THE LION 2011 BUCS Championships 12 page commemorative edition inside
Redbrick
The University of Birmingham's Student Newspaper since 1936
Friday 25th March 2011 Volume 75 | Issue 1390 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Course suspended after fall in applications ELLIE course will have no 2011 intake Two War Studies lecturers to be replaced Students feel unheard amidst
major changes Anna Hughes News Editor
Students have felt neglected and ignored as major changes are in the process of being made to two undergraduate degree courses in Birmingham. The English Literature and Language in Education (ELLIE) degree is to be suspended for the upcoming academic year after falling numbers of applications, whilst the War Studies degree, part of the History and Culture Department, is to replace two members of its staff. Professor Cillian Ryan, Director of Education in the College of Social Sciences said of the ELLIE programme: '[the number of students] has fallen significantly year-on-year from 43 students in 2007 to 16 in 2010. While students have responded favourably overall in the National Student Survey... the School of Education has decided to suspend the intake for 2011 while we consider how it could be adapted or improved.' Changes have already been made in an attempt to increase applicant numbers with the addition of more Education based modules and collaborating with the English Department to provide a Shakespeare module in third year. Alternative degree programmes are being considered to
Freddie Herzog
The Education Building – home of the ELLIE course English Literature and Language in Education is the only degree of its kind in the UK, according to UCAS. replace the current degree as part of a Review of Undergraduate Programmes, which is still under the drafting process. Professor Ryan said: 'I have met personally with a large number of students on the programme to discuss the range of options. All the alternatives being considered envisage continuing provision which will enable interested students to study English and Education... We would anticipate that any new offer will be available for the 2012 intake'. Sarah Coburn, a second year
ELLIE student said: 'I think it is a great shame to close down the ELLIE course. I am now worried about the closure affecting my employability.' Another student, who did not wish to be named, said: 'The programme has always had really positive feedback but I feel like that wasn't listened to because if numbers were declining surely the School would put more money and effort into promoting such a brilliant programme.' War Studies is also about to undergo major change. Students were informed in February that a teaching fellow and an academic advisor were to be 'deleted' from staff and were invited to take part in a consultation. The two members of staff are to be replaced with
junior lecturers, who, unlike the current staff, are qualified to assist postgraduate study and embark on research projects. Students have expressed concerns over the loss of these staff members. For some students the staff members in question are their dissertation tutors and issues were raised over the transition between two members of staff at this critical stage of their course. Second year War Studies student Jeremy Levett said: 'As War Studies undergrads, we already feel marginalised within the History department, and here it seems that emphasis is being put on the more profitable research and postgrad aspect rather than on the already neglected BA course.' Dave Glenwright, President of
the War Studies Society said: 'The past few weeks have been difficult for War Studies students. Not only are the members of staff inspiring individuals, but the roles they perform within the department is crucial to the development of the undergraduate element of War Studies... impact on students and their education must take priority when reviewing departments.'
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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 Photography Editors Freddie Herzog Millie Guy chiefphotographer@redbrickonline.co.uk Technical Director Jeremy Levett News Editors Helen Crane Glen Moutrie Anna Hughes James Brilliant news@redbrickonline.co.uk Features Editors Rosa McMahon Seb Mann Ali Hendy Amanda Callaghan features@redbrickonline.co.uk Film Editors Elmley de la Cour Matt Davis film@redbrickonline.co.uk
Food Editors Harriet Constable Dami Olugbode food@redbrickonline.co.uk Travel Editors Ed Gordon James Cull Emily Booth travel@redbrickonline.co.uk Sport Editors James Phillips Simon Hall Sam Price sport@redbrickonline.co.uk Online Sport Editor Joseph Audley Technology Editors Stuart Gittings Manpreet Pangli Joshua Lindsey technology@redbrickonline.co.uk Crossword Editor John Rizkallah Editorial Assistants Victoria Bull Rochelle Balach Laura Hewitt Vikki Jeff Will Hunter Kate Selvaratnam News Editorial Assistant Kerrina Gray
Arts & Culture Editors Lexie Wilson James Reevell Alexander Blanchard arts@redbrickonline.co.uk
Online Editorial Assistants Charmaine Katz Becky Sibson Danielle Fox Sophie MurrayMorris
Music Editors Will Franklin Charlie Bailey Tamara Roper music@redbrickonline.co.uk
Junior Art Directors Lauren Wheatley Jazzarie Lee Bethany Richardson
Television Editors Charlotte Lytton Amber Alexander tv@redbrickonline.co.uk
Copy Editors Anna Lumsden Charlotte Goodwin Sian Stanfield Olivia Wilson Nessa Swanson Ellie Smallwood
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.redbrickpaper.co.uk Redbrick is printed through www.quotemeprint. com: 08451 300667. Advertising: Contact Aimee Fitzpatrick in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524 or a.fitzpatrick@guild.bham.
News
Redbrick
25th March 2011
WORLD
WORLD
Coalition intervene in Libya crisis
Israel and Palestine clash over Gaza
An international coalition of 11 countries intervened against Colonel Gaddafi following his failure to enforce a twice promised ceasefire. Coalition aircraft enforced a no-fly zone above Libya and bombed military targets.
Fighting between Israel and Palestine over the disputed Gaza Strip restarted on Wednesday as Israeli warplanes launched air strikes east of Gaza City. Palestinian militants had launched missiles into the Israel.
ENTERTAINMENT
ECONOMY
Elizabeth Taylor dies in Los Angeles
Osborne announces new budget
Hollywood legend and two time Oscar winner Elizabeth Taylor died aged 79 at her LA home on Wednesday after being treated for the symptoms of congestive heart failure. She was also famous for having married seven times.
The Coalition Government announced its new 'pro-growth' Budget on Wednesday. The measures introduced by the Chancellor include increasing the tax threshold by £600 and scrapping a planned rise on fuel duty.
TECHNOLOGY
POLITICS
£10m new Waitrose website criticised
Gamblers happy after 2011 budget
Users have criticised the new Waitrose website, launched two weeks ago. Slow loading speeds and 'endless scrolling' were blamed for customer dissatisfaction with the site. Some customers are now shopping with rivals.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes have been forced to pay out after Ken Clarke appeared to have fallen asleep during the budget speech. Odds were offered at 16/1. A Ladbrokes spokesman said they were to pay a ' modest four figure sum'.
Top 10 Public Relations blunders
10) Cleaner accidently interviewed on air on BBC news 9) BP CEO Tony Hayward states that he 'wants his life back' after Gulf Oil spill
8) Prince Harry goes to fancy dress party in a Nazi uniform 7) Tiger Woods's billion dollar infidelity scandal with hookers 6) Apple iPhone signal failure for left handed users 5) Jackie Smiths expense claim for pornography which her husband viewed in a hotel, eventually attributing to her ousting in the 2010 election
4) George Bush and Tony Blair G20 conversation overheard on knitted jumper gift 3) Gordon Brown 'Bigot-gate' 2) John Terry loses England captaincy over affair with another Wayne Bridge's ex 1) Bill Clinton -Monica Lewinski 'sexual relations' scandal
ENTERTAINMENT
TECHNOLOGY
Charlie Sheen gatecrashes interview
Latest version of Firefox released
Actor Charlie Sheen gatecrashed a live interview in Los Angeles to kiss host Jimmy Kimmel on the lips in the latest of a series of bizarre stunts. He then gave Kimmel a t-shirt with the words 'I have tiger's blood in me'
More than five million people downloaded the latest version of Firefox in the first 24 hours of it's release. The new version 4 makes extensive use of HTML 5, one of main the programming languages used to build websites. ENTERTAINMENT
Rebecca Black's 'Friday' goes viral A song derided as the 'worst song ever', by 13 year old amateur singer Rebecca Black has gone viral on the internet with approximately 40 million views. Criticism has been launched at Black's singing and the heavy use of autotune. MONEY
GUILD AWARDS
£33k charged for car insurance
Infinity Stage 'Most Outstanding' 2010
17 year old Jake Redshaw has been charged £32,819 by car insurance company AA. Redshaw completed a form online to insure his six year old Vauxhall Corsa and expected figures of £3,000. The company has described the figure as a 'mistake'.
Infinity Stage Company won Most Outstanding Society at last weeks Guild Awards. In other categories, Tim Lucas won Most Outstanding Contribution, whilst GMTG won most improved society. KnitSOCK, a new society, also won Most Outstanding New Idea.
TECHNOLOGY
'Gay cure' app pulled after petition Apple have withdrawn an app promising 'freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus' after 146,000 people signed a petition to ban it. The app was backed by Exodus International, a Christian group. The app was marked as 14+, meaning the app contained no objectionable content.
Poll Owen Earwicker asked 100 students 'Do you support the action taken over Libya?'
Redbrick Domjoly: huge jets flew past Cotwolds full moon last night on way 2 Libya – eerie, reminded me of hearing bombers take off for long flight to Baghdad.
Top tweets CRIME
Policeman sues after being shot The policeman blinded when he was shot by gunman Raoul Moat last summer is suing the Northumbrian Police. He claims he was made a 'sitting duck' after Moat had called the force warning that he intended to target police officers.
piersmorgan:@Lord_Sugar Not sure you and 'beauty sleep' are the most natural of bedfellows Shugs. If Gaddafi had your face he'd demand plastic surgery.
HEALTH
INVESTIGATION
GPs should offer HIV testing
Inquiry date set for 7/7 bombings
Leading experts are calling for GPs to offer HIV testing to all males in certain areas as the infection rate in the UK has doubled in the past ten years. Data shows cases rose from just under 2,000 in 2001 to nearly 3,800 in 2010.
May 6th has been set for the inquiry into 7/7 to release the final coroner's verdict. The inquest began in October and has so far heard evidence from 309 witnesses, 197 statements were read and 34,000 documents have been created.
How long has UNICEF been running for? UNICEF on campus has only been active since Christmas 2009, and this year has been nominated in the 'most improved' category at the Guild Awards. We also had the most sign ups of any society at the societies fair at the beginning of the year. UNICEF is present in over 190 countries and is the world's leading organisation protecting the rights of children. UNICEF receives no funding from the UN budget and so relies entirely on voluntary donations. What is the society all about?
How to get involved
UNICEF stands for United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. It is the only UN affiliated charity in the world, and so quite often is the first charity on the scene during emergencies such as natural disaster and conflict.
Meetings are usually every other Tuesday. For more information check our Facebook group – UNICEF on Campus – University of Birmingham UK. The last meeting of term is our AGM, and so is a great opportunity to come along and see what the society is all about.
Why should we get involved? Current projects for UNICEF include emergency campaigns for those affected in the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, as well as children involved in fleeing the violence in Libya.
Deputy Editor
AUSTRALIA
Tom Byrne
Upcoming Events As part of the annual Put It Right week run by UNICEF, we are running the following events: Thursday 24th – to get you in the
The week in quotes
Easter spirit, we will be hosting a campus-wide Easter egg hunt with some great prizes! Giant painted eggs will be hidden across campus, and the competition will run until 4pm so you have plenty of time to find them all. To take part, come to the UNICEF table which will be located outside the library – make your breaks productive by having fun with your friends for charity!
Protests begin against 'carbon tax' Protests against the government's proposed 'Carbon tax' have begun across Australia. Protesters say that it will put up the cost of living and damage the economy. Australia is the worst per capita emitters of greenhouse gases. TELEVISION
Brian True-May to step down
Brian True-May, Producer of Midsomer Murders, is to step down at the end of the current There will also be a raffle – tick- series after initiating a race ets will be sold all week and prizes row. He claimed that rural will be drawn after the Easter holi- English countryside is the 'last days. bastion of Englishness and it should stay that way'.
A Charlie Sheen Twitter imposter on internet sensation Rebecca Black:
Nicole Scherzinger on intimidating men with her intellect:
Michael Wilding on his late mother, Dame Elizabeth Taylor:
'We don't hate you because you're famous. You're famous because we hate you.'
'Men always assume that I'm going to be, like, highbrow.'
'Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts.'
Larrythecat: Clegg: 'I've slept with 40 women' Osborne: 'That's nothing, I'm about to screw the entire country...' #budget
Victoria Shires
Home Secretary Theresa May announced on Tuesday that student visas are to be cut by up to 80,000, or over a quarter of student visas, over fears that the system is being used dishonestly to gain residence in the UK.
'Tiggy'
3
A Day in the Life of a Redbrick Editor:
Student visa to be cut by a quarter
UNICEF Henrietta
StewieGriffy: Roses are red, violets are blue, if Rebecca Black wins ANY awards, Kanye you know what to do..
POLITICS
Spotlight on Societies President: Brealey
redbrickpaper.co.uk
25th March 2011
George Osborne on the 2011 budget: 'Today's budget is about reforming the nation's economy so that we can have enduring jobs and growth in the future, doing what we can to protect families from the high cost of living.'
With the Guild Awards attended, the AGM booked and this being the final issue of term, it felt an appropriate time to shed some light on what goes on in the darkened basement Redbrick Office. In recent weeks, Redbrick's name has appeared on Social media sites against some harsh comments and criticisms. I am the first to say that we delight in comment and contribution from our readers but some abuse received following an article in last week's issue was particularly disdainful. At Wednesday's AGM, we will be hearing speeches from a record number of candidates for our Editor and Deputy Editor positions and I thought it important for the rest of our readers to realise what goes into producing a weekly 28 page Redbrick; I can assure you that it is more than a crossword and occasional spelling mistake… As a Deputy Editor, I work alongside a Co-Deputy to organise the smooth running of the paper and support my Editor. We help to organise a large team of over 25 Section Editors, who themselves spend up to twenty hours (often more) in the Office every week assembling their pages. And this group of hardworking and dedicated people are not the only ones; the Writers, Proof Readers, Editorial Assistants, Arts Directors and Online team are all imperative. The stages before going to print are many, and from the initial idea to the produced publication, there are at least ten stages to go through before the final article can be picked up on a Friday morning – and many more hours spent too. Being a Redbrick Editor isn't something that we do for fun, necessarily. Although the Office 'banter' and weekly whiteboard odds are enjoyable, I believe I speak on behalf of most of us when I say that the amount of care and passion that goes into the paper far exceeds the 'fun'. Our attendance at the Guild Awards on Tuesday summed up our affections with Redbrick. Whilst we mustered together two and a half tables full of people for the Awards ceremony (of which we were nominated for four awards), the Office downstairs had a significant number of Section Editors still working on their pages, putting together a twelve page Sports pullout, The Lion, and live-blogging a local Arts Festival. The continued success of Redbrick is something that we all desperately want and work for every day. When I welcome in the new committee next Wednesday, I am sure that they will feel exactly the same way as I feel and they all already know the problems that Redbrick are facing next year due to cuts. I can only hope that our sense of adoration for the newspaper has made an impression on them and that they will continue our fight to keep Redbrick as it should be; ambitious, enjoyable and weekly.
4 News
Redbrick
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie, Anna Hughes & James Brilliant
We asked 100 students 'What society are you part of?'
13%
23%
2%
20% Sport groups included extreme sports such as skydiving
Activity
Course
Place of Origin
This includes societies such as Debating, Real Ale society and Film Soc.
Societies that cater for specific courses, organising socials and other events
Including Northern Society and Singapore Society
Sport
More £9,000 fees announced as Students raise graduates set to pay back double £8,500 for Japan
Graduates could pay back double what they borrowed Freddie Herzog Freddie Herzog Assistant News Editor
Figures calculated for the BBC show that a student borrowing £39,000 for a three year course could pay back up to £83,000 in total, in cash terms with interest. The figures, compiled by accountancy firms, were modelled over the lifetimes of three fictional students who were all assumed to have borrowed £9,000 per year for tuition fees and £4,000 per year for maintenance.
The model highlights the differing speed that the loans are paid off, depending on the graduates' incomes. Universities Minister David Willets, said that graduates could expect to earn £100,000 more over their lifetimes than those who had not been to university, and the new system was 'by and large a good deal.' He supported the idea of stretching repayments over a longer time saying that this was 'a deliberate decision that we're
going to ease the burden on people in their 20s and 30s, but it does mean people pay over a longer period.' However, John Whiting of the Chartered Institute of Taxation said the system was like a student 'buying their education on hire purchase, a bit like a mortgage.' This model comes as the full cuts to higher education are announced by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The total cuts will be £940 million, meaning for the academic year 2011-2012, HEFCE will hand out £6.5 billion to 130 universities and colleges. Sir Alan Langlands, HEFCE's chief executive, admitted that it was a 'challenging statement.' The total HEFCE budget includes £4.34 billion for teaching and £1.56 billion for research. In total, in 2011/12 the University of Birmingham will have a 4.1% negative change in the total recurrent grant from 2010-11. In 2011-12 the University's funding for teaching will be £73,132,623 and for research will be £42,454,154. Therefore the total funding for the next academic year will be £115,920,401. The funding cuts have been announced just as Surrey and Durham become the latest universities to charge £9,000 per year for tuition fees from 2012, joining Oxford, Imperial College, and Exeter.
Janine Rasiah Reporter
Students from the Japan Society have raised thousands of pounds for the Japanese Red Cross with their fundraising efforts. The earthquake and tsunami, which hit areas of northern Japan on Friday, prompted members of the committee of the society to hold meetings to decide what they could do to help those affected. Hirotaro Yoshikawa, a final year Social Policy student and President of the society, said that members were 'devastated and shocked' by media coverage showing the destruction that had taken place. After gaining permission from the University and the Guild they set about raising money by bucket shaking across campus, including in front of the main library from last Thursday, less than one week on from when the earthquake struck. Around thirty to forty members of the Japan society and students studying Japanese signed
up for two hour slots on weekdays between 10am and 6pm, with some donators also asking if they could help fundraise too. By the end of Monday, after just three days of fundraising, more than £8,500 had been raised thanks to the tremendous generosity of staff and students. Hirotaro said that the team were 'quite surprised' at the amount that has been raised so far and members of the society said that they were 'really impressed', especially as on the first day of bucket-shaking they received many large donations and many people have donated multiple times. Initially the society planned to fundraise for the remainder of the term, but from yesterday cash tins have been placed in shops in the Guild and elsewhere on campus to facilitate further donations. The total amount raised will be sent to Japan along with funds raised from Japan societies in other UK universities.
Students collecting money outside the library
BBC News
Guild street party planned to celebrate royal wedding Edwina Moorhouse Reporter
In a bid to integrate the whole of the Selly Oak community over Easter, the Guild of Students has organised a street party in celebration of the Royal Wedding. The event, which has been in the pipeline for the past three to four weeks, will be held on the April 29th Bank Holiday between the hours of 11am and 6pm and is hoped to take place on the lower half of Tiverton Road. Speaking to Redbrick, VPHC Jonny Kirby said that Tiverton Road had been chosen because of its ideal location as a flat, wide road with minimal cars and shade, proving less problematic than other roads in Selly Oak which are known to be bus routes or 'blue routes' for ambulances. Tiverton Road residents have been informed of the proposed street party and the Guild will be monitoring their feedback to decide whether or not to keep the desired location, or move the
event elsewhere. Regardless of the host street, event planners, including the VPHC and Community Action Officer Sandya Trott, hope to have the service at Westminster Abbey broadcast from a large projector screen on a resident's house. The street party is being funded by both the Guild and the University, with £300-£400 com-
ing from Selly Oak Community Wardens. The University has agreed to pay the cost of the outdoor barbeque and any additional food costs, whilst also providing staff and stewards, although exact staff numbers are unknown at this point. As for police presence on the day, it is anticipated that there
will be some small scale involvement dependent upon their judgement in the run up to the event. The VPHC was keen to stress that the event was for the whole community, bringing together students, both home and international, along with non-student residents living in the area. The Guild has been working with the International Students
Association closely to encourage international students to get involved with 'British culture' and experience something new. Local businesses are expected to be informed of the event soon and encouraged to get involved with a proposed raffle, which if it was to go ahead would have the proceeds put towards the community.
Lucy Vernon American and Canadian studies, 1st year
Sonia Luck International Relations and Security Studies, MA
Ben Holmes Maths, 3rd year
Amish Patel Economics, 1st year
'I think there should be one in the Vale not just in Selly Oak, because a lot of first years live there.'
'I would go, as it's a good excuse to socialise with people you wouldn't normally.'
'Even though I live in Selly Oak, I'm not really interested. I think street parties like they had with the coronation are a bit old fashioned now.'
'No, I'm not really interested in the royal wedding so I wouldn't go to a street party for it'
Redbrick
Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie, Anna Hughes & James Brilliant
Owen Earwicker
14%
3%
News 5
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
6%
19% Of students asked are not part of a society
Charity
Media Group
Religious
Groups affiliated with a charity or social service such as Carnival RAG
These include societies such as Redbrick, BurnFM and GTV
The most common response was the Christian Union and the Jewish Society
University of York leak personal student information
Personal information has been made available online Caroline Mortimer Reporter
The University of York has begun an investigation after the personal information of 148 students was made available on the University's website. Information about the students' mobile phone numbers,
Millie Guy
addresses and even their A-Level results were easily accessed via the student inquiry page of the website. Following the breach of data last week, the University immediately released a statement saying an investigation into their security systems was underway and all affected students have been con-
tacted. Registrar Dr David Duncan said in a statement that 'We are also investigating all procedures and management systems and will undertake a thorough review of our data security arrangements. I would like to apologise to everyone who has been affected by this breach.' Tim Ngwena, President of the University's Student Union, said 'Obviously students are quite concerned because you trust the information that you provide, when you apply to any institution, to be held safely much like anyone would expect when applying for any job.' In addition to the breach, which if it is found by the investigation to have violated the 1998 Data Protection Act could face a fine or legal action, there were reports last week of phishing texts and emails being sent to York students claiming to be from the University's Registry Services and asking for personal information in light of the security breach. All students were warned that these messages were not from the University and were asked to be vigilante. Information Officer Joanne Casey said all students so far contacted were not victims of the security breach.
Multiculturalism discussed on campus Judith Hawkins Reporter
Dr Gavin Schaffer from the Department of History and Culture discussed on campus 'does Multiculturalism work?' From the outset Schaffer recognised that these were 'controversial issues', and discussed the presence of debates over Multiculturalism in the words of politicians, referring to numerous examples including Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech. However, Schaffer stressed that 'the idea that multiculturalism came in the 1960s and 70s is completely erroneous' and also criticised 'the surprisingly persistent myth that Black and Asian immigration started after World War II', before going on to provide various instances of immigration to and from Britain from as far back as the 17th Century. Schaffer then gave a definition of what Multiculturalism is, looking at it from two ways; firstly the use of the law to create work spaces, communities and education systems that work for people of different backgrounds and faiths, as well as laws against racial discrimination. Secondly, he discussed Multiculturalism in terms
of values, and expressed his concern that Britain is 'still in a place where being white and a Christian is considered the norm.' Much of the talk, which was organised by the International Students Association, was given over to the audience who posed various challenging and insightful questions ranging from the number of religious holidays recognised by the University to issues regarding immigration. When questioned directly about the extent of Multiculturalism in Britain Schaffer replied, 'I don't think there is a significant level of Multiculturalism in this country.' Schaffer considered how 'Multiculturalism has been t h r o w n like a bone to ethnic communities' and concluding his talk that 'the debate on Multiculturalism is riddled with racism and ignorance.' Judith Hawkins
Visa changes may Birmingham funding falls 4.1% limit non-EU intake as part of Hefce spending cuts Freddie Herzog Assistant News Editor
Under government immigration proposals, English language requirements to gain a visa could increase, which may seriously impact on the number of non-EU students coming to UK universities. A Home Affairs select committee said that there was evidence the proposals are based on flawed data and strongly recommended the government abandons the plans. The committee said 'The government has stated that it does not wish to target legitimate students but, at the same time, we would caution against measures which could be detrimental to a thriving, successful industry.' In total international students contribute £2.5 billion to universities in tuition fees and contribute £5 billion to the economy. The government wants to make the visa system less open to abuse. Les Ebdon, chair of the Million+ group of new universities, said: 'In the light of this report, it would be completely bizarre if Home Office Ministers with their ill-conceived and damaging plans.' NUS international students officer Christina Yan-Zhang said
'The extent to which the committee had to find 'least worst' options in the face of overwhelming government desire to push the plans through demonstrated just how wrong – headed the current proposals were.' International Students Officer at the University of BirminghamHadi Jawad believes that many courses, especially Science and Engineering, may not be sustained with fewer international students. He is encouraging students to send a letter to their MPs urging them to vote against the proposals and will be opening a stall outside the main library next week, raisng awareness of this issue. The Guild President, Dora Meredith commented 'If the government adopts the proposals discussed in the UKBA consultation this will be hugely detrimental to the student experience of our international students... we should not be hasty in making such drastic changes which will undoubtedly affect students' ability to study in the UK. 'International students play a key role in our university community and it really worries me that these proposals target those students unfairly.'
James Brilliant News Editor
ways of raising money externally.' Despite the cuts not coming into place until next academic year, funding reductions are actually set to hit higher education institutions immediately. Due to the four month overlap between the government's financial year, and the academic year, universities are set to lose £190m from now until September. Most research-intensive institutions have been fortunate enough to avoid substantial cuts
thanks to the greater concentration of quality-related research funding, . These institutions are to be protected by HEFCE who prioritise distribution of research funding towards 'internationally excellent and world-leading research', such as the University of Oxford. However HEFCE has ominously warned that should the government change it's funding plans for the 2012-13 academic year, it may be forced to make further cuts next year.
University funding chiefs have announced details of the massive spending cuts universities are set to face next academic year. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will provide £6.5b to 254 higher education institutions, a cut of £685m or 9.5% when compared to this academic year. The cuts will see reductions in recurrent grants for all but five higher education institutions. Next year's teaching grant of £4.34b is down 8.2% on this year's, whilst the research provision of £1.56b translates into a 2.8% reduction. However capital funding is facing the harshest cut, with HEFCE's provision towards university infrastructure down 58.1%. The University of Birmingham is facing an overall cut of 4.1%, with HEFCE granting £73m towards teaching and £42m towards research. Adam Paigge, a first year physics student, said: 'Fortunately I don't think the majority of studnets will feel the cuts, although we are set to lose 30 printers. I think to compensate for the cuts the University should seek some more This year's change in university Hefce funding
Glen Moutrie
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25th March 2011
redbrickpaper.co.uk
Comment & Features Editorial Seb Mann Comment and Features Editor
Redbrick
Squatting, scavenging and stigma Oscar French speaks candidly with veteran squatter Dominik Brotherton about his unique lifestyle choices
The complexion of comment
In recent days an article published in this section by my request has been causing a bit of a stir. The piece, 'After the campaign, the friction within', written by Joe Jervis, is a broad critique of the outcome of the recent Guild Elections which (it may come as a surprise to some) was never meant to be mere sycophancy. The flame it has subsequently sparked under the rear of the campus political body has given me pause to reflect on the nature, the enigmatic complexion, of a student newspaper's Comment and Features section. In response to Jervis' article, many have drilled the accusation that what purports to be a balanced account is masquerading as biased charlatanry. So surely it's assumed that bias is a bad thing? Bias, what the OED describes as 'inclination or prejudice for or against one thing or person' must be the scourge of the media; the venom in the pen of the opponent of democracy. Not quite. Bias is only abhorrent in situations where neutrality is necessary: in a job interview, on news channels, in education. On a newspaper's opinion pages, though, it is wholly permissible, even desirable. Like I am biased when it comes to my tastes (I have an inclination for bananas but not for apples, for example), I can be biased, and thereby express an opinion, when I write an article – even if it is about the Guild Elections. Admittedly, and though it is not noted by its definition, 'bias' quite clearly has some negative connotations which often imply a kind of vested interest for the writer in others agreeing with what they say. In this case then, all literature which was the product of the women's rights movement was biased; similarly, all of Martin Luther King's speeches were biased. And yet, no one worth their salt would consider censoring these views today. Comment and Features is absolutely about expression and opinion and almost every article published is biased. If they weren't, this section would just be an extension of the News section but less interesting and with more flowery adjectives. You may agree or you may disagree with Joe Jervis (realistically you're probably as bored of Guild politics as everyone else and share literally no opinion whatsoever), but if you're criticising him of bias then you're missing the point. Views are inherently biased. Their publication in the right context can facilitate better understanding of one's own opinions and stimulate useful debate. When was the last time you got something right first time round?
Beth Richardson
Joe Azael Copplestone
A
llude to the term 'squatting' in the presence of any generic student and you are, in my experience, safe to assume that their brain will conjure up images of dilapidated, festering tower blocks, populated by hordes of crack addicts. It is likely that this will be coupled with a vague, indeterminable feeling that the action sits somewhere on the cusp of illegality, presuming of course that they do not confuse it with the exercise manoeuvre. The word 'reeks of stigma' agrees Dominik Brotherton, a 23 year old who is something of a veteran within the squatting scene. It is precisely this uniformed disparagement that propelled me into contacting him in the first instance, with fascinating results. Hailing from Birmingham, Brotherton has squatted across Europe, including a stint at the famous Brunnenstrasse 183 in Berlin, heralded as the last open squat in the country. It is an experience he recounts with passion, 'I've never felt so free or alive as when I was there' he admits, 'when [they] cleared out the place, I cried.' To Dominik, squatting is a lifestyle choice, a form of activism. Something which I feel is inexcusably absent from the media's agen-
da and subsequently, the general publics comprehension, 'the most prolific squatters are of course homeless people because it is a necessity [for them]' he concurs. The recent occupation of Saif Gaddafi's London manor will not alter this; it made headlines merely because of the topicality. It is all too easy and often short sighted to brand squatters as anarchists; I was interested in Dominik's own rationale, which proved to be intriguing. 'It is as absurd to claim that someone owns a portion of land as it is for someone to say they own the rain that falls from the sky,' he explained. The 23 year old believes it is fairer to define land possession by our ability to defend it and that nobody should be able to take ownership of shelter when it is a humanitarian need. 'Squatting is a taking back of land, and in most cases, [it] is used to the benefit of the community.' When asked how, he rattled off a seemingly endless list of social projects housed within squats, including soup kitchens and free libraries, before detailing his own experience. Dominik runs bike workshops, 'I'm not going to build a bike for someone, but I'll show them how to it themselves.' This is a philosophy that seems to
be inherent to the movement; autonomous spaces are about doing things for your self without state interference. He is adamant that this is the way forward, and rejects the legitimate house projects in Berlin, 'you have to squat or else you will forever be making compromises, cutting deals, selling your soul and sacrificing your values.' Indeed Brotherton has often lived on the street, despite being eligible for government benefits. This man is not a hypocrite, he refuses to rely on friends and avoiding public homeless shelters, which he regards as 'institutionalising and depressing.' Nevertheless, I am sure many readers are perplexed as to why an individual would choose to live in conditions which at their worst cannot be described as anything but destitute. Dominik admits that it comes down to choice, 'I don't believe in a one philosophy fits all attitude.' The movement is unique among activists, they does not seek to impose their outlook but merely campaign for the right to live as they desire alongside the more conventional approaches. Although he is an advocate of squatting without squalor, seeking to restore derelict buildings to a state fit for human habitation.
The major generally conceded criticism of squatters according to Brotherton, however, is that they exemplify getting something for nothing, without having to pay or work for it. His response to this is characteristically subversive, 'do you mean to say you want to work? I personally hate selling my soul for five quid an hour.' Instead he chooses to work for survival, often salvaging food from dumpsters. For Dominik, free housing is something everyone should demand, 'it's unfair that anyone had to pay in the first place. I would urge people to stop paying rent and mortgages, en masse, and squat in their houses, it's virtually impossible for bailiffs to evict a whole street.' This article is an oddity among comment pieces, I wrote it not to vociferate my own opinion, but to give students the chance of insight into a social scene that is mostly underground and impenetrable to those outside its circles. Voices like Dominik Brotherton's are radical and thus rarely heard. It comes as no surprise considering Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke's recent vow to outlaw squatting in Britain. Dominik remains defiant, 'just let them try and stop us.' Somehow, I doubt they will.
Squatters' paradise? There are one billion 'squatters' on the planet, around one sixth of the world's population In the UK squatting is generally regarding as a civil, rather than a criminal, offence
Joe Azael Copplestone
There are two distinct types of 'squatters'. Those who squat through necessity and those who choose to squat as a means of political activism
Redbrick
25th March 2011
Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann, Amanda Callaghan & Ali Hendy
www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Comment & Features 7
Does the internet promote vacuous cultural expression? 'Yesterday was Thursday, today is Friday, we so excited, we gonna have a ball today, tomorrow is Saturday, and Sunday comes afterwards, I don't want this weekend to end' Lyrics from Rebecca Black's Friday, an unintentional parody of teen pop music?
Owen Earwicker Commentator
I don't know if you are aware, but (at the date of issue) today is Friday. Yesterday was Thursday and tomorrow is Saturday. Sunday is afterwards. Perhaps it wasn't Rebecca Black's dream to make the world fully aware of what day of the week it is, no more than it was her dream to make us all aware of the immensely difficult choice every
Rebecca Black – after her cereal young person must make between 'kickin' in the front seat', and 'sittin' in the back seat.' But we know now, and her incredible popularity has thrust her into the public eye to such a great extent that at the time I wrote this piece, Rebecca Black's Friday reached 42,128,346 views on Youtube. But what is it that has given Miss Black a following comparative to the population of Uzbekistan? The answer is simple; our growing
and worrying addiction to internet 'culture'. The internet, you may cry, is the marvel of the modern world. A wealth of information just a click away! No matter that the sight of someone gormlessly tapping away at a mouse, gazing into the abyss of infinite and oftentimes pointless knowledge, the mouth slack and tongue lolling, is quite frankly something even George Orwell couldn't dream up. I don't wish to be a complete internet-phobe. The concept is beautiful, particularly when essays need references. But what about the less attractive side? I'm talking about the way people use the internet to express themselves. Take Facebook, for example, and the rise of generic 'lol jk' statement: 'I'm going to university! Lol jk David Cameron's PM' and 'I'd climb Mt. Everest for you... Lol jk, I'd get frostbite.' There's even an anti-Lol jk page for you to like. Evidently Facebook is working 'wonders' for the expression of irony, but where else is it butchering culture? I realise what I'm about to say will offend many, because as I mindlessly gaze down my news feed, I see that everyone is doing it: the '30 Day Song Challenge.' There was a time I'm sure, when people used to discuss music socially. Now we have a song for each day: one that makes you feel sad, one
that you used to love but now hate, even a song which you admit is a guilty pleasure. I simply think, as the monotony of this trend catches on and people clamour for the like I'll never give, that I really couldn't care less. Now, of course, I don't want the esteemed reader to think that I'm ignorant. 'You're a fool Owen,' perhaps you're shouting (or maybe even putting on your status), 'if you think that these trends are all the internet has to offer for expression!' In an interview with Redbrick, the Birmingham street artist Lisk commented on how street art would be landlocked without the internet. In the article, it is noted that 'the internet has spawned a community that actively inspires and feeds creativity.' The idea is wonderful; a platform for artistic dialogue, expression being shared and culture developed. I would absolutely love it if my news feed were full of people expressing ideas, arguing, expanding, exploring, hypothesising and above all, learning. I worry that for all this artistic progression on the internet, it is dwarfed by the rubbish. But in reality, what can we do about it? For all my ranting, I will go on gormlessly stroking my Blackberry trackpad, desperate to see what song puts someone in a sort of funny mood, or someone
else thinks will herald in the apocalypse or whatever. It is a gloomy fact that we are all slowly becoming slaves to the internet. A day will come however, when I log in to find a feed full of breathtaking photography, clever witticisms and maybe even the odd sonnet. I know it is out there, it just needs to be expressed.
By putting a price on justice, the government undermines our poorest and most vulnerable Oliver MacArthur Commentator
In November 2010, the Government announced its plans to cut legal aid. Funding towards civil cases is to be cut dramatically. Legal aid will not be offered towards divorce cases, welfare benefits disputes and school exclusion appeals. Employment tribunals, clinical negligence appeals and personal injury claims will be radically streamlined. Inevitably, legal fees are expensive. The Government hopes the retreat of the state's formal legal processes will encourage civil mediation and reduce the cost of legal aid by £350 million. Justice secretary Ken Clarke has robustly defended the cuts to legal aid, 'It cannot be right that the taxpayer is footing the bill for unnecessary court cases which would never have even reached the courtroom door, were it not for the fact that somebody else was paying.' Instead of continually talking about legal aid costs, it is time to consider the values. Following a brief storm, the furore surrounding legal aid appears to have died down. However, as the battle for freedom and justice continues in the Middle East, we appear to have negated the battle for justice on these shores. Following the upcoming reforms, if defendants cannot afford the fees, they are left with little choice but to represent themselves. If justice is to prevail, access to professional legal representation should be free at the point of use to our very poor-
Paragon of justice? Joe Dunckley on Flickr est. Moral truth rather than financial clout should be the key determinant of justice. The cuts to legal aid represent an attack on liberty, where ability to pay erodes true judicial outcomes. However, it is nonsense to suggest how ordinary people could represent themselves to the same standard as professional lawyers. Des Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society, suggested how the govern-
ment is 'playing fast and loose with the basic principle that the courts and justice system are available irrespective of your wealth.' The parsimonious attack on legal aid is not only morally abhorrent, but economically short-sighted. Early intervention via legal aid helps to reduce long-term spending. The Citizen's Advice Bureau, a benefactor of the legal aid bud-
get, is set to a face a cut of £20m. A recent study by the citizen's advice bureau suggests that every £1 spent on early advice by its bureaux saved the state up to £8 in future costs. In the spirit of the big society, charitable contributions are expected to plug the gap left from legal aid. However, a statement from the charity Age UK suggested that 'Our concern is that while it is true that Age UK do provide some help and advice with welfare benefits it is most often not at a level comparative to that provided through legal aid.' The government has yet to identify measures to preserve access to our very poorest. If justice cannot be found through legal means, instead of mediation, the cuts to legal aid could lead to vigilantism. In the context of divorces, cuts to legal aid serve to assuage prevailing gender inequalities. The male represents the main wageearner in most divorces cases, in this respect; women cannot afford the same fees as their male counterparts. As a result, the reduction in legal aid directly undermines equity and social justice. We cannot live in a society where ability to pay overrides truth and liberty. In the era of austerity, those with the broadest shoulders must heave the greatest burden. At odds with the Government's progressive agenda, the cuts to legal aid appear punitive. The attack on legal aid strikes at the weak and the downtrodden. Justice should be for all, not just the affluent.
If justice is to prevail, access to professional legal representation should be free to our very poorest What is legal aid? Legal aid exists to protect basic rights and ensure a fair hearing for all There is an annual budget of £2 billion which allows around 2 million people access to legal help each year If necessary, it can provide court representation
8 Comment & Features
Redbrick
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann, Amanda Callaghan & Ali Hendy
As the Dalai Lama approaches political retirement, we look at what he has achieved...
The 14th incarnation Dalai Lama has been a constant, if not distant, political presence across the world. Although the news of his forthcoming political retirement has been long awaited, the news cannot help but instigate an anxious feeling of vast, imminent change. For over fifty years the Dalai Lama has been a pillar of strength and stability in the Tibetan cause and he has managed to earn global publicity for its plight. Earning the love and respect not only of the Tibetan people, but passionate followers the worldround, Tenzin Gyatso has established himself as the practically unquestioned political leader of Tibet. Without his political presence, it has been argued that the Tibetan people might have simply become another lost and dying culture, hidden
from the rest of the planet's conscience. So what is to become of this fragmented society without its leader? The ultimate aim is for Tibet to find a democratically elected leader to head a more secure and less-dated political system, which the Dalai Lama has felt for some time, should die out with him. Hopefully this conscientious pre-emption of life without the Dalai Lama will prevent a power vacuum and the resultant instability. However, whether China will allow Tibet to control this situation independently is of critical concern.
A brief biography
Born on the 6th July 1935 to a farming family in Takster Quinghai, he was one of sixteen children He was declared the new Dalai Lama at only four years of age He began his monastic education at the age of six and completed the Geshne Lharampa Degree (Doctorate of Buddhist philosophy) In 1950 (aged just sixteen) he was called upon to assume the position of Head of State when Tibet was threatened by the might of China
In September 1954 goes to Beijing, China to attempt peaceful negotiations Fled to his native Tibet to India in April 1959 after the Chinese invasion-some 80,000 people followed him. Promotes a democratic constitution for Tibet in 1963 June 1988 he proposes a 5 point Peace plan with China In 1989 the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his efforts in the nonviolent liberation of Tibet By Nessa Swanson
Jamie's Dream School nightmare The fashion industry An interesting idea, but in practice a patronising insult to teachers
perpetuates class divides Niall Kempson Commentator
Jamie's Channel 4 TV show has been met with mixed reviews. Eleanor Smallwood Commentator
Lovers and haters alike of Jamie Oliver can stand united at last in respect to his latest crusade. That is, whatever your view of the celebrity chef, it is more than likely that his latest venture will have left you sceptical of the man, who emerges more than ever as a shameless selfpublicist. The showman has added a new trick to his agenda to save the world, this time turning his focus onto schools, turning around 'failures' who have left school with no qualifications. The Dream School, open for one month only, strives to get the drop-outs back into education, where Jamie believes they unquestionably belong. Sounding nonsensical? Don't worry, it's a Dream School, it's not meant to seem real. This shouldn't, however, undermine the lessons teachers can learn from these unqualified celebrities, we're told. What makes it reasonable for the chef to pull this stunt? Oliver himself claims he himself was within the ranks upon-a-time, being within the percentile to leave school with no reasonable GCSEs. The intentions behind such a programme are at the very least questionable, and undoubtedly arrogant on Oliver's part. The first and foremost suggestion would be
in the employment of personalities rather than those in education. David Starkey, widely acclaimed as the rudest historian in Britain is let off the leash on a class of young people who in some cases have anger problems. Many of the lessons end in conflict, some with borderline assault. If all of this wasn't enough, if you view the full lessons on YouTube, it is quite clear that the production team have manipulated the events to the point of the original sessions being unrecognisable. The inclination of the viewer would be to dismiss this as yet another reality gimmick. You would have thought that if the people behind this stunt wanted to make a difference, they would have followed in the steps of others who have tried to change schools in the past. Headmaster William Atkinson is probably the best known example of this sort of project; reformer of the Phoenix High School in West London (incidentally the school of one of the pupils on the programme), known for completely transforming the prospects of the said institution. Atkinson has previously suggested the secret to making dramatic change to a school is to be able to lead 'without interference'. This of course completely contradicts what we see in Dream
Screen-grab from channel4.com School; Oliver struts into the back of classes, as if surveying the work under way. The headmaster of Jamie's creation, arguably the saving grace of the establishment, is advised by a cook on a wealth of aspects of the system in place. It is possible to see the funny side of this programme; you'll see David Starkey justifying name calling by describing a boy's appearance as 'porcine'; but ultimately we are looking at people in a goldfish bowl. Yes, the problem of uneducated young people is widespread, but this does not condone the intentions behind the production. C4 have risked leaving real teachers insulted more than anything else. Oliver poses again as a missionary, suggesting he is the one who knows what the kids really need. One is left wondering whether they couldn't have chosen less vulnerable subjects for compulsive viewing evening TV. After all, aggressive or passive, intelligent or vacant, these teenagers have left school vulnerable due to their lack of basic skills, their future uncertain. Dream School might have changed them, but they represent the condition of (allegedly) half of the country's sixteen year olds, as well as a problem which has to be addressed urgently. Change is the last thing we'll see from this.
We are all judged on what we wear. Are you indie? Are you emo? Are you preppy? All these labels form part of a sartorial hierarchy: as high street brands are looked down upon by those fortunate enough to afford the latest designs, high street brands look down upon the factory outlet and the low-end shell suit. It's a fact that we all make assumptions based upon what we see people wearing, a hoodie and low hanging, baggy jeans suggest a less than savoury character. I'm not going to argue any of these assumptions are true, but the fact that we make them shows us just how the fashion industry creates a class divide. Prada, Gucci, Paul Smith, Abercrombie. All high-end, highcost designer clothing industries. With suits and dresses that can easily send a student into overdraft with a single purchase, these designers are well equipped to set the standard of what the upper classes can afford to wear and what the rest of society must look up to. High street brands such as Topshop, New Look and H&M are looked down upon by the fashion world as clothes for the 'everyday' man and women. I believe that this sort of attitude is nothing
short of 'price tag elitism'. If it costs more, then it looks better, right? Wrong. Did you see Missoni's Spring 2011 runway? It was nothing short of a violent assault on tasteful colour schemes. The fashion industry not only encourages a class divide through pricing, but also the disposal of damaged designs. It will shock some of you to hear that stores such as Abercrombie&Fitch actually destroy defective or damaged designs rather than selling them at a reduced price or even giving them to children living in poverty. Is it so important to designers that they would order the destruction of beautiful, magnificent, yet ever so slightly defective clothes, just to maintain their position at the top of the fashion hierarchy? Is image really everything? Maybe this is pure melodrama; do fashion designers really create a class divide through simply wanting to appear as aspirational? Whether intentional or not, our clothes and even their price tags inspire assumptions about class, attitude and personality. Whether or not you agree that a class divide in the clothing industry is a good thing or not, we should be focusing on the methods and ethics of companies intent on maintaining social status rather than the latest trend.
Redbrick
Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann, Amanda Callaghan & Ali Hendy
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Comment & Features 9
Liberal Democrat political future:
In government, coalition harlots have signed their own death warrant Dave Rudge Commentator
Were you one of the millions of people who were terribly impressed by – though didn't end up voting for – Nick Clegg in his televised debates in the run up to last year's general election? Were you taken in by the fresh-faced plausibility, the polished repartee, the idealistic conviction? I know I was. But in a little under twelve months, he and his party have morphed into Nick 'the Antichrist' Clegg and his band of Liberal 'Demi-rats'. When the Con-Dem coalition was formed, I, like many others, believed the Liberal Democrats would be a force for good – tempering some of the more hard-line Tory policies. They would, surely,
for instance, oppose some of the biting cuts? And they would certainly insist on watering down any Conservative plans to raise tuition fees? Wrong. They caved. And while their colossal slump in popularity comes as no surprise to the majority of voters, the Lib Dems clearly did not anticipate how bad the political aftermath of their capitulation would be. I think we all expect politicians to lie and cheat to some extent; that is the nature of the beast. But the barefaced prostitution of principle for power is not something the British electorate forgets about in a hurry. In fact, the writing is already on the wall. After finishing 6th in the recent Barnsley by-election – behind UKIP and the BNP – Nick Clegg faced Party members at the
Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Sheffield. Although the hand-picked audience were, for the most part, benign, Clegg had to brave shouts of 'Tory scum' and 'Judas' from a group of activists outside, and his joke about being 'chased around Sheffield' by 5000 protesters went down like a lead balloon. Can Nick Clegg really rely on the people of Sheffield to re-elect him? In addition to the broken pledges and policy reversals, there is Sheffield Forgemasters to consider. One of the first acts of the coalition government was to axe an £80 million loan promised to them under Labour. (Ironically, £2 million was spent on Clegg's protection at the Spring Conference, including a taxpayer funded 'ring
In the interests of practicality, concessions are a necessary evil Andy Peck Commentator
Being in perpetual opposition is a privileged position, even better is opposition with numbers that make getting into government seem like an impossibility. A blissful state of being able to promise everything and be excused for delivering nothing. Such was the enviable position of the Liberal Democrats' Policy Committee. Scrap tuition fees! Free prescriptions for the elderly! For all that it mattered they may as well promise a gold ingot for every household and a celebratory war with the French for the Diamond Jubilee. This was the case in every election up to the last one and, I confess, I cannot explain or even comprehend, why the Liberal Democrats pledged to scrap tuition fees when it was apparent from the beginning of 2010 that, since nobody liked Gordon Brown, nobody quite trusted David Cameron and everyone agreed with Nick, a hung parliament the most likely result. Not only that, but both the Conservatives and Labour had plans to increase tuition fees. It was, after all, Peter Mandelson who commissioned the Browne Review. From the moment it was pledged, it was
doomed to disappoint. However, I implore students to look beyond the narrow, self interested betrayal of a poorly thought-out pledge. Though it may be galling for us, it is just that: a student issue affecting a small minority of people who are smart, determined and lucky enough to be in or eligible for higher education in the first place. Look to the rest of society who are not blessed with such good fortune. While the Liberal Democrats remain in government, the Conservatives are bound by the coalition agreement. Which is already responsible for the introduction of the pupil premium, the reviewing of the necessity of the Trident nuclear deterrent and tax breaks for lower and middle income earners prioritised over any formerly proposed cuts to inheritance tax. The Conservatives would not have proposed any of this had they been in government by themselves. To ignore all this out of bitterness and spite would be tragic. Facing up to governmental responsibilities is not easy. By far and away the easiest option open to the Liberal Democrats was to resign from the cabinet, vote against the government, break the coalition and bask in the adulation of
standing up to a pledge that was, at best, hopelessly optimistic. This would be at the expense of everything else, from electoral reform and breaking up the banks (to avoid another banking crisis), to regaining our civil liberties. Self-righteous indignation at a supposed Liberal Democrat betrayal aside, the cold, hard, political fact is that the Conservatives won the last election. Or at least the general population found a Conservative government less odious than another Labour one. A Liberal-Labour-Green-SNP-Plaid Cymru Coalition would have been ineffective, fragile and, ultimately, deeply unpopular, while a Conservative minority government would have made the current cuts seem comparatively insignificant. Rather than bemoaning every let-down of the coalition, look to the bigger picture: a small party is holding back the will of a much larger party – easing the burden, by a noticeable if not desirable amount, of the poorest and most vulnerable. The Liberal Democrat vote may very well collapse in 2015. But I'd rather they have their moment in the sun, doing their best to turn some of their ideas into policy, than retain a quarter of the vote and forever remain a protest party.
of steel'). But Clegg did not put up any sort of a fight – another example of his political near-sightedness – and many of his constituents felt, and still feel, deeply betrayed by this. Shortly after incurring nationwide hatred over student fees he announced the Forgemasters decision may be 'revisited'. Coincidence? He is not even a Sheffield man. Born in Buckinghamshire, and educated at Westminster School – one of Britain's most elite private schools – Clegg has no real ties to his constituency. He is a plant, an export of the political elite sent to colonize Northern towns and cities. If he been born and raised in Sheffield, he could probably still rely on a core vote. But he wasn't. So, who is going to vote for him now? More to the point, who on earth is going to vote Lib Dem in the 2015 general election? Students, their traditional core voters – and those to whom they owe their seats in the Commons –will never forgive their anathematic uturn over tuition fees. And grassroots liberals, furious at their party being hijacked by the Conservatives, are likely to defect to Labour in droves. Opinion polls are predicting annihilation for the Lib Dems in the local, Scottish, and Welsh elections on 5 May. Expect this trend to continue until they either amalgamate with the Tories, or disintegrate completely. For a few crumbs of power, the Lib Dems have not just consigned themselves to political wilderness but have committed political suicide.
'There is a gulf in values between myself and David Cameron. They have no progressive reform agenda at all – only an unbearable sense of entitlement that it's just their time to govern' Nick Clegg, 1st May 2010
How do you solve a problem like... A downbeat generation by Victoria Bull
Whilst I am trying to avoid conforming to the Kevin & Perry stereotype of young people complaining that everything is 'so unfair!' for our generation, I cannot help but be slightly bemused at the latest suggestions that the retirement age is due to increase and pensions are expected to do the opposite. For current third years – whose positions I do not envy – the thought of entering the world of work must be an overwhelming one. But there should be no need to feel fearful. If we think back, we've had to deal with endless obstacles since the start of our journey into 'the real world', and we've put up with criticisms and doubts from those people already living in it. Can we not just catch a break, or be rewarded with a friendly pat on the back? Take for instance, our school careers. Drilled into us from a young age, the ideology that we won't get anywhere unless we get the best grades possible drove us to, well, get the best grades possible. Upon hearing the seemingly great news, however, that year after year our collective grades are the best since records began, our delight and optimism is beaten out of us with the dreaded and immortal line, 'exams are just getting easier'. But we battled on regardless, into the £15,000+ debt-creating life of university and the paradoxical notion that whilst we probably need a degree to get a job, there are no jobs out there for us (as we are kindly reminded almost every day in the news). And now – the icing on the cake for those lucky ones that do manage to land their dream careers – we can enter that elusive 'real world' knowing that we're going to work our entire lives away for seemingly little at the end of it. Joy! It forces one to ask whether our generation has done something wrong to experience this sense of hopelessness and futility which pervades every milestone at which we arrive, or whether the world is just as big and bad as it is made out to be. Either way, the battering we always seem to get on both sides can be difficult to overcome – do we choose to consolidate our all our struggles and crushed dreams into one, easily manageable overdraft, and put off the woes of the world by living our student lives to the drunken, carefree excess that everyone else expects it to be? Short of keeping our fingers crossed that those weekly lottery tickets will one day pay off, and/ or packing up and moving to Timbuktu to escape it all, our only other (and most feasible) option is to battle through this neverending negativity as we have done many times before. The cynics among the British public tend to be forgetting that we are the future working generation, and therefore all hope is not lost.
10
Redbrick
25th March 2011
We're offering tickets to Busting Out – the outrageous nude comedy in association with the Hippodrome. Email arts@redbrickonline.co.uk to win!
TV did it to radio, but has internet killed the art star? I only just made it into Generation X so can still remember times when a dial-up modem tone was the sound of mankind's future. The internet age has changed my consumption of music and art in so many ways – I can share, berate, promote and produce in milliseconds if I'm fast enough. God bless the musicart-tech love-in and long may it continue.
Lyle Bignon
It opens up new possibilities for us artistically. We've two new shows linking with webcam, one of which, Radio Z, has a live performance element. I don't think we need to worry about the internet overwhelming theatre. It's built around the performance being together. Its quite discreet in that regard.
James Yarker
Music and creative industries PR
I promote a lot of my street art through the net. Like other artists, I get to see other work around the world as soon as it's been posted. I also sell and trade my work with people who contact me through my flickr account.
We've never really used it in performance, as such, for us it's more this amazing research tool.
Gemma Paintin Artistic Collaborator, Action Hero
Lisk Street Artist
We use YouTube to post videos of our shows. This means that not only can people see what our group does or re-live the performance they went to see, but members involved can watch the show they performed in themselves.
Katie Davison ComSoc President
Aside from just being a horrifying distraction, it's really useful that people can contact me without knowing my email address. There is a danger that what readership exists gets put off by the flooded market, but I'd never want to slide into that wretched fallacy of claiming there are too many writers. For a start there are just a lot more of us as human beings, so naturally there are more writers. Deal with it.
The internet is shaping poetry in so many different ways. Social networking and blogging allows poets themselves to get closer to their audience. Small presses have greater access to a greater audience too, who can now also purchase their books or pamphlets online. As for all this freedom and its potential, small publishers are now instead at the whim of big online retailers like Amazon.
Jane Commane
Luke Kennard Poet James Reevell Arts Editor
The answer must be a resounding no, as the arts sector has embraced the web like no other. Whether it be squatter artists tweeting across international borders or, more humbly, our own theatre societies using Facebook to advertise their latest shows, the internet has spawned creativity like no other innovation. Why has it been so successful artistically though? Perhaps the most obvious reason is that it is the first true multi-platform outlet. Television allowed art to combine visual and motion, but text suddenly seemed out of place. On the internet this is no problem, the two can be combined far more vigorously. Equally, our artistic expectations change on the internet; as viewers we are far more tolerant of what we will spend our time on. Partly because we don't necessarily accept that what we are seeing is art, merely just another interesting web page. Would the average flickr enthusiast consider themselves an art buff? Probably not, but that is
what they are. Even if it is just their mate's drunken pictures of a nice sunset in Thailand. The internet also strikes fantastic blows against the art world's most insidious yet deeply embedded enemy: pretension. For every horrifically inaccessible art blog (you know the type, lots of white, five pictures and a name made up entirely of vowels and numbers), there is the individual flickr account providing up to the minute information on a new artist spawned just moments ago. This is art as it should be, transcending boundaries and genres. 'But the internet encourages piracy and cuts off a valuable revenue source to artists!', I hear you say. So what? In fact, good. If you wish to solely make money, go into investment banking. Great art is spawned from a desire to be creative and express oneself. The Young British Artists' main effect appears to be the demand that artists are super renumerated, but did Hirst embalm his first shark for the eventual financial reward? I doubt it, it was about creation first and foremost. It is small scale, grassroots art that benefits from it most. Spend
Artistic Director, Stan's Cafe
an afternoon plugging yourself into the Birmingham arts Twitter scene. Suddenly one is transported to a pub filled with Brum's artistic gurus, each yelling about the next wonderful, unknown event to see.
The Young British Artists' main effect appears to be the demand that artists are renumerated, but did Hirst embalm his first shark for the eventual financial reward? This gives aspiring artists a bigger voice than ever before, and crucially allows known figures to
Nine Arches Press
It hasn't killed art, but improved the ease with which you can communicate it. Particularly with photography, you can share your work and ideas with others instantly.
Beth Richardson Redbrick Jr. Art Director give unknowns a seal of approval. No more do you have to stumble into a freezing warehouse hoping for the best, now you can go in relative confidence. Via the internet, even promotion has become something of an art form. The days of simply displaying your product are long gone, now the aim is to go viral. Advertising has to entertain as never before in order to stand out from the crowd, with the best ones catapulted to internet fame for a few brief moments before being replaced by the next. The internet is a glorious cacophony of voices, where anarchy spawns artistic freedom. The taste police is now the consumer, no longer are we subject to the whims of prudish lawmakers. One effect of the internet is that it is now impossible to ban something, which, given government's track record on banning great art, comes as something of a relief to say the least. Of even more importance, considering our government's delight in slashing arts funding, is that the internet gives artists and their art a dedicated space to display their work. Flickr, Twitter and
blogs all provide a space to create and display work which in turn can be seen across the globe. A graffitti artist friend is cur- r e n t l y working with a fellow graffer in Phoenix, USA, a connection spawned through mutual admiration via flickr. To the internet's detractors I challenge you to actually search out art. The internet can bring it to your door step but unless you open the door that is where it will remain. Art is easier than ever to find but you must still search for it. If you don't choose to embed yourself in an artistic culture, then you will be forever separate from it. This was true before the internet, all the net has done is allow us to sign up all the more easily for artistic enlightenment. We are all just the sum of our influences, and the internet has multiplied this in ways we cannot even begin to quantify. New art needs old art to begin, and the internet bridges the link between the two. Controversial, knowledgeable and constantly fluctuating the internet is rapidly becoming the oxygen to our artistic spark.
Redbrick
Editors – James Reevell, Alexander Blanchard & Lexie Wilson
Arts 11
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Tony Dudley-Evans: Playing his own tune
Previews
ham Jazz and its previous successes in keeping jazz alive as a genre: 'Jazz will always be around,' he assuredly tells us, 'it's a genre that's always evolving and developing. I think it will always exist in some form.'
American Pianist Uri Caine performs at Town Hall in a joint presentation with Birmingham jazz Anna Lumsden and Jessica Bull Critics
Co-ordinated by artistic director Tony Dudley-Evans, Birmingham Jazz presents and promotes various contemporary jazz events across the city all year round. With events ranging from concerts at the CBSO Centre and the Mac, to gigs in smaller venues such as the Yardbird and the Rainbow in Digbeth, there is something to accommodate everyone's tastes. Tony spoke to Redbrick about the different strands of Birmingham Jazz, which include not only the organisation of a variety of concerts, but an active role in education, teaching in schools and strong connections with Birmingham Conservatoire's jazz course. They have also previously worked with the University of Birmingham's very own Jazz and Blues society, JABsoc.
Tony's passion for jazz music started in his teenage years and the jazz society at his university was the main outlet for this – he jokes that he was almost thrown out for spending too much time putting on gigs rather than doing his degree work! Yet, this did not compromise him academically, considering the time he spent in the English Language department here at Birmingham working with international students. It was his decision to make promoting jazz music his main focus, working to ensure its continuity here in the city really demonstrates his passion and dedication to the genre. 'I love that excitement of running a concert,' he tells us, 'there's a real buzz about it.' Unlike many of his contemporaries, Tony is not a musician himself. He explained that having a technical distance from the music can be advanta-
Ed Byrne at Town Hall
Rob Hanson Critic
Was Ed Byrne's show a series of hilarious gags that would leave even the most miserable audience breathless? No. What it was, however, was arguably one of the finest examples of observational comedy one can see. His unique way of approaching the world, his engagement with the audience and his surreal sense of whimsy really made it thoroughly entertaining. The eclectic choice of topics ranged from domestic life, to his own fame and even satire of British politics, ensuring there was something for everyone in this set and guaranteeing that at some point or another every individual would be faced with something they could
empathise with and laugh at. His heritage adds the qualities one only finds from Irish comics (namely Dara O'Briain and Dylan Moran), something which enables us to observe and enjoy the lunacies and bizarre behaviour of Brits when perceived through another country's eyes - an attribute which the audience reacted most positively to. We know that our economy's failing, our politicians are pointless and that even day to day activities persist to annoy us, so it was refreshing to hear someone tell us our woes are justified whilst our complaints are futile, so it's better to look on the funny side. Or, why not cut out the effort and let Ed Byrne take the strain off your imagination? Some might say that his material is focused too heavily on the domestic life of a father and the trials of having a pregnant spouse, which obviously would not resonate best with the younger portion of the night's crowd. But such is the nature of an observational comic, they reveal the funny parts of their own lives. Whilst it is not always possible to relate to these stories, Byrne consistently maintained the audience's attention. His style may not leave you with split sides or fearing public incontinence. However, Byrne truly is a very proficient crowd pleaser and there wasn't a moment in his show that dared have the temerity to challenge this title.
geous when programming events: 'You need to be sensitive to the audience and know what they will respond to. I always think from an audience perspective.' Seeking out live jazz for a night out may not be the most obvious option for students, but nonetheless, Birmingham is renowned for its jazz scene and vibrant musical community. Tony explained that alongside a stereotypically older jazz audience, there is a distinctly positive turn-out of young people at events. It is a main concern that this fantastic genre survives the test of time in terms of popularity, and more pressingly, responds positively to the future financial issues for artistic industries which could potentially damage the resources of organisations such as Birmingham Jazz. Nevertheless, Tony is confident about the future of Birming-
Jazz will always be around. It's a genre that's always evolving and developing. It will always exist in some form. There are so many great opportunities to experience jazz right here in Birmingham. As a good starting point, Tony recommended the Rush Hour Blues session which is every Friday from 5:30pm to 7pm at Symphony Hall – suitable for those who want to try something new as well as longterm jazz enthusiasts. Entry is free, so why not go along and listen to some great music?
Arts Editor
The action in Tennessee Williams' play is contained within the bedroom of protagonists Brick and Maggie, with different combinations of characters in turn exploring the secrets harboured within their fraught relationships and familial walls. This microcosm, so carefully created, was never shattered in tonight's production. The intensely atmospheric nature of this play demands a lot of both the director and the actors, but in the Crescent Theatre Company's performance, no one appeared to buckle under the weight. Kate Owen and Matthew Banwell were convincing as Maggie and Brick, appearing somehow si-
Creative Leap Sabha The Drum 25th March £4
'If you had a red brick, what would you do with it?' 'I'd probably use it as a foundation for a club built specifically to put on jazz music.'
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at The Cresent
Lexie Wilson
Twelfth Night
The Old Joint Stock 25th March £8
multaneously vulnerable and capable of a kind of cruelty towards and power over each other. Their occasional slips from the lilting Mississippi accent were a little jarring, but nothing the audience weren't prepared to overlook. And Leasa Clarke was perfect as Maggie's sister-in-law Mae, covering her steely ambition and dislike for her in-laws in a sweet, domesticated shell. The show's standout performance came from E. P. Ryan's portrayal of the patriarchal Big Daddy, breathing life into a character Williams believed to have a kind of 'crude eloquence.' Scarcely present in the first act, his presence dominates the subsequent action, whether he's on stage or not. Ryan depicts this grapple with his son's alcoholism and strained marriage alongside questions about his own deteriorating health in a way that is entirely sensitive and yet, at times, also superbly funny. The pinnacle of the production's success was, undoubtedly, the exquisite set design. The use of light from behind the set's shutter doors was incredibly evocative, the subtle tints of colour worked perfectly in harmony with the sound of cicadas playing on a loop. Freed from having to maintain a pragmatic mobility, the set was a beautiful and believable representation of the Southern charm that oozed from tonight's performance.
DougJones: Alieni Luris
mac 26th March – 22nd May Free entry
Elgar's The Dream of Gerontis
Town Hall 27th March £5
3BUGS presents: Marat Sade
A.E Harris Warehouse 28th-30th March £4/£5
12 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
25th March 2011
Film
Win DVDs of Skyline and My Soul To Take
For a chance of winning go to www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Justified Existence – Liam Neeson
Once in Schindler's List, but now in Taken, and Taken 2 aka Unknown, Francis Shaw and Heather Smeeton debate whether the Irishman's gone for good.
Neeson go home! Heather Smeeton Film Writer
He's still got it! Francis Shaw Film Writer
Liam Neeson can claim what few people can: to have been the lead in not only a best picture Oscar winner, but in one of the best films of all time. The film industry, and wider culture as a whole, owes a lot to Schindler's List. The true extent of his achievement in Spielberg's magnum opus is unique in that he successfully and respectfully embodied a demanding part, one which dealt with tough subject matter. When someone has achieved this feat at the age of forty, still having plenty of life left in them, they deserve to have some fun and
Reviews
collect some easier pay cheques. It is totally unjustified when people refer to Neeson as a one hit wonder. His biggest success has completely outclassed most efforts from more famous actors. One thing that the Neeson haters fail to understand is that mystery and
'Schindler was a well-earned reward for his previous acting efforts' action thrillers have always been his thing. Lead roles in Under Suspicion (1991) and Darkman (1990) and other enjoyable performances, including a mercenary in the fantasy cult hit, Krull (1983),
show that his more recent action roles have precedent. His ticket to everlasting fame playing Oskar Schindler was a well-earned reward for his previous acting efforts and should not be a reason to deride his more recent career. Liam Neeson was always a rough and tumble actor with a passion for getting stuck in. Even now approaching sixty, he is still believable in his action roles. Not every job an actor takes is gold, and as long as they give it their best, it is not their fault. His choices are not for us to disagree with, so long as he continues to bring a high standard of acting to every film he works on. Liam Neeson has earned the respect of an industry and he can pick the roles he wants. !
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Submarine is adapted from the novel of the same name by Joe Dunthorne and follows mid-teen Oliver Tate as he tries to lose his virginity before its legal, be the world's best boyfriend, and save his parent's marriage from his father's depression and mother's affair. The film is from the perspective of Oliver and we are privy to his thoughts and wild imagination. Without wanting to gush, this is a brilliant film. It is a frank and honest portrait of the adolescent mindset, presenting a character that is self-centred and self-im-
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'Neeson hits rock bottom trying to trying to make middle aged ass kicking look cool' At the end of the day, Neeson is great in his dramas but seems to hit rock bottom when trying to make middle aged ass kicking look cool. Here's a hint Neeson: go back to your old roots and play serious characters which are based on real people, it got you nominated and more respected that way. May the force be with you.
Neeson will next appear in The Hangover 2, released in May film@redbrickonline.co.uk
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You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger
Submarine
Director: Richard Ayoade Cast: Sally Hawkins, Craig Roberts, Paddy Considine Certificate: 15
When asking someone about Liam Neeson, the first thought that's bound to cross their mind is 'what on earth hasn't he lost?' He's lost his daughter (Taken), he's lost his identity (Unknown) and he's even lost the belief of civilization (Clash of the Titans). On second thoughts, it would appear he's lost his dignity as well. With the release of Unknown fresh on the horizon it has to be said that the similarities between that film and Taken can be defined to one statement – Neeson kicking some unbelievable (more 'as if' rather than 'wow') ass. For a man who's nearing the cracking age of 60, perhaps he should try something a little more believable; after all he isn't a Jedi master (wait a second...). Someone would have thought that with a fancy film such as Schindler's List under a man's belt he would be able to conquer versatility and succeed in trying different things. The one thing that seems to stop this from happening may be his subconscious version of a God complex. The man seems to take whatever role he can get his hands on that portrays him in the most impressive and ridiculously 'pure'
position. Do Zeus and Aslan ring any bells? All I can say is: snore. Since when did someone put this actor onto repeat? And who wouldn't love to see that husky voice being used in the position of a villain?
portant and entirely realistic as a fifteen-year old struggling to find his place in society. But Oliver is not unlikeable, he is you, five years ago. This where much of the comedy derives from. The film is unconsciously funny, it doesn't try or push for laughs, they seep out of the behaviours, actions and words of the characters who are simply acting out of their natural personalities. The cast is made up of a few TV and Brit flick regulars, as well as some almost unknowns, which is what gives the film its comfortable and honest heart. It is simple and understated acting, bringing with it undeniably British humour and flavour. This is Ayoade's directorial debut, and it shows extraordinary creativity with techniques, shots and technology. He embraces the
film's literary origins, and reflects them throughout, whilst complementing them with cinematic beauty and brilliance. The eccentricity of the film-making (such as the use of Super 8 film and Polaroids) reflects that of Oliver's character and the story itself. The visuals of the production are interwoven with the plot, which makes this a more complete and rounded film, with a definite personality. The much-hyped original tracks written by Alex Turner specifically for the film add to this personality, the songs adding and complementing, but not overpowering the images and acting. There is little else I can say than get up now, and go and experience some fantastic British cinema. Kayte Ferris !
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Director: Woody Allen Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts Certificate: 12a Woody Allen's newest feature focuses on the fluctuating lives of two couples: the newly separated Alfie and Helena, their daughter Sally and her husband Roy. Every frame of this film colludes with Allen's signature style: the multiplicity of meanings and intentions, a distinctive musical score and the eclectic yet jumbled cast of actors, make this markedly an Allen film. However, where it lies on the line between style and substance still remains to be seen. One of the narrator's lines from the end of the film seems to encapsulate the movie as he says 'all this sound and fury, signifying nothing.' The action of the piece is an intermingling of stories, stories
that are disfunctional, and stories that rarely contain the fairy-tale brand of happy endings. Stories that to a degree are useful, and to a degree utterly pointless. Finally, the statement of Antonio Banderas's character on the 'beautiful and ironic' nature of life seems to be a recurrent thread that runs throughout the film. You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger seems to revel in this sense of the delicious irony that befalls its characters and their lives. Overall, this was an interesting film that observed and celebrated the whimsy, stupidity and uncertainty of life and human nature. Yet, the seemingly meandering plot and inescapable mark of Woody Allen directorship somehow seemed to signal the film as more of a stylistic statement rather than perceptive commentary. Eleanor Dodson !
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WIN £200 & OTHER 1 1 0 2 Y E V SUR
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The Guild wants to hear YOUR VIEW to help us plan for the future, and make sure we’re providing the services you need. Fill out the ‘Your View’ survey online and tell us what you think of your Guild of Students. Visit www.guildofstudents.com to complete the survey - from Friday 18th March onwards. All students who complete the YOUR VIEW survey will be picked at random to win a top prize of £200, or one of three runner-up prizes of between £5 - £25 cash!
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It’s that time of year again, and preparations are being made for Grad Ball 2011. For the second year running the event is being held on campus on Thursday 16th June. With top name acts, a free funfair and silent disco it’s bound to be a night to remember, and the perfect way to celebrate the end of the year in style. For those who haven’t attended the Grad Ball before, there are two types of tickets available – Dinner tickets for final year students only, and After Dinner tickets which are available to everyone. Dinner tickets are £67.50, and include a three course meal and access to all entertainment. As with last year there will be two venues for Dinner ticket holders - the Great Hall, seating 500 and the Noble Room in Staff House seating 300. Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis. After Dinner Tickets are priced £37.50 and are available to all students and will allow you access to all of the entertainment that evening including the funfair and silent disco. An exclusive After Party will conclude in the evening, at the Guild from 2am – late, tickets are £5. All tickets for the event – including Dinner Tickets, After Dinner Tickets and After Party Tickets will go on sale Friday 6th May. Dinner Tickets are on sale from 10am – 12noon; and After Dinner Tickets are on sale from 12noon onwards from the Underground at Guild of Students.
OM R F E L A S N TICKETS OTH MAY FRIDAY 6 For further ticket information and headline act announcements
visit guildofstudents.com/gradball
16 redbrickonline.co.uk
Redbrick
25th March 2011
Television
For the Top Ten TV shows we hate to love, visit redbrickpaper.co.uk
Heading back to Brentwood
Jumping off the bandwagon
Sarah Welsby
Emma Dukes
Reporter
Reporter
Silicone, vajazzling and a pig with painted toenails? It could only be the return of The Only Way is Essex, and the first episode of the second series certainly didn't disappoint. Our favourites from Brentwood are back with a bang! At the end of the last series, avid viewers saw Essex playboy Mark Wright leave the Christmas party with Page 3 model Sam Faeirs, after having spent the whole series messing around with both old flame Lauren Goodger and previous squeeze Lucy Mecklenburgh. Well in the opening of the second series, it appears that he is a changed man. He sits down former fling Sam for a chat and tells her that he is going to give things a proper go with on/off girlfriend of nine years, Lauren, and therefore he won't be texting her anymore. Hmm, I think we may have heard that one before, Mark. I give it a couple of weeks before he is back to his old ways. Elsewhere, Lydia and Arg go for a romantic walk in the woods... with 'micro' pig Mr Darcy in tow! Lydia's referral to him as her son makes for some hilarious viewing, and in true Essex-style, Darcy truly is the most pampered pig around as we see him receiving a manicure. Unfortunately, he shows that he isn't quite the glamorous piggy by wetting himself at the opening of Sam and her sister's new boutique 'Minnie's'. It could only happen in Essex, right? In terms of new characters, make way for Chloe Simms – new
The cast of the hit show The Only Way Is Essex client of Essex beautician Amy Childs. And boy does she make an entrance. With her every inch having been tightened by the surgeon's knife, her trout pout is second to none. There's also a fresh bit of eye candy on the scene – Chloe's cousin Joey Essex. Dubbed as 'miniMark', he has got his eye on Mark's old flame Lucy, and at the after party for Sam's boutique opening, he can't keep his eyes off her. I am excited to see what will happen between them. Nanny Pat is showing off her
fabulous baking skills as usual (although rumour has it that she doesn't bake any of the delicious goods we see on screen), and she gives the Essex girls a run for their money in the fashion stakes with a fabulous multi-coloured swimming hat. Personally, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has in store. For a bit of cheesy, light-hearted entertainment, The Only Way is Essex is perfect. You can catch it on ITV, Sundays and Wednesdays.
There have been many documentaries concerning the Amish community, all of which I unashamedly love to watch in awe. The modern world is fascinated by their seemingly 'backward' way of living, and BBC 2 has offered the latest snapshot into the lives of these people. The hour-long documentary, Leaving Amish Paradise, follows two families, one of whom (led by Ephraim) has been shunned from their Amish community for preaching and converting to Evangelicalism, whereas the other (led by Jesse) is in the process of doing so. The documentary shows how each family handles life away from the only world they've ever known. Mild-mannered Jesse, the newest convert, appears daunted by simple tasks like buying a car (and more importantly, navigating it), whilst Ephraim is extremely outgoing and even boastful about his faith (God helped him get a good deal on a van). Ephraim, who left the Amish two years ago, must re-build his house from scratch after tearing it down and burning the materials. He does this because the house showed mould, and the Bible tells them that this must result in the destruction of your property if it does not go away within ten days. The Amish continue to strictly follow the rules of the Bible, and then transition to the new constraints of the Evangelical church. This programme is a great contrast to Channel 4's recent Amish programme, Amish: World's Squarest Teenagers. As
its title suggests, this was a much more light-hearted documentary, focusing on Amish teenagers' period of freedom in which they can leave the community and do what they want, before deciding to come back and get baptised. The programme's main point seemed to be to show just how different they are to us: they wore funny bonnets and sewed for fun, whilst we like to drink, swear and have 'real fun.' Leaving Amish Paradise goes much deeper than this. The most overwhelming aspect of the documentary is seeing just how strong and unshakeable their faith in God is. Jesse's daughter is born during filming but sadly survives just one hour. Instead of breaking down, faith shaken, both parents simply accept it as God's will. Their faith alone pulls them through this awful period in their lives, something rare to see in this modern secular world. It reminds us that this is what true faith is, wholly accepting the bad as well as the good. The most recent documentaries about the Amish have been tasteless, intended to shock, or to even lightly ridicule, but Leaving Amish Paradise is an un-mocking, real look into life of the modern Amish.
Charlie Brooker: Television hero or zero? This week's hot debate: is the star of Newswipe really the funny man he's made out to be? Charlotte Lytton says HERO....
Rebecca Wilson says ZERO...
Charlie Brooker is a new breed of celebrity. His career as an acerbic television critic has propelled him towards the bright lights of small screen stardom, earning him a host of prime time entertainment slots in the process. Whilst some may ponder his legitimacy as a TV personality, I find this simply bewildering. In a society content with making people household names for pleasuring themselves with wine bottles, it seems ironic that someone who is witty and intelligent is maligned for his new found celebrity. Although amusing on screen, Brooker's real prowess is with a pen. 'Screen Burn', his former column in The Guardian, garnered him a huge amount of critical praise, and has undoubtedly been an integral part of his success. His sharp, and often harsh, judgements make for hilarious reading, and his latest comment piece critiquing Jamie's Dream School is a prime example of why he makes his money. Verbalising what viewers are thinking with unparalleled panache is what makes Brooker the big bucks.
Charlie Brooker seems to polarise opinion. There are those who think he's quick-witted and perceptive, or people like me who find him both dull and extremely irritating. He may have won numerous awards, including Best Entertainment Programme for Newswipe, but his presence on television has become somewhat predictable recently. His signature programme Screenwipe essentially amounts to Charlie acting like a man who is bitter with the world, ranting about television in a darkened room. The style of the show is similar to Harry Hill's TV Burp, which might amount to little more than slapstick humour, but at least it's an upbeat, light-hearted approach to the funny parts of telly. Admittedly, some of Brooker's observations are entertaining, but after watching an entire series of this show, you have to question whether anybody could ever do anything right in his eyes. Indeed, he spends most of his time mocking reality TV programmes, yet is married to Konnie Huq, the presenter of The Xtra Factor, suggest-
Now in a prime-time slot alongside comedy giants David Mitchell and Jimmy Carr on 10 O'Clock Live, his grumpy persona has earned him a legion of fans. The unlikely pin-up brings something a bit different to the box by casting a critical eye over what he sees, and genuinely revels in his work. Success on TV, radio, in print and on Twitter shows that Brooker has truly mastered the broadcasting trade, and is always in plentiful supply of bitterness and originality in equal measure to entertain his eager followers. It's certainly refreshing to have someone comment on the offerings of the small screen without offending every race and religion in doing so (A.A. Gill, take note). His no frills approach and brutal honesty make for both fabulous reading and viewing, and this award winning grump deserves the acclaim he is finally being given.
ing that these rants are far from genuine. Brooker's other programmes include the gameshow You Have Been Watching, in which celebrity contestants discuss the week's TV and make 'amusing' observations. Spending hours watching TV in the dark has obviously affected his social skills, as he has no chemistry with his fellow celeb guests. Most recently, Brooker has been on our screens as one of the hosts of 10 O'Clock Live, showcasing a fresh look at the week's news . However, Brooker is overshadowed by the hilarious Jimmy Carr and David Mitchell who have ensured that the show remains dynamic and entertaining. In fact, Brooker's TV personality has been criticised recently for being too repetitive. He delivers all his jokes in the same deadpan, straight-faced manner, showing little enthusiasm or excitement about the topics he is dealing with. Maybe he is just a very angry, resentful person, but it would be nice to see him crack a smile once in a while.
Redbrick
TV News
Television 17
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Editors – Amber Alexander & Charlotte Lytton
Michael Sheen has confirmed that he will voice a character in an upcoming episode of Dr. Who.
A record breaking Comic Relief Russell Webb Reporter
Once again the stars were out for the usual Friday night Comic Relief bonanza. The line-up clearly encapsulated the mind of the public as they donated a record of over £74 million pounds on the night. So, what were the best bits? One of the most surprising sketches of this year's show has to be from the cast of Miranda. Miss Hart and co. collaborated with Louie Spence in making a spoof of his hit Sky 1 show Louie Spence's Showbusiness. They ran a dance studio that handled celebrity clientele including Heather Small, of whom characters in the show often impersonate. The main order of business though was to provide practice space and sexy dancers for a performance by JLS. Of course Miranda managed to muck this up by not providing the dancers. The first sketch finished with a solution being proposed and the next act was, unsurprisingly, JLS, with their new backing dancers: the cast of Miranda. A thoroughly entertaining, if unconvincing dance performance was a brilliant part of the evening. Mr Charity, David Walliams set himself another seemingly impossible challenge by participating in panel shows nonstop for a whole 24 hours. The BBC documented his struggle as he took on current
shows such as Mock the Week as well as past shows like Blankety Blank. Some of course were more entertaining than others, and the Kate Moss countdown was plain annoying, but it was all in aid for a great cause. The Little Britain star truly outdid himself. Not every charitable act carried the slogan of doing something funny for money. Some stars put themselves through the paces, setting monumental challenges to generate needed cash for the impoverished. Previously, celebs have climbed up Kilimanjaro and cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End. This year a group of celebrities, including Dermot O'Leary, trekked across the Kenyan desert, a gruelling test in searing heat to improve the lives of others. Maybe those celebs aren't all bad? Four other famous figures went to Africa to spend a week living in the slums with a poor family. Lenny Henry, Reggie Yeates, Angela Rippon and Samantha Womack
documented a harsh experience that would have moved many to pick up the phone. My personal highlight was the reappearance of James Corden's Gavin and Stacey character, Smithy. For Sport Relief he first sorted out the England football team, and then the whole of Britain's greatest sportsmen and women. This year, for Comic Relief, he sorted out: Comic Relief. The sketch was simple - who should they send to Africa? Gathered around the table were some of the biggest names in Britain all staking their claim to go to Africa including Gordon Brown, Justin Beiber and Keira Knightley. If you haven't seen it, definitely search Youtube. As these charity shows go, this year's Comic Relief definitely goes down as one of the best in recent years. The show is on BBC iplayer and I fully recommend having a watch, because some people went beyond the call of doing something funny for money.
Dr. Who takes a trip to 1930s Berlin
Rebecca Green Reporter
In the BBC drama Christopher and His Kind, written by the award-winning playwright Kevin Elyot, Matt Smith plays Christopher Isherwood, the English novelist whose novel Goodbye to Berlin inspired the musical Cabaret. Christopher and His Kind follows Isherwood's life and experiences as a gay man in Berlin in 1931. Isherwood moves to Berlin to pursue his writing and to escape from England and his suffocating and demanding mother, who wants him to become a doctor. To Isherwood, 'Berlin meant boys', and he moves there despite being able to speak little German. While in Berlin, Isherwood meets performer Jean Moss, whom he later writes a book about, entitled The Berlin of Sally Bowles. He also teaches English les-
TV Gold: Mistresses Sarah Murphy Reporter
There's a fine line between right and wrong, intention and accident or sometimes mistake, yet not so fine that it can't be seen. However, as a mistress, when blinded by lust and yearning, the barrier between faithfulness and adultery can easily disappear.
Most of us have had that one friend, who has cried upon your shoulder because they took a risk, stole a kiss and got found out. However, it's hard to take the moral high ground when you're guilty of it yourself, and this just so happens to be the case for Bristol's very own scarlet women. The series focuses upon the secrets and satisfactions of four best friends, beginning with Dr
Lenny Henry has been criticised for a Comic Relief sketch, which mocks Colin Firth's portrayal of the stammering King George VI.
Hollywood heartthrob Benjamin Bratt is set to join the cast of Grey's Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice.
Katie Roden played by Sarah Parish, an academic over-achiever, with an unblemished medical career, yet an almost black widow effect when it comes to love. Jessica, played by Shelley Conn, by contrast is not averse to being the other woman, in fact, she prefers it. No husband, no kids, no in-laws, but lots of no-stringsattached sex. As an event-and-occasionalwedding planner, Jess watches other people fall in love and makes sure to stand at arms length. That is until she encounters Alex (Anna Torv), a 'Wonder from Down Under' who wants a lot more than just a venue for her civil partnership - she wants Jessica and her heart. Irish solicitor Siobhan (Orla Brady), has only one thing on her mind – babies, and when colleague Dominic provides her with an offer she can't refuse, she must choose whether or not to take from him what infertile husband Harry, can't give. Finally there's Trudy (Sharon Small), perhaps the most cautious of the lot. After losing her husband in 9/11, Trudy found peace of mind in the catering world and after
becoming a high-flying culinary aficionado, is now lying in the arms of her investor, which could cost her dearly. What looks like – but isn't – a poor-man's Sex and the City, Mistresses is perhaps one of the more real dramas to come out of the BBC. The show has an all-star cast and focuses upon issues like friendship, sexuality, grieving and infertility. However, as the title suggests, the show isn't going for any moral messages and what it lacks in lifelessons it makes up for in romance and sexual content. What is most intriguing about the mistresses and the tangled web they weave is that it's not hard to spot aspects of both yourself and your friendship group in them, whether you're a cheater or not. Perhaps the only tragic thing about the Mistresses trilogy was the painfully short series length, fluctuating between six in the first and second series and a miniscule yet highly charged, four in the third. So get your wine, get your girls and give it a go - will you empathise with Katie or Jess?
sons and falls for a couple of German boys, one of which is Douglas Booth (Worried About the Boy) who stars as a street cleaner. It is a bit strange at first to see Dr Who playing such a role, but Smith is able to captivate the character so brilliantly that all thoughts and connections with Dr Who are soon forgotten and you start to really believe Smith is Isherwood. Smith shows what an excellent actor he is, with his ability to play a diverse range of characters. This is not Smith's first gay role, he played a 16-year-old gigolo (and had to kiss Phil Daniels) in his first ever theatre role. The programme is an intriguing watch, that gives you a real insight into the life of Christopher Isherwood and the inspiration for his books and characters. Catch up on Christopher and His Kind on BBC iplayer now.
TV Replay Catch these new BBC dramas coming soon...
Room at the Top Maxine Peake stars in the remake of this classic novel, which charts the struggle between love and social status. White Heat Seven lives intertwine in this dramatic story of love, loss and betrayal. Public Enemies The criminal justice system is explored from the perspective of the offenders. Stolen Modern child slavery in Britain is the subject of this hard-hitting drama. The Hour A fictional look behind the scenes of a 1956 news programme.
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Music
Rapper Nate Dogg passed away last week, aged 41. www.bbc.co.uk/music/news
Album Reviews
Jukebox
R.E.M
Collapse Into Now
Tamara Roper & William Franklin Music Editors
The Strokes – You're So Right Serving as the second taster to the much anticipated new album, You're So Right is a hidden gem slotted into the record. Part These New Puritans, part Joy Division, You're So Right is a dark twist in Angles, an arguably upbeat affair, and a nice contrast to Under Cover of Darkness, their upbeat first single. Pull your blinds down and blare this out if you're an anti spring time Scrooge. TV on the Radio – Will Do A welcome return for one of the most diverse bands around, Will Do is a love song from the solidly danceable New York five piece. With the sad news that bassist, Gerard Smith, has been recently diagnosed with cancer, Will Do is a somewhat aptly slow song, a step away from much of the jazz infused material from their previous four albums.
Redbrick
Anna Lumsden Critic
On their fifteenth album since their formation in the 80s and still going strong, R.E.M. continue to produce songs which are not only moving and heartfelt, but often unstoppably catchy. Largely renowned as a pioneering force of the alternative rock genre, R.E.M's sound is a perfect blend of melancholy reflection and lively acceptance: Collapse into Now sees the combination of a mellow, Country-influenced acoustic sound on tracks Überlin and Oh My Heart, with the considerably more upbeat, almost rock 'n' roll tones of That Someone Is You and Mine Smell like Honey. The instantly recognisable (if not sometimes indistinct) vocals of Michael Stipe have a calming resonance on the album's slower tracks, bringing intensity where it counts. The band are said to have been aiming for a more 'expansive sound' on this record, which has
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certainly been achieved through the contrasting material and is possibly a result of recording and producing the album in four very different cities, including Berlin and New Orleans. There are also guest vocals appearances from 'Godmother of Punk' Patti Smith on Discoverer and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder on It Happened Today, whose individual contributions enhance the music's originality. There are those who suggest that this desire to be expansive in sound has damaged the 'classic' R.E.M. sound, the addition of new ideas and musicians from other genres making the new record forced and perhaps a little pretentious. However, it cannot be denied that whatever R.E.M.'s stylistic endeavours, Collapse into Now is yet another example of alternative rock at its best: melancholy yet intriguing vocals, inspiring guitar work and tunes so catchy that you remember them for years – even if you struggle to make out Michael's lyrics sometimes.
Essential Albums
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Alex Turner
Submarine – EP
Laura Schofield Critic
This time there are no Monkeys, no Miles, just Alex Turner in his first solo EP, Submarine, the soundtrack to the film of the same title which has already been hailed by critics as a masterpiece. So does Alex's music live up to the hype of the film? It was always unavoidable that Submarine would be compared to the music of the Arctic Monkeys, however the EP as a whole has the feeling of being very much Alex Turner's, it has all the cheeky, clever rhymes and poetic, lyrical genius you would expect of him, but it also has his musical stamp on it too. This is thanks to the gentle and melancholy mood which is quite reminiscent of Cornerstone, but also Meeting Place by the Last Shadow Puppets. However, con-
sidering the sombre mood that permeates throughout, Submarine manages to avoid becoming repetitive, due to the subtle musical and lyrical differences, for instance Piledriver Waltz has a much more defiant attitude than the other songs, whilst Hiding Tonight is unashamedly tender. Before people attack the EP for not being What Ever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not it's important to bear in mind the fact that it's the soundtrack to a very British comedy, you simply couldn't have a song with the intensity and power of I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor in a film unless there were lots of fast driving and guns involved. It couldn't be considered a masterpiece but Submarine makes for great easy listening and will make you intrigued to see the film, both of which are out now.
Single Reviews
Lykke Li – I Follow Rivers (Dave Sitek Remix) Redbrick Music seemingly can't get enough of Lykke Li, and neither should you. Dave Sitek of the afore mentioned TV on the Radio and Yeah Yeah Yeah's fame grabs this beaut of a track by the Swedish princess by the shoulders and shakes the fragility out of it, adding trumpets, a beat and what, on a closer listen, sounds like a steel drum. Genius. Raekwon – Snake Pond I honestly don't know what I'd do without Wu-Tang graduate, Raekwon. Snake Pond isn't exactly a dramatic reinvention for the man though, his burgeoning obsession with martial arts is clear as day, opening with the rapidly-becoming-predictable sample from some B-movie kung-fu flick. Disregarding that, it's two minutes of snappy beat wizardry and convincing Asian strings. BURN FM
MUSIC TEAM
Song of the Week Nguuni Lovers Lovers – Cheza Ngoma Contact us: music@rebrickonline.co.uk Twitter – @redbrickmusic Facebook – Redbrick Music
The Strokes Is This It (2001)
Tamara Roper Music Editor
Released in the first year of a decade that has seen more musical obscurities than it has triumphs, The Strokes' debut album Is This It has proved a ray of light amongst the GaGa's, Beiber's and X Factor flops of the last ten years. Sounding just as fresh as it did on release, the record has topped numerous best album lists, and rightly so. Arguably one of the most influential bands of the last twenty years, The Strokes retain their cool to this day, and despite the hype surrounding their latest album, it'll be no easy feat to beat the calibre of their debut. Is This It is an ode to the modern life – seemingly bewildered by the 21st century, Casablancas and co. released an album that in all its stripped-back glory catapulted its way quickly into the hearts' of the most cynical of critics, and has stayed firmly there as one of the best albums ever made. With each song barely scraping the three and half minute mark, Is This It is a salute to simplicity. Ri-
#16 otous, rackety and spot on, Julian Casablancas wails his way through just under forty minutes of social observation, lament and the questionably downright dirty. Snobs on a Wednesday night is guaranteed to kick off in the opening chords of Last Nite, despite the majority of the people on the dance floor being pre-teens when the song was released, and such hassle did Casablancas receive on his solo tour that Someday became a regular fixture on the set list. Such is the relevance of Is This It, that with only four albums under their belts The Strokes are looking to headline several major festivals this year – not bad for a band after a four year hiatus to still have a new generation of fan base to please. Scattered tales of New York filter through this album, with the 'filthy' cover art Woolworth's had qualms shelving, it remains one of the most recognisable ever made. The photo of the gloved behind is a perfect echo of the album it advertises – one of only a score of takes, it served as an off the cuff experiment that paid off and became iconic.
Linkin Park
Burning In The Skies I'll be honest with you, I haven't really kept up to date with Linkin Park. Last time I heard them was a few years ago when they were trying to basically be a Nine Inch Nails cover band. I remember when they used to be a cheeky little rap-metal band with hilariously bad lyrics and admittedly catchy pop-metal riffs. They were very angsty and tried very so hard to be angry, god bless, kind of endearing actually getting that shouty about papercuts. So new single Burning In The Skies sounds so misguided, its like they wanted to go all synth and clubby and ditched their guitars and then realised they only really know how to be a guitar band. So in the end you have this utterly redundant beat and twee guitar riff that goes nowhere and Linkin Park singing lyrics about war in a completely straight fashion. Just beyond horrible, go back to being hilariously terrible Linkin Park instead of just plain terrible. Noel Byrne
Auction Statues
Set for a release date in mid-April, the debut single from up and coming Corby based band Auction is catchy, creative and packed with indie electricity. Influences can be heard from the likes of Wild Beasts to The Police, alongside reference to the addictive rhythms of bands such as Foals. The mellow opening of Statues gives way to a captivating groove from the bass, accompanied by high, spine tingling riffs from guitar and synth in the chorus. The vocals of Joseph Sigee complete the mix, bringing a soulful kind of anticipation to the track. Innovative and utterly danceable, Auction have an energy which will definitely make you consider raising your bid for another listen. Anna Lumsden
Redbrick
Editors – Charlie Bailey, Tamara Roper & William Franklin
Live Reviews
The Stranglers O2 Academy 19/03/2011
I'm always wary of classic rock and punk bands that after decades of touring are still touring with an ever changing lineup of frontmen and musicians. The original energy, drive and ethic can sometimes be lost with the new members looking to try and attach their name to something great, and failing. Thankfully The Stranglers are still touring, incredibly with only one change in their four man lineup after 37 years. A sizeable crowd was gathered at the academy, old and young here to see the band belt out some of their bonafide classics such as Peaches and Golden Brown. Hypnotic instrumental Waltzinblack opened the show as the band arrived onstage. Their set lasted 90 minutes and they filled it with hit after hit, nearly every song was an instant sing-along
(the crowd seemed well versed in the lyrics after all these years). For their age stranglers have managed to maintain their punk energy and no song seemed to be played lazily. Sweaty and snarling they ripped through the iconic verses of Peaches and Walk On By. Throughout the set you could see their natural experience at delivering these songs, 72 year old drummer Jet Black kept rhythms in check like someone 40 years younger. New song Retro Rockets didn’t feel out of place but wasn’t as celebrated as some of their classic material. Biggest cheers of the night were kept for the encore and especially the last song, No More Heroes. Their set was from a band that obviously has played these songs for decades, managing to fine-tune their hits and not sound bored live is quite an achievement after 5 decades. Sounding fresh as ever Stranglers pleased their audience with a greatest hits set with the energy of a band half their age. Noel Byrne
Music 19
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Devin Townsend Project Rock City Nottinghan 05/03/2011
How do you introduce a show that promises to take in everything from heavy metal to heartfelt ballads? By playing Barbie Girl over the PA of course! It seems unlikely that any other artist could generate the same amount of sheer goodwill that permeated Rock City as anticipation for the headliner built; a point proved as the crowd screamed every sugar pop line back with ear-to-ear grins on their faces. After taking a step back from the music industry in more recent years with the demise of Strapping Young Lad and time taken to focus more on family, it is pure joy to see the man take to the stage with an equally big smile/gurn on his face. Clearly enjoying every second, Devin launched into a set made up of material from the breadth of his back catalogue, from Ocean Machine’s Life to this year’s forthcoming Deconstruction, taking the audience on something of a jour-
ney with great back projections and the sheer atmospheric scope of the music. It’s this variability of tone and style that most impresses live. Few bands or artists are willing, or able, to write in multiple genres, let alone have the balls to make a career from that variety. The night’s success comes down mostly to the level of musical skill that Townsend and his band demonstrate on stage. Relying heavily on click backing tracks to recreate the lush sounds on record, the band are tight and driving, delivering each song with maximum impact and minimum fuss. Problems do crop up in the form of a brief technical hitch (wrong tuning) that is laughed off by the more than appreciative crowd. No one would hold a grudge for the occasional slip up, and for the most part the evening is wildly received by fans that have waited almost 5 years for a headline tour. Finishing on recent single Bend It Like Bender in the second encore; the Devin Townsend Project leave behind satisfied crowd and promise great things for this summer’s festival appearances. Charlie Bailey
Music Diary 25th – 31st Friday 25th Patrick Wolf O2 Academy
Saturday 26th
Enrique Inglesias & Lemar LG Arena, NEC Jaguar Skills O2 Academy 2
Sunday 27th Manowar O2 Academy
My Ruin Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
Monday 28th Cee-Lo Green O2 Academy
Tuesday 29th
Tv Smith and the Valentines O2 Academy 3
Wednesday 30th
The King Blues & Sonic Boom Six O2 Academy 2
Thursday 31st
Sunshine Underground The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
'It's Been Emotional...'
The Redbrick Music team count down their favourite film scores
10. Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy It says a lot for a soundtrack when you can release it as an album and blow people's minds before the film even makes it to cinemas. Daft Punk truly excelled themselves with Tron: Legacy. At first glance, there isn't an iota of cohesiveness - tracks rarely last longer than two minutes and don't seem to follow any coherent path. But going back to it reveals a subtle network of synth lines and sporadic outbursts of full-blown techno wonder. 9. Karen O & The Kids - Where The Wild Things Are Written and produced by the magnificent Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the soundtrack to one of the most child-friendly adult films is perfectly fitted to its theme of escapism and fluffy monsters. Released as a seperate album in conjuction with the film's release, the record features members of The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs, as well as a children's choir who provide appropriate wailing and cat calls through out.
8. Various Artists Trainspotting A soundtrack so popular it spawned a sequel, listening to it now is a nostalgic experience. Featuring much of what made early nineties music great, it's an aptly narcotic mix of Cockney pop rock and jackin' techno, with the occasional foray into seventies newwave territory. 7. Various Artists - Garden State Now famous for the scene where Natalie Portman takes off her headphones to reveal that she's listening to 'New Slang', Garden State is arguably know known for putting both The Shins on the map and for becoming one of the most popular independent films made. A soundtrack hand picked by director Zach Braff also sees Simon and Garfunkel, Iron and Wine and Frou Frou illustrate the most tame movie about mental breakdown.
6. Various Artists - Platoon Striking a difficult balance between popular 60's up-beat tracks, and the more thoughtful was always going to be hard as the backdrop to a Vietnam film. Luckily Oliver Stone's exploration of camaraderie and brutality in war benefits from contributions from The Doors and Jefferson Airplane for the counterculture cool, and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings adds the right amount of poignancy and bleak beauty to the devastating finale. 5. Yann Tiersen - Amelie 2001 became the year everybody realised how much they loved French cinema with the release of Amelie. Featuring tracks written both for the film and from Yann Tiersen's back catalogue, Amelie combines both fantasy and reality into one picturesque film. Tiersen's circus like accordians and use of a bicycle wheel in the opening credits could not have been cast for a more perfectly suited film.
4. Ennio Morricone - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
2. Howard Shore - Lord of The Rings: Return of the King
Has there ever been a man more intimately tied to a film genre? Single-handedly taking the musical reins for a slew of spaghetti westerns like Once Upon A Time In The West and Fistful of Dollars, it was for this classic that Morricone created probably the most recognisable theme after The ATeam and one which will forever score every imaginary stand-off till the end of time.
The trilogy of modern epics that justified the existence of closet socio-phobes across the globe would have been very different had Howard Shore not been sitting in the composer's chair. The scale of the drama on-screen demanded appropriately stirring orchestral scoring and Shore delivered in spades on all three occasions, but no more so than on the saga's closer.
3. Various Artists Pulp Fiction Quentin Tarantino is rarely wrong in both movies and soundtracks. Set in an indeterminate city at an indeterminate time, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack is just gritty enough to be played as background noise to drug abuse, gang rape and theft, but just light hearted enough to see mobsters having dance offs in burger bars and Jungle Boogie being used in a way that is strictly non-ironic.
1. Various Artists - Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels Guy Ritchie might not know how to make a film as good as Lock, Stock... again, and it seems like the OST will mark the high-water mark of Ritchie films as well. Mixing nineties favourites like Ocean Colour Scene with classics like James Brown's The Boss gives this a veneer of musical cool that complements the stylish direction perfectly. Charlie Bailey, Tamara Roper & William Franklin
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25th March 2011
Life&Style
Redbrick
Fierce or Finished?
Marie Claire: How to get into magazines
Sophie Cowling Reporter
Walking in heels through the marble lobby to sign in at reception at the Marie Claire Headquarters in London reminded me a lot of the 'clackers' scene from the film The Devil Wears Prada. A good start to my, already idealised, magazineworld experience. As part of their 'Inspire and Mentor' scheme, fashion magazine giant Marie Claire last week hosted an event entitled 'How to get into Magazines' at which I eagerly secured my place. On arrival in the seemingly all glass building, we were ushered up to the tenth floor and greeted with a glass of Champagne and some very comfy looking chairs. Whilst 'networking' with the other impeccably dressed attendees, what struck me was the real variety of people there. One person I spoke to was a recent
graduate working at a good job in a publishing company but looking to pursue a postgraduate degree in fashion and work (fingers crossed) for somewhere like Marie Claire. There were a couple of A-level students wanting to know which degree path would position them in the best stead for the industry, a couple of parents and students but the majority seemed to be young people already in full-time jobs but wanting somehow to make the transition to the magazine business. Who better then to answer these questions, than the panel in the next room? While we sheepishly filed in, we were faced with the immaculately presented Editor-inChief, Trish Halpin, accompanied by the Features Director, Fashion Features Director, Beauty Writer and the Online Editor. After watching the Marie Claire promo video – preaching to the converted about
the wonders of the highest selling monthly women's magazine, they then proceeded to explain their individual routes into the industry and their current positions. Each woman's story was as equally diverse and inspiring as the last; from Editor-in-Chief Trish Halpin's experience of working on a golfing magazine before landing a role at a women's magazine and 'working her way up,' to Fashion Features Director, Jess Wood's experience as 'stuck in the Fashion Cupboard' for six months before being offered the chance to write for the magazine. From postgraduate journalism degrees to the Beauty Writer Cassie Steer's degree in Geography ('I don't know what my eighteen year old self was thinking') it became clear that there is no prescribed route to a successful career in the magazine business. What was clear however, was the necessity of perseverance which was consistent of all the women's advice. Despite some fairly predictable advice; the need for work experience triumphing, there were
What was clear was the necessity of perseverance which was consistent of all the women's advice
Galliano: The conflict of ethics
Ida Sundstrom Reporter
By this time most of you will have heard about the scandal surrounding the now former head designer of Dior, John Galliano. Mr Galliano made several racist outbursts in the Paris bar, Le Perle and is now facing court proceedings. If he is found guilty of making racist insults, Galliano will face 6 months imprisonment or a £19,085 fine. John Galliano has now checked into rehab in Arizona. Galliano was born in Gibral-
tar in 1960, the son of a Gibraltan father and a Spanish mother. Particular to Galliano's extreme and theatrical shows are the evident influences of his own cultural past and his fascination with the cultures of the world and changes in society. One of his autumn shows featured inspiration from China, while another show featured a range of proud couples rather than skinny models. Oliver Zahm, Purple Magazine editor, and Jean Paul Gaultier lent their support for Galliano saying that they did not believe him to be racist, represented clearly by his shows. This is a contrast to designer Isaac Mizrahi who hopes John Galliano never works again and Karl Lagerfeld, of Chanel, who was furious at the damage done to the fashion industry. Being responsible for 12 distinct collections each year, for his own-name label and Dior, might have been too much for Galliano says designer Azzedine Alaia. Dior's chief executive, Sidney Toledano had repeatedly encouraged him to seek professional help long before this incident. Looking back, Galliano is not the only designer to feel the pressures of the industry Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein admitted to substance abuse and the late Yves Saint Laurent was deeply troubled. Many see Galliano's rant as an attempt to seek attention. Philipe Virgitti who, together with his girl-
friend Geraldine Bloch accused Galliano of using racist insults against them defends the designer saying that he was not convinced that Galliano meant what he said, 'I just think he's very ill... John Galliano does not deserve this.' Moreover, comments to a New York Magazine article discussed whether it was actually a staged video, it looks a little suspect especially with the girls in the background blatantly giggling and laughing. I'm afraid that looking into the case raises more questions than answers. Was this just an extreme attempt for attention or was he expressing his true beliefs? Though racist comments should never be tolerated, was Dior right in letting him go after 15 years at the brand? Should they have invested in his wellbeing and kept him on as was done with Marc Jacobs for his abuse of alcohol and drugs? In any case, the court proceedings begin in May and Riccardo Tisci will leave Givenchy and replace Galliano at Dior.
Fierce some intriguing words of wisdom. These included: 'making yourself indispensable' – constantly pitching ideas to Editors and forming new contacts within the industry, 'adapting your style to suit different titles or sites' and researching thoroughly the company and previous issues of the magazine before applying. The evening was every bit as interesting as I had hoped it would be and the chance to speak to the women afterwards was an incredible opportunity (to bound up and offer my CV to the Editor-inChief). However it definitely emphasised my feeling of vagueness surrounding a successful route into the industry and highlighted just how competitive it really is. Stanley Tucci's character in The Devils Wears Prada really wasn't joking when he said 'a million girls would kill for this job...'
The return of The Only Way is Essex – no need to adjust the contrast, they're back and really are that orange! Whilst Mr Darcy the 'micro' pig seems to have shrunk, Arj took comfort eating to a whole, new level! We love the 'voluminous' pairs of lips and boobs from new characters – excellent work Essex! Emma Watson's Lancôme campaign – the beautiful Harry Potter star was revealed to be the new face of Lancôme this week. Pictures leaked of her first campaign show her sporting a gorgeous pale pink blazer and bowler, a mix of Parisian chic and traditional British style – we love! Pregnant celebs – a whole spectrum of soon-to-be yummy mummies including Victoria Beckham, Holly Willoughby, Rachel Zoe and Kelly Brook are making their nine months look effortless. Comic Relief – definitely the best year yet, had us crying all evening. Miranda's rapping and Smithy were highlights. If you donated, consider yourself Fierce this week, was so worth the money raised. Rebecca Black – yes we're having an ironic use of her in Fierce as we're unsure whether she's a hoax or not. Regardless, over 27 million hits over a few weeks is pretty accomplished for what is definitely the most annoying song of 2011. A'Capella at the Guild Awards This all-male group of vocalists stole the show at the Guild Awards 2011 with a fantastic performance and outstanding vocals.
Finished Fashion bloggers taking 'sabbaticals' – very self-indulgent of the budding Virginia Woolf darlings. Katie Price – so it's imperative Pete keeps the kids out of the public eye but fine for your new beau Leandro Penna to tout Junior around with matching hairstyles and pouts for the cameras? Publicity whore. Take Me Out – FAB predrinks won't be the same without cheeky chappy Paddy and the line of desperados brightening our Saturday nights! Sunshine and ice cream vans -just as we have to start revising. Lecturers' strike – the strikes threaten to interfere with the library services, just as our deadlines are looming and last minute cramming is on the cards! Last Redbrick of term – Obviously Redbrick is naturally fierce, but this is the last issue of the Spring term. Only two left before two weepy Life&Style editors accept a well deserved award at the Redbrick awards...(hint)
Dress to impress: interview wear Vicky Hodgkinson Writer
The time has come when final years need to secure a job and undergrads will be looking for work experience. In the short time that you will be grilled about your credentials, your personal appearance will be judged as an expression of who you are and how you approach work. So please, spare me the excuses that you don't care about the way you look because 'they' do. Dress code: If you apply to a very traditional organisation, then they may have a strict dress code – try to echo their in-house style. Other companies may have a casual dress code but it is better to be a bit overdressed than arrive in jeans and a hoody. A smart coordinating outfit rather than a suit, may be more appropriate. Invest: You may need to wear your interview outfit more than once so it will be worth investing in a new, quality outfit which is well cut, fits you properly, is comfortable and that suits your figure. A muffin top hanging over your trou-
Life&Style 21
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
Editors – Briony Singh, Rob Lewis
sers or your belly or bust bursting out of a shirt won't win any prizes. Skirts and tops should not be too revealing. Looking good and feeling comfortable will help you feel good and help present a confident persona. Contemporary: You're a young graduate and you want to convey the dynamic creativity and new ideas you will bring to a job, as well as your professionalism. Stick to simple fabrics and clean tailored lines. You may like to choose a strong colour for one of your items of clothing so you stand out. Five things to do on the morning of your interview: One, ensure your clothes are clean and crease free. Two, put deodorant on but be careful that you don't get deodorant marks all over your outfit. Three, don't use overpowering perfume or aftershave; a subtle scent would be nice, but take it easy. Four, guys make sure you are clean-shaven or trim your beards neatly. Five, ladies and gentlemen wash your hair – greasy hair is unsightly, messy and can smell. Style you hair neatly and don't use too much product.
If you colour your hair you may want to have it freshly done for the interview, no one likes mismatching roots. P.S. check you have fresh breath. Accessorise: Briefcases and handbags should be smart and don't produce a pen that you have been nibbling in the library for weeks and is now completely mangled. Make-up and jewellery should be subtle and unfussy – don't go over the top with bronzer, eye shadow, lipstick or fake tan. Heels are fine but should be comfortable for walking and take a minute to ensure your shoes are clean, in good condition and polished. Power dressing may not be your thing but like the skills on your CV you are selling yourself as a package to the employer. Your personal image will strongly influence their perceptions of how well you will fit in with their organisation – it's a competitive world out there. If you get it wrong then it may be difficult to overcome the employer's negative preconceptions about you.
Places to look: Save: Topshop, ASOS and Zara Spend: Cos, Reiss and Thomas Pink Splurge: Men: Alexander McQueen's S/S 2011 Women: Hermes S/S2011
Gone too Gaga?
Get in the gym! Harriet Grose Reporter
Being a gym bunny, I completely understand the highs and lows of the gym experience. If I lost a kilo for the number of embarrassing 'sweaty betty' moments let's just say I'd be strutting the catwalks a skinny size zero! So here's my guide to making the most of your gym experience in the build up to bikini season, and in what can be a thoroughly intimidating environment. Although the gym is not a fashion show, I'm a real advocate of trendy gym-wear. If you're scrambling around in a dodgy velvet trackie from Primark with a distinct lack of sports bra, you're not going to feel confident when a) you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, or b) when a hottie with a body struts past showing you what you should be wearing! For curvaceous figures I strongly advise to steer clear of shorts, they are a recipe for a severe amount of chaffe-ing. Invest in a set of lycra leggings; full length if you've got good pins, threequarters if you're lacking in the leg length department. Go for darker
Smoking hot? Lauren Westmore Reporter
Sarah Musgrove Reporter
'This is the manifesto of Mother Monster.' Gaga has grown weary of her creative reigns at the Haus of Gaga, and is setting her sights on a broader target – the world. We're taking a step-by-step guide through the lady's latest masterpiece: seven minute extravaganza for 'Born This Way'. We open on a shot of a trippy, glittery unicorn from a Seventies sci-fi film. A bit more suspenseful music and, voila, Lady Gaga herself appears in a revolving cube in space. We're then treated to several shots than can only be interpreted as a gleaming, glistening, kaleidoscopic vajayjay (lucky us!). Which is quite hypnotic and pretty for a slimy, ethereal space-age vagina. However, at this point, the video gets a little confusing– with Gaga
colours to hide any cellulite jiggle. A correctly fitting sports bra is essential for supporting those breasticles for health and comfort reasons. There's no need to splash the cash, TKmaxx and Sports World are some of my bargain favourites for workout wear. OK, so you're looking good and feeling great, pounding that treadmill...thirty minutes later you hop off to realise that you are the resident gym panda! Invest in a waterproof mascara, or take eye make-up off before starting your workout. 'All the gear, no idea' is not a motto we want to aspire to, so make sure you know what you're doing when exercising. The surest way to feel like a wally is to be told you're doing something wrong. Gym-floor staff are on hand to help, make sure you use them! Another way to gain a better understanding of the gym is to participate in classes. There's still time to participate in Active Lifestyle classes at the Munrow! A good quality deodorant is essential to prevent you gaining enemies in the gym. Nobody likes a B.O waft as they're gasping for air! If you can smell yourself, then others can definitely smell you! For this reason washing gym gear is vital, the gym is a breeding ground for bacteria so follow a strict 'wear once' policy. Wiping down machines before and after use is also crucial. 'Before' because other people generally don't, 'after' because the next person hopes you have! Follow these gym-rules and you'll be raring to bikini shop, trust me!
monologue-ing about the 'mitosis of life' and the 'numbering wombs.' Something about giving birth to Good and Evil. Oh, and another race gets born? A race which 'bears no prejudice, no judgement, but boundless freedom.' This seems like a clever bit of political correctness from the Head of Human Resources at the Haus of Gaga. It's very all-loving, no hatin', we are all one, all I want is world peace, thank you for crowning me Miss Multiverse…Personally, I wanted something a bit more hard core from Gaga. Maybe a little edgier – she can pull off some fantastically controversial outfits, but then seems to bail a little when she pulls out a song that sounds like classic Madonna in the Desperately Seeking Susan days. The next crucial scene for true Gaga manifesto domination is a little freak show product place-
ment. Cue special appearance from Rick Genest – aka 'Zombie Boy', covered head to toe in tattoos to make him look like a member of the undead. After being discovered on Facebook, he is now 'muse' for Nicole Formichetti (creative director for Thierry Mugler) and does a little wooden dancing with Gaga. Not one to be stood up sartorially, she whips around some massive pink hair extensions, like a zombiefied My Little Pony. Which I actually quite like, but maybe I've been listening to too much Willow Smith. Finally, some extra-skinny dancing in her unmentionables and Lady G glides off into the distance on afore mentioned glittery unicorn. This is – in classic Lady Gaga fashion – very aesthetically pleasing, but also tiresomely confusing. Maybe scale it down a bit next time, Stefani.
I hate to be the one to mention it, but cigarettes are in. Want proof? Look no further than the recent images of Kate Moss sauntering down the catwalk at Louis Vuitton sucking seductively on a lit cigarette. To add insult to injury, Mossy's smoky Parisian saunter just so happened to coincide with 'National No Smoking Day'. Unsurprisingly, the wave of criticism came thick and fast as the age old smoking debate was quite literally reignited. Health officials immediately branded the act as reckless and immature whilst the general public vented their distaste via Facebook and Twitter. Even celebrities got involved, with TV presenter Kirsty Allsopp tweeting, 'is Kate Moss learning impaired? Smoking kills women, endangers children's health and drains the NHS #notbignotclever.' Far from apologetic, Louis Vuitton released a statement which asserted that the inspiration behind the show was based upon the notion of free choice. Further, the act was heralded as inspired by the fashionistas, quick to exclaim how it captured the very essence of Parisian cafe culture. Despite the furore, I am inclined to agree that smoking appears as a highly personal choice. Additionally, I am of the opinion that throughout
history cigarettes have aided the glamorous presentation of fashion and beauty. Take for example, the now iconic image of Marilyn Monroe laid smoking upon a bed. Here, Monroe holds a lit cigarette seductively between her lips, a snaking swirl of smoke half obscuring her face. Similarly, Abby Clancy's recent LOVE magazine editorial captured her in a series of couture costumes and provocative poses, all with a lit cigarette in hand. In both cases, cigarettes appeared vital to the overall stylistic presentation of these photographs. Further, they corroborated the perception of these women as opulent, elegant, and exotic. Before you have me shot, I should point out that I am fully aware of the devastation that smoking causes. In the UK alone, an estimated 106,000 people died from smoking related illnesses in 2010. Further, smokers continue to place unnecessary pressure on our already overstretched National Health Service. As such, though it is not my intention to promote smoking, you cannot deny that when used in conjunction with fashion that the results appear dynamic. Consequently, though the decision to glorify smoking on 'National No Smoking Day' was decidedly ill judged, I remain in support of the Vuitton vision. Fags and fashion make for a smoking hot combination.
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Redbrick
25th March 2011
Travel
Travel fact of the week: The earliest known maps are of the heavens. Dots representing the stars can be found on the walls of the Lascaux caves in France circa 16,500 BCE
Six Snapshots of the World One of my clearest memories of America was something you don't often see in the tourist brochures. Driving across Interstate 90 in northern New York state, en route Berlin to Niagara Falls in Canada, a thunderstorm hit, producing hail, fork lightning and there was talk on the radio about a tornado be- N or ing sited in the area. The din of the rain on the roof Am th was so loud we had to Ne w eri shout to make ourselves Yo ca rk heard and the speed on the interstate had slowed to about 20 mph. Seeing and experiencing this was far better than going up the Empire State Building or strolling down Fifth Avenue. The point at which you really feel the power of Mother Nature and what she can do is really one of the best experiences you can get... as long as you're in a safe place.
Europe
After dropping our baggage off at the hostel we went out to explore Berlin. Having only been in the country for two hours, we came across some form of street parade or demonstration. The street was filled with hundreds of people, all in high spirits. Music was blaring from vehicles and everyone was dancing around. Banners hung from the vehicles with slogans painted on them such as 'one less car, one more hero of the no pollution revolution' and 'pirates don't die, they just multiply', as well as one eye catching one which said 'Gegen Nazis', meaning something like 'against Nazis'. We couldn't work out what the single message of the convoy was, but it certainly was an electrifying introduction to Berlin.
South America Chile A dear friend lured me to visit the bohemian metropolis of Santiago de Chile and we were tipped off about a gig out of town. We accepted the intriguing invite from a hip hop chef and followed him to the hidden venue. On entering the hazing smoke scene of the warehouse we were welcomed by reggae beats pumping out of the speakers. Then appeared 18 -piece, Banda Conmoción and blew us away with their Cumbia –Ska fusion; as the band played, thrashed symbols and theatrically entertained, the crowd jumped until sunrise in the delirious carnival scene.
Writer
As we are told frequently by the media, the recession has affected us all and although technically the UK is no longer in recession, we are still feeling the effects. So when faced with a meagrelooking bank account and a desperate need for a holiday, it is no wonder more and more people are deciding to volunteer abroad. It is a booming industry, but as with any growing business there are is-
After a two week volunteer experience in Thailand working in an elephant sanctuary, I realised that here, it was the volunteers' money that was important, and not our time and work.
Mongolia After driving across 8 hours of Mongolian plain in a Russian UV, having driven through a sand storm in the desert to a snow blizzard on hard terrain, you can never really plan for what Mongolia will throw at you. Whether you end up riding horses in search of Golden Eagles or fishing in the great northern lakes, Mongolia is the adventurers' paradise. The people are not only exceptionally friendly, but they are skilled craftsmen in everything they do. Check out the Summer Festivals to see Mongolian Wrestling Championships and horseracing that are a hugely important part of the culture. If you're craving city life then capital Ulan Batur has much to offer; hang out in Millie's Café for some home comforts or the Marco Polo restaurant that has Burlesque shows in the evenings.
Oceania Australia
Africa Uganda
Forget taking the bus tour and take a ride next to your average Ugandan. Enter the 'matatu' – a worse-for-wear mini bus that is often painted with anything from religious verses, flames or even Looney Tunes characters. Typically, you will pay equivalent to ten pence to get from town to town, allowing you to get around cheaply and with, well, impact. While the official capacity of the bus may be fourteen, it often ends up reaching the cosier figure of thirty plus the occasional bag of sugar cane or chicken. Don't expect to get anywhere on time or to have your own seat. Do expect to squeeze in next to friendly passengers for a journey which will give you a more intimate and memorable perspective of the country.
Is Voluntourism Worth It? Lucy Rowland
Asia
sues; many companies have been criticised for the way they work. Although most organisations are non-profit, commercialisation of the business is rising. In some cases, the money brought by foreign volunteers is too attractive to the profit-making companies, and paid local workers will be fired in lieu of volunteers paying thousands of pounds for their experience. This is detrimental to developing countries, contributing to unemployment and social problems, not to mention the fact that many commercial companies have their headquarters overseas, so most money paid by volunteers will end up back in the UK or other Western countries. Generally, people volunteer to give some of their time and money to people who need it. As a result, projects such as the African Venture are becoming incredibly popular. Volunteers pay to spend time in poorer countries, teaching, building schools, working in orphanages or, like many medical students, working in hospitals. But how much are you really helping when you volunteer? And where exactly is your money going? Is it being spent effectively? After a two week volunteer experience in Thailand working in an elephant sanctuary, I realised that here, it was the volunteers' money
that was important, and not our time and work. Although it was an incredible part of my trip, I left feeling unsatisfied, not feeling that I had helped the people or animals as much as I had hoped.
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% of employers felt that volunteering was irrelevant for a job application
Of course, this is not true across the board, volunteering can be fantastically rewarding and in a lot of cases your time is valuable, and genuinely does help people. Reputable companies (such as African Venture) and registered charities will always tell you how your money is being distributed, and will work hard to make sure your time as well as your money is making a difference to the community. So if you're planning to volunteer abroad this year, putting research and effort into looking for the right company and project for you will be rewarding later. It will allow you to get the utmost out of your trip, and experience the reason why people volunteer; visiting fantastic parts of the world, meeting inspiring people and doing some good along the way.
If you ever find yourself in Melbourne the one thing I wholly recommend accomplishing is the Neighbours Tour. I myself have experienced the phenomenon twice – a considerable lifetime achievement. A bus ride which consists of watching classic episodes takes you on a journey to Erinsborough High, and the infamous Ramsay Street; which is an actual residential street in its spare time. On the tour you find out lots of behind the scenes gossip and spoilers, and sometimes you may even catch a glimpse of a character or two – the second time I went I met Susan (who was literally the size of a small child). I decided to impress her by telling her of my multiple visits, with which she replied with a raised eyebrow and a 'you need to get out more' kind of look.
Travel News Ed Gordon Travel Editor
Looters Hunt for Aztec Gold Looters have hit Machu Picchu and its surrounding areas hard in recent months. The gangs, known as huaqueros, are ransacking Peru's heritage to illegally sell artifacts to collectors and tourists. It has become a real epidemic of late, with the Moche area of Northern Peru being reduced to little more than a 'lunar landscape'. Though the looting has been going on steadily for decades, a report has been launched in an attempt to crack down on the tomb raiders, with the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of Machu Picchu coming up soon. Daycation Replacing Britain's Summer Holiday Research by the National Trust shows that demand for the traditional two week long summer holiday has fallen by 20% in recent years. According to the research they are instead opting to spread their holidays over multiple days off, with more than a quarter of workers planning on taking at least 10 single-day holidays, while a third say they will take between five and 10. Half of the people questioned gave the cost of a twoweek holiday as the main reason for 'Daycationing'.
Britons Abandon Kate and Will Instead of buying the bunting and digging out the trestle tables to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales and his fiancé with a street party, the Great British people have decided to utilize the national holiday as a get away to foreign destinations. Foreign break bookings have risen, while online holiday companies are reporting that the number of people searching for April holidays have doubled over last year. London – Frankfurt Back on Track Plans to transport a million passengers a year between London and Frankfurt are looking more promising as an independent report prepares to back Deutsche Bahn over a row about Channel Tunnel safety. DB plans to run 200mph trains from London to Frankfurt, Cologne, Amsterdam and Rotterdam from December 2013. Only in America Utah has become the first US state to designate an official state firearm. The Browning M1911 will join the Allosaurus (the State Fossil), the Cherry, the Sea Gull and other symbols that hold official designation. It is said to symbolize freedom and empowerment.
Redbrick
Editors – Ed Gordon, James Cull, Emily Booth and Louise Spratt
Travel 23
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Cheap Skates
Student Skiing on Shoestring
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. Arguably 'the new Bansko'. It is everything Bansko was ten years ago, at the beginning of development but will no doubt boom like its Bulgarian cousin did during the noughties. Hugging the corner of the Alps it attributes Austrian charm and the ruggedness of Eastern Europe, still with one of Europe's cheapest pints of beer. Still boasts the feeling of the unknown for the pioneer skiers amongst us.
Jessica Reynolds looks at whether skiing will woo over Benidorm and Ibiza in our hearts.
Can you go skiing as a student? The answer is yes. Long seen as the winter pursuit of the wealthy and privileged few, skiing, is unfortunately for us Brits, grounded in connotations of snobbery and money. We have built entire industries centred around luxury chalets and an equally bewildering amount of ski-wear. On a trip around Snow and Rock you can easily be deluded into thinking you are joining Scott's Antarctic trek, thus requiring anything including the affixes 'thermal' or 'tech'. It is easy to think that you have to spend hundreds before even crossing the channel. This year I found myself mourning the price of the organised ski trips and the unattainable idea of going skiing; the only mountains that awaited me were books on linguistics. In this unmotivated state I booked, spontaneously on to a trip with a few friends to go to some unknown resort that a friend of a friend knew about in the Pyrenees. Initially it all sounded very sketchy;
but rainy Selly Oak prompted me to click the mouse unthinkingly on the orange paradise that is Easyjet. Once I found out the name of the resort, Ax-les-Thermes, I googled it and I was glad to see it existed on the webosphere. With limited French I could see that it was part of a jazzy sounding ski area with three domains. We flew to Toulouse, taking advantage of one of the groups' members inside knowledge of the French scene, gained from his year abroad, we used 'ski-rail'; a cheap Toulouse-Pyrenees rail transfer. We had a slightly ominous start to the journey; being told there was too much snow to enter our resort by train we boarded a bus replacement. Finally on arriving we trekked through the sleeping quintessentially French town at midnight. We found many a sign to the foreboding 'MAISON DE LOUPS' (house of wolves, apparently a local tourist attraction) but less for our accommodation. Once found, on the outskirts of
photo by Jess Reynolds
How to...
...see a city for free Rachel Rogers Reporter
Aside from food and accommodation, entertainment when travelling can be a huge expense. Going to well known tourist attractions can set you back, but they are the 'must-see' places of your trip. If you avoid these, you can have a very different experience of a city without leaving your pockets considerably lighter than at the start of the trip. Museums and Art Galleries Many galleries and museums across the world have free entrance or nominal fees. London is great for this, with the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and it's hands on 'Launch Pad', as well as most of the art galleries. Similarly, the Louvre in Paris is free for students and under 25s. These may not be everyone's cup of tea but give them a go, you never know what you might find. Outdoor Entertainment Covent Garden and the blah in Barcelona are known for their elaborately decorated street per-
the town we were shocked at how amazingly nice our 6 bed self-catered apartment was. After crashing on my bed/sofa in the living room/kitchen/bedroom no. 3, I awoke to the most amazing view, a 180° panorama of snowy rugged mountains. For €7 we couldn't really believe it. On leaving the chalet, laden with skis, boots and snowboards the reasons behind the sublime price became more apparent. You definitely couldn't describe it as 'ski-in, ski-out' – the buzzword in glossy ski brochures. The in-joke became that it was 'trek-in, trekout'. The 'trek' to the lift involved descending (in ski boots) along a steep rocky ravine for about 20 minutes. Up there, eventually, there was snow and moderate sized ski area, definitely suitable for beginners/intermediate skiers and those looking to stretch there ski legs. The boarders of the group enjoyed the available snow parks and we all really enjoyed the amazing weather and
photo by Jessica Reynolds empty maintained pistes. The main gamble with the Pyrenees is the snow coverage; through the course of the week the 'trois domains' became 'une domain'. Despite a diminishing amount of snow, it was great to get away from hoards of British skiers and ski French style, in an 80s waistbelted one piece, stopping for vin chaud and to admire the views. However the 'Apres' scene was hilariously non-existent; in British style desperation for a beer we even tried getting in to a seedy local casino which was about as welcoming as the Bastille. It depends what you want out of your holiday, but if you are looking for a short break on a budget, the Pyrenees offers affordable skiing away from the crowds, and if you're in good company, isn't that all you need? The Pyrenees are definitely the poor man's Alps, but when you're paying a fraction of the price and kicking back in the French sun on the side of a mountain, it really doesn't matter.
Markets From food to flowers, clothes to CDs, antiques to animals, markets across the world can keep you entertained for hours. Even if you're just browsing for exotic products or looking for a gift, markets are certainly one of my favourite places to visit.
Val Thorens, France. If you have made it this far you are undoubtedly asking why VT hasn't made the short list. Rest assured it has. This isn't necessarily the cheapest of student resorts but it is certainly one of the best. Enjoy the high altitude and sun combined with the extreme expanse that is the 3 valleys, but without the Courchevel price tag. What more could you want from a ski holiday that has a town full to the seams with students. Tip: One of the cheapest ways to do resorts such as VT and Val d'Isere will almost certainly be with Uni – check out BrumSki for more details. Elliott Jeans
Christchurch: The Aftermath Emily Booth looks at the aftermath of the Christchurch over a month on.
formers. If you see a crowd, investigate as there is bound to be something worth seeing. Central Park in New York often holds outdoor concerts, and at 11pm Brussels town hall puts on an exciting light display set to dramatic music. Go for a walk! Much of what makes a place unique is its architecture and surrounding landscapes. You can lap up more of the culture and the feel of a place from getting lost in winding streets, rather than shuffling behind lines of tourists in another church or gallery. In some towns, you can take an organised walking tour to learn about what you are seeing. New Europe Walking Tours are fantastic and free, often for a 4 hour long tour, even with a free drink.
Chamonix, France. Although once seen as the modern day Aspen of the ski world with its high street that boasts Moncler and Chanel, Chamonix is now extremely accessible to those of us on a budget. With hostels for 12 euros a night and the invention of easy jet, you can get from Gatwick to Chamonix in just a few hours. Although you may have to compromise going out to afford such a large ski area, get yourself a bottle of local wine and adhere to the youth hostelling atmosphere. £600 pounds including absolutely everything including beer will get you a full week in Chamonix, with the splendid view of the Aguille du mide.
Christchurch Cathedral sustained notable damage. On 22nd February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the South Island of New Zealand, causing significant damage to Christchurch, New Zealand's second city. The magnitude of the quake caused buildings to be reduced to rubble and the Cathedral that dominates Cathedral Square, toppled, shocking residents and tourists alike, provoking New Zealand's Prime Minister's John Key to comment 'We may be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day'. The number
greenfluoro
of deaths is still to be verified, but the suspected figure is 182 and a month on from the earthquake, both city and country, are attempting to come to terms with the devastating losses. On Friday 18th March a national Remembrance Day was held in memory of those lost in the quake and the service, attended by HRH Prince William, was intended to not only honour the dead, but to serve as a reminder of the spirit now needed for Christchurch's restoration. Christchurch has long been
a hugely popular destination in New Zealand. With links to all over the country it is not only accessible, but is also bustling with energy and has always been a desirable spot for tourists. Often referred to as The Garden City, Christchurch combines the cosmopolitan lifestyle with the rural bliss that is inescapable thanks to the surrounding mountains and lakes that cushion the city. New Zealand relies heavily on its tourism industry and although the rebuilding of Christchurch will be slow and expensive at an estimated cost of £9.3 billion, Prime Minister John Key has vowed that it will be done, although he did comment that 'It'll be a very different city'. The mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, has declared that he wants the Cathedral to be rebuilt 'stone by stone', as it is a 'symbol' of the city. With such enthusiasm and determination behind the forthcoming rebuild, there is no doubt that Christchurch shall return to its former popularity and the world will most certainly be watching as one of New Zealand's great cities is brought back to its former glory.
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Technology
Redbrick
25th March 2011
@Redbricktech
Head to head: Mobile gaming • We review gaming on iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones iPhone
Android
With over 350,000 apps gamers are spoilt for choice on the iPhone. It isn’t just quantity which resonates with audiences though, the quality of exclusives has eclipsed that of any mobile phone to precede it. Games like Infinity Blade have proven that the iPhone can be a viable way to deliver a full videogame experience. Packaged neatly alongside casual classics like Bejeweled and Cut The Rope these games begin to bring the home console experience to handhelds. Though the touch screen on the iPhone may have been surpassed by one or two Android phones it’s hard to deny how responsive it is. The interface suffers when a lot of button presses are required, when playing first person shooters for instance. That said the iPhone remains the best place to engage in a spot of Angry Birds. The cross platform play between the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad though services such as Apple’s Game Centre and OpenFeint only improves the experience. Android devices may have been making waves recently, but when you have an app store as well populated as the Apple’s it’s hard not to choose the iPhone. Sam Atkins
The mobile platform from Google has been putting the iPhone through its paces over the last year and is tipped for big things in 2011. When it comes to games, though, Android feels a little empty. It lacks the sleek App Store that the iPhone enjoys and there are inconsistencies in pricing and quality that would never be allowed on other platforms Though Android might not have the volume of apps that Apple enjoys there are some highlights. For instance Pew Pew a modern take on classic 2D space shooters. Pew Pew has a fluid control system that gives it an exciting feel rarely found in mobile gaming. Google’s relaxed pricing policy often means more expensive games for Android users compared to their Apple equivalent. However this policy also means Angry Birds is free. Android devices are beginning to overtake iPhone in terms of speed and features. Couple this with Google's open attitude to their marketplace and Android feels like a place ripe for innovation. Whether this translates into quality is another matter. If you’re choosing a phone for gaming alone Android still has some way to go. Joshua Lindsey
Blackberry The Blackberry is marketed as a business phone and emphasizes productivity rather than gaming. This is probably a wise strategy against Apple and Google. The games that it ships with include Solitaire and Sudoku. Not the most exciting games I grant you but they do seem somewhat appropriate for the business image
Released Today Ruth Bradley looks at the tech arriving this week iPad 2
The Sims Medieval The next installment of the massive Sims franchise sees your sims journeying through strange new lands, completing dangerous quests and using magic to become the ultimate hero. The Sims Medieval is a new take on an old format so it will be interesting to see how successful it is.
For all you Apple fans out there, the iPad 2 is the new must have. It’s lighter, thinner and faster than the original with some brand-new features to boot. But all this comes at a price and that price is £439 for the cheapest model, so this gadget is just for you big spenders out there.
3DS
Crysis 2 Instantly dropping you into a war-torn New York City, Crysis 2 picks up where the last game left off. This first person shooter is great for those who enjoyed the first game, and those who didn’t get a chance to play it but like the idea of blasting aliens in a high-powered nanosuit nonetheless.
Boasting 3D gaming without the glasses, the 3DS hits the shops this month. The newest addition to the Nintendo family is around £200, another one for the big spenders. Tomb Raider Trilogy Lara Croft is remastered in glorious HD as Tomb Raider Legend, Anniversary and Underworld are re-released exclusively on the PS3.
of the Blackberry. There are a few hidden gems. Brick Breaker, a Pong type game, can provide endless entertainment and for procrastinators I have two words; Word Mole. It may look like a boring spelling game but it's highly addictive. In general though the relatively small screen and QWERTY keyboard fail to bring a great gaming experience to the Blackberry.
Despite these draw backs the Blackberry's App World has over 2000 games available, from classics such as Snake to big names such as Medal of Honor and Assassin's Creed. While gaming obviously wasn't the main concern for the Blackberry team the system manages to hold its own. Ruth Bradley
Last.Fm app review
The Last.fm app is looking a little different these days after an update was recently made available. If you’ve never heard of Last. fm then you're missing out. It’s a social music website that allows you to track the songs you listen to across music players. On top of that there’s a great music recommendation service included too. Here I’ll take a look at the features that have made their way from the website to the mobile app. When you load up the app you're greeted with your profile, which includes your most recently listened to tracks and music your friends like. Where this app comes into its own is with its music recommendation service. Last.fm will take all the music you listen to and work
its computer wizardry to compile a list of new artists that it thinks you’ll like. As a music discovery tool Last. fm has been a blessing for me, so many bands I love were discovered through it. The app also has a gig recommendation feature. This could do with a little more work though as none of its suggestions sparked my enthusiasm yet. That said it’s good to see that the app will use your current location to produce a list of nearby events, even ones at smaller venues. Last.fm radio itself is an adfree stream that can be personalized around a number of options. It will recommend artists based on what you've listened to in the past, or around a particular artist. One drawback with this service is
that Last.fm doesn’t allow you to select which tracks are played; it’s a choice between sit back and listen, or skip to the next track. So far, though, whenever I’ve tuned in Last.fm has never disappointed. Something users should be made aware of is that the radio service is subject to a subscription of £3 a month. Though you can still listen for free on the website, it seems you don’t get a lot with this subscription, especially compared to other services. For example with Spotify you’ll receive ad-free music, offline options and the ability to choose tracks. However this does cost £10 a month. With that in mind Last.fm’s model is certainly a viable alternative to the rather pricy Spotify. Adam Ball
Redbrick
25th March 2011
Sport
redbrickpaper.co.uk
Hockey girls take home gold in Conference Cup
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Find out how the third team made it a glorious hockey double, p26
Equestrian showing their prowess Joel Lamy talks to equestrian club captain Polly Bryan to find more about a little publicised university sport
Lucy Cocker negotiates her way over an obstacle (left), and the team's success two weeks ago in qualifying for the regionals (right) process is repeated. The winners of the regional finals then move on to the national championships under the same format, but this time with six teams competing. According to Bryan it is 'more difficult than a lot of other sports to get national recognition', as the leagues are unseeded, so it is possible to face some of the top universities at any time. The equestrian teams have had mixed success over the last few years. Both the 'A' and 'B' teams qualified for the finals in 2008, with the 'B's going on to win the trophy league, but since then neither side has qualified, although every year has seen Birmingham represented at regional level. Bryan is hopeful that this year will bring an end to that run, with the 'A' team competing in the regional finals next week. What marks out the Equestrian club from other sports clubs is its exclusivity. This year there are 30 members, up from the previous
The Week In Numbers
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limit of 24. Trials are held at the beginning of the year, with sometimes 50 to 60 people trying out for the few places available. However, once you are accepted into the club, your place is guaranteed throughout your time at university. Out of the 30 members, around 14 are then selected to try out for both teams, with those missing out being offered a place in the 'C' team which competes in a friendly league against other universities. This structure, despite its formality, is seen as a strong one by Bryan, as 'you get people who have competed to a high standard on their own horse, but lack the skills to ride a variety of horses, which the university competitions test'. Bryan was quick to point out to those who don't make the club but still want to ride that they should join equisoc, which is a society instead of a sports club. Moreover, those who do not make it onto the team first time should not be disheartened as only a handful of first-
years are successful. The club itself has a strong social element, with members going out every Wednesday night without fail. This year it has been an all-female club with no boys able to qualify, but with many third-years leaving at the end of the year (including Bryan) there is every opportunity this will change as more places become available. With regards to individuals, Bryan gave mention to 'A' team captain Lucy Cocker, who has consistently secured first place at individual league competitions. As for herself, Bryan has had a strong background with horses, competing at the Pony Club National Championships, and wishes to pursue this interest with a career in equestrian journalism. The sport, she believes, 'gets sometimes overlooked,' as the eventing team has won bronze or silver in the last three Olympics. Hopefully a strong showing in 2012 will be enough to get the recognition that Equestrianism deserves.
The Week In Quotes
Midlands clubs within three points of the bottom of the Premier League; Aston Villa, West Brom, Wolves and Birmingham.
'There's no reason why sprinklers shouldn't happen. There's so much support because wet races are always the best by far.'
In the World Cup match last week, West Indies incredibly collapsed to lose their last eight wickets for just 34 runs. In the next match against Pakistan they lost their last seven for 54 runs – not much better!
'What we need now is to quit pointing fingers and everyone look at the claret and blue of our kit and the badge they are wearing and go out and kick the crap out of the next teams we play until the end of the season!'
47
Toby Flood was the leading points scorer in the 2011 Six Nations, scoring 47 points.
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Mo Farah's impressive time of one hour, 23 minutes in the New York half-marathon on his debut over the distance.
500
Leeds United lead the foul count in the championship, committing 500 this season! Nothing changes.
Formula One chief Bernie Eccleston promotes the controversial 'fake rain' idea to supposedly make F1 more exciting.
Aston Villa director and Vietnam veteran Charles Krulak gives his advice to the Villa players for the relegation battle ahead.
'I have decided that John Terry, after one year of punishment, will again be the permanent captain. I think one year's punishment is enough.'
Fabio Capello gives his rationale for reappointing the divisive John Terry as England captain.
'It's hilarious how people hook into you for having an opinion. If you talk to me about my job I'll tell you what's going on because, believe it or not, I f***ing well know what I'm talking about.'
F1 driver Mark Webber is taking no prisoners ahead of the new season.
Polly Bryan
Equestrian Disciplines Dressage: • • •
20m x 40m rectangular arena Marks out of ten for control of the horse, accuracy, timing and style Riders have to ride an unseen horse and have only seven minutes to practice on it before competing
Show Jumping: • • •
Marked for style as well as jumping Marks deducted for knockdowns and refusals Riders have another new horse and are allowed a five minute warm-up and a maximum of four practice jumps
The Redbrick Sport Quiz 1) Who has taken the most wickets in Cricket World Cup history? 2) Which Olympic sport in 1994 gained notoriety after competitor Tonya Harding organised an attack on her main rival for gold? 3) Goran Ivanisevic made tennis history in 2001 after becoming the first wildcard to win Wimbledon – who did he beat in the final? 4) Which English decathlete won gold in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics? 5) Which club did Stanley Matthews inspire to FA Cup glory in the 'Matthews Final' of 1953? 1, Glen McGrath 2, Figure Skating 3, Pat Rafter 4, Daley Thompson 5, Blakpool
After spending five minutes in the company of Equestrian club captain Polly Bryan, any pre-conceived notion that Equestrianism is an easier sport than some others is quickly dismissed. Equestrianism coverage often doesn't do the sport justice; at university level the competition is fierce and the winners of the BUCS league have to fight their way through a long knockout process and a set of rules designed to catch many out. As Bryan explains, 'equestrianism is different at university than elsewhere', with riders having to compete in two main disciplines: dressage and show jumping (see separate box). The marking for both events is different at university than at professional level as it is scored chiefly on style. For dressage, the rider has to control a horse and get it to perform at different speeds (walk, trot and canter) at the right time, and to perform movements such as loops, circles and transitions within the paces. What makes this so difficult is the fact that riders do not have the opportunity to practice on their horses until the very last minute. For dressage they have seven minutes and before the show jumping they are permitted only five minutes and just four practice jumps. To some this may seem a peculiar rule, but Bryan had the opposite view. She believes that 'it's a leveler and really tests the riders ability', as horses are very different, and that it shows 'who is a good enough rider to be able to adapt quickly to a different type of horse and who can only ride the one they have been used to.' If this wasn't a difficult enough test for riders, the structure of the BUCS league makes it even harder to be crowned champions. The university teams are placed into leagues of four, with each event taking place at one team's home base. The team with the most points after these four events then moves on to the regional finals, where the same
26 Sport
Sport Thoughts Redbrick Sport editor James Phillips considers the enigma that is the home advantage, and why it plays such a prominent role in sport. The home advantage is one of the most intriguing phenomenons in sport, yet one that is seldom discussed. Just why is it that a team playing the same sport, with the same rules, are so much more likely to succeed when playing on their home territory than when playing away. Last weekend saw the England rugby team, so dominant in their first four Six Nations game, collapse spectacularly against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. Would the same thing have happened if the English were playing at Twickenham? It is much less likely.
This isn't sport specific; it happens across the board. In NBA basketball, the home team wins an incredible 66% of the time. All but one of Italy's all-time Six Nations victories have come at home. Jose Mourinho, currently Real Madrid manager, has an unbeaten record in home league matches stretching back to February 2002. That is nine years, across his spells at Porto, Chelsea, Internazionale and now Real. In the Premier League this season, Manchester United sit relatively comfortable at the top of the table thanks to a near unblemished record at Old Trafford. In contrast to unimpressive away form, they have accumulated 14 victories and just one draw from 15 matches at their home stadium. So why does it make so much difference? People might think it is to do with having more fans cheering you on, but as many fans of football will tell you (especially regular visitors to Birmingham City's St Andrews), it is often the away fans who are the more vocal. And how exactly can the noise surrounding a sports match really dictate who is the better team?
Redbrick
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall & Sam Price
Hockey club show strength in depth Women's Hockey
Birmingham 3rds
2
Nottingham 2nds
0
Joshua Reynolds Sport Reporter
In front of a large group of home supporters at the Bournbrook pitches, the University of Birmingham women's third team capped off what has been an outstanding season by conquering the University of Nottingham second team in a closely contested match to lift the Women's Midlands Conference Cup. Having not conceded a single goal throughout the whole competition, the Birmingham girls were undeniably worthy winners of the tournament.
Before the match got underway, Nottingham coach Todd Mills was 'quietly confident' that his side could overcome their match day opponents, whilst Brum women's first team regular Rebecca Condie, coaching the thirds alongside Laura Thompson, stated that if Birmingham could 'play the level of hockey they're capable of, they can beat anyone'. Clearly both camps fancied their chances of claiming the silverware. For the first ten minutes or so, it was the visitors who pressed for the opener, with a number of passes from the Birmingham side going astray. In particular, Alice Madden and Rosie Kenyon consistently linked up well for the away team for the duration of the match, with Madden proving to be especially menacing when running down the
right wing. Nottingham won several short corners throughout the half, and Brum would have found themselves a goal behind 11 minutes in but for a fantastic double save by goalkeeper Pandora Le Froy from two Kenyon strikes. As the half progressed, Birmingham began to feel their way into the game and mounted some pressure of their own, alas the home outfit struggled to maintain possession of the ball for extended periods, with Condie frequently urging her side to 'calm it down' from the sidelines. The all important breakthrough came in the dying minutes of the half when Rebecca Crack picked up the ball from a short corner and dribbled effortlessly past countless Nottingham defenders before it broke to Amy Jones to provide the decisive finish, the ball
Total Shots Birmingham The girls built on Birmingham's recent hockey success to claim the conference cup
Tom Flathers
Nottingham
6 10
Bedford beaten by Belinda's Birmingham Women's Football
Birmingham 2nds
3
Bedford 1sts
1
David Wheaton Sport Reporter
Sports psychologist Martin Perry explains 'Familiarity certainly helps. The players have habits – the same pre-match hotel, the same dressing room spot – which are followed to avoid disturbing their routine'. But is it really as simple as that? In the 2004 UEFA Champions League, Deportivo lost 4-1 to AC Milan at the San Siro, before incredibly recording a 4-0 win in the return leg on home turf to turn things around. Regardless of the reasons, it is clear that playing at home really does make a difference and perhaps it is the mark of a truly great team, such as the Arsenal 'Invincibles' of 2004 who went unbeaten home and away in the Premier League, if they can take their home form onto the road.
striking the post on its way in. Once the second half got underway, the home side, rejuvenated by the opening goal, looked much more composed and seemed to hit their stride. The telling moment came on the 46th minute, when Amy Rowland cleverly dispossessed Notts midfielder Olivia Partington and then darted towards goal. It looked as if her touch had been too heavy at one point, with the ball set to roll out of play, but Rowland refused to give up and managed to get a shot away which beat Nottingham goalkeeper Alex Maling from a near-impossible angle, to the jubilation of the home crowd and everyone in the dugout. Despite the two-goal cushion, the remainder of the match was far from easy to watch for the Brum contingent, with Nottingham dominating possession for the last 20 minutes, desperate to claw back the deficit. Unfortunately for them, the away team lacked the cutting edge needed to get on the score sheet and their attacks were consistently halted by the resolute Brum defence. Unsurprisingly, the sound of the final whistle was greeted with both relief and delight from the Birmingham players, coaches, and supporters. Rebecca Condie emphasised how proud she was of her team and said that the unqualified success of their season was testament to how much work everyone involved has put in. Needless to say, Todd Mills was by contrast far less upbeat about the day's occurrences, but was most gracious in congratulating the cup winners, who have deservedly made a further addition to what must now be a very full trophy cabinet for the University of Birmingham Hockey Club.
The women's football second team ended a frustrating season on a high with a terrific 3-1 win over visitors Bedford. The girls got their own back on a team they had narrowly lost to a couple of weeks ago in a very close and disputed game, according to coach Andy Dyson. The starting eleven were determined to show that they weren't fearful of their opponents, who are competing for the second spot in the league. Right midfielder Donna Mcgrinnen and Rachel Charles exerted early pressure on the Bedford defence, Mcgrinnen delivering one of many accurate crosses only for Charles to stumble over the ball a couple of yards away from the line. Their partnership boded well for the rest of the game. It was a clever through ball from Charles towards the left wing, however, which gave Birmingham and Belinda Martin their
Birmingham celebrate ending their season on a high first clear cut chance of the game, only narrowly stopped by the visitors' keeper sliding in at Martin's feet. Really skilful build-ups going forward were set back by a fragile defence, giving Bedford's strikers chances on the break, which luckily for the hosts, they failed to convert. This illustrated Birmingham's way of playing throughout the season; 'we have an overwhelming attacking mentality, which we worked on a lot in order to get goals' explained coach Cameron McVittie. Twenty minutes in, this would have proved costly for the home side had keeper
Sophie Bryant
Chrissy Roberts not been alert, as the Bedford striker received another long range through ball near the penalty area, but could only strike it into Roberts' grateful hands. The corner that followed found a Bedford head, sending the ball crashing against the bar and down onto the line, which finally triggered a response from Birmingham. The team found their feet once more, building the play forward to Martin, who went on to lob the keeper from 20 yards out just before halftime, causing a frenzy of cheers and drink throwing amongst the
large support which had turned out to bask in the afternoon sun. The second-half proved to be even more exciting as Bedford had obviously come back into it with an attacking mentality. Playing in a more advanced role, Charles was able to combine expertly with either Mcgrinnen or Kirsty Spencer, crossing balls in to Martin who surprisingly missed a couple of easy chances to get her second goal of the day. These misses proved frustrating as, after getting closer and closer to goal, Bedford finally slotted the ball passed Roberts after another long ball over the Birmingham centre-backs. This relentless pressure was not to stop. The flip-side was that it opened up space down the right for Mcgrinnen. The right sided player sent two inch-perfect crosses towards the penalty spot, where Martin was on hand to slot the ball once to the left of the keeper and once to the right, ending her season with a dazzling hat-trick. This splendid win understandably made both coaches very optimistic for the future as the team consists mainly of freshers, who will carry on playing together this summer at the futsal championships.
Redbrick
This week in... 1997 Portugal coach Artur Jorge was knocked to the ground by Sporting Lisbon striker, Ricardo Sa Pinto. The player was angered after being excluded from the national squad and turned up at the training ground, where the national team was preparing fora qualifier before hitting Jorge and flooring him. 2000 Formula One legend Michael Schumacher raked in the plaudits after victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix. His rival Mika Hakkinen didn't even finish the race.
Couldn't make it up In the football-crazy world of Brazil, there were yet more ridiculous scenes as Serie B teams Itaperuna and Aperibeense were forced to play their game on a pitch flooded with sewage. The referee was obliged to ensure the game went ahead as there were no further available dates in the calendar. A Blackburn Rovers-supporting MP, amusingly called Simon Blackburn, apologised after calling Blackpool fans 'donkey-botherers' via facebook during the 2-2 draw between the two clubs last week. Ironically, he is the leader of the Labour group on Blackpool Council.
Top three... University of Birmingham performances this term Sweet revenge for netball girls Birmingham's netball team produced a magnificent performance in the BUCS Trophy to beat Loughborough seconds 38-28. The win was extra sweet as Brum lost to the same team in the final last year.
Mohamed Hammam
bin
The head of the Asian Football Confederation has announced his intentions to stand against Sepp Blatter in the forthcoming FIFA Presidential elections. Most people in the game would agree it is time for change.
Volleyball men progress to finals
Having secured their league title the previous week, Brum's women's footballers showed why they were champions, crushing Leicester 7-0 before lifting their trophy.
The Munrow Centre played host to a match of epic proportions as Brum's volleyball men earned a place in the BUCS finals with a deserved 3-0 victory over UCL.
Things keep getting better for the British distance runner as he won the New York half-marathon on this his debut over the distance. Farah represents one of GB's main track medal hopes for the 2012 Olympics.
Classic Goal...
and Villains...
Redbrick Sport Recommends... The Blizzard magazine A brand new intelligent football magazine, which looks sure to be a big hit. The pilot issue is available to download for any price you want (so basically free unless you're very generous) at www.theblizzard.co.uk.
Captain Fantastic? After a year in 'exile', Chelsea captain John Terry has been reinstated as England captain on a permanent basis. Whether people approve of his off-field activities or not it can't be denied he has the attributes of a football leader. But with so many fans against him, how will JT fare this time around?
Joel Lamy - sporting underachiever jlamy.blogspot.com Redbrick Sport's very own Joel Lamy provides his unique, and highly amusing, commentary on the sporting world. From his fictional 'quotes of the week' to his personal 'Hall of Lame' you just can't help but laugh.
Mordo Nahum Puzzles Editor
Completed crosswords to be submitted to the Redbrick office by 29/03/11. (Redbrick Office located in the basement of the Guild)
1_2_3_=45_6_7 _=_=_=8=_=_=_ 9______=0____ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ a____=b______ _===_=_===_=_ =cd_____e___= f=_===_=_===g h___i__=j_k__ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ l____=m______ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ n_____=o_____ protection (7) 20. Japanese rice-based dish (5) 22. Steal (anag.) (5) 23. Altogether; protective garment (7) 24. Fictional home city of Batman (6) 25. (Official) head-count (6)
Down
1. Name shared by actors Keaton and Merryfield (6) 2. Psalm (anag.) (5) 3. Turkish empire; piece of furniture
(7) 5. Japanese poetry form (5) 6. Element, atomic number 14, used in manufacturing electronics (7) 7. Doctor's needle and thread (6) 8. Lucky charm (7, 4) 14. Permit for search or arrest (7) 15. Type of lens; aquatic vision? (7) 16. Prosthesis, often worn by pirates (6) 17. ______ Tower, tallest building in America (new name) (6) 19. Latin prefix meaning 'beyond' (5) 21. _____ Tower, tallest building in America (old name) (5)
Youtube search: Ibrahimovic backheel goal 2004
Sudoku
Fabio Capello The Italian may have been right to restore John Terry as captain but the way he went about stripping Rio Ferdinand of the captaincy, apparently without talking to him, has led to much criticism.
Video of the Week
Elizabeth Taylor: 20th Century Icon This YouTube video is a celebration of and tribute to the Englishborn American actress, following her death on 23rd March 2011. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-XjJFhH6gSQ
Last issues solution:
Apologies to those who have missed the crossword in the past few issues. We had some printing issues but do hope that you continue to enjoy and complete the crossword.
The England scrumhalf was one of the many at fault as England failed at the final hurdle to land the Six Nations Grand Slam. The youngster was yellow carded for throwing the ball away and later admitted 'playing like an idiot'.
The objective of the game is to insert the numbers 1-9 into each row, column, and 3x3 box once Medium
Hard
olivebranch== u=n=a=e=u=o=s tudor=takeshi o=i=l=i=e=t=l flagging=hide t===r=a=a=l=n hasten=invert e=y=y=r=i===l bomb=keystone l=p=k=i=e=w=t untying=tenet e=o=l=n=t=u=e ==minesweeper
Mo Farah
Ben Youngs
The mercurial Swede pulled off one of the cleverest finishes at Euro 2004. In this group stage clash with Italy, Ibra pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and, moving away from goal, flicked it with an ingenius backheeled touch into the top corner of the net.
This week's prize is a £5 Waterstones Gift Voucher
1. Shout loudly; Saul ______, American author (6) 4. Monkey - factor in blood cell problem (6) 9. Island in Indonesia (7) 10. Cove, creek (5) 11. English town with a famous horse race (5) 12. Cricket delivery; security staff (7) 13. American musician who sang Hollaback Girl (4, 7) 18. Headgear worn for warmth or
Heroes...
Women's football crowned champions
The Redbrick Crossword
Across
Sport 27
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall & Sam Price
Did you know?
Humans can lose up to 30% of their total blood volume before going into shock. The arcade game Space Invaders was so popular in Japan that it actually created a coin shortage for a while. While the abacus is commonly associated with the Far East, it was also used in ancient Greece and Rome.
On this day Scribble box
1421 – Venice, Italy is born at twelve o'clock noon, according to legend. 1807 – The Slave Trade Act becomes law, abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire. 1975 – Faisal of Saudi Arabia is shot and killed by a mentally ill nephew.
28 Sport
Sport
Redbrick
25th March 2011 www.redbrickpaper.co.uk
Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall & Sam Price
Spotlight on Equestrian Redbrick Sport talks to equestrian club captain Polly Bryan to find out more about a unique sports club, p25
Cup success icing on cake for golfers Men's Golf
Birmingham 4ths
5
Lincoln 1sts
1
James Sinclair Golf Correspondent
On a glorious day at Edgbaston, the golfers of the Birmingham fourth team stormed to a mighty 5-1 victory over Lincoln University to clinch the BUCS Conference Cup. Leading the team out was captain Jack Murgatroyd along with fresher Jeremy Wauters. Murgatroyd's highlight was a great birdie at 16 to take the lead, although unfortunately he couldn't cling on. After being three down at the turn, Wauters fought and made a great scramble at 18 to secure his half. In the second pairing the combination of Ben Brandreth and James Sinclair proved too much for Lincoln to handle. Sinclair stormed to an 8&7 victory after being 7 up through 7, while Brandreth's up and down match was finally sealed when he won 13, 14 and 15 for a 3&2 win. The final matches involved third year AGMS students Will Lambert and Clinton '10&8' Norris, who fought to claim 3&2 and 5&4 victories respectively. Lambert won 11, 12, 13 and 14 to turn the momentum of the match, while Norris dominated his opponent despite missing some short putts. Murgatroyd's speech was an emotional affair and was the perfect end to a great run for the fantastic fourths.
The fourth team capped a successful season with a comfortable victory over their Lincoln opponents
Tom Flathers
Badminton boys claim conference cup Men's Badminton
Birmingham 3rds
8
Leicester 1sts
0
Richard Morris Sport Reporter
To be confined to the Munrow Sports Hall on such a beautiful Wednesday afternoon was nothing short of a crime, but this was the badminton cup final and scores needed to be settled. Birmingham's third team were facing Leicester's best offering in the Midlands cup final, a fixture set to ignite Birmingham's badminton scene ablaze. Intense warm-ups came to a close and players finished limbering up ready for the long battles ahead. The tension in the air was clear and soon the rubbers got underway. Initial confrontations were hostile and aggressive in manner. The floor lay coated in a thin film of shuttle cocks both broken and dismembered. Incredible racket head speeds from the Birming-
ham boys saw the initial advantage gained in their favour. First seed Junjie Chong exhibited impressive footwork, combined with nimble and agile body movement, proving himself worthy of his number one selection, and soon put away Leicester's Chris Tustian 21-19 21-14. Sean Cordon illustrated similar success by taking apart his Leicester opponent Alex Nutt 21-11 21-7. Doubles partners Steve Irvine and Will Simpson, and Scott Williams and Matthew McCloskey also followed suit with skilful racket work and deadly drop shots to take the team into a four-rubber lead. Birmingham were taking Leicester apart, and with a well established 4-0 lead, it was difficult to see any possibility of a change in the wind. The break in play was only short, and both sides soon resumed with matches now equal in ranking position. Chong yet again came out of the blocks on form and soon disposed of his opponent 21-5 21-12. The doubles pairs equalled their performances of the first round by taking apart first pair Andy Peters and Charlie Nixon, and second
pair, the Yeo brothers. With a 7-0 lead over the Leicester side, the final was clearly only going one way. Frustrations among the losing team were clearly present as rackets began to fly, notably from Chris Tustian. However, despite his best efforts, he was no match for Brum's Sean Cordon, rounding off the final with a marathon of a match, 15-21 21-15 21-17. The win was met with loud applause and cheers from the victorious Birmingham boys. Birmingham had shown clear technical and mental superiority over Leicester's best men, which was clearly reflected in the scoreline. All that was left for the day's action was the presentation. Team aptain Irvine raised the trophy aloft declaring a 'brilliant win' for the side and was met with cheers and further applause. Individual medals were handed out and congratulatory handshakes dispensed, before customary team photos were taken. A joint photo for both teams before the end showed the team spirit and match ethic demonstrated throughout.
Brum dominate to secure cup triumph
Millie Guy
INSIDE - Spotlight on Societies, UNICEF >> 3 | Submarine film review >> 12 | Comic Relief Review >> 17 | Six snapshots of the world >> 22|