Issue 1520

Redbrick Issue 1520, Vol. 87

Tuesday 7th December 2021

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Vice Chancellor in Profile

Redbrick

page 6

The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936

Spikings: Guild Officers ‘Take Accountability’ Ellen Knight News Editor

In an interview with Burn FM on 12th November, Guild Activities and Employabilities Officer Josephine Conway and Welfare and Community Officer Aaliyah Simms spoke about the series of spikings that have recently taken place at weekly Guild club nights Fab ‘N’ Fresh and Sports Night.

This comes after reports of spikings using needles at the Guild, leading to widespread outcry amongst the community, particularly on Fab ‘N’ Fresh, the University’s unofficial Facebook group.

The ‘Fab ‘N’ Halloween’ night held on 30th October saw two students reporting spikings, resulting in one woman spending the night in A&E. The Guild issued a statement on 2nd November, saying: ‘We [...] want to make it very clear that we have a zero-tolerance approach to anyone who is caught spiking someone with a needle or someone’s drink, and will not hesitate to report the matter to both the Police, and the University.’ They also announced ‘a range of controls being introduced,’ including increased bag searches, passive drug dogs, increased personal searches, metal detector wands, and ‘liaising’ with West Midlands Police.

The Guild has recently come under fire for its decision to reject the society application of Reclaim Campus, who describe themselves as ‘a movement aiming to erase all harassment and fear surrounding UoB campus and Selly Oak.’ This decision faced criticism from students who felt this contradicted the Guild’s efforts to make nights out safer.

When asked by Burn FM if they felt their efforts were ‘heading in the right direction,’ Conway responded that based on student feedback ‘it [feels] positive,’ admitting that ‘there are still more meas-

ures that we can implement, but [...] you can see that there is such a difference [...] we continue to work to implement as many new things as possible.’

In reference to the ‘Brum Night In’ campaign to boycott clubs on 27th October, the Guild cancelled Sports Night, which faced criticism - the officers told Burn FM that ‘in terms of the cancellation of Sports Night, [...] we just want to make clear that it wasn’t an intentional choice to undermine the Brum Night In. ‘We believe that everyone has the right to enjoy a night out safely, so we wanted to support the wider campaign. I mean, we didn’t want to stand by and do nothing and let the event go on and perhaps put people at risk - so we decided to cancel that in solidarity.’

In reference to this solidarity, the officers were asked about the rejection of Reclaim Campus’ society application.

Conway responded by revealing that the Guild ‘realised [they] had made a mistake,’ and so ‘got in contact with Reclaim [Campus], and [...] sorted that out.

‘I can now confirm that they are a society - it was something that the Guild holds its hands up [about] and we apologise profusely to Reclaim [Campus], but it’s been sorted.’

The officers were also asked if they thought the University of Birmingham was doing enough to take action. They noted that ‘Overall they’ve been really receptive. I’d say that they’re trying, [but] they’re not where they need to be, so we as a student body should vocalise and let them know what we want, we shouldn’t be afraid of doing that.’

Burn FM asked the officers if the Guild needed to take accountability for this series of spikings - the officers stated ‘we are so very sorry that these incidents that happened in our venue, and we take complete responsibility for them happening, and also for the measures not being put in place sooner.’

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‘We didn’t act as quickly as we could have, but also there is procedure, [...] these things take time. We would just like to say that we are shocked that anyone would enter our venue [and do that], but as a Guild we take accountability and we’re sorry.’

When asked if they, personally, would feel safe attending Sports Night or Fab ‘N’ Fresh, Conway told Burn FM that she ‘would feel safe;’ Simms responded similarly, saying ‘I feel safe going because I feel like I trust our staff and I know they’ve been trained properly.’

The officers were also asked questions submitted by students - one asked the Guild to ‘apologise for its mishandling of the entire situation.’

The Guild officers said that they ‘wholeheartedly apologise for these incidents happening, and of course we are so upset genuinely that these happened in our venue. We’d never want anyone to ever be spiked or to feel unsafe.

‘As a student union, we feel like we’ve let you down. [...] However, we are working to support the students affected. [...] We’ll do everything we can to address this in our own venue.’

They went on to say they thought ‘the way we’ve handled situation may not have been appropriate in places, but it has been very appropriate in others,’ defending their reaction by requesting that ‘people need to look at the situation broadly, [and] now it’s a time to, instead of bash the Guild, come together so we can actually make things better.

‘So I think maybe it’s time for us to talk more about this topic and how as your union we can represent you, not just at the Guild, but wider to stop this issue from happening because safety is so important.’

When asked for a comment, the Guild officers replied ‘As your team of full time Guild Officers, we apologise for the spiking incidents that have occurred in

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our venue. We hate that our students don’t feel safe at our night time events.

As reported after the Open Meeting held on Friday 5th November, we have put a number of safety measures in place (drug detection dogs, increased searches with metal detection wands, drink and bottle covers available, increased staff training etc.) and we’re currently investigating further measures that you told us that you would like to see (metal detection arch, extension of the Selly Express, ID scanners etc.) while ensuring our measures do not disproportionately affect certain groups (by body cameras and use of ratio).

We know that there is still more that we could be doing, which is why we’d like to assure you that student safety at our events is still very much a priority for us. We’re working with the Police and the University to ensure our students can enjoy a safe night out at the Guild, and we’ll update you with further safety measures, as they are introduced. If any student would like to discuss safety concerns with us, please email us directly at fto@guild.bham.ac.uk.’

Kitty Grant

Europe’s Best Winter Sun

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A Letter From Committee: It’s safe to say this year has been an eventful one for Redbrick. We started 2021 under national lockdown only able to publish articles online, but we are finishing the year having published two print issues. It hasn’t been an easy ride - it felt like everything that could go wrong with Issue 1519 did go wrong - but thanks to the hard work of everyone from our writers and editorial assistants to our section editors and committee members, we managed to produce an amazing paper.

I joined Redbrick a few weeks after starting at the University and despite my time at the paper being plagued with, well a plague, it has honestly been the highlight of my uni experience so far. From zoom socials to decorating our gloomy office for Christmas, Redbrick has been the reason for so many of my favourite memories over the past year and a half, and I know it will be the source of many more!

I’m particularly looking forward to Media Ball which will be held tonight, Tuesday 7th December and is open to members of Redbrick, Burn FM, Photosoc, SATNAV, and Guild TV, although tickets are now sold out! It is safe to say that without the tireless work of Redbrick’s Social Secretary, Ella Kipling, there would be no ball, so if you see Ella tonight make sure to buy her a drink.

As for Issue 1520 of Redbrick, I am super proud of this one. Our editorial team has really taken on what we learnt from Issue 1519 to make, what was already a brilliant paper, even better. We have some great features this month from the Comment and Culture sections, as well as a broad range of articles from an insight into visiting Pakistan to a look at a promising new COVID-19 vaccine. This issue is also the first that will feature the work of some of our brand new photographers and illustrators, including the fabulous photo on our front page banner and the gorgeous illustration on page 34. Hopefully this month we will even have a solvable crossword!

Of course, there are a few specific people I have to thank for their role in helping the paper come together, especially our ‘Big Three’ Chelsie, Jas, and Molly, who all play such a vital role in every aspect of the paper. From leading EA sessions to coordinating with the Guild, they always put in so much work to get this paper into your hands. This issue especially would not have made it to you without their hard work. I also want to thank my friends across the hall at Burn FM for always providing me with some much needed emotional support (and a very comfortable beanbag) during the very stressful process of creating print.

I have read too many editor’s letters from 2019 to dare predict that the next year will be the best for Redbrick yet, so all I’ll say is thank you. Whether you've been writing for us all year, or just having a quick scan while waiting for your next class, thank you for making our little paper part of your day.

From the dungeons...

Kitty Grant Print and Features Editor

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Print & Features Editor Kitty Grant print@redbrickonline.co.uk

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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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UoB historian contributes to museum decolonisation guidance

Ellen Knight reports on the contributions a UoB academic has made to national guidance for 'decolonising' museums Ellen Knight News Editor

As part of the Decolonisation Guidance Working Group of the Museums Association, University of Birmingham (UoB) researcher Dr Sadiah Qureshi has contributed towards the development of new national guidance to support decolonisation in museums. First joining UoB as a lecturer in 2011, Dr Qureshi is a Senior Lecturer in Modern History in the College of Arts and Law, whose work ‘explores the ways in which racialised knowledge is produced, circulated and mobilised in the modern world.’

“The new

ism’, as well as ‘intend[ing] to help people from across the museum sector to engage with decolonising practice, regardless of size or type of institution.’

Covering a broad range of practices, with sections from collaboration to collections, this new guidance hopes to prompt ‘discussion and action’ within the museum sector, whilst simultaneously noting that ‘there is no single right way to decolonise museums.’

In its introduction, this guidance notes that ‘colonialism has profound human consequences [...] an expression of power that relies upon oppression, extraction of resources and silencing other ways of being and knowing,’ pointing out that ‘throughout history museums have helped

guidance... aims to 'empower more “Colonialism has people to take profound human action and lead consequences... change as an expression of museums address power that relies the legacy of upon oppression, British extraction of colonialism'” resources and The new guidance silencing other ‘Supporting Decolonisation in Museums’ - aims to ‘empower more people to take action and ways of being and lead change as museums address knowing” the legacy of British colonial-

to make the case for colonialism by collecting and cataloguing empire, and by advancing racist and prejudiced views of the world.’ Urging accountability, it goes on to call on the museum sector; ‘[they] can and must play their part in righting past wrongs and creating a better world for all those affected by colonialism.’

This comes as universities with Oxford and Cambridge under particular scrutiny - have recently been drawn into heated debate concerning how best to address the imperial hangover left behind by donations, scholarships, and statues. Earlier this year, Redbrick reported on how Jesus College Cambridge’s plans to take down its memorial to seventeenth-century slave trader Tobias Rustat came under threat after 33 former students, including ‘substantial donors’ formally objected to the plans. Similarly, Oriel College Oxford decided not to remove its statue of Victorian white supremacist Cecil Rhodes due to ‘costs’ and a ‘complex planning processes’ requiring support from the Government.

This new guidance, however, points out that decolonisation does not stop with simply removing statues. In defining the term ‘decolonisation’, it urges readers to remember that ‘despite the formal end of colonial rule, the legacies of empire remain with us in many current political struggles and everyday experiences.

‘Decolonising practice challenges legacies of oppression and calls for an honest and accurate reappraisal of colonial history

[...] It is important to recognise that decolonising practice is about facing up to histories of racism and exclusion - and this practice is necessary wherever you are in the UK.’

working with collections that might seem obviously connected to empire.

“I’m excited to

keep learning and does not stop with growing with the wider sector as simply removing they engage with statues” this tool” Commenting on the publica“Decolonisation

tion of this guide, the Chair of the Decolonisation Guidance Working Group, Rachael Minott said: ‘Working to collaboratively create a resource to support museums to be aware of the effects of the legacy of colonialism and to actively pursue decolonial practice has been an exciting and rewarding learning experience. The working group members generously shared their knowledge and experience and challenged one another throughout this process. I’m excited to keep learning and growing with the wider sector as they engage with this tool.’

Speaking exclusively to Redbrick News, Dr Sadiah Qureshi told us that this guidance was relevant to UoB’s own museums; ‘The guidance is certainly relevant to the museum collections within UoB. ‘One of the most important aspects of the guidance is that it was produced to showcase how these discussions are relevant to everyone in the sector, even those

When asked how fast change can be expected, Qureshi told Redbrick that; ‘Unfortunately, I believe institutional change is often slow, often frustratingly so.

However, the last year has shown us how much can change across the sector.

“The last year has

shown us how much can change across the sector” ‘The important thing is that change requires leadership and commitment at every level of an organisation.’

ONS reports 91% of Students Vaccinated Ella Kipling Social Secretary

CDC

A report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found that 91% of students have been vaccinated at least once. The study is based on experimental data drawn from responses from almost 1,000 students in England between 22nd October and 1st November 2021.

In late September the proportion of students who had been ‘double vaccinated’ was 78%, but is now up to 85% showing a marked increase.

Of the 8% who said that they have not been vaccinated, 32% said they were fairly or very likely to take a vaccine if offered.

The head of the ONS Student COVID-19 Insights Survey, Tim Gibbs, said that it is ‘encouraging’ that the majority of students report being vaccinated against Covid-19, and that many would get tested if they developed symptoms.

Second-year student at the University of Birmingham, Kitty

Grant, told Redbrick that the high vaccination rates show how criticism towards students during the pandemic was ‘unfair’ and that students ‘do want to make a difference.’

Similarly, Chelsie Henshaw, a final-year student, told Redbrick: ‘I think it proves that young people want life to go back to how it was before and shows how we shouldn’t pin all the blame on young people anymore because we’re the ones going out and getting vaccinated.’

The ONS study also showed that a third of students surveyed reported that their mental health had deteriorated since the start of term.

Nick Hillman, the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute thinktank, explained that students ‘are not finding life as easy as they had hoped because student life continues to be so disrupted by Covid.’ He stated: ‘Going away to university is a big transition point at the best of times; it is extra stressful in the very odd times in which we live.’

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Tuesday 7th December 2021

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High-achieving Students Rejected

by Student Finance England Ella Kipling Social Secretary

A new report documents dozens of examples of high-achieving students struggling to access student loans, or being wrongfully rejected for loans by Student Finance England (SFE). The report, by We Belong, a youth organisation that campaigns for the rights of young migrants, is titled ‘The Deintegration Generation.’

“A Home Office letter should be accepted as proof” According to The Guardian, about 8,000 students with immigration status known as limited leave to remain (LLR) apply to SFE a year. LLR refers to the

status of UK visa holders who have been approved to enter the UK and to remain there until their visa expires. Some categories of LLR may lead to settled status in the UK, also known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR) which gives the holder permission to stay in the UK on a permanent basis.

“SFE often takes a more sceptical and exacting approach towards applicants” In the report, We Belong CEO Chrisann Jarrett said that SFE ‘often takes a more sceptical and exacting approach towards applicants than the government department in charge of immigration.’

The Deintegration Generation report details specific cases of

young people who struggled to receive student loans from SFE. One woman had to submit 200 pages of evidence to show that she had lived in the UK half her life before being given a loan six months into her studies.

Another 17 year-old had his student loan application repeatedly rejected because of a 16 day-break between his first and second LLR renewals due to a mistake by his lawyer. The Home Office accepted that he was not at fault and granted his renewed status on a ‘continuous basis’ but SFE refused him a loan.

Jarrett explained: ‘It is surely common sense that a Home Office letter should be accepted as proof that a student has lived in the UK long enough to qualify for a loan.

Evidence that is good enough for the Home Office should surely be good enough for SFE.’ The report states that We Belong’s then co-CEO Dami Makinde first attempted to raise

their concerns with SFE and the Student Loans Company (SLC) in 2019 but was unsuccessful.

However, since the start of 2021, We Belong has been having ‘regular and positive’ meetings with senior SFE and SLC staff to ‘try to ensure a straight-forward assessment process and fairer treatment for LLR students.’

“Long delays and systemic problems” These meetings have reportedly resulted in We Belong staff being given contacts within SLC to try to escalate certain cases where LLR applicants are facing problems. The report explains: ‘This has helped to resolve some individual cases, but long delays and systemic problems remain, which are causing intense distress and difficulty to the young people concerned.’

Omid Armin

UCU Guild Referendum: Students Voted 77.94% In Favour Cerys Gardner reports on the recent guild referendum which saw students vote overwhelmingly in support of striking staff Cerys Gardner Digital Editor

Ellen Knight The Guild of Students has voted to support UCU’s upcoming strike action. This comes after a student referendum, held by the Guild of Students, that asked ‘Should the Guild support UCU industrial action on pensions and on pay & working conditions in the 2021/22 academic year?’ Voting was held between Friday 26th and Tuesday 30th of November and students voted to support the strike by 77.94% to 20.53%. The turnout was 2085 and 1.53% abstained.

The referendum was called on Wednesday 17th November, in

response to UCU’s announcement on Tuesday 16th November that staff at the University of Birmingham (UoB), among other universities, would be striking from Wednesday 1st December to Friday 3rd December.

This referendum was called because of a motion passed by the Guild of Students in February 2020 that requires the Guild of Students to ‘unequivocally support campus trade unions in any future industrial action including strikes and Action Short of a Strike, relating to either of the ongoing disputes

between UCU and university employers and USS’ unless a referendum overturns that decision.

The Guild of Students said that they chose to call this referendum because ‘this is an issue that students hold various different beliefs on, and which may affect their education in the short and the long term. Much has also changed since the existing Policy was passed in [2020] due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Additionally, a large proportion of students have joined the University since that policy was passed by the student body and those new students deserve a say.’

The ‘Yes’ campaign published a statement saying that students should support the strike action because ‘The pandemic has obviously had negative impacts on students, with in-person teaching time lost, but staff have also faced huge pressure to adapt. 78% of staff have reported increased workload during the pandemic, and even before COVID 86% of staff surveyed by UCU had been directed to mental health support related to workloads. And what do they get in repayment? Their pensions slashed by 35% and a real term pay cut of 17.6% since 2009. These exploitative conditions place huge pressures on staff and are severely detrimental to our educational experience.’ No one ran a ‘no’ or ‘abstain’ campaign.

UCU called this strike because they want to ‘address the scandal of the gender, ethnic, and disability pay gap, end contract casualisation and rising job insecurity, tackle the rising workloads driving our mem-

bers to breaking point, increase to all spine points on the national pay scale of £2,500.’Additionally, there is a dispute between UCU and Universities UK (UUK), which represents university employers, over the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the higher education pension scheme, involving how much employers and employees should contribute to the scheme.

UCU have also announced that they will be taking action short of strike for the next five months.

This means only working to their contract and refusing to do addi-

tional work. They have also said that strike action could escalate in the New Year if an agreement is not reached.

A final year student at UoB said ‘as a critic of the privatisation of higher education, I support staff rights to protest the casualisation and inequality within the university workplace. However, as a student, following previous UCU strikes, term stopping during the early COVID-19 period, and the university scrambling to make remote learning possible (and often being unsuccessful) it feels completely disheartening.’

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Tuesday 7th December 2021

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Tamzin Meyer Digital Editor

With over a year of missing out on lectures, seminars and a social life, students have been eager to make up for lost time, yet some students have still been left feeling that they are subject to certain restrictions when it comes to fulfilling their ideal student experience.

Whilst for some, living in accommodation allows for independence, ease of access to campus and the ability to party frequently in Birmingham clubs, others find themselves more suited to living at home. This may be for a number of reasons including health and finance related issues with students possibly having no choice but to commute to university. For many of these students, the commuter lifestyle means that they have to miss out on a lot of social events and have to bear the brunt of late night travel, which has led some to speak out. These students feel that whilst the university has certain measures in place to include commuter students in ‘uni life’, this is simply not enough.

Social events at university can be perhaps the most exciting and character-developing parts of university life (besides earning a

degree). Most often a ‘student social life’ is viewed as a way for students to develop and find more about themselves as they make friends and discover new interests (the best days of their lives).

However, for those who do not live close to campus, the opportunities available to them can feel rather limited. One commuter recalls how she ‘missed out generally socially as [she] couldn't just pop along to things spontaneously. [She] always had to think of the last train home.’

With train services terminating before midnight, many commuters have to face the choice of staying at a friend’s house after a night out, paying an extortionate fee to travel in an Uber alone, or simply miss out on club nights and other popular events all together. The student explained her frustration in discovering that most society events took place on days which were inconvenient for her (often on weeknights or weekends) as she could not just travel to campus, especially for an hour society session whenever she felt like it. The lack of access to social events led her to feel ‘isolated’ as she did not have many chances to get to know other people with similar interests to herself.

Timetabling is also a highlighted cause for concern amongst students who feel that the univer-

sity does not consider their journey home when scheduling late night seminars. One student explained that ‘Some of the classes are too late which is easier if you live on campus but not if you have to get the train and have a much longer journey.’

“Staying for a late lecture or seminar or going home early in the hope of getting home safe” They expressed their frustration of staying on campus until their seminar finishes at 19:00 meaning that they do not return home until at least 21:00, which is especially tiring if they have a 09:00 seminar scheduled for the following day. Not only is this journey exhausting but it also poses a serious concern for students’ safety as they travel back home alone in dark, winter nights; a cause for concern for many, especially after recent cases of sexual harassment and assault.

A current commuter explains how commuters will be faced

with a difficult decision as to whether they should prioritise their own safety over their education: ‘It will come down to staying for a late lecture or seminar for our education, or going home early in the hope of getting home safe in the dark.’

A University of Birmingham spokesperson told Redbrick that ‘The wellbeing of all our students is our top priority and we would encourage anyone struggling in any way to get in touch with our Student Services team which provides a wide range of support and wellbeing services.

‘At the start of every academic year, we host a number of special welcome events, working with the Guild of Students, including those specifically for our commuter students, to ensure they have access to information and support they need. We regularly provide students with updates and information, including advice on how to plan safe travel and how to access schemes such as our bicycle hire service and ways to save money when using public transport.

‘We host a busy programme of events for all of our students, offered online and on campus, to enable access to all students no matter their circumstances and to ensure they can make the most out of their time at University.’

Guild: 1 in 5 Students Have Access Needs Accounted For Dan Hunt News Editor

Ellie Reed

A report compiled by the Guild of Students finds only 21% of students with specific learning disabilities, and 35% of students with other disabilities feel their learning needs have been met. This figure varies between the University’s different colleges, with 41% of Life and Environmental Sciences students satisfied compared to just 12% of students in Medical and Dental Sciences.

The ‘Disabled Students’ Commission’ report, which quotes data from research conducted by the Guild and the National Student Survey, focuses on the experiences of disabled students at the University of Birmingham. The report also suggests recommendations for how the University can improve access for disabled students. Other findings show that out of 48% of disabled students who had been encouraged to take a leave of absence, 57% claim insufficient support had been put in place beforehand to allow them to remain in their studies. One student stated they were told if they did not take a leave of absence, they ‘would fail and be kicked off the course,’ while

another claimed, ‘they tried to manipulate me into taking a leave of absence or finishing with a reduced level of qualification.’

“They tried to manipulate me into taking a leave of absence” In addition, only 38% of disabled students feel confident that their school or college would respond appropriately if they raised concerns about accessibility. In order to improve the situation, the report recommends that ‘all student facing staff should receive training on how to effectively support disabled students.’

It concludes by saying there is a need for staff to ‘have a baseline understanding of how to build inclusive spaces and meet their obligations under the Equality Act.’ On 7th December, the Guild is hosting an event to mark Disability History Month in order to ‘ensure the voices of Disabled Students are heard and acted on at the top of the University.’

Redbrick Newspaper reached out to the University for a reply, but received no comment.

Art Historian Blacklisted from Cambridge Debate after Hitler Impression Ella Kipling Social Secretary

Art historian Andrew GrahamDixon has been blacklisted from speaking at a Cambridge University debating society after doing a Hitler impression on November 4th.

Keir Bradwell, the Cambridge Union president, announced the new blacklist following backlash after he allowed Graham-Dixon to finish his speech. Following the incident, Bradwell wrote a column for Prospect in which he explained that he merely ‘facilitated Graham-Dixon’s freedom of expression,’ by letting him finish but ‘sought to repair the ensuing damage’ to their membership by apologising for what he said.

Bradwell wrote that he felt it was important to reassure members and thus relayed the fact that he would be advising future presidents not to invite Graham-Dixon back.

Graham-Dixon said he was trying to ‘underline the utterly evil nature of Hitler’ but apologised for the situation. He stated: ‘I apologise sincerely to anyone who found my debating tactics and use of Hitler’s own language distressing; on reflection I can see that some of the words I used, even in quotation, are inherently offensive.’ Ironically, the motion being debated was ‘This house believes there is no such thing as good taste.’

Following the blacklisting of Graham-Dixon, John Cleese cancelled an appearance at Cambridge University, stating that he will be blacklisting himself ‘before someone else does.’

Cleese said: ‘I was looking forward to talking to students at the Cambridge Union this Friday, but I hear that someone there has been blacklisted for doing an impersonation of Hitler. I regret that I did the same on a Monty Python show, so I am blacklisting myself before someone else does.’

The Fawlty Towers star continued to say that while he apologises to anyone who was hoping to talk with him, he suggested that they ‘find a venue where woke rules do not apply.’

K Mitch Hodge

UoB Commuter Students Forced to Choose Safety over Education

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Tuesday 7th December 2021

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Vice-Chancellor in Profile: Professor Sir David Eastwood to Leave UoB

Ellie Reed

Dylan Morgen News Reporter

After 12 years, ViceChancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood, 62, is leaving the University of Birmingham.

Eastwood was born in Oldham and attended St Peter's College, Oxford where he graduated with a First in 1980. He enjoyed student politics and participated in sport and music. He married his wife, Jan, who has worked helping families with children with additional needs, the day after his finals.

On Eastwood’s PhD thesis, an Oxford tutor commented in 1985 that it was: ‘a fine doctorate on the economic effects of the French Revolutionary Wars on English rural institutions’. Following this he stayed at Oxford as a researcher and senior tutor, and has described his history interests to The Guardian as ‘policy, power, political culture and how ideas influence politics.’

Then at 28, Eastwood suffered ‘a terrible motorbike accident. He broke his legs, an ankle, an arm and his pelvis. Doctors thought he would never walk.’ He revealed to the Independent: ‘living with constant pain relies on a certain kind of resilience. I don’t draw attention to it [...] on weekends I may walk with two sticks.’

In 1995 he joined Swansea University as Professor of History and became Head of Department, Dean, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor in quick succession. He also cofounded the National Centre for Public Policy and became chief executive of the national Arts and Humanities Research Board in 2000.

The University of East Anglia beckoned in September 2002 and at 43, he was ‘thought to be the youngest university head in the country’according to The Guardian.

“Thought to be the youngest university head in the country” At UEA he co-founded the public-private UEA INTO Partnerships which provides foundation study for international students, which has since been introduced at several other universities. The lecturers union UCU has told The Times Higher Education that ‘INTO does not recognise unions’, and in 2006,

Eastwood threatened to sue individual striking UEA lecturers.

Also at UEA, Eastwood helped shape the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) for the 2003 Roberts Report and the 2004 Tomlinson Report, proposing a diploma approach for GCSEs and A-levels, which was largely rejected. Despite this, his knighthood citation mentions his pivotal role in the 2004 Education Act which introduced a £3,000 student fee.

Eastwood emerged in 2006 as chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Three years through his five year term, Eastwood accepted the VC job at Birmingham University. The Guardian commented: ‘VCs see Eastwood's move as a coup for Birmingham.’

“Eastwood is known for his ambition” Ed Smith, also on the HEFCE board, became the unpaid Chair of University Trustees. The VC opined that running a university is difficult, all-consuming and he works for the University morning, noon and night.

The VC made an early mark on UoB with a reduction of 200 posts, but with an extra 100 posts elsewhere. Postgraduate recruitment and research grants would increase income. Talking to The Guardian, Eastwood pointed to the ‘eternal battle to find enough efficiency savings to fund strategic investment in a perpetually cash-starved system.’ He calculated a 16% real cut in tuition income by 2017, if the £9,000 cap was not increased.

Eastwood joined the Browne Review, which resulted in £9,000 student loans. He argued that after the 2008 financial crisis, the government needed a different HE funding source. Browne and Eastwood supported higher tuition fees for elite universities, for instance £16,000, but this was not adopted. Eastwood said: ‘I've spent a whole career arguing the case for investment in higher education’.

Eastwood argued for the increase of study grants and felt they were critical. However, student grants were abolished in 2016. Former Foreign Secretary David Milliband visited the campus in 2011 and according to Redbrick said: it wasn’t ‘all Professor Eastwood’s fault’.

Sporadic campus demonstrations against higher fees flared

between 2009 and 2014. Simon Furse was prosecuted for assault after the November 2013 occupation of Aston Webb. The judge dismissed all charges, calling a UoB security guard’s evidence ‘manifestly unreliable’ according to Birmingham Live. UoB had said: ‘staff have been injured as result of the action of the protesters’. While some students criticised the occupations, 6,000 students signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of two students, who eventually returned to study after a year long University suspension.

The 2012 UoB buildings plan identified a large stock of older buildings needing refurbishment for general and environmental reasons. Early new buildings were the library, using 50% less energy, and The Bramall Building, which the VC contributed £40,000 towards. New paths and cycleways were added to the Green Heart, with later additions of the Teaching and Learning and Engineering Buildings.

UoB agreed to £10 million towards the cost of the new University station and spent a further £27 million for the Exchange Building in the city centre. UoB also bought the freeholds of Birmingham Research Park, six hectares on Vincent Drive, and the Tiverton Road Pool & Fitness Centre in 2018. UoB also invested in the new Life Sciences Park.

In a 2019 statment, the Birmingham University lecturers union (UCU) criticised the University: ‘while international tuition fees have risen to 19.3% of total income [...] instead of investing these huge fees into secure, well paid and well trained jobs [...] they have invested in physical assets’.

“UoB agreed to £10 million towards the cost of the new Univrsity station and spent a further £27 million for the Exchange” UoB opened a foundation academy in 2012, for ‘high performing international students.’ In March 2013, UoB started unconditional offers to A-level students.

According to their website, the University of Sheffield are sceptical of their value. Furthermore, UCAS research shows students

with these offers are ‘more likely to miss their predicted grades’. In July 2020, the OfS banned the use of ‘conditional unconditional’ offers until September 2021, as a factor that was destabilising to the HE system. Universities were warned in March 2021 against ‘sacrificing quality for inflated intakes’.

The VC received a knighthood in 2014, the citation stating that ‘he has had a distinguished career in HE.’ However, all HEFCE CEOs have knighthoods. The UoB news release stated: he ‘has been honoured in recognition of his remarkable services to HE and the drive and commitment he has shown to enhancing the UK’s reputation in this field.’

In 2014, UoB was The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 confirmed UoB as ‘among the world’s top universities for research’ and was awarded Gold in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) ratings.

The University of Birmingham School opened in 2015. The secondary school was consistently oversubscribed, but 6th form A-level outcomes were ‘below average’ in the 2017 and 2018 Compare Schools reviews.

In 2016, three former UoB alumni were awarded Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry.

The University has also continued to erroneously call Prof Bullock their Nobel Winner for two years after being alerted to their mistake.

A pay controversy erupted in December 2017 with the resignation of Bath University’s VC, following negative publicity of her £468,000 pay. Eastwood has had one of the highest VC salaries, after he inherited a high salary from his predecessor, whose pay doubled over nine years to £377,000. Including incentive payments, Eastwood’s pay increased by around 2% annually.

The VC has given over £100,000 to UoB alone and gifted his earnings as Chair of Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) to the University, a role he served in from 2015 to 2020 with a salary of £91,000. The USS Chair requires 90 days work, or 4 months per annum using a five day working week. A member of the Hong Kong Universities Grants Committee since 2011, the VC received around £16,000 for his 16 committee attendances in 2019/20. Other external commitments include chairing Universitas21.

Although the VC lives rentfree on the University campus,

part of his house is used for more than 100 functions a year and provides guest’s overnight accommodation. The house is owned by UoB and thus he has not profited from property price increases.

The new Sports Centre opened in May 2017, ‘after four delays lasting nearly one year’, as reported by Redbrick, and was formally opened by Princess Anne. During Eastwood’s time in charge UoB has continued its strong sport tradition, ranking in the top 7 of UK university sport, with two hockey players winning gold in Rio 2016.

In 2018, UoB opened the first stage of its Dubai campus, with unease about the wellbeing of the campus’ LGBTQ+ staff and students. The planned September 2021 opening of the new large 3,000 student capacity building has been delayed.

At the end of 2020, UoB and the University of Surrey reduced its entry grades by one level. In October 2019, Eastwood told Buzz Magazine: ‘while other universities struggle, or reduce student quality, we attract outstanding students in very large numbers.’

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Mikey Brown and Aaliyah Simms criticised UoB over its ‘no detriment’ policy and were subsequently elected as Guild Officers.

The 2021 UoB NSS survey deteriorated compared with 2020.

“While other universities struggle [...] we attract outstanding students in very large numbers” Despite the VC wanting UoB to become a global top 50 University in 2010, UoB has slipped from 60th to 90th in the QS rankings by 2022. This follows a trend of other Russell Group universities falling in the rankings, as UoB joins Sheffield, Nottingham and Bristol. The QS Faculty/Student ratio is ranked 301st, academic and employer reputations are at 103rd and 85th place respectively. The most recent Complete University Guide shows 16 subjects in the ‘top 10’, the 2019 guide listed 30 in ‘top 10’ out of 48 subjects.

At times a controversial figure, the UoB that Professor Sir David Eastwood is leaving behind is vastly different to the UoB he joined 12 years ago.

NEWS

Tuesday 7th December 2021

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07

Durham Faces Backlash for 'Training' Students Involved in the Sex Industry Twitter/@durham_uni

Saskia Hirst investigates Durham University's student sex worker training Saskia Hirst Life&Style Editor

Content Warning: This article discusses sex work Durham University is offering training to support students working in the sex industry. The university’s students union emailed all students and staff advertising a ‘training opportunity’ for ‘students involved in the adult sex industry.’ The email stated that student sex workers ‘should not face any barriers accessing support’ and said it aimed to give informed advice.

This comes after the University of Leicester’s decision in December 2020 to develop a Student Sex Work Toolkit, which aims to teach staff about student sex work in the UK, give them the tools to support student sex workers, and provide students with resources to ensure their actions are safe and legal. This resulted in a petition calling for it to be revoked, which received 13,000 signatures. Durham joins the University of Leicester, Newcastle University and University of Manchester as the minority of universities currently offering safeguarding resources to their students who are sex workers.

Durham University’s employment of the toolkit in its sex work safety session, titled Students Involved in the Adult Sex Industry, aims to ‘strive to ensure that students who may be vulnerable or at risk are protected and have access to the support to which they are entitled.’ Durham University made a statement on their website saying: ‘Durham University is a safe place to live, work and study, but we are determined to make it even more so. The University brought in the external Students Involved in the Adult Sex Industry session in response to requests received over a number of years from a small number of concerned students. This is not unique to Durham University, and engagement in sex work, which includes online activities, is a feature within the Higher Education sector across the UK.’

“Ensure that students who may be vulnerable or at risk are protected” A survey by Save The Student confirms Durham’s statement regarding an ‘emerging trend’ of student sex work, finding three per cent of students have done sex work. A further nine per cent said they would turn to sex work in a

financial emergency. But sex work expert Jessica Hyer Griffin suggests in an interview with The Tab that this nine per cent figure is actually closer to the real total of student sex workers ‘as a result of the catastrophic effect of the pandemic on people’s financial positions.’ These estimates would put the number of students in the UK working in the sex industry at around 214,200 people. Jessica says through her role as a researcher at University of Leicester, she’s found very few universities have a sex work policy in place.

A spokesperson for SWARM, the Sex Workers Advocacy and Resistance Movement, told The Independent: ‘Having to sell sex to keep up with the rising cost of a university education can often be a lonely and isolating experience. These attacks on universities for trying to create an environment where students selling sex feel able to seek support only harm the students who need somewhere to turn to.’ Many students are driven to sex work as a result of struggling with their finances so they can attend the university.

A 2015 survey by Swansea University found 57 per cent of student sex workers joined the industry.

As reported by The Independent, ‘a spokesperson for the campaign group said that during the first lockdown lots of young women started using sites such as OnlyFans to sell intimate pictures of themselves and earn money.’ Indeed, one student told The Tab she joined OnlyFans during the first lockdown after losing her bar job: ‘Both me and my mum lost our jobs at the start of the pandemic, so I had to start finding ways to support her and my little brother, as well as pay for uni living expenses. I chose sex work because I’ve always enjoyed sex and there really wasn’t much else on the table that’s flexible around my uni schedule.’

However, misinterpretation of the training has been rife, with many wrongfully claiming that the university is offering training on how to become a sex worker.

In response to the news, Labour MP Diane Abbott tweeted: ‘Horrific that Durham University is offering training to students who want to be sex workers parttime. Sex work is degrading, dangerous, and exploitative. Uni should have nothing to do with it.’

The safeguarding training has come under fire from an education minister, who told The Times that the support sessions were ‘legitimising a dangerous industry.’ Michelle Donelan said to Dazed the Russell Group university was ‘badly failing in their duty to protect’ students by offering the course, which she said

sought to ‘normalise selling sex.’

One student has also said that it ‘could cause a real problem, making it part of university culture and making work in the sex industry a normalised activity.’

But the Union’s Welfare and Liberation Officer, Jonah Graham, defended the training - made up of two sessions, one for students and staff and the other just for staff members. He said it was ‘an attempt to support students in a difficulty arising from the reality of rising costs in higher education.’ Graham told The Independent that minister Abbott’s comments ‘show that she fundamentally misunderstands the training.’ He added that it was also designed to help staff deal with disclosures from students sensitively.

The training was run in coordination with North East Sex Work Forum, a group of agencies that support people involved in the adult sex and entertainment industries. The university has defended their training, stating that ‘The University brought in the external Students Involved in the Adult Sex Industry session in response to requests received over a number of years from a small number of concerned students.’

Indeed, earlier this year, the English Collective of Prostitutes said that calls to its helpline from young people at university and college had risen by a third in 2021.

“three per cent of students have done sex work” Graham added: ‘Ultimately, any suggestion that this training aims to facilitate sex work is ludicrous. As I have attended both levels of this training, which is more than any of those writing for the national press, I know these criticisms are made in bad faith and are wildly untrue. The training’s target audience is those who support students, so they understand the legal, safety, and wellbeing concerns of students and how to respond to disclosures sensitively.’

Durham’s statement defending the training also states: ‘The session was developed and is delivered by external trainers who are experts in delivering support to those engaged in sex work. The decision to provide this support was made following consultation with student representatives, members of the University’s Sexual Misconduct and Violence Operations Group, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit, Counselling and Mental Health

Round-Up The Redbrick News Team take a look at one light-hearted and two very serious stories from the fortnight's news Omicron Variant puts Christmas Plans in Doubt Anastasis Mauriac The emergence of a new COVID19 variant, discovered in South Africa, has resulted in a reimplementation of some restrictions in England.

The Omicron variant is thought to be more contagious than previous strains, according to NPR, and the government has responded by reintroducing mandatory mask-wearing in shops and on public transport.

In a press conference on Saturday, the Prime Minister announced that a review of the regulations would take place in three weeks, which could effectively 'cancel' Christmas plans, according to the Independent.

Storm Arwen Hits the UK Dan Hunt Thousands in Scotland are without power, and areas of the Yorkshire Dales are snowed in following a weekend of turbulent weather conditions.

Service and safeguarding representatives. We are emphatically not seeking to encourage sex work but we are seeking to provide support to our students. We don’t judge, we listen, support and give practical help.’

‘We run many courses for students and staff on topics from mental health and wellbeing to drug and alcohol awareness. The intent here is to ensure that social stigma does not prevent students who might be vulnerable or at risk from accessing the support they need and to which they are entitled. Staff and students took part in a one hour session to

The storm mainly impacted the North East of England and Eastern Scotland, resulting in the worst damage caused by the weather in over 20 years, according to The Guardian. Repairs in areas most affected are underway.

Birmingham also faced adverse weather conditions. It rained and lightly snowed and was also very cold. The wind noise drowned out the sound of the world's smallest violin.

Man Builds Replica of Taj Mahal for Wife Ellen Knight A businessman from Burhanpur in India has built a scaled-down version of the iconic Taj Mahal as a home for his wife.

The replica, reported by the BBC as costing 20 million rupees to build, has been described by its owner Anand Prakash Chouksey as a 'monument of love.'

The original Taj Mahal was constructed in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in tribute to his late wife. Mrs Chouksey, however, is still very much alive. understand the challenges and obstacles that students involved in sex work might struggle to overcome when wishing to seek support. It teaches them how those stigmas can be overcome to ensure that any affected student can receive appropriate support and feel comfortable in requesting it. We make no apologies for working to ensure that Durham is a safe environment for all of our students and staff.

We are extremely disappointed by the way the intentions for, and content of, this session have been misinterpreted.’

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COMMENT

Tuesday 7th December 2021

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ENDometriosis UK: A Vital Rebrand

Phoebe Snedker praises the move to gender-neutral language as inclusivity is essential Phoebe Snedker Comment Editor

Content Warning: This article mentions endometriosis, which may be upsetting to some readers Alongside announcing its new fundraising and awareness campaign ‘1.5 Million Voices’, leading endometriosis charity Endometriosis UK has had a huge rebrand, revealing a new logo and identity. The organisation has scrapped its former pink colour scheme, opting for a powerful red and yellow combination across its social media platforms and website. While this may appear to be futile at first, the change of colour is a massive win for sufferers of the disease that are gender nonconforming or trans.

For a long time, the endometriosis campaign and online community have been incredibly exclusionary. From its pink aesthetic to the general nicknames including but not limited to ‘endosis’, or ‘hystersister’, the community has been welcoming to cis women and cis women only. As suggested in an article by Lisa Skylis, ‘endometriosis is unaware of the gender of its host and it impacts patients of all identities’. In tailoring only to the needs of cis women, irrespective of intentions, the community has been sending a largely invalidating message that to have endometriosis, you must be female.

On their Instagram, Endometriosis UK posted a collection of slides for #TransgenderAwarenessWeek, highlighting that transgender and non-binary people make up roughly 1% of the population, which is around 600,000 people. The chairty claims that endometriosis affects 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth, which would mean thousands of trans and non-binary people suffer from the disease - not just cis women. While it has certainly been a long time coming, giving trans and gender nonconforming people recognision and validation for their struggles with endometriosis is a change I could not be more welcoming of. All people with endometriosis deserve to be supported, irrespective of gender, and this rebrand will hopefully create a more inclusive and supportive community.

The leading charity's decision to ditch its gendered colour scheme and language is a huge step towards the general understanding of endometriosis becoming less gender orientated. More publicity and content that is not cis-orientated will educate others on how to use more gender-inclusive language, and will hopefully have a ripple effect throughout the community, so that all genders can access these support groups

as a safe space. Periods and menstruation can be dysphoric enough for trans and gender non-conforming people, which is why the choice to ditch the pinks and the girly nicknames is so incredibly important when it comes to showing support for all sufferers.

The charity have also made clear that the new colour choices are not without their own meanings either. Yellow is the international colour of awareness for endometriosis, and the red signifies frustration at the inexcusable waiting times for treatments and diagnosis, the danger the disease poses for the sufferers organs and the potentially irreversible damage it can cause, as well as blood itself.

The combination of these colours is suggestive of a new and strengthened drive to spread awareness of the condition. The brand does not want to sit ‘pretty in pink’ and be dismissed, it wants to be taken seriously.

“A strengthened drive to spread awareness” The colour scheme and genderless language is not the only change the organisation has made. The new logo ‘ending it starts by saying it’ is effective for trans, non-binary and cisgendered people alike. Placing the emphasis on ‘end’ in the word endometriosis sends a clear message that acceptance and support is not enough. The website suggests that this entails an ‘end to the taboos, the ignorance, the isolation, the pain it can cause. And, one day, to find an end to endometriosis.’

Previous fundraisers such as ‘Walk for Endo’ and the ‘1 in 10 challenge’, which I have written an article about in the past, have aided the organisation in rebranding their identity and funding the rebrand.

The knowledge from previous acts and donations from the community are having such a significant impact on spreading awareness and funding genuine change is incredibly heartwarming, and further enforces the importance of acceptance and support within the organisation and community. Endometriosis support and change needs to be inclusive of all sufferers, not just a specific few.

As someone who suffers with endometriosis myself, I feel truly empowered by the rebranding of the campaign.

Endometriosis is a very real, intense and often overwhelming condition to have, and the pinks and pretty things did not do us justice - it just played in with the stereotypes that periods are girly ‘secrets’ that we should not make a fuss of. The bold new identity of Endometriosis UK demands to be seen and heard, and so do we.

Sex, Relationships and Disabilities Charlie Knight discusses the exclusion from narratives of parenthood and family life faced by many people with disabilities Charlie Knight Comment Writer

Content Warning: This article discusses the exclusion of the disabled community, which may be upsetting to some readers This month in the UK, from the 18th November to the 18th December, is Disability History Month, and one of the key themes that is being highlighted this year is that of sex and relationships. The graphic on the UK Disability History Month website is deeply striking - it depicts an imposing grey building with the words ‘LONG STAY HOSPITAL’ displayed on the front, with a barrier made of xx’s separating the sides of the building marked ‘MEN’ and ‘WOMEN.’ In the foreground, signs with harsh red lettering carry slogans like 'STERILISATION THIS WAY' and 'YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A CHILD.' The message is clear: people with disabilities have been historically dehumanised, outcasted and confined far from the social customs and traditions of ‘normal’ life, and to a certain extent this is still happening today.

Stereotypes, mistaken assumptions and general discomfort still surround the topic of disability, and ideas about how (and whether) disabled people ‘do’ sex and relationships are still firmly entrapped in this quagmire. This article aims to address some of the most common issues that crop up around this topic, but first I would like to point out that the experiences, attitudes and abilities of people with disabilities cannot be generalised about when the term ‘disabled’ itself is completely inadequate to cover the sheer diversity of such a wide group of people.

Disability is not one thing, therefore disabled sex and relationships cannot be characterised as such either.

“Disability is not one thing” One of the key misconceptions I see everywhere about able-disabled partnerships specifically is the idea that the able partner must be some kind of ‘angel.’ Largely, this is rooted in the idea that people with disabilities are burdens before they are people - that in a society that bases value on productivity, people with disabilities are not valuable at all. Writing this now, I cannot help but think of a single

exchange in Anne Carson’s version of ‘The Oresteia’, which states: 'Pylades: I’ll take care of you. / Orestes: It’s rotten work. / Pylades: Not to me. Not if it’s you.' The fact is, sometimes, people with disabilities do need to be cared for, but so does everybody. No relationship can be exactly 50/50 all of the time and trying to operate on a quid pro quo basis with someone only leads to resentment and anger.

Partnerships are fundamentally about looking after each other it is a built-in buddy system and everyone brings their own strengths and weaknesses to the table. When disabilities are involved, it can take a bit more planning and careful communication to make sure that everyone is getting what they need (and want) from the relationship, but at the end of the day, when built on a mutual understanding of generosity, disabled relationships are just as equal as able ones.

“No one wants to talk about the topic of disabled sex” Of course most (but certainly not all) romantic relationships involve sex, and yet disabled people are usually excluded from this part of society.

Whether due to pity, infantilisation or discomfort, no one wants to talk about the topic of disabled sex, and this is fundamentally dehumanising. The fact is that disabled people have sex, so why is n o one

willing to talk about it? As the UKDHM website puts it: 'So little was known about disabled people and sex and relationships a number of research projects were carried out in the 90’s and 00’s to build up a picture. Surprise surprise, disabled people in the main had sex lives as good or as bad as most people.' Obviously, sex for people with some disabilities is going to look a little different - at least a part of the time - but here again is the issue with talking about disability as if it is one thing. The sex lives of disabled people are just as varied as the lives of disabled people, and giving into the fear of talking about it is just going to dehumanise people with disabilities further.

At least part of the fear surrounding disabled sex stems from the fear surrounding disabled parenthood - there is no doubt that being a disabled parent is difficult, and there are certainly anxieties held by many disabled potential parents. What happens when your child wants to be picked up and carried around if you cannot do that? If you are autistic and struggle with noise, going to parks or children’s birthday parties is going to be a gruelling and exhausting activity. How can a deaf parent hear their baby crying in the night? However, thanks to generations of disabled parents and children of disabled parents, innovating and working around (and through) these issues, disabled parenthood is the easiest it has ever been. (Not to say that parenthood is ever easy, or that it could not be made easier).

Specialised slings now exist to help disabled parents carry their babies, motorised pushchairs automatically detect when they are going up and down hills and adjust themselves to match the incline, baby monitors that flash and vibrate to wake deaf parents are now available. These, and so many other technologies, personal experiences, and helpful tips from past and present disabled parents can be found to make the journey just that little bit easier.

Disabled people have historically been excluded from conversations around sex, relationships and parenthood; however, having a greater awareness of their real lives and experiences shows that their lives are just as full, varied and exciting as anyone else’s.

Tim Mossholder / Unsplash

COMMENT

Tuesday 7th December 2021

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Our Bodies, Their Bodies: Do Women Truly Have Agency?

In light of Emily Ratajkowski's new book, Ffion Hâf explores the harmful sexualisation and commodification of women's bodies in the media and beyond Ffion Hâf Comment Editor

Content Warning: This article discusses sexual harrassment.

In her recently published book ‘My Body’, Emily Ratajkowski opens up about how her success came at the cost of giving other people complete control over her body and its image. She admits to ‘mastering the art of disassociating from uncomfortable situations with photographers... and other men to remain in control’; however, the question remains: where do we draw the line? Why is it that success is often largely dependent on how men perceive women? How much control of her own body did she truly have? Although not all of us can relate to the specific experiences of a model, I am sure most women can agree that a lot of the time it feels like you have been put on display for others to judge.

We often lack compassion for women who we feel have ‘asked’ for this kind of attention; some might even argue that they have over-sexualised themselves and are to blame.

For example, on the set of the music video for ‘Blurred Lines’, Robin Thicke groped

Ratajkowski’s bare breast from behind during filming. Whilst she did consent to be in the video, she did not agree to sexual assault.

“It compromises any sense of empowerment” The video featured her and two other half-naked women, whilst of course, the men remained fully-clothed. This video once again highlights the notion that vanity and beauty are what women are expected to bring to the table. Whilst the director argues that she intended ‘for the video to subvert power dynamics, placing the men in an inferior position’, in reality, it compromises any sense of empowerment for the women early on in the video Ratajkowski herself commented on how Thicke’s actions ‘reminded everyone on set that we women weren’t actually in charge.’ Yet again, a woman is found compromising her body and her dignity at the hands of a man. Whilst at a glance it may seem like it was a chance for a woman to embrace her sexuality, it was in fact degrading and misogynistic. As a model, she

was victimised by those in power who used her body to sell their ideas or products. Rather than remaining a part of her, her body becomes a commodity and a means of marketing, and thus she loses all sense of control of what belongs to her.

The sexualisation of women’s bodies in the media is nauseating; everything about the female form, especially in the media, is now being catered to the male gaze. As a result of this, society, specifically those with positions of power, believe that they can also control women’s bodies. Women are not given agency over their sexuality - if we are not the ideal standard of a male’s desires , then we are looked down on. If we are too ‘sexy’, then we are mocked and judged solely upon appearances, and if we are too ‘plain’, then how are we ever to expect a male’s attention?

(Because apparently that is our main aim). Whatever we do in attempts to take control of our images and sexuality is shunned.

Women’s bodies hold so much power, yet we give them little credit; they in themselves are political. Our agency has been subject to male control for far too long, the notion of body politics highlights the lack of

space made for women and their bodies. From the right to take control over our fertility to issues of consent, many barriers are put in place to restrict women's rights to their own lives.

The diversity of women’s issues brings us back to the discussion of the #MeToo movement, in that so many women with varied backgrounds share similar experiences of this sexist behaviour. This highlights the notion that there is no right way to avoid sexual harassment; therefore, instead of demanding impossible standards from women, we should expect more from society.

and deserve basic human rights.

Whilst there may not be a simple solution to the matter of taking back what is rightfully ours, I believe a good place to start is closest to home, with ourselves. At the end of the day, the notion of taking back agency is more about women than it is about men. It is about realising self-worth. We are worthy of success, of sexual liberation, and of owning everything that makes us who we are.

“Women's bodies hold so much power; yet we give them little credit” The sexualisation of the female body and the lack of agency given to women is how the powerful keep their power.

This prevalent patriarchy within society continues to repress women in everyday life and the media. However, we are so much more than dispensable items to be marketed; we are valid individuals with feelings

Chloe S / Unsplash

The Guilty Liberal

With mixed emotions about staff strikes permeating the student body, Emily Baldwin discusses the intricacies of social solidarity in 2021 Emily Baldwin Comment Editor

'I support the strikes, but...'. I stop myself. This week, many of our lecturers, tutors and support staff have been striking for better pay, more secure pensions and manageable workloads. These are all fair declarations that should not require strike-action to be protected; they should be basic employment conditions enshrined within non-exploitative and fair contracts. So, I should unanimously support the strikes, right? I should be able to stand behind such important assertions of fair employment and humane working conditions wholeheartedly.

Yet, niggling in the back of my mind, a certain selfishness begins to arise.

“These are all fair declarations” I will preface this by saying that I am horrifically selfaware. After a hard day, a few

too many ciders and a sudden alcohol-fuelled awareness of present exploitation, I am not afraid of declaring: ‘Of course I am annoyed about this situation. I hate capitalism. I hate exploitative labour. I hate everything.’ While saying that, however, I will become aware of the £100 boots strapped onto my feet, the £15’s worth of food and drink I consumed without thought, the costly laptop burning through my backpack, and the impractical coat keeping me warm while the five I already own are hung up on the hook of my bedroom door. My statement is laced with irony; I am quick to criticise a system that I constantly pander to.

think I unconsciously mean. I would love a jewellery box filled with glitter and gems, I trawl through designer books, I look forward to the Met Gala

“My statement is laced with irony” Fikry Anshor

I crave the new iPhone when it comes out – my contract is almost over, it will make more sense to sell this model now before it loses even more value, I say to myself. This one comes in a cooler colour and I will be able to take better photos, I

every year, I keep up with celebrity drama and love to wander through Selfridges. I habitually buy eyeliner, mascara, another eyeliner (this one is yellow though, so it is okay), fake lash-

es, seeing them as necessities, absolutes, ways of expressing myself. I wince as I wait for the Face ID to unlock my banking app. I feel guilty, wish I had saved more money, tell myself I will learn how to invest the £4 I have left over at the end of the month, vouch that I will find an ethical way to do that, feel like a fraud for wanting to consume more and more, then feel like even more of a fraud for feeling personally victimised by a structure designed to encourage this eternal loop. It is an endless cycle. Desire, pander, regret, repeat.

“It is an endless cycle. Desire, pander, regret, repeat” The next day, I need to watch a film for a module. It is available on two sites: Amazon Prime and a Pirating Website. The most pathetic moral dilemma begins: which website do I choose? Why am I thinking

about this so much? Will any of these choices make any tangible difference? The answer, of course, is no. Yet, when my coursemate asks me if I found the film online, I caveat my answer with an 'I do not support Amazon, but...' It is that ‘but’ again, loaded with guilt but charged with relativity, as if to acknowledge the real-world impossibility to counteract the institutional structures through which we were raised but the personal persistence on trying.

It is important to recognise this nuance. It is hard to save the world on your own, let alone as a student crouched on the floor of Selly Oak ALDI trying to calculate which anti-bacterial spray will be the most effective for the cheapest price. So yes, I do support the staff strikes. I wholeheartedly believe in them; I will not be crossing the picket line and I will be standing in solidarity. Yet, I am also wholeheartedly frustrated that they need to strike, that I will be missing hundreds of pounds worth of lectures and seminars, that students are not also striking, and that I cannot support one without feeling the other.

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How Successful Was COP26?

Gwydion Elliott argues that the recent global climate conference did not recognise how crucial institutional change is, believing that civil disobedience is our only hope Gwydion Elliott Comment Writer

World leaders met this month at COP26 to discuss new targets for limiting CO2 emissions.

These COP meetings are held by the UN annually in the hopes that nations can come together to tackle the climate crisis.

COP26 was a success only in the way that it exposed the hopelessness of waiting for our leaders to fix climate change.

After scientists had determined that exceeding 1.5 degrees of warming would lead to catastrophic changes to the Earth’s systems (according to the IPCC), our leaders held a conference that put us on track for 2.4 degrees celsius, a disastrous result.

In Glasgow, we saw weak leadership and weak agreements. In a conference that aimed to cut the world’s CO2 emissions in half by 2030 (what scientists now say is necessary for our safety), 500 fossil fuel lobbyists were allowed to attend. This is a greater number than any one country’s delegation, made up of those who profit from extending our reliance on fossil fuels and have been actively undermining our

efforts to decarbonise for decades. Meanwhile, indigenous people were shut out, and their voices were marginalised. These groups are often at the forefront of the climate crisis today and are actively resisting environmental breakdown and fossil fuel extraction while living in a way that holds a deep respect for the natural world.

Leaders agreed to reduce deforestation, methane emissions and fossil fuel use, but the language was heavily watered down. The agreement went from ‘phase out coal and phase out fossil fuel subsidies' to ‘phase down unabated coal power and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.’ This language is incredibly weak, falling miles short of the ambition we need.

A fossil fuel subsidy is any government action, such as direct funding, tax breaks and favourable loans which prop up the fossil fuel industry and make its products cheaper, giving it a leg up over other forms of energy generation. Currently, the fossil fuel industry benefits $11 million a minute from these subsidies, IMF found, and COP26 has failed to change this.

We need to mobilise trillions of dollars globally to shift as

fast as possible to a zero-carbon economy, leaving fossil fuels in the ground.

There is still no clear plan for how quickly each nation should cut its emissions. But countries did agree to a wider carbon-trading plan – a scheme that allows polluters to offset their emissions by paying someone else to reduce theirs.

Carbon offsetting is a very popular solution amongst the BPs, Shells, and airlines of the world because the promise of planting some trees makes carbon-intensive products more palatable for consumers. As Greenpeace points out, however, it really does not work; growing trees is in many ways a very poor substitute for leaving fossil fuels in the ground.

These plans have also often led to indigenous people in the Global South being forcibly removed from their land. I would argue that Carbon trading is good for nothing, a fake solution being used to buy oil companies more time to make their obscene profits. It is incredibly disheartening to see such a tactic being used even still, as the time we have to create an equitable solution to the climate crisis ticks ever downwards.

Questions have been asked about the pollution caused by COP26 itself – the emissions produced as leaders travelled by private get were large. There was hypocrisy at COP26, one rule for the rich and another for everyone else, but this extended far beyond some private jets.

The private jet concern is a misdirect, a cheap shot that comes quite naturally given the decades of messaging that climate change will be solved by individual action. The truth of the matter is that this summit was the world coming together with the proposed aim to end the threat of climate change and build a safer and more equitable world, and yet it failed, with enormous consequences. Rich nations did not agree to provide reparations to the Global South for the environmental damage caused by past emissions. They watered-down commitments to phase out fossil fuel use, protecting the interests of the fossil fuel industry instead of human lives and ecosystems around the globe. They agreed to a decarbonisation plan that left polluters more or less off the hook while furthering the persecution of indigenous communities.

They failed, once again, to act.

Some good came out of the

agreements at COP26, most notably the commitment to meet next year with stronger targets.

But for too long we have been treating global governments as though they are toddlers first learning to walk – we provide endless encouragement and praise at each small step made.

The reality is that slowing progress is exactly the aim of the fossil fuel industry, and our leaders have a responsibility to act fast and decisively. I am more convinced than ever, after watching this conference unfold, that the only path towards success on climate change is by immense public pressure.

Only by mobilising together can we provide the force and ambition needed. There is hope: research shows that just like our planet’s life support systems, our social structures can flip very rapidly in a new direction once a critical mass of public pressure is reached, something George Monbiot has written about brilliantly.

The realisation that civil disobedience is our only hope, and that together we have great power, might just make COP26 the success that we needed it to be.

Aalmeidah / Pixabay

Environmental Journalism is More Than Just Climate Change Poppy Turner argues that negative articles have made us too desensitised to climate change Poppy Turner Comment Writer

With COP26 dominating the headlines right now, it seems important to reflect on what environmental journalism should be about. Climate change, pollution, deforestation, and extinction are all topics that have dominated newspapers and continue to do so.

Yet, should this be the case?

Do not get me wrong, climate change is an issue that I believe should be as urgent as any major political turbulence or local gossip, as it affects us all. It outnumbers and overshadows any other news you might find on the science and technology tab on news websites. In fact, many websites have their very own climate section, separate from science.

The major problem I have with the thousands of articles which

detail the damage humans have caused on our planet is not the sheer amount of them; it is the obvious lack of anything else.

On any given day, if you search ‘environment’ into google and check the news tab, the vast majority of the articles will be painful to read. They detail our relentless exploitation of the planet we call home. Dead animals, dirty oceans, abnormal weather, and the suffocation of an ecosystem which seems destined for a dismal, non-existent future. It is something everyone is aware of yet begs the question: why has it not stopped?

In my opinion, it is predominantly due to the toxic trait where people believe the environment is not their utmost priority. I think about the essay I forgot to hand in yesterday before I think about the ice caps melting and my Aldi shop definitely feels more important than the brutal destruction of the

rainforest. Before you know it, there is a whole horde of anxieties, ideas, and to-do lists that are sat on top of fixing the planet. As a result, articles about the climate are often buried and ignored.

“Relentless exploitation of the planet” But desensitisation is the unspoken monster. The reason why that BBC News notification about an oil spill or a recently extinct animal is so easy to swipe away, is because it is something that is far from old news. That constant repetition of pessimistic stories is what eventually makes people tune out until the climate crisis is nothing but a distant issue.

Statistic after statistic can become mind-numbing, espe-

cially when they tells us how close we are to the point of no return. It is one of the reasons why not everyone is on board with caring for the planet, despite the emphasis on urgency.

Here is where the ‘lack of anything else’ comes in.

Although the amount of negative media content concerning the climate crisis is brutally honest, it is missing the happy content that keeps readers coming back. You might even say that the emphasis on the maltreatment and poor state of the planet makes people forget how beautiful it can really be. For example, David Attenborough’s documentaries can be so haunting and tear rendering in their display of the Earth’s sublimity that reading an article about the climate crisis straight after arguably has twice the intended effect. People often sym-

pathise with, and rarely tire of, the cute or aesthetically pleasing and when it connects with them emotionally, they become attached. When they then see that animal under attack, it is more likely to spur them into action.

Journalism, especially environmental journalism, is often guilty of showing the negative face of the coin, when another flip could garner the reaction it needs. Therefore, I revoke the title of this article. Environmental journalism should focus on climate change, but letting that be the only topic is continuing to stall the movement. It should be about raising awareness of what we are losing, which is sometimes easy to forget. That means adding the sprinkle of hope and positivity to the constant onslaught of terrifying data, even if it is guilt-tripping. It is the only way to stop desensitisation.

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The Gossip Pages Strike Back Colette Fountain discusses the much-anticipated return of Brumfess and Brumble, acknowledging the benefits and the flaws that come with the pages Colette Fountain Comment Editor

For UoB students like me who are now in final year, we have had to endure the ups and downs of the infamous confession page ‘Brumfess’. This was a staple of my first and second year experience, updating me on the ins and outs of university life from where the best study spaces are to which estate agents you should avoid.

While Brumfess served as a confession and advice page, its partner site, Brumble covers all things relationships. It was the place for people to post about campus crushes, relationship advice, help people discovering their sexuality, or casual hookups. Both Brumfess and Brumble have been on a hiatus since August, but they have finally returned to grace our Facebook feeds with a ludicrous amount of anonymous content.

As a child of the Gossip Girl era, I would love to say that I am over the moon for these pages to be back. Gossip Girl was my everything: I was desperate to be like Serena Van Der

Woodsen, swanning around a university campus with a horde of anonymous male admirers, but maybe the reality is not as idealistic as we all hoped.

“Brumfess can often become a space for people to air their dirty laundry” For many people, the pages can be helpful, especially regarding questions around sexuality and gender as people can receive advice from commenters who have been in similar positions, helping to establish a real sense of community across a campus which at times feels so isolating.

The flip-side of this, however, is the sense people may get of being constantly surveilled. A trip to the library is no longer just a chance to study, it is an opportunity for someone to spot you and later, anonymously post about you. This is made all the worse if you hap-

pen to be wearing something me. Even if no one recognises distinctive or recognisable - that it is you, it must still feel why else would you bother buy- incredibly objectifying and ing a player layer with your would significantly impact your sport on it or a collection of experience at the gym. niche laptop stickers and tote Similarly, Brumfess can bags? often become a It is these space for people posts that perto air their dirty haps give the laundry, whether seemingly that be about sociharmless pages eties, relationa more sinister ships or friendreputation. ships that have People who broken down. feel constantly Again, while this harassed by the might not be confession widely recognisapages may be ble to the student made to feel population, it uncomfortable must be devastaton a campus ing for the person which should who is the intendbe welcoming. Shingi Rice / Unsplash ed recipient of the This is even post - these are more of a probusually issues that lem with people who post anon- should be worked out in private, ymously about others they have not in the public sphere of seen in the gym. I cannot think Facebook. There have been of anything worse than discov- multiple times where I have had ering once I am home from a to do a double-take when readworkout that someone felt the ing the Facebook page, terrified need to watch me enough to that someone I know has writhave noticed, and recorded, ten a post about me and even such recognisable features of after realising it has nothing to

do with me, the initial dread takes a while to wear off.

“They are an integral part of the university” This is not to say that we should not welcome the return of these pages. They are an integral part of the university experience and are duplicated at universities across the country why should Birmingham students be the ones to miss out?

But we just need to be more responsible in the way that we post and consume content on these websites, making sure that we are not overstepping boundaries and verging on encouraging predatory behaviour on campus. The rebirth of Brumfess and Brumble gives us a new opportunity to create an entertaining, inclusive group for University students and the only hope I have is that it stays that way, rather than devolving into the dystopian-world of Gossip Girl where privacy is non-existent and boundaries are not respected.

The Two Faces of Dubai

Thomas Brogan discusses the contrasting experiences of life in Dubai, arguing that influencers paint an unrealistic picture Thomas Brogan Comment Writer

Dubai is a city of 3 million in the UAE with a GDP per capita higher than the UK and EU average, according to Global Media Insight. In today’s world, where GDP seems to be a key indicator for the progress of a modern state, you may think this shows that Dubai is a successful city. You may know Dubai as the home of the world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa. You may know it as a beautiful, modern playground for the rich. The ugly truth beneath this meticulously curated mirage of half-PR, halfpropaganda exterior is truly disturbing. This is a city home to modern slavery, human rights abuse and abhorrent wealth inequality.

Recent headlines have shone light on some of the Emirate’s darker corners. Namely, with its incredibly strict treatment of the 24-year-old british citizen who now faces 25 years in prison for possession of CBD oil found in his car (he claims he has no clue that the document he signed, written in Arabic, was a confession to the crime).

He also claims to have been locked in a solitary cell for two weeks and denied sanitary products. This treatment has sparked outrage in the UK press but the depressing truth is most who exist under the hold of this dra-

conian system have no such media support. But why?

Because they are not ‘Expats’, AKA white citizens of rich western nations; instead they are immigrant workers from developing nations and as such are treated as subhuman by the ruling elite of the Emirates.

90% of the population of the Emirates are immigrants (Global Media Insight), most of whom are originally humble workers from developing nations in southeast Asia. They are drawn in with the promise of stable work and 'good' salaries. This looks like a good deal on paper and makes the sacrifice of leaving families at home much more appealing with the potential to send back more money than the workers would earn at home.

These promises target the poorest citizens, many from rural areas, to encourage them to immigrate to the emirates.

Agencies in these developing nations draw in their victims and charge several thousand pounds to organise work visas, contacts and transport to the city; visa fees paid by workers such as these are illegal in Dubai, but the government repeatedly turns a blind eye.

These fees are extortionate, forcing potential workers to take loans for the initial payment from the same struggling friends or family they wish to support. They are told they can easily pay off the rest of the loans when they start work.

Once in the city, the workers have their passports confiscated and are forced to work 12-14 hour days six days a week for nowhere near the promised wages of $300 a month (Washington Post). Any wages they do receive are held by their employer. This abusive act is done solely to prevent them from quitting and leaving immediately.

Withholding wages for even a short period is an extremely effective form of control, as it leads to the workers incurring additional interest and the inability to purchase food or basic necessities, continuing the cycle of loans being needed to survive. This depressive cycle chains the migrants to their jobs and the tyrannical employers, who can subsequently treat them worse and worse in a horrific power-dynamic of illiterate workers versus faceless companies in a country that does not view workers as equal to other richer citizens. Many are just abandoned by their employers when they are no longer needed; after all, they can always go and recruit new workers for the next five-star hotel or skyscraper built for western tourists.

Abandoned workers are forced to try and survive in migrant camps on the outskirts of the city more befitting a war-torn nation than Dubai, which proclaims itself 'One of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world' (Khaleej Times). Food dona-

tions are the only thing standing in the way of mass starvation.

This is modern slavery kilometers away from gold-plated lamborghinis, £1000 a-night hotel rooms, and the world’s biggest mall; modern slavery in a tourist destination 1.5 million Britons visit every year, according to the government. The monetary inequality is staggering, and the moral disconnect sickening. 10 Indian workers die every single day in Gulf countries (as reported by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative), an unsurprising statistic given the c o n d i t i o n s described, not to mention the nonexistent health and safety standards for the construction sites the workers are forced to endure.

Other gulf states are certainly not innocent in this modern-day tragedy, but no other place on earth has the disgusting contrast of Dubai: palaces of gold side by side with slums. Yet, you will not see those on the influencers' posts.

Fredrik Öhlander / Unsplash

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Santa Tell Me: Books to Gift for Christmas Culture Writers come together to recommend books to gift friends and family for Christmas based on their niche interests

For those who... are hopeless romantics...

Halima Ahad Culture Writer

To All The Boys I've Loved Before has everything for any hopeless, cheesy romantic out there, including the fake dating trope, the sweet family bonds Amazon UK between the Covey sisters and their father, and the handsome main character she falls in love with, Peter Kavinsky.

The hit Netflix adaptation of the book signifies its fame and puts the romance into play through the famous actors and actresses, including Lana Condor.

The novel follows the story of Lara-Jean who writes letters to each of her crushes about her feelings and hides it in a box under her bed. Until one day the letters get mailed, causing all her past crushes to confront her about their letters. However, she discovers that something good may come out of it after all.

The book is diverse – the main character and her family are Korean, so it is great for those being represented. LaraJean’s character development will make any reader fall in love with her as she showcases her vulnerabilities.

Pixabay: @maciej326

Becky Woods

...and love retellings The Wrath and The Dawn is a retelling of One Thousand and One Nights. The s t o r y f o l l o w s Shahrazad, who vows vengeance when her friend falls victim to the Caliph of Khorasan’s murderous ways and volunteers to be his next bride.

Shahrazad vows to change this as she beguiles Khalid every night through her enchanting stories, even though she knows that one of these nights could be her last.

Yet Shazi soon finds herself falling in love with the Caliph, as he turns out to be nothing like she imagined. She comes to understand that all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone.

This book showcases the enemies to lovers trope fantastically. The diversity of South Asian characters and the whole aesthetic were very appealing to me.

Amazon UK

love a good saga Francesca Herring Culture Writer

When you think of a saga, you think Harry Potter or Twilight. Yet one book that I firmly believe should be on any saga lover's shelf is Pachinko by Amazon UK Min Jin Lee. Following four generations of one Korean family and their navigation through a colonising Japan, Lee creates a saga in which love is found and lost with grief, wealth, ambition and success over the course of nearly 100 years.

Pachinko is a tri-

umph, not only for its length, but for its richness of language. The characterisation means someone will always be relatable, likeable, or unlikeable, but ultimately, will have you so deeply invested in their life that you have no choice but to keep reading.

The history within the novel is pivotal in its plot development.

The Japanese Occupation of Korea has a significant influence on the characters and their perspective on what this meant for them and their community.

Pachinko is not a novel that will give you gratification immediately. It is a plot that, like any saga should, develops with you as it is read. This saga is one of the best books I have ever read and is a triumph and joy.

want to feel empowered Jess Rushton Culture Writer

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo beautifully tells the story of twelve (predominantly) black British women, effortlessly linked through Amazon UK the past, present and future.

Each chapter follows a different story, creating images of characters that feel almost life-like in their relatability and relationships with others.

Each protagonist is trying to create their own identity and understanding of the world they live in, and anyone who reads this will find a lesson that resonates with them. While not the most light-hearted of reads, I think that is what makes it so real and heartbreaking, and the struggle of each woman will resonate in some way with everyone.

What makes this book especially unforgettable is Evaristo’s writing style. Almost like poetry, the lack of punctuation creates a story that is impossible to s t o p

reading as all the lines flow into one. It is also full of female, POC and LGBTQ+ representation, which is rare to find altogether.

If you are looking for a gift that will make someone in your life feel empowered and seen, then this is the book for you!

study English or Classics Anna Emmerson Robinson

Culture Writer

Throughout our school careers, we have all s t u d i e d Shakespeare at some point.

Some loved him, some hated him, those who do Amazon UK E n g l i s h degrees will have studied him to death. Yet what do we actually know about him, and his life before the fame? Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell is a fictional retelling of the short life of Shakespeare's son, who later inspired his most famous work, Hamlet. Dying at aged 11 in 1596 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Hamnet is little-known and often overlooked in the biography of Shakespeare's life. The novel takes the reader into Shakespeare's early days, his domestic family life and the struggles they faced.

Despite the title, the main focus of the novel is Agnes, Shakespeare's wife, who is a local celebrity and is a woman of great myth and magical power.

O'Farrell's powerful descriptions of the home they shared and the streets they walked creates this mystical but all-absorbing plot, as we see Shakespeare not as a writer and famed playwright, but as a Latin tutor, whose family have a story to tell of their own. Despite all the knowledge we have of him, there is always a new story to tell, a new perspective to see, making this book a great gift for any Shakespeare or history fan.

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love muder mysteries Jess Rushton Culture Writer

Societal fascination with murder seems to be a ubiquitous reoccurr e n c e .

Continuous documentaries, fict ionalised series and films present a widespread obsession with the idea of mystery and detection. Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh is my favourite crime thriller for its ingenuity in blending the classic murder mystery alongside an innovative dual narrative of both the criminal and lawyer. The book tells the story of a high-profile murder trial, where a Hollywood star has been accused of double homicide with compelling evidence stacked against him.

The catch? The reader already knows who the serial killer is, and he is sitting on the jury, manipulating the trial. Unbeknown to the defence, the serial killer has his own agenda and reasons for the murder, as well as a complex relationship with Flynn.

As the novel is told from both the perspective of Flynn and the murderer, the insights and clues are especially intriguing as the case progresses; by the end, the reasons and patterns in the murders can be mapped onto the plot, giving readers an unusual understanding of the serial killer, who has a deep-rooted resentment that stems from his disenfranchisement with the idea of the ‘American Dream’.

The courtroom drama becomes intensified as Flynn realises that the only way to achieve a ‘Not Guilty’ verdict is by catching the real killer, turning the novel into a detective chase as well as a murder mystery. I found the novel completely gripping, scattered with clues and plot twists that made me feel as though I was working out the mystery alongside the characters.

The psychological depth of all the characters was unique, and the switching of narrative perspectives truly allows the reader to holistically consider the murders, not just simply solving them but understanding the events and conditions that brought on the acts of violence.

Amazon UK

cannot stop dreaming Phoebe Cross Culture Writer Amazon UK

We all know that one person who spends all day with their head in the clouds, whose thoughts are worlds away, who wishes life were more like a fairy-tale. For

this person, there is no book I could recommend more than Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

This book is short and easy to read, transporting you from beginning to end into the most beautiful of fantasy worlds. It follows the protagonist Tristan as he travels over the wall in his town into a fantastical world of kings, fallen stars, epic quests and unicorns, forging his own destiny as he goes.

Although the plot differs from the film adaptation, the feelings it evokes are the same, leaving the reader enthralled and full of childlike wonder – it is a difficult book to put down, and crossing back over the wall in your own head from this fantasy world back to reality will prove even more challenging. The book is light-hearted, full of love, and plenty of adventure and will have you wishing entering your daydream world was as easy as crossing a wall.

of New York City in 2021 and has now released a new book called Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy.

This book strikes a perfect balance between interesting insights into his Presidential campaign, whilst also setting out how to bring about fundamental change to the American political system.

This mix keeps the book intriguing, adding a much-needed personal touch whilst outlining his views. Political books can often be dry, but the personal touch Yang offers is very welcome and refreshing. Yang uses the book to discuss his new political party, The Forward Party, detailing what they stand for, one of these things being the need for more grace and tolerance in politics. So, if you have a friend who could do with being more tolerant in the political realm and more understanding of others’ views, look no further.

love history books

spend all their time on TikTok

Charis Gambon

Chelsie Henshaw

Culture Writer

Editor-in-Chief

I would definitely recommend that anybody who loves history r e a d s Magnificent Women and Their Flying Machines by Waterstones Sally Smith. It would be the best present for historical reading.

I have had my copy of the book about a week, and it is one of my absolute favourite books – I cannot put it down! It only took me three days to finish the book as I loved it so much. The book showcases women’s contributions to aviation history and each woman in the book is provided with a short chapter about her unique contribution to aviation.

40 women over 16 chapters are explored in this wonderful book.

The book brings to light contributions that have previously been unspoken and provides these women with the glory they deserve. The book will definitely leave you wanting to conduct more research into these outstanding women.

cannot stop talking about politics Kit Parsons Culture Writer

Do you have a friend who will not stop talking about politics? Do you have a friend whose political beliefs are too set in stone? If so, I have the perfect gift Amazon UK recommendation for you. Andrew Yang ran for President in 2020 and then Mayor

Christmas is coming up.

You have no idea what to buy for your friend. Their hobbies are reading and Tik Tok, you ask yourself, how can I combine these to create the perfect present? Well do not worry, I have the answer for you. Pick up a copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

by Taylor Jenkins-Reid. Reid’s novel has gone viral – those on ‘Book Tok’ (including myself) were inundated with videos heaping praise on the book.

Although the novel being placed in the category of historical fiction may put people off, I would urge them to not judge a book by its genre. The novel is enticing, scandalous and gripping; readers will struggle to put the book down. The novel is split into sections with each detailing a specific point in the life of protagonist Evelyn Hugo, specifically the events leading up to each of her seven marriages. Reid intersperses the novel with celebrity reviews of Hugo at the time (proving how merciless tabloids can be) and often switches to the present where Hugo is being interviewed

by Monique Grant.

This book will surprisingly provide you with an insight to the struggle of LGBTQ+ people in the late nineteenth century (with many poignant moments), the over-sexualisation of female movie stars, and the lengths people will go to to protect the ones they love. Refreshingly, alongside the discussion of true love and ‘love’ fuelled by sexual desire, platonic love is also greatly focused on.

Not only is the novel contrasted with celebrity scandals and more serious moments, but its seemingly far-fetched plot twist will leave you reeling.

Amazon UK

love to search for deeper meanings Weronika Bialek Culture Writer

For some, trying to find the hidden meaning behind an author’s words enriches the reading experience, and for these people who enjoy pondering over the metaphors and underlying symbolism in books, I would recommend buying Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Klara and the Sun is a short book and the premise of a robot protecting a child that was assigned to them is simple to follow, making it a relaxing read for the holidays; however, the story itself has the complexity of a poem and leaves the reader to interpret the events that unfold for themselves.

Despite it being a speculative fiction novel, at times it feels closer to a fairy tale, since we discover the story through Klara, who is a robot and therefore has unusual interpretations of the world and often makes odd decisions to help the people around her. As with other books by Ishiguro, this novel explores ideas of humanity, love and spirituality, while commenting on modern society and where it is potentially heading. Klara and the Sun can be easily read in one sitting, but it is likely to linger in your thoughts forever.

Waterstones

cry to Red (Taylor's Version) Saskia Hirst Life & Style Editor Amazon UK

A h , this is a scene I can picture all too well

— between all the tears and the tissues, that is. It is 'Sad Girl Autumn' and the leaves are falling down. pieces into place,

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Anywho, ‘tis the damn season’ for a hopeless romantic Christmas rendezvous, and what’s better than a Christmas fling? Well, I am glad you asked — a heart-shattering breakup, of course.

Yet no fear, alas, Colleen Hoover is here. From her oh-somerry titles at the likes of Ugly Love and It Ends With Us, heartbreak is but a pretty bow on a present with Hoover’s acclaimed novels. Whilst her novels may be considered ‘trashy,’ she weaves the brutal and beautiful and it is bound to make any cynic cry. It is a truth universally acknowledged that Colleen Hoover will tear down all your emotional walls, but rebuild them anew again just in sweet time for ‘new year, new me.’

From past trauma weaving its way into a new relationship, forbidden love and the unexpected pitfalls of despair, Hoover is the creme-de-la-creme of 'Sad Girl Autumn' novels. Truth be warned, the novels may leave you in tears, emotionally scarred and possibly with a new set of commitment issues — but you enter at your own risk.

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Sonny Elliott Deputy Station Manager

With the first month of broadcasting finished, the team at Burn are starting to reflect upon getting to this point and I personally like to think it has been a thorough success.

Whether it be training up a new set of members, innumerable tech issues, or a variety of interviews conducted (one with Guild Officers, another with TikTok star and musical artist Michael Aldag) we have managed to go from a fully online year of broadcasting to being back in the studio Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, with a couple standout shows I would recommend being

‘Trying Too Hard To Be Funny’ and ‘Soundtrack of My Life.'

It is also our first complete year of in-person podcasting taking place in the Burn Studio. Whilst not yet complete, we have great plans for refurnishing and redecorating our podcast studio and recordings are starting to take place so check-in at Burn FM Podcasts on Spotify to see the finished products.

During the past month, Burn also took part in another UoB Open Day that gave our members a great opportunity to show themselves off to prospective students and the public with an Open Broadcast on the Green Heart and, hopefully, sow the seeds for the next generation of media society students.

Our first major event of this semester came with the return of Burn Live. The Head of Music (External) worked tirelessly to set up the event and with five acts throughout the night; Charlie Bennett, Amber Sky, Mutual Frogs, Four Men, and a DJ set ending the night with Burn FM’s very own Entropy. We hope this is just a start in providing an environment where students and members of the community can relax and vibe with some chill tunes at the Indie Lounge, as well as the incredibly famous Burn FM raffle. I can say from experiencing Burn Live in my first year how fun it can be and this time it certainly lived up to expectations.

Alongside broadcasting and our events retuning to an in-person format, we also have the return of Media Ball for Redbrick, Burn FM,

Guild TV, PhotoSoc, and Satnav to all take part in. It is a great chance for all our members to take a step back and look at all they have done in the past few months, and for final years to look back at all their experiences with their fellow members and catch-up after a busy first semester.

As well as this, our Christmas charity single is about to begin production and whilst I cannot give

away too much right now, keep an eye out and we hope that you enjoy and help out a good cause.

Moving past the Christmas period, we are now planning our 25th anniversary broadcasting, taking place next year, where we hope to be able to invite back many alumni to take part, experience the society once again and witness the changes that have happened over time.

CoffeeShot Photography

Redbrick x Writers' Bloc Writers' Bloc

Push and Pull of a Melody There are songs That make me feel like life When all I should feel Is nothing And the icy night.

They put a spring in My weary step When my feet hurt, And keep me warm When my hands are numb With October wind.

They put a smile on my lips When my eyes still burn with tears, Make me pause mid-run When for one breathless moment, I can’t do a single thing But listen, listen – They burst out of my chest Like a confession of love, Loud and proud, Unbearably fond.

They make me dream.

They thrum in my veins, Louder than any heartbeat.

There are songs That make my fingers ache For the keys of a piano Hundreds of miles away And the ghost of your calloused fingers Under mine.

Nataliia Chubenko Writers' Bloc

Content warning: discusses themes of transphobia Tell me what to feel Tell me what to feel When the world is empty, and the stars have burned out.

When you are so lonely that even the silence has left you.

You are crying.

You hate how nasty the pillow feels under your cheek but your limbs are too dusty and rusty to move.

It hurts. It hurts too much.

Tell me what you feel When you are burning So gracefully and ethereally.

You are a lighthouse you never wanted to be.

Flames chew on your skin.

The heat strips you naked off flash You are angry.

You never asked for so much fire and rage within you. It’s not yours. You never ordered it.

You asked for love. And grace. And softness.

The flames don’t listen. They’re hungry and they keep chewing.

You are feeding them with too many questions.

Why not me?

Why can’t I be loved too?

Why aren’t I worthy of it?

Why isn’t he looking at me?

You keep burning.

What to do with all the ashes?

Tell me what you feel when you are transparent.

Like water.

Like air.

Like glass.

You weren’t always like this. You are just tired now. The colours washed out. Even the black and white. Everything is gone.

But you are so young. Too young to be transparent, adults say.

They wanted you to be pink like Mary, who is sweet, and ripe, and shining.

They wanted you to be yellow like Nick, who is ambitious, and strong, and glorious.

They wanted you to be blue like Alex who is smart, and dreamy, and patient.

But all you have to offer is the absence of colours. Not one of them.

Tell me what to feel when you run out of manuals, instructions, teachers.

You are old but not old enough to feel.

You are wise but not wise enough to speak.

You are too much and not enough.

I’ve run out of metaphors.

I only want to know what to feel when you’re tired from holding in too much of YOU.

Winslow Homer

Jacqueline Koshort

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury. We provide specialist care and education at our headquarters in Surrey, and community services across the UK including bases at four hospitals in England. We reach tens of thousands more children and families through our website and published resources.

We want all children and young people with brain injury to have the opportunity to live the best life possible.

The Children's Trust has supported countless children from the midlands readjust to life after brain injury. Our aim is to help every child and young people person with brain injury but we cannot do this without the support of the public. So please consider helping us by donating or volunteering your spare time. We really appreciate it!

Please visit our website for any info about our services, volunteering or how to donate please visit our website https:// www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/ The Children's Trust wishes you a very merry Christmas.

FEATURES

Tuesday 7th December 2021

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www.redbrick.me

Joe's Jumble Sudoku (Medium)

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Across 4. View or judgement not necessarily based on fact (7) 5. Current UoB Vice Chancellor (8) 8. Dominic Cummings eye-test venue (7,6) 10. Pop star recently released from conservatorship (7) 12. Colour of the benches in the House of Commons (5) 13. New name of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp's parent company (4)

9 5 Down 1. Papers which recently exposed the political elite (7) 2. Number of living former British Prime Ministers (4) 3. The UK's oldest political party (12) 6. Polling day activity (4) 7. COP26 host city (7) 9. Public servant missing from this year's Remembrance Sunday service (3,5) 11. Recently married Nobel Peace Prize winner (6)

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Issue 1520 Puzzles compiled by Kitty Grant, Emily Baldwin, Colette Fountain, Ffion Hâf and Phoebe Snedker

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Sudoku (Hard)

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First Lines The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various books,

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songs and films. All you have to do is tell us where these Christmas and New Year themed lines come from.

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‘Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.'

‘It's the most beautiful time of the year / Lights fill the streets, spreadin' so much cheer’

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‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot / And never brought to mind?’

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‘Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow airport'

Anagrams As we are approaching the end of the year, can you unscramble the names of these films that came out in 2021?

1. HOTSHOT SNAILING 2. GHENT GIRTH KNEE 3. LANS TREE 4. EDIT EMOTION

5. FEY URGE 6. EIGHTHES HINT 7. CHADS PINCHER THEFT 8. ALL CURE 9. HAH TALLEST 10. BIMBOS UNHANDIER

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LAST ISSUE'S ANSWERS Crossword: 1. Dungeons; 2. Sussex; 3. Baldwin; 4. The S'Oak; 5. Tom Cruise; 6. McCabe; 7. Twenty-Five; 8. Chamberlain; 9. Jules; 10. Ahmed; 11. Peregrine; 12. Three | First Lines: The Raven (Edgar Allen Poe); Twilight (Stephenie Meyer); Thriller (Michael Jackson); Dracula (Bram Stoker) | Anagrams: 1. Helen Sun; 2.

Molly Schoenfeld; 3. Emily Baldwin; 4. Chelsie Henshaw; 5. Dan Hunt; 6. Ella Kipling; 7. Kitty Grant 8. Daniella Southin; 9. Oscar Frost; 10. Aimée Sargeant Get in touch with Redbrick Joe's Jumble by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me

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FEATURES

Tuesday 7th December 2021

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Spotlight On: Hidden Disabilities Comment Writers come together to shine a light on their hidden illnesses for Disability History Month Endometriosis and PCOS Aimée Sargeant Music Editor

Many people do not know a lot about PCOS or Endometriosis.

Lucky for me, I have had to learn about them over the last five years. Although distinctly different, both of these conditions affect my everyday life. They cause (and are not limited to): bloating, painful periods, pelvic pain, chronic fatigue, low energy, weight gain, anxiety and low moods (or sometimes depression). I experience all of these symptoms and more, and it can be comforting to know that there is a medical reason for the physical and mental abnormalities I have always been self-conscious about.

“It has been difficult at times to come to terms with” Currently there is no cure for endometriosis or PCOS. You can find ways to manage the symptoms, but these are only short term. I end up in a lot of pain, which can stop a lot of my everyday activity (including university work). Both of these conditions make it hard for me to plan to see friends, depending on the day depends on what I feel physically and mentally capable of (for example, I cannot plan when I have a flare up or when I am feeling constantly tired or down). Unfortunately, this means I have to put myself first and focus on learning to cope with these conditions. My friends and family are all very supportive of this, they understand that I do not always feel up to going out. There is emotional as well as physical pain when diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS. It has been difficult at times to come to terms with, as I have confidence issues with my bloating, weight, fatigue and low moods. But these are all things I have little to no control over. Social media really does not help with this.

On social media, you often just see the best of everyone’s lives, but it is just a snippet and never the full picture. Over the past few months I significantly reduced the amount of time I spend on social media and my phone, and this has had a positive effect on my mental health. I have been respecting my limits, realising that I cannot be constantly on

the go as this causes me extra stress that I am told to reduce. The toll all of this takes on me may not always be understood by everyone - it impacts my social life, my mental and physical health, and my appearance.

But I am in the lucky position of having support from family, partner and friends. A person’s illness may not be visible, but you never know what someone is going through. There is still a lack of awareness for both endometriosis and PCOS, but even though this scared me at first, it is always comforting to know that I am not the only one with these conditions. I am just dealing with them in the way that suits me.

Stuart Hall

Depression and Anxiety Dina Tjelmeland Adeler Comment Writer

When I was first diagnosed with anxiety and depression, I did not tell anyone. I did not tell anyone because of the environment I grew up in. We did not talk about mental health, and I knew no-one who had a mental illness. I also did not learn about it in school or see it on social media.

Every day we are asked several times 'How are you,' and most of the time we do not answer honestly. When I am asked, 'How are you' I usually answer with 'I’m fine.'

because I am afraid of how they will see and treat me differently.

It has not been easy to be alone with these feelings. It became more difficult to go to school and to do activities. It became more difficult to be social and to be around others.

I had tried everything to get better without help from my friends and family. I tried to sleep better, eat better, and exercise more. I even went to therapy once a week. But nothing made it better.

I became so tired and lonely.

And I realized I could not go on like that. But there was one thing I had not tried. That was to be honest, to tell my friends and family that I was not fine.

Therefore, I decided that next time someone would ask me about 'How are you' I would answer honestly.

After I opened up to someone about having a mental illness, it became easier and easier to tell more people. And it got better.

I finally was not alone with my feelings, and had people who knew about it and supported me.

It became easier to go to school and participate in activities. It became easier to be social. And I became less tired and lonely.

I have learned that if those around me do not know about my mental illness, then they do not know who I really am.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Charlie Knight Comment Writer

Once, when speaking to a room full of people without disabilities, I described having a hidden disability as a ‘terrible privilege’ - the fact is, for someone with social anxiety like mine, being able to choose whether people can or cannot see my disability is a blessing and a curse.

I have CFS/ME, which leads to me being a part-time mobility aid user (for me, my mobility aid is a funky stick with But bright polka-dots). this is not the Generally, I only use it on truth. I lie ‘bad’ days, but that is a bit of a about how I misnomer - my days are rarely feel. I lie ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ existing instead because I do on a spectrum. CFS/ME (Chronic not want to Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic bother my Encephalomyelitis) comes with friends and something called ‘post-exertional family about malaise’ which is effectively a my feelings. medical term for extreme crashes And I lie of energy following a period of ‘exertion.’

The amount of ‘exertion’ necessary to cause a crash varies broadly between people and even for me personally lilartsy / Unsplashed

throughout the days and weeks.

Sometimes, I can do a full day of uni work without crashing, sometimes I can barely eat a bowl of cereal. I remember, once, trying desperately to eat some soup during one of my worst days, and being unable to because the effort of lifting the spoon was causing my arms to shake so much there was never any soup left by the time it got to my mouth.

“My days are rarely 'good' or 'bad,' existing instead on a spectrum” There is no use feeling sorry for me, even at the time I was laughing at myself. The thing is, unless I am physically falling over in the street (it has happened), or using my mobility aid, no one knows that I am struggling, and this can make it very hard to ask for help if I need it. If you are sitting in one of the disabled seats on the bus, you are not going to be very inclined to offer it to a random healthy-looking 20 year old. On the other hand, when I am using my mobility aid, I get stared at, pitied, patronised, and sometimes approached by complete strangers. This makes me incredibly uncomfortable. It is a choice I have to make everyday, when I look at my stick propped up next to the radiator, and it is ridiculous how little my actual health will usually factor into my decision. Another difficulty is that, due to the post-exertional malaise, my stick is also a preventative item - it lessens the exertion, and therefore the crash.

It is a case of weighing up the pros and cons, but it is my choice - not a happy one - but a level of agency I am deeply grateful for nonetheless.

Coeliac Disease Sammy Andrews Music Editor

My experience with Coeliac Disease is something that I often struggle to speak about, but I always want to share it in the hopes that it can help just one person feel less alone in the experience. Because, for me, it has been at times incredibly isolating.

From restricted spontaneity surrounding social situations to a general lack of understanding of the condition, Coeliac Disease quietly restricts your day-to-day

life in ways thatpeople cannot see.

For context, Coeliac Disease is an auto-immune disease that impacts the small intestine. The immune system attacks its own tissues when gluten is eaten, resulting in damage to the small intestine meaning nutrients cannot be absorbed. I was diagnosed when I was 17 after almost two years of stomach aches, bloating, sickness, bowel issues, migraines, blurred vision, and joint swelling and aches. This diagnosis was a result of a long process of being dismissed as ‘probably struggling with IBS,' countless blood tests, and an intrusive endoscopy and biopsy procedure to declare the damage to my gut sufficient enough to warrant an official Coeliac diagnosis. There is no cure for Coeliac Disease, only management through a strict gluten-free diet. Although that diet has massively improved my symptoms, I still struggle day to day with the exhaustion and bloating, having to rearrange plans and re-consider outfits to ensure I am comfortable.

“Coeliac Disease quietly restricts your day-to-day life in ways that people cannot see” It brought an entirely new level of anxiety surrounding eating out for me. I already felt strange enough asking for a specific menu, never mind the various restaurants that claim they cannot offer gluten-free options as it would not be ‘authentic’ to the cuisine. I felt alienated and as if I could not trust anyone, and very quickly just wanted to isolate myself. This took me a while to find my feet with and is something that still brings a lot of anxiety surrounding plans - Coeliac UK’s accredited venues were, and still are, a lifesaver. I have faced all sorts of misconceptions about my illness. The most popular is always that I am just being a picky eater, or that the gluten-free diet is something I have picked as a kind of fad diet. Oftentimes people will tell me that I look completely fine so I cannot be ill. Yet every single day, I deal with some kind of a physical or mental strain and exhaustion brought on by an illness that I will live with forever.

It very quickly does just become a normal way of life, but this has only happened through a strong support system, the time it has taken me (and is still taking me) to come to terms with my illness, and a wider awareness of just what it means to live with

FEATURES

Tuesday 7th December 2021

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What is Disability History Month?

Phoebe Snedker Comment Editor

Disability History Month runs from the 18th November until the 18th December in the UK, with the aim of celebrating the lives of diabled people both in the past and present. This year marks the twelfth year of Disability History Month, and one of the themes for this is ‘Disability and Hidden Coeliac Disease. My story and experience with the chronic illness is one that will never fully be complete – this is an illness that I will be grappling with for the rest of my life after all.

Dyspraxia Charis Gambon Comment Writer

Dyspraxia is a common disorder affecting fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and adults. Dyspraxia affects a large amount of people with an estimated 5% of the population having dyspraxic traits. Unfortunately, Dyspraxia is not a disability that is widely known about.

I personally was formally diagnosed when I was 18 years old, despite the fact that my mom had been suggesting since I was small that I was Dyspraxic. For me, I find things that neurotypical people find easy fairly difficult due to my disability.

I struggle with my hand-eye coordination massively and as a result find dancing and sports difficult. It took me many years to learn to catch and throw and even now it is something that requires immense concentration for me. I have poorly established hand dominance and find it easier to use each hand for different tasks, although if I had to pick a dominant hand, I would most likely suggest my right hand.

I also have trouble with tasks that require fine motor skills, such as handwriting. I actually find that handwriting physically hurts and as a result I can only write small amounts before I have to take a break. As a result of this I type everything on a computer, including my exams.

I struggle with speech and language sometimes. Common issues I have are to do with pitch and volume. I often speak too loud without realising or meaning to, especially if I am excited about a topic or feel that I am being ignored. I also struggle with interrupting for similar reasons.

My pitch has gotten me into trouble on several occasions when I have used a blunt or sarcastic tone when speaking to people without meaning to.

“Having Dyspraxia, however, is not all about things I cannot do”

Impairments’.

Often, many of us will suffer in silence with our conditions they are not taken seriously as they cannot be seen. Existing in the margins of not being ‘unwell enough’ to be disabled, but not ‘well enough’ to fit inside societal perceptions of ‘normal,' can be incredibly isolating. These hidden illnesses can have profound impacts on the daily life of its sufferer, and they should not be left

to cope with this alone. Whether it is a matter of finding more suitable treatment plans and cures, or educating others of the signs and symptoms of these conditions, this month highlights the importance of awareness of these conditions.

With this in mind, we have invited our writers to share their experiences with their conditions that can often go unseen on the surface. Our writers have bravely

provided an insight into what it is like to live with conditions that exist beyond the surface. Exploring a range of issues - from mental health, to autoimmune conditions - comment writers come together to discuss the impact their health has on their daily life.

I have always struggled with tasks that many others learnt to do when they were children. For example, I cannot tell the time on a clock, even now as a 23 year old woman. I also have never been able to read a map.

Having Dyspraxia, however, is not all about things I cannot do and I would not want to paint the idea that I struggle with everything. It may take me longer to learn things but when I have learnt something I never forget how to do it, no matter how long it has been since the last time I did it.

Having Dyspraxia has given me a chance to care deeply about things. It has also shown me that just because things are hard does not mean you should give up.

Being a Dyspraxic individual has made me who I am today: a dedicated, hardworking, persistent and caring woman.

the time I know my limits and try not to push myself too hard, other times my anxiety gets the better of me and I suddenly have to take myself away from the situation to prevent a panic attack.

Another common symptom of anxiety is intense feelings of imposter syndrome, something that became even more apparent to me when starting university.

Although this in itself is not a medical problem, for me it leads to continuous patterns of thinking that lead to self-doubt and negative thoughts about myself. When it comes to how I deal with this, it falls at two extremes: I either find myself unable to work altogether out of the dread of the outcome or I overwork myself to the point of exhaustion when evaluating my sense of self-worth through my education. I find it almost impossible to praise myself for success as I feel unable to believe in my abilities.

Although I can comfortably say now that I have learnt to manage my anxiety, it is still very much something that will always be a part of my life. Sometimes we just have to be kind to ourselves and understand that things cannot always be as we had hoped.

Personally, I do my best in listening to my own needs and try to manage my anxiety one step at a time.

mental health - you have no other option than to deal with it, essentially.

Endometriosis impacts all aspects of my life: my work life, social life, my education, my mental health, my relationships and sex life, and my relationship with myself. The constant bloating - nicknamed ‘endo belly’ - has caused me a lot of confidence problems growing up, as my bulging stomach does not quite match the beauty standards held in our society. My relationship with my body-image is still one that is healing now, but I thoroughly believe more awareness and recognition of the condition and its symptoms would have made a world of difference to how I viewed myself.

Anxiety Ffion Hâf Comment Editor

My experience with anxiety is not something I speak of often; this is partly because I do not want to burden or worry those around me.

Ironically, one of the key signs of anxiety disorder is persistent worrying. I often struggle with letting things go and fear making the wrong choices in pretty much every aspect of my life.

“I find myself second-guessing everything I do and say, identifying flaws in my interactions” For me, anxiety takes multiple forms, however, the most prominent factors for me are struggling in social situations and often experiencing overwhelming feelings of self-doubt. I always used to characterise my discomfort around large or new groups of people as simply being down to my shyness, but it was only as I got older that I realised that it was down to anxiety. I would say that almost every time I know that I am going somewhere with large groups of people I feel a huge sense of dread and a heavy feeling in my chest. I constantly expect the worst and worry that I will embarrass myself or that people will judge me, and then I find myself second-guessing everything I do and say, identifying flaws in my interactions. Most of

Endometriosis Phoebe Snedker Comment Editor

Endometriosis is a condition that affects 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth - yet the majority of us have never heard of it. I was initially diagnosed via laparoscopic surgery at age 18, though I had been to multiple doctors who often did not take me seriously - before this about my symptoms, which began at age 13.

I am currently in a medically induced menopause as a result of my condition. Since being diagnosed two years ago, endometriosis has returned to my ovaries and pelvic area, and has spread to my bladder - resulting in chronic pain, bladder and urinary problems, and a lot of daily medications.

Hospital waiting lists for surgery are insufferably long, which means that, like many others, I am unable to access the healthcare I need to ease my pain. I am awaiting further laparoscopic and cystoscopy surgery, but without the financial ability to fund this privately, it is unclear how long this wait will be. This uncertainty inevitably puts a strain on your

“More awareness on the condition and its symptoms would have made a world of difference to how I view myself” There is no cure for endometriosis, and so it is a part of my body that I am trying to accept and nurture. The intense pain, unpredictability and fatigue associated with the disease often leaves me unable to be as productive or social as I would like, which is deeply frustrating for a perfectionist like myself. The Reasonable Adjustment Plans (RAPs) implemented by the University have been a saving grace when I suffer with flare ups, but the inability to function or maintain normality as-and-when you wish is a tough reality to accept. Navigating my life and responsibilities around the condition is most certainly still a work in progress, though I find comfort in knowing that my openness about the condition and acceptance of my body is something my younger-self would be proud of.

Kelly Sikkema / Unsplashed

Todd Trapani / Unsplashed

CULTURE

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Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbrickculture

Musical Review: Death Drop – A Double Perspective Ffion Hâf and Emily Baldwin review Death Drop: The Musical, recommending it to anyone looking for a good laugh despite its limited plot Ffion Hâf

Emily Baldwin

Comment Editor

As a longtime fan of all things drag, being invited to watch Death Drop: The Musical was a night that I did not want to miss.

Having already been familiar with a few of the performers, I knew I was in for a great night full of great music and dark humour; to say the least, I was not disappointed.

From the grand set design that fitted the theme of the show perfectly, to the incredible costumes that were wonderfully catered to each character, it was a fun and lively experience. Whilst at times I will admit not all of the jokes lamded with the younger members of the audience, the writing all in all was absolutely hilarious.

Every member of the audience was visibly having a ball, from clapping along to songs to wooing over their favourite cast members: there was hardly a silent moment during the whole performance.

“The audience was visibly having a ball, from clapping along to songs to wooing over their favourite cast members” However, although I expected to be completely blown away by the big names from RuPaul’s Drag Race, it was, in fact, Holly Stars who played the Bottomly

Comment Editor

Matt Crockett

triplets and Georgia Frost, reconised as Phil Maker for the night, that stole the show in my opinion. I personally love panto and all its campy grandeur, and that is exactly what Stars brought to the table. In every scene they brought a bundle of laughs and plenty of the finest British delicacies (including beef pancakes and potato waffles).

What I loved about Frost was that they really embraced the role and brought it to life in all of Phil’s misogynistic and pig-like glory. From the obscenely large crotch to the high-energy hip thrusts, I could not keep my eyes off of them for all the right reasons. After years of only seeing Drag Queens on television, it was a delight to also see Kings on stage - something that I would love to see more of.

The show was an undeniable success as it catered perfectly to its audience: there is something about Drag performance that always creates an atmosphere of excitement and a strong sense of community for everyone involved and that is one of the reasons why I love it so much. I would definitely recommend this show to anyone looking for a good laugh.

When I heard that Death Drop: The Musical was touring the UK I immediately reached out to as many people as I could to try and find tickets. A murder mystery set on the fictional ‘Tuck Island,’ Death Drop is a dark romp of a comedy. Fuelled by tongue-incheek humour, a star-studded cast, an appreciation of drag in its many forms and, of course, Prince Charles and Lady Di, a trip to Death Drop is bound to be a camp-old time.

Set in 1992 on the eve of Charles and Diana’s wedding anniversary, the plot takes on an expected form. It is a dark stormy night and a cast of remarkably undistinguished guests are invited to a mysterious celebratory dinner. First at the table is the commandingly crowd-pleasing Vinegar Strokes, playing the adequately named Lady of the House - Lady Von Fistenburg. From her gorgeous dresses and big hair to her booming voice and precision timing, Strokes was hard to miss.

Next is the trio of Bottomley sisters played by drag artist, comedian and trans-rights activist Holly Stars, who also wrote the show.

With non-stop jokes, panto-like comedy and fantastically timed breaks of the fourth wall, there is no doubt that Stars is deserving of her name. Soon drag queens from across the pond, Willam, Ra’ja O’Hara and Karen From Finance made their way on stage to great whoops and cheers from the Drag Race loving crowd. Any fears of stunt-casting are immediately dispelled, as all perfectly suit their

exuberantly caricatured roles, although Willam’s vocals were characteristically scratchy at times.

“It was also an absolute joy to see both Drag Queens and Kings onstage” The plot is limited, easy to guess and not exciting. The musical interludes were sparse but formed some of the most engaging parts of the show; I would have liked some more songs. But the writing was bawdy and the humour hilarious. It could have been a little shorter in places, yet the ending was rushed and I have to admit that I was left wanting a little more oomph. However, what makes the show unmissable is the skill and dexterity of the drag artists on stage. I was particularly impressed by both Georgia Frost’s and Richard Energy’s performances as Phil Maker and Rich Whiteman. At least a foot shorter

than the towering queens and full of energy, Frost stole the stage whenever they appeared, garnering some of the biggest laughs. It was also an absolute joy to see both Drag Queens and Kings onstage, something that the commercially successful Drag Race productions overlook. I overheard a number of people admitting a newfound excitement for Drag Kings on their way out, with many saying that they had not even heard of them before.

In a touching finale, the cast took their final bows holding the Pride flag, Trans flag and NonBinary flag. This production was such a celebration of queer culture, humour and art; a culmination of a community of talent, resilience and pure fun. It is hard to review it without acknowledging the transphobic hate spewed at many cast members by TERFs, but as the standing ovation to the raising of the flags showed, trans and nonbinary people are not going anywhere - and the community will continue to celebrate them unapologetically.

Matt Crockett

Book Review: You Deserve Better

Tamzin Meyer reviews You Deserve Better, global megastar Anne Marie’s book about her experiences with mental health Tamzin Meyer Digital Editor

I must admit, whenever somebody suggests that I read a self-help book or book surrounding mental health, I immediately refuse. I always think that most of these books are the same, as if the

Twitter: @AnneMarie

authors were programmed to write about magic ‘solutions’ to my problems when, in fact, they themselves do not even take their own advice. The sad truth is that most of these books are nothing but money-making schemes, which is why I was sceptical when I first heard that global megastar, Anne Marie, was releasing her own book. Despite this, I leaped at the chance to grab a copy of the book and attend the book signing of one of my favourite singers. I just could not help myself, being especially enticed by the brightly coloured front cover.

Luckily for me, my expectations were exceeded. It would have been very easy for Anne Marie to relay the same old facts and mental health advice that every other author has written about time and time again. There would have been no risk in that. The fact that she

risked her reputation to be 100% truthful and honest about her experiences of mental health was refreshing and showed how important the topic is to her.

“It is a very real and sincere account of Anne Marie’s struggle” Whilst the book is no literary work of art, it is a very real and sincere account of Anne Marie’s struggle with mental health. She does not claim to know how best to give advice but readers will clearly be able to relate to her experiences of not fitting in and feeling insecure about herself, being reassured that even the most famous celebrities battle with their

thoughts. We are all human at the Marie in mini vlog style clips that end of the day, which is something give an insight into both her good that Anne Marie makes very clear. and bad days. This idea is one that Her personality is embedded I would love to see more of in throughout the book, with other autobiographies. hand-drawn doodles and In all, Anne drawings included Marie’s book is which helped provide clearly aimed at the reader with more her fans rather of a connection to than the average what she had to say. reader but does After reading the well in connectbook, they come ing with those away feeling like on a similar they have just been journey to her talking to a friend raththrough the Harald Krichel er than reading a part book’s personal self-help and part autobiapproach.

You ography of an international Deserve Better is a must superstar. The scannable QR codes read for anybody who is either scattered throughout the book was struggling with their mental health a refreshing and original concept and wants somebody to relate to or that only added to the intimacy of simply wants to know more about the book. By scanning these codes, Anne Marie’s life. readers can watch videos of Anne

CULTURE

Tuesday 7th December 2021

19

@redbrickculture

Theatre Review: Who Cares?

Emma Walker and Sarina Shah find themselves moved by the dialogue taken verbatim from interviews with young carers Emma Walker Culture Writer

Having read a brief introduction to Who Cares?, a play examining the UK’s failing social care system and young carers, I knew my Monday night was not going to be filled with escapism. However, I also did not expect to leave the MAC with so much food for thought on a topic I had previously known very little about.

Lung Theatre’s Who Cares? is based on the stories of Nicole, Jade and Connor, three young carers in different year groups at the same high school. Young carers are defined as children ‘age 17 and under who provide unpaid care to a family member because of a disability, illness, mental health condition or [an] addiction.’ According to a 2013 BBC report, approximately one in 12 children in the UK are young carers. Who Cares? explores the circumstances of these young people, and the issues that arise from them not being identified as carers by local authorities. The fact

that the play’s dialogue is taken verbatim from interviews with young carers is thought-provoking and heart-breaking in equal measure. It skilfully blends familiar parts of school life with personal events that are both unimaginable and tragic. The show’s three actors superbly and sympathetically take on all of the play’s roles, putting forward the perspectives of young people, parents, councillors, and social workers.

However, as much as the play itself impacted me, I was even more taken by Lung Theatre’s work off-stage.

During the post-show Q&A, I found out that the play was originally written as an identifying tool toured around schools, for young carers who may see elements of themselves in the characters.

Sarina Shah Travel Editor

This was a really touching play that everyone needs to see.

Throughout the play, there were some emotional moments where the characters had ups and downs, and finding out that it was a verbatim play made it all the more real. The play was written alongside young carers themselves, and you can see the authenticity and realness of the difficulties faced as a young carer, such as organising prescriptions or hospital appointments, and who in many cases have to take on the role of parent from as young as four.

I loved when the characters would start and finish each other sentences – and, for me, this represented the idea of solidarity and

“The fact that the play’s dialogue is taken verbatim from interviews with young carers is thoughtprovoking and heart-breaking”

the message that the play aims to share; that young carers are not alone.

Throughout the play, I learnt some interesting facts; young carers lose an average of 48 days of teaching, and that unidentified young carers who do not receive support are twice as likely to require healthcare later on in life.

Ignoring the problem and cutting budgets for local councils and institutions that support these young individuals creates larger issues later on that puts further pressure on institutions like the NHS. I was pleased to hear in the post-show Q&A that through the show, policies have been introduced such as a Young Carers card, which can be shown to teachers in school so that they understand why a young carer might be late to school or leave early to collect brothers and sisters. The tour of the play has helped to identify 200 hidden young carers through performances in schools, which I think is an incredible achievement.

The Battle of Artefacts: Legality over Morality

Editors’ Picks:

To Read During Break

Amazon UK

Faking Under the Misletoe Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

Amazon UK

A Holly Jolly Diwali

Molly Schoenfeld discusses whether the repatriation of artefacts is a legal issue Molly Schoenfeld Deputy Editor

To collect and display artefacts is by no means a neutral or natural activity. It was only from the midsixteenth century onwards that European aristocrats started to collect natural and man-made phenomena as a way of understanding, or even controlling, the world. Indeed, when a group of Inuit people visited London in 1772, they were shocked at how natural objects were displayed in museums.

Modern-day museum culture is a product of this Renaissance legacy. Museums are not innate institutions; they have problematic and long histories of their own.

Notably, The British Museum in London was founded by Hans Sloane, who was a physician as well as slave-owner. Of course, museums are not just cold-hearted places of sadistic collection and display; they are important places of learning and research. The problem, however, is that by being displayed in glass boxes, artefacts are often detached from the physical or psychological violence with which they were acquired. For instance, Dan Hicks’s The Brutish Museums discusses the Pitt Rivers Museum’s removal of its shrunken heads from display, due to the atrocities committed by the British soldiers who obtained them.

Given these historical contexts, there have been increased

demands for the restitution or repatriation of artefacts ‘owned’ by museums. The looting of artefacts has long been a feature of history, mostly through wars or colonization, but the legal implications of institutions’ ownership of such objects have only recently been discussed.

Under the 1983 National Heritage Act, museums are prevented from ‘de-accessioning objects that are the property of the museum, unless they are exact replicas or damaged beyond repair.’ This law was introduced to prevent museums selling off ‘unfashionable’ items that might be of value later on.

“The legal implications of institutions’ ownership of such objects have only recently been discussed”

collector argued that he was the lawful owner and purchased the object ‘in good faith,’ as per the final ruling in 2018. Here, the law prevented the artefact from being used for its original, indigenous purpose (to practice religion) which makes legislation an insufficient framework from which to assess repatriation cases. In other words, the cultural and moral dimensions of these artefacts must also be considered.

‘Official’ documents detailing ownership can also be unclear.

Most famously, the ongoing case of the Elgin Marbles revolves around a firman (imperial decree) from 1801 permitting Lord Elgin to remove the Marbles from the Acropolis. The reliability of this document has been disputed, given that it is a translation of the original decree and was not signed by the Sultan himself. There are numerous arguments on both sides about whether the Marbles should be repatriated (including educational and environmental considerations), yet this one, dubious document from 1801 remains at the forefront of the debate. It is, I believe, wrong to reduce these culturally-rich arte-

The application of this law in repatriation cases can be problematic. Legal frameworks often favour museums in repatriation cases. For example, a Buddha statue of great local importance was stolen from a Chinese temple in 1995. It was acquired by a Dutch collector who loaned the statue to a museum, leading Chinese villagers to make a restitution claim, but the Flickr: @Brian Jeffery Beggerly

facts to being mere subjects of obscure legislation.

“If museums want to continue to have a place they must position themselves as learning communities” Museums can therefore often legally claim ownership over artefacts if they have the legal evidence to back up the claim, but whether they should claim legal ownership is a more important matter. Olga Viso, the director of Minnesota’s Walker Art Center, said that, ‘If museums want to continue to have a place they must position themselves as learning communities, not impenetrable centres of self-validating authority.’ Museums should be aware of the fact that repatriation cases are not only matters of legality, but ones of moral and cultural importance.

Amazon UK

Girls Made of Snow and Glass

Amazon UK

Anna Karenina

Amazon UK

Winter

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MUSIC

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbrickmusic

Single Review: Foals - Wake Me Up Poppy Turner Music Critic

Foals are one of those bands that have always played up the rock in indie rock, and their new single ‘Wake Me Up’ has not deviated from that trend, too much. Is ‘Wake Me Up’ a symbol of the band beginning a new era or is this refreshing release a one of a kind, a promotional way to get their fans pining for their anticipated seventh album?

With Yannis Philipakis’ prominent vocals and the almost-tooloud-but-not-quite instrumentals, this song would have been comfortably nestled among the tracks of ‘Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part II’, their most recent album. However, this does not mean that the band have not introduced an upbeat kick, which is

rare among their usual introspective, angsty tracks. It feels like the alternative disco anthem we need to spice up this winter.

It does not seem too extreme to say the drum and synth intro has made this song into a bit of an ear-worm. Personally, I could not help but think this track is on its way to Two Door Cinema Club’s iconic beats and quirky guitar riffs. The increase in tempo and the short and zesty lyrics of the bridge have taken up permanent residence in my head. ‘I’m burning all my bridges/ I’m pulling up the ropes/Deleting all the codes/ No, I’m not that man you know’ is accompanied with a drum beat to solidify those strong lyrics in a familiar Foals fashion and it really hits the spot.

Philipakis begins the song with ‘I’m walking through a dream/I’m walking through the

finest place I’ve ever seen’ and it is enjoyable to hear some optimism in a Foals track. However, the repetition of the title feels like it is sometimes leaning into the monotonous rather than the mantric, similarly with the overuse of ‘oh no’ and ‘man.’ As catchy as this song is, it is not a song everyone can have on repeat.

With their looming seventh album and the departure of Edwin Congreave, their keyboardist, this suggests a shift in their music - a breath of fresh air. The first audio teaser we heard of ‘Wake Me Up’ was in October, where the first few seconds of the song’s intro was posted to their Instagram. If you take a scroll through the comments the words ‘funky’ and ‘groovy’ are thrown around a bit more than usual and it is hard not to agree. The music video as well,

released on the same day, is a funfilled performance of sunflowers, jungles, fire, parties and shiny pants, to name only a few.

Although this may all assume too much. After all this is only the first single to be released for their future project and Foals are not strangers to showing a vibrant spectrum of tones in their albums.

However, the band has made it clear that they want the future album to represent something new. On the 4th November, Philipakis tweeted ‘New music, new era. Let’s go x,’ a phrase that should fill every Foals fan with at least a little excitement.

‘Wake Me Up’ feels like the best compromise between loyalty to their old sound and a leap out of their comfort zone. Foals have released tracks with better lyrics but there is no doubt it is catchy and novel enough to look past

that. It is a dance anthem with Foals’ signature rough touch.

Edward Cooke via Pomona PR

««««

Live Review: DMA’s Ffion Hâf Comment Editor

DMA’s, an Australian three-piece indie-rock band are back with their biggest UK tour yet. The band had originally planned to play the shows in 2020, however, the dates were moved to this autumn due to the effects of the pandemic. All I can say is that this concert was worth the wait, and I would strongly encourage fans of the band or even those who are just looking for a good time and great music, to go and see them for yourselves. The setlist was evidently full of fan favourites, a mix of both intimate and energetic moments.

As the lights dimmed and the DMA’s took the stage, the roar of the crowd chanting ‘D-D-D-MA-S’ was infectious, and everyone in the audience knew that this was the place to be in Birmingham tonight. The excitement of the fans was mirrored equally by the band as they open the concert with ‘Never Before,’; the scene was alive and the music was vibrant, yet this was just the beginning.

Moving onto songs from their latest album The Glow, the title track was a clear example of how songs thrive in live environments, invigorating them with energy, the band have a clear and strong presence that cannot be translated through recording.

“The setlist was evidently full of fan favourites” Towards the middle of the set, the songs ‘Silver’ and ‘Emily Whyte’ introduced a slower and more intimate atmosphere. Out of the two, my personal favourite was ‘Silver’, which gave the lyrics: ‘How do I redefine / All my love for you? / I guess I look to the sun with you / Look to the sun with you.’ O’Dell’s emotive vocals look back on a failed relationship and how these memories still consume our minds years later. The song gave the perfect love ballad mixed with enough energy to keep the pace of the concert going. The flawless vocals seemed only to get

stronger as the performance went on, evident when ‘We are Midnight’, one of the songs from their latest EP, began. The song showcases how versatile the band’s song writing has become since their earlier work within both the set and their discography.

During ‘Play it Out,’ O’Dell left the stage for a few minutes to allow the musicians their time in the spotlight. This song was by far one of the crowd’s favourites as the lyrics were roaring from the wave of fans immersing themselves in the music. There is something special when the band can allow each member to show off their skills whilst also including their fans in the magic of the performance.

As one would expect, the band returned for an encore, finishing off the night with ‘Appointment,’ ‘Lay Down’ and ‘Feels like 37,’ the band closed the night just as strongly as they began. ‘Lay Down’ was hands down one of my favourite tracks played, as it introduced the boisterous energy through the beat of the drum and guitars. Both fans and the band knew that the night was coming to

an end, however, this only heightend the energy as people immersed themselves in the music. Both the music itself and the vigour of the band matched the atmosphere of the venue perfectly.

Marking my first live music event since the beginning of the pandemic, I could not fault the DMA’s. Their chemistry as a band was undeniable and worked in their favour for the entirety of the performance. The atmosphere of a concert is always ten times better when you can truly tell that the artists love their craft, and this was very much the case. They had the audience entranced the entire night, and despite being an international band, the sense of community was beyond question and they made Birmingham their own.

Following this performance, I most definitely will continue to listen to DMA’s, as their music is infectious and just what you want from modern, indie-rock music.

After over a year of missing live music, I could not have asked for more and I cannot wait for my next show.

Facebook: @DMA’s

Facebook: @DMA’s

The Art of Misheard Lyrics Abi Kinsella

Music Critic

As a child, one of my favourite songs was a heart wrenching dance track by Calvin Harris, featuring Florence + The Machine. It told the sorrowful tale of a young woman, whose life had been embroiled in addiction. ‘Sweet Nurofen,’ she wails. ‘Sweet Nurofen, keep giving me just sweet Nurofen.’ The song, I eventually found out, is actually called ‘Sweet Nothing.’

A few years later, I was in the car with my mum. We were listening to One Direction’s second album, Take Me Home. Its adorably clean-cut foray into the world of rock, ‘Rock Me’, was playing.

As we stopped at the traffic lights, my mum turned to me, face screwed up in confusion. ‘Who’s Katie?’ she asked.

What One Direction were actually singing was ‘R-O-C-K me again.’

I have great affection for misheard lyrics. I think they open the door for creativity of interpretation. What became of the Nurofen girl? Where is Katie going? Is Katie being taken to a facility to address her Nurofen addiction?

Other personal favourites include Freddie Mercury’s cry of ‘I’m adopted!’ midway through Queen’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust.’ What he actually says: ‘Bite the dust, yeah!’ (Apparently. In truth, I still hear ‘I’m adopted.’) I also hear ‘stupid horse’ instead of

‘troubadours’ in Queen’s ‘Seven Seas of Rhye,’ (‘I challenge the mighty Titan and his troubadours!’) but that is probably because I am not entirely sure what a troubadour is, and frankly, I refuse to find out because I like my version better.

There are other cases where I think my version is an improvement. I very much prefer ‘Money for nothing and your chips for free,’ in Dire Straits’ ‘Money for Nothing,’ over ‘chicks for free.’

Far more politically correct and not a bad trade off either - what is the point in being a rockstar if not for the joy of free potato products?

My personal criteria for misheard lyrics is that they need to be legitimate mistakes. A similar,

equally enjoyable phenomenon is the rhyming lyric. Take, for example, the myriad replacements for Bon Jovi’s ‘Living on a Prayer.’

‘Whooooa, we’re halfway there/ Whooooa, puppy on the stair!’

‘Cushion on a chair,’ ‘elephants are rare’ – the list goes on. Aldi even exploited the fun of this linguistic game for an ad campaign in 2018. The tongue in cheek, delightfully silly ‘lemon on a pear’ was a staple of roadside billboards for many months.

These lyric replacement games evoke the same whimsical creativity as misheard lyrics. They also encourage the community of shared experience - the ad campaign only works because we all love (or at the very least, are frequently subjected to) the original

song. So, I am all for them. But there is something uniquely naive and earnest about the misheard lyric that sets it aside as a separate entity.

Misheard lyrics make the world more fun. When you mishear a lyric, you take a song and make it your own. It becomes an avenue for exploration into a narrative unimagined by the creator, be it the strange tale of a niche addiction or the mundane affordances given to rockstars.

Do not be embarrassed if you mishear a lyric. Embrace it and embark on a voyage of creativity.

Keep searching for Katie.

MUSIC

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbrickmusic

21

Holiday Jingles Leah Renz

Culture Editor

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You I genuinely refuse to believe it is Christmas until I have heard the first strains of Mariah Carey’s alltime classic, ‘All I Want for Christmas is You.’ The distinctive seasonal tinkle, followed by the frankly iconic drawn-out ‘I,’ is enough to get me slightly too excitable. I had to click pause to calm myself down before listening to the rest of the song to write this review, because the feeling of Christmas that overwhelmed me was too powerful for a random evening in November.

‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ has it all: the cosy good cheer, the beat to get you dancing, and, of course, Carey’s fantastic vocals matching a (slightly needy) plea for love. But then, what could make Christmas better than the addition of a soppy romance?

The song also has the requisite level of Christmas references needed – from reindeers and Santa, to snow, mistletoe and Christmas trees. Sleigh bells abound throughout, and even the harmonic backing singers emanate carol choir energy. Overall, ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ is perfect for imagining your own Christmas fairy-tale� and it is always good fun to try (and fail) to croon ‘youuuuuu’ alongside Carey in the final chorus.

Lorcan Drury

Music Editor

Taylor Swift - Christmas Tree Farm A great Christmas song is catchy and represents the holiday spirit.

‘Christmas Tree Farm’ ticks both those boxes, from campy lyrics to a chorus that has been stuck in my head for the past week. In the intro, Swift explores how hectic our modern day lives are with ‘stress and holiday shopping,’ however, through the power of imagination, she is transported to a simpler, more idyllic Christmas setting. Each verse starts with the lyric ‘in my heart there’s a Christmas tree farm,’ a metaphor for the childlike joy of Christmas.

Swift was inspired to write the song because she actually did grow up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. With this knowledge, Christmas can be seen as having a deep importance to Swift as it helped shape her as a person.

Overall, the song is saturated with typical festive images, from ‘sparkling lights’ to ‘holly and ribbon’, to create an idealised version of Christmas. I just love how uplifting this song is and I cannot wait to be swiftly absorbed in a winter wonderland this Christmas.

Samantha Andrews Music Editor

The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping ‘Christmas Wrapping’ by The Waitresses is an absolute ‘80s New Wave Christmas classic. As the guitar riff enters you into the song, the song leads you into an ironically melodic expression of Christmas and all of its frustrations. Referencing the overwhelming busyness of Christmas traditions, the song wittily plays with irony, opening sardonically with the line ‘bah hum but that’s too strong / ‘Cause it is my favourite holiday. ’ The entire hook of the song being ‘Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas / But I think I’ll miss this one this year.’ Ultimately though, The Waitresses prove not to be scrooges, with the song ending on a heart-warming note, highlighting the truly important parts of Christmas, or the ‘Christmas magic’ as they put it.

The trumpet melody that characterises the chorus has become synonymous with Christmas – it sounds and feels joyful and festive. In fact, the entire horn and saxophone arrangements bring an undeniable amount of festivity into the song. ‘Christmas Wrapping’ is an incredibly fun Christmas song, that plays around with the glee expected from a Christmas song and wittily gets to the heart of the festive season – plus the hook will get caught in your head for the entire Christmas period.

Aimee Sargeant Music Editor

Abi Kinsella

Sammy Andrews:

The Music Editors recap their

Vault) [feat. Phoebe Bridgers]

top pick for Song of the Month

Lorcan Drury:

Taylor Swift - Nothing New (Taylor’s Version) (From The

Taylor Swift - All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)

Music Critic

From Nativity! - She’s The Brightest Star It may not be the height of intellectualism, it may not be highbrow, it may not even have a plot that entirely hangs together - but I will maintain until my dying day that Nativity! (2009) is the greatest Christmas film of all time. And that is in no small part down to its music, the jewel in the crown of which is ‘She’s The Brightest Star.’ An affectionate, parodic ode to ‘90s boybands of the NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block ilk, it is a cheesy tapestry weaved of synth-laden echoes, chorister harmonies and charmingly juvenile attempts at American accents. It is tongue in cheek, it is self-aware and it is delightfully festive. It embodies perfectly that divine interval of time when kids are thoroughly invested in being cool - and will happily achieve that by painting felt-tip goatees onto themselves but when the definition of cool still includes getting excited about Christmas.

And of course - Ollie’s rap. Do w e n o t all shed a tear when his m u m w a v e s sheepishly from the back of t h e crowd, and his eyes glint with pride?

Or is that just me?

Adam Sandler - Hanukkah Song What rhymes with Hanukkah?

Adam Sandler will tell you.

In his spoof song on the Jewish festival of lights, he laments the lack of songs about Hanukkah, saying, we ‘don’t need ‘Deck the Halls’ or ‘Jingle Bell Rock’’ because we now have a new song we can all sing along to. It certainly is so much ‘fun-ukah’ and a classic festive song. Every time I hear it, I cannot help but laugh out loud at the witty lyrics and the lightness and fun that he brings into the song and its expression.

The next thing I do is to send it round to everyone I know.

Sandler’s humorous asides and the crazy additions of ‘-uka’ onto words to allow rhyme, create such a brilliant, entertaining way of rejoicing that Hanukkah is coming. In each version of the song, he lists different Jewish people who are celebrating, including the fact that we can play dreidel games with Captain Kirk, that Harrison Ford is one quarter Jewish and so is David Lee Roth. The song becomes a way to celebrate Jewish heritage and being Jewish, as well as having a laugh(uka).

From me (and Adam Sandler) ‘have a happy, happy, happy, happy Hanukkah!’

Rebeca Bernat Music Critic

Ashnikko - Carol of the Bells Ashnikko is an artist who has found their sound and stays loyal to it no matter what. Because of Facebook: this, her rendition of ‘Carol of the @MariahCarey Bells’, originally by composer Mykola Leontovych, manages to remain true to its foundations, with a spooky twist. When asked about the cover, Ashnikko says she chose ‘Carol of the Bells’ ‘because it sounds like a strange little fairy chant’ and I could not agree more. The song has the peculiar ability to make the listener feel simultaneously comforted and unsettled. ‘It is the closest I could get to spooky on Christmas,’ Ashnikko said to Spotify. The cover is part of this year’s Spotify Singles: Holiday Collection; a playlist curated by Spotify that contains a selection of Christmas song covers by different artists. There were 12 new additions to the playlist this year, with artists like Nao, jxden, ElAlfa, LeeHi, and many more. This is also the first year Spotify has included covers by international artists.

Wham! - Last Christmas ‘Last Christmas’ is a Christmas classic. The synths and iconic drum beat lead you into George Michael’s soothing and recognisable vocals. There is a jolly upbeat melody of the song which contrasts the lyrics.

There is very little to do with Christmas, focusing on a failed relationship. ‘Last Christmas’ is both a fun song to sing along to, and quite a sad one when you realise the meaning.

However, it will always be played around Christmas as a comforting and familiar sound.

The chorus will get y o u addicted, and you will start becoming a backing singer. 37 years on, it is still a classic.

Editors’ Songs of November:

Beatrice Lancet

Music Critic

Ellie Harris:

Upcoming Events:

Girli - More Than A Friend

Editors’ Pick:

Aimee Sargeant:

Kawala, O2 Institute, 8th Dec

Taylor Swift - The Last Time

Kawala are sure to put on an

(Taylor’s Version) [feat. Gary

upbeat show in their first European

Lightbody]

tour this December

Georgia Brooks Music Critic

Daisy Griffin Music Critic

The Killers and Ned Humphrey Hanson - I’ll Be Home For Christmas I know what you are thinking – did Bing Crosby not record the original ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas?’ Your second question is probably, why is this version five and a half minutes long? Bear with us. We have 200 words to convince you that the Killers’ version, with only 86,000 Spotify streams, is the one to listen to this Christmas.

The song opens with a narration from the lead singer, Brandon Flowers, who recalls his own story of moving home as a child, from Las Vegas to Utah. He introduces Ned Humphrey Hanson, his elementary school teacher, and recollects a particularly important moment from his childhood, when Mr Hanson sang ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ acapella in front of 9-year-old Brandon and his classmates. He recalls: ‘I knew I was experiencing something different from the others, but I was uplifted, so it didn’t matter. I felt the power of a song.’

The recording concludes with the 86-year-old Hanson leading a rendition of ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ and Brandon complimenting his teacher’s performance with accompanying harmonies. The song perfectly captures the nostalgic power that music can have. Through Brandon’s recollection of his own personal connection to this Christmas classic, we are reminded of the unique ability of music to take us back to a specific moment in time.

Overall, the cover remains true to the original with the harmonies and choir in the background. The build-up created during the first three verses is what makes the beat drop so impactfully as she adds a modern beat and guitars. Her voice matches the eerie ambiance of the song perfectly, which shows a lot of thought was put into this cover, as it does not feel like a rendition of a pre-existing song, but rather just another Ashnikko banger.

This cover meshes beautifully with the rest of her discography and is a perfect song to transition from the spookiness of Halloween season, into a cheery Christmas spirit.

Best of the Rest: We Are Scientists, O2 Institute, 6th December The Darkness, O2 Academy, 14th December

22

FILM

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbrickfilm

Director Rundown: Edgar Wright

Siân Allen takes us on a tour around the career of iconic director Edgar Wright Siân Allen

place to start is Shaun Of The Dead (2004), a zom-com that has become a crown jewel of British There are many ways to tell that cult comedy. The first film in the you might be watching an Edgar Cornetto Trilogy is full of the wit Wright film. Has there been five and visual stylishness that made whip pans in the last five minWright a household name. The utes? Was that fight scene meticzombie apocalypse is the only ulously choreographed to an thing that can motivate Shaun absolute banger? Did that seem(Simon Pegg) to finally sort his ingly insignificant gag from the life out and get his girlfriend Liz first act just pay off magnifi(Kate Ashfield) back. The long cently in the third? If the editing take in which Shaun is oblivious is hyperactive, the soundtrack is to the apocalypse happening legendary, and the pace is turbo- around him is a particular highcharged, it is safe to say that you light, as is the famous ‘Don’t Stop are in the (W)right hands.

Me Now’ sequence that pleasingly If you are taking a tour of foreshadows Wright’s masterful Wright’s filmography, the best use of music and choreography in his later works.

Shaun Of The Dead is perfect for anyone who cannot handle too much horror, a genre satire that prioritises laughs over scares.

Next is Hot Fuzz (2007), the blue ‘Original’ Cornetto to Shaun Of The Dead’s strawFacebook: @ScottPilgrim berry.

Hot Fuzz is a highTV Editor

octane action buddy-cop movie set in a rural English village. This simple but strong premise makes this film my favourite of the trilogy, along with Pegg and Frost’s excellent (and mildly homoerotic) chemistry as Nicholas and Danny.

Boasting a cast full of British icons, Hot Fuzz is a riotously silly parody of every silly action film ever made. It has a surprisingly compelling mystery at its centre with a truly ridiculous payoff that is delightful to watch.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) was Wright’s first Hollywood movie - and though it may have bombed at the box office, it has since earned the cult following it deserves. As his garage band compete to win a life-changing record deal, Scott (Michael Cera) battles the League of Evil Exes to continue dating Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Adapted from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series, Scott Pilgrim has everything: bass battles, vegan police, video-game inspired superpowers. The film has an incredible soundtrack and a story that is as bizarre as it is brilliant. Scott Pilgrim’s cast is full of stars like Chris Evans and Brie Larson before their breakout roles, and it is essential viewing for anyone who considers themselves a popculture connoisseur.

Sci-fi romp The World’s End (2013) is a satisfying conclusion to the Cornetto Trilogy. However, Wright’s following film, Baby Driver (2017), is one of the standout films of the past few years. A heist film about a baby-faced getaway driver (Ansel Elgort), Baby Driver has some of the smartest and most satisfying car chase scenes ever put to film. Wright’s career-long dedication to synchronicity pays off perfectly here, and the thrilling story will keep you on the edge of your seat.

2021 has been a very busy year for Wright. Earlier this year, the director brought us The Sparks Brothers, a passion project about his favourite band. Watching his debut documentary, it is as if Wright has invited you to an uberexclusive speakeasy - and the password is Sparks. The Sparks Brothers is an affectionate, funny, and surprising love letter to the rock-pop duo.

And so, we come to the director’s most recent and possibly most contentious film - Last Night in Soho. The film marks a sharp turn into psychological horror for Wright as he explores the dangers of romanticising the past. Before Soho, the female characters in Wright’s filmography were few and far between, usually defined by their relationship to the male protagonist. The horror-thriller,

co-written with 1917’s Krysty Wilson-Cairns, is obviously Wright’s attempt to break the chain. Soho may not be a subversive feminist masterpiece - its third act twist has proved divisive - but it is a stylish and immersive film that slips between the present and the 1960s with stunning ease.

Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy both give standout performances, and even if Soho does not quite stick the landing, the breath-taking momentum it builds in its first two acts makes it worth the watch.

“Wright makes movies for people who love movies” Ultimately, Wright makes movies for people who love movies. He weaves slick homage into his exciting storylines, remixing genres in innovative ways. It is Wright’s attention to detail that makes him such a fantastic director, which is especially impressive considering his maximalist approach to filmmaking. This year has proven that Wright is willing to take his career in unexpected directions, and it will be interesting to see what genre the director takes on next.

Review: Spencer

Amelia Neath praises Spencer's sensitive yet striking portrayal of Princess Diana Amelia Neath Film Critic

‘A fable from a true tragedy;’ Pablo Larraín’s Spencer, filmed in lockdown in both Germany and the UK, seems an appropriate story to be captured amid an isolation that was forced upon the world. The recent success of The Crown has made the anticipation for Spencer long-awaited. The film, purposefully titled Spencer, is an adaptation of Diana’s life and the struggles that came with being a member of the royal family, yet is not a focus on the family as a whole. The story detaches from the other royals; in fact, they hardly get any lines. Spencer is worlds away from a traditional biopic: it is a portrait of a woman’s emotions and devastation as she tries to battle her personal problems in the face of pressures from the public and the royal ‘family’ institution itself. Spencer is set over three days, Christmas Eve to Boxing Day 1991, at Sandringham, following Diana (Kristen Stewart) as she tries to survive Christmas in a seemingly toxic environment. If the word ‘isolation’ had a film attached to its definition, Spencer would be it.

Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Diana exposes us to yet another side of her character. Emma Corrin on The Crown serves an image of Diana as the ‘people’s princess', with the delicate and sensitive persona that is often shown in

various media portrayals and documentaries. Yet Stewart’s portrayal offers up an intense study of a broken woman. What could be described as ‘micro-expressions,’ Stewart’s countless up-close shots allows the viewer to read her expressions of rage or utter desperation. Scenes that have little or no dialogue are transformed into intense story-telling that further invokes the viewers' self-reflection. Stewart herself being a teen Twilight star, whose on-screen relationship with Robert Pattinson also existed off-screen, possibly allowed her to relate to Diana’s relationship in the public eye.

Constantly hounded by the media and the subject of pre-teen Tumblrtoxicity, Stewart’s own story lets her sink into a faultless study of Diana’s disposition.

“A fautless study of Diana's disposition” The film score lends itself well to creating a jittery and uncomfortable atmosphere. Jonny Greenwood’s use of jazz music reflects the emotional turmoil inside Diana’s mind. This, paired with the close-range cinematography, establishes a claustrophobic tone. Claustrophobia follows through in the motifs, which include constant references to military order, being locked inside

Sandringham and always being watched. Major Gregory (Timothy Spall) is a character unknown to Diana and the audience, watching out for her as a prison guard-like figure. The ability to transform a large estate like Sandringham into what feels like a small prison cell is what makes the film well-realised.

Spencer’s use of juxtaposing concepts adds to the film's uncomfortable tone. Diana’s glamorous clothes, all lent by Chanel, is a stark contrast with the unglamorous scenes and emotions.

Furthermore, references to ghostly apparitions keep the viewer wondering what is supposed to be reality and what is imagination.

The overall uncomfortable tone and the whirlwind of painful emotions suggests that Spencer could come under the psychologicalthriller genre. While this is needed, as it shows Diana’s sheer humanity, a welcome break in these heavy themes comes from Maggie (Sally Hawkins), Diana’s royal dresser. Maggie’s character adds a slight sense of hope into the desperate situation. Hawkins was the perfect casting for her.

Diana has always been a fascinating subject, someone who at one point seemed to have it all, a true fairy-tale. Yet the real tale exists in her mental health issues, battling a tricky marriage while trying to keep up an appearance with the public and the royal family. While most will probably never find themselves in a prin-

cess situation, Diana’s story is one that many will relate to emotionally. There is an issue, however, with forgetting that Diana was a real person. Spencer has been created with most of her family still alive, so there is a danger that Diana could be lost back into the fictional tension that surrounds the royal family.

being used for entertainment purposes. While there is a question of respectability, Spencer is a film which achieved a sense of humanity and a portrait of emotions that people could relate to. After years of the media using Diana’s persona in fabricated ways to sell a story, this depiction of Diana appears the most raw and undisguised.

VERDICT: There is a lot of debate with critics as to whether depictions of Diana are celebrating her or if her tragic story is

Pablo Larrain

FILM

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbrickfilm

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Review: tick, tick... BOOM!

tick, tick... BOOM! is a heartfelt love letter to the life and legacy of Jonathan Larson Samantha Hicks Film Editor

Content Warning: This article contains mentions of the AIDS epidemic, which some readers may find distressing A struggling artist fighting to make ends meet, tirelessly working at his latest creative endeavour, constantly trying to overcome the obstacles thrown by the cutthroat environment of the New York theatre scene. tick, tick...

BOOM! is the film adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical, semi-fictitious ‘rock monologue’ of the same name. As a longtime fan of Larson’s work, I was apprehensive about the film adaptation of tick, tick... BOOM!, particularly whether it would do justice to Jonathan Larson’s legacy and the lesser-known musical in his repertoire. Thankfully, it did just that - as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut, tick, tick... BOOM! is a passionate love letter to the life and work of Jonathan Larson, keeping his legacy alive in the 26 years since his tragic death. tick, tick... BOOM! follows Larson (played by Andrew Garfield) as he strives to break through into the New York theatre scene, working on his musical Superbia whilst juggling his job at the Moondance Diner. Initially written to convey Larson’s dissatisfaction of constant rejection, tick, tick... BOOM! expertly interweaves a performance of the rock monologue as we would see it on stage, giving the audience a fasci-

nating insight into Larson’s life and career whilst remaining faithful to the source material. With the terrifying presence of the AIDS epidemic affecting many of his friends, we watch as Larson navigates the uncertainty and precarity of the early nineties. In tackling such a sensitive matter, tick, tick... BOOM! manages to strike the perfect balance between energetic and sombre moments, yet you cannot help but feel a little empty by the end as you realise the tragedy of Larson’s short life.

A compelling storyline for hardcore fans and newcomers alike, Garfield’s performance as Jonathan Larson is a particular highlight. Whilst not being identical to Jonathan Larson visually, Garfield embodies his mannerisms so well that at points you momentarily forget that you are not watching archive footage of Larson himself. This is also a very different role to what audiences are used to seeing Garfield in, yet this has got to be one of his best performances that I have seen - an impressive feat considering Garfield’s lack of prior experience in musical theatre. He truly puts everything into the performance; the sheer energy and raw emotion makes for an enthralling watch.

As Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut, there are naturally a few flaws. It is not a perfect film on a technical level, though no fault can be found within any of the performances. It is fantastic to see someone with such a strong emotional connection to Larson’s work undertake the project, but the film was occasionally lacking in visual excite-

ment and creativity. The pacing missed the mark at points, and the structuring meant that certain characters - particularly Susan (Alexandra Shipp) - did not get as much development as I would have liked to have seen. That being said, the strong performances paired with the clear passion and heart that went into creating tick, tick... BOOM! means that these few flaws do not impact the film’s enjoyability, and are very easy to look past.

“The performances are faultless across the board” Despite the few flaws on the structural front, the performances are faultless across the board.

Aside from the outstanding performance from Garfield, who impressively learnt to sing and play piano in the year leading up to filming (you would never know that he was not a theatre kid), Robin de Jesús’ performance as Larson’s friend Michael was outstanding. As a seasoned theatre actor, this perhaps comes as no surprise, but the chemistry between him and Garfield was enthralling - ‘No More’ was performed with such passion, and I only hope to see the pair reunite in the future. Each actor clearly put their all into their performances, from MJ Rodriguez’s charming performance as Carolyn to Bradley Whitford’s uncanny portrayal of musical theatre royalty Stephen Sondheim. Vanessa Hudgens by

no means stole the show in her role as Karessa, but after her lacklustre performance as Maureen in Rent: Live (2019), her performance in tick, tick...

BOOM! thankfully reaffirmed that she was up to the challenge.

Being a fan of musical theatre and Jonathan Larson’s work is not a prerequisite for enjoying tick, tick... BOOM!, but it certainly has been crafted with this audience in mind. It is very heavy on the musical front, with characters breaking out in song at the drop of a pin, uniquely having both diegetic and nondiegetic musical numbers, blurring the boundaries between the real and imagined. Perfectly paralleling the semi-fictitious telling of Larson’s life, this mode of storytelling through song is made for musical theatre enthusiasts, yet remains accessible for those less familiar with the source material.

The subtle and numerous nods to Larson’s Rent, alongside the frankly insane amount of cameos, means that there is so much to excite fans of Larson’s iconic work. Whilst it is undoubtedly best to go into the film without prior knowledge of these cameos, the ‘Sunday’ number is a particular highlight, featuring three of the original cast members of Rent: Daphne RubinVega (Mimi), Adam Pascal (Roger) and Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Angel). Each moment feels like a heartfelt tribute to Jonathan Larson; tick, tick...

BOOM! is a wonderful way to keep his memory alive and bring his work to a wider audience.

Rewind: Monsters, Inc. at 20 Sammy Andrews looks back at children's classic Monsters, Inc. Sammy Andrews Music Editor

Monsters, Inc. is my biggest comfort film. I could be having the worst day, and the moment that I put it on I am immediately wrapped in a sense of warmth. It is equally, for this reason, one of my most watched films – I do not think I will ever tire of it. From the colourful characters to the intriguing world, and the off-beat humour, Monsters, Inc. is everything that makes a great animated film and more.

Inverting the idea of the monster behind the bedroom door is a genius way to bring comfort and imagination into a kids animated film. At its core, the film is just about two monsters that are trying to get a child, Boo, back into the human world.

But it is delivered with the imagination, and sensitivity that Pixar films are loved for. The friendship between Mike and Sully is incredibly heart-warm-

ing and the ending is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye. That is what this film has always stood as to me – a creative burst of imagination full of humour and colour that does not compromise on emotional sensitivity.

I cannot remember the first time I saw this film. I was probably very young and a lot of it did go over my head, but I was absorbed in the kaleidoscopic world of Monstropolis that hid behind the bedroom door. In truth, I probably did n o t c a r e what was happening outside of M i k e

Wazowski’s burpgags. The musical number ‘Put That Thing Facebook: B a c k @PixarMonstersInc Where It

Came From or So Help Me’ was (and still is) incredibly hilarious.

That being said, there was something about Monsters, Inc. that stuck with me, and I think for a lot of people this is the same.

Monsters, Inc. came out 20 years ago – in the year I was born, in fact, which means I literally grew up with this film. As a teenager, it was always a fun film that happened to be on over Christmas, and I would watch it with my family. In 2013, the release of Monsters University only further solidified my love for the films. But I could never quite put a finger on why I loved them so much.

Fast forward to starting university and I think this is where my obsession with Monsters, Inc. really found a home. Especially during the various lockdowns, and with deadlines and other university stresses, Monsters, Inc. was always the film I chose to escape into. It still captivated me for its colourfulness and the childish humour, but this time it came with a bigger comfort to me.

Mike Wazowski’s humour is also incredibly witty and sarcastic, and that is something that really captures me now that never did before. I also think I now appreci-

ate just how crazy and off the wall the film is at times, namely the scene where they believe Boo has been compressed with the trash.

I find myself way more absorbed in the world of Monstropolis and each of its corners and characters, from Harry Hausen's restaurant to the Abominable Snowman and his lemon snow-cones; even the tiny details like the ‘odorant’ that the monsters use in the locker rooms.

I simply cannot get enough of every detail in this film.

For an entire generation that grew up with this film, the last 20 years of Monsters, Inc. have offered an undeniable amount of comfort and enjoyment. At least for me, Mike Wazowski’s offhand remarks and the, at times , absolutely off the wall moments will never fail to keep me entertained. It balances the emotional and the unpredictable brilliantly, and in a way that always feels both entertaining and warmly familiar. It is a film that I have always returned to and will continue to return to. It has been 20 years of guaranteed happiness from Monsters, Inc.

VERDICT: Capturing the insecurity and uncertainty of New York in the early nineties, whilst retaining the glimmers of hope and showcasing the vibrant creative scene developing at the same time, tick, tick... BOOM! raises the bar for film adaptations of musicals, a testament to the energy and incredible talent of the cast and crew. For fans of Larson’s work and musical theatre in general, tick, tick... BOOM! is almost flawless. After the disappointment that was Rent: Live (2019), tick, tick... BOOM! feels like a fitting tribute to Larson’s life and work; it is just heartbreaking that he did not live to see his legacy and the incredible impact he has had on the world of musical theatre.

Twitter: @ticktickboom

Coming this December...

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Why The Thirteenth Doctor Is Not Responsible For Rising Male Crime

TV Editor Siân Allen argues that casting women in traditionally male roles does not deprive men of positive role models, but is instead an important step towards inclusivity Siân Allen TV Editor

Though Chris Chibnall’s era of Doctor Who has proved somewhat divisive, it is certain that the casting of Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor has made history. With Whittaker’s time on the show ending next year, we can only hope that Russell T. Davies will choose a successor worthy of following in the first female Doctor’s footsteps.

But Whittaker is just one part of a recent trend that involves casting women in traditionally male-dominated roles or franchises.

Like anything in the cultural sphere, it is a subject of controversy. On the one hand, characters like the Thirteenth Doctor represent a vital step forward in representing women on screen. By deliberately putting female heroes front and centre, huge franchises like Doctor Who and Star Wars bring important conversations about marginalisation and representation into the mainstream.

However, many rightfully argue that instead of reboots and rewrites,

women should be able to occupy their own original roles.

“This debate flares up time and time again” This debate flares up time and time again, whether it centres around a female James Bond or people somehow still being mad about the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot. However, a controversial contribution to the conversation has been made by Conservative MP Nick Fletcher. He argues that casting women in historically male roles deprives young men of positive role models, therefore only leaving violent antagonists that encourage crime.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on International Men’s Day, Fletcher seemingly identified a ‘tiny, yet very vocal minority’ that say ‘every male character or good role model must have a female replacement.’ He stated

‘we have seen Doctor Who, Ghostbusters, Luke Skywalker, The Equaliser, all replaced by women.’ Fletcher then argued that this only left negative role models - such as Peaky Blinders’ Tommy Shelby - for young men, ending his statement with ‘is there any wonder we are seeing so many young men committing crime?’

I think that Fletcher’s argument is flawed for several reasons.

Firstly, he fails to recognise these casting choices as a response to the historic and continued marginalisation and limitation of women on screen. Further, he implies that this very recent trend erases nearly a century of male-dominated film and television. The first female Doctor in Doctor Who’s expansive history does not negate the twelve other male Doctors that came before her.

In addition, Fletcher seems to diminish the autonomy of men by implying that any young male viewer would readily turn to a life of crime after binging Peaky Blinders. The only trend that Peaky

Blinders has inspired is a rise in flat cap sales. Representation is powerful, and it is important to have a diverse range of positive role models on screen so that everyone feels seen and heard.

However, to suggest that femaleled reboots are depriving men in any way is, at best, absurd.

After receiving backlash, Fletcher later issued a statement on Twitter that his point was ‘misconstrued’, arguing that ‘I did not link a Dr Who being female to crime being committed by men. In fact, I was making a statement that boys and young men also need positive role models within the media, just as women do.’ This does not change my opinion that Fletcher’s original point was illconceived as the politician failed to consider the huge existing range of male characters in media that reflect the multiplicity of masculinity. In comparison, female-led media is still so rare that it continues to be seen as ground-breaking and controversial.

The male characters that

Fletcher cites are not being ‘replaced’ by women. If anything, the TV and film industries are attempting to honour these characters’ legacies while making a valuable commitment to inclusivity. It is fair to argue that women and minorities need their own characters and franchises as studios continue to capitalise off of an unhealthy mix of outrage and nostalgia bait. But Time Lords are canonically genderfluid, and The Doctor as a character has the potential to redefine how many people perceive gender. There are hundreds of positive role models on screen for men. The Doctor is a positive role model for everyone.

Twitter/@ bbcdoctorwho

Review: Stath Lets Flats - Season Three TV Critic Abi Kinsella explains why everyone should watch Stath Lets Flats Abi Kinsella TV Critic

There is something unique about Stath Lets Flats. In fact, Stath Lets Flats is a uniqueness convention, in which a million subverted jokes, idiosyncratic characters and entirely novel sentence constructions meet to bounce ideas off each other and create a masterpiece.

Jamie Demetriou’s brainchild (co-written with Brian Popper) is a heartfelt, absurd, hilarious love letter to normal life. It manages to inject sensationalism into the most mundane of concepts, resulting in the world that ours could have been, were the creator a little more self-indulgent. Its third series (available on All4 and showing weekly on Channel 4, Tuesday at 10:15pm) continues the show’s rich tradition of lovable characters, linguistic playfulness and heartwarming relationships.

“A heartfelt, absurd, hilarious love letter to normal life” The irresistible charm of Stath

Lets Flats comes largely from its characters. They are all so different, but there is a common thread that binds them - their ability to extract a mundanity from life and magnify it into something life-affirming and wonderful. For Stath (Jamie Demetriou) an egg is a powerful metaphor for the love he feels for his daughter Dina (Hari Cooke-Singh). For Al (Al Roberts) two chocolate bars (totalling £1.30) becomes a grand romantic gesture. For Vasos, (Christos Stergioglou) a small cake, five pounds and ‘wires for music’ constitute a grand birthday celebration. And where in other shows, these mediocre symbols of affection would fall flat, in the world of Stath Lets Flats, they are received with enthusiasm and warmth.

Of course, comedy centred around people on a bizarre wavelength can only work if there is someone there to balance the absurdity. Hence the reprisal of Dean (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), a personal favourite character of mine.

He is the classic straight man, offering evaluations on the Twilight-zone-esque world he has found himself in and voicing the internal monologue of the viewer.

‘The door was left open so someone put all our hair back in, and

that’s a wild sentence for a lettings agent to say,’ he drawls, following a follicle-based incident. (‘There must be at least 25 strands,’ comments Sophie (Natasia Demetriou), not incorrectly.) ‘You think I’m having a meeting with a fish for jokes?’ He asks during Vasos’ team meeting, in which his dinner is being used as a talking stick.

However, uniquely to this series, Dean is not an outsider.

Last series he was (perhaps unwillingly) pulled into the schemes of Julian (Dustin Demri-Burns), an agent fired from the lucrative ‘Smethwicks’ who was really rather bitter about that. But in this series, both Dean and Carol (Katy Wix) are pulled into the antics of the central characters far more closely. Wix shines in this series, revealing complexities and strengths to her character that were previously absent. These allow her to interact with the rest of the cast, humanising and endearing her to the audience. I think this is why this series is my favourite of the three. It thrives as a gang show, with the characters bouncing off each other and producing a tangible energy.

It is this energy that invites the unique dialogue to come to the forefront. It is barely a stretch to

claim that Stath Lets Flats creates its own dialect, with Stath earnestly telling Al, ‘we point to the ones we crave,’ and lamenting that family is not always as simple as ‘a pretty picture.’ The characters reveal the inner workings of their brains through their utterances. It is less that they have no filter individually, and more that it seems that filters simply do not exist in

“It thrives as a gang show, with the characters bouncing off each other”

the world of Stath Lets Flats. Stath asks aloud ‘why does Carol look like a bath?’ when she arrives at work looking a little sweaty, for example, to the chastising of nobody.

Stath Lets Flats is a masterclass in escapist comedy. You will laugh out loud and forget your troubles for its thirty-minute duration. But days later, you will find yourself thinking about Al’s plight for Sophie’s affection, or Stath’s desperation to give Dina a good life. And you will realise that the genius of the show is how it works its way into your heart. I would encourage everyone to watch it.

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Tuesday 7th December 2021

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Deaf Visibility in Television Digital Editor Tamzin Meyer explores the importance of deaf visibility on TV Digital Editor

Deaf visibility on television is something that has been an issue for a while; representation of deaf people on television programmes is so important for those in the deaf community as it helps them feel recognised in society whilst also helping others build an awareness of what life is like for those with hearing impairments.

However, most shows demonstrate few attempts of trying to incorporate deaf actors even though they are such a large part of society. We can only hope that the shows that are moving in a more inclusive direction encourage others to do the same.

Strictly Come Dancing star, Rose Ayling-Ellis, broke show history by becoming the first deaf contestant to dance on the show. In her recent couple’s choice, she and her dancing partner Giovanni Pernice brought viewers to tears in a remarkable performance in which the background music stopped half way through, giving everybody an insight into AylingEllis’ world; her hard work and passion for dancing was made even more applaudable as she is

unable to listen to the music to guide her movement, instead relying on her own timings. The show has given a platform for the deaf community to look up to AylingEllis and has helped inspire many to believe that anything is possible.

“The use of BSL on television is one which should be the norm” Ayling-Ellis’ inclusion on the show has also meant that British Sign Language has made itself known on prime-time television.

For viewers perhaps unfamiliar to BSL, to see it used on such a popular Saturday night show will hopefully break any stigma or lack of understanding surrounding it. The use of BSL on television is one which should be the norm - if more TV shows implement this inclusion then it will help increase familiarity of the language and really stress the message that deaf people are just as valid as anybody else.

Most notably, the TV shows

that have embraced the deaf community most actively have been that of soaps. Ayling-Ellis herself plays the part of Frankie Lewis on Eastenders, being the first deaf actress to play the role of a deaf character on the BBC soap opera.

Over on ITV, Coronation Street filmed powerful and moving scenes which saw Freda Burgess struggle to communicate her funeral wishes for her late husband due to those around her not fully understanding what it means to be deaf, with some even talking really loudly to ‘aid’ her hearing, despite this making no difference. The soap also sensitively dealt with the deafness of Gemma Winter’s

“By discussing and breaking the stigma surrounding deafness [...] deaf inclusion in all aspects of life will improve”

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quadruplet, Aled, showing how important it is for parents to actively learn BSL and use it on a daily basis so that their children feel comfortable. It also stressed the idea that deaf people do not need to be ‘fixed’, and that they are just as worthy as anybody. By discussing and breaking the stigma surrounding deafness, and using BSL regularly on shows that are household names, deaf inclusion in all aspects of life will improve.

There is clearly more that needs to be done but shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Eastenders, and Coronation Street have to be applauded for making this step in breaking down the barriers for the deaf community, giving them a platFacebook/@ bbcstrictly

Review: What We Do in the Shadows - Season Three

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Film Editor Emily Wallace is full of praise for Season Three of the hilarious vampire mockumentary Emily Wallace Film Editor

After a long wait, What We Do in the Shadows finally returned to grace our screens with its third season. For those unfamiliar with the comedy show, it takes a mockumentary format following four vampires, and their familiar, navigating life in modern day New York, based on the 2014 film of the same name directed by Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi. The unlikely cast of characters includes Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), the long-suffering human familiar to the group, Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), a former warlord, Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) a married couple, and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), an energy vampire who does not feed on blood, but on draining the energy from people around him.

Following the cliff-hanger ending of Season Two, in which Guillermo revealed his skills as a vampire hunter through killing the New York Vampiric Council to save the group, I was intrigued to see what direction these characters would be taken in, and the events of Season Three did not disappoint. The season begins with

Guillermo locked in a cage in the basement, waiting for the vampires to decide his fate, meanwhile the vampires also receive an invitation to replace the recently murdered vampires and lead the Vampiric Council themselves.

This setup allows for both interesting and comedic dynamics between the characters across the season, both with Guillermo having a lot more power in his relationship with the vampires now they know he is easily capable of killing them, and also the internal power struggle, particularly between Nadja and Nandor, as they co-run the Vampiric Council.

This season also allowed for the exploration of the vampire lore created for the show, most notably with Colin spending much of the season trying to research the history of energy vampires and how he came into existence. This plotline managed to perfectly blend humour with expanding the worldbuilding of the show, resulting in a surprising conclusion that will no doubt shape the plotline of the

already confirmed fourth season.

There were also many episodes dedicated to showing the friendship between Colin and Laszlo, two characters who had not had many interactions in previous seasons, leading to humorous encounters, while also being very touching.

Guillermo has always been one of the most compelling characters in the show, and this is no different throughout Season Three as we see him grow in confidence and enjoy a more equal relationship with the vampires. His relationship with his master Nandor gets a lot of focus in particular, and I enjoyed watching their dynamic develop across the season. The beginnings of exploration into Guillermo’s queer identity within this season, while subtle, felt thoughtful, particularly with the showrunners having previously confirmed that all the characters are pansexual.

The normalisation of queerness within the show is Facebook/@ refreshTheShadowsFX ing, and

something more that shows, regardless of genre, should aspire to.

The strongest aspect of What We Do in the Shadows is its humour, which comes from both the regular cast of characters, and from the vast and strange range of guest appearances. The return of Kristen Schaal’s Guide Lady, an aide to the Vampiric Council, in a more regular role was a welcome addition to the show, and the surprise return of characters from earlier seasons was a delight to see. Episodes that see the characters staying in a casino, and taking part in a kickball game heavily inspired by the iconic Twilight baseball scene also stand out as highlights.

What We Do in The Shadows has a great balance between an intriguing cast of characters whose storylines and dynamics are welldeveloped, and all kinds of silly humour that everyone looks for in a sitcom. With a final episode packed with twists and turns, the third season ends leaving you desperate for more, which is always a sign of success in my eyes.

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Tuesday 7th December 2021

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Blizzard Employees Stage Walkout Bobby Kotick remains CEO despite shareholder calls for resignation

Content Warning: This article contains themes of sexual misconduct and violence which some readers may find distressing.

A new report by Wall Street Journal alleges that Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has been aware of sexual misconduct claims within the company since 2018, but did not inform the board of directors. Activision is one of the largest makers of video games with games such as Candy Crush, Call of Duty and World of Warcraft among its products. The Guardian reported that the company has a market valuation of more than $50bn, and it is the second largest US-headquartered game company after Microsoft.

The report alleges that in 2018, Kotick was informed via email that a female employee had been raped in 2016 and, in 2017, pressured to drink too much alcohol by a male supervisor in the office and other work events. The victim reached an out-of-court settlement with Activision, but Kotick did not tell Activision’s board of directors anything about the settlement. Furthermore, the report states that Kotick allegedly kept the situation to himself even after state regulators started investigating the company in 2018.

This was released on the same day that 110 employees walked out of the company’s Blizzard Entertainment headquarters after Kotick had described the Journal report as misleading in a video message sent out to employees.

An Activision spokesperson said that Kotick ‘would not have been informed of every report of misconduct at every Activision Blizzard company, nor would he reasonably be expected to have been updated on all personnel issues.’

The spokesperson also

addressed allegations that Kotick left a voicemail on his assistant’s phone in 2006 threatening to ‘have her killed.’ They said: ‘Mr Kotick quickly apologized 16 years ago for the obviously hyperbolic and inappropriate voice mail, and he deeply regrets the exaggeration and tone in his voice mail to this day.’

Following the situation, a group of shareholders led by the Strategic Organizing Canter (SOC) Investment Group wrote in a letter shared with the Washington Post: ‘In contrast to past company statements, CEO Bobby Kotick was aware of many incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault and gender discrimination at Activision Blizard, but failed either to ensure that the executives and managers responsible were terminated or to recognize and address the systematic nature of the company’s hostile workplace culture.’

“The shareholders called for Kotick’s resignation” The shareholders called for Kotick’s resignation as well as the retirement of the board’s two longest-serving directors Brian Kelly and Robert Morgado.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, the following organisations can be contacted for guidance and support.

NAPAC: Website - www.napac.org.uk Phone - 0808 801 0331 Victim Support: Website - www.victimsupport. org.uk Phone - 0808 1689 111 White Ribbon: Website - www.whiteribbon.org. uk Phone: 0808 2000 247

Gaming Editors: Our Month in Gaming

@_FQteam

Black Friday Sales: Bad for the Industry?

Tamzin Meyer Digital Editor

Black Friday is one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry. With just under a month to go until Christmas, many people try to grab the best bargains on gifts for their loved ones. This is especially the case in the gaming industry, which sees popular games go on sale for particularly discounted prices. As games and equipment can usually be quite an expensive purchase, shoppers have to act at super sonic (the hedgehog) speed if they wish to get their hands on some of their wishlist items.

Some of the Black Friday discounts available this year saw the highly anticipated Fifa 22 Xbox game reduced from £59.99 to £37.99 on Amazon. As this

will most likely be a popular wish for many fans of the Fifa series, shoppers had the chance to bag themselves a Christmas present at a much cheaper price.

Amazon also reduced the Limited Edition PS5 version of Far Cry 6 from £54.99 to £39.99. These are offers that are allegedly not available at any other time of the year (although this is not always the case as I will discuss below) with many deciding to stay up late in order to bag themselves a deal on Black Friday morning, before the shops go out of stock on the latest must-have products.

Whilst selling popular products at discounted prices may seem as counter-productive in terms of business, it actually does wonders in promoting products.

Games that most people would not be able to afford are bought by many who would not have other-

@FactorioGame

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Age of Empires IV (2021)

Anita Cavalcanti

Social Secretary

Team17

Ella Kipling

Factorio (2016)

Loop Hero (2021)

Star Wars: KOTOR (Switch Port, 2021)

Kevin Dowling

@AspyrMedia

wise considered purchasing these items at their original prices, instantly boosting sales. Also, due to how easy it is to browse offers online, shoppers who initially were searching for one particular item could be enticed by other similar offers that are simply too hard to resist; this leads to online baskets especially becoming very full. Black Friday deals are a wonderful form of promotion to entice customers into the store.

Of course, it is important to remember that shops, on Black Friday or any other day of the year, exist to make a profit.

Companies are not giving these games away. Whilst some offers are genuine, not all of them are; some games and gaming equipment will have their prices increased a few days before they go on ‘discount’ so that the offer looks much better than it actually is. In reality, quite a number of Black Friday discounts are a form of false advertising, misleading customers into buying products at their original prices but with an encouraging ‘sale’ sign positioned neatly next to it. This is why it is extremely important to check the prices of items a month before the event, so that you can be certain that you are actually getting a reasonable discount.

Black Friday can benefit both customers and businesses but shoppers need to consider doing their research before buying, so that they do not buy unnecessary items at falsely discounted prices.

If customers plan beforehand, Black Friday can be enjoyable for everybody.

GAMING

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbrickgaming

‘More Than Entertainment’: New, Stricter Guidelines from China’s Gaming Assocation

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Redbrick's Redbrick's five Five big upcoming Big Releases Forreleases December & the New Year

A leaked internal training memo from China’s state-backed gaming association details the potential for stricter guidelines surrounding what video game content will be approved for release.

According to the South China Morning Post, the internal memo notes that video games are not ‘pure entertainment’ and therefore must represent ‘a correct set of values.’

“Broadcasters must ‘resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal aesthetics’” Video game titles featuring

going to stop Chinese citizens different) can be the hero in video from being gay or presenting games, and in life. effeminately themselves? No. A This new potential video game lack of queer representation does regulation also begs the question: not breed a lack of queer people, where is the line going to be it merely creates an unedudrawn? Will all characters cated society, one of have to be extreme stererepression and fear. otypes of a ‘masculine’ This is why repreman? Is every male sentation of differvideo game characent types of people ter going to come in television, equipped with bulgfilms, books and ing muscles and a the normal weekly video games is hardened face? gaming allowance extremely imporThis leaves little for Chinese tant. Young people room for variety should be able to across different video under-18s see that people that games. It also makes look like them (whethyou wonder what type er that be feminine, of male character the androgynous, or simply just Chinese government would approve of. Not all men look the same, and the definition of not being ‘effeminate’ still leaves a wide range of potential physical traits.

I feel the need to point out that not all gay men are effeminate, and not all effeminate men are gay. China is known to be cracking down on queer representation in the media, but now it appears that men with feminine traits are also deemed as ‘not suitable.’

3 hours

“It also makes you wonder what type of male character the Chinese government would approve of”

Vortex Gaming: A Gaming Paradise in Brum Based in Resorts World Birmingham, Vortex Gaming is a Paradise for both gamers and nongamers. Providing a modern take on the classic arcade, customers can be certain that a trip into the Vortex is going to be an exciting day out. On arrival you will be able to top up a gaming card with tokens, meaning that access to the large variety of games has never been easier. When you see a game you like, all you have to do is swipe your card and the tokens will be exchanged for playtime.

Gone are the days where we had to fiddle about, finding the exact amount of coins needed to have a go of a grabber machine.

Vortex is exciting in that it combines classic arcade games with modern technology. If arcade games such as space invaders are more your cup of tea, then you will be pleased to see a vast array of ‘retro’ games on offer. If you prefer multiplayer games that you can play with your friends, then racing against each other on Mario Kart or taking them on in a dance

battle on a classic dance machine is sure to let out your competitive side. These games are suitable for everybody, whether you are a gaming fanatic or not; Vortex’s vast array of games means there is something for the whole family.

Just a slight warning - these games are highly addictive, but fortunately the use of gaming cards ensures that you are aware of how much money you are spending so you can continue playing without harming your bank account.

For the avid gamer, Vortex also has a very exciting zone in which you can immerse yourself in the world of virtual reality. This

is more expensive than your average arcade game, but makes for an excellent experience which would be really fun as a memorable birthday treat. You can buckle up and try out the fun simulators, wearing a virtual reality headset.

This provides an experience that is one-of-a-kind and really gives Vortex extra character, making it a must-visit attraction when exploring Birmingham.

If you get peckish or want to find something to quench your thirst, then Vortex also has its own gaming cafe which is super cool and futuristic. For those of you who are savvy savers, there are

Halo Infinite (8/12/21)

@R6Extraction_UK

Rainbow Six Extraction Nioh(20/01/22) 2 (13/03)

usually offers to be found on websites like Groupon which include a drink with your gaming tokens.

If you do find yourself in the cafe, I would highly recommend pushing the boat out and treating yourself to a milkshake.

A day out to Vortex Gaming is always fun and provides something for everybody. Allow your- Animal Crossing: New self to become immersed in a @totalwar Horizons (20/03) futuristic yet nostalgic environment that is a true highlight of Total War: Warhammer 3 Birmingham’s reputable enter(17/02/22) tainment complex.

Nintendo

Digital Editor

@Halo

EA

Tamzin Meyer

@FF_XIV_EN

FFXIV: Endwalker (7/12/21)

Microsoft

Content Warning: This article includes mentions of homophobia and transphobia.

queer romance and ‘effeminate males’ are not likely to be approved for licensing and if regulators cannot tell the character’s gender ‘immediately,’ the setting of the characters ‘could be considered problematic and red flags will be raised,’ the memo reads.

Violent titles which allow players to be good or bad would also not be seen favourably. The memo states: ‘some games have blurred moral boundaries. Players can choose to be either good or evil but we don’t think that games should give players this choice and this must be altered.’

This comes shortly after China’s new gaming restrictions were unveiled at the end of August. The new rules stipulate that under 18s will only be allowed to play video games for an hour on Fridays, weekends and holidays. China’s government has also banned ‘effeminate’ men from television, telling broadcasters to promote ‘revolutionary culture.’ The TV regulator stated that broadcasters must ‘resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal aesthetics.’

Is China’s crackdown on ‘effeminate’ men within the media

Sony

Social Secretary

Bethesda

Ella Kipling

Nintendo

Ella Kipling explores the concerns of Chinese regulators around representations of vice and virtue in gaming

@ELDENRING

Elden Ring (25/02/2022) Carl Raw / Unsplash

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FOOD&DRINK

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbrickfood

Review: Birmingham’s German Markets Food&Drink writers tuck into the city’s Christmas markets Cara-Louise Scott Food&Drink Editor

The Birmingham German Christmas Markets are a magical spectacle for everyone to enjoy.

There is a bustling atmosphere, where you are hit with that mouthwatering smell of baked goods, mulled wine, and sausage and chips. The markets have a range of food and drink stalls on offer.

Seeing as it is a German market, there are obviously Bratwurst sausages, as well as other hot food including chips and garlic pizza bread. There are plenty of other sweet treats available too, such as pretzels, crêpes, chocolate-covered apples, marshmallows and truffles. In addition to soft drinks and hot chocolate, there is an abundant supply of beer on offer.

Hot Chocolate You can collect a hot chocolate from most of the drink stalls that are dotted around the markets. The only downside to these drinks is the price. They cost £4, with the option to keep the mug for an extra £3. This is certainly worth the money for the quality of the hot chocolate, even if the mug is on the smaller size. It is hot enough to warm your hands on a winter night, but not too warm so that you can drink it straight away. Its taste will linger on your tongue, with its creamy, chocolatey texture, in which you can tell there is top-quality milk and chocolate being used.

Sugar and Cinnamon Pretzel This sweet and sugary snack was a delightful treat when visiting the markets. I had never had a baked pretzel before, only the cracker-like ones you get in a packet at the supermarket. The stall was situated close-by to Victoria Square and near a cash machine as they only accepted cash at this stall in particular.

There were plenty of pretzels to choose from, such as a plain one, sugar and cinnamon, and even savoury flavours, such as cheese,

ham and salad. I decided to go for the sugar and cinnamon pretzel as I wanted something sweet to compliment the hot chocolate.

It cost £3.50, which did not seem too extortionate to pay for a big snack such as a pretzel, especially as it was high quality. The pretzel was sugary, but not overly so, although I would recommend eating from the paper bag and not your hands as it is quite sticky. I found the pretzel had a doughnutquality to its taste, as it was more fried than baked (compared to my friend’s plain pretzel), which was something I particularly enjoyed.

The cinnamon was flavoursome but not over-powering. If you are looking for a treat to compliment a hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, I would really recommend these delectable creations.

“The choice between sweet or savoury was a difficult decision”

Tamzin Meyer Digital Editor

I decided to walk around the whole market and immerse myself in the atmosphere before deciding what to eat, since I really did not know where to start. All of the stalls immediately reminded me of something you would find in Lapland, with the beautiful golden lights being a magical feature that instantly made me ready for Christmas. This really melted my ‘it’s too early for Christmas’ stance. I must admit that the singing deer head’s rendition of ‘Jingle Bells’ was rather creepy, but it all added to the memorable experience.

to Christmas events. Christmas celebrations cannot begin until I have had my first mulled wine.

Something about having one at the Christmas market was very special. The atmosphere, combined with the drink, made the experience 100 times better. The mulled wine itself was pricey at £5.50, costing you an extra £3 for a deposit for a mug. It was certainly worth it though, as I was so excited to be holding a cute little Christmas-themed mug with my drink in it. Nothing beat the mulled wine that had just the right levels of warming spice. I am not usually a fan of red wine but this particular one sent my taste buds on a spiritual journey.

White Chocolate Strawberry

Mulled Wine I decidstraight mulled - a staple is my when I

ed to go to the wine stall drink that g o - t o go out

Kinder Doughnut Between Waterstones and Victoria Square lies a doughnut stall full of a huge range of every flavour of doughnuts you could dream of, from ‘Black Forest’ and ‘After Eight’, to ‘Kinder’ and ‘Biscoff’. Each doughnut is £2.50, or you can get a box of five for £10. For the size and design of the doughnut, and the fact it is really filling, this price is worth it in my opinion.

The ‘Kinder’ doughnut was slightly dry which was a bit disappointing, but the flavours of the dark chocolate and Kinder piece on top of the doughnut made this really delightful. It was a nice surprise to find the doughnut was filled with an abundance of Nutella in the middle - even though I was expecting just a normal milk chocolate filling. The Nutella was tasty nonetheless, and made this both filling and flavourful.

Skewer Then, I decided to get something to eat. The choice between sweet or savoury was a difficult decision, but I ended up selecting a white chocolate-coated strawberry skewer, priced again at £5.50 which seemed quite expensive. However, the skewer was certainly a luxurious treat, with the thick chocolate and fresh fruit combining to create a mouth-watering experience. I must admit, the napkin was certainly needed as it was definitely a challenge to eat without making a mess.

Of course, I only managed to try a very small selection of what was on offer at the market so I will definitely be going back to explore more of the food and drink. I have already got my heart set on trying the fried potatoes so I will certainly be heading straight for those when I return.

Nicole Morris Food&Drink Writer

Poffertjes

Pixabay

Poffertjes are small, fluffy Dutch pancakes, which taste very similar to normal pancakes, but instead of being flat they are puffed out in the middle. Their shape

reminded me of flying saucers, but instead of sour sherbet in the middle; there was a lovely doughy texture that was somehow simultaneously stodgy and light.

Unlike the crêpes at the market where the flavour is wrapped in the middle of the pancake, Poffertjes are enriched by different toppings. There was a great selection: ranging from traditional accompaniments such as cherries and apple sauce, to toppings we might recognise from Pancake Day like bananas and Nutella.

There were also boozier options available, such as Amaretto and Baileys. We opted for one portion topped with apple sauce and vanilla sauce, and another topped with Baileys.

The Poffertjes topped with apple sauce and vanilla sauce were very sweet (and almost sickly). The apple sauce was thick and sugary, like you’d expect to find in the middle of an apple turnover.

The vanilla sauce was equally sweet, but also light and creamy.

However, the flavours of the toppings married well with the doughiness of the Poffertjes, which dulled the flavours of the sauces to a manageable level of sweetness.

The Baileys Poffertjes looked slightly less exciting, as from their appearance they looked untouched and plain. Although, biting into these Poffertjes was a pleasant surprise, as it was like tasting a mouthful of Baileys mixed with a fluffy, doughy pancake as the shot of Baileys poured over the top of the mini pancakes was fully absorbed.

The experience of watching the Poffertjes being made enhanced the eating experience as you can appreciate the handiwork it takes to put together the little tray of miniature pancakes. You could witness the skilled expertise of the duo carefully filling the hot circular moulds with the mixture before timing perfectly the flip to cook the other side of the Poffertjes. This sweet treat was well worth the wait. I will be returning to test the other toppings on offer before the markets pack up before Christmas on Thursday 23rd December.

Recipe: Red Roasted Veg Soup Sarah Cayless shares her winter warmer recipe Sarah Cayless Food&Drink Editor

As darkness encroaches and the threat of snow looms ever-closer, it is important to have some nourishing hot comfort food recipes at hand. A bowl of home-made soup can complete a cosy night in, with the added benefit of being packed with vitamins essential for fueling

essay writing. This recipe requires either a blender or a liquidiser.

Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 Large Sweet Potato 2 Red Peppers 1 Red Onion 3 Large Carrots 2 Garlic Cloves 4 Sprigs of Rosemary 1-2 tsp Smoked Paprika

1 tsp Turmeric Sea Salt Black Pepper 200ml Single Cream 450ml Vegetable Stock 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil Method: 1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

2. Peel and roughly chop all of the vegetables, except for the garlic.

3. Add the vegetables, whole gar-

lic cloves (skin on) and rosemary to a roasting tray. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika and turmeric. Drizzle over the oil and mix.

4. Roast for approximately 40 minutes, turning half way through.

5. Remove roasting tray from oven. Squeeze the garlic out of the skins. Discard the skins along with the rosemary stalks.

6. Make up 450ml of vegetable stock, set aside.

7. Add the cream, roasted veg and 100ml of stock to a blender or a pan if using a hand blender.

8. Blend.

9. Keep adding stock until it reaches your desired consistency.

10. Season to taste and enjoy with warm, crusty bread.

FOOD&DRINK

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbrickfood

Meat Consumption and the Climate Crisis

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Cookbook Wishlist 2021 nadiyahussain.com

Jemma Cuthbert explains how the meat industry is having a huge impact on the climate crisis Jemma Cuthbert Food&Drink Writer

Reducing the national meat intake is vital given that the global food system is currently responsible for around a quarter of all humanmade greenhouse gases, which is the main contributor to global warming. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey found that between 2008 and 2018, the average individual’s meat consumption had fallen by 17% in the UK. Although this is a significant decrease, The National Food Strategy has stated that a 30% reduction over the next ten years must take place in order for the UK to reach net zero by 2050.

The main reason why the meat industry is contributing towards the climate crisis is because of the huge carbon footprint of livestock. Plants are grown to feed animals; however, it would be much more carbon-efficient for these crops to be made for direct human consumption. Inevitably, reducing livestock would also free up land, which could restore wildlife habitats which were originally destroyed for such farming.

Whilst this would massively reduce the carbon footprint of farming, it would also create natural forests for carbon dioxide to be stored. Furthermore, livestock farming can also produce harmful greenhouse gases through the substantial amount of methane made through animal digestion and through the global transportation of livestock and meat.

“Between 2008 and 2018 meat consumption had fallen by 17% in the UK” As well as animal farming

having a huge carbon footprint, it holds a significant water footprint too. The water footprint network states that ‘the average water footprint per calorie for beef is twenty times larger than for cereals and starchy roots...it has been found that the water footprint per gram of protein for milk, eggs and chicken meat is about 1.5 times larger than for pulses.’ In fact, it is estimated that it takes 660 gallons alone to make one hamburger.

Since climate change is leading to heightened dry and wet seasons, the world is becoming more vulnerable to floods and droughts, which are resulting in fresh water shortages. The huge water footprint of the meat industry thus seems ridiculous since, according to the World Health Organisation, there are already more than 700 million people in the world without access to ‘improved’ water. This number is only likely to increase.

There is no doubt that many people continue to eat meat because they believe that it is the main contributor of protein in the diet, and that a diet without meat would lack in protein. However, these rumours are certainly not true and a well-balanced diet can easily be achieved without animal protein. The bottom line is that protein is made up of differing amino acids and our bodies need all of the essential amino acids in the correct ratios to be healthy.

Animal proteins tend to contain the right balance of all the essential amino acids that we need (they are complete sources of protein), whereas plant proteins lack certain essential amino acids (they are incomplete). This is certainly not a problem though, as it simply means that you need to eat a variety of plant proteins to ensure you get all the essential amino acids.

Yet no one would want to stick to eating the same food every day anyway - even those who do eat meat vary their meat sources.

In addition to being able to get a well-balanced diet with plant

protein, it is also a lot healthier for the body than animal protein is - it has been scientifically proven that red and processed meat consumption can significantly increase the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, strokes, cancers and type 2 diabetes.

Despite the benefits of plantbased proteins becoming more widespread, it is surprising that meat consumption only fell by 17% in the last decade, as reported by The Guardian. Therefore, there have been many talks lately regarding the possible introduction of a meat tax in the UK to help reduce meat consumption.

Although this plan would most likely be successful, it would create yet another socioeconomic inequality in the diet. Just like the sugar tax, poorer people would be hit the hardest and meat would continue to be eaten by the wealthier.

“A meat tax would would massively impact a poorer person’s amount of protein in the diet” It is also important to remember that a lot of vegetarian and vegan options are already usually more expensive, so a meat tax would massively impact a poorer person’s amount of protein in the diet. Since wealthier people in society would still have decisions over their diet but the poorer people would not, this is unjust. Better

Rawpixel

Chloe Hyde

and fairer strategies at reducing meat consumption would be to make plant protein sources more accessible – such as restaurants and supermarkets providing more vegan and vegetarian options, with the price of these options being more affordable.

It must also be recognised that meat will always be consumed and that it will be impossible to get everyone to partake in a plantbased diet. Some people may already have complicated relationships with food, for reasons such as intolerances, eating disorders and much more, and so going fully plant-based may be extremely difficult. Thus, the stigma around the strictness of veganism and vegetarianism must be debunked, so that more people are willing to reduce their meat intake whilst still consuming an animal protein diet. A flexitarian diet – where people decide to have a few meat free days a week – would cater to a wider population, as it still allows an element of choice on the other days of the week.

Supermarkets and restaurants could also do their part by making sure that their meat is sourced locally, so that its carbon footprint is reduced for when it is still eaten.

It must be stressed that in order to tackle the climate crisis, the meat industry must be changed.

This means that the National Food Strategy’s goal of reducing meat consumption by 30% over the next decade is non-negotiable and must be met.

simonandschuster.co.uk dinneralovestory.com

Review: Starbucks S’mores Toastie Zenna Hussain reviews a sweet treat from Starbucks’ festive menu Zenna Hussain Food&Drink Writer

Starbucks’ new offering is a fruit loaf sandwich with a luxurious filling of mini marshmallows, chocolate orange sauce and chocolate pieces. At only £3, it is a Christmas bargain, and probably not a treat you will get to have often or even again.

I will admit that I had my reservations: it sounded a bit sickly and too good to be true. However, it may be the most Christmassy

food I have ever tried, as well as the most unusual.

I went into the campus Starbucks in Muirhead Tower to try to hunt it down (it had been sold out the last two times) and after kindly being offered to get it heated, I sat down to enjoy it.

Despite sitting in Starbucks surrounded by the smell of coffee, I could still easily smell the chocolate orange, making it very hard to try and get work done and leave the food for later.

I gave in and ate it while it

Zenna Hussain

was still warm, I would definitely recommend this as the gooey marshmallows were a lot easier to digest than the solid mini marshmallow pieces.

Each bite was equally delicious. The fruit loaf perhaps added a tad too much sweetness, but the freshness and toasted aspect to the loaf gave it a nice crunch, contrasting well with the soft marshmallows and chocolate pieces. I could taste all the ingredients; the chocolate orange added with the fruit loaf gave it a very

fruity, Christmassy taste. My only qualm would be the chocolate pieces which had all dropped to the bottom, meaning I had forgotten about them until there was a bite of pure chocolate, which was a little unnecessary.

The S’mores toastie was wellsized. It was incredibly rich and filling, I think any bigger would be a bit too much and veer on the side of sickly. For £3, it is a perfect treat for yourself or a friend, especially when eaten in the cold air.

30

TRAVEL

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbricktravel

Beata Mitr�ga Henrique Ferreira

Europe's Best Winter Sun Destinations Rebecca Whalley introduces us to vacation destinations in Southern Europe that offer refuge from the grey British winter Rebecca Whalley Travel Writer

It is that time of year when everyone’s Vitamin D levels take a hit. Having had no white Christmas since 2010 but no scorching sun either, here in Northwestern Europe we seem to be bang in the middle; everything is just a bit grey.

If you are looking to wear less than four layers of clothing when you go outside, then look no further than southern Europe; it is no Fiji or Havana, but there are plenty of destinations closer to home that can provide a much warmer Christmas time.

Palermo, Sicily COVID-19 restrictions: Vaccination or proof of negative COVID-19 test to use public transport Temperature: 14-16°C Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Palermo offers consistent sun during the winter months. Proud of its Arabic origins, Palermo boasts some of the most delicious street food in Europe, reminiscent of Arab souks (bazaars).

Surrounding the main historic square, the Piazza Vigliena, are ornately carved 12th-Century churches born of Arab-Norman influences. Perhaps the most impressive piece of architectural majesty is the Church of Casa

Professa, shaped in a Latin cross and showcasing some of the most elaborate frescoes and mosaics in Southern Europe. Just 20 minutes from Palermo is Mondello Beach, an excellent place for a sunbath or respite from the bustling citycentre.

Canary Islands COVID-19 restrictions: Vaccination or negative test required Temperature: 16-21°C Boasting a sub-tropical climate, this is the place to go for your Vitamin D fix, even in winter.

Any island in the Canaries has an idyllic coastline, and El Bollullo, Tenerife, is even famed for its black sand beaches. The landscape of the Canaries is extraordinary; Mount Teide, Tenerife is Spain’s highest mountain, and La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was used as a point of reference for colonial Caribbean cities like Havana. The Canaries set a precedent for historical change, Christopher Columbus even stopping here on his way to the ‘New World’.

“These beaches are some of the best Europe has to offer”

Of course, if sun is what you want, then look no further than here; these beaches are some of the best Europe has to offer. There cannot be a much better way to spend Boxing Day than dipping your feet in crystal-clear waters.

Athens COVID-19 restrictions: Vaccination or negative test required Temperature: 9-15°C Famed for its Acropolis, Athens evidently has much to offer to a history buff. This city buzzes all hours of the day, every day of the year. It may be one of the world’s oldest cities, but Athens never sleeps. Even the historic centre is patterned with bars, and you are never far away from a metro station.

The city’s upbeat nature manifests itself in creativity: street art and graffiti add to Athens’ modern vibe.

Renowned for its quality street food, it offers everything authentic from souvlaki (a kind of kebab) to seafood mezes (small dishes). Athens itself may not provide a sandy beach, but just 10 kilometres away is Edem, a touristy, but picturesque, beach just as good as any other.

Cyprus COVID-19 restrictions: Vaccination or negative test required Temperature: 15-19°C

Situated only 40 kilometres from sunny Turkey, Cyprus offers everything from classical ruins to beach resorts. Like Sicily, Cyprus has been a site of contention between empires, resulting in a fascinating cultural fusion of Middle Eastern and European cultures. Dotted with UNESCO heritage churches and surrounded by gleaming beaches, Cyprus caters to any kind of traveller.

If you want traditional, authentic food, look out for tavernas and ouzeries, featuring communal tables mounted with halloumi, stuffed

vine leaves and pitta breads.

The Algarve, Portugal COVID-19 restrictions: Vaccination or negative test required Temperature: 11-18°C The furthest south-west you can get, Portugal’s Algarve warrants T-shirt attire at Christmas time. The Algarve is renowned for being extra touristy with its resorts and bars, but visiting in winter avoids all the hustle and bustle. At the heart of The Algarve, however, are traditional fishing villages and nature reserves. The town of Carvoeiro characterises some of Portugal’s more traditional aspects, hidden amongst towering cliffs on either side.

“Visiting in winter avoids all the hustle and bustle” The Algarve’s microclimate means that cliff walking, caving and surfing are some of the best ways to discover Portugal’s scenery, even in the colder months.

Sergio Garcia

Information accurate as of 26th November. Visit https:// www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-toengland-from-another-countryduring-coronavirus-covid-19 for information about current travel restrictions.

TRAVEL

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbricktravel

31

Birmingham’s Top Highlights this Christmas

Tamzin Meyer takes us through the festive wonders that Birmingham has to offer this year Tamzin Meyer Digital Editor

It is that time of year where everybody starts to think about making festive plans with friends and family. Thank goodness Birmingham is never short of Christmas events and activities to delve into - the opportunities are endless! Here is just a small assortment of some of the things you can do in Birmingham this winter: The Frankfurt Christmas Market: A small taste of German culture is transported into our very own streets of Birmingham, bringing us festive food and drink. The Frankfurt Christmas Market makes for a lovely and memorable day out that will have you admiring the beautiful setting, singing along to Christmas music and slurping your hot chocolate.

The atmosphere immediately reminds me of one found in the Christmas movies where everybody comes together to join in with the festivities. If you are heading into the city centre at all in the upcoming months, the

market is definitely a must visit.

“A small taste of German culture is transported into our very own streets of Birmingham” Ice Skating: Get those winter woollies on and get ready to glide onto the ice. A couple of temporary ice rinks have found their way to Birmingham and provide the perfect activity for the holidays.

Head to Luna Springs in Digbeth or Centenary Square to find an ice rink with a beautiful atmosphere.

The ice rink in Centenary Square is located opposite the big ferris wheel, which looks absolutely magical when lit up at night and is just a short walk from the German Market. Have fun and get your skates on.

A Trip To See A Pantomime: Whether you find them cringely comical or enjoyably entertaining, nobody does panto

better than Birmingham. The iconic Birmingham panto is returning to the Hippodrome this Christmas for a rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, starring Aussie favourite Jason Donovan and the one and only Matt Slack, a comedian who has become quite the legend in Brummie Pantoland. The panto is always great fun for all of the family and never fails to interact with the audience. A great time to go would be Christmas Eve as nothing gets you better prepared for the big day rather than a good ol’ trip to the Hippodrome.

“Nobody does panto better than Birmingham” Carol Concert: If you are into the more traditional Christmas events Birmingham has to offer, why not head to a local church that is bound to have a carol concert in store.

There is something so special about everybody coming together in a candlelit church and singing Christmas carols and tucking into mulled wine and mince pies. That is the true Christmas spirit. These

events are usually free to enter with the opportunity to donate to a charity, giving you the perfect platform to spread some Christmas cheer.

Walking With The Snowman Trail: This is a new feature that will make its way to Birmingham from the 17th of November until the 6th of January and is sure to become a favourite tourist attraction.

This trail will see you adventure around Birmingham on the lookout for twelve, uniquely designed sculptures inspired by the Christmas classic, The Snowman. This is an activity that can be fun to do and can help those in need this Christmas - with people being encouraged to donate to the Birmingham Children’s Hospital as they complete the trail. Past trails that included a series of owl sculptures, titled The

Humphrey Muleba

Big Hoot, were very popular and this festive themed addition will surely follow on from their great legacy.

One for the Bucket List: Pakistan

Halima Ahad tells us about the cultural and gastronomic diversity of Pakistan and explains why the country should be on our bucket lists Halima Ahad

Travel Writer

Pakistan is a beautiful country filled with so many things to do. It is incredibly rich in culture with

Mehroz Naqvi

many different ethnicities and mouth-watering food. Here are a couple reasons why I think you should add Pakistan to your bucket list.

The cultural diversity of Pakistan is absolutely wonderful.

There is an array of different cultures, traditions and dialects in each of the four provinces of Pakistan. The four provinces include the Punjab, the Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; there is also the autonomous territory of Gilgit Baltistan. Each province brings unique ethnicities which have had a long-lasting effect on Pakistan’s culture. When visiting each province, there is a uniqueness in the way people dress and speak, and this enriches the culture as a whole. The diversity of Pakistan is present in the food that is eaten, the range of musical instruments, the literature read and the different dialects that are spoken.

The food of Pakistan is delicious and intricately cooked.

Pakistan is famous for its specialised use of herbs and spices. The food is fragrant and spicy, each local dish carrying cultural heritage rooted in the country’s geography and history. The country is also famous for its sweet goods, known as mithai, which have unique, local recipes and are topped with many different nuts and flavours. Another famous national dish of Pakistan is biryani, which is a mixed rice dish made with Pakistani spices and

rice. There can be different versions of the dish including meat and seafood.

“The food is fragrant and spicy, each local dish carrying cultural heritage” Another thing to note is the hospitality of the people of Pakistan. The people of Pakistan are welcoming and generous.

Locals are genuinely pleased to see tourists - an example of this is in the Hunza Valley, in the Gilgit Baltistan region, which has led the way for the tourist renaissance in Pakistan. Recently, in 2017, the valley attracted 1.72 million tourists, according to the Business Recorder. Hotels were bursting, so the citizens opened up their homes for travellers that needed a place to stay.

There are also many historical buildings which are the pinnacle of the beauty of Pakistan. They showcase the history of what Pakistan used to be when many different people and cultures reigned and took over the region.

In the centuries the Mughals reigned, they hired different artists and architects to create beautiful mosques. The most famous ones include the Badshahi mosque in Lahore and the Shah Jahan

mosque in Sindh. There are also temples which date back to ancient Hindu scripture. One of the most famous temples in Pakistan is the Katas Raj Temples.

The unique history of Pakistan is also very interesting. There are many artefacts and remnants dotted around Pakistan which give a nod to different cultures and countries that have been situated in Pakistan in the past. This includes the earliest statues and the remnants of monasteries from the history of the time of Buddha, the prevalence of Hinduism through ancient Hindu temples, and the mosques which have been built from the time of the great Mughals who invaded Pakistan from Central Asia.

Condé Nast awarded Pakistan as the number one holiday destination for 2020. It said: 'this is a place of exquisite landscapes, where green spaces are overlooked by towering mountains', giving a nod to the North side of Pakistan and the famous K2 mountain. There are many things to consider when travelling to Pakistan, but travel advisories have been relaxed and after two decades, tourism is being promoted once again.

So these are the many reasons why Pakistan should be on your bucket list. The rich culture and vibrant ethnicities as well as the flavoursome food add to the list of many things you can discover in Pakistan, and I hope to visit there one day myself.

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LIFE&STYLE

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbricklifestyle

Kiss, Marry, Kill: The Fascination with Psychopaths in Popular Media As You reignites the discussion about attraction to serial killers, Lauren Hayward explains why this phenomenon has persisted in fiction and in real life Lauren Hayward Life&Style Writer

Content warning: This article contains themes of murder, violence and sexual abuse, including towards children 'We all love a bad boy, though don't we?'

'Yeah, not a f*****g terrorist though, Chris! There's a bad boy, and then there's evil.'

This excerpt from Gogglebox has been viewed millions of times on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. It has developed into a popular meme, with some hailing it as one of the greatest moments on British television. Yet it seems it is not just Chris who confuses the charm of a 'bad boy' with disturbing and terrifying evil.

Various popular movies and television series today focus on depicting an evil figure in the form of a psychopathic serial killer. Yet, instead of terrifying its audiences, we often encounter viewers becoming fascinated with them, despite watching them commit brutal and bloody murders. A recent example of this phenomenon where a lethal combination of sadism and charm earned the adoration for thousands is in the character of Joe from Netflix’s You, played by Penn Badgley.

The internet is littered with theories as to why we find ourselves rooting for a character who, over the three seasons, commits a total of nine murders himself, leads one man to commit suicide, hides several of his wife's murders, and also commits other unsavoury acts such as stalking and public indecency.

“We as an audience have been trained to identify with protagonists” One Reddit user suggests that it is because we as an audience have been trained to identify with protagonists, especially since much of the series is narrated by Joe's inner thoughts. Another Reddit user suggests many of the people who Joe kills are 'assholes' such as an unpleasant cocaine addict (Henderson), a domestic abuser (Ron), and another murderer (Benji). Surely

these are the kind of people who deserve to die? It could be because Joe constantly reminds us that he is killing for love. Even if we cannot understand his actions, we can at least acknowledge that he has a reason. This reason of love has driven people to the extremes of behaviour throughout history.

Perhaps it is simply that many of us grew up watching Penn Badgley play Dan 'lonely boy' Humphrey on Gossip Girl, and sometimes it can be challenging to separate actors from their previous roles. Badgley himself

described Joe as 'the same role' as Dan, but with 'blood dripping down his face.' Or perhaps it's simply that tall, dark, and handsome Badgley, with his smooth voice and capturing smoulder, makes viewers forget that this 'evil' character should produce hate instead of fascination. I do not imagine Hannibal Lecter and his horrifying mask had many viewers swooning.

There is no doubt that Badgley's depiction of Joe is charming and enticing. The entire series is, after all, based on his various relationships and his persona as a 'ladies man.' Yet, maybe we should realistically and morally find this charm all the more sinister and sadistic. Joe understands his ability to capture the attention of women. His violently misogynistic and obnoxious monologues make that all too clear. But why is the horror of

“Joe is just one of many serial killers whose charm has captured the hearts (and eyes) of audiences”

murder and violence, and the fact that he keeps a plexiglass cage in his basement, not enough to mar his character in the eyes of viewers? Even Badgley himself felt the need to remind viewers of the horror of his character, replying to their tweets of adoration by stating that he sees Joe as someone beyond redemption as 'he is a murderer.'

“Humans have a deep desire to make sense of the world around us” Joe is just one of many serial killers whose charm has captured the heart (and eyes) of audiences, despite their terrifying actions.

For example, Zac Efron's por-

cases of serial killers. This phenomenon has been named 'hybristophilia' and ranges from convicted serial killers, rapists, child molesters, to kidnappers such as Richard Ramirez. Ramirez received hundreds of love letters from fans while incarcerated and eventually married one of his admirers. Various women also showed up to Ted Bundy's trial dressed like his victims. Often these obsessions are based on attractiveness. However, the mindset of a serial killer has a clearly captivating appeal.

Other explanations for this creepy phenomenon include the biological factor – that some women are attracted to larger, more aggressive, dominant males who may offer status and protection. On the other hand, Bonn suggested that we are obsessed with serial killers in the same way we might be fascinated by disasters such as train wrecks. Despite their grotesqueness and the fact that we should want to look away, we simply cannot. These types of experiences can create a rush of adrenaline that simultaneously stimulates the brain and is addictive. Why do people jump out of a parachute or ride thrilling rollercoasters if it does not feel good?

Humans have a deep desire to make sense of the world around us. The actions of serial killers are so incomprehensible to the non-serial killer that we become drawn You/Netflix to them as we try to fathom their actions and how any human women. But what are the could brutally kill not just one but psychological mechanisms multiple other humans. behind the lust that viewers feel towards these murderous men?

And is it something that should concern us?

In 2014, Scott Bonn published his book Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World's Most Savage Killers.

Although he primarily focuses on obsessions with real-world killSo, whilst the lure of a serial ers, he also discusses how Hollywood has 'glamorised' serial killer such as Joe from You may killers, for example, the various seem bizarre and even sinister, portrayals of Ed Gein in movies psychologists recognise this such as Psycho and The Texas attraction as fairly ordinary and Chainsaw Massacre. Bonn states harmless to the healthy adult, that 'sex and violence sell,' so it is who can separate good from bad no wonder that shows and films and fiction from reality. However, that center around serial killers, I might suggest developing an who often embody both, are so attraction to Badgley's Dan from Gossip Girl instead of Joe, lest successful.

This obsession with fictional you find yourself tempted to start killers is much less frightening writing love letters to a serial than the attraction to real-life killer. trayal of Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is criticised by journalist Olive Pometsey as an attempt in transforming serial killers into 'Hollywood Heartthrobs.'

Pometsey questioned how the flash of Zac Efron's 'bare bum' added to the portrayal of this psychopathic killer. Meanwhile, I found myself somewhat mesmerised by Jamie Dornan's portrayal of serial killer Paul Spector in The Fall, despite feeling terrified by the character and the thought that he had such power over

“The mindset of a serial killer has a clearly captivating appeal”

LIFE&STYLE

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbricklifestyle

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Lessons From 'All Too Well': Power Imbalances in Age-Gap Relationships

Deyna Grimshaw discusses how Taylor Swift's short film sparked a worthwhile discussion on age gaps in relationships Deyna Grimshaw Life&Style Writer

Taylor Swift has been responsible for a lot in the past few weeks. TikTok trends and Spotify binges aside, after the release of her 10-minute version of the breakup song ‘All Too Well’ and the accompanying short film (written and directed by Swift), a more serious topic has resurfaced.

Once again, popular culture is debating whether relationships with a significant age gap can be healthy, or whether the power imbalance caused by a large age difference makes it simply impossible.

This is an age-old debate (no pun intended). Many people seem to believe that an age gap in a relationship matters less if the partners are older – for instance, a 55-year-old and a 65-year-old are much closer in maturity than a 19-year-old and a 29-year-old.

The issue with a large age gap when both partners are younger is that the two partners are likely going to be at vastly different levels of maturity as well as stages of life. It is likely that when

you consider your personality nine years ago, you are picturing a very different person from who you are now. The older partner here has been in the working world for over a decade, whilst the younger partner has either just left school or may be a fresher at university.

In the case of Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal (the alleged couple portrayed in the short film), she was only 20 when they began dating, and he 29. Taylor was not long an adult, unable to even drink legally in the United States, whilst Jake Gyllenhaal was already a famous actor and was approaching 30. Although it is true that Taylor’s music career had already begun to take off, and this likely meant that she was forced to mature very quickly, she would still not have been at a similar stage of life to Gyllenhaal.

A 29-year-old could feasibly consider settling down and having kids, and while some people do choose to start a family early, I can confidently say as a 21-yearold that most of my friends and I are terrified at the thought of having a child at this age. The large age difference is particularly stark when viewing the ‘All Too Well’

short film, as there is an 11-year age gap between Sadie Sink (19) and Dylan O’Brien (30). Sink looks extremely young and innocent in contrast to O’Brien's rugged beard and mature style.

Whilst some couples succeed in a relationship with a large age gap, it is important to consider the power imbalance that a difference such as this can cause.

Whilst it may be understandable as to why a person would seek an older, more mature partner, it is questionable that someone approaching 30 would be attracted to the immaturity of a 20-yearold. Of course, physical attraction plays a role in every relationship. However, there may also be a need for power from the older partner. Age gives a person status in society, and an age gap also may (in non-celebrity relationships) be accompanied by a wealth gap, as it is likely that the older partner is more financially stable than a 20-year-old. This provides the older partner with power over the younger partner that they may wield maliciously much more easily than with a partner their own age.

It is true that some relationships with large age gaps do suc-

ceed, but it is likewise important to be aware of the dangers of this situation. In these scenarios, the younger partner in the relationship can often be vulnerable, therefore falling victim to a power imbalance owing to the fact that they are just happy to be admired by an older, more mature suitor. If you find yourself getting into a relationship with someone much older than yourself, listen carefully to your friends and family. It may seem as though they just do not understand your relationship, the chances are that older people will be able to see more clearly if the power imbalance in the relationship is too strong to be healthy. Just do not let the rose-

Twitter/@TaylorSwift

tinted goggles of love cloud your vision too much.

Winter Trend Prediction: 'Expensive Brunette' Georgia Quirke Life&Style Writer

From Hailey Bieber to Dove Cameron, A-List celebrities have ditched their blonde locks for brunette this winter. Post-lockdown, women are tired of high maintenance hair and are transitioning back to darker roots for a more natural, easy look. This updated version of the classic brunette has been coined ‘expensive brunette’ on social media. This new look is characterised by multiple shades and tones of brown with emphasis on hair health. Classic brunette emerges every winter, but I think this luxe, low maintenance hair colour is seriously perfect and here to stay.

After lockdown and the explosion of hair experimentation (from dying hair with food colouring to a newfound obsession for mullets after Tiger King), women have turned to a more natural look.

‘Expensive brunette’ is a radiant brunette with depth, dimension, shine and subtle face framing. It is all about embracing your natural hair colour by staying as close

to your roots as possible.

Essentially, looking expensive without breaking the bank. The term ‘expensive brunette’ refers to the end result; more luxurious and healthy hair.

Naturally, going into the winter months, the brunette trend does occur almost every year.

However, during lockdown, the inability to visit hair salons meant that people simply opted for a low-maintenance style. This new brunette trend needs little upkeep and is less damaging, saving you money in the long run and making it easier to maintain healthy hair.

Therefore, it is no surprise that celebrities have jumped into the brunette scene and are loving this bold brown look.

The origin of the ‘expensive brunette’ trend can be traced back to the Hailey Bieber. Bieber has swapped out her signature blonde for her natural hair colour. Whilst she had dyed her hair before the pandemic, during her time at

home she stopped highlighting her hair and let the colour grow out. In Hailey Bieber’s case, ‘expensive brunette’ does not have to cost a thing and is ultimately a grownout root.

Celebrity colourist Tracey Cunningham says the growno u t r o o t trend

could indicate a general shift towards stress-free hair-colouring.

This natural look is seen on many more celebrities, with Sofia Richie removing her blonde highlights and going back to her brunette roots. Even famous blonde Blake Lively has turned to a grown-out shade of bronde.

The #ExpensiveBrunette tag on TikTok has gained over one million views, featuring women posting their brunette transformations. TikTok has even gone as far as declaring that blonde is officially out. The founder of Shewolf, Mariano Ruiz, says that 'everything is changing to a more natural, relaxed and easy style' as clients are ‘embracing their true styles and hair colours.' Others have linked the ‘expensive brunette’ to a more inclusive beauty world. A TikTok trend forecaster, ‘The Digital Fairy’ states that ‘the trend away from blonde may also be a trend towards more diverse beauty ideals’; Clearly, the natural look is continuing to be popular.

So, if you do want to try out this chic new trend,

Twitter/@DoveCameron

this is what to ask for.

According to celebrity hairstylist Liam Curran, you need to ask for different shades and tones of brown created by mixing colours and finishing with luxe toners. ‘Expensive brunette’ is a colour bespoke to you depending on your eye and skin colour. There are two ways to achieve this look, either matching the rest of your hair to your roots or simply growing out your hair.

Ultimately, the idea is to stay as close to your roots as possible and just emphasise your natural hair. I love this new trend, especially now we can get the celebrity look for less.

The ‘expensive brunette’ trend is anything but average.

So, maybe it is time for brunettes to honour their natural hair colour or even for blondes to give brunette a go. Perhaps blondes are not having more fun after all. I am here for winter hair trends, but I have a feeling that this one is here to stay. So, let’s do brunette this year– and make it look expensive.

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SCI&TECH

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbricktech

New COVID-19 T-cell Vaccine to be Trialled

Emily Adams explains the new vaccine delivered by a patch that could be used to further tackle the pandemic Emily Adams Sci&Tech Writer

By now everyone has heard of the main COVID-19 vaccines, with Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna becoming well-known names. Yet this month, Emergex – an Oxford-based company – has received approval to begin clinical trials for a new T-cell vaccine starting in January 2022.

Trials at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland will test the skin-patch vaccine in both high and low doses in 26 human participants. The first wave of results is expected at an interval in June 2022.

How do current vaccines work?

Most people in the UK have been immunised with Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna vaccines, but how do these current vaccines work? Furthermore, how is this different from the T-Cell approach?

AstraZeneca is a traditional vaccine, using a modified version of a common cold virus, adenovirus, that expresses spike proteins to trigger the body’s immune

US Secretary of Defense

response to produce neutralising anti-bodies against the COVID19 virus.

In mRNA vaccines, like Pfizer and Moderna, the patient is injected with a lab-generated mRNA that teaches body cells to produce spike proteins. These spike proteins are what give the coronavirus its now infamous appearance and are displayed by the body’s own cells. The immune system recognises the proteins as foreign and produces anti-bodies to fight the perceived infection as it would when encountering an actual COVID-19 virus.

“Spike proteins are what give the coronavirus its now infamous aparearance” These vaccines generate a T-cell response, but to a lesser degree than the proposed Emergex vaccine.

How does the T-cell vaccine work?

The approval comes following a paper published in Nature revealing how T-cells are involved in abortive infection. This is the process of clearing coronaviruses from the body before the infection is detectable

by PCR or antibody tests. Rapid destruction of invading viruses by T-cells could explain stories many of us have heard of whole households becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus, apart from one or two individuals who test negative despite definite

exposure.

The Emergex vaccine aims to prime T-cells to rapidly eliminate COVID-19 in this way. Whereas anti-bodies stick to the virus and prevent entry into human cells (known as neutralisation), T-cells hunt down and kill infected cells.

This is the first vaccine approved for clinical trials which does not elicit an antibody response.

Maybe that’s a selling point for T-cell vaccines', says Danny Altmann, Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London.

From a practical perspective, the Emergex vaccine can survive for up to three months at room temperature, unlike many current vaccines which require specific refrigeration.

What are the advantages of a T-cell vaccine?

If successful, the Emergex vaccine could overcome many of the problems associated with current mRNA and traditional COVID-19 vaccines. One of the main benefits would be long-term immunisation in the absence of booster jabs. mRNA vaccines stimulate antibody production as the primary defence against SARSCoV-2, the COVID-19 virus.

However, antibody responses diminish with time, a phenomenon explaining why we need booster jabs. The T-cell vaccine 'could offer longer-lasting immunity – possibly for decades', according to Robin Cohen, Chief Commercial Officer of Emergex.

SARS-CoV-2 has mutated a number of times since the pandemic began, producing what are commonly known as variants of the virus. These variants pose a problem for vaccination efforts as the virus evolves to become more transmissible and less sensitive to vaccine-induced immune responses. A review of SARS-CoV-2 variants published in Nature in June 2021 outlined changes in antigenicity – the ability of the virus to be recognised by the body’s antibody defence system. The review cited evidence that the post-vaccine antibody immune response had a reduced impact at neutralising new variants of the COVID-19 virus. This is one of the hurdles that Emergex is hoping to overcome.

'Antibodies are very sensitive to mutations while T-cells can see many other parts of the virus.

How is the Emergex vaccine administered?

The new route of administration proposed for this vaccine may add to the list of its advantages. Gold particles will be covered with small fragments of proteins, that induce the T-Cell response, according to Prof Thomas Rademacher.

These will be delivered within seconds via microneedles on a small patch placed on the skin.

“Delivered within seconds via microneedles on a small patch” Despite the wealth of benefits boasted by this new vaccine, Altmann suggests a mixed approach instead, with different types of vaccine given with each shot. He emphasises the role of the T-cell vaccine as being complementary to current mRNA and traditional approaches, which already are showing positive effects on national and global immunisation.

Following the rapid development of the initial stages of COVID-19 vaccines, the normal length of vaccine development will resume in this postemergency period. The earliest we can hope to see the vaccine available to the public is 2025, Emergex says.

Russian Movie Crew Films in Space Emma Willett Sci&Tech Writer

The Russian space agency (Roscosmos) has sent a team into orbit to film scenes for a feature film. The star, Yulia Peresild, and director, Klim Shipenko, travelled aboard a Soyuz spacecraft, along with cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov.

They took off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on October 5th and are expected to spend 12 days aboard the International Space Station.

Peresild plays a cardiac surgeon who is sent to space to save a cosmonaut, whilst two real-life cosmonauts who are already on the ISS, Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov, will also take part.

The journey took around three hours, though there was a short delay when the Soyuz reached the ISS due to a failure of the automatic docking system which was resolved

by Shkaplerov assuming manual control. He would usually have the support of a flight engineer but, despite their fast-tracked flight training, Peresild and Shipenko would have been unable to assist him.

With this trip, the team has beaten NASA and US actor Tom Cruise, who have also been planning to make a film aboard the ISS. However, the Russian project has not been free from controversy.

Originally conceived by the Roscosmos chief, some staff and

former cosmonauts have raised concerns, arguing that such activities should not get in the way of the professional work undertaken on the ISS. Since the first crew took up residence on the ISS in November 2000, more than 3000 science experiments have been

undertaken at the facility. Most of these aim to investigate the effects of microgravity on plants, animals, humans and technology.

European Space Agency

Creature Feature: Shelley's Eagle Owl Elliott Haywood Sci&Tech Editor

Becky Woods

T h e S h e l l e y ’s E a g l e O w l (Bubo shelleyi) is a large species of owl – measuring up to two feet in length and weighing over a kilogram – that inhabits the dense rainforests of Central and We s t e r n Africa.

Whilst it is believed that the bird has a population of a few thousand spread thinly across the region, it is very rarely seen in the wild, with no confirmed sightings in Ghana since the 1870s when it was first described as a species by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1872.

Several unconfirmed sightings have been recorded across Africa with the species only being known from a few specimens and a captive bird from Antwerp Zoo, which was photographed i n 1 9 7 5 . H o w e v e r, t h e first photograph of a wild specimen was taken in October this year by Dr J o s e p h To b i a s a n d D r R o b e r t Wi l l i a m s i n A t e w a Forest, Ghana, confirming the species’ existence in the area.

D r Wi l l i a m s s a i d , ' We hope this sighting draws attention to Atewa Forest and its importance for conserving local biodiversity'.

Whilst this sighting offers hope for the surv i v a l o f S h e l l e y ’s E a g l e Owl, like so many species it is threatened with habitat loss due to hunting, bauxite mining and illegal logging within the Atewa Forest, and across much of its suspected range.

Campaigns, such as A Rocha's, are underway to help protect the Atewa Forest from destruction, with aims to turn the area into a national park in order to preserve its rich b i o d i v e r s i t y.

SCI&TECH

Tuesday 7th December 2021

@redbricktech

35

'World's Oldest Map of the Stars' Coming to the British Museum Gwydion Elliott Sci&Tech Writer

The Nebra sky disk, thought to be the world’s oldest map of the stars, will be displayed at the British Museum next year. Believed to be 3600 years old, this artefact is a window into Bronze Age culture and its fascinating links with cosmology.

“This artefact is a window into Bronze Age culture” The disk is around 30cm in diameter and made of bronze, which has aged to form a blue-green patina. Inlaid within the metal are several gold symbols marking the sun or full moon, a crescent moon, and stars. Included is a cluster of 7 stars thought to represent the Pleaides star-cluster, which is visible in the night sky today. Far from just decoration, these elements could have made the Nebra disk a useful astronomical instrument for determining the passage of the seasons.

For the people of the Bronze Age, understanding the passage of time was very important. I spoke to Neil Wilkin, curator of Early Europe at the British Museum, who told me that the transition from hunting and gathering to farming required 'a different view of time, and of place.'

Placed at the whims of the seasons, farmers tracked the solstices (the days of the year marking midsummer and midwinter) to help them sow and harvest their crops at the right time. As is true with monuments like Stonehenge and

Newgrange, the Nebra sky disk helped them do this: two golden arcs (one is now missing) on either side of the disk intersect to create an angle of 82 degrees, the same angle which lies between the positions of the setting sun on the summer and winter solstices. In a world before writing, the disk showed people how to use the sun to keep track of the time of year.

Wilkin explained to me that the disk seems to have meant different things to people as the Bronze Age progressed, reflected by the fact that different gold markings were added and removed throughout its life. The golden arcs marking the solstices were a later addition, and one which may have obscured an older purpose for the disk. The placement of the Pleiades star cluster between a crescent and new moon signals the beginning and end of the farming year in Europe; as a guide from the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, Germany says: 'The Pleiades were visible... for the last time in the evening sky alongside the young new moon around 10 March, while the full moon would accompany their reappearance in the morning sky around 17 October.'

Going even deeper, the disk may contain a code for aligning the solar and lunar calendars – the position of the moon as well as the precise number of stars on the disk

seem to suggest this. Keeping track of the movements of both the sun and the moon was important for keeping time in this period, and so aligning their calendars was useful.

There is some scepticism as to whether the disk could really do this;

Anagoria

Wilkin told me that he personally finds the Halle Museum’s account 'very convincing' but said that often in the study of prehistory 'we never have 100% certainty' about the artefacts that are found.

The movement of the sun and stars and the passage of time seem to have been of paramount importance to the people of the Bronze Age – even Stonehenge is aligned with the solstices. Newgrange, a

monument in County Meath, Ireland, has an inner chamber which is filled with a ray of golden sunlight as the sun sets on the winter solstice. Beyond helping farmers plant their crops properly, this fixation on the passage of time surely implies a religious significance.

Midwinter could be a 'critical and dangerous' time for Bronze Age peoples, Wilkin told me. Thus, the winter solstice must have taken on a great deal of importance, as it represented the start of longer and warmer days and the return of the farming season.

The religious connotations of the disk changed again when a third grooved golden arc was added, this time to the bottom edge. The markings on and around this arc suggest that it represents a mythical sky-boat. The myth of a ship that carries the sun across the horizon is an old one, and representations of it can be found from Egypt to central Europe. This helps illustrate how cultures were more interconnected in this period than you might first think. The disk, which is attributed to a site near Halle, Germany, contains copper from Austria, as well as gold and bronze from Cornwall.

Little is known about society at this time – with most settlements lost, Wilkin explained, burial sites are often our best source of evidence.

While many people seem to have been buried in a simple fashion, some graves formed enormous

monuments. Alongside those buried in this way there are often richly decorated weapons and jewellery.

In this way, we can see what might well be the emergence of upper and lower classes in society. I asked Wilkin more about this and he told me that there is much debate about whether society was more hierarchical or egalitarian in this period.

The basis of social hierarchy, he told me, could have been the control of substances such as wool, amber and bronze, or power could instead have had more to do with religion. Wilkin told me that in recent years, there has been something of a shift in perspective towards a more egalitarian view of the past, with a shift away from what he called 'a quite Thatcherite model' of social structure. At the same time he noted that academics should be wary of 'idolizing the past.'

“Some graves formed enourmous monuments” The Nebra sky disk is a fascinating window into the lives and cultural practices of Bronze Age peoples – a period of history that is very much shrouded in mystery. It will be displayed in the British Museum next year as part of an exhibition called The World of Stonehenge. Wilkin, who had a large hand in creating the exhibition, was keen to bring the sky disk to the UK because of the many fascinating stories that it tells. More information about next year’s exhibition will be released on the 7th of December.

Deforestation Agreement Signed at COP26

Ashley Baker explains the deforestation agreement signed by 141 countries at COP26 Ashley Baker Sci&Tech Writer

World leaders from more than 140 countries have signed an agreement to bring an end to global deforestation by the beginning of the next decade. The deal was reached at the start of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, chaired by the UK Government on behalf of the United Nations. Officially titled as the COP26 Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use, the agreement was announced

by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the second day of the summit.

This strategy to halt and reverse the impact of deforestation was the first major commitment to be outlined at the conference.

The agreement highlighted the essential role that the planet’s forests play in mitigating climate change, conserving biodiversity and supporting indigenous communities. The declaration included funding to the sum of more than $19 billion (£14 billion) to tackle deforestation, with money

coming from various governments, businesses and philanthropists.

Following the signing of the deal, UN Secretary-General António Guterres took to Twitter to encourage world leaders to deliver on their pledge: 'Signing the Declaration is the easy part. It is essential that it is implemented now for people and the planet.'

“The country contains around 60% of the Amazon rainforest” Among the key signatories of the deal was Brazil – the country contains around 60% of the Amazon rainforest within its borders. The rainforest plays an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been widely criticised for

failing to crack down on illegal logging in the Amazon, with the rate of deforestation having increased since his presidential term began. Despite not attending COP26 in person, President Bolsonaro’s decision to back the agreement is a step towards saving the Amazon.

Ten countries also made a separate pledge to protect forests in the Congo Basin. Located in Central Africa, the basin is named after the River Congo and includes some of the world’s largest tropical rainforests. The Congo Basin pact included $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion) of funding and was supported by the European Union and the Bezos Earth Fund – a scheme established by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos to tackle climate-related issues.

In another deal, 28 countries set out plans to reduce the impact that global trade has on deforestation. The Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade Roadmap for Action includes plans to make cocoa beans, palm oil and other agricultural commodities more sustainable. Indonesia, the world’s

largest exporter of palm oil, was one of the countries backing the roadmap.

Similar pledges to t a c k l e deforestation h a v e b e e n made by leaders in the past; however, for the most part, they have been largely unsuccessful. The New York Declaration on Forests was agreed at the UN climate summit in 2014, which was hosted by the United States. The declaration, which was not sanctioned by law, had aimed to halve the rate of deforestation by 2020 and bring it to an end by 2030. A plan was drawn-up in 2017 to increase the size of the world’s forest coverage by 3% before 2030 – or planting trees over an area of 1.2 million square kilometres, about the same size as South Africa.

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Deforestation is estimated to contribute around 15% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Putting an end to deforestation is one of the many actions considered to be essential for slowing climate change, along with phasing out fossil fuels and switching to renewable energy sources. As set out by the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, the UN aims to keep the rise in average global temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius – ideally below 1.5 degrees Celsius – compared with pre-industrial levels, in order to avoid a climate catastrophe.

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Boxing: Paul to Face Fury in US Rachel Higgins previews the highly anticipated grudgematch between the two internet sensations Rachel Higgins

to his name, it must also be recognised that a large part of his fame comes from his appearance on the fifth season of the UK’s Love Island.

Sport Editor

On Saturday December 18th at the Amalie Arena in Florida, Jake ‘The Problem Child’ Paul will face Tommy ‘TNT’ Fury in a professional boxing match marketed as the symbolic duel of Yank against Brit. Advertised as the fight where ‘One Will Fall,’ the event is certainly surrounded by a lot of anticipation.

The fight is set at a catchweight of 192lbs, which does not adhere to the usual boxing weight limits, and is set to last for eight rounds. The fight was set up due to an intense back and forth feud on social media and both fighters have considerable backing from their famous online presence.

Jake Paul started boxing just three years ago in August 2018 amongst a new crossover between martial arts and social media known as YouTuber boxing. Paul has an interesting career from YouTube and has been known to be caught up in scandals and Twitter spats alike.

This will be Jake Paul’s first proper bout against an experienced boxer. Paul has faced MMA champions such as Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, managing to maintain a 4-0 professional record.

“There is the clear advantage in the Brit's natural background in boxing”

boxers fought was during the same event. Fury was part of Paul’s previous undercard when he fought against Anthony Taylor.

The Taylor-Fury match finished unanimously whereas Paul won by split decision.

Bets are on and the odds seem to slightly favour Fury. The event is organised as a pay-per-view fight. You can find access through BT Sport Box Office which is on Sky channel 490, BT channel 494, and in the live events section on Virgin Media. After purchasing, you can also stream the event live from the BT Sport website and app.

Twitter/@MirrorFighting So far undefeated, the well-known YouTuber is set to undergo his toughest fight yet in the fifth fixture of his career.

“The fight was set up due to an intense back and forth feud” However, many have cast doubts on how far this record

matches his skill level. He has not yet faced a professional boxer and therefore this fight will be a true test.

Tommy Fury is the half-brother of the infamous heavyweight, Tyson Fury. Tommy holds an impressive boxing record himself at 7-0, with four knockouts to show for it. There is the clear advantage in the Brit's natural background in boxing. He also has the privilege of training and advice from the best boxer in the world right now, who will stand in his corner for the fight. Whilst Fury certainly has the credentials

The fight has been swirling around social media and fans are eager to see the outcome of the awaited showdown. Paul has proposed a bet that if he is successful Fury will have to change his name to Tommy Fumbles for 1 year.

Nothing has been made official.

On the other side, Tommy Fury’s Father has been very vocal in the run up to the fight. Trainer for both Tommy and Tyson, John Fury made it clear in the BT Sport Press Conference that Paul should ‘count his lucky stars’ he is unable to attend the fight in America.

This is due to a criminal record.

Ironically the last time both

Paul v Fury Undercard Serrano vs Gutierrez Deron Williams vs Frank Gore Liam Paro vs Yomar Alamo

Australian Test Captain Announced

Seth Nobes reports on the appointment of Pat Cummins as the new Australian Test Captain Seth Nobes Sport Writer

Pat Cummins has been named by Cricket Australia as the new man to lead their side in Test matches following the surprise resignation of Tim Paine as a consequence of a sexting scandal (as reported by The Guardian). Cummins, arguably the world’s best Test bowler, comes into the role with less than two weeks to prepare for the first Test in the 2021/22 Ashes. Steve Smith, who stepped down from

Twitter/@patcummins30

the role in 2018 following the sandpaper scandal (as reported by The Independent), returns as vice captain.

The step up to captain continues a remarkable comeback story for the New South Welshmen, whose career has been massively impacted by injury. Cummins was seen from a young age as a potential star, earning his first international call up aged 18 for the Twenty20 leg of Australia’s tour of South Africa. Impressive form in those games led to his late inclusion in the squad for the Test match leg of the tour.

It was during the Test series that Cummins’ ability was demonstrated for the first time on the world stage. His involvement in the squad was surprising, but his lack of experience had no impact on the quality of his performance.

He came into the side for the second Test following an eight wicket loss. In taking seven wickets in the match and hitting the winning runs in an Australian victory, Cummins was Player of the Match. He had delivered on his potential.

“Cummins was seen from a young age as a potential star, earning his first international call up aged 18” However, multiple injuries for the paceman meant he missed four of the five home summers between 2012 and 2016. Fortunes began to change in 2017. The winter of 2016/17 was completed without injury, demonstrating his return to fitness. This was rewarded with a return to the Test team

for the last two matches of the tour of India in March, after a five and a half year absence.

Since his recall to the side in 2017, the newly appointed captain has played 31 of Australia’s 33 Test matches, dispelling any claims that his fitness will impact his ability to captain well.

Moreover, his statistics speak for themselves. Out of current players, Cummins boasts the lowest average out of bowlers with a minimum of 150 wickets. Not bad for someone whose career has been plagued by injuries.

The 47th player to captain Australia in Tests will become the first bowler to hold the role since 1956. However, the context of his appointment means this would have been irrelevant to Cricket Australia. Cummins was the only real candidate due to his clean record and suitable experience.

The shrewd appointment of Steve Smith as his vice captain means he has someone with experience of the role to turn to, without the backlash of appointing Smith due to his involvement in the sandpaper scandal. However, whether Cummins can balance his world class bowling and his new leadership role is yet to be seen. And with The Ashes, it means his first test is the biggest Test of them all.

Australian Ashes Squad 2021/22 Pat Cummins (C) David Warner Marcus Harris Marnus Labuschagne Steve Smith Travis Head Usman Khawaja Cameron Green Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Nathan Lyon Jhye Richardson Michael Neser Mitchell Swepson

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A New Era For Manchester United?

Joe Lidicott discusses Solskjaer's exit, arguing a new manager will prove successful for the club Joe Lidicott Sport Writer

The dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the 20th of November marked a low-point for Manchester United. Earlier that day, the Reds suffered a humiliating defeat at Vicarage Road against an energetic Watford side who thoroughly deserved the three points. With all the superstar talent that Solskjaer fielded that day, it would be easy to assume that the match would be a formality, with United coasting to three points. Instead, the squad looked bereft of ideas, desire and - worst of all - talent.

How could such a seemingly gifted squad look so lacklustre?

To most, the answer to that question lies in the management team, namely Solskjaer, who suffered the consequences of United’s run of poor results and atrocious form. For the time being, Michael Carrick is at the helm at Old Trafford, a decision which bought the powers that be time to search frantically for an apt replacement.

Carrick, another former United player, is not expected to revolutionise the club while he is at the helm, he is merely a stopgap overseeing the turbulent time between the regime change.

A 2-0 midweek win over Villareal in the Champions League did little to spark the enthusiasm of the Old Trafford faithful. The Reds started flat, and could easily have been behind at half time were it not for a world-class per-

formance from goalkeeper David De Gea, a man who looks to be returning to his best form. United held on and struck in the 78th minute through Ronaldo, who inevitably found his way onto the scoresheet. Jadon Sancho, who was arguably the best player on the night, then doubled United’s lead with a brilliant goal that kicked off his tally for the club. If there were any positives to draw from the night, then Sancho’s performance was the salient one.

The 21 year old Englishman was becoming somewhat of an outcast under Solskjaer, despite his European reputation. The plethora of attacking options at United is somewhat of a blessing and a curse for whoever takes charge, as personalities and egos will have to be managed carefully to keep the changing room cordial. Sancho was a casualty of this, with Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford (exciting starlets in their own right) often getting the nod ahead of him on the starting team sheet, this could change under new management.

“For the time being Michael Carrick is at the helm” Cristiano Ronaldo’s grip on the Striker position will not be weakened by his goal against Villareal, either. The legendary

xtranews.de/wikimedia commons number seven has scored 10 goals in 14 matches in a red shirt this season, and while the numbers don’t lie, his influence on the other side of the game is perhaps troubling for whoever takes charge next. The 36 year old is a born goal scorer and entertainer, but his low work-rate and entitled attitude on the defensive side of the ball creates a big issue that will need to be addressed if United want to be competing with the best in the world. Is Ronaldo more trouble than he’s worth? If he inhibits the development and playing time of the young talent at Old Trafford then his role as United’s attacking focal point must be seriously considered going forward.

On Monday 29th November Ralf Ragnick was officially announced as United’s interim

manager until the end of the season, at which point he will continue in a two year consultancy role with the club. A somewhat unknown quantity in English football, he will look to instil a highintensity game at Old Trafford, something that has been lacking in recent years. Seen as the ‘godfather of gegenpressing’, Rangnick is admired by Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, two Germans currently enjoying wildly successful stays in England. Will Rangnick follow suit? Those at United will be hoping so.

As United emerge from the gloom of the 20th of November, a new chapter presents itself, one that is not without its difficulties and questions, but one that represents hope and excitement for a club that once reigned over English football.

F1: Who Will Be World Champion?

Oscar Frost debates who will emerge victorious at Yas Marina Oscar Frost Sports Editor

With only two races to go in this action-packed Formula One season, the title race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen teeters on a knife edge. Just eight points separate the pair so if Hamilton wins the inaugural grand prix in Jeddah next weekend (with the fastest lap) and Verstappen finishes second, the two will enter the final race on the same number of points. The tension is palpable.

Indeed, the fact that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is at a new track only increases the excitement, as neither driver has any previous results at the course. Any street circuit makes for a mouthwatering affair, but Jeddah has also been dubbed the fastest street circuit in the world. This could favour Hamilton’s Mercedes given that the Silver Arrows have had a clear straight-line speed advantage over the Red Bull car this year.

Jeddah promises to be a very exciting race, especially as there is the opportunity for up to three Drag Reduction System (DRS) zones. This would allow for an increased number of overtakes

around the circuit, potentially allowing the slightly slower Red Bull to overtake the Mercedes on the long straights. This is only meaningful, however, if Verstappen can stay within a second of Hamilton. The president of Saudi Arabia’s Motorsport Federation, Prince Khalid Bin Sultan, said that “we don’t want it to be one of those boring races where there is no overtaking,” and it seems that this claim will ring true.

“I would not be surprised if both drivers were to pull out their best performances with everything on the line” Verstappen’s win at the Yas Marina circuit to conclude the 2020 season suggests that the Dutchman will not shy away from a shoot-out in Abu Dhabi. That being said, Hamilton had already

taken the title with three races to spare last season, so we have not seen Lewis Hamilton race for the title in Abu Dhabi as of yet. As true competitors, I would not be surprised if both drivers were to pull out their best performances with everything on the line.

This scintillating run-in was nearly ended before it even started, as the construction of the Jeddah circuit came dangerously close to incompletion. The track is a temporary construction, and has only taken half a year to complete. An extra dimension for F1 fans to become even more nervous about the final stretch of this season.

So, what does each driver need to win the title? As previously mentioned, the gap between the drivers is eight points.

This means that Max Verstappen simply has to finish higher than Hamilton in either race and he will be crowned champion. In the event of a tie, Verstappen will also be crowned champion due to the fact

that he has two more first place finishes this season, which is the criteria given by the FIA for this eventuality. For Hamilton, if he both finishes first and has the fastest lap in Jeddah, then he will tie Verstappen on points going into the final race. Essentially, Hamilton will need to win both of the last two races in order to guarantee victory, but he cannot secure the title in Jeddah.

The closeness of the title race this season may make it the most dramatic of recent years. A true must-watch with Hamilton vying for his eighth world championship, and Verstappen battling for his first.

Twitter/@F1

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Column: Sport that Stuck With Me Sophie Utteridge Sport Editor

The final of the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup saw a fullhouse at Lord’s to watch England take on India to become World Champions.

It was the second World Cup match I’d been lucky enough to attend in the tournament, having already watched England’s dominating win over Pakistan in Leicester. I was expecting a similar performance in the final, however, the match that followed was nothing like what I had witnessed earlier that year.

England were put into bat first with openers Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont both making steady starts before falling fairly early on. I remember not being too worried, knowing England still had strong batters in the shed. Sarah Taylor seemed pretty settled and had formed an excellent partnership with Nat Sciver. Things started to go wrong for England when both Taylor and Sciver fell in quick succession, leaving the tail-enders to scramble together some quick runs to finish the innings.

England ended on 228-7–a defendable score but certainly not what they were hoping for.

Then India came out to bat and the crowd’s hopes plumet.

Opener Raut alongside Kaur batted brilliantly, outsmarting England at every moment. The partnership seemed unbreakable as India closed in on the target.

“But then Heather Knight threw the ball to Anya Shrubsole” But then Knight threw the ball to Anya Shrubsole. The first wicket to fall was Raut who was trapped LBW for 86 runs. Then two more in quick succession and suddenly, the game was wide open. Shrubsole just couldn’t stop taking wickets, taking 5 in 19 balls as India collapsed. With each wicket that fell, the crowd became louder and louder, no one able to sit down in the excitement of this incredible spell. The magic was shattered briefly when Jenny Gunn dropped what should have been the simplest catch of the game. I thought that was the end.

Shrubsole didn’t though. She charged in, removing Gayakwad next ball and bowling India out just nine runs short. Lord’s erupted into chaos. Against all hope, Shrubsole had pulled off the impossible and snatched the World Cup right from under India’s noses. That day will not only be remembered for the incredible victory, but also the day when hundreds of girls around the country decided to pick up a cricket bat for the first time. Shrubsole’s performance inspired a nation, and that was stuck with me ever since.

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COP26: The Future of Sport Erin Perry looks at sport's role in the climate crisis Erin Perry Sport Writer

‘Humanity as a whole is about 5-1 down at half time,’ is how Prime Minister Boris Johnson chose to open the 26th Conference of the Parties in Glasgow (COP26).

World leaders gathered in one place to convene what has been called the most significant climate meeting yet, with the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather events at the forefront of discussions.

It would be reasonable to ask why the sports industry should be interested in the conference, but like every field, sport has a significant impact on the environment.

How we approach sport around the world in the future is a major part of the cohesive effort to combat climate change.

“World leaders gathered in one place to convene what has been called the most significant climate meeting yet” When speaking to BBC Sport,

the Met Office’s Dr Fai Fung stated that ‘looking at major sporting events is an interesting way of understanding the impacts of climate change on society,’ adding later that ‘we can’t take the fu-

ture v i ability of any of these events for Kevin Gill granted.’

Dr Fung’s stark warning that our approach to climate change is essential to sport continuing to function in the manner we enjoy should be enough motivation for any sports fan to implore the implementation of sufficient action.

So, what goals will the indus-

try aim towards? The United Nations’ Sport for Climate Action Framework was expanded upon during COP26, with 46 signatories pledging to cut carbon emissions b y

50% b y 2030, achieve net-zero by 2040, and to comment annually on the processes they are undertaking to meet these goals.

These pledges will work alongside current UN policies, including encouraging the sports industry to ‘undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental

responsibility’ and ‘advocate for climate action through communication.’

While measures such as these are important long-term plans, it is imperative to ask what can be done in the present to curb sports’ impact on the environment. For example, Premier League clubs could look to curb the practice of taking flights to domestic matches, with short-haul flights being one of the worst emitters of greenhouse gases. In addition, Motorsport could invest in the expansion of the all-electric ‘Formula E’ into the wider sport. The list continues.

“Premier League clubs could look to curb the practice of taking flights to domestic matches” It is easy to focus on what could be done and forget the practices that are already in place to reduce the industry’s impact on the planet. Fans of all sports are being encouraged to utilise public transport when attending events, reducing congestion and emissions from cars. In Septem-

Giving the Gift of Kitmas kits to those in need Digital Editor

Most people will be hitting the shops and filling bags with Christmas presents ahead of the big day but for some families, this is not financially possible. Kitmas founders, football coach Paul and wife Lizzie Watson, recognised this and aimed to spread the Christmas cheer to disadvantaged

children who would otherwise go without.

Kitmas is an initiative in which people can donate football kits or money to buy them with donations made by the public being matched by those who run the scheme. These will then be distributed to children who would really be thankful for such a lovely gift, especially as this is something that many young people tend to ask for. 1,000 kits were given out last year with aims to exceed this

figure this year, putting even more smiles on children’s faces.

The Watsons' primary focus is to hand out what they call ‘neutral’ kits that are popular with everyone, guaranteeing that the recipient will enjoy the gift rather than receiving a kit of a team that they do not support. Perhaps an England kit would be a less controversial kit to be gifted in Birmingham rather than deciding to give either an Aston Villa or Blues kit.

“The Watsons' primary focus is to hand out what they call 'neutral' kits”

Twitter/@GaryLineker

Celebrity stars have supported the wonderful idea. Sporting legend Gary Lineker has taken to Twitter to express his opinion of Kitmas being ‘great.’ After such

COP26 Stats 1. 120 World Leaders attended COP26 2. COP26 was a carbon neutral event 3. COP27 will take place from 7-11th November

Ballon d'Or Results

Tamzin Meyer showcases the Football focused charity that gifts Tamzin Meyer

ber, the first net-zero carbon elite football match, #GameZero, took place between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea - an action supported fully by both COP26 and the Premier League. Elsewhere in the top flight, Brentford recently announced their intention to retain their current home kit for the 2022/23 season, citing the decision as ‘a step in the right direction to help the environment.’

Sport is a multi-billion pound industry, encompassing all corners of the globe in many different forms. With this level of outreach and power, it can positively impact the environment and ensure it is at the forefront of the fight against climate change.

a successful year last year the scheme is even being mirrored in Canada this year, with Soccer Snobs introducing Kitmas to Canadian children.

As of the 28th November, 2021, Kitmas has raised a whopping total of £25,657 on their crowdfunder page, with eight days left to reach their goal of £30,000.

Supporters can donate money or their own football kits although these must be in ‘excellent’ condition so that the children feel like they are being gifted a new and special gift rather than a worn hand-me-down. If you are keen to get involved in a more active way, you could even run your own Kitmas campaign in your community, which is bound to be a rewarding experience.

Kitmas has proved to be a wonderful idea which is growing from strength to strength; it ensures that children will wake up on Christmas day with a present to unwrap which has to be the most exciting and special feeling of all for both the recipients and those who made it happen.

To donate, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/kitmas

Men's Lionel Messi Women's Alexia Putellas Kopa Trophy Pedri Yashin Trophy Gianluigi Donnarumma Striker of the Year Robert Lewandowski Club of the Year Chelsea

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BUCS Sports Club of the Fortnight: Triathlon Rachel Higgins Sport Editor

University of Birmingham’s Triathlon club is a friendly and fun group involving a spectrum of beginners all the way up to elite triathletes that compete in the performance squad. This means that students are encouraged to give the sport a try even if you have no prior experience.

At the same time, students with strong athletic backgrounds are pushed to new heights in this sport and the competitive team performs consistently well at a high level.

In terms of history, Triathlon originated in France during the 1920s. Under the name ‘Le Trois

Sports,’ the tradition was invented as a series consisting of swimming, cycling and running over various distances. It has been in the Olympics since 2000 and Great Britain have achieved Best Nation at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 games.

The Triathlon club at Birmingham matches this level of high quality. They have very experienced and qualified coaches who are always looking to enhance and evolve the club.

Additionally, Triathlon has hosted talks from a nutritionist and Commonwealth Games alumni to educate and inspire their members. The training consists of sessions such as spin class, group rides, park runs, races on the university track and lane swimming

practice. Made implicit by the wide range of sport that makes up Triathlon, training takes serious dedication. Specifically, there are five swim sessions a week, two spin, two group rides and three running sessions not including park run.

For serious members, they do exciting trips away to the Peak District which involves an overnight stay. The Triathlon club competes for Birmingham as part of BUCS as well as general national events. As standard each year they hold a duathlon in November, a biathlon in March and a sprint in May, followed by the BUCS standard in June.

Notably, this year the club showed an impressive performance at the Duathlon after the

long COVID-19 break. Jack ShaylerUoB improved his 2019 Women'sonBasketball 12th place to achieve 3rd this year. Flora Johnson also progressed from 23rd place in 2019 to 11th this year.

As part of even more club enhancement, they have a monthly ‘tri-hard’ award which recognises the effort of the club’s members. In rewarding the individual achievement of those who contribute to the overall team feeling, Triathlon takes pride in the strength of the club not just as a sport but as a support network.

All sports have faced difficulty during the tumultuous past year of the pandemic, and triathlon is no exception. The club organised a ‘tri-solation challenge’ during lockdown which

replaced the cancelled BUCS events which members usually train for and managed to raise £3,000 for various charities.

It comes as no surprise that Triathlon was awarded club of the year in 2020 by UB Sport.

Instagram/@uobtriathlon

UoBE Week Announces Campus Run Timon Burford Sport Writer

The UoBe festival is back and bigger than ever, with a whole host of activities for students to get involved with. Alongside the usual career workshops, live entertainment and film screenings the University has announced plans to hold a 5k fun run.

“The Campus Run will kickstart the week-long festival” The Campus Run will kickstart the week-long festival, being held on Sunday 23rd January and starting bright and early at 9:30 am. As the name suggests the run will be taking place in and around

the Edgbaston campus, starting at the Green Heart and finishing under Old Joe. The event is being advertised as an inclusive fun run for runners of all abilities, with the aim of allowing participants to challenge themselves in a pressure free environment. With so many students taking up running recently over lockdown the university expects the run to be a popular event. Places for the run are now live and open to all students and staff, with entry being free for students. Participants will be treated to a pre-race warm up, entertainment along the route, chip timing, staffed bag drop, medical points, food stations, a free finishers tshirt and even the offer of a postrun massage.

The proposed route is simple to follow and avoids any major inclines or declines, ideal for beginner runners. Furthermore, Edgbaston park road will be closed for the event so participants need not worry about any vehicle traffic.

“The University is looking for 50 volunteers to assist in organising the event” For those who would like to get involved but would prefer not to run, the University is looking for 50 volunteers to assist in organising the event. Roles will vary for volunteers, from being course stewards, to supporting with sign ups and managing the bag drop area. Volunteers will be able to register their volunteering hours with UB sport’s Extra Mile programme, which can assist in accumulating points for the Personal Skills Award. All volunteers will also receive a free tshirt too, alongside ample training

prior to the run. Those interested in this opportunity are advised to contact with Phillip Heighway (p.heighway@bham.ac.uk) as soon as possible.

The event should truly be a blast and hopes are that it will inspire more students to take up running. The University has partnered with the student-led running club BUAC Cool Runnings and staff-led Green Heart Runners for this event, and both organisations pride themselves on being inclusive, participation-orientated clubs, which has proven ideal in promoting and supporting the Campus Run. So whether you plan to take part on January 23rd or not, both clubs are always looking for new members of all abilities.

For more information about the events at this year's UoBE Week Festival, visit: https://www. guildofstudents.com/uobefestival/ Mingkai Zhang

Spotlight: Women's Football Lauren Coffman reports on the Women's First Team's emphatic 14-0 win over Edge Hill Lauren Coffman Sport Editor

On Wednesday 24th November 2021 the University of Birmingham Women’s 1s obliterated Edge Hill University 1s in the Women’s National Trophy in a home fixture on Metchley 3G. The final score was 14-0, sending the girls safely through to the next round of the competition.

The 1s executed a totally dominant performance against a strong Edge Hill side who are in the Northern 1A League, the northern equivalent to the Midlands 1A League UoB currently compete in. The scoreline certainly speaks for itself, but at the other end of

the pitch the defensive performance is deserving of equal praise.

The 1s back line kept a clean sheet, limiting Edge Hill to just one shot on goal over the 90 minutes Reflecting on the statement victory, UoB Women’s Football Club Captain and first team player Ella Thompson-Moulding told Redbrick Sport, ‘It was a really good win for us, and showed what standard we are at compared to other leagues around the country. We didn't know how good Edge Hill were going into the game, so we prepared as we always do.

We were surprised at how comfortable the game was but

we also played some of our best football and combination play.’

As the Women’s 1s turn their focus back to the league this week,

they will be hoping for similar success in a crucial match at the top of the table. Discussing the team’s aims for the season, Ella said ‘Our goal is to top the league, which will be difficult but if we can get results against Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham then it is possible.

We have a big game this week against Nottingham Trent which could be a league title determiner. However our main goal is to keep improving as a team because after all we have only been playing together a couple of months.’

It is not only the first team that are having a successful Instagram/uobwfc season, with the third team

beating Loughborough 3s 5-3 in the Conference Cup, and the 2s improving every week in the same league as the 1s. As Club Captain, Ella is delighted with how the season is taking shape across the whole club, after a difficult last 18 months for university sport. ‘I think all the players are just glad to be able to play consistently again and add football back into their lives’ added Ella. ‘I feel the teams have bonded well despite the missed year due to COVID-29 and it is also great to have socials back each week. The seniors are keen to show the freshers how great the club is and to encourage them to get involved in as much as possible.’

Instagram/@azeemrafiq30

07.12.2021

SPORT The Racism Scandal Shaking the Foundations of English Cricket Oscar Frost reports on Azeem Rafiq's allegations against Yorkshire CC Sport Editor

Content Warning: this article discusses racism, bullying and harassment, which may be disturbing for some readers.

Azeem Rafiq’s story has the potential to change the landscape of cricket. The former Yorkshire off-spinner came forward in 2020 to expose the racism, harassment and bullying that he had experienced during his time at the county club. This included a captain who Rafiq alleged was openly racist, but the culture at the club meant that the all-rounder was powerless to seek help on the issue. He even noted that he ‘was made out to be the person who was in the wrong’ when attempts were made to call out this racism.

Yorkshire initially offered no comment following the publication of the Wisden. com article, but then responded to Rafiq’s legal claim by saying that they were taking the allegations ‘extremely seriously.’

The tribunal for the case was held in June 2021, however, a resolution could not be reached at that stage. This prompted Yorkshire to apologise to Rafiq, but maintain that the club was not institutionally racist. A summary from the panel was

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finally submitted in September 2021, where Yorkshire admitted that Rafiq had been the victim of ‘racial harassment’ and ‘bullying’ at the club.

use of the name ‘Kevin’ as a derogatory term against Asian cricketers was common knowledge within the England dressing room. Closer to home, Warwickshire’s Tim Bresnan has also agreed to cultural awareness training after claims that he bullied Rafiq during his time at Yorkshire.

“Yorkshire admitted that Rafiq had been the What has been done?

The ECB launched its South Asian victim of 'racial Action Plan (SAAP) in 2018. The plan harassment'” focused on the improvement of talent Yorkshire maintained that they would not take any disciplinary action against its employees following the report, which, unsurprisingly, was not an outcome Rafiq was satisfied with. A key article from ESPNcricinfo then claimed that at least one Yorkshire player had admitted to the regular use of racist language. Despite this, it was alleged that the report dubbed this language as mere ‘banter.’ England international Gary Ballance also stepped forward to admit his use of racial slurs towards Rafiq during his time at the club.

Then came the resignations. Yorkshire’s chief executive and chairman both stepped down at the start of November 2021, alongside board members Hanif Malik and Stephen Willis. The club as a whole was also suspended from hosting international or major cricket matches.

The case has only expanded in scale since this, with allegations against former England captain Michael Vaughan that were also supported by leg-spinner Adil Rashid, one of Rafiq’s best friends throughout his career and beyond. This has since led to Vaughan being dropped from the BBC’s coverage of the Ashes later this year. Joe Root, the current England captain, however, maintains that he does not recall any incidents of racism while playing for Yorkshire. This is a claim Rafiq has refuted, insisting that the

identification, facilities, coaching, antidiscrimination work and cricket workforce. This plan, however, has not seen a great deal of success. The ECB’s ambition to install 100 non-turf pitches in urban areas has not been met, and the its workforce is still only 7% South Asian.

Additionally, according to a study by Leeds Beckett University, the proportion of South Asian casual players has actually dropped since 2018 from 30% to 28%.

With these statistics in mind, one can only agree with Ijaz Khan, a coach from Bradford, who posited that ‘it’s a boxticking exercise.’

Therefore, Azeem Rafiq’s bravery in stepping forward and exposing the racism he endured during his career should be immensely admired. That is not to say that he is without his own controversies, but bringing his experience forward has certainly brought increased pressure on cricketing institutions to bring about change.

Relying on these pre-existing institutions alone to spearhead the transformation needed will do very little to address the problems at the core of English cricket that have led to this scandal. The creation of a whistleblowing hotline by Yorkshire is a step in the right direction, but the ECB must go further than measures like the ‘cultural awareness’ training given to Bresnan. A shift in culture is needed, and we can all hope that meaningful change will emerge from this exposure.

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