The Badger 23/24: Issue 3

Students and Staff Protest

Moulsecoomb Weapons Factory Badger

Ophelia Scalzo Local Life Sub Editor

On 7 February, over 150 students and staff gathered outside the L3 Harris factory in Home Farm Business Park after a mass walkout organised by the Students’ Union and University of Sussex Friends of Palestine in conjunction with the University and College Union (UCU). Protesters wielded signs calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza, and demanding the factory - which is a manufacturer of weapons technology currently being used on Palestinian civilians - be shut down. Brighton’s liberal reputation seems at risk, as protesters raise awareness of the city’s hypocrisy. This is the latest in a series of large demonstrations against the company. As well as demonstrations outside of its Moulsecoomb branch, there have been protests against the company across the globe, including in Massachusetts, United States, and Ontario, Canada.

The company, L3 Harris Technologies, is the sixth largest arms company in the United States. It claims to “provide next generation capabilities for a next generation fighter,” and has come under heavy scrutiny, culminating in a number of local protests.

Central to this local outcry is a planning application submitted by L3 Harris to make permanent a temporary extension to

their Moulsecoomb factory built in 2018.

Despite the initial extension permission having only been granted for five years, the company has surpassed this five year permission and have now applied to make the change permanent. More than 600 local people have submitted objections to this application so far. Furthermore, this extension application was made the same year that the company announced its partnership with the Israel Aerospace Industries’ ELTA Systems Group on 20 March 2023. Their partnership involves the production of bomb rack units

SU Elections: Key Dates

The University’s Students’ Union has opened nominations for their 2024 Leadership Elections,

and explosive munition release systems at their factory in Moulsecoomb, which are then used to create the F-35 Lightning II fighter jets used by Israel in their occupation of Gaza.

covering the SU Executive Committee, Student Trustees, and Society Committee positions. The ongoing democratic process of the SU ensures students have a voice to encourage and shape the Sussex they want to see. Active participation in the elections gives students a chance to have a say in issues such as what events take place at uni, how much funding societies receive, and even the cost of rent and drinks on campus.

For those interested in becoming a nominee for a Students’ Union role, the current SU will be hosting a ‘Being an Officer Information Session’ on 26 February. Nominations close on 1 March, followed by the manifesto submission deadline on 8 March.

Candidates will be announced on 11 March, and all manifestos will be made public for students to consider. This is closely followed by the voting period, which opens at 9am on 13 March.

All students will have the opportunity to choose who they want to represent them. Votes can be cast on the SU website (https:// sussexstudent.com/elections) in a few simple clicks. Voting will close on 15 March so be sure to head to the website before then.

Abi Summers News Editor

Over 150 people gathered to protest outside the L3 Harris Technologies factory. Image: Nathan Hor.

Letter from the Chief Contents

News p1

• Students and Staff Protest Moulsecoomb Weapons Factory

• SU Elections: Key Dates

• Roots Gardening Society Campaign for Justice Against Uni

• Armed Police on Campus Worry Students

• Renovation of Hotel at Old Steine Underway

• Sussex Former Prison to House Asylum-Seekers

• Shortage of ADHD Medication Affects Sussex Students

• Controversial DSA Restructuring Leaves Students in the Lurch

• 2 in 5 Students Consider Dropping Out Due to Rent Costs

• Community Orchard Planted for Campus Biodiversity

• Faculty Structure to Switch from Ten Schools to Four

• Rumours About Military Conscription Concern Young People

Dear Readers,

Happy belated Valentine’s Day everyone! I hope you were able to get your hearts warmed up in time despite the bitter cold, and spend the day with someone special. I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about a different kind of love; the love that The Badger has been shown around campus and beyond! Our last edition flew off the press and into people’s hands, and we received lots of praise. Thank you to all our readers! Our next edition will be out on 18 March.

wider community, we won two awards from the Student Publication Association (SPA) for the South East Regional Awards! Our social media queen, Maisie Knights, won us the Best Digital award for all her hard work on Instagram as our Head of Social Media, and I won the award for Outstanding Commitment! Very happy with the result, and hoping we get some wins from our talented writers and editors at nationals (as the best student publication ever, our hopes are naturally sky high).

We also want to take the time to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month - this is an important time to highlight the achievements of some truly incredible people. Through our articles, we aim to shine a spotlight on local LGBTQ+ lives, and we will also be hosting a stall with The Channel on 29 February in Falmer House for Sussex Pride! Hope to see you there! <3

• Top 10: Active Attractions

• A Museum Date to the Towner Eastbourne Gallery

• How Safe is Sea Swimming in 2024?

• Saving the Planet and Your Pennies: Buying Second-Hand Local Life p8

Features

p10

• Ordinary to Extraordinary Lives of Brighton Queers

• Critical Crossroads: UK-India Trade Deal Faces Backlash for Favouring Big Pharma at the Expense of Global Healthcare Access

• ‘Hidden Figures’: The Iconic Women of Sussex’s Golden Age

• Heartbreak at University: How Do Relationships End For Young People?

Comment p14

• The Big Collab: International Scrutiny Intensifies with Genocide Case Against Israel

• The Cross-Cultural Experiences of an International Student

• The Influence of Cancel Culture on Accountability: Progressive or Problematic?

• Never Too Young to Protest: Why Student Activism Matters

• House-acquaintances: Is it Okay if They’re Not Your Mates?

• Is Tik Tok the New Tumblr?: Advocating for Mental Health While Encouraging Mental Illness

• Diversity and Inclusion Efforts at Sussex

Arts p18

BOOKS

• How to Get Out of a Reading Slump

• Genre Book Recommendations

• Review: An Olive Grove in Ends by Moses McKenzie

• Are Graphic Novels ‘Proper’ Books?

• Into the Osemanverse:

An Afternoon with Alice

• Exploring Brighton with Brighton’s Hidden Walks by Ric Morris

I have to mention the many complaints about the difficulty of the crossword. As its creator, I want to say that I have been made very aware that crosswords do not, in fact, usually have spaces in them (personally I think we should start the trend, but alas, the world isn’t ready for it just yet). This will not be repeated in upcoming puzzles - expect the best crossword of your life in the next edition, scouts honour.

Moving onto love from the

ADVERTISMENT

You’re also going to be head over heels for this edition - we’ve covered some very important issues in News, including protests, armed police, and campaigns against the University. Get serenaded by the Arts section with a detailed overview of all the now famous performers that have graced us at Falmer bar over the years - Amy Winehouse being amongst them?! After that, take a hop, skip and jump over to Sports for an exclusive interview with Imran Kayani, World Cup star!

On a more serious note, everyone at The Badger would like to send out some love internationally. We’ve seen a continuous flood of heartbreaking news surrounding the war in Gaza, and we want to reiterate again that The Badger stands with the people of Palestine in urging for a ceasefire. The hurt that has been inflicted is truly heartbreaking, and we sincerely wish for their suffering to be alleviated.

Happy Reading, Semhar (Semi) Tesfazgy Editor in Chief

DALI DE SAINT PAUL, MAXWELL STERLING, CHARLIE HOPE & REBECCA SALVADORI

PENUMBRA

THURSDAY 14 MARCH

An experimental performance of live improvised music with video & lighting score

FILM and TV

• Pink to Make the Boys Think: Barbie and Representation in Awards Shows

• No New Ideas in Hollywood

• Breaking Animation’s Gender Stereotypes: Exploring Miyazaki’s Male Characters

• When Did Journalism Become the ‘It’ Career for Rom Com Leading Ladies?

• Visibility for Disability is on a Steady Incline in Film & TV

• The Problematic Persistence of Age Gap Tropes in Media

MUSIC

• The History of Sussex Music: From Jimi Hendrix to... Nothing?

• Top 5 Record Stores in Brighton

• AI: The Future of Music?

THEATRE

• The Downfall of Andrew Lloyd Webber

• Review: Smart Casual Tour by Jeff Innocent

• ‘God I Hope I Get It!’: The Struggles of a Performer

• What’s On in Brighton...

• Forging Tradition: Conversations with a Togishi

• Beyond Blandscapes: Extreme Excursions

• 2024, Get Lost in the World of Aurora

• Hacksussex: Expanding on Tech Skills Sci & Tech p28

2 FOR 1 TICKET OFFER FOR SUSSEX STUDENTS ENTER ‘UOS241’

Sport p30

• From Whitehawk to the World Cup: The Story of Imran Kayani

• How Climbing Helped Me Reach My Goals

• Society Spotlight: Women’s Basketball

• The Formula 1 2024 Season is Nearly Here, But So is F1 Academy’s!

CROSSWORD ANSWERS (from The Badger published 26 Jan) Across 2) The Badger (There’s a gap here!)

5) Archaeology 9) ABBA 10) Twenty Five (There’s a gap.)

Seagull

Ohms

Colombo

Stingray

Roots Gardening Society Campaign for Justice Against University

The communal gardening society, Roots, has launched a campaign against the University administration after being forced to relocate to an unsuitable and inaccessible site to make way for the West Slope development project. The new location has caused numerous issues including potential health implications for students. The allegations and evidence against Sussex Estates and Facilities (SEF) and Better Campus raise questions about the commitment of the University to its Sustainability Strategy pledges.

Roots society runs a communal gardening allotment on campus open to anyone interested, which was previously located on the Park Village site. Upon the initiation of the West Slope development, Roots was told they must relocate, and that “the relocation would include equal or better facilities.” An area was provided behind Northfield, where the allotment is currently located. The Badger spoke to Alex Roberts, Roots Cooperative Treasurer and Project Lead, about the problems the relocation has caused. There are four main issues: first, the highly biodiverse old allotment has been bulldozed; second, the new site does not have access to drinking water, a fact which was obscured from Roots members until recently; third, the new site has poor accessibility; and finally, that the University is “exploiting the Roots Cooperative as a source of greenwashing”.

On the first issue, Roberts explained that Roots members had been assured by the West Slope development team that the project “would build around the old [Park Village] allotment area, and keep it as a conservation area” after Roots pointed out that it had the highest biodiversity on campus. Instead, the area has been bulldozed. The University claims that “the preservation of the previous

garden site for biodiversity was not covered in the scope for removal plans,” but it is clear that there has been at minimum a misunderstanding. Secondly, there has been a potential breach of safety regulations surrounding the supply of potable (drinking) water at the Northfield site. The new Roots allotment has a water tap that has been used continuously since the move not only to water plants but also for making food and warm drinks at the site’s fire pit. However, Roots members were recently made aware that the water is not safe for human consumption, a fact that was previously not indicated by signage or otherwise. There is now a printed sign put up by Roots members themselves.

SEF has stated that it “won’t supply drinking water because it was not the scope of the design”. A University spokesperson also told The Badger that “the initial project

did not include a request for drinking water. A request was later received by the University but once the project had closed.” However, Roberts says that the plans Roots members were shown simply indicated a “water supply,” and they were never told it wouldn’t be potable. In fact, he points out that the water tap is supplied through a blue HDPE pipe, which is normally used for drinking water, and asks why that would be the case if the project planning team had never intended to make it potable, as they claim. Roberts also asked why the project was closed without ongoing monitoring with Roots members, and why the original project documents are now being withheld.

SEF has told Roots that ensuring that the water is drinkable “would require a very intensive flushing and testing regime to keep the water safe for drinking, [for which the] cost would be very high.” However, a regulatory official from Southern Water, who visited the site after Roots contacted them directly, said this information was inaccurate. In fact, water flushing is an annual procedure that is required to ensure that water is free from legionella and other bacterial growth, and managing that process for the water tap would be no more difficult than for an indoor water supply. Roberts now believes that the University has “lied repeatedly to students about what is and is not possible.”

“ The University has lied repeatedly to students in Roots

Another problem that has not been solved is the accessibility of the allotment. The route leading to it, near Northfield Block 11, is a muddy gravel path that is steep and uneven - difficult for people with physical disabilities. The University stated in March 2023 that they would conduct an audit of the situation, but this only occurred ten months later, with no action taken. The Roots site has wheelchair-accessible beds and wide paths,

but people with mobility issues struggle to reach the site because of the path.

The Roots members have launched a campaign to raise awareness of these issues, along with a petition (see QR code). They demand a drinking water tap on site, a new accessibility audit, an accessible route to the plot, and for the Roots allotment to be added to the campus maps. In addition, they call for a commitment from the University to protect the Roots site as a conservation area.

Roberts says: “We call on the University to answer to their failure to provide any meaningful or ongoing engagement or support for this organisation.” The University has used the hard work of the society’s members, who volunteer to run workshops on sustainable food production, and “gleefully put them on their sustainability reports.” If these issues are not addressed, the reports risk becoming a greenwashing campaign.

In response to the allegations, a University of Sussex spokesperson told The Badger: “We have worked in full consultation with the Students’ Union and Roots to relocate the student garden to Northfield. The scope of the initial project was to replicate the original garden but we have also sought to improve the site for our students by installing [additional facilities].”

“We’ve provided a full costing of [the work include drinking water] to the Students’ Union for them to consider funding as a priority from their block grant, but, to date, have received no request to start work.”

It seems, yet again, that the University is shifting the blame. Roots members are now considering suing the University if their demands are not addressed, because as Roberts put it - “morale is low, our facilities are unfit for purpose, and the energy other societies put into growing and thriving, has been sunk into simple survival for Roots.”

Armed Police on Campus Worry Students

Ada Carpenter Senior Editor

The presence of armed police and sniffer dogs at Falmer campus on the afternoon of 7 February left many students unsettled and confused. An official statement from University of Sussex internal communications in the evening clarified that the police response was as a result of a report to university security, rather than as a result of the other events happening simultaneously. The report was allegedly about an individual on campus carrying a knife.

Following an investigation, a 22-yearold man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Sussex Police reported on 12 February that the incident investigation had concluded. There appeared to be no malicious intent, and a community

resolution has been implemented.

While the majority of the UK police force is unarmed, a response from Authorised Firearms Officers is warranted when there are reports of weapons or firearms. Police deployment is based on a decision-making model that takes into account intelligence and assessed threats.

While on campus, six police officers carrying guns mistakenly entered at least one student flat due to a misunderstanding of block and flat numbers. They were reportedly searching for an individual living in on-campus accommodation. Armed police officers remained on campus questioning students who lived in nearby accommodation until the early hours of the morning on 8 February.

A coincidentally-timed - but completely unrelated - student-staff pro-Palestine protest against weapons production, which marched from campus to the

nearby L3 Harris factory in Moulsecoomb, occurred at roughly the same time as the police arrival on campus. This led to widespread uncertainty over whether the police presence was a result of the protest. One student who attended said “we were confused as to why there were so many armed police” and told The Badger that “once [the protesters] left campus we were told that [the police] were keeping a watch on us” for safety reasons.

The police presence was also not related to the Holocaust Memorial Day event that took place at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA) the same afternoon.

The University and College Union (UCU) Sussex Executive shared a statement with members on 8 February addressing the incident. They highlighted received reports that the armed police had been “racially profiling and intimidating

staff and students entering campus,” and gave assurance that they are “proactively engaging with the University to establish the facts.”

If you need to alert the security team to any incidents on campus, the 24-hour Security helpline is 01273 873333.

Armed police and police dogs were deployed on campus on 7 February.

Laura Mellena and Ada Carpenter Staff Writer and Senior Editor

The water tap at the Roots allotment now has a make-shift sign warning students not to drink. Image: Laura Mellena.

... Protest continued from page 1

With the Palestinian death toll now recorded at over 27,000 people and more than a quarter of the population of Gaza starving, the violence in Palestine seems far from over. As the violence continues so do protests against it, including on campus at the University of Sussex. Although the university has stated that it “does not take an institutional position on complex global events,” the Students’ Union has unanimously passed a motion declaring their solidarity with Palestinian liberation.

As well as continuing weekly protests on campus campaigning for a ceasefire across the region, students at Sussex have now focused their attention at the local arms factory.

This is not the first time that L3 Harris Technologies has been linked to humanitarian atrocities. A United Nations enquiry previously found fragments of a “high explosive” bomb engraved with the company’s previous name, EDO MBM Technology Ltd, at the site of an air raid against civilians in Yemen. This incident, which involved the destruction of a water

pump factory, was described as having “violated international humanitarian law”. Furthermore, the Commercial and Government Entity number found on the fragment can be linked not just to L3 Harris Technologies as an international company but to the very factory in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.

Brighton and Hove is one of many cities connected by the City of Sanctuary UK network. As a part of this initiative, the council emphasises its commitment to “building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.”

Despite these grand claims, the actions of Brighton & Hove City Council, who not only initially permitted this initial extension but have also allowed L3 Harris to violate the terms of that permission, hardly reflect the City of Sanctuary sentiment. Local students and residents alike have called for the council to reject the current planning application, with some going as far as to demand the Moulsecoomb factory be shut down altogether.

Renovation of Hotel at Old Steine Underway

Engineering work is finally taking place at the Royal Albion Hotel at the Old Steine, some six months after a fire erupted at the 200-year-old building in July 2023, leaving only the east section of the hotel remaining. The fire service reported that the fire was accidental, potentially caused by a discarded cigarette. The Royal Albion was one of the few hotels in Brighton that still allowed smoking in rooms.

The Regency Society of Brighton and Hove described the building as of “unusual significance” given its prominent location looking over the pier. The chair of the society said that there were 3D scans and photographs taken to aid accurate restoration. They hoped for limited demolition only where necessary for safety and access reasons.

Demolition of the west part of the hotel took place between August and December 2023. Brighton & Hove City Council undertook the demolition and clearance works to make the building safe, costing over £1.5 million. Under the 1984 Building Act, the costs incurred were charged to the hotel owners - Britannia Hotels - but as of 30 January, they have yet to pay back a penny. Requests for comment to Britannia Hotels from The Argus received no response.

During these demolition works, the

seafront road was closed in both directions for six weeks, a major disruption. The roads are now back open, but there is more work to be done, with Britannia Hotels suggesting more remedial work is needed before refurbishment.

There are plans for the Royal Albion to be rebuilt with a traditional aspect so that the heritage of the building is maintained. Part of the hotel is Grade II* listed by English Heritage.

There is great uncertainty of the future of the Royal Albion Hotel, with many locals concerned that if or when renovation takes place, further disruption will be caused in the Old Steine area.

Sussex Former Prison to House Asylum-Seekers

Despite fierce local opposition, unanswered fundamental questions and seemingly misleading and politicised Home Office press releases, the Government is planning to convert a former Sussex prison into an asylum detention centre.

The proposed site in Bexhill, East Sussex, was formerly HMP Northeye. It operated as a prison until 1992 when it closed over fear of asbestos contamination caused by a fire started by rioting inmates.

In March 2023, the government announced its desire to develop four new asylum centres in the UK - Northeye being one of them. The former Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick, stated in Parliament that the development of these sites was part of the government’s plan to “stop the boats” and “cut the cost to the taxpayer” by reducing the use of hotels as asylum accommodation.

Aside from these commonly repeated phrases, no other wider information was provided regarding the appropriateness of housing asylum seekers in a former prison that is possibly contaminated, or about the purpose of the site, its redevelopment cost, and the potential impact on the local

community.

In September 2023, it was revealed via a freedom of information request that the Home Office had bought the site for £15.3 million. Thirteen months earlier, the government had sold the same land for £6.3 million.

On 13 December 2023, 9 months after the initial announcement, the Government published the only, to date, publicly available information regarding its intentions for Northeye.

The published information does not provide an answer specifically to why Bexhill was chosen, saying only that “the site is suitable” and “we are committed to securing the welfare of asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute.”

No answer has been given as to who will be accommodated there or the intended length of stay. The intended capacity is 1200 people, but no decision has been made on whether people will be free to come and go. As for the cost to the taxpayer, no figure has been given.

The only section of the released document of any length is relating to the reason sites like Bexhill are needed, at least in the eyes of the Home Office.

Broadly, it says that Bexhill, and sites like it, are needed to reduce the use and cost of hotels for accommodation while asylum claims are processed. The increase in “illegal” channel crossings has placed significant strain on the asylum system and caused asylum claim processing times

to skyrocket. It goes on to argue using sites like Bexhill will act as a deterrent to further crossings.

While it is factual that a significant number of asylum seekers are being housed in hotels due to a backlog of asylum claims, this backlog was largely not created by new asylum applications, but rather by a sustained decline in the amount of asylum claims processed by the Home Office annually.

Using the Home Office’s own data we can see that between 2016 and 2022 the number of asylum applications increased by 143%, by comparison the backlog increased by 515% over the same period.

The lack of government transparency in its plans for Bexhill is very possibly a deliberate strategy to avoid public scrutiny, potential legal challenges, and accountability. It looks increasingly likely that the Government will circumvent planning laws by applying a Class Q emergency order for the Bexhill site. This would allow the government to bypass the local council, skip the public consultation phase, and leave oversight for the project entirely with the Home Office. A final decision on Bexhill has not been made yet, but this could change very quickly and potentially very quietly.

Jamie Edwards Staff Writer

Sophie Martin Staff Writer

Image: Alvin Kwan.

The former prison site is next to a housing estate. Image: Sussex News and Pictures.

Image: Will Gaffney.

Editor: Abi

Shortage of ADHD Meds Affects Sussex

Lucy Spencer Staff Writer

Since September 2023, there has been a worldwide shortage of a range of drugs used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Worryingly, the deficit includes forms of methylphenidate hydrochloride, including Ritalin, which are amongst the most commonly prescribed ADHD medication in the UK. Whilst the NHS raised a national patient safety alert regarding this issue last autumn, it was initially believed that the shortage of medication would only last until December. However, on 28 November, Takeda, the principal manufacturer of ADHD medication, informed charity ADHD UK that supply impediments are likely to continue until April. With over 10,000 Sussex residents having been prescribed medication to treat ADHD over the course of the last year, The Argus has made it clear that the effects of the shortage are still very much present across the county.

Sussex Health and Care recently issued a statement acknowledging the “trying and stressful time” for those dealing with the lack of treatment options. Amongst those involved are newly diagnosed patients, who, according to one NHS alert, should not begin taking any affected medication until the supply issues are resolved. In other words, thousands of patients could be navigating the difficult symptoms of ADHD without treatment. The chief executive of ADHD UK, Henry Shelford, has also been personally affected by this shortage. “The government continues to

utterly fail those with ADHD,” he stated. “The diagnosis is not taken seriously.” The Department of Health and Social Care responded, acknowledging the “distress” that medication shortages can bring, and attempting to reassure patients by claiming to be “working intensively with manufacturers.’’

“ The government continues to utterly fail those with ADHD.

Unfortunately, the medicinal shortages in the UK are not limited to drugs used to treat ADHD. According to the British Generic Manufacturers Association, 96 products are currently limited in their availability. A 2023 survey from Community Pharmacy England found that, as a result

of these shortages, 87% of employees believed patient health was at risk.

While it is true that the poor value of the pound since Brexit has made it more difficult for the NHS to purchase some medications, the shortage is not solely the fault of the referendum. In December 2023, an EU medicines shortage working party attributed supply issues to the ongoing attacks on the Red Sea; the impact of the war in Ukraine; and the suspension of some medicines tested by a certain Indian laboratory, as recommended by a European Medicines Agency. Additionally, the 2019 scheme introduced by the UK government sought to ensure that spending on branded medication grew less than 2% in a year, which could further explain the supply obstacles.

There may also be issues regarding a lack of communication, with an increase in diagnoses making it difficult for manufacturers to meet demands. The ADHD Foundation, a charity focusing on neurodiversity, said that the condition’s history of misdiagnosis, particularly with regards to women, could have led to the hike in issuing prescriptions. The CEO of the charity, Tony Lloyd, advocates the use of a “range of strategies and lifestyle choices” in order to combat the symptoms, believing that “medication should not be used in isolation.” However, this statement fails to take into consideration the difficulties of receiving therapy on the NHS compared to obtaining a prescription. Currently, even the latter is proving difficult.

The Badger spoke to one student who was recently forced to switch from Methylphenidate to Atomoxetine. “I had to cope with the side effects that come from taking a new medication during exam season,” the second-year student stated. “I was writing essays whilst experiencing heart palpitations and dry mouth.”

A second student, studying for an MA at the University of Sussex, has also found the shortage difficult to cope with. “Even during COVID, I managed to submit my assignments on time. Last month, following the shortage in medication, I had to request an extension as I found it really hard to manage my time.”

In light of the adversities faced by the shortage, hopefully the University of Sussex will express empathy to those struggling to acquire medication.

Controversial DSA Restructuring Leaves Students in the Lurch

Structural changes to the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) sector that come into effect this spring are having significant negative impacts on students, and have left only two major companies dominating service provision.

The present Conservative Government is notorious for its (mis)handling of current affairs, notably those to do with students. The alterations to student loan conditions in 2022, which increased the timeframe for student loan write-offs from 30 to 40 years and reduced the repayment threshold from £27,295 to £25,000, seems to be trapping students further into a web of debt. The Government’s ongoing trend of turning their back on ordinary students in favour of monetary gain has manifested most recently in the restructuring of the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

For years, numerous companies have provided DSA services through contracts with the Student Loan Company (SLC), using their specialisms to cater to students’ diverse needs. This ranges

from providing specialised mentoring for learning disabilities, to the provision of equipment facilitating their studies, such as printers or digital learning software. However, an extensive restructuring process has been proposed to line up with governmental efficiency and profitability ideals, sidelining the consequences for students and small business.

The restructuring initiative took root in 2022 when the SLC introduced a proposal to revamp the DSA sector. The plan involved inviting bids from different companies to supply services to certain areas of the UK, with the SLC awarding contracts to the companies that proved they were the most “efficient” providers. Despite assurances that both small and large companies could participate on equal ground, concerns were expressed about advantages for larger corporations who had potentially gained foreknowledge of the transition, as well as the disruptive impact on students reliant on existing DSA support. These concerns were downplayed and left without significant recognition from the SLC.

In 2024, perhaps predictably, only

two major companies - Capita and Study Tech - have secured contracts for the entirety of the UK. This means that all DSA services will be provided by these two companies, leaving the various smaller companies who previously contributed to service provision with a sudden huge loss of business. This market monopolisation allows the two corporate giants to dominate the entire sector. Meanwhile, the downsizing that many smaller companies have been forced into has already translated into significant layoffs, likely to worsen in the future, only exacerbating the monopoly.

The pending impacts of the loss of specialised support are worryingly uncertain “

The SLC justifies these decisions in the name of ‘efficiency’, however, recent decisions concerning students have often prioritised the goal of monetary gain over anything else. Business giant Capita was accused in 2015 of using governmental contracts to push smaller companies out of business, in turn increasing their

own profits, and this latest contract for DSA provision once again brings these concerns to light.

The scheduled transition to the new service model is being carried out across Q1 of 2024. The impacts on students are already beginning, with University of Sussex DSA recipients being warned that their study skills advisors won’t be there for aid for more than a month due to the restructuring and resultant layoffs. Numerous students around the country face the same disruption, losing advisors they have grown secure with to abruptly start from scratch with someone new. Many students rely on various types of DSA support to get through university, and the pending unseen impacts of the loss of specialised support are worryingly uncertain.

The enduring consequences of the Conservative government’s financially focused legacy will likely echo for years, and this episode is just one facet of a broader pattern. With the general election fast approaching, it is more important than ever to question exactly who benefits from the decisions of those in power.

Amina Daniel Staff Writer

Image: Will Gaffney.

Who are we voting for?

The March elections are held to vote for the Executive Team and Student Trustees of the Students’ Union for the next academic year. The Executive Team consists of six full time officers and seven part time officers who will be in charge of running the SU on a day-to-day basis. These roles include influential positions such as the Wellbeing Officer, Diversity, Access and Participation Officer and the Sports, Societies and Events Officer.

The Student Trustees, on the other hand, are not involved in frequent affairs, however, they play an important role in overseeing the finances and performance of the SU, holding them accountable for meeting their aims. This position also allows three students to work alongside the full-time officers and the Board, allowing students’ voices to have a pivotal impact.

During this period, societies will also be voting for their 2024/25 committee. All registered members of a society are eligible to vote for their new committee, which comprises at a minimum the President, Welfare Officer, and Treasurer.

The SU is a separate organisation from the University of Sussex that aims to improve the University for students. Therefore, voting for a candidate whose values align is a direct way for individual students to influence the University the following year. Have your say on the Students’ Union website 13-15 March 2024.

2 in 5 Students Consider Dropping Out Due to Rent Costs

Abi Summers News Editor

The annual National Student Accommodation Survey, published on 8 February, has highlighted the serious struggles facing students across the UK in finding and affording suitable housing. The survey of over 1,000 students revealed that two in five have considered dropping out of university due to the soaring cost of rent, with 64% admitting that they struggle to pay. Additionally, over a third of students surveyed reported experiencing issues with dampness in their accommodation.

Further findings of the survey report concerning details of rent prices which average £550 a month per student across the UK, rising to £778 for the average student in London. 50% of respondents also feel concerned about the housing shortage, which the survey finds is forcing students

to start looking for accommodation earlier every year. Additionally, young people face fears that they may not be able to escape these ever climbing rent prices, with 14% having anxieties that they will never be able to buy their own house.

actually afford to cover everyday expenses like rent.” The Save the Student petition currently has over 12,000 signatures and can be supported online.

Save the Student’s Communications Director, Tom Allingham, stated in a petition to the government to increase maintenance loans that the findings are “highlighting how the intensified difficulties students have faced in recent years have not eased, but instead become entrenched.” Allingham goes on to insist that the government increase Maintenance Loans by more than the planned 2.5% in the next academic year in order to “close the inflationary gap and ensure students can

In another response to the survey, the Chair of the National Association of Student Money Advisers, Kellie McAlonan, argues that the data allows “colleges and universities from across the country to better understand the challenges students are facing.” She further supports the argument that the Maintenance Loan needs to be rethought.

These concerns affect students daily and have a discouraging impact - one first-year student in Brighton commented “all this debt doesn’t seem worth it sometimes.” According to the survey findings and responses, it seems that the government will be facing pressure to match Maintenance Loans to the inflating prices in the 2024/25 academic year.

Community Orchard Planted for Campus Biodiversity

James Bishop Staff Writer

On the wet afternoon of 7 February, the University’s Sustainability Team held a community Orchard Planting Day. Students and staff were invited to take part in the creation of a new orchard on campus. Attendees from the Sussex community were encouraged to plant a Sussex heritage apple tree in a grassy area nestled between the library and Stammer Park, overlooking campus.

I had the task of planting a maiden Egremont Russet apple tree, a distinct variety bred in Sussex. From the trees to the mulch, which had been sourced from waste wood chippings and bark, this project was entirely local.

The team passionately spoke about the significance of planting these particular trees. The choice of this species alongside the number of other Sussex heritage varieties was due to their endangered status. As a result of the increased demand from supermarkets for particular types of the fruit, many of Britain’s over two thousand five hundred apple varieties have been left by the wayside. This causes damage to biodiversity and reduces resilience to diseases in our food system, a worrying fact that the Sustainability Team’s vision is committed to counteract through its projects.

This particular sustainability project was just one of several voted for by members of the Sussex community. The vote took place in an April 2022 open workshop that kicked off the University of Sussex’s Big Biodiversity Conservation campaign. This campaign, aided by the

involvement and consultation of students, staff, researchers, and local stakeholders works to support the University’s wider commitment to increase the percentage of “land set aside for nature on campus” from 38% in 2022 to 42% by December 2027.

Pollinator project, introducing Bee Hotels on campus, the Love Your Scrub project, setting aside land for scrub regeneration, and the Psychology School Garden.

The team thus launched the ambitious task of becoming “the most biodiverse campus in the UK,” as part of Sussex’s wider pledge to become a nature friendly campus. The other projects chosen in the Big Biodiversity Conversation can be seen dotted around campus. These include the

After the orchard planting event concluded and all of the trees were successfully rooted in the ground, one was able to consider the legacy of this project. Not only will these trees stand behind the library for the rest of our time at Sussex, but they will be an ever-present feature of the University’s landscape for up to 100 years from now. In the same vein as the others before it, this sustainability project has become the latest landmark in the Sustainability Team’s push for their ambitious goals, taking the next step towards a greener future for Sussex.

Image: Abbie Brown.

Editor: Abi

Faculty Structure to Switch from Ten Schools to Four

Dani Henao-Ramirez Staff Writer

Plans for the University to establish a new faculty system will be introduced in the 2024 - 25 academic year. The proposal put forward by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, replaces the current structure of ten schools with four larger faculties: the School of Media, Arts and Humanities; the School of Science, Engineering and Medicine; the School of Social Sciences; and the University of Sussex Business School.

This system of four faculties will rearrange the organisational and administrative structure of most of the existing schools. Whilst the new structure largely leaves the departments in media, arts, humanities, and business unchanged, Deputy ViceChancellor and Provost Michael Luck stated in November 2023 that the most affected faculties will be in science, engineering and medicine, and social sciences, as currently

disparate departments will be operating under one larger faculty.

Heads of Schools will report to the newly created role of Executive Dean for each of the new faculties. The Executive Deans will join the University Executive Team (UET) and will have many responsibilities in relation to the new academic systems.

In the job posting for one of the new roles, the drivers of this change were stated as: “to ensure that all disciplines are represented in the senior leadership team, to provide greater resilience, agility, and capacity for strategic planning through larger academic units, and to better support interdisciplinary research and teaching across the University.” The closing date for applications was 26 January, so we can expect to see some new appointments this spring.

Rumours About Military Conscription Concern Young People

Deborah Oredeko News Sub Editor

Recent comments from top military officials have sparked rumours about what could happen if NATO goes to war against Russia. Questions about the restart of a military conscription in the UK have concerned young people across the political spectrum. General Sir Patrick Sanders, Britain’s most senior army officer, raised concerns in January about the adequacy of the British military’s size to effectively respond to potential future conflicts.

Former Chief General Lord Dannatt told The Times that numbers had reduced from 102,000 in 2006 to 74,000 today and were still falling fast. The Government is facing the challenge of balancing its defence needs with the realities of resource allocation and public support for military interventions. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has declared that we are moving from a “post-war to a pre-war world.”

Sanders alleged that Moscow plans on “defeating our systems and way of life” and that therefore, British citizens should be “trained and equipped” to fight in a potential war with Russia. This fuelled talk of conscription, a system which legally requires certain groups to join the armed forces.

In January 1916, amidst the First World War, a law called the Military Service Act

mandated compulsory military service for all unmarried men aged 18 to 41. The Badger asked students on campus for their thoughts on the potential for war and conscription. One student expressed that “it’s hypocritical to go to war from an offense perspective, but I can understand if we are responding to Russian aggressions.” On conscription, they continued “the military is small so I understand the need for civilian recruitment”, however [I think] it should be completely voluntary.”

Nearly two in five respondents under 40 indicated they would decline to serve in a new global war

A recent YouGov poll revealed a significant portion of young people would be hesitant to join the military in the face of potential conflict. Nearly two in five (38%) respondents under 40 indicated they would decline to serve in a new global war. This reluctance extends to more dire scenarios, with 30% stating they wouldn’t participate even if their nation was under imminent attack. Though direct UK participation in a war seems to remain unlikely however, General Sanders warns that it would require a “whole of nation undertaking”.

Local Life

TOP 10: Active Attractions in Brighton

Rosa Hernandez Staff Writer

Seven Sisters Cliffs

Exceat, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4AD

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The Seven Sisters are undoubtedly one of the most famous tourist attractions around Brighton, and they are not to be missed. Consisting of 280 hectares of chalk cliffs in the South Downs National Park, the Seven Sisters Cliffs offer stunning trails along the coast. Just 45 minutes away from the centre of Brighton on a 12, 12x or 13x Coaster Bus with a return fare of £4-6, the cliffs are perfect for those who love outdoor adventures.

Brighton and Hove Ramblers

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/

The Ramblers are a walking charity with over 500 groups across the UK. For just £3.42 a month you can get unlimited access to group walks, trail routes, product offers, and a welcome pack. Their next walk is a 4.5 mile route around Saltdean on March 4 at 10:30am. Assistance dogs are allowed!

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Axe Throwing

2 Dyke Road Brighton, BN1 3FD

If you’re looking for a thrilling and defying way to get moving, try Hatchet Harry’s Axe Throwing 60 minute sessions at £23.50 per person. They are fully coached and offer a range of interactive games and opportunities to win prizes.

Rock Climbing

Victoria Road Trading Estate, Portslade, Brighton BN41 1XQ

Sussex Cuban Salsa Society

The Common Room - Falmer House, University of Sussex,

Who said exercise has to be boring? Head over to the Sussex Cuban Salsa Society and take part in lively dancing lessons on Mondays and Thursdays from 8-10pm for just £3.

Beryl BTN Bikes

These sustainable, easy to rent e-bikes can be found all across Brighton. Not only are they a great way to exercise, but also a cheap way to travel around town. You can hire one through the Beryl app with prices ranging from 4p to 12p per minute, as well as multiple day passes.

Abigail Keyla Ryanto Staff Writer

Fancy a trip out of Brighton? How does a museum date sound? Just a picturesque 30-minute train ride from Falmer station, and a 10 minute walk along “the sunshine coast,” is the Towner Eastbourne Gallery. The big bright rainbow building is nestled amongst the quaint and cosy looking homes.

The inside of the gallery is as colourful as the outside, with a myriad of different displays and activities for everyone, from public art and curator talks, to a balcony café, and even a cinema! All you need to do is take your pick.

Currently, the main attraction of the gallery is the Turner Prize 2023 exhibition, dubbed the “world’s leading prize in contemporary art”, which is awarded to one British visual artist each year. You will be able to find the work of all four shortlisted contestants for the 2023 Prize on show throughout the gallery until 14 April, including artwork by this year’s winner,

Boulder Brighton Climbing Centre is the ideal place to go rock climbing in town. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber, their 2 hour sessions starting from £12 are a great way to be active and challenge yourself.

Sea Front Yoga Class

Brighton Beach Kings Road Arches, Brighton, BN1 2FN

Join BrightonYoga’s £8 outdoor classes, where you and fellow yogis can take part in an uplifting and spiritual activity, while enjoying the refreshing sea view. Don’t forget your mat!

Yellowave Beach Sports

299 Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1EN

Yellowave is a lively outdoor sports venue open year-round. Play volleyball, participate in group classes, and join in on their exciting themed tournaments.

Jesse Darling. Plus, admission is free!

As someone who is not well-versed in the arts, I didn’t really know what to expect when I first visited. But speaking from experience, even if you are not a big fan of contemporary art, you’ll be sure to find something that catches your eye.

You’ll be sure to find something that catches your eye.

When people think of art, traditionally paintings or statues might come to mind. But with contemporary art, the artists stretch, play with, and expand the very definition of what ‘art’ is. For the four contestants of the Turner Prize 2023, this ranges from household items and toys, to documentary films, construction materials, and wall murals! They may seem strange at first, but it is fascinating to try and put yourself in the artist’s mind. What are they trying to convey? And what deep messages lie behind them?

If we’re picking favourites, mine would have to be Barbara Walker’s exhibit titled

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Saltdean

Undercliff Walk

Undercliff Walk, Rottingdean, Brighton

This free, accessible, easy to walk, run or cycle pathway runs at the foot of the Saltdean White Cliffs for 5km between the Brighton Marina and Saltdean. For a fun twist on the walk, you can head up to the grass trail on top of the cliffs and get a superior view of Brighton and the sea.

Active US Sessions

Sports Centre, University of Sussex, Falmer

Active US has got your back! Offering a wide range of weekly sport sessions for Sussex students for just £2, you’ll always have plenty of options to choose from.

A Museum Date to the Towner Eastbourne Gallery

“The Burden of Proof”. Here, she explores the 2018 Windrush Scandal and how the government not properly documenting the Windrush Generation has affected their settlement rights, and livelihoods. She does this through portraits of the Windrush Generation superimposed over documents that evidence their right to remain in the UK. A massive charcoal mural is on the back wall of the exhibit, with the faces of five of the individuals. In a symbolic move, the mural will be washed away once the exhibit has ended to signify the Windrush Generation’s erasure by the UK government. I thought that it was sad that this beautiful artwork was not meant to last, but it is a powerful statement on the struggles for legitimacy as a diaspora.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised with this trip. Eastbourne felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the hustle and bustle of the city, and the contemporary art exhibits in the Towner Gallery are like nothing I have ever seen before. So if you have a day to spare, why not come and see for yourself?

Image: Brighton & Hove City Council.

Falmer

Image: Abigail Keyla Ryanto.

Image: Miry Giramondo.

Image: BrightonYoga.

Image: Boulder Brighton.

Image: VisitBrighton.

How Safe is Sea Swimming in 2024?

Lyla Amin Staff Writer

In the ongoing search for activities that benefit mental and physical health, people have taken to the ocean. Sea swimming, also known as ‘wild’ or ‘open water’ swimming, sees people plunge into the cold UK open waters despite the season’s bracing weather. People that brave the water are said to experience various health benefits, including improved mental health and blood circulation. Along with this comes the opportunity to join a community with a shared passion. The COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase of people flocking to join the fun, as the added advantages of the sport being cheap and easily accessible provided a glimpse of freedom throughout the various lockdowns. Easily

accessible from London, Brighton and Hove see floods of tourists trek down throughout the summer months to enjoy a dip in the water. The cold months are no different, with many Brighton residents taking an annual dunk on Christmas Day. People make use of the ocean on their doorstep every month of the year; however, the wellness benefits are swiftly being overtaken by the growing risks that come with jumping into the water.

The release of untreated sewage all along the UK coastline threatens the possibility of sea swimming and destroys any benefits found from local waters. In 2023, Surfers Against Sewage reported that untreated sewage was dumped into the UK ocean upwards of 399,864 times, which is more than a thousand times a day. The year before, the local Liberal Democrat politicians accused Southern

Water of polluting the water near Brighton beach with raw sewage at least 45 times, lasting over 107 hours. The germs in the unsanitary wastewater can cause symptoms ranging from a common cold, eye infections, vomiting and diarrhoea; while in more serious cases, this form of pollution can foster infections such as E-coli and Hepatitis. The risk of illness only compounds swimmers’ concern and disgust at swimming in contaminated water.

The UK’s sewage system sees rainwater and wastewater travel in the same pipes to sewage treatment facilities. Heavy rainfall, which is increasing with climate change, easily overwhelms this system. This is counteracted by the adoption of combined sewer overflows, which legally allow water companies to dump raw sewage into local waters in “exceptional circumstances” to prevent it from backing up in the pipes and damaging homes and infrastructure. The problem lies in the clumsy actions of water companies that continue to accidentally offload massive, undisclosed quantities of sewage into the oceans through leaks, intentional or otherwise. Brighton’s main enemy in the fight for safe oceans, Southern Water, has vowed to improve. This follows a staggering £90 million fine the company received in 2021 for discharging sewage on 6,971 unapproved occasions. However, 2024 is not off to a good start, as swimmers near Shoreham harbour were once again urged to stay out of the waters following a leak on 12 January.

These difficulties imposed on wild swimming shouldn’t mean people have to give up something that brings them joy. Those who still want to swim should follow these tips:

Kinder to the environment and our wallets, buying second-hand is a brilliant way to keep your wardrobe fresh and unique, for a cheaper price. Analysts believe that by the end of this decade, second-hand fashion will overtake fast fashion, which will have great benefits. ThredUp finds that if every consumer bought just one second-hand garment this year instead of a new one, CO2 emissions would fall by more than two billion lbs, equal to taking 76 million cars off the road for a day. And it comes as no surprise that Brighton, a city known for vegans and ecofriendly citizens, is a beacon for second hand shops and boutiques.

A recent addition is none other than OUtfit on London Road, run by the homeless charity Emmaus. Across the UK, there are 30 Emmaus communities that support more than 850 people who have experienced homelessness. On 24 January, the grand opening of OUtfit was an exclusive student only event, and I was excited to attend. The store is well laid out, with enough space for a wide variety of items such as jewellery,

books and clothing. The staff were polite and courteous, clearly passionate about their roles and helping raise money and awareness for homelessness. I found it cheaper than most charity shops in the area and was pleasantly surprised by the curated high quality pieces. OUtfit is the perfect addition to London Road’s many charity shops, with the proceeds in sales going to a good cause.

OUtfit is just one of many places in Brighton to buy second hand, so here are some suggestions if you’re interested in branching out or finding a new spot:

Alongside OUtfit, Emmaus has a huge charity shop megastore in Portslade. Only a short train journey from Brighton, this is a location not to be missed. There is so much stock that the items for sale span over multiple buildings – even into a church. You can browse a wide variety (perhaps the biggest in Brighton!) of secondhand items, furniture and clothing for relatively fair prices.

Hidden deep in The Laines, Snoopers Paradise’s first floor is a collection of cabinets full of unique and eclectic pieces. A personal favourite is looking at the crates of vintage photographs, each selling for only a few pence. You never know what you’re going to find in this place, and even if you don’t pick up anything, it’s worth a visit to look around and discover something new.

Beyond Retro

Though on the pricier side, you get what you pay for here. No item from Beyond Retro has ever disappointed, with high standards maintained across the curation and quality of their items. The store is full of a wide range of unique vintage pieces, from shoes to graphic t-shirts to trench coats. If you’re looking for colour, individuality and absurdity, make sure to check Beyond Retro out.

Don’t swim following heavy rainfall

The period following heavy rainfall is when sewage is likely to be found close to the coast.

Track sewage spills in your area

You can do this by downloading the Safer Seas & River Service app or by accessing the Beachbuoy page on Southern Waters website, both of which provide up-to-date reports of potential spillages in the ocean and local rivers.

Support Surfers Against Sewage

This activist group is fighting to reduce plastic and wastewater pollutants and bring back cleaner oceans. Find them online to donate or join their campaign.

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Swim in local pools when the sea is polluted

Even though this might not have identical benefits to wild swimming, Brighton and Hove are full of local swimming pools. Plus, if you’re a Sussex student you can swim in selected local pools for £1.50!

Saving the Planet and Your Pennies: Buying Second-Hand

Depop, Vinted and eBay

If you’re a victim of a busy schedule and don’t have much time to pick through charity shop racks, it’s never too late to search online. Apps such as Depop and Vinted have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. With handy filters to adjust pricing, branding, and sizing, there are some real bargains to find online.

Charity Shops on London Road

A timeless classic – everyone’s seen them whilst in town; Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research and Martlets to name a few. Along its length, London Road offers just under a dozen charity shops to choose from, including the newly opened OUtfit! These shops provide some of the most affordable second-hand options for students, as well as endless fun. Charity shop crawl, anyone?

Maisie Knights Books Editor and Head of Social Media

Snoopers Paradise

Swimmers brave the cold water at Brighton beach in February. Image: Will Gaffney.

Emmaus Village in Portslade

Features

Ordinary to Extraordinary Lives of Brighton Queers

Ray Das Staff Writer

It’s nice to be back in Brighton, it’s like being welcomed back with a nice warm blanket.” Like many others, Elspeth Mallowan had gathered at the Ledward Centre, in support of local queer historian and storyteller Jane Traies and her upcoming project. Traies’s upcoming book chronicles Jenny Roberts, a translesbian author and bookseller’s journey to organising and running the York Lesbian Arts festival (YLAF) from 1998 to 2008. What started as one of the two women’s bookshops in the city of York, known as Libertas, grew into one of the largest gatherings of queer women in the UK. For 10 years, the city of York would see thousands of queer women each autumn, celebrating the works and lives of queer women from across the country and ending their nights with a ‘Disco of a thousand lesbians’.

After an extensive career as a teacher and head teacher in state schools, Jane did her PhD at Sussex in 2014, and is a research associate at the University’s Centre for Cultural Studies with her current research interests lying in the field of sexuality and ageing.

Janet Jones, one of Jane’s long-time friends, was drawn to “Brighton’s positive LGBTQ+ vibe and thriving arts, culture and music scene.” An early attendee of YLAF and a frequenter at the Lesbian Lives conferences (between Brighton and Dublin), Janet says that while the city has not essentially shaped her identity as a queer woman, it certainly has been comforting to exist in an environment which provides its people with an opportunity to connect with queer culture and community in so many ways.

Both Jane and Janet are participants of ‘Between the LGBTQ generations,’ started by a research fellow at Sussex’s School of Media, Arts and Humanities, Eleanor Whitcroft. According to Eleanor, this project comes from a place of noticing gaps in the community and the acute prevalence of loneliness in both older and younger members of the LGBTQ+ community. The UKRI funded project aims to go beyond representation and facilitate communication between LGBTQ+ people from different generations through a series of one-to-one befriending meetings and wellbeing workshops.

Grace, who is a younger member of the project and a student at the University says, “Despite being part of a project where we are all united because of the fact that we are part of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s the one place where it doesn’t matter…we all have different identities, but we are all part of this community, so we don’t care or have preconceived notions about it”. Finding a space where being queer is normalised, creates an environment where people can

express distinct aspects of their identities without the fear of being stereotyped. This is an important aspect of the relationships fostered by the project.

As a student, and especially as a young adult, it can feel like the world is going to end with a bad grade and it can be hard to see how things will pan out in a long-term scenario. But seeing and talking to older queer people gives young people hope and reassurance about what the future has in store.

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Seeing and talking to older queer people gives young people hope and reassurance about what the future has in store.

Grace says that living in Brighton as a queer person has allowed her to recognise the futility of gender and the power that lies in expressing yourself in the way you want rather than doing what is expected from a person. There is a sense of camaraderie in the way people express themselves and the existence of a larger student population over the course of several years has facilitated Brighton’s recognition as the “Gay Capital of the country.”

Growing up in Hastings, one of the older community members, Bob, frequented Brighton throughout his childhood. He was always aware of the existence of Brighton’s queer scene. “I always knew it was here, but I did not know what was. I remember coming here as a teenager… for shopping or something. Getting a bus back along western road… and these two men were discussing makeup and how much they wore it. I mean this was the 1960s… so

it was like… I had never seen a man wear makeup before or even thought about it. This is like the first recognition of Brighton, [as] somewhere that might be a bit more interesting.”

Bob was involved as a student activist in the AIDS prevention and Stop the Clause movements in the ‘80s. Although, while he could be out and express himself freely outside work, the enforcement of Section 28 in 1988 made things harder, forcing him to suppress his identity as a gay man while at work.

In 1996 Bob moved to Brighton and has seen the rise of the queer scene to what it is today. Moving out from the back streets of Kemptown and The Laines, the city has now turned into somewhat of a safe space for queer people over the years. According to him, “Brighton is ahead of the curve… it has been for a long time.” Say in a city like London, it can be easy to feel isolated and out of place. This is less common in Brighton due to the visibility of free and honest expression of gender and sexuality. While it is not completely free of instances of homophobic and transphobic attacks, it has in a way made it slightly easier for people to express themselves freely.

As mentioned in the conversation with Grace, “it is often hard-to-find role model relationships when you are a

couple since it’s been that much more underground, but here it’s easier to see that and it’s not just limited to fictional or representation from a far distance.”

Another member of the project, Charlotte Eagleson, a media student at the University, says that meeting and forming connections with people from different generations of the community has allowed her to learn a lot regarding the local history and inform the perception of her queer identity in the present day. “It has been so inspiring to see how queer culture and queer joy transcend generations, evolving and growing into a powerful force of love and friendship and camaraderie over time and space.”

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imperative to develop a sense of community through collaboration to develop crossgenerational dialogue and increase visibility.

Based on the testimonials Eleanor has received over the past four months of the project, both younger and older community members feel a sense of upliftment and joy when meeting and interacting with each other. The bonds that are made across generations not only provide a front of discussion surrounding shared experiences but also allow a dynamic transfer of knowledge, ideas, and interests across different age groups.

As a community who have been historically erased and forgotten, it is important to not only preserve the stories and experiences of those who came before us, but also to develop a sense of community through collaboration to develop crossgenerational dialogue and increase visibility. The efforts taken by older queer folks to make themselves visible and stay true to themselves in a time when it was seen as a taboo is the reason why a lot of us are able to enjoy the freedom we have. It’s inspiring to hear them talk about their lives and live on to see future generations movement for rights that

Image: Tabatha Fireman/Redferns.

Image: James Carey.

Critical Crossroads: UK-India Trade Deal Faces Backlash for Favouring Big Pharma at the Expense of Global Healthcare Access

Lucy Martin-Patrick Staff Writer

It has been four years since the emergence of COVID-19 around the world, leading to a critical time of reflection of the challenges faced and the inequalities highlighted from this time of crisis. Since the pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and AstraZeneca have become household names, praised for their swift development of the COVID vaccines. This publicity was essential for Big Pharma, who were previously known for grotesque profits, unethical clinical trials and incentivising the overprescription of addictive medicines. Despite this, over the course of the pandemic, Big Pharma’s profits doubled to £149 billion after developing the vaccine with public funded money, when financial instability affected the majority of UK citizens as the country experienced its worst economic downturn for 300 years.

Big Pharma’s profits have been critical in its accumulation of power and influence, achieved mainly through its extensive lobbying networks. In the US alone, the ability of pharmaceutical companies to lobby the government has been linked to its horrific opioid crisis. In the space of one decade, the industry spent £634 million on lobbying and campaign contributions. In contrast to this, only £3.17 million was spent in the same period by activist groups attempting to place limitations on the prescription of opioids. This lobbying power is also seen within Europe. In the UK alone, there were more than 360 meetings between January 2020 and March 2022 held between the government officials and 13 pharmaceutical lobby groups and companies. That means a meeting once every two days during one of the biggest health emergencies in history.

trade. Pharmaceutical lobbying played a significant role in the creation of the World Trade Organisation in 1995, which included policies that directly benefited Big Pharma through the introduction of intellectual property rights across the world. These rights

to continue the growth of public health initiatives, the UK government is set to destroy them and succumb to the pressure of pharmaceutical lobbying.

It is not only low-income countries that benefit from India’s generics. Between 2011 and 2016, NHS spending on medicines

while simultaneously breaking down access to healthcare by citizens of the country when inevitably the NHS can no longer fund expensive medicines due to a lack of generic medications on the market. Medicines would become more expensive and it is likely we would see the inequality

the only countries that was able to introduce laws to combat these patents was India, which has led to its extensive generic medicine market, making it known as the ‘pharmacy of the world’. Medicine supplied by India has been vital in the progression of public health campaigns across the world, most notably across the continent of Africa, where the cost of HIV antiretroviral drugs reduced by 98%. The accessibility of these medicines after a cost reduction from £7928 per year to £289 highlights the importance of India’s pharmaceutical economy.

After India began producing it, the cost of the NHS treatment dropped by 98%. With India supporting such a huge proportion of the UK’s health service, it raises the question as to why the UK would propose a trade deal with India that would result in an increase in the cost of medications for its own citizens?

This is not the case of one large corporation trying to take the other down and following the rules of business and capitalism. The influence of pharmaceutical lobbying has very real repercussions for global health and an increased chance of the gap between rich and poor widening even further, not just in the UK but around the world. It is essential that governments work together to protect the rights of their citizens to have access to essential health care, and place barriers on the power of the pharmaceutical industry. Instead, we are seeing the opposite. The fact that the UKIndia free trade agreement would lead to increased medicine costs for the UK’s own citizens is compelling evidence that the interests of the pharmaceutical industry are being prioritised over the human right of access to health care.

The power that Big Pharma has developed in the past several decades has posed serious consequences for global health by influencing international trade.

The power that Big Pharma has developed, not just during the pandemic but in the past several decades, has posed serious consequences for global health by influencing international

Despite the importance of India’s medicine market, it is now in jeopardy as Brexit has led to new trade agreements being discussed between the UK and other nations. The UK and India have been in talks over an essential free trade deal for two years, yet has made little progress. Shortly after talks began, a leak of the documents on intellectual property sent shock waves through medical and public health professionals around the world. The UK has included a term that would prevent India from producing cheap generic medicine, and hand power back to Big Pharma. Instead of using this deal

India’s ability to produce cheap medicine has long been seen as a threat to the profits of Big Pharma. Powerful lobbying from the pharmaceutical industry was arguably highly influential in including the terms on India’s medicine market in this free trade deal. The use of an essential trade deal to undermine India’s pharmaceutical industry would result in the UK’s own pharmaceutical companies profiting hugely, an industry that is reported to contribute £4 billion to the UK economy each year. It would typically be understandable for a country to grow its own industry and restrict the importation of a cheaper alternative, however pharmaceuticals should be a clear exception to this rule. The deal would lead to the UK turning to its own home-grown pharmaceutical companies for medications, increasing their profits,

“ The influence of pharmaceutical lobbying has very real repercussions for global health and an increased chance of the gap between the rich and the poor widening even further.

Much speculation has been written about the effects of this trade deal, and the world is now watching to see what the outcome will be as the negotiations are reaching their final stage. The UK government’s hostility towards India’s generic pharmaceutical industry clearly shows the UK is working towards the interest of Big Pharma, rather than using this as an opportunity to push forward public health interventions. The time has come to put an end to Big Pharma’s greed and continuous destruction of health in the name of profits.

‘Hidden Figures’: The Iconic Women of Sussex’s Golden Age

Lydia Bowe Sealey Staff Writer

When we think of ‘Sussex icons’, the name Edward Booth, William Blake or perhaps more recently Tim Peake, may immediately spring to mind. But what about Sophia Jex-Blake, Lee Miller or even Marianne Northnames that we may instantly disregard or are unfamiliar with? Although Sussex has long been a haven for prominent writers, philanthropists and scientists who have become pioneers in their respective fields, history appears to have forgotten the women of Sussex’s gilded past.

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Sussex has always been a refuge for ambitious and iconic women.

Sussex has always been a refuge for ambitious and iconic women. Just as the renowned ornithologist Edward Booth, Sophia Jex-Blake also possessed a natural affinity to the sciences. Growing up in the town of Hastings, the Sussex native was determined to pursue a career in medicine from an early age. After observing teaching methods in Germany,

Sophia Jex-Blake applied to Edinburgh University. Despite severe opposition, JexBlake and four other like-minded women began campaigning for equality within the medical profession which was dominated by their male classmates. Jex-Blake, therefore, became a part of the first group of female undergraduate medical students in Britain. She continued to work tirelessly in achieving her goal of allowing women to qualify as doctors. Later she founded the School of Medicine for Women in 1899, before returning to Sussex.

Another woman of significant influence, Marianne North, also chose to

defy expectations and restrictions imposed upon women during the Victorian era. Hailing from East Sussex, North clearly displayed a talent in fine art as a young girl, with a passion for botany. However, it was not until the death of her beloved father in 1869 that North began to travel to isolated and exotic locations to paint their lush vegetation. Whilst North’s talent is often unheard of today, her paintings captured the attention of revolutionary theorist, Charles Darwin, who then encouraged her to travel to Australia and New Zealand to document plant species in 1880. North captured over 900 species of plant life in her exuberant and visceral botanical depictions and all 832 paintings can still be seen today at the Marianne North Gallery in Kew Gardens, which was established and funded by North.

Throughout history, Sussex has also attracted many women from across the globe, serving as their refuge or inspiration. This is no exception for the American model and photojournalist Lee Miller, who has recently become the centre of Brighton Museum’s “Lee Miller: Dressed” exhibition. Famed for her stills of American troops entering Paris on liberation day in 1944, she immortalised the moment

through her camera lens. It was during this time she became the first female combat photojournalist to enter the city. Her entry into Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camp impacted her deeply, and shocked the public after her now widely acclaimed photographs were published in Vogue. Miller and her husband Roland Penrose then moved to Sussex after World War II, purchasing Farley Farm in Chiddingly, which then became a hotspot for artists Picasso, Max Ernst and Henry Moore who regarded Miller as their muse. Her work continues to serve as a chilling reminder of the impact of conflicts in an advancing technological world.

Sussex has and will always remain a sanctuary for many bright, intelligent and resilient women who in their own right are truly iconic.

Undoubtedly, Sussex has and will always remain a sanctuary for many bright, intelligent, and resilient women who in their own right, are truly iconic.

Heartbreak at University: How Do Relationships End for Young People?

Florrie Petit Staff Writer

With infinite new people to meet and endless spaces to meet them, university seems like the ideal place to meet a partner. Everyone is constantly asking themselves “Who am I?”, “What do I want?” and “Who do I want?”, making navigating relationships at university more exciting and fun yet confusing and difficult.

Everyone is constantly asking themselves “Who am I?”, “What do I want?” and “Who do I want?”, making navigating relationships at university more exciting and fun yet confusing and difficult.

Often those big, scary and unanswered questions are the reasons why relationships for young people come to an end. The pressure from society and peers to make the most of the ‘uni experience’ is also damaging to young people’s relationships. It means that people often cheat on their partners, without even feeling as if they have done something wrong. Many believe that by hooking up with a friend or a stranger, they are simply exercising their

right to the ‘uni experience’.

Because of the elusive ‘uni experience’, many prospective students choose to break up with their partners before they start university. It is either because they feel like by staying in a relationship, they will miss out on something, or as a result of fears of cheating. However, there are others who start university in relationships with their hometown partners.

The Badger interviewed a student who

was in a relationship with her partner of five years when she started university. They met when they were just 14 years old through mutual friends. For university, they both moved away from home for the first time to opposite ends of the country.

Change, both external and internal, seemed to be a major reason for their relationship coming to an end. When the student was asked why she believed that her relationship ended, she replied: “Growing up and becoming different people. Uni kind of accelerated that. It felt like without hometown drama we had nothing in common.” Communication was another considerable issue. “I felt like no matter what I did, our communication could never be the same as it was at home when we saw each other pretty much everyday,”

When The Badger asked how she felt when the couple broke up and if she was heartbroken, the reply was: “It ended on ok terms. We said we’d stay friends but we don’t really speak anymore. Weirdly, I didn’t feel that sad. I felt relieved. I did cry a bit.” It seemed like their breakup was a case of a long relationship running its course. The mutual nature of their breakup seemed to make things better. Maybe that was why their relationship did not end in heartbreak.

The Badger interviewed another

student whose relationship did end in heartbreak and on one person’s terms. She told us she met her girlfriend at university. “We started off as friends, then one night things got flirty in the club and I ended up sleeping in her bed for a week.” Their relationship lasted a few months. “She broke up with me. We had a big fight over something small and she told me she had never really wanted to be with me.”

Because of the elusive ‘uni experience’, many prospective students choose to break up with their partners before they start university.

Ultimately, the relationship ended because the pair were seeking different things from it. “We weren’t on the same page. I wanted to be with her. She just wanted a shag. But we never talked about what we wanted from each other so that led to a lot of confusion and resentment.” Poor communication meant that the breakup came as a shock for the student. “I was so heartbroken! I couldn’t stop thinking about how I could’ve done things differently to make her like me. It was like something out of a movie. I got really drunk and cried in the shower. It was humiliating to know that I liked her way more than she liked me.”

Image: Lee Miller Archives.

Image: Ella Soady.

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• THE BIG COLLABORATION •

International Scrutiny Intensifies with Genocide Case Against Israel

The Big Collaboration provides deeper insights and wider perspectives into current news and global issues. In this issue, two writers discuss the ICJ Case put forward by South Africa in light of Israel’s genocidal acts.

Eighty-three days into the IsraelHamas war, the Republic of South Africa has filed a genocide case against Israel for the atrocities they are committing in Gaza to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court of the United Nations. Thus begins a long road, where South Africa must prove to the Court that Israel is perpetrating genocide, failing to prevent genocide, or not punishing genocidal acts – a process which may take months or even years.

The Republic of South Africa filed the Prevention of Genocide case against Israel on 29 December 2023. The ICJ held public hearings at the Peace Palace in The Hague on 11 and 12 January over the proceedings instituted by South Africa. As of 6 February, the recorded death toll in Gaza stands at more than 27,500 deaths, and South Africa claims that Israel has breached the 1948 Genocide Convention. The legal team arguing on behalf of South Africa requested that the ICJ issue provisional emergency measures to stop the continuing onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

Israel argued that Hamas’s attack on the surrounding villages and army posts in the south of Israel along with taking hostages on 7 October is what kick-started the Gaza war and, therefore, Israel has the right to self-defence under international law. Neil Sammonds, senior campaigner on Palestine at the humanitarian organisation War on Want, told Al Jazeera: “Of course, both South Africa and human rights organisations like us condemn the killing of civilians and taking of hostages [by Hamas]… But this in no way justifies the response from Israel. As an occupying force, Israel does not have the right to self-defence – this argument does not hold water.”

troops were the ones trying to “minimise” civilian harm. This claim holds little weight. There are many evidenced cases of Palestinians being shot while attempting to evacuate, unarmed. In December 2023, Israel killed three of its own citizens who appeared to have escaped Hamas captivity and waved white flags – a symbol of surrender and non-violence. Israel conveniently swept these murders under the rug, mere “mistakes” made by soldiers under pressure.

“

South Africa did what other countries have not been able to do: hold Israel accountable for their actions under international law. “

There are many evidenced cases of Palestinians being shot while attempting to evacuate, unarmed.

In 2003, in a case regarding Israel’s construction of a partition wall in the occupied West Bank, the ICJ ruled that an occupying state could not claim the right to self-defence. Although Israel has not recognised itself to be an occupying state since its disengagement from Gaza in 2006, the UN and various human rights organisations have rejected this claim. The ICJ ruling acts as a precedence that weakens Israel’s “right to self-defence” argument.

Responding to allegations of mass killings of Palestinian civilians, Israel’s legal team claimed that Hamas was using civilians as human shields and that Israeli

Israel claimed that South Africa had failed to communicate with Israel before filing a case to the ICJ, which is required according to the Court’s rules. Israel’s legal representative, Professor Malcolm Shaw claimed that South Africa did not give Israel enough time to respond to the

trucks were entering Gaza daily before the war, after which Israel banned all aid and blocked all entries. Around 200 trucks were allowed to enter Gaza daily during the brief truce period between Israel and Hamas, but after that, fewer than 100 trucks have been able to pass the borders. Israel’s Acting Director of the International Justice Division, Galit Raguan, argued that Hamas seized aid supplies for its fighters. Israel has also denied targeting hospitals. According to Raguan, Israel warns the Palestinian population if there is an incoming bombardment through phone calls and leaflets. However, Palestinian journalists have constantly been reporting that surprise bombings of the Gaza Strip often occur.

Ultimately, analyses by humanitarian experts (such as Neil Sammonds from War on Want and Akshaya Kumar at Human Rights Watch) and the UN itself debunk all of Israel’s counter-arguments, rendering their legal position extremely weak and superficial.tolerance policy? Students always have a knack of finding loopholes, don’t you think?

Protesters outside The Hague. Image: Al Jazeera.

accusation. Israel claimed that South Africa said that there was “no point” in having a discussion, questioning whether the case should have come before the court at all. This undermines the court’s power to adjudicate. South Africa’s lack of response to Israel’s claims strengthens Israel’s defence.

Rejecting the allegations that Israel is blockading water, food, and other critical supplies from Gaza, Israel’s representative claimed that “seventy trucks” of food aid were allowed into Gaza before the war and that the number has gone up to “106 trucks” since 12 January. According to the UN, a significantly large number of

By filing this case, South Africa did what other countries have not been able to do: hold Israel accountable for their actions under international law. The bond of solidarity between South African and Palestinian peoples stretches as far back as Nelson Mandela’s career and has since been strengthened by their continued resistance to modern colonialism.

Having a pained history of colonial violence and liberation struggles themselves, it comes as no surprise that the memories of South Africa’s past have influenced their present decisions and add to the significance of the proceedings. The act of a nation from the Global South

coming forward in defence of Palestine is hugely symbolic in itself. It challenges the traditional North-Western powers that dominate over underrepresented voices, through an internationally recognised body.

Other colonised nations have since expressed their solidarity with Palestine and have called for an immediate ceasefire. This culminated in a mass “walkout” during Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan’s speech during the UN Security Council session on 23 January, led by Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, and promptly followed by the delegations of other Arab nations.

On 26 January, the ICJ published their interim ruling on the case, which required Israel to prevent genocidal acts from happening again and to allow humanitarian aid to be sent to Gaza. Notably, there was no call for a ceasefire.

There was no call for a ceasefire.

Following ICJ’s announcement, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has rejected the ruling and announced they will continue their military operation to “defend itself”, according to Al Jazeera. Israeli government spokesperson, Eylon Levy, stated that the ICJ’s ruling was meant to “remind Israel of what its obligations are under international law.” This means to submit to the 1948 Genocide Convention and allow international humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza – which Israel claims they are already doing.

Many debate the effectiveness of the ICJ’s decisions, and if they will have any effect on the ongoing war at all. The truth is this: ultimately the potency of ICJ rulings is weak, with the Court’s purpose being to “peacefully settle disputes between nations” The ICJ cannot prosecute individuals or nations for crimes, even those “of the utmost severity’. Though legally binding, countries may ignore the Court’s decisions, such as the ICJ’s order for Russia to halt their operations in Ukraine, which did not happen.

Combined with Israel’s nonchalance and outright denial of the Court’s ruling and of the concerns expressed by global nations, this seems to indicate that there will be little change in Israel’s current military operation in Gaza.

Nevertheless, international pressure is increasing, and it is only a matter of time before it backfires towards Israel. While the jury is still out on whether ICJ’s rulings will encourage a ceasefire in Gaza, South Africa’s courage is a monumental step toward justice for Palestinians and colonised nations across the globe.

Akanksha Pandey and Abigail Keyla Ryanto Senior Editor and Staff Writer

Student Spotlight: The Cross-Cultural Experiences of an International Student

Zeeshan Tirmizi Staff Writer

Growing up in fancy Shanghai, Harry Shen wasn’t exposed to the marginalised sections of China. His perceptions changed when he went on a tour nationwide after graduating with a marketing degree in 2021. This journey led him to pursue further studies to understand how he can make a change with an MA in Media Practice for Development and Social Change at the University of Sussex.

“When I went on the Southeast China tour, I thought my country was rich! But when I went to the mountain villages of Western China, I saw kids who didn’t have enough money to eat proper food,” Harry recounted. “The kids didn’t know many things they were supposed to learn in school. The parents of these kids work in big cities to make a living, and their children are left with their grandparents in the village. These kids can only study for ten years, and then they can’t go to a university. I want to help these kids”, he said. Since he didn’t have enough savings to study abroad, he worked as an international salesman for two years and then came to the UK in September 2023.

“When I boarded a train towards the university from Gatwick Airport, I felt lonely as everything was new for me, and everyone talked in English. Then, I met an elderly lady on the train. I shared my experiences with her, and she advised me about how to live in the UK. This made me feel comfortable”, Harry said. “I think elderly people are very kind in the UK.”

Most people don’t know much about Chinese culture, so I want to share my experiences with them.

Harry talked about his struggle adjusting to the UK due to cultural shock. “I had never met so many people from different countries in China. I had only seen foreigners in childhood, so initially, it was difficult. But then I made a Turkish friend at the university who made me feel comfortable. Most of the people I met in the UK were good to me. They didn’t care about the language barrier. Most people don’t know much about Chinese culture, so I want to share my experiences with them”. Harry thought the air was pure, the sky was blue, and the city was green, but

everything was expensive!

Harry tells why he came to Sussex: “I chose this university because it’s very diverse. Before coming here, I feared how I would be treated in the UK. But I think the staff respect every student and we can have our own voice. This makes me feel like it’s a small global village where cultures can be exchanged anytime.”

Do you think this course will help you with your dreams, I asked Harry. He said, “To be honest, yes! This course has provided me with more diverse perspectives. I heard words like asylum seekers and Global South for the first time. I didn’t know the circumstances these people face. Last term, I worked on a documentary about migration, which allowed me to see the living conditions of refugees and asylum seekers from different races in the UK. The biggest advantage of studying here is that the seminars allow more space for discussion with other students and promote the exchange of ideas.”

Harry was always interested in arts and photography, but his undergrad degree in marketing didn’t leave him with many opportunities to explore his creative side. “I chose photography classes in my course at Sussex to learn it professionally

rather than figuring it out alone. I hope to improve my theoretical knowledge of photography and use it in practice. I want to catch some moment in life which helps in social development”, he detailed. What do you want to do after going back to China? I asked Harry, to which he replied, “I want to do business for at least three years. After I have enough money, I want to help students directly by giving them books and being a teacher. I want to teach them photography and about different cultures of the world.”

The Influence of Cancel Culture on Accountability: Progressive or Problematic?

In the era of hashtags, retweets, and viral memes, cancel culture has taken centre stage, turning the digital landscape into a rollercoaster of public reckonings. Cancel culture, a phenomenon rooted in the collective power of social media, involves public abashing of individuals deemed to have violated societal norms. While some argue that cancel culture holds wrongdoers accountable and promotes social justice, critics contend that these keyboard vigilantes create a toxic environment that stifles free expression and hinders genuine learning.

Cancel culture often manifests as a swift and intense reaction to perceived offences. Social media platforms are the primary battleground, where public figures or organisations are called out for alleged transgressions. Your favourite social media influencer could be on the cancellation chopping block from anything between a problematic statement to a real criminal offence. The rapid dissemination of information and the amplification of voices through hashtags and trending topics create a powerful, sometimes unforgiving, digital mob.

Now, some argue that cancel culture is the superhero we never knew we needed - playing a crucial role in holding individuals accountable for their actions. In the absence of traditional gatekeepers, social media platforms empower ordinary people to voice their concerns and demand justice. The digital thunderstorm acts as a levelling force, ensuring that those in positions of power or influence are not immune to scrutiny. This democratisation of accountability is believed to be a step toward a better, more “woke” society.

Moreover, cancel culture is credited with sparking important conversations about systemic issues such as racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination. It has led to a heightened awareness of the need for inclusivity and social change. For example, the #MeToo movement stemmed from the ability to call people out publicly. By targeting individuals or organisations that encourage harmful ideologies, cancel culture has the potential to create shifts in societal attitudes and norms.

Despite its benefits, cancel culture faces criticism for its tendency to devolve into online vigilantism. The speed at which accusations fly can make you wonder if we’re in a race to cancel before fact-checking. False alarms and innocent casualties? The absence of due

process in cancel culture raises concerns about fairness and the potential for false allegations to ruin lives and careers. Furthermore, the fear of cancellation can stifle open conversations and intellectual exploration. Individuals may hesitate to express dissenting opinions or engage in nuanced discussions out of fear of being targeted. This chilling effect on free speech is seen by many as antithetical to the principles of open and democratic societies. Cancel culture risks becoming a tool for censorship rather than a catalyst for positive change. In the battle between accountability and free speech, the keyboard is mightier than the sword, but is it mightier than cancel culture?

“

Let’s embrace a culture of accountability that’s more about growth and understanding than public shaming.

There is a growing recognition of the need for a more nuanced approach to accountability. Rather than resorting to immediate condemnation, some argue for a shift towards restorative justice. This approach emphasises rehabilitation and education over punishment - a group therapy session and sensitivity training for cancelled casualties.

On top of that, there is a call for a more discerning public that engages in thoughtful dialogue rather than kneejerk reactions. Encouraging empathy and providing space for individuals to learn from their mistakes can contribute to a more constructive and compassionate society. By promoting a culture of accountability that seeks understanding rather than retribution, we can navigate the challenges posed by cancel culture more effectively.

So, what’s the takeaway? Cancel culture is here to stay, but maybe it’s time for a makeover. Let’s embrace a culture of accountability that’s more about growth and understanding than public shaming. The delicate balance between accountability and fairness is at the heart of the debate surrounding cancel culture. As we navigate the evolving terrain of online activism, it is essential to foster a culture that promotes genuine learning, inclusivity, and the principles of justice. Striking this balance may demand a second look at the methods employed by cancel culture and a collective commitment to creating a more just and equitable society. Cancel cautiously, my friends.

Charlotte Berry Comment Editor

Image: Zeeshan Tirmizi.

Never Too Young to Protest: Why Student Activism Matters

Mc Jazer Malonda Comment Sub Editor

Since its establishment, the University has been no stranger to radical action and activism. Every part of the campus bore witness to various student protests, dissents, and demonstrations against inequalities. The spirit of activism lives on in the collective hearts and minds of every Sussex student as they stand their ground and voice their opinions in hopes of social change.

Social scientist Brian Martin wrote in the Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice that activism is neither good nor bad. It is dependent on the goals being achieved and the act that is taking place to achieve that goal. In a local context, how vibrant is Sussex student activism in influencing the university?

One prominent example would be the resignation of philosophy lecturer Dr. Kathleen Stock back in October 2021 after the protests made by a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) students. The call for her termination was due to her trans-exclusionary views and position as a trustee of the anti-trans lobbying group LGB Alliance. Dubbed “Stock Out”, the student campaign started with the anonymous posting of materials calling for her resignation. The active investigation of the campaign and immediate statement of then-vice chancellor Adam Tickell in support of Stock led to peaceful protests where students hid their faces to protect

their identities as well as a trending hashtag #ShameOnSussexUni. Two weeks after the start of the campaign, Tickell announced Stock’s resignation to the university staff and students.

In September 2020, students organised to form the Sussex Renters’ Union as a protest against the unreasonable rent prices and poor housing quality of on-campus accommodation during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite promising a normal student life, students living oncampus complained of the lack of support from the university administration, from the malfunctioning heaters during winter to sewage flooding in bathrooms. Within three months, they led the biggest rent

strike in the university with more than 700 students withholding the payment of their rent to the university. This protest resulted in a five-month-long series of negotiations between the senior management of the university and the Sussex Renters’ Union facilitated by the Students’ Union officers. By the second week of May, the university partially conceded to the demands of the renters such as a 10% rent rebate and penalty-free tenancy contract termination.

One of the most iconic protests would be the establishment of the fake religious group by a group of postgraduate students in May 2017 worshipping the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera in Library Square. Named “The Sussex Eye”, the

If two’s company and three’s a crowd, what does that make eight? While this may seem like a rejected GCSE Maths problem, in actuality it’s a question reserved for a couple of years later in life. Namely, the first year of university. Although living in halls with seven fellow students can be an enriching experience in which lifelong friendships are made, it can also make you want to take advantage of the continuing building work on campus and crawl into the nearest hole. Navigating living with strangers can seem impossible, but rest assured that it does get easier.

That is, assuming you can actually rest, as noise complaints are common when living with a number of housemates. Most adults who flat-share can relate to the pain of having a housemate whose terrible music blares through the walls at all hours of the night, yet for freshers living in halls, this is often coupled with the ear-piercing screech of the fire alarm

after Barney decides to make toast at three in the morning for the fifth day running. And while these grievances are hard to deal with, bringing them up to those responsible can be even harder.

For introverts, whose only experience of university celebrations involves throwing a pity party in their room, approaching a housemate with a gripe is often more difficult than their degree. This can be particularly challenging for those who took a gap year or two before attending university, as bringing up the fact that you need your eight hours every night will undoubtedly make you seem even more like a Karen (and not the hot Mean Girls kind) amongst the carefree 18-year-olds.

For some, however, complaining seems as easy as living alone. The Student Room, a popular forum for school and university students, features a number of posts from concerned first-years who fear that just breathing too loudly will cause a housemate to come knocking on their bedroom door. I too used to be so scared that my mere existence would cause annoyance that I would creep

around my Northfield flat so quietly that I could have easily been mistaken for a spirit. Which Barney would have probably drank with tonic to wash down his nightly toast. Speaking of ghosts, it is even harder to live with someone whose actions, such as completely ignoring a friend or partner, are morally questionable. Back in 2018, I lived with five students on campus, one of whom was ironically studying psychology and had recently broken up with his girlfriend because she’d “gained weight”. The fact that he could very well now be a therapist terrifies me to my core.

protesters argued that the camera is part of the increasing surveillance to identify and control student dissent. The group aimed to raise awareness of the existence of security cameras and push for better university policies to prevent sexual assault on campus.

If we do not act, who? If not now, when? “

What makes activism alive in Sussex is not the results it achieved, but the cause that binds each student into pursuing one collective effort to make social change. The interconnectedness of the issues they raise rings true to the point of protest action for the liberation of everyone. In a university that prides itself on being number one in development studies, continuing activism is a sign that its students critically examine their academic environment and call out any injustices or inequality. The above examples of student activism in Sussex reflect the need for collective action to dismantle the inequalities within the institution because it is not enough to know that something is wrong. If we do not act, who? If not now, when?

While not all causes of student activism see through the achievement of its goal, its continuation provides hope for the future. To quote a line from Cloud Atlas, “Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.”

new friends!” I don’t think they were envisaging a night at Coalition. However, joining a society is a great way to meet people whose interests align with your own. If stealing a traffic cone and putting down women in the name of banter isn’t for you, no worries! Why not try writing for The Badger instead? And try not to rely on social media. Even the most genuine and interesting person can come across as insufferable on Instagram, especially if you decide to do some investigative journalism and find their posts from a decade ago. This can make you want to cancel not only your housemate, but your student loan, as you may subsequently decide to remain in the town you grew up in.

Fortunately, there are some ways of making living with insufferable housemates just about bearable. Firstly, try to ensure your interactions are of good quality. When parents and teachers would pipe up with, “join a club to make

It is important to remember that this period won’t last forever. In the remaining years of your degree, you’ll get to choose who you share your home and your time with. And if you’re currently reading this article afraid that the crackling of the pages will bring about a noise complaint, you’re not alone. Metaphorically, that is.

Lucy Spencer Staff Writer

Students protest increases to student fees on campus at Sussex. Image: The Badger

Is Tik Tok the New Tumblr?: Advocating for Mental Health While Encouraging Mental Illness

Fiore Newland Staff Writer

TW: discussion of restricted eating, eating disorders, self-injury, and mental illness

Teenage life in this day and age can be defined by a number of things; vapes, existential dread, unfortunate finances, and social media. Most notably, of course, TikTok. The slang and microtrends born from TikTok have shaped the way our generation interacts with one another, but have also provided a space for people to discuss things safely, and with an openness that we haven’t seen before. However, with this openness also comes a lack of censorship, something that, in the case of mental illnesses such as eating disorders, can be dangerous without intent. Social media platforms like TikTok are a platform for people to come together to discuss their problems with their friends, or sometimes strangers, but because of the lax nature and short-form content of the app, this can do more harm than good. In a conversation with a friend about our own use of TikTok, I began thinking about how discussions about body image and self-esteem are an integral part of this generation’s way of life. The way I look has never been something that I identify with

my sense of self, or something I really ever thought about, or spoke about with my friends. It was only when my friends and I became active on TikTok that our conversations began to be more about the newest trendy clothes, whether we had hip dips, or if we fit into the clean girl or cottage core aesthetics. This all seems quite innocent at first glance, just teenage chatter about fashion trends, nothing more. But when a friend explained to me her newfound disdain for her hip dips, something that I wasn’t even aware existed or was an issue, I realised that this is much more than a surface-level discussion, and plays into an embedded system that breeds insecurities.

“

This is much more than a surface-level discussion, and plays into an embedded system that breeds insecurities.

In the early 2010s, Tumblr was at its peak, and home to a new expression of beauty standards, where people would share tips on how to lose weight, often for self-image reasons, rather than health reasons. This became a trend in itself, with #thinspiration being used in more than

27,000 posts, and #bonespo being used in 130,000, according to The Independent. Tumblr became notorious for causing a wave of anorexia, but also self-injury, with sites such as ‘Depression and Disorders’, an account run by a 14-year-old , sharing tips on cutting through instructions or photos. While many of these sites no longer exist due to new restrictions and censorship, these trends have not died, but have found a new home on TikTok. Content that includes the #weightlosscheck has over 285 million views. The new, modern term for thinspo is pro-ana, a shorter and prettier way of saying pro-anorexia.

While these apps have put particular restrictions in place for the safety of their users, it begs the question why these trends have become so prevalent in the first place. Certain mental illnesses thrive on competitiveness, particularly with things such as self-injury, and social media only adds to this. Oftentimes, body positivity and health videos are more likely to be fuelling unhealthy mindsets around food and body types, where the goal is no longer to be healthy, it is to look “healthy”, whatever that means. There is also a large community of people on TikTok who consider particular foods to be “bad”, and so offer alternatives that contain fewer

calories. While this isn’t inherently wrong, it does encourage the mindset that some foods are bad and that if we eat them, we are misbehaving. This, for someone in recovery from an eating disorder, could be extremely triggering, but because it's masked as promoting a “healthy lifestyle”, it is uncensored and extremely popular.

Tumblr became notorious for causing a wave of anorexia and self-injury.

In a new wave of technology, oversaturated social media feeds are the new normal. We consume the very thing that TikTok mental health advocates warn against. The encouragement of hurting yourself or starving yourself on TikTok is just another example. It is virtually impossible to eradicate the attitudes that are prevalent on social media, and it makes me question the safety of my own mental stability when using these apps. The constant bombardment of self-image and mental illness stories online, arguably also makes us participate in those activities more.

Diversity and Inclusion Efforts at Sussex

Francesca Rocchiccioli Staff Writer

Here at the University of Sussex, all students are prioritised both academically and personally, with attempts at inclusion throughout the curriculum and university policy. In beautiful, diverse Brighton, having a multicultural and inclusive space is important for the entire community and ensures a positive environment for all students. In 2021, Sussex won the award for Student Diversity at the Global Student Satisfaction Awards, shining a light on the University’s diversifying efforts. But despite the good intentions, there are still questions over just how inclusive it is when it comes to the curriculum. Is there more to be done? After speaking to a student, it is clear to The Badger that opinions of our learning space may differ.

The seemingly pilgrimagelength “accessible” route to

Isabella Thomason, a second-year Liberal Arts student, gave her perspective on the curriculum at Sussex. When asked whether there was more to be done in certain departments and what changes are needed, Isabella argued that, on

the whole, modules are inclusive - they cover a variety of theoretical and cultural viewpoints. Under her broad degree, she has taken criminology, international development, art, and history electives so far, thereby having a wider perspective and understanding of the Sussex curriculum than most students. Isabella also noted the recent efforts of her classmates in using more inclusive language. For example, trigger warnings are used in lectures and seminars to highlight material that may be offensive and/or sensitive.

However, after noting the admirable attributes of Sussex’s syllabus and content covered within classes, Isabella voiced her opinion on the ways in which we can improve diversity on campus as a whole, starting at the Library. She explained: “I don’t use the library physically, but maybe [there should be] more advertising of different authors during certain times of cultural celebrations such as Black History Month [as a way of] showcasing a wider variety of content”. When asked if Sussex is still eurocentric despite the relatively wide coverage of diverse content, she said, “Yes definitely. It still abides by the British holidays and [overall] ways of life, which perhaps makes it difficult for people of some religions such as Islam to feel included on campus due to prayer commitments. I think that many [cultural holidays] are celebrated internally (within societies and social settings) however the

rest of the university [curriculum wise] is not so aware of these.”

When we discuss diversity and inclusion efforts at Sussex, the themes that are immediately drawn to mind are the likes of race, ethnicity, religion, social class, gender inequalities, and sexuality. But perhaps topics that don’t spring to mind so quickly are being missed One such topic is disability awareness. This is a matter that is often overlooked by the university when

it comes to inclusion within the curriculum and physical environment. On this issue, Isabella commented, “The campus is very inaccessible [as it has] lots of stairs and hills. This should be more of a priority for the wellbeing of staff and students on our campus. For example, the seemingly pilgrimage-length walk that many lessable students have to complete to reach an entrance to the Library that doesn’t involve stairs is frankly unacceptable. Thankfully, planning permission has just been approved for the addition of a new lift and disabled entrance to the front of the library. So it seems Sussex is making real progress in their inclusion efforts.

It is students who are impacted the most by subject content choices and campus inclusivity.

It is students who are impacted the most by subject content choices and campus inclusivity. Of course, this from the perspective of a humanities student, making it difficult to generalise the inclusivity efforts at Sussex across all courses. Overall, the intentions to create a diverse environment are there, but the actual implementation sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. One can only look forward to the University’s next steps.

Arts: Books

How to Get Out of a Reading Slump

Graziela Marianne Williams Staff Writer

After an extended slump in reading, motivation and momentum often begins to slowly dwindle - perhaps with a book that you just can’t finish. You promise yourself that you’ll try again tomorrow, or start reading something else to freshen up, a last ditch effort to remember why you wanted to read anything in the first place. But it never happens, and then you blink and it’s been a week, a month, or even a year since you read anything other than the backs of cereal boxes.

Nothing kills passion for reading like making Tess of the D’Urbervilles essential to getting a university education.

Some of us have been in slumps since we were forcibly dragged through various classics during GCSE or A Level English Literature. Nothing kills passion for

reading like making Tess of the D’Urbervilles essential to getting a university education. It makes sense. The end of school and the start of university doesn’t leave much time for expanding your reading world. However, let’s go through some ways to get ‘back on the wagon’.

A brief Google of this article’s title will conjure up some less than ideal methods. For some, joining an app like Goodreads, Bookworm or StoryGraph can be motivational. But others may feel dread as friends and acquaintances’ yearly totals rise while their own stats stay ‘shamefully’ low. Before downloading, consider how comfortable you are reading at your own pace, despite how fast others might read. If it’s not for you, try a private account or physical record of books read, like a notebook or wall chart.

One method seems very popular online: forcing it. Posts recommend giving yourself a target of ten pages or so a day, which could certainly help if you are a more goaloriented person. However, I am broadly against the industrialisation of reading,

believing that it should be fun. Breaking out of the shame-inaction cycle is essential to getting out of a slump, and becoming your own year four reading record does not seem conducive to this. Instead, I’d advise you to start taking a book with you throughout your day - we’re all Sussex students with spacious tote bags, after alland picking up a book during a time usually spent on your phone such as whilst on the bus to university. Make reading a break in your day.

Then there are, of course, audiobooks. Spotify Premium now offers one free audiobook a month for subscribers. Alternatively, another quick, easy, and free option is the BBC Sounds app, which is currently offering various classics (without it, I would never have gotten into Jane Eyre, now one of my favourite books ever), as well as contemporary fiction and nonfiction hits like How to Kill Your Family, Yellowface and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. To reduce a slump, incorporate listening to a book into your commute, trip home or time at the gym.

Finally, there is the reading equivalent of a plunge into freezing water: compulsive reads. Books that you consume in one sitting, hunched over, unable to stop reading. For myself, these include Banana Yoshimoto’s Kitchen, a short, beautiful story about trans lives in late twentieth-century Japan; Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking, the author’s personal meditations on grief; and the aforementioned Rebecca F. Kuang novel Yellowface, a funny, compulsive thriller set in the cutthroat world of modern publishing.

Reading for pleasure must be just that, not a labour or something that generates anxiety.

Most importantly: be kind to yourself. Reading for pleasure must be just that, not a labour or something that generates anxiety. Keep trying and you will get there. Happy reading!

Genre Book Recommendations

Maisie Knights Books Editor

Set in an upstate New York summer camp, The Last Time I Lied is a fast-paced novel filled with unpredictable twists and turns. The book’s narrative flows back and forth between the past and present day, following protagonist Emma as she navigates returning to the summer camp she once attended as a teenager. Now an adult, Emma grapples with the trauma and survivors guilt of being the last person to see her old cabin mates alive. Suspecting there is more than meets the eye at Camp Nightingale, Emma rapidly uncovers a can of worms, secrets and lies. Riley Sager remains a mastermind at building suspense and thrilling tension, executing surprising plot twists with just the right degree of shock factor. The Last Time I Lied is a personal favourite of mine, simply because of the unique setting of a summer camp, but also for the depth. There are key themes such as trauma and guilt, something which thrillers often skirt around in order for a more exciting story. For fans of slasher film franchises such as Friday 13th I highly recommend this novel; it should be a staple thriller in everyone’s library as an exciting, fastpaced read.

Sally Rooney’s novel Beautiful World, Where Are You focuses on two complex best friends, Alice and Eileen, who hold a nihilistic view of the world as they come up to their thirties. Their lives are inspired by Rooney’s herself with Alice being a successful novelist and Eileen working for a literary magazine. They are both unlucky in relationships and the novel follows their journey falling in love with the characters of Felix and Simon while simultaneously falling back in love with their friendship. Beautiful World, Where Are You portrays multiple layers of love and how they can form. The novel includes the typical trope of childhood friends falling for each other through Eillen and Simon, and a more modern take on dating in which Alice meets Felix on an app, causing them to increasingly become close. Continuing with the theme of flawed and unlikeable characters in Rooney’s novels, all four of them, although oftentimes insufferable, are intriguing and fascinating despite their imperfections. We see Alice’s unstable mental health unfold causing friction between the four characters. Rooney is able to present these unlikeable personalities in a way which readers can still relate to, making us feel more satisfied with our own mistakes and highlighting the complexity of romance, which is often messy and unfulfilled, yet beautifully intimate.

Ahostile land and never-ending chaos. Strange skies and incomprehensible futuristic science. It seems as if the Earth itself is alive, and the only ones capable of harnessing the necessary power to ensure the survival of humankind, are the oregenes. Petrified at the thought of them using their abilities as a weapon, those without such talents strip their kind of freedom. But, when the end of the world is imminent, so is the upheaval of society’s entire structure. A tale of rejection and chosen family, of betrayal and compliance. It all starts with a murder and a missing daughter. N.K. Jemisin is the first ever author to win ‘Best Novel’ back to back for every book in a trilogy series throughout the entirety of the Hugo Award’s 65-year run. She manages to excellently interweave elements of fantasy and science fiction, making the story world seem almost tangible. A dystopian element is also tied in, through her unflinching portrayal of race, as she explores aspects of prejudice and fear. Her masterful worldbuilding and portrayal of the complexity of people lead to answers that demand to be pieced together into a heartbreaking story of humanity.

Megan Bigsby Staff Writer

Yesenia Mahe Darlington Staff Writer

Thriller: The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Romance: Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

Fantasy: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Paige Braithwaite Staff Writer CONTAINS SPOILERS

AReview: An Olive Grove in Ends by Moses McKenzie

n Olive Grove in Ends is the debut novel by the young – and richly talented – author Moses McKenzie. Coming from Bristol himself, McKenzie paints a vivid picture of his neighbourhood and community of ‘Ends’ in Bristol and tells a coming-of-age tale following the young protagonist Sayon. The novel invites readers into a world of family loyalties, love, inner conflict, and Sayon’s journey to find where he wants to go.

McKenzie’s poetic and evocative prose draws you onto the streets of Sayon’s community, conjuring the atmosphere, sights, and voices of those surrounding him. The reader meets Sayon’s extended Jamaican family and the varying roles they play in his life. The characters in this novel are intricately drawn and many of the deep connections between characters make this story so full of life. Different aspects of Sayon’s family life are fractured and not without hardship including incarceration and addiction. Indeed, Sayon’s own parents do not play a significantly positive role in his life. Instead, emphasis is placed upon the other guiding and important family members in his life. Sayon must be mindful of his seemingly all-knowing matriarchal

grandmother and get pockets of wisdom from his cousin Hakim - notorious drug dealer turned devout Muslim family man. Crucially, the special bond between Sayon and his cousin Cuba remains pivotal to Sayon’s choices and direction in life.

An

Olive Grove In Ends shines a light on a diverse Black British community, bursting with emotions and hope.

Ever since he was a young boy, Sayon has aspired to ‘get out’ of his area, gazing upon a specific house in a more affluent area of the city that he wishes to reside in himself one day. Yet the only way he recognises this as a viable possibility is by getting enough money through drug dealing to buy the house. Olive Grove deals with the lack of opportunities that Sayon – and many other Black British youth from less advantaged backgrounds – feel are available to them. McKenzie also illuminates interactions between Sayon’s community, the law and the role of racial prejudice. Olive Grove delves into the disparity of treatment that different areas of the city receive from law enforcement. In an interview on the novel, McKenzie makes clear how he wanted to demonstrate the reality of how racially segregated Bristol is. He sees Bristol as a character of its own,

particularly one specific bubble of the city – one that bursts with Black Jamaican and Somali influence and culture.

McKenzie’s novel is unwavering in its gritty depictions of Sayon’s life and the violence that can seep into those around him, reflecting the harsh realities of many. When a boy is killed, the fatality shakes up Sayon’s life plan and risks shattering the love between him and his long-term friend and now girlfriend Shona, the daughter of a local pastor. Throughout the novel, Sayon treads a careful and precarious line between the juxtaposition of a religious and moral world with Shona’s family and the crime surrounding his own life. McKenzie’s writing is littered with meditations on religion and faith, demonstrating the influence it can have in communities and on the protagonist. Sayon’s religious path takes him from disillusionment with one religion and eventually towards the slow embrace of another. Told through his writing, McKenzie delicately considers his own communities’ ties to Christianity and Islam.

An Olive Grove In Ends shines a light on a diverse Black British community, bursting with emotions and hope. Love and connections are importantly reflected as motivating forces in many of these characters’ lives as they grapple with where they want to be, and where they feel they

can get. McKenzie adeptly portrays the nuances and realities of guilt, obligation, loyalty, aspirations, and the turbulence of personal journeys that these characters find themselves on.

Are Graphic Novels Considered ‘Proper’ Books?

At some point, we’ve all picked up a graphic novel. From a Marvel comic, a graphic adaptation of The Great Gatsby , or a copy of the One Piece manga - graphic novels form part of a large, mainstream industry, with fans and communities of all ages. Despite this, there has been strong contention within the reading community as to whether graphic novels can really be considered as ‘proper’ books. Some readers believe that a graphic novel isn’t a ‘proper’ book due to its length. It takes a lot less time to read a graphic novel, due to there being less text involved - so there isn’t the same commitment required to complete it. But the biggest difference between traditional books and graphic novels lies in perspective. Traditional books rely purely on words to draw the reader in, and readers rely on carefully crafted words to allow them to be able to visualise the world the characters reside in. This, however, can’t be said for graphic novels as they are able to use, and often rely on, images to craft the characters and worlds inside the novel.

This leads to a stark difference in the method of storytelling between image and text. Arguably, the use of images makes them appear closer in nature to magazines than books, breaking down the validity of graphic novels being understood as ‘proper’ books. However, it’s important to note the argument in favour of graphic novels.

They’re commonly sold in bookstores and even have their own section, for example. Also, when reading a graphic novel, you are still consuming a storywhether it be a short one-shot comic or a behemoth 100+ volume manga. Not everyone processes information the same way, and where some may struggle to connect with stories with a more traditional format, they are able to engross themselves fully in both the art and text. This point is also exemplified in audiobooks as well - they utilise tone as a creative device to convey additional information to the listener that books cannot, but as evident in their name, are still considered books themselves - and rightfully so!

So are graphic novels considered a ‘proper’ book? Well, they do say a picture is worth a thousand words, although not everyone agrees. When looking at the argument between categorising graphic novels and books in the same boat, it’s easy for the opposing sides to get tangled up in the details. Avid literature fans hold traditional books close to their chests, with Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as the standard, and refer to comics as ‘children’s books’. Graphic novel lovers turn their noses up at the staggeringly

high word counts of classic literature and their superfluous descriptions, as they flick through another page of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim

Instead of drawing a hard line in the sand, we should... embrace the differences between each medium.

However, the most important thing we as readers need to focus on is the experiences we get out of our chosen medium. As long as you’re having a good time unwinding with whatever you choose to read and it’s able to bring some joy to your day, that’s all that matters. Instead of drawing a hard line in the sand, we should focus on bringing more readers into the world of both literature and graphic novels, and embrace the differences between each medium. Taking this into account, if you have the chance I’d strongly suggest picking up something you wouldn’t usually read for a change of pace - you might be able to discover a newfound passion!

Semhar (Semi) Tesfazgy Editor in Chief

Image: An Olive Grove Ends, Hachette.

Image: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little

Editors: Isabella Poderico and Maisie

Into the Osemanverse: An Afternoon with Alice

Francesca Sylph Senior Editor TW: MENTAL HEALTH, EATING DISORDERS.

On 3 February, I was lucky enough to attend An Afternoon with Alice Oseman at Conway Hall in London. The Waterstones exclusive event was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary edition of Oseman’s debut novel Solitaire. Oseman was joined by actor Jenny Walser who plays Tori Spring in the Netflix adaptation of Heartstopper

First published in 2014, when Oseman was just nineteen years old, Solitaire is a searingly honest and authentic YA novel which follows sullen, self-deprecating teenager Tori Spring. Her life becomes a lot more complicated, however, once she meets Michael Holden, her polar opposite and devout optimist. It’s a classic black cat and golden retriever relationship, with a whodunnit mystery thrown in the mix. Solitaire also introduces readers to a beloved cast of characters who would go on to appear in Oseman’s other interconnected books, aptly titled the ‘Osemanverse’, including Heartstopper fan favourites Nick and Charlie.

The conversation began with Oseman discussing the process of writing and publishing Solitaire. Oseman started writing the novel when they were only seventeen years old before it was picked up by HarperCollins two years later. Rather than arriving as a fully formed and fleshedout character, Tori grew out of a short story exploring the internal life of a pessimistic teenager riding the bus to school. At the time, Oseman was experiencing “an

obsessive Catcher in the Rye phase” which makes sense given Tori’s characterisation. She is incredibly Holden Caulfield coded.

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You can tell it was written by a teenager for teenagers.

When discussing the intention and inspiration behind Solitaire, Oseman revealed that they were simply “trying to write about the world that [they] knew and about people like [them].” Literature can be a wonderful form of escapism and imagination. However, it is often the stories that are a little closer to home which tend to resonate more, especially when it comes to representation. All of Oseman’s books explore LGBTQIA+ storylines and characters. While Tori’s asexuality is not explicit in Solitaire (since Oseman themself had not yet come to terms with their own identity), her journey is explored in the Heartstopper webcomic, coming out to her younger brother Charlie in Volume 5. Oseman even hinted that this storyline

would be expanded in future seasons of the Heartstopper adaptation.

Reflecting on the early stages of their career, Oseman stated that Solitaire “was written by someone who really had no kind of inhibitions about what she was writing. She was just writing about anything that she wanted.” Oseman hopes to “get back to that one day.” For many, this is the appeal of Solitaire; it is incredibly honest and unflinching in its portrayal of adolescence. You can tell it was written by a teenager for teenagers.

Solitaire, and the wider Osemanverse, explore complex issues such as mental health and eating disorders. When asked about their decision to tackle difficult themes, especially in the YA genre, Oseman replied, “I think it’s because they’re real […] It’s what real people are going through every day. And what teenagers are going through every day.” They insisted that “it’s just real life.” For readers who discover Solitaire after Heartstopper, they may be surprised at the difference in tone and maturity level. While both explore the aforementioned themes, Heartstopper remains reasonably light-hearted while Solitaire is much darker. Nevertheless, both are undeniably authentic and real.

Since the Netflix adaption of Heartstopper premiered back in April 2022, Oseman has gained a wide audience of not only young adults, but older fans too.

In an article for The New Statesman, TV critic Scott Bryan discussed the strange sense of melancholy that queer adults may experience in response to Oseman’s work. There is simultaneously a sense of joy and grief – joy for the younger generations

who get to grow up with Heartstopper, but grief for the older generations who were robbed of such representations. When asked about this phenomenon, Oseman earnestly articulated that “it’s […] really special to know that people of all ages can find something in my work that they can relate to […] I’m very grateful.”

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Joy for the younger generations who get to grow up with Heartstopper, but grief for the older generationswho were robbed of such representations.

So, what’s next for the Osemanverse? Well, Oseman is currently in postproduction for season 3 of Heartstopper so fans can look forward to that later this year. They are also plotting the sixth and final volume of the Heartstopper webcomic. However, never fear, Heartstopper fans! Oseman revealed that they “will not stop drawing Nick and Charlie until [they] die.” Hopefully this means we can expect more mini-comics even after the series comes to an end. Looking beyond Heartstopper, Oseman hopes to create new characters and storylines, expanding the Osemanverse even further.

Both the 10th anniversary edition of Solitaire, featuring new cover artwork and sprayed edges, and Heartstopper Volume 5 are on sale at Waterstones now. The new editions of Nick and Charlie, This Winter, Radio Silence, Loveless, and I Was Born For This are available for preorder.

Image: @AliceOseman on X

Exploring Brighton with Brighton’s Hidden Walks by Ric Morris

Ishita Agarwal Staff Writer

As an international student, arriving in Brighton felt like stepping into a whole new world. The bustling streets, the salty sea breeze, and the vibrant energy of the city filled me with excitement and anticipation. However, although it had been some months of calling this beautiful place home, I didn’t quite feel connected to the city. Armed with a sense of adventure and a borrowed copy of Ric Morris’s Brighton’s Hidden Walks, this past week I set out to uncover the city’s best-kept secrets in an attempt to rekindle my love for this seaside gem. Each page held the promise of uncovering hidden treasures and secret stories woven into the fabric of the city’s rich tapestry.

My first adventure took me through the winding streets of The Laines, where I found myself mesmerized by the kaleidoscope of

colours splashed across the walls in the form of street art. As I meandered through these narrow alleyways, I was greeted by a riot of colour and creativity - the vibrant street art adorning every corner telling stories of rebellion, love, and everything in between.

My next stop was the iconic Royal Pavilion, a majestic palace nestled amidst lush gardens and ornate domes. Stepping through its opulent halls felt like traveling back in time, as Morris’s guidebook regaled me with tales of its storied past.

From there, I ventured into the vibrant neighbourhood of Kemptown, where narrow streets lined with colourful townhouses beckoned me to explore.

Following Morris’ lead, I wandered off the beaten path and stumbled upon hidden gems - a cozy café tucked away in a quiet alley, a boutique showcasing local artisans’ creations, and a lively pub buzzing with laughter and conversation. Kemptown was

a melting pot of cultures and creativity, each corner brimming with its unique charm and character.

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Because with each step, you become a part of the story too.

My last stop for the day was Stanmer Village, home to the picturesque Stanmer House, a hidden gem on the outskirts of Brighton. As I roamed its lush grounds and explored its winding pathways, I was greeted by breathtaking vistas of the surrounding countryside - a reminder of the natural beauty that lay just beyond the city’s borders and so close to us in the University. With its sprawling green meadows, winding pathways, and historic landmarks, the park offered a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and served as a reminder of the slow life.

I have yet to explore all the places

mentioned in the book, but throughout my journey, Morris’ expert guidance led me to hidden gems and off-the-beatenpath treasures that I never would have discovered on my own. From quirky cafes to hidden gardens, each site offered a new perspective on the city and its vibrant culture. But beyond the physical landmarks, it was the people I encountered along the way who truly made my experience unforgettable. From local artisans to fellow explorers sharing in the adventure, each encounter left a lasting impression and reminded me of the beauty of human connection. None of this would’ve been possible without Ric Morris’ book. So to all fellow adventurers out there, I urge you to grab a copy and set out on your own adventure. Who knows what hidden treasures you might uncover along the way? Because with each step, you become a part of the story too.

Arts: Film and TV

Pink to Make the Boys Think: Barbie and Representation in Awards Shows

Charlotte Berry Comment Editor

In a world that claims to embrace diversity and inclusion, the glaring lack of representation in traditional award shows continues to raise eyebrows and question the relevance of these glitzy affairs. The 2023 film Barbie being snubbed by the Oscars is just the latest reminder that the entertainment industry is struggling to recognize and celebrate diverse talent.

A cinematic triumph that transcended expectations, Barbie not only showcased the iconic doll in a fresh light but also shattered preconceived notions about storytelling and representation. Yet, one can’t help but wonder if the significance of traditional award shows is keeping up with the evolving landscape of cinema. January was a disappointing month for the Barbie cast; Jo Koy’s tone-deaf speech at the Golden Globes belittled and sexualised Barbie, reducing it to a film about “a plastic doll with big boobies”. The Oscar nominations’ snubbing of Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig further rubbed salt in the wound. In light of his third nomination, Ryan Gosling (Ken) roused public discontent with the Oscars’ voting panels, stating that “There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie.” Both award shows completely missed Barbie’s feminist message by failing to give these talented women the recognition they deserve. This

begs the question, is the red carpet truly rolled out for everyone?

This begs the question, is the red carpet truly rolled out for everyone? “

Another glaring issue that Barbie highlights is the persistent need for more women of colour to be recognized on these grand stages. It’s as if the dazzling lights of the red carpet can’t quite illuminate the accomplishments of these talented individuals. Award shows have often been criticised for failing to acknowledge the full spectrum of talent that exists. Barbie’s diverse cast and crew hold in esteem the brilliance that women of colour bring to the industry. The problem in awards shows extends beyond mere oversight. The composition of voting panels plays a pivotal role in determining who takes home these coveted trophies. The uncomfortable truth is that many of these panels are majority white men, resulting in a skewed perspective that perpetuates the same narratives and reinforces existing power structures. How can we expect a varied range of voices to be heard when the decision-makers themselves lack diversity? While they may pat themselves on the back for handing out a token nomination or two, the reality is that these shows are often dominated by familiar faces. Leonardo DiCaprio’s amassing a total of 37 nominations is just one example of white

men pushing other talents to the wings. It’s not that traditional award shows are entirely irrelevant; rather, they are at a crossroads. The world is changing, and the entertainment industry must continue to evolve with it. Embracing diversity is not just a moral imperative; it’s a business necessity. As the success of the 2023 Barbie film demonstrates, audiences are hungry for fresh perspectives and stories that resonate with their lived experiences. Social media has shown that the public has become increasingly vocal about demanding change. Digital public forums, like X and Instagram, are powerful devices for mobilising communities and calling out instances of injustice. As audiences become more discerning, the disconnect between

traditional award shows and the real world becomes even more pronounced. Award shows need to reevaluate their selection processes and ensure that voting panels are representative of the diverse talent pool that exists. Recognizing and celebrating underrepresented voices should not be an afterthought; it should be at the forefront of the industry’s priorities. The empowering message of the 2023 Barbie film is a wake-up call for an industry that often seems stuck in its ways. As of this moment, there is still progress to be made before we can confidently assert that traditional awards shows are truly relevant to the 21st century. But, in the wise words of Ken, will this be “kenough”?

No New Ideas in Hollywood

It seems that Hollywood has run out of ideas. Remakes of movies have been a thing for a long time, arguably reaching back as far as the late 19th century. However, in the past two decades, the number of remakes being made has increased drastically. There has been a prevalent lack of original ideas with quite a few movies in recent memory being about reinventions of already beloved characters, such as Winnie the Pooh. Furthermore, there has been a recent wave of continuations of movies decades after their last release, for example, Bad Boys for Life (2020), starring Will Smith, which released a good 15 years after the original Bad Boys (1995) movie. Whilst this may seem like a good thing, for those who yearned for a continuation, many of these remakes have ruined the memories of their most beloved characters. Starting with one of the most controversial topics in cinema: live-action remakes. The entertainment mammoth that is Disney has been releasing liveaction remakes of their most beloved

classic movies for the past decade. This has incurred varying degrees of both dread and excitement in fans. On the one hand, it has been a dream come true to witness so many fairy-tale-like scenes in a real-life setting. For example, the Cinderella (2015) movie, which was done quite well, having brilliant costumes and storytelling, to The Jungle Book (2016) which was another fan favourite for many of the same reasons.

On the other hand, there have been times when the live-action remake hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, such as the heavily debated Belle dress in Beauty and the Beast (2017). It makes one wonder if Disney has run out of ideas and is simply just trying to make more money through remakes. Can’t Disney make more original movies? However, this may be too large a request to make as even some of their most recent original films, barring Wish, are based on pre-existing folklore and stories, for example, Encanto. Besides, the lack of ideas and imagination, it can also be argued that remakes and sequels are just blatant money grabs. Take the 2020 Mulan movie, for instance. By using the Mulan name,

Disney was able to utilise the existing film’s existing fan base. Disney marketed it as a retelling of a much-beloved story, however, the actual movie had very little to do with the original source. Mulan was given superpowers, beloved characters like Mushu were left out, and in addition, the underlying message that anyone can succeed with hard work and perseverance was belied. I personally believe that if it had been marketed as loosely based on the story of Mulan, then it would have had a much better reception. But, it wasn’t, leaving customers duped into giving their money for a product under false impressions, cementing that Mulan was just a blatant money grab.

It seems that Hollywood has run out of ideas.

Sequels face the same accusation. Franchises such as Fast and Furious seem to go on and on with seemingly no end in sight. The stories of franchises like this are often drawn out and lose the heart and feel of the original intentions behind the movies. How does a franchise that started

out about undercover cops investigating drag-racing end up with two men going to space in an old car held together by duct tape? This is just another of the reasons as to why we need more original ideas and why we need to know when to stop and let a project come to a natural end.

These kinds of successes are few and far between and the sheer number of flops in regard to remakes far outweigh them.

Furthermore, oftentimes when there are remakes and reiterations, they don’t do the original source material justice, as seen with the tragic Gossip Girl (2021) reboot. However, that’s not to say that there haven’t been any good remakes, reimaginations or continuations in the past couple of years. I’ve enjoyed a fair few, such as Cruella, Planet of the Apes and Tron: Legacy. But, I think that these kinds of successes are few and far between and the sheer number of flops in regard to remakes far outweigh them.

Jemimah Kayode Film and TV Editor

Image: Barbie, Mattel Films.

Breaking Animation’s Gender Stereotypes: Exploring Miyazaki’s Male Characters

Ceylan Aktürk Staff Writer

Hayao Miyazaki, who I consider the master of Japanese animation, has continually challenged conventional societal norms with the characters in his works. What makes Miyazaki’s work captivating is the way he uses the power of storytelling by harmonising Japanese folklore and history to produce a defamiliarising impact on the audience. This defamiliarisation is most apparent through gender norms. Although strong female protagonists are often the most noticeable feature of Miyazaki’s animated films, his works also feature a unique portrayal of male characters that challenge traditional norms of masculinity. When I say “strong female protagonists,” it may seem like something unconventional (although it is not, we still get impressed by a bare minimum effort when we see any female character that does not fit traditional gender norms) if we consider conventional gender norms. But his works’ unconventional gender representations extend beyond their heroic lead female characters. Even though Miyazaki’s courageous female protagonists break conventions, his portrayal of male

characters is also powerful. By portraying male characters with classically feminine and masculine traits, he redefines masculinity and broadens the possibilities for male identity in animation.

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He redefines masculinity and broadens the possibilities for male identity in animation.

Miyazaki’s approach to masculinity diverges from the rigid and sometimes one-dimensional representations often seen in the animation industry. Instead of conforming to traditional standards that define masculinity as emotional or physical detachment, Miyazaki creates characters that defy these expectations and represent a more complex and flexible concept of gender. One of the most striking examples is Howl (Takuya Kimura) from Howl’s Moving Castle. Howl is an emotionally expressive and powerful wizard introduced as a charismatic character with extreme beauty and a touch of vanity. He spends hours dressing up and styling his hair to show his beauty to the fullest whilst also being fearless and protective, sacrificing his life to save Sophie, the main character. They both find strength and support in each other, resisting societal expectations

of gender roles in relationships. Miyazaki does not hold back from creating Howl’s character as vulnerable and sensitive, challenging the biased notions of what it means to be a typically masculine and strong character. By defying gender preconceptions, Howl demonstrates that a male character may easily embody both conventionally feminine and masculine traits. His self-assurance and confidence indicate that having good looks and being sensitive to others do not have to come at the expense of bravery or strength.

Another great example is the character Haku (Miyu Irino) from Spirited Away Haku, primarily introduced as a mysterious companion, uncovers vulnerability and emotional depth afterwards. His fluid identity, shaped by magical transformations, encounters the fixed boundaries of gender roles. Miyazaki uses Haku to demonstrate that strength and courage are not exclusive to traditionally masculine traits but can be found in vulnerability, empathy, and adaptability. Traditionally linked with femininity, these attributes set characters like Howl and Haku apart from the steady and stoic masculine stereotypes usually shown in animation. By juxtaposing strong, autonomous female characters with these “feminine” male characters, Miyazaki

creates a universe in which gender roles are inclusive and multidimensional. He challenges the dichotomy of masculine and feminine by presenting a range of expressions that go against conventional norms. This is especially important for animation, a medium sometimes accused of maintaining gender stereotypes in its depictions of characters. Although Miyazaki’s thoughtful treatment of gender fluidity has drawn appreciation for fostering less prejudiced gender stereotypes in our real and imaginary worlds, some contend that these characters’ subtlety fails to effectively refute stereotypes or that some audiences fail to recognise their importance.

Miyazaki’s gender-fluid male characters challenge masculine stereotypes, embracing sensitivity and complexity while inspiring viewers to re-evaluate fixed gender boundaries and find strength in our shared humanity. Though his works are still both criticised and praised, Miyazaki’s gender-fluid characters continue to have a subtle impact, gradually shattering stereotypes, challenging conventions, and encouraging more inclusivity in animation.

When Did Journalism Become the ‘It’ Career for Rom Com Leading Ladies?

Francesca Sylph Senior Editor

As a self-confessed hopeless romantic and connoisseur of chick flicks, it will come as no surprise when I tell you that I was raised on rom coms. Looking back, my love for the genre had less to do with the formulaic romances and more to do with the cosmopolitan, careerfocused leading ladies who I so desperately admired and dreamed of becoming. They made journalism look chic, sexy and glamorous. Newsflash! It’s not. I was duped, hoodwinked, bamboozled! After almost five years of devoting my life to the craft, I can confirm that it is not sexy; it’s just stressful.

From Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada to Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, female journalists are a staple of the contemporary rom com. The trend can be traced all the way back to the 1940 screwball comedy His Girl Friday which features Rosalind Russell as the first ‘Hot Girl Journalist’ Hildy Johnson. There are a handful of fictional female journalists that I can point to over the next few decades. In 1976, for example, Faye Dunaway starred in Network as Diana Christensen, a terrifyingly competent and extremely fashionable television executive. However, the trend didn’t really cement itself into the genre until the late 1990s.

In Never Been Kissed, a classic ‘90s chick flick, Drew Barrymore plays a baby-faced junior copywriter and ex-nerd who goes undercover at her former high school in search of a big break. Of course, the incredibly important investigation hits a snag when she falls for her English teacher. Dubious ethics aside, why is it always the English teacher? Has no one ever had a crush on their Maths teacher before? Algebra can be sexy, guys! It’s not all Shakespeare and Shelley. This is exactly why we don’t have more women in STEM.

Going into the early noughties, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days follows a women’s advice columnist (Kate Hudson) who butts heads with an equally competitive advertising executive (Matthew McConaughey). Andie Anderson is the ‘It Girl Journalist’ of my dreams. No one else can rock a pair of low rise jeans quite like a 2003 Kate Hudson.

“ I wanted to live in a ‘Big City’ and write ‘Very Important Things’ while doing the classic Carrie Bradshaw run-walk.

Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner) from 13

Going on 30 is another fictional female journalist who I worshipped as a child. To me, she was Jesus and Teen Vogue was my Bible. Much like 13-year-old Jenna, I was

desperate to be “thirty, flirty and thriving.” I wanted to live in a ‘Big City’ and write ‘Very Important Things’ while doing the classic Carrie Bradshaw run-walk because I am oh, so very busy, but you could never tell because I am oh, so very glamorous. Two decades later, however, I have some concerns. No matter how cute Mark Ruffalo is, Jenna still has the mind of a 13-year-old which is deeply disturbing to think about. Furthermore, her drastic redesign of Poise magazine, without seeking approval might I add, should’ve resulted in her firing. Nevertheless, the nostalgia outweighs the negativity.

The 2000s were truly the golden age of female journalists in rom coms. Post-2010, the rom com landscape looks bleak. Set It Up from 2018 is one of the few examples I could think of, however, it never reached the commercial success or cultural status of its predecessors. Earlier this year, Kate Hudson made headlines after appearing on The View and discussing the lack of rom coms being made today. She attributed the problem partly to male movie stars not wanting to make rom coms, and partly to big studios for not investing in rom com writers or directors. She’s not wrong. Where is our Gen Z Nora Ephron? Bring on the rom com renaissance, please!

There are countless criticisms I could launch towards these movies. Namely,

the heteronormative storylines and Eurocentric beauty standards that plague the genre. Furthermore, fictional female journalists are rarely allowed to be both good at their jobs and happy in their love lives. The professional and the personal are wholly incompatible (but only for women, of course). Despite my complaints, I do owe these movies a lot. It might sound silly but I credit my passion for journalism, at least in part, to these fictional women. While journalism may not be as glamorous as Hollywood promised me, I will always look back on these movies, and the little girl that loved them, with affection and nostalgia.

Image: 13 Going on 30, Columbia Pictures.

Visibility for Disability is on a Steady Incline in Film & TV

Atreyo Palit Staff Writer

In 2022, Troy Kotsur won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Sian Heder’s CODA, becoming the first deaf man to win an Oscar for acting. Back in 1987, his CODA co-star Marlee Matin won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Randa Haines’ Children of a Lesser God, becoming the first deaf person to win an Oscar. The thirty-five years in between have been marked by an intentional rise in the representation of differently abled individuals. Mainstream representation is often marred by controversy, due to tokenism or the employment of an ablebodied performer, like the case of Maddie Ziegler playing an autistic character in Music directed by Sia. However, some films and TV shows have had the clear intent of creating a space for people with disabilities like the most recent casting of Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Echo becoming the first deaf protagonist in the MCU. Cox herself is deaf and Maya has a narrative arc that is not focused on her disability but is consistently affected by it. However, she is not the first deaf actress in the MCU, Lauren Midloff played the deaf character Makkari in Eternals directed by Chloe Zhao. Both of these characters only converse in ASL and many do not consider this a form of tokenism.

Authenticity should always be the priority for representation, and a great example of this is the character of Isaac (George Robinson) in Netflix’s Sex Education. Robinson is tetraplegic and uses a power-assisted wheelchair. His character’s disability has been written around him, incorporating his wants and needs in the creative process. In the latest and final season of the show, there is a subplot dedicated to the difficulties caused by Isaac’s disability, specifically the necessity of lifts in his school building, which is crucial for him to access the upstairs. The school has only one malfunctioning elevator, which restricts Isaac’s access to all the facilities. The story culminates in a protest by the students and the fixing of said elevator. Isaac’s role

in the series began with him introducing a love triangle dynamic between two of the main characters, followed by becoming best friends with one of them. So, his story focuses on all aspects of his identity and not just his disability while still consistently addressing the ways it affects his life. This kind of intentional storytelling creates meaningful representation.

The trend of focusing on creating fleshed-out characters with disabilities, who have more to their stories than the impact of their disabilities on their lives is heartwarming to see, especially when it is coupled with the casting of performers with these disabilities as that ensures employment for people from the differently abled community. The occasional outlier can still be found, like with Sound of Metal directed by Darius Marder, where Riz Ahmed, a hearing actor, plays a drummer in a band who loses his hearing through the course of the film. The casting choice does not, however, feel inherently questionable because of the sensitivity with which the story is told, including its use of sound design to communicate the loss of hearing, and also because the character has hearing to begin with. The situation is not black and white, and most importantly, the rise of representative casting and intentional storytelling over the last few years has led to a steady incline in the visibility of disability.

STAFF WRITER PICK:

Bonnie Hull Staff Writer

IAsteroid City

still don’t understand the play?” “Doesn’t matter. Just keep telling the story.” This quote from Asteroid City should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds when taking in this film. We are all well aware of the Wes Anderson trend that circulated on TikTok in 2023. Alongside the creation of our own Wes Anderson productions, he released his own. Despite sparking extensive discussions since its release, I consider Asteroid City to be one of Anderson’s most sincere works. Based in 1955, he takes us to a small town in an American desert, which is hosting a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention. An extraterrestrial visitor interrupts the convention which puts the whole event on lockdown. Asteroid City includes Wes Anderson’s signature long takes, prevalent symmetry and iconic colour theory. There is also a typical lack of protagonists or antagonists; rather, each individual contributes to the collective narrative with their unique stories and morals. Similarly seen in The French Dispatch, where Anderson weaves a multiplicity of stories around each character’s individual mission in the film. Asteroid City stands as a notable film from 2023 in my view, as I rarely witness films which can make me feel impassioned whilst Jeff Golblum dressed as an alien stares blankly at me through the screen. This film is silly, yet highly thoughtprovoking and I admire that. Asteroid City presents the impact of human connection; it embraces uncertainty and abnormality and remoulds them into this beautiful and abstract work, filled with surreal imagery and existentialist rabbit holes. Initially slow and perplexing, Anderson encourages embracing non-linear storytelling; clarity is not always a prerequisite for significance.

The Problematic Persistence of Age Gap Tropes in Media

Isabel Cattermole Staff Writer

Pretty Little Liars is an American teen drama-mystery that ran from 20102017. The show is loosely based on Sara Shepard’s book series of the same name. Throughout the seven seasons, multiple inappropriate relationships were romanticised, the most notorious being a ‘love triangle’ between teenage girls Alison, Aria, and their English teacher Ezra.

Pretty Little Liars’ principal character, Alison DiLaurentis perpetuates the common myth that teenage girls are more fun to be in a relationship with, as opposed to older women. In this television show, Alison is portrayed as the ringleader and ‘glue’ to her girls-only friendship group. The friend group is entangled in secrets that Alison creates and collects without clueing the other girls in. Whilst the characterisation of Alison portrays her as a self-assured, confident, and independent woman, this is inherently wrong. Alison is actually a child

of fifteen, a character specifically written to portray the ‘older than her years’ trope that the media is obsessed with. One of the many secrets Alison is keeping is her relationship with a man known to be nine years her senior. This couple is one of the many illustrated throughout the TV series, with no consequences for the adults, who pray on these young girls. Another illicit relationship that’s shown in Pretty Little Liars comes from Ezra who seeks out Aria, a student of his. The backstory to this relationship only makes it worse, as Ezra had previously been interested in Aria’s friend… Alison. As a teenager myself, I vividly remember feeling outraged with Aria’s parents and their disapproval of her relationship with her English teacher. What does it say about the message being conveyed that such outrage can be invoked in the viewer?

Of course, these depictions of romance aren’t a problem exclusive to Pretty Little Liars but there is something particularly worrying about the glorification of

relationships between minors and adults when the target audience is below the age of consent themselves.

This problem is potentially damaging to young women and men too who are being shown immoral, sexist and corrupt relationships. Attitudes which normalise relationships of the sort routinely depicted in Pretty Little Liars have real consequences. According to NSPCC findings, the number of online grooming cases has increased by a massive 60% in the last three years; four in five victims are girls, often between the ages of 12-15.

Whilst researching the age gap trope, looking to find research exploring the glamorisation of this serious issue, I found numerous book and TV recommendations instead, not to mention many real-life examples that popped up. The illustrations in the media of this trope risk teaching the youth that these are healthy relationships and even the kind that one should wish for. This results in the boundaries between children and adults becoming increasingly

blurred. The more these pressures invade the space of childhood, the more young girls believe that they must conform to these standards. Furthermore, the years between being a teenager and, say, being in your early twenties are, for most people, completely transformative. If you’re in a relationship with a large age gap that started when you were under the age of consent, the power difference will be immense. Power matters, not just in our politics and workplaces, but in our families and intimate relationships too. These inequalities are baked in, and that’s the point. In a functional relationship, both partners have equal power, whereas in this type, one person holds the power.

Of course, not every relationship featuring age gaps in the media takes place between adults and minors. But the ones that do are guilty of the hyper-sexualisation of young girls, creating the dangerous narrative that in order to be noticed and loved, they need to be conventionally attractive and sexually available.

Image: Sex Education, Netflix.

Arts: Music

The History of Sussex Music: From Jimi Hendrix to… Nothing?

Brighton has always had a history of musicality. The beating heart of the city revolves around our small venues hosting the best up-and-coming talents there is to offer. It brings people together from different walks of life and provides the foundations of lifelong friendships. The music isn’t half bad either! The music of Brighton once thrived on our very own campus, and when I say this, I don’t mean the occasional Gin and Jazz night in Room 76 (albeit these events never fail to entertain). But once Sussex had global icons on our doorstep, even after they got their big break. This article will dive into their ventures, and ponder the question of whether we can get this to happen again. Considering the vast amount of debt we undergo for a diminished experience regarding live music, we should not accept anything less. After getting in contact with people who lived through Sussex’s live music glory days, our spiral into researching our University’s musical past evolved into questioning why large-scale music events seem unfathomable to occur on our campus today. Sure, the Sussex Students’ Union does some good; this paper would not be possible without them providing us with funding, for example. But the norm of large-scale community events, promoting values such as unity and solidarity, has faded from existence.

For now, let’s go back to the Swinging Sixties, the decade that birthed the age of modern music. Sussex was lucky enough to host a handful of ‘60s icons. One of these was the late and great Chuck Berry, known for revitalising the 12-bar blues and, some argue, actually being the Father of rock music (but we all know the real Father was Marty McFly). Chuck spared no expense at Sussex, cleverly utilising what was then new lighting technology to enhance his

performance. According to Sussex Alumni Stephen Carter in 1965, “Chuck always did his trademark duck-walk, and the lighting was set to project a shadow of him doing that onto one of the walls of the (then) Refectory. Utterly amazing.” Another noticeable feature of the ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll scene at Sussex was the legendary (I don’t use that word lightly) Jimi Hendrix. Yes, Jimi Hendrix came to Sussex, tell that to your Mum and Dad. Hendrix’s innovative control of feedback and distortion, as well as the introduction of the famed ‘WahWah’ effect, influenced countless others who came after him. Carol Lashmar, a Sussex alumni who assisted in the lighting of Hendrix’s performance, documented his visit. Apparently, “He came on an hour late at least after drinking rather a lot of whiskey, but don’t think it made much difference to the concert in the end!” We couldn’t talk about the ‘60s music scene without including some icons of home turf. One of these would be the utterly incredible Pink Floyd. Of course, their visit to Falmer House would have been before their genre-defining 1973 release The Dark Side of the Moon, so at the time they were relatively unknown. However, their potential was easy to recognise.

Yes, Jimi Hendrix came to Sussex, tell that to your Mum and Dad.

Enter the ‘70s. The demise of the Beatles helped usher in a new age of music, focussing on artistic classical rock, and defiant punk rock music. Arguably the biggest name in of all punk made an electric appearance at Sussex’s very own Mandela Hall in 1977. This band is, of course, The Clash. Known for rebelling in style and every American movie with a scene set in London (who doesn’t know ‘London Calling’), they transformed the post-punk and new-wave movements that followed punk. They were

loud, rowdy and rambunctious, testing the structural integrity of Mandela Halls’ shoddy concrete. Sussex alumni Paul Cecil recounts the experience: “There was lots of pogo-ing and jumping around, getting very bruised bashing into people. It was mayhem but controlled mayhem for about 35 minutes. The Clash played an outstandingly good set - very short, very loud, very fast”. Speaking of loud and fast, The Who, also known as the loudest live band ever, made an appearance earlier in the decade. Having released their titular album Who’s Next in 1971, it was likely that Sussex alumni were treated to early versions of the classics ‘Baba O’Riley’ and ‘Behind Blue Eyes’. Regardless of popularity, The Who always knew how to make a large impression. According to Sussex alumni Gill Fraser in 1966, “The Who played in Falmer House Refectory in 1970: for some reason, I had to leave before the end, and you could still hear them halfway back to Brighton on the bus!”

The 1980s was a bit of a slower decade for the University of Sussex’s music scene. However, it is worth mentioning that in early ‘82, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin visited Sussex, demoing his early solo work shortly after the death of drummer John Bonham, and the disbandment of the band two months later in December 1980. It was one of the most successful gigs of the decade.

Fast forward to the ‘90s, the decade of pioneering British guitar rock, or, as we know it, Britpop. It gave us Damon Albarn, drama, and a new pretentious song for guitar players to play at functions (‘Wonderwall’, duh). Sussex got a taste of this incredible scene, with Blur making an appearance at the beginning of their careers. Blur had released their debut album Leisure by the time they came to Sussex and were touring their fan-loved but commercially underwhelming album Modern Life is Rubbish. This would have been the first time audiences could be treated to pub classics Parklife and Girls & Boys, which has remained relevant and got them sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium 30 years later. Sussex also paid host to the timeless Radiohead, pioneers in alternative electronic rock, and now global icons. We got into contact with Sussex alumni Keith

Metcalf, who told us details about his experiences at Sussex. “I remember the concerts at East Slope were either free or you just paid a couple of quid,” he recalled. “This meant it was a wonderful opportunity to see new bands and for bands to find a discerning audience. As I mostly saw concerts in my first year, the organisation behind the gigs was a blur to me. I selfishly saw Radiohead and Pulp for free or near to free and I didn’t even realise what an experience I was being given!” A few more big names to drop from can include The Cranberries, Pulp, Manic Street Preachers, and so much more.

We are now in the 21st century, where technological advances are defining modern music and live performance, and with visits from Amy Winehouse, The Kooks and Bombay Bicycle Club, the trajectory of gigs initially showed no signs of slowing down. However, it seems now, in 2024, Sussex University’s music scene is at a relative standstill. Since 2016, only 1 live band has graced our student bars: the amazing local legends Canned Pineapple. The closures of East Slope Bar and Mandela Hall make it difficult to remain optimistic about its revitalisation. Why have these monumental live events ceased to exist in the present day? Perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic slashed the desire to see live music at the University. Although, I somewhat doubt that. It may be down to a Students’ Union who have failed to maintain the once-high standards that the University had regarding the music scene. Considering that Sussex once had names like Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse play their student bars, why has the University failed to hold any major events postCOVID-19?

If this standard continues, could we be saying goodbye to the Golden Age of the Sussex music scene?

As university students, we certainly have the right to demand more from our Students’ Union. If this standard continues, could we be saying goodbye to the Golden Age of the Sussex music scene?

Harry Turnbull and Isabella Poderico Music Editor and Arts Editor

Images: Sussex Alumni page.

Top 5 Record Stores in Brighton

Sophie Martin Staff Writer

1Resident 2

Located opposite Snoopers Paradise, Resident is hard to miss and usually one of the first record stores that Sussex freshers fall into. It’s undoubtedly the biggest on this list, both in terms of shop size and social media presence, boasting an impressive 25.2k followers on Instagram (@residentbrighton), and they even publish regular newsletters. The layout has spacious walkways and ramp access, so it is fully accessible. Resident is also well known for its vast array of live music events. From Declan McKenna to The Last Dinner Party, there is something for everyone here. They have an amazing book selection offering graphic novels such as Heartstopper, which features Sussex’s own Kizzy Edgell in the Netflix adaptation. The biggest stocked category is rock-indie, averaging at £25 per record, while Jazz runs slightly higher at £30, which in terms of Brighton pricing, isn’t terrible.

Cult Hero

Cult Hero is the second most followed on the list, with 12.4k followers on Instagram (@stalk_cult_hero). Unlike the others, Cult Hero’s exterior is light and airy, covered in little gold doodles and, like Resident, has step-free access and wide corridors. I adore the corkboard-like interior and plants which give it a modern and fresh feel, similar to the fancy art house cafes scattered around Brighton. Be sure to take photos of their decor! I wouldn’t categorize it as only a record store since it contains just as many art prints. A big pro of this is the affordability; the prints are priced at £8, whilst mini prints come in at around £4, making the perfect addition to any student bedroom.

3

Wax Factor

Wax Factors’ Facebook (@ waxfactorbrighton) boasts that it’s “one of Brighton’s oldest secondhand record and book store[s]”. The owner is more than happy to help, always checking if you need assistance with anything. Opening in the mid-80s, it definitely feels like more of a hidden gem than the others on this list, with its only social media presence being Facebook with 11 followers. Although it is not the most flashy shop, their solely second-hand stock reminds me of a charity shop, due to being less curated and more of a case where you have to dig around a bit to find what you’re looking for. It’s definitely a labour of love.

4

Across the Tracks

Due Across the Tracks being located right on the corner of the Lanes, I fell victim to walking past it when I first moved here, unaware of its existence. One thing that is definitely ‘unique’ about this store is that it’s the only one I’ve come across that has a smut section. They really do offer something unique for everyone… Swiftly moving on, one drawback is that there’s no step-free access and the store itself is quite cramped, making it hard to navigate, let alone in a wheelchair. Their prices vary hugely depending on what you buy, with collectable vinyls reaching the £100 mark. If you’re looking for something cheaper, however, there’s a huge array of secondhand CDs to bring you back to the 2000s.

5

Rare Kind Records

Covered in eye-catching graffiti and full of Brighton charm, Rare Kind Records is hard to miss. Inside lies a huge selection of dance music spread over three floors available in new and used vinyl records ranging from £15-£30, along with books, magazines, artwork and tapes. Despite having a considerably smaller social media presence (@rarekindrecords) than the front-runners of this list, Rare Kind Records doesn’t let this prevent it from being involved in the live music scene as scattered around the store you’ll find various pamphlets promoting local gigs happening around Brighton, or even in Rare Kind Records itself. Definitely a store to keep your eye on!

AI: The Future of Music?

Jasper White Staff Writer

We’ve all seen your favourite US presidents perform covers on TikTok through the use of AI. But can this technology be used to create new and original pieces of media? AI may trigger a transformative shift in the way we make music, and indeed it already has had an impact. The final ever song by The Beatles was brought to life, only made possible by AI. In 1995, The 3 remaining members of The Beatles tried to record ‘Now and Then’ after Yoko Ono passed them a few demo tapes. Lennon’s vocals could not be isolated from the piano and eventually, the project collapsed. That is until AI made it possible to separate Lennon’s vocals from the piano in the demo tape, birthing the last Beatles song. Presumably, this would be something to celebrate; technology has enabled us to hear a new Beatles song. However, there was a considerable amount of backlash sparking debate about the use of AI in

songs. This is not to say that criticism of AI in songs is unwarranted but, the AI used in ‘Now and Then’ was not a substantial change to the song. AI did not write any new material for the song; it purely allowed for the song to happen.

Music is no longer a uniquely human creation, which could explain the hostility towards AI music.

Such an instinctive reaction to the insignificant use of AI in this song highlights the hostility towards AI art. Perhaps music nowadays is so integral to our identity and AI threatens that. Music is no longer a uniquely human creation, which could explain the hostility towards AI music. Yet, we will happily enjoy and laugh along to AI covers or an image generated by AI. So where do we cross the line? AI covers may be so overtly novel that we understand it is not trying to be art; its main objective

is a quick laugh. But there is a murky grey area between novelty and art, with the distinction being hard to understand. Another question is, how do artists fit into this? Should they be compensated for, what is really, copyright infringement? Artists like Grimes have happily supported AI to be used in their music with royalties splitting 50/50. Yet major record labels are concerned with the market share of their artists, with AI enabling more independently made songs due to the easily accessible AI technology.

At this moment, it is impossible to imagine a world in which AI is able to recreate live music.

One area of music that AI can never replicate is the beauty of live music. Now, I must admit that this is heavily influenced by an incredible band by the name of The Last Dinner Party. After going to see them,

you realise the ability to capture a room and stun people with your performance is something that AI can never do. Yet, no one can ever predict what AI can do and will be able to produce in the future. You never know, we may all end up like the end of WALL-E, wearing jumpsuits, floating in chairs whilst watching The Last Dinner Party through a virtual headset. But at this moment, it is impossible to imagine a world in which AI is able to recreate live music. There is something so magical about being in a sweaty room with a bunch of strangers, watching your favourite band and having a sing-along.

There is something so magical about being in a sweaty room with a bunch of strangers, watching your favourite band and having a sing-along.

Image: Resident / Will Gaffney.

Image: Cult Hero / Will Gaffney.

Image: Rare Kind Records / Nathan Hor.

Arts: Theatre

The Downfall of Andrew Lloyd Webber

Katie Waldron Theatre Editor

From Cats to Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber has become one of the most successful names in musical theatre. Yet, believed to be past his sell-by date, Lloyd Webber now faces daily backlash as it’s time to draw the final curtain.

Starting as a mere 17-year-old, creating dazzling displays such as Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, Lloyd Webber has curated arguably some of the most renowned shows to hit the West End and Broadway stages. Following the car crash that was the Cats musical movie, and the monstrosity of Bad Cinderella, just when will he call it quits?

This may go down as one of the most humorous and outstanding fails in theatre for years to come.

The release of Cats in 2019, based on the 1985 staged musical of the same name, follows a vague plot with unoriginal, repetitive and badly written songs. Don’t even get me started on the animation of the so-called “cats” themselves. For a movie with such a star-studded line-up, including Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson and Judi Dench, the scary-looking animations of the half-human-half-cat disaster left viewers fuming. This is further suggested by the appalling IMDb rating of 2.8/10. However, is this necessarily Lloyd Webber’s fault? Not exactly, but I believe his stage show version suggests just why the movie didn’t work. A vague plotline and repetitive songs

don’t add anything but characters into the mix, so by the time the star song ‘Memory’ is performed, all previous characters are forgotten despite each song being about them. To really portray the hatred of the film, The Badger’s own Music Editor, Harry Turnbull, gives us a brutally honest insight into the musicality behind the show: “Whilst the Cat-Nip fuelled dance numbers are enough to excite and inspire, the musicality and lyricism of Cats should be thrown in the kitty litter and left there.”

“

Whilst the Cat-Nip fuelled dance numbers are enough to excite and inspire, the musicality and lyricism of Cats should be thrown in the kitty litter and left there.

More recently, a new-ish musical with Lloyd Webber’s name on it is Bad Cinderella, a diabolical example of just how NOT to treat a cast of a show. With tacky, childish songs and a quite frankly strange twist on the original Cinderella, this musical was not up to the standards of shows like Phantom of the Opera. Should you not know the story of Bad Cinderella, it follows an unorthodox version of the classic fairytale. Yet this wannabe feminist piece, starting with the protagonist (and antagonist?) standing on a statue vandalising the “most attractive town”, is just a box-office flop. The musical itself closed on 12 June 2022, after running for only 12 months. What’s worse is that Lloyd Webber announced this closure to the media before the show’s own cast, leaving the stars to find out on social media that their contracts are cut. Could

this get any worse? Of course it could! On closing night, an absent Lloyd Webber sent a speech to the cast and audience stating how the show itself “was a costly mistake” and was swiftly followed by a cacophony of boo’s from the audience. To add salt to the wounds of the cast and crew, it opened on Broadway on 23 March 2023unsurprisingly to be shut down again on 4 June 2023 after missing out on a Tony award and losing audience numbers and money. This may go down as one of the most humorous and outstanding fails in theatre for years to come.

All in all, it seems like Lloyd Webber is churning out what he thinks are new and

exciting shows only to have them ruined. It’s quite obvious, due to him surpassing Paul McCartney’s net worth in 2019 with £820 million according to The Sunday Times - later being unveiled that it had dropped to £540 million in 2023, Lloyd Webber may be frantically trying to make new innovative shows to not lose any more money (and failing). Yet this comes at a price, not necessarily for himself, but for the performers whose livelihoods he is willing to destroy to cover up his own mistakes. Seems like money can get to people’s heads.

Review: Smart Casual Tour by Jeff Innocent

Harris McLean Staff Writer

Twenty-six years doing stand-up comedy, just to become an overnight success,” is the predicament that 67-year-old stand-up comedian Jeff Innocent has found himself in. This meteoric rise was the result of a younger comedian suggesting he upload some clips of his performances onto social media. Innocent was then met with a rapid influx of millions of views and thousands of followers, giving him the audience required to start his very first UK tour. A rise to fame this strange is only appropriate for someone with as peculiar a route into comedy as his own. Starting at the age of 41, after being gifted a comedy course for his birthday, he was taught by none other than the architect of British alternative comedy Tony Allen. I arrived at Komedia and was directed down into the basement where I was led to a seat at one of the tables. Looking around, I took notice of how the audience was

comprised of a wide range of different age groups. One of the many benefits of having an audience coming from social media is that it doesn’t self-select certain groups of people, unlike a regular comedy clubgoing crowd. It seemed that this brought in people who wouldn’t regularly be coming out to see live comedy, which is great!

“

A rise to fame this strange is only appropriate for someone with as peculiar a route into comedy as his own. “

After a short wait, Innocent’s support act Sam Picone was sent out to warm up the crowd. We started out on rocky ground with some relatively awkward crowd work and then moved onto some Brighton-based material which was a bit too predictable to really stick. He then moved onto some appearance-based gags about him looking just like every other guy in London, which goes down pretty well but leaves something to be desired.

The unassuming appearance when paired with his laid-back, flat affect doesn’t lend itself to the sort of observational comedy which requires something with a bit more bite to avoid slipping into grey mediocrity. We then got a bit more crowd work and a few more observations which went down to limited laughs. The set ended with a story of bemoaning the concept of cultural appropriation, a premise that is not handled in any particularly interesting or contemplative way. Not much to write home about.

The mismatch between his tough image and comedic style is a central aspect of his act.

This middling performance was put into stark contrast when Innocent came onto stage to an almost triumphant reception. Adorned with a spiked collar, orange tracksuit jacket, and camouflage trousers, his striking appearance was the first thing to be comically deconstructed. He got some good laughs through reconciling his

East-London geezer image, with the silly profession he ended up in. The mismatch between his tough image and comedic style is a central aspect of his act, saying in a recent interview with Richard Herring that his “whole act hangs on that idea”. While there is a good amount of comedic mileage in this, I believe it is his extremely sharp cultural insights that make him shine. He gracefully navigated through a wide range of different topics, from immigration to pornography, and got consistent laughs as the evening rolled on. It was apparent that he was absolutely in his element; decades on the circuit have resulted in a well-polished array of anecdotes and observations which he delivered with comedic precision. He even displayed some great adaptability when unprompted audience participation ended with the room erupting in hysterics. While the lack of a through line did lead to a few lulls, there was little reason to not enjoy this honed hour of great material.

Image: Bad Cinderella, IBDB.

‘God, I Hope I Get It!’:

The Struggles of a Performer

Ciaran Barry Staff Writer

The plight of an actor, be it Dame Judi, your aspiring drama school graduate, or your average kid born with toe on pointe has always been that of a struggle. Whether it be regarding finance, work opportunities, or the relentless shadow of rejection that lurks and whispers over the shoulders of every casting director, every actor enters the industry with a notion of just how cutthroat it can be. However, without knowing how to navigate it, the reality can be so much more crushing.

“ Every actor enters the industry with a notion of just how cutthroat it can be. However, without knowing how to navigate it, the reality can be so much more crushing.

Of course, the desire to perform should always come from a place of

passion. A craving for the greasepaint and bright lights; the rush of the halfhour call already pulsing through their veins. Yet sometimes, all it takes is the blunt refusal of a casting director to knock all of this. I, for one, despite performing not being my forte, have come to reason with the fact that I shall never play Sally Bowles on a West End stage because I am simply not right for the part. Whilst this is a difficult truth to grapple with - my rendition of ‘Mein Herr’ would be nothing short of mesmerising - not being right for a role should not diminish one’s talents as a performer; there are simply roles better suited for you. The gut-wrenching “no” of the casting director is a total kick in the teeth, especially after the amount of preparation and idealisation that goes into the audition process. But sometimes one must acknowledge that this role was perhaps not written for them, and maybe next time they’ll win. So please, do not let anyone behind a casting panel hide your light under a bushel. It may not burn bright for this part, but it’s

perfectly blazing for another.

Then, of course, there is the tale as old as time: the financial stresses of being an artist. No job is stable, contracts end, projects fall through, and Andrew Lloyd Webber is always chomping at the bit to shut another musical via Instagram. However, if the average human changes jobs around five times, surely sticking with performing is one of the best ways to experience every career imaginable? Going from being a French revolutionary on the barricades to one year to being a singing tree; one must weigh up whether the stress of the job is worth the rewards. Moreover, providing production companies follow equatorial and wellbeing guidelines, there are now measures in place to ensure that performers receive fair and livable wages (this, of course, varies depending on the company and whether the piece is regional, West End or touring). With this factored in, it is the space between jobs that becomes one’s enemy, but even some of the most accomplished performers have held down a side

hustle in order to make their dream a reality. So, adaptability and drive is crucial to maintaining the trajectory to breakthrough.

“

Persevering is the only way to succeed in the industry, that and dropping sandbags on people’s ankles.

There is one enemy in the industry that we all share, the apex predators if you will, the triple threats! That was a joke, or not, but for every role that you are suited for, there are a hundred others with fresh interpretations that covet that same role. Sadly there is often only room for one name on the billing - but as I said earlier, performing should come from a place of passion! Of course, jobs can be scarce and there will be nights worrying whether or not it’s time to give in, but I can assure you that persevering is the only way to succeed in the industry, that and dropping sandbags on people’s ankles.

What’s On in Brighton...

Esme Hickman Staff Writer

Brighton is always buzzing with interesting events, whether it be club nights, live music or theatre productions. As we start to welcome the beginning of spring, the city is hosting a wide range of activities in some of Brighton’s best entertainment spots.

For students, Komedia has a variety of unique club nights at a discounted price, as well as stand-up comedy shows. In comparison, the Theatre Royal is the perfect place for Shakespeare fans this month, as it is hosting the world-famous production of Macbeth alongside other classics such as Sister Act. The University of Sussex’s ACCA is also getting involved, as experimental performances and dance productions add variety to March’s itinerary. So, whether you are looking for music, poetry, comedy or performing arts, this city has it all! Prices of tickets and information concerning opening times and locations can be found below.

Theatre Royal Brighton

Arminstead Maupin: Novelist

Monday 3 March | Doors open at 7pm Tickets from £30

Drop the Dead Donkey (comedy play)

Wednesday 5 - Saturday 9 March

Showings at 2:30pm and 7:45pm Tickets from £13

Sister Act The Musical

Monday 11 - Saturday 16 March

Showings at 2:30pm and 7:45pm Tickets from £13

Macbeth

Tuesday 26 March | Showings at 1:15pm and 6:30pm | Tickets from £8

Brighton Dome

New Regency Orchestra

Friday 1 March | Doors open at 7pm

Tickets from £17.50

Poetry Night with Aflo the Poet

Monday 4 March | Doors open at 7:30pm Tickets from £7.50

Wish You Weren’t Here (comedy)

Thursday 7 March, 8pm | 8th March, 2pm & 8pm | Tickets from £7.50

Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra: Celebrating Women

Friday 8 March | Doors open at 7pm Tickets from £6.50

International Women’s Day Workshop

Saturday 9 March | All day | Free admission

Sasha Velour: The Big Reveal Live Show

Sunday 10 March | Doors open at 7pm Tickets from £30.50

Oska Bright Film Festival Launch Night

Monday 11 March | Doors open at 6pm Tickets from £6

Dirty Dancing in Concert

Wednesday 13 March | Doors open at 7pm Tickets from £33.50

Komedia

Monsters Ball (Lady Gaga club night)

Friday 1 March | Doors open at 11pm Tickets from £10

Murder on the Dancefloor (Saltburn/2000s club night)

Friday 1 March | Doors open at 11pm Tickets from £5

Swift! At the Disco (Taylor Swift club night)

Saturday 2 March | Doors open at 11pm Tickets from £5

Victor Patrascan: Failing in Love (comedy)

Wednesday 6 March | Doors open at 8pm Student tickets from £15

Back in Time 80’s Night with the Murdoch’s Crazy Eyes Band

Friday 8 March | Doors open at 7pm Tickets from £15

X-Tapes Queer Rave

Friday 8 March | Doors open at 11pm Tickets from £7

Saturday Night Soul with South Coast Soul Revue

Saturday 9 March | Doors open at 7pm Tickets from £10

Marjolein Robertson: Marj (comedy)

Sunday 10 March | Doors open at 7pm Tickets from £10

Pentire + Sametime + Lonnie Gunn (concert)

Thursday 14 March | Doors open at 7:30pm Tickets from £10

ABBA Disco (club night) Friday 15 March | Doors open at 11pm Tickets from £5

Karl Porter & Friends (comedy)

Thursday 21 March | Doors open at 7pm Tickets from £12.50

Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts

Penumbra: Experimental Performance Thursday 14 March | Doors open at 7:30pm Tickets from £6

Sussex Dance Presents: The Sussex Jam Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 March 10am to 5pm | Tickets from £5

Clark: Composer Thursday 21 March | Doors open at 7:30pm Tickets from £20

Science and Tech

Forging Tradition: Conversations with a Togishi

Sian Scott Science & Tech Editor

Connor Gray’s craftmanship transports customers back to ancient Japan, offering them the rare opportunity to handle historical weaponry, respectfully restored to its original beauty. However, the restoration process starts a little closer to home- in a workshop hidden between the South West hills; a familiar backdrop adorned with his father’s artwork, and its floors littered with the confetti of fine-grit paper. Despite his busy schedule, Connor has kindly agreed to sit down with The Badger and discuss his role in maintaining cultural history through the art of Japanese weapon restoration.

Like many others, Connor reminisces about a childhood rich with outdoor adventures and a deep appreciation for the world around him. His interest in traditional crafts is rooted in his father’s carpentry, a trade Connor attributes to having “instilled an engineering mindset within [him].” Whether dismantling household items to uncover their inner workings or constructing Scrapheap Challenge-inspired sculptures, Connor consistently demonstrated a profound affinity for approaching life through a

creative and mechanical lens.

Connor became “obsessed with weaponry” and at a crossroads regarding where this new interest may take him. He states, “For those intrigued by conflict and the weapons that facilitate it, there are two tangents in which their research can take. Some are drawn to a historical standpoint, whilst others delve into what makes weapons efficient for battle, adopting a more mechanical approach.”

Connor interestingly notes, “[I] never found enjoyment in what weapons did, but more for the beauty in how they were made. Sadly, some of the greatest minds were put towards war and conflict; what they made was beautiful; however, their actions were not.”.

Remaining faithful to his enduring passion for restoration, Connor found himself learning how to restore Japanese swords, known as Nihonto, setting him on the path towards becoming a skilled Togishi.

“Like a piece of art, each blade carries a unique provenance, historically linked to a family, dynasty, or specific samurai. Every blemish, therefore, narrates a story, from battle scars to arrow damage, so preserving these characteristics is crucial in keeping the blade’s narrative alive. It is paramount that the geometry [of the

blade] is maintained. My goal is to make everything homogenous and consistent. I take the blade back to its ‘bare bones’, removing rust and previous polish, with the primary objective to keep everything balanced. What I do to one side of the blade, I must do to the other. I undertake this first part of the restoration process using a belt linisher and Dremel”.

Traditional crafts struggle to keep pace in an era dominated by rapid technological advancements and automated processes. The restoration of Nihonto is no exception to this trend, yet Connor’s work has brought technology to the forefront of traditional practices. By providing a commercial polish, Connor follows in the footsteps of traditional Togishi, albeit with the integration of machinery in lieu of sole manual labour. This adaptation not only streamlines the process, making it more time-effective but also ensures the continuation of a time-honoured practice in the modern world.

After the preparatory stages, Connor adopts traditional hand-polishing methods to smooth the blade’s surface. However, instead of using ancient whetstones, he uses small pieces of fine paper, passing them over the blade in a series of incremental polishes. Within this aspect of the restoration, distinguishing features of

the blade appear, such as a visible hamon: “a clay temper line at the sharp edge of the blade, between hard and soft steel, which varies in pattern according to its forger.”.

Among the final steps in the restoration process is the application of polishing compounds similar to those used to polish diamonds and precious stones. However, this aspect of the restoration is unique to every Togishi. Therefore, alike the times in which the blades were forged, this step remains a closely guarded secret, shared only between the craftsman and his workshop.

Connor’s work can be found in private collections across the UK.

Beyond Blandscapes: Extreme Excursions

The Earth’s Driest Oasis, Atacama Desert

Jenny Choi Science & Tech Sub Editor

Nestled between the towering Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the Atacama Desert stands as a testament to nature’s ability to create marvellous landscapes. Renowned as the driest desert on Earth, this otherworldly expanse receives, on average, only 5 millimetres of rainfall annually, leading to the creation of surreal landscapes like the Valle de la Luna.

The Atacama’s aridity is not the only extraordinary feature. Its high-altitude location makes it a hub for astronomical research. The desert’s clear, unpolluted skies and minimal light interference attract astronomers to the numerous observatories. such as the Paranal Observatory, home to the Very Large Telescope (VLT). This desolate terrain also harbours surprising biodiversity. Unique plant species, such as the resilient llareta, thrive in harsh conditions and animals, like the vicuña and the culpeo fox, roam the vast salt flats and rocky outcrops.

The stark beauty of the Atacama, with its contrasting elements of desolation and hidden vitality, continues to captivate adventurers and scientists beckoning them to explore the secrets of this mesmerising natural wonder.

The Eternal Rain of Mawsynram, India

Ivory Fong Staff Writer

Mawsynram (Maw-sin-rum) may be hard to pronounce, but it’s a place you won’t forget once you hear the overwhelming hammering splashes of rain pounding in your eardrums.

The town in Northeast India receives the highest annual rainfall in the world, surmounting to 467 inches of rain a year, a staggering amount compared to the 31 inches of annual rainfall in Eastbourne.

The breathtaking views of the Khasi mountain range from the nearby town visions hidden gems such as the living root bridges (that look straight out of a scifi movie). Other natural beauties include the Seven Sister Falls, the fourth highest waterfall in India, which plunges 315 metres, making Mawsynram a unique place worth adventuring.

Though the abundant rainfall is a paradise for amphibians such as the Nepal flying frog, data analysis from various rain stations across north-east India show a decrease in rainfall since 1973. The wettest place on earth may be no more in the near future, so definitely put Mawsynram on your bucket list for a once in a lifetime adventure.

Of Mountains & Mandates: The Ethics of Tibetan Tourism

Lydia Rosevere Staff Writer

Tibet; the land of sacred mountains, ancient monasteries and vibrant culture.

Renowned for its famous scenery and spiritual traditions, the region’s beauty is juxtaposed by its complex political history.

Despite Tibet’s natural beauty and prime Himalayan location, tourism has been severely restricted since its annexation by the Chinese Communist Party in 1951, with tourists being disallowed entry during certain months due to anniversaries of political uprisings and subsequent protests.

The question of ethical tourism in contested regions is one of international discourse. The issue of cultural erosion and poverty in countries where censorship is rife. Tourism profits go mostly to the government instead of to local workers, making it difficult for tourists to responsibly travel to such destinations. The effect of colonisation on the Tibetan landscape has also had an adverse effect on tourism. With Chinese-owned mines causing pollution, and hydroelectric dams causing flooding, the geopolitical consequences are apparent.

Organisations such as ‘Free Tibet’ are essential in offering tourists’ resources and information on how to travel to Tibet ethically, providing access to a region of natural wonder currently cut off by political unrest.

Mia Sawyer Staff Writer

The Dead Sea is a salt lake in Asia, bordering Jordan to the east, and Israel to the west. The tourist attraction surrounds the Negev Desert, and its surface and shores are 430 metres below sea level, making it the lowest elevation point on land.

The Dead Sea cannot support marine life due to its extreme high salinity, inspiring its name. There is no such thing as swimming here, the high concentration of dissolved salt leaves the body feeling lighter as you float on the water, contributing to the relaxing experience. A stark contrast to its eerie title.

The holistic benefits of visiting do not stop there. The water contains twentyone different minerals, with components that are recognised for nourishing the skin. Twelve are found in no other ocean, emphasising the distinguishing features of the Dead Sea.

The combination of mud and minerals also promotes circulation by increasing the supply of oxygen to the skin, whilst removing toxins. In turn, purifying and restoring the skin’s minerals.

The Dead Sea: We All Float Down Here

Connor outside The Lanes Armoury by Sian Scott.

2024, Get Lost in the World of Aurora

The wave-like greens weave and twist, with hints of pinks at their tips, dancing in the sky as an elegant and otherworldly celestial choreography. Sweeping and swaying, the lights then surge with a rhythmic energy that seems to echo the heartbeat of the universe.

Sweeping

and swaying, the lights then surge with a rhythmic energy that seems

“The green colours of the waves, like messages from a different world, filled me with awe. I felt so small at that spot of the North Pole. I felt so lonely despite the crowd. I felt a connection with the earth, the sun and the entire universe. It made me appreciate the beauty of the world and the vanity of life,” says Panayoti Bachkangi as the Greek doctor recalls his first encounter with the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, in Tromso, Norway.

The formation of the awestruck Aurora begins with the interaction between the Earth’s magnetic field and particles from the sun.

Intense magnetic activity and high temperature on the surface of the sun

continuously release charged electrical particles into space, forming the solar wind. When the solar wind reaches the earth, our planet’s magnetic field acts as a shield, deflecting most of these highenergy charged particles around the Earth. This creates a region around the earth called the magnetosphere.

As the solar wind particles arrive at the Earth’s magnetosphere, some are captured by the Earth’s magnetic field and guided towards the poles, creating a reservoir of particles. Over time, the magnetic field lines in the magnetosphere become stretched and distorted due to interactions with the solar wind, and eventually snap, releasing the accumulated charged solar particles into the Earth’s atmosphere. When they are released, they are funnelled down into the atmosphere around the magnetic poles, colliding with the atoms and molecules in the earth’s atmosphere, through a series of energy transfer activities, the excess energy stored in the earth’s particles finally releases energy as the light of the Aurora.

The stunning display of Aurora’s colours, including green, violet, pink, white, and blue, depends on the speed at which solar particles enter the atmosphere. Faster particles reach deeper towards the earth’s surface.

At heights of 200 kilometres and above,

oxygen atoms emit red light. Since our eyes are not as sensitive to red light as cameras, the red colour may appear more vibrant in photographs than what we perceive with our naked eye. The dominant, most visible to the naked eye green light is emitted by oxygen atoms at around 100 kilometres in altitude. At lower altitudes, approximately 80 to 90 kilometres, nitrogen molecules emit blue and purplish-red light. In bright and intense Auroras, all colours can be present simultaneously in different parts of the sky.

Be it curtain-like, in bands, pen stretches or waves, the shape and movement of the Aurora are influenced by the solar wind’s speed and the changing

magnetic field.

2024 anticipates the peak of the 11year solar cycle, a period in which the Sun radiates an increased abundance of charged particles and energy. More intense, vivid and stunning Auroras might be seen at an increased frequency across the night sky.

The celestial dance of the lights, the “heavenly feast”, as the Norwegian poet Knut Hamsun described, may become an even more breathtaking spectacle, with senses captivated by the lights, hearts touched by the humbling vastness of the universe, and souls lost in the wonders of the cosmos.

Hacksussex: Expanding on Tech Skills

Semhar (Semi) Tesfazgy Editor in Chief

If you’re a student/teacher that has been in any way involved in the Informatics and Engineering department, you’ve heard of Hacksussex in some way. It’s the largest tech-based society on campus and was first established in 2012. In spite of facing shutdowns during the pandemic, Hacksussex has managed to rebuild itself as a mainstay name amongst other universities/companies that host coding events across the country. It boasts a variety of different events - including weekly socials, networking opportunities and workshops - but is best known for its competitions.

Situated in the Chichester I building, they hold three annual large-scale weekend events - the Game Jam, Coders Cup, and Hackathon. Since the pandemic, Hacksussex has hosted over 500 people across their events - a large number considering that the committee consists of only 21 members. I attended their Game Jam back in late November - and as a Computer Science student myself, I found myself fully in my element. The event consisted of a 24hour long coding fest where teams worked towards the development of a game that they designed, developed, and tested from scratch.

Despite the intense work, morale was very high. Endless snacks, meals from a variety of different cuisines, and unlimited Red Bulls - every student’s vice - meant

teams were buzzing with energy. There was a strong sense of camaraderie with everyone powering through the struggle of trying to stay awake. The overall winners - Jessie Williamson, Wari Dudafa, Alex Artemiev, Jacopo Calvi and Freddie Lowes - developed a game called ‘Ricks Ranch’ utilising unorthodox character controls - and won themselves an Oculus headset each.

Hacksussex provides a social aspect to an often solitary field.

When experiencing the event, you can’t help but notice the amount of work and dedication put into keeping things running smoothly and setting up. From setting up sponsorships with tech companies, to keeping the snack table stocked, and organising the rush of students coming in, it seems like an impossible task. Wanting to learn more about the inner workings behind the event, I spoke to Tom Harwood, manager of Hacksusex, for the details. Firstly, I inquired to Tom about who runs the events and socials, and he explained that the Hacksussex committee, along with event volunteers, come together to run the events and weekly workshops. I was also curious about what the teams’ biggest challenges were when organising events of this scale, and he had this to say:

“I think the biggest challenges are coordinating such a large team, we each have sub-teams and areas of expertise, so communicating amongst many unique

perspectives is a huge task to get things right. Our team meetings are often packed full of ideas and discussions for improving what we offer!”

A big question of mine, and likely many others, is the programming skill level you need to be at to participate. However, Hacksussex game jams and hackathons do not require any prior knowledge or programming skills. Tom mentions that “if you are a good team manager, or perhaps better at pitching a product, or even leading creative direction, these are all skills you can contribute to a project!”

So, if you’re someone who has strengths outside of programming, gathering some

programming savvy friends and forming a team can be a good way to build up your technical skills.

Overall, Hacksussex provides a social aspect to an often solitary field - allowing people of all experience levels to apply and improve their skills in a fun, easygoing environment. You’re able to try out different programming applications outside of what you’d traditionally experience in lessons, whilst also boosting your CV!

If you’re interested in following Hacksussex and the socials/events they’ll be putting on, make sure to check out their Instagram @hacksussex, for all the details!

Cynthia Chan Features Sub Editor

Image: Will Gaffney.

Image: Cynthia Chan.

Sport

From Whitehawk to the World Cup: The Story of Imran Kayani

Kian Shayegan Sport Sub Editor

Playing in the 7th tier of English football on a pitch more suited for a blue run at a ski resort, to playing in a world cup qualifier in a 25,000-seater stadium against a team managed by Roberto Mancini the next week, whilst also studying for a computer science degree, wouldn’t be considered an ordinary day-to-day life of a 22-year-old from Chertsey.

Well, the story of Imran Shahid Kayani is far from ordinary. The talent the forward has shown was hard to ignore even at just 11-years-old, when he was scouted by Chelsea and joined their elite academy whilst also being selected to represent England Schoolboys, where he scored on his debut against Wales. These experiences were how he really developed the desire and drive to want to make it professionally.

“Being in the academy for Chelsea allowed me the opportunity to use the most unbelievable facilities, while also getting a glimpse of first team players training at the time like Lampard, Terry and Drogba, and these things in tandem really inspired me and gave me the hunger to keep pushing so one day I can be in the position they are,” reflects Kayani.

This mentality of having to work extra hard to achieve the things you want to

achieve has been honed into him from a young age. It has been very tough for him to get his foot in the door when it comes to opportunities in the game due to his South Asian heritage. “I feel like straight away I am at a disadvantage, as since there are so few South Asians in the professional game,”

Kayani explains. “Coaches look at me and just assume that I am not as good as my white and Black counterparts. This is why I feel like throughout my career I’ve always had to work twice as hard as others to be able to get the opportunities I’ve been given.”

It’s a tough topic to discuss why so few people of South Asian heritage have made it in the professional game compared to other ethnic backgrounds, but there appear to be two main reasons. One has to do with the lack of support from immediate family, since it is often not perceived as a viable career option. “I think in terms of my local community or just the Asian community in general, they haven’t been very supportive,” Kayani explains. “They’ve kind of looked down upon it [a career in football] saying that ‘He’s a smart kid, just send him to university. He can get a good degree and a job. No Asians make it in football,’ and I think that

really hurt me and my family when people in our community say these things.”

The other reason as to why so few South Asians have made it in the professional game is to do with the lack of funding from governments in academy and grassroots football in South Asia and Kayani himself has stated that he wants to do something to change that. One way he is going about doing this is by representing the national team of Pakistan and helping to take them to heights they have never reached before. Kayani got his first call up for Pakistan last November when they played two world cup qualifier games against Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan, the latter in which he played the full 90 minutes up front.

Despite receiving full-time contract offers from clubs all over the world, Kayani has decided to continue his trade in England whilst completing his degree, and now finds himself playing here in Brighton for Whitehawk FC. So, if you ever want to watch the left footed playmaker work his magic (while supporting nonleague football) then just hop on the 23 bus down to the marina on a Saturday afternoon or Tuesday evening. Or catch a flight to Pakistan on Wednesday 20 March, whichever one’s more convenient.

For the full uncut article, make sure to head online to www.thebadgeronline.com!

How Climbing Helped Me Reach My Goals

Always gonna be an uphill battle; sometimes I’m gonna have to lose.” Love them or hate them, these lyrics from Miley Cyrus’s 2009 hit “The Climb” represent both the sport itself, and the trials and tribulations it can help you cope with. With the addition of the sport to the 2020 Olympics, and the increase in climbing-related films to popular streaming services, including Netflix’s Dawn Wall and Amazon Prime’s Free Solo, it is unsurprising that the popularity of bouldering has grown in recent years. Although most climbers featured in well-known documentaries are men, it is important to break away from the misconception that women cannot be successful within the sport. Boulder Brighton, an indoor climbing centre located a stone’s throw away from Portslade station, is working to welcome more women with their weekly socials. On Monday evenings, the centre offers a “friendly and supportive” session led by a member of staff and tailored towards women. Additionally, Boulder Brighton hosts a session on Tuesdays for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ society,

demonstrating the inclusivity of the sport. In my experience, the only discomfort you will experience is wearing the climbing shoes!

As well as being unprejudiced in terms of who can take part, bouldering has a number of physical and emotional benefits. James Gomez, an employee of Boulder Brighton, advocates climbing in order to help alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. “It’s one of those all-absorbing activities that can clear your mind of whatever else is going on in your life and leave you in a great mood when you’re done,” he states. This claim is echoed by a 2015 study from Luttenberger et al., which found that bouldering (alongside medication) can effectively treat depression. In fact, several psychiatric wards in Germany have begun to use rock climbing as a therapeutic approach.

I have first-hand experience of the benefits of bouldering on mental health. Since childhood, I suffered with symptoms of depression and anxiety, which led to my diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder at nineteen. Whilst other forms of exercise also boost oxytocin, I found that I could still mull over difficulties or put myself down when running or swimming. This is not the case with bouldering, as

it requires a heightened level of focusleaving no space for worrying.

What’s more, rock climbing is a somewhat unique sport in that it can be done both individually or with friends. Unlike with team sports, such as football or rugby, it’s not uncommon to see indoor climbers with just their headphones for company. On the other (chalky) hand, it can be great to climb with a friend, or seek advice from a more experienced climber to progress more quickly.

It’s one of those all-absorbing activities that can clear your mind of whatever else is going on in your life.

Bech’s 2004 research on climbing actually suggested that bouldering can improve social skills, as it lends itself to constant communication with the person supervising from the ground. Gomez advocates taking advantage of the social nature of bouldering, stating that “it can be really fun to work climbs out together.” The sport also benefits the cognitive domain; a 2015 study found that a two hour climbing session boosted working memory capacity. Gomez

agrees with this, arguing that one of the biggest benefits of bouldering is that it helps improve decision-making skills. “Bouldering is a mix of problem-solving, balance, coordination and strength,” he says. “You need to work on all of them to make progress.”

Obviously, climbing can also improve physical health. In 2022, I was diagnosed with Sinus Tachycardia, a faster-thannormal resting heart rate. As a result, I find it difficult to engage in high-intensity cardio workouts. Bouldering is therefore perfect for me, as it has not caused me painful palpitations, and has actually, over time, helped with bringing down my resting heart rate. It is also a sport in which my hypermobility is in fact an asset, rather than a hindrance, as it makes it easier to reach certain holds.

Overall, climbing has given me great friendships and a clearer mind, which I am very grateful for considering my mountain of upcoming deadlines – almost as difficult as Everest to tackle. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, I would recommend attending Boulder Brighton and taking advantage of their student discount while you still can!

Lucy Spencer Staff Writer

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Society Spotlight: Women’s Basketball

Semhar (Semi) Tesfazgy Editor in Chief

Basketball is regarded as a widelypopular sport across the world, and Sussex University is no exception to this. Resilience, unity and triumph are core skills required , and the Sussex Women’s Basketball Team (SWBB) embodies all three. Boasting an impressive 8-0 win streak this season, along with winning the South Eastern 2A league, the modest team consisting of just 18 members have proven themselves to be amongst the most accomplished sports teams at Sussex. However when it comes to getting the full picture of the SWBB, it’s important to take a look at not just their victories, but the obstacles they’ve overcome and the tightknit community they have fostered.

SWBB brings team members into an environment with tough competition and even tougher training, but rewards theri hard work with victory after victory.

To gain a better insight into the teams’ journey, and how they operate, I interviewed Ciara Parker, certified basketball coach and team captain. She was keen to highlight the impact basketball has had on her, becoming a “massive part of my life since picking it up in college” and that “being a part of SWBB has literally provided a big family where we

all look out for each other, pick each other up and celebrate team and individual wins big or small.”

When it comes to training and preparing for matches, the team puts their best foot forward. Ciara explains that official training occurs twice a week, but team members are also gym regulars outside of this. Sussexsport, the gym facilities on campus, hold group exercise classes such as circuit training, which the SWBB team members also take part in. To improve their skills, they sometimes film their games and conduct video-analysis with their coachwhich allows the team to target their weak points in training, and use their gained knowledge to face their next opponent even stronger than before.

Despite the teams’ significant success, they aren’t struggle free. As both a team with a small size, and being the female side in a male-dominated sport at Sussex, they face decreased funding compared to opponents. Cost of living, and a lack of university funding means reaching away games can be tiresome, and puts the team at a disadvantage. Last academic year, building an almost completely new team from scratch (we at The Badger know how difficult that can be), working with a new coach, and moving up a division combined to put a significant amount of pressure on the team, yet they managed to persevere through, with great results.

SWBB brings team members into an environment with tough competition and

even tougher training, but rewards their hard work with victory after victory. The discipline and power they gain on the court doesn’t just end at university, but will be carried throughout their lives and become a core part of their skill set for decades to come. It can be difficult to break through Basketball, but the girls have managed to make a solid name for themselves across the country. Looking to the future, it’s exciting to see where the team will go next. As the BUCS fixtures draw to a close, and varsity beckons, we have high hopes for their performances and wish them all the best. If you’re interested in joining the Women’s Basketball team, trials have unfortunately ended this year - but if you would like to givie basketball a try, there is a Women’s Basketball ActiveUS session from 2-3pm every Sunday, where you can pay £2 to play some matches - coached by Ciara herself! Also, make sure to follow their Instagram page @sussexwomensbasketball for updates on the teams’ progress.

The Formula 1 2024 Season is Nearly Here, But So is F1 Academy’s!

Molly Channell Staff Writer

Formula 1 fans worldwide are bracing themselves for another adrenalinefuelled season full of speed, skill, and spectacles. The F1 Academy racers are also preparing, and are set to make their place in the sport even more prominent with changes to the motorsport realm just along the horizon.

Historically, women’s presence in motorsports has been scarce, with only a few anomalies of women test-driving cars or working in the background. An all-women’s championship, the W Series, was initially set up in 2018, but funding challenges resulted in it ending prematurely in 2022.

Up until recently, the sport has been heavily male-dominated and many fans are unaware that it is one of the few sports in which men and women can race together, according to Motorsport UK. Research conducted by More than Equal, a nonprofit organisation set up to help further women’s chances in motorsport, reveals that physical and psychological barriers do not prevent women from competing

in F1. Instead, negative perceptions and stereotyping within the industry and externally by fans and media about their ability to drive to the same standard as men, a lack of training across multiple areas including track time, lack of female role models and a lack of funding. The normalisation of motorsport being a male-only sport has worked to fuel these barriers.

“Its goal is to inspire and educate the next generation of girls, increase the talent entering the sport, and support it’s future stars by helping them progress to an elite level.

F1 Academy was established to tackle these barriers and change the narrative for women in motorsport. It has a focus on four core pillars: community, youth engagement, talent identification and participation and progression. It’s goal is to inspire and educate the next generation of girls, increase the talent entering the sport and support it’s future stars by helping them progress to an elite level. Furthermore, it

has created a bigger network to provide more opportunities to them. They have inspired girls and women worldwide, letting them know there is a place for them within the motorsport realm, whether it’s off or on the track.

The F1 Academy has already moved mountains for women, the global attention it has received has resulted in their 2024 season being a support series to F1 and the famous 10 F1 teams will represent and support one female racer within the championship. Even their race weekends’ format, including ample track time, addresses past barriers previously preventing them from success. Marta Garcia (the 2023 F1 Academy champion), and Léna Bühler’s (2023 F1 Academy racer) journey into the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA), a Formula 3 racing series, as the only two women drivers of the season, epitomises the ethos of the F1 Academy. It is a testament to the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and unwavering dedication.

Nevertheless, the fight is not over. This is just the beginning. Women overcoming the additional barriers preventing them

from having a career is just one hurdle, securing funding remains a hurdle in the expensive elitist sport that motor racing already is. Changing perceptions of women in motorsport and normalising women’s racing is crucial to attracting sponsors and support. Until we hear the roaring engines of female drivers in the Formula 1 championship or even see a woman lift an F1 trophy, equality in the sport has not been attained.

Changing perceptions of women in motorsport and normalising women’s racing is crucial to attracting sponsors and support.

So when you go to watch the F1 races at Jeddah, Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Marina Bay, Lusail and Yas Marina, tune in early to see the F1 Academy women take on the tracks. Help cement F1 Academy’s ambition to improve visibility, shape the future of motorsport and pave the way for aspiring racers worldwide to leave their mark on its history.

Image: Women’s Basketball Team

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