The Cambridge Student by The Cambridge Student

Trigger Warnings

Will Gompertz

LGBT+ History

→ Comment pp.28-9

→ Interviews, p.14

→ Part 2, pp.11-22

Is it time to introduce a policy in Cambridge theatre?

The

25 February 2016 Vol. 17 Lent Issue 7 www.tcs.cam.ac.uk

Pink Week success: 24k total raised

Pink Week has exceeded its £20,000 fundraising target Sherilyn Chew News Editor

he Cambridge Pink Week campaign has exceeded its target of £20,000 in this year’s fundraising drive, raising £24,078. This is more than a threefold increase in the £7,000 they raised last year. The money will be donated to three breast cancer charities: Hello Beautiful, Breast Cancer Care and Trekstock. Pink Week ran from 5 to 11 February this year. 6 February saw the launch of the inaugural Pink Week Ball, with 50% of the ticket proceeds going to charity. The team also received 1,600 pledges from Cambridge students, who promised to do monthly self-checks for any abnormalities. Pink Cheeks Tuesday was also dedicated to promoting healthy dietary and lifestyle habits, with a yoga class, free massages, and a healthy eating supper club, while 11 February saw a college Pink Day, with colleges holding a pink event/dinner that evening. The organisation also held a Cambridge Union panel to discuss the work and research of breast cancer charities. The panel featured Samia al Qadhi, chief executive of Breast Cancer Care, Kris Hallenga, founder of CoppaFeel, a charity aiming to stamp out late detection of breast cancer, and Jane Hutchison, CEO of Hello Beautiful, a support network for those affected by breast cancer. A Pink Week representative spoke to The Cambridge Student expressing their gratitude for the warm response from Cambridge students: “The committee

Part 2 celebrates pride with a LGBT+ special

The BBC’s Arts Editor talks creativity

has just been blown away by the amount of support we have received from people attending our events, making donations, and sponsoring us, and signing themselves and their friends up to the Pink Week pledge.” They continued: “The money we’ve raised and awareness we’ve spread is all those people’s achievement and we are so grateful to every one of them. We’ve also just had so much fun working on it as a committee, so this is the perfect way to finish a very happy year’s work.” The organisation aims to “make breast cancer awareness a focal cause for the student body”. Despite students not being the most commonly affected age group, they believe in the power of “informing” this generation, for the sake of future ones, and emphasise that “the Pink Week message remains positive, colourful and adamant in our power to find the cure.” They had organised the event with a 13 strong committee and a Ball committee of 9 people. “We started making arrangements for the summer so it was very full as soon as we started [planning] back in October.” Pink Week was founded in 2011 by Nina Rauch, in honour of her mother, Dina Rabinovitch, a former Guardian columnist who died from breast cancer. The event debuted at Haberdasher’s Askes School for Girls in 2011. Rauch launched the event at Clare College, Cambridge in 2014, before spreading to Durham, Sussex, Oxford, Birmingham, and even UCLA. The organisation aims to reach 10 more campuses by 2016. Cameron Wallis, who performed at the Pink Week Ball said: “It was great event – an awesome opportunity to support a a brilliant cause.”

Cambridge Student

Big Survey highlights Uni mental health issues

Bea Lundy Deputy News Editor 45% of students reported that Cambridge has had a negative effect on their mental health in CUSU’s Big Cambridge Survey. 8% of respondents reported having a disability that was a mental health condition, twice the number of last year. However, a much larger proportion, 46%, considered stress or anxiety a problem in student life. This rose to 62% of black British students. Additionally, almost a third of students found that studying at Cambridge had a negative impact on their physical health. This year’s survey saw a 62% increase in total number of respondents, with this year receiving nearly 4000 replies. 53% of women said that they had experienced or observed gender-based harassment, while the rate of genderbased harassment experienced or observed rose dramatically to 93% for those who identified as ‘other’. The students surveyed reported generally being unhappy with the provision of care and support the University offers for personal issues: only 57% of respondents claimed to having had confidence in seeking help on educational issues. Similarly, only 35% of women had confidence in seeking help for personal issues. Over a third of students felt that there was prejudice towards minority groups in the student body. This rose to almost 40% when asked about prejudice relating to gender. 77% of black British students felt that more was needed to be done to promote equality and access within Cambridge. However, of those who responded, 54% felt that the autonomous campaigns that represented them did so successfully. Priscilla Mensah, CUSU President, has acknowledged the cry for change, but says there is more work to be done: Amnesty International cage outside King’s College to raise awareness for “Change in an 800 year old institution campaigns against the death penalty Image: Nadderz Photography can be a complex, lengthy process.”

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

News

Editorial Team 25 February 2016 Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editors News Editors Deputy News Editors

Investigations Editors Deputy Investigations Editors Comment Editors Features Editors Interviews Editors Columns Editor Sports Editors Theatre Editors Fashion & Beauty Editor Lifestyle Editor Food & Drink Editor Books Editor Music Editor TV & Film Editor Escape Editor Images & Design Editor Chief Sub-Editors Sub-Editors Directors

Volume 17 • Lent Issue 7

Elsa Maishman Stevie Hertz Jessie Mathewson Amelia Oakley Sherilyn Chew Hayden Banks Lili Bidwell Bea Lundy Lydia Day Freya Clarke Jane Lu Victoria Braid Tom Bevan Izzy Ryan Micha Frazer-Carroll Lola Olufemi Sriya Varadharajan Anna Bradley Taryn Challender Lydia Sabatini Maddy Airlie Julia Stanyard Tom Richardson Paul Hyland Jack Ranson Leyla Gumusdis Eve Rivers Ariel Yuqing Luo Lucy Roxburgh Charlotte McGarry Arenike Adebajo Ollie Smith Jack Whitehead Ed Ashcroft Jemima Jobling Urvie Pereira William Tilbrook Cameron Wallis Camilla Penney Elsa Maishman Jack May Freya Sanders Thomas Saunders Jemma Stewart Tonicha Upham

The Cambridge Student takes complaints about editorial content seriously. We are committed to abiding by the Independent Press Standards Organisation rules and the Editors’ Code of Practice enforced by IPSO, and by the stipulations of our constitution. Requests for corrections or clarifications should be sent by email to editor@tcs.cam.ac.uk or by post to The Editor, The Cambridge Student, Cambridge University Students’ Union, 17 Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RX. Letters to the Editor may be published.

tcd

• tcd@tcs.cam.ac.uk • THE ART OF FOLD-IVISM

AZEIRA

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

Phil Rodgers, one of the city’s tireless legions of local bloggers that most students have never heard of, found a rather nice gem in Cambridge City Council documents on voter registration. On the lack of students actively registering to vote in the city, the council wrote: “We have also found that Anglia Ruskin’s student union have been more engaged”, whilst Cambridge’s Student Union has worked “more independently from us”. This Diarist wonders if CUSU may have been too busy folding the origami boats for its iconic ‘The Vote Race’ campaign to engage fully with the council.

THE GREAT LEAP MENWARDS

Though nothing can be certain until the campaigning period opens after we go to print, this Diarist has reason to suspect that this year’s CUSU Presidential election may be the first all-male contest since the 2011 election. Should this be true – and all will soon become clear – feathers may be ruffled.

OUT WITH THE OLD

Disquiet amongst the upper echelons of Cambridge society with rumblings that the foundations of the ageold Adonian Society are beginning to crumble. The notoriously champagne-fuelled breakfasts have

been forced to relocate from their Peterhouse home (pictured above), whilst future dinners will have to be held outside of University Term. The society’s lofty queens are reportedly anxiously awaiting the arrival of the college’s first female Master next year.

An item in last week’s issue (INDEPENDENTLY INCOMPETENT, Volume 17, Lent Issue 6, page 2) mistakenly quoted Varsity Senior News Editor Jack Higgins as stating in an article for the Guardian that uncovering a story about the gender pay gap within Cambridge University would have been ‘‘nigh’’ impossible, when the original article in fact called it ‘‘near’’ impossible. TCS also claimed that the article failed to mention coverage of the gender pay gap revealed two weeks previously by TCS using publicly available data. This was incorrect, as the story in question, covering the gender pay gap within Cambridge University, was published by TCS over a year before the Varsity investigation was released. TCS apologises unreservedly for these errors, both to Jack and to Varsity, and retracts its implied assertion of Jack’s incompetence in the piece’s headline. Front page: DANIEL KARAJ, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, JORGEN CARLBERG

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

News

Students from elite schools ‘face harder admissions’ Education adviser says that students from elite schools are forced to compete against peers cannot do much to increase the number said that “schools will advise their to increase social mobility and increase body. The numbers have now dropped

Lili Bidwell Deputy News Editor of students they have going to Oxbridge. students individually and spread the number of students from lower to 10% this year. Recent advice claims that students wanting to maximise their chances of acceptance into Oxbridge may actually be better off not attending an elite private school. The, perhaps surprising, advice is based on the fact that, if they attend highly-selective schools such as Eton and St Paul’s Girls’ School, half their year group may apply to Oxbridge, and so they will face stiff competition against their equally able classmates. Editor of the Parent Brief, Victoria Barker, has explained that “the schools on the top of the league tables have selected their cohort as potential Oxbridge candidates all along.”

As such, they will only focus on the candidates across the colleges – this most able students who are at the top of need not disadvantage anyone as there is the class. This is the practice despite the a range of possibilities.” As far as she is concerned the students are not disadvantaged in “There are limits to their applications. the numbers that can Furthermore, these schools have reasonably be taken from much greater institutional knowledge regarding Oxbridge applications and are any single school” able to draw on past experience to guide fact that, in reality, nearly every student their students. attending such a school could potentially These findings, coupled with Prime apply to Oxbridge. Minister David Cameron’s calls for However, the High Mistress of St Oxbridge to become more diverse, Paul’s Girls’ School, Clarissa Farr, has might imply that progress is being made

Cambridge admission figures for income backgrounds who can attend disadvantaged students also saw a these top universities. However recent figures have emerged drop, from 12.4% in 2004/5 to 10.2% showing that fewer students from low in 2014/15. Just over half of Oxbridge students are socio-economic backgrounds are being from state schools, 55.7% at Oxford and 61.8% at Cambridge. This is a marked “We have shown from the national average of consistent improvement, difference 90% across the UK and combines both and are on track to meet comprehensive and grammar schools. It seems that the students at highlyour targets” selective schools are still having success in their applications, although both accepted to Oxbridge. In 2004/5, disadvantaged students Oxford and Cambridge Universities made up 12.3% of the Oxford student CHMEE2

10.2%

12.4%

Students from disadvantaged schools in the Cambridge student body in 2014/5

Students from disadvantaged schools in the Cambridge student body in 2004/5 “In some schools, the majority apply to Oxbridge and each applicant will have the marks and the ability to succeed there. But there are limits to the numbers that can reasonably be taken from any single school.” She also argues that the highlyselective schools will know that they St Paul’s Girls’ School, whose High Mistress, Clarissa Farr, disagrees that private school students are disadvantaged

claim that they use a different definition of disadvantaged pupils. A spokesperson for Oxford University said: “Measured against these categories we have shown consistent improvement, and are on track to meet our targets for students from socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.” Both universities deny the findings and claim that they are doing enough to tackle social inequality in these elite institutions.

New Cambridge £20m start-up hub

PalSoc recreate Israeli checkpoint

Bea Lundy Deputy News Editor

Sherilyn Chew News Editor

Work on one phase of the newly planned £20m innovation centre, an incubator space in the Cambridge Science Park, has begun. The building hub is set to be completed in 2017. The centre will be a “tech hub” made up of office space and support for startup and entrepreneurial businesses. It aims to attract increasing numbers of new businesses and innovations. Trinity College, Cambridge, owns the centre, with around £4.8m coming from the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills. The set-up will contain a collaborative space for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. The hub is named after Sir John Bradfield, a former senior bursar of Trinity College, who is credited with turning it into one of the wealthiest

The centre has a “real chance of uncovering the UK’s next Unicorn business”

colleges. He also founded the Cambridge Science Park. The scheme for the centre, which includes this state of the art tech hub, is expected to be a big boost for digital and technology startups in the Cambridge locale. It has been designed to support over 500 entrepreneurs, though it is not yet clear how much these small start-ups and entrepreneurs will be charged to use the centre. James Layfield, CEO and co-founder of Central Working, the collaborative workspace provider, has said that the centre has a “real chance of uncovering the UK’s next Unicorn business”. According to the BBC Tech Nation 2016 report, published last week, Cambridge is the third most densely populated cluster of digital technology businesses in the UK.

They will host a panel to discuss academic boycotts

The Cambridge University Palestine Society (PalSoc) recreated an Israeli military checkpoint on the Sidgwick Site on Monday to raise awareness of the Israeli-Palestine confict. PalSoc says it is answering “the call of Palestinian civil society to engage in a non-violent campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions until Israel complies with its obligations under international law.” Cambridge University Israel Society have not responded to comment requests. The event also marks the launch of Israeli Apartheid Week. PalSoc will be hosting speakers to debate academic boycotts, and also host a panel discussion where activists can share stories from their time in Palestine. Julia, a student at Trinity College,

Cambridge, and member of the Palestine Society organising the event, told The Cambridge Student that the current situation in Palestine is “very similar to the situation in apartheid South Africa”, as Palestinians “need passes” to move around, and they were “expelled from their land in a similar way it happened in South Africa.” Others expressed reservations about the event. Lucy Thomas, at Newnham College, commented that while “on one hand it serves a good educational purpose, on the other hand it might be quite degrading to the people who actually go through these experiences because it can’t do justice or really represent the challenges they face.” Another student commented that the event “simplified the issues to the point where they weren’t recognisable. Is this helping find a solution?”

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

Investigations

The state of counselling

Counselling services are available Jane Lu Investigations Editor Mental health has long been a contentious issue in universities and particularly in Cambridge, where ideas such as the Week Five Blues have become normalised Last year, the National Union of Students (NUS) surveyed 1,093 students in further and higher education. According to the results of the survey, 78% of the respondents admitted to have experienced mental health issues in the last year. A third of the students also said that they have had suicidal thoughts before. The same number said that they do not know where to receive mental health support from their colleges or university.

More than half of the colleges employ a counsellor or mental health adviser to some degree

78% Percentage of students who have experienced mental health issues in the last year Cambridge University provides counselling services through the University Counselling Service (UCS). The University website describes the service as “free and available to all undergraduate students.” In 2013/14, 1592 students came to counselling at the UCS – 8.5% of the total student body. They received 50 to 70 new referrals each week, during term. Counsellors primarily offer “brief counselling” in both group and individual settings. In 2013/14, there were 180-220 individual sessions per week during term, alongside 30-60 group attendances. The UCS also provides Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and access to guided

self-help where appropriate. Students attending the UCS in 2013/14 were seen an average of five times. Of those who responded to a user survey, 97% said that counselling had helped them deal with their difficulties, while 45% said that counselling was an ‘important factor’ in staying at university. The UCS is funded through colleges, as they are responsible for the welfare of their students. In 2013/14, each college paid £20.78 to the UCS for each registered student in residence. In 2012/13, the total cost of the University Counselling Service was £700,000. Colleges whose students use the UCS more regularly, perhaps due to the college not having a counsellor, also pay an additional “user-related charge.” This is set with a formula agreed by the University Counselling Service Executive Committee and the College Bursars’ Committee. Any remaining balance, for service administration and facilities, is paid by the University Chest. The UCS also receives various benefactions. The UCS also believes that its website is the most visited student couselling website in the UK, with around 1,000 views per day. However, in terms of college counselling, the degree of availability in terms of access to counselling services varies between colleges. Whilst some colleges (for example, Churchill, Corpus Christi, and Girton) have counsellors on site, others (including Christ’s, Clare and Hughes Hall) do not. Poppy Ellis Logan, CUSU/GU Welfare and Rights Officer, has stated that “more than half of the colleges employ a counsellor, mental health adviser or psychotherapist to some degree. I’m currently finalising my welfare charter which addresses the disparities.” Most colleges who do not have individual

counsellors allocated to them provide welfare and counselling services through the college nurse. At Christ’s College, Cambridge, the nurse holds regular surgery hours during term time. At Gonville and Caius College, mental health and well-being support is available via the health centre from both a mental health advisor and from the

1592 Students who came to counselling at the UCS in 2013/14 college’s nurse. In addition, many college chaplains offer more informal support to students regardless of their religious views. Oxford University adopts a similar counselling system to Cambridge. The university-wide counselling service offers individual and group counselling, as well as workshops and peer support programmes. At Durham University, a university counselling service is available. The Durham Student Union also provides “free, friendly and independent advice and information” service to all Durham University students. This advice service is independent from the University and is conducted in “strictest confidence”. Within colleges, students can seek counselling and support through student support staff or the resident tutor, the chaplain, personal tutors, and the JCR Welfare team.

Experience: My involvement with Cambridge’s mental health services Anonymous

have always been a fairly stressed out person; whether it was marks, parties or keeping up friendships, they all seemed to cause me a sense of panic. But recently this sense of fear and anxiety got much worse – to the point where I was having a panic attack during the countdown to 2016 on New Year’s Eve. I was left in a mental battle; I knew that I wanted to find support somewhere but I also thought that my problems, struggling to relax around people, did not seem worthy of people’s time and resources. Everyone

They completely validated my feelings

gets panicked in Cambridge and lots of people seem to have problems that were so much greater than mine; I struggled to gain the confidence to get support. This, for me, was what was so wonderful about the University Counselling Service (UCS). They completely validated my feelings, telling me that anxiety was a problem that mattered, but one that can be helped. They offered counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy workshops. They truly worked – I felt able to relax in situations that would have terrified me before. I have such gratitude to them.

This is not to say that is was all easy; I spent a month on the waiting list before I got access to help and when I did, I was only guaranteed three appointments. I also faced inertia in college; my DoS didn’t care that a needless mock was triggering my anxiety and forced me to do it anyway and we don’t have a college counsellor who could have helped me sooner and in the long term. The roots of wonderful support exists in Cambridge but they need to be expanded both in both size and reach, so they can change institutional attitudes.

Clockwise from top: The University Counselling Serv on-site counsellor.

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

Investigations

g services in Cambridge CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JEMIMA JOBLING, BLUTOOTH1, MATUS LASLOFI , U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Support goes beyond college walls Tom Bevan Deputy Investigations Editor Disparities between college counselling provision results in an increased need for the services that exist at a university-wide level for students, and in Cambridge city. The most prominent service is the University Counselling Service (UCS), which conducts group workshops, as well as individual sessions on a range of issues. Its mission statement describes its role in helping students and staff “make the best personal use of the opportunities offered by the Colleges and University”. The same website states that current waiting times for an appointment are approximately 15 working days. However, an anonymous user of the service told The Cambridge Student, “from the first contact I had with UCS, it took a month to actually get an appointment.” Waiting times for the UCS have risen in recent years, from seven working days in 2011/12, to nine in 2012/13. Linkline is an anonymous and

“Diversity in the support offered to students is vital”

confidential listening service run by, and for, students in Cambridge. Open overnight, it is possible to call a hotline and speak to a student or chat online. In addition to these student focused services, the charity Mind provides workshops and counselling in Cambridge; their Wellbeing Service works with people who are experiencing mental distress. Lifecraft, a Cambridge organisation that promotes self-help, also operates a helpline everyday between 7pm-11pm. Corpus Christi’s Student Minds Cambridge rep, Micha Frazer Carroll, told TCS: “Diversity in the support offered for students is vital so that we can offer different types of support for those suffering with personal and mental health issues. “Some people do not feel comfortable sharing their personal problems within college, even if doing so confidentially. If you try one service and it doesn’t suit your needs, there are other options out there.”

We need to take mental health more seriously Izzy Ryan Deputy Investigations Editor

For many students, having a sympathetic shoulder to cry on can be what makes university life bearable. In an environment where stress is commonplace and depression or anxiety considered normal, counsellors are an invaluable asset to Cambridge students. Mental health is often not confronted with the seriousness and sensitivity is should be, and the disordered counselling system stands testament to that. College and university counselling should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. Personally, I’ve had a great experience of college counselling. The college counsellor at Corpus, Terry, has been a constant source of inspiration and comfort, particularly at times when I felt I could for whatever reason not reach out to either friends or to a GP. She has also been crucial to the formation of the welfare team, training us in how to handle situations we would otherwise be overwhelmed by, and providing professional support to an often ambiguous but all-important JCR role. She’s readily contactable, and if somebody vice, Clare College, who do not have a college counsellor, a discussion, Girton College, who have an wants to see her they generally have an appointment within a few days. I’ve heard

In an important issue, there should be a clear structure, not a chaotic mess

few people complain about her, and the work she does. However, I’m aware that my experience of college counselling is not necessarily the norm, though it should be. While student journalism is often keen to point out the differences between colleges, in few areas is it as important as in student welfare. While it isn’t as glamorous as rent differences and food prices, it is perhaps the most important, and most damaging, discrepancy between colleges. It doesn’t seem right that two students who both need help and support will receive completely different treatment depending on the college they’re at, especially when admissions is so enthusiastic in claiming there’s little difference between the colleges. Exposure of the differences between colleges is an important way of making the University recognise that is has a responsibility to offer coherent and well organised care. Counselling is just one example of the vague and confused nature of the University’s attitude towards welfare, in an issue as important as this there should be a clear structure, not a chaotic mess of college and university provisions. While this is just another example of the muddled college system, it should not go unnoticed or unchallenged. Student welfare should not suffer because of the outdated collegiate system: we can’t let vulnerable people fall through the cracks in the name of tradition, and confused bureaucracy.

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

College Watch

Images: Jessica McHugh

Jesus

Caius

St. Catz

Peterhouse

Jesus College has announced a special menu in the cafeteria and Formal Hall as part of their green campaign. A number of graduate students have worked to organise the themed meals which will comprise of locally sourced, organic and sustainable foods. On the Formal Hall menu there will be Norfolk celeriac and Cambridge blue cheese, and organic, free-range chicken. The aim is to draw students’ attention to the origin of the food they are eating and to increase awareness of its environmental impact By serving ‘Roast Topside of Bagthorpe Farm Beef ’ for lunch, students and fellows alike will be reminded of the effort and energy that goes into food production. It is hoped that this will help the student and teaching body to consider the ethics behind their food consumption. The day is part of a college-wide effort to introduce more green policies, such as the current campaign to make printing double-sided the default, and the food bank collection box soon to be installed in the post room. Lili Bidwell

The Gonville and Caius May Ball Committee has announced that the theme set for the College’s 2016 ball is Praeternaturalia. The theme was announced on Saturday evening at a drinks reception at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The museum was chosen specifically to announce the theme because the site “boasts artefacts which show two million years of of human history mixed with culture.’’ According to the May Ball Committee, Praeternaturalia is “about nature entwined with high-tech human impositions.’’ The May Ball is set to be ‘‘exceptional and unusual’’, according to Sian Avery, the Assistant President of the Ball Committee. However, a second-year student who wished to remain anonymous commented: ‘“May Ball themes are getting a bit ridiculous to be honest. It looks like they googled ‘pretentiously unusual’ for synonyms.’’ Tickets for the Caius May Ball were released on 21 February, and sold out within the day. Bea Lundy

A new master has been elected for St Catherine’s College. Professor Sir Mark Welland, Cambridge nanotechnology professor, will take up the role in September. He is the second new master of a Cambridge college to be elected this year, after Peterhouse’s new master Bridget Kendall, He established the University’s Nanoscience Centre, and served as chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence from 2008 to 2012. He was also awarded a knighthood in 2011. The College was founded in 1473, and Professor Welland, who has been in Cambridge since 1987, will be the College’s 39th master. The College has nearly 800 students and 60 fellows. Prof Welland will replace Prof Dame Jean Thomas who is resigning after nine years as master of the College. Thomas said: “The fellows have elected a distinguished scientist as the 39th master to lead the college in the next phase of its 543-year history.” Professor Welland is “honoured to be following Dame Jean, who has set a very high standard of leadership and intellectual rigour.” Lili Bidwell

Taking inspiration from the ‘text-a-toastie’ campaign run by CICCU, the Women’s, LGBT+ and Racial Equality Officers at Peterhouse teamed up to create ‘Liber-eat.’ Students were invited to text in questions linked with feminism, LGBT+, and racial equality. The team then responded by going and answering their questions, bringing along a selection of food for the students to enjoy. Liber-eat was successful, attracting attention from a wide range of students, whom the officers believed would not normally reach out to the Liberation Campaigns. Around 40 students asked various questions. The Women’s Officer, Stevie Hertz commented: “It was a really successful evening. If people haven’t previously interacted with Liberation Campaigns, it can often be quite difficult to start, as they don’t want to be inadvertantly offensive or appear ignorant. So it was great to be able to talk to people one-on-one in environments that they were comfortable in.” Corpus Christi College are planning to follow with a similar scheme. Lili Bidwell

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

News

Oxbridge back the European Union membership campaign Lydia Day Deputy News Editor Both Cambridge University and Oxford University have officially backed the campaign to remain in the European Union. Both Cambridge and Oxford’s respective Vice Chancellors, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz and Professor Louise Richardson, collectively signed a letter to the Sunday Times. They are part of a group of 103 university professors and leaders, who are campaigning for the public to recognise the impact a vote to leave the EU would have on the UK’s “world class universities”. Alongside leaders from Cambridge and Oxford, there were signatures from representatives of other universities including Durham, the London School of Economics and University College London. The letter outlined the impact, claiming that leaving the EU would cut the UK off from established networks and affect our position as a leader in science and the arts. It said: “Now the Prime Minister has announced the referendum date, we urge the British public to consider the vital role the EU plays in supporting our world-class universities.” The letter similarly places great emphasis on the economic arguments of the Brexit campaign. It argues: “We are better able to collaborate with partners across Europe to carry out cutting-edge research, from medical and healthcare advances to new materials, products and services... This has a direct impact on our economy,

driving growth, generating jobs and improving people’s lives.” The academics and leaders who have signed the letter have pledged to highlight the value that EU membership brings to universities in the run up to the referendum on 23 June 2016. The Cambridge for Europe campaign commented: “It’s no surprise that the Vice Chancellor is a signatory of the recent open letter from British University leaders. Cambridge University is a leading European institution, with about onequarter of its research funding coming from the EU. EU funding, and the collaborations opened up by specific measures and by the free movement of

“We are better able to collaborate with partners across Europe”

people, have done much to underpin the research which is at the heart of the economic success of the greater Cambridge region.” The campaign representative went on to claim: “Membership of the world’s largest single market has been crucial to Britain’s prosperity, in which Cambridge shares more than most. And collaboration with our European partners brings practical benefits to every citizen, from lower roaming charges to environmental protection.” One student also commented: “When we think of the universities as massive economic bodies, it makes sense that they would have opinions on the referendum. It could shape their whole future.” THIJS TER HAAR

Bar Council Chair, Chantal-Aimée Doerries, has expressed her concerns about how exorbitant fees could hamper attempts to improve diversity within the legal profession. Doerries QC, a member of Atkin Chambers in London and a former student of Cambridge University, says that the huge sums needed for training could pose an entry barrier for prospective barristers who lack the means to support themselves throughout the qualification process. Speaking to The Guardian, Doerries said: “For students starting at university this year, the cost of qualifying as a barrister could approach £127,000.” “I hear from the junior bar that practising barristers paying off debts of between £40,000 to £60,000 is by no

Council fails to give resolution on devolution deal A recent council meeting has again failed to propose a resolution on the proposed devolution deal that would partner Cambridgeshire with Norfolk and Suffolk. The proposal received only a lukewarm reception among Cambridge’s political leaders. Some maintained it is unclear how this new ‘three county’ devolution proposal will adequately address the area’s growth challenges. Councillor Price has been among those sceptics, stressing the need for communities like Greater Cambridge to gain genuine local autonomy and control. Lib Dem Cllr Lucy Nethsingha has called the proposal “another example of a power grab by the Conservatives... imposing yet another layer of local government”.

Shia LaBeouf performs experimental art at Oxford The Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf occupied a lift in Oxford last Saturday as part of a performance art piece. Working alongside the artists Nastja Säde Rönkkö and Luke Turner, LaBeouf occupied the elevator in Gloucester Green for 24 hours. A live audio and video feed was broadcast inside the Oxford Union for the duration of the event, which is called #ELEVATE. The actor told the BBC that the Oxford Union invited him after the president saw him in a performance art piece in Liverpool last year. LaBeouf commented that he was expecting a “performance of monologues” from students. However, reports say he was asked a variety of questions including “what’s your favourite Saturday?” and played a game of “snog, marry, avoid”.

Cambridge’s bronze-age wheel an “unprecedented find”

Aspiring barristers: Be prepared to pay £127,000 Freya Clarke Deputy News Editor

NEWS BULLETIN

means uncommon [but] those figures are for individuals who completed their undergraduate degrees before higher tuition fees were introduced.” There are also fears that the extortionate fees will hamper the public-service facade of the legal system; most of the senior judges presiding over cases worked as barristers previously. “The cost of qualifying creates a huge social mobility challenge, which is why we have developed initiatives such as bar placement week and mentoring programmes to encourage able students from non-privileged backgrounds to set their sights on a career at the bar.” Whilst Doerries acknowledges that bursaries and scholarships are available, she admits that the large majority of trainees will have to

“The cost... creates a huge social mobility challenge”

fund the qualification process “from juggling study and part-time work, student and commercial loans, and family contributions.” The figure of £127,000 has been calculated based on an individual taking a non-law degree at undergraduate level, before undertaking a law conversion and then a bar professional training course or BPTC, which can cost up to £19,000. This figure also includes the estimated annual living costs in the capital, based on NUS figures, which are around £13,000. The news comes with increasing uncertainty and job insecurity for qualified barristers within the industry. Cuts in criminal court fees, due to government austerity policies, have resulted in chambers being reluctant to take on new, aspiring barristers.

A 3,000 year old wheel has been found in a Cambridgeshire farm, dubbed ‘Britain’s Pompeii’. The three-foot-wide wooden wheel is estimated to date from about 1,100 to 800 BC. David Gibson from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, the group that is leading the excavation, told the BBC that its discovery “demonstrates the inhabitants of this watery landscape’s links to the dry land beyond the river”. This discovery is part of a £1.1 million excavation project funded by Historic England. Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, commented “The existence of this wheel expands our understanding of Late Bronze Age technology.”

Buzz Aldrin to visit Centre of Mathematical Sciences The second man on the moon will be returning to Cambridge next week, following his address to the Cambridge Union Society last year. Buzz Aldrin will be delivering a lecture at the Centre of Mathematical Sciences. He is expected to discuss proposals surrounding a manned mission to Mars, a project that he claims could potentially lead to permanent settlement on the planet by the middle of the 21st century. In his speech to the Union last year former fighter pilot said that he was in the “right place, right time” when he was selected for the history-making Apollo 11 mission. According to Cambridge News, Mr. Aldrin also tweeted how he hopes to meet Stephen Hawking when he returns to Cambridge for the second time in 12 months.

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

News

Anti-Racism Chief banned The Flick cancelled due to from NUS conference talk performance rights issues

Hayden Banks News Editor

Nick Lowles, director of Hope not Hate, an organisation aimed at tackling extremism in local communities, claimed he was barred from speaking at a recent NUS conference due to his perceived his “Islamophobic” views. Lowles wrote on his Facebook page “So, it seems that NUS Black Students are opposing a plan to invite me to speak on an anti-racism platform because I’m ‘Islamophobic’. “Never mind all the work Hope Not Hate has done challenging antiMuslim hatred, it seems that some activists believe I’m Islamophobic because I have repeatedly spoken out against grooming and dared condemn Islamist extremists”. According to the organisation’s website, Hope Not Hate was founded in 2004 aiming to provide a positive antidote to the politics of hate, with over 220,000 people being involved in the campaign since its inception. Lowles continued by telling The Guardian: “it’s amusing in its absurdity but it does reflect the failure of a small section of the left to understand the we have to confront extremism and intolerance in all its forms. My issue is with this small group of political activists and not with NUS itself, who

I believe were unaware of this”. He claimed that discussions regarding who should speak at the NUS anti-racism conference prompted criticism of the Hope Not Hate group speaking. However, NUS president Megan Dunn said “Hope Not Hate is not on NUS’ ‘no platform’ list. I would happily share a platform with anyone from Hope Not Hate tomorrow.” She continued by saying that “representatives from Hope Not Hate, including Nick Lowles, have and continue to be invited to NUS events. I have tried to clarify this issue with Mr Lowles but have been unable to contact him”. NUS has faced further problems with regard to contentiously calling out prominent organisation leaders. Peter Tatchell, who founded his own organisation aimed at campaigning for LGBT rights, was not given a platform by NUS’ LGBT officer Fran Cowling because she believed he was transphobic and racist following his signing of a free speech open letter in the Observer. Last year, NUS also faced criticism for siding with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. They had previously expressed support for the movement but not affiliated to it officially.

Sherilyn Chew News Editor

It does reflect the failure...to understand that we have to confront extremism

The hotly anticipated Pulitzer Prize winning play The Flick was unexpectedly cancelled this week. The show was supposed to open to a full house at the ADC Theatre on Wednesday night at 11pm. The show’s sound designer, Tom Bevan, a second year HSPS student, told The Cambridge Student that the team had received an email just days before the opening night from Samuel French Ltd, the UK counterpart of Samuel French Inc, a play publishing company that acts as the licensing agent between playwrights and producers for performance rights. According to their website, they are currently handling “over three thousand titles for amateur performance, and have a list of nearly 1600 Acting Editions in print”. The email had informed the production team that there was a “conflict with professional productions of the show.” “Samuel French either didn’t tell us that other theatres already had the exclusive rights or just didn’t have it on record properly. And so they told us they’re really sorry but you’re going to have to cancel the show.” The Flick is billed to open on 13

“And so they told us they’re really sorry but you’re going to have to cancel the show.”

April this year at the National Theatre. “Obviously we applied for rights from them, and told them the details of our event. This seems quite unprofessional on their part. Of course mistakes happen but it’s really frustrating after all this time and money that we put in.” Bevan added that the play staging and design had been “quite innovative”. “We were using the ADC seats themselves as the stage, and the three cast members were going to be in the seats. The production team had built a set of tiered seatings on the stage and the audience would be watching the cinema workers interact in the actual theatre itself. It took us quite a lot to persuade the ADC to let us do that.” He added that, “A lot of hard work went into this show, especially from our director, Avigail Tlalim. She’s been working on the play all term with the three cast members.” The production team had also been working hard to increase publicity; Bevan told TCS that the team had organised a pre-show talk, featuring guest speakers from the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse. In addition, they had planned to give out free popcorn to the audience, in order to create the atmosphere of a cinema inside the ADC Theatre.

Apply to be the new TCS Editor-in-Chief

Join our Easter Term 2016 Editorial Team

TCS is recruiting for an Editor-in-Chief for this non-print term. The deadline for applications for Editor-in-Chief is Thursday 3 March at 11:59pm.

To see a full list of roles, and to find out more, visit www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/apply The deadline for applications is Monday 7 March at 11:59pm.

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

News

Study in the US, says London head

NEWS BULLETIN

CUSU ‘Reclaim the Night’ Jonathan Taylor claim that students can here develop a wider range of non-academic skills rally against oppression Hayden Banks News Editor Jonathan Taylor, headteacher of North Bridge House Canonbury, London, has told The Daily Telegraph that students wishing to become successful business leaders would benefit from studying in the US rather than in Britain. He claimed that “American universities are interested in far more than academic achievement. They focus on the individual behind the grades. They want to know what each student is passionate about and how they make use of their time outside the classroom.” Taylor praised the American system, in which students study a range of subjects in their first two years before specialising in their final year, arguing that this allows for greater flexibility and an opportunity to study a range of subjects before deciding what they want to study later. He continued by stating that top British Universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, neglect the development of entrepreneurial skills and extra-curricular endeavours with their focus on academic achievement. Aside from academic benefits, he claimed that this method also allows for greater acquisition of skills beyond academia, with US universities making “a concerted effort to probe students’ capacity to change and challenge the world. It is probably why American universities spawn so many risk takers

and business leaders.” Another reason for this, he cited, was that American universities tend to work much more closely in partnership with industry and businesses compared to their British counterparts. He said that “the culture of American universities is so conducive to fostering business brains that the founders of Google, Microsoft, Snapchat, and Facebook didn’t wait to graduate before launching what turned out to be some of the world’s biggest companies. It’s hard to discern the same ‘entrepreneurial soup’ in many UK universities.” He also cited the trend that was occuring in British independent

“The culture of American unis is so conducive to fostering business brains”

schools which is seeing more students choosing US universities over the elite Russell Group institutions, including Oxbridge. He said that in Dulwich College, London, “almost 10% of the 200-strong year group consider US universities as viable alternatives to Oxbridge or the rest of the Russell Group.” The comments come in the light of the latest World University Rankings, which see British and American Universities occupying nine out of the top ten places – Oxford and Cambridge ranked second and fourth respectively, with the California institute of Technology occupying the top spot. CANON VS. NICKON

Cambridge blocks new bus routes proposed in City Deal Cambridge University has opposed two out of three possible new bus routes. The third bus route will run over the West Fields, improving the connection between Cambridge and Cambourne. However, the University has said that they would support a bus route that improved transport links with their West Cambridge site. The University is one of the most influential players in this part of the City Deal. They are currently involved in plans to build 1,400 new homes and a country park on the West Fields north of Barton road, where the council have initial plans for a new busway. The City Deal has made clear the fact that all three proposals were outline options only, and no firm plans have been

University to release own brand of bicycles

The Liberal Arts system seduces only the indecisive advantages, not least that it prevents teenagers pigeon-holing themselves. Being able to study formally modern languages alongside a Politics or Economics degree understandably Stevie Hertz Deputy Editor makes graduates more employable. But such a broad degree system is espite what Jonathan not without fault, both for students Taylor argues (see above), and employability. While breadth is British universities are not exciting for some students, pushing down for the count in the fight for others towards Maths and poetry just employability. For all the strengths leads to GCSE-style frustration. of American universities, they often Additionally, for those who study spread students too thin, both with a vocational degree, be it Journalism, subjects and exams. The Liberal Arts system, followed in French or Pre-Med, graduates have the majority of American universities, less specific knowledge in their field and thus, from many businesses’ is seductive to many chronically perspective, are less employable. indecisive Arts students, like myself. Additionally, the American system, Those attending Brown University have absolutely no restraints on what with its overwhelming number of seminars, lectures and classes, they can study; from term to term, gives students little independence they can flit between History, Maths, or opportunity to learn time Languages, eventually specialising in management skills. Cambridge, their final years. meanwhile, thrusts these upon us in This comes with obvious

Charlie Chorley, CUSU’s Women’s Officer has organised a ‘Reclaim the Night’ rally on 6 March 2016, protesting for gender equality and against sexual violence, harassment and oppression. Chorley has told the Cambridge News that the rally this year “is as relevant today as it was 30 years ago – and we should be so angry about this.” The march, which will start from Christ’s Pieces and end at Silver Street, is expected to see around 200 women and non-binary genders attending, continuing a tradition of successful rally marches, including the well – attended ‘Reclaim the Night’ march last year. Cambridge News has reported that the number of sex offences in Cambridgeshire has increased 15 per cent in the year to September 2015.

Those who study a vocational degree have less specific knowledge in their field

Freshers’ Week and they undoubtedly become those ‘transferable skills’ much sought after in employment. This rings true in exam season. Whereas in Britain, we compress a year of work into one or two terrifying weeks of exams, in America they are have exams regularly in the form of mid-terms or finals. While this avoids a term of extra-curricular hibernation as everyone takes up residence in the library, it instead puts on constant pressure throughout the year, and this perhaps prevents many students from looking much beyond their degree. This, of course, makes sense in the American system, which does not have the broadchurch of 2.i to hide in, but rather the much more precise Grade Point Average system. If we see activities and expertise as advantages, rather than distractions and overspecification, this system is undeniably disadvantageous.

The bicycles will be available to pre-order from March, with the University using the London-based bike manufacturer Bobbin to help create its new range of cycles. A spokesman for the company told Cambridge News that all the bikes will feature the iconic coat of arms, with “soft leather handlebar tape, embossed saddles, cream tyres and glossy paintwork.” They continued by claiming that “the bikes are constructed from slim and strong tig-welded steel frames, have practical features like mudguards and chain guards so you don’t have to worry about your clothes, and have racks for carrying luggage, studying material, or picnics on.” The bikes will come in different models for men and women. The retail price will be £420, with a racing model available for £780, sold on the website of cycling retailer Wiggle.

Cambridge County Council backs LGBT History Month Cambridge county council has backed LGBT History Month this February. Shire Hall came alive with colour on Tuesday, as people all across Cambridgeshire were invited to wear the colours of the rainbow. The LGBT signature rainbow flag has again been flown above Shire Hall as part of this month’s activities. Other activities will also include a special screening at Cambridge Central Library on 27 February 2016 which will come from the 20:20 project on LGBT history in Cambridgeshire specifically. A workshop and question and answer session will also be held.

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

Features

An idyllic escape to the country Rebecca Davies

often think about what I’d do with a day off, so incompatible with Cambridge University life. I’d wake up, not to the sound of a piercing alarm, but when my body actually wanted to. I’d get out of Cambridge. As to where I’d go? I’d pick a random train and find out where it takes me. Every time I take a train journey, at every single stop, I always wonder to myself: what is this place like? But constrained by time, purpose, and ticket-type, I’m always paralysed in my seat, powerless, as the train lurches from station to station. So my ideal day out would be exploring these places. I’d find out their stories, be that at a museum or just wandering around the streets and shops. A gallery, though, would be a must-see. To me, it’s more than a collection of artwork, it’s a collection of stories. I’d have a lovely lunch, of course. Not the

Underlying all my ambiguous plans is one solid principle

usual sandwich on-the-go, but a leisurely lunch, in a typically English tea-room. I’d probably find a park, then lie down in a nice spot. Maybe I’d read, maybe I’d sketch, or maybe just a quick nap while I breathe in the fresh country air. I might stay in this town, or move onto the next. Maybe just pick another from a nearby road sign and head towards it. I would obviously need to end on a high. Dinner (preferably Chinese) but at a restaurant I’d never been to. There, surrounded by family and friends, I would proceed to unashamedly gorge myself on prawn crackers and Kung Pao chicken. You may be thinking ‘this all seems a bit vague’ and you’re absolutely right. That’s because underlying all my ambiguous plans is one solid principle: my ideal day off would be ideal because there is nothing I would have to do. No books to finish, no essay to write. I would be free to fill my day with whatever I wanted. Absolute freedom: isn’t that the ideal for everyone?

Mindfulness: D

GUY MOLL

Meditation: How to avoid daydreaming Mark O’Brien

magine waking up tomorrow and finding out that 50 years of your life have passed but you can’t remember a single thing that happened during any of it? This scenario is my greatest fear and you might think it irrational, but the fact is, all of us are facing the quite real danger of sleeping through our lives. At times, we all go into autopilot. Even milestone life events can end up being a hazy memory. We might have been around for these events, but were we present for them? If you drive, you’ll know of the odd sensation of going from A to B with no memory of in between. My worry is that my entire life might end up like this, passing dazed and confused from day to day and not making the most of the life I’ve been given. Mindfulness is about being right here, right now. Mindfulness means actually paying attention to what is going on around us; it means not turning away from situations or events because they displease or bore us. By doing this, we not

only become happier and calmer; but we are able to respond better to the people and situations that arise in our daily lives. The easiest way to be mindful is to try and avoid perpetual daydreaming; however, there is only one way to seriously commit to being mindful and that is meditation. Meditation isn’t some kind of weird, voodoo ritual and nowadays, there are many books and apps which can demystify and teach you to meditate (Jon Kabit-Zinn is very good). In essence, meditation simply involves focusing on one object and sustaining that focus. By doing this, we become more alert in our daily lives and actually present for the things that matter. Something as simple as following the breath can make a big difference to how you experience the world. Mindfulness not only gave me the resilience to keep going; it gave me perspective. Sometimes the things you think are the end of the world when they happen to you, really don’t amount to that much in the long-run. It’s just that from the inside, it can be hard to see that.

MIKE KLINE

Trouble Brewing Joel Lipson A Poem To make the perfect cup of tea You first prepare it in a pot; All other ways are heresy And heretics must all be shot. You take the milk – but not so fast! Don’t get wild thoughts above your head; Of all ingredients milk comes last. Be careful or we’ll end up dead. The tea must have some time to brew Before you pour it from the spout; Achieve a dark and lovely hue; This is no time to mess about. Add sugar, if you’re so inclined, But never make the grave mistake Of leaving biscuits out of mind! Remember them, for all our sakes! You wonder why I am so stern About the rules which govern tea? These are the lessons I did not learn Until too late. I used to be A coffee drinker, foul and lost Among the sins that caffeine stirs Within the blood. At no small cost I changed my ways, escaped the curse.

Part 2

The Cambridge Student 25 February 2016

Celebrating LGBT+ history month

LGBTunes: A new playlist

The top 10 LGBT+ books

YouTubers making a difference

COLLAGE: ALICE LAW

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Culture

Uni Tunes: Rrose Sélavy LGBTunes Ollie Smith Music Editor

ade Cuttle is a BBC Music Introducing poetic-folk musician, performing under the name Rrose Sélavy. She is currently on her year abroad in Paris, but is returning to play at Girton Spring Ball next month.

Who are your main musical influences? I love anything with a poetic touch, always turning to Laura Marling or Ben Howard in times of need. Though my music is equally inspired by literature. How has living in Paris affected your music? I found a French boyfriend and so my songs are written from a slightly less depressing perspective, though I still can’t bring myself to write anything romantic! Does song offer you a different outlet to poetry? A musical performance feels more passionate, like you’re pouring out every drop of yourself. You’re more vulnerable but it’s more cathartic. It’s also more accessible. I try to combine them both in a kind of ‘poetic-folk’: an artistic experiment translating poetry into song.

How do you go about writing songs? I write stream-of-conscious in my journal when something is weighing on my mind, or heart, leave it for a while (sometimes years) and then come back. It makes heartbreak seem worthwhile. I’m often perched in a window, perhaps because, at Cambridge, my room overlooked a small orchard. The bike ride through pretty meadows and a herd of cows each day to lectures was where I made syllabic adjustments to the songs, almost always aloud. If someone was to listen to only one of your songs, which one would you have them listen to? ‘Mme de la pointe courte’. Why is it special to you? There are loads of violin layers and the piano melody is pretty mesmerising. JADE CUTTLE

Some of these songs are simply by LGBT+ artists, but many address LGBT+ issues in their lyrics, and some in their music videos. This playlist aims to explore beyond the stereotypical view of LGBT+ and queer music: there’s a mix of the upbeat, the angry, and the downright dark... 1. Shura, ‘Indecision’ Taking inspiration from Solange and early Madonna, Shura’s chilled songs tend towards melancholy. ‘Indecision’ laments the stagnation of youth, while its video, directed by Sye Allen, challenges assumptions while discussing identity, drag, and the euphoria of being yourself. 2. John Grant, ‘Black Belt’ A wordplay-heavy takedown of a former lover with a ‘black belt in BS’, this is one of the more upbeat songs to come from Iceland-dwelling John Grant, whose normal fare is dark, intellectual, and witty folk-rock. 3. St.Vincent, ‘Digital Witness’ Though she’s sadly often recognised more as the girlfriend of Cara Delevingne than as a musician, St. Vincent’s recent fourth solo album takes a turn towards the unapologetic and socially-conscious. ‘Digital Witness’ is a biting criticism of the media-obsessed millennial.

What has writing music at Cambridge been like? I enjoy playing at open mics and May Week, but sometimes it’s difficult to balance work with making music, as I’m usually inspired at the most inconvenient times. I wrote my EP during the solitary confinement stage of dissertation deadline for instance, barely leaving my room and living on tins. In second year my songs were heavily influenced by the modernist French paper.

4. Scissor Sisters, ‘Let’s Have a Kiki’ “A kiki is a party for calming all your nerves” – A cult classic from the musical epitome of New York City’s queer scene, this song is self-explanatory.

Where are the bi women in fiction? Elsa Maishman Editor-in-Chief

Toby Ashworth

ast week I spent 45 minutes of my life – 45 minutes during which I should have been writing essays or publishing articles or a whole host of other very important and increasingly urgent tasks – Googling ‘bisexual fiction’. Desperate, I know. All I could find was “gay young adult fiction’’ and porn dramas. It was, quite frankly, dispiriting. On top of the lack of representation, all the titles I did actually manage to find were explicitly marketed as being about a bisexual love story. Why are there no fun novels in which the protagonists just happen to be bi? Also, why are all the strong female characters in popular fiction obsessed with men? Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Scrubs, for example, all yield a disappointing lack of

lesbian sexual tension, despite the intimacy between Ron and Harry, Frodo and Sam, and JD and Turk. A quick brainstorm in the (female-dominated) TCS office of possible bisexual heroes yields only men. We resort to Google, and find only obscure novels and films about lesbian relationships. I must hold my hands up and admit that this frustration was part of the reason why I used my tyrannical Editorial influence to turn Part 2 into a rainbow this week – in a valiant effort to educate myself, and to get someone else to find me some good books to read. Unfortunately, however, it seems that bi women just aren’t present in mainstream popular fiction. A bestseller waiting to happen, perhaps?

PETER SALANKI

JUHAN SONIN

5. Perfume Genius, ‘Queen’ Any song that includes the lyric “No family is safe/When I sashay” is worth a listen. This is a great big ‘fuck you’ to homophobes everywhere. 6. Shamir, ‘Call it Off ’ Shamir is 21, from Las Vegas, “has no gender, no sexuality and no fucks to give” and has recently been making their mark with their futuristic brand of catchy, sassy electropop. I once heard this song played in Urban Outfitters, so that must count for something! 7. Gossip, ‘Standing in The Way of Control’ Gossip’s frontwoman Beth Ditto, a self-describing “fat, feminist lesbian from Arkansas” wrote this punchy, angry song in response to George Bush’s proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have constitutionally outlawed same-sex marriage in the US. 8.The Hidden Cameras, ‘Carpe Jugular’ The video for this danceable track is what gives away its darker themes, as we come face-to-face with a physical manifestation of the reality of being LGBT+ in a club. It hits home pretty hard but there is hope at the end! 9. Antony and the Johnsons, ‘Fistful of Love’ Antony Hegarty’s tenor voice is at its best in this monumental, jazzy and strangely romantic song, as she sings about the tricks the brain can play on you in an abusive relationship. 10. CocoRosie, ‘Lemonade’ Bearded ladies are the order of the day in the wholeheartedly queer video for this piece of Freak Folk by sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady, whose voices are charming and unsettling in equal measure.

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Literary power couples Emily Robb Zelda Sayre and F. Scott Fitzgerald In July 1918, aspiring writer Francis Scott Fitzgerald met a young woman named Zelda Sayre. After two years of courtship, America’s first celebrity couple became engaged. The pair captivated New York City with their extravagant lifestyle, epitomising the glamour of the Roaring Twenties. However, they were not to last: Scott’s alcoholism and Sayre’s erratic behaviour increased the distance between them until their eventual separation. Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West After meeting at a party, Virginia Woolf and Vita SackvilleWest began a relationship which, although initially professional, was ultimately to become romantic. Theirs was an affair that came to haunt the pages of their literary works. Woolf ’s Orlando was, in the words of Sackville-West’s son: “The longest and most charming love letter in literature”. In Sackville-West’s agonising poem, In Memoriam, Woolf stands as a last breath of art, marking the tenderness and passion of their relationship: “Some say, she lived in an unreal world, / Cloud cuckoo-land. Maybe. She now has gone / Into the prouder world of immortality.”

Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes At a party in Cambridge, in 1956, Sylvia Plath met Ted Hughes. They married just four months later, and lived together in Cambridge while Plath continued her degree at Newnham, before moving to America. By the final six months of Plath’s life, the couple had become estranged: it has been alleged that Hughes was with a lover on the tragic night of Plath’s suicide. The grief and guilt that the future Poet Laureate experienced over this harrowing loss is exemplified by his poem ‘Last Letter’, which opens with the line: “What happened that night? Your final night.” Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlovsky In 1954, Allen Ginsberg met Peter Orlovsky in San Fransisco. Their relationship, though at times tumultuous, lasted until Ginsberg’s death in 1997. The two were undoubtedly at the heart of the Beat Generation. Ginsberg, with his notorious poem ‘Howl’ is perhaps the best known of the couple, but Orlovsky, with Ginsberg’s encouragement, had a prolific poetic output and even starred in a few films. SUMMONEDBYFELLS

Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre Simone de Beauvoir met Jean-Paul Sartre in 1929, while they were both studying for a degree in philosophy. The two were soon established as a couple, entering into one of the most famous open relationships in history. Beauvoir, who had relationships with other women, refused to either marry or establish a household with Sartre. According to her, she and Sartre “were two of a kind, and our relationship would endure as long as we did: but it could not make up entirely for the fleeting riches to be had from encounters with different people .”

Culture Retro and the record revival Jack Whitehead

he retro phenomenon: it isn’t a modern idea, rather a throwback to virtually every cultural era of the 20th century and before. The Classical influence in 16th century art perhaps epitomises this retro revival most of all. So if this has been going on for(the-best-part-of)ever, why is it more noticeable now? As globalisation links the world into a tighter and tighter web, time and space are essentially collapsed. Our cultural memory shrinks, so that we are no longer looking back over thousands of years to the Corinthian architecture of Ancient Rome, but over twenty to the ‘Wavey Garms’ of 1990s garage fashion. Part of today’s return to the past is the increasing popularity in vinyl, the staple of popular music from the 1920s to the end of the ‘70s. While the retro aesthetic has been a large part of this revival, there are other reasons why some of us prefer to drop an extra £10 on an album so that we can, in turn, then drop a needle on it. First, here is the attraction of an aesthetic physical object with a certain ‘ritual’ behaviour attached to the listening experience. There is also something to be said for the ‘authenticity of sound’ that comes with vinyl, a move away from cleanness and perfection back to warm analogue sound. But many new releases are digitally converted and mastered, more often than not to the lower audio resolutions that fail to exploit the LP’s potential. So how is this retro revival really about the music at all? Nostalgia is also part of it. It’s indicative of dissatisfaction with the modern world. Just like the print copy of this newspaper, the vinyl record is physical and defies the abstract; it offers something tangible to cling on to in our increasingly transient world.

Preview: The Heywood Showcase Eve Rivers and Leyla Gumusdis Theatre Editors

his week The Cambridge Student talked to the team behind the inaugural Heywood Showcase taking place at Peterhouse from 25—27 February. The showcase will comprise four shows over three nights, spanning a variety of genres and consisting primarily of student writing. The committee organising the event, The Heywood Society, created the showcase as a way to bring shows they had funded in different locations across the University back to Peterhouse for a series of one-nighters. Outgoing president and technical director Sam Draper felt that the showcase would be an excellent way to “bring together a collection of some of the best-received shows of the term for a one-night revival,” giving those who missed seeing them the first time another opportunity. Vinciane Jones, the artistic director of the society, is excited by the prospect of maintaining this as an annual occurrence: “This is the first time something like this has been tried at Cambridge, and we would love to make it an annual showcase of some of the best drama, comedy, and student writing the University has to offer.” The society’s treasurer, Vanessa Upton, also expressed hopes that this unique endeavour could become an annual event in the Cambridge theatre scene, dedicated to encouraging more student writing. The Showcase will kick off with The Maids by Jean

Genet: a sinister story of two sisters – Solange and Claire – and their work for a wealthy lady. This play questions where the true balance of social power lies through poignant challenges to the notions of morality, middle-class values, and upper-class entitlement. On Thursday evening there will be a revival of Three Days Time, an ADC Late Show from earlier this term. Written by student Kate Reid, this show explores a motherdaughter relationship in the context of an arrest and a recent bereavement and was one of the strongest pieces of student writing our TCS reviewer had ever seen. The second night will see the Impronauts take over the theatre at Peterhouse for a night of improvisational comedy, devised especially for the Heywood Society. They promise that the show will never be the same twice, and their fortnightly, improvised battles are consistently well-received by audiences. The Heywood Showcase is to end with another piece of student writing: Mary and Claire: A Defense of Poetry, by Natalie Reeve. This literary play explores the relationship between two Romantic poets through the lives of Mary Shelley and her sister-in law, Clare Clairmont. Set in 1828, with Lord Byron and Percy Shelley both dead and despised, these two women reunite to save their lovers’ reputations over the course of an alcohol-fuelled evening.

JOE WATSON

LOUISA DALES

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Culture

Going behind the scenes with Strawberries & Creem Ollie Smith Music Editor

trawberries & Creem, now in its third year, is a Cambridge success story. The grime festival was founded in 2014 , and has since made waves offering something a little different in May Week. Chris Jammer, co-founder of the festival, tells me how it came together: “We thought, why not make it a festival and turned it around in eight weeks from March to June. We booked acts like David Rodigan, Shy FX, and Jus Now and played it off as being a MedSoc garden party so we could get a better venue.” That venue was Anstey Hall, a stately home just outside the city. Partnering chandeliers with backbeats, this was never going to be a typical grime festival. Chris explains: “Our vibe is contrasting the quintessential regal beauty of Cambridge with the rough and ready grime scene, rum-drinking in the sun. “From that we got a bit of a reputation and the next year we sold double the amount of tickets, moved venue, booked Skepta.” Getting Skepta on the bill was a huge coup. After all, that very same summer he performed at Glastonbury and was, along with Annie Mac, Lovebox’s Very Special Guest. Chris recognises this: “He really put us on the map

STRAWBERRIES & CREEM

because we got him so cheap, but by the time he was there, he had some main headline bookings.” I ask about how it all came about: “We were toying between the idea of Skepta and JME – this was before Skepta had made inroads in the mainstream. We chose Skepta because he had an album coming out and thought he might blow. Three weeks later he played the BRIT awards with Kanye West and his fee had gone up fivefold.” But a festival can’t just rely on luck, and Chris feels the weight of expectation: “This year it’s going to be difficult to beat it because we booked him for way under what he was worth and now we’ve got to try and better that. I think we will. Well, I know we will.” I wonder if this is just hype. Who, after all, is bigger in the grime scene than Skepta? But he eases my concerns: “The main headliner is outrageous, unlike anything Cambridge has ever seen before. I think we’ll rival a lot of the big festivals with this one guy.” The headline acts are being announced this week, , and with tickets currently at £35 and soon to rise in price, if you want to see some quality crime punctuate your May Week it’s definitely worth getting in early

10 of the best: LGBT+ books

The ABCs of LGBT+ films Jack Whitehead Film Editor

John Ash 1. Orlando, Virginia Woolf Virginia Woolf dedicated ‘Orlando’ to her lover, the poet, novelist, and garden designer Vita Sackville-West. Orlando is one of Woolf ’s most remarkable creations, notable for its daringly fluid depiction of gender and sexuality.

6. The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst The novel sees 1980s London through the eyes of Nick Guest, a young gay PhD student. It stands as a memorial to the victims of the AIDS crisis which devastated the gay community in the final decades of the twentieth century.

2. At Swim,Two Boys, Jamie O’Neill Set against the backdrop of Dublin in the years surrounding the 1916 Easter Rising, At Swim, Two Boys charts the love story of two young Irish men trapped in a politically volatile and deeply religious social situation

7. Moab is my Washpot, Stephen Fry Stephen Fry’s 1997 memoir is both hilarious and deeply moving; the book recounts the institutionalised homosexuality of the English public school system during his youth, and his first experiences of love.

3. Tales of the City, Armistead Maupin The Tales of the City series chronicles life at 28 Barbary Lane, San Fransisco –its liberated inhabitants include a gay man, a bisexual woman, and a transsexual landlady who tapes joints to her tenants’ doors as welcome gifts.

8. Maurice, E.M. Forster Due to intolerance of same-sex relationships, Maurice was not published until 1971. The novel follows Maurice as he is torn between the oppressive expectations of English society and his attraction to other men.

4. Why be Happy When You Could be Normal?, Jeanette Winterson Winterson’s memoir documents the novelist’s relationship with her overbearing, evangelical mother and of growing up as a lesbian in the most unaccepting of environments.

9. The Well of Loneliness, Radcliffe Hall Hall’s novel follows the life of Stephen Gordon, whose parents christen her with the name they had picked out for a son. With her complex gender and sexual identity evident from a young age, Stephen struggles to find acceptance.

5. Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin, Susanne Bösche While it doesn’t contain anything more risqué than a family trip to a laundrette, the book created a furore when it was stocked in school libraries in the 1980s.

10. A Single Man, Christopher Isherwood A poignant portrayal of a heartbroken, displaced, lonely academic struggling to continue with everyday life in the wake of his partner’s death. TILL WASTERMAYER

To celebrate LGBT+ History Month, here is a selection of films that explore non-heterogeneity in interesting and diverse ways. ‘L’ is for Mulholland Drive (2001) David Lynch’s Bafta winning, neo-noir mystery film is not centred on lesbian relationships per se. Yet the way it places female same-sex desire in an ambiguous position of being both extremely alluring, and at the same time sad and devoid of eroticism, is a fascinating portrayal of the crushing effects of a dominant heterosexual order. ‘G’ is for I Love You Phillip Morris (2009) This black comedy starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor is as hilarious as it is tragically moving. Based on a true story, this film includes the humour of con artistry, undercut with the gravity of the AIDS virus. A favourite aspect for me is the use of DeVotchKas’ song for the soundtrack, ‘I Cried like a Silly Boy’. ‘B’ is for Appropriate Behaviour (2014) Desiree Akhavan’s latest feature isn’t exactly on the map, but the story it tells of a bisexual Persian-American woman in Brooklyn gives it the right to be. Covering periods of emotional climax, including coming out to your parents, this film highlights the generational conflict over non-binary sexuality. ‘T’ is for Tangerine (2015) LGBT+ issues seem frequently explored through the guise of comedy. Nowhere is this more true than in Sean Baker’s indie film from last year. The narrative follows a transgender sex worker who discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her, with the resulting conflict playing out in all its hilarious saturated goodness. ‘+’ is for go make your own film! The plus in LGBT+ is representative of the multitudinous, non-defined spectrum of sexuality. If there isn’t a film out there yet that you can identify with, then go make one!

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Culture

Plagiarism: Can art ever be original? Eve Rivers

an art ever really be original? This question that is under endless scrutiny in the creative community, and it rings especially true for authors as they strive to create something new in a realm where everything has already been done – or at least everyone thinks it has already been done. The issue is arguably even more dominant within the niche genre of young-adult fiction, where the pool of ideas seems even smaller. Young-adult is one of the most popular genres of fiction, with a select handful of its titles – the likes of Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games – appealing to a wider cross-section of society than its target demographic. As an avid reader of young-adult fiction, I could go on about its appeal all day. An especial strength is its ability to appeal to all ages through its simplicity: the young-adult genre has a proclivity for dealing delicately with sensitive themes such as discrimination, identity, love, friendship, and sex. However, with recent news of the plagiarism lawsuit brought against Cassandra Clare’s enormously popular series The Mortal Instruments, there have been many questions raised concerning what strictly demarcates plagiarism in this genre, if anything at all. The substantial claims against Cassandra Clare allege that she willfully

copied the idea of ‘shadowhunters’ (the supernatural, halfhuman, half-angel beings that fight demons) from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s The Dark-Hunter. This is not the first time that suggestions of plagiarism have been brought against a major book franchise: discerning readers have been quick to drawparallels between The Hunger Games series and the Japanese novel Battle Royale, published in 1998.

TAMMY STROBEL

Young-adult fiction’s strength is its ability to appeal to all ages Though these claims must be taken seriously, when it comes to the consideration of something so abstract as an idea, questions must be raised: can one copy someone else’s idea completely and exactly? Can the contours of the plot be exactly the same as another person would envisage? How far do the similarities extend? Where do they end? These questions are pertinent when discussing plagiarism. I would be inclined to argue that because writers are drawing on a shared, collective literary heritage, similar ideas and plotlines are bound to appear. Plagiarism can only be alleged if the expression of an author’s ideas are exactly the same: so not discernibly different.

Student Film: Social norms with the crew of Are You Popular? Jack Whitehead Film Editor In the midst of LGBT+ History Month, I sit down with director Fay Cartwright and producer Hannah Moss to discuss their latest project, Are You Popular? Currently in the pre-production stage, this student short film made in Cambridge will hit the screens around mid-May this year. What is the film about? F: It’s based on these 1940s social etiquette videos that were made in America after the war when there was concern about the breakdown of society and the blurring of gender roles. These videos were shown in schools, and they’re very idealised versions of how to act in society. We’re setting ours in the modern day, and these girls get shown a version of this video in finishing school. There is a social media competition and whoever gets the most followers gets to be the ambassador. H: It’s sort of a critique told through comedy. You can kind of recognise yourself in it. There are more important things than trying to have this social media following. The original video makes you laugh, and it makes you cringe. What other films influenced this project? F: When I was writing it I looked quite a lot at Paul Feig’s work – Bridesmaids (2011), Spy (2015). His treatment of females in his films is interesting, as even though the leads are female, and even though there are obviously feminist tones, the characters can still be flawed. H: It’s recognising the human quality in people; we’re not perfect, so what’s put in front of us probably shouldn’t be perfect either. It’s reassuring when you watch something and you see someone making the same mistakes as you. It’s also about communicating comedy physically and visually. Why do you make films? H: Film is something that I’ve always been interested in. Theatre for students has always been a lot more available,

but now film is increasingly accessible as well. For me it’s fascinating to see behind the scenes, behind the camera. Now is a very interesting time to get involved with film in Cambridge, because the film scene is growing. F: There’s so much talent to be exploited here in Cambridge, and it just seems a waste not to use it. There’s really no excuse not to make films anymore, as the technology is so available now. Should films be politically or socially engaged? Is it enough just to tell a story? F: I think if you’re not entertained by a film, if you’re not able to connect with it on a superficial level, then you’re not going to get anything deeper from it. Because film has such a wide audience, a lot of the time people forget it’s about engaging people, first and foremost. For us the main point is to engage people, and then they’ll get the deeper meaning. H: A lot of the time your inspiration comes from political or social engagement anyway, so you can use that to just go and create something. Our film is quite a human reaction in that sense. It’s based on human experience of life in general, and some people may pick up on the social message, but MEINERESTERAMPEW

others may just come away and say that was funny, and that’s fine. It’s different strokes for different folks. Where do questions of social popularity tie into LGBT+ awareness? F: Well we can’t say too much on that subject because there are spoilers, but we can say that we have definitely looked at the idea of the changing landscape. Obviously the original film is set in the 1940s. We’ve looked at the idea that there are more complications now, because we have to look at other people’s sexualities. Now there is another dimension. H: There’s also the idea that it feels almost that we are in a stage of time where people are starting to be more open, but at the same time there are a lot of things holding them back. You’re a predominantly female crew, how come? F: It kind of just happened. It definitely wasn’t purposeful, but the people who were drawn to the project were mostly female. We haven’t gone about it in a political way. H: It’s funny, there’s the whole controversy about how male dominated the film industry is, and we we’re just sat down making a film about two female protagonists, made by a largely female crew. It’s the freedom of student film. What’s comedy’s role in assessing these issues? H: It’s about how things still go wrong in real life. You always kind of suspend a little bit of disbelief if you’re doing a comedy, but the comedy helps emphasise the story that we’re trying to put across. F: There’s comedy in life, so it would be insincere to not acknowledge that these situations are comedic. To make them seem overly dramatic or to make them seem overly comedic would be to undermine the audience. When I was writing I was very careful not to make it parody, and to be very sincere about the comedy. There are moments that are sort of genuine. I think you always want a subtle mix: that’s what life is.

25 February 2016 • Part 2 • The Cambridge Student

Reviews

The Life of Pablo Joe McNeil

t is here. After weeks of name and tracklist changes, Twitter rants, and the usual theatrics, Kanye West’s greatly anticipated seventh studio album has finally arrived, under the title The Life of Pablo. Was it worth the wait? Most likely. A dream team of guest artists featured on the project, including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and Frank Ocean. Then there’s the production: a customary strength of a Kanye album, although on TLOP it is more eclectic than ever. It’s an explosive cocktail of sound, complete with hard-hitting trap beats, uplifting gospel choirs, and ethereal strings. It makes for compelling listening. Kanye’s messages are typically bold and unapologetic, tackling themes of faith, fame, and family. What is striking is the presence of far lengthier verses, like on the excellent ‘No More Parties in L.A.’, which will delight fans who believed the days of Yeezy ‘going in’ on a beat were over. On a track-to-track basis, TLOP contains material as strong as on any album Kanye

has released to date. On the other hand, as a whole, the album doesn’t quite possess the atmosphere of a Yeezus or a My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy; the stylistic variety can make for a slightly messy feel. Regardless, TLOP makes it clear that despite his recent devotion to his work in the world of fashion, Kanye has undisputedly retained his creative touch when it comes to music. He has been criticised for some of the album’s lyrical content, and in particular for some outlandish comments on ‘Famous’ directed at Taylor Swift, prompting a thinly veiled riposte from the pop singer upon receiving the Album of the Year award at the 2016 Grammys. As questionable as his remarks were, his eccentricity is part of what makes Kanye so very Kanye. On ‘Feedback’, he raps ‘name one genius that ain’t crazy’. You certainly couldn’t fault him for selfjudgement.

8/10

MARK BITTLESTONE

Review: Chocolate Moose Freya Sanders and Charlotte Furniss-Roe

he Spring Revue is the annual Footlights showcase and this year’s show displays very little comedy, and much misapplication of talent. The Revue is directionless, which is unsurprising, considering there is no director. The aesthetic is bizarre, consisting of a scenic alpine backdrop, relevant only when a joke about its irrelevance was made. Meanwhile, the organisation of the sketches is poor, with the first and final ones being among the weakest. The timing is poorly judged: where there are punchlines they tend to fall flat because of poor delivery. However, this carelessness runs deeper than the direction, pervading the writing too. The premises of some of the sketches are predictable: “don’t mention the war”; “don’t walk on the grass”. One about “I can’t believe it’s not butter” takes a good unexpected turn, but the same cannot be said about other promising ideas

which drag and lack follow-through. At times the writing comes across as lazy and uninspired, with an unintelligent sketch about writing sketches. It lacks the carefully planned revelations and impressive wordplay one should be able to expect from Cambridge’s finest comedians. Those who have a distinctive style carry the show, suggesting they have worked hard individually with little guidance. Rob Oldham and Raphael Wakefield stand out as the petulant teenager and his mother in what was the only consistently entertaining episode. On the whole, the group lacks chemistry and energy. The fact that they are mostly very experienced performers allows the show to be, in places, entertaining, but despite this, there are moments when it is nothing short of dull.

3/10

A gripping c Streetcar Nam Abigail Scruby

enessee Williams: “Soft people have got to shimmer and glow – they’ve got to put on soft colours, the colours of butterfly wings, and put a paper lantern over the light...” The tale of Blanche Dubois as she arrives at Elysian Fields to stay with her sister, Stella, and her hot-tempered husband, Stan is a literary classic. Although it may not be groundbreaking, the Corpus Playroom production, directed by Joe Richards, is charismatic and absorbing in its execution. A Streetcar Named Desire is a difficult play. What start out as mere domestic quabbles between the main trio soon unravel into a psychological exploration of domestic abuse, female sexuality and power dynamics, mostly delivered by

Blanche herself. Whilst the character may quiver and shake, Beth Davidson puts on a fearless performance as Blanche, captivating her audience from the very beginning. From the catches of her breath in her flawless accent, to the way her hands are so often wrapped around herself as if she might fall apart, Davidson is utterly entrancing.

Davidson is utterly entrancing as Blanche Her supporting cast is strong, with some great scenes from Seth Kruger as Stan, where the contrast between fragility and rage are heart-stopping at points. Kate Marston as Stella, with the exception of a few accent slips here and there, is also

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Reviews JOHANNES HJORTH

Review: Deadpool Grace Dickinson

ow that the dust has settled after the awakening of the Star Wars franchise, Marvel has dropped its first superhero film of 2016. Another year, another batch of superhero films. At least Deadpool is filling a gap in the market for unrestrained gags and obscenity. With the biggest R-rated box office opening of all time, it’s likely this isn’t the only outing we will see of the foul-mouthed, witty, wise-cracking jester that is Deadpool.

So self-aware it is practically a metaphysical experience It is difficult to suppress a smirk even through the opening credits, during which the director is referred to as an “overpaid tool”. The film is so self-aware that it is practically a metaphysical experience. It even points directly to this as Deadpool questions the fact that he has broken a fourth wall within a fourth wall: “that’s like 16 walls.” Even allusions to the cinematography are laced with sexual innuendo. Absolutely nothing in this film escapes ridicule. For those fortunate enough not to have seen X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it may come as a surprise to discover that this

classic: A med Desire T

is not Ryan Reynold’s first outing as the titular character. This is a stark contrast to the first on-screen incarnation of the character, an indestructible foe of Wolverine with a sewn-up mouth; the R-rated reboot literally ungags Deadpool. Dressed in a far-too-tight red spandex costume so “bad guys can’t see him bleed”, this anti-hero roams freely, engaging in violent, unsolicited escapades. Do not expect the usual apocalyptic scenario to force the protagonist to save the world. The stakes are much higher than in your average Avengers film: Deadpool must battle to overcome the loss of his looks. The bar manager’s best friend, whose name is easily forgotten, compares Deadpool’s new appearance after having undergone his mutation as “an avocado that has had sex with an older, more disgusting avocado.” The gore is not as gratuitous as expected, but in order to enjoy this film, you have to be able to stomach crude humour. If you are inclined to such comedy, then this is the superhero film you have long been waiting to see. If not, it will be 108 minutes of painful profanity.

7/10

Review: A Bigger Splash Helena Pérez Valle

impressive. I found myself very pleasantly surprised by the casting of Max Noble as the softly-spoken Mitch who, despite being a more minor character, conveyed

What is most successful is how the production handles relationships his vulnerability very well. However, for what is a gripping play, I felt that the lighting did not always make the most of the full dramatic potential. Especially considering the text’s focus on light and dark – the protection of shade and the stark brutality of light, more could’ve been done to add interest to the longer domestic dialogues. That said, later on, at the climactic moment of the play –

Blanche’s speech about her former lover – having the stage lit half in light and half in dark was innovative and striking. What was most successful about this play, and indeed what is most important to the original text, is the way it handles relationships. Moments of distance or close intimacy were spatially well thought out, and the cast’s interactions with each other were realistic and subtle – with what could easily have lapsed into melodrama. The production doesn’t remove the paper lantern completely, avoiding the difficult rape scene, however with an absolutely stunning lead performance, it is still utterly enchanting.

7/10

he first thing that is striking about A Bigger Splash is the setting. The island of Pantelleria is stunning, and the film manages to capture what many of us think of when we imagine an Italian summer. The second striking feature of the film is the acting. Many films have an outstanding main character; some manage an outstanding pair: this film manages to nail an outstanding cast. Tilda Swinton is in her element as Marianne Lane, a mute rockstar who has just had an operation to her vocal chords. Ralph Fiennes excels as Harry Hawkes, the extroverted, passionate, loud, quick music producer.

Technically fantastic, but unconvincing as a film The final striking feature of the film is how a film with a solid plot, magnificent acting, and a stunning backdrop, manages to fail so fantastically at being a good film. For the first hour of it, I was bored. The first hour and a half of the film sets up the

last half an hour: because what is going to happen is perfectly predictable, and because the tension is steady throughout, the whole situation flops. The other problem this film has is that it doesn’t know what story it wants to tell. The rockstar backstory becomes completely irrelevant to the rest of the film, except as a means to establish a relationship between the characters. Meanwhile, the narrative of competition between two men for the love of a woman could have worked, except that it’s more one man intruding on a vacation, and not getting told to go away. A Bigger Splash will get good reviews, and it will receive accolades. It will be commended, because it is technically a fantastic film: the acting is great and the cinematography is stunning. But something at its core does not work, and it reminds me painfully of a person trying to tell a funny story, but being unable to decide exactly what is funny about it.

6/10

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Lifestyle

Travelling solo in Denmark Carl Wikeley

homas Jefferson once said, “I think one travels more usefully when they travel alone, because they reflect more.” While I think the implications of personal epiphany might be pushing it, I certainly agree that travelling alone forces you to think. That’s not to say your conversation-less trip is going to be painless! Last summer, I travelled to Denmark alone. It didn’t seem like an obvious choice, but the country named ‘Happiest nation’ two years in a row must be worth a visit, I thought. As it turns out, Denmark has some of the friendliest inhabitants, most fantastic art and design, and coolest bars and clubs – even if you’re a lone traveller! There are two sides to every travel piece, and from my experience, travelling alone can be as painfully awkward as it is rewarding. I arrived in Denmark undaunted, and even checked into my AirBnb apartment without pretending my non-existent partner was late. I took a walk in the CARL WIKELEY

evening sun, and began to feel at home. But things took an embarrassing turn with the coming of dinner-time. Arguably the most difficult thing for any solo traveller is dining alone – and this is not just an issue for younger people, if all those fake-phone-call solo eaters are anything to go by. The awkwardness began in choosing a restaurant; the easy thing to do would have been to go to McDonald’s, but being vegetarian, that’s wasn’t an appealing option. Having ‘TripAdvisor-ed’ to the max, I arrived at a little Italian place. Saying the words: “Table for one, please”, was the most embarrassing moment of my trip. However, once settled, I actually had a great time. I planned what I’d do for the rest of my holiday, read some wine bottle labels, and generally had a good think about nothing much – without having to make conversation or share my wine. In comparison, the rest of my trip was easy, and I’d recommend the experience to everyone; you might surprise yourself (obviously, no one else will). TPSDAVE

Listings Thursday 25 Cambridge University Ballet Club Romeo and Juliet. West Road Concert Hall, 7pm. February’s Reel Women. Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, 9pm. Friday 26 ‘Little White Lies’ Editor-in-Chief David Jenkins. Sidney Sussex, 5pm. Saturday 27 Mark Hamill. Cambridge Union, 5pm. Sidney Sussex Saturday Super Soaker Sofa Smoker. Sidney Bar, 8:30pm. Sunday 28 Cambridge ½ Marathon. 9am. Monday 29 Smorgasbord. Corpus Playroom, 9:30pm. Tuesday 1 History in Question 2016. Little Hall Lecture Theatre, Sidgwick, 1:30pm. Wednesday 2 The Madwomen in the Attic. ADC Theatre, 11pm. Compiled by Lucy Roxburgh

Style stereotypes and what to do with them Helena Baron

hen you hear the word ‘style’, your thoughts might wander to the bestdressed girl in college, or maybe the latest Vogue cover you saw the other day. You might even think of various trends such as punk, preppy, or hipster. Be it the rock studs of the punks, the maxi skirts of the hippies, or rolled up jeans of today’s hipsters: the way you dress reveals as much about where you shop as it does about what you might stand for, what your interests may be – it is, after all, one of the easiest mediums of self-expression. Apart from these widely acknowledged genres of style, the appearance of less ‘official’ terminology is cropping up more and more frequently in articles and in conversation to THE COINCIDENTAL DANDY

describe someone’s appearance. But where does the line lie between describing individuality, and actually expressing a bias, however unconscious this might be? Jennifer Lawrence recently epitomised her style as that of a “slutty power lesbian”, quickly adding “I don’t know if that’s offensive”. In a world so full of eggshells, is it refreshing to hear someone sweeping them aside and striding confidently across the room, or is she simultaneously sweeping aside what could potentially become toxic stereotypes? Consider the phrase “slutty power lesbian”: do you see a sexually liberated, independent, and powerful woman dressing to please her peer woman (and so, notably, not for a man), or does the mind immediately jump to a butch THE COINCIDENTAL DANDY

and intimidating character? Some might even say that such descriptions are analogous to the controversy that saw various cases of slut-shaming many a mini-skirt- or croptop-wearing woman. On the other hand, could it be that bold statements such as Lawrence’s are just what we need, as a society whose growth is arguably stunted by too much ‘politically correct’ red tape? If Jennifer Lawrence wants to be a “slutty power lesbian”, surely this doesn’t have to be taken negatively – if anything, her prolific status makes it more acceptable than if just anyone posted the like on Twitter. Perhaps we can all take a leaf out of Lawrence’s book, and simply accept that interpretations will differ individually. As Coco Chanel said, “in order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” THE COINCIDENTAL DANDY

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Lifestyle

A wander into the street food scene Charlotte McGarry Food Editor

ecently, street food has been making an attempt to break into the mainstream Cambridge food scene. A whole host of restaurants like Pho and Thaikhun, offering an authentic vendor vibe (all very gap yah), have sprung up – but in my opinion, anything that comes with proper cutlery and a double-digit price tag doesn’t really qualify as street food. I always had a vague understanding that there was indeed a ‘real’ street food community out there somewhere, near the science park, or some other far-flung location. But it wasn’t until I came across them at the Mill Road Christmas Fair that I fully realised how diverse and exciting the street food community in Cambridge is. Just outside the parameters of ‘student’ Cambridge, there’s a whole other food world just waiting to be explored. So at the end of last month, I decided to right this wrong and finally got round to visiting a key fixture of the street food scene – the Middle Eastern food truck, The Wandering Yak. Perhaps ignorantly, I was not prepared for just how popular street food could be. But as Ian, founder of the The Wandering Yak, explained, its appeal is strong, and twofold. Firstly, it’s great value, in terms of time and money. Hand over (a very reasonable) £6 for a huge mezze box, and it will be in your hand within 10 minutes. But perhaps more importantly, the flavours are second to none. The smaller scale of a food truck allows traders to specialise – most only serve three or four options. Each item receives plenty of attention and as a result, tastes really good. This is certainly true of The Wandering Yak. Since its inception in April 2015, it has perfected a rotation of five

delicious, Middle Eastern inspired, veggie-based dishes. The vibe is classic Middle Eastern with a twist (think roast squash mezze with herb pesto, or sweet potato fries with lime creme fraiche), the result of months of research and testing by the Yak team. If you’re looking for Ottolenghieqsue flavours minus the prices, this is your answer. For Ian and team, Middle Eastern food was an easy choice, offering a great range of flavours without the need for everything to be meat based. This is central to the Yak’s philosophy – the truck was born with the vision of providing great flavours whilst putting vegetables, grains and pulses at the heart of its food. Ian tells me:“We feel passionate about encouraging people to eat less meat by offering people real, tempting alternatives, not just the veggie burger that’s often the only thing on offer.” But the Yak’s frequenters are certainly not limited to the meat-free:“We have a really wide range of customers; lots of vegetarians, but even more omnivores who come just because they love the food.” They cater to multiple strata of the Cambridge demographic; FoodPark lunch markets are a hit with business people, whilst their Thursday evening collaborations with Hot Numbers’ jazz club tend to draw more of a student vibe. My last question for Ian was: where to, from here? Any plans for a permanent café? “No,” laughs Ian, “we like the wandering life too much!” The Yak’s summer calendar is already filling up with parties, food fairs, May Balls, and festivals. If you can’t wait that long, follow the ‘find us’ tab on The Wandering Yak’s website to catch them later this month. It’s definitely worth the trek.

THE WANDERING YAK

YouTubers making a difference Lucy Roxburgh Lifestyle Editor

n the last few years, YouTube has become a powerful platform to challenge traditional media, creating a whole new group of successful, wealthy and influential YouTube celebrities. With thousands, or even millions, of subscribers, these vloggers have a huge reach. Among these success stories are some major LGBT+ figures, who provide new role models, courage, and advice for their followers. Ingrid Nilsen – Ingrid Nilsen is a top beauty blogger, whose emotional coming out video last June quickly went viral around the world and currently has over 14 million views. The powerful video was hugely influential, and GAGE SKIDMORE

discussed her feelings about coming out to her family as well as to the world, and her desire to highlight her frustration at lesbian stereotypes. Having previously only documented her straight relationships on YouTube, this was a major announcement: soon after it, Ingrid began a relationship with fellow YouTuber, Hannah Hart. Troye Sivan – you might recognise the name from his recent music breakthrough (‘Wild’ and ‘Youth’ are his latest singles) but before the record deal, Troye Sivan started out as a successful YouTuber: the third biggest in Australia, in fact. He came out on YouTube in August 2013 when he was 18, three years to the day after he had come out to his GAGE SKIDMORE

family. Following this, in October 2014, Time magazine named him one of the ‘25 Most Influential Teens of 2014’. Tyler Oakley - Tyler is an example of one of the top YouTubers who has since branched out into television presenting, writing, podcasting and merchandise. He has been openly gay since he began his channel, and has often discussed his personal story of coming out aged 14. His main channel currently has over 7 million subscribers and a staggering 500 million views. Tyler supports The Trevor Project, an organisation for the prevention of suicide among LGBT youth; in 2015, he raised $532,224, after promoting the cause among his followers. GAGE SKIDMORE

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Lifestyle

Make-up:The eyes have it ‘I don’t exist’ Ariel Luo Fashion Editor

SAMSMITHWORLDVEVO

t’s a sad reality that when talking about makeup, most people assume that it’s the preserve of women. In reality, some of the most inspiring make-up looks have been sported by men – from actors to singers to video bloggers. These looks should provide make-up inspiration for all genders. Sam Smith: As much as we love putting the make-up of female celebrities under a microscope, Sam Smith does it better when it comes to makeup inspiration for all. The thin black line all around the eye looks subtle yet fashionably fierce. This look is best done using a felt-tip, liquid eyeliner (I would recommend Eyeko). Alternatives would be a gel eyeliner (from Bobbi Brown), applied with a liner brush, and the ultimate smudge-proof MAC Liquidlast Liner. The trick is to always have a cotton bud at hand to quickly wipe off any mistakes before they dry. And stay really close to the roots of the lashes for a professional finish. Go all around the eye, and at the outer corner do a little bit of a flick. Johnny Depp: The ultimate smoky eyes! Draw a thick line with an eye pencil and smudge away with a blending brush. For intensity, spray some water on the brush. Be sure to blend away any harsh lines. The Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On pencil is good for this. The only problem is that it smudges under the eyes quite badly, but using a primer potion solves this problem. I’d go easy under the eye – unless you’re actually dressing as Jack Sparrow.

CUSU LGBT+ launched their latest campaign, ‘I don’t exist’, to coincide with LGBT+ history month. It aims to highlight the current lack of legal recognition of non-binary people in the UK, and to campaign for a change to the law that would ensure equal recognition for all genders. When asked how legal recognition would make a difference to the nonbinary, people have commented: “In my daily life, very few people know that I’m gender fluid and it often feels easier and safer to keep it that way. Visibility can be a double-edged sword and it can also be a complex and personal choice. But legal recognition is where it becomes pretty damn simple. Give us our rights.”

ARIEL LUO

SANDRA SCHERER

“Being forced to choose between two gender options constantly is not only oppressive, it is actively damaging. By ignoring our presence, our agency and ability to go about our day to day [lives] is compromised. My gender is just as important to me as yours is to you – why should I be treated as any less of a person?” “Legal recognition for non-binary people is essential. Without it, we have no rights, and little protection from abuse and discrimination. At present, we are non-entities; in the eyes of the government, we don’t exist. If we can change that, it will make so many people’s lives better and easier.”

ADVISEMYSTYLE

Jure Chuk: When I first met him he was working at the cosmetics department of YSL, and he now runs a YouTube channel (‘AdviseMyStyle’) with 15,000 subscribers. He is hilarious. Just search ‘basic bitch makeup parody’ and you’ll see. This full-on thick line can be achieved with the Fat Liquid Liner from Eyeko, or the ‘They’re Real!’ liner pen from Benefits. Before you line your eyes, always draw a dot on each side to pinpoint where you want the flicks to go, so that they end up being perfectly symmetrical.

“Non-binary legal recognition is important because it is the first step to actually breaking down heteronormativity as the basis of the state. they tried gay marriage, and that is nice, but this is when it gets real.” “Binary gender is not a definable two-state system; it is a construct that contradicts medical consensus and has unnecessary weighting in law, which erases innate variation and at worst denies people life-saving medical treatment. A person’s gender is no indication of personality, aptitude or physical attributes, so why is the rational step towards recognition in law of the non-binary, a logical reflection of social reality, such a problem?”

An MMLer abroad: Week Seven Love it or hate it? The emotional roller coaster of living abroad Rachel Rees-Middleton Columnist

eelings towards living abroad come in three stages, my mentor teacher reassured me on our first meeting in France. She explained that firstly, there is the novelty factor, where everything in your new country is far more exciting than at home: cue croissants and wine at any given opportunity. I could relive my family holidays spent in France, eating as many BN biscuits and drinking as much Orangina as I fancied. My October enthusiasm was fuelled by warm sunshine and the prospect of a two week school holiday after just two weeks of work. Yet in mid-November, my enthusiasm for life abroad began to wane. I realised that food alone could not sustain my love for a country and a series of administrative glitches left me irritated and frustrated. Why did my bank card have

a spending limit? How were lessons cancelled just hours before? What on earth was so difficult about sending a reply to an email? The product of an education system with rigid deadlines and a ‘get on with it no matter what’ attitude, I began to get frustrated with the two hour lunch breaks, the online banking site that just didn’t work and the social security card which took months to arrive. Waiting 15 minutes for a stamp at the post office was the final straw. My French friends laughed at my frustrations and seemed to derive an odd sense of pride from the sheer size and slowness of the French administration system. “C’est la France!”, they casually laughed. Three months later, however, and I am now armed with a fully-functioning bank card and make a point to use the self-service machines at the post office. I think I may have finally entered stage three – acclimatisation. When my family visited last week, I found myself in an

interesting mid-way position. When my mum laughed at the closure of shops at lunch time, I defended their right to a leisurely break and we too enjoyed a long lunch in a restaurant. My dad grumbled about the many toll roads we went through, but we took advantage of the cheap public transport to get around the nearest big city with ease. My sister couldn’t believe her luck when I told her my school in France begins at 8am and can last until 6pm, but was then envious of the students we saw in town on a Wednesday afternoon, enjoying the sun with their friends, unburdened by a school uniform. When I was planning my year abroad, I thought that living in France wouldn’t be that different to living in England. I was definitely wrong. The true joy of living in a new country is noticing all the small things which are different to home, be they the good or the bad. Eating my baguette with Marmite this morning, I am enjoying the best of both worlds.

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 •25 February 2016

Review:Pho Cambridge Tanya Brown

et’s set the scene: it’s Week Five, and you are a stressed, hungry student, rapidly using up your termly budget. So, if you get tagged in a Facebook post offering free food, can anyone blame you for taking up the offer? Pho, a small chain of restaurants serving Vietnamese street food, has just opened a store in Cambridge situated near Market Square, located (conveniently for me) just a five-minute walk from the SPS Library. I had planned to meet my friend at Pho to take up their offer of free pho on the day of opening. (For those who aren’t in the know – pho is a soup-based dish with noodles and your choice of protein.) The inevitable queue was nevertheless over and done with in just 10 minutes, and we were shown upstairs to our table and given menus. My friend and I opted for coconut, pineapple, and apple fresh fruit drinks, which, if I am being honest, were quite expensive at over £3, but they tasted very refreshing and light. Whilst we went for the free pho, I couldn’t help but look at the starters. Mực chiên giòn, baby squid with salt, pepper, and lime dipping sauce, caught my eye; again however, I was slightly disappointed with the prices which were heading towards £7 in most cases. I was impressed with the fact that both my veggie friend and I (a flexitarian) were well catered for in the menu, which ranges from salads to curry to stir fry to, of course, pho. The pho menu is vast, and I imagine this is a very popular choice. I initially chose the Bún riêu, which is vermicelli noodles with wafer thin steak, tofu, and a crab and tomato broth, but unfortunately they’d run out, so I opted instead for the Bún bò Huế, hot and spicy brisket served with a chili shrimp paste (my friend had the same but with tofu). When the food arrived, we were presented with big bowls of delicious smelling broth with a side plate of bean sprouts and mint; we were instructed to break up the mint and put the assortment into the soups. We were also offered bibs as the hot and spicy broth can stain (we both said no, out of

pride rather than not needing one.) During the meal, as the mint permeated the soup, the flavours changed from sour to almost sweet. The broth wasn’t even too spicy, so chilliphobes would probably cope too. I have to confess to being in a long-term relationship with Wagamama, but although some of the prices weren’t entirely student-friendly, I hope my one night stand with Pho will develop into something more, as the food was (pardon the pun) pho-nomenal! EATING_LONDON

PHORESTAURANTS

Edward Ashcroft Escapes Editor

Lifestyle Sex: Let’s get intersectional Bea Hannay-Young Columnist

onfession: I met my boyfriend on Tinder. Not classy, but we’ve been together a year, so I consider myself fortunate. I’d never questioned the mechanics of Tinder at the time but in retrospect, it’s a seriously problematic platform (not just because it teaches that looks are the most important feature of partners). It’s binary: man/woman, seeking man/woman. How can a dating tool be so popular, and yet so completely misrepresentative of the variety of sexual preferences and identities out there?

Tinder is binary: man/woman, seeking man/woman

Tolerance and tourism: An alliance? n 2011, it was announced that the theme for the year’s World Tourism Day would be ‘Linking Cultures.’ In support of the day, the ever-wise Ban Ki-moon proudly declared that tourism was a global force for “a more tolerant, open, and united world.” It might all seem a bit over-the-top. After all, how important can lying on a beach drinking a Piña Colada be for building cultural relations? But still, he was making an interesting point. In 2012, the number of annual ‘tourists’ worldwide hit one billion. By 2015, this number had risen to 1.2 billion – a remarkable figure, that reflects the growing importance of tourism within an increasingly global society. Every journey is an opportunity for cultural interaction, exchange and, arguably, building tolerance. Abu Aziz Sarah, the Palestinian activist and co-founder of MEJDI tours certainly seems to agree with Ban Kimoon. His tour company – which has received numerous international prizes for its work – follows a self-proclaimed “multiple narrative approach to tourism.” By offering two (or more) local guides, rather than one, they give a diverse insight into local areas. These dual narrative tours began in Israel and Palestine but now offer a variety of destinations from Spain to Iraqi Kurdistan. The

model has been largely successful. At a time when many other peace initiatives in the Israel/Palestine region seem to be lagging, the MEDJI-approach is a refreshing one. Nevertheless, the alliance between tolerance and tourism is not a perfect one. ‘Dual narrative’ tours, however laudable, can rarely capture the complexity of a conflict for a one-off visitor. Perhaps more dangerously, narratives are also always open to manipulation. The state-sponsored tours to North Korea, which BBC Panorama has exposed, are a fine example. It is not just an issue of narratives and manipulation. Western tourists who travel to North Korea out of some perverted notion of ‘interest’ may well see through statesponsored claims. But their money funds a regime, which despite what Team America: World Police would have you think, is a serious – and seriously abhorrent - consequence. Nor is North Korea the only place where tourism is damaging. Travelling to Tibet, as the Free Tibet movement makes clear, is closely controlled by the Chinese government. Revenue flows go to China, while the state keeps a lid on what can be seen. Tourism might have the potential to foster tolerance. But in the wrong hands, ‘tourism’ will only harden divisions and spark intolerance.

Other platforms aim for inclusivity, but still have a way to go: OKCupid has the usual “man” and “woman” options, plus a list of twenty more identities (you can select multiple). An improvement, but still a compartmentalization. It also risks fetishizing minority groups: people can seek partnerships exclusively with trans or non-binary people because they’re labelled trans or non-binary. I know dating sites work on algorithms, and boxes have to be ticked for them to function. I don’t have a solution, I just think that the system isn’t what it ought to be. If you Google “genderqueer is”, one of the highest results is “bullshit”. We can’t include people if we won’t recognise them. Legally, non-binary people have no status in the UK. This is simply despicable, and I’m so proud to come from a university that campaigns against such nonsense (CUSU launched its “I don’t exist” campaign to align with LGBT+ History Month). Just because you don’t understand, doesn’t make something untrue. It’s hurting people.

Just because you don’t understand something, doesn’t make it untrue Forcing non-binary people to conform to gender expectations is just as sexist as structures perpetuating female oppression. Swaps (sitting boy next to girl), dating apps, and marriage structures which now support nonheterosexual unions but still can’t find a more inclusive alternative to “Mr and Mrs” all contribute to making the structure and language of relationships binary and heteronormative. In sex and partnerships, identity does so much to shape the nature of the relationship, so it’s especially harmful to force labels on people to which they may just not conform. The only people who have the right to define a relationship are the participants.

The only people who have the right to define a relationship are the participants I want to note – I’m a cis-gendered woman and I am fully aware that I can’t fully empathise with the struggles of people who aren’t like me. These are only some of the potentially exclusionary things that I’ve noticed in my experiences of dating. I have no doubt they are only a teeny-tiny fraction of micro (and not so micro) aggressions that trans and non-binary people face.

The Cambridge Student • Part 2 • 25 February 2016

Lifestyle

A Cambridge University rainbow

IMAGE CREDIT CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: STEVIE HERTZ, KELLY BRENDAN, ADI GEORGE, POLLY GREY, ELSA MAISHMAN, JEMIMA JOBLING, TOM BEVAN, LUCY ROXBURGH, KATE BELL.

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

Features

Don’t forget to live

Go on, take a break...

MEGAN LEA

Rebecca Davies

Take a break and colour me in...

ake that break: these are the most dangerous words a Cambridge undergraduate can utter. Yet they hang perpetually on our lips. We all want them, we all need them, but we all hate ourselves for having them. I used to feel like I could handle whatever workload Cambridge could offer. Sure, we all have moments of weakness, but ultimately my determination and organizational skills would see me through. I was most definitely not prepared for the psychological burden. Even the strongest among us cannot escape its siren call. We are hypnotized, transfixed, as we forever lurch towards our graduations. Too often I’ve felt like a race horse, pushed harder and harder towards the finish, blinders on each side so I can concentrate on nothing but what’s ahead of me. It is the harshness of this reality that makes taking that break even more imperative. After all, a degree, especially one at Cambridge, is not a sprint but a marathon, only a marathon you’re expected to win. This article is mainly common sense, but it is common sense we all seem to forget. We need breaks, to avoid burning out, to maintain our sanity, to develop and strengthen our relationships (including, of course, the one you have with yourself).

But what I am going to suggest is that these are not just breaks: they are moments that will stay with us far longer than an understanding of the causes of the French Revolution, or the minutiae of photosynthesis. They are moments you spend with friends: chatting, drinking, dancing, chilling. It’s more than just recharging your batteries, it’s building friendships. We need companions in the race we’re running. Furthermore, in taking a break you are affirming to yourself that you deserve a rest. This is self-indulgence at its most basic: it isn’t unjustified, it isn’t a distraction. If you deserve a break then have one! For those of you on your breaks now, thank you for using your time to read my little article. ROY BLUMENTHAL

Blink and you’ll miss it: Enjoying your time Rachel Parris

hen my friend arrives at the squash court early one morning, I’m already there, staring up at a tree so big I can’t believe I have never noticed it before. “Look, a pigeon!” I shout with a delight that seems, to my friend, a little excessive with respect to the nature of my discovery. She’s not the only one confused. When I lower my gaze a few moments later I see a man on the other side of the fence. He looks from me to the tree, then back to me, and the bewilderment on his face suggests he does not share in the joy of my pigeon-sighting. And quite frankly I’m not surprised. We see pigeons every day. We see trees every day. On the way to classes, or the library, or the lecture block. We see them all the time, but we rarely look – I mean, really look. And there is something special in really looking. It doesn’t have to be at a pigeon. In fact, for your own sense of social acceptance it is probably safest not to stare at pigeons,

NICK KENRICK

as I do. But there is pleasure to be found in slowing down, in taking it all in, in seeing something as though for the very first time. Some people call it living in the moment, others meditation. I’m one of a growing number of Cambridge students, and people all around the world, who call it mindfulness and who are very relieved to have found it. Because sometimes it can feel like Cambridge is racing past. Seven days. Eight weeks. Three years. Blink and you’ll miss it. Monday blurs into Thursday until it’s suddenly Week 5 and you’re not quite sure where on earth it all went. You’re tired, so you know you must have been doing something, but what? Who knows. Busy lives, busy brains. Work, eat, sleep, repeat. Work, eat, sleep, repeat. And no pigeons. And no trees. Last term I took part in an eight week course, a part of the University’s Mindful Student Study which is researching the possible benefits of meditation and mindfulness for stressed students in Cambridge.

Led by the remarkable Elizabeth English, Cambridge’s wonderful resident mindfulness instructor, the course was a practice in being, not doing, in turning towards worries, not away from them, in calming down, in breathing deeply, in enjoying. Oh, and that raisin

It can feel like Cambridge is racing past. Seven days, eight weeks, three years. Blink and you’ll miss it meditation you’ve all heard of. The course is over for me but my practice is not. Mindfulness is still a big part of my life. The Mindfulness Society meets weekly and in small, friendly groups we talk and meditate together. There are no raisins, and no trees, and there has yet to be a pigeon, but it is a pleasant little anchor of calm in the rush and busyness of Cambridge; a gentle reminder to open my eyes and take it all in.

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

Features

Looking for love in A week in the life: A Cambridge punt Cambridge Week Seven: Speed dating Secret Dater

*As imagined by Anna Bradley

Tuesday “You’ll note that Clare Bridge has a slight dip in it – that’s where Gandalf once banged his staff.” If I had eyes to roll, I would. At least the Punt Guides are imaginative with their spiels, but after a while it gets a bit old. I notice someone in the punt actually roll their eyes – a student then. I wobble a bit, see if I can knock him off. No such luck, but I’ll try again later – have to amuse the puntees after all.

Thursday I’m not sure I’ll ever be dry again. I think I have pneumonia. Yes, I know I’m a boat but I have feelings too.

Friday Today I heard some students saying fter the stinging revelation of my last Lothario’s that if you swim in the Cam, you’ll get long-term relationship, my tolerance for Weil’s disease. I’ve been ‘swimming’ in distasteful behaviour was running low. It dawned the Cam every day for the past year on me that I needed to recalibrate my dating schema – that is, I needed to chill out. The likelihood that I will go so my chances are not looking good. on one awkward date with a person and find that they are Wednesday I wonder if Newnham Walk takes able to fully tessellate their personality with my own is Oh god, it’s raining. And people still appointments for punts? fairly miniscule. It was time to stop thinking that a date want to go out on the river. I honestly equals an immediate yes or no. This train of thought has don’t know what is wrong with them. Saturday always ended in a mourning period before a rage-fuelled Go home. Go to a coffee shop. Oh crap, My game face is on. It’s the busiest day listening to ‘Gives You Hell’ by The All-American Rejects. they’re coming this way. Don’t take of the week. People just swarm out of No, from now on, dates will equal fun. That is all. No expectations means no disappointments. Everyone you meet (particularly at Cambridge) will further your own understanding of what you want and/or need from a potential partner. There are no ‘waste of time’ dates. Around the same time that I had this epiphany, my best friend was hurt badly by her ex-beau, and I wasn’t sure how to comfort her. The only thing I could do was to ease her back on to ‘the horse’, and I did this in the subtlest possible way – speed-dating. The university’s own Romance Committee organises a variety of events for lonely singletons, plus a rather sexist (but nevertheless

nowhere, covering us like little ants. Half of them can’t steer either, so the river just becomes a set of flailing, damp dodgems.

the rain cover off - I’ll do anything! I promise I won’t try and knock you in again if you just take Hilda out, she hasn’t been used in weeks!

I wonder if Newnham Walk takes appointments for punts?

Sunday If I wasn’t brown, I’d be purple from the amount of times I was knocked into yesterday. And I don’t even get a break today! I tried to hide, but the bank of the river is pretty bare and the punt guides tie you up so you can’t escape. Maybe, one glorious day, I’ll be free to float all the way down the river to Grantchester. Monday Ah, the quietest day of the week. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the tourists are at home – I don’t think it could get any better. Just what I need after such a stressful week. COLIN HOUSTON

“Have you ever danced on a pole?” welcome) gesture of perpetual free wine for the women. We signed up, our hopes of meeting at least seven flawless human beings to choose between running high. Immediately, such hopes were shattered. The timid creatures before us resemble perfect embodiments of the Poor Unfortunate Souls in The Little Mermaid, trembling in their brogues at the slightest eye-contact with a human female. The organiser (known professionally as ‘Cupid’) clapped his hands, signalling that it was time to begin. I sat down in my seat, eyeing up my first suitor. The red sweater vest signalled to me that this was over before it had even begun. “Do you like dancing?” he asked, traces of a smug grin painted on his face. “I mean… as much as the next girl… I love getting turnt in Fez every now and then.” “Have you ever danced on a pole? You look like you’d be good at it.” A swift circle around the ‘No to a future date’ option on my form. Next up, Contestant B. As I sat down and introduced myself, I noted a long equation written in front of him. “Oh, this? This is just a quick formula I drew up to investigate if there’s life on Mars. I’ve been accepted into an astronaut programme in 2020, so just prepping myself for any possibilities. Anyway, how are you?” Interesting, but to what extent could we pursue a healthy relationship if he is colonising Mars in four years time? Next, Contestant C. This looked promising. Or perhaps that was the incessant wine beginning to kick in. He looks friendly, at least. And unlikely to question my stripping abilities. He does, however, quickly launch into the trauma of his father leaving him aged two. I try to excuse myself to the bathroom. He refuses to let me. As soon as the bell rings to signal the end of the evening, I grab my coat and my friend and flee, wildly intoxicated on some cheap white wine and the adrenaline that the evening had mustered up. Finally, we are safe.

The 29 February: A rare gift from time Amelia Oakley Deputy Editor

here are all kinds of myths and traditions associated with the elusive ‘leap year’. Some in the UK still maintain that it is the only appropriate day for women to propose to men. But to allow this day to simply fall victim to the archaism and, quite frankly, sexism of that so called tradition, is such a waste. Rather, I propose we all do something else incredibly important with that day – absolutely nothing at all. It is rare in Cambridge to ever get a day off. Even when you think you’ve scheduled your procrasination lulls well, and your deadlines perfectly, something always crops up. A JCR meeting, a presentation you didn’t know you had, a break-up of the college power couple: there is always something which ends up standing in the way of you and your day of absolute nothingness.

But this year is different. This year, the mystery of science has bequeathed to us the most beautiful of gifts: an extra day. So it would be rude not to make the most of it. So I propose a revolution... of sorts. We should treat 29 February like a bank holiday, determined by the orbit of the Earth, and all take a collective day off. Many years of relentless campaigning for a reading week has shown us that a week long break is definitely not coming any time soon. But surely the tyrants of the University could allow us a one day break every four years? There is so much to do in Cambridge, so much to see, and unless you take a day or two off every now and then, you will never be able to properly experience it. And when I say a day, I mean a day, not an afternoon before an evening meeting, or a morning before a trip to the library. What’s the point of taking a leisurely stroll to Granchester when

There is so much to do in Cambridge

you know you will have to rush back for a supervision before you get to enjoy your well earned beverage at a quaint country pub? Put your books away, hang up your lab coat, and hide your diary in a draw. Take a visit to the Fitzwilliam museum and marvel at all the important artworks you had no idea Cambridge had on show. Cycle to Fen Ditton and discover where Fen Ditton exactly is. Head over to the Botanical Gardens and savour your surroundings as Spring begins to blossom. Cambridge moves at an unstoppable pace, and most of us will not be here for the next leap year. In four years time, I doubt I’ll look back to 29 February 2016 and say, ‘Oh I wish I had done my class on Wednesday’. Rather, I’ll enjoy the oh so rare memory of feeling completely relaxed in a city consumed by constant academic pressure. After all, it is an extra day – a scientific anomaly – so it doesn’t really count anyway.

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

Features

Student Spotlight: The Wilberforce Society On modern life: Tom Bevan

hen I applied to Cambridge, I knew full well that lying outside of the academic confines of my course, HSPS, there would be plenty of scope for developing my interests in politics and social issues. And boasting the title of the UK’s first, and highest profile, student think tank, stumbling across The Wilberforce Society in first year was a blessing. After attending their conference as a fresher, I quickly realised that through TWS, the issues I talked about with friends, in supervisions, and in talks and debates could be channelled into something much more concrete; collaborating to find solutions to

societal issues and entering into conversation with various policymakers themselves. The society opens up spaces to tackle contemporary issues for voices from all backgrounds and different academic spheres; the exclusionary bravado of debate is replaced by flexible discussions and new ideas. I quickly realised that this was the least inward-looking route into student politics for me. Events are open for members and non-members at affordable rates, attracting some of the university’s most approachable, forward-thinking and creative students. The opportunities available are

TWS offers a different side of student politics

TOM BEVAN

really exciting; members can sign up as a policy paper writer, attend ideas events throughout the year on diverse topics, or get involved behind the scenes. My particular role was on the committee as co-conference director of the annual conference, which is a focal point for progressive political discussion in Cambridge. This year’s theme revolved around technology and its ever-changing relationship with the state; everything from the challenges posed by artificial intelligence to E-democracy was covered. It was a pretty cool event; student writers presented their papers in front of experts from academia, business, government and the tertiary sector, who then discussed the paper and added their own solutions. The best part of my role was booking guest speakers, including people from Change.org and the Estonian government, and organising speakers from Cambridge. One guest enjoyed the conference so much, that he even declined our usual offer of reimbursing his travel. Committee positions are open for next year, and I couldn’t stress how much you will get out of a role. TWS offers a different side of student politics, with its forward outlook, and I’m so glad I got stuck in.

Student Chat: If you could wake up in anyone’s body, whose would it be?

“Does Snoopy count?” Ariel Luo

“Titanic-era Leonardo DiCaprio. Dat bod tho.” Taryn Challender

“Zadie Smith.” Lola Olufemi

“My friend’s. She has a crate of Bulmers cider in her room.” Vidya Ramesh

“Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Lydia Sabatini

Benedetta Maisano Columnist

Boredom and socialmedia

esisting the urge to let everyone think you’re cool is hard. Most of the time I am overcome by the desire for this superficial self-affirmation and indulge in a couple of Instagram posts (with location tag) or some ‘disposables’ that in a very permanent way will make their way onto the big ‘book of faces’. I take comfort in the fact that I recognise my virtual persona as being a bit lame. Not that this will stop me from letting people (subtly) know about the next time I go listen to a Dutch DJ in Shoreditch. Something should be said though about the increasing inability to resist the capturing, reducing, and sharing of experiences. We want to ‘own’ what happens; the temporariness of fun irritates us. This behaviour is both selfish and unselfish. Selfish because we view what we do as contributing to a certain personal image, and unselfish because sometimes what we do isn’t really what we want to do. This is especially true in Cambridge, where the fear of missing out (FOMO) often wins us over. I don’t want to echo the older generation’s fear of screens; I think this new social dimension isn’t necessarily harmful. But it does add a level of anxiety that didn’t exist ten years ago; we’re given constant opportunities to compare ourselves to a sugar coated, filtered ‘other’. Friendships and experiences are compressed and reduced to bite-size ‘shareables’, which inevitably do not capture

Friendships and experiences are reduced to bite-sized ‘shareables’

the depth of relationships and the inevitable not-so-cool and not-so-happy times, or mark what being human is. In some sense we’re comforted by the gaze of the social media eye. We feel connected, are watched, and can watch. The news feeds populate empty moments, and save us from one of today’s greatest fears: boredom and solitude. But the fear of being alone and disconnected is worrying. The insecurity attached to being ‘task-less’ exists because it invites self-reflection. And self-reflection is something we can very easily get away with not doing, thanks to the constant distractions of a virtually social life. And so we remain connected, because it’s easy, and people are simple and predictable and quantifiable in likes and shares. Not only is our constant connection facilitating a kind of self-alienation, but it can stifle real-life social skills. The virtual world can be a deep tunnel of procrastination, a way to perpetuate a culture of envy and celebrity following – I say, as I listen to Kanye West announcing his new videogame feat. Mrs West riding on a white, winged horse towards the gates of Heaven – but we can learn something from it. Specifically, we can learn not to become lazy and substitute self-awareness and reflection with the eye-candy and mind numbing of Instagram or Facebook. Boredom should not be feared, it encourages creativity and attentiveness, and gives us a chance to develop the depth of character that’s become easy to neglect. Our individuality is equally threatened. We shouldn’t forget that social media has its own fashion, its own dos and don’t, its own cliques, and so it has given us yet another status quo. I will probably still post updates on how much glitter will feature in my Arcsoc costume, how pseudo-edgy I am by using a vintage polaroid, and how cool my friends are. The important thing is not to take all this too seriously.

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

Interviews

Will Gompertz: the future lies in creativity Julia Stanyard Interviews Editor

o say that Will Gompertz has followed an unorthodox career path might be a bit of an understatement. After leaving school at 16 – or as he describes: “I got chucked out, but it was my fault really, I was being annoying” – he has since had an illustrious career as BBC Arts editor, creator of the arts magazine Tate Etc., and producer of several programmes about the arts for both radio and TV. He even took an arthistory-based show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009, in which he reportedly asked his audience to draw penises in different artistic styles including cubist, pointillist, and surrealist. All of this, as I’m sure you can imagine, makes him a fascinating person to talk to. But if I were to sum up the overriding impression which comes out of talking to him, his defining feature as it were, it would not so much be that he is interesting to talk to (although this is, of course, true), but

“You should always, in my view, have this insatiable curiosity, where you’re always learning new stuff” that he is interested – having an avid and genuine curiosity about everyone and everything around him. He even felt the need to ask me lots of questions throughout our conversation, despite

the fact that: a) I was clearly there to interview him rather than the other way around, and b) my life has, thus far, been far less noteworthy than his. On this topic, Will describes himself as constantly learning: “I don’t think you’re fully developed ever. I’m 50 years old and I don’t think I’m fully developed – well I hope I’m not. You should always, in my view, have this insatiable curiosity, where you’re always learning stuff.” He describes a recent Monet show at the Royal Academy that showcased paintings from the latter years of the artist’s life as an example: “It just makes you think ‘holy smoke!’ He’s doing something here which has never been done before when he’s 80 years old.” It is this curiosity which underpins his views on the future of education. In Will’s opinion, the revolution of the internet – which has made so much information freely available to all – means the future lies with creativity. Schools, therefore, should teach the application of knowledge, rather than mere regurgitation of facts. “I just think schools should feel almost like theatres, they should be exciting places where anything can happen, you can discover something extraordinary every day, and you get the chance to express yourself in a way you never otherwise could, and they should be full of energy and ideas, and actually they’re just full of rules and discipline, and it just doesn’t seem to be what’s required.” It is during this discussion of

CHRIS WILLIAMSON/GETTY IMAGES

creativity that Will’s background as an art historian really comes to the fore, as he litters his argument with an array of examples from Duchamp’s ‘Fountain’ – which asked the fundamental question

“I just think schools should feel almost like theatres, they should be exciting places where anything can happen” of ‘what makes something art?’ – to Cézanne (who seems to be something of a personal favourite) and the trendsetting work of Damien Hirst. He is keen to stress that his views on creativity do not come at the expense of learning and knowledge: “You can’t achieve anything without knowledge – you can’t be a bullshitter, you can’t wing it. So deep, deep knowledge is important, but what we all need to learn is how to apply knowledge. Gathering knowledge is one thing, but have you been taught at Cambridge how to apply it?”. Nor does he profess to have all the answers for how a creativity-based education might work: “I’m just being slightly provocative, and saying that it doesn’t seem to me that testing people on regurgitating information is necessarily what they should be teaching.” He seems to be practising what he preaches, following the examples of the artists he so admires by asking provocative questions in order to change people’s thinking.

In response to my question about whether his general view on education stems from his own experience, he replied “Yes it does… I just didn’t like school, I didn’t find school even remotely interesting or stimulating and it didn’t make me feel curious, it just bored the pants off me really. I’ve often thought, ‘Why? Why didn’t I get anything out of school? Why do so many people not get much out of

school?’ It just set me thinking more about school, more about education, about what’s going to be required in the 21st century.” Whether or not Will’s vision of a creative 21st-century education will be realised in the near future, the message to remain “insatiably curious” seems to be a mantra which has served him well throughout his career, and is one which, for me at least, rings true.

Poet Geoffrey Hill on the power of language BBC NEWSNIGHT

Euan Holmes

eoffrey Hill’s writings have divided critical opinion on his status of greatest living English poet for the five decades of his prolific career. This is the sixth event at Clare College for the chapel’s series of discussions on the nature of power, with Hill representing the arts world and his ideas on the power of language. His speech is charged, and – characteristically of Hill – knotty. It abounds with jewels of phrases – “the furnace and forge of Christian theology” – but is also pockmarked with bursts of sardonic, though not embittered, humour. It is gripping, beguiling, and at times, painful to listen to. Hill begins with two quotes, the first from the book of Job: “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” The second: “You have a large and aggressive cancer on your prostate.”

It was, Hill reveals, an extract from a standard citation offered by the NHS; a death knell sounded a hundred times a day up and down the country. Hill wishes to consider whether it is possible to examine the second quotation through the lens, or by the grace, of the first. That is, he wishes to consider whether intellectualized literary pursuits can offer consolation or even explication in the face of doom: a question which appears to emanate

Geoffrey Hill is gripping, beguiling, and at times, painful to listen to. from the core of the speaker’s being. Illustrating the power of language, he points to the Lollards, and other conflicts caused by mere words. This power, then, was certainly morally ambivalent. As he notes with distaste, the three most powerful of his lifetime

are probably: “kike, paki, and nigger”. However, he claims that the power of language is essentially anarchic, and the best writers are those who allow the anarchy latent in language to breathe. This vein of thought is one he has described before in interview, seeking not ‘self-expression’ but ‘expressiveness’ in his writing. The power of language, he surmises, is not some “swedish drill” designed by Oxbridge dons to keep the particularly industrious student up on a Sunday night but a living thing. Hill only increases in his intensity. Speaking of Job, he describes reeling back upon his reading, not at the misery, but at his faith. At the words, “my fear”, Hill has to break, and be reminded thereafter of his place, as if not through confusion but perfervidity. “Faith”, he concludes, “ought to be simpler than a masochistic intellectualism”. Typically of Hill, whether ‘is’ and ‘ought’ coincide, here, is not made clear.

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

Comment

Culturally appropriative May Ball themes alienate students of colour Sriya Varadharajan Comment Editor

ay Balls have a tendency to be controversial, with the Daily Mail falling all over themselves to be aghast at Cambridge students’ decadence, and this year it is apparent that the controversy has begun already, with the launch of Trinity Hall, Clare, and Darwin’s May Ball themes – ‘Tokyo to Kyoto’, ‘The Orient Express’, and ‘Havana Nights’ respectively – bringing criticism based on claims of cultural appropriation. This is, of course, a far more serious issue than The Mail’s tendency to fixate upon students’ black tie attire. Reducing whole cultures to vague aesthetics, that will probably define the night through decorations and themed drinks is, at the very best reductive, and at worst enabling of offensive stereotypes that will exclude students of colour from the occasions that are supposed to be their chance to celebrate having made it through another year at Cambridge. Even before we get to the balls, the themes themselves, in order to be pithy and familiar, are stereotypes. If the starting point for the evening is a Western conceptualisation of Cuban culture that is defined through

inaccurate and often offensive stereotypes, then how can it actually represent any kind of appreciation for said culture? I googled the phrase ‘Havana Nights’ out of curiosity to see if there was any kind of history or meaning to the phrase beyond this stereotype, and all that came up was Dirty Dancing 2; even though I haven’t seen it and so do not know whether it is, in fact, a bastion of critical awareness and deconstruction of colonial mindsets, it hardly bodes well for the suggestion that the theme will be thoughtful, well-considered, and likely to leave attendees with a sense of the history and culture of Cuba. The thing is, a lot of thought goes into planning May Balls, and the theme is an integral part of this. The fact that, somehow, everybody on the committee for these balls either entirely missed the unfortunate connotations of their themes is telling. It suggests that night-long student parties can also educate people about being respectful and thoughtful of other cultures. In planning the balls, the committees take on a responsibility for ensuring that attendees have a good time; when months of deliberation goes into deciding musical acts, couldn’t

one person have spoken up on behalf of students of colour at Trinity Hall, Clare, and Darwin to suggest that the themes were inappropriate? We must ask ourselves where the line lies between aestheticising a culture and fetishising it. It has been argued that The Orient Express, for example, is more representative of a particular era of travel. Trying to situate these concepts in a historical era, rather than considering their implications in this day and age, is a false solution, and ignores the fact that within these historical eras, they were based on racist stereotypes. Even if, as the president of the Trinity Hall June Event asserted, “Japanese artists, suppliers, and societies” were consulted to “ensure the event is led by these sources rather than our own interpretations”, we must ask whether it is appropriate for mostly-white attendees to be participating in these cultural practices in the context of what amounts to a large party, rather than an event orchestrated by people who actually belong to said cultures. Ultimately, the main consequence of these May Ball themes will be to alienate students of colour. This cannot be fair, or just, and I’m tired of it – it’s time for things to change in white, heteronormative Cambridge. JOHANNES HJORTH

Editor-in-Chief: Elsa Maishman Founded 1999 Volume 17

CUSU and irrelevance Election season and the results of the Big Survey CUSU and The Cambridge Student are often lumped under the same title. But, if there ever was proof that the two are not the same thing, it can be found in the fact that CUSU have organised their elections so that both nominations and results will be released just hours after the paper’s print deadline. This election, as rumour has it, is said to be a large one, with some roles more heavily contested than they have been before in institutional memory. It has therefore come to that time in the year when CUSU is momentarily thrust into the spotlight of student consciousness, only to slither away into obscurity again, after a couple of weeks of hype. Indeed, CUSU has always struggled with irrelevance – many students have no idea who officers are, or what they do. This week, the results of CUSU’s ‘The Big Cambridge Survey’ were released. With almost 4,000 responses, there was a 62% increase from last year’s figures. The report offers important statistics – such as 45% of respondents reporting that Cambridge has negative effects on their mental health, and 77% of black British respondents saying more needed to be done to promote equality across the University. Yet the report also says that 43% of students are involved in campaigning for social change, which seems to grossly misrepresent the student body as a whole: so unrepresentative that they can quite frankly be considered,

My degree is a joke and, believe me, I know it Amelia Oakley Deputy Editor

ost days I am, at some point, greeted with the chorus ‘oh, but you only do English though’. Studying English, you just have to deal with the constant digs, and attempts at belittlement that accompany your degree. It’s a well known fact: English is a ‘doss subject’, ‘a joke’, a ‘massive waste of time’. Such comments used to irritate me when I first started at Cambridge, I used to defend my beloved subject, and concoct reasons why all the cynics were wrong. Now, I don’t bother. Firstly because the criticism is constant, and would take far too much of my time to counter argue every comment.

Secondly, because I kind of agree. I, like most people, will be lumped with my £27,000 tuition fee debt when I graduate (along with all of those other friendly maintenance debts). But, unlike most people, I will have been grossly overcharged for my Cambridge degree. Currently, I have one fixed contact hour a week. A week of 168 hours, my £9000 a year, gets me just one. I am in the midst of a coursework term, which mean my optional lectures just aren’t relevent to me at the moment. And as for supervisions, well, they happen, sometimes, only when I’ve done enough work to earn one. I’m not necessarily complaining, my DoS is phenomenal, and my

supervisors brilliant, my work is interesting, and I love my degree. But there’s very little indication to show me where my money is going, other than printing some occassional hand-outs. So when people ask me why I do so much extra stuff, why I am constantly running from meeting to meeting when I could just spend my days ‘dossing’ around, I tell two things. I am very much aware of the quite frankly extortionate rip-off that is the cost of my degree. I am very much aware that my student loan is essentially a gift that I have so kindly and graciously given to the medical students. I am very much aware that, despite this, I am constantly envied and abused my peers for the degree I do. I know all

this, and I have resolved, not to care. But rather to get my money’s worth, and to make the most of my time here. They say, by attending Cambridge itself, you are paying for the privilege of being here and I plan on exploiting that privilege to the maximum.And if that manifests itself in spending countless hours in the mysterious dungeon that is The Cambridge Student office, baricading myself in the Corpus Playroom, or deciding I can definitely manage doing a film festival as well. So believe me, I know that an English degree will never be the most respected of endevours, I am very much in on this quite humourless joke, I really don’t need it thown in my face every day.

essentially, irrelevant. The reason behind this misrepresentation of responses is nothing new, but once again is a consequence of CUSU’s estrangement from the general student population. Working away in their offices on Mill Lane, CUSU still seems to exist under a shroud of mystery, with a large number of students still not quite sure ‘what CUSU does’. The Big Survey certainly shows that Cambridge is in grave need of reform in terms of workload and mental health, yet also shows that CUSU itself is in need of major change. With the CUSU elections just around the corner, it seems perhaps that the issue of CUSU’s continued disconnection from the students it claims to represent will be central to the election of the new committee After all, with Corpus and Caius already disaffiliated, and Fitzwilliam holding a referendum on the issue in February 2015, the threat of the disaffilation is always present, and it’s easy to see why. College JCRs provide eveything a normal student union at most other UK universities would expect: welfare, entertainment, events, and visibility. CUSU, however, offer a feeble Freshers’ week, an overload of admin, and a lack of innovation. Talking to students at other universities, one always has to explain that CUSU isn’t quite a ‘proper’ student union. Perhaps now is the time that it will become one. AMELIA OAKLEY

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

Comment

Reflections on LGBT+ History Month Lola Olufemi Comment Editor

he past month has included a number of positive steps taken by the University. There have been talks, socials, film screenings about queerness and the politics of being anything other than straight and cis in today’s society. Having attended and hosted some of these events, it was cathartic to carve out spaces to meet other queer people and talk about joy, struggles, coming out, and what it means to live in a heteronormative society where you are constantly marginalised. This month has forced many queer people to engage with our political history and to understand the legacies of campaigners who fought on the basis of identity and were able to gain legal and societal recognition. What is most exciting to consider is how these shows of outward acceptance and exploration helped those who are unable to come out or make themselves known in the traditional sense. The Clare LGBT+ society recently hosted the CEO of Stonewall, Ruth Hunt, who argued that outward celebrations of queerness and solidarity events are most important for those who cannot engage in them for their own safety. It brings comfort to know that there are people who are able to navigate sexuality and gender identity in ways that make them happy – politically or apolitically. Visibility is one of the key steps in any kind of liberation movement, the more nuanced representations we see of

queer individuals, the more we chip away at notions of hetero and cisnormativity. The more power we give to those individuals to tell their own stories, the more we create narratives that remove the position of queer people as ‘outsiders.’ It is also important that we don’t lose sight of the reason that this month happens or assume that it merely exists as a celebration of history. The sight of many colleges flying the rainbow flag felt like a show of solidarity from an institution that is, in many respects, very conservative. Whilst it is a wholly positive step, the overwhelmingly positive reaction to these small gestures demonstrates how foreign progressive ideas can feel here. It demonstrates the necessity for a strong activism around issues of sexuality and gender identity which already exists but can often feel futile because of the decentralised nature of the University. Students should and will continue to place pressure on the University to change its attitudes towards non-straight students. There are a number of issues that queer students at university are still facing – understanding and recognition for nonbinary genders in legislation for example. The LGBT+ campaign has launched the ‘I Don’t Exist’ campaign, highlighting the stories and experiences of non-binary students who don’t legally exist under the governments legislative definitions of ‘gender.’ This erasure translates into university experiences as those who identify as non-binary often face scorn and ridicule from their peers. The erasure of these

There is much left to learn about queerness, learning shouldn’t stop just because the designated month is up

individuals is part of the queer struggle too but often gets erased because many, including those in the queer community, are not willing to reassess simplistic ideas of gender. This is not an issue that can be depoliticised or packaged in order to make straight people feel comfortable, like the issue of ‘equal marriage’ has been. Another pertinent issue is the University’s accessibility in terms of gender neutral bathrooms. There might be a tendency, especially for allies, to go through this month thinking that all of the battles that queer students face have been won because everybody can get married now. That is not the case and it is important that we build physical and intellectual spaces where queer students feel safe, supported and are able to explore sexuality and gender identity with ease and freedom. There is much left to learn about queerness and this learning shouldn’t stop just because the designated month is up. Being an ally is about using platforms of privilege in order to raise issues and concerns that marginalised groups are going through. It is not enough to raise the rainbow flag and sit back as if all the work has been done. It is not enough to think of this University as ‘inherently progressive’ when queer students still don’t feel entitled to belong in the place they must call home for three years. These are the things I would encourage you to think about when their friends jovially comment on ‘how far we’ve come.’ WSILVER

Trigger warning in the Cambridg Tom Bevan

rigger warnings and content notes have become a mainstay of many student talks, film screenings, and discussions. Despite previous pleas for their introduction, they are still missing in student theatre in Cambridge and I’m calling on the ADC management to step in. I recently had to leave a performance of Peter Grimes at the ADC during the interval as a result of unexpectedly discomforting scenes of sexual grooming and assault between Peter and a younger man. As a rule, I avoid productions that include this type of content and would bring a friend if I risk going at all. Theatre is not like an online article or a discussion group; it is very difficult to leave quickly and subtly, and impossible to offer warnings during a show itself. It is therefore vital that ticket holders are made aware of unsettling scenes before being seated. And I’m not the only one who holds this opinion. One student director told me that she raised the issue after a show billed as a comedy had a vivid description of nonconsensual sex. “I wrote to the production team after a friend had to be escorted out. They basically said no to trigger warning on the grounds of it ruining the plot.” As Theatre Editor last term, I edited countless reviews which included warnings to potential audience members about graphic scenes and potentially discomforting content. One email I received from a reviewer explicitly asked me to trigger warn the article itself, as she felt that a brief discussion of a sex abuse scene was enough to warrant a warning to readers. The play itself had no such warnings attached. Many argue that the purpose of art is to

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

DANIEL KARAJ

Comment

Is antisemitism a problem in the student left?

UP TO 2011

Carl Wikeley

gs should exist ge theatre scene move, excite and shock its viewers, and that trigger warnings would act as plot spoilers to those who wish to experience the twists and turns of a piece authentically. However, this stance fails to take into account the fact that not all viewers need be exposed to warnings that may act as spoilers if they wish not to. Click-through links to triggerwarning and content note pages, along with announcing to theatre-goers that stewards are equipped with information on potentially triggering content (following the example of Bare), are two highly feasible solutions. Hopefully, this type of leadership from the ADC will result in a culture of similar click-through options on all Facebook events. The ADC, by law, must warn audience members of nudity, open flames, strobe lighting, haze effects, mock firearms and gunshots in performances. Elsewhere, theatres such as the Barbican and the West Yorkshire Playhouse age-rate their material. We are willing to shelter epilepsy sufferers from having seizures and children from sex, drug use and violence. Why can this not be extended to wanting to protect survivors of particular negative life experiences from being triggered? Of course, people can be triggered by all manner of things, but there are certain elements of performance – such as scenes of assault, sexual abuse, and suicide – that I think simply must be made known to viewers; an opt-out system should exist prior to entering the auditorium, where leaving can be difficult, embarrassing, and even impractical. I disagree with endangering the physical and mental safety of viewers for ‘art’s sake’; we should have more autonomy over the concepts and themes that we expose ourselves to in the stalls.

he Israel-Palestine conflict has always been a proxy war within the Labour Party. The reason for this seems to be that it is one of the only political organisations within which proPalestine and pro-Israel supporters find themselves coexisting. The stepping-down of OULC president Alex Chalmers, over the support of ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’, has reignited claims of antisemitism. I would argue that vigilance, but also caution, should be shown. I will shortly discuss the issue of Labour and Israel, but it’s worth considering Chalmers’ statement that party supporters largely “have some kind of problem with Jews”. I believe that the society and Labour itself are right to launch an investigation into these allegations of antisemitism as they are worrying if proved accurate. However, Chalmers’ language is inflammatory and hyperbolic; whilst not evidence in itself, I have never experienced antisemitism within the Left, or at university. The only antisemitic abuse I have suffered has been claims that

We are going to have conflict - it is simply inevitable

scandal highlights the issue of Labour and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The nature of Labour is that there are those who claim that recognition of Palestinian statehood isn’t the right thing to do, and those who wish to negotiate with Hamas. We are going to have conflict – it is inevitable. I only wish for two things: that those claiming antisemitic abuse do not use it as an excuse to rubbish others’ beliefs; the Labour Party problem within a minority of students does not remain embroiled in a proxy who are ill-informed. I am categorically war which removes a critical eye from not defending the accused, but this the Conservatives’ major failings. criticism of Israel makes me as bad as a Nazi-sympathiser. However, obviously my own experience is different to others’, with many explaining how some use the racist term ‘Zio’ derogatively to mean pro-Israel, Labour supporters. It is worth noting that a Labour source from Corbyn’s team did not feel uncomfortable with pro-Palestine activists in the party, or know of this incipient antisemitism. Perhaps, then this is a

Why gender-neutral college marriage matters DILIFF

Micha Frazer-Carroll Comment Editor

ast week, news broke that Emmanuel’s Student Union is currently rewriting college marriage guidelines to ensure that they are gender-neutral. This is undoubtedly an overdue victory, but why did it take so long, and where should we go from here? College marriage systems that specify applicants for college children should be two people “of the opposite sex” (as Emma’s did) are damaging on a structural level. Whilst the idea that college marriages are a bit of fun isn’t entirely false, the messages that we put forward about what constitutes ‘legitimate’ and ‘illegitimate’ through such a system are ultimately oppressive ones. Any system, whether real or makebelieve, that presents heterosexuality as the only choice is rooted in homophobia and erasure, and contributes negatively to our subconscious collection of ideas about partnership in the real world. College marriage systems that exist only for male-female pairs are further deeply damaging to non-binary students, either leaving them with no opportunity to marry, or forcing them to choose a category that they do not self-define as within the binary. This is unacceptable and exclusionary. Whilst benefits to heterosexual individuals who self-define within the gender binary should without doubt be the least important consideration here, it is worth mentioning that they too exist

on a practical level. Feeling like you’re the only one in your year left without a partner is a horrible source of anxiety, and no woman should have to feel concerned or less legitimate because they happen not to have close friends who are male, or vice versa; the option of marrying within your gender or with non-binary friends could thus potentially alleviate one of the many anxieties that come with being a fresher for all students. Before colleges that have a genderneutral college marriage system begin to feel too complacent, we must assess whether knowledge of non-heterosexual college marriage is actually widespread amongst students. Having a system that ‘allows’ marriages that aren’t heterosexual on a bureaucratic level isn’t enough – we,

The issue is deeply rooted in homophobia and erasure

and our JCR LGBT+ Officers, should look to publicising college marriages of other gender combinations as a legitimate option to students; it simply isn’t right that we are often led to overlook that they are permitted due to lack of public endorsement by college. Moreover, we must continue to ask ourselves further questions about the structure of college marriage more generally. Are two partners essential to a marriage? In fact, why ‘marriage’ at all? Could a ‘buddy’ system, as is present in many other universities, do the job just as well? Being a university steeped in so many outdated and problematic traditions from times gone by, it remains important, as ever, that we check ourselves.

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

Sport

TCS looks ahead to mass Puzzle Column T Paul Hyland Sport Editor

his coming weekend, no fewer than seven Cambridge teams will find themselves competing for their Varsity titles on the enemy turf of Oxford in what is surely the biggest day of university sport so far this year. Here’s our preview of the teams in action for us this weekend. First up, the Cambridge women’s football team will have to recover from a humiliating 7–1 defeat in the game last year, and will have it all to do at Iffley Road pitches where Varsity holders will enjoy a significant home advantage in front of a partisan crowd at 2pm this Saturday. “Last year we approached Varsity with an unsuccessful season behind us,” team captain Gerda Bachrati told TCS, “it couldn’t be more opposite this year which has given us a lot of confidence for the match on Saturday. We’re all very excited to be representing Cambridge, and feeling positive that we’ll come home with a Light Blue victory. We’re looking forward to showing our supporters, and Oxford, how far we’ve come in the past year. We’re playing so differently that being the underdog is working in our favor Down – we’re definitely going to be catching 3. Some governments to add ICT education Oxford by surprise!” Cambridge’s to curriculum to help people who were supporters will surely be hoping enjoying themselves too much. Bachrati’s confidence can be repaid. 4. Shameless breast support leads to six Coming into the weekend on executed. the back of a successful 2015 is the 5. Father, consider firstly, do you? Then Cambridge women’s lacrosse team, attach more. one of our most successful clubs. 8. Consumed when tea is stirred. They emerged victorious by 15–5 in last year’s fixture which was played on home turf, with outgoing vice-captain Compiled by Cameron Wallis Sophie Morrill collecting the Player of the Match award. Morrill will once again take her place in the Light Blue

Cryptic Crossword

Across 1. Tie in 1967 American rock-musical prohibited. 2. Learned dead cute combination. 6. Deceived with Japanese meditation. 7. Immersed in the fun: swab where you haemorrhage.

Sudoku

by Thomas Prideaux Ghee

This is sure to be the biggest weekend in the Oxbridge sporting calendar

squad next to newly-appointed captain Emily Birch, turning out in her second Varsity match. In the aftermath of that game, Birch laid down a marker for this year’s game, “Varsity is no ordinary match, but they [Oxford] are a very ordinary team. We are extraordinary.” Oxford will be hoping Birch is made to eat her words when the game kicks off at 2:30 pm this Saturday, at the Oxford University Parks. The men’s Lacrosse fixture gets underway slightly earlier at 2pm on the turf. Another success story of Cambridge and Varsity sport, the Stuart Cummings-led team have the chance to defend the title they sealed last March thanks to a narrow 13-10 scoreline. The men’s team are unbeaten in league competition since they failed to field a team against Oxford Brookes almost two years ago and have already been crowned champions of their British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) league with a game to spare. And in a fantastic gesture, the team have even organised coach transport for fans to go and cheer on the team this Saturday, all details on their website. Joining the women’s lacrosse and football teams at Iffley Road will be the Cambridge women’s netball team. Having won promotion to the BUCS Midlands 1A division last season, the team have done well to establish themselves in fourth place of their league with a win in their last fixture sure to prevent automatic relegation. The netball team look in fine shape for the upcoming match, having been part of an unprecedented clean sweep at the University Sports Centre last March, with all three ladies’ netball teams bringing home their respective Varsity titles.

Hughes Hall on the march on Jack Ranson Sport Editor

ay One of Lent Bumps saw Hughes Hall top the Marconi Table, after an impressive display from both their men’s crews, as well as their joint women’s crews

with Lucy Cavendish. All four of those crews bumped up, meaning hope of blades is very much alive and kicking. In what was a cold, but relatively calm day, the River Cam played host J. FAIR

Solutions from Volume 17, Lent Issue 6

When the start cannon booms, you’re in rowing nirvana

The Cambridge Student • 25 February 2016

Sport

sive Varsity weekend And for those who prefer sports that involve dribbling, Cambridge’s basketball teams will step onto the court at Oxford Brookes sport centre, the women starting at 12.50pm before the men’s showdown gets underway at 2:40pm. And in case you were wondering, both the men and women are reigning champions of this match, with all four Cambridge teams inflicting bitter defeat on their Dark Blue rivals, the first ever clean sweep in this competition. The Women’s Blues, however, will have to do it all again without captain Paloma Navarro, who inspired her team to a clear 75-50 scoreline last year, but will be bolstered by the return of Léonie de Jonge, their joint top scorer in last year’s showdown. This will surely be central to Cambridge’s chances of making it another clean sweep this time around. Supporting their friends taking to the field will be those taking to the water instead, as both Cambridge’s swimming and water polo teams are in

action at Iffley Road swimming pool. Cambridge will be looking to reverse the fortunes of a 2015 in which only one of the four aquatic teams brought home the trophy, as the men’s water polo team edged out their Oxonian opponents. Their title defence begins at 7pm, while the women’s team will hope for a reverse of the scoreline that saw them defeated on their own patch when they hit the pool at the earlier time of 5.30pm. Meanwhile, our swimming teams will have a lot of work on their hands to overturn respective defeats of 57-33 and 53-34 in last year’s competitions. Diving in at noon at Iffley Road pool, this hotly-anticipated grudge match is not to be missed by swimming buffs. There are too many Varsity matches this weekend to mention, from trampolining, to windsurfing, to taekwondo, to ultimate frisbee. But it all points to one thing – this is sure to be the biggest weekend in the Oxbridge sporting calendar before the Boat Races this March. WILLIAM LYON-TUPMAN

HIMANISADAS

Why an expanded World Cup would be bad for football Paul Hyland Sport Editor

he future of the game of football will be decided this Friday as five candidates go head-to-head in a campaign to replace beleaguered Sepp Blatter as the head of the governing body of the global sport. Among them, Gianni Infantino, the Secretary General of UEFA who worked under equallyembattled Michel Platini, has thrown his hat into the ring to take over, and has already received backing from the English and Scottish FAs as the man to head up an organisation clearly in dire need of reform. Among the promises the Swiss-Italian has made in his bid to replace Sepp Blatter are an increase in funding for grassroots football, more transparent internal processes, and a an expanded 40 team World Cup tournament which could be hosted over entire continents and not just individual countries. An expanded World Cup will naturally appeal to Football

Associations in developing countries not normally represented at the tournament, especially those in Africa once considered strongholds for Sepp Blatter. But UEFA’s expanded European Championship, which kicks off this summer and of which Infantino was a chief instigator, has not been met with universal approval, with detractors arguing that it will lead to a dilution of quality matches at the tournament. In four years’ time, Euro 2020 will be played in cities across Europe, from Bilbao to Baku, many pointing out that fans will be forced to travel much further than normal should their team make it to the latter stages of the tournament. It’s these changes that Infantino now wants to impose on a global scale. I’m not convinced. At best, expanding a World Cup by eight teams strikes me as politicking in front of national Football Associations Infantino needs to curry favour the most. At worst, it’ll surely make hosting a World Cup a much greater

logistical and economical challenge to any country that can’t simply fund the tournament through their own pocket cash, but would rather see it as an investment in infrastructure. And encouraging entire continents to share the hosting of the World Cup might well ease the financial burden on developing economies wanting their place in the sun, but it simply passes that burden onto the foundation of the sport: its supporters. Should Infantino win and see his reform go through, the fans will ultimately be the ones who lose out. If a presidential candidate wants to prevent another Qatar-style controversy, sharing the tournament between multiple FAs is not the way to go. Two years ago, FIFA pocketed $2.6 billion from the Brazil World Cup, while the Brazilian economy broke even. Proper reform would allow host countries a greater share. Now that not one of the five candidates has pledged that, Friday’s election has me fearing more of the same.

n day one of Lent Bumps Varsity success for Cambridge Rugby Fives teams Ryan Wilson

to five divisions of racing. Unlike Mays, Lent bumps are allowing each division one rowing-free day. Day one is a rest day for the men’s and women’s first boats. It seemed to be a good day for the mature colleges, as Wolfson also looked in supreme form to bump up on Jesus M2. Both Wolfson W1 and W2 also took foliage home, bumping up on First and Third’s (Trinity) W2 and Newnham W3 respectively. Newnham will be hoping to redeem some pride on Wednesday, after seeing both their W2 and W3 crews bumped down. W3 now lounge at the bottom of the W3 division, with their W2 crew also fighting to stay in their divison. More prospects of spoons for Selwyn M1 and M2, who both ended the day a position beneath where they

started. Selwyn W1 fared better than their male counterparts, engaged in a strong row over at the top of the W2 division, alongside Trinity Hall and King’s. Josh Watts, member of Jesus M2, spoke to TCS about the magic of Bumps: “Bumps is the best part of Cambridge rowing. It’s what we train for all year and what we reminisce about most. When the start cannon booms, you’re in rowing nirvana.” A real sense of how colleges are faring will only begin to develop by the end of Wednesday, when we get a flavour of the ongoing battle for head of the river between Caius and Dowing M1. Christ’s and Emma are involved in a similar scrap at the top of W1, with Jesus not far behind and looking very strong after Fairbairn’s.

ands up anyone who knows what rugby fives actually is? If you think it’s an eggchasing, try-scoring, tough-tackling physical sport played by five players instead of fifteen, you can put your hand straight back down again, because you’re dead wrong. Though the name might suggest a similarity to Union or League, it’s nothing like its namesakes. Instead it bears far more similarities to squash – players hit a ball, with only their hands, above a bar on a wall on a closed court, and points are scored when your opponent can’t return the shot without the ball bouncing twice. Games are scored out of either 11 or 15, which has to be agreed in advance. Think of it as tennis meets handball meets racquetball. Got all that? Great, because three

teams representing Cambridge in the sport have returned victorious from their Varsity fixture against Oxford this Saturday, which took place at St Paul’s School in London. This was the 86th Varsity event betwen two teams since the first in 1925, and Cambridge romped home to a clean sweep across the board. The men’s match could scarcely have been more emphatic. Having won the trophy on five consecutive occasions before, a team of eight Cambrige men stormed home to an overall 284-120 victory to make it six out of six. Adding to the men’s success came the Sparrows, a group of four University alumni returning to represent the club in this year’s Varsity. It was a happy return to action for the team, winning as they did 161-92 to claim the Fist of Iron, which is surely the best-named trophy anywhere in world sport. It’s been an historic year in women’s

Varsity sport, and the Cambridge Rugby Fives club added to the success of the women’s rowing and rugby teams by fielding a full side for the first time in only the second women’s Varsity match. The four Light Blues took revenge for last year’s heavy defeat for a team of two women, emerging with a 147-83 victory to lift the newly-inaugurated women’s Silver Salver trophy. RFA WEBSITE

Sport

25 February 2016 • The Cambridge Student

MARIYA BUTD

The World Cup

An expanded world cup would be a mistake → p. 19

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aving defeated an army team at the weekend, the Green Lions were hoping to carry this through to the Midlands Cup semi-final against Leicester. Things didn’t go to plan, with Cambridge conceding the first try. Whilst the next score went Cambridge’s way, Leicester ran in two more tries before the half. 18-4 down, it was clear that heads weren’t fully in it. It took one further score from Leicester in the opening of the second half for Cambridge to switch on. A series of powerful runs from the Cambridge pack began to wear down the Leicester defence, and the balance of the game switched. Clever attacking play through their half-backs allowed Cambridge to score four tries, drawing level at 24-24 with nine minutes to play. Whilst the flow of the game looked to be going Cambridge’s way, Leicester found a gap after a series of attacking sets on the Cambridge line, taking the lead with two minutes to go. Going down 30-24, Cambridge will try to build on a promising second half in the Varsity Match on 4 March.

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fantastic result for the Cambridge women’s fencing team, who literally put St Andrew’s to the sword today. Cambridge’s superior quality and manipulation of the épée was evident from the off, as well as their agile footwork and coordinated attacks and parries that characterised their entire performance. A stunning win sees them secure second place in the BUCS Premier South. Meanwhile, two other Cambridge teams were in action today, as the men’s first team took on York and the second team took on Warwick. This resulted in a nearunbeaten result for all individuals involved, even though their opponents clearly put in a strong effort to stay in their respective matches.The valiant efforts of the Blues were well rewarded though, resulting in an impressive set of scores: Cambridge’s 1st mens’ team beat York 133-89; the 2nd mens’ team beating Warwick 135-78 to add to the women’s success in a superb outing at the University Sports Centre.

Men’s Volleyball

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Cambridge’s fencing teams make it a clean sweep Cambridge Edinburgh Gregory Peters

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he Blues men played out their knockout game for the Super8s tournament against Edinburgh. A win would ensure the Cambridge squad, finishing fourth in Premier South, a spot amongst the top eight teams in the country. A loss, however, would bring an abrupt end to their 2015-16 campaign. The match began with a blitz as the Blues quickly racked up a commanding lead of 14-7. A series of unforced errors resulted in a comeback from Edinburgh, ultimately leading to the Blues losing the set 26-24. Cambridge took control with a 25-21 win in the second set, and built on their momentum in set 3 with another confident 25-20 win. In the fourth set, Cambridge saw themselves trailing 1114 due to strong hitting from Edinburgh’s opposite and outside players; but didn’t fold under Scottish pressure, pulling back to level at 20-20. The game stayed level until an error from the Edinburgh blocking unit sealed the game for Cambridge at 2624. Final score: 3-1 for Cambridge.