Redbrick Issue 1514, Vol. 84
Friday 7th February 2020
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Harborne Man Tests Negative For Coronavirus
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UCU Strikes Back Birmingham UCU announces second wave of strike action after ‘failure to make significant improvements on pay, equality, casualisation and workloads’ Alex Boscott News Editor
On Monday 3rd February, University and College Union (UCU) declared that they will be launching 14 more days of strike action in an attempt to pressure universities to address outstanding issues raised by the union in recent months. UCU have this week announced that 74 universities will be affected by this new round of strikes which will take place between 20th February and 13th March - action that will involve an additional 14 universities compared to last year ’s strikes in November and December. The number of strike days per week will increase incrementally during the four weeks. The action will begin two strike days in week six of the UoB term before concluding with five strike days in week nine. This move by UCU is the latest in an ongoing dispute between the union and UK universities. UCU have claimed that their decision to commence industrial action is a result of universities’ ‘failure to make significant improvements’ regarding pay, pensions and the growing casualisation of university staff. Alongside the strike days, UCU have also outlined plans for its members to take action short of striking which includes ‘working strictly to contract, not covering for absent colleagues and refusing to reschedule lectures lost to strike Birmingham UCU action.’
Does Seminar structure need to change?
Review: Extraordinary Wall (Of Silence)
Comment Culture 11 18
In a statement, UCU general secretary Jo Grady declared that ‘we [UCU] have seen more members back strikes since the winter walkouts and this next wave of action will affect even more universities and students. If universities want to avoid further disruption they need to deal with rising pension costs, and address the problems over pay and conditions.’ Should the dispute fail to be resolved in the coming weeks, Grady went on to confirm that UCU’s members may also strike in universities’ final semester. The University of Birmingham is one of 47 universities still attempting to resolve both the pensions dispute and staff casualisation concerns with UCU - with the last round of negotiations failing to produce a workable solution. The University of Birmingham branch of UCU (BUCU) stated: ‘Once again Birmingham UCU members are having to take strike action simply to get employers to take seriously our deep concerns over unreasonable pension contribution hikes, falling pay, unbearable workloads, rampant casualisation and deep-seated inequality. We urge Professor Eastwood and the senior management team at the University to use their considerable influence within higher education to settle this dispute without the need for further disruption on campus.’ In response to UCU’s decision to strike, the University of Birmingham told Redbrick that: ‘We recognise that strike action may cause concern and as with the
previous round of strike action, we will keep in regular contact with staff and students to advise and assure around what we are doing to minimise impact. Our priority is to ensure that our students continue to receive an outstanding education. ‘The University will make every effort to make alternative arrangements for any cancelled events, including lectures, seminars, individual appointments, lab sessions etc. This might include scheduling additional sessions at other times and making supporting materials available that students can review through Canvas. This will help to ensure that students do not miss any of the essential content for their course. In addition we will ensure that students are not disadvantaged in any assessment activity. ‘Hand-in dates and deadlines may be extended if these are affected by any cancelled teaching and students will not be assessed on any content that has not been covered due to disruption. Where any content or assessment of learning outcomes is aligned with professional body accreditation, we will ensure that this content is covered within rearranged sessions. ‘We hope that UCU will continue to maintain an open dialogue in order to try to resolve this national dispute.’ The impact that these strikes will have on achieving an agreement remains unclear but this escalation in tensions between academic staff and universities is certain to cause disruption to university life across the country.
A glowing review of The Lighthouse
How to celebrate Galentines Day
Film 22
Sci&Tech 34
INSIDE: Redbrick Culture Explore Queer Theory in the Lead Up to LGBTQ+ History Month
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Letter From the Committee: As I come close to concluding university, I feel somewhat obliged to impart my own meandering experience of my time here. My recent work for the paper has included the creation and steady growth of Redbrick’s very own alumni group, so it feels appropriate that I make this editorial along the theme of nostalgia. With our 84th birthday earlier this week I once again find it incredible at the scope the paper now has, several years of writers and editors helping to formulate the content each week. Personally I resonate heavily with this, myself a third generation family member who has studied at this prestigious University. I find it outstanding that I walked the same halls of Aston Webb as my granddad and mother did during their time here. Although he recently passed away during my first year, he often mentioned how much he would love to go back to his time as a student here. As such, I believe making the most use of your time here is essential. I remember my first week like it was yesterday, perhaps upon my arrival I was tentative go too far out my comfort zone. As I’ve grown older this mentality has shifted, I believe you should throw yourself in at the deep end with every opportunity. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life, as the next step approaches graduate job prospects are
arguably lower than ever. Some of the most interesting people I know still don’t know what they want to do, or where they will end up. Enjoy this period of your life and soon everything will fall into place. Recently one member of the alumni group shared her experience of being an editor in the eightiescutting up copy, spray mounting into the page layouts, and rushing it down to New Street to catch the late evening train delivery to the typesetters. All this hard work rewarded at Dilshad, an establishment that arguably almost rivals the newspaper as a reliquary of the past. I too believe I will fantasise of my experience at Redbrick in thirty years time. This editorial, my last for the paper, in my last year at the University, will always have a fond place in my heart. But my graduation will by no mean spell my last visit to campus. I hope the alumni infrastructure will continue far into the future so I too can keep in contact and reminisce on the ‘good times.’ From the dungeons, etc...
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Editorial Assistants Hassaan Abdullah Daniel Bray Aimée Calvert editor@redbrickonline.co.uk Peri Cimen Molly Elliott Izzy Frost Ameek Gilhotra Christopher Hodges Mary Lanitis Redbrick is printed through Dana Lillie www.mortonsprint.com Chloe Mainzinger 01507 523 456 Ella McFarlane Emma Stephenson To advertise in Redbrick, get in touch with marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk or visit www.redbrick.me/advertise-with-redbrick for more details, and to see our rate card. Designed and typeset by Redbrick Copyright (C) Redbrick 2019 The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.
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XR Issues Demands to University
Guild Declares Climate Emergency Aneesa Ahmed News Editor
Charlie Young News Reporter
On Wednesday 5th January, the student-led Extinction Rebellion group at the University of Birmingham (XR UoB) delivered a petition at its Climate Action Now rally. The demands, issued to the University and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood, call for the University to declare a climate emergency and to reduce its carbon footprint. Extinction Rebellion activists gathered outside the Aston Webb building to lobby the University to back its demands. Speeches were given by students, lectures and others including a speaker from UCU and a Labour Councillor representing the Green New Deal. Protesters warned about an ‘unprecedented global emergency,’ with food shortages and destructive wildfires increasingly common. Speeches linked climate change to the actions or perceived lack of action by the University, referenging to investments in airlines, oil companies such as BP and ‘unethical banks.’ Democratising and decolonising the University and its procedures was also focussed on, with speeches calling for greater student-led involvement in university decision-making. One activist argued ‘students now have no voice on their own campus.’ The Labour Councillor for Northfield, Olly Armstrong, argued that we must change the way we deal with climate change under current political spheres, saying ‘politicians have been late’ and ‘there will be no party politics on a dead planet.’ Activist Ryan Smith spoke to Redbrick positively about the high and diverse attendance, addressing the efforts made to ‘decolonise’ the movement that is traditionally seen as full of ‘crusty, middle-class white people.’ The event was regarded among the protesters as a success, with all in a high mood as
they marched around the Green Heart. The campaign, which has been backed by UCU and UNISON, issued demands including for the University to recognise a ‘climate and humanitarian emergency,’ to commit to a carbon neutral campus by 2030, and to divestment from ‘environmentally and ethically unsound business.’ XR UoB’s petition highlighted the United Nations’ call for universities to be ‘catalysts of sustainability,’ with the University of Bristol the first among many UK universities to take the climate stance including fellow West Midlands institution, University of Warwick. XR UoB also called for the creation of student-staff assemblies to democratise the effort to increase sustainability and to decolonise the education system. The demands hope to push UoB to ‘reach out to people of colour, the working class, and people with additional needs.’ A suggested route is a return to the elected senate which once ran the University, an idea supported by XR, who claim students are not being fully represented at the University. In a statement issued to Redbrick, a UoB spokesperson said: ‘Sustainability is something that the University has been focusing on for many years through our research (indeed one of our Professors was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work on spreading knowledge about man-made climate change), as well as in our campus developments and a range of other initiatives for example our recent commitment to ethical investment as signatories to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. ‘But we also recognise that there is more that we can and should do, which is why we are currently working with staff and students to embed sustainability into the University’s new Strategic Framework, which will set our priorities and direction to 2025.
As part of this we are working to develop and deliver a Sustainability Roadmap, which will be published later this year. ‘The Roadmap will set out our ambitions, aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals, for a green campus, contributions to sustainability through our excellence in education and research, and our civic contribution, to make the University a more sustainable place to learn, develop, teach, conduct research and live. ‘Our aim is that this work will address many of the issues identified in your letter and so help towards mitigating against climate change. ‘The University’s new Sustainability Steering Group (SSG), Chaired by Professor Laura Green, as Sustainability Lead on the University Executive Board and Pro-Vice Chancellor Head of College for Life and Environmental Sciences, was established in November 2019, with representatives from staff and students across the University. This group will propose a strategy and targets to the University Executive Board to develop and deliver a sustainability plan that includes a greener campus, knowledgeable citizens across the University who are willing and supported to behave responsibly, and is embedded in our education and research locally, nationally and internationally. ‘The new SSG is supported by the University’s Sustainability Task Group (STG), chaired by Lydia Dutton, the University Sustainability Manager. The SSG and the STG will work together with students and colleagues across academia and professional services to make the University a more sustainable place to learn, develop, teach, conduct research and live. ‘More than 10 Working Groups have been, or are shortly to be, established. All are tasked with developing action plans to drive positive change and we are keen to engage with staff and students who are knowledgeable and passionate
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On Tuesday 4th February, the Guild of Students declared a climate and ecological emergency to tackle ‘unimaginable damage is being inflicted upon the world’s ecosystems.’ A statement signed by Guild President Joshua Williams, Sports Officer and Chair of the Ethical and Environmental Committee Josh Dooler, and Ethical and Environmental Officer Nickie Williams stated that ‘it would be an abject failure to the students the Guild of Students represents to ignore the [climate] crisis.’ The statement outlined five key points of action, including increased Guild pressure on the University to tackle Climate Change and divest from fossil fuels and increased involvement with the NUS. Asked why the Guild called this climate emergency, Williams told Redbrick: ‘In calling the climate emergency, it’s about taking a stand. 'With the Australian wildfires and floods in Indonesia, it’s more visible than ever that we are running out of time. It’s our duty to commit to fighting the crisis that is already well on the way and pushing the University to stand alongside us in doing so. ‘It’s about what we can do on campus to rive local action to contribute to a global change.’ about this agenda to help us with this work. In addition, on Monday 10th Feb 1pm - 3pm there is a ‘have your say on sustainability at the University and Guild’ event as part of the Guild Go Green week. ‘Regarding investments, the University is committed to ethical fund options, where suitable investments are available, and where investment returns would be consistent with the University’s charitable objectives. The University will continue to engage intensively with its investment managers in regards to their application of environmental, social and governance policies in investment decisions. In addition, only four other universities in the United Kingdom to become a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.’
They Guild state that the university ‘has a responsibility to commit to tackling the climate emergency. ‘It is imperative that our institutions use their positions and power within the sector to actively fight the suffocating onset of climate change.’ The climate emergency was called by Williams in a full-time officer meeting before Dooler and Williams then worked through the idea. A draft of the statement was given to members of the Guild Policy Development Group and the statement was passed last week. When asked why students should support the Guild in their decision to declare this climate emergency, Williams told Redbrick: ‘As student representatives, we have a duty to do all in our power to represent, uplift and protect students. ‘Time is running out to tackle the climate emergency and we would be failing in our duties not to do all we can to fight this. In declaring, it was so important not to make a symbolic gesture without key things to fight and stand for! ‘Going forwards, it is more important than ever that we as students come together, stand together and plan together about how best to tackle the crisis on our campus, in our community’s and in our world. We will be releasing more information on how to get involved and shape the direction of our environmental strategy very soon!’ Lucy, a second-year Anthropology and Political Science student, told Redbrick that ‘it’s about time’ that the Guild took action and declared this climate emergency given the current ecological crisis. Another second year student who asked to remain anonymous told Redbrick: ‘I feel like just pushing the University isn’t going to do enough. 'While this decision by the Guild was a good step in the right direction, more needs to be done as people are constantly pressuring universities to do more but nothing changes. ‘Obviously it is a good step, however more should be done to tackle the ecological crisis.’
UCU Criticises ‘Casualisation’ at Unis Becky Gelder News Reporter
The University and College Union (UCU) have released a report outlining the detrimental effects of the casualisation of academic labour, labelling it ‘a fundamental attack on the human dignity of those caught up in it.’ The main issue addressed in this report is the ‘dehumanisation’ of academics undertaking casualised work, which researchers assert is taking place in four ways: ‘it renders staff invisible and vulnerable, curtails their agency and freedom, and prevents them from rendering a long-term narrative of their career that can provide meaning to their lives. They are treated
as second-class academics.’ The report goes on to examine these ‘exploitative’ practices, giving examples from individuals who have experienced dehumanising workplace environments. One academic explained that ‘They had 10 months funding but made me work 11 months, one month over the summer unpaid.’ Another described the experience of relying on the patronage of another scholar as ‘the systematic destruction of my self-esteem.’ Attention is also drawn to statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), which show that almost 33,000 researchers (67%) are currently on fixedterm contracts. As well as this, it is noted that universities rely on an ‘army’ of nearly 70,000 ‘atypical’
staff, who are often on extremely short term contracts and are required to be highly flexible. Launched on Martin Luther King Day 2020 (20th January), it is suggested that responses to the investigation should consider the legacy and teachings of Martin Luther King, and employers should adjust their practices accordingly. Within the introduction, it is also highlighted that the casualisation of academic labour overlaps with other forms of oppression as well, namely due to the fact that ‘fixed-term and casual contracts are disproportionately likely to be held by women and BME staff.’ The report calls upon the Office of Students to ‘demand comprehensive data about universities’ reliance on casualised labour in
teaching.’ It also criticises the notion that humans are resources to be utilised by universities for financial gain, and encourages universities to work with UCU in order to provide staff with more secure contracts. This report follows on from a June 2019 report, also from UCU, which examined a number of issues relating to the types of contracts offered by higher education employers, and the ways in which these impact both staff and students. The report, which was compiled based on data from a survey of 3,802 academic staff, found that not only are precarious contracts placing strain on the financial prospects of the staff involved, but they also negatively affect the
quality of teaching. Within this initial report, the University of Birmingham was named by UCU as one of several universities to rely on casual worker status to fill academic roles. The January 2020 report, and the questions it raises, are part of an ongoing struggle regarding employment conditions in higher education. In November of 2019, academic staff across the UK participated in strike action. Although in part the eight day strike was in response to disagreements about pension schemes, action was also taken due to unsatisfactory working conditions, including the casualisation of the higher education sector described by UCU.
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Friday 7th February 2020
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Theories Abound After WiFi Outage Ella Kipling News Reporter
Concerns about hacking arose after one student, Jonathan Sims, posted on Facebook about the WiFi being ‘cyber-attacked’ on the 27th January, causing him to lose ‘three pages of essay work.’ Sims told Redbrick that he was working on an essay on Google Docs, when the WiFi went down. He said: ‘just as this happened a network appeared named “We f****d the WiFi.” ‘When I went downstairs to speak to someone on the front desk they said that they were aware that there was an issue.’ He added, ‘when I asked if it was an attack she [the woman behind the desk] nodded.’ However, when Redbrick asked about the situation, we were told by the front desk at the library that the WiFi ‘has not been hacked at all.’
“[It] has not been hacked at all”
Staff told Redbrick that the WiFi had been down last week, but that it was a technical difficulty, and were keen to emphasise that there was no way the server could have been hacked.
VC Eastwood Talkin 'Bout a Revolution at T&L Opening Tom Leaman Editor-in-Chief
The University of Birmingham celebrated the opening of the new Teaching and Learning Building last Wednesday (29th) with a series of talks from its senior management and researchers. The eclectic range of 43 talks, each around fifteen minutes in length, ranged from predicting the university of the future to questioning if life exists elsewhere. The day began with the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Eastwood, discussing the origins of the French Revolution and why it still matters today. He described the revolution as ‘the most important event in modern history’ that had three main causes: science, sex and money. This was followed by a talk by the President of the Guild of Students, Joshua Williams, on the black experience in society and integration within higher education. Williams said that the university must be applauded for its efforts to be more inclusive, but must do more - alongside other Russell Group universities - to improve the experience for their black and minority ethnic students. The Guild’s Black Voices campaign launched this term to improve the black experience at UoB. The Guild is working on releasing a Black Voices manifesto to pledge improvements to the issues outlined by Williams’ discussion at UoBe Enlightened. The Teaching and Learning Building opened on Monday 13th January.
Harborne Man Tests Negative for Coronavirus Becky Gelder News Reporter
A Birmingham man suspected of having coronavirus has been given the all-clear. The Harborne resident, Drew Bennet, had travelled to the Chinese city of Wuhan over Christmas, returning to the UK on the 31st December. Upon returning, he had suffered from what he thought to be a bad case of the flu. After going to his GP in January, Bennet had been sent home before being taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by medics in biohazard suits. After the appropriate tests had been carried out, Mr Bennet was informed that he did not have the virus. The virus is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China. This particular form of coronavirus, known as novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), causes flu-like symptoms, such as a cough, high temperature and difficulty breathing. As of 5th February, there have been 24,348 confirmed cases in China, the majority of which
Tony Hisgett
are centred around Hubei Province. Outside of China, there have been 236 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. While people of all ages can be infected by the virus, older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, are more susceptible to becoming severely ill. The NHS have issued advice regarding the spread of the coronavirus, recommending that people ensure they maintain performance of hygienic practices such as hand washing. They have also recommended a policy of self-isolation to those who have returned from Hubei Province in the last fourteen days, and advised that these individuals contact NHS 111 immediately. For those who have travelled from other parts of China, the advice is to self-isolate only if the individual begins to exhibit flu-like symptoms. In response to the spread of the virus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have declared the outbreak to be a ‘public health emergency of international con-
cern.’ In their statement from 31st January, WHO reported the belief that ‘it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk.’ While there have been 203 suspected cases reported in Britain as of 1st February, only two of these have actually been confirmed. The other 201 have been cleared. The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has released a statement regarding the two confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the UK: ‘We can confirm that two patients in England, who are members of the same family, have tested positive for coronavirus. The patients are receiving specialist NHS care, and we are using tried and tested infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus.’ ‘We have been preparing for UK cases of novel coronavirus and we have robust infection control measures in place to respond immediately. We are continuing to work closely with the World Health Organization and the international community as the outbreak in China develops to ensure we are ready for all eventualities.’ There have also been accusations that continued fear of contracting
the novel coronavirus has encouraged unjustified racist sentiment towards the east Asian population. Speaking to The Guardian, one British-Chinese woman noted: ‘The virus is being weaponised as a way to be openly racist – the French media have already called it “yellow peril” – as if there isn’t a bigger health threat from parents who won’t vaccinate their kids.’ She also spoke about how the fear of the virus has affected her personally: ‘People have openly moved away from me on the train. Fear for me is having half my family in quarantine in Wuhan – the hysterical fear that many in western countries have is quite insulting to me.’ Many others have also expressed concern over how normalised this type racism may become. The University of California, Berkeley, has recently offered apologies via Twitter for an Instagram post in which they named xenophobia as a ‘normal’ reaction to the spread of the virus. It is believed widely that social media has a prominent part to play in the rapid spread of false information and racist stereotypes. The University of Birmingham has remained in contact with students regarding the outbreaks, communicating via email. They have advised both staff and students against any non-essential travel to China until further notice, and have provided information to students which is in line with government and WHO recommendations.
tiles for the Israeli army. UoB has stated in response: ‘Our primary focus when making investments is ensuring that we can continue to invest in high quality teaching, world leading research and the very best facilities for staff and students now and in the future.’ They also expect any investment managers working on its behalf to consider ‘an end to international conflict including a prohibition of companies which produce armaments.’ The full report describes how
UK universities have invested a total of £450 million in companies implicated in Israeli violations of international law. These companies have allegedly played a part in the supply of weapons to the Israeli military and the investment in Israel’s illegal settlements – deemed to violate Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention - within what is perceived to be Palestinian territory. The Universities of Edinburgh and Manchester have also been implicated, the latter having invested in the company Caterpillar,
which supplies armoured bulldozers used by the Israelis to demolish Palestinian homes, schools and olive groves. Overall, out of the 151 universities included within the report, 53 UK universities did not hand over any information. 33 universities replied but do not hold investments in said companies; 44 universities who do hold investments in said companies replied providing full data, and the remaining universities have only provided partial data in response.
UoB Invests £4.5m in Companies Breaking International Law Adam Toms News Reporter
The University of Birmingham is reportedly the seventh-biggest investor, out of a list 151 UK universities, which have invested in Israeli companies complicit with violations of international law. Certain investments in these companies include Israel Chemicals, reportedly the only providers of white phosphorus for the US army, which then uses the substance to manufacture projec-
City Centre Tackles Emissions David Atkins News Reporter
Birmingham City Council has been given the green light by the government to implement changes that will influence drivers commuting in and out of Birmingham. The BBC reported that cars which are significant polluters will have to pay £8 to drive through Birmingham city centre. The newly-drafted transport plan will implement significant changes by increasing the pedestrianised areas and enabling cycling to become much safer. The
Birmingham Mail reported that these plans were based on Ghent’s transport plan, which has transformed the Belgian city. Julie Grillaert, President of the Benelux Society at the University of Birmingham and resident of Ghent said, ‘in my home city [...] mobility restriction was introduced. ‘The aim of this plan was to make the city more attractive, ecological and enjoyable by increasing cyclists, public transport usage and pedestrians.’ She also told Redbrick about her personal experience of the
transport plan and how it has influenced her commute in and out of the city, saying that ‘I take my bike a lot to get around in the city and it makes my journey more pleasant and safe as many streets are car free.’ Grillaert also mentioned the low emission zone which was introduced in Ghent in January of this year. Sophie Gibbons, a student nurse at Birmingham City University whose car passed the emission law, suggests that ‘it could make people’s commute harder but it is worth it for the benefits to the environment.’
Birmingham also hosted the first UK Climate change assembly over the weekend. The event was established to take charge in leading discussions to find methods to enable net zero carbon emissions by 2050 - the commitment that the government made in June 2019. There were 110 members that met and they will offer advice to MPs on how to meet the target they set by 2050. Green Party MP Caroline Lucas told The Guardian: ‘the buzz in the room was brilliant. I just think it’s so important that politics is done with people, not to them.’
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Friday 7th February 2020
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Guild Issues Apology for Misleading Students Todd WaughAmbridge Film Editor
The Guild of Students’ full-time officer team have issued an apology saying there was ‘no intention to mislead students’ over the reasons for the Guild’s neutral stance in the last University College Union (UCU) strike. The apology comes after Redbrick revealed that a Your Ideas submission, which prevented the Guild from taking a stance on the strike action, was written and submitted by the officer team themselves. In a statement on the Guild of Students website, the officer team wrote: ‘We are sorry. Some of you will have seen the front page of Redbrick published today. There was no intention to mislead students and on reflection we understand how it has come across.’ They continued by writing they should have been ‘clearer’ and more ‘transparent,’ and that their intention to ‘empower you to have your say in shaping the views of your Students Union’ had not worked ‘on this occasion.’
As the news broke, Ellie Goddard, a fifth-year Physics undergraduate, shared the article on the ‘Fab N Fresh – New’ Facebook page, adding ‘[it seems] the deception, dishonesty, and misrepresentation by the officer team continues.’
“We are sorry” Speaking to Redbrick, Goddard acknowledged ‘it is admirable that the officer team have apologised for their actions,’ but said this not negate that they had been dishonest and that they should undergo formal investigation. Goddard added, ‘the fact that they have sought to just apologise and move on rather than undergo formal investigation shows an unreasonable willingness to consider themselves above the rules, something that will only serve to further damage belief in the officer system and the guild as a whole.’ Redbrick also asked Sami Cass Darweish, a first-year Computer Science Ph.D. student and postgraduate teaching assist-
ant (PGTA), to explain how this recent situation has affected those like him. He said: ‘as a PGTA, my position in the University as both a student and member of staff feels murky at the best of times, and I look to the Guild to represent the interests of students and students employed by the University. ‘But it feels as though my position has been overlooked. I felt that by being advised to stay neutral I was crossing the picket line. With the officer elections coming up, how can I support any [current officers for re-election] knowing they tried to mislead students?’
“It feels as though my position has been overlooked” In their statement, the officer team have called upon students to involve themselves in the democratic processes of the Guild by having their say in an upcoming democratic review. The aim of this review is to ‘[create] a demo-
cratic process that allows students to more easily tell their representatives what they want’ by ‘being more transparent and giving students more opportunity to be involved in decision-making.’ The statement also welcomes students to register their interest in running in the upcoming Officer Elections. Prior to the publication of Redbrick’s article, the Guild Policy Development Group (GPDG) meeting last Thursday continued discussion about the UCU Dispute and Trade Union Policy, though a vote related to these issues was once again not unanimous and therefore will be going online for a student vote. Following Redbrick’s front page last week, and the team’s subsequent apology, a spokesperson for Birmingham UCU told Redbrick: ‘We are disappointed by the conduct of the Officer Team during the recent UCU Strike. Instead of extending solidarity to our members fighting for a better university for staff and students, it appears they misled the very students they are elected to represent. They also prevented
our members from using the Guild to deliver educational teach-outs to students, making it more difficult for them to access these opportunities.
“It appears they misled the very students they are elected to represent” ‘The public apology is a welcome first step. We now need to see action from the Guild Officer Team. We call on them to work constructively with us so that students at Birmingham can stay informed of our ongoing dispute and any future strike action we may be forced to take. ‘We encourage students thinking of running for office to work with us, UNISON, other campus trade unions and student groups as University of Birmingham Student Workers so that we can together build a better university for both students and staff.’
Guild to Lobby to UoB State-Educated Pupils Secure to Adopt Ecosia as Default Search Engine Record 69% of Oxford Offers Nathan Clarke
Birmingham for investing over £1.3 million into fossil fuel comNews Reporter panies. The group gave UoB a The Guild of Students will be Sustainability Rating of 2:2 (89th campaigning to have Ecosia made nationally) for their unethical the default search engine on all investments. University of Birmingham comUOB on Ecosia argue that puters, following successful ‘setting Ecosia as the default lobbying to pass a motion search engine is one to do so by student small, easy step the campaign ‘UoB on University can take Ecosia.’ to mitigate the Ecosia, a effects of their German search failure.’ engine founded ‘It is not only trees have been in 2009, donate important to do around 80% of this due to the planted through their advertising material differEcosia through the profits to organience it will make, University of zations that fund but a student led Sunderland reforestation and campaign will sigclaim to have planted nify that the student over 80 million trees. body stands in opposiThe proposal is now tion to senior management's considered Guild policy and the current mantra of profit before Guild will now begin to lobby the planet.’ University to put the idea into While the University of practice. Birmingham’s Sustainability Matthew McKenna and Policy states the University aim to Callum Finn, two members of the ‘embed core aspects of sustainagroup, told Redbrick that the ble development in all [they] do, University of Birmingham has a whilst ensuring minimal damage ‘responsibility to enact positive to the natural environment,’ the change to help fight the climate policy makes no reference to the crisis.’ impact of the fossil fuel compaPeople and Planet, a student- nies which they finance. based social and environmental McKenna also led the Ecosia justice group who campaign to Campaign at the University of encourage universities to adopt Sunderland as an undergraduate more eco-friendly policies, have and successfully lobbied the Uni condemned the University of to make the switch in October of
9,000
last year. 9,000 trees have been planted since by a student population of 13,000. McKenna insists that this number would be much higher should the measure be introduced at UoB with a population of over 20,000.
“Setting Ecosia as the default search engine is one small, easy step the University can take” According to Johnathon Porritt, Chancellor at Keele University: ‘There are still too many universities who do not give sustainability the attention or significance it deserves.’ The International Union for Conservation of Nature warns that over half the tropical forests worldwide have been destroyed due to deforestation since the 1960s which has threatened the survival of many species and impacted the lives of 1.6 billion people. Do you have any opinions on this article? Contact us on Twitter: @redbricknews
Charlie Young News Reporter
Oxford University has announced the highest proportion of places to state school and BME pupils in its history, in a major step forward after criticism was levelled at the historic institution last year for perceived failures in the diversity of its intake. The University recently announced statistics of its offers for the 2020/21 academic year, highlighting that 69% of places had been offered to students from state schools, up 4.5% from 2019/20 out of the 3,000 total places. The rise marks a shift in Oxford’s intake trends with the Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Dr Samina Khan stating: ‘This creates a strong foundation for what we aim to achieve. We know that students from some backgrounds are not as well-represented at Oxford as they should be, and we are determined that this should change.’ Oxford was quick to attribute this rise to success in its access initiatives, with two new programmes, Foundation and Opportunity Oxford, coming into fruition this year, with Foundation Oxford providing a preliminary year of study to give high-poten-
tial students from disadvantaged students support in reaching the country’s elite universities. The performance of state schools and their pupils was not mentioned in the university’s official release, raising questions over potential tokenism of the offers. This is the idea of offers being given for the sake of meeting quotas rather than in recognition of the success of many state schools have achieved despite their monetary disadvantages compared to the leading public schools. Despite this, the news was met with complaints from many in the private school sector, over fears that private school students would be ‘squeezed out’ in a drive to make intake more diverse. The University is also celebrating it’s highest yet numbers of BME students, rising to 22%, up 4% from the previous year, a number which can be recognised as part of the universities wider drive to improve the diversity of its intake. Oxford University came under media fire last year, with Glastonbury headliner, Stormzy, alleging that Oxford turned down his proposal to sponsor two black pupils – a proposal which was later taken up by Cambridge. Oxford denies this, claiming the proposal was ‘unclear.’
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NEWS
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricknews
Backlash After OfS Call for End to Privilege Gap in Universities Amy Lakin News Reporter
The Office for Students has announced that they wish to see the gap between privileged and disadvantaged students decrease. The organisation published a report calling for equal opportunities to be given to students from areas that are proportionately underrepresented in university places. The report highlights how there has been little progress in decreasing this equality gap. It demands that universities need to respond to this by actively offering an increased number of places to students from less well-off areas. The report, published in January 2020, reveals that young people from the most prosperous areas are over six times more likely to attend the countries most selective universities than students from poorer areas.
The report outlines how OfS plans to achieve their aim of student equality by holding universities accountable. Contextual admissions are one method of ensuring students are not limited by their background. Although many universities currently implement this as part of their admissions process, they will be reviewing and improving such structures. The OfS have set a target for institutions to level out the deeprooted inequality that exists within our higher education system by 2037. The OfS warned universities to 'take much stronger account of the context in which exam results are achieved to recognise the potential of candidates from disadvantaged and other underrepresented backgrounds who could make a major contribution to their communities and to the wider economy and society.' Sir Michael Barber, chair of the Office of Students stated:
'What is an assumed rite of passage for many young people across the country is often viewed very differently in rural and coastal communities, the industrial heartlands and military towns.' Universities could potentially face fines if they fail to admit the targets of OfS by 2025.
“These schools continue to perpetuate privilege” However, these plans have attracted criticism from independent schools who have condemned the discriminatory nature of this initiative. The Headmaster’s and Headmistresses Conference, an organisation that represents the countries independent schools have announced that their members are displeased by the recent efforts to bridge equality gaps for students from disadvantaged
backgrounds. HMC states that greater accessibility in higher education will risk students being judged on by their background, rather than on individual academic merit. The response comes after OfS published an extensive report detailing how they plan to govern a drive for real equality in the countries university admissions processes. Mike Buchanan in correspondence with The Guardian said, ‘universities should expand to accommodate as many truly suitable students as necessary, rather than rob some students of a future to award it to others.’ The implementation and development of the contextual admissions process is one measure that can ensure individuals are not restricted by their class or economic background. Buchanan in response said contextual admissions should be ‘used on a sophisticated, individual basis.’
Kalwant Bhopal, a professor of Education and Social Justice at UoB said, ‘It is clear that those students who attend independent fee-paying schools are more likely to be white and middle-class and are more likely to go on to hold top high-earning jobs. These schools continue to perpetuate privilege. Contextual admissions are one small step to addressing inequalities of opportunity facing children from many workingclass, and black and ethnic minority families.’ The University of Oxford announced that for the forthcoming academic year, 69% of the offers given were to students from state schools and colleges. Chris Millward, director for fair access and participation at OfS, said the plans ‘have the potential to effect a real and positive step change: if successfully implemented, they should bring about significant progress towards reducing inequalities in access and participation.’
Union Boss Criticises ‘Venues Must Create Safe Universities for Vice- Environment,’ Say Researchers Chancellor Pay Rises Ella Kipling Amid Strike Tension News Reporter
Cerys Gardner News Reporter
Within the Russell Group, which is the group of elite UK universities, pay has increased in the last year for 11 out of 24 bosses. This is despite a crackdown on six-figure salaries and criticism from staff and students. The average amount earned for a vice-chancellor from pay and benefits is £380,000. Alice Gast, president at Imperial College London, has the highest salary, earning £554,000. A number of the pay rises given were above It could takeinflation. Hugh Brady, vice-chancellor at the University of Bristol, had his pay increase from £373,000 to £382,000, a 2.4 percent rise. Sir David Eastwood, the University of Birmingham’s vicechancellor got £450,000 in 201819, a £6,000 increase on the previous year. The consumer prices index was 1.3% in December 2019. This news comes after staff went on strike for eight days last term over pay, working conditions and pensions. It was the second wave of strikes in two years. Jo Grady, general secretary of the Universities and Colleges Union, told The Independent: ‘University staff are not going to be lectured on austerity or the necessity to hold down pay, worsening conditions and increase pension contributions from out of touch vice-chancellors whose own recent record on pay and perks has shamed the higher education sector. Staff have simply had enough
and that is why they walked out on strike before Christmas, and are prepared to do so again if vice-chancellors continue to deny them fair pay and decent conditions.’ Some universities have cut pay for new vice-chancellors, since six-figure salaries have been under scrutiny. At the University of Southampton, Sir Christopher Snowden earned £423,000 a year, and thousands of students called for his pay to be cut.
“University staff are not going to be lectured on austerity... by out of touch vicechancellors” His replacement, Mark Smith, is on £287,000. Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, gave a statement to The Independent, saying that ‘Russell Group universities make a major contribution to the UK economy, society and culture, and it is vital that our members can attract and retain those with the right skills and experience to lead increasingly large, complex global operations. However, we recognise the importance of maintaining the confidence of staff, students and the wider public over senior pay.’
Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Liverpool worked together with colleagues from Liverpool John Moores University to examine how women deal with unwanted sexual attention in clubs and bars, and concluded that these venues need to be doing more to protect women. By focusing on groups of women in Liverpool, researchers were able to conclude that there are two forms of unwanted sexual attention women receive on nights out: ‘showing off for the lads’, where men use abusive or conde-
scending language in order to impress their male friends, and the ‘pick- up routine’ where men attempt to start sexual encounters with women. While the general response to ‘the pick- up routine’ was calculated and ‘diplomatic’ responses to avoid danger, or further aggression, ‘showing off for the lads’ was met with what the researchers refer to as ‘feisty femininity.’ Dr Clare Gunby, article author from the UoB’s Institute of Applied Health Research commented, ‘young people, globally, are starting to demand accountability for sexist structures and norms, partly due to the re-emergence of feminism and activism on university campuses and
beyond. Women practicing ‘feisty femininity’ overtly resist unwanted encounters and this approach can arguably play a role in ending gendered violence.’ However, such responses may expose women to risks and place the labour of managing unwanted incidents onto women directly.’ She further stated that the participants ‘felt that staff in nightclubs and bars did not take their concerns around safety seriously. Venues must, therefore, play a key role in creating a safe environment that makes it clear that unwanted sexual aggression will not be tolerated. There must be a multipronged approach across the Night Time Economy to addressing sexual violence.’
UCAS Caught in Email Outrage Caitlin Cahill News Reporter
A tweet, retweeted by Martin Lewis the consumer campaigner and founder of Money Saving Expert, has reignited controversy concerning UCAS Media promotion of private loans to students. An email sent by UCAS on 22nd August 2019 included promotions for Future Finance, a private loans company. It offers students loans with interest rates of between 8% and 23.7%, higher than respective government offered loans which are to be repaid whilst students are still at university. The email was criticized by many including Save the Student, due to the lack of reference to Future Finance’s interest rates or the potential risks that can accom-
pany private loans. Future Finance has faced previous criticism about misleading advertising. Before the email was sent in 2019, a total of five complaints had been submitted to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) concerning the misleading nature of their ads. At the time of the email, Lewis criticised UCAS for ‘breaching an ethical line,’ whilst arguing that it had 'failed in its duty of care' to students. Then, on 22nd January 2020, he retweeted a tweet by Gregor Deakin, a student at Liverpool Hope University, criticising a new email from UCAS, who were again promoting the private loans. The tweet, which included a screenshot of an email from UCAS Media promoting Future Finance, read: ‘How is this highly unethical practice still being carried out by @ucas_online in
which they send emails about extra non-government loans with high-interest rates trapping students in student debt whilst acting as a charity.’ Unlike the email in 2019, this email started with a disclaimer encouraging students to apply for a Maintenance Loan and seek financial advice from their universities before applying for a commercial loan. UCAS have replied stating that they have reviewed the email to ‘ensure that the government loan is promoted over any other kind of finance,’ however ‘[they] like to make students aware of the alternatives.’ In a previous statement, UCAS said that students have to actively opt-in to receiving marketing material from outside companies, and it ‘carefully considers which companies to work with.’
NEWS
Friday 7th February 2020
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@redbricknews
Christoph Scholz
Britain Leaves the EU Joseph Meakin
News Reporter
Last Friday at 11pm the United Kingdom officially left the European Union. The day came three and a half years after the 2016 referendum on membership of the EU, in which 52% of the voting population backed Brexit, and more than four decades after the UK originally joined, on 1st January 1973. There were scenes of both celebration and commiseration up and down the country. In London, government buildings were lit up in the colours of the Union Flag and Brexit supporters joined Nigel Farage and other prominent Brexiteers for a party at Parliament Square. A clock face projected onto 10 Downing Street (com-
plete with pre-recorded chimes) made up for the silence of Big Ben (which is currently undergoing renovations) at 11pm. Meanwhile, a smaller group of Remain supporters held a candlelight vigil outside the EU’s new London embassy, a stone’s throw away from Parliament Square. There were demonstrations, too, outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in protest against Brexit, something Scotland’s electorate did not support. As a result of Brexit, British MEPs will no longer sit in the European Parliament, nor will Britain participate in any of the EU’s other political institutions. New blue passports will be issued, which will no longer make any reference to the EU since British citizens no longer hold EU citi-
zenship. However, with regard to other aspects of our relationship with the EU, little has changed as of Friday. The reason for this is that the UK has entered what is called a ‘transition period.’ During this eleven-month period, which is scheduled to end on 31st December 2020, the UK will seek to negotiate a new relationship with the EU. According to the Conservative Party’s election manifesto at the last election, the government hopes for a free trade agreement which would see the UK exit the European single market and customs union. In the meantime, the UK will continue to be bound by EU law – despite no longer having any say in its creation – and will remain a member of the single
market and customs union. The UK will also remain part of the EU’s security co-operation arrangements, whilst freedom of movement and citizens’ rights will be unchanged. Securing a deal on the future relationship within the proposed time frame is not expected to be an easy task. This begs the question of whether there could be an extension to the transition period. Whilst there are provisions within the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement to extend the transition period by up to two years, the government has ruled this out – even proposing legislation to outlaw such a scenario. Therefore, if no deal is agreed by the end of the transition period (and the government maintains its red line on not countenancing an
extension) the UK, with the exception of Northern Ireland, could end up trading with the EU on World Trade Organization (WTO) terms. During this transition period, the government also aims to secure trade deals with other countries across the world. There is much hype surrounding a US-UK free trade agreement, with US Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, speaking of his hopes for an agreement by the end of the year in a recent visit to London. Thus, whilst last Friday saw the completion of our withdrawal from the EU, it marked the beginning of the process surrounding Britain’s future relationship with the European bloc.
News Analysis: Oxford Comma Divides Brexit Britain Adam Toms News Reporter
The unveiling of the royal mint’s commemorative Brexit 50 pence piece has caused outrage amongst grammar enthusiasts due to the absence of an Oxford comma. An Oxford comma is included in a list of more than three items before the final ‘and.’ If one was putting together a shopping list, for example, it would read: cheese, apples, and chicken. The message on the new Brexit 50p, however, reads: ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all
Kobe Bryant Dies Aneesa Ahmed NBA Basketball player Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people died in a helicopter crash on January 26th in Calabasas, California. Bryant entered the National Basketball Association directly from school and spent his entire professional career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played for 20 years. The helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, around 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles, en route from John Wayne Airport to Camarillo Airport. On January 29, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner (MEC) certified the cause of death for all eight passengers and the pilot as blunt trauma.
PM Plans New Terror Law Alex Boscott This week, the Government announced that they will be introducing emergency legislation in response to the Streatham terror attack on Sunday 3rd February. The emergency law
Nations.’ This debate has been raging amongst writers and academics for many years. Between those who believe the punctuation is outdated and should only be used when clarity is needed, pitted against those who believe it to be imperative for the sake of grammatical consistency. Sir Phillip Pullman – author of the His Dark Materials series of books – has called for a boycott of the coin as he and the editor of The Times, Stig Abell, are supporting the use of the comma. However, notorious grammar and etiquette enthusiast Jacob
Rees Mogg – Leader of the House of Commons – takes the opposite view, as he has since suggested that the Oxford comma is now ‘otiose.’ Around three million coins have been minted to mark Britain’s exit from the EU on Friday 31st January and people have been expressing what they intend to do with them if they happen to come across one. Ardent remainers are proposing the drawing of a love EU with permanent marker on their coins whilst some have also suggested donating theirs to charities. Anita Sethi – a Guardian journalist and
critic - for example, has tweeted ‘I’m donating any #Brexit50p coins I receive to charities designed to stop hate & racism. ‘If we all did the same we could raise £5 million to combat the rising hate & racism #Brexit has unleashed.’ Despite being relatively few in number, there are also those condoning the minting of these coins, which are marking a landmark moment in the country’s history. Alasdair Stewart, for instance tweeted ‘for every remoaner complaining about the #Brexit 50p, can I remind everyone that we had a 50p in 1973 to celebrate us join-
will prevent the automatic early ists. When senior communicarelease of convicted terrorists and tions advisor Lee Cain told them will apply to both current and to leave, journalists who had future prisoners. Justice been allowed access walked outSecretary Robert Buckland including the BBC Political told the Commons on Editor Laura Kuenssberg Monday: ‘We cannot and ITV Political Editor have the situation, as Robert Peston. The we saw tragically in attempt to choose who yesterday's case, scrutinises the governwhere an offender ment follows tensions a known risk to between Downing innocent members Street and the press as of the public - is Johnson considers released early by scrapping the BBC automatic process license fee. of law without any oversight by the Plans to Pump Parole Board.’ The Radioactive Water government has since into Sea The Redbrick News team take been criticised by Rhiannon Wood Shadow Justice a quick look at some of the Secretary Richard Diplomats in Tokyo news from the decade Burgon, who accused the announced on Monday their Government of using this campaign to pump radioactive so far. attack as a ‘distraction’ from water into the Pacific Ocean their policy failures. amassed from the destroyed t h e PM's Fukushima power plant. The Journalists Boycott communications advisor only water used to cool the plant’s Meeting after Some allowed certain publications three reactors is transferred into Papers Excluded access. Journalists from several storage tanks, which are predictpublications including the ed to reach capacity by 2022 John Wimperis Mirror, i, HuffPost, (having collected 1.2m tonnes so PoliticsHome, and Independent far). Despite assurances that Political journalists boycotted were asked to stand on another health risks to humans would be a Downing Street briefing after side of a rug from other journalsignificantly small, due to the
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Round-Up
ing, and another in 1998 to celebrate 25 years of membership and our Presidency. We mint coins to recognise occasions. 31st January is a pretty big occasion!’ The comma debate clearly only constitutes a very British and trivial part a wider debate, a continuation of the Brexit debate itself. The minting of this new coin shows how easy it still is to provoke passionate views regarding the country’s EU exit. They are not disappearing any time soon, especially as the country now embarks upon a year or more intricate trade negotiations.
negligible amounts of radiation in the water, the discharge is expected to cause damage to fishing and farming industries in the surrounding areas. The alternative for removing this water is through evaporation, but plans for dumping appear favourable.
Wuhan Man's Bid to Save Starving Pets Christina Manns
A 43-year-old man using the alias ‘Lao Mao,’ meaning ‘Old Cat,’ has been breaking into homes in Wuhan to rescue pets locked inside homes after their owners have been unable to return to the quarantined city. In one incident, Lao Mao climbed up rusty pipes to gain access to a third-floor apartment. Inside, there were two starving cats who had been locked in for 10 days since their owners had been prevented from returning due to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Worried pet owners have been contacting Lao Mao for help on social media, and he has so far saved more than 1,000 pets alongside his team of volunteers. Lao Mao said: ‘My phone never stops ringing these days. I barely sleep.’
08
COMMENT
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickcomment
Sensationalising the Sneeze and Condemning the Cough: Coronavirus in the Media
In light of the outbreak of Coronavirus, Holly Pittaway addresses the media’s problematic and panicked response to the pandemic Holly Pittaway Deputy Digital Editor
The coronavirus is not the first outbreak of its kind – between 2002 and 2004, another type of coronavirus, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) swept the globe, also beginning in China, with four cases being recorded in the UK. In 2009, swine flu captivated the world with an estimated 11-21% of the global population contracting it resulting in between 151,000579,000 deaths. Between 201516, Zika virus spread across the Americas as well as into the Pacific and South East Asia. With the rise of social media, each outbreak of deadly disease has been more and more meticulously reported on,. This on the one hand a l l o w s information to travel much quicker and thus, speed up the process of containment, but simultaneously can result in widespread panic. For me, the number of articles and news segments being broadcast about the Swine Flu pandemic was especially frightening as I was only 10
years old at the time. In this age of information, people need to know what’s going on in the world – but at what point does this cross the line? Before I get into this, let’s take a comprehensive look at what we know about coronavirus. Coronavirus is actually a family of viruses, with the current outbreak simply being a new strain that has transferred from animals to humans, with some scientists suggesting that this s t r a i n originated in bats. Most likely, the disease spread from the Huanan s e a food
“The mortality rate so far is hypothesized to be about 3%” market located i n Wuhan, China, with the first cluster of cases being recorded in December. The disease presents itself in the form of a cough, fever, and breathing
difficulties, and can cause pneumonia; it has been recorded to have a more dangerous impact on those with pre-existing respiratory or health problems. The mortality rate so far is hypothesized to be about 3%, at the time of writing, (compared to 1% seasonal flu mortality rate). However, this is likely an overestimate since a mild form of the virus could have infected a large r amount of people w h o recovered without needing medical intervention, therefore these cases would not have been included in this calcul a t i o n . Thankfully, efforts made by the Chinese government and the World Health Organisation have been quick, and though the spread of the virus is inevitable in the highly-connected world we live in, such efforts could prevent a more far-reaching outbreak. When the facts are laid out bare, they are a lot less frightening than tabloid headlines are making them out to be; one from the Lancaster University Tab reads ‘BREAKING: Risk of coronavirus reported on Lancaster Uni campus,’ while the article itself reports ‘no cases are suspected.’ Many reports are also sensationalising the fatal effects of the disease; one Daily Mail article from 28th January reported that the disease ‘has killed more than 130 people in under a month,’ only stating much later that there have been an estimated 6,000+ recorded cases. As previously mentioned, many of these deaths will also have occurred in patients with underlying medi-
cal conditions, though the Daily Mail fails to touch upon this. Such a focus on the number of casualties without the context of overall mortality rates and indi-
Images: OpenClipart SVG
following the 2017 London Bridge attacks, the number of hate crimes perpetrated against Muslims increased f i v e f o l d , according to T h e G u a rd i a n , something that i s no doubt linked to the heavy emphasis on the culprit’s ethnicity in the m e d i a .
“Hypersensationalised coverage has also led to the stigmatisation of Chinese nationals living and travelling abroad”
According to a 2014
v i d u a l US-based report, The patient histories is contribSentencing Project, uting to the current wide‘television news prospread panic, as it seems few grams and newspapers people understand just how the over-represent racial disease works. minorities as crime susHyper-sensationalised cov- pects and whites as crime vicerage has also led to stigmatisa- tims.’ To go back to the example tion of Chinese nationals living of the London Bridge attacks, and travelling abroad. In a now the terrorists were constantly deleted post on Brumfess, one framed in accordance with their student worried, ‘Is anything nationality and religion; one being done to screen students headline in The Telegraph coming over here from China? read, ‘London terrorist Scared to go into camYoussef Zaghba pus because of the constantly monivirus’ – tored by police w i t h in Italy, but let currentinto UK at least “Racism is not ly only twice,’ t w o w h i l e uncommon in the cases another o f read, ‘they wake of widespread coroshouted ‘‘this navirus being is for Allah,” panic” confirmed in as they the UK it’s stabbed indishard to see t h i s criminately’ – How the post as anything but London terror attack racial stere- otyping and unfolded.’ Just a few fearmongering. On this issue years prior in 2010, Derrick Chinese-Canadian actor, Simu Bird killed 12 people and injured Liu, tweeted on 29th January, 11 more in a shooting spree in ‘Just reminding you that coro- Cumbria; in what might have navirus doesn’t give you an otherwise been called a terror excuse to be a dick to Asian attack, the media labelled Bird people,’ garnering 166.9k likes only as a ‘gunman.’ and 45.6k retweets. One The fact of the matter is, responder wrote of their own while it is important that coropersonal encounter with anti- navirus receives media attenChinese sentiment saying, ‘I tion to ensure the world is adewas on the bus and this Asian quately prepared for a potential couple came to sit down. Two outbreak, sensationalising stowhite people got up and sat fur- ries just for clicks only exploits ther away. I could see the dis- fear and promotes racism. If tress in their eyes so I gave you really want information them a smile. Same thing hap- about coronavirus, make sure pened to me during the Sydney you are getting it directly from terrorist attack where white unbiased sources such as the people sat away from me. It World Health Organisation or really hurts.’ the Centre for Disease Control. Racism is not uncommon in the wake of widespread panic;
COMMENT
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickcomment
09
How Sacred is the Saturday Job? Deputy Editor Lydia Waller discusses the unfortunate decline of the Saturday job, arguing that it provides students with essential employability skills Lydia Waller Deputy Editor
Pressure to perform at school, in both academics and extracurriculars is something well known to our generation. Music lessons, sports, prefects, Duke of Edinburgh, NCS, dancing lessons, Scouts, are but a few examples of extra commitments children feel encouraged to do from an early age, urging them to ‘be different,’ ‘stand out from others,’ ‘start building that CV early’; but how useful is this narrative to a generation encouraged to seek a job through the academic route, where Masters are the new degree, and what was exceptional ‘back then,’ is slowly becoming the norm now? One form of extracurricular that is slowly becoming less and less common in school children is the humble Saturday job. The amounting pressure to spend every spare moment on revision and academics is minimising the attitude that school children have the time to work, and learn the valuable lessons
of customer service and selfsufficiency, as well as study. Obviously, whether someone has the opportunity, capabilities and necessity to get a Saturday job is something very subjective to circumstances; I aim not to talk conclusively about whether one should necessarily get a part-time job during education. However, in light of The Daily Mail Online’s article that states the ‘numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds in weekend parttime employment [has halved] in 20 years,’ we have to understand the correlation of this with the future employability of this generation, which The Daily Mail also say have ‘fallen 23 per cent in 20 years.’ The priorities of this generation to that of the 90s appear to have shifted, from getting your foot in the door of work experience, to getting academic qualifications that arguably make you more apt for the working world. These sorts of arguments about what prepares us more for employment, go back to the philosophy of Sir Francis Bacon, that ‘knowledge is power,’ the more we are in education the
more equipped we are for future employment. Yet the opportunities of our parents’ and grandparents’ generation appear to come from stories of ‘working their way up,’ starting as coffee-making interns and somehow climbing up that ladder to being a CEO. As we know in our generation, these sorts of success stories are not as common or plausible these days; most jobs require degrees or further education certificates in order to qualify for consideration. So should we be championing the Saturday job again, or are we best to prioritise studying? What about those who need to have part-time employment to be in education? Why do we have to choose between the two? The coexistence of education and part-time employment is such a nuanced area, but one thing does seem to be clear, is that what is asked of children in regard to their employability, is a lot. Study hard and be employable, be stress-free, healthy, active, working, A-grade achieving, and never stop trying to be better than everyone
else. I don’t know what the way forward about reviving the Saturday job is, but I do know that having work experience before graduating is incredibly valuable. I have had a part-time job since I was 16, from cleaning offices to bar-work, and the skills I have learnt from customer service are something that Duke of Edinburgh probably would never have taught me. The ability to deal with different people’s demands, learning to say no, learning the worth of my labour, understanding tax and entitlements, learning timemanagement and how to prioritise what is important to me, are all things that pouring pints has given me. But this is not to say that I was not incredibly stressed during my A-levels, having to think about shifts on the weekend - the pressure was immense. Resolution Foundation’s research director states that despite more people working now, ‘around one in 12 working-age adults [have] never worked a day in their lives- a 50 percent increase since the late
1990s,’ demonstrating how the narrative of employment success is one that has shifted from working your way up from your Saturday job, to academic paths of achievement. It goes without saying that academia is not the only route to employment success, but our generation is constantly fed the narrative that degree equals job. It seems unfair that our generation and the next will miss out on employment opportunities because we are working too hard, and that we are working too hard in the wrong areas. However, maybe we need to show a degree of pragmatism in what sort of skills we aim to acquire for job prospects, like the ability to work in customer service and gaining confidence in working teams. Maybe we need to be savvy with a system that is supposed to be helping us get places. Employers need to understand the weight of asking for CVs glowing with work experience, paid and unpaid and flying-coloured degree certificates. We can’t always be winning some and losing some.
Bernie Sanders is Back
With the US Elections coming up this year, Lance Morris argues that Bernie Sanders is in for a good chance of securing the Democratic nomination Lance Morris Comment Writer
We are just days away from the start of the Democratic Party primaries and a new political revolution could be on the horizon. Bernie Sanders is leading a left-wing movement in the United States and unlike last time, he is entering as the bookies favourite to be their nominee for President. In the 2016 race, Sanders had to start from scratch against the Clinton political machine, but this time his campaign seems to be far more prepared. A self-described ‘democratic socialist,’ the Senator from Vermont has combined energy, organisation and a clear message that he is ready to shake up Washington.
“A new political revolution could be on the horizon” Medicare (Healthcare) for all, College for all and a Green New Deal are not your average campaign soundbites, they are central planks for a genuinely left-wing platform never seen before in US Presidential elections. The movement Sanders has built is powered by younger voters, but this time he is trying to expand his support among
latino and Black voters, a lack of which hurt him in 2016. Whilst the polls still have former Vice-President Joe Biden leading nationally, Sanders is closing in and has surged into first place in both Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to vote. No candidate has ever won both states and not become the party’s nominee and Sanders supporters don’t intend for him to be the first. Those on the ground in Iowa have stated that his campaign has the strongest ‘ground-game,’ which can be so vital for getting the vote out in close races. Of course, the figure of Donald Trump has hung over the race. With the impeachment process dominating the news cycle, one all-important question has been at the forefront of Democrats minds, which candidate will beat Trump? This is the overriding priority for many Democrat voters, with a majority stating they are prioritising finding a candidate who can beat him rather than someone they agree with on the issues. This is what Joe Biden has made his campaign all about. In fact all the moderate and pro-establishment candidates, be it Amy Klobuchar or Pete Buttigieg, are simply running anti-Trump campaigns. Judging by the trajectory of the polls, that message isn't enough for Democrats. Nor should it be. After eight years of an Obama Presidency that failed to deliver fundamen-
tal change and Hillary Clinton’s status-quo campaign that foisted Trump on them, a real change candidate is more attractive a prospect than ever before.
“The figure of Donald Trump has hung over the race” Regardless, Sanders may well be the most electable candidate in the field. For any Democrat to win the White House in November, they will have to defeat the power of Trump’s populist message and
John Nicksic/wikimediacommons
huge social media presence. Simply shouting at voters over and over again about how bad Trump is without offering your own distinct platform is hardly a logical strategy to win over much of the 46% that voted for him in 2016. Not to mention, Hillary Clinton came just a combined 79,316 votes from winning the rust-belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin which would have got her over the line last time around. A part of the country she largely neglected in her campaign efforts. It does not take a team of electoral strategists to figure out where the party needs to start in their pursuit of victory. Working-class
voters in those states who have traditionally voted for the Democrats deserted them last time around, the party needs a leader who understands their plight and has answers written into their policy agenda. Many Trump supporters are rightly fearful of having to face Bernie too, with Republican congressman Mark Meadows stating he ‘poses the greatest risk because we are still in an anti-establishment era for presidential elections.’ It seems that more and more Democrats are now realising they need to fight Trump’s populism with their own version, one that is free of corruption, racism and actually delivers fundamental change.
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The Real Faces Behind BAME
Comment Writer Heather Mitchell delves deeper into issues of representation at the university, suggesting that the label, 'BAME' doesn't do enough Heather Mitchell Comment Writer
‘BAME’ is the acronym for; Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, and let’s face it, it’s outdated, rigid and immensely generalized. At my institution The University of Birmingham - within the School of Government and Society there is an attainment gap for BAME students of over 15% from 2018. For the first time in the department we faceless individuals of BAME have been working to create a society in order to support young students and creatives, as they plough through the white-washed modules of Politics and International Relations. The generalization of BAME is not enough to open the conversation of being ‘non-white’ in an incredibly white institution such as a red brick University. Generalizing and grouping together BAME individuals overlooks the nuances between our experience and unfortunately overlooks the (very much needed) support avenues which are appropriate for different people. It is important to take ownership over our labels and utilise any specific BAME opportunities that are intended to open avenues. The very existence of BAME schemes and work opportunities are stark reminders of the hierarchical ordering of society based on race and gender. Seeming as ‘race’ and how it is used by individuals and institu-
tions is not natural - but socially constructed; the barriers that render our race ‘undesirable’ can and will be deconstructed. In spending time in the BAME society, I was inspired by the involvement of two individuals. Throughout the sessions people could come and openly share problems, experiences and simply spend time in a BAME-friendly environment. I came to realize how our shared concerns were overpowering any sense of individualism. Whilst discussing our concerns was necessary, this hyper-focus on what we ‘couldn’t do’ or what we ‘felt negative about’ meant we hadn’t particularly got to know each other, each other’s little habits, aspirations and senses of humour. This is often the reality of our personal BAME connections. I wanted to get to know Hannah and peel away her BAME tag to put a face to the label. Hannah is 22 and about to graduate in International Relations. Through our conversations we discussed one of the main problems highlighted in weekly BAME talks - with working within current institutions to create change. ‘I have no interest in working within the parameters of the current educational system as they’re simply not doing enough,’ she says. Hannah’s personal aspirations of educating young, Black women is driving her to create her own company. The parameters she talks about come from the longdebated belief of whether chang-
ing the actual system would be more beneficial than working within the system. Hannah continues ‘I want to work with my own company making education more accessible for young Black womenaccessibility in both psychologically believing that they should have access to the same opportunities as their white counterparts and giving them the resources to put this belief into action.’ Getting to know Hannah I wanted to know what people would see if they looked past her label. Hannah explained how to her, learned ‘code switching’ from growing up dual heritage makes her a reliable and committed friend. Through her warm and patient character I could easily believe this to be true. Hannah’s reservation came from explaining to me that it makes her sad that through the dominance of her BAME label, that people not of colour felt they could not relate to her. The second individual at BAME I was able to speak to was Hasan. Hasan is 22 at the University of Birmingham, he is an avid spoken word performer and a passionate advocate for his Scottish-Kashmir heritage. Talking to Hasan, we delved into the importance of representation in society. The concept is pretty simple; representation creates cycles of repetition. We aspire to what we can see. We work towards what we think we can be and if we as young people have no exposure
to roles headed by non-white people, it dampens our belief of seeing ourselves in that role. Representation is often split into positive and negative representations. Hasan shed light on this by asserting ‘our identity is only recognised when it suits others, but when we want it identified it is overlooked.’ Hierarchies of identity often place the BAME label first, pushing down other identities we relate with. Hasan’s experience of dual identities and their various representations opens the conversation of the nuances even within the United Kingdom. ‘So I am Scottish, but that part of my identity is often placed second when I am in England to my BAME label. There are a lot of ignorance and people are always surprised to hear a Scottish accent come from an Asian guy. I feel like in Scotland on television and in the media, Asian characters and speakers are better represented than they are in England.’ The dominance of our BAME label often overrides our other qualities. Yes we can discuss racial problems, yes we take seriously the changes which should be implemented at University and yes we can be grouped together in terms of our mission towards less stigmatization and reduced marginalization. But we also are unique people, with staggering variations and beautiful differences and aspirations. We of ‘BAME’ are not faceless.
Heather Mitchell
Heather Mitchell
Real Progress or Box Ticking? Oxford University have increased the number of its state school students, but Comment Writer Sophie Utteridge asks whether this is enough Sophie Utteridge Comment Writer
The University of Oxford has always been regarded as a highly prestigious institution, only accepting the top students in the country, and indeed the world, into its ranks. However, it is not unknown that the University has often been criticised for the lack of offers made to students from state schools and disadvantaged backgrounds. But recently, in what could be seen to be a dramatic change in policy, Oxford has reported that 69% of students that received offers this year are from state schools. This number has been steadily rising for years, increasing from the 56% of offer holders from state schools in 2015. It cannot be denied that Oxford have been making clear changes to their applicant system in order to improve their numbers. Nevertheless, I remain sceptical of the real motives behind this
improvement. In the UK, there are about 2,600 independent private schools that educate 615,000 children. This means that about 7% of students over the age of 16 are currently being educated privately. In the grand scheme of things, this number is relatively small compared to the masses of children that are educated in state schools.
“British society itself runs on a class based system with those in the lower classes constantly looked down upon” It brings us to this question: how can Oxford still offer 31% of their places to private school
students when they only make up 18% of all sixth formers? Clearly, there is the sensitive matter of class to discuss. Most private schools have an intake of middle to upper class students from families who can afford to educate their children separate from the state. British society itself runs on a classbased system, with those in the lower classes constantly looked down upon for their background, their jobs, their status and even where they live. 54% of 18 to 21 year-olds in London attend university and yet only 39% of young people in the North East actually study at degree level. Therefore, it would be reasonable to conclude that institutions like Oxford are not just looking for academically talented students, but also students deemed ‘respectable and affluent’ enough to represent their university. For every student that Oxford recruits from a disadvantaged background, they pick
fifteen more from advantaged areas, often in the South of England. That has to indicate some sort of upper-middle class bias.
“No institution wants a reputation damaged by claims of inequality” At the end of the day, it is difficult to tell if the improvement to Oxford’s state school intake is a genuine move towards equality or if it is a move to please those who have criticised the University for being overly biased to a certain type of student. In my opinion, it is probably a bit of both. No institution wants a reputation damaged by claims of inequality. With the Office for Students threatening fines if the issue is not solved
by 2015, it leads to a culture of box-checking to make sure all ‘requirements’ are met. But there is real academic, artistic and sporting talent to be found across the country and it seems that only now Oxford is tapping into that. Whether that is positive or not, I’ll leave that up to you to decide. As long as Oxford, and universities like it, continue to improve their standards of equality, there is a chance that one day high quality education can be accessible to all no matter class, gender or region. But for that to happen, and in the right way, the attitude of those more privileged than most has to be in order. However, it is clear that the increasing pressure on the University of Oxford combined with the threats from the Office for Students, have indeed spurred them to change their policies, promoting change but not necessarily in the right way.
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Helping the Homeless Comment Writer Sam Wait discusses the treatment of homeless people in recent political discussions, and suggets that there is much that can be done to help Sam Wait Comment Writer
Garnering thousands of retweets on Twitter, a viral video of a homeless man having his dog taken by animal rights activists has caused global outrage. Despite being from 2015, the re-emergence of the video has reiterated the issues society is still suffering from today. The video is incredibly hard to watch. Two activists hold a homeless man down before grabbing his pet dog. We see the man crying desperately as they rip his pet away. It is horrifying to have to watch a man with nothing, have one of his only sources of happiness taken from him. ‘Cause Animale Nord,’ the activists who initiated the attack, are overlooking one simple factor in their strategies of animal protection. Through helping the man whose rights they are disregarding, they could help his dog much more efficiently. Instead, the recurrent pattern of dehumanising the homeless is adopted, where a dog’s welfare is seen more valuable than a human’s. This video shows that we have become far too desensitised to homelessness and human suffering. This is compounded by the disturbing silence and immobility of the bystanders. No one, aside from the man filming and verbally protesting,
is doing anything to help the man get his dog back. This highlights a disturbing surge in compassion fatigue – where the increased access to suffering on our screens has created a society ‘resistant to helping people.’ Walking down a street in Birmingham you cannot fail to see someone sleeping rough or someone asking for spare change. Yet increasingly, witnessing homelessness every day is becoming a normality, leaving passers-by more inclined to ignore the homeless, just like the activists are doing in this video.
“Witnessing homelessness every day is becoming a normality” It shouldn’t be like this. We must stop averting our eyes to homelessness, as it is only increasing. A 2018 Crisis report suggested that there will be nearly 315,000 homeless households in Great Britain, which was almost double the number of households when the report was written. By instinct, the way our society responds to suffering means people would only become more accustomed to ignoring it. This is through the frequent victim-blaming of the homeless. They are frequently
demonised in society, whether from people who justify their ignorance with claims that, if you were to give them your loose change ‘they’d only spend it on drugs and alcohol anyway.’ Or even worse, the erroneous idea that homeless people have done this to themselves. The most troubling aspect of this is when these pervasive ideologies are being projected from those in positions of power – namely, the House of Commons. Conservative MP Adam Holloway argued last week that people ‘choose to be on the streets.’ Holloway said he met Andy, a man sleeping rough, who was not actually homeless. Holloway argued that ‘this guy absolutely maintains, and this is my experience too, that if the public were not so generous and didn’t enable people to buy the heroin and buy the alcohol then he would have got off the streets an awful, awful lot earlier.’ This is yet another mass generalisation of the homeless and justifies people ignoring them. Holloway takes one specific incident of a man sleeping rough, who is not actually homeless, and makes a mass generalisation of all rough sleepers. He argues that homelessness is a health issue – that there should be ‘wet accommodations’ where people who are homeless can still take drugs and alcohol. This is an incredibly valua-
ble and progressive idea, but due to the homelessness crisis not being a priority in British politics today it is most probably falling on deaf ears. Instead, by assuring the public not to give to the homeless, this could reaffirm the false idea that it is easy to stop being homeless. Whereas the reality of Crisis’ figures show it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain housing at all. This also attempts to dissipate the fallacy that those in the House of Commons, and us listening – are far from the situation ourselves. Unlike those in the top 5% of earners, we are far closer to becoming homeless than the media would have us believe.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain housing” As Kerry Hudson writes in her memoir Lowborn, ‘I think a lot of people who have a prejudice about poverty are people who don’t realise just how close we are to it.’ This is confirmed by the numbers of people sleeping rough, Crisis reports ‘temporary accommodation placements, however, have continued to rise, and now stand 71 per cent higher than in 2011.’ Instead of adopting this ‘every
man for himself’ mentality, we need to restore our compassion. In a culture so determined to rip down those dependent on the generosity of others, we fail to realise we could easily be in their shoes. If we were born into an impoverished area, a dysfunctional family, suffered from mental health issues, or simply made the wrong choices – we could be in the same situation. Generosity to the homeless is not a bad thing and should not be deterred – it is dwindling as we speak. Whilst these far off solutions are being discussed in the House of Commons people are dying on the streets. Do not hesitate to be generous or compassionate ‘just in case’ a person who is homeless could buy drugs and alcohol. Buy them some food or a hot drink, if you prefer. But don’t ignore them. They are people. And they should be treated as such. If you would like to help homelessness in the local area, get involved with the University of Birmingham’s Help the Homeless Society. They are a free-to-join student group focusing on spreading awareness of homelessness, fundraising, and volunteering with the homeless. Find them on Facebook-‘UoB Help the Homeless’ or on Instagram-@uobhelpthehomeless.
Poll of the Week: Seminar Structure With recent debates on whether seminars are fit for purpose, we asked students whether or not seminars need to be resdesigned to be more inclusive Madison HardingWhite
49
51
Do the structures of seminars need to change? (Poll conducted on 31st January)
%
No
contributions, which a recent Brumfess poster controversially thought should bar those who did not wish to participate from the class. The idea that group discussions may be more beneficial with mass participation was shared by some responders to our most recent poll, who expressed frustrations towards their silent classmates. One student described their seminars as
s
%
Comment Writer
Seminars are a common mode of teaching at university: the small group sessions are used to encourage group discussion and the sharing of ideas, with the intention of enriching students’ topic understanding and debating skills. The success of a seminar often relies on the students of the class providYe ing verbal
“You can still get a lot out of a seminar without verbally contributing” “Seminar leaders who pick on students who have not participated verbally should perhaps consider the effect this has on quieter students”
“I think seminars work best when everyone contributes. It could be that there are smaller groups so that people feel more comfortable talking”
‘annoyingly quiet,’ with another expressing that quiet seminars can ‘end up feeling like a waste of time, or can feel unfair if one person is constantly contributing with others keeping ideas to themselves’ with the notion that silent students ‘take from others and don’t provide anything back.’ Despite this, most responders felt that making contributions compulsory would discriminate against those with mental health issues, or those who are shy. Where 51% of our poll did agree that seminar formats needed to be changed, most were in favour of small changes to make individuals more comfortable to contribute, such as having smaller classes or having ‘written work as a substitution for the initial contribution.’ There was clear emphasis on the daunting nature of sharing personal ideas: seminar classes were described as ‘too big to feel like a safe space for discussion,’ with ‘too many tutors pick[ing] on students who clearly don’t want to talk.’ Whilst there was some praise for specific tutors, many called on the need for both seminar
leaders and other students to be more sensitive to students with mental health issues of whom may feel too anxious to contribute but may still benefit from listening to others discuss. Seminar teachers were also called upon to change their attitude towards students, rather than changing the lesson structure itself. One student reported that they would feel more comfortable to contribute if ‘the seminar leader didn't belittle me or make me feel lesser for not contributing straight away’ - an issue which likely has a detrimental effect on student confidence. Whether you have your hand straight up in a seminar or prefer to sit back and listen, everyone learns in different ways, and anyone can suffer with mental health issues at university. Take part in our polls: @RedbrickComment Redbrick Comment Contributors
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Queer Theory: Importance of the Arts
In the lead up to the Barber’s talks during LGBTQ+ history month, Culture Editor Grace Baxendine explores the role of art and literature in ‘Queer Theory’ Grace Baxendine Culture Editor
Eve Sedgwick, one of Queer theory's founding creators, has stated that Queer theory is about trying to understand different kinds of sexual desire and how the culture defines them. The point we are at now with this theory could not have come to pass without some very imporant activists many of whom have contributed endless literary and artisitc works. Here are a few I find particulary iconic.
Magnus Hirschfeld: The father of transgenderism He has been named the father of transgenderism and is perhaps one of the first doctors to deal with the phenomena of transgender surgery. Hirschfeld, educated mainly in Germany at the turn of the century, was a sexologist interested in gay and transgender rights. Hirschfeld opened the Insititute of Sexual Science in Berlin. One of Hirschfeld’s first clients was Einer Wegener, who transitioned to become Lili Elbe, undergoing the worlds first documented male to female gender reassignment.
Rachilde: The anti-feminisit drag icon
Virginia Woolf : The Queen of Redefiniton
Rachilde was an intriguing figure. Once claiming to be against the idea of feminism she would seem an odd choice for this iconic list. Rachilde is a lesser known French novelist from the late 19th century and early 20th century but no less interesting than Hugo or Balzac, in fact quite the contrary. A crossdressing, bisexual temptress, Rachilde wrote works exploring sexuality, gender and murder. Her works include Monsieur Venus, a Arturo Espinosa novel she wrote at the age of 20 Michel which follows a woman who dresses as a man and seduces a Foucault: man. The roles of binary gender Blame the here are completely flipped.
establishment!
Wikipedia
Foucault is rather more famous and has been an influnece on much modern day philosophy. Though his work doesn’t focus particularly on women and gender idenity per say, his work on power, sexuality and the body within the arts and thus society has been one of the greatest influences on queer theory. Judith Butler and Eve Sedgewick have both cited Foucault as being insturmental in the development of Queer theory and gender studies. Foucault himself was marginalised for his sexuality and his attack of the power and repression that the establishment enforced was key.
Woolf’s novels do not only demonstrate her redefinition of gender roles but also the changes happening in narrative techniques employed in novels during the modernist era. Her novel Orlando is very much an exploration of sexuality and questioning of the idea of gender identity. Following a protagonist who changes sex half way through the novel, sleeping with various partners of various sexes, Woolf explores this troublung idenitfication that the establishment of the early 20th century couldn’t handle.
Christian Tonnis
Wikipedia
André Gide: Wilde's French Cousin Gide is a well known literary figure. His work encapsulates a decadent world which underpins a dormant sexuality. As one could imagine, Gide struggled as a child with his homosexual tendencies in a world where the discourses on sexuality saw such a lifestyle as ‘perverse.’ Friends with the likes of Oscar Wilde, Gide wrote The Immoralist, a sort of homage to the search for sexual freedom, making subtle hints towards the freedom of gender identity in the ever confromative world of 19th century Europe. These works are invaluable when exploring how we have arrived at Queer theory.
Interview: Dr Elliot Evans on Queer Theory Elliott Evans is a lecturer at the University and has written various works on gender and sexuality. They are particulary engaged with transgender and queer theories Could you tell us a bit about LGBTQ+ history and how it has existed in the arts? Expressions of non-normative sexualities and genders have always been present throughout art history. However, since what counts as ‘normal’ sexuality and gender has not been consistent over time and across cultures, we should be wary of imposing our own ideas of identity onto works from these other contexts. You can see depictions of male homosexuality on Greek pottery, for instance, but that doesn’t mean these are ‘gay men’ as we understand that term today. When do we first see this theory come to pass in literature? Queer theory emerged from the US in the early 1990s. Prior to this we saw more of the approach of ‘Lesbian & Gay Studies’, which sought to uncover hidden gay histories.
Queer theory is much more about unsettling how we understand words like ‘lesbian’ and ‘gay’ and would see such attempts as anachronistic. Queer theory today has had a big impact on how we work on literature and art, but also how we understand ourselves and our identities.
“Queer theory is much more about unsettling how we understand words like 'lesbian' and 'gay'” Your research seems very interesting and relevant, could you expand on what your currently working on?
My work focuses on queer theory, which highlights the instability of identity categories like the above – ‘gay’ is a fairly recent identity category, for instance, as is ‘straight’. These are categories that came into being through (for example) legal and medical discourse, rather than being something we are born as and remain constant over time. I have also investigated how queer theory was received and developed in France – I work with the authors Paul B Preciado and Monique Wittig and the artist ORLAN in particular for my book Queer Permeability. I’ve also worked on the particular reception of the #MeToo campaign in France, thinking about how literary work from the 18th century onwards has informed a kind of national sexual identity bound up with an idea of ‘libertinism’ that is at odds with contemporary ideas of consent. Again, this shows that sexuality isn’t something ‘natural’
that we’re all born with, but is very specifically influenced and shaped by the ideas and culture surrounding us.
“...this shows that sexuality is not something 'natural' that we're all born with... ” France seems to be a particularly important country regarding its literature and art in general and especially how LGBTQ+ is represented through these mediums? Do you have any examples of particularly interesting figures? And could you tell us about them and their work/philosophies? French and Francophone literature and art is important, absolutely! Many of the best
works written in French in the last century presented non-normative sexualities and genders. Marcel Proust’s work, for instance, is permeated with queer characters, so much so that Eve Sedgwick (one of the founding figures of queer theory) drew on his work to formu late her theories. French literary history is full of really fascinating characters – Jean Genet, for example, who was sent to a penal colony at age 15, dishonourably discharged from the Foreign Legion (for sex with other men) at age 18, fell in love with a tightrope walker and later in life became involved in with the Black Panthers, campaigning against police brutality and the Algerian war. He wrote some of the most incredible literature of the 20th Century – particularly his work Notre-Dame des Fleurs, which he wrote in prison in 1942. Has there been much of a
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difference between the development of this in France compared to Britain, now and even throughout history? I think people in the UK seem to think of France as a far more sexually liberated society. I wouldn’t say this perception is always true to life – France is very much a Catholic country despite being ostensibly secular, and there was far more opposition to gay marriage in France than in the UK, for instance. The way we understand gender and sexuality depends on context, so for this reason there are huge differences in views of gender sexuality in France and in the UK – this will be informed by (amongst other things) the prevailing culture, laws, the language (French is a heavily gendered language), literary and artistic history, the presence and value placed on other cultures etc.
“I think that people in the UK seem to think of France as a more sexually liberated society” Oscar Wilde is arguably one of the most famous LGBTQ+ artisits of the 19th and 20th century. How influential has his legacy been on queer theory? Are there any other literary or artistic figures that have influenced the development of movement/theory in a similar way to Wilde? I’m not sure how much of an influence Wilde has been for queer theory, but he was an incredibly important figure in terms of challenging the restrictions of his time. I’d suggest someone like André Gide might be comparable in the French context – Gide was a contemporary and companion of Wilde. Both engaged in a kind of ‘sex tourism’ of the day – going to North Africa where they could ‘engage in’ sexual acts with Arab boys – so definitely not the kind of expansion of sexuality we think of today. ORLAN seems like such an interesting example of queer art, could you expand? Yes, I agree! Her work is a really radical example of work that pushes the boundaries of how we experience our bodies and what it means to live in a body today, surrounded by technology. She has had multiple surgical procedures to ‘cite’ various representations of women in art history on her own face – the chin of Botticelli’s Venus, the brow of the Mona Lisa. She questions the construction of femininity in art history but also in society. I really like how she confronts the issue of the body – how this is so central to her work. Her work is queer, to me, because it challenges our boundaries, our preconceptions particularly regarding identity. There seems to be a lot of correlation between activisim
and art? You have said that this is an interesting point of discussion and part of your research. Could you expand with some examples, perhaps the visual representation of the early HIV crisis in France and Quebec? What did your research into this relationship suggest?
Image of Jean Genet, Fabrice Lévêque, edited by Luca Demetriou
I’m interested in the way activists have used visual work to draw attention to their political aims. I’m particularly interested in how this happened during the early years of the HIV/ AIDS crisis, with groups such as ACT UP trying to raise awareness of their cause. Artist collectives such as Gran Fury in North America produced iconic posters and images (take a look at Silence = Death, for example), and artists/writers like David Wojnarowicz produced incredibly moving and vital pieces of work. Wojnarowicz is so fascinating because his art and writing is inseparable from his activism and both become part of how he imagines his own body - he writes about imagining his eyes becoming cameras to record the illness and its effects surrounding him, he writes about his body becoming a political weapon due to his HIV+ blood... All of this is present in his art work.
“What's so magical about art is that it offers the space to think totally radically and differently” My research suggested that there is a particular visual currency that’s specific to art produced in the midst of the crisis in the US (mainly in the New York arts scene). This is different to that produced in France because of the particular way in which concepts like sexuality, privacy, propriety and the like were and are imagined in these societies. Finally, how important are the arts to the development of queer theory and how we understand it today? How we identify and how we understand ourselves? The arts have always been central to the development of queer theory – whether drawing on literature or visual work, this conversation has been key in developing queer ideas. For me, what’s so magical about art is that it offers the space to think totally radically and differently -that’s so important in a world that’s becoming increasingly globalised, with dominant culture everywhere thanks to the internet – it’s much harder to escape it in some ways. I think that kind of space for reflection and for thinking outside of norms is really vital. Elliot will be giving a free talk on this at the Barber Institute on 11th Feburary at 11.30am
Image of ORLAN in 1997, Wikipedia
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Redbrick Turns 84 Years Old Tom Leaman Editor-in-Chief
On February 5th 1936, Guild News was published for the first time. 84 years, 1514 issues and one name change later, and we're still serving as the official newspaper of the University of Birmingham. The first-ever edition of Guild News demonstrated an eclectic range of stories in its four pages, from the drains of University House being blocked due to spilt cocoa to students tobogganing at Lickey Hills in late-January snow. Spare a thought for one Mr F. L. Knight, who
'knocked several teeth out' while enjoying the wintry conditions! In other news, the Medical Society's annual dance was postponed by an event that has only happened on one occasion since - the death of the sitting monarch. The first editors of our publication certainly weren't shy to express their opinions. In issue one, it was the Guild's other publication, The Mermaid, that came under fire from then Editor-in-Chief J. M. Pike, who criticised its 'uninteresting and pointless' articles within a magazine with the 'appearance of a scrap book rather than of a deliberately compiled maga-
zine.' Perhaps this explains why Guild News was threatened only a month after its first issue was published. In a Guild Council meeting, the paper's editorial team were accused of taking 'blatantly partial views.' Amusingly, Pike put this on the front page of the sixth issue of Guild News, despite the fact he and his fellow editors were said to have 'no sense of accuracy and appear to be proud of the fact. The Editor has produced an agglomeration of piffle, rubbish and nonsense, and if his attitude towards these is one of pride he should resign.’ I'm sure Pike would have
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been delighted to see his creation live on 84 years later in the form of the copy of Redbrick you hold today (if a
little surprised, given its frosty early reception!). Happy belated birthday, Redbrick.
BURN FM COLUMN LIff Atherton Head of podcasting
Emily marshall Head of Sport
O n F r i d a y 3 1 s t J a n u a r y, Burn FM played host to their careers event, ‘Burn In Conversation’ with a panel of guest speakers from the world of Radio. We w e r e g r a t e f u l t o be joined by former Burn FM members, Rhiannon Miller and Jonty C r o w l e y, who both produce music radio for Capital and Radio 1Xtra respectivel y. They shared their wisdom of how to go from the basement of the Burn FM studio to be working full time as music radio producers, from breaking into the industry to now the day to day work as producers. We w e r e a l s o j o i n e d by Kim, who works as a Producer for the flagship Radio 4 drama, The Archers. Although not a student media alum herself, Kim was able to impart knowledge after a successful career in theatre before moving into radio later on. It was a great opportunity for students to learn more about gaining experience, where to find internships and how exactly to get your f o o t i n t h e d o o r. I t w a s clear from the range of the panel, that there is no one way to break in. It was great to see so
many members at the event to learn more about taking student media to the next step. It’s been a busy weekend in Burn FM as we also took on the challenge of hosting the National Student Radio Chart S h o w. Georgia and Emily were behind the mic counting down the top 20 tracks in student radio, broadcast across all the student stations in the network. An amazing team of producers worked tirelessly to keep all the social media channels r u n n i n g s m o o t h l y, w i t h Burn even dabbling into the world of T i k To k s . We w e r e e x c i t e d t o be able to run a competition for a Lewis Capaldi vinyl by guessing which song we had warped (personally I think it should be on his next album, it has potential to be number 1). The track list included some Burn FM favourites including Fickle Friends and Easy Life but Arizona Zervas took the top spot this week with the hit ‘Roxanne,’ knocking Mura Masa and slowthai off the top spot they held for two weeks. With producers getting involved with our on air games to ‘Guess the Guest’ and Georgia’s failed a empt to cont i n u e Ve g a n u a r y i n t o Fe b r u a r y, t h e s h o w w a s filled with fun amongst the great tunes and we all feel very proud of o u r e n d s h o w.
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Mind+Solve Sudoku (Easy)
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First Lines The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various novels,
songs and films. All you have to do is tell us which novels, songs or films the lines come from.
‘Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun’
8 13
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‘Although each of the world's countries would like to dispute this fact, we French know the truth: the best food in the world is made in France. The best food in France is made in Paris’ 14
‘Robert's got a quick hand / He'll look around the room, he wont tell you his plan / He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid’
Anagrams With Valentines Day just around the corner, can you unscramble these things associated with the holiday of love?
1. LOON LABS 2. FOXHOLE TOBACCOS 3. ELYSIAN ADVENT 4. REFLOWS
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5. EGLANTINES 6. TONIC ARM 7. CHRIS POUT 8. ARRESTED CRIME 9. ALERT SHOVE 10. NIGHT CALLED
LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1. Tent; 2. Influence; 3. Motivation; 4. Threshold; 5. Explode; 6. Programme; 7. Economist; 8. Surgeon; 9. Pledge; 10. Convenience; 11. Immune; 12. Crem; 13. Preference; 14. Resolution; 15. Integrated | First Lines: It (Stephen King); 'One' (Lewis Capaldi); Atlantis: The Lost Empire | Anagrams: 1. Pepes Piri Piri; 2. Falafel Munch ; 3. Dilshads; 4. Cheeky Joes; 5. Dixy Chicken; 6. Roosters; 7. Mr Yummy; 8. Big Johns; 9. Yakinori; 10. Vegan Munch Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me
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Friday 7th February 2020
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Why did Top of the TV Editor Catrin Osborne argues that a reboot of TOTP would
rosidaisybop /Pixabay
1964: The Rolling Stones deliver the first TOTP performance
From 1964 to 2006, British television was dominated by Top of the Pops (TOTP). The show consisted of live performances from a multitude of artists and aired every week, providing some of the most iconic events in popular music for the second half of the twentieth century such as David Bowie controversially putting his arm around another man whilst dressed as Ziggy Stardust. TOTP had a legendary run but was ultimately cancelled by the BBC in 2006. A shifting music industry and flawed attempts to revitalise the show, such as changing the airing date to Friday, resulted in its decline. However, the hole this left in the world of chart music has never been repaired. I believe that the next decade would benefit from a reboot of TOTP.
“Older generations had an insight into modern music” David Jones / Flickr
2006 - Now: TOTP returns to our screens in annual one-off episodes
Wikimedia Commons
2006: Snow Patrol play ‘Chasing Cars’ for the show’s final performance
The absence of TOTP brought a disconnect between the music industry and public discourse. As British families gathered around their televisions every Thursday evening, all generations were provided with a neat, half-an-hour summary of all the up-and-coming artists. Even though they may not have liked them, older generations had an insight into modern music. However, it seems that very few people know what songs are in the charts these days. Richard Osborne, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music at Middlesex University, argues that: ‘It also meant that the UK had a visual conception of popular music, suiting and developing our interests in fashion and theatricality.’ TOTP is not entirely absent from our screens as each year the BBC releases a special at the end of the year. The most recent Christmas and New Year specials
highlight the possible need for an equivalent of TOTP in our modern-day. From Ella Henderson to Lewis Capaldi, all the musicians showcased their vocal talents. However, many performances lacked energy. Modern artists aren’t as used to TV performances which require different skills to touring. Admittedly, the show came with some faults. For instance, the BBC insisted on the musicians miming to songs because the studios weren’t appropriate for live sound. The miming rules resulted in a plethora of artists mocking the format: The Stranglers no-handed guitar solo; The Communards and Sarah Jane Morris switching the male and female vocals; or Nirvana’s chaotic rendition of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ in which Kurt Cobain sings one octave lower whilst parodying Morrissey. Although they mocked the show, unexpected performances such as these brought more attention to TOTP. However, the BBC recognised this and allowed artists to sing over backing tracks in 1991.
“Alongside music, a revival of TOTP could display modern dance trends” Another element of TOTP which may look outdated in our modern age was the dance troops. From Pan’s People to Legs & Co, the show used to have a resident dance troop who would perform to songs if the artists weren’t there. In the context of the BBC in the 1970s, these ended up being “something for the dads” as the girls were frequently gyrating in little outfits..However, it is still important to remember that the members of these groups were working women pursuing their
Retro King / Flickr
1964-1983: TOTP features dance troops such as Legs & Co
dreams of dancing and choreography. This concept could be updated if the show were relaunched as they could include male and female dancers and showcase contemporary dancing rather than the objectification of women. Alongside music, a revival of TOTP could display modern dance trends. Another opportunity for stardom provided by TOTP was in the place of the presenters. Discussing TOTP must involve a recognition of the fact that some of the original presenters, such as Jimmy Savile and Dave Lee Travis, have been exposed as using their power to conduct sexual abuse primarily in the 1970s. Despite this, the show also enabled plenty of unproblematic presenters to pave their way in the industry, such as Fearne Cotton. Also, the ‘golden mic’ concept introduced in the 1990s featured guest presenters from Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and The Spice Girls. Although anti-establishment bands like The Clash never performed on TOTP, seemingly alternative bands such as The Smiths recognised the importance of the show for their musical careers. TOTP provided a level of humbleness that is now lacking in the music industry. It’s hard to imagine artists like Beyoncé and Kanye West performing in a small BBC studio today but being invited onto
TOTP was genuinely seen as an honour for musical artists. The fact that there was such a variety of artists throughout the sec-
Twitter/@ TOTPofficial
ond half of the twentieth century,
Girls With Glasses / Flickr
1996: The Spice Girls give their first performance
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Pops have to stop? fill the missing piece in the modern music industry
Wikimedia Commons
1972: David Bowie debuts as Ziggy Stardust
TOTP offered a microcosm of society; in an episode in1979 I w a s
shocked by the move between
Ska to Disco to Punk to pop. The cultural significance of TOTP meant that the show paved the way for many social debates. In 1988, Neneh Cherry performed whilst eight months’ pregnant, sparking debates about female agency. Similarly,Culture Club’s first performance on TOTP in 1982 intrigued the nation to consider gender expression due to Boy George’s androgynous appearance. Some may argue that TOTP no longer works in our current, more technological environment. However, the weekly music show format is thriving in South Korea and providing an essential aspect of the K-pop industry. There are several music shows that K-pop artists will perform on for a month or so after they release new music. Rather than focusing on who’s Number One, each show has its own ranking system based on streams, music video views, votes and more – encouraging fan engagement. Common discourse suggests that the charts are no longer as important as they used to be. Therefore, if a show like TOTP were to return to British television, this would be a possible way for it to connect with the increasingly digital aspect of the music industry. Moreover, music shows are catnip for fans. Western artists with particularly obsessive fan-
TheDigitalArtist / Pixabay
1995: Battle of Britpop: Blur vs. Oasis
doms, such as Directioners in the early 2010s, tend to leave their fans wanting more. Rather than having to watch the same Jimmy Kimmel performance on repeat, TOTP provided an abundance of performances with different outfits and camera angles. Lucky fans were even able to see their favourite musicians in the intimate setting of the BBC’s studios.
“In our increasingly isolated world, we could benefit from the feeling that at least our musical artists aren't separate” Another way that TOTP could be improved for the modern age is through mashups, collaborations and covers amongst the charts. For instance, AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith incorporated carol-singers for a festive rendition of ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in the 2019 Christmas special. Alongside this, the show could incorporate covers such as BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Covers. These are popular on YouTube; Miley Cyrus’ cover of ‘Summertime Sadness’ boasts 53 million views. A revival of TOTP could also showcase collaborations between artists that would allow the industry to feel more interconnected. A photo of Ariana Grande and BTS hanging out backstage drove both fandoms crazy last month. Bringing different artists into the same studio in a new version of the show could incorporate collaborative performances such as when Ed Sheeran brought out Stormzy at the Brit Awards to
deliver rap verses for ‘Shape of You’. In our increasingly isolated world, we could benefit from the feeling that at least our musical artists aren’t separate. If harmony between musicians isn’t your thing, the show also provided an exciting environment for conflicts between artists and fandoms. We’re used to Twitter wars between different celebrities, such as the Kanye WestTaylor Swift feud. However, these conflicts used to take place on the screen such as the Oasis-Blur dispute of 1995. The Britpop bands had already released singles at the same time and were constantly compared by the media. The growing competition skyrocketed when the bands went head-tohead on an episode of TOTP after the release of their new singles. Ultimately, Blur reached the coveted Number One spot with their single ‘Country House’ and Alex James wore an Oasis T-Shirt during their performance to add fuel to the fire.
“A TOTP-esque show could make use of technology to combine performances from across the globe”
Wikimedia Commons
1975: Queen release ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and the age of the music video begins
Wikimedia Commons
1988: Neneh Cherry performs whilst eight months pregnant
As opposed to a few decades ago, the charts are far more international. This was a contributor to the show’s end as it proved difficult to congregate a range of artists at the same time. However, with the rise of streaming services and catch-up television, a TOTPesque show could make use of technology to combine performances from across the globe. As we enter into the 2020s, we would benefit from a show like TOTP which managed to capture public interest and the entire essence of the music scene in weekly half-an-hour slots.
Maia Valnzuela /Flickr
1991: Nirvana mock the lip-syncing format of the show
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CULTURE
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Review: Extraordinary Wall (Of Silence)
Life and Style Editor, Frankie Rhodes, Reviews Extraordinary Wall (Of Silence) at the Patrick Studio in the Hippodrome Theatre Frankie Rhodes Life and Style Editor
The first thing that struck me when attending this play was the diverse nature of the audience. With many children, deaf and disabled people, this was a refreshing change compared to the crowd I normally encounter at the theatre. The performance that followed, with its bilingual style and educational content, only emphasised this feeling of welcome and inclusivity. ‘Extraordinary Wall of Silence’ documents the experiences of 3 people, Helen, Alan and Graham, based on 40 hours’ worth of interviews with deaf people. The actors use sign language, mime and narration to tell the story, so that all members of the audience stay informed, and mesmerised. Whilst maintaining a core didactic purpose, the play was
“The actors use sign language, mime and narration to tell the story, so that all members of the audience stay informed and mesmirised”
“Whilst maintaining a core didactic purpose, the play was also highly entertaining, inspiring moments of both laughter and shock ” also highly entertaining, inspiring moments of both laughter and shock. A low-lit, dreary scene at the very beginning depicted the 1880 Milan Conference, which banned the teaching of sign language in schools, and even the employment of deaf teachers. The action that followed showcased the devastating consequences this ruling had for many deaf individuals, who were expected to overcome deafness through speech therapy, surgical operations and sheer denial. The first of the stories to be told was of Alan, with actor David Ellington informing the audience that for the first 5 years of his life, Alan had no language to express himself with. Through clever and often heart-breaking mime sequences, the ensemble documented
Alan facing abuse throughout his school and family life. A particular theme explored was the belief that deafness was a form of punishment for sin, as supported by Alan’s father. Whilst potentially the most disheartening story, Alan’s narrative was nonetheless extremely valuable in depicting the isolating attitudes towards deafness during the 1970s. Graham’s story focused on the traumatising elements of speech therapy, as deaf children struggle to learn to create sounds. Despite the difficult content, these scenes were presented most humorously, with the actors banding together as school children to show solidarity. This narrative did not shy away from the awkward aspects of Graham’s experience, such as uncomfortable relationships, but also foregrounded the saving grace within his life, deaf
club. Depicting deaf club as a place where members of the deaf community can catch up, support each other and learn about deaf culture, the audience was shown the importance of maintaining Alex Brenner / Birmingham such services. Hippodrome The third narrative, Helen’s story, depicted the experience of a young woman who spent many years in denial of her deafness. A cochlear transplant as a child left her awkwardly suspended between deaf and hearing, able to interpret sounds, but often in an uncomfortable and painful way. The ensemble used a watermelon to showcase the severity of this surgery, as the head ismcut open to operate. This raised some moral issues as to whether it is ethical for parents to intervene in cases of deafness, or whether children should
Peter Moffatt / Birmingham Hippodrome
be given the opportunity to make their own decisions.
“Flashing lights, music and pulsating beats varied throughout the play to match the mood of the mime sequences” Flashing lights, music and pulsating beats varied throughout the play to match the mood of the mime sequences. Deborah Pugh, who narrated the events orally, delivered the information with extreme passion and conviction, just as the other actors seemed to dance through their signing. This immersive experience challenged the audiences’ expectations about what theatre is, and it wasn’t surprising, but beautiful, that at the end of the performance, everyone automatically opted for the BSL version of clapping. One line that particularly struck me as being the key message of the play was ‘I am deaf! I don’t need fixing!’ As such, this is a play that is not there to fix. It is there to inform, to entertain, and to leave deaf members of the audience with a profound sense that they are valued within society.
CULTURE
Friday 7th February 2020
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Review: ‘Where the Hell is Robyn?’ Culture Critic, Mehar Anaokar, Reviews Tabletop Theatre’s Debut Performance at the Midland Arts Centre Mehar Anaokar Culture Critic
On the 8th and 9th of December, Tabletop Theatre’s ‘Where the Hell is Robyn’ was performed at the Midlands Arts Centre by a cast and crew consisting of the University of Birmingham’s students. Written and directed by second year English student Kim Garande, ‘Where the Hell is Robyn’ traces the sentiments of residents of Abbotts Holt following the disappearance of a young girl. As the police investigation continues, the play examines the slow unstitching of a close-knit yet diverse community, with speculations and neighbourhood gossip. It reveals as much about the accuser as they do of the accused. The play is more the study of character than the focus on plot. The tension and power dynamic between the different roles presented to the audience is crisp and engaging. The most frequent clash occurs between Deputy Nadija
(Memory Bhunu), a woman of colour who is also a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and Simon (Hamish Malcolm), the ‘almost step father’ of Robyn
Simon is the kind of character you would love to hate, posing seemingly harmless questions such as ‘Where are you from exactly?’ and ‘Who is the man
Miller. Bhunu and Malcolm present these differences perfectly, and their exchanges are both frustrating and enjoyable.
in your relationship? You or Beth?’. It is difficult for the audience to not cringe at these
culate within the community. Simon outrightly accuses the incredibly entertaining and misunderstood Edward Bones (Matthew Magill) among the children at Robyn’s school, and in his discussions. It is an overlapping presentation of these rumours on stage that propels the drama forward. It creates a strong anticipation for the final reveal. When the crime is unravelled and secrets are uncovered, every foreshadow and seemingly innocent clue falls into place. Both the writer and cast are responsible for this outstanding delivery. The dialogue is fresh and engaging, and the dark tone is complimented with the occasional comedy on stage. The character of ‘Bones’ is an unexpected wild card and adds the dimension of lighthearted humour in scenes where it is desperately needed. It was an incredible experience to watch this play, and to see it produced, directed, and acted TableTop Theatre out by students of the University of Birmingham was nothing short of a treat. I look forward to seeing ment in the disappearance. Much of the suspense of what else Tabletop Theatre will play is heightened by these have to offer in the coming whispers and rumours that cir- months. questions. Malcolm’s convincing portrayal of Simon’s confidence and ignorance adds credibility to his neighbours’ suspicions about his involve-
National Theatre Live Nadia Somnella Culture Critic
NT Live is run by the National Theatre in London and is a project whereby theatre productions are filmed live and screened in cinemas nationwide. While a simple concept, the benefits of this are vast. Firstly, one has the opportunity to see theatre performances which are often limited to local London audiences. This is great for those living in areas without a strong theatre presence, or those unable to travel due to financial constraints, physical limitations or obligations. The other benefit of the West End coming to you, is that it is far cheaper. London does have some affordable theatre, especially for those under 25 (the Young Vic and the Almeida both have
Culture Critic, Nadia Somella Outlines the Benefits of the NT Broadcasting Live Theatre Shows
excellent under 25 discounts, alongside the National Theatre itself), and of course, there is high quality theatre happening outside London. However, average theatre tickets can set you back between £30 and £100. NT Live tickets range between £10 and £25, making it a very accessible theatre experience. Viewing a play from the comfort of your local cinema also means you that have more legroom and snacks on hand, although the buzz and atmosphere is not quite the same as the live experience. There’s often an awkward feeling at the end of the play where people are unsure whether to clap, with the uncomfortable realisation that the cast can’t hear
their display of appreciation. On the other hand, there is no such thing as having a bad seat or obstructed view when attending a theatre broadcast.
“...one can get much nearer to the heat of the action”
“Flashing lights, music and pulsating beats varied throughout the play to match the mood of the mime sequences”
In fact, one can get much nearer to the heat of the action, with close-up shots showing eachnwrinkle of the forehead or raise of the eyebrow. If a show finishes its run and you didn’t get a chance to see it, it’s well worth checking if there will be a screening. Particularly popular productions are sometimes brought back for a reprise and therefore are screened multiple times, giving culture-buffs ample opportunities to see as many shows as possible. The most
popular broadcast so far was Hamlet, screened live from the Barbican in 2015 and watched over by one million people worldwide, although Benedict Cumberbatch being in the titular role may have had something to do with this. NT Live works to debunk assumptions that theatre is expensive and elitist, by making it as easy as going to the cinema. It is an excellent way to dip your toe into this if you haven’t before. Participating cinemas in Birmingham are the Everyman, the Electric, Cineworld, Odeon, Vue and the Midlands Art Centre. The Welkin, a new play by Lucy Kirkwood, will be broadcast live on the 21st of May.
MUSIC
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Friday 7th February 2020
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The Grammys 2020 – Winners, Losers and Bias within the Academy Samantha Andrews Music Critic
On January 26th, the annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. The night saw big wins from the likes of Billie Eilish, performances from Lizzo and Ariana Grande, and tributes to the late Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle. These awards have taken on cultural significance as the top accolade in music, it is literally an honour just to be nominated. The major categories (Album of the Year and Song of the Year) seem to be the most important – if you win one of these, your career is gold dust. So why is it that every year, and especially this year, so many major artists have been deemed as being snubbed of deserving wins and nominations?
“More and more artists are beginning to speak out against the bias within the Academy” The big winner of the night was Billie Eilish, the 18-year-old singer who wrote and produced her entire album in her bedroom with her brother. She took home five of her six nominations and won Record of the Year for ‘Bad Guy.’
all remember her disappointed face when Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories was called out for Album of the Year instead of Red. Yet, arguably her most mainstream and pop driven album, 1989, did win Album of the Year in 2015. What sells, wins.
Wikimedia Commons
Similarly, this year both Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey went home completely empty handed, despite both of their recent albums being held in high praise. Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ also lost out on Song of the Year despite its massive success, as did Lizzo’s ‘Truth Hurts’. Both artists, however, did receive wins in smaller categories such as Best Duo Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album. So how do the Academy decide who will be bestowed with the honour of a
fought against the Academy, accusing them of sexual harassment and improper voting conduct. But if this is really an ‘old boys club’ as she claimed, how does that determine who the awards favour? More and more artists are beginning to speak out against the bias within the Academy, with fewer showing up to the awards every year. In 2017, Frank Ocean, Kanye West and Drake missed the ceremony in protest of the lack of diversity within the awards – that year Beyoncé, Drake and Rihanna were the only artists of colour nominated and they all lost. This year, despite their massive success and impact upon the music industry, K-Pop band BTS were overlooked in nominations, whilst H.E.R. and Lizzo lost out in the major categories. The 2020 awards did see Tyler, the Creator win the Grammy for Best Rap Album w i t h IGOR, but
Wikimedia Commons
Whilst her success is definitely deserved and her impact on the music industry is undeniable, I can’t help but think her overwhelming success is an example of the Academy’s attempts to remain ‘relevant’ and favour the artist that is the most commercially successful at that time. This is especially prevalent considering those that lost out to Eilish and those that weren’t nominated in the major categories. After the release of her critically acclaimed album Lover, it seemed that Taylor Swift would be recognised at the Grammys. The album, however, wasn’t even nominated, and the title track ‘Lover’ (which she wrote entirely alone) lost out to Eilish for Song of the Year. This isn’t the first time Taylor Swift’s acclaimed albums have been overlooked at the Grammys – we
G r a m award? It earlier in Academy
m y seems poignant that January the Recording CEO, Deborah Dugan,
once again (there’s a pattern forming) he was ignored in any of the major categories. He spoke out regarding
Editors’ Songs of January: The Music Editors recap their top pick for Song of the Month: Gemma Elgar (online): Hannah Grace - ‘Blue’
his frustration at being confined to the Rap category, claiming that ‘It sucks that when--ever we, and I mean guys that look like me, do anything that’s genre-bending or anything, they always put it in a rap or urban category.’ He clearly sees the Academy as favouring mainstream commercial pop music over more artistically led and ‘genre-bending’ styles that break from convention.
Daisy Kirkaldy (print): Justin Bieber (ft. Kehlani) ‘Get Me’ Dylan Rhys Lucas (online): Thundercat (ft. Steve Lacy & Steve Arrington - ‘Black Qualls’ Bethany-Jo O’Neill (print): Hayley Williams - ‘Simmer’
Upcoming Events: Wikimedia Commons
Editors’ Pick:
In 2019, Childish Gambino’s ‘This is America’ did win Song of the Year, but this seems to be an exception from the vast history of bias within the awards. There is clearly a division towards what the Academy deem to be ‘the best’ and what is put into a sub-category in order to tick a certain box of diversity. Billie Eilish is making massive steps to reshape the music industry and its sound, and her wins show hope for a recognition of this innovative shift. Looking at this within the context of the nominees and categories, however, it seems as if she won because of her popularity and that her artistry is secondary. Her commercial fame is undeniable at the moment. Everyone knows who she is, and if you don’t, you’ve probably heard ‘Bad Guy’ without realising. Her success is valid, but when the nominations exclude certain genres and favour others, you have to question what winning a Grammy truly means. It seems less of a celebration of musical creativity and more of a popularity contest.
Mabel, O2 Academy, 11th February
“You have to question what winning a Grammy truly means”
Thumper, Dead Wax, 29th February
Every award season we see more and more people speaking out about the lack of diversity within the nominations and each Academy’s favouritism of certain genres. With the Oscars, it’s their adoration of all things Tarantino ia Wikiped and seemingly with the Grammy’s, it’s an obsession with whatever is selling well at that time. Creativity, artistry and innovation all seem secondary to a much larger picture of exclusion and favouritism.
23-year-old singer Mabel brings her tour to Birmingham this month. 2019 was a good year for her, her single ‘Don’t Call Me Up’ was the biggest selling single of the year by a UK female artist. Expect polished dance routines. Wikimedia Commons
Best of the Rest: The Jade Assembly, Muthers Studio, 8th February Deeper, Hare & Hounds, 21st February
Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, Wade Street Church, 14th March Louise Redknapp, O2 Institute, 16th March Chase Mist, Wade Street Church, 21st March Larkins, The Castle & Falcon, 17th April Joesef, O2 Institute, 23rd April Grayscale, O2 Academy, 21st May Pet Shop Boys, Resorts World Arena, 30th May
MUSIC
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickmusic
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Single Review: Gorillaz – Momentary Bliss (ft. slowthai & Slaves) Sam Zucca Film Editor
Gorillaz’s recent musical output has been met with mixed responses, although their style is so eclectic that this is usually the case. I enjoyed 2011’s The Fall and 2018’s The Now Now more than most for their blissful and reserved mood-pieces, however neither of them commanded your attention in the same way as Demon Days or Plastic Beach. 2017’s Humanz
was an exception to the more methodical and airy music that Damon Albarn and Gorillaz had been making throughout the 2010s, but it seemed an odd mix: some great moments, just as many forgettable tracks. Their latest track, ‘Momentary Bliss’ - featuring slowthai and Slaves - is the most fun and energetic they’ve released since their 2012 collaboration with James Murphy and Andre 3000, ‘DoYaThing’. It’s part of a new video series called Song Machine,
described by their drummer Russell as ‘Gorillaz breaking the mould ’cos the mould got old.’ Rather than a conventional release cycle of albums and singles, they are releasing a different song each week, with a video accompaniment showing the studio session involving both the band’s human and cartoon members. It’s nothing new for Gorillaz, who have always been a multimedia band, it just means that this song is not necessarily made to hear in the context of an album.
The song itself is sunny and joyous, with the lyrics mainly relating to the importance of selfesteem. The style is just as eclectic as you’d expect for the band, with the opening featuring reverbheavy guitar chords that Mac Demarco would likely pour over his cereal. It builds in tempo like a Velvet Underground track, but with an upbeat positivity rather than a nervous intensity. Slowthai’s appearance is the most notable here, with his refrain almost bullying you into loving yourself
with ‘It makes me sick to think you ain’t happy in your skin’, and ‘you’re a Turkey Twizzler, you deserve school dinners’. The chorus from Slaves’ Isaac Holman is more reserved, but his delivery fits into the mood comfortably, channelling the same moody apathy as lead-singer 2D. The song works like a reverse diss track, and is fitting for a band that always try to look at things from their own unique angle.
Album Review: Alice Boman Dream On Dylan Rhys Lucas Music Editor
Alice Boman caused something of a stir at the tail end of 2019 when lead single ‘Wish We Had More Time’ dropped. Fans have waited patiently for a full-length release since her 2014 release EPII, and other than a number of drip-fed singles in the years since, hope of a more fleshed out project has seemed bleak. Yet, six years later, here we are and full-length debut album Dream On is absolutely worth the long wait. The record opens with the aforementioned ‘Wish We Had More Time’ and instantly the tone of Dream On is made apparent. This track is gentle in its pianoled rhythm yet features an overbearingly sombre synth which reinforces the lyrical weight of the track. Like icing on a synth boosted cake, Boman delivers a blissful vocal melody which helps give ‘Wish We Had More Time’ a more ethereal feel. This theme continues for the remainder of Dream On; ‘Heart on Fire’ is a reflective breeze, which pulls you in with its comforting melodies alongside Boman’s delivery of
lines such as ‘It’s all over your face/ I can see, I can feel it/ But I need to hear it’. The contradiction p r e s e n t throughout Dream On’s stunning performances presents a wonderful antithesis between glistening instrumentals and heart wrenching lyricism. T h e album’s highlight is easily ‘It’s Ok, It’s Alright’, a wonderful ballad centred around a slow duel between harp and synth, meanwhile Boman croons with an angelic quality, highly reminiscent of The
although punchy lines and sing-along choruses aren’t really to be found here. Dream On is far more concerned with memorability through emotional impact - a factor which it delivers in spades. Dream On is as finely tuned as the pianos dancing over it. The piano and synthesiser seemingly take centre stage, second only to Boman’s vocal performance. Norman Records This is perhaps best represented on Dreaming era Kate Bush. This ‘This Is Where song is also home to what is likely It Ends’, a song which repeatedly the album’s catchiest chorus, outdoes itself. The listener is ini-
tially caught by the groove of the bassline, before a synth drenched beat switch elevates the song to highlight status and just when the track seemingly plateaus, a choir vocal in the final thirty seconds displays Boman’s ability to match the quality of her own instrumentation with her moving vocal ability.
of community and acceptance, his genre-bending music reminded me of something in-between YUNGBLUD and Twenty One Pilots, though with a unique emphasis on hip-hop with bluesstyle riffs. I definitely want to give his music another listen. Waterparks started the show off with a bang, playing ‘Cherry Red’ and ‘Watch What Happens Next’, the first two songs from Fandom. These fast-paced, high energy songs got the crowd going as they jumped in time with the music and chanted back to the frontman, Awsten Knight. We were then treated with a performance of ‘Blonde’, one of the only songs from their earlier albums that they played in full. Here the lead guitarist, Geoff Wigington, demonstrated impressive poppunk guitar riffs, along with an
exciting solo in the middle of the song. Otto Wood, the drummer, also put on a good show, effortlessly switching up the rhythm throughout. Throughout the gig, Waterparks played almost every song from Fandom, which was a great way to hear a range of different genres in one night. From the slower, synth-heavy ‘High Definition’ to the up-beat and catchy ‘Easy to Hate’, each song had the crowd singing along and left me wanting more. Visually, the show was also great. With at least three bouts of confetti, smoke shooting out of the stage, and a screen playing their music videos as a backdrop - there was never a boring moment on stage. Every so often, the band would pause to interact with the crowd, which allowed a moment to catch
only a few exceptions. This allowed us to hear more of their newer music without neglecting the songs that earned them their fanbase and provided an interesting listening experience.
“Initially caught by the groove of the bassline” Glimmering is perhaps the only term which can accurately describe the feeling of Dream On. It is an experience of a record, where the listener is unlikely to pick a favourite track or add anything to a playlist. Each song simply blends together too beautifully to be counted among anything but its own, and while there is variation, such as the more upbeat ‘Don’t Forget About Me’, there is still an undeniable vibe to Boman’s work which feels as though it should be played from beginning to end.
Live Review: Waterparks Ellie Harris Music Critic
Back in November, I reviewed Waterparks’ latest album Fandom - and it’s not much of a stretch to say that I was blown away. I enjoyed pretty much every song on the album so I was excited to hear it played live on their UK Fandom Tour. Though I had seen them previously as the opening act for All Time Low’s 2017 UK tour, I wanted to know what sort of a show Waterparks could put on - I was definitely not let down. The opening act was fellow Texas musician, De Wayne. His energetic performance was a great way to start the gig and get the crowd going. Sharing a message
your breath before the energy was ramped back up. Knight would stop to joke around, tell anecdotes about the band, and talk to fans before going straight back into another song, running around the stage without missing a beat. He also announced that they were filming the gig in order to make a live-show DVD, so that is definitely something I’ll be checking out when it’s released. A personal highlight of mine was when the band stopped to play a couple of their older acoustic-style songs, ‘Lucky People’ and ‘21 Questions’. Knight’s vocals really shone through in this moment, with the slow chords providing a perfect, and quite emotional, backing. I also really liked how the band chose to play mashups of their older albums rather than individual songs, with
“These fast-paced, high energy songs got the crowd going” The band finished with a rendition of ‘Turbulent’, one of Waterparks’ heavier songs. The thrashing guitars and fast-paced drumming was an amazing way to end the show with mosh-pits and crowd surfers rife. Altogether, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Waterparks live and will definitely be back next time they’re in town.
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FILM
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickfilm
Review: The Lighthouse
Film Editor Matt Taylor spills the beans on Robert Eggers’ new picture Matt Taylor Film Editor
‘Keepin’ secrets, are ye?’ So asks Willem Dafoe’s Thomas Wake of Robert Pattinson’s Ephraim Winslow – but it’s also a question we ourselves could ask of writer-director Robert Eggers. The Lighthouse marks Eggers’ sophomore feature, after his utterly transfixing debut in 2016 with The Witch, and it is a complex, enthralling, confounding, horrifying, and ultimately alienating piece of cinema that is sure to shake your heart and soul. There isn’t much of a narrative to discuss, per se. Dafoe and Pattinson play our protagonists, a lighthouse keeper and his wickie respectively, who slowly but surely come to blows as they are stranded on the island together with seemingly no chance of liberation. Eggers’ film is intensely psychological, and in many ways hard to penetrate, but, ultimately, the deeply unsettling rewards are more than worth reaping. Dafoe and Pattinson each put in their best work in years; we want to believe in both of them, but Eggers remains sure that we are never, ever sure which of them we can trust – if either. Direct scenes of conflict between the two are some of the film’s standout moments as Jarin Blaschke’s camera never falters during their soliloquy-esque speeches (brilliantly co-written by Eggers and his brother Max), simply letting each man do his job, and do it brilliantly.
A24 Pictures / Luis Andres Espinoza
Both Wake and Winslow are compulsive liars – or are they? Do they even exist in the first place? Is one simply a figment of the other’s imagination? Such are the questions that The Lighthouse leaves us with that seem to remain unanswerable. Pattinson’s Winslow is the more primary protagonist of the two; perhaps it’s Pattinson’s usually-charming demeanour that gets us on side with him, but his descent into madness (if that is indeed what it is) is wonderfully charted, and although we never quite feel sympathy for him, we can’t help but hope that he manages to escape in one piece. Dafoe, however, proves his worth by acting the excellent Pattinson under the table. He pulls out all the stops to unleash hell in his stellar turn as Wake; his scenes of rage are virtually unparalleled by any other working
actor, made all the more uneasy by the fact we know virtually nothing about Wake as a man. Each of them pushes the other closer and closer to the edge, and we are left waiting, breathless, on the edge of our seats, for one of them to explode. The Lighthouse is helped along by every one of its technical components being utterly stellar. Blaschke’s camerawork is never less than gorgeous, dipping in and out of fluid takes and static shots at will to suit the mood of the scene. Shooting in both black and white and a 1.19:1 aspect ratio only furthers the level of uncertainty that Dafoe and Pattinson bring us, as the compressed screen leaves us with an intense feeling of claustrophobia, while the reduced colour palette makes everything pop even more than it would had the film been shot in colour. Mark Korven’s score is beautifully earth-shaking, capitalising on every single morsel of tension that exists and eking
every possible millisecond out of it. His use of horns is particularly striking, and contributes to the film never letting its audience feel at ease for even a second. Credit must also be given to sound designers Damian Volpe and Mariusz Glabinski for managing to create a traumatizingly harsh soundscape that only contributes to the atmosphere of the film, never taking away from it. Films of this sort seem to come along seldom to never: it says a lot that two of the names
listed under the ‘director would like to thank’ portion of the credits are highly praised horror directors Ari Aster and Trey Edward Shults. With The Lighthouse, Eggers has firmly stood himself alongside modern horror auteurs of that calibre: his latest is an utter mindmelder of a film, a piece of cinema that is sure to shake you to your very core with its ferocity, mess with your head with its tricky narrative, and leave you reeling with everything else it has going for it. To Mr Eggers, in his own words: ‘Here’s to ye, ya beauty.’ VERDICT: While The Lighthouse may not ultimately live up to the terrifically high standards he set himself with The Witch, Robert Eggers has delivered yet another masterpiece; a film that will get right under your skin and seep into your brain, before scrambling your head and then vanishing into the night, leaving you lost for words, wondering what the hell just happened to you.
FILM
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickfilm
23
Studio Ghibli Films Arrive on Netflix The world-renowned anime studio crosses world cinema yet again
Ghibli created a monopoly castle. It is romantic, enigmatic types of works you might want to ally inspire each other to live – if Antonio Miguel Aguila Studio with its talented masterpieces. and beautiful, and was nominated visit Kiki’s Delivery Service. For I’m able to, then perhaps I’ll be Film Critic It is not surprising to see Studio Ghibli arrive on Netflix since it has a reputation of repeatedly breaking into foreign audiences. What is surprising is that it took so long for the acclaimed Japanese animation franchise to make it onto the famous streaming platform. Nevertheless, it is a huge delight to see the works of Takahata, Niwa, Sakaguchi, Yoshida, Kondou, Yonebayashi and Ando as well as the one and only Hayao Miyazaki, make themselves available for our viewing pleasure. From the Japanese cinemas across the oceans to our TVs and laptops, this is another step for Studio Ghibli to make itself known as it enters straight into our homes. After the year starting off with a volcano eruption in the Philippines, Trump’s impeachment, Harry and Meghan leaving the royal family, Australia burning to ashes, a killer virus emerging in China and potential finale to the World War trilogy, Studio Ghibli has offered itself to us as the best way to start the new chapter of February. I have been a big fan of Studio Ghibli ever since I was young. I am incredibly grateful for these cinematic fairy tales because the messages that carry forth from them are impeccable. Studio Ghibli has exceptional ability when it comes to conjuring magic into normal, everyday life. Other films can make you glad to be alive but not as much as these ones. In the world of animation,
Even after Miyazaki’s retirement, other studios are still trying to play catchup. But in some cases they are even looking to surpass him, not without his influence and inspiration, of course. Pixar have been stepping up their game, with Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse serving as a living breathing comic book and paving a new path for comic-book film animation; Aardman still create great films. However, the most obvious candidate to look out for has already been hailed as the next Miyazaki. This is none other than Makoto Shinkai. As harsh as it might seem to call him the next Miyazaki, it only shows how much of a shadow Miyazaki has cast onto animation, and as fascinating as it is to watch the other contenders compete in the golden age of animation, let us not forget the original winner who set the bar in the first place (sorry, Satoshi Ken). Now, let’s actually talk about the films! The first of the beloved main four is Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli’s iconic film with which they made their splash into world cinema, winning the 2002 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Spirited Away’s Alice in Wonderland journey encapsulates the retaining of identity and humanity against the loss of cultural tradition and all-encompassing commodification. Next, Howl’s Moving Castle is adapted from a Dianne WynneJones novel that brings to life its fantastical adventure of a wizard, cursed woman, talking fire, evil witch and, of course, the moving
in 2005 for Best Animated Feature. Princess Mononoke is heralded as one of the best eco-films about lost origins and humans’ position in the natural world, as well as a wolf girl with a bloodstained mouth ready to kill anyone wanting to destroy her sacred forest. Lastly is Grave of the Fireflies, a tear-jerking take on the devastating after-effects of war, as well as following two innocent children trying to find their father.
“Each one of the 21 films pulse with their own life” It is unfair to mainly discuss these films as each one of the 21 films pulse with their own life, and many of these other excluded works may find a personal place in your heart. All of these films are ambitious, gorgeous works with the best animation quality in the business, mesmerising scores, wonderful scripts and voice acting, one-of-a-kind ideas and concepts. More than a franchise, Studio Ghibli has a unique identity. Its cinema hosts mainly female, nuanced, well-written characters in dream-like adventures, typically entangled with themes of politics, coming-of-age, environmentalism, Japanese culture, children’s creativity and imagination, and humanity. Its writers, animators, directors, and so on, have perfected magical realism, and if you like those
daydreaming writers, Whisper of the Heart. For those wanting a light-heated nostalgic dream, My Neighbour Totoro. For those wanting to know the role raccoons played in Japanese folklore, Pom Poko. For those wanting darker themes, When Marnie Was There, which was nominated in 2015 for Best Animated Feature. For those wanting a British classic returned from overseas, The Secret World of Arrietty. For those just in it for the dazzling, hand-drawn animation, Tale of Princess Kaguya , which was nominated in 2014 for Best Animated Feature. Perhaps you are already acquainted with the franchise and want to revisit its arguably most personal one, The Wind Rises, which in 2013 was nominated for Best Animated Feature. Miyazaki has a very pessimistic view on modern life, with its variety of shallow, fake antics. Throughout his films he puts his faith in the imaginations and innocence of children who tend to overcome the past generation.
“Miyazaki has a profoundly truthful and unique perspective” Miyazaki has a profoundly truthful and unique perspective, evident when he said ‘I want to portray a slightly different relationship, one where the two mutu-
Review: Queen & Slim
Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith co-star in new chase film Emily Faithful Film Critic
‘Are you serious?’ stammers Daniel Kaluuya’s Slim, searching for a shred of empathy in the eyes of a police officer. The officer’s response is a demand to ‘get on the ground!’ and a gun aimed at Slim’s face. Slim may be in disbelief, but anyone familiar with the USA’s rampant anti-black police brutality, which sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, got that feeling in the pits of their stomachs as soon as this African American couple were pulled over for ‘missing a turn signal’. The Hate U Give showed us the all-too-relevant story of a black man being murdered by the police, and a Universal Pictures
community’s struggle to deal with the injustice that follows. Queen & Slim shows us what happens when the victim is able to defend himself. A bad Tinder date gets worse when Slim, initially unarmed, gets hold of the gun and fatally wounds the cop. It is selfdefence, and perhaps he would be in good hands, since Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) is a successful defence attorney but, all too familiar with the prejudice flowing throughout the justice system, even she advises that they drive away and don’t look back. Melina Matsoukas, director of music videos for the likes of Rihanna, Beyonce and Whitney Houston, now turns to cinema with Queen & Slim, her first feature film. Written by Lena Waithe
(who worked on Netflix’s Master of None), it has been dubbed ‘the black Bonnie and Clyde’. It’s not. Titular characters Queen and Slim may be on the run from the law, ‘armed and dangerous’ in a turquoise Pontiac Catalina, but they are far from the daring criminal duo made famous in the 1967 film. This isn’t a chase-film made fun by the audacious duo’s choice to commit escalating crimes, making turning back less and less of an option. All Queen and Slim choose is survival, and that seems to mean stealing cars, hiding under beds and killing a man. We only have glimpses of the news coverage of Queen and Slim’s altercation, but as they travel south, their increasing fame is clear. With each person they
closer to portraying a true expression of love.’ His films are romantic without being romances, fantastical without being high-fantasy, mature yet still entertaining for child audiences, and not distracted with the hubbub of artificial modern life, instead searching for something truly authentic. There is never a wrong time to watch Studio Ghibli. In dark times it makes you glad to be alive. In lighter times it makes you glad to be alive. It is no wonder it has managed to break into the mainstream. Although it has been repeatedly snubbed for best animated feature in the past, you can now watch and see how deserving these films are of their reputation. It is cinema that makes you feel privileged to be its viewer. If you haven’t already tried out these films, you won’t regret it. They are all now at your disposal.
meet, they learn they have become more iconic amongst their supporters and more hunted by the police. This, in the place of blatant news reports, is the genius of Waithe’s storytelling. As Queen and Slim go from encounter to encounter, from seeking help from a naïve off-duty sheriff to taking a walk with an influenceable teenager, they learn how they are seen – and the opinions are rarely the same. The political relevance of this film is obvious, but its portrayal of people of many perspectives means that it leaves us to decide who we agree with. It’s an important message, but it isn’t left to carry the film. The story and its focus on the titular pair, masterfully acted by both Turner-Smith and Kaluuya, means that Queen & Slim is much more than just political. Before they are forced into exile, Queen is a self-described ‘excellent lawyer’ who lives a solitary life, determined to get what she deserves and be seen for her intelligence and capability, rather than her difficult background. Slim is a nice guy; content, close to his family and perhaps lacking ambition. Waithe puts it simply: Queen would send back a mistaken food-order and Slim wouldn’t. A juxtaposed duo
Kyla Duhamel
united by a fateful night, together they deal with fear, hope and insecurity. This plot’s focus on their love story and respective evolutions is an equal partner to the wider political aspect.
“Queen & Slim is much more than just political” Much of Queen & Slim takes place on the road, and the various stops the couple take. Matsoukas’ stylish direction and Waithe’s time-passing conversations (memorably one about Luther Vandross’ ideal weight) make the long journey pace well. The routine stopstart nature of the journey can sometimes feel repetitive – one of the pair wants to stop, the other protests due to time restraints before stopping anyway – but each stop, particularly that featuring scene-stealing Bokeen Woodbine as Uncle Earl, is wellpurposed and entertaining. VERDICT: Well written and directed, well acted and well accompanied by the smooth score one would expect from someone as notable in the music industry as Matsoukas, this political love story is a triumph. In all, I’m afraid that not enough people will see this great film.
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TELEVISION
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricktv
Goobledy-Goop: The Goop Lab Abby Spreadborough Comment Editor
This week, as Netflix does every week, I was sent a viewing recommendation via a notification on my phone. Shining up at me was ‘recommended for you The Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow.’ At first, I was shocked that Netflix had partnered with the infamous brand widely derided for its $66 jade egg meant to be inserted into the vagina, a health risk masquerading as an ‘ancient Chinese secret’. What followed was curiosity as I delved deeper into the, at times, cult-like mentality of so-called ‘Goopers’ as they sampled shrooms and dove head first into a freezing lake. Finally came concern. Goop, Paltrow’s lifestyle brand, has come under fire in recent years for selling vagina scented candles, healing stickers and hosting the ‘Goop Summit’, a $1000 day of wellness. Simply put, I argue that Goop is wellness at its worst. Now, it has a TV show to expand its reach and give Netflix viewers a window into the lives of LA-based, wealthy wellness gurus.
“Goop is wellness at its worst” Each episode begins with a disclaimer: ‘the following series is designed to entertain and inform – not provide medical advice. You should always consult your doctor when it comes to your personal health’. This prefaces Paltrow and, her chief content officer, Elise Loehnen's discussion with experts on topics at the centre of each episode, from psychedelics to mediums. Members of Goop staff, ‘Goopers’, then undertake wellness trends, whether that be yoga in the snow, ‘energy healing’ described by Loehnen as an ‘exorcism’ or, in perhaps the only episode worth paying attention to, female pleasure as explored with sex educator Betty Dodson. In this pleasure-based episode, Paltrow reveals herself to be part of the
60% of women who cannot label the vulva on a diagram, a statistic used in the show itself. The episode, carried by Dodson’s authoritative voice, explores shame surrounding the female body and the subsequent rise in labiaplasty. All of The Goop Lab’s sequences are interspersed with accounts from those who have tried these various therapies as well as statistics from studies that are a clear attempt to validate what many may call pseudoscience. In the first episode, a veteran with PTSD attests to the life-changing effects of psychedelic therapy. This particular subject is shown under the observance of a medical professional in a controlled and safe environment completely unlike the hut which ‘Goopers’ find themselves tripping, without medical supervisors visible. ‘Goopers’ in all episodes of the series share their reasons for seeking out these alternative theories, anxiety and stress continually arise, reflecting the mental health crisis amongst young people. I only hope that the Goop method will not convince those struggling to replace tried and tested therapies as mental health services become increasingly stretched. It’s worth asking how Goop has managed to get its own show and how it has managed to be so successful. What does Goop have that mainstream science doesn’t? Hearing testimonials from
‘Goopers’ and members of the public featured in some episodes may be considered compelling. Anecdotal evidence from men and women suffering from mental health issues, such as depression and physical health issues, is emotive. For some viewers, these anecdotes may come as a life-line. Confidentiality prevents doctors from offering these anecdotes a n d right
professionals cannot provide absolute certainty when advising patients on potential treatments. They cannot confidently say that a therapy or medication will cure a health issue like those featured on The Goop Lab. Time pressures, as a result of the increasingly underfunded NHS, mean that doctors may only see patients for five minutes, whilst wellness gurus are accessible with just a tap on Instagram, online blogs and now Netflix. This, coupled with vague buzzwords like ‘modalities’, ‘energy fields’ and ‘molecules of emotion’, will admittedly be attractive to some. There is even a conscious attempt by Paltrow and her followers to embed the Goop mindset, extending the brand name to an adjective as Paltrow asks her copresenter ‘could you get any goopier?’ Paltrow is not the only one to blame. Wellness trends, including fad diets and supplements, have been on the rise over the past decade. In the past year, online sales of supplements have increased 40%, with prettily packaged pills ubiquitous on Instagram. Additionally, fad diets have been proven to lead to muscle loss, eating disorders and nutritional imbalance. I have come up against these wellness trends creeping Andrea Raffin into the medicine. Whilst seeking treatment from Endometriosis, I was advised by a doctor to begin a ketogenic diet to regulate my hormones. This involved eating virtually no carbohydrates, less than 50g a day, and switching to high-fat foods on the principle that fat burns fat and effectively resets the body. After three months on the diet, I felt no better, in fact, I felt Netflix worse. Following
surgery, I received my diagnosis and was told by my doctor that I should never have been pointed in the direction of the keto diet and that no one should be. Recent studies have found that those committed to Ketosis, the fat burning process the ketogenic diet induces, leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and impedes one’s ability to do high intensity exercise.
“Wellness trends including fad diets and supplements have been on the rise over the past decade. ”
However, programmes like The Goop Lab, a misleading title in itself as there is no recognisable lab in Goop’s perfectly Californian blush pink and gold head office, push this dangerous narrative further. If individuals are having health problems they should not seek out freezing water as ‘Gooper’s’ do in one episode, nor should they rely on shrooms, a class A drug in the UK. Individuals should seek evidence-based, regulated and thoroughly researched science. I believe that what makes The Goop Lab even more objectionable aside from its seemingly dangerous narrative is that beneath the veil of a sincere, at times, openminded approach is the desire to promote Goop’s over-priced, nonsensical oils, eggs and even a vaginal steaming treatment which puts participants at risk of seconddegree burns. Arguably, Goop at its core is an elaborate piece of marketing. The Goop Lab makes for curious viewing. I suggest that it must be watched with a critical mindset and, to reiterate the show’s disclaimer, ‘you should always consult your doctor when it comes to your personal health,’ not Paltrow’s gobbledy-goop.
Web Series of the Week: VICE Luca Demetriou Culture Editor
Bizarre and often ground-breaking stories, VICE explores the way in which we think about culture, protest, parties, art and the internet, to name a few. VICE produces documentaries ranging from ten minutes long to multiple part series that tackle topics from witches in Romania casting spells to protest corrupt governments (one of my personal favourites), to investigating drug culture in certain parts of the world and its effects globally and interpersonally. VICE is successful because the journalists for each series differ and they use people who fit into the group that is being explored and investigated. This allows for
richness and authenticity, often leading the documentaries to be profound and touching. It allows the journalists to gain access to subcultures and groups that typically aren’t foregrounded.
nalists delve into complicated situations that can sometimes be dangerous and leave you feeling anxious.
“Being on YouTube means that their episodes are so easily accessible”
“They use people who fit into the group that is being explored” There seems to be a high level of ethics considered during the making of these documentaries, which makes it all the more appealing. Often the jour-
Twitter/@VICE
One documentary released recently sees VICE News’s Isobel Yeung pose as a tourist in China’s western region, Xinjiang to expose China’s
Orwellian surveillance regimes and the disappearing Muslims of China’s Uighur minority who live in a dystopian nightmare. It’s unsettling and well worth the watch. VICE being on YouTube means that their episodes are so easily accessible that it's widereaching and culturally significant. The documentary about China’s vanishing Muslim population I previously mentioned, also became an HBO feature, expanding VICE’s scope further and blurring the realms between TV and web series. If you wish to discover corners of the world you didn’t know existed, explore current cultural tensions, and immerse yourself in peculiar stories, then VICE is the web series for you.
TELEVISION
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricktv
Review: Meat the Family Alice Wibberley
America, and when quizzing the respect for animals. It’s hard to tell first family treat their chickens as proprietor about climate change, is where the bias of the programme pets and form close bonds with met with a defensive spiel denying lies, but at times it does seem them. Similarly, there is similar its existence. John researches pre- to act as an advertiseemotional turmoil with the Channel 4’s Meat the servative techniques, ment for high-welfare second family, as mum Family is a social learning about the link meat products. It’s Pam creates a close experiment in which between bacon and these preferable bond with the pigfour families look cancer. Visits to practices that lets. after various farm various factory contribute to the However, the of animals over a farms, a trip to decision whole premise of period of three see an intelligent each family – the show - hoping weeks, before pig, a glimpse leading to the to connect viewers choosing to into the research use of the to the source of either send them into the intellect phrase ‘ethical their food - was not to to slaughter or of sheep, and carnivore’ entirely successful. (Veganuary) sanctuary. The videos from describe the first Despite dreading catch is, they abattoirs, further family’s new habeach episode, due to can only send contribute to the its. successive let-downs, them to the sanccase against Meat the Family is not faith in humanity is sometuary if they meat. one to binge. Watching it is an what restored as some family (The Grocer) pledge to go vegeH o w e v e r, emotional experience: dread members recognise the value of tarian. If they choose the famibefore each decision vegetarianism. The idea of vegethe slaughterhouse, the lies are day, frustration tarianism for other families animals will be returned to also invited when parents seemed too difficult, drastic and them, ready to eat. to visit farms silence the out of their reach, most of them The programme can be praised praised for views of explaining that they couldn’t for showing where food really their ‘high their chil- pledge to do something they comes from, and beginning to w e l f a r e ’ dren, and knew they couldn’t maintain. undermine the widespread ‘specie- standards, a n g e r Overall, Meat the Family’s sism’, which enables people to eat and for the with the concept was undermined by its a pig but shudder at the thought of third fams e l f i s h - participants. It had the potential eating a dog. The majority of the ily, a trip ness of to erode speciesism and change participants came to see the ani- to see the the par- habits. Instead of inspiring mals as pets, which made it a slaughterticipants. change, a middle ground was tough decision. ing procI n found, which was neither satisfyMeat the Family also explores ess for most of ing to the viewer, or those hoping the environmental and health lambs actuthe fami- for a programme to bring about impacts of meat, and the pro- ally restores lies, there change. Twitter/@ gramme has been praised for not their confiseemed to be a Channel4 being ‘too preachy’ in its uncover- dence in the meat generational ing of the source of meat. Stefan industry, praising it divide. The two visits a commercial beef farm in for its efficiency and eldest daughters of the
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Top TV Picks for February
Television Critic
Sales of beef and pork in supermarkets fell by £184.6 million in 2019
Veganuary 2020 has had the most signups yet
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Fighting an Age-Old Problem
Twitter/ @ lockekeynetflix
Locke and Key Netflix 7th February
Pxhere
The 92nd Oscars Sky Cinema 10th February
TV Critic Jade Matlock praises Grace and Frankie for fighting back against archaic stereotypes Jade Matlock
generation as people who should be respected and understood with the same attention as their younger peers. Whether it be the caring but clueSitcoms are a powerful kind less Granny from Looney Tunes or of television. They represent realthe tenacious but tactless Sophia istic-looking families in situations from Golden Girls, an ageist that anyone could seemingly find undertone has always existed in themselves in. As of late, we have the television that we consume so seen a rise in more accurate repreavidly. Grace and Frankie, the sentation to match up to the diverNetflix phenomenon that was sity of modern life, with otherwise greenlit for a seventh and final marginalised groups being brought season in September 2019, seeks into the spotlight and explored in to bring older people to the fore- ways that divert from their typical front of the narrative. They are stereotypes. One category that given space to explore modern seems to deviate from this vital issues in a way that is derogatory change is age. Television has to neither the subject matter nor seemingly become dependent on the people involved; great care is utilising older people only as taken in highlighting the essential something to be laughed at – it is nature of representing the older a phenomenon that transcends g e n r e . Animated comedies such as The Simpsons and Futurama appear to cling to senile older men, such as Abe Simpson and Professor Farnsworth, to further their plots with their ‘forgetful’ behaviour and generally grumpy life Twitter/@GraceandFrankie attitudes. Even Television Critic
refreshingly unique older characters, such as Katherine Avery in the drama Grey’s Anatomy, are ultimately seen as negative, with every casual mention of her sex life as an older woman being met with disgust and hostility by other characters in the show. Whether it is acknowledged or not, there is a bias towards representing older people in a light that is both negative and demeaning to a demographic that makes up approximately one in every five people of the UK population. Netflix appears to be leading the charge in trying to change these stereotypes, with Grace and Frankie acting as a revolutionary for more accurate and well-rounded age representation. Each of the central characters in Grace and Frankie add an extra dimension to the way that older generations are viewed in television. Grace (Jane Fonda) is a savvy, screwed on businesswoman with a sharp tongue and even sharper wit. Frankie (Lily Tomlin) is gentle and caring as well as a believer in New Age medicine. Both are unafraid to speak their minds and stand up for themselves. They are two women who live incredibly different lives, brought together by the mutual pain of their failed marriages, and they just so happen to be older. It is not the focal point of who they are. Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol (Sam Waterston), lawyers and
former husbands to Grace and Frankie respectively, reveal their love affair in the opening scenes of the series. It is handled with the natural trepidation expected when trying to work out where you belong with added exposure to the anxiety of older LGBTQIA+ individuals trying to fit into the newly established culture. Characters found companies, join theatre groups and tackle adversities, such as living at home alone and debilitating mental health strains, while maintaining a hilariously witty sense of comedy throughout their narratives. The characters of the show are not merely a plot device or the punchline of a joke, but people with thoughts, emotions and other basic human qualities, such as a sex drive. The types of representation that a younger audience take for granted. Of course, Grace and Frankie is by no means a perfect show. It does lean on some elements of ‘old age comedy’ but does so nowhere near to the extent of the television shows that have come before it. It creates a universally positive viewing experience that provides both comedy and heart-wrenching reality for anyone, regardless of their age. Grace and Frankie is one of the leading television shows to take a stance on age – it is time to start laughing with the older generation, instead of laughing at them.
Twitter/@ BBCOne
The Split BBC 10th February
Twitter/@ NarcosNetflix
Narcos: Mexico-Season 2 Netflix 13th February
GAMING
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickgaming
Team17
Challenger Approaching: Byleth in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Flickr
26
Writer Sam Arrowsmith examines the latest addition to the Smash Bros. roster in Fire Emblem: Three Houses protagonist Byleth Gaming Writer
And so, the first Super Smash Bros Ultimate Fighter Pass is complete. First Joker from Persona 5, then the Hero of Dragon Quest, then Banjo and Kazooie from, uh, Banjo-Kazooie and Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury. All of these are new games for Smash Bros to incorporate, which makes the final challenger something of a deviation. That challenger of course, is Byleth, the stoic mercenary/teacher/parttime messiah of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Their announcement was met with surprise, followed by a wave of mixed feelings from the fanbase. Fire Emblem is already very well represented in Smash Bros. In fact, Byleth is the 8th character from the series to appear, so fans may be getting bored of seemingly identical swordfighters showing up. Fire Emblem fatigue would be understandable, but Byleth brings a number of different tactics to the table. I would argue they’re as much of a deviation from the traditional formula as Robin was. Like Robin and Corrin, male and female forms are available, with different skins representing Byleth, Claude, Edelgard and Sothis, as well as both genders with their green hair. You’ll need to play Three Houses to find out why. It’s no secret that Smash Bros has a lot of swordfighters gener-
ally. You can feel Sakurai biting agility means you really have to the back of his hand as a brief commit to whatever move you’re montage plays in the reveal trailer about to make and, if you screw it of Byleth being pummelled by all up, you’re going down. This the swordfighters already in the makes playing as them a little game. In addition to their trade- tense - you find yourself putting a mark weapon, the Sword of the lot of thought into every move, in Creator, Byleth also has access to case you don’t get another one. the powerful and exceptionally There’s a real sweet spot when hard to spell weapons wielded by playing as this character. It takes Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude practice, but it feels good when from Three Houses. From you find it. Obviously, the characEdelgard, they have the ter comes accompanied magical axe Aymr, which with new music, packs a serious wallop which is attractive at close range, with a for fans of the slow but exceptiongame and a new ally powerful down stage, Garreg special. From M a c h playable fighters Dimitri, they have Monastery. The in Super Smash the lance Areadbhar, stage itself, Bros. Ultimate which gives them while a good more reach with their accompaniment, (including DLC) side special, as well as is also a little their forward smash. sparse in places. Finally, from Claude, Given how large and they have the bow Failnaught, plot central the monaswhich has serious power if you tery was in the game, a few get enough space to charge it up. more features would have made it Sothis also lends Byleth her even better. strength in their Final Smash, the For those annoyed by the addiinterestingly named Progenitor tion of a new Fire Emblem charGod Ruptured Heaven. acter, fear not. There will, of However, there is a significant course, be at least six more addiproblem with Byleth. They may tions to the fighter roster, while a be more varied than most of the new release of Mii Costumes, Fire Emblem characters on offer, among them Cuphead and Altaïr but they’re also kind of slow. from Assassin’s Creed will help Their walking speed is woeful tide you over. I, of course, remain and all of their special attacks a big fan of the Ashen Demon, but leave them vulnerable to counters, I too wait with bated breath to see which could be annoying, particu- what Sakurai comes up with larly if, somewhat ironically, next. you’re playing against other Fire Emblem characters. This lack of
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Nintendo
Sam Arrowsmith
News: Dying Light 2 Delayed Daniel Bray
Techland
Gaming Writer @Brayhound
On the 20th of January, game developer Techland announced that the highly anticipated Dying Light 2 has been delayed indefinitely. Techland’s statement said that while they were ‘initially aiming for a Spring 2020 release’, they need more time ‘to fulfil our vision’. Techland have already confirmed that the game will come out on both next-
gen consoles – the PS5 and Xbox Series X – so it’s possible that this delay could result in a streamlined release across multiple generations on multiple platforms. This delay follows a growing trend of big titles being delayed this year – Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel’s Avengers, Iron Man VR and Final Fantasy 7 Remake have all been hit by delays this January. However, unlike all of these titles, we don’t have an indication of a release window for Dying Light 2. With the prominence of crunch culture increasing in the last decade, and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red
confirming that the delay to the game would not prevent further crunches, we are reaching a worrying point in terms of game development. While Techland didn’t indicate whether Dying Light 2’s delay would reduce the crunch for their developers, the pressure is now on to deliver a very polished game which lives up to fans’ expectations. Dying Light 2 was unveiled at E3 2018, with a demo available for press members the following year at E3 2019. Techland are aiming to place a larger emphasis on narrative than in Dying Light, and this sequel will have a storyline that changes based on your decisions, making it possible to lose a large portion of the game in each different playthrough improving the game’s replay value.
Nintendo
GAMING
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickgaming
27
Esports Preview: Overwatch League Season 3
Blizzard
CD Projekt Red
Editor Alex Green previews the upcoming season of Blizzard’s premiere Esports division and the big changes coming for players and fans alike
Alex Green Gaming Editor @AlexGreen9898
Another year rolls around and with that comes another season of Blizzard’s premiere Esports league. The Overwatch League feels like Blizzard’s most marketable and viable Esport that can compete with the behemoths of League of Legends or Dota 2. Blizzard can boast as much given the 1.12m average viewers on all platforms that saw the San Francisco Shock handily sweep the Vancouver Titans 4-0 in the Grand Finals of Season 2. After two full seasons, the teams, the players and the D.va bombs are all about to blast on our screens this weekend from the 8th of February. Once again, things have changed. The amount of times Blizzard have made seemingly wholesale changes to this league has meant that what we have is a far different beast compared to the start. Last season was one defined by the metagame, referring to the most popular team of characters and their combined abilities. Early on, the GOATs composition which used three support characters – primarily healers - and three tank characters – bigger characters with more health – dominated play for the first three stages of the season. Some teams would run with compositions that used damage characters. In particular, the Chengdu Hunters, Paris Eternal and Atlanta Reign were teams willing to try Overwatch’s various heroes such as hacking specialist Sombra, blade-wielding Genji, and even the turret-building Torbjorn. However, the disparity between those teams and the top dogs such as the afore-
mentioned San Francisco Shock and Vancouver Titans was plain to see. The period was certainly intriguing for those who were genuinely interested in the nuances of two teams playing the same compositions and heroes matching up. However, the general audience did grow weary of seeing the same set of six heroes in a game with over thirty to pick from.
“The Overwatch League is a completely different animal” In response, Blizzard rolled out the 2-2-2 role queue system both in the game and for Overwatch League. Teams are now locked into two of each role and this made GOATs extinct. However, this clearly hasn’t gone far enough and Blizzard recently announced Hero Pools, a new system coming to the game (and will be implemented in the upcoming season) which disables certain heroes, as dictated by Blizzard, in a rotating system each week. The Overwatch League will implement this by banning one tank, one support and two damage heroes for selection in matches. According to a statement on the League website, teams will be given a week’s notice before their matches which heroes will be unavailable for play and no hero will be banned for two weeks in a row. For the season’s playoffs and Grand Finals, these rules will not be in effect. This could certainly vary up the action from week to week, forcing teams and players to be more versatile when it comes
to their best heroes and even giving substitute players who don’t get much game time more opportunities when their skills with specific characters may be crucial in a given matchup. Each weekend could present interesting new techniques and strategies from the teams both at the top and bottom of the league. However, notice that I say each weekend. This is possibly the biggest and arguably the most controversial change to this upcoming season. Last year, Blizzard tested the waters of games away from the Blizzard Arena in Los Angeles, where all games took place, in various locations such as Dallas and Atlanta. The resulting games were full of raucous crowds and incredible excitement, and so games will take place on weekends with two teams hosting four matches. This should hopefully keep crowds excited instead of the Blizzard Arena which whilst a great home for the games was nothing compared to the huge attendance and atmosphere it brought. The flip side of this has been increasing concerns for players. The first two years have been marred by concerns of players’ mental health. Some high-profile players who have left to pursue full-time streaming include Daniel ‘Dafran’ Francesca and Brandon ‘Seagull’ Larned. Others, such as the Dallas Fuel’s Hyeon ‘Effect’ Hwang, retired due to huge negative impacts on their mental health. The continuing retirement of players has been an important concern considering the additional travel time players will be facing, particularly for teams going to London to Philadelphia to Seoul and beyond. Add to this to the usual rigours of the daily practice, scrimmages, training and video
reviewing. One hopes Blizzard is more considerate with regards to the mental health and concerns of the players who make these games possible as the demands placed upon them increase drastically in the upcoming months of play. This subject has already seen prominent analysts and casters, including Christopher ‘Montecristo’ Mylkes, Chris Puckett, and Malik Forté all have decided to not cast Season 3 over various personal decisions and, in some cases as well as others, disagreements with the league over pay and reservations on the direction of the league.
“Each weekend could present interesting new techniques and tactics”
changes could really see a huge upward trajectory for Houston in 2020. In addition, Ryujehong, one of the League’s oldest and most experienced players at 28, prominently moved to the Vancouver Titans from a slightly disappointing Seoul Dynasty team who should probably have done more. As one of the senior veterans of Overwatch Esports, Ryujehong is a player bringing so much to the table. Hopefully in Season 3 we get to see that experience come to fruition. The Overwatch League is a completely different animal in Season 3, and hopefully one that is still engaging from a tactical perspective as well as an entertainment one. We could well be in for a great season, but let’s hope the players can get through it healthily. Overwatch League Season 3 kicks off on February 8th at 6pm , streaming on Youtube Gaming. Opening Weekend Schedule
The downtime also brought about teams looking to strengthen the squads like any sports team through transfers and finding new players in the more regional Overwatch Contenders tournaments. Some of the bigger transfers that could be worth tracking include Neko transferring from a solid Boston Uprising team to the Houston Outlaws who could definitely use his skills as floating robot monk Zenyatta in the support slot. Speaking of the Outlaws, they have been incredibly active in the off season and have even added MekO to their ranks, an excellent player for the game’s off-tank characters who have less shielding for the team but more damage to dish out. These two
Saturday February 8th 2020 Toronto Defiant vs Paris Eternal - 6pm London Spitfire vs New York Excelsior - 8pm LA Gladiators vs Vancouver Titans - 10pm Sunday February 9th 2020 London Spitfire vs Paris Eternal - 6pm Boston Uprising vs New York Excelsior - 8pm LA Valiant vs Vancouver Titans - 10pm LA Valiant vs Dallas Fuel 12am
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FOOD&DRINK
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickfood
Interview: Bite Your Brum Food&Drink Editor Gabrielle Taylor-Dowson interviews local food blogger Laura McEwan, to discuss everything from food snobbery to student-friendly eats Gabrielle TaylorDowson Food&Drink Editor
Laura McEwan is the big personality behind Bite Your Brum, an award-winning Birmingham food blog with a big appetite. What started off in early 2017 as a passion project has since evolved into a brand. Bite Your Brum stands out because of its unpretentious approach to food - Laura shares her thoughts on crisp-tasting with just as much enthusiasm as her fine-dining experiences, and it’s this inclusionary attitude that has garnered her such a loyal following. Laura largely only reviews Birmingham-based places; her love for the city and what it has to offer is evident in every post she makes. Laura also knows that the majority of her followers are not millionaires, so most of her finds across Birmingham are incredibly affordable. It seems then, that Bite Your Brum is the perfect tool for students to use as a way of getting more out of their time in Birmingham. There is surely no better recommendation for a restaurant, café or bar in the city, than one that comes from a foodloving Brummie! What made you decide to start Bite Your Brum? Laura: I’ve always been a big lover of food and dining out, and since moving to Birmingham in 2006 after university I’ve watched the city grow and evolve - especially with regards to the food scene. It always bothered me that no one was really shouting about it, and I never found a blog or website to follow that shared my views or suited my personality, I guess. I’m a writer by day and decided to start a blog to jot down my
thoughts about the local food scene so people like me (not a student but by no means rich) could find great places to eat, whether that’s
street food or fine dining. I never thought for one minute that it would grow into what it is now, winning an award and hitting 10,000+ page views a month. I’m really proud of it. What do you most enjoy about running Bite Your Brum? Laura: I love the interaction with the people reading it - it’s great to hear how passionate and excited folk are by the places I visit and write about. Also, it may sound cheesy but I’ve made some truly wonderful friends through Bite Your Brum - people often comment that the blogging scene can be a bit catty but I feel lucky to have had a chance to meet some special people.
“It’s great to hear how passionate and excited folk are by the places I visit and write about” Following on from the previous question, what do you find most challenging? As with anything involving social media, occasionally you get some idiots that try to pick a fight or send abuse. I used to get a bit upset about it but then I realised you can’t please everyone and some people are just awful - once you come to terms with that you stop caring about that minority and focus on those who enjoy and
Instagram: @BiteYourBrum
benefit from the blog and social channels.
things! But what’s the one thing, if it were on the menu, that c o u l d always tempt you?
Why do you think it is important to adopt an I’ll-try-anything approach to food? Is there anything that you would never review? Laura: I absolutely hate food snobbery - you’re not better than someone else because you spend £200 on dinner somewhere. I appreciate fine dining but I also appreciate how good a massive cheeseburger is. I think people resonate with that, and they like my no-nonsense attitude towards the blog. Most of us aren’t millionaires but we all like a treat now and again; the blog hopefully mirrors that perspective. What do you love most about the Birmingham food scene? Does Birmingham have anything that makes it stand out from other UK cities food-wise? Laura: I love the variety and the absolute determination of our chefs to strive for more. In terms of standouts, we often overlook the importance of venues like Digbeth Dining Club that people travel up and down the country to visit each weekend. We can’t take those things for granted. Customers are constantly told to eat and spend independently and locally. Why, in your opinion, is giving local, independent businesses your money worth it? When you spend “locally” through independent businesses you’re actively giving back to your commun i t y.
You’re not finding some g l o b a l chain run by faceless men in suits that wouldn’t eat the food you’re shelling out for if you paid them. When you support indies you support new ideas
Laura: I love cheese and carbs, so probably something like lobster mac and cheese, or a really good roast dinner. You can’t beat that when you’re hungover.
Instagram: @BiteYourBrum
and concepts, you support a person with a family wanting to bring something different to the city. I’ve got nothing against chains but I prefer to spend more of my money, personally, with great local businesses that work really hard. The Independent Birmingham app is a useful tool to help you eat and drink well for less within the city.
“You can’t go wrong with a burger from The Meat Shack, the lunchtime curry bowl deal from The Indian Streatery, and the pizza at Rudy’s” If you were to create a food/drink guide to ‘Birmingham’s Best Spots’ for a uni student, what would your top three recommendations be? Laura: You can’t go wrong with a burger from The Meat Shack, the lunchtime curry bowl deal from The Indian Streatery, and the pizza at Rudy’s. All three of those cost under £8 and they’re fabulous. As a food blogger, I presume that you’re always looking to try new
What do you think the worst/most overrated food trend is? (For me, it was when everything was unicorn/rainbow themed. I find bright, synethetic colours on food really off-putting!) Laura: Yeah, I hate that stuff. I’m fed up of charcoal buns (they add no flavour and look revolting) and everything being called ‘dirty’ - topped fries aren’t dirty because you get a bit of sauce on your fingers. Ridiculous. Lastly, what are you most looking forward to in 2020? Any plans for Bite Your Brum you can let us in on, or perhaps whispers of a new restaurant opening in the city that you’re excited for? Laura: As someone who lives centrally I’m looking forward to the Paradise Birmingham development being completed, not only so I can walk from my apartment easily but also because we’re due to see some new restaurants open. I’m looking forward to Aktar Islam’s new Argentinian restaurant opening in Brindleyplace, but there’s all sorts of cool things coming to the city this year. You’ll have to wait and see and keep an eye on the blog - my lips are sealed. For the most tantalising food recommendations, you can explore more of Bite Your Brum at www.biteyourbrum.com, and on Instagram under @biteyourbrum
FOOD&DRINK
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbrickfood
29
The Veganuary Cash Cow: Do the Companies Really Care?
Food&Drink’s Eleanor Howson asks whether fast-food companies really care about catering for vegans, or are just looking to profit Eleanor Howson Food&Drink Writer
Veganism is on the rise, so it is no surprise that at the turn of the decade Veganuary became a lifestyle many people pledged to join. In fact, 2020 encouraged a record of 400,000 people to ditch knives for forks during the first month of the year. This plant-based trend did not go unnoticed by the food market. Arguably, such a development in the vegan market is positive for the movement as it provides more accessibility to a diet that could seem rather foreign and daunting to some. However, with the UK vegan market worth £443m in 2018 alone, was the introduction of vegan options into our supermarkets and fast-food restaurants just a greenwashing strategy?
“Was the introduction of vegan options... just a greenwashing strategy?” Burger King is an example of a business that arguably misled the general public into believing they were catering for vegans.
Lora Jones, a BBC journalist, reported that Burger King released a new burger marketed as plantbased. However, it was not vegan or vegetarian friendly. This is because the burger was cooked in the same place as meat and mayonnaise was served on top of the patty. Although the patty itself was vegan, the burger in its entirety was not. Jones reported that the marketing director of Burger King wanted to target flexitarians.
like the Burger King plant-based burger should be supported causes debate. Even though the burger was not completely vegan, some may argue that it was still a step in the right direction as it encouraged more people to reduce their meat consumption. KFC is yet another fast-food chain that saw the gap in the market for vegan alternatives. Historically a fried chicken restaurant, KFC introduced a vegan ‘Chicken Fillet Burger’ at the start of 2020. Included in the burger was a Quorn fillet and vegan mayonnaise. Surely if KFC used vegan mayonnaise,
Graeme Pow
However, the marketing of this burger was arguably misleading. Whilst the company used advertising that suggested they were supporting vegan-friendly products, the actual product did not comply with this. Therefore, the argument over whether products
Burger K i n g could have too? The KFC vegan burger was exceedingly popular - even in the trial phase the burger sold out in four days - so it was undoubtedly a hit. However, KFC remains a predominantly non-vegan-
friendly restaurant; even their chips are still unsuitable for vegans.
“Is buying vegan options from fastfood chains the only way veganism could be normalised and encouraged?” Additionally, it must be remembered that KFC is dedicated to serving chicken so, while the support for the vegan option promoted the plant-based campaign, it also poured money into the supplying of meat for the company. So does KFC truly care for the vegan lifestyle? Is buying vegan options from fast-food chains the only way veganism could be normalised and encouraged? Debatably, if vegans truly wanted to support a diet that did not bring harm to any animals, supporting businesses dedicated to the vegan movement would have been more impactful than buying vegan alternatives from fast-food restaurants this January. Even Selly Oak has a
PxFuel
local vegan business available to support: Vegan Munch. It is a student favourite and cannot be missed. You could even try out the vegan nuggets that were released late last year. Ultimately, by spending money at businesses like Vegan Munch, vegans can ensure that their money is only being funded into vegan projects. Understandably, it is not always possible to support only purely vegan businesses, however it is evident that vegan alternatives should be consumed wisely, knowing that the companies producing the food have sometimes greenwashed in order to make a profit. Do you think fast-food veganism is a change for the better, or a way for businesses to cash-in rather than promote the vegan lifestyle?
Review: Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Food&Drink Writer Izzy Frost explains why its distance from Birmingham shouldn’t stop you from visiting this gin-lovers paradise Izzy Frost Food&Drink Writer
Tucked away in the good old English countryside of Whitchurch, Hampshire, is a world of gin to immerse yourself in – the only world I wanted to be in on the crisp January morning when I visited the Bombay Sapphire Distillery. Built in and around buildings standing since the Victorian era, the distillery doesn’t just feel like it could have over 1,000 years of history, it’s the real deal. One of the highlights of the distillery – and the part you’re most likely to see plastered over the #bombaysapphiredistillery Instagram tag – are the two enormous glasshouses used to grow all 10 of the botanicals used in every bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, these beautiful glass constructions are designed to look, rather decadently, like gin pouring out of the building behind
them, into the River Test running below. We visited the Mediterranean Glasshouse and saw the beautiful botanicals growing inside. This building has received a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating for sustainability – the first structure for the manufacturing of drinks to achieve this – largely due to its heating being provided by the excess heat from the gin house behind it.
“Here, you can touch, smell and taste the botanicals that go in each bottle” As well as getting close to the four stills, in which 100% of the gin sold by Bombay Sapphire is produced, part of the experience is also the assault on the senses that is the Botanical Dry Room. Here, you can touch, smell, and
taste the botanicals that go into each bottle. I would recommend eating a ‘proper’ meal before going to the distillery, purely to strengthen your body in preparation for the intense and sometimes stomach-turning smells you will experience in this room – it’s easy to see why Bombay Sapphire gin is legally a food due to all its edible ingredients. We also saw where the gin from each distillation is qualitychecked, and got to smell a glass of it at around 80% alcohol concentration before it was diluted to be sold – as well as hear a few horror stories from times when people have tried to drink it. Our ‘Hosted Experience’ package included a free cocktail, with each person being recommended a cocktail based on the particular smells they enjoyed in the Botanical Dry Room – an impressive personal touch. I was recommended the ‘Awakening Star’, and although this sounded like a bit of a crazy mix, consist-
Bombay Sapphire
ing of gin (of course), red wine, apple juice and Earl Grey tea tonic, I decided to take the risk – and this totally paid off. Exquisitely made and dangerously lacking in any jarring alcoholic taste, this had obviously been designed by an expert. I don’t think I’ll be controversial in saying that I love a gift shop, and the Bombay Sapphire
shop does not disappoint – it seems to me an excellent business tactic to place it after the cocktails, which work a treat to loosen the purse strings. For any true gin fans there is some really incredible stuff to be seen (or purchased) in this shop, from endless gin recipe books to diamond-encrusted crystal decanters.
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TRAVEL
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricktravel
One for the Bucket List: New Zealand South Island Roisin Dixon outlines her trip to New Zealand and gives an insight into the best places to visit on the South Island from top to bottom Roisin Dixon Travel Writer
New Zealand is a country full of amazing people, incredible wildlife and even better scenery and there is no end to the things that you can see and do. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie looking to tick a skydive off your bucket list or simply take in the white sand beaches and crystalclear water on the coast, then New Zealand is the place for you. After spending four weeks road tripping New Zealand and being completely overwhelmed by everything this country has to offer, I thought I would compile a list of the top things I would recommend for anyone to see or do. So, from the bottom of the South Island right to the top here is my New Zealand South Island ultimate bucket list. Milford Sound: Situated in Fiordland National park, which is one of the most unexplored areas of New Zealand, Milford Sound is a spectacular fiord that runs into the Tasman sea. Surrounded by cascading waterfalls (including the Sutherland Falls which is the
tallest in New Zealand) as well as natural New Zealand bush and colonies of Fur Seals, it is a must-see! The best way to see this marvel of nature is from the water with several cruises running tours every hour. I would highly recommend using a company with a smaller boat such as Cruise Milford, although it was a little more expensive, the boat is much quieter allowing you to get away from the crowds and enjoy the extraordinary scenery in peace and quiet. Despite the long drive to Milford Sound there are plenty of things to see along the way making it well worth the trip. Queenstown: Queenstown is surrounded by the dramatic Southern Alps and sits around the beautiful Lake Wakatipu. The town is a tourist hotspot but enjoy the buzz and make the most of the great restaurants in the centre. We especially liked Public Kitchen which sits right on the wharf encircled by incredible mountains. If you’re looking to save money give the gondola to the top of the Queenstown skyline a miss and instead take the Tiki Trail to the top. This walk should take around an hour one way, depending on
your pace. It is definitely steep and pretty hard work but the views from the top are amazing and even better when you know that you have worked for them. Lake Tekapo: It is not often that you get the opportunity to marvel at lakes as blue as Lake Tekapo and the neighbouring Lake Pukaki. As if the beauty of the lakes themselves were not enough, the whole area is covered in pink and purple lupins as well as being surrounded by vast mountains that frame the landscape. Be sure to hike to the top of Mount John for views of the Lake from above and grab a coffee and delicious cake at the Astro Café whilst you are up there. Lake Tekapo is undeniably beautiful and belongs on everyone’s bucket list when travelling around New Zealand’s South Island. Nelson Lakes National Park : This is a picture-perfect location with pristine docks leading out to crystal clear lakes. Although it is a popular spot, you cannot help but be absorbed by the tranquillity and calm of the area with most people around the lake being New Zealanders themselves. The two lakes, Lake
All images Roisin Dixon
Rotoiti and Rotoroa are great for swimming and boating but watch out for the Longfin Eels who reside in the lakes and are usually found underneath the docks, don’t worry, they are harmless. While you are in the area be sure to check out the Whiskey Falls which have a fairy-tale like quality. The walk to the falls leads you along the lapping Lake Rotoiti and through the New Zealand bush, a very calming experience. Abel Tasman National Park: Don't miss this off your South Island itinerary. With its white and golden sand beaches, turquoise water, subtropical weather and arguably the best kayaking in New Zealand it truly is the South Islands own little paradise. The world-famous Abel Tasman Coast Track is a must while visiting the National Park. We decided to do the twelve-kilometre section from Bark Bay to Anchorage Bay, it was worth every step and exceeded all of our expectations. You cannot miss Split Apple Rock, the gorgeous Golden Bay area and a trip to the Smokey Barrel in the nearby town of Motueka to try the best doughnuts! Most of the stunning beaches in Abel Tasman are not easily accessible
and so unless you are willing to walk the whole sixty kilometres of the Abel Tasman Coast Track, I would definitely recommend making the most of the water taxis and kayaks. It’s the only way to really experience the true beauty of this extraordinary place.
“It is truly worth every penny and every hour spent travelling” If you ever have an opportunity to travel to this amazing country, then grab it with both hands. The immense waterfalls, crystal-clear lakes and huge mountains all make for scenery like nothing I have ever seen before. It is truly worth every penny, every hour spent travelling and every single step of the hikes that you will inevitably do. I hope that I have inspired you to travel to New Zealand because I can say, with my whole heart, that I will never forget my time there.
TRAVEL
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricktravel
Year Abroad Series: Halfway Point Zoe Willis gives us her initial impressions of French life in comparison to UoB Zoe Willis Travel Writer
Being now halfway through my year abroad with just four months left to go, it’s an appropriate time to make an update of the best and worst of going on an Erasmus exchange. I’m at Aix-Marseille University in the beautiful town of Aix-en-Provence right in the heart of the south of France. I must confess that at first I was quite disenchanted with French university life when first arriving, but the long hours and almost schoolish approach which the system adopts means I have one thing in abundance: free time! Rather than spending hours slaving over assignments and researching in the library, most of the work is done in the actual classes; hours outside of class suddenly become filled with new possibilities. Of course, the most obvious of these is travelling around the area, and there have been a variety of ways to do this. The local buses in Aix run to nearby seaside villages, as well as to Marseille for a mere €2; Flixbus can take you to most of the nearby big cities for a budget-friendly price; trains go both to small towns nearby and to more touristy destinations. At first, I was all for ticking off the big bucket-list style cities in France, but the prices of
the trains and flights makes this less feasible for a student. Instead I’ve been pushed to make the most of the beautiful region of Provence and to get what I can out of the area around me – this is something I’ll definitely be doing more of when I return to the UK. One place can be filled with so many undiscovered treasures, so it fills me with shame to say I have rarely ventured into the centre of Birmingham other than for a night out. The biggest difference from UoB is the extreme disorganisation embedded deep in the underfunded French higher education system. It takes a lot of mental energy to deal with the administration, let alone spending up to seven hours a day in classes taught in another language. While tough, the main thing I do to stay sane is put something in each day I will enjoy. Whether this means giving in to my newfound croissant addiction, going to dance practice, chatting with my friend after cooking dinner, or simply walking into town to admire sunlight on the golden architecture, this year abroad has kickstarted practising mindful enjoyment of the small things. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it for both the geographical and personal adventure it takes you on.
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Editor's Picks: Travel Apps Josie Hart and Katie Norris
Travel Editors
Citymapper: Navigate yourself on your city breaks with this handy app that helps you to plan and guide routes on public transport abroad. With maps of cities across Europe, Asia and Australia covered, you won't find yourself getting lost on your adventures. It's also eco-friendly and cost-efficient to make use of public transport to get around the city as locals would. Whilst Google Maps is a common go-to when navigating foreign places, Citymapper excels due to its public transport accuracy.
Wikimedia
AirBnb: This is a classic must have app as AirBnb allows you to find local hosts and cheap accommodation across the world. Whilst there has been some scepticism around it, it's definitely a good option when travelling on a budget as it's prices are unbeatable - essential when you're a student. Feedback and reviews on the app also helps you prevent disappointment.
Wikimedia
Lonely Planet: The Lonely Planet app is a complete must have. with features varying from finding local accommodation to transport, we can't imagine going anywhere without it. Also, it has guides for a range of locations to allow you to find the best spots to see and make the most of your visit. After the popularity of the Lonely Planet travel guides, this app version lives up to expectation.
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Why To See Venice In The Winter: Overtourism and Escaping The Winter Blues Bethany Carter Travel Writer
With 2020 being in full steam, a lot of you may be desperate to escape the dull and dreary weather of the UK. Here is a list of reasons as to why Venice is the perfect place to get away during the start of the new year. From January 24th to the 27th, I spent my time exploring the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. As January/February is not peak tourist season, I managed to get: my flights, 3 nights in a 4-star hotel right around the corner from St. Mark’s Square, breakfast included for the price of £206. Arriving in Venice was one of the most refreshing experiences I have ever encountered. Although the weather is only a slight improvement on the UK at this time of year, it is what makes Venice even more enchanting. Seeing the canals and quaint alleyways indulged with a fine fog-like mist made Venice seem like a land you would only find in
fairy-tales. You can get around Venice quite cheaply as there are rarely any cars or roads in sight; most locals just walk or take the water bus to where they need to be. Venice is also a great destination to escape the blues of the new year due to its warming/comforting nature. Walking through the quaint little alleyways is a pleasurable experience. The atmosphere is a very safe and friendly feeling, with fairy lights draped within most of the alleyways, and the streets always full of life. If you are in the need of some cultural indulgence, the architecture around Venice will be sure to impress. Saint Marks Basilica is a beautiful cathedral of exquisite architecture and is one of Venice’s most visited sites. Entry inside of the cathedral is free, with small charges to visit certain rooms inside as an optional choice. Right outside of the Basilica is St Mark’s Campanile (the Cathedral’s bell tower). Entry inside costs you €8, for this you will be able to go to the very top of the tower via lift
and have the most incredible view of Venice. This is definitely worth the price as the view is one of a kind and sheer bliss. Foodwise, the choice is abundant for great tasting food. For students on a budget, I found that ‘Tiziano Snack Bar’ offered a great service. For 10-11 euros (depending on what you choose) you could have pasta or pizza, with a drink. I enjoyed Tiziano so much was because it was delicious whilst still on the cheaper side compared to the other restaurants you may find in Venice. There is also no seating or service charge here, which is great as some restaurants have a lot of hidden costs here. I truly urge all of you to choose Venice as your chosen holiday this winter. If you go in the summer it is a lot busier as swarms of tourists gather to visit, and this may affect how well you enjoy your time here. It is a truly warming experience and my favourite destination to have visited yet!
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LIFE&STYLE
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Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricklife
Valentine’s Day: Love it or Leave it? Life&Style’s Caitlin Gittins discusses the origins of Valentine’s Day and whether in 2020 we should still be celebrating it Caitlin Gittins Life&Style Writer
Valentine’s Day finds its spot in one of several holidays universally celebrated with a long history going back to the Romans. There are a number of conflicting accounts about the origin of Valentine’s Day, but the consensus seems to be that Valentine’s Day historically commemorated Saint Valentine, the saint of courtly love. Although courting might be something reminiscent of Middle Age traditions, viewing contemporary Valentine’s Day celebrations through this lens shows that courtly love is still something we celebrate, especially on Valentine’s Day of all days. A typical Valentine’s Day celebration might involve taking out a loved one, wining and dining, and presenting them with a gift at the end, all behaviours evocative of ‘courting.’ Of course, present day celebrations don’t necessarily consciously align themselves with courtly love and are merely a reflection of people enjoying an age-old holi-
day. It does raise the question, however, of whether Valentine’s Day should continue to be a celebrated holiday.
“Valentine’s Day marks a day for some people as an appreciation for friendships” For instance, Valentine’s Day’s commercialisation poses an issue. Supermarkets and retailers in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day stock their shelves with food and gifts to be given to a loved one, exploiting the average consumer for money under the guise of celebrating a holiday. Another aspect oversees the exclusion of those who don’t celebrate the holiday but feel pressured to, after years of the misconception that Valentine’s Day is the only day to make a loved one feel appreci-
ated being enforced. Of course, the appreciation of a loved one can be celebrated any day, but the attachments and associations with Valentine’s Day being the day to do it increases this pressure. On the other side of the argument, Valentine’s Day marks a day for some people as an appreciation of friendships and romantic relationships. It is, for some, an anniversary for those who utilised Valentine’s Day to express how they felt about one another. As someone I spoke to about the holiday stated, ‘Valentine’s Day is a holiday where people come together, to cultivate the relationships they later enjoy.’
“...any holiday that we celebrate could be scrutinised’’ I aim not to speak about this holiday for everyone, but from personal experience, I have felt the pressures in the build-up to
Valentine’s Day, grappling with the idea of whether to fund the exploitation of retailers or not, or whether to not overthink the origins of the holiday and its current place in society, and to take my significant other out for a nice meal. There will always be the question of the place current holidays hold in our society, as there will always be the people who staunchly oppose it and those who enjoy celebrating it. More importantly, any holiday that we celebrate could be scrutinised under a microscope and its problematic aspects would be revealed. I do not have a definitive answer for the question of whether to continue celebrating Valentine’s Day, but I comfort myself with the knowledge that I am consciously weighing up the pros and cons of celebrating Valentine’s Day, and that I will probably go out with my significant other, but we will always have the choice to not celebrate it and to appreciate one another some other day.
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How to Celebrate ‘Galentine’s Day’ Life&Style Writer Mehar Anaokar suggests some of the fun things to do in Birmingham with your friends this Valentine’s day Mehar Anaokar Life&Style Writer
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and whether you’re single or taken (or even if it’s ‘complicated’) i t ’ s
always fun to celebrate how much you love your friends. Here are 5 things you can do on Galentine’s day in Birmingham- from just a cute little meal, to an evening show. Visit the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery always has plenty of interesting displays and time here is always well spent. Almost all of the exhibitions are free, and range from exhibits about Ancient Egypt to collections representing a timeline of fashion from the
1850s to present day. They also have a café and giftshop, where you can treat yourself, or your squad, with themed gifts. Lunch at the Warehouse Café Head over to Birmingham’s oldest vegetarian and vegan café, which also hosts a library and a bookshop. Along with their range of food and drink, they also have weekly offers, including a 15% student discount.
Drinks at The Alchemist The Alchemist on Colmore Row serves a wide range of cocktails, engaging in theatrical presentations. While the menu is a bit pricey, The Alchemist is definitely a great place to grab drinks with your friends and get cool boomerangs for the ‘gram.
Grizzly Pear
If you’re up for a not-so-quiet night of poetry, head over to the Bristol Pear where Writer’s Bloc will be hosting the spoken word event called Grizzly Pear. The week’s theme is laughter, though the theme is more of an inspiration than a strict rule, and there will also be open mic slots available on the door. Entry for students is £3, and £5 for everyone else.
Bonus: Climate March on the 14th of February
How better to show your love for the planet and life as we know it than to go to the climate march on Valentine’s Day? Head over to Victoria Square at 11am - you can even show off your art skills by making your poster about love!
Comment is Free
As for me? I’m going to the George Cadbury Hall for a performance of Comment is Free, a ‘brutal examination of our obsession with free speech and the voyeuristic nature of social media and 24-hour news,’ directed by Amy Draper. The tickets are £8, with a £5 concession rate for students. More information can be found on the University of Birmingham website. Daniel Horvath
Firkin
LIFE&STYLE
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricklife
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Stormzy under Scrutiny: Is Freedom of Speech Conditional? Life&Style Writer Romana Essop discusses the public backlash against Stormzy’s political comments and questions whether this could be an issue of race Romana Essop Life&Style Writer
The past few months has seen popular grime artist, Stormzy, under scrutiny from the media, and the public alike, for voicing his political and social concerns in songs and interviews. Following his headline spot at last year’s Glastonbury festival, there is no doubt that Stormzy’s influence and reach is global, and far above that of many grime artists who are typically most popular in the UK. However, perhaps as expected, this popularity has furthered criticism of the young singer, particularly in regards to his discourse on politics. The artist’s Glastonbury set was in itself a politically charged event, with Stormzy taking to the stage in a stab-vest designed by Banksy, and allowing the crowd to shout his famous lyric ‘F*** the government and f*** Boris’ ahead of the UK general election. Tabloid newspapers were quick to jump on the act and condemn Stormzy’s encouragement of controversial and explicit lyrics to such a large crowd. The tabloids also sparked further backlash for the artist after inaccurately reporting that he believed the UK was ‘100% racist,’ taking an interview response out of context which caused angry responses on social media and the trending of
#StormzyIsAMassiveBellend. The grime star in fact only agreed ‘100%’ with an interviewer’s suggestion that the UK was racist. This was followed by another example of disapproval from Piers Morgan, who shamed Stormzy for telling a primary school class that Boris Johnson was a ‘bad man’ in an online video. The controversial TV personality also took to social media to comment on Stormzy’s more recent appearance at Harry Styles’ intimate London gig celebrating the release of his new album. Styles brought Stormzy on stage during the set and joined him in performing ‘Vossi Bop’ to the Camden crowd. The pair encouraged chants of the aforementioned anti-Boris lyrics, but Morgan appeared to blame the act on Stormzy alone, whilst only mocking Styles with the tweet saying ‘Soooooo edgy,’ followed by a yawning emoji. This reaction hardly criticises the pop singer’s involvement, and instead belittles Stormzy’s message as little more than a trend; something fashionable Styles only engaged with to boost his image. This invalidating reaction draws attention to the imbalanced judgements made on Stormzy in relation to white celebrities who have also voiced their political concerns or spoken out about issues of racism. An article featured on The Conversation highlights the contrast between
Stormzy’s backlash and Gary Neville’s praise for speaking about racism, and raises the ultimate question about who the public deem as a legitimate and valid voice in political discourse. Similarly, a number of wellknown white celebrities took to social media before the UK general election, often criticising Boris Johnson and the Conservative party whilst promoting left-wing parties. Yet, despite communicating a similar message to Stormzy, these figures received far less criticism for their opinions. It is ironic that, in his attempts to raise awareness of racism in the UK, Stormzy actually experiences racial discrimination. This being said, Stormzy refuses to be shaken by this wave of criticism and constant scrutiny. The artist continues to speak openly about socio-political issues and opinions, particularly in regards to racism which he believes is an ongoing and increasing issue. Perhaps Stormzy’s critics ought to consider the established tradition of the rap/hip hop genre (and arguably many other music genres) that has always called for controversial and highly personal lyrics. Freedom of speech is highly valued in music, and when one acknowledges this, it is harsh to vilify Stormzy’s choice to address the very topics and opinions his music seeks to support.
Frank Schwichtenberg
Breaking Taboos One Tampon at a Time Life&Style’s Amy Larsen praises the taboo-breaking This Girl Can advert which presents women’s experience of menstruation in a long-awaited realistic light Amy Larsen Life&Style Writer
This Girl Can was originally launched in 2015 and has recently released a new advert t o encourage and inspire women to exercise. It is a campaign funded by The National Lottery and led by Sport England which aims to promote every type of exercise, claiming ‘Your body, your call.’ The website itself includes different ideas on how to get active from sailing and fencing to roller derby
Karen Arnold
and quidditch, the range is endless. The 2020 advert focuses on breaking the taboo of working out whilst on your period, by showing a woman’s tampon string as she changes after exercising. Director of insight at Sport England, Lisa O’Keefe stated ‘We’ve designed the new adverts to show things we’re still not seeing – women using exercise to manage period symptoms.’ The campaign offers a realistic presentation of exercising whilst menstruating and doesn’t push the narrative that as women we dress in all white, whilst smiling perfectly and experiencing no pain during menstruation, as depicted by many period adverts. The campaign shows real women taking part in exercise that can be incorporated easily into their everyday lives. The website for This Girl Can
offers a huge variety of ideas on how to get active, including working out with your baby or training with your pets. It also presents different stories discussing the barriers women have faced when it comes to exercising and how they have overcome them. For example, Hannah shared her experience with ‘debilitating cramps and discomfort’ whilst on her period which made it difficult for her to take part in any form of intense exercise. She found that she was able to do yoga and pilates whilst menstruating and embraced this form of physical activity. The campaign aims to inspire women to become more confident whilst taking part in any type of sport, it does this by showing a range of body types and ages in the advert, with a mother and daughter taking part in exercise together. This campaign is crucial
in encouraging women to become more active as many girls stop taking part in physical activity towards the end of secondary school, with 40% of women aged 16 and over not active enough to get the full health benefits of sport and physical activity.
“The campaign offers a realistic presentation of exercising whilst menstruating”
ing whilst on your period, This Girl Can is helping to break the taboo surrounding the subject and start a conversation which will benefit everyone. It also encourages women to b e c o m e more confident in themselves and embrace physical activity, without feeling a n y shame a b o u t their periods.
By creating an advert that portrays the reality of exercisPixabay
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SCI&TECH
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricktech
Rise of the Coronavirus
Daniel Bray investigates the origins of the virus making global news Daniel Bray Sci&Tech Writer
The year 1720 saw ‘The Great Plague of Marseilles,’ in which around 100,000 people died. 100 years later, in 1820, there was the first major cholera outbreak in Asia, which claimed over 100,000 lives. Pass through another century, to 1920, and you would be in the midst of the Spanish Flu, which caused at least 50 million deaths worldwide. Fast forward to the present day, the year 2020. In keeping with this unfounded 100-year trend, a coronavirus outbreak given the temporary name 2019nCoV - started in Wuhan City in China. At the time of writing, the World Health Organisation has confirmed over 300 deaths, and around 14,000 infected people in China, but it is believed that this figure is an underrepresentation of the true damage already caused. A study from Lancaster University, which has not been peer reviewed, and therefore should be taken with a grain of salt, estimates that by the 22nd January, there were already a total of 14,464 people infected by the coronavirus. Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes which sit on the surface of their outer ‘shell.’ Human coronaviruses were first identified in the mid-1960s, and there are currently only seven known coronaviruses that can infect people, including SARS, which caused global panic in 2003, infecting more than 8000 people and costing the global economy around $50bn. Like SARS, 2019-nCoV causes severe acute respiratory infection. Symptoms seem to be similar to those of influenza and SARS, starting with a fever and cough, followed by shortness of breath. Interestingly, the infection seems to rarely cause a runny nose or sneezing. The incubation period of the virus – the time
between being infected and show- prolong the public holiday from ing symptoms – is believed to be 30th January to 2nd February, between one and 14 days. Slightly while schools and universities are scarily, Chinese scientists have remaining closed until further confirmed that people are infec- notice. tious even before their symptoms There are still serious conappear, unlike other outbreaks cerns about the spread of the virus such as SARS and Ebola. Imperial – Chinese President Xi Jinping College estimates that the trans- has warned that its spread is accelmission vector – the number of erating, with many countries, people that each infected person including the US, UK, Australia, goes on to infect – is anywhere and Japan, repatriating and quarbetween 1.5 and 3.5. This cer- antining citizens as a precaution. tainly does nothing to alleviate In an effort to stop the domestic the worries of the world’s popula- spread of the virus, travel restriction. tions have been put in place in Chinese authorities suspect many Chinese cities. Wuhan City that the virus originated in the has been quarantined from the South China Seafood Wholesale rest of China, with public transMarket in Wuhan, which sells port not running, and private cars wild animals including bats and being banned from the roads. chickens, as well as seafood. They Trains and flights have been cansay that the market ‘conducted celled across the nation. illegal transactions of wild Remote towns and villages animals,’ which could are taking matters into be the source of the their own hands o u t b r e a k . by blocking the Researchers say roads themthat 2019-nCoV selves. With is very similar many people to a virus found r e m e m b e rin Chinese ing the SARS horseshoe bats, outbreak in but it’s hard to 2003, also say for certain caused by a whether they’re coronavirus, it’s the origin of the no surprise that new virus. there is a ramping up One factor that has in the global and NIAID certainly not helped domestic responses to Chinese people is the fact that the this new virus. outbreak picked up wind just as In Wuhan itself, the reaction the country’s Lunar New Year to the virus has been more than holiday approached. Families just banning transport and blocktravel across the country to reu- ing roads – two emergency hospinite and enjoy food and festivi- tals are being built: one will hold ties. It’s thought that this travel- 1,000 beds, the other will have a ling may have helped spread the 1,300-person capacity. The first virus out of Wuhan City. Many hospital is due to be ready on people are angry that two events Tuesday 4th February, with the in Wuhan City in early January – second facility aiming for a midthe distribution of 200,000 tickets February opening. On top of this, to tourist sites, and a communal the Chinese government have dinner with over 40,000 attendees flown specialist military medical – were not cancelled, and as such teams to Hubei, and have said that may have also aided the transmis- a two more hospitals will be built, sion of the virus. In a bid to slow showing their desire to deal with its spread, officials decided to this problem as soon as possible.
Back home, the government has confirmed that 266 people have been screened for the virus, with all but two tests coming back negative so far. On Tuesday 28th January, a man from Harborne was taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, after being sent home from his GP surgery, but he doesn't appear to have the virus. There is some concern though, as only a tenth of Britons flagged as at-risk due to their travel history have actually been found and contacted.
Sci&Tech Writer
Many of us will support the notion that dogs have a positive impact upon our lives. Our four-legged friends provide us with a constant, non-judgemental, and often needed source of unconditional love. Beyond the adorable online videos and anecdotes for evidence, Harvard Medical School promotes dog ownership - with those owning fourlegged friends found to be calmer, more social, and more present in their lives. But beyond improvements in general wellbeing, novel research from Yolken and colleagues suggest that dogs may do more for a mental health than previously realised- including reducing our risk of developing the hallucination and delusion inducing disor-
der schizophrenia. Sourcing patients with the mood disorders bipolar or schizophrenia from inpatient and rehabilitation programmes, 1,371 males and females aged 18-65 with either one of the disorders or none (healthy controls) reported on whether they have owned cats or dogs during the first 12 years of their lives. In firsttime results, analyses revealed that when individuals had been exposed to pet dog ownership before their 13th birthday they were 24% less likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia later in their life, compared those who owned no animal or those who owned a cat. The largest protective effect for schizophrenia was identified in those who began their dog ownership prior to the 3rd birthday, whilst no protective nor offensive relationship was found between dog ownership and the later development of bipolar disorder.
Although these results may seem unexpected to some, exposure to dogs during the early years of one’s life alters the environment they are exposed to- a key factor in influencing individuals’ later development of psychological dysfunction. Exposure to canine bacteria and viruses, triggered allergy responses, changes to the house microbiome (microorganism community) and relaxation related brain chemistry changes have all been linked to the alteration of the human immune response, which could in turn provide ‘protection’ against some diseases. Although the exact mechanism behind the study’s results remain unclear, it has been theorised that dogs may pass ‘something’ within their microbiome to humans which strengthens the immune system or perhaps even overpowers genetic predispositions to schizophrenia. So, should everyone swap their
Daniella Southin Sci&Tech Writer
If you are worried about contracting 2019-nCoV, the World Health Organisation recommends following their standard procedures to reduce the exposure to and transmission of the coronavirus, and illnesses in general: Frequently clean hands with soap and water, or alcohol-based handwash. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or failing that, the inside of your elbow. Then wash your hands and throw away any tissues used. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of a fever and cough. Raw meat, milk, and animal products should be handled with care to avoid cross-contamination, as per good food safety practice. If you have a fever, a cough, and difficulty breathing, you should contact your doctor and tell them about your recent travel history. If you follow this advice, you should be fine. Those who have died due to 2019-nCoV have mainly been those with an underlying chronic disease, and the elderly, and severe illness is only reported to be caused in about a quarter of cases. Today more than ever, it’s important to not fall for misinformation, racism, or scare tactics, and instead make sure that we keep our own personal hygiene up to scratch.
Dogs Reduce Schizophrenia Risk Madison HardingWhite
Creature Feature: The Moustache Toad
Tabbies for Terriers in order to reduce their children’s chances of developing schizophrenia? Not quite. Although this research does provide us with interesting, new findings it has not yet been replicated- meaning we cannot be certain of the reliability of any conclusions. Further research is needed to demonstrate the same results across a variety of populations in addition to formulating a better understanding of the underpinning mechanisms before any these results can be proposed as certain.
Chevanon Photography
Cameron M. Hudson, Jinzhong Fu
Native to the Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan provinces of China, leptobrachium boringiialso known as the moustache toad – lives in a large range of natural habitats. These include grasslands, temperate forests, and nearby rivers. However, their mating style is considerably more specific. Threatened by a loss of habitat, these otherwise normal looking amphibians grow up to 16 ‘keratinized nuptial spines' during the mating season. Sitting on the toads’ upper lips, these spines resemble a spiked moustache – not too dissimilar to the spiked hair of teenage boys in the '90s. Like that '90s hair, the moustache is a form of competition in males - used in combat to win themselves a female mate. These fights involve the male toads attempting to stab their rivals with their pointy protrusions. Males of this species are often larger than females.
Cameron M. Hudson, Jinzhong Fu
SCI&TECH
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricktech
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A Window of Hope for Amish Communities Scie&Tech Editor Ellen Heimpel describes a non-profit research study to investigate the genetic causes of inherited disorders in the Amish communities of the US Ellen Heimpel Sci&Tech Editor
The Windows of Hope project is a non-profit research study based at the University of Exeter. It aims to investigate the genetic causes of inherited conditions in Amish communities in the US, and is working towards identifying and treating these diseases. The Amish are religious communities in the US that follow strict Christian theologies and aim to lead as simple lives as possible. These communities originate from Swiss- German borders in Europe. They were forced to leave due to religious persecution during the 18th and 19th century and travelled to America where they settled in Pennsylvania and Ohio. These communities grew rapidly,
and Amish people now live in lots of areas across America. However, their populations are still culturally isolated, and therefore the communities can harbour different and sometimes novel genetic diseases. Additionally, Amish people do not have health insurance and all the funding for healthcare provision comes from within the community themselves. Therefore, medical research within these communities is important in order to correctly identify and treat these diseases at as low a cost as possible. A common misconception about Amish people is that they do not accept medical interventions. Although the communities try to live as simply as possible and sometimes even reject things we see as essentials such as mir-
rors and even shoes, they only reject the advances they see as unnecessary. They will, however, accept technology that they feel is beneficial to them and to their children. Amy Baker from the Window of Hope project tells BBC Inside Science that she has observed an Amish family accepting a cochlear implant device to help their child hear and that they would charge this device on a horse-drawn generator! The WHO project began in 2000, when there was a poor knowledge of genetic diseases affecting Amish people and only 5% of sufferers had received a specific diagnosis. This number has now risen to 75%, largely because of the work of this project. Over the past 20 years they have defined 18 new diseases and identified 70 existing diseases that
were not previously known to affect Amish people.
“They would charge this device on a horse-drawn generator� An example of a new genetic disorder that has been identified is Amish Angelman syndrome. This shares many symptoms with Angelman syndrome, such as delayed development, speech impairment and intellectual disability, as well as novel symptoms
such as floppy limbs. Children suffering from this syndrome had previously been diagnosed as autistic. Research carried out by the WoH project identified the syndrome and identified a cheap and easy test for it - sufferers have very long big toes. Amish Angelman syndrome comes with an increased risk of seizures. By identifying and correctly diagnosing this disease, clinicians and parents can be better prepared for the onset of seizures. The Windows of Hope project is therefore a highly important project that improves the lives of people and families within Amish communities, as well as providing useful genetic information which can be useful for defining or studying diseases in the rest of the world’s population.
Discovery of New Cells That Target Cancer Sci&Tech Writer Guy Pickering delves into new research on cancer treatment Guy Pickering Sci&Tech Writer
Researchers from the University of Cardiff have uncovered a powerful role for a protein known as MR1. This protein appears to selectively allow recognition and destruction of multiple types of cancer cells by cells of the immune system, while also sparing healthy cells from collateral damage. MR1 is a protein that cells use to present molecules used by microbes in the production of vitamin B, thereby allowing the immune system to recognise and kill cells that display such signs of infection. This antigen presentation is a wellestablished mechanism by which cells of the immune system can recognise and kill cancerous cells. In the study, published in Nature Immunology on January 20th, researchers cloned T cells from a healthy donor. They used antibod-
Guy Pickering
ies to block T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of MHC (major histocompatibility complex), a key cellsurface molecule that allows the white blood cells of the immune system to interact with one another or with other cells of the body via antigen presentation. From the population of cloned cells, they discovered a T cell named MC.7.G5 that was still able to recognise cancer cells despite MHC being blocked, implying that the cells recognised cancer via a different protein. By using the notable genetic modification tool CRISPR-Cas9, researchers screened the whole genome to identify genes important in allowing MC.7.G5 to target cancer cells. Six key genes were found, one of which was MR1, already known to be involved in the activation of a subset of T cells known as MAITs (mucosal-associated invariant T cells). The researchers then added antibodies
that blocked MR1 and recognition of cancer cells was prevented, thereby confirming that this was how MC.7.G5 targeted cancer. MC.7.G5 was shown not to kill healthy lung, skin, intestinal, pancreatic or kidney cells, while being able to kill over 95% of each cancer cell population it was tested against. Cancers that had their MR1 expression disabled were not affected by MC.7.G5. Not only this, but MC.7.G5 T cells still did not target healthy cells that had been treated with chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide to induce cellular stress or those that had been exposed to radiation.. Additionally, lung epithelial cells infected by the bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis were not killed by the T cells. This T cell was then tested further as a cancer treatment. Leukemic mice demonstrated a drastic reduction in abnormal cell population in bone marrow samples following
administration of MC.7.G5 cells, which was associated with increased survival for the animals. The researchers then took T cells from patients who had stage IV melanoma, altering them so that they expressed the TCR found in MC.7.G5 cells that recognise MR1. This killed most cancerous cells in each sample, while healthy cells remained unaffected. They therefore successfully demonstrated that these T cells not only selectively target cancer cells over healthy human cells, but by artificially transferring their specific receptor, their abilities can be granted to other T cells. This offers a potential therapeutic strategy for the future. The use of T cells in cancer therapy currently takes the form of CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T cell) therapy, where patient T cells are altered to become more specific to the cancer the patient has. Unfortunately, as it suggests, the
therapy is specific to individual patients and very rarely results in severe side effects due to a runaway inflammatory response. This new research could offer a new avenue that allows for a more universal approach to treating cancer, with potentially fewer risks due to the demonstrable specificity towards cancerous cells over healthy ones. While the discovery of the MC.7.G5 T cell and its apparent cancer-specific TCR makes for headline-grabbing news, it should be stressed that there is much more research to be done in the field, particularly the exact nature of the ligand that is presented by the MR1 protein to T cells and whether or not it is specific to cancer cells. In any case, the research is promising to say the least and only further studies in human patients will determine if a viable cancer therapy can be produced that uses this method.
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@redbricksport
Mahomes Magic: Quarterback Inspires Chiefs Comeback
Sport Writer Jake Davies reports from San Francisco as the 49rs collapse and concede 21 straight points in the fourth quarter to lose Super Bowl LIV Jake Davies Sport Writer
Having come to San Francisco to study for my year abroad, it was thrilling to watch San Francisco 49ers as they progressed to their first Super Bowl since 2013. The city was beyond excited come game day, with flags dangling from windows and buses proudly displaying ‘Come On 49ers!’ in the week building up to the big game. Unfortunately, the Bay Area team were unable to obtain what would have been their sixth Super Bowl title, as the Kansas City Chiefs staged a late rally to overturn a 10 point deficit and win 31-20 last Sunday. It was a game billed as being one of the closest Super Bowl contests in recent memory and whilst it wasn’t an instant classic, nobody can deny that Super Bowl LIV was a hard-fought battle. 49ers kicked off the scoring with a field goal in the first quarter, only to be set back by Chief’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes, (right) who danced through a gap in 49ers defence to score the first touchdown of the match in the dying seconds of the first quarter. The San Franciscan side fought back in the second quarter thanks to the efforts of their own quarter-
back Jimmy Garoppolo, who set up Kyle Juszczyk for the touchdown with five minutes to spare. This meant that the Super Bowl was tied at halftime for just the fourth time in the competitions history, 10-10.
“Mahomes proved why he is one of the hottest young prospects in the NFL right now” 49ers reclaimed the lead once more with three minutes on the clock in the third quarter, as running back Raheem Mostert squeezed through a swarm of Chiefs players into the end zone. The Californian coastal city was buzzing in anticipation for the final quarter, with their side entering the period 20-10 up and looking strong. They maintained this momentum for half of the quarter, before Mahomes proved why he is one of the hottest young prospects in the National Football League (NFL) right now. The young quarterback assisted both Travis Kelce and Damien Williams
Instagram/chiefs
in the space of three minutes, to reclaim the lead for Chiefs going into the closing minutes of the
game. 49ers were clearly rocked by this late turnaround, and were dispossessed by rampant Chiefs,
allowing Williams to secure victory for the Missouri-based side by running the pitch and scoring his second touchdown of the game with one minute to spare. The epic finale meant that Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious 31-20, winning their first Super Bowl in 50 years. History was also made in the form of Mahomes, who at just 24 years old became the youngest ever player to be named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player (MVP). His performance throughout the game, particularly in the final quarter, was electrifying and his lethal throws proved too much for the weary 49ers. For the San Francisco franchise, the crushing defeat means that the 25 year wait to win another Super Bowl is set to continue. The sense of disappointment in the city was palpable following the game, as the feverish excitement was replaced by nostalgic reflection on a brilliant season which just couldn’t cross the final hurdle. Kansas City were ultimately deserving winners though, and head coach Andy Reid defied expectations by building a team which fought for each other to the very last and made their mark in football history as champions of the 54th Super Bowl.
Women's League Cup Semis: London Clubs Triumph over Manchester Lauren Coffman
Montemurro’s Arsenal side came out on top in their semi-final to spoil the party for Nick Cushing This week’s Continental Cup on his penultimate match in charge semi-finals saw Arsenal Women of Manchester City, after announcand Chelsea Women emerge vic- ing his imminent departure for torious over Manchester City and MLS club NYCFC last month. Manchester United respectively Arsenal took the lead early on, to book their places in this year’s after Ballon D’or finalist Vivienne Continental Cup Final, set to take Miedema rounded two defenders place later this month. to drill a low ball into the back of With the four semi-finalists the net in just the 6th minute. currently making up the After dominating play for FA Women’s Super much of the first half League’s top four, the Gunners got their the stakes were cersecond on the stroke tainly high, and it of half time, courwas made all the tesy of a rare misOnly two teams more exciting by take from Man Arsenal and Man City the prospect of a City goalkeeper - have ever won the first time finalist. Ellie Roebuck, a Since the Women’s Danielle Van De Continental Cup League Cup was Donk (right) shot reformed eight seafrom the edge of the sons ago only Arsenal box slipping through and Manchester City have her fingers and into the won the competition, and after back of the net. drawing each other in this year’s Arsenal looked in cruise consemi-finals it put us on course to trol going into the second half, but see the winner of the other semi- City came out fighting and before final, either Chelsea or Manchester long were rewarded with a penalUnited, make the final for the first ty, following a foul on Lauren time. Hemp. Though goalkeeper In what was a hotly contested Manuela Zinsberger pulled off a battle between two women’s foot- superb save to deny Ellen White ball heavyweights, Joe from the spot, the Gunners comSport Writer
2
pletely switched off as City took the resulting corner, allowing Gemma Bonner to head home and pull one back for her side. A tense last half hour saw chances fall to both sides, but some disciplined and dogged defending from Arsenal meant they were able to see out the game to reach the Continental Cup final for the third year running and knock holders Manchester City out. Over at Leigh Sports Village in the other semi-final, both Manchester United and Chelsea saw plenty of the ball throughout the first half. Both sides had their fair share of chances to take the lead but some expert goalkeeping meant it was goalless at the break. The second half began much like the first, and it was clear a moment of quality would be needed to break the deadlock. That moment came in the 72nd minute as Erin Cuthbert sent a lofted ball into the path of Maren Mjelde who was able to blast it past Mary Earps from a very tight angle to give Chelsea the lead. United kept pushing for the equaliser until the final whistle, but despite teenager Lauren James’ best efforts up front, they
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were unable to find that all-important goal. Ultimately Mjelde’s strike was enough to book Chelsea a place in their first ever Continental Cup final, to face off against five time winners
Arsenal. The 2020 Continental Cup Final will take place on Saturday 29th February at the City Ground, home to Nottingham Forest, and will kick-off at 5:30pm.
SPORT
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricksport
Australian Open: Djokovic and Kenin Triumph Down Under Max Kelly Sport Writer
were abandoned due to poor air quality, with Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic being forced to forfeit her qualifying match after succumbing to a fit of coughing oncourt.
American Tennys Sandgren, with an ATP world ranking of 100, made it past more established names such as Fabio Fognini and Sam Querry to take his place in the quarter finals. Once there however, Sandgren crumbled under the immense pressure of playing crowd-favorite Roger Federer, even after being just a tiebreak away from victory. As the tournament came to a head, there was a clear favorite in each of the women’s semi-finals. However, neither Ashleigh Barty nor Simona Halep could translate their far superior world rankings As the tournament progressed, into a place in the final. Instead, heads started turning to some the final was contested between incredible on-court performtwo-time grand-slam champion ances. Garbiñe Muguruza and The tennis world Sophia Kenin (right), waited with bated who had never got breath as a first past the fourth round round match pitted in a Grand Slam 15 year-old Coco prior. After three Djokovic has now Gauff up against enthralling sets of won seventeen her idol, Venus tennis, a flurry of majors - two fewer Williams, in a unforced errors repeat of their 2019 committed by than Nadal and Wimbledon first Mugaruza in the three fewer than round match. Gauff third set eventually Federer steamed past Williams handed the title to the in straight sets and raced American. The latest in a through to the round of sixteen, long line of upcoming talents in where she finally met her match the women's game to be thrust in the form of eventual champion into the limelight, Kenin is cerSophia Kenin. tainly a player who looks to be On the men's side of the draw, sticking around.
“Kenin is certainly a player who looks to be sticking around”
Instagram/djokernole
At the Australian Open last week, the world saw both a new face and an established great crowned champions. American Sophia Kenin overcame a revitalised Garbiñe Muguruza to take home her first ever Grand Slam title, whilst Novak Djokovic lifted the cup for a record eighth time. The Australian Open has long been renowned for searing heat and beating sun, but this year was slightly different. The pre-tournament excitement was marred by the spread of bushfires in southeast Australia which is where the annual tournament is hosted. Several qualifying round matches
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Instagram/sofia.kenin
On the final day of the two week tournament, Novak Djokovic (left) faced off against Austrian Dominic Thiem in the championship match. Despite Thiem’s highly ranking of fifth in the world, it was only his third appearance at a Grand Slam and his first at Melbourne. In the first three sets however, Thiem had a firm grim on the match and one hand on the trophy. Djokovic had other ideas though. The Serbian fought back with vigour and tenacity, profiting from mistakes made by a weary Thiem, to win the match in five sets. An eighth triumph for Djokovic extends his lead as the most decorated men’s player at Melbourne. Thiem, however, will rue the missed opportunity to get his hands on a first grand slam.
Netball Nations Cup: Kiwis Dominate Again on English Soil Emily Marshall Sport Writer
New Zealand, the winners of the 2019 Netball World Cup, repeated their fortune at the Nations Cup at the beginning of 2020. After winning every group game and then beating Jamaica 67-56 in the final, it was an excellent tour for the Kiwis who showed their true style on court as they challenged to maintain number one in the world. It was the inaugural season of the Nations Cup, a tournament contested between England,
Jamaica, New Zealand and South Africa in venues all around England, with each side playing each other once before the play offs for medals with a third and fourth place play-off and then the silver and gold play off. The first match between England and New Zealand resulted in a loss for the hosts, 48-64, after England displayed a far from perfect performance, as the new, younger side settled into the international game. New Zealand came out hard, with new captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio guiding her team exactly where they left off in Liverpool in July 2019, pushing their attacking nature of Instagram/franwilliams11
play, keeping tight in defence with one of the most dynamic shooting circles in the world, with new addition Mai Wilson proving to be an excellent addition to the side. They capitalised on every error that England made, turning over ball at every given chance to edge ahead in a very dominant performance. However, England bounced back and fought hard against South Africa when the tournament came to Birmingham, to come out with a 58-53. They showed improvement on their prior performance, tidying up their play, taking turnover opportunities and stopped getting stuck under defensive pressure with a more opened attacking end and less rigid play down court. They didn’t manage to reach the final after a loss in their mustwin game against Jamaica in London, however, as the Caribbean side who had not been reaching their full potential over the last two years came back with the flair that they had been missing. Their 6ft 6'' shooter, Jhaniele Fowler led her team amazingly for them to secure their place in the final, as England’s defence of Stacey Francis and Kate Shimmin couldn’t seem to lock the Jamaican circle down. With Jamaica winning two of their three games, they edged out South Africa and England to reach the final, who competed in the 3rd place play off. It was England
who came out victorious in the Bronze medal final, 65-63, to secure their same fortune as at the 2019 World Cup. With the start of the new fouryear cycle before the next World Cup in 2023, this gave teams the ideal opportunity to breed new blood on court and give their veterans some time away from the programme. Many younger talents were included into this squad, including University of Birmingham’s own Fran Williams (left), who once again showed her incredible talent in defence and why she has so much potential to be one of the first names on the team sheet every game. One of the standout players of the tournament was England debutante Amy Carter, who came out playing centre and added an extra dynamic to the side with her agility, pace and ability to read the game very well. From the Manchester Thunder Superleague franchise, she impressed on her first appearance and was an integral part in the win over South Africa. It was an excellent tournament, and one that was great to see be played in England, to keep the buzz of netball alive in a country that has seen the sport grow so much over the past year. It gave a great chance to get fresh talent on court and to see some of the players that might feature in their first world cup in four years.
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Column: Sport that Stuck With Me John Rogers Sport Editor
As an Arsenal fan, nostalgia is one of the first places to turn for comfort in these more troubled modern times. Should I return to the last Arsene Wenger home game after his 22-year-stint (a 5-0 win vs Burnley)? Or perhaps the ending of our nine-year trophy drought in the dramatic 2014 FA cup triumph versus Hull? Or the invincible season of 2003-04, the last premiership title, and last world-class team Arsenal had? No – for the moment of true nostalgia, where the rose-tinted glory days crashed into the present day, let us visit the 9th January 2012, and an FA Cup tie Arsenal versus Leeds United. In a game where we were struggling for inspiration, Thierry Henry made his return to the Emirates Stadium. The tension levels in the stadium seemed to go up a notch or two. There was one of those feelings in the air that something was about to happen. Sure enough, Alex Song picked up the ball in midfield, and looked up, spotting Henry splitting the defenders with that familiar run from the left channel.
“Henry. Chance. Goal!” A brilliant piece of commentary from Jon Champion captured the moment. The finish, like the run, was something we’d seen plenty of times before, starting outside the post before nestling in the corner. I did not have the fortune of seeing this goal live from the stadium, but friends have since told me it's the loudest the stadium has ever been. From my perspective, my living room was a cauldron, with the whole family up on their feet. There is something about a homecoming that stirs the emotions, and I think every Arsenal fan felt that in those few glorious moments, as Henry wheeled away and embraced Arsene. To be honest, the rest of Henry's loan spell didn't produce much more magic. He scored only once more - a winner in a 2-1 victory versus Sunderland - and started a horrfic night in the San Siro which saw us beaten 4-0. The season ended once again trophyless. In that moment however, it didn't matter, we were just happy the prodigal son had returned.
Stuart MacFarlane
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Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricksport
Six Nations Recap: France on Fire, Wales Rampant and Scots Fall Short Owain Pryce Sport Writer
France shocked England on Sunday as they won their first match of the 2020 Six Nations 24-17. The score did not do the young French side justice, as they dominated a lacklustre opposition, scoring
17 unanswered points in the first half. French captain Charles Ollivon starred with two tries in the game, after Vincent Rattez opened the scoring with a try that stunned England after just six minutes. A relatively inexperienced French side was directed by the youthful half backs Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, who Instagram/sixnationsrugby
played with a mastery far beyond their years throughout the game. Damp conditions in Paris meant that once France opened up their lead, they were able to play tactically and make it difficult for England to respond, putting pressure on with a defence that looked pumped up for the challenge. Coach Eddie Jones has said that he wanted England to become ‘the greatest team the game of rugby has ever seen,’ but they were far from that, as key players underperformed and far too many handling errors were made. Two superb individual tries from Johnny May helped the score look more respectable but, in reality, Owen Farrell led a team who still looked consumed by the disappointment of losing the World Cup final. The day before, 2019 champions Wales begun the Wayne Pivac era in style with an emphatic 42-0 victory against Italy. It was a more attacking Welsh side that graced the Principality Stadium on Saturday, as they picked up a bonus point, scoring five tries, including a hat-trick for World Cup leading try-scorer Josh Adams. The Italians, under interim coach Franco Smith, were underwhelming, and seemed unable to cut through Wales despite having playmakers at fly-half and insidecentre. It was the first time a team
has been left scoreless in the competition since 2017, when once again the Italians drew a blank, on that occasion versus Scotland.
“It was the first time a team had been left scoreless in the competition since 2017” The Welsh will be happy with the result as it shows the defensive prowess that lead them to the 2019 crown has not disappeared in the pursuit of more adventurous rugby. As well as Adams, George North and debutant Nick Tompkins crossed the whitewash, and helped send Wales to the top of the table after the first weekend. In Dublin, Ireland squeezed past Scotland 19-12. New head coach Andy Farrell saw his side dig in and produce a gritty performance against a Scotland side without first choice fly-half Finn Russell, who grabbed the headlines in the build-up after being ejected from the squad for breaking team protocol. In the game itself though, it was another talismanic number 10 who was centre of attention, as new Ireland cap-
tain Johnny Sexton (left) scored all of Ireland’s points, including a cleverly worked try. A major talking point from the match was a calamitous error from Stuart Hogg, who inexplicably dropped the ball over the try-line, squandering a golden opportunity for Scotland. In his first game as captain, Hogg was mortified, a guilt made seem worse as that try would have given the side a great chance to get off to a winning start. Neither team were at their best, but the Irish defended courageously, turning the ball over eight times in the match. For Scotland, it was a massive missed opportunity but, for Ireland, it is a positive result against a dangerous opposition, which keeps their Grand Slam hopes alive.
Standings after Round One W
BP
PD
PTS
WAL
1
1
42
5
FRA
1
0
7
4
IRE
1
0
7
4
ENG
0
1
-7
1
SCO
0
1
-7
1
ITA
0
0
-42
0
Is it Time to Scrap FA Cup Replays? Sport Writer Jack Wooldridge assesses whether it is time for FA Cup replays to be removed after recent criticism from the Premier League's top managers Jack Wooldridge Sport Writer
The future of FA Cup replays has been cast into doubt over the past month with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (below) amongst many questioning the competition’s format. Fixtures resulting in a draw go to a replay, played at the venue of
the team that was away from home in the original ties. If the replay is drawn, extra-time and penalties decide who progresses The debate over whether the FA should scrap the replay system is not a new one. The issue is raised year-on-year with concerns over the hectic schedule during the winter months. In a bid to address these concerns, the FA decided to scrap replays from the Fifth Round onwards last season. Instagram/guardiolaoficial
The Premier League have also introduced a winter break to help reduce the tiredness of players after a gruelling schedule in December and January. However, despite their efforts, there have been fresh calls to scrap replays entirely from the competition by a number of Premier League clubs. Sides are not keen at the prospect of another game being added to their already busy schedules over January and February. This viewpoint seems reasonable – why not just force a result in the first match? Why cause disruption to the carefully constructed and jam-packed fixture list over the winter period? Surely fixture congestion is damaging to the performance of English clubs in European competitions and perhaps even to the England national team. At first glance, it would make sense to completely abolish FA Cup replays without hesitation. However, it is easy to say FA Cup replays are no longer worthwhile when we consider the debate from the perspective of Premier League clubs. The financial benefits that clubs lower down the food chain can gain from a replay in the Cup are significant. They can help clubs survive and help others make crucial investments that would not be possible otherwise.
“Scrapping FA Cup replays could be seen as going against tradition” Shrewsbury Town manager Sam Ricketts said that the FA Cup replay against Liverpool at Anfield will allow the club to improve its training ground and to invest in video analysis equipment. The FA Cup is simply invaluable to a club like Shrewsbury. With most money in football directed towards those in the higher tiers, no more replays could culminate in lower league clubs being left behind. Replays have always been a key part of the competition and scrapping FA Cup replays could be seen as going against tradition. It would be a shame to change the format, which would run the risk of the competition losing its originality. The FA Cup produces countless, fantastic memories for all those involved; the eradication of replays would deny us of such moments. This begs the questions: why scrap replays primarily to satisfy the elite football clubs that do not respect the FA Cup and the history behind it? Why should lower league clubs miss out on the
prospect of playing at bigger stadiums in front of the TV cameras? A compromise must be found that helps reduce the physical demands on players in the English leagues whilst also limiting the collateral damage on clubs lower down the football pyramid. National League North club Altrincham’s manager, Phil Parkinson, told Redbrick Sport that he would not like replays to be scrapped and suggested that it should be decided by the clubs beforehand whether the game goes to a replay in the event of a draw.
“A compromise must be found” Parkinson said the replay should take place if it is going to benefit the smaller club. However, if it is two clubs at the same level – that do not need the revenue or the extra games – the game should be allowed to be decided on the day as long as both teams are happy. This is simply one suggestion for the FA to consider. Evidently, something must be done that protects the integrity of the FA Cup but that ends this debate once and for all.
UBCC
SPORT
Friday 7th February 2020
@redbricksport
BUCS Sports Club of the Fortnight: Cricket Kit Shepard Sport Editor
With Old Joe currently set against a backdrop of gloom, drizzle, and cold that the winter months bring, thoughts may not naturally drift to cricket. However, it will take a lot
more than the weather to stop the sport from enjoying plenty of success at UoB. Fresh off qualifying for the national indoor finals last weekend, the BUCS cricket squad are gearing up for a trip to Cardiff at the end of February. With around 50 club members set to travel, the
team will certainly have plenty of support as they look to better last year's third place finish.
“The club can certainly be proud of the large supporting contingent” Nevertheless, regardless of the outcome on the day, the club can certainly be proud of the large supporting contingent, which is indicative of a strong, inclusive culture where team success is considered the priority. That being said, UBCC boasts plenty of outstanding individual talent. With access to the Edgbaston indoor centre, players have superb facilities to hone their skills, meaning it is little surprise that two members, Rob Yates and Geore Garrett, have professional contracts with Warwickshire CCC. When the traditional cricket
UBCC
season rolls around in Spring, there are plenty of opportunities for members to get out on the field and play. These include ‘cricket week’ in the final week of the Easter holidays. Events include several internal friendly matches, whole-club socials and ‘Warwick Wednesday,’ where UoB goes up against Warwick University in a number of matches. Away from the field, UBCC has plenty to offer. Members can show-off their sporting versatility in the club's six-a-side campus league football team, or be part of the ground staff team for international cricket matches down the road at Edgbaston. In the past, there have even been occasions where the club has provided net bowlers for international teams when they are in Birmingham. With these additional perks, alongside the ample chances to play cricket in an atmosphere that is both competitive and welcoming, it is little wonder that the UoB cricket thrives all year round. For further information about UBCC and how to get involved with the club, visit the UBSport website.
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A Note From the Sports Officer: Josh Dooler Sports Officer
Three wins out of three in last Sunday’s Northern Indoor Cricket Championship Qualifiers means that the men’s cricket club have qualified for the last eight of the indoor nationals, for the second year running. This is a fantastic achievement by all those involved in the club which I am lucky enough to be a part of. A lot of hard work has gone into getting this far in the competition in recent years and we hope to capitalise on the talented squad that we’ve got in this campaign. Outstanding performances on the day include Rob Yates retiring twice, Will Kerr top scoring and claiming several dismissals as wicketkeeper, and Tom Forster having an economy rate of under five an over courtesy of some superb frugal bowling. The finals will be held in Cardiff on Saturday 29th February and the club are taking 50 of its members to support the boys. A well-deserved club of the fortnight, congratulations and good luck for the finals!
BUCS Cross Country Championships: BUAC Squad Earns Silver in Scotland
Sport Writer James Davis reports from Edinburgh, where UoB Athletics performed well in both the male and female events on their way to a podium finish James Davis
Birmingham was evident, with nine athletes in the top 20, and seventeen in the top 50 finishers. Next up was the men’s Short Almost 2,000 athletes converged Race, and fast running was again on Holyrood Park in Edinburgh on display. Ollie Newman was the last Saturday, to take part in the first BUAC athlete home, a strong BUCS Cross Country kick coming in handy as he finChampionships. A strong contin- ished fifth. Newman led a team gent from the University’s athlet- consisting of Joe Hudson, Matt ics club, BUAC, made the journey Rawlings, and European U20 up to compete - no other univer- 800m champion Oliver Dustin sity, bar the hosts Edinburgh, had into sixth place. more athletes racing. The third event of the day was The day started with the wom- the women’s Long Race, and en’s Short Race, which was being Birmingham were well-fancied, contested for the first time at a having won silver at the 2019 ediBUCS Championships. tion in Exeter. Amelia Quirk, Loughborough athletes came BUAC’s individual silver medalacross the line in first and list from the year prior, was second, closely followed in the lead group through by BUAC’s Kate the first half lap. The O’Neill, to secure the group contained Anna first medal of the Emilie Møller, the day for the Danish 2019 winUniversity. ner, and Jess Judd, Groups of three Quirk’s fellow Number of athletes athletes contested British internationcompeting at the team competial. Møller and Judd Holyrood Park tion for the women, pushed off the front and Maisie Grice and with a lap gone, in a Yasmin Austridge roundbreakaway that would ed out the Birmingham A result in Møller’s eventual team, in sixth and 10th respec- victory from Judd by 46 seconds. tively, to win silver behind Jenny Nesbitt, running for Cardiff Loughborough. Metropolitan, came in for the Despite not achieving gold, bronze. the strength in depth possessed by Quirk unfortunately fell Sport Writer
2,000
around the halfway point, and despite attempting to rejoin the lead group, fell again and withdrew from the race.
“No other university, bar the hosts Edinburgh, had more athletes racing” With four athletes starting per university, and three to score in the team competition, the remaining three Birmingham athletes pushed on, Niamh Brown leading the trio home with a sprint finish for 11th. Sabrina Sinha led a group of four athletes home in 20th and Kate Palfreeman-Watt finished soon behind in 26th, with Birmingham finishing fifth team overall. The racing finished with the men’s Long Race, and again Birmingham came in with high expectations, a strong team from the previous year bolstered by the addition of two British internationals in Mike Ward and Andy Heyes. Solent’s Mahamed Mahamed
led the race from the off, and after ripping one of his spikes midway, decided to push on from the lead pack as he did not want to be caught in a sprint finish. This proved to be the move that won the race as he secured a comfortable victory. Bangor's Joe Steward took silver, 37 seconds behind, and was closely followed by Aston’s Jay Rossiter, who trains with Birmingham, for bronze. BUAC packed well and their first four finishers of Mike Ward, James Gormley, Andy Heyes and Charlie Davis secured a team sil-
Louie Boot
ver with fantastic performances all round. Ward placed ninth, with Gormley, Heyes and Davis finishing 14th, 15th and 19th respectively. There was excellent news for BUAC away from Edinburgh, as first-year Thomas Keen ran a personal best by more than 2.5 seconds at the Vienna Indoor Classic, breaking the indoor British under-20 1,500 metres record. Keen’s time, 3:41.44, was over a full second faster than the previous record, which had stood for seven years.
Lou
Twitter/@FranceRugby
07.02.2020
SPORT
Six Nations: New Coaches Collide and England Hope to Bounce Back Sport Writer Dan Hague looks ahead to a crucial second round of matches Dan Hague Sport Writer
After an intense opening weekend, we may now look ahead to round two of the Six Nations. Wales and Ireland will both be aiming to build on opening day victories when they meet in Dublin, while in the other home nations battle, England and Scotland are both looking to bounce back at Murrayfield after disappointing defeats. Across the Channel, a flying French side welcome Italy to conclude what is set to be another thrilling weekend of rugby.
Ireland vs Wales In the first fixture of the weekend, Ireland welcome Wales to the Aviva stadium. This game is much harder to call because both teams have come off wins. The Welsh convincingly dismantled a weak Italy side and Ireland scraped though against Scotland. If I had to call this game on the basis of last week's performances Wales would shade it. However, we know little about how the Grand Slam champi-
Instagram/sixnationsrugby
ons will cope in their first real test under new coach Wayne Pivac. To add to the uncertainty, I can only see Ireland - who themselves have a fresh face in the hotseat in Andy Farrell improving as they become increasingly familiar with a different regime. Nonetheless, the men in green did not show enough in attack to address concerns about a lack of creativity, meaning Wales should edge a low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Wales by less than 10 points
Scotland vs England Two sides looking for a win this weekend are England and Scotland, who meet on Saturday afternoon in Edinburgh. Prior to the tournament, England would have been clear favourites. However, in round one Scotland looked decisive in attack against Ireland, though they gave away too many penalties to build pressure. On the other hand, England, in their first outing since the World Cup final defeat to South Africa, looked blunt with the ball and would have lost heavily in Paris without the brilliance of Jonny May (left). Considering that Scotland are at home and seem to always play to their peak against the Auld enemy, this Calcutta Cup clash is tough to call. Nonetheless, if England can win some front-foot ball and play with pace, they will have too much for Gregor Townsend's men.
weekend saw a performance inspired by new defence coach Shaun Edwards, combined with an uncharacteristically disciplined performance, as Les Bleus hold on to beat England. This weekend, I expect the exciting French backs to run riot against an inferior Italian outfit. The annual whipping boys were hapless in Cardiff, rarely putting Wales under any sort of pressure as they failed to get on the scoreboard. All this leads me to believe that we are set to see a routine French victory. Italy will be held to single figures and I think the hosts will easily acquire the fourtry bonus point.
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Prediction: France by 30 To read a review of round one, head to page 38
Cut Cup Replays?
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Six Nations Fixtures: Round 2: Saturday 8th February: Ireland vs Wales (14:15, ITV 1) Scotland vs England (16:45, BBC 1)
Sunday 9th February:
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Austalian Open Roundup
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France vs Italy (15:00, BBC 1) Round 3:
Saturday 22nd February:
Prediction: England by seven
Italy vs Scotland (14:15, ITV 1)
France vs Italy
Wales vs France (16:45, BBC 1)
Sunday sees Italy play France at the Stade de France and the result looks set to be an assured win for the hosts. Last
INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK:
Sunday 23rd February: England vs Ireland (15:00, ITV 1)
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Chiefs Win Superbowl
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