The Spark Newspaper - June 2019

WRITTEN BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS

JUNE 2019

JOINING A SPORTS SOCIETY University. The prime time in your life to try out new things.

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READING FESTIVAL LINE-UP The Long Hot Summer won’t pass us by. Read all about the biggest event of the summer.

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THE MIGHTY MEAL DEAL

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Writer Maddie shares her view of the Co-op’s lunch deal.

FIND A ROOM

MOVING OUT?

RENT A HALLS’ ROOM FOR AS CHEAP AS £14 PER NIGHTTHIS SUMMER

SIMPLE STEPS TO ENSURING YOU GET YOUR DEPOSIT BACK.

PG. 6

PG. 4

ENCOUNTERS OF THE SCALY KIND

Sigala Music

Kia Mackenzie| News Editor RUSU Say’s Relax has pulled out all the stops this year, with some of the busiest and most popular events being those relating to animals.

It is scientifically proven that spending time around animals can reduce levels of stress, and this year RUSU organised for Berkshire Reptile Encounters to come to 3Sixty on Monday, May 20th. This return of the reptiles to the Univeristy was extremely popular, with people queing up or even having to come back later!

Emily Hutchinson

With slots every 15 minutes allowing up to 30 people at a time, it kept the animals calmer but also gave more opportunity for students to hold and interact with the many reptiles they had, which included a large tortoise (who seemed quite content simply exploring the venue!), a beautiful albino snake, several different pythons and a plethora of lizards! (Cont. on page 5.)

SUMMER BALL ‘19 Lois Plummer | Entertainment Editor Sigala has been announced as the headlining act for the RUSU Summer Ball 2019. The English DJ and producer, known for popular house and dance tracks in the charts like “Just Got Paid” featuring Meghan Trainor and Ella Eyre as well as “Came Here For Love,” will kick off the soundtracks to our

Summer of ’19.

The sell-out event will feature 10 hours of music featuring several huge acts & DJ sets and a festival bigtop main stage. It’s safe to assume that 3sixty will be hosting a wide range of genres to give students an exciting and varied experience.

The British production trio, Disciples, will also be making an appearance.

They are known best for collaborating with Calvin Harris on the club classic “How Deep Is Your Love” as well as their popular house track “On My Mind.”

And it’s not just the music we have to look forward to. There will even be a food court to keep you going throughout the night, with some of your Thursday Food Market favour-

ites making an appearance, as well as the famous hog roast.

Hosting 4500 Students, not to mention the free funfair, it’s sure to be a very memorable evening.

Head to page 14 to find out more about the line-up and what to expect at the event.

DON’T FORGET TO APPLY FOR NEXT YEAR’S STUDENT FINANCE BEFORE THE DEADLINE ON JUNE 21.

Contents

CONTENTS

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JUNE 2019

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR 03 Print Editor Taz gives the low down on the best reads of this issue.

MOVING OUT 07 Everything you need to know and do before moving out of your rented accomodation.

MOBILE FARM 08 Students shared study breaks with furry friends at RUSU’s mobile farm event last month.

SAY YES TO THE PRESS 10 Two members of The Spark become trainee journalists.

DAIRY FREE QUICHE 15 A quick and easy healthy meal perfect for summer evenings.

GET READY 16 Student Olga gives a detailed guide for freshers joining us in September.

PHO-NOMENAL 17 Taz shares a review of Reading’s unique Vietnamese-styled restaraunt, Pho.

SUMMER BALL 18 Everything you need to know about this year’s event.

GAME OF THRONES 19 It’s the ending everyone’s been talking about. Student Ryan gives his take of the master series’ finale.

REVIEWS 19 Our student writers review The Durrells, Mother Mother, Tyler the Creator’s new album, and The Amazon’s latest concert.

SAY YES TO SPORT 19 Here’s why you should consider joining a sports society in September.

LET’S DANCE 19 RUTAM reflect on a successful year for the society.

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.

SPARK TEAM PRINT EDITOR TA Z U S H E R E D I T O R . S PA R K @ R E A D I N G . A C . U K DEPUT Y EDITOR SARAH MAQBOOL D E P U T Y E D I T O R @ S PA R K N E W S PA PER.CO.UK NEWS EDITOR KIA MACKENZIE N E W S @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K LIFEST YLE EDITOR H O L LY F O U R N I E R L I F E S T Y L E @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R .

CO.UK SUB EDITORS S A B I TA B U R K E P R I YA K H A I R A E N T E R TA I N M E N T E D I T O R LOIS PLUMMER E N T E R TA I N M E N T @ S PA R K N E W S PA PER.CO.UK

LEAD DESIGNER X I A O M E N G FA N G MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION MADELINE EASTWOOD ALEXANDRA WINFIELD

Editorial

JUNE 2019

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REVISION TIPS Our Sub editor Sabita gives some excellent tips for keeping up with your studies this exam season.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

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TOP SCHOOL DANCES Ahead of the Summer Ball, we looked back on some of the best school dances in the history of modern cinema.

19 RUTAM

A review of the society’s achievements this year.

Welcome to your June issue of The Spark!

Congratulations for making it through the exam season- I hope you are looking forward to the long summer ahead!

This month we are bringing you a huge variety of content including coverage of events from this term, round ups of the latest entertainment news, and a number of advice articles.

In News this month you’ll find a range of guides including tips for those moving out of rented accommodation, how to secure a room on campus over summer, and everything you need to know about Student Finance.

If you’re planning ahead and want to get more involved with university schemes come September, you will also want to have a read of information on the RED award, being a JCR, and becoming a course rep.

News editor Kia also gives an insight into an exciting trip to China which a number of students are partaking in this summer, as well as providing an overview of a recent survey BAME students partook in.

Lifestyle also offers a range of tips this month. These include quick and easy recipes for making a chicken and vegetable curry, bolognaise, and dairyfree quiche. You’ll also find a guide for those looking to fundraise on campus next year as well as student writer Olga’s detailed guide on tackling university life.

And if you’re looking for recommendations on where to eat out

From Entertainment you can expect reviews of ITV series The Durrells, in-

as an end of exams treat, have a read of restaurant reviews of Honest Burgers and Pho in Reading.

From Entertainment you can expect reviews of ITV series The Durrells, indie rock band Echo November, and RUDS’ cabaret evening.

Meanwhile our Entertainment Editor Lois takes readers on a tour of the greatest school dance movie scenes of all time, as well as explaining exactly why students should watch Gilmore Girls before coming to university.

Flick to Sport and you’ll find ‘Years in Review’ by Mixed Hockey and RUTAM, as well as a useful guide on bringing your bike to Reading and where the best cycling routes are.

Please also note we are still looking for sports editors to join our print and online teams. If interested, please email me at editor.spark@reading.ac.uk.

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 for us, please also get in touch. For updates throughout the month, make sure you follow our social media pages and visit our website: https://sparknewspaper.co.uk.

Taz Usher

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News

JUNE 2019

MOVING OUT? REMEMBE YOU’RE ENTITLED TO. If you have privately rented, RUSU’s advice section has provided many tips to ensure that the process is as stress-free as possible, and how to avoid charges to ensure you get your full deposit back.

Kia Mackenzie | News Editor With the summer term drawing to an end, many students will be preparing to move out, either back home or into another house. Here are a few of RUSU’s tips to help prepare you for moving out.

Ensure that the inside and outside of the property are left in a clean and tidy state, with the contents of the property in the same condition as it was let to you. It is worth noting that there should be leniency for reasonable wear and tear through normal use.

Rubbish and Recycling: Every year students receive fixed penalty notices from the Council for failing to dispose of their rubbish properly. Your landlord can also charge you for not removing your unwanted goods, and any rubbish left in or on the property.

Check your local council website (either Reading Borough Council or Wokingham Borough Council) for refuse collection dates – there may also be extra bin collections arranged in student areas during the moving out period.

You can arrange bulky waste collections through your local council – but note that these will incur a fee.

Smaller kitchen appliances (kettle, toaster etc.) can be collected by the local council; these should be placed in a carrier bag next to your bin outside your property.

You can also go to the local Rubbish and Recycling centre if you have a lot of rubbish or recycling that will not fit in your bins.

Donate any leftover unopened food and toiletries to your local foodbank, and remember you can donate any unwanted items to local charities.

Your Deposit: Your landlord can make deductions from your deposit for damage or extra cleaning costs, so do not leave the cleaning until the last minute.

It is often worth (if you and your flatmates are in some disagreement!) hiring an outside cleaner and splitting the costs- it will be a lot cheaper than what your landlord or agent will charge. Once this is done, arrange for the landlord or agent to look over the property before you move out. Arrange for a final inventory when the house is empty and cleaning has been complete.

It is important to discuss the return of your deposit with your landlord prior to moving out. If there are no issues, your deposit should be returned normally within 10 days of moving out of the property.

Your landlord is likely to undertake a check-out inspection/inventory, and they will compare this with the check-in inventory to decide if any deductions are to be made from your deposit.

It is common for landlords and tenants to disagree over what should be deducted from the deposit at the end of the tenancy – you can try to negotiate with your landlord until you reach a mutual agreement.

CHANGES to the returned deposit amount CAN BE MADE FOR: 1. Exit inspections 2. Damage caused by tenants or guests 2. Extra cleaning charges 3. Missing items on the inventory 4. Changing the locks if keys aren’t returned

News

JUNE 2019

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ENCOUNTERS OF THE SCALY KIND

Nominate Yourself for Course Rep! Libby Bushill | 2nd Year English Literature

Continued from front page...

During my first year I felt like I was on the edge of everything going on at Uni, so I decided that in my second year I’d throw myself into it and get more involved. As part of that new-Uni-year resolution I put myself forward for the Part 2 English Lit Course Rep role.

With expert handlers all the students were in safe hands and was an opportunity for many students who had never experienced handling snakes or other reptiles. With many of the snakes aged 5 or 6, they were very used to being handled; however, some students had the unfortunate experience of the lizards having an accident on their top!

Course Reps are elected students that work with their department to We mainly focused on the little make sure your course is working things that we could do to make for you, the student. student life easier this year.

The role involves attending meetings with senior members of the department and other Course Reps from your School as well as talking to your coursemates about what the course is like for them.

A key point we were keen on was advocating for the consistent use of PowerPoints and microphones to make lectures more accessible.

It was great fun and a hilarious event for many- one python seemed to have an affinity for covering students’ faces when she was put over someone’s shoulders! As with all the events, it was free to attend as was a very popular and fun break for many students!

This was made possible through our communicating it to the departIt really spoke to me for the chance ment so that they could pass the it gives you to gain an insight into information along to lecturers. how the department works and how decisions are made.

My favourite thing about the role

has been seeing how much the peo-

Being a Course Rep has been really fun as well as giving me great experience that I can add to my CV! I was pretty nervous about the whole thing – I had to write a manifesto and get voted in, and I’d never been part of an election process before. Fortunately, after many redrafts and then lots of Facebook messages to people on my course, I was in and really excited to get started!

5. Removal of rubbish/tenant items left behind CHANGES to the returned deposit amount CAN’T BE MADE FOR: 1. Fair wear and tear 2. Charging full price for items that were used when you moved in 3. Unpaid utility bills (unless bills are included in your rent) 4. Replacing household items worn from normal use 5. Breaking a clause of the contract (unless your landlord has suffered a financial loss due to this) Making Moving Out Stress-Free: Take dated photos of the whole property for proof of the condition you left it in.

Make sure EVERYTHING is turned off, and the windows and doors are securely closed and locked.

Begin organising the closure of your utility supplier’s accounts before you leave, including gas, electricity and water. Take final meter readings for gas and water (if relevant) and keep a written/photographic record of these and contact the supplier with them to close them. Make sure you settle with everyone who will be sorting out the final bills.

Inform any relevant organisation of your change of address- GP, HMRC, bank, mobile phone etc. No doubt when you moved in you received post for previous tenants! If needs be you can pay to have the Royal Mail re-direct post for a period of time until you change and inform everyone.

Hand back all keys to your landlord or agent and enjoy your summer!

ple that run our course care about the experience and wellbeing of their students, and how willing they were to take on our feedback.

Even when something didn’t work out, we felt that student voices had been heard and that workarounds would be found.

Being a Course Rep has been really There were three Course Reps for fun as well as giving me great expePart 2 English Lit last year, and it was rience that I can add to my CV! great to work in a small team as part of the role.

If you like talking to people, want to

learn more about how decisions are My main aim as Course Rep was to made on your course and meet new make everything a bit more trans- people, I would really recommend parent for students and to commu- putting yourself forwards for this nicate what the department were role, whatever course you’re on. doing for them as much as possible.

LIFESAVING CHILDREN’S THERAPY Sabita Burke | Sub Editor A scheme based at the University of Reading has this month been named one of the Nation’s Lifesavers, a group of organisations who are recognised for making life-changing advancements to treatment for health and wellbeing.

The Anxiety and Depression in Young People research clinic has created a forward-thinking, parent-led programme of therapy which can be delivered by non-specialists to their own children. This is taught to parents in a five-week Overcoming Anxiety course, and is designed to tackle the enormous waiting list of children in need of therapy across the UK.

The Importance of Consent: Things To Know Kia Mackenzie| News Editor PC Julie is the Police Officer for the University, and this month she has some important points to remember when checking if you have consent: 1. The person seeking or initiating sex is responsible for getting consent.

2. Ask yourself if the other person is capable of giving consent - are they are on drugs

or drunk, asleep or unconscious?

3. Check their body language.

4. You can ask them if they are okay.

5. If they seem unhappy, or you are not sure they are consenting, stop!

6. Silence, or the absence of a ‘no’, does not guarantee consent.

7. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.

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JUNE 2019

NEED TO STAY ON CAMPUS? HERE’S HOW! Whether or not your summer plan involved hanging around on campus, Stay@Reading can help if you have been caught out!

UoR

During the summer months, there are a range of quality room types available in halls available for flexible stays, whatever the reason! All nightly rates include all utilities, Wi-Fi, 24-hour dedicated halls security and a 24-hour Halls Hotline.

There are many reasons why students may need to stay in Reading a little longer than expected.

Are you: 1) Re-sitting an exam?

If you’re looking for a quiet place to study on campus and sleep the night before your exam, look no further. All halls available over summer are on campus and no more than a 10 minute walk away from the li-

“The cost of halls over the summer won’t break the bank if you’re looking to save up”

brary and all main buildings.

2) Doing an internship?

Are you undertaking a summer internship or work placement in Reading, London or the local area?

Reading buses operate frequent bus services from Whiteknights campus to Reading town centre and Reading Station throughout the summer so you can easily commute to your placement. For halls closest to bus routes, choose Childs or Bridges.

3)Taking a part-time Job? From £14.25 -£23.10 per night, the cost of halls over the summer won’t break the bank if you’re looking to save up. All halls (with the exception of Windsor) have full kitchen facilities, so you can save on meals by preparing and cooking your own.

If you’re staying for 28+ nights, you

also have the option of paying for your stay in instalments.

4)Moving into your new house?

Halls accommodation is available for flexible summer bookings, so you can book for as little as one night if you need a place to stay before moving into your new place.

They also take group bookings; just specify in your booking notes who you wish to be allocated with.

5)Going to Reading Festival?

If you’re lucky enough to have a ticket to one of the longest-running music festivals in the UK, you can ditch the muddy tent for a bed, shower and cup of tea in the morning for as little as £10 per night! It would be rude not to…

For more information and to make a booking, visit www.reading.ac.uk/ stay.

BAME Students Have Their Say Kia Mackenzie | News Editor Minority ethnic students who took part in a research study stated that their fellow peers should “swallow their pride” in order to make use of the support available at university in order to become higher-achieving students.

The reflections of final year ‘high-achieving non-traditional’ students who participated have been published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education as part of an ongoing project that is exploring the attainment gap for underrepresented students in order to understand it. Participants of this include BAME, working-class and mature students, and so cover a wide range of the university’s minority groups.

One of the key issues that was highlighted as a result of this study was that there is “a mixture of fear and pride” that has stopped many from getting support from the professional services that are offered by university. It is however becoming more common for students to seek out help, or worry that they have ‘left it too late’.

The paper went on to reveal that many students who feel concerned with ensuring that they are self-reliant meant that they may then go on to avoid one-on-one tutorials.

One student was quoted saying: “I’ll tell them to swallow their pride, you’re gonna need help, even if you have a system in place, it can be improved on. Don’t get too stuck in your own way. Take your shield down, just open yourself up... Go to

the student support service if you have issues with your writing. Go and bother your lecturers and ask them to see drafts, go to every tutorial and make sure you are there for every session because you will learn something.”

It reflects the importance of opening up and the idea that it okay to ask for help, especially as we all come to university to do well, and continue to so in the rest of our lives.

Dr Billy Wong, Lecturer in Widening Participation at the University of Reading’s Institute of Education said: “We need to dispel the perception that seeking support is reserved for those who are desperate or dependent, and promote the importance of students utilising their available support as a key attribute of an independent student.

“Despite the concerns we read about of ‘student-as-consumers’, changes in higher education have not yet fully challenged the traditional idea of who a student is – white and middle-class.”

The paper itself has some excellent recommendations that universities should take in order to help their students and normalise support services.

UoR Chaplaincy Events Sarah Maqbool | Environmental Science w. Professional Experience

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Mondays Staff & Postgrad Bible Study 1-2pm; Soup Lunch (£2 donation) 1-2pm; Evening Prayer (20 mins candle lit reflection) 5pm.

Tuesdays Catholic Mass (30 mins followed by free lunch) 1pm.

Wednesdays Theology & Doughnuts (Informal student study group, no faith requiredfollowed by free lunch): 1-2pm, Junction11 Radio Hour: Planet Jazz with Spiritual Reflections: 1- 2pm; Chinese Fellowship (food followed by social & games): 6:30- 9pm.

Thursdays Anglican Communion (followed by free lunch): 1- 2pm Fridays Bread Making (£2 donation, book via email & collect your loaf by 4pm) @ 10:30- 11:30am, 11:30am- 12:30pm.

KnitWits (Social & Knit) @ 12- 1pm.

Quaker Meeting (20 min silent meeting) @ 1pm.

Are you interested in attending any of these amazing events? Drop the Chaplaincy Centre an email at chaplaincy@reading.ac.uk.

News

JUNE 2019

NUIST Scholarship Teaser Kia Mackenzie| News Editor & Sabita Burke| Sub Editor

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Return of the Mobile Farm Kia Mackenzie | News Editor

On June 29th 2019, 20 students from the University of Reading will be flying to Nanjing, China as part of a programme entitled Thought, History, Culture, to help raise awareness and encourage students in the UK to see China as an option for a place to study.

On Thursday 9th May, the mobile farm made a return to the University as a part of the annual RUSU says Relax campaign.

Despite the rain, the turnout was amazing! With donkeys, ponies, ducks, chickens, rabbits, five-week old goats, adult goats, new born lambs, fully grown sheep and some tortoises, there was a whole range of animals for the students to touch, feed, interact with and even hold!

The baby goats were by far the most amusing- having been bottle fed, a hand anywhere near their mouth to them meant ‘feeding time’! I myself certainly came away with a few nibble marks.

Elizabeth Lynch, Study Abroad

The chosen students are all from different years and from many different courses, as we found out during our first briefing meeting. Fortunately, myself and Sabita, one of our

“It is an absolutely fantastic opportunity” Sub Editors, are two of the lucky few that have been chosen to go!

It is an absolutely fantastic opportunity, paid for by the kind donations from Alumni and by support from both our Study Abroad Team here, and the Nanjing University of

Information Science and Technology (NUIST). It will give students the opportunity to experience studying quite literally on the other side of the world!

It will be a 14-day visit to Reading Academy at NUIST, flying from Heathrow to Nanjing, with a short layover in Hong Kong. There will be opportunities to partake in language lessons, activities including Kung Fu and calligraphy, a twoday city tour and a day off with the opportunity to visit Shanghai (or anywhere else that may take your fancy).

Our full article on the trip will be featured in the first issue back after the summer, so keep a look-out!

With continual rain, the students still flocked to see the animals and join in with the fun for the four hours that they were visiting. It was great fun and everyone came away smiling- and smelling of a farm too!

It was another event to help encourage a relaxing atmosphere and continuing to help students interact with animals to encourage stress relief, and no one came away feeling stressed after that- just a bit wet!

Many students had the opportunity to feed the animals with suitable food provided to them, to discourage inappropriate feeding. It was generally a great event, and it was lovely to see another return of a fantastic event to the university.

Every year RUSU work together with the university and students to

RECRUITMENT FESTIVAL ON CAMPUS Jerome Bell | Careers Centre Employee The Careers Centre is pleased to announce the first Graduate Recruitment & Internship Festival. This essential event will be happening in 3Sixty on 14 June, from 14:00 to 16:00.

Come along to the recruitment zone in 3Sixty, get your CV checked, or try one of our helpful workshops. Our warm up act, the ‘Prepare for the Fair’ podcast, will help you prepare for the day.

The festival will feature over 30 organisations – including Google, FDM Group, Aldi, Mondelez International, and many more – with live graduate, internship and placement vacancies.

The Careers team will also be on

hand to promote the Reading In- Full details are available at www. ternship Scheme, an exclusive reading.ac.uk/careers/GRIF scheme for Reading students, offering paid summer internships with local employers.

Throughout the event, our expert coaches will provide CV reviews, careers information and advice. (If you want a CV review, remember to bring a copy of yours with you!)

We’ll also provide Fringe workshops on career essentials such as finding internships and placements, job hunting and application advice.

With graduate roles for finalists and internships and placements for other years, and free entry, it’s one festival this summer that you really shouldn’t miss.

The festival will feature over 30 organisations

Ross Woodgate

Every year RUSU work together with the university and students to help provide chances for students to take time out and relax. help provide chances for students to take time out and relax, with a wide variety of events to help students simply take a break, no matter what their interests. These events include many different arts and craft activities, open mic and jazz nights, chances to make and drink cocktails, yoga and yogalates, film nights, BBQs, meditation sessions and just general free giveaways including donuts, water bottles, chocolate and revision and stationary items. And best of all, the events are often free!

Kia Mackenzie

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News

WHATS ON IN JUNE

Kia Mackenzie | News Editor

Y3 BA End of Degree Art Exhibition Saturday 1 - Friday 7 June Whiteknights Studio Trail: Saturday 15 - 16 June Architecture End of Year Show: Monday 17 June Should you wish to receive a hard copy of our events diary then please email us at events@reading. ac.uk.

Please take a look at a selection of our events below. You will also find many more on our website.

CHICKEN SHOP 2ND NAME CHANGE IN 1 YEAR Louis Goldstein | Online Editor

Fernando’s? Fernandez? Manzano’s! A chicken shop in the town centre has changed the name for the second time of the year upon intellectual property notice of Nando’s and a Leicestershire restaurant.

HALLS LIFEAN INSIGHT INTO THE JCR Kia Mackenzie | News Editor Each of the halls at the University have a dedicated JCR committee,who are elected to support your welfare, help build positive relationships with the local community and run fundraisers for important causes.

They are there to support you, whether it be in you transition into university life, or are continuing your studies in halls.

Nominations for JCR Elections open each January, and you need pay the JCR fee to run.

If you have any questions you can email: student.activities@rusu.co.uk.

JUNE 2019

ARE YOU ‘RED’Y TO STAND OUT FROM THE Taz Usher | Print Editor Looking for something unique to add to your CV? The RED Award is a qualification which will look great against your degree- and you may already have completed it without realising!

The RED Award is the University of Reading’s official employability skills certificate. It is designed to encourage students to make the most of extra-curricular activities which are unrelated to their academic studies.

versity volunteering scheme. These include writing for The Spark, the Students in Schools, STaR mentor and PAL programmes, as well as being a course rep, JCR, or a committee member of a society.

their acquired skills and experience on CVs and during interviews. And for those who are keen to challenge themselves even further, the option to sign up to the Advanced Red Award will also become available.

The final section is the training and development stage, for which you need to complete five hours. Training sessions can be those offered directly by schemes at the university such as Life Tools Talks, Study

Sabita Burke, a student who has completed the award said: “Taking part in the Red Award has been a truly beneficial experience for me.

It has not only allowed me to gain recognition for the skills I was developing from being on The Spark’s committee, but also given me the motivation to complete even more hours of activities, training sessions

Support or Study Advice workshops, or can be completed within societies, for example committee or welfare training.

The award is comprised of three sections. The first is the Core Activity component which aims to give students a step ahead in the job market. RED Award students must complete 35 hours of core activities: these can include paid work, internships, work experience, insight days, and volunteering. Paid campus opportunities such as being a student ambassador or a school representative will also count towards these hours.

The RED Award is the University of Reading’s official employability skills certificate.

The next stage is volunteering, which you will need to complete a minimum of 10 hours for. This could be something as straight forward as volunteering in a charity shop or at a care home, or engaging in a uni-

The hours for all sections are logged in the RED award checklist and signed off by the relevant people.

Once all hours are complete, students attend a final completion session to discuss how to present

and advice talks, weaving them into my free time.

“It has motivated me to complete more extracurricular hours” “While the weekly email updates can be annoying, reading them alerted me to opportunities which I might never have heard about if it hadn’t done the Red Award.”

RED Award students must complete 35 hours of core activities

News

JUNE 2019

Say Yes to the Press!

Taz Usher| Print Editor A Berkshire-based charity dedicated to enhancing the lives of disadvantaged individuals has named trainee journalists of the local newspaper as its next beneficiaries. And Spark members Taz and Raj are among the first trainees to join the scheme.

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LOOK AT THIS ABSOLUTE UNIT...

Kia Mackenzie| News Editor

The Wokingham Paper

Taz Usher, Raj Khan, and Andy Preston are the first trainees to join TWP. Founded in 2013 by entrepreneur and philanthropist David Brownlow CVO DL, the David Brownlow Charitable Foundation has donated over £8 million to both local and national projects.

Chief Executive of the foundation Alexander Barfield said: “Our work brings us face to face with situations at their worst, but humanity at its best.

Presenting local groups with grants which we know are going towards a good cause is a very heart-warming experience.”

Alexander joined the charity in 2013 with a passion for helping others. He said: “I grew up and was educated in Wokingham so working on projects close to home is always rewarding.”

As well as his work for DBCF, Alexander is also vice-chairman of Twyford Together, Trustee of Berkshire Community Foundation and member of both the Waltham St Lawrence Village Show and Macmillan Cancer Support Carol Concert committees.

And Mr Barfield believes The Wokingham Paper plays a crucial role in supporting the efforts of the local community and for keeping residents informed.

He added: “We are delighted to be able to support the Paper’s traineeship programme. Local news is of a high importance to David and the team so this is a great way of rewarding the publication for its work.”

Davids and Davids alike, The Wokingham Paper also have another man to thank for their progress.

Wokingham man David Riley took over ownership of the publication in

October. He said: “When I acquired the Paper I established it as a Social Enterprise for the benefit of the various communities within the borough.

As part of this, the Paper has a commitment to developing employment and training opportunities in the area.

I am delighted with this partnership with the DBCF because it enables us to fulfil that commitment.”

The DBCF is now working with David Riley to provide aspiring journalists with the opportunity to complete a three-month traineeship with the Paper. And first to partake in the scheme are second year Reading University student Taz Usher and Woosehill-based sports journalism graduate Andy Preston.

Taz said: “I’m really grateful that the David Brownlow foundation and Wokingham Paper have been able to offer me this opportunity. It’s almost unheard of for a company to be able to offer a training programme for this length of time, let alone invest the time and effort that Phil and David have into building my experience.

Taz added: “Highlights of my traineeship include interviewing a star from my favourite childhood television show and producing a front-page story on child poverty figures for Wokingham. Speaking to so many different people from the borough has also taught me so much about the local area and some of the inspirational individuals that live here.”

For more information about the David Brownlow Charitable Foundation log on to http://www.dbcf.com/.

The MERL Twitter

To any prospective student, or any current student who has been living under a rock and hasn’t come across the all-famous MERL twitter page: check it out! After rescuing their bat MERLin, the museum’s ‘Absolute Unit’ marketing campaign has landed the MERL National Museums Award.

A tweet uploaded that featured an archived photo of a large Exmoor Horn ram has helped the Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) win a Museums and Heritage Award.

The Museums & Heritage Awards celebrate innovative and groundbreaking initiatives from museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions across the UK and overseas.

The ‘Look at this absolute unit’ meme, created from the MERL’s collection of materials relating to farming and the English countryside, was retweeted more than 30,000 times.

The campaign that followed as a result of this viral tweet in April 2018 has helped the museum vastly increase its social media following, and has been of great interest to those from across the pond.

Not only has the online presence increased, but it has also massively helped welcome people in through their doors.

Kate Arnold-Forster, Director of the Museum of English Rural Life at the University of Reading said: “The past twelve months have been extraordinary for The MERL,

a year in which it has found a new profile, vibrancy and confidence, built on the impact of the Absolute Unit. We couldn’t be more delighted by the recognition of this award.”

The Marketing Campaign of the Year prize, sponsored by BVA BDRC, was collected by Kate Arnold-Forster, Director of The MERL, Alison Hilton, Marketing Manager, and Adam Koszary, Digital Lead.

Adam said the award showed the importance of Twitter as a marketing and engagement tool.

The MERL’s Twitter following after

Bernard Donoghue, the Mayor of London’s Culture Ambassador, described The MERL as a ‘genuine game-changer’ due to its impact on the museums sector.

Talking about ‘Look at this Absolute Unit’, Diane Lees CBE, Director General of the Imperial War Museums and Chair of the 2019 judging panel, noted: “This is a story of risk, humour, interactivity and authenticity. It is about how one tweet about an Exmoor Horn ram has changed the rules of social engagement, influencing the sector and beyond like nothing else before.”

It has also massively helped welcome people in through their doors. the release of ‘Look at this absolute unit’ saw them go from almost 10,000 to more than 32,000.

Following on from that their campaign which overhauled the museum’s approach to social media meant that they reached 100,000 followers by the end of January 2019. It now stands at 132,000 followers.

Their twitter following has become as source of delight to many people, both in the are and globally; especially with the recent story of the museum’s non-human vistor, ‘MERLin’ the bat. With free entry, it’s definitely worth a visit while you’re here!

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News

JUNE 2019

THE POWER OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT How you have the power to facilitate change just through exercising your democratic right.

Sarah Maqbool | Environmental Science As another academic year draws to engagement and representation a close, it’s the perfect time to reis particularly poor from students flect upon how we could improve with ethnic minority backgrounds. our day-to-day behaviour for the However, in order for anything to year ahead. change everyone needs to be involved and show some form of enPerhaps we haven’t been as physgagement on all levels. ically active as we’d hoped to be this year, or maybe we need to take I ask you this- how can you expect a good long, hard look at our time long-term, positive change when management. you do not fulfil the basic require ment of representing yourself, let Whatever the case, I hope you’ll alone championing equal repadd one more thing to your list – be resentation? more involved with your own rep resentation.

Having now completed my first year of university, it is with great disappointment that I confess the majority of students are very bad (terrible actually) at exercising their democratic right and being involved within their own representation.

As a woman from an ethnic minority group (Pakistan to be precise), I’m acutely aware of how student

“Be more involved with your own representation”

An entire year has flown by with RUSU Elections, Change It! Voting Campaigns and Student Voice meetings- there are plenty of opportunity to raise one’s voice about what is working and what isn’t, and yet there is never a higher turnout than a couple of hundred votes out of the THOUSANDS of students studying at our university.

Even during the Facebook livestreams of the Student Voice Meetings (which I tuned into one time as I was unable to make it there physically), only two to five students were watching at a time and hardly any commented their thoughts on what was being discussed.

Not to mention the disappointingly low student turnout at every Student Voice meeting that has occurred this past year.

Important and relevant issues were brought to light at the last Student voice meeting of the year- includ-

“There are plenty of opportunity to raise one’s voice about what is working and what isn’t” ing the cost of gym membership at SportsPark, increasing disabled access for disabled students, destroying the barriers of stigma towards particular sports societies, introducing full-time postgraduate and environment & ethics officers (both of which are currently part-time) and introducing charity reps within every society committee. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but you get the idea.

Universities are higher education institutions of which students form the largest group- in short, WE are

the University of Reading.

So why can’t we, at the bare minimum, exercise our democratic right and represent ourselves?

RUSU Elections only happen once a year, Student Voice meetings are run for two hours once a term and Change It! voting periods last for five days per term- so let’s make our fair representation a priority.

News

JUNE 2019

LAUNCHPAD ON METAL HEALTH AWARENESS Kia Mackenzie | News Editor To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Launchpad is raising awareness of the links between mental health and homelessness by revealing 68% of the charity’s clients have a diagnosed mental health condition – almost three times more than the number of adults from the general population who experience a diagnosable mental health problem in any given year, which is 25% according to NHS Mental Health in Adults.

13

From Slavery to the #MeToo Movement Ellie Pestaina | 3rd Year English Literature The University of Reading’s Graduate School recently held their annual Fairbrother Lecture, exhibiting the academic journey of a Reading doctorial researcher.

This year, the honour was awarded to Elizabeth Barnes of the Department of History whose research concerned the viral phenomenon and feminist movement ‘#MeToo’, acknowledging the significant social progress this movement has become a catalyst for.

Launchpad

Of those surveyed by Launchpad in October 2018, over 60% of clients who reported having a mental health condition received medication, 31% have been referred for treatment beyond GP level, and anxiety and/or depression is by far the most common condition at the high level of 88%.

Ian Caren, Chief Executive of Launchpad, said: “Our latest research demonstrates that mental health conditions among those who are homeless or at risk of losing their home in Reading are a very real problem. Over three quarters of our

“Launchpad is raising awareness of the links between mental health and homelessness ” clients have conditions such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, PTSD and personality disorder – which, compared with the national average mental health statistics, is particularly concerning.

“Poor mental health can be both a cause and a consequence of homelessness.

Many people can lose their home because a serious mental health condition leaves them unable to manage a mortgage or tenancy, and being homeless or at risk of becoming homeless can be so traumatic it can trigger a mental health problem. There are often the added complexities of addiction and substance misuse, which many of our clients battle.

“It is vital that people in a housing crisis who are experiencing mental health problems receive appropriate support for their conditions – so they are able to recover, sustain a long-term home, and live full and independent lives. At Launchpad we offer therapeutic activities to help our clients address their problems, develop coping strategies and build self-esteem, which include counselling and art therapy. We also work in partnership with agencies across Reading, such as community mental health teams, to ensure clients have access to targeted and intensive treatment and support.”

Launchpad helped over 1,400 people in Reading to get back on their feet in 2018, a figure which has doubled in just four years. For more information about Launchpad, or to donate, visit: launchpadreading.org.uk.

Coined by Tarana Burke in 2006, and more recently popularised by Alissa Milano in a 2017 tweet, the ‘#MeToo’ movement proves to be one of the more recent efforts of women to protest sexual violence and gender inequality.

Barnes’ lecture ‘From Slavery to the #MeToo movement’ shone a much-needed light on the historical plight within women’s history, but more poignantly, of the African American women whose identities and struggles of sexual violence during slavery were omitted from pre-American Civil War records.

Although, before this, Barnes educated her audience on the astonishing legality that excluded enslaved women from the notion of sexual violence.

It was this, and often lack of education and so illiteracy, that lead to women being vastly underrepresented in archives. Barnes’ extraordinary efforts in exposing this rarely acknowledged turbulent history were further evident in her meticulous study of archival records, drawing conclusions from fragments such as written-in afterthoughts of a nineteenth-century physician on a bill of costs. Its’ discovery itself was a painstaking effort as such a key piece of evidence is rare among

Barnes educated her audience on the astonishing legality that excluded enslaved women from the notion of sexual violence even hundreds of archival records.

Barnes spoke also of the emancipated women who worked with the abolitionist efforts, giving acknowledgement to the voices of black women in history who have not often been heard (Such as Harriet Jacobs, who wrote her autobiographical piece in 1861).

Barnes herself later criticised, in the lecture’s Q&A, the lack of in-depth education into both slavery and the depiction of women and their resistance, away from the male lens.

Yet, the success of this post-war occupation was brief, and the southern states regained political power and reasserted the confederate values.

Racist myths towards black women once again became prevalent: they were oversexualised, and their character often brought into question.

Yet, the need for the liberation of race and gender was one that resounded within women.

Many came forward to report to the established Freedmen’s bureau of recent and historic sexual crimes against them, their resistance was documented and left traces for historians years later.

Barnes’ research was a much-needed contribution and education into racial and gender history, illustrating that although the progress might seem slow, female resistance will ultimately leave a significant mark on history.

14

Notice Board

SUMMER BALL 15TH JUNE 8PM-6AM

JUNE 2019

Notice Board

JUNE 2019

QUICK ANNOUNCEMNTS

>

Don’t forget the Advice Sevice are still running drop-in’s: Term Time 11:00 – 13:30 Monday & Tuesday 14:00 – 16:30 Wednesday 11:00 – 13:30 Thursday & Friday Vacation Time 11:00 – 13:30 Monday & Thursday 14:00 – 16:30 Wednesday

> > > > > > >

We have many recipes this month in the lifestyle section.

They are all perfect for when you’re limited with time and just want to cook up a quick yet very tasty meal after a long day at university.

Why not write an article for lifestyle over the summer holiday? You could review a holiday you went on for example! Email lifestyle@sparknewspaper.co.uk if you are interested.

Saturday Re-Union: Ultimate Alumni Takeover - 14th September.

RUSU Summer Ball 2019: Sat 15th Jun at 20:00 - Sun 16th Jun at 06:00 Reading University Students’ Union Final Wednesday Union: Wed 19th Jun at 22:00 - Thu 20th Jun at 02:00 Reading University Students’ Union

Freshers Fayres 2019: Volunteering: Tuesday 24th September Societies: Wednesday 25th September Sports: Thursday 26th September Media committee vacancies: Apply online for the remaining roles for 2019-20. https://www.rusu.co.uk/surveys/165

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16

Lifestyle

JUNE, 2019

Lifestyle

EASY VEGETARIAN

Easy Bacon & Veg Quiche

Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor

Taz Usher, Print Editor

This is a simple and easy recipe that I have developed over my two years at university.

Holly Fournier

I am not vegetarian, but I personally love how Tesco’s ‘Meat Free Vegetarian Mince 454G’ tastes in comparison to beef mince. I love how this vegetarian mince tastes with lots of vegetables, and it only takes three minutes to heat up in a pan! It is also very inexpensive (currently costing £1.75) and I can make around four portions with this recipe, so I normally keep three in the freezer which makes making dinner

“I can make around four portions with this recipe” after a long day at university a lot easier. It is also slightly spicy but you can take out the

jalapeños and chilli flakes if you don’t like spicy food!

Ingredients: Soya mince (454G), Bolognese sauce (500G), 1 can of chopped tomatoes, 1 red pepper, 1 green pepper, 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, handful of either green or red jalapeños, salt and black pepper (to taste), spaghetti (cook according to appetite), 1 teaspoon of mixed herbs, 1 tea spoon of basil, half a tea spoon of chilli flakes (to taste), a handful of grated cheddar cheese, and any preferred oil to cook with.

Method: 1) Snap the spaghetti in half and cook in boiling water.

2) Chop the onion, green pepper, red pepper, garlic and jalapeños.

3) Add the oil to a pan.

4) Fry the onion, green pepper, garlic, jalapeños and red pepper in a wok (because this makes four portions) or large frying pan until the onions have browned.

Quiches are one of my favourite things to eat. They’re easy to cook, full of flavour and can be shared across a couple of meals, which can save lots of time. This recipe is one of my favourites which I learnt on a cooking course when I was 10 years old!

My family have continued to use it for making quiches since.

This recipe also combines dairy-free butter, soya milk and Manchego cheese (made from Sheep’s milk) to make an absolutely delicious home-made meal.

sprinkled in small chunks onto the top) yy pinch of salt and pepper Method Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

1. Place the flour into the mixing bowl 2. Add the butter 3. Using your fingertips rub together until resembling breadcrumbs 4. Add the cold water and mix together until all ingredients combine to make a pastry 5. Empty onto clean, floured service

6. Using a rolling pin roll the pastry into a shape which will fit the interior of your baking dish Prep time: 30 mins 7. Gently lift the dough onto the dish and Cooking time: 20-25 mins using your fingers fit it to the dish (you may Tools: need to tear some overhanging bits off and yy Medium sized baking dish press them into thinner parts of the dough) yy Scales 8. Place dish into the preheated oven for 10 yy Mixing bowl minutes until golden brown yy Measuring jug 9. Prepare fillings: Dice the onion and pepper yy Rolling pin and place into an oiled frying pan to cook yy Frying Pan 10. Using scissors cut the bacon into small yy Cooking oil/low cal spray pieces and also place in the frying pan to yy Wooden spoon cook yy Cooking scissors 11. Break the two eggs into a measuring jug yy Cheese grater 12. Add the milk to the jug with a bit of salt yy Sharp knife and pepper Ingredients: 13. After 10 minutes, remove the quiche base For the pastry: from the oven yy 120g of flour (preferably plain, but 14. Add half of the meat/vegetable fillings to self-raising flour will do!) the dish yy 100g of dairy-free butter 15. Pour the egg and milk mixture over the yy 3 tbs of cold water fillings. Then put the remaining filling on top For the filling: 16. Grate a small amount of cheese onto the yy 3 streaks of bacon top, covering most of the surface yy 1 pepper (any colour) 17. Place in the oven to cook for approx. 20yy 1 medium onion 25 minutes. When cooked, the surface should yy cooking oil or spray be golden and firm. yy 2 eggs yy 100ml of soya milk (or any other The quiche can be served warm out of the non-sweetened milk alternative) oven or cold, and it can even be reheated usyy Manchego cheese (or feta cheese ing a microwave later on.

5) Add in the soya mince and stir so the current ingredients are mixed together and fry for three minutes, so the soya mince is cooked and defrosted.

6) Add in the Bolognese sauce, chopped tomatoes, salt, black pepper, mixed herbs, basil, and chilli flakes.

7) Whilst you bring this to a boil, grate the cheese.

8) By now your spaghetti should be cooked.

9) Enjoy!

Taz Usher

The ‘Pablo Escobar of Eggs’ Louis Goldstein, Online Editor Some individuals like Jeffrey Lendrum just want to have an adventurous lifestyle.

The dual Irish-Zimbabwean citizen was caught for the fifth time trying to smuggle rare birds’ eggs that he steals as a passion. Some of his eggs could be priced for up to £300,000 with the top buyers being from the Middle East or the United Kingdom, even though smuggling birds of prey is an illegal activity. Travelling throughout the world from northern Quebec to Patagonia to catch his rare eggs, the adventurer has been doing it all his life with a real ornithologist passion combined with an interest in the money profit. Now known as the “Pablo Escobar of Eggs” or the “Falcon Smuggler”, Jeffrey was arrested at Heathrow in June 2018 with eighteen rare eggs and sent to jail for three years.

Lifestyle

JUNE, 2019

Honest Burgers: Reading Holly Fournier, Lifestyle Editor

18

Easy Chicken and Vegetable Curry Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor

Holly Fournier

Honest Burgers is a lovely restaurant situated in the heart of Reading town centre. Currently, Honest Burgers are incredibly student-friendly as they are offering 30% off food for students, every Monday- Thursday between 11.30-17.30. With this exciting discount, you can get a fantastic burger (there are many to choose from) with a generous portion of rosemary salted chips.

Their beef comes from small farms in the Scottish Highlands. Personally, I am more of a chicken fan, so I decided to order the Jerk Chicken burger, which is exclusive to the Reading restaurant. With a luxu-

ry brioche bun, jerk chicken thigh bacon, double American cheese, Calypso Fusion jerk sauce, mango slaw, and lettuce, the burger seriously satisfied my hunger when I had been walking around town all day. My friend who I went with has a smaller appetite. So, she chose to swap the rosemary salted chips for the little gem, rocket, fennel & radish salad which she said tasted great with her chicken burger!

I also recommend taking a look at their cocktail menu. I ordered the Ruby Fizz, which complemented my meal nicely.

This chicken and vegetable curry recipe is great for a healthy lifestyle as it is incredibly nutritious for one meal. It is an easy recipe that I have developed myself over my two years at university. It is a little spicy, but you can take out the jalapeños and chilli flakes if you do not like spicy food, considering the sauce is mildly spicy anyway. This recipe makes three portions normally, so I like to store two in the freezer for times when I just want to make a quick dinner.

Ingredients: chicken breast (around 365g), one onion, salt and black pepper (to taste), tikka masala sauce (500g), a handful of red or green jalapeños, one red pepper, one green pepper, one cup of rice, one can of chickpeas, teaspoon of mixed herbs, teaspoon of ground turmeric, teaspoon of chilli flakes, two cloves of garlic and a preferred oil to cook with.

Holly Fournier

3. Chop the garlic, onion, jalapeños, red pepper and green pepper.

4. Fry the chicken breast in its own frying pan until cooked.

Meanwhile, fry the garlic, onion, jalapeños, red pepper and green pepper in their own frying pan until cooked.

5. Mix the cooked vegetables Method: and cooked chicken by pour1. Boil the rice in a rice cook- ing them both into a wok. er or in a saucepan.

6. Begin to fry these together 2. Cut up the chicken breast for a minute. into small pieces.

7. Add the tikka masala sauce, salt and black pepper, chickpeas (these don’t take long to cook so can go in at this stage), mixed herms, ground turmeric and chilli flakes.

8. Bring to the boil.

9. By now, your rice should be cooked.

Enjoy!

So, You’ve Left Your Revision till the Last Minute?

Sabita Burke, Sub Editor We’ve all been there. And believe me, I know what it’s like to feel that rush of dread coursing through your caffeine-filled mind as you calculate the time you have left and realise you’re done for.

In all seriousness, though, calculate the number of days you have left until your next exam. Or hours, if you’ve really been that good at procrastinating. It may sound simple, but mapping out the slots of time available is the first step to feeling in control of the situation.

Make sure to exclude time for

breaks; these are as important as revision, especially the evening before your exam. Even after these are subtracted, you will probably still find that you have a surprising number of hours left. If these are used wisely, they can constitute enough time to cover a surprising amount of revision.

Once your chickens are counted, listing the parts of your exam that you know the least about is the place to start. After tackling the topics you’re uncomfortable with, you’ll feel more prepared.

My final tip for memorising content quickly: say it out loud! It’s

“Calculate the number of days you have left until your next exam. Or hours...” quicker than mind maps, and cements information in the brain more solid for us auditory learners at least.

Sabita Burke

19

Lifestyle

DOGS AND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE Louis Goldstein | Online Editor Owning a dog results in an active lifestyle, shown in a recent study from the University of Liverpool.

Researchers have shown that dog owners are four times more likely to have an active lifestyle, thanks to their dogs. The study has shown that dog owners tend to walk for a longer period and are four times more prone to reach the usual exercise guidelines.

MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE CONCEALER Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor After using many concealers since I started wearing makeup at age 14, The Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer is the best concealer I have used thus far. At only £4.19 in most stores (and don’t forget to use your wonderful student discount), this concealer is a winner for me in comparison to high-end concealers. With my oily skin, its 16-hour longevity is a lifesaver when I’ve got a long day at university ahead of me!

Photo credit: Holly Fournier

COULD WATER CANS HELP THE Louis Goldstein, Online Editor A British start-up called CanO Water aims to fight plastic pollution by democratising the use of water cans that are reusable and recyclable, challenging the environmental repercussions of plastic bottles.

JUNE, 2019

THE BRAIN DIETFOOD FOR THOUGHT Sarah Maqbool | Sub Editor

Most of the time when we hear someone talk about healthy eating and nutrition it’s in direct reference to our physical health, but what impact does our diet have on our mental health? It may surprise you to know that good nutrition is just as important for our mental health as it is for our bodies.

Anxiety: Your diet may lack: Folic Acid.

Food sources which contain these nutrients: - Veg: spinach, lettuce, asparagus, green peas and avocados are great sources as well as cauliflower and bok choi.

- Fruit: oranges.

- Beans & Lentils: lentils, chickpeas, black beans and kidney beans.

- Nuts & Seeds: peanuts, sesame seeds, hazelnuts, cashews and walnuts.

Poor Concentration & Memory:

Photo credit: Dan Gold on Unsplash

Your diet may lack: vitamin B1.

Food sources which contain these nutrients: - Wholegrains: spelt bread, oats, brown rice, barley and fresh pasta.

- Pulses & Beans: lentils and soy milk.

- Veg: peppers, cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, spinach, green peas, watercress and aubergine.

- Nuts & Seeds: sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, pistachios and sesame seeds.

- Meat and Fish/Seafood: pork, tuna and salmon.

“Nutrition for a healthy, functioning mind”.

Poor Memory Your diet may lack: vitamins B5, B6 and B12 as well as

Omega 3 fatty acids.

Food sources which contain these nutrients: - Wholegrains: oats, brown rice, bran and barley.

- Dairy: yoghurt, milk and cottage cheese.

- Fruit: raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, bananas and mango.

- Veg: broccoli, cauliflower, avocado, asparagus, peppers and mushrooms.

- Meat and Fish/Seafood: salmon, shrimp, cod, mackerel and chicken.

- Nuts & Seeds: sunflower seeds and flaxseed.

Lack of Motivation

Your diet may lack: Zinc and Tryosine.

Food sources which contain these nutrients: - Veg: spinach, mushrooms, avocado, tofu, asparagus and broccoli.

- Fruit: blackberries, kiwi, bananas, raisins, tomatoes and prunes.

- Dairy: mozzarella, swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, par-

mesan and low-fat yoghurt.

- Meat and Fish/Seafood: chicken, (dark meat), lamb, pork, mince beef, tuna and turkey.

- Nuts & Seeds: pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.

- Beans & Pulses: chickpeas, kidney beans, baked beans, lentils and miso.

Not sure how you’re going to incorporate these foods into your diet? Here are a few tips to start: - Get creative with porridge: nuts, yoghurt, seeds, jam, chopped fruit- go crazy!

- Mixed bean chilli con carne is packed full of protein and tonnes of the nutrients mentioned above. Serve with something high in fibre such as brown rice for that extra healthy boost.

- Yoghurt is an underrated, budget friendly dessert: top with jam, seeds or chopped fruit for an extra healthy kick.

20

Lifestyle

JUNE, 2019

GET READY FOR READING Starting at university is definitely both exciting and stressful. If you’re moving from abroad it’s twice as exciting, and maybe three times more stressful. In this article I wanted to share some tips I that wish someone had shared with me last year.

Olga Shevchenko | MSc Applied International Development

Housing If you are not staying in halls, you will probably search for shared housing.

The best place to look is the Facebook group run

by RUSU (check their webpage). Expect to pay anything from £400-500 a month, plus a one-time deposit of the same amount.

For international students, it’s not uncommon for the landlords to ask for the whole rent in advance if you do not have a UK guarantor. However, don’t be shy to negotiate! I was able to convince them to divide my payment into instalments even though originally they asked for the whole sum upfront.

You might also want to

asked a stationery store if they had a student discount, and the consultant did not know if they did, however looking at the system she discovered they indeed did.

The cheapest grocery stores are ALDI and Lidl.

However, the Co-Op gives you a 10% discount if you have a TOTUM card, so in some cases it is cheaper to shop there. There is an amazing variety of food available around the grocery stores in Reading. If you liked, you could try something new almost every day. If you are after British food, my favourite deserts are jelly beans and trifle (a mix of whipped cream, custard, cake and

“I was able to convince them to divide my payment into instalments.” learn about recycling in Reading – the rules are simple, but they might be different from where you lived before.

Student discounts shopping

and

I would highly recommend getting a TOTUM card at the beginning of your year which gives you many discounts on travel, food, clothing and cosmetics.

Also, be sure to ask – I once

fruit or jelly). You could also try shepherd’s pie if you eat meat, or hash browns, which are simply fried smashed potatoes, but very delicious.

There are lots of student discounts for clothing. But after discovering charity shops, I have almost stopped shopping in retail shops. Charity shops are places where people donate their things – clothing, cutlery, books etc,

and the profits go to charities. The products are not always used; sometimes, especially after Christmas, people just donate unwanted gifts. Shopping there saves money and is better for environment. I like to think I am saving things from going to waste!

Transport and travel The single bus ticket for the students is £1.50 and the day ticket is £2.50. If you buy 10 of these via the Reading Buses app it only costs £12. You could also buy them individually from the driver, but I would highly recommend the bus app anyway. It has been helpful in planning routes, and the

buses do normally follow the schedule.

If you cycle, the University of Reading offer sec-

the University of Reading offer free cycle training for all levels of experience.

If you want to explore the

“Reading’s surroundings are very worth exploring. Start with the village of Sonning...” ond-hand bikes for sales or for rent. You can rent a bike for £10-12 a term (plus a refundable deposit of about £50) and get a free lock and lights. If you don’t cycle or are nervous about cycling in the UK,

country (as you should), travelling by train is very convenient, but it can get expensive. I highly recommend getting a 16-25 railcard (you’re still eligible to get one if you’re an older student). It costs £30 but

Lifestyle

JUNE, 2019

Campus Fundraising Ideas

21

PIZZA

Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor

Wise Marketing Aside from being part and parcel of student life, fundraising activities can also make you feel good while helping out your community. Science shows that being generous can have a tremendous impact on your self-esteem. In fact, Time reports that generosity can benefit both mental and physical health — whether you are the one directly donating, or encouraging others to do so. This makes universities a great place to rally support for a cause.

Event ideas: Cook some yummy food Run a flea market You’re sure to find some students who are more than willing to clean out their closets for a profit. Put up a charging fee for those who want to become vendors and host a weekend-long flea market, open to the university community and beyond.

Play sports Staying active is a huge priority for many students. For instance, Sport in Mind hosts sporting events for a cause, which is a great way for multitasking students to stay fit and help out. Running a variety of sports can also help attract more students.

Curate an art show University campuses are hotbeds

A university student is a hungry student, and it’s hard to resist well-cooked, homemade food. Take advantage of the warmer months and host a campus-wide BBQ and picnic, charging visitors either by plate or with a flat entrance fee.

What to do after: Ensure your fundraiser is a success Communication, truly, is key. Save the Children’s checklist for promoting fundraisers advises groups to use all available channels in order to promote an event and get to as many people as possible. Using social media is a no-brainer, but there

Craving pizza but can’t be bothered to walk to the shop or pay for a pizza to be delivered?

This homemade hack my mum taught me is a lovely lunchtime snack for when I’m craving pizza.

You only need four simple ingredients that you are bound to have already: two English muffins, tomato puree, cheddar cheese and mixed herbs. Firstly, cut the muffins in half and toast them. Secondly, spread on the tomato puree. Thirdly, grate the cheese, then sprinkle this on top on the four separate muffins. Fourthly, sprinkle some mixed herbs on top for that Italian vibe. Lastly, pop in the oven on a grill setting for five minutes to allow the cheese to melt, and bon appetit- you’re done!

SOLUTION TO Sarah Maqbool | Deputy Editor

“University campuses are hotbeds for creativity.”

Olena

gives you about a 30% discount on train tickets for a year. For example, a return ticket to London during off-peak times is £20 without the railcard and £13 with it. Be sure to always book a return ticket as this is cheaper.

Again, installing the GWR app is recommended, as you can see live times and plan your route.

If you want to travel long distances by coach, it’s cheaper but the bus stop in Reading is very inconveniently located almost outside of the town. However, if you’re booking at least 3 days in advance, the TOTUM card gives you a 20% discount. A return

ticket to London would be about £10 with the discount. But to get there you will need to travel almost outside of the town, and there are no facilities there, just an open bus stop.

Reading’s surroundings are very worth exploring.

Start with the village of Sonning, the museums and the Harris Garden on campus, and you will have an amazing time living here.

for creativity. If you’re looking to raise funds for charity, you can opt to organise an art festival featuring works made by students, ranging from paintings to artsy films. Simply charging a small entrance fee for those interested can go a long way.

Host a video game tournament GuardianCon is but one example of how playing video games can become a charitable acitivity, making it even easier for young adults and students to get involved. Set up a bunch of consoles, host an all day long FIFA tournament, and see who’s the best player in the student body.

are also different avenues like running an advert in a local paper. Use your communication channels to update donors on the fundraiser, too, and remember to thank them for their help once it’s done.

Having a successful fundraiser builds momentum for your next.

Hand out surveys asking what people enjoyed about the event and how you can improve the next one.

Sarah Maqbool

It might seem like a tedious time waster, but for all you students who will be moving away from home for the first time, simply taking the time to decorate your room and make it more homely will not only cure your homesickness in no time at all, but it’ll also turn your room into a place you genuinely look forward to returning to at the end of the day.

For wall decorating, I recommend Gripping Stuff’s Poster Tape which leaves your walls mark free.

Comparing the Mighty Meal Deals Maddie Eastwood | 2nd year BA History and Politics Without being biased to our trusty Co-op, I can’t help but feel a sense of loyalty and respect for the standard of meal deal we are able to buy on campus. Their ham and cheese sandwiches compared with Tesco’s ham and cheese rolls are divine.

Not every pasta salad contains sweetcorn (which is good if you hate it like me, obviously), and the selection is always on point. Co-ops meal deals are the best. No doubt.

The meal deals by Sainsbury’s are a close second.

Maddie Eastwood

Lifestyle

JUNE, 2019

Bioderma Skincare Products Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor Bioderma are a French brand that I have been interested in since watching one of my favourite YouTubers ‘KathleenLights’. When referring to the ‘Bioderma Sensibio H20 Make-Up Removing Solution Sensitive Skin’ Kathleen says, “I love this. This is all I use now to take off my eye makeup, even my face make-up.” Since I was running out of my current makeup remover, I couldn’t help but give Bioderma’s skincare products a try.

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WHY A 9-5 WORKING WEEK IS NOT CONDUCTIVE WITH THE EXAM TERM Amelia Dinsdale, Online Lifestyle Editor

Photo credit: Holly Fournier

I have three of their products: ‘Bioderma Hydrabio Rich Moisturising Care’, ‘Bioderma Sensibio H20 Make-Up Removing Solution Sensitive Skin’, and ‘Bioderma Photoderm Max Cream SPF50+ 40ml’.

By far, my favourite out of the three is the ‘Bioderma Hydrabio Rich Moisturising Care’. I am absolutely in love with this moisturiser. The thickness is luxurious. If you have dry and/or sensitive skin, then this is the moisturiser for you. I love how it makes my skin glow when I am not wearing makeup. I normally moisturise twice a day; once in the morning and once before I go to sleep with other moisturisers. However, I have found that with this moisturiser I have only needed to moisturise once a day due to how long lasting it is- I can still feel it on my skin at the end of the day. When I am wearing makeup, I have found that this product acts as a wonderful primer before foundation. The thickness of this moisturiser means foundation glides on nicely on top when using a foundation brush.

The ‘Bioderma Sensibio H20 MakeUp Removing Solution Sensitive Skin’ is certainly up there with one of the best makeup removers I have ever used. The 500ml bottle size is perfect for keeping in the bathroom or on your dressing table as it will last months. A little goes a long way with this product; I’d say if you’re not wearing foundation you only need to soak one cotton pad. It literally feels like water on the skin, since there is a faint smell to the product and it doesn’t sting my eyes whatsoever. This product

is great for times when you want to remove your makeup but can’t wash your face after, for example if you’re at a festival (and for this you can purchase a smaller size).

Lastly, the ‘Bioderma Photoderm Max Cream SPF50+ 40ml’ is the perfect size for a holiday, which is why I’m taking it along with me to Greece this summer. It is a facial sun cream, and since I have fair skin which unfortunately burns incredibly easily SPF50+ is perfect for me! I really enjoy its subtle fragrance and how moisturising it is at the same time. It means you don’t have to pack as many products if you’re taking it away!

If you are interested in purchasing any of these exciting products, these are the online links: - Hydrabio Cream £15.50 https://www.lookfantastic.com/bioderma-hydrabio-cream-50ml/11688485.html -Sensibio H20 Micellar Water Reverse Pump £19.59 https://www.lookfantastic.com/ bioderma-sensibio-h2o-pump-reverse-500ml-limited-edition/11688474.html -Photoderm Max Cream SPF50+ £14.80 https://www.lookfantastic.com/bioderma-photoderm-max-cream-sp f50-40ml/11688 496.html

Have you ever been in the library at 10pm, 11pm, 12pm?

Have you even been to Park Bar at 11am because you’ve just finished your morning exam?

Have you ever been in the library at 7 am to get your favorite seat?

Do you find yourself spending your weekends in the library?

If you have, then, like me, you are a victim to the alternate universe that is a University during exam term.

Last week, whilst walking into the URS building at 7:30 am, I passed two girls discussing how excited they were to go to bed. There are very few jobs that would expect their employees to stay up all night, and yet this situation is relatively normal at university. Why is this? Well that’s the million-dollar

question, and I’m sorry to say that I haven’t got a conclusive answer to it.

However, I do have some ideas: - Probably the biggest problem with university revision is that there is

It is difficult to know when to stop revising, and it is unfortunately very easy to burn out. My biggest tip to prevent this (that I sometimes struggle to follow myself ) is to understand that you cannot do everything in a

“Putting off a piece of work until tomorrow isn’t being lazy if you have already spent 10 hours working.” no end point; you genuinely can revise forever and still could have an extensive list left.

- Co-op is right there so you can just pick up food if you are staying late (I have to say that I am guilty of this one).

- Take-home exams: 48 hours of stress instead of just 2 or 3 in the exam hall.

day. Putting off a piece of work until tomorrow isn’t being lazy if you have already spent 10 hours working.

Despite all this, university students don’t have it too bad. We have 1-2 months of extreme stress and work 7 days a week and then a 4-month holiday.

Bring on June!

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Lifestyle

JUNE, 2019

A TRAVELER’S GUIDE TO THE BAHAMAS

Info for your dream holiday to one of the most relaxing places (needed post-exams!)

Emily Woodall | Second Year BA German If you’re already fed up of exams, revision and living in the library, then you may be dreaming of a sunny summer getaway. With plenty of gorgeous places to visit both in the UK and abroad, it’s hard to decide where to take your well-earned break. Many uni students love the European interrailing life, and as much as that sounds like an incredible summer, why not try a further afield destination… the Bahamas, just south of Florida!

Top place to visit: Harbour Island, Pink Sand Beach With the Beach Boys ‘Kokomo’ playing in the background, a glass of whatever-takes-your-fancy and a perfect backdrop like this, who wouldn’t feel relaxed in this beautiful place!? Harbour Island is home to the world famous Pink Sand Beach, a cool-to-the-touch beach with the colour coming from tiny pink shells. Popular activities for tourists include horse riding and snorkelling, but a day of simply re-

laxing on the beach to see the sunset sounds incredible!

Things to do: - Go diving with approved and qualified instructors in ‘The Tongue of the Ocean’ - Eat at a local restaurant and try the local food and drink - If drinking alcohol, the local rum is much cheaper than imported beer!

- Visit Pirates of Nassau, a museum where you can learn about the history of piracy!

Price guide: All sounds good, right? Whilst it

“Visit Pirates of Nassau” may not be as cheap as a European holiday, it won’t bust the bank and the views are worth the extra bit.

Okay, so accommodation is expen-

sive, but as students we are used to the cheaper options rather than the luxury 5-star penthouse apartments! The currency in the Bahamas is BSD (Bahamian dollar) and on average you can be paying about 90-100 BSD per night for a double room. Just make sure you stay safe and travel-aware whilst abroad and book through trusted sites like Booking.com or Airbnb.

For great advice on all things Bahamas and travelling, visit Nomadic Matt’s website for a full and useful guide.

Safety: Most tourists have a safe and stress-free visit to the Bahamas, but it’s always important to be aware of any possible disruptions or safety issues affecting your break abroad.

For example, in the Bahamas the hurricane season is normally between June and November; follow advice given by local authorities in such instances.

“Make sure that your insurance covers all your needs for your trip”.

Check with your GP in regards to vaccinations that you may need before travelling anywhere abroad; there is a risk in the Bahamas of the Zika virus and whilst this shouldn’t put you off visiting this wonderful part of the world, you should follow advice from health guides such as the National Travel Health Network and Centre website and take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is a must for travelling abroad; make sure that your insurance covers all your needs for your trip.

If you decide to visit the Bahamas, have an amazing time and be travel-aware… and if you’re still dreaming of this gorgeous destination then start saving those pennies for a future dream holiday! For more advice about the Bahamas and for updates about safety and travel information, visit https://www.gov. uk/foreign-travel-advice/bahamas.

In the Bahamas itself, any consular support can be found in the British High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica.

Lifestyle

JUNE, 2019

Family Food for Freshers Nia Dalton, 3rd Year BA English Language Out with the pot noodle and in with the homemade spag bowl!

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FIERY, FLAVOURSOME, PHO-NOMENAL. Taz Usher, Print Editor

A review of Pho Reading.

Photo credit: Nia Dalton Pho Reading

Moving to uni is great - the fridge is only full of foods you like, your mum can’t tell you off for ordering a Dominoes at 10am, and if you want a pot noodle for breakfast, no-one’s judging. But when freshers’ week is over and you’re feeling like a hungover slob, you’ll really start to miss home cooking.

Bring your mama’s kitchen to you with these three classic and easy student recipes:

1) Mama D’s super chili con carne Serves 4 - batch cook and freeze it!

Ingredients: 1 red onion - chopped 1 red pepper - chopped 1 bag of Quorn mince or 500g beef mince 1 sachet of chili mix 1 teaspoon of paprika 1 carton of passata 2 teaspoons of sugar Can of kidney beans in chili sauce Method: Fry onion and rep pepper in a little olive oil in a saucepan.

Once softened, add mince, chili sachet, paprika and passata.

You may need to add half a cup of water; check consistency.

Add sugar and tin of beans, cook for a further 15 minutes on a gentle simmer.

Serve with rice.

2) Bolognese Serves 4 - if you’re feeling generous, feed your flat!

Ingredients: 1 red onion - chopped

1 red pepper - chopped 1 pack of mushrooms - chopped 1 bag of Quorn mince or 500g beef mince 1 carton of passata 2 teaspoons of sugar 1 teaspoon of oregano 1 teaspoon of dried mint 1 glass of red wine optional

Method: Fry onion in olive oil until soft.

Add the mince, then the pepper and mushrooms.

Add the wine and allow this to cook off; 5 minutes should do it.

Add carton of passata, two teaspoons of sugar and dried oregano and mint.

Simmer on a gentle heat for 20-30 minutes until sauce has thickened a little.

Remove from heat and serve with pasta and garlic bread.

3) Chicken curry Serves 2 - leftovers for lunch the next day!

Ingredients: 1 red onion - chopped 2 tablespoons of curry paste 300g chicken breast - diced 1 tin of coconut milk 1 teaspoon of garam masala

Method: Fry onion in coconut/olive oil.

Add a tablespoon of curry paste and garam masala and cook for 1 minute.

Add chicken breast and fry until cooked.

Bring hob to a simmer and add coconut milk.

Simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes and serve with rice.

Just a stride away from the Duke Street bus stop, Pho Reading is the perfect retreat for anyone looking for a midweek catch up or end of exams celebration with a twist.

My recent trip to Pho was my first, but definitely won’t be my last visit. And to make things even better, the restaurant offers a 15% discount for students; what better excuse to go!

Pho’s drinks menu offers an exotic variety of freshly blended juice concoctions, fiery cocktails, and Vietnamese coffees.

My selections included the apple, mint and lime juice, and Hanoi Mule cocktail consisting of Ha Noi Vodka, fresh apple, ginger, mint and lime- both of which were as refreshing as each other.

Starters included choices from veg-packed spring rolls, flavoured fish, and homemade meat dishes. I went for the Nem Nuong (pork and lemongrass meatball dish served with lettuce and a sweet chilli dip) whilst my dinner date chose the Banh Xeo savoury crispy crepe with chicken and prawns.

Unlike most restaurants, the eating experience is somewhat practical at Pho. It involves using not only chop sticks to eat the dishes, but using the flavours provided by the waiters to personalise the meals.

Pho’s mains also feature a huge variety of cultural tastes such as a traditional noodle and brothstyled dish (Pho), fragrant broken rice bowls, and wok-fried noodles. And if you’re looking to add even more flavour to your meal, I highly recommend sides such as the delicious Rau Muong Xao (stir fried spinach in garlic).

For my main I decided to go for the Pho Bo Combo (steak, brisket and meatballs in broth). It provided a brand new taste which gave me a true sense of Vietnamese culture- the broth was extremely flavoursome and sides such as herbs, chilis, and lime gave me the option to tailor the dish to my liking.

And the final course certainly didn’t disappoint either. Choices included banana fritters drizzled in coconut or honey and ginger, fresh fruit sorbets,

pandan waffles, and tropical flavoured ice creams.

My dessert was the Banh SoCo-La Truffle (chocolate truffle slab served with green tea ice cream). I chose this as I’m a huge fan of green tea so was intrigued to see what the taste was like-it was the most delicious replica of the herbal drink!

Not only are the team at Pho Reading extremely friendly and professional, but they’re welcoming to anyone looking to give the food of Vietnam a try. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never used chop sticks before, or have no idea what dishes you’ll enjoy- the waiters will guide you through the menu and help you with your choices from starter to pudding.

And if exam celebrations are a long way off for you but you still want to give Pho a try, the team also offer their food delivery service (Pho on the Go) which is available on Deliveroo.

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Entertainment

JUNE, 2019

Entertainment

THE WHEEL IS BROKE GAME OF THRONES R Nine years since Game of Thrones began, our watch has finally ended.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Ryan Harnell | First Year International Development

Eight epic seasons, millions of dollars and innumerable shocking character deaths later, we have come to the end Game of Thrones.

The greatest show on television has reached its fitting, if melancholic, denouement and boy does it give us a lot to unpack. It’s had its ups and downs and many fans feel more than a little disappointed with this season, but personally, I believe that Game of Thrones couldn’t have ended any other way.

On the one hand, I agree with the critiques of Season 8’s pacing.

Maybe it’s because I’m not ready to leave Westeros, but it must be said that a couple of the plot threads we’d eagerly followed over the years came to either rushed or unsatisfying conclusions. For example, after nine years of buildup and despite every scene he is in being of the highest calibre in VFX and atmosphere, The Night King turning out to be just another moustache-twirling villain being evil for the sake of evil, was a little underwhelming. If I was nitpicking, I would also highlight how inconsistent some plot points were this season, chiefly the Lannister Scorpions being able to kill dragons in one episode and being useless in the next, and Varys being the smartest, most devious man in Westeros for seven seasons and being caught red-handed committing treason in one episode. I do think though that all of these threads could have been justified very easily with a little more time and development in the form of a couple extra episodes to feel truly earned.

All that said, I find it impossible not to appreciate just how poetic, nuanced and satisfying a vast majority of this season was. The Battle of Winterfell in Episode 3 and The Siege of King’s Landing in Episode 5 were a phenomenal testament to how far the combination of cinematography, VFX, choreography and set design have come on the silver screen.

Both were terrifying, suffocating and deathly beautiful as we saw our beloved characters come to face to face with the show’s main villains - external and internal evil, in the form of The Night King and Daenerys respectively - and suffer immense consequences as a result, increasing the already high stakes of the season. Particular highlights include the Dothraki Charge and Dragon Fight in Episode 3 and the sequence in Episode 5 of Arya clawing her way through King’s Landing as it collapsed around her.

I would also highlight Episodes 2 and 6 for the incredible personal interactions between our favourite characters, perfectly showcased through witty dialogue and the magnificent performances of all the actors - but particularly that of Emila Clarke, Kit Harrington, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster Waldau and Sophie Turner, all of whom elevated this season to a groundbreaking showcase of conflict, love, jealousy and sacrifice. My favourite of these moments was in Episode 2 when a misfit band of heroes sat around the fireplace sharing jokes, stories and alcohol as they prepared for an impending doom, and the entire first act of the final episode, in

“The greatest show on television has reached its fitting, if melancholic, denouement”

IMDB

Entertainment

JUNE, 2019

EN: REVIEW

EDITOR’S NOTE

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH GILMORE GIRLS BEFORE COMING TO UNI

Lois Plummer | Entertainment Editor A warm welcome to returning readers and prospective students who will be joining the University in September! Ahead of your arrival, we’ve suggested some films and TV shows that you should catch up on (to the left and on Page 26) as well as the latest music we’ve been listening to.

You can also read all about one of the many society-led events such as the Drama Society’s Cabaret Night below. Exciting for many readers will be the long-awaited Game of Thrones review, so watch out for spoilers!

If you’d like to have a go at writing for the Entertainment section, send us an email for some more information. We look forward to hearing from you! entertainment@sparknewspaper.co.uk

Lois Plummer | Entertainment Editor The Gilmore Girls are notoriously best friends first and mother-daughter second. But why exactly should you watch it before coming to university?

I remember when I received an unconditional offer to study English Literature at Reading. I think the snow had not long gone and that the sky was a winter grey, but what I remember most is my heart beating with an exquisite sense of excitement and fear. There’s something magical about the prospect of leaving home, of freedom and independence, but as young adults we are also plagued by the heavy burden of expectations. American cinema never fails to represent university as a hub for cult-like sorority activities, drug abuse and endless

up that it is a must-see for prospective students.

Following the lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, you experience everything with them: Friday night dinners, boyfriends, good grades, bad grades, bliss and break-ups. I think what makes it so timeless also, has got to be the fact that there is an episode for a lot of universal experiences like dealing with loss or getting your heart broken. We see Rory graduate from high school and transition into university life, take on new responsibilities, make new friends and struggle with home-

RUDS CABARET:

“This show is so inherent to girlhood and growing up that it’s a must-see for prospecive students.”

IMDB

which we are treated to a scarily intimate escalation of dramatic tension beginning with Tyrion’s resignation as Hand of the Queen and ending with Jon Snow’s painstaking assasination of his lover-turned-tyrant Daenerys.

For many, the finale itself - aptly called The Iron Throne - was a disappointing shock. I disagree with this sentiment as I truly believe that the show couldn’t have ended any other way than with a change in the status quo - Daenerys, in spite of her eventual tragic fall from grace, was right that the wheel had to be broken. The true evil in the show was never the ice demons, nor the monstrous sadism of kings, but rather the throne itself - why do you think Drogon destroyed it? The moral is that power corrupts and it does so absolutely, no matter how fair or just one’s intentions are, and

it will continue to corrupt good people until the system changes. With that in mind you can see why the next ruler could never be Jon Snow or Daenerys - they represented too much of the old way of doing things. The next ruler had to be elected, had to be a fresh start and had to be someone above petty politics, dreams of conquest and worldly desires.

Sounds a lot to me like Bran.

In a bittersweet kind of way, Daenerys succeeded in her quest to break the wheel - even if she wasn’t around to witness it.

partying – which, more often than not, could not be further from the truth. There comes a point in your first year when you realise you’d much rather stay in and cosy up with a friend watching old episodes of Doctor Who because let’s be honest, David Tennant was the best, and neither of you are over the fact.

Rant aside, here’s why I think you should watch Gilmore Girls before coming to Reading.

The Gilmore Girls are notoriously best friends first and mother-daughter second. Take a quirky single mother and her nerdy teen daughter living in the charming town of Stars Hollow (or drive west, make a left at the haystacks and follow the cows as character Paris puts it) and you’ve got one of the most heart-warming shows to come out of television. For me, this show is so inherent to girlhood and growing

sickness. When I got my offer, I watched the episode “The Big One,” where Rory receives her college acceptance letters – and the day before I left to move into halls, me and my Mum watched “Ballrooms and Biscotti,” in which the Gilmores frantically gather supplies and spend their last evening together before Rory herself leaves the next day.

Though the town and its characters are so lovingly eccentric, what the Gilmores go through is sincerely realistic and ultimately comforting as you feel like whatever you’re going through, they’re going through it with you.

All seven seasons of Gilmore Girls are available to watch on Netflix, as well as the special edition series: A Year In The Life.

Lois Plummer | Entertainment Editor

Far from Broadway glitz and glamour, RUDS’ very own Cabaret evening was fun, intimate and sentimental. Nonetheless, its stars carried the same poise and grandeur as expected from professionals, with a warm and supportive atmosphere making for an endlessly funny evening. Many standing ovations were warranted as students played instruments to original songs and danced stunning routines; it was evident that creativity and originality was abundant, with some students incorporating skits and sketches into their musical performances. Be sure to catch RUDS’ next performance!

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2019 Taz Usher | Print Editor Punk rockers, Brit-haters, and Madonna with an eye patch. The Eurovision song contest took it up another notch of weirdness this year with an exotic array of both tuneful and tone-deaf acts. And not to mention the humiliating result for Britain which just went to show how fed up the rest of the

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world is with our Brexit shenanigans.

The show’s creative team pulled out all the stops this year, but were special effects enough to polish the acts? For more information about the results, acts, and countries involved, head to https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2019.

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Entertainment

JUNE 2019

SOCIETIES GUIDE: RUDS Wondering what it’s like to be part of the Reading University Drama Society? Ben Harper Stone and Josh Bryant document their first year experiences.

Ben Harper Stone | First Year English Literature & Josh Bryant | First Year Geography RUDS

Drama societies have had a large presence in university life for decades. Our university is no exception, with the Reading University Drama Society (RUDS) boasting over a hundred members. The society performs throughout the year, with shows ranging from Shakespeare’s classics to contemporary musicals. But what’s it actually like to be in RUDS? Involvement in this society has been highly rewarding due to its

“RUDS has auditions and workshops throughout the year to enable new members to join.” many hard-working and dedicated members working on what they are passionate about, from acting

to directing, set design and lighting.

Although it can be intimidating to go into, many of the people who join are surprised by the wide array of people who join the society from various degree programs.

Hence, RUDS is very accommodating towards non-drama students with different time schedules.

Getting cast in a show can be very challenging and time-consuming, but it provides a worthwhile and rewarding experience. Working with so many other talented, like-minded people really brings you together as you make something you can be proud of at the end of it. I’ve made many of my friends through RUDS and I’d say it really fast-tracks you into some strong resilient relationships.

RUDS has auditions and workshops throughout the year to enable new members to join at any point, even well into the final term with events like 24hour musical or The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

As a highly social society, RUDS have a number of social events throughout the year accompany-

ing their performances like the Trevor awards which recognizes all the hard work members have put in throughout the year. The RUDS community can catalyze strong bonds between members to create lasting friendships between people who might otherwise never have met.

RUDS provides so many opportunities to get into the thick of it and involve yourself. If you put in the effort and keep trying RUDS can become one of the most enjoyable and dynamic parts of university life, whether you join for just one show or every single event.

You can find out more about RUDS at: https://www.rusu.co.uk/organisation/DramaSociety/ h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / RUDramaSociety/?ref=ts https://www.ruds.co.uk/

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL: AN INSIDER REVIEW Ismael Garcia | Second Year Film When you tell someone that you work or study in the film industry, their first reaction always tends to be a chuckle or a simple smile followed by a comment on the kind of: “That must be cool.”

And you know what, I´m not going to deny that fact. Working in this industry is cool, because it´s the closest we´ll ever be to living fabulous adventures and impossible stories full of luxury. And there is no closer place to find than at a film festival.

For those of you not aware, a film festival is a place where people who work in this industry get together to watch famous people walk through carpet, spend two hours in a line to watch a weird indie film, and if there´s enough time, maybe do some networking.

Without further ado, I´m going to talk to you all about my experience at the Cannes Film Festival. I´ve already been to other film festivals, including Venice, Sitges and London.

But Cannes is the mecca of all film festivals, Cannes is the mind stone of the infinity gauntlet, Cannes is the… well, you get the gist.

The first day I arrived, I went to the red carpet for the opening film, “The Dead Don´t Die,” directed by Jim Jarmush and starring… well, a lot of famous people. The screening of the film, described simply, I would say: “Meh.” It´s not bad, but it´s not an opening film worthy of the Cannes festival. Although, Tilda Swinton and Adam Driver did give

amazing performances and definitely deserve praise.

Following that, I was able to observe the Master of Horror, John Carpenter, be given The Carrosse D´Or (Life Award) for his entire career. After watching a screening of his masterpiece The Thing (1982), we were able to have a conversation with him.

After that, I went to the screening of two independent films like “Bull” directed by Anne Silverstein and a 60th anniversary screening of Les 400 Coups by François Truffaut, a true masterpiece of cinema. Next, I saw “Rocketman,” the new biopic of Elton John which stars Taron Egerton as the protagonist. I recommend you all checking it when it is released in UK cinemas on the 22nd May.

Packing up my bags and on the journey back home, I thought about my own stories, which I hope one day can be shown in a festival like this.

And to quote John Carpenter himself: “It’s that transportation of an audience through the world of light and the shadows around it that I’m proud to be a part of.”

Nuff’ said, Mr Carpenter, nuff’ said.

June Monthly Favourites:

1 2 3 4 5

EARFQUAKE - Tyler, The Creator

Bags - Clairo

N Side - Steve Lacy

Record Collection - Kaiser Chiefs

I Can Do Better - LOVA

Entertainment

JUNE, 2019

ECHO NOVEMBER: Unreleased Single Review Jack Hawes | First Year Politics and International Relations New and upcoming band Echo November entered the music scene last year with their impressivea and successful singles “Thrown to the Sea” and “Fall Into Me.” Jack Hawes reviews their new single “Seventeen Years,” to be released on the 14th June.

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What I’m Up To This Summer...

Lucy Sutton | First Year Environmental Management I don’t know about you, but my summer is going to be filled with music, drinking and fun in the form of many festivals.

From Truck Fest, to Boomtown to Reading festival itself, my summer nights will be alight with the lyrical guitar solos of rock music, the broken bars of rap and the jittering bass of punk. Thousands of people from all over flock to festivals for a couple of days a year to experience the fun of summer with thousands of strangers.

ECHONOV/FACEBOOK

Forming back in Hertfordshire in 2018, Echo November, in their short existence as a band, have already found themselves to be an exciting prospect in the world of indie rock.

The group of old school friends have already released a slew of singles that have been featured on national radio, television and BBC introducing - and they’re already set on bringing out their debut EP. Before that though, we have the release of their new single, ‘Seventeen Years,’ a melancholic track that focuses on how the relationships we make in our lives can easily change and slip away.

is quite stunning; it’s akin to bands like Circa Waves and the Editors, yet still manages to maintain its own voice, and for this the band should be applauded.

Whilst the name Echo November may not ring any bells at the moment, they soon will. The new single ‘Seventeen Years’ will be released on Friday 14th June, and shall be premiered on Thursday 13th June on BBC Introducing.

Going to a festival is much like starting university, in a way. Surrounded by people you don’t know, freshers nights out full of music and lights, and the buzz of being somewhere new. Travelling around the university will transport you to the different worlds of law, maths, art and history. The remnants of tents filled with guitars and dance troupes and raucous crowds begging for more remains in the minds of all who walk the paths to lectures, seminars and practicals across the terrain.

Classrooms fill with people of different kinds, all squashed together in excitement to start a new chapter in their lives, to move forward into the world of opportunity and life.

What are you getting up to this summer?

It’s a track that shows a great maturity in the band, in both their lyrics and sound. Their sound in particular

Summer Holiday Inspiration: - Go on walking/cycling tours around a city - Have an outdoor picnic - Take up photography - film or digital?

- Read in a hammock - Visit mueseums and art galleries - Visit or volunteer at a local farm - Have a go at painting - Go to a live music event or a festival

Creative Corner: “Reflection,” a poem.

Sarah Maqbool | Deputy Editor Forgive me, My Lord.

I am deaf, dumb, blind and foolish.

For although gifted with my senses, I use them not to perceive your signs.

Your mercy, your kindness The countless blessings you bestow upon me.

That although awake I stride 16 hours at a time, Not even a grain of rice I have to offer to you, Oh Almighty, Listener of the pains and woes of my kind.

Forgive me, My Lord.

I am a pitiful creature- bent and broken.

I claim to others I remember you in heart

instead of action.

I have every moment for every task from every corner of this world and yet, Not a moment I have to spare for you, my Lord.

You who could take what has been bestowed upon me with absolution.

You who blesses me time and time again and yet, I am ungrateful, deaf, dumb, blind and foolish.

I am your creation and yet I stray from your path with such ease.

You, the Almighty who may do as he please and yet, You choose mercy.

SubhanAllah.

Forgive me, My Lord.

I have little worth saying.

I am deaf, dumb, blind and foolish.

I am pitiful, not even steadfast in praying.

But if I am to ask something of you my Lord, most gracious and most kind, Bestow a strength upon me and my brethren, Do not burden me with that which makes me doubt you, Neither that which makes me forget you, Nor that which distances me from you, For without you, my Lord, I am nothing.

Ameen.

FELIPHE SCHIAROLLI/UNSPLASH

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Entertainment

PLAYLISTS FOR JUNE: 1) SUMMER With summer on the way, we’ve compiled some classic road-trip jams along with the coolest indie tracks as a perfect soundtrack to your summer of ’19. Follow us on Spotify! @The Spark Newspaper

2) SUMMER BALL: PARTY PLAYLIST

AMY SHAMBLEN/UNSPLASH

With exams over for most students, we’re getting just as hyped for the Summer Ball as you are.

We’ve made a playlist with all of your favourite party classics as well as the acts that will be playing at the event. Follow us on Spotify @ The Spark Newspaper.

SUMMER BALL

The Summer Ball this year takes place on the 15th June.

You can expect 10 hours of live music, an impressive festival big top main stage, a free funfair and even a food court featuring all your favourites from the Thursday Food Market! More info available on the RUSU Summer Ball 2019 Facebook page.

JUNE, 2019

REVIEWS

TOP PICKS OF THE MONTH...

ITV PRESS CENTRE

The Durrells: TV review

Olivia Mill| Secretary and Social Rep Family fun, laughter and tears were all experienced as the fourth and final series of The Durrells finished on Sunday 12th May on ITV.

It is based on the true (ish) stories of The Durrell family in 1935 who, after the death of husband and father, were left indebted and forced to move to a cheap, tattered house on the Greek Island of Corfu. Following slightly conceited but equally lovable Mrs Durrell, and her four bizarre and hilarious children across the continent, was an adventure I didn’t want to end. The final series was heart-warming, as audiences saw the family well and truly settled in Corfu and only then being forced to leave – no spoilers!

This long-awaited final series was as heart-wrenching and entertaining as all the others. We saw the eldest, Larry, develop into the Author and independent man he’s always wanted to be. The middle children, Larry and Margo, who were always unique in their own passions of hairdressing and hunting (respectively) and often failing dreadfully at them. And finally, the most anticipated for most audiences, watching Gerald Durrell’s collection of animals grow into a zoo. Arguably, the most famous Durrell thrives in the biodiversity of Corfu and all its creatures as he grows up to become the naturalist we all know him to be.

This final series does not let the books down as it introduces a new generation to Gerald, his Family and Other Animals (as is the title of the book.)

HOLLY FOURNIER

COLUMBIA

The Amazons: Concert review

Tyler, the Creator, IGOR: Album review

Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor & Harry Meenagh | Third Year English Literature & History The Amazons were back in their hometown Reading with an incredible performance at our Students’ Union on the 27th of May. The band is comprised of four members: rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist Matt Thomson, lead guitarist Chris Alderton, bassist Elliot Briggs and drummer Joe Emmett.

Fans filled 3sixty to the brim and supported the band’s new album ‘Future Dust’with frenetic energy. ‘Future Dust’ was released 3 days prior to the concert and this was the first performance of the album. As a Reading band that has made their way to popular acclaim since the release of their self-titled debut in 2017, this was very special for them.

The Amazon’s stage presence was ecstatic, with the set up of the stage wonderfully reflecting ‘Future Dust’s’ album cover with a light-up cave entrance.

Their most popular song, ‘Mother’, which already has over two million listeners on Spotify, was played exceptionally.

However, my favourite song performed on the night was ‘Georgia’. With a more relaxed vibe, you could truly sense the passion that Matt put into the lyrics. The song morphed between soft-sounded acoustic and electric guitar, building into a charged chorus, and ending on Alderton’s blistering lead guitar work at the songs conclusion.

The Amazons still have many events coming up this year, such as the Community Festival and Reading Festival this summer, or the O2 Academy Brixton in London this winter.

MILLI DALTON

Mother Mother: Concert review

Elsie Stuart| First Year English Literature & Film

Milli Dalton| First Year English Literature

Never one to conform, Tyler the Creator solidified his stature in hip-hop this month with the release of his fifth studio album, IGOR.

Mother Mother released their most recent album “Dance and Cry” in 2018, and on the 9th May they played their first concert in eight years. The sold out 100 club is recognised as one of the top 100 historic places in England, it has a capacity of 350 and has hosted impressive acts from Sex Pistols to Siouxsie & The Banshees.

He released a statement on Instagram, asking his fans to not go into this album with any pre-conceptions of what to come, separating it from his previous works. The album produced is transformative, reflective, and mature – a lot of which is a fresh take for Tyler to produce. Known previously for harsh and abusive lyrics, since 2017’s Flower Boy a softer side of him has emerged, and IGOR, like Frankenstein’s monster, is an accumulation of these different parts. A satisfying blend of styles, from the dance-like track of WHAT’S GOOD, to the ballad of ARE WE STILL FRIENDS, his influences show soul, gospel and jazz, allowing himself to explore more creatively as an artist, without relinquishing his sense of self.

He incorporates various features throughout the album, continuing his style of not listing them under the artist of the song, with the likes of Kayne West, Playboi Carti, and Kali Uchis, to name a few. He uses Kayne – one of the biggest names in music – as only backing vocals on PUPPET, a quiet flex with his minimal use of the star. To non-fans of his, this album feels the most accessible, as well as rewarding to pre-existing followers, a collection of emotive and soulful songs, without losing his edge and lack of convention.

The set kicked off with “I Must Cry Out Loud,” the first track from their new album, perhaps the perfect median of their overall sound. The album itself stresses the importance of feeling and dealing with emotions, and Ryan, Jasmin and Molly’s gentle vocals filled the room with ease, just as powerful and enchanting as ever.

A notable moment from the performance was “Body of Years,” from their 2008 album “O My Heart,” perfectly leading into a rendition of “Creep” by Radiohead. The band’s message of self-love, which has appeared on all of their albums, came through on the last song of their set, the popular Bit by Bit which tells the audience to get “far away from the people on the ground.”

In the encore, the short and sweet “Biting on a Rose” was followed by “Ghosting,” the band’s most popular track to date, its calm tones perfectly contrasting the rest of the high-energy set; yet still managing to retain the buzzing atmosphere of the crowd.

It was a truly memorable evening.

Entertainment

JUNE, 2019

Real Life Magic: a hobbit’s review of the J.R.R Tolkien biopic

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TOP 3: SCHOOL DANCE MOVIE Lois Plummer | Entertainment Editor

Ahead of the Summer Ball, we looked back on some of the best school dances in the history of modern cinema.

Ryan Harnell | First Year International Development

IMDB

As my friends and family will no doubt tell you, I live and breathe Middle-Earth. Peter Jackson’s groundbreaking film trilogy is my favourite, and the legend on which they are based is some of the greatest works in historical literature. Tales that deal with universal themes of love, fellowship, good vs. evil and nature have always played a big part in my life, so it should be a surprise to no one that I was pretty excited when I heard director Dome Karukoski was de-

“Good news for all the Tolkien fans out there, this film is an absolute treat...” veloping a period biopic on J.R.R Tolkien himself.

Good news for all the Tolkien fans out there, this film is an absolute treat, with gorgeous cinematography and an uplifting score by Thomas Newman that compliments the scores of the Jackson films marvelously. It’s up to its elf-ears in references to the professor’s legendarium, particularly The Silmarillion and its constituent tales Beren and Luthien and The Fall of Gondolin. Nicholas Hoult knocks this role out of the park and I do believe it is the most nuanced and

interesting role I have seen him play. His chemistry - with the supporting cast from Lily Collins’ willful and captivating turn as his lover Edith Bratt, to Derek Jacobi’s stern language lecturer and most prominently the tightly-knit alliance of poets, artists and writers of “T.C.B.S,” - is the very beating heart of this film and reflects perfectly how integral human relationships and courage are to the wider message of his works.

I would caution average or nonMiddle-Earth fans that this film is slow and meandering, and if you are not on the look-out for this reference to that character, then it will likely feel a little lackluster at best. If the cast didn’t give such amazing, grounded performances it might even come across as a disjointed period drama with sporadic appearances from dragons and smoke demons.

Ultimately, this gem of a film is a little way off being a masterpiece, and to non-fans, whilst they may appreciate just under two hours of light drama and motivation, it may be just another summer film. But to us, the hobbits out there, it is a delicate, at times heart-felt and altogether inspiring look into the journey of death, romance, conflict and real-life magic that epitomised the life of Professor J.R.R Tolkien.

7.5/10

IMDB

With exams nearly over, the Summer Ball is now less than a month away, and you can safely assume I still don’t have my outfit sorted – but what’s new? We’ve come a long way from school discos in the assembly hall as kids, that’s for sure, so with the Ball upon us I’ve decided to look back at some classic school dance scenes from movies we all know and love.

Carrie (1976) An unlikely choice for some, but fans of horror will appreciate the prom scene from Brian de Palma’s 70s homage to one of my favourite Stephen King novels, Carrie. Sissy Spacek plays the notorious protagonist, the daughter of a crazed preacher, who responds to bullying and a prank involving pig’s blood with pyrokinesis – you know, just girly things. Spreading fires and chaos across town, she waltzes in a pink slip dress, wearing heels and a tiara, no less. Unquestionably legendary, if you ask me.

Back to The Future (1985) “This is for all you lovers out there,” the singer smoothly announces before singing “Earth Angel” to a slow-dancing audience.

Everything’s cool until you realise Marty McFly will cease to exist if his parents (in the past, of course) don’t end up getting together at this school dance. The highlight has got to be McFly rocking out to Chuck Berry and accidentally shredding his guitar to pieces at everyone’s horror. What’s not to love about this sci-fi classic?

Grease (1978) From the wise words of Vince Fontaine: “it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s what you do with your dancin’ shoes.” Grease is – with its 50s nostalgia, hopeless devotion and tales of love and heartbreak – undoubtedly a classic. Your heart can’t help but melt at Sandy and Danny’s hand-jive in their outrageous outfits during the televised school dance.

The low voice echoing “how low can you go?” will be ingrained into the minds of Grease fans everywhere and certainly at the Ball when we’re all trying to pull off the limbo.

IMDB

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Entertainment

THE SPARK: SPOTIFY

JUNE, 2019

READING FESTIVAL Taz Usher| Print Editor

Here at The Spark, we’re busy making themed playlists for all your university and student life needs. Find us on Spotify @ The Spark Newspaper.

SEASONAL POEM: SUMMER

RUSU/INSTAGRAM

Summer Shower, a poem

by Emily Dickinson A drop fell on the apple tree, Another on the roof; A half a dozen kissed the eaves, And made the gables laugh.

A few went out to help the brook, That went to help the sea.

Myself conjectured, Were they pearls, What necklaces could be!

The dust replaced in hoisted roads, The birds jocoser sung; The sunshine threw his hat away, The orchards spangles hung.

The breezes brought dejected lutes, And bathed them in the glee; The East put out a single flag, And signed the fete away.

For students delaying the move back home to ensure attendance of Reading Festival this summer, there is much to look forward to.

Reading Festival has announced the first string of acts due to perform at this year’s event.

Names include headliners The 1975, Post Malone, Twenty One Pilots and Foo Fighters.

And joining this year’s music legends are alternative stage acts singer-songwriter Mabel- loved for her top hits Finders Keepers and Don’t Call Me Up- and 20-yearold rapper Barny Fletcher whose short-term rise to fame promises a refreshing addition to the festival scene.

For Rock fans, bands Picture This, CHILDCARE, and The LaFontaines will be easy on the eardrums.

Meanwhile Kim Petras, Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers will showcase their powerful album ‘Bought to Rot’.

And taking a break from their US tour to appear at Reading, American punk rock band Bleached are due to perform tracks including Hard to Kill. Closely followed by

newly acclaimed messiahs of rock music, sibling duo Sons of Raphael.

The BBC 1XTRA Stage will host sets

by East London rapper Unknown T, as well as rapper and producer NAV best known for his track Bad Habits. Artists YBN Nahmir, BiG HEATH, DigDat, Geko, and Tyla Yaweh will also be joining songsters throughout the weekend.

And if the music line-up hasn’t already won you over, the comedy schedule won’t disappoint.

Comedian, radio and TV presenter Josh Widdicombe will exchange

“Reading Festival has announced the first string of acts due to perform” Apollo’s stage for Reading’s alternative platform for the night. Josh is best known for his appearances of Channel 4’s The Last Leg, Mock of the Week, and Celebrity Mastermind. And for festival- gooers running low on energy over the week-

end, Widdicombe’s quick wit is sure to get them back on their feet.

Stand-up star Bridget Christie will also take to the alternative stage.

Bridget has been on the comedy scene since 2004, made several appearances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and won numerous awards for her sets.

Ticket holders can also expect live performances from comics Andrew Maxwell, Russell Kane, and Tom Allen, as well as spoken-word poet Luke Wright who will wow crowds in a wordier way on the day.

With a variety of world-class acts

on the cards for this year’s festivals, the event promises one not to be missed.

Ensure you’re the first to hear about further line-up announcements, artist news and much more by signing up to the newsletter at www. readingfestival.com or via the official Reading & Leeds Festival app.

And to purchase one of the remaining weekend and Friday Day tickets for the festival log on to www.readingandleedsfestival.com.

SARAH BENNETT

Reading Festival will take place 23-25th August.

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JUNE, 2019

Entertainment

MILLIE’S MUMBLINGS: A FAREWELL EDITION

AARON BURDEN/UNSPLASH

Millie Farquhar reflects on her time at the University of Reading and offers some advice for students old and new...

Millie Farquhar | Third Year English Literature

Well my Dear Reader. This is the end, and whilst Adele would want us to hold our breath and count to ten, I find myself exhaling with some excitement as I look forward to the future. This is the end of my time at the University of Reading, and the start of the rest of my life. And in true Millie Farquhar fashion, I wanted to reflect on the history of this column and share some highlights and some tips for you all.

1) There is no such thing as oversharing!

This year I have shared my misadventures on Tinder, my dating style and some of the most horrific dating stories.

This column has become a public forum for my misdemeanours and my mistakes.

But I must admit, throwing everything out into the uni-

versity to be read by anyone and everyone is quite liberating. It has increased my confidence as I now feel like I can say anything, and I do not worry about other people judging me. At the end of the day, if my horrific dating stories have made you smile, I am happy.

2) Don’t be afraid of anything

“Throw yourself at opportunities that you won’t get again.”

The one bit of advice I will give you at university is not to be afraid to try anything. It is

a testing ground, preparing you for life outside of education. Throw yourself into opportunities that you won’t get again. Join a club, jump out of a plane (with a parachute), go to Quiz and Karaoke on a Thursday and sing until you’re hoarse for your presentation in the morning (speaking from experience.)

No truer words were spoken than Mark Twain who said, “twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did… explore, dream, discover.” I do not regret a single thing I have done at university. I have helped raise over £3000 for charity, found love, lost it, laughed till my abs cried, travelled to some crazy places and made some incredible friends for life. I have

found my calling in the film industry and worked hard to secure myself a spot at the best film school in the country. I have also worked on Ready Player One, Star Wars and so many other cool projects that I can’t even list! I am so grateful for this university and the fact that I can do so many things besides working.

It has helped forge me into the strong, confident, caring and reliable person I am today. So I beg you, whatever

“Don’t be afraid of anything.”

year you’re in: don’t do nothing. University is worth more than a single piece of paper saying you have a degree.

As I write on, I find my word limit fast approaching Dear Reader, and the end of my column. I doubt I will ever run out of mumbles, there is always something to talk about. But it won’t be on this platform. To the Spark and to RUSU, I say thank you for printing my words. To the editors, fellow writers and everyone else involved in this incredible paper, I wish you luck with the future. See you round Reading.

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Entertainment

JUNE 2019

SUMMER BALL 2019 It’s that time of the year again. Time for evenings filled with late sunshine and music, and what better way to celebrate the end of the year than at Summer Ball.

Lois Plummer | Entertainment Editor The best student night-out at the Students’ Union is just around the corner, and we’ve got all the information you need for our very own campus-festival.

The gates open at 8pm and close at 11pm, so make sure you get there on time to enjoy all of the music on offer as well as the wide variety of food. The festivities go on well into the night and end after the sun rises at 6am – it’s certainly set to be an eventful evening.

The acts this year cover a range of dance-pop and house classics from the likes of Disciples, famous for classic summer soundtracks such as “Daylight” and “How Deep Is Your Love,” not to mention the English solo artist and producer Steel Banglez. The hip-hop and grime artist, who has worked alongside the likes of J Hus and Wiley, will also be performing; he is best known for the hit singles “Bad” and “Fashion Week.”

RAYE, the singer-songwriter from London, will also be performing her dance-pop and contemporary R&B tracks, with her songs “Decline” and “Friends” being highly popular in charts and clubs across the country.

Exciting for students will be the

Lauren Southam Photography

much-anticipated DJ set from this year’s headliner: Sigala. The English DJ and record producer and remixer from Norfolk has had six hit singles featured in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, including his debut single “Easy Love,” which peaked at number one.

“Sigala has had six hit singles featured in the top 10 UK singles chart” His popular modern house and dance tracks, frequently played in the main room of 3sixty, “Sweet Lovin’” and “Say You Do” are also part of his repertoire.

Performers from previous years have featured Sub Focus, Katy B, Example and Ellie Goulding – and the acts this year surely do not disappoint. Besides the live music, you can expect a range of club classics and cheesy hits that Union-goers

have become so accustomed to over this year, and the excitement doesn’t stop there.

As students who attended the Freshers’ Ball in Term One will remember, the free funfair will be returning to campus. It will run between 9pm1am, so make sure you queue up before midnight for a chance to get on one of the rides!

In true festival fashion, there will be a variety of food on offer, like the famous hog roast and the burger van we have all come to know and love.

There will also be a Curry van and Greek food to try, as well as something for those with a sweet tooth to enjoy; so there will be plenty of

Summer Ball will take place on the 15th June

international cuisine and delicacies to keep you going throughout the night.

Now what everyone’s been speculating and wondering about: the theme. The question that will forever plague our minds while standing mindlessly in front of our wardrobes: what to wear? As it’s a ball, the dress code is smart, but with a hint of festival: think slip dresses paired with glitter, or suits with no ties for an easy yet elegant look.

Naturally, there will also be a wide variety of drinks available, featuring ten specialised bars and the famous VK bar – expected to be highly popular amongst students.

“There will be a variety of food on offer, like the famous hog roast and burger van.”

Be sure to tag us in your Instagrams, @thesparkteam, to be featured in a collage of photos from the night.

Look out for us for a chance to get some high-quality photos taken with your group, as well as some film photos for memories with a touch of vintage glamour, to look back on and cherish in years to come.

“The dress code is smart with a hint of festival” For all further information, check out the ‘RUSU Summer Ball 2019’ page on Facebook as well as The Spark on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest information. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @thesparkteam, before the 15th June as we’ll be documenting the night on our story with live updates of the acts – so make sure you don’t miss anything!

“The free funfair will run from 9pm-1am” From all of us at The Spark, we hope you’ve enjoyed this year, and all of the issues put out from the old and new editors on the Committee – we certainly look forward to another year of The Spark starting this September. We hope you enjoy the Summer Ball as a farewell and celebration to this year.

Happy Summer!

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Sports

JUNE , 2019

Sports

BENEFITS OF JOINING A SP Raagulan Umashanker | 2nd Year English LiteratureDevelopment

University. The prime time in your life to try out new things.

Why not try joining a sports society?

Obviously, joining a sports society will give you physical health benefits, but have you ever considered its pros for your mental health, social life and future career?

will never be forced to. It would be counter-intuitive for sports societies to force you to constantly drink considering that they want you to be healthy and fit for matches.

Here are some of the reasons why I think you should join a sports society.

More importantly, being in a sports society is a good way to relax as it allows you to be outside with people whom you enjoy spending time with, which is a good break from the library or lecture halls.

As a fresher, you might experience feelings of loneliness, nervousness and isolation- which is natural for anyone entering a setting full of strangers.

Fortunately, joining a sports society is one of the best and quickest ways to make friends and to feel a part of the university community. Not only will you meet people who have the same interest in the sport you decided to take up, but you may also discover that they share many of the same other interests as you such as Netflix series, music, or video games.

You will definitely form strong friendships and maybe even meet someone who will become your best friend, lifelong friend or significant other. Also, to tackle the elephant in the room, you may think that the only way you can make friends in a sports society is by drinking. This is not true.

Sports societies are not all about drinking. You have the option to drink but you

And although you may worry that joining a sports society will be time-consuming and interfere with your academic work, it won’t. Most training sessions are in the evening to avoid clashes with lectures, seminars or meetings in the morning, midday or afternoon. Even if you feel that you have a lot of work to do and cannot make it to a training session, that will rarely happen because you will most often be in a position where you start your work early so that you can complete it before your training sessions. More simply, being in a sports society actually makes you become better at time management.

Clearly, being in a sports society is beneficial to your welfare, but it is also beneficial in terms of your employability. There have been many cases where

It is one of the best and quickest ways to make friends

You will definitely form strong friendships and maybe even meet someone who will become your best friend, lifelong friend or significant other.

Sports

JUNE , 2019

PORTS

A YEAR TO LOOK BACK ON FOR

Amelia Dinsdale | 2nd Year English Literature

2019 was an exciting year for Reading’s Mixed Hockey team.

Finishing second in the league was a major highlight for the club, with some exceptional performances against Warwick and Oxford Brookes. Being the lowest cost hockey club on campus and with training on Wednesday and Friday evenings alongside relaxing at Park Bar, there’s something for everyone. This year we’ve attended Warwick Tour where we competed and socialised with other universities and still have summer tour to look forward to in June.

university students have been chosen for interviews because employers were interested by the sports they did. Employers also enjoy listening to the different skills that you gained as a member of a sports society in interviews, which can be the key to making you get your dream job.

So, consider joining a sports society in September. It may seem like a huge personal leap to take, but it will be very worth it.

A successful year for RUTAM!

Tom Bradbury | Mixed Hockey Captain

Alex Dines

Mojahed Bola

39

Although I am relatively new to the club (and am still learning all the drinking rules) it has already become a huge part of my social life. For me, what makes Mixed Hockey stand

out from the rest is its open friendliness towards everyone of any ability. We support all abilities and train everyone.

Some come just for the social side whereas others come to get better at playing hockey from which they are then able to play in competitive matches against other universities. I joined as I wanted to do both and am now Mixed Hockey’s captain – this shows just how easy it is to become heavily integrated within the club.

The year started off for RUTAM as it always does, preparing for our annual show which this year was called ‘Showtime’, featuring music from a variety of musicals. With a total of 8 dances from the society the preparation was tough but we were ready for our show. Unfortunately, the day of the show happened to also be the day that the water pipe burst and the university was shut for the day meaning that our show was cancelled and we were understandably upset. Through the dedication of our President (Brooke Mattey) and our Secretary (Ellie Waterhouse) the show was reorganized for the second week back after Christmas. Despite a few societies pulling out last minute due to the change of date, the show proceeded successfully without a hitch.

With the delayed show we struggled to prepare for the annual Ballet Show ‘At The Circus’ but, always up for a challenge, we managed to pull together 4 dances. At the same time that we were preparing for the show we were also preparing for a Dance Competition at Northampton University called ‘Take the

Stage’. Alongside the Ballet Society we entered 4 dances in total.

One of the last events for RUTAM of the year was the Sports and Dance Awards evening in which we took the prize for the ‘Dance Performance of the Year’ and for the ‘Dance club of the Year’, both of which we are very proud.

Brooke Mattey (2018/19 President) said: ‘I have loved being President of RUTAM this year and I’m so proud of everything we have achieved, from putting on an amazing show to winning ‘Dance Performance of the Year’ and ‘Dance Club of the Year’ at the sports awards! It’s been a pleasure being part of this amazing society!’

With only a few more sessions, our annual visit to London and our Summer formal left I can’t wait to see what RUTAM has to offer next year, led by our newly appointed president, Ellie Waterhouse!

We’re always looking for new members so if you’re looking to learn a new sport, get better at an old one or just increase your social life, I’d love to hear from you at t.s.bradbury@student.reading.ac.uk.

Brooke Mattey

Spin Them Wheels Olga Shevchenko | MSc Applied International Development Reading may not seem like the most exciting place for cyclists – it’s hilly, has limited cycling routes and the roads, unfortunately, could use some serious maintenance.

The drivers are also not as used to cyclists as they are in some other countries, like Germany and the Netherlands. Despite all of that, there are good reasons to be a cyclist whilst studying in Reading.

First is the amazing support the university offers. This support includes bike rentals and second-hand bike sales. You could rent a bike for as little as 10 pounds a term and get a free lock and a pair of lights. If you’ve got your own bike, university is regularly offering maintenance events.

Olga Shevchenkoko There are also the cycling lessons, offered to students and staff for free.

They are for all the levels: you could also learn how to cycle, even if you never been in a saddle. If you are an experienced cyclist but unsure about the road rules in the UK, there are training for this as well. For this and for more info on maintenance and bike rentals please see the university sustainability website at https://sites.reading.ac.uk/sustainability/travel/cycling/.

When you are set with both the bike and the confidence to ride it in Reading and the UK, you could start discovering exciting places around.

My personal favourite is a ride to Silchester, a settlement about 13

miles down south from Reading. The ride will take you about one hour and will partly be on the National Cycle route 23. In Silchester you could see the remains of what once the old Roman wall was, and the cycling path there will offer you spectacular views of the English countryside.

about 15-20 minutes from campus by bike. It is also worth walking there along the river Kenneth. There is a quit shared path along the river that starts at the Reading city centre and ends around Sonning. My only complaint about Kenneth River side path is that it’s too short!

Another suggestion is to cycle to Mapledurham to see a watermill. The route is about 10 miles long and includes some beautiful countryside alongside as well. On our trip there we stopped by the llama’s farm – so cute!

Based on my experience, I would strongly suggest you get two wheels and keep them working in Reading and around – it’s fun and eco-friendly.

There is also the picturesque village of Sonning where you could get in

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