Term 1, Issue 9

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The Badger interviews Labour Brighton Pavilion candidate Purna Sen Page 5

The inescapable clutches of Social Networking Page 8

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NEWS Big Debate

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3D: A Multidimensional Approach to Film

Ebola Scare rules out Morocco from hosting African Cup of Nations Pages 20

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Free Education demo hits London Thousands of students take to the streets of London under the banner of “free education” Alexander Ferguson and Daniel Green News Sub-Editors The ‘Free Education’ protest in London, which thousands of students from across the country attended, took a violent turn after scuffles with the police resulted in 11 arrests.

The demonstration was organised to show discontent against the trebling of tuition fees that came into force in 2012 and education cuts in general, and saw students clash with police while trying to gain access to Parliament Square.

Protesters wearing masks tried to climb over police and fences after being told to “stand back” by police officers, causing the barriers to fall down.

Missiles as well as paint and stink bombs were thrown at a local Starbucks and several protestors broke off from the main group in an attempt to protest outside of the Conservative Party headquarters. Two of these protestors were detained.

A spokesman for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has said: “We recognise the right of all students to free speech. However, the world renowned calibre of the UK’s higher education system would not be sustainable if tuition fees were removed”.

He then went on to say: “our reforms were necessary to further strengthen the quality of our system, and this summer the OECD described the UK as one of the few countries that has developed a sus-

Facebook: Michael Seglov tainable funding system for its universities”.

Although the demonstration was not endorsed by the National Union of Students due to “an unacceptable level of risk”, it has been publicly supported by the Sussex Students’ Union, who organised coaches to take roughly 400 students

to the protest.

The Students’ Union Welfare Officer, Communications Officer, Activities Officer, and Operations Officer.

Rianna said in a statement on Facebook: “I have been so inspired by the thousands of students who came to London today to demand free education and

no cuts.

“Education is a human right, an investment in society, and is not something that should benefit only the privileged few.

“If every single student who attended today... votes in May, we truly have the power to f*ck sh*t up and change this bullsh*t neoliberal government agenda.

Your voice, your choice”.

The march was supported by groups such as the Student Assembly Against Austerity and the Young Greens.

The protest was the biggest student protest to take place since November 2010, when demonstrators occupied the Tory Party offices at Millbank.

in experiments in 2013 and for being “deliberately obstructive and preventing this information being in the public domain.”

The BUAV claim the University is legally obliged to provide the Home Office with these figures each year.

The University has confirmed it does have this information but is withholding it under section 38 of the FOI Act on the grounds of concerns over the health and

safety of its staff and students.

Students’ Union welfare officer Rianna Gargiulo said: “I suspect that the University does not want to have to reveal the identity of certain staff members or students who have used animals for research purposes.

“I think there is little evidence, however, to refuse giving numbers even if the University feels that it would be unsafe to reveal identities or departments.”

When The Badger contacted the University for a further response, a spokesperson said: “We have nothing further to add to the FOI response and stand by the position outlined in that response.”

Section 38 of the Act exempts the disclosure of information that would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health of any individual or endanger the safety of any individual.

In a statement from the BUAV, they

said: “There has to be a causative link between release of the information in question and the creation of, or increase to, a risk to safety. None is possible here.

“By disclosing this basic information, appropriately anonymised, there is simply no risk which can justify [the] university’s reliance on section 38.”

Animal testing details kept secret by Sussex Jessica Pitocchi News Sub-Editor Out of 73 UK universities, the University of Sussex is the only one to have refused a Freedom of Information request detailing its use of animal testing.

The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) heavily criticised the University for not revealing the number, species and purpose of the animals used

Continued on page 3.

the badger

24 NOVEMBER 2014

in pictures • 2

IN PICTURES

Your pictures of a Brighton evening

Jessica Rose Mével

Darren Baskill

Darren Baskill

Darren Baskill

Darren Baskill

Saana Ranta

Emilie Marie

Saana Ranta

Darren Baskill Editor-in-Chief Deborah Batchelor badger@sussexstudent.com

Sports Editor Joe Cummins josephcummins.sporteditor@ gmail.com

News Editor Jack Williams Comment Editor Victoria Farley Tech/Science/Features Editor Jordan Ellis Arts Editor Tom Powell Head of Publicity Lili Pammer-Zagroczky

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

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badger-online@ussu.sussex.ac.uk Media Development Officer Paul Millar mediadevelopment@sussexstudent. com Communications Officer Michael Segalov communications@sussexstudent.com

the badger

24 NOVEMBER 2014

NEWS • 3

‘Strange’ decision by University to withhold figures Continued from front page.

The exemption of section 38 is qualified, meaning that before deciding whether to withhold information, arguments for the public interest on the information must be considered.

Michelle Thew, CEO of the BUAV, said: “There is widespread concern over the use of animals in research but an informed debate cannot take place under a veil of secrecy. The research industry has made claims of late over its commitment to transparency and openness and yet we have encountered closed doors at Sussex University under a clause which simply does not stand up.

“The public has a right to know what animals are being used in research and why.”

A third-year psychology student, who wished to remain anonymous, said the withholding of the information was “strange” as she spoke exclusively to The Badger about her experience with animal testing in her dissertation.

She revealed that she and her lab partner, with the oversight of a PhD

Tatiana Bulyonkova student, use around 25 mice to test their association between receiving treats and responding to sound.

She said she is aware that there are a lot more mice as well as rats in the science labs that are used for student experiments.

She said the conditioning that is done to her mice is “not stressful or

painful” and explained that for two hours a day prior to working with the animals they held and handled the mice so they would become comfortable with them.

She also said she believes the animals are put down “quite quickly” by slowly increasing the amount of carbon dioxide that animals breathe in to initially

send them to sleep before they die.

Gargiulo added: “I think perhaps what might be best is for students to challenge why the University sees a necessity in undertaking harmful research on animals, rather than launching attacks on individuals, as [the BUAV’s] response suggest they assume this might happen.”

Students call for library policy to be shelved

Jack Williams Zoë Halse News Sub-Editor The University Library holds one core book for every 10 students on a course. This policy is problematic for some students given that not all texts are easy to buy or rent from elsewhere.

For example, some core and optional English module’s place particular emphasis on non-canonical texts in order to expand Student’s curriculum and expose them to texts they may not otherwise encounter.

However, these texts can be difficult to get hold of cheaply and most English courses require a novel a week on top of secondary reading, making it a weekly expense.

The University Library has commented that: “We realise that getting access to resources needed for courses is really important for students, and we therefore work closely with academic staff, using our reading list system to ensure that we provide resources for taught courses.

“For essential reading, our policy in relation to print is to purchase one

copy per 10 students. One of these copies will be kept in the Core Collection (overnight loan) to ensure that as many students as possible can get hold of it.

“We will always try to purchase an ebook version with multi-user access, to ensure that all students can access books that are in very heavy demand for a specific period of time, such as a seminar.

“We also provide a digitisation service for book chapters and articles so that material can be made available, online, through the reading list system or embedded in Study Direct, copyright permitting.

“The Library provides support to students in finding and using the wide range of resources provided by the Library for their studies through workshops and bookable training sessions.

“We are also exploring new models of providing access to a wider range of ebooks, and are working closely with a number of schools and departments, including English, on these initiatives.”

Zoe Francis, a third-year English Literature student, commented: ‘I think we should get some of our books free given that we are paying £9,000 a year, especially considering that the maximum amount of contact

hours I’ve had have been 10- I’m not necessarily saying our degree should be cheaper, but that what we do pay should be contributed to resources. I don’t think it would be unreasonable for their to be more books available for us in the library.’

Victoria O’Donnell, a third year English Literature student commented that the lack of resources available in the library is “ridiculous; especially for courses in such high demand”.

A third-year Philosophy student added: “I don’t think it’s fair for students to be expected to read entire novels or large chunks of text books online which we are forced to do as printing is very expensive and sometimes not even possible for ebooks, it is far easier to work with a hard copy of a text.”

Another second year student was keen to emphasise the extent of the expenses incurred by shortages of texts this term, as well as inconvenience, ‘I had to pay £20 for a novel for one week’s seminar, that did not come in time as it was most readily available from the US. The library had no copies in stock meaning my contact hours were effectively made redundant despite planning two weeks ahead.’

NEWS IN BRIEF The current university tuition fee system is unsatisfactory for students, universities and the government, according to a report by the Higher Education Commission.

The commission branded the current funding system as “the worst of both worlds”, stating in the report that: ““We have created a system where everybody feels like they are getting a bad deal. ““The government is funding higher education by writing off student debt, as opposed to directly investing in teaching grants.

“Students feel like they are paying substantially more for their higher education, but are set to have a large proportion of their debt written off by the government.”

A range of modifications to the current student fee system was suggested in the study, ranging from a plan to lower tuition fees to £6,000 per year and removing the upper £9,000 threshold for tuition fees to increase competition between universities.

Sophie Jones The University have made a commitment to release exam timetables a month earlier next year.

As part of an agreement with the Students’ Union, the University have pledged to release timetables for January examinations in October 2015.

The University made its decision after the issue was pushed by student reps at the Student Experience Forum.

Exam timetables for coming examinations in January were released on Friday.

A large number of students are choosing to study at universities in the United States rather than remain in the UK. A total of 10,191 students from the UK were studying in the US in the 2013-14 academic year, an eight percent rise from the previous year and continues an increasing trend from the past six years, according to the Institute of International Education.

The five most popular universities for UK students studying in the US are Harvard, Columbia, New York University, the University of California Berkeley and Yale.

Welfare Officer dismisses university sex ‘league table’ Daniel Green News Sub-Editor The University of Sussex has placed 61st out of 109 UK universities in the University Sex League Table.

The study, conducted by discount website Student Beans, showed that Sussex students have an average 4.48 sexual partners during their study.

In comparison, nearby Brighton

University came top of the table, with an average of 10.59 sexual partners.

In response, Welfare Officer Rianna Gargiulo launched a scathing attack on the survey, claiming: “Tables like this are yet another manifestation of rape culture at universities.”

In addition, she said: “I have absolutely no idea why someone would go to any effort to undertake this re-

search.

“I feel that it’s extremely problematic that this sort of thing exists as a way of encouraging to go to a certain university based on how likely they are to get laid whilst there.

“I would worry that this table suggests a certain type of student attends each university, and anyone who doesn’t fit into these categories

will be shamed for their decisions to be as sexually active as they choose to be.

“Women and men are both denied the agency that they have a right to in their sexual lives, resulting in social conceptions in which no one can win.”

Fliss Newton, vice president of wellbeing at Brighton University’s

Students’ Union, said: “We’re not going to preach to our students to be in a relationship for three years just because that’s what society expects.

“If you have enough time to have that much sex and get a good degree then good on you.

“As long as it’s done safely we’re not here to dictate to or judge our students.”

the badger

24 November 2014

NEWS • 4

Norman Baker’s “UK drug policy reform” Fraser Coppin Having recently resigned from his post as home office minister, Norman Baker, the Liberal democrat MP for Lewes, gave a lecture at Sussex titled “UK Drug Policy Reform”. The talk was organised by the Lib Dem society, and covered many of the misconceptions surrounding this topic, as well as possible ways that it could be improved. States in America such as Colorado have recently voted to legalise cannabis, and Nick Clegg has said that he would support decriminalisation of the drug. This shows that support for rethinking the way in which society deals with drugs is growing, and this discussion has never been more relevant.

Baker worked on and published a report into the effects of drug legalisation while working at the home office, with the findings of this report and resulting disagreements with Conservative home secretary Theresa May eventually leading to his resignation a couple of weeks ago.

The lecture focused on this report, and the main thing that it discovered was that drug use is not affected by the severity of laws. For example, Portugal has decriminalised all drug use, and has seen addiction rates halve since the policy was adopted. In addition, countries

such as Croatia with more severe legislation have seen relativity little change in drug use as a result. It is not therefore clear that the “tough love” approach the best way to conduct drug policy.

So if tough laws don’t help, then what should we be doing to combat Britain’s drug problem? The solution according to Baker is: treat drugs as a health issue, rather than a criminal issue. He suggested that we allow cannabis to be used for medicinal purposes, as well as providing proper rehabilitation programs for those suffering from drug addiction.

He did however dismiss arguments

A consultation was chaired between University of Sussex students and national lobby groups on housing issues by the Students’ Union President on the 14th of November.

The meeting brought together both Abraham Baldry, the President of the University of Sussex Students’ Union, the University of Brighton Students’ Union President Candice Armah, and students from both Universities in Brighton to discuss the key housing issues. Additionally, in attendance were representatives from both Universities’ accommodation departments, as well as lobbying groups.

Lobbying groups attended to understand the specific conditions and stresses faced by students and the meeting examined issues around housing conditions including safety and security, agency and landlord relationships, and the costs and fees levied against renters.

Generation Rent and Living Wage, both national organisations, were in attendance discussing how the declining conditions in rental accommodation and the lack of value for money is particularly relevant to students. Movement for Change, a membership-led organisation, discussed their Home Sweet Home campaign running in both Universities to demonstrate the level of rental accommodation stresses on renters, in particular, students.

Discussion from students about housing conditions included a former University of Sussex student who is currently in a

Liberal Democrat Society

Comment: ‘Decision of the campaign for Free Education to disturb the talk was misguided’ The Campaign for Free Education made a mistake in protesting against Liberal Democrat Norman Baker MP during his talk on drugs policy on the 13th of November.

I’m not a Lib Dem and never have been. I remain furious for their betrayal of hundreds of thousands of students in the Parliamentary vote to raise tuition fees in December 2010. I was protesting for free education at the demonstration for free education last Wednesday in London. But the decision of the Campaign for Free Education (or whoev-

er made the decision on it’s behalf) to disturb the talk was misguided and knee jerk.

Yes, a campaign for free education must feel a certain urge to step in if a Coalition grandee strolls onto campus to talk to students. But the circumstances were simply not right.

The leaflets handed to us by the campaign members were entitled “Why you shouldn’t listen to Norman Baker”, citing the failures of the Coalition in representing student’s interests in Parliament as reasons not to listen. But Baker’s talk was

on how the criminalisation of drugs and drug laws in general in the UK are not working, and how they are failing our society along with thousands of people with drug problems.

This is following on from an international study Baker oversaw in the Home Office, which concluded that there is no correlation between the criminalisation of drugs and a decrease in their use. This is something worth listening to.

The war on drugs has failed, and although he may have some dodgy friends in Westminster and failed us

in the past, this specific issue must be debated and talked about without interruption from hot heads.

Sussex’s greatest strength as a student body is a fervent political voice and passion for campaigning for what’s right. By disturbing the talk, a Lib Dem Society event, rights to free speech and free expression were briefly suspended.

But no matter how briefly it may have been, we can never let it happen at Sussex.

George Leith

Do you have a reponse to the comment piece above? Then email your piece to us at badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Sussex housing forum Richard Stewart

for legalization of drugs. Many would raise concerns about the large amount of taxpayers money used to police drugs, and the dangers of an unregulated underground trade.

He did acknowledge that there may be logic to this position, but that it would be too risky, making clear that he was in favour of a health based approach, not full legalization.

The talk wasn’t without its controversy, however. At one point, the talk was interrupted by protestors in support of free education, their anger directed at the Liberal Democrats’ U-turn on tuition fees since entering government.

high profile legal dispute with a Brightonbased housing agency on the conditions she and others face in the rental sector.

It was confirmed that neither of the Universities in Brighton provide a housing advocacy service to support students with ongoing disputes with agencies or landlords, with no indication that either university had the intention of creating such a service. Although, housing advice and information is provided by both the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton to equip students to deal with issues themselves.

Other Universities supply individual advocacy for students engaged in disputes with landlords and agencies, although this is not currently funded by the University of Sussex. Sussex Student Lettings, part of the University of Sussex Students’ Union, was highly praised during the meeting for providing an ethical approach to letting.

The approach is considered a good practice at other Students’ Unions in serving student needs in a market catering to agencies and landlords over renters.

The meeting resolved that in the runup to the general and council elections in Brighton, student housing needed to be a key issue, and that there are significant opportunities to influence potential Members of Parliament and local councillors seeking election. The meeting agreed that prospective officials should be approached by students demanding better conditions and a fair approach in the rental market.

Both Students’ Union Presidents confirmed that it was a key campaign priority for them in the coming year.

Research reveals ‘Dry January’ benefits Rosie Dodds News Sub-Editor According to research by the University of Sussex, giving up alcohol during January, as part of Alcohol Concern’s ‘Dry January’, will lead to a reduction in harmful drinking for the rest of the year.

‘Dry January’ is an annual campaign run by Alcohol concern that challenges people to give up alcohol for the 31 days in January. The charity says that 9.6 million people in England drink more than their recommended daily limit.

The new research has revealed that those who take part in the campaign

are said to drink alcohol less regularly, and don’t get as intoxicated, after taking part in the month-long abstinence.

It was found that after six months, 72% of participants had maintained lower levels of harmful drinking, nearly four-fifths reported saving a significant amount of money, and 62% found that they were sleeping better after a month without alcohol.

Dr Richard De Visser, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sussex who lead the research has said: “What’s really interesting to see is that these changes in alcohol consumption were also seen in the participants who didn’t complete the whole month alcohol free.

“Even if participants took part but didn’t successfully complete the 31 days, it generally led to a significant decrease across all the measures of alcohol intake.”

The long term effects of ‘Dry January’ have previously been questioned, with people asking whether a month without alcohol would inspire an alcohol binge at the beginning of February.

Emily Robinson, director of campaigns at Alcohol Concern said: “This new research is proof of how, with the help, advice and support we offer throughout the month, our model can really change behaviour and reduce drinking.”

Sales of student cookbooks soar Jack Williams News Editor Students are increasingly turning away from takeout meals and turning instead to home cooking, according to new research by Amazon Students.

Statistics released this month by Amazon Students, an online membership programme for Higher Education students, revealed that sales of cookbooks from the website have soared 70 percent in the last month amongst university attendees.

Amazon Students assert that these figures indicate a desire by students to

learn to cook more wholesome meals for themselves, rather than wholly relying on takeaway and microwave meals.

Popular student purchases in the past month include budget meal cookbooks, slow cooker cookbooks and bakery books.

The surge in university students buying cookbook comes in the wake of successful TV food programmes such as The Great British Bake Off, Which Amazon Students claim may have had an influence on students wanting to cook better meals for themselves.

Currently, the post purchased book

by Amazon Student members is Nosh for Students by Jon and Ron May. Amongst the most popular cookbook authors for students were Jamie Oliver, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.

Charlie Caroe, Amazon Student manager at Amazon.co.uk, said: ““As well as stretching their academic minds while at university, students are also stretching their culinary capabilities.

The recent surge in cookbook sales shows that students are interested in choosing to cook more exciting meals from scratch while at university to satisfy their sense of accomplishment.”

the badger

24 NOVEMBER 2014

NEWS • 5

UCU Marking boycott suspended Jack Williams News Editor The national academic marking boycott has been temporarily called off after talks between trade unionists and employers were organised.

The development was announced in a joint statement by the University and Col-

lege Union (UCU) and Universities UK, who are currently locked in a battle over proposed reforms to the USS pension scheme, which academics claim would leave them worse off.

In an attempt to find a solution, a series of negotiations have been arranged for representatives from the UCU and Universities UK.

The discussions will take place immediately and run until after the Joint Negotiation Committee meeting scheduled for 15 January 2015.

Both Parties said in a joint statement: “UCU and UUK have agreed to a series of negotiating meetings between now and the scheduled January JNC. “It is hoped that this period can be used

to close the differences between the negotiating positions, with a view to reaching agreement on reforms to the USS scheme.

“Both parties are pleased that the agreement to suspend industrial action at this early stage will mean that students will not have been adversely affected and members of staff will not have had pay deducted.”

Academics at 69 University and College Union branches around the UK, including the University of Sussex branch, voted to take part in action short of a strike in October.

At a Sussex UCU Emergency Members Meeting on Tuesday, tutors elected to continue the marking boycott until more ‘concrete proposals were offered by employers.

Did you support the UCU marking boycott?

Lucy Warren Undergraduate English Literature (1st Year) “I think that the marking boycott is completely justified. The proposed cuts to the pensions are ridiculous and I believe we should support our hardworking tutors in this worthwhile cause.

“I know the disruption is frustrating but its necessary if we are to see any change.”

Ellie Aitchison Undergraduate Philosophy and Sociology (2nd year) “I think that it is completely fair enough that tutors want to show how unhappy they are with their pensions.

“However the only thing a boycott will do is affect students as we wont get feedback for our work. They should strike instead.”

Spencer Warner Undergraduate History (2nd year) “I think it’s f**king appalling. We pay £9000 a year for the privilege of being here, and academics can’t even be bothered to mark a few essays.

“The Students’ Union should not support it because, as fee paying customers of the university, we should have the basic right to have our essays marked.”

Joe Cummins Undergraduate Philosophy and English Literature (3rd year) “I think tutors have a right to express their outrage at the terrible situation they’ve been put in.

“They’ve experienced a real term cut in their wages and now they want to radically change their pensions. I can completely understand why they choose to boycott”

The Badger interviews Purna Sen Zoe Halse News Sub-Editor

The Badger interviews Purna Sen, The labour Party’s Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion at the 2015 General Election.

An IpsosMORI poll last week showed that Ed Milliband’s net satisfaction rating was -44 percent, lower than Nick Clegg on -36% and David Cameron on -15%, the lowest poll rating ever for a leader six months before the general election. Can Labour really perform well having a leader this unpopular?

That poll has been referred to quite a lot- there are a lot of other polls and other questions which give different findings.

For example, when you ask people which leader connects with the people best, actually Ed Milliband’s ratings are pretty good and David Cameron’s are pretty poor.

Everyone knows who Labour’s leader is, Ed Milliband, knowing that we still top the polls in terms of who would you vote for in the general election.

I accept that some people don’t really understand how Ed Milliband works, what his strengths are and so on and I expect that to continue to be a difficult message for us to get across simply because we don’t have as many channels through which to put such a message. I don’t see that as out primary issue, the thing that is going very well for us, (housing, social issues).

When we talk about issues of fairness and decency, people are very drawn to what we have to offer.

In the latest poll by ICM, people have been shown to trust Cameron and Osborne on the economy more than Milliband and Balls (DC&GO: 39%EM&EB: 19%). Why do you think that is and do you feel labour can make any additional pledges to regain economic trust?

May I just say to you, I hope that as a student body you will do more than just repeat what the national media does and the mistakes it makes and focus only on negative polls and ask me about that which I have to say is a little limited in your imagination and I hope we are going to move on from this.

However, let me answer your question.

Today, David Cameron has been telling the G20 in Australia, that there’s global instability and economic crises looming again. Now, he’s saying none of this is his fault or George Osbourne’s fault, this is all the fault of the international economy.

He has been very clear and consistent in blaming Labour for the economic crash in 2007, which was an international financial crises. All over the world have credited Gordon Brown with stopping that crises getting much worse for us in the UK. The economy has flat lined for four years under this government. The economy was recovering in 2010, we’ve only just returned to where were four years ago. We’ve had wages stagnating and falling in that time with prices rising. This is not a fair society that the UK wants. This is not the sense of justice and fairness that people hold so dearly in this country what people tell us is that this isn’t good enough.

How is Labour planning to appeal to students in University cities such as this?

In Brighton, one of the things we hear most of all from students is how expensive it is to get housing and how difficult it is to get decent housing, you may have heard of the ‘Home Sweet Home’ campaign, they worked here on campus quite a bit to capture students’ experiences of the private rental sector. We have heard accounts of students living in houses with mould, damp; having to pay ridiculous deposits and fees to letting agents and being frightened of raising their concerns. We are very serious about taking this on.

Ed Milliband and the Party have taken on some very serious commitments re-

garding the private rental sector. Firstly to deny letting agents the ability to take a ridiculous fee off people using them.

Secondly, to limit how much rents can go up and when and thirdly to ensure that contracts are for longer periods so tenants have a greater security in their contract and tenancy period. I’m interested in talking to our local council to tackle bad landlords and bad agreements in the private sector. Our Labour councillors are committed to dealing with this sector.

Do the positives of staying in the EU outweigh the negatives?

Yes. I have made it my business to go and talk to people in trade and business in this city and every one of them has said they would be much worse off and their business would be much worse off if they were to leave the EU. They rely on trade with the EU and that’s very important to their business.

I also know given my interests around labour organisation, discrimination and rights that Europe has been the source for many of the protections that we now value and take for granted, maternity leave, how many hours a week we can work, protections that we all want to continue. Also the human rights framework that many are trashing, I will defend it. I am a human rights activist, our rights to freedom of speech, to life, to livelihood, to education, to limited time at work, to stand for political office. All of those are embedded and protected in the European system.

It’s all part of having an outward look on life, on the world and understanding that the relationships are two way. We contribute to Europe, for sure we do, but we get a massive amount out of it and I’m not in favour of withdrawing from Europe at all.

Brighton currently have Caroline Lucas as MP, the Green party’s only MP, making it vital that she listens to constituents rather than tow the party line. Do you feel the people of Brighton would have the same luxury with yourself as Labour MP? All MPs should be listening to their con-

Sophie Jones stituents, its their job. The job of an MP is to serve their constituents, to respect the votes and the trust that’s been placed in them. Caroline Lucas is a lone MP and a lone voice, she and I will agree on a lot of positions. I have spent decades working in the women’s sector, literally on the front line, getting resources, structuring services for women, advocacy on policies that improve life for women.

So, we might agree on certain positions and what there is to be done but the big difference between myself and Caroline Lucas is that she will not be able to influence the way the country goes and what policies and laws are implemented, whereas I’m part of a Party which is likely to be in government according to all the polls and which will be in a position to deliver promises. That makes me more cautious in terms of what I promise, I’m not going to be making those grand promises like somebody who is independent and does not have to deliver. I’m going to make promises that I know I am prepared to work on and get my hands dirty working on and be part of a Party that is going to be in government, I anticipate.

How can you represent the people of Brighton Pavillion in a way that no other candidate can?

Unlike some other candidates, I am a Brighton resident. I am interested in improving and serving my own community.

I don’t want Brighton to be a place where people cannot afford to lead decent lives.

Do you think it’s a problem that most politicians are white middle-aged men?

We have a problem in terms of our politicians in terms of how much they represent the people that they serve.

Most of our parties are very poor in terms of the representation of women in parliament. 23 percent, I think it is, in the House of Commons, are women. It’s a shockingly low figure, Rawanda’s up at 56 percent. Countries can do better than this. Not all parties have the same record I am happy to be in the party with the best record.

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the badger

24 November 2014

FEATURE • 8

FEATURE The inescapable clutches of social networking Jordan Ellis discusses the power of social networking: how we do not realise its influences, its worth, and the effects it has on our brains.

Jordan Ellis Tech/Science/Features Editor Ask yourself this: how many times and in the last hour have you used a social media platform? And which of these platforms was it? Twitter, Facebook, Instagram? Or some other innovative new and exciting platform which sells itself as the be-alland-end-all of interacting with your buddies online?

These services are popping up every day hoping to become the next billion dollar startup success story.

A quick summary of ludicrous acquisitions of social networks for those of you not in the know: Google buys YouTube in 2006 for $1.6 billion; Facebook buy Instagram for $1 billion; and Snapchat has repeatedly turned down acquisition offers worth over $1 billion (most notably a staggering $3 billion offer from Facebook).

Clearly, there is something seen in these platforms that is of interest to businesses and companies.

Any digital product, service or system that generates money is carefully designed with every element crafted under complete scrutiny.

It’s simple business, you want a system that will be most effective at bringing in the money. So bearing this in mind, what is it about social networks that keeps us coming back for more?

Studies have been carried out have shown that these social platforms play on the primal and psychological way that our brain functions. More specifically, the two functions of pleasure and anxiety.

For example, we check these services for notifications (regardless of whether we have them or not) out of anxiety from not checking them for a period of time, or to find and see things which please us, releasing a small amount of dopamine in the brain.

We perceive this as pleasure and pleasure is addictive by nature. The simple notion of receiving a ‘like’ on Facebook or a ‘retweet’ on Twitter is enough to keep people using these services to the point of addiction.

Looking at the excessive use of social networks out of context makes it sound akin to an obsession or compulsion. Rather than remain a simple way to pass a few minutes waiting at the bus stop, it is fast becoming a necessity in our everyday lives.

How long until we have adverts telling us to “use the internet responsibly” similar to those that tell us to “drink responsibly”.

A further example of the dopamine-releasing addictive qualities of these services is Instagram. Beloved by many for publishing what you had

for lunch and the intense workout you have just completed, Instagram is notorious for making you feel good about yourself.

You’ve just taken a good photo on your smartphone? Great! Stick it on Instagram with a filter that does all of the editing and hard work for you, and wait for the ‘likes’ to roll in. Each time that little orange indicator appears, you feel good about yourself and receive a small splash of dopamine in the brain. So why wouldn’t you publish everything you do in your life? Minimal effort for maximum satisfaction.

This form of addiction is what the social network business model is all about; repeated views on behalf of the user equates to more views on adverts, and that translates into lots of money for Mr. Zuckerberg and his peers at the heads of these social behemoths.

In fact this is a similar model to those of freemium games (as publicly called out by a recent episode of a certain adult cartoon. South Park, I’m looking at you).

As students, our lives revolve around being social (as well as all that hard studying we do) and the easiest way to remain social with a large group of people is social media.

Social events are easily organised through these platforms, large group conversations can also be had and photos and intimate details of your life can be shared, right down to the date you started a new eating habit.

You also cannot deny their effectiveness as a messaging client.

Course year groups are organised by ‘Groups’ on Facebook to enable you to keep in touch with what is going on with your studies and this is an organisational property of the platform that is hard to replace, seeing as so many people use Facebook.

Another benefit to you and I as normal individuals of society is that we can learn a thing or two from social media. I am of course talking about the YouTube revolution and how you can make a living without even leaving your bedroom.

Local Brighton YouTube star PewDiePie has more than 3.8 billion views on his videos and has made millions of pounds in advertising revenue.

Make-up bloggers and people who document their life also have large followings and see success from a platform that relies on people using the video social network regularly.

However, this isn’t all a glittering dream job. The comments on videos on the social network are often full of spam, self-promotion or just plain abuse.

This is a widespread problem on the internet and not just videos; it

manifests itself as co-ordinated bullying on social networks and abusive posts on message boards like 4chan.

Not only is social media for you and your friends, but it is used itself by businesses, bands and organisations to drive sales of products and it even plays a huge role in modern day politics and even terrorism.

It is slowly becoming an online advertisement platform, with your friends interspersed between the newest EDM song and Kim Kardashian’s freemium app.

Politicians and political parties actively make use of social media now to engage with supporters and followers of their causes, usually to much success.

Controversial political videos quickly go ‘viral’ getting millions of views in very short amounts of time, and there is no such thing as bad publicity.

It would be interesting to quantify the effect social media will have on the upcoming UK general elections.

One global example of its effects can be seen in the recent US elections. Facebook added an “I Voted!” and “I’m a Voter” button to Facebook so your friends can see how many of your friends and people in your country have voted.

This all sounds harmless but this button didn’t appear for all US users and this is where the problem lies. If certain members of the population can see this button (say per region and the region is swayed to one political party), then you can end up with a skewed result and an altered election.

Facebook were also conducting a second experiment to see which of the two buttons, “I Voted!” or “I’m a Voter!” received the most clicks.

Another factor which could have

skewed the elections.

A further issue with social networks is that sites like Twitter are being used more and more by terrorists and they have had to clamp down and remove propaganda created by Islamic State and other malicious bodies being distributed over these platforms.

However, where some doors close others are left open, and open source social networks like Diaspora are now being used for malicious intent instead. This issue was covered last week in the Tech section and more can be found online.

With over 1.3 billion users (more than 1 in 6 people on the entire planet), Facebook is becoming more and more difficult to escape from. Why would you leave when all of your friends and family are just a click away?

Humans are social beings and we like to be surrounded by other people. We thrive off human contact and when that isn’t available, digital contact has to do.

One thing is for sure, these companies hold a large amount of data on each and every user and that is actually a very scary thing. Facebook have a huge database of personal and intimate details of all of its users.

Their age, date of birth and even home addresses if you choose to put that on there. This should be a cause for concern because how do you know that rogue employees at the social network companies aren’t looking at these details, photos and more illegally?

Facebook’s data scientists are even able to identify when you are most like to start and end a relationship using research based on user’s data.

The fact that these companies hold this much data makes them an

ideal target for hackers because this data is worth an awful lot to advertising companies.

Advertising companies are also willing to pay for the details of people so they can target their adverts, and they don’t care who they buy it from, anonymous hackers or legitimate sources.

By targeting adverts using the user data they have, people are more likely to click them which translates into more revenue for advertisers.

Bearing all these privacy concerns in mind, the public interest is turning to social networks which aren’t run by advertisers and which aren’t interested in experimenting on its users or their data.

Sites like Ello have no advertisements and promise to be completely transparent with users.

Interest in this type of social network is so great, that Ello has raised over $5.5 million in funding from investors without any current revenue stream. It is currently invite only and they have also signed a legally binding contract to never maximise profits.

This amount of funding with no promise of maximised profits is insane, and it shows that people obviously are finally beginning to appreciate their privacy online.

Whatever your opinion on social networks, the benefits of their use cannot be understated, just think about how much harder your life as a student would be to organise without social networks.

The more time you spend on these social platforms, the harder it will become to leave them. We are turning into the products that are sold by social networks to advertisers and their clutches on us are only getting tighter.

Wilgengebroed via Flickr

Your Students’ Union pub in the centre of Brighton

on What’s

Autumn Term

STUDENT PRICES ALL THE TIME: £3.20 Strongbow/ Fosters / Snakebite £2.50 rum/vodka mixer 3 for 2 jager, sambuca, tuaca Pre-drink Hour: 8pm-11pm (Skint prices)

FOOD

Mondays from 5pm 2 for 1 burgers Wednesdays all day burger+pint £5 Thursdays £10 steak + 3 sides FRY...days fish&chips/halloumi&chips 2 for £10

Mondays (monthly)

Drawing Circus

7.30-10pm. Circus themed life drawing £5 students, £6 nonstudents.

Wednesdays

Skint

Strongbow, Fosters & Snakebite £2 Rum/vodka + mixer £2.50 Shots of tequila/ sambuca £1.85 3 for 2 Jagermeister

Thursdays (Monthly nights)

Fem Rock

Thurs 30th Oct, Thurs 27th Nov: Monthly FemRock Night: Renowned amongst Brightonians for showcasing the best local female-fronted performers, FemRock is an inclusive event for people of all genders. FemRock nights are about celebrating women in music, raising money for charity and promoting local artists!

Hollow Earth

Thurs 23rd Oct, Thurs 20th Nov: Monthly Hollow Earth Nights - Expect kaleidoscopic visuals, psychedelic performances and the full-range of drinks deals! The new monthly experiment at The Globe, Middle Street.

Featuring UK debuts from Brooklyn psych-rock band Woodsman, plus label-mates Ancient Ocean - followed up with classic Brightonian hip-hop ‘till 2am. The event is broadcast by event sponsors Resonance 104.4fm, URF and Mixcloud and is brought to you via your Students’ Union. Free entry for students with a valid student card - no need to book a ticket in advance, just turn up and show your student card. Tickets for non-students are £4

the badger

24 November 2014

Comment • 10

Is animal cruelty not enough to stop the I’m A Celeb bandwagon?

Victoria Black

The popular ITV show I’m A Celebrity…

Get Me Out of Here! is back for their 2014 series with its first episode broadcasting Sunday 16th November.

Loyal fans of the show always anticipate the line up and this year the line up is an extremely mixed bag.

This year’s litany of stars includes the likes of beloved TV newsreader Michael Buerk, The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins, TV presenter and former model Melanie Sykes and former Playboy playmate Kendra Wilkinson.

Keen fans will also be pleased that Ant and Dec are back once again to front the programme.

Other celebrities on the show include Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson, rapper Tinchy Stryder, TV personality Mel Sykes, former footballer Jimmy Bullard and Coronation Street soap star Craig Charles.

Many avid fans are already forecasting how the show will pan out, with bookies already predicting whether there will be a King or Queen of the jungle crowned.

Gemma Collins, 33, has already been deemed most likely to be facing the gruesome trials and her extremely dramatic arrival into the jungle will only spur on the public.

However, in a recent interview it seems clear she has got other ideas

about how her time in the jungle will be.

She told The Mirror she would like to find love in the jungle; ‘I would certainly consider a holiday romance. Why not?

I’m a single girl’ adding ‘I’m definitely a Jungle Jane looking for a Tarzan.’

The show has faced some controversy after TV presenter, Chris Packham, accused the show of abusing animals.

He wrote: ‘The problem is that animals such as snakes, spiders, crocodiles, rats and many invertebrates are already misunderstood and thus unfortunately vilified, despite the incredibly important roles they play in the world’s ecosystems and our lives’.

He then went on to critique the show for its ignorance towards the exotic animals in which they use on the show; ‘By orchestrating a fear of them among your contestants, I’m afraid you’re reinforcing and exaggerating a terrible ignorance and intolerance of these remarkable animals.’

Packham was also dismissive of the programme’s use of consultants to advise on animal welfare, saying: ‘I can guarantee that some animals are harmed during production, because they are fragile or easily stressed. Or simply killed, as they are in your bushtucker trials.’

He went on to slate the show as a whole deeming it as past its sell by date,

‘The show has been running for years now. Surely it’s time for it to mature, for you to accept that, as pillars of the British broadcasting community, you should put an end to this inhumane, embarrassing and destructive aspect of an otherwise great show.’

This was written in the Radio Times making some fear for the ratings of the show.

However the show seems unaffected by these claims, and has already sparked huge interest from social media. In particular, Twitter was flooded with tweets

about the show with Gemma Collins arrival quickly trending.

There is also speculation as to how much each of the so-called celebrities are being paid for their time in the jungle.

Newsreader, Michael Buerk, is said to be receiving the heftiest pay cheque from the show at £150,000.

Previously, cheques as large as £250,000 have said to have been paid out to celebs partaking on the show.

Jimmy Bullard, an ex footballer is rumoured to be getting paid £100,000 for

his time on the show, despite saying ‘I tell you what I would of come in the jungle for nothing. I would have paid them a little bit of money to get me in there.’

At the other end of the scale and the likes of Playboy Kendra Wilkinson and Irish model Nadia Forde are each said to be getting between £20,000 to £30,000 for their appearances.

So, despite concerns for the Bushtucker beasties, I’m A Celeb looks to be going strong for another year. However, will that stay the same, or will the plight of the crocodile win in the end?

The Mirror

Kim Kardashian: step back for feminism?

Charlotte Wade Scrolling through my Facebook timeline last week, there was the usual generic round up of social media stories.

LadBible videos that made me chuckle, a few pictures from the poppy memorial in London, a singleton uploading a photo of their ice cream and tagging ‘Bae’ on a Saturday night, and oh, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few days, those images of Kim Kardashian’s uber-oiled nude body that we were all ‘treated’ to.

Donning what can only be described as a smug look on her face for Papermag, #BreakTheInternet’ accompanied them along with a few million likes on each one.

Suddenly after seeing a couple of pictures of this woman on Facebook against my will, everywhere I looked on social media, she was there staring me in the face over and over again like some sort of horrific spot that happens to appear spontaneously and ironically on the day of a presentation in class, reddening and refusing to go away. (One can’t help but think Kim Kardashian would be a suitable metaphor for the blemishes of life...)

Anyway, here’s a message for you Kim. Congratulations. You have not only broken the internet, you have also broken my soul in thinking that this generation had any hope left for their value of censorship.

Firstly, as I saw this woman’s naked body splashed around, the thought occurred to me that this

isn’t even considered horrific anymore. In fact, in this generation’s high exposure to sex, body perfection and women as property, it is widely acknowledged and more importantly, encouraged as common social practice.

What was the woman thinking?

And more importantly what was photographer Jean-Paul Goude thinking?

I highly doubt that Kim Kardashian’s ridiculously lubricated body in our day to day lives is going to have a positive impact on our minds.

Not to mention the fact that a lot of people don’t have a desire to see this woman naked!

One can’t help but think that this has become the new education for this generation and that sex is intricately woven into every aspect of society wherever it can be.

Let’s not be ignorant here. Nowadays, she is looked up to by young people around the world especially in the category of young teens, who idolise her.

Proof of this can be seen through her Instagram being the third most popular page on the site and the constant regurgitating of Keeping up with the Kardashians episodes.

People are so influenced by this woman and every component of her life; an obsession which can be compared to a dizzy, drug-like state which they crave more of every day.

Instant sharing involved with Facebook and Instagram as well as Twitter means that children are exposed to these images easily and therefore become embedded into

their sub-conscious. Because they are young, they will think that this is acceptable to look up to.

Adding to her young fan base is the fact that she has a husband and a child at home.

What is baby North going to think when she is growing up and being faced with these pictures left, right and centre?

Will she be proud that her mother’s media-hungry obsession drove her to take her clothes off on more than one occasion to be respected?

Kim has been recorded saying, “There’s nothing we can do that’s not documented, so why not look your best, and amazing?”

In my opinion, I can’t think of anything worse than the whole world watching your every move, judging you and keeping you and your family in check no matter what you did.

The fact that she has let it get to this stage just adds to her brainwashed outlook and what lengths she will go to in order to stay within the sphere of media and social networking for the rest of her life.

I couldn’t help but think about Yeezus on this occasion. I wonder what he thinks of his wife’s escapades and how men and women all over the globe are leering at her body and having, as it were, a piece of his wife. Where is the respect?

Where are the role models who actually matter?

Where have the stories enriched with value, education and culture as opposed to this stupid woman taking her clothes off gone?

To call me ‘unfeminist’ by shunning Kim’s actions would be unfair.

In my opinion, she has never been an advocate of feminism. In fact, by forever glorifying this exposure to her body, she has done the exact opposite by allowing the world to have access to every part of her.

I don’t want to live in a world where these pictures are openly accepted and respected.

Unfortunately in a society with an ‘inspirational’ woman such as Kim Kardashian leading the way, from

beginning her fame with a sex tape, developing into this monstrosity, we have little hope of ever turning back.

A favourite quote of mine from Rob Bell sums up my, and hopefully some readers feelings, perfectly: ‘It’s easy to take off your clothes …

But opening up your soul to someone, letting them into your spirit, thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams… that is being naked’, which as a generation we would be wise to follow in the near future.

Papermag

the badger

24 NOvember 2014 THE BIG DEBATE • 11

THE BIG DEBATE

Was the Student’s Union right in supporting the UCU marking boycott?

With a motion passing through the Student Council voting for the USSU to officially support this term’s marking boycott, The Badger asks whether this was the right decision?

Google

Yes

Rory Hughes

I am proud that our Student Union has come out in support of the marking boycott and in support of our teachers.

There has been yet another attempt by the media and by the higher echelons of this University to redirect our anger at the injustice of our fees; away from those at the top of society who are responsible towards our friends and neighbours. In this case we are being told to be angry with our teachers.

Our tuition fees were tripled to £9000 a year and threats have been made to raise international student’s fees even further. This University and every university around the country now have more money than they have ever had before.

Yet the policies of privatisation, cuts to staff, cuts to research budgets and cuts to our teacher’s pay packets and pensions carry on.

“I am proud that our Student Union has come out in support of the marking boycott and in support of our teachers.”

Our Vice-Chancellor Michael Farthing has been implementing these policies since he received his job at the University of Sussex.

His pay packet has not been cut; his pension has not been slashed. He is paid £294,000 a year and enjoyed a 5.1% pay rise last year. His salary is almost 15 times the average salary of the working population of the UK. His pay has been increasing annually whilst our teachers have suffered pay cuts year after year.

Teacher’s wages are down 13% from 2009 and now they are after their pensions.

I have heard amongst my peers and on the news a common anguish. “Why are we paying £9000 a year when they won’t even mark our work?”

As students we must remember, it was not our teachers who tripled our fees. Instead we must ask

Note: pieces were submitted prior to the UCU boycott being suspended until January the question “why am I paying £9000 a year whilst departmental budgets, research budgets and my teacher’s pay is being cut?”

It is these cuts that damage our education.

We must not let the establishment and media turn our entirely justified anger at the way our society is run and the fear of our futures being ridden with debt and insecurity towards our neighbours.

It was not teachers or their trade unions that tripled our fees; it was the politicians in Westminster.

We must turn our anger towards our ViceChancellor and the politicians who argue that “there is no money left” to pay our teachers, our firemen or our nurses.

The top 1000 people in our society have doubled their personal wealth since 2010 in the largest economic recession the world has ever seen.

Michael Farthing and our politicians get a pay rise, our teachers get a pay cut and we are saddled with a future of debt and insecurity.

It is our job as students and future employees to stand by our neighbours when they need our help.

We can only fight injustice together and it is in our interest to have a university where equality and justice are at its foundations.

It is in our interest to have well funded and publicly owned services, departments and teachers in our university.

The UCU are not only fighting for their pay and pensions, they are fighting for our future pay and pensions.

They are fighting for our right to a free education and to a university not governed by injustice.

This is why I am proud that our Student Union, which we are all a part of, has supported the boycott.

No

Alexander Ferguson News Sub-Editor

On Wednesday 6th November, some members of teaching staff at the University of Sussex who are also members of the UCU decided to join tutors from 68 other universities in a marking boycott of indefinite length.

The following Monday, our Students' Union passed a vote approving this boycott; this was an extremely irresponsible decision which was not only wrong because it was based upon misdirected principles, but also because the decision itself was made in completely the wrong manner.

I think it is important for me to state from the start that this should not be viewed as a comment piece in favour of or against the marking boycott itself.

Changes to the pension schemes of pre-1992 universities could have significant negative monetary effects on university staff and so they have voted to implement a marking boycott rather than a full-on strike.

However, despite the sympathies which I'm sure we all have for those who might not get as much as they would like or deserve for their pension, the University of Sussex Students' Union should not be approving the marking boycott.

The Students' Union exists to support the students of the University of Sussex.

There is no doubt that this marking boycott will do nothing for students except hinder our education and the degree we are supposed to be earning is becoming even less worth the £27,000+ that it will cost us.

By supporting the marking boycott the SU has marginalised the huge majority of its members by defending the interests of a completely separate group.

The tutors at this University have their own union (and indeed it seems to be a much more professional, better organised and loyal union

compared to the USSU).

They do not need the Students' Union to support their interests at all as they already have the UCU which is doing a very good job of it by themselves!

It would seem that, according to the SU, any negative effect of the marking boycott on students is simply collateral damage and what's more, to the SU, it is worth all of the disruption to students just to spite the University management.

I wonder if, when they took the vote in the Union Council meeting, the Full-time Officers were even aware of how much this boycott would harm their members.

When asked what the effect of the boycott would be on students with January exams, or on 3rd year students for whom essay marks and feedback are crucial, the Full-time Officers answered: 'who knows?' and 'your guess is as good as ours'.

They gave these answers minutes before voting to support the boycott anyway.

In the minds of the 6 Full-time Officers, the vote was only a formality anyway.

The Sussex Students' Union opinion had already been expressed. Each of the 6 Full-time Officers of the Students' Union had attributed their name to a letter, sent to the the Independent on 5 November, boldly entitled 'Students support academic boycott'. Do we?

I'm pretty sure that most of the students of Sussex didn't even know it was going to happen until it actually did.

In any case, this opinion was spouted without a required Union Council vote and without any proper attempt being made to gauge student opinion.

This undemocratic and extremely unprofessional statement makes a mockery of any attempt that the SU might make to say that it's decision represents the thought of the majority of its members.

These actions only help to highlight the arrogance and the sheer pomposity of our Students' Union.

the badger

24 november 2014 ARTS • 14

ARTS

3D: A Multidimensional Approach to Film?

Guilty Pleasures The Arts team are kicking off a new section where we come up with a theme and then list our film/music/ TV preferences according to that particular theme. This week, we’ve decided to embarrass ourselves by letting everyone know our deepest, darkest guilty pleasures (this is a judge-free zone, okay?).

MUSIC Ray: Wham! - Last Christmas.

If this wasn’t a Christmas song I’d listen to it every day.

Victoria: Groove Is In The Heart Deee-Lite.

This song never fails to get me dancing (unfortunately for my friends).

Tom: Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien.

It’s self-indulgent, but I can be self-indulgent too when I play it to friends.

Ioana: Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).

If you don’t secretly like this song, then you really are no fun.

Lily: Niagara - Je dois m’en aller.

Terrible, ridiculously catchy french 80s music ? YES. FILM Ray: Speed.

Keanu Reeves.

Victoria: The Breakfast Club.

I (sadly) know every line in this film. Don’t even get me started on the Simple Minds song.

Tom: Les Misérables.

Those are real tears, Fantine.

Ioana: Clueless.

People don’t even notice that half of the things I say are actually quotes from this film.

Lily: Love Actually.

Do I even need to say anything ?

TELEVISION Ray: Don’t Tell the Bride.

It might make me a bad person, but I find nothing quite as funny as a disappointing wedding.

Victoria: The Gilmore Girls.

My mum hates the theme tune, thus I love it more.

Tom: Take Me Out. It’s a spectacle in pure, voracious lust and I love it for that. The dad jokes are good too.

Ioana: Veronica Mars.

Who didn’t want to be a snarky teenage detective when they were 13?

Lily: Made In Chelsea.

Vacuous, dramatic and predictable.

Not sure what more you could want to heal your Monday-afflicted soul.

Sitting on a Three-Dimensional Fence Charel Muller Five years after Avatar brought stereoscopy back with a bang, it’s safe to say that 3D is here to stay.

With the notable exception of The Inbetweeners 2 (thank God), the seven highest grossing films at the UK box office all leapt off the screen.

Personally, I was never a fan.

The tickets are more expensive, you need to buy a new pair of annoying glasses because you forgot to bring your own and the image is significantly darker.

Even worse is, when they make you pay for bad/non-existent 3D. Back in March, I went to see Captain America 2.

Five minutes into the film, one of the lenses fell out of my glasses.

Since I didn’t want to miss out, I stayed and watched the rest without glasses, occasionally holding up the defective lens to my eye.

With the exception of a slightly blurry background, there was virtually no difference.

If anything, the image was brighter and crisper without glasses.

These issues are merely distractions from what cinema is actually about: emotions and storytelling.

I used to say that 3D is merely a gimmick that can be useful for fairground rides and trashy genre films like Drive Angry (an underrated, extremely silly Nic Cagejoint) or Piranha 3DD. Then Martin Scorsese made Hugo and proved me wrong.

His film is all about storytelling and the magic of cinema.

Using stereoscopy, the latest cinematic innovation, in a film about one of the art form’s pioneers makes perfect sense.

Scorsese proved that the technology can have a purpose and enhance a film.

Hugo wasn’t simply the exception to the rule either.

Life of Pi and, to a lesser extent, The Great Gatsby, Prometheus, The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet all used 3D in an interesting and innovative way.

All of those films have one thing in common, and this is no coincidence: their directors are of demonstrable quality and known to be amongst the most visionary in their profession.

That leads us to the best 3D-

movie to date: Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity.

About twelve months ago, audiences were stunned by the incredible visuals, the stunning 13-minute opening shot and the whiteness of Clooney’s teeth.

It was as if we had stepped into space.

Unsurprisingly, the film was a huge hit, grossing $700m and winning seven Oscars.

Next to the big Hollywood blockbusters, there are furthermore several arthouse directors experimenting with the technology.

Werner Herzog took his 3Dcamera underground for his documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams, whereas his fellow German Wim Wenders made the world dance with Piña.

On 3 December, Brightonians will furthermore have the chance to see the arguably most radical use of stereoscopy in the form of Jean-Luc Godard’s Goodbye to Language, which will screen as part of the Cine-City film festival. I am not a fan of the film, but I can’t deny its fascinatingly unusual filmmaking techniques.

That said, any claim that 3D is the exclusive future of cinema is erroneous.

A look at the current box office charts is enough to prove the opposite.

At the time of writing, this year’s big sci-fi epic, Interstellar, has already made £12.13m after 10 days.

It was shot in glorious 2D and largely on IMAX, but it isn’t flat, or plain at all.

The director, Christopher Nolan of Batman/Inception-fame, is not a fan of the technology.

Last year, he told the Telegraph: “Until we get rid of the glasses or until we really massively improve the process, I’m a little weary of it.”

Many films simply don’t need stereoscopy to be spectacular, exciting and beautiful.

3D is neither the future nor the death of cinema.

Like a camera, special effects or music, it is a tool that in the right set of (passionate) hands, for the right film, can generate great pieces of art and cinematic experiences.

Warner Bros. Productions

Mogwai Brighton Dome 26th October Raymond Jennings Arts Sub-Editor

In my preview of this show, I championed Mogwai as possibly the best British band of the past twenty years.

I defend that claim, but I feel like I should admit something: their studio output can be pretty hit and miss.

For every ‘Mogwai Fear Satan’ or ‘George Square Thatcher Death Party’, there’s a ‘Batcat or a ‘Teenage Exorcists’ (one thing you can be sure of a Mogwai song is that it will have a great name).

The latter song in particular is a bit of a dud by the band’s standards: a pretty bland 90s sounding rock song with below average lyrics and vocals.

It offered a fairly boring three minutes during their show at the Dome, which was a bit of shame, because ‘Teenage Exorcists’ aside Mogwai’s set was an absolute blinder.

They don’t really have hits, let’s be honest; when was the last time you heard a 10 minute, feedback driven instrumental guitar song on the radio?

But they do have fan favourites, and on this night Mogwai were not afraid of playing them.

From the quite frankly terrifyingly loud and distorted guitar roars of ‘We’re No Here’ to the

catchy vocal hooks of ‘Travel Is Dangerous’, the band did not stray from dropping in a few crowd pleasers.

But this show was, of course, a part of their promotional tour for new album Rave Tapes; thankfully that album was well represented as the group chose to play the better tracks from it.

While I’ll accept a debate around my initial claim of Mogwai being the best British band of recent memory, I simply will not accept any debate around their exceptional ability to play their music live.

Each individual member of the band is unquestionably skilled at their chosen instrument and they play together as a tight, cohesive, and powerful group.

Deftly jumping from quiet and beautiful passages to intensely fuzzed out guitar exercises, they can still surprise an audience via the now rather traditional post-rock technique of suddenly switching from quiet to very, very loud.

Mogwai, along with bands like Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, were instrumental in creating the blueprint for a style of music that has in recent years been done to death.

The fact that they can still offer their audiences completely unexpected moments in songs that are rather easy to predict is beyond impressive.

While their studio output isn’t always consistent, their live performances are always on point.

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24 NOVEMBER 2014 ARTS • 15

REVIEWS

In lieu of missing out on press passes to Utrecht’s 24 hour Dronefest at Le Guess Who? festival this weekend, we’ve covered some recent noise, drone and post rock shows in Brighton, here’s some reviews for those who like things noisy, we’re sorry if your ears are ringing

Cat

Ben Frost Press

music

Ben Frost The Haunt

Monday 10th November Raymond Jennings Arts sub-editor Usually when I write reviews, I write them from an objective point of view: the review shouldn’t be

Aida Amoako met up with Sam South, Tobi Akinboboye and James Evans, three actors from the Brighton-based sketch comedy group Kids With Beards to talk comedy, their success at Edinburgh, oh, and stalking.

How did Kids with Beards start? How did you get involved? Is it independent from the Sketch Comedy Society?

JAMES EVANS: We had three guys originally: Alex Nash, Robert McGregor and Nick Patel, who were third years last year.

They wanted to write sketches, sent round some emails, and I contacted them straight away saying I was interested.

I had never written but I acted.

I read their stuff and it was really funny.

They asked me to run a series of auditions.

So we did some auditions on campus and we got our cast from that.

SAM SOUTH: I went to the auditions – James: - you were late Sam: - I was late. I stepped on a frog.

about me and my experience, but about the quality of the show itself (regardless of whether or not I’m a fan of the act personally).

This way, I can inform people who may be interested in seeing a particular act in the future of whether or not they should, as opposed to just telling them about how great (or how bad) a time I had personally.

This review is going to be a little bit different: it isn’t going to be so much about Ben Frost’s live performance as it is going to be about me.

I hope you can forgive me if this

seems narcissistic, but I also hope you’ll keep reading and allow me to be slightly narcissistic for a change.

I’ll begin with a cryptic admission: I’ve had a bit of a tough time recently.

I have written approximately 0 words of a total 7000 required for two essays due imminently, and though I hesitate to get into my personal life in a review of an electronic musician’s live performance, let me just say it hasn’t been an easy couple of months.

So it goes without saying that I

needed a release: I’m talking a total blackout evening release here, one involving roughly a week’s worth of alcoholic units.

Alas, I couldn’t afford the hangover; I had to find my release a different way.

I did.

The music of Ben Frost, as abrasive as it may be, is often something I turn to in times of stress.

The sheer force of the noise he conjures through a variety of synths and software is so overwhelming that it can be therapeutic; offer

And then I got in.

[At the auditions we did] improv games and we read through a couple of the sketches.

They just wanted to sort of see…us.

How funny we were.

Or not.

At this moment Tobi turns up, and immediately there is an argument over a bottle of coke.

Sam: Then we steal the material for Kids with Beards.

James: I really like improv actually. I watch Whose Line is it Anyway quite a lot.

Colin Mochrie is a Canadian improviser.

He is just the funniest, and one of my heroes.

And any of the British classics, like The IT Crowd, Toast of London, which is just Matt Berry being Matt Berry, is amazing.

So how did you get involved?

On your website you describe your comedy as silly-surreal.

TOBI AKINBOBOYE: I was walking on campus.

Jamie over here said ‘Ah Tobi, there’s an audition for sketch comedy tomorrow’.

I thought ‘Oh! Sounds fun. I’m funny.

Gonna go and audition.’

Went to audition, got in, what can I say?

James: We’re now no longer part of the uni.

It was originally Sussex University Sketch Comedy Society, which is still running.

[The society] meet up in the week, go through sketches, talk about what we’ve seen during the week that’s funny.

You took a show up to Edinburgh.

How was that?

James: We sold out six of our shows, five of our shows?

It’s all word-of-mouth and we got some really great tweets.

Tobi: I think the characters are more sillysurreal than the actual sketches.

Sam: I think a lot of the sketches we do are similar to That Mitchell and Webb Look.

I don’t think we’re as good as them. I think we’re similar in…approach.

What kind of comedy are you into?

Improv? Who are your comedy heroes?

Sam: I don’t think there would be an improv element to the show.

We use improv as a tool for ideas.

Tobi: I like dark comedy. There’s a show called The Boondocks, it’s a cartoon: hilarious.

I’m gonna say Kat Williams.

He’s pretty dark and doesn’t give a – I was gonna say, uh…

James: Doesn’t give a bleep.

Surely Richard Ayoade for you (to Sam).

You are Richard Ayoade.

Sam: I’ve got a pretty broad interest in comedy.

It’s pretty easy to make me laugh.

There’s a cartoon called SuperJail. I do like [Richard Ayoade]; he’s a very funny man. This is gonna be SHOCKING for you (to me). This will reveal that I’ve Facebook stalked you.

yourself up to the intensity of the sounds and his albums can provide a strange but comforting quiet.

Live, however, he takes this quality of his music to a completely new level.

The noise he and his drummer can produce is nothing short of astounding.

The sounds are all encompassing; you simply can’t think for the sheer cacophony around you.

The sound physically hits you, forcing the floor around you and your own body to tremble and shake.

His music completely transports you to a totally new place, one in which your everyday life is irrelevant and all that matters is deafening, thundering, and blissful noise.

Ben Frost is an exceptionally talented musician, as is his touring drummer, and they play their music in an inventive and impressive manner.

But more important, on a personal note anyway, is that Frost doesn’t simply play his music brilliantly live; he creates an environment of pure catharsis.

It helps if you’re a fan of his music, but it doesn’t matter if you’re not.

If you’re struggling with the day to day, Frost can give you an hour of peace.

All: What?

Sam: I really like Conan O’Brien. *gasp* He’s my hero!

Sam: You were photographed with him and I was insanely jealous. He’s amazing.

I love Louis CK, Dylan Moran. Too many to even mention.

The interviewer proceeds to describe how they got said photograph which may have involved some “investigative journalism”.

People to watch out for?

James and Sam: Show Pony!

Tobi: Life according to Jimmy. Danny Deegan.

Well thank you so much.

Sussex University Sketch Comedy runs on Wednesdays.

Kids with Beards are Tobi Akinboboye, Sam South, Alex Redmond, Alex Nash, James Evans, Belle Johnson, Rob McGregor, Jo Kendall and Jessy Deans.

They plan to perform on campus in April.

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24 november 2014 ARTS • 16

LIFESTYLE

Life lessons : working while studying at university Dorothy Yim Hoi Heng Free food, free cinema tickets, free delivery… I’d say that’s what I, and probably you, as students, are constantly looking to.

We all desire a luxurious lifestyle with minimal expenses.

Getting a job can improve our quality of life, but there’s always this dilemma - is it worth it to risk your grades?

Currently in my second year where every assignment counts towards the final grade, I didn’t find juggling my studies with work easy.

Things get even harder for me as an international student.

Since September, I have worked three jobs.

My first job as an election ambassador for Students’ Union involved encouraging students to nominate themselves and vote in the student elections.

The flexibility in swapping shifts with other students allowed me to balance the job with my university work.

But I wanted to go the extra mile, so I went to town in search for a parttime job.

English as my second language meant that I’m less competitive in jobs which include customer service.

Hence, I worked behind the scenes.

As the only dishwasher in an allyou-can-eat restaurant, mounting piles of plates seemed endless and intimidating.

I found myself constantly staring at the clock hoping time would go quicker.

I was surprised to know how much efficiency is expected of 6 pounds per hour.

Tang Li Sharp knives hidden in the big nasty sink of liquid cut my fingers several times.

Non-stop washing for 7 hours felt like a whole year’s workout for me, and I constantly found myself staring at the clock, hoping time would go by quicker.

Thankfully, the impromptu kindness and casual humour generated by kitchen staff eased the tension.

Although the pay was ungenerous, working in such a difficult environment broadened my horizons.

I was surprised to learn how much endurance was expected of £6 per hour, and amazed at the miniature society the kitchen resembled.

I learnt about hierarchy of power - how those with authority work least but get paid most, and Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs” - why kitchen staff put aside all concerns of safety and fantasies of self-actualization before meet-

ing their basic physiological needs.

My third job as a telephone fundraiser resembled the scene in “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006), where protagonist Chris Gardner describes how he was able to gain eight minutes of extra time per day by not hanging up the phone in between calls.

Although I didn’t have children to take care of, like Chris, I worked against the clock to alleviate my family’s financial burden and secure a higher living standard.

Ridiculed and patronized by call receivers for my Chinese-accented English disheartened me at first, but cultivated in me a “stay hungry, stay foolish” humility - I became more willing to improve and determined to prove my self-worth.

I didn’t see having part-time jobs as an extra responsibility. Instead, it helped my productivity and pushed me to work ahead for my essays and

coursework.

Yesterday was the end of the telephone campaign, marking my last day of work.

I expected to breathe a sigh of relief as the tsunami of work became history, but being “unemployed” left me feeling empty.

Having three job experiences within two months felt like completing a triathlon, and I guess I’m starting to acquire the art of time management.

I’ve become better at managing expenses too, as every penny I spend now reminds me of how hard I worked.

Ultimately, my personal experiences taught me to respect every industry.

While washing dishes might not secure you a decent living, without £6 per hour, the restaurant definitely cannot run without you.

We’re in an increasingly fastpaced society defined by numbers and money, but can salary accurately define a person’s effort and dignity?

“Seems like everybody’s got a price”, Jessie J’s “Pricetag” concludes my adventure.

To define individuals using numerical values is shallow and unfair, as everyone’s circumstances are born different.

Hence, all those who are responsible and committed to their jobs should deserve our utmost salute.

At the end of the day, “it’s not about the money, money, money”, but what we’ve gathered from our experiences that defines us.

“Oh Angelo!”: Notes on the soundtrack of Twin Peaks Thomas Powell Arts Editor

With it’s quirky soap stylisation, supernatural plot figures and cliffhanger mystery sensibility, Lynch and Frost’s Twin Peaks has been a major influence on countless successful shows from Northern Exposure, via Lost, to True Detective.

A cult drama, it is impossible to watch without curiosity, fear and adoration.

It really is a relic, if suitably dated after 23 years off air.

Pete Martell’s opening ‘She’s dead... wrapped in plastic’ in the show’s pilot and THAT scene at the end of episode three contribute to making Laura Palmer, the Nana Birk Larsen of Twin Peaks, into the most famous dead character in TV history.

But beyond the series’ propensity to amaze, without the musical score of long-time Lynch collaborator Angelo Badalamenti, half of the magic of this small fictional town in Washington State would be lost.

It really is sensational: the evocative

plucked bass line of the show’s titles, followed by an emphatic synth swell that locate you right in the heart of Lynch’s comforting small town idyll; “Audrey’s Dance”, a sensual and sneaky jazz number with brushed drums and synth vibraphone; the hauntingly stark sax and walking double bass of ‘Dance of the Dream Man’ which gives you chills you wont shake in a hurry.

But beyond Badalamenti’s heart-filled tracks you notices a commonality: in recycling the same walking bassline at various tempos Badalamenti successfully shows the town of Twin Peaks pick itself back up after the heartbreak of Laura’s death.

The bassline sits as the rhythmic buttress to “Dance of the Dream Man”, “Audrey’s Dance”, “The Bookhouse Boys” and “Freshly Squeezed”, totalling more than half of the score’s pieces.

The music of Twin Peaks gets most interesting when you read its score through

such repetitions: ‘OK, Angelo, we’re in a dark woods now...just get me into the beautiful darkness with the soft wind’ says Badalamenti, sitting at the battered old Fender Rhodes that he’d written all the main songs of Twin Peaks on, recounting Lynch’s guidance to his creative process.

And so begins that sinister intro to the show’s ‘Love Theme’...so deep and slow it’s almost going backwards.

‘And there’s this very lonely girl, her name is Laura Palmer, and it’s very sad’ says Lynch, the theme segueing into a minor key arpeggio, building as Laura walks towards the camera before climaxing and resolving in a major high up the keyboard: ‘Oh Angelo! That’s it!’.

Now you’re back in the woods.

While Laura herself never walks towards the camera, her ghost haunts Twin Peaks through the beauty of this track, the darkness of the woods and the beautiful

“Badalamenti’s score sings of both death and life, demonstrating the fragility of our time on earth.”

climax of Badalamenti’s ‘Love Theme’ forming the basis of many of the most emotionally wrenching scenes of the series.

I won’t go and ruin it for you with particulars here, but you get the message; out of the darkness, into the light and back to the dark woods again, ‘Love Theme’ directs the show’s scenes as much as Lynch and Frost do, sculpting moments of love, heartbreak and discovery in the murder investigation at the plot’s centre.

Badalamenti’s score sings of both death and life, demonstrating the fragility of our time on earth, while suggesting that there’s always a darkness encroaching on the peripheries of our vision.

Even the brightest lights, like prom queen Laura Palmer, may falter.

Thankfully that gum you like is back in style: the series will be revived in 2016 on Showtime, and I can only hope that Angelo’s on board this time round too.

Bar of the Week The Fountainhead

The Fountainhead

Lucy Johnson Situated on the busy North Road, The Fountainhead is a spacious yet cosy pub that seems to fit the definition of the up and coming ‘posh pub’.

Offering “excellent” and “beautiful” tasting pub grub done upmarket, and a strong drinks selection (including mulled wine! Yes! Mulled wine!) it has a lovely village feel whilst managing to feel quite trendy.

A real feature of The Fountainhead was the quirky interior décor.

Interesting pieces included a big Buddha and interesting wall art; I love this in a pub as more décor provokes more conversation!

Furthermore, there was a REAL LOG FIRE. As a Devon country lass, sitting by a fire felt like the biggest treat of the day.

Atmosphere: **** The atmosphere was lovely, mostly due to the cosy fire vibe.

However, I definitely was aware of how young I was; the rest of the clientele seemed a whole lot more sophisticated than an oversized denim jacket clad student.

The average age of folk in this pub was around 35.

Not the biggest student hub in Brighton, but better in terms of atmosphere than the Globe by miles.

Price: £ £ £ I visited The Fountainhead hoping for a warming drink.

It was such a treat to find such delicious mulled wine at a reasonable price (£4 a glass).

The prices of drinks are much as you expect in Brighton; around £3.50 for a shot of alcohol and another pound for a mixer.

It’s no ‘Skint Tuesdays’, but it’s a whole lot more sophisticated.

In terms of the food, although we ate none, it was priced around the £10-£12 mark: for which I could buy at least 6 4-pinters of milk in my monthly shop!

However, the plates of food that were wafted under our noses looked and smelled absolutely delectable.

In conclusion, a lovely, country-esque yet fairly trendy pub in the middle of Brighton, lovely for a cheeky posh drink, but quite out of my price range!

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24 November 2014 ARTS • 17

SHOWCASE

This week’s showcase comes from a student blogger at Sussex who sent us a link to his Tumblr. Less penning artwork than finding it and appropriating it into comical pinoboard, it’s pretty self explanatory...here’s some of the best bits. Check out more at sadbobdylan.tumblr.com

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24 November 2014

SOCIETIES SPOTLIGHT ADVERTISE YOUR SOCIETY On this page you can find out about what our societies have been up to and what their plans are for the coming weeks! You can view and join all of our 150 + societies online at www. sussexstudent.com/societies. If you’d like to advertise your society on this page, send your articles to societies@sussexstudent. com by 12pm on Wednesdays.

SMUTS The seasonal Christmas adverts are warring away, its getting just unbearable chilly and people are steadily getting sick of being at university. That can only mean one thing- the famous SMuTS Christmas Cabaret is steadily approaching! Its the biggest festive event of the Sussex Season, and we want you to come perform!

ZINE SOC

In the second of our series of workshops on making your own zine, we'll be teaching you bookbinding techniques as well as helping you progress with your zine-making skills!

In the run up to our table at Zine World zine fair on the 29th, we are hosting workshops to help you complete a zine of your own, from start to finish.

Come along and have fun!

ACCESS LAW Space Law is coming to Sussex! We have the amazing Prof Craig Barker giving a talk titled 'Who Owns The Moon?' This hilarious talk is sure to sell out and be an amazing event. The event is open to everyone and free for members as always.

For the first time in history, the team in charge of the Rosetta mission achieved what seemed impossible when they landed a robotic spacecraft on a comet.

We want it to be a show case of all the amazing talent that Sussex & Brighton has to offer. In the past we’ve had singers, dancers, magic, poetry, pole dancers, sketches, standup and improv comedy!

This means what was once unimaginable, is now possible as scientists have a chance to ride on-board a comet and study from the surface what happens as it gets closer to the sun.

Anything you want to do, we are here as a platform for you to show us what you have.

We’d love to see what you’ve got!

As exciting as this is, it open the door to many legal questions and implications. The type of thing that gets Space Law conversations brewing.

Auditions are Monday & Tuesday 24th/25th of November both in Meeting Room 3 on Falmer House from 19:00 - 21:00 and 18:00 - 21:00 respectively!

See you there, or feel free get in touch if you can’t make it.

If you think scientists landing a robotic spacecraft is exciting, or if you want a glimpse into the future of the law, come to Falmer back bar on 24 November and prepare to have your mind blown.

BUSINESS SOC

Come to the Business Society Charity Christmas Fair in Jubilee on 27th November from 10-5!

We are raising money for The Olive Tree, a cancer centre in Crawley run solely on donations, that helps those suffering from cancer and to support their friends and families.

If you’re feeling lucky, enter our raffle for your chance to win some great prizes, donated by the local businesses of Brighton.

Up for grabs are Komedia tickets, Odeon tickets, beauty treatments, a bouquet of flowers, a pod on the Brighton wheel, a three course meal with wine, and many more! For more information, contact: business@ ussu.sussex.ac.uk

SHOW CHOIR In keeping with tradition, Sussex Show Choir will soon be performing their Christmas set in East Slope Bar. The evening is always great entertainment value, ranging from impressive pieces sung by the whole choir to heart-melting solo performances.

The show will start at 7.30 pm at East Slope Bar on Thursday 4th December.

CHINESE STUDENTS & SCHOLARS CSSA need creative people to design a new logo for their society!

The logo must incorporate Chinese elements, CSSA as well as British elements with the theme being ‘The Culture of Western and Eastern’. The logo should be 41cm x 31cm.

The winning entry will win a £50 Amazon gift card! The closing date for entries is on Sunday 30th November. If you would like to take part in the competition or require any further information, please contact activitycssa@ gmail.com.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Join us for a night full of music on Thursday the 27th of November at 8pm in East Slope bar where the Amnesty International Society is organising a music night to fundraise for Amnesty International.

Performances will include: The Folk Society, Jay Chalmers, Georgia Murray, The Alchemists and Atoosa There is usually an element of comedy involved- last year Gitiforoz. two of our male members There will also be mini-talks gave an extremely passionon human rights issues, as ate rendition of ‘Guy Love’ we are focusing on the arms from Scrubs and have been trade and stop torture caminseparable ever since… paigns.

The atmosphere is always Donations are more than so upbeat and festive; it’s such a great way to round off welcome and for every cocktail sold, 50p will go towards the end of a busy term. We Amnesty! So, come along for would love to see as many of you as possible, so spread a fun night of tasty drinks and great music to have fun the word and bring all your whilst making a difference! friends!

Societies - 21

THE WEEK AHEAD: Monday 24th November SMuTS Cabaret auditions: Meeting Room 3, 7-9pm Space Law: Who owns the moon?: Falmer back bar, 5-7pm Pole Soc Winter Showcase: Mandela Hall, 7pm. Tickets £4 on the door.

Tuesday 25th November SMuTS Cabaret auditions: Meeting Room 3, 6-9pm SUDS Christmas Ball: Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel, 6pm. Tickets £25 per person Sussex RAG Comedy Night: Falmer back bar, 8pm. Tickets £3 per person Thursday 27th November Zine Soc workshop: ‘Working on your zine and badge making’: Meeting Room 4, 4-6pm Amnesty International Music Night: East Slope. 8pm Saturday 29th November Zine Soc at Zine World: South Kilburn Studios, London, 3-8pm Archery taster session: Sport Centre, 2-4:30pm

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24 November 2014

Careers and Employability• 23

CAREERS & EMPLOYABILITY CENTRE

Focusing on: Study Skills- Study Success at Sussex

Beatriz Lacerda Ratton When taking notes, writing essays or revising for exams the study skills you have can come in very useful. At Sussex, the Careers and Employability Centre promotes an active interest in helping students utilise their study skills to make the most of their education.

Sandy Sommer, Sussex Skills Adviser, speaks out about the benefits of using Sussex’s Study Skills workshops saying ‘We usually spend many years in education but are mostly only taught what to learn but rarely how to learn.

Study skills are vital to be a successful student and many are in fact life skills, such as planning and time management, effective reading strategies or dealing with stress and working under pressure’.

Current students can learn about how to improve their skills is by visiting the skills hub website. This is a great resource which allows you to navigate through the different skill areas you would like to improve.

Helping you with referencing and

writing, research and personal development and more, the S3 website offers excellent opportunities to develop or brush up on different methods of study Another way to improve your study skills is through Study Success at Sussex (S3). This online resource is aimed at students who are new to Sussex University and need help adjusting to the academic setting.

The page is laid out with helpful links like ‘Writing well’ and ‘Getting organised’, and is designed to prepare students for the difficult transition into university. Atoosa Gitiforoz, a second year student had this to say, ‘The S3 website really helped me organize and manage my time.

I was having difficulty keeping up with all the work I had to do, and the advice given definitely came in useful’.

International students can also receive specific help with their study skills, and the Sussex Centre for Language offers support exclusively to students with English as their second language. International students can subscribe to the Academic

RE:CYCLE Sussex Bike Hire Co-Op General Your chance to become involved with RE:CYCLE Sussex Bike Hire Co-Op - the incredibly popular student-led recycled bike hire scheme at Sussex. Everyone welcome - especially those who have hired RE:CYCLE bikes.

We hire bikes with locks and lights for £20 a term, reducing landfill by recycling bikes abandoned on campus and bringing them back to tip-top shape, to hire out to Sussex staff and students for a friendly price. We want to reduce emissions, landfill, transport monopoly, stimulate self-sufficiency, co-operation, healthy living, safe cycling infrastructure, and most of all spread the joy of cycling!

Our first general meeting of the academic year is on Monday 1st December at 6pm in Fulton Social Space. Here we we will be electing the RE:CYCLE committee roles.

From 6pm on we will have some food and at 7pm the meeting will start, ending around 8:30pm. Everyone is welcome, especially people who have hired RE:CYCLE Sussex bikes - this is your co-op. Please

bring vegan food to share and consider the roles you may like to go for.

AGENDA: - Election of people for committee roles of: Co-op Sectetary (Trello and Google Drive), PR (social media, website, Wordpress), Comms (Gmail and Google Drive), Finance/treasurer (liaise with Activities Office), Mechanics (working with Freewheelers), Bike hirer team, Membership engagement lead, Community engagement lead (working with Sustrans and Bike Train).

We will also reevaluate our Co-Op Constitution. We look forward to seeing you there.

Please contact recyclebikehire@ gmail.com or find us on Facebook (“RE:CYCLE Sussex Bike Hire CoOp”) for more info.

Development site or contact the Sussex Centre for Language to be advised on how to best use this service.

The Careers and Employability centre in association with Study Success at Sussex (S3) runs workshops and 1-2-1 tutorials where students can ask questions and get first-hand experience and help with study skills.

These can be booked on the Career and Employability Centre events website. There are also many events, such as essay writing and referencing Q&A drop in sessions where students can develop their skills in one particular area of study.

For an overview of study skills and how you can learn how to learn, come along to an introductory event on Tuesday 25 November at 12.30 in the Careers & Employability Centre, Library. Full details of this and all other events at www.sussex.ac.uk/ careers/events ‘Students are often not aware that better learning strategies lead to more effective and faster learning, they can save time, enjoy studying more and feel less stressed’, Ms Sommer adds. Whether you need

help with revision for your upcoming January exams or just want some help with how to write an essay, the Study Skills resources can guide you on the right path to succeed.

S3 website: http://www.sussex. ac.uk/careers/studyskills Some Careers events coming up this week: Tuesday 25 November: Placements Short Talk, 11.00 am, Careers & Employability Centre, Library My Professional Selfie! Your style and creating a good impression with employers. 1 pm, Careers & Employability Centre Essay Writing and Referencing, Q&A drop-in session, 2 – 3 pm, Open Learning Space, Library Introduction to the Sussex Plus Employability Award, 5.30 pm, Careers & Employability Centre

Wednesday 26 November:

International Students – Apply your Skills in the Workplace, 12 pm, Careers & Employability Centre How the Law Works in the Real World – one unique insight!, 1 pm, Freeman Building How Can Editing Improve My Grade?

3 pm Thursday 27 November: ARK Teacher Training – Discover a Career in Teaching, 5.30 pm Events open to all years, all disciplines!

Full details on all events and sign up at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/events

Library, University of Sussex T: 01273 679429 E: careers@sussex.ac.uk W: www.sussex.ac.uk/ careers

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24 November 2014 Arts •24

LISTINGS Monday 24th

Tuesday 25th

Wednesday 26th

Scumbag College

The Burrito Show

Afternoon Alternative

11am-12pm

11am-12pm

12-1pm

Hosted by Lottie Brazier

An Afternoon with Charles and James - 12-1pm Hosted by Charlie Wall

Hosted by Nick Stewart

Hosted by Francesca Powell

SUDS Soapbox

The Paddy Hour

12-2pm

Hosted by Holly Hagan-Walker

1-2pm

Hosted by Paddy Osmond

Friday 28th

Thursday 27th The URF Review Show 11am-1pm

Hosted by John McKenna-Hughes

Jeremiah’s Urban Central 1-2pm

Hosted by Akintunde Akinsowon

Hosted by Alice Finney

60 Minutes of Mangan

2-3pm

1-2pm

Hosted by Jonny Meah

The World Show

The Magical Music Tour

Hosted by Callum Sellins

2-4pm

Hosted by Gareth Mangan

Hosted by Sian Williams

Holly CA-60 Show 4-5pm Hosted by Holly Cassidy

The Electric Hour

Broken Old 45’s

5-6pm

5-6pm

Hosted by Ollie Heathcock

Hosted by Jack Jewers

The Nick Werren Show

6-7pm

Hosted by Joseph Oliver

7-8pm

Hosted by Benji Kusi

Hosted by Lewis Cockle

Going Nowhere Slow 8-9pm

Hosted by Julian Paszkiewicz

Cult of the Black Pudding 8-9pm

Hosted by Beau O’Shea

5-6pm

Californication

9-10pm

Hosted by Sam Hislop and Bruno Riddy

9-10pm

Hosted by Priyanka Vigneswaran

6-7pm

Mole

Hosted by Sebastian Tiley

6-7pm

Retrofit 7-8pm

Stone’s Throw

Hosted by Adam Whitmore

7-8pm

Hosted by Sam Siva

The Mo-mentous Show

Tangled Roots

The Politics Show

8-9pm

8-9pm

Tropical Hot Dog Night

Hosted by Paul Millar

Hosted by Elana Crowley

Hosted by Thomas Powell and Raymond Jennings

The Sports Show

The Rory Hughes Show

7-8pm

9-10pm

9-10pm

Hosted by Morrow and Jackson

Hosted by Rory Hughes

Alphabet Soup 8-9pm

Hosted by Thomas Houlton

Gardeners’ Hour

Decadent Groove

The Green Frog Show

Hosted by Chloe Mo

The Everything Hour

Hosted by Sam Berkay

6-7pm

Anorak Ashtray

6-7pm

5-6pm

Hosted by Harry Reddick

Hosted by Matthew Locke-Cooper

7-8pm

3-4pm

Hosted by Alex Mason

4-5pm

The B/C Sandwich

The Tom Jenkinson Show

Sam and Harry’s Existential Crisis - 4-5pm

3-4pm

Hosted by James Blay

Hosted by Nick Werren

2-3pm

Hosted by Em Chittock

Live it live with Jonny Meah 2-3pm

Magazine & Wine Party

2-3pm

Everyday Desert Island Discs

Hosted by Paige Smith

Sian’s Pic N Mix

1-2pm

Hosted by Ellie Holland

Hosted by Em Chittock

Little Al’s Big Show

Paige with Guests

Earlier With Ellie Holland

Night Falls 9-10pm

Make sure you listen and get involved at: www.urfonline.com

Hosted by Tiago Franco

This Week on UniTV: Monday Music Sessions Wednesday NewsHit Thursday Science Uncovered Friday Getting Crafty Society Spotlight Also check the site on Thursday for Throwback; where we repost an old show for you to watch every week!

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