The Spark Newspaper - September 2019 by The Spark

SEPTEMBER , 2019

From Clearing to success

WRITTEN BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS Page

Why students joining UoR on a Clearing place have no reason to question their future.

Joining the gym the right way

Page

Everything first-time gymgoers need to know and stick to.

Summer with RUSU

Page

Find out what your RUSU officers got up to this summer in our photography section.

FIND OUT WHAT FRESHERS’ EVENTS ARE HAPPENING.

HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR THE DOCTORS? MAKE IT A PRIORITY DURING FRESHERS’ WEEK.

HEAD TO THE NOTICEBOARD ON PAGE 17.

LONDON FASHION WEEK Taz Usher | Print Editor Celebs, colour and catwalks graced London’s top venues this month for London Fashion Week. Pop up shops were a popular feature of the event and I had the pleasure of working at one hosted by clothing company SHEIN. Throughout the weekend I assisted with organising stock, advising customers and attending influencer launch events with guests including Amy Hart and Georgia Toffolo. Use code 20TAZ for 20% off SHEIN’S online shop.

READING FESTIVAL 2019 Taz Usher | Print Editor

Photo by James Bridle

The hottest August bank holiday on record made the perfect setting for an incredible weekend of cold pints, late night dancing, and a hugely impressive music line-up. The Spark’s Taz and Lois joined the press team at Reading Festival to check out acts including The 1975, Billie Eilish, Twenty One Pilots, Post Malone, and The Foo Fighters. Read their coverage of the event from page 26 to 30.

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX AND SAFETY Editor | Taz Usher Moving to university can be a daunting- as well as an excitingexperience. There’s the moving away from home, meeting hundreds of new people, and coming to terms with the independence that accompanies being a student. And as much as students cringe to admit it, sex and safety are often two

of the biggest concerns they have in terms of what to expect. Will there be pressure to have sex when I get to uni? Is it normal not to go back with a girl/guy you’ve kissed on a night out? Is it ok to say NO? Although it is clear that the Reading University Students’ Union is committed to ensuring students have fun during their time at university, the welfare and safety of

their members is also at the top of their agenda. When joining UoR you automatically become a member of RUSU. This means you have access to all facilities (representation, advice services, sports clubs, societies, cafes, bars, shops, cash point, nightclub) and events (Freshers’ Fayres, Union Nights, Quiz Nights, Karaoke, Awards Balls,

Employability Events, Student Voice) throughout your time as a student. You also have access to free, confidential and independent advice services for various issues. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6.

FIND THE SPARK ONLINE AT SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK AND ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

Contents

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 2019

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Print Editor Taz welcomes new students and reveals the highlights of this issue.

A TASTE OF CHINA 04 What 20 UoR students got up to as part of the NUIST scheme this summer.

BORIS SUSPENDS PARLIAMENT 05 The latest on Brexit and what the Prime Minister’s latest political move means for the upcoming deadline.

GALS WHO GRADUATE 08 UoR alumnus Brontë King helps female students conquer university-related anxiety.

LOVE ISLAND 18 Print Editor Taz explores what this summer’s most watched TV show can teach viewers about love, life and relationships.

INTERNATIONAL UNI EXPERIENCE 21 An international student from Reading shares their top tips for settling into the new environment.

HASSLE FREE BEAUTY 22 Some easy to follow tips to get you through your early morning hair and makeup routine.

READING FESTIVAL 26 The sun, sound and bucket hats were just a few of the fantastic highlights of this year’s RANDL festivals.

SPIDER MAN 36 Student Ryan reviews the latest instalment to the Marvel series.

SUMMER WITH RUSU 38 What your RUSU officers got up to this summer: in photos.

FIRST TIME GYM GOER 40 Everything students joining the gym for the first time should keep in mind when setting their workout routines.

FIRST MUSLIM HIJABI JOCKEY 45

PRINT EDITOR TA Z U S H E R E D I T O R . S PA R K @ R E A D I N G . A C . U K DEPUT Y EDITOR SARAH MAQBOOL D E P U T Y E D I T O R @ S PA R K N E W S PA PER.CO.UK NEWS EDITOR KIA MACKENZIE N E W S @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K LIFEST YLE EDITOR H O L LY F O U R N I E R L I F E S T Y L E @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . CO.UK E N T E R TA I N M E N T E D I T O R LOIS PLUMMER E N T E R TA I N M E N T @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K SPORT EDITOR IZZY EINON S P O R T @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K SUB EDITORS S A B I TA B U R K E P R I YA K H A I R A

Khadijah Mellah wins the Magnolia cup. The Spark Newspaper is designed and typeset by students at the University of Reading. Printed at Newbury News Limited, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG12 2DW. Published and funded by Reading University Students’ Union, contact: activitiesofficer@rusu.co.uk. Our students strive for accuracy but on occasion can make mistakes. Errors can be corrected/acknowledged by contacting the Editor. Complaints should be made to the Editor in the first instance, and thereafter to RUSU. All complaints should be made in writing. All articles, letters etc. must include a name, address, and contact number/email address. These may be withheld from publication at specific request. The Spark Newspaper or RUSU can take no responsibility for products or services advertised herein. The Spark Newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Editor. The views expressed in The Spark Newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the Editors or RUSU, particularly those expressed in the comments pages, which are often opinions of the specific authors. Photographs in The Spark Newspaper are copyright, and you will need permission from the photographer to re-use. Contact the Editor at: editor. spark@reading.ac.uk.

LEAD DESIGNER X I A O M E N G FA N G DESIGN TEAM TA Z U S H E R H O L LY F O U R N I E R LOIS PLUMMER J A S M I N E D AV I S SARAH MAQBOOL MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION MADELINE EASTWOOD ALEXANDRA WINFIELD

Editorial

SEPTEMBER 2019

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

GALS WHO GRADUATE Female students can now confide in the help of eachother thanks to this new community project founded by a UoR alumnus.

INTERVIEW WITH KAWALA Editor Taz and Entertainment Editor Lois interview a talented duo from London while at Reading Festival.

Hello and welcome to your first issue of the term and 2019/20 academic year!

The Entertainment section includes an equally as intriguing range of content.

I’m delighted to bring such a fantastic first issue to both our new and regular readers, and hope that students can take a lot away from the content this month.

The most part of the section is made up of Reading Festival content which Print Entertainment Editor Lois and I produced while representing The Spark at the event this summer. These include interviews with bands including Kawala, Sea Girls, Blood Youth, and Night Riots, as well as line-up round ups.

This issue there’s a huge variety to read: top tips for freshers, welcomes from societies, the latest political news, round-ups from the summer’s best and biggest events, and sneakpeaks at what there’s to look forward to in the coming weeks. In News this month you’ll find articles ranging from updates on Brexit, sources of advice for students, university-wide schemes and non-sport related societies you can get involved with. Our front page splash Let’s Talk about Sex and Safety is also a must read. With the help of RUSU’s welfare officer Gemma King and various other experts across the university community, I put together this piece to help students cope with student-life challenges and how to deal with uncomfortable situations.

WOMEN’S RUGBY Why this sport society could be the one for you.

In Lifestyle you’ll find a number of advice pieces on topics such as making the most of student discounts, managing your time effectively and caring for yourself. The section also features pieces on fashion at this year’s Reading Festival, a student budget holiday to Corfu, mindfulness, and a skincare review.

The section also features reviews of Stranger Things season 3, Spiderman: Far from Home, and Lana Del Rey’s newest album. A review of London show The Illusionists and extracts from arts societies Photograpy Soc and Junction 11 are also worth a read. This month’s Photography Section is brought to you by our new Head of Photography, Sara Mattar. Her theme of choice this month is the RUSU officers and what they got up to over the summer. Lastly, our Sport section is back bigger and better this issue and includes numerous sports success stories, society overviews and top tips for those looking to try new sports whilst at university. Our top story covers the key things first time gym goers should be wary of and how following the advice of SportsPark’s Fitness Manager could get you on track to acheiving your fitness goals without any aches, pains or anxiety.

Taz Usher

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

READING STUDENTS EXPLOR AS PART OF THE NUIST SCHE For 20 students at the University, their summer got off to an exciting start with a 2 week trip to Nanjing, China, writes Print News Editor Kia Mackenzie. With an early start at Heathrow on Saturday 29th June, myself and 19 other students, along with a member of staff from the Study Abroad office boarded the first flight, landing in Hong Kong, before changing over for another two hour flight to Nanjing. It was an exciting experience for all the students, as few of us had ever been to China so it was going to be a step into the unknown. After arriving at the hotel (and having a few issues connecting to the Wi-Fi!) we all settled into our rooms and had our first group meal in a nearby restaurant. Having woken up refreshed on our first full day, we attended an opening ceremony where students from both our University and NUIST made speeches and gave performances, after which each University exchanged gifts.

“We attended an opening ceremony where students made speeches an gave performances.” For the rest of the two weeks, during University hours NUIST put on a wide range of activities which included: Kung Fu, Chinese Dancing, paper cutting, pottery painting and making, dumpling making, an afternoon of games, calligraphy, campus tours and a city tour. These were fantastic activities that allowed us to all bond as a group (especially at the attempts during Chinese dancing and the surprising sword fighting in Kung Fu) and get to know a bit more about the culture of China.

“The two day city tour was a fantastic insight into the history and important sites of Nanjing.” We were also given lessons providing us with an overview of the Jiangsu Province (where Nanjing is located), lessons in modern history and philosophy and language lessons to try and help us get by while we were there! Every student enjoyed these lessons; made even better with some of the professors giving their own personal stories and anecdotes of what life was like in China for their parents and grandparents.

It was an exciting experience for all the students.

The two day city tour we went on was a fantastic insight into the history and important sites of Nanjing, as well as some opportunity to do a bit of shopping. One of the most harrowing and memorable places we visited was the Nanjing Massacre Museum, and I know I am not alone in saying how horrifying this piece of history is, but the way in which the museum commemorates those whose lives were lost is beautiful. On Sunday, our one full day off, everyone in the group decided to make the trip to Shanghai for the day, which was an action packed and tiring day, with everyone meeting up at the end to watch the city light up whilst drinking cocktails on a rooftop bar- and of course taking some very good pictures and videos to remember it all by! We were very lucky and didn’t get caught in too many heavy rain storms, although after climbing the 392 stairs to Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum many of us looked

Elizabeth Lynch

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

ORE CHINA EME.

Boris suspends Parliament with Brexit on the horizon. Sarah Maqbool | Deputy Editor and Outreach Officer In what is argued to be a highly undemocratic move by the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s decision (along with the Queen’s formal approval) to prorogue parliament for 5 weeks, effectively marking the end of the current parliamentary session at a critical point within the UK’s process of leaving the European Union has sparked outrage across MPs from all political parties alike, as well as UK residents. Under the current plan the suspension period could begin as early as the 10th of September, with MPs returning for the Queen’s Speech on October 14th, which will begin the start of a new government (along with new plans

move prevents MPs from enacting their duty to represent their constituents. Jeremy Corbyn (Leader of the Labour Party) described the move as depriving “the electorate of the opportunity to have their representatives hold the Government to account”, while others such as John Bercow (Speaker of the House of Commons) called the move a “constitutional outrage” designed to “stop Parliament debating Brexit and performing its duty” . Jo Swinson (Leader of the Liberal Democrats) stated that “This is a crucial time in our country’s history, and yet our Prime Minister is arrogantly attempting to force

“The decision to prorogue parliament at such a crucial point

SUITCASE SAFETY ON TRAINS Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor When travelling on trains, especially alone, it is really important to remember to keep your luggage safe. There have been cases of suitcase thefts along train lines, and these numbers are increasing. Here are some tips on how to be safe when travelling: If you can, keep your luggage with your seat, or stored in the overhead spaces where you can see it and keep an eye on it. Don’t leave it unattended. If you have to keep it in the luggage rack at the end of the carriage, get up at each station before the doors open to check it is still there. If you can, carry a bike lock to attach your case to the rail.

GOT THE MUNCHIES? Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor

in trade deal negotiations is a threat to the democratic right of each and every UK resident.”

Elizabeth Lynch like we had been! Fortunately, by this point we had either become accustomed to the heat in China or had had the common sense to buy a traditional Chinese fan! Seeing temples, exploring random parts of Nanjing on our time off and eating food we found unusual in a Western sense (such as rice and steamed buns for breakfast) became the norm, but each of us enjoyed the trip in our own ways, and as a group had the most amazing experience. Although the pollution was high, the traffic was noisy and the paths in Shanghai always busy, every student managed to have a fantastic time. As Elizabeth Sumner, a now second year Chemistry student, recounts: “Thanks to the university, I got to experience the culture of Nanjing university and the country as a whole, this including trying food such as duck blood soup (similar to liver and kidney), duck head and chicken feet! I really loved the experience to make authentic

Chinese dumplings and I was surprised at how easy it was! My favourite moment was standing alongside the river in Nanjing at night and watching the sleeve dance across the other side, one of the most beautiful and traditional experiences I’ve ever had!” Francesca Champion, another student on the trip, also said “My time at NUIST in Nanjing was amazing! I am very grateful to have been given the wonderful opportunity to learn more about the rich culture China has to offer. What I found most interesting and very unique about Nanjing was the coexistence of progress (technology and transport in particular) with respect and love for tradition, which resulted in a very balanced equilibrium. I was fortunate enough to extend the trip by 2 weeks and explore more of China, by visiting Shanghai and Beijing. I will forever treasure this experience as it has increased my confidence and interest in travelling.”

and legislation), according to The Institute for Government stated that in the letter Boris Johnson wrote to Conservative MPs confirming the decision to prorogue parliament he argued that a new parliamentary session was needed to allow a fresh legislative agenda. However, such a decision means that parliament will be sitting for fewer days prior to the Brexit deadline of October 31st and subsequently MPs will be under even more pressure to accept the proposed withdrawal agreement, whatever it may dictate. There will also be very little time to agree on a revised legal text with the European Union as well as implement a deal on national law, which could have dire consequences in the foreseeable future. Many are stating that the

through a no-deal Brexit against the democratic will. He is outrageously stifling the voices of both the people and their representatives,” Currently, the parliamentary petition to not prorogue parliament has gathered approx. 1.7m signatures and a legal bid backed by 70 MPs and peers has been submitted to the Court of Session in Edinburgh (the highest civil court in Scotland), asking for the move to be suspended. Whatever the case, it is clear that the decision to prorogue parliament at such a crucial point in trade deal negotiations is a threat to the democratic right of each and every UK resident; not because we’re leaving, but because we are being given no choice on how we do soeconomically crushing or not.

GWR Delay Repay scheme Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor With the summer behind us, the thought of going home is probably a distant one, but if you do travel by train don’t forget the GWR Delay Repay Scheme, which began on April 1st. This scheme compensates custom-

ers with valid single, return or weekly tickets if you are delayed, for any reason, for more than 15 minutes. You can either claim online, print out the form or collect one from a staffed station. For more information visit the GWR website.

A new independent desert shop called Munchies is opening in the heart of the student area on Wokingham Road, only 5 minutes from Wessex Hall. They will be offering milkshakes, ice cream based deserts and a range of other treats. And, best of all, they are offering student discount with a valid NUS student card and vouchers for a 2 for 1 on milkshakes. Looking to be open by the end of September, be sure to check it out!

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX AND SAFETY Taz Usher continues from page 1...

part of a #NoMore sexual violence and abuse awareness campaign. It has since been adopted by numerous universities and students’ unions across the country as a way of keeping students safe and void of threatening scenarios.

what support you would need. We support victims, survivors, their family and friends.“

Supportive of the initiative, current student Lois Plummer said: “During nights out on campus, the Ask for Angela campaign has made me and my friends feel reassured that help is available readily and instantly.

This year RUSU will continue to enforce stronger safety regulations and welfare projects to ensure students feel safe on campus and confident to speak up if something occurs.

She added: “Looking out for your friends is a must, but knowing there are guidelines set in place makes us feel slightly safer in these situations.”

RUSU’s Welfare Officer, Gemma King. ...These include but are not limited to academic, financial, housing, and welfare advice. RUSU Advice Service can support you with academic matters such as submitting Extended Circumstance Forms, as well as money matters including student funding, debt counselling, financial hardship and applying for welfare benefits. They also advise on living in rented accommodation and halls, and can support students with housing contracts, dealing with disrepair, deposit disputes, eviction, rent arrears, landlords and much more. The RUSU Advice Service is also a great first point of contact for support with other welfare and social issues, such as dealing with isolation, homesickness, bullying or harassment; concerns around personal or home safety and dealing with forms of hate crime. They also have strong links with other services that can provide free and confidential support to students, such as our local drug and alcohol support service and environmental health. The Advice Service operates a free drop-in service which you do not require an appointment for. You can access this service regardless of whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate, researcher, part-time, full-time or international member of the university. RUSU also run several campaigns throughout the year that are

designed to promote awareness of different topics and encourage conversation amongst students, with many of these campaigns focusing on student welfare and safety both on and around campus. Commenting on the university’s current welfare provisions, third year student Sabita Burke said: “It’s so important to let students know

“Remember, there is always someone who can listen.” that RUSU has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of sexual harassment, regardless of gender identity. “Unacceptable incidents of groping and unwelcome harassment happen all too often on the average night out, and regardless of your gender it needs to be made clear to the entire student body that this is not okay. “ She added: “I’m glad that there are campaigns at RUSU such as #NeverOkay which are trying to create a safe space to tackle issues like these.” #NeverOK– RUSU’s zero tolerance campaign towards bullying, harassment or discrimination -launched in collaboration with the university during November last year.

Photo by RUSU

The campaign was designed to encourage students to report any inappropriate behaviour that they witness or are affected by. Such behaviour includes abuse, anti-social behaviour, hate crime, racism, sexual harassment, and physical violence which the RUSU’s Zero Tolerance Policy outlines. Commenting on the project, 2019-20 Welfare Officer Gemma King said: “Students can report incidents by emailing neverok@ reading.ac.uk after which they will be contacted by a member of the welfare team who will support and guide them to further support. “If you are feeling anxious or vulnerable when walking across campus on your own there is also a chaperone service available. Call 0118 378 7799 and security can watch you on CCTV to ensure you are safe on your journey.” The Ask for Angela campaign also commenced this year as a way for students to escape uncomfortable situations with the help of university bar staff. Gemma said: “Ask for Angela provides a lifeline for anyone who may feel in danger or in a difficult situation on union nights. “If you Ask for Angela at the bar the staff will know you need help and will get you out of the situation as safely and discreetly as possible.” The initiative was pioneered in 2016 by Lincolnshire County Council as

Another of RUSU’s highly effective welfare campaigns was I Heart Consent which ran during the latter half of this year . The project highlighted the importance of consent before sex and in doing so aimed to reduce the stigma around requesting it. Gemma said: “RUSU encouraged students to talk about consent, the definition of consent and discussed situations where the topic of consent may come up. “Welfare training will be given to all welfare committee members this year where the topic of consent is discussed along with other welfare issues like mental health. “Those who aren’t welfare committee members are also invited to attend providing they email me at welfareofficer@rusu. co.uk in advance.” Overall it is important to remember that consent is a very important part of sex and that not receiving it can be the defining factor between consented sex and sexual assault. Equally, for anyone affected by sexual assault there is an abundance of support available including Trust House Reading which provides free and confidential guidance including one-to-one counselling and email and digital helplines. CEO of the Trust, Namita Prakassaid: “Trust House Reading supports anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse through a range of person centred specialist services like counselling, advice and advocacy, helpline, support groups etc to meet the need of the individuals. “Referral is very simple and straightforward. Just call our helpline on 01189584033 to discuss

No matter how big or small your problem is, there will always be support available for you during your time at university.

“RUSU will continue to enforce stronger safety regulations.” Gemma King said: “Another scheme we are hoping to get up and running this year is the Pals for Gals which will give women an opportunity to meet up and walk home with each other after union nights. “I also really want to work on safety after union nights by creating a safe space outside of union with water and food available where students can go if they feel vulnerable or if they want to speak to security.” Responding to the Students’ Union’s strengthening safety measures, one student said: “It’s nice to see that these issues are being addressed rather than being swept under the carpet. It means that people are more confident in coming forward because they know they will be heard.” Another added: “I think that at a university where people of all ages and backgrounds study, it is extremely important for their safety to be acknowledged. “No one wants to feel unsafe or uncomfortable on campus, and I think that the increasing campaigns and services providing awareness are doing an excellent job- it can hopefully only keep getting better!” For more information about the university’s welfare services visit student.reading.ac.uk/essentials/_support-and-wellbeing or go to www. rusu.co.uk/advice/welfare for details of organisations that provide advice and support on a number of issues affecting students. Please remember, there is always someone who can listen.

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

What’s on at PsychSoc this Sport with students in mind year. Izzy Knight | Part 3 Psychology

Djihane Bret & Megan Gomples | Part 4 Psychology and Part 2 Psychology and Neuroscience. We at the RUSU Sport in Mind Voluntary Society believe that looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health.

Photo by PsychSoc

So what to say about PsychSoc? As an academic society, many of our events will be aimed at supporting you academically during your degree and showing you just how diverse Psychology can be through group study sessions, careers events and lectures. However, you don’t have to be studying Psychology to join: being an interactive and inclusive society is our main goal for this year We also know that having a good time and making the absolute most of your time at university is essential. There will be plenty of social events including movie nights, quiz nights, karaoke, day-time activities, nights

out and the charity ball being organised for Spring Term.

Research into Alzheimer’s Disease in the Thames Valley region has received a major boost with renewed funding from the Alzheimer’s Research Network. The £68,500 provided by this funding will help network partners at the University of Reading, University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes to work together to further understand Alzheimer’s. And it will also find ways to make an earlier diagnosis and treat the disease.

“We offer sessions on a relaxed, drop-in basis- no need to book a space. Just turn up when you want to.”

We recognise that starting University can be stressful. Statistics show that 51% of University students suffering from anxiety, stress or more severe mental health issues do not seek help. The Sport in Mind Voluntary Society supports students by encouraging sport and physical activity. Why sport? Evidence suggests that sport reduces stress and anxiety, builds Find your Zen through Yoga, practice confidence and connects students. mindfulness, reduce your stress levels by rallying balls in tennis, or The Sport in Mind Voluntary Society shuttlecocks in badminton, or try is run by university students. pickle ball or korfball. Working closely with the UK’s We offer the sessions on a relaxed,

drop-in basis - no need to ‘book’ a space - just turn up when you want to! Professional coaches run the sessions plus volunteers are on hand to play with participants, or even to sit and have a chat. You can also come and watch to find out whether the session is right for you. If you think this will benefit you or a friend, but are scared to come alone, please feel free to come together and support each other! Watch this space as 20 students are to be trained as buddies for peer support. For more information, please visit our society page on RUSU: https://www. rusu.co.uk/student-activities/volunteering/soc/17245/. We recognise that new environments seem daunting. We want you to relax and have fun!

Your committee this year is DJ / Djihane Bret, Megan Gompels, Beth August, Becky Hutton and Lucia Martin. You can meet us at our first and find out more at our first Meet and Greet social. This will be at Pavlov’s Dog on Thursday 3rd October 2019. The meeting point will be in front of the Palmer Building at 6:30pm. If you don’t drink, don’t worry- the place does plenty of non-alcoholic drinks too! See you there! Photo by RUSU

Alzheimer’s Research gets regional boost with renewed funding Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor

leading mental health sports charity Sport in Mind, we offer 5 free activities a week to all university students as a way of combatting mental health problems.

Dr Mark Dallas, who leads the Thames Valley Network and lectures in neuroscience in the University of Reading’s School of Pharmacy said: “This recent award brings together the best dementia researchers in the Thames Valley region to tackle the global problem of dementia. The award aims to foster new ideas and collaborations to bring about changes to the way we support people living with dementia but also targeting the causes with a view to developing new medicines. “The new money will continue to help us foster excellent dementia

research through new collaborations.” Among the work that the Network does, the award enabled a student from a leading Italian University to visit School of Pharmacy at the University of Reading and take part in research looking at the role of zinc in the brain. Their work at the University of Reading has contributed to a project to understand how specialised brains cells microglia can provide clues to how the brain fights dementia.

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

UOR GRADUATE BRONTË KING HELPS TH

STUDENTS TACKLE UNIVERSITY-RELAT Female degree students can now confide in the help of graduates across the UK, thanks to a new and empowering digital community founded by University of Reading alumnus, Brontë King. Taz Usher reports...

Fhe social media grown platform, Gals who Graduate, was created by Brontë to reassure students about the natural anxiety that surrounds life after university. And it has already attracted more than 4000 engagers across its Facebook and Instagram pages since launching in June. The model and influencer said: “After speaking to my friends at uni, I recognised that there were very common feelings of worry and anxiety about life after graduating. “I wanted to use my [social media] platform to spread awareness about this feeling and to create a community where everyone who shared these worries could support each other.” And it wasn’t just other people’s experiences which convinced Brontë that some sort of support network was needed for those going through the stress of adjusting to both life after graduation and university in general. She said: “When I joined [university] I was so out of my comfort zone. I called my parents crying a lot during the first few months and I really didn’t feel great. “I was wondering why I wasn’t having ‘the time of my life’ and why this wasn’t ‘the best year ever’, but I pushed through it all and second year really was the best year of my life. “I absolutely loved my second and third years of uni. I felt so much more settled after my first year and finally got used to the routine.” “Living with such an amazing group

of friends was also a huge help. “My advice for anyone not enjoying university is to persevere through the bad times and think positively about what is to come. “If I could go back and help my first year self through her tears, I’d give her a massive hug and a pep talk.” Commenting on her decision to connect members of Gals who Graduate using events in the real word, Brontë said: “I want members to feel like they are in a supportive community. “By joining the social media groups and attending events, they can make friends who are going through the same thing.

“It’s so lovely having such an amazing group of girls.” And although the project was designed initially as a support network for newly graduated girls, Brontë expressed that students at any stage in their degree can join the community.

“They can give advice and receive advice while getting the reassurance that they are not alone during this stage of their lives.” Gals who Graduate was first introduced in the form of a Facebook group where members were invited to post about their university experiences, request advice on various topics, and share motivational quotes and videos.

She said: “[Gals who Graduate] is full of graduates, students and freshers. Anyone can join.

Brontë said: “In a way, the Facebook forum has more of a community feel.

Just two months after its launch, Brontë decided that members would benefit from the community even more if they were able to meet and engage with each other in person.

“A girl messaged me the other day saying how she felt so much better about going into her third year after reading all the girls’ stories.”

“It’s a closed group so everyone who’s a part of it has something in common with the other members.

The first event took place in the evening of August 21 at London, Percy Street’s café Kailfornia Kitchen and was attended by 65 people.

“When someone asks for advice, there’s always likely be someone else who has been in the same or a similar boat.” Gals who graduate

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

HOUSANDS OF

ED ANXIETY.

She said: “My sister is my biggest inspiration and best friend. Every single day she gives me new ideas and always lifts my mood. “She is always behind me pushing me every step of the way and I couldn’t ask for a better big sister. We just support each other with everything.

“By joining the social media groups and attending events they can make friends who are going through the same thing.” “Witnessing the positivity and support that she brings to others using her platform is what inspired me to use my platform to create a support system for university students and graduates. “As my sister didn’t go to uni, she finds the whole thing so interesting and is always the first to hear my ideas. “I voice note her most mornings with a new idea for gals who graduate.”

Gals who graduate

Delighted by the success of the gathering which included talks from beauty giant Superdrug, goodie bags, and refreshments, Brontë said:

“The gathering included talks from Superdrug, goodie bags, and refreshments.”

She added: “I met so many new girls who are now friends and lots of people turned up alone and left with friends. “The room was buzzing with such a friendly atmosphere. It was amazing.” Members of Gals who Graduate at the first event. The event was also attended my members of Brontë’s family including her parents and older sister, Chessie King.

“I was overwhelmed with the support from those who attended and Brontë noted that Chessie- known brands that I’ve grown up around. best to internet users for her empowering social media platform “Superdrug, Charlotte Tilbury, 21 and body confidence motivationButtons and Skinny Dip all spon- was another of her inspirations sored and donated products for the behind Gals who Graduate and goodie bags which was amazing. life in general.

Brontë’s long term goals for Gals who Graduate include hosting monthly events and providing more support and advice to members by working with relevant brands. She added: “The next event is a panel talk with some very exciting people. “I want a panel of people from different companies to come together and help members with a variety of topics.

READING TOWN MEAL TO BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION OF HARVEST. Caitlin Herman | Food4Families

Sharon Fitton (Chair of Reading Town Meal Steering Group) says “nothing says community better than sharing a meal together.

Reading Town Meal is taking over the beautiful Forbury Gardens And the whole event is a real again on Saturday 28th September, celebration of all that is produced 12-4pm. locally. Come along and I’ll guarantee that you’ll leave feeling With lunch served from 12:30pm more positive about living in to 1:30, the Reading Town Meal is Reading”. a free community-powered event, celebrating the wonderful fruit and Host of performances from veg grown in Reading. upcoming local musicians all afternoon and entertainment confirmed so far include:

“A free communitypowered event, celebrating the wonderful fruit and veg grown in Reading.”

-The Newtowners (folk music) Jonny Owens (acoustic Spanish guitar) -Chord Capers and Reading Ukulele Group -C-real events pedal powered music and bubble machine

The event celebrates and promotes home-grown healthy, sustainable local food and it is similar to a big harvest festival for everybody to come along and enjoy.

-Variety of workshops centred around sustainability and home growing – confirmed so far include:

Each of the previous Reading Town Meals held from 2011 to 2018 have served over 500 people with a free hot lunch cooked from tasty local ingredients grown locally and activities all celebrating local, sustainable food.

-Reading Climate Action Plan

The centrepiece of the event is the meal made from the donations of local growers and allotment holders, cooked by Reading College students, and aims to serve around 1,000 free delicious hot meals.

The Town Meal is organised collectively through a steering group, led by Food4Families (at RISC) together with Reading College, Reading Food Growing Network, True Food Coop, RBC Parks and volunteers.

-Game of Food escape game

-Food Controversies – talk about use of probiotics, palm oil, alternative protein etc. -Tinka Tots DIY Pizza

“For example, finding a new place to live, what to do next, the option of travelling before employment, what do I do about overdrafts, and so on.” “It’s all in talks and meetings at the moment, but keep an eye on my socials (brontekingg) and (galswhograduate_) for more information.” The Spark are huge fans of Brontë’s initiative and can’t wait to see what she achieves next. Keep up the great work, gal!

“I had to pay for the venue myself which, although an investment, was Brontë and sister, Chessie. definitely worth it.

Photo by Reading Town Meal

SEPTEMBER , 2019

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SEPTEMBER , 2019

READING PRIDE Maddie Eastwood | Head of Marketing & Distribution Reading Pride took place on the 31st August as hundreds gathered at Kings Meadow. Pride parades celebrate the LGBT+ community and promotes self acceptance, achievements, legal rights and as the name highlights, pride.

BREXIT FOOD SHORTAGES Sarah Maqbool | Deputy Editor and Outreach Officer

Foods you should stock up to prepare yourself for possible food shortages after October 31st: -Olive Oil. -Pasta (dried). -Tomatoes: tinned, paste & passata. -Dried herbs. -Canned & dried pulses (kidney beans etc.). -Tinned fish. -Tinned olives & peppers.

LIBRARY OPENING TIMES

READING WALK FOR REFUGEES Sabita Burke and Kia Mackenzie | Sub editor and Print News Editor

Reading Refugee Support Group called on the people of Reading to ‘Walk for Refugees’ this month at The Reading Legal Walk. The Reading Legal Walk is a 10km sponsored walk which raises money for advice-giving services in Reading. Reading Refugee Support Group took part alongside local judges, law firms, companies and charities. The Reading Legal Walk took place on Monday 16th September, leaving Walkabout on Friar Street in Reading at 5:30pm. The relaxed, post-work walk followed Reading’s beautiful Thames Path route and was organised by the London Legal Support Trust. The walk aimed to raise funds for the advice-giving organisations in response to recent cuts to free legal aid. Last year, more than 160 people took part in the walk including local

judges, law firms, students, charities and members of the public. Reading Refugee Support Group have been supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Berkshire since 1994.

“RRSG provides hundreds of Refugee families with free support and legal advice.” Each year, Reading Refugee Support Group (RRSG) provides hundreds of Refugee families and individuals with free support, legal advice and signposting to services that they cannot access elsewhere. These services are increasingly in high demand, but providing them also comes at a high cost. The award-winning charity appealed to the people of Reading to join them on the sponsored walk to help fund

Photo by RRSG

IT Service desk (Library 1st floor): Term Time: Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat & Sun 11:00-17:00 Vacation: Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00 Main Library:

Autumn Term (Sat 28th- Fri 13th): Mon-Fri 24 Hours (to replace URS), Saturday until 21:00 and reopens on Sunday from 08:30.

these vital services. Last year RRSG raised over £7,000 from their fundraising efforts at the walk, and the local charity hoped to raise even more this year to crown their 25th Anniversary celebrations. These celebrations are on Monday 4th November at The Concert Hall, Reading. (Free tickets are available from www.rrsg.org.uk). Reading Refugee Support Group’s CEO, Nick Harborne, said: “The number of people coming to us for support and legal advice is continuing to grow every year and shows no sign of stopping.

“Sadly, our funding is being reduced and so we hope that events like The Reading Legal Walk can help us to continue helping people with nowhere else to turn.” RRSG was recently in the news after being awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - the highest honour for a voluntary organisation - and one of only three organisations in Berkshire to be awarded it. Head to www.rrsg.org.uk to find out more about the walk and the charity, including details on how to get involved as a volunteer in the future.

Photo by RRSG

Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor

Welcome Week (Mon 23rd -Fri 27 Sept): Mon- Thurs 08:30-19:00, Fri: 08:30-17:00

The Reading Legal Walk is a 10km sponsored walk.

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Help a refugee or survivor of domestic violence by donating your unused make-up.

TAKING PART IN THE UROP SCHEME

Taz Usher | Print Editor Sabita Burke | Sub editor An empowering charitable initiative is calling for women to donate their unopened or slightly used beauty items to refugees and survivors of abusive relationships.

Photo by Taz Usher

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” Give and Makeup- founded in 2010 by beauty and lifestyle expert Caroline Hirons- is a nonprofit scheme with a sole purpose to donate everyday essentials to women and children who need them the most. Working alongside Refuge and Women’s Aid in the London and Cardiff areas, the innovative idea is based on the following shocking statistics: -Each week two women in the United Kingdom are murdered by a partner or ex-partner. -One woman in four experiences domestic violence in their lifetime. -The average woman experiences domestic violence 35 times before she calls the police. Give and Makeup stands up to domestic violence by giving victims of the crime, basic cosmetics to help them get back on their feet. The initiative also donates the items to refugees, who have also escaped suffering. And unlike most charities, Give and Makeup is asking for women across the UK to donate their unwanted items by simply posting them to the below address. By digging out those smellies you got from your nan for Christmas last year, or packing up the hoard of magazine make-up freebies you’ve

still got in your bedroom, you could bring light to someone else’s life. Give and Makeup ask that you apply the following thinking to your donations- would it be good enough to give to a friend? If not, don’t send it. For hygiene reasons, they also ask that you don’t send in any used items applied with an applicator (mascara, lip gloss or lipstick). The charity do accept: New or slightly used makeup: foundation, powder, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner Unopened makeup: concealer, mascara, lipgloss and lipstick Everyday essentials: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, toothpaste, body lotion, feminine hygiene products, shaving products, DIY hair dye kits Skincare: cleanser, toner, moisturiser, exfoliator And if you’re interested in making an even bigger difference, the charity also accepts clothing items. (Details can be found at www.carolinehirons.com/page-give-andmakeup). Donations should be packaged and sent to: Give and MakeUp Escentual.com Neptune Point Unit 1 Vanguard Way Cardiff CF24 5PG

“I interviewed students about their experience of learning English outside of class” Ever since I applied to the University of Reading and attended open days, I’ve always wanted to be a part of the undergraduate research community. So, in the summer between my second and third years at university, I embarked on a UROP project. UROP, or the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme, provides middle-year students with the chance to conduct an academic research project across six weeks over the summer, alongside a supervisor.

exercises. However, students said that meeting native speakers to practise with was an enriching experience and one that boosted students’ confidence when navigating this new language. It

I studied the independent learning strategies international students on a pre-sessional English course. The project’s aim was to discover the activities students were doing to learn English in their free time, and their attitudes to these strategies. I interviewed students about their experience of learning English outside of class, and analysed the data qualitatively, revealing information about which resources students are finding useful. I discovered that many students favoured practical, handson methods of learning, such as interactive listening and reading

“The best thing about my project was hands down the opportunity to meet and talk to a large number of international students.” was hoped that could be used by English course to language learning students.

these findings teachers of the facilitate better for their future

The best thing about my project was hands down the opportunity to meet and talk to a large number of international students. They

were from a medley of different countries, some of which I had been to, and it was exciting to talk to people from those places. It was incredibly rewarding when the students said that the interview had

been a good opportunity for them to practise their English, and that they had gained a lot from it. I even exchanged contact details with some of them, and plan to meet them again in the future. Further to that, doing this research fuelled my interest in applying for a master’s degree, and gave me a wealth of skills needed for this.

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SEPTEMBER , 2019

MANAGE YOUR FINANCES WITH TOTALLY MONEY TotallyMoney looks at some of the ways that students can save money as they start their university life. Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor

This week, thousands of students will be starting at university or college. For many of them, this is their first time away from home. And among other things, this means managing your own money for the first time. TotallyMoney (https://www. totallymoney.com) looks at some of the ways that students can save money as they start their university life. Over the academic year, you can save hundreds of pounds thanks to offers and discounts. Staying on top of your finances and taking advantage of these offers now can be beneficial later down the line. Here are the top money-saving tips for students starting university in the coming weeks: Apply for a student bank account

There are bank accounts out there with perks for students, like an interest-free overdraft. That’s great for helping you out until the student loan drops, or covering you until you can work over the summer. Make sure you can pay off your overdraft within one year of graduation, though. Otherwise, you’ll have to start paying interest on what’s left.

“You can save hundreds of pounds thanks to offers and discounts.” Get the NUS TOTUM Card The NUS TOTUM card gives you huge discounts in stores and online. And, it’s only £12 for one year — bargain. You can also get these printed immediately within

Reading’s Student Union. Cut the cost of textbooks. Your university library should have all the books and resources for your course. But, if you need something extra, buy it second hand. Most campuses have a bookshop with a second-hand book section. Or, you could buy it off other students in the year above. Keep an eye on your tax payments If you work alongside your studies, the first £12,500 you earn is tax free (2019/20 tax year). Check your payslip to see if your employer deducts tax from your pay. And, if they do, reclaim it. Be food smart If you share a flat or house, buy food between all of you and cook at home. It’s cheaper than eating out or going solo on the groceries. You could also cook in bulk, freeze your meals, and buy from the

In households where everyone’s a full-time student, you don’t have to pay Council Tax. cheaper supermarkets like Lidl or Aldi. Some supermarkets also reduce food that’s about to go out of date. If you visit the supermarket at the right time, you can find some great deals. But, of course you’ll want the odd takeaway and meal out. And, when you do, you can often find vouchers for Domino’s or Pizza Hut on campus, and Deliveroo or Just Eat often have deals on. Some restaurants have student and group discounts. Take advantage of cheap student software offers You can get amazing discounts on Windows laptops as a student. On top of that, Office 365 Education is completely free, leaving you more

money to spend on the things you enjoy. Apply for Council Tax exemption In households where everyone’s a full-time student, you don’t have to pay Council Tax. If you get a bill, apply for an exemption. To count as a full-time student, your course must last at least one year and involve at least 21 hours of study per week. Getting discounts on train and coach travel A 16-25 railcard gives you a third off train fares, and only costs £30 for one year — or £70 for three years. And, if you want an even cheaper option, you can get a 15% student discount on coach travel with National Express.

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Smart courses help students develop essential study skills. Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor

With the arrival of a new course added to the ‘Smart’ series of online courses developed by the University to support its campus-based students, we felt it was about time to let you know (if you don’t already!) about the University’s online course.

UoR launches new online courses designed to help new students and their parents through uni. Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor

University can be a daunting and confusing process for students, and the same has to be said about parents. Many students attending university in recent years are often the first in their family to go, therefore creating many confused and unsure parents about the application process, never mind what comes next.

Photo by UoR These courses include two closed, invitation only, courses; the award winning Study Smart, and brand new Career Smart. The University of Reading has offered Study Smart to its incoming first year students, prior to their arrival on campus, for the past two academic years. It is an exploration of how studying at university will significantly differ from their experiences in school and college studies. It also provides advice and guidance from staff and current students about everything from time management and think critically in their studies, to referencing, how to use the library and where to access the many sources of support the University offers throughout their time at Reading. Launched this summer, Career Smart offers practical advice and guidance for final year Reading undergraduates on how to plan, prepare for and apply for the next step in their career after graduation. Closed, invitation-only courses – for University of Reading campus based students

Study Smart: Your Essential Guide for University : Just about to enter its third run, our new incoming undergraduates and foundation year students are encouraged to take Study Smart before they arrive on campus. Packed with guidance from our Study Advice team and tips from current students and academics, in just three short sessions of interactive articles, videos and practical tasks our students will gain the essential knowledge they need to get a head start at Reading. Career Smart: Take control of your Future: Developed in collaboration with the University’s and Henley Business Schools Careers Advice teams, this course has been developed to help our final year undergraduates to get organised and prepare early for taking next steps after graduation. The course includes top tips from career consultants, graduate employers and recent alumni on finding the ideal role, to highlighting skills, knowledge and experience to potential employers. MOOCs - free, open courses for all those considering applying to university and their families.

The University of Reading have announced a suite of new online courses aimed at students and their families to help prepare for university life and beyond. University Smart, a free, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will be launched this autumn. It will act as a guide to the parents and supporters of students through their UK university application process. This course adds to the ‘Smart’ series of online courses developed by the university. It is designed to explore key milestones, address many of the common concerns had by parents and supporters and will also provide further sources of information to help ensure their child can make informed decisions about both where and what to study in the next stage of their life. Another new MOOC Live Smart, is set to follow next spring. This new course is designed to help be suitable for anyone preparing to take up a place at university; it specifically academic (unlike Study Smart). This course will offer practical advice from current students and staff and will look at the key topics that student life involves when living at university: the need for a strong

support network, eating well and staying healthy, and ways to volunteer and expand yourself in the new community. Nicky McGirr, Head of the Online Courses team at the University of Reading said: “We are delighted our online offering for students will now include tailored courses developed for university applicants, as well as their parents, carers and guardians. “We see these as important additions to a growing suite which currently includes two closed courses to support our campus based students at important milestones in their life.” “Our aim is to provide engaging, informative courses that support access to Higher Education, and to help our campus based students make a successful transition into university, make the most of their time with us, and go on to make the equally important transition into the world of work.” The University of Reading has

recently seen its one millionth enrolment on its online courses programme after launching its first MOOC, Begin Programming, in October 2013; one of the first to run on the social learning FutureLearn platform. In the early days of online courses, the maximum number of enrolments allowed was capped at 10,000 participants- a target reached within 24 hours of launching. Since then, the University’s Online Courses team have collaborated with experts from our academic schools and departments and external organisations to design and produce a programme of more than 30 courses. All courses on FutureLearn are designed so that anyone in the world with an internet connection can access them. They offer learners an opportunity to explore their interests, develop professional skills, and/ or discover a brand-new topic.

News

SEPTEMBER , 2019

From Clearing to success.

Kia Mackenzie | Print News Editor

A student who thought she had let her family down when she missed her grades at A-Level has spoken of her relief at being accepted to study politics through clearing. Jenna Coles, 21, from Cambridge, said she was ‘devastated’ when she received her A Level results back in 2016, having narrowly missed out of the grades for her first-choice university. However, as Jenna explored her options, it became clear that all hope was not lost. She explained: “I signed up to be on a contact list for Universities of students that fit their course requirements. “The University of Reading called me the afternoon of my results day, after I had been on the phone to countless other universities, and the Admissions Department were extremely kind and patient. “ “After the initial offer of a place had been made, I took some time to research the university

before I considered accepting a place. It was very important to me to only accept if I thought it was my best option. “My research into both the course, Politics and International Relations, and into the University itself, brought me to the conclusion that Reading University was somewhere I could spread my wings academically and socially. “It was well-located, offered a languages course I was keen on, the department offered modules that were of interest to me, the social life both in the town and in the university

“It became clear that all hope was not lost.” looked excellent, and there were countless extracurricular opportunities in societies and clubs.”

“My lecturers were friendly and supportive.” After accepting her place to study at Reading, she threw herself into life here both inside and outside of her course. By her second year, Jenna knew she had made the right decision. She said: “The academic expectations for students during the second year provided me with more of a challenge which I thrived under. I got to know my department much better and discovered that my lecturers and other teaching staff were very friendly and supportive. “During my first year I had a STAR mentor, who was friendly and helpful showing me the ropes at the university and giving me academic advice on my first essays and

“Those 2am library sessions were suprisingly fun.” assignments. “My department are incredibly supportive and very happy to engage with every student. In particular, the Politics and International Relations ASK Advisor, who was full of important knowledge on referencing and good essay writing skills, was a great help to me when I found repeated problems in my essay writing which I was unsure of how to improve upon.” Jenna graduated this summer with a First-class honours degree, and was presented with a special award by the Politics Department for best all-round contribution to her course. Jenna said: “I’m really proud of the award, it means a great deal to know that I had a positive impact on my department and

to receive such an award in front of my family was an honour.” Jenna said: “Going to university, and being in the environment Reading offered, has caused me to really love academia and want to go on to further study those subjects which I developed a true passion for at Reading. “One of my favourite memories at Reading would be working into the early hours of the morning on assignments with my friends. “It was always stressful when we ran up against deadlines, but we always came together to provide support, snacks, and laughter. “Those 2am library sessions were surprisingly fun, although I did quickly have to learn better time management skills.”

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Get the most out of your Academic Tutor meetings withÂ our online toolkit: reading.ac.uk/academic-tutors

SEPTEMBER , 2019

QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS MAKE SURE YOU’RE REGISTERED TO VOTE!

With a high possibility of an upcoming General Election, be sure to protect your democratic right and check you have registered to vote. If you are a student whose home and term time addresses are in 2 different local authority areas, you can register to vote in both local elections (since they are separate elections). However, you can only vote once in General Elections and each local election. It is a criminal offence to vote twice. For more details, visit: www.electoralcommision.org.uk

GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE: 20th - 27th Sept

The Global Climate Strike will occur from 20th till 27th September. Along with a 30-minute walkout across all campuses on the 20th of September, there will be multiple climate action strikes occuring on local and national and levels worldwide, calling for immediate climate action.

NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER!

The annual Distinguished Volunteer Awards recognise the amazing contribution and difference volunteers make to the University of Reading. If you know a volunteer who goes above and beyond to make a difference to the university community, be sure to nominate them by the 4th of October 2019! For more details, visit: www.alumni.reading.ac.uk/ aseovolunteerawards2019

UNIVERSITY OF READING WELCOMES FIRST MUSLIM CHAPLAIN

The University of Reading is delighted to welcome its first Muslim Chaplain, Javed Kacchalia, who is also Head Imam at the Abu Bakr Islamic Centre in Reading. Javed has been appointed in a part-time role where he will be providing faith-based guidance and pastoral care to students and staff across the University, particular to those who identify as Muslim, from the 1st of September. Salaam and welcome Javed!

UNIVERSITY OF READING CLIMBS HIGHER IN TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2020 For the third consecutive year, the University of Reading has risen up the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, now to the 29th top university in the UK. We’d like to congratulate all staff and students on this amazing achievement. Here’s to another year of academic and educational excellence!

REGISTER YOUR BIKE & OTHER VALUABLES ON THE NATIONAL PROPERTY REGISTER Be sure to tag and register your bike and other valuables such as laptops, tablets, phones etc. on IMMOBILISE, the national property register. You can also tag and register your bike on BikeRegister, the national cycle database. Not only will it help simplify insurance claims, but will also assist local police with identifying and recovering your stolen property.

The RUSU Safe Taxi Scheme, a student safety scheme in partnership with Yellow Cars, is designed to provide urgent assistance to students should they ever find themselves in a situation where they have no means or money to safely return to their accomodation. To sign up, simply head to RUSU reception and ask to be registered.

TRY OUT A NEW SPORT WITH RUSU’S BUDDY SCHEME! RUSU’s Buddy Scheme partners students who wish to join a sports club with another fellow student who’s also taking part! Whether you’re nervous about going alone or simply unsure of yourself, now you can rest easy - simply sign up on the RUSU website by midnight on Thurs 26th Sept to be paired up with your sports buddy.

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Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Lifestyle

5 LESSONS WE LEARNT FROM LOVE IS 8 weeks of toned teens, full-on flirting and harrowing heartbreaks graced our screens this summer thanks to ITV2’s most watched reality show of all time. Taz Usher | Print Editor 8 weeks of toned teens, full-on flirting and harrowing heartbreaks graced our screens this summer thanks to what has become ITV2’s most watched reality show of all time. But apart from body insecurities, relationship anxiety and social media addiction, it is hard to spot exactly what the show’s 4.2 million viewers took away from the programme. So, 49 episodes and 49 hours later, here are 5 useful lessons we can ALL take away from this year’s nail-biter of British reality TV.

and the usual salmon jumping contest. But the biggest game of all was that played by Michael Griffiths. The 27-year old firefighter scored highly with viewers when tackling his biggest blaze yet- fiery 21-year-old Amber Gill. He was soon left clutching at straws though when recoupling ith Joanna over Amber following his stay at Casa Amor. Like Curtis’ rejection of Amy, this equally uncomfortable split left viewers hateful of Michael and increasingly supportive of Amber. And if it wasn’t

“Never let someone victimize you for something THEY have done wrong and NEVER doubt your ability to overcome a setback.” 1. FIRST LOVE HEARTBREAKS SUCK. 27-year-old flight attendant from West Sussex, Amy Hart, shocked her fellow islanders when revealing that she’d never had a boyfriend before. Fast forward to one week later and Amy found herself falling head over heels for ballroom dancer Curtis Pritchard, who she later became ‘half-girlfriend’ to. However, three weeks in and the too-good-tobe-true twinkle toes pirouetted his way out of love with Amy and was no longer interested. This painfulto-watch love timeline left fans of the show furious with Curtis for misleading Amy and completely disregarding all the feelings he had confessed to her in week two. However, it was Amy’s selfless exit from the villa and positive attitude to the situation that set a hugely positive example for young people across the country. Even though it sucks, it’s not the end of the world because you’re stronger than you think you are. 2. RELATIONSHIP GAMES ARE NOT ONES TO BE ENJOYED OVER A BEER. This year’s series featured numerous love triangles, kissing games

for Greg O’Shea- who led her to win the biggest game of all- Amber might have given into Michael when he once again confessed his feelings for her. The lesson learnt? Never let someone victimize you for something THEY have done wrong and NEVER doubt your ability to overcome a setback.

“A shining example of rising above the hate.” 3. SOME PEOPLE JUST KEEP TRYING TO KNOCK YOU DOWN, NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE. This year’s Love Island sweetheartsMolly-Mae Hague and Tommy Furystole the hearts of the nation with their impossible-to-break bond and cuddly companion Ellie Belly. But although their relationship involved no lying or cheating, the couple still received abuse on social mediabecoming evident during the show’s popular twitter game when MollyMae was called out for having a purely monetary objective on the show. These comments seemed to be understandably hurtful to Molly. However, this wave of negativity did not shatter the

influencer’s chances of winning. She went on to secure second place with Tommy as well as walking out as his girlfriend, becoming a shining example of rising above the hate. 4. SOMETIMES BOYS JUST DON’T MAKE SENSE. Anna Vakili’s knight in shining armor- a glimpse of hope for the pharmacist that lessened her risk of being dumped from the island. 10 days later Anna made a risky move at Casa Amor and chose to couple up with six-foot basketball player Ovie Soko. Nonetheless, Jordan’s charm and obsession for Anna was enough to tempt the 29-year-old back to him and eventually make her his girlfriend. However, just days after, encouraged by love guru Curtis’ nifty advice- Jordan approached newbie

India Reynolds to confess his newfound liking for her and viewers were soon witnessing the biggest feud of the series. The lesson? Unfortunately, I can’t explain to you how the male brain works, but I can say keep your eyes peeled for the bad guys and surround yourselves with good friends who know how to pick you up as well as tell them apart.

“Good comes to those who wait.” 5. GOOD COMES TO THOSE WHO WAIT. Despite the speed that this year’s series went at, there was much waiting around for some of the contestants. Anton, who waited 26 days for someone to take

a love interest in him; Yewande, who waited 2 weeks to tell Danny she fancied him; and Maura, who above all “fanny flutters” refrained from doing the deed on live TV. Likewise, regardless of the fiery persona that Maura Higgins gave off, the 28-year-old model found love by waiting for Curtis Pritchard to move on. If she’d lived up to her social media criticisms, she might have pushed lovedup Amy aside and got straight to work, but the Irish contender sat back and waited for her green light, thus truly encapsulating the saying that good comes to those who wait.

Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER , 2019

SLAND 2019 Photo by ITV Pictures (2019)

Write Your Way to Immortality Josh Coombes | BA Philosophy and English Literature

The importance of writing, and whether it can help one achieve immortality. Anglo-Saxons did not view the written word as we do today. Owing to a lower rate of literacy, as well as to the absence of the printing press, the tales woven by the bards of the late first millennium depended squarely upon an oral tradition. While this gave words that were written down (etched into a runestone in futhorc, perhaps, or scribed by a monk onto vellum) a semblance of importance and permanence to modern eyes, the truth is that Anglo-Saxons themselves considered the spoken word—verbal oaths, for instance—equally important. To the Anglo-Saxon man in the street, being able to write

independence that creative writing offers when contrasted to essays and other academic work gives me space to consider the subject I am writing about more deeply. This in turn helps me to discover for myself certain truths about writing. For example: most of the words we write are ephemeral. Blog posts and newspaper articles spring up one day and are forgotten the next. This is not inherently a bad thing, but it emphasises the importance of passion in writing. If a writer’s language does not burn brightly enough to be noticed—if it is instead

“And it is precisely because anyone can write something that you must make sure that you can write well.” mattered not a jot. This is not so in the 21st century. When was the last time you went a full day without consuming any form of written media? Chances are, you don’t remember. Nor do I. We’re not just talking about novels and newspaper articles—we must also consider films, TV shows, posts on social media, and so on. There is a glut of writing nowadays, since pretty much anyone has the means to do it.

Festival Fashion @ Reading 2019 Taz Usher | Print Editor

A kaleidoscope of neon, sequins, and cargo pants spanned the main arena of Reading Festival throughout the weekend. For girls, animal print was a particularly popular pattern. Likewise, neon colours were popular which came in the form of many clothing items: scrunchies, crew socks, crop tops... the list continues. For boys, bucket hats, floral shirts and bum bags were the trend. With the rising popularity of Instagram and other social media sights, it is no surprise that guests went the extra mile with their outfit choices.

Photo by Taz Usher

I have always had a passion for storytelling, so when I joined university, I saw The Spark and the Writers’ Room as the perfect opportunities not only to practise my craft, but also to write for pleasure. The

grey and uninspiring—it will join the miserable masses discarded on the scrap heap of yesterday’s words. The famous advice given by Bohemian-Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke suggests that would-be wordsmiths should contemplate whether they must write—whether they would rather face death than a world in which they were forbidden from putting pen to paper. I am sharing this advice here in the hope that my creative compatriots will see it as a rallying cry: we are writers, and our words will not be forgotten.

Say Goodbye to Your Pot Plants: Things to Prepare for in Freshers Rosie Neville | Year 3 BA English Literature 1) Say goodbye to your pot plants... Inevitably, if you are a first year student looking to be a bit edgy, you will have purchased some small pot plants to spice up your room, most likely a cactus, and most likely from Ikea. What you don’t yet know is that these plants will not survive. 2) Don’t panic when you forget where you are (or where you live)… Moving into halls or your first student house is great. Decorating your new room is probably something you’ve been looking forward to, and whatever you do to give the generic halls you own ‘personal touch’ will be decided by the end of Freshers week. Within your bedroom however, it is very likely you will often forget where you are, and possibly even where you live. Nights out are confusing and fresher’s week is all a bit of a blur, so when this happens, remember you are not the only one. 3) It will remain surprising that you are actually at university… You won’t actually feel like you’re old enough to have left home, and this will carry on right through the whole of your three years at university. There doesn’t seem to be a point at university where you feel like you’ve grown up, often you feel the opposite. 4) Your student loan will never feel like enough money… Never ever. 5) It really will go unbelievably fast… 6) You hear this constantly, and it really is true. It is crazy how quickly your time at university goes, and you’ll head into third year still confused about how you’ve finished first year. So make the most of it!

The sunset @ Reading Fest ‘19 Lois Plummer | Entertainment Editor Another day of blue skies was wrapped up in a golden-pink sunset on the Saturday of the Reading Festival weekend Festival-goers were bathed in amber light as sparkles of cheekbone glitter illuminated the smiles of those lost in joy and sounds. It’s in these overlooked

moments of natural splendour that we remember the beauty of community and the power of music, echoing the sentimentalities of the 60s –the Summer of Love and Woodstock and it’s a wonderful thing to experience. Photo by Lois Plummer

Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER , 2019

GET COSY?

First year: What to Expect and How to Overcome The Unexpected

Olivia Mill | Social Secretary

Madeline Eastwood | Head of Print Marketing & Promotional Materials

STRUGGLING TO Here’re some quick tips and tricks to make your new uni room or house more cozy and homely when moving in, so it is a place you can relax and feel calm ensuring you can take a moment for yourself in the crazy new world as a fresher. Photo by Olivia MIll

University. The best three years of your life. You meet some weird and wonderful people, and make the best of friends, but you can never quite prepare enough for the transition from A Level to university life. Freshers and first year is a bizarre experience and at risk of projecting a pessimistic tone, it doesn’t always live up to expectation. My first tip for freshers arriving at university is give yourself time to get to know those around you. You’ll most likely find that they become your closest friends, but do remind yourself that they are new people in your life, from different backgrounds and different places. Enjoy the time you have to explore new friendships! There’s not rush. Second, you don’t need to drink stupid amounts of alcohol to have a good time. In fact, you’ll probably have the worst time. Don’t ruin freshers by overdoing it and spending your nights with your head in a toilet. Freshers is the best, but freshers flu and hangovers from hell are not.

Moving into new Halls for freshers, or a new house if your second or first year can be a daunting and exciting experience. Living somewhere completely new with different people can feel crazy and amazing, but taking time within the first few days to make your room cozy will really help you settle into uni life and find some calm away from the storm. Second or third years moving into new houses will also have similar emotions. However, I’ve

some Febreze to get rid of the old smell and make your room smell fresh every time you come in. 2. Zoflora – this has been a life saver for me moving into my new house. The 2 in 1 effect of a disinfectant which smells wonderful has left my new house clean of germs and beautifully scented. I’ve cleaned toilets, sinks, showers and bins with it. Absolute life changer!

“Here’s to another year at uni!” got some ways to make your room feel like your new home in no time. 1. Air freshener – there is nothing like an odd smell to leave you feeling unsettled, so make sure to pick up a reed diffuser or

3. Posters – there is nothing like blank white walls to leave you feeling bored or lonely, so cover them up! I personally have a big interest in outer space so I stuck up solar system posters on my walls because not only do they look pretty, they also cover the

empty expanse. 4. A rug – cover up the boring or over eccentric carpet in your new space with a rug. I especially recommend an extra fluffy one (great for lying on the night before an assignment is due and you’re having a crisis!)

My third top tip for freshers is GO TO YOUR LECTURES!!!!! It’s rough when you’re hanging but also trying to concentrate, but I remember one of my lecturers told me in first year that if you attend all your lectures, it is enough to pass the year - so think how well you can do if you

attend all lectures and do the rest of the work! Make the most of the £9K you’re spending to be here. Fourthly, always make sure you stick with your friends on nights out, and please get taxis home. Never walk home alone in Reading, and even if you live on campus and are walking home from union, keep someone with you at all times. Nowhere is safe and your wellbeing is paramount and vital to enjoy your time as a student! Stick together and you’ll have a better time - plus journeys home together are always a laugh. Finally, make the most of first year and have the best time, but don’t get caught up in the ideal of it being the best year of your life. There is loads of advice and help available from both RUSU and the Counselling and Wellbeing service in the Carrington building, so don’t hesitate to speak up if things get challenging. University is 100% what you make of it, but life throws curve balls all the time so don’t stress if you get caught in a whirlwind. Welcome to Reading! Have the best time here, make the most of what can be the best three years of your life.

The Law of Attraction Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor

5. Colourful duvet – the thing that takes up the most space in any room is the bed, so make sure you chose a good duvet cover which makes you happy, and once again balances out the plainness of the walls. 6. Pictures – reminding you of friends and family from home as well as covering the blank space of the walls – win win! Hope these tips help you settle in quickly to your new home, and here’s to another year at uni!

The Law of Attraction is the belief that if you think positively, you will attract positive experiences into your life. Likewise, if you think negatively, you will attract negative experiences into your life. These experiences could be anything from meeting new people, to money issues or even visiting another country to name a few. It is the belief that each thought is composed

of energy that we emit out into the universe and the universe responds; giving us what we aspire to have. To fully delve into this principal, I recommend a book called The Secret- a best-selling 2006 self-help book by Rhonda Byrne, or the documentary on Netflix if you are interested in the New Thought philosophy and would like to find out more.

Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Headline: End the Mental Health Stigma Anonymous

University Experience From an International Student Mananchaya Khampachuea | Year 3 | Management and Busines Knowing that my French friend also watched the Korean film called ‘Parasite’, a movie about social status in Korea, has suddenly brought to my attention the cultural difference between the East and West. It seems obvious that my friend’s understanding of the film would be different from mine, given that I was born and raised in a similar background to Korean culture. However, the interesting point here is how different the perception is.

Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way you expect it too. This is defiantly something I have learnt over the last couple of years.

“I feel like mental health is still not spoken about enough.” Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with depression just under 2 years ago and I have also been diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa at the beginning of this year. Things have been extremely difficult for me, but I think it is so important that we aren’t ashamed of our mental illnesses. I feel like mental health

is still not spoken about enough and too many people still suffer in silence. I believe growing up in a generation where social media has such a huge impact on people’s lives is hard but social media platforms create such a negative, fake way of living and people never see the reality of people’s lives behind a phone or computer screen. I feel it is so important even if you notice the slightest change in yourself to speak up and talk to someone about it, whether that be a parent, carer, friend, co-worker or GP. Although things are still hard for me, I keep trying to remind myself that life is for living not existing.

Talking about the difference, some new international students may be a bit scared of socializing in another culture. From what I have seen in my three years in the UK, international students who socialise with home students experience the culture in a different way compared to those who surround themselves with international students. I found little difficulty in coping with living abroad during my first year in the UK. The main reason is because I studied a foundation programme with other international students, so I didn’t feel out of place. I felt like everyone is in the same boat, we are all far from home, speaking a language that we don’t feel fully confident in. During my second year in the UK (first year of undergraduate), I was in an environment with both home students and international students. Personally, I sometimes found it hard to start a conversation with local students, especially if

“My advice for new international students is: do not stress about having difficulties in making conversation.” they’re in a group. My advice for new international students is: do not stress about having difficulties in making conversation. People have different preferences (e.g. music, film, hobbies) so there will be a right group for you to talk with. Therefore, if you find yourselves in a situation where you do not know what to talk about, maybe start with basic questions on preference, such as asking what kind of music they listen to, or who their favourite director is.

September Mindfulness Journalling Sarah Maqbool | Deputy Editor

A mindful activity for your mindfulness journal. Resolve to explore your relationship with time, focusing on the present whilst treating yourself with kindness.

being ‘in the zone’ – being so absorbed in what you’re doing that you don’t notice the passage of time?

How strong are your powers of concentration? How observant do you think you are as you move around your day to day life?

How often do you notice changes in the places you regularly visit – changes such as a new sign or a bin overflowing?

Think about the answers to these questions and write them down in your mindfulness journal.

The Future…

Exploring your answers

The Past…

How often do you look forward to future pleasures, imagining what they’ll be like?

Now examine your answers and see if there are any tendencies or habits you’d like to modify – are they affecting your level of contentment? What emotions do you feel and why? Resolve to explore your relationship with time, focusing on the present whilst treating yourself with kindness.

Are there specific events in the past that still trouble you today? How often do you go over past events in your mind? The Present.

What specific events in the immediate future make you anxious when you think about them? Visiting the Now How often have you experienced

Photo by Rachel Lynette French (Unsplash)

Lifestyle

STRESSED? HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR SELF-CARE IN THE EVENING Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor

1. Run yourself a bath. I like style Editor to use lavender scented bath bombs because they help calm me down and lavender also is great for a good night’s sleep. 2. Do a face mask. I find peel-off face masks very satisfying and therapeutic! 3. Eat a hearty meal. Nothing beats a home-cooked cottage pie with lots of gravy.

CHEAP FLIGHTS Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor

SEPTEMBER , 2019

TOP 5 BEAUTY HACKS FOR A HASSLE-FREE MORNING Sabita Burke | Sub Editor

Ah, mornings. That time of the day when the pressure is on, with a million things to get done in every aspect of your life. And as if you needed anything else to worry about, if you’re anywhere near the female side of the spectrum, you most likely feel an added pressure to perform perfectly in every task whilst also looking beautiful. With so little time, this can seem like an impossible feat. However, with a sprinkling of tips and tricks up your sleeve, it can become possible to look and feel beautiful. 1. GO BEYOND COMFORT ZONE.

I have found skyscanner.net to be a godsend when searching for a cheap flight. The website compares all of the airlines that are available from your chosen airport and you can view prices across a whole month!

HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR TRAINERS Madeline Madeline Eastwood Eastwood | | Head Head of Print Marketing & Promotional

Bleach is not great for your health, but is great for turning your mangled, whiteturned-brown shoes back to their gleaming original state. Grab a new sponge, wet under a hot tap, wring and then pour on some bleach. Scrub those shoes and they will (hopefully) turn back to a near-pearly white.

YOUR

Don’t be afraid to step it up and go bold. Use contrasting colours, especially between your hair accessories and makeup, can create a look that instantly pops. If you have dark hair, pair a bright yellow or blue headband or clips with pink lipstick or orange eyeshadow, and the complementary shades will Photo by Jazmin Quaynor, Unsplash

bring out the best in each other. 2. KISS YOUR GOODBYE.

EYELINER

Forget liquid eyeliner, eyebrow pens and any other watery trends liquid eyeshadow is now your new best friend. A less known phenomenon which doesn’t get the rep it deserves, is perfect for those perfectionists who want to make sure their makeup fits the shapes and the curve of their faces down to a T. With liquid eyeshadow, the perfect cat eye can be created as large and bold as you like, and the long periods spent labouring over getting your eyeliner just right are no longer needed when your entire lid is already clearly defined with a popping pink flick. 3. MASCARA TO THE RESCUE! If you’re still looking for a more dark and defined look but don’t have any eyeliner

at hand, your mascara bottle may be able to do more for you than you think. Apply the wand horizontally in small increments along the edge of your eyelid, stroking the skin gently several times in short movements. This will produce a smoky, sultry look. Alternatively, take an old eyebrow pencil, coat the tip in mascara, and run it along your eyelid just as you would when applying eyeliner. 4. FLAWLESS SKIN? Considering the number of times you see plant-based influencers answering questions about their favourite thing about cutting out dairy and they reply saying that eating fewer cakes and puddings cleared up their skin a dream, there’s got to be something in the claim that both sugar and fat are our skin’s worst enemies. According to dermatologist Avnee Shah M.D., the hormones and sugars found in milk products alone are known for flaring acne.

As hard as it can be to cut tempting treats containing these things from our diets entirely, taking the plunge and going at least halfway can build the foundations to a creamier complexion. I have never-failingly noticed a decrease in spots whenever reducing my sugar and dairy intake. 5. STRAIGHT HAIR? DON’T CARE... Because you’ve got a hidden curler ready to transform your look! We’ve all been there: you’re getting ready for a busy day and pining after curls but don’t have your curler at hand, and there’s nowhere near enough time to leave your hair in plaits for hours. Plait your hair into several thin, flat braids, and run them through a hair straightener at a tight setting. Undo the braids and watch perfectly crimped waves appear.

Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Know Your Student Discounts Taz Usher | Print Editor

Why pay full price when you can pay less? Exclusive to readers of The Spark, you can now get 20% off women’s clothing shop SHEIN using code 20TAZ.

WEIGHT LOSS: MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS Mariyan Voykov | Year 3 Bsc Biomedical Sciece

There is one thing universally loved by all students alike - the discounts. So in light of the new academic year, here’s my guide to student discounts and where to find them. ESSENTIALS Before you do anything, you NEED to sign up to the following student discount providers to ensure you have your pick of discounts from brands and stores across the board: NUS TOTUM Card – Sign up on their website (you can get your TOTUM card delivered to RUSU for free) and download the TOTUM app to always get the latest discounts. Unidays & StudentBeans – Free to use student discount apps that partner with numerous stores and brands to give you the freshest student discounts. Dell, Currys and PC World offer regular student discounts on their websites for items such as laptops, TVs and printers, whilst mobile phone providers such as EE and Vodaphone offer fantastic deals for students. If you’re starting a new phone contract, I highly recommend joining a network called Voxi - it’s only £10 a month including unlimited social media usage. TRAVEL To reduce the cost of travel, ensure you make use of the Reading Buses ‘Boost’ scheme (reduced bus travel for students) and get yourself a 16-25 railcard (available to those who are over 26 and in full time education too, although there is a 26-30 railcard available as well) for discounted rail travel. It’s only £30 for a year and saves you 30% off the full price of your rail ticket each time. Entertainment

If it’s Wednesday or Saturday Union you’re after, RUSU offer a reduced entry price for TOTUM (formerly NUS extra) card holders. Co-op users also get 10% student discount with TOTUM and food or drink sold through campus caterers are sold at a discounted rate if you pay using credit transferred to your campus card (15% off hot drinks, 5% off most other food items). Equally, you’ll find Happy Hour and student prices in bars throughout Reading town centre. Student offers for non-drinking related activities are also available. These include discounts for Bowling (at Wokingham Superbowl) and discounts on film tickets at the Vue and Reading Film Theatre (based on campus). EATING OUT Thanks to The Oracle’s fantastic food court and the many local takeaways and restaurants, there are plenty of opportunities for a tasty treat every so often. To help reduce these costs, the Unidays, TOTUM and StudentBeans apps are ideal. Don’t forget the discount for hot drinks and food when paying via campus card at university caterers too. CLOTHES Whether it’s a fancy-dress social, Wednesday Union, or everyday wardrobe you need something for, there are plenty of shops with discounts to choose from. Most discounts can also be found online on either the TOTUM, Unidays or StudentBeans app. And don’t forget to check local charity shops for quality, super affordable second hand goods as shopping second hand reduces your carbon footprint too!

Image made in the Canvas application

According to science... What you should be doing: 1. Research shows that dietary fibre helps manage weight by promoting satiation, decreasing absorption of macronutrients and altering secretion of gut hormones [Slavin 2005]. But counting calories is still imperative in maintaining caloric deficit for weight loss.

for consumption and will make dieting much easier. 5. Stay hydrated - drinking water boosts metabolism by 24-30% over a period of 1-1.5 hours, helping you burn off a few more calories [Boschmann 2003].

What you shouldn’t be doing: 2. DON’T reduce your sleep- sleeping 5.5 hours instead of 7.5 hours a night makes you lose up to 60% less fat [Nedeltcheva 2010]. 3. High volume vegetables are always the way to go when looking to lose weight as they are filling, boost fiber intake and do not make you feel sluggish all day. 4. Consuming tea, coffee and other diet drinks helps you keep hunger away. Artificial sweeteners are safe

1. Scale weight changes daily depending on what meals you had the previous day. For example, if you had a very high carbohydrate meal, the next day you might have gained 1 pound of body weight, but that isn’t necessarily fat gain. Hormones, salt intake, your stool, sleep, stress levels etc. also influence scale weight. Even excessive exercise can influence your daily scale weight as a result of high stress levels.

2. Eat too many calories on the so called ‘’cheat day’’. Your fat loss will come to a halt for a day or two until you balance it out the next couple of days. Don’t eat too few calories will cause your metabolism to go into the so called ‘’survival mode’’, hence deposit every calorie as a fat/ or might lead to metabolic adaptation and even being on 1200 calories you might find it hard to lose weight. 3. Research has shown that high protein diets led to the retention of lean mass and loss of fat mass in older individuals [Kim 2016]. 4. Avocado and almonds are very good sources of healthy fats. However, adding them to your breakfast will increase overall meal calories almost two-fold. In order to lose calories, you need to eat less calories than you expend. Simple.

Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Need Skincare Essentials for Your Summer Holiday? Try Bioderma.

Photo by Holly Fournier Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor

Bioderma is a high-quality skincare brand I have recently discovered. Their products have worked the best for me over the British summer since it is festival season and the perfect time for summer holidays around Europe! Recently I’ve been able utilise their ‘Sensibio Wipes’, ‘Photoderm Refreshing AfterSun Milk’ and their ‘Hydrabio Eau de Soin’ a lot. Bioderma’s makeup erasing ‘Sensibio Wipes’ have been a lifesaver recently. After a night out when I simply cannot be bothered to search through my draws for a cotton pad I can grab these wipes and my makeup will be erased in seconds! Unlike other makeup wipes I have tried, I have finally found some that remove my waterproof mascara which is a

godsend. I cannot wait to take these to a festival that I am going to where it will be easy to wipe away all of that glitter at the end of the day! What’s more, is that these makeup wipes are the perfect alternative to liquid micellar water because they are excluded from the 100ml or less liquids in the tiny bag you can bring on the airplane (this doesn’t count if you’ve checked in hold luggage, of course)! Now you have more room for more of your favourite makeup/ skincare products! I actually don’t recall using after sun before. Recently I have

job! I have noticed that (even though I barely tan) my skin feels incredibly smooth and my subtle tan has lasted longer. It is super important to use after sun or even cocoa butter after being in the sun for the whole day since the sun can dry your skin out a lot! The after sun comes in either 200ml or 500ml. Personally I would go for the 500ml since on Feel Unique it is currently only £2.85 more for an extra 300ml. You can pop some into a 100ml travel bottle for your holiday if you do not have hold luggage...perfect!

“It fits snug in your beach bag.” realised that it can be great for prolonging a tan whether or not you are sunburnt. Bioderma’s ‘Photoderm Refreshing AfterSun Milk’ has certainly done the

Bioderma’s handy little essential also known as the ‘Hydrabio Eaude Soin SPF30’ has been a lovely addition to my current

“After sun can be great for prolonging a tan.” sun cream collection. It’s a fab top up to an SPF50 facial cream as you just spray the mist on your face throughout the day. It keeps you ultimately protected considering you could spray this on your face any time without the worry of washing your hands after you’ve applied sun cream. A travel skin care must if you’re going on a holiday in the sun. It fits snug in your beach bag because it’s tiny yet a little goes a long way so it should last you your entire trip. If you’re interested in purchasing any of these products, then head over to www.feelunique.com.

Bioderma’s ‘Sensibo Wipes x 25’ - £4.80: www.feelunique.com/p/ BIODERMA-Sensibio-Wipes-x-25 Bioderma’s ‘Photoderm Refreshing After-Sun Milk 500ml’ - £10.50: www.feelunique. com/p/BIODERMA-RefershingAfter-Sun-Milk-500ml-FR Bioderma’s ‘Hydrabio Eau de Soin SPF30’ - £6.65: www. feelunique.com/p/BIODERMAHydrabio-Eau-de-SoinSPF30-50ml?q=hydrobio&q_ typ=a&q_cat=product&q_ dep=Skincare%2CMoisturisers

Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Work, Leisure and Friends at Uni. How Do You Manage? Raagulan Umashanker | Online Entertianment Editor

A balance of work, leisure and friends at uni. Is it possible?

You’ve been bombarded with assignments, you need to go to a society meeting or training session and you have a friend’s birthday party coming up soon. You barely have any free time, and when you do, you probably use it to call your family or catch up on some work. This is a situation that you will inevitably experience during your time at uni. With so much happening, is it possible to truly find a balance between work, leisure and friends? Well, yes. As difficult as it may seem, achieving a balance of these three things is possible with good organisation and prioritisation. As you spend time at university, you will, without a doubt, find yourself prioritising your work above all other things. It may seem that your essay, report or presentation is draining all the energy out of you because you have been laboriously and endlessly working on it and you desperately want to be doing something more fun but trust yourself in focusing on it first. By immediately focusing on your work, you are likely to finish it early and then be in a position where you can attend your compulsory society meeting or training session and go to your friend’s birthday party.

However, sometimes, it’s not so easy as you can get so much work which makes you unable to do other things. In this case, just simply tell your fellow society members or coach that you cannot attend the society meeting or training session because the work you received is an important part of your degree grade. They should understand because, after all, they are or were in the same position. As for missing your friend’s birthday party, it is the same procedure. Nevertheless, you should always tell your friend in advance about being unable to attend their birthday party, give a sincere apology and then arrange another day to meet them (with a great present) to make up for your absence. Your friend will always be there during your best, worst and weirdest times of uni, so make sure that you do everything you can to stay in contact with them. It is important that you never put too much attention on either work, leisure or friends. Remember that the key to having a fulfilling university experience is to have a balance between these three aspects.

CORFU, GREECE: THE PERFECT STUDENT BUDGET-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY LOCATION Holly Fournier | Lifestyle Editor

Image credit: Holly Fournier

It’s hard finding a holiday to suit a tight budget when you’re a student at university paying a ridiculous sum of money every month on rent, bills, food, a social life, and textbooks... the list goes on. With myself experiencing this and needing to be careful with my money, I still wanted to go on holiday with my friends once I finished my second year at university to treat myself. It took a lot of researching online, but two of my friends and I found the perfect holiday to Corfu, Greece which in total cost £450 each! This included the flights, coaches/buses, spending money, all-inclusive accommodation (room, pool, buffet 3 times a day and drink) and the excursions! I think the most important thing to remember when booking a holiday as a university student is that the term finishes a whole month before school children. This means that we were able to book our holiday at the beginning of June (still great weather!) without the expense of the 6-week holiday period in

the British summer where travel agents bump up holiday prices! So, certainly take advantage of the longer summer break you get at university when booking a holiday as you can just go a few weeks sooner and save hundreds of pounds. We stayed in a beautiful four-star hotel on the island’s coast which had a lovely big pool and many sunbeds free (this is another perk of going before the school holidays: the hotel won’t be as busy). In addition, the staff there were very friendly- I love the Greeks! Very importantly let’s discuss the all-inclusive package. This is an excellent option to choose when booking a holiday as you get unlimited food and drink every day. Although if you’re vegetarian and especially vegan, you might want to enquire with the hotel first that they have enough options for you as your safest bet might be to eat out otherwise! A day trip idea is to go on a boat trip excursion. The water is so beautifully crystal clear

and gorgeous to swim in when you get the chance as you stop at different islands. We went to many islands around Greece in one day and had a Greek buffet on board with lunch included. The trip only cost 30 euros! Now let’s discuss the clubbing in Corfu... one thing we could have changed was choosing a hotel that was much closer to Kavos because that’s where the nightlife is booming. However, we decided to get a bus to Corfu Town instead and a hop in a taxi back which was very cheap and was still a very good night out since we were staying so far away from Kavos. If you’re looking at booking a holiday next summer and want it to be an amazing week that fits perfectly around your student budget, look no further than finding one on www.onthebeach.co.uk! I can’t recommend this online travel agent enough. I’ve used them twice now and everything has gone so smoothly.

Entertainment

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Entertainment

READING FESTIVAL 2019: TH SOUND & SEA OF BUCKET H “It is MENTAL. Thank you so much for making this our reality ladies and gentleman.”- Matthew Healy, The 1975 Taz Usher and Lois Plummer | Print Editor and Print Entertainment Editor

The hottest Reading Festival on record was enjoyed by many with friends and an ice cream in hand. The sweat, dust and sunburn simply couldn’t diminish the spirits of music-lovers from around the world. As another weekend of dancing and legendary headliners commenced, we at The Spark tore into the arena and got a taste of the full rock and roll experience. THE SUN Blessed by the August sun, Reading Festival kicked off in a blaze. A sea of bucket hats, bandanas, and multicolored shades could be seen for miles, while red raw shoulders reflected the independence-kick of the event for first-time festival goers. Summer treats including Mr Whippys, burgers and cold pints were also enjoyed by many across the event. The warm air fused with the energy of the crowd struck a burst of life into the arena. THE 1975 – FRIDAY HEADLINER No doubt one of the most explosive performances of the weekend, The 1975 delivered a killer closing set on the Friday. Flashes of neon pink and bold typography lit up the screens and the night sky as they played their most beloved hits. Love Me – the delectable funk rock single from their second album – was a highlight of the night. “Let’s all just be rockstars in our own mind,” frontman Matty Healy voiced to the crowd. The event clearly meant a lot to him, as he expressed: “I’ve never felt more affiliated with a crowd in all my life.”

BILLIE EILISH 17-year-old American fireball Billie Eilish drew one of Reading Festival’s biggest ever crowds during a performance of her unconventionally popular sound on the Saturday. The singer songwriter- who was raised in Los Angeles- seized the crowd within her first few moments on the stage. Notably, it was Eilish’s immaculately coordinated outfit- bright green hair, oversized tshirt, bandana, sunglasses and saw-themed surgical mask- which gave festivalgoers a taste of the eccentric set to follow. The singer treated fans to favourites included Bag guy, Bury a friend and My Strange Addiction. She also gave an engaging performance of You Should See Me in A Crown which she requested multiple mosh pits for.

Billie Eilish drew one of RANDL’s biggest ever crowds to her outlandish set.

TWENTY ONE PILOTS Twenty One Pilots have a musical vision that combines everything great from alternative and indie scenes. At Reading, they showed just how multifaceted their discography is. With rock-heavy songs that refused the crowd a breather, they prolonged the party well into the night. There were moments of tenderness as well as hilarity – from recruiting the security team on stage for an entertaining dance routine – to a sentimental homage to British music with a touching rendition of Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger. POST MALONE Fans stood in anticipation for the next set to begin. As the lights dimmed dramatically on the main stage to signal Post Malone’s entrance, the crowd’s roar proved it was certainly worth the wait. His introspective rap displayed a

Photo by Charles Reagan

Entertainment

SEPTEMBER , 2019

HE SUN, HATS

Interview: Kawala

CHARLI XCX

Editor | Taz Usher

Print Entertainment Editor | Lois Plummer

Following a fantastic performance on the Main Stage, Kawala spoke to The Spark Newspaper about their first time performing at Reading Festival and gave some advice to our student readers…

The festival line-up this year has its fair amount of rock and indie, but who were the frontrunners in the pop scene at Reading? Look no further than Charli XCX. Fans danced their way to the open green as she entered the main stage, jumping and cheering on the crowd to get moving. Her well-loved hits – I Love It and Boys – provoked a passionate response from the crowd. The energy of the performance was infectious and enthusiastic, while she even treated fans to a rearranged Spice Girls’ classic.

Photo by Taz Usher “We felt so small on that stage. It is huge.” Kawala are a duo from North London- Jim Higson (vocals) and Daniel McCarthy (acoustic guitar, vocals). Facing their biggest audience yet, the musicians tackled a wave of nerves before their set but were immediately calmed by the enthusiasm of the crowd. Reflecting on their performance, McCarthy said: “It was lots of fun. Being the opening act of the day was an immense feeling and we feel extremely lucky to have been given this opportunity.”

Photo by Lindsay Melbourne

blend of trap and rock, and as a heavy metal fan himself, this raw energy seemed to impact his live performance. The crowd chanted in unison to fan favourites like Better Now and Goodbyes, an enlightened hymn that was energised by Malone’s cheery smile and high spirits. THE BIG FIREWORK FINALE: FOO FIGHTERS As 8pm neared on Sunday evening, the crowd migrated to the Main Stage like moths to a flame. A stage illuminated in red was accompanied by a familiar eerie melody – the famous intro to The Pretender – fans melting into an anthem of cinematic proportions. Every song on their setlist was an invitation for the crowd to scream their guts out. Unafraid to play lesser known songs from their first album like For All The Cows – the atomic display of reputable rock catered to fans both old and new –

anatomising a distinguishable and seemingly faultless body of work. An unforgettable set that featured a tribute to The Prodigy’s Keith Flint – the Gallagher brothers pictured on Taylor Hawkins’ drum kit – not to mention frontman Dave Grohl’s incredible sense of humour. Teasing fans with guitar chords reminiscent of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit – in which Grohl played drums for the band – no one could possibly anticipate what was to happen next. Somehow, the musician pulled off a live ‘rick-roll’ to 60,000 people. Rick Astley – infamous for his 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up – sang along to a spruced-up heavy rock rendition of the song. Fans were both awestruck and bewildered to say the least. And finally – the band provided a firework farewell with the emotional alt-rock anthem Everlong – closing one of the most explosive sets ever performed at Reading Festival.

of bullying, the video explores the healing power of music and the power that taking pride in who you are can have. McCarthy said: “To be honest, we didn’t set out to be an act that would deliberately change the world or motivate social change. “We do however believe that if you have a platform, you have some responsibility to use your voice for the good.” Higson added: “We’ve recently had a rush of younger fans which first became apparent to us during our gig with dodie. “This new crowd is so enthusiastic about towards our music and

“You might feel nervous before a party, but once you’re there you have a bl**dy good time.” The tightly knit duo- who met five years ago prior to university- added that Reading Festival differed from their past gigs including those alongside George Ezra and The Vaccines. Higson said: “Reading feels almost prestigious. We’ve appeared at numerous events such as Wilderness Festival, but the scale of today’s performance was something else.” The singer added: “In the past we’ve been the ones on the other side of the stage, enjoying the music. So this was really special. We really couldn’t have asked for more. “We felt so small on that stage. It is huge.” The artists- who have been honing their act for just 2 years- also spoke about their latest single Play it Right and the sentimental value of its music video. Spotlighting the distastefulness

we want to thank them for their support by giving them something they can relate to.” Tailoring their response to readers of The Spark, the act also mentioned the importance of staying unique. McCarthy said: “If we could give one line of advice to students and young people, it’s don’t try to be something you’re not. “Enjoy who you are and pursue what is right for you.” Higson added: “We’ve made it where we are today by learning to listen to ourselves.” And speaking specifically to students with musical interests, the musician added: “Don’t ever be nervous. Leave all your worries behind and the outcome will be a tonne better. “Here’s a good analogy- you might feel nervous before a party, but once you’re there you have a bl**dy good time.”

Photo by Charles Reagan

FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES Print Entertainment Editor | Lois Plummer

Frank Carter is undeniably one of the most beloved frontmen in rock music, up there with Billie Joe Armstrong and Mark Hoppus of Blink-182. His band’s sets are renowned for their thrill-seeking energy and lyrical honesty that strikes like a thunderbolt to the heart. What fans at Reading certainly didn’t expect to see was a four-year-old girl on stage with noisecancelling headphones introducing the next song. Revealed as Carter’s daughter, this surprising but touching show of rockstar fatherhood warmed the hearts of the crowd. As if we couldn’t love him enough already, Carter also delivered a tribute to women in the audience and across the world. Acknowledging the threateningly real realities of women – he commented on misogyny and sexual assault – and gave an inspiring speech to the crowd. “This is your chance to crowd-surf without fear of being touched inappropriately. We’re going to have a women-only mosh pit right here. We want you to know that this is a safe space for women. And this is a fight against misogyny which is the reality for a lot of females.”

Entertainment

INTERVIEW: QUEEN ZEE Taz Usher and Lois Plummer | Print Editor and Print Entertainment Editor

Liverpool’s punk group Queen Zee treated fans to a quirky and energetic set on The Pit/Lock Up stage at Reading Festival yesterday afternoon. The Spark’s Taz and Lois were intrigued to discover the creative process behind the band’s work and aspirations for the future. HOW DID YOUR PERFORMANCE GO? “It was good fun. We were buzzing and the crowd were really up for it.” “There were a lot of younger folk and they even started a pit at the front.” HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ATMOSPHERE? DID YOU HAVE A GOOD CONNECTION WITH THE CROWD? “It was very British. Classic brits in the sun, enjoying a pint and the music.” Is this your biggest performance yet? “No. Brixton Academy was probably our biggest. We also recently played at Liverpool Pride which we had a huge crowd for.” ARE THERE ANY ACTS PERFORMING HERE AT READING THAT THE BAND LOOK UP TO? “Definitely Post Malone, his song White Iverson is great.” “We remember listening to him when we were younger so seeing how far he’s come is just amazing.” “Billie Eilish is so cooll, we’re definitely looking forward to her set, and Anderson .Paak has some crazy drumming skills.” How would you describe the creative process of your music? “A family argument than ends with a song.” WHAT’S THE ORIGIN OF THE BAND NAME? “It’s Zena’s (lead vocalist) name.” Zena jokes: “I have a very high opinion of myself” “We also love Beyoncé, so I guess you can say it’s a knock off of Queen B.” WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE ASPIRATIONS? “To play in Space. No one’s done it before that would be so cool.” “To start up a café. Frank’s a great cook.” “All we’d play is Beyonce. The key changes in Love on Top are amazing.” DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OUR STUDENT READERS? “Don’t drop out.” “Get your degree and have a good time.”

SEPTEMBER , 2019

PUNK BAND NIGHT RIOTS PERFORM THEIR FIRST UK GIG AT READING Lois Plummer | Print Entertainment Editor Night Riots are a Californian-based alternative rock band, full of energy and full of pep. Prior to their set, we got the chance to sit down with the band’s vocalist Travis Hawley and their guitarist Nick Fotinakes to discuss their experience here at Reading so far. “This feels like a dream for us,” Travis began, as Nick added that it was their first time playing at a UK festival. With Reading Festival dating back to the 60s, its legacy has undeniably impacted the band. They are renowned for their energetic sound and upbeat sets, we asked them what fans here at Reading could expect from their performance at the Festival Republic Stage. “It’s only a short thirty minute set,” Nick said, “but you can expect lots of fun, lots of energy, and all of our hits.” With such an extensive and varied line-up this year, we wondered whether there were any particular acts they admired. “The people we look up to are a lot

of our friends,” he began, “we love The Hunna and Dreamers.” “We really like The Maine also,” Travis added. Both acknowledged Post Malone’s growing success over the past few years. “We may even get matching face tattoos,” Travis joked. He then went on to describe how the band’s sound had developed over the course of their career, especially given the release of their latest album, New State of Mind. “It’s very modern, we wanted to diverge from what people expected

“This feels like a dream for us” of us,” Travis said. “Our older stuff used to be more moody and gloomy, so we’re expanding our sound.” With such an amalgamation of styles and tastes, with clear 80s alternative and 00s indie rock influences, we were keen to find out how the band would depict their inspirations.

“I’d say our influences are quite vast,” Nick said, “we used to listen to a lot of early Green Day.” Travis also commented that he’d been listening to a lot of Polo & Pan, an electro-pop duo from France. “We also listened to a lot of pop punk growing up in California.” California is home to some of the most prestigious bands in early surf and psychedelic rock such as The Beach Boys and The Byrds. Evidently, we were interested to find out whether their Californian background had influenced their music and creative process. “We actually have many early British influences, Travis has been compared to singers from U2 and The Killers,” Nick said, “but in terms of our creative process our influences have changed over time.” “We started off with punk and then looked to the 80s for a lot of inspiration.”

intrigued to find out whether they were planning on covering their songs in future shows.

“We started off with punk and then looked to the 80s for inspiration” “We’ve actually covered one of Robert Smith’s covers,” Travis said, referring to Crystal Castles’ version of Not in Love. “Some of our favourite songs to play live are covers.” Among those mentioned were Tears for Fears and Bob Marley, even live renditions of Drake. “My favourite song of ours to play live is probably All for You.” Travis said. By contrast, Nick said his preferred song was On the Line.

In several reviews, Travis has been compared to the vocalist of The Cure, Robert Smith. We were

Photo by Taz Usher

Entertainment

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Indie rock band Sea Girls are inspired by The 1975 Sea Girls – one of London’s own indie rock bands – gave an impressive performance today at Reading Festival. With the BBC Radio 1 Stage coloured in neon reds and golden lights, their set was the perfect homage to Reading’s generic roots: rock and roll.

Photo by Taz Usher

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE PERFORMANC WENT? “The crowd made it amazing,” Henry said, “we had a couple of sound difficulties at the beginning, but we definitely powered through it.” “At the start, I couldn’t hear properly because of the sound problems – I was playing from muscle memory, but it all worked out in the end.”

“Getting that kind of audience reaction is very powerful when you’re performing.” HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ATMOSPHERE? DO YOU FEEL YOU CONNECTED WELL WITH THE CROWD? “When I walked on-stage, I took my earpiece out so I could hear the crowd,” Henry recounted, “it was crazy to hear them chanting our name.” “It was great getting closer to the crowd” “They were very generous. Getting that kind of audience reaction is very powerful when you’re performing.” I UNDERSTAND YOU PERFORMED ON THE REPUBLIC STAGE LAST YEAR AT READING, HOW DO YOUR EXPERIENCES COMPARE? Rory stated, “This might sound a

BLOOD YOUTH WERE THE HEAVIEST BAND ON THE LINE-UP

Lois Plummer | Print Entertainment Editor

After their set, The Spark Newspaper got the chance to sit down with lead vocalist Henry Camamile and guitarist Rory Young.

bit strange, but I actually preferred playing at the Republic Stage. It was that initial impact of playing at Reading Festival that was such a big deal for us.” By contrast, Henry said that he preferred playing the BBC Radio 1 Stage today. “It was huge for us. We’ve gone from playing to about 80 people when we were starting out to playing support for Bombay Bicycle Club in Dublin to about 25,000 people. “These kinds of gigs are always very special to us.” THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG NAMES ON THE READING & LEEDS FESTIVAL LINE-UP – ARE THERE ANY IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU LOOK UP TO? “The 1975 are killing it at the moment. “I’ve seen them live quite a few times and really love their energy. Rock is such a great and relentless genre. “We’re a rock band at heart, and Reading is a rock and roll festival. Producing that kind of highly energetic performance is important to us.” YOU’VE JUST RELEASED YOUR NEW SINGLE VIOLET, IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME PLAYING IT LIVE? HOW DID IT FEEL PERFORMING IT ON SUCH A LARGE STAGE? “We’ve been road-testing it for a while,” Rory said, “we played it in the Netherlands a little while ago, but the reaction here today was very positive.” Henry added, “we’ve played it a few times at live shows – but it was amazing to play it on such a big stage.”

Taz Usher | Print Editor

I couldn’t write music without my diary.

Photo by Blood Youth

Blood Youth- a British hardcore punk band- were preparing for their set at Reading Festival when The Spark met with lead singer Kaya Tarsus to chat about today’s performance. Formed in 2014, the group say they are defined by their dark sounds and are one of the heaviest bands on this year’s line-up. Taz spoke to their lead vocalist Kaya Tarsus to find out more... HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK PLAYING AT READING FESTIVAL? “It’s amazing. When the band started out we never thought we’d play at an event as big as this, but this is the 2nd year we’ve performed at Reading and Leeds now.” “It’s so cool to be featuring in a festival we used to love as kids. Our hometown is Leeds so we were always in the crowd during our teens.” WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? WHAT WAS THE REACTION LIKE LAST YEAR? “We’re most looking forward to sharing our music with the crowds, I guess.” “We’re arguably one of the heaviest bands on the bill, so having this sort of niche excites us.” YOU RECENTLY RELEASED YOUR COVER OF A SLIPKNOT (SIC) SONG. WILL YOU BE PERFORMING THIS TODAY? “No we won’t. It’s a fairly new one so we wouldn’t want to perform it without enough practice. Hopefully in the future.” WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR SET? “Honestly, every show is different. It all depends on the mood of the gig and the audience. But it’s definitely going to be a really heavy, screamy set. They’ll definitely be a mosh pit.”

He added: “For example, last night we played in Doncaster at a small venue with only 150 people. “It was a really hot and sweaty set because everyone was crammed inside this tent. “The vibe was great through, everyone was packed in tight but just having a really great time.” HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF YOUR MUSIC? “I couldn’t create music without my diary. I write pages and pages of notes which include random thoughts and notes on how I’m feeling at the time.” “The writing process is very spontaneous. I fill a huge amount of pages

ARE THERE ANY ACTS ON THE LINEUP THIS YEAR THAT YOU LOOK UP TO AS A MUSICIAN? “Post Malone. What he’s grown into in one year is just incredible.” “I have a lot of respect for people that evolve like that. It just happens.” YOU’RE OFF TO LEEDS FESTIVAL TOMORROW. HAVE YOU FOUND ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO BRANCHES OF THE FESTIVAL? “As we’re from Leeds, it’s definitely the home vibe that makes the difference.” “Our parents are always at our gigs so there’s a real sense of nostalgia when we perform there. “My mum’s always balling her eyes out. They’re so proud of how far

“We’re arguably one of the heaviest bands on the bill, so having this niche excites us” and record several voice notes before a song can start to form.” WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SONG TO PERFORM LIVE? “Nerve from our newest album. It’s a lot slower than our usual songs which is nice. There’s also some cooler moments in the track.”

we’ve come.” “The two festivals have a completely different vibe.” WHAT ELSE HAVE THE BAND GOT COMING UP? “I can’t say anything as it hasn’t been announced yet, but definitely lots of touring.”

Notice Board

Photo by Taz Usher

SEPTEMBER , 2019 Photo by Charles Reagan

Photo by Lindsay Melbourne

Photo by James Bridle

Photo by Phoebe Fox

Photo by James Bridle

Photo by Charles Reagan

Photo by Lindsay Melbourne

Notice Board

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Places to go, Things to do... The Spark’s breakdown of everything going on in Reading this month. Fri 20th Sept @ 7:30pm - 11pm

Sat 21st Sept @ 10:30am - 5pm

Sun 21st Sept @ 6:45pm - 9:45pm

Weds 25th Sept @ 8:00pm - 11:00pm

Weds 25th Sept @ 8:30pm - 11:00pm

Thurs 26th Sept @ 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Stand Up Cinema: Silent Films Showcasing short films made by local filmmakers, this particular event of The Rising Sun Arts Centre’s quarterly Stand Up Cinema series focuses on silent films and the power of the moving image. FREE ENTRY. No booking required.

The Rising Sun Arts Centre 30 Silver Street Reading RG1 2ST

Reading Vegan Festival 2019 Reading’s own vegan festival this year will showcase a range of vegan food, cosmetics, clothing, gifts and more all available for purchase as well as a number of workshops and speakers events going on throughout the day. No booking required.

St Laurence’s Church Town Hall Square & Market Place Reading

Open Page, Open Stage A monthly collaborative event for writers, artists, musicians and anyone who likes to talk, listen or learn. An ‘open mic’ event with a focus on words and collaboration where anyone can showcase their art/music or try new things out in a warm, safe environment. FREE ENTRY. No booking required.

Student Art Pass for £5.00! Art Fund, a charity which supports museums, art galleries and historic houses across the UK, is now offering all full-time undergraduates and postgraduates a 1 year Student Art Pass for only £5.00! Benefits include: Free or reduced-price entry to hundreds of galleries, museums and historic houses across the UK, including cafe and shop discounts plus 50% off major exhibitions. Exclusive access to regular paid visual arts opportunities and creative competitions. Regular updates on what to see and where to save with your Student Art Pass. Sign up now! Visit www.studentartpass.org

The Rising Sun Arts Centre 30 Silver Street Reading RG1 2ST

Open Evening @ Reading Hackspace An open evening at Reading’s purpose built community makerspace for creators, menders and sharers alike. FREE ENTRY. No booking required.

rLab – Unit C1 Weldale Street Reading RG1 7BX

Bohemian Night @ RISC Enjoy a night of bohemian themed music at the Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC). No booking required.

RISC 35-39 London Street Reading RG1 4PS

Open Garden @ Thrive, Reading Come and visit Thrive’s beautiful 3-acre garden where there will be plants for sale as well as home-made cakes and drinks available. Thrive is a local charity specialising in the use of gardening to help bring about positive changes in the lives of those who are disadvantaged or living with disabilities and ill health. ENTRY BY DONATION. No booking required.

The Spark’s #ExploreRdg Challenge We challenge YOU to visit and explore all of these hidden gems in Reading. Check them off as you go along and don’t forget to take plenty of photos! Remember to tag both The Spark and #ExploreRdg so others can see where you’ve been! Quantum Web Cafe The Rising Sun Arts Centre

The Geoffrey Udall Centre Trunkwell Garden Project Beech Hill Reading RG7 2AT

Reading Film Theatre (RFT) Reading Museum The Shed Cafe & Bar OpenHand OpenSpace Art Gallery Crunch Comics Mad Hatters Pottery Painting Cafe Cole Museum of Zoology Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology

Sat 28th Sept @ 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Sat 28th Sept @ 9:00pm - 11:00pm

Reading Town Meal 2019 Reading’s very own annual sustainable, community food festival where local food from local gardens, allotments and farms is turned into a variety of delicious meals and served for FREE! There will also be a multitude of food-related activities and community stalls present for your exploration, as well as live music. FREE ENTRY. No booking required. Latin Party @ Rising Sun Arts Centre Exactly what it says. Bring your friends and dance to some amazing salsa beats from DJ Tijeras. £6 ENTRY. No booking required.

Forbury Gardens Reading

7 Flowers & Tea Oxfam Bookshop Oxfam Music Shop Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) Eclectic Games The Hexagon Progress Theatre

The Rising Sun Arts Centre 30 Silver Street Reading RG1 2ST

South Street Arts Centre Reading Collectors’ Centre The Sound Machine Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC)

Entertainment

SEPTEMBER , 2019

BOOMTOWN 2019: CHAPTER 12 A summer weekend full of magic, music and hype.

Stranger Things 3: The Best Season Yet? Holly Fournier| Print Lifestyle Editor The newest season of Stranger Things 3 hit Netflix with a bang of eight gripping episodes. With cigarette smoke, teen struggles and a new enemy on the horizon - here’s what Print Lifestyle Editor Holly Fournier thought of everyone’s favourite 80s sci-fi show. The latest instalment of Stranger Things graced our screens this summer. From our beloved grown -up originals to sparkling new characters, this is a season of stranger things not to miss.

Holly Fournier| Print Lifestyle Editor Fans criticised the number of smoking scenes in this season - interestingly producers have decided to avoid this for future seasons - despite predominant viewers of Netflix-own shows being teenagers and young adults. Netflix have taken this criticism on board, but fans will also remember the uproar caused by a very explicit scene in 13 Reasons Why. The main character - Hannah Baker - was shown committing suicide. I feel it is important that Netflix address these issues, considering the potentially influential effects on young people. It’s also important to bear in mind that the show is set in the 1980s, a time when smoking was not seen as such an unhealthy habit. Arguably, the producers are just replicating this time period.

Pictured by Holly Fournier: The walk towards the Nucleus’stage. Other new stages for 2019 included the Relic, The Grid and The Forge.

Boomtown’s festival name says it all: this year the festival was booming. With an exceptional drum and bass line up including Chase & Status and Shy Fx - as well as several other headliners that diverge from the drum and bass scene, such as SaltN-Pepa. The stages Relic and Nucleus were certainly two of the most incredible stages I have ever been to at a

“The effort that Boomtown puts into turning a Winchester farm into an Alice in Wonderlandtown cannot be beaten...” festival, not to mention how insane the sound systems were at both

stages. It was perfect for the incredibly successful drum and bass duo - My Nu Leng - who closed Boomtown at Relic with a set that left the audience awestruck from a fantasyfilled weekend. I’ve been to a few festivals in recent years including Reading Festival, V Festival and Boardmasters, but the effort that Boomtown puts into turning a Winchester farm into an Alice in Wonderland-town cannot be beaten. It’s as if you’re in a magical Disneyland town when you walk through some of the sectors of Boomtown, such as the Town Centre. There are hidden raves that can’t be found unless you stumble upon them and actors in stunning costumes. Not to mention an array of music to be heard from wherever you are within the festival - whether

it be at your tent or sat on the grass indulging in some delicious festival food - the entire experience was wild and breath-taking. I personally loved watching The Streets, an alternative hip-hop group from Birmingham that performed on a stage called Lion’s Den. Since the festival caters to predominantly drum and bass music - it was nice to have a variety of music genres to enjoy particularly as I find drum and bass can become rather repetitive if you’re listening to it for the whole weekend. Lion’s Den is set up at the bottom of a hill - so wherever you’re stood - you’ll be able to get a smashing view. Looking for a weekend festival that switches off your mind from the real world for a few solid days? Look no further than Boomtown.

On a lighter note, Billy - played by Dacre Montgomery - drives an exciting plot twist with his character as the heart of this season’s adventure. I love this season because there is so much more to it than just the plot.

Each episode takes you along a journey of love between many of the characters and the most stunning yet is the one between Chief Hopper and Joyce Byers. The plot in my opinion is the best in comparison to the other seasons. I love how each episode ends with an immense cliff hanger (which can be annoying when you’ve stayed up until two in the morning and you’ve got work the next day.) The build-up between each scene is very clever as it ends with suspense. You switch between the teens on an adventure, or the mums and Billy at the pool for instance. The transitions are filmed in a way that makes them beautifully connected - but to see what I mean you’ll have to give it a watch! A true wow-factor about this season is how grown-up all of the teens look. Particularly with Dustin and Eleven, you can really tell that there has been a long break between the filming of the first two seasons and season three. I was so hooked with this new season that I finished it in two days. I urge you to start watching it if you haven’t already - and if you’re not a Stranger Things fan yet - you need to jump on the bandwagon.

Back to School Playlist Follow us on Spotify! @ The Spark Newspaper

Beyond Clueless - Summer Camp

Dreaming - Sea Pony

Always Forever - Cults

Sofia - Clairo

Love on the Line (Call Now) - Her’s

Entertainment

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Album of The Summer: Creative Corner: Breakfast Conversations, a Lana Del Rey - Norman F***ing Rockwell poem. Lois Plummer | Print Entertainment Editor

Milli Dalton | Part 2 English Literature

America’s queen of modern psychedelia – Lana Del Rey released her much-anticipated fifth album at the end of August. Norman F***ing Rockwell is named after the artist famous for representing American culture throughout the 40s and 50s. In many ways, the album is Classic Lana. Each song possesses a cinematic quality drenched in Hollywood glamour – a sad-girl soundtrack for the ages – with its themes of romance and melancholia.

Photo by Chad Madden/Unsplash

I I ask you if you remember Where the statue lion came from. You smile and say, “It belonged to Grandpa.” Do you remember anything else? You squint. It is like watching you pull the memory out Through heaps Of other memories, as though it was Tethered To a rope. I bite the toast. “It was in an attic.” Yes. The loft. But you don’t remember anything else. You Were very small then And still your thin wrists and few feet Lean over the table

Del Rey’s contralto vocals melt into a sweet, burning mahogany that has matured over her expansive discography.

II I ask you if you remember Who I am. You smile and say, “You are my little girl.” Not so little anymore. How are you today? You bite the toast. It is like watching you wrestle a kite Back down from the clouds In wind On that beach. “I’m not sure.” You have always valued the truth. But you don’t remember anything else. You Are old now, older Than you have ever been And now your thin wrists and curved spine Lean over the table.

The eponymous opening track features an operatic strings sequence reminiscent of a film noir soundtrack. One imagines Del Rey at a grand piano singing to an empty music hall, as her illustrative vocals are weighed by both intimacy and gravity. A master of sensationalist imagery and story-telling, Del Rey seamlessly paints places and protagonists within her music. Del Rey’s Americana is broken New York dreams, the elusive bar singer, the crying prom queen, the lover of a dangerous man. Layered vocals and self-made harmonies construct a dreamscape of mysterious women, as in NFR’s Venice B*tch, Born to Die’s Carmen and Ultraviolence’s Brooklyn Baby.

Photo by Lana Del Rey/UMG

Del Rey’s Americana is broken New York dreams, the elusive bar singer, the crying prom queen, the lover of a dangerous man. The Mariners Apartment Complex invokes the spirit of the Eagles’ Hotel California from 1976, adding to the long list of classic rock references prevalent in Del Rey’s work.

political climate. Lana Del Rey reinvigorates the old adage of music as a driver social change, if only we would all stop to listen.

Recurring dreams of freedom permeate her lyrics, which is especially poignant in our current

Photo by Lana Del Rey/Facebook

Get On Air with Junction11 Lucia Martin | Part 2 Psychology and Neuroscience Junction11 is the students’ independent radio station at the University of Reading. The station is run by students for students and we at Junction 11 are dedicated to the student community, broadcasting the latest news in and around campus, and playing your favourite tunes. If you fancy yourself as a radio presenter, programme manager or even a radio journalist reporting on student issues and campaigns, look no further. There are so many ways you can get involved in the station, from journalism, to reporting and

presenting. If you are interested in current affairs, you could join the news team or if you prefer to be more behind the scenes, you could help with the maintaining and running of the website. Another vital role you could get involved in is production and editing or you could help spread the word of Junction11 by joining the radio’s Marketing Team. The studio is located in The Lounge of the Students’ Union building so come and talk to us at Junction11 if you want to find out more about getting involved or if you would like Junction11 to report on a story or event that you are running.

My plans for Junction11 this year include pushing the radio to boundaries it hasn’t seen before, allowing it to be a primary source of new on campus, allowing students to get involved with any aspect of the radio from news to tech to music playlists; anything that you find gets you excited! Please check out our Facebook page or Instagram page (@junction11_ radio) to stay up to date with the latest information and to meet our other committee members! Alternatively, if you would like to contact me directly please email stationmanager@junction11radio. co.uk. Photo by Lucia Martin

Entertainment

LISTEN TO SOME SCOTTISH PIPES @ FRESHERS! Xiaomeng Fang | Lead Designer Come and listen to the Reading Scottish Pipe Band during Freshers Fayre on 25th September! I heard their pipes playing last year and was immediately drawn to the unique rhythms. Over the past year, I picked up a few tunes on the chanter and it has definitely enriched my leisure time in Reading.

FAN OF FITZGERALD? ADORER OF AUSTEN? JOIN THE ENGLISH SOCIETY!

Charlie Taylor | EngSoc President| Part 2 English Literature

SEPTEMBER , 2019

THE ILLUSIONISTS LEAVE LONDONERS AWESTRUCK. Taz Usher | Print Editor

Thrill seekers, masterminds and theatre enthusiasts can enjoy live entertainment in the comfort of the same West End theatre following the opening of an unforgettable magic show this summer. The Illusionists - transported to London straight from Broadway - features seven state-of-the-art magicians each honing their talents in the production of a first-rate sorcery display. The two-part performance takes viewers on a tour of the magicians’ specialist acts - while using comedy - special effects and impressive tech displays to capture and sustain the crowd’s interest. First to perform was The Trickster, Paul Dabek. He adopted the role of show host and encapsulated the joy of the show in his first few moments on stage. Dabek’s engagement with the audience was particularly

Photo by UoREngSoc/Facebook

Dear Freshers and Familiar Faces, As Reading University’s English Society, we are welcoming to all students who are lovers of English and Literature. If you’re curious as to what we get up to and want to learn about what makes being part of this society so great, come and say hello at the Freshers’ Fayre on 25th September. We can’t wait to meet you!

impressive and unique, and the personalisation of his approach was a memorable addition to the show. The entertainer also gave a fascinating display of shadowgraphy performed to Disney’s Lion King’s Circle of Life which the younger members of the audience were particularly delighted by.

“Seven state-of-theart magicians each honing their talents in the production of a first-rate sorcery display...” Enzo Weyne gave an equally intriguing performance as The Unforgettable, combining his French roots with sorcery in an extremely convincing transportation trick.

Meanwhile South Korean Manipulator Yu Ho-Jin - named Magician of the Year in 2014 - led a perfectly polished sequence of card tricks delivered in the most sophisticated of manners. His polar opposite was Jonathon Goodwin, coined The Daredevil. Famed for his death-defying stunts on this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, his stupendous performance squeezed the stomachs of every audience member in which a scorpion and a tank of concrete was involved. Showman James More also boggled the minds of viewers in a gripping body detachment venture. Additionally, maintaining the show’s multicultural theme, American Adam Trent gave audience members a true taste of the future with a series of danceaccompanied tech illusions.

And as well as their minds, Trent also managed to capture the hearts and belly laughs of his spectators with the poignant story of his career journey and unanticipated jokes. Last to the stage was Mentalist Chris Cox who stunned the victims of his mind-reading endeavors as he revealed the hometowns, car makes, and immediate thoughts of several audience members. Cox’s interesting costume change triggering a howl of laughter from the crowd - was also the product of another unthinkable yet hilarious illusion performed during the show. With its outstanding and highly unpredictable line-up of tricks, The Illusionists had viewers gripped from start to finish. For more information about the show visit theillusionistslive.com.

The magical Broadway group delighting London spectators.

If you haven’t already, go follow our Facebook and Instagram (@uorengsoc) where you can expect exciting announcements coming soon. If you’re re-joining us from last year, don’t forget that memberships are available to buy now on the RUSU website. See you soon! Charlie Taylor English Society President 2019-2020

Photo by The Illusionists (2019)

Entertainment

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Are we #ZeroWasteFestivalGoers? Katie Lawman | Part 3 English Literature This year’s Reading Festival had an environmental focus. As well as enjoying live music, fans were encouraged to think about Planet Earth and how our actions impact our future.

PHOTOGRAPHY SOCIETY: OLD-SCHOOL IN THE DARKROOM Ben Thompson | Part 3 Geography

Photo by Reading Festival #ZeroWasteFestivalGoer was intended to inspire more thoughtful behaviour, end the oceans of litter and abandoned tents that often blight large music festivals. I was fortunate enough to gain an internship as a Digital Assistant with the organisers Festival Republic, thanks to a partnership with the University. This entailed reviewing various acts and submitting articles to the official festival blog. I also wanted to see how much organisers, performers and festivalgoers actually did to decrease their impact on the environment.

“Despite regular reinforcement of these core messages, many fans still resorted to littering...”

Of course, it was not just Festival Republic who were striving to decrease the festival’s carbon footprint, but also the acts themselves. This was made more evident after an interview with rock band Enter Shikari. During their song Juggernauts, they displayed Reading’s own Professor Ed Hawkins’ climate stripes, which signify the increasing global temperature since 1850. Frontman Rou Reynolds explained that despite the horrific meaning behind the image, it is still something aesthetic and easy to understand for those who are not within a scientific field.

A 10p reward was offered for every recyclable cup returned, so it was not unusual to catch children and adults alike with towers of cups reaching above the crowd. But is this enough?

On the last day of the festival, Extinction Rebellion took to the Alternative Stage to share their message of environmental concern. This extended to a march around the site by its Red Brigade, a symbol of our shared blood. Greta Thunberg and The 1975 recently collaborated on a spoken-word song (also called The 1975) concerning the climate crisis. In this song, she states “we must acknowledge that the older generations have failed,” and that “it is time to rebel.”

Festival Republic asked the public to makes pledges, like using refillable water bottles, recycling points and not dropping litter.

With a large majority of this year’s festival-goers being under the age of 25, this is the generation that needs to do better and act now.

Despite regular reinforcement of these core messages, many fans still resorted to littering - with an abundance of single-use plastics covering the ground. This fuels the question of, although in theory we are all passionate about the environment, when put into practice how far are we willing to go?

Despite Festival Republic’s best efforts to reinforce this environmentally-friendly message, it is ultimately down to us as a society to make the small actions that will make a big difference. If we are to continue to live as a species, we must live by the messages we preach.

Pictured by Ed Lewis: 8”x10” silver halide darkroom print of Tate Modern, London.

From Autumn Term 2019, the Reading University Photography Society is opening its doors to students to try their hand at analogue photography. To most, photography is all about producing that “aesthetic” Instagram post, hence the massive growth of apps such as Huji which replicate the old-school 35mm film vibe. Here at PhotographySoc, we have the provisions to make these images the authentic way (and yes, we can still digitise them for your Instagram.) PhotographySoc will be running short day courses for those who want to get involved in the art of 35mm film shooting, developing, printing and scanning. In these sessions we’ll take you back to basics - learning about the components of an exposed photograph without the auto features – and help you develop your rolls of film in Paterson tanks

and chemicals. We will then print these images using a film enlarger in the darkroom and process these in development trays, before introducing you to our darkroom, which you’ll be able to access whenever you’d like to apply the skills you’ve learnt whilst cutting the cost of shooting film in general.

buying it yourself.) The film side of our society is growing fast, with more students showing interest in the sessionsso be sure to become a part of the Photography Society this year and get involved in all the film-related activities, sessions and trips too!

“To most, photography is all about producing that “aesthetic” Instagram post, hence the massive growth of apps such as Huji which replicate the old-school 35mm film vibe...” A lot of the time, film photography can be quite difficult to access because costs do tend to mount up. This is not the case at PhotographySoc, as we already have equipment ready to use and operate on a pay-for-what-you-use basis (plus it’s way cheaper than

We’ll also have a stand at the Freshers Fayre this September, so be sure to come over and have a chat – whether it be to talk gear, get more information or ask about when the darkroom sessions are running.

Entertainment

SEPTEMBER , 2019

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME REVIEW

Ryan reviews the latest instalment in the MCU, post-Endgame. Ryan Harnell | Part 2 International Development

Everyone’s favourite web-slinging superhero returned this summer in a clever, explosive and quirky action-adventure flick - a little less groundbreaking than fans might have hoped – but still providing nothing less than a solid addition to Marvel’s growing catalogue of movies. Picking up right where Endgame (2019) left off, the film explores how Peter Parker - played to geeky but ever-loveable perfection by Tom Holland - and the world are dealing with the sacrifice of Tony Stark. His death was a particular gut punch to Peter, who now finds himself under immense pressure to take up the mantle of his mentor and become ‘the next Iron Man.’ The subsequent journey of selfdiscovery that ensues forms the heart of this film and drives pretty much every decision our hero makes- for better or for worse. It’s an interesting exploration that allows Holland plenty of emotional depth to develop his incarnation of Spider

Man into perhaps the most mature, self-aware version of the character that we’ve seen yet. If self-discovery is the heart of this film, then the theme of truth is the soul. One of Marvel’s best antagonists - Jake Gyllenhaal’s unstable and megalomaniacal Mysterio - plans to trick the entire world into crowning him the next Tony Stark. It’s almost as if Mysterio has seen the entire MCU and knows exactly how audiences expect a superhero film to play out, so he

Photo by IMDB

of the in-film universe falling for his ruse. It really makes us question our own beliefs about who we trust with power, who we put our faith in to protect us and how easy it is to fall victim to the blinding effects of fame and influence.

All that said, Far From Home (2019) is not without its weaknesses. A predictable and uneven first-half takes too long to get to the point in some places and jumps too quickly in others.

“An interesting exploration that allows Holland plenty of emotional depth to develop his incarnation of Spider Man...”

Similarly, the forgettable CGIheavy action set pieces feel forced. It must be noted that even the outstanding supporting cast consisting of Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Samuel L. Jackson and Jon Favreau - only just succeed in providing enough humour from their varying relationships with our protagonist to keep us engaged.

writes and builds his own starring himself. The fact that it succeeds makes us as complicit as the people

The second-half does however make up for the first, as we see Mysterio’s true powers on display

“If self-discovery is the heart of this film, then the theme of truth is the soul...” in a series of clever illusions that challenge Spidey both mentally and emotionally. These will have major ramifications for the MCU moving forward -see the post-credit scene - forcing him to come to the realisation that he doesn’t need to be the next Iron Man, because he’s the first Spider-Man. In a nice callback to 2008’s Iron Man, this particular scene provides a humanly uplifting moment that segues into an epic final showdown worthy of any Avengers film.

In conclusion, Spider Man: Far From Home (2019) is an intelligent and creative exploration of responsibility, belief and truth. Despite finding itself a little meandering and predictable at times, it shapes up as a solid springboard for the next phase of the MCU.

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Photography

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Photography Photo by Gemma King

Meeting Students on Clearing Day

Photo by Molli Cleaver Photo by Gemma King

Daisy Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Conner (Activities officer) on an evening walk with the Edinburgh Student Association at the NUS conference in Bath

Maya the refillable sustainable woman starting in October

Photography

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Zeid Sharif (Diversity officer) at Reading Festival 2019

Photo by Zeid Sherif

Molli Cleaver (President) at the BBC interview

Photo by Molli Cleaver

Vice Chancellor Barbecue

Photo by Molli Cleaver

Meeting Students on Clearing Day

Photo by Gemma King

Sports

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Sports

THERE’S A FIRST TIME FOR JOIN THE GYM THE RIGHT Knowing where to start when it comes to joining the gym can be really tricky. There’s the signing up, getting to grips with the machines, and learning how to get into a routine. Taz Usher | Print Editor As a gym-goer whose first time joining a gym was during my first week of university, I’ve put together some top tips on things ranging from taking care of your body, making the most of gym classes, and knowing when it’s time to stop. And I asked the Fitness Manager of the University of Reading’s SportsPark, David Givens to help me. HOW TO SIGN UP When joining SportsPark, you’ll have the option of three memberships: Classic, VO2 and VO2 Max. The first is a pay-as-you-go agreement which costs £15.90 for 12 months (up front payment), followed by individual payments from £4.50 for each class or trip to the gym. Alternatively, the VO2 membership is £20.50 per month (direct debit) and gives you unlimited access to the fitness studio and classes.. Finally, the VO2 Max membership (£28 per month) is the ultimate access pass for extra-sporty students. It includes the same as the VO2 membership, plus free racket and sport court hire. You can sign up for any of these memberships online at www.sport.reading.ac.uk/ membershipstu.html. or at the SportsPark reception. David said: “The SportsPark is on Whiteknights Campus and is walking distance from all our Halls of residence. “It has many great sports and exercise facilities such as a newly refurbished gym, 100+ group exercise classes a week, badminton, basketball, a 3G soccer park and indoor and outdoor Tennis.” First few sessions at the gym During your first few sessions at

the gym you will want to ensure you take it slow and allow yourself time to adjust to the change to your exercise routine. You might start by going two or three times in one week (every other day) and trying a selection of exercises and machines each visit to see what works best for you. During my first session I used the treadmill, cycling machines, arm weights and mats. David suggested: “Familiarize yourself with a body weight squat before looking at the squat rack; get comfortable with push ups before jumping on the Bench Press.” You will also want to make sure you ask the SportsPark staff for help if you are unsure how to use the machines. It is really important that you use the machines correctly to not only get the best out of them for your body, but to ensure you don’t hurt or damage yourself in the process. Creating a routine Once I got over the aches and pains that came with my first couple of weeks at the gym, I was able to motivate myself to go every (or every other) day. Planning my day around going to the gym- either before or after my lectures- meant that my time management skills really improved, at the same time as feeling good due to exercising. Some people to choose to stick to a routine which allocates different exercises to different days (leg day, arm day, back day etc), but I chose to do a bit of all of them each visit as this is what works best for me. For help with creating a routine, you can ask the SportsPark team for free advice and support with your exercise plan. David said: “The SportsPark offer free personal programs where you will get a dedicated hour with a

“The SportsPark is on Whiteknights Campus and is walking distance from all our Halls of residence.”

“Sportspark has many great sports and exercise facilities such as a newly refurbished gym, 100+ group exercise classes a week, badminton, basketball, a 3G soccer park and indoor and outdoor Tennis.” - Fitness

Manager David Givens

Sports

SEPTEMBER , 2019

R EVERYTHING T WAY!

tain amount of weight, toning a certain area of your body, increasing strength, training to run a specific distance). David recommends SportsPark’s unique body tracking system to help you with this. He said: “There is no better feeling than knowing you are making a difference, be it the ability to exercise harder or lift a heavier weight, looking better in photos or simply feeling better and having more energy. “SportsPark has a Boditrax Kiosk that is free to all members. This kiosk allows you to monitor and

THE SPORTS AND DANCE FAIR Amelia Dinsdale | Online Lifestyle Editor

enjoy. Training with a friend will help keep it social while adding motivation and consistency.” And for those who want a more relaxing gym experience he recommends choosing a quieter time of day to go and trying group exercise classes. He said: “The gym can get quite busy during term time, so while you are still finding your feet it may be helpful to train outside of our peak times. Quieter times are generally 07.00-15.30 Monday-Friday. Weekends are also less busy. “We run over 100 group exercise classes a week at the SportsPark,

Tracking progress throughout your gym journey is vital to motivation. It’s a good idea to join the gym with a goal or two in mind.

Photos by SportsPark fitness consultant to discuss goals and objectives. The fitness consultant will then build you a bespoke programme to help you achieve these.” Looking after yourself David also stressed the importance of warming up and cooling down after gym sessions. He said: “When you are new to exercise or trying out a new type of exercise, it’s always important to warm up and cool down. Try light cardio and some simple mobility movements pre-exercise, and then light cardio and some light stretches to finish. Again, staff will be on hand to help.” Changes to your diet The key thing to remember when you start the gym is that you need to keep an eye on your body and learn how to adapt your eating habits and general diet to match your life choices. This means ensuring you drink more water- especially during your gym sessions- to keep hydrated. You will also need to remember that energy comes from food- so the more gym

sessions you do, the more nutrition you will need to keep you going and help you make the most of the classes. Eating fruit and vegetables is a must for those of you who want to benefit from the healthy lifestyle that joining the gym will trigger. You won’t get much out of “gymming” on a diet of McDonalds and Snakebites! For those who want to bulk buy, it’s also worth thinking about the increase in protein that you might apply to your diet. You can also speak to the SportsPark staff for tips on this. Track your progress Tracking progress throughout your gym journey is vital to motivation. It’s a good idea to join the gym with a goal or two in mind (losing a certain amount of weight, toning a certain area of your body, increasing strength, training to run a specific distance). David recommends SportsPark’s unique body tracking system to help you with this. He said: “There is no better feeling than knowing you are making a

track information such as hydration, body fat %, muscle weight, and much more. They also have an app which allows you to check your results on the move.” Becoming more active SportsPark also understand that there will be students who join the gym with motives other than those related to gaining hugely impressive muscles. David said: “Training with a friend is a great way to keep both of you motivated. Exercise should be something you look forward to and

so why not try something different! Class themes range from holistic types of yoga all the way to strength- and cardio-based classes such as boxing and spinning. Classes can be booked via our app or on our website.” Joining the gym isn’t something to be worried about, and is something I certainly recommend giving a go if you don’t have a specific sports society you want to join. Overall, it’s a great way to keep fit, give your brain a break from studying, and to let off some steam.

The Sports and Dance Fair on Wednesday, September 25th will give you an opportunity to choose from one of 8 dance societies and 52 sports societies at Reading University. Each society will have their own stall, manned by the current student committee, so you can ask questions and decide if it is the society for you. The RUSU website has a complete list of all the societies and their descriptions, so I recommend having a quick look before going to the fair so you know which stalls you want to go to first. With this much choice there really is something for everybody and the Fair is definitely not to be missed.

WHAT IS VARSITY? Amelia Dinsdale | Online Lifestyle Editor

Photo by RUSU

Varsity is a competition that takes place at the end of March between Reading Knights and Oxford Brookes. There are 21 different sports that participate in 39 games. Each win will be totalled over the course of the weekend to determine the overall winner. Even if you aren’t part of a sports society, you can still go and support the teams and your friends. This year the majority of the matches will take place on campus, so there is no excuse to miss it!

Top Health and Fitness Apps Jasmine Davis | Part 3 English Lan-

Strapped for cash? Want to stay fit? Here are 3 totally free apps that can help. Runners and riders – try Strava, a tracking app which records your activity, maps your route and generates handy statistics. Then there’s Couch to 5K, the program

that takes runners of any ability from 0 to 5k in 8 weeks through alternating walk-run intervals. And if you’re looking for personalized training plans, try Nike Training Club, with over 185 workouts - give the bodyweight-only workouts a go if you’ve not got a gym membership.

Photo by Pixabay

Sports

SEPTEMBER , 2019

RUWRU: COULD WOMEN’S RUGBY BE THE SPORT FOR YOU AT READING? The women’s rugby union had a successful 2018/2019 season and are looking for new players for this upcoming season.

Of KORF you should give it a go! Josie Edwards | Part 3 Human and Physical Geography Korfball – never heard of it? Neither had most of our members when they joined, and yet for many, it’s the best decision they made during their time at uni. Korfball is a Dutch sport formed from a mixture of basketball, netball and handball. It’s a mixed-gender sport with teams of 8, made up of four boys and four girls. The aim of the game is to score as many goals as possible against the defending team. Attack and defence divisions switch ends every two goals, so team members are able to play all positions, and everyone has the chance to shoot. We have teams that are social and laid back or competitive, all of whom train and play together. Korfball has had an unforgettable past year - ranging from winning RUSU’s Most Improved Sports Club of the Year, to smashing the International Stockholm Beach Tournament and coming home champions! Our valued returners and enthusiastic freshers have made korfball one of the best sports clubs on campus; starting with only 13 members and growing to over 70 by the end of the year, anyone and everyone is welcome. Our socials are a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic – last year we enjoyed a leopard and zebra social,

played (and won!!) bingo, celebrated Christmas with an amazing formal and welcomed back ex-members at our successful Alumni weekend. Charity fundraisers are great fun too, and korfball always goes above and beyond – Red Nose Day, Medicinema and Mind are just a few of the charities we managed to raise over £220 for last year. Reading Korfball is inclusive for both beginners and experts alike, as most of our members had never even played before joining! We train weekly on Friday evenings from 5:45-7:45pm at the Sports Park, and always head to Park Bar after training which is a great time to spend socialising with the team. Weekend matches/friendlies are held throughout the year, and we compete in as many inter-university tournaments as possible (with huge socials). If you’d like to know more and join one of the most exciting, social and fastest-growing sports teams on campus, find our committee in the Fresher’s Fayre tent (and give shooting into the korf hoop a try). Come to our FREE taster sessions on Friday 27th September at 5:45-7:45pm and Friday 4th October 5:45-7:45pm at the Sports Park. Join our Facebook group to be reminded about our taster sessions and have a look through our Instagram for an insight into how korfball can make your time at uni truly amazing.

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Maddie Eastwood | Head of Marketing & Promotional Materials After the 2017/2018 season, the women’s rugby team was promoted to the South Eastern 2A league and were faced with a new challenge: playing against teams who were already playing in the harder league, with more experienced players. Although being the league’s newcomers, the squad absolutely smashed it, taking third place overall with 23 points, in a league of 6 other teams. When playing the league’s strongest side - St Mary’s Reading proved why they deserved to be in the SE 2A league, managing to slot 12 points past the champions. Displaying both determination and a dangerous underdog mentality, RUWRU put in an impressive display despite the final score of 12-30. With a few more training sessions and squad development, the team are looking to grow and hopefully

top the league this coming year. RUWRU is a club based on friendship and enjoyment, but the competitive side is equally as important. Results matter. In a tougher league than ever before, RUWRU needs

Whether it’s signing up just to offer support, to try something new, or simply for the exercise, new members are welcomed. new players to keep pushing for results but also to enjoy the social aspect. Whether it’s signing up just to offer support, to try something new, or simply for the exercise, new

members are welcomed. Last year there was an intake of 15-20 new players, none of whom had previously played. RUWRU are hoping to replicate this and invite anyone and everyone, regardless of skill levels. If you want to join a team, make lasting friendships, boost your social life, whilst getting some exercise in, women’s rugby at Reading might be for you. Training sessions take place on Mondays at 5.45. On Wednesdays we have league games, after which the consumption of a celebratory beverage is enjoyed. RUWRU look forward to seeing some new faces and having an enjoyable and successful 2019/2020 season.

Photo by Josie Edwards

3 Reasons to Join the Yogalates Sabita Burke | Sub-Editor Society Whether you’re a fresher or a returning student, whether you’re so into exercise that you’re basically a fitness guru or you haven’t lifted a finger all summer (guilty here), Yogalates may be the society for you. Our sub editor Sabita shares her top reasons to give this mashup “sport” a go… You’ll never be bored. The sessions combine calming yoga stretches with energetic pilates moves and hardcore workout exercises. Fun-filled and intense, this is the perfect way to revitalise and de-stress after a long day at uni.

1 2 3

It’s flexible… And I don’t just mean we do a lot of stretching! Yogalates runs every Tuesday night and there are two sessions to choose from, at 6:00 or 7:00 p.m.

There’s a place for everyone. You don’t have to know anyone to come along. The friendly environment created by the instructors and the members means that if you rock up alone, you can easily chat to anyone there. Two free Yogalates taster sessions are on Tuesday, October 1st and 8th from 6-7 p.m., in Wessex Hall. Afterwards, a year’s membership can be ordered on the RUSU website for £10.15.

Sports

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Halep Thrashes Williams at the Wimbledon Ladies’ Final I was very lucky this year to have the chance to see the ladies’ final at Wimbledon. It was a scorching hot, beautiful day with an incredible atmosphere: a perfect day for fans of Simona Halep and Serena Williams. Photo by Holly Fournier

It was a very short match, which lasted just under an hour. second. It was a very short match, which lasted just under an hour. Considering Williams has just had a baby, she came back into her tennis game at Wimbledon full of eager-

A Complete Newbie’s First Impressions of Football Sabita Burke | Sub-Editor As you might have gleaned from the title, I’m not a football person. In fact, I’m not a sporty person at all. I’d go as far as to say I’m a girly girl in all senses of the phrase, including that of historically not having even a remote interest in any kind of sports, let alone wanting to sit through a two-plus hour football game. And yet, on a hot August Sunday in Reading’s Madejski Stadium, that’s exactly what I found myself doing. When your boyfriend is the most dedicated lifelong football fan I think it’s possible to be, as time goes on you kind of have to let him take you to at least one match, just to see what it’s like.

Holly Fournier | Print Lifestyle Editor With a match set out to be the best of three, Halep thrashed Williams with a well-deserved win of 6-2 in the first set and again, 6-2 in the

ness, and has been very successful to get to the final without as much training as she is used to in Grand Slam tournaments. Halep clearly has an excellent tennis game and has done so well this year to win the ladies’ final. The ladies’ competition overall has been very interesting in comparison to previous years. We had the phenomenal Cori Gauff, who is only 15 years old. Gauff got so remarkably far into the competition that she reached the fourth round. However, she was knocked out of the competition by a match against Halep who won with a score of 6-3, 6-3. The ladies’ final was full of surprises and the experience of attending the match is something I will never forget.

The Reading Royals faced off Chelsea in their final pre-season friendly. In front of an animated crowd, Reading held their own against the Premier League giants for longer than expected, scoring a couple of unprecedented wildcard goals before finally being defeated 3-4 by Chelsea. Even though there were several moments when the clue I had about what was going on was minimal, both teams were eager, and their zeal, along with the home and away crowds’ energy, made for a riveting couple of hours. However, my boyfriend made sure to let me know that “not every game is that exciting.”

Photo by Sabita Burke

Both teams were eager, and their zeal, along with the home and away crowds’ energy, made for a riveting couple of hours

I guess the moral of the story is to try new things, and don’t let your deep-seated pre-impressions put you off from giving something a go. I always thought I had no interest in football, and although I still don’t think playing the sport could ever be for me, there was something about the excitement of watching a live match that made me tell my boyfriend, “Yeah, I’d go again.”

Simple and Stress-Relieving Ways to Keep Fit at Uni Lois Plummer | Print Entertainment Editor Starting university can flip the world as you know it upside down. It’s a transformative time for freshers – adapting to a new environment and making new friends – it can often feel like things are spiralling. What’s needed during this period of intense change is routine. Here are a few things that helped me in my first year: 1) Walking I’ve spent many late spring evenings walking around Whiteknights Lake to clear my head if I felt burned-out or wanted some fresh air. You can circle it multiple times if you want

more of a work-out, or simply once a day. The natural surroundings are beautiful, not to mention free.

Adapting to a new environment and making new friends – it can often feel like things are spiralling

2) Yoga and Pilates RUSU host yoga classes for a low price every week. They have more intense pilates exercises as well as more relaxed, meditative yoga sessions to keep your mind and body in good shape. 3) Follow YouTube Tutorials You can find everything from cardio workouts to yoga tutorials online which is perfect if you want to exercise in the comfort of your own bedroom. Some of my favourites are Ballet Beautiful and Yoga with Adriene, as they have hundreds of videos for all different abilities. Photo by Gabriel @spenas88 on Unsplash

Sports

RUBC- THE PERKS Maria Norman | Part 3 Psychology Since joining Reading University Boat Club, I have experienced the exhilaration of racing at the Henley Women’s Regatta, have discovered what is possible before a 9am lecture and enjoyed many sun-rises on the Thames, which I would otherwise have been far too asleep to see. Joining RUBC has increased my self-belief to push myself harder in all areas, resulted in new, extremely supportive friendships as well as providing a great outlet for study-related stress. I would recommend joining a competitive, committed club like RUBC to anybody.

SUPER EASY POST-GYM PROTEIN SHAKE

Jasmine Davis | Part 3 English Language and Literature Time: 5 minutes (serves 1) Ingredients: 1 banana, peeled 150g low-fat natural yoghurt 100ml semi-skimmed milk 1 tbsp peanut butter 1 tbsp chia seeds ½ tsp cinnamon (to your taste) Just whizz together the ingredients in a blender and enjoy!

3 WAYS SPORT CAN HELP YOU THIS TERM

Jasmine Davis | Part 3 English Language and Literature BETTER SLEEP – by physically wearing out your body, you’re likely to get higher quality sleep when you hit the sack (a much needed recharge for your jampacked student lifestyle). FEELING HAPPIER – exercise increases endorphin levels, triggering positive emotions and fighting stress. Even a quick jog around the block can boost your mood. IMPROVED SELF ESTEEM – getting some fresh air, burning off energy, tackling a new challenge and mixing with likeminded people all contribute towards a healthy social life.

SEPTEMBER , 2019

WHICH SPORT TO GO FOR?

Indoor or outdoor; individual or team-based; familiar or new. Factors to consider when choosing a sport.

Raagulan Umashanker | Online Entertainment Editor

So, you’ve come to university and you’re excited to join a sports society. However, with so many sports to choose from, it can be difficult trying to choose one. Fortunately, here are some tips to help you decide which sport you could go for. Do you prefer to be inside or outside? Are you someone who prefers to be inside and away from the occasionally terrible weather conditions and dirty surroundings? Or, are you someone who can tolerate these outdoor challenges as being outside gives you a sense of freedom that combats the feeling of entrapment you experience when staying inside for too long? Do you prefer to work alone or in a team?

Are you someone who works better alone and is able to handle the pressure all by yourself or are you someone who prefers to work in a team

Are you someone who works better alone, or are you someone who prefers to work in a team? and receive the support of peers to deal with pressure? There are many advantages on both sides. For individual sports, you develop independence, self-reliance and resilience as you motivate yourself to

keep practising even when you face challenging training sessions, dips in performance or results and selfblame for a defeat. For team-based sports, you learn the values of teamwork, camaraderie and communication as you feel calm and confident when you play with your teammates because they understand your personality, but most importantly, they acknowledge your enthusiasm, progress and importance to the team. Do you want to go for a familiar or new sport? When you come to uni, you know that there will be sports that you have been familiar with since primary school such as football, rugby and cricket. If you have played these sports from a young age and want to continue playing them as you feel comfortable with them, then, by all means, do so. However, if you feel that you have

played these sports for a long time and want to do something different, then you should definitely look at the sports that you haven’t heard of or tried before. You might be intrigued by one of them as it is something that you are completely new to. Although you go through a long learning process when you take up a new sport, you shouldn’t worry about that because there are other people who are also new to the sport and who don’t have any experience in it too. Also, the experienced players will not blame you if you progress slowly as it is the first time you are doing the sport. Remember that these are just a few aspects to consider before choosing a sport. The best thing you could do to truly find out which sport suits you is to go to the different taster sessions this month.

Sports

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Why you should join KHADIJAH MELLAH: UK’S Mixed Hockey FIRST MUSLIM HIJABI 2019 was an exciting year for Reading’s Mixed Hockey team. Finishing second in the league was a major highlight for the club, with some exceptional performances against Warwick and Oxford Brookes. Being the lowest-costing hockey club on campus, and with training on Wednesday and Friday evenings alongside relaxing at Park Bar, there’s something for everyone.

JOCKEY & MAGNOLIA CUP CHAMPION The 18 year old from Peckham, South London, made history with her mount, Haverland

Tom Bradbury | Mixed Hockey Captain This year, we will have five socials running over the course of the first term, one every fortnight with a good mix of Union and town nights out, each with a very different theme. Also, frequent visits to Park Bar after training sessions are always enjoyed, as it’s a great way to get to know other people within the Mixed Hockey Society. Mixed Hockey is a huge part of my social life and a great way to make friends and meet new people. For me, what makes Mixed Hockey stand out from the rest is its open friendliness towards everyone of

With training on Wednesday and Friday evenings alongside relaxing at Park Bar, there’s something for everyone. every ability. We support all abilities and train everyone. Some come just for the social side whereas others come to get better at playing hockey. They are then able to play in competitive matches against other universities. I joined last year as I wanted to do both, and am now the Mixed Hockey captain – this shows

just how easy it is to become heavily integrated within the club.

We’re always looking for new members so if you’re looking to learn a new sport, get better at an old one or just increase your social life, come down to freshers fayre. We’re always looking for new members so if you’re looking to learn a new sport, get better at an old one or just increase your social life, come down to the RUSU Sport and Dance Freshers’ Fayre on Thursday 26th September. You can also contact me via email if you have any questions at t.s.bradbury@student.reading.ac.uk. I’m looking forward to meeting you all!

Photo by Mark Kerton / PA Wire

The 18 year old from Peckham became the first Hijab wearing, Muslim woman to compete in a race in Britain- and win. Sarah Maqbool | Deputy Editor & Outreach Officer On Thursday, August 1st, Khadijah Mellah became the first Muslim hijab-wearing woman to race on a British racecourse and win. The 18 year old from Peckham, South London, made history with her mount, Haverland, as they both crossed the finish line to victory at Glorious Goodwood’s charity race, the Magnolia Cup. The daughter of a handyman and a black belt holder in karate, she developed an interest in horses and riding at an early age. However, the location of her home in South London made it difficult to do anything about her love of the sport and horses- that is, until her and her mother, Selma, discovered the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton. The equestrian sports club is a registered charity that believes “riding and horse care can have a transformative effect on young people growing up in South London’s most disadvantaged communities” and provides riding lessons and support for local youth aged 8 to 18. “I think it’s so powerful to see Muslim women out there doing incredible things. [Muslim Egyptian athlete] Manal Rostom has run marathons

and climbed summits. That’s the sort of message we need to be getting out there. She’s massively inspirational,” stated the young winner to The Telegraph. Oli Bell, a presenter at ITV Racing and patron of the Ebony Horse Club, arranged for one of the equestrian club’s riders to take part in the Magnolia Cup and compete alongside renowned riders such as Victoria Pendleton, former Olympic gold medal winning cyclist. After 2 months of intensive training at the British Racing School in Newmarket, as well as expert coaching

“I think it’s so powerful to see Muslim women out there doing incredible things.” sessions with Hayley Turner, British racing’s most successful female jockey, Khadijah, emerged as the champion of the Magnolia Cup, making history as the first hijab wearing woman to not only compete on a British racecourse but also win. “When I passed the person next to

“Ambitious women can make it. That’s all I want to represent, be ambitious and do it.” me, it was like, oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening- I’m doing it’,” she told The Guardian. “And then I saw all the family and friends and I just started crying uncontrollably. It’s been amazing. Ambitious women can make it. That’s all I want to represent, be ambitious and do it.” On the day, the 18 year old was also seen sporting a Nike-branded hijab just like Manal Rostom. “It’s really difficult wearing a hijab, particularly during the heatwave with my helmet on. It’s hot and it flaps about,” she told The Telegraph. With current rising interests in women in sport, Khadijah’s victory marks another great achievement for not only all women in sport, but also Muslim women and women of colour. On behalf of all Muslim women, we send our Salaam and congratulations to you, sister Khadija!

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Sports

ALL ABOUT READING’S KICKBOXING SOCIETY Essays, deadlines, and exams all ensure that university is an extremely stressful time. So, if you’re looking for a way to alleviate this stress whilst also keeping fit and having fun, then kickboxing may be the perfect sport for you! Kickboxing is also massively

Pablo Menezo / (FLICKR)

Priya Khaira | Sub-Editor What is Kickboxing? Kickboxing is essentially a combination of different combat sports, combining kicking and punching techniques from muay thai, karate and boxing. It is a powerful form of self-defense and general fitness. Kickboxing is unique in that it is a full body contact sport, and therefore allows the freedom of using a range of different parts of the body. It works as a great cardio and muscle toning workout that is amazing for relieving stress. It is not only fantastic for your physical health by improving strength and flexibility, kickboxing is also massively beneficial for your mental health as it improves your focus, awareness and mental clarity. Kickboxing at Reading – What to expect Our Reading Kickboxing Society welcomes members from all

backgrounds, and all levels of experience. Each session is led by a professional kickboxing coach and typically begin with a light warm

Reading Kickboxing Society welcomes members from all backgrounds, and all levels of experience up which consists of cardio exercises. This is followed by learning and practicing different kickboxing

and sparring techniques, and concluded with stretches. The class is centered around learning, and therefore you should feel free to practice at a pace that is comfortable for you. The society is able to provide you with boxing gloves, shin pads and Thai pads, but if you would prefer to use your own equipment then feel free to bring it with you, along with a bottle of water. There are also changing rooms available. There is also no particular clothing requirement; just wear anything that you feel comfortable in! If you are interested in joining then come along to your first session, which is always free. If you wish to join then a student society membership is £60.15 for the entire year, whilst a non-student membership is £65.15. Kickboxing sessions are

beneficial for your mental health as it improves your focus, awareness and mental clarity.

located at the London Road Campus gym, and there will be three two-hour sessions each week. For anyone struggling to find their way, a meeting point will be arranged. We are hoping to vary the focus of our sessions each week, for instance we would like two sessions to focus more heavily on fitness then one session to focus more on technique, depending on the preferences of the members. What to expect this year: Last year we held many socials including a freshers and Christmas event. However, over the next academic year we are hoping to host as many social and charity events as possible so that members can get involved with the society in many

different ways. We are also hoping to also arrange a fight night at some point in the year if we are able to gather enough interest and support from students. What to takeaway: It is imperative to note that kickboxing at Reading is focused around learning a new skill and having fun. Joining the Kickboxing society is a fantastic way to clear your mind, keep your body healthy, and also to learn amazing self-defense skills with a group of like-minded students. So, if you are interested don’t hesitate to contact us on our Facebook page, and also feel free to come and meet us at the Reading Fresher’s sports fayre!

SEPTEMBER , 2019

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Sports

SEPTEMBER , 2019

Fresher to Rower: a novice piece

READING KNIGHTS CHEER

Angus Hinton | Part 2 Accounting & Business I started rowing for the first time when I joined university in September last year. As I hadn’t rowed before coming to Reading, I joined the Novice squad. My mum rowed at University, absolutely loving it, making friends for life (my sister is even named after one, about whom I sadly don’t have space to write out a very funny story I know). Mum had encouraged me to try it out when I started - and how glad I am that she did!

Emma Scott | Part 3 English Language and Applied Linguistics

Photo by BUCS Sport

I’ve loved being a part of the Boat Club - it’s an atmosphere in which you can progress really quickly. I’ve gone from just constantly trying not to capsize when on the water to steering the boat for my crew, to winning a bronze medal in the Novice quad class at BUCS regatta. We have two full-time coaches, as well as two part-time coaches, including two GB Olympians, who create a training programme to push you, but one that is manageable. Rowing is a full body sport, requiring you to engage each major muscle group at some stage in the rowing stroke.

There’s nothing that compares to rowing in the beautiful sunshine on the Thames with your mates At the Boat Club we specialise in sculling - which means that we row with two blades each (rather than one when rowing “sweep”). This specialisation allows the university squad to really excel in these events, rather than splitting the training between two different styles - which is really useful. The camaraderie at the club, I’d say, is second to none within sports and societies at university - we spend hours and hours together each

week - getting up in the morning to row together with your crew in the cold and damp winter months real-

Rowing is a full body sport, requiring you to engage each major muscle group at some stage in the rowing stroke. ly brings you together. In the summer months, there’s nothing that compares to rowing in the beautiful sunshine on the Thames with your mates. I competed in three major competitions as a Novice in the 2018/19 academic year, having the opportunity to race in two BUCS competitions, across four events, and competing at Reading University Head of the River. If you’re looking to try out a new sport this year, join the highest-performing sports team at the university, or want to reach your peak physical fitness with a closeknit, competitive squad, rowing is for you - and you should definitely come and see us at the Freshers Fayre to sign up to the taster sessions. Check out more here: https://youtu.be/6IEU6g2Q8rc

Cheerleading involves aspects of stunting, dance and jumps

Photo by Dee Islam

There are hundreds of societies to join at the University of Reading but have you ever thought about becoming a cheerleader? Reading Knights Cheer is the perfect society if you’re looking to keep fit in a team-orientated sport and meet some of your best friends at university!

Cheerleading involves aspects of stunting, dance and jumps, as well as gymnastic tumble elements for those with previous experience.  With all  of these aspects  mixed together into fastpaced and exciting routines, cheerleading gives students the chance to build stamina and strength whilst performing and entertaining both audiences at the University of Reading and on a national scale. Whether  you’re male or female, if you have previous cheer experience or are a complete beginner, everyone is welcome to try out for one of the best societies on campus!    Reading Knights Cheer offers the chance for athletes to perform on competitive teams which compete against other university cheer teams across the country throughout the year. Or if you don’t want to compete, you can  join their non-competitive performance team that performs routines at other university sport matches across campus and at the university’s annual Varsity event against Oxford Brookes.

Following the departure of Jenn Allsopp and Dee Islam,  previous Reading Knights coaches and University of Reading alumni, at the end of the 2018/19 season, presidents Ffion Bushell and Harriet Cummings are delighted to introduce Reading Knight’s brand-new coach Hayley from Legacy All-

ber 2019! You can speak to the committee about all things ‘Cheer’, ask any questions you have and sign up to the taster sessions which will be taking place on Monday 30th September and Tuesday 1st October at 17:00. You can also contact Reading Knights Cheer by emailing them at rkcheercomm@gmail.com,

Whether you’re male or female, if you have previous cheer experience or are a complete beginner, everyone is welcome to try out for one of the best societies on campus!  stars! Hayley’s appointment is an exciting new adventure for Reading Knights and the committee are looking forward to working with her this coming season.      If you’re thinking about joining this friendly and fun society, come and visit our cheerleaders at the Freshers Fayre on Thursday 26th Septem-

search for Reading Knights Cheer on Facebook or follow their page @ uorknightscheer on Instagram.     Reading Knights Cheer are extremely excited to welcome new freshers to the team so why not give it a go? Our cheerleaders can guarantee it will be a highlight of your university experience!