May Week 2017 by The Cambridge Student

The

Cambridge

19 June 2017 Vol. 18 May Week Edition www.tcs.cam.ac.uk

Student

Penalties faced by CUSU candidates as voting continues

• •

Eyre’s presidential campaign briefly suspended

Jackson warned for being “unacceptably aggressive”

Matt Gurtler

he CUSU Election Committee (EC) released a statement on Wednesday asserting that Daisy Eyre’s CUSU presidential campaign would be suspended for nine hours, following reports that a leaflet was circulated in Homerton which personally attacked another candidate. Eyre’s campaign was initially suspended for 12 hours after a complaint was lodged concerning a leaflet that had the words “Jack Drury is a lying Tory” written in red pen on the back. It also had been graffitied with the suggestion to vote “1. Daisy, 2. Re-Open, 3. Keir, 4. Jack”. In a Facebook post, the Elections Committee stated: “The EC emphasises that personal attacks of this nature are unacceptable and the Eyre campaign has had this reinforced with them. The EC wish to see this campaign fought cleanly and on policies, and will not allow such conduct.” However, after having held a disciplinary meeting with the Eyre campaign, the EC issued another statement announcing that the ban has been shortened due to “the Eyre campaign’s complete condemnation of the activity and stated intention to take remedial action.”

Speaking to The Cambridge Student, Presidential hopeful Eyre said, “We are absolutely shocked and disappointed by the incident which came to light this [Wednesday] morning. Writing this inappropriate and disrespectful remark on one of my flyers is entirely at odds with my campaign. I do not know where the flyer came from and I hope it was not from anyone who supports me. We have no evidence of the source of this defaced flyer and I entirely condemn it.” Separately, University Councillor candidate Josh Jackson had been called in for a disciplinary meeting, after his campaign was deemed “unacceptably aggressive” by the EC. At hustings , Jackson was accused of defamation and slander by incumbent Umang Khandelwal. He repeatedly accused her tenure of lacking transparency and accountability, and tension was palpable as she corrected his pronunciation of her name. Jackson commented to The Cambridge Student: “At the beginning of this election CUSU said that we were allowed to attack other candidates. Throughout this election I have consistently drawn attention to the record of inaction and lack of accountability [...] I haven’t made any personal attacks.” A view of Cambridge from the top of Castle Mound on a crisp Spring day More on CUSU Election p. 3 → Image: Lili Bidwell

Pink Week raises record £33,000 for cancer charities Khushali Dodhia Pink Week 2017 has raised a record total of £33,688.35 for breast cancer charities, smashing its target of £30,000 and up from the £24,078 raised last year. The rise in donations came in spite of controversy during the week, when the Pink Week ball had to be shut down early, allegedly due to the destructive behaviour of its guests. The ball nevertheless raised £24,000, £15,000 of which was raised in the first 30 minutes of ticket sales, according to organisers. Speaking to The Cambridge Student, the Pink Week committee said: “The enthusiasm for Cambridge Pink Week has grown year on year, and we hope that our fundraising achievements are paralleled by an increase in awareness of breast cancer, and individual body norms. “A month on from Pink Week 2017, we hope that a monthly check for signs of breast cancer becomes routine. Because early detection saves lives. “Pink Week could not have happened without the huge support of those beyond the organising committee – we have been overwhelmed by the support of the Cambridge community in our initiatives, and hope it will continue for Pink Week 2018.” Pink Week was founded in 2011 by Cambridge alumnus Nina Rauch, in honour of her mother Dina Rabinovitch, a former Guardian columnist who died from breast cancer.

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

News

Editorial Team 19 June 2017

Volume 18 • May Week Edition

Editor-in-Chief

Lili Bidwell

Deputy Editor

Sophie Dickinson

News Editors

Noella Chye Caithlin Ng Hettie O’Brien Kasia Ruszkowski

Deputy News Editors Features Editors

Chantal Aberdeen Juliette Bretan

Comment Editor

Juliette Bretan

Interviews Editor

Molly Moss

Sports Editor

Tom Higgins Toon

Theatre Editor

Anunita Chandrasekar

Fashion & Beauty Editor

Anna Nightingale

Food and Drink Editor

Emer O’Hanlon

Music Editor

Pippa Smith

Lifestyle Editor

Dee Dee Lee

Columns Editor

Celia Morris

TV & Film Editor

Eliza Dickinson

Books Editor

Cait Findlay

Chief Sub Editors

Cait Findlay Amy Bretton

Sub Editor

Hannah Prentice

Social Media Manager

Joanna Taylor

Staff Illustrator

Beatrice Obe

Directors

Lili Bidwell Tom Patrick Urvie Periera Will Tilbrook

BEATRICE OBE

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May Balls are not as easy as they seem...

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

News

May Bumps 2017: Jesus W1’s double success Jesus First Women’s crew win headship in both Lent and May bumps Lili Bidwell

n Saturday 17 May the First Women’s crew from Jesus College Boat Club rowed to victory, winning head of the river for the second time this year. It is a very rare occurrence for the same crew to be head of the river in both Lent and May Bumps, especially in the women’s division. Lady Margaret W1 were the first to achieve this feat in 1992, Emmanuel W1 were next in 1995, Downing W1 had a winning streak in both 2011 and 2012, making Jesus W1 the fifth crew to ever be head of the river in Lents and Mays. This is the fifth time that the Jesus Women have been head of the river in Lent bumps and the sixth time in May Bumps since women began racing in the competitions in 1976 and 1974 respectively.

The Women’s crew have trained hard since maintaining their headship by rowing over on four consecutive days in Lent bumps. Women’s Captain Abigail Smith spoke to TCS on Saturday: “I am so happy, this just goes to show that hard work pays off, and that our coach is fantastic!” The Jesus College Boat Club gathered in Jesus College at 6:45pm on Saturday evening to burn a boat, as is their tradition.

The Jesus College Boat Club Webmaster Matthew March posted on the Jesus College Facebook page publicising this: “Following the massive achievement of W1 finishing May Bumps as head of the river this year, a boat will be burned, as is tradition, before the Mays Dinner. “This will be held by the Park Street exit from college, and those attending the dinner will be directed here from the champagne reception when it

is ready. Other members of college are welcome to attend, but please respect the cordons and instructions of porters and the boat club members organising the burning.” The posts on the river will be painted red and black in honour of their headship, and the same will be done to celebrate Lady Margaret M1’s Mays headship for the second time in a row. The Bumps competition first took place in Cambridge in 1827, and ANGUS PARKER

The Bumps competition first happened in Cambridge in 1827 In order to bump a crew you must either have contact with the boat in front, or gain overlap to the point where the chasing boat’s stern passes the bow of the boat in front. The cox must then raise their hand to concede the bump and the crews clear the river in order to make way for the boats coming up behind them. There are five men’s divisions and four women’s, normally each having seventeen crews. The crews who are at the top of each division other than the first, must row twice as sandwich boat, first in the lower division, and then in the one above. In order to win headship, a crew must finish in first place in the first division at the end of the competition in which each crew must row a total of four times, normally over four or five days.

Jesus W1 won head of the river for the second time this year The Jesus Men, who have been competing far longer than the women and have raced since the very beginning of the competition, have obtained double headship a total of fourteen times since Bumps began in 1887. The last time the men won double headship was 1972, and they have not been head of the river since 1974 when they won Lent Bumps.

before that in Oxford in 1815, and is especially suited to the Cam and the Isis rivers which are so narrow they make side-by-side racing problematic. Bumps instead consists of boats starting one and a half lengths apart from one another, and all setting off at the same time, signalled by a cannon that goes off beneath the railway bridge. The aim is for the crews to catch the boat ahead before they are bumped from behind.

Jesus W1 racing on the final day of the May Bumps competition

‘Blackface’ May Ball act sparks outrage

Current MML departments to be “dissolved”

Will Tilbrook

Kasia Ruszkowski Deputy News Editor

Beyoncé tribute performer has caused significant offence due to the fact that she used cosmetics to darken her skin tone for a performance at Robinson May Ball. The singer Leanne Harper, who is white, completed her set as ‘Beeyonce’ on the main stage on Saturday, resulting in some students taking to social media to express their disgust. Lola Olufemi, incoming CUSU Women’s Officer, tweeted: “ I don’t kno what smacked more, the fact that in 2017 organizers couldn’t do a common google search 2 check the validity of their performer. Or being reminded, even at one of your final events @ camb, surrounded by friends you love, that black people at this uni get no REST” Harper had been billed to perform at Durham Pride earlier this year, but

Robinson May Ball Committee have apologised

her appearance was cancelled after a number of university groups boycotted. At the time, Harper was quoted in the Daily Mail: “I only put on St Tropez tan like I would for a night out.” The May Ball Committee’s statement is: “We would like to sincerely apologise for any offence caused by the Beyoncé tribute act at Robinson May Ball last night. This was a bona fide act booked through a recognised agency, and no offence was intended by any member of the Committee or anyone associated with it. We will happily receive any comments or issues raised by attendees and those affected – please address these to the Committee at presidents2017@robinsonmayball. co.uk. We will be working with next year’s Committee to avoid similar occurrences. Finally, we would like to reiterate our apologies and thank all guests for their patience and understanding in this matter.”

he Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages (MML) is set to undergo major reorganisation, as revealed by The Cambridge University Reporter. Under the new proposals, the departments of French, German and Dutch, Italian, Slavonic Studies, Spanish and Portuguese, and Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, which currently make up the MML Faculty, would be dissolved, leaving all students simply members of the Faculty of MML. According to the report, this reorganisation is indeed supported by staff of the individual departments within the faculty. This follows a Learning and Teaching review from 2014-15 which recommended that the governance

No heads of department will be appointed for next year

structure of the faculty should be reviewed, allowing the Faculty Board to “take a more strategic view of its finances and planning.” It is also hoped that the restructuring of the Faculty will “provide better support to the Faculty’s research endeavours, the teaching of MML, History and Modern Languages, and Linguistics Triposes, and the conduct of graduate studies within the Faculty.” In order to “smooth the transition to the new structure”, no new Heads of Departments are to be appointed from 1 October 2017, with Directors in each language/subject area being appointed instead. The reorganisation also includes the renaming of the faculty in order to “reflect the presence of linguistics”. The Department of Archaeology and Anthropology is also set to be restructured next year; when it will be split into two separate entities.

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

News

Hundreds flock to Jesus Lock for T

What the race is all about Tom Higgins Toon

rmed with little more than cardboard, creative imaginations and a penchant for poor political puns, scores of teams set off down the Cam this afternoon in a bid to win the annual Cardboard Boat Race. As ever, thousands of enraptured and slightly bemused tourists turned up to cheer on the plucky students (drunk and debauched revellers, for our Daily Mail readers) as they attempted to propel their vessels down the river past Jesus Green. With the metaphoric allure of submersion and sinking too great for the more politically fervent amongst the competitors, onlookers were treated to such witty names as HMS Jeremy Corboat (‘For the many, not the few’) and Strong and Stable Leadership. Perhaps strangely for one of the safest Labour seats in the country, several teams turned against HMS Jeremy Corboat midrace, causing most of the crew to jump ship. Performance is of course measured in part in the quality of team name, and particular praise must be reserved for The Three Gonvilleers, the visually striking HMS Eggy Bread and — my personal favourite — Pirates of the Can-of-beer, whose entrants no doubt mistook the event for a pub quiz. Judging from the design of some of the vessels, it is clear that the imagination of all those involved was not restricted to the linguistic domain. One group elected for a speedboat design, carving out a cardboard

Pirates of the Can-ofbeer, whose entrants no doubt mistook the event for a pub quiz

motor (before anyone gets any ideas, real motorised propulsion is strictly forbidden — anyone caught out will immediately be chugged out the race) whilst another team channeled their inner Steve Redgrave by constructing a proper eight-man rowing boat. Other methods are perfectly legal, and in addition to the numerous paddles on show, one group contributed wonderfully to the nautical puns by pilfering a collection of wet-floor signs as a means of propulsion. A team of Selwyn (Sailwyn?) engineers were clearly expecting windy conditions, adorning their vessel with a seven-metre mast, yet their efforts were all in vain for it met a watery grave just minutes after entering the water. Serves them right for cheating, wrapping their craft in a large plastic bag in an illegal and ultimately unsuccessful bid to provide some waterproofing. That style is no guaranteer of success is evident from the nature of the craft chosen by the eventual winners of the race, the Hollfelder Group. With the only ornamental feature a placard reading ‘Hollfelder Group. Still funded by the EU’, this team of natural scientists elected for a strong and stable design in the form of a small box stuck firmly onto a flat base. Before anyone writes a strongly-worded letter to the Council to complain about the mess, recycling bins were provided so that all the soggy cardboard could be collected after the festivities, entrants were also required to pay a small donation, £3 was recommended, towards the costs of running the event and the costs to the council for the chaos caused.

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

The Cardboard Boat Race 2017

News

“The goal is simple: get the boat in the water, hope it doesn’t sink and enjoy a few beers” Tom Higgins Toon

CS talks sails, sinking and structural integrity with Selwyn engineer and 2017 Cardboard Boat Race hopeful Matt Escott. The rules forbid the use of anything other than cardboard, gaffa tape and PVA, yet Escott does not seem too fazed when I remind him that his team’s boat is shrinkwrapped in plastic, a material banned for its waterproofing properties: “It’s a massive free for all really. They’re only guidelines, right?! We’re just going to slip it in the river; once you’re in, there’s not much time before cardboard begins to soak through.” Intrigued by his ambivalence towards cheating in such an elite-sport, I set out to find out more about this curious race and tease out other tasty nuggets of information. So, your boat technically breaks the rules. Anything else strange about it? Well, it’s got a sail. None of us can sail, for a start, but then again most people can’t even get off the starting blocks. I take it you’re taking it very seriously then… Not at all! Only one or two teams take it seriously, especially Queens’. The others just sit on the river and drink their beers. Got any ideas for propulsion? We’ve got lacrosse sticks with duct tape over the top. Increase that surface area, right?!. I hope there will be no panicking when we start sinking and lose them in the bottom of the Cam. College might be a bit upset with that…

“We’ve got lacrosse sticks with duct tape over the top”

That’s pretty clever. What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve seen so far? Last year, a guy used a bike as propulsion — not technically within the rules, but it was one of the best boats on the Cam. Also, special mention must be made for the group that used a wet floor sign as a paddle. That works on so many levels. How do you actually ‘win’ the race? Is it just who manages the make the finishing line? I think there are a lot of winners! There’s the winner across the finish line, the winner who drinks the most beer, the winner who stays afloat the longest. Everyone’s a winner really. Is this a last minute thing then? Or have you been thinking about it for months? A few weeks, I think. We’ve needed to get hold of cardboard from skips, carpet stores… You’ve been nicking them in the dead of night?! No! We rang them up and got permission to take their rubbish. Then you’ve got the hassle of getting four or five metre long tubes across Cambridge How are you going to do that? We’re going to do it with bikes. We’ve got four bikes, strap them together and get like a train of cardboard tubes travelling through Cambridge. Doesn’t sound very safe! Can’t you just carry it, one person on each corner? All in all it sounds like the boat race will bring excitement and enjoyment to this optimistic and ambitious competitor.

ALL PHOTOS: CAIT FINDLAY

News

NEWS BULLETIN Suspected brothel raided near Cambridge On Wednesday morning the police raided a flat on Chieftan Way, Orchard Park, South Cambridgeshire, which was suspected to be operating as a brothel, as reported by Cambridge News. The raid took place between 10:30am and 15:30pm. There are two men and a woman who are currently under investigation on suspicion of running a brothel while 16 others are being questioned as witnesses. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said that: “The three people arrested, two men aged 53 and 46, and a 31-year-old woman have been released but remain under investigation.” They also added that “sixteen other people from the scene are being treated as witnesses.”

Naked cyclists take to the streets of Cambridge This year’s World Naked Bike Ride came to Cambridge on Saturday, June 17, and saw hundreds of cyclists cover an eight-mile long route starting and ending at Parker’s Piece. The dress code was, as per usual, “as bare as you dare”, and the event intended to raise awareness of the vulnerability of cyclists, and our dependency on fossil fuels and car usage. Mike Clarke, one of its organisers, said, prior to the event, “Cambridge is a lovely city to ride around. It’s got some very good cycling infrastructure. “It’s one of the premier cycling cities in the UK but when you compare it to a Dutch city it does fall short. There’s far too much traffic in Cambridge.” It appeared to be that most of the cyclists this year were men, with many also choosing to wear their helmets for safety purposes.

‘The bin man’ bin outside St. Catharine’s College disappears

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

“Flair”, “brilliance” and “genius” hold implicit gender bias and “assumptions of gender inequality”, says Cambridge history lecturer Noella Chye News Editor

“It would be impossible to teach history without men in it,” she said. Analyses of past years’ results have shown that men obtain more first class degrees than women in Oxford and Cambridge, which has been attributed to the “male-dominated environment” in both universities. This is not the first nor the only measure which the university’s History faculty has put in place to combat implicit gender bias. Confidence-building workshops are run in the term leading up to exams, due to the possibility that it is the higher levels of self-assurance which male students develop and female

students are less able to devlop which affects their results. Over at ‘the other place’, changes are also underway in the History faculty at Oxford. This May, the university announced that following a major shakeup in the curriculum, undergraduate students of History will be required to take an examination on non-British, nonEuropean history. The scheme has experienced mixed reception, with some challenging the suggestion that one paper will be able to decolonise the entire curriculum, whilst other applauded the effort that is being made.

ucy Delap, deputy director of history and policy and lecturer in British history, has revealed that History tutors are told not to use Men obtain terms such as “flair”, “brilliance” and “genius” as they “carry assumptions of more gender inequality.” first class “Some of those words, in particular ‘genius’, have a very long intellectual degrees history where it has long been associated with qualities culturally assumed to be male”, Delap, who specialises in gender history, told The Telegraph. These comments come in the midst STEVE CADMAN/ FLICKR of an overhaul of the university’s History curriculum. “We’re rewriting our first two years of our History degree to create a wider set of paper choices, to make assessment criteria clearer, and to really try and root out the unhelpful and very vague talk of ‘genius’, of ‘brilliance’, of ‘flair’ which carries assumptions of gender inequality and also of class and ethnicity.” Delap stated. She raises the examples of portraits of men hanging on the walls of various colleges, and reading lists which are dominated by male writers. Dr Delap also argued on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that there is currently no attempt to censor this Cambridge’s History Faculty is seeking to root out gender bias in its curiculum and classes male influence.

The busker who plays the guitar from a dustbin just outside St. Catharine’s College, or ‘the bin man’, as he is more affectionately referred to, was not seen for over a year. A week ago, the bin disappeared from its usual spot on King’s Parade, situated between St. Catherine’s College and King’s College. The Cambridge Student approached the city council for Kasia Ruszkowski an explanation, to which operation supervisor Roger Wills Deputy News Editor said, “I felt the bin was an eyesore in a most beautiful part of our city, as well as a possible hazard for passers-by.” ollowing a request from an He added, “The bin is in our compound and if the owner Australian man, the University comes to see us here, we will happily hand it back to him of Cambridge has refused to so he can continue on his musical journey.” return important Aboriginal artefacts A week after its disappearance, however, both the bin taken nearly 250 years ago by British and busking bin-man are now back in place. explorer Captain James Cook, as reported by Reuters. The artefacts in question are four spears which are currently kept in the University’s museum of Archeology Dr Emily Shuckburgh, Darwin fellow and British Antarctic and Anthropology. Rodney Kelly is Survey oceanographer, has spoken out against Trump’s requesting their return on behalf of the Gweagal people, who traditionally climate change policies (or lack thereof). For Shuckburgh, there are multiple threads in the inhabited southern Sydney. The spears were taken in 1770 after issue. Firstly, it is the most central intergenerational issue we face today and secondly, the commercial benefits of an encounter between Aborigines and implementing environmentally-friendly policies must be Europeans on Botany Bay. Kelly is also seeking repatriation recognised. China has realised this, while Trump in the US has not. Failure to attempt to resolve the issue places the US for a shield, now held by the British Museum, which was taken along with on the wrong end of the stick in both ways. “The number one thing people can do is vote. Make your the spears. Cook’s arrival marked the first voice heard,” she told Cambridge News.

University refuses Aboriginal artefact repatriation

Darwin fellow condemns Donald Trump’s EPA policy

contact between the Aborigines and the British, and is seen as a prelude to the arrival of the first colonists in Australia eight years later. The University has rejected Kelly’s request for the return of these items, despite their historical importance as an important symbol of Aboriginal resistance to colonisation. A spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday: “Removing parts of the Cook-Sandwich collection, which is of great historical, scientific and educational importance, nationally and internationally, would cause considerable harm by depriving the collection of its integrity.” According to the University, it is important that any request for the spears to be moved is made by “accredited representatives of the Gweagal people.” In addition, it stated that the request did not present an alternative solution for housing and conserving the spears,

“It makes me angry that they are trying to discredit me and my history.”

and that the University disputed Kelly’s claims to be a direct descendant of the Gweagal Warrior Cooman, whom he claims owned the shield and spears. Kelly has spoken out against this, telling Reuters: “it makes me angry that they are trying to discredit me and my history.” This is not the first time that the University has been involved in rows involving repatriation of artefacts. Last year there were calls for Jesus College to return the statue of a bronze cockrel that had been on public display in the grounds since 1930, but had originated in Nigeria. It had been looted in a British expedition to Benin in 1897 and then bequeathed to the College. However despite calls for the artefact to be returned, supported by a vote in favour of repatriation by Jesus College Student Union, the College has yet to return the bronze piece, but it has been “permanently removed” from display.

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

College Watch

Images: Jessica McHugh

Jesus

Jesus College have come together in support of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. On the Friday morning following the terrible fire, students at the College set up an area in the JCR where people could place donations for victims of the fire. The space was marked with a handmade sign, and was advertised on the Jesus College Facebook page with a post saying: “we’re organising a collection of clothes, toiletries and heavy-duty plastic boxes to send to the refuge centres for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. From Friday until Sunday, there’ll be a sign in the JCR for people to leave things and we are going to get them posted / dropped off soon after. Please please donate generously guys because this is such an awful tragedy and I really feel like it’s the least that we can do.” The students further stressed the need for boxes to help transport and post the donations in comments on the post. The pile of donations has since grown in the common room, and will be sent to the appropriate centres first thing on Monday morning. Lili Bidwell

Pembroke Trinity Hall St Edmund’s

The first anniversary of the death of Jo Cox MP was commemorated across the country this week. The Pembroke alumni and MP for Batley and Spen was stabbed on June 16, 2016 by rightwing activist Thomas Mair. In Cambridge at 2pm on Sunday, June 18th, a ‘Great Get Together’ was held at the Old Library in Pembroke College in memory of Cox. The event, which provided tea, coffee and cakes, was open to all college members and passers-by who wished to come by and remember the former Valencian and MP. Pembroke is also in the process of fundraising for research into ways of helping refugees, which Cox was deeply passionate about, according to Cambridge News. Cox was a member of the boat club as a student and in this year’s May Bumps, Pembroke rowers will wear ribbons in the Suffragette colours – violet, green and white, in her memory. Stephen Halliday, 74, a rowing coach at the College, told Cambridge News, “I really wanted to do something to remember her as she is like one of the family.” Noella Chye

A peacock which has been spotted roaming through St John’s, Fitzwilliam, and Lucy Cavendish colleges has now been sighted in the gardens of Trinity Hall’s accommodation in Storey’s Ways. The peacock was first spotted at St John’s, with a Facebook user posting a picture of it to the group Duckbridge, captioning it: “The rest of the university has ducks, in John’s they have peacocks.” Other students subsequently posted updates on the bird’s movements on Facebook, claiming to have sighted it at the maths department, and then at Lucy Cavendish. The peacock had a further escapade at Fitzwilliam, with Cambridge News reporting that it made its way to the second floor of student accommodation, and eluded capture by launching out of a window and shattering the glass. Fitzwilliam students have honoured the peacock by adding it to the college’s notable alumni list on Wikipedia, naming it as the “first peafowl to be admitted to the college (2017), renowned for exhibitionist behaviour”. Caithlin Ng

Mature college St Edmund’s has announced that it will be improving its courtyard and adding extra facilities, as part of renovation plans to makeover its grounds. Its plans also include extending existing current space, and adding a multi-use hall, college offices, research spaces, and 16 new student rooms. The planned improvements to its student rooms also include providing additional communal areas and replacing six maisonettes with new family accommodation units, which might be of special significance given that many of its students and academics are already partnered or have families. Matthew Bullock, master of St Edmund’s, said, “At 120 years old, St Edmund’s College is quite a young Cambridge college, but as a graduate and mature student college we have grown rapidly in the past 40 years on the back of the expansion of the university’s graduate student numbers. “The proposals will allow us to refurbish and make better use of our existing buildings.” Caithlin Ng

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

News

The news roundup THE OTHER PLACE

HEALTH

Oxford’s image catches up with Cambridge’s Oxford’s reputation has caught up with Cambridge’s for the first time since the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings began in 2010. The institutions were jointly ranked fourth, largely due to the appointment of Oxford’s first female Vice Chancellor, Louise Richardson, in January 2016.

_EVANTHIA_

Stress was a major factor for missed periods

BREXIT

36% of Cam students miss periods, says survey

Fears of ‘brain drain’ as EU staff leave UK unis

A third of Cambridge students with uteruses have missed periods during term time, the Cambridge Tab reports. Responses from a survey of over 1,000 people reveal that 36% of people have missed a period, with almost half of them citing stress as a factor. Other reasons given included eating disorders and contraceptives.

Cambridge has been particularly affected, by what the Guardian has described as a Brexit ‘brain drain’, losing 184 staff members from the European Union, an increase of 35% compared to figures from 201415. However, this does not take into account new members of staff arriving from the EU.

ELY

Climate scientist warns Ely to become island Cambridge fellow and climate expert Dr Emily Shuckburgh OBE has warned that the famously low-lying Fens could be submerged as sea levels rise, leaving Ely an island as it was in the 17th century before they were drained. Dr Shuckburgh, who has co-authored a book on climate change with Prince Charles, made the claims at the Ely Science Festival.

Hockney prints range from £500 to thousands

The number of staff members from the European Union who have left the University in the past year

CULTURE

PUNTING

Ely’s Babylon Gallery is to hold a selling exhibition of 40 original David Hockney prints and lithographs this month, including illustrations from Grimm’s Fairy Tales from the 1960s. Prices for the works will range from £500 to several thousand. The exhibition will take place from 23rd June to 23rd July.

Cambridge’s ban on punt touting has come under fire, as just 18 fines have been levied since it was introduced six months ago. The £75 fine has done little to deter punting companies, who openly flout the ban. Cambridge City council is currently reviewing the progress and impact of the order.

Ely gallery to sell David Hockney prints

ODDSOCK / FLICKR

184

Ineffective punt touting ban slammed

Week roundup

DILIFF

NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED FROM TCS.CAM.AC.UK

SOCIAL MEDIA

Interest in wheat field Facebook event grows

560

Hundreds of people from Cambridge apparently “went” to Facebook event Running Through A Field of Wheat. 560 people clicked attending, and 637 people were interested in the event, which was created by two students at Jesus as a response to Theresa May’s widely ridiculed “confession” of the naughtiest thing she had ever done.

The number of people ‘attending’ the Facebook event “Running Through a Field of Wheat”

STUDENT POLITICS

THE OTHER PLACE

CUSU launches Class Act

Oxford under fire for ‘sexist’ exam policy

Oxford University has been criticised after announcing history students will be able to sit one of their finalyear exams from home, in an attempt to close the gender gap. Some of its own faculty members have called the change a short-term solution, with historian and Oxford alumnus Amanda Foreman describing it as “so insulting” to women.

The policy has been deemed “insulting” to women

CUSU has launched its Class Act, a project seeking to reduce the impact of differences in the class, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds of students at Cambridge. A manifesto promise by current CUSU Access Officer Éireann Attridge, the campaign comes into fruition towards the end of her term.

POLICY EXCHANGE

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

Why should I care about... The dangers of tanning Noella Chye

very time we go out into the sunshine, our skin responds to this exposure by producing melanin, the same pigment which colours our hair, eyes, and skin – a protective measure for the DNA in our cells, as the melanin produced then ‘covers’ the cells, preventing them from absorbing excess UV light which can damage the cell nucleus. There are two mechanisms at play in this tanning process. The first is a quicker, more immediate one. Annet King of Refinery29 describes it as such: “UVA radiation causes oxidative stress, which in turn oxidizes existing melanin and leads to rapid darkening of the pigment.” It also causes the redistribution of existing melanin. Yet there is no increase in melanin production during this first process. The product is “quick, visible skin darkening that’s only cosmetic, lasting a few hours or days.” It is only during the second process that melanin is produced in response to the direct

DNA photo-damage caused by exposure to UVB rays. Its effects last for a far greater period of time, and only become visible 72 hours after exposure. Any time we undergo this second tanning process, King says, “you’ve accrued some serious aging and damage here, people!” For those with little concern for the aesthetic effects of tanning, such as ageing skin, there remain serious risks, the most significant of which is a potentially higher risk of skin cancer. There are two main types of skin cancer: melanoma and nonmelanoma. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes melanoma as “cancer that begins in the epidermal cells that produce melanin (melanocytes).” It is “the less common, but more dangerous form of skin cancer, [which] accounts for most of the deaths due to skin cancer each year.” The FDA also reports that “According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) melanoma is almost always curable when detected in its early stages.”

Non-melanomas are another term for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which occur in the basal or squamous cells at the base of the epidermis, inside and outside the body. The FDA reports that symptoms of non-melanoma skin cancer include “any changes on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole, birthmark, or other dark pigmentation”, “unexplained scaliness, oozing, or bleeding on the skin’s surface” and “a spot on the skin that suddenly feels itchy, tender, or painful”. The link between sun tanning and skin cancer is yet unproven, though strong evidence suggests exposure to both UVA and UVB rays, can cause skin cancer. The FDA reports that UV radiation may promote skin cancer in two different ways: firstly, by “damaging the DNA in skin cells, causing the skin to grow abnormally and develop benign or malignant growths”, and secondly, “by weakening the immune system and compromising the body’s natural defenses against aggressive cancer cells.” BRIAN DESROSIERS PHOTOGRAPHY

NASA announced its 22nd class of astronauts on June 7th. The team includes seven men and five women, chosen from more than 18,300 applicants. While their destination is yet unconfirmed, there is a good chance that they will leave the planet in the coming years. Its members vary in ages from 29 to 42, as well as in careers. Lieutenant Kayla Barron and Lieutenant Commander Matthew Dominick come from the US Navy, while Zena Cardman is a research fellow at Pennsylvania State University, and Warren Hoburg is an assistant professor at MIT. Lt. Col. Raja Chari of the US Air Force, Maj. Jasmin Moghbeli of the US Marine Corps, and Major Frank Rubio of the US Army all hail from the US armed forces, while research pilot at NASA Bob Hines, research engineer Loral O’Hara and postdoctoral fellow at Caltech, Jessica Watkins come from research backgrounds.

The remains of an Aztec temple were found in the heart of Mexico City on June 12th. The site is “on a nondescript side street just behind a colonial-era Roman Catholic cathedral and on the grounds of a 1950s-era hotel”, The New York Times reports. The Aztec, or Mexica, people founded the last of the great civilizations that existed in Mexico before the Spanish invasion, which occurred in February 1519. Their empire lasted from around 1325 to 1521, and is most famous for developing an intricate social, political and religious organisation. The excavations began in 2009, and reveal “a section of what was the foundation of a huge circular temple dedicated to the Aztec wind god Ehecatl and a part of a ritual ball court.” Furthermore, 32 severed male neck vertebrae were found in a pile next to the court, which archaeologists believe were sacrifices linked to the Aztec ball game.

Science

Debunking the tricks for your tipple the alcohol one has already consumed. Secondly, it is also often believed that coffee will sober one up. Perhaps, n the lead-up to May Week, a week it may be argued, the jolt from the often filled with copious quantities caffeine will combat one’s alcoholof free-flowing alcohol at May induced swoons. Not quite. The only Balls and garden parties alike, fellow way to sober up is to process and expel event attendees may turn to a number the alcohol. While coffee may jolt of common myths about alcohol you awake, it will do little to aid this consumption, such as mixing different process. Only time can help with this. types of alcohol gets one drunk more quickly, or that eating carbohydrates sobers you up, often quoted as a The thing to do is to eat justification for yet another round of before drinking, not after cheesy chips. In an effort to help our readers get through May Week unscathed, or, at Last, but certainly not least, is what the very least, with as few hangovers as seems to be the myth quoted most possible, TCS debunks three common often – that consuming carbohydrates myths about alcohol. helps one sober up more quickly. The first myth is that being sick Rationalisations of this myth often helps one sober up, by regurgitating involve the idea that carbohydrates any undigested alcohol before it enters ‘soak up’ the alcohol in one’s body, such our bloodstream. The myth can be that less of it enters the bloodstream perpetuated during attempts to throw leading to your brain, reducing its up the drinks one has consumed effects. throughout a night in an effort to As mentioned before, alcohol avoid a hangover the morning after. absorption happens almost Unfortunately, alcohol absorption immediately after it has been consumed. This means that even if carbohydates could absorb the alcohol Perhaps, it may be in our bodies, they would not do so in argued, the jolt from time to stop it from being absorbed. the caffeine will combat The thing to do is to eat before drinking, not after. Online magazine one’s alcohol-induced Greatist explains, “The body begins swoons. absorbing alcohol through the stomach lining and small intestine, so happens almost immediately after if your tummy is full of food, it will its consumption, meaning that if one take longer for the buzz to sink in.” With all this in mind, you can enjoy attempts to throw up a drink from earlier in the night, it will make little your May Week better-equipped to to no difference. There simply is no fight those hangovers, and to truly way around experiencing the effects of make the most of May Balls.

Noella Chye

A new cancer drug, pembrolizumab (brand name Keytruda) has been shown to be effective against cancers which arise from the growth of tumours as a result of a particular genetic abnormality. The drug was tested on 86 cancer patients, all of whom had cancers which resisted the standard treatment, but who had a variety of different types of cancer. Some had tumors of the pancreas, prostate, uterus, or bone. The New York Times reports, “One woman had a cancer so rare there were no tested treatments. She was told to get her affairs in order.” The drug has proven so excitingly effective that it has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Association (FDA). “After taking pembrolizumab, 66 patients had their tumors shrink substantially and stabilize, instead of continuing to grow. Among them were 18 patients whose tumors vanished and have not returned”, NY Times reports.

MAURIZIO PESCE

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

Features

The transient population: Voting in Cambridge Chantal Aberdeen & Juliette Bretan Features Editors

here do you live? No, it’s not a trick question – although perhaps it would be better to ask a slightly different one: where do you call home? Students, after all, have two addresses – their university accomodation, and the home that they spend the holidays in. While some might call their room at university ‘home’, others insist on making the distinction between where they live for their studies and their family home – even though they might spend more time in the former than the latter. Many students, after their first year, choose to rent a home with a group of friends – meaning such students could remain in this home permanently for the entire year, both during and outside of their university’s terms. This is not the case in Cambridge, however. What with the short eight week terms, students are usually only in the city from 24 to 30 weeks of the year – meaning some students will be living at their university address for less than half a year, especially seeing as many colleges do not allow students to stay in their accomodation over the vacation. Despite this, all students, including those at Cambridge, are recognised as having a “commitment to each place” which they inhabit. Regardless of one’s personal view, it is undeniable that, for the duration of our university course, we straddle both residencies in equal measure; we are both within and without each district, living on a fine cusp of occupancy that leaves us tied to two regions, two locations, two homes. So where does this leave us when we have to ally ourselves to only one place, such as in the case of voting? It was in 1970 that this issue reached the fore: in the case of Fox vs Stirk, two students from Cambridge and Bristol Universities appealed against the refusal of electoral registration officers in their University towns to include their names on the electoral register for February 1970, on the grounds that they were not “resident” in the constituencies. It was a case that raised the question of the meaning of residency. The definition of this term might still remain uncertain, but it was determined by Lord Denning to mean “a person may properly be said to be “resident” in a place when his stay there

has a considerable degree of permanence”. It is within this “considerable degree of permanence” that the right to vote becomes most critical. After all, as Lord Denning acknowledged, international students could vote in their University constituencies whereas home students were unable to – an anomaly that he recognised needed ameliorating. There was also the matter of absence and residence at any address: Lord Denning asserted that anyone can have “two residences”, and whilst “temporary presence at an address does not make a man resident there”, it was also true that “temporary absence does not deprive a person of his residence”. Though the two students were unable to occupy their rooms for the entire year, it was found that they had a “considerable degree of permanence” in their University constituencies and hence could be classed as residents. The case found in favour of the two students and the law was changed: students were deemed to qualify as resident in both their hometowns and their University towns, and thus had the ability to choose to vote in either place. It is clear, therefore, that having a choice of constituency in which to vote – either that of your university address or of your home address – is not as uncontroversial as might be assumed. Indeed, as a recent TCS article pointed out, Labour was successful in the 2017 General Election in constituencies with Russell Group universities. This included the areas which had students voting from the University of Warwick, the University of Durham, the University of Manchester, here in Cambridge, and also in many other university cities. Considering how significantly the students swung the vote, some might might wonder if Labour would still have won in these constituencies if it hadn’t been for them. Of the ‘permanent’ locals we spoke to, many expressed their displeasure because it felt as though their voices were being drowned out. One gentleman, who has lived in Cambridge for fifty years, told us “there’s no point me voting”, another asserting his belief “if it wasn’t for the students, Labour wouldn’t have been elected”. It seems there are two things that form the foundation of opposition to the vote of students in Cambridge: differing BEATRICE OBE

Life in Cambridge: G

political opinions and short length of residency. It would appear that, to some locals, students breeze into the city, sway the election, and then breeze out again to be unaffected by the consequences of their choice in the same way that the more permanent residents of the city are. However, looking at the different Cambridge MPs since students were first allowed to vote here would suggest otherwise: although the last Conservative MP was elected in 1987, and the constituency has since usually been a close race between the Liberal Democrats and Labour, students were allowed to vote at this time. In fact, in every election from 1970 and before 1992, Conservative MPs were elected to represent Cambridge in Parliament. Given that the Conservatives had a strong election record in Cambridge prior to 1970 as well, it would seem that students did not cause a sudden, surprising change in result. There is clearly an ongoing discussion about voting rights: the concept of residency remains hazy and, for some, the feeling that students whose only permanence is in their impermanence can change who represents them in Parliament is contentious.

Students were deemed to qualify as resident in both their hometowns and their university towns

However, for the majority who supported students’ voting rights in Cambridge, there was a voice of welcoming, with claims that students are “part of the community” who “live part of their life” in the university town, regardless of where their hometown may be. And even if this sentiment doesn’t universally extend to voting for all locals in Cambridge, the feeling of inclusion offered by most is heartwarming. Perhaps we should all be encouraged by this promotion of students’ voting rights, and try to give back to a community that has accepted us so much by taking them up on this offer to have a say about who should represent our town. As one local said: it is easier for students to remember to vote “if they’ve got a polling card in their pigeonhole”; going through the rigmarole of organising a postal or proxy vote takes up precious time that we may not have, whereas to vote where you currently reside is a significantly easier task. Though ultimately, it is, of course, up to you where you vote, having the choice to vote in two constituencies means you have the choice to vote tactically; to vote carefully; to vote for what you believe in and make your voice heard. It is that, after all, that is most important.

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Cheap May Week Tips May Week Fashion Shoot Intersectionality in literature

The Thursday Magazine

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

Catching up on your exam term film and TV

Eliza Dickinson Film and TV Editor It’s pretty hard keeping up with all the latest films and TV shows when you feel like you should be revising. Rather than starting something new, it’s easier to hide the guilt of procrastination behind the same episodes of The Inbetweeners you’ve watched every exam term since year 11. Have no fear though, as TCS has brought together all the hits of the past two months so you can spend your May Week catching up on it all. The Handmaid’s Tale This disturbing adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel about a near-future America in which fertile women are rounded up and allocated to infertile Commander couples is horrific but extremely watchable. Only a few episodes are up on Channel 4 so far so it won’t take long to catch up!

packed time span means that some of the show’s characteristic emotional power is lost, but the growing role of Taystee as the grieving and angry focal point of the show brings out some really beautiful moments. Guardians of the Galaxy vol.2 Get yourself down to the VUE cinema by the Grafton with those sweet reclining seats and settle back for a couple of hours of action and fun. It packs slightly less of a punch than the original Guardians of the Galaxy, but it’ll be a NETFLIX VIA YOUTUBE

brilliant time to spend a lazy may-week evening. Wonder Woman After DC’s string of disastrous movies (Batman v Superman, anybody?) hopes were not hugely high for their latest effort, but Wonder Woman seems to have completely broken this trend. We’re all excited to see where they’ll take this character next.

His character is so likeable that you can’t help watching the episodes back to back

It’ll be a brilliant way to spend a lazy may-week evening

Master of None Season 2 The first few episodes of Aziz Ansari’s glorious new season of Master of None are perfect in every way, as Dev soaks up the sights – and the food – of rural Italy. His character is so likeable that you can’t help watching the episodes back to back, making this the perfect binge-watch for a hungover day in bed.

Orange is the New Black Season 5 Season 5 kicks off right where Season 4’s seriously dramatic cliff-hanger left off, following Litchfield Penitentiary across three days of a riot. This action-

House of Cards Season 5 The ruthlessness and corruption of Frank Underwood is uncomfortably familiar now that Donald Trump has risen to power, but the latest season of House of Cards on Netflix is just as popular as ever, so be sure to give it a watch.

May Week headliners: Who are we excited to see? Pippa Smith Music Editor

s ever, the array of acts on offer at this year’s May Balls is astounding in quality and range. Doubtless, whatever may balls you may be heading to this week, you’re in for an amazing evening. But here’s our pick of the top acts secured by may balls this year.

St John’s – Sigala

Robinson – VANT

Magdalene – KT Tunstall

Last Friday, up and coming indie rock band VANT hit the main stage of Robinson May Ball. Robinson always secures exciting new acts, but this is a brave and exciting move for their May Ball team, who have offered up something a little different to the obvious choice.

Jesus – Laura Mvula and Fickle Friends

Arguably the most consistently successful in their music lineups, securing Jack Garratt and James Bay in recent years, Jesus have done it again with their two main acts. Chart dabblers Fickle Friends are sure to get ball-goers dancing earlier on in the evening and Mvula’s artistic integrity should make for a stunning performance at this year’s ball.

Downing – Scouting For Girls

Downing have opted for the classic approach of picking out an act slightly past their peak, but certainly a nostalgic triumph for a millennial audience. The numerous hits of the British band will surely go down a treat at the museum-themed ball.

Following their recent trend of punting for floor-filling dance acts, Sigala are a solid choice for John’s Their hits such as ‘Easy Love’ and ‘Sweet Lovin’ make them possibly the most high profile act on offer this year, perfectly apt for the scale and decadence of the 7th best party in the world.

Another retreat into the early noughties, though an excellent one. Tunstall’s relaxed and listenable sound should be a crowd-pleaser at Magdalene’s white-tie event.

King’s – Courtney Act and Conchita Wurst

This Ru Paul and Eurovision combo should provide a wonderfully apt highlight for the most laid back and eccentric May Week offering. S BOLLMANN

Best of the Rest Emma - Nadia Rose Trinity - Charlie XCX Clare - David Rodigan Queens - JP Cooper Sidney - Dr Meaker Tit Hall - Jungle Pembroke - Kyla la Grange Darwin - The Hoosiers Corpus - Lethal Bizzle Peterhouse - Retrospective for Love St Edmund’s - White Room Of course, it’s not just the big names which make a May Ball or June Event special, a top tip is to check out local and student ents. Often, student bands playing at their own may balls can produce more atmospheric crowds than the big guns. And who knows, you might catch an exclusive early performance of the next Clean Bandit or Codeko whilst you’re at it.

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

Wholesome recipes for a busy May Week

EMER O’ HANLON

Emer O’ Hanlon Food and Drink Editor

ay week may be all about excess, but sometimes that can take a toll on your stomach. I’m not just talking about boozing here (though that’s a factor to consider) – not only does May week distort your body clock, meaning scratch meals at strange hours, but as it’s the end of term, you awkwardly have to try and use up everything in your fridge before you leave. That said, it seems that you could do yourself a favour by sticking to simple and hearty meals during May week, when you end up cooking for yourself. I’ve compiled a list of variations on simple toast below, to keep your meals hearty and wholesome during a week of extravagance. (Although, I suppose that as avocados are preventing millennials from buying houses, the avocado toast could be seen as rather a decadent option). Baked beans on toast Ingredients: One small finely chopped onion (or shallot) 1 tin cannellini beans 1 tin chopped tomatoes 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

Avocado toast Ingredients: One avocado Juice of half a lime Pinch of crushed chilli Handful of chopped coriander Salt and pepper. Method: Mash together all ingredients roughly with a fork, and serve immediately spread on freshly toasted bread. You can even jazz it up by adding fresh chopped chilli; toasted mustard, sunflower and pumpkin seeds; chopped cherry tomatoes. The avocado toast is great paired with the baked beans recipe too, for an extra boost of protien and making more of a meal of it. EMER O’ HANLON

French toast Ingredients: One cup almond milk One egg, beaten 1 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp flour/ semolina/ nutritional yeast/ ground almonds Pinch of salt Several slices bread (preferably slightly stale) Method: Mix together the almond milk, egg, maple syrup, flour (or substitute) and salt. Leave to stand for around ten minutes. Take any kind of sliced bread (slightly stale is best, though fresh also works) and leave it to soak in the mixture for a minute or so on each side. Add sunflower oil to a frying pan and allow it to heat. Add the slices of bread, and fry on each side until they turn brown. Serve as immediately as possible. Toppings could include maple syrup, cinnamon sugar, or just a pinch of salt. You can veganise the recipe by using a flax “egg” (1 tbsp ground flax seed mixed with 3 tbsp of water, left to stand for fifteen minutes before using) in place of the egg.

Method: Fry the onion (or shallot) in oil until it becomes golden. Add the beans, tomatoes and (optional), and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add a handful of chopped parsley a minute before serving. This is an adaptable recipe, and the above is (again) only the bare bones. I always use spices – 2 tsps sumac and chopped fresh chilli fried for a minute before the beans and tomatoes are added. You can add a crushed clove of garlic at this point too. The beans can also be substituted, and others work well – butter beans, haricot or borlotti all work well.

How to look after yourself in May Week Dee Dee Lee Lifestyle Editor

ay Balls, garden parties, Cardboard Boat Race, barbecue, bar night, and running through a field of wheat; there are so much to do but we only have so much time and energy. All year long we look forward to May Week and are constantly told it will be our ‘best time in Cambridge’, so the pressure to enjoy ourselves is very high, what happens if you fall ill? To help you survive May Week here are some top tips to ensure you do not miss out on any of the fun: Hangover cure – the key to avoid a pounding head and queasiness the morning after is prevention. Make sure you eat before you drink and alternate your drinks with water or nonalcoholic beverages to stay hydrated. You probably won’t feel like eating (not to mention cooking), but you need to get calories back into your body. Eat something that’s easy to digest, such as toast, cereals and fruits. Nap – when you’ve got so much to do, you’d feel like sleeping is such a waste of time, but you need rest to keep going. A study shows that after 17-19 hours without sleep, performance is equivalent or worse than that of

alcohol intoxication. A quick 20-30 minute nap can help to improve mood, alertness and performance. If you have two May Balls back to back, you probably need more than a quick nap. Your body begins shutting down after two days without sleep and you wouldn’t want that. A short four or six-hour sleep is definitely better than none. Detox – at the May Week alcohol and food consumption rate, you might feel a bit sick by the end of it. After a week MAX PIXAL

of indulgence, it could be a good idea to detox. Load up on liquids as water flushes out your system by keeping your kidneys, liver, colon, and lymph nodes running smoothly. Cut out refined sugars, white flour and rice, high-fat meats, dairy (other than plain, non-fat yogurt and milk), and all soda. You might not feel up to a high-intensity run or spin class, but low-level exercises such as yoga or walking are still super effective. May Week is not the easiest time for your body, but if you take care then it is possible to remain in good health throughout the week and to make the most of all the fun opportunities coming your way. Especially for those performing at May Balls, it is paramount to look after yourself, and your voice if you are singing, time spent resting and recovering will be worth it when your energy begins to flag in the small hours of the morning. One must not neglect the intensity of working a May Ball either, being on your feet all night long can leave you feeling drained and exhausted the following day, so make sure to look after yourself so as not to jeopardise your plans for the next day. Well done on getting this far! Forget about your diet, you deserve a break and all the fun. Dance like there’s nobody watching; eat like there’s no tomorrow; but drink responsibly. See you out there!

Cheap May Week Amiya Nagpal Bringing you some of Cambridge’s finest events for up to £5! Monday 19th: 1pm: Radical Picnic on Jesus Green. Organised by Cambridge Defend Education for left wing organising and solidarity. Free. 1pm: PemSoc Garden Party at Pembroke Fellows’ Garden. Organised by Pembroke Poetry Society with live music, creative writing activities, and book sale. £2 OTD. Tuesday 20th: 2pm: The Pelican Garden Party at Corpus Christi Master’s Garden. Organised by the Bene’t Club and the Fletcher Players with Pimm’s, wine, and live music. £5 OTD, also available on Agora. 2pm: The Great Illusion Garden Party at Caius Harvey Court. Organised by Cambridge Society for Economic Pluralism featuring food, drinks, and a panel discussion on ‘post-truth society, mistrust in academia’. Free, must reserve on Eventbrite to guarantee entry. 2.30pm: Speakeasy Garden Party at Christ’s Fellows’ Garden. Organised by CADS featuring poetry and Pimm’s. £5, tickets available on Tessera. 3pm: WomCam Garden Party on Jesus Green. Organised by CUSU Women’s Campaign and open to all genders, with glitter, snacks, drinks, and feminist awards. Bring your own booze and blankets. Free. Wednesday 21st: 1pm: BBQ and Beach Handball Tournament at St Edmund’s football field. Organised by CU Handball Club, requires prior sign up in teams of four. £3, sign up through Facebook. 2pm: AmnesTea Garden Party at Murray Edwards Gardens. Organied by Cambridge University Amnesty International with food and drink donations from local restaurants. Suggested entry donation £3. Thursday 22nd: 2.30pm: Notes Garden Party at Sidney Sussex Gardens. Organised by Notes Magazine, as the launch of footnotes III, with drinks and snacks. £3.50 OTD, and footnotes III available for purchase for £1. 5pm: Best of Show Choir Garden Party at Queens’ Chapel. Organied by CU Show Choir with a concert, followed by a garden party with food and drink. A small donation to be collected OTD. 8pm: UPCO May Week Concert at Trinity College Chapel. Organised by Cambridge University Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring orchestral and solo performances, with interval refreshments. £5 student tickets via ADC Ticketing, £7 OTD. Friday 23rd: 2.30pm: Turn Back Time Garden Party at Trinity Hall Fellows’ Garden. Organised by Trinity Hall History, Music, Preston, and Arts societies as a Victorian-themed event with Pimm’s, art, music, and drama. £5, tickets must be reserved by emailing Rebecca at rnh25@cam.ac.uk. Saturday 24th: 9am onwards: Neurotrail pop up exhibition at the UL. Organised by Cambridge BRAINFest 2017 for viewing 16th century medical texts. Free. Sunday 25th: 7.30pm: Singing on the River on King’s back lawn. Organised by The King’s Men choir. Student tickets £5 via The Shop at King’s. Information from Facebook and Agora.

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

May Week waste solutions Emer O’ Hanlon Food & Drink Editor

he mantra of Easter term in Cambridge is to slog it through til the end, when you get to let loose and have fun. This is an understandable impulse, after a term of almost solitary confinement during revision, but the more scrupulous among us might question how this practice of unfettered revelry results every year in a significant volume of food waste. How you avoid waste will very much depend on what kind of food your party is providing. If it’s a society event, very much the easiest solution would be to simply divide leftovers among committee members. It’s not exactly difficult, and during May Week, when meals can happen at odd times in between events, the leftovers could prove very welcome. Another solution – and rather simple once implemented, but it would require setting up – could be to take a leaf out of Olio’s book, and set up an online community where garden party organisers could collaborate to reduce waste. Venues such as the Scholar’s Garden at St John’s are being used nearly constantly for events in May Week, and it would make sense for leftovers from one party to be passed onto the next. However, it’s not just societies that host garden parties. Colleges also host tutorial and subject events, and often the left-over food at these events merely gets thrown away at the end, which always feels very wrong to me. If there are several garden parties, happening one after the other in a college, perhaps the organisers could merely pass the left-over food on to be consumed at the next event. Then, if there were still leftovers at the end of the day, colleges could offer them for free in a sort of buffet, just as they do with the leftovers from formal for rowers during Easter term. If

the food was of a more substantial nature (such as sandwiches), the nicest thing would be to offer these to homeless people in the vicinity of the college, but this would hardly be appropriate in the case of canapés or the like. Much better, however, that the leftovers go to grateful students than to the bin. It’s not just food waste that we should consider either. If possible (if ordering from a college, for example) the best idea is to have real plates, glasses, bowls, etc, that will be used again at some point. If you’re not going through a college, online entertaining services such as the ones provided by M&S and Waitrose give options to provide free of charge glasses, cutlery and plates once you spend over a certain amount there. If the worst comes to worst, and disposable utensils are needed, then organisers might think about going down the eco-friendly route. It’s very easy to find reasonably priced biodegradable disposable utensils now, and if every May Week event used these, it would make sure a difference. As the arguments resurface every year about whether May Week is a justifiably decadent affair, we should not only consider whether reservations about May Week should be taken into account, but also whether we can make small changes to make May Week less wasteful while maintaining its core extravagance. That students want to celebrate after a hard exam term is understandable, but we should be careful with waste. The bottom line is that at big events like those taking place in May Week, a certain amount of waste is unavoidable. People will take food they discover they don’t like, glasses will be smashed, and accidents will happen. Organisers should at least ensure they don’t waste any food that is salvageable by the end of the event.

Suggested book-themed parties Cait Findlay Books Editor

arry Potter is overdone, The Hunger Games is a dangerous choice in case everyone starts fighting, and you can’t guarantee that your guests will have read your favourite book. So if you’re of the literary persuasion, what bookthemed party can you hold? Read on to find out. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – masquerade ball Now, Romeo and Juliet in itself is dangerous – the risk of underage love and multiple suicides is too great. However, you could take inspiration from the masked ball, and hold your own masquerade. If you have watched the lurid Baz Luhrmann film adaptation of the play, you could copy Claire Danes’ absolutely iconic outfit. Plus, it can appeal to the less literary of your friends, since almost everyone has encountered the play at some point in their education. Fitzgerald’s Low-budget Gatsby Now, not everyone has as much money as the new-moneyed Gatsby. However, that needn’t be an obstacle to a wonderful night – just make sure that you have enough food and free-flowing ch ampagne, and you could reel in the person whom you’ve been swooning over for years. Again, there is a film to give you additional inspiration, if you so desire. You, too, could have a magical evening among “the whisperings and the champagne and the stars”.

Tokien’s The Hobbit themed feast All the foodie people in your life will have an undying affection for you if you hold a gigantic feast to rival Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday. The secret to this is volume: the more food the better. You want your tables to be groaning with all manner of delicacies, from scones to pork pies to cake. To make the theme a bit less tenuous, you could have themed games – an adaptation of ‘capture the flag’ in which you have to gain possession of the ring, for example. Pinterest is your very best friend, and you can find endless inspiration if you scroll for a while. The possibilities are endless, with a little creativity. ANNCA

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

Review: Robinson May Ball 2017 Kasia Ruszkowski

he theme of this year’s Robinson May Ball was “The Night Circus” and the evening was a roaring success. Well-known for being both reasonably priced and a fabulous May Ball, Robinson lived up to all expectations and provided a fantastic range of food, drink and entertainment. The music was far and away the best aspect of the ball for me. There was a main stage in the garden, an acoustic stage in the bar and a jazz stage in High Court, meaning the range of music was wide enough to keep everyone happy. All of the acts were The way that the music venues were laid out meant that guests were never far from Special mention goes to SAACHI, Gaby and the Gardeners, Chainska Brassika and VANT who were all highlights of the evening. That being said, there was controversy caused by the Beyonce tribute act which rounded up the music for the night. In addition to all of the music on offer, there was entertainment in the form of a casino, a silent disco, a bouncy castle, swing boats, a henna stand, dodgems and a ‘total wipeout’ room, much of which was in-keeping with the “night circus” theme. There were also stunning fireworks early in the evening which could be seen from the Garden Bridge. The decorations around the college were impressive and creative, with trick mirrors,

Review: I’m Not Your Man Henry Phillips

ollowing on from her debut effort We Slept at Last in 2014, Marika Hackman has recently returned to the airwaves with I’m Not Your Man. I must confess that Marika Hackman is a very new find for me. A chance discovery on Facebook led to a Spotify investigation, resulting in the perusal of this new album, which was released earlier this month. I was delighted to hear an album that excels not only musically, but also in terms of its production and vocal execution. Recent years have been blessed with a great number of exceptional female singer-songwriters; however, Hackman offers a truly unique sound in this second album, with a combination of folk and alternative rock. Cutting lyrics and haunting vocals add to this, to make this album a refreshing change to the genre. The Big Moon (who have just released their debut album) feature as backing vocalists and instrumentalists on the record, giving the whole affair a sense of scale and depth that was lacking from Hackman’s previous record. This isn’t an exceptional album by any means. Truly the best word to describe it is competent, and is more the sort of record that you might want to revise to or appreciate intellectually rather than fall in love with. There are a few out-and-out hits – ‘Boyfriend’ and ‘My Lover Cindy’ – but the ensemble as a whole feels somewhat lacking. Despite its exciting summery sound, this isn’t an album that will set the world alight. But it is well-written, well-performed, and fantastically produced , and is very evocative of a certain type of music from this decade. At the very least, this is an example of the joys of music streaming – an album I simply wouldn’t have bought outright, and it has been a joy to hear it. Whether it ages well or is lost in the melee of new releases remains to be seen.

streamers and coloured lights demonstrating a well thought-out theme. Throughout the evening guests enjoyed a variety of food and drink, from Jack’s gelato, waffles and strawberries and to fish and chips, nachos and toasties. In the small hours tea, coffee and bacon rolls were brought out. There was still food available at the end of the night and different kinds of refreshment being brought out at various intervals added to the fun of the evening. There was an equally wide range of drinks on offer, with various cocktail stands around college in addition to beer, gin and tonic and champagne.

The evening was briefly interrupted by a fire alarm around 22:30, but this was dealt with swiftly and the night continued smoothly. A small thing with which impressed me was the availability of bins around college, meaning the area stayed generally quite clean. Considering that this is one of the cheapest May Balls in Cambridge (a non-college member ticket being just £100), the range of music, entertainment and food and drink was spectacular, and the entry system was efficient enough that everyone got to enjoy it to the full. All in all, a great party, which I would certainly recommend to a friend and attend again myself.

PAIGE SMEATON

Preview: The Language Archive Gemma Sheehan

he Language Archive “is a weird, quirky play”, director Caroline Yu tells me. The premise can seem emotionally intense: exploring “the faultlines of language”, it follows brilliant linguist George in his obsession over preserving dying languages, whilst the communication and language of his own marriage falls in around him. “He doesn’t know what to say to tell his wife he’s still in love with her,” Caroline explains. “You can tell he feels so strongly and passionately but he just can’t get that across. There’s a disconnect between connection and communication.” Yet that disconnect is compounded by the main source of comedy in the piece, which also provides the most intense exploration of language: The Language Archive, George’s research lab where he attempts to preserve disappearing languages, is occupied by a couple who speak an imaginary language. However, the pair are so angry with each other that they refuse to taint their language by speaking it, instead arguing in broken English. “It emphasises how a relationship is a language of itself, but also highlights the difference between languages and love,” Caroline explains. “Love is a lot more universal, but also a lot more unspoken”. Caroline is keen to emphasise the sheer fun available in this performance. At the height of emotional intensity, for example, she tells me Mary, George’s wife, has a monologue about bread starters. For Caroline, the lightness of the play carries a particular importance in light of Cho’s position as an Asian American playwright, and her own experiences as a BME director. “When I pitched this play to the ADC they were encouraging plays with a BME focus”, Caroline recounts, touching on the ongoing controversy within the ADC over representation. But what drew Caroline specifically to this play was its

refusal “to be put into a box”. ‘It’s really encouraging to put on a play by a BME playwright that allows for a BME cast without it seeming that being BME is the only reason they’ve been casted’, she tells me. She informs me that none of the characters in the play are written as a specific race, and that while representation of specific racial issues is of course important, it’s “encouraging to see a BME playwright write about whatever she wants to write about. “A lot of the articles and discussions surrounding representation have been quite negative and critical”, Caroline points out. “That’s absolutely valid, and we need to be demanding, but it’s also nice for things like this to be a bit more positive.” The Language Archive really promises to be something unique. In addition to the “crazy, unbelievable” nature of the story itself (the fourth wall is down pretty much the whole time), Caroline is really excited about the use of projections that her interpretation makes. “Translations are projected on the walls,” she explains. “It deconstructs words – when it’s projected, it almost doesn’t mean anything any more.” Yet Caroline seems most excited about opportunities to push the ambiguity of language to its absolute limits. ‘The play provides translations to every line spoken in the made up language but we’ve taken a lot of that out,’ she reveals. “It’s a take on what the play’s trying to say – how necessary is it that you know what they’re talking about?” For Caroline, this is the core of what the show is attempting to communicate. “Without a translation you sit there trying to work out things from tone, body language, voice and you’re forced to ignore the words for a moment – to take everything else in instead.” The Language Archive plays at the Corpus Playroom from Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th June, at 7pm.

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

Dressing up for May Week

ressing for May Week should be the most fun part of Easter Term, but it can sometimes feel like unneccessary stress for only one evening. TCS gave four models the task of wearing their favourite May Ball and Garden Party outfits, from high-end dresses to charity shop finds. Whether it’s for the smallest Ents event in college, or an event as lavish as Trinity May Ball, this season’s offerings suggest block colours and pretty patterns are the go-to event wear. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, either: many of the items in this shoot were secondhand favourites, and looked just as elegant as the designer dresses.

The Cambridge Student â&#x20AC;˘ The Thursday Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ 19 June 2017

Director and Photographer: Sophie Dickinson Models: Emma Plowright, Soline Doyle, Lili Bidwell, Juliette Bretan Emma is wearing a dress from New Look, and the shoes are secondhand. Soline wears a black dress from Ayanapa, a blue dress from Ted Baker, and shoes from Missoni. Lili wears a secondhand playsuit, secondhand shoes, and a dress from H&M. Juliette wears a top and trousers from TK Maxx.

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

Review: Much Ado About Nothing Ellen Skipper

Shakespeare comedy set outdoors at the end of term promises to deliver a fun and light-hearted show. Ultimately, this is exactly what Much Ado About Nothing does. There’s nothing ground-breaking about this production’s take on a classic, but sometimes a classic is all that’s needed to produce an enjoyable piece of theatre. Certainly, the outdoor setting lends itself well to this piece; the gossipy characters slot naturally into the sun-soaked benches and summery atmosphere. There’s certainly a risk of the actors getting lost in such an open performance space, but director Ada Gunther avoids this, using the different areas of set to great effect. Beatrice and Benedick’s farcically transparent hiding places are perhaps one of the best examples of this; slapstick routines such as these are often overused to the point of losing their comedy, but the audience’s attention was held well throughout these scenes.

The outdoor setting lends itself well to this piece The addition of live music to a venue without other technical effects was also welcome. All three musicians performed admirably without distracting attention from the narrative, and moments of interaction between actors and musicians were a nice touch However, as enjoyable as it was, it’s questionable whether the play delivered on a higher level. Re-casting

Leonato, Don John and Borachio as females was evidently supposed to instill a feminist take on the play, and certainly this could have been effective. Yet unfortunately, inconsistencies in how the other actors referred to these characters’ genders made the entire premise difficult to buy into and somewhat confusing to anyone who didn’t know the play.

All actors delivered to create a production which was certainly good for a laugh

always pales next to Benedick and Beatrice’s, but Gould and Cussons delivered well, creating a believable enough portrayal of the characters’ rather superficial love. While the production may not have achieved all of its goals in this modern take, the slightly awkward teenageparty atmosphere didn’t prevent the humour of the piece coming across. All actors delivered to create a production which was good for a laugh which is the first thing a comedy should be looking to achieve.

7/10

GEORGIA HUMPHREY

Furthermore, the characterisation wasn’t all it could have been: re-casting Don John as a gothic and somewhat petulant teenage girl didn’t entirely fit with the character’s war-mongering nature. Segal’s acting is not necessarily to blame here, but Don John’s character seemed flat and unconvincing. Alice Gee’s Borachio, meanwhile, was substantially more ditzy than most interpretations of this schema. This did fit in with the carefree dynamic of the production, although there was no apparent reason for her to be wearing a cheerleader’s uniform. Against a backdrop of slightly questionable characterisation however, Benedick and Beatrice stood out as the highlights of the show. Saville-Ferguson brought ungainly charm to Benedick’s character, while Francis’ Beatrice was wonderfully sharp-tongued without becoming dislikeable. Claudio and Hero’s relationship

This summer’s biggest blockbusters Eliza Dickinson Film and TV Editor

very summer, the major film studios compete for the biggest summer blockbuster, and they’re really pulling out the big guns in 2017. From Marvel to Stephen King, here are the most spectacular films you’ll be watching when your dreams of a sunny July and August fade into the UK’s usual rainy mess. Spider-Man: Homecoming ‘But haven’t we had five Spider-Man films already?’ Well yes, yes we have. From the hilariously wacky Tobey Maguire films back in the noughties to the Andrew Garfield movies that only came out a couple of years ago, the market for Spider-Man does feel a little saturated. But don’t let that put you off – from what we saw of Tom Holland in Captain America: Civil War, this will be a new take on Peter Parker and his superhero secret identity. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has already proven itself time and time again, from large-scale action in the Avengers films to quirky humour in Ant-Man. Even if you aren’t a Marvel fan, I’d recommend giving this a try – as the first stand-alone Spider-Man film in the series, it should be a great introduction. The trailers are funny and, more importantly, who could ever turn down some free Robert Downey Jr. on the side? War of the Planet of the Apes I won’t lie to you – I find it difficult to fully concentrate on the Planet of the Apes trailers after that weird Coldplay video came out last year with the band motion-captured as dancing apes. But strange associations aside, this is likely

to be just as good as the first few films, bringing action, violence, and emotion in equal measures. The Planet of the Apes films have gradually been getting darker, and this one promises to be the most dramatic (and potentially heartbreaking) yet. As Caesar grapples with his own capacity for violence, the humans under Woody Harrelson bring the war to their door. This is looking to be the showdown of the summer.

giving everything he’s got. While I’m always a little dubious of war films (especially if they look like they’ll be glorifying wars), Christopher Nolan has done extensive research to make this movie as realistic about the realities of war as possible. Using real warships and planes rather than extensive CGI, this should not only be a great story but a visual spectacle too.

Dunkirk Dunkirk burst into the public consciousness as soon as the first trailer revealed that Harry Styles would be acting in it. Whether this casting choice will turn out to be a good one is yet to be seen, but the rest of the cast is so brilliant that it really won’t matter. From Cillian Murphy to Mark Rylance to Tom Hardy, Christopher Nolan seems to be

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets This French sci-fi starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevigne may have a slightly strange title but it’ll be your yearly dose of sci-fi special effects, futuristic fashion and space aliens. Delevigne is increasingly prevalent on the film scene, having starred as the Enchantress in Suicide Squad and Margo in Paper Towns. While she hasn’t won wide acclaim for either of these roles, it will be very interesting to see whether or not she will be able to show her acting potential in this fast-paced action film.

MOVIECLIPS TRAILERS VIA YOUTUBE

The Dark Tower Stephen King’s eight-novel series is finally seeing a film adaptation, starring Idris Elba as Roland in a strange mix between the Western and sci-fi horror genres. Matthew McConaughey also stars as his bitter enemy, and these two behemoths of the film industry combined with Stephen King’s exciting stories should create a film that is exciting and dramatic. Hopefully, it’ll be the start of a brilliant franchise that we can all enjoy.

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

How to have a (literary) ball Hangover cure Beatrice Obe

with a holographic VIP pass, with a cherry on top.

icture this: you are the host of a party, but it’s not just any party. The guest list is all yours, and everyone on it is a fictional character! Sound amazing? Of course it does. I mean, in real life, it would probably be about a thousand times as terrifying as it would be amazing (seriously – how many different kinds of wizard can you put in one room and still escape with your eyebrows and prosecco intact?) but that is exactly what wishful thinking is for. Let’s begin!

Lord Henry and Dorian Gray from The Picture of Dorian Gray. These lads bring hedonism run amok, and Henry might even hook you up with an artist who can magically immortalise you in oil paints. (At a certain point, having a bit too much money makes everything kinda weird.) Actually, forget fictional characters – I’d just get straight to the point and invite the great Oscar Wilde himself. I bet he and Gandalf would get on like a financially careless nouveau-riche man’s house on fire.

Lili Bidwell ROBERT GOURLEY

Jay Gatsby, from The Great Gatsby. I know, I know, this is almost disgustingly cliché, but hear me out. The guy’s got cash. He’s also got a stupid-huge mansion and an alarmingly blasé attitude towards rampant consumerism, all of which make for a truly excellent venue. The only thing deeper than his pockets are his metaphors about time and lost love, so if you’re not the type to get utterly plastered and play hide and seek in the fountains, you can always spot him hovering around the party expectantly, and ask him some cryptic questions about his backstory. He’ll love it. Also, he might offer you a ride in his symbolically yellow whip.

The Mechanicals from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Now, these guys might get a bit flustered when it comes to performing, but rest assured, they’ll be an absolute riot to watch when you’re so smashed that champagne is running through your veins instead of blood, and you could swear you’re seeing fairies. Plus, if you’re lucky, Bottom (the absolute madman) might turn up in a donkey’s head and really get the whole raving farmyard animal vibe going. Although, if you wake up outside the next day and it all seems like some strange dream – one that happened on a midsummer night – probably take an aspirin and try to forget about it. Ignorance, in this case, is definitely bliss.

Thorin and his dwarves from The Hobbit. Not only are they unafraid of turning up without an invite, they know how to make even the most introverted grump of a hobbit into a party animal (or at least, how to turn his beloved home into a drinking den). Also, Gandalf is the guest of honour. Remember how turnt he got everyone at Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday? Absolute legend. Any wizard who can make you your own custom fireworks is getting locked down on that guest list,

Those are just a few of my ideal fictional ball invitees, but the opportunities are literally endless. I cannot recommend doing this enough – and let’s be honest, it’s summer now. You have the excess time to waste pondering all this. Your only limit is your imagination (and probably also your imaginary self ’s bank account. But there’s the beauty, see. You can just imagine all of your massive party’s debt away…)

fter an indulgent all-night party, the last thing you are probably craving is consuming yet more food. This is exactly why this smoothie, which is in fact very juice-like, is the perfect thing to help ease your hangover and give you the illusion of health. I must warn you though, if you are expecting something sweet and creamy like a milkshake, this is not for you. This smoothie tastes of health. Needless to say, you will need a blender for this, but other than that it really is as simple as adding it all in and mixing. Perfect for anyone who finds coordination difficult after a big night out. Ingredients: 1 handful of fresh spinach (or more if you are feeling brave) Roughly 1/3 of a cucumber A thumb sized piece of fresh ginger with the skin removed 200ml apple juice The ginger gives the drink a kick as well as aiding digestion, while the cucumber gives it a fresh and hydrating element.

Review: Trinity Hall garden party 2017 Will Tilbrook

rinity Hall garden party was a low key but enjoyable affair, positioned right at the start of the escalation up to the main May Week frivolities, and it made for an exciting taster of things to come. In the glorious sunshine which (fingers crossed) looks to remain throughout May Week, Tit Hall’s Latham Lawn was alive with activity as guests made the most of what the £17 ticket had to offer, on Sunday afternoon. As one of the more inexpensive events of the week, I was looking forward to an opportunity to indulge, but without any of the fireworks. The food and drinks on offer were the staples of any garden party – Pimm’s, ice cream van Mr Whippy, and BBQ fare – all on tap, and even in spite of this constantly replenishing supply, I found that I did not have to queue for anything longer than five minutes. Often, queues are the bane of partygoers’ fun-filled lives in May Week, but at this event, it was not a problem. There was plenty of space for guests to sit down on the lawn or wander around the court, and this made for a nice chilledout vibe. The entertainment lined up was a little more hitand-miss, however. The marquee where the live music performers were based produced a pleasant ambience to the event, and at times, their performances came to the fore, attracting the main focus of attention from

the guests, especially the band Saatchi, whose multiinstrument ensemble came across well due to their interesting arrangements of well-known tunes. However, the disco terrace round the corner was largely neglected, despite having three different acts lined up, and this was largely down to the location being poorlysignposted. I only had the faint sound of clashing music to go on to find the terrace, and I had the same problem trying to find where the crafts were going on, but sadly to no avail. The party also hosted a magic performer, which I was particularly looking forward to seeing, but again I felt that the act was not given the high profile it deserved in order for it to be enjoyed by all. For those students wanting to visit each of the colleges

over their time at Cambridge, there have been two opportunities to come to Tit Hall this week, as there is also the Trinity Hall May Ball still to come; however, sadly, to a certain degree, it did feel as though the garden party was in some way overshadowed by the upcoming May Week-proper. This might have been the result of the laid-back style of the event, which is not something necessarily to complain about, as I certainly appreciated the relaxed feel of the afternoon and got exactly what I paid for; however, I couldn’t help but feel that with a few extra touches – a theme to work around, a wider food and drink selection, better signposting, the party would have shone more in its own right. RASHMI VIA FACEBOOOK

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

Medwards Garden Party Lili Bidwell

s the sun beat down on Cambridge, hoards of partygoers trecked up the hill to Murray Edwards College in the sweltering heat. Dressed in a range of summery, floral clothes the students brought colour to the streets of Cambridge as they set off to queue for the event due to begin at 4pm. Most of the guests arrived an hour or so early to join the snaking line of people protruding from the entrance of the event, and luckily they were provided with umbrellas to help them escape sunburn and heat stroke, nevertheless a little water would not have gone amiss. The doors finally opened at 4:10pm, and people began to enter the College. The theme this year was Once Upon A Time, evidently alluding to fairytales, and this garden party certainly lived up to this magical expectation. The College was transformed into a fairytale scene with decorations adorning the beautiful trees and many stalls to entertain the guests. The glitter stall proved very popular, consistently having a large crowd surrounding it, whilst the inflatables area took a little longer to catch the interest of the party-goers, however when the heat died down a little they were more enthusiastic to bound on the bouncy castle and race through the inflatable obstacle course. There were several food and drink stands throughout the ball, all of which were very high quality and not prone to terrible queues. The Wandering Yak halloumi wraps and sweet potato fries were a definite hit, as was Jack’s Gelato and the candy floss.

The drinks were in abundance, with fun themed cocktails such as a poison apple concoction. Water was also provided at two positions in the ball, essential under the burning summer sun. The entertainment was broad, with a silent disco throughout in addition to the main stage. Earlier in the afternoon the a cappella group Cadenza provided some mellow music for the guests. The student DJCodeko rounded off the night performing on the main stage from 7.50pm-9pm, drawing crowds from all corners of the party who danced energetically to his music. As for non-music entertainment, there were some gymnasts roaming the event showing off their wonderful skills and wowing the spectators. Overall the garden party was not one to be missed, the perfect mixture of relaxing and exciting it was well worth the money and an enchanting experience for all those lucky students who attended. SURINA FORDINGTON

Ultimate hangover playlist Pippa Smith Music Editor

ay Week. Amongst the dazzling decorations, floor pumping music, and fantastic memories are the inevitable headache-filled hangovers that hit the next day. A May Week hangover of course represents the ultimate fallout from an entire hours of drinking and debauchery: the ultimate hangover, if you will. Therefore it’s only fitting that we tackle such a phenomenon with an ultimate hangover playlist, perfectly curated to soothe those post-ball blues. The perfect starting place is some low intensity music. Anything too harsh and loud will send shudders of selfloathing about that fifth glass of fizz straight through your temples, so it’s best avoided. For this I’d suggest something chilled such as Ben Howard’s ‘Old Pine’. This track has the added bonus of lyrically encouraging good times with friends, perhaps inducing a warm glow which will ease you into your day of recovery. Another good choice is something soulful, to repair your own battered spirit when you finally surface in the mid-afternoon following your ball-based exploits. Here some Otis Redding, ‘Dock of the Bay’ is apt, or perhaps ‘My Girl’, by The Temptations. The honey-sweet tones of these golden oldies will provide wholesome food for your suffering brain to feed on and cannot fail to lure you out of the depths of hangover hell. You may feel the world of words itself is inaccesssible to your sleep-deprived and gin-plagued head, in this case, I suggest some Ludovico Einaudi. His piano album, Islands is a great choice but for a specific song try ‘I Giorni’.

Some crazy individuals amongst you may be attempting the fabled back to back all nighters this May Week. In this scenario, day-time listening needs to be carefully managed to provide a smooth transition between soft and soothing to something that gets you in the move to groove again. Here, it’s good to ease in with some relaxed dance music. Kygo’s ‘Stay’ is an excellent example of a song which will tentatively ease you into the night ahead with its relaxed house vibes. Finally, a perfect way to blow the mists of hangover away is to remind yourself it was all worth it. Stick on something you heard at the Ball last night as you scroll through the emerging Facebook photos and you’re guaranteed to feel slightly more human. Find the TCS ‘hangover playlist’ on our Spotify after a rough night: tcsnewspaper. TOMS BAUGIS VIA FLICKR

Review: Oleanna Will Maclean

ithout wanting to sound too pretentious, I spend a reasonable amount of my time thinking about, making, and watching theatre. Before seeing Oleanna, I felt like I was pretty good at coming to terms with the moral questions involved, with having to consider productions at an arm’s length and generally having informed opinions about what I saw. But then I walked into Corpus Playroom on a hot and sweaty evening. It is no understatement to say that this was by far the most profoundly troubling, fascinating, and arresting thing I have seen in Cambridge. It is no surprise to be talking about a show the evening after seeing it. It is unusual to talk only about that show and then to lie awake at night, still wrestling with it.

The most profoundly troubling, fascinating, and arresting thing I have seen in Cambridge The premise is remarkably simple. It follows three meetings of a university Professor (Harry Redding) with his student Carol (Shimali De Silva), and the explosion of gender-, class-, and authority-based issues that arise over a complaint about his behaviour. The pair wage a war of interpretation and implication on one another through a complicated, halting, and dense dialogue impeccably handled by the two actors. The set, with stunning original artwork by Ciaran Walsh, is a set of portraits painted in stark red and black – faces that seem to leer down upon the intense sexual energies below and double the audience’s own voyeurism on this private and fraught space. The genius of the production and the script lies in the resulting inability to know what moral lessons to draw from what I witnessed. Anna Moody and her team’s careful direction managed to strike the perfect balance between institutional and individual culpability. Any judgement I made was immediately undercut by something I remembered from before, or a gesture from one of the actors. Credit must also go to the director for the periods of silence; as much meaning could be gained from when De Silva and Redding looked at one another as when they actually said anything. Aside from the brilliance of the production as a whole, it is so exhilarating to watch these two electric actors hold the stage for the evening.

Every moment was perfectly calculated I am wary of saying too much more, given that the play benefits from untainted interpretation. This play speaks to some of the most important issues facing us in university life, and I would suggest that everyone has a responsibility to think about them in some way. Seeing Oleanna is the best way of doing this.

10/10

ELISE LIMON

19 June 2017 • The Thursday Magazine • The Cambridge Student

Intersectionality matters in literature Lizzie Bowes

heories of intersectionality can be used to explore and understand how different forms of social inequality overlap and interact with each other to create multifaceted minority identities within social groups. It is a concept that is astonishingly relevant in the world in which we live today, with politics and discourses on race, class, and sexuality being hugely enhanced and nuanced by the incorporation of an emphasis on intersectional thinking into the collective literary psyche. As an English student, I often find that I am encouraged by supervisors, secondary reading, and even the Faculty itself to take a historicist approach when reading literary texts – to look at the literature I am reading and attempt to evaluate it from the standpoint that would have been assumed by a typical reader at the time. This way of reading has its merits, as all ways of reading do, since it allows for the consideration of context and authorial intention. However, in spite of the validity of a historicist reading, I often find myself wondering whether students of literature should value intersectional readings just as much as their counterparts. It is now easier than ever to approach the study of literature from an intersectional perspective, with there being a multiplicity of schools of thought that just didn’t exist fifty years ago. This includes, among many others, feminism, post-colonialism, and queer theory, not to mention the other ways of reading which are evolving

and developing as we speak. All of these serve to provoke and enrich academic or even recreational readings of texts, leading readers to question the accepted norms and traditions of the literature which is typically considered to make up the ‘canon’, as well as texts which don’t adhere to these labels. One of the things that excites me most about studying English is the idea that I can take my own beliefs, ideologies, and my views on the world, and apply them to texts written hundreds of years ago to create an entirely idiosyncratic interpretation. It is the twenty-first century reader’s responsibility to assess the prose, poetry, or drama they are reading in an intersectional fashion, especially if those texts could be helpfully and constructively questioned. We live in an intersectional world, and one in which the voices of minority groups who are afflicted by these interlocking forms of social inequality are finally – albeit slowly – being listened to. This means it is only right for such a development to be reflected in academic assessments of literature. Is it still entirely justifiable to dismiss, for example, evidence of misogyny and racism in the work of early modern writers and poets such as Spenser and Shakespeare on the grounds that, at the time, such attitudes were widespread and accepted? Or should instances of such discrimination instead be identified and analysed in accordance with the heightened understanding of social inequality in its many forms that is available in the present day?

Garden Party Economics

A Theatre Critic’s Year in Review

Emer O’ Hanlon

TCS Theatre Editors

t is a truth universally acknowledged that the astute student can get by during May Week drifting from garden party to garden party and surviving on a diet of snacks, finger food, cake, and Pimm’s. Below is a list of parties big and small to tide you through til the end of NPR… Kicking off the week, the Arabsoc Garden Party on 18 June promises to be a delicious occasion. It’s on the pricier end with tickets at £17 for non-members, but will be well worth it with food provided by Lagona. Plus, as it’s an evening affair, it’s a welcome replacement for a May Ball. The Hindu Cultural Society on 23 June always boasts dependably high quality food, and this year’s Desi Dhoom fairground-themed affair looks as though it will be no exception. It is £8 for unlimited Indian food and drink, and I know from past experience that eating your money’s worth is definitely possible at CUHCS events. On the cheaper end of the scale, the AmnesTea Garden Party on 21 June provides free food and drinks, courtesy of local resturants. Last year’s selection included donations from Gardenia’s, Nanna Mexico and Chocolat Chocolat. There is a suggested donation of £3, but even at that it’s one of May Week’s cheaper events. Aside from these society events, remember to make good use of the garden parties run by your college. It works differently everywhere, but at Emmanuel at least you can be sure of a good amount of snack food and Pimm’s just by hanging around the Paddock between the hours of two and six every day. This plan does require you to have a certain amount of boldness if you haven’t been invited to the parties in question, though.

Michaelmas – Pippa Smith Michaelmas term this year did not disappoint when it came to the diverse and exciting theatre offerings Cambridge has become known for. An early highlight for me was the beautifully subtle and skilfully directed The Habit of Art. This Bennett play was brought to life on stage and demonstrated that while comedy shows often draw the biggest audiences, realistic drama should also never be overlooked. That said, the comedic offerings have been particularly strong this year. The wit and instinct of many comedians and actors here never ceases to delight me. Certainly, the regular Footlights Smokers didn’t disappoint, but it was particularly exciting to see the increasing dominance of other comedy groups this year. Lily Lindon’s panel show Have I Got to Mock the Buzzcocks Ja Vu: A Panel Show Sequel cemented these improvised performances as an emblem for innovation asnd a driving force for comedy.

Lent – Gemma Sheehan Lent term started as it meant to go on, with some incredibly strong productions in Week 0 – the ETG tour’s production of Hamlet brought an impressively technical naval take on Shakespeare’s classic; BBC new comedy award finalist Ken Cheng returned to the ADC with Best Dad Ever, and Britney made a poignant mark with its heartfelt exploration of coping with a brain tumour. Week 1 saw the impressively intimate Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons bring a novel two-person performance to the Corpus Playroom, as characters struggled in a hypothetical future with a cap on the amount of words anyone can speak in a day. Week 2’s

Intersectionality in literature is, of course, a difficult topic to navigate. Literature, and particularly literature that is categorically more archaic, is a piece of the past, a piece of history. Instinct instructs us to preserve it, to mummify it and keep it in perfect condition, to be read in the way it was intended to be read. But I feel it is possible to preserve and maintain the literature of ages past whilst still holding it to account on the basis of the intersectional thinking and analysis available to us in the present. ALEXEI YAKOVLEV

production of Stuart: A Life Backwards packed the Playroom, bringing to life the local story of Stuart, a homeless man from Cambridge. The BME production of Macbeth at the Michaelhouse Cafe rightly drew attention to ongoing issues of representation within the Cambridge theatre scene as well as offering a powerful performance in its own right. Student-written SCENE in Week 8 offered a touching story of an interracial queer couple partly based on the experiences of the playwrights. Easter – Anunita Chandrasekar Despite impending exams, the theatrical community manage to put on some brilliant shows during the Easter term. Amongst the several hilarious smokers of the first few weeks, an especial highlight was the BME Smoker in Week 2, which was the first Smoker to be solely comprised of BME students. Other highlights included the ambitious ADC main ensemble pieces such as MOJO, The Merchant of Venice, and Bedroom Farce in Weeks 2, 3, and 4 respectively, with the latter’s set being one of the most impressive I’ve seen at the ADC. These were offset by more intimate one- or two- handers at Corpus, including the thought provoking one-woman show Why is John Lennon Wearing A Skirt? in Week 2 and Week 7’s Spiders, written by Kate Collins, a student at Newnham College. As the term draws to a close, it is wonderful to watch more shows set outdoors that make use of the good weather. Weeks 7 and 8 see a slew of these such as In Extremis, Richard II, and Much Ado and even Gilbert and Sullivan’s Utopia, Limited set on a floating punt stage. All in all, a lovely way to round up a year packed with brilliant productions – bring on next year!

19 June 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ The Thursday Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ The Cambridge Student

Behind the Scenes

A look at the models behind the scenes of our May Week fashion shoot.

Just hanging around.

Blue on blue.

TK Maxx chic.

Yet another door!

Cycling to the ball.

All dressed up.

The sunniest day of the year.

Lili amongst the flowers.

And they are ready to go!

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

Gowns in town

Features The sorry trend of the fifth place blues Chantal Aberdeen Features Editor BEATRICE OBE

ave you heard? You must have – every student knows the importance of trawling through university rankings. I know it’s all I do when I’m not studying. We clearly haven’t been paying close enough attention, as now we have to mourn that Cambridge is only fifth in the world. I know, I’m sorry – you’d probably just recovered, consoling yourself that things could have been worse, Cambridge might have been fifth and Oxford fourth! – and here I am to remind you of the whole horrid situation again. Not that national papers aren’t doing their bit to remind you of that too: you’ve probably seen the headlines announcing our shameful state. They’ve spoken to the experts on the matter too. A particular favourite was Professor Smithers, who spoke to The Telegraph. Apparently, one of the reasons Cambridge and other Russell Group universities are struggling is because there are “all sorts of requirements in terms of ethnic mix, the levels of income of the students, and whether they come from low income areas” which “is getting in the way of the purpose of universities which is identifying the most talented students”. Welcome to 2017, where money and ethnicity still matter to your academic

abilities. Isn’t progress glorious? But maybe, just maybe, there is something more to Cambridge. I asked some fellow first-years and Kirsten suggested that there is a “great community spirit”, while Jontie commented on fellow students always being happy to lend a hand, whether it be with the work itself or offering a tea break. That there is a world beyond studying was something of a recurring theme: the endless opportunities to see people’s talents outside academia, in plays, concerts, comedies and sports. Niall told me that fencing in a Varsity competition against Oxford was one of his most memorable moments: “It was both highly competitive, while at the same time having a very supportive atmosphere”. Even when talking about their studies, students were keen to encourage perspective: Ellie remarked that one essay, or worksheet isn’t deserving of any panic, while Frances said it was important to “take a step back and maybe talk about how you feel with a friend” if the work seems overwhelming. It seems that students have a little more than grades on their minds. At times, the reputation of Cambridge can feel daunting; yet, as Susannah rightly told me, “everyone can bring something different to Cambridge and it’s not always academic stuff which counts”. BEATRICE OBE

Being Christian in Cambridge: An interview with two students Chantal Aberdeen Features Editor

hriving, supportive, tolerant and loving; these were just some of the ways Susannah described the Christian community in Cambridge when I asked. There is a buzz of activity and things for Christian students to get involved with – across the University as a whole, within individual colleges, and in churches across the city too. Events like this year’s ‘Unexpected’ week can bring Christian students from different colleges together, while in each there are ‘college groups’ designed to both support others’ faith and help ensure more generally students who go “have the best time at University possible”, as Jontie told me. But the most important thing, I was told, was for Christian students to find a church in Cambridge where they felt comfortable, where they could worship with others, and to learn more. This is something that would be a struggle for a student whichever university they are at - as Susannah remarked, it is especially

People are eager to listen, loving and tolerant

hard if you have only been to one church, and so only know that style of worship. But in Cambridge, there is the added difficulty of such short terms. There is a great breadth of choice of different churches in the Cambridge – something really encouraging on the one hand, but which also means choosing a church can feel overwhelming. With only eight weeks, how can you find the right one? Susannah told me how helpful it was to speak to other people in her college – a ‘church search breakfast’ was held to help freshers decide – while she also went on a freshers’ getaway in September, where more advice had been given. But decisions on which church to go to could only be made by visiting several, as Susannah and Jontie did in the first few weeks of term. For Jontie, choosing the church he attends currently was based on the guidance he felt they offered to his faith: “I found my church to be very good at explaining the Bible clearly and getting us to think through it ourselves”. Some students can choose a church by ‘feeling’; they just know that is the one for them.

But for Susannah, the choice was not so instinctive: with so much choice in Cambridge, it was easy to feel as though she hadn’t given the others she had visited a chance, and it is of course impossible to gain a full understanding of what a church is like from just one visit. Susannah really wanted to get stuck in, though, and get involved with Bible study in small groups as well as attending Sunday services, and chose one of the churches she had visited. But she noted that people do swap churches: there are no walls between the different churches of Cambridge, Susannah told me, and everyone would be supportive of whatever choices you made to feel most comfortable going to worship. After making his first decision, Jontie noted that “what kept me going there has been the great community of friends”, and going to church allowed him to meet people from outside the University. As well as making friends from Anglia Ruskin University, going to church was also an opportunity to meet locals – who “tend to be older and wiser!”, he told me.

Susannah similarly told me that, although there is a massive student population attending the churches of Cambridge, through her faith she has been able to meet locals – having dinner with families in Cambridge, for example – as well as other people at the University, such as supervisors, she wouldn’t have met otherwise. Finding the balance between settling into a new city, starting studying, as well as choosing a new church, maybe for the first time, can feel overwhelming for new students, as I was told by Susannah. But she also told me that attending a new Church in Cambridge had given her so many new ways of thinking about the Bible, and helped develop her faith. Jontie recommended getting stuck in early, and to get involved in CICCU who, in keeping with the supportive atmosphere that was often mentioned, “care about the students of Cambridge”.

If you have any questions or would like any more information, you can contact Susannah at sl802@cam.ac.uk

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

Features

The Long Read: Having no place to call home

How homelessness is perceived and what we as students can do to help

Ellie Loxton

espite being a representative for CHOP, a studentled homeless initiative, I know nothing about homelessness. It is impossible to, unless you have personally experienced it. We can’t even begin to understand the desolation of not having a place to call home. Indeed, as I write this article, I feel an underlying sense of apprehension, even guilt. Who am I, a student with both a comfortable student room and a stable home with my parents, to talk about this subject? But I have to – we have to – because, homelessness, unfortunately, isn’t going away.

Homelessness is bleak; there is no other word for it We may be able to deceive ourselves into believing that it is. Recent media and cultural attention, while rightly placing the issue at the forefront of national consciousness, might be having the unintentional adverse effect of non-literalising homelessness. There has been a recent ‘trend’ in homeless photography - that is, photographs taken by or of the homeless community. In 2016, Shine Gonzalvez produced a series of haunting images of homelessness, while this month The Guardian is hosting an exhibition featuring photographs taken by young people affected by it. A similar event was held in Cambridge earlier this term. Entitled ‘What’s Underneath Photo Project’ and held at the Michaelhouse Centre, the exhibition enabled the local homeless community, who had been studying photography at shelters such as Jimmy’s on East Road, to display their work. I attended the official opening of this exhibition. It was undoubtedly encouraging to see the photographers present their work with such pride, yet I could not help but feel that, without the man or woman in front of me

discussing their experience, the image would become just that: an image. Homelessness would be reduced to an ‘idea’. Gonzalvez claimed that she ‘felt like [she] needed to bring out the beauty of them’, but homelessness is not beautiful, so why should art depict it as such? I appreciate that she may have been seeking to represent the wonderful individuality of her subjects, but surely doing so through ideas of beauty desensitises us to the harsh realities of life on the streets. Homelessness is bleak; there are no other words for it. It is also on the rise. Since 2010 the estimated number of rough sleepers has increased by a staggering 134%. Unsurprisingly, a significant proportion of the country’s homeless are centralised in London. On average, there are 8,000 people on the streets at any one time, a figure which has doubled over the last five years. What may be more surprising is that Cambridge, a community which boasts such history, learning and, we like to think, affluence, rivals the capital with its escalating rate of homelessness.

These are people with passions, interests, and fears just like us Last year, the East of England experienced a greater increase in the number of rough sleepers than anywhere else in the country, with Cambridge presenting the particularly alarming rise of 145% from June 2015. Currently, around 150 people are homeless in Cambridge. I know what you are thinking: for a city with the population of well over one hundred thousand, this does not seem that bad… Statistics, however, fail to tell the whole story. We tend to assume that ‘homelessness’ refers only to the people we see zipped into sleeping bags in shop doorways. ‘Hidden homelessness’, however, assumes numerous guises. Whether it be living in a squat or staying for a

Currently, around 150 people are homeless in Camrbidge

ALEX PROIMOS

prolonged period in bed and breakfast accommodation, this fragment of the homeless community remain largely in the shadows of official data. So why is Cambridge suffering as such a victim of the country’s homeless crisis? In an article published by The Guardian last month, Amelia Gentleman offered the concurrence of costly housing and a low-paid workforce as the crucial factor. Since the recession, house prices have increased more rapidly here than in any other area outside London. It is not that we suffer from a shortage of homes, but that these homes are simply too expensive for the average Cambridge worker. As Nigel Howlett, the Chief Executive of Cambridge Housing Society (CHS), puts it, ‘the affordability of the affordable housing has decreased’. For example, a recent development of apartments and houses in the new community of Great Kneighton may have created 2,500 homes, but with prices starting at £420,000, such properties are far beyond the typical budget. Gentleman also points out that Cambridge relies on a minimumwage workforce to uphold its façade of wealth and opulence, with the University, sciences parks and other

“The affordability of housing has decreased” say Cambridge Housing Society

city attractions dependent upon a large body of poorly-paid employees. It is the dichotomy between the beauty and wealth of Cambridge against the bleakness of sleeping rough which many undergraduates, myself included, find so unsettling. As Tess Arrigoni Fragolosa, a firstyear student at Emmanuel College, commented: ‘I am reminded of this contrast every time I pass the Corpus Clock near King’s College; a symbol of richness, so much gold opposed to so much grey’. Like Tess, who volunteers with Streetbite to provide food for the homeless, it was the alarming visibility of homelessness which encouraged me to turn my concerns into actions and join CHOP.

Cambridge rivals the capital with its escalating rate of homelessness Both wonderfully humbling and deeply infuriating, volunteering with the programme has been a challenging experience. It has also taught me a lesson just as important as that which any lecturer could: when we see a homeless person, we should always – always – focus on the latter term.

Homeless should never become a substitute for the person; it merely describes their unfortunate situation. It is the reality of there being an individual beneath the sleeping-bag stereotype which all student volunteers are so surprised and heartened by. These are people with passions, interests and fears just like us. They may have been binmen or builders, they may even have a master’s degree, but they will always have an important story to tell. Thankfully, Cambridge has a large army of willing volunteers working with the homelessness community. The university-based programmes Streetbite, CHOP, and RAG operate alongside local shelters like Jimmy’s and Wintercomfort in their tireless efforts to reduce homelessness. They work to alleviate physical hardship, but more crucially to bring joy to people less fortunate than themselves. To someone who may not have spoken more words than ‘any spare change please’ over the past couple of days, simply talking to volunteers can be just as uplifting as a donated sandwich or £1 coin tossed into a Costa cup. It shows that there are people who care; that there are people who value them as human beings.

Since 2010 the estimated number of rough sleepers has increased by a staggering 134%

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

Features

Remember Clowns with a smile, not a frown A week in the life: A pair of highheeled shoes C Juliette Bretan Features Editor

lowns, the once famous Cambridge institution, has now closed. What once was a homely animated restaurant, bursting with frivolity, is now an empty property, waiting dormant for the next owners to take over. The modern tendency to choose massproduction over originality; brands over independent establishments, strikes again. Clowns was created in 1985 by Raffaele Sauchella, and quickly became a household name in Cambridge; a place to enjoy wholesome Italian cuisine for a reasonable price to a backdrop of an abundance of assorted clown figurines. The cafe was welcome to all except, perhaps, coulrophobics, though it was inspired by Raffaele’s favourite Leoncavallo opera, ‘Clowns’, and suitably celebrated the best aspects of Italian culture: the friendly, vivacious hosts; the hearty meals; the engaging

conversation. The home of multiple swaps, parties and meetings, Clowns was well-known among Cambridge students; the perfect place to grab an evening coffee or a quick lunchtime lasagna, in a perfect setting that was just off the beaten track. Run recently by Raffaele’s daughters, Genni and Michela, the cafe was always popular; a refreshing break from the standard sight of branded coffee houses which are spread across Cambridge like a plague, reeking of watered-down caffeine. Though Genni and Michela acknowledged that these cafes played a role in killing off their business, their main reason for closing was their father’s sudden illness, and their subsequent desire to take more care of him, which required more time. Raffaele was the foundation of Clowns; the originator, the inspiration, the protagonist - when he became ill, it was impossible for the cafe to continue. In typical Clowns fashion, though, the business exited in style, with two vast parties on 8th and 9th June,

It’s now officially a memory... the best

followed by an array of Facebook posts on their company page celebrating the 32-year success of the restaurant. As one asserted: “it’s now officially a memory...the best one in our life’s (sic)”; with the popularity of the establishment evident in the multiple recollections of treasured experiences included in comments below. It is a grave misfortune for Cambridge that Clowns had to close; though Genni and Michela’s reasons for this are valid, those who were yet to experience Clowns have truly lost out on a remarkable, unique and vibrant institution. But despite this loss, the show must go on; with memories of the brilliance of the cafe, rather than a grief for its sad demise. As Raffaele’s favourite opera goes: “Vesti la giubba e la faccia infarina... tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto in una smorfia il singhiozzo e ‘l dolor” (“Put on your costume, powder your face...turn your distress and tears into jest, your pain and sobbing into a funny face”). LILI BIDWELL

Lili Bidwell

DANIEL BICHLER

Monday: Unwrapped excitedly from an ASOS parcel I am rushed back to her bedroom and tried on incessantly. How do I look with this dress, that skirt, and everything in between. I haven’t felt so objectified since I did the photo shoot for the catalogue. Tuesday: You would have expected the excitement to wear off by now, but no, I am instead being compared to these other black (rather boring) shoes, and friends flock in to give their opinions. Pictures are taken and sent to even more people, indecisive as ever as to whether or not I will make the cut for the ball tomorrow. Wednesday: I made it! I was chosen! This May Ball is my time to shine, finally people appreciate me and pay me attention. As her feet settle in for the long night ahead I get to enjoy the view of the ball from below. Around me the college is transformed into a fairytale, a night of extravangance waiting to be enjoyed. Other shoes hurry around, excited to make the most of the night, and all the fun to be had.

VoxPop: “What are you most looking forward to in May Week?”

Thursday: Still going strong (sort of) as the ball continues, she stumbles around and dances and dances more than I imagined was possible. I really am beginning to flag, my heels dig into the grass over and over, weakening me more and more. Finally at about 5am she flings me off, into the bushes I fly, happy to at least be able to rest after such an intense night, even if it beginning to get a bit chilly by this stage of the night.

This May Ball is my time to shine, finally people appreciate me “Spending unlimited time “The Medward’s Richard II production “Stealing enough free food to with my friends” feed me for a week” #shameless plugging” Amy, Jesus Sophie, Medwards Mollie, Robinson

Friday: Lost, abandoned, she forgot to take me home. As I lie there I wonder how it is possible that I go from so important to so insignificant in such a small amount of time. I wonder if she will come back for me, or will I be left with the random collection of lost scarves and bags? It is a demoralising feeling, that is for sure, after all we went through together the night before, she cannot even be bothered to come and get me. Saturday: So it turns out she did care (well, at least a bit), and at last she came to retrieve me, and I am safely back in her cupboard, albeit slightly muddy and worse for wear.

“Medwards garden party, because it is a great chance to have a laugh” Fimty, Medwards

“SCOUTING FOR GIRLS!” Tom, Emmanuel

Sunday: Packed unceremoniously into a cardboard box, ready for the journey home and the inevitable long summer inside and neglected, because who needs shoes as smart as me outside of Cambridge?

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

Interviews

Daisy Eyre: Her ambitions and fears ahead of CUSU Presidency Noella Chye

espite a schedule in the days leading up to her taking office which can only be described as absolutely jam-packed, Daisy Eyre took the time to speak to TCS. We discuss the issues at the forefront of her agenda in the year ahead, which she explains in her characteristically buoyant voice. As the interview progresses, I quickly notice that Eyre speaks patiently and at length about each and every one of the issues, taking great care to spell out exactly what she means by a particular view she has, and why she has it. When I ask about the recentlypublished Big Cambridge Survey report, which revealed that only 36% of undergraduates find that the university is a “healthy and positive place to study”, she says: “That, to me, is such a sad statistic.” On numerous occasions, she ties each of the issues we discuss to her personal experiences as a student in the University. In this case, she tells me about her friends’ experiences during the awfulness of exam term, a source of genuine empathy which prompts her towards a goal: “If I can finish my term in office having done anything towards making Cambridge a slightly less pressurising place, then that is what I would like to do.” The two most prominent schemes on Eyre’s welfare agenda are, firstly, getting better training for supervisors, and secondly, starting a network for intermitting students. At present, supervisors get only one hour of training. “I think it’s important

At present, supervisors only get one hour of training

for supervisors to gain a level of flexibility, where they can understand that students may have a personal crisis,” Eyre tells me. This, she believes, is a step in the direction of helping students to realise that “their degree does not have to be the centre of their life at all times.” Drawing on the network for intermitting students which was founded a year ago in Oxford, Eyre tells me that she has reached out to the student who started the scheme, and asked about how and why she went about doing so. In Eyre’s view, “the idea of intermitting is very scary to a lot of students”. This is compounded by the fact that “what is necessary for students is clarity before intermission, rather than after having made that decision”, for which there are no measures in place to provide students with the information they need. She adds on this point, “I think that having the support of people who have been through that process or of people who are going through that process at the same time, would be a real step in that direction.” Evidently, student welfare and mental health is an issue about which Eyre is passionate, and forms one of the three priorities of her campaign – access, mental health, and workload. She is equally concerned with the problem of access as it currently stands in the University, with the experiences of BME students being at the forefront of her agenda. The issue was made particularly pertinent in the Big Cambridge Survey report, which revealed that

23% of BME students said that their social and ethnic background “had a negative impact on their Cambridge experience”, compared to 17% of white students. “That statistic says something about the University of Cambridge, which is [that] from the level of academia down to the level of everyday interaction, it’s a very white university. The reading lists are very white, and furthermore, down to the level of social interaction there is not enough diversity of certain ethnic groups.” She believes that the first step to finding a long-term, stable solution is listening to students in the minority groups concerned, in order to find out the roots of their concerns about their place and experience at the University. She adds that she was deeply impressed and moved by the photograph of the #BlackMenofCambridge posted on Facebook by the African-Caribbean Society earlier this term, commenting: “I was absolutely blown away by the photo they created.” The influence of her time as firstly, Welfare Officer in the Jesus College Student Union (JCSU), and, secondly, JCR President, on her concerns, is evident. As one of the JCSU welfare officers, for example, she succeeded in putting in place a college councillor, which, she tells me excitedly, “has been revolutionary.” Having just completed her threeyear degree in Sociology, she tells me: “I’ve loved Cambridge. Third-year Sociology is the most amazing degree you could do. I’ve absolutely loved it.” Yet she is quick to add that her time

“It’s a very white university”

at the University has not been without its hardships, with the stress of the workload being a constant source of stress. This has been alleviated by a range of factors which have made her experience in the University the joy it has been, such as her “amazing bunch of friends”. Plus, she adds, “I absolutely love Jesus College, which is why I threw myself into the JCSU for two years.” Eyre graduates on 29 June, just three days before she takes office as CUSU President on 3 July, succeeding Amatey Doku, who is, coincidentally, her college father. When asked about how she feels about the year ahead of her, she describes herself as experiencing “warring emotions”. On the one hand, she is nervous about the massive task she is about to take on. “CUSU itself also has systemic issues. It’s under-funded,” she explains. On the other hand, she is excited about continuing the experiences she had when campaigning, which she enjoyed immensely. “For me, the highlight will be continuing to interact with students. I really enjoyed the human element of the campaign – going around the different colleges and meeting people – and I’m just quite excited that I get to do that for another year.” Above and beyond that, Eyre speaks of the capacity for change her new role will bring her with reverence. “CUSU is effectively the voice of the students to the university. […] That’s why I wanted to run for CUSU President, because they actually have the ability to talk to the University, and make changes.” AMELIA OAKLEY

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

Interviews

“Cambridge’s premier a capella group” Cadenza talk to TCS Molly Moss Interviews Editor

s every partygoer will know, the entertainment plays a big part of May Week, and there is always much excitement over which acts will be playing at events. A capella group Cadenza have become a mainstay of the May Week performer crowd, and their President Nicholas Wong took time to speak with TCS. Could you tell me a bit about Cadenza’s music for those unfamiliar to you ? We are Cambridge’s premier a capella group. All our songs are obviously a capella, and we sing a huge range of songs from Stevie Wonder to Disney to Little Mix. We sing pretty much everything! We have quite a fun ‘poppy’ sound. Everyone in the group is a fantastic singer, which means that we can manage a balance as well, and always deliver some pretty tear-jerking material.

How are the group members selected? We audition at the beginning of every year, and from that we take singers from all across the University. It means that we can get the best people we can, specifically for a capella. Sometimes we get people who are specifically choral, and sometimes specifically ‘poppy’, and we try and find an eclectic mix somewhere in the middle. That means it’s always nice to meet up and have a rehearsal! How long has the group been going for? I think it started in 1997. Back then I think it was a jazz choir, but around 2003 it turned into an a capella group. It’s been a May Ball staple for quite a while, but this year we’ve become more ingrained in the UK a capella group doing the ICCA, which is the a capella international competition. We reached the semi-final in London this year, which was super cool, and we got to meet a bunch of other amazing

groups. So we’re now officially one of choreography, and generally looking the top eight groups in the UK, which quite silly. It’s also so rewarding, though, is quite a nice thing to have! because at the end of the day it’s just a Would you say the group resembled group of friends doing sick harmonies (actually please don’t put that down. Pitch Perfect? It’s pretty much exactly like Pitch It will haunt me in a few years…) It’s super fun when you have eight part or Perfect. It’s just as camp! nine part or even ten part harmonies Can you tell me about the which are always super juicy. There’s nothing like it! arrangements you use? Harry Castle, who is our musical director, does most of the Tell me about the single Cadenza arrangements. He has arranged ‘Shout released. We have a debut single The Uptown Out To My Ex’, and ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’. A lot of the other stuff is by the Freak, which is a mash-up of ‘Thriller’, beatboxer of the group Alex Porteous. and ‘The Freak’ and ‘Uptown Funk’. Then we have a bunch of really nice old We did a music video for it that which tunes from previous musical directors. is on YouTube. It may haunt me in a few years.... We got to run around in How does a cappella singing differ monster outfits. It was super fun! from other groups/is it more Any plans for more releases? challenging? Definitely thinking about doing an It’s challenging because if something goes wrong there’s no backing track. EP next year, but unfortunately these It’s all down to group... We have to things cost a lot of money to do. We trust everyone else while doing silly are saving up... so watch this space!

What’s Cadenza’s schedule like for May Week? It’s a pretty busy schedule! We have Medwards today (Sunday). Tomorrow we’re doing Trinity, the day after that we’re doing Johns, and the day after that Darwin and Peterhouse! Also, on top of that we’re doing a beatbox workshop and a free May Week concert on Thursday. Not everyone can come and see us for the balls, so this way everyone gets chance! The workshop is basically beatboxing in a very accessible way, led by our beatbox extroidinaire Alex. It’s a chance for people of all abilities to learn how to look really cool in front of their friends. It’s basically spitting for 20 minutes... The beatbox workshop is at 6pm, and the Concert at 7pm at Sidney Sussex Chapel. Anything else you’d like to add? Make sure to check out the other a capella groups this week as well! There are loads playing at the May Balls! CADENZA FACEBOOK PAGE

Emma Thompson: “He rode his bike into my bedroom” Molly Moss Interviews Editor

mma Thompson took the time to speak to TCS during her visit to Cambridge, talking about her admirers, her writing process, and her opinions on ageism in the film industry. As a Cambridge alumna herself, Thompson spoke both at her old College, Newnham, and then at the Cambridge Union, before rounding off her night by going to the club Kuda, known to Cambridge students as Life. During her time in Cambridge Thompson read English and was a member of the Footlights. I meet Emma Thompson, who is one of Britain’s best-loved actresses, in a busy room at the Cambridge Union. There is no doubt that she loves being interviewed. I ask her whether it’s true that she once rode through Newnham on a motorbike, and she enjoys telling me

“I write everything longhand”

“I had, for want of a better word, an admirer. He rode his bike into my bedroom. I said ‘get out! Quickly! I’ll be in such trouble’ but he said ‘only if you get on the back and ride out with me’. So it was all a bit sort of Austen, but not, and with a bit of a dick….” I ask her about her writing process, and she says “when I wrote comedy I used to write in cafes. I can’t do that anymore, because they’re too noisy. I used to write in public places, but now I just write in a small space. I have a little desk and I write everything longhand. I did a Q&A at BAFTA about writing, and just got out two boxes of Sense and Sensibility drafts. I find it interesting because we don’t see that anymore because everything is digital.” But surely the redrafting process differs when writing longhand? “It is different! I mean I think there is a connection between the brain and

the hand and the pen, so I find that I have to write my first creative thoughts longhand, or I just simply don’t have a relationship with them. “If I write a creative book on the computer I don’t know what it means to me. It looks too neat. It’s too real. It’s a bit like those insults on Facebook that have been typed up, and then become all the more vicious and dreadful because they look concrete. “The relationship with the pen is important to me. Other writers do it… but they’re all old… Chris Hamilton and Alan Bennett write long hand too.” Computers, Thompson admits, scare her. “When I’ve finally got [the draft] into shape then I’ll put it onto the computer. I just don’t trust computers. My computer hid my last draft of Sense and Sensibility. I woke up one morning and the whole thing was in hieroglyphs, and I just didn’t understand what had happened. I took

“The antiageing thing is just hilarious”

the whole computer to Stephen Fry and said please help me. It took him seven hours to find it!” What’s important to her, she explains, is seeing her writing brought to life. Whether she prefers writing or acting is a hard question for her. “The best thing is writing something then seeing it made. Seeing things you have written is a rarity.” One thing is sure. Thompson doesn’t give a damn about ageing. Asked about her feelings on ageism and sexism in the industry, she retorts “‘I imagine I feel much the same as you. Irritated by it… and bored”. “The anti-ageing thing is just hilarious,” she goes on to say. “You just go what’s wrong with us all… what are you trying to say to young people when you say anti-ageing? I have to say I’m very grateful to be alive and I’m grateful to be able to be this age and sit back on a certain amount of wisdom and knowledge.”

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

Comment

Pension Act changes: An attempt at equality backfires for women today Juliette Bretan Comment Editor

he promise of a State Pension to take you through retirement is an expectation considered as a given: regardless of your employment history, marital status, or gender, the assurance that you will have a basic pot of money to support you in your old age, provided you have paid or been credited with National Insurance contributions, is a right all people of this nation have. Yet recent changes implemented to the State Pension scheme, in a bid to equalise the State Pension Age between men and women, have left some women without the financial independence they were due, and hence disrupted their retirement plans and fiscal stability. In 1995, the Conservative Government’s Pension Act included the policy to equalise the State Pension Age, by increasing the women’s age to 65, the same as men’s. This was an action that seemed to be a positive statement of equality between males and females in a financial matter that would impact both parties. But this was implemented haphazardly and chaotically: too rapidly for women to readjust their plans or re-evaluate their

monetary standing. The increases caused hundreds of thousands of women born on or after 6th April 1951 to face fiscal hardship. Some were not personally notified of these changes despite facing an increase in retirement age of four, five, or six years, and hence were unable to form alternative strategies to cope until it was too late. Some were also hit with a second increase as a result of the 2011 Pension Act, leaving women of a similar age facing a disproportionately longer wait for their pension: a one year difference in actual age can make an almost three year difference to state pension age. With no compensation and no other source of income (until the 1990s, many women weren’t allowed to join company pension schemes), the consequences have been dire. It seems, in an effort to create equality; the government have only succeeded in promoting inequality. The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign group was set up by five women in 2015 in an attempt to combat these unfair changes, by trying “to achieve fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born in the 1950s affected by the changes to the state pension law (1995/2011 acts)”. So

It is our mothers who are suffering

far their efforts have been ignored by the government and the press. Yet, by the time their petition closed after 6 months, WASPI had 193,186 signatures, and their website has received over a million hits. Though it is rarely reported on, it seems WASPI’s campaign is a popular one. While the policy to align the State Pension Age was undeniably an attempt at a progressive movement towards equality, and has consequences which do not directly affect us, it is our mothers and grandmothers who are suffering. And they are suffering today; right now – as WASPI demonstrates, the lack of public knowledge of the changes to Pension Acts and their consequences have caused a troubling situation for many women born in the 1950s. WASPI aspires to “paint the town purple” in order to raise public awareness of the injustice caused by the Conservative Party’s policy. Though some are already feeling the terrible results, the situation can be changed. People must speak out against the unfair nature of the pace of change, in order to alter the transition and ultimately prevent other women from needlessly suffering. If not, there will be a price to pay, and it is our family members who will have

The ethical problems of spraying alcohol Juliette Bretan Comment Editor

elebrations at the end of exams often involve spraying alcohol onto those who have finished studying. A harmless tradition that encompasses the frivolity of post-exam feeling. Yet this activity, while it is intended to be only a mere exhibition of glee, can have disruptive and painful consequences: some students, to whom alcohol is forbidden on religious or ethical grounds, may feel perturbed by this action. Spraying one’s friends with Cava to revel in the end of the academic year can cause more pain than good, though it may seem innocent. And this is not ‘political correctness gone mad’. In our brilliantly diverse society, we must accept when there is a problem; a clash of culture and we should work to resolve it. While complaining about something as inconsequential as this activity can lead us to be accused of excessive allegations of offence about trivial matters, the fact of the matter is that, to some, this is by no means trivial at all. To those who follow specific beliefs of religion and culture, being in contact with alcohol can be tremendously dangerous for them on a spiritual level. To others, who may have struggled with alcohol addictions in the past, the spraying of one’s friends and the tradition of

inebriation after exams have finished could open up a nightmarish can of worms. Alcohol is, surely, something that we could limit to the confines of situations where all feel comfortable. So why don’t we? It would be all too easy to disregard such qualms in the elation of post-exam ecstasy, but we must take the time to consider the harmful effects that can be caused by drenching someone who is apprehensive about the use of the recreational drug. This is not a total condemning of alcohol as a celebratory tool; far from it. But awareness of others; particularly of their discomfort, and an effort to resolve this, is crucial in any progressive society. As examples from the past have shown, compromising with others to avoid upsetting them is not a difficult thing to do, and it can save unnecessary embarrassment, pain, and discontent. When Liverpool won the League Cup final in 2012, the players understood that their team doctor, a devout Muslim, would feel uncomfortable with his clothes being sprayed with alcohol, and hence moved his clothes out of their changing rooms before celebrating in this manner. A similar approach could easily be taken in post-exam festivities; it would take mere moments to enquire whether the people around you are happy with drinking, and then one’s behaviour can be altered in the

For some, being drenched with alcohol is a spiritual issue

appropriate manner. Though drenching alcohol over one’s friends and acquaintances is often an innocuous activity of celebration, everyone will have a considerably larger amount of fun if they are all comfortable with this, and do not feel troubled by it, or indeed isolated from the festivities. Exam celebration should be enjoyable for everybody; after all, finishing one’s exams is a moment of joy. But if everyone can share in this joy, this is better for us all, and helps to build a cohesive and inclusive community. CYCLONEBILL

Throwing good fo not eat it later – o Soline Doyle

grew up in an environment surrounded by people who taught me that food is something that cannot be taken for granted when you are lucky enough to have it. My great-grandparents lived through both world wars and there were days when they didn’t have much to eat. My grandfather used to have a massive garden where he grew his own vegetables; my grandmother then made jams, soups, and all sorts of foods that she stored in preserving jars. It was hard work. My parents had – and still have – no tolerance when it comes to wasting food. When I was young, they were always there to remind me that I should finish my plate. If I didn’t, however, I would have to eat it later, whether I liked it or not. This is probably why I cannot bear seeing someone carelessly scraping a whole plate of perfectly edible but unwanted food in the bin. The worst thing is people who do that tend to make me feel like I’m the weird one. Should I worry that I’m being tightfisted or annoying when I tell them that they could’ve saved that food for later, just by putting it on a plate in the fridge and covering it with plastic film? Honestly now – it’s as simple as that. Why on earth would one waste food that could be re-heated or eaten cold the following day? Cold pizza is probably one of my favourite snacks – I even have it for breakfast sometimes. Is that a quirk, though? I cannot imagine that someone would advocate wasting food for the pleasure of it. So, why is it then? Is it education? Are people who waste food educated to think that way and thus unaware of what they are doing? Or are they simply careless about the planet, about people all around the world who struggle to have access to food? People in Colombia, children, families, pregnant mothers are queuing for hours just to buy a loaf of bread. No, not in the 1970s but now, in 2017. In South Sudan, the state of famine was declared last February; 63 % of the population living in Bahr ElGazal live in permanent food insecurity. Are people who waste food careless about

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE NZ

Comment

The Macron wave strikes again – but it may drown him too if promises are broken Soline Doyle

ood away? Why or let me have it! those who struggle to feed their families after having paid all their bills, or about homeless people who may not have had a proper meal in a few days? How can one be so reckless when throwing food away? It is still difficult for me to believe that people might have never considered that wasting food could be such an inconsiderate thing to do. Thankfully, some countries are currently fighting against food-wasting. In February, for example, France declared it illegal for its supermarkets to throw out food that’s nearing its expiration date. The stores can either compost or donate it to charity. The country also banned putting expiration dates on certain categories of goods, such as wine and vinegar. Expiration dates are often random and don’t necessarily signify when a food may be close to spoiling. The Food Sustainability Index (released 1 December) ranks how well countries are performing when it comes to food waste, agricultural sustainability, and addressing nutrition challenges. The report analysed all the countries in the Group of 20, which includes the largest global economies, and examined five nations from underrepresented regions, as well as 16 cities. France scored highest on the index’s metric for efforts aimed at curbing food waste. For me, eating is not only a means to stay alive, it is a pleasure in itself. However, it seems many people just eat to stay alive; some do not seem to have any respect whatsoever towards food. Most people do not care where it comes from, how it was processed, and by whom. Food is not just food, it is a tradition, a different culture in every country, a luxury. I see people allegedly fighting for human rights and against poverty at the same time as they buy and throw away extortionate quantities of good food – it just doesn’t make any sense. See, you and I might not have any trouble buying food on a daily basis or might not even think of the possibility of being deprived of food one day. I beg you, when, and if possible, use your common sense. Think, be practical; but most of all, be wary of others.

ollowing Emmanuel Macron’s election as President of France and the appointment by the latter of a brand-new government a few weeks ago, it is now time for the French people to elect the deputies who will sit on the red velvet benches of France’s 577-seat parliament: the Assemblée Nationale. Like the country’s presidential poll, this election takes place over two rounds – this year, on 11 and 18 June. Macron’s new centrist party looks set to take an overwhelming majority in parliament after the first round of elections held on Sunday (11th June). His movement could, with its centrist allies, go from nought to as many as 430 seats. This would be one of the biggest majorities in France since the end of the

This would be one of the biggest majorities in France since the end of WWII

the Second World War. If Macron’s party does win a landslide victory in the final round on 18 June, it will redraw the current landscape of French politics. The traditional left and right parties that dominated parliament for decades were knocked out in the presidential election first round and their representation in parliament is, at present, projected to face historic lows. Warnings by Les Républicains and the Socialist party that it would be unhealthy for democracy if Macron’s party won a ‘monopoly’, did not appear to be taken into account by voters. However, the level of abstention for the French parliamentary election is at a high, with only 49 % of registered voters having voted in the first round of the election.

Macron will have to convince people that his measures are efficient so that people do not lose the trust that they continuously put in him, especially considering that the parliamentary candidates from his party include a historic number of total newcomers to parliamentary politics, as well as former politicians from the right, left, and centre. It is thus essential that Macron fulfils his promises. If he wants to prove he can revolutionise the French Republic, he does not want to commit a single mistake, or the wave which led him to power will violently wash him away. Macron has given us hope for a brighter future for France, Europe, and the world, that this is the last thing we would want and need to happen. Please President Macron, do not let us down: you are our only hope. GOUVERNEMENT FRANÇAIS

Is politics the itch we can’t stop scratching? Juliette Bretan Comment Editor

olitics is perpetual. There’s not a day that goes by without news of a new political crisis, a leadership battle, or revelation of a questionable policy. And whilst this is, of course, much better than anarchy, the endless cycle of political perspectives we see plastered across newspapers, illuminated on social media;, and spoken in the mouths of friends can become tedious at times. The exasperation of the phrase “not another one!”, spoken by Brenda from Bristol, the now-renowned figure interviewed on the morning that news of the recent General Election broke, is testament to a general fatigue caused by the political presence. Yet, while it can seem dull at times, politics will always remain on the tips of our tongues; sometimes disregarded for more presently pressing matters, but always underlying everything we do, everything we say, and everything we are.

Politics is, after all, a matter of what people believe – yes, it is a method of control, but this comes with personal principles and opinion we hold dear to our hearts. Politics is change: a hope that we can manifest of our attitudes into something tangible. And, as the build-up to the recent election showed, people want to have a say. People want their attitudes to mean something. Indeed, despite the fact that, in the recent election, non-voters outnumbered the people who voted for the winning candidate in 154 seats, research has shown that nearly half of non-voters would vote if they could do so online. A campaign video was even created to encourage the ‘unheard third’, the registered voters who did not vote, to have their say: the ‘CBA Party’, as it was referred to in the video, was revealed as actually standing for ‘The Campaign to Banish Apathy Party’ – and its popularity on social media shows that people wanted to listen. Even though

People want their attitudes to mean something

there is still an incredibly vast number of citizens who do not use their voting rights, the implication that they would if it was easier to do so, or if they had the time to go to the ballot box, is surely positive. We’re not there yet, but progress can be made. While it is probably true that nobody in their right mind would ever choose to watch BBC Parliament, and political jargon seems perpetually impenetrable, there is a constant urge in all of us to know at least the basics of what is going on in the political sphere of our country. Even in the people we see interviewed on the news who claim to not know who Theresa May is still have a pared-down understanding of what is happening – after all, politics affects everything we do, say, and feel. The news reports of the daily Commons’ shrieking matches are tinnitus-inducing; but this is a tinnitus we still desire to hear. Politics is an itch, yes – but it is an itch we cannot stop scratching.

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

Comment Editor-in-Chief: Lili Bidwell Founded 1999 Volume 18

The role of memes in election campaigns Juliette Bretan Comment Editor

The power of the student vote The annoucement of a snap election by Theresa May took many of us by surprise, but no one would have imagined the result of the election could be so different from what was previously expected. And what changed this? It would appear that it was the student vote whose influence swung many seats. The day the election was called, an astounding 57,987 people under the age of 25 registered to vote, a number that increased over the course of the election campaign. In Cambridge we saw the election spark the interest of many, with crowds gathering outside Senate House upon the arrival of politicians to the election debate.

On the night of the election, the excitement and anticipation in the Guildhall was infectious, the Union was packed with students, and many stayed up all night – it seems that the younger members of society are finally taking an interest in politics. Whether this be because of Corbyn’s effort to win over student voters, or the incessant prescence of memes relating to the election, the result is significant, and the student voice is beginning to be heard at last. The power of our generation is not insignificant, and we believe it to be a very positive development, the more students care about politics, the more politics will care about them. So stay interested, nothing is certain just yet.

Goodbye from Easter 2017 Team It has been a long, hard term for everybody, and I cannot thank the TCS Easter team enough for their amazing dedication to the paper and their consistency in spite of exams. This May Week edition marks the end of a sucessful online term for TCS. This edition was created through a collaboration of the Lent and Easter teams: in The Thursday Magazine we provide light-hearted coverage of May Week, whilst Part One remains focused on the aftermath of the General Election, with an injection of fun from the Carboard Boat Race. Over the course of Easter term we have worked to expand our online

presence, with Twitter live-blogs of the Local and General elections being highlights. We have had some fantastic interviews, including with Katie Hopkins and the Cambridge election candidates, and we have continued to highlight the plight of the homeless, as in this edition’s Long Read. Overall I will be so sad to leave TCS behind this term as it has been amazing experience, one which could not have happened without this term’s team and my Deputy Editor Sophie Dickinson. Thank you also to Will Tilbrook for his guidance as I found my feet this term.

ublicising a political campaign to target the nation is sometimes a more complex endeavour than establishing policy; assiduous work is undertaken, and great stores of money spent, in an attempt to capture the attention of voters across social media, newspapers, and television – and it can, ultimately, fail. Indeed, the Conservatives are said to have spent £1.2 million on Facebook and social media advertising for the last election, and to little avail, with the eventual loss of their parliamentary majority. With such matters of advertising, it seems youth is key; and the Tories did not target this cohort correctly. whilst Labour spread their message for free. The rise of meme culture plays a crucial part in all modern political campaigns, and it was the young Labour supporters who particularly capitalised on this for the recent election; creating meme pages and accounts to promote the politics of the Labour party in a concise and accessible manner. Even in the 2015 election, the Milifandom campaign was critical in encouraging young voters, who possibly had never voted before, to make an effort to promote

what they believed in and ultimately make it to the ballot box to vote. Even a candidate for the constituency of Cambridge had a meme page: ‘Daniel Zeichner memes for principled and never selling out teens’ was a hit among University students who wanted to prevent the re-election of a Lib Dem ex-Member of Parliament. But it is not just picture memes that play a central role: political memes include music (such as ‘Liar Liar GE2017’; a direct attempt to prevent another May-led government), and fanfiction; though our own nation may lack attractive political figureheads at this point in time, the appeal of the Canadian and French leaders, Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron respectively, has sparked the questionably erotic Trudeau/Macron stories which are being written online – a creation that began on Twitter, with Corey Kindberg’s pithy remark that: “Justin always had a sweet tooth. He had a thing for French desserts. Finally. He found the one dessert he couldn’t pass up – Macron”. This is a trend that stretches back into history, too, with Blair/Bush fanfictions, Stalin/Hitler tales and Stalin/Shrek stories. The increasingly daring creations are sometimes funny; other times painful – though they consistently raise the question of

where the line must be drawn when it comes to satire. What is acceptable political comedy? Can it all be valid? Then there are the fake election campaign videos; the rap battles between politicians; the parodies of MPs: a modern revolution in creativity that lives on the borderline between being harmless and being dangerous. Whilst such popular culture may encourage people to be involved in political activity, it could also be classed as a ridiculing of the entire democratic process, dismantling all enthusiasm for politics by reducing the activities to mere farcical spectacle. We must not forget, of course, the election scene in Blackadder, which included the ‘Standing At The Back Dressed Stupidly And Looking Stupid Party’; the colours of which are the same as those of UKIP. Meme culture may have played a critical role in the 2017 election, but this comes at a cost. Yes, memes are funny; a rapid way of learning key policy; and respite from the monotony of political jargon – but they can cross the line of being unacceptable very easily. Whilst capitalising on memes is a fantastic way to ensure success in an election, and in the future of one’s political campaign, we must be careful: memes may be popular, but popularity is not an excuse for offensiveness. KASIA RUSZKOWSKI

Kinky feminist: There’s a limit, and shaving is mine MAX PIXAL

Anonymous

owever naive it sounds, I didn’t really believe that people asked their partners to shave in real life – in particular, that any man would desperately want the woman he sleeps with to be essentially hairless from the waist down. It seems odd to me that one partner might be expected to deep throat, while the

other struggles to the point where he absolutely must say something when he gets a single hair in his mouth. Or even several. So, I was pretty taken aback when this was asked of me – taken aback enough that I fumbled in my response, saying I’d think about it rather than giving an outright ‘no’. That answer came later, repeatedly, and was always received with some amount of confusion. He wanted to know, Why not? What’s the problem? And it was difficult to explain that it wasn’t only because I have little doubt that I’d find shaving more uncomfortable than he’d find giving oral sex to a woman who hasn’t (speaking from experience – it’s really not a big deal). More than that, it was because, for me, it pushed at the dynamics we had, sending them tripping out of the bedroom and into

everyday life. Shaving for one person who I was not exclusive with, changing my body to his specifications, making it exactly what he wanted, would feel like being branded. And while I can understand the appeal of feeling owned, and I know some people even enjoy a 24/7 dominant/submissive lifestyle, those things are not for me. Just as a lot of people have kinks, they also have limits, and shaving – with all that it entails both physically and emotionally – is one of mine. I don’t want to get out of bed and leave my house feeling like my body does not belong to me. The reason I’m writing about this, particularly in my last column, is because it’s a big part of what made me want to write about kink in relation to feminism at all. The accumulative hours I spent wondering whether I

ought to shave, whether I was making a big fuss out of nothing, if it was any ‘worse’ than some of the other things I had (more than) happily done, if I was somehow failing as a submissive in that relationship by refusing to shave, well, they probably went into double figures. And it was likely time I could have saved by just sitting down and acknowledging that there are things that I do not want to do, and that there is nothing I have to do, for anyone. It is, essentially, an issue of consent, and the reason that when it comes to being kinky there are hard and soft limits: things that you are completely unwilling to try, and things that you’re potentially open to exploring at the right time and with the right person. To ignore someone’s limits is at best a breach of trust and respect, and at worst a non-consensual act. It does not

matter how odd your limits might be, or how petty they might seem – they are likely to be as broad or specific, as strange or inexplicable, as your kinks themselves, and discovering what they are is just as important when you’re seeking a happy sex life. Just as it’s okay to be kinky, it’s okay. of course, always, absolutely. to say no. I thought I knew this, but the reason I feel the need to put it into print is because it’s definitely something I forgot at times. When you’ve been consistently trying so many things you enjoy, discovering a limit can pull you up short, throwing you for a loop so suddenly that it’s hard to remember that a word other than ‘yes’ exists. But it does, and using it with someone who hears you loud and clear is the best way to ensure that exploring kink is a fun, positive, and revealing experience.

The Cambridge Student • 19 June 2017

Sport

May Week Wordsearch by Lili Bidwell

VIA ATOZTEACHERSTUFF

Dismantling the language barrier in football Tom Higgins Toon Sports Editor

May Week Party Ball Dress Drinks Dancing Friends Punting

Relax Hangover Summer Sun Swimming Croquet Rowing Cambridge

Sudoku

by Thomas Prideaux Ghee

ith neither a majority nor a clear strategy for Brexit negotiations, there is no doubt Theresa May is having difficulties making her mark on the continent. However, it seems that she is not the only one. Since the last British triumph in the Champions League in 2012, no Premier League side has reached another final, with relegation-threatened Leicester the last team standing in last season’s dismal showing. Many reasons have been mooted for our poor form against the European crème de la crème. Too much domestic football. Too little time to rest. Too many tough games played on brumous weekday evenings in Staffordshire. You get the point. However, a more interesting argument comes in the physical form of the language barrier. It is a testament to the prestigious status of the Premier League that players from all over the world choose to represent our top teams. As a result, teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea often field more players for whom English is as a secondary language than it is a mother tongue. Whilst the Arsenal squad is made up of seven Spanish-speakers, five Frenchmen and three Germans, it is Manchester City who are the top polyglots, lining up for the final game of last season without a single Englishman on the team-sheet. A quick dive into La Liga provides some compelling evidence of the opposite scenario, where the leading trio of Barcelona, Atlético and Real Madrid all have at least 11 Spanish-speakers in their first-team squad. Indeed, if we incorporate Portuguese speakers into the mix, then the monolingual makeup takes on yet greater proportions. Unfortunately, as with every theory, several counter-examples arise. The potency of MSN – Messi, Neymar and Suarez – may perhaps be attributed in part to their near sharing of a common language, yet when Real Madrid put

together a Frenchman, a Portuguese and a Welshman, they certainly get more out of it than a demoded joke. Also, a frequent criticism levelled at La Liga, Ligue Un and the like is the large discrepancy in quality between those at the top and those at the bottom, the majority of whom feature two or three foreign players at most. Nobody really bats an eyelid when Arsenal have an off day and drop two points to Sunderland, but a similar result on the continent would almost warrant a full-scale investigation. Perhaps national sides tend to fare better when a lot of their players represent the same club. That way, players get to know the minutiae of their compatriots both on and off the field, a situation that is hard to imagine back in England. The standard Italian back four of Buffon, Chiellini, Barzagli and Bonucci is the very same that lined up for Juventus in last month’s Champions League Final, whilst the relationship between Bayern Munich and the German national outfit is equally symbiotic. Of course, this may be down to the quality of respective individuals. After all, the players that make up the French national team rarely play together when not representing Les Bleus, but that did not stop them reaching the final of Euro 2016. Clearly, then, linguistic homogeneity is no guaranteer to success on the field. However much the Spanish media may castigate Bale for his uncertain grasp of the language, there is little evidence that this should be held responsible for his occasional lacklustre performance. Some people even go as far as to suggest that football has its own codes, its own language. Although fluctuating somewhat on his position, Arsène Wenger, stated in 2012 that “People who cannot speak together can play together because you use your body and the way you understand the game to communicate, and you can share exactly the same vision of the game”. JARMOLUK

Solutions from Volume 18, Lent Issue 4

19 June 2017 • The Cambridge Student

Sport

LILI BIDWELL

Netball mixed cuppers

Teams compete for a place in the finals → p. 19

www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/sport

XANTHE FULLLER

Ladies hockey teams battle it out in intense game Medwards and Jesus women end a competitive game with a 3-all draw Lili Bidwell

n a hockey league game on Sunday, the women’s teams from Medwards and Jesus gathered on John’s pitches to battle it out in the drizzling rain. The match began with a push back from the Medwards team, who immediately pushed forwards in an effort to get the ball near to the Jesus goalie. The Medwards women had fielded the full eleven players, while Jesus were down to just nine girls, including the goalie. Nevertheless, the Jesus team were strong in defense, managing to prevent the opposition from scoring in spite of the amount of time that Medwards managed to spend down their attacking end of the pitch. There were several strong saves from the Jesus goal keeper; nevertheless, the Medwards girls were placing the defense players under a lot of pressure, especially with the sheer speed

Both teams came back stronger than ever in the second half

and force with which they hit the ball. The first goal of the match was scored by Jesus, who after a lovely run up the pitch finally managed to whack the ball into the back of the net. The Medwards girls then became even more fiesty, determined to equalise as soon as possible. After having had possession near their attacking goal for a large portion of the match, they were at last able to score a goal, despite the strong effort from the Jesus goalkeeper. As the game progressed, with Medwards defensively lining up across the pitch every time Jesus had a pass from the sixteen line, the Jesus team managed to break through this defense and make the most of the empty pitch behind, sprinting towards the goal. A foot on the Medwards side gave Jesus a short corner, which they made the most

of, rushing in and aggressively scoring their second goal. The first half of the game ended with another short corner, with Jesus attacking again, however the Medwards team succeeded in clearing the ball before the Jesus attackers scored a goal. The teams then had motivational talks amongst themselves, both sides determined to make this second half count. As the sun began to intermittently shine through the grey clouds above, this pathetic fallacy boded well for the Medwards ladies team. As the second half began, both teams came back stronger than ever. Medwards did well to finally convert some of their shots into goals, scoring two fairly early on in the second half. This advance in score, now 3-2 to Medwards, scared the Jesus girls into

action; they were fiercly competitive and extremely driven to gain back their lead. The teams were pretty equally matched which was making for a very good game. Jesus had discussed tactics and were making use of a deep defense player to pass back to, and also trying to lift the ball over the sticks of the Medwards defensive players. This new approach did indeed pay off, allowing the Jesus team to get the ball into the back of the net, following a highly impressive and energetic run from the centre forward. Nevertheless, this sixth goal of the game was scored fairly late, close to the end of the game, and the match soon ended with a score of 3-all. An eventful game, with both teams well-matched and both capable of having won, neccesarily accepting a draw as the outcome of this competitive game.