SPARK VOL 73 ISSUE NO.2
FRIDAY 21st October 2016
NEWS
Brian Cox on Climate Change
Brian Cox came to University of Reading to discuss Climate Change
LIFESTYLE
ENTERTAINMENT
Many students do not know or cnnot be bothered to get this Lauren says don't take the risk
The Annual Oxjam Festival comes to Reading, with coverage by Holly Gibbs
Get Meningitus jab
Reading Rocks
SPORT
George Tries Ultimate Frizbee Sports Editor tries out a new sport each month - this month it's Ultimate Frizbee.
PHOTO VICTORY FOR AGRIC! MANON JONES PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Congratulation to Edwin Nichols for coming first place in ‘Best Summer Photography Competition!!!’ We would like to thank everyone who took part in the contest and for the stunning pictures we received. We loved Edwin’s piece because of the breath-taking sunset over this image, which helps bring the picture together as a whole. I asked him what his thinking was behind the idea.
“This image was taken over the summer while I was working on a farm local to where I live; while working on a farm I saw some amazing sunsets and this picture highlights one of those nights. I’ve had an great summer filled with work and I’ve also been lucky enough to take some good pictures along the way.” SEE PAGE 17 FOR MORE...
You were ready, but was UoReady?
WILLIAM COLE
Edwin Nichols, 1st Year Argriculture
FOR MORE SPARK NEWSPAPER COMPETITIONS • PAGE 2 FOR OUR FIND THE BATS HALOWEEN COMPETITION • PAGE 18 FOR THE HALLOWE'EN COSTUMES COMPETITION
News Editor
Whilst our Freshers will know no different, a number of interesting developments impacted upon University life for those returning in September 2016. Last year, millions of pounds were spent on investment projects across the campus, and millions more (20 to be exact) on a review about efficiencies by PwC. In September we experienced the effect these
changes have had on the way we go about completing our education. Whilst I͛m not a natural complainer, I feel that a point needs to be made about what went well and what issues Reading faced and/or still need to sort out, as even the smallest things can have an impact on a universitywide level. Through the eyes of a 3rd year Politics student,
one of the biggest gripes for me was timetabling. For students who chose their modules back in April 2016, timetables were only finalised two to three weeks into term, which obviously could mean missed opening lectures, which can set you off badly for the rest of the year. One student at the Palmer Building timetable Continued from Front page...
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Delphine Thevenet, Erasmus English
EDITOR.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
EDITORIAL
Editor's FREE Enterance to Union? Picks Better Get Carving... RUTH WILLIAMS Online Editor
'The Apprentice' is Back
I am so excited by this! The winner two years ago, Mark Wright, made a £1million turnover in the first year. So the stakes could not be higher this year!
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A Foodie at Uni
Reading students share their best recipe ideas for students already expert at the hob and those still trying to go beyond frozen food and ready meals.
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What makes a good entrepeneur
World renowned economist, Mark Casson, writes about what makes a good entrepeneur and how it has changed as a concept in history.
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American Football
See how the Reading Knights team train for their games and how you can get involved!
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Whether you’re artistic, loving this month’s festivities, or just want to be in with the chance of winning free entrance to Union, this Pumpkin Carving competition should not be missed! Send your BEST pumpkins into the website, and the most
creative and original will win FREE entrance to Union. ‘The Spark’ team will be uploading submissions online, so you can see what kind of competition you’re up against. Be it the Reading coat of arms, a penis, or a self-portrait — get carving and emailing! All submissions should be sent to photography@ sparknewspaper.co.uk
Vicky Matthews, 2nd Year English Literature
Vicky Matthews, 2nd Year English Literature
HAPPPY HALLOWE'EN FROM 'THE SPARK' TEAM For this Hallowe’en issue of ‘The Spark’, look out for some batty beings floating about the newspaper! If you find our hidden then message Facebook to know!
all of beings, us on let us
The first person to message us with the correct answer will each win a free Union ticket!
you tell you the answers in the November issue of ‘The Spark’. Happy h(a) unting!
In addition, for the students who have written for us this issue, as a thank you, we’re going to host an awards ceremony, with some awards such as best article and best recurring writer! Look out for an email from ‘The Spark’ committee for more information on this.
Once we’ve heard We’ve got a lot of from you, we’ll exciting events planned contact the winner on for ‘The Spark’ this year, Facebook, and we’ll tell so as well as a Hallowe’en
Christian Union Events this Month
We’re just one month in and yet Reading University’s Christian Union has been busying around hosting free lunch bars, running acoustic nights and handing out bottles of water by Union at 2am. But it doesn’t stop there! Between 11 October and 8 November, the CU is running
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competition in this issue, we’re excited to announce that in December we’ll hopefully be having a Christmas Formal!
Writers, editors, and photographers alike are all invited to our Christmas Ball, where we’ll be hosting another awards ceremony, looking back on all the issues from Autumn Term! Make sure to keep an eye out for posts on our various Facebook pages (the information is on the following page) for article ideas – we’re always looking for writers! From the whole of ‘The Alpha every Tuesday evening. All are welcome to enjoy a free two-course meal and a series of short talks that aim to tackle some of the big questions surrounding Christianity. Whether you’re a Christian or not, if you have questions about Christianity or want to find out what it’s all about, come along to Alpha.
Spark’ team, thank you for your contribution and for picking up a copy of a paper. We wish you the best of luck with finding our batty beings this issue, and we hope you have a wonderful month. See you in the next issue! ‘The Spark’ Team
Verse of the Month Every day, we are faced with stories of pain and suffering in the news. Currently, thousands are dealing with the after math of Hurricane Matthew, having lost loved ones and homes. The verse of the month is Psalm 46, verse 1. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
EDITOR.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
EDITORIAL
TWO VIEWS Ville Mikola and Daniel Masters debate whether David Cameron was a good PM or not
We work hard each month to ensure that this newspaper is relevant to you. 'The Spark' is written for and by students, so not only does it have to be informative, current, and relevant to students, but fun to read.
We’d love to hear your ideas about what you want to see in 'The Spark'. What interesting news-worthy stories have you heard around campus? What are some topics you want us to interview students and staff
MUST READS
ANALYSIS OF PARTY C O N F E R E N C E S Spark writers analyse the Labour, Tory and SNP party conferences
DEPUTIES' CORNER
members about? What polls would you like us to run to see how many students agree with certain issues, e.g. one-night stands or the legalisation of cannabis?
"Plus, with each issue, there’ll be some hidden features for you to find to win free entry into Union, a discount for BagelMan, or even a free Snakebite in Mojos!"
As well as trying our best to make sure that there are no grammatical errors, as Deputy Editors, we’re also passionate about finding out what’s interesting to you. This is your newspaper, and you can shape it. Join in on our Facebook pages and tell us what you’re interested in reading – whether it’s more information about our university’s success and the achievements of our academics, or overhearing some gossip on campus that you’d love to share (anonymously, of course)!
ENTREPENEURHIP World renowned Professor, Humms to be renamed Edith Mark Casson, writes about Morley building in honour what an entrepeneur is and of the first female professor how to be a good one FIRST FEMALE PROFESSOR HONOURED
Keep an eye out for clues in each issue. Get in contact on our Facebook pages, tweet us, or send us an email – our contact information is below. For this issue, we'd like to pay a special thank you to our new design team, who have made the whole desiging process a million times easier. With their expertise, the subtle changes really make all the difference to a paper all
World-Renowned Professor Mark Casson on entrepemeurship
So you want to be an entrepreneur? So do lots of people these days. But what does it mean to be an entrepreneur? Does setting up a small business make you an entrepreneur? Many tradespeople, shopkeepers and consultants run their own businesses. So is every tradesperson or shopkeeper an entrepreneur?
For Full Article See Page 11
of us are very proud to have worked on.
From the bottom of our hearts, Nimra, Vicky, and Juan, thank you so much for your help for this issue!
FOLLOW US:
We'd also like to give our thanks to our (relatively) new Online Team, Ruth, Lee, Caitlin, Victora, and Gerge, who have done a fantastic job at getting our website sparknewspaper.co.uk - more active than ever. The website is undergoing a bit of a re-design, so keep checking for great new updates to our wesbite, and fantastic content posted five times a week! Do you want to get involved in 'The Spark'? As well as writing for us, there will be some proofreading opportunities in the near future, so keep an eye out for more information about this role! Thank you for picking up a copy of 'The Spark', and we can’t wait to hear from you! - Jack and Gaya
Creative Corner Imitation Game When first designed, the Deep Blue Computer was the best chess machine ever built, programmed with knowledge of every move and tactic historically tried and tested. It seemed impossible to beat, and it easily won its first game against Garry Kasparov.
For Full Article See Page 36-7
George Tries... Ultimate Frizbee The training session started with me meeting the (then unbeknownst to me) society President, Sam Benians. He approached me as I was squeezing on my ancient and slightly-too-small football boots and asked if wanted to have a throw. “Sure,” I said. I’d thrown a frisbee before. It’s not that hard, right?
For Full Article See Page 41 3
@sparkphotographers @thesparknewspaper @sparknewspaper
'SPARK' TEAM PRINT EDITOR
Daniel Masters
editor.spark@reading.ac.uk
DEPUTY EDITORS
Jack Champion Gayatri Menon
deputyeditor@sparknewspaper.co.uk
NEWS EDITOR
Will Cole
news.spark@reading.ac.uk
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Manon Jones
sparkphotographers@yahoo.co.uk
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Lauren Gordon
lifestyle@sparknewspaper.co.uk
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Emer Scully
entertainment@sparknewspaper.co.uk
SPORTS EDITOR
George Roberts
sport@sparknewspaper.co.uk
DESIGN EDITOR Nimra Imran
design@sparknewspaper.co.uk
DESIGN TEAM
Vicky Matthews Juan Gellogo Benot
ONLINE EDITOR
Ruth Williams
onlineeditor@sparknewspaper.co.uk
BACTERIAL MENINGITIS Science student Hatty Jeffrey gives all the info on avoiding Meningitis as a uni student.
PARTY CONFERENCE Students report on the events of the two largest political parties at their 2016 Conferences
COMING OUT DAY Reading's LGBT+ community celebrate the annual event with a 'Big Fat Gay Quiz'
NEWS
CONTENTS
20|10|16 NEWS
Two views: Ville Mikola and Daniel Masters debate whether David Cameron was a good or bad Prime Minster
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Lifestyle
Take a look at the perspective of a now graduated student from Reading, and what advice they'd like to give
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ENTERTAINMENT
A fantastic perspective on the controvery of banning children's literature. What is the effect of censoring diversity in literature
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Sport
Our Sports editor George Roberts give an interesting take on his first go at Ultimate Frisbee...
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DEBATE ROUNDS 1 & 2 Tom Edmonds summarises the ridiculous events of the first two US Presidential Debates.
surgery was quoted as saying ''I͛ve been in this queue for two ͚" and a half hours, because my department gave me the wrong module͛." In my department however, the issue went slightly deeper than just slow admin. We had a welcome back meeting, kindly organised by a Department Director. It was only at this meeting however that the class realised that a number of lecturers (for about 4 modules), had decided to take Maternity Leave, or Research Breaks from the university. The problem here being they decided not to tell the students looking to take their modules, who may or may not have signed up on the premise they͛d be teaching them. With new staff comes uncertainty about how much change would occur in the module, which for a few we͛ ve seen large changes in assessment, something highly important to student grades. One of my module convenors hadn͛t even received his staff email or access to Blackboard Learn by the time of our first lecture, using an administrators account to tell us the module actually existed. Halls is a big part of the student experience, and are in high demand every year, especially with increasing prices in the private rented sector. For those who accept Reading through clearing, the University and UPP
offer a waiting list service to come into halls, as a number of student expectantly drop out in the first few weeks for one reason or another. According to one of those students, this year there was something in the region of 70-80 on the waiting list staying in hotels such as Holiday Inn and Cedars (on-campus), at a subsidised rate. As of Monday 17th a few still remained in temporary accommodation. Whilst a clever business move in order for no rooms to be left empty throughout the year, which Reading University would then have to pay UPP for, one can͛t help but wonder what happens to those at the end of the list. Speaking to RUSU Welfare Officer Pip Oppenheimer, who is working alongside the Accommodation Office, the concerns from a student perspective were very obvious. ͞ '"Acommodation is a vital part of the student experience, and the current situation is only getting worse with rises in private renting costs, and the largest student numbers we͛ve ever seen͟" , Oppenheimer highlights the need for the University to ͞"wake up to this, because increasing student numbers can have resultant consequences.͟" Some of these issues have dragged ungracefully into term-time, and become very
noticeable as a result. Thankfully most of these problems will be solved over the next few days, leaving one inconvenience to carry on throughout the year, the Library Refurbishment. Speaking with someone working closely with the Library, I͛ve established that the refurb is either ͚behind schedule͛or ͚not moving as fast as we would like͛. A vague and undated schedule gives the contractors a great deal of leeway, as we wait for the defined term of A ͚ utumn͛ to end, to see how far behind they actually are, if that can be seen at all. The noisiest work will continue to be finished by 10am every weekday, but with a 5-storey Southern staircase to demolish that seems like a rather uneasy and prolonged task. On top of this, the new allocation of study space (to replace the Library) is a building located near to Bridges Hall, a mild inconvenience if you have to lug your books that distance. In the end, the question just comes back to, was UoR ready, did it consider the effects of the library, centralising timetabling for three weeks, or the best outcome or students in temporary accommodation? I guess in this world of black and white questions, the answers will be rather grey.
Will Cole, News Editor
The Road to the National Demo NIALL HAMILTON
This summer the national union of students called for a national demo in London on November 19th. This is in opposition to the government cutting funding for further andhigher education, increasing tuition fees in universities and reforming the higher education sector with limited to no consultation from students.
Continually the government has not listen to the voices of students, they have constantly undermined and ignored our requests. Enough is enough. Join officers from RUSU, Academic Reps, JCRs, Liberation Officers and Society Committees as we peacefully protest on the streets of London. Tickets cost £10 for a return coach from Campus and can be bought online
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at the RUSU website. RUSU will also be running workshops and banner making sessions in the run up to the demo. Together we shall be joined with students from across the country united for education. Hope to see you there.
Local News Bulletin The East Reading Community are calling for a demonstration against the closure of Arthur Hill leisure centre at Cemetery Junction. Reading Borough Council announced the cut without a public consultation, with closure set for 18th December. University researchers have found that Reading cyclists over the age of 50 do not feel safe cycling in and around the town of Reading. The cycleBOOM study shadowed 240 cyclists on their journeys during an eight-week period. Former-head of UoR Building Maintenance Ian May has been Awarded a British Empire Medal for services to higher education, after 25 years at Reading University. A former Reading undergraduate, Mahamed Abdullahi, has called for a nationwide ban of the National Anthem at University Graduation events because of ͚increasing far right nationalism͛. A newly launched website by the Universities of Reading and Southampton can reveal whether you have family relations who fought in the Hundred Years War. University of Reading professor Peter Stoneley gave a presentation at Reading Prison about Oscar Wilde͛s time at the local jail over 100 years ago. Scientists from the University of Reading have discovered the largest Iron Age earthwork in Britain, even though the 42-foot mound was hiding in plain sight. A Whiskey Tasting Festival, the first of its kind in Reading, will be at the Great Hall on UoR͛s London Road Campus on 22nd October 2016. The festival will take types of whiskey from all over the world for you to try, including Scotch, Bourbon, Japanese, and Swedish. Reading University has received a Bronze Athena Swan Award for tackling gender inequality. Reading is performing better than the sector average, with 31.3% of Professors being female as of 2014/15, the biggest improvements occurring in the engineering, tech and STEM subjects.
GENERAL NEWS & COMMENTARY
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
|NEWS
Brian Cox hosts discussion on Climate Change ALYA ABU-ZAYED Last Saturday (8th October), Professor Brian Cox, particle physicist and Royal Society Professor of Public Engagement, hosted a panel discussion on climate change as part of “Science Matters”, a series of public events by the Royal Society (the UK’s national academy of sciences) with the aim of exploring scientific topics, such as food security and artificial intelligence. The experts on the panel were Brian Hoskins, professor of meteorology at the University of Reading; Kate Jones, professor of ecology and biodiversity at University College London and the Zoological Society of London; Oliver Morton, a science writer at The Economist; and Keith Shine, another professor of meteorology and climate science at the University of Reading. Cox started off the talk with a basic message: “humans are changing the climate,” which is “not controversial from a scientific perspective.” All the panellists entirely agreed and believed in climate change, which meant that rather than being like some debates you would see on TV where a panel has people arguing for and against the existence of global warming, it was an educated discussion on the finer issues. This meant they could go into much more detail, rather than having to provide very basic evidence for the human impact on the climate, as Cox recently had to do on an Australian show,
Q&A, when arguing against a climate change denier, Australian politician Malcolm Roberts (link here: https://goo.gl/iJpkMB). The discussion was structured as a Question and Answer with audience questions, which were asked and selected beforehand, and answers provided by the experts. There were a variety of questions, including ones asking for explanations of the science behind climate change, such as why CO2 has such a huge effect when it constitutes such a tiny part of the atmosphere, and more dramatic questions, like whether humans could ever go extinct.
Alya Abu-Zayed , 2nd Year Politics and International Realations
One interesting question was what the effect of climate change will be on our wildlife, and whether we can see the effects of climate change in our everyday lives. The latter, of course, would be useful for stamping out climate change denial once and for all. Professor Jones responded, saying that “you can already see the changes happening to wildlife populations around the world. There’s quite a lot of evidence of northward shifts of the ranges of many species in the UK. The lifecycles of ants are also changing, flowers are coming out earlier, birds are laying eggs earlier, species are arriving from migrations earlier, the leaves are staying on the trees longer.” Although many of these things may seem minor and inconsequential individually to non-scientists, together, they’re indicative of a global change happening slowly, right under our noses. And, of course, Brexit
came up. One question was: “Does Brexit have the potential to undermine international collaboration?” Professor Hoskins said that although international collaboration will continue to occur, the UK’s contribution will be much more uncertain. Moreover, Professor Shine similarly pointed out that things are quite uncertain now, as we don’t know whether we’ll still have access to European funding, or how we’ll continue to collaborate with fellow European researchers.
a university, it was decided that all heads of department should be bestowed with a Professorship. But Morley, the only lecturer in charge of English Literature, was excluded. On challenging the decision and threatening to resign, a compromise was eventually reached and she held the post of Professor until 1940.
which achieved great acclaim. Adding to her many significant achievements, she also became a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1950, an honor awarded for her work setting up the Reading Refugee Committee and assisting Belgian Jewish refugees in World War Two.
In addition, Morton also pointed out that being part of a larger system helps. If we were to stay in the EU, we could move renewable electricity around more easily, for example. Cox joked, “If this was a BBC programme, I’d have to try and provide some balance to that, but this is the Royal Society, so I don’t!” which got a laugh from the audience.
Another important point made was whether individuals can act to combat climate change, or whether action on a national and international level is more important. The experts agreed that action on all levels was important, and we need to stand up and make a difference individually, put pressure on politicians, and show that we care – otherwise, governments won’t act. Thankfully, when asked whether we’ve passed an irreversible tipping point for climate change, the panellists agreed that we most likely haven’t. If we can keep the global temperature below 2 degrees, the central aim of the 2015 Paris Agreement, we should be fine for now. All in all, this was an incredibly interesting and informative talk on many of the
issues around climate change. One of the problems discussed was how to bridge the gap between scientists and the public, and as Professor Jones said, “having meetings like this [panel discussion] where loads of people come and [the public] can engage with [scientists]. There are the things that [scientists] need to be doing more of.” It was a fantastic opportunity for the public to become more engaged in exciting scientific research, which is becoming more and more relevant as climate change becomes more and more serious. If you would like to watch the discussion, you can watch it on YouTube here: https://goo.gl/540vY5. If you would like information on upcoming talks by the Royal society, you can check out the events here:https://goo.gl/64f1eh
Executive Board Honours 1st Female Professor SARAH LOUISE PENNY The University Executive Board (UEB) has decided to rename the current HumSS building, home to humanities, social sciences, and Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, to the Edith Morley Building next year. This decision was taken by the Board as a means of honouring Ms Edith Morley for being appointed the first female Professor of any University institution in the United Kingdom, in 1908. After reading at University of Oxford’s Honour School of English Language and Literature, Morley began teaching at Reading University College in 1902. However, she noted that she did not have “the same status as one’s male colleagues”. By 1907, when reorganizing the college to become
"the current HumSS building, home to humanities, social sciences, and Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, will be renamed to the Edith Morley Building next year" Academically, she became most well known for her detailed 1935 biography of the writer and traveler Henry Crabb Robinson,
For this valued work, she was a part of the hundred or so women included in Sybil Oldfield's book Doers of the Word: A Biographical Dictionary of British Women Humanitarians Active Between 1900–1950. The University of Reading keeps a collection of her papers, and in 2014 held her up as a role model during its celebration of International Women's Day, a fitting homage to one of the University’s most notable academics.
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Amsyar Adanan , 2nd Year Accounting and Finance
The university also holds a special Edith Morley Lecture in commemoration of her distinguished achievement for woman and education each year. A renaming event will be arranged to coincide with this, which will take place in February 2017.
"A renaming event will be arranged to coincide with this, which will take place in February 2017"
NEWS|CAREERS
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
Ready Bike under Threat after Council Withdraws Funding RACHEL WYATT
Only three years after its launch in 2014, Reading Borough Council will withdraw subsidy funding for the ReadyBike scheme, putting ReadyBike’s livelihood into question. UoR students are hoping for sponsors to be found soon, so as not to see these recognisable bikes disappear from the streets of Reading. Reading Borough Council launched the ReadyBike hire scheme in June 2014 to ‘improve sustainable transport options in and around the town’, starting at only £1. Once this is paid online, a PIN is received, allowing the release of one of two hundred bright ReadyBikes. The cheap monetary and environmental cost make these bicycles one of Reading’s proudest schemes. However, starting in June 2017, only three years after it’s launch, Reading Borough Council have decided they will
withdraw their funding for the scheme. The Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) were the first to provide the £25 million to start up the scheme; however with running costs over £10,000 per month, this was insufficient alone to fund the scheme.
"with running costs over £10,000 per month, this was insufficient alone to fund the scheme"
Hourbike, though currently promising to expand ReadyBike to West Reading by the end of 2016, explain that a range of sources, including sponsorships, are necessary to keep the bike hire scheme financially stable in the long run. ReadyBike has been desperate for sponsors in the past, but have always managed to stay running. However, their
dependency on sponsorships is more precarious than ever, now that Reading Borough Council will be ceasing their subsidies. ReadyBike had seemed to have been a successful scheme, especially amongst students and business commuters, with 1,700 rentals by the time it’s first birthday was celebrated last year. It is disappointing, therefore, that reading.gov.uk say that the popular scheme will undoubtedly close in June 2017, “if other sources of funding for the scheme cannot be secured.”
"It is disappointing, therefore, that reading.gov.uk say that the popular scheme will undoubtedly close in June 2017"
Ian Conder
The Joys of a Reading University Open Day HRISTINA MIHAYLOVA
freshers’ fayre can compare to it.
What are open days like in Reading? Are they for the ambitious parents or the keen prospective students? Or just an easy way for student ambassadors make money in order to pay for those union nights?
Open days are a great opportunity to meet new people, develop your interpersonal skills and see your lecturers in a way you never considered before! The University of Reading are rather good at organising massive numbers of students and staff into delivering great experience for our visitors. But don’t just take my word for it, here is what a past prospective/ current student has to say:
I have been ambassador for the Psychology Department for the past three years and there is one thing I know for sure - There is no easy way to describe the vast buzzing emotional experience that open days really are. Talking to future students and their parents, getting them excited about the university and the degree you love, is one of the most fun experiences one can have and only
“I chose to study at the University of Reading because of the beautiful campus, supportive atmosphere and high academic standards. When I came to
an open day, I met a student ambassador who not only inspired me to come to University but also made me want to become an ambassador myself”, Louise Izzard, a BA Philosophy student. Staff members are also proud of the event. Helen Robson, Executive Support Officer in Psychology, says she chose to study English literature at Reading because of the great performance of her department.
"I chose to study at the University of Reading because of the beautiful campus, supportive atmosphere and high academic standards" While here she loved the strong sense of community and the beautiful campus so much, that she decided to stay. Nowadays she organises open days and says that the best part about them is talking to prospective students. For her “coming to work is like coming home”.
Amsyar Adanan , 2nd Year Accounting and Finance
A lot of credit for the success of open days also goes to our Students Union which provides not only informative talks to
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Amsyar Adanan , 2nd Year Accounting and Finance
future students and parents, but also food and coffee for our guests. Ben Cooper, the RUSU President, gives us more insight into what happens behind the curtains on an open day: A great amount of the RUSU staff gets involved, including people behind the bars, full time members in the Dome, and of course Ben himself giving the talks. He believes that students ambassadors are the people who make the open day happen and is proud to see: “hundreds of current students getting involved and representing the University”. So in conclusion, I have to agree with Ben that student
ambassadors play a vital role on open days, but what really makes them special is the sense of ‘one big happy family’ that comes from working with university staff and fellow students towards a common goal. On open days, there are no boundaries between lecturers, students and complete strangers. You make friends with someone quickly over a cup of tea in your break, see many familiar faces and most of all, convince others how great our university is.
"A lot of credit for the success of open days also goes to our Students Union"
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
Almost There - BAME AILEEN KIMUHU
While the title of this article is undoubtedly optimistic, I assure you the rest of this article is going to hit you like a ton of bricks, so to speak. To anyone that is either unwilling to look beyond the information, or has no access to any other information, it would seem that people of colour are finally moving forward. That the past is finally being left behind.
truth is, that we still have a long way to go. Racism isn’t dead, it just got sneaky. It’s present when we were taught more about Henry VIII’s many wives as opposed to the true origins of the Notting Hill Carnival.
"cultural appropriation is finally being recognised for what it is"
Diane Abbott has been made Shadow Home Secretary, Reading recently elected Alok Sharma (her first BME councilperson), cultural appropriation is finally being recognised for what it is, our students’ union has created a position designed to address the issues relating to students that give our University it’s ‘colour’, people of colour are now being employed and attending university more than ever.
It is clear when it is a possibility that people of colour may be hired to fill diversity quotas as opposed to their genuine merit and skill. It is real when I wrongly misjudge someone who looks like me as ‘lazy and just didn’t work hard enough’ when I know that there is a lot more to the problem than meets the eye.
So I guess we can pack up right? 'Cause there’s nothing left to do. 'Cause we beat racism! Hang on there before you put up the bunting; it’s time to rain on your parade, because for every single one of these successes, mainstream society has fought back like it’s being confronted by one of those creepy clowns. The
It is current when a video was released promulgating “British Values” but really reminisced about the days of the “Empire under the Sun” - a time when people of colour were worth less than the mud on your shoe. Lastly, it is bubbling to the surface after Brexit which saw a lamentable rise on the attacks of people
of colour following the vote. We are making plans to put a man on Mars, yet we can’t find a way to not hate each other because of something as arbitrary as skin colour (which is dependent upon where on the planet you, and your family lives). Perhaps, you consider me too harsh. After all, I am an outsider looking in and I may not fully grasp British culture in a way that would allow me to understand “race relations” (understand, I put the phrase in quotation marks because I do not agree with the word “race” to describe groups of people of colour. It is a remnant from a misguided world that believed that the colour
It is clear when it is a possibility that people of colour may be hired to fill diversity quotas as opposed to their genuine
GENERAL NEWS & COMMENTARY
We are making plans to put a man on Mars, yet we can’t find a way to not hate each other because of something as arbitrary as skin of my skin somehow meant I was not human). However I would counter with the reality that sometimes what a society needs, is an outsider to elucidate some hard truths about your society. This is not to suggest that I am this omnipotent outsider, but that I play a role in that process. Nevertheless, the truth is we are not almost there and I fear we may never get ‘there’.
|NEWS
When we get there, we will deal with societal crises together, as opposed to turning on each other. But there is hope, at university, we are perhaps closer to getting there than we are outside our “university bubble”. At this University, not only are
"Nevertheless, the truth is we are not almost there and I fear we may never get ‘there’" we learning about both sides of history and giving credit where credit is due, but not once have I felt like the ‘token friend’. At this University, I went natural and was met with support by all my friends, irrespective of colour or gender.
I believe that when we get there, I will no longer have to question if I have been hired to fulfil a quota requirement. When we get there, our children will learn not only about the glory of empire but about those like the John Brown Women’s Society that fought against it.
At this University, people are more willing to respond to a call to change, not out of a misplaced sense of guilt, a genuine belief in the potential goodness of society.
challenging round, influenced by the hardship LGBT+ people have faced throughout the years, but a very interesting round which was wellresearched by Nikki Ray herself.
influenced by the hardship LGBT+ people have faced throughout the years
In this bubble, we are ‘Almost There’. Outside of it, that’s a different story.
Coming Out and Celebrating Pride JENNY WATKINS
As some of you may know, usually if you have a friend, relative or colleague in the LGBT+ community, or you just so happened to be passing Cheese Room at 7:30pm on the 11th October, you would know that this day is known as “National Coming out Day”. Facebook was filled to the brim with stories, every one telling a different tale. Some were happy, some were sad, some came with cringe-worthy yet cute pictures, but all came with a singularly clear message: Coming out, which in most cases is never easy, will always be one of the best things a LGBT+
"first round went off with a bang being general knowledge, which was way harder than expected"
"It’s a celebration of the day when you woke up and you thought to yourself, ‘You know what? Who I am is okay’"
homosexual RUSU power couple. The turnout was great: around 75 people split into 12 teams of queers and queer-supporters.
person can do for themselves.
The quiz itself was made up of 4 sections: general knowledge, LGBT+ history, LGBT+ celebrity questions, and a picture round. The first round went off with a bang being general knowledge, which was way harder than expected. LGBT+ history was a
This day is a cause for celebration. As an LGBT+ person myself, I know it is a celebration of the acceptance in yourself and of the ones closest to you. It’s a celebration of the day when you woke up and you thought to yourself, ‘You know what? Who I am is okay’. And we all know what is the best way to celebrate at the University of Reading. Yup, you guessed it: A Big Fat Gay Quiz and many a snakebite. So Nikki Ray (RUSU LGBT+ Officer) and Sed Joshi (RUSU Diversity Officer) took to the mic of the Cheese Room, forming some sort of
There was a prize for the best team name, which, as you could imagine, sparked a lot of imagination around the room, including the winning names: “Scissor-me-timbers” and “Multiple score-gasms”.
"There was a prize for the best team name, which, as you could imagine, sparked a lot of imagination around the room" 7
The LGBT+ celebrity round was great for people who are massive keen beans when it comes to LGBT+ influence in the modern media, including questions about Miley Cyrus’ Happy Hippie Foundation and
"And the last round, the picture round, was a lot of fun, even if one of the questions was deemed wrong" transgender ambassador and actress Laverne Cox. And the last round, the picture round, was a lot of fun (even if one of the questions was deemed wrong). All in all, The Big Fat Gay Quiz was a Big Fat Gay success.
A huge thank you to Sed Joshi & Nikki Ray (who also parttimed as the DJ throughout the evening), who organised and put together this event. The snakebites flowed, the answers maybe not so much, but I know we all had a truly fabulous time.
"Coming out, which in most cases is never easy, will always be one of the best things a LGBT+ person can do for themselves."
NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
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Conservative Party Conference 2016 JENNY WATKINS
For many reasons, the 2016 Conservative Party Conference marked a pivotal moment in the party, at which its new direction was made clear. Reminiscent of Theresa May’s first speech outside Downing Street in July, the general theme of the conference was a shift towards the centre ground – as the message of the conference clearly stated, ‘a country that works for everyone.’ In the wake of the Brexit result, which saw divisions emerge both within the Conservative party and beyond, it should come as no surprise that the new Prime Minister wants to unite the party by taking it, and the country, in a new direction. One of the biggest interest points at the conference was, indubitably, the Prime Minister’s thoughts on Brexit, and when we could expect to see a withdrawal from the European Union. In her first address at the conference as Leader of the Conservative Party, Mrs May
announced that the activation of Article 50 – a decision which she called a “quiet revolution” of the British people – would begin by the end of March next year.
The Prime Minister was insistent that the government had a plan, that they would see it through, and that a control of immigration would be a priority in negotiations. In other policy news, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, announced that he would be abandoning his predecessor George Osborne’s target for the UK economy to be in a surplus by 2020, whilst Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced 1,500 extra places would be made available to train new doctors in UK medical schools. Hunt claimed that he was keen to end the NHS’ reliance on foreign doctors. One of the more controversial announcements from the conference was the Home Secretary’s suggestions that businesses may be pushed by the government to list their foreign employees, and encouraged to hire UK citizens
first. There are also restrictions being considered on overseas students, with amendments being made to tighten the visa system foreign students need to pass in order to study in the UK.
Members from the Reading University Conservative Association attended the conference. Eliot Smith, a member of RUCA, said that the “atmosphere was brilliant as everyone is confident in our new leader, Theresa May, to steer our party well.” He continues, “We had several members of RUCA go up to conference this year, all saying they enjoyed it.” Overall, the conference seems to have been a success, with the new Prime Minister clearly establishing the policies we can expect to see enacted under her government in the coming year, and distinguishing herself from the previous government. No doubt we will hear a great deal more about this more centrist stance the Tory party is taking over the next few months.
Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage for The Asian Awards
Donald Trump’s controversy continues after 2005 video tape resurfaces: will he ever lose support? ZOE OSMAN
A 2005 video tape has recently resurfaced, showing Trump using obscene and offensive language that was sexually suggestive towards women. In light of this, he has released a short apology in an attempt to defend himself against the outrage. Trump’s candidacy for The President of the United States, while widely branded as ludicrous, has also been surrounded by nonstop controversy. He began by labelling all Mexicans as rapists, mocking Megyn Kelly with jokes about the female menstrual cycle, and continuing to make openly sexist, degrading, and abusive remarks about both Rosie
"Trump using obscene and offensive language that was sexually suggestive
"upon seeing how seriously the media and the public were taking it, decided to issue a rare O’Donnell and Ex-Miss Universe Alicia Machado, going so far as to ruin her career and cause her years of suffering and illness. The most recent of Trump’s scandals comes in the form of a video tape from 2005 that resurfaced just days ago. In the tape, Trump was using lewd and obscene language to describe making passes at women, specifically suggesting his desire to engage in forceful sexual activity. He directly attributed this to his position of power by saying, “You can do anything,” which is nothing less than sinister. At first, Trump dismissed his offensive comments as “locker room banter,” but upon seeing
how seriously the media and the public were taking it, decided to issue a rare apology. In his apology, Trump called the outrage to his remarks “nothing more than a distraction from the important issues we are facing today”. Instead of Trump’s apology being one of sincerity, he decided to lessen the severity of his comments by comparing himself with both Hillary and Bill Clinton, saying that their actions have done far more damage than his words. In true Donald Trump form, he has resorted to blaming others for their mistakes rather than holding himself accountable for his own. Nigel Farage also weighed in on the matter, who is back on the political spectrum after it was reported that he flew to America to coach Trump for his consequential tactics in debate. He stated: “It's the kind of thing, if we are being honest, that men do. They sit around and have a drink and they talk like this”. Here is another political and prominent face in the media suggesting that Trump’s comments are excusable
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for the simple reason that this is what all men do. This is particularly problematic as it encourages the generalisation of men alongside the objectification of women.
The idea that it is acceptable for men to objectify women because it is a common occurrence isn’t an excuse, but a concern – especially so when it is coming from the mouth of a serious contender for the next President of the United States. In light of the resurfacing of this video and the outrage surrounding it, there has been
In true Donald Trump form, he has resorted to blaming others for their mistakes rather than holding himself accountable for his own.
It seems that Trump could say or do anything and get away with it because everyone is so desensitized to his offensive commentaries. a lot of talk about whether this will finally force Trump to bow out of the race for president. However, at this stage, I think we should also be asking: what will it take for him to lose support? It seems that Trump could say or do anything and get away with it because everyone is so desensitized to his offensive commentaries. The idea of Trump conceding at this point is too unlikely to imagine. Although there has been much backlash at his comments from his own side, including prominent Republican figures speaking out against his candidacy, he still retains significant support to continue his bid for the presidency.
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“For pity’s sake, First Minister, let this go!” SARAH KENCHINGTON
The Head of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, made her stance as leader of the Scottish Opposition very clear at the Conservative Party Conference last week.
Nicola Sturgeon has come out to say that she demands there to be a second Scottish Independence
"she was very firm in that she would fight such an ideology with
However, in Davidson’s view, this is not an inevitability, and in her address to the Conference, she was very firm in that she would fight such an ideology with gusto, saying that she took her role seriously, and seeks, “not to stoke divisions or split our country, but knuckle down and get on with the job.”
After the EU Referendum, many said it was only a matter of time before Scotland had another Independence Referendum.
On Sturgeon, Davidson went onto say, “You see Nicola Sturgeon telling you how Scotland is up in arms again. Threatening
the break-up of Britain. Asserting independence is closer now than ever before. Don’t believe a word of it. There is nothing inevitable about the break-up of this great nation.” In the week since the conference, Nicola Sturgeon has
Scottish Labour intend to prevent another threat of Scottish Independ-ence in any way they
"they announced a consultation bill for a referendum would be published next
come out to say that she demands there to be a second Scottish Independence Referendum, and is currently drawing up plans of said Referendum, announcing a consultation bill for a referendum would be published next week. Davidson finished her focus on the SNP with, “She’s not speaking
for the majority. Because the majority of us want to move on. Most Scots have had enough. And they are telling her for pity’s sake, First Minister, let this go.” Time will tell if Davidson’s view is correct. However, if her speech is to be believed, it seems that the Scottish Con-servatives and Scottish Labour intend to prevent another threat of Scottish Independence in any way they can.
Most Scots have had enough. And they are telling her for pity’s sake, First Minister, let this go.”
Bacterial Meningitis: Know Your Symptoms to Save a Life HATTY JEFFREY
Bacterial Meningitis: Know Your Symptoms to Save a Life Meningitis has a variety of causes, from the generally less severe viral strain, to the potentially deadly bacterial strains. Bacterial meningitis is caused by a bacterial infection getting through the back of the throat, into the blood stream, and then infecting the meninges, which are the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to septicaemia (blood poisoning) and the disease can be fatal within hours. Just looking out for the symptoms can be life-saving.
"Meningitis has a variety of causes, from the generally less severe viral strain, to the potentially deadly bacterial If I’m in first year: why am I more at risk? First year students, in most cases, fall within or around the 15-19 year old age category. Meningitis Now warns that 25% of fifteen to nineteen year olds carry the bacteria in the back of their
throat, compared to a significantly lower 1 in 10 of all people in the UK population generally. As well as this, mixing with a new group of people, such as living in halls with new friends from all over the UK and the world, can expose people to new viruses and bacteria, which the immune system has not encountered before. Increased close contact, such as the coughs and sneezes in lecture theatres, to kissing, hugging, and other increased day-to-day social interactions in general, encourage the passing of bacteria from person to person. What symptoms should I be looking out for? Bacterial meningitis has a range of symptoms, with many of these being non-specific to the disease, such as headaches, fever, vomiting, cold hands and feet, confusion, and joint and muscle pain. It is easy to put these symptoms down to “freshers’ flu,” or just feeling a bit under the weather, even though it might be due to something a lot more serious. However, there are more critical symptoms to be aware of, such as the inability to move your chin down to touch your chest due to a stiff neck, photosensitivity (the dislike of bright lights), convulsions and seizures, and a rash that does not disappear under pressure (press a glass to your skin and look through the glass to
"Call 999 or visit your nearest Accident & Emergency department if you suspect yourself or a friend to be seriously unwell"
see whether the rash disappears). Symptoms of meningitis may appear together or independently. Some people experience all symptoms listed above, whilst some people only experience some or mild symptoms. The most important thing is to be aware and to trust your instincts. What should I do if I suspect that myself or a friend has meningitis? In the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis, time is critical. It is essential that the patient is seen as soon as possible in order to receive treatment, which will be quickly administered in order to yield the best clinical outcome. Trust your instincts and do not wait until you have a rash or until more symptoms appear. Call 999 or visit your nearest Accident & Emergency department if you suspect yourself or a friend to be seriously unwell, or call the
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NHS on 111 if you do not think that it is anything serious, you think you may have been exposed to someone with the disease, or if you just need some advice. How is bacterial meningitis diagnosed and treated? The meningitis will be formally diagnosed through blood tests and a lumbar puncture - which is the extraction of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The blood and CSF will then be tested for the presence of meningitis causing bacteria. In some cases a CT scan of the brain is conducted, to look for inflammation of the meninges in the brain. Bacterial meningitis will be treated with antimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics. Upon diagnosis, or in the event of suspected meningitis, antibiotics will be administered intravenously (directly into the blood stream), in order to combat the infection as quickly and effectively as possible. Fluids will also be given to prevent dehydration and an oxygen mask
"Bacterial meningitis will be treated with antimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics"
may also constitute the treatment for those with difficulty breathing. What’s the Men ACWY vaccine and should I get it? This vaccination is a free vaccine available from the NHS for all first year university students.
"Fluids will also be given to prevent dehydration and an oxygen mask may also constitute the treatment" First year university students are advised to have the vaccination, as it provides immune protection against four different strains of meningitis- A, C W and Y. It is also protective against meningococcal septicaemia, which is a form of blood poisoning – a serious effect of meningitis. This vaccination is given in a single dose and generally the side effects of the vaccination are only mild and resolve quickly; including tiredness, nausea, fever and a headache. If you are a first time student under 25, you can call your GP surgery to enquire about the vaccination and book yourself in. It is recommended to have the vaccination as soon as possible if you have already started term, as the risk is highest in the first few months at university.
GENERAL NEWS
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What makes a Good Entrepreneur? NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
PROFESSOR MARK CASSON So you want to be an entrepreneur? So do lots of people these days. But what does it mean to be an entrepreneur? Does setting up a small business make you an entrepreneur? Many tradespeople, shopkeepers and consultants run their own businesses. So is every tradesperson or shopkeeper an entrepreneur? One reason why a business is small is that it has failed to grow. Many small businesses actually fail within a few years after startup. Being entrepreneurial is not the same thing as setting up a business. Being entrepreneurial means that you have imagination, and the confidence to back it up, and that you have good judgement that allows you to grow your business successfully. That sounds more like a real entrepreneur doesn’t it? Does a successful entrepreneur have to make big profits and become very wealthy? What happens if they give their money away, or even use their enterprise to set up a charity? The Oxfam charity was set up over fifty years ago, has a large chain of shops and manages massive projects overseas. Its founders identified more than just a profit opportunity - they identified a social need. They didn’t just serve just local customers, but the poor and needy world-wide. They are entrepreneurs with a conscience – I don’t regard that as a contradiction. I became interested in entrepreneurship back in the 1970s. I joined the university in 1969, and I am one of its longest-serving academic staff. I published my first book on entrepreneurship back in 1982, and I’m pleased to say it’s still in
print today (The Entrepreneur: An Economic Theory). I’m preparing a new edition right now. My latest book, published in 2013, was written with my daughter, who works at Manchester Business School; it’s about the history of entrepreneurship and the cultures and institutions in which it is embedded (The Entrepreneur in History). Believe it or not, when I began my research on entrepreneurship in the 1970s, hardly anyone was interested in the topic. Everyone believed in big management and big corporations and thought that the days of the individual entrepreneur were over. But in the 1970s Asian competition flooded Western markets with cheap high-quality products and many big corporations went bankrupt. Redundant managers and workers set up small businesses to make a living and to everyone’s astonishment many of them grew rapidly. Small businesses, it seemed, were leaner and meaner than big businesses. Politicians began to back them, and celebrities founded businesses to promote their personal brands. The modern conception of the entrepreneur was born. I was largely oblivious to this, however. Unlike many researchers today, I didn’t research the entrepreneur to impact on policy or to glorify business success. I did it to solve an intellectual puzzle. In economics we talked about markets and how they balance supply and demand, and we still do so today. Price is set by impersonal forces, economists claim. But everyone knows that in consumer markets prices are set by retailers! Buyers compete with each other, we say, but in practice they just queue up at the checkout! We assume that all the products in the market are the same, but in practice customers spend a lot of their time investigating the differences!
Elliot Margolles
The truth is that markets are not impersonal at all. They are more like social networks where products change hands. Markets are intermediated by people who spot an opportunity to link a source of production to a source of demand. They hire workers to produce a product they believe the public wants, and if they are right they make a profit and grow, and if they are wrong they make losses and fail. These intermediators are the entrepreneurs in the market system. They
innovate new and improved products; they offer customers a choice of products so that customers can select the ones that best match their needs. A market, in other worlds, is highly personal: it is essentially just a collection of competing entrepreneurs. Back in medieval times markets grew up in town centres, and they remained there until suburban shopping malls and retail parks emerged with the arrival of the motor car. Now we have the internet. The internet may seem impersonal, but it’s not. The website from which you order has an owner, and you pay them electronically. Behind every commercial website is an entrepreneur, or a firm that was founded by an entrepreneur.
The system of urban markets that we recognise today grew up in the1200s and by the time of the Black Death in 1348 there were many more town and village
"Being entrepreneurial means that you have imagination, and the confidence to back it up, and that you have good judgement that allows markets than there are today! Contrary to popular belief, the story of markets since then has been one of almost continuous shake-out; as travel between towns has become easier people have become choosier as to where they shop. Large markets centres have grown larger and driven small market centres to extinction. The main exception was during the Industrial Revolution when new urban centres grew up near factories and coalfields. Now even large market centres are threatened by internet trading. Back in medieval times many successful entrepreneurs died poor. They retired early from business to become priests or lay brothers in monasteries. They gave away their money to found churches, hospitals and universities. By contrast, some entrepreneurs today promote the philosophy that greed is good. Being greedy doesn’t just mean that you make a profit, however, but rather that you spend
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Mark Casson
your profit on yourself rather than giving it back to the community. Greed doesn’t promote profit, but rather inequality, in which those who make money keep it and those who lose money are condemned to poverty. Entrepreneurship embedded in a communitarian culture stimulates private philanthropy that complements the activities of the welfare state. Women entrepreneurs were quite common in the 1200s because husbands were often away on Crusade and many never came back. These women were well respected and some were members of the powerful guilds. ‘The woman’s place is in the home’ was to some extent a Victorian invention. Yet even in Victorian times women entrepreneurs could be found running railway refreshment rooms, clothing shops and even factories – though they were mainly widows and spinsters rather than wivesrship, therefore, is a basic function that is performed in any market economy. The entrepreneur spots an opportunity to fulfil a need that other people have. Their motive may be profit or compassion or a mixture of the two. They raise finance to set up their business. Some of their own money, and a lot of personal reputation, goes into the business, and all of this is put at risk.They gear up production before they can be sure that demand exists, and if it doesn’t,
then they fail. If they are successful, then part of their profit is a reward for the capital invested, part is a reward for the risks they have run (of losing their capital) and part is a reward for being the first to spot the opportunity to begin with. Will studying entrepreneurship make you a better entrepreneur? Yes and no. If you have what it takes already then it will make you even better, but if you don’t, it won’t do you much good. You must have practical experience and some small successes and failures that you can reflect on. You can use the theory to inform these reflections. You also need social networks. Theory can help you chose the networks from which you will benefit most. But don’t conform to every group to which you belong! Belong to several different groups, participate in them, but ultimately do your own thing. That way you learn from others without having to think the same way they do. Entrepreneurship is about being different, but in an imaginative and constructive way.
Mark Casson
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COMMENT
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Was David Cameron a Good PM? TWO VIEWS Great? Probably Not. Good? Probably Yes. Comrade Cameron was Blair Mark 2 DANIEL MASTERS
VILLE MIKOLA
Print Editor
2nd Year History and Economics
A great Prime Minister is made by rising to the occasion, and then going one step further. Winston Churchill not only kept Britain from being mentally and physically defeated through the disaster of 194042, but ended the war with Britain as one of the Big Three. Pitt the Younger weathered the complete upheaval of Europe by the French Revolution and Napoleon, and though he did not see the end result of the wars (Britain as the undisputed foremost power), he did see the beginning of the Royal Navy’s unchallenged century. Attlee oversaw the creation of the modern welfare state in the aftermath of the great conflagration Churchill had seen the country through. David Cameron does not exactly fit this mould. He did not face a great crisis and bring the country out stronger. That time had come and gone; the test had been for Gordon Brown, and he had failed it, staving off complete collapse but proving unable to make anything of it. For Cameron, the task was to be a good Prime Minister. A good Prime Minister, like most Prime Ministers, does not face crisis. They face a country that needs to be kept running, that needs to deal with its problems in a measured manner. For the Prime Minister, this boils down to one paramount objective; keep the lunatics from taking over the asylum. The lunatics here are the fringe of the party, be they the far-left or the far-right. Britain’s prosperity has always rested on stability, and stability abhors the far-reaching proposals and ideological obsession of the fringes. Cameron had already begun working toward this when he won the leadership election in 2005. The Conservative Manifesto in 2010 was a far-cry from the Conservative Party obsessed with social issues of previous elections. This was a more pragmatic, centrist thing. However, there was still the danger of the fringes taking over with a small enough majority. The Coalition was thus, a blessing in disguise. While it
Manon Jones 3rd Year Art & English Literature
meant inevitable disagreements with the Liberal Democrats and an arrangement that British government was highly unfamiliar with, it also allowed Cameron to keep the fringes silent. He could kill their more outlandish proposals simply by reminding them of the practical veto of their coalition partner. By the end of the Coalition, he had seemingly gotten quite good at using the whip of coalition to keep the lunatics at bay. Most importantly, the Civil Service were not saddled with attempting to make sense of lunacy instead of running the day-to-day. Then came the disaster. He had drafted the manifesto for 2015 with Coalition in mind. All the evidence, after all, pointed to one. Then the results came in for a small majority, and Corbyn proved an ineffective opposition. This is the nightmare scenario for a Prime Minister whose job is to keep the fringe in line; a fringe with enough members for a de facto veto, and no opposition threat to use as a whip. This was the kind of situation that would have required a Disraeli or a Gladstone; men who would be unequivocally great if they had faced a crisis to rise to. Unfortunately, Cameron was merely good, not great. The balancing act had worked while there was a credible threat of a Labour opposition, but without one, it all imploded. The final blow was the Referendum. What was supposed to be a uniting measure that drew Conservatives back from UKIP instead proved the usual assumption; a Conservative Party concentrated on Europe is a party in the midst of a civil war. Cameron’s defeat in that civil war proved that he was doing what a good Prime Minister should. When he was no longer present, the Conservative Party descended into pandering to the nationalist, Hard Brexit wing of the party whose grasp of reality is iffy at best.
Ken Clarke confirmed this week a fact that we already knew: comrades David Cameron and George Osborne refer to the Supreme Leader, Tony Blair, as ‘The Master’ – presumably of lies. Just as with Blair, Cameron was no pragmatist; he was an ideological lefty obsessed with power, and that is why I will argue he was a bad PM. Comrade Cameron’s premiership was a vast quantity of failures. He failed to eradicate the budget deficit; he failed to rebalance the economy toward industry; he failed to keep the AAA rating; he failed on immigration. I should stop there as I’m afraid 48 pages is not quite enough to list all his failures. Part of this failure was down to comrade Cameron’s incompetence as a leader. Just remember all those shambles with budgets we had to go through. How often did we see comrade Osborne smirking across the dispatch box as though he was some political genius, only to a few days later hear that he had u-turned or converted to Labour policy on the road to No. 11? But Cameron’s failures were also because he didn’t actually believe in his own policies. Comrade Cameron, you might be amazed to hear, is actually a lefty. Just look at his social and political reform policies where for example he supported the redifinition of marriage. This explains why Comrade Cameron failed to control non-EU immigration and why he didn’t negotiate a good deal with the EU; because, like his ‘Master’, Blair, he fully believed in uncontrolled borders and the EU project. His ideology also led him to allow a state owned Chinese firm buy part of our energy market – was that pragmatism? This explains why Comrade Cameron failed to control non-EU immigration and why he didn’t negotiate a good deal with the EU; because, like his ‘Master’ Blair, he fully believed in uncontrolled borders and the EU project. His ideology also led him to allow a state-owned Chinese firm buy part of our energy market – was that pragmatism? It also resulted in him allowing a Chinese tariff near destroy our steel market – was that pragmatism? Comrade
Cameron
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allowed
Manon Jones 3rd Year Art & English Literature
China to do these things because he is no pragmatist, but an idealist. That ideology is the Blairite leftwing internationalist ideology. For comrade Cameron, that ideology was bigger than security and peoples’ jobs. But, of course, our comrades would not be true Blairites without a few lies here and there – and there are plenty to pick from. Comrade Osborne led us to believe this was a low-tax, low-spending government. Austerity haters will be miffed to hear that comrade Osborne actually increased both spending and taxes in most of his budgets. You see, like most revolutionaries, comrade Cameron was obsessed with power. I implore you to look up what the MP Ken Clarke said about a time when he was supposed to be on the BBC’s Question Time for the Tories. The Cameroons didn’t want him on there, and thus told the BBC that he couldn’t attend because he was ill – and he wasn’t. Finally, the area which best summed up comrade Cameron’s premiership was his foreign policy. So keen on spreading the revolution of democracy to foreign countries, he never tired of copying Supreme Leader Blair by sending planes to support unknown so-called ‘moderates’. He bombed Libya for the rebels and destroyed the lives of many millions of Libyans, who now, thanks to him, live in a country overcome with civil war. He wanted then to go into Syria to help with more bloodshed and nation ruining, rather than having meaningful peace talks with Assad. Supreme leader Cameron never tires of spilling blood for the revolutionary cause. His foreign policy was the greatest example of how comrade Cameron was Blair Mark Two. He was a left-wing ideologue obsessed with pushing the revolution, whether at the cost of jobs or lives. This man was no pragmatist; he was an ideologue, a revolutionary, a comrade.
Facts and Figures
David Cameron became an MP on the 7th of June 2001 He became leader of the Conservative Party on the 6th December 2005 He was Prime Minister from 11th May 2010 to the 13th July 2016 19th of March 2011 the UK and coalition forces fire over 110 Tomahawk missiles at Libyan targets Immigration rose from a low of 150,000 to 330,000 at the end of Cameron's premiership The budget deficit fell from 11% of GDP to 4.4% when he left in 2016 23rd June This 'Two Views' section expresses views which are not representative of the views of this paper. The views expressed are those of the author(s) alone, and may or may not be of their own personal opinion. 'The Spark' endeavours to provide a range of views to its readership, and prides itself on maintaining an unbiased position.
NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
Good Times and Tan Lines MACKENIE BROOK
‘Study Abroad or an extended summer holiday?’ I have been here about 3 months now and even though I am here for University, I still feel like I am on holiday – trying different foods, hotter weather, even going straight to the beach after my lecture finishes. Recently it was spring break, a University holiday at the end of September. This was a great excuse to explore more of WA, travelling north from Perth. First
Stop,
Kalbarri!
Kalbarri is a cute small town at the mouth of the Murchison
River and home to Kalbarri’s National Park. Kalbarri has many cute beaches, wild pelicans and rocky gorges, including the iconic Z-bend, a lookout spot overlooking the beautiful gorges. On our visit we headed up towards Natures window, a natural rock form that frames the river below, the perfect photo spot! Finally on the visit we stopped at Natural Bridge and Castle Cove two incredible cliff-top lookout spots, where you can watch the sunset and watch Humpback Whales swim by in the distance. Next
stop,
Monkey
Mia!
Monkey Mia is a stunning small reserve just 25kn Northeast of Denham in the Shark Bay Marine Park. Monkey Mia is
Mackenzie Brook ,3rd Year Art
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK Mackenzie Brook ,3rd Year Art
very small but it is home to an amazing stretch of beach, a pool, sport facilities and a bar/ restaurant. It is also famous for its popular attraction, the Bottlenose Dolphins. Every morning the Dolphins come close to the shore for feeding. The guides also give you an informative talk and history of how the feeding started, before inviting a handful of people up to feed the Dolphins. Unfortunately, I wasn’t picked! Our main destination, Coral Bay! Coral bay is a tourist resort, North of the city of Perth. It is a one road town that didn’t take very long to walk around. There are a handful of shops including a supermarket, 3 restaurants and a bakery, which serves incredible meat pies and cake! Coral Bay’s main attraction is the huge sweeping bay, Bills Bay, which is protected by Ningaloo Reef. This makes it a snorkeling paradis as it is home to an abundance
of marine life. The snorkeling was an amazing experience, a must do when visiting. Study abroad is a great way to travel; you learn so much more about the culture and how the locals live, while also expanding your knowledge on your degree. You meet some amazing people with fascinating stories, many who share the same
interests as you, friends for life. If you do go on study abroad, which I highly recommend. Make sure you explore further than just the city or town that your University is in, the world has so much to offer!
Labour Conference 2016: Corbyn is re-elected JEROME COX-STRONG
from his supporters; horror, not just dismay from his opponents.
Conference season is always a key part of the political calendar, a time when pure, unadulterated policy (and accompanying sound-bites) reigns supreme. And while a successful conference is important to all parties, major and minor, it’s the Official Opposition that usually need the positive publicity the most.
And as for ‘electoral catastrophe’, well, the 2015 election pales in comparison to the potential impact of Brexit.
Jeremy Corbyn was elected Labour leader by a resounding margin of 61.8%, to the delight of his supporters, and the dismay of his opponents – some of whom were his contemporaries in parliament. The party was still coming to terms with an electoral catastrophe that felt like years ago, even if it had only been a matter of months.
Elsewhere, Momentum’s ‘The World Transformed’, effectively a fringe event like those run by Progress, Liberty and others, had garnered negative attention prior to the conference as a ‘rival event’. In the end though, reactions were largely positive, if slightly bemused by a couple odd leaflets being handed out. But of course, the main focus, as with any conference, was on the speeches. Freshman MPs Angela Rayner and Clive Lewis both delivered impressive performances on subjects personal to them – Rayner on the Tory plans for grammar schools,
2nd Year English Literature
Except, that was last year. You’d be forgiven for getting a heavy dose of déjà vu there, because replace a few words here and there, and the last year might as well not have happened. Relief, not delight,
Bizarrely enough, however, neither the trade unions nor a ballot of constituency parties deemed it one of their four issues to formally put forward for debate.
and Lewis on issues of defence. Some, like Emily Thornberry’s, didn’t quite cut through.
Meanwhile, Corbyn’s headline speech was undoubtedly his best oration to date, yet to those like myself – ultimately supporters of him, but not without
"Corbyn’s headline speech was undoubtedly his best oration to date" increasing concerns - it felt like his leadership in a microcosm. Despite a confident and emotive tone, the speech simply felt overdrawn. Comparatively, it was actually on the short side – by word count, the shortest Labour leader’s speech since Blair in 2006– but while it resonated well with the political and media class, it was too long-
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winded, and not quite memorable enough to reach out to those for whom political awareness doesn’t extend past the 6 O’clock News.
Nothing showed this more obviously that the speech’s closing section. Towards the 55-minute mark, Corbyn had built towards a passionate crescendo, before declaring: “So I ask each and every one of you, accept the decision of the members, end the trench warfare and work together to take on the Tories.” That excerpt, delivered with a hint of anger in his voice, brought a standing ovation. Yet then, as the applause died down, he kept on going for another 5 minutes or so. As a Liverpool fan with Scouse family, I certainly enjoyed the Shankly quote, yet the speech should have ended on ‘take on the Tories’. Like Corbyn or not, as Labour’s leader, he will be a part of any success the left hopes to have in the near future, and that line put that across in the best way possible. The epilogue that followed
deflected from and ultimately, need to improve get through to
that message, rhetoric will if Labour is to the electorate.
"Despite a confident and emotive tone, the speech simply felt overdrawn"
Jasper Stinchcombe,2nd Year Art
GENERAL NEWS
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
The Best of Two Evils? TOM EDMONDS
We now have less than a month left until November 8th, the day that the American people will come out to vote in the 2016 General Election that will decide the 45th President of the United States. The election so far has been one marred by controversy, proving to be one of the most polarising elections either side of the Atlantic. The Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton has been slated as representing the Washington political establishment, as a former First Lady and a having a political career spanning decades as a US Senator and Secretary of State, she has to some become the poster girl for the country’s untrustworthy political elite. On the other side of the spectrum lies the business mogul and reality T.V star Donald Trump. The 2016 General Election will be Trump’s first foray into politics, and it has proved to certainly be a memorable one. From his plan to build a wall across the Mexican border to recent allegations about sexually harassing multiple women, Trump survived the Republican primaries and swept
past a number of career politicians such as Senator Ted Cruz, and Governor Jeb Bush. The two candidates have come to represent completely antithetical positions within the political spectrum, and their inherent differences have helped to make 2016 an exceptionally divisive election year. All that remains now before Election Day is the last Presidential Debate. There have been two debates so far, the first took place on the 26th of September at Hofstra University in New York and the second on the 9th of October at Washington University in St Louis. The first debate tackled a variety of issues, from achieving economic prosperity, race relations in the U.S and Cyber Security. Perhaps the most striking characteristic of this first debate was how much Trump was put onto the back foot. The Republican candidate was forced to defend himself a number of times over his avoidance of income tax (which was met with loud applause when questioned by Clinton) and his continued support of the ‘Birther’ conspiracy theory, which suggested that current President Barrack Obama
was not actually a naturalised citizen of the United States and was actually originally from Kenya, despite President Obama producing his Birth Certificate in 2011. The candidates went on to discuss the ongoing threat of the ISIS, with Clinton arguing for more airstrikes and more support for Arab and Kurdish forces who are fighting the Islamic State on the ground. Polls conducted the day after the first debate showed Clinton as the standout winner, with her having a 34% lead over Trump as being perceived to have performed better in the debate. The Second debate took a nastier turn, with the tone notably more hostile than before. Off the heels of his perceived loss in the first debate, Trump even went as far as to call Clinton ‘the Devil’ and said that should he gain office, he would order the Justice department to appoint a prosecutor for her use of a private server to view confidential emails, which could be seen as opening the door to cyberattacks. Trump was again forced to defend his previous controversial proposals for banning foreign Muslims into the country. On this topic, Trump said that his proposal had ‘morphed’ but did not give any specific details
BBC News
about what it had morphed in to, instead using the words “extreme vetting” to describe his policy. The debate ended on a slightly lighter note, with an audience question asking the two candidates to say something nice to each other. Clinton said she respected Trumps children as being “incredibly able and devoted, and says a lot
Prepare for #UoRCareersFair
The University of Reading Careers and Placement Fair
will this year take place on Wednesday 26th October, from 11am-3pm in Palmer Building, The Careers Fair is the biggest careers event of the year, as Palmer Building hosts more than 100 graduate employers, all looking to find the brightest and best from the University of Reading.
|NEWS
about Donald”. Trump responded by saying “She doesn’t quit. She doesn’t give up. I respect that”. The two previous debates have highlighted the current divided nature of the U.S. at the moment. Two such inherently opposite opponents, both maintaining fairly even levels in national polls shows just how fragmented the country’s
Get
Need a part-time job? Visit the JobShop.Finding part-time, flexible, local work during your time at UoR is a great way to boost both your CV and bank account. If you are looking for part-time work make sure you pop into the JobShop. The JobShop can be found on the ground floor of Carrington Building (next to the Student Service Helpdesk) and is open Monday to Friday, from 10am-4pm.
ahead with RED The Reading Experience and Development (RED) Award is the official University of Reading Employability Skills Certificate. The RED Award is open to all students and will help you stand out from the crowd in a competitive job market. To complete the award you must complete 35 hours of core activity, 10 hours of volunteering and 5 hours of training. You can register through the RISIS portal, in the “Actions” tab.
Whether you have a career pathway ahead of you or are still looking for inspiration, the Careers Fair is the perfect chance for you to start discovering a wide range of industries. We recommend you bring your CV along on the day as you never know what opportunities may present themselves. To get the most out of the Careers Fair, we recommend you attend one of our ‘ Prepare for the Fair’ workshops, which are taking place on Thursday 20 October and Tuesday 25 October at 1pm. You can book your place via the MyJobsOnline portal.
Amsyar Adanan , 2nd Year Accounting and Finance
To learn more, visit: www.reading.ac.ukcareers/events/fair/ FOLLOW US: facebook.com/UoRCareers
LIKE US
linkedin.com/groups/8340534
@UniRdg_Careers JOIN US
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The University Of Reading Careers Office
PHOTOGRAPHY & ART
SPARKPHOTOGRAPHERS@YAHOO.CO.UK
Happy Hallowe'en! Delphine Thevenet Erasmus English
MANON JONES Head of Photograhy
Boo! Haha, it's Hallowe'en. I hope you are all in a spooky mood, but if not, our photography spread is sure to give you that autumnal feeling. This year we are hoping to have more students' work featured in the paper. You can see some here from last year. We have top tips if you are new to photography, as well as our competition results, and a few treats which you can sink your teeth into!
Amy M ary Buisnes Simon 1st Ye s & Man a agmen r t
How To Be Involved ?
If you have a flair for photography or want to show off your arty skills, why not join us on Facebook at 'Spark photographers/ Artists', or keep up to date with our Instargram page at @sparkphotographers. You can also get in touch via sparkphotographers@yahoo.co.uk.
Manon Jones 3rd Year Art & English Literature
Law Nathalie Siah Graduate
Competition Winners!
Thank you for everyone who entered or 'Best Summer Photography'Competition. Check out who came first and see what prizes are up for grabs! Be sure to look at our Halloween Costume Competition to!
Nathalie Siah Law Graduate
Amysar Ad an Accountin an 2nd Year g & Finance
Calling All Artists !
Ashley Thio Jiean 3rd Year Management & Buisness
We are searching for new talent to create stunning pieces for our articles in our upcoming issues. If this is up your street then please contact: sparkphotographers@ yahoo.co.uk with your work.
Nathalie Siah Graduate
Amy Mary Simon 1st Year Buisness & Managment
Law Nathalie Siah Law Graduate
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PHOTOGRAPHY & ART
Photo Victory For Agric! SPARKPHOTOGRAPHERS@YAHOO.CO.UK
MANON JONES Head of Photograhy
contiuned front page...
from
We would like to thank our two runners up for their amazing pictures . Firstly , Jack Nicholls who placed second with his photograph of a wonderful 'Palm Tree' . Jack's picture was impressive as it really capyured the textures of the tree as well as creating lots of interesting shadows . You can see he had thought carefully about the
composition of the piece by decison of taking it at a certain angle to make it look like the tree is towering over us and providing the all import shade from the summer heat. "I took the photo while on holiday in Turkey last year earlier this year. It was the first of many amazing times I had over the summer which made it even harder to pick which photo to submit, however I chose this one because I felt the brightness of the
photo helps to convey the positive emotions and experiences that I associate with summer." In thrid place is Almal Idris with her stunning 'Sea Scape' she sent us. We loved the virbrancy of the image with its blues against the boats in the image making the picture pop with colour and helping us to feel that sea air. "This photo was taken last month in Indonesia. I believe that this summer has been an amazing journey. The image
highlights the opportunities that I have experienced, especially when there is a pathway in between the coral reefs which opens up to a beautiful island. Bright blue sea, stunning shore and people from different parts of the world in an inspirational environment have made myself appreciate how summer can be memorable.This image captures my summer journey as an international undergraduate who
is seeking for more nature and experience in a changing world where life can be exciting." Our winners will recive free entry to Union this week and have their work feature in the Spark Office as well as first place reciving a very exciting goodie bag from the team. Keep an eye out for our next competition in the photography and art sectionand a huge thank you to everyone who took part!
Jack Nicholls 2nd Year Chemistry
Top Photography Tips
AMYSAR ADANAN 2nd Year Accounting and Finance
There are a lot of different ways to start out photography these day. But most people may have begun by using their mobile phone because of the convenience that it brings. You can share the photo almost instantly to your social media. But there’s huge limitation of phone’s camera despite the convenience that comes with it. If you’re using a Mirrorless camera or a DSLR, you will have the chance to vastly improve your creative capability as these cameras are far more dynamic compared to the one that comes with your mobile devices. If you’re just starting or looking to take up photography, here are some beginners tips for you. 1. It’s not all about the gear . Equipment is important, but avoid become obsessed by it. Having an expensive or huge kit worth thousands of pounds will not always guarantee you getting a fantastic shot. Great photos can be taken even with a cheap camera. What’s important is the person behind the camera. 2. Know your camera Know how your camera works. The Iso, shutter speed and the aperture are probably the most important part of your camera. Find out what extra features your camera supports for Example: Time-lapse and RAW support - this extra feature can bring you to a whole new level of creativity. Learn the basic technicalities of your
Almal Idris 3rd Year Art
Silvia Lazzaris Masters Philosphy
equipment like how the shutter, sensor and the lens works. 3.Post-Processing It’s rare that a photographer will publish or send the photos they took in the original condition. They must have done some kind of postprocessing before the photo being published. Learn to use editing tools like the Photoshop and Lightroom to get the best of your photo. If you’re taking a lot of photos, batch editing software like the Adobe Lightroom can save a lot of your time in front of your computer. 4.RAWPhoto Taking photo in RAW format can bring huge difference when the photo being used in postprocessing. RAW format means that the photo taken are minimally processed by the camera’s processor and every bit of information taken
by the camera sensor is being saved in the photo. The benefit comes during editing in which you can notice the dynamic RAW photo can provide as compared to JPEG or other compressed formats. Even so, RAW file have a huge deal breaker which is the size, a single RAW file can go up to 10x the size of the JPEG (depends on the camera). 5.Organize your archive Separate your best photos from the others. Dumping all of your photos in one place will bring you a nightmare when it comes to searching the photo for editing and publishing. Create a backup for your photos using Cloud services like the Google Drive or external storage. 6. Look at other’s work When you go online, you’ll have access to a countless amount
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of work from other photographers ranging from amateur to professionals. Look at their works, compare and consider what makes some shot different from the others. Learn from their photos and their mistakes. 7.Practice Photography is a journey, practice and take pictures as much as you can and each time you do more pictures you’re going to get better and better. 8.Investinyourself The main key to photography is the photographer itself. Spend time learning how to take a better shot by taking classes, joining a club, finding a mentor, watching tutorial video or reading photography book. Invest in your self-improvement, be confidence and create a positive
attitude. Photography will always be a learning process even for the professionals, so make the best out of your experience.
PHOTOGRAPHY & ART
Creepy Costume Competition!
SPARKPHOTOGRAPHERS@YAHOO.CO.UK
MANON JONES Head of Photograhy
It's that time of year again! Since we had such an amazing response to our photography competiton we thought it should become a permeant part of the paper! Halloween is the one time of year you can choose who you want to be and let loose. We want to see how creative our students can be ! Really think outside the box this time everyone as there will be some sweet treats up for grabs if you manage to scare us . We are loking for oustanding craftmanship and orginal ideas but you can probably tempt us if you rock and old classic such as a halloween favourite like a witch or zombie.
Manon Jones 3rd Year Art & English Literature
We will give shout outs to amazing face painting skills as well as overall design .
Manon Jones 3rd Year Art & English Literature
Group costumes are a must with this one so team up with your mates and you can all be entitled to a supe spooky prize . Please keep in mind if it is a group more than 5 or 6 we will give credit to the person who sends the photo. Closing Date is 1st November so get cracking ! Please send your entries via email to sparkphotographers@yahoo.com
The Ones To Watch- Student Artists MANON JONES Head of Photograhy
We are keen to work with students to help them get their work out there and help potential employers become aware of thier work . Each issue we hope to update this section with three to four students current work featuring from video, graphics, typography ,painting, sculpture and much more . If you are keen to be involved or just want a cheeky promotion on your cv please email sparkphotographers@yahoo.com
ELLIE WILSDEN
3rd Year Art & English Literature
"I have become particularly interested in looking at gender and how as a society we project ideals on to our children to adhere with society. My experience working as a Visual Merchandiser and Customer Assistant in a Baby Shop has fuelled my interest in looking at how we gender children’s clothing and toys. I used a rail for this piece of work and had one side which was labelled as ‘Non Conformist to Society Collection’ with clothing I had created with aspirational messages on baby clothing which is not normally seen and the other side as the ‘Conformist to Society Collection’
where I exhibited examples of clothing I had found in shops. 'Non Conformist Collection' Ellie Wilsden 3rd Year Art & English Literature
JENNIFER GREEN 3rd Year Art
Currently on study abroad in Canada . Jennifer describes one of the projects she was asked to do in class. "In my painting class, we were given a student’s old work and told to transform it. At first, I struggled with deciding where to start changing this painting.
The clothing I had found in the shops included slogans such as ‘Ladies Man’, ‘Daddy’s Little Princess’ and ‘My Daddy Says I am Not Allowed to Date Ever’. 'Be Who You Want' Ellie Wilsden 3rd Year Art & English Literature
The idea to exhibit the pieces of clothing together is to emphasise the contrast between them. "
created, and found that it had a childish narrative, like a storybook; with universal characters. Someone mentioned the significance of the red ribbon in the Jewish culture – a symbol of luck – and this gave me the idea of linking the hands together with the ambition to have good fortune.
I really enjoyed working on this project because it really made me go out of my comfort zone. If I had started with a blank canvas I would have been at loss as to where to start, but I found bouncing off of someone else’s work gave my own practice new direction.
'The Finished Piece' Jennifer Green 3rd Year Art
I decided that a good starting point would be to find something I like about the painting and to reflect it in my own style, pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I found the body on the right the most interesting in the painting, and I liked the gesture of the hands reaching out to something on the red string, reflected this gesture on the other side of the board, and I liked the way the hands ran parallel to each other. I found that I wanted to keep what the hands are reaching for ambiguous; I found the empty space interesting as the audience could decide what they think all these people are trying to reach. In our class crit, my classmates liked the different characters I had
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To finish the piece, I added a couple more hands and extended the red ribbon to reflect the lines I had created with the hands. I painted over the original painting in the middle as I felt it distracted from the hands and I was not quite sure what it was originally supposed to be.
I will definitely be using this tactic again if I have more artist’s block!" You can see more of Ellie and Jennifer's works on their blogs : elliewilsdenart.wordpress.com & jennifergreensite.wordpress.com
LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
MENINGITIS WANT HELP WITH AWARENESS HALLOWEEN MAKE UP? Did you know meningitis is a huge Ari will give you step by step guides for some spooky problem amongst students? Read our advice article and get the low down Halloween makovers. on this deadly disease.
PLANNING YOUR CHRISTMAS GETAWAY? Dimitra takes us through some cheap places to go over the Christmas break.
AUTUMN FOOD IS THE BEST KIND We give you plenty of autumnal recipes to keep you busy cooking.
LIFESTYLE
LAUREN GORDON Lifestyle Editor
Deren Suzme and Olga Soroka
Hannah Johnson 3rd Year Art and English Literature
How to make the most of your Week Six TYLER ZUPIC
2nd Year Engish Literature and
So you have looked at your timetable and you have realised that from Monday 31 October until Friday 04 November (week 6) that you have no scheduled lectures or seminars. For those of you who are unaware, this is what we call Enhancement Week. You may not know what you should be doing during this week, or you may want to use your time more proactively than you have previously. Here are some pointers to help make the most of your Enhancement Week.
Catch up on any missed lectures/seminars Did you miss a 9am Thursday morning lecture because you went out to union the night before? Did you then miss the seminar later that day because you did not go to the lecture? I bet you completely forgot to look at the lecture and seminar slides and copy up the work. If this
is the case, Enhancement Week is the perfect time to go back and ensure that any sessions you did miss, have been looked over and understood. You have the time to ask your friends or lecturers for help if it is needed, and they will have the time to help you. You can meet up and discuss any issues, rather than trying to solve things over email as everyone has this extra time. By doing this, there will be no gaps in your work and you will be up to date and prepared for the rest of the term. Look back at previous lecture and seminar notes Were the main ideas covered in your lectures and seminars properly understood? Do you understand what your notes are about? Can you even read your own writing? Enhancement Week gives you the time to go through your notes at your own pace, allowing you to find out for yourself what you did and did not understand. If you find that you are unsure about certain things, clarify any issues while you have time.
This is a much better approach than waiting until you are set an essay or have an exam coming up to realise that you did not quite understand the aim of the lecture or seminar. Save yourself the panic and hassle of trying to work things out under pressure. Get your notes out, sign in on Blackboard, get some snacks and drinks and go through your previously made notes and revisit what you have done. Make your life easier for the forthcoming weeks, not harder.
these sessions will allow for that extra explanation to happen. Has there been a question you have only recently realised that you do not know the answer to, and you have asked your friends and they cannot help? The answer will most likely come up in the session, or if not, you will have the chance to ask the lecturer. So go to the event, find answers to all of your questions, and get the extra help to improve your own knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Attend the events that Complete essays and your subject puts on do revision for exams if required An extra hour in bed, or go to the event from your subject that has appeared on your timetable? Even though the extra hour in bed will be very appealing, go to the event! These events during Enhancement Week are there to benefit you. These sessions are often revision sessions, so if you cannot grasp something from a lecture or seminar, and you really need it explaining again,
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Are you really thinking of leaving that essay or revision you have had the whole of Enhancement Week to do, to the night before it is due? Do not do it to yourself. Break up the work/ revision you have into manageable amounts, and complete it day by day over the Enhancement Week. This way, your work load will not seem as large as each day certain
sections of your work/revision will be completed. This is a much better method of completing tasks, rather than leaving everything until the night before.
Make sure you relax and have fun You have been working hard all term. You have been doing essays, revision, lecture and seminar catch up in your Enhancement Week, so it is time to give yourself a break. Make time for yourself, relax. This Enhancement Week gives you spare time to do the things you may not have been able to fit in. Go and meet up with friends you have not seen in a while, go on nights out more than once a week, read that book you have been dying to read, go to that place you have wanted to visit but never had the time to, or just lay in bed and watch TV for hours and not feel guilty about it. You have the extra time within Enhancement Week to do these extra activities, so why not do them? As clichĂŠ
FRESHERS EXCLUSIVE
LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
|LIFESTYLE
Halloween Makeup Tutorial: Pop Art ARI CARRINGTON
Not up for making your housemates skin crawl with a terrifying Halloween costume? Fair enough. You may still want a show-stopping look, but just a little more cute-andclever instead of “ah please, no”. Pop Art is a great (and super easy) look that will wow your friends and will not send people running off screaming.
You will need:
- your usual foundation - white face paint - a small stubby brush - a black eyeliner pen - black mascara - an eyelash curler - bright blue eyeshadow (cream is easier but if using powder also use an eyeshadow shield) - brow gel - bright red lipstick - white eyeliner pencil
STEP 1: Apply foundation as usual and do not set with powder. This is to give a nice, smooth, even base. STEP 2: Draw white dots over your entire face, neck, chest and any other skin that is showing using facepaint and the small stubby brush. STEP 3: Wait until the facepaint is dry. This is probably the most important step as it is vital that it be completely dry. STEP 4: Draw a bright blue blob under your eye to look like tears welling. STEP 5: Line around this blue shape with black liner. Also, draw a droplet just below and fill in with blue. STEP 6: Line all the way around your eyes in black, drawing a short and thick wing-ish shape on the upper line.
STEP 7: Curl lashes and apply mascara. Line the waterline in white pencil. STEP 8: Apply red lipstick over your lips. STEP 9: On the same side as you have got the tears, draw a small oblong on your lower lip using white facepaint. STEP 10: Line your lips with black eyeliner, keeping it super precise and neat. This is probably the hardest bit. STEP 11: Fill your brows thickly and darkly, more as a block of colour rather than looking like real eyebrows. STEP 12: Using black liner draw a straight line down the length of your nose. Draw a curve at the either side of the end of your nose (where your nose meets your face). Draw a line along your jaw from ear to ear. Finally, if you are showing any cleavage, draw it on in
Ari Carrington , 2nd Year English Literature
Halloween Makeup Tutorial: Possessed This is not for the faint hearted, but it is Halloween, so let’s get scary….like, really scary. This look is great for a night out, a costume contest, or for creeping your housemates out. It is easy too, although it will take a reasonable amount of time.
You will need:
- your usual foundation - white face paint - a black eyeliner pen (I would have a spare one to hand because eyeliner pens do not like being applied on top of facepaint), dark red/purple eyeshadow - white glitter loose powder eyeshadow - dark red/purple eyeliner pencil - eyeshadow in a similar colour to your hair (bonus points for bright hair colours) - hair gel - brow gel (Benefit’s Gimme Brow is fantastic for this) - hair straighteners
STEP 1: Apply your usual foundation to give a clear base to work from. STEP 2: Draw a black
line from the base of each ear to the corners of the mouth, using eyeliner. STEP 3: Apply white facepaint along the length of the line, about 1.5cm on each side, narrowing as you get near the ears. STEP 4: Draw, in black liner, the outlines of jagged, pointy teeth along the white lines (both top and bottom). Fill in any white space between the teeth and around the teeth with black. If need be, you can touch up the teeth with white facepaint to get a better shape, but they do not have to be too precise. STEP 5: Apply a large circle of bright purple-red eyeshadow around each eye. STEP 6: Using white glitter eyeshadow, blend the edges of these circles. This does not want to be precise. STEP 7: Line all the way around your eyes, including the waterline with dark purple-red eyeliner. STEP 8: Draw curving lines coming out of your eyes, all the way around, like spider legs. STEP 9: Apply brow
gel to darken your brows. Brush the hairs up and away from your eyes rather than grooming them neatly. Make it messy, feral and scary. Extra credit if you leave off maintaining them for a week before for that extra wild vibe. STEP 10: Using the eyeshadow in a similar colour to your hair and a blusher type brush, apply colour along your hairline, on your temples down to the teeth, and under your jaw on both sides. STEP 11: Using a similar brush, apply a light layer of white glitter eyeshadow to any skin that is still skin coloured. Apply it more heavily down the centre of your nose and down the centre of your neck. STEP 12: Straighten your hair and then apply too much hair gel. You want it messy and hay like, but flat at the top. STEP 13: Accessorise! Chains are great for the possession vibe, and it is a way to use those detachable chains that come with clutch bags.
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Ari Carrington , 2nd Year English Literature
LIFESTYLE| MR MAGNETIC & MISS ADVISED
LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
Meningitis Student Awareness LAUREN GORDON Lifestyle Editor
We are students who are in the prime of our youth and as indestructible as we feel, we are far from it. Meningitis amongst students is a massive issue and one that is not discussed even nearly enough as it should be. Recently at The Spark we got in touch with the Meningitis Research Foundation to get a bit more info on what we need to be aware of as students to help stamp out the spread of this lifethreatening disease. It is strongly advised by the Meningitis Research Foundation to get vaccinated against meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) due to the MenW bug. Cases of MenW have increased
dramatically in the past couple of years and this is extremely alarming because this illness can be fatal and even those who survive are left with life changing disabilities. The vaccination will also protect you against other strains of the illness.
If you are under the age of 25 and are starting university for the first time, then the prime time to get vaccinated is two weeks before term starts. For those of you who have not yet been vaccinated, call your GP as soon as possible to get booked in as most surgeries in the UK offer it. This is not something to be left or forgotten about – it is something that could easily affect your time at University. As students we need to support and look out for one another
because we are all living away from home and for some of us, this will be for the first time. Therefore, it is useful to be aware of the symptoms. Meningitis can develop extremely rapidly, with early symptoms being a headache, vomiting, muscle pain, fever and cold hands and feet. There is a myth around meningitis that the first symptom is a rash developing but this is not always the case and when it comes to having all of the symptoms mentioned you should not just wait for a rash to develop and instead seek medical attention urgently.
Please go and get vaccinated! This will not only protect you but also those around you and will help to ensure that your time at
Reading are the best years of your life.
Menegitis Reasearch Foundation
The Meningitis Research Foundation have just launched a #StoptheSpread campaign and you can find out more about this at their website: http://www. meningitis.org.
Mental Illness and Me: A story about living with Anxiety MILLIE FARQUHAR
I will not deny that having sat down to write this article, I have spent the past 20 minutes panicking over the headline and even more time panicking over what the editors will say, whether or not this article will be cut down to size, how inconvenient that will be for the team to do, and so on until I nearly talked myself out of writing this all together. Nevertheless, seeing as the 10th of October was World Mental Health Day, I thought it would be fitting to tell you all my story and just to say that you are not alone. I have always been an anxious person. Someone who had to arrive an hour early to things rather than risk being late by leaving on time. I was always quick to quit things that I felt I was not good at and hardly ever socialised with people that I did not know. My anxiety was the shadow in the back of my mind that constantly plied me with thoughts of self-doubt and deprecation wherever I went. It was the little voice that told me I was not good enough, that I was not worth the oxygen I used. It was one of the main reasons why I
dropped out of my first university and barely left the house for a year. The root of all my anxiety was the fear of disappointing others or the thought that I was an inconvenience or someone that people did not like. Whenever people told me I looked pretty or invited me into their homes, my mind told me that they did not want to see me, that they were only being polite, lying, that really they just wanted me to go away. So I never said yes to anything. Then in July last year, everything changed. I had been in my house for about a month without leaving it, eating too much and pushing away anyone that was not my family. I said I have had enough. I was fed up of being afraid, and worrying about everything. I went and saw a therapist and started looking at new universities. Reading had always been on my list of dream universities to go to, so I applied for English Literature. I was in complete shock when I opened my emails one day and found an unconditional offer in my inbox. Someone wanted me, Reading University wanted me to be one of their students. They invited me to an open day and I practically leapt at the opportunity. I remember
sitting in a room in HumSS having a mock seminar with one of the Creative Writing lecturers who asked me to stay behind to tell me that he wanted me to come to Reading because I could write and he wanted to teach me. Two years later and here I am, I have two jobs at the University and another working on film sets as a marshal. I have an amazing group of friends and an amazing boyfriend who has seen me at my worst and still stayed with me. Whenever I think about what has made this all possible I think that without Reading I would be nowhere, I would probably still be sitting on the sofa in my house pretending I did not exist. I still have bad anxiety, I still have days when I do not want to
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leave my room and want to curl into a ball so small no one would find me but every day I wake up thankful for the people around me and the support network I have in place. Life is a challenge, but now I face up to it rather than running.
and speak to someone. Even the study advice people on the first floor of the library are incredible and will do everything they can to help you, like If you have problems with they did with me. anxiety I urge you to go to the Carrington building Costculator.com
costcalulator.com
FOOD
Dry, Winter Lip Hack LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
ARI CARRINGTON The best hack to beat chapped winter lips With winter coming, your lips are about to get dry and cracked, which becomes extremely painful. I have spent many years trying to find a cure or a preventative measure, but most lip balms are not up to the job and most other hacks are rather rubbish.
I have finally found the way to soft and supple lips, no matter how bad the weather gets. Also, as an added bonus, it will only cost you about a fiver for over a year’s supply. There are two steps to this one, and each is as important as the next, but they so simple it will barely impact your beauty routine. Do this twice a day for maximum effect - I do it at the same time as I brush my
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teeth.
Step 1: Using an electric toothbrush, exfoliate your lips. Literally just brush them with an electric toothbrush. If you do not already use an electric toothbrush (which I highly recommend), you can buy disposable electric toothbrushes for a couple of pounds in most beauty shops.
Step 2: Apply a generous coat of coconut oil. I know, coconut oil has been somewhat over-praised in the media recently. Even though it isn’t that great for most things, this is the exception. It is fantastic for lips and if you are shopping in the right place, it can come at an affordable price.
Black Lace Rabbit Lipstick Review ARI CARRINGTON
If you are a regular reader of beauty magazines, then you have almost certainly heard about the Black Lace Rabbit lipstick by Lipstick Queen. It has been everywhere for the past month, with absolutely rave reviews. Obviously I was desperate to try it, so I tracked down a site that would ship it to the UK. As per the product description and the many reviews I had read, it is a sheer black-with-gold-flecks lipstick that can be applied on its own or over another lipstick to achieve a darker, smokier effect.
It is likened to wearing black lace on your lips (hence the name…). It’s okay. It goes on beautifully and whilst it does not have the best staying power, it stays about 18x longer than the Kylie Lip Kits (and costs about a third the price!). On its own it gives a very sheer black covering, which is a quick and simple way to a decent lip. However, the colour does not build well if you are trying to get a more intense smoky look. When it comes to putting it over other lipsticks, it goes on well over matte and glossy lipsticks and does give a very subtle smoke to them. It does not work well
with liquid lipsticks. One issue has got to be the staying power and the way it affects the lipstick underneath. Unless you are applying it over a seriously good long-lasting lipstick (hello Mac) then the colour underneath is only going to last as long as the Black Lace Rabbit lipstick, which is not that long (couple of hours tops). Overall, it does not live up to the hype but to be as good as the reviews have been claiming it to be, it would have to be pretty much magic. It is a nice and incredibly versatile lipstick but it does work best on its own or else it becomes
very high maintenance. All in all, 3.5/5, and I would probably buy it again.
li[stickqueen.com
Christmas Getaway on Student Budget DIMITRA PATOURI
Wondering how to do a ‘student budget’ getaway at Christmas in a nice destination that could match your needs for relaxation and pleasure? When you are swamped by studies, assignments, deadlines and dissertations it is hard to find the time to do your ‘getaway research’ so here at The Spark we have the ultimate guide to student-friendly Christmas holidays in Vienna and Athens. The first tip is to book as early as possible because the earlier you book the cheaper it will be and this is the better for your budget planning. The price for a five day stay in Vienna starts from under £100 in December, and this includes departure and return tickets. If you choose this destination then it is very important that you carry your student ID around so that you can benefit from the student discounts they offer at museums. This can save you a great deal of money. For food lovers, Austria’s
famous schnitzel is a must to try out in their most traditional restaurant called Figlmuller, where you will be served a large portion of schnitzel with a salad at the side for just over £10. For sightseeing, the Natural History Museum is very interesting as you can engage in activities available through the 3G exhibits. Also, the Schrobrunn Palace is a must-see as it takes you back to the reign of the Austrian Royal Dynasty, and guides you through their private rooms and everyday activities in the palace, providing the visitors with audio guide and maps for around £20. Just a bit of advice in order to be cautious, if you end up at Stephanzplats, Stephen’s Square (which I do recommend visiting) do not sit at the square around the church as the prices there are very high and aim to trick clueless travelers. To finish your vacation in a sweet sense, do visit and taste the splendid Viennese deserts,
especially the famous apple strudel at the historical Café Central, which has been open since 1876.
unlimited sightseeing all day and take great pictures next to thousands of year old statues.
Athens is an equally affordable destination, with the ticket price starting from under £90 in December for 4-5 days, and I guarantee you will enjoy cheap and tasty food as well as nightlife and sightseeing. For ski lovers, the Kalavrita Skiing Centre which is situated just 200km from Athens is the place to go. The prices are student-friendly as the ticket, skiing gear and training will cost you approximately £40 for a day, and for those of you who want to live the ultimate experience, an All Inclusive Ski package is available which includes an overnight stay, brunch/ lunch and skiing gear for £40.
It is very easy to move around the city of Athens and go from one place to another through the underground metro with is cheap
Also, the archeological monuments as well as the new Archeological Museum of Athens and the Acropolis have free access so you can enjoy
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and consists of only three lines. Monastiraki is an area in Athens where you can fine small cozy places to relax, try the famous greek souvlaki and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, as well as do some souvenir shopping for you, your family and friends.
Dimitra Patouri
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Easy & TastyAutumn Baking Recipes Get Ready For Those Cold Winter Months With Our Toasty Autumnal Recipes BECKY WHITE It’s approaching that time of the year - cold weather, fluffy socks and cosy log fires. Autumn is finally here again and what better way to celebrate than to bake some delicious seasonal recipes, with traditional Autumnal spices and foods. Pumpkin spice is an increasingly popular ingredient in baking during the Autumn months, so why not try Pumpkin Pecan Peanut Butter Cookie Cups - something slightly different, and the perfect twist on the popular peanut butter cup snacks. The recipe includes wrapping peanut butter cups in cookie dough, and topping with a pecan nut - they are really simple to make and the recipe can be found on the Betty Crocker website. Now for a recipe which is both perfect for the whole of the Autumn season and also as a
Halloween treat - Maple-Glazed Baked Apples, a tasty twist on the classic toffee apple. Making them involves drizzling a sweet, seasonal syrup over the apples and then simply placing them in the oven to bake - not forgetting to add the cinnamon sticks for the apple holders! This is yet again an easy recipe to make, and uses maple syrup and apple juice instead of toffee. The cinnamon stick adds an extra seasonal element and is a fun twist, and makes the perfect recipe for your friends and family to enjoy. If you would like to make this recipe, you can find it on bng. com. For those of you who love s’mores in the Autumn/winter months, this treat may be perfect for you - toasted marshmallow and nutella chocolate chip cookies. The perfect treat for anyone who loves seasonal desserts and have a love for chocolate! It also means that anyone who does not have access to a log/camp fire does
not have to miss out on toasted marshmallows! All you have to do to make these delicious cookies is make a chocolate chip cookie dough, and top with chocolate spread and a marshmallow, and then bake in the oven. This recipe could not be easier, and is perfect to make for friends or even for a party! If you would like to have a go, you can find the recipe on cheatsheet.com. For an extra autumnal feel, pumpkin spice cupcakes are ideal for anyone who loves pumpkin spice, and you can never go wrong with cupcakes! These cupcakes include a pumpkin and spice flavoured sponge, and are then topped with a cinnamon cream cheese icing. They are slightly more challenging and time consuming than the other recipes, but are so worth it! This is basically Autumn in a cupcake, and similarly to the other recipes would be perfect for gatherings or family and friends! If you would
like to try this recipe, you can find it on allrecipes.co.uk. Baking lots of autumnal recipes are a great way to make the most of this time of year, and will help to add a warm feeling to your home
as the weather gets colder!
Jennifer Pallian
A Foodie At Uni: Autumn Treats
SAMMY COOPER University Of Reading Graduate
So leaving home and living the university life comes with a number of benefits, but dinner time is unfortunately not one of them. With university housing and Halls being renowned for their untidy kitchens (well at least I hope this isn’t just mine), cooking cheap, comforting and nutritious meals are often a rarity. Seeing as it’s October, I’ve opted/attempted to come up with some Halloween themed dishes, and what’s more Halloween-y than pumpkins? (Except possibly for a night out on Friar street dressed in an outfit that you’ll inevitably regret wearing). As English weather really comes into its own, this pumpkin soup and Butternut Squash Risotto will warm you right up after that long, cold walk in the rain back from Agric. Both meals freeze well, so they can be your saving grace when you need a quick feed when that Netflix series won’t watch itself. Pumpkin Soup So fair dos herbs and spices
aren’t often in your average uni kitchen, but with most supermarkets offering them for less than a pound they’re a brill ‘investment’ thanks to their versatility and the fact that you only use a small amount each time. People talk about turmeric having anti-inflammatory properties (an added bonus), and cumin can be you used in so many dishes, including the classic student favourite of chilli con carne. This recipe use pumpkin, but if you can’t find any or simply don’t fancy it, butternut squash works just as well, and can often be bought pre-chopped, which is a life saver if you’re a lazy sod. INGREDIENTS 1 pumpkin 2 carrots 1 parsnip 1 clove of garlic 1 stock cube (chicken or veg) 1 tsp turmeric ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp chilli flakes
Juice half a lime EQUIPMENT Chopping board and knife Roasting tin/baking tray (the bigger the better) Large saucepan Wooden spoon Some kind of blender (stick blender works best, but smoothie makers could also work)
METHOD Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Prepare and chop the pumpkin into ½ inch cubes. Tip – it’s easier to chop the pumpkin first then simply chop out the seeds and pith. Peel and chop the carrots and parsnips. Spread out on a large baking tray or roasting dish, making sure they don’t overlap (so you may need two trays). Peel the garlic and squish it with a knife. Add to the tray and roast in a little oil for 40 minutes (coconut oil is great if you’ve splashed out and have some in stock, but any oil will do). Once the veg is cooked, tip into a large saucepan (including now roasted garlic
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clove) and sprinkle in the stock cube. Add a mug full of boiling water and blend to puree. Ideally this is done with a stick blender, but should work with any kind of smoothie maker or food processor. Be careful when opening if using a smoothie maker, as the pressure can cause it to spray out. Add the spices and blend again, adding more boiling water to create your desired soup texture. Squeeze in the lime and season with salt and pepper. Try a little bit and add anymore spices to taste. Serve it up and enjoy. Leave it to cool completely before putting in Tupperware/ freezer bags and shoving in the fridge or freezer. Check out Sammy's other recipe on the next page .... You can find Sammy's other recipes here : instagram @afoodieatuni, www.afoodieatuni.com
Sammy Cooper University Of Reading Graduate
RECIPES
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A Foodie at Uni: More Autumn Treats SAMMY COOPER University Of Reading Graduate
Another delightfully Autumnal dish. Although slightly time consuming, risotto is actually super easy, and when the result is a beautiful bowl of carbs I think it’s definitely worth it.
INGREDIENTS 1 butternut squash 1 onion 1 tbsp butter 300g risotto rice 1 stock cube 2 tsps dried sage Parmesan cheese (pre-grated stuff is easiest and lasts for ages) EQUIPMENT Chopping board and knife
Roasting tin/baking tray (the bigger the better) Large saucepan – a wok works really well Wooden spoon Ladle
METHOD Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees. Peel and chop the BNS (or use the pre-chopped stuff if you’re lazy like me). Roast in a splash of oil for around 40 minutes, or until it’s tender and slightly caramelised Meanwhile, finely chop the onion and add it to a large pan along with the butter. Leave to sweat on a medium heat until softened Pour in the risotto rice and stir to coat the rice in the butter. Keep stirring until the rice starts to go transparent around the edges
Make up the stock with around 1.5l of boiling water. Add a ladle full to the pan, stirring continuously. Once absorbed, add all the stock a ladle at a time (this should take around 25-30 minutes). Stirring the risotto constantly is what gives it that creamy, indulgent texture, so although time consuming, it’s definitely worth doing. (10/10 would recommend bringing laptop into the kitchen to watch some Netflix while you stir)
ARI CARRINGTON INGREDIENTS (for 1) half a tin of chopped tomatoes 2 eggs hot sauce or chilli powder (to taste) 1 onion 1 tbsp tomato puree
METHOD 1) Cook the rice according to instructions and set aside (keep it warm).
As students, eating a healthy ‘proper’ meal is something I think we all struggle with. I mean - what is the point in putting the effort into cook healthily when there is a perfectly functioning microwave in your kitchen. Plus, cooking for yourself seems hard when nothing beats mum’s home cooked meals. Even so, after the fifth day in a row of having pizza for dinner, there comes a point when we need to shake up what is going on the dinner table. I have put together some tips to improve what is on your menu, whilst sticking to a student friendly budget. 1.Freeze your fresh One thing that puts us off buying fresh fruit and veg as
students is not always just the price tag, but the expiry date. Fruit and veg goes out of date extremely quickly, that sometimes there does not seem much point in buying it. This is when you need to make friends with your freezer. Getting fruit and veg to last longer is as easy as chopping it up, and placing it in your freezer, then simply defrost it when you want to use it. Freezing your meat is also a great way to prevent it going past its expiry date.
2. Plan and prep Make your weekly meals ahead of time, and keep them in the fridge or freezer so they are ready to take onto campus for lunch, or all ready if you are rushing around in the evening. By planning and prepping your
Sammy Cooper University Of Reading Graduate
Add the sage along with as much parmesan as you like. My number 1
2) Chop the onion up roughly into small pieces and cook with the oil in a frying pan until soft and/or golden. Add the garlic after the first couple of minutes. 3) Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, hot sauce and honey and cook on med-high until it becomes thicker and less
Healthy on a budget EMMA CAMPBELL
Dish up and top with the left over BNS. Leave to cool completely before refrigerating/freezing.
Once the BNS is ready, put half of it to one side and mash the other half before stirring it into the risotto. At this point, you should be able to draw a wooden spoon through the rice, which should stay parted for 2-3 seconds.
Recipe: Spicy Eggs 1 tsp honey (or ½ tsp sugar) small handful of grated cheese rice 1 clove garlic splash of oil
student tip is that cheese makes everything better, so don’t be afraid to go all out with it. It adds to the flavour and makes it extra creamy.
meals, you can eat healthy as well as saving money (if you forget to defrost your meals, there is a microwave in ‘the study’ located on campus) 3. Leftovers do not belong in the bin Chucking perfectly edible leftovers into the bin is such a common thing people do. Freezing your leftovers for lunch is a much better way to avoid wasting food, and stop you spending money on food on campus. 4. On Campus With a multicultural campus and town, eating healthy does not have to be boring. Seoul Plaza on campus offer some great oriental healthier options. They also have a hot cupboard for some cheap easy hot meals. On Thursdays
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liquid-like. Optionally, if you want to make this even healthier, you can add extra veggies in along with the tomatoes. Mushrooms and spinach both work well. 4) Make two rough holes or gaps in the contents of the pan and crack the eggs into them. Continue cooking on a med-low heat, without stirring.
5) When the eggs are almost done, sprinkle the cheese over the top of the pan and cook until it’s fully melted. 6) Serve over the rice. And there you have it – spicy eggs.
there is also a fruit and vegetable market in 3sixty, where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables which is a great to buy fresh, and try out some new vegetable options.
so called superfoods and dieting products. There is not one type of food that will suddenly get you abs or get rid of your spots. Eating healthily is really about going for the healthy food you like, and eating it as a well-balanced diet. There are so many recipes out there on blogs, in books or just on google that you are bound to find one that suits your lifestyle and your budget. So do some searching, but do not be drawn in by fancy advertising and big
5. Soup it up One of my all-time favourite things to do is make soup. It is such an easy and cheap way to eat healthily. Simply pick out your favourite vegetables, and make them into a soup. There are some great recipes online for different soups you can try, and all you need is your saucepan and a handheld blender. A great healthy meal to enjoy in the winter months. 6. Superfood scam Eating healthy does not mean you need to spend a fortune on
price tags.
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Camp America- The Best Summer of your Life SALLY NICHOLLS
As a student it is so important for us to make the most of our summers as we are all aware that it will not be long before we are in full time work and unable to go gallivanting about to different places for a few months of the year. If you are looking for a cheaper way to experience life across the pond then Camp America is definitely something you should look into! This summer I worked at Camp Menzies which is a Girl Scout Camp in California and I cannot recommend it enough – it is the single best decision I have ever made. You get to spend your summer living it up in the sunshine (it did not rain once), meeting people from all around the world and acting like a big kid. What more could you want? There is a huge range of different camps across America
with my camp possibly being one of the most remote. The camp I got placed at was in a forest up a mountain. It had no Wi-Fi and only had electricity during the daytime when the generator was switched on… talk about getting close to nature! Scaring off bears and mountain lions as well as swimming in the lake with the water snakes made it quite an experience. I had the job of being a Camp Counselor which involves having your own group of around 15-20 children to look after and doing your best to make their time at camp amazing. The usual day involved waking the kids up at 7am and taking them to the singing logs where we all had a singsong before breakfast, followed by several activity slots throughout the day. You could be doing a whole range of things including: swimming in the lake,
Sally Nicholls, 2nd Year Biological Sciences
nature activities, horse riding, outdoor cooking and archery. The best part is that you get to join in with all of the activities that the kids do, or even run them yourself if you want to. I was very lucky as my camp trained all of our staff to be archery instructors so I could teach my own archery sessions too. There is never a dull moment at camp and every day is filled with incredible amounts of laughter, campfires, belting out the classic camp songs and a crazy amount of smores. I have never had a job that was more fulfilling. This summer was also probably the biggest challenge I have ever undertaken because I was tackling meeting 40+ new people in one go and adjusting to a new place and a new job where you are responsible for the safety of a bunch of little kids. At the end, it makes you feel pretty damn proud of yourself when you realise what you have achieved. Once you have finished your time at camp you have 30 days left on your visa for travelling. I did not have any plans set in stone before I went and ended up tagging along with some friends from camp which worked out really well. We caught the Megabus to San Francisco and then to Los Angeles and hired a car. We went on an epic road trip to San Diego, Joshua Tree
Advice from a Leaver that you could get placed at,
canoeing, hiking, arts and crafts,
Sally Nicholls, 2nd Year Biological Sciences
National Park, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Zion National Park, the Valley of Fire National Park and the Hoover Dam and then ended in Las Vegas. We managed to do this fairly cheaply as we took a tent and stayed at any campgrounds that we came across on our way. On my way back to England I stopped off in New York for a few days before flying home. The whole thing was a truly magical experience and it definitely does not feel real now I am back to normal life at university. Experiences like these give you so much confidence and allow you to meet so many new people, not to mention how good it looks on your CV.
forward. All you have to do is complete an application form and answer some questions about your hobbies and skills, go to an interview and then make a short video about why you want to work at camp. Once all that is done you wait to get placed at a camp, send off for a police check, head off to the US Embassy in London to grab your visa, book your flights and then you are away on your adventure. You do have to pay agency fees but the chances are you should make back the money you pay for your fees and flights. The amount you get paid depends a lot on your age and the agency you apply through.
The process of applying to work at camp is not too difficult, I applied through AmeriCamp and it was pretty straight
3 years go real fast, like Drake’s “0 to 100 real quick” fast
CHRISTOPHER J LIN With your first month behind you, you must be settling in nicely and loving it. Meanwhile, I’m in a tiny dormitory in New York panicking about “midterms” and conversing about Donald Trump. Sigh. America. The reader is correct that I left Reading a while back, and you might ask: why the is he writing for the Spark? I, like many recent graduates, suffer from Reading withdrawal. I miss Foxhill House, which makes us law students quite chuffed that it is so exclusive. I miss Bagelman, whose name I may never know, but whose bagels are works of art. And yes, I even miss the
labyrinth-like HumSS building. Laugh all you want, but this will be you in three years. So, do not do a Chris and get overly tearful and regretful. How? Dive headfirst into the University experience because it is going to help you grow a pair and you will love it.
I miss Bagel-Man, whose name I may never know, but whose bagels are works of art. Do everything that interests you. Yes, everything. Once you join the real world, you may never get the chance to go back to
your interests ever. Freedom and time are rare things and now that you have them, go all for it. The fun that comes is limitless. Learn everything. Some lectures were what my dear friend Ian described as “intellectual assault without consent” but even the most casual conversations have learning value, whether it is about academics or real life. Forget about the “toddler learning curve”, because it is in University where you get exposed to the big boy/girl stuff. I am not asking you to be able to string Jurisprudence and your ex together in a conversation, but what you get now sticks for life (to be fair, if you can do that you are pretty
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incredible). Make all the friends you can. Do not just form a #SQUAD and forget about everyone else - go out and start talking, and maybe with a cuppa or a £2 snakebite. Meanwhile, £3 in New York gets you a ‘MURICAN beer (ugh god please no). I made so many great friends that we are each part of so many squads, whether it was the Dunsden fam or bboys (you all know who you are <3), and we did so much together. Some of my best friends threw me into Whiteknights Lake at this year’s Law School Picnic. Top that. I could take up this whole issue of The Spark with endless
amounts of advise but I am sure the other writers would not be happy…so, in short, go all out. Make your £9000 worth it and prove that the end result is not just a £27000 handshake with the VC and a piece of paper. Three years goes fast, and before you know it, you will join the adult world where life is not as friendly as Bagelman, or as satisfying as a 3am kebab (under certain circumstances). Carpe Diem. Make every moment count. Cliché, I know.
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Mr Magnetic & Miss Advised
Dear Mr Magnetic My first few weeks here at Reading have gone better than expected. My modules are going well, I love my flat, and there is not a 9am class in sight. Despite my seemingly smooth transition into university life as well as my surprisingly busy social life, I cannot help but feel that perhaps some things are going better than others. My girlfriend and I met back at home and have been together around a year now, but I am worried that the stresses of university and living so far apart are beginning to put a strain on our relationship. We visit each other when we can – usually around once a month – and have the occasional skype call here and there, but I feel like we are drifting apart. The arguments are becoming more frequent and the messages less so. Is there anything I (or we) can do to try and make things work? From Trouble in Paradise Dear Trouble in Paradise Starting university is difficult at the best of times, but trying to juggle living in this new environment with making new friends, studying for class, and maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner is another story altogether. How you approach your relationship is personal and differs from person to person; some people will see their partners every weekend while others can go weeks, even months before meeting up. If you feel like you want to see your girlfriend more, suggest it – she may be feeling the same way as you. Contrastingly, if you feel like once a month is too often and may be a source of your arguments, have a chat about that too. The key here, and to any relationship, is communication. If you are happy about something – talk about it. Not happy? Talk about it – do not give in to the silent treatment trap. My suggestion would be to make your visits something to look forward to. With Halloween and Christmas just around the corner, you will not be strapped for things to do in and around Reading. Whether it is a walk along the Thames or a quick visit to the Cole Museum of Zoology on campus, having an event planned for the weekend not only shows that you have gone to the effort of arranging activities, but it also gives you both something to talk about and the opportunity to experience something new together. Reading is a town made for couples with the centre full of restaurants, so you will be able to either play it safe with a tried-and-tested favourite or try something new. If this all sounds like too much, something more low-key like a card through the post can go a long way or starting a new T.V. series together can be just as fun as a day out. If you have tried your best and it still does not work, then maybe it was not meant to be. All the best Mr Magnetic
Kate Bowen, Reading University Graduate
Dear Ms. Advised, My housemate and I are like two peas in a pod! From the moment we met we got along splendidly, with secret jokes, and a nightly cooking session, we begun doing everything together. But, most importantly, we were always there for each other, supporting each other through some pretty rough times. We truly are best friends or at least we were, until I found out that she supports a political cause which I condemn, to say the least. It came up in a regular conversation, when, without batting an eyelid, she declared that not only is she an advocate of said cause, but she regularly attends rallies. Ever since that day I try to avoid her as much as I can. I make excuses when she wants to talk, and eat my dinners in my room. It has been really rough, because, on one hand I always regarded people who believe the things she does as evil, while on the other hand she is still the best friend I ever had. I do not know if I can go back to the way we were, knowing that she stands for these things. I miss her terribly, and I am getting sick of eating ready-made meals in my room to avoid seeing her. What should I do? Should I abandon my ideals for a friendship? Please help. Stubborn Sally
Dear Stubborn Sally, There comes a time in every person’s life when they realise not everyone shares their opinions, and that is ok. There is never right or wrong when when it comes to politics, only perspective. Although you might be very sure of your stand point, your friends’ stand point is just as valid. It is important to remember that your opinions are often formed from your experience and background, which vary from person to person. As it stands I think you have two options. Refusing to accept your housemate, sitting her down and attempting to explain to her the error of her ways. This could result in either a reconciliation of your friendship or a further distancing. It is up to you if you choose to take the risk. Your second option is acceptance. Not necessarily of the ideas themselves, but of the fact that your friend believes in those ideas. Although you might continue to disagree throughout your friendship, as long as you are able to see past your disagreement you should be able to maintain what seems to me like a pretty special thing. I wish you the best of luck, Miss Advised .
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'First Dates' A quest for true love. Is this TV show purely for entertainment, or does it create lasting romance?
'Bake Off' is off The BBC have lost their most watched show. Is this the end of the nation's favourite baking show?
Lord Sugar's back ...and so's the much loved structure of a much loved show. 'The Apprentice' graces our TV screens.
Censorship How far should children's literature be censored? Should they be reading about diversity?
ENTERTAINMENT GBBO on Channel 4: A Recipe for Success?
DAVID CORAM 1st Year Ecology and Wildlife
Controversy has been caused this month with a popular TV show being sold to Channel 4. The Great British Bake Off is no longer going to be shown on the BBC. It’s a disaster! The Bake Off will crumble! It’s the end of anything British! At least, that’s what the headlines seemed to imply. But what if Channel 4 does a good job? I mean, the channel must have thought they could make it work, hence why they paid a whopping £75 million to get their hands on this popular programme. There must be hundreds and thousands of ways to find the right ingredients necessary to make the show just as great as when it was on the BBC. Let’s take a look at what can be done not to give Bake Off an unwanted soggy bottom. Adverts, they're inevitable. After all, that’s how Channel 4 can cover the colossal cost of showing the programme for three years. But think of adverts as a positive: after all, they give you a chance to make a cuppa, use the loo, or even to take your cupcakes out of the oven. I’m one who quite likes sitting through the adverts, watching the life of a Russian meerkat,
how to get Gaz and Leccy under control, how to have a sub – my way, why I should bother going to yet another DFS sale event, and the many reasons I should eat at McDonalds... I can even recite one of the Gtech vacuum cleaner adverts. Anyhow, I know many people dislike to be bombarded with this kind of corporate persuasion, and even for me, ads during Bake Off will be taking the biscuit. So when I’m watching the next series on Channel 4, I’ll have to wait until the ad break is over to find out whether Dave the baker made the right choice not to blind bake his pastry case before adding the filling. Many agree that it’s the presenters of The Bake Off that make the programme a success. But with only Paul opting to follow suit with the channel hop, and Mary, Mel, and Sue sticking to their BBC roots, some new presenters and judges will be required to fill this gap. Names on the cards seem to be the duo, French and Saunders; The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice presenter, Jo Brand; maybe it could be previous winners of the main series, or even the judges from Crème De La Crème? My
suggestion is Phil and Kirstie. That’s right, those Channel 4 property presenters. Although admittedly not as fun as Mel and Sue, I would imagine they’ll be quite good at keeping Bake Off afloat. And if all else fails, Channel 4 could just have Paul Hollywood presenting and judging the entire show. rename it 'The Great Hollywood Bake Off'... hmm perhaps not. Although, like a tried and tested recipe, Bake Off’s format was in no need of a mix up, with the key ingredients differing, it may be nice to see a little tweak in challenges to give the programme a bit of refreshment. For me, the signature bakes at the start of the programme are essentially less impressive showstoppers, and could do with a change.
A new fun idea could be a disaster challenge, whereby the amateur bakers just have to make something simple – such as a Victoria sponge. However, during the bake, an unexpected disaster happens, such as, the fridges stop working or the draws are jammed shut. Unfortunately, despite the entertainment value of this, it’s highly unlikely Channel 4 will do anything this dramatic, to avoid upsetting the loyal Bake Off fans. But you never know what the producers have tucked away in their larder, ready to deploy on the next series. Although, like a tried and tested recipe, Bake Off's format was in no need of a mix up With each Bake Off episode attracting over 13 million viewers, and Channel 4 having only one
programme to ever reach this figure (and that was in 1984), Bake Off will be of great benefit to the popularity of Channel 4, so long as the producers make wise decisions on the judges, presenters, and format of the show. The Great British Bake Off was the most watched programme of 2015; and who knows whether this 'Bake Off' will be of great benefit to the popularity of Channel 4, so long as the producers make wise dedisions on the judges, presenters and format of the show will be the case when it returns to our screens on Channel 4? If anything, I’ll be tuning in to Bake Off, despite the adverts, despite the change in presenters, and despite the channel change. I just hope they’ll keep the tent.
This Month in Entertainment EMER SCULLY
We review Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Mystery Jets, and Warhaus.
Everything's changing in entertainment this month. Great British Bake Off has moved accross from the BBC to Channel 4, and Reading Gaol is now being used as an art gallery.
What's your opinion on the channel 4 show 'First Dates'? Do you love it as much as me? I'd love to hear your views, so if you'd like to email me at entertainment@sparknewspaper. co.uk, give me your opinions on this issue.
Entertainment Editor
Thankfully, The Apprentice is back and the same as ever before, with exactly the same format and no nasty surprises.
For me, first dates aren't fun experiences, and to bring that
Love Productions/BBC
awkwardness to a TV show can only be entertaining.
Dating is a minefield and something everyone can relate Unfortunately for many 'Firstdaters', their dates don't always go exactly as planned and we're left to smile knowing it's likely we've either already been there or
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will eventually experience their pain. Dating is a minefield and something everyone can relate to so good on the producers of this show, letting us all know we're not alone. Oh, and we can all be jealous of the happy ending's together. Sukpreet Kaur's also brought you a guide to the best music streaming service, so we can all
sit in the library enjoying the best music whilst we panic about the fact we've all forgotten how to write essays.
Sukpreet Kaur's also brought you a guide to the best music streaming service I hope you enjoy the section!
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TV
The Apprentice Returns!
£75 Million for a Tent and a Bloke?
JOEL CORAM
PREMELA KALA
1st Year Ecology and Wildlife Conservation
2nd Year English Literature
Even if you’re not a fan, it’s likely that you’ve heard the uproar which ensued after the announcement that the beloved Great British Bake Off (GBBO) is no longer to be broadcasted on BBC once the current series ends. The show, which has been around for seven years, will be shown on Channel 4 from 2017.
It is safe to say that GBBO is doing pretty well for a show that focuses on people having existential crises over filo pastry With an average of 13.5 million viewers being raked in per episode, it is safe to say that GBBO is doing pretty well for a show that focuses on people having existential crises over
filo pastry. What has helped the family-friendly show (with a few innuendos here and there for us big kids) gain such an audience is undoubtedly the likeability of the fantastic presenters and judges. So it wasn’t a shocker to see fans react with sheer outrage upon announcement that Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins, and Mary Berry will not be presenting GBBO on Channel 4. Whether Channel 4 has taken a huge risk by paying £75 million for Great British Bake Off is something many people are still speculating. Like dough, something else that has risen is the question of who is lined up for the new presenting cast. Names such as Davina McCall, Alan Carr, and Nadiya Hussain (last season’s winner) have been
thrown around as possible replacements, but nothing has been confirmed. In any case, what fans won’t have to worry about is Paul Hollywood; the Great British Bake Off judge has confirmed he will be joining the show on Channel 4, although some have dubbed his decision as scandalous and a sad lack of loyalty.
although some have dubbed his decision as scandalous and a sad lack of loyalty. Will the new series be able to crush all the rising uncertainty, or will the cookie crumble once Great British Bake Off moves to Channel 4?
First Dates: Too Awkward for TV?
ALEXIA LAVENDAR 2nd Year English Language
Imagine going on a blind date; you have no idea as to your date’s looks, their personality, or whether there will be that allimportant ‘spark’.
It could turn out to be the best decision you've ever made and you'll meet the love of your life It could turn out to be the best decision you’ve ever made and you’ll meet the love of your life, or you could spend the evening responding to awkward questions whilst mentally figuring out the fastest escape route from the restaurant. Now add a film crew, an amateur French love guru, and some overly friendly waiting staff, and you have Channel 4’s popular fly-on-the-wall dating show, First Dates.
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The premise of the show is fairly straight forward. Singletons are invited to the First Dates restaurant and paired up according to their likes and dislikes, which ranges from their date’s appearance to their individual tastes in music, hobbies, and even pets (there was once a couple paired up purely due to their love of pugs). Sometimes this works out, and you find yourself willing the couples to agree to meet for a second date, or equally find yourself thinking that you could’ve done a better job at matchmaking yourself. And so it begs to ask the question: Can a TV dating show such as First Dates really help singletons find ‘the one’, or is it just entertaining to watch people struggle through what may prove to be one of the most nerve-racking experiences of their life?
Currently on its seventh series, there have been some successes on the show, including numerous second dates, two marriage proposals, and even a baby on the way.
I think that what makes the show so endearing to watch is the broad cast of characters it attracts However heart-warming it is to witness true love flourish before our eyes, I think what makes the show so endearing to watch is the broad cast of characters it attracts and what occurs when they’re thrown together on a blind date. It’s these people who create possibly the most entertainingly awkward (and often relatable) scenes when it comes to portraying the search for love and companionship on our TV screens.
radiotimes.com
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After a year off our screens, the weekly dose of educated individuals arguing about the retail price of cosmetics and selling inedible food to a disinterested public has returned. Yes, The Apprentice is back for its twelfth series. Despite relocating to a Thursday evening and featuring 18 brand new candidates, one thing that hasn’t changed (as expected) is the format: Sugar sets a task, he splits the group into two teams, we watch as candidates fail tasks, one team wins, and the losers argue in a café before the final scene of Alan jabbing his infamous index towards an incompetent candidate. To sum up the format in one word: predictable. Not only is the format the same as all previous years, but the tasks are exactly the same too! Create an advert for this, sell that, go abroad and struggle with the language barrier whilst negotiating for this, redesign that... always the same each and every year. But why is it always the same? Because each task is optimised for entertainment value; who’d want
to see a task where they had to plan a construction management risk assessment, or spend a day as a team of accountants? Not me. Despite a decline in viewing figures, each episode attracts over 5 million viewers, which indicates The Apprentice still has popularity. And as is the case with The Great British Bake Off, the same old format is still surging in popularity (who knows what will happen with Channel 4’s contribution?). On a similar note, Channel 4’s Grand Designs see the always-delayed-windowdelivery arrive 27 minutes into the episode, a format kept the same by demand to keep it the same. As someone, somewhere once said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and this is very much the case with The Apprentice. So, the answer to stop seeing the same tasks and format every year (perhaps they’re just replaying 2009’s episodes? I’d be none the wiser...) is me. Having watched The Apprentice for several years, I’m one of those many viewers who by complaining about the format – yet still watching it – are keeping it there. Only a colossal drop in popularity would force the producers to stop copying and pasting last year’s format and think of something new. Taylor Herring
ENTERTAINMENT|MUSIC
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They Don’t Make Them like That Anymore: Introducing “The Dark Mills Cult Cinema Club”? BETHANY LIGHT 2nd Year English Literature
Fast and Furious 8 has been commissioned. That’s right, a film about drag racing has somehow spawned 7 sequels. Haven’t we had enough of franchise films? As a film fan, I’m starting to wonder how many Marvel, Alvin and the Chipmunks, or even… (don’t hate me for saying this) Bond movies do we really need? Haven't we all has enough of franchise films
All I’m after in a film is a decent storyline and at least some character complexity, and luckily I have found the antidote to the lacklustre flicks our local cinema
has to offer. The Purple Turtle is showing cult favourite movies for only £5 on Tuesday nights. Over the past season, they have shown Polanski’s breakthrough horror Rosemary’s Baby, the Tarantino classic Reservoir Dogs, the Kubrick satire Dr. Strangelove, and Burton’s dark fantasy Beetlejuice, just to name a few. Over the past few months, they’ve been using the outdoor screen, but as the cold season is coming, the screenings are moving down to the crypt. Of course, in a venue like The Purple Turtle, you expect nothing less than a quirky director in charge of the Dark Mills Productions, and that’s exactly what you get with Marcus Campbell Sinclair. I was lucky enough to speak
with him and discovered that he is an accomplished producer in his own right, and he informed me that upcoming films include a 40th anniversary screening of Scorsese’s Vigilante film Taxi Driver, and Frankenheimer’s neo-noir suspense thriller The Manchurian Candidate. I was lucky enough to speak with him and discovered that he is an accomplished producer
The atmosphere is wonderful, as the club is quickly becoming a real hub for film fans all over Reading who just want to enjoy the cinema experience with the films they love. Staying behind and chatting to others made me realise just how important it is to
show films from some of the best directors of all time. It broadens people’s interest in an art that isn’t producing its best work in our lifetime. Just because the economic circumstances mean indie filmmakers don’t get the proper funding that they deserve, and films like Fast and Furious 8 get the greenlight, should our generation miss out? The Dark Mills Cult Cinema Club is redefining what the cinema experience means, and breathing new life into films that never go out of style, but are rarely played
in the timeless cinema format they were designed for. Besides, where else can you see Filmmakers don't get the proper funding that they deserve and films like Fast and Furious 8 get the greenlight should out fenerationmiss out ? everyone’s favourite cult classics, at a bargain price with a cocktail in hand?
Calling All Music Lovers on a Budget SUKPREET KAUR 3rd Year English Literature
After months of trials and prompt cancelling of subscriptions, the music game has been changed. We often require a soundtrack when going about our daily routine, and being a student only gives us more time to listen to our favourite songs. There are currently three main music streaming servers (Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal) who all claim to be the best. After trying out each of the free trials they offer I’ve found one winner.
Tidal
Only launched in 2014, Tidal offers you a range of exclusive content from predominantly the hip-hop and R ‘n’ B genre as the company is owned by Jay Z. Beyoncé launched her sixth studio album ‘Lemonade’ solely on her husband’s streaming service a week before it was released on other platforms. Other, private content includes special live performances from artists you wouldn’t be able to find high quality videos for. The service allows you to download the songs so you can listen to
them on an offline setting so you don’t eat up all your mobile data and you can also create your own playlist, which means it’s easier to skip through your favourite hits.
You can sign up for a free trial of a month to see if it’s for you.
Spotify Apple Music
They are currently offering students this service at the discounted price of £4.99 a month – just one of the many perks we’re entitled to! This isn’t exclusive to Apple customers, either: it is available for Android users to download. The best thing about Apple Music is that you get all the latest songs as soon as they are released without having to wait, as you may do with other servers. However, there are a couple things which have stopped me from giving them a share of my student loan. There is no official ‘offline’ mode, as you manually have to select the songs you want to ‘add into your music’, which you can then listen to without relying on your mobile data. As I only experienced this through the free trial they offer
HateCrimes coming to Reading Artist HateCrimes is coming to Reading's Oakford Social Club this month. Debuting his single 'Trapeze of Happiness', HateCrimes will be playing on the 30th October. The track is set for release on
for three months, yes THREE months, I could get over those nuisances, but I still wouldn’t pay for the services.
the 24th October and will be the enigmatic fuzz-folk artist's first release with its new label. Recently signed to indie deprint DNRK records, we know little about HateCrimes. However the artist said, " “Hatecrimes is a
Moving on, this has to be, in my opinion, the crème de la crème of streaming services, as it combines the benefits of both of the others with virtually no downsides.
Dark Mills Productions
You can get the most current songs, put them into a playlist, and download them so you can listen to them in offline mode. If I had to be really picky, the only thing which was annoying is that you only get a week when signing up for the free trial, but they then offered three months of Premium Spotify for 99p, which you would be an idiot to pass up on. If I wasn’t in love with them already, they offer a student discount at the rate of £4.99 a month!
critical over-thinker, a dreamer as much as he is a worrier." If you're interested in discovering new music, then head down to the Oakford Social Club. For more information go to hatecrimes.co.uk
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Silvia Lazzaris , Reading University Graduate
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Warhaus:We F**ked A Flame Into Being SONKA HINDERS 3rd Year English and Musicology
It’s the beginning of October, the days are getting shorter, and winter slowly approaches with cold and dark nights. But during this time, it is not only dark outside. Darkness is also an important theme for the music of the Belgian artist Warhaus. His debut album We F****d A Flame Into Being, released in the beginning of September, sounds like the mysterious, smoky, and sweaty darkness of a nightclub. Warhaus is the stage name and side-project of Maarten Devoldere, otherwise known as a member of the Belgian indieband Balthazar. With Warhaus, he continues to make indie music. The songs on We F****d A Flame Into Being feature a wide variety of percussion instruments and brass. Many of them, like the instrumental track ‘Wanda’, were recorded with the help of loop machines, so that they hypnotize and captivate the listener. But Warhaus also draws inspiration from other genres, as
2nd Year English Literature
For many of us, classic Disney films (I’m talking way before Frozen came onto the scene) are a fondly cherished part of our childhood…Or possibly, like my brother, you were forcibly subjected to having Disney classics ingrained into your memory as a result of your younger sister being a devil child who always got her own way with the TV. Either way, one thing everyone can agree on is that Disney classics shouldn’t be tampered or touched unless its results can guarantee perfection. So when I heard about the theatre production of Aladdin, I was undoubtedly sceptical.
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Mystery Jets at Sub89 OLIVIA LOWDEN 2nd Year English Literature
in the funky guitar on ‘Beaches’ or the electronic synthesizer sounds on ‘The Good Lie’. Matching the imagery of a nightclub, love and lust are major themes on the album. Song such as ‘Leave With Me’ have heavy breathing sounds, and a combination of male and female vocals speak for themselves. Moreover, Warhaus presents himself as a poet who dedicates his art to the exploration of love and tries to reject wealth and possession, as sung in ‘Against the Rich’. His hoarse voice sounds as if he’s spent endless nights pondering and smoking cigarettes, which seems to be true in some ways. A video about the making of the album shows Devoldere recording songs on a small boat, crammed with instruments, experimenting, considering new ideas, rejecting old ones, smoking, and occasionally stopping under bridges to find the perfect reverb for recordings. We F****d A Flame Into Being makes for a special atmosphere full of mystery and magical attraction.
Aladdin theatre review: A whole new nostalgic world PREMELA KALA
MUSIC/ FILM
character. Time after time, the audience (of all ages) was rendered into fits of giggles with his oneliners and spontaneous bursts of singing or dancing. Jade Ewen (a former member of the Sugarbabes) also managed to captivate me with her portrayal of Jasmine’s feminist attitude and feisty sense of selfworth. Sadly, I couldn’t connect with Dean John-Wilson’s depiction of Aladdin. For some reason, I just didn’t feel there was any depth in his acting.
Reading’s music venue Sub89 has held a host of different artists and events since its opening in 2009, from the likes of Chase and Status, Babyshambles, Buzzcocks, and now Mystery Jets. My first experience of the venue was a lively one. We entered the gig with few expectations, only to be met with a sizeable room filled to the brim with eager fans. The jam-packed room and anticipation of the crowd created a buzzing atmosphere for the Mystery Jets’ triumphant return to stage following their new album, ‘Curve of the Earth’. Unfortunately, due to spending too much time making the most of Reading’s drinking venues beforehand, I missed the supporting acts, The Big Moon and Hoo Has. But after forcing our way through the crowd to more than a few grumbles, we secured a good spot with plenty of time to spare before the main event.
special. The crowd cheered when they heard the first few lines of the song and began dancing along immediately. Old classics such as ‘Young Love’ and ‘Serotonin’ brought nostalgic cheers from the long-time fans, and ensured a careerspanning set list to please everyone. Another sentimental moment towards the end of the gig was when Blaine Harrison introduced a special guest by the name of ‘Papa Mystery’. A mop of white hair entered the stage, hiding the face of Henry Harrison, Blaine’s father and a member of the original line up of the band. Old classics such as 'Young Love' and 'Serotonin' brought nostalgic cheers from the long time fans, and ensured a career spanning set list to please everyone.
Mystery Jets kicked off their set with the starting song from their new album, ‘Telomere’. The echoing vocals and crescendo Blaine joined his son at the mic and guitar riffs made the atmosphere electric and sang his heart out with his old band gave the crowd a taste for the night ahead. members to a crowd of happy faces. The end of the concert brought a fleeting ‘thank you and goodbye’ from the band The whole audience seemed to and an abrupt evacuation of the stage. The sway in unison and sing along to crowd, understandably wanting more, the words, albeit drunkenly and began chanting ‘Two Doors Down!’ to an out of tune. empty stage. After a few verses, the band re-entered the stage to complete their Another highlight off their new album was encore of the long awaited ‘Two Doors ‘Bombay Blue’, in which I had to sprint to Down’ and ‘Someone Purer’. The perfect see from the toilet cubicle when I heard the combination of belter-cum-tear-inducer, dulcet tones of the song echoing across the these two songs provided a fitting end venue. This was a personal favourite of mine, to gig. Still hyped and ready to continue however, from their new album, it goes without the night, my friends and I headed out to question that ‘Bubblegum’ was the biggest make the most of Reading’s nightlife and crowd pleaser. With the riff bringing echoes prolong the good spirits brought about by of MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular album, the band’s triumphant concert. Hats off to the song truly proved itself to be something you, Mystery Jets. You did well.
The anticipated iconic carpet scene didn’t fall short of its expectations, though. Admittedly the awe caused by the stunning illusion of the carpet seemingly floating in the air did take away Despite the reservations I had, from the iconic ‘A Whole New the show knocked me off my feet World’ number being sung. immediately. The visual of the sets used were spectacularly vibrant Nevertheless, the negatives and evidently very intricately can be overlooked because all designed, which didn’t go in all, the production of Aladdin unappreciated. Just as elaborate as blissfully transported the audience the set, Trevor Dion Nicholas who back to a simpler time where we played the Genie miraculously were excitable children who still filled the shoes of such a legendary believed in the power of magic.
Mary Chang
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ENTERTAINMENT|FILM/ART
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Film Review: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children ARI CARRINGTON 2nd Year English Literature
When I read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, I absolutely loved it. It’s a fantastic novel and I urge you to read both it and the sequel. Obviously, I was incredibly excited to see it being turned into a movie. Making a movie out of any book is hard, but because Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is an incredibly visual book, due to the vintage photographs, this was a harder project from the start. Nonetheless, given Tim Burton is a dark and twisted genius, I had high hopes that they could pull this off as a film. The thing I found most surprising in this movie is that they chose to combine all the books in the series, much akin to the movie versions of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events or Darren Shan’s Cirque du Freak. The other real surprise was the unexplained and confusing change of the main female character. They’ve obviously adjusted the ages of a number of characters to better suit the adaptation, so Emma and Olive
are now the same age. What I don’t understand is why they swapped their powers. It seemed an odd and unnecessary switch to make. Visually, the film was fantastic. A mix of beautiful scene shots and bizarre peculiarities made it a really compelling watch. If there was one visual element I could find criticism with, it would be the rendering of the wights and the hollows, which struck, for me, a slightly more cartoony chord, rather than hitting the sheer terror I had expected. Whilst I have compared it to other adaptations of beloved books aimed at a similar audience, it fails to be the hatchet job that those were. It’s much more lighthearted than the books, but it’s still very entertaining and strikes the right mix of comedy and terror. The ending, whilst excessively happy at all costs, is vastly better and less ridiculously convenient than the ending of the third book, which has got to be a positive. Although, as with the books, I feel an unhappy ending would have served better. And there was one wholly unexpected highlight that can be appreciated whether you’ve read
the books or not. If you have, you’ll know Millard is one of the smarter and more educationorientated peculiars. He’s invisible, at least in the books. In the film, his role is small but hilarious. Almost his entire plot is just wandering around in the background, silently and inexplicably naked, to be commented on or awkwardly discovered by another character at various points for comic relief. It sounds stupid, and it is, but it’s also really amusing. Altogether, it’s not one that will go down in history, but it is one that is seriously, definitely
20th Century Fox
Review:
Björk Digital – Somerset House
LOUIS WILLBOURNE
Thomas Huang
2nd Year English Literature
Björk has always been at the forefront of technology, and she has used this to make her quite unlike anyone else in the world of music. Forever being a boundary poker, she has developed a series of virtual reality (VR) music videos for her new album, and Somerset House has the pleasure of showing them off to the general public. Curious at how she would incorporate the headacheinducing world of virtual reality with the already mind-boggling nature of her music, I thought I’d check it out.
Somerset House has the pleasure of showingnthem off to the First up in the exhibition was not strictly VR, but two panoramic screens showing two ever-so-slightly different videos for ‘Black Lake’, where the
audience are actively encouraged to walk around the space between the two screens and speakers to try to get new perspectives of the visuals and music. Unfortunately, the people in the showing that I was in were reluctant to roam around the room, but it didn’t stop me from investigating different spots, and it was a very tense experience with some gorgeous visuals of Björk’s native country, Iceland. The video showed her beating the walls of a cave, then melting, and being reborn into the landscape: just a drop in the ocean of what crazy things were to come. After feeling confused at what I’d seen on the screens, though in a good way (I think?), we were then ushered into a room filled with VR headsets, and I began to get very excited. After being instructed on how to use them,
the music video began once you wore the headset, showing the first of four VR experiences. The first video, ‘Stonemilker’, was strikingly intimate, as it was Björk simply serenading this song to you on a blackened Icelandic beach. It truly felt like it was you and her on a beach, rather than you and 24 other people sat on stools wearing headsets. This, though, was tame for the Icelandic enchantress, as we were then shown ‘Quicksand’, which was ratcheting up the eccentricity. In this video, Björk is wearing some kind of luchador mask and is made of sparks while she wails aggressively. For most people, this is pretty far out, but for Björk, this is like making a cup of tea. After ‘Qui cksand’ came ‘Mouth Mantra’. This is definitely
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the most bizarre thing I’ve ever VR world. This threw me out experienced in my short time on of the experience somewhat as I kept getting yanked back on my The first viedo, headset, and the friend I was with wandered into me at one point, 'Stonemilker', was striking which startled me greatly. intmate, as it was Björk simply serenading this song Showings of all her music yo you on the blackened videos throughout her career this planet. In this VR experience were also on display (go look we find ourselves inside Björk’s up ‘Triumph Of A Heart’ if the mouth whilst she sings the track. thought of marrying a cat appeals This one is certainly not for the to you) and instruments from her squeamish as the fleshy walls, most recent tour. punctuated by snarling teeth, the fleshy walls, can leave you feeling somewhat punctuated by snarling claustrophobic. teeth can leave you The final of the VR experiences was titled ‘Notget’, and, as the brochure described it, Björk is a “digital moth giantess”. All in all, this only reaffirmed This experience differed from my belief in Björk to whip up a the three previous ones, as this truly groundbreaking experience. required more separation from I highly recommend it. It’s worth other spectators so you could seeing for Mouth Mantra alone. walk around the space in the Ends October 23rd.
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ART/BOOKS
Art comes to Reading Gaol RACHEL WYATT 2nd Year Art and Psychology
For the first time since its closure in 2013, HM Reading Prison has been opened to the public for Inside – Artists and Writers in Reading Prison, an exhibition well visited by the University of Reading Art students. The Victorian building, first opened in 1844, has held people for a number of reasons over the years, but never has it been repurposed as an art exhibition. Until the 30th October, the small one-man cells and narrow corridors will hold works of art and letters by artists and writers from around the world, curated and exhibited by Art Angel. The theme of the art involved is mainly based around the history of HM Reading Prison, previously known as Reading Gaol. While its most recent celebrity resident was actor Stacy Keach, Reading Gaol is best known for holding Oscar Wilde from 1895 until 1897. During this time, he wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol, and De Profundis, a one-hundred-page letter to his lover, Alfred Lord Douglas. It was written one page at a time under the careful watch of the guards. His works are among the items on display, and his letter is read by a different speaker each Sunday. The other letters, which can be found throughout the cells,
are also read through headphones by their respective writers. These letters were inspired by those which may have be written to loved ones in prison, or by prisoners themselves, as was De Profundis: an ode to the mixture of feelings experienced while estranged. The visual artworks found on the walls in the cells range from erotic photographs by Nan Goldin, a vibrant comparison to Wilde’s ‘indecency’ for which he was arrested, to sorrowful portraits painted by Marlene Dumas. Roni Horn’s Library of Water, featured in many rooms, poses questions as postscripts beneath photographs of black water, which could represent a comparison of the loneliness of prisoners to the emptiness of the water. a comparison of the loneliness of prisoners to the emptiness of the water.
The postscripts communicate to us the running, obsessive questions that a prisoner might experience while being denied any external information. Another moving piece was the photograph titled 'Separate System' by Wolfgang Tillmans. It is of one of the mirrors found in the prison; a plastic mirror with scratches and scrawls, distorting the face
beyond recognition, thus denying the prisoners the ability even to see their own face.
3rd Year English Literature
In a recent article from ‘The Atlantic’, Paul Ringel discusses Banned Books Week – an event at the end of September which draws attention to the banning and/or challenging of books in America each year. This banning has previously limited children’s access to books that are deemed too “diverse”, due to their exploration of “issues such as race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental illness, and disability”. The theme for 2016 is said to be “Celebrating Diversity.” This aims to encourage more acceptance of diversity whilst highlighting the benefits of literature that expresses and celebrates these differences. The types of literature available in schools and libraries in British culture require a certain amount of censorship to fit our
expectations of childhood as an innocent period of life. However, this apparent “diverse content”, in my opinion, is not at all harmful. On the contrary, I believe that this is beneficial to the younger population. That is not to say these works of fiction need to be systematically generated, but that existing works containing sodeemed “diverse content” should not be censored for that very fact. For young people growing up in a society with a growing diverse population, it is becoming ever more important to educate and openly celebrate these differences rather than to hide them from the younger population. I do not condone banning books, but I do believe there should be a filter on what we expose children to. That is, of course, to recognise that what is appropriate for adults is not necessarily appropriate for young children or adolescents. I
Rachel Wyatt, 2nd Year Art and Physcology
The ‘hoods’ that prisoners were forced to wear further denied eye contact,
The ‘hoods’ that prisoners were forced to wear further denied eye contact, as well as taking away human interaction. This, when worn for years, must have been torturous, and did in fact drive some to breaking point. The experience of the prisoners is perhaps the most moving part of the exhibition, and the sometimes disturbing history of these people is also on display through photographs of prisoners, plans of the Victorian building, and various writings. The prison has opened its doors to everything from the original cells, with all of the prisoner’s scrawls and writings, to the shower facilities in this original Victorian building. Featured in the old chapel, turned 1950s gymnasium, is Oscar Wilde’s door from when he was held as a prisoner there, and elsewhere, the Victorian age books that he was allowed. It is debatable whether this venue would be as suitable for other exhibitions in future, and so the fact that Inside – Artists and Writers in Reading Prison is running for just over a month, makes it all the more special.
How Much Should We Censor Children’s Literature? MEGHAN HIGGINS
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respect the idea of childhood as a period of relative innocence, which transitions into adulthood through different stages. By this, I mean that I would think twice before handing a Stephen King novel to a young child. This apparent “diverse content” is not what screams inappropriate to me, rather, to actively hide these realities, only showing one view, is what seems wrong. This variety can help to reduce the idea of otherness that is produced when the bookshelf only represents one way of living, looking or being. It only makes sense to represent the realities of the world, and the reality of diversity is not a dangerous one. As one example, it doesn't seem to make sense, in a country where we teach children in Key Stage 1 sex education, our children may grow up ignorant of different sexualities, thereby teaching them that anything that is not heterosexuality is other.
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In terms of ensuring diversity, it is not to say that it is necessary to seek out literature that represents each individual, but rather embrace the variety that exists in literature, and will exist. For example, where sexuality becomes a prevalent subject in young persons’ literature, let this be allowed to be as diverse as it is in our culture. The realities and differences within the culture and world we live in need not be hidden from children’s view, but should be normal to find in literature. Literature should reflect the society in which we live. Books should allow for a shaping of world views. The beauty of fiction is the endless possibilities and endless worlds there are to explore, and a limit on this seems absurd, especially when these limits are existing parts of our world. When I was young, one of my favourite books contained the
ExpectGrain
adventures of a cat who learned martial arts. Not every book needs to be a representation of every type of person combined: this is not the point. The point is not to shy away from these realities and, instead, to embrace them as they appear in literature, and enjoy them as they appear in whichever story a child enjoys. Allowing this choice means we do not limit children to a smaller world, while still maintaining the delicate sphere of childhood. The most important part of a children’s book in my opinion is the sense of adventure and excitement that they inspire, which is what ultimately inspired my love of literature. We must trust children to be accepting of the world in which live and remember that to read fiction is not to become it. Instead, to read is to enlighten and perhaps show, early on, that there is more than one way to live.
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Is the Rock 'n' Roll Rebellion Dead? VICTORIA BRUSH Online Entertainment Editor
When you think of 80’s or 90’s ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ moments, your mind instantly drifts to smashing instruments, stage diving, and turning up to a concert drunk as well as their music, obviously. There are so many iconic moments in music history, whether they were good or bad, so why do people think there aren’t any moments like this anymore? According to Liam Gallagher, one of the halves to ‘Wonderwall’-loving Oasis, these moments have died over the last couple of years. He believes it to be because of “the workingclass thing. The sh*t-kickers aren’t breaking through. A lot of music these days is by middleclass kids.” Ultimately , the requirements of a rock band have changed. In a recent interview to promote his new documentary, Supersonic, Gallagher stated that to be seen as a true rock band nowadays , an artist has to have more going for them than just their music. “Without a doubt. If it's all about music, then it's Coldplay. The most rock ‘n’ roll
thing Chris Martin did was wear a leather jacket. I thought, 'Go on, lad. That's a start.'” Just by looking back in the past couple of years, due to the rise of pop and house music, there haven’t been a lot of ‘cool rock ‘n’ roll’ moments that have made me step back and think, damn, that is so cool.
Sothere haven't been a lot of 'cool rock 'n' roll' moments that have made me step back and think, damn, thats is so clool I honestly don’t think you can compare Kanye’s Grammy Award interruption to the Sex Pistols swearing on live television, or George Michael coming out on video. All are impressive, but only the latter two are respectfully so. Gallagher believed that even now, growing up in the 21st century, he could still follow that true rock and roll rebellious role that groups nowadays seemingly cannot follow: “If I was [sic] a 20 year old in a band and somebody stuck [an iPhone] in my face, I’d stick it up their arse, or mine. There
is no excuse for young bands to act like grown men. When you're older and have kids, cool it out a bit, but I get up to more mischief in my butcher’s than [they] do on their f***in’ tours. Maybe it's just where we're from." However, this is a different period, and the world has gone through a lot within the last decade. Arguably, to compare a time of Blur vs. Oasis, David Bowie, and even The Beatles to the modern rock community is unfair. We don’t live in that sort of mindset anymore; things have happened, and society has somewhat matured since then. One could argue that we are just idolising that period of time.
We don't live in that sort of mindset anymore; things have happened and society has There have been a lot of stupid mistakes made by the world’s greatest rock musicians and even by Liam Gallagher himself. For example, he accepted an award, thanking everyone apart from his
brother, Noel, who wrote all the music that made them famous in the first place. Liam also leaned out of a car window to push someone off a motorbike, which isn’t the greatest thing to do. Don’t get me started on Ozzy Osbourne: he may be insane and mental, but to bite a bat’s head off isn’t cool – it’s just plain idiotic. Yes, it’s rock and roll, but it’s also incredibly rude. To say there havn’t been some incredibly amazing rock moments in the last century is a lie. Green Day’s American Idiot, which was all about the state of America after 9/11, Eminem’s Lose Yourself, and how according to President Bush, he was the greatest threat to America ever since polio, are just some examples of how the idea of rock has changed. All these things can still be seen as rock and roll, but in a different, maybe better, way. We care about different things than Gallagher or Ozzy Osbourne did back then; terrorism has become a real threat, there might be a mad man as the new American president, and climate change is real. Times have definitely changed.
Universal Pictorial Press and Agency
Independence Day Ball Aiming to drive the future of a nation, this society held a ball on the 13th October.
The Reading University Nigerian Society held a ball in 3Sixty to celebrate their independence day. They're not just looking for Nigerians, but for people from all over the world to join their society and help make this year a great one. After winning the most improved society award from RUSU last year, they worked hard to ensure this event was a successful one. If you're interested in joining the society, have a look on the RUSU website.
Hackney Colliery Band Band playing at Oakford Social Club on 3rd November.
The band formed in 2008 out of a desire to play music that appealed to the feet as much as to the ears.
St Leonard's Horses
Playing at Oakford Social Club on November 2nd. If you're looking for new bands to follow, why not go on down and see this band?
New Comedy Venue Smoking Hot comedy will be returning to Reading after successful negotiations with new hot spot club Public. The event will now be ticketed, but there will be fifty free tickets available if you go to their ticketing website.
Olly Murrs Album Olly Murrs is releasing his new album '24 HRS'. The album will be out on Novembe 11. His new single 'Grow Up' is available now. Sure to be one of the best albums of his career, '24 HRS' includes the number 1 airplay sensations 'You don't know love' alongside the funk-laden new single 'Grow Up', which is available now. Since Olly shot to fame on 'X-Factor' in 2009, he has crafted four multi-platinum albums.
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OXJAM READING TAKEOVER
A note from the manager of the highly successful Oxjam Reading Festival, which took place Saturday 15th October all across the town of Reading. ͚
"So this is our 5th Oxjam Festival, we started in 2012. The Reading Oxjam is the most successful in the UK on the day, we͛ ve raised up to today £44,000, and for us it͛s really important to get the whole town involved, especially the university. We know how buzzing the music scene is at the uni; it͛s got a great
historic pedigree for music. This is something that the whole town of Reading buys into, and the end of the day, every year since 2012 we'͛ve taken on average about £10,000 for the festival. That absolutely smashes places even like Brighton and Manchester, so it would be really great to get both our University and our town involved; hope to see you around͛."
Will Cole , 3rd Year Politics and International Realations
Refreshing, dark and mysterious. An interview with The Black Bullets HOLLY GIBBS Hello, I͛'m Holly from 'The Spark' newspaper, thanks for speaking to us. How is Reading treating you so far? ͞
hospitality, you need to. They are top top top people. Never seen anything like it. Very tribal. They look after you so well.͟
It's good; it͛s been really good. We͛ ve only been here around 3 hours and it͛s been good. That was a good set, we enjoyed that.͟
What͛s been the highlight of your 2016 so far? ͞
How does this compare to the other venues you͛ve played at? ͞ This is a different set up in here, it͛s very echoey. I quite like it, it͛s spacious and visually good with the rise of the drums on the stage. The sound is a little out there.͟ Do you prefer smaller crowds as such or larger crowds? ͞ It depends, we like both. If it͛s a smaller crowd, we will play punkier stuff to engage with the crowd more but we͛ ve also got bigger rock songs that translate well into a larger atmosphere. It depends where we are playing, you have to gage it on the night. We don͛t really have a set list as such.͟ Where has been your favourite place that you have played, big crowd wise? ͞ This year was brilliant, we got invited to play the Bulldog Bash which is a Hell Angel festival. It͛s massive, the biggest stage I have ever played on. If you͛ve never encountered Hells Angels
Well the Bulldog Bash was a really good one. We͛ ve played all the time, it͛s almost been a yearlong tour for us. Just this week we have played in London, Reading, Oxford. We play with bands that we grew up listening to and now we͛ ve met them and played with them we count them as our friends. People that I had posters on my wall of now I can count as my friends. It͛s pretty mind blowing and pretty fast for us, I love it͟ If you could work with anyone, who would it be? ͞ Wow, that͛s a question. I don͛t know because what I have learnt so far is when you meet your idol it very rarely lives up to the expectation. My true idol I like to keep to myself, I hope I actually never meet them. I don͛t want to destroy that myth. You put these people up on a pedal stool and they͛re only human after all.͟ Who would you say influences your music the most? ͞ Well within the band we have rock, punk, hip hop, country and metal influences. I guess a good
song is a good song no matter what the method of delivery is. A lot of our songs we play acoustic for example, they translate. I couldn͛t pin it on any one thing it͛s a mixture of stuff over the last 20 years.͟ What can we expect from you guys within the next year? ͞ We were planning on recording an album, we have an albums worth of material but the last couple of weeks we͛ve been giving some serious thought to not doing an album. I͛m not sure anyone actually buys albums anymore? I͛m not sure about that, I think we are going to do something with that new material but I don͛t see it being packed as an album. I͛m not digging that idea but certainly new videos and new material.͟ How do you plan on delivering your new music if you͛re not doing an album? ͞ I like the idea of singles. I think if people are going to discover new bands and new music you͛ll discover them by the song and not the album. That͛s where I am at, at the moment. How we get those singles out is still to be decided at the moment. I͛m a fan of the 60s approach. Albums only came about because the fans put them together. I love that idea.͟ Are you doing gigs or anything
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Will Cole , 3rd Year Politics and International Realations
over the next year? ͞ Yeah we are booked up now until the end of the year. We have a Hard Rock festival coming up next year. All of March next year we are doing gigs, we are booked up quite a lot it͛s going to be mad. Hopefully faster, more revs. I never want to change our musical style. I know the hard rock image of tattoos and beer isn͛t particularly favourable at the moment but we are animals, we are a wolf pack. You can͛t get a computer to make that sort of passion.͟ Is there a story behind the name of ͚Black Bullets͛ ? ͞ Will Cole , 3rd Year Politics and International Realations
Haha yes, there is. It wasn͛t us who came up with it. Supposedly, legend has it that there is a sex toy called ͚black bullet͛ which you can get in a vending machine around certain areas of Southampton. I like to think we named it after the confectionary a humbug mint because we are refreshing, dark and mysterious.͟ Be sure to keep up to date with The Black Bullets via their Facebook page for information and news on their upcoming events.
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'Imitation Game'
Creative Corner
JASPER STINCHCOMBE 3rd Year Fine Art
When first designed, the Deep Blue Computer was the best chess machine ever built, programmed with knowledge of every move and tactic historically tried and tested. It seemed impossible to beat, and it easily won its first game against Garry Kasparov. But in the second, Kasparov bested the machine by thinking of moves so unusual, so illogical, that it went beyond the computer’s programmed expectations. Kasparov won that match and the next, and the next and the next. What was it the computer lacked that allowed it to be beaten? What was the indefinable part of Kasparov’s mind that gave him the advantage? Whatever it was, only when computers obtain it will they have acquired genuine, albeit artificial, intelligence. Rachel was a great chess player. She had been taught by her grandfather, who was such an expert that when he played against Rachel when she was a young girl and won, he would say, “I never used my rooks or queen in that game, so this time I won’t even put
them on the board.” And then he would win again. Because he could beat everyone else, Rachel’s grandfather often played against himself. And when he played alone, in order to make things interesting, he would invent new ways to play. Three Man Chess¸ played on a heptagonal board, when you could gang up with another player and then betray them. Or Three-D Chess, played on four boards, one above another, when you could move up and down as well as across. Or, when using the same old board as others used, he would simply place the chess pieces in a random order – the pawns behind, the rooks at the front and in the middle... whatever took his fancy. Rachel’s mind was very much like her grandfather’s. In part this was because she had simply learned from him, been conditioned by him, as they played. But mostly it was because the inexorable
biology of human reproduction had passed down his genes to her – the ones that had preconditioned him and now her, but had bypassed her father. The Asperger genes. Asperger’s syndrome is a neurological condition that is still not completely understood by any of the relevant experts: psychiatrists, neurologists, or behavioural specialists. Rachel had seen them all, of course, having been sent to be tested by worried teachers, concerned by how different she was from the other pupils they taught. For Rachel was different to her fellow pupils. She would watch TV programmes as child, memorising the character’s lines and appearances, and then she’d come into school dressed in outfits she assumed were normal. Instead of asking her how she was today, her teachers would ask, “Who are you today, Rachel?” because each day she dressed as something else.
“I’m a daddy,” she’d say, in a white shirt and waistcoat with her a tie around her neck. Or, “I’m a mummy,” when dressed in her mother’s apron after the other children made fun at her for dressing like a boy. But no matter what she did, how she dressed or how she spoke, Rachel never felt comfortable in any group she tried to join. She just wished she was on her own. But even this had its problems, because her teachers would come up behind her, asking: “Why are you on your own, Rachel?” These kind of questions reinforced her suspicion that she was doing something wrong, and this made her feel guilty for being so different. And Rachel’s brain was differently wired to those of her fellow pupils. One day when Rachel was sitting in her preschool classroom, her teacher said, “Orange table go and get your snacks.”
PUZZLE
Can you find these 29 UoR societies, sports and volunteering groups in the grid? The remaining letters will spell out another.
ACS Anime Baking Band ChemSoc Chess ERASMUS Film GARPS Golf KEEN LASS Marrow MASS MBSA
MetSoc Music Omani PENSA Polo RAG RUCES RUined RUMP RUSS Swimming Thai VGS Zumba
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Suguru: Rules This 6x6 grid is divided into eight irregular cells, and each cell needs to contain the number 1. Cells of two or more boxes contain both 1 and 2. Cells consisting of three or more boxes must have 1, 2 ,and 3, and so on. Therefore, a cellwith 6 boxes must have numbers 1-6. Fill the entire grid with digits so that no same number is touching another, including diagonally. N.B. Ignore entire rows and columns (it’s not a Sudoku!) Good luck :)
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ENTERTAINMENT@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK And all the pupils on the ‘orange table’ got up and walked to the next room in a queue. Then the teacher said, “Green table go and get your snacks.” And all of the children on that table did as they were told as well. All except Rachel that is, even though she was a good girl who always did what she was told. Rachel stayed sitting on her seat while her fellow pupils raced to go eat. “Rachel?” the teacher asked, kneeling down to her level. “Why are you still sitting here?” “I’m neither green nor a table,” she replied. Trying to restrain her laughter, the teacher then said, “But all your friends are getting up to go have snacks. Don’t you want to join them?” “It’s not my fault they think they’re green tables.” For this was how Rachel’s mind worked: whilst she could follow instructions, they had to be exact for her to follow them correctly. Some information – human gestures, simple metaphors, innuendos, the interpretation of which comes so easily to most – was very hard indeed for her to follow at all. Therefore, each proposal, question,
or instruction she was given had to be filtered down to its basic components; and if she could not comprehend it, she would do nothing, just stay where she was until either she had figured out what exactly had been asked of her, or the instruction had been clarified by an outside agent – usually her special needs teacher, the kind Miss Pertel, who acted as Rachel’s school day interpreter. But this took its toll on Rachel, who worried constantly at school that she was not behaving properly, and had regular panic attacks when she felt overwhelmed. Her mind would overload with information, like a computer with too many documents opened, causing her to crash, go blank. And when that happened, she had no idea what she was supposed to do next, so she would retire into her own private world where everything was exactly how she liked it. As Rachel grew a little older, she was taught – trained even – by all of those experts she had been forced to see, to be more aware of people and what they meant by the strange things they said (like the green and orange tables), and the even stranger faces that they pulled (like raised eyebrows). She learned to understand, in particular, what other
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people, ordinary people, for some illogical reason expected from one another. She learned the rules of human conduct just as she had learned the rules of chess: 1. People expect eye contact when speaking. 2. When people speak, they often do not mean exactly what they say. 3. If everyone is doing something, you must do as they do, even if that is not exactly what you have been told to do. 4. People do not always express their emotions in spoken words, but use facial expressions instead. 5. It is not always polite to speak your mind. 6. Lying is wrong (except if it avoids hurting someone’s feelings). 7. People do not like to feel stupid, so avoid correcting them to avoid hurting their feelings. And Rachel did her best to comply with these rules and then to learn new ones as she came across them from her parents, teacher, and from carefully watching others and what they did. She monitored herself and everyone around her, imitating their mannerisms and patterns of speech – so much so that at
times she felt like an actress, trying to play a role so convincingly that no one could tell she was any different from anyone else. Perhaps that was why Rachel was so close to her grandfather. For when Rachel played chess with him, she could be herself, and then her mind worked wonderfully. After all, chess was predictable. It had rules which were written down and were clear. Each piece moved only as it was meant to. And when she played chess, Rachel could anticipate when one chess piece was moved, which piece would move next, and which pieces after that for five moves ahead. “That’s the sign of a good chess player,” her grandfather told her. “What makes a great chess player?” she asked. “Someone who only needs to think one move ahead. They have to react spontaneously. Imagine.” “How many moves do you think ahead?” “Two. I like to give my opponent a sporting chance,” her grandfather grinned. And then her grandfather died. (Continued in the next issue...)
White Knights @ Whiteknights Two white knights have escaped from a chess set and are touring the Whiteknights campus. Can you work out which three buildings the white knights visited from these photos?
Suguru Answer:
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horoscopes Find out what the stars are saying about you this month...
Aries
ARIES MARCH 21st-APRIL 20th Though sometimes, Aries, people may see you as extremely confident, the stars know that even you have insecurities. This month, don't be afraid to address your insecurities, and use your headstrong abilties to overcome them. Recognise the good parts about yourself, Aries, because, for you, this is a month of discovery. Oh, and look out for the colour orange!
LIBRA SEPTEMBER 24th- OCTOBER 23rd libra
SCORPIO OCTOBER 24th-NOVEMBER 22nd
TAURUS APRIL 21st-MAY21st Taurus
Taurus, this month is a month to huble yourself. Accept that it's okay not to be right all the time, and realise that other opinions can actually help you become a better person. Don't forget to relax and enjoy the good things in life, and make sure to look out for the numbers 17, 20, and 31, and keep an eye open for some unusual opportunities that may come your way this month.
Scorpio
GEMINI MAY 22nd-JUNE 21st Gemini
No one is more able to adapt than you, Gemini, and this ability might come in handy this month. Adapt yourself to the new year at university, and adapt your clothes into a fantastic Hallowe'en costume! This month, the stars advise you to look out for the lucky number 3, and to notice the changes in the weather - you never know what that may predict.
Cancer
leo
Sagittarius
Discover a new hobby this month, Sagittarius. Something new is just around the corner, and all you have to do is try something new to find it. Don't let yourself become too lazy as work starts to mount up. Your natural ability will start to show whilst doing something you love. Your lucky number this week is 17.
CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22nd- JANUARY 20th Capricorn
The stars are telling me you're working too hard this month. Make sure you slow down and learn to appreciate time to yourself. You've found yourself surrounded by so many new people that it's easy to forget that you need time alone. Maybe have a film night; that essay can wait until tomorrow. Look out for your lucky colour, silver.
LEO JULY 24th-AUGUST 23rd
AQUARIUS JANUARY 21st -FEBUARY 19th
Leo, the stars know your ability to care for others like no one else can. Yes, your affection may be hard to earn, but once it's been earnt, very little can break that bond. Remember to check up on old friends and family members this month, and don't forget to care for yoursef, too. The stars also predict that you should look out for the lucky colour green this month.
You care about so much that it's hard to know what to do. Take a moment and think about what you really want to achieve, and focus on that. The stars say if you're not careful, you may become overwhelmed, so make sure you're not worrying about too much. As independent as you may be, make sure you allow people in so they can help you when you need it. This month you may need the help of others more than usual. Look out for your lucky number 1.
Aquarius
VIRGO AUGUST 24th- SEPTEMBER 23rd virgo
It's clear that this month promiscuity is something you're really going to want to lean towards. Although it's entirely up to you whether to pursue this path, the stars tell me that this isn't in your best interests, Scorpio. Apparently this is the month of success in your endeavours, and dreams you've had for a while will be realised. Look out for a rainbow this month, because it'll signify your lucky day.
SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23rd-DECEMBER 21st
CANCER JUNE 22nd-JULY 23rd As emotional as you can be, Cancer, the stars say that this month is about determination for you. Revisit that project you've been meaning to finish for the past few months; crack down on your university work this month; and perhaps most importantly, you should be determined to have a good time, too! Go out and enjoy yourself once in a while, Cancer. You deserve it. But look out for the lucky colour black while you're at it!
The stars know that your endless pursuit for knowledge is both a vice and a virtue, Libra. Maintain your passion for knowledge, but don't let your head get too lost in the clouds. Remember to crack down and conentrate this month, and you'll find yourself really proud of what you manage to achieve. You might also be thankful for looking out for the colour blue...
Everyone knows that you're pragmatic and intelligent, Virgo, but the stars predict that this is a month for creativity. Look at problems in your life from a diferent perspective, and try something new - you coud actually find yourself having a great time. Don't forget to look out for the colour purple this month, and your lucky number 70.
PISCES FEBUARY 20th-MARCH 20th Pisces
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You shouldn't need the love of others to feel good about yourself this month, Pisces. Though being away from family may be hard right now, the stars tell me something will happen this month to help you forget about feeling homesick. You're in for a good month. Look out for your lucky colour brown.
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E-Classico Can't choose between FIFA and PES? Our reviews will help you decide
Rugby Zone For everything Rugby on campus, turn to p45
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Great Start for American Football
WILLIAM HOLMES Reading Knights American Football
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Taster Session and T-Shirt Social Success CARMYN DE JONGE Reading University Mixed Hockey
On the 29th of September, Mixed Hockey had their first official taster session of the year, and safe to say, it was a massive success. Over eighty interested individuals, ranging from freshers to fourth years, graced the grounds of the AstroTurf, all ready to pick up a hockey stick, whether for the first time or once more after leaving the safety of their secondary schools. Familiar faces from last year also came along to the taster session to break a sweat or politely offer their help to the slightly overwhelmed committee members, myself included. However, through teamwork, the taster session went on without a hitch, and by the end of the hour-and-a-half session, names had been exchanged and friends had been made. And, as per Mixed Hockey custom, many new members were eager to join the committee and past members in Park Bar for our typical post-session drinks. Following the success of our taster session, the following training sessions were equally busy, despite the various freshers’ events that were taking place throughout the week. But Mixed Hockey followed up on these social events by organising and presenting our very first social – the classic White T-Shirt Social, which took place this last Saturday. Ali Perry
Beginning promptly at 8:30pm, Mixed Hockey members casually streamed into Park Bar with both Snakebites and sharpies in hand, ready for what was promised to be a messy night. Past members relived old drunken stories, whilst freshers explained their own alcoholic antics that earned their sometimes inappropriate names written on their white t-shirts. My own shirt was filled up with reminders of my less than elegant adventures during my first and second years of Mixed Hockey – which were obviously later drenched in spilt cider. Overall, the White T-Shirt Social proved its worth once again as Mixed Hockey took over the left corner of the Cheese Room and stayed there for most of the night, only moving when forced to conga to main room. The following morning, Mixed Hockey members shared what had been written on their shirts, as well as what they themselves had written on other members' shirts – which weren't nearly as funny in the light of day, or when hungover. And that was just the first social of the term… If you are interested in joining Reading Mixed Hockey, come on down to training on Wednesdays (6:00-7:00pm) or on Fridays (7:30-9:00pm) to the University’s AstroTurf.
ALI PERRY
Reading University Netball Club
One week into the term and the Reading University Netball Club aka RUNC is already up and running with trials and taster sessions well underway. Over 200 freshers’ made it down to our first round of trials on Sunday armed with enthusiasm and maybe a few hangovers. We put them through their
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The Reading Knights American Football Team’s season has begun. Preseason is always tough for the Knights with so few players staying in Reading through the summer. Remarkably, every session our dedicated coaching team ran had good attendance and gave the players that attended, a head start on the new season’s playbook. The 2016/2017 season sees a complete change in the Knight’s culture. In previous seasons, we have always thought we could out think our opponents and would adapt our game each week in an attempt to outmanoeuvre them. This new season sees the team moving to “culture before scheme” as our coaches like to put it. This has made training sessions less about theory and executing drawn up plays but honing our skills and becoming better athletes so we impose our style of play on every team we face. With the addition of a “player of the session” at every training (who gets to pick the music for the next session), players are really getting fired up in training. The recruitment season is always a painful one for the committee, I think everyone will know what rejection feels like after a day recruiting with the Knights.
paces, beginning with fitness, then onto drills and finishing with match play. This allowed the RUNC committee to really Where is it? look at the technical ability of the fresh The big white tent meat. outside 3sixty After 2hrs the 200 girls became 30 who were then invited to our Monday training session where coach Fiona could make an assessment of their ability. It has been so nice to be back with
Our recruitment has been a tale of two halves. Initially, we were disappointed with the number of signups at sports fayre and the attendance to our taster session with numbers halving from a year ago. Since that point, however, we have not looked back. Rookies have come into the team with enthusiasm, skill and a real will to nick the “vets” starting spots. All of them are already contributing to the team and we can’t wait until our social season starts . The Knights are pleased to announce Arla Protein as our Training Camp sponsor for 2016. The Knights have organised a residential training camp at Wellington College at the end of October. The 3-day long camp will include classroom install sessions, on-field training, gym sessions, recovery sessions in the swimming pool and a scrimmage against (hopefully) two other University teams. This is the first time the club is running this trip and we all cannot wait. The Knights first game is away against Brighton on November 13th. Our first home game is the following week against Sussex on November 20th. We would love to see as much of the University as possible out at SportsPark in support.
existing RUNC members and we’re all excited to see what this season brings! Social netball on Sundays is definitely becoming a bigger event as RUNC includes all abilities with socials every 2 weeks so BUCs and social girls can all come together. Everyone is super excited for our first Wizard of Oz social, all are welcome – join our Facebook Page to get involved!
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George Tries… Ultimate Frisbee Welcome to ‘George Tries…’, a new series where George Roberts, Sports Editor of 'The Spark' and moderately sporty person, goes out and tries a different university sport each month. This month he’s been trying out… Ultimate Frisbee.
to everyone else that I was just a complete idiot, as I ran around, arms flailing, trying to block the particular player I’d been assigned and not really bothering to pace myself. After about five minutes of that I was pretty much out of gas, and when I realised that there were still three more games to play, I saw that Sports Editor I probably hadn't been playing very responsibly. My team didn't look The training session started with too impressed. me meeting the (then unbeknownst to me) society President, Sam In the next games, in an attempt Benians. He approached me as I not to die from exhaustion, I took it was squeezing on my ancient and upon myself to adopt a ‘quarterback’ slightly-too-small football boots role for my team, spraying longand asked if wanted to have a throw. range discs all over the field to able “Sure,” I said. I’d thrown a frisbee and willing runners. At least, that’s before. It’s not that hard, right? how I imagined it would go. As I mentioned before, however, I was Wrong. Five minutes and crap at throwing, so it really didn't several wayward throws later I was go as planned, and, unsurprisingly, watching Sam once again run across we lost all our games. the field to collect another one of my awful efforts, and feeling fairly It was at this stage that my embarrassed about it. In fairness, Photos by Tristan Millington slightly-too-small football boots the frisbee (more often referred to as came into play pretty painfully. ‘disc’, because it sounds a little bit Nice Shorts George in action at the Southampton Skunks tournament, where he had to put all the skills he Peeling my socks off my tender feet cooler than frisbee, doesn't it?) was learned to the test in seven matches. He insists the shorts were mandatory. They weren't. when I got home, wincing, I was a lot weightier than the Poundland confronted by a congregation of After we’d finished throwing, much time over summer drinking great time. frisbee I’ve got somewhere under angry looking blisters. Now I know Sam told me I’d improved in the beer and watching sports and not my bed back at home. That was, until about the sixth why they put 'Ultimate' in the name. fifteen minutes or so we'd been nearly enough time in the gym. Two throw, when I started to get a bit I should have heeded the warnings. My one comfort was that I wasn't at it. While I appreciated the laps around the (pretty small) pitch tired. Running as fast as you can the only one who didn't yet quite While my first experience of encouragement, it didn't mean that left me with a glistening brow and is fun at the start, but can soon have the hang of it. Unfortunately, Ultimate Frisbee was about 90% much considering how awful I’d breathing heavily. become an extremely painful pain, the 10% fun that came along I only found this out when someone been to start with. “It’s all right,” I thought to experience. By the end of the drill, with it was enough to convince to else’s wayward disc collided with Next came a pretty sobering myself. “It’s just frisbee; it can’t be I was still feeling very dog like, but sign up for the beginners torunament the back of my head. reminder that I’d spent far too that bad.” think more Basset Hound than Grey in Southampton. Hound, as I found myself slouching It was. It was that bad. While I certainly wasn't anything lower and lower until I was very The training drills that followed special, it was a great way for me nearly spread out on the floor from served two real purposes: reminding to improve and to get to know the exhaustion. me that I’m crap at throwing, and team too - who are a great bunch. After a short break, I was able At the end of the weekend, we'd crap at running. to somewhat pull myself together, finished eighth out of 12, and won Pick of the bunch was an and we were divided into teams three of our seven games. It might exercise referred to lovingly by and started playing matches. The not sound like much, but the whole the coaches as the ‘dog drill’. In rules for Ultimate Frisbee are pretty team was really proud of themselves essence, it involved an experienced similar to netball. There are two and happy to have won the prize for frisbeer launching a disk across the teams, and the objective is to get best team spirit! field, with freshers and me taking it the frisbee into the opposition’s in turns to chase it, top speed, and Ultimate Frisbee is a crazy sport end zone. If you have the frisbee attempt to catch it – á la dog. but the craziness is a breath of fresh you can’t move, and if you drop it air. If anybody out there wants to At first, it was actually really there’s a turnover. get into a sport thats tough but a lot enjoyable. As any dog would tell One guy on my team who’d of fun and not too competetive, then you (if they were able), being a played the game a few times before Ultimate may be the sport for you! dog is very fun. There's something The beginners team who went to the Southampton Skunks tournament posing with gave me some advice before the liberating and exciting about Training is on Wednesdays at the Spirit trophy, from left to right: (top row) Sam Benians (captain), Marcus Denton, game - “Mark that guy.” While Ben Adams (captain), Xin Ying, Dickson Ngu, (bottom row) Amahlia Parkinson, chasing after things as fast as you I thought that my marking was 8pm on the sports fields near Park can, and I found myself having a Lubna Zul, Abigail Jeffrey, George Roberts. fairly effective, it probably looked Bar, so come along and have a go.
GEORGE ROBERTS
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That's the Spirit!
Reading's Ultimate Frisbee beginners team put on a performance to be proud of at their first tournament.
BEN ADAMS
their games on the Sunday. Experienced player and President Sam Benians, who was with the team all weekend, had this to say:
Reading Knights Ultimate
If you went to the sports fayre this year, you'll have been faced with a whole array of sports teams trying to tempt you into coming along to their taster sessions.
"I was incredibly impressed with the showing our beginners gave this weekend.
Few, however, would have suspected that Ultimate (Frisbee) would have been quite so popular. Since amassing over four hundred sign-ups, the Ultimate club has now had its taster sessions and has already competed in a two-day beginners’ tournament in Brighton.
"We lost some tough games against stronger opposition, but we used those opportunities to teach our beginners as much as we could, and that experience helped us to put in a much stronger showing on the Sunday. "It's clear that they had a lot of fun this weekend and have gained a new enthusiasm for the game. We hope to mirror these experiences with every group of players that we take to every tournament."
The Ultimate team’s first taster session took place in the last week of September and was run by several members of Reading Ultimate, an ultimate club team based in Reading, who have just secured their spot as the best mixed team in Europe.
The beginner's team finished the weekend in 13th place, but came away with the Spirit Prize, which is awarded to the team that most embodies the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship, as voted by their opposition
The session introduced beginners to the basics of the sport and gave them the opportunity to get straight into playing some games. The second taster session saw only a minor drop in numbers and was followed by a ‘White T-Shirt Social’, presenting the beginners with a perfect opportunity to get to know the team and use copious amounts of sharpie to liven up each other’s attire.
If Ultimate sounds like something you’d be keen to try, then good news! They welcome beginners to every session throughout the year. There are two training sessions a week, one on Wednesdays from 6-8pm on the paddock (between the tennis courts and Mackinder), and one Women’s only indoor session on Thursdays from 4:45-6:15 at SportsPark.
The following weekend saw a small group of beginners head down to Brighton for their first experience of competitive ultimate. With two training sessions’ worth of experience under their belts, they headed down to Burgess Hill. Despite their relative lack of experience, they bounced back from a series of unfortunate losses on the Saturday to win all of
Feel free to go and join in if you ever see a disc being thrown around on campus! Reading Knights Ultimate Frisbee
Reading Knights Ultimate at SKUNKS tournament 15-16 October
4
th
Reading Knights Experienced team finished fourth in the tournament.
Photos by Sam Benians
8
th
The beginners team finished eighth in their category.
The beginners won Spirit for the second tournament in a row
Beginners
Beginners
Abigail Jeffrey
Marcus Denton
MVP (Most Valuable Player)
MSP (Most Spirited Player)
Experienced
Experienced
Ben Wilson
Harry Mutton
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th
October - the day of Reading Knights Ultimate's first BUCS match, at home against Surrey II
Yogalates: A Fresher’s Experience Interested in Yogalates? Here’s all you need to know and what to prepare yourself for… JESS ASHTON Sports Reporter
When my flat-mates told me they were going to a Yogalates session, I thought I misheard them. Of any two activities you could pick, I would not put both yoga and pilates together. However, they’re a perfect pair. Adding pilates to yoga makes the programme as a whole more satisfying and rewarding because you truly feel the benefits afterwards. Prior to their arrival, the main debate was whether to take a towel or yoga mat. The obvious choice would be the latter, seeing as “yoga” is the prominent word in the sports’ title.
Despite this, a towel turned out to be the better option considering the unexpected amount of effort required. Out of all the exercises performed during the session, the varieties of different thrusting techniques were the most comical. There was upwards thrusting, fast paced thrusting and lastly, the pulse technique. These different movements ensure every single part of your body is worked out, a definite advantage of Yogalates. For those who aren’t one for typical cardio sports such as football, netball or rugby, the combination of fast paced exercise with a relaxing cooldown, satisfies those stuck between wanting to
exercise but not wanting to run laps of the field.
about and the whole point of the Sports Fayre.
As well as this, it’s the perfect chance to bond with your new flat-mates and have a laugh, especially after a stressful first few weeks adjusting to university life.
Everyone is in the same boat and trying to find themselves, who knows, you may find it in a Yogalates session!
In the first week of freshers’, the sports fair offered several different and unusual sports which are unheard of to many, including Ultimate Frisbee, Korfball, and Yogalates. Yet when speaking to my flat mate, she said not to be afraid of trying something new just because no one else has done it before, she even said the instructor was surprised at how many participants turned up to the taster session. This demonstrates exactly what freshers’ is
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When? Tuesdays 6.30pm
Where? Membership Wessex Hall only £5!
University of Reading Yogalates
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Cheerleading Breakdown
| SPORTS
Photos by Nia Stokes
NIA STOKES
Reading Knights Cheer
You've seen us around campus, you've heard the stereotype, but what really goes on behind our gym doors? Signing up over 200 people in Freshers' Fayre, Reading Knights Cheer have had a busy few weeks working with the latest recruits. We held two taster sessions where our newbies danced, tumbled and stunted their hearts out! Lifting and being lifted into the air on your first taster is not the easiest thing to do, but we were so impressed with everyone's enthusiasm. Following the tasters, we had over 100 people register at tryouts which allowed us to fill three squads: Match Day/Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. Each of these squads will practice for a total of 3.5 hours a week, with Match Day also performing on Sundays at American Football games. After all this work and dedication, you must be wondering, what is it that we really do? Although you may think of cheerleading as all pompoms and pretty faces, we are a sport that requires great strength and skill. Stunting is one of the main areas of cheerleading, which takes place among a stunt group of four people. Firstly, the flyer is the person on top of the stunt. They are lifted and tossed, keeping their body tight enough and light enough to be held by their two bases. The bases are usually equal in height and hold the flyer by their feet. Bases begin in a squat position and push up through their legs, lifting their arms to hold our flyer upright in a prep position. Meanwhile, the back is the taller member of the group who drives the flyer's ankles and acts as a strong support. The front moves similarly, also stopping the flyer falling forward. Once this basic stunt has been mastered, our cheerleaders begin to work on one-legged stunts such as libs. In a lib, the flyer centers their weight on one leg while bases support both underneath and around the foot. Using core body strength and balance are essential when flying a lib! These can also be seen in pyramids, where flyers support each other while performing a sequence of stunts. And what's that crazy round-off flick tuck spin thing you saw some team do on Instagram? That's tumbling. Tumbling incorporates gymnastics into cheer, focusing on skills such as walkovers, handsprings and front/back tucks. We have a tumble coach who spends 30 minutes each week helping cheerleaders towards their tumble target - because trust me, it ain't easy. So that's your whistle-stop tour of cheerleading! It's a high adrenaline, team-oriented sport for hard-working athletes; the outfits are just a bonus.
“This night was better than ANY during freshers’ fortnight” ALI PERRY
Reading University Netball Club
It's been a busy couple of weeks for RUNC. With the trials and taster sessions out of the way, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd squads selected and the Sunday social training fully in swing, it was time for our first
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social of the year at Wednesday Union. Everyone was ready to go and excited for the Wizard of Oz theme. As tradition dictates, freshers’ came as the slightly more comical theme but still managed to make a real effort with their costumes, dressed as tin men, lions and scarecrows Second-year netballers threw on the glitter and waved their wands as the good witch. This left the third years to rock up as the main character with plaits and a blue checked dress, not forgetting Toto –
all looking fabulous as Dorothy herself. One can safely say netball socials are always a great night out with a fresher saying, ’this night was better than ANY during freshers’ fortnight’. Now we’re all looking forward to our next match and next social! Find out more our Facebook page!
Reading University Netball Club
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BUCS Fixtures Wednesday 19th October 2016
Badminton Reading Mens 1st - Portsmouth Mens 1st Reading Womens 1st - Chichester Womens 1st Basketball Reading Mens 1st - Royal Holloway Mens 1st Fencing Queen Mary Womens 1st - Reading Womens 1st Royal Holloway Mens 1st - Reading Mens 1st Football Reading Mens 1st - Brunel Mens 1st University Arts London Womens 1st - Reading Womens 1st Buckinghamshire New University Mens 2nd - Reading Mens 2nd Hockey Exeter Mens 1st - Reading Mens 1st Reading Womens 1st - Exeter Womens 2nd Brunel Mens 1st - Reading Mens 2nd Royal Holloway Mens 1st - Reading Mens 3rd Reading Womens 3rd - Reading Womens 2nd Reading Mens 4th - Middlesex Mens 1st Lacrosse Reading Mens 1st - Cantebury Christ Church Mens 1st
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Netball Surrey Womens 2nd - Reading Womens 1st Chichester Womens 3rd - Reading Womens 2nd Reading Womens 3rd - Surrey Womens 3rd Rugby League Reading Mens 1st - Brighton Mens 1st Rugby Union Reading Mens 1st - UCL Mens 1st Reading Mens 2nd - St George's, University of London Mens 1st Imperial Mens 4th - Reading Mens 3rd Reading Mens 4th - SOAS Mens 1st Squash Reading Mens 1st - UCL 1st Imperial Womens 1st - Reading Womens 1st Reading Mens 2nd - Hertfordshire Mens 1st Table Tennis Reading Mens 1st - King's College London Mens 1st Reading Womens 1st - Essex Womens 2nd Tennis Roehampton Mens 1st - Reading Mens 1st Surrey Womens 1st - Reading Womens 1st Reading Mens 2nd - Brunel Mens 1st
Meet Reading’s Swimming Club THOMAS KIZINTAS
Reading University Swimming Club
Potentially one of the University of Reading’s most overlooked and unknown clubs is its swimming club. Without a pool on campus, many people wrongly assume that there is no swimming club at the university. The Reading University Swimming Club, or RUSC for short, is great if you come from a competitive swimming background, or if you just want to swim to keep fit. While they don’t offer swimming lessons for complete beginners, what they will do is help you to improve both your fitness and technique with qualified and experienced teachers and coaches.
Each session is unique and focuses on different aspects of swimming, whether it’s increasing your speed, stamina, or technique, across the board or on one specific stroke. Whilst offering fitness training for the more casual swimmers, RUSC also has a competitive side, competing in galas across the country, including both short and long course BUCS, as well as team champs and varsity. In addition to the swimming, there is a great social atmosphere with socials taking place roughly every two weeks, thus being a great way to meet new and interesting people. So where do they train if there is no pool
on campus, I hear you ask! Well, a short walk from campus is Leighton Park School. They have a four-lane, 25-metre pool, which is used by RUSC five times a week. Most sessions cover between two- to three-and-a-half kilometres, depending on the pace of the lane and the swimmers varying intensity. With time trials once a term you can see your results and measure your growth. So, if you like swimming, why not come along? Find the club on Facebook, and feel free to message any of the committee (names are listed on the page) with any queries.
Tuesdays & Thursdays 7.30am - 8.30am
Wednesdays 7am-8am
Tuesdays & Thursdays 8pm - 9pm
Fridays 8.30pm 9.30pm
Reading University Swimming Club RUswimmingclub@gmail.com
The Spark Newspaper is designed and typeset by students at the University of Reading. Printed at Newbury News Limited, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG12 2DW. Published and funded by Reading University Students’ Union, contact: studentengagement@rusu.co.uk. Our students strive for accuracy but on occasion can make mistakes. Errors can be corrected/ acknowledged by contacting the Editor. Complaints should be made to the Editor in the first instance, and thereafter to RUSU. All complaints should be made in writing. All articles, letters etc. must include a name, address, and contact number/email address. These may be withheld from publication at specific request. The Spark Newspaper or RUSU can take no responsibility for products or services advertised herein. The Spark Newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Editor. The views expressed in The Spark Newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or RUSU, particularly those expressed in the comments pages, which are often opinions of the specific authors. Photographs in The Spark Newspaper are copyright, and you will need permission from the photographer to re-use. Contact the Editor at: editor.spark@reading.ac.uk.
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Rugby Zone
The nights are getting longer and the pitches are getting muddier. It can only mean one thing: Rugby season is back on. With six teams spanning codes and genders, Rugby is officially one of Reading's biggest sports.
Photos by Manon Jones
| SPORTS
How are they doing? While the Women's Rugby Union and Rugby League seasons are yet to begin, Men's Rugby Leauge is already well underway. Find out how they're doing here. Rugby Union: 1st
Photo by Miles Lloyd
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Brunel 1st
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2
UCL 1st
1
0
1
5
3
Reading 1st
1
0
0
5
4
Surrey 1st
0
0
1
1
5
Imperial 1st
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
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Pts
1
Brighton 1st
1
0
0
5
2
Sussex 1st
1
0
0
4
3
Reading 2nd
1
0
0
4
4
Chichester
0
0
1
1
5
LSE 1st
0
0
1
0
6
St George's 1st
0
0
1
0
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L
Pts
Rugby Union: 3rd
MANON JONES Women's Rugby Union
After a successful day recruiting at Sports Fayre we were keen to see some new faces for our taster session on Monday evening. We had a fantastic turnout, with over 50 ladies of various abilities taking part. It was great to see so many ladies out who were new to the sport, as the majority of the team making up last year’s squad had never played prior to starting university. They are now in a position to help encourage freshers and give advice on technical aspects of the game. It’s a testament to the coaching and the team ethos, to see how much their confidence has grown, as they now pass their knowledge onto these new potential teammates. The taster session was split into new and experienced players. The experienced group focused on exploiting spaces in the defence and breaking the gain line. This developed teamwork as the ladies needed to work as a team to maintain the defensive line, and support each other in attack. This was done through small sided touch games. The new players were introduced to the contact elements of rugby through various warm-up activities designed to improve confidence. They were taught some basics of tackling and went into a game situation where they were able to put new skills into practice. It was lovely to see everyone having fun and laughing and having spoken to many of the ladies that evening it’s clear that they were looking forward to their next training session!
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6 UCL 2nd Rugby Union: 2nd
Triumphant Taster Session!
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1
Brunel 2nd
1
0
0
4
2
Kingston 1st
1
0
0
5
3
Middlesex 1st
0
0
1
1
4
Portsmouth 3rd
0
0
0
0
5
Imperial 4th
0
0
0
0
6
Reading 3rd
0
0
1
0
Rugby Union: 4th
Promising season ahead for the Knights DAN LLOYD Reading University Rugby Football Club
After a very busy pre-season and freshers’ fortnight, Reading University Men’s Rugby Union Football Club (RURFC) are ready to engage in their first round of competitive fixtures. With a record number of sign-ups during the Freshers Fayre, the rugby club is looking at fielding four very strong teams for this coming season – thank you to all the freshers who have shown an interest. It’s very exciting and promising for the coming year! The 1st XV closed off a tough and grueling 3-week pre-season training camp
with a well-fought win over Warwick University, winning 17-10 against tough opposition. Tries were scored by Dan Lloyd and debut fresher Matt Allen, alongside a 7-point haul for Jordan Souter. Hopefully, the win is a taste of the success to come. Furthermore, a number of students ran out for Berkshire U20’s in a trial match, and will hopefully continue to represent the county as the season continues. Alongside the forthcoming season, another huge event is on the horizon – the Christmas Clash! This will include an enormous Christmas Carnival
Reading University
Reading University
Women's Rugby Union
Rugby Cub Supporters Page
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with games, live bands, stalls, street food, and the big crunch match between Team Surrey Rugby and Reading Knights, combined with a stadium, cheerleaders, mascots, and everything you would expect from such an enormous event. Open for all the university to spectate – find out more at christmasclash.com or the Facebook event, Christmas Clash 2016, on the 9th of December. It’s not to be missed! Any keen players still wanting to come along to training join the club page ‘RURFC Player Only 2016/17′ on Facebook or drop me an email at dan.lloydy@ hotmail.co.uk. Reading University Rugby League
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Pts
1
Surrey 2nd
1
0
0
5
2
Brighton 3rd
1
0
0
4
3
SOAS 1st
1
0
0
4
4
Portsmouth 4th
0
0
1
0
5
Reading 4th
0
0
1
0
6
Royal Holloway 2nd
0
0
1
0
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BUCS League Tables - Men's Badminton: 2nd
Fencing: 1st
Basketball: 1st
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W
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Pts
Football: 1st W
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L
Pts
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1
Brunel 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Chichester 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Portsmouth 1st
1
0
0
3
1
St Mary's 1st
1
0
0
3
2
Surrey 3rd
1
0
0
3
2
Surrey 1st
1
0
0
3
2
Brunel 1st
1
0
1
3
2
Reading 1st
1
0
1
3
3
Buckingham New 1st 0
1
1
1
3
Royal Holloway 1st
1
0
0
3
3
Imperial 2nd
1
0
0
3
3
Brunel 1st
1
0
1
3
4
St Mary's 1st
0
1
1
1
4
Sussex 1st
0
0
1
0
4
Reading 1st
1
0
0
3
4
Chichester 2nd
0
1
0
1
5
Reading 2nd
0
0
1
0
5
Reading 1st
0
0
1
0
5
Surrey 2nd
1
0
0
3
5
Portsmouth 1st
0
1
0
1
6
Roehampton 1sr
0
0
1
1
6
Buckingham New 1st
0
0
1
0
6
Sussex 2nd
0
0
1
0
6
Brighton 2nd
0
0
1
0
7
Royal Holloway 2nd
0
0
1
0
8
King's College 2nd
0
0
2
0
W
D
L
Pts
Football: 3rd
Hockey: 1st
Football: 4th W
D
L
Pts
W
D
L
Pts
Hockey: 2nd W
D
L
Pts
4
1
St George's 1st
1
0
0
3
0
3
2
Brighton 1st
1
0
1
3
0
1
3
3
Brunel 1st
1
0
1
3
1
0
1
4
Reading 2nd
1
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
5
Surrey 1st
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
6
Portsmouth 2nd
0
0
1
0
W
D
L
Pts
1
Reading 3rd
1
0
0
3
1
Surrey 4th
1
0
0
3
1
Exeter 1st
1
1
0
2
Sussex 2nd
1
0
0
3
2
Reading 4th
1
0
0
3
2
Oxford Brookes 1st
1
0
3
Kingston 2nd
0
1
0
1
3
Portsmouth 5th
1
0
0
3
3
Reading 1st
1
4
Roehampton 2nd
0
1
0
1
4
Brunel 5th
0
0
1
0
4
Bath 1st
0
5
King's College 3rd
0
0
1
0
5
Royal Holloway 3rd 0
0
1
0
5
Cardiff Met 1st
6
Brunel 3rd
0
0
1
0
6
Chichester 6th
0
1
0
6
Bristol 1st
0
Hockey: 5th
Hockey: 4th W
D
L
Pts
Rugby Union: 1st
Lacrosse: 1st W
D
L
Pts
W
D
L
Pts
1
Imperial 4th
2
0
0
6
1
Imperial 6th
1
0
0
3
1
Reading 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Brunel 1st
2
0
0
9
2
Reading 4th
1
0
0
3
2
Reading 5th
1
0
0
3
2
Essex 1st
1
0
1
3
2
UCL 1st
1
0
1
5
3
Roehampton 1st
1
0
1
3
3
Imperial 7th
0
0
1
0
3
Hertfordshire 1st
1
0
0
3
3
Reading 1st
1
0
0
5
4
Chichester 2nd
0
0
1
0
4
UCL 5th
0
0
1
0
4
UCL 2nd
1
0
0
3
4
Surrey 1st
0
0
1
1
5
Middlesex 1st
0
0
1
0
5
Cantebury 1st
0
0
1
0
5
Imperial 1st
0
0
1
1
6
Brunel 2nd
0
0
1
0
6
Kent 2nd
0
0
2
0
6
UCL 2nd
0
0
1
0
W
D
L
Pts
Rugby Union: 2nd
Rugby Union: 4th
Rugby Union: 3rd W
D
L
Pts
W
D
L
Pts
Squash: 1st W
D
L
Pts
1
Brighton 1st
1
0
0
5
1
Brunel 2nd
1
0
0
4
1
Surrey 2nd
1
0
0
5
1
Imperial 1st
1
-
0
20
2
Sussex 1st
1
0
0
4
2
Kingston 1st
1
0
0
5
2
Brighton 3rd
1
0
0
4
2
UCL 1st
1
-
0
20
3
Reading 2nd
1
0
0
4
3
Middlesex 1st
0
0
1
1
3
SOAS 1st
1
0
0
4
3
Surrey 1st
1
-
0
16
4
Chichester
0
0
1
1
4
Portsmouth 3rd
0
0
0
0
4
Portsmouth 4th
0
0
1
0
4
Reading 1st
0
-
1
7
5
LSE 1st
0
0
1
0
5
Imperial 4th
0
0
0
0
5
Reading 4th
0
0
1
0
5
Sussex 1st
0
-
1
0
6
St George's 1st
0
0
1
0
6
Reading 3rd
0
0
1
0
6
Royal Holloway 2nd
0
6
Portsmouth 1st
0
-
1
-10
Squash: 2nd
Table Tennis: 1st
0
0
1
Tennis: 1st
Tennis: 2nd
W
D
L
W
D
L
Pts
W
D
L
Pts
W
D
L
Pts
1
Surrey 2nd
1
-
1
23
1
Brunel 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Roehampton 1st
2
0
0
6
1
Hertfordshire 2nd
2
0
0
6
2
Roehampton 1st
2
-
0
21
2
Reading 1st
1
0
0
3
2
Brighton 1st
1
0
0
3
2
Reading 2nd
1
0
0
3
3
Brunel 1st
1
-
0
17
3
King's College 1st
0
0
0
0
3
Kings College 1st
1
0
0
3
3
Surrey 3rd
1
0
1
3
4
Hertfordshire 1st
0
-
1
6
4
LSE 2nd
0
0
0
0
4
Brunel 1st
0
0
1
0
4
Roehampton 2nd
0
0
1
0
5
Reading 2nd
0
-
1
5
5
Essex 1st
0
0
1
0
5
Sussex 2nd
0
0
1
0
5
UCL 4th
0
0
1
0
6
Kings College 1st
0
-
1
0
6
Surrey 1st
0
0
1
0
6
Reading 1st
0
0
2
0
6
Brunel 3rd
0
0
1
0
Women's Badminton: 2nd
Football: 1st
Fencing: 1st
Football: 2nd
W
D
L
Pts
1
Portsmouth 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Reading 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Reading 1st
1
0
0
2
Essex 2nd
1
0
0
3
2
City 1st
1
0
0
3
2
King's College 2nd
1
0
3
Royal Holloway 1st
0
1
0
1
3
Brunel 1st
0
0
0
0
3
Westminster 1st
1
4
St Mary's 1st
0
1
0
1
4
Queen Mary 1st
0
0
0
0
4
Arts 1st
0
5
Chichester 1st
0
0
1
0
5
King's College 2nd
0
0
1
0
5
Brighton 2nd
6
Reading 1st
0
0
1
0
6
Sussex 2nd
0
0
1
0
6
West London 1st
W
D
L
Pts
46
W
D
L
Pts
3
1
Brunel 2nd
1
0
0
3
0
3
2
Roehampton 2nd
1
0
0
3
0
0
3
3
UCFB 2nd
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
4
Reading 2nd
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
5
Sussex 2nd
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
W
D
L
Pts
SPORTS|SPORT ON CAMPUS
SPORT@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK Hockey: 1st
Hockey: 2nd/3rd W
D
L
Pts
Lacrosse: 1st W
D
L
Pts
Netball: 1st W
D
L
Pts
W
D
L
Pts
1
King's College 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Surrey 1st
1
0
0
3
1
UCL 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Reading 1st
2
-
0
6
2
Southampton 1st
1
0
0
3
2
Royal Holloway 1st
0
1
0
1
2
Reading 1st
1
0
0
3
2
St Mary's 1st
1
-
0
3
3
Exeter 2nd
1
0
0
3
3
Sussex 2nd
0
1
0
1
3
Surrey 1st
1
0
0
3
3
Brighton 3rd
1
-
0
3
4
Oxford Brookes 1st
0
0
1
0
4
Brighton 2nd
0
0
0
0
4
Portsmouth 1st
0
0
1
0
4
Kingston 1st
0
-
1
0
5
Reading 1st
0
0
1
0
5
Reading 2nd
0
0
0
0
5
Royal Holloway 1st
0
0
1
0
5
Surrey 2nd
0
-
2
0
6
Cardiff Met 1st
0
0
1
0
6
Reading 3rd
0
0
1
0
6
Kent 1st
0
0
1
0
6
Brunel 3rd
0
-
1
0
W
D
L
Pts
W
D
L
Pts
Netball: 3rd
Table Tennis: 1st
Tennis: 1st W
D
L
Pts
1
0
0
3
1
Portsmouth 1st
1
0
0
3
Surrey 1st
1
0
0
3
1
Surrey 3rd
1
-
0
3
2
Portsmouth 6th
1
-
0
3
2
Kent 1st
1
0
0
3
2
3
Reading 3rd
1
-
0
3
3
Queen Mary 1st
0
0
0
0
3
City 1st
1
0
0
3
4
Brunel 5th
0
-
1
0
4
Essex 2nd
0
0
1
0
4
Sussex 1st
0
0
1
0
5
LSE 2nd
0
-
1
0
0
5
Chichester 1st
0
0
1
0
6
St Mary's 3rd
0
-
1
0
6
Reading 1st
0
0
1
0
1
5
Imperial 1st
Reading 1st
0
0
1
Mixed Golf: 2nd
W
D
L
Pts
1
Royal Holloway 1st
1
0
0
3
2
Reading 2nd
1
0
0
3
3
Chichester 1st
0
0
0
0
4
Brunel 1st
0
0
1
0
5
Imperial 1st
0
0
1
0
Photos by Sarah Craig
Zumba Society - What a way to kick off the first term! MARCELLA MARINELLI Reading University Zumba Society
As a fairly new society, we had a huge interest in our taster sessions at the Freshers' Fayre, and I don’t think any of us were ready for the numbers that turned up, filling Main Room 3sixty on both days! We would like to say a massive thank you to our lovely, enthusiastic, and generally full-of-energy instructors, without whom the sessions wouldn’t have been nearly as
successful. Nor would we have shaken off a load of calories that we had gotten from Fresher’s week! We also had our first social of the year at Q Club’s new POP Cheese night, where we were able to celebrate our success, meet new members, and dance the night away with free bubbly and drinks (VIP, of course). We’re hoping to keep this up, and with so many new members joining and consistent attendance at classes, we are able to give free sessions over the year, especially during
47
exam period when all you need to do is shake away that stress. Make sure to keep an eye out for Zumbathemed sessions as well, which we’re looking to increase throughout the year, including our legendary Beyoncé-themed session! If you’re thinking about joining Zumba, or even trying it out, we’re on in Main Room 3sixty on Tuesdays between 4-5pm and Thursdays 5-6pm. Membership is £6 for the whole year, which gives you benefits such as discounted
sessions, access to socials, society giveaways, and even your 7th session free! Sessions individually are £3 for members and £5 for non-members. Our Facebook page “Reading University Zumba Society” is our main hub and form of communication, where you can contact any of the committee members, and where we regularly post updates to the society, including info about the sessions, socials, and general information we need to relay to you.
George Tries... Find out what new sport Sports Editor George Roberts has been trying in our new series.
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I Wondered Why the Glove Was Getting Bigger... Then it Hit Me Tom Simpson
TOM SIMPSON
Reading University Boxing Club
This years’ fresher fair saw a record number of people signing up to the Reading University Boxing Society (RUBOX), with a surplus of 63 making the grand total just shy of 200, including our highest number of female members ever. Over the course of the next two weeks,
the new Mayweather hopefuls had their taste of the boxing tenets, circuit training and technique. The following Thursday a fresh face took the championship belt, on the first social of the year, triumphing over a band of 20. We’ve got plenty more socials in the works, as well as an RUBOX fight night on the horizon, to keep you fit both socially and physically.
48
If you’re interested in being a boxer or just keeping as fit as one and having fun then grab our information from the RUBOX Facebook or RUSU page. All skill levels welcome, it doesn’t matter if you’ve never lifted your arms in your life or if you fought your way out of a soviet gulag. Reading University Boxing Club
Wednesdays 2pm-4pm
Reading Amateur Boxing Club, Chatham Street,
Reading, Berkshire, RG1 7HT
Sundays 10am-12pm