Fresh magazine Oct 2013

Work play balance How To Winter Proof Your Wardrobe

the truth behind palm oil

#11 V O N / T OC 2013

FREE NEWS | EVENTS | SPORT | MUSIC | FILM | FASHION

Think you have what it takes?

Available positions: Photographers Illustrators GRAPHIC DESIGNERS WRITERS

Fresh m agazine needs

you!

We are also open to content suggestions.

If you fancy a chance at being part of this student-led publication, please contact our Editor, Holly barkerh@roehampton.ac.uk

Contents #11 oct/nov 20-13

10 Work-play balance

10 Sport

20 Cleaner Thames 22 Kate’s craft Challenge corner

12 Money feature

30 Recipes

16 Freshers’ photos

24 Fashion

14 Music feature

26 The truth behind palm oil

THANK YOU We’d like to thank the following students and staff for their contribution to this edition of Fresh Magazine.

Esther Dark Celia Briseid Nicky Reid Holly Abbott Alexandra Brook Blaize Donoghue Jessica Lewis Nicola Curtis Carl Whinder Grace Henry Nicholas Dawson Kate Griffiths IZZY STOCKS VERA SUGAR HASAN BEYAZ Want to contribute to Fresh magazine?

Email barkerh@roehampton.ac.uk

e h t m o r f r e t t Le . . . r o t i ed

Welcome, Roehampton-ers - new and old - to this year’s first edition of Fresh magazine! We have a brand new designer – Clare – putting the magazine together and making it beautiful, and we are steadily building up our new team of writers, photographers and illustrators in our attempt to make this year the best Fresh year yet.

In this edition we will be helping you first years settle into student life, and helping you returning students wipe your weary summer eyes in readiness for the next year of student life.

New writer, Esther, helps you get the perfect work/play balance (pages 8-9), while Celia brings to our attention the truth about palm-oil and how to save all those lovely orangutans (Pages 26-27) and Nicky Reid, Roehampton’s Money Doctor discuses the dangers of payday loans. Also, we will be helping you spice up your winter wardrobe with some top fashion tips (Pages 22-25), providing you with the best soup recipes this side of the river (Pages 30-31) and we will even chuck in a few music and film reviews, just for fun (Pages 18-19). How does that sound?

So, sit back, relax and enjoy the…erm… fresh (sorry, it had to be done) new Roehampton year.

Holly Holly Barker Editor

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VOLUNTEERING MAD Projects

Freshers’ week is probably one of my favourite times of year, and as your Volunteering Intern I want to say a huuuuge thankyou to everyone who helped out with freshers’ fair, came to the introducing tent ( in the rain) for a chat and of course you amazing people who volunteered at the Thames Challenge! I absolutely loved meeting you all and talking about the year ahead and how you can get involved; so for those who missed out here is a quick summary of the term ahead!

Our MAD projects are gaining more momentum than ever before; this term will see six different projects taking place with many more small campus projects also being planned! MAD stands for Make A Difference and we hope that whether you do one or ten projects you will gain valuable experiences and see how even a few hours can impact someone’s life for the better.

Upcoming MAD projects Upcoming MAD projects for the term include a trip to Barnes Wetland Centre on 17 October to see the otter feed, do some pond dipping and help them maintain the centre. November will see a three way collaboration between Kingston Students’ Union and the Holly Lodge Centre in the delightful Richmond Park on the 5 November and finally, the return of one of my favourite MAD projects – the adorable tea party with our local elderly residents! This year we will be baking & serving homemade cakes, drinking tea and probably having a round or two of bingo. As usual, for more information check the website or email volunteering@roehampton.ac.uk. You can also search “Roehampton Volunteering 2013/2014” on facebook. Any support is gratefully received and I would love to see you at a MAD project soon!

I am hoping to launch Roehampton’s first volunteering trip abroad this year, this opportunity will be life changing and the perfect way to consolidate all your volunteering enthusiasm and skills on a global project! Further details will be released soon, I cannot wait to start this project; its going to be huge! volunteering@roehampton.ac.uk

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FRESH MAGAZINE

SOCIETIES First of all, I want to begin with a huge THANK YOU to all the students who made Freshers’ Fair a great success!

As well as there being a great turnout, every one of the Societies did a great job setting up their stalls.

They showed all you guys what they’re about, as well as making it all the more inviting with the goodies they gave away – which I am sure you all enjoyed!

As I was walking around the tent I could see that signup sheets were overflowing with email addresses!

However, if your name isn’t down or you could not make the fair but still wish to sign up to one of the Societies we offer please visit our webpage: http://roehamptonstudent.com/student-life/societies for more details.

If you saw a Society missing from the Fair, maybe your favourite hobby or activity, which you believe students would love – create your own Society!

Create your own society It’s as simple as these five steps:

1 Choose your idea carefully: When you’re thinking of a new society, remember that it has to be something that interests a variety of people – initially you’ll need around 10. Your idea must avoid prejudice and not contain offensive materials and the proposals not conforming to this will not be considered.

2 Find some like-minded people: Now you have to find 10 people other than yourself that are genuinely

interested in joining your society. Ask them for their student numbers, email addresses and signatures and hand this information in with your proposal.

3 Make a proposal: The idea for your society will need to be approved by the RSU just to make sure it

complies with step 1. Please send a copy of your proposal to Societies@roehampton.ac.uk. In the proposal write a short summary of what your society will do and what its aims and objectives will be.

4 Write a constitution: Once your proposal has been approved its time to write your society’s constitution!

This is where you outline and agree on all aspects of your chosen society. It can be one of the most fun documents to produce and a great way to get all participants to take ownership of the society. A guide talking you through all the steps you need to complete for this is available from me your Student Life Societies Intern!

5 Elect your committee: A president, secretary and treasurer are the core members of the committee; in

addition most societies will usually create new roles for other members in order to share the running of the society most effectively.

Once all these steps are completed you’re away and a fully-fledged RSU society!

If you want more information email us at societies@roehampton.ac.uk The year has started with a bang for all the Societies – so let’s start as we mean to go on!

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Fresh TV is the RSU’s student TV channel providing YOU with entertaining programmes, events coverage, work experience opportunities, educational workshops and much more! We are a channel run by students, making content for students!

Hello! After an awesome week filming all the fantastic freshers’ events, Fresh TV is now settling down into filming its regular programming for you to feast your hungry, student eyes on!

First up and following the hungry theme we have Fresh Nosh with chef Mikey James who will be helping you rustle up some cheap and scrummy meals to keep your post bop bellies satisfied. And not forgetting

Fresh Nosh’s Nibbly Bits, taking a look at the culinary delights available at Roehampton and around London!

For your weekly news fix, check out Roehampton Round Up bringing you reports from university events, activities, sports matches and much more!

Become at one with nature and tune into Lawn Life, exploring the beauty and diversity of wildlife here at Roehampton and around London, from Froebel Lawn to London Zoo. Fancy a make over? Freshen UP! Helps students who fancy a style change get spruced from salon pampering sessions to a spot of retail therapy. Learn how to get Fresh 4 Free with our home customisation tips and tricks or learn about the more serious sides of the fashion and beauty industry; Freshen UP! Has it all!!

Finally for all you Bop and booze fans, we have Bop Undercover: a brand new documentary following all the staff that work behind the scenes at the weekly Bop. From bar staff to St. Johns Ambulance, Bop Undercover will follow the nights of the guys that make your good times possible.

These programmes will be launched in the next few weeks so stay glued to your social media sites and RSU website for all the links and info you need! Hope you all had an awesome freshers’ week and are ready to start a new term!

Keep watching and stay Fresh!

Hollie x Fresh TV

Got a cracking idea for a TV programme? Want to get creative with a camera? Want work experience in media before you leave uni?

Contact Fresh TV today!

Email: freshtv.roehampton@gmail.com with your questions, queries and programme proposals.

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FRESH MAGAZINE

FRESHERS' FAIR: reviewed I remember a friend once describing being at university and especially living on campus as like a summer camp. I think he was referring to the liberating energy and happiness of being able to do things you usually can’t, always having your friends around you and being on a path of constant discovery. That experience has to be fun. My two years in halls were not always spent socializing and going on adventures of course, but that childish glee of fresherdom remains a sweet memory.

I asked some of the Fresher’s what they thought of the fair. Everyone said that they had enjoyed the day and many were impressed by the number of societies.

Emily Tustian, who is just beginning her course in Early Childhood Studies, commented jokingly: “With all the free stuff we got, I don’t ever need to buy pens again. I loved the societies tent.”

I also had a chat with a friend I had made the week before, an international student from Germany called Jana Winkler. I was keen to hear how she had found settling in.

I asked her if she could see a clear difference between how students from the UK approach coming to Roehampton and what it’s like for the internationals.

“Most of us already are at university back home so it’s

RSU NEWS

not our first time at university and maybe not even our first time away from home.”

“It’s challenging because it’s another culture, it’s another language; that kind of stuff. Not so much the moving out. Not so much the studying part.”

Although three years have passed since I first walked out of the tent with those large bags filled with flyers and unnecessary stationery, seeing it all again makes you feel like you’re part of it all again, even if you have to sneak in the back door to get in. Perhaps part of the importance and appeal of Fresher’s fair lies in the fact that it unites all of campus life in a way that is rarely replicated at other times in the year.

As I hinted earlier, Freshers’ fair is a sort of

‘celebration’ of the fresher year, when you have the most time on your hands to make really good friends, to learn things outside of the classroom and to consciously enjoy a freedom you probably never return to later in life. We may do these things in very different ways, but there is something good in coming together to acknowledge them. It’s even better when the sun has got his hat on.

Nicholas Dawson http://nickdjourno.wordpress.com

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Work-play balance

“Should I do this very important essay, or should I down these 10 shots my friend has lined up before me?”

Esther helps us answer this age-old question that haunts the minds of students across the globe…

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FRESH MAGAZINE

Imagine this; it’s a late Friday afternoon, you have just left a gruelling three hour lecture with a 2000 word assignment due Monday. You check your phone; and there are two event reminders on Facebook awaiting your reply, as well as an email from one of the many societies you signed up for, not forgetting that family meal you promised your mum you would go home to.

I have experienced the tug of war between wanting to join my flatmates pre-drinks at the union, being desperate to flaunt my new Topshop dress at the Bop, or, alternately, breaking the 1000 word barrier on the latest essay. The virtuous choice of staying in and studying is a hard choice to make when everyone else seems to be going out – you wander when do they actually get their work done? The balance between work and play can often seem like an unsteady tightrope at university.

University is not what most presume it to be; socialising every night, lazing around watching Jeremy Kyle and living off a diet of Pot Noodles… well, not

To get the balance right is challenging, if not impossible, it is therefore imperative to plan and prioritise our schedules. ‘To fail to plan, is to plan to fail.’ always. University is in reality a demanding and hectic time of life and now more than ever, with so many opportunities to choose from, time can feel like it is escaping us. On top of the many commitments to societies, sport and studying, living in London also comes at a high price, forcing many of us poor students to look for part-time jobs. No wonder, I feel in despair when my tutors hand me over a secondary reading list… as if I had possibly made a dent in the first reading list! Students try to juggle all of these responsibilities, whilst still trying to maintain having a life. So how do you find the perfect balance between study and socialising at university?

One hundred percent dedication to the pursuit of academic achievement, shunning the temptations of any kind of social life seems unrealistic, right? And becoming a study hermit, who only surfaces to make feverish forages into the library, is surely not the way to make the most of our degree? No one would blame us for being lured into and forsaking our latest study

feature regime for night out with a potential hot date. But, ultimately we have to remember the real reason why we decided to come to university in the first place, which I believe for most was to obtain the best degree that we can in a subject that inspires us, knowing that we are investing in our future careers.

University is not cheap, fees are ridiculously expensive and it would be foolish to miss most of the lectures you are paying for because you are constantly hung-over and falling asleep. Universities are sadly not there to fund our social lives, but to fund our futures.

Yet, this does not have to lead to all work and no play attitude. There is so much more to university than just studying, and it would be a tragic loss to never leave the four walls of the library. On the contrary our CV’s would be sadly lacking if they didn’t include a wide variety of leisure pursuits, travel opportunities and all those extracurricular activities.

To get the balance right is challenging, if not impossible, it is therefore imperative to plan and prioritise our schedules. ‘To fail to plan, is to plan to fail.’

For example, if you aware you have deadlines pressing, I would suggest making sure you plan in some good old ‘lock yourself away’ time for a couple of evenings.

To keep yourself motivated why not create an event on Facebook to celebrate post hand-in dates? (The event that kept me going throughout my second year… was planning my wedding day)! Also, know your limits. We are not created to be robots and it is physically impossible to study continually for hours on end. Studies reveal that it is actually counterproductive to do 24 hour cram-it-all-in studying, so make sure you take regular breaks. You could make a promise to yourself that you will read to the end of the next chapter, or do one more practise test and then you will go out. Or you could always gather some friends from your course to study together in a group: a great excuse to hang out. It’s a win-win situation; you get on top of your work as well as checking in with all the gossip.

And finally, it is okay to say no. Your friends will not disappear and your life will not end if you are not at every event. Do not believe your friends if they accuse you of being a “boring loser” if you choose not to go out one night.

Writing this article in my third year, I am completely overwhelmed at how; firstly, I managed to get here, but secondly how quickly time has passed by. Time is your biggest asset at university, do not waste it: be wise with it.

Esther Dark

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SPORT FOOTBALL Euro 2020: England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic have shown a keen interest in hosting European Championship matches in 2020. UEFA have stated that 32 of its members have put forward a bid for the tournament. London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Dublin have been put forward for venues in the UK, however all of the major European football nations, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain have also expressed their desire to hold the competition. UEFA will decide on 25 September 2014 which 13 cities will host games.

Moyes pr aises Rooney

Moyes praises Rooney: Manchester United manager David Moyes has praised Wayne Rooney’s recent form and attitude after he became only the fourth player in United’s history to score 200 goals. The striker has scored three goals in four days including a double on Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen. Despite this, Moyes has stated that he still wants more from the striker going into the Manchester derby: “If he could score another two goals at the weekend that would be the next step forward wouldn’t it?”. He also highlighted that it was essential that they take things “step by step” in order to cement Rooney’s position in the first team.

Rooney indicated on several occasions during the summer that he was keen to leave the club.

Brits are victorious on home turf 10 FRESH MAGAZINE

SPORT

McLaren o nso l A t e g r ta

Jose Mourinho answers critics: Mourinho is often referred to as ‘The special one’ by Chelsea fans. However, following Chelsea’s shock 2-1 defeat against Swiss side Basel, he’s been forced to respond to the criticism. The Blues suffered a terrible start to their UEFA Champions League campaign, however Mourinho assured Chelsea fans that it was only a minor setback in the greater scheme of things. In Chelsea’s most recent Premier League game last Saturday, Mourinho also tasted defeat when they lost 1-0 to Everton at Goodison Park. Mourinho says he accepts what the critics say and the recent dip in form is due to the changing style of play, he also highlighted that: “it is not how you start the season, it is how you finish it”.

CYCLING Brits are victorious on home turf:

Jose Mourinho answers critics

Great Britain academy rider Simon Yates pedalled to a superb victory on stage six of the Tour of Britain as Sir Bradley Wiggins maintained his lead.

Yates, 21, stormed to victory in the 138km stage from Sidmouth to Haytor - the first summit finish in the history of the race. Yates is now targeting a professional contract. Bradley Wiggins finished seventh and leads by 32 seconds with two stages remaining.

FORMULA ONE McLaren target Alonso: McLaren team principle, Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed they are open to rehiring Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso and have made him their prime target for next season. With the Spaniard unsettled at Ferrari, McLaren hope to persuade him to return to the team he drove for in 2007. When asked if he wanted the double world champion, Whitmarsh said: “Yes, any team would. He’s the best driver.”

It is assumed that if Alonso were to join McLaren he would replace Sergio Perez, as Jenson Button remains under contract.

Nicola Curtis

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Some sharks you can't see coming!

The payday lending industry in the UK is booming – people from all walks of life are turning increasingly to payday loans, and students are no exception.

With students struggling to find extra money to fund nights out and other social activities, payday loans become increasingly attractive to those looking for quick and easy money.

Often, you can request money from a payday loan company via an app on your phone, and receive the money in minutes You’ve probably seen them, whether on your morning commute or through an online ad – the ads offering you a fast cash advance in the form of a payday loan. They hype themselves up as bad credit loans that can help you get a quick influx of money when you really need it, often using nothing but a couple of recent pay stubs as the only requirement. But while getting a few hundred pounds may seem brilliant news, the truth is that whether you apply online or visit a brick and mortar location, payday loans are bad news for pretty much anyone who takes one out.

Payday loans are looked at with such a negative light by most financial experts that the government is actually in the process of cracking down on them.

There are plenty of reasons, but the chief ones lie in their predatory nature and the huge interest rates associated with them.

Their advertising likes to gloss over their negative aspects by claiming that they’re bad credit loans are easy to get, but the truth is that there are plenty of better ways to get access to small amounts of cash rather than to do business with these lenders or loan sharks.

Another issue is in back to back loans which rollover debt and create a never-ending cycle of interest, debt, and danger. A borrower can’t repay the entire loan, and it’s rolled over into a new one until the interest is so high it’s nearly impossible to get out of. Don’t let yourself be fooled by flashy ads or the promise of bad credit loans made easy. These loans normally don’t even report to credit organisations and won’t help your credit in the least – they’ll only put you in more financial trouble. Simply put,

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MONEY DOCTOR there are better options out there for anyone, regardless of credit history.

Fortunately, the National Union of Students (NUS) has campaigned for a ban of payday loan advertising on university campuses, resulting in several institutions implementing the ban. Roehampton is one of those universities.

Research by the NUS suggests as many as 10% of students in vulnerable groups had used payday loans, cash-a-cheque services and doorstep loans, and that students with caring responsibilities are three times more likely to do so than other students.

Over the past 12 months we have noticed a worrying increase in students in financial hardship as a direct result of taking payday loans either prior to commencing their studies or at varying stages during their time as a student, including those at postgraduate level.

Payday loan companies offer high interest borrowing, often at more than 4,000%. Although they say the loans are supposed to be run over days rather than months, borrowers often find that costs add up quickly if they extend the borrowing period.

We know some of these lenders make misleading or inaccurate claims about other support available, which is hugely irresponsible.

With the availability of hardship funds and financial advice on campus, along with a ban on advertising from payday loan lenders, we intend to continue to make the University of Roehampton a shark-free zone.

So before you even think about a pay day loan as an option, please contact the Money Doctor for advice and guidance on your finances.

You may be entitled to make an application to the Access to Learning Fund (ALF) in certain circumstances, so rather than wrap yourself up in lots of unnecessary debt that you will struggle to pay back, contact us first to see what we can do to help.

Contact details: Nicky Reid – Money Doctor Room 24a Richardson Building Information Centre Digby Campus moneydoctors@roehampton.ac.uk 0208 392 3199 roehamptonstudent.com 13

a summer of stinkers

While most of you were out living your lives this summer, I was stuck home with a maxed out overdraft. The only thing keeping me entertained was the prospect of several new Summer Jams from my fave - and other semi-interesting pop stars.

“What a great lineup of Summer comebacks”, I told myself... I was wrong. Many of them were horribly lackluster, and left me feeling severely let down. What had I done to deserve such terrible comebacks? Why is Katy Perry now boring? Why is Lady Gaga (still) pretentious? And why is Miley Cyrus attempting to twerk on

14 FRESH MAGAZINE

anything that moves? Here’s the tea on this Summer’s stinkers: • Lady Gaga - Applause: After several Twitter rants, an embarrassing chart performance and a clunky comeback performance, the sound of this former pop princess applauding for herself is rather tragic. A clear indication that she is losing her touch.

• Katy Perry - Roar: Katy’s comeback was high-profile, but less of a roar than it was a mere meow. Also, the artwork is shockingly tacky.

• Miley Cyrus - We Can’t Stop: Oh Miley. Miley’s ‘ratchet’ phase is

bothersome on many levels, the main being how offensive and racially insensitive it is. Somebody needs to let her know that it is not okay to request “a black sound” (her words, not mine) and that people calling her out on it are not “haterz” (yes, with a z). Plus, she can’t even twerk! Her version of ‘twerk’ is an insult to the stars of YouTube who actually can. We Can’t Stop just makes you think, maybe you should stop Miley. Or not, considering it was her first UK #1.

• Brown Eyed Girls - Kill Bill: My favourite group and K-Pop act, three unbelievably talented vocalists and Korea’s finest female

rapper, made their long awaited comeback in Korea this Summer.

The song however is a rather generic dance-pop song, fuelled by an unnecessary homage to the film Kill Bill. It’s nowhere near as iconic and flaw-free as their previous title tracks and a blemish on the group’s otherwise immaculate discography.

Other songs I disliked this Summer: • Iggy Azalea - Bounce (sellout much?)

• Icona Pop - I Love It (I also loved it too… when it came out last year) • Ellie Goulding - Burn (Basic and boring) All is not lost though! There were some above-average comebacks during the Summer which did not leave me weeping for the current state of pop music: • After School - First Love:

Although it came out in April, I was jamming to the K-Pop octuplet’s 2013 offering right through the summer. The fierce pole dancing choreography surely helped this become one of their most successful releases to date, and a stellar follow-up to last year’s Flashback.

• Dawn Richard - Meteors: Former Danity Kane/Diddy-Dirty Money member Dawn Richard has been saving R&B music with her fresh electronic take on the genre, and Meteors is no exception.

The bass-heavy production and Dawn’s vocals are a perfect match and a spectacular way to build anticipation for her new album, Blackheart, due out in October.

• Sunmi - 24 Hours: Former Wonder Girls member, Sunmi, left the group in 2010 and has finally made her solo debut this year. The minimalist

music feature production on the track is a trademark of her label, JYP, but it is incredibly infectious.

• Britney Spears - Work Bitch!: Technically not a Summer single, but it’s still the best comeback of the year. Godney is back and ready to stay!

Other songs I liked over the summer: • Fiestar - Whoo! (The Latin influences add a sultry feel) • Selena Gomez - Slow Down (Love the production!)

• Zendaya - Replay (Official debut from Disney’s next household name) Written by Hasan Beyaz

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Paul Foot Clapham Grand

Fresh e

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At the Races

Clapham Gra

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ir on

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FRESHERS' WEEK 2013

Jameela Jamil

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Music Review The Weekend - kiss land

The Weeknd - Kiss Land Out Now Following a number of successful mixtapes and compilations, The Weeknd – real name Abel Tesfaye – has released his first official album.

Notorious for his progressive R&B sound, Tesfaye spoke to Complex Magazine about the inspiration for his debut ‘Kiss Land’ saying: “A lot of it is inspired by filmmakers like John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, and Ridley Scott, because they know how to capture fear. That’s what ‘Kiss Land’ is to me, an environment that’s just honest fear.”

Continuing Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak (2008) genre altering aesthetic of minimal electro-pop immersed in self-examination, this concept album about ‘life on the road’ is submerged in seductive layers of sound and explores the singer’s dark themes of abandonment, promiscuity and self-loathing. Much like Tesfaye’s previous work, ‘Kiss

18 FRESH MAGAZINE

Land’ appears to revolve around his relationship with women and his almost mechanical ‘auto-pilot’ sex life, whether this is unfaithful girlfriends, indecisive teases or devoted groupies.

and is quite lyrically limited, repeatedly demeaning women with lecherous and almost nonsensical lyrics.

Best song- The Town People To Look Out For

Verdict

BANKS

Although I do appreciate the depth of production (much due to the bigger budget), I feel like Kiss Land did not live up to my expectations; perhaps because the bar was set so high following The Trilogy.

There are some stand out songs on the album such as Odd Look (feat. Kavinsky) and Belong To The World; however they do seem to blur together making the album a bit tiresome. Personally, I can’t help but compare The Weeknd and Frank Ocean, predominately because they gained notability at around the same time with a similar audience. Kiss Land in contrast to Ocean’s diversely themed Channel Orange feels void of true emotion

After following Banks for around a year I was very happy to find out she would be supporting The Weeknd for the UK part of his Fall tour. Recording under just her surname, LA born Jillian Banks has recently released her debut EP ‘London’ (9th September) once again showcasing her haunting vocals with emotionally expressive lyrics.

Listen to- Waiting Game, This Is What It Feels Like, Before I Ever Met You. Written by Alexandra Brook

FILM Review The Great beauty

THE GREAT BEAUTY (La Grande Bellezza, Paolo Sorrentino, 2013) Since The Consequences of Love Italian director Paolo Sorrentino’s work has become more unwieldy, less concerned with the rigors of structured story telling that so defined his 2004 masterpiece. Not that this has lessened the creative impact, with The Great Beauty being closer in feel and style to his 2008 take on former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, Il Divo. This film played with the narrative form as a reflection of Italian politics, blurring the lines between reality and fiction to create a film that undermined the viewer’s ability to locate the truth.

The Great Beauty continues with these themes of the crossover of reality and fantasy in the narratives we are told, and indeed tell ourselves, but this time Sorrentino’s film is unanchored by real life characters and events.

More aesthetically and formally abstract and surreal, The Great Beauty is even more carnivalesque than Il Divo, as Toni Servillo’s Jeb, an aging journalist and socialite, moves

Music & film

elegantly through a post-modern landscape of juxtapositions, high and low culture, young and old, beautiful and grotesque. The film straddles this line with its colour palette, camera movements and editing, moving from garish and kinetic to majestic and elegant. Sorrentino’s use of visuals and sound are seductive, in so much as you know they are tricks and there may be no real substance to them but the charisma, intelligence and charm of the seducer are too much to resist. Perhaps this is Sorrentino’s genius, to feed us a complex tapestry of themes, religion, politics death, and masculinity, hidden within a big bowl of Gelato.

My only real criticism is the film lacks a certain heart; it can feel at times like it is laughing at the characters as much as it investigates them. Crucially its Servillo’s film, an actor who leaves me conflicted. He walks through this film in much the same way as he walked through his previous work with Sorrentino, with the detached air of a man who isn’t fully engaged with what is going on around him. Maybe this performance is pitched to steal scenes or maybe it is what Sorrentino asks of his lead performer, to act as an avatar for his depiction of a man disassociated from

his own subjectivity, floundering in his own and the wider narrative.

Certainly Servillo’s realistic and unshowy performance in Gamorrah (Matteo Garrone, 2008) suggests it is the latter.

The arrival of a stranger at Jeb’s door hints at a personal journey Jeb might take, one where he contemplates the meaning of his life. This may be how it would normally play out but instead we are led down blind alleys, questions about life and death are raised but unanswered. That there is no clear narrative, characters come and go, fantasy and reality coalesce and characters appear as grotesque parodies doesn’t seem to matter, each scene has such wonderful dialogue, such visual flair, such carefully calibrated performances that we are carried along. Even as things look like they may sag we are thrown a curve ball that wakes us up and makes us pay attention. While the audience may not always know what is happening there is no escaping that Sorrentino is a filmmaker is in complete control of his craft.

Carl Whinder

Director Paolo Sorrentino

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Cleaner Thame s Challenge

20 FRESH MAGAZINE

Cleaner Thames Challenge September 21st saw the return of the Annual ‘Thames Challenge Clean up’, a great collaboration with the charity Thames 21. Every year a group of students meet, and travel up to Hammersmith Bridge to represent the University as Thames 21 challenges all Londoners to help dredge out the build-up of litter that amasses along the banks of the river.

This Year we had a fantastic effort across the University with each college having students taking part; Whitelands had an incredible 13 students in total! As a team we donned our steel capped wellies, gloves and grabbed litter pickers, bin bags and even shovels and got going.

Spread out along Hammersmith Bridge banks we waded into the river and started hauling rubbish and general trash out. Some of the more memorable items we collected included: several car tyres, a shopping trolley, rope, wallets and vintage cans and bottles. All items were collected together and will be recycled and disposed of properly!

We rounded the morning off by returning to the Union bar for a few drinks and pizza, before heading home for well-deserved showers to wash away murky Thames mud.

I would like to thank every single volunteer who made it down to the event; I had a great day and cannot wait until our next project! For more details on the next project please check www. roehamptonstudent.com – looking forward to seeing some old and new faces there!

Written by Blaize Donoghue

roehamptonstudent.com 21

Designed an Kate Griffi d written by ths

K a c c r t o a e' r f s n t er What You Will Need:

How To WinterProof You r Wardrob e

A garment you want to customise Fake fur (around ¼ of a meter) Safety pins Scissors A needle and dark col oured thread

After last winter seemed to drag on FOREVER I thought I’d make it my mission to prepare myself for what is sure to be a freezing cold five months.

As much as I’d love to buy a new winter coat each year, my bank balance just won’t allow it, so I thought I’d find ways to update what I already have. If there’s one thing I love about fashion in winter, it’s the amount of (fake –of course!) fur there is everywhere. Naturally then, this was the first thing I thought of when imagining ways to update my current coats/jackets/hats/anything that I can possibly add fur to!

After scouring the local fabric shops, I wasn’t really happy with the selection of fake furs available.

I will have to mention now that I am a massive perfectionist and when I have an idea in my head, it’s very hard for anything to match up to it. However, like a knight in shining armour, eBay came to my rescue once again. I found an amazing selection of furs in loads of different styles and colours and, although I couldn’t see them in

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person, the detail shown was so good that I got enough of an idea about them to know which one to pick. I eventually plumped for a style called ‘Brown Chevron Peacock’ – a description which I didn’t really think described the fabric at all...but see what you think!

The fur has flecks of brown, cream and black in it and seemed to be a different colour every time I looked at it. This was just what I was after as it means it will go with everything. Most of the sellers selling fur on eBay also gave you the option of the length of fabric you could buy, ideal as it means you were getting exactly what you needed and weren’t paying an inflated price for fabric you may not end up using. I stuck with ¼ of a meter which I found was plenty for what I wanted.

The coat I chose to customise with my lovely new fur was one I picked up from Topshop. I love Topshop.... but so does the rest of the female population, and I have seen my coat on around 25 people already, so this was what prompted me to customise mine to

make it slightly different and to stop me looking like a walking clone.

As you can see, the coat has a brilliant hood just crying out to be trimmed in fur! I started off by safety pinning the material to the hood, making sure to fold it underneath the actual outline of the hood to ensure you can’t see the join. I then carefully cut off the excess fabric to make it easier to sew the remaining fabric to the hood. When sewing, you really don’t have to be precise, if the fur you’ve chosen is thick enough then your stitches will be hidden, so there’s no point being neat! Once I’d sewed from one side of the hood to the other I then went back on myself to ensure that the fur was held firmly in place.

After that section of fur was secured to the inside of the hood, I then rolled the remaining material up at the back of the hood to make it more prominent and so you couldn’t see where the fur had been cut. Once again, I pinned the fur before sewing another line of stitching to the back of the hood, making sure to go through the folds in the fabric so it would stay rolled up.

And there you have it! It really is as simple as that.

Providing you have a bit of patience and all the things mentioned in the “What You Will Need” list above, you will be well on your way to making this winter your cosiest yet!

fashion

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FASHION THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING...

So Autumn/Winter 2013 is here! After a quite reasonable summer, despite its delay causing some fear of its occurrence at all, the windy, cold season is back. The furs are out, the parkas and trench coats are in and the boots are back. However, winter is not quite in full swing yet, so how better to make the transition than with the ankle boot?

My craze this year over ankle boots began with this image I came across online: I was so in love with this pair of Jeffrey Campbell multi-buckle leather ankle boots with gold plated heel. These boots would go perfectly with most outfits, from a dressy casual look to a simple day look, so I was so tempted to have them.

However, I knew this designer pair would be a fortune, so where better to look for a similar pair than the high street.

I was so happy to come across a lovely selection of bargain buys as well as a couple investments.

My favourite imitations were a pair from River Island costing ÂŁ45. These would be perfect with a pair of jeans or even dressed up with a pair of tights and a skater dress.

I even managed to discover a more adventurous pair in black and white leather with a gold plated heel, also from River Island.

These would be perfect for more dressy occasions. However, they would also go nicely with a monotone simple outfit such as black leggings, top and a leather jacket, combined with gold statement jewellery to bring it all together.

If you too are interested in rocking some ankle boots this Autumn/winter then why not have a look on Asos, Miss

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HOW TO WEAR THEM...

Selfridge and even Ebay for some steals on a student budget.

Dressed up or dressed down, ankle boots are likely to work with most outfits, but for that easy, quick, ready-for-uni look why not try teaming a cool leather jacket with a sweatshirt or logo t-shirt, and a pair of leggings or distressed dark jeans for a bit of edge with your ankle boots. If your boots are metal plated and quite detailed then a toned-down outfit will achieve a casual but stylish look.

Grace Henry

The Possibilities of the Parka Looking for that perfect coat to tide you over for autumn and winter? Look no further than the ultra stylish and functional parka jacket. Izzy Stocks talks you through this A/W fashion essential.

The parka proved its appeal on the A/W ’13 runway circuit, with colour-popping quilted styles appearing at Miu Miu, and long-line striped and camel (hot colour of the season) stepping out at Max Mara. The parka is a multi-tasker- as well as ensuring you’re toasty on those chilly Richmond Park walks, its utilitarian feel can add an urban twist to the sweetest of outfits and even work for eveningwear. Basically, it is a firm favourite of mine in the outerwear stakes.

On first glance, parkas are classed as tomboyish, but this can work for the most girlish of girls (it does for me; the pastel queen!). Take it from Jessica Hart (1), who’s emphasised the masculine roots of her green jacket with bags of monochrome, yet maintained an effeminate aspect.

Jess has stamped her inner femme onto the ensemble by adding a leopard print scarf, the embellishment on her cross-over bag and large framed, studious glasses. Jess’s key outfit pieces can easily be swapped for others- if there’s one vital style rule Coachella festival has taught us, it is that jean material looks good underneath a khaki or coffee-hued parka. Swap Jess’s black skinnies for an indigo pair, or try out a denim shirt on top for a laidback vibe. Brown lace-up or Chelsea boots are a trusty equivalent to black bikers and your colour palette can be mixed up in an instant with circle scarves and bobble hats, beanies or fedoras galore.

If you take pride in the sophistication of your wardrobe, Olivia Palermo (2) may be your city-chic icon. In an earthtoned leather-sleeved short jacket, white blouse, coordinating pants and courts, she demonstrates how to dress up the parka. A tailored parka like Olivia’s with accents straight from the catwalk will have you feeling en vogue in even the harshest of weather. To make the most of your parka from day to night, throw a honey-hued version over a floral blouse and pencil skirt or an ethnic-patterned frock and finish with daintier ankle boots or pumps.

There are endless ways to channel the versatile parka and endless models to pick from on the high-street. If you can afford to splurge, then Zara’s combination parka (3) at £59.99 with its zip detail and cute toggles is irresistible. Its slimming structure combined with a Breton tee would add a touch of Parisian class to military mien. However, if you tend to think with your head, not your heart, this £25 fur trim parka (4) from George at Asda would look gorgeous with a woolly knit, checked scarf and ribbon-tie wellies on damp days.

Izzy Stocks

1

2 3

4 roehamptonstudent.com 25

The truth behind palm oil Are you really aware of what the products you buy are containing? And that you, by buying these products, help support the deforestation and destruction of the rainforest, killing a great number of plant and animal species, and taking away the homes of the native people that live there?

Today, you will find that palm-oil is the main ingredient in a lot of products; food, candles, beauty products etc. By purchasing products containing palm-oil, you are maintaining a constant demand for it, which in turn, will increase the need for more rainforest to be cleared for plantations.

Palm-oil is one type of vegetable oil taken from the African oil palm tree (Elaeis guineesis) and grows naturally in Western Africa, but because of the increasing need for cheap, efficient vegetable oil, almost all of it is produced in palm-oil plantations in South-East Asia (Indonesia and Malaysia). These plantations are growing larger and larger every year, and as long as consumers continue buying products containing palm-oil, there may be a big price to pay because of it. There is actually no need for palm-oil, and since it has not yet been proven to be sustainable, it will always have a negative effect on the global environment.

Only a few decades ago, palm-oil was hardly used as an ingredient in any products, and one might go as far as to say that it basically did not exist in the consumer market. There are many alternatives to palm-oil, but because it is the cheapest alternative it is now said to

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be the second most used vegetable oil in the world. One of the consequences of this increasing usage of palm-oil is that the plantations situated on Borneo and Sumatra is slowly, but certainly pushing the Orangutans to extinction, and our generation might be the last one to ever get the opportunity to see an Orang alive in its natural habitat. So why this high demand in using palmoil as a main ingredient in so many products?

And to make things worse, companies are trying to hide palm-oil in their list of ingredients on a product. The most common name to use instead of palm-oil is ‘vegetable oil’, but there is actually over a 100 other names used. Does this mean that the companies know that what they are doing is wrong? Why not call it as it is and let the consumer decide whether they want to buy the product or not? Why disguise it? Unfortunately, many countries (Britain included) do not have a law on how to label palm-oil on a product, giving companies freedom to invent new, misleading names. Luckily, most of them do still use the word ‘palm’ in one form or another: ‘Palmate’, ‘palmitate’, ‘palmitoyl’….

And it is difficult. I am trying, every day, to be a conscious shopper. But as a student, I am over the moon thrilled when I see a bargain. “£1 curry sauce! Yeah, I’ll buy three”, only to come home and discover that two of them contain vegetable oil.

“DAMN!” I try and I fail, but I learn. So I will never buy those products again. My wish is to make more people conscious shoppers, because it does matter. Not buying food containing palm-oil or vegetable oil, will decrease the need for it and hopefully send a message to companies that the consumers are not interested in cutting down more rainforest, killing orangs or driving people out of their homes. And I am just putting the cliché out there: what if the cure to cancer is to be found in the rainforest?! We would be pretty darn sad the day we realized we had spent our days stuffing our faces with snickers bars and Oreo

cookies rather than being out there, discovering all the amazing stuff the world has to offer - or has our society really become so ignorant of the planet we actually live on? The planet has given us so much, are we really willing to destroy a very important part of it for some cheap food and cosmetic products?

I am not expecting any dramatically changes, but I ask you to be conscious enough to update yourself on what you are putting into your mouth and onto your skin, and that someone may have to pay a severe consequence for you to do just that. Like me, you will try and you will fail – but hopefully you will learn, and together maybe we can make a little difference in the world appreciating everyone and everything in it.

Go onto www.rainforestfoundationuk.org and join their ‘Appetite for Destruction’ campaign. Here you will also find a list of products that definitely contain palm-oil and which ones are good-to-go!

palm oil feature

Celia Briseid

't n o D m l a p f f o us

roehamptonstudent.com 27

Get kitted out

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dies

Hoo

ÂŁ25

MERCHANDISE All clothing available from RSU reception

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The Student Breakfast Bible

Is it 8.50 again? Are you supposed to be at your 9 AM lecture again instead of having had that sixth or seventh snooze?

Welcome to the club – you have 10 minutes to get to class and obviously no time for a proper meal to be included in that.

We have all heard the story of how good breakfast is for you and how it is the most important meal of the day.

I believe it is time to put an end to the myth – I am about to share with you the truth - and nothing but the truth about breakfasts that will seriously kick-start your day. I promise.

First point: coffee. What is better than having that steaming cup of caffeine, whether softened with milk or plain and strong? I am not going to take a detour to talk about the healthy (or unhealthy) side of coffee consumption. The important fact to know here: don’t start your day with just coffee. Without anything to eat, coffee will keep you going for a limited time – but most likely by noon you will indeed turn into a nervous wreck. Quite possibly a sleeping nervous wreck. Your body is going to lack the nutrition to keep your blood sugar stable, which means it will drop… And when it does, I, for one, sure don’t want to be around you.

Now let’s consider the traditional breakfast we all love so dearly – eggs, toast, bacon, beans or whatever suits your fancy in that full English breakfast. Bad news here: if you are one of those morning people who are willing to get up 20 minutes earlier to fry up the whole deal, I’d

healthy eating rather advice you use that time to nap. Full English breakfasts, when consumed on a high level (in the worst case scenario, daily) lead to lethargy and bad mood. It leaves you less able to focus your attention and has bad effects on digestion as well.

This, naturally, does not mean that after a big night out, you should not head to the nearest café (it still is the ultimate wake-up), it is just advisable not to overdo it.

And then the point we have been waiting for: if not the full English, then what? I could tell you that fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates are the way forward. The latter, mainly taking the forms in our lives of porridge and muesli, will release its sugars gradually into your blood stream instead of giving it a kick-start, keeping your energy balanced (keeping you going) for a longer period of time.

But then, how many of us get up in the morning, drooling over the idea of a nice, soggy porridge?

Instead of the usual healthy bedtime stories about breakfast, here are a few alternatives that can help you to start the day with a delicious and oh-souseful meal.

Think protein! Most of us non-vegetarians like a slice of ham pretty much any time of the day.

Starting your day with one or more slices of ham will help you get protein into your system to help regulate your energy – and you may as well put it on top of a slice of toast. Otherwise, if you are a cereal-lover, try keeping a few apples at home for special mornings when you do decide to eat healthy. Popping slices of apple into the bowl will not take away from the pleasure and those few slices will also help to contribute to your day ahead.

And If you really hate those fresh fruits and vegetables (those fresh, crispy, shiny, deliciously juicy fresh fruits and vegetables), keep a few cartons of juice at home. Even though they contain a lot more sugar than the fruits would themselves, they will still, to an extent, contain the vitamins that the fruits themselves would. Have a glass, have half a glass – try and keep it up, if only for the sake of being able to say that you had a healthy breakfast.

The lesson that should be taken from this is the fact that you should not skip breakfast as a whole.

If you really are that late to your lecture that you just can’t prop open your fridge to grab a slice of something… at least have a glass of water, for goodness’ sake!

Vera Sugar

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Fresh cooking with Rob and Celia Ah, it’s that lovely time of the year again. The air is cold, the leaves are changing, and the days keep getting darker.

What better to do one day than to snuggle up in the sofa or in bed with a nice, warm bowl of delicious autumn soup? Simple, cheap and healthy! We make home-made soups all the time and we will give you the base we use for most of our soups and four delicious recipes.

RNIP PINKALICIOUS TU UP SO OT RO AND BEET

Seriously pink and seriously delicious. Together with the base, you add chopped turnip and beetroot. If you have some extra time on your hands, oven-bake the turnips with some olive oil for 20 minutes before adding to the soup. Let it boil for 30-40 minutes (beetroots are tough to soften) then blend.

For extra luxury in a soup, add some crème fraiche at the end.

BON APPETIT and HAPPY AUTUMN!

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SPICY S WEET PO

TATO SO UP

Forget about the regular potatoes in the base and use peeled sweet potato instead. Then add 1-2 carrots, 1 chopped chili, and a thumb size piece of ginger finely chopped. If you like you can add some lemongrass, this is not necessary, but very good. Boil for 20-30 minutes and blend. Sprinkle with chopped coriander. HOT! - Be aware of runny nose!

cooking

In most of our soups we use: -2 Garlic Cloves, 1 large onion, 3-4 potatoes, 1L stock using 2 stock cubes (you can add, use less water depending on how thick you want the soup) and salt.

Get your large pan, or pot out and pour in some olive oil. Add the garlic and onion and let is simmer. Then add your potatoes, chopped into cubes and let them get some colour before you add the stock.

We use any kind of stock cube, but personally we think that the beef ones gives a great taste to the soup. Season with salt. Let’s call this the base of the soup. All recipes require a blender or hand blender, so hopefully you have one or can borrow one. Or we recommend it as a really good investment.

Celia Briseid

GREEN LEAVES

SPINACH SOUP

Leave the base boiling for about 20 minutes. You can now add a large bag of spinach, and let this boil for 2-3 minutes until the leaves have fallen down. Add a teaspoon of cumin for extra flavor. Take your pan/ pot off the heat and blend until smooth.

YUM! If you want a Thai-twist on this one, just add a tin of coconut milk together with only 600ml of stock, lime juice and sprinkle the blended soup with chopped coriander.

AUTUMN ORA NGE CARROT SOU P

After adding the stock into the pot with the other ingredients, you add 4-5 chopped carrots and ½ a chopped leak. If you like ginger, you should add this too, as it gives that little extra flavour. Let all of this boil for 20-30 minutes. A chef once said; that the longer it boils the better the flavour, so I guess it depends on how patient you are.

Take off the heat and blend.

NomNomNom!

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The College cup The scores so far

d n o y e Sabbs b m o o r d r a the bo

The Sabbatical team will be present on a different campus each Tuesday from 12-2 approaching you for feedback tellusmore@roehampton.ac.uk

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