Solent
Splash Southampton’s community newspaper
PLEASE COME HOME JADE
Frantic family’s plea to girl, 15, who left for school on Tuesday and has only been heard from on Facebook since
Wathtech Birdy
Friday November 11, 2011
Meet the New Forest songstress the critics are all flapping about: Page 5
MISSING: Jade with baby brother Davey
By CATHERINE COLLINS THE family of a 15 year old girl who went missing from her home in Southampton on Tuesday has made an emotional plea for her to return home. Jade Marie Hounsome who lives with her father and grandmother in Blackfield, first went missing with her boyfriend, also 15, on Saturday. The police found them at his father’s house in Bournemouth on Monday and Jade returned home. Jade left for school on Tuesday morning but did not arrive and her family and the police have been trying to find her ever since. Jade is described as being 5ft 5in with shoulder length dark hair, although she has been known to dye it. It later transpired that Jade had taken a limited amount of clothes and cash with her.
Jade suffers from eczema and asthma and her family are concerned that her inhaler will run out soon. The Hardley School pupil, who has four brothers and a sister, spends weekends and holidays with her mother and stepfather. A Facebook page has been set up to help to find Jade and is growing in size by the day with over 400 members. Her stepfather Russel wrote: “It’s hard to hear Jade’s Mum cry when she has done nothing to deserve this, with your help we hope we can be a family again.” Since the page was set up Jade has been in contact to say she is safe but refuses to go home or say where she is. Her mother Nicola wrote: “She is online somewhere so at least I know she is alive, but not knowing where she is, I can’t say she is safe.”
‘It’s hard to hear Jade’s mum cry’
02//Splash
Meet the team Magazine Journalism Josh Shenton Magazine Journalism
NEWS
FEATS
ENTS
Station to close front desk as budget cuts bite Zumba to help tackle antisocial youngsters
Jak Ball Magazine Journalism Lizzie Baker Magazine Journalism Catherine Collins Magazine Journalism Jack Wetherill Magazine Journalism Alex Dyer Multimedia Journalism Jack Evans Multimedia Journalism Lee Billingham Multimedia Journalism Chloe Nicholls Multimedia Journalism Katrina Roy
SPORT
By KATIE HAYES PORTSWOOD Police station’s front desk will close in April 2012 due to a £50 million budget cut. The ‘Force Change Board’ has reviewed the police stations and they want to re-organise the way the areas are structured. The plan is to shut down 17 other police stations across Hampshire including Cotton, Shirley, Bitten and Eastleigh. The cuts will result in 160 job cuts, which will be happening nearer the time of when the stations close. A police spokesman said: “Although there will not be a front desk, there will be a back office whereby people can talk to the police but it’s just the case of trimming down on the amount of buildings.” The police spokesman said: “It is down to the individual police station, but redundancies will be made and transfers too. Police can transfer to other stations or move into other roles within the force. By 2012, there
THINNER BLUE LINE THE
will be more facilities added, so that there will be more ways to contact the police. Online reporting will be happening. People can also check on the ‘Crime Reports’ website in order to see what is happening in their community.” The police spokesman also said: “Police stations are not open 24/7
‘Stations are not open 24/7 but there are telephones placed outside each station’
but there are telephones placed outside each station, which will go though to the headquarters, for people to report something in case of an emergency.” There have been public meetings to voice any concerns and opinions over the current plans. Tracey Scott, 27, Portswood, says: “I don’t find any issues with the front desk closing a problem at all. The new Sainsbury’s is going to have a desk and the university is too. There are also lots of police on the streets as well.” People can contact the police online by emailing through the website or by calling 101 or 0845 045 4545.
By JACOB BENNETT YOUNGSTERS aged ten to 18 are being offered free martial arts and football classes and are receiving free DJ lessons and Zumba classes by the Police and Council, in an effort to bring anti-social behaviour on the street to a stop. The Saints Connect project aims to put a stop to yobbish behaviour on the streets of Southampton. Councillors are in full backing of this project as they attempt to make the streets a safer place from anti-social behaviour. Figures have seen a sharp rise with more than 3.5 million incidents reported in Britain last year. “I think this is a brilliant scheme, it will aid the police with their job and hopefully put a downer on the current amount of yob behaviour,” says Fatherof-two, Tom Brookes, 34. “It will take time, but this could be so helpful.” But some residents of Shirley seem to disagree and believe this could be a mistake. “It’s a stupid idea. Why give them this privilege when all they do is terrorise the community?” says pensioner Marlene Edwards, 74. “It seems like all we’re going to be doing is giving them a reward.” Although a majority of Shirley residents do seem to be on the positive side of the scheme, it is clear that there are people that do see a negative aspect involved. “I’m unsure, it could either be good or bad, but we might as well try something rather than nothing, otherwise it will just continue anyway,” says student, Katie Bulmer, 20 of Solent University.
Outcry as yobs vandalise monument to lost sailors By GEORGINA LIPSCOMBE YOUTHS have vandalised a 140-yearold monument to Southampton’s Sailors who perished in a hurricane in 1867. The vandals have etched symbols and letters in a foreign language into the memorial with pieces of stone they have taken from other private graves, crossing out several of the Sailors names. One of the slates of stone has been so severely cracked Elaine Jeffery, a member of the Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery (FOSOC), said: “It’s devastating to see this beloved monument be violated in such a way. “We shouldn’t have to police the area like this. “People should have respect and
it’s beyond me why they’ve done it. This area is used regularly for youths to drink and I suspect also to take drugs. “We have now actually removed some of the shrubbery so we can monitor the area better. “Hopefully they will think twice about using this area now that it’s more in the open and they can’t hide away.” Approximately 123 crewmen were killed on that tragic day when the RMS Rhone. It was one of two ships that were deemed to be unsinkable by the British Royal Navy, but sank in Caribbean waters during a hurricane. She also said: “I was out walking with my husband when I actually caught a couple of kids climbing
SICKENING: Damage at graveyard
on top of the monument itself. This was about two weeks ago. And we have found some other damage that had been done to the Old Cemetery lodge such as the ledges from window sills have been removed. “The whole thing is awful, absolutely awful.” Mrs Barnes, aged 58 from Portswood was out walking her dogs when she passed the monument and saw the damage. She said: “I saw it in the paper and came down to see for myself. I was disgusted to see what had been done.” Elaine Jeffery is having regular meetings with other volunteers and council to try to stop vandals disrespecting Southampton Old Cemetery.
Splash//03
Save our playgroup SAVING: Reverend Philbrick
Pennies from heaven help tackle sharks
BRAVE FACES: Children enjoy the playgroup at Oaktree
Parents and businesses rally to help after £6k funding shortfall By CATHERINE COLLINS A PLAYGROUP in Millbrook may have to close due to government cuts that have left them with a shortfall for this year of £6,000. Oaktree’s Playgroup, which is situated in Helvellyn Road and attached to Mason Moor Primary School, are in financial difficulties because of government imposed SEN (Special Educational Needs) funding cut backs. The playgroup was founded in 1990 and currently has twentyfour children, aged between two years nine months and four years old, registered with them, many of whom have speech and language difficulties. Barbara McGrattan, Lead Practioner at the group found out about the cuts at the end of last week and informed the parents at the first
opportunity on Monday. Barbara explains “I was shocked at how quickly the parents have reacted to try to raise the money so that we can stay open. “What was originally a Fete to raise a few pounds for resources has become much more important.” She goes on to say that they have a raffle, auction, ladies night and sponsored head shave in the pipeline and is “amazed at how much they have planned in just 3 days”. Local businesses have already pledged raffle prizes such as cakes, limo rides and mural painting. With Southampton City Council building new homes for families in the surrounding area as part of the area’s regeneration, Oaktree’s Playgroup are expecting more children to require a pre-school place in the near future.
POPULAR: Parents and children at the group
By ALEX DYER ST ALBAN’S Church in Swaythling is encouraging people to begin saving with the Solent Credit Union. The scheme allows anyone over the age of 16 to open up an account and save money, up to the sum of £100,000. It also allows for loans to be taken out and then replayed at 1% interest, giving people an affordable way to get the money they need when they need it. Within St Alban’s Church, most of the parishioners have been saving with the Solent Credit Union. The money that they then save as a church goes towards helping other parishioners in need. Reverend Gary Philbrick said: “In an area where debt is high, many people usually resort to Loan Sharks, who charge high rates of interest that people can’t get out of. “The credit union is trying to encourage saving and safe borrowing in times of real need or perhaps when people run short. “We all pay in a little something each month and that money can go towards helping someone else. “A family needed a new washing machine the other month, so the Credit Union helped to pay for it.” Every Friday morning, St Alban’s Church opens it’s doors to allow people to come in and visit the credit union; whether it is to pay in some savings, apply for a loan or sign up for an account. It is run entirely by volunteers, who give up their time to help out others, showing that community spirit is still alive.
Come along and lose some wEighties By JOSH SHENTON NEW Eighties-themed, fancy dress classes are being held across Southampton in a bid to encourage people to get fit. Active Nation, a charity which aims to get people healthy instead of making money, are running free trials at leisure centres across the city. The classes which include water sports, rock climbing and Over-50s Zumba while dressed in eighties fashion, encourages fun while exercising. Lee Harcourt, an Active Nation campaigner at Bitterne Leisure Centre said: “Everybody has fun here. If you’re not having fun, it’s not worth doing. The workers here are serous and passionate about getting people fit. We want to help people get and stay fit and enjoy activities
such as swimming, racket sports and skiing. One club member, Margaret Bache, 80, said:“If we want something changing we get it straight away, we even have over 50’s Zumba. “Active Nation has shown me that I can stay independent and do everyday things myself all because I stay healthy.” Active nation state that 80% of people in Southampton don’t meet the Government’s recommendations of 30 minutes of exercise five days a week. Active Nation are passionate about changing this and wants to help people who are new to exercise. Lee said: “The NHS is relied on by many due to unhealthy lifestyles leading to problems such as heart disease and obesity, so if people exercise regularly less money from
tax will be needed for the NHS and can be put into other areas. “We hold Discovery Days every month allowing people to try new activities or take part in sports or classes. We also work have a Smart City Team which gives cheaper prices for elderly and disabled people to help increase their quality of life. “Here members are called supporters, as they are helping a charity rather than just going to a leisure center. All coaches are at a Level 3 standard or higher and are working with the supporters to give guidance, advice and even a social experience at an affordable price.” After trying out a class, if members wish to join the club, prices start at just 80p a day.
FUN: The gym sessions are a novel twist on exercise
04//Splash
I TOOK ACTION TO CLAMP DOWN ON BAD BEHAVIOUR Motorist explains why she used car to block in clampers who gave her hefty fine
Police warn students over ignorance on home raiders By ALEX DYER Student Burglaries has been an ongoing topic for discussion at Portswood police station. Bringing awareness to students has proven to be quite difficult according to the safer neighbourhood PC officers, Gail Salley and Steve Blandford, as there have been several incidents that have been reported due to valuables being taken that are left on display. PC Gail Salley said: “Student housing has been an issue. They are targeted more due to the lack of responsibility. Students are more liable to forget to close windows, lock doors and keep valuables hidden when they leave.” In order to make students more aware on October 20th both PCs visited the S.U. at Southampton University whereby they carried out a cops & robbers event. The students dressed up as the robbers and they were shown how easy it is for windows to be broken into if they are not locked. PC Gail Salley said: “This brought a lot of awareness because it got students involved. I think it brings more vigilance being apart of a practical session than just having posters and signs.” The PCs make students aware of burglaries and the precautions they can take by posting on their own twitter site called ‘@unicopssoton’. This gives every police station in the area to post notices, warnings and strategies to prevent crime around Southampton. However, police are doing everything they can to prevent these burglaries but students still seem to be forgetting. On November 4th, a statement was posted on twitter saying: “UniCopsSoton Burglary yesterday during day, Methuen St, Inner Ave, laptop stolen. If you saw anything, pls call us on 101 or annonymously 0800 55511” Additional patrols knock on student doors and make them aware by looking at ‘crime prevention surveys’ and advice is always given about strategies that keep burglary’s prevented. A new website has been set up called ‘immobilise’. This is where people can log in the serial number and can track there stolen or lost items such as ipods, bikes, mobile phones ect. Posters and signs are put up in public places such as bus stops and are located around universities trying to make people aware.
‘They don’t treat people properly’ would hold her car. Tendai was told she needed to meet the clamper at Southampton Central train station to collect her vehicle. She said: “It wasn’t even in an office place, it was in the public. We knew we couldn’t do that. They didn’t want to be followed, the just wanted the money and the car keys.” An argument broke out after the clamper refused to return the car the same day, despite Tendai agreeing to pay the hefty fine. Tendai and her brother used his van to block the
FURIOUS: Tendai
n a c u o y w o N ! y a y i-k e Yippe ig B e h t n o rd a H ie D y jo en e in h s n u s e h t in D N A n e re Sc By NIKITA HALL WHEN we see in blockbuster movies people attending outdoor cinemas we don’t imagine that in Southampton. Yet come summer 2012 the city will be hosting its first weekend of outdoor cinema screenings. The Outdoor Film Festival will take place on the 25th and 26th May 2012 at the Mayflower Park. Each night will host a double bill of movies starting from 6:30pm through to around midnight. Films expected to be screened are Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Hot Fuzz and Die Hard. Peter Langley, organiser of the event at South Coast Screen said: “These films are our likely choices, but not yet 100% confirmed.” Numerous meetings with Southampton City Council and the local forces have taken place in preparation of the event, as Mayflower Park has the potential to hold over 5000 people Peter Langley continued: “Depending on the success of our promotion attendance could be anywhere from 500 to 2000 people per night.” The festival following the likes of Film Four’s Summer Screen in London, has backed Orange Rooms for promotion. People are encouraged to either, take a blanket and watch the films on the grass, or drive their car in and tune in using radio frequency technology. There will be an extra charge for bringing your car which has yet to be confirmed. Fans can get 20% off of their ticket price if they like South Coast Screens on Facebook.
clamper’s car in. She said she didn’t want the clampers leaving with her money and her car. She said: “They wanted us to pay the money and give them the car keys and then leave us at the train station. You can’t trust someone with your money and your car keys.” However, Tendai feels the situation could have been avoided. She said: “Had they not kept the car overnight then none of this would happened.” The Southampton motorist has said she is now in favour of the possible out-lawing of private wheelclamping as part of the Protection of Freedoms Bill, due to the questionable way in which private wheel-clamping companies behave. Following the incident, Whites said in a statement: “Whites Car Park Solutions works to the SIA guidelines and therefore have acted completely correctly in their actions.”
GUNNER GET YA: Bruce Willis in action in Die Hard
IMAGE: Rottentomatoes.comHard
ALERT: Police have spoken out
By LAURA DROMFIELD A MOTORIST has spoken out about why she and her brother blocked in staff from a private clamping firm after they gave her a £660 fine. Student Tendai Musiyazviriyo had to pay Whites Car Park Solutions to release her car after she left it in a clamping zone in Latimer Street. Tendai said the fine was too expensive, adding: “It was really ridiculous, it was a rip-off”. Tendai has said that she is now backing the possible ban on private wheel-clampers following her experience with Whites. She feels that as well as the fine being too expensive, she was treated unfairly by the clamper. She said: “They were rude and stubborn. They don’t treat people properly.” The company refused to allow her to collect her car the same day or know the location of where they
Splash//05
When it comes to classics, I’ve got it covered
CHEERS: The Guide Dog
Glass half full for charities after festival
Birdy, 15, wows music critics with her debut release By JACK WETHERILL THIS is the 15-year-old schoolgirl about to take over the music world with her stunning soulful vocals. Birdy – real name Jasmine Van den Bogaerde, from Lymington, Hampshire, released her self-titled debut album on Monday and already critics are calling her the “new Adele.” Her cover of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love has already given her a number 17 hit, when she was just 14, and now she’s being tipped to be one of the biggest names for 2012. The school girl – who attends Priestlands School in Pennington, Lymington, is balancing her studies and exams with her music and says her school have been very supportive of her musical career, giving her extra time to catch up with any work she has missed. Her album covers songs by bands as diverse as Terrible Love by The National, Shelter by The xx, People Help The People by Cherry Ghost
‘It was a scary experience as I forgort the words’ and James Taylor’s 1970 hit Fire and Rain. There is only one self-composed song on the album, Without a Word which tells the story of the end of a relationship. Skinny Love – her Bon Iver cover was Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton’s Single Of The Week back in March and the song also featured on the soundtrack to hit US series, The Vampire Diaries. She has also performed live on Radio One’s Live Lounge and says:
“It was as cary experience as I forgot the words to Shelter 30 seconds before I was on air. My father rushed in after my plea for help with the lyrics just in time.” However this version of Skinny Love has racked up over eight million views on YouTube, with another of her songs, Shelter, getting over two million. Her album was
recorded in London and Los Angeles with famous producer James Ford who has previously worked with Arctic Monkeys. Birdy was discovered when she was just 12, when she beat 22 other competitors in a national talent competition in Portsmouth. She won the under 18’s title after playing her own song – So Be Free, which she performed on keyboards. Birdy who cites K.T Tunstall and Paolo Nutini as her influences, says she owes all her success to her mum name? who taught her to play piano from a young age. And showbiz runs in Birdy’s family - her great uncle was the late actor Sir Dirk Bogarde. Birdy’s songs show a different side to youth than other artists, like Cher Lloyd and internet-sensation Rebecca Black. Her songs have more substance and her videos feature no dancing. The album Birdy was released on Monday.
By KIRSTY FENSOME BEER, beer, beer… And 3 local charities benefit! A variety of ales and home cooked food brought in many residents of Southampton over the last weekend as The Guide Dog pub held its annual beer festival and contributed to a variety of good causes in the area. Pat Lacey, 56, was part of the bar staff for the evening: “There was a temporary set-up bar. It was very popular, and when it was close to finishing we donated the final bits to charity.” He continued to speak of two regulars in the pub, Nick and Barry, who brewed their own ale: “They called it Angel’s Delight. All of the profit, which came to £110 in the end actually, went into the local charity bottle.” The pub’s three charities that they help to support are Guide Dogs For Hearing, Guide Dogs For The Blind and Wessex Cancer. The Bevois Valley free house is, for many people, their local for a quick pint or two after work. However as bar assistant Jo Bridle, 30, pointed out, the beer festival is an annual event that gets in more and more people each time: “It went extremely well, with every year that goes by we get busier. The food was good, everyone enjoyed it, and there were no bad vibes off of anyone.” The taster of the occasion was Mark Gollard, 52. The selection of beers and ales included those such as Pilgrim’s Porter, Darkstaff Octoberfest, Fullers Bengal Lancer, Southern Star and more. “My job was to drink around a third of a pint of each, make sure they were alright to sell, right temperature and clear, that sort of stuff.” When asked which of the drinks was his favourite, his response was: “They were all really nice actually. The Bengal Lancer was good, and I think it was one of the Porter’s which was nice, too.”
‘Suicide’ scare stops trains at St Denys By ELIZABETH BAKER A SOUTHAMPTON man said to be in his early thirties had to be talked down from an overhead bridge by police at St Denys station. Two trains had to stop. Natalie Daniels, a passenger on the Portsmouth train, said: “We were delayed for around 20 minutes.” The police eventually managed to get the troubled male down from the bridge. It’s becoming too often that incidents like this are happening all over the UK. Back in 2009 official statistics recorded by the Samaritans showed that 5,625 people committed suicide in the UK alone. A shocking 4,304 of those were male. Out of
the 5,625 people recorded back in 2009, just over thirty of those deaths happened in Southampton. A national issue with the reporting of suicides are the statistics lack accuracy. These statistics can be found in a report by the Samaritans, a charity who provide twenty-four hour help to those in distress or experiencing suicidal thoughts. The report reflects the difficulty in turning figures into rates of suicide. It struggled to explain if they were the number of deaths related to suicide or the number of suicides reported. Statistics provide a wealth of research for the NHS, mental health teams and charities, like the Samaritans.
Preventing suicide is an on-going battle which local authorities have to continually review. In situations like the St Denys attempt, should it be the police who are there to force the distressed down or should it be the job of psychiatrists and mental health professionals? It could be argued either way that the police are there to protect the person who put themselves and others at risk, but does a Psychiatrist not have more understanding of the way the mind works whilst having thoughts of this kind? The Samaritans run a confidential hotline to offer help and guidance on 08457 90 90 90.
SHOCK: St Denys station, where a man was talked down from the bridge
06//Splash
‘GaGa’ to sparkle at Rose Bowl
THIGHLY DESIRABLE: Real Lady GaGa in action
By JACK WETHERILL and JAK BALL EXPECT crowds to be left speechless tonight at Southampton’s Rose Bowl when The World’s Number One Lady Gaga Tribute Act performs at a special fireworks display. The singer, real name Charlotte Hopley, will be covering the superstar’s hits including Paparazzi, Just Dance and Telephone, to fans at the city’s cricket ground. It’s not the only music-theme to the special Bonfire Night as fireworks will also be set off to a list of favourite rock anthems.
Here’s our Top 5 fireworks anthems: Firestarter – Prodigy Relight My Fire – Take That Firework – Katy Perry We Didn’t Start The Fire – Billy Joel Set Fire To The Rain - Adele
The Little Mermaid meets Saw – how I took a novel spin on a writing challenge BY ALEX DYER THE challenge was this, to write 50,000 words in thirty days as part of National Novel Writing Month. “Everyone has a novel in them,” we hear this all the time. How true is it? I wasn’t sure, but I was about to find out. As the clock hit midnight on October 31, I started writing and writing. I’d been planning my book for about a month, spending every spare hour I had daydreaming and plotting my storyline and immersing myself into my characters. Now I had to turn those vague ideas into 1,667 words a day so I could meet my massive target in thirty days time. My novel is a mixture of fantasy and horror – think The Little Mermaid meets Saw – so expect lots of blood and gore with a love story hidden underneath somewhere. The hardest thing about writing my novel is finding the time. It’s only day four and I’m already roughly 3,333 words behind, all because of a spontaneous restart on day two, but I’m not ready to give up yet. Last year I hit 13,753 words and a brick wall. That story is now saved in a folder somewhere on my laptop
INSPIRED: Alex at work on novel and I don’t want to go through that disappointment again. My goal is to finish this novel, as I never finish any stories I write. I’m a huge reader; my favourite authors are J.K Rowling, Kathy Reichs and unashamedly Stephenie Meyer. It’s ok; my novel has no sparkly vampires. National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo, is a worldwide event. Chris Baty, an anthropologist from California, founded it 13 years ago in San Francisco and that year only 21 people took part. With the
launch of a website in 2000, it is now international with over 200,000 writers signed on and writing novels every November. The only incentive needed is to just write, or as the NaNoWriMo staff say: “to experience thirty days and nights of literary abandon.” It doesn’t matter about how awful your story is. I’ve had to learn that in order to succeed at this crazy challenge you need to silence your inner editor. It’s quantity over quality! Southampton is one of the largest regions involved and the entire Creative Writing MA group here at Solent University are having a go. Weekly meet-ups are held at Harbour Lights Picture House in Ocean Village, a chance for Wrimos, as we participants call ourselves, to get together and write, challenging each other to ‘word sprints’ is always fun, and to bounce ideas off one another. There’s also something entertaining about twenty or thirty people all suddenly typing furiously at their laptops in a public place. People tend to stop and stare. I should probably get back to my novel. I left my mermaid having her tail cut off to write this…
Cafe serves up 6yrs of food and chat By APRIL GALVIN SOUTHAMPTON based outreach project, Community Café, is set to celebrate its sixth anniversary this Christmas as demand for a ‘helpinghand’ increases to an all time high. The Christian-run project is preparing for it’s busiest Christmas yet with almost double the amount of people turning up for a free meal and a chat than six years ago. With an average turnout of 50 attending Southampton’s Central Hall back in 2005, figures have shown just over 100 locals are regularly turning up in recent months. Volunteer P.J, 71, from Southampton says he believes “We’re seeing more
people attending because of the economic up-turn”. With a 10% rise in unemployment in the city and just over 300 cases of rough sleeping recorded in the Southeast last year, it’s no wonder local projects like the Community Café are in demand. However, it’s not just the down on their luck that flock to Southampton Central Hall. Weekly visitor Liz Hunt, 48, says: “I come to the Café every week for a change of scenery, friends and a sense of community. It’s the highlight of my week.” The Community Café is run by a volunteer-based team from New Community and City Life Church every Sunday evening from 5-6pm,
with a range of free hot meals for anyone who attends. Monthly volunteer and Childminder, Lucy, 35 from Southampton comments: “I try to put myself in someone else’s shoes. It’s a humbling experience.” With Christmas being their busiest time of year, extra volunteers will be necessary to carry out the usual duties of serving food and supervising but also to hand out Christmas presents and sleeping bags to the needy. Team leader and part-time careers advisor, Nicky Porter, 37 comments: “Volunteers are always needed. Everyone is welcome.”
SWEEPING SUCCESS: The team at the cafe
Splash//07
STUDENT UNION AND PROMOTERS HIT BACK ON WRISTBAND COMPLAINTS
Freshers pass critics get AAA slapped wrist
By JAK BALL CARNAGE descended into chaos as alcohol took its toll and violence erupted. A night where prices of drinks rocketed and emotions got the better of people yet another organised event didn’t live up to the hype it created. A few weeks after the students complained about the expense of fresher’s fortnight, another pricey night occurred. VK, a drink that normally costs £1.00, was selling for £3.50. Compulsory shirts also had to be worn which cost £10.00. Mark Madden a 19-year-old student said: “These nights out are never worth the money that you are charged, and I certainly won’t be going to another event.” This themed event is the second carnage night out that Southampton has been host to, with yet another planned for a few weeks time. Violence was also a reoccurring theme, as the presence of police officers became a more common sight as the night went on. Sam Disko, 22, a witness to an attack said: ‘A group of students started attacking a young guy, pushing him to the floor where they started punching and kicking him, it was horrible.” Another student was also treated by medics as he suffered a sever wound to the head after being glassed by another man. It remains to be seen whether students will again part with more money for the next big event.
By EMMA BELL THE promoters and organisers of the AAA pass have hit back at claims of the fresher’s fortnight being a letdown for students Ryan Keary, the promoter and organiser for Dirty Box Promotions, said: “We haven’t had one complaint through e-mail or telephone or in person, generally nothing.” Student Union president Dan Prendergast added: “When you explain it to people it becomes very clear that it is a very stocked product.” Many of the freshers made it clear they were disappointed at spending £54 on the pass and not being overwhelmed with the events, also having to pay for entrance if
Frights thrill, but ending’s a real shocker
‘There are always going to be a couple of people you can’t please’ they arrived past a certain time. The price of the AAA pass was compared to the price of the last year’s but it was not made clear to the students that what they received this year was a lot more than what the freshers of 2010 received. In 2010 the freshers rave, the freshers ball (held in Oceana) and the Big Night Out were not included in the events for the pass. The pass is owned by Dirty Box Promotions, not Southampton Solent University, and so the passes are on sale for everyone - not just freshers. Times and restrictions were put on the passes so that other customers without the pass weren’t turned away at the door. Mr Keary said: “There are always going to be a couple of people you can’t please. I have a meeting with the university for a debrief of the freshers’ fortnight. “This happens with every project to have a look at what can be improved and to get feedback.” Mr Prendergast is also a promoter of the AAA pass and the events that this pass includes. He was seen organising the groups for The Big Night Out. Many of the passes were reserved for Southampton Solent University students, which left many of the Southampton University
Carnage night ends in scenes of... carnage
Q&A with the SU president FEEDBACK: Dan Prendergast students left out of events. Mr Prendergast said: “It was written to be so much more than Southampton University has ever put on in their newspaper the Soton Tab.” Mr Keary added: “More people went through the doors of the nightclubs than the other university has ever had. The other university was asking why it wasn’t included.” The Dirty Box promotions team are looking into setting up an AGM panel of students for feedback They would like to meet up with the students at the SU bar so that clear feedback can be given, but this is not set in stone as of yet.
SOME students have said the price was too high, did you get any complaints about this? We have not had any direct complaints, we have heard a lot of praise for so many of the events this year. First-year students who this product is directly aimed at did not have a problem. Returning students asked why the price had gone up when comparing it to last year, which was a different offer. Many of the things we did this year were based on feedback from last year. WHY was the price of the AAA band put up from £20 last year? We had a different product on offer. Last year the band was only £20 incl. Foam Party at Oceana, Beach Party at the SU, 2 Moving in Parties & 2 Nights at Bliss & Revs.
All other events had to be paid for separately. This year the band was £49 incl. Freshtival, Foam Party, Big Night Out, Freshers Rave, Freshers Ball, 4 Moving In Parties and 10 week nights out at various venues. ARE you going to change anything about the AAA pass or events next year? There are several plans to look at what we do next and we’re always looking to outperform the previous year to give students the best experience. This year we also tried some new non-alcoholic events and activities which have been really successful and feedback is always welcome by emailing union@ solent.ac.uk or speaking to one of our street team.
By NICOLE JACKSON TERRIFYING scares, heart-stopping endings, fabulous camera angles... This is what we expect from every one of the films in the Paranormal Activity trilogy. Well, expect the norm in number three! Unlike the others, the film takes place during sisters Katie & Kristi’s youth, when the supposed hauntings began. Kristi, develops a relationship with what seems to be an invisible friend, Toby. It is from here that the strange happenings start to occur, and it becomes obvious that Toby isn’t as friendly as Kristi may think. The frights left me jumping out of my skin more than a couple of times! Similar to the other two, the film captivates its audience, meaning no scares are missed and some are just as small and supernatural as before. The scares may have been more than up to scratch, but the film was missing one major impact point – the ending. Although Paranormal Activity 3 was left on a cliff-hanger, it was not in any way satisfying. The last ten minutes took a U-turn away from the original storyline and it ended with every person in the cinema letting out a sigh of confusion and disappointment. The effects were just as impressive as those in the first two, and the same chilling domestic setting versus a typical eerie soundtrack enforces the film’s fright factor. Worth a watch if you are a true horror film fanatic! nnnnn
Splash
S Sport
Five points clear - and a 30-year first to boot By CATHERINE COLLINS SAINTS went five points clear at the top of the Championship table after a 2-1 win against Peterborough on Tuesday night. Richard Chaplow opened the scoring on 14 minutes in a game that looked like it was going to be another dominant performance from Nigel Adkins’ men and Jos Hooiveld found the net 3 minutes later. Peterborough were reduced to ten men after Lee Frecklington was sent off after his second yellow card ten minutes before half time. Despite this they dug deep and defended well for the remainder of the game.
BATH GAME WASH-OUT By MATT COTTON AN improved Solent side twice came from behind but failed to make a comeback as they were beaten 2-4 by Bath. Solent scored their first points of the season as Sophia Jeffery and Cassie Evans notched in either half to get the hosts level on two occasions in a tight game. It was the away side
started on the front foot and took the lead after just six minutes when goalkeeper Kirsty Taheny made a fine save from the first Bath effort but couldn’t keep out the rebound. Solent will be encouraged by this performance and now have two weeks to prepare for their clash with arch-rivals University of Southampton.
BLINDER: Jos Hooiveld celebrates
POSH were rewarded with a consolation goal from Emile Sinclair on 76 minutes which made for an edgy finish to an otherwise somewhat flat game. In an interview after the game, Jos Hooiveld, on loan from Celtic said: “We were two up at half time and they had one less man so to finish 2-1 is not excellent, but it’s great to have won. “So far I’m really enjoying myself.” Southampton’s win made it 19 home league wins in a row. They are the first English team to do so in almost 30 years, the last being Liverpool in the 1971/72 season.
WE WILL DELIVER By HARRY HUNT HAVING fallen to Plymouth University 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon, Solent captain Rob Slack remains upbeat and insists it’s a matter of time before the results start coming. The second’s had goal keeper Gav Dunn to thank, his man of the match performance prevented a rout that ensured his side could get back into the game. However, skipper Slack admitted: “It took going three goals behind for us to start playing our game and battling the way we should have from the off.” Slack himself was amongst the Solent scorers, as was Mark Jordan who also helped create a spirited revival. Ultimately this wasn’t enough, yet Rob firmly believes had the squad performed for the whole 90 how they did for the last 20 minutes, they would have travelled home victorious. “It’s been a tough start to the season as we haven’t got a point yet, but that doesn’t reflect the performances as we’ve played some very good football.” Slack added. The midfielder is confident that with luck on
their side, plus some clinical finishing, the side are sure to turn around this current poor run of form. Three defeats in a row have meant a reshuffle in the end of season targets though, the skipper explained: “Realistically we’ve got to be aiming for mid table now.” It doesn’t get any easier for Solent, next week they’re up against fierce local rivals Southampton University in a cup fixture. A tough test is sure to be in store, however the seconds firmly believe on their day they can get the all important victory. Manager Paul Walsh also voiced his regret at the team’s comeback not being enough, as he was sure they would have got the all important equaliser. Despite this, Walsh added: “It was a much more spirited performance compare to last week, it’s just a shame the comeback came too late.” “Next week is a very tough test for us, Southampton first team at home in the cup, but support in any way would be great.” So the message there would be to come down and support the team at Test Park, with kick off at 2pm versus their most local rivals.
IMAGE: Southampton FC
Bloodied but unbowed, Seconds vow it’s only a matter of time till results come in