Issue 1575

Gold Medallist sets her goals

Commonwealth champion Louise Hazel talks to Sport about her achievements, goals and training routines Full interview p24

Redbrick

The University of Birmingham's Student Newspaper since 1936

Preliminary RA expense figures reveal ÂŁ5,000 black hole Glen Moutrie News Editor

Preliminary figures of the Resident Association's expenses for the previous academic year have been made available to the public this week, highlighting more than ÂŁ5,000 of unaccounted transactions across the board.

The figures demonstrate the first glimpses of the improvements made since the new financial system implemented by Ed Sparkes, the former Vice President of Housing and Community, that came into place at the beginning of 2010.

The RA system operated at the University of Birmingham is

How RAs spend their money

Friday 29th October 2010 Volume 73 | Issue 1375 redbrickonline.co.uk

IN THE NEWS Chief Rabbi lecture Lord Jonathan Sacks gave a 30 minute address on the role of faith in British society and emphasised the importance of trust in modern society.

News, page 3 Stricter language tests The Business School are looking into strengthening their language tests after concerns have mounted over the quality of English exercised by international students in recent years.

News, page 3

somewhat unique within the upper echelons of the British higher education establishment, and represents a team of elected students who work on a voluntary basis to ensure that 'everyone is as safe, settled and as happy as possible.'

Initial findings highlight that two-thirds of the overall unaccounted transactions fall under the headings of only three halls: Maple Bank, Hunter Court, and Jarratt Hall. The latter provides the highest figure that stands at ÂŁ1,432.

Almost half of their annual spending goes towards balls for the individual halls; the rest falls into a wide range of categories that include meals, alcohol, promoter ticket sales and photocopying.

However, there is a significant amount of scepticism towards the early results.

Chris Bates, RA for Pritchatts Park noted that the 'figures may appear shocking at first, but the RA scheme are working closely with the Guild of Students and Redbrick to ensure that any mistakes made in the past are learnt from and the scheme develops into one of true transparency and accountability as a result of this investigation.'

Continued on page 4, col 4

Most Outstanding Society 2010 AU Outstanding Contribution to Sport

Vice-Chancellor comments on Spending Review Professor David Eastwood has described the Spending Review as a 'challenge' in response to the Coalition Government's detailed plans for future cuts to be made in the public sector.

News, page 4 Campaign for font ban An online hate campaign has emerged in protest against the formal usage of Comic Sans, typically used informally.

News, page 5 Women live longer A University of Newcastle study has shown that women tend to live longer than men because of greater ability to replenish cells.

News, page 5

Mike Roberts

INSIDE Half Marathon >> 5 | Focus on extremism >> 6 | Puzzles >> 14 | Food Halloween Special >> 22-23 | Five pages of Sport >> 24-28

2

News Redbrick Editorial

Editor Samuel Lear Deputy Editors Victoria Shires Sam Langtree Online Editor Micaela Winter Treasurer Jonathan Craven Art Director Thomas Walters Chief Photographer Mike Roberts chiefphotographer@redbrickonline.co.uk Technical Director Jeremy Levett News Editors Helen Crane Glen Moutrie Anna Hughes news@redbrickonline.co.uk Features Editors Rosa McMahon Seb Mann features@redbrickonline.co.uk Film Editors Elmley de la Cour Matt Davis film@redbrickonline.co.uk Arts & Culture Editors Sian Gray James Reevell arts@redbrickonline.co.uk Music Editors Will Franklin Charlie Bailey music@redbrickonline.co.uk Television Editors Natalie Timmins Joe McGrath tv@redbrickonline. co.uk

Coverage of talk from Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Edwina Moorhouse, page 3

Picture of the Week

Mike Roberts

Lifestyle Editors Briony Singh Rob Lewis lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk Food Editors Harriet Constable Dami Olugbode food@redbrickonline.co.uk Travel Editors Ed Gordon James Cull travel@redbrickonline.co.uk Sport Editors James Phillips Simon Hall sport@redbrickonline.co.uk Technology Editor Stuart Gittings technology@redbrickonline.co.uk Crossword Editor John Rizkallah Editorial Assistants Victoria Bull Rochelle Balach Laura Hewitt Vikki Jeff Will Hunter Kate Selvaratnam Junior Art Directors Lauren Wheatley Jazzarie Lee Photography Editor Bethany Richardson Copy Editors Sian Stanfield Olivia Wilson Fina Charleson Amber Alexander Lydia Smith Joseph Hogan Anna Lumsden Charlotte Goodwin Amy-Melissa Saul Lucy Haffenden Sandra Heng Emma Redfern

Meeting Times News – Thurs 5pm Features – Tues 5pm Film – Fri 2pm Arts – Wed 3pm Music – Wed 4pm TV – Wed 3pm Lifestyle – Wed 12pm Food – Wed 2pm Travel – Weds 1.30pm Sports – Fri 2pm Photography – Fri 11.15am Designed and typeset by Thomas Walters.

Copyright (C) Redbrick 2010 Redbrick strives to uphold the NUJ Code of Conduct. The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.

To contact us: Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TU

Panoramic view taken from the Eiffel Tower Send your pictures of the week to pow@redbrickonline.co.uk

Redbrick Calendar

Full events listings available online redbrickonline.co.uk/events

Theatre

Music & Nightlife

Sports

The Day the Waters Nigel Kennedy plays Came Vivaldi THE REP, 1-3 NOVEMBER, 7PM Director Maya Marsalis leads you through her landscape the day Hurricane Katrina came: how the world watched and how the US Government did nothing. Tickets £10, see www.birmingham-rep. co.uk for booking and more information.

The Colour of Nonsense MAC, 3-4 NOVEMBER, 8PM Presented by acclaimed theatre group Forkbeard Fantasy, The Colour of Nonsense is an exuberant satire on an art and theatre world always in search of the New. Tickets from £9, see www. macarts.co.uk for details.

SYMPHONY HALL, 1 NOVEMBER, 7.30PM The best selling classical violinist returns to Symphony Hall with his new orchestra, the Orchestra of Life, for an evening of Vivaldi, including his legendary interpretation of The Four Seasons.

XpLosION

THE VALE, 4 NOVEMBER, FROM 7PM. Annual firework display including a funfair, music and entertainment.

Talks & Workshops Medsin presents: the trouble with aid MEDICAL SCHOOL ROOM T3, 4 NOVEMBER, 6.30PM Medsin presents renowned speaker and author Johnathan Glennie to give the lecture 'The Trouble with Aid: Why less is more for Africa?'.

Shared Planet

Cannon Hill Park

Vale Fireworks The Day the Waters Came

CANNON HILL PARK, SATURDAYS, 9AM A free 5km timed race which takes place at nearly 60 locations throughout the UK. Parkrun welcomes both beginners and experienced runners. See www.parkrun. com for more details.

O2 ACADEMY, 3 NOVEMBER, FROM 7PM Tickets £14, see www.o2academybirmingham. co.uk for booking and further details.

Foals

Redbrick is printed through www.quotemeprint.com: 08451 300667.

Parkrun

Foals

0121 251 2462 editor@redbrickonline.co.uk www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Advertising: Contact Aimee Fitzpatrick in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524 or a.fitzpatrick@guild. bham.ac.uk

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BOURNBROOK PITCHES, 6 NOVEMBER, 6PM The American Football club present xpLosION: Birmingham Lions vs Leeds Carnegie. The Lions will be ably supported by multi-award winning cheerleaders the Pussycats and there will also be performances from the dance society.

The night will also boast a spectacular fireworks display.

THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSITY, 6 – 7 NOVEMBER, FROM 9:45AM Shared Planet present a weekend of talks and workshops on issues such as world poverty and climate change. Also featuring ceilidh band Red Kite Midnight. Tickets £24, see www.peopleandplanet.org for booking and further details.

Parkinson's Diseases: Past Present and Future

MEDICAL SCHOOL LEONARD DEACON LECTURE THEATRE, 10 NOVEMBER, 4.30PM An inaugural lecture will be given

by Professor Carl Clarke, Professor of Clinical Neurology in the School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Redbrick

Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes

News 3

October 29th 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Graduate shares Chief Rabbi speaks Uni Watch City work expertise on campus Edwina Moorhouse Senior Reporter

William Barker addressing the audience Edwina Moorhouse Senior Reporter

Last Friday Maths graduate William Barker returned to the University of Birmingham with the aim of helping current students break into banking and finance.

Hosted by the Investment Society, the two hour talk was held in the Business School and drew a large audience, all of whom were keen to hear tips from Mr Barker who is now an established junior trader at Winderflood Securities.

Mr Barker graduated last summer with a 2:2 in Maths, which he jokingly told students did 'not put him in the University of Birmingham's best books.' Not to be discouraged by his degree result and determined to find employment, he successfully got a place on nine Graduate schemes in the area of banking and finance.

In his presentation, Mr Barker repeatedly told the avid audience that 'although getting a job isn't easy … it's not hard either.' Using a PowerPoint presentation, he explained all the sectors within banking and finance, including asset management, insurance and investment banking, whilst giving his 'strategy' on how to get the job you want. He also promoted the

Anastasija Nikolajeva

banking and finance consultancy company he founded called Get a Job in The City, which is an online manifestation of his experience and expertise into the whole job application process.

Mr Barker used practical demonstrations to prove his point, including using volunteers to show how some businesses operate or explain statistics including how only 1 in 70 get a job in investment banking.

He was also keen to involve everyone in workshop style tasks, where everyone was forced out of the seats to practice networking and introducing themselves.

Recent graduate Mumtaz Ahmed explained that he enjoyed the tasks because they were realistic: 'I've found you regularly encounter these icebreakers at assessment sessions,' he said.

The audience gave a lot of positive feedback to Mr Barker, particularly after his presentation was over.

When asked if he felt he was the exception to the rule in terms of graduate employment in this sector, he argued he was 'the exception, not as a person, but in terms of how I applied – an exceptional way of doing it.'

For more information, visit www.getajobinthecity.com

On Wednesday the University welcomed Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks to talk on the role of faith in modern day Britain, in an event organised by the Jewish Society (JSoc).

He was introduced to rounds of applause as he proceeded to discuss why faith is so important to a packed lecture theatre in the Arts Building.

Lord Sacks is currently doing a tour of universities, and is following up his appearance at Birmingham with visits to Nottingham, Leeds and Manchester.

In his 30 minute address, he stressed the importance of trust in our modern day society, arguing that trust is what co-operation is founded on and is 'the basis of all human institutions with people working together.'

The Rabbi, who holds a PhD in Philosophy, spoke more about faith than religion, making insightful remarks on Genesis and the value of community – both Jewish, and non-Jewish.

He stated that 'faith is an attitude of trust towards the universe' and that it can only serve to bene-

fit people in the 21st century, as it has the potential to make us more altruistic and help us overcome personal problems – particularly at a time of economic crisis.

A charismatic speaker, he caused a few rounds of laughter with his quips about Birmingham football, the Social Network, Lady GaGa and atheists such as Richard Dawkins, who he described as the 'intellectual equivalent of road rage.'

The question and answer session led the Rabbi off the topic of faith in modern Britain, and onto more controversial subjects such as embryonic stem cell research and the number of Bishops in the House of Lords.

After answering said questions, he ended the talk with a final thought that he said had helped him through dark days: 'God believes in us more than we believe in ourselves.'

President of JSoc, Alex Parks, said it was the first time in a few years Lord Sachs had visited the University and enthused that he was 'just a great speaker' and a good 'moderate representative' of the Jewish community.

He was keen to stress that events like this help overcome the 'many misconceptions' about Jsoc, who he says are keen to 'include everyone.'

The University of Birmingham's Business School may decide to increase entry requirements in order to ensure foreign students are fully competent in English before being permitted to study at the University.

There have been recent concerns regarding the the standard of spoken and written English from international students, leading to a questioning of if it is worth these students choosing to study in the UK. The number of overseas student visas increased by 35 per cent this year, bringing the total to 360,000.

As well as an influx of young people studying for undergraduate courses, adults from Japan, China, Pakistan and India are now prioritising English universities over those available in their home countries to complete a Masters. Fees

for international students range from £4,000 to £18,000 per year, but according to these students the job opportunities that open up from having an English degree are worth the cost. Insiders at the University of Birmingham's Business School confirm that for foreign employers even seeing a British institution's name on someone's CV will automatically make them more employable.

In February 2010 national English language requirements to study in the UK were raised from beginners level to an intermediate level, the equivalent of a pass at GCSE. The University of Birmingham asks for minimum language score of between six and seven on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), rendering them as a 'competent to good user'.

This can be compared to the University of Warwick, where entry requirements are higher,

A history student at Utrecht University has found the world's oldest share in the university library during his thesis research.

It dates from 1606 and was issued by the VOC (the country's biggest trading company during the 17th and 18th centuries) Chamber of Enkhuizen. The 'Enkhuizen' share is almost 3 weeks older than the previous record holder.

UCLA, USA The biggest Californian university has been awarded $14 million to develop medical responses to radiological and nuclear attacks such as dirty bombs. The grant supports the work of 50 students who are looking at ways of protecting from nuclear attacks as well as the medical treatments after an attack has happened.

Queensland, Australia Professors in the department of Engineering, Architecture and Information technology have developed a series of walking, moving and flying robots to aid farmers in Queensland State. The Mechanization Automation Robotics Remote Sensing technologies range unmanned tractors to optical detection systems capable of observing their environment using visual, infra-red or laser light wavelengths.

Durham

Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Varsity.co.uk

Business school in debate over foreign language test requirements Charlotte Lytton Reporter

Utrecht, Holland

demanding that students receive an eight on the IELTS, showing them to be a 'very good user'.

However, competency on the test does not always translate back to the students' understanding and command of the English language.

The Business School claims that some foreign students tend to huddle around one friend who speaks the language best when they are unable to understand lectures, relying on them to act as a translator.

Student visas currently account for 30 per cent of all visas granted by the British government, and Britain is currently the second most popular higher education destination in the world. Although enforcing slightly stricter rules, the Government is being careful not to damage interest in studying in the UK, a sector which currently brings in up to eight billion pounds per year.

A student at the university of Durham has declared his commitment to his girlfriend by betting part of his grant on their still being together at graduation in two years' time. Christopher Brooker staked £100 with bookies in Durham after a discussion with girlfriend Hannah Grayson, a fellow second-year philosophy student. Their odds have been set at 6-1.

Bristol A chemistry undergraduate has represented England in the 2010 World Chess Olympiad – and was the only member of the women's team to remain unbeaten. Held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Siberia, Sarah Hegarty brought her team's overall position from a seeded 39th to an overall 21st place.

Cambridge Cambridge University Press has made a sale of £1,275 million to the largest library in South Asia in Chennai, India. The library purchased 35,174 books and 33,409 ISBNs, the largest sale in CUP's prestigious history.

Central Lancashire (UCLan) The UCLan racing squad have been crowned the 2010 winners of the Formula Ford Northern Championship, beating off competition from commercial racers with far more money behind them.

Driver John Farrell was entirely supported by first year motor sports students.

Birmingham Business School Mike Roberts

Freddie Herzog

4 News

October 29th 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

This week in statistics 80% £188,200 – Amount paid by Manchester United for Nobby Stiles' 1966 World Cup winners medal – a world record price for a medal won by any of the England squad.

£250 – Amount that the YouTube sensation Mary Bale was fined for dumping Lola the cat in a wheelie bin.

Cuts may lead to privatisation Edwina Moorhouse Senior Reporter

With 40 per cent cuts to the sector, fears are growing that many universities will be forced to go private.

The upheaval in how much universities will be funded combined with ministers refusing to let fees skyrocket means institutions are preparing for the worst and privatisation is becoming a potential solution.

Under plans to cut teaching grants, science, engineering and maths are among the few fields which would remain funded by the Government. Privatising a university would mean fees could be raised above the current maximum amount of £3,290 each year and guidelines for the inclusion of widening access to the institution would not be compulsory.

Private sector funding is not unheard of and some universities, such as Warwick, only depend on a small portion of public sector funding because of 'increasing involvement in consultancy, spinouts and collaborations with industry' according to The Guardian.

Another university which is known for its private sector funding is the London School of Economics.

A furore blew up this week over a rumour that LSE was going to privatise; a claim that has been firmly rejected by the university.

The issue started because of the mention of privatisation in a briefing paper for the governing body, although a spokeswoman for LSE emphasised that it is 'a university which relies, in part, on public funding and we have not developed any plans to alter that arrangement.'

Unlike LSE, Cambridge University seems to be inclined towards becoming private in order to compete with U.S institutions and break from Government restrictions. Although the reports have been deemed 'speculation' by spokespersons at the university, Barry Sheerman, Chair of the House of Commons Education and Skills select committee, was reported in The Sunday Times describing how he was told by Cambridge 'they may privatise themselves because they are so aggrieved by the cuts and by Lord Browne's proposals.'

The ratio of young women in Finland that are currently attending university.

A significant reconfiguration of the Arts building is scheduled to be discussed by academic staff, current students and staff from estate and academic services.

The college is setting up subgroups of three to five people which will identify the needs of learning and social space, teaching space and research space and then report back their findings in February as part of a feasibility study.

All schools which are based in the building will be represented in one of the subgroups by a member of staff or by a student.

Vice President for Education & Access, Rob Hunter, will also be involved in the negotiations.

Wider student involvement is expected at some stage, and each group has been encouraged to seek the views of their fellow

students/colleagues.

There is currently no budget specified, but the University hopes that the Arts building's Mason lounge, teaching space and staff accommodation will be completely transformed in a similar way to which the Muirhead tower was.

World university rankings place Birmingham 145th The 2010-2011 Times Higher Education World University Rankings have placed the University of Birmingham at 145th, with an overall score of 51.8 per cent.

The university gained its highest score in the international mix category (which takes into account the ratio of international to domestic staff and the ratio of international to domestic students) with industry income and innovation gaining its lowest score of 34.8 per cent.

A new methodology was employed this year after Times Higher Education split from its original partner, QS, rending the university's placing of 66th last year virtually incomparable.

Teaching, research and citations complete the key criteria for the updated list which had been commended by Steve Smith, the president of Universities UK, for being

$231 million – The net profit of Amazon in the three months from mid July to mid October.

7.5

The magnitude of an earthquake on the Richter scale that hit south of Sumatra, Indonesia on Monday.

Vice-Chancellor: Spending Review a 'challenge' Helen Crane News Editor

Birmingham's Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Eastwood, has commented on last week's government spending review.

On the subject of higher education funding, Professor Eastwood said: 'The combination of 40 per cent cuts to higher education funding and the likely changes brought by the recommendations of Lord Browne's Independent Review of Higher Education herald a period

Professor David Eastwood University Press Office

Campus news in brief Arts Building due for refurbishment

Redbrick

Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes

less subjective than other league tables due to its use of 'more robust citation measures.'

Harvard University topped the bill, followed by the California Institute of Technology. The top British universities were named as the Cambridge University and the University of Oxford, receiving a joint world ranking of sixth. Only 29 British universities were in the top 200.

The league tables, now in their seventh year, are highly regarded and commonly seen as the most authoritative guide to higher education worldwide.

Janine Rasiah

of unprecedented financial turbulence for the sector. The Browne recommendations do however open the way to substitute the cuts in Government funding via affordable graduate contributions.'

Professor Eastwood was directly involved with the Browne review as a panel member. The review concluded that the current £3,290 cap on tuition fees should be lifted, although the government are under no obligation to adhere to this.

He also expressed concerns that budget cuts may cause standards to fall if revenue is not substantiated by other means.

'Our universities are a huge success story, second only to those of the United States in terms of reputation, quality, and impact.

However, despite this success, universities now face deep cuts as the Government attempts to reduce public spending.

However, the future is not entirely bleak according to Professor Eastwood.

'There is some positive news for world-class research-intensive universities such as Birmingham.

Following the strong case the sector has made research funding has

escaped the deep cuts that some had feared.

The Vice-Chancellor concluded by saying that Birmingham was prepared for the potentially tough years ahead.

'At Birmingham we have anticipated these changes, prepared, and made financial provision. Lord Browne's proposals allow us to maintain the the high quality education we offer, improve the experience for our students and remain financially sustainable in the long term. Our new strategic framework sets out an ambitious vision that will guide us through these challenging times.

'There is now an opportunity for the best-run universities to reposition, increase the impact of their research and teaching and compete on quality with the world's leading universities.” high quality education we offer, improve the experience for our students and remain financially sustainable in the long term. Our new strategic framework sets out an ambition vision that will guide us through these challenging times as we continue to invest to achieve our mission to become a leading global university.'

RA expenses cont'd Contd. from page 1

Since the reforms, RAs now have a series of checks and balances with regard to their expenses for each event to keep track of the money that the RAs use.

For a single event, three of the required forms that either the Treasurer or the President must sign-off a comprehensive breakdown of expected and actual expenditure, benefits to members, money for an emergency fund, and checks to ensure the transfer of money are all required.

If an event needs to be subsi-

dised, or if the money hasn't been transferred to the relevant recipients, a thorough justification is required.

Tom Petrie, President of Elgar Court noted that: 'The new system brought in under Ed Sparkes and Jonny Kirby leaves no room for financial inaccuracy.

It makes it virtually impossible for unaccounted transactions.'

A full breakdown of the expenses figures is due early next week that will provide depth and clarity to the synoptic results. Pick up next week's Redbrick, for a full analysis of the detailed balance sheets.

Poll

Judith Hancock asked 100 Birmingham students: Were league tables the main factor when choosing a university?

Graph showing 'unaccounted transactions' by halls

Redbrick

10

£1.5 billion – The estimated value of the Top Gear brand including merchandising franchises and exports of the show abroad.

The amount in pounds that Cherie Blair sold a bookplate signed by husband Tony for on eBay.

News 5

October 29th 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – Helen Crane, Glen Moutrie and Anna Hughes

£200 million – The number of Sony Walkmans sold between 1979 and last Monday after production ceased.

135

The amount in millions of pounds of fraudulent claims uncovered by councils this year.

£280 million – The financial boost Halloween is predicted to give to retailers in sales figures this week.

Birmingham hosts third annual half marathon Anna Hughes News Editor

Birmingham city centre was host to the third annual EDF Energy Half Marathon on Sunday 24th October. With almost 15,000 entrants taking part in the 13.1 mile race this year's event was the biggest yet and was hailed as a 'great success' by event organisers.

Josh Webster at the finish line

However, there was criticism of the way the finish line became congested at around the two hour mark, with participants waiting around to complete the race.

Starting at 9am on Broad Street near Centenary Square, Edwin Kipyego was the first to arrive at the finish line after one hour and three minutes. 2nd year History student Josh Webster ran the race in two hours and five min-

Sarah Wright

utes, raising money for charity Help for Heroes.

'I found it quite tough but really fulfilling. The atmosphere was fantastic, all the participants were spurring each other on.'

'The only downside to the day was at the end of the race I couldn't actually finish straight away as it was so congested you couldn't actually cross the line for about five minutes.'

Birmingham City Council blamed the delays on a medical incident which 'had to be dealt with quickly' but runners have criticised the event for being badly organised and unable to cope with the high number of participants.

On the day 80 volunteers for St John's Ambulance treated 75 people for minor injuries such as exhaustion, and sprains.

Paul Bradley, who blogged about the event, stated that there were many bottlenecks throughout the course caused by the width of the road decreasing by half.

Participants got round this by running on the pavement and even in the opposite lane, a potentially dangerous situation for other runners and spectators.

Assistant director of sport and events at Birmingham City Council Steve Hollingworth stated: 'We acknowledge there were issues that need to be addressed. We will look at what worked well and what didn't work quite so well to ensure that we learn from the event.'

'We had thousands of returning runners this year and we want

people to come back year on year.'

2nd year Environmental Geoscience student Tom Kenison also completed the race.

'I ran the half marathon as a warm up for the London Marathon so I could gauge how much more training I still have to do. There was a great atmosphere throughout the course and it was a brilliant day.'

'There were a couple of downsides though, the event was not very well organised and none of the marshalls knew anything about where to go.'

'Also you were meant to start in 'pens' according to how long it would take you to complete the race but everyone went anywhere,

so the first two or three miles were spent dodging people who were walking it, and it slowed me down which was rubbish.'

The event has yet to learn whether it has won the prestigious Evergreen Responsible Sport award, following on from receiving the Gold award last year.

The Council award is given on a basis of categories such as recycling, responsible waste disposal and sourcing local suppliers for food and drink.

The half marathon was also referred to as 'the race against climate change' as part of Team Green Britain and aimed to be one of the most environmentally friendly races in the world.

Participants felt the event was badly organised

Sarah Wright

Website campaigns for Study explains why Comic Sans font to be banned women live longer Jennifer Anderson Reporter

The quirky, cheerful, rounded font, otherwise known as Comic Sans is being targeted by an online hate campaign.

Comic Sans is a favourite with children and schools, it is seemingly inoffensive and has a firm place in the computing world.

However, the font has offended some people due to its apparent inappropriate usage by big names such as The Times, the BBC and Adidas.

The brains behind the campaign 'bancomicsans.com' are husband and wife Holly and David Combs. They argue that misuse of the font is 'analogous to showing up for a black tie event in a clown costume.'

What has annoyed these campaigners so much about the font is its childlike simplicity – in other words it is not a suitable font for serious, adult issues.

The fonts creator, Vincent Connare, believes that it does still have its place in our society today; when asked why it worked so well

he replied: 'Because sometimes it's better than Times new Roman, that's why.'

Simon Garfield, author of 'Just My Type: A Book About Fonts', said of the campaign: 'One thing the Comic Sans debate has demonstrated beyond doubt is that one's choice of font is now a serious affair.'

The 'bancomicsans.com' cam-

paign has inevitably provoked a backlash and according to the BBC 'there are already signs that it is becoming retro-chic, in the same way that we now embrace 80s fashion and pop.'

An example of those in support of the quirky, rounded font are those who work with dyslexic children as it deemed clearer to read.

Opinions on Comic Sans are divided

Weronika Podgorska

Charlotte Rendall Reporter

A new theory has been developed by leading scientist Professor Kirkwood of the University of Newcastle which suggests that women are less genetically 'disposable' than men.

On average the life expectancy for women is 4 to 5 years longer than men, and although life expectancy has steadily risen in recent decades, the gap between men and women is not narrowing.

Professor Kirkwood believes this difference between the sexes is due to the rate at which our bodies replenish cells.

Female bodies are better at carrying out 'routine maintenance' and keeping the body's cells alive.

This is believed to be due to reproduction, as the success of reproduction depends on the condition of the female body. If weakened by damage, the chances of making healthy offspring are greatly threatened.

This builds on the 'disposable soma' theory, which says that although genes can be maintained

forever by being continually replenished, in order to carry genes to the next generation.

Tiny faults within the body are not all constantly repaired.

Scientists believe this is what causes the ageing process, and also explains why we do not live forever.

Studies show that cells taken from a female body are better at repairing damage compared with cells from a male body, but interestingly, this does not apply if the cells come from a body where the ovaries have been removed.

Further evidence for this theory shows that females in most animal species live longer than males because they have better repair systems.

In the past it has been believed that lifestyle differences such as men having more physically demanding jobs were the reason for women living longer than men.

However Professor Kirkwood explains that although longevity may be affected by differences in lifestyle, it is otherwise 'deeply ingrained in biology.'

6 redbrickonline.co.uk

29th October 2010

Redbrick

Comment & Features

Editorial Rosa McMahon Features Editor

Can't be bothered to read? Try The Independent's new paper!

'A paper for clever people who can't be arsed to spend hours reading every day.' Oh, the Gallagher brothers - Noel this time, offering us insightful opinions which we have probably already thought ourselves, but daren't voice.

However, this time Noel is talking about something which is a cold reality of our society: i, The Independent's sister paper launched on Tuesday. Its name certainly isn't alien to us; i is a constant marketing tool which is willing us, the consumer, to take ownership of the products we buy. iPad, iPlayer and even KFC's iTwist, and now journalism's newest, the newspaper i, has the ability to 'get everything you need to know at a glance.'

The need for constant access to almost everything is undoubtedly a mark of our society.

Queen were right: we want it all, and we want it now. We have no patience and we cannot wait for anything. Having ultimate speed, gaining time, and fulfilling individual needs defines our day-to-day activities, and i has certainly found its niche in the market. Individuals are increasingly busier with work, and have decreasing amounts of leisure time, so time-savers are often the saving grace.

Yet the thought of replacing in-depth comment pieces with small, digestible ones, which may not compromise on intellect, but certainly will on thoroughness, does not seem justifiable.

I cannot help but think that i is The Sun's equivalent, but for those who are embarrassed about reading the newspaper, which some associate with having a reading age of 12. Or for those who don't have the patience, or indeed interest, for i's big sister The Independent, or its counterparts.

We all have the free choice to digest whichever political source we wish, yet it is not always about knowing what event has taken place and where, but the underlying motivations which surround it, and it is this that I fear that i will not cover. i isn't the scum of the earth.

As a big fan of The Guardian's G2, I cannot criticise its stylistic qualities, as aesthetically they mirror each other, but the content has real differences, and differences which I'm not sure that I can fully come to terms with.

Yes, I sound like a drama queen, and perhaps the differences are not that monumental.

But this is the way that journalism is heading, to fit with the modern individual who has no time to read, as reading isn't their relaxant.

But with tea, and brunch, and a Sunday paper which takes at least an hour to read, i has no place.

The far-right, and its growth in European politics

Does the falling popularity of multiculturalism signify an emergence of an extremist political presence?

Nick 'The Pied Piper' Griffin: calling those disillusioned by multiculturalism Matt Flatman

A

Commentator

ngela Merkel voiced an increasingly prevalent view sweeping Europe when she remarked upon multiculturalism as 'utterly failed' the other day. She was referring to her native Germany, where 30 per cent of her public feel 'overrun by foreigners.' Yet such discontent is by no means restricted to Germany.

There seems to have been a wave of immigration anxiety across the whole continent in recent times.

This animosity has manifested itself in controversial incidents such as France's treatment of the Roma. Europe's antagonism towards immigrants has seen an alarming trend develop. There is now a far-right presence in many countries across the continent including France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria and now, Sweden.

Our own home-grown advocates of all things intolerant and illiberal are the British National Party. Given the choice of a viable alternative, it would be hoped that people wouldn't vote for Nick Griffin, the man who has repeatedly been accused of being a Holocaust denier and of inciting racial hatred. However, both the BNP and their right-wing equivalents across Europe are receiving unprecedented popularity, garnered on an ideology of anti-Islam and antiimmigration, and it is important to question why this is.

The new rise in acrimony could arguably be due to people

suffering from the near financial meltdown and consequent cuts.

Perhaps immigrants are just easy scapegoats who feel the brunt of our economic and employment woes? Historically, people incline more towards right-wing parties in times of trouble. There may well be some truth in this, but there are also other reasons for the current state of things.

The BNP state their point with ugly conviction [...] They are still passionately intolerant, xenophobic and racist Immigration is a somewhat taboo subject. With the present trend of fret and concern over the boundaries of political correctness, people fear that airing their views will see them branded as racists.

The consequence is that the immigration issue is often tip-toed around, despite a large proportion of the populace who seem to believe it definitely is an issue. But, as yet, it is deemed to be unresolved.

The predominant party to voice, or perhaps more aptly, shout, a 'solu-

tion' is the BNP. So what have the BNP's policies got going for them? Their ideas aren't progressive, they're not liberal and they wouldn't benefit the economy or our international credibility. To be honest, it seems the only virtue of the BNP's policies is that they have one or two and are defiant about them, reiterating these plans over and over again like a mantra. As a result, the centralist parties respond to this with ridicule, while failing to offer their own alternative convincingly.

The BNP state their point with ugly conviction, and sadly they really believe it. In a parallel universe this could be one aspect to their credit, although it deserves no merit. They are still passionately intolerant, xenophobic and racist.

But the same conviction is lacking from the moderate perspective. Without such a strong moderate voice, most people are probably ignorant of the huge economic benefits of immigration. The result of all this is that there isn't really a political debate here at all.

We have a platform which the BNP is trying to dominate, and in doing so they monopolise the immigration dispute.

Aversion to the BNP would see us refuting the party's existence or relative success. This is the wrong ploy, both tactically and ethically.

We live in a democracy and, regrettable as it may be, this option does exist. Denying the BNP or attempting to sweep them under the carpet will only entrench their victimised, 'us-against-the-rest' mentality. But it also betrays a lack of confidence in the electorate. By dismissing a party on the grounds that they're

Beth Richardson

regressive, or racist, you're revealing mistrust in the public's judgement, more specifically in their inclination to not vote for the BNP. There has been a precedent which demonstrates the danger in denying the right-wing voice.

Recently in Sweden, the centralist parties paid the price for dismissing the xenophobic Sweden Democrats party. After an election campaign in which they were either ridiculed as political pariahs or shunned from the electoral debate, the Sweden Democrats won over some public favour and attained their first seats in parliament.

I think the best way to deal with this issue is to confront it, inform people and broaden the debate. Let them know that Nick Griffin's policies would cripple our economy and see Britain reduced to insularity and international insignificance.

A good example of this is during Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time. Admittedly, the format was weak. The programme was rigged up as a sort of circus show in which senior politicians patted themselves on the back because they could successfully bait a 'Nazi'. But the point is still relevant. Given air time, the BNP's arguments were completely undermined and their leader was shown for what he really is – a politically incompetent, twitchy bigot.

I really hope that no reasonable, knowledgeable person would vote for this right-wing perspective.

Give the electorate some credit, inform them of what's going on, and they should prove this to be the case.

Redbrick

Comment & Features 7

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann

Culture is everywhere, not just dreamt up in a marketing department Jessica Reynolds Commentator

The idea of marketing and advertising 'culture' is not a novel idea.

But on my return to Birmingham after spending a summer in various European cities, I was surprised by the extent to which Birmingham seems to have undergone a massive cultural marketing campaign.

Walk past the billboards displaying the plans for the new central library and you'll be emphatically reminded that you are in and part of 'big city culture'. This seems to be one of the main slogans being bombarded on any available advertising space. But what does this rather vague phrase actually mean?

The simplistic wording seems a little patronising; 'big city' is hardly inspiring. Another favoured tagline is 'Global. City. Culture.

Heart'. This string of words is hardly enlightening or descriptive; they're prescriptive, imposing the cringe-worthy 'heart' on what is currently a building site. It conjures images of middle-age, middle-class men in a nice boardroom in Brindley Place 'brainstorming' and 'think-tanking' from the ambiguous starting bubble of 'culture'.

This kind of in-your-face advertising is usually associated with consumer goods. We are constantly, obviously and discreetly subject to advertising, but when did culture become a consumer good that is marketable? Culture itself is a concept that has numerous sociological definitions. How can you devise a successful marketing campaign for something that is an ideology of a society?

In the 1960s, academic Philip Kotler propagated this idea of mar-

keting culture and the arts. Kotler stated that organisations such as libraries, concert halls and universities produce 'cultural goods'.

While I agree with his primary intent – trying to bring more people into contact with the arts – you can't ignore the pressing factor of financial gain.

This campaign was obviously a part of Birmingham's bid to become the UK City of Culture 2013, which was recently lost to Derry in Northern Ireland. The 'Culture bid' website, however, states that, despite not having the title, Birmingham will still be a culture capital in 2013.

The headline on the associated website reads, 'connecting everyone to culture.' This kind of statement would probably have made the academic and founder of 'cultural studies' Raymond Williams roll his eyes. In his influential work he argued that 'culture is ordinary,' that we are all a part of it, as opposed to 'high culture', or things that have become labelled as cultural, such as 'ballet'.

It is this 'labelling' that seems to be at the centre of the campaign.

I've never read the word 'culture' in a logical context more times than I did on the 'Culture bid' website; it's as if they had to meet a quota of word usage, just in case the reader were to temporarily forget that Birmingham does have this prized concept of culture.

Tagging vacuous slogans all over the city is not the way to make residents or visitors feel part of a vibrant creative community; instead it makes you feel like a consumer of a forced atmosphere.

Standing next to the overwhelming plans for the new library you need only look to the left to see the Rep Theatre and realise that Birmingham has a cultural identity. It doesn't need one created for it in a marketing boardroom.

Back in the day: no six o'clock news

Jessica Reynolds

An analysis of the problems and controversies surrounding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Imogen Dalziel

Commentator

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural disability which can cause overexcitement, inattentiveness and disruptive performance.

It is a chronic disorder, three times more common in boys than girls, which is usually diagnosed by the time an individual is seven.

The cause of much controversy in the 1970s, when many scientists did not believe in it at all, today ADHD is fully recognised by psychiatrists and doctors as a medical condition and the diagnosis of it has increased greatly.

Consequently, however, this has caused concern over whether ADHD is being diagnosed too easily, and what the potential side-effects of this could be.

Over the past decade the use of ADHD drugs has nearly tripled, with at least one in twenty schoolchildren being diagnosed with the disorder. As there is currently no scientific test to establish whether or not somebody has ADHD, diagnosis is often based on a subjective

'Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, and even Albert Einstein had ADHD, and many scientists suggest that it can actually produce a quickerthinking brain as well as enthusiasm and ambition.'

by Vicky Hodgkinson

At home my parents, like clockwork, sit down to dinner with the six o'clock news. We watch it and without fail my father will yell at everything he mildly disagrees with as though the politicians, police and reporters will suddenly stop and make an official apology to him live on air. I roll my eyes and sarcastically suggest to him that he should run for Prime Minister or head of the BBC (or perhaps both) to sort the news out and get them to report on topics he exclusively approves of.

Since arriving at university my eating hours are massively disturbed, so not only do I not have the pleasure of sitting down at six o'clock to a home cooked dinner, I don't even watch the news. Also, if I am watching the television at 6pm, I am much more inclined to watch such educational programmes as America's Top Model or Friends. Don't get me wrong, I am a relatively (questionable I admit) intelligent individual and

Cutting the attention deficit Samantha Bott

How do you solve a problem like...

A media blackout

questionnaire, or on the worries of schoolteachers and parents.

If a child is misbehaving it could be a result of any number of things, from struggling with schoolwork to divorcing parents, but often these possibilities are put to one side in favour of a medical explanation.

Dr Sami Timimi, a child psychiatrist, suggests that there is a risk of ADHD not only being an excuse for parents who struggle to control their children, but for doctors who fail to find an alternative explanation.

Furthermore, children themselves understand the implications of being diagnosed with the condition, and it can often provide an excuse for naughtiness.

Anne Smith, a primary school teacher in Leicestershire, said of the matter: 'While it is important to understand the effects ADHD has on a child, many schoolchildren are aware that it is a given justification of poor behaviour and [they] use this to their advantage.'

Here we run the risk of ADHD becoming a synonym for 'disruptive', a false message to young people with the condition that they

will be incapable of focusing or achieving great things. On the contrary, it is believed that Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, and even Albert Einstein had ADHD, and many scientists suggest that it can actually produce a quicker-thinking brain as well as enthusiasm and ambition.

A related concern is the longterm effects of the medicine used to control ADHD. Ritalin and other similar drugs have shown to greatly improve the lives of children, but experiments carried out on rats have suggested that these drugs may cause depression in later life, as well as possibly slowing down the functions of the brain.

Therefore, other than the possible social consequences of overprescribing ADHD, it could also cause harm in later life to individuals who should not have been given the medication in the first place.

It is important that the true nature of ADHD remains recognised and understood in order to prevent genuine sufferers from being branded merely as disorderly children.

value being kept up to date with world affairs; however, since coming to university it feels like I have stepped into a media blackout.

To battle with the inevitable intellectual laziness of studenthood (note the paradox), I suggest you attempt to keep up-to-date with the news via the internet.

Bookmark your favoured newspaper sites, stream BBC news to your phone and follow various news Twitter accounts in a desperate bid to keep yourself in the real world. I do all of these – do I read any of them in great depth?

No, but the thought is there. The most passive way to give the illusion of comprehending current affairs is to simply watch the headlines of the news (before you switch to Scrubs) and turn on the radio whilst you are blearily dragging on your clothes for lectures. I suggest, for the ultimate intellectual journey, try Radio 4. Your newfound knowledge will also bode well in the next pub quiz as you will be a valued member of the team, rather than the one who sits quietly, completely oblivious.

As a student you find yourself in a little bubble where world affairs appear to be of little consequence. You may know exactly what is going on in campus but have no idea about what recently happened in the rest of England, apart from where your friends went out in your hometown. And I'll tell you now, that does not count as national news.

8 Comment & Features

Charity shop chic doesn't exist in Birmingham

3

The number of charity shops in central Birmingham Source: Google maps

Lauren Westmore Commentator

I am bored of the Bullring. In fact, its windows of essentially identical displays mixed with the confused faces of shoppers as they stumble upon yet another H&M leaves me fairly cold. It appears that the same few high street brands occupy Birmingham city centre, leaving little room for anything else, least of all the charity shop.

A Google search reveals a measly three, placed somewhat conveniently away from the hubbub of New Street and edging toward the dubiously named Paradise Forum.

Discovering this, I have decided that Birmingham needs its charity back. You know what else?

We students should get involved.

Now, I know what you're thinking.

It falls somewhere along the lines of 'do I look eighty?' But before you judge, give me a chance to explain.

I used to be like you.

Throughout my teenage years if my Nan dared frequent such an establishment I would stand pointedly outside while simultaneously moaning about the smell, weird clothes, weirder people. You get my drift.

However, as I seamlessly slipped into my student days, and my overdraft, I have come to realise that, along with Birmingham City Council, many of us students are missing a trick.

Firstly, each charity shop offers its customers a unique shopping experience. Veritable treasure troves with daily stock changes even Topshop can't match. I have heard talk of Hermes for five pound, first editions books for fifty pence. And, as I am sure you have

160 Source: bullring.co.uk

heard the fashionistas screaming, vintage is just so 'in'.

Admittedly, some of my own purchases have been deemed questionable by friends, but I say ignore the critics and have fun.

Who cares if your Granddad's jumper is not to everybody's taste, it cost a pound and it's so warm.

Charity shopping provides us students with the opportunity to dress individually. To find items that you won't see twelve others wearing on your average day in campus and to embrace the old as new.

Secondly, let's tackle the issue of money. Where else in Birmingham, ignoring our lousy Primark, can you really grab yourself a bargain? Charity shops offer their wares at a snip of the original price. Also, if you're anything like my group of friends, the University of Birmingham will have reignited your love of fancy dress, last seen aged five. In these instances Birmingham city centre is calling out for charity shops and the further chance to put some of their more, let's say 'suspect', items to good use.

Finally, and arguably most crucially, charity shopping offers us students the chance to make a very real difference to any number of worthy causes. As Oxfam's official website informs us charity shopping allows you to 'Buy unique stuff and fight poverty'. This means that you can feel good while you shop. No more shoe shame; welcome to the ultimate in guilt free spending!

So listen up Birmingham and take note. We don't want a smattering of goodwill in the suburbs, an abundance of brands in the Bullring. We want charity shops, lots of them, and we want them now.

Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann

Addict sterilisation: a legitimate bribe?

Neil Chanchlani Commentator

The number of shops in the Bullring alone

whisty.wordpress.com

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29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Last week saw the first British man paid £200 to undergo a vasectomy. The reason was because he was a drug addict.

John, a 38-year-old opiates addict from Leicestershire, was given a financial incentive in exchange for never being able to reproduce and raise a family.

The non-profit organization, entitled Project Prevention, is an American-based company that has successfully sterilised or provided long-term birth control to over 3,600 Americans and now one Briton.

Although, in theory, Project Prevention does sound reasonable (who can really argue for a baby to be born to a drug addict?), we must focus on the implementation of such a financial exchange for reproductive rights. There are moral and social issues that must be noted.

What type of people is Project Prevention approaching and being approached by? They probably aren't the average middle-class individuals, with day-jobs and car insurance payments that they can't quite cover, but rather severely addicted recreational drug users looking for their next fix.

How can anyone justify that the patient is able to give 'informed

consent' for such an act, when the act is essentially a bribe?

On the BBC's Inside Out programme, John claimed that he would spend the money 'on overdue rent and shopping.' Whilst that may paint a nice picture, one must wonder why John has overdue rent in the first place?

Why can't he pay for his weekly shopping? And will a drug addict of 15 years redirect potential drug money to essentials like utility bills, or will he in fact help fuel the trade of drugs on the street?

Perhaps the act is considered legally permissible, but from an ethical standpoint, we must

No drug addict should ever be allowed to reproduce. And those that admit to having a problem aren't helped and assisted out of it, but instead given some money to hush up and go away.

re-evaluate the use of financial incentive for reproductive rights.

And while it may be convenient to abide by the theory of 'out of sight, out of mind', we have a social responsibility to follow John up.

He admitted to being a drug addict, promised never to reproduce, and now, let's just shun him to the gutters? Perhaps the most critical aspect of Project Prevention is the lack of hope and optimism it inspires. Essentially, that no drug addict should ever be allowed to reproduce. And those that admit to having a problem aren't helped and assisted out of it, but instead given some money to hush up and go away.

If John decides to turn his life around five years from now, and wishes for a family, any hope of a natural birth would be close to impossible. Vasectomies have a small percentage of being reversible; sperm count post-reversal is likely to be too impaired to be fertile. There was another person who tried to kick this kind of project off in the 1940s. Except it wasn't just drug addicts, it was disabled people, ethnic minorities, and homosexuals.

Now we are re-visiting sterilisation, and though we must be concerned for the care of a baby and the strain on social and welfare resources, we must ask: 'Is this a slippery slope to come?'

A poor excuse for protest Seb Mann

Features Editor

In recent weeks a number of things have happened which will directly affect students at the University of Birmingham.

The Browne Review, which recommends a radical rethink of higher education funding, is one of them. The Government's Spending Review, which sees universities facing funding cuts of £4.2 billion, is another. Last week's student organised sit-in at the ViceChancellor's office, a protest against the recommendations of the Browne Review, however, does not feature.

While its motivations are perhaps admirable, the idea of a sit-in organised subsequent to the announcement of the Browne Review is completely idiotic.

It's true that our ViceChancellor, David Eastwood, is in part responsible for, and of course endorses, the recommendations of the review, but it does not follow that he will be coerced into reassessing them as the result of small-

scale protest. And, worryingly, it may be that the recommendations of this review could perpetuate the unfair vision that elite universities are only accessible to the wealthy.

This inert sit-in, it seems to me, has failed on all levels to articulate that principle. This showy protest just looks like activism for the sake of activism.

But then perhaps I'm missing the point of the protest. The ViceChancellor of our university earns £342,000 a year and, amongst his colleagues in the higher echelons of university management, there are dozens who earn more than £100,000 a year. Quite obviously something is a bit skewed here. At the bottom students are being asked to shoulder the burden of prevailing austerity measures while those at the top reap close-to sickening monetary rewards.

But this inequality isn't just limited to the UK university system; it pervades the wider UK economy and the world economy too.

Managers in all areas of business, public and private, are paid well over the odds on the premise

that their effective management can in the long-run save huge sums of money and make it all worthwhile.

Moreover, other than a token gesture what would the levelling out of officialdom salaries actually represent? It wouldn't come anywhere close to plugging the gap in university funding the Browne Review seeks to address and it certainly wouldn't attract individuals many might consider to be the best for the job.

The Browne Review asks students to invest in the value of higher education through increased tuition fees and the Vice Chancellor, like many others, is awarded an astronomical salary for doing a job which is not proportionately more difficult than many other more modestly paid professions. But these are not things a poorly planned, lacklustre sit-in can change.

Give me a protest against our corrupt economic system any day of the week, but a badly articulated sit-in outside David Eastwood's office a week too late and I think I'll pass.

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Comment & Features 9

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Editors – Rosa McMahon, Seb Mann

Rethinking the Browne Review Across the country, students are protesting in response to the recommendations of the Browne Review, but is it really that unfair? dance rising, not falling. Variability is key – is it justifiable that students at Oxford Brookes could be charged the same amount as those at Oxford University? It is nonsensical. There is a chasm between the quality of delivery and the opportunities derived, despite the equal price tag. Barr calls it the 'champagne subsidy', contrasting Oxford with his fictional creation the 'Balls Pond Road Tech'. Ironically, this central subsidy of university students exacerbates prevailing socioeconomic inequalities. The taxes of non-graduate workers are used to support students, whom by virtue of attending university will on average earn more than nongraduates. As the majority of university students are from middle and higher income families, the central subsidy is grossly unfair to the very poorest and most vulnerable in society. Variable fees do not mark the 'death of social mobility', they represent the new beginning upon which fees reflect the relative worth of their degree – that is true fairness.

Wes Streeting, former president of the NUS, suggests that rising fees will engender 'a process of social sorting, where the rich get

Lord Browne, former BP chairman, chaired the review of university fees Oliver MacAthur Political Commentator

Many of us saw the anti-fees protest following the unveiling of the Browne Review on university funding. These protests have become almost standard and increasingly tiresome, as the government continues to postulate the future of higher education. The Browne Review represents a progressive vision for the future. However, whilst Browne's recommendations represent a step forward in the right direction, they are not the absolute solution. In fact, the review

is in grave danger of being grossly misinterpreted by politicians. Nick Clegg and Vince Cable continue to argue for a cap on fees. This arbitrary cap would be disastrous as it totally undermines the principles of the Browne Review. As of 2010/11, fees are variable between zero and £3290. However, do you see universities charging variable fees? At the moment, all universities simply charge the maximum fee. As the demand for a university education outstrips the supply, a cap of the suggested £7000 is likely to see all universities price their fees towards the maximum end. A full variability of fees, with

tax incentives not to charge extortionately, will allow for moderation and sustainability.

Nicolas Barr, Professor of Public Economics at LSE, suggests that 'a flat fee will continue the erosion of quality at the best universities, which face the biggest shortfalls in funding.' In striving for greater revenues, the shortfall in central funding diverts the priorities of universities away from the capped domestic students and towards uncapped non-EU students. Thus, the cap in fees harms the very people it is supposed to help. In theory, the lack of a cap on fees should see domestic atten-

As the demand for a university education outstrips the supply, a cap of the suggested £7000 will simply see all universities price at the maximum

the best and the poor get the rest.'

In order to offset social stratification, it is crucial that maintenance grants and scholarships for the poorest students are comprehensively expanded. In terms of a new model of student finance, higher education must be free at the point of use. Crippling debts – in fact, any debts – should be avoided. Fees should be allowed to fully vary, but payment of them must be deferred. Graduates must make repayments, not students.

Crucially, these must be dependent on income – low earners must pay less, higher earners must pay more.

Only a system of variable fees would reflect the variance of benefits gained from university education. Equally, we must diversify the way in which we look at university finances. In the era of austerity, it is crucial that innovative methods of financing take hold. This university, with its 'Circles of Influence' fundraising campaign is pioneering new methods of financing. Our university was founded on philanthropy, not government. In the 21st century, the university system should be financed on graduate contribution and not student debt or general taxation.

It is absolutely imperative that the Higher Education system allows the brightest students to study at the best institutions, irrespective of their background.

Educational elitism, not social elitism, should be the crucial determinant of university destinations. At the moment, the debate is centred wholly on the supply of university education and expanding provision.

Perhaps we should look closer at the demand side of Higher Education and radically drive up entrance requirements. University doesn't necessarily mean universal. After all, aren't they supposed to be elite institutions?

Reader response: culture is objective Alexander Blanchard offers an alternative view to last week's article which stated that culture is subjective

In last week's Redbrick an article questioned the merits and the relevancy of the Man Booker prize.

Whilst highlighting the Booker's legitimate shortcomings – its political controversies and the 'decadent' sum of money offered to the winner – the article offered the seemingly baseless personal objection that 'culture is subjective', and thus it is wrong of us to reward a cultural work. 'How can one work be supposedly elevated in quality above others?', it asked.

Such an objection is ludicrous. It infers that we cannot possibly have a notion of good and bad in our culture; that we cannot possibly distinguish between a work of genius and a work of idiocy. Consider the implications of this. Take two works of autobiography: Miles to Go by Miley Cyrus and Les Confessions by J.J. Rousseau. The former is a crude piece of self-promotion doused in

sob-stories of, 'look how relatable I am', and shout-outs to Jesus.

The latter is a piece of work that, aside from fomenting the very genre of autobiography, is written with exquisite language and provides a deeply honest exploration of an incredible mind. However, the notion of subjectivity prevents us from objectively holding one above the other in terms of quality.

Similarly we could not hold the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle above the tripe that Jeffery Archer churns out bi-annually.

And what of art, to which the idea of subjectivity would surely extend? Why not take down the Mona Lisa from the walls of the Louvre and instead hang-up my defunct drawing of a stick man?

It is this attitude to 'high-culture' and our collective failure to divine good from the truly awful that has given rise to a main-

stream of mediocrity while true art is pushed to the periphery.

The article also claimed that any regular reader of fiction will argue that an award such as the Booker will not change the face of literature, yet the Booker makes no claim of doing so. It does quite the opposite in that it rewards and recognises literary figures who, through their creativity, originality and boldness have themselves been the cause of change. The article makes a comparison to the Turner Prize and the Oscars; would the art world and cinematic world, respectively, be any different if these two awards didn't exist? Well, yes. It is precisely the disagreement and controversies that awards such as the Oscars and the Turner provoke that give us healthy debate about what culture is. This in turn allows us to develop an objective perception of art and culture. Without debate

there is stagnation. And a stagnant culture is not one to be enjoyed.

Perhaps I have digressed a little, perhaps I am being a little snobbish, but I'm trying to demonstrate that culture is objective and that there is an underlying consensus on what is good and what is not so good. I agree with the article in the sense that our personal tastes will always be changing and that the books I read now I might not have fully appreciated two years previously. This, however, is a matter of personal development; it has no bearing on the quality of the book itself.

Objectivity is there, it's just hidden under a tide of disagreement.

So – I implore you – in this time of cuts to the arts and education, let us keep our awards for originality, imagination, and hard work, no matter how frivolous they may at times seem.

'It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle it without debate' Joseph Joubert Disagree with something in this section? Join the discussion.

Meetings: Tuesday @ 5 in old Student Development features@redbrickonline.co.uk Facebook: Redbrick Comment and Features Twitter: @redbrickfeatures

10 redbrickonline.co.uk

Arts

Arts funding to be cut by 30% according to coalition guardian.co.uk/arts

Student Sessions Barber Institute

were found by inspecting certain paintings and artefacts, which was a good way of encouraging students to engage with the art rather than aimlessly wandering from room to room! There are some great prizes to be won, including vouchers for the Barber Shop and a bottle of booze. Lucky winners will be notified by email.

Also included in the evening was an opportunity to vote for your favourite painting in the Barber collection. I voted for Degas' Jockeys Before the Race for its subject matter and unusual composition. If you would like to vote anytime after your own visit to the gallery, email your choice to info@barber.org.uk and it may be featured in a future Picture of the Month. Students were also persuaded to put forward their views on the Barber and make suggestions for any improvements. As I am still familiarising myself with all it has to offer, my comments here would have been a little tenuous, but I definitely approve of the Barber's efforts to give the students a voice. I feel so privileged to actually be based in the Barber Institute for my degree, and I would urge everyone to allow the time to pop in and explore. The gallery is free and open seven days a week, it is right opposite the Guild and there is even a mini cafe just inside the door if you need even more of an incentive to come in!

The next Student Session is on Wednesday, 1st December at 3.00pm.

Hidden Venue The Barber Sian Gray Arts Editor Situated across from the Guild is the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, a fabulous Art deco building which is home to artwork created by some of the most famous names in the artistic cannon; Delacroix, Manet, Rossetti and Renoir to name but a few and which has been deemed by The Observer as 'one of the finest small art galleries in Europe'.

As well as preserving and displaying the art work however, the Barber Institute also holds lunchtime chamber music concerts and recitals from students at the Birmingham University music department.

Additionally, there is a small, but well stocked book shop selling beautiful art books suitable for art lovers or just those that want a few quirky 'coffee table books'.

Yet, despite it's fantastic array of events, and the fact that it

Untitled at the Rep Will Hunter Critic

Barber Institute Rachel Johnston Critic On Wednesday, 20th October, the Barber Institute welcomed students to the first of the Student Sessions entitled 'A Taste of the Barber'. As an art historian I was particularly interested in this event, but as Anne Sumner stressed in her introductory speech, all students are always welcome and should not feel that it is exclusively for those studying the subject, or for art snobs. Art galleries generally have associations with the 'elite', but the Barber seems to be trying to eliminate this with numerous invitations and ways to get involved, making this impressive building seem more exciting than intimidating.

The foyer was buzzing with students and staff, all enjoying a glass of wine and some yummy nibbles, with plenty of time to chat and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

There was an excellent turnout but it didn't feel crowded, and in the corner was a jazz band, providing the perfect background music to the event. Those I spoke to thought this was a particularly good idea; it really stepped the evening up from an average arty gathering to stylish soiree.

Introductions were given first

by Tamsin Foulkes, followed by Tess Radcliffe, Education Officer, and Anne Sumner, Director. The galleries were opened and we were invited upstairs for a private view, clutching quiz sheets which we were given as we arrived. Answers

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29th October 2010

remains in possession of some of the world's greatest artwork, the Barber still seems to remain anonymous to so great a number of students.

'As a science student, we're not made aware that it even exists', says Chloe Rai, a third year Human Biology student, and this seems true for so many students.

The Barber is thus holding student related events all term such as the 'Student Sessions' event that was held last week and which is set to return in early December. These events are open to all student and aim to introduce the Barber as the excellent gallery and event space that it really is.

So, if you're into art, music or even just fancy exploring something new that the University has to offer visit the Barber Institute of Fine Art. The building is beautiful, the galleries are free and the staff are exceptionally friendly and informative. Enjoy!

What is in a name? This is a phrase explored in great detail by Nigerian born Inua Ellams, in his latest production Untitled. As author and sole actor within this performance Ellam's draws you in by playing on the intimacy of the venue. Staged on a small circular platform covered in foliage, the general feeling was that I'd been transported to the planes of Nigeria and experiencing an authentic fable.

This play would be easier to write an essay on than a review. It toys with the idea of being unwillingly taken from your place of origin and its spirit never leaving you.

Touching on these issues is what makes it such a thought provoking, harrowing performance.

Depicted is the story of twin brothers, separated shortly after their birth, when a naming cer-

The Rep emony goes awry, causing a divide between the parents and eventually causing the mother to flee to London, taking with her the named child. Tarnishing his bloodline, the unnamed child becomes ostracized from society, drifting from group to group in an attempt to find acceptance, but his cocky persona and lack of conformity always leave him an outcast.

Ellam's pulls on his experience of dual nationality, highlighting the juxtaposition between the

two cultures of which he is accustomed, using music and poetry to depict modern day London and classic fables and drums to illustrate the Nigerian side to this performance.

The acting is artistically beautiful and his perfect mixture of music, dance and spoken word all compliment each other in a way that you become engrossed so much so that the lack of set design and other visual aspects of the play seem unimportant.

Pirates at the Caribbean in the Underground Robert Hanson & Jemimah Shaw Critics When one goes to a performance where the artists only have 48 hours to prepare, it is important to approach it with an open mind, in the expectation that things will go wrong, and monitor not how much the players are able to recall, but how they deal with the inevitable, and in this production of Pirates of the Caribbean by Watch This they were flawless, involving the viewer with the theatricality and jollity of imperfection.

An important part of this campaign was undertaken by the narrator, Steph Green, whose primary role may have been to feed lines to the actors on the occasion they forgot their lines, but who provided a much grander position as an entertainer and key character, engaging the audience in amusing banter with her own comedic, quirky style.

This production was so engaging, in fact, that I found myself

reaching for a hearty glass of rum at the interval – True Captain Jack style. The use of the crowd as a comedic instrument through which the performance could excel was remarkable and, at one point in the proceedings, Jack Sparrow was chased through the audience, which provided hilarity through viewer-interaction.

The production itself was as true to the motion picture on which it was based as was possible, whilst also including further comedy from the reworked script and the general facade of the actors

Becki Parsons themselves. The only criticism one could honestly give, as an outsider to the drama orientated population of Birmingham is there were several sections of the script, namely 'in-jokes' aimed at particular individuals of this niche populace, which were, obviously excluding to me the viewer.

However this reflects a very minor period of time from the production and over all my feelings towards it are very positive and I would thoroughly look forward to seeing yet another production of this nature again.

Joe Satriani at Symphony Hall Jemimah Shaw Critic Grey haired Hells Angels and young wannabees alike crowded the merchandise stand, lining up to buy signed posters and tour t-shirts.

The smell of patchouli oil and promise was in the air, so much so that when the supporting act came on it was positively heart breaking.

Three thirty-something dreamers, one sporting a Mick Hucknall-esque hairstyle that drew attention more than their music did, put on an embarrassing display of the same tired riffs and lyrics that befit far too many contemporary 'rock' bands and didn't leave much hope for the night ahead.

This judgement, however, was quickly quashed as the crowd went wild and Joe Satriani himself appeared.

Here is a man who, despite

playing for the likes of Mick Jagger and Deep Purple in his younger days, has not lost his love of the guitar, and the lengths he goes to push this instrument to its limits demonstrates this. The passion in his performance seeps out of every note that he plays.

His most recent studio album – his fourteenth to be exact – Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, was released this month, and exhibits a deeper exploration of his own soul than in any of his other albums.

As the man himself said: 'the last year has been one of phenomenal change, professional highs and a very tragic personal hardship. As a musician who wants to convey powerful statements, tapping into my emotions was key.'

From what started off as a (quite literally in my case) laughably bad night due to the warm up act, turned out to be a mind-blowing demonstration of raw musical talent and passion. What a show.

Symphony Hall

Redbrick

Goodbye Birmingham Book Festival...

...Hello to The Shout Festival

James Reevell Arts Editor Last Thursday the curtain came down on the Birmingham Book Festival, that bastion of literature in our book-starved city. A festival with the laudable aim of making literature attractive, something that made all the harder by the shadow cast from our brutalist library.

With record attendances this year, the festival can thank not its excellent city links, but as its organisers freely admit, its ability to attract big name writers. With a bill jam packed with best-sellers such as Jackie Kay and Lionel Shriver, it was a bill sure to entice.

However, the Festival's true achievement has been creating a line-up that reflects Birmingham's greatest strength, its diversity.

This was a festival for all, something to be celebrated in these times of hardship. This festival's ability to offer something to all sections of society should act as a

Arts 11

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – Sian Gray, James Reevell

B'ham Book Fest

The Mac

rallying cry against the proposed cuts, and suggestions that Arts funding does not provide value.

Tell me that the school child who heard Jackie Kay speak with great eloquence about racial abuse did not learn more from that, than from any classroom.

So, it is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to this years Book Festival, an event that has culturally enriched and enlightened Birmingham. One can only hope it survives the cuts, and returns with the passion vigour that are its hallmark.

Thankfully for culture junkies the 'The Shout Festival' takes place all through November. Themed around LGBT culture, this festival celebrates a sometimes under represented section of Birmingham's community.

However, as with the closely linked Book Festival this is a festival that actively encourages different parts of the community to be involved.

With its stated aims of challenging and bringing to the forefront sections of the community that are invisible in normal life,

this a bridge building event.

However, if this seems a bit austere and highbrow, there a plethora of fun events fuelled by camp pomposity. Be it cabaret, featuring acts such as Kilp**sy or a rock belly dance troupe, there is (sometimes risque) fun for all.

Special mention must go to Shout's collaborative event with the Book Festival to present a evening celebrating Birmingham alumni, and acclaimed playwright Sarah Kane's life and work. A must for any literature student and a fantastic example of how these two festivals cross boundaries and create connections within the community.

So, with dark nights closing in, hopefully this festival can bring some much needed light and energy to our fair city.

With its massively diverse bill it will certainly be making some noise, and with such quality on offer who can really blame it.

Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Town Hall 31st October Get yourself in the Halloween mood with this haunting classic set to chilling organ music. Sure to haunt and amaze simultaneously.

Tickets £15

Jesus Christ Superstar

Want to write for us? Email... arts@redbrickonline.co.uk

We need to talk about... The Birmingham Book Festival

Lionel Shriver

Previews

Jackie Kay

The Alexandra 2nd November onwards A classic from Rice and Lloyd Webber, this fantastic rock opera is sure to have you praying for more....

Tickets £16.75 + booking fee

The Colour of Nonsense B'ham Book Fest

Richard Saker Sophie Cowling Critic The annual Birmingham Book Festival is well known for boasting an impressive number of talented writers – this year being no exception. The talk from Orange prize winner Lionel Shriver – the American best-selling author of We Need to Talk About Kevin was particularly anticipated following the release in March of her latest novel So Much for That.

Her new book focuses on the unjust American health system and was inspired by an article Shriver read in the New York Times which stated that medical bills were the leading cause of bankruptcy in the US – for people with health insurance. Also inspired by the death of her close friend from cancer, Lionel described her decision to write a book about healthcare as not a social question, but a personal one.

She commented: 'A book about healthcare sounds terribly tedious – but a book about family, illness, mortality, that's real life – that's fiction.'

Shriver's humour is perhaps what makes this book, despite the serious content and message, so readable. She read (or I should say acted out) an extract from the novel where the sick wife, Glynis is having an argument with her husband Shep for becoming a 'service provider' and not a husband.

Shriver's strong dramatisation of Glynis reflected the impression

many audience members had that the novel is very closely linked to the personal experience of her friend's battle with cancer.

Although starting with a bleak subject, Shriver doesn't think it is a 'bleak' novel, as many reviews have branded it, but a story with a truly happy ending, 'when I wrote the last page I couldn't stop smiling.'

It was during the audience questions at the end of the talk that there was an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the real Shriver.

When asked how she stops herself being sucked in to the darkness of her books, she replied, 'I'm really perverse and enjoy this stuff!' then elaborated that she has to make it humorous whilst not shying from its essence because, 'I have to live with the book much longer than you do!'

Shriver's thought provoking, never simplistic topics raise a multitude of complex issues and questions for the reader while her direct, personal prose style make her novels utterly captivating and, in this case, uplifting. When asked whether she had thought about a repeat prize-winning performance for this book, she joked, 'I want all of them.

After seven books I nakedly crave recognition!' A recognition that the audience of the book festival and myself unanimously agree she deserves.

'We need to talk about Kevin' can be picked up in any good bookshop.

Dami Olugbode Critic 'NOW THE PREACHER MAN WANTS A SERMON ON SEX!' Imagine these words said with a Glaswegian accent and you are one step closer to understanding the world of Jackie Kay. This is one, of many, hilarious lines from Jackie Kay's new book, Red Dust Road.

Red Dust Road is Jackie Kay's memoir which follows her journey as she traces her ancestral history and is reunited with her biological father, years later, after having been adopted. This fantastic, contemporary writer truly redefines what it means to be an influential figure that goes against many of the social norms we have come to consider essential within the social constructs of our society. Over the course of her ever expanding career Kay has been labelled a lesbian, ethnic, atheist, Scottish, British writer. All of these are identities she accepts and utilises effectively to relate to her diverse readership.

You might be wondering how a successful novelist dressed as some sort of working class social worker excites me. Needless to say, with Jackie what you see is what you get and much more! She is not only a talented poet and novelist she is also a great performer.

As she read several extracts from her memoir she had the audience eating from the palm of her hands.

Her elaborate hand gestures, varied accents and overall charisma

had the audience, myself including, fiddling in our seats. The theatre became a sort of time capsule moving between different points in her childhood and into various other places in the world.

One of the scheduled stops was Nigeria, Abuja. Her honesty and attention to detail were both exciting and real to life. As she described her first encounter with her biological father I noticed many audience members leaning forward in the seats as if they were listening in to a private conversation, a conversation so personal and candid you could not help but cringe. 'I realise with a fresh horror that Jonathan is seeing me as the sin, me as impure, me the bastard, illegitimate.' This is one of several deeply, empathic lines from Kay's new memoir.

The reading was followed by an informal chat between Kay and the chair spokesperson, a short Q and A session, then a reading of two of her poems from a series entitled Maw Broon Monologues.

If anyone can do a comical poem about a vagina, Jackie Kay can and she certainly did. Throughout the evening she stayed true to herself, open and candid in regards to her life and upbringing and thoroughly entertained us all. For those who have never been to a book event, if ever you come across a Jackie Kay event I would recommend you attend.

She may be a novelist and a poet but she is also an entertainer and not many writers can raise their hands to that!

The Mac 3rd November With rave reviews, comedy and judging from the promotional videos mad tango music, although this may be the weirdest and possibly best things you see all year Tickets £12

UoB Writer's Bloc Slam

The Beorma Bar 4th November Finally the University has been graced with a fantastic new poetry society which, in this battle with Bath Spa, is demonstrating it's already incredible talent. www.redbrickonline.co.uk

12

redbrickonline.co.uk

Television The Top Ten TV Fashion Icons

1

Blair Waldorf

With the assistant costume designer from Sex and the City dressing you, it's hard not to look glamorous on Gossip Girl. Her look fits this tempestuous Upper East-sider down to the ground.

It is a twist on a sophisticated preppy style – elegant dresses, tailored shorts, blouses and blazers, combined with her signature headbands.

2

The 10th Doctor

This look is the perfect combination of smart and casual. The brown pinstriped suit is dressed down with Converses, while the crumpled trousers and loose tie give Tennant's incarnation of the Doctor Who a just-rolled-out-ofbed look. The chunky glasses are a rather blatant reminder of the intellect of the character but definitely add to the 'geek-chic' look.

3

Dr Spencer Reid

Matthew Gray Gubler's Criminal Minds character manages to simultaneously to dress like a web designer, a librarian and an English teacher all at once – all whilst carrying a gun at his hip. He somehow pulls off the corduroy trousers and the horn-rimmed glasses for a totally flawless look.

4

Betty Draper

A wardrobe like this could convince Germaine Greer that perhaps being a fifties housewife wouldn't be all bad. Dressed immaculately, no matter what the occasion, Betty's Mad Men outfits have unsurprisingly led to a resurgence of fifties

fashion.

5

6

Patrick Jane

7

Sherlock Holmes

Simon Baker, in serial drama The Mentalist, continually sports three piece suits, vests, tailored shirts and trousers – always dressed professionally and to the absolute nines. He pulls off this look with ease, never looking out of place, and tops off the whole ensemble brilliantly by accessorising with his killer smile.

When the BBC updated this famous detective for the modern day incarnation, they updated his wardrobe too. Gone are the days of cravats, deerstalker caps and wooden pipes. Benedict Cumberpatch manages to make Holmes look both elegant and intellectual.

8

Lorelai Gilmore

Lauren Graham manages to pull off whatever she is put in, be it covered in rhinestones, something suitable for the rodeo or a business suit. Often dressed in nothing more interesting than jeans and a t-shirt the Gilmore Girls character's eccentric nature is often injected in small bursts via her interesting take on accessorising.

9

Betty Suarez

Perhaps not the most obvious choice, but Ugly Betty's often terrible yet always unique look has actually made her a bit of a style icon. Working an extreme look, which involves an unapologetic mixing of patterns, colours and styles ensures that Betty Suarez stands out – whatever room she's in.

10

Emma Pillsbury

The Glee wardrobe department outdid themselves with guidance counsellor Emma. They seamlessly combine her bright and bubbly personality with her overwhelming desire for tidiness with this jazzed up librarian look. The contrast between her bold cardigans and tailored skirts with perfectly matching accessories represents this quirky counsellor perfectly.

Damon Salvatore So the costume designers might not have been too imaginative, but his head-to-toe black wardrobe fuels Ian Somerhalder's dark and mysterious portrayal of the eldest Salvatore brother in The Vampire Diaries. He also manages to pull off the 19th Century look pretty well too – a vampire for all ages.

Sarah Pullen

Redbrick

29th October 2010

Copycat killers and clueless coppers Whitechapel review, redbrickonline.co.uk

A Non-Event?

Kelly Shrimpton Reporter

The Event: sounds ominous, doesn't it?

Over recent weeks, Channel 4 have only added to my anticipation of their latest US import.

This was elusively done through frustratingly fragmented clues in TV adverts, as well as blurry billboard posters which seemed to mysteriously shift into focus in the days leading up to the first episodes.

When the time came I threw myself, despairing, in front of the TV with so many maddening questions, already craving answers. Who is the man looking for his girlfriend? Who are the mysterious prisoners? What has the father done to try and save his daughters? Why does the CIA always seem to know more than the President? And what is the Event? My hunger for answers would finally be satisfied. Or would it?

It began with a 24-style clock (I was expecting Jack Bauer to pop up at any moment), some panicked voices and handheld camera shots reminiscent of Cloverfield. I was intrigued.

We jump back in time by twenty minutes to a plane and a guy who we assume is planning a hijack, mainly due to the fact that he is way too nervous and someone is trying to stop take-off.

Then we jump back in time again – this time by days – and then back to the plane. I was already confused. All this to-ing and fro-ing means that The Event was already becoming suspiciously like Lost, lurching from the ac-

NBC's The Event started Friday on Channel 4 tion to glimpses of the various characters background stories in that annoying way I thought only Lost was capable of.

I desperately tried to suspend judgement, hoping for something better. The first episode continued in much the same vein however, centering principally around the action on the plane and a looming press conference ordered by the President, involving the release of a group of longterm prisoners.

In the closing minutes of the first episode everything literally comes crashing together, but unsurprisingly, I was only left with more questions.

As The Event continues, it seems that the smallest show of loyalty and patience will be rewarded, at least in part.

From as early as the second episode it is possible to begin to

piece together some of what is happening. It's clear that these incidences make up only a small fraction of what seems to be a very intricate and well woven web, but The Event would be rather boring otherwise.

However, when I first heard whispers of aliens I must admit I was worried. Memories of past attempts, which can only be considered in degrees of cheesiness, came to mind, but it appears that this drama is already separating itself from those shows gone by.

The Event has so far demonstrated a balanced combination of depth and suspense, while also retaining a sense of realism that is refreshing, particularly after Lost.

The Event may very well have the makings of one of those Ican't-live-without-it dramas.

Only time will tell.

Box Bites The latest TV News Charlotte Lytton rounds up this week's top telly news.

It seems that all is not well in the X Factor house. Old rocker Wagner has been branded a 'sex pest' after getting a bit too close with his female competitors, and has been given a talking to by the show producers. One researcher has apparently refused to be in the same room as him alone for fear of what he might get up to.

Yikes.

The US remake of Skins is set to air in January 2011. However, an unpromising trailer has left British fans reeling as it is almost an identical copy of the original.

The characters and plot lines are the same, the only difference being that they've traded their gay dancer in for a lesbian cheerleader...inventive.

On the topic of British shows travelling across the pond, the American version of Shameless will be hitting the small screen in January next year. A year after being commissioned, the pilot has finally been released, with Emmy award winning William H Macy as perpetual drunk Frank Gallagher.

Everything looks promising, but it certainly has a lot to live up to.

The Graham Norton Show has returned after a summer hiatus, and is bigger and better

than ever. Replacing Jonathan Ross' slot, viewership hit an all time high of almost 3.5 million for its debut episode last week.

Guests in the premiere episode were Charlotte Church, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Russell Howard, all of whom undoubtedly helped pull in the audience.

Laugh-out-loud comedy Cougar Town has been enjoying a successful second series, with its opening episode attracting over eight million viewers last month.

Whilst Courtney Cox may be having a rough time of it in her personal life, the rising acclaim for her show is probably making that bitter pill just a little easier to swallow.

The latest in a line of The Apprentice criminal history revelations: Stuart Baggs ('the brand') was quite the deviant at school.

He hacked into his school's canteen system and put unlimited funds on his card, giving him free meals for weeks. Threatened with expulsion for his misbehaviour, let's hope he can behave himself in the boardroom...

Gwyneth Paltrow has begun filming her guest appearance in Glee. Cory Monteith, aka Finn Hudson, leaked photos of the star via Twitter. She will play a sub-

stitute teacher in two upcoming episodes.

And finally, the Beeb are going all 21st century and planning a same sex couple for the first time on Strictly Come Dancing.

After the Israeli version paired up two women for the first time, Alan Carr and Boy George are apparently heading the list for the British version's first ever male/

male pairing. We can't wait!

X Factor's Wagner

Redbrick

TV Gold Jackass Emma Dukes relives the bumps and bruises of that timeless classic

Johnny Knoxville Parents hated it, teachers loathed it. Yet, when Jackass first hit our screens in 2000, the anarchic energy of the show proved massively successful.

Giving a group of reckless, fame-hungry, and fearless men a budget to set up elaborate pranks and 'stunts', and a camera crew is possibly MTV's most controversial yet hilarious idea to date.

Before Dirty Sanchez and, more recently, The Dudesons was Jackass: a show that made puerile, slapstick humour (sort of) acceptable, and definitely cool.

It was the most talked about programme of its day, and despite the controversies we still continued to watch people fall over, 'urban kayak' and skate themselves to A+E for three seasons, and several films.

We all had our favourites, whether it be the plain disgusting and idiotic Steve-O, the brazenly shameless Johnny Knoxville or the world's most annoying son Bam Margera. And Chris Pontius'

Television 13

October 29th 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – Joe McGrath, Natalie Timmins

Party Boy was just wrong, but we loved it.

Jackass unashamedly mocked conservative America.

One memorable 'sketch' showed Pontius, dressed as a devil, shouting, 'Keep God out of California', and 'I'm not that bad a guy.' While most passers-by laughed, one man, in a fit of rage, physically attacked Pontius, who appeared shocked and quite shaken, before laughing it off.

In a personal favourite of mine, Knoxville has a toy baby in a car seat and while leaving a supermarket 'accidently' leaves it on top of the car. As he is driving off Knoxville laughs as several people frantically run after him trying to warn him about the 'baby' on the roof.

Though these seem harsh, part of the appeal of Jackass was the fearless way they approached comedy and the boundaries they pushed.

The brilliant combination of immature pranks, similar to those of Trigger Happy TV, with aimless stupidity constantly produced disbelieving screams of disgust, sympathy and of course, laughter.

Jackass made slap stick absurdly funny again, and though not to everyone's taste, was undoubtedly innovative and successful.

Although we may not have known it before, we love to watch men try absurd skating tricks and wear fake erections. A love for Jackass is for life, not just half an hour.

In sickness and in health

Don't Tell the Bride, now in its fourth season on BBC Three Rebecca Hardwick Reporter

With marriages failing year upon year in England and Wales, it is somewhat surprising just how many primetime television shows are currently devoted to weddings.

My housemates and I always seem to be watching wedding programmes, such as Don't Tell the Bride and Four Weddings, despite not even having started to think about our 'big days', so why do we continue to tune into them? The truth is we watch these programmes, like any other reality television programme, to see things go wrong and enjoy a bit of shameless drama.

This is perhaps why BBC Three's Don't Tell the Bride, which is invariably full of disasters and cringes, has proved so popular.

The programme follows a groom as he organises a wedding with no input from the bride. Unsurprisingly, in most of the episodes the groom makes several huge mistakes and does exactly the opposite of what the bride wants.

A prime example of this was in an episode following a groom as he organised his wedding for him and his gay partner. After his partner clearly states how much he wanted to wear an absurdly expensive, custom-made designer suit on his wedding day, the groom, having already ploughed through most of the budget, promptly went out and bought him a cheap, off-the-peg Topman suit. Oh dear! However, this is certainly not the gravest mistake made in the course series.

One episode in particular comes to mind due to the groom's

complete inability to organise a wedding even vaguely along the lines of his bride's vision of the day.

The groom seemingly makes what might be the biggest mistake of his life by choosing Las Vegas as the location of the wedding. As a result of the inevitable financial constraints such a trip would create, several close family members cannot attend the wedding, including the groom's sister and the bride's brother.

Miraculously, despite the bride pulling out of the wedding at one point in the show, the wedding goes ahead. This leaves the viewers asking themselves just how long this marriage will last...most likely a few months.

Nevertheless, this certainly makes great TV for the viewer.

Another primetime wedding themed television programme is Channel 4's Wedding House, which, in the course of each episode, sees four couples getting married.

The whole point of the Wedding House is that weddings are not organised by the couples but by wedding planners who work on instructions given by the couple.

So far the series has featured a variety of strange and fantastic weddings, including an Alice in Wonderland -themed wedding.

However this show is not nearly as captivating as Don't Tell the Bride, as everything goes right!

Therefore confirming that our love for these programmes is fuelled by our fascination with disaster.

14 Editorial

Redbrick Editorial

T

Sam Langtree

he legacy of last year's VP of housing, Ed Sparkes, making the Resident Associations's expenses public has allowed a honest and revealing look at what can now be considered a clear misuse of spending within the upper echelons of our University's establishment.

This editorial in itself is by no means a vicious or centered attack on the RAs and all of the elected students that make up this body. The pressures of having to provide for and support an entire hall of residence must undoubtedly be a stress-

R

Deputy Editor

ful process, having to arduously battle to keep the populace of halls across the University entertained and involved throughout the course of their first academic year. It is also important to stress here that, the unaccounted money is a result of spending by the previous group of RAs and not the ones currently working with the students.

Whether it is through formal balls or hedonistic trips to Amsterdam, your average RA's main priority is keeping their delegates happy and amused whilst seemingly

Letters to the Editor

egarding the article 'The Quest for Peace in the Middle East continues' in Redbrick.

We support freedom of speech including for deceitful propaganda like that piece; this response is just to maintain some balance.

Regarding 'one of the most controversial issues engulfing the conflict: West Bank settlements', in 2004 the International Court of Justice issued a ruling on many aspects of the Israel-Palestine conflict and all fifteen judges agreed the settlements are illegal. Security Council resolution 465 (passed with a vote of 15-0) determined that the settlements 'constitute a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention' and called on them to be dismantled. The Red Cross, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch have all issued statements declaring the settlements illegal. In fact, one

would struggle to find a less controversial issue in international affairs; yet Israel and its apologists pretend there exists some kind of controversy, depicting an illegal occupation as merely a 'dispute' by two sides with equally legitimate claims. We advise readers to check the facts for themselves and see who's telling the truth.

On the 'unprecendented' 10-month settlement moratorium, we advise readers to enter 'Maariv feature documents "settlement freeze" sham into Google, where they'll find Israel's main newspaper reporting that settlement building continued throughout this 'moratorium'.

On Israel making 'the painful concession of uprooting settlements in Gaza', we'd ask readers to ponder whether to stop committing a flagrant violation of the Geneva

The Redbrick Crossword

having to negotiate large sums of money with the Guild and to manage marketing and management skills such as these without professional training per sé this is a feat that is commendable.

However, the £5000 of transactions that has gone unaccounted for pulls aside a curtain that reveals an ugly and frank image of how money is being handled between halls and the University of Birmingham.

This money may well have been spent properly; it could also have been misused, cheating first year students and hall residents out of leisure opportunities and the maintenance loans that go towards supporting this grand University.

It is commendable that the

University of Birmingham takes a unique and democratic approach in its management of campus housing, and the involvement of students to create a closer bridge between establishment and participant (us the student) is an innovative approach in supporting the opportunities students have when they come to this University.

At the same time, it is also clear from these preliminary reports that the flow of money between the Residents' Association and the University has lacked the sort of scrutiny required when dealing with a group of voluntary workers, most of which are inexperienced with the procedures of management and large amounts of spending.

Not only then do I congratulate the RAs for having to make decisions and spend money prudently, similar in manner to a Managing Director of a small firm, but I also welcome Ed Sparkes' changes which will go on to ensure that the money that goes into halls is spent with more care and more documentation.

This will ensure that students do not miss out on the opportunities that they deserve. It should also guarantee that this year's RAs are held accountable for the mistreatment of expenses and neither they nor the University's committee need worry about a wave of stinging criticism which is likely to come had these figures remained locked within filing cabinets of the Guild.

Conventions legitimately constitutes a 'painful concession'. We'd also advise readers to enter 'Dov Weisglass interview with Haaretz – The Big Freeze' into Google, where they'll find its architect explaining that rather than being a 'painful concession' for peace, the objective was 'the freezing of the peace process... When you freeze that process, you prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state'.

Regarding a Palestinian state 'not confined to the pre-1967 borders' being 'the only real way' to resolve the conflict. Considering that the international community (bar Israel and the US) has long agreed to settle the Israel-Palestinian conflict by a full Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders (i.e. its legal borders); that since 2002 all twenty-two Arab states signed the Arab Peace Initiative offering full peace with Israel for a withdrawal to the 1967 borders; that all fifty-seven Islamic states (including Iran) have agreed to support this initative; that all major Palestinian factions (including

Hamas, enter 'Hamas renews offer to end fight if Israel withdraws' into Google for Hamas' position) have offered to end the conflict if Israel would withdraw to the 1967 borders; we advise readers to question whether supporting Israel's refusal to join the rest of humanity really is 'the only real way' to resolve the conflict.

We call upon all students wanting an end to the conflict to take a principled stance against fake 'negotiations' with unelected Palestinian collaborators and demand that Israel withdraw from Occupied Palestinian Territory; and to demand the British government put its official positions into action and cease assisting Israeli crimes with arms deals, preferential trade agreements and dealing in illegal settlement goods.

Apologies and Clarifications

Mordo Nahum Puzzles Editor

This week's prize is a choice of either Why does E=MC by Brian Cox or The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson

1. Edible mollusc (6) 4. Pure happiness (5) 7. Staple food of panda's diet (6) 8. Tool used to do arithmetic (6) 9. Crop grown in paddy fields (4) 10. Symbol of the United States (5, 3) 12. Staffordshire theme park (5, 6) 17. Second personality; eagle rot (anag.) (5, 3) 19. Dutch cheese (4) 20. Lex ______, Superman villain (6)

21. Mythological Greek who flew too close to the sun (6) 22. Very small (5) 23. Stupid, insane (6)

Down

1. Ancient wind instrument (7) 2. Theme, topic (7) 3. Fluency, rhetoric (9) 4. Biblical city famous for its tower (5) 5. Fang (7) 6. Edible seed (6) 11. Reptile; cool cider (anag.) (9)

13. Beatles song (3, 2, 2) 14. Chic, graceful (7) 15. Coastal bird (7) 16. Gavel, hammer (6) 18. Spacious (5)

University of Birmingham Friends of Palestine Society

Letters for publication must be marked 'for publication' and include your name and course title. Letters without these details will not be published. We reserve the right to edit letters.

The Rent Is Too Damn High Party When this video hit the net around 18th October, it gained almost instant fame and after being shown by one of the most popular channels on YouTube, Ray William Johnson's =3 the highest viewed versions soared to around 4 million viewers.

Did you know?

Your heart beats 101,000 times a day. During your lifetime it will beat about 3 billion times and pump about 800 million pints (378 million litres) of blood.

Last issues solution:

Last issue's winner was Amy Jones, 3rd Year, Law with French. We will email you to arrange a time to collect your prize.

Finished crosswords to be submitted to the Redbrick office.

Deadline 03/11/10.

Please send all letters to letters@ redbrickonline.co.uk

The objective of the game is to insert the numbers 1-9 into each row, column, and 3x3 box once

Scribble box

arachnophobia l=l=e=r=a=u=m balsa=caliban u=e=d=h=o=o=e mandarin=ants ==g=c=d=p=i=t wright=touchy i=n=e=b=r=p== nasa=bastille d=b=b=l=u=a=s shearer=giggs o=r=i=o=a=u=a roguesgallery

We would like to clarify that last week's Crossword Prize is either Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilert or My Shit Life So Far, Frankie Boyle's autobiography and not a £10 Waterstone's voucher, as printed last week.

Video of the week

Sudoku

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

=1_2_3_=4_5_6 =_=_=_==_=_=_ 7_____=8_____ =_=_=_==_=_=_ 9___=0_a_____ =_=_=_=_==_=_ =bc______d_e= f=_==_=_=_=_= g___h___=i___ _=_=_==_=_=_= j____=k_____= _=_=_==_=_=_= l____=m_____= Across

Redbrick

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Last issues solution:

In pagan times Friday was the luckiest day of the week because it was ruled by the planet Venus, the symbol of love and fortune.

On this day 1921 – The Harvard University football team loses to Centre College, ending a 25 game winning streak. This is considered one of the biggest upsets in college football.

1998 – Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off on STS-95 with 77-year old John Glenn on board, making him the oldest person to go into space.

16 redbrickonline.co.uk

Redbrick

29th October 2010

Film

Richard Branson to produce Hollywood epic Branson and Terminator director McG team up to produce Christopher Columbus remake

Justified Existence: Rental Stores

Pretty Please!

Georgina Bull Film Writer

Hmmm, so which cinematic classic am I in the mood for tonight?

Well, if I were unlucky enough to be a customer of a DVD rental website, I would have to settle for whatever turned up in the post, even if I didn't fancy watching it that evening. Thus, my enjoyment of the film would be massively reduced, just so I can hurry up and send it back in the vague hope that I'd have better luck next time.

By subscribing to deliveries, you lose the joy of free choice. The way I see it, when browsing in a shop, it doesn't matter whether you find a hidden gem or that slightly creepy film that was... an experience. Sound crazy? Bear with me.

When you choose to go out and rent a DVD, your sole aim for the night is to watch a film, with the quality of the film being an

'Ridiculous system' extra bonus. But if you are getting DVDs through so regularly, it stops being a pleasure and starts becoming a chore. And so you lose your ability to cope with a rubbish film.

Then again, not joining this ridiculous system isn't working out so great for me either. Being new

to Birmingham, it wasn't long after I arrived that I set about trying to find my local DVD rental shop. But according to a certain online map provider, the nearest one that I can be sure actually exists (rather than coming up as an abandoned house on streetview) is a Blockbuster 2.2 miles away. Effort.

It is clear to most that the future of films is in online downloading.

However, until we have all managed to hook up our TV to the Internet, and until we can still enjoy the comfort and quality in the same way as a DVD, I want a retail service that offers me the freedom to choose what I want, when I want. So, still resisting submission to the online monopoly of film rentals, the next map search I will be doing is for my local library.

Having been black listed from my local Blockbusters, online rental sites have proved a blessing.

There may be less video shops on the high street, but there's certainly no shortage of movies available.

Gone are the days where you have to battle with numerous others for the privilege of taking home the latest Hollywood hit, because your local video shop believes one copy is ample.

Instead, as online sites cater to millions, the latest blockbuster is readily available. And for times when it is not, your second choice is delivered to your door and disappointment is minimal.

Black History Month

Imogen Dalziel Film Writer

In last week's edition of Redbrick, Katherine Coates declared Morgan Freeman the Number One actor over the age of 60. It is a title justly deserved; however, if such an article was to be published this time 60 years ago, Freeman – or any other black actor, for that matter – would not have appeared in the article at all.

In America itself, segregation was rife. A black person could not share a park bench with a white person, let alone a roll of film. It was the 1960s that saw Rosa Parks refuse to give up her seat on a bus; it was the decade that Martin Luther King had a dream and bands like The Jackson 5 were struggling to make an impact on the music scene.

Then came the 1970s. Laws had been put in place to end segregation and black actors starting to be able to show their talents. Thus, the 'blaxploitation' genre was created; a fierce retaliation to the in-

dustry that had shunned black actors previously.

Stereotypically, the action would centre around a ghetto and would involve crime, drugs and action-adventure sequences.

Films such as Shaft, Hammer and Foxy Brown were key films in the genre.

'Blaxploitation' fizzled out in the late 1980s, but many films have paid tribute to the genre since – as recently as 2009's Black Dynamite, a spoof of the genre. Although its message was stark and fiercely black-orientated, 'blaxploitaton' has certainly paved the way for black actors in Hollywood.

In addition to Freeman are names such as Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington, alongside comedy actors such as Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock.

Each amuse, shock or entertain us, but more importantly, inspire potential black actors, as well as serving a reminder of how different Hollywood could be today if it wasn't for the struggles and trials of the 1960s.

No Chance!

Greta Morris Film Writer

The hassle of spending what seems a lifetime scanning the shelves for the next best option has vanished and websites now brag about the vast array of movies that they have to offer.

LOVE FILM boasts to have 'the largest range of films and games – 67,000 titles and counting'. You'd be hard-pressed to find such a collection at any video shop, yet when searching for movies online, I was unable to find a film the site didn't have. Whether it is musicals, world cinema, Bollywood or comedy, there is a DVD available for you.

Thanks to websites like these, we are now able to re-watch retro

News TV shows or catch up with those we have neglected to watch. If you missed out on the highly acclaimed 24, then simply log onto one of the many rental sites and get watching.

Perhaps the best aspect of online rental is the promise of no late fees. If you take weeks getting to the post box to send back your DVD, there are no repercussions.

With video shops you can quickly find yourself in considerable debt if you hand back a movie minute too late.

Those feeling nostalgic towards high street video shops should perhaps look to the future, and understand that rental sites are not damaging the movie industry. Instead, they are supplying a wider and better range of movies and TV shows to a larger audience.

Lord of the Rings

Good news for Lord of the Rings fans! After an uncertain start to production of The Hobbit, the ball seems to be well and truly rolling with the announcement of some of the leading cast members. Martin Freeman is set to play Bilbo Baggins and other familiar faces include Richard Armitage, whom Spooks fans will recognize, and Rob Kazinsky, otherwise known as Sean from Eastenders. Let's hope this much anticipated prequel is as promising as its cast.

The Hangover 2

Redbrick Recommends...

A Room for Romeo Brass

Internal backlash from the cast and crew of The Hangover 2 has meant that Mel Gibson has been ousted from his cameo role in the film. According to reports, Zach Galifianakis, who plays Alan was deeply unhappy with Gibson's inclusion in the film because of his past indiscretions. The position has now been filled by Brit actor, Liam Neeson, who can add The Hangover 2 to his impressive list of upcoming appearances. One of these being Unknown, a thriller which focuses on Neeson who awakes from a coma to find that his wife (Mad Men's January Jones) does not recognise him and his identity has been taken by another man. The trailer has just been released online so be sure to check it out if you enjoyed Taken.

Romeo and Gavin in Shane Meadows' A Room for Romeo Brass Gemma Fottles Film Writer

Following the same kind of pace and low budget feel as Shane Meadows's most successful and widely recognised This is England, and the incredible follow up This is England '86, recently on our television screens, A Room for Romeo Brass (2000) follows the lives of Romeo and Gavin, two twelve year old boys that have grown up as neighbours and best friends. A chance meeting with the disturbing character of Morell – a man twice their age – leads to the main bulk of the plot.

After giving the boys a lift home in his questionably customised Mini, Morell develops an obsession with Romeo's older sister, Ladine. Befriending the boys as part of his quest for love, it is

soon revealed that Morell is a very troubled character, willing to go to any lengths to get the girl he wants, including violently threatening Gavin and his family in scenes that, at times, leave the watcher feeling tense, uncomfortable and desperate to know what's going to happen next.

As with all Meadows productions, this film gives a gritty and intimate insight into the 'genuine' people of England, a refreshing change to the copious amounts of films only succeeding in portraying an English stereotype untrue in so many ways. Comparable to Menhaj Juda's Kidulthood, but tackling less serious issues in a much more light hearted way, this film will not only leave you wondering whether to laugh or cry, but will make you ask why such a fantastic film would go so widely unrecognised.

Top Gun 2

And finally, hang on to your aviators because it's official…Top Gun 2 is in the works! The original was an '80s classic which catapulted Tom Cruise into superstardom.

Therefore it's not an understatement to say the sequel has a lot to live up to, especially after 24 years.

Let's hope original director Tony Scott and The Usual Suspects scriptwriter Christopher McQuarrie have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Louise Rubbert

Redbrick

Film 17

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – Matt Davis, Elmley de la Cour

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Paranormal Activity 2

Elmley de la Cour attends a supernatural shindig whilst Heather Smeeton gets scared the bejeesus out of her in the cinema

For communication with the undead, you will need the following: one pair of dowsing rods, one temperature sensor, one electromagnetic force (EMF) machine and a Ouija Board.

Or so we were told by our Most Haunted-style paranormal team of Mediums, psychotherapists and investigators. Redbrick

'The entire table lurched violently to the left' had been invited to a special launch for Paranormal Activity 2 and, suitably, the event sought to provoke the occult.

It took place within the London Tombs, a complex maze of passages and chambers deep underground London Bridge, which, by day, are a London Dungeon-style scare attraction.

But, for this event, all the lights had been turned off; the actors had gone home, and the usual gimmicks had been disabled.

Nothing, therefore, was supposed

to be going bump.

For the faint-hearted, the night started badly. Split into groups of less than ten, each was led off into the pitch blackness of the underground labyrinth. For half-hour periods we would try a certain technique: Table Topping, Glass Moving or Ouija Boards, as well as a whole host of vigils and séances. This continued for six hours between 9pm to 3am.

Keen not to sit on the supernatural sideline, I volunteered for the Ouija Board, the first activity.

Five of us placed our fingers on the central pointer and the guide exclaimed in a confident tone: 'we invite any spirits present here to come forward and communicate.'

We looked nervously at each other.

The guide continued. 'Are any spirits here with us?' Immediately, the pointer glided smoothly to the word, yes. No joke.

The fright-fest continued.

When asked whether the spirit had any messages, the pointer began slowly to spell: D-E-A. Now, in a heightened sense of terror, in the complete darkness and at a site known for its intense super-

natural activity, it is hard to think of any word beginning D-E-A that isn't either dead or death.

Thankfully, we weren't even able to find out. The staff member intervened and advised we stop.

'That', she said, 'is a place you don't want to go.'

And this is how it continued.

All night.

Once, whilst 'Table Tipping' (people place there fingers around a table edge and invite spirits to tilt it), the entire surface lurched violently to the left as soon as murder was mentioned.

I wanted to keep an open mind throughout the event, even though I would normally side with the cold, hard facts of science. To test this, once, when the table was tipping towards me, I secretly lifted my fingers from the surface. The table didn't stop. Spooky.

Unfortunately, the séance, the night's climax, was a disappointment. I was hoping for an all-out paranormal party with things flying across the room and objects smashing against the walls. Instead of this, only a few lights turned on.

Maybe I had just become a seasoned supernaturalist, but for most of the night, I found it hard to believe the there wasn't a solid scientific explanation for everything that happened. Moreover, since my time in the tombs, I haven't been struck by lightening or hit by a bus.

Nor have I been found a dismembered mess in my room. Well, not yet, anyway.

Paranormal Activity was much like The Blair Witch Project: fairly unknown actors, no music, dramatic camera work and suspenseful silences. Yet, Paranormal Activity made a big enough bang to gross $193.3 million world­wide.

Considering its haul, it wasn't a huge surprise to hear of Paramount green lighting a sequel soon afterwards.

Now, a year later, the sequel, the imaginatively named Paranormal Activity 2 is released.

Does it live up to expectations?

The basic premise is that of a normal-looking family that seem to have the perfect life with their recent baby, their dog their swimming pool etc. The family just so happen to be related to Katie from the previous film. For those of you that have seen the original would know that this does not bode well, at all.

The good: instead of magicking up another set of characters with never ending story similarities to the original, Paranormal Activity 2, instead, links its protagonists directly to the first film. This works effectively. Also, the abundant 'jump scares' involving wonderful door slammings, hoof thumpings and sinister scratching sounds are things audiences love in a pitch black cinema.

The bad: how long must a film

Director: Lisa Cholodenko Cast: Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore Cert: 15

Michael Brownlee Film Writer

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funny, merely creates awkward scenes. Indeed, the comedy factor is lost in Paul's stilted nasal voice, the thousand times repeated f*** you, and the excessive drama entangled in the story.

Nevertheless, there are some beautiful scenes which the cast manages to make the most of.

Praise is particularly worthy for the last section, too, where the imagery of hope is beautifully achieved.

The end, though, is unoriginal.

It is nothing but the same old American 'tomorrow is another day' hopeful, if not happy, ending.

Being a fan of dramatic come-

take to introduce its characters?

Focus on a cute baby all you like, but it isn't called plot development, it's called making the audience broody. Sequences involving the pool in the garden were increasingly hilarious, although this could have been the intention, yet they distract a little too much from the building tension. One scene in the baby's crib is a little too reminiscent of a badly scripted Neo moment in The Matrix.

The ugly: it is pretty convenient to have a Mexican Catholic nanny who believes in evil spirits. And no, not the sort from a bottle.

Paranormal Activity 2 does attempt different approaches to scary moments, but there still seems to be a big case of déjà vu, which might threaten a discerning audience's interest.

The sequel thrives on tying ends together and conjuring up eureka moments when pieces connect together. However, one piece seems to dangle enticingly and hint smoothly at further possibilities. Paranormal Activity 3, anyone? !

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Is 3D The Future Of Cinema?

The kids are alright

After Joni (Mia Wasikowska, Alice in Wonderland) reluctantly contacts her mother's sperm donor at request of her brother, Laser (Josh Hutcherson, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant), a series of family dilemmas unfold. From sexuality and unfaithfulness, to children education, all is covered in this over dramatic comedy.

Unfortunately, this saga about Paul's (Mark Ruffalo, Shutter Island) involvement with the family progresses in a slow, tiresome and slightly overdone plot that does not give us much that is new.

One would think that there are still many compelling and interesting ways to portray the life of a lesbian couple without rendering them to a sexual object or a mockery. The film does drive away from those ideas, but it also fails to put together a sufficiently fresh one.

Thirty minutes into the picture, I was still waiting for the story to kick in. Eventually, though, it became apparent that The Kids Are Alright is but an endless narration of all the already wellknown issues of marriage. The only difference here being that when the wife asks the wife what is wrong, they are always happy to explain.

What's more, the perceptible effort to make conversations and interactions seem natural, despite a seeming attempt to make them

Director: Todd Williams Cast: Brian Boland, Sprague Gratden Cert: 15

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dies, myself, The Kids Are Alright was truly disappointing, a badly told tale that manages to make compelling themes – the complicatedness of human relationships, and our unrelenting need to do things for the sole purpose of making ourselves feel better– to become little more than secondrate melodrama. It is only the efforts of Wasikowska, Bening and Moore, three fantastic actresses, that give the film its scarce moments of splendour.

Ana Martins !

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I remember my first 3D cinematic experience. I was 9 years old, at Disneyland, with those paper glasses on – one red lens, one blue.

Everything seemed quite normal until Kermit the Frog jumped out of the screen and into my face. 3D has come along way since then and the last year has seen it explode across all walks of cinema.

It started with James Cameron's Avatar: a film that remains (and probably will remain for a very long time) the best example of how 3D can add to a cinematic experience. Avatar was fully justified in having 3D. It didn't shoot things out at you like my 9-year-old self would have wanted. It used 3D to show you the depth and complexity of another world and its alien inhabitants. The technology breakthrough that came with Avatar has led to almost every new film offering itself in 3D; a perk which quite frankly is not needed in most of them. The prime examples that spring to mind are Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and the remake

of Clash of the Titans. 3D added nothing to 'Wonderland', it just made everything look a little blurrier and rounder. Titans made the common error of not being filmed in 3D and then hastily put together in post-production, resulting in a mess quite frankly.

I can see how films like My Bloody Valentine wanted 3D: it was a gimmick which added to the audience's fear, but if 3D adds nothing to the audience and nothing to the way in which the film is perceived then please just keep it in 2D! We don't have to see everything in 3D: I can just look around my 3-dimensional world for that thank you very much. When news came out this month that Harry Potter 7 could no longer be in 3D due to the tight editing schedule, was I the only who thought 'I really don't care!?' I've never watched the films and thought: 'these films need denser scripts, better acting but most importantly Harry's wand in my face.' Most people I talk to think the best thing about 3D films is getting the thick-rimmed glasses which you can then use for fancy dress nights, if only Hollywood agreed.

18 redbrickonline.co.uk

Redbrick

29th October 2010

Music

Tron: Legacy soundtrack to feature Daft Punk pitchfork.com/news

Album Reviews

Jukebox

Twin Shadow Forget William Franklin & Charlie Bailey Music Editors

Lloyd Banks – Start It Up (featuring Kanye West and Swizz Beatz) This is the third online leak from G-Unit graduate Lloyd Banks' upcoming album. The beats are pretty inconsequential but the wavering synth line and HansZimmer-crushing bass more than make up for that. Kanye more or less succeeds in stealing the show as he always does these days, by covering clothes, cougars and colonic irrigations.

Also, pyjamas.

James Blake – Limit To Your Love Opening with heart-rending vocals over Triple Velvet-soft piano the woozy dubstep bass that follows in ever-increasing waves is completely unexpected. Its ambient gems like this that have marked Blake out as an exceptionally exciting producer with diversity to spare. Look forward to the debut album.

Open Hand – Tough Girl Cruelly overlooked in this country, Californians Open Hand take the woozy desert rock template for psychedelia and make perfect pop songs from it. Imagine the blissed out cool bits of Queens of the Stone Age but with the rough edges still on. Somehow it all makes perfect sense.

Sly and the Family Stone – Family Affair Inimitably cool vocals from Sly Stone and his sister Rose detailing the highs and lows of family life, this track glides over low key funk bass and restrained keyboards. Marking a shift from a more soul influenced sound to the more stripped down approach, this is one of the best tracks from an artist whose influence can still be felt today Manchester Orchestra Wolves at Night

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Recent tour mates of Biffy Clyro, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia and named after the city that birthed Indie in the 80s, Manchester Orchestra bring a touch of melancholy to a track that soars, menaces and chugs along above some nice organ and guitar parts.

Check the whole album out, seriously worth it. email us: music@redbrickonline.co.uk

8

He might look like a hideous amalgamation of Pablo Escobar and Ben Esser but looks aren't everything, right? Straight away the debut from this Brooklyn-based soloist aims to please, opener 'Tyrant Destroyed' is a calming lo-fi pop affair, quietly churning with dystopian angst. But don't assume that mentality persists; the lyrics are as diverse as the sound.

'Shooting Holes At The Moon' is a retro-engine, seemingly powered by funk guitar and wobbling synths; but 'At My Heels' is rather more indie at heart, with a toetapping tambourine melody. This is an album that can't keep track of all its influences but stubbornly jams them in anyway. Look at 'Slow'; a grinding Morrissey-like lament or 'For Now' with its Depeche Mode styled pomp and circumstance.

It's lucky then that these various styles are handled with subtlety and tact, it gives 'Forget' a respectfully retrospective outlook but with the shear breadth of its influences it fails to achieve any uniformity. It feels a little confused and stretched, which holds it just short of being something very special indeed.

William Franklin

Destructors

The Meaning Of Life

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Peterborough' s punk veterans are back (once again), and it would seem the band have decided to get reflective with their new EP. Entitled 'The Meaning of Life', it provides a wealth of intriguing track names such as 'Life Aka S*** Filled Sewer'; if you've ever taken the time to trawl through their discography you would see this new record is no different.

Die-hard fans out there will be familiar with the galling riffs and banal lyricism, giving an indistinctive car-crash sound. The ideas on the EP are at the very least ludicrous. 'Know What I Mean' ironically seems void of any meaning, with 'don't you think I look like Steve McQueen?' lining the chorus in a piralling, almost nauseating melody.

Being my first sitting of Destructors, they get kudos for experience but maybe I'm just ignorant of their cause. They've been consistent with their sound and ethos over the years, that being said, this material leaves a lot to be desired; with every song following the same formula of turbulent rhythms and chords, it' s game to say that this EP lacks edge and, for that matter, identity.

Eleanor Smallwood

Everything Everything

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Dubbed by the Sunday Times as the 'British band most likely to deliver the first truly great debut album of 2010' and held in equally high regard by NME, it's apt to label Everything Everything a 'buzz band.'

It's unsurprising that debut album Man Alive has been awaited with anticipation; its content likely to either fade the band into obscurity like 75% of fellow buzz bands, or cement Everything Everything's place in contemporary British music… no big feat.

Today Pop is seen as a dirty word – it conjures images of X Factor champions or the Top 40s musical monopoly, which is why their debut is so important – it assists in the redefinition of Pop. Those familiar with Indie dance floor tracks will already be acquainted with single 'My Kz, Yr Bf' which showcases Spearman's borderline falsetto vocals, before exploding into avaricious synths with a constant yet unobtrusive bass line.

Everything Everything don't overdo it – synths, bass, guitars and vocals are expertly balanced to create songs that are accessible: Pop songs in a traditional sense of the word.

There are some obscurities to the album – 'NASA Is On Your Side' compromises the formula of the album in attempting to be the Everything Everything equivalent of a ballad and falling short.

Nevertheless, the obscure lyrics ('I am one with the furniture, more inanimate than amateur') and erratic vocals, combined with solid synth riffs of Man Alive suggest not just a buzz band but also the future face of British Pop music.

Amy Davidson

Man Alive

Pop is seen as a dirty word – it conjures images of X Factor champions or the Top 40 monopoly

Single Reviews

Essential Albums

Kele

On The Lam

Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)

Matthew Barton Critic

These days, the name Fleetwood Mac is usually used as a byword for smooth, dare-one-say bland American soft rock – but anyone who has listened to their records will know that blandness was never on the agenda (a run through 1979's Tusk will put paid to that theory.)

However, it's 1977's all-conquering AOR behemoth Rumours that elevated the then-latest Mac (they had undergone a plethora of befuddling line-up changes since their inception in 1967) from ambitious Anglo-Californian road dogs to Grammy-winning, cokesnorting rock royalty – courtesy of eleven finely-crafted and expertlyproduced songs of melodic beauty.

It's often the story that gets the most attention – two couples

#5 + two acrimonious splits = eleven songs about said acrimonious splits – and it's true that the Fleetwood Mac story reads like a soap opera, but it's the music that has lasted.

Lindsey Buckingham's Beach Boys obsession is borne out on the sunny harmonies of the deceptively joyful 'Second Hand News', while his 'Never Going Back Again' shines the spotlight on his intricate guitar work.

Christine McVie does bluesy shuffles ('Don't Stop') and lovelorn ballads ('Songbird') with equal aplomb, while Stevie Nicks adds her velvety vocals to the mellifluous 'Dreams' and spooky 'Gold Dust Woman' – all tied together by the unbreakable rhythm section of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.

Unfashionably smooth and sophisticated it may be, but you can't fault the endurance of these personal, timeless songs.

The Bloc Party frontman's new single 'On The Lam' is the third song released from his solo album The Boxer. At first both his vocals and music are indistinguishable as Kele's, however if you're a diehard Bloc Party fan you may be disappointed by the change. He'll be in Birmingham on the 15th November at the Institute Library, if you fancy hearing 'On The Lam' live.

Laura Schofield

The Count & Sinden feat. The Mystery Jets After Dark

Soaked in summer's hottest rays 'After Dark' is a scolding beaut of a summer anthem, perfect for reminiscing about the fading sunshine. Taken from The Count and Sinden's debut LP, Mega, Mega, Mega the track perfectly gouges it's own place into the dance scene by meshing together numerous genres. Its inflected with 80s Club Tropicana, its suitably electro and it will have you dancing 'til your legs ache.

So prepare to wave those hands in the air and praise the Sun Gods whilst singing 'ohhhhhhhh yeahhhhh'.

Katie Cattell

The Bluetones Golden Soul

The Blue Tones' single 'Golden Soul' is a warm, folky soft-rock song in the style of Paul Simon.

The melody is pleasing, the recording beautiful. It's friendly and it's likeable. Unfortunately, the chorus hook kills the music's momentum and is lyrically clumsy.

Music like this should keep itself simple, to be at its most effective. You wouldn't complain about having to listen to it, but it isn't really worth any financial investment.

Richard Warrell

Redbrick

Live Reviews Guns N' Roses LG Arena 17/10/2010

On a tour that has been fraught with late arrivals, broken curfews and mid-set tantrums 16,000 people knew they were in for a long night. Guns N' Roses were due to take to the stage at quarter to nine but nobody in the audience was naĂŻve enough to believe this would be the case. Half nine came and still no sign of the elusive Axl Rose and his band of cohorts. People in the crowd were beginning to get restless.

It wasn't until ten to ten (over one hour after they were due onstage) that Guns N' Roses made their appearance. Each band member made their individual entrance onstage whilst the music built up. Then there came the enigma, sauntering onto the stage in a trilby hat and whipping the crowd up into a fevered frenzy, W. Axl Rose.

Once the music had reached its crescendo and the fiery front man had unleashed his trademark wail all prior resentments due to any delays were long forgotten with the band tearing through the title track of their latest album Chinese Democracy.

What soon becomes obvious from watching Axl is that whilst he may be the butt of jokes within the music industry there is one thing that not even his most cynical critics can deny; that he is truly mesmerising. No other singer could snarl 'Welcome To The Jungle' with such venom, or have the range to growl 'You Could Be

Music 19

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – Charlie Bailey, William Franklin

Mine', the high, falsetto notes of new song 'This I Love', and still be able to deliver 'November Rain'.

Put simply, no other singer could do what Axl Rose does.

Classics such as 'It's So Easy', 'Rocket Queen', 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' have the LG Arena singing in unison, whilst new songs such as 'Shackler's Revenge' and 'Street Of Dreams' have them enraptured. Mix in cover's of AC/ DC's 'Whole Lotta Rosie' and Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2' and you have the ingredients for an amazing show. If you were to close your eyes for a second you'd be forgiven for believing that you were back in 1989. But for now anyway no one seems to mind that it isn't Slash noodling out those all-time classic guitar riffs, or Duff producing those rumbling bass lines, or Steven Adler on the drums. For now all that remains is Axl Rose (and keyboardist Dizzy Reed of course!), and with that people are content.

The appeal of Guns N' Roses today comes not from the focus of the new band members, but instead to witness the hype, the controversy and to be a part of it. To see if the rumours are true that Axl Rose can walk offstage at any given moment, and to see if he can live up to what he once was. My verdict is that he does so and more, still parading around with trademark swagger and bravado.

As the final notes of 'Paradise City' resonate around the arena one thing is clear: Guns N' Roses are still a forced to be reckoned with in the music industry.

Tom Byrne

Music Diary Marina and the Diamonds

29th-4th

Town Hall 23/10/2010

Diamond by name, diamond by nature, or show, as the case is!

The beautiful Marina Diamandis (where the stage name comes from) was this week named NME's 24th coolest person of the moment, and from her stage persona you can see it is a rank well earned.

She hit the stage at Birmingham's Town Hall dressed as an elegant Morticia Adams to a cavalcade of applause not usually experienced by such a new act; but there's a sense that Marina really means something to her fans, who seemed to span a bizarrely wide range of ages and social groups.

The stage was simple apart from a large screen, which throughout the show displayed a variety of short films, mainly to fill the gaps during costume changes, of which there were four.

The first of these was a clever hint towards the opening credits of the film Diamonds are Forever (of the James Bond series) and the rest were used to great effect to illustrate the songs. The films were an interesting and quirky additions to the show, however at some moments one did find themselves watching the screen rather than Marina, which really does seem a shame for such an enthusiastic and energetic performer.

Despite the simplicity of the stage, Marina and her Diamonds put on a real show, including many props such as balloons wrapped around her arms and a cap with

Friday 29th

Andreya Triana Hare and Hounds

Saturday 30th Seth Lakeman Town Hall

Micah P. Hinson O2 Academy 3 large feathers sticking out of the top, adding an extra dimension to the show. Not forgetting Marina herself and her incredible stage presence! Considering she's a musician with only one album to her name, thus far, it is surprising to see how confidently she controls the stage.

As a person Marina seemed genuinely humble to her fans, 'I'm Marina, and you are the Diamonds,' she said, gesturing to the audience. And her audience loves her back because she really seems to focus, through her music, on our celebrity and fame obsessed society, which she brilliantly mocks, especially in the song 'Hollywood'.

What is more she was able to do this in a way that wasn't at all patronizing or pretentious. All in all, a fantastic show, put on by a fantastic performer, Marina and the Diamonds simply sparkled and dazzled her audience, hopefully here is a performer who will be around for many years to come!

Robert Hanson & Laura Schofield

Sunday 31st

Youngblood Brass Band /Tempting Rosie Hare and Hounds The Have Nots, Slagerij And Advantage The Flapper

Tuesday 2nd I Blame Coco O2 Academy 2

Stornaway HMV Institute

Wednesday 3rd Foals O2 Academy

Mary J. Bilge LG Arena, NEC

Thursday 4th The Peacocks The Flapper

Andy White/Barry Hunt/Blain Weller Hare and Hounds

Spotlight On... Supersonic

Charlie Bailey ventured to the heart of deepest darkest Digbeth to bring you the new weird...

It's safe to say that Supersonic is not so much a festival as a celebration of everything interesting in music. That's not to say it's obtuse and inaccessible, rather that the music on show here is not straight forward and easy.

No pandering to the lowest common denominator here, no dumbing down (*cough* Download *cough*) and certainly nothing you could call 'popular' in that horrible overarching sense of the word applied to music. Instead what you have is three days of some of the UK, and the world's, most diverse artists brought together under one roof in the name of eclecticism and variety.

Friday sets the tone for the weekend by opening the Outside stage with Gum Takes Tooth. The London duo's percussive, and above all bassy sound mixes raw electronic noises with some suitably hypnotic drumming to great

effect, creating a heaving mass of sound.

Next up: Fukpig. With a name like that it's perhaps no surprise that their music is confrontational and difficult, but it's surprising just how nasty it can sound. This isn't experimental and pretentious, this is down and dirty, this is grindcore being played in its home town with Napalm Death still to grace the stage.

PCM were something different: drum and bass with an darker edge. Not the monstrosity that is dubstep's attempts to sound grimy; this is well crafted, inventive and above all atmospheric.

Last band on Friday are hometown heroes Napalm Death who suffered from bad sound at the start of the set, but quickly recovered to blow the audience away. Bringing out tracks from the breadth of their discography; from their debut album Scum to more recent offer-

ings like Smear Campaign, the set did a great job of integrating their older grind sound with their recent death-metal precision.

Saturday was a mixed bag. On the outside stage Tweak Bird put on one of the most enjoyable performances of the weekend, mixing downtuned fuzz guitar riffs and falsetto vocals with some excellent drumming and a saxophone. The result was something wonderful and bizarre that sounds like the love-child of King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man and Muse bass tone circa Origin of Symmetry. If that sounds obscene, that's because it was, but in a good way.

Headlining Space 2, even if not the last band of the night, Godflesh were a huge draw for a number of people, this being their first UK show in 10 years. Unfortunately with their vocals lost in the soupy sound, and the mix losing everything else but the industrial beat

from the drums, this was a lacklustre show with none of the vitality of other bands over the weekend.

The same cannot be said for Japanese band Melt Banana who closed the night on the Outside stage. Frontwoman Yasuko Onuki and guitarist Ichirou Agata were eventually joined by their bassist and drummer before launching into a set of high speed pop, noise rock and grindcore blasting that had the crowd moving instantly.

Festival fatigue set in on Sunday for this reviewer and meant a late start to critical proceedings.

Arriving in time to catch Japanese underground legends Zeni Geva was a sound move as it turned out.

The band suffered somewhat from technical issues but soldiered on to deliver a standout set that mixed math rock precision with a metal aggression to great effect.

Which brings things to Swans and the end of an hugely enjoyable

weekend. Reformed after 15 years of self-imposed inactivity they were understandably a huge coup for the organisers to pull off. However, whereas other bands over the weekend distanced themselves enough from traditional songwriting to excuse meandering song structure it became painfully apparent that whilst Swans' sound may have been revolutionary in the mid 80s, other bands have twisted it to much more satisfying ends.

Disappointments aside, it's fair to say that Capsule have built themselves a fantastic boutique festival in Birmingham that manages that tricky balancing act of variety and cohesive flow between acts. Putting on niche bands is usually a massive risk for promoters but the organisers seem to have found the perfect setting to showcase the best that the underground has to offer.

20 redbrickonline.co.uk

Lifestyle

29th October 2010

Redbrick

Fierce or Finished?

Catwalk Club Wear: The Unwritten Rules Vicky Hodgkinson Reporter

Birmingham's clubs offer a vast number of fashion opportunities.

Each club has an unspoken dress code. Here is a quick look at my understanding of what's what in club clobber.

Monday: Gatecrasher opened in the year of my fresher hood and I first graced the dance floor in a t-shirt with my name and course written on it and an ankle support – my early interpretation of being a fresher fashionista. Nowadays girls throw shapes in tiny skirts, playsuits, or dresses that should probably be tops and skyscraper heels. The typical female style for GC consists of body-con dresses, lace or acid bright tops, paired with the obligatory black tube skirt.

Tuesday: Subway City has amazing drinks offers and plays classic 90s pop. Your outfit must match the relaxed atmosphere and certainly must be a lot less sexy than your Gatecrasher ensemble.

Simplicity is key. Choose your fin-

est casual clothes and flat shoes to ensure you are pounding the dance floor and singing loudly until closing time.

Wednesday: Snobs will require you to be laid back and cool.

Girls and boys should squeeze on their skinny jeans, or this season's tapered trousers. Ladies, slip on a tight camisole, some statement earrings and heels. Make sure you don't care about the shoes too much because I guarantee they won't come up those Snob stairs looking the same as when they went in. For an effortless and obtainable look, tie your hair up off your face and

keep your make-up simple.

Thursday: Mechu, Jamhouse and Vodbull offer a multitude of fashion possibilities. The first two clubs allow the student body of Birmingham to showcase their finest shirts, ties and cocktail dresses.

In Oceana's Vodbull you should bear in mind you will be exposed to masses of people and temperatures hotter than your summer holiday, so something light and cool is recommended. A cute floral top and your standard tube skirt are favourable, or a plain jersey dress teamed with simple accessorised. That way when you escape from the ironically named 'Ice Room' you can go and recline in the 'Boudoir' to wipe the sweat from your brow while remaining the right side of chic.

Friday: Digbeth, HMV, The Rainbow, The Custard Factory basically the whole area demands retro chic. You want to look like you rifled through Cow and combined your bargain buys with finds from your mother's, father's and possibly even grandparent's attic. FYI, it

Fierce has to look effortless, even though it took you about three hours to assemble your outfit and backcomb your hair. Ankle boots are a good idea to protect your feet. I was once seen to be wondering around Rainbow, shoes in hand. My final analysis of that? Bad idea. Don't be foolish and try and cram your foot into an outrageously narrow vintage heel.

Saturday: Fab 'n' Fresh has transformed since the Guild's makeover and UoB students have taken this renovation on themselves. Once it was deemed acceptable to rock up in pretty much what you had worn during the day, but now everyone seems to don their Gatecrasher clothes. Calm down!

Our loans don't stretch to three different outfits a week.

As my friend once said, 'Fab? It's a t-shirt and flip flop night!'

Whilst he is so laid back we virtually have to stretcher him to Joe's, the dress code is casual and always should be. Put down the sparkling earrings and invest in some relaxed outfits.

Health Feeling SAD this semester?

Lara Edwards Reporter

Glancing at the symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), you could easily brush it off as being a gimmick, used by people who simply do not want to get out of bed on a chilly Monday morning. It is often laughed off as one of those fake medical problems such as man flu or sex addiction. In fact you could be forgiven in thinking that every student is a SAD sufferer – with some of the key symptoms being lethargy, lack of concentration and over eating – sounds like a typical Sunday morning after FAB, right?

All joking aside, SAD is a serious mental condition caused by a biochemical imbalance in the brain during the winter months. It completely inhibits the daily lives of 7 per cent of the UK population with a further 17 per cent suffering from it to a lesser extent.

People who are mentally stable during the spring and summer months plunge into a deep depression as the days grow shorter and they are less exposed to sunlight.

Without treatment sufferers are

often incapacitated and can't leave their homes, with more severe symptoms like depression, social problems and (god forbid) lack of libido stunting their everyday lives and relationships.

Although SAD can affect anyone, students are particularly at risk. Selly Oak in all its beauty is the sort of environment where SAD can flourish – freezing, dingy accommodation, minimal greenery and open spaces and a multitude of fast food places and pubs. Students are much more likely to waste an

afternoon in The Gunnies than go for a walk in Selly Park. Furthermore, Birmingham's weather is never going to rival that of LA's so steps must be taken to stop students feeling blue as the weather becomes increasingly dreary and the colder months draw in.

The three main types of treatment recommended by the NHS are light therapy, psychosocial treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy and finally the use of anti-depressants. Last night's leftover pizza and X Factor re-runs do not suffice as treatments! Having said that light therapy doesn't do a lot to combat the belief that SAD is pseudo illness as the treatment is administered through the patient sitting in front of, or under a light box or alternatively wearing a hat that emits light. The aim of light therapy is to increase the production of serotonin in the brain and reduce the production of melatonin, simulating the effects of exposure to sunlight that the sufferer is lacking and subsequently decreasing the symptoms of SAD. It doesn't sound like a particularly reliable treatment; however, light

boxes in the form of a desk lamp can be purchased from many leading retailers and anecdotal evidence suggests they can diminish the symptoms of SAD significantly.

A course of cognitive behavioural therapy encourages the sufferer to consider why they see themselves and the world in a certain way and address how their actions are affecting their emotions and thoughts. This treatment is also used for other types of depression, eating disorders and drug misuse.

SAD is often overlooked as a mental disorder, admittedly some would say with reason, but even if you don't take it seriously and are not one of the 7 per cent who suffer frommit severely you may be one of the 17 per cent of mild sufferers.

You may not need a course of cognitive behavioural therapy, but as I mentioned previously lethargy, over sleeping and over eating are key symptoms so maybe consider getting yourself a light therapy lamp or even just drag yourself out of bed and go for a walk – it could do wonders for your state of mind.

movement, it didn't seem quite the bargain it first appeared. Oh, and our favourite part? We looked like we were wearing a dressing gown.

Not cool. Overall rating: 5/10 River Island – price: £59.99.

Loved it! Reasonable price, both practical, warm and high fashion, how can you go wrong? Overall rating: 9/10 Topshop – price: £75.00. We loved the gorgeous navy colour of this coat, and the cute duffle-coat style toggles were a definite plus!

However, the arm holes were way too big. Though the toggles looked great they came undone the second we put it on. Luckily the poppers stopped this being a major issue.

Overall rating: 7/10 Ralph Lauren – price: £150.00.

If you've got the money, this cape is definitely worth the money. It's wrap-around style, and understated buckle at the neck makes it both classy and sophisticated. On the body the cape felt like we were enveloped in a blanket, an amazing pairing of both comfort and style.

This cape is a true investment piece which in some ways justifies the hefty price tag that accompanies it. Overall rating: 9/10 Our overall favourite was River Island's grey, wollen cape as it ticks all the boxes, but if you've got the money Ralph Lauren's interpretation of the trend is definitely worth the money.

So this week it's up to you, you can either save or splurge and still get the perfect winter cape. Result!

Save or Splurge? The Cape Emma Desbruslais and Lauren Russell Reporters

So until this season, when faced with the concept of a cape, we immediately thought of superheroes and dressing up boxes. But with capes featuring heavily in the 2010 winter collections, there is really no doubt, if you want to stay up to date this season get a cape.

So, we've checked out capes ranging from High Street to High End and given our views and rating on them to help give you an idea as to which cape to opt for.

Primark – price: £25.00 Seems a good buy at first, but when we tried this on and realised the sleeves were sewn to the sides of

the coat, and that as well as the batwing appearance we assumed, we were ridiculously restricted in our

Winter woollies When it's so, so cold outside we can still be all snugly and warm, wrapped up in our toasty and ever so stylish knits.

Pop boys' makeovers Mark Ronson's blond hair / Cee-lo Green's pink suit – completely rocking their new, fierce styles.

Halloween An excuse to dress up as sexily/scarily or childishly as we want, scoff bucket loads of sweets and squeal at scary films.

Good times.

True Beauty A shamelessly addictive American TV show, in which a group of self-confessed 'beautiful people' have their inner beauty tested. Moral dilemmas and definite OMG moments result.

Free stuff with magazines Guiltlessly spending those few pounds on that glossy mag justified by the free stuff = epic win.

Woo – Woo Cocktails Definitely time to opt for this concotion of cranberry, vodka and peach schnapps. We absolutely love this summery cocktail!

Finished Unexpected Celebrity Design Lines Absolutely adore Pete Doherty's lyrical genius, but Albion Trinketry – his own jewellery range? Times must be hard Pete.

Diets So hard to maintain the Lean and Clean when Birmingham's getting colder and Chocolate Digestives are essential with a cup of tea.

Jimmy Choo Uggs Studs, stars, fringing combined with suede and sheepskin – all a bit too tacky and not worth an eye watering £500!

X Factor Politics The judges seem to be getting snappier with each other every week and since when was Simon Cowell the 'nice one'?

Good manicures Chipped nail varnish shouldn't look so good.

Yet with salons offering Vogue editor-esque messy manicures and Barry M's affordable new instant nail effects varnish, we finally have a reason for our nails not being immaculate!

Leather Shorts Uncomfortable, reminds us of lederhosen and squeaks whilst walking. Not loving this trend.

Blandness Yes, nude tones are beautiful and suit every skin tone but do we all need to succumb to the same beige/tan/camel/blah palette? lifestyle@redbrickonline. co.uk

Redbrick

Issue Guilt-free bitching?

Rosie Hatch

Bitching is without a doubt one of lives greatest (and guiltiest) pleasures. Your reasons may be unfounded and your remarks wholly untrue but who cares? It makes you feel better, gives your friends a laugh and your victim is none the wiser. Everyone's a winner.

The people is it best to bitch about are those you don't know, and who more than probably have never heard of you. I know you're thinking this sounds harsh, but this is guilt-free bitching! Discover the guy you have a crush on has a girlfriend? He's only with her because she's a slut, don't worry. A girl in your seminar wearing the same top? Hoe-bag. How dare she.

See? It feels good and lack of emotional attachment to these people means you don't need to feel bad!

Bitching about friends is a little trickier. You can wind up feeling awful or with everyone else thinking you're a mean person, even though you know you're not. A top

tip is to assess the situation in your head first. Are the people you're about to share with likely to share your gripes? If so, why haven't you done this sooner? However, if you're about to share with Miss/ Mr Nicer-Than-Pie then you might want to bite your tongue. They may be ridiculously pleasant but I'm willing to bet they'll still (silently) judge you for letting loose on someone for There is a time, however, when is universally accepted that bitching is 100% acceptable. Bad dressing. Someone turns up to lecture

Fashion Vintage Brum in a bright orange fleece and you and your friends can have a giggle knowing that everyone else in the room feels exactly the same way.

If your friend is the one making a style faux-pas then you need to be more tactful. As a general rule, if you're in the changing rooms then give it your best shot – you don't want to risk other people bitching about your friend. But once she owns the item, keep your mouth shut (at least to her face!). No-one likes to hear that the dress they just dropped £50 on makes them look 50lbs heavier. If she loves it, you love it.

Yes, I admit sometimes I could give Regina George a run for her money but I like to think I know when to draw the line. And when it emerges that I don't I assure you my friends are quick to point this out to me, I've been left with a guilty feeling in my stomach a couple of times. Bitching is a fine art that will undoubtedly take a lifetime to hone but you'll have a lot of fun doing so.

Debate Diva Fever? Great or 'Gay'?

Rosie Collins and Rob Lewis discuss the controversial X-Factor contestants I would've voted for a brooding the wildest I've been to, it must male singer like Matt Cardle or be said. As the assembled group Aiden Grimshaw. But Diva Fever of gays grudigingly sat down in are infectious, and totally differ- appreciation of la Cheryl's eyeent from anyone else in the com- lashes, we were confronted with petition. They're like Jedward, but Diva Fever's badly applied St Trothey can actually sing. pez and over plucked brows. I'm It's a shame however that the thinking this isn't what I ordered. question on everyone's lips doesn't Silence descended as the diverish concern Diva Fever as perform- duo murdered their song and acers – instead, it asks whether or companying dance routine. Still not the duo are gay and in a rela- silence. tionship together. Quite frankly, That said, I could almost hear it shouldn't matter. The X-Factor the catty cogs turning in people's is meant to be about talent and heads as they attempted to think entertainment, not about stereo- of something vile to say. Admittypes. The cheeky but charming, tedly I was scanning my repertoire overly camp style is what sets Diva in the hope of outdoing a room full Fever apart from the rest. Person- of jaded bitter and quite possibly ally, I think they give Cheryl and sex starved queens in the bitchDannii a run for their money in ing stakes, but was sadly beaten the fashion stakes. by a fellow anti-fan's acerbic line, Forget the speculation over 'GOD, you'd wear something othDiva Fever's sexuality, forget the er than River Island for your apfact they're a product of Cowell's pearance on national television commercial empire, and focus wouldn't you?', followed by the on what matters – these are two obligatory 'Look at the fat one!'.

Camp it up! boys designed for pure entertain- We all laughed and duly switched What were the judges think- ment. All I hope now is that Diva the talentless girls off. ing choosing bland girl group Belle Fever goes on to prove their critics On thinking about the night I Amie over camp duo Diva Fever wrong. Hey, they may well be the thought to myself; whatever hapon Sunday's X – Factor? Sure, next Wham! pened to supporting the sisterDiva Fever weren't the strongest hood? These boys are having fun singers in the competition, but and can probably hold a note betGet them off! they were certainly the most enter than Dannii, despite Put The tertaining. Whilst Belle Amie cried Needle On It, being an all time and squabbled their way through I'm not a fan of Diva Fever and favourite. the audition process, Diva Fever until quite recently wouldn't have So why did we all HATE them? pulled out all the stops with a been able to give an explanation The only reason I can think of is number of crowd pleasing perfor- for my opinion that didn't contain fear. When we saw Diva Fever's mances that could easily compete a rather blunt expletive. But see- flamboyant and unashamedly with some of the best pop from the ing as our most prominent arbi- camp act we all in some way saw 80s. And, my god, they were the ters of musical talent; Chezza et al, ourselves. It's an unspoken gay only act who remembered to have thought Diva Fever entertaining rule that you must do your utmost fun themselves! Take note Belle enough to give them the chance to to suppress your innate campness Amie, it's not hard to crack a smile injure the ears and quite possibly and act cool, butch or whatever every now and then. the mental health of a prime time aslong as it's doesn't scream 'I was From the moment the boys television audience, I felt it my born to walk Kylie's poodle'. bounded onto the stage in their duty as a homo to consider my reThis is a sad fact of my gay very first audition and belted out action to their talents a little more life. Maybe I should take a leaf out Tina Turner's 'Proud Mary', I was deeply than I had originally. of Diva's book and double dip myhooked. To be a fan of a pair as At a party recently the host self in creosote and start gyrating brash as Diva Fever is not normal- thought it a good idea to force ev- to Barbara Streisand, maybe I'd ly my style – in previous years eryone to watch the X Factor au- have more fun? Maybe not. ditions, the party wasn't exactly Blog of the week: Book of the week:

girlstalkinsmack.com

Where gossip junkies get their fix.

Truth be told we just the love the name. It almost gives our addiction to gossip blogs a ghetto edge, ya get me?

Lifestyle 21

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – Briony Singh, Rob Lewis

The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks Not a new book, but a great one.

Seriously messed up and dark.

And has the best ending to a book I've ever read.

Ida Sundstrom

Have you ever visited a second hand shop, a charity shop or a vintage store? If you haven't, it's about time you did! With the opening of our very own vintage store on campus there are no excuses not to.

Vintage usually refers to clothes that are of 25 years or older, however it being in such popular demand nowadays, the line between what's vintage and what's not is blurred. Vintage/ second-hand shopping is different in comparison to going to regular high street stores. It takes time, patience and a genuine curiosity for fashion. Rummaging through the stores can be quite the treasure hunt. Sometimes you will go home empty handed, but maybe you will leave with the luckiest of finds.

Speaking of which, I spotted a vintage Burberry dress the other day for £20! Now that's a steal. This is what makes vintage shopping fantastic; the quality you want together with a cheap price tag.

Have a look at the autumn shows of Chloé or an episode of Mad Men and you will get an idea of what the dominant trends are this autumn. For the ladies it is the clean cut, minimalistic look or reinterpretation of 60s styling and shapes. You might want to look out for beautifully crafted dresses, skirt suits, trousers that make your legs look a mile long, silk blouses, capes and coats.

For the guys there is also the Mad Men look: suits, smart shirts and frock coats. However there is also the rough autumnal look of thick, bulky jumpers, denim shirts (paired with jeans), plaid shirts and boots worn together with a leather or military jacket.

Vintage or second-hand finds add the quirky and unique bits to your wardrobe that are less likely to be worn by anyone else but you.

The key to shopping vintage is to try new things, push your shopping habits, step out of your comfort zone and try everything on.

Still not convinced? Check out Lily Allen's new vintage boutique 'Lucy in Disguise' – the hand picked designer pieces are to die for.

Culture Electric Shock

Geraldine Tovey Do you ever think that you don't really see as much of Birmingham as you should? I certainly do. We have the pleasure of living in the second city and yet apart from Uni, Broad Street and the Bull Ring I rarely see anything that this remarkable place has to offer. Recently I have been striving to see something more, to not do the easy, generic activities that Birmingham has to offer and instead to do something else, something different.

Going to the cinema doesn't sound too off the beaten track, but it really depends which cinema you choose. The standard affair is to go to Cineworld have a huge bucket of popcorn and sit in front of an even bigger screen. I am happy to switch my off and become absorbed in a slushy rom-com. But is this commercialised experience satisfying enough?

On our doorsteps (ok, a ten minute train away) is the oldest working cinema in the UK: The Electric Cinema, just a short walk away from New St Station. As well as offering many mainstream films it also plays independent films that would not necessarily be shown at your local Odeon. I recently visited to go see The Social Network, aka

Facebook: The Movie. Aside from it being a very good film, I was also blown away by the uniqueness of the picture-house itself. The architecture is simply stunning with the art-deco features completely preserved. Stepping inside the building is like stepping back in time, to an era before mobile phones, 24 hour news, and way before Facebook was invented.

The screens may be smaller than most and some of the sofas may be a bit worn-in, but the atmosphere inside is incredible and tangible.

And I assure you, those seats are damned comfy! My sceptical friends who I had to drag along also enjoyed it and assured me that we would go back again.

The Electric is also not as expensive as you may fear, with a student ticket being £4.50. The food is lovely as well. I got a thrill out of buying a cup of tea and olives to munch on during the film. Waiter service is also available for anyone that wants it!

If you would like to make your cinema trip a little more sophisticated there is a bar next to the main desk to grab a glass of wine or whatever tipple you like. The food isn't terribly cheap but not ridiculously overpriced either, especially in comparison to the usual £4 or £5 it is for a bucket of popcorn or nachos. However be warned about buying soft drinks, they are extortionate!

Going to the Electric Cinema reminded me that going to see a film should be an event, not something to do on a rainy afternoon.

Unlike television, which you can watch from the comfort of your own home, the silver screen is meant to be anticipated and treated with respect. What is so unique about the Electric is that it almost commands admiration. I promise anyone who goes to visit on my recommendation will have a good time, even if the film is pants! Lifestyle loves the The Electric.

22 redbrickonline.

Redbrick Editors – Dami Olugbode, Harriet Constable

29th October 2010

Food

Student Beans offers £10 0ff your Tesco grocery order for a limited time only Every little really does help!

Plane Food is Plain Bad

How to avoid a hangover...

Critic Vicky Hodgkinson dishes the dirt on flying food

Hangover cures; we all know the obvious ones. A huge meal and a sizeable glass of milk before you go out - simple. And then you wake up the next day...

Rachel Johnston advises us on some student hangover cures that will leave you feeling perky the morning after.

Been abroad this summer? Going away at Christmas? Don't forget to buy a sandwich before you fly… I abhor aeroplane food. It disgusts me more than pot noodles and Rooster House before 2am. Ever since I can remember, plane food has been my nemesis. Even as I sit here typing I begin to feel queasy.

As soon as I set foot onboard a flight, I smell them. Those dastardly bread rolls. Those little round beggars get me every time.

I don't know how you make bread rolls smell like that, but it makes me gag. I thought fresh bread was supposed to be one of those stereotypically delightful, homely smells?

Not on a plane my friends… no, no.

Picture this: you are twenty minutes into your flight and the air steward pops those little round balls of horror into the microwave oven. The cabin air is thus corrupted. Then, depending on how long your flight is, the first meal goes in. Apologies, by 'meal' I

mean 'egregious excuse for food'.

Then, said meal is wheeled before you (you are in economy class by the way). The trolley invades your personal space and the air steward looks down at you and says, 'Meat, chicken or vegetarian?'

Reader, do not be fooled, do not enquire as to how the 'meat' has been cooked. The majority of aeroplane food has been minced,

I have never smelt, seen, or sampled such a thing in all my life. diced or mashed, then cooked at temperatures higher than your altitude. You also get a range of delightful sides; a little block of cheese (that has the consistency of rubber), crackers, an ersatz looking – and tasting – dessert, and if you are extremely lucky, a small

branded chocolate snack. As a child I would gorge on said fun-size bar and would beg for donations from my mother and father who would bravely soldier on and eat from their tray of torture.

On one occasion I was flying back from Canada, aged ten. I decided, in my naïve youth, to choose the children's option, in the hope I may be served chicken nuggets and chips i.e. food you cannot murder.

Instead, I was served a burger. If I ever need to cry on demand (and I occasionally do), this is the memory I think back to. I stuck my investigative plastic fork into the bread roll which immediately pinged back at me. The bread, and burger, were rock hard. I have never smelt, seen, or sampled such a thing in all my life. On this occasion I pulled the complimentary blanket up to my shoulders, put my ear phones in and closed my eyes. This is now the tactic I always engage whenever I know aeroplane food is impending; sleep and survive.

Table Talk

Sophie Pryn divulges the beauty of table dining.

I had lovingly toiled over my butternut squash risotto for a good 45 minutes and yet here I was, slumped over, plate in lap, watching X Factor.

I looked around. My house mates and I sat eyes glazed, mechanically shovelling food from plate to mouth as if it were no more than a hastily prepared microwave meal.

It seemed we were far more interested in Cher Lloyd's inexcus-

ably make-up-caked-face than the food I had so lovingly prepared. It was at this point that I fell into a flump of despond.

The following weekend I was sitting around the dining table at my family home, reminiscing over a rather uncomfortable family christening we had attended that morning. This, you understand, is inevitable when your eightysomething year old Grandfather gets remarried to an eighty-something year old harpy.

Having finished Mum's Sunday Roast half an hour or so before, we remained seated, chatting over the piled plates and debris, satisfyingly full and entertained by the conversation alone.

There was a lull in the banter and suddenly it dawned on me, that mysterious entity that had been missing from my University life was not unattainable or complex. Indeed, it was nothing more

than a dining table!

After this startling epiphany, my housemates and I procured a cheap fold away table and the difference to mealtimes is uncanny.

The table, we realise, is a place to catch up with friends, to find out how that dreaded dissertation is going or what scandals occurred the night before. It is a simple piece of furniture that allows you to eat and love food, and doesn't have to be an expensive venture.

Sit around the coffee table on the floor, Japanese style, if you're lacking space or money. Consider the pounds you'll save if you all chip in to cook one big meal all together, like a family.

So, abandon TV meals and rekindle the British love affair with the table. Talk to one another. Appreciate that risotto or, heaven forbid, that cheese on toast, and I dare say you'll feel a great deal better.

Do's

Don'ts

· Eat some marmite toast. Having something in your stomach is essential when suffering from a hangover. Plus you get a Vitamin B top up too!

· Avoid taking Painkillers. They put even more strain on the liver and can irritate the stomach.

· Drink Berocca in a pint of water.

A boost of Vitamin B before bed will weaken the blow the morning after!

· Stay clear of Caffeine. It is a dehydrator, just like alcohol.

· Drink Ginger or Peppermint tea.

· Eat snacks. Comfort food won't seem so comforting when you're throwing up your guts...

· Exercise. Go for a run or power walk, I promise the result is worth the dire prospect.

· Don't take another trip down yesterday's lane. (i.e. drink more alcohol) It just delays the inevitable!

Student Shop Harborne Market If there's one thing students don't get enough of, it's the hearty home comfort of a Sunday roast. However, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that supermarket basic ranges don't quite match up to the components of your usual, homemade family affair.

If roast battery chickens on Sunday afternoon aren't your thing then I have the student friendly solution. Every second Saturday of the month, Harborne high street hosts a local and organic farmers market to provide you with the freshest and tastiest ingredients for a perfect Sunday roast.

I'm aware that many of us associate farmer's markets with the best but the priciest foods, yet there are ways students can still shop for the best, on the cheap.

If some of you favour a good bit of beef on a Sunday, then ask the butcher for a top round roast, which is one of cheapest cuts you can get for roasting without losing out on taste. With the best meat also comes the best gravy, just pour some red wine leftover from last night into the meat juices for gravy that would make Grandma proud.

Instead of dragging a great bag of potatoes home from Aldi, a feat which is uneconomical as

well as tiring, all of the fresh organic veg from the market can be bought loose. This is especially handy when you're cooking for just yourself or small groups; our cupboards seem to be full of half used bags of sprouting potatoes which is definitely not cost effective.

So, on the second Saturday of the month, between 9am and 2pm, get yourself and your friends down to Harborne for an outdoor food shopping experience. Relish in the sights and smells of some of the best produce Birmingham has to offer, support your local community and make sure you're student Sunday roast is a good 'un!

Rosie Adams

Bored of the usual beans on toast or bland pot noodle?

On the look out for some new, tasty meals to try out for Halloween? Turn over to view some spooky recipes made to ensure you have the Ultimate Spooky Feast.

Also, check out www.redbrickonline.co.uk for more student - proof recipes that you can try at home.

Redbrick

Editors – Harriet Constable, Dami Olugbode

Food 23

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

The ultimate Halloween Feast

Starter : Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients: 1 large Pumpkin 1 onion 3 mid-sized potatoes 1 litre of vegetable stock 500ml of semi-skimmed milk 1 heaped teaspoon of curry powder

James Morrison Food Writer

This last week, I have really felt the winter nights start to draw in; thinking only of the long cold spells ahead, while I reluctantly reach out for my duffle coat and scarf. However, all is not lost, as in times like these there is nothing better than a hearty soup to warm the body and mind.

This spicy pumpkin soup will ensure any Halloween dinner party gets off to one flying start, providing a focal point to your kitchen table which your guests are sure not to forget in a hurry.

1. Slice off the top third of the pumpkin and set aside. With a spoon, scoop-out the seeds and fibres from the middle and discard.

2. Using a sharp knife and spoon, carefully hollow out the pumpkin, removing the flesh and setting aside. (It is really impotant that you do not cut right up to the inside of the skin or pierce it – aim to leave 2cm of flesh all around the inside.) Then roughly chop the scooped-out pumpkin.

3. Chop the onion finely and fry gently in a large saucepan with some oil or butter for 5 minutes, until softened.

4. Chop the potatoes into rough chunks and, along with the pumpkin, add to the onions. Then take one heaped teaspoon of curry powder and add to the saucepan, stirring into the vegetables. Continue to fry the ingredients for a further 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid them sticking to the bottom of the pan.

5. Dilute the stock cube with boiling water; make up to a litre and add to the saucepan. Turn up the heat and allow the stock to come to the boil, before reducing the heat to simmer. Cover and leave to cook for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked through.

6. Once cooked, take the saucepan off the heat and allow the contents to cool slightly. Then add the milk, before blending till smooth (you can either transfer the contents to a food processor, or use a hand-held).

7. Around 30 mins before serv-

Main Ghoul-ash

ing, set the oven to gas mark 3.

Pour the soup into the body of the pumpkin and place in the oven to war.

Halloween Cocktail: Dark and Spooky

With Halloween fast approaching, what better way to keep your party frightfully entertaining than with a creepy cocktail?

By adding a splash of vodka and some raspberry sorbet, you can turn any old juice into a fangtastic blood curdling drink. Here are some quick and easy cocktail recipes for that Halloween party soiree to keep the party going until the wolf cries! Enjoy!

Dark and Spooky Juice of 1 lime, plus 1 lime wedge 1/4 cup dark rum 1/4 cup ginger beer or ginger ale 1 black gummy spider

Rosie Adams Food Writer

The ideal addition to any Halloween weekend meal, it not only has a great name but it's so cheap and easy to make!

Ingredients for 8 people 450g of stewing beef chunks 2 onions chopped 2 red peppers deseeded and chopped 2 green peppers deseeded and chopped

Chuck all the ingredients into a cup with lots of ice, stir and garnish with gummy spiders and eyeball-like lychee fruit.

50g butter 6tsp paprika 400ml beef stock

If you've got a bit more time on your hands, try this delicious drink which will have your guests "oohhhing and aaahhhing" at the special effects. Halloween eat your heart out.

4tbsp tomato puree Warm some olive oil in a frying pan and brown off the chunks of beef, whilst in a separate pan colour the chopped onions and peppers in the butter and season with salt and pepper. Then combine the beef and vegetables in a large pan, then add the tomato puree, beef stock and paprika to the pan and bring to the boil.

Written by James Morrison

Dessert: Death by Chocolate Rosie Adams Food Writer

No tricks needed to make this treat!

This spookishly easy chocolate mousse serves 8, and is a perfect finish to your Halloween dinner.

Ingredients 200g dark chocolate (70% coco solids) of any quality, basics or luxury would work well with this recipe, depending on your budget!

600ml of double cream 2 large egg whites 100g of caster sugar

Firstly, heat half of the cream in a pan until it begins to boil, then add the dark chocolate in small chunks and stir until all the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.

Then remove pan from the heat and pour the sauce into a bowl.

Once the sauce has slightly cooled, add the rest of the cream and beat to soft peaks, by hand or with an electric whisk if you're lucky!

Then, in a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks, then gradually add the sugar and continue whisking to a soft meringue.

Fold this meringue mixture into the chocolate mix, and then you're done! The great thing about the recipe is that you can chill the

mousse in any glasses you have lying around your cupboards, be it in a pint or wine glass it'll still taste great!

To add a devilish Halloween twist to your mousse, buy a bag of frozen mixed red berries, you can't go wrong with Sainsbury's basics at £1 a bag, and leave out to defrost.

Once the fruit is at room temperature, crush with the back of a spoon or fork and you should be left with a bright red syrupy pulp.

Then, just before serving, spoon the crushed berries on to the top of the mousse for maximum bloody effect!

Email your experiences at: food@redbrickonline.co.uk

Spooky Fact: 'The record for the world's biggest pumpkin was broken earlier this month by one Chris Stevens of the United States. The beast weighed in at over 129 Stone. . . just imagine the lantern you could make out of that!'

24 redbrickonline.co.uk

Redbrick

29th October 2010

Sport

Men's football prove to be Birmingham's true comeback kids > Page 26

Hazel's Indian summer

Birmingham's very own Commonwealth Games gold medallist Louise Hazel tells Redbrick Sport what it was like to be crowned champion, her journey to the top and her goals as London 2012 approaches Peter Whitehouse Sport Reporter

Louise Hazel travelled to Delhi as a virtually unknown English hope, who had been dwindling in the shadow of British and world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis at previous championships. In her absence however, Hazel more than carried the mantle for England by producing stunning lifetime best performances over various disciplines to thrust her towards the gold medal. In an emphatic finish, Hazel held off the challenge of Canadian Zelinka over the 800 metres to claim the title. I caught up with Hazel on her return to Birmingham to see how life has changed since she became a national icon.

Q. Could you describe the feeling as you crossed the line after the last event, the 800 metres; did you know that you had won?

A. YES! There was no doubt in my mind, even before the 800 metres that I was going to win the title, but I think the main thing that went through my mind was how I was going to react. Throughout the whole competition and before it I really felt that this was my chance to shine! When I crossed the line I thought of my father who sadly passed away. He absolutely lived for my athletics and it was a real shame that on the day that I chose to shine he wasn't there. But I know deep down he would have been really proud. On the other hand, I had gone and won a Commonwealth gold medal! All of my dreams came true and it was such a surreal experience. You know you have the potential and self-belief to do it, but when it actually happens it takes you by shock!

Q. Did you think you had a chance of winning?

Back to reality: Hazel shows off her bling in Brum Tom Flathers

All about heptathlon For those of you who don't know what the heptathlon is, it is made up of seven events which include the 100 metre hurdles, the high jump, shot putt, the 200 metres, the long jump, javelin throw and finally the 800 metres. It is a grinding event to really challenge the athletes to prove who is the best all-round athlete in the sport.

Hazel is another in a long line of British heptathlon talent. In the Sydney Olympics of 2000, Denise Lewis began an era of British dominance, claiming an historic Olympic gold across the seven events. This was followed first

by Kelly Sotherton, who claimed gold in the 2006 Commonwealth Games before Hazel's current rival Jessica Ennis took World Championship gold in 2009. The future certainly looks bright with Hazel and Ennis going head-to-head.

A. I thought I had good medal chances and realistically I hoped for a bronze medal. But it wasn't until I completed the training camp that I felt really springy and ready to compete. I was focused! It was when I ran a personal best in the first event, the100 metre hurdles that I realised 'OK, now is the time to strike'.

Q. Since you won the Commonwealth Games, how has your life changed?

A. It has been hectic! My phone has been ringing all the time, 24/7 from friends, family, media; I had about 200 messages and gained about 200 friends on twitter! There have been so many messages of congratulations from all sorts of different people. It is phenomenal. In terms of appearances I don't want to come down from the experience but I know that I need to get my feet back on the ground and get focused on the job in hand, which is to get ready for next season and for the Olympics! I love the fact that when you're out there you don't think anyone is actually watching.

So when you come home it is then that you realise 'Oh my goodness, I have been in national newspapers'; it is really surreal and it is really utterly life changing.

Q. Obviously there was a lot of negative talk in the press about the Commonwealth Games for various different reasons such as the accommodation, security, illness and the fact that India was generally unprepared. What was your view on it all?

V for Victory: Hazel celebrates after the 800m that secured her title in Delhi A. If I had to rate the games in India as a whole, I would give it an 8 out of 10. The accommodation was good enough. The food was good; a big selection and there were plenty of things to eat. Transport was very good and the security was exceptional. The thing that made up for it was the people. They were so encouraging in the stadium and they just couldn't do enough for you, they were so welcoming.

Q. So all blown out of proportion in the media then?

A. Yes, absolutely.

Q. How do you compare the Commonwealth Games to other major championships such as the Olympics and the World Championships? Is it still important?

A. This year, many athletes stayed at home and I think that was based on rumours that weren't completely accurate. It was good, few people got ill as we were given cautions before we went out. We knew that humidity was going to be an issue, but that can happen anywhere and it's our job to prepare for that. The main thing that people weren't attracted to was the timing of the games; people want to go on holiday. In terms of preparation for the London Olympics, it gives you an extra footing on the ladder and it is a great experience for developing athletes.

Q. One thing that I really wanted to ask you was; why did you choose Birmingham over Loughborough?

A. I am a big city girl at heart! Also I didn't like the idea of being in with the clique (being around the exclusive Loughborough athlete crowd) and just being someone to make up the numbers. Mainly though I picked Birmingham because of its academics, I thought I am more likely to learn French if I go to Birmingham and I will get a better education there on top of carrying on with my sport. Also on top of this the facilities in Birmingham and the sponsorship are excellent.

Q. How do you manage to fit everything in? How did you manage fitting your academic life in, your athletics and your social life?

A. Weekly planners! They are the only thing that got me through university because I jotted down what I was doing every hour of every day, so I knew what appointments I had. You can pick up a student

Hazel's Fact File Age 25 Hometown All over the place, South London, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire and now Birmingham Degree French Studies Halls of residence Douper Hall Biggest Inspiration Denise Lewis Current job Birmingham University sports scholarship assistant and mentor

Getty Images

planner from the Munrow sports office!

Q. Former Olympic heptathlon champion, Denise Lewis commented after you won gold at the Commonwealths that if you could really improve one or two events, you really have a chance of medaling at the Olympics in 2012.

How do you react to this statement?

A. To a certain extent I think she's right. If I improved marginally, for example 10 cm in the high jump I could make the top eight. If I could improve my 800m then I would place higher as well. So there is still so much more I can give across all the events. I need to focus on a couple to maximise my chances.

Q. Can you beat Jessica Ennis?

A. Even Usain Bolt said that he isn't unbeatable. If we are both at our peak, we will come close in a few events! We have a really nice rivalry between us, but I think that she can sleep tight for the next year or so!

It was a great honour to meet Louise both before and after her Commonwealth triumph. Winning a major championship does indeed have a way of transforming a person's life in a way in which they become a cut above mere mortals.

But in this case I think that both of Louise's feet are firmly on the ground. Hopefully she will continue to inspire Birmingham students at the London Olympics and beyond.

Redbrick

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall

Easy like a Sunday Morning?

Rory (left) and Luke in training by the canal Luke Durston, Rory Millar and John Wilmott Sport Reporters

Waking up on a crisp Sunday morning with the sun brushing the rooftops of Birmingham, the stage was set for greatness….but probably not for us, three average students entering the Birmingham Half Marathon on the back of a spontaneous decision made at the pub. Making our way to the start of our 13.1 mile run we could have done with a round to ease the nerves which were at tipping point.

There were no buses running and we were facing the prospect of a 3 mile warm up jog from Selly Oak to the start line at Broad Street.

Luckily help was at hand and we were driven to our destination by a willing friend who reacted sur-

prisingly well to our wake-up call on a post-Fab Sunday morning.

Rory elected to wear his Liverpool shirt but John was running as a Banana and Luke as a Blackberry, not for charity but for general fruit awareness. After dropping our bags off in the nick of time and donning our outfits we joined the sea of over 14,000 runners on Broad Street, bouncing and swaying in anticipation of the imminent start.

We hardly started with a banga surge of a few metres over the start line was followed by a leisurely stroll, the grunts and murmurs of frustration were audible as hundreds of runners were funneled through a small gap towards New Street. It took a while for us to get up and running, so to speak, as we dodged in and out of people shuffling along at a snail’s pace even at that early stage. This continued

The Birmingham half marathon in full flow

throughout the opening third of the race and the thrill of overtaking others whilst dressed as a fruit was slightly tempered by the fact that we were making painfully slow progress through the crowds.

Fortunately the sights and sounds around us provided a welcome distraction as we passed the elite runners sending out a ripple of excitement when bombing past in the other direction and countless cheery bands and groups played drumbeats and hymns to inspire weary legs.

Bournville was the next stop for those weary legs, where the course weaves through leafy streets and past the famous Cadbury factory which, despite our hopes, was not handing out free Dairy Milk bars. Instead the roads were lined by enthusiastic volunteers thrusting bottles of water and sports

Rita Toth

Tom Flathers

drinks our way which were gleefully snapped up by the parched competitors. Unfortunately Luke’s purple blackberry morphsuit was particularly unkind to his bladder’s needs so he struggled on without rehydrating for fear of springing a leak.

Bodily functions aside this is where the race began to get tough and the lack of training was written in our pained expressions. Despite having sporting backgrounds, we could each count on one hand the number of practice runs we’d attempted and none of us had ever run as far as 13 miles prior to the event. The local canal side was our preferred training location when we did venture out, and a run of an estimated 10 miles was our final preparation before the big day.

As it transpires it’s extremely doubtful that we ever ran 10 miles in training because it took us a lot longer to reach that point on the day, and with that milestone came a sense of fatigue we had yet to encounter in ‘training’. The field of runners was beginning to spread as we embarked upon the punishing hill back towards the city centre, this proved to be the most painful part of the entire circuit. Mutters of regret about going to Vodbull that week filled the gaps between gasping breaths, yet the mass of runners around us groaned on towards the home straight fuelled by the passionate cheers of onlookers.

The main difference we noticed between a leisurely Sunday ramble and the half marathon was the number of supporters out and about who would bring a genuine smile to our faces with wise words such as, 'go bananas,' 'come on Liverpool!' and 'not far now purple man.' It made a real difference on the day and would definitely be a strong pulling factor if we ever let the pub talk get out of hand again.

As the University of Birmingham motto ‘Per Ardua Ad Alta,’

Sport 25

Brum's Half Marathon The EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon was first run in 2008 and is now in its third year. The event is still growing with 14,650 signing up this year, more than twice the number who ran in the inaugural race which shows that it is fighting to establish a regular place on the international running calendar. The route, starting and ending on Broad Street, circles southern Birmingham taking in sights like the Cadbury factory and Cannon Hill Park. suggests, the hard work of the last twelve miles was rewarded with a final mile that will reside in the memory for many a year. Exhausted runners were buoyed by the knowledge that the finish line was within their grasp and a contagious sense of carnival excitement greeted us as we emerged from Fiveways tunnel. The last few hundred meters along Broad Street proved to be the highlight, with both sides lined with enthusiastic supporters, a far cry from the usual late night debauchery we had come to associate with Birmingham’s main clubbing street.

After a few high fives with kids and a moderately impressive sprint finish it was all over in 1 hour and 45 minutes, at least for Rory and Luke. One bottle of highly calorific Frosty Jack’s too many had seen the newly dubbed ‘Banana Man’ slip up around the four mile mark, resulting in a slightly later finish of 2 hours.

With the event winding down and the last few poor souls trudging across the line we began the long walk home to the pub, where our mini adventure began all those months ago. If there is a moral to this story then it’s that not all pub talk is bad. So next time you pop down your local, try a light jog with your beer and burger.

Luke mid-marathon.

Rita Toth

26 Sport

Redbrick

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall

Golfers delight as Geordies are disposed of at Edgbaston Netball Birmingham 1sts Newcastle 1sts

5.5 0.5

Dan Beattie Golf Correspondent

This week's match at Edgbaston Golf Club produced some very solid performances and a comprehensive home win for the golf first team 5.5 – 0.5 against a decent Newcastle side. Aaron Lansberry displayed a mature performance, beating an ex-europro tour player 2 and 1, while Sam Botham bounced back with a tight win on the 18th hole. Lee Elliot and Oliver Hart both managed comfortable wins on their first team debuts and Harry Boyd rescued a half point after letting a two-up lead slip coming down the stretch. Overall it was a convincing and much needed win for the team following a defeat at the hands of Lancashire on the opening day of the season.

Next week sees the top twenty golfers from the University of

Tom Flathers

Not even an inappropriately placed tree could stop Birmingham from winning Birmingham competing in the first of four regional qualifiers for the BUCS individual stroke play

championships at Woodhall Spa. After some strong performances on Wednesday, many of Birming-

ham's contingent will be hoping to progress far in the esteemed competition.

Stirling collapse late on as Brum produce sterling comeback Women's Volleyball

Birmingham 1sts

2

Stirling 1sts

2

Harry Kitchen Sport Reporter

The first home game of the BUCS football season didn't disappoint, delivering an exciting 2-2 draw between home side Birmingham and newly promoted Stirling on the Munrow track pitch.

In the early stages Stirling took full advantage of the elements, launching crosses which tested the home side's defence. The new boys packed the midfield, playing a tight 4-5-1 formation, giving Jamie Williams and captain Dave Bellis little room to create chances for the Birmingham front line. Stirling looked the better side, creating chances through wingers Daniel Denholm

and skipper Lee Nichol. However, Birmingham left back Dec Cassidy dealt well with the former under19 Scottish international showing great positional awareness. To add to this the only times Birmingham seemed to threaten was through Cassidy's long throws on the left hand side.

Stirling continued to search for the first goal through great midfield play and well organized defence. The hard work put in by the Scottish side finally paid off in the 22nd minute. Denholm darted through the midfield, jinking through the Birmingham players and at the end of the box turning and passing to the greens' number ten, who then slotted the ball into the left side of the goal.

Stirling remained on top although Brum's defence was resilient as was exemplified in particular by towering centre back Chris Burges. The presence of the reds'

Striker Tony Boto fends off a Stirling defender

Tom Flathers

number five was clearly felt, with Burges winning the majority of aerial battles and remaining the stalwart of Birmingham's defence throughout the match. After going close from a corner, Nick Vasey tested the Greens' backline with a cross in the 28th minute but, like Burges, the Scottish centre back James Drummond repelled the efforts of the opposing side.

The away side were confident and riding high in the second quarter of the first half and searched for the crucial second goal. In the 33rd minute Stirling's number seven Lee Nichol had a shot saved and the Scottish team's midfield threaded a few moves together, challenging the reds' determination. In response winger Varney looked dangerous, taking on right back Calum Scot on various occasions. Most notably on the 38th minute Varney tried and succeeded with a well executed feint that dazzled Scot. The winger then gifted the ball to Bellis who went on to control the ball and let fire a shot which struck the post, by far Birmingham's clearest chance of the first half.

However, the fearless Stirling XI were definitely the happier side going into the break. The defence was acting as a great resistance to the reds' efforts, the midfield completely dominated and they had obtained the one goal advantage.

The introduction of Mike Wardel completely changed the game. Wardel played in the hole and dropped deep behind centre forward Tony Boto. He acted as the lynchpin for the rest of the match, creating space and spearheading the home side's attacking line. Vasey in particular upped his game in the second half, showing some decent link up play with right back Rob Godfrey. The Birmingham side dealt with their possession more carefully than in the first half and forced Stirling to put men behind the ball, who then focused on the counter attack.

On the 51st minute Dan Darlrymple provided a high, in-swinging cross for Stirling's number 9

Emmot Parr-Gallagher to pounce on in the box. The finish was first class, Gallagher placing the ball in the right hand corner before the reds' keeper could reach him.

This goal was a wake-up call to the Birmingham players. The lads rallied together, determined to fight back the two-goal deficit. On the flip side the pressure soon took its toll on Burges who was booked for dissent in response to a contentious decision.

After this incident the match became one sided. Birmingham had the wind in their sails and were rewarded for their hard work in the 80th minute. Substitute Elliot Suet cut in from the right flank to tee up fellow sub Wardell who beat Greg Buchanon and poked it past keeper Sam Filer. This gave Birmingham the confidence and the momentum to search for a late equalizer. Four minutes from time Godfrey dinked the ball over the top for pacy substitute Abe Osho who calmly tucked the ball in the back of the net, repaying the faith manager Paul Lewin placed in him. In the dying moments Godfrey struck the bar with a left footed swipe and the rebound was met by Wardel who could only find the post. Stirling had two nervy corners in injury time, however the Brum defence dug deep to protect the point they so deservedly prevented from slipping away.

Shots On Target

Off Target

B'ham S'ling 5

7

8

B'ham S'ling 1

Sport Shorts Korfball

Birmingham's korfball team travelled to Nottingham University last week for a tough opening match of the season. Nottingham had the advantage of good home support and started quickly, scoring twice before the first change and holding Brum at arms length for much of the first half. Goals from Jess Beale and Emma Higton kept Brum in touch, with Nottingham leading 6-4 at half time. Birmingham improved in the second half, taking the hosts by surprise and scoring two quick goals to equalise. The game became scrappy but Beale kept her nerve to score three penalties. Going into the last 3 minutes Birmingham edged ahead at 12-11 but Nottingham piled on the pressure and scored a drop off to equalise right on the buzzer. Brum went away disappointed that they didn't win the game, but the draw was a credible result. With their first point on the board they will now begin to focus on their next game at home to Castle in two weeks time.

Korfball Correspondent Aleksandir Turner Squash A number of Birmingham graduates have been competing in squash tournaments around the world recently. Former captain Joel Hinds reached the final of the Houston Open and Steve Coppinger became the champion of the Sao Paulo Open.

Lotte Erisken, Phil Nightingale, Joey Barrington and Chris Ryder were all involved in events as far spread as the Savcor Finnish Open, Canada's White Oaks Cup and the El Gouna international.

First team fixtures Game of the week: Women's Rugby Union vs Nottingham 1sts Wed 3rd 2pm Metchley

Women's Basketball vs Coventry 1sts Wed 3rd 7pm Munrow Sports Hall Men's Fencing vs Loughborough 2nds Wed 3rd 2pm Munrow New Gym Men's Rugby League vs Oxford 1sts Wed 3rd 2pm Metchley Women's Tennis vs Leeds Met 1sts Wed 3rd 12pm Priory Club Women's Volleyball vs Nottingham 1sts Wed 3rd 5.15pm Munrow New Gym

Redbrick

Sport 27

29th October 2010 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Editors – James Phillips, Simon Hall

Lafferty and Pike lead lacrosse party Women's Lacrosse

Birmingham 1sts

21

Warwick 1sts

4

David Wheaton Sport Reporter

As Birmingham women's lacrosse 1st team, warmed up for a promising derby game against visitors Warwick, it was already possible to get a flavour of what was to come. Indeed, 'Simply the Best', Tina Turner's timeless tune, came on the team's stereo almost as a warning to the newly promoted visitors.

The home team, reigning BUCS champions, were determined to show their opponents why lacrosse is widely recognised as the fastest game on two feet, winning the ball from the first draw and continuing this pattern throughout the whole game. Within the first five minutes, largely due to impeccable work in midfield by co-captain Kirsten Lafferty, it seemed like there was no stopping Birmingham. The first goal was scored by Alice Bruynseels in the third minute, sending Warwick on a downward spiral, conceding goals in the fifth, ninth and tenth minute, all three from Lafferty before a great strike by Olivia Clayton. This made the score 5-0 to Brum after just nine minutes of play. No signs of excitement could be seen among the Birmingham ranks though, as if they had been conscious of their obvious upperhand. Coach David Abini denied this however, explaining that: 'We always aim to go out pretty hard no matter what and whatever the team. Often we try and get three

Co-captain Pike's quality shone through as Warwick were put to the sword or four goals in to start with before calming down and playing our game.' One could say these tactics were working to perfection.

Although Birmingham seemed to be controlling the game, it was hard not to see Warwick slowly battling back. According to onlookers, the team had received a very impressive intake of freshers.

Notably the effervescent Hanie Swan, who seemed to be leading Warwick's revolt after Birmingham's initial hard blow. Slowly, the visiting team got closer to closing the gap on the hosts. Initially courageously pushed back by Brum's defence, they managed to hit the crossbar in the fourteenth minute before Swan opened up the score

for Warwick after being fouled and cleverly lobbing keeper Chelsea Claridge from close rang.

It seemed possible that the game could slip away from Birmingham's control. Yet led by cocaptains Lafferty and Molly Pike, the team's skill was clear for all to see and they could change the pace of the game as they wished.

This was evident as Lafferty assisted Fizzy Keeble in her first goal, literally seconds after Warwick had found the net. It was not long before Pike assisted Bruynseels in scoring two more goals for Birmingham giving them a comfortable 8-1 lead again.

Even Lafferty and Bruynseels were unable to outshine Swan's

Tom Flathers

amazing performance in the first half, running down the right side again, past Birmingham defender Philly May once more to score her second goal. Despite great build up by Birmingham and another goal from Lafferty, Warwick were still clinging on, the score being 9-2 at half-time.

In the second half, Warwick midfielder Tenis Ogunsanyu's strength became apparent as she ran the whole pitch passed a passive Birmingham defence to make the score 9-3 after only a couple of minutes. Warwick then made their intention clear, improving their passing skills and got many shots on goal. Fortunately for the hosts, Claridge was on incredible form,

making brilliant saves when called upon. After scoring again, making it 10-3, coach Abini understandably felt the need to call a timeout. He later justified this: 'When the girls have the ball so much in attack, the rest of the team seem to switch off. This is why I asked them not to repeat what happened at Edinburgh when we had control over the game but let several goals slip past'.

This was a decisive move as, instantly, the girls started using some well drilled attacking moves as well as using their pace for more straight runs at goal. Smashing past Warwick's defensive line, Emily Hughes got the first goal of an unstoppable period of Birmingham domination. Despite another goal by Swan, Warwick could not compete with Pike's genius, as she scored four goals in the second half and offered prodigious passes to her teammates Keeble, Hughes and Jess Adams who all found the net. With this incredible late flurry, the visitors were crushed and the one-sided game ended with the emphatic scoreline of 21-4.

Stat Attack 1079 – Days since the

women's lacrosse team last lost a match at the Munrow Track Pitch.

17 – Consecutive games now won by the women's lacrosse team.

6 – Saves made in the

game by on form goalkeeper Chelsea Claridge.

Unwanted hat-trick of home defeats for rugby league Rugby League

Birmingham 1sts

12

Northampton 1sts

18

Simon Collings Sport Reporter

On a crisp Wednesday evening at the Bournbrook pitch, Birmingham men's rugby league first team suffered their third defeat of the season to Northampton University. As the teams lined up for kick off it was evident that Northampton possessed a very physical outfit, and this was to prove a key element of their game.

Immediately the visiting side utilised their strong runners as they crashed the ball through the middle of the Birmingham defence, before spreading the ball out wide to open the scoring within the first few minutes. This was followed up by a stunning touchline conversion by the travelling side's kicker. The host's poor start was compounded by Northampton doubling their lead only five minutes later. This time however the visitors were helped by a huge slice of luck, as a hopeful kick through bounced straight into the hands of the Northampton winger who

was able to score, unopposed, under the posts. With the conversion adding another two points to the visitor's score, Birmingham found themselves 12-0 down within ten minutes and very much up against it.

However as the half progressed the hosts were able to settle and on occasions were able to open up the Northampton defence, Roddrey Kent in particular proving to be a constant worry for the visitor's defence. Unfortunately, Birmingham lacked the telling pass to punish the travelling side but some strong defence by Birmingham ensured the score was still only 12-0 at the interval.

The hosts came out for the second half and immediately the change in intensity was clear for all to see. The impressive Kent once again sidestepped several defenders, before a cross field kick from Aiden Oakley was bundled over the line by Scott Bennett. Despite missing the conversion the host's evidently had their tails up, and moments later a stunning break by captain Josh Reid almost resulted in another try but once again the final pass was not executed.

Northampton seized upon Birmingham's missed opportunity and scored another try; once again the powerful running of the visitors enabled them to crash over

from close range.

Despite being 18-4 down the hosts showed no signs of giving up, and even started to play some of their best rugby, flinging the ball wide in the hope of unlocking Northampton's defence. With twenty minutes remaining some neat handling from the Birmingham backs created an overlap and allowed Sam Edgar to go over in the corner. With the conversion missed, the hosts required two converted tries to draw level.

Indeed the comeback looked on when Birmingham once again narrowed the gap with arguably the move of the match. A neat kick off the top by Oakley was collected by Bennett who offloaded, one handed, to Kent. Despite having three men to beat, Kent was able to use his pace and go round the outside of the tiring Northampton defence and finish 'superman style' in the corner. The try set up a frantic final ten minutes, with Birmingham needing just one converted

Brum ultimately crashed to their third consecutive defeat

try to level the score. However the travelling Northampton side were able to hold firm and secure a well fought victory.

After the game, Birmingham's coach commented on how the performance had certainly been an improvement on the team's last performance, but that naturally there was still room for improvement. He will be hoping that the visit of Oxford next week will provide the team with their opening victory of the season.

Mike Roberts

28 www.redbrickonline.co.uk

29th October 2010

Sport

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Commonwealth Champ Redbrick Sport meet Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Birmingham alumnus Louise Hazel p24

Hodgkiss haunts Nottingham as Brum run riot Men's lacrosse

Birmingham 1sts

29

Nottingham 2nds

0

Rory Millar Sport Reporter

On Wednesday afternoon at the Metchley 3G pitch, Birmingham men's lacrosse first team destroyed Nottingham's second team 29-0 in a game that could not have been any more one sided. This win followed up their 6-3 opening day victory away to Northampton last week and therefore maintains Birmingham's 100% winning record at the start of the new BUCS season in Midlands Division 1A. The final score provided sufficient evidence of the difference in quality between the two sides with Birmingham proving far superior to their East Midlands opposition. A Nottingham side that was predominantly made up of freshers lacked experience, which was a stark contrast to the hosts who played well as a team and looked like a side that had been playing with each other for a long time.

From the start of the game, Birmingham dominated possession and were constantly pressurising the away defence who struggled to cope with the waves of Birmingham attacks that came their way all match long. Nine players managed to get on the

This was about as close as Nottingham got to the brilliant Brum score sheet, with former Nottingham University student Andy Hodgkiss finding the net on 9 occasions while Dave Litton and Ben Delebo both scored 4 each.

The first goal of the game came in the second minute with Delebo applying the finish, making the early pressure and possession count. Nottingham then tried to find a way back into the match but struggled as on the few occasions they did make it into Birmingham's half, their attack lacked any sort of potency and normally broke down before reaching their attacking area. As a result, Brum goalkeeper Dave Nash had possibly the quietest game of his career, not having to make a single save throughout the entire match.

The second goal was scored after 5 minutes, this time Lit-

ton netting after a good counterattacking run from Charlie Hazzan. Three more goals, including Hodgkiss' first of the afternoon that cannoned in off the crossbar after a shot from range, were then scored in as many minutes and with the score reading 5-0 to the home side with less than ten minutes gone, it was clear that it was going to be an easy afternoon for the hosts. Aaron Lesser, the Nottingham keeper for the first two quarters made a couple of good saves to deny James Lindsay and Hodgkiss, but on 17 minutes he could do nothing to prevent Delebo's effort that completed his hattrick. A late flurry of goals before the break meant that the score was 9-0 to the hosts after the first 20 minute quarter.

Normal service quickly re-

Dmitry Trushchenkov sumed in the second quarter and the home team regularly found the net with some neat finishes which followed good team moves. By half time the hosts had extended their lead to 19-0. Nottingham continued to struggle and they started to put in some big hits with Rupert Bradshaw in particular landing some hefty blows. A lot of the goals in this quarter were scored from Hodgkiss who was punishing the university where he studied as an undergraduate, while vice-captain James Mowbray was creative in midfield and proved influential in nearly every Birmingham move.

At half time, the visitors changed their keeper with Mike Petit replacing Aaron Lesser, but it couldn't stop the goals flowing.

Some impressive passing and finishing by players across the whole

park brought the score up to 26-0 by the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter was the quietest of the game, with Nottingham defending better than they had done for the previous hour restricting the hosts to only three more goals, the last of which was scored by Lindsay. Nottingham came forward in a rare attack late on and looked as if they might have got a consolation goal, but the move eventually broke down and the score stayed at 29-0.

After the game, Birmingham skipper Jonathan MacdonaldTaylor who had missed the game through injury said 'I'm very proud of the fellas, we worked really well as a team today and we are getting better every week.' He went on to say 'Loughborough will without doubt be our biggest rivals in the league this year, but if we get positive results against them then there is no reason why we can't push for promotion'.

Dmitry Trushchenkov

Basketball slam dunked by silky Scots Women's basketball

Birmingham 1sts

28

Edinburgh 1sts

56

Jay Rowe Sport Reporter

In a very difficult opening to the new basketball season, Birmingham hosted Edinburgh in a fiercely contested, end-to-end game in which the home team just fell short of their gallant opposition.

For the majority of the first quarter, Edinburgh dominated the defensive and offensive boards, as the game started off with a flurry of near misses. The travelling team then dominated the initial scoring encounters, with Alison Mitchell opening the netting en route to an

initial 12 -2 lead.

Sasha Vriend and Cathy Mitchell, of Edinburgh, showed impressive shooting to help build a first quarter chasm of 26 points, leaving the hosts to ponder over a scoreline of 2 – 28.

Birmingham's coach David Codrington's looked shell shocked by the defensive and offensive onslaught they had endured during the first quarter. The pre match words of assistant coach, Paxton Delany, summed up what was on display in the first period; 'prepare for the worst, hope for the best'.

After some strong words by the coach, the home team finally got into the game in the second quarter, stepping up the defensive intensity and landing big shot after big shot. This was highlighted by a tremendous three-pointer by Maeve Higham. Impressive shooting from Brum's Ellice Beale and

Derique Hughes saw the home team cut their deficit to 22 at halftime.

With the score at 16 – 38, Birmingham were able to put the disastrous first quarter behind them, and kept their Scottish foes within touching distance. Silky lay-ups by Jenny Smith and Joanna Blakeway contributed to Birmingham's eight points in the third quarter, while continued defensive pressure held their opponents to the same number of points. At the end of the third quarter, with the score at 24 – 46, the home team began to take a stranglehold of the game, preventing it from getting out of their control.

The final quarter consisted of the two teams trading baskets to the tune of 4 points to 8 in favour of the travelling team. This scoring included a superb lay-up from Vicky Fouhy. The final score

at the buzzer was Birmingham 28 – Edinburgh 56 but it was a game much more keenly contested than the scoreboard, and first quarter would suggest.

Birmingham's assistant coach Delany was cautiously optimistic about the coming season; despite the team dropping to 0 – 2 for the season, the character and strength shown by her team to hold Edinburgh to 28 points for the final three quarters, while scoring 26 of their own in that space, was a reason to be enthusiastic.

While acknowledging the team's notorious slow starting, the Delany did explain that there are a lot of new players who need to mesh together, and they did put up a valiant fight against a seasoned and experienced Edinburgh side. She remains confident that the team will 'stay in the Premier League; where we belong'.

Hands up if you want the ball

Mike Roberts

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