Spark Volume 72 Issue 1

MONDAY 21TH SEPTEMBER 2015

SPARK ISSUE 1 NO. 72

NEWS

LIFESTYLE

ENTERTAINMENT

Why students need to be cautious -it is not just babies who are affected.

Learn some tips on how to survive the dreaded freshers’ flu from Hannah Franklin

Check out this year's Reading Festival through the lens of photographer Jodie Irvine!

Meningitis

Feeling ill?

Reading Fest!

SPORT

Hole in One

Golf President Thomas Price tees off the year with RUGC!

A Warm Welcome from the Vice Chancellor

SIR DAVID BELL Vice Chancellor

The end of summer and beginning of autumn, for some, is a melancholy time of year. For someone like me, who has worked in education my whole adult life, it is about something else - new beginnings.

To all Reading students, I offer you a very warm welcome at the start of the 2015/16 academic year. If you are new to Reading, congratulations; you have just made a life-changing first step towards an exciting and rewarding future.

If you don’t know who I am, I don’t blame you. Describing what a Vice-Chancellor is can, in itself, be a difficult job. A few years ago, I interviewed Reading graduate Rhianna Dhillon, the BBC Radio 1 film critic, onstage during one of our Open Days. She had previously told her Radio 1 colleagues live on air that she was being interviewed by her old university’s Vice-Chancellor, and was asked: “Wasn’t the real chancellor available?”

"Embrace this freedom.

Do things you have never done before. Join a club. Write for this paper. Start discussions, debates, campaigns. Mix with people whose life experiences are vastly different to yours."

First and foremost as ViceChancellor, I lead the community of staff and students here at the University of Reading. To do so in an internationally renowned academic institution like Reading is a great pleasure and a wonderful privilege. So day in and day out, my primary focus is on promoting and encouraging great teaching and learning, as well as outstanding research.

In a different parlance, you might think of me as chief executive, ambassador, mayor of a small town or - dare I say it - head teacher! But ultimately what really matters is teaching, learning and research because, together, they are what will make a difference to you.

If you are a new undergraduate, you will quickly come to realise that university is not school or college on a larger scale. If you are a postgraduate student, your experience will be different again.

But in both cases, we are here to help, support and guide you on your educational journey.

This should be a wonderful, liberating experience. Perhaps for the first time, there is no-one to tell you what to do. You can dress as you like. You can socialise with whoever you like. You can stay up as late as you want.

Embrace this freedom. Do things you have never done before. Join a club. Write for this paper. Start discussions, debates, campaigns. ...continued on page 5

Vice Chancellor Sir David Bell

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NEWS|EDITORIAL

EDITOR.SPARK@READING.AC.UK

Open a blank page, make an impression Dinosaurs can’t make footprints bigger than you can NATHALIE SIAH The Editor

Clean Green

Love escaping campus to a green oasis? It makes sense from its award winning beauty. Read more and find out how beauty can be found just where you are

Let’s face it, we’ve been counting down the days till school starts. For some of us, we’ve realized the summer has made our brains into a slow mashed potato-like mush and for others, there is a small glimpse of hope that we make something of ourselves in the year ahead.

I, myself have been hiding in my very happy home in Canada terrified that this year is my last to avoid the harsh reality of

adult life and forever updating my profile on LinkedIn. A large red mug sitting on the side of my table, scribbling away my days at the newspaper, I know that somehow I still want it to begin. The crisp pages of my notebooks are ready to be filled with facts that I never fully seem to grasp but the year ahead is an impression to be made.

Dinosaurs were large creatures that once roamed our lands and breathed just like you and me. These beautiful giants did nothing more than merely exist and yet they have

discovered a way to leave their footprints lying in the molded, settled dust. I believe that this is your year to find a place for you to make your mark. Whether it is leaving ink stains across the pages of The Spark or acing that test on monkey genetics, there is always something to leave behind. You only have to have the courage to start.

So let’s make the best of what we have! I welcome you to the University of Reading to seize every opportunity that you can.

Grab your suitcases filled with old clothes and new insights,

explore the city and find new limitations of your stomach eating Domino’s. I hope that you take the chance to showcase your passions in the best way that you can and for The Spark, we will continue to be fidgeting in our office trying to figure out what makes Reading the place to be.

Days where the sun gave us a reason to go outside are coming to an end. We must seek shelter and bury our noses into warmer spaces, but the walls that hold us in were meant to be broken anyway.

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Tipping the Scales

Want to know how to handle the stress of being a student and earning some extra dough? Beatrice Ridge writes on her experience of looking for a job and keeping i

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Festival Snaps

Check out these snaps taken from Reading Festival and get in on the action. We’ve got the hottest bands to hang up on your wall right at your finger tips

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Reading Minds

Exciting interview with Paul Boross, psychologist on the show School of Hard Knocks, gives us some of his insight onto what makes sports players really tick

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Image from Flickr

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR.SPARK@READING.AC.UK

|NEWS

Our tips and tricks of the Freshers industry

Many years ago (well, two, but it seems like a lifetime ago), we were innocent, clueless Freshers about to begin the best few years of our lives. We’ve put together a few tips that we believe will help you settle straight into university life JESS O’DONNELL AND JEN DANIEL Deputy Editors

Many years ago (well, two, but it seems like a lifetime ago), we were innocent, clueless Freshers about to begin the best few years of our lives. We’ve put together a few tips that we believe will help you settle straight into university life and impress.

1. How to subtly yet firmly get your parents to give you space: This is probably the first time in your life you’ll be living without your parents or guardians. For some, this is difficult at first, but for others, it means only one thing: FREEDOM! If you’re one of these freedom-finders, you might need a plan to avoid being stuck on the phone to your sobbing mother while your flatmates start the night’s festivities without you. Thanks to the delight that is Fresher’s Flu, you’re pretty much guaranteed to lose your voice at some point in the next few weeks.

This gives you a perfect excuse not to call home – you physically can’t! If your voice somehow remains intact (it won’t, trust us) then you’ll need to rely on losing and/or breaking your phone.

We can guarantee that this, too, will happen, whether it’s during the blur of an alcohol-fuelled night out, or amidst the chaos of unpacking your entire life into a single halls room.

2. How to fluke cooking healthily: Now, we completely understand how waiting for a meagre handful of carrots to cook is not exactly how you want to be spending your first few weeks at university. There is no way to make cooking vegetables more fun than socialising with your new friends, no matter how hard people who use the hashtag ‘#eatclean’ on Instagram try. Having said this, your Fresher’s Flu will arrive

much sooner and last much longer if you’re not getting at least a few of your five-a-day. An easy way to help with this is to buy bags of raw spinach or other salad vegetables and add a pile to each meal. This way, there’s no extra prep or cooking time, and, of course, no extra washing up! This is pure music to our student ears.

3. Make your money last longer e.g. count up your pennies and put them in the bank – chances are you’ll have enough to make up at least a few pounds How to give a good first impression e.g. wear something comfortable but not TOO comfortable (jeans that are closer to the floor than they are to your butt are a definite no, guys) that makes you feel confident 4. Join everything. Even the weird clubs, like the Friends Enthusiasts society, which I’m not sure is a real thing (think I just came up with the best society ever). The more clubs you join, the more people you meet and that is the whole point of Freshers.

Just give skateboarding a go, you might discover a miraculous natural talent, or (more likely) you’ll fall flat on your face but look pretty cool doing it. You can do as many taster sessions as you want and whittle down the list to pick which ones you genuinely enjoy.

5. Actually study at some point in the year so you don’t leave everything to the last minute.

Trust me, instead of a 24 hour work splurge fuelled by red bull and various Cadbury’s items that will inevitably lead to heart palpitations, study for a couple of hours a day. It’s scientifically proven that studying consistently rather than binge studying at the last minute is better for your memory. So, reduce your blood pressure by not leaving everything till the last minute. Learn from our mistakes.

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Reading Festival Discover how a weekend of binge drinking and unhealthy eating actually .has its health benefits

A warm welcome from the Vice Chancellor Sir David Bell congratulates students on their A-level results

Reading Pride A record breaking number of supporters paraded through the streets for Reading's Gay Pride even

Green-Flag Award The University of Reading has been voted as one of the best green spaces in the country once again

NEWS

CONTENTS

21|09|15 NEWS

Discover how a weekend of binge drinking and unhealthy eating actually has its health benefits.

If only going to the gym at home was as fun as a festival!

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LIFESTYLE

Take a look at Hannah Croft’s exclusive interview with top emerging designer Candice Cuoco for fashion advice and inspiration. She talks about what inspires her and what she aims to achieve with her fashion.

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The Whiteknights campus

ENTERTAINMENT

Find out what Annabel Horsley thought Sinister's terrifying new sequel!

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SPORT

Find out what's in store for England ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup with Sports Editor Ollie Weeden

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Whiteknights campus receives fifth Green Flag Award HARRIET LYNDS News Editor

The University of Reading has been awarded the Green Flag after being voted one of the best green spaces in the country for the fifth consecutive year.

The award shows visitors that the campus is well maintained and well-managed, with excellent facilities.

The Green Flag Award scheme is run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy and is the benchmark national standard for

parks and green spaces in the UK. It is clear to see that the University Grounds staff work hard to preserve the campus as there is always maintenance going on around the university.

Final year student Penny Lomax comments: “I admit that I was often irritated by the noise of the lawnmowers in my first year since I was living on campus, but now I really appreciate it.”

She continues: “I am proud to be able to call it my campus.”

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Planning and Resource,

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said: “We are delighted to have gained a Green Flag Award for the fifth year running. Our attractive grounds continue to be a factor which differentiates Reading from our competitors.

“Recent student satisfaction surveys have highlighted the fact that the ‘attractive campus environment’ is a key factor in undergraduates choosing to study at Reading.”

As an undergraduate, I remember being incredibly impressed by the green campus, and even as a third year student I still love walking to and from

lectures.

The award also highlights the University’s environmental and sustainability initiatives - green waste recycling and composting, energy conservation and carbon reduction targets, biodiversity initiatives such as woodland management, and car-sharing and green travel schemes.

A ceremony to hoist the Green Flag over the campus will take place in the next few weeks to celebrate our beautiful grounds.

Whiteknights campus has once again made us proud students.

GENERAL NEWS

NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

|NEWS

Why university students need to know about Meningitis The disease does not only affect babies, in fact it is students who are most at risk

HARRIET LYNDS Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. This infection can often damage the nerves and brain, and even sometimes be fatal.

rise in meningitis W since 2009.

Anyone can get meningitis, but it is students who are one of the most at risk groups of contracting it, and meningitis W has a higher than usual death rate.

Cases increased from 22 in 2009 to a shocking 117 in 2014.

Harriet Rogers was 19 when she contracted the disease during her first year at Edge Hill University in Lancashire.

She said: “I started to feel really weird. It was like a

head cold. Everything was spinning and I couldn’t focus on anything. I collapsed and started hallucinating.”

Luckily, Harriet’s body was able to fight off the disease better than others. The doctors believe that it was the combination of her athleticism and of her parent’s genes that saved her.

“The mortality rate is so high for this strain and doctors said I was one of the first ever to survive it. It’s brought my family closer together and I just

don’t want other people to be in the same position I was.”

Harriet has been left with permanent side effects including partial hearing loss in one of her ears. She now urges her friends at university to get the jab.

According to charity Meningitis Now, symptoms of the disease can resemble a hangover, so students are being told to be extra cautious.

Symptoms can appear in any order and can include a fever, vomiting, drowsiness,

headaches, confusion and severe muscle pain.

Information Officer Susette Worgan-Brown says teenagers are vulnerable because they “carry the bacteria at the backs of their nose and throat” more than other age groups.

“At uni, that age group mix together, socialise together, live together in halls of residence so there’s more chance of the bacteria being spread around.”

....continued from front page: Mix with people whose life experiences are vastly different to yours.

Freedom brings not just opportunity, but responsibility. In a community as tightly knit as ours, this means taking responsibility for yourself and for others.

Recently, there has been much discussion about the way all universities have been seen to deal with issues of harassment, sexualised ‘banter’ and laddish or loutish behaviour. While this is an issue for the whole of society, and not something which is a particular problem at Reading, I

want to be absolutely clear: the University of Reading has a zerotolerance approach to any form of sexual violence or harassment or, indeed, inconsiderate behaviour of any kind.

There is no place for sexual harassment anywhere in society, but least of all on a university campus. We are a community of independent and responsible adults – but in order to realise our true potential, we all must be able to live and work in an atmosphere of confidence and trust.

That atmosphere cannot exist if any of our members are worried or concerned about being the victim

of physical, verbal or sexual attack.

All students should know that the University has clear policies in place to deal with any incidents that do arise. If you are a victim of harassment or violence anywhere on campus, I urge you to report it to our University security services.

They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to help keep everyone on campus safe, and are trained to deal with any reports of this kind professionally and sensitively.

Furthermore, you should be aware that if you are found to have committed any such act while at

the University of Reading, you will be subject to tough disciplinary action, with sanctions including expulsion from the University. If you have committed a crime, you can also expect to be dealt with by the police.

Fortunately, all the evidence suggests that such incidents are rare at Reading, and I believe our processes for dealing with issues and the welfare of our students are robust. Your students’ union, RUSU, works closely with the University on this issue – for example through their excellent ‘I HEART Consent’ campaign, highlighting the importance of

understanding issues around sexual consent. I also intend to work jointly with the elected student officers from RUSU and demonstrate to the wider world including the government - that we are truly united on this issue.

I welcome any suggestions about how our approach could be improved. You can email me via vc@reading.ac.uk.

Enjoy the start of the new year, at the same time as looking after yourself. Make the most of this new beginning to make your life at the University of Reading as fulfilling as it can be, always remembering that who you are

News Editor

A free vaccine to protect against it is being offered to all 17 and 18-year olds heading to university or college due to the

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NEWS|GENERAL NEWS

NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

Reading University Students’ Union - Led by students, for students JAMES HART

Student Engagement Officer

I’m James Hart your RUSU Engagement and Communication officer for the 2015/16 academic year. As a part of my role, I cover RUSU’s communications and social media strategies, working on sports and society initiatives and with commercial services on events and operations. As well as this I lead on student forums and act as the head of student media.

Congratulations to those of you coming to Reading in September.

It’s is a great place to live, study and get involved in a huge variety of aspects of student life. There’s no better way to get involved than through your students’ union.

Reading University Students’

Union is a democratic organisation led by students, for students, with 5 elected student officers leading the organisation. Each with our own individual roles and remits, we are responsible for ensuring different aspects of your university life are as enjoyable as possible.

The officers are: Oliver Ratcliffe – President Niall Hamilton – Education Officer Nina Hager – Welfare Officer Ben Cooper – Community and Development Officer James Hart – Engagement and Communication Officer RUSU also has a large number of non-student full time members of staff. As well as the marketing

and commercial side of the union, this is to ensure that we can offer you representation, student activities and advice services.

These are available to all students, and by being a student at the University of Reading, you are automatically a member of RUSU. Being a member of RUSU means that you are not only entitled to using all of the services that are offered, but you can also suggest ideas for us to work on through our online platform; Change It! Through student activities we have over 160 sports clubs and societies, as well as three media streams and voluntary projects. All of these are student led, meaning that there is a huge amount to get involved in, something I would highly recommend.

"...we have over 160 sports clubs and societies, as well as three media streams and voluntary projects.

All of these are student led, meaning that there is a huge amount to get involved in..."

There is a huge amount to get involved with and utilise from your students’ union. At Reading we are also very lucky to have a great commercial set-up. We have 3sixty, the largest nightclub in Reading, whilst during the day we have Café Mondial, Mojo’s Bar and Campus Central open serving a wide variety of food, drinks and much more.

RUSU is a nonprofit charity, meaning that any commercial income is reinvested straight back to you, the students, through everything that we offer. The students’ union is located in the centre of Whiteknights Campus, so come in and have a look around, make sure you get involved and I hope you have a great time at Reading!

Talking with RUSU President, Oli Ratcliffe NATHALIE SIAH The Editor

Could you just tell us a little bit about RUSU?

In a nutshell, the Student’s Union is a student led organization ran by students, for students. We are a non-profit charity, so the money made here is re-invested back into the student experience.

As well as the best nightclub in Reading, it’s the home for advice & representation, volunteering, societies & sports and much more!

How do you feel about being the new president of RUSU?

I feel great! Elections week seems like a while ago now, but still it was undoubtedly the highlight of my three years of Uni. It’s going to be weird seeing my face around the union for sure, (I struggle with serious photos) but regardless, I’m looking forward to the year ahead!

What are your biggest goals

for the year? What changes are you keen to make?

My plans for this year involve: JCR reforms, employability, engagement and recreation in and around RUSU, raising awareness of the issues surrounding ‘lad culture’ on campus and housing.

JCR’s - I plan to make sure students know where their JCR fees are going, support JCR’s in their events throughout the year (not just fresher’s fortnight), and attempt to diversify what they do; introducing welfare campaigns and non-alcohol focused events.

Employability - Plan to host a broader range of employers present at Careers Fairs on campus rather than just business based subjects.

Recreation and leisure - I plan to host more debates on campus, establish a napping arrangement in the library where students can have a bit of shut eye during periods of hard work, and have a greater variety of nights at the union, including; International nights, retro nights and JCR nights.

‘Lad culture’ and sexual harassment - I aim to expand the I Heart Consent campaign, so it reaches and influences groups that it has previously not reached. I also aim to put together mechanisms for reporting sexual harassment and begin to make a change to this mentality.

Continuing the work of past RUSU President, Natalie Harper, I’d like to make improvements on housing advice online; expanding the ‘Rate your Landlord’ system we have so that students feel they have support on housing related issues.

I’d also like to continue the 'Living Wage campaign' at the University, to ensure the University pays its staff the living wage.

What were you nervous about coming into University?

University can be a very scary prospect; I was there three years ago myself! For me, living away from my parents for the first time was the big change. If you’re worried about making friends or not getting along

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with your flatmates, never fear!

University is the easiest place to make friends either through your course, flat, or societies!

Everything from moving house to managing your finances, RUSU are here to help with our Advice centre downstairs.

What is your favourite place to spend time on campus? And in RUSU?

My personal favourite place where I spent most of my time would’ve been the Student Media area, the Junction11 Radio or the RU:ON TV office where I would be either making some videos for Campus News or doing my own radio show with some friends.

You also can’t beat a cheeky plate of nacho’s and a cider in Mojo’s after a day of lectures!

as well but you will have a bit more spare time on your hands in your first year.

What is the best way to contact you if you have any questions?

If you’d like to contact me, the best way that you can do it is by e-mail: president@rusu.co.uk . You can find me on Facebook or in my office upstairs in the RUSU building. I hope you have a fantastic year!

Do you have any advice for Freshers?

My best piece of advice for first years is to not be afraid to get involved straight away. You will have ample opportunity to join societies in second and third year

Oli Ratcliffe stands infrontin front of the RUSU Building and addresses the new year Image from RU:ON TV

GENERAL NEWS

NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

|NEWS

Itsu Opens in Vice Chancellor Reading Town congratulates and welcomes new students Centre Sir David Bell comments how “Reading has Eating beautifully comes to home performed strongly” this year town, a perfect place for students HARRIET LYNDS with around seven applications for every single place. Art, Film, Theatre and Television, English, to gather News Editor

Despite 2015 being the toughest ever year for UK and EU undergraduate recruitment, the University of Reading is on track to outperform last September’s intake of 3,500 students.

Sir David Bell, University Vice Chancellor, says: “My congratulations go out to students across the country on their outstanding exam results.

A-Levels are tough qualifications – they require dedication and hard work to achieve success.

I pay tribute to teachers and parents for all that they have done in support.”

This year, applications rose by 21% across a variety of courses,

Itsu’s brown rice pots available in store Image from Itsu

NATHALIE SIAH The Editor

Reading town centre will be opening its streets to a new shop blasting with Asian inspired flavours on 28th August. Nearby to the Oracle Shopping Centre and the train station, it is easy and quick for any meal for office workers, families or students looking for a bite to eat. This affordable shop stocks up with filling dishes mainly under £5.

Created by the founder of Pret a Manger in 1997, itsu is rapidly growing nationwide with the mantra of ‘eat beautiful’ and focuses on protein packed, low carbohydrate salads, hearty and low fat chicken noodle soups and alternatives to greasy foods.

This new fast-food brand is perfect for all and offers a healthy choice alternative to the usual KFC nearby. All dishes are made by hand daily in store and changes

seasonally. Some of its dishes include prepared sushi, sashimi, hot rice, noodles, fresh juice and smoothies. Its sushi has many combinations to suit tastes of a wide range of individuals such as salmon, duck, avocado, cucumber and crab.

Introducing its new breakfast menu, the branch will be launching porridge, poached eggs and beauty smoothies. In addition, frozen yogurt on the go as well as a live action tea station will be incorporated for all who love hot beverages.

Its more popular dishes include an ‘on the bed’ salad range in which tuna and salmon tartare and a variety of snack options which include chocolate covered rice cakes, wasabi peas and five flavours of popcorn.

If you’re hoping to try Itsu, you can find it at 31 Queen Victoria Street. The shop will have two floors accommodating just over 100 individuals.

Politics, Psychology, Law, and Construction Management proved to be the most popular options, as well as those in Henley Business School.

Although there has been a recent national trend of a shortage of applicants for language courses, recruitment at Reading in this field has not suffered.

The Vice Chancellor continues: “We have recruited over 11% more students whose results have met or exceeded their offer than last year. This bucks UCAS’ analysis of a trend of declining achievement against predicted grades in recent years.”

The University of Reading

thus continues to maintain its excellent status as a great place to study, with 93% of graduates either employed or in further study six months after leaving.

The opening of the new campus in Malaysia this autumn has already proved a success and will provide even more study opportunities for Reading undergraduates. The University of Reading Malaysia is an important step in the plan to become a fully global institution.

Sir David Bell says: “It is a very competitive market but we are confident in what we can offer our students – world leading teaching and research, top-class services and facilities, and an award-winning campus.”

Indian soldiers commemorated in the Reading Museum NATHALIE SIAH The Editor

The Legacy of Valour exhibition has opened at the Reading Museum on 1 August and is open for free until the 31 August. The exhibit will remain open to the public until 10 January 2016 however there will be a small fee.

This display highlights many rare documents and photographs unseen by the public for over a hundred years. Connections of Indian pilots with training are seen as they have trained as Royal Flying Corps combat pilots.

The exhibition was launched

by His Excellency Mr. Ranjan Mathai, the Indian High Commissioner and Mr. James

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Exhibition Opening

Puxley, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire. Joined in the launch were the MP for Reading West, Mr. Mayor of Wokingham and other distinguished guests amongst the community.

The Legacy of Valour was a project launched in October 2014 and focuses on community heritage in regards

to the First World War centenary commemoration. The main aim was to engage members of the Punjabi community who are staying in Reading and Wokingham. Many supporters of the project include Reading University and The National Archives.

NEWS|GENERAL NEWS

NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

Freshers’ week weather: rain or shine?

Weather reporter, Hannah Crofts, gives the low-down on the weather this Freshers’ week HANNAH CROFTS Weather Reporter

It’s that time of year again: an influx of new students start moving in and getting settled into university life, but will it be a washout?

With summer now behind us the weather has taken an autumnal turn, but you’ll be glad to know there’s no heavy rain predicted for next week. Instead, the weather for Freshers’ week is set to be mainly cloudy with some sunshine, and will remain pretty consistent throughout the week.

How will the weather affect Freshers’ events?

Kicking off the week on Saturday September 19th is the Campus Carnival; this day will be pretty

cloudy but with highs of 18 °C it’ll feel much more than mild and will be pleasant enough to forgo a coat.

"...the weather for Freshers’ week is set to be mainly cloudy with some sunshine, and will remain pretty consistent throughout the week."

Moving on to the next few days, you can expect more cloud.

The three big Freshers’ fayres - volunteering, societies and sports - all fall on consecutive days between the 22nd and 23rd.

Nothing too exciting will be happening with the weather here, although on the 22nd there will be more cloud than sun, while on both the 23rd and 24th there will

be more sun than cloud.

What’s ahead for the rest of term?

It’s impossible to predict with 100% confidence and accuracy what you can expect from the weather in upcoming months, as things are always liable to change.

At the moment though, looking ahead to the rest of term, there are currently predictions of rain and flooding. So it might be a good idea to invest in some decent weatherproof clobber as it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Will this winter be one of the coldest?

You might have heard that this winter is going to be the coldest in the UK for 50 years, which doesn’t sound too grand. However, as already explained, it’s not possible

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to predict with certainty what the weather will be like in months to come. There’s no smoke without fire though, and there is substance behind these claims.

Essentially, it’s all related to the El Nino phenomenon. ‘What is that?!’ I hear you say. Well, the temperatures of the ocean and the atmosphere have a huge impact on weather, but sometimes these temperatures fluctuate in a cycle called the El Nino Southern Oscillation. It’s long and complicated (and probably not too interesting to the average Joe) but this cycle basically causes changes to weather, namely wetter weather, in certain parts of the world. In addition, these weather cycles can cause things such as flooding and heavy snowfall, hence why the media has gone nuts over the speculation that an El Nino may affect UK weather this

Image from FreestockPhotos

winter. Yet, even a strong El Nino would only cause minor changes to the UK’s weather, so there’s no need to full on panic. However, as this is the UK I would still suggest you invest in a good winter coat.

NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

Reading Pride: A Community Celebration

LOCAL NEWS

|NEWS

Reading Pride ran for its 12th year and was bigger and better than ever ERIN PEACOCK

2nd Year Engligh Literature with Creative Writing

The celebrations associated with Gay Pride in Britain have come a long way since the first rally in 1972, where only 1000 people attended the march. Now, a record-breaking amount of supporters turned up to march for Reading’s 12th annual pride parade, with over 14,000 dedicated people rallying through the streets adorned with amazing outfits, rainbow flags and colourful banners. The parade started at Station Hill, meandering through Reading town centre until coming to a close at King’s Meadow. The procession walked through Broad Street and Forbury Gardens before reaching its end point where the outlandish festivities began,

including a performance from the Scottish singer-songwriter Jai McDowell, who won Britain’s Got Talent in 2011. This year, Reading Pride launched a new concept called #prideinyou. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of personal identity, especially within the LGBT+ community. It is designed to help people abolish barriers that deter them from expressing who they really are and who they desire to be, highlighting that you should be proud of yourself and your identity no matter what adversities you may face. This was an important message for the 2015 parade, with the main event organiser Kirsten Bayes saying: “It was great to see so many members of Reading's LGBT community being themselves and enjoying the company of friends and family.” The event has raised an impressive £230,000 over its 12

year reign as one of the country’s longest-running pride festivals.

This is a notable and inspiring amount considering Reading Pride still remains free to take part in.

Without valued and appreciated help from the community, the event would not be able to take

place as organisers rely heavily on donations, sponsors and fundraising throughout the year.

Without fail, each year Reading Pride attracts a huge amount of supporters and always brightens the town with colour and diversity. Within the

Thames Valley it continues to support and encourage equality, diversity and integration in the community. Organisation for the 13th celebration of Reading Pride is already taking place and details announcing the themes, date and acts will be revealed at a future date.

Image from Reading Pride/Flickr

The Danger of Keeping Your Festival Wristband On

Scientists advise that your Reading Festival wristbands should be snipped off after the

HARRIET LYNDS News Editor

A microbiologist recently discovered bacterium on a festival wristband that a fan had worn for two years. According to lab tests, over 10,000 bacterial cells live on the fabric - 20 times more than on normal clothing. Many festivalgoers keep them on as a token of honour, but scientists have said that they should be removed after the event because leaving them on can cause boils. Two Reading Festival wristbands, which had been kept on for two years, were tested by Dr Alison Cottell, a microbiologist from the University of Surrey. Results revealed that

they were home to around 9,000 micrococci and 2,000 staphylocci - a bacterium that can cause boils, food poisoning and infections.

Dr Cottell said: “The amount of bacteria that grew on the wristbands was about 20 times higher than you would expect to find on the sleeve of a piece of clothing that would be regularly laundered.

“Staphylocci are usually harmless, although they can cause boils and infections of cuts and grazes, and can also cause a form of acute food poisoning if they are ingested. “It would be advisable not to wear them if working in industries such as healthcare or food preparation, where there is a risk that the bacteria may spread to other people.”

Credit to Flickr Images Photo by Fred Postles

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NEWS|SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT

NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

Society Spotlight: Reading RAG TASH TRAVERS 3rd Year Psychology

Raising And Giving (RAG) is the official fundraising body at The University of Reading.

As a student-orientated, studentrun society, we work to provide exciting opportunities to fundraise for a variety of charities, locally and globally.

This year, Reading RAG are fundraising for three local charities; Creating Better Futures, empowering children of Zimbabwe through education, Trust House Reading, a support system for rape and sexual abuse victims and Voice of the Child, rebuilding and strengthening families after a relationship breakdown.

Although our monetary support is extremely vital, we also support our organisations through volunteering. Students are given the opportunity to work closely with the charities, gaining important workplace skills that can contribute towards the RED Award.

RAG is a society for anyone and everyone who’s up for doing something new and making a difference for a truly worthy cause.

Unlike the majority of societies,

there is no joining fee or concrete commitment- the amount of time you devote to RAG is completely up to you!

We have loads in store this year and there’s definitely something for everyone! This term we’re hosting our very first event, LOST, on October 10th. Students are blind-folded and taken to an unknown location, only to try and find their way back. Without spending any money! Think you’ve got what it takes? Come to our Info Session on 1st to find out more!

This term we will also be holding one of our first RAG weeks for the academic year!

This extremely popular event is a week fully dedicated to RAG and this term our focus will be around giving! From shoebox collections, blood donations, information talks and freebies, RAG week has it all! And this is a small insight into some of the events you could take part in during your time at University!

Together with the support of the Students Union, the RAG committee organise regular fundraising events, ranging from union nights and bake sales, volunteering opportunities in the

local community or even trekking Maccu Picchu or the Great Wall of China. What other society gives you a chance to gain life-changing experiences where you can try something new all whilst having that warm feeling knowing you’re making a difference to someone’s life?

As well as organising fundraising at the university, we’re also here to support and encourage student involvement!

If there’s something you want to fundraise for, individually or as a society, contact us at rag@ reading.ac.uk and we’ll be able to assist you from event planning to final donations!

RAG is an extremely important society, not only for our community and charities but for every student here at Reading!

From knowing their making a huge difference, to sharing the experience with friends. For me, it means that I’ve been part of something truly amazing during my time at university. There’s so much more to being a student than studying and there are countless RAG memories that will stick with me in the future.

Success of E-Mentoring Scheme COURTNEY SULLIVAN French Studies and English Language

Credit to Flickr Images Photographer H. Michael Miley

Everybody knows how difficult it can be to settle in at University when you start as a fresher, so imagine how much more difficult that is for an international student who is trying to cope with all the usual stresses AND the move to a new country!

The university identified this problem and came up with a successful solution in the form of the International E-Mentoring scheme, which has been running for the last two years. Open to international students at all levels of study, it aims to match up incoming students with an existing international student.

This allows the students to talk to a mentor and ask any questions about Reading and adjusting to UK student life. By talking to an existing international student, it is hoped that they will gain a valuable perspective from someone who has been through

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a similar experience. Lasting for a period of 10 weeks over the summer, the scheme is carried out via an online messaging platform.

The scheme then culminates with a closing party, where students get to meet face-to-face and talk to everybody else that has been involved with the scheme.

This year, the scheme celebrated its highest ever intake; with over 150 incoming students and an additional 30 mentors getting involved. These students came from over 30 different countries, showing just how far the global reach of the university extends!

As the Project Coordinator of this year's scheme, I was lucky enough to get to know all of the students who took part and had the chance to hear about their experiences. As well as being impressed with the helpfulness and level of knowledge that their mentors were able to share, both

the mentors and incoming students commented on the friendships that they had developed thanks to their participation in the scheme.

As the scheme is nearly over, everyone is turning their excitement towards the closing party at the end of the month. As well as the long awaited mentormentee meeting, our Pro ViceChancellor; Vincenzo Raimo, will be attending to formally welcome all of the students to Reading and to hand out certificates to all those who have helped make this year’s scheme such a success!

After the popularity experienced this year, the scheme is looking to be rolled out again in 2016. If you are interested in becoming a mentor for this scheme please send an email to the Student Experience Team at ementoring@reading.ac.uk who can advise you when applications open.

GENERAL NEWS

NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK

|NEWS

Reading Festival helped you burn calories It turns out festivals might be better for us than we thought…

ERIN PEACOCK

2nd Year Engligh Literature with Creative Writing

When I reflect back on my past experiences at Reading Festival, I certainly do not immediately associate them with having any particular health benefits – in fact, quite the opposite. Three days of drinking to a seriously impressive excess; surviving on nothing but overpriced burgers

and questionable chicken; and, well, sleep simply being out of the question, you should end up leaving on the Monday feeling inches from the grave - otherwise you just haven’t done the iconic British festival right. For me, going to a festival is all about the experience and atmosphere so, quite honestly, I will takeno notice of the dietary consequences of that quarter pounder smothered in plastic cheese I just washed down with one (or five) pints of

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cider. When you have a whole day of dancing, throwing your arms about and surviving mosh pits, you need all the carbs you can get, so who cares if you eat a whole French baguette and several squashed cereal bars for breakfast, right? However, new research shows that the amount of calories you can burn at a festival can be impressively high. On average, during each act, you burn between 400-700 calories depending on how crazy

you go with the dancing. You will also walk approximately 4.7 miles a day, so on an exercise front, festivals are actually pretty good for you. You can indulge in some of the best music around, let loose, have an absolutely unforgettable time and not feel totally guilty about it. Over the entire weekend, festival-goers will burn on average a remarkable 9000 calories and walk 15 miles.

That is the third highest of all the major UK festivals, coming

just under V Festival and the epic Glastonbury, where fans will burn off an average of 10,200 calories over the course of a four day event.

Technology company Withings are to thank for these calculations that can put our health-conscious minds slightly at rest. It turns out dancing wildly, staggering around fields and mad dashes between stages all adds up. If only it could be that care-free and enjoyable burning that amount of calories at the gym.

Fun Facts

1.

2.

3.

4.

Cherophobia is the fear of fun Human saliva has a boiling point three times that of regular water.

King Henry VIII slept with a gigantic axe beside him.

Arab women can initiate a divorce if their husbands don’t pour coffee for them.

5. Bob Dylan’s real name is Robert Zimmerman.

6. Kleenex tissues were originally used as filters in gas masks.

7. Ronald McDonald is “Donald McDonald” in Japan because it makes pronunciation easier for the Japanese. In Singapore he’s known as “Uncle McDonald”.

8. Every year more than 2500 left-handed people are killed from using right-handed products.

9. The testicles on an octopus are located in its head!

10. Los Angeles’s full name is “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula.”

The more you know ...!

Image from Matthieu Sontag/Wikimedia

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NEWS|CAREERS

NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK

Careers

Hola everyone and to all the new students! For those of you that are studying within the School of Literature and Languages, you're in luck because a brand new opportunity is heading your way.

The scheme is called Professional Track and it aims to provide you with training courses, widen your career network and increase your professional confidence so that when you leave uni, you'll

Welcome to the new careers service!

Over the summer, Careers has been completely reorganised to make sure we’re better able to help you with the things you want. Now with twice as many staff and a new direction, 2015/16 will see us running a huge variety of events with something for everyone from every discipline. To find out more about what’s going on, be sure to check out our events schedule on My Jobs Online (new students can register with RISIS log in details on the Careers website www. reading.ac.uk/careers) or come in and see us in the Carrington building!

Reading Experience Day

Open to all students in all years, Careers will be in the Dome on the Meadow from midday to 4pm on Wednesday 30th September. The event will provide opportunities for students to engage in activities that, alongside their academic studies, can help develop skills and employability. This includes: opportunities for paid parttime work, external voluntary work from charities, internal opportunities such as course reps, RUSU officers, student ambassadors, etc. Alongside all of this, we’ll be offering careers advice, a LinkedIn photo booth and MJO mini-tutorials. If anyone can promote this to their incoming/ returning students it would be much appreciated as we think this will be great opportunity to help bolster extracurricular activity! www.reading.ac.uk/welcome

Job Shop

Join us from 2pm on Monday 28th September as we celebrate the launch of our brand new Job Shop in the lobby of the Carrington Building. Oli Ratcliffe, President of RUSU, will be officially opening the Job Shop and our Job Shop staff will be on hand to show you around and offer you some tasty treats!

There is no need to sign up to confirm your attendance at the launch – instead follow the Job Shop on Twitter and like us on Facebook for a preview of the Job Shop.

The new Job Shop will be bigger, better and brighter. We are also planning a series of ‘Job Shop Takeovers’ with some great part-time employers. The Job Shop is here to help UoR students get Part Time and Vacation work which is not only a great source of money but also great for your employability. So come and visit us between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday (term-time) and see how we can help you!

Website: www.reading.ac.uk/ jobshop Twitter: https://twitter.com/ UniRdg_Jobshop Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/UoRJobShop Email: jobshop@reading.ac.uk

Beyond Profit – November 5th 2015

For the first time ever, the Careers service is running a major event aimed as being an alternative to the traditional Careers & Placement Fairs. Offering the opportunity for students to meet with non-profit organisations, members of the creative industry

and a variety of others who play a smaller part in the graduate employment market, you won’t run into any large accountancy firms or major supermarkets here! We’ll also have a variety of speakers in telling you about how to pave your own way after University and find the role that’s best for you and isn’t part of the normal ‘nine to five’ culture.

As part of our commitment to exploring all of your options for life after University, not simply the typical paths, this event will also play host to the official ‘relaunch’ of Careers, with a brand new visual identity!

Always Here for You

Thinking about life after Uni is not always the most exciting endeavour. In fact, sometimes, it can be downright depressing. Or terrifying. Or even boring. We’re always here to remind you that life as you know it won’t end when you leave Reading, and can even be the start of your greatest chapter yet! The bad news is that the sooner you start preparing, the better your chances of doing what you want to do. That can get in the way of the great time you’re (hopefully) having here! But it doesn’t need to be hard work and headaches; Careers are here to help.

We have a huge range of workshops, most of which last less than an hour, and always surprise students in how simple yet helpful they are. We also have Careers Consultants on hand Monday-Friday to lend a caring and friendly hand to advise you through everything,

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have all the experience and qualifications you'll need to jump start your ideal career.

If you'd like any more information, please don't hesitate to email me with any questions you may have, my email address is: s.mills2@student.reading. ac.uk or you could just pop your head round my room, I'm in HUMSS 118 and I may even have some chocolate for you!

no matter what stage you’re at or how prepared you feel. If that all sounds a bit intense, then you can always approach us from the comfort of your own home, either through the website, which is full of resources, or by checking out our social media streams on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Whatever you need, we’re here to help.

In Your Final Year?

Congratulations! You’re almost there, and whilst it will be a shame to see you go, we hope that life at the University of Reading has given you everything you need going forward. If you feel like you’re not at all ready to head off into the world of work, that’s ok! Now is the time to start. If you’re looking to go down the traditional ‘Grad Scheme’ route you should take into consideration that some schemes close early, so now’s the time to start applying. If you need more time or want to explore you options, now is also a great time to weigh up your options and start looking for experience or projects that will help you get there. All employers want to see certain skills such as ‘business sense’, being able to work in a team and having a positive attitude.

These are all things that you can pick up in day-to-day life at Uni by finally joining that society you’ve been thinking about or volunteering with RUSU. We wish you the best of luck in this final stage, and, of course, you can come and see us in Carrington if you ever need some advice!

GENERAL NEWS

NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK

|NEWS

New project to tell Silchester’s Iron Age Story

The University has begun a dig to uncover the origins of one of the most important Roman sites in Britain HARRIET LYNDS News Editor

Calleva Atrebatum is a Roman town situated in the parish of Silchester in Hampshire. It was founded nearly 2000 years ago, in the first century AD, and built on the site of an Iron Age town, Calleva. The students of Reading are lucky to have this historical gem on their doorstep.

The University has started a new project with a £1m grant funded by the Calleva Foundation to find out whether the settlement of the town grew rapidly from a growing local population or through French immigrants in first century BC.The team aims to explore Iron Age settlements across 100 square kilometres of the landscape around Calleva by using a range of survey methods and small-scale excavations.Finds during the University’s previous dig, an 18 year excavation which came to a close last summer, have provided a unique insight into life during early Roman Britain.

During the 2008 season, evidence

of an Iron Age town in Britain was discovered for the first time and our knowledge has continued increasing ever since.A series of great Iron Age halls begun to emerge during the final seasons, including a giant building 50m long - the biggest example of an Iron Age house ever found in Britain. The only buildings similar to these have been found in northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands.Professor Michael Fulford from the University of Reading’s Department of Archaeology said: “I am thrilled to begin this exciting project. Our excavation of Silchester Roman Town has provided an unparalleled picture of Britain during its early Roman occupation. Exploring Iron Age Calleva however has been tantalisingly out of reach until now.“The story of Roman Silchester may have ended for now, but the tale of Iron Age Calleva is just beginning.”An opportunity to learn some history and a great day out, Silchester is only a 25 minute drive from Reading town and is open to the public.

RED AWARD

Many of the societies and bursaries available to you are supported by the generosity of donors.

Stay tuned to The Spark Newspaper to read more stories about the many ways donors support you.

Welcome to the University of Reading!

Need hours for your RED Award?

Helping The Spark may help you ultimately gain the experience you’re looking for filling up the core activities on your RED Award sheet!

If you’re writing an article for the Lifestyle, Entertainment or Sports section, you will be awarded with 1 ½ hours per article. News articles on the other hand are awarded 30 minutes per article. If you’re artist or

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photographer, you can gain up to 3 hours depending how long you work!

If you’ve already written, drawn or photographed for The Spark, the Editor Nathalie Siah can sign off your sheet for you. Contact her at editor. spark@reading.ac.uk for more information.

Pore-fect Skin Annabel Horsley shares some cheap ways to fight off bad skin during freshers week.

Autumn Fashion Jackie Tan talks us through the best trends for this autumn and where to find these hot picks.

Vegetarian & a student?

Learn how to cook some simple yet low cost vegetarian meals for you and your flatmates.

Eastern Europe Sarah Kechington gives advice on how to make the most of travelling on a student budget.

LIFESTYLE Credit to Student Crowd

Guildford - a modern gem rooted with History

You Know You're a Reading Student When...

NATHALIE SIAH The Editor

League tables and ranks on student satisfaction are never a complete picture of University. If you’re a Reading student, its culture and student life shines through right on campus. Here are some of our best quirks that makes our University stand out from the crowd!

1) You need to be in a glass pod Open 24/7, all Reading University students can be found on the second floor mission focused and on the hunt for a

glass pod. Once you’ve got one, they are the envy of campus. With these wide screen centered babies, looking like a CEO while eating fruit pastilles never looked so comfortable.

2) You wished you could swap to Business You know you weren’t any good at math but being inside the Henley Business School made you wish you were part of its aura. This cool glass building is the best way to get into work mode, suit up and sip on coffee. Why wouldn’t you with all the stock prices floating around in the ICMA Centre?

3) You form a healthy rivalry with Oxford Brookes Ask anyone of us and we’ll agree, Brookes students have nothing on us. We’ve got the brains, beauty and athletics to shout about. If you aren’t sure, check YikYak just in case.

4) Theseus and the labyrinth has got nothing on you Campus is a big place but after you’ve befriended a swan near the Agriculture building and picked some flowers at the Harris garden, you face the HumSS building.

Nothing can defeat you now!

While becoming the next Avenger,

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navigating your way through this place is a second nature super power to any Reading student after a few 9 am classes and coffees. You’ll be buzzing to and fro from the café and zipping to the chique study space in five seconds flat. (Don’t get us started on the London Road campus!)

5) You get excited about the RED Award Let’s face it, nothing makes you more special than getting your name on that RED Award certificate. This little prezzie is like getting an A on your spelling test but in Uni. This bonus on top

of all the hard work that you do during the year makes you winner in employability. We all love Vicki Short.

6) You spend more time in Park Bar than your house Healthy student life includes the amazing combination of snake bites and Domino’s. You haven’t lived if this colourful drink hasn’t spilled all over your clothes and sang loudly to Shake it off in front of a few cafeteria ladies. Still, if you’re not spending more time chilling out with your flatmates at Park Bar then you’d be better be sleeping or dead.

FRESHERS

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

|LIFESTYLE

Journey to the West An International Student's perspective TJ HIEW 3rd Year Law

15th August 2013. How well I remember this date. How nervous I was while logging into my UCAS account, listening to the news about celebrations of the 68th anniversary since the Japanese surrendered in the Second World War. My heart was pounding as I typed in my UCAS number and password.

“Congratulations! Your place at the University of Reading for Law, M100 has been confirmed.”

Before I could even process the words, I was jumping for joy and screaming with happiness. My dream of studying in the UK was one step closer to reality. After finding out the great news, my dad suggested to me and my mum to have a Japanese meal as a celebration, but I wanted to have KFC instead - that’s always what I’d eat before sitting my final exams in college.

Then, the busy days started.

Student visa, medical check-up, tuberculosis scan… of all the things, my student visa was the most nerve-wrecking process, as my CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) letter came late. This meant I could only choose the last date available for an appointment to apply for my student visa. Thankfully, the letter came in time, but it was a close shave.

The last step was the predeparture briefing in Kuala Lumpur by the International Office and RUMBSA (Reading University Malaysian, Bruneian and Singaporean Association).

That’s where I met two of my course-mates and a few others heading in the same direction as me. Just like everyone else, I was both excited and nervous. I wanted to know as much as I could before I travelled to the other side of the globe to study.

Finally, the day I set off from KLIA to Heathrow came. Luckily, I did not go there alone, as I had a few friends from my A-Level days flying with me - one of them to Reading just like me; the other two to Cambridge. All four of us are reading Law. I met a new friend there and we still keep in touch.

For that flight, the last meal before

we landed was breakfast and one of the choices was nasi lemak - coconut rice - one of the best foods from Malaysia. Without a single hesitation, I chose that one for heaven knows when I might have been able to eat it again before I flew home for the summer holidays. When my flight MH002 landed safely at Heathrow, “Rule Britannia” was ringing in my head over and over again.

When I arrived at my room in Windsor Hall after such a long journey, it was only 10am, but it didn’t feel like it at all. Oh yes, the UK is constantly seven hours behind Malaysia (during daylight saving).

I turned on my laptop, typed in Google, and discovered it automatically switches to www. google.co.uk, with the grey words “UK” displayed below the logo.

The amazing speed of the internet!

Pinch, pinch. Yes, I AM IN THE UK! After settling myself, it was time to know more about my surroundings, as I only had a vague idea based on reading Harry Potter (“WHAT????!!!” so said my trampolining club-mates).

It took me quite some time to get used to university life and, as an international student, the British culture. First, the accent.

Back home, for those who had music exams before - either by ABRSM or Trinity - they know what I mean, for it’s one of their biggest fears. No, no, I don’t mean to say that the Queen’s English is scary, just that it’s a foreign accent to us, and in addition to nerves, most of us are scared that we won’t be able to understand what the examiner says. Thankfully, the accent was not such a big problem to me, as I’ve been watching Britain’s Got Talent since 2011, a show I came to know about when Susan Boyle became famous.

Putting accents aside, understanding certain slangs is another thing, and I am still learning “new words” from time to time. It was only during my second year that I realised that “services” along the motorway is what we Malaysians call “R&R”.

If I were to choose five things from my ever-expanding list of what I’ve learnt about the UK since arriving here, they are:

1. Alcohol Back where I come from, you know you’re in trouble when you walk onto campus with even just a pint of alcohol, and nope, alcohol is not served everywhere. When I entered Park Eat for the first time, I was shocked. THERE’S ACTUALLY A BAR IN THE CATERING OUTLET! I do know that the Western world has a different drinking culture, but the scale here in the UK was beyond my imagination. I was being told that showering one’s head with cold water to relieve him/her from drunkenness is “the last thing you should ever do”. I shall leave the rest for you Freshers from abroad to explore. Brace yourselves but stay ethical!

2. I’m sorry, but how far is that in kilometres?

Contrary to what I expected all this time, the Brits still use the imperial system, although they do learn metric. I always thought that this is an American thing, or that only Harry Potter’s wizarding world used yards and pounds.

Nope, the Muggle world of Britain uses them too. “10” on signs is “10 miles”, not “10 metres”.

3. The sun’s out! Let’s get a tan!!!!!

My fellow Malaysians, remember those advertisements of beauty products that claim to “brighten your skin and make you look fair”? Unfortunately you don’t find them here. Everyone here wants a tan – they even fake tans. To them, the sun hardly appears in England, and having the sun coming out from the clouds seems to be headlineworthy news, perhaps second to the Royal birth. Coming from a hot and humid country with 365 days of sunlight each year, what England has is considered to be “just nice” to me, maybe except during summer. For a few times in summer I wanted to pull out my umbrella to keep myself out of the sunlight, but because I’m in the UK, the awkwardness discouraged me from doing so. In case you are wondering, we Malaysians do use umbrellas for both the sun and rain.

4. Eating rice with fork and knife There are many ways of eating

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Credit to Flickr Images

rice: you either use your hands, a pair of chopsticks, or a fork and spoon. But when I see people grabbing a knife and fork instead, it’s like telling me “Welcome to the UK!” Don’t ask me how they do it. This is a skill that I can never see myself mastering.

5. Closing time of shops and “Open 24 hours” Yes, shopping is not something to be done after 8pm, at least not in Reading. Asda in Reading is open 24 hours, but my advice is to check out the fine prints. If you want to hang out at night, there are nightclubs galore waiting for you with doors wide open.

Of course, there’s more. I’ll leave the rest for you to see for yourself - no spoilers here!

Travelling all the way to a totally different country can be scary; sitting in an aeroplane for half a day does sound tiring; being away from home for such a long time may seem stressful.

However, think about it: we are in a generation where we have

smartphones and Skype and FaceTime. My parents, who went to local, public universities, had to go through a lot of trouble just to make a call home with a public telephone.

One thing’s for sure, an opportunity to study in the UK is golden. Only a handful of people can afford to do so - the rest will have to depend on scholarships.

And even with that, with the degree of competitiveness, only a few are able to get one.

If you arrive alone, don’t be scared! Open up and talk to people, ask if you need to know something, and there will always be people who are eager to help you to settle down. The less homesick you feel, the more you are able to cope with university life, especially if you are an international student.

For me, the moment I took my first step onto the British soil, I knew I was going to have a lifechanging experience for the better.

And I was right.

I hope you do, too!

LIFESTYLE |FRESHERS

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

Hidden Hangout Places Credit to UoR Facebook

HANNAH CROFTS 3rd Year English Literature

Whiteknights campus has received a Green Flag Award five years in a row. It's hardly surprising really considering it has 130 hectares of parkland!

While Reading itself is a fastpaced hub of activity, the

university is a quieter place, full of sprawling green open spaces.

The attractive campus is full of meadows, perfumed flowers, and hidden nooks and crannies to explore. A walk around the lake is lovely: listening to the birdsong and the wind through the leaves, and admiring the cute baby ducks in the spring. There's more to campus than the lake though, so we've listed the top hidden haunts to make sure you don't miss out.

The Harris Gardens Nestled away behind the Biological Sciences building is this botanical garden, the most tranquil place on campus. A beautiful, peaceful haven bursting with exotic plants, Japanese cherry blossom trees, a flower meadow, and a stream that trickles down into a pond. This is the perfect location to escape to, away from deadline stresses and uni commitments. I fall in love

every time I walk through the gate. It feels as if you're stepping into another world; there's so much to discover and explore, and every time you visit you're bound to stumble upon a hidden, magical, corner that you haven't seen before.

sit and revise; it includes several comfy zebra and leopard print sofas for you to enjoy. Or, if you want a side of sweet potato fries with your revision, then head to Eat and Drink, which sells the yummiest food and is usually pretty quiet.

University Woodlands

Outside your halls

Not quite as exciting as The Forbidden Forest from Harry Potter (it's unfortunately lacking in centaurs and unicorns, but you might spot a rabbit hopping about), the university wood is just as peaceful, yet less known, than the Harris Gardens. Wander along the path and over the bridge taking in the sights, sounds, and smells, as the gentle shades of green surrounding you slowly draw you into a sense of relaxation. If your parents are coming for a visit then this is a great place to take them.

It's signposted just outside the Harris Gardens or you can access it from behind the Agriculture building.

If you're not up for venturing far, don't worry. You don't have to go far to find a nice place to sit outside, as every hall has an area nearby. Benyon's got its own pond, while Wantage has a quad in the style of a University of Oxford college. All are quaint in their own unique way and make perfect places to hang out.

London Road Campus The home of Education students and the location for exams and graduation, you probably won’t visit this campus very much.

You definitely should though, especially during exam season when the library is overflowing.

The newly opened study space is a peaceful place where you can

Whiteknights Lake This is the feature mentioned by everyone who visits or studies at the University of Reading.

Come spring/summer when the ducklings are waddling about, be prepared for an influx of photos and accompanying comments gushing at how “beautiful", “gorgeous” and “oh so amazing” this lake is covering your newsfeed. At the heart of campus, overlooked

by Wessex, Child's, and Stenton Townhouses halls, this lake is huge. Sprawling with wildlife, it's a great place for a walk, or for sitting along the embankment on a sunny afternoon.

10 Best Things about Being a Fresher HANNAH CROFTS 3rd Year English Literature

Packing your bags and heading off to university can be quite daunting, but there are many perks to being a Fresher. There's no need to spend hours and hours slaving away revising in the library or start panicking because you haven't made post-graduation plans. Life's pretty good for you right now, so enjoy it while you can - it goes by very quickly and you'll soon find you're in third year stressing about that 10,000 word dissertation that’s looming!

This is the time to say yes to everything. It's also probably the time you can be most carefree.

Your second and third (and fourth, in some cases) years will be great

too, but it's not quite the same as needing only 40% to pass and not having grades count towards your final degree mark. Obviously, we’re not advising you to blow off all of your assignments – just don’t stress too much over them.

Coming to university and living in halls can help you meet so many new people, and it's true when they say you'll probably meet some friends for life here. Everyone you meet in your halls - even if you don't stick together at the end of the year - will make a lasting impact and you're guaranteed to gain countless memories.

There's nothing like being a Fresher, so we've listed ten of the best things to give you soon-to-be first years a sneaky insight. These are the 10 best things about being a Fresher:

Credit to Hannah Franklin

1. Getting your loan for the first time and feeling like you've won the lottery

7. Meeting new people, some of whom will become friends for life (slushy but true)

2. Only needing 40% to pass, because first year doesn't count

8. Waking up with six cones, a street sign and a garden gnome in your bedroom after a night out and feeling like a champion

3. Waking up at 2pm and then watching Netflix in bed for the rest of the day and feeling no guilt 4. Living in halls and having cleaners 5. Going out all of the time because few responsibilities means lots of time to party 6. Getting excited about everything because it's all new and different to you

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9. Playing pranks on your flatmates when they forget to lock their door 10. Using your overdraft to make elaborate online purchases when drunk (no, I'm not sure why you ordered that glow-in-the-dark water-cooler either)

FRESHERS

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

|LIFESTYLE

Don’t Go Hungry in Reading – Where to Eat! ELIZABETH ANDREWS

Whether you’re new to Reading, or a returner, you may not know just how much choice of places to eat you have as a Reading student, it’s one of the many things we do well. With somewhere to suit everyone’s taste, both on and off campus, Reading ticks all the boxes for gastronomical variety.

Recovering from a Big Night Out? Try Café YOLK On Erleigh Road lies a saviour for many students, serving as a neighbourhood pit stop for all your breakfast and lunch needs.

If you’ve had a big night out and need some sustenance for the day, but have no bacon in your fridge, Café Yolk is definitely a place to stop by. Serving anything from Dippy Egg and Soldiers to Full English and Canadian Breakfasts, you are spoilt for choice, especially in your hour of need.

And, if you’re determined to make your 9am lecture, they also have a ‘Breakfast to Go’ menu!

Where is it? 44 Erleigh Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5NA Celebrating with friends? Try Las IGUANAS A Latin American restaurant, with a good atmosphere, good food, and a great cocktail menu!

Las Iguanas offers a broad range of meals to suit every palate, and even offer a separate Gluten-Free

menu for coeliacs! With Happy Hour 2-4-1 throughout the week (From 7pm Mon-Wed and from 10pm Thu-Sat), you can dine in style without breaking the bank!

Where is it? Riverside, The Oracle, The Oracle Shopping Centre, Reading RG1 2AG Casual coffee with a friend (or Tinder date?) Try Dolche Vita, or Riverside Starbucks Dolche Vita is a convenient coffee shop on campus which is relatively cost effective. Being in the centre of campus, it has a buzzing atmosphere and selection of food if you want a quick bite in between lectures. However, if you’re looking for somewhere quieter or don’t want to be seen by anyone you know, try a coffee shop in town.

Where is it? Dolche Vita is next to the Palmer Building in the centre of campus, and there are several Starbucks in town, but the Riverside branch has the best views.

Want somewhere a bit more upmarket? Try London Street Brasserie With a 2 course set menu for £16.50, this is not the place to come on a budget. However, if you can afford to push the boat out a bit, the food here is lovely. With good food ‘dolled up’, LSB offer a wide range of meat, fish and vegetarian options, and a good place for guys to get out their best suit!

Where is it? 2-4 London St, Reading, West Berkshire RG1

4PN Casual Burger with mates? Try Mojos in RUSU, or Ed’s Diner in The Oracle On campus, Mojos always has a good atmosphere. If you fancy a quick, cheap bite to eat and a drink, Mojos is situated in RUSU, the centre of student activity. With a different offer on food every day (such as Fishy Friday, or 2-4-1 Pizzas), it is a good meal on a budget. However, if Mojos is full, which is often is in peak times, try somewhere like Ed’s Diner in The Oracle. Although it’s menu is slightly more expensive, it is good value for money, and they do amazing milkshakes!

Where is it? Mojos is situated in the RUSU Building in the centre of campus, whereas Ed’s Diner is situated in The Oracle, on the top level opposite Boots.

On a budget? Try Cosmos All You Can Eat Cosmos may go down in history as a legendary restaurant, certainly among my friends anyway. If you don’t fancy cooking, but don’t want to spend a load, this restaurant offers an ‘All You Can Eat’ option, for between £8 during the week to £14 at the weekend, and there is a huge amount of food on offer! From Sunday roasts to Chinese, Italian, Thai and Spanish cuisine, you will not be disappointed. Something well worth trying at least once while you’re in Reading. Caution: Cosmos addiction can lead to weight increase.

NATHALIE SIAH

playing guitar then you’re bound to strike up a tune or two.

of when to end a relationship.

However, if Skype and WhatsApp isn’t for you, then a long distance relationship probably isn’t for you either. Sometimes letting go, even for a few years in University can let you be more free and enjoyable while you’re away from your home.

4th Year Food Technology with BioProcessing

Where is it? 35-38 Friar St, Reading RG1 1DX In a rush? Try Café Mondial in RUSU With the newly developed extension, Café Mondial is looking pretty neat at the moment.

With a selection of Starbucks coffees, pastries and lunches, it’s a good hideout during a lunchbreak from lectures, when an hour isn’t enough to go home. Even if you are in a rush, you have to try out the new bean bags, they are so comfortable!

Where is it? In the RUSU Building on campus Summer Celebration? Try Bill’s With a pretty patio to sit outside in the summer, Bill’s restaurant offers everything from breakfast through to dinner. A lighter option to most high-street burger joints, Bill’s offers a wide selection of light bites and lunches, with a twist in flavour combinations.

They also offer an allergen menu, so anyone following a speciality

diet or avoiding specific foods can dine with ease. Situated just behind John Lewis, it is located in a peaceful part of Reading, away from the hustle and bustle, giving you time to sit back and relax for a while.

Where is it? St Mary’s Church House, Chain St, Reading RG1 2HX Friendly drinks? Try Milk on Merchants Place (Behind Friar Street) A small understated bar behind Friar Street, this place seats no more than 60 people, giving it a friendly and cosy feel. With a full cocktail menu and wine available, this is an ideal place to have a quiet drink and catch up with friends.

Where is it? 8 Merchants Place, Reading, RG1 1DT Of course, these are all only my suggestions – there is a huge variety of other places to eat in Reading, both on and off campus, so explore and find them all! And if you can, there’s always a cheeky Nandos!

keep in mind however that you should still try your best to do all that you can do in order to get those fishy jobs that do look at specific courses in your first year.

I wished that I took more time off just to focus on a lot of the hobbies that I used to have while in secondary school like playing music, gardening and drawing.

time though. People often forget that hermit crabs aren’t very good students. Now that I’m a bit older and wiser, I spend my time going out to the library, a café or book a night out in the Union. If you’re not really a night person, I’d recommend spending some time to go out and have a meal in town.

Sometimes just a little time away makes a world of a difference.

5 Things I wish I did as a Fresher

The Editor

You’ve only got three years at University but your year as a Fresher is the best time to explore.

There are so many things that you can do during your first year that you might not have the chance or time to do again later at University! Here are my 5 things that I wished I did as a Fresher that I hope you are brave enough to go for: 1. Joined a society way earlier Like all first years, I was always a bit worried about joining a society with people I didn’t know very well. But what I seemed to forget is that similar interests always bring people together! I mean, if you’re all talking about

I made many long lasting friendships when joining The Spark Newspaper as we used our team efforts to be a strong presence as the voice of the students and wished I had started far earlier than I would have near the end of my first year.

2. Broke up with my long distance boyfriend I had been dating my high school boyfriend for about three years when I moved to England and as much as I cared for him, a lot was lost in translation and time zones in Canada. He had also moved to California which made the time difference even worse. A lot about being young comes with the lack of knowledge

3. Take first year a little less seriously As a straight A student and focused in Law, I was always a hard worker. I went to all of my lectures and tutorials that were on my schedule and went to a lot of careers talks (even the ones that were a serious bore). Although you are here to study, don’t forget that to work hard you get to play hard! Your marks in first year don’t count towards your degree and don’t sweat it! You should

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4. Went out more often As students are all, we’ve got a pretty small amount in our bank account. With student loans, it feels like we’re actually getting into the negatives. However, this isn’t a reason to lock yourself in your room all the time! For me, having a lot of down time in University was a really great way to de-stress, go on Netflix and crack open a book or two. I did find that I was lonely a lot of the

5. Visited the Bagel Man After missing out on months of the Bagel Man’s charm down at the Reading University Student’s Union, I could not believe that I was without such an absolutely awesome personality in my life. If you need an ear to listen to or just someone to smile about, choose sandwiches with a hole in the middle to satisfy all your dietary needs.

LIFESTYLE| FRESHERS

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

Guide to Food Shopping in Reading NATHALIE SIAH The Editor

When living on one’s own, one must know where to get their daily doses of snackage! Luckily in Reading, access to all your foodie needs can be met quite easily!

Buy Reduced Food Forget scrimmaging through the rubbish for some half eaten food or stealing your housemate’s old lasagne in the fridge, look out for bright coloured labels indicating the food is at a reduced price! You may miss this as it is usually in the corner of the supermarket on the bottom shelf, not immediately in view. If you go to the supermarket after 6 pm you’ll be guaranteed to get some great deals. I have nabbed some delightful surprises such as passionfruit yogurt, cheese and tomato puffs and a maple bacon quiche.

Town Shopping: Smelly Alley, Sainsbury and Marks & Spencer When you’re in the mood to go on a food shopping binge and heading on a day out, then going to town is the place to be.

There are so many great places to search for something tasty. Lots of students tend to forget, but there is a treasure trove of places other than the main street shops that you can visit. On Saturdays and

Sundays, there are many market stalls open selling fruits and vegetables and the lovely Smelly Alley is bound to be in full swing.

This produce tends to be far more fresh, affordable and ripe than those in the supermarkets. When I head into town, I tend to get two boxes of strawberries for £1 and 4 avocadoes for £1 as well depending on the season. Smelly Alley especially has a lovely fish market as well if you’re a sea lover and a butcher if you’re a hungry carnivore.

If you love a good deal, check out Sainsbury in town. There are two (sometimes students miss this!) in which the larger one is not on the high street but the road just behind! They have great prices and a large selection of frozen food as well. Try their 10 frozen fish fingers for just £2 if you’re on a budget as well as their mozzarella balls for just 80p!

If you’re looking for something delicious at a higher quality, the dependable Marks & Spencer in town is for you. If you love the bakery section like I do, head there at around 6 pm to get their reduced selection of pastries and breads. Their poppy seed loaves are to die for; a definite must try.

Hitching a ride to ASDA You can head down to ASDA to sort out all your needs in one place rather than hunting through the town if you’re an efficient shopper. All you need to do is take the 20 or 21 bus, and you’re set.

Just a quick walk away from the bus stop, this ASDA can cover your food shopping for a month.

Make ensure you’ve bought a round trip for the bus and a lot of bags however as much of the food come in large packets for bulk savings. I’d recommend buying a large bag of onions and toilet rolls (you can never have too many of those!)

On-line Shopping The best part about being a student is that you can be completely lazy with your shopping as well. If you’re not the type of person to stand over the groceries aisle and look at every fruit individually, on-line

grocery shopping is the way to go. With delivery as cheap as £1, share your shop with your friends/ those you’re living with. If you do frequently buy groceries online, try to purchase foods such as frozen peas and pizzas that tend to keep longer as on-line shopping can take a few days to deliver.

Heavy items are also easier to buy on-line such as drinks (juice, milk) and canned foods.

Beware of on-line shopping however as packaging and weight doesn’t appear as obvious on the website as in real life. Sometimes students have purchased an item that was far larger than they had imagined and had trouble finishing it. There is also a risk of buying an

Tips for students using public transport BASIL AL-ALI

3rd Year Business and Management

As a student, you don’t exactly have the luxury of traveling around in a Bugatti Veyron. This means that, unless you get a bicycle, public transport will be something that you use on a regular basis.

Whether you are going to town, on a night out, or food-shopping, you will definitely need public transport. Walking is probably the last thing you’ll want to do thanks to England’s reputation for awful weather.

Buying a ten-journey ticket for the bus rather than buying each one individually is a great way to save money. You are more

than likely going to go on ten trips during the year so it really is worth it. Younger students can get a good discount, too, if you opt for the ‘Solo’ tickets.

Getting to London is nice and simple. It costs around £12 to get to London Paddington by train and takes around 30 minutes.

There is also a direct train that comes straight from London Heathrow. This makes it easier for international students to get to Reading without having to go through the confusing process of changing at different stations.

Being prepared and booking tickets in advance for journeys you will be making means that you will save loads of money and, in turn, have more to spend on your

days and nights out. The earlier you book, the cheaper it is. Using different sites like Skyscanner can help you to find the best deal.

Getting an Oyster card will save you so much money and hassle if you plan on visiting London more than once. They can be bought online or at the underground stations in London.

Another must-have card is the 16-25 railcard. It only costs £30 per year – or nothing if you know your student bank deals - and gives you a third off travel, so if you live far away you will earn it back within two trips. A handy tip is to link your 16-25 card with your Oyster card to get even better deals while traveling on the tubes.

So, those are some essential

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tips for getting around travel-wise when term starts. Make sure you

item that is no longer in stock and having it replaced with something you do not like. They will refund the item however you might not get what you originally asked for.

The Co-operative If you’ve just moved out of halls (or in Kendrick hall) and are living near Erleigh Road, then the Co-operative is for you. This place is within walking distance and is large enough to accommodate for all your needs. A bit pricier than Sainsbury, if you have an NUS card you’ll be able to save loads over the year with the 10% discount added to every shop you make.

take advantage of Reading’s close proximity to the capital city!

FRESHERS

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

My Experience: Balancing work and being a student BEATRICE RIDGE

Credit to Student Crowd

Head of Photography

After blowing most of my money in the first few months of my first year at university, it became apparent that to survive (and by survive I mean to be able to afford pasta, beans and Lambrini) I would have to man up and get a part-time job. For me, the process of applying for a job was the worst part. I spent days of waiting to hear back from companies who were unaware that as each day passed I was financially spiralling downhill into a bag of potato smiley faces every evening.

When I finally got lucky with a job offer from a cocktail bar/ nightclub in town, I was ecstatic.

Desperate to earn some money I was (and still am) willing to work all the hours they could throw at me. As it was only a weekend job, it didn't really affect my studies as much as I thought; the key to finding the balance for me is organisation. I made sure I’d have all projects ect that were in for the following week done by the Thursday that week, leaving me the whole weekend to sleep, recover and watch Netflix.

This method worked best for me as the hours I was working were from 4pm/8pm-4am/5am, however it took me a long while to get into this routine; my body felt backwards. I would sleep in the day and come alive at night, with the help of a few Lucozades I'd be serving drinks, shaking cocktails and dancing into the early hours of the morning. A lot of the time I did overdo it, taking on more hours than my body could probably cope with, alongside being a student it was pretty rough, I couldn't have done it without my best friend, Lemsip. But we all learn from our mistakes!

As my lectures and exams all came to a glorious end I took on weekday shifts, which probably cost me more in taxi and bus fare than I earned (shout out to minimum wage). However I feel that this actually benefited me, I learned to change a keg amongst other bar skills and it was with this experience that I managed to work event opportunities such as an Annie Mac gig which over 4,000 people attended! And with event experience I was hired to work the University Summer Ball and get a job working events now over the

What to pack for uni HANNAH CROFTS 3rd Year English Lit erature

Becoming a Fresher, finding out what halls you're in and searching for your new flatmates on Facebook can be really exciting.

Trawling shops to look for the cheapest sets of pans or coat hangers - not so much.

Packing for uni can be quite confusing and somewhat tedious, so we've put together a list of some of the basics and sourced some suggestions to help you out.

Credit by laineygossip.com

Kitchen: Buying a set of kitchen items will often work out much cheaper than getting things individually, although if you're living in one of the newer halls, you need to make sure you get the right pans as some have fancy induction hobs. Try looking in TK Maxx or Sainsbury's.

You're going to need lots of mugs and glasses, too. Ikea's great for these - they sell mugs as cheap as 35p (yes, really!) and their flamingo print glasses are great value at only 50p.

One thing that isn't essential but is definitely worth purchasing is a George Foreman Grill. It's not just for grilling chicken - you can make toasted sandwiches and delicious grilled halloumi on it as well, so you'll end up using it all the time.

•

summer.

For me, getting a part time job while studying has been a fantastic move I have made. It has not only given me experience in a new field of work and opened up several opportunities for me (I'm working a Kaiser Chiefs gig this weekend!), but has allowed me to meet a whole variety of new people that I wouldn't have otherwise, people I now call my friends. I've worked in a supermarket, I've done retail and I’ve worked with food, but bar work has definitely been the most exhausting, and stressful work I think I could've chosen to do alongside my degree. But my God, is it fun! I’d choose it over

working on the checkouts any day.

The only way to really find the balance of university work and a part-time job is to throw yourself in the deep end and see how long it takes you to drown, as each individual is different.

Oh, and next time you're at a bar at 2 am thinking of ordering a couple of strawberry daiquiris, just go for a vodka and coke and make a bar tenders life a little easier, after all we are only students too.

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|LIFESTYLE

• • • • • • • • • • •

20 Piece Kitchen Essentials Starter Set, £19.99 5 Piece Utensils Set, £7.99 12 Piece Porcelain Dinner Set, £6.49 Cutlery Set - 16 Piece, £5.00 Can Opener, £3.89 Glass Roasting Dish, £4 Dishwashing Brush, 90p Set of 5 Tea Towels, £4.89 Drinking Glass, Flamingo Print, 50p each Mugs, 35p each Colander, £1.70 George Foreman 2 person Grill, £14.99

Bedroom: This is your little sanctuary from all the hustle and bustle of uni; it's where you'll retreat to when you're feeling homesick, hungover or just plain tired! So

as well as filling it with all the necessities, make sure you bring lots of photos and cosy cushions, and choose a duvet cover that brightens up the room.

• • • • • • •

Watermelon Duvet Set, £12 for a Double Duvet Set Geometric Print Single Duvet Set, £13 Novelty Cushion, £9 Clothes Airer, £10.39 Laundry Basket, £3.99 30 Plastic Hangers, £9.99 Star Print Short Dressing Gown, £12.00

Bathroom: You probably haven't even thought about loo-roll, but if you're parents take you to the supermarket before they go then buy lots, as you can never have enough and when it comes to later in the term you'll want to save your money for other things and not be splashing it on Andrex.

Don't forget all your favourite shower lotions and potions, plus the essential toiletries you need, too.

• • •

6 Piece Towel Bale, £13.59 Toilet Rolls, £5 (for 16) Toiletries - toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap, tampons, etc.

Best Shops For Buying Uni Stuff: ● Amazon ● Argos ● Asda ● Primark ● Poundland ● IKEA Top Tips: ● Buy bulky items like printers and alcohol when you get to Reading ● Go to the supermarket before your parents leave ● Check what your halls already provides (they usually have toasters and kettles) ● Bring a jar of £1 coins for the washing machines and buses ● Freshers flu is real so to put together a box of medicine (Lemsip, Sudafed, etc.) ● Cheap and cheerful is your motto - buy everything from value ranges

LIFESTYLE|FRESHERS

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

The Big Move: A-Levels to University HANNAH FRANKLIN

3rd Year English Literature

The move up to university is finally getting close and it’s probably something creating a lot of excitement and possibly a few nerves. It provides you with so much more space and freedom for personal growth and exploration: you make your own routine, free from a home or school schedule, and your move away brings different responsibilities along with it.

The step up from school work to university work can be a big one; teaching and learning styles will change, you’ll likely never have had lecture style lessons before and it’s a different mode of learning to adjust to.

For one thing university education becomes much more self-motivated, you won’t have teachers consistently reminding you of deadlines and chasing up essays so it’s your responsibility to keep on top of your work and reading. There won’t be someone telling you to remember to read specific course material and you’ll be expected to keep up with your work and seminar or lecture preparations without someone reminding you. While your lecturers won’t be chasing you up, don’t forget that they’ll be happy to answer queries you have about your course and give you advice and recommendations.

Time management is also hugely important in this transition as you need to organise your time around your university day rather than a pre-set schedule and avoid the temptation to sit in front of Netflix all day when you’ve got

no classes. At the heart of this though, is simply just trying to get ahead with things as best you can, accepting that first year is your transition year and that it’s okay to struggle at first, very soon you’ll have wrapped your head around it and university life will feel so natural you’ll wonder how you ever had to adjust.

University is also going to give you a completely fresh start; in most cases you won’t know anyone at the university you’re going to which gives you the opportunity to be the person you want to be and create great first impressions on all of your lectures and tutors. In the first few week of term don’t miss the opportunity to jump right in to your tutorials or seminars. Not only will this help you get ahead with your studies it will also prove that you’re proactive and interested in your course, so, while you might be a bit nervous, speak up as it will definitely benefit you. When meeting your new course mates, flat mates and every one else keep remember that everyone’s in the same boat and start with a smile, if everyone’s as nervous as you a friendly face will definitely help.

Moving away from your home in to university halls or rented accommodation could be something you’ve been dying for or it could be a slightly scary prospect. Either way, moving away is a big change and moving into halls can seem strange but, as said above, everyone feels as you do and so while Freshers might at times lead you to feel that you need to find a close knit group of friends immediately, remember that you’ll find your close friends naturally, through halls, courses, socials and societies.

It’s a strange feeling to move

away from an environment where you felt completely comfortable, knowing everything and everyone around you, and constantly putting your best face forwards for new people can feel a bit tiring. However, during your first term of university you’ll have loads of new things to fill your time: new classes, new people, new experiences and a likely a new town to be living in. This can occasionally leave you homesick for the places and people you know and that’s not at all unusual.

Just remember that when you’re adjusting to the move to university you shouldn’t keep feel like you have to keep these emotions bottled up. Almost all first years will go through homesickness and so you should always feel able to talk to others about it. You can easily keep in contact with your friends and family at home and

the university itself has many different student support services.

It’s key to remember that feelings of homesickness or difficulty adjusting won’t be around forever, they’ll pass easily and you’ll be able to look back and see just how far you’ve come. Just a little way down the line you’ll have friends who you feel like you’ve known for years and your course classes will feel completely normal.

Living away from home also means managing your own money, through your student loan and perhaps also through grants, money from your parents or your own earnings. Setting yourself weekly budgets will allow you to keep on top of what you’re spending and avoid splurging on tempting offers in the supermarkets or shopping sprees.

There are also financial advice services at the university for

anyone who wants some help, but, like most things, managing your own money will become easier and easier as you get used to it.

In the run up to the start of university, don’t forget to find the Facebook pages for your halls and courses so you can start finding out who you might be living or learning with. Also check your e-mails for any updates on reading lists or course information as the more prepared you feel the less nervous you might be. Remember though, that when university gets closer it’s okay to feel nervous – there’s no pressure for your university experience to be any specific way so let yourself go with an open mind and you’ll be able to embrace the changes, challenges and experiences that it will bring.

Reinventing yourself and shopping at university CAITLIN MCCLINCHY

2nd Year German and Economics

Starting university is a very daunting and exciting time, and what to wear may be the last thing on your list of things to think about. You often hear the phrase “reinventing yourself” in relation to going to university and this can apply to fashion and finding a new style. Sixth form or college

can sometimes feel like a fashion parade of who’s wearing the most expensive clothes. University gives you the opportunity for freedom with fashion as there are finally no rules and lecturers don’t care what you wear - only that you turn up. I have come up with some tips for shopping and choosing what to wear when at university: 1. Don’t be afraid of dressing casually and smart. The general consensus is that students

are lazy and turn up to lectures in pyjamas but it’s also not uncommon to see girls in heels – not that you shouldn’t embrace your new found freedom to the extreme and rock the dressing gown chic look.

2. Try out the charity shops in Reading. There are good ones in town and in the Wokingham Road area, and it’s worth looking often as you can find some real gems at great prices. Remember to

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think creatively with what you see and that you can easily customise clothes even with just a pair of scissors.

3. Look out for one off student discounts. As well as NUS discount, The Oracle runs student sessions every year where most shops in the main shopping centre offer an extra discount (e.g. 20% off at Topshop). Look out for this event on Facebook; it usually happens second week of Freshers.

4. Have fun. This is important as you’re only at university once so you can mix up your style and different trends on a daily basis.

5. Get involved in campus style! If you follow these tips, you may be spotted on campus by one of our photographers. Here are some of the people that have been photographed.

FRESHERS

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|LIFESTYLE

How to make friends in your halls

ANNABEL HORSLEY Lifestyle Editor

Making friends at university can be a really nerve wracking experience, and you may be worried about who your flatmates will be and how to not be shy around these new people. However scary it may seem, making friends at university and in your halls is actually one of the easiest aspects of university and the most fun.

The people you meet on the first day, you’ll be living with, so it won’t be long until you’re totally comfortable around them. This being said, here are some tips to help you along the way, and these will hopefully help you make as good and as many friends at university as you can.

1) Use social media On the day you find out what halls you are going to be put in, it can be a lot of fun to join the Facebook page for that year’s Freshers in that hall. You can post and ask people different questions and get a feel of a few people that will also be in your halls. When you receive your room number, lots of people set up group chats of who will be sharing a flat. This can be a good way to initially break the ice and make you a little less nervous!

You’ll get an idea of whom you’ll be meeting on the first day and who’s on your floor.

2) Keep your door open While you’re unpacking all your

bags and trying to get your parents to leave as soon as possible, it’s a good idea to keep the door to your bedroom open, so bring a door prop of some sort with you.

This way, as people move in, you can give a friendly hello and see who’s coming and going as you unpack. You’ll seem a lot more social and can keep an eye on what’s going on! Along with this, don’t be afraid to go in and out of the kitchen and see who’s about, and once your parents have left, sit in the kitchen for a while until everyone emerges! It’s a good space to all meet each other and where everyone can come and congregate.

3) Keep calm You may be nervous (I know that my first walk into the kitchen I was terrified because I could hear everyone in there) but trust me,it will be fine. You may have heard it a million times, but everyone is in the same boat. They are nervous and scared of what people think of them so use this to your advantage and try to be as chatty as you can. Everyone will be a little shy so it won’t be hard to seem the most confident. You will all have things to talk about and there is no doubt you’ll ‘click’ immediately.

It might be a good idea to take a bottle of wine in with you, or some biscuits, and offer it to people—sharing is an easy way to break the ice. You then should have a night out ahead of you to get more comfortable and get to know everyone even better and

Credit to Student Crowd

in a more social setting. If you get on really well with one of your housemates (which is what usually happens) stick with them and meeting more people later will get even easier.

4) Grab a buddy As I said previously, when you ‘click’ with someone it can make things a lot easier. You can then go around chatting to people together, which makes making new friends a lot less scary if you have someone else with you to help the conversations flow. Ask and answer questions, until you’re blue in the face with saying your name, your course and where you’re from. Be silly, go exploring and have fun meeting new people and asking questions. You could even go around knocking on other

Making Long Distance Work LOUISE INGHAM

care what you wear - only that you turn up. I have come up with some tips for shopping and choosing what to wear when at university:

Starting university is a very daunting and exciting time, and what to wear may be the last thing on your list of things to think about. You often hear the phrase “reinventing yourself” in relation to going to university and this can apply to fashion and finding a new style. Sixth form or college can sometimes feel like a fashion parade of who’s wearing the most expensive clothes. University gives you the opportunity for freedom with fashion as there are finally no rules and lecturers don’t

1. Don’t be afraid of dressing casually and smart. The general consensus is that students are lazy and turn up to lectures in pyjamas but it’s also not uncommon to see girls in heels – not that you shouldn’t embrace your new found freedom to the extreme and rock the dressing gown chic look.

3rd Year Law

2. Try out the charity shops in Reading. There are good ones in town and in the Wokingham Road area, and it’s worth looking often as you can find some real gems at

people’s doors and introduce yourselves together.

5) Go to events Try your best to go to all the Freshers events if you can. This way you can meet more people every night and solidify your bond with your housemates on nights out together. But don’t panic if clubbing is not for you! There are plenty of non-drinking events to go to, as well as Freshers Fayres during the day. You will also get the chance to join different societies, like ‘R U Not Drinking Much’, and sports activities which will have events for you to go to as well. Make sure you put yourself out there, and don’t get put off by events that include drinking, as there is plenty to on offer for people who don’t. There are a lot

of people who don’t want to drink, you will not be the only one!

Overall, the key to making friends in your halls is to be approachable, friendly and just smile! Everyone wants to make friends and by living with people, you become so close so quickly.

For once, no one knows each other and there are no social groups or anything, so enjoy it! Making friends is meant to be fun, and the events are there to help speed your friendships along. These people will be your friends for life.

Remember to not judge a book by their cover because people usually surprise you, and be as friendly to everyone as you can. No doubt you’ll leave university with a whole host of new, great friends!

great prices. Remember to think creatively with what you see and that you can easily customise clothes even with just a pair of scissors.

3. Look out for one off student discounts. As well as NUS discount, The Oracle runs student sessions every year where most shops in the main shopping centre offer an extra discount (e.g. 20% off at Topshop). Look out for this event on Facebook; it usually happens second week of Freshers.

4. Have fun. This is important as you’re only at university once so you can mix up your style and different trends on a daily basis.

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Credit to Flickr Images Photo by Camera Bee

5. Get involved in campus style!

If you follow these tips, you may be spotted on campus by one

of our photographers. Here are some of the people that have been photographed.

LIFESTYLE|FRESHERS

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

Reading at Reading How to study your best on campus ANNABEL HORSLEY Lifestyle Editor

You’ve decided to go to university, so alongside all the fun and partying, you may actually have to end up doing some studying.

Don’t panic, Reading University has a lot to offer to help your studies go smoothly, and I’m here to give some handy tips so you get the most out of your revision.

Use the Library, it’s there for you!

The University’s library has had a lot of work done in recent years and a lot of effort has been put into making it what students want and need. Therefore, it is a good idea to make the most of this good study space. There are silent pods for group work and the higher floors are specifically used for silent study.

Taking out books is easy and the staff is helpful. The library has also scanned a lot of its journals and books online, so it’s an easy place to find trustworthy sources with little effort.

The library is also open 24 hours on all weekdays, and shuts late on weekends. This is brilliant, as especially in first year, halls can definitely not be the best study space! There are tons of distractions all around and people are always coming in and out your room. The library is a productive space that is only a few minutes walk away so it’s perfect to get you away from all those distractions.

Or, if you’re crashing at 3 in the morning and about to fall asleep but your essays due the next day,

a quick trip down the library can really help.

Reading town centre also has a library and a brilliant museum with a Victorian replica of the Bayeux Tapestry (which may come in very handy if you do History).

Stay close to anything that connects to the internet As with all universities, the whole place runs on email. It’s a good idea to check your emails at least twice a day, making it a lot easier to keep on top with what’s going on and what assignments you have due. Use e-mails to your advantage and don’t be afraid to e-mail your lecturers with questions about the lecture or to recommend books, or whatever is on your mind! It’s best to e-mail and get an answer rather than keeping quiet and getting a worse mark because of it.

Along with emails, a lot of the answers to your questions will be found on Blackboard, which is the University’s intranet. You should use this on-line space to your advantage by looking at it regularly. Actually spending time going through your modules on Blackboard can be so helpful, as there are usually links and information on there that can aid your studies and give you a better understanding of the module you are working on. It usually has recommended outside reading, informative and trust worthy sites and information about deadlines.

Stay organized It’s a good idea to keep a diary of deadlines and when your

Campus Crushes

Is your love life limited to the library?

Are you raring for a Reading romance?

If so get in touch with Campus Crushes!

To submit your campus crush, email deputyeditor@sparknewspaper.co.uk .

Credit to Student Crowd

lectures/seminars are. This will help you from having a mad rush to reach a deadline you totally forgot about. Being organised will create more time for you, as you’ll be able to plan and use your time in the best way.

Along with this, putting aside an hour or so after each seminar and lecture to re-write your notes and search anything you’re unsure of will make a huge difference to your work. Just going through your notes again solidifies the information in your mind, as well as creates a better understanding.

Some people find it useful to take a Dictaphone to lectures and relisten to the information. The

same goes for making sure before your lectures and seminars you’ve done the required reading, as the whole lecture will be a lot more beneficial to you this way.

Seriously, go to class!

The biggest piece of advice I can give is try your best to go to all your lectures and seminars.

If you go, listen and make notes, you will not feel behind and will have that information to look back on when it comes to exam time. There’s nothing worse than having blank spaces in your work.

If you really can’t go, plan to go through what you missed with a friend who did. You are paying

To the cute guy who almost tripped over my charging cable last week I'm falling over you already.

For the bagelman opposite the jobshop in RUSU the cheese may need a microwave but my heart has melted for you already.

Huge shoutout to the guys at Campus Central for helping me when my bags split You da real MVP!

To the girl on the rowing machines every evening at the gym, keep on going you're looking oarsome.

For the guys filming with RU:ON on campus the other week U R certainly turning me ON.

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so much money for the lecturer’s time and information, so make it worthwhile by actually going.

Remember to take breaks and drink plenty of water when you study. Starting early and being organised can make you less stressed and really put you ahead.

Use the resources that are there for you to your advantage and most of all don’t panic. There are so many people in place to help you if you’re stuck and workshops available for students. Learning is meant to be fun, so enjoy it as best as you can.

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Rome on a Budget LOUISE INGHAM 3rd Year Law

Rome is an incredibly beautiful city and visiting it has on my bucket list for many years. This summer I finally ticked it off without dipping into my student finances too much. If you’re planning on visiting Rome there are some things to consider beforehand to keep the price down but also to get the most out of the trip. Before you go, you’ll need to consider flights, hotels and what to pack. For when you’re there, there are plenty of things to do and see for free as well as cheaper options for dining out.

Flights, hotels and what to pack: We flew with Ryan Air because the flights are relatively cheap and if you can restrict yourself and only use hand luggage it keeps the price down. Ask any one of my friends and they will tell you I cannot and do not pack light, but I managed it for Rome. Only take essentials, and you don’t need a huge amount.

Definitely take comfortable shoes. I foolishly spent the first day in flip flops and my feet really did not thank me. The attractions are spread out and we decided to do all our exploring on foot to really get a good feel for the place. However, you can get a Roma Pass which costs EUR 34 for three days and amongst free and cheaper entry to some sites it also gives you unlimited use of public transport. If I go back to Rome I would certainly consider getting this pass, if only to save

my feet. Secondly, take plenty of sun cream and a hat. I went there late May when it was already at least 30 degrees, which can be difficult when you’re walking around a busy, crowded city and it only gets hotter in June, July and August.

Where you end up staying isn’t the most important decision; we found that we simply used the hotel as a place to sleep at the end of a hectic day. However, we used Trip Advisor and stayed in Hotel Cavour and I would definitely recommend it. It wasn’t anything fancy but it was clean and comfortable and literally five minutes from the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Altare Della Patria. It wasn’t over expensive either and using Trip Advisor is great as you can set the price, location and amenities you are looking for and it gives you a whole host of options.

While you’re there: Visit as many of the free attractions as possible and it is guaranteed will can have an amazing time simply getting lost and exploring.

In Centro Storico there is the Pantheon and it’s incredible as you look up at the single ray of light pouring from the large hole in the center of the roof, called the oculus.

The Trevi Fountain was high on my list of things to see, and as a bonus it’s free to see. Slightly disappointingly the monument was under reconstruction so it had been drained. Despite this there was scaffolding up so you could walk right up to the statues. They had also left a small area of water which you could throw your coins

into. We did this and hopefully (as the saying goes) this means we will end up back at Rome one day!

The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palantine Hills are definitely something you want to do when you come to Rome. These aren’t free but they are all included for the same price for EUR 12 or EUR 7.50 if you are from the EU. The queues are extreme if you do not get there early however, we got around this by going to the Roman Forum first which, while there was a queue, it was not half as bad as the Colosseum. After the Forum and the Hills we went to the Colosseum later in the day when the queues had died down.

It’s not free but it’s certainly not something you can miss, it was definitely a highlight of the trip.

The Spanish Steps are another

good place to visit, you can climb up and and people watch everyone down in Piazza di Spagna. There are hundreds of expensive designer shops in the area so if you can face the scathing looks of the beautifully dressed shop assistants its great fun to window shop and browse the gorgeous clothes.

Travastevere was one of my favourite areas; the picturesque alleys were filled with restaurants, cafes and stalls selling unique jewellery and other gifts. It was especially lovely in the evening when the whole place had a buzz about it with everyone chatting, browsing the shops or watching the performers that gathered in the piazza. We loved sitting with a cocktail, people watching and taking in the atmosphere.

Within the Vatican City, St

Peter’s Square and the Basilica are free but if you wanted to go up the Dome you will need to pay an admission fee. The Vatican Museums unfortunately are not free and costs EUR 16 or EUR 8 at the reduced price. The Sistine Chapel costs EUR 15 to enter however it is free on the last Sunday of every month- so this is good to keep in mind if you’re in Rome at that time.

Overall there are plenty of ways to keep the cost down in Rome by focusing your attention on the many free exhibits and attractions and choosing the cheaper restaurants and cafes. We also found the Lonely Planet guide book to Rome was our best friend during the trip, it’s definitely worth having to help you find your way around like a local.

as you plan ahead and research thoroughly. This summer, a group of friends and I went to Slovenia and Croatia for ten days for a price that certainly did not cripple us, and would be within the budget for any student.

Firstly, we researched where in Europe was very cheap, so we would be able to pack in a lot of things for relatively very little money. Eastern Europe is an area

I would greatly recommend - it is not as crammed with tourists as, say, the South of France and Spain, and is a lot cheaper than more popular tourist spots, so you are able to enjoy the places you visit even more. We also researched airlines very thoroughly. Flying at 6am with a budget airway such as Wizz Air (which we flew with to Slovenia) doesn’t sound like much fun, but it brings costs down much more than if you were to fly with a safer airline in the middle of the day. Ultimately, if you are flying within Europe, you are only going to be in this plane for a few hours, so a little bit of discomfort is worth the money you will save.

To keep costs down more, we

also put a limit of 3 places we would stay in during these 10 days. Obviously Slovenia and Croatia have countless places that we would have loved to visit, but by refining the places it saved money on transport (which really does add up!). To do this, we not only looked at places we wanted to visit, but also looked at the things in the surrounding area. For example, within Slovenia we only went to Lake Bled - but there was so much to do in the surrounding area that this hardly seemed to matter. The same went for the Plitvice Lakes and Split within Croatia. By doing this, our prices were kept down and we could then afford to do some bigger, fun

things such as rafting in Slovenia.

Eastern Europe is a really fascinating area of the world, as it really has managed to remain relatively untouched by tourism, despite obviously being a tourist destination. It’s also full of beautiful landscapes (Slovenia’s Lake Bled is the obvious example of this), whilst also having popular culture references when we were in Split, I took an afternoon trip to the Klis Fortress just outside of Split, as Game of Thrones is filmed there. There is something for everyone there, and is perfectly possible to get to whilst on a student budget.

Eastern Europe on a Budget SARAH KENCHINGTON 2nd Year English Literature

When summer hits, everyone wants to get away and escape the constant rainy weather that seems to haunt England during our ‘warmest’ months. Living in Europe gives us the opportunity to get away for a price that won’t break the bank, so long

The Colosseum, Rome Credit to Louise Ingham

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FASHION

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

|LIFESTYLE

First Picks of Fall Fashion JACKIE TAN

2nd Year Business and Management

All photos by Jackie Tan

A new term means a new starts and that includes a new wardrobe!

Those all-important camel coats and ribbed knits are a girl’s must have this fall and for guys, it is thick sweaters and chinos all the way. From dark hues such as burgundy and grey marl to sassy mustard yellow, fall fashion is set to be the best line up of trends yet, including coloured suede, metallic, faux fur and the classic tartan shirt. For the girls, I picked some of my favourite pieces to wear this autumn and for the guys, it’s all about layering.

From Topshop, I picked out a camel coat priced at just £59 with a smart, ribbed, knit dress and peeptoe tassel hook-backs to make it chic. In contrast, a frosted blue duster waistcoat is divine with a draped blouse, rolled up skinnies and dark plimsolls to elongate legs - this effortless style can suit pretty much all body types. For the guys, turtlenecks are back, super easy to wear and can be paired with tweed trousers resembling a 1920’s revival or plain bomber

match of starchy waistcoats and hip pleat trousers. Maurice sees the shape of the garment as paramount to his collection and every item was uniquely structured. He first works with shape and proportion, and then works into the details.

He incorporates different fabrics for different dimensions – jackets with leather trimmed edges, large construction patch pockets, and prominent military style buttons.

The entire collection was a shade of blue, powder sky blue, royal navy blue, murky grey blue, and sinister dark blue, as blue was the inspiration for the collection.

Sonia Funnell exhibited a magical Middle Eastern collection inspired by Arabia. Garments had exotic Moroccan silhouettes with rich 1920s Jazz Age glamour.

The collection featured elegant high neck lines and draped and swishy hems. Every piece exuded opulence and rarity created by the lavish fabrics, exotic textures and embellishment. Sonia expresses herself in her designs and stands out by inventing her own fabrics and couture hand crafting

techniques. Sonia will go far with this unique collection as it evokes both mystery and dazzle.

Ashima Kaur showcased a wacky array of bold street style garments. The girls wore slouchy pants and oversized tunics, and the boys wore skin tight leggings and baggy vests. The designs conjured images of Rihanna’s 2010 Rude Boy music video with vibrant hits of block colour, prison bar stripes and catchy slogans – ‘not for sale’, ‘ it’s time for change’, ‘my life my choice’. Ashima’s whole collection had a retro Pop Art meets Punk Age vibe and was very fun and enjoyable to watch.

Winner of the night John Herrera gained the judge’s approval with his ‘wearable, stay look’ and went home with the 2015 L.E.D. crystal trophy. Some of the collection was cocktail party wearable – dresses featured short-short hemlines paired with long vampish jackets. Other items were almost minimalist and sporty – worn Lycra tight and all black with flashes of neon. They looked suspiciously like the design of

jacket for a streetwise vibe. My favourite piece for guys is the khaki windcheater with a super soft cotton tartan lining.

At River Island (RI), you ladies can find yourself bombarded by a lot of black and white but I decided to keep it fresh and mix the caramel hues with some tartan trousers. An oversized jacket can drown you so keep it sleek with a black top and roll up the trouser leg to give you some length - again I find that my dark plimsolls are a must with nearly all outfits! The second look from RI is the pattern clashing that many don’t dare try, but if you are within the same colour spectrum, it’s pretty safe - trust me. The cute gemstone-patterned blouse with the three-quarter plaid trousers are an eclectic match that is seen on the most edgy folk down in Soho, London.

H&M, a student favourite, offers some sweet pieces at affordable prices, including a burnt orange tunic shirtdress and a sequinned knitted vest that can be worn in multiple ways with some smart accessories. The heeled boot is a shoe that hasn’t seemed to disappear since its entrance late last August, therefore be prepared for the array of colours including

emerald green and cobalt blue that will be offered in all shops as soon as October kicks in.

For keen shoppers with an eye for quality, M&S have brought in some timeless pieces including the cute faux sheepskin jacket at just £79. When it comes to the guys, M&S have mastered layered tailoring like this tweed crosshatch overcoat over a simple heather grey suit; both smart and simple, together they ooze suave sophistication.

Worth the extra pound, Debenhams boasts some great pieces such as this double-breasted coat that can be worn with dark chinos or denim, making it good value for money. To smarten up an outfit, pick matte-coloured brogues in the classic shades such as honey brown, charcoal grey or dusty black.

My best picks for bags this season will include structured totes, grab bags and hobo bags in colours including jet black, khaki green and hot red that will refresh your autumn outfits daily. Look for textures such as real or mock suede, aged leather and quilted leather that will always look timeless.

celebrity guest Gillian Mckeith’s dress, who coincidently found her way onto the judge’s panel. The judges envisioned the collection on the street, but the inspiration came from Philippine folklore.

The style was based on Asuang, a half witch, half ghoul, half vampire who feeds on the foetuses of unborn children.

So from 19th century warriors and Arabian princesses, to retro-

pop music videos and Philippian folklore, the L.E.D. awards took us on a whistle stop tour through history. The star of the night for me was Sonia Funnell and her uniquely glamorous Moroccan designs; certainly a designer to watch out for. The take home advice for budding designers: do your homework and look what’s out there, but never lose your individuality either.

London Emerging Designer (L.E.D.) Awards 2015 MIRIAM CAREY 3rd Year Psychology

Saturday night in South Kensington saw the launch of the 2015 London Emerging Designer Awards. The showcase and network event was organised by Aisha Ferozee, a young designer herself, of Ferozee Yung an ecofriendly womenswear collection.

Guests of the event included Miss Barbados and Gillian Mckeith as well as frows filled up by bloggers, buyers, and fashion writers for magazines such as Candid and Disorder. The judging panel for the evening comprised of Kent Baker, Vogue Photographer, Alan Enfield, fashion agent and former protégé of Jean Paul Gaultier, and Fay Heran, Noctis Magazine Editor.

Maurice Whittingham took us back in time to the 19th century with his collection which was a blend of military utility and Victorian-esque tailoring. These consisted of heavy overcoats buttoned to the neck, and a formal

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LIFESTYLE|FASHION

LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

An Interview with Candice Cuoco HANNAH CROFTS 3rd Year English Literature

Candice Cuoco is 27 years old and lives in San Francisco.

She is the founder of couture fashion house CCUOCO. She has forged her way in the fashion world, creating collections that intertwine sophistication and provocativeness, and is currently appearing on Project Runway as a contestant.

As a designer, Candice’s philosophy is to create pieces that empower women and give them the feeling that they can conquer all. She says: “celebrating the women in my clothes is extremely important to me - never the other way around.” There’s an evident sense of fierceness in everything she creates, with this reflected through her love for and prolific use of leather.

She describes her signature style as “always confidence and strength”, saying: “When the women I dress walk into a room I want them to be felt more than seen. When they walk into a room I want you to know they are there without them ever having to speak a word. There is an unspoken word to elegance and CCUOCO helps define that word, confidence.”

Candice's passion and love for fashion shines through in the way she discusses anything fashionrelated. Talking about what drives her, she says: “I'm married to my passion and I've divorced doubt.

My whole life has been built around the idea of surviving...Well I'm no longer just surviving...I

want to THRIVE.” Her fashion proudest and favourite design ethos for empowering women being: "a black leather gown through the clothes they wear that was studded by hand in my is undeniably what has fuelled kitchen in one day. 1800 Hand her passion most. More than this studded crystals with a 16 leather though, she’s a grafter and it’s her panelled fish-tail." Her other determination that has driven her leather creations are all equally as to where she is now and given her impressive. success.

Candice has a vivid imagination She’s won and been nominated and an intricately creative mind; for several awards, including the pieces she creates are awe‘Best Emerging Designer’ at the inspiring. She attributes this to San Francisco Fashion Awards the freedom that designing gives 2013, ‘Designer of the Year’ and her: “My utmost favourite aspect also ‘Fashion’s Most Honourable’ of designing is the freedom it at the San Francisco Fashion gives me to explore every single Awards 2014. She has also taken avenue there is to explore. When her fashion house to London I say every avenue, I mean it. In Fashion week twice, with her design you can explore fantasyshows featuring in both Vogue make believe or full on reality. My and Glamour magazines, and is design process allows a sense of set to take London by storm once freedom not allowed by 'everyday' again as she’s previewing her S/ mundane life.”

S16 collection this September Despite all the achievements at London Fashion Week. Being she's made, especially at such able to take her brand to the UK a young age, she is still so full market and preview her collection of aspirations and career goals in London is something that she there's so much more she wants is very proud of; she says of this: to fulfil. One of her ultimate goals “London is a city I feel most alive would be to design a piece for in and to be able to build a brand Anna Wintour: “I would not dress there has been just what the doctor her in Black,” she says, “instead has called for.” a beautiful, bold red and yellow, It’s evident this city and the floral, laser-cut leather cocktail achievement of doing shows here dress. The dress would go just past means a great deal to her; the way her knees and be short sleeved she talks is as if London is more with a high neck that hits just high like a friend to her than a place and enough for her beloved jewels to she clearly has a big attachment sit on top of. Anna is a force to be to the city, admitting: “London is reckoned with and I look forward where my heart and soul is.” to meeting her one day.”

Leather is practically There's more to Candice than synonymous with Candice; her fashion however, as family is the talent for transforming the material most important part of her life. into anything she imagines is When she needs to clear her head inspiring. She describes her and relax she confesses: “I run to

my three-year-old son to get down to business of what really matters in life and that's pure and simple: love. He hits the reset button in my head and makes me stop thinking.

My children are my saving grace.”

As an inspiring and upcoming designer, Candice Cuoco is definitely one to watch. She's already achieved so much and is bound to go so much further in the world of fashion. Her passion is infectious, and the advice she

gives is empowering: “No matter what you do and where you go, whatever you do, do it with confidence and strength. You'll have life by the balls, which is right where we want it.”

Candice will be at London Fashion Week this September at Fashion Scout Venue, you can also keep up to date with her journey on Project Runway and all her endeavours via her Twitter @HouseofCcuoco

spots than usual. I used products within a student budget that contained ingredients to help heal my skin as well as lift dirt from my pores whilst shrinking them.

I recently bought Witch Pore Minimising Wash. At £1.50£2.50, which is definitely within the student budget! It’s cheap and makes your skin feel totally refreshed. It contains witch hazel and a lot of chemicals, such as Salicylic Acid, which are great for fighting spots. Usually, these sorts of ingredients would badly dry my skin out, but this wash has been

different and left my skin feeling revitalized rather than run-down.

The fact it’s able to keep my skin hydrated while tackling my break outs and using usually quite harsh ingredients is brilliant. Especially with winter coming, products that keep the moisture in your skin are vital.

I am a huge fan of this next product: at £3.29, is Superdrug’s Tea Tree Cleanser and Toner.

Firstly, this removes make-up well, so can replace the use of make-up wipes in your skin Continues on next page...

A Cost Effective Way To Pore-fect Skin ANNABEL HORSLEY Lifestyle Editor

University life can be tiring, fast paced and a bit grubby. Going out all the time and eating badly can definitely start to show on your face, and your skin can break out from drinking alcohol and eating greasy foods. This summer, I tried to use products that would minimise my pores. Looking closely into the mirror I saw how huge my pores had become, meaning I was getting a lot more

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LIFESTYLE@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK

...routine (which are known for their harsh stripping of the skin).

It is also a cleanser and toner in one, so fits well into a uni lifestyle where you want things to be quick and easy. Including ingredients like tea tree, it is highly healing for your skin and brilliant for any spot scars. As well as this, tea tree is a natural antiseptic, so helps to prevent any further break outs. It also feels super refreshing and is a great, easy way to keep your skin healthy.

Next, I started using a Soap and Glory product. A bit more expensive at £12.00 is the Fab Pore Moisturizing Lotion. It is brilliant if you are keen to keep your skin clean after all those nights out - as well as moisturising, it gets deep into your pores. It’s definitely best for greasy skin with an oily T-Zone. Therefore, it is probably not best to rely on as a moisturiser for the winter months because, although it isn’t drying, my skin isn’t left feeling completely hydrated. It does work as a good base for your make-up too, which saves you some money on buying a primer.

The last product has got to be my favourite product of all. It is a bit different from the rest as it is more on the expensive side, and also more of a make-up product than a skincare product. It’s called POREfessional by Benefit.

Usually £24.50 for quite a small bottle, I pick up tiny sample ones from boots so I don’t break the bank, which surprisingly last a long time. It works as a balm that provides a cover for your pores under your make up, much like a primer. I use it on trouble areas and it covers my pores perfectly.

Brilliant for a night out at university so you aren’t conscious of your skin!

Using all these products has been a cheap way to keep my skin healthy after all the late nights and junk food. When you try a new product, be patient - it takes 28 days for your skin to have done a new cycle, so you may not notice a different until then. Try and use products that match your skin type as nothing will work well if it’s aimed at a different skin type. Remember, drinking plenty of water also helps your skin as well as having a healthier diet and lifestyle; you can’t rely on products for everything!

|LIFESTYLE

Review: A Taste Explosion at the Foodies Festival ELIZABETH ANDREWS

4th Year Food Technology & BioProcessing

During the summer, there are always lots of events going on and things to do and see! With lots of food, drink and live music on offer, the Foodies Festival is a wonderful day out.

Standard tickets are £15 or £7.50 if you get a ‘Buy one Get on Free’ deal. VIP tickets start at £35.00, and while it is a nice treat, I would not advise upgrading to this as there are plenty of samples on offer throughout the day, and enough masterclasses if you leave enough time to queue up at the allotted time to not need priority entry.

However, I was very impressed with the range of food and drink on offer. With stalls throughout the Paddock Fields by the Alexandra Palace, there were companies selling a huge range of products, from cocktail ice lollies to fresh vegetable boxes to deliver to your house.

One of the products I was pleased to sample was Giovanni Rana spinach & ricotta ravioli – cooked to perfection with a small knob of butter melted on top. I could have eaten it all day! The best news is that it is available in all leading supermarkets, taking just 4 minutes to cook at home!

I was keen to try out some of the masterclasses, of which the first one was a ‘Wines of New Zealand’ class with Charles Metcalfe. With just over 40 years of experience working with wines, he definitely knew his stuff, and I really enjoyed hearing all about his travels in New Zealand whilst discovering the 6 wines we tasted as part of the class (4 white wines, 2 red wines).

As a true foodie, I am interested in all aspects of food, including availability and sustainability, so it was fascinating to learn about how sustainable viticulture is used in New Zealand, where limited chemicals, such as pesticides, are used during the growing of the grapes to produce a good quality wine which has minimal impact on the environment.

As well as wine tasting, there were also other wines on offer, including Provence Rosé Wines,

all from the southeastern region of France, below the Rhone River.

With a selection of 6 different wines on offer, as well as free pink sunglasses, their stall gave off a very summery feel. Most wines were slightly sweet, one more peppery, but all drier than the average rosé.

For me, the highlight of the day was the Cocktail Masterclass run by the ‘Shake it up!’ scheme, sponsored by Diageo. The scheme aims to encourage more people to make cocktails at home, demonstrating how it is possible to do this using tools you alright have without buying anything new (except the ingredients!). For example, instead of buying a new cocktail shaker, of which you may only use once or twice, try using a jam or coffee jar, with the lid screwed on, to mix your cocktails instead! As part of the class, we made a classic Mojito and a Gin Fizz, with a template recipe to amend the recipe as you which.

Both recipes are indicated below for you to try out at home, and remember to use lots of ice!

As well as drinks, there was also a lot of food, as the name suggests. Plenty of stalls offered ideas for lunch time meals, including Spanish paella, Caribbean chicken, BBQ grill, Hungarian chimney cake and lots more! I went for the hot dog with raclette cheese, and was not disappointed! The soft brioche

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bun gave it a slightly sweet flavour which complimented the mature flavour of the cheese.

As well as the Provence wines, Made in Provence ran a masterclass in the Tasting Theatre, demonstrating how to make a simple French tart with ingredients available in England.

As stated by a leading chef in France, “Life’s too short to make pastry”, so don’t feel bad about using the store-bought stuff.

As well as masterclasses and demonstrations, companies also attended with a stall, which created a good festival atmosphere.

With smaller companies, such as Sunburst providing samples of their products, as a foodie, it was exciting to leisurely wander round trying the range of foods on offer.

From chilies and chili sauces to nectarines, macaroons and natural tonic water, there was something for everyone, with an underlying emphasis on both British and local produce.

I often enjoy a nice gin & tonic, and was intrigued to try BTW Tonic Water at the festival. Made with natural quinine from the Cinchona bark, giving it a light golden colour instead of the usual clear tonic water, it gave a nicer depth of flavour and crisp texture when mixed with gin.

Overall, I was very impressed with the Foodies Festival, and would highly recommend it as a day out. With events spread

throughout the country, including Tatton, Brighton and Oxford, you haven’t missed your chance yet!

However, I would recommend buying a standard day ticket, as the upgrade to VIP wasn’t quite worth the extra cash.

Recipes from the Day Proper Mojito 2 parts Strong – White Rum (suggested Captain Morgans new White Rum) 1 part Sweet – Monin Sugar Liqueur 1 part Sour – juice of 2 limee halves Fresh Mint – up to 4 springs, keep a quarter of this aside for garnishing Fill jar with ice, add ingredients and shake until ice is crushed thoroughly.

Gin Fizz Base Recipe 2 Parts Strong – Gin 1 Part Sweet – Monin Sugar Syrup 1 Part Sour – Lemon Juice However, this recipe can be amended, using Rum, Whiskey or Bacardi instead of Gin, and flavour components of your choice added at the end; this can include oranges, strawberries, marshmallows or tea (Suggested use of Earl Grey with Gin and Darjeeling tea with Whiskey)

LIFESTYLE|FOOD

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Review: Wolf packed in Reading

The wraps are a delightful surprise All Photos by Nathalie Siah

The wraps are a delightful surprise

NATHALIE SIAH The Editor

Open for just a few months now, the hippest place to be in Reading town centre is Wolf. Inspired by the story of Romulus and Remus, this shop can only be the start of food greatness.

Serving Italian Street food for all, their menu is simple serving wraps (piadas), pizzas, sandwiches (on focaccia bread) and pasta/salad bowls. Broad Street is a convenient location for students and families alike to drop in after a bit of shopping at The Oracle.

Swarming with customers, still the atmosphere was quite modern and quaint, perfect for an afternoon to just wind down and have a lovely meal. Healthy and fun, this street food stands out from the usual Prét a Manger but still gives restaurant-goers a great lifestyle choice to their daily routine. Prices as well were reasonable ranging from about £5£10, a choice easy on the wallet.

What surprised me the most was their wraps! I am not someone that usually goes for anything rolled up, but unlike the cold tortillatype alternatives that are seen in the supermarket, these piadas are twist in texture and taste. Made of 00 Wheat Flour, these thin warm delights are effectively the base of a pizza but made in such a way to mimic the look of a wrap. Stuffed

with roasted peppers and toppings to spare, I would recommend having the piada if you are on the go and need a quick fix of Italian food in your life.

The pizzas as well are a traditional masterpiece, my favourite having toppings of black olives, feta cheese and sundried tomatoes. The bases are quite thin but airy, feeling filling yet not too heavy. Another good try is their chicken, peppers and jalapeno pizza, a bit of a kick to the average menu.

The restaurant boasts of their meats which are marinated for 24 hours and are a lovely touch to all of their dishes. I personally recommend the Italian sausage however if you’re looking for something less robust, the lemon and garlic chicken is quite nice as well.

For me, the pastas were a bit of a disappointment despite being a pasta lover. Making their own sauces with a range of pomodoro, parmesan alfredo, diavolo and pesto; the dish didn’t settle well with me and I found that I preferred the other options purely on their unique qualities they bring than other competitors.

If you’d like to wolf down one of these lovely dishes, head down to Broad Street for an Italian treat.

Sundried tomato, black olive and feta pizza

Chicken, peppers and jalapeno pizza

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MISS ADVISED AND MR MAGNETIC ARE BACK The Spark is pleased to introduce our new resident Agony Aunt and Uncle, Mr Magnetic and Miss Advised! These two guides are here to answer your questions and offer advice on your university worries every month right here.

Simply send your questions to missadvised@sparknewspaper.co.uk OR mrmagnetic@sparknewspaper.co.uk to get your questions answered by our dynamic duo.

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Quick and Simple Veggie Meals LOUISE INGHAM 3rd Year Law

Eating healthily and within a student budget can be tricky, especially with the temptation of shoving some chips or a pizza in the oven. But despite the constraints of money, time and perhaps skill, this doesn’t mean you have to stick to the same boring foods. When I became a vegetarian, I thought the task of finding delicious variations on food I could cook myself would be difficult, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! So here are a few simple but tasty veggie meals that you can make quickly and without going over your budget.

1. Roasted vegetable salad with couscous • Couscous

• Water & vegetable stock • 1 Courgette • 1 Pepper • 1 Onion • 1 Sweet potato • 2 Garlic cloves This healthy meal should only take you 15 minutes to prepare and then 25 minutes to cook and it makes enough for two people.

Start by preheating the oven to around 200 degrees in a fan oven or gas mark seven. Cut up the vegetables you want to roast: I suggest you slice one courgette, cut one pepper into large pieces, slice one onion, peel and cut one sweet potato into small pieces and leave two cloves of garlic whole. Once you’ve cut all your vegetables up, put them on a baking tray with two tablespoons of olive oil and mix it all together.

Put it in the oven and let it cook

for about 20 minutes until all the vegetables have browned.

While your veggies are cooking, put 125g of couscous in a bowl. Get 150ml of boiling water and mix in a vegetable stock cube, then pour over the couscous and mix. Cover the bowl in cling film and leave it until it has absorbed all the water. When the vegetables have cooked, put together the couscous and veggies and pour on a salad dressing of choice.

2. Pasta with tomato sauce • Pasta • 1 Pepper • 1 Onion • Mushrooms • Tomato sauce • Double cream This meal is a personal favorite as it’s so easy to make. It takes about 10 minutes to prep and

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then 15 minutes to cook and can serve one or two people. Start by chopping one pepper into pieces, one onion and a handful of mushrooms. Put your pasta on to boil for about 10 minutes or until soft. Place your vegetables into a frying pan with two teaspoons of olive oil and fry until they are soft.

Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and put it back into the pan along with the vegetables. Pour in some tomato sauce (my favourite sauce is Dolmio Smooth Tomato Sauce).

I then add a splash of double cream which gives it a richer, creamier taste. Warm the pasta and sauce through and then serve.

3. Chickpeas and spinach with rice • Rice • Olive oil • Half a red onion • 2 Tomatoes • Curry paste

• Water & vegetable stock • Chickpeas • Spinach • Cheese This speedy meal only takes 15 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook and can serve two people.

Start by heating one tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan and fry half a chopped red onion until it’s soft.

Add two chopped tomatoes, one desert spoonful of curry paste, two thirds of a mug of water mixed with a vegetable stock and 400g of drained and rinsed chickpeas.

Bring it to the boil and leave it for 10 minutes to simmer. Then add 50g of spinach and stir for about 30 seconds. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the cheese and add salt and pepper. Serve it with rice - I usually use half a mug of rice with 1 mug of boiling water and either cook it in a pan over the hob or put it in the microwave for about 10 minutes.

Reading Festival Check out this year's Reading Festival through the lens of photographer Jodie Irvine!

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Find out what Annabel Horsley thought Sinister's terrifying new sequel and brand new The Visit!

Screen glue Can't wait to see the next blockbuster? Find out what Reading has in store with Ollie Weeden

Orchestral Muse Check out what Malaysian born TJ Hiew thought of the British custom

ENTERTAINMENT The Moving Creatures: A rare big-screen study of the lives of three mothers suffering through personal traumas THOMAS FLEW 2nd Year German

The role of a mother is an unglamorous one; it’s a duty that’s successfully fulfilled with persevering dedication, not dramatic acts of heroism.

Is it, therefore, any surprise that we don’t tend to see a lot of star mums in movies?

The diligent daily work of mums really doesn’t cut the cinematic mustard, hence why the iconic mothers in film tend to be hardened warriors like Sarah Conner in The Terminator franchise, or even superheroes like Elastigirl of The Incredibles.

To take a (relatively) ordinary mother and make her into a memorable and absorbing screen presence takes the brilliance of such directors as Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life) or Richard Linklater (Boyhood), for whom celebration of the beauty of the everyday is almost second nature - a talent hard-won through years of practice.

In The Moving Creatures, the debut feature from Brazilian writer-director Caetano Gotardo, three unremarkable mothers do, however, take the centre stage.

Comprised of three disconnected stories, the film observes three mothers and their families, with a climactic moment of tragedy concluding each story.

In the first episode we watch Pedro, son of Maria Júlia, as he talks briefly to his friend before walking through a park. His friend discusses her attempts to ‘live in the moment’, explaining how she tries to empty her mind of thoughts and only focus on what is in front of her. This monologue, spoken with realism but a little heavyhandedly, complements with the static, drawn-out style of the film, where a camera whose gaze lingers on seemingly unimportant

matters for sometimes minutes. It is clear that this is how the director, Gotardo, wants us to watch his film. We are being instructed to empty our minds, and to focus solely on what he is showing us, and to be aware of its beauty.

It’s hard not to feel that Gotardo has jumped the gun with this film, trying to reach heights that other directors patiently wait decades to climb to. He commands us to find pleasure in his work, when if he is doing his job right, should

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be apparent to us regardless. Yes, there is limited pleasure to be found in the simple but attractive shots of trees and swans, but the limit is very quickly reached, with disinterest dominating as the film continues.

When a film is made into an omnibus of multiple episodes, it isn’t unrealistic to expect that the stories will each offer something different to the viewer. The hope is that, through using three separate parts instead of one, a multi-

layered portrait of the key theme will be created. The Moving Creatures’ problem comes in the similarity of its stories. Dealing with similar characters and similar events, there is little that can be gained ...(continued on next page) ...from any of the three episodes that cannot be from the others.

Instead of the stories adding depth, they merely repeat themselves.

Omnibus films are often harder to enjoy as a whole due to the lack of a traditional dramatic story arc

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‘Yes, that smell is dead animal, do you like it?’- An Addicted to Fresno review TESS AGUS

2nd Year English Literature and Film

Settling down with some half decent, homemade popcorn and the promise of entertainment, I recently plunged into the world of Jaime Babbit’s new dark comedy - Addicted to Fresno.

The movie follows the story of Shannon (Judy Greer) and Martha (Natasha Lyonne), two sisters who work as hotel maids in tedious Fresno; the tale unfolds as the two find themselves having to dispose of a dead body. One blackmail incident, a robbery attempt and what seemed like a thousand dildos later, I was hooked. With a premise like this, how can hilarity not ensue?

One of the film’s strengths is the intricately constructed and odd universe it creates, with a web of characters so laugh-out-loud bizarre that they almost justify the actions taken by the leading ladies.

The writing style is reminiscent of writer Karey Dornetto’s previous projects, namely Portlandia and South Park, with unconventional and off-beat jokes. It’s the actors, however, who bring her unapologetic and witty story to life, with an incredible supporting cast led by SNL alums Molly Shannon and Fred Armisen. As for the former, few can deliver crazy character as well as Shannon, with her unsettling laugh and facial expressions worthy of an Emmy. Armisen, on his part, does not disappoint, bringing his usual unique off-beat delivery to the role of the pet cemetery owner. A notable mention goes to Kumail Nanjiani whose (sadly brief) portrayal of the Oprahenthusiast support group leader is enchantingly funny.

Lyonne as the optimistic

So when the benefits of the format aren’t taken advantage of, it’s a real struggle for the viewer.

For a film that views the world with a steady realism, The Moving Creatures does contain an unusual and memorable quirk.

After each section hits its climax, each mother, apropos of nothing, bursts into song. These surreal and mildly amusing moments sum up

Martha is charming, poignant and funny. She plays her character with a sunny disposition and quirkiness that makes you want to hug and slap her at the same time.

Greer settles right into the role of the embittered sex addict, and registered sex offender, Shannon; she is so delightfully cynical and bitter, though this wore thin towards the end of the 85 minute running time.

The film’s magic lies in the pairing of the two, who counter each other well, creating a delightful good sister/bad sister dynamic that somehow keeps its charm throughout the film.

At the risk of getting hissed at

by Parks and Recreation fans I will venture to add that Aubrey Plaza’s character (Martha’s love interest) failed to capture my attention; her portrayal is forgettable and clumsy. Though this is partly due to the character itself, which doesn’t allow Aubrey her usual steal-the-show moments, of which I am so fond.

This movie comes out in a period that I will, perhaps hyperbolically, call a ‘dark age’ of comedic films, with streams of predictable and repetitive films coming out one after the other, all of which seem to merge into onePitch Perfect 2 being the prime example. Addicted to Fresno does, in a sense, conform to this trend, as it fails to allow full characters developments, especially with Shannon, who seems to be stuck in a mean spirted, cynical glass case, never quite finding her way out. Moreover, the conclusion falls short of the rest of the film, as it divulges to the viewer a ‘lesson about the nature of sisterhood’, a lesson so sweet it will put sugar to shame. A lesson which I, as a viewer, did not expect to get from a film featuring a Bar Mitzvah boy rapping about the Holocaust. It

also lacks the cult-classic qualities of Babbit’s previous film But I Am a Cheerleader (also staring Lyonne).

The film does, however, provide

the viewer with two hours of solid laughter, enjoyment, and at least a few dozen quotable lines, ready to be used at age-appropriate social

gatherings. This cavalcade of bad decisions will enthrall you, and is certainly worth the ticket price.

the characters’ emotional states as their short stories come to a close, but completely dominate what should be the poignant and moving close of each episode.

When the film really has a chance to examine these three women at their most emotional, it fails to altogether, instead relying on the lyrics of the songs to convey the emotion we should be reading on

the characters’ faces.

The Moving Creatures is the opening feature of the Brazilian Film Series: Year One by Cinema Slate, an attempt to bring the cinema of Latin America to American and European audiences, but despite clear attempts by director Caetano Gotardo to embody some of the American filmmakers cinephiles

most respect, it is hard to see this film finding much success abroad. Anglophone audiences are notoriously wary of subtitled films, and only Hollywood-esque stories such as Brazil’s own City of God tend to break through this barrier. It is impossible to write off Gotardo after this single featurelength outing, but this is a film that offers little, paling in comparison

to the films it is attempting to ape.

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4/10

ENTERTAINMENT|TV

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Pretty Little Liars ‘A’ is finally revealed!

A shocking end to a frightening series, this twist uncovers much controversy HANNAH CROFTS 3rd Year English Literature

After 5 years and 6 seasons, this is the moment the whole PLL fandom had been waiting for.

At the end of season 5 Spencer worked out that Charles was ‘A’.

But who the hell was Charles??

Well the so called ‘summer of answers’ really delivered with the Pretty Little Liars summer finale ending with the explosive reveal of who ‘A’ actually is.

No other than Cece Drake.

With 1.6 million tweets for the summer finale, Game Over Charles, episode, and #FAcetoface trending hours before it had even aired in the U.S, the eager anticipation of fans from all over the world was evident.

Yet, many fans have been left hugely disappointed. Taking to twitter to vent their anger:

One of the main issues people seem to have is that by making the villain transgender, the show negatively represents the transgender community by seemingly connecting Cece's psychosis and evil torture of the liars with her gender identity.

Something which has disappointed and surprised diehard fans even more considering how much the show has strongly

affiliated itself as pro-LGBT, particularly with its representation of character Emily Fields.

Addressing the controversy the transgender storyline has caused, writer Marlene King however, says, "She is not A because she's transgender, she's A because she's mentally unstable and she comes from a very crazy family."

So essentially what King seems to be highlighting is that some fans have misinterpreted this storyline. It’s not supposed to be, ‘Cece is a crazed stalking sociopath because she’s transgender’, instead, it’s ‘she’s a crazed stalking sociopath because of the way she was treated.’ The difference is key, but the problem lies in the fact that it’s not entirely clear in the way it comes across.

The actress who plays Cece, Vannesa Ray, emphasizes this too, talking to Buzzfeed says, “Being transgender had nothing to do with her being a villain,” adding, “I think the lesson we can learn is that if you neglect or torment somebody, which I believe Charles/Charlotte was, at a young age — whether that be by parents or [society] — if you treat somebody like they’re nothing, chances are they will treat others like they’re nothing as well.”

It’s alright saying Cece isn’t a psychotic sociopath because she’s transgender, but this really should have been made far clearer in the actual episode. The show clearly needed to differentiate between Cece’s mental state and gender identity more thoroughly, something which could have been achieved better with a 2 hour episode. Also, the show really needed to deal with Cece’s transition better, and ensure they didn’t reflect it in a negative way, or unintentionally suggest it led to her being the way she is. Taking what Ray and King said into consideration, however, along with the fact there’s 30 more episodes left where this can be explored and hopefully made much clearer, I personally don’t feel that the reveal of Charles being transgender is an

intentionally negative portrayal of the transgender community.

Being transgender didn't make Cece, A. Yet I understand why so many fans (who interpreted it differently) are angry.

The writers should have done a better job in explaining the experiences that actually lead to Cece becoming such a psychotic person as there are far too many parts that are still unanswered. We weren’t told what the trigger was that actually flipped her switch and made her angry A? Plus why was it, that when she left for France happy and the game was over did she then decide to return to continue the game? This was poorly explained. Also, what explanation can you even give for dating your own brother!? That is just not okay and the writers did a poor job at covering this, too.

Even though there’s so much confusion I love the twist uncovering Cece is Charles. It’s so exciting that I can’t wait to find out more in 6B. The controversy surrounding the reveal of ‘A’ as a transgender woman is understandable, and it would have helped if the writers had really made clear the difference between her mental state and her gender identity. Watching the episode, however, I took away the message to love people for who they are because your actions can hurt and

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destroy people's lives, and that there are always consequences to the way you treat people.

On the other hand however, I believe everyone has a right to be up in arms about Sara Harvey’s reveal as Red Coat and Black Widow. I knew she was a shady lady but why on earth does a character who has been in half a season get given not one but two of the show’s biggest reveals!?

It felt like a cop out. This should have been a ‘Spencer is on the A-team’ type of reveal. It should not have been given to the random and irrelevant girl who’s been on the scene 2 minutes, I mean all she does is take lots of showers and linger weirdly around Emily.

It could (and should) have been anyone else; Jenna, Ezra, Toby, I would have even been happy with Wren. Why Marlene King, why her!?? The only way I can possibly be okay with this is if it’s revealed that Cece is only Big A and there’s an Uber A out there somewhere, who’s revealed to be someone like Toby.

Now that would be interesting.

I hope in the next half of the season we get to see some flashbacks to all the unanswered questions. There are many things that still haven’t been addressed, or plot holes to explain. I want to know if the moms ever got out of the basement and who

actually did kill Mrs D if it wasn’t Cece? I’m intrigued too as to what Sara’s motives for helping were (suffering from stockholm syndrome perhaps), but at the same time I think seeing her face again would just annoy me.

Pretty Little Liars is much more than your average teen drama and there’s far more to it than it simply being brandished a pop culture phenomenon. The strong female leads are powerful and inspiring, and the show without doubt passes The Bechdel Test (and then some). Plus, its pro-LGBT representation is not just positive but perfectly executed through the portrayal of Emily, who’s love life is treated and represented exactly the same as her straight friends. This season 6 summer finale is evidence enough for why this show is so great and has achieved cult status among teens and young adults alike. The Liars are never portrayed as damsels in distress, and when they are in life-threatening situations (which is quite often seeing as Ahas been terrorising them for years), they don’t wait to be saved, they save themselves. These girls are pretty awesome, and as for representations of teenage females on TV, you don’t get much better than Pretty Little Liars.

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Reading Festival in Photos

Azaelia Banks

Echosmith

Years and Years

AWOLNATION

Limp Bizkit

Wolf Alice All photos courtesy of Jodie Irvine Photography

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Roland Emmerich’s Stonewall: an injustice inflicted on injustice

Based on the birth of modern LGBT+ activism, Stonewall crosses the line of creative license PETER MILES BA Archaeology

I quite enjoy Roland Emmerich’s work. He gave us Stargate, Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow; solid stuff that goes well with trying to get that little kernel of popcorn out from between your teeth.

However, his latest production Stonewall has caused something of a storm, with over 20,000 people signing a petition calling for the film to be boycotted for its cis- and ‘white-washing’ of the main individuals that actually sparked the Stonewall riot. But what does this actually mean?

Stonewall joins an everincreasing list of Hollywood films that erases culturally significant identities and replaces them with white people. Think Exodus by Ridley Scott which had all the Jewish and Egyptian characters played by white people with questionable tans and black actors that kept to background roles.

How could that possibly be a good idea?

Emmerich has stepped this up a notch by completely replacing the key transgender women of colour in the Stonewall riots with Danny Winters (played by Jeremy Irvine), an attractive young white cisgender man who is kicked out of his home and ends up at the Stonewall Inn, the location of which sparks the eponymous Stonewall Riots. To add insult to injury, Danny Winters is a purely fictional character. He does not exist except in the alternate universe that is inside Emmerich’s head.

For a story so rarely discussed in the public eye, creative license is not what the Stonewall Riot needs. Roland Emmerich will thrust Stonewall into the spotlight with this film, and by excluding the trans women of colour who triggered the riot, he adds to the erasure of trans women of colour that has dogged LGBT+ activism for decades. This will give the

public a story that is factually incorrect and ignores the diversity of the movement and the violence that many are still subject to.

This riot was not just a three day event but a moment that triggered an international LGBT+ rights movement.

So who was actually involved in the Stonewall Riots?

To begin with, there is Sylvia Rivera. She was a bisexual, Latina trans woman, drag queen and sex worker who is commonly thought to have thrown the first brick that incited the riot. This scene has been depicted in the trailer but Danny Winters throws the brick. Sylvia Rivera makes no appearance in Stonewall, even though she would go on to cofound ‘Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries’ with Marsha P. Johnson, a group whose main purpose was to help homeless young drag queens and trans women of colour.

Marsha P. Johnson does make an appearance in Stonewall, albeit in a seemingly minimised role, played by a cisgender man and is placed on IMDb below ‘Woman with poodle’ and ‘Sunglasses’ (clearly these roles must be significant). Marsha was a black trans woman who also worked as a drag queen and sex worker, credited for throwing a shot glass at a mirror when the police began rounding up the patrons of the Stonewall Inn and declaring “I got my civil rights!” Those present attribute this moment as a call to arms of resistance. Due to historical uncertainty, if it was not Sylvia who threw the brick, then it was Marsha. She would go on to become an AIDS activist and a significant presence New York’s art scene.

Also lost from this film is Storme DeLarverie, a butch biracial lesbian and drag king who threw the first punch after being beaten by the police, the final catalyst that sparked the riots. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy is another person also missing, a black trans woman who helped to lead the riots and is currently the Executive Director

of the Transgender GenderVariant Intersex Justice Project. She had this to say about the film: “It was too much to watch … it’s just, ugh, they’re whitewashing it again. They’re burying us in the ground so when they step off of us, there’s no proof that we were even there.”

This is nothing short of chilling.

Many other individuals were there at Stonewall and would go on to be stalwart LGBT+ activists such as Brenda Howard, a white polyamorous bisexual cis woman would go on to help found the first Pride and supporting events to commemorate the anniversary of Stonewall, along with being a lifelong bisexual rights activist.

Ray Castro, Jerry Hoose, Yvonne Ritter are just a few others who were involved in the riot and spurred them onto further LGBT+

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activism. Google them, the LGBT+ rights movement has had massive diversity at its core.

To condense all that vibrancy into a leading cast of predominantly white men (in what sounds like a convoluted love triangle as well if the synopsis is anything to go by) is to ignore and look away from the violence that the whole LGBT+ community still faces, particularly that which is levelled against trans women of colour.

Marsha died in 1992 and was ruled a suicide, despite witness evidence pointing to murder.

Eleven out of the thirteen trans homicides in the US this year have been transgender women of colour and in the UK, a third of trans people experienced some form of reported transphobic hate crime.

Leelah Alcorn, Blake Brockington and Lucy Meadows are just a few

of the names that have been in the media because transphobia is still wildly rampant.

If you want to see a fair depiction of Stonewall or want to help somehow, donate your cinema ticket money to Happy Birthday, Marsha!, or to trans charities such as the Ali Forney Center in NYC, PACE and Action for Trans* Health. Supporting Stonewall does not help those in the LGBT+ community that desperately need the representation that belongs to them.

Trans women, lesbians, bisexuals and people of colour were all leading and part of the Stonewall Riots and LGBT+ activism as well as gay white men.

Let’s not forget them as Roland Emmerich has done.

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Back to back: A Review of Sinister 2 and The Visit ANNABEL HORSLEY Lifestyle Editor

Horror enthusiasts would definitely have visited the cinema in recent months to catch either The Visit, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and or Sinister 2, directed by Ciaran Foy. Both films had their good points, whilst lacking in some areas, but altogether were fun, scary and exactly what you would hope when seeing a horror film.

Sinister 2, released in August, is the follow on movie from the original Sinister. It carries on the story from the first film through the eyes of the helpful detective that helped with the original Sinister investigation. He carries on the case that was started in the first one, checking up on the next house in the sequence of family murders. However, he is horrified

to find the house he believes to be next in the sequence to be occupied by a mother and her two sons. James Ransone’s acting as the innocent, helpful detective is enthralling and it is easy to become attached to his character.

Helped along by brilliant co-stars such as Shannyn Sossamon; even the child actors Dylan and Zach Collins were convincing in their roles. Typically, children in horror films can be very stereotypical and can end up annoying most poeple, however Dylan and Zach managed to keep annoying levels to a minimum. Throughout the film there is a lot of build up, jumpy moments and eerie child ghosts that deliver on giving you goose bumps.

All this said, the film didn’t quite live up to the first film for me. I thought that it took the supernatural aspect of the film too far. The first film worked because it kept the supernatural aspect as

a background part until the end of what was basically a detective film about terrifying murders. Sinister 2 had creepy ghost children running about the whole time and tried to convince us multiple times that a 8 year old can easily tie up his whole family, get hit by a car and attacked but still be fine due to supernatural power. The scary tall figure that was prominent in the first film took a back seat for his child ghost/minion, which were altogether less frightening.

Sometimes less is more and this is poignantly true when it comes to Sinister 2. On the other hand, the detective slant on this horror film makes it less conventional than your typical haunted house film, which makes it still worth a watch.

The Visit was, in my opinion, a really good watch. I personally preferred this to Sinister 2. The film is about a brother and sister, played by Ed Oxenbould, and

Olivia Dejonge, who go and visit their grandparents, to find their grandparents are behaving a little out of the ordinary. Throughout the film you are constantly on edge about what the grandparents are going to do. Essentially, you are out of your seat for most of the film. The Visit also ends with a brilliant twist, which is hinted at throughout the film if you’re clever enough to pick it up!

Unfortunately, a downside to this film is the young boy in it.

Although at times I found him funny, sometimes his humour didn’t fit well with other parts of the movie and ultimately got quite annoying. However, his and Olivia’s acting as brother and sister portrayed a sweet brother sister relationship. The whole family dynamic was really well thought out with Kathryn Hahn as mother, and was acted flawlessly with depth. It also showed some real family issues such as absent

A Vacation you won’t forget

fathers, and its effect on the children as they grew up.

Although the behaviour of the grandparents was quite typical of most scary films, it was still frightening. I found the old people in The Visit a lot scarier than the children that Sinister 2 had to offer. However, similar to Sinister 2, some parts were unrealistic which reduced the fear factor; for example at one point the young boy was able to beat up a fullygrown man.

Both films were good horror films. I enjoyed both, although neither kept me up at night. If you can put up with the point of view style filming that The Visit uses, then it is worth a visit to the cinema to see and Sinister 2 is also worth watching if you want to feel scared.

One of the better comedies to grace our screens this summer, Vacation makes you wonder why not all films feature a song by Seal TESS AGUS

2nd Year English Literature

Remember that song Kiss from a Rose by Seal? The song that plays incessantly in your head for weeks at a time? The only good thing that came out of Val Kilmer’s stint in the Bat-suit? That’s right!

The song you publicly malign, but shamelessly belt out in the shower, where only the soap can bear witness. If you’re currently thinking, ‘Hey, I love that song’, then you just might like John Daley and Johnathan Goldstein’s new comedy, in which it steals the starring role. The jaded few who are ambivalent to Seal’s sweet musical stylings need not worry; Vacation offers a whole lot more.

Rusty Griswald (Ed Helms), in an effort to strengthen his family unit, loads his wife Debbie (Christina Applegate), and sons James and Kevin (Skyler Gisondo and Steele Stebbins) in the car, setting out on a cross-country

journey to Wally World, an amusement park to which Rusty traveled as a kid with his own family in the original National Lampoon’s: Family Vacation, the film to which Vacation is a sequel.

The film serves a delicious platter of favorite comedy actors; the cherry on top being Ed Helms, offering a redeeming performance after the kerfuffle that was Hangover 3. Helms’ character adopts a painfully delusional sunny disposition, which is reminiscent of his performance from The Office.

Notable mentions go to KeeganMichael Key, whose portrayal of the all American father, Jack Peterson, is spin-off worthy; and Chris Hemsworth, who proves to be quite the comedy actor (I was worried he was only good at being rich and good looking), and whose chemistry with his onscreen wife (Leslie Mann) almost surpasses that between Applegate and Helms.

The 138 minute run time practically overflows with toilet humor which, although

considered by some critics as second-rate comedy, left me giggling uncontrollably like a 13-year-old boy in a sex-ed class. Some jokes, however, are so brilliantly composed, I felt inclined to tip my avid-comedyviewer hat in respect. The comedy, unfortunately, comes to a screeching halt with the forced romance between James and Kathrine (a beautiful teenager who happens to be travelling with her family). Scenes dedicated to this romance felt wasted and could have been better spent on more back and forth between the two brothers. All in all, the film was one of the better comedies of this summer, and the money spent on tickets wasn’t wasted. In cinema’s now, the film is sure to leave you with a smile stuck on your face and Seal stuck in your head.

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ENTERTAINMENT|PUZZLE POINT & FILM

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Candice Cuoco Itsu Distance LED E-Mentoring PLL Fall Rugby Festival RUSU Flu Vice Chancellor Freshers Wolf

Make Believes and Meant to Be LOUISE INGHAM

Aloof and wild with wanderlust.

3rd Year Law

She would become lost, Tangled up in make believes and meant to be’s.

She rarely paid attention, Conversations went unnoticed and unobserved.

Drawn by Harry Richardson

She’d grown complacent, Thoughts of a dull life and a duller future.

Her mind was a wanderer,

Her life was a summer’s day,

It drifted away without permission or cause.

Calm and quiet and ever so ordinary.

It strolled through absent thought,

But in her mind it never lay still,

And walked through strange ideas –

It raged and danced like a storm.

Bit of a Cinephile? Reading has it all!

Where to watch films in Reading OLLIE WEEDEN Sports Editor

If like myself, you can't get enough of the big screen then Reading has you covered! From Vue's multiscreen complex located in the heart of Reading Town Centre, to the private Reading Film Theatre located right in the middle of our campus, there's no excuse to miss seeing the latest blockbusters.

Many are understandably put off the idea of going out to the cinema due to rising ticket prices, unaffordable snacks and those obnoxious people eating popcorn loudly at the back. However, as a student with a packed schedule

during the day, the evenings offer the best time to go. This means that at later times on weekdays it is not uncommon to be treated to an almost private viewing at Vue, with audiences usually only filling the seats during weekends.

Combine this with a generous student discount on your ticket and there’s no excuse not to go.

The cinema itself can be found on the riverside, close to the entrance to Reading's famous shopping centre The Oracle. Situated right next to two student favourites, Starbucks and Nandos, your evening (or if you're lucky, date night!) can easily be made a success by enjoying dinner before or after the movie.

Alternatively, if you don't quite fancy the walk/bus ride into town, there is always the Reading

Film Theatre. The company host weekly screenings of all the latest films and more in Whiteknight's Campus' very own Palmer Building, in lecture theatre G10.

These are often on a Thursday night from around 7/7:30 and can be anything from the most recent blockbusters to foreign cinema and documentaries.

Tickets are cheaper than you would otherwise find in town and with a student discount thrown in it's hard to find a reason not to go.

One disadvantage is that, being a private theatre, you may have be wait a bit longer before the biggest names in cinema can be shown. However, this is not usually more than a month or two. Furthermore, with the Palmer Building being within

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very reasonable walking distance of the Park Group halls it almost seems too good to turn down!

So whether you're dying to see the latest instalment of the Marvel cinematic universe, or

prefer to explore your tastes by watching something a little more obscure, the choice is certainly there for you. So grab some popcorn, put your feet up and be sure to head on down!

Image from Flickr

MUSIC

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Rule Britannia: My experience on the Last Night of the Proms 2015

All Photos by TJ Hiew

TJ HIEW 3rd Year Law

Paying rock-bottom prices for top-quid worth of music concerts may seem impossible, but it has happened every year at the heart of London for more than a century.

Yes, that is the one and only BBC Proms. The ultimate annual music festival which consists of daily concerts over an eight-week period celebrates mostly classical music, but as time goes by, the genres of music included in the BBC Proms are ever-expanding.

Each year the Proms celebrates or commemorates anniversaries of composers, works or important historical events through music. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the all-time favourite The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. In conjunction with this, the BBC asked for sing-a-long footages for the song “Do-Re-Mi” to be combined as a virtual choir, like what they did for “Supercalifra gilisticexpialidocious” last year to mark the 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins.

The highlight of the whole season is of course the Last Night of the Proms (LNOP).

Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F made me more determined to tick LNOP off my bucket list. On the day before the LNOP, I decided to join the queue for the concert that night at 4pm just as a “taster session” before the final night next day.

The Royal Albert Hall was draped in the BBC Proms banners and looked beautiful. Both surprised and unsurprised, the queue for the standing tickets was a few hundred yards long. The queue stewards were giving out raffle tickets, i.e. a queue for the queue.

This is the rule: you will have to queue according to the number on your raffle ticket, and you cannot leave the queue for more than 30 minutes unless you went to attend the Proms Extra, a free event before the concert. Entrance is not guaranteed because the number of standing tickets that can be sold that day also depends on the number of season ticket holders attending the night’s performance.

Sitting on the pavement does make you tired, not to mention standing throughout the whole concert, thus attending the Proms Extra is also a great excuse to give your legs a rest.

After the concert, I spent 28 minutes over the phone explaining to my friend who wanted to attend

the LNOP as well about what to expect, the rules on queuing, who brings what, what to bring, where to meet etc. In the end we came to an agreement that we shall join for the queue for the Arena instead of the Gallery after weighing the pros and cons on each side. I arrived early the next day. As my friend stays in Camden Town, it takes up to 20 minutes to reach South Kensington by Tube. Thankfully, we were early enough to get numbers 121 and 122 for our raffle tickets to be guarded WITH OUR LIVES, a number small enough to guarantee us a £5 standing ticket and hence our entrance to the LNOP as long as we comply by the rules. We started queuing at 9am. Everyone who were queuing were mostly well-equipped, i.e. brought portable chairs, food, books, having picnics, wrapping themselves with Union Jacks etc.

A group of men having Mary Poppins-themed stag party who passed by the Royal Albert Hall added more fun to the whole scene. The length of the queue was definitely longer than the day before.

The Proms Extra at the Royal College of Music on that day was a sing-a-long session. The host was entertaining and interactive, and everyone had a lot of fun

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doing the warm-up exercises and learning new songs for the night (“I Bought Me a Cat”).

The accompanist was absolutely talented as well. I mean, how many people can play the piano and sing “Rule Britannia” at the same time? Speaking of which, my friend was so looking forward to that item in the concert that he could not stop singing the chorus while we were on our way to lunch.

We queued for nine hours altogether, but when the door for the standing tickets opened, it took me less than five minutes including security checks to get into the Arena from where I stood.

While queuing, we even talked to people that were queuing with us, sharing our backgrounds, listening to their Proms experiences, discussing how intense the sea of Union Jack was during last year’s LNOP. A British lady told me that when her grandmother attended the Proms, the founder of the BBC Proms, Sir Henry Wood was still conducting.

Being inexperienced, none of us brought anything to wave our flags. However, I managed to get a wooden stick that was only slightly longer than the length of my flag from a lawyer. He recognised my flag immediately as

his father worked for the navy in Malaysia more than half a century ago. He came back to England when the changes in the defence policy pulled the British troops out of Malaysia and Singapore.

According to him, he had been at the LNOP for years but that was the first time he saw a Malaysian flag. I could not feel any more proud! Audiences at the Arena were basically having a party.

Hitting beach balls and balloons, throwing confetti, waving flags, stomping our feet as we clap, cheering…it was colourful.

Needless to say, the performance was as spectacular as always. The conductor of the night was Marin Alsop, conducting the LNOP for the second time. She made history by being the first female conductor at the LNOP back in 2013. British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, who also made history at the BBC Proms by appearing as the youngest-ever soloist on the First Night of the Proms at the age of 19 in 2011, once again showed impeccable technique and talent on his performance. I watched him in awe as he played for 30 seconds looking away at the conductor during the second movement of the piano concerto, yet flawless. The sing-a-long for “I Bought Me a Cat” and “The

ENTERTAINMENT|MUSIC & YIKYAK

ENTERTAINMENT@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK Sound of Music” medley was so much fun, and especially the latter brought back so many of my childhood memories! And guess what, the footage of me singing “Do-Re-Mi” for the virtual choir is in (Look out for the girl in the “Keep Calm and Carry On” t-shirt!)!

I had a challenging time waving my flag as the stick was too short, and the audiences around me were taller than me. As for my friend, unfortunately we did not manage to get a pole that fits his flag which was twice the size of mine, which made it too much effort to wave, and so he did not take out his flag throughout the night. It was quite a pity because I bet everyone would love to see more flags of different countries to make the Proms appearing more worldwide and international. What flag, you ask? The Singapore flag.

Surviving through two World Wars and several other challenges, the BBC Proms celebrates its 120th birthday this year. The legacy of, quoting Sir Henry Wood, “bringing orchestral music

“The initial housemate test – leave your toiletries and cupboard food in your student house, go away for two weeks. When you’re back, if it’s all gone, you know you’ve chosen crap housemates.”

to the people at the price that the people could afford” lives until today. Over the years, from just a series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, to the live broadcast on television, to the interaction with audiences from Hyde Park, Glasgow, Swansea and Belfast through screens, to the conductor herself pulling out the selfie stick, the BBC Proms oversees the advancement of technology as well.

Queuing has always been part of the Proms experience, it sounds tired but it was well-worth it.

Watching the performances of the three LNOP classics (“Jerusalem”, “Rule Britannia” and “Land of Hope and Glory”) from the screen moves my heart all these years, but being at the scene singing with the crowd was even more emotional. The tradition of waving flags which started with a sea of Union Jacks to a great mixture of flags from all around the world, it shows that nothing brings the world together like music.

“Can’t wait to see what this year’s freshers have to offer...Hoping for some hot ones.”

“Freshers advice #13 for some reason, 95% of attractive girls are in the library.”

“Freshers advice: cheese is expensive save money for it”

“It is impossible to have just one Pringle.”

“Going to a pub quiz...

Wonder if Prince Charming is gonna be waiting there for me?”

“Freshers advice #2: don’t take any advice from Yik Yak.”

“Am I the only one who hasn’t made course friends...”

“CANNOT WAIT TO BE BACK TO UNI FOR A BAGEL FROM BAGELMAN ” 38

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ENTERTAINMENT|WATTSUP

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WATTSUP? 1. What makes Freshers just so fresh?

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: C'mon, look at the young and innocent faces...

Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: All the hung over sleep you get - you wake up fresh as a daisy!

JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: So many things are happening at the same time and there is only one opportunity to really be a fresher. There is always opportunity for every type of person, whether that be in a sport, hobby or academic taste- no-one feels left out and it’s basically a new start to a brand new chapter of a young person's life.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: We're "FRESH off the boat, the keyword is FRESH"Quote from MC Jin, ‘Chinese New Year’. I apologise for the over-reliance of rap lyrics.

Ian S, 3rd year Law: Having missed the first 2 years of Freshers I have absolutely no idea. Suppose now is the time to find out!

2. If you were a Fresher again, what is the first thing that you would do?

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: Learn how to think in imperial.

Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: Join all the societies! I wish I'd joined more as a fresher! There's even a travel society…

JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: Spend less time in the library and have more fun!

Tess A, 2nd year English: Re-discover the, ever, sunny disposition of Bagel man.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: Should have bought more beer for the first flat party (Hint hint freshmen) Ian S, 3rd year Law: Join every society I possibly can. First year isn't for academic study. Go hard or go home.

3. Truthfully, how many rounds do you do at the free Domino’s Pizza stands?

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: One. Just one. A piece of pizza is enough for me to skip dinner.

Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: So many I fall over.

JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: One. Tess A, 2nd year English: Not enough.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: Well that's a good question. The average student uses x number of coupons per week and.... Give me 10 minutes.

Ian S, 3rd year Law: I've yet to find out...

6. Good strategy or just lazy: Joining your first society can be tricky so let’s sign up for all of them!

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: Good strategy! Never try, never know. ;) Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: Absolutely sign up for as many as possible.

It's the best way to meet people who actually DO become your friends. I recommend the travel society.

JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: Joining a society may be fun but it also may be a big responsibility, you may join your favourite sports team but it will likely be a serious year of training for varsity. Join a society where it can be fulfilling in two ways: socialising and opportunistic—making friends with students from other courses is great and if you can develop handy skills for your future career then even better! It's your free time, so use it wisely!

Tess A, 2nd year English: Great strategy! You might discover something new about yourself.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: But they all cost money though right?

Ian S, 3rd year Law: Yes, do everything. You are a superhuman! And you'd better believe it! Is there a nap society yet?

7. What is your suitcase full of truthfully? Clothes or home packed food?

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: Clothes. Don't get dependent on home packed food!

Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: Alcohol. And cheese. Cheese is expensive, kids.

JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: Clothes- you can never have enoughconsidering the endless themed parties there are! But the food will become more useful than you think after the third week of freshers.

Tess A, 2nd year English: Clothes.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: Clothes, instant noodles, electronics, instant noodles, shoes, instant noodles, some K-pop.... OK TMI. Ian S, 3rd year Law: You don't want to know...

8. How fast did you spend your first month’s worth of savings? Did it really last a month?

Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: I didn't even have any savings (thanks, 'gap yah').

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: *click* *look at the drop-down options* *prefer not to answer* JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: Yes- I'm one of those who budget!

Tess A, 2nd year English: It was gone within three weeks.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: Was tempted to do a Justin Bieber or a C.R.E.A.M. and blow cash everywhere but then I realized I was at least 1 million times poorer. So my allowance lasted a term really (And credits to anyone who got the Wu Tang Reference) Ian S, 3rd year Law: In about a week...been living like a peasant since...

4. Hall mates can be tricky. Are there any weird stories of moving in?

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: Nope. We just...get along.

Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: I advise you do not get drunk and wake up in a flatmate's bed.

JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: None that I can remember.

Tess A, 2nd year English: My flat mates would harbour pizza boxes, behind the sofa, until they had enough to build a shelter from.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: All the crazy good stuff happened AFTER the moving in let's be honest.

Ian S, 3rd year Law: Hmm...

5. Goodbye to the parents – sentimental or awkward?

in it. That's why I nearly bought a ticket back home during term time. Twice.

Ian S, 3rd year Law: It's okay to cry...You get used to it when you open your textbooks.

Leaving your parents is the worst of your worries.

9. Where are you travelling from to start your year in Reading?

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: For me, it can never be awkward when you are about to travel 6000 miles away from home.

Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: Liberating!

JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: Definitely sentimental-even for those who are highly independent, their departure starts to kick in a couple of hours after they have said their goodbyes and it can be a hurricane of tears.

Tess A, 2nd year English: Awkwardly sentimental.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: I'm sure there a song that has "it's hard to say goodbye"

TJ Hiew, 3rd year Law: KLIA, Malaysia.

Heather E, 3rd year English Literature: From my youth.

JJ T, 2nd year Business and Management: Sheffield.

Tess A, 2nd year English: Copenhagen.

Christopher J L, 3rd year Law: The great 852 that is Hong Kong. Greatness like no other. In fact, you should give me a whole column to write about her.

Ian S, 3rd year Law: Where I come from doesn't matter, it's where I'm going that counts ;) Deep.

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HOROSCOPE

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horoscope Find out what the stars are saying about you this month...

MYSTIC MICHAEL Horoscopes Writer

ARIES MARCH 21st-APRIL 20th

Aries

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 24th- OCTOBER 23rd

A great surge of inspiration shall come to you at some point during the coming weeks, giving you the energy to finish some of your long-term projects. Your natural enthusiasm will serve you well during this time, Aries: harness it. Just try not to get too carried away! Numbers shall be playing a major role in the coming weeks; you, Aries, ought to look out for the number eight.

libra

SCORPIO OCTOBER 24th-NOVEMBER 22nd

TAURUS APRIL 21st-MAY21st

Taurus

This month will be a month full of first times, Taurus. You’ll be meeting new faces and seeing new places. Though you may usually find yourself uncomfortable with change, you may be surprised with how well you fare in the coming weeks, for this is most definitely a month of changes. Keep calm and carry on practicing some caution, but do remember to have fun.

The number to look for this month will be three.

Scorpio

Note the way in which you handle studying this month, Gemini. The stars predict personal growth in the academic sphere. This might mean a better attitude to working generally, or a specific improvement in some aspect of your learning practice. Gemini are often good at communicating, and this may serve you well when working within groups. Your number to look out for is 19.

Sagittarius

CANCER JUNE 22nd-JULY 23rd

Cancer

Finding a compromise can sometimes be hard. Cancer, you know from being both sensitive to the emotions of others and yet driven to do well, that it can be hard to please everyone. This month, however, you will find that your ability to negotiate shall be more acute than usual. This will be especially great if you find yourself in a debate during the next few weeks! Use this power for good. Your number to look out for is 40.

LEO JULY 24th-AUGUST 23rd

leo

Congratulations, Leo! This month, you’ll find that your good deeds will come back to benefit you. You’ll find that your friends and family will be very much inclined to help you if times get rough, as you have helped them in the past. Take advantage of this; go to them if you ever feel inover-your-head. Your past faith in them has made the bond between you strong. The number Leo should look for is 22.

More and more, you’ll see that good things come to those who wait. This will be especially true for you in the coming month. The stars predict that things which have been in the works for a while now will soon come to fruition, especially in the spheres of friendship and love. What do you think this could mean, Sagittarius? Your natural enthusiasm is sure to make you lots of friends, perhaps this month more than usual. 48 is the number you should look out for this month.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22nd- JANUARY 20th

It can’t be helped, you have to work to achieve your goals. This month, however, you may find a certain ease in your work that isn’t normally Capricorn there. While you normally see work as an ordeal - and practice perhaps too much caution - this month, you may start to see work as just another outlet for dynamic expression, and become more comfortable with larger workloads as a result. You should look out for the number 42 this month.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21st -FEBUARY 19th

Hidden in plain sight, Aquarius, a financial opportunity that has been previously known to you will now come to the fore. This might only be something very small (perhaps some money behind the sofa?), but Aquarius with any luck this could mean a new job that takes advantage of your communication and conceptualisation skills. Perhaps it could even be a raise? Just don’t break any laws. The number to look out for this month is going to be ten.

VIRGO AUGUST 24th- SEPTEMBER 23rd

virgo

Next time you’re feeling sad, remember: you might be forgetting the good things you’ve got going for you. This month, you might find yourself appreciating the good things in life more than usual. This is great news! Not only will it make you feel happy, your empathetic nature is sure to cause a chain reaction, brightening up those around you, too. The number 54 will be important at some point in the coming weeks.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23rd-DECEMBER 21st

GEMINI MAY 22nd-JUNE 21st

Gemini

For this month, the stars predict a deep personal development for you, Libra. You shall find yourself becoming better at reading the emotions of others. Your natural drive to do good may make you want to help everyone you can! But perhaps a better idea would be to use this to help those closest to you with their specific problems - quality over quantity and all that. This month, Libra, you ought to look out for the number 31.

PISCES FEBUARY 20th-MARCH 20th

Time and time again, you feel as if you aren’t making the best of your situation. Well fear not, Virgo, in the coming weeks you may feel you begin to start taking the initiative more often. Perhaps your demeanour will start to change in the way you’ve been wanting it to change, and this can only be a good thing. Be on the lookout for the number 60 this month.

Pisces

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Is it your birthday soon, Pisces? No? Well that’s odd, because the stars are telling me that some gifts are going to be coming your way very soon.

This might mean the appearance of a great opportunity, among many other possibilities. Your resourceful nature may also lead you to a place in leadership, or generally to a position in which you are distinguished from others. The number you should be looking out for this month is five.

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Credit to Flickr

Being part of a Sports club at Reading DAN STEPHENS 3rd Year Graphic Design

As a third year, I have one piece of advice for any fresher: join a society! More specifically, join a sporting society. Since you have more free time on your hands as a fresher, it is the perfect opportunity to join a club and meet new people. With many sport clubs to choose from, you can either continue improving at a sport with

which you’re already familiar or take the plunge and try something brand new. Whether you want to catch that snitch in Quidditch or catch that girl in Cheerleading, Reading has a lot to offer. Many people meet their closest friends or even potential housemates at a sport club - I think it’s something to do with working hard as a team and willingly spending a lot of time together, not to mention the regular socials. When you’re

spending most of your days either in halls, your department, or even your workplace, it’s nice to go somewhere else for a change.

People starting university can often forget to exercise to counteract all that drinking, so joining a sport club is the perfect way to burn calories while hanging out with mates. Clubs take their sport very seriously, and it is easy for it to become a huge part of

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your life, especially if you become a committee member. Open to anyone, being on a committee is very rewarding - hard work, of course, but completely worth it.

Walking around campus with your Reading Knights gear on, you can’t help but feel like a BNOC. And with open days and joint socials, there is a lot of interaction with other sports teams within the university. Sport societies are renowned for having the biggest

and best socials around. Joining a society was the best choice I've made so far at university; it’s a decision I want to encourage all new Freshers to make.

SPORTS ON CAMPUS

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After a three month pilgrimage, golfers seek reconciliation THOMAS PRICE 3rd Year Mathematics

As University roars into action once more, it won’t be long until the fresh-faced Freshers are emerging on campus, battling through the cold, wind and rain for the start of their degrees. No doubt they will come in their droves, riding bicycles with shiny new bells and clutching laptop bags with the must-have new gear. With this in mind, why not cut your losses and make a fool of yourself in an entirely different way by playing for the University golf teams this year? Summer is officially over and it is the time of year to buy some new winter mitts and a pack of golf balls in preparation for the forthcoming golf season. As we enter the proverbial desert swing of the golf year, we are on the lookout for golfers of all abilities to represent the University at a number of wonderful nearby courses and RUGC too. We cater for all levels at our Tuesday night training sessions and opportunities to play golf at Sand Martins golf club throughout term time are

aplenty. We have a new social membership of £10 if you want to don your golfing attire and RUGC tie in the likes of sweatboxes such as the town’s local clubs and the Student's Union. This year, we will witness the addition of a second golf team to provide further opportunity to play and meet keen interest all around from last year. Brighton golf team are busy packing themselves away for the start of their lives as touring professionals while we look to build on last year's second place finish with an eye on promotion.

Newly elected second team captain James Morgan, wellknown for a commendable track record of nurturing talent from a young age, will no doubt instigate the blossoming of this bunch who will potentially draft into the first team.

We will be at the Freshers’ sports fayre on the 24th September to answer any questions you may have and hopefully we will have a golf net erected for your pleasure.

Alternatively, give us an email at reading.unigolf@gmail.com and expect a quick and comical response.

Meet the Committee Matt O’Doherty 1st team captain. The wheel – sets us in motion and owns sawn-off irons.

Will Evans Social sec. The Gullet – once beat a pelican at a drinking challenge.

Aran O’Doherty Secretary. The cogs – long off the tee and carries a funnel at all times.

Danny Watson Social sec. The dangerous one – often slumped inside his Corsa after a ‘heavy one’.

Boot Camp

THOMAS PRICE 3rd Year Mathematics

Credit to Student Crowd

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Sam Rockey Treasurer. The questionmaster – deadly in the ring, don’t let him psych you out.

Whatever you intend to study at university, keeping fit is an important part of university life. Everyone knows about the importance of a balanced lifestyle, however it is often difficult thing to achieve, so what can you do?

The SportsPark is arguably your best outlet in this regard as it boasts a gym, exercise classes and supports the university sports teams all year round. As I once accidently found myself in a dance aerobics class, I can confirm the benefit of group classes for overall entertainment and fat burning. At just £20 a month for students it is also a cheap option.

After the SportsPark, the next best way to keep fit is to join a university sport team, which will give you a great way to

keep fit through regular exercise, hopefully making a few friends along the way. Clubs such as swimming, athletics and invasion games such as football and hockey are all fantastic for aerobic fitness.

Clubs like these cater for a large amount of members so it is more than likely that you will find a level that suits your own fitness and ability.

Exercise is just one facet of keeping fit, we mustn’t forget to consider the importance of a healthy diet. Keeping to the mantra, “treat your body as a temple” is always a good start for anybody and simply this saying means look after yourself.

Certainly, the lure of fast food, takeaways and alcohol will be too much for many students once they start university however such students will see their waistlines widen and their mood worsen because of this.

Being different is good, so I say stand out from the crowd and follow your own healthy diet.

Give a salad a go, give alcohol a miss and why not enjoy a handful of blueberries as you stroll around campus with a smile on your face!

SPORTS |NATIONAL SPORT

Psychology and Rugby

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The Einstein behind The School of Hard Knocks NATHALIE SIAH The Editor

Using rugby and psychology, through this premise The School of Hard Knocks has been an incredible success. Such disciplinary tools and skills are used to allow individuals from difficult neighbourhoods to emerge from their shell and start a brand new path. Psychologist Paul Boross, known as ‘The Pitch Doctor’ working with rugby stars Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell, is a man with a positive outlook and caring disposition. He aims to help the best way that he can. On the series of season 8, he speaks on how he feels the show has changed people’s lives.

How has the reception of the show's new series been since the first episode aired?

Quite extraordinary if you look at Twitter and Facebook. We’re getting new fans all the time and everyone’s saying they’re so delighted to be back.

It’s one of those things that touches people’s souls because it’s an honest program rather than something that takes advantage of the unemployed and there’s been a lot of what they used to term ‘dull porn’ of television where they observe these people and make them look slightly foolish. Whereas on The School

of Hard Knocks, the viewer actually understands that we are doing everything with the best of intentions and the whole arc of the story is that we taken a group of unemployed men and through learning the discipline of rugby create lasting and positive change.

Each series culminates in a job fair where men from very tough backgrounds get a genuine start in life.

How was the concept of changing unemployed people's lives through sport born?

There is now a charity called the School of Hard Knocks charity created by Ken Cowan. He took it to Sky eight years ago and he said “Wouldn’t it be a great idea to use rugby as a tool in order to teach young men the discipline they need to get jobs in life?”

Initially, it was a smaller idea and gradually it has grown until now where there is a series every year from a different place. Series 8 is on at the moment. Even in terms of television is quite remarkable that it is still getting the same and better response from the viewers.

It’s funny because it’s hidden away in a sense but when people find it, they become evangelists for it. Every year we meet these

people and they become the alongside seasoned Welsh School of Hard Knocks family.

Rugby Internationals Scott Quinnell and Will Greenwood?

What was working in such We always walk into the set tough locations like where the with a mindset that these are good show has been brought to? people. Because if you walk into We go to some of the toughest everywhere with a preconceived places in the country in series idea (this is psychology), if you 8. We went to a tough part of decide that someone is difficult Cardiff where there is a huge before you meet them, your unemployment problem, a tough actions will lead them to be area in Birmingham and the east difficult. But if you walk in with a end of Glasgow. What you’re positive attitude, they will behave seeing in all the guys is insecurities most of the time positively. We do that most people could’ve or have people who do act out some would’ve had if they had a similar of the time, it’s normal, but the upbringing to the guys we work reason as a psychologist I know with. it’s normal, is it’s because when We’ve got people who’ve spent they’re changing; they have to go long time in prison, long time through these kinds of emotions offenders, drug addicts, homeless, in order to make a change in their people who have been abused. belief system.

It’s not that we go out looking for these people, we just go out saying How did it feel to break a world an 8 week course using rugby and record as part of the show? psychology for anybody who is The world record is The School unemployed. of Hard Knocks Charity world When you go to these places, whose record is not actually in the you get told extraordinary things show and goes on all year round. you can’t believe have happened That record was done for the to people and our job is to give purpose of raising money for the them enough confidence and charity because it obviously has tools to get over that and get their to exist on its own. The television pride back to get back into gainful program the big focus for a period employment. of time but then once the program is over, we continue to help by What was it like working giving advice, talks and such.

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The record was for the longest ever rugby game and was an extraordinary achievement because it’s a tough enough game for 80 minutes never mind 28 hours and 20 minutes with a score of 1480.

Was there ever a time when the task seemed like it may be harder than first imagined?

What inspired you to keep going?

On the show, we took them for a two day army induction training and because they were completely out of their comfort zones, they faced a lot of challenges. Of course the army is a lot about discipline – some of them had never dealt with discipline in their life. They really got to learn about their personalities and fears and these came out in different ways. Some became violent, some verbally abusive, some walked off and some feigned injury. It was a good surprise because it brought them to a new place in quick time but also quite traumatic for them and challenging for us.

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27/08/2015 12:12:02

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NATIONAL SPORTS

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England challenged to 'create memories' ahead of the RWC 2015

OLLIE WEEDEN Sports Editor

Credit to Flickr Images Photographer Alessio Bragadini

Ahead of what will be amongst the biggest weeks of their careers, Stuart Lancaster has urged his squad to 'make memories' that will last a lifetime when England kick off their World Cup campaign against Fiji at Twickenham on Friday. Lancaster, who has named an unchanged XV for the pool A fixture, has made it clear that he believes his squad should fully capitalise on home field advantage after summoning the squad to a team meeting on Sunday night.

'We have an experienced team who are good enough and old enough to do well in this tournament, no doubt' said Lancaster, who added 'I was trying to build their belief that they can go on and win the tournament. Not in an arrogant way...a positive way.

Why would we do all the work and get here then think: Can we , can't we? We've just got to believe

we can.' Saracens centre Brad Barritt was full of praise for his manager, describing the encounter as a 'fantastic meeting' which had inspired every player. 'I think every player came out feeling a bigger part of something special and feeling really honoured to be part of this ride' said an enthused Barritt. 'Both the video and the way Stuart spoke was hugely emotive. I have no doubt it will resonate throughout the squad.'

Lancaster was however acutely aware of the weight of expectation looming over English players.

'You have to turn it into a positive' he stressed. '“It is down to me to tell them to go and experience the time of their lives, to be positive about the rugby they play and not hold them accountable for every little mistake. We will try and keep it business as usual this week but we also need to ramp it up at some

point as it’s not a normal game.'

Amid all the build-up, England scrum-half Ben Youngs has warned that England cannot rest on their laurels against a strong Fiji side. There can be no time for complacency as Lancaster relies on the same side who provided the fast-paced opening half hour against Ireland in the team's final warm up game. As a nation ranked 9th in the world, Youngs is all too aware of the threat they may pose. 'Everyone is aware we have to give them the ultimate respect because some of the best players in the world are Fijian... it is ridiculous what they can do with limited space and footwork and they have the strength to go with it' he said.

One little known statistic which may please the optimists amongst us is that in England's 11 tests in the run up to this tournament they

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have only once been outscored on tries. The exception to this was, of course, in Dublin during the last Six Nations when Irish centre Robbie Henshaw gathered a cross kick to contribute a solitary try of what was a low scoring game.

Surely this must mean that the old stereotype of England solely offering a one-dimensional attacking threat is slowly being broken? Leicester prop Dan Cole insists that old habits die hard saying: 'We don't want to be drawn into sevens' growled the 28 year old. Youngs however, a player about to win his 50th cap for his country reckons that it will be England's most significant step in the side's recent development.

'It is the biggest growth in our game...We are going to make sure we use the set piece but we will pull the trigger when we can. We are confident we can play both

ways.'

Whatever happens, Fiji will provide a tough test for Lancaster's men. With the nation watching on expectantly, all eyes will be on England as the side look to evoke memories of 2003 again. Can we dare to dream?

Probable England starting XV v

Fiji:

Brown (Harlequins); Watson (Bath), Joseph(Bath), Barritt (Saracens), May (Gloucester); Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester);Marler (Harlequins), T Youngs (Leicester), Cole (Leicester), Lawes (Northampton),Parling (Exeter Chiefs), Wood (Northampton), Robshaw (Harlequins, capt),Morgan (Gloucester).

SPORTS |COMMENTARY

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The Summer Transfer Window Is it too disruptive?

ALEX SEWELL

3rd Year English Language

Editor Nathalie Siah Deputy Editor Jess O'Donnell, Jen Daniel News Editor Harriet Lynds Lifestyle Editor Annabel Horsley Entertainment Editor Amy Banda Sport Editor Ollie Weeden Design Editor Elliot Spain, Jessie Webb Head of Photography Beatrice Ridge Marketing and Distribution Natalie Pavelin Secretary Emma Campbell

The summer transfer window is an excellent opportunity for football teams to shape their squad for the season ahead, but should it finish earlier? Opening on the 1st July and closing on the 1st September, clubs have two months to negotiate transfers. For the majority of this time, the football season is yet to begin and players can rest, with the exception of international tournaments. However, with the Premier League season kicking off on the 8th August, the transfer window extends well into the start of the season; this is similarly the case for all other European leagues, therefore, the summer transfer window can be troublesome for teams and players alike.

In modern football, the power is quite often in the player’s hands.

It is not uncommon for players to attempt to force a move away from their current team, even if the club does not want to sell.

Recently, England international Raheem Sterling handed in a transfer request at Liverpool, and the club managed to agree a deal of approximately £49million with Manchester City for the winger before the start of the season, a record for an English player. In this instance, Manchester City and Liverpool have both reaped the rewards of early transfer business, providing Liverpool with ample time to find a replacement for their former ‘Young Player of the Year’, and giving Sterling the chance to participate in City’s pre-season and settle in with the squad.

In contrast, West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino was not as successful in his bid for a transfer away from the ‘Baggies’.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy was keen to bring the West Brom want-a-way to White Hart Lane, submitting a number of bids. Understandably, Berahino was still very much a part of West Brom manager Tony Pulis’ plans, as the 22-year-old netted 14 goals in the Premier League last

year, making him their top scorer for the 2014-15 season. These bids, however, were under Pulis’ £25million valuation for players and were rejected. With the manager claiming Berahino was ‘not in the right frame of mind’ following the omnipresent transfer speculation, the striker was left out of the squad to face Chelsea. The following day, Berahino handed in a transfer request, which was swiftly rejected by the club who had coached him since the age of 12 and gave him his first chance at top-flight football.

With no deal agreed, the toxic speculation surrounding Berahino persisted right down to the wire. Known for his shrewd, businessman-like tactics, Levy made a final bid of £23million for the England under-21 international on deadline day in the hope that West Brom would finally cave in. This was not the case as, once more, Spurs’ bid was rejected, ending the transfer war and leaving Berahino fuming. The forward publically bemoaned the club’s handling of the situation in the extreme, maintaining that he would ‘never play’ for West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace again.

Clearly, the transfer window has poisoned the relationship between Berahino and his parent club, leaving the talented youngster in limbo with the season already underway.

Another example of how the transfer window can affect a club involves Queens Park Rangers, who were recently relegated from the Premier League to the Championship. Despite finishing bottom of the league, one player stood out from the rest: Charlie Austin scored 18 goals for the relegated side and contributed to 49.2% of the club’s goals last season. According to the media, the striker was on his way to one of a plethora of clubs, from newly promoted Bournemouth to Premier League giants Manchester United. Similarly, two other high performers in the team, pacey winger Matt Phillips and former England international goalkeeper

Rob Green, were also apparently on their way to Premier League sides.

Ever since relegation, the transfer rumours continued to surface and, like the others, persisted until the dramatic deadline day. Not knowing who would be staying or going, QPR fans would have been dreading the thought of losing their three most prized assets. After winning three games in a row, expectations for the rest of season were clouded with uncertainty. Without these three players, QPR’s exciting squad would look bare. But, when deadline day finally came to a close, all three of them remained at the club. All of a sudden, QPR went from possibly struggling to potentially having the strongest team in the league, and will be setting their sights on a third promotion from the Championship since 2011.

Perhaps the most unnecessarily prolonged transfer rumour of the summer involved Manchester United and Spain’s international goalkeeper David De Gea. Every year, the Spanish giants Real Madrid look to add a new ‘Galáctico’ to their squad, and with club legend Iker Casillas leaving, De Gea was their prime target. The move made sense for both parties; De Gea only had one year left on his contract and wanted to move back to his home-country Spain, Real Madrid needed a worldclass goalkeeper, and Manchester United would cash-in £29million

Credit to Flickr Images Photographer Saul Televez

for their former ‘Player of the Year’ while they still could.

Once again, still no deal had been agreed between the two clubs right up until deadline day. Expecting the Spaniard’s imminent departure, United manager Louis van Gall opted to play new signing Sergio Romero in goal for their first four Premier League games instead, with De Gea waiting in the background.

Inexplicitly, two of the footballing world’s biggest clubs shambolically failed to submit the relevant documents to complete the deal before the deadline. With both clubs blaming the other for this embarrassing fiasco, De Gea was left in a difficult position with seemingly no resolution at Manchester United.

Despite the trouble it can cause, the transfer window is necessary and deadline day is an excellent idea; it adds drama and tension to a sport that thrives on excitement, but with its disruptive nature, perhaps it would be best suited to take place before the start of the season. Everyone involved wants their club to hit the ground running at the start of the new season, and not to be afflicted by petty transfer speculation that, more often than not, does not materialise. Disagreements are to be expected, but with more time to iron out problems, managers can better prepare their squad for the season ahead and focus on the upcoming fixtures.

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: studentengagemtn@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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