Edition 7 by The Badger

Features

COMMENT

Lonelimess is trending

The Big Debate: the death of print journalism? >> p7

>>p9

the

SPORT Bumper edition of the section >>p23

Badger

The Official Weekly Term-time Newspaper of Sussex’s Student Union The Official Weekly Term-time Newspaper of Sussex’s Student Union

Funded by the Student Union • Edition 7 • 7th November 2016 • thebadgeronline.com • Twitter: @TheBadgerNews • Facebook: /thebadgersussex • Printed on recycled paper

“Complicit in war crimes” Students protest at Careers Fair

Freya Marshall Payne and Tom Robinson Editor and News Sub-editor Sussex students occupied stalls from arms manufactures at a university careers fair in protest of their links to attacks on Palestinians. The protest, which took place at the annual careers fair at the AMEX Stadium on Wednesday, targeted General Dynamics and Thales, the fifth and tenth largest arms manufacturers respectively. Although the protest only lasted for an hour and students left peacefully of their own accord after the time was up, security at the event threatened to

contact police and arrest some of the activists. One security officer said: “We are going to wait for a bit, then we will bring the police in and they will start getting arrested.” The Badger noted a police van when entering the Amex Stadium to report, but the police were never called to disrupt the protest. A second year student protester told us: “[New VC] Prof Tickell has said explicitly to members of management that he wants issues to be caught prior to them getting to protests. He doesn’t want them to reach the point where we’re having to sit in buildings.

“The strategy with this has been completely different to the strategy used in my first year - two years ago they threw us out pretty immediately whereas this year they were told not to throw us out and allowed us to remain. “They just told us that as long as we didn’t block the stall completely and allowed people to get past, they were fine with us staying.” An open letter which called for the arms manufacturers to be withdrawn from the event gained 200 signatures. The letter was directed to Sussex and Brighton universities as co-hosts. It said: “It is unacceptable that the University of Sussex and the Univer-

sity of Brighton are inviting arms companies including General Dynamics and Thales, companies that profit from this human suffering, to a university event. The letter added that both universities promote themselves on their progressive values and it is “deeply hypocritical of them to lend their legitimacy to arms companies that promote and profit from the international arms trade”. Sussex University received the letter on Monday but, despite a reply saying they would contact the students to address their concerns, at the time of the protest no answer had been provided.

“To love someone the way TV wants you to love ARTS is to objectify them”

TV Doesn’t know love >>p12

Thales have been accused of breaching human rights and international law and have a history of selling weapons to repressive regimes including Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates and Colombia. In 2011, Thales signed a $1.6 billion contract with Israel’s largest military technology firm, Elbit Systems, to develop the Watchkeeper military drone for the UK Government. Watchkeeper is based on the Elbit Systems Hermes 450 model used extensively in Gaza by the Israeli military... A third year student protester said...

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Welcome to The Badger The Badger 07.11.2016

BADGER

Editor-in-Chief Freya Marshall Payne

badger@sussexstudent.com

The Badger on campus

Deputy Editor Glenn Houlihan

As part of our Big Debate Live series taking the discussions of The Big Debate off the page and into the real world, last week we held a discussion over the American elections in which four students argued representing the views of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Full story on p4 >>

Online Editor Remel Logan Crichlow badger@sussexstudent.com

The News Team Daniel Green Luke Richards Tom Robinson

badger-news@sussexstudent.com

The Badger’s Travels

The Arts Team Bianca Serafini badger-arts@sussexstudent.com

Miles Fagge thebadger.theatre@gmail.com

Rosie Dodds thebadger.culture@gmail.com

Lucie Andrau thebadger.culture@gmail.com

Monica Cherrie thebadger.film@gmail.com

Lauren Wade badger-music@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

The Comment Team William Singh Devin Thomas

badger-opinion@sussexstudent.com

Letters Editor Fraser Coppin

badger-letters@sussexstudent.com

Features Editor

All photos: Lucie Andrau

Correction In last week’s edition of The Badger, a sub-heading for article titled ‘Sussex tuition fees set to rise’ mistakenly said that Sussex is set to increase to tuition fees to £9,500. This was an error - as the article said, fees are set to go up to £9,250.

Recent graduate Cosmo and year abroad student Bibi read The Badger in Hong Kong. Where do you read The Badger?

Charlotte Tuxworth-Holden

badger-features@sussexstudent.com

Lifestyle Alex Carter badger-lifestyle@sussexstudent.com

Science Editors Duncan Michie Kate Dearling badger-science@sussexstudent.com

The Sports Team Aaron Stephen Daniel Parker badger-sport@sussexstudent.com

Events and Publicity Coordinator Sophie Clark

badger-publicity@sussexstudent.com

Proof Reader: Billie-Jean Johnson Front page headline image: Tom Robinson. All other images: credited on the article they illustrate within the paper.

Editorial:

The future of journalism for student media

Freya Marshall Payne We’re nearing the end of the first semester and on the team we’ve been thinking about how we do journalism a lot lately: how we involve you as readers and writers, how we need to improve, and what you might want from us. Although this discussion is a wideranging one which effects anyone interested in reading or writing print journalism today, the way in which this discussion surfaced for me last week was somewhat more naval-gazing than I hope to be. On hallowe’en, one of our team dressed up as the death of print journalism wearing a Badger logo! When the Comment team suggested doing a Big Debate (p7) on this very topic, of course I jumped at the chance to take part, and to argue that it isn’t... But gradually I began to think in a more focussed way about what we can do to here at Sussex to harness the resources of the internet for benefit of Badger

readers. Within student media specifically I think there is a vital role to the print side of what we do, and that this will never change. The easy availability of a print paper which is distributed across campus, which you can pick up every week and which will give you tailored news and content written by your peers for you: these are all things which student media does well through print. But the online side of the paper is also vital - it becomes much easier for you to access our content on the go, for instance, and how easy it is to submit a tip for a story or even a draft piece through our ‘contact us’ feature on our website. This year we’ve been using Issuu as well as having our website, Twitter and Facebook: and through Issuu, you can access the designed print edition digitally. Perhaps the best feature of the changes in journalism which student newspapers can harness is the possi-

bilities to directly hear from students as and when events happen. Citizen journalism, so typical of the internet era, is of great use to us student journalists, since this shows us what our peers really care about and we can act as a platform to collate and report on the photos, videos, comments and observations people send us as events are happening. We always welocome such content, but in the coming weeks we’ll be pushing this end of our reporting - on November 8, the night of the American Presidential Elections, we will have a team of reporters visit East Slope Bar to watch the results and live blog the reactions and views of Sussex students. The live blog will be available on thebadgeronline.com. We would be extremely interested to have your input emailing us and emailing us with your views in the lead up and the aftermath. In other news this week, student

Badger fact: Badgers live in a series of tunnels called a ‘sett’ but the collective name for a group of badgers is a ‘cette.’ mental health facilities are back in the pages of The Badger with the Student Support Unit facing staff shortages (p3) and commuters including a Sussex graduate push ahead with legal action against the Department for Transport. In Arts, we have an array of pieces about local culture including theatre in Brighton (p11) to reviews of topical talking point TV shows, music and film (p13). In Features we have a piece exploring loneliness (p9) and in Sport you’ll find a bumper edition with a variety of pieces from e-sports to a new gender diversity code in sports (p23 and 24). Enjoy the edition!

The Badger 07.11.16

NEWS Commuters announce details of case against DfT Daniel Green News Editor The Association of British Commuters has accused the Department of Transport (DfT) of an “unlawful lack of transparency” in preparation for its court case against them. In a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, the commuter group claimed he had failed to inform himself of the facts to monitor the franchise agreement and enforce the obligation to provide an adequate train service for passengers. They also claimed, if Govia are in breach of their agreement, the DfT had failed to penalise Govia, amounting to unlawful state aid. Summer Dean, Sussex alumni and co-founder of the Association of British Commuters, said: “We continue to hear stories on a daily basis from commuters who have lost their jobs or been forced to move out of the area, so extreme are the conditions for rail users. “More worrying still are the terrible health and safety risks

of the network, of which we have written to the DfT and received no response.” The news comes amid continued disruption on Southern services as strike action and repair work takes place. Last Tuesday, an electrical fault and to train tracks resulted in all services to Brighton being cancelled, causing delays for thousands of commuters. Some customers vented their frustration on Twitter and said hundreds were left in the cold at Three Bridges with no information about replacement bus services to Brighton. Conservative MP for Lewes Maria Caulfield also pleaded with the Prime Minister at last week’s PMQs for the government to intervene in the dispute. She said: “While we have a country which works for everyone, in Sussex we have a rail network that works for no one.” Further strike action by the RMT is planned for November 22-23 and December 6-8. Dean added: “The Secretary

of State must act now, with full transparency and acknowledging the urgency of the catastrophe he has allowed to develop.” A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “Improving rail services for Southern passengers is a priority for us and the operator. We announced last month that Network Rail would deliver £20 million of improvements and appointed a rail industry expert to lead a project board to drive up performance. “We have responded to correspondence from lawyers acting on behalf of the Association of British Commuters.” However, RMT General Secretary Mike Cash said that the Transport secretary should “get out of his bunker” and sort the issues with services. He said: “If the company wasn’t hoarding £100 million in profits, that cash could be invested in renewals and maintenance, easing the intolerable pressure on our rail infrastructure.” Southern declined to comment.

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Staff shortages “decimate” mental health services Luke Richards News Sub-editor

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Students have been told the Student Support Unit (SSU) has stopped offering appointments with mental health advisors due to staff shortages, with one staff member describing the provision of mental health support at the unit as being ‘decimated’. For the foreseeable future not all students will be able to get an appointment with an advisor and it’s unclear who exactly will be offered support while the SSU remains understaffed. One staff member said: “Mental health support has been decimated at the moment and it’s really not helping students”. A university spokesperson provided The Badger with the following statement: “due to unprecedented levels of students wishing to register at Sussex in the autumn term, and the unexpected and temporary shortfall in advisor capacity due to a combination of maternity leave and sick leave, the SSU has implemented

a series of temporary measures. “This is to ensure that students with mental-health conditions get registered with SSU in order to access the provisions available in time for the assessment period. “That is, students who provide appropriate evidence of their longterm condition and have straightforward requirements will have their registration with SSU fast tracked. “Students who present with a more complex diagnosis or set of needs do still get an appointment with an advisor to discuss the appropriate set of reasonable adjustments or to receive advice on accessing funding for other support provision.” The unit has three members of staff who advise students on the options and help the university can provide when it comes giving them support with academic studies and assessments which may be impacted by their conditions. With two full-time employees on leave, a single part-time staff member has been left to offer advice. One student, wanting to remain anonymous, told The Badger: “I ex-

pect that will be a lot more difficult and overwhelming for students. I’m not sure I’d follow anything up without face-to-face advice and encouragement, it would make you feel more detached and as if you’re not cared about that much. “Without the mentor organised for me through the advisors I would be doing even worse academically and mentally. I don’t see how this is going to work. I don’t understand why mental health problems don’t get more priority, like staff shortages should be prevented.” Another student said: “I waited three weeks for an appointment with an advisor and wasn’t told it would be cancelled. I can’t be the only person impacted by this; it’s quite frankly extremely poor of the university. The university has a duty of care towards students on these issues, which they are seemingly failing to provide.” The Students’ Union declined to comment.

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The Badger 07.11.2016

NEWS

Trump narrowly trails Hillary in campus debate

Luke Richards News Sub-editor Hillary Clinton’s policies failed to win over students at Sussex during a closely fought debate on campus. The event, hosted by The Badger, saw students cover a range of issues from the more mundane - such as economic policy and Obamacare - through to some of the bizarre controversies that have been thrown up during the course of their election campaigns, including Trump’s alleged sexual assaults or Hillary’s dodgy emails. Audience members were given an explanation on how the election system works in the US, including information on peculiarities, like how a candidate can win the popular vote, but still lose the election. During the debate the views of the candidates were covered, not necessarily the opinions of those

taking part. The opening remarks from both sides saw them swipe at each other’s candidates regressive nature and covered the multitude of controversial elements that are playing themselves out across the pond in an election that is keeping the world hooked on its twists and turns. Trump’s side, represented by Will Singh and Filip Vasilijevic, were ardent in arguing Trump was going to look after America’s interests first. They argued this would be through measures, such as protecting Americans by not bringing them to unnecessary international wars, as well looking after them at home by focussing on the impact trade deals signed by Democrats have had on jobs. Will Saunders and Adam Prince, arguing for Hillary, focussed on rejecting Trumps ‘vile demagogu-

ery’ and some of his more divisive policies, including building the wall, banning Muslims and his support for tax cuts for the wealthy. They claimed Hillary was more credible than someone who can only sum up his points through 140 characters – referring to Trump’s use of Twitter. The debate tended to focus on questions around whether candidates’ past comments and positions can be taken into account when speaking about what they believe in the present. For students thousands of miles away from an election abroad it can be difficult to see the parallels in their lives or the point in debating such issues. However, during the course of the debate comments made over climate change and the potential for World War Three, during which both sides

played their parts well, portrayed the ways in which such debates are globally significant. The Hillary Clinton side won

the debate with 12 votes, leaving 9 for Trump and 9 undecided; a result which, according polls, may reflect how close this week’s election could run.

Lucie Andrau

Students challenge arms dealers on campus

Freya Marshall Payne Continued from front page... A third year student protester said: “Weapons that were manufactured by Thales were used in the Gaza Massacre in which over 3,000

civilians died - 500 of them children. “One of the areas of most concentrated population on the planet and people already under siege was bombed mercilessly by Israeli forces

for two weeks. We don’t believe they should be at our campus; we don’t believe people who are complicit in war crimes should be here.” When asked why he thought Thales should be denied a stall at the event, he said: “Students have democratically voted to endorse the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement [against Israel], and the National Union of Students endorses it too. “We as a university and as students want to be at the front of working for human rights. “We don’t believe that a company which is fundamentally unacceptable to that should be on campus.”

Speaking to the Badger Annie Pickering, President of Sussex University Students’ Union, said: “I support student action that is in line with Union policy on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. “In terms of arms companies in general at university careers fair, as a Students’ Union we have no mandate to take any action either way on this. Although, I am personally excited to see students engaging with this issue and bringing it up for discussion.” In a statement, a University of Sussex spokesperson said: “Students are right to think carefully

about what kind of employment they would wish to move into after University - and many will. “[Students] place a great emphasis on moral and ethical considerations, not just early on in their careers, but for the rest of their working lives. A spokesperson for Brighton University said: “We believe that our students are responsible adults who are capable of making their own decisions as to which companies they choose to speak to or not speak to in making important personal decisions regarding their own future careers.”

Sussex Uni plans new Life Sciences Building Tom Robinson News Sub-editor The University of Sussex has submitted a planning application for a new Life Sciences building that is expected to create around 600 new jobs across Brighton and Hove. Designed by Hawkins Brown Architects, the new building will be situated near the medical school and the other science buildings and is part of the 2020 Sussex master plan; which also includes a new accommodation block to replace East Slope, a new Students Union building and more parking facilities. In keeping with Sir Basil Spence’s original campus design, the building will feature the distinctive glass, concrete and brick style. Set over five floors and built using sustainable materials, the proposed design will include collaborative spaces for staff and students to work in. In a statement, the University said this will “encourage molecular biologists, zoologists, neuroscientists, and chemists to carry out research alongside each other to

develop new scientific insight.” The building will also include a new Bio-Innovation Centre, with the hope of it becoming a hub for growing bio-medical businesses. In a statement, the University said “The development of the new building will not only create new jobs and boost the regional economy but also help to ensure that scientific advances are translated into real-world benefits.” Annie Pickering, president of the students union said “the current life sciences building is in need of an update, let’s hope that this new building puts students access and learning at its heart.” Professor Michael Davies, ProVice-Chancellor for Research, said: “A big part of this initiative is about giving back to the community and our new building will help to create jobs and boost the local economy. “By becoming a hub for bio-innovation we will also help to foster an emerging sector in the region – which will have a legacy for years to come.

“We want to develop a building that enables us to teach the scientists of tomorrow, alongside producing ground-breaking research that changes people’s lives and makes local people proud.” Professor Laurence Pearl, Head of the School of Life Sciences, said: “Our new state-of-the-art building will ensure that we can continue to produce innovative, world-leading research for decades. “Our School of Life Sciences produces amazing scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, and continues to attract the very best researchers from all over the world to Brighton. “The new building will enable our diverse teams of scientists to work more collaboratively alongside each other to make life-changing scientific discoveries.” The University will hold two public information days about the new Life Sciences building: the first will be held Wednesday 9 November, 10am to 4pm in the JMS building, fourth floor common room, the second the day after at the same time in the Library ground floor.

University of Sussex

The Badger 24.10.2016

NEWS

The News Where You Aren’t News Sub-editors Tom Robinson and Luke Richards review some of the big stories from campuses across the country this week Edinburgh - Security equipped with hidden cameras

The University of Edinburgh has equipped its security staff with body cameras to identify student protesters. The video recording devices are hidden within security staff ID card neck lanyards, and are in use whenever the staff are on duty. Students first noticed their use during a protest against the presence of Barclays at a University Careers Fair on 4 October. As the protest progressed a Careers Fair administrator issued a warning to the students that they would be recorded and individually identified, so as to charge them with disciplinary actions.

Durham - Ex-Lecturer convicted of nine sexual offences

Oxford - University Accepts No Students from City’s Poorest Regions No pupils from the most deprived areas of Oxford - Blackbird Leys and Northfield Brookhave - have been offered a place at Oxford University in over a decade the newspaper, Oxford Student has revealed. In contrast, the overall number of students from Oxford who have been offered a place at the University is 292. MP for Oxford East, Andrew Smith said, “These appalling figures underline how far there is to go.” Dr Rachel Carr, Chief Executive of IntoUniversity said: “The barriers preventing young people from Blackbird Leys going to Oxford or other universities are deeprooted problems.” She continued, “if you live in an area where very few people go to university, you are unlikely yourself ever to think of it, let alone consider a highly competitive university like Oxford.”

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Content warning: sexual violence. Former Physics lecturer at the University of Durham, Dr Jeremy Allington-Smith, has pleaded guilty to committing nine sexual offences. Allington-Smith admitted to offences that included following young women and using a mobile phone to film under their skirts. Police discovered 300 images when they raided his home in October 2015. Allington-Smith also admitted to downloading 688 indecent still and moving images of children that depicted scenes of sexual violence and torture, alongside two similar charges related to a further 2,453 images. He was also charged with three charges related to the possession of 1,818 prohibited images of children, including images from a paedophilic manual that gave information on how to sexu-

Bristol - SU attempts to ban Sir Roger Scruton

Over in Bristol the Epigram has reported that Bristol SU is trying to ban the philosopher Sir Roger Scruton from speaking at the university due to homophobic comments he has previously made. The action is being taken over comments Sir Roger made in a 2012 blog post on the Spectator in which he spoke out against same sex marriage. He has also made previous comments in which he has justified homophobia. Though he has since said that he no longer shares some of these views, Bristol SU has taken the stance that, given their “commitment to equality and diversity”, they should pressure the organisers to reconsider their invitation.

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COMMENT

The Badger 07.11.2016

THE BIG DEBATE

Is it time to let print journalism die?

Yes

Bill Sedgwick Newspaper content is no longer what readers want. We now look for constant, instant 24/7 coverage of news as standard, and are frustrated if we can’t get it: with the prevalence of online news, even dedicated physical papers are changing their business models to a more online one. Recently the Independent moved to a strictly online model- you probably didn’t even notice, but the physical paper hasn’t been on shop shelves since March. As students, the fact that newspapers are an expensive luxury barely needs to be evidenced. That you’d have to pay £3 for articles you could get up on your phone at any time for free, more easily portable and with more up-to-date information, shows the limitations of the print medium. The innovative and interesting content in journalism these days is all found online - it’s not held back by 20th century boundaries. Newspapers are driven by an unsustainable business model, based on what sells copies cheaply - not good investigative content. In contrast, an online format is driven by sharing, a quality-driven mechanism that rewards the merits of good journalism and can more easily cater to the desires of the readership. The structure of the print journalistic business is inherently and unchangeably heirarchical. Having a small team of editorial higher-ups, themselves influenced by owners and shareholders, in charge of dictating and delegating production of content, means newspapers only represent a certain section of interests. Online, anyone can post anything, which is a positive for freedom of speech and making heard marginalised voices. The quality of the content you see is decided by the things people you know decide to share on social media - the new most significant way people get their information. Up-to-the-minute coverage of world events is something we take for granted in today’s world, but this is a new and extremely important development: to disregard this in favour of nostalgically and sentimentally clinging to the inferior, dying medium of print news is foolish. Digitial media is not just the same content in a new form - it has had a tangible beneificial impact on politics: Social media provides a platform for real-time discussion of news in a way print can’t keep up with, and is, despite the claims of its detractors, a highly

important tool for debate and discussion of current political issues. When a popular journalistic medium is made irrelevant by a social media site it is perhaps time to concede that this medium is dying. The transition to digital media has also benefitted accountability in politics greatly. Anything published online is there forever in a way print news can’t replicate. While it is arguable that archives can be searched and old copies dredged up, being able to instantly bring up an article from three years ago with a three-word Google search means journalistic standards are kept much more consistently high, and writers must consider the potential response to what they write much more carefully. This has a real impact on politics- for example, Donald Trump’s 2012 tweet that climate change was made up by China can be pulled up online in seconds, a feature print mediums can’t boast, making the online world a far more significant sphere for political comment than anything print could offer. Take the recent resurfacing of images of political figures like Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders at anti-apartheid and civil rights protests, producing a decades-long trail of ‘internet footprint’ which promotes authenticity and consistency in public life, as an example of the kind of accountability the online era of news can bring about. Politicians can no longer cover up their past expressions of controversial opinions: images posted online are there forever and can be brought up any time they’re relevant. These are significant improvements for the potential quality of political journalism, as nothing is forgotten and everything is up for discussion. Contrary to these positive online developments, we can see in print journalism a prevalence of backstabbing and aggressive, mean-spirited techniques. We need only mention the name Rupert Murdoch to drive this point home. The constant scandals and subsequent forced apologies tied to his media empire speak for themselves, the controversy around phone hacking as a journalistic tool being a notable symptom of the ruthlessness of front-page focused, sales-driven journalism. And that’s without even mentioning the worrying ability of one man to own and influence so much of the print media. Print journalism is not dead, but it is clinging on for dear life, with declining ethical business practice and less relevant content provided. The best thing we can do is let it die, and move on to something better.

The Big Debate is a regular Badger feature which brings the spirit of competitive debating to the printed page. Our writers tackle a contentious topic, representing polarised views. They might not agree with what they write - on this page, they represent a viewpoint, not an individual.

Freya Marshall Payne Editor-in-Chief The digital age is not killing print journalism: it is changing print journalism. As history evolves and shifts, so do the views and opinions of people, and with them, how we express ourselves and what we look for in the writing of others. Digital journalism poses vital questions about the essence of newsprint, generating new ideas and possibilities and meaning we all have to think long and hard about just what it is that

series of skills which digital and even multimedia journalism can never do better. There is no question in my mind that newsprint remains the best place for considered, in-depth, slower-paced journalism, the type of journalism you want to savour like a good book. With digital journalism challenging print in areas where fast reporting and quick headlines are key, print journalism will always survive in the niches. Traditional newsrooms are beaten by the internet in the 24-hour news-cycle that requires fast-paced reporting, that is true - so print needs to focus on the areas it does best, and print journalism lends itself uniquely

magazines, local magazines and literary magazines are experiencing a print re-birth. Magazines founded in the 2000s like Monocle or Kinfolk are also popular, placing design centre-stage and providing a physical and visual experience which online lifestyle writing simply can’t. DIY culture has seeped into print from the internet, and new print magazines have come to the fore. A testament to the enduring value of print can be found in the traditional broadsheet still: in some parts of the world, this model and paid subscriptions are booming: take the Times of India, now the most read newspaper in English with a circulation of over three million daily. In fact, newsprint is flourishing in the sub-continent in general with over 10m people sub-

Photo: Daniel Green the printed word can offer, and how it is special. Newsprint is evolving, already becoming far more creative as it finds ways not only to stay alive but flourish in a changing landscape. There is a vital need for print and online journalism to complement each other. Print, rather than attempting to become a clone of evolving digital journalism, must cement its status as something different and special, a selection of the very best of the constant information by which we are bombarded online. There is something tangible about print: rather like great literature, the best journalism unveils truths to us and in print these pieces offer us slivers of hope which we can clutch, hold onto and keep for ourselves. Print journalism lends itself to a

to long-form, investigative reporting. Newspapers like The Guardian and the Boston Globe have a long tradition of investigative reporting and have turned to this in a digital age to make commodities of long print pieces. Slow journalism tracing the indepth evolution of a story has also become an answer to the internet: Delayed Gratification magazine was founded in 2011 and has become wildly popular. The personal, democratised nature of online journalism where anyone and everyone can write regardless of where they are or what contacts they have has propelled print journalism into new areas: it is learning to become more personal too. We can see this in the rise of small print and newly founded magazines: culture

scribed to print dailies. I am positioned at the very start of what I hope will be a career in journalism, and by ‘journalism’ I mean long-form print journalism. So when I say print can flourish in the digital age, maybe I’m biased, maybe I’m idealistic, maybe I’m hopeful for my own future - but I am also convinced. I do not believe anything will ever replace the joy and the peace of mind which we get from spending time with the printed page, being forced to question ourselves, realising new truths as authority and traditional narratives are challenged. Print journalism certainly faces challenges from the digital era but I think it is evolving to address them, and what needs to remain very clear now for print is not to compete with digital journalism but rather to perfect what is so special about print’s niches.

The Badger 7.11.2016

COMMENT

Why the government should abandon Heathrow plans Oliver Powell The government has announced that it has passed the plans to build a new third runway for Britain’s main airport, Heathrow. The announcement has triggered a massive backlash from opposition and government ministers alike. Zac Goldsmith has resigned as conservative MP, resitting as independent, Boris Johnson has denounced the plans as “undeliverable” and many environmental campaigners are concerned about the pollution impact. Does heathrow need a third runway? No. Heathrow does not deserve a third runway, there are other cities desperate for investment; especially northern cities that the HS2 trainline is connecting up to, it would make more sense to expand those airports to be integrated with the new rail service. The idea that it would boost the economy and create 77,000 jobs is the main argument in favour, it is the reason why many trade unions, politicians and businesses have backed heathrow expansion, however London receives many times more investment than anywhere else in country.

This leaves people up and down the country feeling angry that London gets the most investment while they miss out, especially in times of austerity when people are losing their jobs, their incomes are shrinking and also publics services and local councils being cut disproportionately across england, such as the southeast conservative councils, such as Surrey authorities, receiving less cuts than Labour held or northern authorities such as Hackney, Liverpool and even Brighton & Hove. The most important external cost, however, will be the environmental cost of the expansion. The expansion would break the government’s

own climate and public health targets and could create a public health crisis within with increasing amounts of pollution. London has already some of the worst pollution levels claiming at least 9000 deaths have been linked to it. Aircraft are the worst polluters and one of biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The government plans to lower levels of pollution in London by 2025, but however may fail to do this with the new airport Another external cost is the social impact; the construction will disturb many local areas, destroy land, houses and heritage for some areas, forcing families out of areas they

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know and have grown up in and push friends apart. The construction will put a massive strain on public infrastructure, increase already severe congestion and therefore pollution in the building process by itself. The runway may even have be built over the M25, proving that there is no space for it. On a personal note, there will be a huge increase in air traffic over the southeast and areas like where I am from, Camberley, in Surrey Heath, are already extremely busy with air traffic with what feels like several aircraft flying overhead every 5 minutes on some days, this is due to the proximity to other airports and military bases. I believe the increase in air traffic will disturb many communities and natural areas. I feel it will ruin protected wood and heathland areas that where I enjoy dog walking, cycling, and have grown up around with the sight and sound of aircraft and consciously aware of their environmental impact contributing to climate change, that will eventually damage these habitats forever. There are alternatives to a third runway expansion, apart from not building it. Such as expanding Gatwick airport instead of Heathrow,

building a Thames estuary Airport and to utilise other airports and other transportation methods around the country. This could also have the benefit of reducing air traffic in and pollution - whether renewable alternatives are used. This has created a huge social and political battle with the government and also presents a challenge to democracy; with ministers and their constituents that back the plan or have constituencies that will be affected by the plans. The prime minister Theresa May and even my local MP, Michael Gove (I obviously didn’t vote for him), have already faced challenges in the past about aircraft noise complaints, such as when an experimental flight path was tested, it disturbed many residents, including myself! The heathrow plans could still be thrown out as there is serious division within government and have already taken 5 years to be decided. It is important we are able to expand our countries infrastructure for the future and the economy but we must do so in ways that limits any external costs and is a more sustainable option.

Consent must be active, not a tagline Nicole Lachance The other day, I was walking through campus and saw a group of people studying at a table covered in “I Heart Consent” leaflets. Ironically, the sprawl of leaflets were almost completely hidden by the laptops and books piled on top of them. I walked away kind of deflated by the symbolism of it all. First, i thought about how normalized the word “consent” had become. It was one of the trendier socio-political issues of the moment: the kale smoothie of injustice. But even with this popularizing of consent and it being more and more established within univeristy practices, policies and cultures, I still get stung by the fact that sexual violence and harassment still happens all the time on campuses, even from consentsavvy folks. It feels like consent is more of a political tagline than a profound acknowledgment of bodily autonomy and human integrity. It has felt more like a buzzword than a diligent practice of unlearning of the ways we understand sex, power and interpersonal relationships. This then made me wonder if there is any substantive changes in the way we actively engage with each other or if we are actually just faking consent. This may seem like a pointless question to ask since discussions of “consent “ have become so widespread. It is kind of reminiscent

of the boom of the greenwashing and corporatization of ecofriendly alternatives in companies and institutions in the way that consent has become a way to improve the reputation and public image of an institution. If you advertise and address consent then surely you have solved the issue. However, there has been a general shift in our conversations in understanding that consent, sexual or otherwise, is not just sexy or nice to give and receive but is necessary. This shift has stemmed mostly from feministled anti-violence activism from around the world.

What I am worried about is that consent is becoming a conceptual tagline instead of something we are actually doing. Take the United States of America, for example. it is home to the “Carry That Weight” movement, which was launched by a performance arts student and survivor of sexual violence who lugged around a mattress for an entire school year to call Columbia university to expel the perpetrator who allegedly assaulted her in her dorm room. In

Canada, Toronto-based Ryerson University has a Consent Comes First campaign that has introduced a landmark template for comprehensive policies and initiatives to end sexual violence on campus. These are just a few examples that I know of personally but of course it stretches far beyond north american and european contexts. What is important to note is that we can no longer shake off the fact that sexual violence exists and is an issue. Through this growing awareness has come a standard of accountability and safety from the social structures and institutions within which we exist and engage. This means that workplaces, universities, city councils, bars/clubs, etc. are all being called to implement ways to combat this issue, in whatever flavour it might present itself in that particular situation. There is no contesting that this is all great news. What I am worried about is that consent is becoming a conceptual tagline stuck at the end of sentences (right behind “intersectionality” and “diversity”) instead of something we are actually doing. Are we asking question and permission even when it is easier not to? Are we checking-in with each other? Are we practicing fertile awareness of the other person’s

It would be wrong to say that the visibility and normalising of the concept of consent is not helping dismantle rape culture

experience? I ask this as a white queer who still experiences and hears about sexual harrasment and violence happening in all sorts of ways that doesn’t come exclusively from grubby creeps in clubs: it comes from the politically apt manarchist who would rather worship Marx than respect your autonomy; from some non-men who will snatch your consent without asking because they seem to think that as non-men they can’t be perpetrators; from partners who want sex when you don’t; from that person that just doesn’t seem to accept no as an answer (“please, I really want to”, “but you’re so hot”, “are you sure?”).

And keep in mind, these were

either personally experienced or disclosed to me in the past month. so it all makes me think, what’s really changing here? I think it would be really wrong to say that the visibility and normalizing of the concept of consent is not helping dismantle rape culture. Without it, we wouldn’t even be having these discussions. However, it dawns on me that there is a difference between talking about consent and doing it. And this difficulty of application is no surprise since how we have been socialized, everything from the media machine to our schools chose to sell rape culture or repress topics of sexual violence and consent in all sorts of scary ways. Going forward, I think we need to understand that rape and nonconsensual sexual behaviour is our norm. We have been taught to engage with one another in nontransparent, silent and noncommunicative ways. We must then work actively to unlearn the ways we understand how we sexually interact with each other. Let’s start talking about it and truly asking for consent for everything. Want to kiss me? cool, ask me. Want to touch/approach/ talk to/have sex with/go down on/give head to/try something new with/put your hand somewhere? Also shoot me a question about it. It’s time to do consent in a way that is perpetual, respectful and spacious; it’s time for perpetra-

The Badger 7.11.2016

FEATURES

Loneliness is trending

With rates of loneliness rising across age, class and gender lines, it is becoming increasingly important that society examines the causes and the solutions. Ruby Utting

oneliness is trending. It is becoming one of those things we can talk about. It’s becoming, dare I say, popular. That seems like a strange sentence to write given the obvious juxtaposition between popularization and a physical or mental state of being or feeling alone. But it’s true. In the last few years the rise of a loneliness has been well documented. The occurrence of people spending a disproportionate amount of time alone is spreading across age, class and gender lines. So, why is this happening? Who is it that has become lonely? And what does it say about the society in which we live?

ness in younger generations? This apparent increase has been widely documented within mainstream newspapers such as The Guardian and The Telegraph who observe, what they term, an ‘epidemic’ of loneliness in young people. What is perhaps most worrying is the broad range of people this in-

no companions to share it with. Alarmingly, support systems for those experiencing loneliness outside of old age are, as of yet, very underdeveloped. Of course this problem isn’t always black and white. Some people prefer to spend a large amount of their time alone and it doesn’t lead to any nega-

seems precarious. Communities within workplaces are being threatened and support networks reduced. Similarly, cuts to resources for community based projects and services mean those reliant on such avenues for social interaction now spend much more time alone.

“From where I’m sitting everyone seems fine, happy and socially fulfilled. But it seems appearances are deceptive” I know from where I’m sitting everyone seems to be fine, happy and socially fulfilled too. But, it seems, appearances are very deceptive. In their 2010 report The Lonely Society, The Mental Health Foundation stated that “only 22% of us never feel lonely.” That means 88% of us do or have felt some kind of loneliness at a point in our lives. The report also stated that “48% are of the opinion that society is becoming lonelier in general.” This suggests we are noticing the creeping fragmentation and isolation existent within our society. The occurrence of loneliness has been acknowledged as a problem for certain social groups for a long time, and has often been associated with older people. The NHS highlight people over the age of 75 as being particularly vulnerable feelings of loneliness, mainly due to the impact of leaving their workplaces and the unfortunate fact of a diminishing pool of social and family contacts. Support to deal with such incidents is growing with well-known charities such as Age UK and the Campaign to End Loneliness. Both organisations are attempting to tackle loneliness in older age with support groups and befriending systems. So, what about the rise of loneli-

cludes. Here we are talking about not only students who may be experiencing their first years away from home, but young professionals, people seeking work and first time parents. It seems the generation that is repeatedly defined by its use of media to boost interaction is actually occupying an increasingly socially disconnected world.

“The generation repeatedly defined by its use of media to boost interaction is actually occupying an increasingly socially disconnected world” And this applies to our parents’ generation too. Middle-aged people are reporting increased feelings of loneliness related to working in stressful jobs and supporting families in times that are economically and politically unstable. Similarly, retirement can feel like both a blessing and a curse when your work-based social network reduces and you are suddenly confronted with more free time but fewer or

tive effects. Lots of people relish the idea of solitude and don’t suffer from a lack of social interaction. Recently, whilst I was travelling for an extended period on my own, I perfected my skills of people avoidance. There is something particularly peaceful and self-indulgent about being in an amazing new environment without having to share it. But the difference here is the level of choice I and others have in our bid to escape socializing. There is a big distinction between being alone and a feeling of being lonely, with the latter linked to high levels of mental health problems. So what has caused this rise of involuntary loneliness? A large part, I believe, can be attributed to the political and economic context in which we currently live. Within the UK specifically, neoliberal austerity measures have played a large role in cuts to jobs and welfare services, both of which have fundamentally boosted alienation in our population. Those who were working in physical workplaces with a set of longterm colleagues are now on reduced, flexible or terminated contracts. As previously mentioned, stressful jobs that support entire families become even more demanding and isolating when your employment

Disturbingly, these are the exact services that are often used by those already vulnerable to loneliness, such as single mothers and people with mental and physical health needs. This fragmenting environment is underlined by a growing mindset today which places emphasis on individual over collective achievement.

“Even people who don’t spend a lot of time alone can feel lonely if the connections with people they interact with feel superficial or uncertain” Particularly in the case of young people, a lot of us feel mounting pressure to succeed and be selfdependent in all aspects of our lives. But this success has become more and more reliant on you as an individual. You are judged based on your individual progress. It is therefore very easy to feel a personal sense of failure when things don’t work out and you are simultaneously more alienated than ever from a wider group structure or

society in general. This internally focused, perfection seeking mindset is impacting our social lives. You need to have the ‘right’ friends that fit into the idealistic framework. It’s important to remember that even people who don’t spend a lot of time alone can feel lonely if the connections with the people they interact with feel superficial or uncertain. Social media plays its role. Whilst undeniably good for facilitating contact with friends and family, it can also act as an extinguisher to such interaction. It can commonly be used as a filler to avoid conducting physical, face to face meetings. Additionally, the constant barrage of updates on the apparent fun everyone is having all the time can lead to feelings of rejection if that’s not what you are doing.

“Connection to your wider community can remind you that you are part of something bigger than your own dayto-day life” When was the last time you looked at someone’s Facebook page and it showed them repeatedly spending lunchbreaks, evenings or weekends alone? So what can we do about loneliness? Our main tool to combat feeling lonely is to meet people. Especially for us students, joining groups within the university environment is easy and can make a real difference. Whilst it might seem intimidating, it is very important, especially if you are feeling cut-off from people you relate to. Similarly, doing something that connects you to your wider community can remind you that you are part of something bigger than your own day to day life. Volunteering or working outside of University is the most accessible way of doing this. Loneliness is something we can, and should, tackle together. Remembering that you are part of a wider society and are not alone in being lonely is the first step to combatting this issue today. YOU ARE NOT ALONE If you are experiencing issues highlighted in this article, remember you can talk to a member of the Student Life Centre team .

The Badger 7.11.2016

ARTS

Two Brighton Plays: Theatre Editor Miles Fagge explores what’s new in Brighton theatres

Exciting New SUDs Production An exciting new student production is coming up here at Sussex. Running from November 9th-11th, Fragments From Your Workplace will be staged in The Debating Chamber above Falmer Bar. Written and directed by Sofia Rendall, with Katie Sassienie as assistant director, the show is ‘a satirical piece in three parts that each parody business culture and its various inadequacies’. The cast includes Liv Grant, Sophia Kendall, Harvey Almond, Ben Rowe and Saraya Haddad. The three sections of the play each tackle a part of the modern working life, exposing the absurdity lurking below surface in so many working situation. The first piece, ironically titled ‘The Pursuit of Betterness’, focuses on a motivational speaker who is anything but motivational. In the sec-

ond it is the interview situation that is put under the microscope and quickly things being to take a dark turn. The final section of the play takes on the work conference, as a panel of four preside over a conference that has no subject or no meaning. A darkly comic play that uses absurdity to form social critique, this is set to be an engaging and timely production, and certainly not one to be missed. Therefore make sure you come along to this exciting and entirely original production!

Lady Chatterley Heading to Brighton

The English Touring Theatre, one the country’s most exciting and successful production companies, and this November they are bringing Lady Chatterley’s Lover to the Theatre Royal in Brighton from November 15th -19th. The production is based on D.H. Lawrence’s classic 1928 novel that dealt with love, class and war. The novel was banned in England right up until 1960 for its sexual content and subversive social critique, focusing on a relationship between an upper class woman and a working class man.

Fragments From Your Workplace, written and directed by Sofia Rendall, runs from November 9th-11th at The Debating Chamber, situated above Falmer Bar

SUDs

Theatre

This production is both adapted and directed by Phillip Breen, who has directed many successful productions before including for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Trafalgar studios. The show features Hedydd Dylan as Lady Chatterley and Jonah Russell play the gamekeeper Mellors, her lover. The rest of the cast includes Aretha Ayeh, Will Irvine, Ciaran McIntyre, Eugene O’Hare, David Osmond, Rachel Sanders and Alice Selwyn. The show focuses on Lady Constance Chatterley, who is trapped in a loveless marriage. Feeling emotionally and physically neglected by her husband Clifford, who was paralysed in the Great War, she flees to the arms of their handsome Gamekeeper Mellors. As their passionate affair escalates, Constance begins to realise that she can no longer live in

Theatre a world of the mind alone. Tickets are available now for anyone who is interested, and make sure to check back here and online for our review! Lady Chatterley’s Lover, adapted and directed by Phillip Breen, runs from November 15th-19th at the Theatre Royal, Brighton. See their website for tickets.

Miles Still Needs Friends... Contact the Theatre Editor at thebadger.theatre@gmail.com for any reviews/opinions/rants you may have on a play!

Why the Internet is Uglier Than Ever Before Charlie Navin-Holder Over the course of the past decade, and at an accelerating pace, the leaders of online industry have gone from socially awkward basement dwellers to preened popular types, with the former stereotyped aesthetic ‘ugliness’ now internalized within the current crop’s psyche. Joey Salads is an American YouTuber with 1.5 million subscribers. He has the appearance of a prototypical teen movie jock: his videos are described as “Social Experiments”/ “Pranks”- as in either/or, rather than simultaneously (though this is highly questionable). Salads is symptomatic of the problem with YouTube’s current leading ‘creators’. In early October his social experiment video “Trump Car DESTROYED in Black Neighbourhood”, was exposed as fake, thanks to a second, secretly recorded video which showed the savage young black men who go on to wreck the car, to in fact be paid actors, behaving under the instructions of Salads who gesticulates out of frame. In his closing segment, Salads con-

cludes, “As you can see in this video the black community is very violent towards trump and his supporters,” thus perpetuating racially charged stereotypes depicting blacks as unreasonable thugs, whilst also managing to appear mystified as to why non-whites/sane-whites would take issue with Trumps rhetoric. What is most problematic is the

it’s understandable that teens whose ages run parallel with the development of the Internet, now in adolescence, would see it as the prime source of cultural consumption, no matter how alarming this prospect may be to the more discerning eye. Proof that the video was fake shouldn’t have even been necessary, s the intent behind its production is

ksiofficial.com fact that his viewership is unlikely to be made up of informed, wellbalanced readers, rather: naive, impressionable youngsters. As YouTube grows and continues to consume and condense all other forms of media,

what really leaves a bad taste. If Joey Salads’ ‘Social Experiments’ showcase the insidious influence Youtube personalities can have on the gullible mind, UK titan KSI’s ham-fistedly bigoted content laughs

in the face of this masquerade, openly flaunting misogyny and racially problematic ideas. I was introduced to KSI (14,902,675 subscribers) during a brief stint as a babysitter. The child was obsessed, and explained that rather than play FIFA, he wanted to spend his hour before bed watching someone else play FIFA on YouTube. Within 10 Minutes I’d shed my teenage cool and felt possessed by a maternal urge to send the child to bed and burn the computer in the garden, tormented by the extent that his mouldable young mind had already been polluted by rape jokes and racial identity reduced to offensive stereotypes. In the years since then I’ve been perplexed by his meteoric rise (he’s recently released an album, a book and a film), and the negligence of the press in taking him to task for the nature of his ‘art’. I appreciate the need to showcase successful young black men as a means of creating role models within a community often starved of opportunity, but KSI’s privileged background (privately educated, raised in white suburbia) somewhat

negates his prospects as a ‘young, downtrodden minority come good’. Worse still, the sea of white faces that reliably populate his videos, laughing along with ‘jokes’ that are limited to “n****** run fast, steal, and eat fried chicken” relegate his work to something between pseudo blackface and inverted coonery. Had he not found legions of 10 year olds with a similarly juvenile sense of humour, one imagines he’d have been considered for the recent role of ‘stock black character’, brought in alongside another art school sloan defector with a choker and green dip dye, to help E4 meet the racial/social Bechtel requirements. At least then we’d be licensed to laugh at him, rather than encouraged to laugh with him.

Contact Our Culture Editor Rosie at thebadger. culture@gmail.com with any ideas!

The Badger 7.11.2016

ARTS

Film

Sussex Sour Apples

T.V Doesn’t Know Love Sam Siva In the fictional and framed universe of television, love is idealised and held up on a pedestal that makes all eyes dewy. If it’s not the whirlwind romance that teaches hapless what’s-his-name how to enjoy life, it’s the overwhelming narrative of that single sad bastard whose life sucks because no sane human wants to settle down with them. The dominant storyline for the majority of female characters centres around their failed or dysfunctional relationships and few are allowed other ambitions, whilst for male protagonists they are lumped with whining two-dimensional wives-and-girlfriends – equally as preoccupied with their husbands as they are with looking flawless and infantile.

FXX Television’s presentation of love is desperate, warped and disturbing. Intensity and passion are more watchable than healthy respect for space and individuality. Perhaps these restrictive narratives are catering to a collective belief in the superior power of love, yet in doing so creating a false idea of it that alienates most human beings. Love in the classic Disney Princess paradigm has the power to bring people back to life and wake them up from magical comas. In television programs like ‘Friends’, a group of twenty-thirty-somethings end up falling for each other at some point or the other (save for Phoebe) and doing the dirty, manifesting in a creepy insular clique. This cliquehood exacerbates the worst qualities in each character until everyone is unlikable, looks exhausted and are all bored with their only friends. With

a contemporary sit-com like Mindy Kaling’s ‘The Mindy Project’ we see her circle of friends wither to her colleagues, with one of whom she ends up in a serious romantic relationship a couple of times, and the series of quirky and creepy guys she dates (of these the significant mates tend to work in her building). ‘Louie’, on the surface the opposite of former, began with a refreshingly cynical edge to romantic-comedy series but sentimentalised at season 4’s finale with an excruciating-towatch pairing between Louis C.K. and Pamela Aldon. Excruciating because it all seemed so desperate and ugly. Mindy’s layers of make-up and snappy dialogue hides the hideousness of that same desperation that motivates both protagonists from each show. Love is seen as necessary, the love that doesn’t mind and will last the long, long distance of our ever-growing life spans. But we are reminded of all the sexist bullshit of the family sit-coms where nagging Mrs Blah Blah must put up with ugly and ungrateful Mr Blah Blah and denies him sex as a means of discipline. Mr Blah Blah hasn’t had sex in so long and vaguely remembers some sort of love he felt for his attractive wife – a fact that seems overlooked although most producers wouldn’t hire an actress as unattractive as whichever comedian is playing Mr Blah Blah. Set in suburbia, lives were mundane and exaggerated and each episode blended with the other, laughing tracks ominously guiding our enjoyment. The message was – BE WITH SOMEONE, EVEN IF YOU HATE THE PERSON. Aimed at the pessimistic and depressed middle age folks, radicalism and free will sucked away by decades of mindless and pointless work in a meaningless society that tells you love is best expressed through consumption of material goods. Goods that have flown greater distances than the average human, and produced part by part on the back of exploitation and hypocrisy.

that elite few. The beautiful young couples in heat, fueled by lust and enthusiasm and youth and stupidity. Stalking each other; dropping all obligations and ties for the object of their affection. Anyway, maybe with the power of love something genuine and innovative can appear, something that handles the subject of love in a manner similar to the films ‘Frances Ha’ or ‘Cutie and The Boxer’(just some personal suggestions). ‘Frances Ha’ looked at the platonic love between two college friends whilst the documentary ‘Cutie and The Boxer’ reflected on the relationship between two artists married for several decades. Both show an honest and articulate story of love without making it into some magical and unreal force.

“‘Man Seeking Woman’ is in the minority, for the turn-off-brain-andswitch-on-tv-folk, stimulation of a pleasant kind is more appreciated” And television does occasionally present a silver lining to the grey clouds of twisted matchmaker gameshows, dating advice realityfreak-shows, passionate and tragic dramas, and mundane-yet-unrealistic sitcoms. ‘Man Seeking Woman’ is a surreal imagining of Simon Rich, following a newly single hero

stumble through dates with trolls. Television has the ability to create fantastical stories which can have deeper layers.

“Documentaries, reality television or scripted fictional series, anything you view has been crafted in an unrealistic and unreliable way”

‘Man Seeking Woman’ is in the minority, for the turn-off-brainand-switch-on-tv-folk, stimulation of a pleasant kind is more appreciated. The fact is that love is boring in real life, only interesting to those involved, so it’s no wonder everyone in TV shows end up sleeping with their brother’s best friend, and the guy upstairs and the guy downstairs and falls in love with the-guy-fromthe-flower-shop’s-brother – Ken. Ken and what’s-her-name are much more interesting together than apart. After all, to love someone the way TV wants you to love is to objectify them and to make them into something you can buy, trick, and abuse. Television struggles to represent anything remotely accurate or interesting. Documentaries, reality television or scripted fictional series, anything you view has been crafted in an unrealistic and unreliable way. Through this sensationalising of love we separate it from its humanity. Love becomes a selfish and immature preoccupation, and whomever we love, an object to consume.

vote for your favourite recent release on the badger website! Hypernormalisation Black Mirror I, Daniel Blake My Scientology Movie The Girl on the Train Trolls BREAKING TV NEWS! American Horror Story has announced a crossover between Murder House and Coven! Co-creator, Ryan Murphy, confirmed “There will be characters from Murder House and characters from Coven together.” Bring it on Season 7.

“To love someone the way TV wants you to love is to objectify them and to make them into something you can buy, trick, and abuse” But the power of love is limited to

Contact Monica for any comments, reviews, or ideas for the film section at thebadger.film@gmail.com

NBC

The Badger 7.11.2016

ARTS

Reviews Film Swiss Army Man Olek Młyński Picture Paul Dano on a lonely island, trying to hang himself with a DIY rope made of clothes. Then picture Daniel Radcliffe’s dead corpse stranded on the beach of the very same island. His body suddenly begins to vibrate and after a bit loudly fart. And now picture both of them, Dano on Radcliffe, riding the latter like a Jet Ski (his intestinal problems prove to be very helpful at the end of the day) through waves of the Pacific Ocean. Eventually, they finish their odyssey on another beach. This is how Swiss Army Man begins. And this is only the beginning.

A24 The debut picture of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (duo hence known as “The Daniels”) was perhaps the most controversial (and walked out of) movie of this year’s Sundance Festival. Hank (Paul Dano) wants to

TV Black Mirror Matthew Mcgregor-Morales Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker’s twisted vision of the future, rolled out on Netflix last week. And everyone is talking about ‘San Junipero’. It’s beautiful, but it’s not the Black Mirror we know and love. Black Mirror started out in 2011 with the explosively received ‘The National Anthem’, that prophetic vision of pigs and power- a darkly comic thought-experiment on peer pressure. Here was a visceral, desperate scream at humanity: the darkness at the root of Twitter, the void of pow-

return to his normal life and home, since Robinson Crusoe’s fate doesn’t appear alluring to him. He is lost in the dense forest, somewhere in the States. At this point Manny’s multipurpose corpse turns out to be very helpful. Not only can it quickly travel through ocean waters but is also a source of tap water (with which he vomits on request), can serve as a saw or axe (due to stiffened muscles his body is rock-hard) or be a compass (and I’m too embarrassed to describe how this one works).

sic truths. The script is bold and challenging, yet overtime it loses its initial tempo. At some point it stops surprising the viewer with even weirder scenes and turns more into exploration of the characters. Worry not though, because you will be rewarded with the wonderfully naive and charming final sequence which plays against viewer’s expectations and leaves him in the state of satisfaction. Although it may sound like an oxymoron, you surely should expect to be surprised and caught of guard by the Swiss Army Man.

“The script is bold and challenging, yet overtime it loses its initial tempo. At some point it stops surprising the viewer with even weirder scenes and turns more into explo- The Boiler Room @The Arch ration of the characters”

Music

Therefore, Hank can turn into another incarnation of “Man vs Wild’s” Bear Grylls and survive in the wild. Yet, most importantly Manny is able to speak. Over time a close bond between Hank and not - so - dead corpse is formed. Sounds weird? Gross? Odd? It should be, because Swiss Army Man is all about the constant feeling of awkwardness. Gastric jokes and silly pratfalls are the essence of Swiss Army Man, yet it tries to tackle some issues of more metaphorical nature. Primarily, work of “The Daniels” is a story about accepting your inner weirdness and staying true to oneself. It juxtaposes wanton and cavalier bromantic life of Hank and Manny in the wilderness with morally confined, limiting life of contemporary american society. In this Brokeback Mountain meets Cast Away parody one is to confront own vision of habits and rules shaping social life. In some way Swiss Army Man is a bit of a road movie, where the very voyage and company of other man allows to discover the most baer our democracy entailed. Human beings were mean and technology facilitated that meanness to a terrifying degree. Charlie Brooker was the modern day Friedrich Nietzsche, and he knew how to use a camera. But ‘San Junipero’, the 4th episode of Black Mirror’s 3rd season, says something different. There’s not the usual meanness and anger at society, at least at first glance. It is a glittery hour of nostalgic and stylish television. Yorkie, a shy newcomer to a beachside utopian party town, comes across Kelly: confident, outgoing, and beautiful. A friendship soon turns to something more. But as each Saturday night draws towards a close, the screen blanks and the following week passes in darkness. This is Cinderella meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and the magical illusion soon wears thin. All is not what it seems. But the twists and turns of ‘San

Pablo Vineis The Boiler Room, since 2010, has grown exponentially to not only become one of the main attractions for young ravers around the world, but also one of the preferred events for DJs and producers to play at. Being able to see and enjoy Fatboy Slim at the Arch in Brighton, hosted by The Boiler Room, only reinforced the view in me that the Boiler Room is one of the greatest advances in music technology and distribution that have come out of the electronic music scene. Since I had never been to one, I was not really sure what to expect at all. Would it just be a regular night out anticipated by a few hours? This question resonated in my head as I entered the queue and fear of the ‘Usual Night Out’ kicked in. I was denied straight away. The queue was suddenly all let inside in a couple of minutes, into a large dark room with a table and DJ decks at the centre of it. What I really enjoyed about the setting was the Junipero’ do not leave you gasping in horror: they leave you staring in wonder, and smiling. The mirror is not black, it is rose-tinted. It has a soundtrack with just under 7,000 followers on Spotify and an ending worthy of Hollywood. San Junipero is a logical extension of our current fascination with virtual reality, as the aged and dying have a chance to live again, young and free. And as the veil is peeled back, a more philosophical premise opens up. Yorkie and Kelly have the chance to cheat death: San Junipero exists in The Cloud, presumably that same one our selfies are saved on, and the technology exists to upload themselves after death. For Yorkie, this is a no-brainer. Paraplegic after a car crash at 24 and restricted by her parents, Yorkie sees San Junipero as a chance to live, fully, for the first time. But Kelly has lived,

fact that Fatboy Slim was actually the main attraction, rather than just the music selector. It was not a night based on showing off ones dancing skills or finding the person of your dreams, but rather a congregation of music enthusiasts of all ages, coming together to enjoy the tracks selected by Fatboy Slim and nothing more. There was no decoration other than the screen placed behind the crowd, with a large Boiler Room logo layered over old rave footage, yet the venue seemed welcoming as there was no fence nor security between the decks and the crowd.

“his tunes went from latino electronic music, followed by Techno and House, leading to Hip Hop, Jazz and Disco samples, all however with a common denominator— Oldschool rave music” My phone indicated it was 18:55, the usual Boiler Room host picked up the microphone in the middle of the room, welcomed all the attendees and presented the Brighton-bred producer Fatboy Slim (also known as Norman Quentin Cook), who had formed himself as a producer and DJ in the ‘80s. Needless to say, the acclaim was huge. As the bassline kicked in followed by a robotic voice, the attendees gathered around the mixing table, almost forming a coliseum around the sole gladiator. Fatboy Slim’s 3-hour-set seemed much shorter, as his tunes went from latino electronic music, followed by Techno and House, leading to Hip Hop, Jazz and Disco samples, all however with a common denominator— Old-school rave music. His song selection involved music of all genres which was then mixed with a bassline ranging from funky to industrial and heavy, and included his world renowned song ‘Right Here Right Now’, which reached #2 on the UK singles chart and Kelly has lost. And the choice she is forced to make, between staying with Yorkie in the bright, shiny lights of the present and moving on, forwards, to something else, is a hard one. And this is where the episode comes unstuck. The 80s tunes, the gorgeous cinematography, the happiness of these moments we share with Yorkie and Kate are all temporary, yet there is no comeuppance. There is no real twist, or ending. Interviewed in Vogue, Brooker admits: ‘They have the happiest ending imaginable… It’s them, they drive off into the sunset together—because, why not?’ Black Mirror works because it says something back at society: it looks at fame, technology, the way we share information and the information we share, and it usually makes us feel intensely uncomfortable. The question posed by Brooker in ‘San Junipero’ is

in 1998, used by many sports teams around the world to pump up the players and fans, and Flash by Green Velvet remixed by Eats Everything, heavy tech-house with vocals condemning todays party culture.

fatboyslim Founder Blaise Bellville’s music project has raised its image to an almost legendary status in the electronic music scene due to the quality of the artists and music in general, and due to its multi-genre approach, which is why an evening at the Boiler Room is more than just a night out, it is coming together to enjoy music.

WRITE FOR US Seen a band or a film recently you loved or hated? Tell us about it! Email badger-arts@ sussexstudent.com for any reviews you want to pitch! simple: if you could cheat death, exist in a permanent state of wonderment, would you? Yorkie chooses to, and then she reminds Kelly that you can tap out at any time, and in doing so the choice becomes irrelevant. The inhabitants of San Junipero, trying so hard to feel something, as Kelly screams it, might have been representative of our constant rolling cycling of excess if not for that get-out clause. ‘San Junipero’ might have been the night time wonderland that mirrored our own boom-and-bust cycles of Friday and Saturday night hedonism, but Kelly’s choice to stay takes that away from the narrative. You shut your computer feeling good, feeling warm, but also feeling empty: because you don’t learn anything from ‘San Junipero’, and Black Mirror usually teaches you things.

The Badger 7.11.2016

ARTS

Music Lauren Wade Music Editor

Interview with Gregory Alan Isakov

For Gregory Alan Isakov’s latest record he chose to record with the Colorado Symphony, a bit of an ‘out there’ move for the Canadian-born singer-songwriter that paid off well. The Badger had a chat with the musician ahead of his upcoming support slot at Brighton Dome with Passenger in November. LW: You’re about to embark on a UK tour supporting Passenger, how are you feeling about that? I am actually thrilled to be coming back. It’s hard getting out to play in Europe and the UK with budgets, logistics, all that. I think I’ve always been excited about tours in the UK because the music seems to land really well, and the shows are usually quite a bit more intimate.

ally well. Did you ever imagine you’d be this successful? I am always blown away that I get to make music and have a career. I never thought that was going to happen. I was a horticulture major in school, mostly worked as a gardener, doing some farming and some perennial garden work. Music was always something I did for myself, before work or sometimes I’d have a line or a melody kicking around during work and I’d come home and hash it out with the guitar. I was dreadfully shy to play for a long time, it actually scared me. I think that’s when I thought ‘I should do this’.

lot of people. Besides the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the arrangers Tom Hagerman and Jay Clifford, myself, Jamie Mefford, the band. We all poured ourselves into these symphony shows, and even though we have a new studio record in the works, we just wanted to release the arrangements, acknowledge all the hands that were involved. LW: Have you always wanted to make an album like this? I never thought I would. LW: How do you find inspiration?

LW: Your new album is doing re-

LW: Which new artists are you into at the moment? So many, I love Leif Vollebekk, Big Theif, Mandolin Orange, Longhorn Slim – just to name a few. LW: You weren’t born in Colorado but does it feel like home to you and does it impact your writing at all? It’s the closest thing I’ve had to home for sure, I’ve never lived in any place longer. I do love it there. LW: What’s next for you after the tour? Will you be heading back to the studio anytime soon?

LW: Your track ‘Big Black Car’ is remarkably beautiful. Would you be able to tell us how it came to be? Thank you so much, I have no idea really. I don’t think I really ‘know’ how to write songs. They sort of happen to me, a lot of them never see the light of day. As a writer, you never know how long a song will ‘live’, or stand the test of time. I think that is a big part of the process, letting them sit, coming back to them and making sure it still has a feeling about it. That particular song happened quite quickly, that’s not usually the case.

walking, or a person at the traffic light in their car next to you. It’s not some huge moment you wait for. It’s everywhere, and it’s work to tap into it. It’s a daily practice.

Yeah, we have been recording for the past year, sketching songs in the barn where I live. I’m hoping to have a new record out next year.

LW: The new album is quite different from anything you’ve done before. How did it feel to rearrange songs that you’d previously spent so much time and energy on? This record with the symphony was an incredible process, involving a

Gregory Alan Isakov The idea of inspiration has always eluded me in a sense. I used to think I had to wait for those ‘moments’, but I found that if I worked that way I would be waiting a long time. I notice that it comes from all kinds of places, noticing them is is the trick. It can be as simple as the way the lights hit the pavement as you are

Tracks of The Week Charli XCX ft Lil Yachty - After The Afterparty Trudy and the Romance My Baby’s Gone Away Run The Jewels -Talk to me Jamie-T -Joan Of Arc Gregory Alan Isako -The Sea, The Gambler The Courteeners -The 17th

November 20thDecember 8th, tickets selling out by the minute!

Busted -On What You’re On

Skepta, More Than Just Grime Aman Khera Skepta is a name you’ve probably heard a lot in recent times and honestly it is all with good reason. His fourth studio album Konnichiwa, released earlier this year, debuted second in the UK charts and just last month he won the Mercury Prize. His victory was not just exclusive to him, but it was a massive milestone win for grime too. Of course, other artists have also contributed to the commercial resurgence of the genre but it can’t be denied that he has played a huge part in bringing grime from its underground origins to the forefront of the music industry. His acceptance of the Mercury Prize sent chills down my spine, probably because as much as I wanted him to win, the snub he (and lots of other grime and hip hop artists) received at the BRITs in February made me think he wouldn’t. From the looks of it, he couldn’t believe what he had

achieved either. His tears symbolised the shock that he singlehandedly managed to defy all odds and win one of the most prestigious accolades in British music. The last time I was this happy about the prize being awarded was when Dizzee Rascal did it in 2003. Unlike other artists I listen to, Skepta’s lyrics really have a lasting effect; they resonate with me more than the words of the majority of (if not, all) politicians and he embodies so much of what this generation needs in a public figure. Following his win in September, he spoke in an interview of a “revolution of freedom” and used his triumph as means of empowering the youth, empowering the disadvantaged and empowering those who don’t believe they have what it takes. His commitment to making a difference is further proven by the fact he’s using his £25,000 prize money to help towards building the futures of underprivileged young people in the

arts. Skepta also has a collaboration with Levi’s, called the Levi’s Music Project, in which he provides guidance and support to young people, from his hometown Tottenham, who wish to pursue a career in music and the end goal sees them performing alongside him at the V&A. When asked why he wanted to be involved in this community project, he answered that he wants to be the “spark” that inspires people to know they can achieve what they want with a bit of hard work. This is analagous to the interview being referred to earlier where he also said he hopes to be the person that encourages anyone to strive for what they desire. It’s things like this that make me idolise Skepta, and I won’t lie, him being influential for me is a recent development. I’ve been a fan of him since I was twelve, with my only means of listening to his music back then being to receive them via Bluetooth on my Walkman phone.

However, it is what he stands for now that really has me supporting him. This is not just the result of the messages of youth empowerment and freedom he transmits, but also his advocacy of Black Lives Matter. During his Mercury performance of Shutdown, he used the opportunity to project a picture of a sign from one of the recent UK protests behind him that read “Stop Killing the Mandem”. Konnichiwa also brims with the sounds of protests and support for the movement, touching heavily on the unfair incarceration and ill treatment of black people. This isn’t something I’m used to seeing. A lot of what we hear in the charts don’t focus on what is happening now but Skepta’s music consciously makes sure we are still aware of it all. His rawness and realism in his bars are motivational. They hype me up; they make me want to get up and do something; they make me want to make a difference. It isn’t surprising that Shutdown has

been the anthem of the UK BLM protests. Skepta is becoming the face of something huge and whatever it is, I stand by it. So as much as you may be annoyed that you hear his music being overplayed at every club night you attend, just know that he stands for more than just the songs you hear. He stands for those who need their voices heard. He stands for the people that lack self-belief. He stands for the youth who need to know that they are capable of anything, despite what their background is. Skepta’s use of “Greatness” as a slogan could be seen as excessive aggrandisement, and to some extent maybe I agree. However, I am a firm believer that credit is owed where it is due, and right now Skepta, for all that he represents, is Greatness.

The Badger 7.11.2016

ARTS

The Street Some of Brighton’s most captivating aspects can be found in its colourful streets; you can find just about anything over here, all you have to do is look. On this Street corner we will be displaying Sussex students’ very own creative work, and just like the streets of Brighton, it will be truly one of a kind. We’re always looking for new submissions — poetry, photography, cartoons, and everything in between — to showcase any and all creative talent. Fracture Beneath paint peeling itself into a fractured pattern like broken glass we cut out our teeth. Now? Now we hang our false idols by the heartstrings they pulled. But then? Then, beneath the shadow of years to burn we dared to dream and were, for the briefest of moments, transcendent. * There is a man who sits at the bar every day and orders London Pride in half pints. His wife died two years ago and I have never seen him do anything but sip his Pride with a stoicism that would fracture even Marcus Aurelius’ poise and just makes me sad in a way I can’t put into words. * For you, my friend, now that your eyes sit separately on the table and you have realised hearts do not pump as well on sleeves or when fractured. For you, these words of bruised reality. Sometimes a repair is a strengthening. * A Robin sat still as silence on a branch and it was the first Christmas without you. I remembered watching the snow fall in your garden as you sat behind immersing everything in love. The Robin lifted its wings, fluttered and soared. I thought how you would have seen the beauty in that and how beautiful it was that I should have known you and loved you and have been loved by you. Fractures faded as I felt happiness flutter up inside of me. Even in absence I was immersed in your love.

Miles Fagge, Third Year English Literature student and Theatre Editor for The Badger For me poetry does not always have to be about an explicit personal experience, but instead is often about capturing an emotion or feeling and distilling it into language. That’s why ambivalence of persona is something I usually aim for in writing. My first experience of sharing poetry was through performing spoken word, and although it is linked to written poetry, they also differ in many ways. Spoken

Flutter One day, when the grey has set in And all the flutters have descended To monotone conformity, I hope you see what I mean… meant. Tried to mean… meant. That these proclamations and silences (Never underestimate silences, listen to them Like the parent to the sleeping child) May have been muddled and blurry As the unfocused camera But they were heartfelt as the lion’s roar. I even dare to dream That you may find If you squint, and the light is right, That the haze fades to clarity Or at very least A splash of colour to disturb the grey and awake the memory of a f l u t t e r

Contact Lucie at thebadger.street@gmail.com to be features on The Street!

word it is about immediacy and performance, but written poetry has to be more subtle in its effects. It will remain on the page and able to be re-read. That means the words and form on the page must work harder as they will be placed under more scrutiny, and you cannot rely on your own performance and emphasis to dictate certain meanings.

Shadow Now that your rage And proud-fisted optimism Has been reduced to sighs Will you make a stump of your tongue Dress your loneliness in drink And well-rehearsed nonchalance Tattoo a faded phoenix over the scar it leaves Write poetry no one will read Learn the art of speaking silence And then, in your quietest moments, Glimpse the ghost of longing For now nameless something? Or will you simply burn the wick And the wax till there is nothing left To cast a shadow?

And… I am simply here here, simply, and do not want to be anyone outside of these intricately wrought endlessly faceted parameters And there is nothing softer than lips which, alone, has filled more pages than you have breath although you may have mine Fall for all of it please, do, for stones on the beach and for unmade beds there is almost nothing softer than freshly held hands which, mostly, has filled this page.

LIFESTYLE

The Badger 7.11.2016

Wanderlust

Clichéd but true: student travel unpacked that you can’t enjoy a meal or two in the centre of all the action, your money will stretch further a couple We’ve all heard the saying: “Travel is of streets off the beaten track: you the only thing you buy that makes might even find a hidden gem. you richer.” It’s undeniably tempt3. Visit “off season” – Some ing and inspiring. But what if even friends and I are going to spend 5 with this flawless advice, your travel days in Rome this December for just dreams don’t quite fit into a student £130 including return flights and budget? It’s now easier than ever to accommodation. In high season (June find great deals on holidays: from to August) flights alone could easily mini breaks to full on adventures, cost this much. There’s a possibility there’s always a way to keep your goals affordable, without economising of a little rain, but much lower cost, on any of the memorable experiences smaller queues and quieter restauyou’ll cherish when you’re old and rants undoubtedly make it worthboring. while! I’m lucky enough to have parents who love to travel – my mother worked in the industry for 25 years before I was born – so I was always going to enjoy it. Whether you’re an intrepid explorer yourself, or a little keener on home comforts, I truly believe there are dream destinations for everybody, so keep reading and get ready to be inspired…

Iceland recently (known for its price tag as much as it’s stunning landscapes) and found that cheese and ham sandwiches featured as the main staple for their diet that week. You might get sick of rolls and apples by the end of your break, but packing lunches can save heaps: you might even be able to stay another night with the money you save. What sandwiches lack in excitement, they make up for in flexibility.

Ten Tips for Travel on a Budget 1. Book accommodation directly – Third party room-finding websites add a booking fee that the hotel has to pay. If you know the place you’re planning on staying, phone the hotel or hostel directly. They’ll be keen to cut out the commission, so you’re almost guaranteed to get a better deal. Cheeky, but true. 2. Avoid tourist traps – Restaurants near main attractions can and will charge an extortionate amount for the novelty of their location, and not necessarily because their food is outstanding. Though it’s not to say

Pixabay 6. Travel light (and be brave) – with budget air lines like EasyJet, tickets may be temptingly cheap, but add-ons such as bringing hold luggage and requesting specific seats can quickly add up. If you’re only planning a couple of days away, stick to a cabin bag and practice your small talk. Skip the queues in baggage reclaim, and if you’re friendly and polite, cabin crew will try their best to seat you with or near your group anyway. A smile costs nothing! 7. Talk to the locals – similar to the previous tip, being friendly and

Alison Collins

Flickr: Kevin Poh 4. Browse incognito when searching for flights – Some (if not all) airline websites have cookies installed so that their server recognises your IP address each time you access the website. If you keep returning to the same page, date and destination, airlines may increase ticket prices as they realise they’ve grabbed your interest. Browse in private, and your organising tactics can’t be exploited. 5. Picnic like you’ve never picnicked before – A friend visited

chatty with locals is a sure-fire way to make your trip memorable. Learn a few key phrases (“that meal was lovely” and “thank you very much” go a long way, you’d be surprised) and you could reap rewards in the form of local tips and even tipples. Smaller Greek restaurants in particular are known for giving friendly customers complimentary Ouzo or tsikoudia (highly alcoholic, highly enjoyable) after meals. 8. Airbnb. Need I say more? – This little marvel is revolutionising the way we travel abroad. If you’re not quite sold on the idea of couch surfing, but still want a feel for the “reality” of your location, take a look at the Airbnb website. Quite often cheaper than hotels (and even hostels), an additional overlooked bonus is your host’s local knowledge. Who needs an expensive tour guide when you have your very own home-grown expert? 9. Student deals, student deals everywhere – if there’s one thing you learn as a first year, it’s that a standard 20% Unidays discount is one a major perk of university. Why should travelling be any different? Many attractions will have student deals and even days where entry is free, and if you’re travelling in a city with a high student population (think Berlin, for instance) you’re bound to be able to find studentfocused bars and restaurants near the local campus, for example. You won’t regret doing a little research. Besides, we’re broke students: we deserve to reap some of the benefits.

10. Stretch your legs – even though it’s possible to get some great deals on bus travel and metro tickets, walking is usually the best way to travel. Many people don’t realise quite how compact most European cities are: it’s quite possible, for example, to visit all the major attractions of Bern on foot in just one day. Stroll the streets leisurely, cheese and salad roll in one hand, camera in the other, and absorb the atmosphere. You don’t get that on the underground, do you?

Wikimedia Commons Whether your idea of a dream break is an Instagram-worthy weekend in a fashionable European capital or an activity-packed stay in an untouched retreat, there’s always going to be something to suit all tastes and budgets. To end on yet another cliché (because there’s nothing more fitting), the world really is our oyster. For great offers on flights and accommodation, tips and tricks, upand-coming events for your calendar and contemporary locations you might never have considered before, this is the section for you.

AGONY ELLIE

Ellie Ferguson Resident Agony Aunt Dear Agony Aunt,

Lighthearted advice from our resident life coach!

I’m really worried about my relationship. My boyfriend and I spend lots of time together and have fun but sometimes I feel like we don’t communicate very well. Sometimes it feels like I don’t know him properly and I’m worried he keeps things like secrets and problems from me. I keep meaning to bring it up but I keep chickening out and I don’t want to ruin the fun we have, or make things awkward. Any advice?? Mournful of Moulsecoomb Hello duck, I would tell you not to worry but that would be a lie. The truth is, and I’ve seen this happen a

million times before, your boyfriend is probably either a) joining a cult or b) not into you anymore. These are two very different things and you must bear this in mind. Back to basics though, have you been keeping up with a daily quota of 17 ‘are you alright’s’ every day? Cos if not, well I’ve got bad news, everyone and men especially need to be constantly asked if they are ok, more than once an hour preferably. If you don’t do this, you are not only failing as a partner, a friend, a lover, but enabling their slide into depression and cult joining. That’s what happens when people aren’t checked up on constantly. If this is too much for you, I suggest becoming a lesbian separatist. I’m always available for private consultations about that matter. I have, however, pulled my finger out and spoken to a crystal healing consultant on your behalf. He recommends practising feng shui

as your chakras might be out of balance. He also suggests DIY acupuncture to save a few quid, and said if you’re feeling particularly shit, just load the needle up with your substance of choice and use your imagination. Ellie Dear Agony Aunt, This might sound weird but I’m genuinely really worried about climate change. Should I be?

Dear Agony Aunt,

Lately I’ve become concerned for the welfare of my significant other. I’ve found a copy of Simulacra and Simulation by Baudrillard under their bed like porn. They’ve become very insistent that there can be no objective reality. I know in the modern enlightened era we’re supposed to be open and accepting of these things but I can’t bring myself to cohabit with a pomo. Am I being to judgemental? Anon

Anon Hello Anon, Ever heard of Piers Corbyn? I reckon he could really calm your nerves about the whole thing. Google him. Ellie

Yes you’re being incredibly judgemental. You must sacrifice your happiness to put up with a partner who in all likelihood secretly resents you too after finding that cheeky copy of Capital hidden under Gardeners World in the bog. Keep quiet about your raging ideological and existential differences, suck it up

for the good of… well, what? I’ll advance an unpopular opinion here: is being judgemental necessarily a bad thing? It’s different from prejudice, which is judging someone or groups of people before you know them (but come on, sometimes you know someone’s going to be an arse from the polo shirt). It goes without saying that judging someone for things they can’t help or are, in objective reality, not bad things i.e being black or bisexual, is wrong. Judging someone for being a postmodernist though? For jumping on the ideological “bring out your dead” cart to a shit show in a sewer and after what? They had a revelation in a seminar now can’t wait to tell the world about how the gulf war didn’t happen while chomping on frankly vile raw kale and organic quinoa pitta. These people need judging, and for pity’s sake there’s not a god to do it anymore. My advice: get Marx, get reality, get the hell out.

LETTERS

The Badger 7.112016

Reflections on 9/11

Dear Badger, When I was an undergraduate I spent four months studying at a college in New York State from September-December 2001. The first few weeks were relatively uneventful, but something happened in the second week of September that would change world politics. I remember being woken by someone shouting that classes had been cancelled. I wandered in to the common room to find out what was going on. At first I thought that everyone was watching a disaster movie, but realised very quickly that it wasn’t a movie at all. People sometimes credit a single event with making them want to find out about the world and get involved in politics. This was mine. During the following weeks, I tried to find out about what had happened. I also experienced the responses of my fellow students, which seemed to be one of two questions: ‘what can we do?’ or ‘who do we blame?’. Since then, I’ve found that political conversations always seem to come down to one or the other of these. When we ask what we can do, we find ourselves concerned with context, motivation and the possible responses to a situation. I was amazed, while in the US, at how many students who had previously either not cared about politics or considered America to (in the words of one girl) “have never done anything bad to anyone” suddenly asking questions about how the events of 9/11 could have been brought about. They were no longer content with the history that they had been taught and wanted to know more about the world. However, when our political views are based solely on who is to blame, we find ourselves less concerned with the details of a situation and more about who and how to punish. On that campus, alongside the students who became interested in learning about history and politics, there were many others who wanted a villain and who found it, either in Osama Bin Laden and Al-Queda or in the Bush administration and American politicians in general. My desire not to take a side, and instead to try and investigate the background to the events, were often derided as ‘sitting on the fence’ (and on a couple of occasions I was lucky to escape a violent

response). At any one time, there are a number of difficult and complicated political issues. There is rarely a single simple way to explain them, but this doesn’t seem to stop us from trying. In the UK, there are debates about (among other things) personal and sexual identity, newleft versus progressive-left, and how to think about the decision that was made in this year’s EU referendum. Many of us are looking for someone to blame, whether it be men and ‘male culture’, Tony Blair and his political legacy or ‘racists’ and ‘bigots’ who voted to leave the EU. Meanwhile, we ignore the context in which these events have happened and, in doing so, are unable to work out the ways in which we can deal with them. I loved my time as a student in the US. I even tried to stay to finish my degree there, but wasn’t able to. One thing I experienced, while there, is that what we often call ‘patriotism’ can actually be a more general love of society, and of people. This love was expressed by those who wanted to learn about history, to learn about politics and to start thinking about themselves and their country of residence as responsible entities whose actions have consequences. They realised that looking for people to blame doesn’t solve problems. About two weeks after that day in September, the girl who had previously told me that - in her opinion - America had never wronged anyone, now said that she wanted to learn about American history because (in her words) “people don’t do things like this for no reason”. All too often, we’re caught up in trying to find heroes and villains. Consequently, these events happen again; sometimes in different forms, but always because we didn’t take the time to try and understand them. In the years that followed, friends of mine in the UK would dismiss America and Americans, using words like ‘stupid’, ‘ignorant’ and ‘prejudiced’. I couldn’t stay quiet when they said these things, because I’d met too many people in the US who wanted to learn and wanted to take an active part in political society. Yours Alastair Gray

Let’s Get Real About Abortion

Dear Badger, After watching the three presidential debates over the last month, it is evident that certain issues reside at the forefront of the campaign, notably Hillary Clinton’s emails, ISIS, immigration, and Donald Trump’s personal antics. Early on in the final debate, this shifted when moderator Chris Wallace asked the candidates about abortion. Prior to the debate, pro-choice groups like NARAL and Pro-Choice America, had been encouraging this dialogue through efforts on social media, such as the hashtag #askaboutabortion. A lack of discussion had persisted in the campaign, despite the proliferation of individual state restrictions on abortion in recent years. It is good that the candidates finally gave their candid and honest policy proposals in a debate setting because American women have the right to know whether or not our next president plans to protect or impede the ability to obtain safe and legal abortion. Unfortunately when abortion is discussed, conversation often does not center on the important narrative surrounding women who need these services. Candidates like Donald Trump continue to portray abortion as something that it is not, which unfairly demonizes the difficult yet vital choices millions of women have had to make. In the debate, Trump characterized abortion as something that women decide to do with little consideration, saying it often occurs

in the last days of a pregnancy. This is simply false information. In reality, most women who have an abortion do so much earlier on in their pregnancies. Further, women who do have late-term abortions often do so because of severe health concerns, either for themselves or their unborn child. Understandably, it is a very difficult and emotional choice for them to make, but not one that the government should make for them. Donald Trump’s characterizations of abortion were both inaccurate and unfair to the women who conclude that it is the right decision for them. We reached and important milestone when we heard the candidates spend a significant amount of time discussing abortion. Unfortunately, it would have been so much more beneficial if the dialogue had been true to the actual experiences of American women. Abortion has been around for a very long time, and it will continue to be no matter the state of American laws. Because of this, candidates on both sides of the aisle should commit themselves to discussing abortion, but doing it in an honest manner. If political discourse centers on the true experiences of the millions of American women who have had abortions, it may make for more honest, open, and accurate conversations and policy in the future. Yours, Catherine Machanic

North Carolina and Transphobia Dear Badger, Earlier this year North Carolina govenor Pat McCrory, signed House Bill 2 into law. HB2 requires everyone to use the public toilet that matches the gender on their birth certificate. The reason given to justify this is to prevent male predators going to the ladies and harassing women. This as far as I’m aware is not a common problem in North Carolina, or indeed anywhere for that matter. Clearly the real purpose of this bill, is to whip up fear against the trans community. Bruce Springsteen and other musicians have cancelled NC shows in protest, and huge companies like Google and PayPal

WRITE US A LETTER Read something in The Badger that you want to respond to? Have an opinion on a topical issue? Or just want to complain about something? Write us a letter! Feel free to email submissions to badger-letters@sussexstudent.com or join the Badger Letter Writers Facebook group.

are pulling investment out of the state. This thing is hurting the economy. Not to mention how much it would cost to enforce, you’d need to stick a cop outside every loo to check those going in are the “right” gender! This is obviously totally impossible to implement, which only further outlines the stupidity of this bill. I for one hope that they see sense next week and vote out McCrory as governor, and this ridiculous bill gets confined to the dustbin of history. Yours, A Reasonable Person

#TheBadger

The best tweets of the week @jaketapper: I’m trying to envision something more fitting than this election actually ending in a BidenTrump fist fight and i cannot @HillaryClinton: We believe that no matter what you look like or where your parents were born or who you love, you have the right to be treated equally. @realDonaldTrump: We are winning and the press is refusing to report it. Don’t let them fool you- get out and vote! #DrainTheSwamp on November 8th! @GovGaryJohnson: They’re in #Vegas so let me ask- are you really willing to gamble with our future on these two? #debate @DrJillStein: Our bloated military budget is designed to keep defense contractors in business. With #NoMoreWar, we could funnel money to creating jobs. @ThatMiriam: #thebadger Fraser stop putting my tweets in the newspaper ;)

Tweet us at #TheBadger and you could be published here next week!

The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Student’s Union, unless explicitly stated. University of Sussex Students’ Union Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9QF

SCIENCE

Charlotte Tuxworth-Holden Features Editor In this globalised world, regions untouched by humanity and the problems we bring are fast diminishing. Like many of the world’s problems, climate change is a vast one, and although the terror of it is becoming more central to public conversation, it seems we are a long way from drastic change in favour of the environment. Because our lives and industries currently depend on processes that damage the world we live in, it would take something of a revolution to completely halt the human assault on nature. But this doesn’t stop environmental advocates from putting their all into saving our wilting planet. Lewis Pugh, UN Patron of the Oceans, is one of these advocates, and has recently led a heroic and successful effort to protect the Ross Sea from irreversible damage. A deep bay of the Southern Ocean of Antarctica, the Ross Sea has

The Badger 7.11.2016

The Ross Sea is safe, for now

been hailed as the polar Garden of Eden: it is a pristine frozen home for emperor penguins, humpback whales and many other species. A proposal from the The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to declare the bay a Marine Protected Area (MPA) was rejected by the Russian government five times in a row, and in 2014 Pugh made it his mission to change their mind. His strategy for reaching Russia was an unusual one: he undertook the challenge of completing a series of deep sea swims in the sub-zero waters of the Ross Sea to highlight their importance. In a recent interview on Radio 4’s Today programme, he explained his motivations: “Russians love cold water swimming. You will not find one Russian, who as a young boy or girl was not taken by their father to a cold lake in the middle of winter to jump in.” He wanted to draw the attention of people who live almost 20,000km from the area in question. In under-

taking the gruelling swims, Pugh created an emotional connection between Russia and the Ross Sea. He also made history, swimming further South than any human has done before. In the same interview, Pugh also credited Russia’s change of heart to the appointment of Sergei Ivanov to the government’s environment and transport division. “This man is passionate about the environment and things moved very quickly.” In the wider scheme of climate change policy, what impact will this new protection have? A fairly hefty step in the right direction, the Ross Sea breakthrough

has established the world’s largest protected area in history. The 1.57 million square kilometre MPA will come into force in December 2017, and will prohibit fishing in seventy-two percent of the area. The additional twenty-eight percent will allow fishing only for the purpose of scientific research. Pugh made clear via his blog recently that he hopes the Ross Sea will set a precedent for discussions and policies to come. “My hope is that we can create a series of MPAs in other critical areas around Antarctica including the Weddell Sea, the Antarctic Peninsula and East Antarctica.”

He also emphasises the region as a symbol of political cooperation when it comes to the environment. “Today’s announcement shows that Antarctica continues to be a place for peace and bridge building, a place where we can find common ground.” The MPA proposal was successful despite the relationship between Russia and the West being particularly tense at the moment. Perhaps we are perceiving a new kind of global cooperation: one that places politics to the side to embrace what’s right for the earth’s long term survival. The Ross Sea is saved, for now, and this breakthrough has offered the environment a shred of hope for coming years.

New autism therapy focusses on parents Kate Dearling Science and Technology Sub-editor A report has appeared in The Lancet suggesting a treatment for autism with long lasting effects. In the world of autism research this is big news as treatments with solid scientific evidence are few and far between – there is currently no standardized treatment program to follow. In addition, the need for ‘treatment’ is itself debated, and the efficacy of existing therapies has been called into question by the autistic community. One of the main existing therapies, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), has been criticised by the autistic community for causing PTSD. Accounts of the harm done are widespread, and have been analysed by charities and psychologists, and published on sites including Autism Mythbusters and Autistic Kids. This new study suggests a different approach while still focusing on the treatment of autism. It was a 6 year follow-up on a group of children who participated in PACT (the Preschool Autism Communication Trial) when they were between 2-4 years old. This treatment takes a slightly novel approach by giving the training to the parents rather than directly from therapist to child. This means that the training becomes part of the child’s life at home rather than being restricted to the hour at the therapist’s office. Parents participating in the study attended 12 training sessions over 6 months. In addition to this they

agreed to daily 20-30 minute sessions of communication and play activities with their child. The study found that, of the children who received PACT, 46% of the group were in the severe range of ADOS-CSS score (the international standard scoring system for autism symptom severity) whereas 63% of those who received other treatments were in the severe range. This means there was a 17% reduction in the proportion of the children with severe symptoms in the PACT condition. Parents reported that the therapy had improved their children’s communication and peer relations as well as reducing repetitive behaviours. However no changes were seen in language scores, anxiety or challenging behaviours such as conduct disorder. Although the results seem promising, there is a big problem with early intervention programs as despite parents often suspecting that their child may be autistic, it usually takes years to get a diagnosis. Some parents are also concerned that the treatment implies they play a role in their child’s autism, taking a stepback to the refrigerator mother era. Despite these reservations the treatment is more effective and more practical than some of the other interventions available and it could reach many children, as therapists are not required to work 1:1. Hopefully this means children with autism and their families will be getting more of the support they need in the near future.

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Heathrow’s run away problem The government has given the greenlight for the airport’s third runway

Wikipedia Duncan Michie Science and Technology Editor Six and a half years ago a new coalition consisting of Conservatives and Liberals crushed Labour’s plans of building a third runway at Heathrow. Labour’s plan was rather controversial at the time. A debate in the commons led one Labour backbencher to scream at their own frontbenchers, storming the centre of the chamber to steal the House of Commons’ ceremonial mace. Taking over from John McDonnell’s outburst in 2009, Zac Goldsmith has made the first strike against the government, instantly resigning over the expansion. Boris Johnson and Justin Greening on the front bench are expected to also oppose the government’s decision. With such fierce opposition, it must make you wonder what could be so

bad? Well to start off 725,000 people are already living under the flight path. It would make sense to increase capacity in an area with lower population density, such as Gatwick. And it’s not like Heathrow isn’t pushing its weight already. Even with only two runways, Heathrow has a number of international flights, far higher than its rivals. With 990 departure flights each week to the world’s key business centres, it has more air traffic than its two closest rivals combined, Charles de Gaulle with 484 and Frankfurt with 450.

“With 990 departure flights each week to the world’s key business centres, it has more air traffic than its two closest rivals combined, Charles de Gaulle with 484 and Frankfurt with 450.” The proposed expansion could also greatly increase the amount of CO2 emissions. John Stewart from the Airport Watch campaign

said if the expansion went ahead “Heathrow would become the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide in the country”. You may ask yourself why the government would go through with such a disastrous plan. But with May eliminating the position of minister for climate change and placing Andrea Leadsom as Secretary of State for Environment, a person who on their first day of the job questioned the existence of climate change, it’s hardly surprising. So it seems that the economy takes priority over the possible mass extinction point heading over our way. But if an economic boost is what you want then it seems it could be heading our way. The construction would most likely be the cheapest way to build a runway and the total economic benefit could be as high as 61 billion pounds, while only costing the tax payer 17.6 billion. The construction could bring in around 77,000 jobs to the local area. However, the battle is not yet won or lost, with a vote on the decision going to the Commons in a year’s time. Until then, we are likely to see many a protest and angry email to disgruntled MPs.

The Badger 07.11.2016

SPORT

England’s episode of defeat due for a spin off? Daniel Parker You’d forgive onlookers of the second England Test match in Bangladesh for thinking that England had never played on subcontinental pitches or faced spin bowling before. After cruising to 100-0 in their second innings chase of 273, England collapsed to 164 all out, the worst batting collapse of its kind in Test match history. During the collapse, all 10 wickets were lost to the spin bowling line up of Bangladesh. England’s first innings of just 244 also saw all 10 wickets lost to spin, with young off spinner Mehedi Hasan walking away with match figures of 12-159 in just his second match for the national team. Whilst the post mortem of the Bangladesh series is on-going before the start of the India series on November 9th, there were indeed some positives to take from the second Test match in particular. After picking five spinners in the touring squad, all five took wickets and looked threatening during their respective bowling spells. Debutant Zafar Ansari offered something new to the bowling attack and the trusty leg spinners of Adil Rashid were very effective in mopping up the Bangladeshi tail enders on more than one occasion.

Patrick Isitt

England’s depth in their own spin-bowling department was evident when Moeen Ali took his second career five-wicket haul whilst also very capably batting at number five in the batting order. Now becoming a key figure in the England XI, Ali has proved himself to be a true all rounder with a five-wicket haul with the ball and a fifty with the bat to show for his efforts. Highlights also came from new opening batsman Ben Duckett who, whilst not averaging well over the series, shows signs of what he had produced during the County Championship season that earned him his place in the national side. Duckett’s partnership with captain Cook at the top of the England order was certainly another positive for England in a series marred by England’s ability to play spin. Duckett’s flare and high strike rate accompanied Cook’s more sedate style in their 100 run partnership in the second Test match, a partnership that was somewhat tarnished by the collapse that followed. Duckett’s variety of shots and ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over was evident through his use of the reverse sweep against spin, alongside his patient work

against the seam bowling of the Bangladesh attack. After Alistair Cook has been through nine opening partners since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2011, it is certainly hoped, by pundits and fans alike, that Duckett will provide some stability and consistency at the helm of the England batting line up. However, with a five match series against India, the number one ranked Test team, coming up through November and December; the signs are ominous for an evidently fragile England batting order. England’s trouble against spin bowling was evident throughout the two match series. On dry, spinning wickets, England batting line up failed to post a score of more than 300 and lost the opening three wickets for less than 50 runs on three out of four occasions. Lack of experience in the Test match arena cannot be to blame for the batting woes. Barring Ben Duckett, who debuted during in the first game, England’s top five batsmen have well over 250 caps collectively. Inexperience on sub-continental wickets, however, may be to blame. Nevertheless, for experienced and proved international batsmen, overall inability against spin bowl-

Wikimedia Commons ing seems to be the downfall of England. Gary Ballance, Joe Root and wicketkeeper Johnny Bairstow, who has a stellar summer of cricket in England, all showed severe signs of technical issues against skilful spin bowling on conducive subcontinent wickets. With a far more superior opponent on the horizon in India, who have an arsenal of spin bowlers in their armoury, England need to quickly amend the technical bugs in

their system in order avoid another embarrassing defeat away from home.

Would you like to write a sports article for the badger? If so get in contact with our sports editor: badgersport@sussexstudent.com

Gender equality or positive discrimination?

“If sport wants to be publicly funded, it must reflect the public it serves.” This is how executive of Women in Sport, Ruth Holdaway described,

to BBC Sport, the new code put in place for gender diversity. The code, which was formerly put in place last month, requires at least 30% gender diversity across the boards of governing bodies that have requested public funding

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through the National Lottery. The code has been set out seek ‘greater transparency, for example publishing more information on the structure, strategy and financial position of the organisation.’ UK Sport and Sport England have stated that the code acts as a warning for governing bodies, as funding may be cut if the targets are not met. Funding, which is currently given to sporting bodies through the National Lottery and the government allocation, is a necessity in the development of British sports from grassroots right through to the elite. A cut in funding would not only damage the involvement in sport at the early stages, but it may also have a detrimental affect on the nation’s success at the pinnacle of international sport, from the Olympics to the World Cup. According to BBC Sport, Sport England is investing £493m into 46 sports between 2013 and 2017 while UK Sport has invested about

£350m in the same period. UK Sport hopes to see the new regulations in place by Tokyo 2020, and also admitted that failure to comply with the new code could taint any future bids to host major sporting events, as the support of funding bodies will be withdrawn. The FA, who will receive £30m from Sport England between 20132017, has just one woman on its board. With the FA being one of the most powerful and influential governing bodies across sport in the country, this is a clear indication that the new gender diversity code is a step in the right direction for equality in sport. The new code encompasses over 50 requirements to adhere to, and many among the funding bodies believe it will allow the public to feel confident in the organisations and boards they are funding. Simon Morton, UK Sport’s chief operating officer, said: “Sports bodies have already done well in governance terms, but there’s a huge amount of public funding go-

ing into sport and the key message is [for them] to justify the funding, give the public confidence that the governance of sport is right.” The code is undoubtedly a conscious effort to rectify the real gender issue sport in the UK has, but the debate continues. Whilst some argue positions should be awarded based on merit rather than gender and the code is just a glorified form of positive discrimination, others ask if positive discrimination is such a bad thing if it further extends equality. As two sides continue to put their case, important changes are being made to correct the system currently in place.

Are you part of a sports society at Sussex and want us to cover your team? If so get in contact with our sports editor: badgersport@sussexstudent.com

The Badger 07.11.2016

SPORT

eSports: A glimpse into the future? Vishal Padhiar What exactly is eSports? You may have heard of it but not quite understood what it is. Well, for a platform that just a few thousand people followed 10 years ago, it has become a phenomenon with millions of followers worldwide. Without a doubt, it is definitely something to keep your eye on. eSports quite simply stands for Electronic Sports. It is a form of competitive gaming that grips and entices fans in a very similar fashion to that of traditional sports. eSports spans across many genres of games, from strategy games such as Starcraft, to first person shooters such as Counter Strike. This year, Counter Strike GO held an international tournament in Cologne known as ESL One. The winning team of the tournament received $1,000,000 in prize money; showing the status that these kind of tournaments have already reached. Those who are lucky enough to go to tournaments like this and witness the gaming live are in for a phenomenal atmosphere. Similar to that of traditional sports, there are jerseys, chants and trophies, traits that certainly place eSports alongside the calibre of more traditional sports.

Patrick Isitt A “higher power” is what Lewis Hamilton - backtracking on earlier comments made after an engine fault at the Malaysian Grand Prix - claimed he had meant when he

One other huge similarity between traditional sports and eSports is the television coverage they receive. In South Korea, for example, the eSports exposure on television is just a big as traditional sporting coverage, with channels on national television dedicated solely to eSports. Here in the UK, the League of Legends world championships were broadcasted on BBC Three in 2015. More commonly however, the main viewer base is found online, being streamed and watched on Twitch. The total number of viewers of the finals match was close to fourteen million, with those watching live packed out Berlin’s 17,000 seat Mercedes Benz Arena. The same tournament two years before had eleven million overall viewers and the increase in viewers has shown eSports’ growth in the competitive sport category. Could we eSports ever being as big as football in the UK? Can we go as far to say it could become an Olympic Sport? Though eSports has many merits, and sets an example to traditional sports in its ability to attract viewers, like most traditional sports, it has its dark aspects too. One in particular is the exploitation of younger viewers. Due to the platform being based on

gaming and being primarily online focused; it is mostly teenagers that are drawn to eSports. Indeed, many teenagers not only follow the sport, but actively take part too. As has been witnessed, this allows companies to focus on the teenage market and target them for financial gain, such as with CSGO betting sites. These sites promote teenage gambling with weapons and other in game items for money. In turn, these companies sponsor big teams in the league with the money they have made. This promotion of gambling to a younger audience is highly unethical and has led to the recent closing down of many of these sites. However, this then affects the teams who are sponsored by them, resulting in the money and support for some the teams to decrease. The argument still lingers as many say the system should be monetised more rigorously, whilst others believe it should not exist at all. Not all the companies involved within eSports are viewed as bad as the betting sites. Big names such as Monster, Intel and even Samsung sponsor teams. Samsung have multiple pro game teams of their own in South Korea, one of which won the LCS world championship in 2014.

Flickr-wuestenigel Overall, this reflects the platform’s growing status as major companies, such as Samsung, who have previously sponsored UK football teams, have taken their money towards supporting eSports. With eSports’ rise in popularity, there has been a backlash from many discouragers arguing it is not a sport and should not be taken seriously. Yet the statistics and follower base shows that the only direction for eSports is up. Its critics have argued that it will have

a negative impact on the already widely discussed child obesity issues in the UK and America. But for every critic there is a supporter who adds the community aspect is helping the issues of childhood depression and anxiety. The debate continues as the popularity continues to grow. Will eSports reinvent the sporting world? Or will it fade and be shunned as merely ‘a phase’? Only time will tell for this young, but major, sport.

Has Lewis Hamilton lost his drive? stated that “somebody, or something, doesn’t want me to win this year.” A comment, disruptive in the world of F1, that perhaps suggests something’s not quite right with one of the sport’s most successful drivers as we reach the final races

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of the season. Before last weekend’s Mexican Prix, Hamilton needed to overcome a 26-point-gap between himself and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, a task you wouldn’t put past a man that many would argue is a better driver than the latter. But Hamilton’s almost childish approach to the media in recent weeks has led some to question the integrity of the 31-year-old’s ambition, despite claiming he will give “everything” to claim a third title is as many years. Though it appears a huge points gap, a Lewis Hamilton at the top of his game has already recovered a similar points gap this season; reducing 42 points to 11 between Monaco and Austria in just four races, a repeat of which would leave Rosberg only one-point-up. For Hamilton to do the unthinkable, and assuming both do not suffer any setbacks during the remaining four races, Rosberg can finish second to Hamilton at each Grand Prix and still claim the

title when the curtain falls on Abu Dhabi on November 27. So, what’s behind Hamilton’s fall from the top? He is a man who has undoubtedly suffered a fair share of bad luck this season, but is it naive to suggest that it’s only a matter of luck. The Brit caused a social media backlash during the Japanese Grand Prix, when he spent the duration of the pre-race press conference on his smartphone, behaving like a child on Snapchat, which many deemed disrespectful. He later used his social media presence to respond to suggestions of discontent. “It’s been the same for 10 years. It’s not the media or mediator, it’s the format. Fans should be asking the questions!” You can’t help but feel like Hamilton’s antics are taking the attention away from what has been an impressive season for teammate Nico Rosberg, who seems to be taking it one race at a time in search of his first F1 title.

Hamilton needs to switch back on and rediscover the ambition and personality - that has made him so successful and admirable in recent years. Certainly, with his current diversion of media discrepancies, a difficult season on the track could deteriorate further if he loses fans, media support and his title. The best thing Hamilton can do is to put all his focus on the final four races of the season, and hold his head high if Rosberg is victorious in Abu Dhabi.

Do you play sport at a high level? We would love to cover your achievements. Get in contact with our sports editor: badgersport@sussexstudent.com