friday 19th september 2014
spark volume 69, Issue 1
-The Top Stories From This MonthNEWS
RUSU STUDENT OFFICERS
Meet your new student officers and see what they have in store for this year
Reading students celebrate at Summer Ball Photos: Paul Underhill www.paulunderhill.com
LIFESTYLE
ENTERTAINMENT
Find out how to book hostels, negotiate foreign trains and much more
Liam Neeson brushes up on bad-ass criminal hunting skills in A Walk Among the Tombstones
YOUR GUIDE TO INTERRAILING
RELEASED TODAY
SPORT
UOR HOCKEY CLUB
Everything you need you know about the University’s Hockey team
WELCOME TO READING
Student campaign succeeds as planned DSA cuts are postponed ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
Due to ongoing campaigning from students and the NUS, the government’s plan to cut the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) has been postponed for two years. This dramatic turnaround, which began in April, is thanks to a fierce resistance put up by students from across the country. Many argued that by cutting DSA, disabled students would not be able to fulfil their absolute
potential in higher education. NUS Disabled Students’ Officer, Maddy Kirkman, said: “Students up and down the country have been clear that the proposed reforms to the disabled students’ allowance represented a huge risk, and would have left many disabled students high and dry.” So influential was the campaign that hundreds of MPs were lobbied on the topic, with over 30 MPs attending a cross-party Early Day Motion in Westminster Hall. Kirkman added: “Through coming together to forcefully
make the case that these reforms would not work, together with a really broad coalition of MPs from all parties, students have ensured that this was a key issue for Greg Clark to address on taking up his new role as Universities Minister. It is to his credit that he has listened to these concerns and agreed to pause on the reforms for this year, and will consult and reflect before moving forward. “The Minister has heard the concerns articulated so powerfully by students and responded accordingly, and this is to be commended.”
In an attempt to justify itself, however, the government asserted that the cuts were being made to students who already own their own computer. In response to this, however, an NUS survey, ‘Degrees of Discrimination’, found that almost half of disabled students receive their laptops because of government funding. What’s more, 43% of nondisabled students surveyed got their laptops with their own money, compared to just a quarter of disabled students. Kirkman concluded that: “The
disabled students’ allowance is an incredibly important means of support for so many and we will, of course, continue to make this case and ensure that where there is reform it is to make the system work better for disabled students. “We do still hold some concerns around the £200 contribution and we will want more detail on how BIS intends that this is paid/collected, and what help can be provided in cases of particular hardship. For example, postgraduates who qualify for the DSA but don’t get any other statutory support.”
NEWS|EDITORIAL
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
Celebrating 80 Years of The Spark NATHALIE SIAH Editor
CONTENTS
19|09|14 NEWS (DEBATE)
Arran Ainsworth and Adam Chalker argue their best points on whether the voting age should be lowered to sixteen.
P11
BEAUTY
These make-up hacks are great for students who want to look great but are tight on a student budget.
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FOOD
Rush off to Café Yolk to find a glorious meal waiting at all times of the day. Lydia England dishes on the best munches of the restaurant.
P25
FILM
Daniel Radcliffe sheds his Harry Potter past in this innovative romantic film in Toronto. A must see for all film goers and magicians alike.
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WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO... Designer- Paula Whetstone Designer-Chrissie Levick Designer-Elizabeth Jones Designer-Will Trickey
As the warm summer haze fades into crisp shades of orange and red, each student gradually packs their bags, swaps shorts for jeans and trades icy lemonade for a piping hot cup of tea. The start of a new university year is a chance for everyone, new and old, to meet people and take bold risks with something you never thought you would have. There’s a hope that you’ll learn about yourself; your strengths and limitations, while making friendships that last a lifetime. So it is at this time, with great pleasure I’d like to welcome all students to the University of Reading. If this is your first year, enjoy all the new experiences that come with starting a fresh chapter of your life. Change is always frightening, but remember that as time goes on, you will inevitably find comfort in the unfamiliar. If you are returning for another academic challenge, take a moment to appreciate the firsts and the lasts, although things might not turn out the way you expected. For myself, the offer to
become the Editor of The Spark was definitely unexpected and a humbling experience. Given the chance to make radical and innovative changes for a paper with 80 years behind it, I sharpened my pencils, claimed the free coffee on my stamp card and decided to run with it. The prospect of the 80th anniversary was one The Spark Committee embraced wholeheartedly. We wanted to celebrate by bringing the best to the table, piling up our plates and hoping our trousers would stay shut. Bursting with energy, the new team tackled ideas with full force bringing a whole new design, on-line universe and voices to life. The biggest change for this year is simple and can be captured in a single phrase, “Let’s be friends.” There’s absolutely nothing to stop us from getting to know each other. The Spark showcases writing, drawing, design, photography and a chance to ramble/bring your own ideas to explore. We support one another, improve and grow upon shared interests and talents. So if you see a pair of raccoon eyes drifting in the Union, bust a move. We have a bunch of exciting
novelties we’re dipping our toes in. Since you don’t know much about who we are, we created ‘Epics and Evils’ that reveal the insanity that is The Spark. And since we don’t know much about you, ‘WattsUp?’ was created to find out whatever floats your boat. Still, this is only the beginning. We are introducing comics, art pieces, creative writing, horoscopes and teaming up with other student media. We’ve sent writers to book launches, fashion shows, movie pre-screenings, interviews and concerts. We even added an article (the) to the name of our paper. We have only begun to touch the surface in what seems like an ocean with deepsea fish, and we want to try it all. If you want to dive in, give us a shout and we’ll bring the scuba equipment. If you’re unsure about your feelings for water, try surfing the web to get in touch. You can shoot us an email, Facebook message or sign up for a membership on the RUSU societies’ page. If you’re really enthusiastic, you can try to wrestle us down to the ground during Freshers’ Week. I don’t know about the rest of the team, but there’s a good chance that I
EDITORIAL
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
|NEWS
THE SPARK TEAM
Meet the new Spark Team 2014/15 dedicated to creating the best newspaper on campus! Photographed by Alec Woolford)
might mistake you for a stalker and make a dash down the tent. That’s just me though. So here’s to 2014-2015, the commencement of all things that could go wrong, but could also go extremely right. It’s up to you to decide what this year could bring and the same goes for the paper. The Spark is turning 80 so let’s make this birthday a party to remember. Merely existing has never cut it for me—so I dare you, bring the balloons and let’s go out with a bang. Time’s up! What are you gonna do about it?
NATHALIE SIAH
JESSICA PHILLIPS
ALEC WOOLFORD
ISABELLA LANGHEIM HANNAH GODDARD
JAMIE GOSTLOW
ABBIE WEAVING
HARRIET BARBER
GABRIELLE LINNETT
EDITOR
DEPUTY EDITOR
DEPUTY EDITOR
SECRETARY
PUBLICITY & DISTRIBUTION
Archaeological dig at Silchester ends after 18 years
DAN MITCHELL Since 1997, the University of Reading’s Department of Archaeology, led by Professor Michael Fulford and Amanda Clarke, have been investigating a block of the Roman town Silchester. The dig opened with the aim of providing details of town life from its late Iron Age origins to the time it was abandoned. After eighteen years of excavation and analysis, the dig has now come to an end and the site will be filled and returned to grassland. The University’s site in
Hampshire was one of Britain’s longest running archaeological digs. It is the location of a large Roman town known as Calleva Atrebatum which was founded in the first century AD. Silchester was built on the site of the Iron Age town Calleva and the town was abandoned some time after 400AD for reasons that are still not fully understood. Since the dig started, over 4,500 archeology students from Reading and across the world have used it to further their studies. The Silchester Field School is attended by all first year archeology students and has helped with the excavation for the
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last eighteen years. The site at Silchester has uncovered a wealth of information about Iron Age life, and the early Roman period around the time of the invasion of AD 43. The central mystery of why the town of Calleva was suddenly abandoned remains unsolved. Professor Michael Fulford, who has directed the annual summer dig from the beginning, believes that they have just about exhausted the sited. He told the BBC: “It’s been a great experience. It’s been particularly great to see so many generations of students coming through and starting their careers here.”
Silchester Dig
The dig has now come to an end and the site will be filled and returned to grassland.
ONLINE EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
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ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
FRANNIE LIDDLE DESIGN EDITOR
DEBATE-P11 Do you think the voting age should be lowered to 16? Read the fierce debate between two of our writers!
STUDENTS MAKE BEST TENANTS-P5 Despite the mess, we students are the most desirable tenants
News Editor
The University of Reading has released its latest analysis of the Ebola virus, stating that the threat of it spreading in the UK still remains very low. Virologist at the University of Reading, Professor Ian Jones, said: “In general the level of threat to the average citizen is extremely low.” Despite this, Professor Jones added that: “Throughout the on-going situation it is important to remember a number of key facts.” Emphasis has been placed upon the fact that the virus “does not spread easily” and that “prospects for the patient improve dramatically if diagnosis and treatment are rapid.” Professor Jones concluded that: “Experimental drugs may help and their availability is to be welcomed but it is not yet clear how effective they will be on a wider scale. Infection control by quarantine and contact tracing remain the established method for Ebola control.” The only case in the UK is William Pooley, a volunteer nurse who contracted the virus while treating patients in Sierra Leone. The 29-year-
HANGOVERS WHO'S TO BLAME?-P14 Find some relief after reading this!
NEWS
UoR says Ebola threat to UK citizens remains unlikely ABBIE WEAVING
GREEN FLAG AWARD-P6 Read all about what makes our campus a head above the rest!
old has been released after being held in the isolation unit at Hampstead’s Royal Free Hospital. In an attempt to stop others becoming infected in the UK, airline British Airways has recently suspended flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia. It is hoped that an Ebola vaccine will be ready for trial this September on UK volunteers.
GENERAL NEWS
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
Ebola Threat to UK
Microscopic ebola virus Credit Niaid-Flickr
NUS encourages students to vote in general election
NUS Vice President, Raechel Mattey, has recently called on students to make sure they vote in the upcoming general election... ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
Recent findings published by the organisation found that of 1500 students surveyed, almost three quarters intend to vote in the 2015 election, and the NUS have stressed the importance of getting students’ voices heard. In fact, 72 per cent said they are likely or highly likely to vote if there was a general election tomorrow. According to a similar study released by the NUS in February, just a third of students were registered to vote. Now however, political interest among young people is on the rise with 73 per cent of students listed on electoral registers. This surge in political interest is thought to be due to the lack of attention given to student issues when compared with the Scottish Referendum and other matters brewing in national politics. Mattey, therefore, highlighted the importance of students voting, saying: “The simple fact is that if we don’t vote, we won’t have our voice heard. Our issues won’t matter to the people who need to sit up and take notice.” “If more young people vote, politicians will have no choice but to take action and serve their interests, which is why we all
need to cast our votes next May.” At the recent NUS Student Media Summit, held in August at the UK Amnesty International headquarters, it was queried as to why not all students have decided to vote. For this remaining 27 per cent, the NUS believe that broken promises and a consequently pessimistic attitude towards politics are often to blame. By seeing the impact of the student vote, the NUS are hoping to change this reluctant mindset of some. In fact, the organisation has emphasised the importance of holding politicians to account and taking students’ views beyond the general election. By campaigning and linking local charities and businesses with student voices, the NUS hope that such initiatives will become the cultural norm by the following election in 2020. This year, the NUS will be campaigning for numerous measures including scrapping letting agent fees, lowering the voting age to 16, and lobbying against Home Office action to suspend Tier 4 sponsor licenses for universities recruiting international students. With the rise in students registering to vote, Mattey concluded by saying that: “Hopefully it’ll be a voice too powerful to be ignored”
NUS Student Media Summit
Students make the best tenants DANIELLE PAGLIONICO
Ebola Threat to UK
Microscopic ebola virus Labelled as re-use on Google
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|NEWS
Ironically, of all the tenants that could have been named the ‘best’, students have taken the title, according to utilities and service provider for students, Glide. Other than landlords and letting agents in London, a significant 69 per cent agree that it is better to let to students rather than to other members
of the public, despite their stereotypically ‘messy’ nature. As well as this, 84 per cent of landlords and letting agents took rental yields into consideration, and showed a preference for student tenants due to their exceptional results in this area. According to Richard Price, Head of Business Development for Glide: “...gone are the days where students digs equals sub standard. The truth is, students
make great tenants. They’re in constant supply and have guaranteed means to pay the rent...” And so, the next time you sit in a cafe sipping your welldeserved hot chocolate with whipped cream and you hear a businessman complaining about student tenants, you have the right to sit back and grin with the knowledge that statistics show otherwise!
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With NUS Vice President Raechel Mattey, The Spark News Editor and Lifestyle Editor Abbie Weaving and Harriet Barber
Houses to let Labelled for re-use by Google
NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
For two days in August, The Spark attended the NUS Student Media Summit, a conference held at Amnesty International’s UK headquarters for students wanting to pursue a career in media. In addition to workshops that focused on interview skills, newsgathering and journalism ethics, mini-lectures were delivered by speakers including Owen Jones, Antony Barnett and Evan Davis. Harriet Barber, Lifestyle Editor and third year English Literature student, said: “The NUS Media Summit was a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience. Through the seminars, lectures, meetings and press conferences we were taught a number of valuable skills and tips to aid us in the journalism industry.” As an investigative journalist, Barnett, who works for Channel 4’s Dispatches, outlined the amount of production involved in producing a television programme. In fact, 40 hours of filming normally correlates to just 30 minutes of television, he told the audience. Indeed, huge emphasis was placed on the flexibility of print journalism compared its broadcast counterpart. While print journalism does not always rely on face-to-face interviews in order to find a useful quote, television crews must meet
NUS Student Media Summit
With Evan Davis The Spark News Editor Abbie Weaving, Lifestyle Editor Harriet Barber and Emma Linnane from RU:ON TV
The Spark attends annual NUS Student Media Summit The Spark attended the NUS Student Media Summit, a conference held at Amnesty International’s UK headquarters... with the interviewee and film the conversation in order for it to be used in a programme. In comparison, Davis spoke about how he became the latest presenter of Newsnight and the tips and tricks of presenting
live television. Not only did he confess to finding live reporting ‘horrible’ compared to prerecorded shows, but also to reluctantly leaving behind his role as Economics Editor for the BBC. Indeed, Davis noted that
journalism is not just about exposing and uncovering, but that it is also about explaining and clarifying. “There is ‘room for both’”, he told the conference hall. Being there to explain national news, he told the
audience, was how he perceived his role as Economics Editor. Rather than throwing difficult statistics at his readers, he focused on explaining them in order to educate the public about topical financial matters. Jones’ too offered his advice on quality journalism by condemning the amount of prejudice in today’s media. Indeed, he advised the future journalists to create a platform of truth for readers, and to give voices to the unrepresented. Of the press, he said: “It should give a platform to those who are otherwise unheard or ignored or demonised in some way. In 2014, the media, as a whole, is failing to do any of these things and disastrously so.” What’s more, Jones highlighted how the media fails to represent democracy, but instead promotes the politics of envy. By manipulating readers away from blaming those who are truly guilty, Jones argued that the media purposefully misdirects our anger rather than trying to fix national problems. Online Editor and third year History and International Relations student, Jamie Gostlow said of the event: “An excellent networking opportunity made better by the overwhelming sense of community. We mingled with students from all over the country and shared our experiences from our own publications. Engaging, rewarding and inspiring.”
Fourth Green Flag award for UoR campus DAN MITCHELL At the end of July, the University of Reading received its fourth Green Flag award for the Whiteknights Campus. This space has once again been judged as one of the best green spaces in the country. The University has received this award for four consecutive years and shows visitors that the campus is well-maintained and well-managed with excellent facilities.This year the award
also recognised the University’s environmental and sustainability initiatives - our green waste re-cycling and composting, energy conservation and carbon reduction targets, bio-diversity initiatives such as woodland management and our car sharing and green travel initiatives. The Green Flag Award scheme, run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the UK. Grounds management, innovation and the way facilities are tailored to the needs of the community
are taken into account. At the ceremony to hoist the Green Flag over the Whiteknights campus, David Savage, University of Reading Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to have gained a Green Flag Award for the fourth year running. Our attractive grounds continue to be a factor which differentiates Reading from our competitors. “Recent student satisfaction surveys have highlighted the fact that the ‘attractive campus environment' is a key factor in undergraduates choosing to study at Reading. Whiteknights is also
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an important resource and green space for the local community. “I thank the University Grounds staff for all their hard work as well as the efforts of many volunteers who help in the Harris Garden or lead guided health walks for visitors to campus each week.” In 2013, the Whiteknights Campus was also ranked sixth out of over 1,400 spaces on the Green Flag People’s Choice award where the public were asked to vote for their favourite.
EDITORS PICKS
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
EDITORS PICKS
|NEWS
NATHALIE SIAH Editor
BEWARE THE FARE!
The new plans for rail fares to increase will affect all individuals travelling home for the weekend.
LIFESTYLE
Abbie Weaving lays out the quirky truth about Reading students in the most loveable way. Drugs Labelled for re-use by Google
Home Secretary recruits University’s professor for drugs panel ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
Professor Ben Whalley from the University of Reading’s School of Pharmacy has been recruited to join the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Selected by the Home Secretary, Professor Whalley will join eight other members to help advise the government on the control of dangerous and potentially harmful drugs. Specialising in solving hard-totreat neurological conditions, Professor Whalley was recently at the forefront of research into the medical benefits of cannabis, and how a non-psychoactive chemical in the drug could help to treat epilepsy. He told The Reading Post: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the ACMD and look
forward to making a positive contribution to the council’s very challenging work.” His appointment will last three years, and other members include experts in healthcare, education, social science, chemistry, and criminal law. In a statement released from the Home Office, Theresa May said: “I welcome the new members to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and look forward to working with them.
“The ACMD provides a vital service to the government and the addition of new members will further strengthen its expertise, knowledge and skills.” Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell, added: “This is excellent news for Ben and for Reading. It shows yet again that our academics’ outstanding work is being recognised nationally.”
“The ACMD provides a vital service to the government and the addition of new members will further strengthen its expertise, knowledge and skills.” Home Office, Theresa May
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EPICS AND EVILS
Epics and Evils is a quick peek into what goes on in The Spark Office – whether it be writing, editing or eating our homework.
WATTSUP?
Our hilarious new segment sheds some light on the student perspective of what goes on during Freshers Week.
WATTSUP?
RED AWARD Need hours for your RED Award? Helping The Spark may help you ultimately gain the experience you’re looking for filling up the core activities on your RED Award sheet! If you’re writing an article for the Lifestyle, Entertainment or Sports section, you will be awarded with 1 ½ hours per article. News articles on the other hand are awarded 30 minutes per article. If you’re artist or
photographer, you can gain up to 3 hours depending how long you work! If you’ve already written, drawn or photographed for The Spark, the Editor Nathalie Siah can sign off your sheet for you. Contact her at editor. spark@reading.ac.uk for more information.
NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
Extra-curricular travel opportunity with Life Sciences Student Travel Award DAN MITCHELL Undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Faculty of Life Sciences have been given a fantastic opportunity to secure part-funding to undertake independent extra-curricular travel in the UK or overseas. The funding, known as the Life Sciences Travel Award, was established in 2013 and assists students with the cost of academically interesting and useful travel. This fund is made possible by the generosity of donors. The scheme amalgamates the Arthur Hosier Travel Award Scheme, the Meyer Sassoon Travel Award Scheme, the Botanical Bursary, the J.W. Bee Travel Award and
the Agricultural Botany Travel Award. Awards are available to students who are either in the first or second year of their undergraduate degree programme and all students are eligible to apply for one award during their programme. The funding is intended to encourage students to undertake extra-curricular travel as well as advancing their personal development. Funding contributes to the cost of travel but also, at the discretion of the Award Selection Committee, can include other expenses such as a contribution towards subsistence. Students should note that awards will not be made for travel which is an integral part of the student’s degree programme, such as field trips or placements and
no retrospective awards can be made. There are between fifteen and twenty awards made to students in Life Sciences each academic year. The Award Selection Committee considers applications four times during this period. This extra-curricular travel has typically provided support to undergraduate students to take part in vacation opportunities related to their degree subject overseas or has provided postgraduate students the opportunity to attend international conferences in order to present their work. Past trips have included travel to countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Seychelles, Nigeria and China. Professor Richard Ellis, Dean
of the Faculty of Life Sciences, commented: “Employers value greatly skills of independence and ambition. The fund supports students to develop these skills and the student reports show how travel, in support of extra-curricular activities, does contribute to their education more widely.” Louise Shirley, BSc Applied Ecology and Conservation, received one of the awards last year and went to Madagascar in the summer to work as a research assistant for the Society for Environmental Exploration. Louise said: "Madagascar has the greatest number of critically endangered primates of any country in the world, and to have the opportunity to join the
effort to protect them was a great honour. My time there altered my perspective on life and my future career plans dramatically." Further information about the Life Sciences Student Travel Award, how to apply, and reports from students’ recent travel can be found on the University’s website at: www.reading.ac.uk/internal/ lifesci/Awards_Prizes_ Special_Funds/lifesci-LS_ student_travel_award.aspx.
NUS will boycott Israeli companies that contribute to conflict ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
The NUS has announced that it will cut ties with Israeli companies that contribute to the country’s military efforts, abuse human rights or exploit settlement activity. The decision has received mixed views. Some students have compared the announcement to the support given by the NUS to Mandela during the anti-apartheid struggle, whereas others believe it is an attempt to force students to hold the same opinion. James Elliott of the NUS National Executive Council (NEC) said of the announcement: “During South African apartheid, NUS took the decision to stand in solidarity with oppressed South Africans, making Nelson Mandela our honorary VicePresident. “I believe we have acted in the
same spirit today by deciding to boycott companies that facilitate the Israeli military’s capacity to massacre Palestinians.” Indeed, a recent poll, conducted by the Guardian, revealed that 41 per cent of Britons say their opinion of Israel has worsened during the conflict, while 21 per cent feel the same about Palestinians. Students from the University of Oxford, however, have penned a letter to the NUS expressing their “disappointment in the lack of real-time information” about the decision, and how a “liveblog or official twitter feed would have been sufficient”. The organisation has also been criticised for encouraging divisions, despite it standing for diversity and equal representation. In fact, Beth Button, President of NUS Wales, has disagreed with the recent announcement, saying: “there are more inclusive ways to take action.”
Although the NUS has made no mention of endorsing the Boycott, Divestment Sanctions policy (BDS), many students feel that their recent decision shares similarities with the strategy. However, while the BDS actively seeks to boycott all Israeli companies and intensify pressure on the country during the Israeli-Gaza conflict, the NUS will only boycott companies that contribute to military efforts, exploit human rights or corrupt settlement activity. The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) has placed emphasis on the comparison to the BDS, and fears this will damage the representation of student groups. “The passing of this motion is a failure of NUS to maintain its duty of care to the variety of student groups it must endeavour to represent. “NUS NEC have passed a policy that will only divide student groups, undermine
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interfaith relations, and suffocate progressive voices for peace on both sides. “The motion supports the BDS movement, a movement whose tactics are inherently indiscriminate and whose boundaries are undefined. “Whatever your politics on the conflict, when there is a strong campaign with ill-defined boundaries, there is no way to monitor the areas and people you will end up targeting.” These concerns, however, have been dismissed by NEC member James Elliott as being “disgusting and false”. He added that: “People have disingenuously tried to claim BDS targets Jews, when actually it targets institutions and companies complicit in the occupation.” An NUS spokesperson told The Spark that: “The motion passed by our national executive council commits us to ensuring that, as far as is practical,
NUS does not employ or work with companies identified as facilitating Israel's military capacity, human rights abuses or illegal settlement activity, and to actively work to cut ties with those that do. “The motion also asks NUS to encourage our autonomous member students’ unions to boycott companies and corporations complicit in financing and aiding Israel’s military. “NUS has reaffirmed our commitment to raising awareness of and combating all forms of racism including but not limited to, Islamophobia and antiSemitism, that may and have occurred in response to recent events in Israel and Palestine. “The national executive committee also reiterated NUS’ support for a two state solution. “We are committed to creating an atmosphere in which robust debates can take place without creating a climate of fear or intimidation.”
GENERAL NEWS
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Be prepared: rail fares are rising KATRINA HORDERN Rail fares are on the rise, and will strike train users in England from January 2015. The Retail Price Index (RPI), a broader measure of inflation, dropped to 2.5% in July, meaning that rail fares are allowed to increase by the government’s formula of RPI, plus one per cent. Chancellor George Osbourne, however, has said fares will be capped at 2.5 per cent, and the additional one per cent will be scrapped. Transport Correspondent for the BBC, Richard Westcott, says the government wants rail users to pay more of the bill for running our trains, so that taxpayers pay less and predicts that prices will continue to rise for some years. To put this into perspective, the cost of a 2014 season ticket from Reading to London Paddington, a 35 minute journey
"The government wants rail users to pay more of the bill for running our trains" Transport Correspondent for the BBC, Richard Westcott
and a popular commuter route, is £4,088. Without the cap, this would increase by £143 to £4,231 in 2015, meaning the cost of a season ticket would have increased by £632 since 2010. What’s more, the cost may affect students who regularly commute to campus or for parttime work by train, or even the cost of visiting home on any regular basis. In Britain, commuters pay the highest fares if they show up and buy a ticket on the day of travel, but long distance journeys can be cheaper on trains in Britain
than in Europe. Although this is only applicable if you buy the lowest price advance ticket on a fixed-time train. In an ideal world we would all have fixed plans far ahead enough to do this, and where possible this is by far the best option we have to save money. As a young person, purchasing a railcard is still the easiest and cheapest option for regular train travel. It provides students with the best solution for reducing rail fares where money is limited. It can also be attached to an oyster card for travel around London. Priced at £30, the initial cost of the railcard seems expensive but given that it saves a third of the cost of the ticket, the money will quickly be saved if travel is regular. Rail card Drawn by Nathalie Siah
Take a video tour around RUSU
A third of businesses admit to exploiting interns
ABBIE WEAVING
LIZZY IREDALE
News Editor
We’re at the brink of a new academic year, and with Freshers’ Week preparing to descend upon the University, the Student Officers at RUSU (Reading University Students’ Union) have put together a video tour of the Union, to help you find your way around in the first week.
Located in the heart of the campus, the Union is the place to go for buying course books, clubbing and even a quick haircut! Watch the video tour at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Bwqz8rXX37o
In an increasingly competitive working world, students frequently have to gain more experience to give them an edge when applying for jobs. Internships are a popular way to gain experience in the relevant sector; they are a good opportunity to experience firsthand the demands of a job and to discover which aspects of a job you enjoy, helping students to better shape ideas surrounding future careers. While an internship is an excellent opportunity, a recent study has suggested that interns could be exploited by the company they work for. The study, carried out by serviced office provider Business Environment, revealed that 31.6 per cent of workers feel that interns are treated unfairly by companies. In addition, 21.6 per
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cent of companies offer no pay at all to interns, and less than half of companies (40.3 per cent) pay interns minimum wage or above; many companies simply cover travel costs. It can be argued that the reason for doing an internship is not for money, but for the invaluable experience gained. Jack Rollinson, a third year Politics and Economic student at the University, undertook several unpaid internships over summer and said: “I feel that the skills and experiences I gained there were definitely worth it, I now have a lot more relevant experience on my CV and feel that I could prove to an employer that I am genuinely interested in the work. I have also gained several contacts and people happy to give me a reference.” However, it was also indicated in the results that employers themselves do not necessarily value internships as much as people expect. One in seven
employers don’t give their interns work that they would undertake if they actually had the job they are seeking. Furthermore, 33.7 per cent of employers give interns work described as ‘menial’. David Saul, CEO of Business Environment, said: “Internships can be rewarding and useful experiences for both the intern and the company – but a significant minority of placements are used as cheap labour, providing little experience or benefit to the jobseeker.” He added: “It’s important for companies to change their processes with or without legislation. We need to recognise that internships are a two-way deal – an extra pair of hands for the company, in return for a useful experience and preferably some kind of compensation for the jobseeker.”
NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
Adjustment to university life DR CLAIRE GREGOR
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve worked hard and made it to university, and now are embarking on the next phase of your life. Being at university is often referred to as being the best time of your life: a time when you make lots of friends, have an amazing social life, get to be independent from your family, extend your knowledge of a subject, and hopefully ultimately get the skills to obtain the job of your dreams. However, amidst all of the excitement and anticipation of being at university, there may be aspects that you are less sure about and that might be making you feel a bit uncertain and anxious. Many students struggle to manage the transition between home and university life. It’s an exciting time, but the changes can also be daunting and 50-70% of all new university students in the UK get homesick during their first few weeks. Homesickness can affect anyone, male, female, younger or older. We all have attachments to our families, friendship groups and usual environments. How can you make things easier for yourself? 1. Make your mark on your new room. Make it feel like your own personal space, so you have a familiar place in the midst of all the difference. Decorate it with things from home: photos, posters… Bring your iPod or CD player and plenty of your kind of music. 2. Join in with activities that involve being with people. If you play a musical instrument or a team sport, love gaming or acting, attend church or a book group at home, find out how to continue this at university and have a go. Whatever your interest, joining in and transferring your enthusiasm across to your new environment will help you to provide a stability and continuity to your former life, at the same time as investing emotionally in your new life.
3. Spend time with a few potential friends, rather than a large number of acquaintances. Nurture the emerging friendships which can become emotional substitutes for the home bonds by doing activities together. Don’t just sit in lectures; explore the town together and share significant experiences such as joining a society or trying out a new pursuit. This will also give you something interesting to talk to your family and friends back home about on the phone. 4. Try not to phone home too frequently nor go home the first few weeks. This may feel painful but is part of the separation process. If you do find yourself a bit out of kilter and want more help or support, check out the Counselling and Wellbeing Blackboard pages (enrol via the Organisation link on Blackboard). If you feel more comfortable talking confidentially to a fellow student, who may well also have experienced, and overcome homesickness, there are trained Peer Supporters who are able to offer friendly, informal support. Check out their webpage http:// www.reading.ac.uk/internal/ peersupport/peer-homepage.aspx . The Counselling and Wellbeing Service is also here for you, offering a variety of different support ranging from Life Tools talks to one-off sign-posting sessions, short-term Counselling and Mental Health Advice. They can be found on the 1st Floor of Carrington Building in room 106 – pop along anytime between 10 -4pm to register, or to find out more, visit their webpage http://www.reading.ac.uk/ internal/counselling/cou-home. aspx.
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Community Transport Research Project in Whitley brings community together DAN MITCHELL Whitley has been given £1m of Big Local funding after a successful bid was made by a group of councillors and charity representatives to The Big Lottery Fund. Nationally, the Big Local is working with over £200m from the Big Lottery Fund and a range of partners to help improve local communities and is run by the Local Trust. The research is being carried out through a new partnership called the ‘Whitley Researchers’. It consists of local residents, staff and students from the University of Reading, the Northumberland Training Academy (NTA) and John Ord, who is employed by The Big Local agency to assist with running the research. The project will explore the transport needs in Whitley along with other aspects and includes a community transport feasibility study exploring the possible benefits of a community transport scheme in Whitley. The team meets every week and so far has developed a questionnaire, started to gather data on transport, set up social media accounts and are currently creating their own blog. The questionnaire can be found on the website at www. whitleybiglocal.co.uk.
This team is in place to ensure that the research is informative and valuable as well as making sure that the £1m is spent appropriately and effectively as well as allowing that the community can share their views on what they believe the money should be spent on. Mo McSevney, Whitley resident and Chairperson of Whitley Community Development Association, commented: “Being involved the whole way through, from the first time you are asked about your community's wants and needs to designing and implementing a research programme that will really prove those wants and needs is very empowering.” Project managers John Ord and Sally Lloyd-Evans are pleased that the project has become a mutually supportive and collaborative learning venture, as they believe that local communities themselves are best placed to undertake research that affects their own community and make plans for future action. Sally Lloyd-Evans, based at the University of Reading, commented: “The project offers a fantastic opportunity
for the University to work hand in hand with its local community on research that will have widespread impact and also develop long term partnerships that will bring benefits to everyone involved.” The next steps for the team include collecting additional data, planning focus groups with local residents and organisations and establishing the current transport provision in Whitley. Once the data has been collected and examined, the team plan to hold local events to discuss findings with the community so that priority areas for investment can be identified and a community transport proposal and a report can be developed.
to get 100 more journeys a day, when they could have spent some of that money on the town's cycling infrastructure.” Despite these criticisms, however, ReadyBike has proved a popular fixture around town, particularly at docking stations within the University. Indeed, the local authority aimed for 2,300 daily cycle trips, but figures for July exceeded this with 3,365 rentals having been recorded. In fact, since its launch in June, members of the public have travelled 40,186 miles with ReadyBike. The council’s lead member for
transport, Tony Page, said: “These are encouraging figures and they back up what we already know anecdotally - that ReadyBike is proving to be popular in Reading. “They have very quickly become a fixture across the town.” Hiring a ReadyBike for a day costs members £4, and non-members £7.
Whitley, Berkshire Is one of the county's largest suburbs.
Cycling campaign criticises ReadyBike prices ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
Reading’s bicycle hire scheme, ReadyBike, has received criticism about its value for money. The initiative cost £1.2m and provided the town with 200 bikes and 27 docking stations. Adrian Lawson of Reading Cycle Campaign believes that this money would have been better spent on improving cycle lanes. Mr Lawson said: “It is an extraordinarily expensive way
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DEBATE
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|NEWS
Should the voting Should the voting age be lowered to age be lowered to 16? NO 16? YES ARRAN AINSWORTH When you look back on your years as a sixteen-year-old, how involved were you in politics? For me, it wasn’t something that was on my radar, at least not on a regular basis. I was more concerned with school, friends and girls. That’s not to say all of us were like this; I’m certain that there are some of you that did keep up with the political ebbs and flows of the country, but I don’t think you’d be in the majority. Voter apathy is already a problem with sixteen to twenty-four-year-olds - a survey in 2010 showing the turnout for this age group sat at 44 percent. Some say that with the addition of the sixteen to seventeenyear-olds, this percentage is sure to increase to a more representative number of the youth of the country, but I’m not so sure. Since the passing of the Fixed Term Parliament Act in 2011, unless a motion of no confidence is passed or a motion for general election is agreed, general elections will be held on the first Thursday in May every five years. For sixteen to seventeen-year-olds, this sits at the peak of the exam season for GCSEs and A-Levels. So if you did wish to vote in the general election during this stressful time, you would have to balance revision and your exam timetable with keeping yourself familiar with current affairs and politics. This may not sound like much to some
of you now, but consider your sixteenyear-old self. I am sure I cannot be alone when saying that those exams can be extremely stressful and can dominate your life. Therefore, juggling revision with voting would result in two general outcomes. Firstly, sixteen to seventeenyear-olds simply wouldn’t vote because they don’t have the time: they don’t want to waste any part of the day voting or looking up party policies when revision takes priority. Secondly, if they do vote, it is likely to be an uninformed decision, with parents and friends heavily influencing their choice. Ideally, voters should not possess these qualities. As I mentioned before, this could increase the amount of voter apathy, or it could have people voting who are drastically undereducated because they haven’t had the time to consider each party properly. Furthermore, citizenship education is currently at a very low standard in Britain, so it would prove difficult for most students to understand the full effects of some policies, making it even more difficult for them to make an informed decision. For those thinking you could have easily balanced exams with getting yourself educated in party politics, I cannot imagine you are in the majority. Therefore, for me, it is simply not worth giving the vote to a new age bracket when such a small number will actually be able to cast their vote properly. The vast majority may not even choose to vote at all.
ADAM CHALKER As I write my piece, the Scottish referendum on independence is only a couple of weeks away. Not only is it a potentially seminal event for the British Isles, but it is also an election which may set another precedent for British democracy; it has allowed sixteen-yearolds to vote. This decision has been rife with controversy. Commentators have suggested that sixteen is too young to vote, and have even suggested that it is a cynical ploy by the ‘Yes’ campaign to coerce more votes for themselves. The consensus seems to suggest that this is an altogether unwise decision. This writer though, believes quite the opposite. Sixteen-year-olds, in Britain, still have the ability to work; they can start paying tax. My father, for example, started to work at this age. If people can work at this age, and can start to contribute to the workings of the state, then surely it is only fair that they can have a say in the way that this contribution is managed. The most noticeable way that their voice can be heard is through the ballot. Also, recently the government has started to make key decisions which have directly affected people of the age group from sixteen to eighteen; the decisions regarding the increase in university tuition fees seems to be particularly topical. This is a policy which has massive ramifications for people applying to university, even three years after it was
implemented. It has caused young people to seriously rethink what they are going to do with their futures. As this was an alteration which had such a potent impact upon the livelihoods of young people, arguably it is only right that they should be given the opportunity to express their opinions. Britain prides itself on its status as a democratic nation. To be truly democratic, all the people who may be affected by certain decisions should have the ability to participate electorally. Yes, I agree that there should be an age limit on the ability to vote. It would not be good practise for ten year olds to decide on how the country should be run, for example. Sixteen-year-olds though, are old enough. They have just finished their GCSEs and so have started to ponder the running of society. Sixteen-year-olds have been trusted with the decisions relating to their futures, therefore, it is only fitting that the political status quo starts to appreciate young people as intelligent individuals. The fact that sixteen-year-olds do not currently have the vote may be indicative of the fears of the ruling classes at the notion of change to the political environment. It is wrong to perceive sixteen-year-olds obtaining the suffrage as being purely a left wing move. The vibrant Conservative Future movement demonstrates this (where William Hague started to be noticed, no less). Young people are a vibrant, diverse age group, just as people above the age of eighteen are. This diversity should be respected and their political education should be furthered by granting them electoral sovereignty.
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NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
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Nine out of ten students satisfied with UoR REBECCA SCOTTER According to the recently published Independent National Survey for 2014, completed by 1,949 final-year Reading students, almost 90 percent of students are satisfied with The University of Reading. The figures show that the university ranked 37th out of 156 institutions for overall satisfaction while the Student Union (RUSU) has risen 11 places, to seventh nationally. RUSU president Natalie Harper said: “RUSU is delighted to announce that we have increased our ratings in the NSS... we are honoured that students appreciate and value our services so highly. This year we will continue to build on this excellent feedback.” Overall satisfaction with teaching within the university has remained above the national average, ranked in 34th position. When asked if their lectures were made interesting due to the teaching standards, 85 percent of students agreed, while 92 percent said their subjects were well explained. What’s more, and perhaps most importantly, 90 percent say that their course is intellectually stimulating. After the poll revealed an 83 percent
overall satisfaction with academic support, Vice Chancellor Sir David Bell commented: “It is pleasing that we have strengthened our results for academic advice and support.” Indeed, the recently refurbished library received a seven percent rise in satisfaction bringing it to 87 percent. Second year Law student, Kate Robinson, said: “Floor two has a great layout and studying space. The library is good if you need a quiet place to work, especially floor five - great for resources and helpful staff!” In fact, the library was featured in an article covered by the BBC, titled ‘Midnight and the university library is crowded’. Education Correspondent and the article’s writer, Sean Coughlan, noted: “During weekdays in term time the library is open 24/7. Never mind 24-hour clubbing, here it’s round the clock studying.” Nine courses had 95 percent or more overall satisfaction, with Imaginative Writing scoring 100 percent. An additional twelve subjects are in their respective top ten’s nationally, including Italian Studies ranking first and Drama ranking fifth. Immy Clayton, a 2014 graduate in Film and Theatre studies said: “I don’t know that the word ‘satisfaction’
quite covers my experience at Reading. My three years exceeded all of my expectations and more! From my course, to friends, to my job, all aspects of my university life were exciting and eventful - and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.” Despite these pleasing statistics, Vice-Chancellor David Bell recognises that there is still room for improvement, saying: “We are still just below the sector average for feedback and assessment. So from the coming academic year, we are introducing a 15-day turnaround limit on the return of work to students.” This is especially important since next year’s poll will be the first year of students to have paid the increased tuition fee of £9,000, meaning the demand for satisfaction from all aspects of the university will be higher than ever. Having said that, the growth of the university and its devotion to the student experience is clear enough on campus, and made even clearer from the recently released figures.
Over half of students hold down a job while studying ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
A huge 59 per cent of students manage to hold down a job while studying at university, according to a recent survey. Carried out by insurance company Endsleigh, 45 per cent of students work in part-time roles, while 13 per cent juggle their books or holiday time with full-time jobs. Niki Igbaroola, a third year English Literature and Classics student, said: “I found working in my second year extremely
challenging because I chose a job with highly inflexible hours where I was required to meet certain targets every month. “However, I found that this pushed me towards increasing my organisation. I worked on a rigid schedule and this improved my overall academic accomplishments. I would advise that you look at what each job requires of you and gauge whether or not you can handle it whilst studying.” The survey found that out of the 2,128 asked, most students (58 per cent) work
while studying in order to fund their social lives, while 55 per cent work to pay for their accommodation, food and household bills. An additional 38 per cent revealed that their wages would be saved for the future, while 35 per cent hold down a job to avoid going into debt. As well as paying the bills, Endsleigh found that over half of working students (53 per cent) consider gaining work experience as an important factor in ensuring employment after graduation. Just 13 per cent admitted they aren’t feeling confident about securing work after university,
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despite having been employed during their studies. Education Sector Manager at Endsleigh, Kim McGuinness, said: “We’re seeing more and more students taking money matters into their own hands whilst at university, rather than simply relying on their parents to foot their bills or building up debt. “However, while ensuring they are able to pay their monthly rent is clearly a priority, it is evident that university-goers are conscious of their future too. Aware of the competitive jobs market they face upon graduating,
University of Reading with RUSU in background Courtesy of Abbie Weaving
the results suggest that working students are, at least in part, finding employment in the hope that the additional experience will help them stand out from the crowd when it comes to kickstarting their careers.”
|NEWS
Secrets to brain mechanisms Gluten-free café opens in Reading could advance artificial intelligence TOYAH-MARIE PAPP
University of Reading campus Courtesy of the University of Reading website
GENERAL NEWS
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
Researchers at the University of Reading’s School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences have provided a new understanding into how humans process information and see the world. Using something as simple as the a three dimensional version of the 80s game ‘Pong’, the researchers examined and studied how the brain adapted and recalibrated the perception of slant in order to bounce the moving ball through a target hoop, instead of preventing the ball entering the home goal. To see how the participants would adjust to change, the researchers altered the bounce of the ball so that the surface on which the ball bounced from would behave differently to the slant signalled by the visual cues. As a result, the participants unknowingly adjusted their behaviour to adapt to the situation and continue scoring points. At the same time, their brains
re-calibrated their perception of the slant, simulating the laws of physics to change how the slant looked. The findings show why humans are far more adaptable than any other species, even more than the most developed robots. Dr. Peter Scarfe from the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, who conducted the study with colleague Professor Andrew Glennerster, said: “The human brain exhibits expert skill in making predictions about how the world behaves. For example, a child can bounce a ball off a wall and understand how spinning the ball alters its bounce. “However, many of the fine motor skills of a young child are currently way beyond the capability of modern robots. Understanding how sensory systems adapt to feedback about the consequences of actions is likely to be key in solving this problem.” What’s more, engineers are taking inspiration from the brain’s adapting ability and sensory systems to achieve
what is currently beyond the advancement in technology and impossible for robotic systems. The study was funded by The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which invests around £800m a year in research for postgraduate training to aid the next generation of technological change.
24% confessed to only taking the next step in their career because their parents had told them to. Despite this, a promising 84% listed their prospects of entering their chosen career as being ‘quite likely’ or ‘very likely’. Chief executive of the AAT, Mark Farrar, said: “This research shows that the young people who have grown up through the recession are remarkably driven in thinking about their future career plans and acting on them. “However, careers advice in schools and colleges isn’t keeping pace with this demand, meaning that some young people are relying on what their friends or parents tell them.” University is not the only route for schoolchildren, though. In fact, a third of participants have considered apprenticeships, with another 22% looking into
professional training too. Farrar added: “Young people should be aware of alternatives such as apprenticeships and professional training which can create a route into fantastic careers.” The University of Reading, however, recognises the importance of career advice for its students. Chloe Bartlett, Community and Development Officer at Reading University’s Student Union (RUSU), said: “The University provides professional advice and support in the Carrington Building to help students in fulfilling their career plans, while the Union provides the opportunity to develop and enhance the skills you learn from your degree programme to equip students with all the qualities employers are looking for.
ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
Located on Cross Street, just a short walk from The Oracle, is Nisby’s Coffee Shop – Reading’s first gluten-free café. Serving a range of cakes, snacks and award-winning Winchester coffee, the café has proved a hit with locals since it opened in the first week of September. Owner Naomi Stoker said: “It was fantastic, busier than expected. We did sell out of a few things because we weren’t expecting to be quite so busy but it was great and we realised what a great team we have.”
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As well as providing tasty treats, the café has solved a common problem for gluten intolerance suffers. Stoker added: “We had one particular lady who hadn’t had quiche for 20 years because she is coeliac and I had quite a few comments from people saying, I can’t believe it’s all gluten-free, it’s my dream come true. “The feedback reminded us why we were doing this. After all the hard work, it’s nice to have such quick, positive responses. “It gives us the momentum to get through the next few weeks while we find our feet.”
Young people require better career advice ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has found that of the young people questioned 84% would like, or would have liked, more career guidance from their school or college. While 36% list trade bodies and employers as potential sources of help, 70% believe that their teachers should provide most career guidance. For 61%, however, speaking to somebody in their industry of interest would have sufficed. The reason for such poor career advice, the survey revealed, is due to incorrect assumptions. 71 % believed that they needed a degree to have a career, like accounting. Adding yet more confusion, an additional
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“Whether that is the Job Shop going through CVs, or helping students get more experience in their certain areas of interest by making links with a certain
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NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
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Freshers spend over £2,000 before their course starts Students spend an average of £2,115 before starting university, with alcohol topping the expenditure list at £212, according to new research. In fact, students blow £1,019 in Freshers’ Week alone, while the cost for preparing for university is estimated to be an additional £1,096. Apart from alcohol, students splash out on £109 worth of new clothes during their first week of freedom, as well as £108.65 on supermarket food, £100.49 on takeaways and £100.28 on entry
to bars, clubs and pubs. Students in Chelmsford spend the most on alcohol, with the average fresher reaching deep to spend £441 on booze during their first week. In comparison, students in York spend just £56 on alcohol during the same period. Not all money is dedicated to a student’s nightlife though, with an average of £149 being spent on study materials for their degree. That is, however, the extent of study-related spending. An additional £457 is spent on gadgets, with 65% of students nabbing a new laptop or tablet
before term begins. Almost half of students (47%) upgrade their phone, and 43% splash out on a new games console or TV. With increased living costs and a sharp rise in tuition fees, 69% of students lean on their parents for financial support, while 65% look to their maintenance loan to cover these costs. The importance of learning how to budget is still key to both university and post-degree life. Indeed, Consumer Editor at VoucherCodes.co.uk, Anita Naik, told The National Student: “While it’s understandable
Blame your parents for your hangovers REBECCA SCOTTER A recent study by Australian scientists claims that we can now blame our hangovers on our parents and not on jaeger-bombs, well, 45% of it anyway. Although most of the headache-ridden Sundays do depend on what you drink and how much, according to the results, genetics were responsible for 45% of the difference in the number of hangovers in women and 40% in men. The study examined twins and looked for links between
participants’ genetic makeups and the number of hangovers experienced over the past year. In the study, approximately 4,000 middle-aged people from the Australian Twin Registry participated in a telephone survey, reporting their experiences with hangovers and alcohol consumption. The participants recounted how many times they had gotten drunk in the past year, along with their “hangover frequency”, which is the number of days in the previous year they felt sick the day after drinking. They also reported their “hangover resistance”, which was
whether or not they had ever experienced a hangover after getting drunk. The links between identical twins’ experiences found that nearly half of the reason some of us wake up with a dizzy head and a fragile stomach while others are ready for another round, is due to our genetics. The other half, unsurprisingly, is due to the environment and the amount you drink and how quickly. Future research will look into the connection between genes and alcohol addiction, in order to prevent the illness.
that students can forget about budgeting when they’re caught up in the excitement of heading to uni, in the long run the huge outlay just isn’t sustainable. “There are a wealth of student-friendly deals and offers around to cut the cost of food and clothes during Freshers’ Week as well as on university essentials like homeware. With a bit of forward planning students can make the most of everything student life has to offer without breaking the bank.” Based in the Carrington Building at the University of Reading, Student Services offers financial advice and support to students who are struggling to
make ends meet. What’s more, RUSU’s website page ‘Money Advice’ is dedicated to helping students manage their funds and avoid debt.
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NEWS|INTERVIEW
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Meet your new Student Officers, with a new academic year comes a new team of Student Officers; dedicated to representing you and enhancing your University experience... News Editor
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The University of Reading has been awarded ISO 14001 certification for its work on sustainability as well as, for the second year running, the EcoCampus Platinum award for its Environmental Management System (EMS).The ISO 14001 certification, regulated by NQA,
Keen to keep students in the know, the new officers have given The Spark the low-down on their policies and plans for the next year. What would you like students to know about your progress so far? Natalie Harper | President:I have been working on increasing representation in RUSU which includes changing the elections to encourage more students to vote and to run for representative positions. Charlie Holman | Student Engagement Officer:Most of my work has been helping to improve communication between students and RUSU. It’s really important that stu-dents know exactly what the Student Union does and are aware that it’s always on the student’s side. We have also worked with the SportsPark in agreeing a new sports level agreement, which will give our sports societies a better deal for the future! Sara Chandran | Education Officer: One of my main aims is to encourage the use of efficient technology. Technology Enhanced Learning will encourage staff to use technology to its potential, from online submissions to articles and lectures uploaded onto Blackboard. Academic Representation is another key area. Im-proving the visibility of reps and the relationship between Course and Faculty Reps will
STUDENT OFFICERS
Student Officers 2014/15 ensure that the student voice are heard. Tilly Corless | Welfare Officer: I have established safety initiatives like ‘Think Before you Drink’ ready for Welcome Week. I have also organised a mental health awareness campaign for October called ‘No Stigma, No Shame’, in which students will have the opportunity to take part in advice sessions, an evening of jazz in Café Mondial, meditation, and football at the Madjeski Stadium. Chloe Bartlett | Community and Development Officer: The volunteering co-ordinator and I have come up with a variety of volunteering opportunities, the newest being MAD days. This allows students who don’t want to commit to weekly volunteering to only do one-off opportunities. The library pods went down a hit with students last year
– how do you plan to create more group study spaces? Sara Chandran: As part of the
Library refurbishments, the other floors will be refurbished to the same standard as the second floor which will mean more group study spaces!
How do you plan to let sports teams and societies have more control over their socials in the Union? Charlie Holman: I would like to introduce a loyalty scheme for sports teams and societies who use the Union on socials as well as use our bars, catering and retail services so they can make some extra money for the club they are passionate about! What new ideas do you have for ‘RUSU says Relax’ campaign? Tilly Corless: I plan to bring the
timing of the campaign forwards into during the revision period. This will reach more students than it previously has when it took place during exam time only.
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The NUS is campaigning to scrap letting agent fees – how will you help to pro-mote this? Chloe Bartlett:We are currently trialling a NUS campaign, ‘Rate Your Landlord’, to get stu-dents’ experiences heard and problem areas tackled. Last year, students said they were being ripped-off by agent fees, and many first-time renters won’t know that this isn’t acceptable. What are your plans for students who are interested in non-drinking events? Natalie Harper:There are plenty of activities for students to get involved in which don’t encourage the consummation of alcohol. I have also been encouraging JCRs to incorporate non-drinking events into their Freshers’ Week plans. The NUS is encouraging students to vote in next year’s general election – what
questions should students be asking politicians who are seeking their votes? Natalie Harper: In the past years, students have seen their fees increase dramatically with no guarantee of a job and accommodation prices rise with no increase in student loans. Yet students are still a very important part of society and have a valid voice, which they need to make sure is loud enough so that it cannot be ig-nored! Sara Chandran: In Higher Education, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students are less likely to achieve a first or an upper second degree compared to White stu-dents (HEFCE: 2014). What does the politician plan to do to tackle this national issue? Is it a concern for them and their party? Tilly Corless: Asking how the student voice will be heard by politicians is the most basic yet valuable piece of advice. Students are more political than people think! Many Change It! ideas have not received enough votes for a campaign – why do you think this is? How will you increase students’ awareness to encourage votes? Natalie Harper: Most people do not understand what Change It! is or how the process works. Students are still very interested in the issues which surround them, it’s just a question of channeling the interest in the right direction. We will be run-ning several awareness campaigns, holding events and meetings, as well as onli-ne videos to explain how it works.
|NEWS
University recognised for eco-friendly efforts ABBIE WEAVING
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is an internationally recognised achievement and the EMS is crucial for monitoring and improving upon an institution’s sustainability efforts. The EcoCampus Platinum award is the highest possible achievement for higher education institutions to hold. The EMS works with the entire University, covering both campuses and providing objectives for the University to
achieve. These include helping to prevent pollution, and complying with environmental legal regulations. In particular, the University was praised for its monitoring of carbon and energy management, as well as having had success with recycling, reducing waste, and creating awareness for sustainability. Ian Cruickshank, University Environment Manager, told
commercial decision” by Tesco, and the committee was to “follow the formal procedure set out in writing”. Councillor Jan Gavin acknowledged that it was a “really difficult area”. She said: “We have not been asked to decide whether we think it is a good idea have another new Tesco in Reading.” The committee were required to act in line with national planning laws. It was not necessary for Tesco to seek permission from the local authority, because the property had previously been a retail unit. Councillor Tony Page admitted that Tesco had behaved in a “very shabby, off-hand way”, and said that they were “exploiting a weakness in planning law”. The committee agreed that it could be necessary to write and complain to the Tesco head office. The protestors who gathered outside Reading Civic Centre will be pleased that this may mean a more successful outcome for them in the future, should Tesco seek to buy another property in
Reading. There are already plans for another Tesco store to be built in Reading next year. Crucially, any successful campaign against another Tesco store relies on the property requiring a ‘change of use’. The store at Cemetery Junction did not, due to the property’s previous use as a retail unit. The protestors will hope to promote more opposition in the future. Already, the Facebook group ‘No to Cemetery Junction Tesco’ has 520 likes and has outlined its intention to fight the proliferation of Tesco all over Reading. 412 people have also signed an online petition against the Cemetery Junction store. Founder of the groups, Leslee Hopper, has boycotted Tesco for over 11 years. She says: “When you see buy one get one free offers in Tesco, it is not Tesco who are losing out. It is the farmer. Tesco harms the community spirit and puts smaller shops out of business.”
14th Tesco in Reading gets go-ahead despite protests JAMIE GOSTLOW Online Editor
Protestors outside Reading Civic Centre have failed to prevent planning consent for a new Tesco store at Cemetery Junction in Reading. The new store, which will be the fourteenth Tesco in Reading, had already converted four shop units in Crown Colonnade at Cemetery Junction prior to any formal planning permission. Despite the opposition, the Planning Applications Committee maintained that the “identity of the applicant has no bearing on the final decision”. Instead, their job was to approve planning permission for the installation of an ATM, new frontage and signage. The Committee stated that they were in no position to oppose a new store on the proposed site, and that any “personal views on this matter are irrelevant”. According to Chairman Councillor Chris Maskell, the decision to buy this property was a “legitimate
Protestors against Tesco Courtesy of Jamie Gostlow
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The Spark: “The successful achievement of the international standard ISO 14001 is an important milestone in the University’s commitment to minimising its impact on the environment. Staff, students and third party stakeholders can be assured that we are taking our responsibilities seriously and are committed to continually improve our performance.” The University’s sustainability
team have been continuing their work throughout the summer, with plans to cut carbon emissions by 35% by 2015/16. In fact, the University was shortlisted for the Green Gown award scheme in July thanks to its energy efficient fume cupboard upgrades, which will save the University £90,000 each year.
ABBIE WEAVING
between Theale and Reading. This addition is currently on a trial basis, with buses running until 11pm Monday to Friday. The sky-blue 15 buses, however, have become less frequent, now departing from Dee Park and Grovelands Road every 15 minutes. James Freeman, Reading Buses chief executive, told The Reading Post: “This substantial enhancement amounts to the entry into service of an extra four buses serving Reading and quite a lot of extra miles of operation, amounting to a very considerable investment in terms of personnel and of course the buses themselves.”
Students to benefit from new bus timetable News Editor
A change in Reading’s bus timetables will mean a higher frequency in local buses. The adjustment will affect people living close to the University, as well as in Tilehurst, Coley, Southcote, Lower Earley and Theale. In fact, for students at the University of Reading, a second 24-hour service running on the 21 claret buses has been added, making journeys home safer and easier. These buses will run hourly throughout the evenings in the week, and every half an hour on Friday and Saturday nights. Royal blue buses for the 33 service will now be running every ten minutes, and the mint green five and six routes will arrive every eight minutes. This means that there will now be a bus arriving every four minutes between Whitley Street and the centre of town. What’s more, yellow 26 buses running between Southcote and Coley now arrive every ten minutes in the day from Monday to Friday, and even more regularly at peak times when they arrive every eight minutes. Thanks to the new timetable, Theale and Bath Road residents now have an evening service with an hourly shuttle going
NEWS|WEATHER
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
University defends £2.6 million marketing spend ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
From 2013 to 2014, The University of Reading spent £2,582,000 on marketing strategies, with £168,711 solely dedicated to advertising. A breakdown of the costs reveal that £64,100 was spent on advertising on national and student newspaper websites, £56,275 on posters featured on public transport, namely buses and trains, while £265,000 was allocated to paying wages and running the university’s communications department. One of the university’s key
marketing campaigns this year, Are You Ready? was directly aimed at prospective students and boosting the institution’s awardwinning campus and world-class teaching. In fact, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2013 to 2014, The University of Reading was ranked in the world’s top one percent for higher education institutions. A University of Reading spokesman said: “We’re a big organisation – in the top one percent in the world, educating 17,000 students a year; employing 4,000 staff, producing top-class research; generating jobs and growth throughout the region. We operate three UK
campuses, Henley Business School Africa in Johannesburg and are building a state-of-theart new campus in Malaysia, alongside a new £50m Science Park, which will be home to dozens of new-start-ups and firms locally. “No university can rest on its laurels. We’re operating in a highly competitive and global market for students. The Coalition’s funding reforms puts the onus on universities to proactively and aggressively market themselves to potential undergraduates and postgraduates, as well as for research and other investment. There is no point in being a shrinking violet – institutions
have got to get out there and sell themselves hard. “We work hard to get value for money out of every single penny we invest. Our marketing costs cover all our recruitment and outreach work; our new national student advertising campaign Are You Ready?; all our internal staff and student communications; our in-house design and print function for the entire university; our corporate events team, including activities for 60,000 local people a year; and our press, social media, website and digital development teams.” Despite these promotion costs, the university has committed much of its funds to recent
Insure your laptop, refurbishments and building better facilities for students. In fact, over £2 million was spent last year for the Library’s refurbishment, providing students with state-of-the-art 2nd and 5th floors, complete with 350 study spaces, group pods and modern décor. As well as this, the development included new library materials and longer opening hours. As well as academic improvements, Bridges Hall will house its first tenants this year. Located nearby Wessex Hall to the east of the campus, this new accommodation boasts 649 bedrooms, stylish communal spaces, laundry room and student reception.
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Campaign -OD-bus Courtesy of University of Reading
Until next year, summer! REBECCA REILLY Summer 2014 in the UK has seen a mixed bag of weather. It made a promising start with glorious sunny days and temperatures in England reaching a top figure of 33.5°C in July. It wasn’t long however, until the usual ‘British summer’ greeted us with its familiar damp weather. In fact, the UK’s weather has had major influences from around the globe this year. The tail-end of Hurricane Bertha swept across the UK in midAugust- bringing strong winds
and torrential rainfall, causing the Met Office to issue a yellow warning for rain in Reading and across the UK. What’s more, Fair Isle in Shetland saw 132.6 mm of rain over a 12-hour period, which is nearly twice the average rainfall for August. The lowpressure system associated with the decaying Hurricane Bertha passed directly over the UK. However, Hurricane Cristobal is looking to have a different impact on our weather, bringing much more settled conditions. As the extra tropical system of Cristobal moves to the north of
the UK, it looks to draw high pressure away from Europe. This could see temperatures at the beginning of September rise and bring stable conditions to Reading. The surface pressure chart in Figure 1 shows the lowpressure system, ex-hurricane Cristobal traveling to the north and an area of high pressure moving over the UK. Even with the cooler and wetter August and the hot dry spell in June and July, summer 2014 has been decisively average as a season with a regular temperature of 14.8C, which is only 0.5C more than the
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long term summer average. As for the autumn, the forecasts show that September looks to remain settled with the potential for higher than average monthly temperatures. Figure 1: Surface pressure chart for Sunday 31st August
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FRESHERS
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL-P25 Comedy, and culture; find out the best tips forThe Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
BEAT THAT HANGOVER-P26 It’s time to get prepared to handle those inevitable hangovers.
MONEY-SAVING-P24 Here are some moneysaving make-up hacks to help you look your best on a budget!
15 MINUTE MEAL-P27 Why not try making Chorizo and Butterbean Stew in just 15 minutes!
Guide to Fresher's Top tips for Fortnight Events international students All you need to know for a trouble-free year
LIFESTYLE
You know you're a Reading student when... ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
While the town of Reading is renowned for its music festival, shopping outlets and Victorian landmarks, the students of its University are just as easily identified. Here, is a compilation of the quirks that make the University of Reading unique, giving the new stream of Freshers the lowdown on campus life and what makes their University different from the rest! 1 You become an expert at mazes For the Classicists on campus, reenacting the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur can be completed on a daily basis, staring either the HumSS or URS buildings. In fact, by graduation day, many students not only leave with a degree, but also with the assurance that, if needed, they could last longer than Robert Patterson did in the maze of the Triwizard Tournament. We’d win hands down. For Freshers though, it’s best to leave an extra ten minutes to negotiate the never-ending corridors and riddle-like room numbers - you will no doubt find a fellow wanderer stuck within their walls, and who knows how long they have been there for. Thank goodness for the Palmer Building!
2 You have to embark on a trek to reach Agriculture We’ve all had that moment – your lecture is listed as being in the Agricultural Building, but you can’t find it on the University map. It’s not near HumSS or the library, or even near your halls. Then you spot it, and you feel like Frodo planning his journey to Mordor. At first, the long winter morning treks to the Agricultural Building are full of half-awake, grumbling students, and you wonder if all of you are going to make it. Come summertime, however, and there is nothing better. The University of Reading’s campus is one of the greenest in the country, and walking to a lecture surrounded by rolling fields and a swan-filled lake leaves little to complain about. 3 You become paranoid about nabbing library pods You’re on the second floor of the library trying to focus on your work, but you’re on a mission. As soon as a group of students leave one of the study pods you’re going to make your move. Too slow and you’ll miss it, too fast and you’ll rouse suspicion. Although designed for group study sessions, these pods are complete with wide screen TVs and offer students the chance to have a chinwag amid the silence of the rest of the floor, and, as a
result, are seriously hot property. From the outside, you look like you’re having a discussion about astrophysics, whereas the main topic of conversation inside began with, ‘So, do you think he likes me?’ 4 You become jealous of Business students There are many things to enjoy while being a Fresher, but one, without a doubt, is having lectures in the Henley Business School. Complete with live stock market feeds and lecture theatres equipped with several wide screen TVs, you’ll briefly consider changing your degree programme. You’ll find yourself waiting for your skinny latte – yes, the Henley Business School even has a breakfast bar - telling yourself ‘I would make a good corporate investment banker, you know’. 5 You end a 3Sixty night screaming out S Club 7 As a Fresher, you’ll become well acquainted with the Union’s nightclub, 3Sixty, and the array of ‘90s and ’00s hits played near closing time. Whether it’s S Club 7, Busted or Destiny’s Child, no one can resist the dance floor. You know you’ve had a good night when you remember all the words to ‘Reach’ and lose a shoe on the sticky floor while busting out some of your best ‘90s band dance routines.
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University of Reading campus Taken from the University of Reading website
University of Reading campus Taken from the University of Reading website
|LIFESTYLE
NATHALIE SIAH Editor
After graduating from high school, going to University may be a frightening ordeal. It is a big step toward your goals for the future especially for those who are deciding to jet off to a completely new environment. If you’re nervous about flying over to Reading from your home many miles away, here are some tips to help calm your nerves and some personal tips of mine that I have found helpful. Arriving in the UK Flying alone is a big challenge especially when you’re getting to Reading on your own from the airport. Make sure that you have your student visa sorted out well in advance – this is essential for all going through airport security. When you arrive, there are many trains that will take you to Reading whether you’re coming from Heathrow or Gatwick Airport. There is a meet and greet service at Heathrow Airport run by the University if you would like. Make sure you send them an e-mail about when you will be arriving so a student can arrange such a meeting. If you get the chance, buy your tickets in advance using on-line services such as trainline.com which will give you a discount for advance tickets. Also, if you can, try and purchase the 16-25 railcard before coming. This will save you a third on all train tickets for the entire year. Once you have arrived in
Reading station, you have a choice of either taking a taxi to the University or taking the bus number 20 or 21. Both are located just outside the station. The bus does not give change however so make sure that you have the exact amount ready. If you’re under 19, the solo single fare is just £1.40! Language Barriers and Dealing with Culture Shock Even though I myself am a native English speaker, I find myself learning new words or tidbits of phrases that I haven’t come across before. The accent threw me for a loop and sometimes I’d find myself saying ‘sorry?’ one time too many. Not only is there a British accent to get used to but also Irish, Scottish and Welsh. My best advice to all students coming to England for the first time is to try and get familiarized with British culture by watching a bit of television, listening to the radio or just reading some British books. It’ll be a whirlwind of help when you know what your new friends will be talking about. I found Harry Potter to be pretty helpful of all things. There are a lot of facilities and extra help you can get at the University to talk about the pressures of being away from home. Peer Support is a great way to speak with other students to share your worries and get some advice from others who have gone through the same experiences as you have.
Old Friends v New Friends When I left home, I realized that I did not have any friends that
were coming along with me on this new adventure, and it was incredibly difficult. At first I’d spend my time at impossibly ridiculous hours of the night trying to hold a conversation between coffees and what seemed to be a life that was slipping away from me. You must understand that although you are not in the same place as you once were, the friends that you have made won’t change the way you feel about you just because you’re in the UK. Keeping up with friends is certainly difficult but with a bit of effort, perhaps skyping on Saturdays or a string of e-mails can be just as effective at keeping in touch. What’s great about University life is that there are also others who are new too, so don’t hide in your room! You will discover that there are many others that want you to be part of the University community. There are many societies that you may find people who share the same interests as you, students in your classes and people you’ll meet just down the hall. For me, joining Spark was one of the most fun experiences, getting to write, photograph and be a part of an organization that gets to reach so many people.
DANIELLE PAGLIONICO Oh to be a fresher once again with adrenaline pumping and questions racing through their minds like, “What will university life be like? Who will I be living with? Have I made the right decision coming to this university?” Amongst these, many thoughts also arise concerning Freshers’ fortnight. And so, from an experienced fresher, here is a bit of information as well as a few tips about what to do and expect. 1. Freshers’ Fayre The Freshers’ Fayre is so much fun–not only do you get a ton of freebies, but you can sign up to any society that takes your fancy! There are a number of societies to choose from–baking, football, swimming, lock picking— you’ll get the chance try them all. One thing that I personally regret about my first year is not being involved within a society enough, so relish your first year and remember that societies are not only enjoyable, but also add some diversity to your CV! Keep in mind that there are specific Fayres occurring on different days, including the Volunteering Fayre, Sports Fayre and the Societies Fayre.
I hope that these tips will help any international students calm their fears about joining the University of Reading. If you have any further concerns please contact me at editor.spark@ reading.ac.uk and I can point you in the right direction.
2. Nights out Make the most of nights out during Freshers’ Fortnight; it is your chance to meet so many new and diverse people. Try not to worry about making friends—
toilets and a cat wandering around the carriage, I suggest just avoiding these at all costs! If you’re on a budget, hostels are a great way to save a lot of money whilst allowing you to easily make friends to travel (and drink) with. Although travelling spontaneously is exciting, I recommend having a rough guide with the accommodation already planned out. It saves a lot of time when you arrive at a destination and cuts out a great deal of
stress and anxiety. Hostelworld is a popular site for booking accommodation and allows you to compare ratings by other travellers. Some hostels, such as the 5 Terre Backpackers in Cinque Terre, even have kittens! My main tip when backpacking is not to miss out. Despite sleep deprivation or lack of money, always make sure you make the most of wherever you travel. Hiking miles up a Swiss mountain in the midday
remember that everyone is in the same boat, so say ‘hey’ to everyone! Appearing friendly and approachable during your time at university makes the friend-making process so much easier. And don’t forget about the drinking games prior to any night out. From Fuzzy Duck to Zimmy Zimmy, these games are hilarious and encourage you to socialize as a group. Many nights out during Freshers’ Fortnight are also themed, but this does not mean you should spend lots of money finding the perfect outfit for each night – it’s all about improvisation! Why not try eBay or Amazon for cheap accessories to jazz up your outfits? 3. Other activities RUSU has planned several exciting events for Freshers’ Fortnight this year to suit the preferences of each and every fresher! Starting at 1pm on 21 September, RUSU is bringing you Campus Carnival in 3Sixty. This is not an event to be missed with your chance to go zorbing, do a velcro assault course, play smack the rat and eat a load of candy floss. In addition, RUSU is bringing you a Freshers’ Sundown Festival on 22 September, a comedy night on the 30th, a popcorn party on the 1 October and an MTV night on the 4th. Be sure to keep up to date with what events are happening during the fortnight on the RUSU website.
A rough guide to InterRailing HARRIET BARBER Lifestyle Editor
Following the stress of revision and exams, many students want to escape dreary England and hunt for some adventure in their lives. For me, InterRailing has been the answer. I have spent my last two summers hopping on and off trains, sharing dorms with fellow travellers, taking thousands of photos and financially supporting a number of pubs across Europe.
It is tiring, occasionally stressful, but nonetheless an extremely enriching experience. Disregarding your destinations, the train journeys themselves are often awe-inspiring and your camera will probably be glued to your hand. Many backpackers looking to save money on accommodation opt in for the overnight trains. Whilst this makes sense, after one fourteenhour train journey through Croatia, without any working
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sun may seem like torture but the view is always spectacular. Forking out for a gondola ride in Venice may seem like a waste, but seeing where the locals live is eye-opening. Likewise, as you probably won’t be getting too much sleep in a hostel anyway, stay up late drinking cheap wine in Italian bars, wandering around the redlight district in Amsterdam, going on pub crawls in Barcelona or watching the Eiffel Tower light up in Paris.
LIFESTYLE | FRESHERS & TRAVEL
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
SportsPark
SHAAMA REESE For many people, starting university can be a good way to try new things and maybe begin a new routine - one great way to do this is to join the gym! Students at the University of Reading are lucky enough to benefit from their very own SportsPark. Open from 7am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 9pm on weekends and located just by the main entrance, it is the perfect place for students. The SportsPark has something for everyone, from the gym itself and group classes, to the use of the tennis courts and football pitches. The different
types of classes that students can have access to are endless. They include yoga, spin, cardio aerobics, pilates, step, box fit, HIIT, legs bums and tums, and many more! In addition, the gym itself has a wide range of cardio machines such as treadmills and cross trainers, a large free weights area and a variety of weights machines. Students can also make use of a personal trainer programme if they wish. Compared to other gyms in the city centre, the SportsPark is a good price! Students can either choose from the Vo2 monthly option where they have unlimited access to the gym and all group classes for only £20.00 a month,
or they can choose the Vo2 max monthly option where they will also have unlimited access to courts such as badminton and tennis for only £27.50 a month. Not only that, but there is also a pay-as-you-go option where students can just pay for what they use. Students can also freeze their membership over the holidays, meaning that they don't have to pay anything when they're not there. Overall, the University of Reading's sports park is definitely the place to for students looking for a gym. With a perfect location, cheap prices, and great facilities, it doesn't get much better!.
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My French farming adventure PHILIPPA DUPLOYEN For three weeks in August, I travelled to France to work (or ‘WWOOFing’ as it’s called) on an organic farm. Not the usual choice of holiday, this experience was completely different to anything I had done before! The farm was called ‘Domaine Bio de Kerjean,’ which is nearest to Pleyben, a small town in Brittany. No two days were the same on the farm and I soon got used to a different way of life. I got to practice a lot of French and had some interesting exchanges with those that couldn’t speak any English. A variety of things were produced depending on the season such as fruits, vegetables, goat’s cheese, bread, sheep’s wool and honey. There were also horses up for sale. The goats were important to the farm as they provided milk and cheese to be sold at the market. There were 14 goats altogether and they were milked twice a day; in the morning before breakfast and in the evening. These goats each had their own character and I quickly learned which ones were easy to milk and the cheeky ones who sometimes liked to kick the bucket of milk over, ruining all the hard work. Having said that, milking the goats was relatively easy in comparison to making the cheese, which is a very involved and long process. Another activity I really enjoyed was feeding the lambs that had been adopted from
another farm due to their mothers rejecting them. There were about 80 sheep on the farm and gosh, was it hard herding them. I’m talking about old school herding without a dog. Forming a human line to move the sheep inside, a stick was used to help. If the sheep broke away from the line, you just had to run after them and boy, can they run fast. Some of the sheep were sold every now and then for meat but interestingly, the food at the farm was vegetarian, making good use of all the fresh vegetables and fruit. I also got to explore quite a few places around Brittany on the market days and on my days off. I visited Châteaulin, Pont-Aven famous for Gauguin, Concarneau which had a walled town on an island off the harbour and Quimper, the capital of the Finnistère department of Brittany. One day I will particularly remember was when I, along with other workers and the family of the farm, went to the seaside. A rare occasion for the farm to be left without anyone, we made sure we were back in time to milk the goats and do the evening work. This was very surreal, having had a relaxing time on the beach just before. Overall I really enjoyed my time at the farm and if anyone is looking for a different way to spend their holidays then look no further—the organisation ‘WWOOF,’ has farming hosts in 99 countries across the world.
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|LIFESTYLE
The city that never sleeps...
REBECCA MCARDLE After spending a week in sunny New York City this summer, I have detailed my top five favourite experiences in the big apple: Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island: Appropriately starting with the Statue of Liberty, you’ll feel a sense of identification as you’re greeted by this breath-taking landmark. Immigrants were met by this icon of freedom as they arrived in America, with sometimes no more than the dream of a better life. A must-see on a trip to New York, I felt a sense of appreciation for not only the aesthetic and architectural excellence from the observation deck, but also the history of what the Statue of Liberty stands for thanks to the guided tour: both of which I recommend. Take a second ferry ride to nearby Ellis Island, the first port of entry for immigrants, and search the ‘Wall of Honor’ for your ancestors’ names.
Empire state building Photographed by Rebecca McArdle
Baseball Game: I’m not a zealous sports fan, but the atmosphere was so infectious that its almost impossible not to join in with the excitement bouncing around the stadium! The game was a really enjoyable watch (even if the Yankees did
lose…), but it was so much more than just a sports game. The spectators were so affable, with a family-friendly ambiance; the few ‘boos’ were merely ‘banter’ rather than distasteful; the celebrations hilariously exaggerated with a clamour of cheers and chants as fans shot out of their seats to standing ovations. The ‘seventh inning stretch’ YMCA dance was an amusing touch, too. Add in a foam finger, an impressive Mexican wave and a spectacular sunset sky for a really entertaining day out. 9/11 Memorial and Museum: No photo or words will give justice to the beauty of this memorial. Two pools lay in the foundations of what were the Twin Towers, with 30ft waterfalls flowing down the sides. The names of the 2,983 victims who lost their lives in the 1993 World Trade Center and 9/11 terrorist attacks are honoured in the engravings which surround the pools. The hustle and bustle of the city fades away as you listen to the peaceful sound of the cascading water and reflect. The Memorial Museum will hit your emotions hard with wreckage from the planes and buildings, personal items belonging to the victims, and photos of those who lost their lives all on display. Top of the Rock:
Beauty classics: student prices ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
Finding good quality make-up at a reasonable price can be a tricky task for students, not to mention the time spent wading through numerous make-up brands. However, the days of trying to pick between two seemingly identical lipsticks are over: THE SPARK has done the work for you. Whether it’s the classic red lip, luscious lashes or flawless skin, this quick guide will help you to perfect any look for a great price. Nothing looks better than good skin, and a quality primer and foundation are the answer to perfecting a natural, healthy glow. Although some prefer to use BB creams, foundation does
7pm - late
TRAVEL & BEAUTY
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
exactly the same job and usually lasts longer after application. Bourjois’ Happy Light Primer (£6.99) acts as a great base, filling in visible pores and leaving skin looking and feeling super soft. Matchmaster SPF Foundation by MAC (£28.00) works wonders! Yes it’s pricey, but this foundation will last well over a year. Not only can you choose from thirteen different shades, but it is also incredibly lightweight and provides flawless coverage. Splashing out on this is a much cheaper alternative than re-
purchasing your current cheaper foundation every few months. Unlike base make-up, finding powders on the high street is a much easier task, and Maybelline New York’s FIT me! Powder (£5.99) is the perfect choice. This powder is long lasting and holds foundation in place all day, without looking too obvious. Do not, however, use the puff included – it does not apply the powder properly. Invest in a good quality powder brush. These normally come as part of a set of reasonably priced make-up brushes, which can be found in any Boots or Superdrug store.
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I was able to view the New York City skyline from the top of both the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Tower, however for me the latter is the winner. Sure, the Empire State Building stands taller but I want to see the Empire State. 30 Rock has a much bigger observation deck than the Empire State, meaning a more relaxing atmosphere as you’re not cramped together. I suggest going about half an hour before sunset to watch the sun go down on the city and the sky turn from the most beautiful array of colours to complete blackness, with dotted lights stretching across the horizon. It’s a view you won’t forget.
and John Lennon’s memorial, Strawberry Fields, is ideal for relaxing to some acoustic music.
Central Park: If you fancy escaping the overpowering mass of grey buildings and the constant honking of horns, then head to Central Park. Stretching across the city at 843 acres, this is not your standard park. Not only is it beautifully preserved with picturesque views, but there’s plenty to do and see: from boat trips on the lake or a visit to the zoo to enjoying the scenery from the top of Belvedere Castle. There’s almost too much to do here when you’re in New York for a limited time. A horse-drawn carriage ride is a great way of seeing what the park has to offer,
Whether you’re looking for a sunkissed glow or want to perfect the English Rose, a good bronzer or blush is key to adding colour and definition to your face. Rimmel’s London Natural Bronzer (£5.59) is a great value bronzer, with no over-thetop shimmer, and Topshop’s Powder Blushes (£7.00), available in a range of colours, helps to finish off any make-up look. Mascara is a make-up must-have and Maybelline’s The Colossal Go Extreme Mascara (£6.99) is great for volume giving you thick, jet black lashes that will last all day. For a slighter
cheaper alternative, the brand’s Great Lash Mascara (£4.99) is an old favourite and will help to highlight your lashes, but with less impact. Not only can statement lips be perfected in minutes, but they are also super-easy to achieve. For a deep red that isn’t too bright, but still provides some wowfactor, try Rimmel London’s Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick (£5.49) in the shade 001. Never leave the house without lipgloss—ever! It brings out the lips’ natural tone. Unlike other brands, Natural Collection’s Juicy Lip Gloss (£1.99) in vanilla is not sticky and actually tastes nice. Plus it’s an absolute bargain! Make up Photographed byAbbie Weaving
LIFESTYLE | BEAUTY
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
Money-saving make-up hacks ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
Whether you’re a fan of the minimal look or dedicate hours to your beauty routine, there are some make-up hacks that every girl needs to know. So before you buy a new tube of mascara or throw away your old nail polish, take a look at these essential beauty tips and watch your makeup, and money, go further! Mascaras can be expensive, so before buying a new one, make sure it’s completely used up. A simple way of making your money go further is to blow dry the tube so that the remaining product melts off the sides and drizzles down to the bottom, giving you a few more applications! What’s more, the steep pricing of most mascaras isn’t in the actual product, but
in the brush. By keeping old mascara wands and only buying cheaper tubes you’ll instantly cut your make-up spending in half! An equally important tip is to remember to never refresh your mascara with water - bacteria can fester in the tube and can cause eye infections! While it is important to hang on to mascara wands, make sure to invest in good quality makeup brushes for eye shadow, foundation and contouring too. Though a good set of beauty tools can set you back £10 or more, you needn’t spend anything on cleaning them. Don’t be fooled into buying overpriced brush cleaner – simply mix some baby shampoo with warm water. Just remember to rest them over an edge afterwards for an even dry. Another way to make the most of your make-up is to give it an alternative use. Rather than
Review: Barry M A/W 2014 Nail Paints REBECCA MCARDLE So it’s fairly safe to say summer has come and gone, and wow, what a lovely day that was! I’m finding I’m already yearning for my jumpers and boots, so with that it’s time to step away from the bright nail polishes I’ve been using to fool myself into believing it’s still summer. As depressing the thought of the cold, dreary autumn days ahead is, it doesn’t mean our nails need to match. Barry M have added six new Autumn/Winter shades to their Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint collection, consisting of warm hues that are reminiscent of the yellow, red and green tones scattered on the grounds in the midst of autumn. With shades named Paprika, Cardamon, Mustard, Chilli, Chai and Cocoa, it’s obvious Barry M were attempting and were successful in bringing some warmth into this season. This autumnal set will be the only nail paints you need for the
next few months. All the colours are perfect for daytime wear, however in my opinion Mustard and Chilli work best for the dayto-night transition with a greater vibrancy in comparison to the remaining earthy shades. The much-loved Gelly formula makes for a smooth application with only one coat needed if applied well. The Hi-Shine appearance diminishes the need for a clear top coat to finish, however this would still be recommended to prolong the wear. I find it lasts about a week chip-free – and at £3.99 a bottle with a high-quality, slick finish, who could argue with that?
clearing out your bright eye shadows, turn them into nail varnish. Just mix your chosen colour with some clear polish for a brand new, and free, bottle of nail varnish! Not only can you create your own nail varnishes, but you can also revitalise your old ones. Adding a swig of nail polish remover to discoloured varnishes will instantly refresh them, and will save you from dipping into that precious student loan! With cold weather closing in, there’s an easier way to keep chapped lips at bay. Cracked and flakey skin can be removed with a dry toothbrush, which works as a great exfoliator! Just remember to moisturise your lips afterwards to give your skin some muchneeded hydration. Cold and wet weather not only damages your skin, but also encourages your make-up to run
and lose its hold. To stop lipstick from smearing, place a tissue over your mouth and lightly dab some translucent powder over the top. The powder will help to set the lipstick, giving you peace of mind and lasting colour.
Serums We all know a good moisturiser is essential to any beauty routine, but serums are fast joining the ranks of beauty staple. Packed full of highly concentrated key ingredients in a fast absorbing formula, think of it as a skincare
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Serves 2-3 30-40 minutes cooking time Costs £2.50 per person Calories per person: approx. 624 (506 with light coconut milk) A thumb sized piece of ginger 3 garlic cloves Dried shrimp or anchovy paste, sold in supermarkets Juice of one lime 1 tsp dried turmeric 1 fresh medium chilli ½ pack of fresh coriander 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp lemongrass paste or freshly chopped lemongrass Vegetable oil
With the summer drawing to a close and the cold weather on its way, it’s time to make a few changes to our beauty routines to ensure we’re protecting our skin against the cold weather, wind and harsh indoor heating. Here are a few products to easily update your regime for the winter months. Hand Cream Caring for our hands is rarely more than an afterthought for most of us, but the skin on our hands is a lot thinner than on the rest of the body. Our hands also have fewer oil glands, making them more prone to irritating cracking and dry patches, particularly in cold weather. It’s easy to forget but a rich medicinal hand cream such as the Rituals’ “Ginkgo’s Secret” Balm can keep hands soft and supple.
With a population of nearly 30m, Malaysia is home to a number of different ethnic groups including the Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian. This diversity has had a huge impact on Malaysian cuisine. Like many Asian countries, staple ingredients include chillies, coconut (milk and flesh), palm sugar, a pungent paste made from shrimp and of course rice. The national dish is considered to be Nasi Lemak; a dish made of rice and Nasi which is cooked in coconut milk and seasoned with chillies and Pendang leaf, a bit like an Asian bay leaf. Other popular dishes include Satay and Rendang, a spicy curry often made with beef. The origins of this tangy, nutty marinade for meat are disputed but it is commonplace in Malaysia. This recipe for Laksa is a classic noodle soup and could be something you make to impress your housemates. Make it with chicken, prawns, beef and any veg you like.
For the paste:
ISABELLE FLYNN
shot where ordinary moisturiser would be a pint of cider. Soap & Glory’s “Make Yourself Youthful Serum” smells amazing whilst it heals and softens damaged skin like a dream. Masks Cold wind and indoor heating can wreak havoc on even the most balanced skins. It can be tempting to reach for harsh exfoliates to deal with rough dry patches but the abrasive formulas often do more harm than good. Lush’s Oatifix Mask is full of nourishing ingredients to treat your skin while oats and ground nuts gently buff away dead skin. Alternatively make your own by blending ripe banana, yoghurt, oats and a little honey together,
|LIFESTYLE
Malaysian Cuisine The Edinburgh Fringe Festival LYDIA ENGLAND
Cold weather skin care
TRAVEL & FOOD
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
For the rest of the soup:
A tin of coconut milk Chicken stock cube ½ pack of fresh coriander 50g desiccated coconut 50g portion of noodles per person 1 onion 1 spring onion, ½ a pack of sugar snap peas, ½ a pack of fresh bean sprouts 2 chicken breast
ALEC WOOLFORD Deputy Editor
1. Make the paste by mincing the ginger and garlic with a grater. Then add the rest of the ingredients into a small blender or food processor, or if you’re feeling brave, a pestle and mortar. Once the paste is made, bring it together with a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil. 2. Finely slice the onion and cook until soft. Add the chopped chicken and the paste and cook for a couple of minutes. 3. Add the chicken stock cube and 200ml water and bring together. If using normal coconut milk, you can add this now. If using low fat, it is best added towards the end. 4. Add the desiccated coconut, noodles and any veg you are using. Try to cut the veg into similar sized pieces so they cook evenly. Simmer until these are cooked. 5. Now would be the time to add any low fat coconut milk, bring together over a low heat but do not let it bubble or the milk will split. 6.Serve in big bowls with plenty of chopped coriander on top and some fresh lime wedges. Some serve it with pickled ginger.
For three weeks in August, Edinburgh is the best place to be in the world. Every year, Edinburgh hosts a record breaking arts festival, with over 3000 acts coming from all over the globe to take part. The Fringe Festival has been going on since the 1940s when, in response to the more exclusive International Festival, a group of comedians decided to host their own plays and comedy shows in the back rooms of pubs across the city. What evolved is something that has eclipsed the International Festival and attracts millions of people, breaking records year on year. The most striking thing about the Fringe is the scale of it. You cannot walk anywhere in the city without passing an act trying to sell their show. In Bristo Square, just outside what is usually the Edinburgh University Students union - is a huge, upside purple cow. The Underbelly is part of the “big four”, which also includes Pleasance Venues, Assembly Venues and the Gilded Balloon. These four venues host the biggest names in comedy as well as a variety of smaller acts. For big names like Dara O’Brien, Mark Watson or Eddie Izzard you might need to book tickets in advance but many acts you can just book on the day. One of the best things about Edinburgh is that you can see big name acts in small venues at very cheap prices, usually for around £10-£15. Just the Tonic and other venues also have a huge selection of free shows, which is ideal if you’re on a tight budget. If you’re looking for more polished, professional theatre, Summerhall and Traverse have a fantastic array of international companies staging
decanting into a pot and storing in the fridge for up to ten days. Hair Oils It’s not just skin that suffers in the cold weather. Dry ends and flaky scalps can have us reaching for our woolly hats but with more oils and serums catering for hair hitting the shelves, the problem is easily solved. A few pumps of John Frieda’s Miraculous Recovery Crème Serum run through damp hair before blow drying and styling will keep hair looking soft, shiny and healthy in the face of the weather.
their shows there. Many go on to tour the country, so this is an ideal opportunity to see talented companies when they’re just starting out. Though it is tempting to see as many shows as you can, don’t exhaust yourself. Make sure you take time to explore the city. Edinburgh is steeped in history; its Old Town and New Town are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites and their famous castle dates back to the 12th Century. For the duration of the festival, every night the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held, and at around 9:30 you get a spectacular (and free) fireworks show. If you can stomach the climb, Arthur’s Seat provides a beautiful view over the city and out to Musselburgh Bay. Even better, incorporate it with Hive til Five (an infamously cheap club in Edinburgh) and climb up to see the sun rise over the water. The Fringe festival can be done on any kind of budget, but if you’re a cashstrapped student I’d advise taking the train up (you can get a return for as cheap as £50 if you book far enough in advance), staying in a hostel (Budget Backpackers at Cowgate offers rooms for upwards of £50 per week) and seeing as many free shows as you can. My last tip for the Edinburgh Fringe is be prepared. It will rain. You will get cold. You will get wet. Don’t let “summer” fool you; it doesn’t exist in Scotland. Having strong shoes and strong umbrella(s) is a must in this city. Out of the month I was there, it rained almost every day, sometimes all day, sometimes just for ten minutes. But don’t let that get you down - there are plenty of pubs, theatres and castles willing to offer you shelter!
Edinburgh Photographed by Alec Woolford
Edinburgh Photographed by Alec Woolford
Laksa Photographed by Lydia England
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LIFESTYLE|HEALTH
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
How to beat that Freshers’ hangover
LORENZO PAGANO Freshers’ flu is real. There are no two ways around it—religiously necking snakebites on a nightly basis is going to screw with your immune system. Nothing is as bad as being humbly defeated by the Friday night you’re clinging desperately to your mug of Lemsip like a newborn while you’re stuck watching Jools Holland. I actually knew a guy who threw up 26 times during the Freshers’ fortnight. Sure, foresight wasn’t his strong point—he’d wander into halls at about 11 in the morning still drunk, guzzle half a strongbow, vomit, and then take on the other half before passing out, ready to resume the fight a few hours later. Only the gifted among us are built to last like that, so here are some tips on how to stay fresh and not get ill/make your mum even more sad. 1| Eat olive oil (or other fatty foods). There’s nothing better than olive
oil for preventing a nightmare hangover. Whether you splash it on a frozen pizza before predrinking, or soak a 3am bowl of pasta before calling it a night, it’s going to work wonders. Fat slows the absorption of alcohol and reduces the formation of acetaldehyde in the stomach (the substance that causes hangovers). Other fatty foods will suffice, but olive oil is the holy grail of hangover prevention. 2 | Milk was a good choice. While Ron Burgundy might not agree, drinking a tall glass of milk around half an hour before entering the ring of fire is probably a good idea. While the science regarding this one is dubious at best, milk is said to line the stomach and limit the volume of alcohol that gets absorbed into your bloodstream. If nothing else, it’s a great source of Vitamin B (which is essential for your immune system), so you might as well drink it anyways. 3 | Try and stick to one type of alcohol. Although £1.50 Jagerbombs may
Having recently graduated the University, I know all too well that university life hasn’t been a strictly academic pursuit. It has instead been a journey with an end goal in sight, involving a variety of highs and lows along the way. Whether they are barriers to meeting new people or sporting successes. A degree does not just test our intellectual capability, but also tests how we juggle the many challenges and joys of life itself. It is clear that our wellbeing is extremely important when understanding university life. Wellbeing impacts the extent we perform academically and vice versa. It is a crucial factor to understand for those who teach, manage, and serve Readings’ student body. The financial
context students find themselves in is a significant example. Does the cost of a university education affect your expectations of that education or your approach to your studies? Does the prospect of debt cause you concern and increase your anxiety about employability? It is important for the University to understand how these and other matters contribute to wellbeing and how this in turn might affect our academic outcomes. The Department of Economics has set up the Student Wellbeing Project to understand matters just like this. It seeks to discover what the drives student success by measuring each student’s wellbeing such as health, financial and social areas. The purpose of this project is to work on the feedback provided to improve the wellbeing of current students and the future students to come.
|LIFESTYLE
sound like the best idea when you are out, you’ll be filled with regret when your throat has been replaced with sandpaper the next morning. 4 | Remember to drink lots of water. Seriously, this is essential. There’s no shame in having several glasses of water throughout the evening when it’ll stop you from feeling like death. Sure, you’ll get that one idiot housemate who’ll berate you for it before commencing a vodka train, but when you discover him curled up in a puddle of self-loathing in the downstairs bathroom the next morning, you’ll know you made the right choice.
NIKI IGBAROOLA Located quite conveniently at the Riverside of our very own Oracle, this restaurant has all the ambience of a high-end restaurant without the exorbitant prices. The Brasserie alters its menu according to seasons and as such, it is impossible to give a concrete review. However, having dined there on three separate occasions, I can confirm that your dining experience will be superb.
Take note, pace yourself, and your experience will likely be better for it. Or maybe you should ignore everything everyone tells you, throw the advice out the window and just do whatever the hell you like. That really is what Freshers’ is all about, anyway.
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The food is always excellent from starter to dessert, the wine selection is broad with even the lower priced bottles providing excellent accompaniment to your meal and most importantly the staff are exceptional: friendly, efficient and very knowledgeable. My advice to any seafood lover is to look out for their mussels, served in the winter. This was the first main I had the pleasure of enjoying at this establishment and I have nothing but praises for it. Served in a
creamy garlic sauce with fries which can easily be substituted for bread, the mussels are cooked to perfection and very heartily portioned. It is a wonderful upgrade on the standard comfort meals which student budgets allow for and is definitely a treat worth going for. Côte Brasserie has set menus for under £10 allowing you to enjoy two courses of your choosing for a student budget with the ambience of a great date.
from Aldi as it is super tasty and less than £2.
5 minutes.
15-Minute Meal LYDIA ENGLAND
1.
Finely slice the onion and chop or grate the garlic.
CHORIZO & BUTTERBEAN STEW 2. WITH COUSCOUS
It is for this reason we need you! Why wait until end of your undergraduate degree to tell the university how it has been, when you could be telling them throughout your time in Reading? The Student Wellbeing Project is looking for undergraduate students from all years to fill in a very short questionnaire, once a term, to understand student wellbeing. It consists of mainly tick box answers and will take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete. The questionnaire is completely anonymous, and your input could help shape University policy, addressing areas that are dear to students wellbeing. To fill in the short survey, please log onto RISIS Web Portal where you can find a link! For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me at m.l.james@reading.ac.uk.
Côte Brasserie Interior of Côte Brasserie, Reading
Côte Brasserie
The Student Wellbeing Project MAXIMILIAN JAMES
FOOD
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
Serves 4 Cost per portion: 99p Calories per portion: approx. 452
1 onion 2 gloves of garlic A handful of mushrooms 1 tin of butter beans (kidney beans or chickpeas would work well too) 1 chorizo ring 1 red pepper 1 tin of chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs 1 tbsp paprika Pinch of salt and pepper 60g cous cous per person Boiling water 1 tbsp olive oil
Knight Drawn by Nathalie Siah
This one-pot wonder, or a variation on it, has been a staple in my house for years. It’s quick, cheap and being high in protein, it is pretty nutritious too. We always have the ingredients for it in the house and it’s a great way to use up any veg that may be going a bit soggy at the bottom of the fridge. I often get my chorizo
Heat up the oil in a deep frying pan or a wok. Add the onion and garlic and soften for a few minutes. Add a pinch of salt to stop the onions from browning too quickly.
3.
While these are softening, slice the mushrooms and red pepper and chop big chunks of the chorizo and add these to the pan. Cook for a few minutes until the chorizo has started to release some of its oil. This would be the time to chop up any extra veg like carrots or sweet potato into small pieces and add them too.
6.
Put the cous cous in a bowl with a pinch of salt and pour over the water to cover it, then a little more. Cover this with a plate or some cling film and leave for 5 minutes while the stew simmers.
7.
Season the stew with some salt and pepper and even pop in some fresh herbs like parsley or basil if you have any. Serve with the cous cous and some green veg on the side.
Café Yolk LYDIA ENGLAND You’re feeling a little worse for wear after last night. You desperately need the comfort of a good old fashioned fry-up. The single tin of baked beans in your cupboard leaves a lot to be desired. One word comes to mind: Yolk. As many of you may be in this situation during Freshers’ Week, it would be rude not to review Reading’s prime hangover hangout! Café Yolk has only been up and running for a little over 18 months but it didn’t take long for it to become the most talked about joint in the student area. What started out as only 5 or 6 tables, Yolk now has quite a bit of sheltered, outdoor seating making it the perfect place to visit during Freshers’ before the British summer well and truly disappears. This small café serves a mix of classic British breakfasts from a full English, omelettes and scrambled eggs to American favourites like hot dogs, pancakes and waffles. Big portions of breakfast are served all day but they have plenty of other, more substantial items such burgers (including pulled pork), sandwiches, toasties and even
chips doused in chilli con carne and jalapeños. They have an extensive drinks menu including smoothies, milkshakes and coffees. Drinks are also available to go, making Café Yolk the ideal stop-off on the way to lectures if you live in the Erleigh road area. I’ve been to Café Yolk a number of times and have always enjoyed my time there. The menu has something for everyone and the service is always pleasant. There’s a buzzing atmosphere due to the fact that it is always so busy, which brings me to the downside of Café Yolk. Given that it is one of the only places to eat within walking distance of student housing, the café tends to get packed, slowing service down quite a bit due to their small kitchen. Many a time have I failed to get a table. However, they do have a takeaway breakfast menu including my favourite, a whole Cumberland sausage twirl bap, but when the café is busy even this can take a while. My best advice is to drag yourself out of bed (it will be there when you get back) and get there early, unless you want to console yourself with a trip to Co-op before heading back home miserable and unsatisfied. Café Yolk is open 8am (9am on Sundays) - 4pm
4.
Next boil a kettle full of water.
5.
Add the mixed herbs and paprika along with the chopped tomatoes. Drain the beans from the tin and add these too. Stir thoroughly and simmer gently for
15 min meal Photographed by Lydia England
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Cafe Yolk Courtesy of the owners of Cafe Yolk
TV & FILM
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
LATEST RELEASE-P25 Liam Neeson returns as bad-ass criminal hunter in A Walk Among The Tombstones, but is that enough to make a hit?
ARTSY INTERN-P31 A department email threw undergraduate student into Reading’s art world this summer and you could get published from it.
SEPTEMBER’S SIGNS-P33 Are the stars on your side this month. Be in the know with The Spark’s horoscopes.
GLOBE ON SCREEN-P30 A Midsummer Night’s Dream has dazzled on the big screen. Even the uninterested take to Shakespearian slang.
ENTERTAINMENT Film Review: What If THOMAS FLEW
DIRECTOR | Michael Dowse CAST | Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe
Kazan, Megan Park
RUNNING TIME | 98 minutes GENRE | Romantic Comedy While When Harry Met Sally debated the general hypothesis that men and women simply can’t be ‘just friends’ – an argument which still rages with relentless fervour despite the film celebrating its 25th birthday last month – What If’s focus is more specific. With the lead couple Wallace and Chantry, there’s really no doubt about their true feelings ; instead, the film focuses on the pair trying to ‘do the right thing’ in deciding whether their feelings should be mutually acknowledged, or suffocated and hidden. Daniel Radcliffe, taking yet another step away from his heritage as the star wizard, plays Wallace, a med-school dropout with a soul-destroying job and a cynical outlook. Living in his sister’s attic and having just about recovered from the breakdown of his latest relationship, Wallce meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) at a mutual acquaintance’s party and they immediately click. Chantry’s sense of humour matches Wallace’s, but her prospects look altogether better; while Wallace slaves away at his dreary desk, Chantry works her dream job at
an animation studio. Of course, there’s got to be a hitch of some kind for anything interesting to happen and so the inevitable problem arises – Chantry’s got a boyfriend. Not just any boyfriend, but a serious, long-term and very likeable boyfriend named Ben (Rafe Spall). Although she’s too afraid to admit her feelings for Wallace – neither to herself nor anyone else - Chantry has to walk the awkward tightrope between two very viable possibilities in the newcomer Wallace and her boyfriend of five years. For Wallace, things are perhaps not as complex. He may face the same dilemma of not being able to freely air his feelings, but his only problem is deciding whether to keep a steady and pleasant friendship, or to risk it for the chance of a relationship with the girl he’s blatantly fallen for. Director Michael Dowse (It’s All Gone Pete Tong, Goon) needed, above all else, two strong, affable and compatible leads. Fortunately he found them in Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan. It’s clear that the pair got on well both on-screen and off, and their improvised back-andforths are entertainingly sharp and funny. Their characters might have the quirky traits that usually make you dread them speaking (they meet while making poems with fridge magnets at a party), and this dialogue does test the patience when it goes on for too long; but it is used relatively sparingly and helps to highlight the pair’s chemistry, rather than
A Most Wanted Man
What if Courtesy of eOne Entertainment
SCREENPLAY | Andrew Bovell CAST | Phillip Seymour Hoffman,
Willem Defoe, Robin Wright, Rachel McAdams,Grigoriy Dobryin
RUNNING TIME | 121 minutes
Stevens, David Harbour
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interesting city settings (Toronto and Dublin), making it clear that Dowse is an actor’s director rather than a visual connoisseur. The only aesthetic flourishes incorporated are neatly worked cartoon segments relating to Chantry’s line of work, which help express Chantry’s unsaid emotions in a charming and wellworked manner. Is it sensible to live in denial of your true feelings? This is the question posed by What If and the answer may lie in the film itself. Combining a well-written script with actors who are more than up to the job, What If helps reinvigorate the rom-com genre which has recently fallen into depressingly hum-drum territory.
A most wanted man Courtesy of eOne Entertainment
Hoffman’s ability to meld into the dredges of government office. As a lead in this movie, Hoffman is wonderful in maintaining a strong screen presence without overshadowing his fellow cast members. Hoffman’s character is epitomised by his wry humour and strong desire to be in control, qualities which enhance
the overall viewing experience through a clear portrayal. Despite the initial reservations brought on by the movie’s slow start, it soon became clear that this narrative is rooted in details. Important information is relayed through such brilliant subtlety, that one needs to intently focus on each scene so as to not miss
the intricate links being pieced together for the climactic ending. This is not to mean that the plot is wholly severe, but rather one interspersed with spectacular moments of humour. The performances given by the majority of the cast were also outstanding. One particularly memorable performance being that of Willem Dafoe, who took on the role of a banker of sorts who was drawn unwillingly into a terrorist apprehension scheme. Unfortunately Rachel McAdams was somewhat disappointing in her portrayal of Annabel Richter. There were moments when she slipped out of character and she was unable to maintain a convincing accent through the movie, which distracted audience members from the plot. Although A Most Wanted Man has its faults, this is a 2014 release which I encourage many to view. It is a brilliant piece of cinematography and a wonderful transition from novel to film.
1. Sex Tape 2. Lucy 3. Before I Go to Sleep 4. The Hundred-foot Journey 5. Guardians of the Galaxy 6. Let's Be Cops 7. The Inbetweeners 2 8. The Guest 9. If I Stay 2 Days, 1 Night 10. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
11. How to Train Your Dragon 2
12. Sin Ciy 2: A Dame to Kill For
13. As Above, So Below 14. Into the Storm 15. Planes 2
Upcoming Film Review:A Walk Among the Tombstones DIRECTOR | Scott Frank CAST | Liam Neeson, Dan
Ben – in fact, he is the weakest in an otherwise uniformly strong cast – but his character delineates the difference between What If and the archetypal rom-com. In any less inspired film, Ben would be a bad guy; he’d treat Chantry poorly but she’d feel some sense of loyalty to him. This would lead Wallace to become the hero, relinquishing Chantry from his grasp and saving the day. However, by allowing the audience to empathise with Ben, the filmmakers allow us to see every side of a complex situation. What If needed this added dimension to go beyond its otherwise familiar plot. Stylistically the filmmakers fail to take advantage of the
CHART
DIRECTOR | Anton Corbijn
MATTHEW CROWE
drown the film in a sea of madcap anecdotes and obscure in-jokes. Disregarding many modern and ‘disposable’ rom-coms, Radcliffe heralded What If for its ability to ‘stay with people’ for longer than the average genre fare. Whether or not this is truly the case will have to be seen (let’s come back in 25 years and find out), but it certainly has the quality and sincerity to be regarded as a success. Despite the undeniable importance of the lead couple, I would argue that Chantry’s boyfriend is the key to the realismthat makes this film more endearing and thoughtful than it would otherwise be. Rafe Spall may not deliver an outstanding performance as
UK BOX OFFICE
NIKI IGBAROOLA
One sign of a great movie is the ability to upend every expectation its audience has up until the very last minute and Anton Corbijn’s latest effort, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, succeeds in achieving this feat. A Most Wanted Man, based on John le Carre’s bestselling novel set predominantly in Hamburg, follows a German government still on high alert for terrorist activity ten years after the 9/11 attacks. The audience is drawn into the intricate workings of the government system and has the privilege of experiencing
|ENTERTAINMENT
RUNNING TIME | 113 minutes GENRE | Crime, Thriller, Drama We head further into the ‘Liam Neeson: The Charles Bronson’ years with the second movie of 2014 (after Non-Stop) to capitalise on his worn out/badass persona. While the comparisons to Taken may be obvious and lazy, A Walk Among the Tombstones, an adaptation of Lawrence Block’s crime novel, opposes that movie to a certain extent, placing more emphasis on investigation than gunplay; A Walk Among The Tombstones is less personal and more procedural. It is still a man’s world in the drug and murder business. Women with agency are rare and
relegated to minor characters, the rest are victims, crying or ill. In this world we are introduced to Matthew Scudder (Liam Neeson), an unlicensed PI from the Irish end of New York with a horrible past that left him as an aimless member of AA. In his willingness to take on any job, Matthew meets drug dealer Kenny (Dan Stevens) who wants justice for his kidnapped and murdered wife. As he digs deeper into a series of murders, Scudders gains help from homeless teenager TJ (Brian Bradley) and attempts to be rehabilitated from both his actions and vices. Writer/Director Scott Frank has had much experience with the crime genre, adapting two great Elmore Leonard novels for the movies in Out of Sight and Get Shorty. That experience shows here, as he is able to portray a dark, depraved version of New York whilst incorporating character appropriate humour that stops A Walk Among The Tombstones from being a slog. The cinematography by Mihai
Mălaimare, Jr. (of The Master) and Art Direction by Jonathan Arkin get a surprising amount of grit from a movie so heavy on teal and yellow (with flashes of red), which is further helped by a great discordant score by Carlos Rafael Rivera. In its tone and themes of justice and self-demons, A Walk Among The Tombstones shares similarities with Prisoners, released around the same time last year, particularly in the mix of police procedural and more sensationalist crime thrillers. However Prisoners descends into being pulp felt controlled and deliberate, whereas A Walk Among The Tombstones has problems with a tonal inconsistency. The movie veers from funny to serious, to absurd, in a matter of minutes, one scene in particular features a Scorseselike slow-motion sequence that feels very out of place. Much of that is caused by villains who feel less like fully realised characters and more like a series character traits, despite being present from
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the outset. Other characters that don’t seem to fare well from the script include the implausible kid sidekick TJ, who despite played competently by Brian Bradley and having an arc that feels nonsuperfluous (and fully realised), helps to bog down the middle period of the film. As a result of unmemorable villains and side characters, A Walk Among The Tombstones remains Liam Neeson’s show. The gruff hero archetype that Neeson has maintained since Taken is compared to characters like Philip Marlowe here. A Walk Among The Tombstones references much literature, from Chandler to Nabokov, but on occasion it feels less thematically resonant and more ‘Look I’ve read these’. Whilst not hitting that level of iconography, Matthew Scudder is still an interesting character and his bogged down, gruff yet still humorous character traits fit perfectly into Liam Neeson’s niche, even if the actor doesn’t quite hit a convincing New York accent.
A key issue with Scudder’s character in this film is his own enigma. The movie’s prologue intentionally misses a key piece of information which ends up being detrimental to Scudder’s arc. When the audience finds out Scudder’s central reason for him quitting the NYPD (no spoilers), it is played as a reveal. But presenting it at the prologue would have made character motivation much stronger; the movie gains nothing from hiding this information, if this isn’t a mystery to be solved why make it one? A Walk Among Tombstones may not feature any huge revelations or particularly interesting villains but individual scenes are still very effective, particularly towards the finale. If nothing else, it still works as a good vehicle for Liam Neeson, who manages to find a consistent character in a somewhat inconsistent film.
ENTERTAINMENT|ARTS & BOOKS
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
A Review of: Unknown Unknowns LAURA ARMSTRONG I was given the opportunity to review a new e-book, Unknown Unknowns. As the first thriller by Adam Bromley, award-winning producer of TV and radio comedy, it is pretty fast-paced! The story follows Kat Foster, a feisty British junior diplomat, who is offered a chance to salvage her career (after punching a VIP into a mound of profiteroles – yes, really!). Miss Foster’s mission demands that she travel to an unknown country, one that even Wikipedia can’t help with, to debrief a prisoner claiming to have information regarding the top secret project Pandora. As Kat sets out on her mission it would appear, unbeknown to her, that not everything is as simple as it seems. The U.S. agent who deployed her seems to know more than he lets on and her employer also finds himself involved. As if this wasn’t enough, the plot is thickened once more by the involvement of Russian militants
who will stop at nothing to get to the prisoner. The book moves quickly but is still easy to read, constantly changing between well thought out and detailed characters. Although, at points, the characters may seem a little unrealistic in their reactions to things, Bromley has a beautiful way of intricately lacing the story with (sometimes dark) humour which brings the characters to life. To me, it seems quite unusual to have a female at the centre of such dangerous and secretive work, especially written by a male author, but it worked. The only thing holding the book back was that, as a reader, I longed to know more about the characters’ backgrounds; the author merely hints at and briefly touches upon seemingly intriguing back stories with every character. Yet it must be said that the characters work wonderfully for the genre and both their interactions and relationships come across well. Speaking of the genre, I would be reluctant to call the book a thriller reason being that the thrill
wasn’t what personally made me enjoy the book, Unknown Unknowns is more of an action story – gritty, adrenalinefuelled and full of twists. I would recommend the book as a great quick read; it’s not overlycomplex, not too deep and flows very well. With it being an e-book, I took pleasure in its accessibility on my mobile phone; it was very easy to pick back up at various points. If I had any warnings to give (and I’m trying to avoid spoilers!) one would be that readers will be left with
early modern playwrights and have even expanded to modern creations!) 2. The showing was part of the Globe on Screen initiative, where productions in the Globe are filmed and screened nationwide in cinemas. The project seeks to provide access to people who are unwilling or unable, to see the live Shakespeare productions for a variety of reasons and has proved very popular. 3. I absolutely loved it (and so did my partner!)
laughter, it truly had everything. The staging doesn’t come across as well on screen as it does on stage, but it is still highly impressive and wonderfully enchanting. The stage is transformed into a forest of both utopian pleasure and earnestly threatening danger. You don't quite believe that trees are there, but it isn't too far a push. Similarly the makeup is absolutely excellent. The non-human characters are transformed completely and Bottom's transfiguration into an ass is carried off in a way that can only be called impressive. The acting is also superb. Particular praise must be given to the Rude Mechanicals, who practically clawed their way out of the screen, but the other cast members were excellent as well. Both Oberon and Titania were hugely engaging, dominating the stage each time they appeared and demanding the complete attention of the audience. Even the humans, usually the low point of most productions, were entirely
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
Internship in the Arts
LILY BROWN
questions unanswered and wishing for further explanation. But then it is a book titled Unknown Unknowns, so you have to take this as its charm. Overall Bromley has created an inventive, compelling and
action-packed drama that many thriller/action lovers will enjoy. I could definitely see this kind of story on the big screen, so if that’s something which takes your fancy – give it a go, it won’t take you long.
enjoyable - their accidental love games transformed from tedious to actively hilarious. The highest praise I can give this production however, is that it was accessible enough to entice even those with little interest in Shakespeare. My partner isn't as keen on Shakespeare as I am, the perils of not studying English Literature, but even he was fully drawn into the world of the production. I glanced over several times to find, to my surprised delight, that he was absolutely enraptured by the action on screen. Furthermore, upon later probing, he admitted to not only understanding every word but also finding most of them
uproariously funny! The production did have its faults however, the actor playing Puck can best be described as weak next to the rest of the cast and several details surrounding nuance and make-up didn't transfer as well to screen. But the performance is otherwise so delightful, that you'll end up overlooking them. Stunningly produced, wonderfully acted and truly gripping - this production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is definitely worth checking out.
As my final year as an undergraduate student at the University of Reading came to an end, I had a long summer stretching ahead of me before starting my masters and I wondered how to spend it. The solution presented itself in the form of an email from the English Department, advertising a range of internships in the cultural sector. I applied for and was offered an interview with jelly, an arts organisation in Reading’s town centre. My interview was with the organisation’s founder, Suzanne Stallard, whose enthusiasm for the arts was infectious. I was delighted upon being offered the internship and a chance to become involved with the art community in Reading. jelly offers a number of different
workshops in their studios, located at 42 Market Place, including yoga, life drawing classes and a knitting group. I was immediately thrown in at the deep end. During my first morning at jelly, I was sent to Reading College to promote jelly’s Open For Art weekend festival on the community radio station Blast 1368. The festival itself was an incredible experience, featuring all manner of artists and performers showcasing their work and talents. I was predominantly stationed at the Artist’s HQ, a shop space in the Oracle where members of different arts organisations from Reading and the surrounding areas could gather to promote themselves to the public and share ideas. I also took part in a walking tour of Reading led by a local actor. I think I learnt more about the history of the town during the walk than I had in the past three
years of living here! Once the excitement of the festival had died down, it was time to focus on my own project. With a starting point of encouraging young people in Reading to join in with the arts, and some guidance from Suzanne, I decided to establish a writing group for young people aged 16-25. The writing group takes place at jelly every Wednesday 4:30-6:30pm and is free to join and be a member of, making it convenient for students to attend as part of the Reading community. The long term goal for the group is to produce an anthology of pieces written by members, including short stories and poems. Weekly meetings will see the group focus on a range of different themes such as inspirational authors, and classic authors who have made an impact on the way literature is written today. If you have any queries about the jelly writing
A Midsummer Nights Dream SIOBHAN WHITEBREAD There are several things to establish before delving into this review of A Midsummer Night's Dream: 1. The play was originally shown at Shakespeare's Globe in London. A faithful reproduction of an Elizabethan-style outdoor theatre, largely dedicated to showcasing the works of Shakespeare (though they do, of course, also have a wide range of offerings from other A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's earlier plays. Set in a heavily fictionalized version of ancient Athens, so please do not use it as a source if you're doing Classics, it follows the love troubles between a set of four nobles. Thwarted by society and bedazzled by desire, they flee into the woods. And then the fairies get involved... A Midsummer Night's Dream
has, perhaps unfairly, a reputation as one of Shakespeare's 'meh' plays - the general opinion runs that while it's still good - A Midsummer Night’s Dream is generally a bit less polished than most of Shakespeare’s other work. I only mention this opinion because this production is what cured me of it. Lavishly staged, excellently acted and capable of reducing even a previously uninitiated one to hysterical
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ARTS & BOOKS
After all, it's capable of converting even the uninitiated. What could be better than that?
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|ENTERTAINMENT
group, or simply want to know Alternatively you can join the jelly more, get in touch at writers@ Facebook group or follow them on jelly.org.uk Twitter via @thejellyreading During my time at jelly I have been part of a number of projects, including the formation of a new cultural strategy for Reading; seeing how hard artists and art groups in Reading work to make art accessible to everyone has been inspiring. I met so many people with amazing artistic talent and ideas in the course of my internship, it was a brilliant way to spend the summer. I also had the opportunity to watch and review some of the fantastic productions put on by theatre companies in Reading. There are a myriad of ways to get in touch with jelly and find out more about the great work that they do. The studios are currently based at 42 Market Place in the town centre, while information and blogs about jelly’s projects can be found on their website www.jelly.org.uk.
ENTERTAINMENT | WATTSUP?
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
and avoided social interaction at all costs. If the flatmates were just chatting and she happened to pass by, she'd avoid eye contact and walk through as fast as she could. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: I had a roommate put her cooked food on kitchen table and eat them bit by bit when she came out of her room. TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: I'm grateful that most of my roommates are normal...wait, most, did I just say? Ollie W., 2nd year Law: That one guy who ran naked around the Wantage quad…on the first night.
What’s the most shameful thing you brought with you from home? Juliette, 3rd year Classical Studies: My lifesize cardboard cut out of Amy Pond. Harry, 2nd year Law: Sex toy. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: My bunny. Stef, 2nd year Zoology: Can't think of any. But I could walk on the street in cat ears. My shameful standard is probably too low. TJ H., 2nd year Law: None. Meh. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: A sense of impending isolation…fortunately unjustified!
Write a haiku (syllable structure of 5-7-5) for freshers everywhere. You can be as gentle or ruthless as you like. Juliette, 3rd year Classical Studies: Go easy on the snakebites, they're cheap, but they are not always cheerful. Harry, 2nd year Law: Please drink alcohol, Remember, drink alcohol, F*ck yeah, alcohol Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Um....I can't write haikus, sorry. Stef, 2nd year Zoology: ...I have two 2500 words reports man. Will write you something later. TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: No worries for now, You just need 40%! You are worrying now.
Tell the truth, is your room actually ‘clean’? Juliette, 3rd year Classical Studies: Yes, but only because I haven't been living in it for long. Harry, 2nd year Law: Squeaky. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Clean is my standard. Stef, 2nd year Zoology: Currently yes, and I decide to keep it this way. TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: Yes, definitely. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: It was the previous tenants’ fault…honest!
3.
Fresher’s week—a glorious revolutionary state of fun or more time spent on reddit? Juliette, 3rd year Classical Studies: I prefer Buzzfeed to reddit personally. Harry, 2nd year Law: The former. Drunken haze, can barely remember it. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Reddit…or 9gag…or Youtube… TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: Glorious revolutionary state of fun of course! Ollie W., 2nd year Law: A glorious revolutionary state of perpetual confusion (in the best possible way!)
8.
How drunk were you during fresher’s week? Juliette, 3rd year Classical Studies: Hugely drunk the first two nights, but then not so much. I think I peaked way too soon! Harry, 2nd year Law: On a scale from 1 to 10, fish. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Not at all. Stef, 2nd year Zoology: Hadn't ever been drunk in my life I'm afraid. I didn't drink at all in the fresher week. TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: Never. I don't drink. Sober 24/7! Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Enough to try (and succeed at!) chatting up a model. It’s hard for any new student to get through the first term. What is your best tip for the newbies? Juliette, 3rd year Classical Studies: Vitamins. Your immune system is going to take such a thrashing, so try and help yourself out a bit. Also bring DVDs that cheer you up if you're feeling ill/down. Harry, 2nd year Law: Depends on who you are. Drink! Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Delete the word 'shame' from your dictionary. Stef, 2nd year Zoology: Didn't find it hard, sodon't have any tips sorry. Oh yea, don't spend your Easter holiday working. Exams are right after it. TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: Keep calm and carry on! (C'mon, this poster did not get famous for nothing, right? RIGHT?) Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Try and meet as many new people as possible! Don’t be shy!
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Are Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter the ultimate roommates? Describe the weirdest person you ever met moving in. Details! Juliette, 3rd year Classical Studies: My JCR were a pretty strange bunch. Harry, 2nd year Law: There was this girl named ‘Blessing’. She was so awkward
ARIES MARCH 21st-APRIL 20th
Aries
7.
2.
5.
KIRSTY SAGGERS
Find out what the stars are saying about you this month...
Horoscopes Writer
1.
4.
| ENTERTAINMENT
horoscope
WATTSUP? Do you put the ‘ha’ in laug-ha-ble? Prove it and try doing WattsUp on for size.
HOROSCOPES
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
The first _________ on campus was a success, but you wished you didn’t _______ last night. Harry, 2nd year Law: The first wank on campus was a success, but you wished you didn’t wank last night. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: The first greeting on campus was a success, but you wished you didn’t sleep last night. TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: The first time to find Harris Garden was a success, but you wished you didn’t get lost while on the way back from ASDA Ollie W., 2nd year Law: The first party on campus was a success, but you wished you didn’t annoy the local friendly bouncer last night.
10.
Describe what’s fresh about freshers. Don’t be shy! Harry, 2nd year Law: No parental supervision. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Freshers to kilo-weighted textbooks, they have yet to meet. Stef, 2nd year Zoology:...Freshers are freshers, what do you want me to say? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: The exposure to life in the University, and (as an international student) the culture, meeting people from all around the world, listening to the most bizarre stories, and realising that most Brits enter university at 18...and you are already out of your teenage years, in year one. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: A rare chance to do or be anything you want! Don’t be afraid to try something new!
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libra
TAURUS APRIL 21st-MAY21st
Taurus
Gemini
You should pay special attention to friends this month and be sure to make time for them, despite the fact you'll think other things are more important. You will find luck in an unexpected place and this could lead to praise from a teacher or employer. The letter 'T' will be helpful for you, as the number 9 will be for those looking for a new relationship.
Sagittarius
You will be more fortunate than usual with money this month - but don't be tempted to spend it all at once! An opportunity may arise towards the Scorpio end of the month which you'll be glad to have money for. Friends will play a big part in your life, so don't be afraid to reach out to them and let them reach out to you. Your creative side will become more apparent as the month goes on.
CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22nd- JANUARY 20th
Are you looking for love? A seemingly random encounter with someone could lead to a new romantic interest if you take the chances given to you. Red is definitely your lucky colour this month, as it represents the newfound energy and passion you will feel towards life. There may be more opportunities for you to earn money, so don't be afraid to take them - just remember nothing in life is free.
Be daring but not reckless in your choices this month and a project will turn out better than expected. Trusting in a romantic partner -whether Capricorn new or familiar - will strengthen your relationship as a whole. If you are finding it hard to concentrate, your thoughts will feel clearer in the morning rather than the evening, especially if you articulate them to a friend.
LEO JULY 24th-AUGUST 23rd
leo
Try not to let added stress get to you and affect your decisions - a new friend could become a confidant for work problems and may help with any stress you feel this month. If you are struggling, inspiration will be found in the words of a favourite song or book. You may feel the benefits of exercise more than usual this month, but should still take time to kick back and relax.
AQUARIUS JANUARY 21st -FEBUARY 19th
Good organisation will definitely be rewarded this month, especially for those who have only recently become more prepared. Those seeking Aquarius advice on their love life will find it from an unexpected source and others will give helpful guidance to a friend in need. For those looking for financial success, the numbers 14 and 22 may guide you in the right direction, although you should try not to be greedy.
VIRGO AUGUST 24th- SEPTEMBER 23rd
virgo
You will have the confidence to try new things this month and this may lead to finding an unknown skill or talent. Single Scorpios should look out for shy admirers, as a love interest is sure to interact with you. Struggling to figure things out? An unexpected acquaintance will have the answers that you have been looking for. Although the number 13 is unlucky for some, it seems to be an encouraging number this month.
SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23rd-DECEMBER 21st
New experiences are on the horizon and you may discover a new lifelong hobby, if you are brave enough to try. These experiences will allow you to be more sociable and could lead to you discovering something interesting about yourself or others. A family member may look to you for advice this month and this will bring you closer together. If you have been considering a new purchase recently, you will not regret going for it.
CANCER JUNE 22nd-JULY 23rd
Cancer
The focus will be on doing something other than the usual this month and although this may feel frustrating at first, it will pay off. For those in a relationship, positive results will come from talking through things. However singletons should be wary of letting their emotions show too soon. You will run into a friend who has some news which could interest you and help you make a tough decision.
SCORPIO OCTOBER 24th-NOVEMBER 22nd
GEMINI MAY 22nd-JUNE 21st
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Returning students – give your thoughts on another year at Reading! Any new goals? Juliette, 3rd year Classical Studies: Stop pulling all nighters, I need to learn to get my work done in the day time! Harry, 2nd year Law: Less alcohol. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Get my work planned. Stef, 2nd year Zoology: Um... Get a first class? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: Man, the ‘you just need 40%’ days have gone too quickly! Time to get serious this year! Learn at least one new element on the trampoline! Master a new language! Learn a new accent! Get better grades! And...oh well, I'll think of that after a good night sleep. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Try not to balance my time oh so terribly.
LIBRA SEPTEMBER 24th- OCTOBER 23rd
For those who have been working hard, your efforts will finally pay off and you will be rewarded greatly. This month you will base decisions on your mind rather than your heart and this rational thinking will help you make the right choices. New friends could be made this month as you will get on with some people better than expected. When talking to new people you should focus on the letter 'E'.
PISCES FEBUARY 20th-MARCH 20th
This month is full of luck for Virgo, particularly in terms of money. Now would be a good time to apply for a new job and current employers will be more generous than usual. Be sure to make time for family members as a day trip may bring a pleasant surprise to all involved. Those looking for love should pay attention to the letter 'S', while those in relationships should listen to advice from their partner. 15 seems to be a positive number this month.
Pisces
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A new relationship will lead to fun memories and more opportunities this month. If you are planning a trip, you will make the best plans when not over-thinking things and being more imaginative. Make the most of those sunny days as they become rarer - the fresh air will allow you to reflect on something which has been on your mind for a while. You will be drawn to the number 12.
ENTERTAINMENT | MUSIC
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
GABRIELLE LINNETT
urgh it’s boiling. SM: And you looked like every student. JT: Not in public. SM: Yeah not in public, strictly in the tour bus.
Entertainment Editor
After smashing their performance on the main stage of Reading Festival 2014, London band Young Guns spared some time to speak with The Spark. Between a particularly keen fan and student onesies, drummer Ben Jolliffe and guitarists John Taylor and Simon Mitchell share their rockstar lives with Gabrielle Linnett. As well as covering the band’s recent movements, we ask them questions inspired by The Spark’s upcoming WattsUp segment; how do your answers compare? How have you found your Reading Festival experience this year? SM: It’s been amazing! JT: Well, we haven’t really done that much though. We played quite early. But we like to get in the zone, so you don’t see any bands before you play and stuff like that. Now, we’re doing some press. But afterwards we’re going to go see everyone we can and get drunk. SM: We’ve got a lot of friends and family here, we basically grew up around this area. BJ: Yeah we’ve got lots of catching up to do. We’ve all been coming here since we were kids and stuff, so being on the stage and being able to see everyone is great. For many years we were on the other side. Is it quite nostalgic being on stage here? BJ: Yeah totally. But you totally get a different perspective. I remember being a kid and looking at acts on the main stage and thinking of them as this massive band. And then you’re on the other side. It’s great to see the view from the stage. I mean you can’t really get better views than that. SM: And it hasn’t rained! Apparently it’s raining in Leeds now and we missed it, and now we’re here and we missed it as well. You’re just bringing the good weather with you! So this isn’t your first time at Reading Festival, how do the experiences compare? SM: Apart from the first year, when we were on the main stage, we’ve been in the festival tent and it’s a totally different experience. We always wanted to play in a tent, we like that intimate close vibe. It’s a good experience.
Young guns interview BJ: It’s nice to be playing higher up on the stage. The first time we were here we felt lucky to be here and I guess now it feels like we deserve to be here. So that helps a lot as well. We’ve been looking forward to this for so long; it’s a nice way to come back into playing shows. You said that you’d been away for a while, so what have you been up to? JT: Our whole last campaign kind of staggered. We basically finished it in the UK for the second record, then started in America. Then we signed a new deal and had to tour the states essentially again for another cycle. So it feels like we’ve been away for two and half years. And we’ve been trying to write the third record at the same time. BJ: We’ve just finished recording that now. We were very much in album mode until last week, when we said right, now we’ve got to remember how to play again. SM: We had to remember how to be a band again. Is it stressful trying to make that transition? BJ: I think it’s stressful before you make that transition. As you make the album you think you’ve got to get ready for this festival next week. Even though you think of it as this massive daunting task, it isn’t when you settle down, think and then focus on what you’re doing. SM: At the same time we’ve been away for quite a while, apart from the couple of warm up shows that we had before Reading & Leeds Festivals,
it’s funny how you get into that frame of mind again. It reminds you of how much you enjoy it and the reason why you do it in the first place. As soon as we walk on that stage it’s like, ah this is what it is again. Today was cool, there’s nothing to worry about. Having a few nerves is fine as it makes you awake and excited. Yeah, it’s great.
What do you prefer, live performances or recording albums? BJ: For me, I’ve always wanted to be in a band, tour and play the drums. We’ve been out for 6 months and I’m tapping away, almost like a constant twitch. JT: I’m the polar opposite. I’m like the homie of the band. I like to write music. I get scared. SM: John likes the creative side of the band, whereas I’m a massive show-off so I love playing on stage.BJ: We’ve got a good dynamic; it keeps us all excited about everything we’re doing. We all love recording but for me there’s nothing better than performing. SM: There’s nothing better than performing, getting the music you’ve done in the studio and taking it to people.The energy of the crowd was brilliant and knowing that was for you must be incredible. BJ: It sometimes won’t hit you until later though, when you’re watching a video or notice some photos and see there were loads of people. You’re in the zone then, so it’s quite nice to sit back and appreciate what you’ve done. A lot of people don’t get to do that.
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The Spark has been asking University of Reading students WattsUp, and we’ve adapted some of the questions for you to answer too. BJ: This will be embarrassing No, they’re fine! So, what’s your weirdest encounter with a fan? BJ: In the Bahamas we had one that took a liking to us SM: She wouldn’t take no for an answer basically. BJ: We were doing a cruise tour round the Bahamas, it was paradise. We played two shows in a week, it was hard work. We went out and it was great, we got to meet everyone and hang out with all the fans. It was a really fun environment. But there was one fan who took a liking to us and it got the stage where she was chasing after us as we were running to our rooms. She said “you run too fast”. Surely that’s a hint. SM: “You run so fast” Yeahh there’s a reason for that! BJ: Yeah and there was some stroking of herself when we were on stage, while we were playing (gestures chest). That was interesting. What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve brought from home? JT: Probably onesies. One tour we all wore them, I think it was when the onesie thing was just kicking off. Everyone had one; I had a nice panda one. They were the best thing, as soon as you got on the tour bus you just put on this one piece of clothing and it was like ahhh. BJ: It was lovely for the first 15 minutes and then you were like,
Have you got any advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps to the Reading Festival stage? JT: Don’t. I’m joking. BJ: I think John’s probably the worst one to ask. The words “don’t give up” are really important. It’s very easy to be in a band and still do this and do that, but you need put in 100% and you have to put all your eggs in one basket. There will be parents out there who hate hearing this, but if you want to do it, you’ve really got to do it. You’ve got to tour, tour and tour. We did it the very organic way, we played for two years to nobody SM: But that didn’t matter to us. We didn’t have any expectations, we were just so happy being on the road. It didn’t matter how many people there were, we were just hanging out with our friends’ bands. I remember the early tours of Deaf Havana, like just literally rocking up to a car park and having fun. BJ: Having realistic goals is really important. It’s very easy with stuff like X Factor to think that within a year you can play Wembley stadium, you could be rich and all that. People growing up tend to see that and think “I want to to do that”. You’ve got to think realistically about what you want to do and when you finally get to do that, you can appreciate it and then move on. SM: If you enjoy something so much, you’re going to put that effort in and then the more experience you have, the easier it becomes. JT: Just do what you love, fundamentally. You’re not young forever; just do what you want while you can. Reading Festival: hard work or a lot of fun? JT: Absolutely a lot of fun. BJ: Even the press is easy, talking to people about how much fun we have on stage. SM: “How much fun did you have?” I had a lot of fun! BJ: You know, you drink and get to see lots of friends, lots of friends in bands, you don’t get to see very often. JT: It’s also nice that we did Reading last because it’s kind of like our home side of the festival. We saved the best ‘til last.
MUSIC & TECH
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
| ENTERTAINMENT
Beyond Whiteknights’ Shield
GABRIELLE LINNETT Entertainment Editor
Freshers’ Week can easily be one of the craziest of your university life, but why let the fun stop there? The array of events held at our own RUSU will keep you busy and often covered in UV paint, blue body paint, or a bit of both. But as thousands of students descend on the University of Reading’s campus this September, the desires and tastes of the town will diversify and so will the events held there. Sometimes it can be difficult to venture beyond the walls of Whiteknights campus, so we at The Spark have compiled a preview of what you can expect to see in the big wide world of Reading. Deaf Havana – October 3rd
Following their Reading Festival performance, Deaf Havana fans were left wanting more. But fortunately for University of Reading students, the band is returning to our university town for another round of musical entertainment. Reading’s Sub89 & The Bowery District plays host to the band, whose set is scheduled to start at 7pm on the Friday night. If you missed out on their performance at Reading Festival, or loved the sample you heard, get yourself a ticket to see Deaf Havana for £16.50. Little Victories: Alan Davies – October 11th If you have ever cast your eyes upon Dave, the television channel, you will have almost certainly witness the comedy value of Alan Davies. For those who enjoy a crime solving series,
you may recognise Alan as Jonathan Creek, but the only mystery expected from Alan Davies’ Little Victories is how he can perform without laughing himself. Have your funny bone tickled by Alan at Reading’s Hexagon Theatre for £25. With a start time of 8pm, maybe you’ll be able to make it to RUSU’s Flirt too. One Man Lord Of The Rings: Charles Ross – October 14th The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a set of films that has held the nation’s attention for years, but perhaps actor Charles Ross’ a little more than most. Whether you love Legolas or are merely fond of Frodo, Ross’ 60 minutes of Middle-earth will take you on an entertaining journey,
albeit through the performance of a single man. You’ll be able to get seats for One Man Lord Of The Rings at the Reading Concert Hall for £18, the performance will start at 7:30 but as always, getting there a little early is recommended.
An apple a day keeps competitors away GABRIELLE LINNETT Entertainment Editor
September sees many technological giants come together for Europe’s largest trade show: the IFA, in Berlin. It is a monumental event in terms of technology as major contenders for the top Christmas purchase are announced there. The industry’s heavyweights are easily spotted at the show, with Sony known for filling entire halls with its electrical goods and fellow products from Samsung shining with an equal gleam. But amongst the hysteria produced by hundreds of fans swarming the latest developments in technology, including last year’s queue to try out screen splitting glasses, there is always a particular brand…missing. While many flaunt their goods in Germany, Apple steers away from the communal spotlight in favour of its own. Apple has always maintained a strong, elitist identity. From the sleek and stylish designs that feature in emerging products, to Apple’s unique operating system, it has become a technological leader. But whether this is due to the products available, or the image that Apple projects is
questionable. There is no denying that Apple products are popular, however not everyone is so enthusiastic about their Apple membership. Once a person buys into the Apple franchise, with an iPod, iPad or iPhone, it can become very difficult to resist or even retract themselves from the system. This isn’t meant in a Big Brother type context, but rather in the practicalities. Consumers easily adapt to the products, but the products aren’t flexible in return. The individual operating system makes the supposed simple process of moving data from one device to another tricky if the second device is produced by a rival company. Although it isn’t impossible, transferring information is made harder to try and tempt consumers into staying with Apple. Why change your loyalty to another manufacturer when it is so much easier to stick with Apple? However, even when consumers do choose to stay with Apple products, they still have a game to play. Apple tends to release a new phone on an annual basis, and that trend is thickening as iPhones are released in pairs. Apple consumers find themselves under a certain pressure to upgrade their device every year, which they may want to do
anyway, but with the high cost associated with the latest Apple devices this can be difficult. If consumers don’t follow the latest trend and buy the best iPhone available, their device is automatically rendered out of date, even if the technology is only a year old. You could argue that technology generally runs at this incredible speed and it isn’t just Apple taking advantage of people’s desire for the most up-to-date products, but the emphasis of launching iPhones September after September has an undeniable effect on setting the standard for competitors to follow. It is almost as if Apple start the school year for mobile technology at the top of the class and it is up to its rivals to catch up before next year. Thus, as the world celebrates and praises the latest round of Apple product launches, we affirm their position at the top of the pile. The attention given to Apple over the numerous competitors gathered at IFA is the fulfilment of Apple’s plan to stand alone, away from the pack; they aren’t being awkward, just cleverly expanding on their elitist image.
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ENTERTAINMENT | COMICS & GAMES
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
EPICS & EVILS
ENTERTAINMENT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
| ENTERTAINMENT
EPICS & EVILS The summer is over, and school starts. Here's the Committee's thoughts at The Spark.
5 evils that scare us
5 epics that rock our socks New stationery Nathalie: Opening a pack of Sharpies is a drug.
Alec: New notebooks, before they get dogeared and wrecked in my bag. Jess: I start every notebook with the intention of maintaining my professional and flowery handwriting but it always degenerates to the point where it looks like I've written my last will and testament whilst being chased by a pack of lions...in Russian.
Comics Drawn by Nathalie Siah
Abbie: I don’t function properly without my Filofax! Harriet: Pretending to be interested in every society at the Freshers’ Fayre just for the freebie pens and notepads (they managed to last me all year!) Gabrielle: Having something great for the first page of a new notebook. Frannie: A Really Sharp HB pencil! Isabella: Using a fountain pen! Jamie: Laptops and tablets are overrated. Nothing beats a crisp, new notebook. Hannah: Nothing beats the pride of bringing out your new pencil case on the first day of term
Word search
Like to draw?
Coffee Mrmagnetic Dominoes Palmer Epics Professor Evils Snakebite Freshers Thespark Hangover Wattsup Humms Welcome Missadvised
If you have a keen eye for detail and an imagination that you’d like to share with our 22,000 large circulation, then please apply to fulfil one of the comic artist positions at The Spark. The skilled artists will be asked to produce comic material on a monthly basis, which will be printed in our newspaper. Commitment, illustration
skills and an organised nature are highly desirable qualities in any candidate; but you are encouraged to be exercise creativity in your application. Please e-mail The Spark’s Entertainment Editor Gabrielle Linnett at entertainment@ sparknewspaper.co.uk for more information.
Waking up at 1 pm Nathalie: Waking up at 1 pm makes me feel like I haven’t done anything during that day! Alec: Lectures, what lectures?
Jess: I'm usually still up binge watching Suits! Abbie: Pretty standard for me, actually. Harriet: Only 7 hours before we can start getting ready to go out again! Gabrielle: It must have been a great night before, I’m normally an early bird. Frannie: Love a good 15 hours! Isabella: Deciding whether to have breakfast or lunch! Jamie: Fresh and raring to go, but a hint of guilt always lingers. Hannah: Perfect excuse for a brunch, you won’t be feeling this fresh for the rest of the week!
Freshers’ Week Nathalie: What’s not to like about Freshers’ Week? There’s a bunch of freshers and they’re nuts! Alec: Enjoy it! Call for all artists Courtesy of Flickr images
Jess: You'll learn and forget a lot! Abbie: I envy every Fresher! I wish I had another three years left! Harriet: Treating every Freshers’ week as
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Homework
though it is mine again. Gabrielle: The enthusiastic yet relaxed atmosphere on campus before classes start, ahh. Frannie: Prepare to lose your dignity! Isabella: You’re only a Fresher once- so have fun!
Nathalie: My dog still eats my homework. Alec: It's a challenge to see how late you can leave it. Jess: I did not sign up for it.
Jamie: You’re free - everyone’s free! What a time to be alive! Hannah: Be prepared for complete strangers to come up to you and give you a high five for the havoc you caused the night before but which you can’t even begin to remember
Free food at the Freshers’ Fayre
Abbie: I really like getting my essays done when they’re set. Anyone else? Nope? OK, I’ll leave. Harriet: With my 6 hours of classes a week I just don’t have time. Gabrielle: Turning up to class knowing you haven’t done it and that you will definitely get caught. Frannie: I wish I had a dog at uni. Isabella: That's what Sundays are for.
Nathalie: I wear my elastic pants for the extra room.
Jamie: 2am and you’re sure there is a better way of saying “In conclusion...”.
Alec: Get there early unless you want to queue half an hour for a slice of pizza.
Hannah: Thinking that because you haven’t done your homework, it’s a perfectly valid reason not to turn up to your seminar
Jess: I still get texts from Domino's after that one slice of pizza I ate at freshers. It was just one time.
Having no wifi
Abbie: Oh, we have to sign up for societies too? Ma bad.
Gabrielle: There’s no shame doing the rounds of free food...a few times.
Isabella: Praying that your clothes won’t shrink in the wash! Jamie: The constant struggle: ‘can I be bothered?’... ‘does that stain really matter?’ Hannah: Watching your washing machine like a hawk in the halls laundry room because you’re afraid some impatient bugger is going to take your clothes out
Waking up late for lectures Nathalie: You’ll be able to think of all sorts of excuses for not going to class. Trust me. Alec: I got lost in HummSS is always a reasonable excuse. Jess: Lola's wins again. Abbie: ‘Yeah, I’m not feeling too good today. I’ll see you at the Union later though!’ Harriet: Frantically trying to get the club stamp off of my hand from the night before I go in is priority. Gabrielle: What to say when I see my lecturer in HUMSS later...it actually happens.
Nathalie: ...solitaire.
Frannie: If I’m already late, what’s the point of rushing.
Jess: No wifi makes me realise that Sky Go is my best friend.
Isabella: Oops, is it really that time?
Alec: Cash in the attic it is then.
Harriet: Honestly, the only reason I went last year
your loads!
Abbie: When Netflix cuts out - no, just no.
Jamie: A full sleep! I feel free! I feel alive! I feel lazy and useless and now I’m sad.
Isabella: Yum!
Gabrielle: Mobile internet just doesn’t cut it cue frustration.
Hannah: Turned my alarm off in my sleep... again
Jamie: Avoid having to verbally reject people by having a mouthful of pizza at all times.
Frannie: Don’t worry, I know the neighbours’ password.
Hannah: Praying the Domino’s guys won’t recognise you from when you got pizza the first time
Isabella: Well, I guess I’ll just have to take a break from my assignment…
Living in halls
Hannah: Sharing 3G from your iPhone with your computer is undoubtedly the best invention in the world
Frannie: What could be better!
Nathalie: Living in halls means you can bother anyone at any hour and it’s still acceptable.
Alec: Broken ironing boards cost £30 to replace so play safe guys! Jess: I loved it. Halls made you feel like part of a community. Abbie: It feels like living in a hotel compared to living off campus! Savour it!
Doing our own laundry Nathalie: (I secretly like doing laundry, don’t tell the rest of the Committee)… Alec: It'll do itself! (It won't do itself) Jess: Doing your own washing? I bring enough clothing to last the term!
Gabrielle: Having a cleaner is brilliant, you’ll miss it at the weekend. Frannie: Finding strangers’ pubes in the shower - communal living. Isabella: Baking a cake with your flatmates at a ridiculous time of night - just because you can! Jamie: It’s like Friends mixed with New Girl and it’s all happening to you!
Jamie: You sit silently in your room, suddenly aware of your lonely existence.
Abbie: Oh yeah, I wondered where my jeans had got to - thanks for reminding me! Harriet: The ‘smell test’ somehow turns into a household pastime. Gabrielle: Please don’t ruin my clothes nice washing machine, please! Frannie: No one likes dirty whites, separate
Hannah: Turning the corridor into a sea of duvets and pillows for movie night
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Having nothing in the fridge Nathalie: DON’T TALK TO ME WHEN THE FRIDGE IS EMPTY. Alec: Why is the inside of the fridge yellow and sticky? Jess: I have an emergency chocolate stash. Abbie: My weakness is apple and raspberry juice and if it’s not there, I cry. Harriet: Time to speed-dial Domino’s for the third time this week. Gabrielle: Anyone offering food = new best friend. Frannie: Eat your housemates’ food. Isabella: It’s acceptable to eat Corn Flakes without milk (right?!). Jamie: If I bet all my student loan on the England game I’ll have food for months... Hannah: Maybe it’s time to pop home for a weekend and stock up?
GENERAL SPORTS
SPORT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
HOCKEY FACT #1 All field hockey sticks are right handed
HOCKEY FACT #2 Referee is called an Umpire – and there are usually two on the field/court
HOCKEY FACT #3 Players can be substituted as many times and at any time, including when the ball is in play
HOCKEY FACT #4 If the ball goes in the net from outside of the 16 yard semi-circle around the goal, the goal does not count
Meeting the hockey society... HARRIET STOVIN Hockey President
SPORT
All you need to know about Hockey at the University of Reading...
Welcome to Reading University Hockey Clubs. The ladies and men’s clubs have around 50-60 members each and we are always looking to recruit new people. We are two of the biggest sports clubs on campus and combine seriously competitive sport with big Wednesday night socials. Four men’s teams and three ladies teams play in BUCS fixtures each Wednesday against other universities in the South, and we are both part of Saturday leagues which involves playing against hockey clubs in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a really sociable and enthusiastic bunch of people to play sport with, look no further! RULHC and RUMHC are really excited about the new season: we have had a bit of a revamp – new astro, new kit, new coach... And perhaps most importantly, new members! If you want to play hockey at university but haven’t played before or you are new to Reading, come down and see us on the 23rdof September between 1-4pm. It is a really casual training session just to see who is interested and we would love to see you there! Alternatively, we are holding a pitch opener on Wednesday 24th September at the university astro with three different teams in action against Oxford Brookes University. There will be a BBQ and a few drinks pitchside, and
some great hockey on display. It would be a great opportunity for you to get a feel for what the club is about and we would love to meet you – if you can’t make it to watch the game then hopefully we will see you out in the evening. Freshers Fayre is held on Thursday 25th September with all of the different sports societies available for you to go and chat to about what they have to offer if you are interested. Both clubs will have a stand and we will be there from 11-3pm, just wander past and we will be sure to snap you up in no time. Fresher trials will be held on Friday 26th September from 1-4pm– if you have already registered an interest in joining the hockey clubs then that’s great but if not still try and come along. It won’t be anything serious – just some drills and gameplay to work out which teams everyone is going to fit into so do come along and we will go for a drink after to get to know everyone a bit better. Even if you miss all of these events for some reason, we would still love to have you on board. Training sessions are held on a Monday and a Thursday evening so just turn up if you are interested. If you require more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch either via Facebook or email -Pete Cole is the Men’s President: coleph123@ gmail.com and Harriet Stovin is the Ladies’ President: harrietstovin@gmail.com.
New Sports Editor... Do you like to write, edit and have a dying passion in Sports? The Spark is currently looking for a Sports Editor to join our team. As Sports Editor, you will decide on and source content each week. This usually includes various match results as well as features or columns. You will support
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and encourage The Spark writers to write about sports as well as edit articles in your section for mistakes. If you’d like to apply for this position, download your application at http:// sparknewspaper.co.uk/wanted/ and e-mail Nathalie Siah at editor.spark@reading.ac.uk by 5 Oct, 2014.
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| SPORTS
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