friday 23rd january 2015
NEWS
NO CONSEQUENCES?
spark volume 70, Issue 1
LIFESTYLE
Then a third of male university students would rape a woman
WANT THIGH HIGH BOOTS?
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORT
Peter Jackson signs off the franchise in LotR style, but does it work?
The president of the University Golf team predicts big things for the year ahead
THE LAST OF THE HOBBITS
This old flame has come back burning hotter than ever this season!
GOLF
An Interview with Ian Hills: A True Gentleman
HANNAH NATHANSON & JAMIE GOSTLOW
2nd Year Zoology & 3rd Year History and International Relations
You’ve seen him out, you’ve probably even got a selfie with him, but what is his story? We sat down with UoR’s favourite local to hear his life’s adventures; from growing up in India to partying till dawn in Ibiza. We give you, Ian Hills. A voicemail was left on my phone: “Hi Jamie, this is Ian Hills here. Thanks for your call, I must say I’m very flattered you’d like to interview me.” We agree to meet at the Global Café at RISC on a Wednesday afternoon. Ian comes across as a calm and personable character, he shakes our hands and takes a seat at the table before revealing a piece of paper with some notes he has made. “People actually find that retirement is completely different to what they expect”, he says. “There’s so much going on, with granddaughters, clubbing, politics, things to do in Spain, a bit of Jazz as well thrown in. So there’s enough to keep me out of mischief and out of the house.” “I was born in India, and my parents were Missionaries out there.” This is where he spent his early years, but “I had polio when I was about nine years of age, and I had to come back over here”. It affected his left arm and he began boarding school in England. It was here that his interest in music began. “I was the first person in school to actually buy a rock and roll record; Rock around the Clock byBill Haley & the Comets on an old wind-up gramophone. And then
the second one was an Elvis Presley one called ‘Hound Dog’.” This was the beginning of a great passion for music, but it wasn’t until university that the party really started. Ian studied Spanish at the University of Birmingham, and spent a year travelling the country as part of his degree course. “It is crazy. I mean, absolutely amazing!” he tells us with an infectious smile. “The Spanish people are really great. What I like about them is that they, you know, their way of life, their attitude to life, they’re here to have a good time – this idea of carpe diem, seize the day.” He has had a love affair with Spain ever since and visits whenever he gets the chance. “It’s fantastic there. I’ve been to Ibiza twice now, as well as a festival in Valencia with a group of friends from the old Mango club in Reading, now called Zeus”. You can see Ian’s eyes light up as he reminisces. Back here he keeps the love alive by getting involved with the Reading Spanish Language Meetup Group “I used to be the organiser for about three and a half years. I’m now an Asst Organiser under the nom de plume of Juanito (the equivalent of Ian in Spanish!)”. They work with the Latin American and Spanish Society (LASS) which “have a boat party as well which gets absolutely bookedup months in advance, and they dance the salsa.” He tells us about Spanishrelated events he’s organised in the past in London, as well as helping to organise Spanish weekly Meetups in Reading. Having worked for British Airways for 20 odd years, we figured he’s have some good advice for students jumping into the job market for the first time. (We were right of course.) Continued on page 3
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NEWS|EDITORIAL
So What Comes Next?
ALEC WOOLFORD CONTENTS
23|01|15 NEWS
Student age bracket rated as the unhappiest in the UK
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BEAUTY
A New Year is a cause for celebration in the beauty world. These fun new lip shades are the perfect way to kick start your style for the season.
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MUSIC
Spend for Spotify? With the latest Spotify Premium deal ending on 24/01, 3 months for 99p, we look at whether it’s worth splashing your cash for.
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Deputy Editor
Here we are, back in Reading, looking out into a new year. For most finalists, 2015 means writing dissertations, taking exams, (hopefully) graduating and figuring out what to do next. As I realised early in the hours of January 1st, for the first time in my life I have no idea what I will be doing in a year’s time. This blank space after university made me realise how structured life has been up until arriving in Reading. Broadly speaking, the well-trodden path goes Primary School, Secondary School, University - maybe you can squeeze a gap year between the latter two. After that, it’s kind of up to you. Whether that means a grad scheme, a post-grad degree, travelling or just moving back in with your parents, it’s completely your decision. There is a fear of being locked into a bad contract: stuck in a job you don’t enjoy, with good money, but no time
DESIGN EDITORS Paula Whetstone Elliot Spain WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO... Designer- Emily Page
be better. Without actually working in a full-time job it’s extremely difficult to accurately predict what kind of profession suits you best. When the clock ticked over to midnight on New Year’s, the past two and a half years of my life seemed to have flown by. How quickly, then, will the next five months go? As we settle back into warm halls and cold student houses it’s difficult not to think about where degrees will lead to. But it’s time to stop worrying: control what you can, and make yourself the best candidate for a position you can. For what you can’t control, there’s no harm in enjoying the next few months.
…for more mistakes NATHALIE SIAH
SPORT
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for RU:ON or anything that shows you have a talent in a specific field. Any way to show that you’ve had prior experience will impress an interviewer. If you’re passionate about something now and you’re not involved with something that helps grow that passion then you are making a serious mistake. The other piece of advice comes from a famous column by the Chicago Tribune’s Mary Schmich. In it she offers this gem to future graduates: “Don’t feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.” This isn’t an excuse for apathy but it is a licence to stop worrying. Considering how structured education is, it is entirely reasonable to not know what you want to do next year. Taking a year out to figure out what you enjoy and what you don’t is vital. If you don’t enjoy your first job that’s okay - hopefully the second one will
I've got a blank space baby The Editor
Book Review – In a new regular piece for the Sports section Frederick Penver looks at Richard Foster’s A-Z of Football Hates.
to spend it; or, worse still, a bad job with bad money. With statistics telling us that two million 20-34 year olds are still living with their parents, it is tempting to see things in a pessimistic light. However, there are two pieces of advice that have stuck with me over my three years of University that have kept me feeling positive. In my first year I worked with the Annual Fund, raising money for the University. In the process of fundraising I spoke with a woman who worked in London, in an area I was interested in. I asked her for some career advice. The main thing, she said, was to have shown a prior interest in what you want to do. This doesn’t mean being able to write passionately about the company or organisation; it means having evidence. Hard proof that you’re interested and actually good at what you want to do is the best thing a candidate can do. This doesn’t necessarily mean a placement or an internship - it could be a skillset you’ve learned from being the secretary on a society, editing videos
EDITOR.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
When I used to study architecture (before the glorious world of law), I had a tough time trying not to drown in the midst of wood, glue, paper and drafting tools. I had broken a couple models (and my sanity) and slept at an absolute minimum. I’m still surprised I have all my fingers. One sleep deprived afternoon, my studio professor, a fairly old crazy Indian man who once made us cookies, told me something quite inspiring. He said that it had been proven that the more success you have is directly linked to the time it takes for you to bounce back from the mistakes you make. Even the most intelligent people lose out when they spend too long sitting in their room depressed (or gaming) thinking about their failures. Everyone’s a little guilty of that. This bit of advice crosses my thoughts often, especially during this time of year when everyone is making new goals and resolutions. In a world of instantaneous communication
and constantly updating technology, people often forget that our dreams aren’t achieved in a single minute, hour or even day. Making a change in your life is hard, and most are put off by the challenge before even starting. Don’t return to fetal position at the mere thought of doing something slightly difficult! Just remember that the man responsible for creating the famous Kentucky Fried Chicken chain failed over 1,000 times before becoming successful. Now, if he could be that insensible, you can too. So here’s my advice for the year of 2015: just do it, and make lots of mistakes. Just remember that all you have to do is get up and try again. I went back to Canada this Christmas—a decision in which I’m still debating whether was good or not. It looked like the frozen tundra that exists only in Interstellar. It was difficult not only because I froze my buns off, but because I felt like I did some sort of weird time warp into another place. If you aren’t sure how international students feel, here’s a simple way to put it: we come home and all our travels have felt like a long dream—even the rainy school-related ones. Those aren’t really that nice.
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Drawn by Nathalie Siah
One of the problems I’ve encountered when going back home is that everyone remembers all the stupid things that you did when you were younger, but this is also one of the advantages too. Because of all the adventures and mishaps that happened while trying to get in shape and getting that really cute guy in English class to notice me, the more I learned from the experience. These lessons include figuring out that following the guy in English class home is not a good idea and eating ice cream at midnight is always a bad idea. But on a more serious note, I escaped the world of architorture, flew across the world to pretend that I’m on Suits and started working for The Spark. And it’s because of the mistakes I made in
Canada that I found what I enjoy and cherish. I still love being home. The Spark has come a long way from its 80 year mark with our quirky Committee. We have a rich history that still embodies the voice of students but embraces modernity with a twist. With the change to 2015, the Committee has made mistakes, evolved and changed. Great people have left us and made their mark, fresh faces have joined and others remained. The important thing is that the paper still somehow managed to come together and we always pull through; something I’m always grateful for. Drink up, dance and write in—who knows what all your mistakes will bring?
EDITORIAL
NEWS.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
“First of all, begin with the end in mind: what are your goals going to be? What are you really keen on doing? And then if you can, follow your dream – I know this might cost you initially – but if you have that vision about what you want to do and show what steps you’ve taken to get there, that is quite a powerful message for people you want to impress.” We asked him if he has a vision of himself at the moment and he tells us his aim is to live life to the fullest. “Life is transformed now, with the opportunity to actually live for the moment. So in a sense that is what I hope to be able to do until 150. People actually say to me, “you know Ian, I just hope I’m going to be like you when I’m your age” and I say, ‘well, what I’ll do is I’ll check you out when I’m 150!’” It is a Saturday afternoon and Ian is sitting at home. Suddenly, his mobile rings: “Ian, come down to the Union! Come down to Park Bar!” A phenomenon, taking the internet by storm, had found its way to the university: the Harlem Shake. He went along just to see what was happening and was surprised to learn that he was to be the centrepiece! At this point most of us would have cowered away but Ian, being Ian, thought “why not?” and jumped up onto the canteen table to take pride of place… “Some people talk to me and they say ‘what are you doing out Granddad?’ and I say to them, ‘what are you doing out grandson? Shouldn’t you be tucked-up in bed?!’ There’s a lot of banter in clubs, you know.” We asked him if the banter ever gets on his nerves, “not at all, no. I take it just as a bit of fun.” Turns out he really likes us students; “I couldn’t come across a more friendly bunch! The great thing is that age can be a barrier sometimes, but that’s not my experience.” “I go into the clubs and people come up to me and they say “you having a good time?” They’re so up for it and so, just enjoy what is going on. It’s really infectious, I love it! And people say “Why are you out?” and I say well, for that reason.” We were also fascinated to learn that he doesn’t actually drink on a night out, he’s soda water and ice all the way. “And I don’t even have to ask. If I go into Q Club, for example, there it is, on the table, soda water and ice. I go to Lola’s… soda water and ice.” He drew our attention to his t-shirt which has the word ‘Vamanos!’ printed on. It was designed for him by his son and translates to ‘let’s go!’ If you spot Ian out clubbing, he’ll almost certainly be wearing it!
“ We asked him if he has a vision of himself at the moment and he tells us his aim is to live life to the fullest” Ian is happily married and he and his wife have lived in Reading for the past 44 years. He has two grownup daughters who both live and work in the UK and his son lives and works
“I go into the clubs and people come up to me and they say “you having a good time?” They’re so up for it and so, just enjoy what is going on. It’s really infectious, I love it!”
in Australia. He also has two young beautiful baby granddaughters, the oldest of which he has been teaching to dance! Through the process of writing this article, we have come to the conclusion that Ian has the perfect amount of yolo. The things he has experienced through being openminded and kind-hearted have inspired us both and we hope they do the same for you. If you haven’t liked the Ian Hills Appreciation page on Facebook already… GET ON IT SON.
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|NEWS
FRISKY STUDENTS The more partners you have at university, the worse your degree will be P.4
NOVEL RESEARCH UoR extends research collection with Billie Whitelaw purchase P.8
THE EDITOR'S PICKS
UoR ELECTION RUSU President fills students in on how to register for voting P.8
ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL A new school of architecture is coming to the UoR P.6
NEWS
NATHALIE SIAH The Editor
SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT
Have a craving for sushi? With One World Week coming up, we took a look at the Japanese Society to find out what makes this East Asian culture worth five stars
BUILDING BLOCKS AT READING
Exciting new paths for those interested in pursuing a career in designing structures! Reading University opens its arms for its new architecture department
A TRAP: SPOTIFY
Does this streaming service really a catch on access to music? This guilty pleasure might just be a clever way to trap you while your ears want more
TABLET V LAPTOP
This review will steer you in the right direction for the eternal debate between tablets and laptops.
Credit to Flickr Images
The friskier you are, the less chance you have of passing your degree ABBIE WEAVING News Editor
The more sexual partners you have in your final year of studying, the more likely you are to fail your degree, according to a new survey. ProPlus found that 36% of students who had failed to pass their degrees and 32% who achieved a third confessed to having had “numerous relationships”
in their last year of university. Of the 2,000 former student surveyed that were awarded a 2:1, however, only 11% admitted to having had “numerous relationships” in their final year, and for those who left with a first this was still low at 12%. As well as highlighting a correlation between relationships and reading lists, ProPlus found that pulling an allnighter is not such a good idea either. In fact, just 16% of the former
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“ProPlus also found that pulling an all-nighter is not such a good idea either.”
students who passed with a first worked throughout the night, while a huge 43% of those who failed confessed to doing the same thing. For third year students then, ProPlus not only recommends avoiding a “constantly turbulent love life”, but also an unhealthy bedtime schedule.
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
GENERAL NEWS
|NEWS
Climate justice PhD programme receives £1 million from Leverhulme Trust KATRINA HORDERN 3rd year BSc Archaeology
The disciplines of social science, philosophy and physical sciences are receiving a £1 million grant for fifteen PhD students to undertake research into Climate Justice: Ethics, Politics and Law, at the University of Reading. The Leverhulme Trust, an organisation that has been funding research since 1925, allocates approximately £60 million a year for research grants in all disciplines. This crucial funding for Reading will create new experts in climate change, providing them with an awareness of the ethical and the scientific importance of topics. Leader of this new programme and Professor of Political Theory, Catriona Mckinnon, said: “Climate change is a physical phenomenon that creates social problems. These will only be successfully addressed by ethically informed policies. The new Programme will produce a cohort of post-doctoral experts with the required breadth of knowledge and understanding to enable the development and implementation of just climate policies.” Reading is already home to the Department of Meteorology and Walker Institute for Climate System Research and this new project will encourage interdisciplinary research with the department of Politics and International Relations and
Philosophy and Reading’s Law school. What’s more, the research will lead to a new ‘Reading Research Centre for Climate and Justice’ being created. This is a great opportunity for the scientific progress that has already been made in this area to also operate alongside the legal, ethical and political aspects of subject areas. These projects aim to examine ethical approaches to policymaking, considering the uncertainty of climate science, communication of climate science and consider the ethics involved in new technologies, and the idea of climate as an international crime. Ultimately the results of these research projects will inform future climate change policy. Indeed, having a new cohort of scientifically literate academics, lawyers, policy makers and social scientists will ensure that they have the breadth of knowledge required in this crucial discipline of climate change. University of Reading ViceChancellor, Sir David Bell, added: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant by the Leverhulme Trust. The university is a hub of international research excellence with outstanding academics and a proven track-record of supporting doctoral candidates through to completion. “We are in a unique position to offer a first-class doctoral programme,
Credit to Wikimedia
across the boundaries of many academic disciplines. In doing so, we will make a powerful contribution to the better understanding of climate change in all its different dimensions.” The first five Leverhulme Doctoral Scholars will begin study under the Climate Justice Programme at Reading in October 2015.
Scholarships are being advertised now with the deadline on the 27th March 2015. Please visit the website for further details: http://www. reading.ac.uk/gs-climatejustice.aspx.
UoR’s research reputation continues to climb
The University has been praised in particular for its business and environmental sciences courses DANIELLE PAGLIONICO
2rd year BA English Language
The University of Reading has continued to excel in research rankings, according to a sumup of last year’s research ratings.
The Research Excellence Framework (2014) has ranked the quality and quantity of the University’s research as 27th out of 154 institutions. Among this research, 98% was rated as internationally recognised, 78% as internationally excellent and 27% as world leading. Among other strengths in research over a number of disciplines, Reading
proved exceptional in units of study in Business and Management (in which it is ranked third in the worldleading table), as well as Earth Systems & Environmental Sciences (third in the UK for research power). Sir David Bell, the Vice Chancellor of the University, said that these results “show that Reading… conducts outstanding research which
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makes a difference to people’s lives... [employing] research staff that are at the very top of their field...” He added: “Reading is at the forefront of pioneering research and driving innovation.” In addition, Professor Steve Mithen, University of Reading Deputy ViceChancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, said that the University
“is home to many outstanding departments and schools [and]… we are proud of the depth and breadth of our outstanding research. “Our focus will be to continue conducting research that secures and sustains societies and has lasting impact across the globe.”
NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
New architecture school coming to Reading in 2016
10 Quirky facts 1. University of Reading's Whiteknights campus is home to more than 1,400 different species. 2. Jane Austen attended boarding school in Reading.
The new school will be led by Professor Lorraine Farrelly, and give students “live” projects to work on
3. An adult male duck is called a drake.
KATRINA HORDERN
5. If you dream that you are doing your laundry, it suggests that you are cleaning up your act or changing your image because you are concerned about how you appear to others.
3rd year BSC Archaeology
The University of Reading is introducing a new architecture school, which is due to be opened in 2016. The School of Architecture will enhance the first-rate status of the University for research and education in subjects of the built environment, and the first intake is expected to be around 40 students later this year. Professor Lorraine Farrelly will become the Foundation Professor of Architecture and lead the new school.
A past lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, Professor Farrelly, is not only a trained architect, but has also published several books and worked alongside many professional practitioners. In fact, the course provides its students with professional experience as it aims
to give students the opportunity to design “live” projects for clients. Professor Farrelly said: “The new School of Architecture at the University of Reading will build on the extensive existing staff expertise and reputation around education and research in the built environment, such as the University's strong School of Construction Management and Engineering. “We want students to benefit from the professional focus the School will have, which will be strongly linked to the architectural and building practice agenda. And there are some fantastic spaces that the students will be using to support their learning experience.” The course is an exciting addition to the University of Reading, especially since its school of Architecture, Built Environment and Planning is currently ranked at 6th in the Research Excellence Framework.
“The course is an exciting addition to the field, with Reading’s architecture courses already being ranked as 6th for quality research.”
4. The name cappuccino comes from its resemblance to the clothing of the Capuchin monks.
6. After 65 years of saving pennies, an 81 year old man deposited $817 worth of coins to his bank account. 7. Tiger Woods’ tooth got knocked out after he was hit by the media following the World Cup race victory. 8. People with psychotic disorders are more likely to be left handed. 9. When Dr. Seuss had writer’s block, he went to a secret closet filled with hundreds of hats and tried them on until he figured out what to write. 10. Most people lose their virginity ages 18-21.
18-24 year old workers labelled unhappiest in Britain Feeling a bit miserable, or worried by the prospect of starting your career? Chances are you’re not alone, according to a survey by Conference Genie. EMMA KNOWLES News Editor 3rd year Philosophy
Although leaving school or university may traditionally be seen as an exciting time in our lives, a recent survey has found that within the 18-24 age group, 12% of participants would rate their current happiness at work as a measly one out of ten – making 18-24 the unhappiest age group in the country. However, it’s not all bad news, as 41% of 18-24s rated their work-life balance as ‘good’, with only 14% describing it as ‘bad’ – suggesting that even if career satisfaction is not up to scratch, it is important for 1824s to maintain a social life outside
of work to increase overall happiness. Conference Genie carried out the survey with workers across the UK to discover who the happiest workers are and which cities they live in. This worklife balance, as well as job and pay satisfaction, influenced the findings. The survey found that the happiest city for UK workers is Plymouth, with an average score of 7.5/10 across all categories. Of those surveyed in Plymouth, 92% said they had a ‘good’ or ‘okay’ work/life balance. Leeds came in second, with an overall average of 6.67/10, and down at the bottom of the pile was Aberystwyth – where 63% of workers surveyed had been raised and now worked in the town. These results suggest that those who were born and raised in the city
they now work or study in could do with a change of scenery in order to boost their job happiness. When asked which city they’d most like to work in, the most popular among those aged 18-24 was London, being chosen by 29% of respondees. The runner up was Manchester, although this trailed behind with only 8% opting for the northern city. Despite coming out on top as the city where workers experience the most work-life happiness, Plymouth was only chosen by 0.6% of respondees. A possible reason for the 18-24 age group earning the accolade of the country’s most miserable workers is working too much overtime - 61% are working more than their contracted hours. Of these, nearly half are working
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between 6-10 hours extra per week. The daily commute also sees 20% of workers aged 18-24 feeling down. This may have been a daunting read, but luckily there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for graduates: the country’s happiest age group is of those aged 2534, who largely described their work life balance as ‘good’ or ‘amazing’.
GENERAL NEWS
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
£100,000 funding boost for University’s dementia research
New funding aims to improve the lives of 830,000 people living with dementia in the UK
SIMON BROWN 2nd year Mathematics
Pioneering dementia research has been given a boost of £100,000 from the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK in a bid to improve the lives of the 830,000 people in the UK living with dementia. The University’s School of Pharmacy recently published finding suggesting a possible protective role for carbon monoxide in Alzheimer’s. Lecturer in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Reading's School of Pharmacy, Dr Mark Dallas, said: “Reading is undertaking cutting-edge research
to combat the diseases that cause dementia. However diseases like Alzheimer's are multi-faceted and to fight them effectively we need to tackle the challenge from many different angles. “Collaboration is key and at Reading we have built links between a range of disciplines, from scientists working in the lab to clinical researchers who work with patients. The Alzheimer's Research UK network plays an important role in helping to foster this collaborative spirit.” The funding was given to the Alzheimer's Research UK's Oxford Research Network Centre, a collaboration between scientists at the University of Reading, the University
of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University, one of the 15 national hubs for the charity’s research. Matthew Norton, Head of Public Affairs at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: “We urgently need better ways to treat and prevent the diseases that cause it [dementia]. Members of our Research Network in Reading have shown a real commitment to this challenge, and we're delighted to help shine the spotlight on the vital work they are doing. “Investment in research is crucial if we are to deliver effective new treatments to the people who need them, and it's important that this work is given full backing from all of us charities, government and the public.”
Society Spotlight: Come and experience one of the world's most unique cultures with the Japanese Society! Crazy for anime? Can't get enough of Pokémon? Well they all came from the same place... OLLIE WEEDEN 2nd year Law
Welcoming Japanese and nonJapanese students, our society is for anyone who has an interest in Japanese culture, studies the language, or simply wants to experience something new in a fun and friendly environment! We are planning a range of activities this term to ensure that each meeting has its own unique character. Such activities range from film nights, (with complimentary drinks and snacks), presentations and basic language and culture sessions to aikido/kendo taster days and trips to local sushi restaurants! At the society awards last year, we won first prize in the recognition which officially granted our society five star status on campus. As well as promoting the
language and culture we try to create a community in which students from the other side of the world and from the UK can be brought together. We have very good relations with local East Asian/Japanese businesses which means that our members can enjoy discounts at local retailers and restaurants. We have also had recognition from the Japanese embassy in London who last year granted us various cultural items for us to exhibit at the university. Last term we were very pleased to have around a hundred new members expressing their interest in joining the society and hosted a very successful welcoming party. This paved the way for us to have a language session hosted by postgraduate students from the University. These same students went on to be very helpful in talking to members about any questions they had about life in Japan. Our society meets bi-weekly on
|NEWS
Kerbside glass collection stopped in Reading thanks to recycling rates The University has contributed to a surge in glass recycling rates, thanks to its students MIA ANDERSON
1st year English Literature and Language
Kerbside glass collection companies in Reading are losing business because people are taking so much of their own glass to the bottle bank, Councillor Liz Terry has revealed. Indeed, only 5% of Reading’s landfill waste is now glass. David Moore, asset manager highways, told GetReading in December that the council would open its waste management strategy to public consultation in the New Year. The strategy aims to increase recycling and minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill. It also intends to increase understanding in the community of waste recycling and deliver an efficient, effective value-for-money service. The new plan hopes to improve Reading’s recycling rates, which don’t live up to the standards of neighbouring councils and have failed to hit the targets of 40-45% . Councillor Ed Hopper said that the town “could do better,” hoping Reading’s current 36%
“The University of Reading has been noted by Councillor Josh Williams for its “great effort” in persuading students to recycle.” recycling rate would be improved. Despite this, the amount of waste going to landfill has fallen from 77% in 2006 to 23% in 2014. In fact, the University of Reading has been noted by Councillor Josh Williams for its “great effort” in persuading students to recycle. In comparison to similar urban areas, Councillor Paul Gitings said Reading’s record compared favourably. He said that the waste-toenergy facility in Colnbrook produces enough energy to power Heathrow, adding that it was “not a perfect use for waste but it’s a good one.” He later added: “We need to get down what we throw away. 30% of all the food we buy is put in the bin – 30% in these hard times is an amazing statistic.”
“Last term we were very pleased to have around a hundred new members expressing their interest.”
Monday evenings from 7:30pm, usually in HUMMS. To keep up with all the latest news and events be sure to join our group on Facebook! We hope to see you soon! The Japanese Society at a recent gathering
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NEWS|GENERAL NEWS
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Billie Whitelaw collection 2015 General Election: bought by UoR National Whitelaw’s works will feature alongside the University’s extensive Beckett collection
HARRIET LYNDS 2nd year English Literature
The University of Reading and the Beckett International Foundation recently announced the acquisition of actress Billie Whitelaw’s archive of work, which will feature alongside the collected works of playwright and novelist, Samuel Beckett. The deal was made last week, at an auction at Sotheby’s in London. The £35,000 purchase was funded by a variety of contributions from the Beckett International Foundation, the Arts Council England/Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund and the Friends of the National Libraries. The archive includes items ranging from annotated play-scripts to costumes worn by Billie Whitelaw herself, and will add to the rest of
the University’s Beckett Collection. Dr Mark Nixon, Director of the Beckett International Foundation at the University of Reading, said: “The University of Reading is arguably the centre of Beckett Studies worldwide. This is a wonderful addition to our collection. The material complements our existing material relating to the plays they worked on together, such as Beckett’s own directorial notes as well as most of the relevant draft manuscripts and typescripts. The mind of one of the most renowned playwrights, as well as his crucial working relationship with actors, can now all be studied under one roof.” The collection will be available to anyone with an enthusiasm for Beckett - including scholars, students and theatre practitioners. It will also feature in public events and teaching programmes. Billie Whitelaw became the first Annenberg Fellow in
“Billie Whitelaw became the first Annenberg Fellow in 1992 and has had a close link with the University ever since.” 1992 and has had a close link with the University ever since. Professor James Knowlson, University of Reading Emeritus Professor, friend of Beckett and his sole authorised biographer, said: “Billie Whitelaw has so many connections with the University of Reading that it is the natural place for her Beckett material to be held. We are very thrilled to have been able to purchase it.” For the University of Reading, the acquisition of this collection is a fantastic investment that aims to benefit students with an interest in Beckett or a broader passion for theatre.
A third of male students would rape a woman if there were no consequences Study leaders suggest society must change its perception of rape in order to educate such men SARAH PENNY 1st year English Literature
A third of male university students would consent to raping women, if there were no risks or consequences for them afterwards, according to new research. Carried out by the scientific journal, Violence and Gender, the research focused on mainly white male Americans, with the participants having to complete a questionnaire detailing how they would act in sexual situations. 31.7% of these men agreed with non-consensual sex “if nobody would ever know and there wouldn’t be any consequences”, which ultimately amounts to rape. However, and more shockingly, many men participating in this study did not recognise their
“However, many men participating in this study did not recognise their actions were classed as rape.” actions were classed as rape. The study’s authors said: “Some men will endorse items asking whether they have used force to obtain intercourse, but will deny having raped a women.” Indeed, they found that only 13.6% of participants said they would explicitly rape a woman without consequences. The authors of this study have since said, however, that rejecting the label of ‘rape’ describing these men’s actions could potentially have implications for sexual education programmes. They instead suggest that such programmes should only change
this groups’ behaviour through firstly erasing society’s perception of the “stereotypical racist.” Other questions in the survey revealed that the men who would actively admit to “named” rape had distinct hostilities and held “callous” views towards women. This was markedly different from those men who had only intentions to rape. As a result, authors warned the men with the most strongly held views against women that they would be the most challenging for education programmes to target.”
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Register to Vote Week NATALIE HARPER RUSU PRESIDEN
The general election is approaching and electoral candidates across the country are readying their manifesto pledges hoping for your votes. But hang on, why should you care? MPs never offer anything for students, right? The government is made up of men and women who speak of fiscal cuts and immigration quotas in a language most of us don’t understand. They increased your tuition fees whilst some of them swindled their own expenses. You know that there are plenty of different candidates, yet they all seem the same to you. Why do you think pensioners get a fuel allowance? Because they vote! Isn’t it about time we told the government about the allowances that we need? Students do get pushed out of politics and the government is seen as out of touch. The NUS recently published a statement which said that there are 197 seats across the country where the MP has a majority of 10% or less. This means that each of the seats would need a swing of no more than 5% to change hands entirely. In all but six of those
Credit to Flickr Images
seats, the number of students in the area is larger than the swing required. This means that students seriously have the power to potentially sway almost 200 seats. Find out more about how you can be the change during RUSU’s National Voter Registration Week (NVRW), running from the 2nd to the 6th of February 2015! The events of the week will include: general election ‘basics’ workshops, a student political societies debate and a competition where teams of students will compete to get as many people as possible registered during the week (the prize is top secret at the moment but all shall be revealed shortly). RUSU will also be launching a survey where we will be asking you to let us know about the biggest issues that you face as a student today! The results will be presented to local parliamentary candidates who will be given a chance to make a commitment to support student needs. To apply to be part of the competition, if you would like to get involved with NVRW or for more information please email me on president@rusu.co.uk. #RUTheChange
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NOMINATIONS OPEN WEEK 2 6 . 3 0 p m , T h u r s d a y 2 2 nd J a n u a r y
NOMINATIONS CLOSEWEEK 5 3 . 0 0 p m , T h u r s d a y 1 2 th F e b r u a r y
rusu.co.uk/elections
#RUtheChange 9
As a Full-time Officer you will lead RUSU and work to represent Reading students. You sit on the RUSU Trustee Board and are a member of a wide-range of University Committees. Full-time Officers are paid circa £18,000 and work from July for one year.
As a Part-time Officer, you work to represent a specific student group or issue. You sit on the RUSU Liberation and Representation Committee and run campaigns. Part-Time Officer roles include: • • •
As a Student Trustee you sit on the RUSU Trustee Board. The Trustee Board ensures that RUSU acts in accordance with its charitable objectives, monitors RUSU’s financial performance and directs the affairs of RUSU with regard to what students want and need.
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• • • •
LGBT+ Officer Women’s Officer Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic Students’ Officer Disabled Students’ Officer International Students’ Officer Mature Students’ Officer Environment & Ethics Officer
As an Undergraduate Faculty Rep you represent students in your faculty and sit on the Faculty Board for Teaching & Learning. You will gain experience working with key University staff to make positive changes to teaching and learning.
Nominations close on Thursday 12th February
Nominate yourself at RUSU.CO.UK/ELECTIONS 10
COMMENT
NEWS@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
LGBT rights in Russia: prejudice and propaganda
ERIN PEACOCK 1st year English Literature
The immediate period after the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991 in Russia showed promising and more open-minded views towards the rights of the country’s LGBT community. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that this liberalism is returning full circle back to before homosexuality was decriminalized in 1993. Vladimir Putin claims that there are no “infringements on sexual minorities’ rights” in Russia, but the current events regarding new laws and repeated homophobic violence against LGBT activists seem to tell a
different story. Recently the Russian government put into place a new law stating that people with a ‘sexual disorder’ (by which they inclusively mean transgender people) are not eligible to drive and will henceforth be denied driving licenses. Despite Russian Human Rights lawyers highlighting many negative consequences of this move, such as people being too scared to seek psychiatric support, it has still gone ahead. This is not the only law in place domineering the lives and rights of the Russian LGBT community. In 2013 it was decided that it was against the law to “promote non-traditional lifestyles” (a euphemism for homosexual propaganda), especially to children. Although “homosexuality” is
not explicitly mentioned in the amendment, it suggests that LGBT people residing in the country are too dissimilar and alien to the “traditional” and conventional sexual orientation and are, therefore, inferior. Moreover, a poll in 2013 found that 85% of the Russian people voted against same sex marriage and the idea to banish LGBT discriminatory laws. It is not just the majority of the government who demonstrates an inherent prejudice, but a large proportion of the people too. Indeed, it is recorded that in the UK 44% of young LGBT people have considered suicide. This is an unarguably shocking figure and highlights that despite some politicians attempting to convince us that we are a country
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of equality that is just not the case. Comparatively Russia has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, with the national average being three times higher in young people than anywhere else in the year of 2012. It is quite rightly presumable by these statistics that the repressive attitudes of the nation towards homosexuality are partly responsible for such high figures. This is something the country is yet to address. Unfortunately, it is the case that even activists in support of LGBT rights are treated violently on their protests. It is recorded that activists have previously been attacked with syringes by anti-gay groups in order to “cleanse” them. In fact, in 2013 a Russian MP even called for gay people to be whipped in public.
|NEWS
Transgender people are denied privileges of 21st century life because Russia stays stagnant in the views the world retained about the LGBT minority many millennia ago. There is a big spotlight on Russia at the moment, especially since the Sochi winter Olympics, and hopefully, soon, we might see a positive change in Russia’s firm oppressive stance.
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Get a little support with motivational tips and advice from Elizabeth Andrews. P.14
NEW UNION NIGHT What's it like to spend New Year’s the French way? Harriet Barber spills all. P.13
YEAR HIGHLIGHTS Check out this recap of the world’s top moments. P.14
BEAUTY FAVOURITES Find out what this ultimate beauty guru says about her 2014 favourites! P.17
LIFESTYLE 5 Norovirus Survival Tips For Halls Residents
Living in halls? Avoid January sickness with these 5 useful tips TOM CHANNON 3rd Year English Language
The winter vomiting bug (a.k.a. norovirus) is back, and students living in halls are at greater risk of contracting it than others. I mean think about it: you’re used to the family home environment and then bang; you’re packed into a block with certain students who don’t always wash their hands. As a guy plagued by emetophobia (an irrational fear of being sick) since early childhood, that really ugly strain of norovirus known as ‘Sydney 2012’ meant that coming back to my halls in January 2013 was a nightmare. Every day, I lived in fear that I would throw up at any time. I actually ended up bed-stricken with nausea, caused by anxiety. I’m not a hygiene freak, but following that ‘ordeal’, I now pay close attention to hygiene. But if you aren’t as careful, the threat of infection is ever greater. Okay, you might think norovirus isn’t that serious. It’s just nausea, diarrhoea and non-alcohol-related chundering, right? All that lasting like a day or so… you may have a point. But if the gruesome recollections posted on NHS Direct are anything to go by, why would you want to go through it? All this sounds bad, but there’s no need to worry. By leading a cleaner lifestyle than you might already, you’ll do well to avoid norovirus in 2015. Here are 5 simple steps you can take to stay healthy this New Year;
Credit to The Times
1. Wash your hands! Just make it a regular habit. You don’t have to tell people randomly about it, but paying attention to your hands and nails is good practice for all times of the year, for your own health as well as for those around you. If you can, wash them after you return from a lecture or the shops, and particularly before eating. 2. Don’t wait for the cleaners. If you have anti-bacterial cleaner and kitchen roll to hand, give the work surfaces a once-over during food preparation and you’re rocking. Make sure that washing up is completed, wipe away crumbs on the work surfaces, and as for that
unopened loaf of bread left out for the past fortnight that nobody wants to question… yeah, chuck it. 3. Avoid contact with those infected like the plague. And for at least 2 days afterwards. I’m not saying abandon your friends in their darkest hours, but you don’t want to spread the virus more than it already has. Send your flatmate lots of virtual hugs via text or private message. Encourage them to stay in their rooms and offer to bring them whatever supplies they need. They will appreciate it. 4. Use your own stuff! Sharing kitchen items is more common that most people realise,
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especially among good friends. During the norovirus season however, it’s better to avoid doing this. It also goes without saying that to avoid potential arguments, confusion or general feelings of violation among your flatmates, it’s better to use your own things anyway. 5. Infected? Don’t go outside, for anything. It’s not always possible to avoid getting the virus, I know that, even in spite of cleanliness. If you do end up getting it, then please… quarantine yourself away for a few days! The Medical Practice can’t help you one way or the other, so it’s better to just ride it out in your room. Going back to tip number 3, have
your flatmates/friends bring light snacks, medicine and other supplies to you. Also, make sure to inform your Halls Reception over the phone that you are infected. If you are unlucky enough to get it this year, be sure to get well soon, and to all readers, I hope you have a happy and healthy New Year!
GENERAL
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
|LIFESTYLE
The crème de le crème of New Years! Choosing a cultural New Years Eve over a sweaty English nightclub HARRIET BARBER 3rd Year English Language
Photographed by Steven Wells
Discouraged by previous New Years Eves in nightclubs, spending weeks worth of wages on only a few drinks and being harassed by singletons looking to share the stroke of midnight with someone, this year I opted for a more cultural New Year’s experience. On the 29th of December I set off via Easyjet (the flight was only £30!) to Paris for four nights. The days I spent were lazy but relaxing; strolling around the main tourist sights of the Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame and sipping endless cups of coffee and wine. I became the epitome of
pretentiousness. But, looking to spice up the typical Paris experience, I also sought out some unusual attractions. One of the more unromantic but interesting activities was visiting the Paris catacombs. This mass grave situated under the streets of Paris contains six million bodies stacked in various patterns, and, as only 200 people are permitted inside per hour, walking around the tunnels alone for lengthy periods of time is particularly eerie. Top tip, get to this early in the morning; we arrived around midday and endured a four-hour queue in the cold! The Parc des Buttes Chaumont is another highlight if you want to escape the rammed streets. This public park is not the largest in Paris, but contains the Temple de la Sibylle which sits perched at the tip of a cliff. The surrounding lake and waterfalls are stunning in the winter, and it is easily one of the more remote but romantic sights in Paris. For book-lovers, make sure to visit the Shakespeare and Company bookstore by the Notre Dame, which
originally doubled as a library, publisher and boarding house for hopeful writers. This quaint store contains an array of new and secondhand books (most of which are in English). There is even a piano for all to play and a bookstore cat! New Years Eve itself was certainly interesting and memorable. To avoid long queues, as well as overpriced food, we avoided restaurants and made our own picnic for the evening. After dressing up, as expected in Paris, we made our way to the Champs Elysees, certainly the place to be! Travelling by the Metro was free for the night however this came with the frustrating downside of being stuck down the Metro station for forty-five minutes. Owing to the amount of people arriving at the Champs Elysees, only certain amounts of people were allowed out of each barrier at a time. It was horrendous. We were crammed in and unable to move as others, impatient to escape, were attempting to shove forward. More trains kept arriving, and obviously the situation became worse. Children began crying
Dear Miss Advised, I am a University student in my third year, and I am having a problem with the guy that I’m seeing. We have been together for about four months, and see each other a lot, but it’s mainly on weekdays after lectures, and when it comes to the weekends he’s always busy with his guy
friends. He never invites me out with him and when he’s with his friends, he never answers his phone until at least midday the next day. How do I know if I can trust him? He’s a good looking guy and always gets looks from girls at clubs etc, but he’s very secretive. What can I do? From, Miss Very Confused
Spring-Term Student Miss Advised Wellbeing Survey MAX JAMES
It goes without saying that we aspire to be the best we can as we pursue higher education. However, our academic ability is constrained by many factors that can be out of our control, whether that is our finances or our housing arrangements. Despite the majority of undergraduate students paying £9,000 in tuition fees a year to the University, there are few channels of communication where students’ anxieties and issues can be raised and understood. The University does not truly learn what we care about, what our grievances are, until we are about to leave University in the National Students’ Survey. It is important for those who teach, manage and serve Readings’ student population to understand what drives student wellbeing, especially against a backdrop of increased tuition fees. It is for reasons such as these as to why we need to be providing feedback throughout our time in Reading so that the University can act accordingly. The Department of Economics has set up the Student Wellbeing Project to study just this. This project seeks to build a longitudinal dataset by surveying students every term to gain a detailed understanding of what affects student wellbeing and how wellbeing changes over the student life-cycle. The feedback received from the
Autumn-Term wellbeing survey has been excellent and forms an effective foundation for the following waves of survey. It is for this reason we need you!
Following the success of the previous Autumn-Term survey, we are calling all non-finalists undergraduates (First, Second and non-finalist Third years) to fill in the Spring-Term Wellbeing Survey. If you have previously completed the autumn survey we would really value you completing the spring survey, as well as those who have not filled in the previous survey. The questionnaire consists of mainly tick box answers and will take no more than five minutes to complete. It is completely anonymous, and your input could help shape University policy, addressing areas that are dear to students’ wellbeing. The survey is live from Monday 19th January (week 2) until Friday 20th February (week 6). To fill in the short survey for the Student Wellbeing Project, please log onto RISIS Web Portal: www.risisweb.reading.ac.uk, where you can find a link to the survey on the front page. We will also be setting up survey stations across the campus, so keep an eye out for them! For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Max James at m.l.james@reading.ac.uk.
and everyone was confused and frightened as to what was happening. So, if you find yourself in Paris for New Years avoid the metros from 9pm onwards! Luckily though, we did manage to escape the station and see in the countdown. The Champs Elysees itself was spectacular; the trees were still covered in Christmas lights, everyone was singing, laughing and wishing one another a Bonne Année! There was an overall wonderful atmosphere. Prior to the countdown there was an impressive light-show projected onto the Arc de Triumphe with fireworks set off as midnight hit. The rest of the evening was spent roaming around the city with thousands of other people and with no particular destination. In all, the cultural city break definitely trumped my typical New Year’s experience of a sweaty English nightclub, even if we did get a taste of it after being crammed in the Paris underground!
Dear Miss Very Confused! Firstly, you do need to tell yourself that despite all these girls apparently looking at him, he is with you for a reason! He wouldn’t want to be with you if he wanted to be with all these other girls. Secondly, you need to address the issue at hand. Has he had a history of cheating? Does he get bored easily? Neither of these are your fault, so remember that, but if he is playing away it needs to be addressed. I would invite yourself on one of the nights out (maybe bring a friend that could meet one of his - wink wink) and see how he acts around you, and if he shows you off. Chances are, he acts like a complete tool in front of the ‘lads’ and it just isn’t something he wants you to see! Don’t turn crazy and check his phone etc. as that shows a lack of trust (and he may brand you a bit of a psycho) but if you are still worried- ask him outright! If he hasn’t cheated it will be evident, and if he has then chances are he’s going to get a sweat on and completely ignore the situation. Good luck. Have trust everything will work out! Miss Advised.
Drawn by Kate Bowen
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LIFESTYLE|HEALTH
LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
Goal Maintinance NIKI IGBAROOLA 3rd year Classical Studies and English Literature
So you’ve made goals year after year and find yourself breaking them a few weeks or even a few days into the New Year with the promise that “next year I will try harder.” In this New Year, here are a few tips to help you along with maintaining resolutions to get that self-satisfied smirk of achievement come New Years Eve 2015.
Set yourself ONE goal: This sounds somewhat silly and perhaps even seems like a lazy approach to resolutions but a single goal equates into a singular focus. This is something that works best with a physical activity from sports to baking, and even down to reading more books. Maintaining this goal means incorporating it into your everyday regime through the keeping of a schedule. By carving out a specific time each day for this activity you find yourself becoming more organised as well as finding other things to do to aid your goal. So if you
New Year, New You? ELIZABETH ANDREWS
4th year Food Technology with BioProcessing
A very Happy New Year to you all!! Many of us begin each year with ambitions and ideas that this year will be the year we get fit, healthy and successful. How long have your previous resolutions lasted? Are you prone to promising yourself big things for the forthcoming year, but seem to have broken every rule you made by February? Despite the fact that the New Year has passed, it is not too late to make a resolution, or a new resolution if you have already broken yours. You still have 11½ months to go! Whatever your goal for the year might be, big or small, write it on a piece of paper or on a post- it note and stick it somewhere you will see it regularly – this will keep you subconsciously focused on sticking to it! Researchers have proven that you are twice as likely to stick to your resolution if you share it with other people; this doesn’t mean forcing a friend to diet with you, or get your family to go running every day. Simply sharing your goals with friends and family, makes you more likely to achieve what you set out to do With an average time of just 24 days, it has been predicted that by Friday 24th January, about 80% of people who set themselves a resolution will have broken theirs and has therefore been labelled ‘Fail Friday’. With around 85% of us making resolutions related to self-
improvement, including weight, dieting, fitness and finances, many of us will give up before the end of January. For those of you who fall in to this category, experts have published a number of tips to help you stay on track; 1) Break your goal in to small stages, and reward yourself when you achieve each stage 2) Despite wanting to stay on track, do indulge yourself; a chocolate biscuit once in a while never hurt anybody! 3) Set realistic goals – this should be something you are able to achieve within a realistic time period. (i.e. – nothing like Figure 1!) 4) Even if you break you resolution, try again! One blip isn’t the end of the world, and you don’t even have to tell anyone! So, I wish you all lots of luck with your resolutions. And even if you find yourself breaking yet another year’s resolution at some point in the next few days/weeks/months, try the same approach as this lady;
currently have an overwhelming list, try choosing just one to work on and you will be surprised by how far this goes towards helping you achieve that elusive “new me” which we all seek when the clock strikes midnight on the first of every year. A goal a month: Monotony is one of the reasons why many of us fail to stick to resolutions, especially when they are completely foreign to our nature, so setting little monthly goals is a way to keep you interested in trying new things. So spend one moth taking photographs every day
and another month watching old movies at the weekend and by the end of the year you’ll have a great deal of positive things to look back on. Tell a friend: Close friends are some of the best motivators out there. Telling a friend means you are less likely to fail if you are saddened by the thought of failing them, plus it is wonderful having a cheerleader. This method works for both goal methods and could lead to your gaining a goal buddy. Someone who will take those sushi making classes with you so you do not feel awkward next to all the
couples is definitely something you want, and adds to the pleasure of the memory. These methods are not wholly full- proof as personal determination is still the most needed ingredient but they help in getting a sense of accomplishment.
The world’s biggest positive moments of 2014 BASIL AL-ALI
3RD YEAR BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Malala Yousafzai Malala Yousafzai became the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on the 10th of December. She earned this prize as a Pakistani schoolgirl who wrote about living under Taliban rule in a diary. She also explained in her diary, her own desire to stay in education, and how she hoped that all girls should have the opportunity to be educated. In 2012, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman, which brought her world-wide attention. Ice bucket challenge The ALS Ice bucket challenge was a fundraising campaign created by Chris Kennedy to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It encouraged people to film themselves throwing water over their heads. Then you would make a donation to a charity and challenge your friends to do the same thing within 24 hours. ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder that damages nerve cells in the
Ice Bucket Challenge
brain and spinal cord. Every year 5,600 people are diagnosed in the US. More people searched for information about the disease this year than in the last 10 years. Rosetta comet In 2004, the Rosetta spacecraft was launched to help scientists understand outer space more thoroughly. This year it successfully landed on Comet 67P. The spacecraft then took pictures of the comet's surface, the surrounding area and of the Earth-like planet, Kepler 186-f. The spacecraft also performed a flyby on Mars, 21 Lutetia and 2867 Šteins.
World Cup The 20th Football World Cup was held this year in Brazil: a country that has a serious love for football. Unfortunately for Brazil their 7-1 loss to the eventual champions Germany in the semi-final was one of the most tweeted about moments of the year. The competition was the most searched event in sporting history. There were so many dramatic games, the most talented team won the prize and James Rodriguez became a global star and earned a transfer to Real Madrid.
World Cup Final
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LIFESTYLE.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
FOOD
15 Minute Meal – Diet Special A simple, quick and tasty dish suitable for the Paleo, 5-2 and Sugar-free Diet plans. LYDIA ENGLAND 4th Year Food Technology with BioProcessing
Pork, Broccoli and Cashew Stir Fry Pork steak can be very lean and make a change from chicken, the carrots and broccoli will keep you full in the absence of traditional carbs and all the big flavours will keep you from craving sweet things later on. The key to speed with this recipe is to prepare by chopping all your ingredients before you start.
Serves 2 Roughly 490 kcal per portion • 2 pork “sizzle steaks” • Half a head of broccoli • 1 large carrot • 1 garlic clove • 1 big handful of cashew nuts • 2 handfuls of sliced savoy cabbage, spring greens or similar • 1 big handfuls of spinach • 1 small onion • A few mushrooms • 1 tbsp tomato puree • 3 tbsp soy sauce • ½ tbsp Chinese five spice • 1 tbsp honey (a natural form of sugar so it’s allowed in small quantities) • 1 tbsp lemon juice • Big pinch of black pepper 1. Finely slice the onion, mushrooms, cabbage and garlic. Break the broccoli into quite small chunks so they cook quicker and slice the carrots thinly or use a vegetable peeler to create little
4th year Food Technology with BioProcessing
We all begin the year with high hopes that the next 12 months will live up to expectation. Realistically, a lot of us are hungover from New Year parties, only just finished the Christmas turkey and have an endless supply of chocolate and biscuits to eat sometime before Easter. Don’t let the lingering reminder of Christmas spoil the start to your year, especially if you want to eat heathier, lose weight or get fit (or all three!) as part of your New Year Resolution. The first step to improving your health, and lose weight, is making sure you eat breakfast every morning – it kickstarts your metabolism and gives you a source of energy for the day ahead. Here is one delicious breakfast recipe, courtesy of Half Baked Harvest which can be made in advance and one batch covers a whole week of breakfasts!
BLUEBERRY VANILLA YOGHURT GRANOLA BARS Ingredients 2 cups rolled oats 1 1/2 cup brown rice krispies 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut 1/4 cup whole roasted almonds, roughly chopped 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup honey 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon gelatin 1/4 cup greek yogurt 1 tablespoon honey 2 cups sugar
Instructions In a large bowl combine the oats, rice krispies, coconut, almonds, and chia seeds. Mix together. In a small bowl combine the almond butter and honey and microwave for about 1 minute, until the mixture is hot and pourable. Add the vanilla and mix again. Add the honey mixture to the dry oat
Mr Magnetic Dear Mr Magnetic,
Since I've started Uni this year I've had tonnes of male attention, I absolutely love it and have slept around, a lot. My flatmates are getting a bit funny about it though, and keep preaching about selfrespect and the 'dangers' of all my one night stands. What should I do? Ignore them or take heed?
This meal is designed to suit all of the diets specified in the 2015 New Year Diet article. It is Paleo, sugar-free and suitable for a low-calorie dinner on one of your 5-2 fast days, without necessarily being too expensive.
Thanks! No Nunn
Dear Serial Sleeper, Pork, Broccoli and Cashew Stir Fry
strips. Slice the pork into strips. Set everything aside ready. 2. Place the cashews in a dry frying pan or wok and toast on a low heat for 4 minutes, moving them regularly to avoid burning them, you want them lightly browned. Set aside. 3. Add the onion, garlic, carrots and mushrooms to the pan with a couple of tbsp of water to help them cook in the absence of any oil. Cook until soft. 4. While these are softening, make the
sauce by combining the tomato puree, soy sauce, five spice, black pepper, lemon juice and honey in a bowl and mix well with 2 tbsp water. 5. Add the pork and broccoli and keep it all moving until the pork is cooked. 6 .Add the cabbage, spinach and sauce and keep on the heat until the leaves have wilted. Make sure everything is well coated in sauce. 7. Serve and enjoy.
New Year, New You, New Foods! ELIZABETH ANDREWS
|LIFESTYLE
mixture and mix well. Gently stir in the blueberries. Transfer to a baking tray press the mixture in until tightly packed. Cover and place in the freezer for 1 hour. Cut into 9-12 bars and return to the freezer. Separately, combine the water and vanilla in a separate bowl for the yoghurt coating. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and whisk with a fork until evenly distributed. Set aside for about 5 minutes or until a thick paste has formed. In another small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, honey, and salt. Microwave on 15 second bursts, stirring in between each burst, until the yogurt is liquidy and very warm. Whisk the gelatin into the warm yogurt mixture until fully dissolved. Scrape the yogurt mix into a bowl. Pour the powdered sugar on top. Whisk until the yogurt and powdered sugar combine into a thick, pourable coating. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip the bottom of one bar into the yogurt and allow any excess to drip off. Place on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining bars. Let the bars sit, uncovered, until dry to the
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touch, about four hours or overnight. Once the bars are completely dry, flip them and drizzle the remaining coating over the bars and allow the bars to sit at least two hours or overnight. Once completely dry, store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Attention from the opposite or same sex or both (depending on your what you’re into) can be very nice. It is flattering, and obviously you’ve got magnetism about you that guys are really into. Now, I’m no prude and I’m all for responsible adults doing what responsible adults want to do. But you have to be careful out there, there are people who are not just looking for innocent fun, and you don’t want to be taken advantage of. Don’t take this kind of thing lightly the dangers you put in inverted commas are very real. Have you tried moving beyond the one nightstands and trying to make a deeper connection with some of these guys? You might find they have more to offer than you previously expected. By the time you leave secondary school there are so many love connections between people it’s impossible to make anything ‘new’. Which is why the prospect of starting with a clean slate at University can be very tempting. But trust me, reputations are made quickly, by the time you near the end of your University career you’ll find everyone knows everyone and you’ll struggle to find someone your friends haven’t previously found. Don’t squander this chance, grab a coffee – make a real connection. Remind yourself that you have more to give someone, you’re more than your biology, you’re a fierce, empowered woman any man would be lucky to spend more than a night with. Also, be super happy that you have flatmates who care about you, and love you enough to be totally honest with you – they’ll be invaluable assets. If you do decide to keep up with the one night stands then that is your decision as an adult – but make sure you tell your flatmates where you’re going, and always demand to be treated with the respect you deserve. Enjoy yourself and be safe, Mr Magnetic.
LIFESTYLE|FOOD AND FASHION
2015 New Year Diets
there a few options to choose from if you’re not only wishing to lose weight but also change the way you eat for good. The Paleo Diet
Credit to Flickr Images t
LYDIA ENGLAND 4th Year Food Technology with BioProcessing
It’s that time of year again, the time when most of us start a diet or health plan in an attempt to repent for all the
mince pies, roast potatoes and alcohol we’ve consumed over Christmas. Every year there is a new diet being advocated by celebrities and ‘health gurus’ alike and it can be difficult to separate the fad from the scientifically sound. This year however, it seems
Deriving from the term paleolithic, which refers to the pre-historic period of human history, this diet is about releasing your inner cave man or girl. The theory is that the human body was not originally designed to eat many of the processed foods we do today including cereal based foods like pasta and bread, as well as dairy products. It therefore recommends cutting out grain and dairy based foods as well as any other processed foods and legumes (beans and pulses) and to eat foods/meals cooked from scratch. Along with losing weight, advocates also claim higher and sustained energy levels due to eating more protein and less gluten, which has long been known to cause sluggishness. Pros: Grazing and snacking cave man style is encouraged; try nuts, dried and fresh fruit. Cons: Lower intake of fibre; not helpful in the downstairs department. Try cabbages and carrots to avoid this. Expense; as students, cheap carbs are literally our bread and butter.
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The 5-2 Diet Also known as the fasting diet. Designed for busy people with little time to cook. Essentially, eat the way you normally would for 5 days of the week and restrict your intake to 500 calories for women or 600 for men on the other 2 days. Best to start the day with eggs or similar to boost your metabolism and then consume a modest dinner in the evening, packing in all the vitamins and minerals you might have missed out on with plenty of veg. You are allowed to pick which days you fast so that you can fit them in around your social life and exercise plan. Pros: Flexibility! Also doesn’t involve forking out on meat and fish. Cons: Prepare to feel hungry. Avoid this by carrying around nuts with you for those moments of sheer desperation when the Campus Shop calls. The Sugar-Free Diet
on the brain as drugs such a nicotine and heroin, producing high levels of dopamine, a hormone that essentially make us feel happy. Sound good? Not if this results in an addictive effect. Over consumption of sugar can be a cause of imbalance in the connections between our brain and gut, both of which detect sugar. This imbalance could lead to feeling run-down and even overwhelmed. To conclude, sugar has a huge impact on not only our physical but also mental health. Pros: Cutting down on sugar, ironically, could improve your longterm energy levels and even improve concentration when working. Cons: It’s hard to start off with! Say no to sugar in tea and coffee at first, cut down on fruit juice and if you must sweeten, use honey a less refined and more natural form of sugar. Remember to read up on such diets before attempting them and to incorporate exercise into any weight loss plans. Good luck!
Recently advertised by Davina McCall, this diet is not simply for losing weight; it is a lifestyle choice. Sugar has been dubbed the new fat; we should avoid it like the plague! It has been proven to act similarly
New Year, New Me, Read My Lips! AMBER IVATT
3rd English Literature with Creative Writing
The only way for your voice to be heard is through your lips. So why not give them something to look at as well! Whether your new year’s resolution is to be bolder and more daring with your attitude or if you were a bit too naughty last year and need a clean slate, a new lip colour will be perfect to announce to the world this is the new me. The Natural Nude Lip It is impossible for a nude lip not to suit anyone because all a nude lipstick does is bring out the pigments in your actual lip colour. So just remember, anyone can pull it off flawlessly. True, different shades of nudes suit different skin tones but it all depends on finding the right tone for you. Personally I recommend the Cream O’ Spice lip liner by MAC (RRP £12.50). It’s a soft creamy pencil that has a twist up applicator, so there is no endless struggle with the sharpener. If you fill
in most of your lip with the liner, you could easily create an Ombre lip by leaving the centre of both lips a little lighter by using a lighter lipstick such Maybelline Coloursens Nude Lipstick in Tantalizing Taupe (RRP £6.99). The best thing with a nude lip is that it’s super sexy and simple and can be worn on a night out with a strong eye or in the day to a lecture. The ‘Knock Them Dead’ Red Lip The classic red lip that oozes Hollywood glamour will never go out of style. But if you’re not brave enough to pull off a bright red lip, try a burgundy tone instead. A burgundy tone is not as obvious as a bright red lip but will still give your look that boost of confidence. I find this colour pairs best with Ombre hair such as Khloe Kardashian’s look because the burgundy compliments well with the darker roots while enhances the blonde ends by giving that femme fatale finish. My own personal favourite burgundy lip liner is Burgundy by Mac (RRP £12.50). Its dark and rich tone is perfect for any skin tone and by filling in the lip with the pencil and using a clear balm to blend the colour in, this gives a statement finish which is perfect for job interview or nights at the Union.
The Pink Panther Lip The beautiful Emma Stone shows how two very different pink lips can work perfectly regardless of hair colour. So whether you want a popping pink on a night out or a muted rose pink to meet the boyfriend’s parents, either look will cause a sugary sweet response. Barely Pink by Doutzen Kroes L’Oreal (RRP £6.99) is a perfect sweet lipstick that is great to work over the top of a lip liner or simply on its own for a natural look. But for that pop of colour, Revlon ColourBurst Balm Stain in the shade Lovesick (RRP £7.99) will provide that fun Jessie J esque sassiness.
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FASHION AND BEAUTY
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Beauty Favourites 2014 HANNAH CROFTS 2nd year English Literature
A beauty flashback to 2014. I thought I'd take a look back on the beauty products I've been loving during 2014, to give you a bit of inspiration for your New Year purchases. So here you go, all the products I couldn't get enough of over the past 12 months... Face 1. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation £6.99 I think this foundation is the Holy Grail of foundation! It's perfect for dry skin types as it's a light coverage foundation, meaning it doesn't cling or look 'cakey'. It glides on easily, leaving a silky smooth finish that looks gorgeously natural. And as it contains SPF 18 it doesn't just make your skin look good, it protects it. At £6.99 it's a very affordable product, too. Overall, this is a chuffing good foundation! 2.Seventeen Skin Wow Primer £5.99 This is much more than simply a primer as the name suggests,
HANNAH MCDOWELL
2nd Philosophy and Italian
I think we can all agree that there are certain key staple pieces which are thought of as essential or vital for any wardrobe. For girls, pieces that come to mind are of course: a little black dress, a tailored blazer and jeans of perfect fit. However, often forgotten is the thigh high boot. After its appearance in the 1963 Yves Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter Couture show, the trend kicked in. Over the years, we have seen varied renditions. The later sixties saw brave and experimental versions of the boot from PVC, to coloured leathers. Notably popular today by the likes of Ariana Grande who has been spotted with over 5 different styles of the thigh high, including the very signature sixties white leather look. But even before Ariana purchased her collection, the signature piece crept back through catwalks and in the 2006 hit The Devil Wears Prada, Anne Hathaway is seen rocking the look via Chanel. In 2009, the thigh high bug kicked in again with Prada,
while it provides a great base for your foundation it's also a 3 way highlighter that gives you a beautiful, dewy glow. I've tried lots of highlighters but they're all so expensive, that's why I love this one as it works just as well, but for half the price. Cheeks 3. MUA Mosaic Blush £2.50 If you're thinking, "£2.50, can't be very good then", you're completely wrong as this is honestly one of the prettiest and nicest blushers, regardless of price. It gives you such a natural look as it contains several different shades that you swirl into one, meaning it matches to your tone perfectly. I can't recommend this enough. It's SO cheap but oh so good! 4. Nars Deepthroat Blush £21 I have used this throughout all of 2014, it's just so beautiful and the perfect blush for wearing during the day or building up the intensity for a night out. It's a peachy-pink, not too intense but bold enough, the sort that looks really good on English-rose skin tones. It's also perfect with or without highlighter as it has a slight shimmer that gives added definition to your face. If you're after a highend blusher I'd definitely recommend Nars Deepthroat as it's just so pretty and no matter how much you apply
it, it can never be 'too much', as the subtle shimmer makes it hard for you to go overboard. Eyes 5. Bourjois 1 Seconde Waterproof Mascara £9.99 This is my favourite high street mascara. It gives your lashes intense volume and length, and it's honestly on par with higher-end mascaras. I’d definitely recommend this if you're looking for something that will give you a good curl, but always go for the waterproof version as it'll hold for longer. 6.Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette £37 Oh how I love this! I know everybody always raves about it but this really does stand up to all the hype. At £37 it's pretty expensive, (just imagine all the snakebites you could get at union with that!) but it's completely worth it. This is a warmtoned neutral palette with 2 matte and 10 shimmer shades. You can create so many different looks for both day and night with this that you won't ever need (or want) to use any other eye shadows again. Lips 7.Tanya Burr Lipgloss £5.99 I was a bit hesitant to try this as I was worried they wouldn't live up to the hype, but I was pleasantly
These boots are made for walkin’ Jean Paul Gaultier, Gucci and Louis Vuitton all revealing them on their runways making it one of the biggest trends that fall. But whatever style of the thigh high you prefer, it cannot be denied that this classic piece has fluctuated in and out of style, especially over the last three decades. It will definitely continue to weave its way back time and time again, and should therefore be given important status as a staple piece. Staple pieces such as these, should be thought of as an important investment and also as a foundation to a lasting collection of quality clothing. However, we are of course students and as much as we can dream of possessing Tom Ford’s take on the thigh highs with his SS14 stilettos, or my favourite of them all Christian Louboutins black suede style, it’s highly unlikely. So for now, if you have any money left over from your student loan to spare, perhaps consider purchasing a high street
version. ASOS and Next have very generous prices for their styles and can be worn until you buy that dream pair.
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Photographed by Hannah Croft
surprised. I've only got the colour 'Exotic Island' but I can't wait to try more as it really has become one of my favourite lip glosses. 'Exotic Island' is a bright shade that glides on giving an opaque appearance that looks so pretty when paired with a sultry smoky eye. The formulae is just so good, and it's super pigmented and lasts for several hours. Body & Hair 8. Soap & Glory Glow Lotion £5.50 If you're going to get any product off this list, buy this! It gives you a rose-gold glow that's super alluring. Apply to your legs before a night out if you're after a believable - yet natural, healthy, and sexy - glow.
This is the perfect antidote for dreary winter skin, as it transforms peaky looking skin with its fine glittery particles, whilst also moisturizing. 9.Lush Rub Rub Rub Hair & Body Scrub To ensure silky smooth legs, exfoliating is an essential step before shaving, and this is one exfoliater I just love. If you haven't tried this then you really should as it sorts out even the driest of skins, and is perfect for those of us who are sensitive, too. Every time I use this my skin feels so good! Not only does it leave your skin luxuriously soft, but as you can also use it on your hair, it leaves it looking beautifully glossy and feeling incredibly soft and healthy.
This month I'm wearing…
ABBIE WEAVING, News Editor
The winter season is in full swing, but that needn’t mean you should reach for your mother-approved anorak. Everybody has one. That’s why, for the start of term, I decided to invest some Christmas cash in creating a new winter wardrobe; one that was both sensible and sensational. It’s for this reason that I took the plunge and bought a huge faux fur poncho. Listed as capes on the Miss Pap site, these winter warmers will glam up any outfit. Complete with an over-sized hood and nabbed for just £29.00, my wardrobe would not be complete without one, and, for the ultimate Snow Queen style, just pair it with knee-high or ankle boots – easy! Although it’s the perfect season for rocking faux fur, sporting cosy swing dresses is another way to inject some glamour into a winter outfit. Missguided supplies a great range of long-sleeved winter frocks in autumnal colours like maroon, burnt orange and forest green, adding a pop
of colour all the while keeping you toasty in the cold. These swing dresses are particularly handy wardrobe items because not only are they feminine, but also versatile. With no detailing or patterns, you can change up your swing dress style each time, either with a statement necklace, bangles or large earrings. Another look I love this season is the split maxi dress. Traditionally a style choice for warmer weather, this item is great when paired with black leggings and boots. Although they’re fairly quirky, it’s a great way to stay warm while reminiscing about summer styles. Just add some statement jewellery and you’re done! To finish off your winter wardrobe, brace the chill and nail a nighttime look with an elegant skirt and, despite the cold, you don’t need to ditch the heels. I recently bought a smart black midi skirt, with lace covering half of the bottom. Skirts like this are not only elegant, but also stop your knees from knocking together! Pair with a tucked-in turtleneck and skinny belt to complete the look.
DANCING IN DISGRACELAND They may be too cool for school, but The Orwells raise hell with live performance – positively! P.5
THE PRODIGY'S NASTY The long awaited album is nearing and to start things off we’re looking at Nasty. P.5
TABLET VS. LAPTOP
An agonising issue is finally answered, so claim two rivals, but which comes out on top? P.5
CAUGHT UP IN FOXCATCHER With an all-star cast of Ruffalo, Carrel and Tatum, it isn’t the story you’ll be struck by. P.5
ENTERTAINMENT Is Spotify worth it?
Looking at the good and bad sides of Spotify to judge whether it’s worth the money SARAH ROBERTSON 2nd year BA English Language
Spotify is a streaming service which allows members to listen to over 30 million different songs without having to pay a fee. It enables users to enjoy playlists created by others, people and to browse music based on several categories including mood or activity, such as travel and workout. It also makes bespoke song suggestions based on your selection of playlists and artists in ‘your music’ and creates your very own radio station. Spotify shares your music activity on its website and your social media outlets, unless you opt for a private session to listen to all those guilty pleasures! The majority of artists allow for their music to be streamed on Spotify as they receive a small payment for every time somebody plays their song. Whilst they do not get as
much from one play as they would if somebody bought their single, Spotify was created with the aspiration of preventing illegal downloading. Not everybody agrees with this however. Most recently, Taylor Swift caused controversy by removing her music from Spotify, claiming that “music should not be free”. So should users pay a subscription and give more back to artists? Perhaps most importantly, is it worth your money? As with most free things, there is a catch. Members who opt not to pay are considerably more limited in what they are allowed access to. On a mobile device, for example, users are only allowed to listen in shuffle mode. So when you want to hear the one song stuck in your head, you potentially have to listen to a whole playlist first.
Spotify only allows a limited amount of skips per hour; although this also applies when using other devices, if you listen to Spotify with a laptop you can select a specific song instead of being subjected to shuffle mode and
the need to skip songs. Arguably the most irritating feature of free Spotify is the seemingly increasing number of adverts that you hear between tracks, most of which tempt you to upgrade in order to avoid them! Spotify Premium will cost you £9.99 a month, or just £4.99 a month with a student discount. But, provided you remember to cancel before being charged, you can get a free trial of Spotify Premium! There are also regular offers to attract members to Spotify Premium. The Spotify Holiday Offer gave users 3 months of Spotify Premium for 99p, which admittedly does sound rather good! With a Spotify Premium account you have the added bonus of being able to download music to listen to offline and customers receive
a higher quality of music plus the unlimited ability to skip songs and freedom from those annoying ads. Spotify has proven itself to be a good way of listening to a wide variety of music, regardless of whether you subscribe or don’t. If you are a social butterfly wanting to be the DJ wherever you go, then perhaps the monthly fee is worth the limitless and ad-free experience. If, however, you just want to listen to your favourite music in the background while doing everyday tasks, then you should probably keep your pennies. There are still fewer adverts when using Spotify for free than most radio stations or music channels, and you have a lot more control over what you are listening to!
Jack White let loose his raw musicality A review of Jack White’s O2 Arena gig on 19/11/14 STELLA ELIADOU 2nd year Law
Jack White always said that all he wanted to do was get away with playing the blues. Well, he certainly did that. Complete with striped trousers, a cigarette and white buckle shoes, he played like a frenzied bluesman. It was a two hour set spanning from his White Stripes days to his most recent release, the thunderous Lazaretto, and everything in between. Kicking off with the rowdy Fell in Love with a Girl and moving to the fiercely primitive High Ball Stepper, White played seamlessly
through the musical antics of his career. Reaffirming his name as a musical chameleon and masterful frontman, Jack White took White Stripes classics like Hotel Yorba and a hair-raisingly intense Steady As She Goes from the Raconteurs and blended them with solo tracks from Blunderbuss and Lazaretto. A great part of the magic White creates on stage is his connection with whoever he’s playing with. The band, described here as a supremely talented bunch of musical misfits, and White have innate chemistry. They managed to transform the ‘giant tent’, as White called it, in a small grimy club just as he intended to. He kept joking
about bringing out the fireworks and lasers, but visual displays never did anything for White, who’s made a career based on sheer raw musicality and uninhibited energy. A request was made at the beginning of the show: that mobile phones be put away so the audience could experience the show for what it truly was - a feet-stomping Nashville rave, which, even 26 songs later, felt like it was over too soon. The show was bigger than a phone screen could fathom and White wanted us to experience it to the fullest. And he was right. As much as we love him for being the manic blues-rocker he is,
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White asked if we wanted to hear some ‘soul songs’ and shared some intimate moments with us, especially when he dedicated the song Love Interruption the late keyboardist Ikey Owens and then sat down on the piano for an insane performance of the stomper Three Women. The show naturally ended with Seven Nation Army, but only after White made the audience wait for it and when he finally started playing the signature riff the crowd went berserk. Having been lucky enough to stand right below the stage, I soaked up every drop of the dizzying blue light, danced to every raw note that came out of White’s guitar as he picked a fight with it.
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Dragon age: The Saga of Thedas A review on the Dragon age series, and comments of the newest sequel. BYWING LAM KAR 2nd year Law
For starters, I have to admit I am a big fan of the Dragon age series but it’s been a while since I’ve gotten a thrill from playing a RPG game. The last time I had this feeling was when I was in primary school when I played The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky and later, Assassin’s Creed II, when I first assassinated someone and said “Requiescat in pace”. The first of the three games, Dragon age: Origin was a success. In my view, it is one of the most glorious moments of the old-fashioned RPG game. Dragon age 2 on the other hand was, to put it mildly, an unfinished piece of work—the map is highly repetitive and limited. This is obvious when you compare Dragon age 2 (consisting of a countryside and city) with Dragon age: Origin (exploring a whole country) and Dragon age: Inquisition (having two countries). Some may say that Dragon age 2 was not the game they were expecting as the next sequel to Origin and as the successor of Baldur’s gate. The simplification of the combat system, shallowly built characters and unfocused storytelling receives the most criticism. Mark Darrah, the
©2015 Electronic Arts Inc.
executive producer of Inquisition, describes Hawke (the main character in Dragon Age 2) as "really a leaf in the wind", by reacting rather than taking any action. Still, Dragon age 2 plays its role in the entirety of the Dragon age series plot by summing up previous events and foreshadowing future story development. Although you cannot change the fact that your companion blew up half a city, there
wouldn’t be an inquisition without it. A major disappointment, at least to me, stems from the fact that I could not be a baddie and stab everyone in their back with the infamous murder knife in Origin. Furthermore, other unfortunate points include Hawke having to clean up his companions’ mess and the removal of some nudity scenes. Seriously, what is the point of putting a brothel in the city and not
Carrel turns terrifying in Foxcatcher Foxcatcher Review NIKI IGBAROOLA
3rd year Classical Studies and English Literature
Director | Bennet Miller Written By | E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman
Starring | Steve Carrel, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum, Vanessa Redgrave
Running Time | 134 minutes There is no end of commendation for a film that can continuously maintain a singular note of tension without boring its audience. If there was ever a film immediately after which a massage should be scheduled, then Foxcatcher is it. It was watched with my shoulders up to my ears and a furrow between my brows.
The film charts the impact of Mark and Dave Schultz, Olympic gold medal winning brothers, meeting and engaging with paranoid-schizophrenic millionaire James Du Pont. Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo play the part of the Schultz brothers, with Steve Carell stepping into the role of Du Pont. A pivotal element to the success of this film is the actors’ ability to embody their characters, and the transformation of the three male leads is wonderful to watch. Channing Tatum, who is the opening focus of this film, was initially shocking to recognise. There was an alteration of not only his speech, but his stance and body language too that sets him apart from his previous roles. Mark Ruffalo, with an altered hairline, gives
a fine performance but the stand-out actor is undoubtedly Steve Carrel. Anyone familiar with Carrel’s work would have likely pegged him as a solely comic actor and could have had reservations about his ability to ground himself in a role such as this. It is very hard to be both amazed and terrified by a character yet these are the emotions he inspires in Foxcatcher. Watching him in action is an absolute justification for the Oscar buzz surrounding his role in this film. Unfortunately the film is centred around the almost pointless nature of the plot. Ironically Foxcatcher is based on a true story; if one gave in to the notion of everyone’s life story baring some importance, then this comment might be deemed offensive. Nevertheless viewing this film in no way inspired a desire to explore the lives of the Schultz brothers or even the Du Pont family. Foxcatcher must be viewed simply for its execution. It is Bennet Miller’s construction of events and the sustained impact on the audience that make this a truly great film.
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even having a glance of underwear? Bioware (the developer) learned from and amended some of heavily criticised problems that occurred in 2. There is no more repetition of the map in Inquisition fixing this flaw with a half open world. The main character builds the inquisition powerful enough to shock an empire instead of wandering around the city. Murdering seems to be replaced
by punching companions in the face which allows you to act like a baddie with anger management issues, and still save the day. The plot in Inquisition is valued heavily on extra materials leaving you reliant on the codex (a collection of information in the Dragon age series). It is said that the total word amount in the game exceeds that of Skyrim. Some content is limited to the character’s origins and choices in the game, thus one may have to play through several times to know and collect it all. This adds motivation for players to go for a second round. Playing Inquisition is like reading a heavy history book. You may skim through the pictures to get an idea, or you can spend 200 hours reading the whole thing and become a nerd. Do not be surprised if you find yourself reading more codex than your course books. That’s what I ended up doing. The one thing I am disappointed in with Inquisition is the final boss. His power is barely fully shown in the game. The first encounter is thrilling, however he makes the common mistake of a boss—talking too much. He also leaves our character to live and grow stronger, to disrupt his plan and steal his power. The final battle is actually quite humorous. When the main character is about to finish him Article continues on page 20
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Good Film, Bad adaptation - The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies Review
SEAN NICOL
1st year English Literature and Film & Theatre
The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies suffers from an identity crisis. It is trying its best to be a Lord of the Rings movie, with all of the expected grandeur and spectacle, while at the same time trying to adapt a story that is on a smaller scale with lower stakes. The film’s plot revolves around the titular battle, yet begins with the prequel’s climax. The opening thus feels extremely shallow and pointless, with the actual death of Smaug being quite anticlimactic. This portion of the film should have been left to the previous Hobbit film, The Desolation of Smaug. It is a victim of the, very obviously, studio demanded plot expansion stretching to three films. Nonetheless the majority of The Battle of The Five Armies’s plot is quite solid. It’s fascinating to see the genuine drama that the eponymous battle indeed evokes. However there are some minor gripes I do have to address, namely the forced romance plot between Tauriel, Kili and Legolas. Due to the nature of an ensemble cast these characters do not get much screen-time, so their plot lacks drama or interest and consequently subtracts from the overall plot. It honestly feels like this storyline was inserted to tick a checklist of things that must be happen in a Hollywood film. But this does not detract from Peter
Jackson’s superb direction. Once again he succeeds in choreographing and shooting both close combat skirmishes, while also being able to frame large scale battles perfectly. He certainly has a very good eye and aesthetic that adds to the overall film’s quality, despite having some ’Please visit New Zealand’ shots towards the end of the film. The true star of the film has to be Richard Armitage’s portrayal of Thorin Oakenshield. Not only is the character written to have a genuinely interesting and pathos-filled character arc, but Armitage’s excellent performance simply makes the character’s struggle shine. His acting combined with a few directorial tricks, such as using Smaug’s voice in key scenes, truly make the greatness of the film. As for the other stars… Martin Freeman’s Bilbo Baggins is rather dull, fumbling and stammering his way through the film without showing one iota of emotion or compassion towards other characters. The rest of the dwarves are quite forgettable, along with the human characters too. The White Council was also wasted as none of the great actors in this group had any screen time to do anything. Finally, the character of Alfred was annoying, pointless and did not help at all to further the plot. He would not
" Alfred was annoying, pointless and did not help at all to further the plot"
be missed if removed. But perhaps the lack of care for these characters is indeed the cost the film pays to have such a compelling character in Thorin. The Battle of The Five Armies is a rather competent film, enjoyable even. But it overtly feels like Peter Jackson wanted to make another Lord of The Rings film with all of its spectacle; due to the source material’s lack of certain aspects, The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies is more of a whimper than a bang of an ending to such a wonderful franchise.
Dragon age: The Saga of Thedas Article continued from page by the skin of his teeth, he is busy calling on the name of a god. Besides the boss, the character building of the others are quite successful. Most of your companions don’t look good, but you’ll find yourself thinking “Oh, this one is ugly, but I like him/her.” The Combat system, heavily under debate, becomes more actionbased through the advance of each generation. Players can only make minor adjustments on their companions’ AI in Inquisition. The tactical panel in Origin and 2 has been replaced by the tactical camera, an angle which some players have commented as being unfriendly for PC players. The camera is a feature I
rarely use, since the game has become too real-time action to place strategies. Plus there is only so much you can do with a tactical camera. It’s mainly just for positioning your companions. The removal of healing spells and the auto regeneration of health after battle have lowered the players’ ability to continue long journeys and shortened battle times. It is acceptable, considering the change of battle format and the new camping feature. More importantly, this indicates that Dragon age is no longer the game it used to be since the golden triangle of tank, healer and attacker (DPS) no longer exist. The new feature of guard may make a mage harder to kill than a warrior. The changes on one hand, increase team formation, flexibility
and the excitement of a real time battle. On the other hand, it disappoints the players that were looking forward to a strategically planned game. No matter your preference, Bioware certainly did something right to earn its game of the year award.
©2015 Electronic Arts Inc.
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MUSIC
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Leaving dirty but alive – The Orwells’ Disgraceland
The Prodigy Get Nasty
The Chicago rockers are bringing back the danger in rock n’ roll
Intro of The Prodigy and review of the new single Nasty
BY STELLA ELIADOU
BY NICK HAIGH
2nd year Law
Masters History MA
I first listened to The Prodigy in the backseat of a souped-up Peugeot 205. A best friend’s brother had given us a lift when, hurtling along the A2, he put on Firestarter. Crammed in the back, sitting a few inches in front of a boot full of subwoofer, my spine was subsequently reconfigured and my adrenal gland sent into overdrive. The long lasting damage was, however, a new love for electronic music and, in particular, The Prodigy. That was back in primary school and here we are today, in 2015, with The Prodigy still on the scene releasing the first single from their upcoming album, The Day Is My Enemy. While challengers have come and gone, either quickly sounding outdated or simply petering out, The Prodigy have managed to sound fresh and stay engaging and relevant in a career spanning over two decades. Undoubtedly this is owed in part to their dogged tenacity, but also to their knack of redefining both their image and sound. Few in the audiences of Download or Sonisphere, a heavier scene which has recently played host to the band, would, for example, recognise the same group who started life in the underground rave scene. From ecstasy fuelled clubbers in the early 90s, dancing in warehouses and abandoned car parks, to metal heads more recently moshing to a more big beat industrial sound, The Prodigy continue to blur boundaries and find new direction. A new album has, however, felt a long time coming. In 2010, just a year after the 2009 release of Invaders Must Die, it was rumoured the band were in the studio recording a follow up. In 2011 this was confirmed with How To Steal A Jetfighter penned as
© Daniel Topete (for SPIN)
In the past year The Orwells released a new album, toured with Arctic Monkeys, had their own headlining tour and had both David Letterman and Paul Shaffer begging for an encore at the Late Show. It’s been a busy year for them. The Chicago quintet, whose album Disgraceland is the follow up to their nascent effort, 2012’s Remember When, lacks any ambition to dazzle or impress. Their teenage too-cool-forschool attitude is all over the record as lead singer Mario Cuomo sings “I can’t walk/ I can’t dance give me a smile/ and then take off your pants” in opening number “Southern Comfort”. “Who needs you” is a brazen anti-authoritarian anthem and “The Righteous One” is a nod to their garage rock heroes, Nirvana. Badass riffs, ear-splitting vocals and lyrics about the monochrome nostalgia of the suburbs and partying a little too hard, Disgraceland is one great record and yet, on first glance, it could be dismissed as one of many found in the realm of grungy garage rock. After all, the band say that not much has changed since their last record apart from their signing with a record label and working with producers. Guitarist Matt O’ Keefe admits they wrote the album in the same way the always have. And yet, The Orwells are getting bigger. One has to look no further than their live shows to see why.
Going to an Orwells’ gig will make feel alive to your very core, but you also run the risk of minor injury or getting sprayed with a fire extinguisher. The band couldn’t care less about sounding perfect and neither does the audience. With brothers Henry and Grant Brinner on drums and bass guitar, and Matt O’Keefe and Dominic Corso on guitar, the group play a thunderous, if not always tight, set while Mario Cuomo raids the stage with an energy that is on the verge of insanity; an explosive frontman with wild blond hair who knows how to rouse a crowd - and often finds himself launching towards it. His impeccable stage presence is a mix of Jim Morrison bravado and Iggy Pop inspired antics that have earned the band a reputation for raising hell. The band’s intensity while playing live is perhaps the only quality that cannot be entirely captured in Disgraceland, but it’s what makes The Orwells stand out in an epoch where online downloading and music videos precede live performance. Their defiant and juvenile attitude is just them being themselves, making them genuine and exciting. As Cuomo sings “From the east and to the west, we ain’t the worst, we ain’t the best”, The Orwells make it clear that they have no desire to be the best. You can take them as they are, or not at all.
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a new working title, supported by backdrops in live performances of MIG fighter jets and a host of new tracks. And then came… nothing. Had an intensive tour schedule simply become overbearing? Or had, as I personally suspected, the revival of the warehouse party scene been noted by the band, who would maybe take a fresh take on their earlier inspiration? On the eve of the new single “Nasty”, Liam Howlett announced “let the attack begin!”. In many ways that speaks for itself. “Nasty” is not a nuanced ode to rave, but a full frontal assault full of bile and aggression. After a very brief introduction, which sounds a little like a low budget Western, we are sent straight into massive drum and bass breaks, while Keith Flint’s ever spiteful vocals of “so raw” and “triple X-rated” confirm that The Prodigy are going even harder than they have before. For the faithful, the track has all the essentials. My own opinion of the song is however tinged with a little disappointment. Everything that makes a classic Prodigy song is there, but somehow it feels a little uninspired and a continuation of the sound pioneered in Invaders Must Die. Even the artwork accompanying the single looks a little too similar to the last album, adding to the sense that it all feels a little recycled, ‘business as usual’ rather than ‘viva la revolution!’. Where they go with the rest of the album is also a mystery, but one that is highly anticipated. The new album, The Day is My Enemy, is released on the 30th March. The Prodigy play at Reading Rivermead on the 11th of May.
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The Woman in Black: Angel of Death It’s hard to care what happens to the poor kids or their guardians
ELEANOR ALICE RING 2nd year Film & Theatre
40 years after the first haunting London is under siege from bombings during WWII and Eve, a gentle schoolteacher, is escorting a group of child evacuees to the countryside with their head-teacher Jean. They find themselves in the large, eerie estate Eel Marsh House with no choice but to take up residence there. Instead of a safe haven, the house becomes a fearful place as the children start to fall victim to a deadly curse and Eve begins to think that they aren’t alone. As the children’s lives hang in balance, it is up to Eve and a young pilot named Harry to save them from the wrath of the woman in black. The Woman in Black was one of Britain’s most successful horrors to date, so it is no wonder that they
wanted to recreate the delightful scares of the first Hammer film. Sadly we are without Daniel Radcliffe this time around and not even the addition of Harry Potter regular Helen McCrory can add much magic to this sequel. The biggest issue with this sequel is how it approaches the fear factor of the story. Recently many horror filmmakers have decided that the fear caused by a loud abrupt noise will last longer than sustained suspense. I don’t know whether this is because they have become lazy or whether they have honestly bought into this daft idea, but I can tell you that it doesn’t. It is a shame that this film falls victim to this act, relying on jump scares rather than building tension. After seeing The Woman in
Black: Angel of Death at an evening preview I had a very sound night of sleep, an experience I did not have after the first The Woman in Black film. There are a number of reasons why The Woman in Black: Angel of Death doesn’t meet the standard set by its prequel. The pleasant young schoolteacher Eve (Phoebe Fox), the charming but haunted pilot Harry (Jeremy Irvine) and the stern but secretly caring head teacher Jean Hogg (Helen McCrory), who takes the “stiff upper lip” attitude to a new level, are likeable but wooden while their previous counterparts were more engaging and charismatic. Additionally it is bizarre that even in the midst of something as terrifying as the Blitz, the filmmakers have
23
failed to take full advantage of the historical setting. One sequence in a bomb shelter almost becomes a great scare, but it feels like a waste to have all of those unnerving gas masks and blackouts and not put them to good use. The most atmospheric element of the film is Eel Marsh House but even that isn’t as chilling as it was first time around. What the director has failed to realise is that the house only became truly haunting when the raw despair and unforgiving coldness of the woman in the black was allowed to poison everything around her. By reducing her to a screaming face that occasionally jumps out at you, the power of her dark backstory fades away and she ultimately looks like ineffectual extra from the Insidious series. This, alongside characters that
aren’t fleshed out, makes it hard to care what happens to the poor kids or their guardians. The Woman in Black: Angel of Death is a misstep for the Hammer studio and hopefully they will remember that it pays to nurture characters and story lines. Don’t worry, you will be keeping the lights on and getting a good night’s rest after seeing this. 2 STARS
ENTERTAINMENT|TECHNOLOGY
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Can A Tablet Really Replace My Laptop?
Surface Pro 3 Credit to http:// ` compass.surface. com/assets/8f/ a5/8fa5d23e-2f5c-44a49063-a6734908e8a8. jpg#Mobile_Hero_enGB.jpg
CHRISTIAN MUELLER 4th year German
The age old question returns, or more accurately, the first-world problem we’ve had since Apple threw an overgrown iPhone at us. With the end of 2014 marking the arrival of a rivaly between two machines claiming to be the first real tablet/laptop hybrids, the Lenovo Yoga-3-Pro and Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3, it seems fitting to judge whether either vindicate the ambitious slogans slapped across their advertising. When it comes to technology we’re obsessed with convenience, mobility and power! Tablets have traditionally been under-powered and had relatively small storage capacities. Perfect for email checking, web-surfing and endless fun with ill-tempered birds. Their limits have been their success, tablets are able to perform these simple tasks smoothly and quickly via touchscreen, while being light enough to carry in a bag. Conversely the tablet’s flaws mean the forever typing student cannot replace the trusty over-heated HP notebook that simply will not die. So bring on the solution. Microsoft claim they have solved the ‘tablet vs. laptop’ issue and so bring their new Surface Pro 3 onto the market. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2 almost did the job in 2013, which is effectively a laptop screen with a keyboard that attaches magnetically
to create a laptop-esque experience. But the small screen and less than successful release of Windows 8 seriously hurt this little hybrid’s chances. The Pro 3 has learnt from its little brother’s mistakes; a larger 12’’ screen and sporting the now updated Windows 8.1 makes it a promising start. The keyboard hinges at an angle that makes typing comfortable (and feel like a full-sized keyboard). Navigation with the ingenious stylus that acts as a mouse when the screen senses it nearby, combined with its range of processor and price options, makes this a great piece of tech. Although, if you want the full experience (the keyboard is a pricey extra) the i5 version starts at £968.99. On the other side of the pitch stands the strangely flexible Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro. With its new watch strap hinge, this hybrid looks more like a laptop than the Surface but can flip its keyboard right the way round to rest behind the screen. Quite the party trick! Unlike the floppy Surface which relies on a kick-stand to stay upright, the Yoga will sit happily on your lap with the new rigid hinge. Running on Windows 8.1, all seems well with this tablet in disguise; unfortunately Lenovo’s decision to use Intel’s new ‘M’ processors is where the advantages stop. Unlike the Haswell ‘i’ series processors that the Surface
RED AWARD " The trusty over-heated HP notebook that simply will not die"
has, the Yoga uses the M5Y70. Released by Intel as the more compact and energy efficient alternative to the ‘i’ series, the ‘M’ series promised many things. Sadly, they hugely underperformed at benchmark and for the Yoga’s hefty starting price of £1299.99, they simply aren’t powerful enough. The Lenovo Yoga is a stunning machine but its price-tag and disappointing processor will leave you waiting. To answer the original question: yes, Microsoft have finally built an iPad slaying machine and with a competitive price in line with the mono-use Mac Air, the Surface fulfils its role as a true hybrid.
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can gain up to 3 hours depending how long you work! If you’ve already written, drawn or photographed for The Spark, the Editor Nathalie Siah can sign off your sheet for you. Contact her at editor.spark@reading.ac.uk for more information.
COMICS & GAMES
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Drawn by Harry Richardson
Always with You A poem about supporting someone Architecture Creme Diet Dragon Age Foxcatcher Frisky Goals
Golf Hobbit Iron Tulip Japanese New Year Norovirus Spotify
BY LOUISE INGHAM 2nd year Law
I will prise apart your wings Until you feel their span. You will see the sights of kings And you will know you can. It will only take one step my dear, And I will hold your hand. With me behind you need not fear, Go ahead, it’s as I planned. It was me who watched you grow, So I won’t let you fall. I will wait here down below And be here if you call.
Drawn by Laura Burridge
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ENTERTAINMENT|HOROSCOPES
ENTERTAINMENT@SPARKNEWSPAPER.CO.UK
horoscope KIRSTY SAGGERS
Find out what the stars are saying about you this month...
Horoscopes Writer
Aries
ARIES MARCH 21-APRIL 21
LIBRA SEPTEMBER 21- OCTOBER 21
You may prefer things to be logical and organised, but sometimes things will happen that you didn't anticipate - this month you should embrace this feeling of the unknown and reap the rewards that a surprise can bring. An opportunity may arise for you to see someone you haven't seen in a while and discuss a fun new venture together. Pay attention to the number 20 as it may be connected to your luck this month.
Financial success could be on the cards this month, but only if you work hard for it - money doesn't grow on trees. However you may have success in other ways, particularly at the weekends. Try listening more this month, not everyone speaks what they mean and you may have to spend extra time trying to decipher what others have said, but they will appreciate you more for being understanding.
libra
TAURUS APRIL 22-MAY21 Taurus
Gemini
A new year means it could be time for a new outlook on life. Take some time and think - is there anything you're not happy with at the minute? Can you change this? Then go for it! Putting things off will only result in unnecessary stress. Put the new you to a challenge and have a clean out, you may find something old and valuable you thought you'd lost. The colour blue seems to bring you luck this month.
SCORPIO OCTOBER 21-NOVEMBER 22 Sagittarius
GEMINI MAY 22-JUNE 22
SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23-DECEMBER 22
Do something different this month, even if it means simply going into somewhere you would normally walk past or trying a food you'd usually ignore. This exploration might lead to you finding luck in a new or unfamiliar location. Making time for yourself will be important in the coming month and you may discover your best ideas whilst contemplating things by yourself. Focus on the number 16 if you're looking for positivity.
Alone time could be beneficial for you this month, having the space to think will make you much more productive. You may hear a rumour about someone you used to be close to, it probably isn't true so don't let yourself get involved with petty gossip. Speak to the person it's about - you may find they've heard stories too. Pay attention to opportunities than involve the number 10.
Scorpio
CANCER JUNE 22-JULY 21/22 Cancer
leo
virgo
Meeting new people seems to be a theme for you this month, some may become lifelong friends and some may just be annoyances, but they will all enhance your life in some way. People are not the only new thing in your life however, a new year means a chance for new goals - set a target for yourself and you're sure to succeed. An old friend will give you some important news so keep in touch and listen out.
Don't be afraid to speak your mind, sometimes it's more important to let your feelings out than worry about what others will think. You may have been feeling hopeless lately with a sense that you cannot find your greater purpose, but remember it takes years to find this! Don't worry if you aren't 100% organised and know what you want to do, as only a few people can boast this claim. Enjoy things as they happen.
CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22- JANUARY 20 Capricorn
You will hear some good news towards the end of the month regarding an opportunity you've have your eye on for a while. It could be time to mend broken bridges - which of your relationships is the least stable and needs the most work? Making an effort with people can only bring you good. Now is the perfect time to speak out about what has been bothering you, so don't keep your feelings inside and just speak the truth.
LEO JULY 22-AUGUST 22
AQUARIUS JANUARY 20 -FEBUARY 18
Spending time with friends will result in a day of reminiscing over fond memories and lots of laughter, so make plans soon! Are you having trouble with a particular person? Offer to help them, whether that be with something big or small, and you will become closer as a result. Your lucky number seems to be 8 this month, let it guide you when making that decision you have been putting off for weeks.
Aquarius
You may have a busy schedule this month, but be sure to make time for friends - your favourite day of the month will be the one you spend catching up with everyone. Unfortunately there could be extra stress on the horizon, but it is nothing you can't handle and once you get organised it will start to disappear. Although you're busy, try to keep an eye out for new opportunities, particularly anything relating to the letter 'P'.
VIRGO AUGUST 23- SEPTEMBER 21
PISCES FEBUARY 19-APRIL 21
Your new year’s resolution may already be slipping, but you will find the willpower to get back on track. If you find yourself constantly questioning the actions of someone close to you and feel more frustrated with them than fond of them, maybe it is time to distance yourself. Just because they may be an old friend doesn't mean they will always be a positive part of your life.
Doing something special with someone you love will be extra rewarding this month and you may find out an interesting secret about them. Over the course of the month plans might have a tendency to change, particularly with regard to something you were looking forward to, but this doesn't have to be a negative thing - it's all in how you view it and how you make the most of it.
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Pisces
WATTSUP?
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WATTSUP? Do you put the ‘ha’ in laug-ha-ble? Prove it and try doing WattsUp on for size.
1.
What is the most ridiculous New Year’s resolution you’ve ever made to yourself? Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Aiming to have an 8 pack. Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: To study hard. TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: I'm going to get a first. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Try and do better than last year...turned out to be ridiculous enough. Basil A., 3rd year Business & Management: That I will do the lecture readings. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: Manage to get through a night out without slut dropping at least three times.
2.
In Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Merry and Pippin launched a giant dragon shaped firework into the sky. If you could launch a firework in any shape on New Year’s Day what would it be? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: A shape of a phoenix! Basil A., 3rd year Business & Management: My face. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: A giant roast duck. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: A giant willy, with a very gurn-ey face. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: A giant flaming picture of Morgan Freeman wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: #ihashtaggedafirework
3.
Instead of a kiss on New Year’s Day, what would you rather have instead? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: huggggggs, GROUP HUGGGGGGGSSS!!!!! Basil A., 3rd year Business & Management: A genie. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Fizzy cola bottle gummies. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: On New Year’s day? I'd quite like to be able to move my arms and legs in a coherent fashion two days after, hasn't happened to date- but here's hoping. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Motivation to carry out my New Year's resolution(s). Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: A French kiss.
6.
The film The Theory of Everything talks about the life and love of Stephen Hawking. If you were Stephen’s professor in his first year and marked his homework on the back of an old bus schedule, would you pass him? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: If it's well-written, why not? Don't judge homework by the paper it's written on! Basil A., 3rd year Business & Management: Yeah he's a genius. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Yes, it would be rude of me to give a fail. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: I would fackin’ hand it to him, the boy has resilience, kudos to you Stevey. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Who cares? I'd be Alan Rickman. Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: Yes. I don't want to admit wrongs when he gets smart.
7.
Sony’s The Interview is getting major publicity for its threats from North Korea. If David Cameron was the villain of the film, how would you assassinate him? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: *Censored* I'll leave that to Jonathan Ross to answer this question. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Put a lot of sugar in his tea. Let him die from obesity. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: I would either choke him on his own ego, or incompetence. Both are large enough to suffocate not only one but an entire nation's esophagus. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Tell him that Nick Clegg is going to be PM for the next 5 years...he'd just do the job for me. Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: Shurikens. You always do it with a Shuriken.
8.
What would a modern day “Auld Lang Syne” be? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: Let it go! Let it go!!!! Basil A., 3rd year Business & Management: Shake it off. Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: The Nyan Cat song. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: Get f*cked, disco disco, all together – ya. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Anything by the Killers. Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: I would drop a beat on that and then add a Nae nae.
4.
9.
5.
10. Several years ago, Jimmy Fallon accidentally failed to notice that Nicole Kidman
At the globes this year, Jeremy Renner wasn’t disappointed with Jennifer Lopez’s globes of her own. If you had a follow up line, what would you say to him? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: Oi, mate. What's with the not-disappointed face? Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: And you’ve got the toothpick, just perfect. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: She had some globes on her, but honestly - if he said that to me, I'd possibly weep a little and tell him to mind his own, feminism and all. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Some planets are unreachable to you. Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: You have some exploring to do now that you've seen the new worlds...gosh that sounds horrible. The final part of the Hobbit has now been released in cinemas. If the film had Legolas and Tauriel battle each other, who would win? Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Tauriel! Girl power! Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: Weeeeell, Tauriel was by far the most beautiful of all of the characters, her fiery locks would beat his skinny (yet wonderfully chiseled) booty down. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: Legolas...because (going by the film) the laws of physics do not apply to him. Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: If I told you I don't know much about the Hobbit, would you deem me a deprived child?
January is a month for first tries. What is the best ‘first attempted moment’ on your mind? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: Somersaults! Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: The first time I tried to cook my first pack of instance noodles. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: Please, stay upright for an entire Monday night Q-Club. Ollie W., 2nd year Law: My first attempt at a first attempt to carry out my long awaited resolutions. Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: First attempt to eat more chili in the Park Bar Stir Fry and failed miserably.
wanted to date him. He offered old Chinese food and videogames. If you were Jimmy Fallon what would you say to her if you bumped heads again off air? TJ Hiew, 2nd year Law: One chance, just ONE MORE CHANCE! Wing Lam K., 2nd year Law: Chinese food is not that bad. Jess C., 2nd year English Lit & Creative Writing: Stare into her eyes and inform her that if she's 4ft 9, I'm 4ft 9 (please see vine for reference). Ollie W., 2nd year Law: I'm taller than Tom Cruise, want to get a drink sometime? Christopher J L., 2nd year Law: Umm...so let's forget about the Chinese food and video games and reset this...
The Spark Team would like to give thanks to those who regularly contributed to WattsUp last term. These included Christopher Lin, Ollie Weeden and TJ Hiew.
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FOOTBALL P37 Reporter Ollie Weeden provides analysis on how Louis van Gaal has turned Manchester United’s fortunes around
NFL P38 We look at the four teams that made it to the conference finals and why they are there
AMERICAN SPORTS P39 Five stories you might have missed from America recently
FOOTBALL P40 Our monthly look at Reading’s progress in the Championship, this time during the month of December
SPORT
Steady Progress for Golfers Sparks Promotion Chat THOMAS PRICE Mathematics
Consecutive wins for the university golf team against Imperial College London and Chichester University have sparked promotion chat in the golf camp and the team feel confident about their chances in the forthcoming matches in the spring term. Despite being on the wrong side of an opening away day scrap to Royal Holloway in October, the Reading Knights have since recorded two wins on the bounce and as a result go into the crucial part of the season with a real chance of promotion. Firstly, a convincing 5-1 victory against Imperial got us underway for the season with many of the current crop of freshers picking up their first wins for the team. On the day, big victories for Matt, Aran, George, Sam (a 10 and 8 demolition) and Tom proved enough to ease past a helpless Imperial, who struggled with the demands of Wokefield park. The win set us up nicely for a harder challenge against Chichester a fortnight later, which was contested at Goodwood park golf course. After a quick sprint down the motorway in the minibus, The Knight’s were ready for the fight and managed to produce an excellent 4-2 away win. The score line flatters us as the match was in the balance for the majority and seemed to be heading towards a 3-3 stalemate (no good for either side) Losses for Danny Watson and captain George in the opening four-ball set us back in the match. However wins for Tom and Aran brought us back to 2-2 with just two undecided matches left on the course. Steady golf from Will and Matt in the final five holes saw the match tilt in our favour and in particular Matt’s golf proved the point that consistent par play takes its toll on the opposition. A noteworthy performance on the day came from
Aran O’Doherty who put in a simply class display of golf, winning by 8 and 7. In particular, walking off the first hole after a superb hole in one sparked some excellent play from Aran as he cleaned up through 10 holes. A special mention also goes out to Will Evans for putting in some excellent mentoring work.
At this stage of the season, we have many people to thank but perhaps no one more so than our two coaches, Adam and Scott. They have been a big help to us, indicating areas where we need to improve and practice upon. Their coaching has been excellent and we look forward to carrying on with them as our back room staff after the
Golf Credit to Take That Photo
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festive break! Looking forward, it seems that the match against Brighton on the 28th January will be crucial in deciding Reading’s fortunes for this year. Tales of Brighton’s prowess have travelled on the sea breeze up to Reading and certainly we will look to post our strongest six to face these chaps. The
4th and 11th of February are also important dates as we play Chichester for a second time for a place in the semi’s of the cup and face Brunel in the final league match of the season. No doubt all of the golfers will have been practicing hard over Christmas and will be ready for the second half of the season.
SPORTS | GENERAL SPORTS
SPORT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
The NFL Playoffs
With the conference championship games about to begin, I look at the four teams that remain in the race for the Lombardi trophy. BASIL AL-ALI
3rd Year Business and Management
Seattle Seahawks
Preview - The Seahawks went 12-4 during the regular season while crushing Green Bay in week one and then beat the Panthers last week to move on to this rematch. Players like Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman will be crucial against the receiving threats the Packers, have but I expect a similar result to week one due to Aaron Rodgers’ limited ability to move. Key offensive player - In order to stay balanced and control the game Marshawn Lynch will need to be able run the ball effectively against the packers defence. The Green Bay Packers gave up 123 rushing yards to DeMarco Murray last week, so I see Marshawn Lynch having a big game at Century Link field. Key defensive player - I thought about choosing one of the Legion of Boom members but I have to pick Bobby Wagner. He is the quarterback of the defence, makes all the defensive audible and will need to spy on Aaron Rodgers to make sure that he can’t scrambles for simple first downs.
Green Bay Packers
Preview - The Packers went 12-4 during the regular season and beat the Cowboys last week in a close game despite Aaron Rodgers carrying an injury. The Packers lost 36-16 in week one and it could be a similar outcome this time around. If the Packers can run the ball with Eddie Lacy then they will have a chance, as that will reduce the impact the crowd has upon them. It would also mean that the Seahawks would need to bring an extra man in the box, which will give one-on-one coverage in the secondary. Key offensive player - Aaron Rodgers is the front-runner for the MVP award this year but could struggle against the mighty Seahawks defence. He is seen by many to be the best quarterback in the league but only managed 189 yards and one touchdown with one interception in the previous meeting with the Seahawks this season. Key defensive player - Bloodlines Clay Matthews will need to have a strong game in order to disrupt Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. He has the ability to get to the quarterback but also enough athleticism to cover the tight end Luke Willson. If Clay and his defence can stop the run and limit
Seattle’s scoring then Green Bay have a chance with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
New England Patriots
Preview – The 12-4 New England Patriots are again one game away from the big dance thanks to Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. They are favourites against the Colts but will need a good showing from their defence in order to quell the high scoring Colts offence. Key offensive player - Tom Brady is the best quarterback in NFL history, in my opinion. He will look to target Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. He should also outperform Luck as he can make checks at the line of scrimmage to put his team in the best position to succeed. Key defensive player - Jamie Collins will look to disrupt Andrew Luck’s pocket as he did last week against Baltimore. He was all over the field last week registering 11 tackles and two pass deflections. All season he has been a playmaker, racking up over 100 tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Indianapolis Colts
Preview - The colts had an 11-5 record through the regular season and then comfortably beat Bengals and most recently upset the Broncos. The young franchise quarterback of the Colts is looking to beat another guaranteed hall of famer this week, after disposing of his teams previous fan favourite Peyton Manning. Tom Brady’s Patriots should prove a harder test as Brady has been clutch during the post season. Key offensive player - Andrew Luck has had to carry his whole team. He threw 40 touchdowns (a league high) and has a good group of receivers including T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks. He will need to score enough points to help out his defence with them battling against one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. Key defensive player _ D’Qwell Jackson is the veteran leader on the defensive side of the ball for the Colts. He will be expected to make the checks at the line of scrimmage to make sure that Brady doesn’t torch them. He may also have the duty of covering Rob Gronkowski although if he is matched up man-to-man against him Brady will target Rob every time.
Keeping you up to date with the US ZAK PRIOR Sports Editor
To help keep you up to date with what is happening in the world of sports in the United States, we have compiled five bite size articles of the latest stories from across the pond. 1. Miami Marlins’ right fielder Giancarlo Stanton signed a £208m ($325m) contract in November. The contract, which will keep him playing his trade at Marlins Park for thirteen years, is the largest and longest in Baseball and American sports history in terms of total value. Stanton is only surpassed by Miguel Cabrera as the highest annual earner. Through five seasons in Major League Baseball, Stanton already has 154 home runs. If he were to continue at a similar pace throughout the length of the contract, Stanton could possibly come close to Barry Bonds’ career home run record of 762. 2. The New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks came to The 02 in
London on 15th of January, looking to build on the previous successes of the NBA playing in the UK. The Knicks, one of the largest franchises in Basketball, came into the game holding a 15 game losing streak. While the Bucks, one of the smaller teams in the NBA are working their way through a mediocre season in the Eastern Conference, led by former all-star point-guard turned Coach Jason Kidd. The Bucks prevailed 9579, in a game that has done very little for the profile of the sport in the UK. Two underwhelming teams provided exactly the sort of game we expected of them. 3. Despite its size and popularity in the United States, relative to the NFL, College Football has made very little impact on sports in the UK. In the first week of January the season came to a close with the Ohio State Buckeyes defeating, top prospect, Marcus Mariota’s Oregon Ducks 42-20. The star of the show was the Buckeyes’ Ezekiel Elliot who ran for 246 yards on a heavy workload of 36 carries. Despite the loss Mariota’s status as the top quarterback to enter this year’s
NFL draft has not been questioned. He played well under pressure on a day that the Duck’s defence was unable to stop the Buckeyes’ potent offence. 4. In what has been a quiet offseason for Baseball with only a few trades and limited money being spent on free agents, the news of a high profile Hall of Fame class has been announced. The annual vote that sees a group of former players and coaches, who are generally considered to be among the greatest of all time, inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. It is generally considered to be one of the highest honours in each of the four major leagues. This year’s group is headed by pitching legends Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson. 5. The value of four time Most Valuable Player LeBron James has never been as clear to the Basketball world, as it was at the beginning of January with an injury that put him out of action for two weeks. The all-star Cleveland Cavaliers line-up embarked on a six game losing streak to start the year. Despite the presence
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of newly acquired Kevin Love and former Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving they were unable to keep the team’s momentum going with the loss of James. The team had been making a return to prominence since the return of ‘The King’ to Cleveland. The good news is that he has returned, the Cavaliers have returned to winning ways and we can appreciate his value on the court.
American Fans Credit to thelantern.com
GENERAL SPORTS
SPORT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
| SPORTS
The A-Z of Football Hates; a Review
A short review of the new book by Ricahrd Foster; The A-Z of Football Hates FRED PENVER 3rd Year Archaeology
Nicely written and witty at times, this book certainly has its charm. The author, Richard Foster, who has written for the Financial Times as well as a number of football websites, does not hide any of his misgivings about football. From berating Sepp Blatter and FIFA to criticising fans for becoming a nuisance to the game, Foster certainly lays down his opinions on the footballing world. As the title states, this book focuses on Foster's A-Z of pet hates with the opinions of celebrities and fans thrown in for good measure. Set in the format of your typical A-Z book, Foster periodically runs through the many gripes he has with football including the likes of haircuts, mascots, Mexican waves, zips and step overs. In between these more comical hates he includes more serious matters such as xenophobia in football and the Qatar 2022 world cup. Foster states in his introduction that he loves football, being a self-confessed Crystal Palace fan and allows these hates to come organically from his love of the game. On more than one occasion he brings up how England failed to qualify for the 1978 World Cup while Scotland did. The amount he begrudges Scotland for this is surprising; he spurned the chance to bring up their 1998 World Cup song entitled “Don’t Come Home Too
Soon,” encompassing the expectation of the Scottish national football team. By far my favourite chapter was Qatar 2022. Nearly five years after Qatar was award the World Cup for 2022 it still makes me sigh with disappointment. After the vote and the outcry that came after, Sepp Blatter came out with his stale rhetoric of his plan to expand football to smaller countries. Indeed a small country was chosen and with just over two million people living in Qatar he seems to have ticked that box. But as Foster points out, Blatter seems to have forgotten about the blistering 50 degree heat during summer, the fact that barely anyone knows Qatar’s domestic league or any of their teams (it’s obviously common knowledge that the current champions are Lekhwiya SC) and that the national team is currently sitting 92nd in the most recent FIFA rankings. Not that Qatar should be excluded because of this, but when countries like the US, Australia and Japan lost out it becomes quite puzzling why Qatar won. This is all without even mentioning the horrific human rights record for the migrant workers building the stadiums for Qatar 2022. It has become hard to imagine there being no crooked deals being made within FIFA, which as its reputation goes, would not be a surprise. I enjoyed reading this book, I chuckled more than once, but I don’t think I am in any rush to read it again. Maybe in a few years when I have all
but forgotten my hatred I’ll be able to flick through these pages and revel in the self-perceived injustices of the beautiful game.
Book Cover Credit to Football Hates
An Unstable December at the Madejski Stadium ZAC PRIOR Sports Editor
December was a turbulent month in the life of Reading Football Club. Following a mediocre 0-0 draw against Bolton at the Madejski Stadium, to start the month the Royals travelled to take on Birmingham City. The fate of Nigel Adkins was decided when his team fell 6-1 to Gary Rowett’s ensemble, the only consolation being a nineteenth minute header from Glenn Murray. Following the game the board was swift to act and sack Adkins. His replacement, Steve Clarke, was hired promptly suggesting that the club’s executives had a plan if the Adkins experiment failed. Ultimately the lack of goals his team scored hurt Adkins
and gave the club a reason to move on. In Steve Clarke’s first game in charge, Reading was unable to break down a solid Watford team, who have been in the playoff places all season. Conceding only one goal would have been pleasing to the eyes of fans, against a team that has at times scored for fun with Matej Vydra and Troy Deeney playing alongside each other in the attacking role. This game also made it three home games in a row without a goal for the Royals. Clarke suggested post-match that the performance was good enough, indicating all his team needed to do was score. The Christmas period brought up a trip to Brighton on Boxing Day and just two days later Norwich to visit the Madejski. Four goals, split
evenly between the two games gave Reading four points out of a possible six. Glenn Murray provided both goals against a strong willed Brighton team that pushed for and got an equaliser in the ninetieth minute. The game against Norwich played out in a similar fashion. A Hal RobsonKanu penalty followed by a Simon Cox goal again gave the Royals a two goal advantage. Clarke’s men once again invited second half pressure, allowing Bradley Johnson to score for the Canaries. Ultimately the team was able to defend a late onslaught to take home their first win of December 2014. Murray’s return to Crystal Palace, where he is hoping to fight for a first team place under new manager Alan Pardew, which looks to be a massive
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blow to Steve Clarke’s men. His eight goals in his time at the club, often at important moments, will be a difficult level of production to match. That could be especially true with Simon Cox’s form looking shaky at best. Luckily with the January transfer window now open the time is right to find a permanent replacement for the goal hungry Murray, hoping for less turbulent times to come.
SPORTS | FOOTBALL
SPORT.SPARK@READING.AC.UK
The Iron Tulip: The man behind Manchester United's Dutch courage
Louis van Gaal Credit to The Guardian
OLLIE WEEDEN 2nd Year Law
Louis van Gaal arrived at Manchester United in July 2014 with an outstanding record of success. As a manager, he boasts league titles in three different countries, a Champions League and UEFA cup victory with a youthful Ajax side, and most recently, a Dutch world cup campaign which saw them reach the semi-finals of the tournament and notch a resounding 5-1 victory over holders Spain. This left many with a sense of intrigue as it was announced that he was to be the man to succeed the much maligned David Moyes at Manchester United. But how much do we know about him? As the man nicknamed 'The Iron Tulip', a moniker which adequately refers to his quintessential Dutch stubbornness, he is a coach who firmly believes in his tactics and expects his players to follow suit. For van Gaal, coaching is not simply about acquiring tactical skill and the accompanying physical fitness but also about the mental framework which underlines them. His first major appointment came in September 1991 when he was announced technical director of
Ajax despite calls the reinstatement of club legend Johan Cruyff. It is said that it was not long before his players learnt that he would not tolerate any breaking of the rules. If a player turned up even a minute late for training, he was fined. A second offence? The fine was doubled. Third? Doubled again. Much was also made about players not putting used towels in the laundry basket. If a player threw it elsewhere, he could go home and wash it himself! His time at Ajax was by no means an immediate success, with the club picking up just 20 points from their first 16 games. Fans were calling for his dismissal and the return of Cruyff. Their answer was a simple 'I will not change my attitude.' However, their patience was repaid as by the end of their first season this young Ajax side (including players such as Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids and Edwin van der Sar) had won the UEFA cup and went on to Champions League glory in 1995. This paved the way for his move to Barcelona in 1999 where he replaced Sir Bobby Robson as manager. Two consecutive league victories followed as well as a Copa del Rey. Despite his success on the pitch, his tenure was blemished by frequent clashes with the media
and claims that it was difficult to implement his philosophy as many of the players were unwilling to follow his lead. He was once quoted as saying that the reason why he pursued so many Dutch players in the transfer market was because their Catalan counterparts were simply too dense to understand his sophisticated tactics and he therefore required a superior level of intellect. It was not long after in May 2000 when van Gaal left Barcelona with the immortal line 'Amigos de le prensa. Yo me voy. Felicidades' (Friends of the press. I am leaving. Congratulations). This began a turbulent time for the manager with ill-fated spells in charge of the Dutch national team and a curious return to management in Barcelona. It was January 2005 when it was announced that van Gaal would replace Co Adriaanse as AZ manager the following summer. This led to mixed success for the club but ultimately a league title in the 2008-9 season, with the club going 28 games unbeaten (surpassing their 1980-81 record of 25). This caught the eye of European heavyweights Bayern Munich who appointed him as head coach in July 2009. Describing his new employers as a “dream club”
the squad was strengthened with the signing of compatriot Arjen Robben from Real Madrid. Results did not come fast, with speculation mounting that van Gaal would be out of the job faster than his predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann. However, with an injection of youth (players such as Thomas Muller, Holger Badstuber and Bastian Schweinsteiger) form began to improve. On May 8th 2010 Bayern Munich were crowned league champions, making van Gaal the first ever Dutch coach to win the Bundesliga. One of the most interesting encounters of his reign at Bayern came in the form of a Champions League final in which van Gaal came up against his former pupil and assistant, Jose Mourinho. The match ended in a 2-0 victory for Inter Milan. His return to management of the Netherlands in 2010, replacing Bert van Marwijk after a dismal Euro 2012 campaign, signalled a new era for the Dutch side. Despite a very successful qualifying campaign (in which Holland won by 9 points and a goal difference of +29) expectations for the Dutch were relatively low. These were soon put to shame as Holland stormed to a 5-1 victory over Spain
in their opening match followed by victories over Australia and Chile. As Mexico and Costa Rica were defeated 2-1 and on penalties (after a 0-0 draw) respectively Holland met Argentina in the semi-finals, this ended with a loss after a dramatic penalty shootout. Not to be downhearted, however, as the hosts Brazil were beaten with a resounding 3-0 victory allowed the team to return home with pride. So what can Manchester United expect from a manager with such an extensive record? From what we have seen so far, results have steadily improved and heavy investment in the squad has seems to, on the whole, be paying off. Fans have been quick to point out a rather unbalanced squad, with a porous defence helped only by an expensively formed attack. This raises many questions for the future as to how van Gaal will address but, with the right backing, and the patience of the fans, there seems to be nothing which cannot be done.
The Spark Newspaper is designed and typeset by students at the University of Reading. Printed at Newbury News Limited, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG12 2DW. Published and funded by Reading University Students’ Union, contact: studentengagemtn@rusu.co.uk. Our students strive for accuracy but on occasion can make mistakes. Errors can be corrected/acknowledged by contacting the Editor. Complaints should be made to the Editor in the first instance, and thereafter to RUSU. All complaints should be made in writing. All articles, letters etc. must include a name, address, and contact number/email address. These may be withheld from publication at specific request. The Spark Newspaper or RUSU can take no responsibility for products or services advertised herein. The Spark Newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Editor. The views expressed in The Spark Newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or RUSU, particularly those expressed in the comments pages, which are often opinions of the specific authors. Photographs in The Spark Newspaper are copyright, and you will need permission from the photographer to re-use. Contact the Editor at: editor.spark@reading.ac.uk.
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