WRITTEN BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS
MARCH, 2019
Cross Country Success in London Find out how Reading Athletes got on.
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November 1st: The Review
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Make sure to check out the review of November 1st from the NFTS showing.
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The Jam Jar Revolution II
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The war on waste wages on. Why you
should keep your glass.
HAVE YOU COMPLETED THE NSS SURVEY?
STUDY SPACE AT THE STUDENTS UNION
BY DOING SO YOU COULD WIN VIP SUMMER BALL TICKETS, SEE PAGE 39.
“MY NEW FAVOURITE FIND HAS TO BE THE STUDY” READ MORE ON PAGE 8.
GET HYPED FOR VARSITY 2019 So we’ve arrived in March, and it’s already starting to feel a bit like July (hello, Park Bar Pimm’s...) but along with the sunshine comes the biggest and best event on our sporting calendar: VARSITY. On Saturday 30th March, our terrific teams will be bringing the battle up to Oxford Brookes University, hoping to retain the title and trophy. Find out all about the competitive head-to-head duel, and read up on how the American Football team have been training in preparation, from page 37.
STUDENTS ELECT NEW OFFICER TEAM
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS: A REVIEW
Based on the real lives of Mary Queen of Scotland and Queen Elizabeth of England this film is a triumph. The casting of Saoirse Ronan (Queen Mary) and Margot Robbie (Queen Elizabeth) are faultless as their powerful female figures dominate the screen in a chilling yet emotional recall of the Elizabethan era and the trying relationship between the two queens.
Over 3000 students voted in RUSUs annual officer elections. On Wednesday, March 13th, the winners were revealed. Newly-elected President, Molli Cleaver, plans to focus on improving event space, study space and social space around campus. This includes renovating Mojo’s to create an exciting, safe space to go if students do not want to drink alcohol, with the addition of some
ping pong tables. During an interview on Elections Night conducted by Emma Scott of RUTV Molli said “I’m beyond words- this means so much to me. I’ve wanted this since the end of first year”. Zeid, the new Diversity Officer aims to form a more cohesive campus by bringing more diverse cultural events and celebrations to students. He also aims to diversify campus food options and
involve part time officers in bigger events during the year ahead. New Education Officer, Fifi Bangham, told Emma of RUTV “I think this university has so much to offer and I’d like to keep working to provide great education.” She plans to improve study space and tutor feedback. Activities Officer, Daisy O’Connor aims to introduce a Buddy Scheme, to pair up students who want to try a new
activity, but want someone to go with. When speaking with Emma of RUTV she said “I’m so happy and excited to start the role.” New Welfare Officer, Gemma King told RUTV “I’m passionate about mental health. I really want to make a difference to other students.” She hopes to improve student mental health by creating a directory of support sources, and tackling housing issues. Sabita Burke | News Editor
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FOR SPORTS BALL + SOCIETIES & MEDIA BALL - £15 FROM RUSU.CO.UK/ACTIVITIES
Contents
CONTENTS
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MARCH, 2019
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
03
Print Editor, Taz, talks about The Spark’s design make-over and what you can expect from this issue.
NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR
04
News Editor, Sabita, meets with new VC to discuss his plans for the year.
STUDY SPACES ON CAMPUS
09
Find out where you can study on campus.
EXTINCTION REBELLION
12
IMPROVING YOUR SLEEPING PATTERN
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A reflection on climate change and what it means for our future.
Simple tips for improving your sleep routine and the benefits of doing so.
CELEBRITY INFLUENCED POLITICS 19 Are Influensters on social media taking their influence too far?
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 23 A review of RUDS’ most recent performance.
REVIEWS 29 Students share their opinions on newbies to Netflix and album releases.
REFLECTION 32 Our photography section showcases snaps exploring the theme of reflection
KENDO 34 Reading Uni Kendo Society share the latest on their sport.
VARSITY 37 KNIGHTS VS BROOKES: All you need to know before the big event.
TEAM P R I N T E D I TO R TA Z U S H E R EDITOR.SPARK@READING.AC.UK D E P U T Y E D I TO R S MARTHA ODYSSEOS E L L I E P E S TA I N A DEPUTYEDITOR@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK N E W S E D I TO R S A B I TA B U R K E NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK L I F E S T Y L E E D I TO R ROSIE NEVILLE LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER. CO.UK
AMERICAN FOOTBALL 40 Reading Knights American football society discuss their latest successes.
WANT TO WRITE FOR THE SPARK? Get in touch at editor.spark@reading.ac.uk or visit one of our social media pages. Facebook: The Spark Newspaper Instagram: @sparkteam Twitter: @SparkNewspaper
The Spark Newspaper is designed and typeset by students at the University of Reading. Printed at Newbury News Limited, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG12 2DW. Published and funded by Reading University Students’ Union, contact: activitiesofficer@ rusu.co.uk. Our students strive for accuracy but on occasion can make mistakes. Errors can be corrected/acknowledged by contacting the Editor. Complaints should be made to the Editor in the first instance, and thereafter to RUSU. All complaints should be made in writing. All articles, letters etc. must include a name, address, and contact number/ email address. These may be withheld from publication at specific request. The Spark Newspaper or RUSU can take no responsibility for products or services advertised herein. The Spark Newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Editor. The views expressed in The Spark Newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the Editors or RUSU, particularly those expressed in the comments pages, which are often opinions of the specific authors. Photographs in The Spark Newspaper are copyright, and you will need permission from the photographer to re-use. Contact the Editor at: editor. spark@reading.ac.uk.
E N T E R TA I N M E N T E D I TO R OLIVIA MILL E N T E R TA I N M E N T @ S PA R K N E W S PA PER.CO.UK S P O RT S E D I TO R JASMINE DAVIES SPORT@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK P H OTO G R A P H Y E D I TO R EUAN CARMICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK DESIGN TEAM RAAGULAN UMASHANKER O LG A S H E V C H E N KO C A RTO O N I S T F LO R E N C I A B OT TA MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION MADELINE EASTWOOD O LG A S H E V C H E N KO ELLIE SLANEY CHIMA AGBANYIM
MARCH, 2019
Editorial
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PANCAKE RECIPE
Pancake day might be over, but you’ll want to do it all over again with this delicious recipe
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR...
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NETFLIX CANCELLATIONS
Read about the final victims of Netflix cancellations, including Marvel’s Jessica Jones and The Punisher
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AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Find out what the Knights have been up to in their season so far
Welcome to your new and improved copy of The Spark! With daffodils in bloom, and the campus’ adorable ducklings in sight, we too at The Spark have too opted for a fresh start. This issue is the launch of our new design which we hope you enjoy and find easy to navigate around. If you have any feedback on our new design, we’d love to hear it! You can contact us via our social media pages or email. In our News section this month you’ll find hot topics including an interview with our new vice-chancellor Professor Van de Noort; a new Facebook page designed to tackle student loneliness; and the latest from the R.U.Hacking Society. You’ll also find a feature article written by a student involved in the Extinction Rebellion, as well as the most recent updates from RUSU. For all things inspirational this issue, head to Lifestyle where our student writers take readers on a tour of tips for improving lifestyle routines such as regulating your sleeping pattern, and the ins and outs of dieting. One writer even shares their recipe for the perfect pancake, which are easy to make and affordable on a student budget. Elsewhere in Lifestyle, you’ll find an insight into the latest echoscheme: The Jam Jar Revolution. If it’s something upbeat you’re craving this month, Entertainment is your port of call. In terms of music, you’ll find reviews of Ariana Grande’s latest releases, Busted’s pre-tour album, and Catfish and the Bottleman live. In other news, for the Netflix-hooked students out there, I give my own review of real-life thriller series ‘Dirty John’, meanwhile one of our regular writers reflects on what could be the
end of the road for Netflix’s Marvel series. As always, you can check out the latest film showings at Reading Film Theatre in our Entertainment section, as well as the Moody Music playlist. This issue also sees the introduction of our new Poetry Corner which showcases the linguistic talents of some of our students. If you’d like to submit something for the Poetry Corner, please get in contact at entertainment@sparknewspaper.co.uk. In Sport this month there’s a huge amount to read: especially in the lead up to Varsity which will take place on Saturday 30th March this year. In particular, you’ll find insightful feature articles on sports etiquette and Reading Kendo Club. These are joined by your sports society updates from clubs including Knights American Football, Reading Uni Netball Club, and the Athletics Society. There’s much achievement to be celebrated this month and it’s not too late to get active before Easter! The Photography section this issue provides a creative perspective of ‘reflection’. There’s plenty to choose from this month and we hope that this issue offers you all that you need to know about your campus and more. If you have any suggestions for topics you’d like to read in future issues, head to our Facebook page or email me at editor.spark@reading.ac.uk. Equally, if you’d like to get involved with The Spark and start writing or photographing for us, please also get in touch. For updates throughout the month, make sure you follow our social media pages and visit our website: sparknewspaper.co.uk.
Taz Usher
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News
MARCH, 2019
News
THE NEW VICE CHANCELLOR PROFESSOR ROBERT VAN DE NOORT On Wednesday, February 27th, I had the pleasure of meeting our new Vice Chancellor, Professor Robert van de Noort. I asked him a few questions about his new role and what he’s most looking forward to. Why Reading? Why did you choose this university over others? Well, I’ve already worked here for four and a half years, I really have enjoyed working here. I believe in the University of Reading, and I think the people and the body of students are great. I’d much rather be Vice Chancellor here than anywhere else. What’s your vision for the university in the next five years? One of the things that I have been talking about to colleagues around the university is the need for us to start rethinking who we are and what we are. We have grown quite quickly over the last five or six years - we have got about 25% more students, and whilst compared to many other universities in the sector that isn’t really an exception, I think what we really need to get right is the quality of achieving and learning. My vision and focus over the next few years will be to ensure that we are of a very high quality, and excel in everything we do.
“I recognise that students’ welfare and safety on campus are critically important”: Professor Robert van de Noort revealed he wants to expand UoR’s sense of community.
What aspect of student experience is the most important to you? I think there’s more than one aspect. I recognise that students’ welfare and safety is critically important. I think where I really want to go is
towards the sense that the university is a community, in the sense of academics and students. Professional staff are important too, but I think that intellectual interaction between academics and students - I would like to see much more of that. In a world of mass-higher education where nearly 50% of people come to university, I recognise how important it is that students are given the skills and the experiences so that they are ready for the world of work that comes afterwards.
[The most important thing is] “the people! I think there is a lot of work to be done to share the leadership and ownership of the success of the uni.”
What do you feel is the most important issue regarding the university as a whole? The people! I think there is quite a lot of work to be done to share the leadership and ownership of the success of the uni. This includes my colleagues but also students. So, I will work with everyone to try and determine the future of the university and how we are going to deliver that. How will you build a relationship with students? How do you plan to listen to and respond to their ideas and opinions? My relationship with the RUSU officers is good; we meet each other regularly. Also, my relationship with the executive board is good as we meet on a regular basis. I do want to debate the curriculum and student
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News
MARCH, 2019
SABITA BURKE
My Experience of Yoga with Sport in Mind Gemma King | 3rd year Psychology Sport in Mind is a local mental health charity that uses sport as a way to combat anxiety and stress for students. Every Monday 10:30 – 11:30 there are free yoga sessions at Sportspark, and anyone who is feeling stressed, anxious or struggling in some way, or who wants to do something positive for their mental health, can come along. It’s really easy to join the session - just go to SportsPark reception and tell them you’re with Sport in Mind. I have only ever done Yoga in the comfort of my own home, following Youtube tutorials, so I was a bit nervous of the prospect of doing it in front of others as a beginner. However, the class was very relaxed and perfect for beginners as it was a small class and the instructor was there to give guidance. We did poses that I had tried before, such as downward facing
versities in Europe and they are asking to keep our relationships ongoing. I hope that our students don’t see more of Brexit than they absolutely have to, but it’s difficult to know what is really going to happen. How do you plan to ensure Reading continues to grow? I want it to grow, but in the right way. I want us to grow because we are very good at what we do, not because it is a way of dealing with the cost of inflation or any financial challenges that come our way. What A point of surety we are doing at the moment is sayamid the uncertainties ing, we just need to stop growing for surrounding Brexit: a moment and make sure that we van de Noort says he are really providing the best qualiis working to “reassure ty education and research that we everyone that the can. We need to make sure this reuniversity will stay search is properly reflected in the open and international”. league tables so we can recruit the right quality, both in staff and stuWhat support do you intend to give dents. to international students in light of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit? What are you most looking forward to in your new role? I personally feel the uncertain- ties around Brexit because I am I’ve been out and about quite a lot, a Dutchman, and this is just fasci- and I think I’d like to do more of that. nating - I think this is a good word I’m going to a lecture tonight, and it to use. I don’t even know what my really is always great to hear what own status would be with a no-deal kind of research takes place at the Brexit! That doesn’t help others, but university. In ten days, I’m going to a memorial concert. It is great to hear I can only say we are trying to understand what is happening. Up about the brilliant work that both until now, we have been trying to our staff and our students are doreassure everybody that the Univer- ing. Just doing more of that brings sity will stay open and internation- a smile to one’s face and makes one al. We will continue to support stu- want to continue the work one does! dents who study abroad and are on Sabita Burke | News Editor an Erasmus exchange. We are already talking to our partner uniexperience more widely - to work with those who have already shown a great commitment to what they do, for example the School Reps. I want to start to involve them more in thinking through the challenges that come our way. With them, I want to find out how we can make sure students get the skills and experiences to get good jobs at the end of their degrees. I want to have a curriculum that fully reflects the interests of our students. I will probably start asking these questions from our students, rather than trying to do that with the staff.
lot of our time hunched over computer screens and on our phones, so it can be a great way to release some of the tension in the neck and back that this causes. Yoga also helps to build strength in your muscles as you are taught to hold positions over the course of several breaths. Holding these positions also help you to improve balance and build core strength. Focusing our attention on breathing and teaching how to take deeper breaths can help clear the nasal passages, and even calm the nervous system, which has both physical and mental benefits.
“A gentle practise of yoga releases a chemical called GABA in the brain, which suppresses the neural activity that leads to anxiety”. dog, but also some that I hadn’t tried such as Warrior 2, Trikonasana and Utkatasana. At the end we also did a breathing exercise called ‘alternate nostril breathing’ which sounds strange but it is used in yoga and meditation to focus and calm the mind, and restore balance in the left and right hemispheres of the brain. I went with my housemates and we all found it very relaxing. Yoga can be hugely beneficial for the body as well as the mind – here’s why: Body Yoga focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing. Moving and stretching in new ways will help you to become more flexible and release tight areas. At university, we seem to spend a
Mind As soon as you start breathing deeply and become more aware of your breathing, you calm your nervous system and slow down the fight or flight mode that we often don’t realise we are in. This helps to reduce stress and anxiety. A gentle practice of yoga also releases a chemical called Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which suppresses the neural activity that leads to anxiety. If you’re interested in trying yoga to help you de-stress and feel less anxious, I’d really recommend coming along to a Sport in Mind session. You can go every week, or you can just go when you feel you need it – there’s no judgement or expectations.
UROP: Applications Now Sabita Burke | News Editor Applications for the UoR’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme are now open, and will close on Friday, April 5th. The programme offers paid internship-like research placements for middle-year undergraduates (those not in their first or final years) to gain hands-on experience of the
world of academic research in a real study, working in an area of interest alongside academic professionals. The projects last for six weeks over the summer holidays. The programme offers an abundance of transferrable skills for your CV, as well as counting toward your hours for the Red Award.
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NEWS EDITOR EDITORIAL Sabita Burke | News Editor Welcome to the March news section of The Spark, where you can find out what’s been going on recently across campus and beyond. In the headlines, Professor Robert van de Noort has become Vice Chancellor. Our exclusive interview on the front cover and page 4 gives you an insight into his thoughts and feelings about UoR. On campus, the Hacking Society recently had a hackathon, which you can read about on page 10. Reading student Rebecca has been involved in the hot topic that is the Extinction Rebellion; she shares her experiences on page 12. March marks my last month of being News Editor, as I move on to my new role of Sub Editor. I hope everyone has enjoyed reading the news here in the last five months!
CAREERS FAIR SUCCESS
Sabita Burke | News Editor On Wednesday, February 6th, Rebecca Bradley, the School Representative of the School of Literature and Languages hosted a careers fair especially for English students. The event comprised of a series of exciting talks hosted by industry professionals such as journalists, editors and teachers. My personal favourite was Lottie Gross’s presentation on why freelance travel writing could be worth striving for. Not least importantly, there was also a free buffet lunch, including pizza and countless other goodies! Rebecca said: I wanted to help students in a small way with making a decision about their future!”
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News
MARCH, 2019
Political Opinion
MARCH, 2019
WHY WE VOTE FOR THE LABOUR PARTY
“Currently, the Labour Party is committed to extending democracy to every sphere of life” to 1.25 million council houses being built between 1945 and 1951; the Children’s Act of 1948 required all councils to provide decent homes for all children. Attlee’s Labour government managed to establish the post-war consensus. This was influenced by John
Maynard Keynes’ book General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money (1936). Labour committed to investing into public services to avoid economic catastrophe, like the Great Depression during the 1930s. Through the Marshall Aid, they nationalised the railways, road haulage and coal industries in 1947 and steel in 1951. This increased employment and created consensus between the two main parties. Clement Attlee’s Labour government is an example of politicians representing the working class and reducing wealth and income inequality. In terms of social issues, Labour advocated social progressive ideals. Regardless of your race, religious beliefs, gender or your sexual orientation, the party believes in equal opportunities and legal equality. Harold Wilson’s government in the 1960s is a testament to this ideal because they abolished the capital punishment, decriminalised consensual homosexual sex in private, implemented pro-choice legislation surrounding abortion and abolished theatre censorship. Labour managed to extend civil liberties to wider British society; they realised that they had to represent gender equality, freedom of expression and protect the LGBTQ community. They introduced the Race Relations Act of 1965 and 1968, which protected ethnic and racial minority groups. This solidified Labour’s solidarity with ordinary working people. Instead of scapegoating minority groups, they created an inclusive environment for everyone. Even the New Labour government extended protection of religious and ethnic minorities. The Race Relations Amendment Act of 2000 and the Religious Hatred Act of 2006 were passed through the House of Commons. Currently, the Labour Party is committed to extending democracy to every sphere of life through their policies. We recognise that austerity is a political choice, not an economic necessity. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government created a narrative that ‘over-spending’ led to the 2008 global financial crisis and it was New Labour’s fault. Reading about the causes of the cri-
Wage – estimated to be £10 per hour by 2020 – work will pay. Our pledge to ban unpaid internship is crucial. Reading University states each undergraduate student should do at least two summer internships in their three-year degree course and many of us would not work for free. There are other policies that Labour are committed to, but public services, housing and decent paying jobs
“There are other policies that Labour are committed to, but public services, housing and decent paying jobs are important for us. ”
Raj Khan | Second Year, English Literature & Politics Everyone votes for a political party for different reasons. Historically, the Labour Party ensured citizens from underprivileged backgrounds can easily engage within the democratic process. Regardless of race, religion, gender or your sexual orientation, Labour would provide socio-economic policies that liberate people from the shackles of deprivation. When studying British political history, it’s not hard to admire the transformative policies implemented by Clement Attlee’s government after World War Two. Whilst the country was devastated by the war, the newly elected Labour government established the welfare state. It followed the legacy of the Liberal politician William Beveridge, who wanted to remove five social problems: disease, idleness, ignorance, poverty and squalor. Several benefits arrived from the implementation of the British welfare state. The most famous example was the creation of the National Health Service in 1948. Despite some protestation from private General Practitioners, it provided universal healthcare to everyone, regardless of their class and family income. It increased social security spending: this included Family Allowances Act in 1945 and the National Assistance Act of 1948, which helped anyone in desperate need. Furthermore, the welfare state led
ing crisis. They will create new houses, including council homes, that are affordable and fit for human habitation. Too many young people cannot get on the housing market because rent is increasing quicker than people’s income. By voting Labour, there will be an inflation cap on rent rises for private renters. This will ensure private landlords cannot exploit their tenants.
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sis made us more passionate about supporting the Labour Party. It was not ‘over-spending’ that led to the crisis. It was the deregulation of the financial sector and allowing banks and corporations to misuse their powers. The policies of the coalition government were unfair because there was one rule for the corporate elite, and another rule for ordinary working people. Whilst spending cuts have driven more people into poverty and undermined vital public services, £1 trillion pounds of public money was used to bail out the banks following the financial collapse. Whilst in-work poverty has risen in eight years, 2,714 British bankers were paid more than €1 million in 2012 – twelve times as many compared to other EU member states. This shows that British society is moving away from meritocratic values. The 2017 general election allowed Labour to provide a vision for the country. We showed there is a socio-economic alternative to the policies of the Conservative party. Deregulation of the markets, spending cuts and privatisation of key essential services was detrimental to economic growth and to people’s lives. Labour showed the electorate there was another way to solve these challenging obstacles. Instead of austerity, Labour would make investment a priority whilst balancing the books. Our public services have already been starved, due to globalisation, so investment is necessary for future growth. This will improve our infrastructure. Another commitment is to bring rail, energy supply networks, water and Royal Mail back into democratic public ownership. This will stop fragmentation of our services and ensure there is democratic accountability in our economy. This includes Labour’s commitment to reduce tax evasion and tax avoidance amongst the corporate elite. If they are using our public services, they need to pay into the system. Homelessness has risen in our country, which is a tragedy. It’s important to vote for Labour because they will create a new Department for Housing that will solve the hous-
Finally, work needs to pay. Thousands of workers do not make enough money to pay their bills. By abolishing zero hours contract, we are guaranteed certain number of hours of work every week. By raising the Minimum Wage to a Living
are important for us. By learning the history of the Labour Party, we envisage a society that works for the many, not the few. The Spark Newspaper encourages opinions from all students. Send article ideas to news@sparknewspa-
News
Professor Robert van de Noort appointed as Vice Chancellor of the University Taz Usher | Print Editor
The University of Reading has announced its new vice-chancellor. Professor Robert Van de Noort has been acting vice-chancellor since September last year following the departure of his predecessor, Sir David Bell. Staff and students were involved in the appointment process and Paul Preston, president of the university’s governing council, said that the professor had demonstrated an inclusive approach while he had been acting vice-chancellor. He added: “He will bring a balance of both continuity and refreshed vision to the university”.
Professor Van de Noort said he is hugely privileged to take on the role and his top priority will be working with the university community and its partners. “Our focus must be on quality in both research and teaching, while providing our students with an inclusive, welcoming environment that sets them up for long-term career success,” he added. He begins his role immediately. This is his fifth year working at the University since joining as pro-vice-chancellor for academic planning and resources in 2014.
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News
MARCH, 2019
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News
MARCH , 2019
Word of the Month: Dysania
Sabita Burke | News Editor Are you that student who’s always late to your 9 a.m.? Is being up before midday an insurmountable difficulty for you, and not just because you had one too many snakebites at Parky B last night? TAZ USHER
If your answer is yes, you might have dysania. This is the unofficial name for the disorder-like,
[Dysania] is the unofficial name for the physical and emotional inability to get out of bed physical and emotional inability to get out of bed every day, no matter how much sleep you’ve had. Whilst this may resemble daily routine for countless numbers of us students just because we’re the
kings and queens of laziness, dysa nia can also be a symptom of more serious conditions. An inability to find the willpower or energy to get out of bed has often been linked to depression and other mental health issues. The difficulty itself can also be the cause of stress and anxiety, or alternatively, be caused by them. So, if you or any of your friends have been struggling to make it out of bed and you haven’t been feeling quite yourself recently, consider whether this is part of a bigger problem that you could look into dealing with. Always remember to take care of yourselves!
What is UoR doing Sabita Burke | News Editor In recent months, the University applied for planning permission to create a public natural area for walking on the land it owns in the Wokingham Borough. A heated council meeting took place to discuss this on Wednesday, February 13th. The application was voted down by the majority of those present due to the unsuitability of the land for the proposed development. This decision was met with cheers of approval from the local residents who had come to protest against the plan. A further planning application had also been put forth but was deferred due to the previous proposal being deemed unsuitable. This plan would have seen a housing estate built on some of the University’s land just outside Whiteknights Campus. These ideas were in line with the University’s bid to become more profitable, and to make use of all of its assets. Recently, the University has been under the scrutiny of the public eye, including being the subject of a harsh article by The Guardian. This article stated that UoR reported itself to regulators with a £121m loan. In response to this, the now-Vice Chancellor, Professor Robert van
Study Space at RUSU Sabita Burke | News Editor
What are your favourite places on campus that you only found out about after having been at uni for months? While beauty spots such as the Harris Gardens and the woods next to it will obviously be strong contenders for many, my new favourite find has to be The Study on the back of RUSU. To my surprise, every single undergraduate student I shouted from the rooftops to about The Study’s lovely kitchen with its free-to-use microwave and kettle, was completely unaware that this
handy little space even existed! Aside from the kitchen and bathroom, The Study comprises of three large rooms, one for group discussions and two for silent work, with a nice mixture of practical desks and comfy sofas. So next time you have a study day on campus or are stuck at uni over your lunch break between lectures on a cold March day and find yourself craving a hot lunch, simply walk round to the left of RUSU and the area is signposted on the side wall.
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All students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, are allowed to use the rooms and facilities. Just remember to bring your campus card to swipe at the door on entry.
The Study comprises of three large rooms, one for group discussion and two for silent work.
SABITA BURKE
Vice Chancellor Professor Robert van de Noort pointed out that “universities are lucky to be under the microscope”. de Noort, published a piece in the Times Higher Education. In this, he pointed out that it is in fact a positive thing that our university is under such scrutiny, and that “universities are lucky to be under the microscope”. This, he said, is because it proves that higher education institutions like ours are still important and relevant to society.
SABITA BURKE
He also commented that the Guardian’s allegations were “not a fair criticism”, and that the University’s real financial concerns “have already been dealt with”. In case anyone was worried, it seems as though we’re not going bust!
SABITA BURKE
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FREE LEARNING Sabita Burke | News Editor The University has partnered with the digital learning platform Futurelearn to create a free, online course entitled “Rome: A Virtual Tour of the Ancient City”. This and many other courses are accessible for free on www. futurelearn.com. This is perfect if you’re craving a break from your degree but still want to be productive.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHANCELLOR’S AWARD WINNERS
Sabita Burke | News Editor Back in January, the annual award ceremony was held to celebrate the 2017/18 winners of the Chancellor’s Award. The Chancellor’s Award recognises the hard work and achievement of the one student in each department at UoR who has previously achieved the highest overall mark in their course of study. Well done to all winners!
CAMPUS PANCAKES
Olga Shevchenko | MSc Applied International Development In March the Chaplaincy invited everyone to celebrate Pancake Day. Originally the day that celebrated the start of fasting, it is now more of a feel-good tradition. In addition to the pancakes, there were also delicious waffles. All the jams and chocolate spreads at the event were Fairtrade, since the Chaplaincy is promoting a Fairtrade movement.
MARCH, 2019
STUDENTS CALLED UPON FOR BOOK SUBMISSIONS Sabita Burke | News Editor
A new publishing house has opened in Hampshire that is designed especially for young writers such as students. Salad Pages launched in August 2018 to specifically help innovative authors aged 22 and under who otherwise might find it difficult to have a book accepted by a publisher because of a lack of experience. The boutique publishing house, which nurtures young talent, is now calling for manuscripts from students. They accept any genre. Salad Pages is the brainchild of husband and wife duo Matt and Claire Napoli, who have a desire to make the process of publishing a book a positive experience. Claire, 33, Publishing Director of Salad Pages, commented: “We know only too well university students have amazing book ideas and very often will have committed their thought-provoking concepts to the page. “However, we know from experience how difficult it is for young authors to get noticed. We set up Salad Pages to celebrate the amazing, talented young authors out there.
“After all, if you look at some of the most successful authors, like Stephen King and Danielle Steel, they started writing when they were 22 and under. “We care about our authors and we really enjoy what we do, which shows in our work. Publishing with Salad Pages is exciting and there is nothing better than encouraging new talent. “We want to see young writers given the prominence they deserve. This is a new age of books.” Salad Pages was launched by Claire, who has worked in publishing for more than a decade, and Commercial Director Matt, whose
“We want to see young writers given the prominence they deserve.” background is in the legal world. Writers who have a submission accepted by Salad Pages will be personally mentored and given all the support and expertise they need to see their book published.
Salad Pages is the brainchild of husband and wife duo Matt & Claire
And when they turn 23, Salad Pages’ authors will be invited to become mentors to other budding writers to encourage the next generation of talented authors. Claire said: “Salad Pages really champions the young writer. “We will support them right the way through, from developing their manuscript to publishing, sales and marketing. “Our authors are our stars and we put them right at the heart of the whole publishing process. “It really is an exciting time for writers. Everybody has a thrilling story to tell and we want to read as many as possible from The Uni-
versity of Reading. “We know there is a wealth of talent at Reading, so get in touch! We’d really love to hear from you.” As someone who has held a passion for producing novels, poetry and short stories ever since I was a young child, I wish a place like this had existed sooner. I believe this new business has the opportunity to give many aspiring writers like myself the helping hand we need, and maybe even make someone’s dreams come true. Budding authors can contact Salad Pages by visiting www.saladpages.com.
News
MARCH, 2019
Faith and Fairylights: Inside the ‘Human’ Marquee Abigail Knight | Third Year, Geography At the end of January, a large white tent appeared in the Palmer Quad – you may have spotted it! The Christian Union hosted their annual week of events, this year based around the question, “what does it mean to be human?”
At the end of January, a large white tent appeared in the Palmer Quad – you may have spotted it! The Christian Union hosted their annual week of events, this year based around the question, “what does it mean to be human?” Each day the café in the tent was open, serving free hot drinks which were particularly welcome on the Friday of the week when it was very cold and snowy! The atmos-
There will be more one-off events around Easter, so do keep your eyes peeled for those! phere in the tent was warm and welcoming, with sofas and blankets in the ‘chill zone,’ and tables and chairs where people could sit to study or chat. Throughout the week, there were burrito bars at lunch time and a variety of evening events including a cheese and wine night, and a dessert night. Each event included a short talk, exploring the Christian perspective on what it means to be human; issues including sexism and suffering were considered, and big questions such as ‘what am I really worth?’ and ‘where can I be accepted?’ were discussed. Naomi Veira, a second-year student shared her thoughts on the week: “I loved having a really cosy place on campus to study and
hang out. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, and it was so interesting to hear speakers talking on such a range of topics. One of my favourites was talking about the historical evidence for Jesus, that was really cool! And it was so great to hear discussions on really relevant topics, such as Jesus and Feminism!” Most of the talks were shared between two guest speakers, Ollie Lansdowne and Ali Reid, both of whom work with students in Oxford. With over 100 people at each event, many students engaged with the Q&A sessions, and were encouraged to think about where they find meaning in their lives. Those who came also heard from members of the Christian Union throughout the week who shared how being a Christian affects their perspective on life. It was fascinating to hear such a wide variety of stories from people with very different backgrounds, yet who have all found complete satisfaction and acceptance in Jesus Christ. It was an incredible week and, although the tent has gone, it’s not over! The Christian Union has many things going on throughout the year; weekly meetings include CU Central on Thursdays (19:00, EM G27) and Small World Café, for international students, on Fridays (19:00, EM G44); everything is free, and anyone and everyone is welcome. There will be more oneoff events around Easter, so do keep your eyes peeled for those! For more information, search for Reading CU on Facebook, or look find them on the RUSU website www.rusu.co.uk/societies/rucu.
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WHY YOU SHOULD START A BUSINESS AT UNIVERSITY
During my final year here at Reading, I have launched my own clothing company called Reeves of Henley, whilst also studying for my degree. In this article, I have outlined the key benefits that I found for starting a business as a student and why you should do the same. 1. Resources - Whilst at university, students are surrounded by resources that can be great for new businesses. There are art and design departments, IT specialists, photography societies, and postal services to name a few. All of these useful resources are available to help a business begin. 2. Mentors – Universities are full of experts in a large variety of fields who are willing to offer their advice. As well as lecturers, there is a large number of alumni who are also willing to offer their support and help get your business idea off the ground. 3. Time - Sometimes as a student you may feel like there is no spare time to at all. However, the reality is that whilst at university you are completely in control of how you
spend your time and you are able to allocate time for a new venture that interests you. 4. Customers – At university, you have a target market of nearly
it shows you have ambition and that you willing to work hard. This will allow you to differentiate from others when applying for graduate jobs after university. Reeves of Henley is currently of-
Reeves of Henley is currently offering 20% off all products for Reading Students with discount code: SPARK on their website 20,000 staff and students on your doorstep. Depending on your business idea, this can be a great place to launch your business and test the market before investing lots of resource into it. 5. CV – Starting your own business as a student makes you stand out,
fering 20% off all products for Reading Students with discount code: SPARK on their website www.reevesofhenley.com. Charlie Reeve, Third Year Entrepreneurship
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News
MARCH, 2019 REBECCA JONES
EXTINCTION REBELLION: FIGHT FOR LIFE ‘System change not climate change’ - a pressing request voiced at the Youth Strike For Climate Rebecca Jones | Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science Last month, the UK experienced crisis. The 31st of October 2018 its hottest day in February ever saw the birth of Extinction Rebelrecorded; the first-time winter lion (EX-R), and since then, the temperatures had ever exceedmovement has grown into 206 aued 20⁰C. But whilst downplaying tonomous groups in 24 countries. The power of its focused non-vionarratives of cornetto crunching lent direct action is speaking for families on beaches were occupyitself, with the biggest act of civil ing the front pages of the national disobedience the UK has seen in media, there lay a darker side to decades taking place on the 17th the reporting. of November 2018. 5 of London’s biggest bridges blocked, less than Some responded with facts that a month after the declaration. put this heatwave into a suddenWhen we consider this, it is obvily terrifying context, one of these ous that the message of EX-R, to being that this is just another ‘hottest day on record’ badge to add to the sash of the 21st Century. Concerningly displaying 16 of the 17 hottest years ever recorded. Only when we combine this ‘glorious day’ with the dawning of the ‘Anthropocene’, the sixth greatest mass extinction, and ravaging environmental disaster, we start to see the full picture. This picture is what impassioned a group of people to change it, declaring a tell the truth about our impending rebellion on the British Governclimate disaster, simply resonated ment for inaction on this climate
“Last month, the UK experienced its hottest day in February ever recorded”
with concerns already bubbling in the consciousness of our society. It is now undeniable that we are running out of time. The results of the latest International Panel on Climate Change (ICCP) report state that we have just 12 years in which to halt irrevocable, runaway, climate change. But the clouds closer to home are tinged with silver. Assisted by pressure from Reading EX-R, as of the 26th of February, Reading Borough Council (RBC) unanimously declared a climate emergency, outlining aims to make Reading carbon neutral by 2030. This is an amazing achievement, but this now relies upon continuing pressure so that the national government delivers the resources RBC needs to fulfil this pledge. Are we disheartened that when climate change gets a spotlight in the Commons for the first time in 2 years, a mere 40 MPs show up?
Reading Borough Council (RBC) unanimously declared a climate emergency, outlining aims to make Reading carbon neutral by 2030. Maybe, yes. But what I see most is anger, and hunger for change. This hunger is no more fervently present than in the youth. In August 2018, 16-year old Swedish student, Greta Thunberg staged a one person protest outside of the Swedish parliament every school day for 3 weeks, continuing to do so every Friday since. Capturing the imagination of thousands of students distraught by the lack of education and action on this existential threat, this gave rise to the ‘Fridays for Future’ movement. Greta paved the way for students in over 60 UK towns to take to the streets and demand action on climate change on the 15th of February global ‘Youth Strike 4 Climate’. The next day of action on March
the 15th, already sees over 500 locations in 51 countries taking part, including Reading, and EX-R will feel privileged to support students engaging in this. The youth have their eyes wide open, and they will not rest again until they’ve reclaimed their futures, squandered by those in power. Climate justice is social justice, it ensures that the prospects open to generations before will exist in the lives of generations to come, and we can all play a part. Please, if you are interested in averting this catastrophe, we would love to hear from you via any of the mediums listed below: Email: xrreading@gmail.com Facebook: Extinction Rebellion
News
MARCH , 2019
We should all be hacking! Olga Shevchenko | MSc Applied International Development
On February 16-17 the University of Reading society R U Hacking has held their second Hackathon in the Henley Business school, which was attended by nearly 75 students from UK universities. Hackathon is a programming marathon, where teams of 2-4 put their ideas together to create something in 24 hours. It gives teams of hackers a chance to turn their ideas into reality and present them. I spoke to Ludmila Cerne, the society secretary, and to Andrejus Kostarevas, the president, about their society and organizing hackathon. This Hackathon is the second one for the society, and the first one after joining the Major League Hacking, the official student hackathon league. This year the outreach brought more participants, and in the same time committee has managed to get more sponsors, resulting in a £10,000 event budget. Among the sponsors there were BMI, Reading Buses, Investec, and CodeWizards. It was possible to interact with the sponsors, including talking to them about jobs and internships. I have noticed that there were more males than females amongst the hackers, but according to Andrejus the number of the female attendants of the event is quite high. Women constitute around 10% of the computer science course in the university, and 30%
of them were registered for the Hackathon. Ludmila hopes that next year there will be even more women, as they try to specifically target this audience during Hackathon media outreach. For Andrejus, organizing the Hackathon in Reading is giving back. Just the last year he has won the prize at his first hackathon for developing a chat bot. For Ludmila, this is an invaluable experience as she is hoping to organize similar event in her own school of chemistry. To her, Hackathon is a place to learn how to work in team and something to put into a CV. For the hackers, Hackathon is the place to bring their ideas to life at with the opportunity to borrow some devices and components like Fitbit and learn new skills at the workshops that covered Git, Docker, and Twilio basics. They were not even distracted due to hunger as the event was well-catered, with pizza, sandwiches, snacks and drinks. If you want to join the R U Hacking society or know more about similar events, be sure to check their website https://www.ruhacking. me/.
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Tackling Youth Loneliness Sabita Burke | News Editor The Uni Bubble aims to tackle student loneliness across the UK and Australia. The group is named Tackling Youth Loneliness – The Uni Bubble. It is a closed group, meaning the administrators are able to keep it a safe space with a high level of privacy. Anyone who is a student or a young person is welcome to request to join. The Uni Bubble is an online organisation which promotes student life. You may know them as the guys who pop up in your news feed with spicy memes about how little studying they’ve done all day. In fact, The Uni Bubble cares not only about what crazy stuff went down at the last rave we attended, but also about our welfare. The group is designed to be a community to give students a safe space to discuss youth loneliness and to support one another. The group currently has over 2,900 members and is active with many posts from students all across the UK. Post topics range from individuals reaching out to others who may be going through the same struggles as them for support, to people from specific universities asking if anyone would like to meet up. Taylan Gull, part of the Uni Bubble team who I already knew, said: “When we published an article around how unexpected the feeling of loneliness at university can be, I saw that thousands of students were reading, commenting on and sharing the piece. It was clear from the response that loneliness was an issue facing loads of students, but that it wasn’t being spoken about enough. So, we de-
ROBERT PRATLEY
“Hilis aut officiae invero discipsam dolorepero odiam serferio con eventiis min pro etur?” cided to create an online community which would give students a space to connect with others who are experiencing the same thing while also helping to lessen the stigma around youth loneliness.” She added: “I’d encourage them to join the group anyway and take a look at what else has been posted in the group. There’s no requirement to post in the group so if someone feels uncomfortable doing so then there’s certainly no pressure for them to. “The group is a really supportive space so they don’t need to worry about feeling judged if they do
want to post. “We’re also introducing a feature where group members can send us an anonymous message and we’ll post it in the group, to help those that might want to come to the group for advice but are apprehensive speaking out.” It is important to try and break down the stigma surrounding loneliness, and to tackle the idea that at if you are at university this automatically means you are constantly surrounded by friends. Remember, there is no shame in loneliness. It is not a failure.
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Notice Board
MARCH 18 , 2019
MARCH , 2019
QUICK ANNOUNCEMNTS
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Mojo’s Mondays present: Live music with Perkie, Laura Goldthorp & Casey Tufnell Monday 18th March, Mojo’s Bar
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Jazz & Juice with Reading University Music Society. A night of jazz music and coctails: what’s not to love? Friday 22nd March, Mojo’s Bar
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Comedy Central Live ft. Eshaan Akbar Tuesday 26th March, Mojo’s Bar
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DANCE #20 event with Hybrid Minds. English DJ & Production duo Hybrid Minds are joined by Josh White and Matthew Lowe at the end of term. Friday 29th March, Reading Univerty Students’ Union
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Mojo’s Mondays present: Live music with Sven, Half Time Talks & Buds Monday 29th April, Mojo’s Bar
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Awards Balls - Society, Media, Sports and Dance Monday 29th April, 3sixty
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Women’s Rugby Union match: Knights 1st team V Portsmouth 1st team Wednesday 27th March, Reading University Sports Park
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Women’s Basketball match: Knights 1st team V Goldsmith’s University 1st team Wednesday 27th March, Deptford Green School
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Men’s Squash match: Knights 1st team V University of Sussex 1st team Wednesday 27th March, Reading University Sports Park
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VARSITY Saturday 30th March, Reading University Students’ Union
Notice Board
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Lifestyle
MARCH, 2019
Lifestyle
WHY DON’T WE WANT TO B Living in a society where there is little to no positivity within the news, we can ask the question: Is good news no news? Rosie Neville | Lifestyle editor. Reading the news, it sometimes feels like the only things happening in the world are negative. Obviously so many good and positive things are happening, however we hardly hear of these. Over the past few years, there have been so many news stories which can be summed up by simply describing them with the word sad. Around 90% of all news published is negative. Happy stories do not seem to interest us; we need more than this, yet it is difficult to understand why we want to feel sad. It wouldn’t be right to say that we enjoy sad things, I think that a better way to describe it is by saying that we are drawn towards them. I am not sure why this is, but it does seem that we are. People don’t seem to want to read news stories that are just nice; happy things do not make news anymore. When we see a news story about a natural disaster, or a criminal, we want to read it. Similarly, there are so many videos on YouTube with the most shocking titles such as ones describing the deaths of close relatives or the terminal illnesses that they are facing, and there are millions of views. In no way can I even begin to question or criticise the fact that people choose to upload these videos - they are grieving and struggling and people have different ways of processing things that help them, so this is completely understandable. What I do struggle to understand though, is what makes us click on them? Why do so many people want to watch these videos? Why do we want to read stories from grieving mothers and people who are in pain? We do all of these things knowing how it will make us feel. We are all aware that it will make us feel sad. The most obvious answer to this is the idea of catharsis - maybe it is because we like to feel things, and we want to care. We may
have normal, happy lives, yet we optionally choose to spend time on things which make us feel sad. Obviously it is important for us to empathise and sympathise, but why do we want to inflict sadness upon ourselves? Maybe we click on these videos or read these things as a way to relate or to understand. Maybe it is out of a desire for positivity, so that we can feel better about our lives. Most of us love a sad song, film or book. From young ages there are books recommended for children which cover things like the death of siblings, or abusive parents, or friends who are ill. As children, we are forced to feel sad about things, and furthermore, we want to. This carries on throughout life. My original title for this article was ‘why do we want to be sad?’, but this would mean that I would be doing exactly what I wish other people wouldn’t. I should be focusing on the fact that we should all be more happy, not dwelling on the fact that we want to be sad. By happy news, I don’t necessarily mean news such as ‘cat saved from being stuck up tree’, I just mean news that doesn’t focus on negativity. For example, instead of the title ‘man forced to watch wife suffer through final days ending 60 years together’, the title could be ‘devoted husband spends finals days by wife’s bed after a lifetime of 60 years together’. Nothing takes away from the fact that it is an unfathomably sad story, and there is no way that it could ever be something which makes you feel happy, however I don’t understand why we would want to make it even more sad and even more negative than it already is. To put it simply, happiness is a good feeling and sadness is a bad feeling, so why would we ever choose sadness?
We should all be more happy, not dwelling on the fact that we want to be sad. LICKR/MARCOVERCH
Lifestyle
MARCH, 2019
BE HAPPY? FLICKR/FAUNGG
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The Jam Jar Revolution II Imogen Mason-Evans and Sophie Gibbons. As fans of The Jam Jar Revolution’s principal publishing will know, Collins Dictionary announced ‘single-use’ as the word of 2018, citing that it has seen a “four-fold increase” in use since 2013. The word is most often associated with plastic and packaging but refers ultimately to any item that is intended to be disposed of after first use. Our Jam Jar Revolution hopes to squash the villainy of single-use and champion ‘re-use’ as the word of 2019 by rescuing glass jam jars from the dreaded never-to-be-taken piles for the bottle bank and putting them back into good use. One month on since our previous call to action, the war on waste wages on. We, the environmentally conscious snowflakes of the world, with the help of our friends the noble jam jars have won the first battle in the revolution against ‘single-use’ with reusable jam jar food hacks that satisfy stomachs, hearts and our dear planet Earth. Now we are moving our fight from the kitchen to the bedroom with jam jar homeware. To join our revolution, all you need to do is wash out and keep
Vases Take the previous hack one step further, taller jars such as sauce jars or glass bottles can make for the perfect flower vases. Better yet, bring the outdoors in permanently and make your own tiny garden by filling empty jars with soil and cuttings from the garden.
Lighting Fill a jar with a strip or battery powered fairy lights and let it softly light your bedroom. Group mul-
housemates to write down their favourite university memories so far then wait until graduation day before you look again together… reduce, reuse, re-live?
Scent Diffuser Sick of that damp student house smell? Welcome the fresh feels of a naturally fragranced room by raiding your cupboards and filling a jar with your favourite citrus fruits, spices, herbs and extracts then simply topping up with water. Unlike the momentary self-
Sick of that damp student house smell? Welcome the fresh feels of a naturally fragranced room by raiding your cupboards... your glass jars and bottles then apply them to one of our handy home hacks. What’s the best thing about reusing glass jars in your home decorations, you ask? As your style changes, simply empty/ wash the glass and use again. Reduce, reuse, restyle!
Storage
How to Improve Your Sleeping Pattern Lydia Broadley | 2nd Year English Literature. Though it’s easier said than done, try and set yourself a regular schedule and stick to it. Even if you’ve pulled an all-nighter for a deadline or if you’ve had a heavy night at union, getting up at the same time every day will form a habit and make it easier for your body to wake up. Once you’ve got a routine in place, try to avoid napping as it can make you significantly more tired in the day and can impact the quality of sleep you have at night. If you really must nap, try to stick
The easiest and most obvious reuse and restyle: jam jars make the perfect storage container for makeup brushes, pens or even accessories. Remember, just because they start their life clear doesn’t mean you can’t add some ‘war paint’ so unleash that creative flare and decorate with paints, ribbon, lace or even stickers.
to just 10 minutes so you don’t get into REM sleep. Although you’ve probably been told this numerous times, screen-time before bed can make it considerably harder to get a good night sleep so it’s a good idea to unplug at least an hour before bed if possible, if it’s not then putting your device on night-mode is a good start.
Few people realise how easy writing for The Spark is.
One of the best things you can do is give yourself a reward every time you get up without snoozing your alarm – be it your favourite breakfast or an episode of your favourite show on Netflix.
Any Reading Students can write for us and we welcome any ideas and suggestions. We also give you ideas of articles that you could cover each month. The lifestyle section covers things such as
tiple jars together on your desk for a concentrated light source or spread them across your bedroom for softer mood lighting. Don’t forget to try coloured lights!
care connoisseur vibes you get from drinking lemon infused water the morning after union, these sweet scents will last weeks.
Piggy Bank Save your money and the planet! Drop your spare coins into an empty jar and resist the temptation until it’s full - the taller the jar, the more money you save!
Memory Jar University is all about making memories, keep yours safe by storing souvenirs like fresher’s wristbands, ticket stubs and your lucky exam pen in a decorated glass jar. Or why not get your
Writing For The Spark Rosie Neville | Lifestyle editor. travel, fashion and makeup, mental health, stigmas, recipes, and anything along these lines. Writing for the newspaper is such a great thing to have on your CV; if you are interested then join our FaceBook page - The Spark Lifestyle Group, or email us - lifestyle@ sparknews
SABITA BURKE
MARCH, 2019
THE KEY TO STAYING MOTIVATED Laura McClintock | First Year International Development
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Lifestyle
WHAT ON EARTH IS TAOISM? Josh Coombes | Second Year Philosophy and English Literature
We all have aspirations that we want to achieve in life, but for some of us staying motivated to achieve them can be difficult. Best-selling author Simon Sinek says that one of the first things you should establish when trying to achieve something is ‘why’ you are trying to achieve this in the first place. The reason behind this is that when the going gets tough (and it always does) you can motivate yourself with your ‘why’. Your ‘why’ is the reason you are doing what you are doing. If you are an undergraduate, perhaps you chose to study at university in order to get your dream job, or progress onto further study. If you are trying to stick to a new workout routine, maybe you chose to do this so that you are able to play with your animals or children without getting exhausted. Your why doesn’t have to be revolutionary, but it helps to remember why you are doing what you are doing with your time in order to stay on track. However, perhaps you do not have a goal in mind; often we experience lack of motivation with a complete lack of direction. It may help to take some time to think about what your goals are. Some questions that may help with this; am I happy? Am I doing what I enjoy? If not, what steps could I take to change this? What am I good at? Where do I want to be in 5 years’ time? 10 years’ time? What are the steps I need to take to achieve this? Once you know what you want to achieve, and more importantly, why you want to achieve it, you can remind yourself of this when you find yourself needing motivation to carry on.
“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.” With these words, Lao-tzu begins the Tao Te Ching (pronounced DOW DEH JEENG), the fundamental text of Taoism and the most translated text in human history besides the Bible. It is no surprise, then, that sharing Taoism with a new audience is tricky; after all, we are used to neat categorisations and tidy definitions. The concept of Tao (Chinese for “way”) is not something that can be defined perfectly, but roughly speaking, it refers to the underlying natural order of the universe. If it helps, think of the Force from Star Wars. The Encyclopaedia Britannica suggests that, on a cosmic scale, Tao is a “force or principle that … contains all things and spontaneously generates the universe through its constant rhythmic fluctuations,” going on to highlight that humanity will not flourish if its own Tao does not harmonise with this natural order. What attracted me to Taoism? Perhaps it was the Taoist attitude towards life. Taoists are carefree people, filling their lives with acceptance and playfulness. They
care about the simple things in life: when I asked an online Taoist community what was important to them, one user replied, “Loving.” This is unsurprising. Lao-tzu wrote in Verse 67 of the Tao Te Ching that the three treasures of Taoism are compassion, humility, and simplicity, and these principles support the entire philosophy. Compassion is self-explanatory and is the source of courage. To be humble, one must be content to occupy a low station in life; at the top of the social ladder, one is exposed to the world’s destructive forces—but further down the lad-
The concept of Tao.. refers to the underlying natural order of the universe. der, or even on the ground, one allows themselves time to ripen and bear fruit, so to speak. Of these three virtues, simplicity is perhaps the most unusual addition. The Taoist view on simplicity is referred to as the principle of
the Uncarved Block: when things are kept simple, they contain a natural power that would be absent if the simplicity were removed. As Benjamin Hoff puts it in The Tao of Pooh, a book I highly recommend, “When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret … Life is Fun.” This is a view shared by the late, great Alan Watts. Search YouTube for “Life Is Not a Journey” and you will find a short animation of one of his lectures, in which he points out that the purpose of life is not to get to a certain goal—because once we do, we will inevitably think “Is this it?” Instead, life is better understood by analogy with a piece of music. A piece of music is playful. You don’t work an instrument, you play an instrument. The end of a song isn’t the point of the song. Dancers don’t aim at a spot in the room and work towards it. Similarly, the point of life isn’t to work towards something: life is like a piece of music, and we’re happiest if we sing and dance along with it. Another concept of Taoism—one you might have heard of—is the
duality of yin and yang. It’s the circle with a white half and a black half, and there’s a white dot on the black side and a black dot on the white side. I’m sure you know it. The black side is called yin, and it stands for the feminine, passive principles of nature. The white side is yang, standing for masculine, active natural principles. Taoism places an emphasis on both. While it has been characterised as a passive philosophy, the importance of activity is recognised. Without yang, there could be no yin, and vice versa. The same applies to everything. Without what we call ugliness, there could be no beauty. Without what we call evil, there could be no good. Extremes rely upon each other, and a surefire way to become unhappy is to try to hold on to one extreme and avoid the other. On that note, I will leave you with a quote from an unintentionally Taoist book I read recently, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson: “The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience.” May the Tao be with you. KOPPDALANEY
Taoists are carefree people, filling their lives with acceptance and playfulness.
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Lifestyle
MARCH , 2019
Is Dieting Healthy? Lydia Broadley | Second Year English Literature Summer’s fast approaching, bringing with it the familiar pressure that comes around every year to get ‘summer body ready’ and cut out all your favourite foods – I think 2019 is the year we should put this to an end. o. Gendissi
PANCAKE DAY RECIPE
NIA DALTON
FLICKR/ALANG
Conflicting messages about what we should and shouldn’t be eating are being constantly fired at us from all angles; one minute we’re told not to eat carbs, the next we’re being told that fat is the devil and let’s not even get into the debate over whether breakfast should be skipped or if it’s the most important meal of the day. It is no secret that chronic dieters will go through life in a cycle of losing and regaining weight which can
It is miserable to spend life yoyo dieting and feeling guilty for having pizza. be detrimental to both mental and physical health. Dieting is not only frustrating and draining for most people, but what begins as an innocent diet can easily develop into far more serious issues such as disordered eating and eating disorders over time. Restricting and controlling food intake to such degrees is not natural – it can easily become the centre of your life. Should you go out for a drink with friends when you haven’t ‘saved’ the calories from the day? What if they get a pizza? How can you go out for a spontaneous brunch when you haven’t studied the menu and looked up the nutritional information be-
forehand? Should you go on that night out and risk being hungover and starving the next day? Furthermore, where’s the fun in watching your friends eat the pancakes you’re so craving while you have to pretend you’re excited about your bowl of porridge? Our bodies know far more about our needs than we give them credit for, we don’t need to control every calorie that we eat. Some days our body will use more energy than others and therefore require more food. Some days we crave all the chocolate we can eat, others we will naturally not be as hungry and would choose a salad over a chocolate bar anyway – it all balances out and trying to fight what your body asks for is ultimately going to make you miserable. It is miserable to spend life yo-yo dieting and feeling guilty for having a pizza out with friends or for having that extra VK on a night out when it wasn’t allowed for in your plan. When you look back on life do you want to remember the fun you had with the people you love or the times when you didn’t join in because you didn’t want to eat anything ‘unhealthy’? This summer, don’t say no to an ice cream on the beach with your best friend because you’re ‘being good’, have second helpings at your family BBQ without feeling the need to ‘make up for it’ in the days to come and realise that there is so much more to life than how many calories are in your salad.
Nia Dalton | Third Year English Language and Applied Linguistics Shrove Tuesday: the one day of the year that eating pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner is acceptable.Best of all, pancake ingredients are as cheap as chips; you can feed your whole flat for under £5! Fry them, flip them and feast on lots of different flavours. Whether you’re a nutella and strawberries lover, or a sucker for bacon and maple syrup - stack ‘em up and get creative with your toppings!
For the fluffiest American pancakes follow this recipe: Ingredients (makes 15 large pancakes): 270g plain flour 2tsp baking powder 1tsp salt 4 tbsp caster sugar 260ml milk 2 large eggs 4tbsp melted butter/olive oil
Method: Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk the milk, eggs and butter. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and beat until a smooth batter. Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add a ladle of batter. When the pancake begins to bubble, flip it!
And now for the toppings… Craving savoury? Eggs and sausages Bacon and maple syrup Mushrooms and spinach Sweet tooth? Lemon and sugar Nutella and berries Peanut butter and banana
Shrove Tuesday: the one day of the year that eating pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner is acceptable.
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Entertainment
MARCH , 2019
Entertainment
THE FEBRUARY ALBUM, AW SHOW AND FESTIVAL NEWS As the year trundles along, new music has kept on coming from all sides... Jack Hawes | First Year Politics After reforming in 2016 and bringing out their album ‘Night Drive’, pop-party legends Busted return with a new album ‘Half Way There’. It’s an album that brings back the fun of early noughties pop with a cheeky grin and gelled up spiky hair. Though, they weren’t the only pop-party staple who made a return this month as Avril Lavigne, who brought out her new album, ‘Head Above Water’. However, we didn’t just see returns from the early noughties, as British legends, The Specials, returned with a passion and a fury, as they tackle the chaos of Brexit, the pain of austerity, racism, inequality, showing they never lost their power as commentators for a broken nation. Frontman of The Stone Roses, Ian Brown, also brought out his new album ‘Ripples’, bringing back the pure psychedelic Mancunian rock that he ruled the eighties with. In more mainstream news, Drake’s BFF, Giggs, brought out his new album, ‘BIG BAD…’, which sees the grime artist return with a hunger. After months of hype, Ariana Grande, brought out ‘Thank, U Next’, a cathartic album that’s also a ton of fun. A few months ago, the name Lewis Capaldi may have been one that would have passed many by, but after the release of the music video for ‘Someone You Loved’, (starring former Doctor Who and distant relation to Lewis, Peter Capaldi) the Scottish singer/ songwriter has been catapulted to stardom. This month he scored his first UK number one and already dates on his UK tour have sold out, including Brixton and Glasgow, all this happening before the release of his debut LP, ‘Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent’ comes out in month. Also, if you follow him on any of his socials, you’ll
know he’s got some right good craic, so all the best to the lad. In more alternative news, syncpop legends, LCD Soundsystem, released their third live album the ‘Electric Lady Sessions’ which featured live performances of tracks from their new album but also covers from artists like Chic and Soft Cell. Nottingham political punk rockers Sleaford Mods brought out their new album ‘Eton Alive’, (see what they did there?). However, the hype around their new release may have been marred by frontman, Jason Williamson, calling out Idles for “appropriating a working-class voice”, sparking a debate about class in punk. In metal news, British/Russian band, Venom prison have announced plans for a new album, ‘Samsara’. The band announced the album by releasing the track ‘Uterine Industrialisation’, that’s purpose built for moshers. February is also the month that sees the culmination of awards season in both the UK and US. On these shores the Brit Awards brought us some expected results but also some lovely surprises. In the main categories, The 1975 won best album for last years, ‘A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships’, George Ezra and Jorja Smith, won best solo male and female artists, ‘One Kiss’ by Calvin Harris and Dua Lupa took home best single and Best British Breakthrough was won by Tom Walker. The best moment of the night had to go to Pink, (who was also the first non-British artist to win Outstanding contribution to music), as she performed a spellbinding medley of some of her biggest hits, however, she didn’t sing ‘U and Ur Hand, which was a bit upsetting, but still
Avril Lavigne, brought out her new album, ‘Head Above Water’.
Entertainment
MARCH , 2019
WARD S ROUND
Much Ado About Nothing review: RUDS latest success on stage Reece Doughty | Second Year English Literature RUDS’ production of Shakespeare’s timeless comedy relocated to floral Hawaii. The stage is decorated with faux-Greek pillars, dressed in garlands to match the cast, equipped with lights and floral shirts. Their production does not shy away from the gender hierarchy present in Shakespeare’s script. Whilst the women laugh and talk, we are introduced to Pedro’s male troupe through their unannounced, riotous charge through the curtains. The characters’ joviality at their return to Messina is expressed not quietly, but through intoxication and partying. Masculinity is emphasised, with Tom Sparrow’s Benedick, not portrayed as the traditional dandy wit of the play, but instead as a man who can be loutish, and even a braggart. Beatrice, played
mour, the patriarchal realities of Shakespeare’s play remain present. Hero’s complex role in the plot is portrayed beautifully by Hollie Diplock, playing a character who is passed between men; she is courted by Don Pedro, who then hands the reins of her affection to Claudio, and is handed off at her wedding by her father. Each action is emphasised by the fraternal intimacy between the male characters in the production, who appear to see cooperation as a natural favour owed by merit of their shared gender. Once Hero is rejected by these male figures, she
A confident, humorous, talented performance by RUDS. Check out their next performances! by Alice Underwood, is presented therefore as a character who defies the gender dichotomy, matching and thwarting Benedick in his masculine posturing. In ridiculing Benedick, he is emasculated, transforming a political issue into a comic facet. A highlight of the play was the clowning of Dogberry’s constables, a belligerent threesome of incompetent guards who prove the unlikely key to resolution in the play. The motley crew capably acted their roles by portraying the guards’ humorous mix of misplaced confidence and yet restraining self-doubt. Becca King’s comical habit of gliding off stage on Heelys as Verges also went down a treat with the audience. Despite the well-balanced hu-
an amazing performance. Over in the US, The Grammy Awards, brought some massive surprises, especially in the Best Album category, as Kacey Musgraves’s the ‘Golden Hour’ bagged the award, a tremendous victory for country music. Childish Gambino’s ‘This is America’ won both best record and song but in specific genre categories, St Vincent won best rock song with ‘MASSEDUCTION’, ‘God’s Plan’ by Drake won best rap song and Kacey Musgraves ‘Space Cowboy’ won the best country song. Also, the
best rock performance was posthumously awarded to Chris Connel for ‘When Bad Does Good’. Barring Glastonbury, most UK festivals have had their line-ups mostly confirmed and February saw a few more headliners announced. Sundown festival announced Anne Marie and Tinie Tempah as headliners alongside Andy C, Jax Jones and Ella Eyre and Victorious Festival confirmed that Two Door Cinema Club, The Specials and Rudimental are headlining the Friday/Saturday but Sunday’s headliner has yet to be confirmed.
is ‘dead’, and temporarily absent from the play in her mock-death. The emotional climax of the play comes after the interval, with Hero’s rejection at the altar by Claudio. The play is ultimately presented as one of transformation. Hollie Diplock excels in this seamless transition as Hero, her voice descending from soft into a torturous, shrieking sorrow. The once placid figures of Claudio and Leonato devolve into a rage. Claudio’s honour is turned against him by Don Juan, cast female as Alice Robb, who appears to take great cruel enjoyment in subverting male pleasure. VERDICT: A confident, humorous, talented performance by RUDS. Check out their next performances or get involved at ruds.co.uk.
Ariana’s new album Olivia Mill | Entertainment Editor Although I am not a hard-core Ariana Grande fan I can’t lie, I was excited when I heard her new album was out and I couldn’t help hoping it would have a few more songs to add to my playlist. I wasn’t left disappointed, completely. Although not all songs are for me the album
does supply emotion, enjoyment and a good time for most listeners. With my personal favourites being ‘imagine’ and ‘Bad Idea’ I do recommend a listen, but some of the songs are controversial so may not be a perfect fit for everyone.
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EDITORIAL COMNISCIMUS Olivia Mill | Entertainment Editor With the March edition of The Spark also comes the start of spring (supposedly) but most importantly a new design. I’m sure you have all noticed the makeover we have had here at The Spark and hope you all enjoy it! With more, shorter articles we hope you have time to fit us into your busy student schedules. Of course, the content of the entertainment section is just as good: make sure to check out the February Music Round, which has pride spot in the first page of the entertainment section! Also, don’t miss your monthly dose of Millie’s mumblings. Ensure to check the section for lots reviews. As always enjoy and make sure to get in contact if you want to write an article
READING FILM THEATRE
Come along and watch films on camsu! Student membership is £10 for the year (the regular price is £25) and includes 2 free tickets. Tickets are £5, and £4 for members. March 19th Burning (Beoning) March 21st Can you ever forgive me? March 26th Border (Gräns) March 28th Colette
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MARCH, 2019
REVIEW: CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN
SSE ARENA WEMBLEY
BRADLEY GOODWIN
Written by Bradley Goodwin 2nd year PPE 2019 is shaping up to be a stirring year for fans of Welsh indie-rock outfit Catfish and the Bottlemen. On offer have been tour and festival dates to accompany their first album in 3 years, “The Balance”. One of these dates in the UK took place at
“Glowing review of Catfish and the Bottlemen live. After releasing new singles, announcing a new album and tour what can’t this band do? ” London’s SSE Arena, Wembley on Friday 22nd February.
It is perhaps ironic that the performance itself played out as a balance.; A balance mainly between the old and the new. This showed itself from invoking 60’s entertainer spirit with Dean Martin classic “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?” to pre-empt their appearance. All the while manifesting this entertainer spirit in that classic combination expected of the 21st Century indie-rock band: rip-roaring guitar riffs and an accompanying aurora of lights. The relation of the familiar and the current was highlighted throughout the setlist itself too. Fans expecting the band’s first new material since 2016 were rewarded with the opener, new single “Longshot”. With its’ opening brooding riffs, it was rewarding to hear current material that also maintained the band’s distinctive sound, reminding you of your anticipation to hear the older, familiar material. Another highlight from “The Balance” was “Fluctuate”, delivered with a sharp dose of speedy tempo and electric tone, which cre-
ated an electric atmosphere in the crowd to match. The new material was well integrated into the setlist, but the band’s handling of established material proved that familiarity doesn’t breed contempt in connecting with their audience. While riffs and tunes were key to the current material’s live success, the lyrics take glory here. The accessibility of the lyrics rather than their complexity deserves the credit. The sing-along factor was provided by tracks like “Kathleen” and “Homesick”, fan favourites that were well received. There was also room for an intimate connection too, with acoustic ballad “Hourglass” receiving word for word chants across the arena. All in all, the show rewarded anticipation. With new material impending, you won’t be getting off the ride any time soon.
Millie’s Mumblings
Netflix and Chill, I know, a fun thing to do with anyone. But whilst many people get caught up in the ‘chilling’ part of the phrase. A lot of people neglect the ‘Netflix.’ This month I began watching a new series with my partner in crime and I realised that there are a lot of different elements that have to be considered before you make the ultimate decision about what to watch together.
First, and perhaps the most obvious; what kind of shows do you both like. Luckily, my partner and I both like similar shows. But what happens if one of you likes crime shows and the other likes comedy? Then perhaps you can find a happy medium in the light-hearted crime shows from America such as ABC’s The Rookie, starring Nathan Fillion (Serenity, Castle). Otherwise, there is Bones starring Emily Deschanel (My Sister’s Keeper) and David Boreanaz (Buffy), which currently has 10 seasons streaming on Amazon Prime Video. However, what happens when there can be no happy medium. For example, it is incredibly difficult to find a show that caters to lovers of Crime and Cookery shows (Other than Hannibal) so I can recommend doing a season switch, so
you watch one season of a cookery show, and another of a crime show. Or you could take a lucky dip and watch something neither of you have seen before, it could create a new love for something, and you will always have that one thing you started together. Then next comes the level of commitment, do you want to start watching a show that has 10 series online, or a show that has 5 episodes. I realise if you run out of episodes, it is easy to choose another show. But what happens if you choose to call things off before you end the series? It’s worth thinking about, you don’t want to be reminded of an ended relationship if you watch the show alone. And finally, who’s account you use is important, it also dictates where you watch the show together. My partner has a smart TV at his house. Therefore, we watch shows at his house because its easier. But this means that I spend a lot more time at his house then we do at mine. Something I do not have a problem with, but it is something to consider. I know every relationship is different, maybe you don’t need to think this hard about things. But if you do! Be safe in the knowledge that you are not alone, and I do too!
Moody Music:
1 2 3 4 5
When the Party’s Over – Billie Eilish
Not about angels – Birdy
What About Today – Lewis Watson
High Hopes – Kodaline
Skinny love – Bon Iver
MARCH , 2019
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RANDOM REVIEW: TOM CLANCY’S JACK RYAN Written by Darryl Ottey-Lewis 1st year Law Do you love an action-packed thriller? Then you will certainly enjoy this episodic series which is available on Amazon Prime. Sit back, relax and follow the exploits of up-and-coming CIA analyst Jack Ryan portrayed by John Krasinski. With Season 1 rated 8.2/10 on IMDB and Season 2 on the way. What are you waiting for?
HAVE YOU HEARD?
Written by Rober Bern 3rd year History I’m not supposed to give my opinion, but if you haven’t heard of Frank Turner, you’re sorely missing out. Everyone should give him a listen for a good time.
IT’S TUITION TIME
Flickr/ Kelsey Shannon Written by Rober Bern 3rd year History Have you ever dreamed of playing an instrument? Enjoy creating music, but yearn for an in depth understanding of its more proprietary components? Looking to impress your love interest at Quiz and Karaoke? Well, look no further, the University of Reading Band Society has put together a fantastic team of tutors available for your consultation. Simply message us at https://www. facebook.com/RUBandSociety/ and we’ll help you fulfil all your wildest musical fantasies.
MARCH, 2019
NOVEMBER 1ST: A REVIEW Written by Millie Farquah
3rd year English Literature
November 1st is a short film amongst this year’s graduate showcase for the National Film and Television School (NFTS). It centres around Bonnie (Lindsay Duncan), a mother who travels across Ohio with her daughter, Caroline (Sophia Myles), to witness the execution of the man who supposedly killed her son. The character of Bonnie, a mother struggling to deal with her old age and a medication addiction, is brought to life in theatre and screen legend Lindsay Duncan (Doctor Who, About Time). She creates a character filled with such hatred and anger so incredibly well that if ever I see her in the future, I will be slightly nervous. We see her character’s faults best in the interactions with her daughter, Caroline. Sophia Myles (Thunderbirds, Outlander) plays her so well and the contrast between Bonnie’s sharp edges and Caro-
line’s soft, caring personality are so good in showing the break down of their relationship as Caroline struggles to care for a mother that clearly does not want her. As it is a short film (25 minutes), it can be hard to create a deep and detailed story, but Charlie Manton’s incredible writing and direction brings the audience along a road of emotional turmoil as Caroline and Bonnie’s relationship breaks down the closer they get to the prison.
finally get what she believes to be justice. This sense of unease throughout the short film is also created with the sounds employing silence and disconcerting musical tones when using the close ups. My only words against this film is the ending. There is no kind of resolution with either Caroline and Bonnie’s relationship or between Bonnie and the man who killed her son. And whilst I understand
that this could be put down to artistic license, it does leave the audience in the lurch somewhat. Overall, November 1st is an incredible short film. Simply because it shows what can be achieved by a small crew on a low budget. It is a promising graduate project from the NFTS and I am incredibly excited to see what the crew get up to now that they have been released into the film industry.
“Overall, November 1st is an incredible short film” The look of this short film is also worth noting. Beautifully shot and employing the use of several close ups, the audience gets to see the affect of re-living the death of her son and the idea that she will
Flickr/ Christopher William Adach
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Jessica Jones and The Punisher: The final Marvel victims of the Netflix Written by Raagulan Umashanker 2nd year English literature First it was Iron Fist, then it was Luke Cage and then it was Netflix’s most popular Marvel TV show, Daredevil. Now, the online streaming platform have just announced the cancellation of their other popular and beloved Marvel TV shows, Jessica Jones and The Punisher.
FILM REVIEW: GREEN BOOK
Her Velevt VAse/ Flickr After a fruitful five-year partnership with Marvel, Netflix has finally had to put an end to it now that Disney, who own Marvel, are releasing their own streaming service: Disney+, later this year. The new platform is expected to launch new TV shows that will revolve around well-loved Marvel characters such as Vision, Scarlett Witch, Bucky Barnes, Falcon and Loki. Netflix had sadly confirmed that
“it seems likely that the shows will never appear on another network” “Marvel’s The Punisher will not return for a third season” and that “the upcoming third season will also be the final season for Marvel’s Jessica Jones.” The company was not alone in their sadness as actors, Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle in The Punisher) and Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones in Jessica Jones), had expressed their sorrow for the cancellation of these two Marvel TV shows, but had also conveyed their gratitude for being a part of something so popular and special among many fans. Bernthal had stated on Instagram: “To all who have served. All who know loss. All who love and un-
derstand Frank and his pain. It has been an honor to walk in his boots. I’m endlessly grateful to the comic fans and the men and women of the Armed Services and law enforcement community who Frank means so much to. Thank you to…all the wonderful soldiers who trained me.” Ritter had stated: “It has been a dream to play Jessica alongside my amazing cast and the best crew in the business for these past five years. I am so grateful for every second of it. We have the best fans.” Clearly, without these talented and passionate writers, directors and cast, Jessica Jones and The Punisher would never have been entertaining. Just like how these different people are grateful for the support from fans, fans should also be grateful to them for the large amount of time they spent and tremendous effort they put in into making these two phenomenal Marvel TV shows. It is still unclear whether the two cancelled shows could be revived on another network. However, it seems likely that the shows will never appear on another network and that Marvel will focus on new shows (for Disney+) rather than continuing with more seasons of older series. Ultimately, it is the end of the Marvel Netflix TV Universe. Despite the disappointing news, one thing that is certain is that fans have had an amazing and fun time watching these two brilliant Marvel Netflix TV shows.
Universal Pictures
Written by Olivia Mill Entertainment Editor Green book, based on a true-story, tells the tale of Black Pianist Don Shirley and Italian American Tony as known as Lipp’s unlikely friendship as Tony is hired as the Doc’s driver (and more like body guard) after losing his job at the Copacabana and he goes on a concert tour through the deep south. Tony’s violent tendencies and spontaneity opposed with Don’s calm and intellectual mannerism create a comical friendship. However, many serious points are made as Tony is often needed to defend Don as they travel further and further south into the prejudiced states of America’s deep south. Scenes of music, letter writing and police stations, not forgetting a call from the president will leave any viewer feeling fulfilled. Rated 8.3/10 by imdb this film is described as ‘A very inspiring film. I walked out of the cinema feeling like
there is good even in the unlikeliest of people. The dialogue was well written, and the main characters were equally as loveable.’ Showing how it has an impact on everyone sat in a seat at the screening. This film is filled with realism of racism within the 1960s with a vin-
to certain audiences in order to be accepted. As well as the unending stereotypes which the Doc gets imposed on him. Watching this film in the cinema will not only be an eye-opening experience of the real
“Heart-warming and realistic, Green Book is definitely not one to be missed by anyone.” tage-feel filled with old cars and empty roads and the comedy of the two unlikely friends is entertaining who get glimpses into one another’s world through the likes of food (such as eating Kentucky fried chicken in Kentucky) and the idea of race music, as Don is put into a box of what he can and can’t play
Don Shirley, but also bring tears to your eyes from anger, laugher and shock. Heart-warming, comical and realistic, Green Book is definitely not one to be missed by anyone, take a trip to the cinema to see it as soon as you can.
MARCH , 2019
RUSSIAN DOLL
REVIEW
written by Rebecca Uffindell Netflix’s Groundhog Day-style show Russian Doll is full of existential dread and death yet play off these heavy themes with genuine humour. Natasha Lyonne is fantastic as Nadia and the inclusion of Alan played by Charlie Barnett adds a much-needed dimension to the show that would otherwise be overwhelmingly intense.
DOLLY ALDERTON’S EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE
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REVIEWS
TOP REVIEWS OF THE MONTH...
Netflix media centre
IMDB
Skinny lister website
East West records
Marvel’s Dirty John The Story Is…. – Busted – Written by Taz Usher The Punisher – Print Editor Skinny Lister Half Way There Written by Jack Hawes series 2 netflix Lies. Addiction. Betrayal. Newbie 1st year Amazon Wriiten by REbecca Uffindell 4th year Art and English literature Dolly Alderton’s feels at once like a best friend and a mentor, guiding the reader alongside her as she delves into her past relationships that have framed her identity. This bestselling novel places itself very firmly in the category of books that must be read by woman of all
INTO THE SPIDER
VERSE
IMDB Wriiten by REbecca Uffindell 4th year Art and English literature Following the journey of Miles Morales Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse tracks his journey as he adapts to the role of Spider-Man. From the stunning visuals to the wonderful and – surprisingly fresh – story, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse goes to show that there’s plenty more legs left in the Spider-Man universe.
Written by Olivia Mill Entertainment editor Gory, intense, entertaining and amusing. The Punisher has everything you could want. With the second series being released onto Netflix January 18th it has taken me a while to finish but was worth the time. Unlike the first series the second did have a bit of a slow start, introducing multiple characters at the same time did take me some time to get your head around. At the beginning of the series it seems the unstoppable Frank Castle is taking a break, he finds a girl and wants to settle down. But, of course, this doesn’t last. Due to a shoot out in a Southern pub and the targeting of a young girl Frank finds it impossible to take a back seat. His paternal instincts kick in and he choses to take this girl and protect her, in his own way of course, by tying her up and leaving her in a motel room. But as always with this protagonist he has the people’s best intentions at heart (I think) and sticks to his code. After then traveling back to New York the story soon picks up and the unforgivable Punisher and formidable bullet-proof vest return to fights against ‘The Russians’, Russo and himself for what he thinks is right (although these values may be slightly twisted). Killing hundreds of men along the way, cutting off hands and severing toes. This gore filled show I recommend for a binge session if you can handle violence alongside sadistic comedy and heart ache. Both seasons available now on Netflix.
to the Netflix scene, Dirty John, is a fast-moving thriller which tells the TRUE STORY of Debra Newell and her nightmare relationship with John Meehan. In just 8 episodes, viewers discover how con-artist and sociopath ‘Dirty John’ came to exploit a successful American business woman into marrying him, buying them a house, and sharing her earnings in the space of just 2 months. Connie Britton gives a brilliant adaption of naïve, John-obsessed Debra who, despite the desperate efforts of her daughter Veronica (Juno Temple) to alert her, fails to see the warning signs of her illusory relationship. The most harrowing streak of John’s personality owes itself to his addiction to anaesthetic drugs, fuelled by those stolen from patients at the hospital that he works at. The severity of the addiction is revealed through a series of flashbacks and an undercover investigation where his history of cheating, stalking, and assault also become apparent. John’s screenman, Eric Bana, sure does succeed with the creep-factor. In the final episodes, John is admitted to hospital; giving Debra the perfect opportunity to escape the terrors he has in store for her. But despite her daughters’ successful efforts of convincing her to escape, her sympathy strikes and she’s back for more. Only to be met by several more reminders of why she should run. Throughout the series there are moments of climax, not to mention the final episode which unveils the deadly consequences of Debra’s love affair in one unforgettably terrifying scene. From start to finish, the plot is thriller gold. Watch this and you’ll constantly question- did this really happen to the Newell family?
written by Jack Hawes 1st year Politics and international relations
‘This is not a drill this is not a drill. Running for the hills, this is not a drill’ For years now Skinny Lister have been one of the most exciting folk punk bands going. From their rousing sea-chanties, their jaunty odes, to boozy nights out and their infectious top-tappers that make even the coldest hearts want to dance. There truly are no other bands that are like them and this will be evident if you’re ever fortunate enough to see them live, as it’s here where the band truly becomes alive, (plus they hand around a flagon of ale which is just really cool). So what does a band do when they’ve conquered the fair shores of these isles on a trawler boat? The answer, start setting sail to conquer the world, and from the opening moments of ‘The Story Is…’ Skinny Lister begin that journey with a triumphant roar. Their new album takes their chanty style of old and pushes it up to the next level adding a heavier punk sound and attitude, giving it a kinship with early Clash tracks. This is especially seen with album opener ‘Second Amendment’ where the band tackle the American gun debate through an ironic glance, that fits perfectly alongside ‘Combat Rock’ with a little dash of reggae that makes it one of the catchiest tracks on the album. Skinny Lister are embarking on a UK tour in April, tickets available now.
politics and international relations
‘What happened to your band? What are your future plans? I’m like your biggest fan!’ If you grew up in the early 2000s, there were a handful of practices that every person had to partake in. Birthday sleepovers of course top the list, but there was also knee sliding at school discos, eating toxic waste that burned tongues, using the bubble font, having several club penguin accounts, trading cards, and knowing all the words to Busted’s ‘Year 3000’. This was how important they were to a generation, so when the band decided to spilt in 2005, the heartache was felt across the country as the bands posters were taken down and the haircuts they inspired, cut off. Whilst, this wasn’t truly the end of all things Busted, as the three members went on to have differing solo careers, until 2013, when Matt and James, joined up with Mcfly, to make the ultimate pop party super group, McBusted. But this wasn’t the real thing, so in 2015, when Charlie returned and the old band was back in action, people had high hopes. But they didn’t feel like a noughties pop-punk band anymore, their music, alike themselves, had matured. However, Half Way There, is a glorious nostalgia filled throw-back to those easier days. The album is filled with tracks that fit perfectly alongside their noughties classics, with new track, ‘Shipwrecked in Atlantis’ being a direct continuation of ‘Air Hostess’, and is just a hell of a lot of fun.
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MARCH, 2019
POETRY CORNER
GENISCI OTATUR SUMI…
New addition to The Entertainment section, the poetry corner. First to debut Alex Ojo with knock, knock. Make sure to check out his youtube ALEX OJO
Written by Alex Ojo 1st year Law Knock, knock, who’s there? Its football. Come outside, come and play Let’s waste the day away, by pretending to be Maradona and Kylian Mbappe Having fun kicking ball around, not a care in world not a frown to be found How good does that sound? Just you and your mates nothing to bring you down So what’s the problem? You and I both know these moments don’t forever stick around So hurry up open the door, time is fading Uh sorry actually no my parents said I can’t cause it would be precious time I’m wasting They said rather than football and my friends it should be my grades that I’m chasing And rather than fun times and play it should be the books that I’m embracing But don’t worry I promise you that I am the next Leo Messi in the making But just as long as I can convince my parents cause they’re gonna take a bit of persuading Knock, knock, who’s there? It’s the audition. Sign up this is your chance to achieve your most recent ambition To be that musician, or to be that magician and to complete that transition From that mundane tradition of scraping to earn the smallest of commissions, whilst gradually suffering from imaginative decompo-
sition. Wait why haven’t you opened the door? You know you’re gonna be late for your submission Actually, I don’t think I’m gonna go for it, cause it seems there’s just too much competition I think I’d rather follow a path with not too much opposition And I’d rather follow a path with tiring repetition Than follow a way of a whimsical fantasy expedition That may end up giving me some sort of recurring heart condition As I wait for my chance to finally be exposed as I travel down that oh so lonely, lonely road With no sign of hope, and no friends supporting me how on Earth do you expect me to cope? When I ask my friends if I have talent they tell me straight to my face nope, and that I need to live in the real world and stop thinking like someone who’s head is way out of the atmosphere So you ask me am I gonna go for it? Nah. Cause you know what? There’s always next year. Knock, knock. Who’s there. Its me. Its that start up that you’ve been trying to start up Come on now no more excuses, you’re no longer a younger you’ve finally grown up There’s no more homework that you’ve left to allow pile up And there’s no longer bare pings on your phone from people requesting long overdue linkups. So its time for you to stand up, start looking into that production line of your own make up Its time to work on your idea to make food delivery’s speedup
And its time to develop your plan to take that aspiring athlete to first place from runner up. Just take a second to sit back a picture it Whilst you’re sitting there making your first million you look around at all the hypocrites That told you once, you’ll fail and you’re an idiot That once joked about your appearance and called you hideous and That once laughed at your idea and said you were delirious, that you’re just simply someone that’s not to be taken serious. Why are you not answering the door? This is the call and you’re simply letting it walk. Why are you afraid, yeah there’s big risk but you need to understand there is also a bigger reward. Knock, knock. Who’s there? It’s your son. Look at my painting dad, I made it just for you At school today they asked me what 1 plus 1 was and I told them 2 See I remember 2 cause that’s what you always say. 2 seconds then you storm out the room And I’m sitting there left alone and confused cause you never return and so without you I always seem to resume Hey Dad, will you finally play with me? I’m feeling kinda lonely I haven’t really spoken to you in a while and I feel like you don’t even know me Sorry son, your Dad is just too busy. I’ve got to work so instead I bought you this kitty Maybe one day when I am free, we can do more things together that to you I guarantee. I’m sure you’ve understood what
these rhymes are all about. Not about disobedience, not about forgetting work nor is it about being a college drop out Nah this poem is about opportunity. See when opportunity comes knocking on your door, what are you going to do? Are you gonna stand there and ignore? Or are you going to let it come through, Cause certain opportunities only come around so often You see once they’re gone, they’re gone but never forgotten Play that sport, follow that passion, launch that idea and spend time with your children. But whatever you do, I beg of you, do not keep opportunity waiting After all Its your own destiny that you’re creating.
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Sports
CARDIO AND CAMARADERIE: W IS THRIVING AT UOR Despite the intimidating first impression, Kendo is open to everyone who wants to join its ranks, and quickly becomes like a second family to those who do. It also teaches a highly valuable set of skills which can be used across all walks of life. Written by Adam Kremis 3rd Year Psychology If you’re passing by Sports Park on a Sunday at around noon, you may hear shouting and screaming accompanied by clattering and banging, floating by on the wind. Don’t worry, it isn’t an accident in the storage lockers - more likely, it’s Kendo club warming up for practice in the Dance studio. Kendo, which translates from Japanese as ‘the way of the sword’, is a martial art that arose from the samurai. Those who practice it learn real sword techniques by fighting using bamboo swords called ‘shinai’, while protected by armour. This armour, called bogu, consists of a mask, gauntlets, and torso and hip pieces - all bar the hip guard are the target areas where one aims to score points when sparring. There are many benefits of joining Kendo Club: STRENGTH AND STAMINA Kendo requires you to train your body and muscles to perform in the required manner. In order to get the body working correctly, Kendo training involves repeated drilling of physical exercises, focusing on good form and self-correction throughout. Because of this, Kendo is fantastic for increasing general stamina and explosive strength, especially if complemented by other physical activities on the side. Over time, the body changes and adapts, leading to the development of a strong physique which can withstand the rigors of a fight.
BRAIN TRAINING Taking up a martial art also increases your mental prowess. Kendo matches are mentally intense, as combatants leap at each other with great speed, hiding their intentions for as long as possible to attempt to defeat the other fighter before they can react. They also release a huge shout as they strike a target to show their intent and spirit, dominating the spirit of the opponent with these shock and awe tactics. Facing up to an opponent can be nerve-wracking at the start, and this may take months to pass. However, with perseverance, Kendo practice trains the mind to be more confident and decisive – which, in the long term, has positive effects on your chances of success throughout life. SELF-POSSESSION The moment you step into the Dojo, the stresses of life are forgotten! In Kendo, this is achieved through the explosive intensity of training; it’s a fantastic way of letting off steam and busting stress, as well as practicing unique mindful and meditative processes. Known as Mokuso (meditative breathing we do at the start and end of practice) and Aun no Kokyu (the standard way of breathing during practice), these two breathing techniques involve pushing air down to your abdomen and increasing oxygen flow to vital organs. The whole experience helps your body become calm, rather than panicked, when experiencing
Reading Uni Kendo Club training session at stress. FRIENDSHIP Despite, and perhaps in part because of the fact that Kendo is a small club, its members are closely knit. Joining Kendo is like starting a journey; everyone begins on the same path. New members bond with one another as they train hard and overcome challenges together… and also in the pub afterwards! However, the end of university does not mean the end of Kendo or the friendships made along the way. They will always be part of an extended and wide-spanning network that you’re part of. In fact, if you walk into any Kendo club anywhere in the world, you’ll always find a whole new family waiting to greet you! MINDSET & DISCIPLINE
Alongside strength, stamina and brain training comes discipline. Kendo improves patience and self-control not just through preand post-practice rituals and meditation, but also via the well-drilled sequences and exercises you will battle through together. The discipline gained through Kendo can help in wider life, such as increasing motivation to study and achieving the precious balance between work and relaxation. Kendo requires a certain tendency to reflect and self-correct, but also a desire to challenge oneself and advance through a system. Through this hierarchy there are seniors to guide and challenge you, and juniors to challenge and practice with. Together you will learn respect and tolerance, and become a model for the next generation.
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS Making it to practice on time, with all your kit in a usable state, requires a little organizational savvy. On top of this, when you join a small club such as Kendo, you’ll have the opportunity to become a committee member, giving you a say in the management of the club’s social activities and general involvement with university life. Kendo club runs a tonne of socials which cater for everyone, including not only the standard after-practice pub visit, but also escape rooms, game and movie nights, charity fundraisers, and paintballing trips. With so many opportunities throughout the year, the committee’s clear management is always required to keep everything running smoothly. TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Sport
MARCH, 2019
WHY KENDO
10 Reasons why you should join RUNC Reading Uni Netball Club Written by Millie Nye 2nd Year History 1. RUNC has won some of the top awards at RUSU’s Sports Awards, including: Club of the year 2016/2017, Team of the year 2016/2017, and Coach of the year 2017/2018. 2. Our three amazing BUCS teams each won their divisions last year, moving up divisions for the 2018/2019 season. 3. As well as our highly achieving BUCS squads, we also run inclusive social sessions every Sunday for girls who want to play netball non-competitively, so it’s a great
7. As a member of RUNC, whether it be part of the BUCS teams or as a social member, you will be keeping fit and staying active, which is important at Uni to work off all those snake bites, pizzas and other Park Bar indulgences. 8. A key event in the RUNC calendar is Varsity. Annually, RUNC girls take on the Oxford Brookes squads in an attempt to defend their titles. Naturally our first and second teams last year were triumphant. Unfortunately, it is only available for BUCS girls to play, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t something we can all enjoy. Everyone who comes along and watches
Each and every member of RUNC is welcomed, regardless of ability... it’s a great chance to try something new or pick up netball again from your school days
Photo: Alice Chai
Doing a martial art isn’t all about staying in the same place to practice it. Kendo offers the opportunity to travel to different parts of the country to practice and compete with other clubs. We take part in an inter-university competition annually, with this year’s competition taking place in Lancaster. There are also other events such as seminars (large group practices), held in many locations across the country for example Canterbury, Kent and Watchet, Somerset. If you’re interested in seeing more than just Reading during your time at university, especially if you’re an international student, these trips are a great opportunity for you to explore new parts of the UK. SCARCITY AND UNIQUENESS Lots of the activities people do at university can be continued into lat-
er life: mainstream activities such as football, cricket, and hockey are widely known across the world. Despite Kendo being internationally practiced by millions, the only people who know much about it outside of Japan are those who practice it. It certainly becomes a talking point: people are always intrigued with what you get up to with that big sports bag and those sticks in your spare time. From experience, it provides a great topic for discussion in interviews as well - it speaks good things about your character if you have the determination and consistency to practice Kendo. So, there are many reasons why Kendo may be the martial art for you. If you’re interested in having a go, our practices are at the University of Reading Sports Park (Sundays, 12:00 - 14:00) and Kendrick School
chance to try something new or pick up netball again from your secondary school days. 4. Our socials are renowned for being great nights out. Each and every social is themed and run by your social secs. Every member of RUNC is welcomed, regardless of ability. It is a night to have fun, relax, socialize and typically GET DRUNK! 5. Our kit incites jealously from all other clubs, with us RUNC girls parading around campus in our fit af stash. From RUNC coats to bags, we have it all and everyone knows it. 6. RUNC is a place to socialize and meet new people. Everyone in RUNC is friendly and approachable: some of your netball friends will become your best friends for many years to come.
us at Varsity has a great time too, screaming support from the sidelines. So, come on down and support your Varsity teams, get bevved and make some noise. 9. Through playing at the club you’ll develop transferable skills that can be applied to other aspects of your life. Netball is great for building communication, teamwork and leadership skills, so joining RUNC would look great on your CV. 10. Finally, and most importantly, IT’S SO MUCH FUN! We are one of the biggest clubs at Reading, and that is because of the passion and enthusiasm that our members always have. Every girl who is a RUNC member loves netball, and that is because it is so much fun and so rewarding in every aspect.
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BUCS LEAGUE TABLE ROUND UP Written by Jasmine Davis Sports Editor In the 2018-19 season, Reading has entered 51 teams into BUCS league programmes. We’ve managed to secure 217 wins so far, but we’ve also suffered 232 defeats, with 29 draws. This makes our overall success rate around 46%. In the overall BUCS points table, Reading is ranked #46 out of #151, with a grand total of 654.5 points at the time of writing. The top two spots go to Loughborough and Nottingham respectively. Most successful so far this season have been our Netball 3rd team, who remain undefeated. The Women’s Hockey 3rd team have won every fixture apart from one draw, while the Men’s Volleyball 1st, Cricket 2nd, Fencing 1st and Rugby League 1st teams have all been successful in every fixture apart from losing one.
EVER CONSIDERED WRITING ABOUT SPORT? Whether you’re a member of a sports team, or you just like watching the football: if you’re interested in sport, you can write for The Spark! We’re always looking to grow the sports section and cover even more amazing activities across campus and beyond. It’s also a great way to promote your society or club and share your passion for sport and exercise. If you think you might be interested, feel free to join our Facebook group The Spark Sport, or email sport@ sparknewspaper.co.uk.
Breakdance and skateboarding in the Olympic Games? Written by Jasmine Davis Sports Editor Organisers of the 2024 Paris Olympics believe that breakdance and skateboarding deserve a place in the competition, and have asked the International Olympic Committee to consider adding the disciplines, alongside
surfing and climbing. In 2018, breakdance featured in the Youth Olympics in Argentina, where dancers went head to head in “battles”. Team GB had no breakers in the competition. In recent years several sports have campaigned unsuccessfully to be included in the Olympic programme – perhaps most notably Squash.
Photo: Eystein Mack Alnæs/Flickr
The IOC is considering the proposal but must decide by the end of 2020.
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APPLY NOW FOR ACCOMMODATION!
Accommodation applications are open now for returning students. Apply via the Accommodation portal! Why live in halls? • Wide variety of room types to suit your needs • Apply individually or as a group • All-inclusive rent with no hidden fees • 24/7 Halls Hotline and ‘Home at Halls’ app
• Great location • Safe and secure environment • A dedicated and experienced team for welfare support and pastoral care • Free ‘Your Halls Life’ events throughout the year
See reading.ac.uk/return-to-halls or call the Accommodation Office on 0118 371 4203 for full details
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MARCH, 2019
VARSITY: KNIGHTS VS BROOKES
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Whatever happened to good demeanour in Professional sport has seen a recent rise in athletes like Sergio Garcia and LeBron James bending the rules and misbehaving.
2 Universities. 39 Games. Only 1 Winner. Can Reading retain the title of Varsity Champions for the third year running? Photo: Jacob Gralton/Flickr
Written by Sarah Wilmore 2nd Year English Literature with Creative Writing
Photo: Reading University Students’ Union
Written by Jasmine Davis Sports Editor If you’re a member of a competitive sports team at Reading University, chances are you’ve been looking ahead to this day for a while now. But if you’ve never heard of Varsity, buckle up for the most exciting sporting event of the year.
“Reading students definitely feel a sense of belonging when they represent the University on Varsity day” Taking place on Saturday 30th March, Varsity is a head-to-head battle between Oxford Brookes and Reading Universities, where teams from twenty-one different sports will compete in a day-long tournament against their equivalent rivals. Hosted this year at Brookes, the
Reading Knights are hoping for continued success after winning the competition last year on home turf, with a score-line of 26-16. For every game that is won throughout the competition, points are earned. The Varsity trophy is awarded to the Uni who has achieved the highest total points from all games. Teams from both sides have been training hard for months in preparation for this formidable occasion, but who will claim the cup and be Varsity victors 2019? RUSU Activities Officer, Ali Perry, tells us more. “This will be the eighth year Reading Knights have taken on Oxford Brookes in our annual sporting event, Varsity. We have won the last two consecutive years and are fully preparing our teams to take the cup home again for a hat-trick! This has always been a massive day, celebrated by sports players and spectators alike. Reading students definitely feel a sense of belonging when they represent the University on Varsity day: it’s a sea of black and red as we fight for
the winning title!” Varsity matches between rival universities take place across the country, but they traditionally began between Oxford and Cambridge in the disciplines of rugby, rowing and cricket. On 30th March 2019, Varsity sports will include American football, lacrosse, hockey, football, tennis, rugby, badminton, basketball, netball, and much more, plus the brilliant Knights Cheerleaders supporting from the side-lines. Fancy a bit of the action? Everyone is welcome to spectate and support the teams: come along to see some fantastic sport and support friends and team mates. It’s a wonderful occasion for celebrating the range of sports played at both universities, and a chance for our top sportspeople to showcase what they can do. Plus, there’ll be a heck of an afterparty to celebrate successes (or commiserate losses, but let’s not go there), with a Saturday Union Varsity Special in our very own RUSU Union club that night – don’t miss out on what is sure to be the biggest party in town.
On February 2nd, the European Tour disqualified Sergio Garcia from the Saudi International because he damaged the greens. The Spaniard’s temper rose during his third round, and he purposefully slammed his putter into five greens, damaging them for the following groups. Garcia broke Rule 1.2a that states players must act with integrity, show consideration to others and take good care of the course. The Committee disqualified the 39-yearold for serious misconduct having broken all aspects of this rule. While disqualifying Garcia shows that etiquette is still integral to golf, it is not possible to penalise all athletes. LeBron James stormed off court ten seconds before the game finished on 2nd March after his LA Lakers teammate, Brandon Ingram, missed a three-point attempt. The La Lakers lost 120-131 to Milwaukee Bucks adding to a string of defeats this season. The three-time NBA champion showed blatant disre-
gard for his teammates and opponents as he left the court without shaking hands. However, with footballers continuing to dive faking an injury and tennis players arguing with the umpires it is not surprising that poor etiquette is now becoming “normal” in professional sport. Misconduct will only disintegrate if other athletes stand up to those who don’t compete with integrity. On day three of the third Test in Saint Lucia, Joe Root rebuked West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel on-field saying, “there’s nothing wrong with being gay.” While it is not clear what Gabriel said, one of the on-field umpires spoke to him about his language. Root challenged homophobic sledging showing that cricketers do not accept discrimination and misconduct in their sport. Although sports like golf specify proper behaviour in the rules, this is something all athletes should promote. While the modern era is seeing good manners disappear, you can take up a sport at university and compete with integrity. Sport is a great way to demonstrate on your CV that you are a skilled individual
Equine flu hits horseracing hard Written by Jasmine Davis Sports Editor British horseracing has restarted after a period of shutdown in response to an outbreak of the equine flu virus. Racing had been suspended due to cases of equine flu being discovered at a stable in Cheshire. Equine flu is not dissimilar to the kind of influenza humans get: it is a virus that affects the respiratory system of horses, donkeys and mules. It is very contagious between horses, however as it is not identical to human flu, we cannot be infected by the virus. Symptoms of equine flu include a high temperature, harsh cough, enlarged glands and nasal discharge. There are strict procedures for isolating infected horses once a case of equine flu has been discovered. The British Horseracing Authority has enforced rules regarding the vaccinations of horses in competitions, to reduce the risk of further
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Cross Country Success in London
An amazing win against Chichester for Men’s Lacrosse Written by Raagulan Umashanker 2nd Year English Literature What better way to start the new year and the new season than with the university’s 1st men’s lacrosse team’s outstanding victory against the University of Chichester. Despite losing 4-3 in the first quarter, the team did not tire and continued to put all their energy, enthusiasm and effort into the match, which led to them equalizing in the second quarter (7-7) and then gaining the upper-hand in the last two quarters with a lead of three goals. In the end, this led to a win of 10-7.
Photo: Geoff Lowe
Written by Chloe Dearman 4th Year German On Wednesday 27th February, the London Universities cross country league reached its conclusion at Wormwood Scrubs. The Reading athletes gathered for a final team huddle before congregating on the start line ready to race. It was a very flat and fast race in uncomfortably warm conditions. Chloe Dearman finished in 14th place, followed by Caitlin Tevendale in 16th, just ahead of teammate Georgie Judge after a sprint finish. In the men’s race, James Lyne came in 11th, followed by James Fox in 21st and Will Hayward in 23rd. It was then an anxious wait for the final league results. Both teams finished fourth just short of the medals. Individually, Reading had four men and four women featuring in the top twenty. James Lyne achieved an in-
credible fourth place, followed by Dominic Le Mare (14th), James Fox (17th) and Oscar Dickins (20th). Chloe Dearman finished in seventh place, only two points ahead of Georgie Judge in eighth. Caitlin Tevendale and Celine Taubman finished 10th and 12th respectively. Every RUKA athlete who has raced cross country this season should be so proud and these results are a testament to all their hard work and determination.
Striker Charlie Bardoe was relentless as he scored seven goals,
along with the rear striker, Aled Parry, stealthily scoring two goals from the opponent’s blind side and midfielder, Harvey Halfacre, powerfully shooting from the left wing. As well as the offense being excellent, the defence was remarkable as they proved to be impenetrable in the last two quarters of the game by driving the opposition away, sneakily snatching the ball from opposing players and even taking on powerful hits from incoming attackers in order to block them. This amazing win against Chichester was not only a great start for the
Much of what the new coach taught had been put into practice in the match
Photo: Chloe Dearman Photo: Will Charters-Reid
Thinking of going to watch the football? Here’s how to support Written by Jasmine Davis Sports Editor Looking for something to do, other than drinking in Park Bar or watching Netflix? Why not take a trip to the Madejski stadium and support Reading FC – it’s surprisingly cheaper and easier than you might think. Tickets for Mens’ 1st team matches start around £23 for championship games, and upcoming matches include opponents such as Leeds United, Stoke City, Hull and Bristol City. However, all Women’s home games at Madejski have ticket prices of £6 online – you can even get a
season ticket for just £35. Upcoming home fixtures include Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC in April. Reading Womens’ FC is also the home of Fara Williams MBE, the centre-mid with over 140 England caps and 40 goals for the national team. Getting to the Madejski Stadium itself is easy too. From the station, simply take a Greenwave Park & Ride green bus which takes you directly to the Stadium. There are also F1 Reading Station Shuttle Buses on match days, which run from outside the station and are only £2 return. The F33 match day shuttle bus also runs through Lower
Earley, from the University’s Earley Gate to the Stadium itself. Boost fares for students are £2.50 for a single, £3 for a return. If you’re bored of waiting for the next Union night to come round, try going to a live match instead!
Getting to the Madejski stadium is easy and inexpensive
men’s 1st lacrosse team, but also for their new coach, Harry Perry. Much of what the new coach taught had been put into practice in the match. However, with more important upcoming matches and Varsity approaching, the men’s 1st lacrosse team will not become over-confident just from this win, and will continue to focus on putting every ounce of energy, enthusiasm and effort into obtaining more victories.
Photos: Jasmine Da-
Sports
MARCH, 2019
DON’T MISS THE CHANCE TO WIN VIP SUMMER BALL TICKETS HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF YOUR UNIVERSITY Simply complete this year’s undergraduate surveys
thestudentsurvey.com
reading.ac.uk/ug-surveys 20 pairs of tickets to be won – 10 pairs per survey. A bookshop voucher will be offered as an alternative prize for winners.
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LET’S TALK HORSES: Q&A WITH A READING RIDER Written by Jasmine Davis Sports Editor I sat down with riding enthusiast Alice Bloomfield to learn a little more about the equine world, and why there’s a misconception around horse riding. WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT RIDING? I love riding because it’s so versatile. There are lots of different routes you can take within equestrianism, from jumping to dressage to endurance riding. It’s such a unique sport, as you’re interacting and working with a living thing. However, this is also where it’s challenging, since you have to trust this huge animal with a mind of its own. I also like that it’s one of the only sports where men and women compete against each other at events. WHAT AGE WERE YOU WHEN YOU STARTED RIDING? My first lesson was when I was about 5, but I didn’t properly start until around 7. As a child I always loved horses.
Photo: Jasmine Davis DO YOU NEED TO START YOUNG? Definitely not. If you’re willing to learn, it doesn’t take too long to get the basics. It’s a skill, just like driving or riding a bike, so you need to practice. But you’re never too old: I know an 80-yearold who’s still loving riding. CAN I TAKE UP RIDING AT UNI? Yes! Reading University Riding Club runs sessions every Wednesday afternoon. Riders go to Wellington Riding School for hour-long lessons, costing £25 for members. We split into ability groups, and you can ride as little or often as you like. There’s definitely a misconception that you need money or a “horsey” background to come to the sport, but in truth anyone can take up this fantastic hobby. University is the perfect time to see if riding is for
MARCH, 2019
UPDATE: READING KNIGHTS AMERICAN FOOTBALL Written by Ryan Mckeaveney 2nd Year Ancient History The Reading Knights American Football team compete in the BUCS Division 1 South, playing home games on Saturdays at Whiteknights campus, and away games on Sundays against our divisional opponents. We train for two hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays when we do not have a game. One hour of Tuesday’s practice is dedicated to the classroom, where we install our plays and scout out our opponents by watching film! The rest of our training is focused on field work, where we work both in our individual positional groups, doing various drills, and then come together as attacking and defending units, practicing against each other. We have recently just finished our contact season, which ended on a 3-4 record with three wins and four losses: we only just missed out on the playoffs due to tiebreakers. Our season ended on a high note with a win away at Brighton, where the score-line was 22-16. The Reading Knights jumped out to a 16-0 lead at the half after rushing touchdowns from George Voss and Tom Holwell. Early in the second half Brighton mounted a comeback with a strong rushing attack, tying the game at 16-16. Moving the ball downfield well, the Knights’ offence threatened Brighton’s defence, but
failed to generate a score to match Brighton’s pair in the third quarter. They were then presented with a gift from the defence, as a Brighton player fumbled with the ball, allowing the Knights to recover. From this, Knights were able to drive down the field before getting the final and winning score, with George Voss adding his second rushing touchdown of the game.
Our next game will be at Varsity, where we aim to avenge losses in the past couple of years with a win Our next game will be at Varsity, where we aim to avenge losses in the past couple of years with a win, continuing to build towards next season. Over the summer months, several Knights play for our flag team, which is the American Football version of Tag Rugby. Our flag team is open to everyone, so we see a mix of contact players and coaches come together to form our gameday roster. The team was highly successful last summer, travelling up to Manchester and winning the plate competition amongst all the southern flag divisions: we are aiming to repeat this success in summer 2019! Photos: Simon Wardle ARPS