: The Lion King 48 hours to rehearse, ten days to learn lines, yet another hilarious 'Watch This presents...' Freddie Herzog & Tom Byrne Reporters
Signs are already emerging that most universities will raise fees above the £6,000 minimum from 2012 onwards, with Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial announcing that their fees will rise to the maximum of £9,000. Cambridge has said that it would be 'fiscally irresponsible' not to raise fees when its competitors would be. It also appears that it is not just the top three universities who will charge the maximum fee; most will and for several reasons. Imperial College's rector, Sir Keith O'Nions argues that the University is being forced to charge the maximum fees in order to 'maintain the excellence of the education' that they provide to their students. Firstly with the teaching grant being cut by 80%, universities estimate they need to charge at least £7,500 just to maintain their current income levels. Research intensive universities (such as the University of Birmingham) say that their 'standstill fee' is even higher if they are to
compensate for losses to research funding. Secondly, the maximum fee will be judged as a badge of quality as no university would want to be perceived as second rate by charging less. This lesson was learnt by the few universities who didn't charge the initial £3290 when the fee cap was raised back in 2002. As the NUS President Aaron Porter said to an audience of university advisors last week: 'Price will be set as a proxy for academic league table standings'. He also said: 'Prices are set on things like perceived prestige and also the desirability of the location, so the demand for London will hold up well despite the increase in fees.' Students may also feel that they are less employable if they have been to a university charging less than other institutions. The situation is worse for universities than it may first appear because of the so called 'claw back'. At a meeting last week between Nick Clegg and vice-chancellors, it emerged that the Treasury has modelled its future spending on average fees being £7,500, which
would mean the cost of funding student loans would be £3.6bn. However, if the average fees are anything more than £7,500 (as they are likely to be), the Treasury will be losing money on student finance. Where the problem lies for universities is that the Treasury would claw back any excess spending on student loans from university teaching grants; so if fees rise anything above £7,500 universities will be cut even further. While Cambridge may be leading the way in charging the maximum fee, it has also set out access plans in the form of a large waiver of £3,000 off the fee for students coming from households earning less than £25,000 per year. Students were said to be 'furious' about the waiver plan which would cut the present maximum bursary of £3,400 to £1,625 (excluding the fee waiver). President of the Student's Union at Cambridge's Sidney Sussex College Charlotte Binstead said: 'All the University has succeeded in doing is playing the game David Willetts asked of it: namely shifting the 'bursaries' so that they benefitted the Treasury's borrow-
ing figures instead of poor students' bank balances.' This news comes at the same time that government guidance has suggested that universities may be stripped of the power to charge fees above the minimum of £6,000 if they fail to submit sufficient student numbers from poorer backgrounds. Any institution wanting to charge higher fees than the minimum will have to negotiate an annual access agreement with the Office for Fair Access (Offa). Offa could impose a fine of up to £500,000 if the access agreement is broken. In a letter to Offa, David Willetts, Universities Minister, said: 'This is a valid and appropriate way for institutions to broaden access while maintaining excellence, so long as individuals are considered on their merits and institutions' procedures are fair, transparent and evidence based'. Despite this, additional government guidance says that universities can admit poorer students with lower grades than other candidates if they show potential.
Arts, page 11
Amazing comeback at Munrow
Men's football storm back from 2 down to win 7-2 Sport. page 27
Continued on Page 3
INSIDE RECIPE OF THE WEEK >> Page 23 | BAFTAS >> Page 10 | PICTURE OF THE WEEK >> Page 14 | TECHNOLOGY >> Page 17
2
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Redbrick Editorial Editor Samuel Lear Deputy Editors Victoria Shires Sam Langtree Online Editor Micaela Winter Treasurer Jonathan Craven Art Director Thomas Walters Chief Photographer Mike Roberts chiefphotographer@redbrickonline.co.uk Technical Director Jeremy Levett News Editors Helen Crane Glen Moutrie Anna Hughes news@redbrickonline.co.uk Features Editors Rosa McMahon Seb Mann features@redbrickonline.co.uk Film Editors Elmley de la Cour Matt Davis film@redbrickonline.co.uk Arts & Culture Editors Lexi Wilson James Reevell Alexander Blanchard arts@redbrickonline.co.uk Music Editors Will Franklin Charlie Bailey music@redbrickonline.co.uk Television Editors Natalie Timmins Joe McGrath Amber Alexander tv@redbrickonline.co.uk
University Highlight of the week
Food Editors Harriet Constable Dami Olugbode food@redbrickonline.co.uk
University of Birmingham Collections
The portrait of Abd el-Ouahed ben Messasud ben Mohammed Ancun – an Ambassador to Elizabeth I is a nationally significant piece of artwork in the University's collections. Painted to commemorate the visit of the King of Fez's embassy to London in 1600-1, according to expert Bernard Harris it provides 'ocular proof of what the Elizabethans saw as a Moor of rank'. Purchased by the University in 1956, it spent some time in storage due to the lack of an appropriate display environment, with a brief period on loan to the Tate Britain and on display in Jamestown Virginia as part of the centenary celebrations the painting has since resided in the appropriate setting of the new Shakespeare Institute based in the Elizabethan authors birthplace Stratford upon Avon. An important part of the University's cultural collections, this nationally important painting is definitely worth a look before it is lent to the British Museum later in the year.
Travel Editors Ed Gordon James Cull travel@redbrickonline.co.uk Sport Editors James Phillips Simon Hall sport@redbrickonline.co.uk Online Sport Editor Joseph Audley Technology Editors Stuart Gittings Manpreet Pangli technology@redbrickonline.co.uk Crossword Editor John Rizkallah
News feed
Courtesy of the University of Birmingham Research and Cultural Collections
Editorial Assistants Victoria Bull Rochelle Balach Laura Hewitt Vikki Jeff Will Hunter Kate Selvaratnam Online Editorial Assistants Charmaine Katz Becky Sibson Danielle Fox Sophie MurrayMorris Junior Art Directors Lauren Wheatley Jazzarie Lee Bethany Richardson Copy Editors Charlotte Goodwin Rosie Pearce Elsa Heath Anna Lumsden Rosamund Cox Sian Stanfield Olivia Wilson
Lifestyle Editors Briony Singh Rob Lewis lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk For meeting times find us on facebook or email section editors.
Designed and typeset by Redbrick. Copyright (C) Redbrick 2011 Redbrick strives to uphold the NUJ Code of Conduct. 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. To contact us: Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TU 0121 251 2462 editor@redbrickonline.co.uk www.redbrickonline.co.uk Redbrick is printed through www.quotemeprint. com: 08451 300667. Advertising: Contact Aimee Fitzpatrick in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524 or
Redbrick
18th February 2011
POLITICS
EDUCATION
Welsh fee minimum to be £2,000 lower
ENTERTAINMENT
Coldplay headline act at Glastonbury Coldplay will play the main Pyramid Stage on Saturday 25 June at Worthy Farm, Pilton. Beyonce has also been announced as Sunday headliner by her record company and it's rumoured U2 will perform after having to pull out last year. ECONOMY
Inflation rate rises to 4% The UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) annual inflation rate rose to 4% in January, up from 3.7% in December, as the effects of the VAT rise were felt. The figure is the highest since November 2008, and will put pressure on the Bank of England to lift interest rates to curb inflation.
Basic university tuition fees in Wales will be £2,000 lower than in England, it has been announced. Education Minister Leighton Andrews has opted for a basic fee level of £4,000, rather than the £6,000 which will apply over the border. From next year the upper fee limit will be £9,000, as in England. BIRMINGHAM
Student takes to the street to find her valentine After being dumped by her boyfriend Steve on Valentine's Day, Janie Brown, a 20-yearold History student at Birmingham, put together a 3ft sandwich board reading 'Be my Valentine' and stood beside a busy main road hoping to find love. In doing this she caught the attention of the local and national media as well as an 'italian stallion'.
Berlusconi facing underage sex charges Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi will stand trial in April on charges of paying for sex with an under-age prostitute and abuse of power. Mr Berlusconi denies paying for sex with Karima El Mahroug when she was 17. He also rejects claims that he abused his power by seeking her release when she was detained in another case. THAILAND
World record for longest kiss broken A Thai couple has sealed a new record for the longest kiss at 46 hours and 24 minutes. Husband and wife team Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat were one of 14 couples taking part in the contest in Pattaya. The pair won a diamond ring worth 50,000 baht (£1,016) and a 100,000 baht (£2,032) cash prize.
Stats of the week
101
130,000,000
the number of complaints received by the BBC about new children's programme Rastamouse
the number of tweets Twitter carries daily
13,000
38
the amount of money in pounds a boss has paid in compensation after 'humiliating' an employee who stole from him
the amount of soldiers who were recently sacked via email
Letter from the editor Samuel Lear A product of the post-Thatcher era has definitely been the prominence of 'choice', and maximising choices available to us. It has been fed to us that choice is good for us, and has faced little opposition until Richard Thaler's book Nudge, who proposed that too much choice can severely impact on our decision-making, and how it is human nature to avoid making difficult decisions when it can be avoided. It is a debate that has popped up on the University's website, which reflects how choice links in with the Government's ideological mission to bring about the 'Big Society', and how our short-termist behaviour needs to be 'nudged' in order to make good choices.
'The proposed cuts... could potentially damage us irreparably' However, there are times where choice is not available to us at all. This week, it has been revealed that Redbrick could be facing drastic cuts to be implemented forthwith. Unfortunately, the scale of these cuts has not been resolved as yet, and the speed with which this process has been taken is, in my mind, quite alarming. I challenge the Guild to place a value on our student newspaper. We are not here as a matter of fun, it has become our livelihoods. It has been our mission to 'represent the student body and its concerns', and to hold enterprises to account. The proposed cuts will seriously infringe on our ability to do that, and could potentially damage us irreparably. If you can spare the time, please speak up on behalf of our student newspaper – a real principle is at stake.
Top 5 Award cock-ups: Glamour Awards 2010: Sir Patrick Stewart insulted James Corden and his belly whilst Corden waited for the punchline... VMAs 2009: Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, saying that Beyoncé should have won her award. Brit Awards 1996: Jarvis Cocker mounted the stage in protest during Michael Jackson's performance of Earth Song. Brit Awards 2000: After a series of public spats, Robbie Williams challenged Liam Gallagher to a fight. Baftas 2011: Rosamund Pike was baffled by the auto-cue and then proceeded to nearly announce the winner before the nominations.
Redbrick
News 3
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes
Peace activist Dr Dahlia Wasfi speaks on University American relations with the Middle East Watch Edwina Moorhouse Senior Reporter
To a packed lecture theatre in the Arts building on Tuesday night, Friends of Palestine hosted a talk by Dr Dahlia Wasfi on 'American Intervention in the Middle East.' The American peace activist had already spoken at various UK universities and finished her short tour with Birmingham, mentioning that she had had to alter her presentation and content to suit her British audiences. In what was both an informative and well researched presentation, Dr Wasfi focused on American and British involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, with some brief discussion on Israel. She began by stating that 'intervention' is actually 'interference', and that this goes against the right that every people has to self-determination. Wasfi claimed that 'the global media circus has made us incredibly dumbed down' and there is still a tendency to cling onto old colonial ideas such as the use of 'Middle East' which she pointed out should actually be 'Western Asia.'
Dr Wasfi brought a personal element to the talk in her discussion of her own heritage and family in Iraq. Born to an 'Arab Muslim father and European Jewish mother' she described herself as '100 per cent Semite' and recounted her youth, travelling back and forth between the U.S and Iraq. Dr. Wasfi spent part of her childhood living in Iraq under Saddam Hus-
The global media circus has made us incredibly dumbed down sein. She returned to the US at age 5, earned her B.A. in Biology from Swarthmore College in 1993 and completed a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. She talked at length about her father's experiences in Iraq, in-
cluding his time at Baghdad University where he received his PhD. Dr Wasfi testified in the Iraq Forum of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Third International Iraq conference in Berlin in regards to civilian life after visiting family in Iraq in 2004 and 2006. It was civilian life and the treatment of women and children that formed the bulk of the talk, with specific references made to the Gulf War economic sanctions throughout the 1990s and the Unicef reports in 1995 and 1997 condemning these actions and their consequences. She also discussed corporate slavery, labour abuse and the UK's 'illegal occupation' in Iraq through companies such as Armor Group International PLC. Her talk was concluded with the motivational lines 'I encourage you to follow your hearts and find your passion, and not just in politics.' Afterwards, Wasfi took time to answer questions and receive comments from the audience on topics as widespread as Christian fundamentalism, peacekeeping and
the current 'puppet' Iraqi Government. For more information visit www.liberatethis.com.
Edinburgh Based on its long standing ties with India, the University of Edinburgh has opened a new liaison office in Mumbai. The aim of the office is to simplify communication between the university and partners in Indian education, government and business.
alice4paz on flickr
Science degree applications fall Fee hike Kerrina Gray Reporter
The Royal Society has called for a dramatic overhaul to the A Level system in order to stop the decline in students taking science and maths in higher education. Following the publishing of their fourth report, The Royal Society has expressed great concern at the UK's lack of science gradu-
Sciences students are in short supply
ates, which is far below the amount needed in the UK for higher education and industry. The report shows that only 3 per cent of students leave university with a degree in maths or pure science and of last year's 300,000 graduates, just 10,000 studied chemistry, physics, biology or maths. There are particular concerns about physics, with 17 per cent of English sixth forms and
Glen Moutrie
colleges not entering a single candidate for the subject. The Society have called this a 'crisis' and are asking the Department for Education to seriously consider a broader Baccalaureate-style A-Level which would allow students to study science and maths alongside as many as six other subjects. The Baccalaureate-style of A Level is currently seen widely across Europe and this may explain the UK's slip down the international table for science and maths. Schools minister Nick Gibb said 'As other countries make vast improvements in science and maths education, the UK continues to fall down international league tables and we now languish at 27th in the world for maths, and 16th for science.' Professor Athene Donald, chair of the Royal Society education committee, said: 'At a time of economic uncertainty, when science and scientists can play a key role in revitalising the UK's financial outlook, it is deeply worrying to find that numbers of A-level science students are at such low levels.'
REDBRICK
Continued from page 1 Speaking on Radio 4's Today program, Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said 'I would be very wary of targets, quotas and fines. It would be unfair to punish universities for a problem elsewhere in the education system'. Paul Wellings, the chairman of the 1994 group of Universities and Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, went further by saying: 'Laying down crude targets will do nothing to aid social mobility'. Asked if he would still be at Birmingham if fees were raised over £6,000, first year Ancient History student Lucy Cooper said: 'I wouldn't be here. I am struggling as it is. Currently the loan barely covers accommodation. I don't think a lot of people would be here'. A University spokesperson said: 'The Office of Fair Access is due to give formal guidance to universities on fair access under the new fees structure. 'Once we have this information and a fair access agreement is in place, we will be able to make a decision about what we will charge. This is likely to be summer 2011'
Yale The Yale University Glee Club celebrated its 150th birthday last weekend in front of a large audience in their Woolsey Hall. The club began in 1861 as a 13 man choir and now has an 80 voice chorus of men and women. The TV hit Glee is believed to have originated from the Yale Club.
Bristol The University of Bristol's American Football team, 'Bristol Barracuda', has won a national award from the British Universities American Football League, the largest university competition for American football in Europe.
Nottingham Scientists at the University of Nottingham have combined science and romance with a new fragrance called 'Mendeleev's Dream'. The fragrance is laced with Vanillin for the essence of ice cream, Cinnamaldehyde for cinnamon, Citronellol to produce the scent of lemons and Theobromine, an extract of cocoa.
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Durham Rowers from the University of Durham have broken the record for rowing across the Atlantic. Team Hallin rowed from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean in 31 days, 23 hours and 31 minutes. The previous record for crossing east to west was just over 33 days. Freddie Herzog
4 News This week in statistics
6
3
The number of months that gossip website for school children 'Little Gossip' lasted after criticism from antibullying charities
The number of years the video games company Activision has published Guitar Hero before announcing it is to be axed
Coventry school plagued by cameras Ryan Jones
Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes
95m
The amount it will cost to convert the Olympic Stadium into a venue suitable for West Ham to take over as their new stadium
Senior Reporter
Freddie Herzog Brother Watch, a campaign which is concerned with 'fighting intrusions on privacy and protecting liberties.' It's Campaign Director, Daniel Hamilton, said in relation to the Coventry school that 'CCTV should be used sparingly to help solve serious crimes, not to watch school children going about their day.'
18
The number of days the Egyptian protestors needed to force former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak out of office
British students least likely to study abroad across Europe Caroline Mortimer
Reporter
Coventry students at Stoke Park School and Community Technology College are being watched by a total of one hundred and twelve CCTV cameras. Information, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, has attracted concern from human liberty and privacy groups, who argue that the sheer number of cameras are unnecessary and infringes upon both the privacy of students and teachers alike. In all, the Coventry school has 79 CCTV cameras inside the school buildings and 33 outside in the school premises. Such surveillance may appear excessive to some, however the school points out that its own respective school council was involved in the discussion process prior to the initial CCTV approval. One such group from which criticism has come from is Big
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18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
According to a report published in the Times Higher Education Guide, British students are the less likely in Europe to study at a foreign university. The findings of the Academic Cooperation Association suggest that only one in twenty British students will choose to attend a non-British university compared to the next lowest performers Belgium and Sweden, with a ratio of one in three. The reasons for the UK having the worst 'outbound-inbound student ratio' in Europe are put down to a lack of language fluency and a fear that 'academic inflexibility' will affect their overall degree. The UK Higher Education Unit recently admitted that international recognition of qualifications has not improved in the past few years, with more than fifty per cent of students having difficulty
when moving countries. 'There is a perception that (this) hasn't gone far enough or quickly enough,' said Callista Thillou, interim head of the UK HE International and Europe unit. Despite this, several European countries have a target of having at least twenty per cent international students at their universities by 2020 with 74 per cent of UK universities hiring staff to accommodate and encourage this transition. However, despite some European universities like Maastricht University in the Netherlands offering undergraduate courses in English, 93 per cent of European courses are not taught in English, meaning British students who choose not to learn a second language past Key Stage 3 or even GCSE level in school are at a noticeable disadvantage. Simon Sweeney, lecturer in International Political Economy and Business at the University of
York says that students are reluctant to take part in exchanges due to the belief 'that to engage requires fluency in a foreign language.' With UK graduate employment at approximately one in five and more than 210,000 current sixth form students left without a university place according to UCAS, David Willets, Coalition Minister for Universities, believes that students should be made more aware of how studying abroad makes them more attractive to employers saying, 'We know that it meets a real gap in the market and (addresses) a frustration that employers have.' He also denied claims that the new stricter controls on student visas would reduce the numbers of students studying in the UK, particularly in below degree level courses. 'Mainstream universities with mainstream students wishing to come and study here are not the target that we have in our sights.'
Selly Oak pubs on University of Birmingham Students
Redbrick asked Birmingham students: Which Selly Oak pub is your favourite?
Freddie Herzog Reporter
A common view of students is that they spend most of their time in the pub or out in night-clubs. While there is clearly more to do for students in Birmingham than go out drinking, good places to socialise are often a high priority for prospective students. Selly Oak is certainly not short of pubs and three, The Goose, The Soak and Gun Barrels are all in close proximity and of the University (of course as many students will know there are many more in Selly Oak alone). While this may be good for students what do the actual pubs think of the students?
Have you ever had any bad associations with the University? The Soak: Gareth at The Soak said that he had had a few experiences of 'rowdy and sometimes obnoxious behaviour' from university students, but was keen to point out that they The Goose & The Gun Barrels: Both pubs were very approving of the behaviour of the students who visited them.
The Soak
The Goose
The Gun Barrels
Would you and this pub be here if it wasn't for students?
Do you like being branded a 'student pub'?
How badly did the recession hit you?
The Soak:
The Soak:
The Soak:
Gareth Joiner from The Soak believed that area provides enough business so if the university wasn't there it would still be strongly supported by its local regulars. The Goose:
The Soak was undecided on being a student pub as Gareth supported the positives of students having a large disposable income but also accepted that perhaps the local regulars were offended by the large number of students sometimes dominating the pub.
Gareth from the Soak said that the recession had actually aided them and had enabled a complete renovation to take place recently. He said again that the disposable income of students was a big help to them.
Rachel Heaven said that The Goose strongly relies on its local custom base but does appreciate the extra income provided by the university students. It was interesting to note that Rachel is a student at the university studying Heritage Management so work at The Goose is a useful income base for her.
Rachel did not see The Goose as a student pub and 'more of an 'old man' pub' but had noticed that the students who did visit tended to be international students.
The Gun Barrels:
The Goose was again not affected by the recession but Rachel did point out that the refit of the Soak had lost them some custom, especially from students, but that the local client base had remained faithful to them.
The Gun Barrels:
Gun Barrels provided a rather different point of view. Sharidon Knight believed that they would not exist without the university and this may be because of their immediate proximity to the university gates.
The Gun Barrels:
Sharidon agreed with Gareth that the students obviously provided a large proportion of Gun Barrels' income but that they might offend the few regular locals they do have.
Sharidon at Gun Barrels did not think that the recession had had much of an effect; only that slightly less food sales were noticed last year but that this was picking up again now.
The Goose:
Emily Sidlow Sports and Exercise Science, 2nd year 'The Soak, it has a really nice chilled atmosphere.'
The Goose:
Alex Miller Tate Philosophy and Politics, 1st year 'The Bristol Pear does a good open mic night, but I like The Gunbarrels best.' Laura Frost
News 5
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes
Ryan Jones
6
The number of people who tragically died at Cork Airport after a Manx2 flight from Belfast crashed upon landing
103,219 The attendance at the 45th US Super Bowl in the Cowboys Stadium, Texas between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers
7
The number of awards The King's Speech won at the Baftas, including Best Film and Best Actor for Colin Firth
Sources of University income for the last five years
1.7
The percentage that house prices are expected to fall by in 2011, due to weaker household earning power
'Super-University' to form in Wales Thomas Byrne Reporter
Glen Moutrie News Editor
This graph shows the change in the sources of income for the University over the last five academic years. The largest source of income is
from grants from Funding Councils HEFCE and TDA. This, for the most part, represents the income from British tax income, which is due to fall as the coalition's austerity measures take place. It is also worth noting the in-
crease in income from overseas tuition fees from the period 2007/08 and 2008/09. The data is sourced from the University Accounts, made public by the University of Birmingham.
An agreement to form a new 'super-university' in Wales, which will consist of three currently independent institutions, was finalised last week. The plan will see the merger of Swansea Metropolitan University, University of Wales Institute Cardiff and Trinity Saint David in Carmarthen into what will become the University of Wales. University of Wales, Newport and Glyndwr University, Wrexham may join the aforementioned institutions that will be forming the 'super-university' at a later date. These additions would make the new university the biggest in Wales. The merged university will be lead jointly by Professor Marc Clement, who is the current vicechancellor of the University of Wales, and Professor Medwin Hughes, the current vice-chancellor of Trinity Saint David. Professor Hughes stated that 'this is a radical step which bridges educational boundaries and delivers the minister's vision of providing a joined up approach to the planning of further and higher education across Wales.'
Previously, the University of Wales has history as a federal body with colleges in Bangor, Aberystwyth, Swansea and Cardiff. However these colleges have increasingly become more independent in recent years.
Crys on flickr Apologies to Thomas Byrne for not being credited to last issue's 'Student Voice' on University entry requirements.
Pakistan village Kent University research into renamed 'Midlands' procrastination and technology
BBC website Caroline Mortimer Senior Reporter
A Walsall based charity was given an unexpected honour last week when a Pakistan village was renamed 'Midlands' in recognition of £113,000 raised as relief aid for the devastating summer floods. Approximately 20 million people were thought to be affected and 1500 killed by severe flooding this year with reconstruction oncoming including the village of Lal Pir, now named Midlands, which could still only be reached by boat in August according the charity's
founder, Mohammed Aslam MBE. Mr Aslam, 71, and originally from the Kashmir region, founded the Midland International Aid Trust travelled to the region to oversee how the money raised is being spent. With the cash raised, the village was able to rebuild all 36 houses at a cost of £2000 each. One villager told the BBC 'We were in trouble when this was flooded. Then Midland came and provided us many things, now we are happy, we are confident that we can start our life.' Charities such as the Midland International Aid Trust have provided a lifeline by providing targeted aid to the most remote areas of Pakistan where alleged governmental corruption makes food distribution difficult. The government recently admitted to withholding £50m of aid so they can evaluate the best ways to spend the money despite claims from Rohi TV, a Pakistani TV channel, that they pledged to rebuild 40 villages. Similarly, the international relief charity based in Small Heath, Islamic Relief, is working on 100 villages and repairing water channels.
Laura Frost Reporter
Academics at the University of Kent have undertaken research into whether or not Blackberrys, iPhones and other forms of 'instant' technology are beginning to have a too bigger influence on people's lives. Ulrich Weger, a senior lecturer in psychology at Kent, is leading the research. He has commented that he has also been looking at his own procrastination methods to see how technology is affecting his lifestyle and work ethic. He comments that one of the only assertive ways to prevent becoming addicted to checking your emails or phone is to develop a certain level of self control, instead of constantly using your Blackberry because of the ease it provides to communicate. A first year English Literature and Language student Pharrell Baker said 'I wasn't so dependent on technology until I got a Blackberry. I think one of the reasons why I use my phone so much is because it gives me incredibly easy access to Facebook and the internet in general, which I never
used to have before.' Becki Luscombe, first year Music student, said 'I'm always anxious that I'm missing out on something if I don't check my phone on a regular basis, in case I have a new update on Facebook or if I receive a text message.' Pharrell Baker said that sometimes he thought he would see a red light flash in the corner of his eye, which would normally mean he had received a new message. However, sometimes there were no new updates on his phone. Researchers at the University of Kent have suggested that making work 'place productive', by physically turning away from distractions, can eliminate procrastination. This could include turning a desk to face the wall instead of a window or to remove a mobile phone from the work area. Researchers also suggested that if each individual was to choose a simple imagined object in their mind, which they can constantly picture every time they feel they are about to be distracted, it can help them to stop procrastinating so much and instead aid them to focus on the task at hand.
However, Alex Miller Tate, first year philosophy and politics student, said 'I have an iPhone, however I am not on it constantly, and that is despite everything it has to offer.' Becki Luscombe said that she didn't think 'these advancements in technology should necessarily be seen as a bad thing.'
Poll
Laura Frost asked 100 students: Are you addicted to your mobile phone?
6 redbrickonline.co.uk
18th February 2011
Comment & Features Editorial Seb Mann
Comment and Features Editor
Student journalism
The world of student journalism isn't very professional. It's no secret that stereotypes, though often misleading, do sometimes highlight generally pervasive traits and the 'student' stereotype is no exception. In my experience, the 'student' in 'student journalism' successfully denotes an (at times) worrying reliance on alcohol; an unashamed leftwing bias; and that tendency to leave things so late that even taking a deep breath feels like a guilty pleasure. Many stare purposefully down their noses at the brazen face of student journalism precisely for these reasons, unswervingly safe in the knowledge that if it were worth reading they could find it somewhere else. But this attitude blithely ignores the fact that an object's value or worth cannot simply be quantified in terms of the sense in which it is professional or entirely intellectual. The relevance of a hackneyed stereotype may satisfy some but it incontrovertibly misses the point. Everyone has views – on politics, fashion, music, sport – even if that view is that they couldn't care less, and Redbrick may bear the unenviable marks of a student newspaper but that doesn't make its content any less valuable or pertinent. Student journalism coincides with an adolescent realisation that what you think matters. It represents part of the facet of liberal democracy concerned with freedom of speech and while, of course, some writers are better than others, student journalism has the capacity to access (and indeed go beyond) every nook and cranny of that which is student. I'm not talking about just this particular newspaper, or indeed any student newspaper. Student journalism can encompass blogs, websites, and even, for the most part, social resources like Twitter – anything which can provide a platform for the vibrantly minded to speak, be heard, and then maybe realise they've got it wrong. Impressive new website, britainsnextgeneration.com, which showcases some of the best student and young-adult orientated journalism, launches with the tagline 'Our future, our ideas', underscoring the value of this kind of journalism as a mouthpiece for the voices of those who will 'inevitably help to shape the future of Britain'. And before anyone criticises me for being indulgently self-promoting: what would be the point in me doing this if I didn't think it was worthwhile? If you think you have something to say, get in touch at features@redbrickonline.co.uk or search Redbrick Comment and Features on Facebook.
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The sexist and homophobic doctrine of the Catholic Church cannot be tolerated In the light of the Sky sexism row, Matt Flatman reflects on society's double standards towards gender equality
T
he Church of England is currently bracing itself in anticipation of further defection from Bishops and followers to the Catholic Church. This migration from its ranks is in response to the CoE's refusal to alter its permissive stance on the ordination of women and gay bishops. The actions of these defectors are motivated by the thought that Catholicism will not change its position on such issues in any hurry. It must be said that, as assumptions go, this one is pretty safe. The Catholic Church is after all an institution that has become almost synonymous with conservativism and traditionalism. This old-fashioned sort of orthodoxy seems entirely incongruous in the context of the post-sexist-banter-gate world in which we now live. The news that a couple of gormless football pundits had been blurting out misogynistic slurs on air may not seem to be that relevant to the postures of the Catholic Church. It could prove to be though, with the Sky Sports sexism story looking increasingly like an improbable defining moment for our society. The coverage inescapable and the reactionary uproar was unanimous. Now, admittedly, targets don't get much easier, with Keys and Gray practically casting themselves as the old-school chauvinist types. Moreover, bandwagons don't get much more accommodating. The story's lengthy exposure and feckless 'villains' gave all manner of onlookers the opportunity
to slate a couple of bigots and feel good about themselves. Even Rio Ferdinand chimed in, branding the Sky Sports duo's comments 'prehistoric'. So perhaps all this could represent a watershed, a moment in which the country reached agreement in its contempt for two football pundits; a moment which seemed to demonstrate that our society does not tolerate discrimination. This is all well and good, but maybe we should take some perspective here. The influence of Gray and Keys is, to say the least, limited. Any respect that they once boasted would have been confined to the realms of football. Their punditry and prejudice would have been restricted to an audience of those football fans that happened to have tuned into Sky Sports for about 2 hours of game coverage at a time. Certainly this doesn't absolve them, but it is worth remembering that these are these are two men who get paid to talk football. Ultimately, their influence in the field of gender equality, or pretty much anything other than talking football, is going to be limited. Compare this to Catholicism, a religion followed by over 1.1 billion people worldwide. That amounts to almost a sixth of the globe's population whose lives are defined by a creed so archaic that it still condemns the use of condoms, objectively considers homosexuality a disorder and advocates sexual abstinence as a solution to the AIDS crisis in Africa. If we are really so adamant about condemning sexism in sport, then maybe we should extend that
zero tolerance further. Perhaps, say, we should clamp down on harmful and regressive ideologies within global religious institutions. However, condemnation was evidently not the tactic of choice last year when the country effectively welcomed in Catholicism with open arms. The Pope's £12m UK tour last year was hailed by our Prime Minister as 'incredibly important' and subsidised entirely by
3.95 million Total daily viewership of the Sky Sports channels Broadcasters' Audience Research Board
1.166 billion Worldwide membership of the Catholic Church the British taxpayer. This reveals a clear double standard. Of course, the circumstances were somewhat different. Benedict XVI didn't come over and utter any sexist comments on prime-time, pre-watershed TV, but the man is the figurehead of a religion in which misogyny and homophobia are practically insti-
tutionalised. Such postures in our modern society should certainly be deemed prehistoric. In light of all this, it would seem to be good news that the Catholic Church is finally attempting to reinvent itself and embrace modernity. They have launched Confession: A Roman Catholic App, an application that is essentially a virtual guided walkthrough of the confession ritual. The manufacturers claim that the product somehow offers a 'personalised examination of conscience for each user'. Surprisingly, the application has already been sanctioned by the American Catholic Church, although the Vatican is still slightly dubious about the whole thing. Such scepticism is understandable really. The App seems like entirely the wrong facet of modern culture for a religion to embrace. Catholicism doesn't need iConfessions or e-Mass; it doesn't need to wheel out the Pope on Twitter or Facebook. These sorts of gimmicks won't gloss over years of sexual repression, misogyny and homophobia. If anything, Catholicism should reassess and modernise an ideology that is becoming increasingly incompatible with the modern society. As implausible as it seems, I think the Catholic Church would actually benefit from some of Richard Keys' newfound insight and self-awareness. In an interview in the wake of the media frenzy, Keys enjoyed a rare moment of clarity, confessing that he and Gray had 'failed to change when everything was changing around us'.
Comment & Features 7
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
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Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann
Many political figures are Oxbridge educated, so what does it mean for social class, and more importantly, meritocracy? Ali Hendy Commentator
Recent discussion surrounding class has been often accompanied by the depressing conclusion that meritocracy is in downward spiral. According to Word Magazine, the music industry is now largely the preserve of stage-school debutantes and moneyed, privately educated networkers. More importantly, politics has become the domain of the posh and the privileged – or so we are told by Andrew Neil's recent BBC documentary Posh and Posher: Why Public School Boys Rule Britain. The thesis of the programme is lent authority in the plummy words of wealthy Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Morgan, who, upon being questioned about the disproportionate number of privately schooled MPs, replied in perfect received pronunciation: 'I am a man of the people. Vox populi, vox dei'. The 'people' being only the Latin-literate populace, then. Laying aside Neil's self-indulgence, Cribs-style house tour and self-portrayal as a man made through 'ability and ambition', he makes a forceful case for the programme title's claim. Over half of the current Cabinet attended fee-
paying schools, compared to only 7 per cent of the population. Indeed, 100 MPs read at University of Oxford and, of course, this would be demonstrative of a meritocratic slog, if it were also taken to be true that Oxford is open to all. This private-school patterning is most surprising when considered in the context of Downing Street's history; from 1964 to 1997 the Prime Minister's post was occupied by the efforts of the state education system. However, in the present government Cameron, Clegg and Osbourne were all educated in the country's most elite institutions. In the shadow cabinet, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper and both of the Milibands all studied the same PPE course at the University of Oxford. The social pool from which British politicians are selected is retracting tightly around the privileged members of the upper-middle class. The formula for success always seemed fair and simple enough: 'Education+Effort=Career Prospects', and yet the secret elements required – a buzzing social network and an indefinable sense of entitlement – are fairly difficult to attain when they are off-thecurriculum subjects taught only in institutions such as Eton and Westminster which charge fees
equivalent to the national average wage. The point is that most individuals are fated to forgo a political career at the first toddle. Education is vastly stratified with current statistics showing that one third of privately schooled students receive 3 'A' grades at A level, compared to 7.5 per cent at comprehensives. In his documentary, Andrew Neil focuses on the decline of the grammar school as a main factor in crippling the upward social mobility of the working and lower-middle classes. This was, until the late 60s, considered a middle-ground between the non-selective state school system and it's aggressively competitive and highly selective private counterpart. The worry is that the gentrification of politics is the result of the post-grammar school generation. But to consider a return to the tripartite system, is to welcome back the brutal streaming of the 11+, and the extreme alienation of those children who do not meet its demands. The country went non-selective for good reasons. Rather than being a simple debate about class representation, it is instead increasingly clear that the upper echelons of power and influence are in the hands of an academic elite. But with higher
education becoming exponentially more competitive, secondary education is definitive to a child's ability to clamber up the class ladder. Even worse, current heightened emphasis on the necessity for work experience has further skewed the odds against those who lack nepotistic connections. In line with opposing, existent beliefs that the class divide is widening, and that class no longer exists, the BBC has just released The Great British Class Survey. This is an interactive commission with the intent to 'interview the country', who appear to 'know' what it is, and yet class still holds
Andrew Neil: Posh and Posher
something of a mythical quality. It seeks to approach the difficulties of class semantics, unearthing perceptions of social mobility, and demystifying what it means to be class-categorised in contemporary society. One of the main outcomes of the investigation is to discover whether class is still relevant to 21st Century society; the answer to this will undoubtedly be a painful yes. This may be a cynical conclusion but the upper echelons are a gated community and if you're not mates with Cameron, the Head of Eton, or Noah and the Whale, accept your fate on the outside.
BBC
Dyslexia is a disability, and £285 is too Bankers are two-a-penny, high a cost to pay to prove it but footballers are unique Kerrina Gray Commentator
Each year more and more people prove they have dyslexia and receive invaluable help with their higher education. However proving dyslexia comes at a high cost to students and without this proof many may be missing out on the vital evidence they need to prove their learning disability and receive the help they are entitled to. The University of Birmingham requires those who expect they have dyslexia to prove their condition via two tests. There is a free screening test which gives an initial indication, followed by a meeting with an independent Educational Psychologist. The second assessment costs £285 for all students, and the University offers a blanket £50 contribution for every student undertaking this test. No one has ever looked into how many people have decided against this test due to the cost. However I would consider it to be a high number, £285 (even £235 with the £50 funding) is an incredibly high amount of money for a student who may just have no money to spare. This will seem like an unnecessary risk to some; those who have never been proven dyslexic but have recent suspicions that they might be, could see the £285 test as a risk they can't afford to take. Of course, if the test proves they are not dyslexic, they will never see any return on that initial cost. As dyslexia affects reading, spelling and memory, many people may be struggling through university and ultimately affecting their final degree classification because they can't afford the test. Of course it may just be money a student doesn't have, even if they know they are dyslexic because they have previously been proven
so at school. In modern Britain with the disability and equal rights act of 2010, it is shocking to think that help with a disability is based on financial means. Once the test has proven dyslexia, help awaits. The DSA provides 16,000 new university students each year with the means to help them be successful in their studies. Dyslexics at this university can receive extra time in exams, special computer software, a free dictaphone and one on one time with a trained professional. The government too has recently invested more money into dyslexia, and rightly so. The Dyslexia Institute has previously reported that undiagnosed dyslexia costs the UK economy £1billion a year (which is £2.75million a day) due to hidden costs to the welfare system. Undiagnosed dyslexics are proven more likely to be excluded from school, unemployed and imprisoned. The report even went as far to say that undiagnosed dyslexics could earn £50,000 less over their lifetime and be more likely to have health problems. Surely with findings such as these, the government and university should be making the test available to all who are suspected of having dyslexia. After all, dyslexia does not affect intelligence, dyslexics in fact have a higher than average IQ, and so should not affect degree classification. However dyslexia, a disability which affected Albert Einstein, Sir Richard Branson and Leonardo Da Vinci, is still perceived in a negative light. There are those cynics who claim it is not a 'real' disability and even those who claim dyslexia can be faked. Perhaps negative opinions such as these make it allowable for professionals who are supposed to help those with a disability to charge extortionate rates.
Caroline Mortimer Commentator
In modern Britain with the disability and equal rights act of 2010, it is shocking to think that help with a disability is based on financial means
Famous dyslexia As the University requires this test, the psychologist can effectively set his price, and he has decided to set it at over £100 an hour. This is just one example of the hidden costs of having a disability and in a society which claims to be 'tolerant' and 'inclusive', surely everyone should be able to get the help they deserve?
The recent banking crisis has once again resuscitated the old argument about how much footballers and the like are getting paid ten times the amount as a nurse or teacher. But, although bankers don't deserve such bloated rewards for failure, maybe top end footballers need to be rewarded for success. We would all like to live in a world where financial reward could feasibly be judged by an individual's contribution to society but, realistically, we have to pay attention to the way the economy works and, unfortunately, this affects the way society is ordered. A nurse may deserve £70,000 a year but are you going to pay for it? The worse part of the bankers being paid such ridiculous amounts is that the taxpayer is partly footing the bill when they haven't contributed anything meaningful to society or the economy. Footballers, however, are the pivotal part of a private industry. What they earn may be ridiculous but it is funded entirely by private shareholders and they should therefore be paid according to what the shareholders think they're worth. It doesn't cost the public the same and the particularly talented players probably bring in twice as much revenue as they are paid. The big name players bring in revenue through the sale of football strips and season tickets much in the same way a famous singer will draw a crowd to a club. Therefore demand for these players is higher making them worth more than a nurse or a teacher in business terms. It maybe be unfair but it's unavoidable. Then of course there is the problem of scarcity. There may be
hundreds of Fred Goodwins but there is only one Wayne Rooney. Banking is a harder industry to go into with long hours, stress and the prospect of national vilification, when compared with the relative ease of life as a footballer. But the latter's careers are much shorter, maybe 10 or 15 years if they are lucky enough to avoid injury and, notwithstanding that footballers generally aren't the brightest of bulbs, it takes a certain type of skill which not many people possess despite however many people try. Of course being a banker requires a lot of skill but I'd reckon that a lot of people going through university at the moment could do pretty well at it. When it comes to footballers they a have much more legitimate claim to higher wages because they are unique. With bankers there are plenty more waiting in the wings who don't expect to take other people's money for no good reason. So what can we do about inequality? Unfortunately wage disparity is inevitable but government intervention can help to redress the balance through high taxation and the welfare state. There is an economic argument that if you tax income above a certain point there is less incentive for people to earn more if its just going to be taken away. However, ten per cent of £1 million is a lot more than eighty per cent of £40,000. People will always strive to get to the top but only the lucky few will succeed because they have the unique attributes required. It may not be fair but its reality and so instead of demanding an overhaul of the economic system based on admirable but misguided logic we should be making sure that the privileged understand their responsibility to look after the disadvantaged.
8 Comment & Features
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18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann
THE DEBATE:
Should prisoners get the vote? Last Friday 234 MPs ruled to stop prisoners from voting in prison, despite the European Court's pressure to give the vote. Here two writers discuss the issues surrounding the contentious debate.
No
Yes Neil Chanchlani Commentator
Last week saw the MP vote on whether or not United Kingdom prisoners should be allowed to vote in a general or European election. It was determined that they shouldn't, and rightly so. No matter how you spin it, we're asking for those who have shown themselves unable to abide by the laws and rules to which the rest of the public adhere, to be given equal rights and liberties as the non-law breakers. But isn't that one of the main allowances of imprisonment? To remove from those who have shown unable to function in society the privileges and freedoms to which a normal citizen is entitled? David Davis, former Tory leadership contender, summed it up best when he explained to MPs that, 'The general point is very clear in this country – that is that it takes a pretty serious crime to get yourself sent to prison. And as a result you have broken the contract with society to such a serious extent that you have lost all of those rights – your liberty and your right to vote. So it is not unjust. Every citizen knows the same level of crime which costs them their liberty, costs them their vote'.
I'm not an expert interpreter, and I'm not going to lie and say I read every protocol of the ECHR, but from my understanding, although it mentions in Article 5 that everyone has the right to liberty, that clause is subject to lawful arrest or detention under certain other circumstances, such as arrest. My understanding of such an implication is that once convicted, a prisoner loses his or her right to vote. Similarly, in the Human Rights Act of 1998, it states clearly that rights are categorically divided: absolute, limited, and qualified. It does not explicitly say where right to free election (Article 3 of Protocol 1) falls – a very contentious point. However, to those who claim that it is an absolute right, why should it be? Alike the right to liberty, one's right to vote should be classified as limited, meaning that the state can withhold it in finite circumstances, such as imprisonment. And the only absolute rights, those in which the state can never take away, should be limited to abusive acts, such as torture. Maybe I am being hopelessly naïve here, but the issue seems black and white; this is not a human rights issue. In fact, it shouldn't be an issue at all. The only tragic outcome of this vote
Jack Wakefield Commentator
I see no reason why prisoners should have the vote. This is not a situation that I want this country to be in. It makes me physically ill even to contemplate having to give the vote to anyone who is in prison. -David Cameron
'If there are people out there that refuse to abide by social contract, it's imperative to justify why we think it's important for them to be allowed to break the law, but still get all the good stuff'. If there are people out there that refuse to abide by social contract, it's imperative to justify why we think it's important for them to be allowed to break the law, but still get all the good stuff. And at the moment, it is currently being argued that the right to vote falls under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), to which Britain has signed up for and must comply with.
A prison cell
was that it is not final. Unfortunately, the issue will be taken to the Strasbourg court in France, the location where member states of the ECHR can file formal complaints of violation. The decision in Strasbourg will be final. Jack Straw, former Home Secretary claimed it was important that the case be taken to Strasbourg on behalf of the ECHR. 'It's right that we should be subject to it on breaches of what everyone understands to be fundamental rights. We signed up to that'. The numbers are noteworthy. Commons voted by 234 votes to a mere 22 in favor of keeing the current ban on prisoners voting. And although majority and mass following can be wrong, it is still important to note what public opinion is, and ask why they think that. I suppose this will be an ongoing debate until the case is finally presented, presumably, in the near future. Although, I still have yet to see method in the madness. Prisoners should have their rights and liberties restricted, be granted privileges such as the right to free election upon re-integrating with society, and focus on rehabilitation.
When you're a prisoner, the only thing you can do if you want to complain and no-one listens, is riot and lift the roof off – which isn't the best way of going about things. – John Hirst
Last week, a back-bencher vote in the House of Commons was in favour of maintaining the archaic ban on prisoner voting rights. The vote was very close and does not bind the house to its result, but it does illustrate how pressing and contentious the issue is. The long-standing controversy was reignited by the coalition government's decision to draft a Bill that would remove the blanket ban on prisoners voting. This was primarily in response to a judgement by the European Court of Human Rights that held that the UK's blanket ban was a violation of human rights. In this respect other countries have reformed whilst the UK has lagged behind, unwilling to admit its responsibility to uphold such rights. Since 1998 the European Court's human rights charter has been a firm and increasingly influential fixture in Britain's constitution. It regularly pops up in court proceedings, newspapers and parliamentary debate and has an increasing number of successes under its belt. For example, compelling the army to change its policy toward homosexuals; who had previously been thrown out with the laughable excuse that it damaged morale. Under the wave of reforms brought about by the charter, an ex-inmate called John Hirst took his case before the European Court in Strasbourg –pleading that to deny all prisoners the right to vote was to contradict the human rights that the UK had agreed to uphold. It was an admirable attempt to change what he saw as a gross injustice. He explained: 'When you're a prisoner, the only thing you can do if you want to complain and no-one listens, is riot and lift the roof off – which isn't the best way of going about things. Prison officers would talk to me and say 'oh you're a prisoner, you're less than human', and all the rest of it, and I said 'no I'm not, I'm a human being, I've got rights,' and they'd say 'well, where are they? What are they?' Conservative MP David Davis argues that in being a prisoner 'you have broken the contract with society to such a serious extent that you have lost all of those
rights – your liberty and your right to vote'. If loss of liberty were the only purpose behind interment, then Davis' argument would be persuasive. Thankfully, however the system of 'lock them up and throw away the key' was abandoned long ago as inhumane and unsustainable. Instead the purpose behind internment is the reformation of the prisoner; rehabilitating them towards re-entry into society. Fundamental to this process is the increased level of responsibilities prisoners are awarded as they move toward their release date. If the offender were simply thrown in gaol for 10 years and then released, he or she would return to an alien society with very little attachment to those with in it. There would be very little incentive against reoffending. On this basis, the right to vote would provide prisoners with a fundamental step toward reintegration –as it would provide a reason for them to take an interest in the society they have offended against and to which they will be returning to. It should not be thought that extreme offenders would be given this right –the government's Bill will not permit every inmate to vote, it only removes the ban on any inmate voting. Prisoners who have been convicted of the most extreme of crimes –such as Ian Brady, Myra Hindley or Peter Sutcliffe (the Yorkshire Ripper) –would never be eligible for the vote. As things currently stand, every prisoner is excluded from the democratic process and confined to an archipelago that flouts the ideal of universal suffrage. The attorney general, Dominic Grieve, has warned that maintaining the blanket ban on the prisoner vote is acting 'tyranically' and in breach of the rule of law. The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly confirmed that no human being should be denied the vote simply because they have committed a crime. Sixteen other European states have managed to expand suffrage to this end –the UK is one of a few remaining countries that persistently maintain an archaic ban that undermines the rehabilitation of prison inmates.
European Court of Human Rights
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Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann
Despots tumble, America broods US support for Egypt's ex-President Mubarak's regime will be shown for the reckless folly it was; the Arab uprising is not the arm of radical Islam but a largely secular revolution
There is something oddly refreshing about America's bewilderment and lack of foresight concerning the Egyptian uprising
Alexander Blanchard Commentator
Contrary to popular belief, and in defiance of every Western stereotype about Arabs, the Egyptian Revolution is a secular phenomenon. It remains to be seen whether the Muslim Brotherhood – originally an armed resistance movement against colonialism and Zionist expansionism – will fill the power vacuum. But as it is the Brotherhood don't represent the majority; there's no doubt that they will want to participate in the democratic transition, though, fragmented as the movement is, determining that its priorities are impossible. Perhaps most importantly, the uprising has defied the claims of
Left: Tahrir Square before Mubarak's resignation, Right: US President Barack Obama Wikimedia Commons America and her allies that either of maniacs. The desire for human trocuted in front of their parents'. we accept despotic rule in the mid- rights and dignity, the obligation It doesn't take a religious affiliadle-east, or we allow the escalation towards self-preservation; these tion to see the depravity of this, a of extremism. As such, Anwar transcend religion; they are what human perspective will do. In juxSadat, president of Egypt before we commonly hold to be objective taposition, Hilary Clinton's speech his assassination in 1981, became morals about the world and these imploring Egyptian protesters to America's 'man' through billion- have shown us that uprisings need refrain from violence seemed hypdollar bribery, and his successor not be driven by religious fanati- ocritical to the point of disgusting. Mubarak, was adamantly defended cism. Just ask Maajid Nawaz, now For Maajig Nawaz the people's by Obama in 2009 against claims a campaigner for democratic activ- uprising is his revenge. of authoritarianism. Though, right ism in Muslim-majority countries, For all those who feel comnow, the much-repeated adage of but once imprisoned as 'Number pelled by the phobias fashioned 'there is no alternative' looks noth- 42' in Mubarak's torture facilities from their very own propaganda, ing but hackneyed and on the when, post 11th September 2001, to cast away their principles for the whole there is something oddly Egyptian state security rounded up sake of some contrived underrefreshing about America's bewil- an unprecedented number of peo- standing of the Arab world, there's derment and lack of foresight con- ple. a lesson to be learnt here – if you cerning the Egyptian uprising. 'We were taken one by one kick and oppress an entire people Egyptians have grown tired of and electrocuted', he told British as though they are nothing but lying prostrate at the feet of their press during an interview, 'wives rabid dogs, then one day they are despotic governments, tired of were stripped and tortured in front going to bite back, and they're succumbing to the violent whims of their husbands, children elec- going to bite hard.
Entertainment or a moral lesson? Eleanor Smallwood Commentator
I don't think that many of my tutors in the English Department would be likely to endorse my flat's arrangement of 'Catch-Up Tuesdays'. This is because 'Catch-Up Tuesdays' operate in what can broadly be described as a culturefree zone. The components of the operation are really very simple; participants hunch round a laptop to look over the best loved of BBC3 and 4oD. The infamous, often crude Snog, Marry Avoid? is very familiar to my Tuesday nights. But amongst all of these programmes, and, I think you will probably have guessed what I'm coming to, stands a diamond in the rough, as acknowledged by millions of people all over this country: My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. Channel 4's latest sensation covers gypsy girls; provocatively dressed and often illiterate, in the rush up to their premature wedding days. There is no doubt that the documentary draws attention to how none of these girls aspire to professions, but keenly await their Disney-esque days of union, filled with sparkles and enough puffy dresses to make your eyes water. Do such dreams lessen the quality
of someone's life? Nineteenth Century Utilitarian John Stuart Mill thought so, with the cutting statement, 'Better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied'; proposing that education gives us access to ultimate happiness. This series without a doubt makes us challenge this; I see young people who are satisfied to have a life devoid of education as we all know it. Where marriage at a young age comes into centre-stage, so (potentially) does teenage pregnancy, a national 'problem' which flits into the news from time to time. What we don't see with these girls, however, is a fixation on material worth; it is not apparent that any of these teenage girls are career-focussed. As a spouse-to-be Swanley highlights in an early episode, when the caravan gets messy, the female partner is expected to step in. Married life to gypsy women, to be blunt, is very much a domestically-focussed matter. There is no doubt that the producers anticipated the cultureshock felt by audiences; hints of Romani culture are still to be seen in these travellers' lifestyle. For one, these girls follow the 'no-sexbefore-marriage' principle with iron-like conviction. Overall they appear to be level-headed, moral young people. I
think that the programme is pretty eye-opening. We could all definitely learn a lesson or two from these groups of gypsies, who essentially live what seem to be satisfied lives without the complications that modern day life seem to bring us all. All the while, you can bet that
Channel 4 if there wasn't a calculated risk of being prey to the ritualistic 'grabbing', I would be doing everything I could to get on the guest list for any one of these ceremonies, if only to gawp at the dresses which could quite easily give shelter to a sizeable family during poor weather conditions.
How do you solve a problem like... The University Library by James Reevell
It's reaching that time of year again where the library becomes the centre of the majority of students lives. When library fines replace food in the weekly budget, where a dusty copy of obscure post-modern theory seems like a perfectly acceptable pillow and when reading in the early hours involves muttering a variety of expletives and threats of arson. Although I would love this column to be a place to advocate the merits and joys of fulfilling its (fairly regular) dreams of burning all critical theory in a glorious bonfire, much therapy has taught that that may not be entirely emotionally healthy. So instead I bring you a few helpful tips for avoiding the pain of the library. Drink in a book: Take a lesson from aristocratic alcoholics and cut a hole in the middle of a book, and hide a hipflask in it. Not only will it ease the pain and pressure of a visit, but let's face it, when you next have the awkward moment of arguing over the last
copy of that crucial book no one's going to argue with the drunk with a hipflask. Embrace the savage: Embrace the fact that the library robs you of basic humanity and returns you to a primordial state. As you reach the feral stage, (typical symptoms include quotes becoming parts of your dreams, and thinking of visits to the iLounge as a treat) band together with fellow sufferers and form a Lord of the Flies-esque gang. The wars with the other gangs could get brutal so make sure you are King, the best way to do this is to assassinate any rivals by dropping a copy of Ulysses on them. Mission Impossible: It's Sunday, you have 3000 words left to write, the library shuts in 5 minutes. Do you accept you fate? Abseil down the side of the building, use a small laser to gain access and then the library is yours! A night of blissful solitude, uninterrupted by that tosser in the corner typing oppressively loudly. And if he is still there, you can always shoot him with one of your standard issue poison darts. In the unlikely event that this column was unhelpful, cheer yourself up by looking out for this columnist weeping in the corner of a library near you soon, suddenly life won't seem so bad.
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Film
Ridley Scott to direct Prometheus The epic director has cast Michael Fassbende in this gruesome account of greek mythology
Paul – Simon Pegg assures Redbrick that aliens do exist Genevieve Taylor sits with the cast of Paul for a lesson on hilarious gut-busting comedy
like geeking out, thinking all our Christmases had come at once. The script is very much a love letter to those movies.
Paul has such a great comedic ensemble, do you have any stories of practical jokes or that kind of thing on set?
Joe, while Seth Rogen voiced Paul, you actually sort of played him on set didn't you?
Kristen Wiig: I used a lot of glue.
Joe Lo Truglio: I did. I was on my knees for most of the shoot, but still kept my dignity. I did have knee-pads though so that made things a bit easier.
What's your favourite movie alien? Jason Bateman: PAUL! No, except for Paul? The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man! Does he count? That's my answer, goddammit! Simon Pegg: I think, in Starship Troopers, in the scene where they're attacking the base, there's a guy about five rows back, on the left – THAT GUY. He's giving it more than the others. He's got
something. I never saw him again.
quotes that you use?
Sigourney Weaver: Well I always liked the Pod People, you know, the version of yourself that's completely humourless? That's just sleeping under your bed and while you're brushing your teeth, becomes you. I love that concept.
Pegg: Well, probably the most famous line is Sigourney's 'get away from me, you bitch' which Blythe (Danner) says, and [to Sigourney] I asked you if you were OK having one of your lines used against you and you were like 'Bring it on!'
There are a lot of great movie references in the film, how much did you have to actually check with people about the
Weaver: I was so drunk! Pegg: Yeah and you gave her a line reading and me and Nick were just
BAFTAs 2011
Film, Best Film and Best Actor for Colin Firth for his portrayal of King George VI. Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush also bagged top accolades for their roles in the production, collecting the statues for Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively. But the Brits weren't the only winners of the night; The Social Network came away with three awards, for Best Adapted Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin), Best Director (David Fincher) and Best Editing; and Natalie Portman landed the prize for Best Actress in her portrayal of a troubled balleri-
Pegg: We used to write songs everyday, Paul the Musical was being written as we were filming which featured songs such as 'Who's the alien now?', 'I'm just a poor little creationist girl.' A lot of time on this we'd all hang out together rather than going back to our trailers. We made up a lot of odd games like; 'What noise do you make when you fly away at the end of a sentence', that classic, um 'Making a face after a trumpet solo.' Mottola: I've never been on a movie where people stayed out of their trailers as much. Maybe because New Mexico is so beautiful. Nick Frost: Because they stank. (See overleaf for review)
Film News
Lucy Adamson recounts the dazzle of Britain's illustrious award ceremony
The night may have been dreary and wet, but the atmosphere at the 2011 BAFTAs was anything but. The stars braved the rain in their most glamorous ensembles to commemorate the greatest cinematic achievements of the last year. The sumptuous ceremony itself was hosted once again by Jonathan Ross, who seemed to be on top comical form, aiming various jokes toward many of the nominated films. Unsurprisingly, Tom Hooper's historical drama The King's Speech was the biggest winner of the night, taking away seven awards, including Outstanding British
Greg Mottola: Seth was shooting The Green Hornet so we couldn't have him on set. We recorded Seth doing all the scenes with Simon and Nick in pre-production, Joe was very serious and watched all the tapes of those sessions, saw what Seth was doing and channelled it, then improv'd and gave a real performance that Nick and Simon could play against. It doesn't feel like they're just looking at a stick with two ping-pong balls for eyes which they were [laughs] yeah we did that too. Then when Seth came back to re-record he stole a lot of Joe's improv's. It was a weird collaboration.
Bateman: She loves a glue-stick.
na in Black Swan. A number of films lost out to the immense popularity of Hooper's royal epic, notably 127 Hours which gained no awards, and the Coen brothers' new Western True Grit which took the prize for Best Cinematography but lost out in numerous other categories. But most of the stars who went home unrewarded appeared gracious and happy for the winners. Nevertheless there appeared to be a few actors in the crowd who felt differently; notably Miranda Richardson, whose fixed smile for the cameras seemed to barely mask her resentment at losing out for her supporting role in Made In Dagenham. While most of the ceremony went smoothly, there were a few complications along the way. Rosamund Pike embarrassed both herself and Dominic Cooper, her partner on stage, for after having trouble reading the autocue, almost divulged the winner of Original Screenplay before the nominees were listed. Jonathan Ross saved the day by stepping in quickly to prevent further mishap and subsequently lightened the mood by confessing 'that's the fastest I've moved for years!' Unsurprisingly yet again, The King's Speech came top in this category. Ultimately Sir Christopher Lee was honoured with the Academy Fellowship on the back of his long and illustrious career spanning more than half a century with roles in 266 films. His poignant acceptance speech provided a worthy end to the night.
Dominic Cooper
height of his career and conspiracy has surrounded his death ever since. The plot and content of Fuqua's film is yet to be announced, though it is likely the biopic will cover Tupac's rise to stardom rather than solely the mystery of his murder. It is rumoured that Anthony Makie, who played Tupac off-Broadway will be a major contender in capturing the leading role.
Die Hard 5? This year's Berlin Film Festival sees the premiere of Dominic Cooper's new film The Devil's Double. Cooper is an actor regarded in his own words as usually 'prancing around in a frock and spandex'. The Devil's Double sees the actor playing the son of Saddam Hussein, and performing alongside French Actress Ludivine Sagnier could possibly adjust the public's previous impression of him.
Tupac biopic
Director Antoine Fuqua has begun casting for a Tupac biopic. The talented hip-hop personality was shot dead in 1996 during the
This week witnesses the announcement of the return of the seemingly chronic franchise for its fifth instalment – Noam Murro has been confirmed for the project. As yet, Bruce Willis's involvement is unconfirmed in the film, however there does seem certain inevitability to his presence in the franchise's latest instalment. Willis is someone whom in popular culture seems to have become almost synonymous with the character of John Mcclane. Eleanor Dodson
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Film 11
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Matt Davis, Elmley de la Cour
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Paul
Brighton Rock
Director: Greg Mottola Cast:Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogan, Kristen Wiig Rating: 15
Director: Rowan Joff Cast: Sam Riley, Andrea Riseborough, Helen Mirren Rating: PG
Now is the age of the geek. Comicbook movies are box-office gold, videogame sales are peaking and tickets for Comic Con, the annual convention of ultimate geekery, are selling so fast that Superman would have a hard shot. Yes, this is the time for geeks to come out loud and proud, and that's exactly what Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have done in Paul, the culmination of their lifetime love of sci-fi. It is actually at the sci-fi Mecca of Comic Con that we find our two very nerdy, very British protagonists, Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost). On an RV road-trip round the alien hotspots of the US, their dreams are fulfilled when they have a close encounter of their own with Paul, a foul-mouthed, bagel-loving extra terrestrial. Unfortunately, Paul is being trailed by FBI agent (Jason Bateman) and two bumbling cops (Joe Lo Truglio and Bill Hader) so Graeme and Clive find themselves embroiled in a race to get him home.
This new adaption of Graham Greene's novel stars Sam Riley as Pinkie Brown, the petty teenage gangster moving up in the Brighton underworld. After committing a brutal murder, he must track down and seduce naïve young waitress Rose (Andrea Riseborough), the only witness to the crime. An all-star British cast, including Helen Mirren, John Hurt and Andy Serkis lead this daring and highly updated version of a much admired classic. Director Rowan Joffe brings an atmosphere to the film reminiscent of the noirs of the 1940s; the silhouetted and foggy opening scene in particular echoes the 1947 original. However, the following graphic violence shows how this Brighton (especially one incident of death-by-a-stick-of-rock) has a far darker underbelly. Whilst the original was set in pre-WWII Brighton, the action has now been moved to the world of the 1960s, replacing the fedoras and petticoats with trench coats and miniskirts, with the gang violence setting itself in the infamous clashes between the Mods and Rockers on Brighton Pier. Newcomer Riseborough perfectly captures the glassy-eyed innocence of Rose; ignorant to Pinkie's malicious intentions.
Pegg and Frost are undoubtedly one of Britain's favourite acting duos and their friendship is the emotional foundation of this film. Graeme and Clive's 'bromance' is sweet and genuine and this evokes real empathy from the audience; at one point Frost's extraordinary talent for the 'guy-cry' is unleashed and you'd have to be alien yourself not to care. Speaking of the titular little green man, Paul is a hilarious creation. Voiced by Seth Rogen, this ET is crude, lazy and really just one of the guys. The lip-sync is flawless and the relationship and banter between the three is so well done that within seconds you'll forget he's CGI. Rogen does his trademark funny slacker well, but also brings a refreshing caring quality to the role.
Kristen Wiig (Despicable Me) is fantastic as the quirky Ruth, a devout bible-bashing trailer-park worker helplessly caught up in the alien adventure, and she has one of the best character arcs in the film. Her journey from oppressed and abused ultra-Christian to potty-mouthed love interest is controversial but liberating. Her comedic timing is excellent and it's by far her most rounded and impressive performance to date. Part road-movie, rom-com and sci-fi, Paul is a wonderful, laugh-a-minute love-letter to the sci-fi genre and, while it may not have quite the energy or pace of Frost and Pegg's previous collaborations, it is a fantastic addition to their increasingly brilliant filmography. Genevieve Taylor !
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Neds Director: Peter Mullan Cast: Conor McCarron, Martin Bell, Mhairi Anderson Rating: 18 Peter Mullan's third feature film Neds (Non-educated delinquents) is set in a deprived area of Glasgow in the 1970s. It follows the story of John McGill (Connor McCarron), a bright boy struggling with a troubled life at home and torn between staying in school and the ever-present gang culture. John's father is an abusive alcoholic and his elder brother a hardened gang member. Generally his teachers, though some encourage his academic ability, expect him to turn out like his elder brother and take liberties to humiliate and belittle him. John must regularly prove his intellectual ability to stay in the higher classes, and
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However, it is Sam Riley that stands out; bringing a conflicted depth to the role made famous by Richard Attenborough; his menacing stare offset by his obsession with sin and Catholicism. Its few pitfalls are the often sporadic plot threads, for example Rose's relationship with her father, that may leave audience members confused, and the lack of characterisation of smaller roles, making the film feel less complete as a whole. Fans of the original and the novel may be disappointed, but this is a bold new take on a tense, moody thriller. Excellent performances and a thrilling cliff top finale make this a superb showcase of British talent, and although changed, it's still recognisable as a dark portrait of human nature; as Pinkie states, 'It's like those sticks of rock. Bite one all the way down, you'll still read Brighton.' Bethany Ditzel !
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Putty in her hands Sarah Coe revisits the 1990 classic, Ghost unsurprisingly his faith in the educational system fails. Like Sean in Shane Meadow's This Is England, John craves the social acceptance that the gangs provide. The violence depicted is both graphic and shocking, and this film certainly isn't for the faint hearted. However the 70s soundtrack helps to liven up the otherwise depressing material and provides a sense of authenticity. Mullan frequently injects moments of black humour which help to lighten the mood,
and inserts hallucinogenic episodes which provide a fantasy quality to the otherwise grey, dusky scenes of Glasgow. The unflinching nature of some scenes, and the unforgiving subject matter make Neds hard to watch at times, although it leaves the viewer with a lot to think about. So for those prepared to undergo a tough experience, Neds is certainly a rewarding cinematic experience. Daniel Leadbetter !
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No Strings Attached Director: Ivan Reitman Cast: Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher Rating: 15 Transformed from her role in Black Swan, Natalie Portman's latest, somewhat less profound offering sees her as Emma, a trainee doctor with a fear of commitment. After several chance encounters with Adam (Ashton Kutcher), spanning fifteen years, the pair finally sleep together, and their friendship is radically altered as they embark on a less than romantic 'friends with benefits' relationship with some very clear rules: no snuggling, no jealousy and no staring lovingly into each other's eyes. The liaisons continue in this way until, in an interesting and refreshing role reversal of the gender norms which helps distance the film from being another stereotyp-
GOOD
ical rom-com, it becomes apparent that Adam is struggling to abide by their rules and is seeking more from his encounters with Emma, falling in love even. Portman plays the role of the career-driven woman, who sees her relationship with Adam as entirely functional with surprising conviction and avoids the floozy territory, allowing us to actually empathise with her. Kutcher, although admittedly not being the best actor Hollywood has to offer, is pretty enough to carry off the
role of the heartbroken victim of unrequited love with sincerity. The two have some believable chemistry as well, a quality absent from many films of this type. Yes, this may be another reasonably predictable romantic comedy, but the above average cast, paired with a few witticisms and some heartfelt moments allow it to be a bit more than pure cliché – perfect for chasing away Valentine's Day blues. Rebecca Hawkes !
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This Patrick Swayze classic skilfully combines comedy, romance and the supernatural. Lovers, Holly (Demi Moore – who looks exactly the same as she does now) and Sam (Patrick Swayze), are sickeningly head over heels in love. After the tragic early death of Sam, Holly struggles to cope with the loss of her lover. Sam finds himself in limbo after being shot in the chest, and is only able to communicate with the psychic medium Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg). Oda Mae and
'romantic films are inferior today' Sam work together to expose his murderers, and act as a guardian angel to Holly, ensuring her safety against Sam's co-worker. Sam exacts his revenge when ridiculously animated ghouls at-
tack his murderers. The awful sound effects – the ghouls sound like plugholes being drained – contribute yet another loveable characteristic to the film, and add comedy to this classic. The famous pottery scene, combined with the original Unchained Melody soundtrack, is still equally as moving as before, and is a stark reminder of how romantic films are generally inferior today. Ghost avoids the usual cheesiness, and the romance remains sincere, which overshadows the sometimes-poor acting. However, Goldberg's Oscar winning turn is consistently funny and a well needed balance to the heart breaking love story. Although the basic premise is somewhat implausible, this classic tear-jerker is a definite must-see, and a re-watch was definitely overdue. Guaranteed to work its magic and put a smile on your face, Ghost is, and always will be, a fantastic tribute to the late Patrick Swayze.
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Television
18th February 2011
Redbrick
Fast and Loose
the new Whose Line is it Anyway? reviewed redbrickonline.co.uk
Too Sexy for the Small Screen?
Teenagers divulge their bedroom antics in The Joy of Teen Sex Charlotte Lytton Reporter
It used to be a universal truth that British people were a touch on the prudish side. However, the recent
outpouring of sex on TV seems to show that this image has well and truly been shed. The gloves are off and the pants are down as the final series of Secret Diary of a Call Girl gets under way, and with new show The
Joy of Teen Sex and the return of Skins to the small screen, the 'sex sells' mantra has never been more apparent. Billie Piper has been accused of glamorising prostitution in her role as Belle de Jour in Secret Di-
Reporter
Last year I reviewed Geordie duo Ant and Dec's new Saturday night offering Push The Button. Slapstick silly but addictively entertaining, it got the big thumbs up for highly creative and hilarious games such as 'Simon Cowell's Teeth' as well as good wholesome family fun. The boys returned this week with a number of changes to the show, the most exciting being the new live format. Instead of surprising families on their Monday morning doorsteps; the selected families were picked live and raring to go. This week saw the Strauns from Kent and the Levers from Manchester go head-to-head. The Levers take an early lead, winning games such as 'Spot the Baldie' and a rather amusing game in which family members have to guess the song title from props including a wolf in a dress (Shakira's She Wolf) and Margaret Thatcher as a calendar girl (Rod Stewart's Maggie May). Other alterations included a more interactive touch with viewers at home; entitled 'The people Vs. Dave' in which viewers phone in to answer colour related questions to win prizes ranging from a trip to the Maldives to a pair of trainers. There were more audience giveaways in the shape of the 'Happy Hundred' with two lucky members winning a fantastic £2500 a-piece. The noticeable layer of changes to the format altered the programme significantly and it felt
somewhat like a mash-up of both Push The Button and Saturday Night Takeaway with the hosts no longer playing it neutral and each taking up a team to support. In scenes reminiscent from Saturday Night Takeaway's popular 'Ant Vs. Dec', family members were asked to guess who could parallel park a stretch limo the quickest. The show clearly aimed to expand with family members competing against each other and performing on Dancing On Ice, as well as celebrity participation from Alan Shearer who was challenged to kick a football over a house. However this served to add to the seemingly 'split' personality of a show trying to be two things at once. Whilst the variety of games appeared less creative, new creation 'The Accumulator' proved to be an
The geordie duo are back
The show does have a doctor on hand to throw in warnings about HIV every now and again, but with flashes of porn, bedroom reconstructions and a sex-toy box to make Peter Stringfellow blush, I doubt that anyone is really listening. Skins is yet another example of under-worked, over-sexed youngsters flashing just a little too much flesh for the small screen. Now in its fifth series, I must admit that I haven't been able to face watching a whole new batch of youngsters having sex/get hooked on drugs/die all over again. When it first aired four years ago, Skins was deemed controversial to portray sex in such a free and easy manner. With full frontal nudity in the opening scene of the first ever episode, this definitely set the tone for the years to come. However, sex on screen has now become passé and the endless stream of shows pretending that it's still taboo is wearing pretty thin. It's clear that prudishness has very much gone out of the window in recent years, and whilst no one is asking for the return of ankle length skirts, it does seem that maybe we've gone too far in the opposite direction.
Is TV ruining your life?
Don't Push the Button! Cheyenne Bunsie
ary of a Call Girl. Her university educated character loves sex and money so much, that selling her 'personal services' seems like a natural career path. Right. Obviously, a programme that centres around such an industry is going to get graphic at times, but after four series, it's probably for the best that Belle is hanging up her whip and putting an end to her leather-clad debauchery. The show began in 2007 and quickly gained notoriety as the most risqué programme on the box. Whilst other shows at that time featured a sprinkling of sex, this was the first of its kind to make it the main focus and has since sparked a generation of fallatiofilled programmes for teens. The most recent incarnation of this is The Joy of Teen Sex, in which promiscuous youngsters are encouraged to do the dirty – as long as they use protection, of course. Ruth Corden (sister of 'funny man' James Corden), social worker and promoter of adolescents getting jiggy, is on the 'expert' team, alongside some other woman whose sole contribution is to extol the virtues of melon flavoured lubricant.
exhilarating game changer with the down and out Strauns managing to overtake the Lever's with a £38,500 leap of faith. Overall, I felt like I didn't recognise Push The Button amongst the ambitious changes that had been heaped upon it. The live element took away from the shiny, sleek game show effect and whilst Ant and Dec are no strangers to live television, I felt it didn't work on this occasion. Less family members participated than last year and games were shortened. Although Push The Button is still an entertaining Saturday night watch, once the game show ceases to be the main focus, things become muddled and the original format did not need changing. This is something to watch if I happen to be indoors rather than a must-see.
Kelly Shrimpton Reporter
Charlie Brooker presents another satiric attack on what you would be forgiven for thinking is his least favourite technology in the universe. In How T.V Ruined Your Life, Brooker comments on the different ways in which TV programmes condition each aspect of our lives. In each episode a different side of this conditioning falls under scrutiny as Brooker analyses how programmes use weapons such as fear, aspiration and age to inform our lifestyles. A variety of TV clips receive the Brooker treatment, and his matter-of-fact, cynical observations manage to turn even the most serious TV into a joke. His insults have the feel of being constructed by throwing the most offensive words at a wall and seeing which ones stick, and yet in the context of his cynical enthusiasm you find yourself realising that unlike anyone else on TV, Brooker has managed to verbalise what most of us thinking. The public information films that make up the first episode on fear become parodies of themselves under the spotlight of his ridicule, and this becomes funnier when you realise that most of his comments ring true. For anyone who has seen Screenwipe, expect more of the same witty cynicism, only applied more liberally to include the TV that time forgot, as Brooker catalogues examples of modern programming with those of yesteryear in his mission to prove his point. Unlike Screenwipe, Brooker's jaunt onto the BBC does see him
Brooker tells it like it is drag himself off that comfy sofa occasionally, in order to join in some of the various sketches. We see him chopping up an innocent old lady after accidentally murdering her with a baseball bat and tucking into a delicious rat kebab while watching himself on T.V. The sole purpose of these scenes seems to be to shock you into laughing, and at some points you feel trapped between laughing nervously and giving your TV away to the first unsuspecting passerby. No one is safe from Brooker's sarcasm, as he attacks everyone from the government to the Delicious Miss Dahl. Yet no matter how cruel his comments seem, instead of feeling sorry for the unlucky TV celebs, you find yourself laughing in agreement almost to the point of feeling left out. Brooker introduces his various case-studies on How T.V Ruined Your Life with the phrase 'Don't say it didn't – It did,' and worryingly, by the end of each half hour rant you find yourself nodding in serious agreement, only to realise you're the butt of the joke after all. BBC 2, Tuesdays, 10pm.
Television 13
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
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Editors – Joe McGrath, Amber Alexander
A Curious Source for Comedy Sarah Murphy Reporter
Oscar-nominated actress Laura Linney is at stage four, except this time we're not talking theatre; no the stage four being referred to here is cancer, something that has
touched the lives of many of us in some way or another. The Big C is where her story begins, as Cathy, a history teacher and mother getting to grips with the short time she has left following her diagnosis. After an everyday hospital appointment turns into a heart stop-
Cathy gets her results
ping wake-up call, Cathy decides to start living every day as though it were her last, literally. Which, in the words of her environmentally conscious and homeless (by choice) brother, means she needs to stop being so boring and get her 'weird back'. Upon a reassessment of her life, Cathy's first response, bizarrely, is to dig a hole in her garden. But not just any hole, a swimming pool-sized hole, so that she can swan dive from her porch into the water. As a follow up, Cathy also sets about kicking out her lay-about husband, who not only stopped her from eating onions for fifteen years but couldn't shut a cupboard door if he tried. Cathy's upside down take on life doesn't just end at home; it begins to impact upon her work life after she cartwheels down the school hall and pledges to give an obese student, played by Precious star Gabourey Sidibe, one hundred dollars for every pound she loses, because apparently, 'You can either be fat and jolly or a skinny b*tch, it's up to you'. Cathy even takes up smoking, which is something she has never done in her life. Yet, on a more serious note, it's not all paint ball guns and ciga-
rettes, as Cathy has, like some people do, fallen into the trap of denial and has neglected to inform her family or friends about her illness. Their impending reaction is something that will perhaps bring the show back down to earth and remind us that a situation such as this is hardly something to chuckle about. When it comes to a list of unfunny things, cancer is way up there, yet Showtime has somehow managed to turn this solemn issue into a golden tragi-comedy. With three time academy award nominated actress Laura Linney at the helm – who by now really should have won the golden statue – and the acting talents of Oliver Platt as the sweet yet oblivious spouse and Transformers star John Benjamin Hickey playing a Jesus-like hobo, you can't fail to love this show, even if the language used is sometimes a little choice. The Big C often leaves you unsure as to whether to laugh or cry but thankfully most of the time it's the former. Whilst the US is embarking on its second season of the show, we're right at the beginning and, frankly, I can't wait for more. The Big C is on Thursdays at 11pm on More 4.
Trampling on the Issues Natalie Timmins Reporter
90210 viewers watched as twisted teacher, Mr Cannon, turned the allegation of rape made against him from fantasy to reality, as the series two finale closed with him attacking Beverley Hills brat, Naomi. Since then, instead of treating the issue with the seriousness it deserves, the 90210 producers have turned the storyline into a game of cat and mouse, undermining the damage and destruction of rape by turning it into a televised farce. And it's not the only season three disappointment. In three episodes, in what was probably no more than a combined total of twenty minutes dedicated to the issue, Dixon is told he could have HIV. He goes for tests, and is then given the all clear. At no point are the anxieties or the realities of living with HIV explored. Instead, it feels like a cheap plot device to fuel Ivy's brief affair with Oscar and move his oh-sodastardly schemes of revenge one step forward. There are no emotional responses, there is an unrealistically short testing period, and there is no sense of relief beyond Dixon realising he can have a girlfriend again. This sort of disregard for a massively important topic should never be portrayed as a mere plot development. As such, it is a blatant and disrespectful play for attention. Nowhere have viewers seen the psychological repercussions of Naomi's ordeal beyond claiming it made her feel disgusting to the police officer. She still has the same brazen attitude and even indulges Silver's ridiculous ploy to fool Mr Cannon into a hotel room, although what that would achieve in the way of a confession is beyond me. Her apparent suicide attempt is dealt with in the opening scene of the episode, her confession to Silver is untimely and unconvinc-
ing, and her road rage leads to nothing. Naomi doesn't appear to have truly suffered. The only person who shows any sort of nervous feeling is Mr Cannon himself, when he crushes the pill which nearly gives him a second victim in Silver. These girls see rape as something easily dealt with, quipping about the civility of castration instead of enquiring after Naomi's wellbeing. While other shows like Hollyoaks are completely over-the-top in most things, they put programs like 90210 to shame when dealing with such life-changing topics. The date-rape storyline involving twins Mel and Sophie Bourton saw Mel descend into drink when unable to cope with Andy's attack, and the undesirable yet honest de-
Everyone is happy in the 90210
tails of police investigations and an inability to function in the wake of such a brutal attack showed the realities of dealing with such a horrific crime. Equally, the more recent storyline in which Malachy Fisher is diagnosed with HIV showed the treatments, testing procedures and heartache involved in such a tragic fate. This was also evident within one of America's most recognised HIV storylines, where Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI:NY was potentially infected after cutting herself on blood-soaked glass, and was credited with raising awareness, whilst providing a valuable and moving insight into the devastation of the disease. While it's possibly a little naive
to think that ratings and reviews don't come into the decisions to cover such massive topics, most programs respect the reality of these issues enough to portray a realistic and revealing depiction. Hopefully, they aim to help both victims and others affected along the way. There has been no point, however, in which 90210 seems to want to help anyone but themselves, and the scriptwriters have neglected to consider the impact such storylines could have on viewers' lives. Instead of offering real, what 90210 have done is turn the hideous crime of rape and the heartache of HIV testing into a circus act, where the elephant in the room is avoided in favour of a set of cheap clowns.
Holiday Hell Rebecca Green Reporter
Mad Dogs is a brand new four part drama showing on Sky1. With an all-star cast it promised great things and certainly didn't disappoint. Featuring Max Beesley (Hotel Babylon/Survivors), Philip Glenister (Ashes to Ashes), John Simm (Life on Mars/Dr Who), Marc Warren (Hustle) and Ben Chaplin (Me and Orson Wells), Mad Dogs is a captivating and gritty drama, brilliantly written by Cris Cole, who manages to give the show an excellent mix of comedy with some very dark twists. The psychological drama revolves around the reunion of five forty-something school friends. The group gathers in Majorca to relive old times after their old school friend Alvo (Chaplin) invites them to his villa in order to celebrate his early retirement. However, this is not going to be the holiday they were all hoping for. The first episode starts with confession videos from Woody (Beesley), Quinn (Glenister), Rick (Warren) and Baxter (Simm), giving us an insight into what is to come in the following episodes. With the men looking dishevelled, tired and covered in blood, it's safe to presume that this is not going to be your average holiday in Majorca, full of sunbathing and swimming in the pool. The group go through the usual lad on holiday antics: eating too much, drinking too much, clubbing and girls. Yet it becomes apparent that something more sinister is going on when a dead goat is spotted floating in the pool, and when Alvo, although retired, is seen taking business calls at three in the morning. Friction within the group begins to develop when Rick brings a girl home from a night out, even though he is married. This doesn't go down well with Quinn who is still in love with Rick's wife, Nina, after they dated 20 years ago. Tensions are further heightened when Alvo starts questioning the group, highlighting their individual failings in life. The appearance of 'Tiny Blair' at the end is comical but also quite scary. The masked man is seen lurking in the background as the group sit around the table. It is after this when everything gets more 'messy' than the usual lads' holiday and will lead to an unimaginable chain of events. As well as being onscreen costars, Glenister and Beesley are also the co-creators of the show. Although the BBC and ITV had been interested in commissioning the show, it was Sky that Mad Dogs eventually went with. Beesley has said 'Everyone wanted the show. Sky was the one that we believed would let us do what we wanted'. Although the first episode is a bit slow at the start, with most of the hour long episode used to set the scene, the narrative really picks up when 'Tiny Blair' appears. Mad Dogs is definitely worth a watch. The next episode certainly looks intriguing as the plot thickens and the gang bury their second dead body of the holiday (the first being the goat). Catch Mad Dogs on Sky 1/Sky 1 HD, Thursday at 9.
Picture of the week
'Creative Mobility' by Thomas Walters A disabled homeless man rests on the side of a busy street in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Send your pictures of the week to pow@redbrickonline.co.uk
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Marjolijn Dijkman IKON 23rd February – 25th April
Reviews
Grappling with a classic but uncompromising and unnerving text, with the plot falling somewhere between Romeo & Juliet and The Exorcist, tonight's performance delivers. The play opens with the ominous character of the Messenger declaring 'the souls of the dead are everywhere,' drawing the audience into the world of 'The Dybbuk' represented on stage. Hugely visual, the use of light and space is exceptional, with the action in each scene punctuated by candles and lamps lending a soft yet decidedly eerie aura; used potently within the scene set in the synagogue.
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Town Hall James Reevell Arts Editor
With a plunge into alcoholism the preferred choice for this Valentine's Day, it was with a degree of surprise that I felt the tug of romance at Town Hall. No, it wasn't the elderly gentleman sashaying up to me to inquire if I could sing and dance, but the Piano/Forte – Creole Choir of Cuba who were the object of my affections. The Crescent A non-traditional choir that A paradoxical display of sings in Creole and bursts with mediocrity and eccentricity, charm, joy and character. With in a shambolic performance of songs clearly telling stories, aided by the acting of singers, it made Terry Johnson's one-dimenone ache to be able to speak Cresional Piano/Forte. ole. Still, the Choir's universality !
The vast, bare stage we see before the lights dim bursts into life in the presence of the cast, with Carl Thornley's compelling and darkly intense performance is the backbone of the action. Even more remarkable when, for large periods of time, he is only represented on stage vocally. Sarah Middleton's 'Leah' cannot quite equal Thornely's depiction, yet her ethereal beauty, exquisite pallor and tiny frame are enough to keep the other-worldliness of the play intact and entirely believable. The use of the chorus in A Dybbuk is superb. Despite the patchiness of some accents, they exhibit a beautifully simultaneous sense of synchronicity and at times, along with Thornley and Middleton, a violent physicality that is rightly
Creole Choir Of Cuba – Town Hall (14.02.11)
Dennis and Punt – Town Hall 'An enjoyable evening of topical comedy and satire ' !
of the childhood classic The Lion King, was a roaring success. Rewriting it for a more adult audience, the performance played on the film's distinct likeness to Hamlet, and never shied away from crudeness.
Potentially raunchy scenes watched as a naïve child, and thought of as perfectly innocent, are highlighted and taken to extremes, for example, Nala and Simba's 'fight'. Direction from Nick Everett saw the cast create an interactive panto-style performance, with an effective blend of singing, dancing and sterling acting. Narrator 'Elton John' guiding the actors through their inevitable slip-ups, and the set designs, which were reminiscent of arts and crafts hour at playschool, only added to the hilarity of the performance. Makeshift (yet very fetching) costumes were brought to life by the skillful acting of a witty cast.
Performances from the hyenas and Rafiki were particularly well played, accentuating characteristics of the original cartoons. The singing on the other hand was of variable quality; impressive performances were given from Scar and Timone yet less so from Simba, Nala appeared to lose her singing prowess with age, being cleverly played upon to comedic effect. Overall the production was a resounding triumph; the audience certainly seemed to enjoy themselves. We came out of Deb Hall alleviated of our hangovers and with a sense of relief that they hadn't ruined a Disney classic, if anything improving it.
BSA Presents A Dybbuk – The Crescent (10.02.11) Lexie Wilson
Photograaphy
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18th February 2011
spoke for itself, with the full gambit of emotion on show, moving from humour to pathos. Performing mostly in acapella, with occasional bursts of percussion to support them, the strength of the choir was demonstrated throughout as with each song a different member stepped forward to steal the show. Part of the appeal of the Choir is that the ensemble singing is just as eye-catching as the solos that punctuate the songs. One slight flaw was a slight lull in the love affair in the middle of the concert, something a slightly more judicious set list could have solved. My infatuation was sealed when they swept into a special Valentine's performance of 'Unforgettable'. This distilled the essence of a band that were clearly eager to please a mostly sedate audience. Ending the show by entering the audience and wishing them well was a delightful touch. Tipped as the next big break out band on the world scene, it's easy to see why. But more importantly a dashing choir and haggard critic starting one of the great romances of the 21st century? It could never work, could it?
BSA disturbing to watch. The most notable thing about A Dybbuk however, must be attributed to the spectacularly full use of the acoustics and atmosphere of the stage, the sense of tragedy and fear heightened to an almost unbearable degree by the
perfectly timed musical interludes, which permeate even to the back of the theatre. Birmingham School of Acting's production of what is widely regarded as the 'greatest Yiddish drama,' A Dybbuk is simply outstanding.
Word Up – The Drum (10.02.11)
The Drum Jo Thomas Critic
The atmosphere in the room felt somewhat tense as the alarmingly sparse audience awaited the start of the evenings' proceedings. Eventually the first candidate bravely in order to divulge prose of inner insecurities, sexual musings and deeply feminine secrets. It was with the second and third recitals, however, that the mood lifted and it became clear that the group of poets found comfort in each other's comradeship. All the while building momentum to the final performance from the 'man of the hour', award winning Dante Micheaux. It must be noted that the third act was particularly striking. Having been delayed most of the
evening on a bus and reported to have been still writing his prose while travelling on it, the young artist took the stage upon arrival and confessed, 'I'm not going to read you a poem; instead I have a story'. The six minutes that followed left every onlooker captivated with powerful words of life's mundanity, intermingled with an innate frustration to say something profound to an ever decaying and broken world. Emerging talent was clearly in our midst. The moment had thus eloquently arrived for Micheaux to take his place in front of a now fascinated audience. With a delivery of numerous poems denoting his passion for people and the intricate relationship between them, one was able to tangibly feel the very complexities which comprise the human rapport. His delivery was of one confident in his identity, not merely as an American poet, but moreover as a homosexual lover, companion, and at times alien to society. The evening overall was an eye-opening experience, not merely into the intricacies of human nature, but moreover into the poetic world itself, another creative success for the Drum.
Technology Telemedicine
Transforming the future of medicine? Vinayak Ashok Writer
In medicine, it is all about providing the right cure at the right time. In such an environment substitutes and procrastination can prove to be costly. The use of telemedicine has minimized the scope of the above two happening and hence is potentially one of the greatest technical advancements to happen in medicine for a long time. Telemedicine uses technology and communications to improve clinical care. In other words it deals with transferring information and not patients. The factor that makes telemedicine so special is the technology itself. The manner in which this promising technology has transformed patient care is truly phenomenal and in many ways it has made doctors' lives a lot less stressful too. There are two different types of technology involved in telemedicine. The first being 'store and forward' technology (Asynchronous Technology) and the other being 'real time medicine' (Synchronous Technology). Both these types are used extensively in various medical applications. The 'store and forward' technology is defined as 'a system that allows for collection (storage) of medical data which can then be forwarded to a consultant electronically for review in the future.' This technology can be used to store and transfer images such as the patient's CT scan, X-Rays and MRI for diagnosis. It is used in non-emergency situations and is widely relevant to medical fields like dermatology, radiology and pathology. Real time medicine is a technology that allows for direct communication and interaction between patient and physician. Through video conferencing and audio visual help, patients can get in touch with health care providers even from remote locations live. In the event of an emergency, specialists in a certain health centre can continuously communicate with specialists within another centre, and refer cases in order to provide the right treatment. It is widely employed in medical disciplines like cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, pediatrics and neurology. Telemedicine benefits the patient, the health care provider and the specialist. It reduces waiting time, travel time and treatment costs for patients irrespective of where they are. It benefits the health care provider by enabling them to use their existing infrastructure to communicate effectively with patients and specialists from other centres. It also saves the precious time of the specialist and enables them to see more patients in a day. There is no doubt that telemedicine has started to transform the field of medicine. The benefits of using this technology are testimony to its increasing popularity and its growing impact on the satisfaction provided by clinical care.
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18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
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Editors – Stuart Gittings, Manpreet Pangli
For exclusive online content visit www.redbrickonline.co.uk/technology
The online shopping debate Manpreet Pangli and Ruth Bradley argue for and against the phenomenum of online shopping Why bother queuing?
Here is a big way to save money – shop online. I take pride that the majority of my purchases are done online. The main benefit is the incredible convenience. We need to buy with confidence knowing that we are getting a good price, and that can be achieved with the click of a few buttons. With price comparison websites, you can compare the price of car insurance by typing out the details just once and almost magically; all the quotes from leading insurance companies appear all on one web page. What is the alternative? Pick up the Yellow Pages, search for a company, dial a number, press some buttons, wait in a queue, press some more buttons and talk with somebody who claims to be named John, but sounds like
they are from a call centre in India? Did I mention that the phone number you are dialling is premium, and costs 30 pence a minute from a BT landline? With online shopping you get infinite choice. Currently I am working in a clothes retail store, and have noticed that they are limited by space on the amount of clothes items they can display on the shop floor at one given time. With an online store, the same clothes retailer have the ability to list every single item under the sun for you to purchase. If it isn't available, they promise to import it from the moon, and with lots of couriers claiming to constantly make quick deliveries to and from the moon, this practice has become commonplace. Those who require the items ordered online on the same day can do so, with Royal Mail's same day delivery service. Another benefit of online shopping is being able to read previous customer reviews. When you are at DFS for instance, the salesman will persuade you to buy a particular sofa as they get commission for selling it. The reality is that sofas easily catches fire, and they want to sell it before the new stock comes in. Reading previous customer reviews gives that all-important confidence. I hear people discussing problems with security. I assure you, however, that if you use an up-todate web browser and apply some common sense, shopping online is so simple, easy and straightforward – I'd be confident for my sixyear-old cousin to shop online.
Long live retail!
I understand how buying car insurance, holidays and frankly a lot of things online is easier and cheaper. Regardless, the age of physical shopping is far from dead and I refuse to give up my ventures into town. While it may be easier to order things online, actually receiving them can become an ordeal. Between dodgy dispatches, unreliable delivery and the dreaded 'we came but you weren't in' note it is amazing that we receive anything at all. Only last week I received an email saying that my order had been dispatched only to be closely followed by another telling me that I had since received and returned said item with a refund attached. Of course with actual shopping this isn't a problem. If I buy a thing: I have the thing. Problem solved. It is not just the delivery ordeal that makes online shopping inferior to the real thing. How many times have you gone into town to buy something and come back with something
completely different that turns out to be your best buy of the year? This is the beauty of browsing. Online sites put everything in neat categories that make it easy to find what you want but impossible to find what you didn't know you wanted but deep down really need. And when it comes to food shopping it's nice to be able to choose your own fruit and veg, rather than take your chances with what turns up in the delivery van. It can never be as satisfying to find something online as when you have battled through the crowds and earned it. It's harder to say you deserve a pair of pricey shoes when you buy them sat on your sofa at home. And the sales are always better in person. Surprise finds are only possible in person and make your shopping trip feel a complete success. Shopping trips don't even have to end in a purchase to be worth the trip. Shopping is a social event; be it going into town with your friends or a house trip to the supermarket. Trying on stupid outfits in the changing rooms is much more fun than it sounds and nothing beats trolley races down the supermarket aisles. There is no way to shop online socially; grouping round a computer is no alternative. Even though I'll admit that I do shop online for the occasional purchase, I maintain that nothing compares to the real thing. It may involve delayed trains, struggling through the Bullring masses and coming home exhausted but it is certainly worth it for those lucky finds.
A fresh handheld war in store for 2011? Sam Atkins Writer
Gaming in 2011 is well under way, with AAA games appearing every week. That said, as with any other year in the industry, the real highlight will be the consoles released as we head towards shopping season. In 2011, the consoles in question are the handhelds; follow ups to both the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP have been announced. What makes them stand out from the consoles currently on the market, and which should you be spending your money on this year? Announced in March last year, and shown off at E3 (LA's Electronic Entertainment Expo) in June, the Nintendo 3DS is being billed as a whole new handheld system, unlike DS upgrades the DS Lite and DSi. As the name suggests, the big news this time around is the addition of glasses-free 3D, a major step forward both for handheld gaming consoles and 3D tech in general.
The system adds depth to the image, rather than the cinema style pop out effect seen elsewhere in 3D, which is said to add to the immersion when playing games. With titles as high profile as a remake of Ocarina of Time and Street Fighter IV making their way to the console this year, it's not as if this technology will be all gamers are buying the 3DS for. An improved processor and graphics means that games will look and sound better, with games reaching the standard of GameCube visuals if Nintendo are to be believed. That said, outside of the new interface and additional 'analogue' pad, the 3DS is very similar to the previous model. Nintendo were on top of the world entering 2011, but all it took was an announcement from Sony to shake things up in the handheld console world. Many expected the follow up to the successful, but still disappointing PSP system to retain the name and interface. Sony announced plans for their Next Generation Portable (or NGP for short) a few weeks ago, a device that will utilise a full OLED
touch screen, two analogue sticks, a rear facing touch panel and 3G support. The NGP is a technical marvel, and one that doesn't need to be seen in the flesh to be appreciated (as is the case with the 3DS). With games being loaded onto memory sticks rather than the expensive UMDs that PSP used, this could be the thing to overthrow Nintendo's continued handheld dominance, as long as the price of the system is right. With no release date announced for the NGP, and only Japan confirmed to have it before 2012, pricing is up in the air for now. This is where Nintendo are at an advantage, with their £229 price and surprisingly soon March 15th release putting them a whole year ahead of the competition. If Sony can match this price point though, the
prospect of a pocket size console said to be as powerful as the PS3 would be enough to sell most gamers on the product. We'll have to wait and see whether Sony deliver on this or not, with the 3DS launch filling the gap before more news at this year's E3. If both consoles are released in 2011, we could well have the best year for handheld gaming the industry has ever seen.
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18th February 2011
Music And The Winner is? Nobody.
Awards Season is upon us; and as predictably as spring follows winter, so do the Brit Awards limp in after the orgy that was the Grammy's. With the top event in US music coming in the aftermath of Superbowl XLV, America has emerged from the winter gloom as the undisputed king of meaningless pageantry. After the traditional vocal massacring of the national anthem, surely the Land Of The Free would impress with their annual awards smorgasbord? Well, two pleasant surprises out of 109 'ain't bad, right?' Perhaps most depressingly the biggest shock this year was that everyone's favourite Canadian spermatozoa Justin Beiber didn't walk away with Best New Artist, the gong going to previously unknown Jazz musician Esperanza Spalding. This was the one real ray of sunlight in a drearily predictable line-up of aging artists honoured; and flash-in-the-pan pop detritus polished up in the hope of extracting a bit more hard earned currency from their terminally short lifespan. And no, I don't hold any sort of hope that Lady Gaga will be forgotten any time soon, so long as the world is populated by drivelling idiots supping on the comforting baby milk of corporate pop: I'm in it for the long game and expect to see a Germanotta-less planet within the next few years (or when she ascends once more, for surely she is the second coming...). Speaking of drivelling idiots: The Brit Awards! Huzzah! Once more we have a line up of Radio 1's mainstream all-stars with all the variety and creative innovation of a paper bag. If it ain't broke don't fix it? Wrong, the Brit's are just the excuse UK record labels need to spoonfeed us more of the same cheap, tacky gruel, in the hope that our herculean collective stomach can handle all that mediocrity. To illustrate my point, exhibit A: Mumford and Sons, the new found darlings of the folk revival; or more likely, just another overhyped, 'breakthrough' act that the industry has foisted on us in the vain hope we won't realise this has been done before, by better musicians at a time when it was indeed new and exciting. That time is not 2011 and if M+S win anything it may just prove to be their suicide note as the NME-brigade sharpen their best backstabbing knives. The Brit's, I'm delighted to say, have over-stayed their welcome. They've always reflected business interests and always will. I just wish that we didn't give the damn things so much weight. I place more respect in the opinion of an artist I like than the machinations of a bunch of (probably) coke-snorting suits and shadowy executives who have strived to make music the most undervalued commodity in the world. Good business does not dictate that you continue to throw shit at the wall in the vain hope that it'll stick this time. Instead you stop throwing shit and go and find something fucking interesting to do. Charlie Bailey
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'Pay What You Want' system has been ditched for Radiohead's latest album: The King Of Limbs. www.bbc.co.uk/music/news
Album Reviews
Aggro Santos
AggroSantos.com
Jen Anderson Critic
The album features his first hit single Candy, which has sold over a quarter of a million copies in the UK to date. Club favourite Saint or Sinner also appears. Aggro was born in Brazil and the Latin influence is definitely evident in some of the tracks. Take Anaconda for example, the lyrics may leave something to be desired: 'hunting me down like an anaconda' and 'let's go to my room and release the anaconda'. Dodgy lyrics aside, the Latin rhythms are undeniably infectious. Although he grew up in London, the 21 year old has been surrounded by rhythm all his life: 'When I was about two I went missing at a birthday party in Sao Paulo,' says Santos in an interview with HMV, 'My mum
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found me in the samba room banging on a dustbin, trying to play the drums.' Rhythm N Flow will appeal to those of you into catchy tunes with repetitive lyrics – sure to be a dance floor favourite, and Just Like You is another track showing Aggro's South American origins, complete with Portuguese interludes and samba rhythms. Like U Like, his newest single, is the perfect pop song with a great hook and looks set to continue his success of 2010 into 2011. With other collaborations with the likes of Kimberley Wyatt (Pussycat Dolls), Wiley, Giggs and Ironik, it looks like Aggro Santos has rapidly established himself as a talented MC. His record deal with Gary Barlow's label 'Future Records' was what helped to propel him to stardom followed by the international success of Candy.
Single Reviews Tinie Tempah
The Strokes
Wonderman(ft.Ellie Goulding) Under Cover Of Darkness
Tinie Tempah is here to stay. Whether you like it or publicly disapprove of his shenanigans, somehow Pass Out has 'accidentally' appeared on your ipod – it's alright, just keep Bieber's album in your recycling bin, yeh? In his latest offering from platinum selling album 'Disc-overy' (yes, that hyphen is really there – just in case you didn't quite pick up the word play) Ellie Goulding features, but I much prefer starry-eyes and guns and horses than a few poetic lines about lights shining on faces and asking again and again whether he is in fact the 'wonderman.' What may strike you as different is the subject of the song – this Wonderman chap. Does Tempz secretly have an egotistical agenda by posing as some form of biomechanical Robert Downey-esque superhuman? The bow tie wearing, semi-ironic glasser wearing, squeaky clean Tinie Tempah? Or is this just a nonsensical piece of rubbish that will fail to alter any course of music history, that was essentially produced to capitalize on a love for the superhero genre? I'll leave that to you to decide. Charlotte Ashley
The new single from The Strokes after a six-year gap was perhaps as anticipated as Cadbury's reintroduction of the Wispa. Similarly, the reappearance of The Strokes is consistent with its original material. Not much has changed since First Impressions Of Earth was released in 2005. The low-fi style and effortless vocals of Casablancas remain, with the usual unpretentious, addictive guitar riffs and fitful bass that made the band's name. Whilst those only vaguely acquainted with the band would be quick to criticise a lack of progression or experimentation in Under Cover of Darkness, fans will perhaps breathe a sigh of relief. People would feel nothing but anger if Cadbury's added raisins to the Wispa and launched it under the same name. The Strokes are loved for being cool, laid back and perhaps most importantly – catchy, any deviation from this would simply be a mistake. What Under Cover of Darkness marks is the return of The Strokes to the material that made them so popular amongst the indie scene and that their break was abrupt and unwelcome. Amy Davidson
The Complete Short Stories Perfectly Still
Eva Hibbs Critic
Initially one could get excited by the prospect of The Complete Short Stories. With a seven-piece folk harmony group compared to the likes of Arcade Fire, in reality debut album Perfectly Still does not hold up to any kind of standard set by the Canadians. Replace sprawling atmospheric melodies with the general lack of crescendo to any of the tracks. Seemingly inoffensive, the lead vocals tend to give a feeling of sea sickness. Her melodies sway to and fro throughout the ten tracks, which only peak when there is a variation in tempo or chord sequence, aka not very often. Unfortunately it doesn't even serve as ignorable background music. The first track A Million Ways,
although opening the record with an upbeat sound slightly reminiscent of The Long Blondes, also foreshadows the type of repetition we see in the later nine tracks. 'Man I'm gonna watch you burn, it's your turn, will you ever learn? It's your turn' is uninspiring in the second song, you guessed it, Burn. The seventh track on the album, apathetically urges us to Struggle On through lyrics of exchanging brains and feeding fish. We do, however hear the multilayered instrumentals towards the end, Circus shows their potential of creating a fairytale atmosphere – through refreshingly organised chaos. Who would like this? Me probably, if I was at a sunny festival, beer in hand and plaiting blades of grass. But it's February; with a hangover this all just sounds dizzy
Essential Albums
Eminem The Slim Shady LP (1999)
William Franklin Music Editor
The Slim Shady LP might not be everyone's idea of the best record Eminem ever made, compared with The Marshall Mathers LP or The Eminem Show which both sold double their predecessor in the U.S. But there's only one asset that holds Em's second above his six other studio albums in my estimation, and that's how delicately balanced it is. Every record Em produces will feature a blend of themes and topics that he recycles (with varying success) each time but it essentially boils down to his songs either being hilarious, horrific or (in the case of most of his masterpieces) both. This is the record where he weighed them perfectly. It's an album of dualism, a hopeless battle between a single destitute father with real problems and his dark passenger, Slim Shady, a monster dominated by his violent, sadistic impulses. They come together brilliantly on '97 Bonnie & Clyde, the source of most of the criticisms against the LP's lyrical content as it recounted Em taking his baby daughter to the beach in the middle of the night
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to dispose of his ex-wife's corpse. What makes it utterly compelling though, is its narration, as Em coos and fawns over Hailie: 'Mama said she wants to show you how far she can float/and don't worry about that little boo-boo on her throat.' Genuine concern for his daughter's wellbeing comes across equally strongly in the povertystricken miseries of Rock Bottom and If I had but the true genius of The SSLP is in the contrast. Tracks like Guilty Conscience, which capitalises on the banter between Em and Dr Dre as they compete to guide confused rednecks considering whether or not to rob liquour stores. And Brain Damage and its retrospective look on Marshall's school life and his victimisation by bullies. Both look at strong moral dilemmas with tongue planted firmly in cheek. It's barely worth talking about the production, Dre knew full well that Marshall's almost unequalled talent on the mic needed a minimal stage, so the beats are consistently unobtrusive and never distract from the raps. It leaves the album feeling like a personal tirade, that's all at once thought-provoking, unsettling and just hernia-inducing funny.
Redbrick
Editors – Charlie Bailey, William Franklin
Live Reviews
Joan As A Police woman
Sad Day For Puppets Flapper 11/02/2011
Glee Club 07/02/2011
The Mighty Boosh met Martha Wainwright tonight at the Glee. Joan Wasser: soulful and all sparkly. At the surprising age of 41, Joan only seriously began her music career in the last decade, in response one could say, to the tragic drowning of her boyfriend Jeff Buckley. Promptly following his death, Joan formed four-piece Black Beetle with Buckley's old band mates; pre-occupied with grief, this could be seen as a tribute. Now, Joan stands before us in her own right, as a tough 'police woman'. Having spent exploratory time touring with Antony and the Johnsons and later, as an established artist with Rufus Wainwright, this decade of influence is apparent in her music. The album she plays tonight, The Deep Field, shows a development of positivity. The show begins with James Vincent McMorrow, an example of why sometimes it's important to get to a gig on time. He sang gently and beautifully, it was the space around his words that resounded. So gently in fact, that a woman left the room to cough! Perhaps a lost bearded member of Fleet Foxes, McMorrow's vocals possessed a haunting quality that Bon Iver fans
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18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
will welcome. Just like James, Joan has a peculiar presence, accompanied by an equally odd drummer and synth guy. She talks about the weather, of course, and the Brit's apparent lenience with the c-word. Stuck for topics with this seated middleaged audience, she launched into album track three Action Man, followed leisurely by current single The Magic – by far her catchiest and most memorable. Joan meanders through The Deep Field, paying attention at times to the keyboard but mostly to the electric guitar, which she riffs around on, sporting her silver jumpsuit. Run For Love gets heads bobbing, a sprawling glance back to a swinging era. We hear Joan's continuing
insecurities about love in Save Me, she sings with her writhing body 'I don't wanna hope and pray, if you're already good as gone'. Her penultimate song, however, lifted the gig onto a triumphant note. I Was Everyone, in memory of Joan of Arc, resounds with female empowerment 'We are the champions, be heard!' A perfect way to finish, I thought, as numerous couples made for the door, satisfied also to avoid the tiring encore. Some screamed for more, perhaps until their wine glasses were empty. I caught sight of a newspaper underneath someone's seat and wrote the words 'Too long to remember when I wanted to hear more'. Eva Hibbs
Scandinavian bands are going to take over the world. Efterklang, Sigur Rós and Camera Obscura are all testament to that fact. But why is this so? Many have thought that the lack of sunlight forces the likes of Lekman and Bjork into their song writing hovels more often than the rest of the industry, but I have to disagree. After watching Sad Day for Puppets at the Flapper Friday week, I'm convinced that it's our blonde-haired cousins' inherent charm that wins the critical acclaim and public adoration. The evening was one for humorous dancing, with SDFP's bassist's efforts to make daddy dancing cool again complimenting the bizarre shapes of the support act, I eat Your Skin. Their terrible tribute to the Ting Tings (probably the least deserving act of a tribute from the last decade) pervaded
Sid Vicious: A Defence
the Eurythmics, whose seminal Sweet Dreams was poorly covered before the twosome delivered a self indulgent 'epic' declaring that 'Fire is Burning.' One of the worst named bands I've ever heard were unsurprisingly the worst live band that I've ever seen. East 17 sadly go down to second place. Understandably, the venue filled out for SDFP, whose short set was packed full of catchy tunes and sugar-sweet vocal harmonies. The most recent single, the captivating Sorrow, Sorrow is currently being championed by Lauren Laverne and it was the highlight of a set that came alive in the middle part. Monster & The Beast and Shadows were crowd pleasers, although the rock 'n' roll song endings to these indie-pop forms were somewhat incongruous. SDFP play heart-warming songs with smiles on their faces. Their music doesn't break boundaries, nor will it win the Mercury, but live their charming sound is a real winner. Matt Saull
Music Diary 18th – 24th
Amy Davidson remembers a legend. Punk prophet or just another junkie?
Friday 18th Europe O2 Academy
Jason Derlulo Civic Hall, Wolves.
Saturday 19th Miles Kane O2 Academy 3
Ben Folds HMV Institute
Sunday 20th Ray Lamontagne Symphony Hall Maroon 5 O2 Academy
Monday 21st From 1979 the 2nd February would forever represent a broken knuckle in the bloody punch of punk music, with the death of Sid Vicious. Vicious' heroin overdose has perhaps become as intrinsic to the 'punk image' as the music of his band, Sex Pistols, or even more so. Wherever Sid is mentioned as 'the bass player of Sex Pistols' there is inevitably a barrier of contempt. The most common grievance being his inability to actually play the instrument he is associated with. However, how much does this actually matter when considering his role in the Sex Pistols, and his influence on the punk scene overall? My response would be; hardly. It is a common and smugly regurgitated fact that Sid Vicious was chosen to join the Sex Pistols purely because of his image, which epitomised the punk look, and be-
cause of his frequency at the band's shows. It seems like a ridiculous question – do you have to play an instrument to be in a successful band? Most people would of course feel that fame and success as a musician is not deserved unless musically talented. Undoubtedly in most cases this is the right attitude to possess – why should we praise the talentless? However whilst Vicious may not have been an awe-inspiring bass player, he was vital to the Sex Pistols and the scene that accompanied them. Vicious encompassed punk both in attire and in attitude. Today, most of our common perceptions and images of the punk scene comes from Sid. Undeniably skinny, consistently clad in a leather jacket, jeans and motorcycle boots, and possessing audaciously spiky
hair. Pair this with the infamous swastika vest and a schizophrenic American junkie girlfriend, alleged to have been working as a prostitute, and you pretty much get the idea. Sid Vicious was certainly at least an aesthetic non-conformist, however this dissidence extended to much more in reality. Sid changed the way in which people could respond to music, especially significant with the emergence of punk music, with his supposed invention of the pogo jump. To this accomplishment of Sid's can be added his contribution to the banning of punk bands from the well-known venue the 100 Club, after he launched a glass at fellow punk band The Damned. The furore and buzz with which punk was received must further be attributed to Vicious' violent beating of journalist Nick Kent with a
bicycle chain, for writing negatively about the Sex Pistols. Whilst this was clearly violent and unacceptable behaviour, Sid provoked discussion and controversy, which to this day surrounds the Sex Pistols and makes them one of the most easily associated bands with the British punk scene. Punk did not require people to play their instruments well and pay their dues to the press – it required passion and dissent, something which Sid brought wholly. Whilst we should not make heroes of violent drug addicts, neither should we champion passive musicians. Equally if not more important than producing technically good music is the attitude with which it is delivered. Sid Vicious may not have been an innovative and accomplished bass player, but he is an invaluable icon to the British punk scene.
Your Demise O2 Academy 2
Empire The Temple@ HMV Institute
Tuesday 22nd Rob Zombie O2 Academy
Cold War Kids O2 Academy 2
Wednesday 23rd Gay For Johnny Depp The Flapper
RockSound Exposure Tour O2 Academy
Thursday 24th Mogwai HMV Institute Senses Fail O2 Academy 2
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Lifestyle
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18th February 2011
Fierce or Finished? Fierce
Two daddies are better than none! Gay, Bisexual and Transgender to give it its proper name) was only legalised in the UK in 2005 and other European countries like France and Ukraine still haven't changed their relative legislation. However, these changes are still so fresh in the public mind in Britain that it is still very difficult for LGBT couples to adopt. Despite the law having
Lara Edwards Writer
Gay adoption is a topic guaranteed to create a rift in a discussion, even amongst those who claim to be liberal. The combination of the issue of homosexuality and the upbringing of a child appears to bring out conservative tendencies in those who aren't generally homophobic but believe that it is just that little bit too far from the status quo of the nuclear family. Throw in the added catalyst of the celebrity and you have a the potential for media uproar. Recently the spotlight is back on gay adoption and parenthood due to Elton John and David Furnish's new baby, born through a surrogate after years of trying to
adopt and Cynthia Nixon, of the Sex and the City fame, having a baby with her lesbian partner. Elton and David had tried to adopt Ukrainian baby Lev after he had 'stolen (their) hearts' in 2009, but the Ukrainian authorities denied their application for adoption. Despite the couple's fervent attempts to overturn the decision it was final and David and Elton ended up using a surrogate mother as a last resort, reportedly spending £650,000, according to The Sun. The issue is now back in the forefront of discussion as it is argued whether they should have had to use a surrogate when there was already a child who needed a home. LGBT adoption (Lesbian,
Despite the law having changed, social perceptions in many cases have not. changed, social perceptions in many cases have not. Prejudice is still widespread in Britain with over 1/3 of the British public claiming that gay adoption is wrong (according to a 2008 survey conducted by The Guardian), which is a shocking statistic. In the past even Elton's halfbrother Geoff Dwight has publicly criticised Elton's plans to adopt. His reasoning was that the child would certainly be
bullied at school – a valid reason in the respect that it's highly possible that the child may face prejudice and bullying from children who have never encountered another child with two daddies or mummies before – but surely the opportunity for a child to become part of a loving family far outweighs the negative reaction of others? Dwight's other strain of argument that Elton was too old to adopt is undeniably a much stronger case against adoption. Elton is 63 years old and becoming a father at his age means his son will only be a teenager when he turns 80. Age wise he is closer to being the baby's granddad than his father. Obviously Elton is no ordinary 63 year old, I am sure the majority of 63year olds do not hold Elton's notorious 'don'tgive-a-shit' attitude to life but in any case it is unfair on the child that he is going to have a limited amount of time with his father. This point was also raised by the Ukrainian authorities when the couple tried to adopt Lev and this reason makes much more sense that the discrimination against the couple's sexuality.
Geraldine Tovey Writer
For a while not being committed may seem like a good idea but let's be realistic here, open relationships don't work in the long term. Simple as that. By no means am I saying that whilst you are in the initial stage of dating you can't see other people, there is no harm in that at all. Hell, it could even be encouraged. You need to know what you will be missing out on and work out if you want to continue. And I am certainly not saying that once you are committed to another person that a cheeky flirt with a random stranger at a bar is out of the question.
Anonomyous Writer
In nature, there are two choices: mating with one partner for security and reliability, or maximising the opportunity of passing on your genes by mating with many. Of course it's adorable to hear about loved-up doves mating for life, but is this really what homo-sapiens are meant to do? Feminists, you are about to be offended by my next comment: to generalise, I could say that men need to spread their seed and father lots of offspring, where as women form emotional attachments during sex and a desire to be impregnated – don't say I didn't warn you.
Topshop nail polish Cute bottle, great finish and AMAZING colours. The Strokes are back! No doubt that the forthcoming Angles will be the album of the year. Looking ahead to summer Booking holidays, buying festival tickets and planning our summer wardrobe is keeping us going. Sexy celeb shoots Avril Lavigne looks surprisingly classy in an Italian Vanity Fair shoot whilst Vanessa Hudgens shakes her squeaky clean Disney image with a risqué shoot for America’s Details magazine. Valentine’s Day dates with the girls Waaay more fun and besides, who wants roses and posh chocs anyway? ‘Health’ TV – With shows like The Joys of Teen Sex and Embarrassing Bodies, being healthy has never been so entertaining. London Fashion Week Kicks off today, what could be more fierce than that? Rebecca Jones
Debate: Can open relationships work? Monogamy is key Open it up It will give you an ego-boost, just don't go home with them. Lines must be drawn to avoid conflict, jealousy and hurt between you and your partner, and these lines are undefined if monogamy doesn't exist. Ross and Rachel's infamous 'we were on a break!' echoes here. Not knowing what is and isn't cheating will only lead to heartbreak. They couldn't do it and they weren't even in an open relationship, and they didn't get back together for years. After speaking to some of my friends on the issue of monogamy, they were of the opinion that men would be far better at open relationships than women due to biological reasons. Men can produce kids at any age they want whereas women only have a limited time and therefore are more inclined to mate for life. Sure, men may be more comfortable with the idea, as being able to have sex with other people would totally score man points down the pub. Being realistic, men are just as fearful of open relationships, and their missus enjoying the company of another man more than them. Why do you think John Lennon wrote Jealous Guy? Worst case scenario: your boyfriend or girlfriend starts to get feelings for the person they are having sex with. Wouldn't you feel stupid knowing that you had agreed to it?
Beyoncé Now that she’s been confirmed to headline Glastonbury, our assumptions are confirmed. There’s NOTHING this woman can’t do.
Finished
Biologically, men have an infinite amount of sperm to dispose of, yet women are born with a set number of eggs. Perhaps this explanation is too crude for most people; and I really am a romantic at heart. You see, my boyfriend of 15 months and I have a rather unusual agreement: he is allowed to have engage in casual sex when he goes to university in September and we will remain in our long term relationship. Now before you all recoil in horror at this decision that I have made, let me elaborate: it's not an 'open relationship', as I would have to at least date a guy to have sex with him (call me old fashioned), though I do believe sex and love are different. It's easier for guys to have 'no strings attached sex', and as long as he uses protection I have no qualms. I don't need justification for my decision, but it can't be all wrong if Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are following this principle and look how long they've lasted. Obviously being the sexiest woman in the world gives you more confidence but the key thing is trust. I am not advising girls to do the same as me. All I'm saying is, if you can be secure enough (something I find lacking in my fellow females), then maybe if your boyfriend drunkenly kisses some girl in a club, you can find it in yourself to forgive him and know that his libido is not directly connected to his heart.
Valentine's Day Finally. Get your reds and pinks out of my sight. This new acceptance of Kerry Katona Don't you remember what happened the last time she reinvented herself and we let her back into our heats? Cocaine. Cocaine happened. Smokey eyes It's all about the red lip and the thick brow now, don'tcha know? Check out the BAFTA's red carpet pics if you don't believe me. Whatever will Taylor Momsen do? 'Lazy Tool' As if Lee's poor girlfriend carted his mass of dead weight across a field on the E4 show, and yet he just couldn't carry hers a mere mile. Loser Tool. The novelty of being able to go into Uni looking like a tramp Joggers and pump-shoes are ok. Dirt across your neck and dandruff in your hair is not. Take the hint. Dodgy letting agencies Are you really so unimaginative that you can't think of better ways to make money than ripping off poor unsuspecting students? Working too hard It's getting to that time of year when five hours sleep a night would be such a luxury... Gabriella Buxton
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Culture Can marriage tame? Derrina Jebb Writer
There are some celebs that you can quite safely put in the 'will-notget-married' category. Not because they're unattractive or deemed unworthy for marriage, but because they're free spirits. Those, quite happy in their relationship without needing a ring on their finger and the perpetually single that won't be tied down and will continue to throw up their middle fingers at the institution of marriage. Up until last fortnight, Kate Moss would have belonged in that category. However the news that she is engaged to long term boyfriend Jamie Hince means she will be soon going down the aisle, hot on the heels of another newly engaged Kate. Yet Moss is more party animal than princess, championing a lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock and roll. So can marriage really 'tame' her or other similar celebrities? The same surprise came when Russell Brand announced his marriage to Katy Perry – women everywhere were given hope that yes, serious sex pests can be 'tamed' and settle down to a lifestyle of domesticity. However, not all women are blessed with the looks of Katy Perry and I highly doubt whether they have monotonous vanilla sex sessions and are content with Take Me Out and a curry on a Saturday night. Though this sounds like an attack on marriage, it isn't. Some are quite happy to settle down and see it as a perfect declaration of love and their childhood dreams of white lace and promises fulfilled, but there
are some that are quite happy not to be tied down by 'marital bliss'. Can the forever young really be happy as someone's 'other half'? Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox has always been synonymous with the term ladette in reference to her days of getting her kit off and clubbing with Zoe Ball. Yet both women have now settled down and Cox's Twitter reads more on pilates and skinny cappuccinos than Fabric and tequila shots.
Positive Posture
tation to break another set of rules? There are those that just don't need marriage to 'fulfil' them and surely I'm not the only one that just wishes Pete Doherty and Kate Moss to reunite in a Heathcliff and Cathy style meeting resulting in no gaudy wedding ceremonies but just a practical and beautiful co-habitation? Whilst it's sad that Jude Law and Sienna Miller's engagement was called off, perhaps it's for the best – if you can't keep the vows, just don't make them. Take note Ashley Cole.
Serious sex pests can be 'tamed' and settle down to a lifestyle of domesticity As much as I wish the very best for celebrity marriages and would like to believe that Russell Brand will grow old with Katy Brand – obviously referring to the 'California Girl' and not the large comedienne. I do have doubts on whether those who have always been renowned as foot loose and fancy free can keep the vows that are meant to last a lifetime. After all is the practice of marriage and the constraints of legally binding vows just a massive temp-
Writer
Let's face it, we all know that at Birmingham University, students know that Fab 'n' Fresh has a completely different set of rules to an ordinary night out in Birmingham. I can't explain why, but for some reason the night is simply more drunken and messier than any other night of the week. For this reason, I have come up with a set of rules to prevent postFab embarrassment/severe illness and to curb any other problems that arise from that night, as awesome as it is: Get completely wasted: I know this defeats the point of avoiding hanging your head in shame, but wandering around the Underground sober simply isn't worth the effort unless you are intoxicated. Also, let's face it, it's not as if Fab has the same 'je ne sais quoi' as somewhere like Bambu
Vicky Hodgkinson Writer
My mum is always telling me to stand up straight and I weakly protest that I am; of course, I am not. She's right. Hours of library and lectures sat in chairs that provide no back support cause most students to look like Quasimodo. You only actively use 14 out of over 640 muscles when you stand up, so in theory, it should be easy. In lectures: If you spend all day in a lecture theatre sat on your derriere, sit with your knees a little apart and your feet flat on the floor. Crossing your legs will twist your spine, put pressure on your knees and hips as well as compressing your lower back. Study: Don't sit in the same position for hours. When proof-reading an essay your face doesn't need to be so close to the screen/print out; rest back in your seat when reading through something. When you're note-taking, sit up near the front of the seat – that doesn't mean hunching forward, it means leaning forward from your hips.
Olivia Ovenden Writer
or Gatecrasher, therefore to truly appreciate its mystique, one must be truly wrecked. Being drunk also makes the queues far more bearable. Don't get too dressed up: Fab is not exactly Mechu or Jamhouse in terms of dressing standards, so what's the point of making all of that effort when it is definitely not necessary? Personally, I do not see the point of wearing a nice outfit and heels only for someone in Rooster House later that night to point out that I have snakebite down my back. Instead I would rather go for something that is both casual and dressy to avoid looking under-dressed but to not waste time putting wasted effort in. Don't walk home on your own: I know it may seem like a good idea when both the Vale and Selly Oak are so close, but Birmingham like any other major city, is dealing with crime problems. I am not saying that you should get a taxi home by any means, but whether male or female, nobody should be alone when venturing off from Fab. Not to mention, if you have had a good night at fab, you should be far too legless to even think about walking home alone. Have an epic breakfast the next day: Don't worry; even if you have had a double chicken mayo burger at Dixi's the night before, it is always acceptable to have an epic breakfast the next day. Personally, I recommend the pancakes at Selly Sausage, but I understand that everybody has their own preference.
At a computer: You're on a deadline and 'bashing out' a few thousand words, so make sure you turn away from the computer screen every so often and look around (anybody good looking about?). If possible tilt your screen slightly downwards to lengthen the back of the neck and prevent tension building up in your shoulders. Giving a presentation: Stand tall! Bad posture causes muscles to shorten and you look shorter. If you feel nervous when standing in front of a group of people stand with one foot behind the other rather than leaning down on your hip – you will feel more balanced, and hopefully feign confidence. Sadly I don't have tips to prevent your face going red. At home: Undo a day's tension by lying on your back with your feet on the floor and your knees bent pointing upwards towards the ceiling. Support your head on some books (that textbook will finally be of use!) so that your head isn't tilted back, but not so much that your chin is at your chest. This position will help release tension – alternatively (as per Lifestyle Editor, Briony) strut around the house in heels to boost your posture.
Selective Sexism
The Fab Five
Geraldine Tovey
Lifestyle 21
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Briony Singh and Rob Lewis
A massive breakfast on a Sunday morning/afternoon is well deserved in preparation for the Uni work that you've been inevitably
The Bicycle Basketerr, Flickr putting off for the whole week. Do not make out with anyone from your course: Being more than just friends should always be discussed to avoid any embarrassing situations when you have to encounter these people later in the week. Instead you should use your connections to get a cheeky drink at the bar and avoiding the queue by talking to someone who works at Joe's. Apologies to Sarah Welsby who was miscredited as the author of 'Love your bits' in last weeks issue. The credit should have gone to Sarah Musgrove.
'What about Andy Gray then?' is a question that has been thrown around every dinner table and lecture hall with predictable reactions of outrage, and rightly so. His disparaging, archaic and frankly idiotic assumptions regarding women have left us at the sidelines asking, 'is this still a problem?' Malice was evident in everything the two men uttered; the ambiguity however is in whether girls really exude the message that sexism is unacceptable. Friday night Gatecrasher is adorned with girls in scraps of material along the bar waiting for a man to buy them a drink. Ironically it gets worse the more upmarket the establishment you visit. Top nightclubs in London give girls free entry to wait for a wealthy man to pick them and drink their free champagne all evening. The price? Flirt, look good and make sure whatever you do makes them look good. Girls should be able to act and wear what they like, part of feminism is about owning our sexuality and having the right to use our intelligence, wit and attractiveness to our advantage. Leaving sexism however, in rather an Andy Gray area, how can we simultaneously portray a message of equality when we exploit our own looks and femininity to further o u r selves? This 'selective sexism' is
such a part of our culture it's hard to recognise at times, the batting our eyelashes in traffic queues, acting too stupid to see the one way sign, flirting away parking tickets and we all know the one where she gets pulled over and the policeman lets it go. It's not chivalry; men letting women get away with these things in exchange for flirting with them isn't akin to having the door held open for us. It looks harmless, but the issue lies within the message that this behavior creates; a woman isn't capable of waiting in a traffic queue, buying drinks or, that we can do it, but its boring and we want to be treated differently, maybe it's a case of girls just want to have fun. Females are divided on the issue, and need a cohesive message or the girls that allow men to objectify them, let down those throwing abuse at Andy Gray. We're all too pleased with ourselves to turn around and cry female oppression, but happily compromise our integrity when we delude ourselves thinking it's 'on our terms'. With sexism comes responsibility not just the role of victimhood; it is definitely the case that women own their sexuality; the question is how much we sell it for.
22 redbrickonline.co.uk
Food The Dukan (or Can't) Diet
18th February 2011
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Nigerian Week:
To try your hand at some tasty Nigerian recipes visit: www.avartsycooking.com
Top 5 Food Tweets
Chelsie Collins Food Writer
Want to lose weight fast? Need to fit into that dress in a couple of weeks? Well, I may have the answer for you. When one of my house mates told me she was going to start the 'Dukan Diet', I was intrigued. You can lose up to seven pounds in just one week with this diet scheme which 'the french have kept secret for years.' 'Great! Get me on this diet now!' you must be thinking. This was exactly my house mate's opinion. Created by French nutritionist Dr Pierre Dukan, this diet scheme has got the nation going crazy. It is made up of four phases to help you drop the pounds fast.
Phase one: Attack
During this phase the diet is made up of 72 high protein foods enabling immediate weight loss. However, here's the catch, you can ONLY eat protein and no fat carbohydrates during the 'Attack' phase.
Phase two: Cruise
After week one when all you have eaten is fish and meat and you are probably considering turning vegetarian, you can now include recommended vegetables into your meals.
Phase three: Consolidation
This phase prepares you for a more
1. @Foodimentary "Life is like a candy bar. We're paying more, but they're getting shorter" – Charlie Brown 2. @ottolenghi Ottolenghi cooking classes: put 8th March in the diary for booking: http://bit.ly/evKERM 3. @PigBusiness Friends balanced diet where monitored freedom is allowed two meals a week so you can spice up your meal times.
Phase four: Stabilization
This part of the diet is labelled the easiest as it is all about maintaining your lost weight. Are you a meat lover? Does an all protein diet sound good for you? After watching my house mate during her 'Attack' phase I am not so sure this is a healthy solution to a balanced diet. Here is her food diary of the first few days of the 'Dukan Diet':
The healthy eater: Salmon James Morrisson Food Writer
The second ingredient in our guide on fitting healthy yet tasty ingredients easily into your diet is salmon. An excellent source of protein, salmon is also one of the best sources of omega-3 fats. These fats help balance the body's inflammation response; a bodily function that when disturbed appears to be linked to many diseases including asthma. This may also be particularly useful for those of you who are still going strong with any fitness New Year resolutions. Studies have shown increasing the amount of these essential fats in your diet can help with your breathing if you suffer from exercised-induced asthma. Although any fish is great to get into your diet, salmon poses an ideal solution for those looking to get a load of nutrients quickly and conveniently into their cooking. Fillets bought in frozen packs
of six or so prove really versatile when stored in the freezer, allowing you to pull out just enough for one portion, right when you need it. Like any filleted fish, cooking doesn't take long and can be done in many different ways. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes whilst covering with chopped nuts, pesto or simply a knob of butter. Pan-fry on a high heat for 5-10 minutes (skin side first), turning occasionally, before serving on a bed of noodles, rice or mashed potatoes and a squeeze of lemon. Or, break into chunks and add to a white or tomato sauce before stirring in with your pasta and topping with grated cheese. For a yummy treat, why not indulge in a packet of smoked salmon: Aldi offer some at a very reasonable price. Sprinkle over scrambled eggs for a delicious breakfast. However you try it, Salmon offers you a lighter and quicker, nutrient-packed alternative for your mid-week meals.
Day One: Breakfast: No fat yoghurt Lunch: 2 chicken drumsticks Snack: Packet of ham Dinner: Steak
Day Four: Breakfast: No fat yoghurt Lunch: Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs Dinner: Chicken drumstick
Day Two: Breakfast: No fat yoghurt Lunch: Smoked salmon slices Snack: Packet of chicken breast Dinner: Roast chicken legs
As you can see, the options are limited, as you are not allowed to eat fatty meats on the 'Dukan Diet' such as lamb or pork. After one week of dieting in this way my housemate felt tired, lethargic and got dizzy after walking to uni, but she did drop 3 pounds.
Day Three: Breakfast: Coffee Lunch:Roast chicken legs Snack: Diet coke Dinner: 2 burgers with 2 eggs
of the Earth: EU farms completely dependent on imports from developing countries. Need to produce our own feed #PigBusinessEU
4. @stradatweet Check out our new £6.95 lunch menu – some great dishes including our much loved Penne Bufala 5. @twitcipes Sugar and
dairy free strawberry sorbet: 250gm frozen strawberries, 75ml soy milk, 50gm agave nectar, mint. Blitz in food processor and serve
For a quick fix, it may suit you, but for long-term results I think the traditional healthy eating method is the way forward.
By Vicky Hodgkinson
Is insomnia a thing of the past?
Jordan Murphy investigates the issues of insomnia and the notion that certain foods can help. ganises all your thought processes so that the most significant things are remembered and stored safely (this could also lead to you forgetting chunks of the night before). The body is too busy fighting off the poisonous alcohol to allow this phase so the next day you feel shattered and uncoordinated. But, it is reported that some foods can help you sleep:
It has recently been declared that in the UK today, one in three of us are suffering from some form of insomnia; that is the inability to fully achieve a restful night's sleep. There are many causes for this, but it all seems to stem from the fact that somewhere along the lines, our sleep pattern has become interrupted. Apart from the obvious solutions such as regulating sleep by resting and waking at the same time each day and training your mind to switch off at night, it is definitely worth knowing some useful and less known tricks to get you nodding off. What you may not be aware of is the fact that your diet is, in fact, a big determining factor in how many Zs you catch each night. Here is a mini guide to food that can help you sleep: Firstly, it is an obvious yet im-
portant fact to stress that the higher your consumption of caffeine in a day, the lower the chances of getting a good night's sleep is. Caffeine, found in coca cola, coffee and stimulating drinks such as lucozade and red bull stay in the system for a long time and whilst they might help keep you awake during those 9am lectures, you should avoid them after 2pm. Secondly, ever wondered why after a boozy night out, you can sleep for hours on end and still feel like you've been awake all night? It's because our body repeats a cycle of four different phases of sleep every night and the most important phase, the REM (or rapid eye movement) phase fails to happen. During this phase of sleep, the mind processes everything it has encountered during the previous day and, like a filing system, or-
• Eggs • Milk • Yoghurt • Fish • Bananas • Mangoes • All poultry Why? All these foods contain the amino acid tryptophan which can really help you sleep largely because of the two chemicals it releases within the body; serotonin and melotonin. The former is a feel good chemical which helps us relax and the latter is the same chemical our body automatically secretes when the light fades and it gets darker in the evening. Incorporating these foods into your tea time meal should help arouse that sleepy feeling, however It has been proven a three hour gap between eating and sleeping often helps as the body is then more relaxed but why not grab a glass of milk as a late night treat to help you drift off. Sweet dreams.
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Bitter sweet: The rising cost of food
Vicky Hodgkinson Food Writer
A student's weekly food shopping budget is inevitably tight. Food prices are on the rise and I was recently unimpressed to hear Cadbury's plans to cut the size of its 140 gram Dairy Milk bar by two squares to 120 grams, despite keeping the price the same. The company, now owned by Kraft, attributed their decision to the rising cost of ingredients. Take a moment to recover from this devastating chocolate based crime and try and get to grips with the fact that food prices are likely to rise in the future. This January, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the wholesale cost of food hit its highest monthly figure on record.
Food prices peaked in 2008, when a food crisis prompted riots and demonstrations around the world, and now in 2011 recent protests in Tunisia and Algeria are also being linked to the rise in food prices. Last year, severe weather in some of the world's biggest food exporting countries damaged supplies pushing the price of food up to almost 20% more than in 2009. Flooding hit Canada and Australia was also hit by floods and a cyclone which destroyed crops of wheat and sugar cane. Mother Nature stuck her oar in once again when drought and fires devastated harvests of wheat and other grains in Russia during the summer, provoking Russia to ban exports. According to 'The Future of Food and Farming' report, governments are going to have to accept
new agricultural techniques in order to boost food production. The report warned existing food systems will fail, leaving billions of people in the world hungry and another billion suffering from dietary deficiencies, as current agricultural systems degrade the natural environment in an unsustainable way. The scientists who compiled the report imply no new technologies, including GM crops or animal cloning, should be excluded on ethical or moral grounds. The report went on to reject the idea that nations must become self-sufficient in food, and argued that it would be best to distribute food to where it is needed. The report concluded that food prices will increase in real terms by at least 50 per cent over 40 years due to supply shortages as demand rises along with a growing world population. Cadbury's reduction of 20 grams doesn't seem so outrageous now does it? Cocoa prices are up 12 per cent this year and were exasperated when Alassane Ouattara, the president of the Ivory Coast (the world's biggest exporter of cocoa), called cocoa exporters to stop trading in an effort to persuade his political rivals to stand down. Whilst some chocolatiers have locked prices for both cocoa and sugar for the next six months, we will inevitably see the price rise of our chocolate in the future. Either that or makers could settle for Cadbury's trick and reduce their confectionery's size whilst keeping the price the same. If only we could go back to the days when a Freddo cost ten pence – not in this life time I'm afraid.
Recipe of the Week Obe Eron ture should sizzle when it hits the pan.) 3. Add seasonings and stir continuously. Cover pot with a tight lit and leave to cook for 8-10 minutes. 4. Add meat and mix until it is covered in stew then bring down heat to gas mark 2. Leave to boil for another 10 minutes. (The stew should give off a strong aroma when cooked.) 5.Once cooked, leave to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Obe Eron Nigerian stew is known for being spicy, full of flavour and very meaty. Obe Eron is a dish that is made in my house so often I sometimes forget that other foods exist. But this is credit to my mother's cooking, because no matter how many times she cooks it, it still tastes delicious. So, drop the beans on toast, pasta bakes and stir-frys and try your hand at something straight from the Nigerian. This delicious stew can be served with rice, potatoes, yam, plantain and noodles. Or if you want the full Nigerian dining experience, serve with pounded yam or ground rice (both can be found in Tesco). This recipe serves 4 people. Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs or drumsticks and beef (seasoned and cooked) 2 tins of peeled tomatoes (canned) 2 small onions or 1 medium sized.
Food 23
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – Dami Olugbode, Harriet Constable
2 medium red peppers (tatashe) 4 scotch bonnets peppers (ata rodo) 1 cup of oil 2 maggi cubes 2 tbsps all purpose seasoning (knorr chicken or vegetable cubes could be used as an alternative) 1 clove of garlic [optional] 1 cup of water
For more Nigerian recipes visit: www.avartsycooking.com
By Dami Olugbode
Secret Review: Pushkar, Broad Street
Last Sunday I was treated to dinner at Pushkar, a fabulous North Indian restaurant on Broad Street. With its eyecatching façade and plush interior, it has to be one of the most inviting places on this busy thoroughfare. Owner and manager Rai Singh had a dream of opening a restaurant called Pushkar – literally meaning 'born to a flower' – for a long time before its realisation in 2009. The décor is sumptuous, in cream and gold with long bench seats, orchids and chandeliers. Waitresses float around in pretty silk outfits. The bar, with its high stools and impressive cocktail menu, is the perfect place to relax before a meal. At the table, we were presented with a box containing the menu and wine list. We each ordered a glass of Prosecco (a cheaper alternative to champagne, but just as delicious) and with that came a selection of poppadoms with chutney and raitas. Mr Singh, who was waiting our table himself, was gentle in his manner and remarkably patient as we took our time perusing the menu. We decided to try the Patialashahi Gosht, a medium-spicy lamb dish cooked with ginger and yoghurt. All the vegetable dishes can be served as main courses or as sides, so we went for a small portion of Khumb Palak,
When I was younger my grandmother would offer me this delicious little snack, usually to shut me up. Chin Chin is a deep fried Nigerian snack made primarily of flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. It is quite simple to make and is a nice alternative to the usual library delectables. So, if you have some spare time on your hands why not make a batch, I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do!
Method: 1. In a clean bowl, add all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar and salt and mix. Then using your fingers work butter into the dry ingredients, until it resembles breadcrumb consistency. Chin Chin
garlicky mushrooms with spinach and cream. A crunchy cucumber salad cut through the richness, and we also ordered plain steamed rice and a Peshawari naan, which came wrapped in a warm cloth. One main dish turned out to be plenty between us with all the other accompaniments. The whole meal was beautifully presented and service was quick. You are individually looked after, treated as people and not just as customers. You are not hurried either; we enjoyed picking at the food slowly amidst chatter and glasses of rich Argentinian Malbec. The puddings at Pushkar are divine. We just had room for the signature Garam Masala Brulee. This is an Indian take on a classic British pud, with all the same creamy, silky qualities but infused with spices. It is served with a shot glass of raspberry coulis, at the bottom of which are whole blackcurrants. The combination of sour and sweet is perfect. To finish, we shared a Café Toledo, which is Baileys, Kahlua, espresso, chocolate and double cream, topped with crushed amaretti biscuits. For such palatial food, the total bill was astoundingly reasonable. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. By Rachel Johnston
....Another one to try: Chin Chin
Ingredients: 1 cup of plain flour 1 egg 3 tbsps of butter 3 tbsps of granulated sugar ½ tsp of salt 3-4 cups of oil for frying
Method: 1.Deseed and wash peppers and onions. Cut onions and peppers into fours and transfer half into a blender. Add one tin of tomatoes, half a cup of water and blend, until smooth and no chunks are visible. Pour into a clean bowl. Repeat with second half. (Peppers, onions, tin of tomatoes, water, garlic – blend) 2. Preheat pot of oil at gas mark 4. Once it is hot, pour blended mixture into the pot of oil. (The mix-
Shhh...!
2. Make a hole in the centre of the bowl and break an egg into it.
Then using your fingers, work the egg into flour until there are no trances of flour or egg. 3. Create one large dough ball then, using a cutting board and a rolling pin, roll the dough out till it's about an inch thick. 4. Preheat the oil at gas mark 4. Using a sharp knife cut into the dough horizontally then vertically, creating small cubes. Gently separate the cut dough and place neatly back onto the cutting board. 5. Test the temperature of the oil by dropping in a small piece of dough; wait till it turns golden brown (this indicates the oil is ready). Add half of the batch and cook for 3-5 minutes, until golden brown, then transfer onto a paper towel. 6. Cook the second batch and leave to cool for 5 minutes.
By Dami Olugbode
24
Redbrick
18th February 2011
redbrickonline.co.uk
Sport
Squash team make Durham wish they had stayed in bed with crushing victory Read the full report, p26
Football: It's not just for men
Sport editor James Phillips has a look at some upcoming changes in women's football and catches up with the University of Birmingham's very own England U19 international Emma Follis
Follis in action for Villa ladies (left) and bottom right and the new WSL logo (top right) and FIFA will be hoping that it will be the most-watched tournament since the inaugural edition was held in 1991. At the University of Birmingham, the women's football team are currently top of the BUCS Midlands 1A League, with a view of promotion to the BUCS Northern Premier Division, the highest level of university football. Star player Emma Follis names Loughborough and Bedford as their two hardest opponents so far this season, with Bedford being the only team to defeat them in the league, although that defeat was avenged at Metchley last week. With two games left of the season, Follis is confident that the team can win their division and get promotion. The Birmingham-born midfielder balances her commitments with the University team alongside
The Week In Numbers
3
Wayne Bridge completed three crosses for West Ham v West Brom last Saturday. Unbelievably, in the whole of last season he didn't manage a single completed cross in 1897 mins of play.
110
Kevin Pietersen will open the batting for England for the first time in 110 ODIs when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Holland on 22 February.
56
The number of individual honours that Wikipedia claims the newly-retired Brazilian legend Ronaldo scooped during his career.
49
Following victory last weekend, England have now recorded 49 tries in home games against Italy and are yet to lose to them.
ÂŁ1000
The amount former world featherweight boxing champion Naseem Hamed was fined after being caught committing driving offences.
Nobody recognises it as a dominant sport for females here yet games for her club, Aston Villa. Follis started out in football with Villa Ladies Under-10 team and has remained at the club ever since. In a normal week she trains twice with Villa, playing games at weekends, as well as one training session and one match a week with the University of Birmingham team. Follis has been making real strides recently and this was rewarded with a call up from the Eng-
Andy Smith
land Under-19 squad. She made her debut in a friendly against France played at Northampton Town's Sixfields stadium last November. The winger has also been part of four training camps with the squad and played in a European Qualification game in Manchester. Next month she is set to join up with the squad again for a tennation tournament in La Manga, where the England girls will be taking on Switzerland, USA and Sweden. While Follis feels this year's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany is too soon to aim for, she believes that if she 'puts the work in' her ambition of representing the full national side could be fulfilled one day. On the topic of the progression of women's football, Follis says 'there are many more opportunities available now. There's much
The Week In Quotes 'What's hurt me most has been the serious attack on my honour. Terrible things have been said about me and have done me irreparable damage. I now have another scar, which is inside and which will accompany me throughout my life' Cyclist Alberto Contador is still reeling from his doping scandal
'Withdrawing from the grand prix is not an easy decision but nipping injuries in the bud is really the best thing to do and I really want to be at my best for Paris' Jessica Ennis gives her reasons for missing the Birmingham Grand Prix as she prepares for the European Indoor Championships
'He's not the best of players. He's a little dog. He'll scuttle around but he's well past his sell-by date' Graeme Souness on Gennaro Gattuso after the Italian lost his temper and headbutted Spurs coach Joe Jordan at the San Siro
'Look at the team – we played awful, we were s**t. When you look now every single player is better' Liverpool's Danish defender Daniel Agger's scathing verdict on Roy Hodgson's ill-fated Anfield reign
more support and it's getting better and better.' She cites the upcoming WSL as a sign of improvement, and that in turn should lead to increased funding in the game. Follis also believes that coaching within the game is of a good standard, praising her University coach Mark Smith, by whom she was also coached at U16 level for Aston Villa. There is still a long way to go for the women's game to catch up with the men's because, as Follis puts it, 'Nobody recognises it as a dominant sport for females here yet.' But she maintains 'it is getting more popular in America and with the new Super League set to be televised it could become more popular over here.' As for Follis herself, her ambitions after university definitely involve sport, 'maybe involving nutrition, but I'll see how my degree goes. I did think of going to the USA for football when I was younger but I decided to stay here.' With her talent, though, there is no reason why she shouldn't be playing in the WSL and representing England's full senior team in the years ahead.
Emma Follis Factfile Age:19 Year of study: 1st Course: Sport and Exercise Sciences Hometown: Birmingham Club: Aston Villa Playing position: Right-sided Midfielder
The Redbrick Sport Quiz 1) Ronaldo scored a memorable hat-trick for Real Madrid at Old Trafford in 2003. But which Manchester United player came off the bench to score a brace that day? 2)Who was the first English rugby player to play in 50 internationals? 3) Which is the heaviest, a golf ball, a tennis ball or a squash ball? 4) Where was heptathlete Jessica Ennis born? 5) Which current Premier League player succeeded Fernando Torres as Atletico Madrid captain when he left in 2007?
1,David Beckham 2,Rory Underwood 3,A tennis ball 4, Sheffield 5, Maxi Rodriguez
The recent outrage in the media over sacked Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys' spiteful sexist comments about a female assistant referee has drawn attention to women's involvement in men's football. But what of women's football itself? In just two months' time the new FA Women's Super League (WSL) launches, a massive step forward for a sport which is still very much in the shadows of its male counterpart. The WSL should be a major improvement for domestic women's football in England. More similar to the format of the USA's men's Major League Soccer than that of men's football in England (indeed, it is following on from the successful Women's Professional Soccer league in America), the WSL will start on April the 14th with eight clubs competing. The initial clubs will be Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln Ladies and Liverpool. There will be no relegation for at least the first two seasons, as the real drama will be focussed on winning the title and qualification for the UEFA Women's Champions League which has been improving rapidly over the past few years. Weekly highlights packages will be screened on ESPN, as well as five matches to be televised live, in a bid to boost the profile of the women's game in England. A midseason break is scheduled this year to allow for the Women's World Cup which is taking place in Germany. This is the true pinnacle of women's football and how this year's edition fares will be indicative of the progress made by the female version of the game. Starting on the 26th June and finishing on the 17th July, 16 countries will be competing to be crowned the world's greatest. Unprecedented TV coverage will also be provided,
Redbrick
Sport 25
18h February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall
Basketball girls slam dunked out of cup Women's Basketball
Birmingham 1sts
28
Leeds Met Carnegie 2nds 56 Richard Morris Sport Reporter
In a humid Munrow Sports Hall, a tough fixture lay ahead for the University of Birmingham women's basketball team against Leeds Metropolitan seconds. Birmingham were in their midnight blue kit and Leeds donned forest green overalls. After an intense and organised warm up from Birmingham the game began, with their coach claiming to be 'excited by their potential.' The whistle blew and Birmingham took control immediately. With some delicate passing and decisive moves, the ball was tossed up to Jenny Smith, who scored comfortably, handing the hosts the early lead. However, impressive counter play from Leeds saw Turner turn this lead straight back into a level playing field. With the consistency of successful free throws high on both sides the score was soon 7-5 to Brum. As the first quarter continued, consistent pressure from the visitors began to show and despite Birmingham's high quality attacking play, their defence lacked organisation. Leeds cut through the holes left by the hosts and were soon 15-7 up by the end of the first quarter. Leeds only exchanged a few words at the break and were soon back out brimming with confidence. The home team took their time, but a pep talk and some chanting later, a refreshed Birmingham soon re-
Dmitry Trushchenkov
Brum put in a physical performance but it wasn't quite enough to defeat a disciplined Leeds Met side turned to the court. However, it was the away side who took hold of the second quarter early on, with Jones pulling out a stunning threepointer to take the game to 18-7. It seemed as though Leeds were beginning to run away with it. Birmingham were creating plenty of chances going forward but seemed to lack that killer instinct required to put away each opportunity. As Leeds decisively took advantage of further free throws, the score was stretched to an ominous 28-13 by the half. After Birmingham had elected to use the half time period for practice, the third quarter began
at a great pace. Harriet Rook took hold of the ball and scored a long three-pointer, fuelling the team's hunger to get back in the game. Jenny Smith showed some energetic movement and organisation going forward for Brum, but Leeds soon put an end to these early, optimistic signs. With three more baskets from the away team scored in quick succession, the game looked to be going only one way. Opportunities to score were going begging, but the home team remained positive. As the third quarter continued, a sense of urgency seemed to spread among the Brum squad as a
20-point gap appeared. By the end of the quarter, the score lay at 3717 and it was going to take something special from the girls in blue to catch up. As the teams moved back onto the court, the visitors left the sidelines with chants of 'finish strong' and positive body language. However, the hosts were not to be pushed over. A huge three-pointer from Jenny Smith swished though the net and soon had the home team boosted. The players on the sideline began to urge their team mates on, but Leeds seemed to cancel out every step forward Birmingham made.
With three minutes to go, a timeout was called and the future looked bleak for this fixture. An entire team change, bringing on all the fresh subs Brum had to offer, was unable to move the solid wall of defence put up by Leeds. With a nice piece of dribbling and quick hands, Mira Punkel was able to claw back another basket, but to little avail. By the final whistle the score was 56-28 and Birmingham's girls could do nothing but applaud their rivals' superiority on the day. The Leeds captain left the court claiming a 'deserved win' and it is hard to disagree with those sentiments.
Brum net huge win to set sights on gold Netball
Birmingham 1sts
38
Loughborough 2nds
28
Joel Lamy Sport Reporter
Wednesday evening saw the Birmingham netball first team secure an exceptional 38-28 victory against Loughborough seconds to seal a place in the quarterfinal of the BUCS Championships. The hosts had pulled off a shock in the last round after knocking out Newcastle, but were up against another formidable opponent in last season's winners, who had beaten Brum in the final. Revenge, however, was not on the cards according to home coach Joan Hunter, who was clearly excited yet nervous for the game ahead. She recognised the importance of home advantage and hoped it would spur her team onto a much needed victory after their disappointment in the league. Hunter had asked for a quick start and after the visitors scored inside the first minute, the hosts responded well with a quick-fire treble from goal attack Hannah Kennedy setting the tone for the rest of the quarter. Captain Kate Roberts was dominant in the centre, finding space all over the court
The coach gathers the troops for a motivational team talk (left) while Brocklebank gets physical (right) and setting up Kennedy and goal shooter Laura Brocklebank. One score in particular, a searing break from their own D to their opponent's, was particularly brilliant. Loughborough, on the other hand, were finding themselves closed down and being forced wide, whilst goalkeeper Katie Ortan made some good interceptions to frustrate the opposition. Their players looked nervous and were unable to assert themselves on their fired-up opponents. The halftime score of 12-6 was a fair reflection of the home side's dominance
and proved to be a decisive lead. If Brum had been dominant in the first quarter, then it was the away side who started the second quarter the quickest, narrowing the deficit to three in no time at all. The hosts' quick passing game, which had been so prevalent in the early stages of the encounter, had gone missing, but the home support, which Hunter thought might become a factor, noticeably rose and the team responded well. Shorter passes to the forwards paid dividends as the hosts racked up four straight points to regain a
commanding lead at 19-12. With both teams scoring once more before half-time, Birmingham were by far the happier team having ridden the storm from their great rivals. The third quarter largely mirrored the second, as the visitors again narrowed the lead only to see another run of four points in a row establish a comfortable nine-point cushion, which had risen to 11 by the end of the quarter, with the score at 32-21 to the home side. For the opposition, a large comeback was needed but this nev-
Millie Guy
er seemed likely and Brum cruised to a 38-28 win to seal their place in the quarterfinals. Following the contest, Hunter said she was 'absolutely overjoyed' and expressed surprise at how little the opposition had closed down her team. Roberts also claimed 'we all had a phenomenal game' and gave a special mention to goal defence Sarah Bishton. Both agreed the game had been won in the first quarter and after knocking out the top two seeds, they clearly fancy their chances of going one better than last year.
26 Sport
Redbrick
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall
Four for Bray as girls reach semis Women's Hockey
Birmingham 1sts
7
Oxford 1sts
0
Rory Millar Sport Reporter
The University of Birmingham women's hockey first team made it safely through to the semi-finals of the BUCS knock-out cup competition, after turning in a hugely impressive performance in their 7-0 hammering of the University of Oxford on Wednesday afternoon. First half goals from Alice Sharp, Abby Webb and Sarah Page put the hosts 3-0 up at the interval, before Sophie Bray incredibly struck four times in the second-half to seal an emphatic victory. The game got off to a slow start, with Oxford defending very deep and the early chances for the home side were restricted to short corners, with Pippa McCormick having two early shots saved by Rachael Deller in the Oxford goal. The away side came closest to opening the scoring in the early stages with Birmingham keeper Jenny Mashford saving well from Georgia Rawlinson. The deadlock was eventually broken in the 20th minute of the game, and it came from a great reverse-hit strike into the top-left of the net from Sharp. There was good determination in the midfield to release Webb on the right, who pulled the ball back to Sharp, who gave the Oxford keeper no chance of making a save with a sublime finish. Jenna Woolven almost doubled the hosts lead moments later
with a good effort from the edge of the area just going wide, but Birmingham did soon make it 2-0 on the 27th minute mark. Woolven had yet another attempt saved and from the resulting corner Sarah Haycroft did well to get to the byline before squaring to Webb who made no mistake in applying the finish. Bray, Anna Griffiths and Woolven all had great opportunities to extend the lead soon after, but it wasn't until the stroke of half time that Birmingham arguably put the game beyond the visitors with captain Page, who impressed in the centre of midfield throughout, linking up well with Bray before hammering the ball into the bottom left of the goal to make it 3-0. The visitors responded well immediately after half-time and perhaps had the better of the first third of the half with Mashfield needing to be alert to deny Katie Lark whose effort was heading into the bottom-left of the goal. Webb then had a chance to double her tally after being set-up by Woolven but her effort was blocked well by Katie Rose. It wasn't until the 55th minute when Birmingham scored their fourth of the afternoon, with Bray striking the ball back across goal into the top-right of the net giving the keeper no chance, after being set up well by Haycroft on the right. Moments later, Bray got her second of the game, this time making no mistake with a rebound from close range after Page's effort had been pushed out by Deller. The visitors then had a chance to salvage a consolation goal but Sigme Hulbert couldn't hit the tar-
get after being set up well by Joss Charman who in turn had linked up well with Lucy Durrans on the right wing. With five minutes left on the clock, Birmingham won a penalty with Rachael Hargreaves fouling Page, giving Bray a perfect opportunity to complete a well-deserved hat-trick. Bray made no mistake, putting it low into the bottom right of the corner and there was still time for her to add a fourth of the
match, applying the finish at the back post from Woolven's inchperfect cross after being set free on the right wing after a nice touch from Webb. After the game, skipper Sarah Page was understandably delighted saying 'we played really well, it was a great team performance and it has put us in very good stead for the semi-final where we'll play Bath and we're already looking forward to it.'
Ultimate Frisbee
Sharp celebrated the opener with captain Page
Men's Squash
5
Durham 1sts
0
Stefano Goosey Sport Reporter
Birmingham's men's first team ensured they progressed to the next round of the BUCS championships with a well-deserved 5-0 win over Durham. The home team looked untouchable throughout, and they maintained an unbeaten record at the Munrow new squash courts which has lasted all season. The contest began with Brum's second seed Olly Dixon up against Durham's Dominic Pollard. Dixon started strongly in the first game by making Pollard cover all areas of the court as he pulled off an 11-3 win. The second game proved tougher for the home side as Pollard showed he wasn't a pushover by scoring seven points but it didn't prove to be enough as again he lost the game. The third and final game was comfortable for Dixon as Pollard looked tired from his efforts in the second and Dixon sealed the game 11-0 to give Birmingham a 1-0 lead. Next up was the match between Birmingham's captain Richard Shellam and Durham's Roland Grant. It was a closer match than the previous one with longer rallies and points were fought out
Birmingham's performance was far too good for Durham evenly. Again Brum looked strong as Shellam seemed to have the edge over Grant and despite the efforts from the away side the first game was won 11-4. There wasn't much between the two in the second as Grant was unlucky to have lost out 11-8 in what seemed to be his best chance of a win. Like Pollard, Grant was getting weary and eventually lost out 11-3, giving the home side a 2-0 lead and looking confident for the win. The third and most important match for both sides was competed between Nick Hornby and Harry Wildy. In the warm up this looked as if it could have been a close contest, as Durham's Wildy seemed quick round the court whilst Birmingham's Hornby was tall and
Lifesaving
Last Saturday saw 22 teams of lifesavers from universities across the UK descend on the Munrow Sports Centre. The Birmingham lifesaving competition is the penultimate competition of the year and with the top four teams separated by only six points, it promised to be an exciting day from the outset. Brum's quartet performed strongly in each Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) to claim a well-deserved bronze medal, narrowly edged out of the top two spots by Southampton and Warwick, who took gold and silver respectively. For a full report visit www.redbrickonline.co.uk/sport
Tom Flathers
Shellam's squash boys destroy Durham Birmingham 1sts
Sport Shorts
Rita Toth
clearly used his hard hitting to his advantage. This prediction was proved wrong, however, as Hornby stormed into an 11-3 win followed by winning 11-2 in the second. He made a couple of mistakes in the third and may have been guilty of becoming slightly complacent but it wasn't too hard to deal with as again he won 11-2.
Magic Number
0
The number of games won by Durham. Brum claimed five straight 3-0 victories
Now Durham were simply playing for pride, as they were 3-0 down with two matches to play. Birmingham's Dan McGinn and Durham's Jamie Barwick shared the most exciting battle of the day as they were both playing each other round the court. McGinn won the first 11-2 but Barwick improved in the second despite losing out 11-5. Again Durham worked hard but McGinns's class was too strong as he won 11-5. The final match was between Birmingham's first seed Ali Mutch and Durham's Bevan Edwards. There was hard hitting from both competitors as Mutch ran away with an 11-1 lead. Edwards couldn't seem to get hold of the game but drastically improved in the second even though he lost out 11-6. Mutch was far too good for Durham as he completed the rout with an 11-1 win to complete the 5-0 win for Brum. Shellam, Birmingham's captain admitted that they were favourites from the beginning but wasn't taking anything for granted: 'We were confident about winning today and progressing to the next round and we believe we have a good chance of reaching the final and winning overall.' Judging from today's performances it looks as if Birmingham have a good chance in the last eight of the competition and could prove to be a good bet to end the BUCS championships as national champions.
The UBSport ultimate frisbee club is hosting the Midlands University Open Outdoor Regionals this weekend at the King Edwards School pitches. The event will take place from 9-5 on both Saturday and Sunday. Head down to the school to support one of Brum's most popular teams as they take on an array of ultimate talent, including ex-champions Warwick and huge rivals Loughborough.
Gaelic Football
The ultimate frisbee team are are not the only club to have a big event on home territory this weekend. The BUCS Gaelic football championships will also be taking place in Birmingham and the surrounding area. The shortened championship format will allow for some exciting matches as one of Brum's newest teams looks to make its mark.
Success for Julz
Our Vice President for Sport Julz Adeniran competed in the hurdles at the Indoor UK Athletics Championships last weekend. He qualified through the heats to make the final for the first time and then finished in a very pleasing 4th place. Since then he has been invited to compete at the prestigious Aviva Indoor Grand Prix event. This takes place on Saturday 19th February in front of a home crowd at the N.I.A and will be broadcast live on BBC1 at 1.30pm. It's the biggest competition he has competed in to date and he is up against the current world record holder and Olympic champion Cuban Dayron Robles, the current world number one American David Oliver and the Olympic silver medallist American David Payne amongst others. Julz said, 'I'm very excited by this opportunity and am looking forward to gaining some valuable experience at this elite level of competition, which should hold me in good stead as I look to turn professional after my Sabbatical year as Vice President (Sport).'
Redbrick
Sport 27
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall
Bellis and Williams shine as Brum reach seventh heaven Men's Football
Birmingham 1sts Leeds 1sts
7 2
Reece Lawrence Sport Reporter
Birmingham bounced back from their first league defeat of the season at Stirling last week with a comprehensive – though somewhat controversial – triumph over Leeds after coming from behind at the Munrow Track Pitch. Captain
Dave Bellis netted a hat-trick and James Williams scored a brace in what was a fantastic spectacle. The hosts began the game somewhat slowly, and this allowed Leeds to gain early momentum and confidence that they had lacked after only one win this season. Pressure from the visitors paid off and after seven minutes an excellent inswinging cross from the left was glanced into the far corner by the head of striker James Willcock. The match continued in a similar vein following the opener with Leeds dominating for the most part. A corner from the away team
after 22 minutes was headed fractions wide at the far post. The miss seemed to kick Birmingham into a response. A terrific cross two minutes later by captain Bellis was met by the head of Abe Osho but it was directed straight at keeper Matthew Nyong. Shortly afterwards Bellis almost scored himself but his shot from 18 yards went wide. Just as Birmingham appeared to be gaining a foothold in the game, Leeds doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark. A low cross from right winger Andrew Vernon found its way past everyone on the home side and fell
Bellis (left) and Williams (right) netted five between them as Birmingham recovered from 2 down Rita Toth
The Redbrick Crossword
Mordo Nahum Puzzles Editor
This week's prize is a £5 Waterstones Gift Voucher Completed crosswords to be submitted to the Redbrick office by 22/02/11.
12_3_4_5_6_7_ =_=_=_=_=_=_= 8___=9_______ =_=_=_=_=_=_= 0_________=== =_===_===_=a= b__c__=d_____ =_=_===_===_= ===e_f___g___ =h=_=_=_=_=_= i_______=j___ =_=_=_=_=_=_= k____________ Across
1. Dish made of sausages and Yorkshire pudding (4, 2, 3, 4) 8. Gemstone; girl's name (4) 9. US state with an Atlantic coastline (8) 10. In Italian a beautiful lady, in English a deadly poison (10) 12. Unit of length used in astronomy, equal to 3.26 light years (6) 14. Poked (6) 15. The art of guessing (10) 19. Organ which forms part of the
digestive system (8) 20. Guide; metallic element (4) 21. Famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci (3, 4, 6)
Down
2. Verbal test (4, 4) 3. Inhabit (5) 4. Coin mad (anag.) (7) 5. Carnivorous wading bird with a long, straight bill (5) 6. Country known for its fields of 17 down (7)
7. Wild cat; deodorant brand (4) 11. Barren, deserted (8) 13. Clients (anag.) (7) 14. Archenemy; Alton Towers rollercoaster (7) 16. Adolescents (5) 17. Bright flower (5) 18. Pledge (4)
to Leeds. The resulting shot was parried by Eric Aughton but only into the path of Will Turle, who had an easy tap in from four yards. Both sides continued to threaten intermittently as the half wore on, notably a good run from Leeds full-back Ewen Rolfe ending in an effort going not far wide. Birmingham coach Paul Lewin had said before kick off, 'It's an important game, and the boys are good enough.' Five minutes before half time they illustrated just how good they were as they completed a remarkable turnaround with Bellis leading by example as he fired a low placed finish past Nyong after a clever run from midfield and drop of the shoulder onto his left foot to make it 2-1. The hosts drew level less than two minutes later after more excellent work by Bellis won him a free kick on the edge of the area. His midfield partner Williams stepped forward and curled a delicious effort into the top right hand corner of the Leeds net. The comeback was completed just before the break as Williams grabbed his second, poking in a low cross. However, that was not to be the final action of the half. The game's most controversial moment and turning point occurred in stoppage time as Leeds' Vernon was released down the right channel of the box and went down under a challenge from a Birmingham defender, who did not seem to touch the ball. The Leeds players vehemently pro-
Sudoku
Bronte Sisters Power Dolls Turning the Bronte sisters into dolls, adding moustaches and transforming them into a Brontesaurus Rex, this spoof is hilarious and can be found on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-NKXNThJ610
Last issues solution:
Congratulations to Eoin Weeks, a third year Economics student, who won last week's crossword. We will email you to collect your prize.
Video of the Week
The objective of the game is to insert the numbers 1-9 into each row, column, and 3x3 box once Medium
Hard
=ingodwetrust j=i=g=e=o=s=o eager=armrest n=e=e=p=j=r=a sole=colossal o=l=a=n=n===e nearby=hectic b===s=f=s=o=l umbrella=fuji t=l=n=u=r=r=p toaster=alias o=i=e=r=s=s=e nurseryrhyme=
tested for a penalty, but the referee deemed contact was made with the ball and a corner was given which came to nothing. Leeds came out for the restart feeling aggrieved that the decision had gone against them, and almost equalised on 46 minutes as the lively Vernon's fierce shot was pushed round the post by Aughton. Both teams had chances during the first half but it was Birmingham who increased their advantage after 73 minutes as Williams' low free kick deflected off his team-mate Osho unintentionally denying Williams a hat-trick. Incredibly the second half ended as the first had, with three goals in just five minutes. Substitute Ashley Phillips scored the best goal of the game, coming in from the left and rifling a mesmerising dipping shot that hammered in off the post. It was 6-2 on 89 minutes as Leeds failed to clear a cross and Bellis chested down the ball and slid it expertly under the keeper. Left back Rob Godfrey's lungbursting run in stoppage time was unfairly stopped by Leeds, but the referee played advantage and the ball fell to Bellis who claimed his hat-trick and sealed a 7-2 win. Williams said after full time, 'We went 2-0 down so to bring it back shows our character and puts us in good stead for the next two games.' They will hope to maintain their challenge against first placed Stirling as the season nears its climax.
Did you know? Cherophobia is a fear of fun. It is estimated that at any one time, 0.7 per cent of the world's population are drunk. In Japan over 20 per cent of all publications are comic books.
On this day 1924 – U.S. President Calvin Coolidge becomes the first President to deliver a radio broadcast from the White House. Scribble box
1997 – In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned. 2006 – At least six men stage Britain's biggest robbery ever, stealing £53million from a Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent.
28 Sport
Sport
Redbrick
18th February 2011 www.redbrickonline.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall
Spotlight on Women's Football Redbrick Sport takes a look at the state of women's football and speaks to England U19 player Emma Follis, p24
Fantastic five for Pike as Brum storm through
The lacrosse girls have repeatedly shown recently that they are one of the biggest forces in university sport; Bath wouldn't disagree Women's Lacrosse
Birmingham 1sts
19
Bath 1sts
3
Phil Shepka Sport Reporter
On a chilly Wednesday afternoon at the Munrow track pitch, Birmingham's women's lacrosse first team eased past Bath firsts 19-3 to take them through to the quarterfinals of the BUCS Championships. The game underlines the Birmingham side as a force to be reckoned with in this competition. Brum came into the game sitting in third place in the women's North Premier league whilst Bath are fighting a relegation battle
in the South Premier, with only two wins all season. The difference in form was clearly apparent throughout as the home side were able to take virtually all of their chances whilst Bath were left bemoaning their luck. The beginning of the game, however, saw the visitors take the early initiative, keeping hold of possession well but unable to find a way through a solid Brum defence. A counter-attacking move then allowed co-captain Molly Pike to strike first for the home side, scoring low against opposition goalkeeper Izzy O'Connor. Almost straight from the restart, Brum doubled their lead when Lucy Fowler picked up a pass from Emily Hughes, before turning and firing past O'Connor's
left shoulder. The hosts began to pile on the pressure and spent most of the first period in the opponents' half. The home side were able to take advantage of their dominance through strikes from Alice Rocher, Lizzie Sharp and Lucy Fowler. Phili May was then allowed some space to shoot and appeared to slam the ball into the goal past a helpless O'Connor. However, the ball had broken the net, leading to confusion as to whether she had scored. It was eventually given and play was able to continue. Before the end of the half Brum scored four more goals, including a fantastic breakaway that culminated in Pike slotting in her second of the day. The visitors were able to come
into the game in the second half with the impressive Kate Friend commanding the centre of the field. It was her run through the defence which led to Bath's first of the game. However, there would be no way back for them as Birmingham continued to confuse those writing the scorecard with clinical attacking play. Hughes added another whilst Pike took her tally up to five for the game. Emily Walker found herself at the heart of the action and was involved in most that was impressive about Birmingham's play, also getting on the score sheet. Despite their defeat, the Bath side played with great spirit and probably deserved more for their afternoon's work. However, the
Tom Flathers
Brum side just proved to be too good for them on the day. After the game, coach Dave Abini said that his players 'played well as a team, not just as individuals', stating this was something they had worked hard on in practice. The team ethic was apparent by the number of players that were able to score. He also singled out second year student Hughes for special praise after her performance in front of goal. The result means that Brum will take confidence into their upcoming games, both in the league and the cup. If they continue this form then they have a real chance of making the prestigious BUCS Championship final, which will take place in Sheffield next month.
Badminton men make a racquet as glory beckons Men's Badminton
Birmingham 1sts
7
Southampton 1sts
1
Scott Steinberg Sport Reporter
Wednesday afternoon saw the Munrow Sports Hall play host to the first round of the BUCS knockout competition, featuring Birmingham's badminton first team against their Southampton counterparts. Last year Birmingham managed to reach the semi-finals and according to captain James Lauder that is also the target this time round: 'This game will probably be our strongest opposition and if we progress we should hopefully reach the semis.' In this round, Birmingham and Southampton were fighting for a place in the quarterfinals. Richard Collier was first up for Birmingham, winning two straight sets against Carter. Collier convincingly overcame his
opposite number in the first set 21-9 and won the second 21-15. In his second match, against Wrigley, the highlight had to be the rally of eleven volleys between the two players, culminating in Collier winning the point. Collier then showed how varied his game could be, winning the next point with two soft drop-shots with the last descending just over his op-
ponent's net. Southampton lost 21-12 and 21-13. In the other singles match, Birmingham's Mark Cappleman narrowly lost the first set 21-16 to Kevin Wrigley and the second set was to prove no different, as he fought hard attempting to take the game into a third set. Unfortunately, despite reducing Southampton's winning margin of 17-13
Stretching the lead: Brum took charge in a huge win
Mike Roberts
to 17-17, Wrigley took the initiative once more and won 21-15. Cappleman did not let this disappointment affect him as he battled hard in his second match to defeat Jonny Carter by two sets to one, both times only allowing his opponent to score 12 points. In the doubles matches James Lauder and Andy Wainwright proved to be a very balanced team, with Lauder's serve causing problems for both doubles teams they played and Wainwright's powerful volleyed shots proving difficult too much to return. Lauder demonstrated his commitment as captain by desperately diving across the court to successfully return one shot, although James Todd and Daniel Parish-Matheson ultimately won the point. However, his determination to win was rewarded with a 21-4 victory in the first set followed by a 21-2 win in the second. Doug Furze and Paul Scott represented Birmingham in the other doubles match, defeating Alex Smith and Matt Fitt 21-10
and 21-12. Their second match, as the score line indicated, was a narrowly fought game. The away side of James Todd and Daniel Parish-Matheson won the first set 14-21 but the Brum duo remained resolute, fighting to take the game into a deciding set, beating Southampton 21-18. The third set was anyone's game as sequences of rallies followed with every point mattering to both sides. The set swung both ways but Birmingham eventually won 21-19, courtesy of Scott's powerful smash shots forcing the opposition to play at the home team's pace, mixed with some nice shots from Furze dipping just over the opponent's net. Coach Lorraine Cole was proud of her side's 7-1 victory, saying 'it was a good day at the office. I couldn't have asked for anymore: very solid performances, winning the tight three-set games. We have a good quality of depth in all three teams.' The badminton team now await their opponents in the next round with the last eight clubs remaining.
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