The Boar - Volume 47 Issue 1

theboar

Student clubbing woes spark safety fears

she/her Investigative Reporter

The upcoming academic year will not only see students return to lectures and seminars, but also to pubs, bars, and clubs. The nightlife around the University of Warwick is almost as much a part of campus life as the campus itself – yet is it nearly as safe?

To understand feelings among students about the safety of nights out in Coventry and Leamington,

The Boar conducted a survey asking participants to describe their biggest issues with the local social scene after dark.

The Boar’s survey responses found that students at Warwick are no different from those at many other universities. 40% of respondents went clubbing once a week and 23% went multiple times a week. The remaining respondents attend clubs every couple of weeks or for special occasions, with 3% stating that they used to go multiple times a week but no longer do so.

Most nights out for students at the University of Warwick are in

Leamington Spa. The town is the home of popular clubs Smack and Neon, as well as many other bars and pubs. Yet 80% of respondents said that they have felt unsafe whilst on a night out in Leamington.

Students spoke of experiencing “pushing and shoving” in Neon, and being “worried about crowd crush” in the queue for Smack. One respondent mentioned having experienced homophobic abuse, and another spoke on a time when they were faced with racial abuse.

Warwick students, particularly first years living on campus, also often go to the city of Coventry for nights out, in particular to the nightclub Kasbah. Over half of the

survey’s respondents said they had never felt unsafe on a night out in Coventry, but of the ones who had, many put it down to experiencing, or hearing of, incidents of spiking.

“None of the

did anything to help when I was visibly unsafe”

Concerns regarding spiking were prevalent in The Boar’s survey responses discussing clubs in Leamington Spa. One respondent spoke on being spiked and said: “None of the staff did anything to help when I was visibly unsafe.”

Another response mentioned they had heard of spiking incidents in Leamington and Coventry, and that “apparently, the owners of these clubs don’t do much to prevent this.”

Google Reviews of nightclubs local to the University of Warwick further emphasise worries over staff responses to spiking.

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From the team

Luke Chapman, he/him and Archie Clarke, he/him Co-Editors-in-Chief

Welcome to the fresher’s edition of The Boar!

As the new academic year begins, we’re thrilled to present this special issue, packed with everything you need to start your Warwick journey on the right foot. Whether it’s your first year here at Warwick or you’re a returning student, this issue is designed with you in mind.

In this larger, 40-page print, you’ll find a mix of essential tips, exciting campus news, and features that capture the spirit of Warwick life. We’ve included insights on the things that matter most to students, some advice on making the most of your time here, and a sneak peek of what’s coming up this term.

As Warwick’s largest media outlet, The Boar is uniquely positioned to provide independent coverage of campus life. If you’re looking for unfiltered information about the University, you’ve come to the

right place.

However, despite what you might think, we’re not all just about news here. We are here, first and foremost, to build a community. This year, more than ever, we’re committed to bringing you the stories that matter, celebrating the vibrant, diverse voices of our University.

So dive in, get inspired, and let’s make this year unforgettable together. Welcome to Warwick, and welcome to The Boar!

The Boar's Writing Process

Pitches will be sent out weekly. Choose a pitch and write it within a week.

It will then be edited and uploaded to the website by our lovely team.

If you have any ideas for articles, just send it to the appropriate editor.

theboar is the University of Warwick’s editorially independent student newspaper produced entirely by and for students.

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Find us on Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter (X), and Facebook @warwickboar

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Co-Editors-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief: Luke Chapman (he/him) editor@theboar.org

Editor-in-Chief: Archie Clarke (he/him) editor@theboar.org

Deputy Editors-in-Chief

Head of Communications: Yusra Babar (she/her) communications@theboar.org

Head of Physical Media: Jesse Hitt (she/her) physicalmedia@theboar.org

Head of Digital Media: Anna Bickerton (she/her) website@theboar.org

Chief Sub-Editor

Chief Sub-Editor: Katie Bevan (she/her) subeditor@theboar.org

Business Team

Head of Business & Sales: Sebastian Smith (he/him) business@theboar.org

Head of Social Media: Abbie Fox (she/her) @warwickboar

Requirements

Head of Events: Freya Bennewith (she/her) events@theboar.org

Our Senior Team Picks

The Boar's Printing Process

Week 1:

Pitches for print (sent on WhatsApp Community Groups) for writers to send in a week

Week 5: Distribution around Warwick

Week 2:

Editing done by section Editors and sent to be subbed by each section's Sub-Editors

Week 4: Checks and improvements done by the Senior Team to finalise and send off the print

Find us on The Boar's newly relaunched YouTube Channel

Week 3:

The whole exec is involved in laying up the pages on Adobe InDesign

Apply for Deputy Editor positions now on page 7 @warwickboar

Features | PAGE 10

Abigail Mableson, she/her Arts Editor 'Pet': Endearing or patronising? Newcastle University's ban on common Geordie expression

Finance | PAGE 11

Trouble on campus: new students grapple with huge rent increases

Zoe Mudd (she/her) Music Sub-Editor

Books | PAGE 21

Saadat Hasan Manto: Diversifying Literature

Hannah Iqbal (she/her) Writer

SCITECH | PAGE 35

Could Dorito dust turn mice invisible? A common food dye’s effects on the body may be stranger than fiction.

Martin Day, he/him News Editor

Boar

@theboarnews

Editor: Martin Day (he/him) news@theboar.org

Deputy editors: Tom Ryan (he/him)

Articles you can find online at Tom Ryan University apologises for “distress” caused amid ‘farright’ conference backlash theboar.org

Funding ‘catastrophe’ facing British universities

Sub-Editor: Katie Bevan (she/her)

Haleeqa Hashmi (she/her) Mairi Humphreys (she/her) Vacant (apply now on page 7) Vacant

Hannah Colechin Leamington Paralympian makes history as first blind woman to swim Channel

Luke Chapman Warwick’s Catholic students ‘desperate’ amid University Chaplain vacancy

Abhay Venkitaraman ‘Fatal’ consequences for winter fuel payment cuts, Coventry MP warns

Money is running out for higher education – can Warwick ride out the storm?

Martin Day, he/him News Editor

Academics have warned of a ‘catastrophe’ facing Britain’s universities this year, as rising costs and falling enrolment numbers place huge pressure on institutions’ finances.

It has led to suggestions that universities could be forced to abandon courses, cut staff, or even merge to avoid bankruptcy and closure. Such an event is unprecedented in British history, but now looks increasingly likely.

“40% of universities will be running budget deficits by the end of the year”

In July, The Sunday Times suggested that there are three ‘leading’ universities in “serious peril”, whilst the Office for Students (OfS) has forecast that 40% of universities will be running budget deficits by the end of the year.

The university regulator has gone as far as to order vice-chancellors that they must create contingencies to prepare for the possibility of closures in the middle of the academic year, to protect students from the fallout of a university’s collapse.

Measures could include transferring affected students to other universities, though these would not necessarily be nearby ones. There are also concerns that the mechanisms needed to differentiate students from other creditors are not in place, potentially placing students behind corporations in priority for compensation.

For university staff, meanwhile, a collapse would be predictably brutal in a sector that is perma-

nently shrinking. Universities employ thousands of full-time staff, and the sudden collapse of one of these institutions would lead to job losses on an unprecedented scale.

“Universities are autonomous and there are expectations around how they manage their budgets”

— Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary

One potential response to prevent this eventuality has now been ruled out, however – that being the idea of the government stepping in to ‘bail out’ universities in financial distress.

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, rejected the notion of taxpayer money being used to save universities from closure in comments reported by The Guardian. She argued that: “Universities are autonomous and there are expectations around how they manage their budgets, and I would expect them to do that without seeking any calls on the taxpayer.”

Notably, both she and the Junior Education Minister Jacqui Smith have refused to rule out the possibility of raising tuition fees as a means of increasing university incomes.

Despite government rhetoric, many in the sector have continued to warn that state intervention to save British universities is a matter of necessity. Jo Grady, General Secretary of the University and College Union, urged in a letter to ministers that: “Anything short of an emergency rescue package for the sector will be insufficient to

stave off catastrophe.”

The potential scale of this ‘catastrophe’ has only been compounded by the latest Home Office immigration figures, which show the number of international applications to study in the UK from January to July slumped compared to last year, falling by 16%.

“[International student loans] represented over a quarter (29.7%) of the University’s annual income”

British universities rely heavily on international students to shore up their incomes, as the state cap on student loans means they lose about £3,000 for every domestic student they take on.

Notably, this includes the University of Warwick. Though inter-

Pride success shows “love is stronger” despite vandalism attacks

The streets of Leamington Spa were a vibrant tapestry of colour and celebration on 17 August as the annual Warwickshire Pride festival returned to the Pump Room Gardens.

Despite facing hate and vandalism in the run-up to the event, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies came together in a display of resilience and solidarity.

In the days leading up to the festival, organisers were dismayed to learn that a far-right group had targeted Warwickshire Pride, with threats of anti-trans and religious-based protests also concerning the community.

On the morning of the event, it was found the festival site had been vandalised. Pride flags had been burnt, gazebos destroyed, and shattered glass littered the grounds.

However, organisers scrambled to clean up the mess and prepared for the day’s festivities, with an outpouring of support from local businesses and residents. Flags and funds were donated, and volunteers rallied to help decorate the site, ensuring that the festival would go on despite attempts at deterrence.

national students comprise only 37% of the student population, their tuition fees made up over half (55%) of the University’s income from tuition fees and educational contracts in 2022–23, at £249.3 million.

This total represented over a quarter (29.7%) of the University’s annual income for that year, making it Warwick’s single largest source of revenue, well ahead of home tuition fees (comprising £183.7 million) or research contracts (at £144.1 million). The total was more than triple the size of the year’s underlying surplus of £73.5 million.

The University’s 2023 Financial Statement observed that: “The primary mitigation against flat tuition fees continues to be the recruitment of sufficient numbers of international students.”

In attempting to secure this source of income, the University has sought to diversify the geographic scope of its international intake. The appointment of prom-

“All the hate did was bring people together”

On the day of the event, the Pride march proceeded through the town centre, and was followed by a packed day of entertainment, food, and celebration. An estimated 10,000 people attended the event, filling the Pump Room Gardens.

The success of the event was celebrated by local figures. Daniel Browne, Chair of Trustees for Warwickshire Pride, said: “To see thousands of people showing their Pride and their support was fabulous.

“All the hate did was bring people together. The hate showed that love is stronger, and that Pride is very much still needed.”

» Warnings that universities could collapse have prompted calls for the government to intervene | Image: Flickr / Selena

Nasibur Rahaman, he/they Writer

— Daniel Browne, Warwickshire Pride Chair

HistSoc magazine launch

Elsewhere at Warwick Warwick graduates earning more than other students in nearly every subject

Tom Ryan, he/him Deputy News Editor

Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) have revealed that most Warwick graduates earn more than students from other universities, boasting graduate salaries above their national subject average.

Data compiled by The Sunday Times showed that, across 71 courses, the earnings of Warwick graduates eclipsed the national average in all but three.

Computer science graduates are the best performers at Warwick, earning £40,000 on average 15 months after leaving university –£12,000 above the national median salary for the subject.

Humanities students, however, are still left lagging behind their

STEM counterparts, with most arts and social science graduates at Warwick earning below the overall national average salary for 22-to-29-year-olds (£29,120).

“The University aims to support all Warwick students to develop [...] their own vision of future success”

— University spokesperson

Classics and ancient history students represent the lowest earners after graduation at Warwick, with a median graduate salary of £25,000 – over £4,000 less than the national average.

Average Warwick graduate salaries per subject Highest earning versus lowest

In a double blow to classics students, it is also one of three courses at Warwick – alongside so cial work and education – where graduate salaries fall below the national average for their subject.

(dentistry, at £45,000).

National average graduate salary

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Universities face 'catastrophe' Professor Michael Scott, as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) in 2023 demonstrated this focus on Warwick’s international outreach. Yet inevitably the projected fall in international applicants to the UK will now be felt by Warwick’s finances.

Pressure from the drop in international student fees will come at a uniquely critical point for the University of Warwick, as it invests millions in a much vaunted Science and Engineering Precinct.

The University’s 2023 statement noted that: “The scale of investment will inevitably be financially stretching, with both increased borrowing and lower cash levels being planned.”

» Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency / The Sunday Times

Speaking to The Boar, Professor Scott remained upbeat about the role of international students at Warwick. He said: “International students are a vital part of life at the University of Warwick, and we are proud to welcome them onto campus. The benefits of our international student body are huge, and our campus experience is much richer for it.

"Later this year we will be celebrating our intercultural diversity on campus with a series of celebrations as part of ‘One World Warwick’."

He added: “Warwick will continue to advocate to all concerned the importance of welcoming people from around the world into staff and student communities.”

Despite this disparity between students, Warwick still ranks as the joint-sixth highest Russell Group university for graduate salary prospects. The University’s median graduate salary of £32,500 places it alongside King’s College London, and above the likes of Durham, Exeter, and Edinburgh.

These findings have been celebrated by the University, with a spokesperson telling The Boar: “It is positive that overall, Warwick graduates have one of the highest median salaries [in the country].”

The HESA survey of 382,000 graduates in the 2021–22 academic year may still raise concerns for some students with the emerging inequality between STEM and humanities students nationally.

Graduates of a drama, dance, and cinematics course at Bristol, which was found to be the lowest-earning degree in the country (£19,184), took home salaries two-and-a-half times less than their university’s highest earners

While appreciating the issues raised, a spokesperson for Warwick said that: “Career paths and graduate salaries can vary significantly between sectors and each student’s definition of a meaningful career path is personal to them.

“The University aims to support all Warwick students to develop, explore, and achieve their own vision of future success.”

While Warwick students can take some solace in the fact that their salaries generally rank above that of other graduates nationally, the University has stressed that support is in place to help students boost their career prospects post-graduation.

Help from the University includes “opportunities to connect with employers from a broad range of sectors”, “access to thousands of job vacancies targeted at Warwick students”, and “support for work experience, including a work experience bursary.”

A spokesperson added that students are also encouraged to “complete the Warwick Award to make the most of their time at Warwick and develop skills employers look for".

» Image: Twitter/X / uniofwarwick

Arrest made after assault in Kelsey’s nightclub

Nicolas Lewis, he/him Writer

Aman has been arrested following an assault inside Kelsey’s nightclub in Leamington Spa last month, that left one person with serious head injuries. Warwickshire Police reported that a man had been left with “cuts to his head” after the assault, which took place on 11 August at around 2:50am.

The bar and nightclub, situated on High Street in south Leamington, is a popular destination for Warwick students and societies, frequently hosting ‘circles’ on a Wednesday night.

Following the incident, Warwickshire Police launched an appeal and statement on its Twitter/X page and website.

The statement at the time read: “Warwickshire Police is appealing for information and any relevant mobile phone footage following an assault inside a Leamington nightclub. The incident occurred in Kelsey’s in High Street this morning (Sunday 11 August) at around 2.50am. The victim – a man in his 30s – suffered cuts to his head. His injuries are serious

The Warwick History Society has become the latest society on campus to field its own publication with the launch of Rewind magazine. Pitching itself as “the home of Warwick student history”, the online newsletter will aim to publish two articles a week, submitted by students, on a broad range of historical topics.

Themes for articles will include narratives and analysis of historical events, spotlights on everyday life and cultures throughout history, and comparative pieces between the past and today.

Jakob Reid, Editor of the magazine, told The Boar that: “I’m delighted with how Rewind has come together. It's been fantastic to create a platform where students can showcase their passion for history and share their unique perspectives”.

Students hoping to write for Rewind should join the newsletter’s WhatsApp, where article pitches will be posted, available through the link on their Instagram, @rewindwarwick. Additionally, there will be an in-person launch for the magazine on Thursday of Week 1.

Concerns over Tory probe

Students have voiced unhappiness at the length of the ongoing investigation into the Warwick Tories, prompted after a video of members dancing to a ‘Nazi anthem’ led to the group’s suspension in July.

A spokesperson for student group Disband the Warwick Tories, representing over 80 societies on campus, told The Boar that the University’s 90-working-day deadline for an outcome was “disappointing”. They further raised concerns over the nature of the society’s suspension, given that as of 11 September membership for the group was still being sold on the SU website, whilst the group’s webpage continued to advertise events in Welcome Week.

The investigation into the Warwick Tories is set to conclude by 4 November.

but not life-threatening.”

On 20 August, Warwickshire Police then confirmed that a man had now been arrested and said: “Thank you to all who shared our appeal following a reported assault in a Leamington bar on 11th August”. No further details were given about the arrest, other than his gender.

It is not the first time that an incident has occurred at Kelsey’s.

A previous incident occurred in 2022 when a man was reportedly assaulted after trying to intervene in an altercation, according to the Leamington Observer

In a separate incident in 2019, The Boar reported that a man was charged by police following an assault at Kelsey’s. This attack resulted in a hospitalisation.

» Image: The Boar / Archie Clarke

Bedtime story "twaddle"

There was anger online after an article containing quotes from a ‘University of Warwick professor’ made the rounds on social media. Published in National Review, the story cited a Professor Adam Swift who suggested that parents who read bedtime stories to their children risk “unfairly disadvantaging” other people’s kids. Commentators including LBC’s Iain Dale, GB News’ Tom Harwood, and Conservative MP Alicia Kearns leapt on the story, with Ms Kearns declaring: “Read to your children every single night […] Do not listen to utter twaddle.”

Unfortunately for all involved, the story turned out to be baseless. Though the article was real, it was first published over nine years ago, in May 2015. Professor Swift, who was at the time a Professor of Political Theory at Warwick, has since moved to University College London in 2018. Parents looking to disadvantage other people's children could try reading his new book, 'How to Think About Religious Schools', to their own kids. Although The Boar would not imagine the other children will particularly mind.

Student clubbing woes spark safety fears

80% of students report feeling unsafe on nights out in Leamington Spa

Rachel Gore, she/her Investigative Reporter

The upcoming academic year will not only see students return to lectures and seminars, but also to pubs, bars, and clubs. The nightlife around the University of Warwick is almost as much a part of campus life as the campus itself – yet is it nearly as safe?

To understand feelings among students about the safety of nights out in Coventry and Leamington, The Boar conducted a survey asking participants to describe their biggest issues with the local social scene after dark.

40% of respondents went clubbing once a week and 23% went multiple times a week

The Boar’s survey responses found that students at Warwick are no different from those at many other universities. 40% of respondents went clubbing once a week and 23% went multiple times a week. The remaining respondents attend clubs every couple of weeks or for special occasions, with 3% stating that they used to go multiple times a week but no longer do so.

Most nights out for students at the University of Warwick are in Leamington Spa. The town is the home of popular clubs Smack and Neon, as well as many other bars and pubs. Yet 80% of respondents said that they have felt unsafe whilst on a night out in Leamington.

Students spoke of experiencing “pushing and shoving” in Neon, and being “worried about crowd crush” in the queue for Smack. One respondent mentioned having experienced homophobic

abuse, and another spoke on a time when they were faced with racial abuse.

Warwick students, particularly first years living on campus, also often go to the city of Coventry for nights out, in particular to the nightclub Kasbah. Over half of the survey’s respondents said they had never felt unsafe on a night out in Coventry, but of the ones who had, many put it down to experiencing, or hearing of, incidents of spiking.

“None of the staff did anything to help when I was visibly unsafe” — Survey response

Concerns regarding spiking were prevalent in The Boar’s survey responses discussing clubs in Leamington Spa. One respondent spoke on being spiked and said: “None of the staff did anything to help when I was visibly unsafe.” Another response mentioned they had heard of spiking incidents in Leamington and Coventry, and that “apparently, the owners of these clubs don’t do much to prevent this.”

Google Reviews of nightclubs local to the University of Warwick further emphasise worries over staff responses to spiking. A review of a Coventry nightclub posted five months ago claimed that after the reviewer was spiked in the club, “they refused to give the police any CCTV footage”. They added that the police said that this often happens.

Another common theme throughout responses to the survey were concerns about men: whether this was “older men” in Kasbah described by one respondent, or “creepy men” in Neon mentioned by another.

One respondent to The Boar’s survey said: “We know it’s not ‘all men’, but it’s too many.” In 2021, following the murder of Sarah Everard by a male police officer, the hashtag ‘#NotAllMen’ trended on social media. This was countered with the idea that not all men are perpetrators of misogynistic actions, but nearly all women have been victims of it.

Another respondent brought to light their own experiences of being made to feel uncomfortable by men. They mentioned how they “haven’t felt unsafe” but have “definitely felt uncomfortable”, stating that “there’s a very fine line between the two”. Students being made to feel uncomfortable when on nights out should be enough to show that a wider nightlife safety problem exists.

At the University of Warwick, ‘circling’, which sees societies play drinking games prior to POP! on a Wednesday night, is a controversial pastime that has previously been banned due to concerns it was fostering an unsafe atmosphere for participants. A past 2019 ban led to the introduction of a code of

conduct for circling by the Students’ Union (SU). Evidence from The Boar’s survey suggests that following this implementation most students feel safe whilst circling; 80% of respondents always felt safe when participating in circle games, although 3.3% did not. However, while the majority of students did not feel threatened during circle, many had negative experiences clubbing on campus in the Copper Rooms, in the SU Building. Some respondents mentioned incidents of spiking in POP!, and another mentioned having heard a rape alarm go off in the Copper Rooms. Speaking on hearing this alarm, they said: “No member of staff seemed interested or seemed to have an urgent interest in helping the individual.”

“Safety on campus is one of my biggest priorities”

— Enaya Nihal, SU President

When contacted about this by The Boar, Enaya Nihal, SU President, urged anyone feeling unsafe on a night out or afterwards to reach out to the SU for support. She said: “We unfortunately were not aware of this incident prior to the article and are more than willing to talk to the student about what happened, and what support we can offer them. Safety on campus is one of my biggest priorities (namely, the Safer Warwick campaign), and I have worked with Estates and Community Safety on several initiatives that will make campus feel safer and help students get home safe, based on student feedback from the Safer @ Warwick survey we ran last year.”

Ms Nihal continued that although the Operations Team is “highly trained” in safety, support, and aid, they “are always happy to

undertake continuous learning”, and were undergoing additional training for harassment and assault prevention. In addition to this, the SU was taking steps to certify its venues as safe spaces per the Egalitarian's Safe Place Project.

Two other survey respondents said that although they felt safe inside the Copper Rooms, they had found the walk back to their accommodation on campus daunting. The Boar spoke previously to Ms Nihal, then-SU Vice President for Welfare and Campaigns, on her work to fix lampposts on campus to ensure that students did not have to walk home in the pitch-black darkness.

A University spokesperson told The Boar: “We take the safety of our community on campus incredibly seriously. The security of our students and staff is our top priority, with 93% of respondents agreeing in a recent survey that they feel safe on campus. However, we know there is always more work to do and are determined to build upon our effort to ensure everybody on campus feels safe, no matter what time of day or night.

When students do feel unsafe on campus, they can turn to Nightline, a service offering peer-to-peer support throughout the night via phone calls, instant messaging, or email. Students can

Available resources for support:

University wellbeing and student support:

Tel: 024 7657 5570

Or visit the Student Wellbeing Portal, https://wellbeing. warwick.ac.uk

Warwick Nightline

Tel: 02476 522 199

Email: nightline@warwick. ac.uk

also drop in and receive products in-person. The service is next to the Rootes residency hub, next to Red Square and the International House. 47% of respondents to the survey said that they were unsure of where Nightline is located, although all respondents were aware of what the organisation does to support students.

“Know

your limits, stick with friends”

— Survey response's advice

Finally, The Boar’s survey asked respondents to provide any advice on nights out to freshers. Many wanted to reassure incoming students that despite any of the dangers, “nights out are so fun”, with one saying that “things can feel scary, but usually they aren’t”. Another said that in their experience, people “have been very kind” on nights out. The reoccurring advice provided from current Warwick students was to stay in a group, look out for each other, and not to feel pressured to “go out or drink if you don’t want to”. One respondent summarised the advice given in one simple sentence: “Know your limits, stick with friends.”

Leamington Safe Space

Manned support station, providing drink spiking test kits, first aid, and phonelines. Open Friday nights, 10pm–4am. South Lodge on the Parade (just north of the bridge), CV31 1AA.

In an emergency, always dial 999

» The start of term will mark a return for many students to frequent nights out | Image: Pexels / Maor Attias

» Image: Warwick SU

Male university students “less macho, more mellow” when living in mixed accommodation, study finds

Jasper Young, he/they Writer

Male students are “less macho” when sharing university accommodation with women, a joint study by Essex University and the University of Technology Sydney has found. Downing pints, flexing muscles, and jeering chants may all be – for better or worse – recognisable and often parodied features of university life. But now research has suggested that this ‘macho’ behaviour can be influenced by who male students live with.

Results found that male students living in mixed accommodation were “less macho, more mellow”

The joint study followed a group of British students living in halls of residence over a one-year period, assessing the group twice

– once during their first year, and again as they entered their second year.

Students were asked to complete a paid task to measure their competitiveness. Those in the study were given the choice between earning a fixed amount for completing the task or receiving a higher sum if they won a competition.

Results found that male students living in mixed accommodation were “less macho, more mellow”, with a notable decrease in competitiveness, compared to other males.

There was no effect on female students, however, with their level of competitiveness not found to be dependent on who they shared accommodation with.

The paper concluded that “ex posure to a gender unbalanced environment can influ ence male competi tive preferences even within a relatively short period of time”.

Dr Angus Holford, Senior

STEM subjects

Research Fellow at Essex University and co-author of the research paper, told The Guardian that: “Living with more female flatmates means men’s competitiveness is more likely to go down over time, whilst the flipside is that, with more male flatmates, it’s more likely to go up over time.”

He added that “competitiveness is not a fixed trait”, but rather a trait that is responsive to the surrounding environment of the individual.

The study, in line with previ-

an increase in performance, particularly within men. Dr Holford noted that: “People who are more competitive are getting higher grades, they go on to have higher salaries – later, they have higher life satisfaction.”

An excessive amount of competitiveness has also been found to cause notable downsides

surge as A-Level results beat pre-pandemic highs

A-level results this year reached new heights, as the percentage of A and A* grades surpassed that of pre-pandemic records.

27.8% of grades achieved were marked at A or A*, a slight rise from last year’s results of 27.2%. In England, 9.3% of results achieved an A*, the highest since the grade was introduced in 2010, excluding pandemic-era performances.

These top results were largely powered by a huge increase in those taking STEM subjects, with further maths, physics, and computing seeing the greatest increases. In maths, which became the first subject to sur pass 100,000 students, 42% of pupils reached an A or A* grade. Similarly, a third of those taking chemistry or physics achieved these top results.

Marcus du Sautoy, a Professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford, told The Guardian: “The increased number of students taking maths at A-level reflects the fact that many students understand that we are living in an age where digital and mathematical literacy is crucial.”

The rise in grades saw 4,135 students commemorate three or more A*s, nearly a 50% increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Whilst previous years have

witnessed unusually high results due to grade inflation left over from the pandemic, Ian Bauckham, Ofqual’s Chief Regulator, said that this year’s results were down to “the ability of the cohort”.

However, the surge in grades was not a uniform trend across the UK. Although they rose in England, results fell in Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as in Scotland, which uses a different qualifications system.

In all three countries, this was largely down to efforts by examiners to bring grades down this year from Covid-era highs, a task that England undertook last year. Even in England, there were significant regional disparities. London was the highest per-

forming region, seeing 31.3% of grades achieve an A or A*. In contrast, the East Midlands took the title of the lowest performing region, with only 22.5% of their pupils achieving the higher grades.

82%

of applicants [...] secured a spot at their first-choice university or col-

lege

This gap between the highest and lowest performing regions has grown since last year.

Yet notably, it was a great year for those applying to university. UCAS reported that 82% of applicants had secured a spot at their first-choice university or college, up from 79% last year.

such as Nike and Goldman Sachs, is driving the trend of competitiveness, with workplace stress now the fifth leading cause of death in the US.

Masculine bravado and hyper-competitiveness at university can also lead to misogynistic behaviour across campuses. Machismo also plays a hand in the poor rate of mental health disclosures amongst men in comparison to women. In 2020, men were found to be 2.2% less likely to report a mental health condition than women.

However, an excessive amount of competitiveness has also been found to cause no table downsides. Overly competitive individuals tend to experience lower self-esteem and higher rates of anxiety and de pression than others. A culture of hyper-compet itiveness in ‘dysfunctional’ work environ ments, seen in companies

While the research suggests that mixing with different people at university leads to a decrease of machismo in men, a wider message can be concluded that living at university allows students to broaden their perspectives and empathise with others on a greater level –particularly with those that students are likely to have not met in the ‘outside world’.

Library summer refit boosts accessibility and slashes energy use

Abhay Venkitaraman, he/him Writer

The University of Warwick Library has carried out a wide range of renovations over the summer break – with more to come.

Part of the revamp involves improving provisions for students with accessibility needs. A new Assistive Technology area will open this term on the Library’s floor 2 extension.

Like the existing Assistive Technology area on floor 1, it will contain separated booths, height-adjustable desks, and assistive software – with novel assistive software set to be introduced.

The

new installation will complement the Library’s accessibility and sensory study rooms

It will also be situated in a ‘quiet zone’ – areas where noise is meant to be kept to a minimum and where mobile devices are only allowed for silent texting.

The new installation will complement the Library’s accessibility and sensory study rooms. These can be booked by students registered with Warwick’s Disability Services and contain height-adjustable desks, adjustable chairs,

and several other accommodations for students with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

New

LEDs across the Library, [...] will reduce energy consumption by roughly 70%

Alongside these refurbishments, existing lighting is being replaced by new LEDs across the Library, with the University estimating this will reduce energy consumption by roughly 70%.

The new lighting system will contain wireless smart controls, plus real-time occupancy and energy data reporting to optimise consumption.

A report from the University estimated that these changes will deliver 545,584 kWh worth of energy savings annually, an amount equivalent to circumnavigating the Earth 56 times in a standard electric car.

At the time of writing, the University believes that refurbishment works for the third, fourth, and fifth floors, including extensions and staircases, will be completed before Welcome Week.

However, work on the ground floor and second floor will only be completed by 1 November and may inconvenience students in the interim.

» Image: Pexels / Karolina Kaboompics + Yuli Como

Komal Chauhan, she/her Writer

» Images: Flickr / Bradford Grammar School

» Image: Warwick Media Library

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Warwick nightlife uncovered: the chaos, the fun, and the reality

Abigail Mableson, she/her Arts Editor

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. When I look back on my past two years of university, I am hit with the memories and joys I felt. The independence, living away from home, making new friends, and socialising with people whenever I chose – I felt like I was emerging from my shell. Now that I am about to start my final year at Warwick, I feel nostalgic for my freshers experience. The question on many new starters' minds – “What is the Warwick nightlife like?” – springs to mind as something that made me curious, and very excited. With my hometown being a renowned clubbing city, I was unsure if the cosy Warwick campus would live up to my expectations and fulfil my nightlife needs. And my answer, with the retrospective position of an older, perhaps maturer final year, feels uncertain.

Notably, for those unsure, Warwick has two regular nights out, being POP!, which happens every Wednesday night after the Warwick tradition known as ‘circling’, and Skool Dayz, which happens on two Saturdays of every term. There are also some additional events, including Juicy at the Terrace Bar every Friday, and the LGBTQ+ celebration night Loud and Proud There are many opportunities for students to let loose throughout the week, all ticketed at the affordable price of £6, so a Warwick SU night out is fitted to a student budget.

Circling has become a somewhat controversial Warwick tradition

POP! is arguably the most renowned, and the messiest, Warwick SU night out. Based in the Copper Rooms, POP! delivers classic party music all night long, DJ-ed by the Warwick University icon, Disco Dave. Although these songs can get repetitive quickly, especially if you are an attendee every Wednesday, they always supply a fun singalong. If you want an insight into Warwick’s nightlife, POP! presents itself as the perfect opportunity, its intended purpose

being a follow up for circling (I will open that can of worms later). In my experience, POP! on a Wednesday night out feels like a safe, exciting environment to fulfil your clubbing needs. However, I feel my opinion is perhaps unpopular.

I said I’d discuss circling, right? Circling has become a somewhat controversial Warwick tradition that most societies partake in every Wednesday night. In essence, it’s your weird party games pre-drinks prior to POP!. Often lasting over three hours, attendees are made to down the Warwick concoction, “Purple”, whilst playing fun, if slightly embarrassing games. I may be biassed, but I enjoy circling. Having spent one year as a social secretary, running circling became the highlight of my week. However, it undeniably has many drawbacks, the forefront of which concerns safety.

In an investigation by The Boar, whilst only a small fraction of respondents to a survey stated they felt “unsafe” during circling, the mindset created prior to POP! leads to a somewhat rowdy experience. Whilst forcing alcohol consumption goes directly against the Warwick Student Union code of safety, it is almost deemed jolly and acceptable amongst your peers. This same atmosphere is often re-

flected in POP!. The Warwick Students’ Union is making constant measures to make its campus more safe. However, the celebration of copious drunkenness, as seen in POP!, is often bound to lead to chaos and disaster.

For regulars of a Warwick SU night out, the words Skool Dayz will be met with strange thoughts and feelings. Skool Dayz is another event to follow up your regular circling schedule, however it takes place on the Saturday’s of Weeks 2 and 8. Skool Dayz has a slightly peculiar dress code, asking attendants to dress up as if they are going back to school, which to many, may not be your scene. Unsurprisingly, many choose to go against the Skool Dayz idea, as the idea of going clubbing whilst dressed as a child is unique to say the least. Whilst the popular rock music playlist offers some catchy hits, and often makes you forget about what on earth you are wearing, the concept is incredibly peculiar for Warwick’s second-most-popular night out.

Although many of the environments on a Warwick SU night out can lead to rowdiness, I have always felt reassured that if anything felt unsafe or made me feel uncomfortable, there would be a member of staff more than willing to assist me. However, the environ-

ment once leaving the SU is where things feel unsafe. For many, walking to your accommodation, in the dark, after a night out is daunting. Warwick’s established ‘Nightline’ service, offering a night time phone call and assistance service for anyone based on campus, is a good start. However, as addressed by The Boar, a staggering 47% of students are unsure where their base is located, and would be unsure how to get in contact with them. My only suggestion, as someone with a slight bit of wisdom and plenty of experience, is to make sure you walk home with friends, and look out for anyone in need.

As previously mentioned, the outside realms of Warwick campus is where I feel the world of clubbing is the most authentic. However, it’s often deemed the most unsafe and unwelcoming. For a rundown of events, Coventry’s Kasbah offers their uplifting Monday night out, with the most affordable prices for students, as well as Leamington Spa’s unusual array of nightclubs, from Smack to Neon, and even the very peculiarly named Moo.

Back in my prime clubbing era, especially in first year, I used to love these nights out, with Kasbah especially being my favourite. However, in retrospect, the more I consider my nights out, the more

the idea of going clubbing whilst dressed as a child is unique to say the least

I wonder if there was ever a night out where something did not go wrong. My joyful memories are consistently marred by the bad ones. After my female friend was shoved to the floor by a stranger in a club, following an atmosphere similar to a crowd crush, I vowed to never return. When I saw bouncers fighting with students unprovoked, I vowed to never return. Why should my fun nights out be clouded with these horrible memories and feelings of unsafety? It felt as if I was ticking off the places I’d been to, and then giving a double tick to the places I would avoid.

The safety concerns surrounding bouncers in the Leamington Spa area is an ongoing investigation, with The Boar noting the prevalence of aggression and a lack of crowd control in certain venues. Being a female student, I should never feel like I am going on a night out with friends at my own risk. But the reality is true. I so desperately wanted to give a positive introduction to freshers joining, but until safety precautions are updated, I, from my own experience, can only fail to do so.

While Warwick’s nightlife offers a variety of experiences, from POP!, to circling, to the standard clubbing format in Coventry and Leamington Spa, my overarching opinions are filled with mixed emotions. Yes, university nights out are an integral part of the experience, however, my unforgettable memories of youth have become clouded with concerns over safety. Although the University has enforced various methods to enhance safety in recent years, such as the Drink-Spiking Action Plan, the responsibility seems to fall on the students to remain vigilant and watch each other's backs. Reflecting on my own experiences, I find that although the nightlife can be fun, it has to be approached with care. Whether or not this experience will ever change for incoming freshers, I honestly couldn’t tell you.

» Image: The Boar - Archie Clarke

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From the archives: the forgotten story of AIDS and student life at Warwick

Luke Chapman, he/him

Co-Editor-in-Chief

The year is 1984, and the world is gripped by fear over the emerging AIDS epidemic. Countless UK institutions seek to educate people about what would later be recognised as one of the most misconceived viruses in human history. That, in a nutshell, is pretty much what we’ve always been told about the AIDS outbreak. But strip the epidemic down to the university level, and what do you get? Narrow it down further to the University of Warwick, and what can you expect to see? Well, these are questions that Historian Joseph Price took upon himself to answer.

So where exactly does Warwick University have its place in all of this? Well, Joseph is eager to tell

The Boar about one of the highlights of his research. “Unlike some universities, there wasn’t a lot of fear about AIDS at Warwick,” he says. “I expected there to be fear all over campus, but it doesn’t appear to be the case.”

What made Warwick unique, he speculates, is the University’s geographical and social isolation. Indeed, choosing to study at Warwick University is quite literally, as the old saying goes, ‘sending yourself off to Coventry’. That is, to be frank, sending yourself to the middle of nowhere. According to Price, back in the 80s, Warwick as a campus-based institution was

cate its students, even if the issue was not a priority for everyone. One of the more colourful aspects of Warwick’s AIDS awareness campaign was the introduction of the "Rubber Man" mascot, a personified condom featured in Plan Talk. The mascot was intended to symbolise the importance of safe sex, but it received mixed reactions from students. Some found it humorous, while others criticised it for trivialising a serious issue. Price reflects on this in his research article, noting that such mascots at other universities also faced backlash, which suggests a broader uncertainty about how to approach AIDS education in a way that was both effective and respectful.

Warwick’s response to AIDS

“Unlike some universities, there wasn’t a lot of fear about AIDS at Warwick. I expected there to be fear all over campus, but it doesn’t appear to be the case”

Price, a recent graduate from Warwick's Centre for the History of Medicine, recently uncovered a story that sheds light on how Warwick students navigated the AIDS epidemic with a mix of activism, apathy, and detachment. Leading him to win the 2023 Midland History Essay Prize, Price’s research delves into a largely forgotten chapter in the history of AIDS, revealing the complexities of student life – particularly for Warwick students.

Plain

Joseph Price, PhD student at the University of Warwick

insulated from the intense public health anxieties that gripped cities like London or Birmingham. “Perhaps it's for this reason that we saw a student response that wasn’t too dissimilar to what it’d be like today,” Price suggests.

This relative claim is evident in old copies of The Warwick Boar, which first mentioned AIDS in 1984 in a letter to the editor that referenced the virus in a dismissive, almost flippant manner. By the time the epidemic reached its peak concern in the mid-to-late 1980s, The Boar had begun to feature more in-depth discussions about AIDS, but it never dominated the headlines. As Price pointed out, “It never made the front page either. It was always a feature towards the middle of the paper.” A bit like the feature you’re reading now, Price says this choice of placement suggests that although AIDS was acknowledged, it was never really seen as a pressing issue by the student body.

However, The Boar played a crucial role in giving out information about AIDS and sexual health.

The newspaper published a variety of articles, including features on AIDS Awareness Week and the controversial Plan Talk leaflet distributed by the Students’ Union (SU) in 1987. These efforts reflect a campus that was trying to edu-

was not solely characterised by indifference. There were moments of significant activism, particularly within the University’s Gay Society and the efforts surrounding the AIDS Awareness Weeks. The Gay Society, which had been a part of Warwick since the early 1970s, played a pivotal role in promoting sexual health and dispelling myths about AIDS, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.

The AIDS Awareness Weeks, first held in January 1987, were notable for their comprehensive approach, including educational videos, lunchtime stalls, and discussions led by the SU’s Welfare Officer. These events were designed to engage the student body in a serious conversation about AIDS, but as Price’s research shows, the biggest challenge was sustaining student engagement.

“In 1988, it seems everyone just stopped talking about it. The Boar stopped writing about it, and there’s not much you can find beyond that point,” he says. This abrupt decline in discourse reflects a broader trend observed in the UK, where the initial urgency surrounding AIDS began to wane as the disease became perceived as a manageable, chronic condition rather than an immediate crisis.

One of the most memorable events from this period was the

“Big Rubber Ball” held in November 1987, during AIDS Awareness Week. Headlined by Bronski Beat and featuring speakers from the Terrence Higgins Trust, the event was a blend of entertainment and education, designed to promote safe sex in a lively, engaging manner. Free condoms were handed out with every ticket, and the event’s success in raising awareness was matched by its financial contribution to AIDS research.

Yet, despite these efforts, the enthusiasm for such initiatives was short-lived. Attendance at sexual health events dwindled as the 1990s approached, a trend that Price links to a broader societal shift in attitudes towards AIDS. The excitement of the Big Rubber Ball, which initially broke even with its fundraising, was not enough to sustain long-term interest in the cause. “The discrepancies over advice and the failing attendance at sexual health events would only get worse as the 1990s approached,” Price notes, highlighting the challenges faced by those trying to keep the issue at the forefront of student consciousness. By the early 1990s, it appears the conversation around AIDS at Warwick had largely faded. The formation of the HIV and AIDS Awareness Society (HAAS) in 1993 was an attempt to revive interest, but it struggled to gain traction. Poor attendance at meetings and a general sense of apathy among students suggested that the urgency of the late 1980s had dissipated. Price remains critical of this decline, seeing it as part of

a broader failure to translate the lessons of the AIDS crisis into ongoing efforts to promote sexual health. “The lessons learnt from experiences like these aren’t very well translated now,” he says, pointing to the University’s contemporary issues with sexual health and wellbeing.

Price is set to complete his PhD in 2027, which will mark 40 years since the ’87 Big Rubber Ball. He hopes that the University will take this opportunity to reflect on its past and improve its current approach to sexual health. “In recent years, Warwick has been criticised for issues with wellbeing and poor sexual health. Of course, you have the rape chat amongst that as well,” he says.

“In terms of sexual health, yes you have the Sex Fest stalls in the SU, but how many freshers go to that?

“I’d love there to be a 40th-anniversary event around the Big Rubber Ball, as I think Warwick still has a lot to do when it comes to promoting sexual wellbeing.”

Price’s research article is titled “The HIV/AIDS Epidemic and the University of Warwick, 19871994” and is available to read online via the Taylor & Francis website.

» Images: The Warwick Boar / Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick (Bottom

Left), Joseph Price (Top Right)

Joseph Price, a PhD student at the University of Warwick, won the 2023 Midland History Essay Prize for his research on the AIDS epidemic

Talk was a leaflet dirtributed by Warwick Students' Union (SU) during AIDS Awareness Week

'Pet': Endearing or patronising? Newcastle University's ban on common Geordie expression

Abigail Mableson, she/her Arts Editor

Atthe end of the summer holidays, prior to the upcoming start of the University academic year, the Russell Group institution, Newcastle University, made a polarising announcement. Making amendments to the gender section of their inclusivity guide, a common wellbeing document throughout most universities, it was announced that guidance suggests staff should not use the term ‘pet’ towards students in their faculties.

Notably, Newcastle University followed modern standards when editing their inclusivity guide, recommending the avoidance of “patronising and gendered terms” amongst staff, such as outdated phrases like ‘man up’ or ‘don’t be such a girl’. However, the specification of the term ‘pet’, especially within the Geordie community, has caused certain problems, which have been addressed recently in mainstream media.

‘Pet’ rarely refers to gender and is used for male and female relatives

As a Geordie myself, having lived in the wider Newcastle area my whole life, the term ‘pet’ probably means more to me than most. In a guide on common Geordie slang produced by Northumbria University, the only other university situated in Newcastle city-centre, ‘pet’ is defined as a “term of endearment”, often likened to terms such as ‘dear’ or ‘love’. In the context of my family, ‘pet’ is only really used by my elder family members, such as grandparents, to talk to my younger relatives. It is also important to note that the term ‘pet’ rarely refers to gender and is used for male and female relatives alike. Yes, the term could be taken as patronising, but within the context of Geordie phrases, and the fact that I have been surrounded by such language my whole life, I would not tend to notice it.

Southern students have dominated northern universities

However, to understand why Newcastle University may have integrated this rule into its guidance, it is important to consider the current demographic present at the university itself. It is no surprise that southern students have dominated northern universities in the modern-day; in fact, southern students often make up the majority of student bodies in most universities throughout the UK. In statistics collated by UCAS this year, it was shown that in 2023, 18-yearold entry rates into university for London was 50%, whereas it was only 30% for the North East, with Newcastle being shown as an area

of the UK with one of the lowest rates of higher education participation. The North-South disparities within university system participation is easily represented by the presence of a Northern Society in many universities. So, evidently, perhaps the major presence of southern students in northern universities, such as Newcastle, is realistically a consequence of wider university participation in London and broader southern areas.

Some said they would refuse to attend Newcastle University if they could not use regional language.

Southern participation statistics offer an important insight and justification to Newcastle University’s decision as a result. I can imagine, as a student not from the local area, hearing unfamiliar language used by lecturers or seminar tutors may be intimidating, especially a term such as ‘pet’ which is likened to historically patronising terms. Considering the professional dynamic between a professor and a student, phrasing such as ‘pet’ could easily create an uncomfortable atmosphere. This sentiment was argued by broadcaster Eleanor Mills on the ITV debate program, Good Morning Britain, where Mills stated that regardless of the regionality, women may feel the language is “demeaning, infantilising and patronising”. Mills’s statement provides important justification, arguing that you would never call your boss ‘pet’, therefore why

ry’”, with some saying they would refuse to attend Newcastle University if they could not use regional language. Carole Malone, a commentator featured on GB News, even argued to “leave our language alone”, addressing her fury at Newcastle University’s decision. At first glance, perhaps with a less angry viewpoint, this was my initial thought, with the protection of the Geordie dialect and accent being an issue I am rather passionate about.

Studies suggested that the Geordie dialect could be "doomed to disappear"

should individuals in a position of power use such phrases towards their students.

Considering the flip-side of this discussion, it is important to consider the regional and cultural aspect of erasing certain local terminology, especially words synonymous with the area in which Newcastle University is situated. Many Geordies have found immediate fault with the guidance to not use the word ‘pet’, stating how it is a long-standing term in the Newcastle dialect, passed down through generations in conversation. In a piece written by the Daily Mail, interviewees went as far to say: “it would be unfortunate to label’ the term ‘pet’ as ‘derogato-

In the early 2000s, studies by dialect experts suggested that the Geordie dialect and accent could be “doomed to disappear”, suggesting only clichéd Geordie phrasing would stand the test of time. Within Geordie culture, especially in my hometown of North Shields, there is an ongoing sentiment that people never leave, and thus their accent never leaves. However, considering how easy it is to travel, this feeling is beginning to die out, with fears that the United Kingdom’s ‘linguistic map’ will eventually merge into one. Without becoming too technical, the Geordie accent has a specific way of pronouncing vowels, which, with economic and technical modern-

isations and the rise of computer generated speech, struggles to be represented in everyday media.

It feels like the removal of a dialect and culture from Newcastle’s richest source of academic

The certain pronunciation and language in the Geordie way of life also holds historic resonance and a sense of cultural pride, in the same way many regional accents are appreciated throughout the UK as a whole. The digital age has seen the death of popular terminology, and hence the death of the history behind it. The more politely known ‘Tyneside English’ is said to be an archaic form of the language, often with linguistic likeness to the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. The term ‘Geordie’ itself even has debatable historical origins, perhaps being a term to describe supporters of the Hanovarian King George, or workers of the ‘Father of the Railways’, George Stephenson.

By modern standards the term 'pet' does feel inherently patronising and demeaning

With this backbone of history, the Geordie accent and dialect also holds resonance with the North East’s working-class heritage. The presence of the coal mining and ship building industries in the North East in the 19th and 20th century has shaped the lives of those who reside there. While a well-known dangerous profession, there were times where the North East provided a quarter of Britain’s coal supply, and took pride in this fact. Even the internationally renowned British film and play, Billy Elliott, emphasises the cultural significance of coal and the miners’ strikes in the foundations of Geordie culture. In the words of Richard Smyth, the working-class roots of the North East are “entwined with culture and communities”, and thus hold important

historic resonance in the origins of the Geordie language.

Now, with all this context, and the layers of rich history and culture which built up the final product of the Geordie language, it is understandable why North East residents find themselves angered by Newcastle University's recent decision. As stated by Anoop Nayak: “For many people, class is tattooed on the tongue.” And it is easy to understand why this is the case within the Geordie dialect. The omission of ‘pet’ by the Newcastle University faculty means more to Geordies than the removal of a small word, it feels like the removal of a dialect and culture from Newcastle’s richest source of academic prestige.

The University of Newcastle only advised this change, rather than enforced

However, with this in mind, by modern standards the term ‘pet’ does feel inherently patronising and demeaning, especially within the context of its use by a faculty member. Although it is a widely used Geordie phrase, so many young women attend university, and any methods to make girls feel more comfortable in education is an important change to the system.

It is important to remember that The Univerity of Newcastle only advised this change, rather than enforced, and there is arguably no way to prove whether ‘pet’ will be taken out of Newcastle University’s vocabulary for good. Nevertheless, this change does provoke thought in the way regional language is treated in university culture, and makes me wonder whether further changes will be made in various universities throughout the United Kingdom.

» Images: Wikimedia Commons (Top), Wikimedia Commons / Andrew Curtis (Left)

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Trouble on campus: new students grapple with huge rent increases

Zoe Mudd, she/her Music Sub-Editor

Asfreshers’ week begins and campus erupts with noise and life once more, conversations about the ever-increasing cost of on-campus accommodation will be quick to spark. With the demolition site of £91/week Whitefields casting an unavoidable shadow over new students as £245/week Bluebell towers just behind, the struggle for affordable student accommodation on campus has never been more clearly epitomised.

The hole left on central campus by Whitefields paints an unmistakeably stark portrait of Warwick’s accommodation problem. By demolishing these 195 rooms, Warwick will deny incoming students the only on-campus accommodation that costs less than the minimum maintenance loan. Warwick’s cheapest accommodation option has shifted from Whitefields to Cryfield Standard, which costs £30 more per week.

Across all accommodations available to undergraduate students, rents have increased by an average of 5.57% compared to last year. However, this only accounts for accommodation available both this year and last. The picture looks even worse when you consider the unavailability of Whitefields and Westwood – previously two of Warwick’s cheapest options – and the fact they have been effectively

replaced by expensive ensuite accommodation in the form of Cryfield Apartments and Westwood Ensuite.

These monumental rent increases echo a troubling trend sparking angst across the nation, with the 2024 National Student Accommodation Survey reporting that 64% of UK university students struggle with the cost of rent, and 2/5 have considered dropping out altogether due to skyrocketing housing costs. This problem has been indefinitely worsened by a lack of financial support offered by the Government: in January, they announced 2024/25 maintenance loans would increase by just 2.5%.

Such disparity has caused an inevitable increase in the number of students seeking part-time work alongside their studies, with a survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute suggesting that 56% of UK university students are currently in paid employment. Pivotally, this increase in the number of employed students follows reports from the National Union of Students that 1/3 of students who simultaneously undergo university and part-time work felt it negatively impacted their studies.

This financial and academic stress can be felt intensely across campus. Last November, student activists, including those part of the student-led Warwick Housing Organisation, sponsored and campaigned for a November 2023 All Student Vote motion titled ‘Let’s fight for better on-campus accom-

Why Thames Water is drowning in debt

Joseph Brennan, he/him Writer

Whenwe think about companies that might go bankrupt, we don’t often think of water companies. With simple business models, monopolistic market positioning, and the essential nature of their service, it is easy to think that water companies are some of the safest investments out there. As the UK’s biggest water supplier, Thames Water seems no different.

This was the rationale of some of the world’s largest international investors that poured money into the company. Now the company is drowning in debt, at 80% of the value of the company. What happened?

To give some background, the UK water industry was nationalised in 1973. The industry’s cost and a series of pollution proceedings from our friend, the EU, led

to privatisation in 1989. 10 regional private companies were created, including Thames Water, to own and operate water infrastructure.

Alongside this, The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) was created to serve as the economic regulator of these local monopolies, setting limits on water prices amongst other things.

The point is that regulation drives the UK water sector

Thames Water’s private owners have changed over time – ranging from German energy company, RWE, to Australian bank, Macquarie. Whilst these owners did invest billions into Thames, a lot of it was financed through raising debt (with net debt currently over £16 billion). This debt has helped Thames pay out over £7 billion in dividends to these shareholders

modation’.

The motion reflected a general distasteful sentiment towards Warwick’s on-campus accommodation fees, lobbying for the University to freeze rents and bring them back down to pre-Covid levels, alongside increasing the amount of “accessible accommodation”. 86% of students – a monumental majority – voted in favour.

For every academic year that passes with no ameliorative action, the on-campus rents that Warwick offers will play an increasingly prevalent role in the decision-making process of prospective students. Last year, the Unite Application Index, which tracks the attitudes of university applicants, reported that 17% of students felt the cost of living influenced their choice of university, with many purposefully choosing to study in cities that they perceived as more affordable or cheaper to live in. Ironically, despite the great cost of on-campus accommodation, Coventry is regarded as an affordable city for students, with average expenses expected to be around £700/ month. Indeed, there is a striking difference between the cost of Coventry University and Warwick University accommodation, with Coventry’s most expensive ensuite accommodation, Bishop Gate, costing £77 less a week than Bluebell.

A cost-of-living crisis, rapidly rising rents, the Whitefields void, and a lack of support from the

since 1990.

The regulatory aspect of this watery tale is crucial. At a basic level, Ofwat tries to keep bills low whilst also making water companies investable to fund infrastructure. Price limits are set every five years using regulatory capital value (RCV), which is Ofwat’s measure of a water company’s market value. From RCV, Ofwat calculates regulatory gearing, the ratio of a company’s net debt to its RCV, to inform its approval of water company business plans. It also stipulates that all water companies must have a minimum of two BBBcredit ratings to keep their water licence and avoid fines. Finally, Ofwat allows water companies to undergo “securitisation”, creating holding companies outside the regulatory ringfence to issue more debt and receive dividends, taking money out of the sector.

The point is that regulation drives the UK water sector. Thames has the highest RCV and regulatory gearing, and now has a “junk” (below BBB-) credit rating from both S&P and Moody’s, putting it at risk of losing its operating license. Thames also has a holding

government worsen an increasingly tumultuous time for students at Warwick. Whether students will be forced into submission,

accepting egregious costs as the norm for the privilege of living on campus, remains to be seen.

company, called Kemble Water, to which it pays dividends and issues debt to fund infrastructure improvements.

Water companies would love to invest instead of paying dividends, as this will increase their RCV and therefore prices they can charge. The problem is that Ofwat is torn between keeping consumer costs down and keeping water companies profitable. It has set limits on water company infrastructure investment at sub-optimal levels to keep bills low. The dividend conversation has largely damaged Thames’ reputation only, since Of-

Thames failed to complete 108 upgrade projects to reduce sewage

wat regulates dividend levels too.

Since 2022, ageing infrastructure has led to high depreciation costs and a series of fines for sewage spills, reducing cash available to service debt. With over 50% of Thames’ debt being index-linked, the recent inflation surge did not

help. Even when Ofwat approved investment, Thames failed to complete 108 upgrade projects to reduce sewage spills, demonstrating a failure of company management.

In 2024, Ofwat watered down Thames’ 2030 plans to raise bills by 52% and reduced proposed expenditure. Company CEO Chris Weston says this will prevent “the turnaround and recovery of the company”. Without price increases being approved, current and potential investors are not keen to inject more cash before Thames runs out of it next year.

Where does this leave us? We have a punitive regulator preventing price increases, limiting Thames’ ability to finance debt and attract investors. We have failed owners, who increased net debt and failed to finish approved infrastructure projects. We also have a negative PR environment as anger mounts about sewage spills, scaring investors and increasing fines. Together, this leaves Thames in its current near-underwater situation, with its future likely to involve temporary nationalisation or a listing on the stock market.

» Image: The Boar / Abhay Venkitaraman

Meet Warwick's economics and finance societies!

Welcome to Warwick!

Are you interested in finance, economics, or business? In that case, these societies might just be the place for you. Focusing on everything from investment banking to inclusivity in economics – they play a pivotal role in supporting students’ intellectual pursuits, providing careers advice, and above all else, creating a warm sense of community. If you’re interested in getting involved, check out these short introductions, courtesy of the societies themselves!

Warwick Economics Summit

The Warwick Economics Summit (WES) is the largest student-run academic conference in Europe. A team of over 60 Warwick students from all years and courses come together to host inspirational speakers like Nobel laureates, presidents, and academics to address topics in economics, geopolitics, and more. The Summit’s 24th edition is scheduled for 24–26 January 2025, with standalone events like WESPresents, WES Debates, and career fairs happening in the interim. To get involved, you can join our organising team through applications that open during Welcome Week –or write for the WESJournal, our publication. You can find more information on our social media accounts and other channels and join the debate by following us on Instagram, subscribing to our newsletter, and attending the Summit!

Warwick Hedge Fund Society

Each year, we take in a cohort of 24 analysts, train them in company and stock analysis over six weeks, and then form teams that compete, both against each other and with other universities. Judges for our competitions have included billionaire investors such as David Einhorn and David Ott, and our teams have defeated those from Harvard, Princeton, and Oxford. It’s a great way to get trained in the technical aspects of finance and looks great on your CV! We also host plenty of careers events, such as CV work shops, to help students get internships and jobs at top banks and hedge funds! Although we’re geared towards hedge funds, the technicals, and soft skills we teach are eas ily applicable to any area of finance.

Warwick Investment Banking

Warwick

Investment Banking (WIB) is dedicated to equipping students for careers in investment banking. Despite only being founded last year, we have made significant strides; we hosted the Warwick Banking Summit at The Shard, which featured industry leaders from J.P. Morgan, Citi, and more. We offer comprehensive support to members through events including technical workshops, networking sessions, and M&A case competitions. Being one of the most diverse societies on campus, we have a dedicated team focused on women in investment banking. This year, our aim is to elevate WIB’s impact by inviting top bank executives to provide exclusive insights, ensuring members are well-prepared to excel in the extremely competitive world of investment banking.

Warwick Business School Society

Asthe largest independent society on campus, with over 7,000 members, Warwick Business School Society (WBSS) is your gateway to unparalleled corporate opportunities and unforgettable social events. By joining us, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with industry giants like Fernando Carro (CEO of Bayer Leverkusen), Felipe Peñacoba (CIO of Revolut), and many more! We also organise the biggest social events on campus – like last year’s Halloween Party, which over 1,300 people attended. Recruitment starts on 26 September, so mark your calendars! Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of something big.

Warwick Finance Societies

Warwick

Finance Societies (WFS) is the largest academic society on campus and the hub for everyone interested in pursuing a career in finance. Our society provides amazing academic events, leading speakers in industry, and multiple flagship events, including our Shard conferences, IB Accelerator Programme, and international tour. With people from divisions including Markets, Quant Finance, Investment Banking, and more, we are here to prepare you in the best way possible. We would like to express a warm welcome to all freshers: congratulations on making it to Warwick, and we can't wait to have you getting involved with all the amazing things we offer!

Warwick Congress

Warwick

Congress is a dynamic, student-led careers society that bridges the gap between key industries such as law, finance, economics, politics, and entrepreneurship. We offer a holistic perspective on global topics, fostering student debate and discussion. The year's highlight is our flagship conference, where delegates engage in thought-provoking debates, skill sessions, and networking opportunities with industry professionals. Beyond the conference, we host various events throughout the year, including speaker sessions, panel debates, and networking events. Our members also gain access to weekly articles, podcasts, and newsletters, keeping them informed on the latest relevant news.

Warwick Women in Economics

Warwick

Women in Economics (WWiE) is a society dedicated to building a more diverse and inclusive environment, so that all students and staff members can achieve their full potential. Our goal is to encourage female students to not only study economics but to stay in the field once they do. However, we encourage everyone – regardless of ethnicity, gender, or sexual identity – to join the movement and become part of the voice for change. Our events and opportunities are centred around helping students in their academic journey and career, ranging from our mentorship scheme, CV clinics, and networking events to our annual International Women’s Day Conference, which brings accomplished women from the field of economics to Warwick

Warwick Kickstart

Warwick

Kickstart is dedicated to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among students. We do this through everything from workshops, guest speakers, and summer internship panels, to our Xelerate programme hosted at the top of The Shard. Through these events, students learn about idea generation, pitching, and business development from experienced entrepreneurs and industry professionals. We're all about innovation, tech, and turning ideas into reality. Whether you're into biotech, fintech, or deep tech, we've got you covered. We have connected countless students to enriching start-up opportunities, and we’re excited to continue doing so this year. Connect with us for events, workshops, and mentorship to fuel your success in the world of business and tech!

Warwick Real Estate and Construction Society

Wehave established ourselves as a leading society at Warwick, connecting real estate with finance, law, and more. With more than 500 members, our offerings include firm-exclusive events, conferences, and mentoring. Last year, we partnered with companies such as Goldman Sachs, Macfarlanes, and Blackstone. Our recent accolades include winning the ‘SU Most Improved Society 2022/23’ award and the prestigious PwC 2024 Societies Competition. Check out our bespoke Student Housing division for full guidance into the house-hunting process and join us weekly for circling. We're excited to continue supporting students and showcasing opportunities within the world of real estate!

» Images: Unsplash/Yiming Ma and respective societies

CULTURE

@theboarculture

The Boar presents the Culture section, featuring Lifestyle, Arts, Travel and Books.

Lifestyle Editor: Odette Dyer (she/her) lifestyle@theboar.org

Sub-Editor: Laura Van Diesen (she/her)

Deputy Editors: Vacant (apply now on page 7) Vacant

Arts Editor: Abigail Mableson (she/her) arts@theboar.org

Sub-Editor: Sanjana Iyer (she/her)

Deputy Editors: Vacant (apply now on page 7)

Vacant

Travel Editor: James Watson (he/him) travel@theboar.org

Sub-Editor: Hannah Colechin (she/her)

Deputy Editors: Vacant (apply now on page 7)

Vacant

Books Editor: Estella Neumayr (she/her) books@theboar.org

Sub-Editor: Anna Barnard (she/her)

Deputy Editors: Vacant (apply now on page 7) Vacant

» Image: Warwick Arts Centre Rebel With a Cause logo/ Warwick Arts Centre

Articles you can find online...

Hannah Colechin, Arts Witness for the Prosecution: Courtroom drama at its finest theboar.org

Ivanna Keane, Travel Sunrise to sunset: Scenic sunscapes from around the world

Arts

The art of

Callum Morar, Lifestyle Top tips for joining the gym

Izabella Goodall, Books Can reading make you happier

James Watson, Travel Tracing Roots: A journey to uncover my Windrush Legacy

networking: societies for incoming creatives

Abbie Fox, she/her Head of Social Media

Withsuch a wide breadth of creative societies to choose from, here are a few recommendations for incoming Warwick freshers. Whether you are looking to join a society that allows you to showcase your enthusiasm for the arts, or are just seeking a creative outlet to help you to balance your academic work, here are some suggestions for societies where you can either display creative talent or learn from other artists. All of these societies act as great opportunities for you to express creativity. More importantly, they also provide a fun space to de-stress, socialise, and potentially collaborate with other artistic students.

Cobalt Magazine

Cobalt Magazine is a society which accepts any, and all creative work for their magazine. Their latest magazine theme was Unveiled Treasures,but there is a new theme each term when they publish a new edition. With previous themes including Poison Apple,Twisted Nostalgia, In Media Res and Levelling Up, there are always new opportunities to submit your work, regardless of which form this may take.

They are not just limited to accepting more traditional forms of creative work such as poetry, prose, photography, and artwork (physical or digital). They are also open to welcoming manifestos/think-pieces, reviews, recipes, interviews, and other non-visual works.

Additionally, if you aren’t keen on the idea of submitting work for the

magazine, Cobalt Magazine hosts events such as zine workshops, bookmark making, and charity open- mic nights. They also host creative drop-in sessions, which allow you to find out more about publication and various ways that you could get involved with the process.

Warwick Art Society

Warwick Art Society is not just a society exclusively for artists; beginners are also welcome and encouraged to attend their various events. These include summer sip and paint sessions, life drawing classes, material medley sessions, and even cyanotype workshops. These are great opportunities to escape from academic work, and to either meet new people or to have a fun but relaxing catch-up with friends.

Art Society hosts study sessions when it is approaching exam season, so it can also just be a comfortable environment where you can be productive. The theme of their ball last year was Enchanted Forest, and this annual event is definitely something to look forward to!

Warwick Craft Society

Another great society for creatives to de-stress is Warwick Craft Society. This is an amazing way to meet new people and socialise on a regular basis. Their various events include activities such as mini canvas painting, origami, henna, bookmark and phone charm

making, and even cookie decorating. These sessions are completely free for members and all materials are provided. They meet for weekly sessions, so the £5 membership is definitely worthwhile! Craft Society also hosts social events which have included meals at Nando’s, circles, and even trips to Cadbury World.

Craft Society also collaborates with other societies, providing even more opportunities to meet new people. For example, they have hosted a joint plant pot painting session with GSD (Global Sustainable Development) society and a Mario Kart-themed circle with Darts society.

The Boar

It obviously also goes without saying that The Boar is a brilliant society for creatives to join! As the official student newspaper of Warwick University (and the biggest media society) there are 16 different sections, so plenty of opportunities to write about whatever topic you are interested in, either online or for the physical print edition of the newspaper. There are also various roles to get involved with, such as editing, sub-editing, joining the business team, and much more.

The Boar also hosts various social events so that members can get to know each other better, as well as workshops which can help you with editing and writing. They collaborate with other societies and hold different events, such as those hosting external speakers, meaning it is a great society if you are also looking to make connections in creative industries.

The Warwick Arts Centre celebrates 50 years with 'Rebels With A Cause' festival

Abigail

Mableson, she/her

Arts Editor

Thisautumn, the incredible arts venue on the University of Warwick campus, the Warwick Arts Centre, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Opened in October 1974, the

The Warwick Arts Centre is hosting a festival of celebration

Warwick Arts Centre has become a hub of all things art, theatre, music, and cinema, especially for students studying at Warwick. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Warwick Arts Centre is hosting a festival of celebration events, praising activism and the importance of community, entitled Rebels With A Cause!

Alongside their free of charge entry into the Mead Gallery, the Arts Centre is hosting a multitude of accessible events, especially presenting the im portance of the Midlands in the arts culture scene.

In terms of artistry, I am most excited for the Made in the Midlands: Sharing Weekend on 28 November to the 30

November, including the presentation of three ‘work in progress’ pieces by various artists from the Midlands. The weekend also includes a theatre performance by the Barrel Organ theatre group, as well as a choreographed piece by Liz Aggiss, performed by the over 60s dance group, Out of Whack.

The new season also includes an evening dedicated to Songs of Protest on 27 October, with a multitude of musicians performing personal material and classic songs of protest. As usual, the Arts Centre film season will be running, however, this season has a twist, being a celebration of Black British Pioneers - Then and Now, including film based around this theme.

The upcoming season at the Warwick Arts Centre expects to be a fantastic presentation of the talent from the Midlands, and a fitting commemoration of the Arts Centre’s accomplishments and history.

Exploring Warwick's hidden gems: top spots on campus to spark your creativity

Abigail Mableson, she/her Arts editor

Fromthe outside, the presentation of the University of Warwick campus may seem like an industrious, STEM oriented location. The buildings are often towering, bleak, and somewhat office-like. However, Warwick campus offers cosy respite locations for those wanting to have a moment of peace, for work, catch-ups, and relaxation. For anyone joining Warwick, I’d like to recommend some of my favourite spots, and why they are suited to your university creative needs.

Curiositea may be my favourite place on campus to catch-up on some writing, or even gossip with my friends. Whilst it is sometimes difficult to secure a seat, it is always worth it. Situated in the centre of campus, Curiositea offers the most delicious drinks and cakes throughout the whole of university, allowing you to have a perfect sweet treat when doing your work. From the array of sofa seats, tables, and even an outdoor seating area, the atmosphere facilitates your ability to be creative and comfortable. Regulars will know that every week, Curiositea has a brand-new menu of special desserts and drinks to try out, with my personal favourite menu being the Inside Out 2 inspired specials week last year. If you are a lover of writing, this hotspot on campus will become your go-to, and remember, always get yourself a loyalty card!

Colloquially known as the FAB amongst Warwick students, the Faculty of Arts building supplies both inspiring scenery, and plenty of spaces. Being the home even phere inspir are looking for a spot to indulge in some academic work, with a side of gossip, the FAB has a varie ty of seating to get you through, as well as a perfectly situ ated Caffe Nero to sometimes distract you from work. When I first arrived at Warwick, I was amazed by the wooden architecture inside, it was tru ly what I imagined in my mind when becoming a campus uni versity girl. The central seating also makes you feel like you’re living out your Gossip Girl Met steps dreams, so why not choose here to complete that essay you’ve been putting off.

The SU Building

The SU building is a personal favourite of mine, especially because of how quiet it often is. Featuring a multitude of skylights, the SU building almost always has a seat, as well as a chilled out atmosphere to take on some work. I love spending time in the SU building when I want to write an article, often accompanied by a Rootes chocolate chip cookie. The comforting and quiet nature always inspires me to get some creative writing flowing, as well as spending some me-time to get myself organised. Although an underrated spot on campus, it truly does the trick.

The Breathing Space

From first glance, the five-floor library seems hard to navigate, and personally often a signal that I need to get unwanted tasks done. However, the breathing space on floor one offers an opposite atmosphere to the stress the library may cause. Built to become a mindfulness promoting hub for students wanting a break, I find the breathing space a welcoming atmosphere, especially when I want to be creative. As well as always having a comfortable chair and a charging port, the room has green scenery and plants, and white noise in the background such as rain and forest sounds. By going to the breathing space, you can feel like you’re going to the library to work, but also let your creativity flow by embracing the surrounding atmosphere.

The University of Warwick campus, when you get to know it personally, has some perfect locations to let your ideas flow. Whilst the nature of going to campus may be aimed at getting work done, with a bit of looking, you can always find a welcoming spot to get creatively inspired and start a new project.

Warwick at the Edinburgh Fringe: a takeover

Aanya Sisodia, she/her Writer

Soearlier this year, I wrote about Edinburgh Fringe as a force keeping the vitality of the creative industries up, and if Warwick has anything to say about it, Fringe 2024 was an amazing success.

The Freemartin (by Warwick alumni-founded theatre company Speakbeast) won a Binge Fringe Queer Performer’s award for their eloquently written and dynamically performed play which explores identity, transphobia, and cows (of course).

Last Orders, a student-written show first performed through Freshblood New Writing, had an almost entirely sold out run as they took Edinburgh by storm, daringly bringing their fictional Scottish tavern to receive rave reviews from

Music Theatre Warwick’s flagship show, The Improv Musical, was a hilariously fun time! I had the pleasure of seeing it twice across my time at Fringe and both shows were ever-chaotic, wildly different, and around every corner came a welcome, unexpected surprise. Audience suggestions for people, settings, and titles, combined with their band and cast’s tact and ability to style everything thrown at them, saw every audience leaving having seen a different cast, show and soundtrack held in one bespoke moment in time. I mean, where else would you see a show set in a sewage works with a breakdancing Simon Cowell and Cheryl.

Serious Billy Productions’ show I’d Like A Job Please saw the semi-musical play exploring the post graduate necessity to get employed and (f)unemployment, whilst also leaning into the newly popular podcasting trend with characters like Jamie Blaine. This multi-media production uses live music, projection, videos, and live performance. Seeing it on the closing night, the room was full, the laughs were hearty, and the cast was incredibly iconic, shaping and individualising their characters when multi-rolling. The musical numbers were catchy, memorable, and overall, funny. Everybody’s working in recruitment!

Rob Madge, one of Music Theatre Warwick’s esteemed alumni, returned to the Fringe with their

Student life is chaos

Anna Barnard, she/her Books Sub-Editor

“Didthe second ticket come through okay?”

I nod and star both emails as my Mum packs away her laptop. My mind is already frantically trying to place names of people I vaguely knew in my teen years, who I was certain were going to be at Warwick. I start crafting the perfectly-awkward-and-yetnot-as-awkward-as-going-alone back-up text.

Hey insert name here! I know we haven’t spoken in ages, but I heard from X that you were going to Warwick, and turns out I am too! Itwouldbesonice/cute/awesometo catch up, I actually have tickets for Dave Gorman at the Arts Centre if you’re interested? Let me know how you’re doing! (xx – optional).

My Dad walks in with two cups of tea and places one on the Shakespeare coaster to my left. The tea spills over the edge of my mug as I try to pick it up.

“So, early happy birthday! Hasn’t it worked out well that your all-time favourite comedian is at Warwick Arts Centre, just after the chaos of your first week?”

“It’ll be something to look forward to after all the excitement of Welcome Week has worn off.” My Mum peers over the pages of her book to give me a reassuring smile. “And you’ll definitely have met so many people by then, you’ll be spoilt for choice as to who to take with you.”

emotive musical My Son’s a Queer (but what can you do?).After wanting to see the show since its debut, I knew this was the show I HAD to see - and it did not disappoint. The multi-media production (using recorded video, live performance as well as media sent in by Madge’s social following), alongside a gloriously moving score and narrative balances tear-jerking moments with scenes that will have you laughing the whole way through.

I

can say first-hand the cast and crew had a blast working on this show

Hart and Sparks Theatre Company, the company I was at Fringe with, also completed a week-long run in Edinburgh with their show Trashed. In between producing and flyering, I can say first-hand the cast and crew had a blast working on this show off and onstage. The show has lovely audiences and reviews, some audience members were even moved to tears by the writing. After its success at Edinburgh, the Warwick-born company is now set to perform in an exclusive performance of Trashed in London on the 19th of September as a part of Lambeth Fringe!

That’s the bit I’m not excited for. One week cooped up in the highly intense and pressured environment that they call “Warwick Welcome Week” will definitely be enough socialising to last me, until I inevitably have to act out a passage from The Winter’s Tale with a lovely-and-equally-passionate-but-very-theatery-and-therefore-super-extroverted joint-honours student, in a cramped and slightly stale seminar room.

Dave Gorman looks at me from the cover of my Modern Life is Goodish boxset, which is propped up by my grey suitcase and crates of kitchenware. It frustrates me that he’s one of the funniest comedians out there, as I am reluctantly persuaded to endure awkward small talk before and after the show with someone I’ve only just met, or haven’t spoken to since I was 15.

Blanca pokes her head out of a ringed sculpture just outside the Arts Centre.

“Blanca, hold that position, let me get a photo!”

I’m scrambling to open my phone camera as Blanca cracks up. Next minute, we’re trying to take a selfie as if we are what I assume to be an artistic interpretation of a two-headed hula hooping monster. I graze my hand on the pavement as we untangle ourselves from our wild pose.

“I honestly don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in ages. At the show, I mean, you’re not funny at

all.” Blanca flops onto a nearby bench, poking me on the shoulder.

“I told you Dave Gorman was awesome! I’ve been desperate to see him for ages, and I thought it would be so cute to go together. And you were so nice to me in the kitchen on my first day, so you were a deserving candidate to behold this esteemed honour of being my comedy buddy.”

Blanca smiles.

“It was kind of nice to step away from the uni bubble actually.” Blanca looks contemplative. “You know, not do something that has the pressure of making friends or looking at reading lists. I think I needed that breather from the chaos.”

“Yeah, I agree. I love how manic Welcome Week is – more than I thought I would. But it is cool to just forget about uni for a sec. Be immersed in the transformative power of live entertainment, some would say.” I gesture my hands wildly, as if transforming the Piazza itself into a theatre.

“Alright, Shakespeare.” I can tell Blanca’s suppressing a giggle. We sit and just watch people of all ages and backgrounds trickle out of the Arts Centre. I look up at the big screen to check the time, but instead I’m faced with frilly, avant-garde regency dresses and quizzical, tragic expressions.

“Wuthering Heights looks like it’s on later this year at the Arts Centre. Fancy going with me?”

» Images: Unsplash / Cathyrn Lavery (left), Unsplash / Brooke Cagle (bottom left), Last Orders Cast/ Last Orders (centre)

ARTS YOUR CENTRE

Warwick Arts Centre hosts all the biggest names on our stages and in our gallery, plus 3 state-of-the-art cinema screens showcasing the latest blockbusters, indie and world movie releases.

We’re the home of student performance. Get creative at one our free workshops, head to the Music Centre where you can practice an instrument, sing, join a band or orchestra or ask us about our volunteering opportunities.

From Sat 21 Sep – Sun 29 Sep drop in and try our events and activities, mostly free or super cheap.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Welcome Week Performance Stage

Mon 23 Sep – Fri 27 Sep 10am – late

Stay and Clay: Sober Social Sat 21 Sep 6pm – 8pm

Backstage Tours

Wed 25 Sep 6pm – 7pm & 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Welcome Week Mystery screening Fri 27 Sep 8pm

Free Workshops Throughout the week

Film Poster Giveaway & Free Trailer Viewing Session

Wed 25 Sep

How to feast as first-years, and avoid kitchen nightmares: a fresher’s cookbook

Martin Day, he/him News editor

Cooking:

some people love it, others couldn’t hate it more – what is undeniable, however, is that it’s an essential rite of passage for a university student. Just as a baby owl must learn how to catch mice before it can fly the nest, you too must learn how to create and cook your own meals before setting off for the big, wide world (though hopefully not mice). It can be tough, though, and at times completely bewildering. What are the easiest meals, for when I’m in a time crunch? Where can I find the cheapest possible foods? Why does my spatula have holes in it? To answer (most) of these questions and more, I’ve provided a guide below for your convenience:

An onion can go in absolutely everything, and you can't go wrong with it

What

Tom Ryan, he/him Deputy news editor

Frantically

I

rushing to IKEA to get more fake plants and decorations for my room, constantly checking my packing list to make sure I had not forgotten something, catching up with friends from home for one final time – that was me, one year ago, as I prepared to move to Warwick. I’m sure, as you’re reading this article, you have just gone through a similar situation. You might be nervous about having moved away from home for the first time – don’t panic though, first-year is amazing, and I promise you will have a fantastic year.

One of the biggest mistakes I made in my first-year was thinking I had to be an expert on everything

There’s no denying that I can vividly remember that feeling of dread and pang of sadness as I left my family home and moved away from everything I’d ever known last September, but my first-year was one of the best years of my life.

There are two staple components for the process of cooking: the food (obviously), and the equipment, and it’s the latter which can present the greatest challenge to enterprising cooks. Yes, you want to cook the food, but in what? Right away, I want to rule out using an oven. Perhaps in your accommodation, you’ll have been blessed with a much happier ratio of ovens-to-people, but I spent my first year in Rootes, sharing two ovens with 15 people. When you want to use the oven, it won’t be free, and trying to cohabit an oven is complicated. Instead, use the hobs and fry absolutely everything, but use a wok rather than a frying pan. It’s far better for preventing spillages when your chicken begins to inexplicably melt in the pan. And whilst frying sounds awful health-wise, you really don’t need to use a lot of oil to cook anything. A single litre bottle of vegetable oil lasted me the entire year.

As far as ingredients go, these are the must-haves. An onion can go in absolutely everything, and you can’t go wrong with it. Plus, it’s a vegetable, so even if it’s the only thing remotely resembling a plant to end up in your meal, that can still be chalked up as a health benefit. Pasta and rice are your carbohydrate staples, of course, and buying a microwave rice cooker, while appearing like a frivolous waste of money, will probably save your life. Simply slamming a portion of rice into the microwave for 12 minutes will save you so much effort over the year. During particularly grim moments, rice mixed with tinned sweetcorn or precooked meat, can create the easiest (and bleakest) struggle-meal. A separate struggle-meal and personal favourite of mine, which you probably shouldn’t let anyone else see you eat for the sake of your own reputation, is the microwave grilled cheese. Toast the bread, add a square of cheese and a coating of

paprika, and microwave that bad boy for 60 seconds. Et voila! I want to stress – we did not have a grill in our Rootes kitchen. If you find yourself with a grill, for goodness’ sake, use that instead.

Make your shops smaller, and you'll avoid the awful feeling of having wasted food

Besides cooking, budgeting is the other principal life lesson that every university student goes through, and really these are two skills that go hand-inhand. Besides the obvious – buy supermarket own brands instead of big-name branded products. Try sticking to water rather than sodas or juice. There are smaller ways you can cut down on expenses too. Don’t bulk-buy far ahead of time: expiry dates are always far closer than you think, and I’ve suffered food poisoning enough at this point to figure out they generally aren’t only a consumerist ploy. Make your shops smaller, and you’ll avoid the awful feeling of having wasted food. Addition-

al trips to supermarkets aren’t the end of the world. In a similar vein, avoid Rootes (the grocery store, though that’s a solid rule for the accommodation too). Though they offer decent alcohol prices (undercutting Tesco for a bottle of Bailey’s by £2 last Christmas), their food prices often have an absurd markup. You’re better off making a sandwich than going to them for lunch.

Ultimately, there’s a world of knowledge that can only be conveyed through your own cooking experiences. But here are some last few assorted tips: the ownbrand soups at Cannon Park Tesco are phenomenal value - five for £5 is an entire meal for £1, if you add a couple slices of toast. On that subject, a club card really is a no-brainer. As long as you actually remember to scan it (my downfall), the savings made there are great long-term. And lastly, you can save a negligible amount of money on sugar or salt because who actually uses them enough to justify buying a whole container? Instead, take home a few dozen sachets of either from Pret A Manger or Wetherspoons. It’s free, so indulge yourselves!

would tell my first-year self

Did I make mistakes? Of course I did, but I’m here to help you learn from my mistakes – almost like a first-year ‘guru’.

It wasn’t until Easter that I realised, I could take my foot off the pedal

If you’re currently asking yourself: ‘How am I going to cook for myself? Where do I do my washing? Where is Tesco?’, don’t panic! I was in the same boat last year, and I found out all the answers pretty quickly. That’s the first piece of advice I’d give my first-year self, looking back: don’t panic. One of the biggest mistakes I made in my first-year was thinking I had to be an expert on everything straight away, but that’s certainly not true. If you can’t find your lecture hall, or you’re confused about how to use the oven in your flat kitchen, don’t worry. Take things step-bystep, don’t feel the need to rush, and don’t be afraid to ask others for help – I guarantee others will be thinking the same.

Your first-year is the time for you to try out new societies, make new friends, and explore new places. Looking back, the one thing I wish

I could tell my first-year self is to embrace everything. I can guarantee you’ll hear “first-year doesn’t count” more times than you can keep track of over the next year, but it’s hard to believe it when deadlines are looming and mark ing criteria is being shared around. And, of course, you would not have chosen to spend £9,250 a year if you didn’t want to further your education. However, try not to stress about your work too much. You still have a whole two more years ahead of you after this that actually count, so don’t burn yourself out now.

hour of reading, maybe think twice about whether you really need to do it, or whether you can spend an extra bit of time with your friends.

While it may seem like I’m full of regret about my first-year, it’s only because I want you to learn from my mistakes, so don’t feel like everything is going to go wrong or that all your planning before university has been in vain. If anything, nine times out of ten, things went perfectly in my firstyear, and there’s so much I won’t be changing going forward.

If at first things don’t go right, try again, or reach out

One thing I regret the most from my first-year is, it wasn’t until Easter that I realised, I could take my foot off the pedal a little and enjoy the university experience more. So, when you’re thinking whether you should do that extra

Take on challengeeverythat comes your way.

So, having said that here are three things that went so well in my first-year that I won’t be changing in my routine for the next two years:

1. Batch cook – you’ll be surprised at how much time it saves.

2. Make the most of downtime – there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a cosy night in watching Strictly Come Dancing (at times, I preferred it to clubbing).

3. Attend society events – I made most of my friends and memories through societies last year, so get involved.

I have just one final parting piece of advice: remember you are capable of achieving amazing things. You may feel a little nervous or apprehensive right now, but things will work out. Take on every challenge that comes your way. If at first things don’t go right, try again, or reach out for help. Good luck with your first-year at Warwick and most importantly, enjoy yourself!

» Images: ndr / Unsplash (vegatables), Kolforn / Wikimedia Commons (bag), Odiseo Castrejon / Unsplash (cooking)

The modern student wardrobe

Sebastian Smith, he/him Head of Business and Sales

My editor wants wardrobe essentials. And essentials she shall get. But you read the lifestyle section! Chances are you’re not looking to be sold on the importance of having some comfy sweatpants. Fashion has exploded in terms of a medium of expression for Gen Z, and so the idea that new (or returning) university students want to bring their clothing A-game hardly fits the definition of a shocking headline. This article was written with this in mind.

“People need

to stop try-

ing to be purists that care too much. Wear what makes you passionate”

Isaac Phelan, Warwick student

However, I’m aware not everyone who wants to look nice and stay with the times has to be a fashionista, so I’ll keep it a buck and save you from a £2000 SSENSE basket (though do keep an eye on those sales). We’re sticking to modern wardrobe requirements, here. You’re also in for a treat. I had the pleasure of picking the brains of two of my close friends who offer diverse and varied opinions from both sides of the fashion Pucci is a European, international agement who, cidentally, is into dressing nicely. What a

surprise. She’s currently on a work placement at Bottega Veneta and worked at Line, Warwick’s fashion and arts society, as their Head of Marketing. Isaac Phelan also likes clothes. He was the head designer for his own immersive fashion show, Shrine. He makes short films, works at a thrift store, and has worked as a stylist on various photography projects that used vintage or reused clothing. Let’s dig in.

It doesn't matter how serious the fit is, a silly pair of shoes will take a dump on its cohesiveness

To start, I asked them both how one can avoid the cliché in their outfits, and Yousra had some tangible advice. She faced the common problem of bringing her whole wardrobe to university and realising not even half of it fit in her closet. “Prioritise a few good quality pieces,” so the pieces you do choose to bring aren’t dependent on some micro-trend that will expire before last week’s groceries. “By second or third year you’ll want to have three good pairs of jeans and a couple of tailored trousers. And accessorise! Scarfs, jewellery, and sunglasses are massive for your outfits”. Isaac took a more philosophical approach. “People need to stop trying to be purists that care too much. Wear what makes you passionate”. He thinks wearing something specifically to avoid looking cliché is self-defeating, and I’m inclined to agree. “You’re buying to participate at that point, so I can’t actually recommend any specific pieces”. He

still, however, offered his two cents: “Just go to a good charity shop. It’s the one place you’ll find those pieces no one is already telling you to wear”. Or: “Another route to being authentic with what you wear is doing your research. Just find out where the pieces came from”. Not only does this fall in line with the more sustainable and deliberate shopping trends of late, but it can generate some conversation and personality about what you wear. “No one is going to ask to ask you about your Sambas, dude”.

This brings us to the issue of shoes. They shouldn’t be difficult, but they kind of are. And they play the role in moderating the tone of your outfits. It doesn’t matter how serious the fit is, a silly pair of shoes will take a dump on its cohesiveness. I’m not here to recommend trainers. A wise man quoted in this article once said, “I don’t believe a single person in the world is passionate about panda dunks”. When I asked both him and Yousra how one can elevate their outfit, both emphasised ground-up ap-

proaches, specifically those based on boots and loafers. Isaac is right when he says there are a thousand ways to wear a boot. Want to go further? All three of us agree on cowboy boots. There are dozens of quality pairs to be found on Depop. And don’t sleep on the loafers either! Yousra finds them perfect for casual or work wear, and Isaac claims they’re just as versatile as any trainer. “Overall,” he says, “focus on the bottom half. I’m a strong believer the top doesn’t matter”. Sorry, but your denim jacket will never look good if all you own is joggers.

Whatever you buy, make sure you’re doing it for you. No one else

But oh, do I love denim. This is my final recommendation. With denim, always take the quality route – because when denim lasts, it lasts. As for jeans, the baggy look is fortunately still in and will afford

most of your outfits a balanced silhou ette. Experiment with flares and bootcut, which will get you in on that breezy ‘70s style that’s back on the cards while falling nicely on nearly any pair of shoes es pecially those cowboy boots. If you’re willing to sell your mother’s jewellery collection or maybe an organ, head over to Acne Studios – their pieces are gorgeous – but Levi’s or Wrangler can absolutely get the job done on a budget, especially if acquired second-hand. I’ve seen pairs run for less than 20 pounds. Oh! Also make sure you have a black pair, too. (Avoid overly stone washed, please. Why? Because I just really don’t like them.) A denim jacket or two should be next on your list. Any colour can work. Bonus points if it’s cropped. “Matching denim looks fantastic,” says Yousra and she’s right. “It’s minimal effort. All you need then is a white T-shirt”.

Another great brand to find what you need is UNIQLO, and if you’re nearby, absolutely pay a visit to Bicester village or Baker Street, London. But know that a good wardrobe takes time to build. You may not be able to grab all these in one shopping trip, but I trust those of you lost on the task of your pre-university shop now at least know where to start: accessories, boots and loafers, quality denim, and being deliberate in what you buy. But whatever you buy, make sure you’re doing it for you. No one else.

Conquering Freshers Week fears: your guide to making friends and settling

Abigail Mableson, she/her Arts Editor

Amidstthe chaos, confusion and intense box packing involved with moving to university, your mind becomes preoccupied by what-ifs. Whilst enrolling on your new course and starting higher education is daunting enough alone, one of my biggest personal fears when starting university was: 'What if I do't make friends?' Moving away from home comforts and the bubble of your school community is harder than it seems. However, there are various ways to make your life easier and get yourself out there when beginning your university life.

Your friends from your course will become the source of your university survival

My first piece of advice involves the process of moving in itself, and sounds a bit trivial in hindsight, but it works a treat. Even if you are

a naturally shy person, I recommend always keeping your accommodation door open. As all your relatives will have told you, you are not alone when you are moving into your new university home, and every one of your new housemates is in the same boat. Move-in day is filled with people going up and down the stairs with boxes and bags, so keeping your door open means you can catch your new housemates very casually to introduce yourself, without the dreaded walking around and knocking on doors. I also recommend packing some tasty treats or fun games to share around and play with your flatmates. You will immediately start conversations when you bring a new cake or chocolates into your barren fresher's kitchen. I assure you now that the silly conversations about the stress of moving to university will be the beginning of some of your closest friendships. Now, for the real deal, and what you are paying for, your course. Although you might be hungover, and hallucinating from a lack of sleep, make sure you go to your course introduction sessions. On my first days of university, I forced

myself to the lecture halls to attend my course introduction sessions, as well as a very competitive history quiz and a welcome BBQ meet-up. The prospect of attending a lecture hall for the first time, whilst only having three hours of sleep the night before, is a perfect conversation starter. Your friends from your course will become the source of your university survival, from gossiping about reading, to the next big essay. You will really appreciate the importance of having academic pals in the same way as your friends from school. Before you know it, the person you sat next to in your welcome course events will be the best friend you struggle through exam season with.

I cannot recommend enough the importance of joining societies and spreading your wings

I have to admit that I was at first reluctant to join university societies. There was something about attending a bar crawl or entering

the mysterious world of circling that really scared me. However, I cannot recommend enough the importance of joining societies and spreading your wings in your university sphere. In the first week of university, my friends and I went to the first Warwick Cocktail Society event of the year, and I made some of my best friends. I am now, somehow, becoming the President moving into my third year. Whilst the exec members of these huge societies feel like elusive figures, they were also freshers once and are always willing to answer any questions and make you feel included. If you need any inspiration, from sports to culture societies, or some of Warwick’s more niche

clubs, a trip to the Welcome Week Freshers Fair is a good place to start your societies journey. This is also a perfect opportunity to collect some flyers to decorate your accommodation notice board. When written down, these activities may seem rather daunting, but even if you aren’t the most confident of people, you will find your crowd if you get yourself out there. Conversation, and the realisation that everyone is feeling the same way, will make you feel uplifted in starting your university journey, and before you know it, Warwick will become your second home.

» Images: Sharefaith / Pexels

» Images: Robert So / Pexels (left), Rachel Claire / Pexels (centre), Ajay Suresh/ Flickr (right)

The road less travelled: Hidden adventures

The UK is filled with these unknown and adventure-filled spots, but they can be found anywhere you go.

Ivanna Keane, She/Her Writer

Ifyou are planning your next afternoon walk, day out, or holiday, and are looking for something more peaceful than a city getaway, then there are many options. These beautiful, quiet, and often hidden spaces exist around campus, across the country and all over the world. When you discover these places, they can be brilliant to take a few minutes out of the chaos of everyday life. But if you aren’t sure where to start finding these places, then here’s a few suggestions to help!

You may have a perception of the Warwick uni campus as lecture halls, cafes, and study spots. But both the campus itself and the surrounding areas are filled with hidden gems. These are perfect for moments when studying is getting overwhelming.

Located just behind the Bluebell halls of residence, this Wildlife Trust woodland is peaceful, quiet, and perfect for a long afternoon walk to break up the library sessions.

The Tocil Wood and Nature Reserve is a beautiful spot, especially in the spring when filled with flowers. Located just behind Bluebell halls of residence, this Wildlife Trust woodland is peaceful, quiet, and perfect for a long afternoon walk to break up the library sessions. It is definitely a beautiful and underrated gem that takes you straight into nature.

And it isn’t just the university campus that has these beautiful spots, they are all over the Warwickshire and West Midlands area - perfect for a day out from uni. Kenilworth is only a 20 minute bus journey from campus and is often overlooked by students. It doesn’t have the nightlife of Leamington Spa or the city bustle of Coventry, but does have some brilliant hidden gems and adventures. Visit Kenilworth has compiled information about different trails, with wildlife guides showing what you can spot. Kenilworth Common is a beautiful space with a variety of wildlife, perfect for a hike.

The whole of the UK is home to these areas that are perfect for a moment out of everyday life. Whilst it can be quite a way to travel, the Scottish Islands can definitely be a hidden gem. All of the islands are unique and you can discover some truly brilliant places, especially going beyond the more touristy islands such as Mull and Skye.

One of my personal favourites is

Tiree. The Isle has a population of about 650 people and is not a large island, but maintains a rich culture. There are a variety of events on the Island, such as the Tiree Music Festival. This annual event hosts some of the biggest names in Scottish music, and brings people together for three days from all over.

If you are looking for something less noisy, then there is still plenty to do on the island. The island has picturesque beaches, earning it the nickname “‘Hawaii of the North’”. There are also plenty of rural walks if you’re looking to find a peaceful environment. There are a plethora of other options, such as watersports, horse riding, and a gin distillery. The island is small, but filled with cafes, local shops, and a real sense of community. The only downside is the distance, with it being over 450 miles from the uni. But with plenty of transport options, don’t let that distance discourage you from a truly breathtaking place.

If you enjoy long walks but your idea of a fun afternoon is also cafe-hopping or shopping then there are some great options all across the UK. If you find yourself with time to spare in the north of England, a trip to the Lake District town Keswick may be on the cards. On the edge of Lake Derwent, Keswick’s high street is not massive but does have plenty of shops. There are also many local cafes and restaurants to enjoy. There is even a pencil museum where you can learn about the history of pencils! It even claims to be: “Home of the world’s first pencil”. If that doesn’t catch your interest, then you can relax on a boat across the lake, or the more adventurous can feed the Geese! There are also many, many walks around there. Whether you prefer hill-walking or fancy a 10 mile hike around the lake, there are plenty of options for everyone.

It's about exploring and finding the places that are special to you.

The UK is filled with these unknown and adventure-filled spots, but they can be found anywhere you go. It’s about exploring and finding the places that are special to you. They may be right on your doorstep or on the other side of the world. They can be cafes, or bookshops, or just scenic walking trails. What’s important, though, is that you enjoy them and then leave them as you found them for the next people who visit. Have fun exploring!

Year abroad: A week at UConn

James Watson, he/him Travel Editor

Sittingon the fringes of one of several sports arenas at the University of Connecticut, affectionately known as UConn, I was immediately lost in the profound scale and spectacle that this alien and rather magical place holds. Understated is a word that holds little meaning in America.

The enormity of everything: the huge stone archways and vast lecture halls, the pristine and beautiful dining halls sampling worlds of cuisine; the overflow of students, each with unique personas and vibrant identities, and the raucous and electrifying celebrations, parties and sports fixtures, are all acutely felt.

I had spent two of the best years of my life at Warwick before upstarting again in Connecticut. Trundling through the airport, the sights, smells, and the instinctual fleck of the American accent brought to the forefront of my mind a sense of newness and familiarity in tandem. As a citizen of the country, being born in New York and raised there for two years before moving to London, the nation is a place that had always felt like a part of me. Returning now had, in many ways, felt like a homecoming.

I had been forewarned of an inherent ‘culture shock’ that I would undergo when coming to the country. But, walking through the hallowed halls of Bradley International Airport, decorated with banners that heralded UConn, the first thing that struck me was the amiable nature of the residents and the pride they had in their country.

Unloading three split-seamed suitcases into the drafty room of the residence hall I would call home a week ago, I could tell this was going to be one of the most important adventures I had been on. After what had previously been a full day of travel, some of the energy and excitement around entering this new space and walking into my new life had been withdrawn. However, this

was quickly brought to the fore again in all the little decisions that turned the four walls of a 10ft space into a home away from home.

Helped by my aunt and uncle, who flew in from Orlando to move me in – a potted plant here, a bedside lamp there, posters filling blank wall space, a notice board above the bed and a kitted-out wardrobe – they told me this would be the place where I belong. Like Warwick, the college is located in a highly remote and rural oasis in the heart of Connecticut, where inhabitants like to joke that the cows and fields outnumber people. However, Storrs - UConn, a purpose-built university town, was a metropolitan hub where brilliant minds from all walks of life come together and show their best selves.

A community of students where everyone fights to help each other.

Meeting exchange students from across the globe during a week-long orientation, I quickly had a similar realisation. It was our differences that had brought the 50-odd students in that room together. Many of the prospective students had not known much about Connecticut before coming, myself included. However, we

were quickly welcomed into this presumptive family; a community of students where everyone fights to help each other. At the end of the week, watching the men’s 'soccer' team in their opening gambit of the season, our cohort was received in the stands with open arms. We were fully indoctrinated into the spirit of the university. Studying American history and politics for the last two years, I feel this speaks to a broader truth about America. At its best, it is a nation which allows for a huge diversity of perspectives and cultures and customs to collectively thrive under its wide umbrella. For any optimist, America has strived and continues to strive to ensure that the securing of ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ for all are not just words.

Coming to America in 2024, I am aware that the uncertain fate of the country the presidential election race has wrought makes it one of the most important times this century. A week in the country has left me with the impression that America has a choice: to either be a home and place of solace for not just 334 million Americans, but also travellers around the world, or to shut its doors to those in need. I therefore conclude the week with a strong hope that as I grow as a person during the time spent here, the country will continue to prosper and have a bright future.

» Images: (top) The George F. Landegger Collection of Connecticut Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith's America, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Gift; George F. Landegger; 2011; (DLC/PP2011:166)., (bottom) Flickr - Onasill - Bill Badzo - Thank You

Image: The Boar - James Watson

The art of travel: The rise of cultural breaks

Inour fast-paced world, the art of travel is being redefined. While long vacations to far-flung destinations will always have their allure, there is an ever-growing trend among travellers: the cultural getaway. It offers a depth-over-distance approach to travel, focusing on meaningful, immersive experiences and specific aspects of a destination’s heritage and personality. As trips become more purposeful, cultural breaks appeal to those seeking intellectual stimulation and creative inspiration in accessible, historically rich cities. This provides both personal rejuvenation and a soul-stirring escape in a short time frame. Whether you prefer to stroll through galleries, attend an opera or savour local culinary specialities, join me as I explore five beautiful cultural hotspots, found within an arm’s reach of the UK.

Famously known as La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa – ‘The Learned, The Fat, The Red’- Bologna’s nicknames reveal its unique characters. As the home of the world’s oldest university founded in 1088, Bologna is steeped in academic and intellectual histo-

ry. Walking through its medieval streets, and the iconic porticoes that line its sidewalks, visitors can feel the intellectual pulse of this Northern Italian gem. The ‘Two Towers’, Bologna’s most famous medieval landmark, rise high above the city, offering a reminder of its historical significance. Thanks to its unmatched culinary scene the city is most famously ‘The fat’. No trip to Bologna would be complete without indulging in traditional tagliatelle al ragu, or as we might know it- Bolognese. While the vibrant Mercato di Mezzo offers an authentic experience of local flavours, art lovers can enjoy the Pinacoteca Nazionale which houses a remarkable collection of Renaissance masterpieces. This city of red-brick buildings is the perfect cultural getaway for travellers seeking a mix of rich history, art, and unparalleled gastronomy.

A four and a half hour train ride from London takes you to Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, a city where the past and present coexist in perfect harmony. It’s known for its stunning landscapes, medieval architecture, and deep literary heritage. The city is split between the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town, with the iconic Edinburgh Castle stand-

ing proudly atop Castle Rock. The Royal Mile, which runs from the castle to the Palace of Holyrood house, offers a perfect walk through history, lined with cobbled streets and classical landmarks. To end the evening, Edinburgh’s bars offer a unique blend of historic charm and modern vibrancy, with everything from cosy pubs to trendy cocktail spots. Edinburgh’s cultural scene is vibrant year-round, but the city truly comes alive during its world-famous festivals. The Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival, held every August, transform the city into a hub of global creativity, with performances spanning theatre, comedy, music, and dance. Outside of festival season, visitors can explore the city’s literary roots being the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature and home to authors like Arthur Conan Doyle. For those seeking a cultural break that combines history, literature, and stunning natural landscapes, Edinburgh offers a uniquely atmospheric experience. Finally, we have Sevilla, the capital of Spain’s Andalusian regions; a city that pulsates with passion, music, and history. Known for its vibrant flamenco scene and Moorish architecture, Sevilla is a city that invites travellers to immerse themselves in Spanish culture. A walk through the city’s narrow, sun-drenched streets reveals stunning sites like the Alcazar, a royal palace with exquisite gardens, and the majestic Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. It is Flamenco, however, that gives Sevilla its fame. Visitors can attend an intimate performance in a traditional tablao where the raw emotion and intensity of flamenco comes to life. If you don’t make it to a performance, all around the Plaza de Espana the strumming of a guitar and the rhythmic tapping of heels can be heard, to make sure you experience the wonder of this art. Sevilla’s culinary scene is another highlight, with tapas culture reigning supreme. Dining there means sampling small plates of local specialities, such as gazpacho and fresh seafood. For travellers seeking an energetic, sun-soaked

cultural escape filled with music, food and history, Sevilla is the perfect destination.

Cultural breaks are more than just a way to escape. They offer a chance to engage with the heart and soul of a city.

Cultural breaks are more than just a way to escape. They offer a chance to engage with the heart and soul of a city. These places provide the perfect combination of exploration, relaxation, and cultural immersion. No matter which part of the world you are drawn to, there is a getaway steeped in tradition, history, and craftmanship waiting for you. The art of travel is about more than just sight-seeing. It is about the privilege of being able to engage with the world in a way that deepens out understanding and appreciation of different cultures. So why not take a break from the ordinary and embark on a journey that feeds your curiosity and your soul?

Population: 3.121 million (2022)

Metro population: 15,370,000

Area: 203km

Elevation: 25m

Buenos Aires is a vibrant fusion of European elegance and Latin American passion, standing as a global cultural hub. Famous for tango, it’s a city where art flourishes in colorful neighborhoods like La Boca, and literary cafés reflect its rich intellectual history. Socially, it’s a melting pot of diverse immigrants, creating a unique blend of traditions, food, and music. Politically, Buenos Aires has played a pivotal role in shaping Argentina’s history, from Peronism to contemporary movements, making it a symbol of resilience and change in Latin America. With its infectious energy and timeless charm, Buenos Aires captivates the world.

Mairi Humphreys, She/Her Writer

» Images: (left to right) Pexels - Emre Akyol, Flickr - Extra Medium; (top to bottom) Pexels - belmont, Wikimedia Commons - Joel Takv

Balancing Pleasure and Academia

The Art of Not Loosing your Reading Hobby at University

Ria Sam, she/her Writer

Reading for pleasure and reading for your courses are often two very different things. If, like me, you study a humanities course then reading for pleasure can be overshadowed by your (sometimes dry) course readings. So, how do we balance our beloved hobby whilst also maintaining our academic strive for knowledge?

We don´t want to be reminded of reality and what´s happening around the world

1. Try to read more fantastical books, or books that take you out of this world, even if it is a romance or a thriller.

Most of us read for escapism and pure pleasure: we don’t want to be reminded of reality and what’s happening around the world, so a fantasy book or a fast-paced thriller is a way to separate you from your course.

Recommendations: Six of Crows (Leigh Bardugo), Reputation (Lex Croucher), Verity (Colleen Hoover)

2. As a completely opposite point, start your year with a dark academia book.

Personally, I love to begin my academic year with a dark academia book as it sets the tone and feelings for how I want my year to go as there is a big emphasis on studying and learning (even if I don’t stick with it as the year goes on!) Additionally, with the rainy days and early, dark nights, this fits the mood of the book and sometimes staying in all wrapped up while the rain lashes out side, is the perfect set up to read.

Recommendations: If We Were Villains (M. L. Rio), The Secret History (Donna Tart), Babel (R. F. Kuang)

3. Read for pleasure and as a hobby, not to fit a goal.

A lot of readers track their reading goals through apps such as Goodreads or the StoryGraph, alongside having monthly/yearly goals to read a certain number of books. This is a good way to motivate yourself to read. However, remember that when you go to university, you might be going out a lot more or meeting new people so that will take away reading time, but you

are still doing something valuable with your time by making new memories. Remember to read for pleasure and you can always adjust your goals whenever you want.

4. Set attainable goals.

On a contradictory note from be - fore, you could

even start one with your friends. This way you will have a reason to read as you can discuss a book and hear other people’s thoughts and opinions.

6. Read in different ways.

always set

some small attainable goals like reading 10–20 pages per day or week depending on how much time you have. This way you’ll be meeting your goals and reading.

5. Join a book club!

There are several book clubs on campus and online, or you can

A lot of your university texts might be online, so try to pick up a physical book instead and vice versa: your course texts can be (sometimes very old) books (thanks History) so try and read on a kindle or listen to an audiobook (it still counts as reading).

7. Read fanfiction.

Fanfiction counts as reading, so if you’re riding a high from a book or series and you don’t want to move on (let’s be honest, we’ve all been there), then read some fanfiction.

If you´re not clicking with your current read, stop

8. Reread your favourite books and bring your comfort books.

Moving to university for the first time is a stressful experience – you have just left your family, your friends, your pets, and the homesickness is real. Bringing some comfort books will make the settling in feel easier as you have something familiar to fall back on.

9. Don't be afraid to DNF a

The Booker Prize Longlist & The Three British Authors Eager to Obtain

book!

If you’re not clicking with your current read, stop reading it. This could make you feel unmotivated to continue reading, and you can always come back to it later if you feel like it.

Reading is not a competition it should always be for pleasure

10. Don't force yourself to read!

For me personally, studying humanity/source-based subjects can really take a lot out of me, and reading texts all day could drain me and make me feel unmotivated to pick up a book. That’s completely fine! Sometimes you need to check in with yourself and see what you feel like doing.

11. Reading is not a competition; it should always be for pleasure. You will be feeling homesick, or excited to meet new people and have new experiences, or worried about the workload, so you should do what makes you feel calm and comfortable. Don't worry if you don't read as much anymore because you will be doing something else with your time.

“We need fiction to do different things – to renew us, give solace, to take us away from ourselves and give us back to ourselves in an expanded and reconnected way. And, of course, to entertain us. We think our longlist does all of this…”

Ellinor Hopkins, she/her

Writer

July30 saw the Booker Prize release its 2024 longlist of thirteen books, known as the Booker’s Dozen. This year, three British authors – Samantha Harvey, Sarah Perry, and Hisham Matar – find themselves longlisted among a “cohort of global voices.” When the original award was founded in 1969, it was only open to commonwealth writers, until 2014, when it was opened to people of any nationality. Ten years after this, British entrants have won the award three times (Anna Burns in 2018, Bernardine Evaristo in 2019, and Douglas Stuart in 2020), more than any other country.

exile, displacement, identity and belonging

This year’s list, narrowed down from 156 books, also saw three debut novels, the first long-listed Native American writer (Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange), and more than half the books were written by female authors. The themes from this year’s longlist

are “exile, displacement, identity and belonging” and the three authors from the UK embrace these themes, making them strong hopefuls for the award. Whilst the anticipated new release, Intermezzo (by Sally Rooney) misses out on being long-listed, there are other fantastic books featured this year.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

If you love watching ‘a day in the life’ videos on Instagram or TikTok, this book might be for you, as it follows a day of six astronauts on the International Space Station. Being referred to by the judging panel, as “compact yet beautifully expansive”, this “love letter to our planet” explores isolation and closeness in space. Harvey is a tutor on the Masters course for Creative Writing at Bath Spa University (Somerset). This is her second novel to be longlisted for the Booker Prize, having been selected in 2009 for Wilderness. Will this be the year she makes it to the short-list?

Enlightenment by Sarah Perry

You may have read this author’s hugely successful book, The Essex Serpent, which won the Waterstones Book of the Year in 2016.

Her latest novel comes highly recommended by fans. Emulating the Essex environment Perry grew up in, the novel is set in the fictional town of Aldeigh during 1997, when the Hale-Bopp comet passes over. The novel then follows an amateur star gazer and the pastor’s daughter, in a mystery revolving around a ghost. This was described by the judges as “richly and satisfyingly written.” Perry, an author with a PhD in creative writing, is a first-time long lister, but her novels are very popular – could this be the year for Sarah Perry?

My Friends by Hisham Matar

This British-Libyan writer has a plethora of books under his belt, including his memoir The Return, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 2017. He has been previously longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2006 for In the Country of Men. My Friends is inspired by the 1984 shooting during a protest at the Libyan Embassy in London. It then follows three fictional Libyan students in the aftermath. According to the judging panel, it is “a complex and unsentimental mediation on what friendship means”

Edmund da Waal, Judging Panel Chair

and has already won the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction in 2024. Matar is a professor at Barnard College, Columbia University –can he add to his list of accolades The Booker Prize, this year?

The Booker Prize, whilst coming with a generous cash prize for the winner of £50,000, also has the prestigious title of Booker Prize Winner 2024. Requiring all books to be published between 1st October 2023 and 30th September 2024 in English (within the UK or Ireland), it provides an opportunity to promote lesser-known authors and encourage reading as a hobby. Known globally to indicate a ‘great read’, the importance of the prize helps build a field of contem-

porary literature that is critically acclaimed and helps encourage new readers to try different books. The award is also funding various literary projects in its name. However, this prestigious name has come under fire this year, by Radio 1Xtra’s host Richie Brave. He has spoken out that the prize needs to change its name due to associations with slavery. Whilst changes have been made to the wording on the website regarding the Booker Prize’s history, is this enough to keep its prestigious title?

The short-list is announced on 16 September and the Booker Prize winner will be announced on 12 November.

» Images: Sandy R/ Unsplash (centre), Unsplash (right top), Bruno Guerrero/ Unsplash (right bottom)

From shelf to shelf, Organising your Dorm Room Library

Mairi Humphreys

(she/her)

Deputy News Editor

Moving into a dorm room at uni brings a lot of excitement and new decor opportunities. One potential issue, however, is that of space. Even the most high-end halls tend to be

fairly small, with only a couple of shelves for books. How does an avid reader go about managing this space efficiently? It is first important to let go of your dreams

of curating a personal library. You can’t expect to bring 100 books to university, no matter how much you need each one! It’s so important to set realistic expectations when packing for uni. Quality is so much more important than quantity. Maximise space by prioritising books that you really, genuinely want to read. I also like to bring a comfort book or two that I know really well.

Pick the books that are highest on your to-be-read list and stick with those initially. Remember first term is only 10 weeks, so if there are any books that you’re desperately missing, you can definitely bring them after the Christmas holidays. Think about other, space-saving ways of reading. The Libby App lets you use your library card to access tons of e-books and audiobooks.

There are so many ways to organise ... so don´t be afraid to test different methods

This can be a great way to keep reading without having to store all of these books. The library at the University also offers a range of fiction for leisure reading which can be a brilliant source of books. Another idea is to purchase books from charity shops and donate them back once you’ve read them. This is a way to support local char-

ities and save on space.

Finally, get creative with storage. I like to keep a couple of books on my bedside table as well as filling up my bookshelves. You can also utilise any leftover under-bed storage space.

That way, you can save your bookshelf space for your favourite books

That way, you can save your bookshelf space for your favourite

books. There are so many ways to organise your book collection at uni, so don’t be afraid to test different methods. But do keep in

Saadat Hasan Manto: Diversifying Literature

Hannah Iqbal (she/her) Writer

Itwasn’t until I had completed my A-levels that I began to question the lack of diversity in the literature I was consuming. Over the years, despite immersing myself in various genres and dabbling in literature from all over the world, I have never been able to connect to the references written in Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s works or the lifestyle depicted by Elif Shafak.

During this search for SouthAsian-centred literature, which not only resonated with me more but also uplifted the voices of South Asian women, I discovered Sadaat Hasan Manto.

Sadaat Hasan Manto is a Pakistani writer, journalist, and playwright who was born in India but was forced to relocate to Pakistan post-partition as a Muslim residing in India. Despite his brief career, Manto’s eloquently crafted short stories, written in Urdu and now translated into English, explore the tragedies of the India-Pakistan partition, juxtaposing the Independence Day celebrations I was so used to seeing every 14 August.

Manto’s work delves into the lives of society’s marginalised, following the lives of broken families, gangs, prostitutes, and rape victims. His stories are direct, laced with moral outrage, and eager to uplift the voiceless figures in Indian society. His stance on the

partition is evident in The Dog of Tithwal, which displays the confusion of a dog who is caught in the firearms of the two countries and ultimately ends up 'dying a dog’s death' – reflecting the Hindu idiom of 'dying a horrible death' as the soldiers on each side shoot the dog for running to the opposing country.

The story emphasises the lack of rationality and morality of the partition

The story emphasises the lack of rationality and morality of the partition, as it is remarked that “dogs, too, better now make up their minds as to whether they’re Indian or Pakistani”, as the story escalates from an innocent play

powerful.

Manto brings light to the lack of empathy towards the lives of individuals suffering during the partition, as, like the dog, Manto found himself caught between the two countries of Pakistan and India. Toba Tek Singh, one of Manto’s most notable works, explores the exchange of a group of Hindu and Muslim mental asylum patients between India and Pakistan retrospectively.

The story explores the confusion of the patients, who ask: "Why are we being deported to India? We don't even know their language” as they realise they would be living in an entirely different country. Toba Tek Singh reads as a microcosm of the psychological trauma and imbalance experienced by people of different social classes (castes) and religions due to the partition, with

with the dog to the dog representing which country was more

nameless piece of earth." Toba Tek Singh, being the first story of Manto’s that I had encountered, gave me an entirely new perspective on

the partition of India and Pakistan, shining a light on innocent people who get caught up in the political turmoil and ultimately suffer a loss of identity.

Manto provides a voice for the countless women who were abused and raped

Following this story, I was eager to read more of Manto’s works, as I found myself exposed to the harsh realities of the partition.

The most memorable and horrifically impactful story, for me, is 'Khol Do', or ‘open up’ in English. Manto provides a voice for the countless women who were abused and raped because of the partition and its violence, as he narrates the frantic search of a father, Sirajuddin, for his daughter, Sakina, whom he lost on the way to a camp, while being encapsulat-

ed by “mayhem. Someone looking for his son, another for his mother; someone for his wife, another for his wife's daughter." Eventually, Sakina is found on the brink of death after being raped by the men who were told to find her.

His stories ... reveal the violent truth behind the partitition

Manto concludes the story with Sakina being taken to a doctor, who asks to “open the window," and as a result, Sakina lowers her shalwar (trousers) while her dad rejoices upon her being alive. 'Khol Do' displays the harsh realities of women living during the partition who were marginalised and reveals the dark truth behind the day, challenging the celebratory narrative commonly associated with Pakistan’s independence.

Manto’s stories amplify the voice of the fourteen million people who were moved during the partition while simultaneously mourning the two million who died. While his stories may be seen as uncomfortable and shocking, to say the least, they reveal the violent truth behind the partition. His literature serves as a poignant reminder to remember those who endured years of violence, confusion, and grief as Pakistan celebrates independence every year.

» Images: Priyansu/Unsplah (left), Unsplash (right)

the character of Toba Tek Singh ultimately dying “in the middle, on a

» Images: Jan M/Unsplah (left), Sakana/Unsplah (center), Alexanda F/ Unsplah (right)

Fresher food Bigger flavours

District offers a range of Asian-inspired dishes, hot and cold drinks and home baked treats. All freshly prepared on campus by our fun and vibrant team.

Find us@ Ground Floor, Warwick Business School

CAFE SAFARI

There are lots of fantastic food and drink outlets on campus, including cafes, restaurants and food trucks - come and check them out!

Explore the campus and take part in our Café Safari. Visit 6 different Warwick Food Group outlets to get 6 stamps and be entered into a prize draw to win 1 of 3 vouchers to spend in our outlets.

Monday 23rd Sept - Sunday 6th Oct

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Win up to £150 to spend on food

MEDIA

@theboarmedia

The Boar presents the Media section, featuring Music, Podcasts, Film, TV, and Games.

Music Editor: Lucy Gibbons (she/her) music@theboar.org

Sub-Editor: Zoe Mudd (she/her)

Deputy editors: Vacant (apply now on page 7) Vacant

Podcasts Editor: Matthew Randell (he/him) podcasts@theboar.org

Sub-Editor: Amira Neminathan (she/her)

Deputy editors: Vacant (apply now on page 7) Vacant

Film Editor: Parijat Bhattacherjee (she/her) film@theboar.org

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Oasis tour: is Ticketmaster’s ‘dynamic pricing’ model fair? theboar.org

Sam Barwell, Film

The philosophy of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Music

Abigail Mableson, TV Warwick team set for University Challenge showdown, as show returns for 2024-25

Amy Maloney, Podcasts Fun, friendship, and football: The Tooney and Russo Show review

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Let’s School: top marks in fun and gameplay

Why you should join Warwick Music Societies

Lucy Gibbons (she/her) with Warwick Music Societies

Music Editor

Joining a society in university is a great way to meet new people with similar interests. Why not join one of the University of Warwick’s music societies? Whether you are a grade 8 musician or just want to try something new, one of Warwick’s music societies will have something for you! Read what just a handful of Warwick’s music societies has to offer:

Warwick A cappella Society:@wacasociety

WACA is the society for anyone who loves to sing, beatbox, perform, loves a cappella music, wants to get involved in our socials, or just loves Pitch Perfect! It’s the umbrella society for all of our a cappella groups, and our job is to encourage everyone in the society to come together for showcase performances, socials, as well as informal ‘All Sing’ workshops to learn new skills and have fun!

Freshers can get involved by attending one of our workshops, which will be held on 24 September: 16:0016:30pm in FAB 5.03, 25 September: 14:00-14:30pm in R2.4, and 27 September: 14:00-14:30pm in R2.41, or performances during Welcome Week, which will take place on 21 September: 17:00-17:30pm on Arrivals Stage, 23 September: 13:00-13:30pm in Warwick Arts Centre foyer, and 27 September: 13:00-13:30pm in FAB Agora.

WACA holds informal termly showcases, regular socials, exciting performance opportunities, workshops, collaborations with other societies, showcials, and lots more. Additionally, the competition groups (Leamingtones and Offscore) participate at the ICCAs (the competition in Pitch Perfect!) usually in January, against other university’s a cappella groups.

If you love to sing, beatbox, appreciate a cappella music, want to try something new and develop skills, meet like-minded people, or just attend super fun socials, WACA is for you!

BandSoc: @warwickbandsoc

BandSoc is an inclusive music community open to all levels of experience.

We encourage our members to form bands, write their own original music, and play at gig opportunities we provide. Whatever genre you're interested in, you can find people to play music with at BandSoc!

Feel free to drop into any of our events at any point of the year, such as jam nights, socials, or gigs. Join our Discord and check out our Instagram @warwickbandsoc to find more information!

We have three music showcase events planned, two meet and greets, and we'll be at the Societies Fair on Thursday. Find our Welcome Week timetable on our Instagram!

BandSoc's yearly highlight is Battle of the Bands, a competition that runs for the entirety of term two. All are encouraged to sign up, whether you're a new or experienced band! We also have Battle of the Cover Bands in term 1, plus jam nights, gigs, and socials throughout the year, and finally Wickfest, our very own music festival.

BandSoc provides performance opportunities, a friendly atmosphere, and experience with live music and the industry. If you want to join a community of people who love music, BandSoc is the place for you.

OperaWarwick: @operawarwick

OperaWarwick is an opera society which is part of the music centre at Warwick University. We want to break the stereotype that opera is boring or inaccessible by creating a fun and welcoming society where no prior experience is required – just a love for singing! Every year we run lots of events from studio shows, concerts, and theatre shows, to trips, tours, and socials.

All freshers (and any other year) are welcome at OperaWarwick! Get involved by attending a social or workshop, or audition for one of our upcoming shows or concerts. Follow the link in our Instagram bio to join the WhatsApp group and you’ll never miss out!

In Freshers’ Week we have lots of events for new students to try! We are running a relaxed workshop and a few socials, as well as holding two performances that you can watch to get a taste of the society! The full calendar is posted on our Instagram. We’ll also be at the societies fair and music centre fair, so look out for someone in a burgundy jumper if you have any questions.

We have many events planned for the year, but the highlights have to be our shows: The Queen of Spades and Pitch Perfect (the opera!). Written by Tchaikovsky, we’ll be performing The Queen of Spades as a full stage show in the Arts Centre in February. Pitch Perfect is a student-written comedy, perfect for people who want to try opera in a

relaxed way. We’re also running two concerts this year, and our Autumn concert is open for sign-ups. We also have lots of socials and trips planned, as well as our first tour!

Freshers should join our society because we offer something completely unique: a blend of classical singing and drama in a fun environment. As we have no expectation of previous experience, this is the perfect society for people wanting to try something new! The experience of performing on a professional stage is incredible, and we are the only society that offers that to everyone.

University of Warwick Sym- phony Orchestra: @warwicksymphony

We are the University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra, a friendly and inclusive musical community dedicated to bringing orchestral music to everyone. We perform a wide range of repertoire, from classical masterpieces to contemporary works. Our members come from diverse backgrounds and skill levels, meeting every week for rehearsals and socials!

We’re playing a free concert on 9 October, which includes Queen, Verdi Macbeth, and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, so join us! It’s free to play in and for audience members to come and listen, so get yourself and your friends and family involved. Rehearsals are in the Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre on Tuesdays at 18:45pm. Also, make sure to follow us on Instagram and join our WhatsApp to stay up to date about upcoming events. In Freshers’ Week, we have a Meet the Exec session in Terrace Bar on 27 September at 17:00pm. We will also be at the societies fair on 26 September if you would like to come for a chat.

We have a concert at the end of every term that anyone can buy tickets for. The highlight will be our music tour, where we travel abroad to perform and explore the local culture.

Joining the University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra is a fantastic way to meet new people! We’ve got lots of people from different courses and years

» Images: BandSoc (Left), OperaWarwick (Right)

You are not that singer's best friend: the dangers of parasocial relationships in the music industry

Lewis (they/them) Writer

Chappell Roan is easily one of the most popular artists of the year, with her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, garnering a litany of standout songs including ‘HOT TO GO!’, ‘Casual’, and ‘Red Wine Supernova’, swiftly followed by single ‘Good Luck Babe!’ becoming a runaway hit. She’s drawn mass crowds at festivals, sold out her tour, is a likely shoo-in for a few Grammy nominations, and has firmly cemented herself as a new, promising music star. Roan is experiencing a career trajectory that many would envy, yet it is not satisfying for her. Not because she isn’t successful enough or she doesn’t like the music that she is making, but because the price of success is parasocial interaction.

The modern music

industry, and

any industry that can act as a vehicle for fame, will lead to the development of parasocial relationships

On 19 August, Roan posted two videos on her TikTok where she showed explicit frustration with the way she had been treated by people since she had become famous, stating: “I’m a random bitch, you’re a random bitch, just think about that for a second”. Whilst some of the behaviour that she has shown opposition to appears os-

tensibly to be the normal trappings of fame, such as asking for photos or being frequently approached in the street, it is clear that her frustration is the result of dehumanisation, of rendering Roan a conveyer belt of products for people to consume rather than an actual person who has made art that she is proud of and wants to put out into the world.

The modern music industry, and any industry that can act as a vehicle for fame, will lead to the development of parasocial relationships where those who consume the work of an artist believe that they in some way know the individual and are, as a result, entitled to their attention. You expect your friend to stop in the street and talk to you, so you expect that of the celebrities that you have invested in. Isn’t watching a handful of interviews from someone the same as actually knowing them? These are also patterns that are exacerbated in the modern era when social media, and the internet more broadly, provide almost unlimited access to

celebrities in a way that has never really happened before.

The normality of parasocial interactions in the world that Roan is forced to exist in as a famous singer means that her humanity will always be seen as secondary to her ability to neatly slot into the image of ‘Chappell Roan’ that supposedly exists. It does not matter that ‘Chappell Roan’ is merely a persona that is, to some degree, removed from what she is actually like around her friends and family, the same being true of most celebrities. To fulfil people’s parasocial ideas of her she must always be the persona and never the person. In the modern era where we have more exposure to celebrities than ever, it is very easy to buy into these parasocial relationships. Seeing them joke on press tours or reveal confessional things in their art can be seen as a substitute for actually knowing them. But it is not.

Of course, Roan is not the only one to be dehumanised by parasocial relationships, it is a burden that befalls essentially every celebrity, except maybe Daft Punk who spent their whole career hidden as robots. When you look at the way celebrities have their whole personal lives documented beat by beat in the tabloids, and their lives and bodies dehumanised by fans and onlookers, it makes sense that those in the public eye would begin to break. Roan has not gone the Britney Spears/ Björk route of violently lashing out at paparazzi, but can you blame those who do? Even for those who seem conscious of the culture of celebrity before they gain success themselves, it is still hard to deal with when you are the one facing the brunt of the paraso-

REVIEWS

What Chappell Roan may do now is uncertain

cial viewers. Whilst not all responses to this pressure are helpful, many are cathartic. When even Roan’s relatively contained opposition to this parasocial behaviour has led to many people critiquing her and calling her selfish, you begin to understand why so many celebrities shut down, lash out, or develop elaborate ways of staying hidden from the public. It is all coping mechanisms for a parasocial culture that wants them to be eternally present commodities instead of people.

However, this is not why most artists go into their respective industries. They do not want to have to micromanage every aspect of their life to not be harassed, simply to make the music and the art that fulfils them. What Chappell Roan may do now is uncertain. She may release the song ‘Subway’ that she’s played at a few concerts, drop a whole new album, or never release more music ever again. It is sad to think that she may intentionally stop releasing music as a means of self-preservation but, in the end, it is probably far better that this happens as opposed to watching yet another artist break under the pressure of being rendered a commodity. Maybe people will simply wait for the next Chappell Roan-inspired artist and hope that they are far more pliant with the parasocial relationships that they will be confronted with

Freshers 2024: The ultimate dance playlist to keep you energised through every night out

WhenI was given the challenge of making a Freshers Playlist for 2024, I was instantly excited. With 2024 being such a standout year for music, especially for students and young people, I initially struggled to choose a genre. Having brainstormed, I decided on a mix of dance classics and notorious hits. If you're running on three hours of sleep and heading to yet another night out, these tracks are sure to keep your energy high as you brave your first course events.

‘Rockafeller Skank’ - Fatboy Slim

It felt right to start this playlist with some electronica that defined the big beats movement, this being the dance classic ‘Rockafeller Skank’, my favourite by Fatboy Slim. The near seven-minute run time and consistent pace change will always make you feel lively and impress your new flatmates with your

knowledge of proper dance music. It’s a true party starter and some proper dad music at its finest.

‘Back to One’ - Peggy Gou

This summer has seen me develop a slight obsession with South Korean DJ, Peggy Gou, with ‘Back to One’ being my favourite track from her recent album, I Hear You Whilst ‘(It Goes Like) Nanana’ allowed her career to truly take off, there’s something about ‘Back to One’ that makes it an irresistible dance hit. I absolutely recommend her whole album, with Peggy Gou’s vibrant house music adding some upbeat flair to the female DJ music scene.

‘365’ - Charli XCX

The brat superfan wishes have been delivered, I simply could not make a dance playlist without adding some Charli XCX. In preparation for every university social being reminiscent of a ‘brat girl summer’, I’ve added my favourite track from her highly acclaimed newest album. A familiar track always perks up a party atmosphere, and everyone is currently indulged

in the world of Charli XCX, so why not the jam-packed chaos of ‘365’?

‘Paris City Jazz’ - Bellaire

A slightly more niche choice of music, but still a hit. Supplying a smoother, more jazz-inspired form of dance, ‘Paris City Jazz’ is a perfect addition to your ‘pres playlist’ to start your night off right. Without sounding too cringe, this track is the definition of cool, and a true hit for all dance music fans.

‘Good Life’ - Inner City

No one does classic dance like Inner City. Although it was released in 1989, ‘Good Life’ is the greatest hit by the electronic music group and stands the test of time. 80s techno is always a treat, and the unique sound in ‘Good Life’ is unmissable when devising your party playlist.

‘Acceptable in the 80s’ - Calvin Harris

I have to think of The Inbetweeners when I listen to ‘Acceptable in the 80s’ by Calvin Harris, but nevertheless, the high energy

Erin Lewis Writer

On the whole, Short n' Sweet is a smooth, articulate pop album that truly cements Sabrina Carpenter as a star within music. Carpenter flaunts a sharp sense of humour, an ability to craft odes to past relationships that are imbued with sarcasm and reliability, and polished production that is able to craft a litany of earworms within each track.

Fontaines D.C. find Romance in misery during their fourth album

Erin Lewis Writer

Whilst on some level Romance may appear more approachable and mainstream, Fontaines D.C is very much still submerged in the grimy intricacies that allowed them to define themselves as a band earlier on in their career. They maintain the same potency carving lyrics about yearning to find a sense of romance in the misery of a world that almost feels on the verge of collapse and a sense of self in a world that feels ever-changing and a sense of purpose almost fleeting.

of this track is something I will always love. Harris truly encapsulates the vibe of early 2000s dance music, and his electronic flair has cemented it into the classic realm of music of its era. With all its catchy hooks, this song, once listened to, won’t leave your head throughout Freshers’ Week.

‘Murder on the Dancefloor’Sophie Ellis-Bextor I know ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ doesn’t match the quite intense dance repertoire of my previous choices, but the resurgence of this classic has allowed it to find a place. By the end of Freshers’ Week, I am convinced I will have heard this track every night, with Warwick’s classic night out POP! playing it up to three times by the end of last year. Everyone knows the words, consequently making it the best sing-along, adding some necessary flavour to any night out.

Listen Here!

Wunderhorse’s Midas proves that rock music is still alive

Lucy Gibbons Music editor

Midas is a testament to why the band has garnered such praise since the release of Cub back in 2022. Each of the ten tracks plays to the band’s strengths and, although the album is cohesive, each track brings something new to the table. With the band billed to be the next big thing in guitar music, paired with an ever-growing fanbase, Wunderhorse are only getting started.

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet is the culmination of years of hard work

Erin

Abigail Mableson (she/her) Arts editor

» Images: AI Emojis (bottom left), Spotify Codes (bottom right), Press (album covers)

» Image: Jason Martin/Flickr

A deep dive into the Warwick film scene

On campus, there are ample opportunities to watch films. Whether you are a casual moviegoer or a self-proclaimed film buff, Warwick has something for everyone.

Film and TV Society: Your Go-To for Themed Screenings and Social Events

As the president of the Film and TV Society, I am very excited to welcome the freshers of 2024/2025! Film and TV Soc is one of the smaller societies on campus, but our selection of films is vast. Each week we choose a theme, and members of our executive team select films that fit that theme. The final choice is up to our Instagram followers, who vote for the film they would like to watch. The winning film is screened on Tuesday evenings in the Faculty of Arts Building. Past themes have included ‘Female Revenge Stories’, ‘Low-Budget Films’, and ‘Hangout Films’. We also hold frequent social events like, drinks at The Dirty Duck or Terrace Bar, games nights, and bonus screenings during the week. We are all about celebrating all facets of cinema and aim to make our approach both inclusive and interactive. These gatherings are perfect for meeting fellow film enthusiasts and making friends who share your passion for cinema. Our weekly screenings aren’t just about watching movies; they are a chance to discuss, dissect, and appreciate the art of filmmaking in a communal setting.

Warwick Student Cinema: Your Affordable On-Campus Cinema Experience

If you’re looking for a more traditional cinema experience without spending too much, Warwick Student Cinema (WSC) is a great option. Located in the Chemistry department on campus, WSC offers incredibly cheap tickets to a wide range of films, from the latest mainstream hits, to obscure indie gems. It’s student-run, just like many of Warwick’s societies, and if you are looking for experience behind the screen, they offer opportunities for students to get involved: whether that's helping with film projection, marketing, or event organisation. Plus, with screenings almost every night, there’s always something to watch.

Bad Film Society: Celebrating the Worst of Cinema

These events are the perfect way for non-cinema-focused societies to still enjoy films that resonate with specific interests and hobbies"

For those who love films like The Room or Showgirls, the Bad Film Society is a must for you. Dedicated to screening films that are so bad they’re good, this society is perfect for those who see cinematic disasters as guilty pleasure films. The screenings are a lot of fun and it is a great way to unwind and enjoy movies in a different light.

Other Societies and Their Film Nights

Many societies at Warwick, whether they’re sports-focused, arts-based, or otherwise, host their own film nights that tie into their focus. For example, the Boxing Society might screen Rocky for inspiration, or the Barbell Society might show Pain and Gain. These events are the perfect way for non-cinema-focused societies to still enjoy films that resonate with specific interests and hobbies.

Warwick Arts Centre

The cinema at Warwick Arts Centre is especially ideal for new releases. Discounted film tickets at £7.50 are available for students to book through their website, as cinemas off-campus may not always offer such discounts. In addition to new releases, the Arts Centre holds screenings of classic films during anniversaries and festivals. Some English-language films are offered with subtitles at specific showings, increasing accessibility. While there are cinemas in Coventry and Leamington Spa (such as Odeon and Vue), the Warwick Arts Centre cinema is at an ideal location for cinephiles living on, or around campus, and may prove to be more pocket-friendly. There are also opportunities to volunteer at the Centre and join the “Under 25 Film Club”, which offers discounted tickets to its members (subject to a £10 membership fee).

Personal Experience and Insights

The film scene at the University is inclusive and immersive. The aforementioned societies offer affordable screenings, social events, and discussions, which in turn foster an environment of community and friendship.

As an individual who was not entirely familiar with films, the film community at the University granted access to quality films at a walkable distance, thus nurturing a newfound passion and appreciation for cinema. The emphasis on celebrating older films, also allows members to celebrate cinema classics. The Student Cinema, for example, frequently screens classic films from 12 Angry Men, to the French classic, Amélie. It is not only about seeking out new releases, but also about rejoicing in, and rediscovering older gems. While these may be available to stream online, watching these on big screens with exemplary audio quality, is a uniquely mesmerising

This may even allow students to create their own films- by finding peers in film-related societies across different courses and backgrounds.

and precious experience.

The Student Cinema provides opportunities to volunteer and distributes loyalty cards, which increases interest and excitement in watching more films. Events such as Pub Quizzes and Film All Nighters especially encourage teamwork and camaraderie among society members and film enthusiasts, allowing students to build a network with like-minded peers. The Bad Film Society was a personal highlight, as in addition to viewing and appreciating hilarious films, there was an indelible sense of familiarity and friendship that positively impacted my university experience, especially as an international student.

Such opportunities are additionally crucial in facilitating an accessible and affordable space for film enthusiasts.

For budding cinephiles, this proves to be an ideal environment as film-related societies are welcoming and accessible, allowing people with a varying range of interests and experiences with film to assimilate. Not only this, but the society structure allows students to build their own communities surrounding particular niches. This may even allow students to create their own films – by finding peers in film-related societies across different courses and backgrounds.

Bad Film Society, for example, hosts the annual ‘Bad Film Oscars’ wherein members can collaborate and create their own ‘bad films’.

The Filmmaking Society, in turn, also facilitates this productive and active atmosphere.

Interspersed between the larger societies are also some precious gems. Departments within the Faculty of Arts may host their own film screenings. Earlier this year, a Gothic Film Festival was conducted in the Faculty of Arts Cinema, where horror films such as Train to Busan and Cronos were screened, free of charge, for interested students and staff. Such opportunities are additionally crucial in facilitating an accessible and affordable space for film enthusiasts.

In conclusion, the University of Warwick film scene is bustling and vibrant, with diverse film-related societies, events, and most importantly, passionate film enthusiasts. It is easy and straightforward to dwell into the cinema community, with welcoming societies and a plethora of options to branch out and socialise. The cinema scene here is glowing and luminescent, available for all to cherish, enjoy, and revel in.

Osarume Erhabor, she/her Naomi Pandey, she/they Writers

» Images: Amanda Slater/Flickr Below, (Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre), Above, Nic McPhee/Flickr

Monetising murder

The twisted appeal of true crime

Amelia May Glover (she/her) Writer

Inrecent years, media and entertainment have been saturated with true crime tales, from solved to unsolved, spree- to serial-killers. This cultural obsession has made the true crime genre a hugely profitable business, but with increasing interest, questions have been raised about the morality of commercialising the worst moments of people's lives. The line in the sand between harmless and harmful seems to be washing away in the tide as viewer numbers climb and murders become sensa-

tionalised.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the occasional true crime documentary as much as the next girl, but there is always a vague uncomfortable feeling as I remember the reality of what I’m watching. So why is this genre so suddenly capturing the mass populace’s interest?

Fascination with true crime has always formed a part of human culture.

Despite what it may seem, true crime as entertainment is not a modern invention. The commer-

The Boys Season 4

Has the satire lost its subtlety

Mason

Stannard-Parages, he/him Writer

The Boys, originally an adult comic portraying a twisted narrative of the beloved superhero genre, and since adapted into an Amazon Prime show, has become one of the most watched and well-loved series over the past five years. According to Variety, the first episode of season four garnered 21% more viewers than season three demonstrating the uninterrupted popularity of the show. The unique formula of the superhero franchise adapted for the purpose of political commentary evidently retains its intrigue.

Viewer ratings have taken a staggering drop

Nonetheless, season four’s ratings have dropped since the first episode. On Rotten Tomatoes, audience ratings have dropped from 90% for season one to 49% for season four. While critics' engagement remains high, with a score of 95%, viewer ratings have taken a

cialisation of true crime arguably originated in the 16th century, alongside the development of mass publication. It was commonly enjoyed as ballads and pamphlets, ranging from intense sensationalisation to pretty sincere documentation.

This intrigue in the dark shadows of society slowly developed over time and culminated in the hugely popular and successful genre we see today. One could argue therefore, that the fascination with true crime has always formed a part of human culture. However, recently this genre has sky-rocketed, accounting for some of the most watched shows in recent years. Just the latest of a long list of examples is Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 4, which recently topped Netflix’s streaming charts. Is this boom in popularity due to the ease at which people can access these shows, or is there something else to it?

The majority of viewers of true crime are women

One undeniable factor in the popularity of these shows is the realism. There is something grimly intriguing in the knowledge that everything you are watching happened not in some realm of fantasy, but in the world we all live in. True crime makes for a much more engaging and immersive experience; the viewer feels the danger and

?

staggering drop.

The main school of thought to explain this unexpected dip in engagement is that many of the viewers are beginning to recognise the satire, nuance, and political underbelly of the show, all of which direct a farcical mirror towards right-winged political mindsets.

As Paul Tassi observes: “A significant chunk of the audience have realised the play is about them”.

The show makes many connections and allusions to Homelander representing a particular vision of Donald Trump. He is hailed as a hero to save the masses despite his criminal behaviour and dangerous mindset. The show even goes so far as to reenact the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, mirroring false allegations of child abuse and human trafficking between the Starlighters and Homelander’s supporters. These recreations of major political scandals are what make The Boys unique and daring, but simultaneously prone to disagreement and displeasure from those with opposing political standings, hence the lower audience rating.

Alex Abad-Santos reiterates this idea by writing that: “since

feels as though they themselves are a part of the mystery as it unfolds.

Unfortunately, what can often be lost in the immersive tale is the devastating reality of the victim and their family. It is for this reason that many true crime shows like to draw particular attention to the victims and their humanity, ensuring that viewers who are swept up in the drama of the chase and the mysticism of the often-enigmatic killer do not lose sight of the real moral of the story.

I think I watch true crime for

This form of entertainment should not appeal to me

the same reason I watch and read fictional crime and mystery stories. Logically, this form of entertainment should not appeal to me, filled as it is with violence and horror. Yet, I think it is because they are filled with things I am scared of that I watch it. Subconsciously, I want to experience that horror and suffering, but from the safety of the sofa. The majority of viewers of true crime are women, and it is easy to imagine that many of them feel the same way. The genre provides a way of confronting the fear which many women experience around predatory men.

And perhaps we also hope that by understanding these tales, we can avoid repeating them. The idea of ‘understanding’ seems to be central to why people watch true crime. It is all a desperate attempt to understand the unexplainable, the unknown, the alien. The horrors of true crime are unknown to most people. Yet those horrors exist, and the human desire to explore and understand the unknown is tremendous, especially when moti-

the show’s inception in 2019, The Boys has been a superhero allegory about Trump, dangerous authoritarianism, political fanaticism”.

The show’s director, Eric Kripke, explains that: “this is a show explicitly about the allure of Trump and a critique of corporate America. The only thing that’s seemingly different in this fourth season is that it skates so close to what’s happening in the US now”. This latest season has made it clear that there is indeed a political commentary woven amidst the humour, gore, and catchy soundtracks.

The game has become riskier

Having lesbian actress Valorie Curry play a hero and serial conspiracy theorist, who promotes the safety of children while she secretly abuses one herself, creates dark comedy but also satirically exposes the hypocrisy of politics. Kripke has even disclosed that Curry’s character Firecracker was: “directly inspired by conservative representative Marjorie Taylor Greene”, who was involved in the Pizzagate scandal.

The Boys is a show that melds together the fantastical elements of superheroes and villains, and successfully utilises it to create a

vated by fear. Morbid curiosity is a natural part of the human psyche; we are engineered to be enthralled by tales of true crime.

And yet, just because there is a desire for true crime stories, does not make the commodification of those stories right. The ethical dilemma surrounding the dramatization of tragedy is a touchy subject. Is the brief satisfaction we garner from vaguely understanding a killer’s dark and complicated psyche enough to justify corporations profiting off the pain of grieving families? Or the discomfort they feel as their loved one’s death is sensationalised, their killer made famous and even in some cases iconised?

The question is complicated be-

There is a hint of beauty in it

cause the genre is so large. Some documentaries do it right and some have even led to the solving of the crimes they depict. But for every one such as this, there is another that insensitively exploits tragedy for profit.

While it may seem bizarre that people can find enjoyment in something so dark, there is also a hint of beauty in it. The victim’s life is memorialized. Often the family features to say their bit about their loved one for the world to hear, allowing the memory to echo into our homes and hearts.

And so perhaps the true crime phenomenon is not as disturbing and twisted as it may at first appear. But it always bears thinking, who is really making a killing off of killers?

» Image left: DPP Law (Flickr)

metaphorical commentary that highlights the complications of American politics – something that many directors do not attempt for fear of backlash. With more and more people becoming aware that the show is actively mocking certain political views, the game has become riskier. Yet the show continues to be the first or second most watched show on Prime. If this wasn’t enough to demonstrate the show’s popularity despite its

shift in engagement, Kripke has confirmed a new and final season in an interview with The Direct: “It was ‘always my plan,’ he says ‘I just had to be cagey till I got the final OK from Vought.’” With a fifth season in the works, we can be sure of more daring political satire to come.

» Image of Homelander: Printerval, image of Donald Trump modified to remove body: Gage Skidmore (Flickr)

The streaming model: Limitless potential or creative cage?

Hayden Waller he/him TV Editor

Ilovestreaming. Heard about an interesting show that first aired 20 years ago and no one talks about now? Stream it. Want to catch the latest episode of House of Dragon from the comfort your bedroom at 3am? Stream it. Want to binge all 20 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy in an unhealthily short amount of time? Stream it. The flexibility and variety that streaming affords spoils us all.

But, as with all change, as much is lost as is gained. The downsides of the streaming model as a consumer have been frequently pointed out, from the ills of binge-watching to the loss of a sense of occasion.

For my part, I am not particularly bothered by any of this. I’m glad I experienced Breaking Bad as a single sweaty-palmed month of dry-eyed, telly-glued, adrenaline-frenzied, heart-stopping brilliance rather than a protracted five-year waiting game. And if you really miss the feeling of anticipation having to wait for new episodes to come out, then you’re welcome to limit yourself to watching one per week. If you have the discipline to do so, you’re stronger than me.

It warps the television programmes themselves

No, I am very much in favour of the flexibility and variety that streaming provides us as the consumers of television. My issue lies in the way it warps the television programmes themselves.

As a medium, television has always been beholden to the com-

draw in the largest possible audience.

The streaming model affects the way the shows themselves are written and produced in its own way. The most obvious example of this is the almost pathological obsession with ending episodes on a cliffhanger.

The streaming model encourages lazy writing

The business model of streaming services like Netflix has one basic goal: to keep you watching at all costs. To make sure that no matter what else, when the episode ends, you press that ‘next episode’ button. And the best way to keep you glued to your screen is to make sure that, just as an episode ends and you’re about to get up and turn the TV off, something happens on screen, a twist or reveal that hooks you in for another 50 minutes.

A greater pay-offto-set-up ratio

This is nothing new; plenty of the best shows of the last 20 years, such as Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, have featured episode endings that have left us with our jaws on the flaw, fiending for more. Indeed, it’s only smart, from a writing perspective, to harness the serialised structure of the television series for maximum dramatic effect.

But the streaming model encourages lazy writing which produces cliffhangers out of thin air, instead of the intricately established yet nevertheless surprising twists that are the hallmark of some of the greatest shows of all time.

up work which is actually what makes these bigger moments so rewarding.

One of my favourite moments in all of television comes in the final episode of the fourth season of the HBO show The Sopranos During an explosive argument between Tony and Carmela Soprano, Tony vindictively throws in his wife’s face a comment she made all the way back in season one, when she told him he was going to hell when he died. The payoff is immense, built over the course of four seasons of careful character development. And all it takes is one sentence.

Unfortunately, this is the kind of patient set-up for greater payoff down the line, which appears to be becoming ev er-rarer in the streaming age. Perhaps this is because, with the abundance of choice, showrunners can no longer guarantee an audience’s at tention for four long seasons. Setting up a delayed payoff takes time, and patience from your audience. Shows in the streaming era seem to favour immediate gratification over laying the groundwork for long term brilliance.

ished that one police drama that you enjoyed? Here’s another ten which are more or less exactly the same.

Enjoyable wellmade television has not been killed off by streaming

What this doesn’t promote is originality. The aim becomes to replicate the successful formula of previous shows, and as such creativity is relegated to an afterthought. And while it can be nice when you finish a beloved show to have a catalogue of similar fare close at hand to fill the void it left

All of this is not to say that television is no longer worth watching. There is a long list of shows which prove that enjoyable well-made television has not been killed off by streaming. What worries me is the increasing tendency of the material to be subjected to commercial demands, rather than the other way around. Showrunners seem to view the streaming model as a cage, when in reality it could be a spring-board for greater artistic expression.

Indeed, the creators of some series have already begun to tentatively probe the creative opportunities afforded by streaming. For example, Love, Death, Robots,

The

'More Like This' phenomenon

The final and perhaps the most grievous of the contortions which streaming has caused that I wish to discuss is what I call the ‘More Like This’ phenomenon.

That’s the little button next to a show’s thumbnail on Netflix which you press to indicate to the algorithm that you would like to be offered more shows like this one.

Seems innocuous enough.

This is once again a symptom of the desire to increase viewing hours. While in itself it may not be a problem, it results in a slew of very similar shows being produced hurriedly based on the model of one successful show. Fin-

utility gained from watching an endless procession of watered-down facsimiles quickly diminishes.

A recent obsession with reboots

A slightly different manifestation of this same phenomenon is the recent obsession with reboots and sequels. From the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, to spin offs of The Boys and The Lord of the Rings on Amazon Prime, streaming services are investing their capital in reliable franchises with pre-established success and a ready-made audience. While this doesn’t necessarily indicate that the quality of these shows will be any less, it is once again the result of corporate caution taking precedence over ingenuity. Where’s the money to green-light a charming, unique, small-scale pilot when you’ve just spent $465 million on a behemoth of a fantasy-prequel no one asked for?

Streaming isn't going anywhere

an anthology series on Netflix, forgoes standardised episode run times. Its creators have realised that in the age of on demand viewing, television doesn’t need to fill out a specified airtime, just our free time.

This type of forward thinking, adapting to the market demands of the medium without sacrificing creativity or integrity is reassuring. Because streaming isn’t going anywhere. Nor would I want it to. Thanks to streaming, we have access to a wider variety of content, just a few clicks away, than ever before in history. I just hope that the content continues to be original and engaging, despite the new commercial demands of the streaming era.

» Images, bottom left: rawpixel.com , Right: Trusted Reviews

Six games to make friends (and lose some) at freshers this year

Ethan Delcroix, he/they/she Writer

Leading up to freshers’ week and a new batch of students coming to Warwick this year, we’ve compiled some of the best games to play and use as icebreakers in your first year (and beyond). We’ve also added three games to avoid if you plan on keeping any new friends you make.

Good Game – Mario Kart by Nintendo

This is an absolute classic, and any entry in the series will do (except Double Dash!!, don’t be weird). Mario Kart is a great freshers’ game because everyone comes into it with a huge ego but the differences in ability are generally pretty wild. Someone who says they were at the official Mario Kart world championships in 2022 will inevitably finish last in every race and then make excuses by saying they usually don’t play on whatever console you’re playing on.

If you and your friends are new to the game, recommendations for fun tracks for beginners are: SNES

Rainbow Road, N64 Rainbow Road, and Rainbow Road Wii.

Bad Game – Overcooked by Ghost Town Games

This entry being in the bad games is slightly harsh on my part. Overcooked is a hilarious and intuitive top-down cooking party game where you and your friends will lob obscenities at each other whilst desperately trying to keep pumping out food orders before the timer runs out or the kitchen literally explodes.

Whether or not you should play this game with your fellow freshers all depends on your personalities and abilities to deal with the inevitable conflict that comes with it. Like when you realise someone is a habitual liar when they’re too good at social deduction games. Or you might discover your new friend is a bit of a sadist when they force you to complete each level in Overcooked with three stars.

Good Game – The Jackbox Party Pack by Jackbox Games

If you or your flatmates have any sort of big screen or projector then this is a good pick. It’s kind of like playing Kahoot! or a quiz game, but you have to make up most of the prompts yourself. Each pack will have a selection of party games with prompts ranging from

Pictionary-like drawing games (Drawful), to making up lies about strange facts to trick your friends (Fibbage), to writing up diss tracks for giant robots to perform at each other (Mad Verse City).

The core of Jackbox’s appeal is its accessibility. You only really need one console or computer to have it on as it lets players use their phones as controllers. How good a round of Jackbox is will really depend on how funny your friends are, or at least on the amount of stupid prompts you can think up.

Bad Game – FIFA / EA

Sports FC by Electronic Arts

Only one other game (the final one on this list) inspires as much rage, frustration, and hate in people as FIFA. If you have the misfortune of being in the same room as a FIFA grudge match during

freshers’, all I can do is offer you my condolences. Not only is it not inclusive – most games will only really make sense with two players. The other people watching will be subjected to a spectacle of pain and humiliation as one player who has played the game for years will mercilessly crush the other who was just up for a ‘friendly game’.

Good Game – Super Smash Bros. by Nintendo Smash, as well as most other fighting games such as Injustice, Mortal Kombat, or Tekken, is a solid game to try out if you haven’t played it with others before. It’s a less traditional fighting game where you play as classic Nintendo characters to try and knock each other off a variety of Nintendo-themed stages. An advantage of Smash compared to other fighting games is

that it allows for up to four players at a time while having controls that are relatively simple to learn. This means that even if you play with a Smash regular, you still have a decent chance of beating them by button-mashing or repeatedly farting on them with Wario.

Bad Game – League of Legends by Riot Games

The absolute worst thing you could do in your first few weeks at uni is to pick up League of Legends. Known as the game that most hardcore fans utterly detest and liken to an addiction, League will not only keep you locked in your room, skipping showers, and missing out on the first-year experience, but any friends you do end up making playing it will be relentlessly hurling abuse at you during each match. Avoid this game like the plague!

A lot of these games are currently available to play at the Warwick Esports Centre so if you don’t have the equipment then you can head over there to try some of them out!

A non-gamer’s guide to gaming lingo

Gabriela Jozefowicz, she/her Games Editor

Asa ‘noob’, you might feel intimidated by the different slang that’s used during gaming. In fact, it might feel like a different language all together! This short and sweet guide takes you through the most common phrases you might encounter while playing.

To start off, we’ll focus terms that describe games and might come up when you’re discussing your favourite things to play or the format you enjoy.

Platformer – A type of game where you move your character through various obstacles and enemies to get to your destination. You will often jump or climb onto different platforms, hence the name. A good example is your classic

Super Mario Bros. game.

Battle Royale – These games are quite popular to play with friends and are equally as enjoyable to play by yourself. The goal of these games is to be the last player standing and often there will be a barrier that pushes players into smaller spaces so that the game ends (think Fortnite and PUBG).

RPG – Stands for ‘role playing game’. These games are usually long and open world. They let you journey through a fantasy world, filled with monsters, markets and tons of quests. Popular RPGs include Zelda and Skyrim.

Now that you have an idea of some game types that might come up, let's talk about in-game talk. The kind of things you might hear while playing certain games.

AFK – This term pops up whenever you’re playing a game with other people. You might see a character just standing there, not moving at all even if they’re dying.

This is usually a sign that the player is AFK – ‘away from keyboard’.

BRB – Often said before someone goes AFK, this means ‘be right back’.

NPC – An NPC is a ‘non-player

character’. These characters make up the background of your game and you’ll interact with them to complete quests and trade. In some games, people may pretend to be NPCs to catch you off guard!

Cheesing – Something that feels fun to do but is beyond annoying on the receiving end. If someone is cheesing, this means they are playing the game with a simple tactic that is hard/impossible to beat, even by the most experienced. This isn’t the most honourable way to win in a game and will probably infuriate your opponent. This is treated as borderline cheating if it works.

more technical terms that you might come across when looking at gaming tech, game requirements or even when playing.

FPS – ‘Frames Per second’ tells you how frequently frames appear on screen while you’re playing. The higher the number the smoother your game, which makes it better to play.

Ping – A measure of how long it takes for a signal to travel from your device to the game server and back. If this number is high, you’re going to experience lagging, which isn’t ideal when you’re mid combat.

GG – ‘Good game’. Often said at the end of a game and shows good sportsmanship. It’s almost like the equivalent of shaking hands after finishing a game of chess.

Assist – Often something you’ll get thanked for. It means that you helped to take down another player/ enemy but didn’t issue the final blow.

To finish off, these are some

4K/8K Resolution – This refers to your display resolution and its quality or a game that outputs at that resolution. 4K and 8K refers to the number of pixels and is ultra-high definition.

Now you’re ready to leap into the gaming world with basic knowledge and more confidence than before.

» Image: Trusted Reviews, Thomas

» Images: above: LOGANSCHILLMIX (DevianArt), right: rawpixel

» Images: left and middle, University of Warwick Esports Centre, top right and bottom right, Wikimedia Commons

Apple Podcasts now available on Android devices

Will it be enough for the service to retain the

Abhay Venkitaraman (he/him) Finance Editor

Arguably,it’s Apple that made podcasts mainstream. With the advent of iTunes 4.9 in 2005, the company streamlined what was previously a clunky process of listening to and downloading podcasts – propagating the medium to the many.

For most of the time since then, Apple has been podcasting’s top dog. But recently, the company’s audio streaming service – Apple Podcasts – has struggled in the face of intense competition from alternative platforms.

"Apple Podcasts was the predominant way to become a podcast listener and consumer if you go back 10 years."

-Paul Riismandel, President of Signal Hill Insights

Earlier this year, podcast hosting platform Buzzsprout found that podcast downloads on Spotify exceeded those on Apple Podcasts for the first time ever. This is partly due to the rollout of iOS 17, which has reduced the number of podcast episodes the platform auto-downloads. However, the story is the same when you measure platform engagement based on the number of listeners.

A study of American podcast listeners from earlier this year found that 31% of weekly listeners use YouTube the most for consuming podcasts – with Apple Podcasts lagging behind on 12%.

This is a complete reversal of the situation half a decade ago when the figures were 29% and 15% for Apple Podcasts and YouTube respectively.

Understandably, YouTube’s dramatic rise as a podcast hub is something that caught the eye of Paul Riismandel, a podcast researcher and President of Signal Hill Insights, one of the commissioners of the aforementioned study. He argues: “YouTube is the entryway into podcasting, whereas you could make a strong argument that using Apple Podcasts was the predominant way to become a podcast listener and consumer if you go back 10 years.”

In the face of these dire straits, Apple Podcasts is attempting to get back in the game by making its podcasts available online. Previously, only Apple users could access Apple Podcasts –excluding those with Android smartphones. This severely limited the platform’s reach – particularly the case given that 86% of podcast consumers listen to podcasts on their mobile phones, and Android is the most widely used mobile OS globally.

There’s reason to be sceptical that this will mark the beginning of an Apple Podcasts resurgence

Now that Apple Podcasts is on the web, Android users can access it. The new website is supported in more than 170 countries and

regions, including local languages. Moreover, an Apple Podcasts app can now be installed on Android devices, although it isn’t available on Google Play Store. Other perks include the fact that the platform’s ‘Library’ and ‘Top Charts’ features are now available to web users and that the website can be used to purchase premium subscriptions. More broadly, some have praised the new website, suggesting it works “seamlessly” and lauding its interface.

Overall, Apple Podcasts' new web app is a step in the right direction

There’s reason to be scep tical that this will mark the beginning of an Apple Pod casts resurgence. For one, the platform continues to be held back by a lack of focus on video podcasts. Video clips from pod cast episodes frequently appear on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok – providing viewers an entry point into these podcasts. Combined with the fact that 1/10 of American weekly podcast listeners exclusively listen to podcasts in video form, this makes video podcasts an important battleground in the fight for listeners. However, whilst Apple Pod casts does support video podcasts, it has never actively emphasised this feature to listeners, and that doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon. Compare that to You

top spot?

Tube which has successfully wooed video podcast enthusiasts with unique features such as comment sections for epi-

Other challenges abound, as Ashley Carman, a Bloomberg reporter whose work heavily focuses on podcasting, notes. She points out that Apple Podcasts need to provide podcasters with a greater ability to monetise their content. The platform also needs to improve at reaching out to younger audiences, Carman argues. Another consideration is that the audience for podcasts is becoming ever more global – with the APAC region seeing significant growth in particular – any platform that’s serious about gaining market share needs to tap

Overall, Apple Podcasts’ new web app is a step in the right direction if it wants to augment its popularity amongst listeners. However, given the multiplicity of drawbacks the platform faces – it needs to go much further, ramping up its focus on video podcasts and making itself more atand to listeners new to the medium. Otherwise, permanent decline

The Kiki of Queens: A review of The Bald And The Beautiful with Trixie and Katya

Matthew Randell (he/him) Podcasts Editor

Despite not having seen either of their seasons of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, YouTube decided I’d like Trixie Mattel and Katya reacting to Netflix shows. YouTube has never been more right. It started as Shorts (that’s how they get you) and then the full videos of them binging entire seasons of shows. I briefly engaged very heavily with Drag Race, I think as a way of embracing “my culture”, but I’ve fallen off it hard. I don’t think I’ve seen an episode since the third UK season in 2021. To be fair, I haven’t watched much TV at all since then. Sometimes it feels like drag queens just get in costume and think that’s enough. “I’m a drag queen, I’m in drag, my job is done”, but these two perform.

The pair have a slightly existential wit to them, and their chemistry is undeniable

Arguably two of the US’s most successful and well-known drag queens, the pair each have a slightly existential wit to them, and their chemistry is undeniable. The videos made me want to go back and at least watch the US seasons these two Queens are in but, devastating ly, they’ve been taken off Netflix. If only the pair made content of a medium that wasn’t so beholden to licensing agreements. Enter: The Bald and the Beau tiful.

To my dismay, the podcast is initially pitched as being about the fashion and beauty industry. This is something I am peripherally interested in, but not looking to invest dozens of hours hearing about. The first episode, ‘Nosferatu Vibes’, managed to dispel some of my fears however, maintaining the light and random feeling captured by everything I’d

seen of them on YouTube Shorts. They talk about health and makeup a fair bit, which I didn’t mind, but then mention that they’ll have guests on, which immediately repulsed me. I should maybe listen to one of those episodes before passing judgement, because chances are it’ll be a delightful and educational listen, but when you’re attracted to a show solely because of the charisma of two individuals, an episode without that is less than appealing.

I want a podcast where they rant and ramble about anything that comes up and, a few episodes in, I’m still tentative about whether that’s what this is. But I’m growing to appreciate it for a different reason. In 2022, I challenged myself to engage in queer culture in some way every day of July. After that month however, I still consume tragically little explicitly LGBTQIA+ con-

tent. In an early episode of The Bald and the Beautiful, the pair talk about how, because of how mainstream certain drag queens are, it’s dangerously easy to forget that there are so many people who hate them, some who even want to kill them, just for doing this. It’s something I don’t love to be reminded of but can appreciate the importance of occasionally and solemnly considering. We can enjoy progress and drag without getting complacent or pretending everything is okay when homosexual activity is illegal in 64 countries, including being punishable by death in at least 12, six of which are in the United Nations.

they don’t shy away from it or stick their head in the sand.

Trixie and Katya don’t often get political on the show, they explain, because they’re self-aware that they’re preaching to the choir, but I enjoyed this tangent and I’m glad

While I listen the podcast audio-only (as nature intended), from clips of the video I know that the pair record the podcast out of-drag, in all their bald and beautiful splendor. This makes it unique in the plethora of content they create, and serves as a nice metaphor for the behindthe-scenes and casual nature of the show. Trixie has recently taken a leave of absence from a lot of her work, but the podcast has continued with a rotating cast of co-hosts/guests, and there’s a deep 170+ episode back catalogue if you can’t bring yourself to listen to the show without her. I know I can’t.

» Images: Staytuned (left), hinnk (right) / Wikimedia commons

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Here are the top 5 pieces of advice from students who are returning to Warwick this Autumn!

Try loads of societies, even if you haven't heard of them before – they're a great way to socialise and start new hobbies!

Do your work as you go along and don't leave things until the last minute. Balance is key – you don't want to be saying no to invitations because you didn't manage your time.

Don’t stay in your room and try to make friends with your flatmates if you can! They might not be your besties but it will make your life easier if you get along with them.

Don't be afraid! Easy for us to say, I know, but try to remember that everyone is in the same boat and most people want to make friends.

Talk to everyone – don’t wait for them to come up to you! Some of your best friends could be made this way.

Editor: Abbie Fox (she/her)

NOT

Moving into new accommodation! Whether you’re moving into halls or somewhere off campus, I think the packing is something which we all dread.

HOT NOT

The weather starting to get colder. I am not looking forward to having to wear jumpers and coats again.

NOT

Freshers’ flu – expect to hear lots of coughing in your first lectures and seminars. It’s extremely impressive if you manage to avoid it!

NOT HOT

Socials! Whether it’s a circle (Warwick tradition) or clubbing, the start and end of term socials are definitely more busy, so the start of term is definitely something to look forward to.

The new academic year, which is a great chance to get on top of work (yeah, right!) and to start those new habits.

HOT

Having to travel to lectures for those of us who are moving off campus this year!

Let''s have a look at what's

going on

as we start the new academic year!

Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter

Freshers’ fairs! These are a great chance to pick up some freebies – make the most of them!

PUZZLES

Crossword

Across 6 Compete (3)

7 Destruction - devastation - ruin (5)

9 Cereal plant (3)

10 Acrobatic garment - delator (anagram) (7)

11 Connection (3-2)

12 Long-handled (cleaning) brush (7,6)

14 Deferring gene (anagram) - naturally able to grow plants (British informal) (5-8)

18 Greek island (5)

19 Fictional vampire (7)

21 Diamonds (slang) (3)

22 Portents - gestures - symbols (5)

23 Owing (3)

BoarPAD:

Sudoku

Across: 6 Yoga, 8 Roe, 9 Meal, 10 Ethics, 11 Dismay, 12 Home page, 14 Drew, 16 Tell, 18 Mosquito, 20 Epigon, 22 Attack, 23 Rent, 24 See, 25 Ride.

Down: 1 Famine, 2 Iris, 3 Needless, 4 Amused, 5 Lava, 7 Outcome, 13 Admonish, 15 Enticed, 17 Legato, 19 Upturn, 21 Plea, 22 A few.

Down 1 Elliptical shape (4)

2 Italian city (6)

3 Dodger - reaved (anagram) (6)

4 Gnawing mammal (6)

5 Pace (4)

7 Business recruiters (11)

8 Climbing thieves - grab at curls (anagram) (3,8)

12 Thick mist (3)

13 Relieve (from) (3)

15 Devonian city (6)

16 Blue-violet colour (6)

17 Series of calls (by a doctor, say) (6)

18 Fashionable (4)

20 A relatively long time (informal) (4)

SCIENCE

The Boar presents the Science section, featuring Climate and SciTech. @theboarscience Climate 1.6°C

Articles you can find online...

Climate Editor: Amy Adshead (they/them) climate@theboar.org

Sub-Editor: Rebecca Meldon (she/her)

SciTech Editor: Ranudi Kudellage (she/her) scitech@theboar.org

Sub-Editor: Odette Dyer (she/her) 1 7 3 9

Deputy editors: Vacant (apply now on page 7)

Vacant

Luke Chapman, Climate Student vote for full transition to plant-based catering at University rejected by SU theboar.org

Andrew Miltiadou, SciTech

Margaret Hamilton: the woman who sent humans to the moon

is the new 1.5°C. That’s (kind of) a big deal.

Sinai Ejechi (he/him) Writer

Last November, governments from around the world arrived in Dubai for COP28. Two weeks later, they left with a new agreement. The headline was simple – they reaffirmed their commitment to the 1.5°C target from the 2015 Paris Agreement and vowed to adjust their respective climate targets accordingly. All was well.

Then, just this August, a group of researchers led by Christoph Bertram released a new paper. In it, they all but declared that keeping average temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels was now impossible. That was 8 months after COP28. What went wrong?

Governments have centred their decarbonisation plans around 1.5°C – not just since last year’s COP28, but since the target was brought in 9 years ago in Paris. Before that conference, the academic consensus was simply that average temperatures needed to remain below 2°C. There was no universal agreement about the number that

should be targeted, so policymakers had no north star. Multilateral efforts to reduce emissions, such as the Kyoto Protocol in 1992, did not come with a neat headline figure, and instead had each country set itself a baseline for performance. Notably, the treaty did not stop India and China from ramping up emissions, and the US refused to ratify the treaty.

Paris was different. First championed by smaller countries in 2009, a single number, 1.5°C, began to take centre stage. Instead of academia informing policy, the policymakers took the reins. Any number was an achievement –even the consensus broad target of below 2°C had failed to make it into the climate change agreement at the G8 in 2008 – and they decided on 1.5°C. According to the scientists, the path to get there was “geophysically feasible”, but necessitated net-zero plans that would be politically difficult. Across the globe, over the next 9 years, the politics won out.

According to Bertram and his team, the best-case scenario now is keeping temperatures below 1.6°C. That’s a tenth of a degree above the

previous benchmark.

For all the symbolic significance of a 1.5°C limit being declared near impossible, a best case 0.1°C increase in that limit might not sound substantial. If you were planning a trip somewhere, hearing that it would be 0.1°C hotter than you had expected probably wouldn’t change your plans at all.

The context, then, is important. 1.5°C has been part of so many headlines that it has become easy to think of it in isolation – indeed a 1.5°C difference in temperature would also be unlikely to affect your trip – but any thought of the figure should be followed by a silent above pre-industrial levels. Scientists tell us that average temperatures today being 1.5°C over average temperatures 150 years ago is causing, and will cause, wide-ranging climate change. Already in the UK, attribution studies have linked recent flooding intensity to global warming, and our dependence on imported food – being that 78% of the UK’s fruit and veg comes from abroad – means that the more dramatic climate change taking place further afield affects us here dayto-day too.

Sarah Smith, Climate Wars over water – a present and future matter for the climate crisis

Preksha Hooda, SciTech

New breakthrough: experimental cancer drug shows promise

This, then, is a game of small margins, where each tenth of a degree counts. For the best-case scenario to go from 1.5°C to 1.6°C means we have not slowed down warming nearly enough. It means the best-case scenario is getting worse and we must move faster to decarbonise.

Although 1.5°C was dreamed up by policymakers in Paris, well below 2°C was a long-established scientific consensus by then. As we continue to breach 1.5°C in the medium term and get closer to average long-term temperatures being 2°C above pre-industrial levels, tipping events – instantaneous changes in specific climates that have dramatic spillover effects –become more likely.

Because there are symbolic and substantive implications of a failure to limit temperature rise to

1.5°C, there has previously been some reluctance from researchers to discuss the possibility. Since 2022, many have spoken out, but others feared dampening climate action, or that people would use the news to abandon emission reduction altogether, labelling net-zero and all such efforts as failures that had only succeeded in strangling economic growth. In light of these concerns, it is important to maintain that all is not lost as we address the reality that 1.6°C is the new 1.5°C. Any increase above the old threshold remains preferable to 1.7°C, or 1.8°C, and so forth. The effects –on our food, weather, and health –are preferable. Therefore, we must never cease in moving towards a greener future, and must only move faster.

It's hotting up! How rising temperatures affect human health

Amelia Thomas (She/her) Writer

Climate change is having a range of knock effects upon all aspects of society as we know it. Perhaps one of the most concerning impacts is what the rise in global temperatures is doing to human health itself. Our body does its best to regulate our temperature at 37°C, whether the weather is in an extreme heat wave or at freezing temperatures. But as the world

warms up, heat regulation becomes more difficult to maintain, and this leaves certain groups of people at serious risk.

For seemingly healthy people, extreme heat can still take an extreme toll upon the human body.

To accommodate the temperature, our blood vessels expand, which in turn decreases our blood pressure, putting a greater strain on our hearts. It is therefore common for many people to struggle with heat exhaustion in heat waves because of this. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include, but are not limited to: dizziness, nausea, fainting, and fatigue. However, in extreme cases, the decrease in blood pressure can lead to a fatal heart attack. These symptoms therefore put people with certain conditions at an even greater risk.

One of the groups of people who are at the greatest risk is that of pregnant people. Since anyone expecting a baby is generally advised

not to visit a sauna throughout their pregnancy, it is no surprise that global warming presents itself as a worrying eventuality. Studies have shown that exposure to greater heat and the knock-on effect of increased anaemia has led to a rise in both miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as babies being born early, underweight or with other complications. Although anaemia can be common during pregnancy, the bodies of pregnant individuals must work significantly harder to regulate their temperatures in higher climates and are therefore at a much greater risk of both dehydration and heat strokes, which will inevitably cause great harm and distress to the foetus.

In Europe alone, rising temperatures contributed to around 47,000 deaths in 2023.

For the population of some developing countries, where more people work in industries exposed to direct sunlight, such as agriculture, preventing some of these harmful effects may not be so simple as sticking to the shade. In particular, pregnant people in India who are forced to work due to economic constraints. With no choice but to undertake manual labour, they are in serious danger as they aim to earn a living. A University of Cambridge study also found that the country is expected to be the first to top the safety limit for healthy people in the shade, meaning that even the less vulnerable face the threat of global warming. In Europe alone, rising temperatures contributed to around 47,000 deaths in 2023 as we saw the hottest year on record globally. Elisa Gallo, a postdoctoral researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health reported that: “We see every year a high number

of mortalities, and these trends are increasing. We should worry about [the deaths], and worry about the temperatures that are increasing, and are increasing really fast.” Although the estimated number of deaths was lower than the staggering figure in 2022 of approx. 60,000, it is higher than every other year previously since at least 2015. It is thought that when the temperature surpasses around 2526°C is when the body really begins to suffer.

So, how can we deal with the increase of frequent heatwaves and rise in temperatures? While we may not necessarily feel the heat as of yet, other places around the globe certainly do. There is hope that through education and mitigation, we can reduce some of these harmful climate realities for many.

What is Great British Energy? The solution to energy dependency?

Jakob Reid (he/him) Writer

Intimes of economic and political uncertainty, security is paramount. Yet, it is only in recent years that “energy security” has truly entered the public debate. The catalyst? Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which sent energy prices soaring and left households and businesses struggling. Now, more than ever, the UK’s reliance on foreign energy sources has come under scrutiny.

Reducing reliance on states that pose political threats is essential.

Reducing this dependency seems logical. While full energy self-sufficiency may be unrealistic, reducing reliance on states that pose political threats is essential. So, when the Labour Party, then in opposition, proposed “GB Energy,” it sparked significant interest. The idea of a British-owned energy company appeals to a wide section of society. The patriotism evoked by the name, combined with the promise of public ownership struck a chord with many. But what exactly is Great British Energy, and can it deliver on its promises?

The concept was introduced as part of the now largely abandoned “Green Prosperity Plan.” Much of this ambitious plan was dropped to

Recent polling found that upwards of two thirds of the public support the creation of GB Energy.

shore up the economic credibility of Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The proposal for a new state-backed energy company, championed by Ed Miliband, then Shadow Energy Secretary, was initially part of a £28 billion annual spending pledge. However, this was later scaled back to just under £24 billion over five years, raising doubts about the government’s commitment to the project.

Miliband proposed that GB Energy would be funded by a windfall tax on fossil fuel company profits, avoiding heavy borrowing. But whether this tax will cover the estimated £8.3 billion needed to launch the company remains uncertain. Many expect that additional borrowing or further tax increases might be necessary to finance this venture.

A critical question remains: what will GB Energy actually own? So far, details are scarce, with only vague commitments to invest in “wind and solar across the country.” It is unclear whether the government will purchase existing private ventures or establish new ones from scratch. The UK’s history with state-owned industries is mixed, and doubts persist about the government’s willingness to hold all investments within the company exclusively.

If the government opts for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in energy production, it could lead to

the rapid development of new projects, such as solar and wind farms. In the short term, this approach could help the UK meet its renewable energy targets and reduce reliance on imports. However, PPPs carry long-term risks. Private companies may demand inflated returns, as seen in other sectors like the NHS, where hospital trusts are still repaying companies that built their facilities decades ago.

On the surface, GB Energy appears to be a logical step towards securing the UK’s energy future.

On the surface, GB Energy appears to be a logical step towards securing the UK’s energy future, especially given the need to transition away from fossil fuels. However, beneath the surface, questions of viability and political will emerge. The government faces two major challenges in this area. First, consumers are likely to face price increases in the short to medium term, unless significant borrowing is secured to fund these new energy sites. This could prove unpopular, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis.

Secondly, if Labour is serious about achieving economic stability, it must confront the political risks associated with short-term tax

rises and spending cuts. Will the party be willing to compromise its commitment to fiscal prudence to pave the way for long-term energy security? This is a critical question, as Labour’s economic credibility is likely to be a key issue in any forthcoming general election. Despite these challenges, recent polling by YouGov for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that upwards of two thirds of the public supports the creation of GB Energy. Given this level of public backing, one would think that Keir Starmer and his team should push forward with this policy rather than diluting or abandoning it, as has happened with other Labour promises in its original green investment plan.

If managed well, Great British Energy could not only enhance the UK’s energy security but also mark a significant shift towards public ownership and investment in critical infrastructure. However, its success will depend on the government’s ability to balance long-term goals with short-term political and economic realities. As energy prices continue to dominate headlines, the stakes for getting this right have never been higher.

As the West turns green, the Global South goes

red: why meat consumption is on the rise

Anna Bickerton (she/her) Head of Digital Media

Onewould be forgiven for believing progress had been made in shifting to more planet-friendly diets. You’d even be correct in some regard too. Indeed, a report from October revealed that meat consumption in the UK had fallen to its lowest point since the 1970s, when records began. The number of vegans in Great Britain increased four-fold between 2014 and 2019, and another 11% of the population now identify as either vegetarian or pescetarian. A similar pattern is reflected across other Western European nations. Responsible for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, meat and dairy production is a key driver of global warming. In addition to associated methane emissions from cattle farming, the industry’s expansion, and growing demand for land, has contributed to deforestation pushing carbon dioxide levels even higher, particularly in Brazil. Despite this apparent progress, it is a trend that appears to be limited to the Western, developed world. Meat consumption in developing

countries has risen three times as fast as in wealthier countries in the past. In fact, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projects that global meat consumption will grow by nearly 73% by 2050.

As societies in the Global South have industrialised and incomes have grown, demand for nutrient-dense foods like meat have increased too, a trend known as Bennett’s Law in agricultural and developmental economics. Similarly, increased demand for milk and other dairy products has served to bolster polluting cattle farming practices.

It is a pattern perhaps most striking in China, where rapid development in the latter half of the 20th century has seen meat-eating rocket to double that of the United States. Likewise in Brazil, per capita consumption has almost quadrupled since 1961. Even countries where populations traditionally have religious and cultural objections to consumption of certain or all meats seem to have succumbed to this rise. For instance, meat consumption in India, whilst remaining small, is projected to grow by 17 percent between 2005 and 2025.

Equally, there are more promising transitions that overall figures do not reflect, such as shifts away from red meat towards less harmful poultry and pork consumption. The associated emissions of beef production (relating to land use, water, and the cattle themselves) is estimated to be three to ten times greater than that of chicken whilst pork falls somewhere in between. Whilst Brazil could initially ap pear as a key culprit, beef con sumption actually fell to its lowest level in 28 years in 2021, offering some potential for more sustaina ble diets to emerge in conjunction with economic growth.

Nonetheless, whilst the West may be slowly turning towards more plant-based diets, it still ac counts for the lion’s share of meat consumption globally. Austral ia and the USA continue to top global per capita rankings. Over all, people in industrialised coun tries consume three times as much meat, and four times as many dairy products than their Global South counterparts.

Last month, Warwick SU par tially rejected a motion passed in Autumn 2023’s All Student Votes to transition to plant-based cater

ing. Citing “practical and financial challenges”, it is perhaps a microcosm of broader societal hesitations towards implementing more environmentally conscious catering. Whilst we may be tempted by the appearance of rising vegetari

globally. Steven Lord, a senior researcher in food systems economics at the University of Oxford, described attempts to “[tell] people what to eat” as “political suicide”, a statement which only underscores the vastness of the task ahead, and

» Images: Top Leftt: Keir Starmer / Flickr. Bottom right: Leszek Leszczynski / Flickr.

From code to cure: AI’s game changing role in molecular medicine

Ranudi Kudellage, she/her SciTech Editor

Fordecades, drug development has been a gruelling, decade-long marathon of research and financial investment, often taking 10-15 years to move from the lab to a patient’s bedside. But now, AI is transforming the game. It’s role in drug discovery is a multi-faceted one, streamlining the entire process – from identifying promising compounds to optimizing clinical trials, ultimately fast-tracking the delivery of new medicines to the market and potentially saving millions of lives in the future.

given target, giving rise to the rapid identification of drug candidates. Traditionally, this process has relied on high-throughput screening, whereby thousands of compounds are physically tested against a target protein to find a match. Unsurprisingly, success rates of this stage are disappointingly low, ranging from about 0.01% and 0.14%.

Using high throughput screening would take around one to three months to analyse around one million compounds even with robotics and automation. AI deep learning models could reduce this to a fraction of the time. By better predicting promising target interactions via datasets that contain

It could even recognise novel targets that may not have been considered by the most seasoned scientists, opening the door to new classes of life-saving drugs

Perhaps the most significant input of AI lies in its ability to predict interacting compounds with a

large information on biological compounds, pharmaceutical companies now can focus on the most

viable candidates from the start. It could even recognise novel targets that may not have been considered by the most seasoned scientists, opening the door to new classes of life-saving drugs.

AI is particularly making groundbreaking strides in the field of cancer research, revolutionizing the way we tackle one of humanity’s most formidable challenges. Pharmaceutical companies, such as Lantern Pharma and GSK have developed in-house AI systems, leading to significant progress in clinical trials. Lantern Pharma, for example, already has three drugs (LP-300, LP-184, and LP-284 drugs) in clinical trials in just three years, a feat rarely achieved in the world of cancer research. Panna Sharma, Chief Executive at Lantern Pharma said: ‘Three years is an unheard-of timeframe in cancer, and we’ve done that three times.’ They are one of the firms to have benefitted from new links uncovered by AI, such as the LP-184

molecule based paediatric brain cancer treatment.

AI is also making headway in the realm of clinical trials, where the odds are notoriously stacked –only 10% of drugs make it through. With AI, patient recruitment can be optimised, with a rapid analysis of suitability factors, such as genetic information, medical history, and lifestyle. In addition, AI can assist in monitoring patients during the trial, allowing the detection of trends that may not be immediately apparent even to the most seasoned researchers.

In the context of drug discovery, this is still uncertain

Despite the multitude of benefits gained from AI-fuelled drug discovery, it certainly has its limits for pharmaceutical companies. One potential problem is that AI is only as good as the dataset it was

Could Dorito dust turn mice invisible?

trained on. The ‘black box’ problem, whereby full transparency of AI models is not easily interpretable to humans also looms over researchers, making it difficult to see how AI reached their outcome. Another important consideration for pharmaceutical companies is patents, as the UK Supreme Court overturned a ruling that AI cannot be used as an inventor when filing for patents. In the context of drug discovery, this is still uncertain. The integration of AI into drug discovery, though still in early stages, is undeniable. Its combination with other cutting-edge technology such as genomics holds the promise of truly transformative advancements in healthcare, though certainly it would still require time and deep pockets. In the future, we may see AI emerge with more roles in drug discovery and medicine, such as in personalised treatments where we can move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to more precise and effective therapies.

A common food dye’s effects on the body may be stranger than fiction.

Martin Day, he/him News Editor

Haveyou ever wanted to disappear? Perhaps your Fresher’s Week icebreaker was far less funny than you expected, or maybe the girl you were getting to know in Pop! turned out to be three years older than you with a boyfriend who works in the City of London. Anyway, you now want nothing more than to vanish into thin air, leaving behind only an undrunk glass of purple and a litany of poor life decisions. Well now, thanks to researchers at Stanford University, that might just be possible! Sort of.

To top off the magic trick, cleaning the dye off the mice restored them completely to corporeal form, with no apparent ill effects

A research paper published in the prosaically named Science Journal on 5 September has found that a common food dye, tartrazine, best known for giving the dust of Doritos its distinctive orange hue, can when mixed with water, render the skin of mice transparent. In a series of experiments, scientists massaged a tartrazine solution onto the rodents’ shaved stomachs

allowing them to see through the skin and observe the working internal organs and digestive tract underneath. Wiping the dye onto their scalps, meanwhile, allowed the researchers to see blood vessels in the brain. To top off the magic trick, cleaning the dye off the mice restored them completely to corporeal form, with no apparent ill effects.

Why on earth does this work?

The process behind it, was first dreamt up over a hundred years ago; not by a visionary of science, but by one of science-fiction. In his 1897 book The Invisible Man, H. G. Wells’ brilliant scientist Jack Griffin invents a serum to turn himself transparent. Wells, through Griffin, posits that the key to invisibility lies with light refraction – the phenomenon that makes a pencil appear to bend in a glass of water. Any material, when hit with light, will change the course of those particles slight ly. Different materials will ‘bend’ the light in various ways, and this is known as the refractive index. When light particles hit the skin, for instance, the different refractive indices of all the substances inside the skin (fats, water, etc) will send the particles firing off in all directions, leading to the skin appearing opaque. Wells’

character Griffin is able to create a serum that matches the refractive index of his body with that of the air, allowing light particles to pass completely through him. He thereby renders himself totally and permanently invisible and promptly goes mad.

altered the refractive index of skin tissue enough so that red light, on the opposite end of the light spectrum, could pass through far more easily. Massaging the tartrazine solution into the skin of mice meant that as far as the dye could be absorbed by the skin, light par-

Massaging the tartrazine solution into the skin of mice meant that as far as the dye could be absorbed by the skin, light particles could pass through

127 years later, the researchers at Stanford have arguably been able to do Griffin one better – their mice are not invisible, but their process at least is reversible. Led by Dr. Zihao Ou, the researchers figured out that, perhaps counterintuitively, some types of dye could make it easier to see through substances, by altering their refractive indices so that light particles could pass through unimpeded. After some tests, they settled on

ticles could pass through. Therefore, making the skin transparent and allowing the organs inside to be illuminated.

The result has blown away the scientific community. Dr Christopher Rowlands, a British scientist who reviewed the research, praised the discovery as “revolutionary” in an interview given to Popular Science. “In optics, we spend an awful lot of time trying to increase [how well we can see into tissue] by 20% Rowlands said. guys come along, they annihilate boundary by a factor of 10”. It’s

the difference, he notes, between millimetres and inches below the skin, and there are a wealth of implications for medical treatment and research.

Tartrazine solution would be a vastly cheaper and a less invasive alternative to exploratory surgery in helping diagnose ailments like cancer. It could be used to simplify the process of drawing blood by making veins more easily visible. It could help speed up light-based treatments too, like laser tattoo removal or photo-thermal therapy. As far as research goes, it’s a breakthrough moment for scientists who observe biological processes in animals. Having until now been relegated to naturally see-through animals like the zebrafish, tartrazine solution could throw open the door to a whole world of new subjects.

For humans, however, any thoughts of invisible men will have to wait. For now, the researchers strongly discourage any testing on humans until the process can be confirmed as non-toxic: “I would suspect that dumping that amount of anything into a live organism is going to have some substantial effect,” Rowlands cautions. So, until the process can be fully understood, rather than dousing yourself in tartrazine solution to escape awkward social situations, it may just be better to salvage what pride you have and slowly walk away.

WHATEVER MOVES YOU

Start your fitness and wellbeing journey today at the Sports and Wellness Hub and Tennis Centre.

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* Price based on a student annual swim membership. Terms and conditions apply.

Inside Warwick's *newly-refurbished* Sports Hub

Tom Ryan, he/him Deputy News Editor

TheSports and Wellness Hub is the home of health and fitness at Warwick, with its prime location – just a short walk away from central campus – making it the perfect place for students to work out, destress, and socialise after a long day.

At the heart of the Sports Hub is the gym, which is perfect for both gym lovers and newbies alike. As a recent gym convert, I found the Sports Hub to be the perfect place to challenge myself to try out new exercises, as well as stick to the cardio workouts that I knew and loved.

The gym at Warwick offers a range of cardio equipment including treadmills, elliptical machines, and exercise bikes. There is also expansive space and equipment for resistance and functional training.

Over the summer break, the gym has undergone a £1 million renovation, with the upgraded gym offering a host of new equipment including additional cables and pulleys, Concept2 ergometers, dedicated bench presses, and a larger free weight area.

If the gym isn't for you, then fear not as the Sports Hub really has something to offer

for

The gym has also been reconfigured to offer a more streamlined and motivational experience for gym goers, with new dedicated zones for functional training, Hyrox, and stretching. The refurbishment places the gym at the centre of Warwick Sport’s broader strat-

egy for wellness and sport, which is epitomised by the Sports Hub’s inclusive and welcoming feeling.

If the gym isn’t for you, then fear not as the Sports Hub really has something to offer for everyone. With studies proving that swimming has a range of positive benefits for your mental health, the 12lane swimming pool at the Sports Hub is the perfect place to destress after a long day of lectures – it certainly was one of my favourite ways to unwind in first year.

You can turn up and swim whenever you like, with the online timetable showing which lanes are available and when. The pool also offers a ‘female-only’ swimming session, every Friday from 2pm to 4pm.

There really is a multitude of things to do with fitness classes and squash courts among the centre's other offerings

Those wishing to follow in the footsteps of Paris 2024 gold medallist Toby Roberts or Warwick’s very own Joshua Bruyns can also check out the 15m-high climbing wall, which literally ‘watches over’ the rest of the Sports Hub. Offering 144 routes to climb on its 706 square metres of climbable surface, you can take in all the thrills of climbing, whether you’re a complete novice or an absolute

A summer of sport: Looking back at the Euros, Olympics, and Paralympics

Thomas Lloyd, he/him Writer

2024 has provided an unforgettable summer of sport. It began routinely, with customary heartbreak for the English at their team’s death in the Euros final. Then, as the summer drew to a close, it was stories of Olympic and Paralympic success that inspired the nation.

Following an underwhelming T20 World Cup, it was over to Gareth Southgate and The Three Lions to try and bring home a trophy for England.

Victory against Serbia in the opening game and two subsequent draws saw England clinch top spot in Group C, an achievement undermined by fears that the side lacked directness and attacking threat. Scoring just twice, it was clear the big names on the team sheet were underperforming, the cause of which much disputed as ever.

An early exit loomed in the round of 16, before Jude Bellingham produced an astonishing overhead kick to equalise in the

dying embers against a resilient Slovakian side.

In the quarter-finals, 120 minutes was not enough to separate England from Switzerland. It was in the shootout that England’s individual quality shone through, each man making no mistake from the penalty spot that has long haunted England players and fans alike.

With the scores level late on against The Netherlands in the semi-finals, in-form Ollie Watkins was the hero, driving the ball across the keeper with the strike he has perfected throughout his career.

A clash with the Spaniards then awaited Southgate’s England. Spain had proved a formidable side en route to the final. Undefeated in a group containing Italy and Croatia, the Spaniards maintained their composure in the significantly harder side of the draw, dismissing both France and Germany.

As many predicted, the challenge proved one step too far for England, with Spain deservedly taking the title. Spain took the lead early in the 2nd half courtesy of Nico Williams, before English

pro. You could opt to take some ‘learn to climb’ sessions or, if you’re feeling confident, get clipped up and head off straight away with a climbing membership.

Students can access discounted memberships at the Sports Hub with the gym and swim membership costing £26 a month

While this insight into the Sports Hub may offer just a quick whistlestop tour, I’d urge you to go and check out everything it has to offer – maybe you’ll end up spending half of your free time there, like I did last year. There really is a mul-

titude of things to do with fitness classes, squash courts, and sports courts among the centre’s other offerings.

Students can access discounted memberships at the Sports Hub, with the gym and swim membership costing £26 a month.

A final sidenote too: if you’ve found yourself reading The Boar Sport but are thinking that exercise isn’t your thing – firstly, the Sports Hub could quickly convert you, but secondly, the Sports Hub is also a great place to study! Grab yourself a seat and get a coffee from the onsite Caffè Nero, and you’ll be able to plough through your revision or essays with that much-needed caffeine boost. The balcony is also the perfect outdoor study spot – if the weather stays nice, that is!

hopes were rejuvenated temporarily by a Cole Palmer leveller. But it was Mikel Oyarzabal who emerged the hero just 13 minutes later, firing Spain to a record 4 European Championships.

Just 12 days later, the Olympic Games in Paris began. Team GB largely flourished, with an impressive 65 medals.

Keely Hodgkinson was a standout performer, following in the footsteps of Dame Kelly Holmes in securing her first Gold in the 800 metres.

In the Men’s triathlon, 26-yearold Alex Yee secured Gold, striding past leader Hayden Wilde, who had a 14-second lead ahead of the final lap.

The Men’s Cross-Country Mountain Biking provided similar excitement, with Tom Pidcock overcoming an early puncture. The Brit caught up with the pack following the incident, squeezing past Frenchman Victor Koretzky in the final lap.

In the pool, James Guy, Tom Dean, Matt Richards, and Duncan Scott retained Gold for Team GB in the Men’s 4 X 200m relay. Further, Tom Daley and Noah Wil-

liams secured Silver in the Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform, in the formers last Olympic Games.

Rounding off the summer, the Paralympics too proved a success for the Brits, winning a staggering 49 golds to comfortably finish 2nd in the medal table.

Dame Sarah Storey, Paralympic GB’s most successful athlete, was victorious in both the Women’s C5 Time Trial and the C4-5 Road Race, securing her 18th and 19th Paralympic Golds, respectively.

19-year-old Poppy Maskill performed particularly well, winning

3 golds, in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S14, the 100m Butterfly S14, as well as in the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay S14.

In the Men’s Javelin Throw F13, Dan Pembroke broke the world record in retaining his title, with a 74.49m throw that broke the record by over 3 metres.

Elsewhere on the track, Hannah Cockroft won the Women’s T34 100m final and 800m finals, taking her total to 9 Paralympic Golds. The summer of 2024 was an eventful summer for sport that will certainly go down in history.

» Images: Sam Cotton / The Boar (top right), Warwick media library (left), Flickr / Connal (bottom right)

We asked Warwick's sports clubs why you should join them, here's what they said...

Looking for a new, one-of-a-kind team sport to try? Give Quadball a go! A mix of dodgeball, rugby, and netball, Quadball is the only mixed-gender, full contact sport on campus. Our team prides itself on inclusivity and diversity, with every member getting to compete in tournaments. Whilst we’re the 2024 UK university league champions, our team welcomes you no matter your sporting background.

The University of Warwick Boat Club welcomes all students, from complete novices to experienced rowers. Our novice and senior squads provide a supportive and competitive environment. Rowing is not just a way to stay fit, but also a great way to make friendships, especially with our jam-packed social calendar. We compete in major events, including BUCS and Henley Royal Regatta, where you'll have the chance to represent Warwick on a national stage.

WWRFC welcomes women & non-binary people of all abilities to come try rugby. No experience required – over 45% of our members had never played before university. We train twice a week and play weekly BUCS matches. Our partnership with Kenilworth RFC also provides playing opportunities in Championship and NC2 leagues. We offer a wide range of socials including circles, trips, tours, balls, and more.

No matter your ability, we cater for all and welcome everyone to try our sport(s). We offer two sports in one club – we have everything from competitive swimming and water polo to our club team and our leading development team. If you want to get fit, faster, or just meet people who share a similar love for water, then WUFF is the perfect place to enjoy a university experience.

Warwick Barbell is an inclusive society for any and all strength sports, including powerlifting, weightlifting, bodybuilding, and strongman. We work to form teams for national level competitions such as BUCS, host our own competitions, provide information about exercise, gym equipment and gym safety, and make the gym easier to access for all. If you’re interested in getting into the gym, this is the perfect club for you.

We are a talented and inclusive club, welcoming people of all backgrounds, regardless of experience, to join us. We’re the only club to offer Cheer, Dance, and Gymnastics. Our squads range from Dance to Stunts to Sideline Cheer, meaning that there’s something for everyone. Last year alone, we won 6 National Titles, as well as Non-BUCS Team of the Year 2022 and 2023. We run weekly socials, including Circling, joint bar crawls, and sober socials, open to non-members too.

At Warwick handball, freshers can expect intense and rewarding training that will keep them fit and entertained. Anybody can become a great handball player if they set their mind to it and put in the work. Upon joining the club, you can expect to make new friends who will stick with you through thick and thin, whether that be training, competitions, or casually grabbing a bite to eat. We offer an exciting sport, combining speed, strength, stamina, agility, and coordination and most importantly, teamwork.

With 156 active members, UWWNC is one of the largest women’s clubs on campus. Our club is structured into three tiers: BUCS (highly competitive), DEVs (competitive), and League (relaxed). We pride ourselves on inclusivity, hosting a variety of social events open to all members. From weekly circles and themed bar crawls to watching Wasps’ netball games, team meals, and our Christmas ball, there’s always something exciting happening. Plus, our domestic and international tours are unforgettable. Joining UWWNC guarantees an enriching and memorable university experience.

Warwick Tennis is one of the biggest and best clubs at the University of Warwick. We have sessions for all abilities, from our beginner squad, all the way up to our 12 performance squads. Away from the court, we are one of the most sociable clubs on campus. We provide a range of socials, from our weekly Wednesday circles to bar crawls, sober socials, and women’s socials too.

Whether you have grown up playing cricket or have never picked a bat up in your life, UWWCC is a great club to get involved with. We offer regular training, weekly socials, competitive BUCS fixtures, and provide club kit. We can also guarantee that you will meet some great friends. If you are looking to entertain yourself with exciting so cials and want to play some cricket during your first year, then UW WCC is for you!

Karate is a fun and exciting martial art, with classes available at Warwick for all levels. For anyone new to Karate, we have sessions led by our experienced black belt team of instructors. We also offer specialist training with team coach European medallist Jamaal Otto on a fortnightly basis. Warwick Karate has gone from strength to strength, with our men’s and women’s teams earning 3rd place at BUCS and a growing number of members.

Being part of UWWHC will grow your world at Warwick whilst keeping you fit by playing hockey during the week. UWWHC is an inclusive club where there is a team for all players, no matter your ability. There are also plenty of socials which enable you to bond with your teammates and create strong friendships, which is so important at university. Ever wanted to learn to defend yourself? Or do you simply want to try something new? Thai Boxing is a society full of friendly faces, whether you’re looking to compete in fights around the country or for a fun sport to keep yourself fit. We cater to a wide range of abilities from complete beginners to experienced fighters and would love for you to come try out our sport.

At Latin and Ballroom, we wel come all abilities, with levels rang ing from beginner to advanced. We provide regular classes, practice spaces, and fun socials. All mem bers have the chance to compete, including in our very own War wick Varsity in November. Last year, all of our beginners made at least one round, making them the third best in the whole competi tion. Across the 2023/24 season, Team Warwick achieved 122 finals and 16 wins. In L&B, there’s truly something for everyone, so there’s every reason to give it a twirl.

The University of Warwick Trampolining Club is friendly and inclusive. We offer five weekly training sessions, regular socials, and opportunities to compete at BUCS and in the Southern Universities Trampoline League (SUTL). We attend weekend competitions and host weekly socials like bar crawls, sober socials, and more. Whether you're new to trampolining or experienced, we would love to welcome you to

» Images: Warwick Women's Netball (top left), Warwick Quadball bottom left), Warwick media library (bottom right)

Women's Football and Futsal @uwwfc

Hi, we’re the University of Warwick Women’s Football and Futsal Club!

UWWFC is a welcoming, safe space for all – whether you’ve played football or futsal from a young age or have never kicked a ball before, we encourage everyone to join the club and be a part of our family. With lots of fun socials, team trainings, matches, and other events, by joining the club you will make memories and friendships to last a lifetime.

Mixed Netball is one of the largest and most social sports clubs on campus, offering something for everyone. Whether you're a complete beginner or aiming to compete nationally, we’ve got you covered. Off the court, we host weekly socials (both sober and drinking), alongside termly charity, welfare, and outreach events. Our club is all about meeting new people and having fun. Joining a sports club (especially MN, though we're a bit biased) is one of the best things you can do at university – you’ll make great memories and lifelong friends. We hope to see you at our sessions soon!

Whether you have played lacrosse before or never heard of it, Warwick’s Lacrosse Club is a great opportunity to play a sport that offers a diverse range of teams and socials. We offer competitive men's and women’s teams, a mixed team, and Dev teams. Joining lacrosse will mean you are a part of a sports team that fosters a sense of community and belonging.

What's on in the local area?

University sport returns

2 October

University of Warwick campus

The start of the 24/25 academic year will also see the return of university sport. Every Wednesday Warwick clubs will compete against other universities at home or away.

Joining WUCC is the cheapest and most social way to enjoy climbing and bouldering at Warwick. We hold 5x2hr sessions per week where new and advanced climbers can enjoy the benefits of club membership. You can rent equipment for free (shoes, harness, rope, belay device, etc), find climbing partners, and receive lessons on top rope and lead belaying. Furthermore, we run a variety of outdoor trips throughout all terms, including an international tour in Europe.

Now that you have read about some of the University of Warwick's sports clubs and what they have to offer, this is what you need to do next.

1Check out their social media profiles. The Boar Sport has included the Instagram handles of all of the clubs that have been featured. Looking at the clubs social media accounts will allow you to see pictures of what they get up to. Also, many clubs will have posted the results of last season's fixtures!

2Look at what different sports clubs are offering in Welcome Week by checking the Welcome Week timetable. This will let you know what taster sessions you can attend and when.

3Head over to the sports fair to speak to members of different sports societies. Students who are on the exec committees, or are heavily involved in the clubs, will be at different stands ready to answer any of your questions!

4Attend taster sessions during the first couple of weeks. These sessions are free and will allow you to see how different societies train.

5Once you've decided what you want to join, log into the Warwick Students' Union (SU) website and purchase your membership. You will also need to buy a Warwick Sports Club Pass and pay the federation fee.

Rugby Borough WFC

13 October

At home: Nationwide Windows Arena Against: Stourbridge WFC

Rugby Borough WFC is a Coventry based women's football side who compete in the women's National League North which is the third tier of women's football.

Coventry

29 September

Blaze

At home: Planet Ice Coventry

Against: Nottingham Panthers

Conventry Blaze is a British professional ice hockey team who compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

Leamington FC

5 October

At home: Co-Op Community Stadium Against: Scarborough Athletic

Leamington FC is a football club based in Leamington Spa. Their men's team compete in the Vanarama National League North. Last season, they came 10th out of 24 teams in this league.

Coventry City FC

1 October

At home: Coventry Building Society Arena Against: Blackburn Rovers

Coventry City FC plays in the EFL Championship which is the second tier of English football. Last season, the club reached the FA Cup semi-final.

» Images from top to bottom: Leamington FC, Rugby Borough WFC, Coventry Blaze / Wikimedia Commons, Leamington FC, Amakuru / Wikimedia Commons

Images: Warwick media library

SPORT

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Premier League and Women’s Super League: What to expect

The Premier League

Seba Bayliss, he/him Writer

ThePremier League is set to provide many exciting matches in the 24/25 season.

Arsenal and Manchester City are two teams to look out for this season, as fans expect them to be racing for the title. With Arteta never finishing above the City side and Guardiola entering what seems to be his final season for the Citizens, this really does feel like the last dance for Arteta to surmount his final hurdle and beat the man who taught him so much.

Both Arsenal and Manchester City have had relatively quiet transfer windows, choosing to dip in and bolster key areas rather than necessarily making a marquee signing. Savinho looks like an exciting talent who gives Manchester City a more direct outlook on the right wing compared to the tricky Foden, and the return of Gundogan on a free from Barcelona strengthens an already packed City midfield. For Arsenal, they have brought in Bologna defender Califiori and Real Sociedad midfield Mikel Merino, who both should strengthen the left-hand side of defence and attack, an area of weakness last year for the Gunners.

The difference maker in this year’s title race may be Jurrien Timber. Timber, who spent the entirety of last season on the sidelines with a torn ACL, seems to be Arsenal’s long-awaited answer for an inverted full-back, both strong defensively in a one-v-one and assured at receiving and playing the ball on the inside. He may just be able to take Arsenal to their first title in 21 years.

There are several debutant managers plying their trade in the Premier League for their first time, each of whom has a unique challenge ahead. Arne

Maresca’s large Chelsea squad means that it is rife with conflicting egos and unhappy fringe players. His brutal cutdown of the squad is a risky ploy and if they do not manage to sell, they could have more negative influences in the dressing room than positive ones. The most interesting manager to watch will be Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler, who at 31 is the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history.

Let the 38-game season, full of shock upsets, last minute winners, and pure adrenaline riding football begin

Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton have been promoted to the Premier League and make up the bottom three of squad market values, emphasising the largening financial gap between the clubs in the top two leagues.

Ipswich’s signing of Sam Szmodics from Blackburn for £9 million could prove to be the key part in the Tractor Boys’ effort to keep their place in the Premier League. He scored 27 goals in 44 games last season, finishing as the Championship’s top goal scorer and if he can replicate his form, it may just be enough.

Leicester has a plethora of attacking talent from the veteran Vardy to the exciting Fatawu, but their defence still remains an area of concern for Steve Cooper. Leicester’s backline could be the bane of an otherwise exciting attacking side and with a points deduction looming they’re a squad that is expected to face demotion.

As with Leicester, Russel Martin will be looking to create strong defensive foundations to keep the Saints up. It is rare that a top-quality keeper is available on the market and it’s even rarer that a newly promoted team are able to sign him, but Southampton’s signing of Ramsdale is one such occasion. Ramsdale’s save percentage is around 15% higher than that of Bazunu and in games of tight margins, that could be the difference in losses of precious points.

All that’s left to say is let the 38-game season, full of shock upsets, last minute winners, a few points deductions, and pure adrenaline riding football begin.

The Women’s Super League

Frida

Protheroe, she/her Writer

TheBarclays Women’s Super League (WSL) is returning on Friday, 20 September for its 14th season.

This season will be different to the rest, as over the break the WSL has announced its ‘new era’ in which there has been a transfer of ownership of the top two leagues in England. A new independent company, the Women’s Professional League Limited (WPLL) has taken over responsibility for the Barclays WSL and Barclays Women’s Championship from The Football Association. This is in a move to increase the professionalism of the women’s game, independent of the men’s game.

This season is also set to see clubs bringing in big crowds. Attendance records last season were at a high and so far, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool have all scheduled 3 of their WSL home matches in their respective ‘men’s’ stadiums. Meanwhile, Arsenal have announced that 8 of their WSL matches are to be played at the Emirates. Additionally, Aston Villa will play all their WSL home matches in Villa Park, under a new initiative to make Villa Park the women’s team home, and Leicester City have announced that 11 of their WSL matches will be played at the King Power Stadium which has been the women’s primary home since 2021.

The opening weekend is set to be exciting across the board

The opening weekend is set to be exciting across the board. One game to watch is Arsenal being confronted by the travelling Manchester City. City will be bringing with them arguably their biggest signing of the summer Vivianne Miedema, who is the top goal scorer in the WSL and previously a long-term Arsenal goal scorer. The end of the 23/24 season saw the promotion of Crystal Palace F.C. Women, placing them back in the WSL. The club has made steps internally to aid their transition to the WSL: they have announced a new pitch at the VBS community stadium with a dedicated away end, where they will host their home matches, to support competing at an elite level. Furthermore, they have released season tickets

to create more dedicated fan support. The team has made six signings over the summer and will be exciting to watch when they play Tottenham Hotspur on the opening weekend.

Liverpool FC Women impressed in the 23/24 season, finishing in 4th position on the WSL table. This meant moving up three places from 7th at the end of the 22/23 season and finishing above Manchester United, who have consistently battled in the top 4 since joining the league. Summer signings for Liverpool have consisted of Gemma Evans from Manchester United, Swed ish forward Cornelia Kapocs, and Canadian international midfielder Olivia Smith. However, the trans fer window also saw the loss of a long-serving player to the club, Missy Bo Kearns. To close the gap between 4th and the top three on the table, consistency in wins and a much higher goal tally must be achieved, however clearly the club is blustering its attack.

Manchester United must now battle back into the top of the table. The club has seen many losses this transfer window. They have said goodbye to their Captain Katie Zelem, regular starter Lu cia Garcia, and BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023,

Mary Earps. Maya Le Tissier will now take the captaincy, and the club have signed PFA Young Player of the Year 2024, Grace Clinton. The reigning WSL champions of 5 years, Chelsea, are starting this season with a new manager, Sonia Bompastor. This change for Chelsea is huge as their prior manager, Emma Hayes, had led the team for 12 years. The Blues have signed Lucy Bronze and Julia Bartel from Barcelona, and Oriane Jean-Francois and Sandy Baltimore from PSG Feminines. Although, they will start their season without their star scorer Sam Kerr who is ruled

» Images: Wikimedia Commons / Carlo Bruil Fotografie (bottom left), Wikimedia Commons / Ryanasman1 (bottom right), Frida Protheroe / The Boar (top