2013, Term 1, Issue 10

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25 november 2013, WEEK 10

life on death row the london philharmonic come to town claim to fame

the big debate

Rob Brydon’d up my day: meeting Uncle Bryn in the Green

policy an ethical form of population control?

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Is China’s one child

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science

arts

Scientists start work on a miraculous hangover free alcohol

Exclusive interview with musician Nick Mulvey

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sports TUNE IN ONLINE Mohawks reign supreme: the frisbee team ups the ante

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The end of the unpaid intern HMRC crackdown marks an important turning point in the campaign for fairer internships

Eduard Mead News Editor Following new guidance from the government, a crack down on companies offering unpaid internships has been anounced, in a bid to stop firms from using interns as free labour.

HM Revenue and Customs, the government body responsible for enforcing the minimum wage, will initially target 200 employers who have recently advertised internships to ensure that they are paying their new employees a legal wage.

Since October 2013, the National Minimum Wage has been £5.03 for 1820 year olds, and £6.31 for those aged 21 and over, up 1% and 1.9% respectively on last year, but below the rate of CPI inflation, which currently stands at 2.2%.

Michelle Wyer, Assistant Director of HMRC, issued a warning to companies thinking of circumventing their legal wage obligations: “Any employer not playing by the National Minimum Wage rules needs to put things right now.

“Those that don’t can expect a visit from HMRC – which could result in a penalty, payment of arrears, being publicly named and shamed, or a prosecution.”

According to research conducted by the Trade Union Congress, it is estimated that around 250,000 workers in the UK are not paid the minimum wage.

In 2012, HMRC identified 736 employers who paid workers either less than they were entitled to or nothing at all.

Following the HMRC crackdown, 26,500 workers received the wages they were entitled to, totaling £3.9m. This has led to fears that as internships become viewed as a key step to gaining future employment, students from poorer backgrounds will be unable to afford the same opportunities as their more wealthy peers.

The move has been welcomed by a number of student bodies, including the National Union of Students, who have, for years, campaigned against the

practice of offering unpaid internships which they believe creates a culture “that expects young people to work for free in order to get into employment”.

Dom Anderson, Vice President (Society and Citizenship) of the National Union of Students, was encouraged by the announcement: “With over a million young people unemployed, we need to be clear now more than ever that young people’s enthusiasm and desire to work cannot be exploited. A fair day’s work al-

ways deserves a fair day’s pay.”

The University of Sussex’s Careers and Employability Centre makes clear that it “does not advertise opportunities which contravene employment law legislation”, and asks “all employers to offer the higher level National Minimum Wage.”

HMRC’s announcement comes at a time where the cost of living and social mobility is driving the political agenda.

Jo Swinson, the Government’s Employment Relations Minister, said: “Not

paying the National Minimum Wage is illegal and if an employer breaks the law, government will take tough action”.

Unpaid internships are most often targeted at those pursuing careers in journalism and the fashion industry.

In June 2013, nine companies, including Acardia, which owns Topshop, were fined just under £200,000 for failing to pay interns the minimum wage. Following this, Arcadia agreed to end all of their unpaid internships.

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At the time, the NUS said: “I congratulate Arcadia on leading their industry by not only ending unpaid internships but also recognising the work put in by former interns.

HMRC have warned the fashion industry that interns must be paid at least the minimum wage and those who don’t follow Arcadia’s example must face the legal consequences.”

The Badger spoke to a wide range of students about the issue, but whilst most broadly welcomed the move, a number were frustrated by what they perceived as slow progress on “what is not a new issue”.

The Students’ Union have long campaigned on the issue, arguing that: “Unpaid internships are one of the biggest obstructions faced by young people and students today and we want to put a stop to the prevailing culture that expects young people to work for free in order to get into employment.”

John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, was recently found, by Sky News, to be offering an internship without pay, lunch or travel expenses.

The job advertisement states “the successful candidate would be able to develop a broader range of skills from the internship if they choose to undertake it for an equivalent of 3 months full-time.

This is usually 6 months part time, but can be up to 12 months.”

However, the website hosting the advertisement, W4MP, added: “The role being advertised is a voluntary one. As such, there are no set hours and responsibilities and you should be free to come and go as you wish.

If the post demands set hours and/or has a specific job description you may be deemed to be a ‘worker’ and be covered

by National Minimum Wage legislation.”

Anyone who suspects that they are not receiving the minimum wage can contact the National Minimum Wage helpline on 0845 6000 678.

the badger

25 novemBER 2013

in pictures • 2

IN PICTURES In pictures: what’s happening on your campus Sussex Netball

Juliet Jacques introducing ‘City of Lost Souls’

Tea Societea Social

Richard Mashiter

Amy Louise Williams

Four Badger editors showing support for Transgender Day of Remembrance

Mina Rassouli

Lewis Mancer

Sussex Saxons vs Solent

Jan Svankmajer Exhibition

Joshua Allwood

Maria Tzioni

Mina Rassouli

the badger

25 November 2013

NEWS • 3

NEWS Student loan sell-off protest 2013 Transgender Paul Millar Comment Editor

Students across the country have taken collective action against the government’s plans to privatise student loans, when the Students’ Assembly Against Austerity (SAAA) co-ordinated a national day of action on 25 campuses across the country on Wednesday 20 November.

The government announced last June that an estimated £40 billion would be sold off to third party companies.

This comes as part of the coalition’s broader programme of welfare and spending cuts as part of its commitment to lower the UK’s budget deficit by £11.5 billion in George Osborne’s Spending Review in June.

However, critics have argued that the move has only short term political benefits and will lead to soaring interest rates which will hurt future students.

Vince Cable, the Lib Dem business secretary, has already ruled out the option of increasing interest rates for existing graduates.

The University of Sussex Students’ Union had planned to stage a demonstration outside Arts A lecture theatre, but the event had to be cancelled due to bad weather conditions.

Inflatable objects prepared for a stunt that was to form a pivotal part of the Unions’ demonstration were unable to be erected due to health and safety risks.

Flyers promoting the issue were left downstairs in Falmer House but, with the event being suddenly removed from Facebook, few were aware of this and many flyers weren’t picked up.

With nearly 100 set to attend the protest, which was scheduled between 2pm and 5pm, many were left confused by the sudden cancellation, as the rain had completely stopped by 2:30pm.

One riled student posted on Facebook’s popular ‘Stop the Privatization of Sussex University’ page: “Why was it pushed in the first place? Government won’t stop the sell off just because of rain... we are in Britain after all. Can’t make political action depend on the rain, can you?”

On the decision to cancel the event, Juliet said: “The event was cancelled because I had to make the call at 1pm before I went into Senate at 1.30. At 1pm it was still raining and there were not enough staff or volunteers to man the stall. I then had to sit in Senate watching glorious sunshine pour through the window and listen to the windows in Fulton panic about the rapid changes in the weather.

“I am extremely disappointed that the event didn’t go ahead, and I do hope to organise something on another day.”

Other Students’ Unions across the UK, who did go ahead with action have given strong hints that they will step up their protests in the New Year if the government do not scrap the policy.

Fiona Edwards, of the SAAA, said:

“We recognise that the privatisation of our student loans will cause interest rates to rise.

We are demanding that they drop this outrageous policy immediately or expect further protests in the New Year.”

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “Education is one of the most important rights we have, but the Government seems intent on treating it as a source of profit for private investors.

“It’s clearly unfair on students, but also on taxpayers who will foot the bill when the Government has to pay penalty fees resulting from students being unable to repay.

“Students are right to be angry, and to exercise their right to peaceful protest against yet another harmful and unnecessary privatisation.”

The Royal Mail was sold from the taxpayer to private investors for £3.3 billion earlier this year in October.

However, share prices have indicated that the government undervalued the company and critics have attacked the coalition for losing the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds.

Universities Minister, David Willetts MP, said the privatisation will “not change the terms of repayment” and thus ‘not affect’ students.

The government decided to triple home undergraduate tuition fees from £3,000 to £9,000 in 2010, prompting mass protests from students and staff alike in defence of accessible education.

Remembrance Day The Sussex student community commemorated the memories of those who have lost their lives as a result of transgender prejudice in a service to mark the international transgender day of remembrance.

The honorary event took place on 20 November in the Jubilee lecture theatre and was organised by the Students’ Union, the Sussex LGBTQ Society and the LGBrighton Society.

Drawing in around 100 students, the commemorative service offered those in attendance a chance to pay their respects to people who have died at the hands of violence against transgender people.

A representative speaking on behalf of the LGBTQ Society deplored the increase in the number of transgender killings over the past five years.

According to statistics collated by Transgender Europe, 238 transgender people were murdered worldwide in 2012 as a result of direct prejudice against them.

Sophie van der Ham, the Students’ Union Welfare Officer, who has earmarked transgender equality as one of her top priorities, stated: “Reflecting on those who have lost their lives due to transphobic violence is imperative

to stopping the violence that still occurs on our streets.

“Unfortunately, discrimination and irrational hatred is still rampant in society and as a Students’ Union that is committed to providing equal opportunities for all its members, we want to provide safe spaces for students to live fear free.”

Sophie also raised concerns that the local community had been experiencing a spike in the number of transgender violence cases.

She commented: “Last October, a transgender woman was assaulted and threatened in Peacehaven. The Students’ Union helps organise these events to implore students to think critically, learn more about others and question their assumptions, as well as honouring those who have been the victims of these attacks.”

During the event, a minutes silence was observed by those in the lecture theatre.

The event concluded with a screening of “City of Lost Souls”, a film which deals with the significant issues of fascism, sexuality, race and gender.

Student sports teams were also invited to don a blue, pink and white stripe on their face to express support for the day’s events and help raise awarenss. Further photos can be found on our website.

it! I was able to march down the streets feeling powerful, which is not something I, or probably a lot of women are used to, especially at night time.”

Another participant explained how someone had shouted “Get your tits out!” at her whilst she journeyed to the march and that “the march was a great way for me to vent my anger”.

The march comes at a time when gender based harassment and exploitation is making headlines in the media and entertainment industries.

Lily Allen’s latest single ‘Hard Out Here’ was accompanied by a controversial music video in which Allen pokes fun at Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ and “deals with objectification of women within modern pop culture”.

The protest ended outside Jubilee Library where the assembled crowd was addressed by a number of musicians, poets, and speakers including Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton and Pavilion, representatives from Black Women’s Rape Action Project, the English Collective of Prostitutes, All African Women’s Group, Survivor’s Network, and Trans* Pride Brighton.

Caroline Lucas insisted that: “We have every right to be safe on the

streets at night. That is why we are reclaiming the night from those who abuse us, call us names, or treat us with disrespect.”

Some of the speeches focused on intersectionality within feminism, whilst others highlighted the extent of ongoing sexual assault. Laura Escott, of Survivor’s Network, shocked the crowd when she revealed that the number of reported serious sexual offences last year was around 54,000, and that estimates suggest that around 85 percent of cases go unreported, which would suggest that over 356,000 serious sexual offences took place, last year, in the UK alone.

Caitlin Hayward-Tapp, a poet known for her powerful and poignant poetry, performed some of her most emotive works, including ‘If you see me’, which tells the story of a women walking home at night, and finishes with the line: “Before you comment on my shoes, try walking in them for a while”.

Those in attendance were adamant that the night had been “reclaimed for everyone” and that the event’s success represents a growing, reignited feminist movement against gender based violence.

Anthi Kyriakaki

Brighton’s night ‘reclaimed for everyone’

Malina Dennett

Annie Pickering Publicity Team Over 500 people took to the streets of Brighton to take part in “Reclaim the Night”, a protest against gender-based violence and harassment, on Saturday 16 November.

“Reclaim in the Night”, organised by the Brighton Feminist Collective, started outside Brighton Station with chant

sheets, whistles and banners.

A number of groups were present, including Trade Unions, charities, and the Students’ Union’s own Femsoc and Women’s Group.

Marchers, of all ages and genders, made their way down to the seafront via West Street and back around Brighton town with cries of “Whose streets? Our streets!” and “Hey Ho, Sexual Violence got to go!”

Their cries signalled a hope for safer streets for everyone, and an end to victim blaming, the practice of blaming the victim for their attacker’s behaviour.

Their words appeared to resonate with a number of passers by, many of whom lined the streets to show their support as the protesters marched past.

One of the attendees, Emily Pinto, praised the event: “I absolutely loved

THE BADGER

25 NOVEMBER 13

NEWS • 4

Final nail in the coffin Cops at campus for Dissertation Dash co-op in ‘scuffle’

USSU

Madeline Weng The University of Sussex is set to implement an online submission system by 2014-15, it has been announced.

The E-submission and E-feedback system will enable electronic feedback, assessment and marking of students’ work.

“It is a complex task and it is important that we get this right as assessment, marking and feedback lie at the heart of high-quality teaching and effective learning”, said a spokesperson for the University.

They also added that they believe the system will be far more comprehensive that anything currently offered by other UK universities.

The new project, hailed as a success by the University, comes a year after the traditional “Dissertation Dash”, an annual tradition where third-year

students would run through campus to hand in their university assignments, was cancelled to to hand-ins being held in School Offices rather than at a central point.

Sussex students have been submitting their dissertations in this way, since the 1990s, normally cheered on by thousands of their peers as they embarked on their last-minute dash from the library, but the change to submission protocol has been earmarked by the University for some time.

Last year saw a new celebration, with a big party held by the Students’ Union in and around Falmer Bar. “As a recent graduate I found last year’s celebrations a lot of fun,” said Juliette Cule, Education Officer of University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU), “The Students’ Union was sad to see the end of the Dissertation Dash, but worked hard with the Uni-

versity to provide an alternative.

“I believe E-submission is more practical for students and more environmentally friendly.”

Wayne Wan, a Sussex Msc student in International Finance, remarked that although he was sad to see the end of the Dissertation Dash in its current format, he believed that such a change was inevitable: “Online dissertation submission system has already been widely used in Chinese universities; the Electronic Submission will eventually replace paper hand-ins.”

The pilot version of the project will be rolled out in 2014/15, whilst the full and final version with additional functionality and enhancements is set to be implemented by the start of the 2015/16 academic year, according to a Report from the E-submission and E-feedback Project Board.

The commitment to integrate esubmissions will save paper, and students on printing costs and has been backed by the Students’ Union.

The technique has already been implemented at a number of other higher education institutions across the country, with Brighton University having used online submissions as standard policy on some courses for at least three years.

Upon hearing of the discountinuation of the dash last year, one student tweeted “I’ve been looking forward to my dissertation dash ever since my first year, don’t take it away from me #savethedash”.

Daniel Green

A 15 year old boy has been arrested and charged with shoplifting and assault, following a “scuffle” at the Co-op Bramber House branch.

The incident, which took place at around 5pm on 14 November, saw a gang of five teenagers attempt to shoplift items from the store, with one threatening the store security guard when apprehended.

Eyewitnesses outside Bramber House reported seeing “three police officers escort the boy into a police car outside the building”.

Cans of coke and vodka mixers were amongst the items that the youths connived to shoplift before being caught by the on-duty security guard.

When approached by the security guard, one of the more aggressive teenagers allegedly grabbed him and attempted to punch and head-butt him multiple times. This prompted the intervention of several Co-op workers to block off the gang’s exit, according to one of the checkout assistants.

An employee of the Co-op claimed he had “threatening language hurled” at him by one of the teenagers. When recounting the event, he said: “I have never dealt with anything like it in my time working at the Co-op.

“It was all very shocking and uncomfortable. I know I wasn’t the only per-

Still going strong:Lucas fights against fracking

Juliette Cule Education Officer

Student Rep round-up All of the Student Reps have been doing some fantastic stuff so far this term, and I am so proud of all their hard work. Here’s an update of some things that are going on for Reps at the moment: Student Reps have lots of places to air the views of all students on any academic issues, for example the Student Experience Forum that’s being held on Monday 25 November. Get in touch with your Rep if you have any concerns or comments that you wish to put to the University and Students Union. Find out more about the Student Rep scheme at sussexstudent.com/studentreps.

We’ve already held some communication training for our Reps, but if there are any Reps that haven’t been

along yet, then please feel free to come along on the afternoon of the Wednesday 4th December, when we’re holding the session again.

If any Student Reps have a particular case or project that you want to work on this term, then we are holding a Rep Forum! This will be some custom training for Reps who want to look more in depth at an issue or project, and will be a chance for you to meet up and talk about how its all going. This will be taking place on Thursday, 28th November in Meeting Room 2 at 3pm. Please do come along!

For anyone who didn’t get a Student Rep hoody, they are on their way, and will be with us before the start of next term.

son present who felt that way”.

Police officers arrived approximately five minutes after the incident, and proceeded to arrest the troublesome teenager and reprimand the other four.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “A boy was arrested following an incident in the Co-op store at the University of Sussex after staff and security personnel had detained a group of five people.”

The spokesman added that he had been “charged with shoplifting and assault by beating and was bailed” until his court appearance- which has been set for late November this year- and that no other charges were made in respect to this incident.

A spokesperson for Southern Cooperative was keen to assure that “the safety of our customers and colleagues is paramount in all of our stores.”

The store has employed plain-clothed and uniformed security guards for a number of months in a bid to tackle the amount of thefts from the shop.

Several staff members were keen to stress that theft amounted to pressure on the amount of money the Union received from the store, and had a knock-on effect on the Union’s ability to spend money in funding campaigns and societies.

The 15 year old is due to appear in Brighton Youth Court on 26 November.

indymedia.co.uk

Jasmin Lukasz Brighton University Green Party Society hosted an event with local MP Caroline Lucas and two anti-fracking campaigners to discuss with students their views on the “harmful effects of fracking on the global environment”, on Friday 15 November.

The UK Government has recently granted permission to a number of energy companies to begin shale gas exploration, arguing that this investment is necessary in ensuring future energy security for the British public.

Fracking is the process of injecting a mixture of water, chemicals and sand into a well, which cracks the rock underground, potentially releasing large amounts of shale gas.

Some campaigners have repeatedly expressed concern over the large amount of investment in infrastructure required before lorries can begin delivering significant amounts of clean water and remove the waste water.

Ms Lucas, who was arrested in Balcombe during an anti-fracking protest earlier this year, argued that this high level of investment could potentially create a lock-in effect for decades to come.

When asked why the UK government has lent such fleeting support to fracking companies, she argued that that the industry has a “strong influence over policy”, and that industry officials determine their own regulation.

Two activists from campaign group ‘Frack Off ’ added their concerns which were focused around water contamination, noise pollution and minor earth tremors.

The Green MP closed the talk by underlining her intentions for the Brighton and Hove council to soon declare the borough a “frack-free zone”.

THE BADGER

25 NOVEMBER 2013

SUSSEX SAYS • 5

SUSSEX SAYS

Claim To Fame

THE MOAN ZONE

Rob Brydon’d up my day!

Lucy Hartland A few years ago I was in the fortunate position of being able to meet Rob Brydon (otherwise known as Uncle Bryn from Gavin and Stacey)!

My brother was working on his show, ‘The Rob Brydon Show’ and was able to get me tickets, I enjoyed his show and it was even better as I got to see The Script perform live and scream very overexcitedly at them! After a rush from college to get to the studios I turned up sweaty and worst of all…

haps he didn’t get up because he had a great spot next to the nibbles table!

I sat awkwardly on a sofa trying to muster up the courage to go and talk to Rob Brydon. After a glass of wine and about half an hour I went over to him to introduce myself. We were talking for a while and then, out of nowhere, I decided to do my best Uncle Bryn impression, needless to say I did not do it well. Instead of sparing myself from further embarrassment I decided to continue with my Gavin and Stacey impersonations ranging

was a lovely man and so I got over my ordeal, and anyone who offers me food will automatically become my friend!

from Stacey and Pam to Nessa. Dear Lord, what was I thinking?!

However, Rob Brydon was the perfect gent and kindly changed the conversation topic to his daughter who enjoyed horse riding which was a mutual topic because I conveniently horse ride too! After about 10 minutes I thought I should let him mingle with other people and so ended the conversation but before he left he offered me some of his crisps from either of the two packets which he was eating!

It was a bit embarrassing but he

HAVE YOU GOT A CLAIM? Had any encounters with any celebrities?

We want to hear about it!!

E-mail Sussex Says at lmh34@sussex.ac.uk

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT Gabrielle Woor It was 3pm when I received an innocent phone call to go for drinks in Brighton with a friend, however, I knew secretly that despite my objections to more than a couple of drinks it would amount to large amounts of alcohol and some interesting places. It started off relaxed with the usual cheap drinks at Pav Tav, but it soon took an unexpected turn.

After the drinks started flowing we decided to go along to a house party we’d been asked to go to, it seemed like the next logical step from pre-drinking in Pav Tav. When we arrived we were armed with a litre of vodka and cans of Red Bull.

The party had very much started with lots of drunken people, most of them strangers, dancing on every table and chair the house had to offer.

After a few solid hours drinking and becoming ‘best friends’ with all the

strangers, we decided that 3am was a good time to leave. As we took the short walk home we noticed a local Turkish café ‘Greeen Orange’ had its lights on so my incredibly intoxicated friend decided it would be hilarious to invite himself to join the small party inside.

It turned out that it was the owner’s family and friends celebrating the opening of his cafe. They were very hospitable, passing us platters of Turkish delicacies and copious amounts of ouzo (this is definitely not my favourite drink – which was further confirmed following this night – but of course I had to be polite didn’t I).

I was having a lot of fun with my new found friends who made me feel very welcome, we were dancing and drinking and it was a surprisingly great party.

That was until one of them pulled out his guitar and the whole room forced me to dance in the traditional Turkish way, I had no idea what to do at first and appeared to have gained two left feet, but after a few minutes I picked it up and definitely thought I was a natural – the ouzo might have helped me think this way.

My friend thought all of this was great and stood watching crying in hysterics. Needless to say I managed to make a swift exit not long after, no thanks to

Silence. What does that word suggest to you? If for you, it means you should munch loudly on loud food in loud packaging, scream and shout like Britney and make sure everyone can hear how awesome your music is, you’re doing it wrong. Like so many people in the ‘silent’ areas of the library, you’re doing it wrong. Being in a library, one would expect others to have the capacity to read. Yet apparently the word ‘silent’ printed on banners all over the walls, has been elusive.

If there was nowhere for you to go to discuss work, I would be more understanding. However, within the confines of the library there are an abundance of ‘social’ and even ‘quiet’ areas where your friends can audibly try to help you with your degree. I know that sometimes it’s busy. It may not be by choice that you have to work in a silent area, but those are still the rules, whether you want to be silent or not. I’m not working in the silent area because I don’t want to socialise with my friends, I’m in here because I have a massive deadline and don’t want distractions!

“...out of nowhere I decided to do my best Uncle Bryn impression...” late, shrugging it off casually I took my seat. The lateness did not dampen my mood because after the show finished filming I was able to gain access to the green room, in it I met both Matt Lucas (from ‘Little Britain’) and Rob Brydon.

It was so good! There were nibbles and wine and lots of important looking people – I looked a little out of place but I didn’t care, I embraced it.

Matt Lucas was sitting in the corner, cross-legged like a naughty school boy. He kept to himself but was smiling at everyone in the room or per-

This week: Silence Is Golden

my friend of course. The next morning I woke up confused as to whether the previous nights event actually happened or if it was all a dream. Much to my embarrassment it was real and I walk swiftly with my head down every time I pass that café now!

Apparently, Sussex students think the dictionary definition of silent is: ‘characterized by friendly companionship or relations; a social club.’ The definition of social is: ‘making no sound’. Obviously these are the other way around. Perhaps if people did not confuse the one for the other, stressed, unhappy people would be able to focus on their work. Whilst essay writing in a silent area earlier, I discovered that ‘Alex’ (who was talking very loudly) wasn’t let into Funfair because he had a green face?

Please think of others when using the library. Moan moan moan.

Creatures of the Night @SussexSays #Moan Maddy Smithers

Share your moaning moments

TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS OF THE WEEK “So David Dimbleby’s got a tattoo of a scorpion. What next? Ann Widdecombe getting a vajazzle?” @JimmyCarr “ Only I could mix my own woodsy, earthy, floral aromatherapy room spray and have it end up smelling like a foot. #domesticfail” @OliviaWilde “Not sure I’ll ever get used to paps taking my photo outside LAX arrivals. But hopefully I’ll grow out of my ‘mooning’ phase” @BigBoyler I think most of us students can relate to this one: “Hmm! Think I’ve got one of those hangovers that’s going to ambush me at any minute.” @alancarr

HAVE YOU GOT A STORY? E-mail Sussex Says at lmh34@sussex.ac.uk

Can Someone please give Kim Kardashian some crucial life advice!? “Should I do long nails today? I LOVE my short nails & always regret when I try long but if they are slightly longer & still nude should I do?” @KimKardashian

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the badger

25 november 2013

Letters • 7

LETTERS We celebrate collaboration and critical debate, and I hope in the future The Badger will too.

RE: Occupy Sussex piles more misery on students

Life on death row

Dear Badger,

Dear Badger,

I am writing in response to Paul Millar’s article ‘Occupy Sussex piles more misery on students’.

The headline took me by surprise, and the article left me bewildered.

At this critical time in higher education, I would hope to see incisive, accurate journalism examining current issues on campus. As I watch management fail to engage critically with the experiment that is the marketisation of higher education, I feel increasingly proud of all our Sussex students and particularly those who challenge the deeply distressing ‘status quo’ of austerity, cuts and profit-driven targets.

Consequently, Millar’s article left me feeling as hopeless as I do after watching ‘Prime Minister’s Questions’. I know that the campaign welcomes challenges to the work that they are doing, and so I wonder why Millar felt the need to make snide attacks, calling a movement that strives for inclusivity a ‘clique’, ignoring the wider work that they have been doing to disseminate information, and disregarding the many first year students engaging with these issues.

I take seriously the suggestion that the Students’ Union could ‘step up to the plate’, and we plan to do more to inform our student body about the issue of privatisation.

I have serious concerns about the future of student politics when the presidents of two of our political societies focus on the perceived inconvenience of protest above all else.

Millar says that we should be dealing with the underlying matter at hand, the marketisation of higher education. It seems to me that his individualistic representation of the recent Arts A1 occupation shows his utter complicity in dominant ideologies.

I urge students with any issues with the campaign’s cause or actions to contact them directly or to contact the Students’ Union who can mediate discussion or provide information.

Imagine being put to death in a gas chamber for a crime you did not commit.

That’s the story of Edward Earl Johnson. We, the Sussex University Amnesty society, held a powerful thought-provoking film screening on Edward Earl Johnson (death penalty) last month. We highly recommend everyone to watch it, it’s called ’fourteen days in May’ (available on YouTube).

The gripping documentary brutally recounts the last fourteen days of Edward Earl Johnson’s life in prison, an American prisoner who was executed in Mississippi in 1987.

There was no supporting evidence linking Edward to the crime scene, yet his life was still brought to an end in the most cruel and inhumane way, dying of hypoxia in a gas chamber for a crime he did not commit.

Now imagine in 2013, the state of Missouri is threatening to bring back gas chambers as a method of execution as they claim their supply of the “more humane” lethal-injections is running low as a result of a boycott by drug companies in the US and Europe.

Even though there have been some advancements in some states, such as Maryland which recently abolished the death penalty, the penalty remains legal in 32 states. As of this year, 2013, there are more than 3000 prisoners still on death row in the US! Following up on the powerful film screening, we had an interesting talk by a guest speaker on the 7th of November, Andrew Wilkes, who used to work with Lifelines, an organization that pen-pals prisoners on the death row in the US, and Reprieve, a Londonbased organisation which offers legal support to prisoners on the death row.

He eloquently spoke about his involvement with US prisoners in Florida and other southern states and how many prisoners on the death row feel despair and helplessness, after being abandoned by their family and friends.

Juliette Cule, Education Officer

The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not nessesarily represent those of the Student’s Union, unless explicitly stated.

University of Sussex Students’ Union Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9QF

email: badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

BADGER

THE

Andrew emphasized how the death penalty unequally applies to individuals from a poor or a minority background.

For example, you are four to five times more likely to receive a death sentence if you are African American. It was highlighted that many prisoners face homophobic and/or racist abuse in prison or through the legal system, and one case was that of a lawyer that had fallen asleep while IN court, and his defendant was on death row.

In Amnesty, we try our best to raise awareness and take action on human rights abuses and injustice wherever they take place.

There is always a shared struggle.

If you are interested in getting involved, please come to our meetings.

We meet every two weeks in Meeting Room 5 at 6pm. This term so far we took action on abuses in Egypt, Afghanistan, the US, Sudan/South Sudan and in our next meeting, the last one this term, which is on the 28th of November, where we will have the privilege of having an Iranian student at Sussex, Taraneh Fathalian, speak to our group about Iran and recent executions that took place there.

To keep up to date with our coming events on Syria and Palestine, please: Follow us on twitter: Sussex_Amnesty Or join our group on Facebook: Sussex University Amnesty International Society Salah, on behalf of Sussex University Amnesty International Society

Self-promotion and scandal trumps moral action?

Dear Badger In reply to, ‘Occupy piles more misery on students’, I could lavishly brandish frivolous insults but I think it better to get straight to the point (on the assumption you have read the article in question).

The room was chosen carefully as a prime spot to raise awareness of/ show support for the strike. There was one dissertation lecture in there which the occupiers offered to accommodate. It was rescheduled by the University. The

other two things set to take place in A1 were not student-education related.

Incidentally, a meeting of the Society of Turkey went ahead successfully.

Everyone in there knew what they were standing up for and did so with integrity. To dig at those who know less because they are new to the movement is typical of elitist moves to generate apathy among those who actually care enough to take action.

It also undermines the involvement of newcomers, which is crucial to the continuation of the movement.

As a first year, I’m disappointed that the chairman of the Labour Society appears a quintessential party member; he perpetuates to support the workers, but his large sway in the student newspaper is dedicated hugely to criticizing those who actually SUPPORT the workers and he does so based on trivialities, rather than leading with the importance of the strikes and (if he so wishes) incorporating his quarrel with the nature of the occupation.

Perhaps the journalist instinct took over – self-promotion and scandal trumps moral action. Take some time, think it over, and give the occupiers a platform to speak for themselves. To brandish such an uncalculated criticism so one-sidedly in such an influential on-campus information provider snatches attention away from the bigger issue and will have potentially lost an invaluable movement a vast amount of potential support.

I think it’s a great shame that such an article has been produced and narcissistically published by a student in a position which should (but evidently can’t) be looked up to by left-wingers on campus.

Joe Walker

Editor-in-Chief Aubrey Allegretti

badger@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Deputy Editors-in-Chief Emily Sutherland badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Cat Gough badger-arts@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Head of Publicity Amy Bracewell badger-publicity@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

News Editors Yasmin Centeno, Eduard Mead, Jack Williams, Lucy Hartland badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Letters & Societies Editor Deborah Batchelor badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Features Editors Holly Davis-Bollard, Nicole Estwick badger-features@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Comment Editors Nick Godshaw, Paul Millar badger-opinion@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Arts Editors Will Fortna, Tom Powell, Heather Gwyther, Cesca Rampley, Victoria Rodrigues badger-artspages@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Science Editor Katherine Hardy badger-science@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

# T hebadger the week in tweets

Sports Editors Karoliina Lehtonen, Michael Morrow

@KarlosDoswell How can you argue against wearing a poppy?!? #thebadger

Photo Editors Naomi Horsfall, Mina Rassouli

@KaroliinaL Counting down the seconds until I get called a Tory because I agreed with something anti occupy publicly on fbk #predictable #thebadger

GOT AN OPINION? If you’re troubled by seagul strife, want to air a campus grievance, or want to respond to an article in the paper, send a carrier pigeon to:

badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

badger-sports@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

badger-photo@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Publicity Team Zoe Mallett, Jemma Rix, Annie Pickering, Hannah Shaw Social Media Coordinator Isla Forrester Online Editors Steve Barker, Rob Frost Students’ Union Communications Officer Imogen Adie

communications@sussexstudent.com

the badger

25 november 2013

FEATURE • 8

FEATURE

Raye Pritchett-Page

Dykes Against Censorship Following the removal of the word “dyke” from promotional literature by the LGBTQ soc, Features Editor, Holly Davis-Bollard, discusses why fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself.

On the 11th of November, the Huffington Post reported that the Sussex LGBTQ Society had made the decision to ban the word dyke at Sussex University. The article in fact holds many inaccuracies, firstly that the words dyke and fag have been banned in the first place.

The actions of the LGBTQ Society were in fact to remove a poster for the Dyke the Halls Christmas comedy night, and a poster that used the word fag earlier in the year, from their Facebook group. Although this is not strictly a ban on either word, it has set a precedent that all future posters that use the word will be taken down. This is, in effect, a ban affecting promotional material, and those who have spent time and energy reclaiming the term have been essentially disenfranchised.

The term dyke has been in use for almost 80 years. In contemporary history it has been used, by homosexuals and homophobes alike, to describe lesbians. The word first emerged around the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s where it was negatively coined by Claude McKay. But another renaissance was occurring on the other side of the stage door, where a number of the writers belonging to the group that had first coined the term negatively began to be recognised as falling somewhere along the LGBTQ spectrum.

Reclaiming gay identity through language and literature was a way for members of the Harlem Renaissance to stand up and take power from the

words which had before only been used for sexual destruction.

Jump forward nearly 70 years, and Alison Bechdel appears on the scene in 1987 with her serialised comic Dykes to Watch Out For, which ran for a consecutive 21 years. As with her graphic novels, she documents the ordinary lives of lesbians living in America, and works to reclaim dyke for a huge proportion of lesbians who identify as such.

Alison Bechdel is just one woman, one lesbian, and her use of the term

“... it is important to remember the distinction between using a term to offend, and using a term to reclaim.” dyke and her literature on lesbian culture does not form the rule book, but she is one of several figures that have been fighting to reclaim this specific language of oppression for decades.

More specifically, she is one of the reasons that two of her contemporaries are able to put on a show called Dyke the Halls and have no one bat an eyelid.

Yet on the 11th of November, the Sussex LGBTQ society released a statement saying that they had made the decision to remove a poster that

employed the term for wholly positive purposes.

Although the move might be understandable in sentiment, it is important to remember the distinction between using a term to offend, and using a term to reclaim. There are a number of laws in place to prevent members of the wider community using language that could cause offense.

This includes literature, and was put into explicit practice when two BNP activists were arrested on suspicion of equating “Polish people with monkeys” in publication literature. If the law is in place already, does the word need to be given further restrictions?

But the removal of this specific poster was not decided in reaction to the term being used in a derogatory way. The decision was made on the same grounds of removing a poster that used the word fag earlier in the year, the society stating that though it was “noble in its efforts towards reclamation”, it was nonetheless deemed inappropriate.

Reappropriation has been occurring for decades, and VG Lee and Rose Collis of Dyke the Halls certainly aren’t the first in attempting to disarm trigger words. Take the global phenomenon SlutWalk as an example. Its message of removing the connotations of sexual violence from language couldn’t be better summarised than by the tagline Melbourne SlutWalk coined for their event in August this year: “It’s a controversial name, not a controversial message.”

The LGBTQ society appreciates the

power of disarming trigger words and accepting them as terms of identification, having said in their official statement that they “applaud that individuals are able to choose their own labels”. The power that an action of censorship creates, however, renders these claims quite irrelevant.

The society are quoted as saying that while they are “deeply concerned and passionate about issues within the wider LGBTQ community, it is the welfare of our group’s members that must remain our first and foremost concern.” What they seem to have disregarded, however, is that the concerns of the wider LGBTQ community are also the concerns of Sussex students, specifically those who identify as dykes.

Community is historically one of the few places for reclamation to flourish. Censoring reclaimed trigger words from an insular group is comparable to a music company removing racial language from rap music, one of the few places that it is used as a method of reclamation.

If the community that holds claim to a word is stopped from using it, the only time it will be used is by those outside the community, opening up the potential for social regression.

Banning a word doesn’t numb its effects, and is more likely to do the opposite.

The Sussex LGBTQ society proclaim that their aim of removing the poster “is not censorship”, and that during LGBTQ History Month they are “planning to host a discussion on issues

concerning reappropriation.” Yet, the decision to remove the poster has already been made, with supposedly no official vote by the student body.

How, then, will this discussion open the floor for debate? Is it not, instead, a mere formality to please those who have been let down by a group that assumed the opinions of the few were all encompassing?

We live in a disproportionately liberal society at Sussex University, where every grievance is given a platform for discussion. But this issue wasn’t given a platform. There was no debate, no chance for the dykes of our University to explain why the term gives them a power like no other.

The LGBTQ society are not going to tell us what we can’t say, and they are not going to tell us what we can’t call ourselves, but they have set a precedent of shame by deciding which words are acceptable and which are not.

It may only be a promotional poster for a piece of performance art, but art is where dyke identification began, and where it continues to flourish today. When we have to stop saying a word out loud, when we have to stop writing it down, it starts to mean something very different.

Have a particular hobby, passion or issue you wish to discuss? Interested in writing a feature for a future issue of The Badger? E-mail us at: badger-features@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

THE BADGER

25 NOVEMBER 2013

COMMENT • 10

COMMENT

Response to Paul Millar: why ‘Occupy Sussex’ ought to be revered, not ridiculed Dan Kennedy On Monday 11th, in your capacity as a leading figure in the Sussex Labour society, conveniently placed in a coeditor’s position at The Badger, you published your own article slating something called ‘Occupy Sussex’ for its occupation in support of the Halloween Strike two weeks previous. Leaving aside the questionable journalistic motives behind an article which talks almost as much about yourself as it does your subject (even going so far as to include photograph of you), it’s important to examine the information you provided to bolster your claim that ‘Occupy Sussex piles misery on students.’

I’d also like to offer one or two suggestions that might improve the quality of argument in any future slanderous articles you choose to publish.

The first example of shoddy journalism is your constant referral to ‘Occupy Sussex’ as the students behind the actions on campus. ‘Occupy Sussex’ is an idea, a means of protest, a slogan and a Facebook page. It is not a group or an organisation.

The campaign against privatisation on campus began with the workers as Sussex Against Privatisation, though as this is a grassroots movement, its 'official' name is dynamic and largely unimportant.

What's important are its aims and structures. It has no official membership or subscription and there is no required level of commitment. We welcome opposing views in order to generate discussion.

The box collective of students and Union staff is horizontal in nature – there is

no hierarchy, no “senior members” (despite The Badger’s constant scapegoating of a certain individuals), and no one has any greater weight with their vote than anyone else. Sure, some put in more work than others and as such develop more of a name for themselves but the idea that there are leaders who speak on our behalf is simply incorrect – we are autonomous individuals who work collectively for a common end.

The University of Sussex has historically been seen as having more of a ‘leftwing’, more ‘radical’ student community than many of its counterparts in British higher education, staging occupations, rent strikes and other forms of direct action since it was founded. While this may have been true in previous generations, Sussex is rapidly descending into just another one of your run-of-the-mill universities, churning out consumers with letters next to their name so they can go and struggle to find a graduate job.

This is mostly due to the agenda of our recent governments, who see education with pound signs in their eyes and have changed the relationship between students and their universities. This is also due, in smaller part, to groups like the Labour Society, The Badger and the Students’ Union (and let us not forget our illustrious management), who have pacified the student body over recent years, failing to live up to the legacies of their admirable (and dare I say it, radical) predecessors.

Some previous generations of Labour Society members have used the student media on campus to advocate direct ac-

tions, not condemn them as this generation of student journalists and careerist student politicians have done. The Students’ Union, to give it its merit, is making vast strides to increase the level of support it gives campaigns on campus, in particular pledging to support the antiprivatisation campaign wholeheartedly.

The Students’ Union’s support of our actions does not negate their duty to represent the majority of students on campus, as you consistently claim in your articles, as it was the majority who voted to support the campaign in last year’s referendum. I’ve never seen you claim that the Dump Veolia campaign (which 76% of the voters voted for) does not represent the views of the student body. Nor have I seen any indication that you disagree with it being a majority decision to boycott Israeli goods (72%), Coca-cola (62%) or Nestlé (69%). Particularly given the fact that the latter two received a smaller majority than the anti-outsourcing campaign (70%), and more students participated in the anti-outsourcing vote than any other (making it more representative) I’d suggest that your argument is inherently flawed. You sound a lot like John Duffy when you, in my opinion, lie about it being a minority. I know you’ll think that’s a compliment, but it’s not.

The students who occupied the Arts A1 a few weeks back were the latest of a dying breed of Sussex students. They are the politically aware and engaged. They don’t shy away from ignorance, but rather ask questions until everyone has the same level of understanding. They are not, as you claim, “devoted comrades” of a few

ringleaders.

There were an abundance of first years, rapt with a political awareness that I wish I had possessed when I started at Sussex.

Second and third years, postgraduates and staff came to the occupation and everyone worked together to build support and raise awareness of the plights facing the lowest paid staff in higher education.

Notably absent from your articles were the reasons we went into occupation. I’ll outline these for you in case you haven’t heard: -Whilst Vice-Chancellors across the country now take home an average of £250,000 (our own VC pockets around £280,000 total remuneration), more than 15 times the salary of the lowest paid staff, who have seen a 13% real wage decrease since the government decided rich people were more important than education.

-There still exists a tangible gendered pay gap in the university sector. Surely you don’t need an explanation as to why this is unjust.

-Universities are increasingly being run by a small group of managers on rising six-figure salaries (VCEG gets more than £700,000 between the six of them), while staff and students alike have borne the brunt of higher education cuts alone.

The occupation (which two non-academic workshops were affected by, to settle the discussion), was a symbol of the student community’s ability to shut the university down if it doesn’t feel it is up to scratch. It was a demonstration of the fact that we don’t have to sit down and accept these measures as being beyond

our control, for the men in suits with power to sort out.

The occupation, like the picket lines, was a visible means of showing that the power is in the hands of the people. It may sound cliché, but if you know your history and your current affairs, you ought to be all too aware of this fact.

The occupation was as much about symbolism as it was a base of operations.

Many students spent the vast majority of their time that day and night reaching out to first years and people who live on campus, informing them of the strike and the reasons behind it. It was astonishing how many people weren’t aware of the reasons the unions were on strike.

At our meeting that evening, there were dozens of students who’d heard about the issues and wanted to know how they could help. If you truly believe that the “marketization of higher education” is the “underlying matter at hand” (and you’re not just saying it to regain lost credibility), then you could do far more to affect change in this respect than sit behind a keyboard bleating criticism or taking photos of yourself shaking hands with the Tory Soc president in an attempt to ridicule the only students on campus who are actively trying to change this underlying issue.

If you support the cause, but believe our methods are ineffective, we offer a repeat invitation – we meet every Monday in Falmer House common room, at 5pm, where you can give us your alternative solution to preventing higher education from being marketised.

Enforcement of Library Regulations: Extreme or Reasonable?

Laura Bone

Imogen Adie Communications Officer

What’s important to you?

What do you want the Students’ Union to do? The question hundreds of you have been answering this week, as staff and officers have been wandering around campus chatting to students.

We’re writing our new strategy at the moment, which will outline our values, the things we’re going to do and what we want to achieve over the next three years.

For the Union to properly be representing students and doing what students want, we’re asking you to shape this strategy.

It’s as simple as telling us what you want the Students’ Union to stop, start and continue doing – in as few or as many words as you want.

Simply head online to sussexstudent.com/ournewstrategy to submit

your response, or pop into Falmer House and fill one out at the reception desk.

The officers are also currently visiting all sports, societies, student media and schools of study, and you can fill out a card when they come to chat with you.

Over 800 students have already had their say, so get involved and submit your ideas today.

What compelled me to write this article was my shock at someone’s use of the phrase “Nazi regime” to describe the recent increase in enforcement of Library regulations.

This seems entirely inappropriate, not only in that it is being used to describe an essential facility which is constantly being adapted to meet students’ needs, but also because only two weeks ago we were remembering our war dead, a large number of whom lost their lives protecting us from Hitler’s deadly ideology; surely two utterly incomparable concepts?

However, it does perhaps demonstrate a petulant attitude towards any university service that does not absolutely comply with its users’ smallest convenience.

I might just remind readers that every student necessarily agrees to the Library regulations on registration, which specifically instruct users to keep noise to a minimum, mobiles etc. on silent, and to use only bottled water in the main body of the Library. This is to ensure that the Library remains an academic space where work can be done, and that it does not become a social space; students are well catered for in this regard elsewhere.

The recent employment of student ambassadors to promote considerate conditions in the Library indicates how important it is that these conditions are

sustained for the sake of our studies, and how far some students have strayed from this, making it difficult for others to work. It is vital to remember that these decisions are very much informed by student feedback, so it is not a case of those at the top making these decisions regardless of students’ views.

It is highly distracting and irritating to hear someone rustling a packet of crisps or munching a sandwich in the Library.

What is called for here, I would suggest, is better self-management: do not go inside the main Library on an empty stomach; work for an hour or so; then have a welldeserved break away from your work, downstairs in the café or even elsewhere; then repeat. It is that simple, and far better for concentration.

Also, it may be tempting to have a hot drink with you while you study, but drinks do spill. The Library spends vast amounts of money to provide necessary resources to students, so it seems downright ungrateful to risk damaging those resources.

As I say, the Library is not intended as a social space (in spite of the so-called “Social Study” areas, which do not signify the same thing). Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable for users to expect a quiet atmosphere, without the disturbances of loud music or people nattering down the phone.

There are plenty of accessible social spaces on campus for students to do this,

even as close at hand as the café.

Let me end with this question: surely, on a campus where there are numerous comfortable places to work and socialise, we also deserve one place dedicated to academic focus and concentration, which allows us to perform what we are at university to do?

THE BADGER

25 NOVEMBER 2013

COMMENT • 11

THE BIG DEBATE Is China’s one-child policy an

ethical form of population control?

Following the news that China plans to relax its controversial one-child policy, The Badger asks whether or not this kind population control is morally sound

Yes

Preetkamal Mann When the issue of China’s one-child policy arises it is without a doubt a sensitive topic.

The concept of a state demanding restrictions on something as personal as a family’s number of children initially appears not only intrusive but a ruthless measure.

However when stepping back to consider the population problems China is dealing with, the one-child policy certainly appears to be a necessary control method.

Methods to limit and control birth rates are required to economically stabilise a nation. When overpopulation occurs without the financial resources to sustain such growth, the result is an increase in the general poverty across a nation.

The living standards of the population at large dramatically become compromised. The one-child policy brought in by Deng Xiaoping in 1979 was an attempt to stem China’s population growth, and it certainly was successful at that. Beijing says the policy has averted 400 million births since 1980 and aided its economic growth.

This form of policy whilst appearing harsh and restrictive ensures that the quality of life of future generations is improved.

It is for the benefit of the masses of people to enjoy higher quality services from the state throughout their lives, from healthcare to education. Is denial of a larger family a heavier cost than an economically weak nation?

The ethical issue regarding the one-child policy comes to prominence with the cases of female infanticide and selected sex abortions.

With the traditional preference for boys still heavily prevalent in Chinese society, practices of gendercide have become frequent

so families ensure they have the desired sex for their one child. As a result, the one-child policy has been condemned for exacerbating such inhumane crimes. However whilst these unlawful killings should not be considered acceptable, one must consider the fact that unfortunately in select cultures this is an inescapable reality, China being one.

Women are seen as subservient whilst a male heir can be viewed as socially and economically stabilising for a family. Surely regardless of one-child policy, the emergence of advanced medical procedures such as the sex selective abortion would be exploited and utilised to accommodate to the ingrained preferences to males.

Looking to India as a parallel in this discussion gives this debate a wider perspective.

India is a nation with its own population crisis, however it has not opted to instate any one-child policies to control its population.

Whilst this may give people freedom and choice regarding their family, there is a shocking level of the unethical practices of female infanticide present.

India, like China, has a cultural tradition which favours the birth of males rather than females in their families, and even without the restriction of a one-child policy gendercide is a major occurrence.

This implies that inhumane practices of female infanticide are more intrinsically linked to ingrained cultural beliefs as opposed to a government policy instated roughly thirty years ago.

Whilst China’s one-child policy may not satisfy people’s desire for larger families and the longing for brothers and sisters, it is generally considered a measure which is implemented for the greater good.

In a sense the one-child policy embodies a utilitarian approach. While the one-child policy may seem intrusive and severe, it is certainly not unethical.

No

Monica Cherrie First proposed in 1980, China’s one-child policy made it illegal for couples to have more than one child and single mothers to have any children. This was a response to the country’s excessive population problem.

It has been 33 years since then, and China has accumulated a grotesque history riddled with shocking accounts of forced abortions and overcrowded orphanages, causing many people including myself to firmly state that China’s one child policy is an entirely unethical form of population control.

The one-child policy has been called the most egregious human rights violations in recent history, and quite rightly so.

Up until 2002, the use of physical force to make a woman submit to an abortion or sterilisation was legal and the penalties and punishments for the refusal to comply to the policy are still shrouded in secrecy by the country’s totalitarian government. The one- child policy has created issues which touch upon the very core of what it is to be human.

In a society where males are revered and females scorned, most Chinese couples hope for a boy when expecting a baby. While this concept in itself is repulsive, what surpasses the limits of vulgarity is the fact that this preference for a boy has caused a ‘gendercide’ of Chinese girls.

It has been calculated that there are almost 40 million “missing” girls in China. This is due to sex selective abortion, abandonment and infanticide.

In 1994 it became illegal to reveal the sex of an unborn child due to the sheer amount of selective sex abortions being carried out. This law only served to make it appear as though

the government was taking control of a situation which horrified the rest of the world.

There are, however, still numerous accounts of couples giving doctors what have become known as ‘red envelope bribes’ to reveal the sex of their baby, thus sex selective abortions are very much still present in Chinese society.

Sex selective abortions are detrimental to both genders, as while females are the direct victims of the one-child policy, many males will suffer as a result of it.

It is estimated that by 2020, China will be plagued with 24 million unwanted bachelors who will be unable to find a partner and experience what it is to love, one of the very foundations of what makes us human.

There are countless stories of abandonment in China that lack any amount of humanity. Just earlier this year, I read the most traumatic story of abandonment and attempted infanticide which will stay with me for the rest of my life.

A two-day-old baby was rescued from a sewage pipe in Jinhua, a city in the eastern province of Zhejiang, after a single mother had attempted to rid herself of the defenceless burden by flushing her newborn down a toilet.

It was only after residents heard the baby’s cries that the authorities were called for.

There are so many stories like this. When you hear about a baby being left on a mountainside to fend for itself in China, you no longer raise an eyebrow. It has become an accepted fact that that’s the way things are there.

No law should cause a society’s intrinsic moral code to erode until they are left with a hollow, emotionless imitation of what humanity once was.

China’s one-child policy is therefore an unethical form of population control which has turned the beauty of childbirth into a sinister affair where people are stripped of their basic human rights and treated like cattle.

the badger

25 december 2013

SCIENCE • 12

SCIENCE

Who cares about Higgs Boson?

Callie Payne

On the 22nd June 2012, the speculation surrounding the impending discovery of the so-called Higgs boson reached a fevered pitch after CERN announced they had some important findings to share along with an extended invitation to the 1964 theoretical father of the particle, Peter Higgs.

There began a furore of media coverage about the Higgs boson. The excitement surrounding particle physics was as unprecedented as it was impossible to ignore. This ignited the imaginations of not only the scientific community, but also the press, the design industry and so the general technologically connected public.

Infographics, comics and interactive designs explained and explored the importance of the Higgs boson to a wider audience. It was a topic discussed knowingly at cocktail parties and debated rigorously in papers, articles and forums. By the time the announcement of the discovery of the particle was made, by the ATLAS and the CMS Collaboration on the 4th

science factoid of the week

July 2012, the watching world was celebrating along with them. The award of the 2013 Nobel Prize to Peter Higgs and Francis Englebert commemorated the huge scientific importance of the Higgs boson discovery for the physics community.

However, over one year after the confirmation of the results the previous excitement seems to have courted a backlash. Science writers are now labelling the previously lauded Higgs boson as “boring”, and a “yawn fest”.

This dismissal of the “glamour” factor of the Higgs boson has recently culminated with Stephen Hawking’s recent quip that not finding the Higgs boson would have actually been “more interesting”. The trouble with the “God Particle” as it’s also called, is that it seems to be too well behaved, adhering to the predications made by the standard model, to be revealing of anything new.

While there have been numerous attempts to re-invigorate the media image of the Higgs boson, including the (luckily, theoretical) article entitled, “Death by Higgs Rids Cosmos of Space

walking with dinosaurs (and their brains) Scientists have been proposing theories about dinosaur’s cognitive abilities for years, but now it seems they’re finally getting somewhere.

Using imprints of dinosaurs’ brains left on fossilized skulls and other methods, scientists have concluded T.rex had complex sensory abilities.

Check out the rest of the story online at www.badgeronline.co.uk

Bella Cockrell leading to more ground-breaking discoveries in future.

For example, one of the theories being searched for at the LHC, the so-called theory of Supersymmetry, postulates the existence of a particle, called the neutralino, that is a good candidate for Dark Matter. Dark Matter constitutes about one quarter of our universe (by comparison, ordinary matter is less than 5% of the total).

Knowledge of the properties of the

Higgs boson, including the value of its mass, gives us a powerful “compass” that we can use when devising strategies to search for new physics in our data” The so-called God Particle has shown the global scientific community and the watching world the importance of global scientific collaboration and how little we can truly understand about the Universe, but how much more we have yet to discover.

A step towards drinking without the hangover Christian Baldock

Xiangxiang Gong

Brain Threat”. What has the God particle really done for us?

Particle interaction with the Higgs field, gives these particles their mass.

The Higgs bosons are the visible manifestations of an invisible “Higgs Field” which is often likened to a snowfield in which some particles interact heavily with, like a man wading through snow, and others like photons zoom over, unimpeded and therefore without mass. Without the Higgs, life as we know it wouldn’t exist, and its discovery means that we are a fraction of a step closer to understanding the true nature of the universe.

I wrote to Professor Antonella De Santo, member of the ATLAS collaboration and professor of Physics here at the University of Sussex, to try to find out her expert opinion on what the discovery of the Higgs has done for us.

Professor De Santo writes of the “crucial” work collecting large quantities of data at the Large Hadron Collider: “By studying the Higgs boson, and by searching for anomalies in our data, we hope to find evidence of new physics “beyond the Standard Model”,

Let’s face it. How many of you have woken up after a night out with a sore head, feeling nauseous and the room spinning. Alcohol is usually a part of student life and although hearing the phrase “I’m never drinking again” many times, it’s a promise that rarely lasts the week.

Alcohol has been used leisurely for thousands of years. At low concentrations the molecule that makes alcohol, ethanol, produces a relaxed feeling and the loss of inhibitions it provides makes it the most popular, and most abused, drug in the world. As you drink more the ethanol starts to disrupt motor functions with speech becoming slurred and coordination being affected. As you reach up into even higher blood alcohol levels vomiting (we’ve all been there) and unconsciousness occurs with coma and death possible as the body’s threshold limit is exceeded.

Professor David Nutt from Imperial College London has recently announced that he is working on ‘alcohol substitutes’ that can give the relaxed, inebriated feeling of alcohol but without any of the unwanted side effects. The new substitutes will also be a ‘safer’ alterna-

tive to alcohol as they won’t be as toxic to the body. Alongside these substitutes Professor Nutt has proposed antidotes which will cause an individual to sober up in minutes and allow them to drive home or go back to work.

In order for ethanol to produce its effect, it interacts with different receptors on the neurones in our central nervous system. Professor Nutt has said that these new alternatives, like alcohol, directly affect the GABA receptors in the central nervous system. When GABA receptors are activated they work by allowing chloride ions into the cell. These ions carry a very negative charge and thus cause the surface of the neurone to have a negative charge, this is known as hyperpolarization. A hyperpolarised neuron is associated with less neuronal activity which leads to the relaxed feeling that is associated with alcohol consumption.

Although it seems like an ideal situation for alcohol drinkers, Professor Nutt is faced with a wall of opposition.

The government states that already known measures against drinking such as increased pricing and lowered availability is the answer against alcohol abuse while Nutt has suggested that alcohol companies will not back the idea until it becomes a threat to their

profits.

Due to this opposition Professor Nutt has yet to find funding for trials of his alcohol-substitutes but he has already tried the prototypes himself with promising results. He says that after trying the prototype he felt relaxed and inebriated but sobered up after taking the antidote and went to give a lecture.

This new direction for alcohol could be very beneficial to society. The NHS spends millions on alcohol-related cases each year and alcohol is a root cause for many incidences of crime and dis-

order. Having said this there is many aspects of these new alternatives that are unknown. Until trials are carried out the possibility of psychological addiction or hidden health risks remain a possibility.

The same opposition to these alcohol substitutes were once shown against electronic cigarettes, another ‘safer’ alternative to an addictive and health damaging drug. But as sales of e-cigarettes have rocketed it’s not difficult to see alcohol alternatives going in the same direction.

the badger

25 NOvember 2013 ARTS • 14

ARTS

Interview Special

This week, Arts Editor Victoria Rodrigues, gets up close and personal with one of England’s most exciting new artists - Nick Mulvey.

The singer-songwrtier played a very well-received shows here in Brighton last week, and we used the opportunity to have a chat able to write any new material on tour, or if he was too busy taking in all the cities along the way.

Elated to be asked, he states that he’s “created more content, more art, in the last month than ever before as a solo artist”.

The buzz of being “so absorbed” in his own music radiates from Mulvey and reinforces his decision to go solo and “channel his internal appetite for music.”

With the rest of the year looking very busy - his tour will be taking him next to France and Germany - Mulvey shows no sign of slowing down.

Eager to keep perfecting his blend of Latin finger-picking and rousing hums, it will be interesting to keep an eye out for this troubadour with a twist.

London Philharmonic Orchestra Brighton Dome 9th November

Charlotte Newell

Nick Mulvey Press

Nick Mulvey Victoria Rodrigues Arts Editor Having released his second EP earlier this year and fresh from a support slot on Laura Marling’s tour, we caught up with Nick Mulvey prior to his show at Brighton’s very own Proud Cabaret.

Following his departure from the experimental jazz band Portico Quartet in 2011, Mulvey has been very busy cementing his own status as a singer-songwriter.

Armed with just his guitar, he describes the process of creating solo material as a “necessary catharsis”.

Mulvey comments on the “six months of space and silence” that was integral in shaping the direction his new music would take.

Though this time was also spent “studying [his] heroes”, Mulvey is very clear that he does not actively make music with “direct influences”.

Listing the countless sources of music that add to his sound, from West African to Mongolian to straight-forward pop, Mulvey is fascinated that audiences are able to appreciate such a variety of sounds which feed - however unintentionally - into his music.

Mulvey expresses his amazement and enthusiasm in taking his music across the country, particularly after covering the Northern leg of his tour.

This tour is his first after having received airplay, and it is “so tangible the difference that makes,” says Mulvey.

When compared to the niche market that Portico Quartet catered for, Mulvey has found it exciting to “go up to all these different cities and [find that] every-

one knows the words”.

He is careful to comment that he still sees it as “just the beginning”, though one which has been “a blast” all the same. When questioned about Brighton, Mulvey lights up and recalls his past experiences playing the city’s many venues, such as Brighton Dome - which he’d “like to get back to” - and The Old Market.

Despite his desire to return to the Dome, he is especially fond of Bom-Bane’s, a “special” little café/venue, which he’s played several times and hopes more Badger readers are aware of.

While drawing on his experiences in Brighton, he adds that there’s definitely a “vibe in the Brighton audience… they seem happier which means a lot when you’re putting a concert together”.

Considering his love of Brighton and its jubilant audiences, we wondered if Mulvey had been

The LPO launched its 2013/14 season in style by beginning with Antonin Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, performed to a simply excellent standard by cellist Leonard Elschenbroich.

Also on the programme was Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (Italian), conducted by Daniele Rustioni.

Upon hearing of his beloved sisterin-law’s death, Dvořák (the composer of the piece) concluded his Cello Concerto with a heart-filled solemn piece, which ended beautifully before the

half-time interval.

Elschenbroich successfully conveyed the personal aspects of the Cello Concerto, and managed admirably with the challenge of ensuring the solo cello portions did not take attention away from the outstanding collective.

Daniele Rustioni was the guest conductor for the performance and brought boundless amounts of energy to each piece he led, which may not be typically associated with classical music, but was brilliant, I thought.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra are one of the world’s finest orchestras, balancing an extensive and notable history with its present-day position as one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking orchestras in the UK. As well as performing live for the masses, the LPO record film and video game soundtracks (such as Grand Theft Auto IV and Angry Birds - which is pretty cool) and give help to many schools and communities through different national activities.

Founded in 1932, the Orchestra was established by Sir Thomas Beecham and has since included world famous guest conductors, as well as holding residency at the Royal Festival Hall at Southbank.

I’m happy to say that there were at least a couple of students in attendance, who must have taken advantage of the LPO’s excellent ‘NOISE4’ deal of £4 tickets.

I would like to thank the Orchestra for giving me the chance to see such beautiful pieces in such a beautiful place, and would recommend to all!

Daniele Rustioni

the badger

25 november 2013 ARTS • 15

Reviews FILM

Fight Club + Chuck Palahniuk Q&A

Duke of York’s Picturehouse 16th November Sarah Carter I never got to see Fight Club at the cinema.

Being the tender age of seven years old upon its original release, I eventually ended up watching it late one night on TV years later, and read the book not long after. I loved both.

So on hearing from a friend that it would be shown at Duke of York’s Picturehouse, followed by a Q&A session with none other than Chuck Palahniuk himself, I booked my ticket with haste.

There is no need to review a film which has achieved such critical acclaim as David Fincher’s 1999 cult classic, and seeing it on the big screen was simply a treat for the eyes and ears.

The film was applauded and followed by an interview with the author who, despite worldwide fame, admits his embrace of apprenticeship regarding the forthcoming sequel to Fight Club. Taking form as a graphic novel, Palahniuk expresses with great humility how it allowed him ‘to be the idiot again.’

In the crossover between medi-

Theatre

Emporiumacabre!

Emporium

31st October

Hannah Davenport Expectations were running high as the audience settled down to the evening of ‘gore, fear and repulsion’ we were prepared for prior to entering The Emporium.

It was not until the end of the play that I realised the underlying irony of the production company’s warning: ‘no escape, no mercy... no refunds!’

The venue itself and general at-

ums whether they are between the conventional novel and the graphic or between the book and film, Palahniuk is remarkably at ease.

Two of his novels have been translated to film, the second being 2008’s Choke, and a short film of the controversial short story Romance was made this year (Romance was read by Palahniuk in full and was originally published in Playboy after requiring permission by Hugh Heffner himself - definitely worth a read).

In response to questions about his involvement with film adaptations of his works, Palahniuk expresses a hopeful desire that the directors should each ‘see his [own] features on the babies’ face.’

An author who rather than seeking to exclude or alienate readers, directors or viewers of adaptations, wants ‘everyone to adopt the baby and to see themselves.’ To a suggestion that his newest works dealing with the afterlife would engender ‘outrage’ from religious groups, Palahniuk says, ‘Christians love me’.

Even though his works often deal

with controversial and difficult topics; sex addiction, capital punishment and abortion to name a few, Palahniuk’s writing manages to make these ‘dark worlds…silly.’

When asked if this humour is ‘something you see in those places,’ he elaborates on laughter as a ‘full body relief of tension’, which can be rich with gothic darkness when ‘presented with such horrors’ as those to be found in writing.

Palahniuk’s engagement with his readership is captured by the appeal of Romance’s narrator. ‘You know the feeling’ he says whilst telling this story, which may not be ‘beautiful, inspiring, lyrical, lovely or sentimental,’ but still leaves you ‘fooled into laughing at something horrible as an unintentional release.’

A figure such as Tyler Durden, whilst certainly only existing in the Cat mind of Fight Club’s narrator, can take root in the minds of audiences over fifteen years since his inception, and Chuck Palahniuk envisions him ‘looking for a new generation of human to keep him alive in our minds.’

Alternative

MS MR

The Old Market 16th November

Fergus Rees-Gildea Just a brief listen to MSMR and you know this band was born to play in Brighton. The quirky and eerie vibe of the bands songs, music videos style seem perfectly at home in London’s little brother by the sea.

On November 16th, MSMR returned to Brighton for the second time in a year after a previous performance at the Haunt in July. This time filling up The Old Market, on the border between Hove and Brighton, MSMR played to a crowd of screaming die-hard fans.

Fergus Rees-Gildea

Fox 2000 Pictures mosphere were extremely welcoming with the gothic decor and intimate seating adding to the visually enjoyable aspect of the night.

However, the rest of the audience seemed to have been given a heads up by coming well prepared with alcohol and low expectations as the incongruous laughter and yelps from the increasingly drunk middle-age women surrounding us provided one of the most terrifying parts of the performance - and perhaps the most entertaining.

You could gauge where the aspect of ‘horror’ was supposed to be in each of the short sketches, yet the delivery failed to send shivers down my spine.

The end of one sketch saw a char-

Emporium

acter get her lower body unexpectedly sliced off by an elevator leaving her lying legless on the floor. If only the whole sketch had delivered this shock factor, instead we sat through a long winded build-up watching a computer screen of people in a broken down elevator.

The first sketch provided entertainment predominantly from the main character’s attempt at a creepy voice along with the random role of nuns in giant hats creating a more comical drama. It involving a man who had suffered an acid attack at the hands of his wife - no reason given- rather predictably ending up gaining his revenge in the same way with much hysterical screaming and evil laughter.

Perhaps modern day horror movies have numbed our young brains to the experience of fear yet the promised ‘repulsion’ and ‘gore’ I was eagerly expecting just wasn’t fulfilled.

None the less it provided an unusual and novel form of entertainment and I left feeling bemused.

This was enhanced by the ‘twist’ ending establishing the building itself as the enemy against us, the audience.

This led to us then being shouted at to ‘leave!’ by the actors on stage and literally chased out of the venuenot needing more of an encouragement to grab our coats and run for the exit.

FILM

Jeune et Jolie Duke of York’s Picturehouse 17th October Cassidy Hansen

François Ozon’s latest movie, Jeune et Jolie, translated as ‘Young & Beautiful’, is a slick, good looking drama about a 17 year old girl named Isabelle (Marine Vacth), who leads a double life as a high class prostitute.

It’s probably unnecessary to say this, but this is not really one to watch with the family, all tucked up around the fire at Christmas. The combination of the subject matter, and the simple fact that this is a French movie, means that there are a lot of scenes that might make you squirm in front of your mum.

Regardless, Ozon does deliver a perfectly paced, stylishly shot film about self-discovery that leaves the moral message up to you.

Beginning with Isabelle losing her virginity in the South of France, we quickly see that the tone of the film is rather subtle and unpredictable.

Whilst there is some serious emotional turbulence, with Isabelle dismissing Felix after basically using him for sex, her younger brother provides the comic relief by being overly curious about the intimate details of her

Playing songs such as “Hurricane” and “Fantasy” from their debut album Second Hand Rapture which was released earlier this year, MSMR also took the opportunity to play a cover of the Arctic Monkeys’ “Do you Wanna Know?”, a song which they recently preformed on Radio 1s Live Lounge.

The New York based duo composed of lead vocalist Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow were only signed in 2010 and have now gone on to release their first full length debut album Secondhand Rapture. Their sound could be described as Lana Del Ray meets Massive Attack with incredibly powerful vocals combined with bass drums, harps and marimbas.

Lizzy Plapinger, in a multi-color spandex dress and neon green hair gave a non stop high energy performance from the moment she arrived on stage until the moment she left it.

Anytime she wasn’t singing she was beaming from ear to ear at one point telling the audience, “It’s our second time here in Brighton and we love this place, it’s amazing to be here for second time round in a venue twice as big and seeing you all come out just to see us!”

Ending the performance with their most popular hit “Hurricane” the band promised the crowd “We’ll be back again soon!” before leaving the stage to thunderous applause and intoxicated shouts of praise declarations of love.

If you haven’t heard MSMR, I strongly recommend giving them a listen. Even if their music isn’t your taste, then at least for the mind blowingly disturbing music videos that will leave you thinking “what the **** did I just watch.” relationships.

This strange tonality continues throughout the film, especially when Isabelle begins her double life, as one would expect the story of a young girl who sells herself to be a sad one, when in fact Isabelle seems completely content with her situation.

Where we would expect to see Isabelle’s profession take its mental toll, we just see a girl who becomes an escort, for seemingly no reason.

You might be wondering where the morals of this film lie, and the fact is, they don’t seem to exist.

According to other reviews of the film, Isabelle becomes a ‘lady of the night’ to rebel against her bourgeois family, but this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Throughout most of the film, she gets along with her parents perfectly well. She’s not rebelling against society, she’s not rebelling against her family, she’s not really rebelling against anything. She’s not doing it for the money, as her family is wealthy, and she’s not doing it for pleasure, as she never expresses enjoyment for her job. She doesn’t really have any morals at all.

This is precisely my reason for recommending this movie. Ozon wants you to identify the moral message for yourself, and not just hand it to you.

So go forth and watch, and maybe you’ll learn the answer to that key question – why?

the badger

25 November 2013 ARTS • 16

LIFESTYLE

Vegetarian elitism: humanism, indignation and domestic dances with dead chickens JOIN THE CLUB

Tom Natynczuk

It’s dangerous to say that certain ways of thinking are superior to others; such a position is very swiftly manifested in society as divisive and persecutory.

By default, such an assumption forms an antagonism with humanism - our most cherished ideal.

But certain ways of thinking are superior to others.

Over the process of history, we have stripped ourselves of delusion and overcome malevolent ideology time and time again.

In turn, this suggests that epochs are defined by the fall of repressive and harmful beliefs and the eventual conquest of a superior way of thinking.

A simple and optimistic, but perhaps naïve, reading of modern history sees social progress as a process whereby equal rights are gradually extended and universalized as the minority of power-holding oppressors - who can no longer justify unjustifiable domination - are disabused of their position, or overthrown.

The arguments for not eating meat are extensive and, I would argue – but not here - infallible (I’ll trust that to Earthlings and challenge anyone for whom this seems indigestible to watch).

There is one caveat – if one could hunt their own animals in a natural way, in the lifestyle of antiquity,

Fahd Khaled then this would not be unethical, but simply the nature of the food chain – but this is hypothetical.

The justifications of eating meat seem to fall into three modes: hedonism (it feels good, I enjoy it); nihilism (there is nothing that me changing my habits will achieve); and biology (our teeth show that we’re omnivores).

To briefly answer these: care for

others brings greater happiness than care simply for oneself.

Pragmatically, hope is better than nihilism.

Health-wise, there is no detrimental effect to health or vitality.

The point of this venture is that I can get infuriated - and infuriating - when I use any such methods to try and convince others - when it becomes personal and elitist and

judgmental and about identity.

Last week I returned home and my housemates sprung a chicken out and started dancing with it.

The dancing chicken was an awakening: “Stop taking yourself so seriously,” its corpse said.

To be sure, I had started seeing each person eating meat as doing something personally offensive to me, and as having some kind of inferiority.

Perhaps I laughed out of desperation; maybe it was a case that ‘things can only get so bad before they get funny’, but I think I laughed because I realized that my housemates are more important to me than that particular dead chicken.

When I’m indignant and elitist, all I do is further the problem.

There might be the isolated case of someone who is impressed, but in quantifiable terms that kind of perspective alienates and belittles dozens for the one it impresses.

There is a hierarchy of ideas, but not of the people who possess them: the ideas are impersonal and for everyone to accept or deny in their own freedom.

The great hindrance comes from the perspective of personality on both sides: it makes one side feel elite and indignant, and the other belittled, dehumanized and hostile.

There is a lot at stake for this generation, and that’s an exciting feeling.

But it will all be undone by ego.

To my moral conscience: I love you but you’re bringing me down Tom Foster What makes a good person?

To my knowledge, there isn’t an adequate answer.

So how is it that my conscience plagues me with moral guilt: “Think of the sickening injustices of the world, stop writing this article and stage a 24-hour protest outside parliament!”

I attempt to argue back with the typical excuses: I’ll do it right after my essay; that’s just not practical; morality is a social construct of the capitalist elite – all of which seem hollow against my conscience up there on its moral high ground.

Even when I try to do something good it ultimately backfires.

I am standing before the eggs at the supermarket.

Already my conscience is sneering at me for being in a supermarket, that iconic symbol of consumerism and corporate greed.

To make matters worse, this evil

Bella Cockrell establishment offers me two choices: free-range or organic eggs.

I feel that free-range isn’t quite ethical enough, but the organic eggs are a pound more expensive.

“I’m a student, I can’t be going more into my overdraft for the sake of organic eggs!” I think.

“Oh, so you’re putting price on ethics now. How very capitalist of you,” my conscience sneers again.

I end up buying the organic eggs.

Upon leaving the supermarket you’d think my conscience would leave me alone, but I am then confronted with a local butcher selling eggs.

Having a box of organic eggs hardly seems substantial enough to brush away the accusation that – albeit in a small way - I have helped a massive corporation continue their attack on

small local businesses.

This is just from buying eggs!

Never mind the ethics of meateating, my complaints that I am cold in bed whilst hundreds of Brighton’s homeless sleep in freezing conditions on the streets and my lack of volunteering.

Yet, in a strange way, maybe this is part of what it is to be a good person.

The moral guilt about our laziness and hypocritical lifestyle is just how it is if you want to try and be good in the modern world.

If this is true then fuck it!

I want to become a banker, drink Coca-Cola and indulge myself in the soulless material pleasures of consumerism.

A withering look from my conscience soon kills this dream.

So instead I give Greenpeace a retweet - about how corporations are destroying our environment - from my Apple iPhone.

Don’t even start.

10 Below

Cesca Rampley Arts Editor I kept on hearing of the mysterious 10 Below through CarmelH word of mouth and became quite intrigued.

When I finally went, it turned out that I’d been there before but under its previous name ‘the Jazz Place’.

10 Below seems to be a venue that is escalating in popularity and, more importantly, musical esteem.

Located on Ship Street in the basement of Smugglers bar, its small low-ceilinged room invoking the feeling of being in a secret hideout.

Because of its size - or lack of - the venue is very intimate and has you dancing right in front of the decks.

I recently went to 10 Below for West Pier Dance Party - a monthly event focused on electronic dance music.

The atmosphere was very friendly and it was clear that everyone was there for the good music.

Whether in its techno, house or funky guise, the club seems to sway more towards house music as its regular genre.

If this sort of music takes your fancy then definitely give it a go.

Sadly the prices of drinks are, as in a lot of places in Brighton, not cheap.

But the reasonable admission charge makes up for it.

As it is such a small venue, the capacity of 120 is reached pretty quickly so don’t get there too late - even if it is £3 all night.

10 Below also advocates venue hire, where people can put on their own events.

It is certainly a club to visit for its relaxed vibe yet serious appreciation of electronic music.

the badger

25th November 2013 ARTS • 17

Sussex Showcase - ‘Fire’ My New Flame As soon as she came to be born They took a match and set her heart aglow A smidgen of heat to keep the maiden going And everywhere she went Compliments came in deluges Oh, how prettily she shines!

She is radiant and resplendent Her life sustained by warmth The years fall away one by one As leaves on a tree in winter And still the flame within perseveres.

As she grows, the sea of Criticisms Harsh realities Rudeness Scepticism Doubt Failure Lies Dishonesty Mount themselves up A vast pile of fodder.

Fah’d Khalid ‘Fire as the portal between mortals and immortals’ River Ganges, India

One by one they work themselves into her And the fire rages now Ever more wild and uncontrollable Fighting violently to escape the confines of her skin The pain is red hot and searing She screams in defeat.

Sarah George

Ho Wah So

Xiangxiang Gong Funeral in Yiwa, near Shanghai

Cassie Summ Lewes Week Eleven’s theme is

DISGUISE Nathaniel Begot-Sealy The Egg Whisk

Shima Jalal Kamati Burning the Clocks, Brighton

Send your creative pursuits to frampley@gmail.com by 3rd December

the badger

25 november 2013 Arts •18

Arts

The agenda This week’s cultural highlights that you must see

Gigs ALTERNATIVE METZ The Haunt Wednesday 27th November, 7pm £8

ELECTRONIC Cyril Hahn Audio

Wednesday 27th November, 11pm £10

In case you couldn’t tell from the fact their name is in capitals, METZ are loud. A big force in the early 90s hardcore revival of the last few years, the trio aren’t just noise, they’re clever too. If live reviews are anything to go by, they should take The Haunt by storm this week.

The Canadian remix wunderkind returns to Audio months after he left in acrimonious circumstances earlier this year. The ‘Say My Name’ remixer was double booked in London last time round and therefore failed to arrive until almost 3am. With any luck he’ll make amends on the night.

Clubs HEAVY METAL Jackhammer Presents: Awakening Sun with special guests Spinning Death Machine and Burning Crusade Green Door Store Tuesday 26th November, 7pm £3

Since 2010, Jackhammer Promotions have been providing a regular stage for Hard Rock and Metal bands in the South East.

This week the focus is on unsigned artists, but with a hefty history of big bookings in the past, who knows whether Spinning Death Machine could be metal’s next big thing?

Poetry

Stick It On - Movember Shave it Off Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar Saturday 30th November £5

Coconut College The Haunt

Thursday 28th November, 11pm £2-£3 Described by the venue as ‘the Thursday night party for the slacker in you’, The Haunt’s ever popular Coconut College delivers cheap drinks and all sorts of hipster tunes to the masses.

Expect to hear Grimes, A$AP Rocky, The Knife and Talking Heads. Expect to pay £1.50-£2 for most drinks.

With many a mo and some fanTACHEtic competitions, why not celebrate the end of Movember in style at Sticky Mikes? Sadly for those of us without facial hair, this event is no tache no entry, but you can pay for a painted or stick on one at the door if you still want in on the fun.

MK Audio

Friday 29th November, 11pm £15

ALTERNATIVE Summer Camp The Haunt Monday 25th November, 7pm £8.50

If you’re a fan of these London indiepoppers, you will have had time to appreciate September’s eponymous sophomore effort. The characteristically shimmery, light hearted alt-pop the duo have penned over the last 4 years is probably more suited to the summer, but at least the sun will be shining at The Haunt this Monday.

Electronic Gold Panda Coalition Wednesday 27th November, 7pm £12 Now touring June’s album Half of Where You Live, London based Gold Panda brings his brand of sample-led electronica to Brighton’s Coalition.

The show will no doubt deviate between ethereal bliss and high octane intensity. It is very rare that one man can generate such a wonderful array of noise.

Pigbaby Poetry Festival Red Roaster Thursday 28th November

£15 may seem a little pricey for a single billed DJ set outside of London, but such an investment is most certainly worthwhile considering MK’s seminal status in house and garage. In fact, if you missed out on Disclosure on Monday, why not shell out to see one of their main influences at work?

The Festival places some of the most compelling established and emerging talents from the Sussex area alongside national and international poets of seminal importance. No matter what you see, Pigbaby should have something to move and stimulate your inner poet.

PREVIEW: SUDS - Pygmalion 27th/ 28th/ 29th November, Falmer House Debating Chamber

PREVIEW: Ye Ye Fever Friday 29th November, Green Door Store, 11pm

Rachael Welsh

Thomas Powell Arts Editor

The witty, delightful and scandalous Pygmalion is considered not only to be one of George Bernard Shaw’s greatest works, but a cornerstone in the cannon of British theatre.

The iconic story is of the arrogant phonetics professor Henry Higgins teaching the lowly flower girl Eliza Doolittle to lose her cockney accent and speak like a lady.

Set in 1912, directors Rachael Welsh and Ailish Coghlan’s interpretation highlights Shaw’s feminism and barbed attack on the British class system, whilst also emphasising the comedic nature of the masterpiece.

Performances of this hotly-anticipated production begin at 7pm each night.

Tickets are £5 (£4 for SUDS members on the 27th and 28th).

With many Afrobeat compilations and reissues proving popular in recent years (see particularly the Soundway and Luaka Bop labels), it’s easy to understand why Ye Ye Fever has proven so successful over the last 12 months.

Some of the most interesting African music has traditionally gone undiscovered due to limited vinyl

pressing and distribution at the time.

Thus, some great music is only being given the airtime it deserves now in 2013 (see William Onyeabor).

You should see this monthly night at GDS as an education in all things African.

As it’s Brighton’s front-running African music night, you should get down early or you’ll miss out on polyrhythms. Free.

Well Rounded Green Door Store

Thursday 28th November, 11pm Free With label boss Donga still reeling from his West Pier Dance Society set a couple of weeks ago, Well Rounded records bring you their second free party of the term.

The night will no doubt showcase the wide variety of records found in the label’s store on Trafalgar Street.

world aids day events Sussex Stop Aids society are holding a number of events to raise awareness and funds for its partner charities.

Friday 29 - Film: ethnographic piece in partnership with the Film Appreciation society Saturday 30 - Gig: Being held at East Slope Bar, with a proportion of drink proceeds going to HIV/ AIDS charities Avert and the National Aids Trust Sunday 31 - Event: Unveiling of the world’s largest red ribbon at The Level

the badger

25 November 2013

SporTS • 20

SPORTS Mohawks reign supreme Saxons take a hit Sam Jackson

Sam Airey

In what has been yet another terrific start to the season, the Sussex Mohawks Ultimate Frisbee team has already reaped a number of accolades, records and brilliant performances, and the indoor season is far from over.

In a club that saw many of its most experienced players leave last year, this year has been a big adjustment, made easier by a new style of play headed by coach Felix Shardlow which seems to be paying off.

From the get go, the Mohawks year has looked positive when more than 300 students signed up in Freshers week and over 100 turned up to the first taster training sessions.

The trend line usually sees those numbers drop away as the weeks go by and a smaller, committed number forms.

Instead however, almost 100 students continue to attend Mohawk’s training sessions week in week out.

The team have had to expand trainings to the point where it took over so much of Stanmer park it looked like they were running a tournament every week!

This expansion, coupled with winning the first beginner tournament of the year in Southampton, set the bar high for the upcoming year and had the entire team be-

Jessie Stanbrook lieving that this was going to be a good year.

Since then, the team has competed in the annual Regional qualifiers in Open, Women’s and Mixed divisions which decide regional champions and who goes to Nationals.

Starting with Open, Sussex took an unprecedented 4 teams (more than any other university) to this tournament, and showed that the progression of the team at Sussex isn’t slowing.

In a dramatic tournament , the final standings saw the 3rd and 4th teams beating seeded teams, and in what is potentially university history the 2nd team came third qualifying for Division 1 nationals (top 16 in the country.)

On top of these achievements, the first team won the tournament for the 4th year running.

This was then followed by the Women’s event which the Mohawks

Goals galore for men’s hockey

Adam Carter & Nathan Finnis

Sussex Men’s Hockey Club got off to a great start in what they hope will be the beginning of a successful cup run this season, with both teams winning by a large margin on Wednesday November 6th.

The 1sts faced off against Chichester University 2nds (their confidence high after winning their first two league games) before our 2nds played Portsmouth University 5th team at the Falmer Sports Complex.

The first team controlled their game from the opening pushback, maintaining possession well and it wasn’t long before Jack Fox scored Sussex’s opener from a penalty short corner. Sussex would make good use of short corners throughout the game, finding Chichester feet in the shooting circle when there was no opportunity to score and converting many of these corners. A well-disciplined defence led by captain Matt Needle kept Chichester from threatening the Sussex goal throughout the game, with the away team failing to record a single shot on-target.

Sussex continued to score at a steady rate and Chichester struggled to stem the flow of goals from the side three leagues above them. Fox would score again and Gaston Golstein, Harry Lawson, and Sam Chilvers would also score twice. James Malyon, Toby Ratcliffe and Laurie Humphrey would add one each and when the final whistle blew Sussex were up 11-0.

Despite it being a game they expected to win, this game will act as a confidence booster for Sussex who look strong this season after a large intake of freshers.

Following the first team, Sussex Hockey Men’s 2nd team enjoyed a dominant 7-0 victory over Portsmouth in the cup this week. The match marked the end of a long struggle for Simon Green, who had yet to score for the university coming into his second season at the club. Sussex threatened the Portsmouth goal throughout the first half, with both Joshua Reeves and forward Miles Bryant coming close to scoring on separate occasions. The deadlock was broken just before half time when a

organised and ran, as well as taking two ‘Squaws’ teams to compete.

The first team managed to secure a spot at Division 1 nationals coming second, and unfortunately lost narrowly by a single point to a UCL team with no less than two club European champions on their team!

In the final of the regional qualifiers of the indoor season, Sussex began their task of retaining their national title in a dominant style.

Even not losing a single game and taking the tournament trophy home wasn’t enough though, as the second team also picked up the plate and the 4th team picked up the ‘spirit of the game’ award.

With nationals beckoning and the Mohawks being represented at the highest levels in every division there is a lot to get excited about for Sussex’s Ultimate Frisbee team this year.

There was a discernible buzz around midday – and for a couple of hours afterwards – at the University of Brighton’s Falmer campus on Sunday the 10th of October, as the Sussex Saxons American Football team ran out for their inaugural performance as a BUCS affiliated and Student Union funded unit.

Playing on Brighton’s state-of-theart 3G astro turf pitch on a chilly day, the Saxons were unfortunately pushed into the role of plucky losers against Southampton Solent’s Redhawks outfit, with the final score of 20-40 going the Saxons’ South Coast neighbours’ favour.

Despite the defeat, the Saxons put in an encouraging performance and were leading 8-6 at half-time, after an extremely even opening two quarters of the match. The

Redhawks only ran away with proceedings in the 4th quarter, notching 3 touchdowns in this period, 2 of which were converted, to add some gloss to the score line. The Saxons could also take some promising stats away from the game, including having made 70% more passing yards than their opponents.The Saxons’ head coach Duncan told the team how proud of them he was, whilst acknowledging the performance as: ‘The first step on a long journey ahead of us.’

Saxons’ Italian international wide receiver Alessandro Mella took the spoils as overall man of the match, with Sam Bolitho and linebacker Jammal Chambers taking the respective offensive and defensive plaudits. The first half in particular will have given the side a lot of confidence as they look onwards to the rest of their season.

Joshua Allwood Miles Bryant deflection forced an awkward save from the Portsmouth keeper. The ensuing scramble for the ball resulted in a foul on Simon and a penalty flick being awarded to Sussex.

Fresher forward Laurence de Souza placed the flick beyond the keeper’s reach and would finish the game having scored three goals.

At the start of the second half, Simon Green slotted home two exquisite finishes in quick succession to the delight of the crowd, earning him bragging rights as man of the match.

The Sussex defence held firm against Portsmouth attacks and Chirag Karavadra made some crucial stops in goal to record his first clean sheet of the season. After a scrappy period of play in the opposition’s half, Jordan Powell squeezed the ball into the far corner to open his account for Sussex hockey. Nathan Finnis then beat the keeper with a well-placed flick from a short corner to conclude the scoring for the game. From start to finish, Sussex played well and fully deserved the final score line. The team will now play host to the Royal Veterinary 1st team in the second round, where they hope to continue their sterling form.

PLAYER PROFILES - Sophie Gauster Karoliina Lehtonen Sports Editor Sophie Gauster, captain of the women’s football team for the second consecutive year, started playing the sport at the young age of 11 after her mother’s friend founded a football club. Having immediately loved the sport, she has stuck with it ever since and continued to develop her skills after moving from Austria to Brighton in 2011.

Being an overseas student, Sophie has hailed her decision to join the Sussex team as “the best decision I could ever have made”, enjoying both the technical side of training, and the social side of going out to celebrate with the girls.

As captain, Sophie has a role in organising the team and ensuring that all players are fit and ready to play. On the pitch, she does all she can to motivate the girls and make sure that no one loses faith in what

their team is capable of!

This year, aside from being undefeated and top of the league, Sophie and the team already have one of their biggest victories under their belts: beating their local rivals, the Brighton Panthers, for the first time in four years. She attributes this win to their fun and effective training sessions, their spirit, and their ability to work well on the pitch together.

Having had such a successful start to the 2013-14 season, and a great influx of talented freshers, she is confident that the team will continue to improve and will hopefully finish at the top of their league and be up for promotion into the league above! Sophie thoroughly enjoys her role as captain and thanks her strong supportive team for making every minute she puts into it, worth it.