Redbrick Issue 1508, Vol. 84
Friday 11th October 2019
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Selly Express Returns for a Second Year page 3
Redbrick The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936
Urgent Payments Made to Worklink Students
payments to UoB workers. This system requires the workers to input their hours themselves, when previously this was the responsibility of the University. This has resulted in the multiple issues that have been preventing the casual workers receiving payment. UoB released a statement on its website on 30th August, saying: ‘Our payroll and Worklink teams have been working to respond to this range of issues, which includes processing and input errors and issues like missing or out-of-
date bank details. While there is no indication that there are any significant system issues relating to our new system, we will continue to review each case as it arises.’ This issue has escalated to the point where a student group, University of Birmingham Student Workers (UBSW), has been formed to campaign for justice and fair treatment of student workers at the University. Phoebe Gill, the group’s creator and firstyearpostgraduateattheUniversity,toldRedbrick: ‘I spent my whole summer on the phone to Worklink and Payroll, chasing up money for a conference I worked at the start of July. I still know a number of people that haven’t received payment or are waiting on tax money to be returned that shouldn’t have been taken in the first place.’ In a statement from UBSW on Friday September 27th, they tweeted that, ‘student workers are employed in an exploitative manner by a University that advertises campus-based casual work and placements as a huge advantage of being a student here, taking for granted the workforce which it has access to as a result of this.’ On Saturday, October 5th, Gill told Redbrick that it is UBSW’s intention ‘to give a space for students to express their concerns about the University’s employment practices and to push for positive changes in moving away from casualisation of student work. This will hopefully
create a less precarious working environment for all, and prevent current issues repeating in the future.’ This group stands in solidarity with the students affected and are continuing to act towards securing the payments that they are owed. They have compiled a case file, containing examples of student workers facing payment issues. A spokesperson for UoB told Redbrick: ‘We take these issues very seriously and would like to reiterate our apologies to those staff and students affected. Emergency payments and corrections have been processed for those who have raised an issue, but we know that ensuring people are paid on time and correctly is something that we must always get right. Alongside this, we continue to work to put in place measures to minimise the chance of future payroll issues, including devising fixes for system bugs, reviewing and improving our processes and giving additional training for all staff using the new systems.’ The University is now offering a £50 voucher to be used at campus food outlets or a £25 Amazon voucher to students who have been directly affected as a gesture of goodwill and in recognition of any inconvenience caused, as well as covering any costs incurred as a direct result of the payment errors. UoB also enacted The Hardship Fund to ensure instant payments could be made to students affected by severely delayed payments.
IT Chapter Two: Same sex relationships in horror
Have exclusivity deals gone too far?
Are we too focused on Instagrammable tourism?
Redbrick
Rhiannon Wood News Editor
Following the implementation of a new HR paymentsystemattheUniversityofBirmingham in June, hundreds of students have been left unpaid for their work. Most of the students affected had undertaken casual work on campus during summer. New Core, the new payroll system, was implemented to oversee financial
Ranking every song on Abbey Road
Music Film 20 23
Gaming 27
INSIDE: Sci&Tech Team Up With Life&Style to Create Redbrick’s Guide to Contraception
Travel 30
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Friday 11th October 2019
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Letter From the Committee: I cannot believe that we’ve successfully created our first full edition as an editorial team, and we’ve had such a fantastic time putting it together. The last few weeks have been the best (and busiest!) of all the time I’ve spent at the University so far. Making our Freshers’ Week edition and figuring out our dynamic as a committee has been so rewarding, and a great way to get stuck into a year of helping to lead this fantastic paper. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of distributing papers and chatting to lots of lovely new faces at the various fairs that took place during Welcome Week. A particular highlight was our Welcome Meeting at the beginning of the month, as that was exactly where I started last year. I truly cannot fathom that only a year ago it was me sat in the Guild Council Chambers wondering what section I would write for and when to buy my membership. Since then I have just had the most incredible time – I believe that we’re one of the best student newspapers in the country, and getting involved is without a doubt the best decision I’ve made at university. As I write this editorial, the best part of reflecting on my time so far at Redbrick is that the year is just getting started, and I can only anticipate how great it’s going to be based on the past year. Meeting our section editors, new and old, and hearing their plans for the year has been particularly excit-
ing. The dedication and creativity I feel every time I enter our office, deep in the dungeons of the Guild is so inspiring. I am continually blown away by just how much work goes into putting together our content. Looking back on when I first began as a print editor, and remembering how challenging putting together your first set of pages is, I am so impressed by how well our new team have done. I want to give credit to our Editorial Assistants – a position that has gathered great interest this year – who are among the most important contributors to our paper. Their eye for detail is crucial to the Redbrick print process, and their efforts and time are most definitely appreciated and recognised by everyone on the team. I also want to applaud our lovely Print Editor Natalia Carter for being the driving force behind the print editon of the paper that sits in your hands at this moment. The time that she has put into what was always going to be a challenging edition has certainly paid off. My fellow Deputy Editor, the delightful Lydia Waller, has been my sidekick for the majority of my Redbrick journey. As we discovered when co-editing the fabulous Food&Drink section last year, we are a truly dynamic duo. Being able to do my job alongside her is a blessing that I am thankful for every day.
Thank you to every fresh face that has vitally contributed their time and energy to this edition. Every new writer, editor, photographer, and EA has reminded me just how brilliant our society is when we come together. My time at Redbrick has meant more to me than words can describe, and I really believe that we offer something for everyone. It’s never too late to join, so if this editorial has inspired you at all then do get in touch! Here’s to what I’m sure will be our best year yet. From the dungeons, etc...
Emily Calder Deputy Editor
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Travel Editors Josie Hart Katie Norris Fern O’Shaughnessy travel@redbrickonline.co.uk
Life&Style Editors Estelle Dragan Frankie Rhodes Ellie Silcock Elizabeth Winter lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk
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Editorial Assistants Daniel Bray Aimee Calvert Bethany Carter editor@redbrickonline.co.uk Izzy Frost Eleanor Howson Mu’minah Iqbal Catrin Jackson Jonathan Korn Bethany-Jo O’Neill Redbrick is printed through Rebecca Sibley www.mortonsprint.com Emma Stephenson 01507 523 456 George Suff Gabrielle TaylorTo advertise in Redbrick, get in touch with Dowson marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk or visit Caleb Webster www.redbrick.me/advertise-with-redbrick Ruby Willis 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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Selly Express Back on the Road For a Second Year Alice Wibberly News Reporter
The Selly Express has returned after its first successful year. It offers students free, scheduled bus trips from the library to selected student roads during the evenings from Monday to Friday. The service, funded through the Community Wardens scheme was introduced in response to safety concerns about the popular stu-
dent area of Selly Oak. The Community Wardens (a joint venture between the Guild and UoB) is funded in grants from the University, which the Guild then uses to fund the Selly Express. Redbrick reported doubts over the future of the Selly Express in January after a Facebook post from 2018-19 Guild President Reece Patrick Roberts stating that no further funding had been secured for the service.
However, in June 2019, Roberts revealed via the Guild of Students Facebook page that the University would put £55,000 into the Selly Express and Not On, the University and Guild’s anti-sexual harassment campaign. ‘The Selly Express will be here to stay’, he stated in the video. Some students have had issues with the service. Third-year BA Geography student Josie Hart wanted a ‘proper sign’ to show where the express leaves from.
She said that she once waited around in the dark for a bus that did not show up on time, and concluded that she ‘spent more time waiting than it would have taken to walk home.’
“The Selly Express will be here to stay”
Second-year student Mark Butler, who recently moved to Selly Oak, stated that he did not know where the bus left from or ‘what roads it would stop at’. He said that this discouraged him from attempting to use the service. The Selly Express leaves from the library every 45 minutes from 8:00 pm - 12:30 am, Monday to Friday during term time. The service is free. For more information on the roads served, please check the Guild of Students' website.
University Support Staff Strike Over Pay and Working Conditions Support staff at the UoB engaged in their sixth day of strike action on Thursday 3rd October as they judged the university’s pay offer as not acceptable Adam Toms News Reporter
This move is the latest in the dispute between the University and its support staff which began in 2018. The support staff’s trade union, UNISON, has expressed its continued frustration with the University’s lack of attempts to combat workers’ grievances. The elimination of the gender pay gap, living wage accreditation and improvements to working conditions have been UNISON’s key demands. Some members of staff reportedly depend on multiple jobs or food banks. This prompted a letter from seven Birmingham MPs, including Jess Phillips, Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill and Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe, urging the University to do more. One low-paid member of staff, who has since quit her job at the university, wrote a letter challenging senior staff members to live on low pay for a month. The letter claimed ‘I work on a 36-hour term on contract with the university, taking home after stoppages of £977.96, a little over what [Vice-Chancellor David Eastwood] earns in four hours.’ The Vice-Chancellor has not replied to the letter, which was delivered in July. Speaking to Redbrick on the picket lines on Thursday, the letter’s author said that this shows ‘there is a management in place that does not care.’ She stated, ‘money’s not the whole point of this dispute, money’s just a fraction of it. To respect your staff, you’ve got to treat them right. Not just in pay, but in everyday working life give them a bit of respect. They’re not showing their staff respect.’ ‘I worked my backside off putting money in that till every day, running a café single-handedly on my own in a school of over 3,000 students. [...] They’ve cut the quality of the products that we
serve. We’re the ones that take the backlash from that from the students [...] that are paying more for cheaper products.’
“They're not showing their staff respect” The letter’s author, who asked to be named only as Donna, worked in the cafe in the Business School before walking out three
weeks ago. The Vice-Chancellor has been depicted in strike literature as an old school villain in a 60s western. Strikers at Thursday’s picket also voiced frustration. Paul Mahler of hospitality reiterated how people are having to undertake multiple jobs and the pay gap between support staff and the Vice-Chancellor. He said, ‘Nobody wants the ViceChancellor not to be paid well... but... we’re not asking the world when [he] can get an £80,000
bonus.’ Another striker, who works as an administrator in the School of Pharmacy also took this stance: ‘I love my job and I love the students. It’s a diabolical shame that the University abuses this loyalty in that massive pay gap.’
“Strikers at the Thursday picked also voiced frustration”
Grievances over pay and conditions brought deep emotion to the forefront of the dispute. This administrator also highlighted how ‘It’s the cleaners and caterers we rely on’, while Mahler stated that ‘most of these people are invisible to students.’ A striking administrator in Modern Foreign Languages said that the university should not be ‘dragging its feet’ with regards to the living wage accreditation, as ‘it’s got a worldwide reputation, it should show how to treat all its staff.’
John Wimperis
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UoB to Work with Birmingham City Council on Degree Apprenticeships Aneesa Ahmed News Editor
The University of Birmingham has announced that it will be partnering with Birmingham City Council on a multi-programme framework agreement to deliver a broad range of degree apprenticeships acrossvarious disciplines. Disciplines that this programme will focus on include Education, Public Management, Health and Care System Leadership as well as Executive MBAs. UoB and Birmingham City Council have previously collaborated and aim to build on previous jointly-developed work around the 21st Century Public Servant. The University delivers 10 apprenticeship degree programmes to over 300 students after launching their degree programme
schemes in 2018. Disciplines for these apprenticeships include urban and regional planning, digital skills, rail engineering and senior leadership. The University is partnered with several organisations for delivering these programmes, including private companies, local government and the NHS.
“The University delivers 10 apprenticeship programmes to over 300 students” The University believes that ‘Degree Apprenticeships offer a
new way in which to strengthen the Further Education to Higher Education pathways and this can work in collaboration with local FE colleges across the region.’ The University hopes that including a wider range of degree apprenticeships which will address skills gaps will ‘enable a greater diversification in the student population.’ They state that their Level Six Degree Apprenticeship programme in Digital and Technology Solutions has attracted a ‘higher number of female applicants than ever before in the discipline’ and hope that ‘that the programme can link with our widening participation agenda to encourage applications from those groups who don’t tend to apply to university had it not been for the Degree Apprenticeship route.’ Councillor Tristan Chatfield,
Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources at Birmingham City Council, notes: ‘Over the last decade or so the size and profile of our workforce has changed significantly as a result of reduced budgets, technology and changing citizen needs.
“The University of Birmingham is committed to developing Degree Apprenticeships” 'It is critical we have the right employees in the right place at the right time. This partnership and
the Degree Apprenticeships will be of immense help as we look to develop and improve our workforce so it is fit for the challenges of now and the future. 'We are hugely ambitious for the future of Birmingham City Council but we can only realise those ambitions with a dynamic, engaged and positive workforce.’ Professor Catherine Mangan of the University of Birmingham said: ‘This partnership builds on our long-standing civic engagement with the Council. 'The University of Birmingham is committed to developing Degree Apprenticeships as part of its programme portfolio and considers them of paramount importance in addressing regional and national skills gaps.’
Flooding on Broad Street Causes Businesses to Temporarily Close Fatima Ibrahim Omar News Reporter
On the morning of September 26th, a ruptured nine-inch water mains pipe resulted in the flooding of Broad Street in Birmingham city centre. Businesses on the major Birmingham street have temporarily been forced to close their doors due to the issue. The Midland Metro Alliance have confirmed that its construction workers were responsible for the flooding, as they worked to expand tram services through the heart of Birmingham city centre. They have since stated: ‘we
would like to apologise for the inconvenience the loss of supply has caused to businesses in the area. We thank all those affected for their patience and understanding.’ According to BBC News, the issue was reported to Severn Trent, the water provider, at around 11:30 BST, after which a tanker was brought in to increase water supply by pumping water in. Sandbags were positioned along the street in order to prevent the water from entering neighbouring buildings. As water continued to flood the city centre street, footage taken by ITV News Central
showed the subsequent traffic delays.
“It’s going to stop us from doing business if the water is still off by 10pm tonight” The loss of the water supply meant that various establishments were left unable to operate. Restaurants, clubs, hotels, and even houses in the local area were
left with no washing or toilet facilities due to the low or virtually non-existent water supply. The Library of Birmingham issued a notice on Twitter, stating that: ‘Due to a Severn Trent water supply issue we have closed the Library of Birmingham as there is no washing or toilet facilities at the Library or within the local area.’ The manager of Rosie’s nightclub (located opposite the flooding) told the Birmingham Mail that he feared for trade amid the water problems, saying: ‘It’s going to stop us from doing business if the water is still off by 10 pm tonight when we open.’
A staff member at the Broad Street Jurys Inn Hotel also told Birmingham Live: ‘You can’t run a hotel with no water. It’s not just ours though, four hotels in the area have none.’ Households as distant as Ladywood were said to be affected by the supply interruptions. Severn Trent Water issued a statement on their website that said: 'We’re receiving reports this morning from customers in the Ladywood area, who are experiencing supply interruptions ... We apologise for any interruption this may cause; we are working hard to resolve this issue as soon as possible.’
Birmingham In Action Launched John Wimperis News Editor
The University of Birmingham has launched what aspires to be the largest ever fundraising campaign in the Midlands. The campaign, Birmingham In Action, invites everyone to give their time or money to support one of five major societal challenges: improving access to higher education, preventing and treating cancer, protecting the planet, supporting mental health in young people, and supporting refugee families. Birmingham In Action highlights the issues that bar some people from going on to university. It seeks to provide tasters in the summer for ‘young people not sure if they are 'good enough' for university,’ provide students with-
out anywhere else to go with ‘somewhere to live between academic terms.’ In addition to this, it aims to provide scholarships for young people acting as carers and provide mentoring and internships to help people network. It also wants to fund cancer research, identifying it earlier and teaching immune systems to fight it, as well as to ‘get more patients into clinical trials’ and test drugs to find the ‘exact right match for the individual.’ On the environmental side, the campaign would both fund Birmingham Institute of Forest Research’s ‘lab in the woods,’ investigate the effects of climate change on the forests and also work on biodegradable plastics and stopping plastic entering the oceans. Birmingham In Action also wants to send academics to work
with refugee families in the UK and ‘give community groups the knowledge to help refugees find healthcare, education, and employment.’ Furthermore, the campaign will help researchers investigate the causes of the ‘epidemic in mental health needs,’ the most effective treatments and how to create a supportive society. People wanting to donate to Birmingham In Action can help provide bursaries to students or contribute to ‘worldchanging research’, while those happy to volunteer are encouraged to offer internships and mentorships for students. Students are encouraged to support local communities by volunteering through the Guild. Volunteers with expertise in
specific areas are invited to volunteer on environmental research projects or to translate for refugee families.
Volunteering Day,’ as a part of Birmingham In Action’s aim to muster one million hours of volunteering. Vice-Chancellor University of Birmingham Professor Sir David Eastwood said the campaign was ‘deeply rooted in the spirit of giving and contributing to society that is at the heart of our University.’ He stated that ‘we want to inspire and encourage people to help us tackle five major societal challenges and make a real and positive difference to countless lives – All members of staff at the both in our home city and around University will receive an extra the world.’ More information can day of annual leave for ‘Staff be found on UoB's website.
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Extinction Rebellion Set Up Branch at UoB Ella Kipling News Reporter
Environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion have set up a group on campus. Extinction Rebellion UoB (XRuob) was formed at the University of Birmingham in August 2019. They are a part of the UK movement, ‘Extinction Rebellion Universities.’ This movement aims to unite students and staff in the fight against climate change. The group recently held a guerilla stall at Freshers Fair and a ‘Heading for Extinction’ lecture on campus, which was hosted by the University and College Union, the higher education trade union. A spokesperson for the group
states that ‘XRuob welcomes everyone and every part of everyone.
“We are human beings with a shared vision of change” We are human beings with a shared vision of change, creating a world fit for generations to come, openly challenging ourselves and this toxic system whilst striving to create a culture which is healthy, resilient, and adaptable.’ They continue, stating that the
group is ’based on autonomy and decentralisation, put simply, this is everyone’s rebellion.’ The importance of unity and teamwork is emphasised as they advocate the Arts and the Sciences to play equally important roles in bringing about the ‘transformational change that our world so desperately needs.’ XRuob demands that the university acts to combat climate change, proposing three key actions. Their requests include UoB to aim to switch to a sustainable, carbon-neutral campus by 2025; acting on the research they undertake about climate change and educating its students and the wider populace of Birmingham on the implications of the climate crisis and guiding democratic policy change on social, climate and
ecological justice, using student and staff led assemblies to achieve this.
“This is everyone’s rebellion” The formation of this group comes at a time when Extinction Rebellion has become prominent in news headlines, following the large protests in London earlier this year. On the 4th October the group saw itself in the spotlight again, when an attempt to spray the HM Treasury building in London with fake blood got out of hand. The protesters were using a hose from a fire engine, which they quickly lost control of. Redbrick
Richard Vince
Hult Prize Offers Challenge to Enterprising Students Cerys Gardner News Reporter
The Hult Prize’s OnCampus event will take place at the University of Birmingham in early November, with 60 students taking part in teams of 15-20. The Hult Prize is a global social enterprise competition, with the first stage taking place on university campuses across the world, including UoB, giving teams a chance to progress to the Regional Finals. The Prize is sponsored by the Hult family and it involves over 1500 universities in 121 coun-
tries. Each year the chalregional summit. The winlenge aims at teams of ners of the regional Over three or four to genersummit then advance ate an idea for social to the Hult Prize enterprise that solves Accelerator, where a current social chal40 teams spend universities in lenge, chosen by five weeks turnformer US President ing their idea into Bill Clinton. a startup before This year the six teams get the countries are challenge is to create chance to pitch their involved a startup idea that has a ideas at the UN in positive impact on the New York in September. environment for every dollar The final prize is one milearned. lion dollars in seed capital for the The competition takes place in winning team to actually set up stages with the first taking place their startup. on individual university campuses Ian Arrindell, first year Maths before the winners advance to a with Business student and winner
1500 121
of last year’s OnCampus stage (while doing a foundation year), said that he got involved in the Hult Prize for ‘so many reasons.’ ‘I saw the opportunity to partake in a business competition that is for more than just profit. The idea of starting a social enterprise has been with me ever since.’ Arrindell also commented that, ‘the experience is unlike anything else you can get at university. The chance to network with students all across the world is a plus.’ To get involved, follow the UoB Hult Prize Facebook page for updates.
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Birmingham's History of Abortion Rebecca Hall Social Secretary
Content Warning: Contains themes of abortion. In September 2019, the high court in Belfast ruled that Northern Ireland’s near-blanket ban on abortion breaches the UK’s human rights commitments. The Government will now have to put forward actions by next April. The fight for the decision was started by Sarah Ewart, who was denied a termination in 2013, even though a scan showed a fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis. As a result of this historic action, Redbrick have taken a look back at the history of abortion in Birmingham.
“Prior to 1967, abortion was illegal” Prior to 1967, abortion was illegal, and contraception was readily available through the NHS. Married women could use contraception and wealthy women could have an abortion discreetly and privately. However, thousands of poor, unmarried women were forced to resort to dangerous methods such as drinking poison or using knitting needles. Following concern over the high numbers of death and health damage caused, the Abortion Act of 1967 legalised abortion. The new legislation allowed for abortion if two medical practitioners and both agreed the woman’s life was in danger. Despite this, many hospitals in the West Midlands refused to perform abortions due the high level of catholic and anti-abortionist influences in the area. In particular, the University of Birmingham’s professor, Hugh MacLaren was opposed to the liberal movement. Up to 30% of pregnant women dealt with delay or were refused. In 1968 the ‘Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Service’ (now known as the British Pregnancy Advisory Service) began offering consultation and treatment services at affordable prices for all. Today the charity provides services on behalf of the NHS across the country and over 95% of the women the charity cares for have their treatment paid by the NHS. Founders of the Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Service included Nan Smith and Professor Francois Lafitte from the University of Birmingham. More recently in the Birmingham area, in 2016, Sandwell was found to have one of the highest abortion rates in the UK. There was one abortion for every 45 adult women aged 14 to 44. The rate was a decrease compared to 2015 in which there were 1,497 abortions. The rate in Birmingham itself was lower, with one abortion for every 52 women. In the West Midlands as a whole, there was one abortion for every 57 women.
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Masses of CCTV Cameras to be Taken Down in Birmingham Amy Lakin News Reporter
The decision has been made by Birmingham City Council to take down 62 CCTV cameras in the city centre as early as November. The decision has come after the City Council found the cameras to insufficiently meet Home Office guidelines. The used condition of the cameras and the unsuitable operation of them in low crime areas are among the factors leading to the Council’s decision. The Council will inform local
residents and other individuals in the area affected across a four week period after which the removal of the cameras will commence. Not all cameras within Birmingham will be affected by the decommissioning. Cllr John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, told Birmingham Live that ‘following this work, Birmingham will still be covered by a significant wider network of 258 public space CCTV cameras including the remaining 135 Community Safety cameras.’ The cameras included in the above figures are those deemed to
be operative in areas of high crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Not all cameras within Birmingham will be affected by the decommissioning” Aside from the physical condition of the cameras, the change is also a reaction to the growing need for mobile camera units. Cllr
Cotton also told Birmingham Live that the council plans to invest in a number of mobile surveillance units in the future. The change is a clear example of how surveillance technology can work to fulfil the safety needs of the residents and visitors to Birmingham city centre.
PhotoMIX Ltd.
Asbestos Present in 86% of 106 UK Universities, Including UoB Christina Manns News Editor
A Freedom of Information request sent to 106 UK universities by the law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP has revealed that some University of Birmingham buildings contain asbestos. 86 percent of universities that responded to the FOI request said that asbestos was present in their buildings, including Birmingham City University and Aston University as well as UoB. Asbestos was also found to be present at Oxford University. Kate Sweeney of Stephensons Solicitors LLP told Birmingham
Live: ‘It’s not surprising due to the age of many of the country’s university buildings that an incredibly high number of universities have reported that they have asbestos present in the buildings on their estates.
“Asbestos is still very much a problem in the education sector ” ‘As thousands of new students start uni and undergraduates return to their studies, we are calling on universities to better inform stu-
dents and staff if there is asbestos present on campus and the measures being taken to manage it. ‘A consistent and clear message needs to be added to websites, student newspapers and department notice boards.’ Although asbestos can be considered safe if undisturbed, roof and ceiling damage causes health risks as asbestos fibres can be released. Asbestos was banned in 1999 after studies found that inhaling the fibres could cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Head of services at Mesothelioma UK, Liz Darlison, told Birmingham Live: ‘As new academic years start for all students the presence of asbestos in educational buildings - from
schools, colleges to universities is an issue we need to address as a national priority. ‘Asbestos is still very much a problem in the education sector from primary schools through to universities and unfortunately the number of cases of asbestos related diseases in people who have worked in the sector is increasing. ‘The potentially deadly material has been used in all types of buildings and is still present in many primary schools and universities due to aging educational buildings. Parents, students, academics, teachers and support staff have a right to know if asbestos is present and what measures are being taken to manage exposure.’
Information on asbestos on UoB's Intranet website says: 'Asbestos was used extensively in the UK in building construction before 2000. Its usage began to decline in the 1970s and its use in new construction was prohibited by 2000. Departmental equipment may also have materials that contain asbestos. Given the range of ages of its premises and activities, there are many locations at the University where there are asbestos containing materials. These locations must be managed to ensure they remain safe.' You can find more information on UoB's asbestos policy at https://intranet.birmingham. ac.uk/hr/wellbeing/worksafe/topics/asbestos.aspx
Rapper Krept on Road to Recovery Following Birmingham Gig Stabbing have arisen since the incident. No understanding about how the perpetrator was able cause harm to Krept has yet come to light.
Alex Boscott News Editor
Casyo Johnson, professionally known as Rapper Krept, has stated in a tweet that he is in a ‘good’ condition following a stabbing backstage during the Radio 1Xtra concert held at the Arena Birmingham last Saturday. In his tweet the day after the incident, Krept took the opportunity to thank fans for their support, saying ‘thanks for the messages Im good, ill be back in no time.’ The concert, which featured artists such as Aitch and AJ Tracey, was forced to come to a close early shortly after the attack on Krept at around 10 pm. BBC Radio One tweeted ‘following an isolated serious incident, we have
“Thanks for the messages. I'm good, I'll be back in no time” Philip Pankhurst
had to stop 1Xtra Live in Birmingham.’ The radio station later apologised for the early closure of the event, claiming that ‘the health and safety of everyone involved’ was their ‘top priority.’ BBC Radio 1Xtra has also
added that they are ‘upset and saddened that something like this should happen to a guest at one of our events and we remain in close contact and continue to offer our full support’. Questions regarding security
Fans and attendees have since taken to social media to express their frustration at the abrupt closure of the event with many calling for immediate refunds. An anonymous attendee told Birmingham Live that security at the event was lacklustre and claimed that ‘people were casually smoking cannabis in the venue’
and that ‘only men were getting searched properly’ due to a lack of female security. West Midlands Police have since confirmed in a statement that they have launched an investigation into the incident ‘following reports of disorder backstage.’ They have also noted that no arrests have been made in connection with the attack on Krept. Arena Birmingham and Radio 1Xtra are ‘fully cooperating’ with the on-going investigation. For anyone with information regarding the incident and wishing to contact the police - they can be contacted via Live Chat at www.west-midland.police.uk from 8am – midnight as well as by calling 101. Anyone wishing to report information anonymously can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote crime number 20BW/236014J/19.
NEWS
Friday 11th October 2019
07
@redbricknews
News Analysis: Labour to Cap Private School Pupils Going to Uni News Reporter Nathan Clarke reports on the Labour Party conference motion which would cap the number of pupils from private schools going on to university Nathan Clarke
tual scrapping of private schools altogether and is part of a wider bid to make the education system fairer. The Labour Party has pledged to Holly Rigby, a state school cap the number of students from teacher and member of the Abolish private schools admitted to uni- Eton campaign, welcomed this versity, provided they win a gen- news, saying ‘it’s the strongest eral election. commitment that the party Under the plan, has made to deal with revealed by shadow the problem of private education secretary schools in a very long Angela Rayner at time.’ the Labour Party However, conference in Labour’s proposal Brighton, universihas been met with ties would be a great amount of of school pupils required to limit disapproval from go to a private undergraduate leading figures in school admissions from the education system. independent schools to The annual seven percent - reflecting Headmasters and the current percentage of the Headmistresses Conference population who have received a (made up of 300 leading private private education. school headteachers) feel that the proposals could lead to a ‘brain drain,’ leaving universities struggling to fill courses since thousands of privately educated students could potentially choose to study abroad. The Independent Schools Council warned the Labour Party that the policy would be a ‘vote loser,’ and risks alienating thousands of families who choose to have their children privately educated. Official university admissions statistics show that, nationally, just over 10% of undergraduates Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn attended private school last year. argued the move would ‘challenge However, the figures rise sharply the elite privilege of private when examining the country’s schools,’ claiming that the ‘ongo- leading universities; the figure for ing existence of private schools is Oxford stands at around 41%, a incompatible with Labour’s pledge far cry from the seven percent to promote social justice.’ The being called for by the Labour proposal is a precursor to the even- Party. News Reporter
7%
“The ongoing existence of private schools is incompatible with Labour’s pledge to promote social justice”
Meghan and Harry sue the Daily Mail Aneesa Ahmed Prince Harry has recently said in a statement that his wife, Meghan Markle, has become a victim of the tabloid press and condemned what he called the ‘ruthless campaign’ of the press. This is due to the Mail on Sunday publishing a private letter which Harry and Meghan claim was done so in an ''intentionally destructive manner' and to match a ‘divisive agenda.’ Schillings, the law firm representing Meghan Markle, has filed a High Court claim against both the Mail on Sunday and Associated Newspapers, its parent company, over allegedly breaching the Data Protection Act, alleged misuse of private information and infringement of copyright.
Johnson to Extend? Alex Boscott Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson may be forced to
Tejvan Pettinger
“Thousands of privately educated students could potentially choose to study abroad” One University of Birmingham student, third year BA English and History, told Redbrick that despite
understanding why the has sparked widespread Party would implement debate, so much so that such a policy, he the Birmingham feared there would University Labour be ‘massive backStudent group lash’ in which ‘pri(BULS) hosted a vate schools would debate last Monday of current see much reduced in which members intake as it could expressed their ungerdraduates actually reduce your views on the policy. went to private chance of getting Do you have any school into a good universiopinions on this artity.’ cle? Contact us on This is an issue which Twitter: @redbricknews
10%
seek an extension to Article 50 admitted it used ‘excessive force,’ after all. although a long-term solution to With his new proposals the crisis is still yet to be for Brexit receiving a lukefound. warm reception in Brussels, and an immediate show of displeasDemocrats Play ure from Jeremy Trump Card Corbyn, the current Brexit stalemate John Wimperis looks set to continue. At the Tory conNancy Pelosi, the ference last week in speaker of the House Manchester, Johnson of Representatives, has The Redbrick News Team give a claimed that his goal begun an impeachment was now to ‘get Brexit quick round-up of what’s been inquiry into President done.’ Now, however, Trump. happening beyond the shadow Johnson seems further The inquiry follows away from his goal than the revelation that Trump of Old Joe this week. ever before. asked Ukranian President Vlodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate potential Democratic Protests in Iraq Presidential candidate for 2020 Joe Biden and his son Hunter Christina Manns Biden. sasa,’ means that government The House Judiciary commitappointments are not awarded tee is currently investigating 100 people have died and thou- based on merit, and are instead Trump over this. If they draft sands have been injured in pro- made to fill sectarian quotas. The Articles of Impeachment, the tests in Iraq, as Iraqis have taken protesters argue that this has led House will vote on them. Should to the streets to challenge the cur- to widespread government cor- a simple majority vote to impeach, rent political system. ruption and an abuse of public it will then go on to the Senate. This system, known as ‘muhas- funds. Iraq’s military has since There, a two thirds majority
Redbrick Round-Up
of the Republican-controlled Senate would be required to remove the President from office. It was at this stage that impeachment proceedings against Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, the only two Presidents to have had Articles of Impeachment passed against them, were stopped.
Humpback Whale Found in the Thames Rhiannon Wood This Saturday, there was a rare sighting of a humpback whale swimming in the river Thames. The whale was seen diving and surfacing in the water, moving gently down the river with the outgoing tide. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity reported that it had ‘observed the humpback whale in the Thames estuary for just over three hours.’ The whale is estimated between 5m and 10m in length, with a warning being issued to shipping operators. Sadly, it was confirmed that the whale had died on Thursday afternoon.
COMMENT
08
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickcomment
Poll of the Week: Brexit Deadline s
% 17
No
8
3%
Ye
We asked students at the University of Birmingham whether or not they thought that Brexit will be delivered on the 31st of October
Will Brexit Happen on the 31st of October?
“The Conservatives seem to almost feel like Brexit has to be delivered in spite of any economic dangers. They need to deliver it to stay in power” “No other deadline has been followed so far” “How can we propose a way to cooperate when we can't manage domestic issues like sustaining our own parliament” “The government have no other choice but to accept an extension to the Brexit deadline”
Abby Spreadborough Comment Editor
We asked our readers whether they thought Brexit would be delivered on the 31st of October after a tumultuous few months in parliament. Overwhelmingly, respondents thought that Brexit, once again, would not be delivered after initially being delayed by Theresa May who gave up her role as PM in July. Many referred to their lack of faith in Boris Johnson as PM. One respondent wrote ‘Boris doesn’t know what he is doing.’ Others laid blame with parliament itself with the majority of MPs backing remain, the Liberal Democrats campaigning for a second referendum and Labour following suit after their party conference in Brighton. They confirmed they are to remain neutral until a general election and then will campaign for another referendum.
Such a position led respondents to say ‘opposition controls Parliament’ and ‘parliament won't let the deal nor a no-deal Brexit through.’ Others referred the Johnson’s failed move to prorogue parliament which was ruled to be unlawful by the supreme court, ‘Johnson's failure to prorogue parliament has really put a spanner in the works, and I think he and the government have no other choice but to accept an extension to the Brexit deadline.’ Nevertheless, a small minority, 17%, still felt Brexit would be delivered on Halloween even though so-called ‘Brexit day’ came and went this March. Yet this minority remained silent although I expect all sides will be vocal regardless of whether Brexit is delivered on the 31st. Take part in our polls: Redbrick Comment Contributors
@RedbrickComment
Women's Only Hotels Problematic or Paradise?
Comment Writers Jadzia Samuel and Chelsie Henshaw debate whether women's only hotels take advantage of dangers faced by women while travelling Jadzia Samuel Comment Writer
As trite as the stereotype may be, travelling is one of the main ways in which university students spend their available income; tales of gap years, years abroad, and hipster holidays to Eastern Europe are on the tip of every other tongue you encounter in Selly Oak. However, a major concern for at least half of these young travellers which is often overlooked, especially when travelling to familiar European countries, is the safety which is put at risk when entering an entirely foreign environment. For young women this is especially pertinent; whether venturing abroad on a solo adventure or in a small group, the sad reality is that the experience is often tainted by leering men, catcalls, and worse. In light of these concerns, a Spanish hotel chain, Som Hotels, recently opened a new branch in Mallorca in which only women are allowed. The company has received much criticism from those who claim that this exclusion of men serves no purpose other than to avoid the real problem: toxic masculinity and generally misogynistic societal norms. To some extent this frustration is understandable; however, in no way does the creation of an all-female hotel mean that we should simply shy away from the problem of an objectifying
and sexist society. Instead it simply accepts the reality that women are forced to consider the implications of their gender whenever venturing outside of their home environment by providing an appealing alternative.
“Women are forced to consider the implications of their gender whenever venturing outside of their home”
female travellers, have become accustomed to) even more traumatic. Many hostels already provide single-gendered dormitory rooms, so an entire resort is simply the next step in making travel more accessible and appealing to all. Nobody can deny that in an ideal world we would simply have a global cultural shift towards respecting women, and I agree that we should fight for this. However, in the mean-time everyone should feel safe and able to experience the world, and if that involves staying in a chic, modern all-female hotel, then sign me up.
Chelsie Henshaw Comment Writer
As a woman and an avid traveller myself, I am only too aware of the implications of travelling alone; whether that be having to return to my hostel before dark and miss out on a city’s nightlife, dressing conservatively, or even avoiding certain places all together, these preoccupations can seriously detract from a holiday experience. While these concerns are, to a degree, an unfortunately innate part of the female experience in whatever part of the world you may live, there is a certain vulnerability that comes along with exposing yourself to unknown places abroad which makes experiences such as catcalling, leering and groping (all of which I, and many other
On the surface, women-only hotels may seem positive. However, digging deeper highlights the deep-rooted gender inequalities of our society, as not only do they fail to help women in any way (thus making them completely futile), the owners’ profit from women’s constant worries - which must surely be viewed as immoral. What first struck me when learning about these hotels is that it’s obvious that they only exist due to the daily battles women face, for example, stalking and catcalling. Women-only hotels have only gained popularity due to the widespread uneasiness women often feel, but why
should they be made to feel unsafe in our society? And yet one would assume that with the growing media presence of equality and activist movements, such as the #MeToo movement, women shouldn’t feel the need to use gender-segregated hotels. I would also argue that these women-only hotels are avoiding the real issues at hand, the fact that women are unable to wear a bikini in public, for example, for fear of being sexualised. By introducing these hotels, the problems surrounding the ‘male gaze’ are not being solved. These hotels are a temporary solution to an ever-growing problem. Segregating women from society will not solve the issue, in fact it’s insulting. Why should women be made to feel that they need to go to women-only hotels in order to be comfortable on holiday? Especially since these hotels only exist for an exclusively commercial purpose. People are profiting off the vulnerabilities of women, these hotels aren’t made to benefit women, they’re made purely to make money. Lucie McInerney writes in the Independent that Joan Enric Capella, founder of the controversial Som Dona (a womenonly hotel in Majorca), states that the reason she introduced this hotel was because her ‘company saw a gap in the market following a customer survey.' This clearly shows that the prime focus of Capella is to increase
profits, rather than improving holiday experiences for women. Also, upon reading the article by Joanna Whitehead in the Independent, you can learn that, ironically, the hotel employs male staff. Whilst this is due to Spanish gender discrimination laws, it arguably undermines the whole concept of the womenonly hotel. How can a hotel be advertised as ‘women-only’ while staffed with male workers?
“These hotels are a temporary solution to an ever-growing problem” Essentially, women-only hotels are trivial, they don’t provide a sustainable solution to the issue at hand; the fact that men make women feel uncomfortable daily. They also exist purely for profit which seems borderline nefarious when you realise that they are profiting from the insecurities of women. Finally, I think it’s fair to say that womenonly hotels lack a positive impact on society and it’s never ending gender inequalities.
COMMENT
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickcomment
09
The Leap: School to University Comment Writers share their personal experiences of making the transition to University and tell us about what they found particularly difficult about the change Emma Woodhouse Comment Writer
Unlike most first-year students, I have not taken what could be considered the traditional path of further education. I am 29 years old; I have had a career and the last few years I have either lived away from home or abroad. From a 60-hour week of coordinating team members and running a business, to what felt like a million years of attempted self-organization, my transition back to academia was a hot mess at best. Yet, moving back home has been one of the hardest aspects of this current experience.
“I haven't been able to benefit from the amazing interaction that most students would get when they join halls” Yes, moving away from home to move to university is frightening. But so is moving back! As a mature student who has moved back in with my folks to study, I haven’t been able to benefit from the amazing social interaction that most students would get when they join halls, so I’ve thrown myself out there. I’ve joined societies, slid into group discussions and spoken to the people sat next to me in the lecture theatre, in hopes that I too can find the social benefits of university life. Confidence is key in this world and having a simple conversation has raised mine tremendously.
Shania Devi Comment Writer
When you first walked into the University of Birmingham, it likely struck you the sheer volume of people there were. It might even have been overwhelming, which certainly describes my experience two years ago. The daunting transition from classes of 20 students, to lectures containing over 200 is something that was unlikely to have crossed your mind amid your frantic rush to get everything checked-off of that ‘uni to-do list.' However, despite being surrounded by such an array of people, you may well have questioned where (or whether) you fit in. Taming that wave of overwhelming thoughts and finding a sense of belonging will take time and effort -
that’s okay. I for one am not ashamed to admit that I spent my entire first year overcoming that small-fish-big-pond-feeling. We become so comfortable in our small sixth form community, that we may struggle to start a conversation at university. So, we remain in our individual comfort zones. I urge you not to. Surviving the big leap from Sixth Form to University is really about taking those little leaps along the way - initiating a conversation in a lecture, speaking up in seminars or joining a society. Overcome those small hurdles and eventually you will find that niche place where you fit in. With effort and patience, university can be the best time of your life!
each of these questions, and enjoy the fact that university is new and exciting. Part of this is the fact that you get to focus on the subjects you love, whilst meeting people who love those subjects too. If people say they are not nervous, I would bet my degree that they are lying! You may feel stressed or homesick at times, which is okay and very normal. Remember that there are lots of support networks in place for you, like older student mentors, official university counsellors and your flatmates. In terms of lectures and seminars, go in prepared. Do the work set. The last thing you want is to be writing an essay ten minutes before the deadline hits. It’s stressful and very avoidable.
Sophie Heinze
Sophie Utteridge
Comment Writer
Comment Writer
For me personally, the biggest shock coming into university was how early they start talking about your career. My course includes a year in industry, so I do understand that university simply wanted to inform us, but having careers network coming in during our induction talk stressed me out. I had not even have one lecture yet and there were people talking to me about how I need to build up my CV and need to start thinking about my third year. Honestly, it felt like I was expected to be Superwoman: figure out how to live alone, how university works, what I want to do in my free time, and on top of that, manage to build this amazing CV and I had no clue what that was even supposed to mean.
For me, the scariest part about moving to university was the sheer size of the city that I now live in. I come from a small village in rural Suffolk (for those who don’t know where that is well, you wouldn’t be the first) that has a handful of shops at it's centre. For the most part, everyone knows everyone. So for me, moving from my tiny world of thatched roofs and local shops, to the massive urban sprawl that is Birmingham, was to put it bluntly, a bit of a shock.
“Everyday I meet someone new” When I accepted my offer from the university, I had of course visited the city beforehand. But if I have learnt anything over the last few weeks, I have found that no number of visits could actually prepare me for what it is like to actually live here. The number of people crammed into a small space completely took me by surprise. Everyday, I meet someone new and yet there are still hundreds of unfamiliar faces around me. However, I can safely say that this change, although daunting at first, has really allowed me to spread my wings and realise fully what it is like to live in such a diverse city such as Birmingham.
“Honestly, it felt like I was expected to be Superwoman” I ended up going to some of the career fairs, they were interesting (with lots of freebies), but I felt that they target mainly third and sometimes second years. Knowing that helped and made it worse at the same time, because I still did not know how to build this amazing CV I was meant to have. What helped was being surrounded by people in the same situation, none of us having a clue about our career, and we ended up prepping our CVs together, or at least we tried.
Harpal Khambay Comment Writer
Firstly, remember that all first years feel exactly the same as you do. They will all be wondering how to get to campus, how to use the washing machines and where the best nights out are – all three of these things certainly crossed my mind! Throw yourself into
Aaminah Saleem Comment Writer
Redbrick
Freshers’ week - a week with copious amounts of drinking, clubbing and the dreaded fresh-
ers’ flu has passed. My experience was somewhat unusual. After attending the freshers’ fair on Monday and visiting a friend, I sprained my ankle. A six hour A & E trip on the first night of freshers’ week was not something I planned or enthusiastic about. Being on crutches made me think my freshers’ week experience would be lacking - but it was the opposite. Doctor's orders were to rest for two days and I envisioned Netflix marathons, but friends on my course visited me both days to keep me company and talk to me. They spent 6 hours at mine - just talking. When I was better, I was able to go to the societies fair on Thursday and Friday. Although I didn't get to go clubbing, I had an amazing time last week. I had friends who were keen to visit me and keep me company and stay for endless hours just talking. They helped me go onto main campus when I was better to take advantage of the freebies, explore the campus and actually make the most of my time.
Sophie Donnelly Comment Writer
I felt so daunted, yet excited by the prospect of going to university with a little life experience under my belt. That I would enter and leave the same old me, only now getting the job I want. Naively, I thought that was it. So day one, year one and year two caught me off guard to say the least. I joined the University of Birmingham as a mature and commuting undergraduate in 2017. The saying ‘age is just a number’ has never felt so patronising, as commuting to class in constant fear of being categorised the outsider. For the rest of year one, I honestly felt like I had a flashing beacon on my head saying ‘old’ and ‘avoid.' It stayed for year two as I retreated further into my cave, hiding from every opportunity that could possibly come my way. Now facing my final year, I am so eager and excited to throw myself into every experience I can manage. The more people I can meet and learn from the better. For even though we tend to look to someone older to be a mentor, peers that are younger are incredible reverse mentors. University is nerve-wracking for any new or returning student, but especially a mature student. I know how easy it is to feel like a number defines you, even when you never anticipated it would. But I promise it does not. A mature student is still a brilliant student. Linear is not always the right route. I hope everyone and anyone realises this sooner than I did.
10
COMMENT
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickcomment
Are You a White Saviour? 'Voluntourism' and the Problems That Go with It
Deputy Digital Editor Holly Pittaway argues that current volunteering trends are doing more harm than good Holly Pittaway Deputy Digital Editor
Everyone loves a good Instagram feed, don’t they? We use Instagram to update people on what’s going on with our lives, where we’ve been, what we’ve been doing, especially over the summer when everyone is free from University to have their own adventures. For this kind of thing Instagram is great – but if your feed is filled with pictures from a safari tour or smiling children living in poverty in the Global South, captioned with anecdotes about how a 2-week trip to Africa changed your life, chances are you did some kind of volunteering this summer and unknowingly came back as what I would call, a white saviour. I in no way believe that volunteering is a bad thing for any parties involved, and in a world where people are becoming increasingly selfish, we need volunteers; whether this be serving the homeless in a food bank, answering phones at a mental health charity, or keeping an elderly person company when they’re lonely. Furthermore, volunteering is also a great boost for anyone’s curriculum vitae (let’s pretend that I didn’t just say that thing about people being selfish). But volunteering – more specifically, 'voluntourism' – can be problematic.
“I in no way believe that volunteering is a bad thing ” Westerners have long viewed the Global South, especially African countries, as a blank space in the world to be moulded on the west - just look at the terms we still often use to describe such places: ‘developing world,' ‘underdeveloped
countries,' and ‘third world,' all of which have negative connotations suggesting a lack of infrastructure, unparalleled poverty, and an absence of proper civilisation. These terms have been largely agreed by academics to be outdated, hence my use of the more modern ‘Global South,' however this has its own problems as it is not bound by geographical parameters. Whatever you label them, such countries still carry the brunt of exploitation by the West with them today, and 'voluntourism' is just the same old western colonists taking on another form.
“There is often under-employment of locals in areas where 'voluntourism' is popular” The research around 'voluntourism' now generally confirms that the trend can often do more harm than good to a local community; volunteering comes with a hefty price tag, usually upwards of £1,000 for a few weeks abroad working in conservation or in an orphanage, and when there’s plenty of wealthy young westerners ready to part with their cash, why would any organisation offer paid employment? As a result there is often underemployment of locals in areas where 'voluntourism' is popular. Furthermore, the nature of most volunteering programmes running for a few weeks or months, coupled with the fact that most volunteers are young people on gap years or summer breaks, means there is a constant stream of volunteers coming in and out of communities that really need stability – this can be particularly damaging in programmes were children are concerned, such as schools or orphanages, as studies have found that the lack of one-toone care a n d
Kronosxx12
long-term bonds can lead to stunted cognitive development and a greater risk of psychiatric disorders.
“To speak of orphanages in the west is to conjure up images of Poor Oliver twist ” The 'voluntourism' industry also supports orphanages, which many children’s charities have condemned as dangerous and unhealthy environments. In Europe, child institutions have been banned for a long time and to speak of orphanages in the west, is to conjure up images of poor Oliver Twist, begging for more gruel. In the Global South, most orphanages are set up following natural disasters, but the western love for cute, downtrodden, foreign children has kept the business going, and with more volunteers come more orphans, or so-called orphans – according to International Volunteer HQ, more than 80% of children living in orphanages are not actually orphans, most have been sent their by their parents or family members who are unable to financially support them.
“The western love for cute, downtrodden, foreign children has kept the business going” Children in orphanages are also at higher risk of suffering abuse and exploitation – worryingly, as Better Care Network have stated, ‘significant overlap between international volunteering and child sex tourism has been noted in research due to the particular vulnerability of children in residential care centres.' If volunteers truly wanted to help, they would campaign for better, long-term financial support for families in these communities, not continue to pour money into the institutions that prevent this from happening. But the problems with 'voluntourism' aren’t limited to the physical realm, it also presents an ideological issue often dubbed the white saviour complex.' Simply put by Metro, ‘the phrase refers to a white person who acts to help non-white
people, but in a context which can be perceived as self-serving’. Acts that might fall into this complex could be as simple as posting a photo on Instagram. Stacey Dooley, the now-celebrated documentary maker, came under fire in March when she posted a photo with a young African child with the caption ‘obsessed,' which led to some calling her out for using the boy as an ‘accessory.' For me, such photos are particularly sickening, especially when they feature young children who likely have no idea their picture is being used to boost someone’s charita-
“I think the problem lies in the way we're taught (or not taught) about the Global South and how we view volunteering” ble public image. White saviours are also usually ignorant to the cultures that they visit – last year the BBC were forced to apologise after Dooley wrongly referred to a religious Muslim gesture as an IS salute, in an episode of Panorama. We might also point to Sex and the City 2 as having a white saviour moment when the four main characters dissed the traditional dress of Islamic women because it ‘freaked them out,' for which it is sorely remembered by fans. A caption by the account @barbiesavior perfectly encapsulates the ignorance and unconscious racism that is frequently displayed by 'voluntourists;' along with a satirical image of a white barbie doll saying goodbye to a non-white barbie, they wrote, ‘In two years you are going to meet a grown up man that you have never met before, you two are going to have a child, and if you are lucky he will stay with you. But he will probably leave you alone with your child in your small home, made of mud and trees. You will probably sell your body to someone else to earn money for your child. And then, a white woman will come to your child and give her the best day of her life. Just like I have given to you. Ah, the circle of life.’
If you went 'voluntouring' this summer, or have done in the past, this isn’t meant to call you out as a bad person; I think the problem lies in the way we’re taught (or not taught), about the Global South and how we view volunteering here in the western world. For most it ultimately boils down to the fact that it is a good way to spend one’s summer, and it also looks great for employability, but that’s it. Few 'voluntourists' are educated on the infrastructural, financial, and ideological problems that go hand-in-hand with their experience-of-a-lifetime; hence that is why 'voluntourism' can sometimes be boiled down to an insensitive Instagram fad, a personal journey of self-discovery as opposed to an attempt at actually change the lives of others for the better. The industry is worth
$2.6 billion per year (Save the Children)
84% of millenials say they would take part in ‘voluntourism’ (Volunteering Solutions)
Starting price of ‘voluntourism’ opportunities
£1,000 (Projects Abroad)
COMMENT
Friday 11 October 2019
@redbrickcomment
11
Climate Change Hypocrisy Comment Writer Colette Fountain explores the irony of celebrities preaching sustainability to their fans despite what their own carbon footprint may be Colette Fountain Comment Writer
In recent years, the climate change debate has become one of the most important political debates of the twenty-first century. As world leaders like Trump continue to deny the existence of global warming, the pressure has been put on ordinary people to ensure the Earth’s survival. However, while the general consensus among activists seems to be that huge corporations are to blame, celebrities are continuing to encourage the ordinary person to do, and be, better. A study by the Carbon Majors Database recently found that 100 companies are producing around 71% of global carbon emissions, with the worst offenders being the Chinese coal industry and oil companies like Shell and BP. Despite this damning evidence, companies continue to remain relatively unregulated, largely due to the immense wealth they generate. Even though businesses appear to be the root of the problem regarding global warming, much of the responsibility is still being put on the consumer. During a recent Saturday Night Live (SNL) appearance, Billie Eilish and Woody Harrelson made a video addressing the ‘Climate Emergency,' calling for people to do more to protect ‘the only home we will ever have.'
Although well-intentioned, the video has been drawing backlash for putting the pressure on everyday, working class people to save the planet, something which will have far less impact than businesses. In contrast, Greta Thunberg continuously rallies politicians to change the way that businesses function in order to better protect our planet. In SNL’s video, Eilish suggests that people cut meat and dairy out of their diet, along with reducing the amount of plastic they use, something which has been proposed as a way of helping the climate for a while now.
“Much of the responsibility is still being put on the consumer” The problem with this is that it only has a significant impact if a large number of people decide to do this. Some things, like carrier bags and plastic straws, became a kind of phenomenon with everyone wanting to do their part. However, expecting things such as everyone cutting meat out of their diet, is not as easy. Therefore, while people should still try and do their bit for the environment, the kind of guilt that celebrities
try and put on people who don’t live fully environmentally friendly lives, is unfair. Particularly on those with lower incomes as environmentally-friendly lifestyles often come at a higher price. There is also a kind of irony with celebrities like Billie Eilish promoting an environmentallyfriendly lifestyle. Throughout the video Eilish refers to ‘we’ and ‘our,' but to me it seems unclear who the ‘we’ is. Is it other millionaire celebrities? Other 17-yearolds? While her music speaks to a whole generation as a result of its relatability, in this context, Eilish seems detached from the ‘we’ she is speaking of. Taking one look at her Instagram, you can see how wildly successful she is as she is clad in designer labels like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, something most 17 year olds only dream of. This is all perfectly fine from an artistic standpoint- it is part of her ‘brand’ after all. However, when taking a political stance it gives off a sense of naivety to the individual circumstances which may prevent certain people from being able to contribute to the cause as much as they wish. Billie Eilish and Woody Harrelson alone are not the problem, they just happen to be the most recent instalment in a series of celebrities preaching a message they are not necessarily practicing. One outlier in this trend, is rapper Lil Dicky. All proceeds
from his song ‘Earth,' which featured a host of celebrities, went to the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation which in turn donates to a host of wildlife and climate change charities.
“Eilish seems detached from the 'we' she is speaking of” As part of this song, Lil Dicky produced a website and several videos informing people about climate change and how to get involved. Unlike the SNL video, Lil Dicky seems to acknowledge the varying degrees that people can contribute and at no point tries to blame the audience, instead admitting that ‘[he] didn’t know anything.' While any celebrity using their platform to promote the cause is still better than doing nothing, there needs to be a greater effort on their part to avoid the sense of hypocrisy it often evokes. Videos like the one on SNL carry the risk of seemingly blaming
ordinary people with little regard for an individual’s circumstances. The irony of encouraging people to live environmentally-healthier lifestyles, whilst continuing to fly in private jets leads to a sense of resentment, as the blame is passed onto the everyday person who, alone, has little impact. Anyone who tries to lessen their impact on global warming should be celebrated, not made to feel guilty by celebrities who promote a sometimes unattainable lifestyle, especially one which they themselves don’t follow.
crommelincklars/Flickr
AI Threatens High Street Shops The use of artificial intelligence in online shopping platforms is making high street shops redundant, argues Siraj Anwar Siraj Anwar Comment Writer
The failure of two major juggernauts, Thomas Cook and Forever 21, may come as a surprise to many. The effect of their collapses on customers, employees and how businesses might operate in the future is going to be profound. Over 150,000 holidaymakers were left stranded after Thomas Cook’s failure and over 21,000 employees at the historic British holiday firm, have been in danger of losing employment. Things fair slightly better with the American fashion retailer, Forever 21. Since, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the firm now hangs on by a thread, with limited time to make structural changes to its business or face the same fate as Thomas Cook. The breakdown of these two towering corporations continues an alarming trend of major retailers having to shut up shop,
including Toys 'R' Us and Sears. A deep dive into the causes behind the failure of such corporations, tells us that there is a common thread among all of them - an inability to adapt to change in consumer preferences.
“The breakdown of these two towering corporations continues an alarming trend” The emergence of e-commerce combined with improvements in artificial intelligence (AI), has led to a revolution in consumer preferences and perceptions. Customers now get a much better buying experience with competitive or even lower
costs for products when they shop online, compared to shopping at a retail store. Machine learning and AI’s development has also led to redundancy of stores in the services sector. Price comparison websites which conveniently give you the best deal and tailored recommendations for your holiday experience, are a dime a dozen. Anyone with a laptop and internet connection no longer have the need for a travel agent to book their next holiday. The lack of attention and importance given by Forever 21 and Thomas Cook towards developing their online business meant that they had analogue business models in a digital world. Their lack of proactivity in restructuring the business model has backfired in the worst possible way. The lastminute effort to shut down their stores worldwide was far too little, far too late. With their fates nearly sealed, the legacy of these two
firms and others like Toys 'R' Us, exist as a warning to large corporations and their employees. It is likely that most large businesses are going to implement changes to avoid the same mistakes that these other firms have made. This can potentially mean closing down a significant number of stores internationally to shift the focus of their sales to online. Unfortunately, for employees this would result in job losses due to decreased demand for workers or because of automation.
“They had analogue business models in a digital world” With businesses adapting to AI and machine learning, it leaves employees with low paid salaries as the most vulnerable stakeholders. These employees
are at high risk of losing their jobs, examples of which we can already find with self-checkouts steadily becoming the norm. With the capabilities of AI boundless, the one thing that we can predict is that it will soon penetrate industries with high paying jobs as well. It is expected that AI will either replace junior lawyers and doctors or at the very least change their job significantly and reduce their significance. The onus is therefore on employees - especially the future generation - to adapt and sharpen skills that cannot be replicated by a computer program such as creativity and interpersonal skills. AI and machine learning have already changed the way that we behave and interact. Its limits are unknown to even the world’s foremost experts. Although, AI is likely to make our lives as consumers more efficient, it is like a poisoned chalice, that businesses and especially employees need to be wary of.
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Redbrick's Guide to Contraception
Sci&Tech and Life&Style editors collaborate on a guide to the importance of using contraception at university and its practicalities Francesca Benson & Ellen Heimpel
Sci&Tech Editors
University is a breeding ground for first time experiences. First date, first love, first sexual partner – whatever that first time experience may be, let’s not let university become a breeding ground with a full stop. It’s time to talk contraception. Birth control is inevitably a staple of university life; however, it is down to you to take control of your sexual health by understanding your options. We are at the peak of choice and agency when it comes to controlling fertility and STIs, but it is equally important to recognise which contraceptive choice is best for us as individuals. Despite high accessibility, careless contraceptive attitudes and scarce knowledge, students are often left with all the gear but no idea. The latest statistics from Public Health England have revealed that a case of chlamydia or gonorrhoea is diagnosed in a young person every four minutes in England. Condoms can be accessed for free by simply looking online for a free condom finder, yet over 144,000 diagnoses of these STIs occur in people aged 15 to 24.
Estelle Dragan & Ellie Silcock Life&Style Editors
Perhaps us students take free contraception for granted, or perhaps we’re simply unaware of the repercussions that come with unsafe sex. The majority of STIs such as chlamydia are symptomless, which renders our awareness surrounding the issue vital.
“Over 144,000 diagnoses of these STIs occur in people aged 15 to 24 ” Alongside the STI fear, women aged 20-24 have one of the highest rates of unintended pregnancies due to the incorrect use of contraceptives. This could be due to a lack of awareness, or simply a lack of knowledge about the many options available, and the correct ways of using each one. There are lots of factors to
take into consideration when it comes to contraception. Some options may have unexpected side effects or cause discomfort, not to mention the different levels of effectiveness. There are more options out there than most students are aware of, with many people sticking to the ones they learnt about at school without fully researching the (quite extensive) list. Contraception tends to be very unique to each individual person, so it’s less about what your friends are using, and more about which one will work the best for you. Being aware of our options may also enable a happier body, and thus a happier mind. To ensure contraceptive control complements our health, sex lives and fertility, it is integral to know and understand our bodies as well as the form of contraception we are using. Let’s ensure we aren’t rushing into anything that could be detrimental to our reproductive health or our lifestyle. It takes a simple read to know what’s out there, and why it may or may not be for you. Have an opinion? Let us know: @redbricklife & @redbricktech
StockSnap
Condoms Condoms prevent both pregnancy and STIs by forming a barrier between the genitals of the person wearing the condom and those they are having sex with. The most commonly used condoms are worn on the penis and are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Internal condoms that are worn inside the vagina are also available and are 95% effective. They can be used alongside other forms of contraception to protect users against catching or passing on STIs. They are mostly made of latex, however alternative materials are available if you have a latex allergy. It is possible for condoms to slip off or break during sex. If this happens an STI test may be required, as well as emergency contraception if another form of contraception isn’t being used. This risk can be minimised by using condoms that are not expired and are the right size. Oil-based lubricants can weaken the condom and increase the risk of breaking.
PNGIMG
Combined Pill Usually just referred to as ‘The Pill’, the combined oral contraceptive pill contains the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. It works by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg each month, thickening the mucus in the neck of the womb so it’s harder for sperm to get through and thinning the uterus lining to reduce the likelihood of any fertilised eggs implanting. The combined pill does not provide any STI protection. The pill is taken every day for 21 days, followed by a 7-day break to allow for a period-type bleed. EveryDay (ED) pills, contain a pill for every day, 21 active pills are taken, followed by seven dummy sugar pills. The combined pill is over 99% effective when used correctly; however, some women find it difficult to take the pill at the same time every day and it becomes less effective when not used correctly. One disadvantage of the combined pill is that it has been linked to an increased risk of some serious health conditions, such as blood clots or cervical cancer. However, the risks posed are very small. For example, blood clots only occur in 2 in 10,000 women on this birth control option.
PNGIMG
Progesterone Only Pill
SURIJA
These contain progesterone only and work by thickening the mucus to prevent sperm from passing through. If taken correctly it is over 99% effective, but in ‘typical use’ (the way in which it is taken by most women) it is only 93%. This pill is a good option for women who are unable to take oestrogen for certain medical reasons such as high blood pressure, however also does not protect against STIs. The progesterone-only pills must be taken every day, with no breaks. They must be taken at the same time each day. There are two main types of this pill. The typical one becomes ineffective if taken more than three hours late, whereas the desogestrel pill can be taken up to 12 hours late.
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IUS & IUD Both the IUS and IUD (Intrauterine System/Device) are small T-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus through the cervix. Having an IUD or IUS inserted can be painful, however removal is comparatively simple. Both methods have a small risk of ectopic pregnancy or puncturing the uterus, and neither protect against STIs. The IUD and IUS are some of the most effective forms of contraception, and do not interrupt sex. They require little to no thought or maintenance after insertion - only checking occasionally that the short strings used for removal are still poking out of the cervix is needed. The IUS releases the hormone progestogen into the uterus, preventing pregnancy for 3-5 years with more than 99% effectiveness. It functions by thickening cervical mucus to make it harder for sperm to reach the uterus, and thinning the uterus lining to make it harder for an egg to implant. It can also stop eggs being released for some people and can help alleviate heavy and painful periods - or even stop them altogether. The IUD does not contain hormones, instead releasing copper into the uterus which kills sperm and prevents eggs implanting unto the uterus lining. This prevents pregnancy for 5-10 years with more than 99% effectiveness. People with an IUD may experience periods that are longer, heavier, or more painful.
Sarah Mirk
The Implant
Vera de Kok
The implant is a small flexible rod that is inserted under the skin in your upper arm. This procedure is carried out by a doctor or nurse and takes only a few minutes. Once inserted, the implant remains over 99% effective for three years, although it can be removed at any time. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area and it is inserted below the skin. It feels like an injection and no stitches are required. When first put in, there may be some bruising, tenderness or swelling. The implant works by releasing the hormone progesterone into your bloodstream. This prevents ovulation, the release of an egg, each month. Additionally, it thickens the cervical mucus, making it more difficult for the sperm to move through. It also thins the womb lining so if an egg gets fertilised, it is less likely to get implanted. The release of this hormone can cause periods to become irregular, lighter or heavier. A common side effect is that the period stops altogether (amenorrhoea). The implant does not protect against STIs.
The Injection The Depo-Provera injection releases progesterone into your bloodstream, preventing pregnancy in a similar way to the implant. The injection lasts for 13 weeks and is more than 99% effective. It is normally injected into your bottom, but it is possible to have it in your upper arm. If choosing this method of contraception, it is important to know that it can take up to a year for fertility to return to normal. Therefore, it is unsuitable for people who may wish to get pregnant soon. Additionally, the injection does not protect against STIs.
Ciell
The Patch James Heilman
The patch is a small plaster-like sticker that is put on the skin and replaced once a week. It releases oestrogen and progestogen into the bloodstream through the skin, stopping eggs being released. This also thickens cervical mucus to make it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and thins the uterus lining to make it harder for an egg to implant. The patch is over 99% effective. The patch can cause skin irritation, nausea, mood swings, headaches, and spotting. It may be visible, depending on where it is stuck. The patch can help alleviate heavy and painful periods and does not interrupt sex, but does not protect against STIs.
The Vaginal Ring The vaginal ring is a small, soft, plastic ring that is inserted into the vagina and replaced once a month. It releases oestrogen and progestogen into the bloodstream through the vaginal wall, stopping eggs being released. This also thickens cervical mucus to make it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and thins the uterus lining to make it harder for an egg to implant. The vaginal ring is over 99% effective. The ring does have side effects which include nausea, mood swings, Victor Byckttor headaches, spotting, and discharge. It can stop periods and does not interrupt sex, however the ring does not protect against STIs.
Diaphragm/Cap
Wikimedia
Diaphragms and caps are small cups that fit over the cervix and are used alongside a gel that kills sperm to prevent sperm from entering the uterus. They are between 92% and 96% effective at preventing pregnancy. They can be inserted up to three hours in advance of sex but must be left in for six hours afterwards. Diaphragms and caps do not protect users against STIs. There is a risk of developing a bladder infection while using this method, and if you use it during a period there is a risk of toxic shock syndrome. Different sizes and shapes of diaphragms and caps are available to fit different people’s bodies.
Emergency Contraception The emergency contraceptive pill can be used as a last resort after unprotected sex has taken place. There are two main types. Levonelle contains a synthetic version of progesterone which stops or delays the release of an egg and can be taken up to three days after unprotected sex. EllaOne contains ulipristal acetate which also delays egg release and can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex. With both pills, the sooner it is taken the more effective it will be. One thing that lots of people do not know about the emergency contraceptive pill is that it can become less effective if you weigh over 70kg (11 stone) or have a BMI above 26kg/m2. If this is the case, then EllaOne should be taken or a double dose of Levonelle should be taken. Another form of emergency contraception that is even more effective is having the IUD fitted within five days of unprotected sex having taken place. However, emergency contraception Julio Monterrubio should not be used as your normal type of contraception.
Fertility Awareness Fertility awareness involves monitoring the body to determine when the most fertile points of a person’s menstrual cycle are. Daily monitoring of body temperature and vaginal fluid give some indication of when an egg is released, and from this you can estimate at what points you are most and least likely to become pregnant. It is suitable for people from cultures or religions that forbid other forms of contraception. It is most effective when monitoring techniques are taught by a professional. When used perfectly, fertility awareness can be up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, for most people it is 76% effective due to the difficulty of executing the method correctly. It is important to remember to monitor the body correctly and accurately every day. Many people have irregular cycles naturally or due to stress or illness, which can cause a lot of variation in when exactly their fertile period is, thus making it hard to predict. Sperm can also live in the body for up to seven days and the method provides no STI protection. Many people choose to use this method alongside avoiding sex or using condoms at fertile times.
Pulling Out (Withdrawal) The withdrawal method involves stopping sex before ejaculation occurs inside a partner. This prevents pregnancy by preventing semen from entering the vagina. It is suitable for people from cultures or religions that forbid other forms of contraception. However, it offers no protection against STIs. Remembering to pull out at the right time requires concentration and discipline, and traces of sperm in pre-ejaculate may lead to pregnancy anyway. When used perfectly every time, withdrawal is 96% effective, however for most people it is 73% effective due to the difficulty of executing the method correctly.
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Thinking of Joining Redbrick? Go to the Guild’s website where you can buy your annual membership for £10, which will allow you to contribute to our 12 sections. Head to www.redbrick.me and click ‘Login’ and then ‘Register.’ You can then create your own account, which will become your online portfolio. Once your account is made, feel free to join the Redbrick Hub on Facebook to find out more. You can then join different sections’ Facebook groups to find out about meeting times and article opportunities. Then you are set as a member of Redbrick 2019-20!
Emily Youlton BurnFM Station Manager @Burn_FM
I can’t quite believe I’m sat writing this column for our friendly media neighbours, Redbrick, for the start of my final year. I think I wrote something similar this time last year, truly unsure of what the year would hold and not entirely convinced I would be back in the sweaty studio of Burn FM, yet here we go again. I’m back for my third year on this committee, my second leading the society as I endeavour to complete my Masters alongside this. I cannot pretend to be completely calm with this prospect but I am as always with anything Burn FM, excited. Campus seems buzzing with both new and not so new students ready to embark on the year and plenty of people looking for fun societies to
get involved in outside of their degree. This year we have made significant investment in new technology so that now we have theopportunity to broadcast outside our studio with a full set up, something we put to the test at the UoB Open Day to kick off the year. In line with current listening trends, we have also worked hardto renovate one room in our studio to offer a fully functioning podcast suite, with sound proofing, dual monitors and the option to add up to four presenters, with our aim to elect a new committee role to work on this launch. Our investments have been focussed on how we can engage more students in everything we have on offer and ensure that our members experience is better than ever. Whether you fancy producing our next big outside broadcast or would prefer to work on air, chatting politics with our news team, your voice is needed in Burn FM. On Monday 14th October at 9am, we’ll be going live, kicking off the term of broadcasting and I am so excited. It has been a challenge to say the least to schedule all 70 shows on Burn FM but it has been so wonderful to see all the amazing ideas on campus and I can’t wait to see it all come to life. We truly have something for everyone to listen to from rock music, to cheesy tunes, political discussion featuring in many evenings and some wacky ideas for the daytime, we’re all looking forward to hearing all our new presenters! Tune in from 9 am on Monday, 14th October at burnfm.com
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Mind+Solve Sudoku (Easy)
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Across 1. Not always tolerable (7) 3. Looking closely at a long weapon (12) 4a. A cooked potato you can wear (6) 5. The fall before the solstice (6) 7. Disconnected voices meet in this (9) 8a. Great tea. I messed it up, but it's something to aim for (6) 11. Everybody has them, but not everybody is one (5)
Down 2. A band of colours (8) 4b. An animalistic car (6) 6. A down to earth bee (6) 8b. An object of display or award (6) 9. One's life story (6) 10. Nice smell hidden in diaper fumes (7) 12. A clock not lacking (8) 13. Within out evolution, a rype calls for change (13)
First Lines The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various novels,
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Issue 1508 Puzzles compiled by Natalia Carter and John Wimperis
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songs and films. All you have to do is tell us which novels, songs or films the lines come from.
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‘Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on! / Didn't I make you feel like you were the only man - yeah!’
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‘The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call “out there.”’
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‘Hi. I'm Lenny. Oh, little buddy, did I scare you? I'm sorry. Wake up. Okay, don't worry about it, I'll get you out in a jiffy’
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Anagrams With Friends celebrating its 25th anniversary, we decided to take a look at some films that are also celebrating 25 years. Can you unravel these films?
1. ELTON HIKING 2. GUT PERFORMS 3. CREW HOT 4. ACHILLES TARTLETS
5. ALBERTA RINK UNROLLS 6. ETON FILTH NESTS 7. LUTE SIRE 8. ELATING STILT 9. ELMO LIT NEWT 10. AILMENT HUB
Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me
LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1. Bible Belt; 2. Haddock ; 3. Apollo; 4. Down; 5. Dilemma; 6. Avengers; 7. Love Island; 8. Life and Style; 9. Omen; 10. Emerge; 11. Recycle; 12. Freshman; 13. Nomination; 14. Stoic; 15. Spectrum; 16. Milkshake; 17. Cameo; 18. Haggard; 19. Anonymity (N.B. the clue should have read 'My Antony I, is unkown.' Redbrick apologises for this error.); 20. Obscure | First Lines: Five On A Treasure Island (Enid Blyton); ‘Bennie and the Jets’ (Elton John); The Godfather Trilogy (Francis Ford Coppola) | Anagrams: 1. Jordan Pickford; 2. Harry Maguire; 3. Kyle Walker; 4. Harry Kane; 5. Raheem Sterling; 6. Declan Rice; 7. Dele Alli; 8. Marcus Rashford; 9. Jadon Sancho; 10. Jesse Lingard
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Housing Horrors: What Can You Do if Things Go Wrong? Redbrick interviews the Guild's Welfare & Community Officer, Millie Gibbins, and International Officer, Joanne Park, about student housing and what you can do if things go wrong Natalia Carter
Print & Features Editor
For many students, moving away to university is their first experience of living independently. You don't have any parents nagging you to tidy up, you can buy and cook the food you want to eat without judgement, and you can spend all day in your pyjamas - no questions asked. However, this transition does not always go as seemlessly as you would hope. Once the excitement of Freshers' Week wears off, you are left with the realisation that no one is going to tidy up after you, and that those wild party animals you loved living with for the first week perhaps aren't the types of people you want to live with for the next three years. We spoke to the Guild's Welfare & Community Officer, Millie Gibbins, and International Officer, Joanne Park, about student housing. We discussed their own experiences, and what to do if your housing experience doesn't quite go to plan. What has your experience been with accommodation whilst living at university? Did you stay in halls, student houses etc? Was it a stressful experience? Millie: I loved living in halls in first year but then I went to go live in Selly Oak, which I think a lot of people do in second year. My experience was absolutely horrific, which is why I went for this role. I was moving into a house that was being renovated, but it wasn’t renovated when we went to move in, so we got put up somewhere else. There were random builders coming in all the time. It was awful. We also had no Wi-Fi until Christmas, which was quite possibly the worst possible scenario. I’ve also had a really good experience! Last year and this year have been great. I’ve had some really great landlords and it’s been a really positive experience. I think the difference between my third year and second year is that I really rushed into it in my second year, whereas last year and this year I’ve taken a lot more time, and it is really worth doing that because you can find some really good landlords and letting agents. Jo: I lived in student accommodation in first year. It was great to meet new people and it was an easier way to settle into university because you don’t have to stress about private renting in first year. Then in second year I went out to Selly Oak, like most others. It was really stressful because I was 18, it was November and everyone was stressing about housing and finding a new house - and I was like, I’m not ready to sign a contract! So my friends were doing
most of the work. They found two good houses, so we had a viewing and we decided on one and found out it was taken, in one day! But I’m really glad that it happened because we found a better house after Christmas which had cheaper rent and was much closer to uni. So, I want to tell students - don’t rush. There could be other, better houses. Interestingly, now I live in Kings Heath which wasn’t an option I would have even imagined if my friend didn’t bring it up. It’s actually quite close to campus, so I commute on the bus which is relatively cheap.
that conversation should be the key point, rather than shooting someone down. Millie: Yeah, for the sake of just unloading absolutely every single thing that has annoyed you, actually having an outcome from it and something that you can move on with is great. But if that doesn’t work then go to Guild Advice.
What advice would you give to international students moving to UoB? Where should they start looking at houses? Is there anywhere they can go to meet people in the same situation? Jo: Depending on how they When you come to university apply to UoB, they might not be as a Fresher, international stu- able to secure student accommodent, or even as a returning dation, which is quite a postgrad, it can often struggle for them. be daunting living in There are ways that shared accommothey can look for dation with peohouses online ple you don’t but they should know. What remember advice do you that Guild have for Advice is Freshers who always there perhaps aren’t to help them getting on with out with their flatmates, housing if and where can they face any they go for help? issues. If Millie: Guild you’re coming BirminghamLive Advice are really, for the first time really great. If you’re to the UK, you in first year, the Student might not understand Mentor scheme is so great, how the contracts work and they come round and do living you don’t have any elders that you agreements and they are students can seek advice from. I think the themselves so it’s perfect - they’ve University Living service somebeen through it so they know what times have some rooms available they’re doing. For second and in student halls, but Guild Advice third years, it’s a really good idea should be the first port of call for to go to Guild Advice - they are students. In terms of looking out fab at what they do, and so are the for a community, if they live in Community Wardens. Living halls, go to Hall Rep events and Services do some stuff, but I Student Mentor events because would say that Guild Advice are you’ll be able to meet people just the best people to go to about like them. If they are living outthings like that. side of halls, look for Community Warden events. They should also be coming to Global Buddies events where they can meet international people from anywhere, any background, no matter what their housing situation is like. They will also be able to ask advice from current students who have been in their shoes before!
“There were 9,129 studentonly houses and flats in Birmingham... in May 2018”
“Go to Guild Advice - they are fab at what they do, and so are the Community Wardens”
Jo: Communication is the key between flatmates and housemates. Different people have different ways of communicating; some people might hold things in until they can't anymore, or some people might dismiss things. It can hurt feelings, which is not great when you’re living with others. You’ve also got to remember that no one’s your mum in the flat. Mutual respect is very important, but working out how you want to communicate with your flatmates and what you want to get out of
With that in mind, it’s usually in this term that the rush for housing begins. What advice do you have for first-time renters, what should they be looking out for when looking around houses and different letting agents? Millie: In week four, we are having a housing week. The Student Mentors and I have worked really hard on a booklet where you have a checklist of all the information you need to know. We’re going to have a Housing Fair where first years can get all of their information. I used that information going into my third year because my second year housing was just awful and I
really rushed into it. The key message that I’ve tried to get across in it is don’t rush. It’s such a myth buster, but there are more houses in Selly Oak than there are students! Landlords will pressure you and pressure you, but you will always find a house. The one that I found in third year was on Hubert Road, which is really central, and then Exeter Road, which is close to campus and cheap. It was also a really lovely house and I found that in January! This year, I won Guild Elections in March and I found a house in March which is in central Selly Oak. It's really central, really cheap and has amazing rooms - such a good house. You will always find a house. Don’t feel like you need to sacrifice distance to campus and cost, they’re being renovated and new ones come up all the time. Jo: There are always enough houses, as Millie said. But also, there are options outside of Selly Oak if you don’t want to get into that competitive renting market. For example, I live in Kings Heath now and the rent is cheaper and I think the houses are much nicer. You could have other options, so just keep your eyes open.
enough sunlight in the house during the day. The brightness of it can really make your whole year different. What do you make of the new Unite facility, particularly given one of its primary access points is the canal towpath which is poorly-lit and lacks security features? Millie: The Guild didn’t have a say in the Unite building, but the Guild are concerned about it and I’m looking into it. But we are putting in measures - the Community Wardens do regular street watch patrols down the canal which is really good, and the Selly Express can drop people at Unite buildings. So we have those two initiatives run by the Community Wardens, but it isn’t too far out of Selly Oak and it’s not really on the canal and is by the retail park. I don’t think it’s going to be too unsafe and Street Watch are there. I would actually say that it is quite secure and the Community Wardens are making sure that it’s safe and people feel safe. The only thing is after nights out, the safety concern is walking along the canal from campus, which I do not recommend at all. Please don’t do that, walk along Bristol Road where it’s safer and there are lots of people.
For first-years, what do you perceive to be the most significant differences between universityowned first-year accommodation and renting for the first time? Millie: There will be quite a few differences. In accommodation it’s all sorted for you by the university. You have on-site security and on-site maintenance you’re almost in a bubble. As soon as you start looking at houses, you have to instantly take on more responsibility. It’s a lot of organising trips to go and see letting agents, and dealing with some unpleasant situations and landJo: I was really concerned by lords. It is a stressful process, it when I first heard about it, but I which is why I really encourage walked to Battery Park recently people not to rush and to take it for some homeware shopping and easy because it is a welfare issue. it is actually very close to uni - it’s It’s really stressful and right next to Heeley Road. can impact on your I’m not as concerned as mental health. before and we will You don’t want keep looking into to be stuck measures to keep it some where safe. Also, walk for a year in groups! with people you don’t What advice really know do you have for who you students who met in don’t want to freshers’ live with the week and same people next BirminghamLive end up not year, or are worbeing the best ried they won’t of friends. have someone to live Jo: The space with at all? that you live in really Jo: They can come to can impact your mental housemate finder events, which health. For first years I’d recom- have gone really well for the last mend going on a sunny day to few years. There will be people look at houses - which is quite looking for an extra housemate or hard to find - and also in the housemates in general. The evening. Check if the lighting is Student Mentors will link up peookay around the house in the ple with similar interests and simevening, and whether you get ilar lifestyles. It would be useful
“The Guild didn’t have a say in the Unite building, but the Guild are concerned about it”
“One in every 51 homes now a student property”
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to go there and find people, also it’s quite important to speak to your friends a lot throughout your wider social network. Through societies, courses, flats above and below, to make sure you find someone with things in common. Online communities like Fab N’ Fresh will quite often shout out people looking for one extra housemate or something like that, so go and speak to people and find a room to fill.
“Come to housemate finder events... There will be people looking for an extra housemate” Millie: I would say if you don’t want to live with people, bite the bullet and sit down and have a chat to say that. You don’t want to be stuck in a house with people you don’t want to live with for a year. In housing week, we have lots of housemate finder events. We have Snack and Chats where you can talk about all of your housing worries. There will be people, mentors, myself and Guild Advice - we will all be there to give advice on what you can do. Once you have found a potential house, the legal side can be quite scary. Where can students go to look through their contracts or talk to someone about the stress of moving house? Millie: Guild Advice all the
way, they’re amazing. They will look through your contract and they will help you out. I think that’s the only advice I have. Jo: Yes, they were very helpful in our first year. 18-year-olds are really stressed with the legal side of everything because it’s such a big responsibility and they give really great advice.
be to an amazing standard and I’m hoping to work on that this year with letting agents and landlords. Check that the landlord is MLAS accredited. It’s the Midlands Landlords Association Scheme, which basically lists all of the landlords that are MLAS accredited and basic requirements and stuff. If they are MLAS accredited and they are breaching it, report it to MLAS and they can take action on them. Check that before you buy as well. Jo: You definitely have a right, as a tenant, to live in a decent house. It doesn’t have to be amazing but it has to have some kind of standards. It’s really important to check if they’re accredited or not. For example, my friend moved into a new house and got kicked out because the landlord went bankrupt or something. So, to avoid those situations it’s best to check that the landlord is reputable.
It’s the time of year now, where most students have moved into their new homes and have found some potential maintenance issues - for example, there have been some anonymous posts on social media about things like slugs, a roof collapsing and difficult landlords. Who can students go to if they are experiencing these things? Do they just have to accept that this is ‘typical student housing’? Millie: No, never accept that it is ‘typical student housing.’ You can come to myself, Guild Last year, Advice or the BirminghamLive Izzy Bygrave Community launched an app Wardens. It is not to rank and ‘vet’ letacceptable at all. ting agents. Is this still You are paying for that available and how large is year, and from the day you start paying on the first of July the current database? How can that house should be in tip-top students access it and is it reliashape and should be completely ble? Millie: Marks Out of Tenancy fine. It’s not an excuse that it’s just like that from September is a really good way to leave because that’s when students reviews of your property. There move in. You are paying for that are a lot of reviews on there so it’s week in and week out, it should really good to check that out
“Birmingham has one of the highest rates of student properties in the entire country”
before renting a house. There is also a toolkit on there, where you have an inventory where you can take pictures when you move into your house and store your contracts. It’s a really great tool to use. Jo: I’m not sure how big it is right now, but because it only launched last year it is really in our hands as current students to keep adding to it. Community Wardens did a really good job of pushing it last year. Millie: Yes, definitely. I’d encourage all students to leave reviews. I think we have the most amount of reviews in the UK, which is good. Are there any people or services that people can access if they feel their well-being is being impacted by housing? Millie: Guild advice. They’re amazing, they’re really great. Speak to the mentors and the Community Wardens, or come and speak to myself and I can help signpost someone somewhere else, even if that just means seeking support from friends and family. There is a lot of support there which I think isn’t really known about. There’s lots of support around, just make sure you’re accessing it and talking to people about it if you need to. Jo: You can also talk to any of the Guild Officer team and we will signpost to relevant services. But we can also sit and listen to work to support them. Is there anything else which you feel is important for students to know? Millie: I think I’d just like to stress that you don’t need to rush
because it can really impact on your wellbeing. You already have the stress of university, another year, new people - really don’t rush and just take your time. Check out MLAS, and if you have any problems with legalities, or issues with landlords, go to Guild Advice! Remember to know your rights. You have a lot of rights as a student so educate yourself on them. As soon as you hit them with your rights they should back down, and any more problems then go to MLAS or the letting agent - or even myself and Guild Advice.
“Check out MLAS, and if you have any problems... go to Guild Advice” Jo: For international students there must be some cultural differences between students from different backgrounds. It’s important to speak to your friends or whoever you’re living with, so that there is mutual respect for the different kinds of lifestyles. I was quite hesitant about cooking Korean food in my first year because some of them have a strong smell, so I was slowly cooking more and more and checking that they were all good! I fed them some Korean food so they got used to the smell as well! You’ve just got to remember that people are living in different environments than before, so just acceptance and respect is very important.
Useful Information: If you would like to access some of the services or individuals mentioned within this article, please use the following contact information: Housing Fair 21st-25th October Millie Gibbins @Guild_Welfare welfare@guild.bham.ac.uk Joanne Park @Guild_Intl international@guild.bham.ac.uk MLAS https://mlas.org.uk/ talk@mlas.org.uk 0121 288 2008 Guild Advice @guild_advice 0121 415 8965 guildadvice@guild.bham.ac.uk Student Mentors 0121 415 8568 mentorwelfare@guild.bham. ac.uk Community Wardens Redbrick
0121 415 8968 community@guild.bham.ac.uk
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CULTURE
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickculture
Interview: He.She.They
Culture Editor Luca Demetriou interviews Steven and Sophia of He.She.They Luca Demetriou Culture Editor
Where did it all begin, and what are the basics people should know about you? STEVEN: It all started because we were going to be an inclusive fashion brand that threw cool parties and then we spent 18 months fighting to get our name back for fashion but still ran the parties anyway because the ethos of that still mattered to us. In most clubs it’s three straight white cis males DJ'ing and in queer clubs it’s usually three queer white cis males djing so especially if you’re a female/trans/non-binary identifying person of colour you have very low likelihood of being visually represented and therefore not really feeling included in a lot of night time spaces. We have lots of of world class musical and performer talent from diverse backgrounds and when we run different parties the dance floors are also way more diverse than in other parties because we are welcoming to a wider audience. I am a queer guy and Sophia is a straight woman so I think between us and our artists and mates we saw the lack of platforming of diversity and wanted to fix it with a cool fucking party because somehow ASDA and Tesco had more diverse sets of people using them than the world’s biggest house and techno raves. Artists such as Maya Jane Coles, Honey Dijon, KDA Heidi, Louisahhh, Kim Ann Foxman, and Wax Wings have really helped in playing multiple events for us too and lowering fees where possible to make the nights happen as they believe in our concept. You take your parties all over the world, recently in India, how important is that global aspect to He.She.They? How do the parties differ (from say in London, for example)? What are the challenges for inclusivity in such a variety of spaces? SOPHIA: The global aspect is hugely important to us as is social change in general. If we threw this party in a warehouse in East London we would be largely preaching to the converted. The purpose of this party is to bring acceptance, tolerance and awareness of the wider spectrum of queer culture to mainstream dance music so everyone can enjoy each others company, for no person, group or scene to be ghettoised. This is why we have chosen traditionally straighter leaning venues such as Ministry of Sound, fabric, Pacha Ibiza, Watergate Berlin etc. It allows us to reach a wider audience with our message and endeavour to change ingrained pre-conceptions some people might have about what sort of person someone is with regards to how they choose to look, their orientation or how they wish to identify with gender or indeed not conform to any. Cities like London and New York for sure have pushed the envelope on look experimentation at the parties, some have been wild and amazing! We welcome any other city to step up to the plate and challenge them! It’s like anything though, it grows over time and we find some people like to be more voyeur at their first party, but once
they see everyone else at the party their own creativity comes alive and they begin to have loads of ideas. So many people come up to me and say; “I have the coolest idea for the next party” that makes me happy. It’s been a journey for our team too, I for one have cer-
felt they could do that made me so emotional and if we helped even one person embody their truth, it was worth investing in and going. When I was wandering through the crowd talking to people one woman told me it was the first time she’d ever been approached
There are a lot of queer people who feel that space isn’t for them historically and by showing people that the space could be for them allowed for a much more diverse dancefloor. There were zero fights and we had a lot of amazing feedback as for a lot of
Fiona Garden
Fiona Garden
tainly pushed my own boundaries of epic shyness and body confidence to wear some of the outfits I now do. Once you do it once, you realise the vast majority of your own fears are in your own head and based on social norm constructs not your actual personality. It’s also super important for our global plan to ensure we hit those territories and cities where it’s not always about the scale of the party, but about changing mental perceptions for either individuals or groups of people who may not have been exposed to queer culture in this manner due to location or perceived restriction of expression. In Mumbai especially, lots of people turned up solo, in a look when it’s not a normality for people in India to do so to a regular club night. The fact that people
in a club by another woman in India. That made me so happy that people felt they could be so free to be themselves in our space, love is love after all. One of our awesome hosts also said they felt they were witnessing an important cultural moment for their country by being involved in He.She.They and begged us to return soon. To receive that compliment from someone who has been part of the scene for so long over there was overwhelming in the loveliest way. What do you look for in venues and spaces? STEVEN: So far we’ve tried to do it in spaces that have profile and have wanted us to help them pluralise their dancefloors to make the most impact. We did Digital in Newcastle which is a super club.
the straight cis crowd it was the first time they had been in places that were as queer, or with so many people in drag, so it really did break down barriers. Coming from Sunderland originally - a town that had zero gay pubs or clubs when I grew up made that feel super satisfying as I understand what it feels like to not be declarated excluded from somewhere but to still feel that you ain’t exactly being invited in. We tend to not use typically queer spaces because we think we’re uniquely positioned to take on the more mainstream spaces as a lot of those clubs we’ve earned their trust over many years so they let us take over a space like fabric on a Saturday that typically doesn’t have external promoters on a Saturday.
In what ways do you foster and facilitate experimentation in artists? SOPHIA: When choosing the line ups of our DJs and host artists we tend to pick those who already foster experimentation through their own natural individuality. Our role is to give those individuals who are expressing themselves in what they believe to be their truest sense as platform to inspire others to do the same. For the audience to believe they can harness their own creativity in however that manifests for them and bring it out into the world for everyone to enjoy. What are the directions you wish to take your clothing line in? STEVEN: Well eventually we want it to be as big as recognised as Nike or Louis Versace because why the fuck not. Plus I ain't skinny so I welcome having something baggy I can feel good in and says something at the sometime. So many people are excluded from fashion because they are bigger bodied and that’s shit. Our major things are that our clothes are well made, are durable, that there is no sweat shop labour, that the materials used and dyes are environmentally friendly as we want to try and support charities we believe in too. The brand is also pushing our political message of inclusivity for all because of the name. Sophia and I are starting with T-shirts and sweatshirts but ultimately everything from caps and sportswear, to formal, to bondage wear will get put out there. We’re learning a whole new business in doing so and trying to do it right so things will get weirder I would imagine as we have more money and a retail takes more chances as everything is self-funded at the moment it’s fucking tough! We’re the ones mailing things out at the moment and Sophia has hand printed our first samples with the wonderful Rosie Dobby - who is a legend! What is next for He.She.They? SOPHIA: We have so many plans and ideas for the rest of the year, not to mention 2020 and beyond! As Steven mentions above launching our clothing line is a huge moment for us and been a long time coming as we are a small team running all the events also, at first people will only be able to purchase through our personal store whilst we do some numbered limited edition runs. It’s not out for a minute, but sign up for updates! It’s a bit of a case of be the change you want to see, really visual representation is the best way to get our message across, which is why it’s so exciting for us for people to be able to wear our brand soon and have the opportunity to spread that message further and wider. Aside from that we have several more parties which see us in two further countries, Greece and Norway and returning to Amsterdam as well as our Bristol debut for Halloween on 26th.October which we are super excited about! Hope to see some of you there! We also have some seriously exciting music we plan to release under our own label imprint, more details on that soon. If you are interested in He.She. They and their clothing line, visit www.heshethey.me.
CULTURE
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickculture
19
Preview: Giselle, Dada Masilo Becca O'Daly Culture Writer
Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, and what better way to kick things off than with a trip to see Dada Masilo’s interpretation of ‘Giselle’ coming to the Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th October. Described by Dance Magazine as ‘Exhilarating. Bold, brazen, unapologetic and absolutely enrapturing,’ this performance is one that will not disappoint. The lauded South African choreographer is known for her innovation and unparalleled creative vision, and this reimagining of the classic ballet is no different. Masilo isn’t one to shy away from a challenge, having previously reworked ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ Not only does Masilo choreograph this performance, but she also performs the titular role herself. Performing a unique fusion of ballet and contemporary & traditional Tswana dance, she shows just why she deserves the renown that she possesses. The piece is set in a South African village, with Masilo’s Giselle imagined as a peasant girl who suffers betrayal when her
lover rejects her. She is guided by a Sangoma, traditional South African healer to navigate this new course of anguish. In another break from tradition, the Wilis’s who are typical female in most versions of Giselle, are both male and female in Masilo’s version. Masilo’s states that her Giselle was aimed to empower 'I did aim to make a work which empowers women who are expected to be understanding, soft, tolerant and forgiving,' something which seems especially relevant with a backdrop of Black History Month, to have an empowered black Giselle, who is no longer a powerless victim of circumstance. In interview, Masilo explains the decision to set the piece in South Africa 'I’ve set it in rural South Africa, so we are dealing with different cultures and traditions. It’s about how people interact, how relationships are formed and the dynamics of those relationships in rural South Africa, which is completely different from the world of classical ballet.'
“...I've set it in rural Africa, so we are dealing with different cultures and traditions. It's about how people interact...”
She then elaborates further 'I did not consciously set out to 'Africanise' Giselle. It is just that I am South African – this is where my roots are.' The setting of the piece is especially relevant to Black History Month, given South Africa’s troubled racial history, but also the fact Masilo has chosen a setting for the piece which is especially resonant with the personal history of herself and her family. The piece is a sensational celebration of South African culture, especially the incorporation
of music by South African composer Philip Miler, which features a unique fusion of classical strings with African percussion and voice. This cinematic tour-de-force promises to stay with you long after it finishes, a necessary watch for Black History Month. Tickets on sale now from £15, at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Birmingham Hippodrome
Review: He.She.They Luca Demetriou tells us about his experience of He.She.They at London's Fabric. Luca Demetriou
remember, bringing people from all walks of life together in one space to enjoy themselves. Featuring Maya Janes Coles, The British-Japanese queen of the electronic underground, a true artist having written, produced, arranged, mixed and engineered every element on most of her tracks (often including the track artwork). Playing in over 40 countries, Maya has the experience and the edge to give Fabric an electrifying experience. With softer, house-influenced rhythms, Maya synthesises hip hop elements with dubbier electronic sounds to create a sonic fantasy in electronic underground music transforming the music scene.
Culture Editor
Pixabay
He.She.They returned to Fabric in Farringdon on 24th August with their free-thinking, boundary pushing event series that graces popular dance music venues. Merging performance art, fashion, electronic music and freedom, He.She.They returns dance music culture back to its roots.
Dance music and its culture were cultivated by queer underground scenes that esisted labels, with people who had love in their hearts just enjoying themselves, spawning from the disco that populated the gay club scene. Through masterful programming, He.She.They create a night to
“Through masterful programming, He.She.They create a night remember, bringing people from all walks of life together in one space”
Another of my favourites for the night was Kim Ann Foxman. Heavier than Maya Janes Coles’ style, Foxman blends raw house and emotive techno, drawing in elements from trance into a set that is truly weird and wonderful. Drawing from pop references, and inspired by 90s rave scenes of acid house, Foxman defies boundaries of electronic music. With catchy hooks and haunting melodies, dancing freely to Foxman in a room of diverse individuals is magical and exhilarating. It is clear while raving, people were able to let loose, free from the stresses of daily life, and albeit, without prejudice towards other groups. Everyone is there for the music and atmosphere. Forming a part of this atmosphere are the phenomenal performers that rock the stage. From an array of backgrounds and disciplines, these boundary pushing people flip, dip, hiss, kick, kiss and dance, free of boundaries and labels. Hosting for the night was the likes of drag performer Rodent; trans-activist Lucia Blayke, mother of TRANSMISSIONS event and London Trans pride founder; cabaret sensation Mynxie Monroe and masked club queen Stella Marbles. Galvanising the stage, performers thumped to heavy electronic beats, with fiery energy and a shameless confidence, queering Fabric’s dance space.
Fashion is also an important aspect to a night at He.She.They, with an open dress policy, from jeans to harnesses, experimenta-
“...the performers thumped to heavy electronic beats with fiery energy and a shameless confidence, queering Fabric's dance space” tion is encouraged. Initiating the night was Ada Zanditon Couture, presenting her Deity Collection. Showcasing a range of unique garments from her collection, a group of performers take the stage during Wax Wing’s sub-bass driven set. Amalgamating hip-hop, techno, trip-hop, trap, dnb, house, UK garage and dark electronica, this hour-long set was dark, deep and soulful. Opening the night with a fashion show is exactly the kind of boundary pushing that the event series fosters, synthesising multiple artistic disciplines for a truly transcendent night.
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MUSIC
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickmusic
Abbey Road: Every Song Ranked Every track of the iconic Abbey Road is placed under the microscope by Music’s Joseph Webb Joseph Webb Music Critic
Nearly 50 years ago, Abbey Road ended its first stint at the top of the UK charts. This week, it hit Number one again. One of The Beatles’ most inconsistent albums, it flirts between phenomenal highs and staggering lows – but its place within Beatle mythology remains compelling. If its unparalleled status in pop culture wasn’t reason enough to take a look back at this landmark record, then this surely is: all 10 Abbey Road tracks (considering ‘You Never Give Me My Money’ through to ‘The End’ as the ‘Abbey Road Medley’), deliberated, decoded and delineated from worst to best.
10 - ‘Her Majesty’ Clocking in at 23 seconds long, this cheeky McCartney lyric hardly counts as a stand-alone track, but must be treated as thus. Not listed on the original sleeve, it is notable for being one of the first ‘hidden tracks’ in rock music.
9 – ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ Possibly the biggest misfire of The Beatles’ later recordings, ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ is impossible to take seriously. The frankly hilarious cowbells followed by lyrics, such as ‘Maxwell Edison / Majoring in medicine,’ which manage to sound both implausibly intricate and astoundingly stupid, do well to encapsu-
late this idea.
8 – ‘Octopus’s Garden’ It’s a testament to how appalling ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ is that the token Ringo novelty track achieves a higher rank on this list. ‘Octopus’s Garden’ is mindless, shallow and uninspired, but better fun than McCartney’s counterpart.
7 – ‘Abbey Road Medley’ Unpopular opinion alert – the ‘Abbey Road Medley’ is overrated. Vastly, in fact. Yes, it sounds a bit like the band getting back together again – which, I agree, is lovely – and I guess it’s interesting structurally, emblematic of the complexity of the band’s later music.
“Incoherent, comical, and even self-indulgent”
However, for the most part, the medley feels incoherent, comical, and even self-indulgent, with the 16+ minutes saved only by ‘Golden Slumbers’ and closing chapter ‘The End,’ which hints at a final return to form.
6 – ‘Because’ Lennon’s most abstract contribution to Abbey Road, ‘Because’ succeeds on its excellent 3-part vocal melody, floating eerily above a sparse harpsichord-based accompaniment. It strikes a strange balance between coming across as self-assured, if a little too pleased with itself. Although, it is occasionally idiosyncratic to the point of forgettable.
5 – ‘Oh Darling’ Along with ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’, ‘Oh Darling’ is symptomatic of McCartney’s creative
decline, especially in relation to the immutable forces of Lennon and Harrison; his later music felt corny, one-step-behind, lacking the depth of Lennon’s writing and the efficiency of Harrison’s. But ‘Oh Darling’ remains leagues ahead of the former. His vocal performance is dripping with passion and attack, and features an arrangement that is a rare suitor to the somewhat saccharine production present across the album. A rare success for McCartney’s late60s output: a track that can be taken seriously.
4 – ‘Come Together’ Unfortunately, it could be its ubiquity that is responsible for this seemingly-unfair rank, – but yes, ‘Come Together,’ one of the band’s true big hitters, has failed to make the Top three. Make no mistake, this is still an excellent track, intergalactically better than anything else mentioned so far. It recalls Lennon’s trademark brand of ‘memorable ambiguity’ (found most notably on ‘I Am The Walrus’).
‘Mother’, the most troubling work of his solo career, ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’ is a primitive howl of a track, whose lyrical simplicity expertly contrasts the intricacies of its arrangement. Lennon’s anguished vocal schmoozes over a Led Zeppelinesque riff; its metamorphosis from thunderous hard rock to blues is frankly the stuff of dreams. The guitar break during the blues could well be some of the band’s tightest, most lyrical playing ever.
2 – ‘Something’ The first of two absolute blinders completes George Harrison’s ascension to the lofty title of Top Beatle. ‘Something’ is an ethereal, moving ballad, immaculately capturing a feeling that is at once personal and universal. Meeting suggestions of his love’s growth with cries of ‘I don’t know!,’ Harrison’s assuredness in his uncertainty epitomises his position as by far The Beatles’ most enlightened member. If there remained any doubts surrounding his songwriting ability, then this is the track that put them to bed once and for all.
1 – ‘Here Comes the Sun’ Some may call this an obvious top pick, but ‘Here Comes the Sun’ is the best track on Abbey Road, and one of the finest pieces of pop music the band ever produced. It is impossibly gentle yet uplifting, a tone so exquisitely pitched that for three minutes and six seconds sunlight itself is realised on earth. This is a song with the unrivalled capacity to elevate one’s mood, no matter the circumstance. From the doom of ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’ comes this brilliant energy, this vital optimism, the sound of a writer at one with himself and the universe.
“Here Comes the Sun is effortless, perfect pop” It is no wonder the track has seen such longevity. At this point, The Beatles are just making it look easy: ‘Here Comes the Sun’ is effortless, perfect pop.
“The lyrics are vintage Lennon, snarled with a revolutionary cockiness” The lyrics are vintage Lennon, snarled with a revolutionary cockiness over McCartney’s excellent bass riff before the track’s lush psychedelic outro. If this appeared on any other album it would surely have ranked higher.
3 – ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’ If ‘Come Together’ was Lennon at his most enigmatic, this was him at his most urgent, gaunt and tortured. Foreshadowing
Apple Records
Album Review: Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell! Hannah Massey Music Critic
Lana Del Rey’s muse has always been America, but her latest album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!, takes the romanticised picture her previous albums have painted and overlays it with a tone of scepticism. In an interview with Vanity Fair discussing the title of the album, Del Rey said ‘It was kind of an exclamation mark: so this is the American dream, right now [...] Norman fucking Rockwell. We’re going to go to Mars, and [Donald] Trump is president, all right.’ Rockwell was known for his idyllic paintings of American 20th century life, but Lana cuts through this idealised picture with her insertion of the
expletive in the title, in the same way that she subverts her previous depictions of California in the summertime by now turning to look at the world as it is. Shortly before the album’s release she released her single ‘Looking for America,’ which followed the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, and this renders her search for the kind of America to which she wishes to belong. The album seems to be defined by its nostalgia, and in many ways contrasts her earliest music, namely her 2012 song ‘Ride’ where she depicts her life on the road, meeting and falling in love with multitudes of different men with no fixed home. Here, Del Rey is consistently disappointed by the men in her life and yet forgives them again and again anyway, the title
Harmony Gerber
track proclaiming ‘you’re just a man / it’s just what you do.’ Clearly this song isn’t discussing Rockwell himself but rather a narcissistic lover that she has set-
tled on, as she goes on to state ‘but I don’t get bored, I just see it through / why wait for the best when I could have you?’ The simplest and perhaps most beautiful song on the album, ‘Love Song,’ almost seems to parody her earlier love songs, opening with a motif that any Rey fan will recognise – fast cars. She repeats ‘We go fast, we go so fast, we don’t move,’ however, this is far from a mockery. Rather, Rey seems to be lamenting these lost loves, the line ‘Thanks for the high life’ perhaps referring to the spontaneous escapades songs like ‘Ride’ were talking about. The album therefore seems to be grappling with both the loss of an America and a life that she loved, and this comes together in ‘The greatest,’ opening: ‘I miss
long beach and I miss you, babe.’ Del Rey laments: ‘I want shit to feel just like it used to’, and closes the song with a list of statements about modern America, namely ‘LA’s in flames, it’s getting hot,’ and ‘Life on Mars ain’t just a song,’ a nod to Bowie that fits perfectly when matched with the song’s magnificent drums, piano, strings and of course, silky vocals. Norman Fucking Rockwell! is therefore undeniably characteristic in both its composition and its content, and yet that is not to say that Del Rey hasn’t grown and developed as an artist; the difference lies in the sentiment, now looking back on her glory days and an America she loved with nostalgic wistfulness. Her muse hasn’t changed, but the perspective has.
MUSIC
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickmusic
Live Review: With Confidence and ROAM Romana Essop Music Critic
The start of this year’s freshers’ week saw the O2 Institute2 treating Birmingham’s pop punk fans to a night led by two of the scene’s most exciting bands of today. Fresh from the release of their third full-length album, Smile Wide, Eastbourne’s ROAM teamed up with Australian threepiece With Confidence for a coheadline tour to remember. Both bands have a relatively strong following in the UK and a lot of confidence in each other. This has led to alternating set times, giving both of them a chance to perform a slightly longer set and play the night out to its end. For the Birmingham leg, With Confidence were first to step up to the plate. They took to the stage shortly after supports The Dead Love and Woes who both did well to capture the room’s attention and warm up the crowd, the latter being particularly impressive.
With Confidence
Major Transmission
Returning to the UK after over a year, the Aussie trio were greeted warmly by a strong audience clearly dominated by fans. Launching into their set with ‘Moving Boxes’ – the most successful single from their latest album – the Birmingham crowd needed little encouragement as
the room began to sing, jump, and open up mosh pits without permission. What followed was largely a celebration of the band’s most recent album, Love and Loathing, which was released in summer 2018 and promotes a lighter, fun variety of pop punk with many examples of relatable yet poetic lyrics. Their live rendition of ‘Icarus’ in particular was a huge crowd-pleaser, tearing open the atmosphere and demanding heightened energy and vocals from the band and audience alike. This was perhaps my personal highlight of the evening. The set’s tranquil interruption came in the form of ‘Paquerette (Without Me),’ a song which has both a regular and an acoustic version in the band’s discography. At least a dozen fans boosted themselves onto the shoulders of strangers and friends to sway and sing along with frontman Jayden Seeley for this emotional track. Inspired by the breaking up or fading of a relationship, ‘Paquerette (Without Me)’ captured the eyes and ears of the Institute more than any other song thanks to Seeley’s faultless vocals and its hard-hitting lyrics, which undoubtedly resonated with most of the people in attendance. This was followed, perhaps unexpectedly, by a cover of Train’s ‘Drops of Jupiter’ which the crowd were glad to hear. With Confidence treated their dedicated audience to a few songs from their debut album, Better Weather, as well as their 2015 EP, Distance. This included ‘London Lights’ which the band confessed to rarely performing outside of the UK, but felt they had to due to its obvious connections to England’s capital. Unfortunately, their position as the first headliner of the night meant that Birmingham was denied live renditions of
‘Godzilla’ and ‘Better,’ but it’s safe to say that the band’s choices were hugely enjoyable nonetheless. The set finished with ‘Voldemort’ – a single from the band’s debut album which rocketed their international success when it was released in 2016. Fast-paced and wildly catchy, it was a perfect closer to an overall impressive performance.
ROAM
Major Transmission
This five-piece from the South-East have been around longer than their tour companions and were using the tour as an opportunity to promote their third full-length album, Smile Wide, which was released less than a fortnight before shows began. Originally heavily linked to fellow pop-punkers As It Is, ROAM have now stretched to find something closer to their own unique sound. They sit firmly in the established genre, yet play with sounds and melodies atypical amongst their contemporaries. Their set began with ‘I Don’t Think I Live Here Anymore,’ the first single off Smile Wide, which was largely well-received and certainly created an air of excitement. Fans had eagerly anticipated album three after impressive sophomore effort, Great Heights
and Nosedives, which dropped in 2017. Whilst on stage the band confessed that they were going to perform some of the latest album’s ‘weird songs’ including: ‘Piranha’ which was inspired by a recurring dream in which the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist, Alex, is trying to escape death by piranhas; ‘Toy Box’ which uses quotes from Pixar’s Toy Story; and ‘Turn,’ a song about overthinking. Unfortunately, it was clear that not every new track performed could be fully celebrated. Perhaps this was due to the proximity of Smile Wide’s release to the album before as the audience weren’t familiar with their lyrics. This lead to somewhat of a drop in energy particularly during the verses of such songs. However, the atmosphere and excitement was consequently much more noticeably heightened during renditions of ROAM’s earlier, more established tracks. Songs like ‘Alive’, ‘Dead Weight’ and ‘Head Rush’ encouraged the crowd to be louder than ever and produced some of the most widely enjoyed moments of the set. The band themselves clearly felt this, and lead vocalist, Alex Costello, even joined the crowd during ‘Head Rush’ which served as the penultimate song of the night. This was followed by ‘Playing Fiction’ – a much loved single from ROAM’s sophomore album and a smart choice for the big finale of an ultimately fantastic gig. Despite being fairly big names in the scene, this was my first time seeing ROAM and With Confidence, and both bands showcased live talent and great stage presence. As the line-up for 2020’s Slam Dunk festival is slowly revealed, I wouldn’t be surprised to see either of these bands included, and I look forward to catching their shows again in the future.
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Upcoming Events: Editors’ Picks: The Murder Capital, Castle & Falcon, 12th October The Dublin post-punk outfit bring their electrifying and razor-sharp live show to Castle & Falcon, one of Birmingham’s best small event spaces. Touring material from a dark and warped debut album that has received much acclaim, the quintet are sure to headline a memorable evening of pummeling drums, twisted guitars, and tormented vocals.
Pomona
Best of the Rest: Andy C, The Mill, 11th October Gazel, Sunflower Lounge, 13th October Beverley Knight, Symphony Hall, 14th October Skinny Pelembe, Hare & Hounds, 15th October Hot Chip, O2 Institute, 18th October Hot Since 82, Lab11, 18th October THE SKINTS, O2 Academy, 21st October Little Simz, Mama Roux’s, 23rd October
Live Review: Pale Waves Jake Sandy
Music Critic
Given their self-titled debut album came out just over a year ago, it would have been easy to assume that the interest in hearing Pale Waves live may have waned slightly in this time. However - as I found at their recent gig at the O2 Academy Birmingham – the buzz around the Manchester-based indie-pop quartet was still as palpable as it has ever been. The crowd had been suitably amped up thanks to the seemingly endless energy that the lead singer from Sports Team, the band providing support for the evening, had exuded during their set. The excitement for the main attraction to take the stage had reached a fever-pitch by the time the lights dimmed and the extended introduction to ‘Eighteen’ began to fill the room. As the band stepped out onto the stage, the crowd erupted into pandemonium with the music
being drowned out by the screaming and whooping that ensued. Once this initial excitement had dissipated, the eager crowd quickly quietened down in anticipation to hear lead singer, Heather BaronGracie, for the first time.
“Baron-Gracie, wearing a Beetlejuice-esque black and white striped blazer” Baron-Gracie, wearing a Beetlejuice-esque black and white striped blazer with her trademark goth-inspired make-up, was immediately subject to heckling from her adoring fans who seized the quiet moment to directly address their hero. As the first verse kicked in, the stage suddenly lit up and revealed the first
Ian Cheek Alison Baskerville
clear view of the band with BaronGracie flanked on both sides by her rhythm and bass guitarists and drummer, Ciara Doran, behind her. Compared to the studio recordings of their tracks, it became increasingly noticeable that the mixing for their live performances was geared towards making Doran’s drumming more promi-
nent. The thumping drums really added a sense of dynamism to their performance and provided the rhythm for the swaying masses in the crowd to move along to. Between the songs, BaronGracie addressed the concertgoers with her trademark Mancunian accent and was always met with rapturous cheering from the entranced masses. The biggest of these reactions came just before they launched into ‘Drive,’ with her taking to the microphone to proclaim ‘I’m a girl who loves girls and I can do fucking anything’ – sending the crowd into what can only be described as a frenzy. As the band got through their impressive catalogue of radiofriendly hits, the expert work by the venue’s lighting technicians added to the mood that the band tried to cultivate with their music. With colour-changing spotlights and eight strobe lights on the stage, it made the stage feel expansive and perfectly contrasted the
packed auditorium. In the band’s final song before their encore, the other band members left the stage to just leave Baron-Gracie alone under a spotlight. She then performed her emotionally charged ballad, ‘Karl (I Wonder What It’s Like to Die)’ in an eerie silence with the crowd almost too transfixed on her to sing along. As would be expected, their encore featured their breakout hit, ‘There’s a Honey,’ whose soaring chorus made a fitting end to a show where the connection between the band and their fans had been so clear. It’s undeniable that Pale Waves are one of the fastest rising stars of British pop music and, with one new song teased at this concert, there seems to be a new project on the horizon. With that in mind, it was definitely worth going to see them perform some of the deeper cuts from their debut album that may not be on their setlists for much longer.
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FILM
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickfilm
Review: Joker
Film Critic Charlotte Tomlinson checks out the year's most controversial clown Charlotte Tomlinson Film Critic
This is not a superhero movie. Director Todd Phillips has instead crafted a cultural successor to Taxi Driver, illustrating the incel generation, opioid epidemic, and the moral failings of capitalism. Stepping away from his previous work in comedies such as The Hangover, he has crafted a character study of one of the greatest villains committed to fiction. The film centres around Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and his terrible life working as a down-and-out clown for hire. The Gotham City he inhabits, inspired by 1980s New York, is filled with constant aggression towards him. Following cuts to social services, he struggles to live in his squalid apartment with his near-catatonic mother. Their only solace is watching a late night talk show on TV, hosted by Murray Franklin, portrayed by Robert De Niro, a clear reprisal of his role in The King of Comedy. Unable to tell the difference between reality and his twisted delusions, Arthur finally breaks the tragic cycle that is his life through murder and brutality; a descent from would-be clown to Joker, the clown price of crime. Phillips succeeds at crafting a desolate Gotham through inescapable wide, long shots that tower over Arthur, as well as unsteady tracking shots that constantly refuse to leave him alone.
The cinematography of Joker is, thankfully, unlike the dour palettes of the major superhero films today. Cinematographer Lawrence Sher isn’t afraid of exposing natural sunlight to such a decrepit city, unlike in previous DC films such as Batman v Superman and The Dark Knight, and captures the pastel tones of 80s New York, colourised by cigarette stains and the blue glow of the television set. The haunting strings of the original score, from Chernobyl composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, also facilitates Arthur’s descent into villainy, and Gotham’s descent into anarchy.
“Phillips succeeds at crafting a desolate Gotham” The centrepiece of this film is the performance from Joaquin Phoenix. There are few actors working today whose performance could make such a despicable figure so endearing. In preparation for the role he famously lost fifty-two pounds to masterfully contort his skeletal figure in order to embody a tragic, abused character unable to find the solace he needs from others. He can stumble slowly in pain, then pounce in a depraved, brutal fashion, like an arthritic tiger. It is the subtleties in his performance that are the most profound, for even through tragic slapstick he can communicate the impact an abu-
sive childhood takes on a man. The best moments of the film are when he is alone, where in such isolation we peer into the pitiful fantasies of this clown who cries on the inside and transforms into a despicable villain. Arthur’s descent into criminal insanity is punctuated by violence. The controversy surrounding how the film depicts this is justified: this is not your Tarantino, stylised violence. There is no quip, Bang!, then cue the music. The camera does not flinch away as Arthur clearly finds his destruction of human life cathartic. The sound design and cinematography aid the gore and bloody realism of sequences that are essentially The Benny Hill Show with a body count. Its violent content may leave the audience around you audibly gagging in shock. The presentation stops short of glorifying violence, but still sees it as a means to an end. Arthur's descent into villainy feels cheapened by corpses, as though it’s there to facilitate the audience’s expectations based on the superhero genre the film is rooted in.
“The dialogue is heavily expositional” Untethered to franchise responsibilities, Phoenix had the capacity to embody suffering itself, unleash a socio-political black swan and delve deeper into the character’s psyche than Taxi
Driver’s Travis Bickle, but Phillips' writing and direction restricts him to merely being a jester to wider franchise responsibilities. For a man who had previously been nominated for the Oscar for best writing on Borat, the dialogue is heavily expositional. Every line of both the script and even Arthur’s diary follows the same ‘we live in a society’ message, with the clown notably scribbling how his life will make life will ‘make more cents when I’m dead.’ However, as previously stated, this is not a superhero movie. This is the first major comic book movie to be set in a world where there are no superheroes, and the villain is a mirror to the audience. This is the furthest departure a comic book movie has ever gone from its source material; therefore I would happily recommend it to any who has the stomach. This type of film, with all its ambiguity, welcomes multiple viewings, although it may become clear that it is Joaquin’s performance that is holding the film together, distracting us from the shallowness of Phillips' forced social message. VERDICT: Joker is about a man abandoned and unleashed, with the title role masterfully portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. Phillips has crafted a violent tale for our troubled times with an intended conscious message, making this a villain that we can hopefully learn from.
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Red Carpet: Joaquin Phoenix We roll out the red carpet for the wacky, lauded method actor Zahra Ahmed Film Critic
From embodying country music icon Johnny Cash in Walk the Line down to his distinctive singing voice, to perfectly portraying the vicious sadism of the Emperor in Gladiator, Joaquin Phoenix has proven time and time again that he is an extremely capable actor. Not only is this emblematic of the fact that he is the greatest actor of his generation but it leaves no doubt in my mind that his portrayal of the Joker will rival Heath Ledger’s. There is a certain darkness to his work, in the characters he portrays. Although all vastly different, there is a clear running theme of the psyche of the tortured man. In Spike Jonze’s 2013 movie Her he played the intimacy-fearing Theodore who falls in love with his AI. His preceding role was in The Master (2012) where he played a troubled, boozy drifter struggling with the aftermath of World War II. One thing is for sure though, Joaquin Phoenix perfectly encapsulates and under-
stands his characters on an intimate level thanks to his natural talent and method acting. Phoenix takes his performances to another level by doing things that include relentlessly playing guitar and taking vocal lessons in order to emulate Johnny Cash’s voice; enrolling into the Baltimore Fire Academy and even graduating in preparation for his role in Ladder 49; and wiring his jaw shut to mimic the consistent sneer that Freddy Quell in The Master had upon his face. Most notably however, was his 18-month excursion in 2010 where he pretended to experience a mental break, retire indefinitely from acting and pursue a rap career. That’s right folks, Joaquin essentially derailed his career for nearly two years as a form of performance art whilst Casey Affleck monitored his every move and compiled it into a mockumentary showcasing the hardships of celebrity life. It’s hard not to draw a connection between his wacky personality and adventurous childhood. Born in 1974 to Arlyn and Johnny Lee Bottom, he spent the first few years of his childhood in the notorious sex cult ‘Children of God’ whilst they were stationed in Caracas Venezuela. After becoming disillusioned
with their cultish ways, the family uprooted themselves back to Florida, USA where they changed their last names to Phoenix in order to symbolise their rising from the ashes. After a period of busking to help the impoverished family, the Phoenix children were eventually discovered by a talent agent – and the rest is history.
“[Phoenix's] portrayal of the Joker will rival Heath Ledger's” People generally remember Joaquin Phoenix as the actor living in the shadow of his slightly better known actor brother River Phoenix, but the last few years of his career says otherwise. Although the media likes to bring up his brother’s tragic death every chance they get, there’s no doubt that Joaquin has finally carved a name for himself in Hollywood. He is one of the most enigmatic, charming, diverse actors out there. His performances have earned him a Golden Globe, a Grammy and three Oscar nominations.
There is no doubt that his brother River had a hand in relaunching his acting career after he took a break in his midteens: 'When I was 15 or 16, my brother River had a VHS copy of a movie called Raging Bull and he sat me down and made me watch it. And the next day he woke me up and he made me watch it again. And he said, "You’re going to start acting again, this is what you’re going to do." ’ By now, Joaquin has established himself as an entirely different entity. He exists outside of the realm of Hollywood. His projects are more daring, more audacious, they stand out from the bland, blockbusters that are constantly being pumped out. Personal favourites include Inherent Vice, Her, and To Die For. Overall, Phoenix has led an interesting life and an equally interesting career. But it seems to be working for him, as almost every project he’s worked on is a masterpiece in its own right (except for Mary Magdalene, but we don’t talk about that). Right now, his latest role in Joker - which he has religiously prepared for and to the same degree of intensity as his past work - has just hit cinemas to mostly rave reviews. Tracking Phoenix’s life and career thus far has been exciting and an adventure in and of itself; one cannot possibly anticipate what he is going to do next – which is exactly what makes him so spectacular.
FILM
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickfilm
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Pride & Horror in IT Chapter Two
Film Critic Ellie Burridge analyses the horror's presentation of same-sex relationships Ellie Burridge Film Critic
Editor's Note: This feature contains spoilers for IT Chapter Two, which is still in cinemas.
‘Be proud,’ says the voiceover at the end of IT Chapter Two. On the screen, Richie (Bill Hader) crouches in front of his childhood town’s ‘kissing bridge,’ deepening the carving he first made when he was thirteen: R + E. It is a heart-breaking moment of Richie acknowledging, for the second time in twenty-seven years, that he was in love with Eddie (James Ransone). The moment hurts all the more because Eddie is dead, and Richie never told him how he felt. There is no moment of pride for Richie in IT Chapter Two, contrary to the saccharine voiceover’s directive. Although his storyline revolves primarily around his sexuality, the film brutalises him emotionally in a way that sticks out like a sore thumb when, by the end of the film, all the other surviving protagonists have found some semblance of closure and happiness – except Richie, who is still closeted and heartbroken.
“There is no moment of pride for Richie in IT Chapter Two, contrary to the saccharine voiceover's directive” The film’s interest in gay people is established from its opening: it is interested, primarily, in gay suffering. Celebrated gay filmmaker Xavier Dolan cameos as Adrian Mellon, a character whose only purpose is to be gay and die horribly. First, he is attacked by a group of homophobes, who assault him and throw him off a bridge; secondly, he is eaten by the titular IT. Adrian’s boyfriend is forced to watch the entire attack; later, Richie is similarly helpless to prevent Eddie’s death at the hands of IT. The parallels between the two couples are emphasised by the filmmakers’ decision to establish that both Adrian and Eddie are dependent on inhalers – but what purpose does this alignment serve, other than to communicate that samesex relationships cannot end happily? What stings is that there is a heterosexual couple in the film, providing an upsetting foil to the tragedy of Richie and Eddie’s relationship. While Richie sobs over Eddie’s death, Ben and Beverly consummate their relationship with a kiss. These things happen simultaneously, compounding the message that where gay characters can only suffer,
straight ones can find love. Gay movie-goers are no strangers to this kind of double-standard; it is a long-established norm that LGBT movies don’t have happy endings.
“[The film] is interested, primarily, in gay suffering” Moreover, Richie’s character arc is curiously static when compared with those of the other characters. Bill (James McAvoy) overcomes his guilt; Beverly (Jessica Chastain) escapes abuse and accepts the love she deserves – even Eddie manages to find the bravery to save Richie from IT’s clutches (this being the act that results in Eddie’s death). In contrast, Richie gets no closure. He is taunted by IT about his 'dirty little secret,' a set-up which seems to suggest that Richie will admit how he feels to Eddie, or at least tell his friends that he’s gay. He never manages to do either. His breakdown over Eddie’s death is as close as he ever gets to verbalising how he felt; thus, he ends the movie in much the same place as he started, albeit with more grief and trauma to deal with. And yet it would feel disingenuous for films to never explore the fact that being gay can feel painful, isolating and dangerous. IT Chapter Two does feature glimmers of a wonderful exploration of gay identity – in all its horror. Let’s start with Bill Hader (honorary member of the LGBT community ever since his first appearance as Stefon on Saturday Night Live), who pushed for the filmmakers to explore Richie’s sexuality rather than relegating it to subtext. In an interview with The New York Times, Hader said: 'Andy [Musichetti, director] and I talked about how overt we should make it, and I said if it’s not overt, then why is he in the movie? You can’t do a half measure on it. You’ve got to go the full way or don’t even allude to it. Let’s not be coy. Let’s just say what it is.' Hader’s performance is nuanced and funny enough to make Richie shine as a character (most reviewers have noted as much) and his chemistry with James Ransone means that the relationship between Richie and Eddie is easy to root for.
“Hader's performance is nuanced and funny” Despite the clear lack of gay voices behind the scenes, there are a few moments throughout the movie that feel authentic all the same. One is when Richie is handed an invitation to his own funeral; when he looks to see who gave it to him, it is the
decaying body of Adrian Mellon (the victim of the hate crime at the film’s opening). 'Hope to see you there, handsome,' Adrian says. There are echoes of a line from poet Richard Siken’s ‘A Primer for the Small Weird Loves’ in the exchange: 'you know that a boy who likes boys is a dead boy, unless / he keeps his mouth shut.' Adrian was proudly, openly gay and he was punished for it; Richie, in contrast, is miserable but ‘safe’ inside the closet. The spectre of the closet recurs throughout the film, most notably when Richie and Eddie are confronted by three doors, denoted as ‘Not Scary,’ ‘Scary,’ and ‘Very Scary.’ Richie chooses to open the ‘Very Scary’ door, on the other side of which is the inside of a closet. Being inside the closet is almost equally as scary to Richie as coming out of it; he has spent twenty-seven years unable to live authentically, without telling Eddie that he loves him. Thanks to IT, he never gets the chance – or the courage – to.
“IT Chapter Two does feature glimmers of a wonderful exploration of gay identity – in all its horror” Amongst all of this suffering, there is only one scene during which Richie and Eddie are given the chance to be happy together. It is a flashback to when they were children, and contains one of the movie’s few hints that Eddie felt the same way about Richie. The flashback shows the two (as played by Finn Wolfhard and Jack Dylan Grazer) playfully fighting over the single hammock in the gang’s underground hideout, with Eddie eventually deciding to jump on with Richie. Young love in films is almost always straight; IT Chapter Two's implication that Richie and Eddie loved each other since childhood – that Eddie was, as Hader has said, Richie’s first love – is something that’s refreshing (and, yes, cute) to see. IT Chapter Two, for all its glaring faults in depicting gay characters, has resonated with an enormous number of LGBT people – myself included. The film made me angry, but it also made me cry seven times. Perhaps it signifies a step forward in terms of Hollywood representing a range of gay stories across more genres than just romance and coming-of-age. Perhaps it is emblematic of Hollywood’s deeply regressive attitude towards LGBT rights. Only one thing is for sure: Bill Hader should be in all the movies. Joaquin Phoenix image by Diana Ringo, all other images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
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TELEVISION
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricktv
The One with Our Favourite Episodes
NBC
Sian Allen
Television Writer
The One Where Everybody Finds Out Whilst Ross and Rachel’s willthey-won’t-they is often regarded as the core relationship of Friends, I have always found Chandler and Monica’s relationship far more fun to watch; it’s much healthier for one, and seeing them sneak around in early season five is endlessly entertaining. It makes sense then, that the eventual revelation of their relationship in ‘The One Where Everybody Finds Out’ is a mustsee story that undoubtedly earns its place as one of the show’s best loved episodes. Phoebe and Chandler’s stand-off is Friends at its best, both ridiculous and then later genuinely heart-warming as Chandler openly declares that he loves Monica, one of the many sweet moments the couple share in this episode. The episode 'They don’t know that we know they know we know! is against all odds, one of the show’s most iconic and most quotable lines, and Phoebe’s attempts at seduction (whether it be through dance or lotion) easily earns a laugh, whether you’ve seen this episode two times or 20.
The One With The Embryos Matt Taylor Film Editor
Choosing a favourite Friends episode is admittedly tricky: some are funny, some are emotional, but very few are both – apart from ‘The One with the Embryos.’ Split into two plots, the funny half pits Monica and Rachel against Chandler and Joey in a quiz with the girls’ apartment at stake. It’s utterly hilarious, culminating in neither Monica nor Rachel knowing what Chandler does for a living. And who could forget that shot of the boys riding into the apart-
ment on the white dog? The emotional side of things is the beginning of one of the highlight stories of the whole series, as Phoebe becomes a surrogate for her brother and his wife. What’s especially great about this episode is seeing the gang come together at the end, when Phoebe realises she’s pregnant – all arguments stop, and they simply live in the enjoyment of the moment. Isn’t that why we all fell in love with this show in the first place?
Georgia Rose Wells Television Writer
The One Where Ross Is Fine
Easily my favourite episode by far is ‘The One Where Ross is Fine,’ in which he embodies every student during the peak of assignment deadline and exam season; he is absolutely and definitely completely fine. Despite being possibly one of the strangest couplings in television history, the relationship between Rachel and Joey has provided some of the most entertaining moments from Ross, because what else do you do when you find out that your ex-wife and your friend are seeing each other than to invite them around for fajitas! Running parallel to Ross’ breakdown is the heartwarming plot of Monica and Chandler looking into adoption, only for it to then fall victim to a brilliant Bing-style collapse as Chandler accidentally tells a small boy that he’s adopted. Ultimately, I love this episode for the typical Friends fashion of finding the comedy amongst the drama and simply just how fine Ross obviously is. Another classic student tactic of feeling stressed? Margaritas!
“Typical Friends fashion of finding the comedy amongst the drama”
Hannah Lay Comment Editor
The One Where Ross Got High ‘The One Where Ross Got High’ is an absolutely iconic episode from start to finish. My favourite bit of the episode is definitely the bit with Rachel’s trifle. I’m still not sure why Monica trusted Rachel with Thanksgiving dessert, but I’m glad she did as it made for a lot of laughs. Half a shepherd’s pie and half an English trifle, still not sure why it didn’t catch on! I really appreciate the portrayal of Englishness in the episode, with two of our best meals combined in one rather interesting dish! The mistake in itself was funny, but Ross’ reaction made it even better. I feel like 'it tastes like feet' is one of the most iconic lines in the entire series. Even though I imagine it can’t have tasted that bad, it made me die with laughter anyway. Actually, the bloopers for that episode are even better, as even the cast couldn’t keep a straight face whilst he was doing it. I think it is such a highly underrated episode-it’s brilliant.
Anoushka Nair Television Writer
The One With All The Thanksgivings Remember the one where Ross rocked a mean ‘stache and ‘fro look that would put any 80s duo band to shame, where Monica took the saying ‘go big or go home’ a bit too far, where Rachel’s nose went on an intense diet, where we found out that Phoebe has a memory that stretches back further than humanly possible, where Chandler became 'Sir Limps-a-lot' and Joey stuck his head up a turkey’s... well you know. ‘The One with All the Thanksgivings’ is by far one of the greatest Friends’ episodes of all time and quite possibly one of the greatest Thanksgiving episodes of television history. Not
To celebrate Friends' 25th anniversary, our Television writers share their all-time favourite episodes
only does the episode teach us more about each of our favourite characters but it also reminds us to forgive the past and be thankful for the present. Or at least thankful for the fact that we’ve never seen the inside of a raw turkey. This year on turkey day, or as nonAmericans would call it, Thursday, curl up with a nice hot drink and enjoy the gang reminiscing about the 80s, founding friendships, professing love and, of course, turkeys.
Emily Calder Deputy Editor
The One With all the Cheesecakes Whilst perhaps not as iconic as the most famous Friends episodes, ‘The One with All the Cheesecakes’ is a hidden gem with iconic moments that all fans of the show can appreciate. The episode is one of the rare moments that we see the bond between my two favourite characters, Rachel and Chandler. Whilst they typically don’t have much in common, one thing that they share is a lack of self control. This is gloriously displayed in this episode as they eat not one but two of their neighbour’s cheesecakes (the second of which they return and then steal back). Hilarity ensues as they guilt over stealing from both their neighbour and ‘Mama’s Little Bakery,’ yet they still find ways to justify their indulgence. The episode also features the two forgetting to pay for their lunch, Monica not being invited to a wedding because she used to date the groom, and a lovely moment between Joey and Phoebe. Watch for a snapshot of typical Friends humour, and for Joey producing a fork from his pocket (because of course he carries one at all times) and joining Rachel and Chandler as they eat cheesecake off the floor.
“A hidden gem with iconic moments”
Sam Arrowsmith Television Writer
The One Where No One’s Ready Poor Ross. He’s not always the most sympathetic character in Friends, but I can empathise with him in this episode. Getting everyone out of the door can be like herding cats. This episode ranks as my favourite, because the action is very contained, focusing entirely on the friends and the relationships they have with each other,
“Joey and Chandler's relationship is one of the best features of the series. and their scene together shows it at its best” which, fundamentally, is what made the show endure. Their distinct personalities shine through as we see Monica obsess over and exacerbate an innocuous event, Phoebe’s laid-back personality manifest itself in a lack of urgency and Rachel change her outfit six times. Everyone’s distracted, but the biggest buffoonery comes from a scene-stealing Joey and Chandler, whose fight over a chair dramatically escalates. Could Joey be wearing any more clothes? Joey and Chandler’s relationship is one of the best features of the series, and their scene together shows it at its best, with the two taking their shenanigans to insane and hilarious lengths. This farce rises with Ross’s blood pressure, until it culminates in a surprisingly sweet ending, when Ross agrees to drink the fat to prove his affection for Rachel and everyone is finally ready. The balance of humour and heart sums up the series.
TELEVISION
Friday 11th October 2019
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@redbricktv
Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out TV Critic Emily Burnett raves about this BBC documentary where Jesy Nelson gets raw and real about her rise to stardom Emily Burnett Television Critic
Jesy Nelson is instantly recognisable for winning the eighth series of The X Factor back in 2011 as part of the girl group Little Mix. However, her journey to success hasn’t always been smooth, as she finally opens up about her heart-breaking experience with online trolls in the BBC Three documentary, Jesy Nelson: ‘Odd One Out.’ The 28-year-old ex-barmaid from Romford originally auditioned for The X Factor as a solo act, but was put into a group with fellow contestants Perrie Edwards, Leigh- Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall. However, she was instantly singled out. In this documentary, Nelson recalls how her time on The X Factor was destroyed by cruel cyberbullies, who dubbed her the 'fat ugly one.' On the night Little Mix won, Nelson reveals that she just wanted to go back to being a barmaid, after receiving messages telling her that she deserved to die. A thought-provoking part of Odd One Out was Nelson reliving her experience of going back on
The X Factor to perform in 2013. As a result of cyberbullying, Nelson only cared about showing off her new weight loss, even starving herself for a week before the performance out of fear of gaining back any weight. Despite her drastic change, Nelson found herself inundated with nasty comments, including a tweet from infamous media personality Katie Hopkins.
“I could be the skinniest girl in the world, and this is never going to go away” Reflecting on this dark time in her life, Nelson discloses that at this point she accepted that she may always be the victim of online abuse: 'I could be the skinniest girl in the world, and this is never going to go away.' Marking this time in her life as one her lowest points, she reveals that in 2014, she attempted sui-
cide. As one of the most heartrendering parts of Nelson’s documentary, this highlights the potentially devastating effects of cyberbullying. A strength of the documentary is that it also focuses on other people who have been affected by social media, as Nelson meets the parents of Sian Waterhouse, a 16-year-old girl who killed herself after being targeted online by bullies. Sian is described by her parents as 'the human version of Tigger,' as they reminisce about her life, even revealing that they have left Sian’s room untouched as it is too painful for them. Speaking to other people about their own experiences, Nelson reveals that hearing other
people’s stories and knowing that she isn’t alone was helpful to her. Optimistically, in the conclusion of the documentary, Nelson shares a photo of herself from 2011 on Instagram, stating: 'Now when I look in the mirror, I don’t see the Jesy the fat one, I see Jesy the happy one!' She encourages people to speak about how they’re feeling. The documentary ends with the shocking statistics that seven in 10 young people have experienced cyberbullying, and 26% of those young people have reported feeling suicidal. Ultimately, Nelson’s experience serves as a stark reminder that everything we say online has consequences, and that cyberbullying has the potential to destroy lives. Hopefully, this documentary will encourage people to be more considerate on social media, and open up if they are targeted by bullies online.
Deputy Editor
Netflix’s latest addition of the comedy drama The Politician has quickly gained viewership, which can probably be credited to the fact that it has all the ingredients of a TV hit. The show boasts a star-studded cast, including Ben Platt and Gwyneth Paltrow, and the eight episode series is created by Ryan Murphy and his team, the minds behind both Glee and Scream Queens. The series explores Ben Platt’s character Payton – a young, driven and privileged high school student – on his journey to be elected as class president, a step that he sees as the beginning of a path to US presidency. The characters of Payton and his friends, who surround him with an undying support throughout the series, are vibrant, diverse and likeable enough to get you hooked in the first few episodes. The most enchanting character is River (David Corenset) and his haunting of the series, as he returns episode after episode to act as Payton’s ‘shadow’ alongside moments of the cutting social commentary and slightly absurd humour that Murphy’s shows all contain elements of. Whilst The Politician is a more chaotic and messy watch than Scream Queens or Glee, the energy that runs throughout the show is very similar. If there is one thing you can predict about a Ryan Murphy production, it’s that
it will be unpredictable. Pay ton's electoral journey jumps between secure and flailing, truly keeping the viewer on their toes. Elements of the story also echo current times, with issues such as Harvard wanting a bribe from Payton, reminiscent of modern corruption in the US and its recent college admissions scandal. Yet elements of the roller-coaster series don’t quite seem to work, as components of the narrative derail it into confusing territory. It’s hard to tell exactly who Murphy’s audience is meant to be; whilst the majority of the show seems to speak to a ‘Gen-Z’ audience, I wonder if the chaoticity behind the series will appeal to those who are not already fans of Murphy’s similar works. The storyline of Payton’s running mate Infinity (Zoey Deutch) and her cancer, presumably a nod to the Gypsy Rose ‘Munchausen by proxy’ saga, did not sit well with me. Whilst I will admit that her character is relevant to the plot and Payton’s electoral fate, such a frenzied, uncomfortably humorous play on a tragic true crime tale seems to pull the show away from its better moments. The show’s use of Platt’s musical talents (he has starred in Pitch Perfect, Dear Evan
NBC The Good Place Netflix 26th September
BBC BBC
Review: The Politician Emily Calder
Top TV Picks for October
Hansen) is one of the bigger red flags, highlighting other areas of the show that don’t seem to fit. Whilst his Joni Mitchell rendition early in the series is poignant, fitting and rather wonderful, the other musical instances – such as Payton and Infinity’s participation in a musical feel like they serve little purpose. I was left wondering how such an extensive display of Platt’s vocals related to the plot – or indeed his character, as his musicality is not really discussed – was relevant to the show itself, and I felt a little like I was watching an alternate universe Glee episode at times. One thing, however, that I must applaud The Politician for is its treatment of sexuality. The majority of characters in the show seem, or are assumed to be, sexually fluid and undefined. Payton’s infatuation with River and their relationship is not discussed in terms of his sexuality or its implications, it’s just there. Equally, Gwyneth Paltrow’s female lover is treated simply as an affair, rather than a lesbian affair. The fact that Brigitte (Martina Navratilova) is a woman is just an element of the relationship, which is made scandalous purely for being an a ff a i r. Furthermore, the Netflix trans non-binary
actor Theo Germaine’s breakout as the character James is portrayed as absolute norm. Whilst shows such as Orange is the New Black have helped trans actors progress through showcasing trans characters, Germaine is an example of how modern casting can be fluid alongside actors’ sexualities, which epitomises the show’s somewhat ground-breaking portrayal of queerness. Regardless of The Politician’s flaws, I will be coming back for more. The show is one of the few recent Netflix originals that I have found both compelling and addictive, and for this reason I would say that it’s definitely worth a watch. Payton is continuously likeable in spite of his moments of downfall and weakness. Platt’s fantastic performance portrays ambition, a good heart, and a genuine political passion in a way that means the viewer, like his friends, can’t help but root for Payton in spite of his flaws. The show’s final episode sets up for a second season that I think promises to be a better ride than the one we have just seen, and I am definitely ready for what The Politician has left to explore.
Looking for Alaska BBC3 19th October
BBC War of the Worlds BBC1 6th October
BBC Drag Race UK BBC iPlayer 3rd October
GAMING
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickgaming
Redbrick Picks: Break the Ice Redbrick Gaming Writers and Editors give some ideas on the perfect Many of the suggested games will be great for four players to crowd around the living room. However, this is a slightly more outside the box, or more aptly outside the companion cube, pick that comes in the form of Valve’s 2011 classic. Portal 2’s multiplayer, which debuted in this instalment of the puzzle series, truly is a blast and is everything you could wish for picking up with a friend and speeding through with a short but memorable experience. The multiplayer is a separate campaign playing as two clumsy robots, Atlas and P-Body, solving various puzzles with the portal gun for the infamously sarcastic AI GLaDOS, as her newest test subjects. Within that is one of the funniest and most satisfying co-op games you can get. All the puzzles are engaging and have a great natural progression, using five sets of test chambers as additional mechanics such as propulsion, repulsion and conversion gels, introduced with clear examples and concepts. By the end of the multiplayer, when confronted with massive expanses with
multiple rooms to work in, the largescale does not necessarily feel insurmountable. It’s a testament to the excellent puzzle design on display here. Whilst teamwork is required to succeed, Portal 2 is a game that embraces the natural chaos and cheekiness of cooperative play. Emotes and dances can be performed to annoy GLaDOS. You can cruelly place portals below your mates to doom your partner. Such evil behaviour does work with the comedic sensibilities of Portal 2 and makes it hard not to laugh in spite of it. Add this to GLaDOS’ usual dark humour and dry wit and you get a multiplayer experience that is endlessly entertaining and a delight for anyone. On top of all that, what also makes the game great to bond over, beyond being so fundamentally well designed, is that Portal 2 has the advantage of being cheap. The game costs just over £7 on Steam for the full package and is available on PC and older consoles.
Even for those with laptops focused for university study, Portal 2 can run on practically every computer and with full controller support. Regardless of how your mates play games, Portal 2 will have a way to support it. The PC version also has the advantage of custom maps made by players for those looking for additional levels to provide either a large challenge, or maybe some more casually made levels. Portal 2 truly shines as one of the few great puzzle multiplayer games. Many puzzlers create great singleplayer experiences, but Valve managed to find a way to master the challenges of multiplayer puzzle-making by making puzzles that require necessary cooperation, yet not let that necessity disrupt the central tenants of Portal 2. Pick it up and spend some time with a new housemate or a new friend. You will be guaranteed a good time here. Alex Green Konami
Valve
Portal 2
Team17
games to make new friends or bond with new housemates
Super Bomberman R
The aim? Blow everyone else up – a tale as old as time. The four of you will be Looking to break the ice? Try blowing it trapping each other into corners, weaving up. One frosty January night, I introduced between blasts, running for dear life, all the my housemate to Super Bomberman R for while knowing that every bomb drop could the SNES. We haven’t played Mario Kart be your last. It’s not easy for a game to make since. Bomberman is arguably the accidentally killing yourself fun, but as ultimate friendship game, in that you watch your character stand if you both still like each other between two bombs - one of them after this top-down battleyour friend’s, one of them your own ground - then it is the ulti- waiting for the three second fuse mate friendship. to count down before you are blastIt is devilishly simple. ed into oblivion, it is impossible not The first Use the D-Pad to move to laugh at yourself. Bomberman game around, press the A button to Super Bomberman R is the newest drop a bomb. That’s it. iteration, released in 2017 for the was released Sounds simple enough, no? series’ 33rd Anniversary, with a plethora That’s because Bomberman is of additions to make each match more the easiest multiplayer game to interesting – more items, more battle modes, pick up and learn, in the world. and the frankly mind-bending 8-Player matches. It takes about five seconds to drop Whether you’re playing with a single housemate your first bomb, see the four-directional or a brand-new group of buddies, you cannot go blast radius, see that you’ve just taken out wrong with a bit of Bomberman. a whole block of wall, and suddenly you’re planning the many ways you can Kieren Platts use this to your advantage.
Jackbox Games
1985
The JackBox Party Pack 1 - 6 What’s the best way to get to know someone during your first few weeks of university? *sweet as all hell samba jazz ensues* Everyone got their answers in? Oh, for God’s sake that’s disgusting, who wrote that? Honestly, we must write a ‘Redbrick Picks’ article about how good Jackbox games are at least once a year - it’s becoming difficult to write unique praise for the series. The games themselves, sold individually or divided into various ‘Party Packs’ vary wildly from the ever popular Fibbage - a party game in which the objective is to answer a silly question in the most convincingly incorrect manner, in order to trick your friends into thinking your answer as the correct one (or, in my case, an opportunity to openly demonstrate just how much you’ve been watching Yu-GiOh! instead of your university work by answering ‘Exodia the Forbidden One’ to any and all questions asked by the game) – to the all-tooclose-to-home Monster Seeking Monster, in which players must use all the charm they can
muster to woo each other as a... well... monster, seeking a date (or, in my case, an opportunity to openly demonstrate just how much you’ve been watching Captain Planet instead of your university work, by attempting to discuss the filmography of Don Cheadle with anyone that will listen!) What I believe earns the Jackbox games such a special place within our picks for freshers in particular, is its accessibility to players who aren’t accustomed to video games. To play, all each player needs is a phone or some other web-enabled device to use as their controller. When you start a game, you’ll be given a unique room code on your screen. Just pull up Jackbox.tv on your device’s web browser and enter the room code to play along! The large majority of the games can be accommodate up to 8 players and any more people wanting to play along can join as audience members to influence the game’s outcome, or just to heckle from
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the side-lines if you pick the wrong answer. (Ok Karen, realistically how was I supposed to know ‘dasypygal’ actually meant ‘having hairy buttocks’? Honestly? It’s weirder that you do know). The individual games and ‘Party Packs’ are almost eternally on sale in some way shape or form and are available for PC via the Epic Games Store or Steam - requiring next to no power to run, so you can play it on whatever slab of plastic you saw doing a bangup job as a doorstop in PC World - as well as a range of consoles including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Switch. There literally is not a single device on Earth that cannot, in some way, run Jackbox. It is the perfect party game for any social occasion - so, there is no excuse not to try it! Tom Martin
GAMING
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickgaming
Debate: Has Console Exclusivity Gone Too Far?
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Redbrick's five big releases for the following month
Flickr
Exclusivity has been a key – perhaps even necessary – factor to the development of the video game industry as we recognise it today. But in an increasingly connected landscape with games becoming more and more difficult to keep track of and preserve, has this practise gone too far? Understand that when I talk about exclusivity here, I am talking about it in a more specific sense, where games or downloadable content that could feasibly be pushed to other platformers is prevented from doing so, by their publishers. The recent controversy surrounding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a prime example of this. Revealed in Sony’s latest State of Play presentation, the Survival mode for the game, a horde-based spin-off of the Spec Ops missions, will be exclusive to the PS4 for an entire year. This essentially damns the mode to obscurity for PC and XBOX users as, by the time the mode becomes available to them come October 2020, it will be marked as irrelevant due to the looming of the next entry in the franchise. This move has been widely ridiculed since its announcement and, to me, epitomises what this concept of ‘exclusivity’ has become. It is no longer about competition. It is no longer a celebration of unique and inventive franchises. Instead, it is purely a result of monetary greed that overlooks the consumer. With consoles becoming closer in terms of connectivity – think Nintendo and Microsoft with their Play Together campaign, or the recent cross-play between Sony
Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville (18/10)
Actvision
Gaming Editor @samjoshuanason
and Microsoft with PUBG – the concept of ‘exclusivity’ becomes a rather archaic practise that appears more hostile than helpful. Arguably, Microsoft have acted as pioneers over the past few years with their efforts to collaborate with other companies – rather ironic given their past greedy practises. With Ori and the Blind Forest and Cuphead jumping to Switch and Game Pass games connecting across XBOX and PC, Microsoft have emerged as a figurehead for a sort of kinship between consoles, transcending ‘console wars’ and instead celebrating games and their players. Exclusivity, after all, creates an unnecessary segregation whereby a large portion of the gaming community are denied the opportunity to experience a title. To give examples, consoles that were less financially successful like the Wii U or the Sega Dreamcast have games fade into obscurity as they are doomed to suffer the same fate as the console that platformed them. A lack of game preservation is a bi-product of exclusivity and, in some cases, causes games to be lost in corners of history that are difficult to find again. PC emerges as a past example of non-exclusivity; broader player bases, a wide selection and variety as well as an impressive indie and fan-game community, show a platform that unifies rather than divides. Ironically however, even this appears to be coming under fire, with Epic Games and Steam battling it out for the rights to certain titles. As amends appear to be made, other breakdowns begin to occur. Perhaps exclusivity is a necessary practise for competition and innovation; but that doesn’t mean it is ideal for consumers.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (25/10)
Niht School Studios
The use of exclusive games is important in the gaming industry as they allow for increased competition, the opportunity to focus on clean, polished games, and a higher potential for innovation in the industry. Nintendo’s Wii U console was a disaster by most metrics – it is the lowest-selling home console Nintendo to have ever been created. Without the strong library of exclusives that Nintendo has to offer - including the Mario, Smash Bros. and Legend of Zelda franchises – it is not inconceivable to think that Nintendo could have lost their last life. Instead, they carried on and produced the Switch – a resounding success of a console, which has really shaken up the console industry, blurring the lines between handheld and home console. If we take another look at Nintendo, we can understand one of the more subtle points regarding video game exclusives. Back in 1988, a few years after Nintendo launched the NES in North America, Electronic Arts were looking to release titles on Nintendo’s system. But the terms of Nintendo’s licensing agreement - including the fact that they wouldn’t say whether they would sell your game until development was completely finished, and a 2-year exclusivity deal - were so unbelievably one-sided that EA decided to take their business elsewhere. This led EA to Sega, who had just released their Genesis console. This time, they took to the negotiating table in search of a more favourable deal, but to EA’s disbelief, Sega refused to be pushed around, demanding
Sam Nason
Afterparty (29/10)
Nintendo
Gaming Writer @brayhound
the same terms as Nintendo. As a result of this setback, EA put their two most talented engineers to work, in an attempt to reverse engineer the Genesis. Fast-forward to a few months later and they’d figured it out. They were preparing to release their own Genesis game cartridges at CES – the biggest convention for developers at the time. EA were kind enough to alert Sega about their success before the big reveal, and so Sega begrudgingly fleshed out a deal with EA to prevent the sale of EA ‘bootleg’ Genesis development kits. The bigger picture of this ordeal with EA, is that it forced Sega to soften its position on licensing terms, therefore attracting more developers to create games for them rather than Nintendo. This competition for exclusivity produced a positive impact towards developers who, as a result, were being treated more fairly by the big behemoths of the hardware world – which, from all angles, is a good change. Let’s shift focus to the two ‘big players’ when it comes to home consoles; Microsoft and Sony. The number of PS4 exclusives is almost double that of the Xbox One, despite the Xbox One X having better Specs than the PS4 Pro. I would argue that there is a balance created by these two factors – the larger library of PlayStation exclusives allows Sony the chance to improve their hardware to compete with the Xbox, whereas the superiority of the Xbox’s hardware allows them some leeway while they try and get their collection of exclusives up to scratch. The result of this? Better games, and better consoles – meaning a better gaming experience for us all, from enthusiasts to casual players.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 (31/10)
Kojima Productions
Daniel Bray
EA
Writer Daniel Bray and Editor Sam Nason argue if exclusivity deals in the gaming industry have crossed the line
Death Stranding (8/11)
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FOOD&DRINK
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickfood
Should You Join the MOB? Food&Drink Editor Beth Sadler spills the beans on MOB Kitchen, a company with student cooking at its heart, featuring an interview with the company’s founder Beth Sadler
Food&Drink Editor
It all started with a sweet potato rostï. Bored out of my mind from beans on toast but unwilling to spend my money on a full English, I was desperately in need of some Sunday brunch (and hopefully hangover-reducing) inspiration. As a food fanatic fresher, I didn’t mind cooking but needed recipes that could be re-created in our extremely basic kitchen, with ingredients I could find in Aldi. A friend recommended I scope out MOB Kitchen: an online platform that uses social media to share affordable, delicious and simple recipes with students. After a quick Google, I came across multiple videos of gorgeous looking dishes that promised to ‘feed four for under a tenner.’ I punted for
their ‘Sweet Potato Rostï and a Poached Egg,’ and headed to Aldi, with the hope of achieving the brunch I’d been dreaming of.
“I didn’t mind cooking, but needed recipes that could be re-created in our extremely basic kitchen” It was then that I became a member of the MOB - after creating possibly the best brunch I’d ever made, I started using MOB recipes on a weekly basis. MOB’s aim is to provide students with
MOB Kitchen
food recipes they can actually follow. I quickly found that the combination of the online videos (which give an idea as to how the dish might be created), alongside the actual recipe with step by step instruction, allows even the most basic of chefs to nail every single dish. Considering MOB’s inspiration came when Ben Lebus (MOB Kitchen’s founder and director) grew tired of seeing students live off pesto pasta, its whole focus has always been student friendly cooking. Soon I was cooking up a storm for my flat, who couldn’t believe I was able to make such delicioustasting food. Each recipe comes with a recommended tune which I blasted out, helping to inspire my flat into putting a little more effort into their eating. I had caught MOB fever, and actually found myself excited to get back from lectures and cook – a thought which many freshers dread. Also inspiring is the dedication it took Ben Lebus to bring the company to where it is today. After getting a job as a Deliveroo driver so he could sneak MOB recipe leaflets into every pizza box, and messaging every Facebook friend he had (even including his Tinder matches) to ask them to check out MOB Kitchen, Ben’s company still hadn’t taken off. Instead of giving up, he decided to up the game on their video filming skills, and soon MOB started to grow. Whilst I’ve learnt a lot about cooking at home from MOB, I’ve also seen the effects of hard work and dedication – something every university student would benefit from. I contacted Ben to find out why his vision for MOB was based around
students, and what is in store for the future. Why did you choose a student based audience? ‘I set up MOB when I was at university because none of my mates were cooking - everyone around me was settling for basic dishes that lacked any flavour and it just seemed really depressing. There are a lot of recipe books and platforms out there, but I noticed that none were designed specifically for students, and so I aimed for MOB to fill that margin.’
“If you spend even ten minutes looking up some cooking videos, you’ll realise it’s just so simple” What advice would you give to a fresher with no experience in cooking? ‘Follow MOB! In all seriousness, if you spend even ten minutes looking up some recipes and cooking videos, you’ll realise it’s just so simple. There’s so much content online readily accessible to everyone that it doesn’t have to be difficult.’ What is the next step for MOB? ‘We’ve recently bought a Food Truck that is in the process of being made. If all goes well it’ll be ready by the end of this year, and touring round Universities by January! We’ve also got a range
MOB Kitchen
of spice blends coming out, that will also be released early next year – these really are ideal for the lazy fresher. And our third book is being developed, with a focus on 12 Minute dinners: Super-fast recipes for when you just don’t have the time.’ Having just released their ‘Student Hack Sheet,’ a free guide available to students nationwide giving tips and tricks on how to smash every meal – MOB Kitchen really is the perfect platform for every fresher. Although they have two cookbooks available to buy, MOB post the majority of their recipes online, allowing you to access everything with just the click of a button. So, next time you’re bored in a lecture, search ‘MOB’s Roasted Pepper and Manchego Mac n Cheese’ and be prepared to salivate. I promise, you’ll never look back...
Instagram’s Culinary Influence
Food&Drink Writer Eleanor Howson shares how Instagram has influenced the student food and cooking Eleanor Howson Food&Drink Writer
There’s no denying that Instagram is the site to go to for food inspiration. One refresh of your feed and you are indulged with exotic and aesthetically pleasing cuisine. You can’t leave the screen without a #FoodComa! But how much of this ‘eating for the gram’ takes place at university? Takeaways and ready meals are the stereotype of student eating habits, especially with Just Eat and Uber Eats rapidly gaining more popularity. However, this is an expensive way to live. According to The Mail Online, buying twelve takeaways each month equates to a staggering £1,320 per annum. Knowing just how tight student budgets are, perhaps this stereotype is outdated.
Undoubtedly, we all leave our healthy eating ambitions to the side when we are overcome by the lure of a Pot Noodle or an advertisement for pizza that can be delivered straight to your door. Not even Instagram’s aesthetically pleasing food can save us when we are having a lazy day. However, all things considered, I have found that students cook more often than you may think. Whether it is the longing for home comforts, the excitement to learn a new recipe or just a way to stay healthy and away from the depths of the overdraft, students return to the kitchen to spend time preparing a balanced meal most evenings. Could Instagram be one of the main ingredients for this healthy habit in student eating? I must admit that Instagram’s visually pleasing pictures of food provide me with the motivation to cook something new. The vegetar-
ian posts particularly catch my eye with their vibrant quality.
“It has got to be #FoodPorn!” It is almost certain that the expansion of social media has heightened the support for vegetarian and vegan diets due to the perception of healthy eating they convey. Natalie Morris, writing for The Metro, recently contended that ‘the aesthetic has overtaken the values of nutrition,’ which arguably has some ground. We’ve all posted a picture-perfect meal online with more interest in the amount of likes it receives rather than its nutritional value. Surely this is a step in the right direction if aesthetic is making people eat better. Undoubtedly, social media has
intensified the need for validation and therefore, has played a role in the healthy eating trend. Could this be causing an ‘addictive message online?’ Natalie Morris reports that this is so. It is possible that our fascination and fixation with the look of our food could be provoking eating disorders; on the contrary, it may be promoting better diets. It is a complicated debate. Nowadays, if you are going to post a picture of your food, it has got to be #FoodPorn! Although you may not want to confess it, we all want to be perceived as fit rather than lazy online. Although there are over 200 million Instagram posts under #FoodPorn, you would struggle to find many of glorified Pot Noodles! This shows we care more about the way our food looks. Next time you are scrolling
endlessly on Instagram, see whether you are caught into the trap of #FoodPorn. Will the content you see inspire you to produce healthier meals?
Ella Olssen
FOOD&DRINK
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbrickfood
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Veganism: An Unhealthy Obsession? Deputy Digital Editor Holly Pittaway discusses the anti-vegan campaign of media outlets, and why she’ll continue eating plant-based regardless Holly Pittaway Deputy Digital Editor
Recently a news story was shared on my Facebook timeline with the headline ‘Vegans and vegetarians may have higher stroke risk’ (you know, just like cancer has been linked to everything from olive oil to chips). Perhaps this story was shared simply because it was interesting, or perhaps it was shared with the intention to ward people off a vegan/vegetarian diet - but as someone who aspires to be vegan and has already given up meat, milk and eggs, the news has just spurred me on further in the same direction.
“The headline of the news story failed to mention the lower risk of heart disease to vegetarians and vegans” The study itself was published in the British Medical Journal and investigated the risk of heart disease and strokes in individuals over the age of 18 with different types of diets, from meat-eaters to vegans. The study did find that
there was a higher rate of strokes among vegans and vegetarians, however that same group was also found to have a lower rate of ischaemic heart disease compared to those with an omnivorous diet. According to the study, these findings can’t be 100 per cent certain, as ‘it cannot prove whether the effect is down to their diet or some other aspect of their lifestyle.’ The fact that the headline of this news story failed to mention the lower risk of heart disease to vegetarians and vegans discovered in the study, or the fact that the study may be wildly inaccurate, is a testament to the BBC’s conciseness – but could it be something more? Such posts can be shared on social media as a kind of ‘scare tactic’ to stop people from changing their diet, and to me this is what it felt like. I find it hypocritical that others put so much effort into disparaging meatless diets when most people give very little thought to the unhealthy things we consume on a regu-
lar basis - cake is full of fat and sugar, coffee is addictive and going cold turkey can cause withdrawal symptoms, yet we still eat and drink these things without batting an eyelid. So why are people obsessed with veganism/vegetarianism? In my opinion, it’s a case of social difference – refusing to consume meat and animal products is entirely against the grain, with only 1.7 million of us in the United Kingdom choosing to follow such a diet. As a vegetarian of almost three years, I find that people are obsessed with the fact that I don’t eat what they eat, even my friends sometimes remark, ‘are you still vegetarian?.’ Everyone is
always concerned about where vegetarians and vegans get their protein from (as if it wasn’t a naturally occurring element in nuts, pulses, beans, quinoa, and more). People don’t like change – it’s not a fact that can be proven in a scientific study, but just look at history for all the proof you need – and this is embodied in the new and trendy vegan diet. We’ll all remember the moment Piers Morgan spat out his Greggs’ Vegan Sausage Roll on national TV, then subsequently went on a hate-fuelled Twitter rampage against the snack because he just couldn’t believe the audacity of a sausage roll without real sausage. All the scientific evidence points towards switching to veganism as the best thing we can do for our planet, with the UN reporting as early as 2010 that a vegan diet could be our only path. And yet, people still use headlines like the one which appeared on my Facebook timeline as jusMax Pixel tification for criticism of a vegan diet,
while simultaneously ignoring the negatives of an omnivorous diet.
“We’ll all remember the moment Piers Morgan spat out his Greggs’ Vegan Sausage Roll on national TV” But hope is on the horizon, as it looks like the trend of giving up meat has taken hold of the nation, if not the world. Next month will see the launch of Cancer Research’s ‘Veg Pledge’, something that will no doubt follow in the success of ‘Veganuary’ earlier this year, which ended with a ‘record high’ of 250,000 participants. Greggs also isn’t the only fast food chain to have begun offering meat alternatives this year, with Burger King, KFC and Wetherspoons unveiling their own meatless menu items. Some people will never change their ways, but articles that appear in my Facebook news feed won’t scare me away from the clear benefits of a plant-based diet.
Review: Off Menu Podcast
Food&Drink Writer Niamh Lawlor introduces a podcast which has a winning combination of comedy and gastronomic nostalgia Niamh Lawlor Food&Drink Writer
In a listening experience that fuses simplicity with surrealism, the Off Menu podcast hosted by comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster provides a fresh and relaxed approach to food-based discussion. Armed with their laid back personalities and razor sharp wit, the pair immerse both their guests and listeners into their dream world - one of storytelling, nostalgia and a deep appreciation for food and drink. In the midst of it’s second series, the podcast sees it’s celebrity guests invited into the duos magical restaurant where (assisted by Acaster’s lovable and wonderfully inconsistent portrayal of a ‘genie’ waiter) they are absolutely free to choose their dream starter, main, drink and
dessert. Given this freedom, the guests share the best and worst of their dining experiences and the personal stories behind them. Despite the shows simple structure, the friendly atmosphere created by the hosts ensures that conversation grows organically creating a judgement free zone where guests share their love for all kinds of foods. Whether dreaming of an unforgettable dish from a Michelin star restaurant or yearning for the comfort of a secret family recipe, it is clear that the guests think carefully about constructing their perfect meal; usually accompanied by lists of, Acaster termed, ‘honorable munchions.’ The dream restaurant is a guiltfree zone where guests are free to
“Fond nostalgia evoked through food far surpasses the fortunes of celebrity”
abandon various food restrictions and taboos and opt, often, for a nostalgic glimpse back towards both their youth and formative years. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the podcast is the digressions lead by both hosts and guests as each generously share anecdotes from all walks of life. With guests ranging from rapper and actor Scroobius Pip to MP Jess Phillips the podcast highlights how food plays an integral part in everyone’s life. Scroobius Pip’s fond reflection on his self-signed ‘meaty base’ pizza, or chef Tom Kerridge’s craving for a knickerbocker glory circa 1982 reveals that the fond nostalgia evoked through food far surpasses the fortunes of celebrity - making the podcast a relatable listen that engages listeners just as it does guests. Available through multiple popular streaming platforms, Off Menu has something for everyone. The topic of food provides the perfect platform to enjoy the comedy of Ed Gamble and James Acaster.
StockSnap
The clear friendship between the self-proclaimed ‘foodies’ creates the perfect dynamic for the podcast series and is a shining example of the creative innovation of two young comedians at the top of their game. Whether you listen to the Off
Menu podcast with a passion for food or comedy, Gamble and Acaster have created a relaxed, relatable and above all hilarious listening experience - the perfect comic relief to accompany the start of a new term.
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TRAVEL
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricktravel
Exploring Instagrammable Tourism: Is Your Feed Worth the Flights? Catrin Osborne delves into the phenomenon of those who travel for the pictures Catrin Osborne Television Editor
As part of my travels this summer, I visited the Museum of Sweets and Selfies in Budapest. The term ‘museum’ is misleading. Rather than an institution brimming with knowledge and culture, this is essentially a set of aesthetically pleasing rooms. From a swimming pool of sprinkles to banana swings to floating teacups, the visitor is invited to indulge in taking as many photos as their smart phone can store. I am ashamed to admit that I spent €10 but I can’t deny that I enjoyed the experience. My friend and I jokingly posed together, and I got plenty of photos for my Instagram feed. One can only commend their business plan. Tourists all over the world are seeking out places to take photos, so why not capitalise on it? As a Gen Z female, I enjoy documenting my travelling experiences. There is nothing wrong with taking photos on one’s holidays to capture pleasant memories. However, there is a point where the obsession with social media goes too far. It is Instagram that drives this obsession. Instagram’s selling point is visual media. Its popularity for Gen Z - 90% of users are under 35 - means that we are especially attuned to being bombarded with beautiful, glamorous holiday photos. Tourism boards take advantage of this. As early as 2015, Lake Wanaka
launched a social media campaign on Instagram which involved influencers captioning stunning images with #LoveWanaka. This led to a 14% increase in tourism over the next year. Moreover, numerous travel blogs run articles informing their readers of the top 10 most 'instagrammable' places in their chosen city. This signifies the extent of the phenomenon, as tourists are actively pre-planning their social media feeds when planning their travelling. A prime example of this is Elan Café, a branch of cafes in London that charge extortionate prices for a slice of cake. But, let’s face it, no one comes for the cake. Instead, it is the gaudy pastel pink interior and walls of roses that draw in Elan Café’s endless queue of customers. London and Budapest are starting to venture into this aesthetic world, but other cities have been doing it for years. When I visited Seoul a few years ago, I was struck by how picture-perfect the city is. Academically, Korean culture places a high level of importance on appearance. This was obvious from places such as the Ihwa Mural Village where paintings such as intricately painted angel wings invite tourists to pose in front of them. Whilst artistic installations are interesting around a city, I’d argue that this social-media-focused-mindset detracts from the experience of tourism. An important aspect of travel is getting the chance to delve
into another culture but the obsession with photos can conflict this. For instance, there is nothing remotely British about Elan Café, but its charming interior may draw in a tourist seeking a bite to eat over a more authentic British tearoom or pub. Plenty of places have their uglier parts, but this does not mean that they are not worth visiting. This summer, I went to New York City and only posted the pleasant-looking parts on my social media such as the sunlit rooftops of The High Line. However, I also experienced the dingy, grubby Subway, as this is
equally part of the culture of New York despite not being as 'Instagrammable.' There is an even darker side to the preoccupation with posing when travelling. I noticed this when in Budapest as plenty of tourists were posing and smiling next to the Shoes on the Danube Bank to prove that they were there. This is a memorial on the bank of the river to remember the Jewish people whose lives were taken by the Arrow Cross Party in World War One, and not an appropriate site for selfies. Officials at Auschwitz have begun combatting this by asking
visitors to stop taking 'cool' photos balancing on the railway tracks at the most prolific concentration camp. Although tourists like to prove that they have visited a certain notable place, this shouldn’t be allowed in a place with a shockingly cruel history such as Auschwitz. We can all continue snapping our holidays and sharing these photos for our peers to see, but we must remember that the world doesn’t revolve around Instagram, and our travelling shouldn’t either.
Jakob Owens
A Freshers' Guide to Birmingham
Travel Writer Kelsey Baxter-Sibley shares what she's found exploring Birmingham as a newbie in the city Kelsey Baxter-Sibley Travel Editor
Being a fresher at university can be daunting. Not only is there coursework, but there's also the stresses of hangovers and making friends to juggle. You also most likely don’t even know your way around the city you’re now calling home. Even if you want to get to know your new surroundings, it can be difficult to know where to start – especially when your new home happens to be as big as Birmingham, the UK’s second city. To give you a head start on discovering the local area, here are a few places I discovered in my first year. Cannon Hill Park I discovered Cannon Hill Park in my second term here and, being from a rural county, it immediately made Birmingham feel a little more like home. It’s only a half-hour walk from the Vale and is home to the Midlands Arts
Centre, pedalo boats, the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Centre, mini golf and tennis courts as well as 80 acres of parkland. There’s something for everyone whether you’re looking for a day out, a change of scene from campus or a green oasis in the middle of the city.
but you still want to spend some time in nature, try Winterbourne House and Gardens. Entry is free with a UoB student card, and it's barely a fifteen-minute walk from campus. The botanical gardens make you feel like you’re far from the city and the Edwardian-era
Ghetto Golf Ghetto Golf is one of the most well-known student attractions in Birmingham and it more than lives up to its reputation. Located in the Custard Factory in Digbeth, it’s an 18-hole mini-golf course complete with street food, a cocktail bar and appropriately 'Instagrammable' décor. It’s the perfect place to go to try something new outside of the University bubble, and it's ideal to get to know your new flatmates or coursemates – or even for pres before a night out!
Neil Thompson
Winterbourne House and Gardens If Cannon Hill Park is a bit far
house is ideal for history fans – and the café is a great alternative to campus study spaces. The Jewellery Quarter Pubs If after Freshers’ Week you need a break from the clubs and chains of Broad Street, try ventur-
ing out to the Jewellery Quarter, just a few minutes away from the city centre. As well as being steeped in industrial history, it’s home to several great pubs and bars – a perfect place to go on your first pub crawl as a student. The Library of Birmingham If you’ve walked around the city centre, you’ve probably noticed the library – looking like a giant gold and silver wedding cake, it’s hard to miss it. The library, which opened in 2013, is situated in Centenary Square and is estimated to have cost £188.8 million. It took me until my third term to venture inside, but I wish I’d known about it earlier, as it’s a brilliant study spot away from campus. The library also has a gorgeous roof garden that gives a spectacular view of the Birmingham skyline – try and spot some of the other places you’ve visited around Birmingham!
TRAVEL
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricktravel
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Are £99 Mystery Holidays Worth It? Stella Hughes Travel Writer
Recently, excited tweets stating that people were spending 7 nights in Dubai for £99 (flights included!) went viral, prompting a surge in sales of Wowcher’s ‘£99 mystery holiday.’ Advertised as a potential holiday to ‘New York, Bali, Iceland, Dubai, Disneyland & More!’ with flights and multiple nights’ accommodation included in the ridiculously cheap price, it seems a no brainer, especially on a student budget. The excitement of not knowing where you’ll be going is also appealing; once you’ve chosen dates and bought a holiday, ‘draws’ take place every few weeks and you are contacted with whichever destination you’ve been assigned. On the surface, the deal solves the issues of being undecided on where to go on holiday, costs, and entices you with the possibility of
securing a much more expensive holiday all for £99. It all seems too good to be true. Well, is it? Although the exotic, long-haul destinations are the ones principally advertised, you're far more likely to end up with a European destination for a couple of nights. Still not too bad though, considering it’s under £100 all in.
“You're far more likely to end up with a European destination for a couple of nights” However, digging a little deeper behind the success storyies revealed a variety of not-sosuccessful counterparts. Many people were underwhelmed with their allotted destination, but
also found that when contacted, they were given extremely late departing flights from the UK and early flights back - meaning they would not have the ‘guaranteed’ 40 or 60 hours in their destination, and making all the travel seem less worthwhile. They were then pressured to pay extra (around £40 each) on the spot for ‘better’ flight times which meant they had full days wherever they were staying, paying extra for what was advertised as ‘guaranteed.’ After being pushed to pay to change flight times over the phone, escalating the cost to around £139, some unhappy customers took it upon themselves to research the flights themselves and found that they were significantly cheaper (in some cases, flights were only £30) than what they were now paying. A similar story ensued with the accommodation - they could book the same hotels for cheaper than £100, including the flights. For the overwhelming majority
of mystery holiday customers it seems that the company searches for the cheapest flights in your date range and offers a destination based on that - there is little evidence of a ‘draw’ at all. On the same dates if you don’t pay to change flights, you can get a lot less actual holiday time.
Pixabay
“The £99 mystery holiday is a good option” Essentially, if you want a (relatively) hassle-free and cheap European city break then the £99 Mystery Holiday is a good option to consider. However, if you know where you want to go it will most likely be cheaper to research and book it yourself. Redbrick has reached out to Wowcher for a response but has received no reply.
Why Working Abroad is the Best Way to Experience a Country Josie Hart Travel Editor
We think of travelling as a getaway from the mundane, from responsibility and the path to success we’re not supposed to stray from. The term ‘a gap year’ is the perfect example of this. Travelling is usually done as something different from the expected. We step away from what we 'should' be doing in terms of our academics or following a career path. However, travelling is more than a break, a relaxation, or a rebellion against the socially constructed conceptualisation of what we should be doing to succeed. It allows you to learn different skills, see the world more broadly than your hometown or the inside of a library, and personally develop to gain the workplace skills we sometimes forget about.
“Maybe we shouldn't think about work, responsibility and travel as separate routes” So maybe we shouldn’t think about work, responsibility and travel as separate routes. As someone who has worked in different continents and cultures, I think that these things are perfectly compatible. Working in a new place allows you to combine the skills you gain from travelling with those you pick up on the job. Also, whilst you may have pictured yourself spending your time on cultural excursions, or
relaxing in the destinations you’ve always dreamed of, working there could be the perfect way to gain a deeper appreciation of a different culture.
another country enables a much more truly authentic experience of the place you’re visiting. Going about everyday life, alongside locals simply going
Darius Sankowski
Having worked in two continents across two summers, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s my favourite way to see a place. We visit far off places with hopes of ‘cultural immersion.’ We try the local food, we see the cultural sites, and might even try a couple of failed attempts at the language to a blank faced waiter who would have understood English anyway. Working in
about theirs, allows you to see a country from the perspective of the people who live there. This can enrich the travel as seeing it in this way means it starts to not seem so ‘foreign.’ Whilst there are other ways to try to see a place alongside the people who live there, working there is one easy way to get right to the people that know the place best and see it in the framing of their experiences.
“Having worked in two continents across two summers, I've come to the conclusion that it's my favourite way to see a place” Whilst you may worry that choosing to work on your travels may limit you in completing your bucket list of sites to see or cultural experiences, in fact, working away could expose you to opportunities you'd never imagined. This is particularly appealing if you’re an off-the-beaten path kind of traveller. In the office you'll get involved in office conversation, picking up recommendations over a lunch break and simply making the contacts you’re bound to in a work environment. This will all allow you to expand your knowledge of things to do in an area and join in on cultural experiences any other tourist would miss. Travelling to India to complete an internship this summer, I became particularly aware of what I may have missed out on had I visited as a regular tourist. I paid attention to what my colleagues were eating, listened intently to their Bollywood film and weekend excursion recommendations, and even got an invite to an Indian wedding. My colleagues would drive me after work to their favourite chai tea spots they’d visited as school
kids and would invite me to watch the cricket with their group of friends at the weekend. Having always wanted to visit India, I can’t imagine any way I would have rather done it now. I learnt a lot more about the culture than any tourist on their pre-planned inclusive travel would have done and made longstanding contacts who could show me the real India as they knew it. I felt less foreign going about everyday life working and socialising as the local people would. Therefore, working there allowed me to truly become adapted to the culture.
“Working in another country enables a much more truly cultural and authentic experience of the place you're visiting” Not only that, but I didn’t have to surrender my summer - and my chance to satisfy my desperation to travel - to the work experience I’m told I must be doing. Why not combine the two? One, in fact, amplifies the other. Double up on skills gained by gaining them in a foreign and daunting setting, and see a place through the everyday. Stop seeing travelling and work as opposing endeavours, preventing each other from being done, and combine work and travel for a better experience of both.
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LIFE&STYLE
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricklife
Getting to Grips with Graduate Life Life&Style Editor Estelle Dragan gives career advice on how to make the most of your final year at university, arming undergraduates with options for the future Estelle Dragan Life&Style Editor
Three years ago, answering the question 'what do you want to do when you graduate?' was a bit like discretely humming over the lyrics of a tedious song you frequently hear on the radio yet never actually take the time to familiarise yourself with. Today, I am in full spotlight of the club – everyone knows the song off by heart and I’m cringing to myself as I improvise the lyrics foolishly. Here I am, landing (crashing) head first into my final year of university with the dreaded ‘G’ word haunting me. Time really does fly when you’re having fun. All analogies aside, the difference between first and final year is that time is no longer on your side. Along with balancing essaywriting, lecture-attending and hangover-bearing, career planning suddenly jumps into the picture. Unfortunately, three years of referencing theorists doesn’t automatically translate into commercial awareness, leaving the world of work somewhat alien to us 'career-unconscious' students. First thing’s first - being made
aware of your post-graduation options and support available at the University, is extremely important in order to grab the right opportunities for you.
Graduate Schemes University campuses make missing this option pretty impossible. Believe it or not, companies like KPMG and Deloitte don’t give out free keyrings for fun! They want you to apply to their infamous grad schemes. These are structured training programmes mainly offered by large, renowned employers, typically lasting one to two years, whereby new recruits receive relevant skills development and acquire hands on experience. Often the recruit will work on a number of assignments in various areas of the organisation, to get a 360-degree view of the business. The majority of these schemes hold their application deadlines between October and December for programmes starting the following September/October, which means having to apply early in the academic year alongside your
studies. The application process also differs from a standard graduate job in the sense that very few employers will request CVs, but instead ask candidates set questions as part of an online application form, or they may even ask you to pass online psychometric tests and/or complete a video or telephone interview. UoB’s Careers Network offers a wealth of resources including interview, assessment centre and psychometric testing support to help you practice. A major perk of graduate schemes is that many offer a generous starting salary. Although these schemes are highly competitive, they’re always worth a shot, and remember that every application is practice for the next regardless of the outcome. If this sounds up your career ladder, you can start browsing on websites such as Milkround, TARGETjobs, Prospects and Graddiary. Make sure you also make full use of the University’s career service – don’t miss out on attending upcoming careers fairs and getting to know employer workshops.
Graduate Jobs A graduate job differs from a graduate scheme as it calls for a more standard application approach. As these are one-off opportunities where an employer looks to recruit one person, they will often ask for a CV and cover letter. Graduate jobs are also advertised all year round, although you should apply for these one to two months before you want to start working. You can find graduate jobs online, and although there are websites listing jobs in all sectors, most jobs are advertised on sites according to their industry. It is also worth noting that some jobs only appear on employer websites which make them much harder to find unless you have a specific employer you would like to work for. Although graduate jobs tend to be less structured than a scheme, the work you do can be more flexible which may give you more freedom and responsibility.
Masters An alternative route available
to graduates is to study a Masters. Many career bands such as psychology and law require further study in order to qualify, whilst many also have a desire to specialise and broaden their academic knowledge. However, this route is expensive and sometimes not necessary for some professions, so be sure to weigh up your options carefully.
Time Out Another pathway that many graduates choose is taking a year out before settling down to work, whether to travel or get a parttime job whilst gaining more experience. This can make you a more rounded, interesting candidate all whilst enabling you to explore untouched avenues and develop new skills, rather than committing to a profession straight away. If you haven’t located where your professional interests lie yet, this could be a more productive option in the long run as it may help you make a more informed career choice. Have an opinion? Let us know @redbricklife
Gucci’s Runway: Is Mental Health Fashion?
Catrin Osborne discusses the controversy surrounding Gucci's use of straitjackets in their latest fashion show Catrin Osborne Television Editor
Gucci is under fire as a catwalk model protested against the use of straitjackets in the fashion brand’s Spring/Summer 2020 show. The poignant symbol is of Ayesha Tan Jones, raising her palms on which they have written ‘MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT FASHION.’ The 26-year-old model, who identifies as non-binary (Jones uses they/them pronouns), explained that they felt uncomfortable that a symbol of mental health had been trivialized by Gucci. This has sparked a wider debate in the fashion industry as we must consider whether mental health is exploited in our media. At the centre of the controversy is the uncomfortable history tied to straitjackets. They originate from a time when people suffering from mental health issues were locked away in asylums and given lobotomies rather than provided with adequate care. In recent years, our society has begun redefining mental health and opening up the conversation. As we are moving towards a more compassionate understanding of
mental health, it is regressive to be displaying straitjackets in fashion. Considering this, it is obvious why Jones, who has suffered from mental health issues, felt uneasy in the outfit. Jones’ action also raised awareness to the prevalence of mental health issues in the LGBTQ+ community. Stonewall’s research suggests that 52% of British LGBTQ+ people experienced depression in 2018. With figures as large as these, it is no wonder that Jones felt passionate about their runway attire. This is likely not to be a publicity stunt because they have donated their catwalk fees to a mental health charity. Moreover, the image of models in straitjackets is perhaps too close to home. Operating in a highly competitive industry focused on appearance, it is not uncommon for models to suffer from poor mental health. A 2017 study in The International Journal of Eating Disorders evidenced the link between anorexia and the modelling industry. Throughout the fashion industry, poor mental health is common. In the last decade, prolific
designers such as Alexander McQueen and Kate Spade took their own lives. It is in poor taste that the catwalk, the central image of designer fashion, was used to flaunt clothing linked to poor mental health without sensitivty towards this.
“His vision was that the straitjacket symbolises the confinement of individuality, a confinement that can be broken through Gucci’s fashion” In response to the scandal, Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s creative director, has explained the straitjackets as a creative metaphor. His vision was that the straitjacket symbolises the confinement of individuality, a confinement that can be broken
through Gucci’s fashion. Gucci announced this in an Instagram post, stating that they used ‘blankstyled clothes to represent how through fashion, power is exercised over life, to eliminate selfexpression.’ It isn’t difficult to see what Michele intended. There is a viable argument that fashion is art and art pushes boundaries. The issue is that Gucci is not merely creating art for the sake of it, but are a brand seeking to boost profits. Whilst they have announced that they will not be selling the straitjackets, Gucci used them to attract attention to their clothes and attention typically leads to financial benefits. Another factor to consider is that Gucci is particularly popular amongst Gen Z – think of how many hip-hop tracks name-drop the fashion label. Earlier this month, Gucci announced that they will be going carbon neutral to play their part in tackling our climate crisis. As this is in tune with Gen Z’s values, it is unfortunate that their recent runway was not. This appropriation of mental health is a phenomenon that is not confined to the fashion industry. Last year, lots of people blasted Ava Max’s catchy chart-topper
‘Sweet but Psycho’ without considering the implications of the lyrics. In the same vein as Gucci’s runway, psychopathy is used in a trivial manner, joking about an over-protective girlfriend. As our society aims to spread mental health awareness, this is counterproductive. Whilst Gucci’s choice is not objectively evil, it feels out of place in the current conversation surrounding mental health. On the contrary, fashion could spread awareness of mental health issues. For instance, George David Hodgson set up a fashion label named Maison de Choup after experiencing a severe episode of OCD and anxiety. This brand sells clothing such as a T-Shirt sporting ‘WARRIOR NOT WORRIER’ and donates 25% of each purchase to Young Minds Charity. At the forefront of the fashion industry, Gucci hold responsibility for setting trends that will trickle onto our high streets. Whilst the straitjackets may be an artistic choice, it is our choice to decide whether we will let this slide or agree with Jones that mental health is not, and will never be, fashion.
LIFE&STYLE
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricklife
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Fashion Plagiarism: An Epidemic? Life&Style Writer Andrew Ogun explores and discusses plagiarism within the fashion industry in light of a fashion student’s personal experience Andrew Ogun Life&Style Writer
'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.' This timeless quote can be found time and time again throughout popular culture. Of course, such aphorisms are usually expressed light-heartedly, but at what cost for the creative victim? The fashion industry, just like any other creative industry, is fundamentally rooted in individual uniqueness and integrity. Troublingly though, it has had an unprecedented amount of issues involving plagiarism in recent years.
“There is an innate elitism and exclusivity in fashion, and this is something that designers and luxury fashion houses seek to protect’’ The different dimensions and levels that this works on is fascinating to say the least. Firstly, ‘fast-fashion’ and high street brands have been condemned time and time again for replicating the designs of luxury brands. These companies frequently produce watered-down versions of designs found on the runway. On the other
hand, it could be argued that these companies are making fashion more accessible and affordable for everybody. Fashion (or perhaps more notably high fashion), has never been easily accessible to the masses. There is an innate elitism and exclusivity in fashion, and this is something that designers and luxury fashion houses seek to protect, for better or worse. Nevertheless, high-street and fast-fashion brands are not the only ones to have been caught red-handed. Luxury houses have also been involved in numerous scandals over the years. When fast-fashion brands plagiarise, luxury fashion houses seem to be the victims. When high-fashion brands plagiarise, the victims are almost always independent, upcoming design-
ers. This brings me to a very recent, and more personal case. An emerging designer, Dorothy Rose Sapphire Williams, accused a highly renowned high fashion brand (who Life&Style have chosen not to name) of replicating her copyrighted work. Dorothy’s design, a unique, wearable canvas frame which debuted on the 5th June, was allegedly used by the brand’s Creative Director at Milan Fashion Week. Life&Style reached out to the fashion student to discuss her feelings towards the matter: ‘Coming from a Fine Art background and being equally passionate about art, I began to understand that my degree in fashion design wasn’t about 'fashion' for me or 'creating trends' it
was about creating lasting pieces of wearable art and challenging the boundaries of fashion and art. ‘The wearable canvas frames were a progression from a secondyear project named The Escapist, which was an exploration into surrealist art and sculpture. Surrealism is a big part of my fashion identity and creating surreal garments is a form of escapism for me. ‘I remember checking my phone much later in the evening of the show only to find an inboxfull of people sending me images and videos of my replicated canvas frame. I have always been conscious of graduates and emerging designers’ work being mimicked by big brands, so even though I was utterly devastated I was not surprised. ‘Since I posted about the pla-
Dorothy Williams
giarism via my Instagram, I received a lot of messages from students, graduates and small designers who feel unnerved and in fear of their own ideas being stolen after seeing my post. This upsets me greatly and it’s not something we should live in fear of in this industry. Luckily in this day and age we have the power of social media, so even though you are unlikely to get justice, you will get exposure. ‘I feel as though when big companies steal from another big company, it could be perceived as flattery because everyone will be aware of both designers and will have an understanding of who did it first. But when it’s a large company stealing from a student designer or a lesser known designer, it really leaves the designer with nothing, so I personally will only see it as robbery. 'My work is now forever tarnished; people will now view my work thinking that I was the one who took an idea. ‘A message to the brand– why not make a positive change and employ, or collaborate, with graduates or small designers? Rather than copying their work. Not only would you do wonders for your own reputation, but you would be immensely helping the next generation of designers.’ Plagiarism may be a form of creative flattery, but where is the line between influence and blatantly copying someone’s work for your own benefit? Should we view creative replication as a celebration of others’ work, or, as Dorothy puts it, do ‘we need bigger voices in fashion to stand up for young designers and protect them?’
Ralph Lauren x Rachel Green
Life&Style Writer Romana Essop introduces the Friends inspired Ralph Lauren collection as a celebration of its 25th anniversary Romana Essop Life&Style Writer
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Friends, which passed in late September, iconic New Yorkbased fashion brand, Ralph Lauren, have launched a Rachel Green inspired collection of workwear. The extremely successful (and still popular) US sitcom ran for almost 10 years from the midnineties to the early noughties, and thus had a huge influence on fashion, particularly through one of its key characters, Rachel Green. The young fashion enthusiast, played by Jennifer Aniston, worked for none other than Ralph Lauren for almost half of the show’s lifetime and the designer himself appeared in one episode in season six. It comes as no sur-
prise that the brand has chosen to capitalise further from their connection to the series and its iconic character.
“The young fashion enthusiast, played by Jennifer Aniston, worked for none other than Ralph Lauren for almost half of the show's lifetime” The ‘Wear To Work’ collection stretches across both the POLO sub-brand and the regular Lauren brand features classic
pieces like polo neck jumpers and suits, as well as statement garments like leopard-print jackets. The collection is supposedly inspired by Rachel’s own style from the show and the popular nineties and noughties fashion of the time, with everything updated and tailored to appeal to modern buyers. Whilst the Rachel Green influence is arguably difficult to see in the pieces themselves, the relation to the character and show has certainly captured the attention of fans worldwide, and the connection to the sub-brand POLO, means that some of the items are perhaps more accessible to a wider audience. The new pieces are already available online and in Ralph Lauren stores, but in order to further their attachment to Friends, the brand have also partnered with the US department store, Bloomingdales, to help sell the
new collection. This famous American shop also features in the show and is closely linked to Rachel’s character, as she works there in earlier seasons to gain retail fashion experience. The Rachel-inspired items will be accompanied by a pop-up replica of the show’s own Central Perk café where much of
NBC
the series takes place. Shoppers will be encouraged to make the most of the complimentary coffee. As well as this, they will have multiple Instagram opportunities and a chance to pose in the iconic set, after browsing the pieces available before the pop-up moves to a different store every fortnight.
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SCI&TECH
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricktech
The Importance of Cyber Security In a world that relies on technology, keeping our tech secure is vital. Sci&Tech Writer James West explains why James West Sci&Tech Writer
The world we live in is becoming more interconnected. There are over seven billion internet-connected devices on the planet, with conventional devices like phones and laptops being able to communicate with less conventional devices, such as fridges, boilers and cars. While the ability for a fridge to text a user when they have run out of milk, or to be able to unlock a car with a tap of a smartphone is certainly convenient, this highlights one of the big issues facing the modern world: cyber security. For as long as computers have been around, there has always been a dilemma between accessibility and security, as being too accessible may mean a device is easy to hack. However, being too security focused can alienate the user and thus potentially mean the market for the technology is more limited. Computer security is becoming more and more important in the digital age due to the increased damage and scope of cyber-attacks. The annual global cost of cybercrime in 2017 was over $600 billion, and this shows no sign of slowing down. This combined with the fact that cybercrime does
not need to even be committed in the same country as the recipient has meant that cybercrime has grown in popularity amongst criminals. One of the most famous cyberattacks was the WannaCry ransomware attack which hit the NHS, along with many other organizations in May 2017. This cost the NHS over £92 million and led to the cancellation of 19,000 appointments.
Francesca Benson Sci&Tech Editor
“The annual global cost of cybercrime in 2017 was over $600 billion” This is the main reason why it is important that both individuals and large corporations should practice good computer security, such as complex passwords and keeping antivirus software up to date. For large companies, cyber security is a very hot topic following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, which allows companies to be fined up to €20 million or up to 4% of their annual turnover,
Pexels
whichever is larger. The most well-known example of this was in July 2019, when British Airways were fined a recordbreaking £183 million after hackers had carried out an attack which had harvested details of over half a million customers barely a year before. The fine imposed was not even as harsh as it could have been – British Airways were fined 1.5% of their annual turnover, not the full 4%.
Therefore, cyber security is playing an increasingly important role in people's day to day lives, whether it be by banks asking you for more security questions, or more frequent updates for your antivirus software. This means it is essential for both users and providers of services to be more aware of the threat from cyber criminals than they have ever been before.
Artificial Intelligence Predicts El Niño Sci&Tech Writer Luca Love explores a new AI that can predict El Niño, a weather event with worldwide consequences Luca Love Sci&Tech Writer
Researchers from China and South Korea have created an AI that can predict El Niño up to 18 months before it occurs. El Niño is a weather event that can occur every 2-7 years, where the area of warmer water in the western Pacific Ocean around Australia spreads across the Pacific. This leads to warmer air rising across the Pacific, causing severe rainfall and drastically changing wind
direction and strength across the Pacific. This has huge knock-on effects on weather worldwide. El Niño can cause colder winters in northern Europe and droughts in countries such as Australia and Malaysia. It can also cause tropical storms in the Pacific, and on the other hand less severe tropical storms in the North Atlantic. Predicting El Niño has huge benefits in terms of planning water supplies for floods and food shortages as well as agricultural planning.
The main limitation on predicting El Niño is a lack of accurate weather data. Worldwide sea temperature recordings are only available from 1871, and for an artificial intelligence system this is very little data to learn from. To get around this, the team fed their AI datasets of sea temperature recordings at different depths and air temperature recordings from around the tropics. They then added data from several computer models of global climate to give a large enough dataset for the AI to learn from. The AI was then able
to accurately predict El Niño up to 18 months in advance, as opposed to previous methods which could only accurately predict El Niño up to 11 months before. The AI the team created is a convolutional neural network (CNN). These are AIs that analyse many datasets, including images, and find patterns between them. They are based on the vast connections of neurons found in the brain and are the basis of image recognition software and even in the AlphaGo, the AI that beat the world champion of the board game GO.
Wikimedia / Alvegaspar Maulucioni
Creature Feature: The Chinese Giant Salamander
Petr Hamerník
As the largest amphibian in the world, the Chinese Giant Salamander ( Andrias davidianus ) can grow up to 1.8 metres in length and 110 pounds in weight. The salamander lives in the tributaries of the Pearl, Yangtze, and Yellow rivers in China, but has been found as far out as Taiwan and Japan. They produce an acrid and milky skin secretion that repels predators. They have a carnivorous diet which includes crabs, millipedes, and fish, but they are also very prone to cannibalism. New analysis of specimens has led to suggestions that the Chinese Giant Salamander is actuall y t h r e e d i ff e r e n t s p e c i e s rather than one. However, all is not well at the moment for the Chinese Giant Salamander as they have been classified as critically endangered in the wild on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Deforestation, water pollution, dam construction, and mining activity has made many previous habitats of the salamander uninhabitable. Millions of these salamanders are kept in farms to be killed for meat or to be used in traditional medicines and are often poached from the wild - meaning wild populations are rapidly declining, and they are on their way to being wiped out. In a field study of 97 sites in 16 provinces in China, only 24 Giant Salamanders were found in just four of the sites. Genetic analysis indicated that these specimens may have been released from farms. Conservation efforts such as protecting habitats and enforcing anti-poaching laws will be essential to ensure the preservation of this gargantuan amphibian.
SCI&TECH
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricktech
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Biggest Ever Arctic Expedition Sets Off Scientists set out on Arctic expedition facing extreme cold and polar bears. Sci&Tech Editor Ellen Heimpel explains why this is important for climate change research Ellen Heimpel
vessel over the course of the year. One such scientist is Julienne Stroeve, professor of polar observation and modelling at UCL. She The German research vessel will visit the ship on 15th Polarstern set off from Tromsø, December and remain for two Norway, on Friday 20th of months in order to conduct September for the largest Arctic research on sea ice thickness. expedition in history. This ship Julienne must travel with a intends to travel as far north as Russian ice breaker ship for three possible, then lock itself in within whole weeks just to reach the a sea ice flow and drift for an Polarstern vessel. This is made entire year. During this time hun- even more difficult because there dreds of scientists from across 19 is also uncertainty about where different countries will visit the the ship will be at certain times, ship and use it as a base to conmaking it even more comduct Arctic research. plicated for scientists on This €140 million their way onboard. In project, the deep winter, vesMultidisciplinary sels will not be “The Arctic drifting Observatory able to pierce the for the Study of ice in order to is a key area Arctic Climate reach Polarstern for global (MOSAiC), aims and any supplies to take the closest and relief teams climate ever look at the will have to be change” Arctic as the epicendelivered via aertre of global warming. oplanes and longIt hopes to provide range helicopters. robust data that can be Scientists on the used as the basis for policy ship are also at risk from decisions regarding climate polar bear attacks. There is a syschange mitigation and the sustain- tem in place by which anyone able management of Arctic leaving the ship for research purDevelopment. poses must be accompanied by Between 500-600 scientists someone carrying a rifle, and cerwill visit and work aboard the tain scientists have been trained Sci&Tech Editor
with night vision goggles in order to keep watch for polar bears from the ship. The MOSAiC research team highlight the importance of this Arctic research. The Arctic is a key area for global climate change
with warming rates occurring twice as fast as other areas in the world. The possibility is strong that the Arctic will become sea ice free within this century, strongly affecting weather and climate events throughout the Northern
Hemisphere. These brave scientists are willing to face both the coldest winters on Earth and constant darkness in order to collect valuable information, hopefully providing useful climate change insights.
Pixabay
Nostalgia Could Ease University Stress
Sci&Tech Writer Madison Harding-White reports on new findings that nostalgia can reduce stress and increase motivation for study Madison HardingWhite Sci&Tech Writer
It has long been reported that high levels of intrinsic motivation - motivation driven not by external rewards but by personal enjoyment
and fulfilment - has a significant relationship with academic achievement. This implies that those who find personal pleasure in their studies may be more likely to perform well in class work compared to those who simply chase external rewards,
such as pleasing their teachers. Yet, when a student perceives their work as beyond their resources and capabilities and becomes stressed, this can greatly reduce their intrinsic motivation and lead to procrastination. This phenomenon is referred to as threat appraisal.
This presents a problem in modern classrooms as personal negative feelings and motivations can be challenging to manage. However, an encouraging new study indicates that there may be a relatively simple solution to counteract negative influences upon school performance: nostalgia.
“Nostalgia may be functional for use as a coping tool for students”
Pixabay
Novel nostalgia research by Olga Bialobrzeska and colleagues published in the Learning and Individual Differences Journal utilised a sample of 382 adult male and female psychology students from a university in America. Subjects reported their level of nostalgia over the past few days at the beginning of the academic semester, and then again alongside their intrinsic motivation levels towards the semester’s end. Additionally, subjects were tested for how threatening they personally perceived the class midway through the semester. Once analysed, data revealed that as expected, those who reported their class as threatening also had lower intrinsic
motivation for that class. However, for the first time, Bialobrzeska and colleagues were able to demonstrate that when students reported higher levels of nostalgia, they were also more likely to report higher levels of intrinsic motivation. This suggests that nostalgia may be able to counteract the negative relationship of high threat appraisal and low intrinsic motivation. This follows previous research that suggests that nostalgia has a stabilising effect on managing negative human emotions, as nostalgia often arises during feelings of adversity and possesses the ability to neutralise them. Such results had previously been demonstrated in social but not educational settings. These results provide grounds for the suggestion that nostalgia may be functional for use as a coping tool for students who possess negative perceptions of the classroom or their academic goals. However, as this sample used adult students these findings cannot yet be generalised to children and adolescents, who too may struggle with classroom stress. Further research is also required to investigate how nostalgia could be practically used as an educational tool by teaching staff. Interested in reading more from the Redbrick Sci&Tech team? Follow us on Twitter: @redbricktech
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Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricksport
From Beginner to Advanced: Four Running Routes Around Birmingham Max Kelly
and head back to Selly Oak to finish the 3.5 mile loop.
Sport Writer
4. Canal: 2-5 Miles We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the hectic nature of daily university life and fall behind with any sort of proposed exercise routine. To make things a little easier for you to get out and about in Birmingham, we have put together a list of four of the best running routes around the university and beyond, each of varying lengths to suit all abilities.
1. Selly Park: 1-2 Miles Selly Park, stretching along Raddlebarn Road, is a great running destination for those living in Selly Oak. A loop around the park is about 0.7 miles, in addition to a run from most roads in Selly and back adding an extra mile or so. Running from The Vale adds on an extra three miles round-trip as you run along Edgbaston Park Road and onto Bournbrook Road, which then leads directly onto the park. It is a great option for those wanting to make a start to outdoor running.
Google Maps - Selly Park
Chamberlain tower, passing Shackleton on the way. You can turn right on Church Road and when you hit the traffic lights on Edgbaston Park Road, turn right and come back down towards The Vale. A couple of steep inclines means this route is for those wanting a tougher workout!
3. University Loop: 3.5 Miles This route is great as it can be done whether you are living on The Vale, Pritchatts Park, Selly
Oak or anywhere in-between. Starting at the traffic lights near Brook's Sports Bar, you head off around the perimeter of the university towards the Medical School. After passing the medical school, the relatively steep path gives way to a welcome flat stretch along Farquhar Road, at the end of which you turn right towards The Vale. As you’re facing Tennis Courts accommodation, you then turn left along Edgbaston Park Road. The next right-hand turn takes you in the direction of Cannon Hill Park. Keep going until you hit Bristol Road, where you can turn right
Birmingham’s canals, commonly touted as being lengthier than those in Venice, are an amazing place to run. This is confirmed by the huge number of runners that you can see pounding the pathways, particularly on weekends. There are multiple entrances to the canal ways around the university. It is possible to get down by using the steps near to the University Train Station, along the bridge near The Vale, and at the newly built entrance on the bridge along Bristol Road in Selly Oak. From there, the canal can take you right into the centre of Birmingham, or alternatively you can head in the opposite direction to the leafy-green neighborhood of Bournville. The lack of hills and ability to choose your distance make it a great option for newcomers and marathoners
Google Maps - Canal alike. Following any of these routes is a great way to get into running outside, no matter your experience. In such a beautiful city, there are few better ways to experience your surroundings than lacing up a pair of running shoes and stepping into them
2. Vale Laps: 0.5-3 Miles A popular running route with those in first year, a lap of The Vale's lake is a little over a quarter mile and is an easy and scenic route. This can be made longer by doing a loop around the back of
Google Maps - Vale Laps
Google Maps - University Loop
No Gym? No Problem: How to Keep Fit with Workouts You Can Do in Your Room Sport Writer Anoushka Nair reveals some easy and cheap ways to exercise Anoushka Nair Sport Writer
Henryk Niestroj
With the hustle and bustle of university life, students often struggle with staying in shape. If you are currently living in a shoebox of a bedroom, cannot afford anything above £5, and can feel yourself turning into a potato, looking into some easy, low-impact exercises to do in your room might just be the solution. Here are some home workouts and tips that vary in length, are easy to include into your daily routines, and only require a yoga mat and a willingness to work hard.
Individual Challenges Firstly, creating small challenges for yourself to achieve within a specific time frame is an easy way to start, especially if you are lacking the discipline that a full programme demands. Pick a body part to focus on, such as arms or abs, and set goals to do 50 or 100 hundred push-ups or situps a day. To hold yourself accountable, establish a deadline for when you want this to be achievable.
Additionally, investing in dumbbells or a pull-up bar can enhance your individual challenges, although these are not essential for a basic bedroom workout.
Yoga, Pilates, and Online Workouts Yoga and Pilates are a great step forward into challenging yourself further with more spe-
“Do research to find programs that suit your personal needs” Following these individual challenges is easy enough to commit to on a regular basis and can be built-up in terms of difficulty.
ariane_hunter
cialised, but still low-impact cardio workouts. The great thing about Yoga and Pilates is that there is an abundance of exercise programmes you can follow online. Channels and blogs such as Blogilates, Chloe Ting, TheLeanMachines, HASfit, and Yoga with Adriene, set up specialised workouts that target areas ranging from ab definition to hangover yoga.
“There is an abundance of exercise programmes for Yoga and Pilates you can follow online” It is easy to get overwhelmed with the millions of training videos online, so it is worth doing a
bestpicko.com bit of research beforehand to find programs that suit your personal needs, and channels that provide a trainer that motivates you to stay committed on a regular basis. Ideally, these home workouts do not take up too much space, can be done in the privacy of your own room and should not take more than 20 minutes to complete. Additionally, making simple changes whilst studying in your room, such as sitting at a desk instead of on the bed, doing squats during study breaks and getting your housemates involved with Wii sports, will enhance your physical health without needing to splurge on a gym membership.
SPORT
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricksport
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MMA: Is There a Problem with Trash Talk?
The latest controversy in the martial arts world is unpicked by Rachel Higgins after fighter Michael Page was deducted a point in a recent bout Rachel Higgins
Instagram/michaelvenompage
Sport Writer
Following the recent success of Michael ‘Venom’ Page (MVP) on 27 September in Dublin, the martial arts world has been openly debating the use of trash talk both in and out of the cage. The fight itself only lasted two minutes and 47 seconds as opponent Richard Kiely faced a brutal flying knee to the nose resulting in a stunning technical knock-out. Fans were left in awe at the 32-year-old fighter’s stunning execution of such a high-risk technique. Critics, however, are far more interested in the aftermath.
“It is important to consider the crucial undertones of emotional wellbeing linked to sport and performance”
prides himself on the fact he can fight ‘hands down’ without a guard because he is, well, that good. Many have gone further to say Page’s style should be admired and supported because it brings waves of entertainment for fans.
“Page’s style should be admired and supported because it brings waves of entertainment for fans” The well-known Bellator referee Dan Miragliotta decided to deduct a point from Page (above, right) during the fight for unsportsmanlike conduct, not that it affected the result of the fight. Fans were shocked as it is known that this type of showboating seen from Page is part of his cage fighter image and serves to make his unique style recognisable. MVP’s long-awaited return to the
cage breeds questions of how we categorise things like bad-mouthing as entertainment over personal impact on sportspeople. The martial arts sphere is now, more than ever, inclined to ask the question: Where do we draw the line with trash talk and showboating in the cage? Several of the biggest fighters are renowned for their arrogant fighting style. Notably, MVP
Not only this, but putting the jokes and dancing in celebration aside, in the aftermath Page is known to always hold the utmost respect for his opponent, congratulate and make peace. No one can deny this is the most apt definition of good sportsmanship. We see the likes of Connor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov in the UFC spit hateful comments at eachother pre-fight and during press conferences which undeniably sparks up
interest for a fight. With the brutal nature of not just contact, but full contact sport, these insults run deep and arguably inject more passion into each match. In fact, some argue that trash talk, when done well, promotes talented fighters’ road to public success, therefore instrumental to a career in this area. Social media platforms have only served to expand this impact with the rise of diss-tracks and memes. But again, where do we draw the line? Discriminating statements surrounding religion, family and ethnicity have been in the news before, yet there remains no clear ruling on what is explicitly not allowed. Hence, it was interesting to see Miragliotta calling Page out on his taunting as it is so rarely enforced. With this in mind, it is important to consider the crucial undertones of emotional well-being linked to sport and performance, alongside a growing knowledge for the importance of mental health in todays world. Ultimately, drawing the line under trash talk in the cage is down to the discrepancy of the referees. This has resulted in Miragliotta refusing to referee Page in the future. Many eagerly await Page’s return to see what he will bring next.
Success or Failure? Analysing VAR in the Premier League so Far This Season Jack Wooldridge breaks down the new technology after two months of use Jack Wooldridge Sport Writer
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has revolutionised football and there has been serious debate over whether or not it will profit from its implementation. VAR provides match officials with the ability to consult the Video Assistant Referee to review footage from game. Stated in the Laws of the Game, VAR should be called upon for “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed
incidents” in four match-defining situations: goals; penalty decisions; direct red card incidents; and mistaken identity. After being trialled internationally, it was approved by Premier League clubs in November 2018, with this season as its inaugural campaign. It has had a radical effect in the Premier League so far. Football matches can be decided by the finest of margins and it has almost eliminated all refereeing mistakes. Research carried out by The Times highlighted how, after the first seven games, 14 teams would be Instagram/Arsenal
Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates his goal after VAR correctly overturned an offside decision against Manchester United
in different places in the table when it is absolutely necessary, were it not for VAR, demonstrat- and they have not been using the ing the ramifications that errors pitch-side monitors. There has would have had on the only been one VAR intertable. It has ensured vention for every five that points are earnt games, which is lower fairly and in ‘the than the rate of interspirit of the game’. vention abroad. In Nonetheless, there this way, there has teams would be in have been at least been limited disrupfour occasions different positions if tion to the flow of where VAR failed the game, enabling not for VAR to overturn incorrect the Premier League decisions, reflecting to retain its product of room for improvement high-intensity, exciting in terms of the consistency football. of its application. The main concern up until now has been VAR's impact on the fans’ experience. Concerns over the communication between VAR and the supporters were raised during its trial period. The FA addressed this through displaying graphics on screens informing fans of any VAR-related delays. Despite their efforts, a lack of communication and confusion still exists. It is crucial that the FA consider enhanced methThe FA insists that the tech- ods to keep fans informed such as nology is not there to replace the the introduction of headsets, referee but to act as an insurance where fans can listen to the offipolicy. Speaking to the BBC last cials’ conversations. Nonetheless, year, former referee Howard irrespective of modifications, supWebb believes this ‘safety net’ porters will become increasingly can indirectly improve refereeing accustomed to VAR given time. performances and player conduct. Another criticism of VAR is Moreover, Premier League refe- that it postpones raucous goal rees are resorting to VAR only celebrations, preventing players
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“The Premier League has retained its product of exciting football”
and fans alike from celebrating goals in the moment. There have been knock-on effects on the atmosphere in stadiums – celebrations have become more contained since fans are unsure if it will overturn the referee’s original decision. Then again, only 5% of goals have been ruled out by VAR this season. Therefore, fans should have confidence in the referee and celebrate normally, with a slim chance of VAR overriding the call.
“It would be a mistake to prematurely discard VAR” It is too early to determine VAR's effectiveness, though, it can definitely be a force for good as long as it is used sparingly and consistently. There is scope to streamline the process and maintain elements of the English game. It was always going to be a leap into the unknown, but providing we embrace the new technology a solution can be found. It would be a mistake to prematurely discard VAR – patience is paramount for VAR to be successful.
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SPORT
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricksport
Disaster in Doha: Athletics in Trouble? Sport Reporter Dan Hague gives his view on the controversial Doha World Athletics Championships; what went wrong? Dan Hague Sport Reporter
This year’s World Athletics Championships have been a 'disaster.' There are three key reasons for this: a Bolt-era hangover, a late September start, and a disappointing number of ticket sales. On both a worldwide level the Championships have disappointed in almost every facet, though for the UK there is some reason for optimism. It was inevitable that Doha was going to face difficulties after London. The London version of
Philip Bossuyt
the Championships provided us with many compelling narratives: could Wayde van Niekerk do the 200m and 400m double? Can Mo Farah bow out with another two gold medals? Will Usain Bolt retain his 100m title? It is this last story that I think has most negatively affected Doha. No athlete currently competing, or in history, has had Bolt’s impact on athletics. Hence, after all the drama and showmanship of the Bolt-era, the Doha hangover has flattered to deceive. The location has caused issues too. Doha can reach temperatures of 42 degrees, and as a result, the championships were pushed back, beginning on the 27th September and ending on the 6th October. This late start, while avoiding a Qatari heatwave, drastically extended athletes seasons. Hence, rather than the electrifying performances of previous seasons we have seen some tired races. The late start did not even work, and the sweltering temperatures remained; in the women’s marathon, despite being ran at midnight, 28 of the 68 competitors dropped out. One has to wonder after this why Doha was chosen by the IAAF in the first place. The most disappointing aspect of the world championships has
been the dreadful ticket sales. On the opening night a 40,000 capacity stadium was occupied by only 13,288 spectators. This has led decathlon world-record holder, Frenchman Kevin Mayer (left), to publicly say 'we can all see it's a disaster, there is no one in the stands,' and that passion alone is the only reason he has not boycotted these championships. Athletes are being robbed of a chance to perform for an adoring crowd. It is certain that at Doha there will be no Super Saturday moment.
Instagram/dinaashersmith
“We can all see it's a disaster” Mayer
On the other hand, this championships has been positive for Great Britain. Dina Asher-Smith (right) has even managed to get better after her fantastic 2018. She looks set to carry the mantel of being the next British athletics superstar. She ran two new British records in the 100m and 200m with times of 10.83 and 21.88 respectively. Elsewhere, Katarina Johnson-Thompson had an excellent heptathlon competition. Having set new PB’s in the Shot
Put and Javelin she set a new British record of 6981 points, beating Jessica Ennis-Hills previous mark. It is these two athletes that Great Britain must pin their hopes on for the Tokyo Olympics next summer. Doha should never have been awarded the World Championships. The fans were not engaged, athletes seasons
were extended and the conditions unacceptable. However, money talks, and because of the rich infrastructure being developed due to the impending Fifa World Cup in 2022, the IAAF thought they could interest a new Qatari audience. This was not the case and hopefully the IAAF will learn their lessons from the disaster in Doha.
Pochettino in the Hot Seat After Disastrous Two Weeks for Tottenham Sport Reporter Jonathon Korn discusses what next for Spurs and Pochettino after triple humiliation in the space of just two weeks Jonathon Korn Sport Reporter
As Tottenham Hotspur’s season goes from the absurd (an embarrassing defeat against Colchester United in the League Cup) to the ridiculous (a 7-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich and 3-0 loss to Brighton), Mauricio Pochettino finds himself a man under pressure. One of the harsh realities of modern football is that it does not deal in gratitude; fans demand instant gratification, and managers who fail to provide it can quickly get the boot. Spurs’s Argentine Head Coach may have led the Lilywhites to the Champions League final last season, but the club’s recent downturn in form means that he faces the biggest crisis of his tenure since his arrival five years ago. For the first time, a significant number of supporters are calling for his head. So, what’s gone wrong, and just how bad is it for Tottenham? There are no easy answers to the first question, but one thing is clear: this is no blip. Spurs have struggled since the middle of the 2018-19 season, with their memo-
rable Champions League run papering over the cracks that were already beginning to appear. Pochettino’s men lost 13 league games last season, and have already lost 10 times since the turn of the year. A return of 67 goals scored and 39 conceded last term compares unfavourably with the Tottenham team of two years prior, which scored 86 and conceded 26. And the gulf in class between Spurs and the leagueleaders is wider than it has been at any point since Pochettino’s arrival.
“Harmonious teams don't lose 7-2”
Why? This writer can offer a few tentative suggestions, but little more. Some are obvious; failing to replace Kieran Tripper and consequently starting the one-man kamikaze machine that is Serge Aurier at right-back has hardly transformed the Spurs defence for the better. Others are more subtle. Spurs’s squad used to be the youngest in the league, with an average age of just 24.9. Four years on, that number is closer to 28. In isolation, a slightly older
squad doesn’t necessitate decline. However, the strengths of Pochettino’s early teams was in their freshness, their hunger and their inventiveness. As time has passed, a young team, free in spirit and intense in their pressing, has become more jaded. Players like Dele Alli and Eric Dier, who emerged with such promise, have hit brick walls at crucial points in their careers. The atmosphere has grown stale, with the youth-tinged excitement of years prior giving way to an often-dull, predictable style of football. In a way, it feels like Tottenham have come full circle. When Pochettino took over, the club were in real trouble. They didn’t have much of a footballing identity, and the atmosphere both on the pitch and in the dressing-room was toxic. The Argentine fixed it. He purged the squad of all the negative influences, and got Tottenham playing in a way which delighted fans and impressed neutrals. This is exactly what he has to do now. Players that don’t want to be there should be shown the door, no matter how good they are. An urgent revamp is required, and Pochettino is undoubtedly up to the task. However, he needs to
Instagram/fcbayern
move fast. Harmonious teams don’t lose 7-2, and world-class players like Harry Kane won’t stick around for too long if Spurs continue to play as they did against Bayern and Brighton. Fans will just have to hope that Tottenham’s big guns give their gaffer time to turn it around before packing their bags.
Spurs' Recent Results 0-0 (3-4) vs Colchester 2-1 vs Southampton 2-7 vs Bayern Munich 0-3 vs Brighton
SPORT
Friday 11th October 2019
@redbricksport
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BUCS: Preparation Pointers to Optimise Performance on Game Day Ideally, you want to give your- big day. Contrary to popular self at least 48 hours of recovery belief, you should avoid consumSport Writer between your last high-intensity ing energy drinks in days presession and a match to ceeding. Energy drinks ensure that DOMS work best immediately before or during the The Birmingham Lions BUCS (delayed onset muscle match, so chugging a teams are getting ready for action soreness) does not litre of Lucozade the this week. A lion eats 43 kilo- come back to haunt day before a compegrams of meat per day, is that you on gameday. Hours of sleep Whilst a light tition will probably what you need to be at your the night before workout the harm your performbest on game day? Lions the event day before ance and leave you sleep for 20 hours a keeps the feeling lethargic. day, but is all that body sharp, Never underestimate sleep good for your DOMS will the power of a good night’s Birmingham Lions leave you sore and sleep. You want to aim for at performance? Here Hours of recovoverworked on match least eight hours on the evening are some tips which ery before your day. before your event to experience might be exactly what fixture A d d i t i o n a l l y , the full benefits. Studies have you need to secure that hydration is always cru- shown that athletes who don’t winning Wednesday cial in the build-up to the sleep for eight hours before gamefeeling.
Carys Waters
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day are nearly twice as In terms of matchlikely to pick up an day rituals, every athinjury as opposed to lete is different so do those who do. So, whatever gets you stop sending snapin the zone! If you chats and start snorwant to try someHours between ing. thing a bit off the final meal and Ideally, a prewall, you could perevent match meal should be haps emulate exconsumed around three footballer Marvin hours before the match. Kamara, who would This allows your body enough watch Charlie and the time to digest the food and use it Chocolate Factory before every as energy when you need it. This game to calm his nerves. meal should consist of carbs and Finally, if you are taking protein alongside plenty of water. supplements before competiIf you are eating closer to the tions in order to aid performance match, make sure you are con- then be sure to check they’re suming small portions of easily legal using a trusted website digestable food which will not such as informed sport or UK slow you down. anti-doping!
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Sports Club of the Fortnight: Cheerleading John Rogers Sport Editor
Founded in 2002, the Birmingham Pussycats were originally a small squad of Cheerleaders aimed at supporting the UoB American Football team. Whilst links with the sport remain strong, Cheer has expanded their goals significantly since then, and this year boasts an impressive 67 members who will attend two national competitions in early Spring. The first item on the Cheerleading calendar is Xplosion on the 9th of November. This showcase American Football event draws crowds to the Bournbrook pitches in the hundreds, and the Pussycats take centre stage during the half-time show. This represents an early opportunity for Cheer to demonstrate their talents to their fellow students. The club will then set to training for the Future Cheer Nationals in mid-February, and the Circus
the incorporation of males into the club. This allows for the formation of a new co-Ed team (a team comprised of both males and females), and thus a new category to perform in. It is the first time in the club’s history that they have been able to do this, and UoB Sports Officer, Josh Dooler, has been quick to praise the increased inclusivity. Away from the action, the Cheerleading society is traditionally a very active fundraising team, and Parrish has plans to continue this into the 2019/20 year.
UoB Cheerleading
Upcoming Events: Spectacular in early March. Team confidence is high, and expectations in these competitions are therefore appropriately lofty; club president Lucy Parrish is targeting a top-three placing across her various squads at both competi-
tions. This is not unreasonable, however, having secured an impressive five (out of eight possible) top-three finishes across 2019 competitions. Perhaps the biggest difference entering the new year for Cheer is
Xplosion: 9th November Future Cheer Nationals: 15th/16th February Circus Spectacular: 7th/8th March
A Note From the Sports Officer: Josh Dooler Sports Officer
This week I have chosen the Cheerleading club as my team of the fortnight. The club has got lots of exciting plans for the year, not least performing at the half time show at Xplosion in a few weeks. They’ll also be putting on an amazing display at their annual Showcase event, alongside competing in national competitions in February and March. Most importantly, Cheer has done their utmost to make their club as inclusive as possible, and excitingly have welcomed the first-ever male member! Similarly, offering new uniform choices for their members so that everyone is comfortable when performing, and creating a new co-Ed stunt group means more students than ever can get involved in Cheer. I look forward to working with them on lots of exciting events throughout this term and can’t wait to see their progress.
BUCS: In Conversation with UoB's Taekwando Captain Kit Shepard Sport Editor
University of Birmingham’s Taekwondo Club improved substantially over the course of last season, highlighted by the 11 medals they won at the BTSF Spring Championships. However, club captain Fabian Burkhardt is hopeful for further progression. 'I have an ambitious goal for this year,' reveals Burkhardt, 'I want to be above 75 [medals']. This would blow last season’s total of 53 out of the water, but the captain believes this target is
achievable. 'I came here one year ago and started building up a tournament squad,' states Burkhardt. The club, which has recently earned BUCS status, will have 'a permanent performance squad' for the first time this year, allowing them to compete for more medals than in previous years.
“I have an ambitious goal for this year” Taekwondo, however, is a
sport that welcomes players of all abilities. Burkhardt emphasises that 'we cater for everyone' and that members can play 'tournaments, [for] higher gradings, or just for fun.' Newcomers can expect to improve their discipline and selfconfidence, while learning 'the martial art that develops the most.' Perhaps due to its short history (taekwondo did not originate until the 1940s), it has an impression of modernity, meaning fighters such as Burkhardt are 'constantly changing our techniques.' Contrary to the popular stereotype of martial arts, taekwondo
training will not leave you battered and bruised. 'Some call us one of the weaker martial arts because we are softer in training, but I think that’s the fun about it. We can just come to training [and] do a martial art without hurting each other.'
“We cater for everyone” Burkhardt competed at the European Universities Combat Championships last summer, and he is not the only member with international experience. Ismael
Mekene Coulibaly, after featuring at the 2019 Taekwondo World Championships in Manchester and winning a gold medal at the Spanish open, has ambitions of representing Ivory Coast at next year’s Olympics. Everyone at the UoB club is 'really hoping that he can qualify.' Yet while Burkhardt is keen to win medals and to see Coulibaly in Tokyo, his biggest aim for taekwondo at UoB is far simpler: 'It’s more about the fun.'
Twitter/EnglandRugby
11.10.2019
Rugby World Cup 2019: How are Home Nations Faring in Japan? Sport Reporter Owain Pryce reviews the home nations' fluctuating fortunes so far Owain Pryce Sport Reporter
prior to the tournament for him to be benched to allow Farrell to move from inside-centre to fly-half. Now, it appears crucial he remains in the team. England have already qualified, and now play the dangerous French for top spot in the group, with Eddie Jones’ men looking on course to go far in this tournament.
Wales Instagram/rugbyworldcup Japan is in the midst of hosting rugby union’s World Cup, with the 20 best international sides battling for the Webb Ellis Cup over six weeks of intense competition. With the group stage concluding this weekend, where do the home nations stand ahead of the knockout stages?
England Having arrived at this World Cup with high expectations, England’s dream is still alive after their first three matches. Having gained bonus points victories against Tonga (35-3) and USA (45-7), the first major test was Argentina. However, after a high tackle on Owen Farrell resulted in an early red card for the South Americans, the Pumas struggled and England cruised to a 39-10 victory. They were steered by George Ford, who has been in sumptuous form in the first three matches, despite many calls
Like England, Six Nations holders Wales sit at the top of their group, in control of their own qualification. Against Georgia, Wales’ set piece moves helped them secure a bonus point victory (43-14). Warren Gatland then saw his team prevail 29-25 against Australia, in a brutal match that went down to the wire. Stout defence and two drop goals, one at the start of each half, proved crucial in claiming a confidence boosting victory for Wales’ squad. The victory over the Wallabies was further evidence that this Welsh team are capable of holding their nerve under pressure. After an 18-point lead was cut down to one in the second half, the men in red managed to regroup and secure a victory that could give them an easier path to the final. Having triumphed over Fiji on Wednesday, they only have to defeat Uruguay to secure top spot in the group, and will hope to further improve their potency under new attack coach, Stephen Jones.
Ireland Ireland and Scotland are in the same group, a group blown wide open by Japan when they defeated the Irish 19-12. This
came a week after Joe Schmidt’s Ireland side, pre-tournament world number one, defeated a Scotland team with surprising ease, using their customary pragmatic approach. However, in the result of the tournament so far, Japan triumphed against the odds. Ireland were unable to deal with the Japanese speed, fitness and superb handling skills, and a raucous crowd in Yokohama saw the hosts cause an upset. Their following game, a 35-0 win vs Russia, did not ease tension in the Irish camp, with free-flowing rugby not appearing.
Scotland Worryingly, Ireland don't seem able to perform without their talismanic fly-half Jonathon Sexton, and will hope he returns for their crucial final group game vs Samoa tomorrow. The embarrassing 27-3 loss to Ireland in their World Cup opener left Scotland facing serious questions about whether they have what it takes to even qualify from their group, especially with Japan backed by their home crowd. In their two games following however, they have scored 95 points and conceded 0. Regardless of the inferior opposition (Samoa and Russia) Scotland have steadied the ship, and will now head into their final group game with confidence. They particularly found form against Samoa, mixing flair with good game management in tricky conditions. Scotland can still qualify, but this group is finely poised. They must win their final game this Sunday against Japan, who themselves are not yet guaranteed qualification for the quarter finals. As Ireland discovered, the hosts are certainly a force to be reckoned with.
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