May 2015 by Greenwich Students' Union

may 2015

greenwich book festival farewell from your sabbs festival season puppy love

Student’s Union University of Greenwich

27TH April - 22ND May 2015

FeelGoodFestival :) 50/50 Inflatable Teams Competition Day

Free Hugs

Who wants to be a (not quite) Millionaire?

Elections Party

Archery Taster Session

Smoothie Bikes

Mocktails Throughout exam time

Puppy Therapy

Latitude Radio’s Night at the Movies

Greenwich Playdate

For more information visit:

www.suug.co.uk/feelgoodfestival

Yoga sessions

Surf Trip

index

Editorial Hi everyone! This is the last issue of Latitude Lookout for this academic year! The University will soon be saying goodbye to its third years and welcoming in new students. This may be a sad time for the third years, having to think about fulltime jobs and possibly moving back in with parents, but there is still some time left to enjoy being a student. This issue will help you prepare for the (hopefully) relaxing summer ahead with information on a number of different festivals, thoughts on travelling, and reviews of great music that you can listen to while you’re doing all of your fun summer activities. We also have a summary of the political party TV campaigns, just in time for the General Election, don’t forget to vote! Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for news about what is going on at Latitude Lookout and to find out who will part of the new team of editors for the next year: www.facebook.com/latitudelookout twitter.com/UoGMagazine Don’t forget about our website which has new content not seen in the magazine, information about Latitude Radio, and work from Latitude TV: www.suug.co.uk/media Lucy Weller Editor-in-Chief

4 words from the president 5 words from the sabbs 6 editors' farewell 7 womens who inspire 8 festival season 9 Wanderlust 10 greenwich book festival 11 Saying Goodbye to University 12 Cereal Killer Cafe 13 it's party time! 14 puppy love 15 erasmus 16 A TIDAL of Criticism 17 Inspiring Views from One Tree Hill 18 writer's showcase 20 Tame Impala

21 The Vaccines 22 Poppy Ajudha 23 what the faq?

Words From The President

n true student fashion I’ve spent quite a long time staring at a blank page; a blinking cursor taunting me as an empty mind produces no good ideas. I will admit though, unlike my student days, I’ve given myself more time to complete this, my final Lookout piece. But still, walking down the street, taking a shower, doing the washingup, nothing has sprung to mind on what exactly deserves to follow these words. So I went back and had a look at the dozen or so previous articles I’ve written for this fine student magazine. It was good reminiscing but it’s always slightly odd reading your own words; wondering why exactly I tried so desperately hard to cram as many terrible puns into 500 words as I could. Equally it was interesting to see the different tactics I took, early on I attempted to summarise the work of a President and the Students’ Union (maybe for my own benefit?), other times I spent time talking about the progress we were making on key issues, and in some very pleasing pieces I talked about the successes. And then every so often I just meandered for reasons currently unknown to me, I was probably just really hungover when I wrote those ones. I guess it would be traditional for an outgoing piece like this to be more of a summary, so let’s give that a try.

However, there is one final thing to say. From the 1st of July the Students’ Union at the University of Greenwich will have a new President, its first in two years. I’m proud and pleased to say that my successor will be Harry, the current Vice President Student Activities (Fun Sabb as we call him). I first met Harry at some point during his first year whilst playing some hockey, looking fresh faced and innocent as the freshers always do. Nobody would have known that years later we’d be working together and that he would be taking the reigns once I moved over. Harry is both talented at his job and extremely capable, I have no concerns about what is going to come next and I’m excited to look on from a distance and watch the next steps develop. I wish the best of luck to the incoming team; and encourage them to remember the reasons why they ran for election in the first place. The original values and passion for why we run are not always easy to remember but they should be treasured. And for you, lovely reader and student - it’s been an honour and a pleasure to serve as your President. I sincerely hope that whether you’ve been at Greenwich for years or just months that the Union has influenced your life in some positive way. I wish you all the best for the future, and look forward to seeing many of you around in the years to come.

BEST BIT

Over the years I’ve had the ultimate pleasure of being able to attend dozens of events run by students, and to watch shy, quiet, and undeveloped first years blossom into passionate, organised, and developed people. It truly is heart warming to see events run by students that are successful and are enjoyed by other people. It wouldn’t be fair to pick out one specific event, but whether it was a guest speaker or a party of some type, or even a game show they’ve all been incredible in their own way.

WORST BIT

Every so often a week comes along that is the week from hell. Consisting of very early mornings and very late nights, often slaving away over papers, sitting in meetings, and attending student run events they can physically and mentally drain even the most driven person. In a strangely sadistic way I thoroughly enjoy a busy week, a sense of achievement at the end, but if it consists of a 6am start and a 2am finish every day (I’m looking at you freshers) then I’m going to be a grumpy man!

BIGGEST SUCCESS

This one is close to my heart and therefore easily tops the list. Last year it was voted on by Council that the University should work towards the implementation of Gender Neutral Toilets in all of the buildings across all the campuses. This is a bigger job than anyone would imagine, so it’s still a work in progress. But that’s not the point. To a huge majority of our students, they don’t give a second thought to visiting the toilet. Amongst our student population are students who do not define as male or female, society refers to these people as trans but in reality it’s not that simple either. What is simple is understanding that some people don’t comfortably define into the strange binary gender setup we have in this world, and for that reason a simple task like having to choose a toilet can be uncomfortable. Gender Neutral Toilets create an environment where everyone feels welcome, no matter how they define. And that for me is truly a very important part of a Students’ Union’s work.

NOT SO BIG SUCCESS

Whilst I’m very sad to be leaving, this is less a goodbye and more a “see you later “. You can follow the last few months on Twitter @ PresGreenwich, and Facebook /PresidentGreenwich.

Alex Brooks President

There are a lot of these. Before I started my role I was chatting to some second year Presidents from other Unions and one of them said that the guaranteed thing to happen is for you to make mistakes. I didn’t put much merit behind this but it’s true. The wrong judgement call, a lack of attention on specific issues, a simple bad day can have a real impact. But in reality the thing I look back on and feel the most down about is the lack the Union does for many groups of students. The work we do for disabled students, students of faith, students who define as LGBT, students who are carers or have come from a caring background, and so many more do not get the attention or help they deserve. I have no doubt that the tide will turn on this in the future.

Words From The sabbs Harry Hodges, VP Student Activities At Greenwich we have an incredibly diverse student population with a range of different personal, cultural and academic demands and needs. It is your Students’ Union’s job to represent them all. One specific group of students which I have been attempting to facilitate increased representation from the Students’ Union is ‘Professional Placement’ Students. They are professionally accredited on the completion of their studies, in other words: Nurses, Paramedics, Midwives, and Teachers, amongst others. At the beginning of this academic year it was clear that a number of these students didn’t receive the same student experience as ‘traditional’ September starting students. With no “Welcome to University” when specific cohorts started early in September, January, and March, I set out to implement what we called an Early Starters programme throughout the first week of the early September starters. Acting as a pilot for the future roll out of similar officially organised “Welcome” programmes, this successful new venture has led to Student Council policy being passed which has mandated the Students’ Union to roll out ‘Welcomes’ for all non-September starting students. These include post-grad, international students, January, March, and July cohorts of Nurses and Midwives, along with a number of other different groups of students. However, the Induction period is not the only important part of the student experience that was identified as something that could be improved. Placements for these students was something that was identified as being especially important and in many circumstances, something that was ineffectively supported by the Students’ Union. With this in mind, your Students’ Union initiated another pilot scheme alongside the Midwifery Society to offer an opportunity to the 1st Year Midwifery cohort to re-integrate with each other, the Students’ Union and to have a ‘de-brief’ of their experiences whilst out on placement. Although only a pilot utilising one cohort of students, this was extremely well received and engaging for both the students themselves and the University staff who in turn, gave extremely constructive feedback on how this could be moved forward. With this is mind your Students’ Union has successfully achieved a commitment from the University to help roll this out across all cohorts of relevant students in the coming year. As your Vice President Student Activities, this is some of the work that I have been most proud of to lead this year. Expanding outside of catering only for groups that could be defined as ‘traditional’ students is something that your Students’ Union is committed to doing and I am proud to have initiated a number of projects which have attempted to do exactly that.

Edward Oakes, VP Campaigns & Welfare Woah! Where to start? It’s been a fantastic year as your VP Campaigns and Welfare and we have achieved so many things. Highlights include securing the evening bus service for Avery Hill Campus and celebrating our first ever Black History Month! It feels strange, however, writing about how the year has gone when we still have two months left and so many ongoing campaigns. We are still working on our Hidden Costs Campaign with discussions currently ongoing with the University. We are also working on improving the Mental Health

Services on offer from the University. This wouldn’t be a year in review without talking about the Medway Bus. I want to reassure students that we have not forgotten about it and we are currently in talks with the University about future possibilities for the service. When I started this year I said I wanted to see real campaigning action and I am so happy to say we did it. The Medway Bus Action Day was the largest ever display of student action our Union has ever achieved. The day’s success wasn’t down to me, the Officers, or the Staff (although it would never have happened without Staff support) it was about YOU, the students. It was your display of concern about the bus that resulted in Alex and I being able to walk into the Vice Chancellor’s office and deliver 600 postcards written by students. It is this action, this culture that students act on issues they care about to enact change at our University, that is the way the student movement needs to progress. Finally, I want to say how much of a pleasure and honour it has been to be your VP Campaigns and Welfare this last year. I want to wish Scarlett, my successor, the best of luck. I’m sure she’s going to do a great job!

Owais Chishty, VP Education Serving as your Vice President for Education has been inspiring and eye opening. Upon entering the job it would be fair to say that the role wasn’t as explored as it could be, and my own personal understanding of what was needed in the role wasn’t quite there. However, over the last two years we have progressed the quality of education offered at the University of Greenwich significantly. From simple changes with big impact like anonymous marking to far wider reaching changes like the introduction of online course evaluations for all students - the SU has been at the forefront of these decisions and has been representing your views in every place possible. This last year has been tougher, the quick wins got ticked off fairly early so it was time to dig deep. Working closely with reps across all faculties has meant the creation of difficult campaigns but ones that will have huge impacts. From work on inclusive learning techniques, to looking at all the academic regulations and ensuring they’re as fair as possible for all groups of students has meant much consultation with lots of students and very slow progress. But the wheels are in motion and things look positive. I would like to extend my thanks to all those who have helped over the years, and I wish to pass on my best wishes to the incoming team of officers.

editors' farewell Lucy Weller / Editor-in-chief This year has been a great year for Latitude Lookout with the introduction of an extra edition and the launch of a new website. I am proud to have been part of such a hard working team of friendly people and will miss our meetings. The editors have worked well together this year to improve the magazine and make it as good as it can be. I know that the team will continue to do this next year and the magazine will only get better.

Jade Burnett / Assistant Editor At the closing weeks of my university experience at Greenwich, I find it difficult to choose so few words that will do my entire journey justice. I simply want to thank the Latitude Lookout team and our readers for helping to shape the magazine into something that is so unrecognisable from when we first started. Thank you to our writers for their creative flair, interesting suggestions and the lively meetings. Finally, I would seriously encourage any student looking for a challenge or a laugh to get involved in the magazine next year - you have nothing to lose!

Kavell Dennis / Entertainment Editor Being a part of this magazine for two years, I have seen how it has changed, and I am proud to be part of the team of talented writers at the Latitude Lookout who are so willing to help each other. I’m also proud to be part of the team of editors that put this magazine together every issue, and tried our best to make great and varied content. This has been such a great opportunity to write for and be part of a team that gets along so well and I will miss our meetings.

Rüya Yönak / Music Editor We spent an awesome year with the Latitude Lookout Team and had some wonderful opportunities to write articles about the things we love. I was privileged to be a part of a team of hardworking people who have wonderful things ahead of them. I will miss all my fellow editors who will be leaving next year. For all those people who write for the magazine, read the articles and make it happen, I owe a big thanks! xx

Sara O’Brien / Creative Submissions Editor Working alongside my fellow editors at Latitude Lookout this year has certainly been a rewarding experience as the magazine has made some major improvements. It is disheartening to leave such great team of editors and writers behind and I hope next year will be full of new prospects and more great writing. I thoroughly appreciate the opportunity I had to work with our University’s creative writers and make the Writer’s Showcase section flourish with their poetry and prose. It has been a fabulous three years, Greenwich and if it wasn’t for the restrictions of my student visa, you wouldn’t be able to see me off for American shores so quickly!

Heather Scott / PR ‘I hope I’ve entertained you with my somewhat-not-really-funny articles over the past two years. It’s been a pleasure contributing to and becoming PR of Latitude Lookout. This is the year we set the bar for socials - If you do not manage to get a free bottle of champagne, you don’t compare. Let it be known that Latitude Lookout Editors 14/15 were rockstars

Women who inspire Keeping up momentum from Women’s History month in March, Latitude Lookout took this opportunity to celebrate the women who inspire our readers. Using Social media as a platform ,we felt the admiration around Greenwich when we asked our readers to name an inspirational woman. Along with those who participated in our twitter post, I also found it difficult expressing my admiration for a woman who I find so inspiring within such a short word limitation. Throughout the unforeseeable challenges that I have encountered along my University experience, I found inspiration in my mum; her unfaltering support, strength and practicality in the face of challenge is remarkable. (Unashamedly cliché) but, the woman simply sparkles. Thank you for everyone who participated, Keep tweeting and spreading the message, its great to see so much admiration for women across campus! By Jade Burnett

Thank you for all your email and Facebook submissions! Here are a few of your inspirational women. Kayleigh Miller, Third Year English Lit & Creative writing “Most of the women who are inspirational to me are writers, so to I’d probably say Toni Morrison, she’s an advocate for equal human rights and the way she writes and the topics she covers have the ability to make me really consider and at time re-evaluate how I life my own life- I think that’s a rare and magical trait fort any person to exhibit but I’m especially proud of her as a woman.” Amil Malik, Second year Business Management “My inspiration is my nan, Daisy. She’s about 85 years old and is hilarious. She reminds me that life is just so fun when you’re smiling. She’s not senile, or naive, she just always chooses happiness. When my grandad went into a care home, she told me that living apart is no big deal because she always vowed to stay together till death do they part - and she knows she will honour that. Her positive attitude is infectious and I admire her for that.” Paige Wilson, Third year English Literature“A woman I find inspirational is Maya Angelou, an author best known for her focus on racial equality and feminist ideals. Living at a time of struggle as an African-American female, she rose from the depths of oppression and used her writing to give others hope and determination to do the same, Her death last year brought sadness to many who were as deeply touched and inspired by her and her work.”

We took to Twitter and asked our Latitude Lookout followers to tweet us with their #inspirationalWomen and why. @AndrewKing, UoG Lecturer “ Been reading &thinking about c19 US popular author E.D.E.N Southworth recently-she never gave up! “ @JasvirSumal, student “Michelle from Destiny’s child for being herself” @Ann_m_hale , UoG Lecturer “impossible to name just one inspirational women! #1 Leila J.Robinson,the first woman to graduate from Columbia Law school. She wrote wonderful articles on women and the law #2 Cornelia Sorabji, first woman to read law at Oxford. Paved the way for women & barristers in Britain & India. Sorabji & Robinson broke the barriers to women in the legal profession. They also ensured that women had access to legal information ( in the form of periodical articles) and advice (in the form of one-on-one consultations)” @AlistairAger ,Student “Audrey Hepburn- not just for influential film success but also for her work with UNICEF” @Kaja-Jasper, Masters Student “Aphra Behn, One of the first women to make a living from writing. Complete pioneer.” @DrJMorton, UoG Lecturer “GeorgeEliot. Most ambitious, and also for me the best ,novelist of the C19th and maybe all time” 7

Festival season Summer time is quickly approaching and as the music industry shakes off its gloomy winter shackles, we prepare for 2015’s festival season. The calendar has been busy in the industry and soon the world’s musical finest will descend onto the British festival scene, meaning it’s time to don your floral headbands and tighten the welly straps. By Rob Henderson

Glastonbury

The big-daddy of the British festival scene, headlined by the controversial Kanye West. Glastonbury will always be the biggest name in musical festivals but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. This year you should expect appearances from Foo Fighters and Lionel Richie with the rest of the line-up soon to be announced.

Reading & Leeds

The gruesome twosome, representing both the North and South of England giving indie fans all-over a chance to see the genre’s biggest names. With identical line-ups, it doesn’t matter which festival you hit-up but it’s rumoured that Leeds is a better

experience. For us London lot, you’re best to make the short journey to Reading. The Libertines, The Cribs and Kendrick Lamar will feature alongside Mumford & Sons in a somewhat disappointing line-up.

British Summer Time

With a series of ‘day’ events, British Summer Time is perhaps the surprise package of 2015; racking up potentially the most impressive guest-list of all the major festivals. Across five days spanning across June, BST have managed to capture The Strokes, Blur, Taylor Swift, The Who and Beck, amongst other huge names. The only problem with British Summer Time is that there’s no package deal, which

means you’ll have to either take your pick from the days available or just splash out and pay for all five!

Bestival

Bestival is growing with each passing year and now welcomes over 50,000 visitors. It’s musical taste leans towards dance music and favours DJ’s over alternative or rock music. This year, Annie Mac will be headlining alongside Boy Better Know, Jamie XX, Duke Dumont and the brilliant Tame Impala. This festival is sure to be a once-in-alifetime experience and offers possibly the most diverse line-up, meaning that your entire group of friends will find their niche.

Wanderlust “The world is a book, and those who do not travel, only read one page.” Wanderlust: A strong and irresistible desire to travel the world. By Paige Wilson

As I travel closer to the closing pages of my uni experience, I had a decision to make. One that grows more important each day - What am I going to do after I graduate? Like everyone else graduating this year, I went crazy with filling out job applications, writing and rewriting my CV, all the while stressing about upcoming assignments and exams. That was until I came across an advert for a teaching role in Thailand, no less! As you can imagine, I jumped at the opportunity. Travelling has always been something I have wanted to do, but to go travelling, you need money. And a lot of it. Something I don’t have. Many of my friends have gone backpacking around South-East Asia, or had a road trip around Australia’s coast, and I have been listening to their stories or scrolling through their Instagram, green with envy. Until this opportunity arose, I thought I would never have the chance to experience the same.

go to a country where very few people speak English; being surrounded by another language, different cultural norms and values in a new environment where everything is new and unknown is enchanting. Like everything in life there are positives and negatives of travelling. Despite being passionate about it, I recognise it has its faults. Regardless of the reasons you may want to travel (a recently ended relationship, dead-end job, or finding your life is no longer offering you the excitement you crave), travel is the perfect form of escape. Just like reading a novel, or watching a film, it allows you to leave behind your current situation, even if only temporarily. Sometimes this temporary escape from what you know to be reality is all you need to overcome your boredom blues. However, in certain situations it is important for you to face the problems you have at home, no matter how much you desire to walk away from them.

Travelling is an opportunity to see the world, immerse yourself in a culture that you previously had no knowledge of. What better way to gain an understanding of the world than to explore it? I think it is one of the most rewarding experiences; planting your feet in the soil of another country allows you to grow as a person. I believe this to be especially true when you

The most important thing to remember about travelling is, now is the best time to do it. Whether it’s for a summer, or a gap year between graduating and getting a job, now is the easiest time to do it. It is unlikely you will ever have so few responsibilities again - no children, no job, no bills to pay. You get the idea. So, my advice to you? If you want to travel. DO IT.

Greenwich Book Festival There are still lots of events going on after the end of University. One of them is the Greenwich Book Festival which is running from Friday 22nd of May to Sunday 24th of May at the University of Greenwich Maritime Campus. It is worth a visit since it’s so close and there are many great events on offer. By Lucy Weller

With talks by different authors being put on over the three days of the festival there will be something for everyone and it could be a great opportunity to find out more about the literary world if it is something that interests you either professionally or personally. The featured authors include: Jon Ronson, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, Victoria Hislop, The Sunrise, Alexandra Heminsley, Running Like A Girl, Jerry White, Zeppelin Nights: London in the First World War, Kate Saunders, Five Children on the Western Front and many more. As well as established authors, the event will also include the launch of a book of student experiences, which includes creative pieces from University of Greenwich students about their thoughts on planning out futures and entering the world of work. This is followed by a showcase of poetry and prose by third year creative writing

students. University of Greenwich students. Go along to support your fellow students and perhaps gain some inspiration. Though several of these events have an entrance fee (more details at www.greenwichbookfest.com), there are some that are free to University of Greenwich students and worth visiting. One of these is the launch of the book of student experiences and creative showcase; others include: an evening with University of Greenwich writer in residence Paul Ewen, independent publishers’ showcases and the Borough Press brunch. This event is a great networking opportunity to get to know people in the publishing industry and the different fields that they work in. For more information on the festival, a programme of the events of the three days and admission prices go to: www.greenwichbookfest.com

Saying Goodbye to University It is a bittersweet moment, leaving university. On the one hand, I can finally get a real job like all my friends back at home, start taking driving lessons, and buy clothes that are not just from Primark. On the other, no more ‘midday naps’ (this one is actually cutting me real deep), no more feelings of utter joy when student loan drops into my bank account, and I think I’m actually going to really miss my annoying uni friends. In light of all this, as I write on my reflections of my time at university, hopefully you can take some advice from my third-year wisdom. By Heather Scott

Three years on a campus like Greenwich demands a well-rounded experience. And now I’m actually leaving, I wish I could have done more. It wasn’t until my second year of university that I realised how much I was missing out on. Coming from a small town in Essex where it was ‘geeky’ to be good at anything academic, I was the only one from my group of friends that actually went to university. I expected to come here and make friends with everyone straight away, where everyone would be just like me and wanted to party every night and lap up our newly found freedom.

My moment came when I discovered the Students Union. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Our SU doesn’t exactly look like Ministry of Sound. But, that’s the fun of it. Your experience is whatever you make it. Don’t expect for fun stuff to just come at you. Go out there and make something enjoyable, get involved. As PR of Latitude Lookout, I’ve had the opportunity to drink free champagne at our socials, eat cereal at the only cereal café in the world, and meet some really cool people.

opportunities: I became an Events Ambassador in my second year and then a Resident Assistant in my third, and gained invaluable experience that I wouldn’t have been able to gain from working behind a till (especially on how to deal with drunk and disorderly students who throw their arms around me heaving with Jack Daniels breath and promise me they’re going to be quieter…)

There was still so much else out there I didn’t touch. The more you do, the more you wish So, do some searching, look for something you’ve done. When I leave, I’m going to be that interests you, be friendly, and go for it. another old bint who moans about how I wish I had to learn about diversity realllll quick. There’s loads of stuff to do on the SUUG website I was still back at university in ‘the good old Actually having to understand that not (I recommend Karaoke Monday’s... I don’t days’ and all the shameful things I wish I could everyone was like me, and that’s okay, was a recommend drinking alcohol during it…). do all over again. As much as I dread that day big lesson for me. Also, learning to not care Whilst you’re getting involved, start thinking happening, I’m grateful for all the opportunities so much about what people think of me was about your employability skills. I was lucky I did take advantage of whilst I was here, and I’m another big thing. So for the first few months that I had an epiphany in my second year and jealous of those of you who have a couple more of uni, all I wanted to do was go back home. started my own society (English Lit Society years to make the most of it. If you’re reading this feeling like you still don’t rocks by the way), because that was my passion, have any friends, uni is boring and you want to and seriously, now I’m applying for job’s it’s the And if anyone asks, Latitude Lookout was so go home: don’t do that. Stick it out, give it time first thing that interviewers want to talk to me much better when I was in it… and sooner or later everything will come to you. about. Look through the GET website for work

Latitude Lookout visit

Cereal Killer Cafe! By:Heather Scott

20 minutes, so grab a cereal bar on your way (sorry for the pun).

When the Latitude Lookout team sat down and started brainstorming ideas for our last ever social (crying face), the Cereal Killer Café was a unanimous vote. It serves over 100 varieties of cereal from all over the world, 18 different types of pop tarts, 12 types of milk (who knew there were so many?), and 20 different toppings. Situated in its uber-cool Brick Lane, Shoreditch location, we threw on our most vintage and hipster outfits and headed down via some ecofriendly transportation,the Overground. Unfamiliar with the graffiti filled streets, I wandered around Brick Lane with my eyes glued firmly to the CityMapper app, and finding the café was a little harder than I thought. There’s no flashy lights or a Tony the Tiger mascot ready to jump out and give you the thumbs up, much to my disappointment, but like duh, we’re in Shoreditch now so everything is low key and edgy, yah?

We finally found it after noticing a couple of customers eating cereal in the window, and my excitement began to bubble while I walked inside. BAM! A wall filled with every type and kind of sugary, carb-filled goodness you can imagine. If that didn’t you get you salivating, then just have a look at the menu. From the season inspired Easter Extravaganza to the delightfully sounding Unicorn Poop, Cereal Killer Café offer a range of tried and tested combinations of cereal that brought out the Nickelodeon obsessed, Pokémon catching, roller skate wearing 10 year old inside of me. Before I knew it, I was reminiscing over all the great emblems of my youth. If cereal is not really your thing (we can’t be friends), then I recommend going purely for the nostalgia jolt; I would consider it a cereal museum if nothing else. Also, don’t go for a visit when you’re starving because it is ALWAYS busy. We visited around 3pm and still had to queue for around

Opting for the Chocopotomus, I balanced my tray carefully as I tiptoed downstairs on the crookedly steps to the additional seating area below. Here you’ll find even more cereal memorabilia. The team sat around for a couple of hours being touristy and taking pictures, admiring the amount of cereal collectibles these guys must have spent years trying to find. Overall the café was an enjoyable experience. £3.50 for a bowl of cereal is not a lot to ask when your surrounded by such a great atmosphere (yes we have seen that Channel 4 interview). The staff are friendly, the décor is great, and I left feeling Terrrrrrrific! (I am not ashamed of my newfound Tony the Tiger passion).

It's Party Time By: Jake Thomas

An undignified scramble for votes is occurring in the rush up to the 7th of May: polling day. All the parties are desperate for your vote and that desperation certainly shows. I always get excited when the TV announces a party broadcast. There’s an air of anticipation to see just how foolish the parties can make themselves. Speaking of fools, all four of them are up for show in the Green Party’s broadcast – a hilarious and refreshing take on the sameness of the other parties.

Then come Labour, who have enlisted the help of Bilbo in their quest to destroy the Tories. Freeman mentions how he could talk about scary statistics, Tory nastiness and Labour remedies but he won’t, even though he just did. “It boils down to a choice between a Labour government or a Conservative one” apparently. Who’d have thought? The tactic of screening Miliband with a charismatic celebrity is all too obvious. Personally, I think Ed would make a great Hobbit.

“Lose your votes and inhibitions, join the one true coalition.” They’ve turned cynicism into something positive and funny, I’ll give them that, but is it enough to sway my vote? No, because politics is not a popcontest… oh, wait.

Now let’s look at the Liberal Democrats’. This one feels like a slasher pic and it certainly could have been improved with the appearance of Rutger Hauer. It’s a weird one: a man in a car can’t decide to turn left to Labour or right to the Conservatives. In the end he drives straight forward, probably until he hits a brick wall. It’s a shame that he’s taking his kid with him. Isn’t that the perfect analogy?

Next up are UKIP. These guys will send you packing, not because you’re an immigrant but because they hired a cameraman who’s a few loonies short of a fruit cake. I suppose they hired from within the party à la their would-be labour policy. Farage begins by saying that UKIP was started by “people like me who were businessmen”. Balls up blunder Farage! To me the separation of business and politics is an ideal that staves off Oligarchy. I don’t know about you but I would prefer not to live in some Berlusconi-esque moneyocracy.

Now, who doesn’t like cute little kiddies? Like the Lib Dems the Tories aren’t afraid to frame the futures of our children in jeopardy. Some acoustic guitar, a bit of whistling, and soft focus and we have a bourgeois Apple advert. The video is so painstakingly twee that I’m not surprised to see it conclude with Cameron having a nice family dinner. I half expected the Heinz logo to appear. You can see all the broadcasts on the official party websites or on BBC iPlayer.

Puppy Love Is there anyone whose heart does not melt for a clumsy puppy, a cuddly kitten, a fluffy bunny, a cheeky hamster and all of the adorableness that takes the shape of a pet?? Well, it sure happens to me. Going for a walk in Greenwich Park gets particularly emotional as watch all of the people walking their dogs and I have to control the urge to just run up to them and ask, “CAN I PET YOUR DOG, PLEASE??, slightly overexcited and heavily breathing (which may be mistaken for ‘creepiness’—go figure). By Ana Marta Laranjeira

At this moment in life, where my biggest victory is going grocery shopping at dodgy hours of the night and finding the lowest possible “reduced price” item, I know I cannot really afford to have a pet, but even if money was not a concern at all, buying a pet would never be an option when I know for a fact that I have the possibility to adopt one from a shelter. With literally hundreds of animals being abandoned every single day in the UK, the animal shelters are constantly overflowing and struggling to maintain a safe limit of animals in the same space, meaning that, unfortunately, a lot of them have to be put down on a daily basis. Now, if there are animals being killed in shelters because they have no place to stay, why would I go to a pet store to buy one? I believe that with every purchase we do, we give a “vote”. As a Business student I have learned that companies will quite simply answer to demand. Therefore, when the consumers buy something, it translates into a vote towards producing more. Putting this into very raw terms, there is a clear “overproduction” of pets. Continuing to buy them will only result in breeders producing more and more when there is in fact, already an excess of “stock”. As bad as that might be, it most certainly isn’t the only problem. As any business, selling pets also comes down to making a profit. Puppy mills

are a fine example of that. These are large-scale commercial dog breeding operations where profit is given priority over the well being of the animals. For this to happen, the mothers are impregnated time and time again pushing their health limits to the maximum. This will not only result in an ill mother, who, most times, end up being abandoned when they cannot get pregnant anymore, but also in sick and weak puppies. These puppies can develop diseases such as epilepsy, heart disease, respiratory disorders and others that will be passed down to future generations of puppies. These producers will usually sell these animals through regular pet shops, online ads, etc to unsuspecting buyers who do not get to know the real origin of their soon to be pet and the possible diseases they will have to deal with. There are certainly responsible breeders who, not being concerned about profit, will respect their animals’ health boundaries, but these are in very small dimensions compared to the industry’s “puppy mills” and other independent breeders looking for quick profit. Still, as mentioned before, with the amount of pets having to be put down everyday in various shelters, there should be absolutely no need to ever purchase one. Until the day comes for me to finally be able to adopt one, you can find me running after other people’s dogs in Greenwich Park (in a non-creepy-very-respectful-and-chill-way, as per usual).

erasmus Have you always wanted to study abroad in Europe, but have limited knowledge about how to go about it? The University of Greenwich participates in the Excellent Erasmus + scheme, and below are the top questions that you may have about participating. Form. If your application is accepted, your Faculty Erasmus+ Coordinator will nominate you to your chosen institution. 5. What about course credits? You will receive formal academic recognition for your period abroad and are sometimes awarded a second qualification in recognition of your Erasmus period; in all cases, the study is formally acknowledged on your degree transcript.

1. What exactly is Erasmus+ ? Erasmus is the European Union’s exchange programme for students and staff. Through Erasmus you can study in a higher education institution for a semester or even a year as part of your degree. It is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

“I strongly advise everyone pursing the Erasmus program since I have yet to find any negative aspects of it. Simply put: YOU WILL LOVE IT”

2. Why should I do Erasmus+ ? There is an incredibly big list of reasons why you shouldn’t have second thoughts about taking the plunge and go study abroad. Former students say the best things are the opportunities to travel, the new experiences and the friends you make – for life! Erasmus+ may also enable you to study options not offered at the University of Greenwich, to experience a different academic viewpoint and to develop transferable skills for your CV. It really does enhance your CV as employers want people they know will be able to easily adapt and meet challenges. As the job market is increasingly global a lot of employers will choose graduates who have international experience. As well as these reasons, there is a lot of fun to have studying abroad!

3. Where can I go? The University of Greenwich has many Erasmus partners across Europe, ranging from Austria, Malta, Germany, Sweden and many other countries. Visit the Erasmus section of the University of Greenwich website to see the partners that your faculty has.

Vlad Mihai, Business student

“I now have a better understanding of the international community. I met people from all over the world who shared stories and insights into their own culture and lifestyle.”

Ben Lindsey, Business student

4. How do I apply for Erasmus? You begin by having a discussion with your Faculty Erasmus+ Coordinator, who will explain what options are open to you. You will then need to complete an Erasmus+ Application

6. How about money? As an Erasmus + student you do not pay fees to your host institution, but you will continue to pay your fees to the University of Greenwich. You will however need to pay for your accommodation and other living expenses. Everyone participating in an Erasmus mobility can apply for an Erasmus grant to help with living expenses. The amount of the grant depends on which country you will be visiting and for how long. Best of all it doesn’t need to be repaid! 7. What about the language barrier? Firstly, you do not have to do a language course! You do not have to speak a foreign language to participate in Erasmus. The majority of our partners teach classes in English, so do not worry about being able to follow lectures. Free online language courses are available to those who wish to brush up on the local language. Having said that, one of the many benefits of participating in Erasmus is the exciting opportunities to test and expand your language skills in another culture. 8. When can I apply? For students wishing to participate in Erasmus from January, the application needs to be submitted to the Erasmus co-ordinator by 30 September. A full list of all the Faculty Erasmus coordinators can be found on the University website, alternatively email erasmus@greenwich.ac.uk and we’ll point you in the right direction.

A TIDAL of Criticism:

Why don't we support the artist? By: Kavell Dennis

For the artist, streaming doesn’t contribute much financially, however it is a great tool for upcoming artists to be discovered. An example of this is one of last year’s biggest selling singles, ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams, which was streamed on Pandora 43 million times and yet he saw less than $3000 in song writing royalties. This works out to be 0.00007 cents per play. Songwriters normally earn around 40% of the overall earnings from record sales whether physical or digital. Back in the day, when we were growing up, the CD was the emerging technology as told by my Ricky Martin and Britney Spears cassettes (stop judging me!), but in the last five years streaming has been the main way that people consume music. In April there was the launch of Jay-Z’s latest business venture: TIDAL, a premium streaming service which promised to pay artists better than their current rates with other streaming services such as Spotify. As students that spend ridiculous amounts of time with laptops writing essays, streaming services can be helpful as you can make your own playlists of the latest songs to soundtrack your research sessions in Stockwell Street. Plus, the extra bonus of being free (the ultimate student discount) meaning that millions of people stream for free, with only a fraction paying for premium (ad free) accounts.

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Due to this, some artists have decided to boycott certain streaming services due to being unhappy with the pay-out, such as when Taylor Swift removed her catalogue from Spotify, stating to Time Magazine in November, “I think there should be an inherent value placed on art.” Still, 5 months later she is criticized for being short-sighted and not praised for knowing her value as an artist. With the launch of more premium streaming services such as Apple’s Beats and TIDAL, listeners have to pay to access music, thus paying for their art. As we can find most music somewhere for free we tend to forget that music costs a lot of money to make. So why are people complaining about paying £10 a month for a streaming service when we are willing to spend £20 for a vinyl or £10-13 per album on iTunes or in Rough Trade?

Inspiring Views from One Tree Hill A poem is carved into the bench surrounding the view at One Tree Hill, it reads: “Here fair Eliza, Virgin Queen / from business free, enjoy’d the scene / hereoft in pensive mood she stood / and kindly plan’d for Britain’s good: / so record tells and this bedside, / sung ditties to the silvertide / full worth such honours art thou still, / beloved of thousands, One Tree Hill.” T.N. One Tree Hill, The London Chronicle May 25-27th, 1784 By: Sara O’Brien

Living in London as a phrase speaks as it is written on an envelope, but embracing your surroundings requires more than a postcode reference. I firmly believe that your environment directly impacts how you react to certain situations. The space you give yourself and what it’s filled with heavily shades your perspective and colours your mood. I always make the time to fold myself into my surroundings and living in Greenwich for the past three years, I could not have asked for a better setting. From my perspective, life is hardly a paint by numbers, rigidly ruled canvas. A world so vast demands constant scribbling, drawn out pen marks moving through continents and ink smeared oceans. It gets its beauty from cultural paint drops, multicoloured and mix-hued, blotted across our bodily binoculars. The world desires to be seen past political cartography, it is designed to be defined by layers of perspective. A life well cultured is more vibrant and life in London is life in colour. It is a city that prides itself on people and cultures, history and time, art and beauty, and it craves to be seen. I have made an alcove for myself in London during my temporary study-stay and learned to appreciate its richness wholeheartedly.

During the warmer months, you can watch the city unfold borough by borough. People begin to sprout along the streets and bloom into the park like the cherry blossom petals that blanket the grounds. Things seem different in this weather as winter dust makes its final exhale. Overseeing city buildings and the running river, Greenwich Park sits at a perfect observation angle, hence the Royal Observatory. Tourists and picnickers spread across the grass like dandelions once there is a peak of sunshine. The procession up to the Observatory quickly becomes filled with relaxed bodies and camera clicks from visitors trying to mimic the view stretched between retinas and Canary Wharf. From the Park Row entrance near the Queen’s House, take a quick climb away from the crowd up the path on the left hand side and look at things from a different perspective. One Tree Hill frames a portion of a panoramic London. Its spread encircles you from an outlying London Eye, back past Canary Wharf, and tilted towards the O2. One of the gentlest things you can do for yourself is take responsibility of your space and thrive in a tender atmosphere. The difference between bleak walls and open grasses files down to the difference between fresh and stagnant. The view knotted up One Tree Hill presents a London across the sky and is a place where my inspiration puddles and where I can openly breathe in its shapes. Take a seat on the bench surrounding the tree and have a break from the day, give yourself space to relax and simply be.

writer's showcase Thank you to everyone who submitted for this, our last issue of this academic year. I would also like to thank all of those who have submitted throughout the year and made this section work as an outlet for curious thinkers and pen dreamers. It has been a pleasure working with some fellow creative writers and being able to showcase their work in print and on the website. I will certainly miss my role here at Latitude Lookout and I hope I have encouraged those of you continuing your studies to submit next year as well. Make sure you keep up to date with the magazine over the summer to find out about our creative writing opportunities for the September issue! You will be able to email your poetry and prose to the same email, LLcreativesubmissions@gmail.com. Remember, a good writer is always an avid reader. Find some inspiration, test out some new techniques, keep reading and keep writing. Sara O’Brien, Creative Submissions Editor

MERCENARY AND I He loves the guns Over his lunch A month of Sundays My words fly up My trousers down When I leave all belts and thoughts And walk out just to look at old familiar moon The old fishmonger came at me with a shovel. I lost the point I lost the plot He could have been a butcher Ted says he is a looter A collateral. I roam empty And with no agency Like a limpet on a doodlebug What do I know And this man I look to For company, safety Cleans his murderous intent In industrial steel Disassembles it, takes cotton buds To its inner workings And reassembles it And likes my jokes And adores the smithereens Of art, the louse The science and the cinema In a museum in Barcelona I forget Give me strength The Reels from which he made a fuse A priceless necklace on which hung Onion rings Into battle I was thankful, in the end And he

This scoundrel, this abuser Given a Victoria cross for irony? They don’t know the first thing. But I forget. It’s not without intent A certain private glory He is naive even in shit And drives his amateur fist Into his own progeny In Elgin socks and maladroit sincerity. What world where men without a shred of empathy Don’t wish for it And are envied this. We tour debased And debasing I now have The shame to wish War less dramatic The unreal earnestness Of finding babies shoes in rubble. Burned and wicked Our civilisation, and our dignity Caves in like a thin igloo The sound of a bassoon accompanies And I aspire only not to care so much. Compassion is weakness. Imagination is dangerous And I agree. Would this war were small to me Would I did not multiply to perceive But my profane principle demand is Give it to me straight, like pear cider Made from a hundred percent pears Give me a flummery Let absurdity exist again, something Something relative from now And the human or the marvel will needlessly

shatter Under my compatriot’s latest extravagant force - another window It feels as time immemorial Another face a cave Our whole-hearted destroyer Massages his jolted wrists and beckons me to celebrate And I am foul and pleased If only for the cheese he pays me in Very often, cheese The walnut richness was like justice. Its an easier thing to dream than peace; Gorgonzola. And still I do not have a sense of changing And still I am unsound Camembert A mental wreck, who’s embers of what messages escape Are just diverting to this compatriot, This defender. Psychosis is attractive. And rightly so. The energy of it And the triumph And I will never trust comprehension again Though that was before this silly conflict broke. Nature abhors a vacuum And this is one Things pass through me to, ultimately, the dump. This camera, and his gun. Entrance and exit. Perception and action. This future is not my one. I wish I was there to see the first new buds After the firestorm, the taste, hyacinth in the air and Thyme on the turkey

By William Miles

MORNING SUN

SHRINKING

SCENT

let me be let me be I see dark eye circles I see anxiety sleeplessness... attacks me let me be let me be winter scares me I have no warm socks you see my bed cages me let me be leave me be the morning sun is a sucker to believe it can fool me

Shrink Drift up, Lifting Up- Or, Maybe Everything Is Sinking? Shrinking. See blue tongues Lap the shore. Looming over Passing trees; A coarse brown grassWiry, wearyWooden. Over streets Ants march To and froThey’re people; All matterShrunk To the size of Peas. Put back in podsKept safe For another day. As waves wish, Wash and wish away And trees gulp Their last, The celestial heat decays. Lost in the blanket of starless, speechless space.

A squeeze, a kiss, he pecks her cheek. “Honey, I’m working late this week, like last week and that before”. Lies. He flirts whilst holding doors. His will, monogamy deplores. Carpet burns from hotel floors. Scratches from His high-class whores. She notices the smell. Dior. Picturesque solemnity. The doting wife, She holds her tongue. Thoughts of His infidelity repressed, her cries of pain, unsung. He finds himself betwixt strange limbs. The stinging scent of sin abhors His heart, but primal urges win internal dihcotomic wars. In a sleeping strangers lustful clutch He thinks of Her, the time they spent movies, windy walks and such. Comfort in familiar scent. With silent steps, His velvet key, His guilty yet ethereal gait returns once more to his own sheets, returns back to His tortured mate. Her nape He smells, and hair He touches, remembering now the stranger’s clutches. He thinks that he should end it for her sake. As She silently weeps they lie awake.

By Rüya Yönak

By Sean Joyce

By Zak Aseltine

Tame Impala

Let it Happen Kevin Parker has quite possibly released the record of 2015 with Tame Impala’s latest single, Let it Happen. By Rob Henderson

“If I never come back, tell my mother I’m sorry”, swoons Kevin Parker over a deliciously synthesised soundtrack, fleshed out by the compelling drumming from Jay Watson. Let it Happen is the biggest track since Peace’s California Daze, a song dubbed by many as a contemporary masterpiece and proves Kevin Parker’s astonishing indie credibility. It’s already been a prolific year for the Australian singer/ songwriter, with his psychedelic influence on Mark Ronson’s latest studio album helping the duo reach the number one spot. When a track like this drops, it’s impossible to ignore, described by Radio 1 as “ear bacon”. A fitting description for a track that’s so magnificently

balanced it seems to ooze through your speakers, smooth as silk, but razor sharp. The record begins with a gliding baseline, layered beneath the haunting-Lennon-like vocals of Parker (their resemblance is ridiculously uncanny), think 2015 Beatles. I’m not going to compare Tame Impala to The Beatles, despite many choosing to do so, but Parker has undoubtedly been inspired by Lennon. There’s no doubt this track will divide opinion, with Parker seemingly dropping the psychedelic riffs and atmospheric guitar-work for synthesised support. It’s important to recognise the psychedelic stance and what that

represents, it’s always been a mindset and not a particular sound, Parker’s doing a remarkable job in pioneering the psychedelic movement back to critical acclaim. Besides, at minute 6:29 out of the 7:49 minutes of this track, listeners are greeted by the thundering of Parkers guitar, harking back to Impala of old. Parker really is the dogsbollocks and perhaps signifies the transition of indie-sound back into the limelight after his work with Ronson and Kendrick Lamar achieved such popular success. You have got to embrace this track with open arms as it serves as an exciting reminder that Parker still has plenty to offer. Expect it on your airwaves for the foreseeable future, just let it happen...

The Vaccines

Electric Brixton - 08/04/15 By Callum Sharp and Rob Henderson

‘Do You Wanna Come Back?’ Yes… because it was that good a show. The four piece from South-West London, consisting of lead singer Justin Hayward-Young, Árni Árnason on bass, Pete Robertson on Drums and the egotistical lead guitarist Freddie Cowan, whose performance rocked the boat of all that attended. His stage dive was impressive and took balls, but the beer spitting and guitar trashing was possibly a step too far. Opening the night with ‘Teenage Icon’, The Vaccines delivered a full-packed gig, treating fans to a collection of classics and a debut performance of their latest single, ‘Dream Lover’, a smoother and slower number that drew in an adoring crowd. Playing the iconic Electric Brixton, The Vaccines seemed to grow in confidence with every second, especially Cowan and Young who paraded the stage with swooning arrogance, cementing the group as a fantastic live act. Cowan’s energy on stage was electric too. He owned the crowd, and we were all fine with it. Playing big hits like ‘Wrecking Bar’, ‘Bad Mood’ and ‘Post Break-Up Sex’, The Vaccines certainly showed the crowd a good time. It wasn’t just Cowan that commanded energy on stage either. Justin Hayward-Young was on point vocally the entire night, acting out the lyrics with his rugged facial expressions and loud hand movements that drew the crowd in. Justin’s solo encore was perhaps the perfectly mellowed highlight in an otherwise full throttled gig, performing an acoustic rendition of ‘No Hope’. Of course, this wasn’t the only song they played. The foursome returned to the stage with two more tunes up their sleeves, ‘Wolf Pack’ and ‘Norgaard’, perhaps saving the best until last. In a nutshell, it’s safe to say that this was the show of the year for many, its difficult to comprehend another show where the energy will be so high, the crowd so loyal and the band So.Damn.Good.

A late afternoon with

Poppy Ajudha

If you’ve never heard of Poppy Ajudha, don’t worry, it won’t be long before you do. This 19 year old rising star from South London is producing a unique sound and promises to take the industry by storm, whether she wants to or not... By Rob Henderson

Poppy has recently been performing alongside the SumoChiefs and will be working on several songs with them, one of which will feature on her forthcoming EP. Poppy’s first band was at the age 16 and now at the ripe old age of 19, she’s embarking on her solo material. “I don’t have any singing skills, in terms of being trained,” a surprising realisation for any of Poppy’s fans; her vocals are untarnished, mature and soulful and would lead anyone to believe that she’s had significant coaching. However, Poppy added that “Natty helped me to be more critical about my music and gave me a platform to perform.” It’s true that performance is a separate art form to having an impressive vocal range, but after seeing Poppy at Lewisham’s Fox and Firkin back in 2014, we were immediately convinced by her commanding stage presence. It’s refreshing when an artist comes along who’s all about the music and it’s easy to stray into clichés, but Poppy’s attitude towards the industry restores faith that there remain young musicians who still care about making real and great sounding tracks. “I have quite a high standard for how I want my music to sound,” and it’s clear to see that she means it, there’s no sense that Poppy will ever have the intention of ‘selling out,’ like so many young performers, who consistently do nowadays. We’re not saying it’s wrong to be commercial, after all musicians must make a living, but Poppy is clear on her musical ambitions and more importantly her musical taste, which is somewhat hard to categorise. In an increasingly diverse music scene, Poppy’s music slides into the fold with effortless grace as she combines elements of soul, grime and a touch of Amy Winehouse.

Speaking of genres, Poppy believes that there is no such thing, stating that modern day genres “lead people to be not so segregated,” and we completely agree, especially with the London scene flourishing on its melting-pot culture. “My dad was a DJ and was really into the likes of motown and jazz and stuff, and my mum was into rare grooves and funk and stuff”. Poppy’s influences prove to be decisive and I believe that much of her current sound is owed to her musical upbringing, “I didn’t realise at the time how much of an influence he had on my style of music”, Poppy acknowledges her father’s influence but much credit is deserved for bringing these genres under one roof and cutting them with a unique edge. Poppy’s latest single, released last week, ‘David’s Song’ is a prime example of this. It draws you in with a sleek and sexy intro that utilises the soft sounds of classic jazz before you’re greeted by the pure soulfulness of Poppy’s vocal. We’re really excited about this track and it must be mentioned that the production quality is outstanding! “I had a

friend who I wrote this song about, he passed away in November last year.” It’s a sombre track but full of hope and makes for a great listen. You can find Poppy performing regularly on the South London circuit, singing regularly at ‘Steez’, an evening hosted by the Fox and Firkin. Poppy has also signed to the record label Indigo Soul, you can check out her latest single ‘David’s Song’ here, on SoundCloud. https://soundcloud.com/poppyajudha

what the faq? Frequently Asked Questions answered by your own Students’ Union Advice Service 1. Looking now for somewhere to rent in September? - Don’t! There’s no need to rush. We wouldn’t encourage you to lock yourself into a contract for the coming year so early. There will be plenty of time to find somewhere to live once the summer exams are finished. It’s better to take the time with your friends to find somewhere suitable, get advice on your tenancy rights and be happy that you’re going to be happy living there. See the London Student Housing Guide for useful suggestions. You can download a copy at www.studenthousing.lon.ac.uk, or pick up a free copy at the University Accommodation Service offices. 2. Got your landlord’s full name and a contact address in England or Wales? Don’t sign an agreement with anyone who won’t give you their full name, or will only give you a mobile number or email address to contact them. It would raise questions with us about the legality of your contract: do they actually have the right to rent out the property to you? It’s not unknown

for tenants to unlawfully rent out their properties to others without the consent of the real landlord, leaving you with very few rights. Your landlord must by law give a contact address in England or Wales for service of notices, documents etc. Until the landlord does so, (a) your liability to pay rent is suspended, and (b) the landlord may be committing a criminal offence. We’d advise you not to sign an agreement with a landlord like this. If you already have, get advice from us. 3. Are you renting a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)? Should it be licensed? The law on licensing HMOs is complicated. In general, if you’re renting a property where there are 3 or more residents, living as 2 or more households, you’re probably in an HMO, which gives the landlord additional legal obligations. If it’s on 3 or more levels, and there’s 5 or more people living there as 2 or more households, the property must be licensed by the local Council. If the landlord hasn’t done so, (1) you could get up to 12 months rent back from the landlord; (2) the

landlord could be prosecuted and fined; and (3) the landlord may be unable to evict you just by giving notice at the end of your tenancy. Ideally, get advice before signing up to the contract if you think this applies to you. 4. Paying a deposit? Make sure you can get it back! If you’re renting as an Assured Shorthold tenant, and you have to pay a deposit to the landlord, your landlord must safeguard the deposit in one of the national rent deposit schemes. See https://www.gov.uk/tenancydeposit-protection/overview If your landlord doesn’t, or if the landlord hasn’t given you written information on how the deposit is safeguarded, you could apply for a Court order to get it protected, and to get damages worth up to 3 times the value of the deposit you’ve paid. Don’t rely on the landlord promising to do this: get the landlord to give you the Unique Reference Number for your deposit, and check with the relevant deposit protection scheme that your deposit is protected. If in doubt, contact your Students’ Union Advice Service.

got any questions of your own? Got a question of your own?

Email the Students’ Union in confidence at: suugadvice@gre.ac.uk

For further information, see:

www.suug.co.uk/welfare (Avery Hill & Greenwich-based students) www.gkunions.co.uk/advice (Medway students)