Term 2, Issue 5

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International student fee rises fixed at 2.5 percent Page 3

First person account: Depression and Me

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2 MARCH 2015, Week 7

NEWS cOMMENT

Tech

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Cops Off Campus SICK! Festival review desperately needs a renaming 13 Page 10

Why we need online voting

Fifty Shades of consumer porn

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Page 15

Students slam Met Police chief Protesters use makeshift riot gear in attempt to disrupt talk by Metropolitan Police Commissioner

Demonstration organised to protest against Met Police’s record of police brutality and institution racism Ayomide Oluyemi A ‘Cops Off Campus’ demonstration against the visiting Metropolitan Police Commissioner was held at the Jubilee building last Wednesday.

The demonstration was prompted by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, coming to give a talk on campus on the same day.

He was invited by the University as part of their Leadership Ethics and Diversity (LEAD) lecture series.

The demonstration began peacefully on the steps outside the Jubilee building.

By lunch time, around 50 people had gathered.

Two banners, one reading “F*** the Met,” and another, “Cops Off Campus, Is a Promise, Not a Demand,” were hung from the side of the Jubilee building.

But 45 minutes later, demonstrators began pushing past security guards to successfully gain access to the Jubilee building.

Students and staff looked on while the demonstrators shouted out chants such as: “No justice, no peace, f*** the Police,” “No nations, no borders, f*** law and order” and, “Who killed Mark Duggan?”

While inside the building, the demonstrators, equipped with homemade riot gear made from plastic delivery baskets and cardboard, physically clashed with security guards while trying to go up the main staircase to the room where the Police Commissioner was presenting.

One demonstrator, a former Sussex student who now works for the University, claimed that all the fire exists to the building were locked by security.

She said: “They’ve locked all the doors.

I heard one security guard tell another.

There’s going to be a clusterf*** if there’s a fire.”

In response to this claim, a University spokesperson said: “Appropriate steps were taken to ensure the safety and security of everyone in the building, with additional monitoring in case of a fire alarm.”

Another demonstrator, who wanted to

be known as Jay, explained his reasons for attending the demonstration.

He said: “I think that it’s incredibly relevant that we don’t let police on campus.

We’ll always be stopped and brutalised by the police. The right to protest is increasingly under threat.”

He expressed concerns over state repression and police violence around the world. He also referred to the recent of killings of Michael Brown and Tamir Rice by police in the USA. The Students’ Union Executive Committee issued a statement prior to the demonstration, stating: “Worrying stories and statistics that inform the public perception of the police being racist, unaccountable and violent.

“Many of the Students’ Union officers will be attending the demonstration to show support for those still demanding justice, and call for an end to police racism and violence.”

Communications Officer Michael Segalov said: “I personally believe that inviting Sir Bernard Hogan- Howe to speak at a leadership lecture is extremely problematic.

“This invitation implies that students should look to him for leadership and as an inspirational figure.”

Disagreeing with the Communications Officer’s decision to support the demonstration, Paul Millar, Students’ Union Media Development Officer, said: “This protest would have gained more support if it didn’t have such a problematic slogan, which suggests there should never be any police presence on campus regardless of circumstances.”

The day before the talk, the Press Bureau for the London Metropolitan Police said: “The commissioner was invited to speak at the University as part of a series on leadership…he is looking forward to doing so.”

A University spokesperson stated: “The LEAD series brings in leading academic researchers and industry professionals to share their knowledge and insight. We are aware of plans for a demonstration linked to this particular talk and are committed to facilitating peaceful protest on campus.”

Joe Cummins

December #copsoffcampus demo “not carried out in line with Union’s rules” Zoë Halse News Sub-Editor An investigation panel set up in response to a complaint about the organisation of a ‘cops off campus’ in December found that the event breached “current explicit Union policy”, The Badger can reveal.

In spite of it being declared as not in

line with Union policy, the panel decided it was however in line with union beliefs and history concerning student welfare and solidarity with students.

The panel articulated that they believed the issue to fall into a ‘grey area’ and that to avoid any ambiguity in the future and promote transparency, the Rules for establishing statements of belief and/or campaigns in support of

such beliefs (Policy & Decision Making PD1 & PD2) should be followed.

It was also pointed out that full-time Officers “do not appear to be sufficiently aware of the Union’s rules for urgent decision-making” (The Council & Committees of the Union Rules CCA28). ... continued on page 4

the badger

2 march 2015

in pictures • 2

IN PICTURES From seaside to Sussex Uni - Your Brighton Dorothy Yim

Dorothy Yim

Nelly Tookey

Dorothy Yim Editor-in-Chief Deborah Batchelor badger@sussexstudent.com News Editor Jack Williams Comment Editor Victoria Farley Tech/Sci/Features Editor Jordan Ellis Arts Editor Tom Powell Head of Publicity Lili Pammer-Zagroczky

Sports Editor Joe Cummins josephcummins.sportseditor@gmail. com News Sub Editors Daniel Green, Zoe Halse, Alex Ferguson, Rosie Dodds,Jess Pitocchi badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk Comment Sub Editors Miriam Steiner, Alice Nettleship badger-opinion@ussu.sussex.ac.uk Letters Sub Editor Louis Patel badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Dorothy Yim Tech Sub Editor Connor Cochrane badger-tech@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Sports Sub Editor Vladislav Hristov Grozev badger-sports@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Features Sub Editor Ryan Bourne badger-features@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Photo Editors Nelly Tookey, Sophie Jones thebadgerphotography@gmail.com

Science Sub Editor Jade Groves badger-science@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Publicity Coordinator Lenart Celar badger-publicity@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Arts Sub Editors Victoria O’Donnell, Ioana Matei, Raymond Jennings, Lily Cooper, Lottie Brazier badger-arts@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Online Editors Steve Barker, Pete Humphreys badger-online@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Media Development Officer Paul Millar mediadevelopment@sussexstudent. com Communications Officer Michael Segalov communications@sussexstudent.com Find us online: www.badgeronline.co.uk @thebadgernews facebook.com/thebadger.ussu Instagram: thebadgernewss

the badger

2 March 2015

NEWS • 4

UKIP Society president bears all to The Badger Alexander Ferguson News Sub-Editor The Societies Committee has approved the formation of a UKIP society on campus.

After much controversy and numerous meetings between the prospective President and both the Students’ Union and the Societies Committee, the creation of the society has finally been approved. This news has been welcomed as a positive step forward for Sussex by the President of the University’s Liberal Democrat Society and the President of the Conservative Society.

Following this bold move towards greater freedom of speech on campus, The Badger has conducted an interview with the society’s founder. Will Saunders, President of the UKIP Society, is a 22 year old from London currently studying Politics at the University of Sussex.

How do you feel about the fact that the Students’ Union has withdrawn their 5 percent threshold for the Politics Society debates that are occurring on 4 March?

I think it’s a great decision, and they do deserve credit for their flexibility over the last few weeks. It’s important that students can make their minds up - and, to that effect, it was crucial that Nigel Carter, the UKIP candidate for Brighton Pavilion was allowed to attend.

How closely will your society represent official UKIP party policy?

The constitution of our society states that the promotion of the Party’s policy agenda is one of our key purposes, so we will largely be sticking to policies of the Party. That said, we’re a very broad church, and the Party itself is blessed to operate without a whip system, so everyone is en-

titled to their own opinions. I know I also disagree with some of the other guys on some things, but I see that not as destructive, but actually very healthy.

There are people who have said that they would feel uncomfortable and even threatened seeing UKIP policy being promoted on campus. What would you say to these people?

I think anyone who feels threatened by us needs to educate themselves on who we are, and what we actually stand for. I know the media like to portray us all as crosses between Hitler and Voldemort, but we’re actually normal, everyday people, and the immigration system we propose, which is what people usually claim to feel threatened by, is no different from the system they have in Canada. Do they feel innately threatened by the existence of the secondlargest country in the world? I’m happy to sit down with anyone who feels threatened by us, and explain not only why they shouldn’t, but also how our policies could personally benefit them.

How much interest have you had in the society so far and how much support do you expect to obtain on campus?

I’ve had more interest than I expected - given Sussex’s reputation for being very left-wing, I was worried at first that it would just be us three founders, but my fears were proved unfounded. As well, the people who have pledged their support are very strong, energetic supporters, who want to have a very active role in helping the Party.

Do you expect to receive much abuse from people on campus? Have you already received any abuse from students?

I haven’t had any yet, though I expect I will at some point. I wear a bright yellow

Students’ Union panel rules on copsoffcampus demonstration Continued from front page The panel concluded that “A letter should be sent to members of the Union’s Executive Committee clarifying the procedure for urgent decision-making”.

The panel has ruled that Communications Officer, Michael Segalov, who partly organised the protest, should receive a warning concerning his future conduct, stressing that he should follow the procedure for urgent decision-making and the rules for establishing statements of belief and/or campaigns in support of such beliefs.

Additionally, it has been decided that training for Full-time Officers should be improved concerning the Union’s Rule’s for urgent decision making.

Communications Officer, Michael Segalov commented: “As officers we are always learning. In this instance, the panel found that our actions in seeking consensus from officers on an important and urgent issue rather than formally calling a meeting fell into a ‘grey area’, and that ‘whilst this event was not in line with explicit union policy, that [I] acted with good intention and with the belief that this protest was in line with the union’s core beliefs of student welfare and solidarity with other students.

“As is clear from the statement released

by the Executive regarding the presence of Bernard Hogan-Howe on campus, the content and actions taken were not the problem, but a matter of process. Being part of an organisation like the Union is a new experience for many of us, but I’m glad that the substance of what the team decided is seen as an important part of what we do.”

The student who submitted the original complaint told The Badger: “I’m broadly happy with the panel’s decision, I think they’ve looked at it fairly. The main thrust of the complaint was that the union shouldn’t be endorsing the views of students who are not representative of the Union.

“In this case, the Union had created the event as opposed to the students of the copsoffcampus campaign or Free Education themselves. I totally support the students having the right to protest as they have since done, and I’m free to agree or disagree with them providing its nonviolent protest and it falls within the Union’s guidelines for participation policy; I’m more than happy for that to happen.

What I’m against is the Union taking a stance on it without a vote from its members and speaking as if they do represent all students.

“I want to thank the members of the panel for taking the time to look into this.”

UKIP badge on my coat round campus, and I have done for a while now. I think if there was going to be a sustained campaign of abuse, it probably would have started by now. In fact, people seem more interested, and want to engage, rather than shut us down, but unfortunately, these people seem to form something of a silent majority, and they’re drowned out by the people who are pro-censorship, who are much louder, and much more pronounced in their views.

On a more personal level, some people might find it strange to see such a young supporter of UKIP, why is it that you align yourself so strongly with UKIP policy and have you always been a supporter of theirs?

I’m a supporter of UKIP because I’m a strong patriot, and I identify as British far more than I do European. I’m also dedicated to the cause of bringing back grammar schools, and, finally, I think the mainstream parties have forgotten the working class, and instead promote Tony Blair-style, champagne-socialist policies.

Time and time again, working-class people speak of the effect of mass immigration on their communities, but, instead of recognising that they’re best placed to decide what’s best for their communities, the mainstream parties treat their worries as a pathology - something that’s innately wrong, that should be automatically discarded, and should not be considered as potentially valid perspectives; incidentally, this is exactly what people mean when they say that politicians are “out-of-touch”.

Do you plan to take your relationship with UKIP any further after university?

We’ll have to see! I can’t see myself ever voting for anyone else, but I’m not sure

thetimes.co.uk

that I want to go into a career in politics after university. The Party will always be able to rely on my dedication, though.

As I’m sure you know, Channel 4 recently aired a drama visualising a Britain in the first 100 days of a UKIP government. Did you watch it and what did you think of it?

I did watch UKIP: The First 100 Days, and I wasn’t quite sure whether to laugh or cry. It was biased from the start (Channel 4 even as good as admitted it was as well), and it was wholly unrepresentative of reality. The Border Agency raids they featured in it were utterly absurd - no one wants a situation like this, and the depths that Channel 4 sunk to just demonstrated how scared the liberal media establishment are. They’ll have to get even more desperate, though, because that show had absolutely no effect on how we rated in the polls.

Rozanne Duncan, a former UKIP councillor has recently been expelled

from the party for what has been described as “deeply racist comments”.

How does this make you, as a young next-generation UKIP supporter, feel about the party that you support?

What Rozanne Duncan said was disgusting and stupid, and I’m glad that she was expelled as soon as the Party was made aware of it. It doesn’t change my perception of the Party, though.

For every one member that the BBC catch being racist or homophobic, I know that there are another thousand decent members and supporters who are devoted to delivering real change for their community, and the country as a whole. I think the next generation of our members are going to be hugely important in dealing with all the media bias-fuelled misconceptions that dog our party. The vast majority of our candidates are decent, local people who are passionate about helping their communities, and people really are starting to wake up to this.

Tobacco products petition set for student referendum Jack Williams News Editor

The question of whether the Students’ Union should halt the sale of tobacco products in its outlets looks set to be put to a referendum, after a student petition attracted over 150 signatures.

The petition set up two weeks ago calls for the Students’ Union to end the sale of tobacco products because of their damaging effect they have on the environment and the fact that smoking is predicted to kill “over one billion people over this century”.

The Students’ Union will check the wording and legality of petition’s motion before confirming it for the expected referendum.

Daniel Green, a second year History and Politics student who initiated the petition, commented: “I was disgusted when I discovered the damage that tobacco companies cause. Big tobacco has not only caused massive environmental damage, through mass deforestation in the developing world, but also by threatening legal action against governments who act against their interests.

“I believe that, as a result, tobacco should have no place on Union shelves,

Cityam.com in the same way that Coca-Cola and Nestle products are not sold by the Students’ Union.”

Asked whether he thought that the motion stood much of a chance if it made it through to a referendum, Green commented: “I was genuinely surprised that the petition gained so much momentum.

I am pleased that Sussex students believe

that this is an issue worth discussing.”

A third year Philosophy student said: “I’m not a smoker myself but I’m fully against this seemingly arbitrary ad-hoc ban on tobacco products.

“I fully believe that smoking is a personal choice that if don’t responsibly, doesn’t affect those around you. I don’t understand the logic behind it.”

the badger

2 March 2015

NEWS • 5

NUS given £380k for Campaigns should focus on benefits voter registration drive of alcohol abstinence, research says Daniel Green News Sub-Editor The National Union of Students (NUS) have received £380,000 of government funding to encourage students to register to vote.

The investment is part of a £10m project by the government to encourage voter registration amongst groups with low turnout in the run-up to the general election in May. The NUS campaign has the backing of 600 Students’ Unions across the country, with NUS offering £10,000 to the Students’ Union which can come up with unique ways to get their students to register.

In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “This year will be the first time many students get to vote in a general election.

“Like going to university, it’s a vital rite of passage that I believe everyone should be proud to be a part of.”

The news comes after it was revealed

that one million people have fallen off electoral register, according to research by the Labour Party and the campaign group Hope Not Hate.

Their research found that the majority of those affected were students, which they claim have been adversely affected by recent reforms to electoral registration.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has criticised the government’s decision to reform voter registration, suggesting it amounts to a plot to disenfranchise young people.

He said: “This is a direct consequence of the government’s decision to ignore warnings that rushing through new registration reforms would damage democracy.”

The changes mean that students living on campus are no longer automatically registered to vote in elections.

The Students’ Union has been campaigning against the “wholesale disenfranchisement of students” through its ‘Your Voice, Your Choice’ movement.

The deadline for voter registration is 20th April and can be done online at gov. uk/register-to-vote.

Dorothy Yim

Recent research by a University of Sussex academic suggests that campaigns to stop students from drinking would be more effective if they focused on benefits of abstinence instead of the unhealthy effects of alcohol.

Over the course of four weeks, Dr Dominic Conroy studied 211 University of Sussex English students, as this group drink heavily relative to their non-student peers of the same age.

Benefits such as money and better health were advocated as incentives for alcohol abstinence.

Measured by overall intake and drinking pattern, findings reveal that students who imagined positive outcomes of not drinking reduced their weekly alcohol consumption from 20 units to 14 units on average.

According to Dr Richard de Visser, who supervised the research, “Students drink mainly for social reasons

and immediate pleasure, hence this study draws their focus to immediate outcomes relevant to them - as opposed to potential long-term outcomes which are of concern to health professionals.”

Dr Conroy considers ongoing help and support vital for students to accomplish changes in behaviour.

In a column about ‘changing student lifestyles’, Operations Officer Dan Greenberg said: “In response to the NUS findings that students are opting to spend less money on alcohol, Sussex Students’ Union-run outlets have increased sales of hot drinks.”

Kai-yeung Leung, a second-year Biomedical Science student told The Badger: “Promoting the benefits of abstaining makes the issue relevant both to drinkers and non-drinkers.

Emphasizing harmful effects does nothing but provoke fear, causing people to deliberately avoid discussions about ‘drinking less’.”

Dr. Hans Crombag, Associate Pro-

fessor of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience, believes this study is a convincing step to developing better means to curtail alcohol intake in a particularly vulnerable group of people - students who are away from parental advice and supervision for the first time.

However, he added: “the study relied on self-reported intake amounts and patterns and I wonder how much they reflect actual behaviour in the short and long run.”

In response to the research, a University spokesperson said: “We are very interested in Dr Conroy’s findings. We will look at how we can incorporate them in future alcoholoutreach work.”

The University offers a wide range of services to students who have issues with drinking, including one-toone session covering sensible drinking in Student Life Centre and online help through the CALM relief series which uses cognitive-therapy techniques.

Sussex second most Booziest University in the UK Rosie Dodds News Sub-Editor

Student Beans have recently revealed a ‘University Drinking League Table’ for 2015 that has seen the University of Sussex come in a close second with students apparently consuming an average of 18.2 units of alcohol per week.

‘University Drinking League Table’ is back by popular demand for the first time since 2012.

The University of York came in first place with students consuming an average of 19.73 alcohol units per week, the equivalent to approxi-

mately ten pints of lager.

Aberystwyth University and the University of Glasgow followed Sussex with an average of 16.90 and 16.56 units per student per week.

The University of Glamorgan came last in the league table with only an average of 5.98 units of alcohol consumed by students a week.

The recommended amount of alcohol for a man to consume in a week is no more than 21 units, and for a woman the limit stands at 14 units.

However, when Student Beans recently asked students ‘Do you ever drink alcohol?’, 12 percent of male

News in Brief Millions spent on funding ineligible EU students

Around £3.84 million pounds of taxpayers money was spent on grants and loans for ineligible EU students in the alternate Higher Education sector over the last few years, a report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee suggests.

According to MPs who drafted the report, there is evidence that students were claiming funding who were not actually attending the course and that some of the 140 ‘alternate providers’ in the higher education sector, were recruiting students on the streets.

The report claims that the wastage occurred because the government allowed the sector to expand without proper legislative mechanisms in place to protect public funds.

Margaret Hodge MP, chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “Since the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills embarked upon the expansion of the private higher education sector, it

has ignored repeated warnings about the potential waste and abuse of public money intended to support legitimate students and institutions.”

Research identifies new way to target cancer cells Groundbreaking new research by the University of Sussex and the Institute for Cancer Research has discovered ways to target and eradicate the weak spots in cancer cells.

As a result, personalised medicine for each cancer sufferer could be developed to read a patients DNA so that only defective cells are targeted.

Professor Laurence Pearl, a Sussex scientist and co-author of the research, commented: “I am particularly delighted with the burgeoning collaboration between world-class research groups at Sussex and ICR which will be critical to bringing forward a new class of anti-cancer drugs to target the DNA damage response.”

respondents said ‘No, I do not drink alcohol at all’, compared with 7 percent of female respondents.

Although on the whole, Drinking trends seem to have calmed down since the 2012 table which saw Queen’s University Belfast take home the crown with students drinking an average of 27.3 units a week.

Student Beans also recently conducted a survey in which they asked 1,649 students about their drinking habits that revealed that only 76 percent of students would give up drinking if it meant that they did not have to pay their tuition fees.

Sophie Jones

Anti-terror laws called into question Pete Humphrey Digital Sub-Editor Freedom of expression is under threat from new anti-terror laws that require UK universities to tackle “extremism”, According to a group of MPs and Peers The government’s Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill obligates universities to prevent students from being drawn into terrorism and to stop extremist speakers being given a platform.

The bill, which was fast-tracked through parliament after an all-party agreement, requires the speeches of visiting speakers to be vetted in advance.

Home Secretary, Theresa May, fears that campuses can be a breeding ground for ‘radical’ views which could cause violence. But The Joint Committee on Human Rights said it was concerned at the “implications for both freedom of expression and academic freedom”.

The cross-party committee said that there would be a “seriously inhibiting effect on bona fide academic debate in universities” due to the legally uncertain definitions of terms such as “extremist”

or “radical”.

Their calls for universities to be taken off the list of institutions that would be required to tackle extremism were ignored.

The committee’s chairman, Labour MP Hywel Francis, said that the plans “might result in academic freedom and freedom of speech, which we know are both key to the functioning of a democratic society, being restricted”.

On 3 February more than 500 university professors signed a letter to the Guardian urging a rethink of the proposals. The professors called the counter-terror legislation “unnecessary and ill-conceived” and warned that academic freedom could be compromised by efforts to tackle extremism in Britain.

“The best response to acts of terror against UK civilians is to maintain and defend an open, democratic society in which discriminatory behaviour of any kind is effectively challenged,” the letter reads.

“Ensuring colleges and universities can continue to debate difficult and unpopular issues is a vital part of this.

“Draconian crackdowns on the rights of

academics and students will not achieve the ends the government says it seeks.”

The University of Sussex issued a statement on the act saying: “We support the Universities UK (UUK) position, which was aimed at toning down the Bill.

“In particular, at each of the committee stages Universities UK supported amendments that sought to increase the scrutiny and oversight of ministerial powers introduced by the Bill, and that would provide an increased recognition of the particular duties of universities in securing freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law.”

Universities are just one of the sectors that will be affected by the law. Schools, colleges, childcare providers, prisons and hospitals will all be bound by the new rules “to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas, criticised the orders in an article for the Independent, writing that “TEOs risk pushing people further into the hands of terror networks and lessening our ability to monitor their movements.”

the badger

2 March 2015

FEATURE • 8

FEATURE

Shima Jalal Kamali

First person account: Depression and me

Sophie Jones describes her ongoing experiences with depression and how it affects her illogically on a regular basis.

Sophie Jones Photo Editor You know how, when its winter, you can hardly imagine being able to walk out of the door in bare legs and feel warm and happy?

Or when its summer you can barely remember what it’s like to be cold anymore? That’s what it’s like for me, with depression.

The phases come and go, and when I’m down, I can hardly remember what it’s like to be happy, I can’t comprehend how I ever possibly had the energy to smile and laugh and dance and run around.

On the other hand, when I’m happy, I often have a hard time remembering just how bad I can feel when things are bad.

This makes it very hard for people to understand sometimes, because I can’t explain it very well. But I’ll try.

For me, depression can come over me in a many of different ways. Sometimes, I feel it slowly creep in, I feel a sinking feeling start to build up in my gut. I stop laughing so much at crappy jokes I usually love so much. I get irritable with those who are just looking out for me.

Other times, it hits me like a truck.

I feel it come over me all at once, brought on by some meaningless trigger, a harmless comment, one little stressor.

Today, I cried because my Benedict Cumberbatch calendar wouldn’t stay up (actually, probably quite an appropriate reaction).

When it does come, it affects almost every aspect of my being. I try

to think logically, and my thoughts are all jumbled up in my head.

I can’t make sense of anything that’s going on. I can’t make decisions, I can’t tell you how to help me.

If I try to think my way out of it, it’s like the thoughts don’t connect up in my head.

Even the smallest of tasks seem gigantic. I don’t know why, probably because they’ve always been things that I need to do when I’m depressed, but showering and brushing my teeth have become two of the hardest tasks to do.

I feel like I have no energy. I feel almost as if I’m heavy, like there’s a giant weight pushing me down and I just can’t get up or get out of bed.

I might have been so excited to go shopping yesterday, but today it seems literally impossible. I just can’t.

I often shut myself away on these days, because even if I’m around people I’ll often just curl up and not say anything, and I know that’s no fun to be around.

I do it with my boyfriend too and he’s my favourite person to be around, ever. So if I’m not happy with him, I’m not going to be happy around anyone.

This all often leads to me feeling extremely frustrated. I can have a whole plan worked out for the day, but one little thing happens and none of that seems possible anymore, I just want to stay in bed.

And that gets very frustrating for me, because I know how much better of a day I could be having if I wasn’t over run with these feelings.

I get angry, I get torn up and I get so many feelings that I can’t sort them

out.

Sometimes I take them out on other people, but most of the time I take them out on myself.

“Sometimes, I feel it slowly creep in, I feel a sinking feeling start to build up in my gut. I stop laughing so much at crappy jokes I usually love so much.”

I squirm away from affection, I push away anyone who tries to help me, and I tell myself how stupid I am for being like this.

I deny myself stupid things like a drink of water or letting someone make me lunch because it feels too self-indulgent, I feel like I don’t deserve it.

So today, after a cry and a soppy film and a nap and some burgers and an eventual trip outside, I feel okay enough to write this.

This is really, really scary for me to write, but I know that tomorrow I could feel absolutely fine again and feel like telling people would be stupid because my problems are invalid and I’m just whining about nothing.

I don’t know why my symptoms only last for a few days, and frustratingly why they appear to be coinciding with my weekends with my boyfriend.

I feel like the depression is always there, bubbling under the surface,

giving me the constant feelings of being worthless and not important that never really go away, giving me the continual anxiety I feel most days.

But during the week, I’m distracted.

I have friends that need me to be happy so that I can be fun, I have a job to go to, and I have work to do.

At the weekend, when I’m with my boyfriend, I stop. And I’m in a space where I know I’ll be looked after, I know I’m safe and I know I can feel like this and not be judged.

So unfortunately for both of us, that’s when the depression seems to seep out. And it’s worse, also, because I desperately want to spend my time with him being happy and having fun.

So there we go. That’s what having depression is like for me.

I don’t go to the doctors because I know I don’t fit the criteria of the typical symptoms and I don’t want to be put on anti-depressants.

I’m lucky enough to be able to access the free counselling services the university offer, and I chat about my childhood and why I think the way I do, and I cry and I get annoyed but I’m yet to see any major changes in my symptoms.

The type of therapy I was originally offered was based around finding the patterns between my thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, but often there is no pattern.

The trigger is illogical and often I can’t even identify the thoughts that I have because they’re all one big mess of depression in my head.

Now I’m trying to focus on my relationships with other people, and how things I’ve experienced in the past

have caused the faulty thought patterns that I have.

Because of the way that my depression works, quite often going to see my counsellor seems self-serving and unnecessary. Other days it’s essential.

Depression has taken so many happy days from me, but one thing it’s taught me is that there will always be another good day. Tomorrow can be different, I won’t feel like this forever.

No matter how bad things are, they will always get better. And for now that’s all I have to hold on to.

Students affected by stress, anxiety, or other personal issues can visit the University’s free and confidential Counselling services: www.sussex.ac.uk/counselling.

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the badger

2 march 2015 ARTS • 14

ARTS

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Badger contributor Jack Stockdale recaps some of her favourite female characters in films in the last five years.

Winter’s Bone, dir. Debra Granik

Set in a remote part of the Ozarks, 17-year-old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) seeks out her estranged father who has disappeared having used her family home as collateral to secure bail before trial.

Walking from house to house across barren, cold terrain, Ree is met with what seems like a coordinated hostility from family and friends alike as she pieces together the whereabouts of her father.

With the grim tenacity and maturity of someone who’s had to make their own way in the world, Ree is an accidental heroine out of necessity.

As she forges on with her journey, urgency turns to tension, turns to

fear, but this doesn’t stop her ignoring the advice to quit her search.

Her unwavering resilience is the product of a strong moral compass and sense of duty towards her mentally-ill mother and younger brother and sister.

At the same time, Granik refuses to let us draw the conclusion that these traits are only useful within Ree’s isolated community.

While visiting an army recruitment fair, Granik draws us into connecting Ree’s intelligence with the potentiality of a successful career, while simultaneously showing that her acute desperation and need thwarts her of the opportunity.

Under the Skin, dir. Jonathan Glazer

The Maid, dir. Sebastián Silva

In this gripping thriller, Catalina Saavedra plays Raquel, a live-in maid working for an established family in Santiago, Chile.

From the outset Raquel occupies an awkward place in the family, that is, always there but not always no-

ticed. Inevitably, the strangeness of her situation leads Raquel to manifest inexplicable passive aggressive hostilities such as fainting spells and bad temperedness.

Soon after, with good if not misguided intentions, her employers hire a second maid to assist with the household.

What ensues though is the silent declaration of all-out war that Raquel begins in a fit of mysterious jealous rage.

Silva is smart to leave Raquel’s behaviour up to interpretation.

The choice to stay away from the ‘An Inspector Calls’ type storyline featuring negligent and oblivious employers, suggests that Raquel’s behaviour is more likely a product of structural exploitation, while Saavedra’s nuanced and frightful performance heightens this narrative at every step.

Blue Jasmine, dir. Woody Allen Forced to come to terms with her husband’s imprisonment, Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), a self-absorbed New York socialite, moves in with her sister to share her drastically conventional life in San Francisco.

In an effort to make the best of the situation, she ploughs herself into a range of bad choices concerning employment, education and relationships, all with the neurotic zeal of a woman suffering a midlife crisis.

Using flashbacks, Allen traces this mania back to the wilful ignorance of her extravagant former life, complimented by her dismissive attitude to anyone below her social status.

Blanchett’s performance is intense, dramatic and exhausting.

However, the rest of the cast is far more than background colour. Sally Hawkins brings a dynamism to the narrative in playing the easy going but struggling sister, preventing either character from becoming a twodimensional stereotype.

ror is the reversal of gender dynamics.

Glazer puts us in the position of Johansson, coolly regarding the unwitting men walking the streets outside the van.

At every step we are invited to take up the alien perspective, until finally after so much emotionless horror, we see the beginnings of empathetic feeling when Johansson is driven to let one of her victims go.

As the film continues, Johansson steadily begins to experiment in embodying her humanity and the position of a human female, but Glazer is quick to show that this transforms her position from hunter to hunted.

Turning all the familiar trappings of the chick-flick on its head, Bridesmaids boasts an ensemble cast led by spectacularly funny Kristen Wiig.

Somewhere in her 30’s, Annie (Wiig) finds herself with a failed business, demeaning ‘no-strings’ relationship and knee deep in the bridesmaid politics of her best friend Lillian’s (Maya Rudolph) wedding.

In this week’s issue, the Arts team lists their top things that are considered to be uncool but are actually pretty great Victoria: Mannequin A very terrible rom-com from 1987 which involves a mannequin coming to life and the music of Belinda Carlisle. Fantastic.

Victoria: “Everybody Dance” - Chic Disco seems forever frowned upon, but who can resist these synths and handclaps?

Victoria: University Challenge There’s no better way to spend a Monday evening shouting at the telly. Always followed by Only Connect, which is bound to make you feel even more stupid.

Ioana: Nicolas Cage Is he a good actor, is he a bad actor? Does it even matter? Who else has successfully played an unstable one-handed baker that falls in love with Cher? I rest my case.

Blue Jasmine may be an unrelenting, depressing satire, but that doesn’t stop it from also being a complex account of the female spirit.

Especially if it’s for an event where forgetting about yourself is mandatory, as well as emptying the contents of your purse, all in the aid of organised once-in-a-life-time fun.

Bridesmaids, dir. Paul Feig Starring as a nameless alien serial-killer in human form, Scarlett Johansson travels Scotland in a transit van picking up unassuming men.

Maintaining a blank stare and stoic demeanour, her interactions with potential victims is kept short but not without interpersonal skill.

While cruising around Glasgow, we see a brief animation in her face as she stops passers-by on the pretext of needing directions.

Duped by her sexual appeal, victims are invited into the car and then to a dilapidated house where they are drawn to their death.

Despite the sparse dialogue and narrative, the crux of this slick hor-

Artslists: Unfashionable but Great

Rolling from one embarrassment to the next, Annie finds herself pitted against Lillian’s other, newer, more sophisticated friend, Helen (Rose Byrne).

Each character tries to outdo the other for the place of Lillian’s most capable and worthy maid of honour.

Although this film essentially plays off comedy stereotypes, there is something in its portrayal of that fraught feeling of inadequacy when a large group of old friends come together.

Especially if it’s for an event where forgetting about yourself is mandatory, as well as emptying the contents of your purse, all in the aid of organised once-in-a-life-time fun.

Ioana: “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” The Police And all of their songs, really. My mum loves them and so do I. Ray: “Come On Eileen” - Dexy’s Midnight Runners Two key changes, three speed changes; too-rah-oo-rah-eh!

Lottie: Paul McCartney’s Wings The band The Beatles could have been.

Tom: “If There’s Any Justice” Lemar Fame Academy aside, I’ve never gushed over vocals so much in my life. Silken. I would be your man.

Tom: “Vertigo” - U2 I don’t like Bono, I don’t like The Edge, I don’t even know the other two, but I know that they know how to write a riff.

the badger

2 March 2014 ARTS • 15

Reviews COMEDY

Film

Josie Long: Cara Josephine

50 Shades of Consumer Porn

Corn Exchange

Charel Muller

19th February Isobel Harrop Whilst Josie Long’s new stand up “Cara Josephine” follows a slightly more conventional path than her most famous show, 2008’s “Trying is Good”, discussing the well-trodden topics of life and love, Josie is still full of as much magic and childlike enthusiasm as she ever before.

“Cara Josephine” explores Josie’s recent heartbreak, her attempts to move on via the poetry of Walt Whitman, bouldering, and wild swimming.

As she discussed her relationships with family and lovers, her fears for the future and the problems of the past, I felt a close personal connection with Josie.

By the end I felt like what I really wanted to do was sit down with her over a cup of tea, discuss it all further, and tell her all of MY feelings.

But it’s not all doom and gloom.

Josie has an ability to bring joy and light to any situation and through a few silly voices and “one and a half props”, rather than feeling despondent afterwards I felt upbeat and positive about moving on in the world.

Her closing advice to us all was that no matter how terrible things can be, “try not to die”.

Thanks Josie, you don’t get the ti-

Josie Long Press tle “cult optimist” for nothing.

For fans of comics such as Simon Amstell and Stewart Lee, Josie’s brand of comedy is a mix of left wing politics and existential crisis, though with a little bit more positivity than those aforementioned.

She is not a “joke, joke, joke” comedian, but her laidback chatter, with its occasional off topic sidelines, is refreshing, especially following a not so impressive performance from her supporting act.

“Cara Josephine” is both funny and heartwarming, and those who are already fans of Josie’s will love it – a show of hands said approx.

75% of the audience were returning after seeing her before – and will turn any newcomer into a fan.

If you can’t make it to a performance, her earlier DVD “Trying is Good” is a wonderful place to start as well as her Radio 4 programme “Short Cuts” which is soon returning for a new series.

Fifty Shades of Grey is absolutely ubiquitous at the moment.

Wherever you turn or click, Mr. Grey seems to be ready to receive you now.

The adaptation of E.L. James’ bestseller (which I haven’t read) has somehow managed to become the most talked about movie of 2015.

Since its world-premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, Fifty Shades has been an unrestrained (no pun intended) success.

In less than two weeks, the film has crossed the $400 million-mark worldwide and become the most successful 18-rated film of all time at the UK boxoffice.

The film itself is a bit of a non-event really.

It’s a solid, well-made piece of entertainment in which Dakota Johnson delivers a star-making performance as the initially wide-eyed Anastasia Steele.

The notorious sex scenes meanwhile are surprisingly tame and conventional.

The only reason they stand out is their frequency and duration.

Mainstream cinema’s anxiety about full frontal nudity (particularly of the male variety) remains intact as Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) initiates Anastasia into the world of BDSM in his “playroom” for adults.

The sex may nevertheless be amusing and titillating, but one of the film’s more interesting aspects is its attitude towards consumerism.

Warner Bros.

Christian, not the most complex character in the history of film and literature, can be summed up with three adjectives: handsome, confident and rich.

His wealth is crucial to his seduction technique, as it allows him to impress Anastasia with a cornucopia of privilege.

It begins with a new outfit and a new laptop, before quickly graduating to rare first-editions of her favourite novels and a brand new sports car.

Her initial reservations about accepting these valuable presents (or bribes) are quickly overcome.

Some of the most exhilarating moments are a lift in his private helicopter as well as a gliding-trip.

These semi-successful attempts to buy her and her body are quite problematic, as they turn Anastasia into an object of consumption of sorts.

Yet the film tends to romanticise them.

The cinematic language displays a complete materialistic fetish for Christian’s possessions.

Critic Mark Kermode fittingly labelled it “consumer porn.”

THEATRE

Arcadia Theatre Royal Victoria Rodrigues O’Donnell Arts Sub-Editor Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, set in the fictional Sidney Park, a Derbyshire manor house at both the very beginning of the nineteenth century and the end of twentieth, is a play concerned at its heart with time and transmission.

Characters occupying contemporary time (1993, to be precise) concern themselves intimately with bygone events: arrogant academic Bernard Nightingale clutches desperately at historical vagaries in order to substantiate his flimsy theory involving Lord Byron, a botanist and a murder, while fellow writer Hannah Jarvis searches for clues about a mysterious hermit who once occupied the grounds of the manor house.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the early 19th century concern them-

English Touring Theatre

selves with intricate mathematical conundrums, grasping at the technological and scientific possibilities of the future.

Director Blanche McIntyre has staged Stoppard’s play admirably.

Characters and objects from the two parallel historical eras linger in each other’s presence during trans-

missions from one scene to another, emphasising the concrete, material presence of history in the contemporary.

Wilf Scolding as the tutor Septimus is superbly cast, emanating a swaggering command of Stoppard’s playful, witty language and a devilish quasi-Byronic attitude, while avoid-

ing a descent into caricature or pastiche.

Likewise, Flora Montgomery brings a palpable sense of gravity and presence to the role of Hannah Jarvis, hinting at the presence of an intellectual subtlety and a wry wisdom.

The set, though sparse, is perfectly

As soon as we enter the billionaire’s luxurious penthouse, the camera is in complete awe of the gorgeous architecture and design.

The modern furniture and the panoramic view of Seattle’s skyline become sexier than Jamie Dornan’s abs.

In one of the film’s most beautiful and memorable shots, the couple consummate their relationship on a piano bench in front of a massive window, but all the action occurs in the corner of the frame.

The lighting and the view dominate over the naughty activities at the edge of the screen.

This emphasis on the inanimate object is even reflected in the “playroom.”

The camera glides across the expensive-looking leather whips and handcuffs with relish and zooms in on the ornate bedposts she is tied to.

Fifty Shades of Grey is a film about the appeal of the material.

Would Anastasia engage with Christian’s unusual sexual preferences if he was merely a handsome accountant or artist?

This film certainly doesn’t seem to think so. suited to the play’s historical overlapping.

Large sash windows and elegant eighteenth century molding abound, but painted in uniform white and cream, perfectly accommodating both the early nineteenth century and the late twentieth without suggesting too much of either.

Sadly Robert Cavanah’s performance of Bernard Nightingale, while engaging at times, was often a little too close to Fawlty-style red-faced gesticulating, somewhat undermining the intricacies of the character by reducing it to a quasi-comic cartoon villain.

Likewise, Dakota Blue Richards’ performance as Thomasina seemed to lack the dynamism and animation which might be expected from a hyper-intelligent mathematical prodigy.

Captivating and charming, though suffering from a few problems with casting, McIntyre’s production succeeds in emphasising Stoppard’s concern with the progress and nature of history.

While it has finished its run at Brighton, it will nonetheless be staged at various locations around England, from Bath to Bromley, until April.

There could be many worse ways to spend an evening.

the badger

2 MARCH 2015 ARTS • 16

LIFESTYLE

More than a pretty dress: asking actresses more Miriam Steiner Never let it be said that slacktivism never changed anything.

The #askhermore tag was launched

by The Representation Project in an effort to turn female actresses, film makers and assorted red-carpetwalkers into more than glorified mannequins.

Finally, it seems three words may have allowed famous and beautiful women to be seen as famous and beautiful humans like their male counterparts.

And it’s all thanks to a strange keyboard symbol, three little words and a whole lot of tweets.

Award ceremonies are meant to reward hard work and talent.

Despite this, the question of “who are you wearing?” is always the first question out of the mouth of any entertainment reporter.

Rarely are women in the entertainment industry asked about their work, their interests or their passions.

The lack of depth to questions asked to women is even starker when you compare the queries male members of the entertainment industry get to their female counterparts.

The shallowness of reporters’ questions to starlets seems to have got on the last nerve of Reese Witherspoon, Amy Pohler and countless other supporters. #Askhermore aimed to get media outlets to go beyond the superficial

Getty Images queries and appearance of the women who work in the entertainment industry, and it seems to have done the job at the Oscars this year.

More thought-provoking questions were asked to women than ever at this year’s ceremony.

Witherspoon’s Instagram photo listing numerous questions she’s dying to answer garnered over 18,500 likes at the time of writing.

That’s 18,500 people agreeing that yes, they care about women in the entertainment industry, but they care about them as people.

They may be beautiful people, but

that certainly is not all they are. #Askhermore represents a new wave of conversation going on around us.

The freedom of anyone to make a Twitter account and write whatever they wish seems to have united a generation in shared experience. #everydaysexism became an international phenomenon, allowing people to see that every day a woman faces unfair treatment.

It also highlights how we aren’t alone in being irritated or exasperated by gender inequality.

Twitter, Tumblr and social net-

works allowed women to shout into the void their frustration, and hear women shouting back saying they were there to support each other.

Now, those same women and girls who have gained ownership and courage in the face of their experience are the ones making tabloid headlines.

Equality seems to have reached a new level of cool.

So when the people we idolise demand to be treated with respect, the world listens.

E! News got rid of their “mani-cam” this year in response to #askhermore.

The mani-cam previously acted as a miniature red carpet for women’s hands.

Women would have to parade their painted fingers in front of lights, and then they’d be broadcast for the world to see.

The fact that hands were treated with the same respect and adoration as a verbalising, thinking human being is very difficult to fathom. #Askhermore got rid of that, and the demand for equality the hashtag represents will not quiet down. #Askhermore can only be a milestone in entertainment reporting.

It’s a worldwide trend in the simplest sense of the world, and it seems to have made a change.

At this year’s academy awards women acknowledged their beauty, and they acknowledged their talent.

And the world paid attention.

House of Cards and our fascination with the anti-hero Jake Wilson We’ve all fallen in love with the antihero.

In the nineties, two seminal films, American Psycho and Fight Club, showed us that ‘heroes’ didn’t have to be good guys.

In the last few years, film and TV have picked up this intrigue once again with streams of charming anti-heroes.

Anti-heroes in Wolf of Wall Street, Drive and Nightcrawler have stalked the big screen whilst TV’s Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy have lit up the silver screen.

Yet, it is House of Cards’ Francis “Frank” Underwood who has really excelled.

Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, has none of the traits associated with conventional heroes, lacking any notion of self-sacrifice, courage, or morality.

Yet, we still love him.

Frank Underwood’s defining characteristic is his unrelenting ambition.

This may come through his own initiative or simply at the expense of others, but it’s all the same to Underwood.

He is even willing to better his own position at the expense of his own President.

As Vice-President, Underwood is either reaffirming his own position, or undermining those around him.

His wife Claire, played by the amazing Robin Wright, is equally ruthless in her ambition.

She has no qualms in manipulating the vulnerable or sending a close friend into a media shark-pit.

This ruthless ambition is not unique to the Underwood’s: it is also one of the defining characteristics of Nightcrawler’s protagonist.

Dan Gilroy’s 2014 film was easily one of the best of the year and Jake Gyllenhaal’s unerring performance, as the protagonist Lou Bloom, was outstanding.

His character’s success comes at any cost; getting his story at the expense of fellow press, the injured and occasionally, the dead.

House of Cards’ Frank Underwood is so exciting to watch thanks to his overwhelming obsessive nature.

Underwood has an unearthly obsession with power; even his relationships are geared toward power and success.

His marriage is one of mutual respect and influence rather than love and compassion and his association with Zoe Barnes is one of power and dominance.

This obsessive nature was previously epitomised in American Psycho.

Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman had obsessive views on society and personal dominance, into sociopathic levels. Bateman agonised over the calligraphy of business cards, and in the next heartbeat berated his colleagues on the specific ills of society.

Bateman’s obsessions move into areas similar to Underwood, but he lacked Underwood’s slow, Southern drawl that intoxicates you into supporting him regardless of action.

Yet, the most shocking visualisation of Frank Underwood’s anti-hero mentality is his absolute lack of morality.

Underwood is totally unafraid of performing any necessary action.

In the series’ pilot, Underwood kills a severely wounded dog with his bare hands, reciting “Moments like this require someone who will act: Do the

“Charm, excitement and steadfast resolve is enough to get the viewer onside.”

unpleasant thing. The necessary thing.”

Underwood’s lack of moral boundaries is hauntingly devoid of emotion.

Death is a semi-regular feature of the show, usually orchestrated, with cold and calculated methods.

Once again, this is not a new characteristic.

Lou Bloom and Patrick Bateman also display this lack of morals.

Bateman takes excessive joy in killing and Lou Bloom has no problems rearranging a corpse to get the perfect shot.

In reaction to a detective’s questioning about Bloom filming a dying man, he cheerily retorts “I’d like to think if you’re seeing me you’re having the worst day of your life.”

However, despite his misdoings, you can’t help but support Frank.

It is a symptom of our growing fascination with the anti-hero that charm, excitement and a steadfast resolve is enough to get the viewer on side.

Frank often breaks fourth wall to acknowledge his misdeeds, talking honestly into the camera, and this forms part of his appeal.

This is just part of his anti-hero charm, as Underwood, as well as Bloom and Bateman, is inspirational, Machiavellian and always exciting.

Recipe of the week Lily Cooper’s

Lime Sherbet Chicken Ingredients For one person: 1 skinless chicken breast 1 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp caster sugar A handful of torn fresh coriander 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed Salt and pepper 1 lime, zested and squeezed A small piece of grated ginger Method This is shamelessly adapted from Sam Stern’s brilliant Student Cookbook. The original recipe omits the ginger and sugar, and is done with lemon instead, but I like the slightly Asian influences you get from cooking it this way.

Like most good student recipes, it’s easy to adapt and make your own depending on what’s in your cupboard. Aside from being good to adapt, it’s also relatively good-value, easy, delicious student cooking.

First of all, butterfly the chicken.

On a chopping board, slice into the centre of the breast, and cut through long-wise. Don’t cut all the way through: you want to leave a ‘hinge’ as Sam says, so that you can open out the chicken breast. Like a butterfly !

Flatten it out as much as possible (you can use your fist, or alternatively, a rolling pin or your copy of Ulysses depending on how you need to channel your day’s energy).

In bowl, combine the oil, sugar, coriander, garlic, lime and ginger.

Add more or less of anything to taste.

Put your chicken into a separate bowl and tip half the mixture over. Make sure it’s well coated. If you have the time, leave to marinade for a couple of hours to get a more intense flavour, otherwise, you can start cooking it straight away.

Heat a pan on a medium/low heat (too high a heat will burn your garlic and coriander) Place your chicken in the pan, cook on both sides until it’s done.

Cook up any sides you fancy to go with it - Sam suggests green beans, it’s also nice with sweet potato chips, or noodles.

Once cooked through, serve, pouring the remaining marinade on top. Bon appetit !

the badger

2 MARCH 2015 ARTS • 17

ARTS & MINDS

The Dude Abides: Insomnia, narrativity and the cultural provenance of Jeff Bridges’ Sleeping Tapes

Gramercy Pictures

Arts Editor Raymond Jennings tests out the purported tranquillising effects of Jeff Bridges’ (aka The Dude to fans of cult film ‘The Big Lebowski’) new ambient album ‘Sleeping Tapes’ - and decides that it is no cure for insomnia. Thanks for nothing, Bridges.

Have you changed your diet?

Have you tried getting into a bed time routine?

Are you remembering not to look at your phone, laptop or television before bed?

How about drinking a cup of hot milk?

These, and more, are the questions most commonly asked by doctors, friends, parents, and just about anyone else whom I confess my insomnia to.

The answer, of course, is yes; I have tried all of those things.

Alas, I still do not sleep.

Sleeping pills just made me feel weird, Valium just made me feel great, and alcohol started out making me feel great before making me feel like a vacuous husk of a man just a few hours later.

So when Jeff Bridges announced his intention to help the world sleep a little better, I was more excited than most to spend the night with the Dude’s

soothing voice.

His new album, Sleep Tapes, is a kind of weird mix of ambient music, spoken-word rambling, and surrealist storytelling, designed to help the population us all set off to sleep that little bit easier.

My night with Jeff started out well; his soft rambling about the need for people to sleep set over some soothing drones is a far cry away from what the doctor ordered, but it was certainly soothing.

Things quickly took something of a sinister turn, however, with the Dude repeating to me the importance of sleeping and dreaming, his soft recommendations devolving over time into tripped-out, despair stricken demands.

When he began humming, asking an as-yet unidentified companion to hum along with him, I began thinking maybe the Dude had drunk one too many of his favourite milk based cocktails before setting out on his quest to help me sleep.

Over the course of the evening, the Dude told me a lot of things, and he told me nothing at all.

He’s had some pretty strange times in Ikea, it turns out, and

he even introduced me to his wife at one point.

She wasn’t so into the whole thing; probably found it a bit weird that her husband was trying to help a complete stranger sleep.

I can’t say I found my night with Jeff as relaxing as I expected. At times, sure, I felt soothed, safe, and certain that I’d finally manage to get a decent sleep.

In stark contrast, I was also occasionally baffled by the Dude, if not utterly terrified by the drones, sound effects, and voice manipulations he employed to try send me off to the land of nod.

He probably needs to learn some appropriate bed time stories, too; sure, his surrealist tales are interesting, but they’re not exactly the most comforting of things.

In the end, I slept no better after my night with Jeff than I had any previous night.

His mission to help me sleep was an utter failure. Judging Sleep Tapes as a functional product, I have to judge it poorly; it isn’t a very good sleep tape at all.

Perhaps, then, it is best not to judge Sleep Tapes as a sleeping aid, but to instead judge it as a piece of music.

This context shines a much more favourable light on the whole project.

The music to which Bridges’ sultry, smooth, and sometimes startling voice is set is composed

by Keefus Ciancia, a composer for the fantastic soundtrack of TV show True Detective.

His drones, chimes, and subtle rhythmic touches create an ambient atmosphere unlike most I’ve heard before.

It both fits Brian Eno’s criteria of ambient music as the perfect background noise, whilst occasionally refusing to fit snugly into the category of ambient music by fighting with Bridges’ voice for your attention.

It is as invasive as it is evasive, which is a fairly disorientating characteristic when you’re trying to sleep but an utterly fascinating when one you’re attempting to listen.

The stories Bridges tell, too, are much more interesting when you actually pay attention to them. You’d expect them to be, considering they were all written by Lou Beach, a writer and graphic designer perhaps best known for his short story collection 420 Characters.

Whilst Sleep Tapes may not do much for the good cause of help-

ing the world sleep at night, it does do a lot for the much more noble cause of feeding hungry children.

All proceeds from the album, which can be purchased as a pay-what-you-want download or as a cassette, vinyl record, or super-limited box set, go straight to No Kid Hungry, a charity committed to making sure children across the world are fed good meals, in and out of schools.

If you, like me, struggle to get a good rest at night, I can’t recommend an evening with Bridges as a cure for your cursed insomnia.

If, however, you want to listen to an ambient album unlike any other, if a collection of bizarre, slightly unsettling, and quite amusing short stories appeals to you, or if you just fancy shooting the breeze with the Dude, then I simply can’t recommend Sleep Tapes enough.

Not only does Sleep Tapes go towards helping a fantastic charity, I think it’s also one of the most surprising, exciting, and interesting albums I’ve heard in some time.

But that’s just, like, my opinion, man.

the badger

2 March 2015

Societies - 21

SOCIETIES SPOTLIGHT ADVERTISE YOUR SOCIETY

enous struggle in Chile, Guatemala and Peru”, “Democracy and Human Rights in LA”, “Cultures of resistance in LA”, “Civil Society and Social Movements in Mexico”, On this page you can find to name a few. out about what our societies The event also includes a have been up to and what ceremonial Aztec dance by their plans are for the comthe “Atlachinolli” pre-hispaning weeks! You can view and ic group. join all of our 150 + societies Everyone is welcome to atonline at www.sussexstutend and participate. dent.com/societies. If you’d This event is free and open like to advertise your socito all with no ticket required. ety on this page, send your Coffee, tea and biscuits will articles to societies@susbe provided. sexstudent.com by 12pm on Entry is on a first come first Wednesdays. served basis.

For more information and programme of the event please visit: https://sussexlatinamerica.wordpress.

Latin America has made great com/programme. progress in moving from authoritarianism to democracy.

As a result almost all countries in the region are classified as “electoral democracies”.

Following the success of last This however does not year’s award winning producmean that elections do not tion of Little Shop of Horrors, encounter any problems, nor the Sussex Musical Theatre that democracy is strong and Society returns with another permanent. show, promising even more On the one hand, these re- dismemberment and bloodgimes are far from becoming shed than the last. modern, well established deSweeney Todd - The Demon mocracies: they are charac- Barber of Fleet Street comes terised by a weak rule of law, to the Sallis Benney Theatre corruption and problems in on Grand Parade for a limited the protection of some civil run of 5 shows from Wednesliberties. day 4th to Saturday 7th of On the other hand, pover- March (inc. a Saturday Matity, inequality and exclusion nee). are a common phenomenon.

The tale of brutal barber What can be done to improve Benjamin Barker seeking redemocracy in the region? venge on all those that has To answer this question, the wronged him is thrilling, Mexican and Latin American bloody and not to be missed!

Student Society at Sussex (lest you want to become (MEXSAS) are hosting the one of Mrs Lovett’s infamous “Democracy and Participa- pies!) tion in Latin America” ConTickets for students are only ference on 19 – 21 March. £8, £10 for non-students and This conference will consist groups over 10 can get a group of 16 panel discussions, in- discount, perfect for society cluding: “Democracy and De- outings! velopment in Latin America”, Tickets can be bought on“Gender and Citizenship in line from sussexstudent.com/ Ecuador and Peru”, “Indig- organisation/smuts.

MEXSAS

SMuTS

STOPS AIDS

The Stop AIDS society would like to invite you the 9th consecutive speaker tour held at Sussex University!

For those of you who are new to Student Stop AIDS Campaign, the annual speaker tour is the highlight of the year.

It’s a chance to hear from the voices of young people living with HIV, to learn about their journey, what they’ve overcome and what you can do to improve our international effort to bring an end to AIDS by 2030.

This year we have two amazing speakers who will be sharing their personal stories with us and we’d love you to join us in hearing their stories.

The event is on Friday 6th March in Arts C Lecture Theatre (C133) and starts at 12pm.

CHESS Sussex University Chess society placed well in their first national competition last week.

Two teams from Sussex travelled up to Birmingham for the British University Chess Championship and earned a respectable joint third place overall and came runners up in the Shield competition.

Sussex showed that their 18 month old club was a force to be reckoned with after beating teams from Southampton, Imperial, Durham and Nottingham.

Second team players Matt Rounds, Joel Gabriel and Will Webster won medals for their play at the tournament with Matt Rounds coming top in his section.

The British University Championship is a tournament stretching back to

1947.

This year was the first time Sussex has entered. President of the Chess club Sam Duthie founded the University Chess club last year and is envisages a healthy future for chess at the university.

The society is always looking for more players, so if you want to join them or find out more about the society, please visit ‘University of Sussex Chess Club’ on Facebook or visit their minisite on the Students’ Union website.

POLITICS WEDNESDAYS

Come along to Politics Wednesdays in Freeman G22 for topical discussion; speakers who are the top of their field; great discussion; election predictions; and, of course, free biscuits.

All welcome.

THE WEEK AHEAD: Tuesday 3rd February •BSMS Anaesthetics Society Careers talk. This is an invaluable opportunity to hear first-hand the steps involved in successfully progressing through the anaesthetics training pathway while taking advantage of the full range of exciting career options and opportunities that this stimulating speciality offers.

Royal Sussex County Hospital (Audrey Emerton Building), 6pm.

Wednesday 4th March •SUDS The Drama society is putting on a play entitled I don’t want to talk about it by Bradley Hayward on the 4th, 5th and 6th March.

The play explores the flaws

of human nature, namely our inability to talk about our feelings and the consequences this has.

Debating Chamber, 7pm.

•Sussex RAG RAG brings you Sussex Sound, an amazing showcase of music.

Expect performances from QTBGLee, the Ukulele society, Sussex Show Choir, Big Band and many more! £2 donation to charity on the door.

Falmer back bar, 5.30pm.

Thursday 5th March •Business Careers in Business and Finance talk.

Confirmed speakers from IBM, LV, Slaughter and May and Deloitte.

This is a great opportunity to get a look into the various careers within the financial industry how industry experts.

Jubilee Lecture Theatre, 6pm Friday 6th March •International Relations IRSoc is hosting yet another careers event for you!

We are bringing together four young IR/ID practitioners from different professions to tell us about their current work and how they got where they are.

All welcome!

Arts C 333, 6pm

Ride.

It’s Bike Month 2015 Monday 2nd March - Thursday 31st March Come for a ride with Lyndsay, your Activities Officer Mondays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th

Bike Month Monday Bike Trains Pick up at the Velo Cafe, The Level We meet at 8.15am to arrive at uni for 9am We meet at 9.15am to arrive at uni for 10am Thursday 5th March

Full Moon Bike Ride Club 6pm, Library Square Off-campus pick-up at 6.45pm at Velo Cafe, 7.30pm set off A lunar celebration of two wheels and a sound-system on the under-cliff path.

Saturday 7th March

Bike Bloc at Climate March It's Green Week 11am at Victoria Train Station Bikes are tools for social change.

Come ride - and march - with Lyndsay, the Activities Officer, at the Climate March in London. **** If you want to cycle, a bunch of us are cycling to London on the Friday 6th March email Lyndsay to join in. **** Otherwise, we'll meet you at 11am at Victoria to go to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London together. Please let Lyndsay know you are coming beforehand.

Monday 9th March

WAG Bike Train for International Women's Day 4pm, Library Square For Women and Gender-variant people only.

Please see the rest of the Bike Month calendar for bike rides open to all genders.

We'll meet in Library Square at 4pm for a

4.30pm set off, or meet at the Level before 5pm.

We will go to the Globe for the 6pm talk on the intersection of bikes with the women's liberation movement.

Wednesday 11th March

Ride to Shoreham 5pm, Library square West of the Pier, with Billy from RE:CYCLE Bike Co-Op

Thursday 12th March

Wellbeing Ride Library Square, 6pm It's Wellbeing Week 2015 Riding a bike is good for your body and your mind.

Join this social ride from campus to the sea, where talking about mental health is welcome.

Library at 6pm, for a 6.30pm set off, meet off-campus at 6.45pm at Velo Cafe for a 7.30pm set off.

Thursday 19th March & Friday 20th March

The Scenic Route - Ride To Uni, A Longer Commute 10am at Velo Cafe, The Level We'll set off at 10.30am, to arrive at uni for around 11.30am There's a hill, but what goes up must come down right? No one left behind. Bring awake legs!

Saturday 21st March

Countryside ride 11am, Velo Cafe With Izzi from SCA societies Ride around the beautiful countryside of the South Downs. Fresh air, green hills, blue skies.

We never leave anyone behind.

Please bring a puncture repair kit if you have it, and if your bike needs some attention take it to Freewheelers on a weekday between 1-3pm.

Velo Cafe - 20% off all food and drink for students during #BikeMonth

the badger

2 MARCH 2015

Careers and Employability• 23

CAREERS & EMPLOYABILITY CENTRE ‘Make it Happen’! How to prepare for your next step

Beatriz Lacerda Ratton Student Writer The Careers & Employability Centre and the Development & Alumni Relations Office have joined ranks to organise a two-week long series of events, aimed at giving students the opportunity to get information and advice on how to go into a variety of different career paths and preparing for their next step, whatever that may be.

Events held in the first week included talks on: Careers in Media and Arts;Careers in Development and Charities; Careers in Government and Public Services; and Careers in Law. Most of the events were led by Sussex Alumni who have gone onto successful careers in many different fields and have returned to give their insight and advice on how to best approach their particular field.

Careers in Government and Public Services Having attended this particular event, I found it extremely informative on how to get into jobs in that career path, as well as discovering that there

is a wide variety of tasks and activities involved; sitting behind a desk is definitely not the essence of it!

Alumnus, Martin talked about his job as the Manager for the Mayor of Brighton and Hove. Starting his career working for the council, he worked his way up to working with council committees, through to the policy team, where he showed his worth and is now at his influential position with the Mayor. Giving advice to students coming out of university, Martin says “You don’t have to know where you go when you leave university. Don’t worry”.

Working for a local MP is another path those interested in careers in politics can take. James Butcher, a Politics Sussex graduate, works for the local Conservative MP. Having built up his CV while still at university through voluntary work and helping with campaigns, he made sure he stood out through his work experience.

Of industry secrets, James mentions the importance of being careful when doing internships, and knowing when you’re going in and out. He also mentions that you should know that the quality of the

#BikeMonth

March is #BikeMonth 2015 Lyndsay Burtonshaw Activities Officer

Riding a bike is good for your brain, and good for your body, it saves you money and is a greener form of transport.

See Bike Month full Events listings o ​n the Students’ Union website.

in the Cabinet Office. Of the job, she says it can be great for people who want “lots of money quickly” once they have finished university, as well as being a fulfilling job, where the department attempts to use the money and people they have to “deliver the best service to society”. As well as the HR programme, the Faststream also recruits into a range of other areas including, European, Commercial & Finance, Generalist, Economics and Technology. Deadline for most programmes is early November, so you need to plan early if you want to apply!

See: https://www.gov.uk/faststream Following the talks by the various Alumni, students had the opportunity to mingle and talk to them, ask them questions and any further advice they wanted. This was helped along by free wine and soft drinks!

For people who have missed the events or if you want to get advice about a different career area, have a look at the Alumni Career Network (ACN), which helps students to get in touch with Sussex Alumni for any help or advice with their careers. See www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/sussexplus/alumni

Events in the second week of ‘Make it Happen’ include: - Career Progression for Masters Students, Monday 2 March 12 noon - Careers in Creative Technologies – hear from a range of Sussex graduates now working in the Digital/Creative Media sector, plus free drinks and networking after the talks! Monday 2 March, 6 pm, Creativity Zone, Pevensey 2 - Careers in Science – Speakers range from a Chemistry graduate working in Materials to a Biology graduate who’s started up his own environmental consultancy! Network with them afterwards with a glass of wine!

Tuesday 3 March, 6 pm, Creativity Zone, Pevensey 2 - Discover Postgraduate Study, Wednesday 4 March, 12 noon - Careers in Psychology, Wednesday 4 March, 2 pm, Jubilee Lecture Theatre - Careers in Business & Finance, Thursday 5 March, 6 pm, Jubilee Lecture Theatre Library, University of Sussex T: 01273 678429 E: careers@sussex.ac.uk W: www.sussex.ac.uk/careers

m o nth e k i b March 2015

You are very welcome to all events - everything is free, and we never leave anyone behind!

Talk to our #BikeMonth volunteers or come to Freewheelers bike shed if you want bike advice, or would like a buddy to come with you to get a cheap bike.

Join the Sussex Cyclists community​ on Facebook.​ We also have 20% off everything at Velo Cafe for #BikeMonth.

We have the weekly Monday Bike Trains, bikes rides go- Look forward to seeing you! ing to Shoreham, ​ C ountryside ride ​ a round the Downs, ​ t he​ Keep it wheel, Full Moon​ Bike Club Ride past ​Lyndsay the pier along the coast​,​ women-only ride​ for International Women’s Day, ​Wellbeing Ride t​ o talk about mental health, and to London to take part in the​ bike bloc at the​ March for Action on Climate Change.

We also have a bike-powered cinema, bike-powered smoothies every Tuesday at the market, bike confidence sessions, bike polo, and riding the long way round on a scenic ride to uni through Stanmer Park.

work you are doing is high, and ensure that you are given lots of tasks in order to build up your experience.

When applying to work with an MP, James recommends applicants to “match their skillset to their MP’s skillset”, ensuring you are useful to them. A key piece of advice he gives is also to “engage now in work experience. A degree will unlock the door, but you still need to walk through it”.

He recommended the website, Work for MP: www.w4mpjobs.org, to look for opportunities.

Civil Service Faststream is a popular and prestigious path, as well as being reasonably well-paid. Megan, an English Literature graduate, wasn’t sure what she wanted to do when she finished her degree. Going to the Careers and Employability Centre to ask for advice, she was interested by the suggestion of work in the civil service and applied for the Faststream HR Civil Service programme.

Following her 3-year programme, where she got to do a variety of tasks including working in the Department of Work and Pensions and in the Home Office (helping with counterterror policy), she was offered a job

the level to sussex university

meet 8.15am to arrive for 9am meet 9.15am to arrive for 10am meet us at velo cafe, the level for 20% off food & coffee!