The Founder, February 2018

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VOLUME IX, ISSUE V • FRIDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2018 • Royal Holloway, University of London • Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX

UCU

Israeli Diplomat Quizzed On Human Rights Alumni Break World Record Strike Set To Cause Disruption

RHUL Named RHUL Responds UK's Most To The Brexit Beautiful Uni

Teaching Letter UCU, together with an inde-

scheme as such were forced pendent committee member through by the chair’s castwho acts as Chair. ing vote.

On January 23, the USS UCU general secretary staff trade union are set to Joint Negotiating Commit- Sally Hunt said: 'Staff who UK’s University strikeMost for Beautiful 14 days over a pe- tee decided on a proposal have delivered the internaUniversity vice-chancellors following an online competiriod of four weeks through- to reform the scheme as fol- tional excellence universities all UK were approached tion thatthe attracted over 21,000 outover February and March due lows. UCU members will boast of are understandably in October by third most seniorearn defined contribution angry at efforts to slash their votes on the Holiday Lettings to proposed changes to the government whip, Chris Heatonwebsite.

Universities Superannuation pensions. They feel let down Harris, asking for details of Brexit The university won with Scheme (USS) pensions. by vice-chancellors who teaching.

31% of the votes, beating the The University and Colseem to care more about deThere a mixed response other 13 was historic universities lege Union (UCU) decided fending their own pay and niversities from universities, with that in the poll. some on featured industrial action after deperks than the rights of their nouncing it as political interferProfessor Paul Layzell, need to know the Universities UK (UUK) prostaff. ence academic whilst Principal of Royal Holloway, posedinchanges to freedom, the scheme 'Strike action on this scale other universities quick University of London ‘we tofull scale of the that would leavewere asaid, typical has not been seen before on strike a bargain. are proud to have been official-a lecturer almost £10,000 UK campuses, but univerdisruption they Mr Heaton-Harris, a staunch ly named the UK’s most beauyear worse off in retirement sities need to know the full Eurosceptic, asked universities tiful Thank you to forwill be hit with than university. they would be currentscale of the disruption they ‘the of voted professors everyone who for us.at your ly. names will be hit with if they refuse if they refuse to establishment whoofare involved He continued, ‘Thomas A valuation the pen- in to sort this mess out.' the teaching of European affairs, Holloway could have built a Photo courtesy of Isaac Kenyon. sion scheme is carried out sort this mess The strike is set to take place with reference Brexit. ’ modest college butby instead he Photo courtesy of Royal Holloway Society. everyparticular three years thetoUSS onDiplomatic the following days across He also ‘a copy of built the requested magnificent Foundtrustee.

The valuation in theout.'

61 universities: Thursday 22 tinuously through twowithin nights andand Founders Squarethe at Royal Holloway. syllabus and links to the online er’s Building in stunning surgroups Israel Bar-Li eagerly discuss Israel’s present day in Israel.

She right HELENA KEEBLE March 2017 revealed a fund- IFFAH AHMED and Friday 23 February (two onethe day with support crewmembers The teamspoke consisted Is- affects lectures which thisuniarea.’ DEPUTY roundings.

Today, thebillion. external countries relationpositionMonday in the 26, Middle East of the of after SPORTS EDITOR NEWS ing deficit ofrelate £7.5to benefits on all ofEDITOR their salary days), Tuesday Camilla Zupi, Leanne Hubbard and sac Kenyon, Benjamin Ajayi-Obe Of 59 universities that respondversity buildings and the new ship with the nation.

Quesand their perspective conArab Spring had upon certain The decision was made to from April 2019. Currently, 27 and Wednesday 28 Febmany supporters visiting them, inand Jack Hopkins who set up their ed to Mr Heaton-Harris's letter, 28 Davison Building continue to At 3am on Sunday 14 January, tions were asked about the cerning minority rights.

The On 16 November, the Jewreligious communities and invoke changes in order to defined contribution bene- ruary (three days), Monday cluding some “very confused stumachines in Founders Square on were cooperative, providing Mr be a statement of the ambition Team Atlantic Discovery broke the talkTuesday began with oversight how minority groups were ex- Israeli government and comandonly Diplomatic keep the scheme sustainable, ish fits are earned onsociety salary 5, 6, an Wednesday dents” after Friday’sbeing Students Union of Friday 12 January, beginning their circumHeaton-Harris with most or all of we have for our students and world record for the longest conmunity accepting on political structures within of Royal Holloway welcomed posed to endangering negotiated by the USS Joint over £55,550, with defined 7 and Thursday 8 March night.

At 3am on Sunday morning task of beating the previous world what he asked for. our determination to provide tinual row on an indoor rowing LGBT individuals and how Israel and externally in other an exclusive guest speaker, stances.

Negotiating Committee, benefits earned on salary (four days), Monday 12... the team claimed their feat, surpass record of 30 hours.

They rowed conthem with the resources they machine by a small mixed team on other Middle Eastern counMiddle Eastern countries.

Sharon Bar-Li, the Deputy The discussion saw a spark which comprises five repre- below the threshold. After Story Continued ...Continued on page 3. need to find their purpose and tries could potentially... of reach Israel. agreeMany Bar-Li indulged on minor- Photo in debate regarding diverse sentatives of Universities UK Ambassador talks failed to via www.ucu.org.uk.

Watch our Facebook page for strike succeed. ’ ity rights historically and in students attended, listening to topics concerning minority and five representatives of ment, plans to transform the On Page 3. news and photos as this story develops.

Continued Pg. 2

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR ROSA SMITH Royal Holloway offiRoyal Holloway’shas biggest NEWS EDITOR cially been given the title of the

'U

Index

News..............................................................................1 News..............................................................................1 Opinion And And Debate......................................................6 Debate......................................................6 Opinion Lifestyle.........................................................................10 Lifestyle...........................................................................9 Features........................................................................12 Features........................................................................12 Arts...............................................................................14 Arts...............................................................................14 Arts: Film......................................................................17 Film......................................................................17 Arts: Arts: Music....................................................................19 Music....................................................................19 Arts: Sports...........................................................................21 Sports...........................................................................22

...Read the full story in Sports, page 23

Winter Wardrobe, 9 Holloway Histories, p.12 12#FemaleisFierce, Matt Cliffe, p. p.

23 100 Years Votingp.4 p. 4 EWD Terrace RHUL Histories, p.

12 Alumni Day, Mid-Week Meal, p. p. 21 21

2 NEWS

THE FOUNDER February 23, 2018

RHUL Research May Help Fight Muscular Dystrophy IFFAH AHMED DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Scientists from Royal Holloway, University of London have collaborated with colleagues at UCL to develop a novel artificial human chromosome that can be utilised on patients suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) which will reverse the genetic defeat in muscle stem cells.

Patients who suffer from DMD have a serious case of being left with life threatening muscle conditions from X-chromosome-linked inherited diseases in young boys, leaving them weak and tired, putting them in the position to be using wheel-

chairs in their teens, and requiring respiratory support by the age of 20. As of now, there are no progressive treatments which exist for individuals battling DMD. Professor George Dickson and Dr Linda Popplewell from the School of Biological Sciences at RHUL carrying out the current study, have co-operated with colleagues at UCL and Dr Saverio Tedesco to pivot their attention on the genetic correction of DMD muscle stem cells by using gene theory to progress the current artificial chromosome system.

A man-made chromosome structure was used by the researchers and it contains a dystrophin gene, which teams as a group of proteins to help nourish and strengthen the muscle

fibres and prevent from any injury happening as well as being able to connect each muscle cell’s structural framework, outside the cell with other molecules and the lattice of proteins.

Professor Dickson shared his thoughts the study and said: ‘These exciting results are a world-first and leading-edge science. Production of an artificial human chromosome containing an intact healthy copy of the gene affected in DMD is a tremendous feat of genetic engineering, and we are very proud to have played our part.

‘This achievement is a first step towards a chromosome transfer therapy for this debilitating illness.’

RHUL Conducts Sleep Study IFFAH AHMED DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

An overnight sleep study is being carried out by Researchers from the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London, to identify which differing stages of sleep, and sleep specific brain activations are vital and important for learning and memory.

The Department of Psychology will be using their sleep laboratory to host overnight sleepers in relation to carrying out their studies.

The sleep lab will have two beds and specialist equipment, allowing academics to document sleeping participants and their electrical brain activity (EEG).

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) are funding the research and will be searching for volunteers and asking them to

complete different activities.

The first experiment will consist of volunteers being asked to learn to read an unfamiliar alphabet in a completely new way which they are not used to. After this, participants will be prevented from sleeping the following night and will be examined on and investigated to see how well they have been able to learn the alphabet.

The lead researcher for this study, Dr Jakke Tamminen, has said: ‘We're testing to see how critical sleep is after learning, and how it applies to learning to read.’

In the second experiment, new volunteers will be selected, and they will be deprived from sleep first for one night and then will learn the new unfamiliar alphabet.

Dr Tamminen further explains what will happen in the second experiment and that ‘the volunteers are learning in a sleep deprived state, and we're

interested to see how learning is impaired by this.’

He also stated that the experiment aims to establish ‘whether sleep is critical for learning and generalisation of that newly learned information. When both groups of participants come back to be tested we importantly not only test them on the words that they were reading in the training session, but also on words that they haven't been asked to read before but uses the same alphabet.

‘This allows us to see if they have learned the new alphabet well enough to read words they have never seen before.’

Researchers at present time are searching for volunteers between the ages of 18 and 24 to take part in the experiments and studies.

Participants will be paid for their time and must be native speakers of English.

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

The Founder Board 2017 - 2018 Co-Editors Dan Brady Lilia Vargas Costello Managing Editor Dan Brady Designer Lilia Vargas Costello Sub-Editors Kyle Hoekstra Kia Clark Online Content Editor Kyle Hoekstra

News Editor Rosa Smith

Arts Editor Suzannah Ball

Deputy News Editor Iffah Ahmed

Film Editor Jack Salvadori

Opinon and Debate Editor Amanda Hudson Features Editor Laren Tayyip

Lifestyle Editor Emily May Webber Sport Editor Helena Keeble Music Editor Ele Walton

The Founder is the independent student newspaper of Royal Holloway, University of London. This means we are not affiliated to the student union or the college. We pride ourselves on our investigative journalism and aim to keep our readers up to date with news on and off campus. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Editor, particularly of opinion and debate pieces. Every effort has been made to contact the holders of copyright for any material used in this issue, and to ensure the accuracy of its stories.

To book ad space in The Founder, contact our managing editor at managingeditor@thefounder.co.uk.

THE FOUNDER is printed in Cambridge by Iliffe Print

NEWS 3

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

Story Cont.

From Front Page Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 March (five days). Lecturers will not receive payment for any of the days on which they are striking.

Royal Holloway Students’ Union released the following statement: ‘Royal Holloway Students' Union is sympathetic to members of the UCU and other College staff members who are facing changes to their pensions (the Universities Superannuation Scheme). We believe that the pensions of hard working staff and the future of academia as a profession should be protected. We encourage all parties, including Royal Holloway University of London and Universities UK, to engage those affected in a meaningful consultation to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

‘As a Students' Union, representing the interests of our members, we are unable to support strike action that will see 14 days of disruption for students consolidated into such a critical time of the year. Our priority is minimising the disruption to students and we will be working with academic departments to ensure that any negative impacts of the strike are mitigated.’

To read the full statement and for more information about the strike, visit the SU website.

Free Online Course Explores History Of Votes For Women

Photo via https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/womens-rights.

IFFAH AHMED DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Royal Holloway, University of London, has partnered with the UK Parliament, to launch a newly developed free online course which explores the vast history and enormity of women’s rights.

The course, Beyond the Ballot: Women’s rights and Suffrage from 1866 to Today is a free accessible course, for the public on the online server MOOC’s (Massive Open Online Course).

The course was launched on February 6 2018, to mark the 100-year anniversary of the enactment of the Representation of the People Act, 1918 which essentially allowed all men and some women the right to vote.

The yearlong programme,

is a journey through time and history which enables individuals to investigate and discover various issues; from the effects of equality and women rights to the hard-pushed campaigns for votes for women. The course began on the 5th of February 2018 and has support from organisations including the Parliament’s Vote 100 Project and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Within the course, students are guided by Claire Kennan from Royal Holloway, University of London and will have the opportunity to delve into and select topics from a diverse series. Some of these include a flashback back to World War One and the impact it had on Women Rights and the passage of the 1918

Representation of the People Act. This syllabus will provide students room for thought and discussion concerning the changes surrounding the struggles for equality and how it continued throughout the twentieth century. Students will also gain access to rarely seen documents from the Parliamentary Archives, the National Archives and interviews delivered with female MP’s and their thoughts regarding the matter.

Senior Archivist in the Parliamentary Archives, Mari Takayanagi expressed some of her thoughts about the newly implemented course, she said: ‘Here in Parliament we've been working towards 2018 celebrations for some time with our Vote 100 Project, and Beyond the Ballot

is a really important part of this. It's a great way of sharing many amazing and littleknown stories of women in public life and politics over the last 200 years, with as wide an audience as possible.

‘So many issues are still relevant today, and we hope people from all over the world will sign up, complete the course, and participate in the discussion.’

Royal Holloway, University of London, was one of the first two institutions which allowed women to gain access to higher education and with Queen Victoria a lead and presider for the grand opening of the University, the course Beyond the Ballot, truly delivers an accurate representation of progressive history.

4 NEWS Layzell Comments On RHUL's High Gender Pay Gap ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Professor Paul Layzell was criticised after making controversial comments about Royal Holloway’s gender pay gap, revealed by the Time Higher Education to be the seventh worst in the country.

The Time Higher Education’s (THE) reports revealed that there is a 10% gender pay gap for full-time professors at the university, with female professors at Royal Holloway making £7,812 less than their male colleagues.

An investigation by The Orbital found that shortly after the figures were revealed, Paul Layzell claimed that ‘there are certain protected groups where there is a natural tendency to not have a go and put themselves in for promotion – sometimes that’s gender, sometimes it’s the BAME group’.

Professor Paul Layzell was quick to defend his comments, and in a statement sent to Get Surrey he expressed disappointment that his comments were ‘taken out of context’.

He said: ‘In the meeting, I explained RHUL’s commitment to supporting colleagues to reach their promotion potential by pioneering a number of initiatives.

‘One of these is an award winning programme to tackle equity in relation to the academic progression of women.

‘This programme is having a positive impact. Since it started, three years ago the number of women in the most senior grade for a professor, has increased from 5.6% to 19%.

‘With more women in senior academic positions,

we will achieve a more representative balance of genders in the higher professor grades.’

Many were left unimpressed with Professor Layzell’s comments, with one member of staff telling Orbital magazine that it was ‘an example of everyday sexism’.

Labour MP for Wirral South, Alison McGovern, expressed on twitter: ‘Another clever man here determined to blame the gender pay gap on anything except bias.’

Members of the University College Union (UCU) also claimed that some female employees at RHUL had no choice but to quit their jobs in order gain equality.

A spokesperson from UCU said: ‘UCU is aware of female and minority ethnic staff who have left the college to gain the recognition they deserved as outstanding researchers and teachers.

‘We need to consider, with an open mind, how we can retain these scholars for the benefit of our students.’

In response to these comments, a spokesperson from Royal Holloway stated, ‘As one of the first colleges to provide higher education for women, Royal Holloway, University of London, is committed to championing equality and diversity for students and staff.

‘Our approach to pay and promotion is both fair and transparent however, we recognise that there is more that we, and the sector, can do to tackle the causes of inequality. In response, for some years now, Royal Holloway has been making changes to processes and procedures to minimize barriers to promotion’.

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

RHUL Celebrates 100 Years Of Votes For Women

Photo via https://twitter.com/RoyalHolloway?lang=en.

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Renowned for its historical suffragette connections, RHUL honoured the 100year anniversary of some women gaining the right to vote, alongside a year of suffragette related celebrations.

On February 7, Drama students dressed as suffragettes were seen across campus, performing processions, interventions, and monologues, to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.

The activities ran alongside the exhibition in the Emily Wilding Davison building that explores the stories of ‘unknown women’ who were integral to the suffrage campaign, and how ed-

ucation affected the suffrage movement.

The exhibition features previously unseen artefacts, such as diaries, photographs, and letters, all belonging to the women who fought for their right to vote.

With many famous suffragette alumni, including Emily Wilding Davison, Royal Holloway is proud to acknowledge the critical part that being one of the first colleges to give women access to higher education played in giving women the vote.

History student Elena Rossi told The Founder: ‘The exhibition includes some fantastic documents and objects from the university archives. As Royal Holloway was one of the first women only colleges, it is empowering to see the college's in-

volvement in the suffrage movement, as well as the opposition by certain students.

‘It is definitely worth visiting the suffrage exhibition as it will only be there for a little while longer and everyone should learn about the powerful and determined alumni of Royal Holloway.’

Izza Shaheed, secretary of Royal Holloway’s Feminist Society also told The Founder: ‘It's great that suffrage events are going on as it not only raises awareness of what the suffragettes did, but gives us an opportunity to appreciate how far women's rights have come – however, it's important to also think about how much more needs to be done.’

The exhibition will be running until March 17 and admission is free.

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

NEWS 5

HMRC Cracks Down On Internships

Government makes vow to stop illegal unpaid work experience.

IFFAH AHMED DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has stepped up action to stamp out ‘exploitive’ unpaid internships after a government review of working practices.

Over the past three months, HMRC have written to over 500 firms reminding them that for interns who are classed as workers, they are legally obliged to pay them at least the Minimum Wage, or the Na-

tional Living Wage.

A ‘worker’ could be someone who has a contract or is subject to sanctions if they do not turn up for work, whereas genuine volunteers are not entitled to pay.

The Taylor Review, published in 2017, looked particularly closely at the ‘gig’ economy of part time and flexible workers, much of which is comprised of students.

Campaigners claim that internships are often seen as

a necessity for students prior to receiving a ‘real’ job, in order for them to show a level of experience in the work place.

However, the unrealistic consequences of working a fulltime job for free often stop less-advantaged people from applying, putting them at further disadvantage.

Business minister Andrew Griffiths said: ‘Employing unpaid interns as workers to avoid paying the National Minimum Wage is against the

law and exploitative.

‘No-one should feel like they have to work for free to get the skills and experience they need to get ahead.’

The Sutton Trust estimates that there are around 70,000 internships offered each year, and that 10,000 graduates are in internships six months after graduating. More than 40% of young people who have been on a placement have done so for free.

However, just hours before

the government revealed the new plans, prominent Conservative minister Dominic Raab advertised an unpaid internship to support his constituency work. The advert offered work to ‘ideally suit a gap year student or recent school leaver’ for three to four days over a period of four to six months.

A Labour source said: ‘The timing couldn’t be more embarrassing. Presumably Dominic Raab hasn’t read the recommendations of the Taylor review yet.’

Interested in Journalism?

The Founder is currently seeking staff for the 2018/19 academic year. We are looking for: Section Editors, Sub Editors, Designers, and Editors-In-Chief.

Watch our Facebook page for more information regarding applications: https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderNewspaper/

6 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at opinion@thefounder.co.uk

[Editor'sOpinion]

Slashing Pensions

A Severe Betrayal To Staff And Students.

AMANDA HUDSON OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

For many of us in the university sphere, being able to protest about something we’re passionate about is a pastime that we’ve had the fortune to experience first hand. Whether it be protesting certain political leaders or fighting for the rights of marginalised groups, taking action for something that is important to us isn’t an uncommon notion.

This fact has become even more magnified in light of the strike action being taken by academics across the UK. These strikes come in the wake of a proposal by the UUK to change the USS pension scheme. The proposal would cause detrimental cuts of up to £200,000 from academics’ retirement funds.

A group of professors from Royal Holloway have decided to partake in the upcoming strike. I had the chance to correspond with Gregory Claeys, a Professor of History of Political Thought at RHUL, via email in order to gain an academic’s perspective on the situation. He explained to me that there were four issues central to the cause.

The first issue is that the proposed cut profoundly violates an agreement made between administrators and the academics who chose to work at Royal Holloway on the basis that they would receive the existing pension scheme upon their retirement.

‘Many of us could work or could

have worked elsewhere,’ Claeys says. ‘I left a better paid job in the US and turned down a job which (it now transpires) would have paid a better pension, in Germany, to stay here. So the proposed reduction of up to £10,000 [per year] in pension payments is little more than a broken promise for those already in the system.’

The second issue, he explains, is that the reductions to academics’ pay over the past decade provides little appeal for potential applicants. With the added slashing of pensions, becoming an academic in the UK is even less attractive to anyone trying to enter the field. ‘Many departments have lost colleagues to the US, Australia, Germany and elsewhere, where salaries and pensions are better,’ Claeys comments.

Moreover, if universities decide to go through with the cuts, it would betray any sense of trust once held in the system. ‘How can we persuade new colleagues to [work here] when there is no assurance that the employment offer made by the College will be honoured down the road?’

The third reason academics are striking is because the administrators making the decision to cut pensions are not subject to the cuts themselves, a severe injustice to the professors they employ. ‘Not only are salaries amongst senior managers much higher than the academic average,’ Claeys says. ‘Some set their own salaries, and can add to their

pension pots pretty much as they please.’

The final concern from academics (particularly those at Royal Holloway) is that the College has enough money to continue the current pension plan for the academics they’ve hired, but instead, chooses to focus on building new facilities.

‘It is as important — probably more important — to invest in staff as [it is to invest] in buildings,’ Claeys argues. ‘We have the means to do so.

It's just a matter of will at the top.’

Despite good cause for protest, academics have faced criticism from students who are concerned that the tuition money (a fee which has, within the past year, been raised) they paid to the university won’t be exchanged for the education promised. This, however, should not fall on the shoulders of the professors on strike, but rather to the vicechancellors who aren’t willing to budge on the prevailing matter, and ultimately, whose decision it is.

‘In sum,’ Claeys concludes. ‘It's pretty clear to me that this action, while regrettable, is wholly justified. It is in no-one's interest to destroy the existing academic system and replace it with something much worse.’ We, as a student body, should stand in solidarity with our professors—just as we would at any other protest we might partake in— and demand compensation from the vice-chancellors of our universities who are solely responsible for the interruption to our education.

Your Uni.........................................Your Opinion

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

OPINION AND DEBATE 7

Email the editor at opinion@thefounder.co.uk

On the Purpose of Reading Fiction NICHOLAS ROSS STUDENT WRITER

This morning I witnessed what would come to be known as the Colombian Banana Massacre, an historical event during which troops with machine guns gave a few minutes warning before shooting down hundreds of strikers at a banana plantation. Later it will be 1999, and I will ingratiate myself with a London-based criminal milieu, watching social puppeteers manipulate one another as the city cowers in the shadow of the impending ‘millennium bug’. At this moment, however, I am sat in a room in Egham. Knowing that I will continue to frequent the realm of fiction

is even more thrilling than this current situation.

There are many benefits to the reading of fiction.

'T

he College considers that this sensitivity is such that disclosure of staff names could lead to unwarranted repercussions.'

It is entertainment, an interaction with language, a form of escapism, and the conclusions of recent

studies demonstrates that it improves empathy and emotional intelligence. George Orwell himself, in his essay Why I Write, underlines fiction’s contribution to aesthetic beauty and its exploration of such political urges as those found within his anti-totalitarian stories.

For those of us without the capacity to sit reading histories, encyclopaedias, and other non-fiction texts all day, fiction is the exciting alternative, a crack into the vast world of the unknown.

Yet, many of the most successful novelists write about what they know. The Colombian journalist Gabriel García Márquez portrayed Latin America in his novels, the Bombay-born author

Salman Rushdie found his voice depicting the migrant experience, and Martin Amis’ bestsellers are set in London and New York, cities he has inhabited. Although fiction appears to arrest itself as a charlatan posing as an educator, it does indeed contain an obscure element of realism. Márquez and Rushdie hold both a Nobel and Man Booker Prize between them for novels about Colombia and India respectively, countries whose native critics have called the books comprehensive representations.

There are bad novels of course. But these can usually be avoided by quick research before a purchase. Good literature is a grand bulk of

thought on an eclectic range of subjects, an infinite dissemination of ideas compelling enough for publication.

A well-written novel is a perfect lens placed over the eye, providing a new way of seeing the world and showing self-satisfaction to have been an impairment.

Fiction offers excursions to any place and time.

Writers are conduits, giving readers access to their most interesting thoughts and experiences; they spend years putting the best their minds have to offer into their work.

How wonderful it is to be able to enjoy such work, visiting a variety of worlds and characters so easily, seeing the value identified in life by so many artists.

A Case Against Restaurant Service Charges

Where is that extra money really going, and should you pay it?

NICHOLAS ROSS STUDENT WRITER

I was recently having dinner with a friend in an upmarket American restaurant in central London when an incredibly large service charge was lumped onto our bill. The audacity! Too frequently, the epidemic of politeness in Britain has its residents lap up the flaunted nonsense of money-making hucksters. Though I instantly recognised the outrageous scam, a river of wine was flowing through the part of my brain dedicated to assertiveness, telling it soothingly, ‘how happy you are’. Fortunately, the lady facing me was on a similar wavelength regarding the bill.

Our waitress had been charming and polite, run-

ning around after us all evening. My friend asked the waitress whether service charges ended up in her pocket. They didn’t - the additional revenue went towards the business’ general running costs, disbursements like the rent of the building. As content as I had been with the service provided by wall and ceiling alike, I nonetheless preferred my money went to the waitress. As it happened, the waiting staff in that restaurant had been specifically instructed not to mention service charges.

The situation annoyed me for two reasons. Firstly, many customers were being deceived by the very establishment at which they were flinging their money, a business generous in its distribution of supplemen-

tary fees. As a result, the waiting staff were missing out on income they would otherwise receive from diners who assume tips and service charges are interchangeable.

I asked for the exorbitant “service” charge to be erased and gave the waitress the equivalent in hard, sanctimonious cash. But what may be done to ameliorate the shady hegemony of the restaurateurs, the sinkhole of victimhood into which oppressed waiting staff are pushed? How does one spark a ubiquitous revolution against owners plodding their tyrannical avenues between tables with their grins and platitudes beguiling customers? For now, I can only urge you to ask for clarification about where your money is go-

ing when you see marked on your bills such smears of impropriety.

At the end of May 2017, I suffered a more irritating case in which poor service rendered the additional service charge jaw-droppingly ludicrous. In Roshni’s Indian Restaurant, two of my flatmates and I ordered a selection of dishes which the waiter smugly claimed he could memorise. We sent him back six times because the correct assortment had not arrived before giving up.

Then we munched through masala misery and saag surprise out of sheer boredom.

When my friend asked to have the service charge removed, the same waiter argued that paying it ‘is the standard’. Regarding standards, the spectacle of ineptitude was quite telling about

his own. For situations like these, my solution is as follows: One must brood over the event for a year before writing a lampooning article in response.

Evidently, encounters with restaurant service charges differ from case to case. One must therefore adapt to situations in whichever way ensures their money goes to, or stays with, the right person. You have every right to ask waiters questions about bills; I’m sure in most instances they will be more than well-received. When it comes to service charges, pettiness becomes a valiant battle against small injustices. It is a mission requiring one to surmount their social insecurities, if not for their own satisfaction at the disappointment of over-greedy businessmen, then for mine.

8 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at opinion@thefounder.co.uk

What I Haven't Learned: On Global Humility LILIA VARGAS COSTELLO CO-EDITOR & DESIGNER

Living abroad has an unarguably profound effect on the heart and mind. For example, after four years of living in this country, I now have nearly an encyclopedic knowledge of British children’s television shows, no longer fear jaywalking as a criminal offense, and feel a deep affection for chips drowning in a good thick gravy. While my time in the U.K. has taught me many such important facts of life, there is one lesson that I have yet to learn. I will admit now that I fear its vastness, its complexity, and how it may define me. It is a lesson about humility.

Humility is defined as having a modest or low view of one's importance. When Donald Trump won the U.S. election in November of 2017, I gained a new understanding of the term. My morning passed in quiet incredulity that soon became outraged discussion as my friends woke up and heard the news.

I received condolences until it was time for club practice, and then for many of them, it was over. Our afternoon passed as usual, and I realized that for my friends the situation in America was not real as it was for me, a mixed race woman with half of my family living in Mexico, a country which Trump famously built a fanbase on demeaning. The world was ending as we left practice early, and stopped at Mcdonald’s for fries. Of course, there were jokes too.

To this day, I’m not sure how I feel about the jokes and comments, despite knowing they do not come from a hateful place. While I understand the positive effect humour can have in these situations, and often utilize it myself, there is still the smallest stab of pain and resentment I cannot help. In experiencing this on such a large scale for the first time, I was forced to come to grips with the jokes I myself made, about things that were similarly not real for me. I have made light of bombing in the Middle East, and the high crime rate in predominantly black American cities like Detroit. Detached, my intent was not malicious, but the fact remains that I made and continue to make offhand jokes such as these. Some will argue that my actions are hardly indiscretions, and that no serious harm has been done.

It is not uncommon knowledge that terrible things happen every day, in every corner of the world, and that it is both impossible and unwise to try and care about all of them at once.

True, you cannot solve a crisis by caring about it, or stop an injustice by holding your own tongue. Still, by examining your actions, by not dismissing that which is hard to think about, you can begin to make the world a better place.

I will not ask you to stop finding lightness in tragedy, or else to censor yourself into silence. Instead, I urge you to think hard before you

speak. Consider the effect your words might have, what harm they may cause, how they would feel if directed back at you. Far removed from the problem, there might be nothing you can do, but recognize that this does not mean something is unimportant, or undeserving of respect. When we consider ourselves above the hardships of those we are not familiar with, we take a step away from a global future.

If I still can’t convince you, allow me to gently threaten you. A time will come when it is you struggling under a heavy burden as the world continues to turn, for the most part unconcerned. Your time will come, and it will be all the heavier to bear because you never tried to understand that it could happen to you, or what it would be like.

It is easy to say what is right here in print, to propose we set down our pride immediately in hope of a better tomorrow. However I do not argue that to think outside of oneself is an easy or quickly accomplished task. It is often a heavy and unpleasant experience, one that requires patience and practice. However it is the heavy things in life which are often most important. Humility as it relates to our modern world is the acceptance that we are not the center of it, and have no given right to pass judgement on that which does not affect us.

I accept that I have not yet set the example. Still, I am trying, and that will have to do for now.

70 Egham Hill

71 Egham Hill

Over the past four years, Danehurst has successfully delivered new, purpose built student accommodation for students at Royal Holloway University of London.

What a journey it has been for us!

Simply, we just wish to say a big thank you to all students who have stayed at The Pad over the years, and to those that are staying at The Pad and Podium this year. We have been and continue to be impressed with the way you have looked after your studios and bedrooms, but most of all, your consideration shown to your fellow students and the neighbours!

We wish you a fabulous year at Royal Holloway and your continued success!

www.danehurst.org

10 LIFESTYLE

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

In The Swing Of It

Why the nation is putting down the biro and picking up a quill.

EMILY MAY WEBBER LIFESTYLE EDITOR

I’ve always thought I had nice handwriting - a flowing letter E to sign my name, and a flick of the Y as I sign off my signature. At the start of 2018 I decided it was time to learn a new skill, something I can literally dip in and out of, and take my mind off the burdening lump of deadlines. Calligraphy had always been something I wanted to try; after all, if I could receive praise from writing in birthday cards I thought I’d be a natural. I had heard through

'A

fter feeling a little defeated by the art of the quill, Lucy assured us that practice really does make perfect.' a friend about Quill London, and the workshops, which teach you the basics of nib and ink. It was not long before I was sitting in lectures wishing I could put down my pencil and practice the art of the alphabet instead.

Quill London is the birthplace of fancy lettering in London. Lucy Edmonds, founder of the stylish stationery store noticed a gap in the UK market as many on social media and the US

were taking up their quills.

Unlike the traditional style, modern calligraphy focuses on individuality and everyone has a personal style.

Edmonds started to look for classes on how to learn the art yet found nowhere that offered a chance to put pen to paper. After contacting the lettering pro Imogen Owen, Edmonds hosted London’s first Modern Calligraphy class, and has never looked back. Over the last 4 years, the workshops have grown in popularity, and within a few minutes are sold out. Luckily, I managed to find a booking and also persuaded a friend to come along with me.

Just a few minutes walk from Angel tube station, Quill is nestled on Amwell Street, tucked away from the hustle of briefcases and smartphones. Never one to be late we were the first there, and greeted by Lucy Edmonds herself. It felt like stepping into a mini stationery sanctuary. The workshops average at around 12 people per class and are priced at £68 for just over two hours. The cake, wine and tea on offer coupled with Lucy’s personal feedback made it the perfect evening away from the screen. The group was a mix of bridesto-be, generous wedding guests, creativity junkies, and us, the two students who are used to biros and exam papers. Everyone was presented with their own practice book, a penholder, pot of ink and Edmond’s go-

to nib, the Nikko G. Then came the tricky part - holding the quill itself. I felt like a reception child learning to write again. After practicing the upward and downward strokes and later starting to make letterforms, we were in the loop, and couldn’t get out of it. To say that modern calligraphy is harder than it looks is an understatement.

Lucy assured us that despite having a neat hand, the art of calligraphy is a world away from loopy handwriting. Instead of writing the words, we were drawing the letters to create our own style.

After feeling a little defeated by the art of the quill, Lucy assured us that practice really does make perfect. After committing herself weekly to perfect her flowing style she is at the top of her game.

After working for the likes of Whistles, Gucci and Barbour, Lucy definitely shows how we all have the chance to unlock our creativity.

So after spending two hours away from our phones, eagerly replicating Lucy’s font, we were all itching to practice this beautiful skill.

While I was there, I couldn’t resist picking up Lucy’s stepby-step book, Modern Calligraphy, to aid me on my journey from scribble to seamlessness. While I can’t say I’ll offer to write wedding invitations just yet, the art of modern calligraphy is something I want to keep up.

Hopefully with a little practice my birthday cards might look forward to makeover this year.

Photos via www.womaninprogress.co.uk [TOP] and Emily May Webber [BOTTOM].

LIFESTYLE 11

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

Mid Week Meal: Caulirice Risotto NADIA AL LAHIQ STUDENT WRITER

If you are looking for a meal in less than ten minutes, here is something that requires little kitchen know-how and is packed full with nutrients. A plant-based alternative to traditional risotto, this is the perfect plate to dish up after a busy day.

Method:

Photo via @londonpaleogirl Instagram.

Serves 1 Ingredients:

1. Boil the kettle and fill a cup of hot water with a stock cube. Once mixed add to saucepan. Make sure the hob is on a medium to high heat and add the caulirice.

Veggies to add: - cubed butternut squash - broccoli stems - chopped mushrooms.

1 chopped garlic clove One portion of caulirice

Low salt vegetable stock cube 1 tsp. of chilli flakes 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast

Parsley

2. In a lightly oiled pan add chopped garlic, broccoli, and then when nearly done add the pre roasted & cubed butternut squash, mushrooms, parsley and then season with the chilli.

3. 5 minutes before serving, add in 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast to the caulirice, which will thicken up the texture.

5. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

One Year, Two Siblings, Two Cancers NATALIA P. DE MONET STUDENT WRITER

Cancer. What a short, straightforward and intimidating word. And if once is not enough let me say it twice: cancer, cancer. One year, two cancers. This is the story of brother and sister, Carlos and Pilar. These siblings are my uncle and mother who both came face to face with cancer in the same year.

To a family of six siblings, there is nothing harder than seeing two of them obliged to stand in opposition with death in a battle for life. Pilar knew this very well. She said, ‘the hardest thing I’ve ever had

to do, was telling my daughter I had breast cancer. Love is so blessed that having to give such bad news feels like stabbing someone in the heart. It makes you feel guilty”.

Like hurricanes, cancers come and destroy. The last thing to cross your mind when you wake up one morning is that you will be diagnosed with breast cancer, especially if you are a man.

However, our first hurricane came knocking down Carlos’ door. Indeed, it knocked, came in and destroyed; but every hurricane goes. Carlos woke up from surgery, breastless but full of life. Today, he recognises the power of his

mind for his recovery. He said ‘positivity is the strongest pill you can take’. But for one reason or the other, genes played them wrong. As Carlos led his path to recovery, Pilar was struck down by hurricane cancer in her left breast, twice. Pilar’s storm was fast, as she explained to me. Only three weeks after her diagnosis she was coming out of surgery. Everything happened so quickly, so there was no time to absorb the information. Still in the middle of her chemotherapy, Pilar is rediscovering herself. She told me how, ‘I am still learning what life is trying to tell me, it is speaking to me and I have to

open my ears to listen.’

It was interesting to see the conversations between these two siblings, joking about the parts of their bodies that had lost sensibility or referring to the chemotherapy room as the ‘spa’. I have never seen so much strength and unity between brother and sister, bonded by something so terrible, yet neither of them would change it if they could.

‘I’ve learnt to love people that love you, to be patient and to look at life as photographs, not as a movie’, said Carlos.

Life after cancer never goes back to normal. Not only will they have to face the physical changes in their

bodies, but also they are both different people to who they once were. They have had and will continue to reconstruct themselves piece by piece, get to know themselves again.

What they used to love, and now have no tolerance for, who to save your energy with and who to fight for. Carlos and Pilar are survivors. I am certain that the more they believe they are heroes, the greater people they will become. So, to you, my uncle Carlos and to you, my dearest mum Pilar, when I asked you if you considered yourself a hero and you said ‘no’, I want you to know you will forever be the greatest heroes I know.

12 FEATURES

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at features@thefounder.co.uk

[HollowayHistories]

There's No Escaping Professor Holloway...

Thomas Holloway and his extraordinary advertising.

ELENA ROSSI STUDENT WRITER

‘Professor’ Holloway was not merely the founder of our university, but was in fact a successful business man. His business was derived from his role as a ‘quack’ doctor, who had no professional qualifications and ignorantly sold medicine. Yet, how did such an unqualified man succeed in creating one of the greatest medicine businesses of the Victorian era? The answer is simple: advertisement.

The key to Holloway’s success was his use of appealing adverts. In 1842, Holloway spent £5000 on advertisements, but this rose to £50,000 by the time of his death. Thomas understood the power of commercialisation and used it to gain authority for his dubious medicines. His products were publicised in various ways, notably on trams, hoardings, trade tokens, collectable trade cards and in newspapers. Additionally, the products were for a range of different audiences for a variety of different illnesses. As a Holloway trading card stated, it was famous for ‘the cure of bad breasts, old wounds, sores and ulcers’, as well as ‘curing all disorders, incidental to women and children’. The Holloway pills

and ointments most likely did very little to help the patient, but instead had either a placebo effect or probably upset their stomach. However, the popularity and success of these products demonstrates that many believed in Holloway’s miraculous medicine.

The pills and ointment pots themselves were enough to sell the product. These adorable porcelain jars contained the ointment or pills. The pot itself and the lid possessed an image of Hygieia, the goddess of health, cleanliness and hygiene - the very embodiment of Holloway’s products. This is the same symbol that features on the Holloway coin.

Classical imagery and ideas established a degree of authority for the product, portraying Holloway as a learned man and labelling his produce as reliable. Initially, Holloway’s original recipe was called ‘St Cosmos and St Damien’s Ointments’, named after the patron saints of doctors. By entitling his product after two authorities of medicine, Holloway aimed to launch a business that was, to an extent, endorsed by these two important figures. However, Holloway saw the advertisement of his business as not only a way of promoting his products, but promoting himself. Hence, the business

was ultimately named ‘Holloway’s Pills and Ointments’.

Interestingly, Holloway’s medicine was mocked in Punch, the satirical magazine.

It teased that Holloway had an Earl shut up in a Villa at Florence ‘swallowing pills by the hundred, and writing letters by the score, to say what benefit he derived in all the maladies under the sun’. This played on the extensive list of diseases that the pills and ointments could supposedly cure. Moreover, it jested that ‘there seems to be no escaping professor Holloway’, and that he wanted to lure in any fool who would believe the miraculous benefits of his medicine. The Holloway brand was extremely well known for its extensive advertisements and it evidently was viewed by some as a way of masking the ineffective medicines with a successful façade.

Although Holloway was far from a qualified pharmacist, he was an extremely intelligent business man.

Holloway’s products were commercialised worldwide, with advertisements featuring at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza and at Niagara Falls. Perhaps also, if Thomas Holloway had not sold his questionable medicines, we would not have our university today.

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at features@thefounder.co.uk

FEATURES 13

Love Is All Around Us POPPY DAY STUDENT WRITER

14 Feb, Valentine’s Day; supposedly the most romantic day of the entire year. And yes, for some, it is guaranteed to be a magical occasion, chocolate hearts and roses galore, but for others it will be a case of binge-watching Netflix, ordering an extra-large Dominoes for one, and hiding indoors until it’s over. In Britain, the tradition typically goes that Valentine’s Day is celebrated with the exchange of cards and gifts, sometimes accompanied by a candlelit dinner date and a trip to the cinema. But how is this holiday celebrated throughout the world and what is the history behind the most lovedup day of the calendar?

Valentine’s Day is believed to derive its name from a saint called Valentine, the exact identity of this figure, however, is still shrouded in mystery. The truth is that noone knows for sure who Saint Valentine was but the most widely-accepted story is that he was a rebellious Roman priest who was imprisoned and sentenced to death because he arranged for people to get married in secret. At that time, Emperor Claudius II had placed a ban on marriage as he thought married men made poor soldiers. So the story goes, during his time in prison, the priest fell in love with the daughter of a guard and left her a note ending ‘from your Valentine’ on the day of his execution on 14 Feb. Although we now offi-

cially celebrate Valentine’s Day on 14 Feb, it is said to have originated from a Roman fertility festival known as Lupercalia, which was held annually on the 15 Feb to commemorate the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus.

As part of the festivities, boys would draw from a box the name of a girl, and then the pair would be coupled up for the remainder of the festival. This specific practice of the Lupercalia festival is still prevalent in South Africa on Valentine’s Day, though in a slightly different format.

The women attach the name of their love interest to their sleeve with the hope that it will be noticed by the person they desire and romance will blossom.

In Denmark on Valentine’s Day, lovers often present each other with delicate pressed snowdrops as a sign of their affection, and some Danish men send women a ‘joking letter’, or gaekkebrev, which contains a humorous rhyme but is not signed at the bottom. Interestingly, providing the woman accurately guesses the name of the man who the letter is from, she is rewarded later in the year with an Easter egg. In Germany, in addition to the usual romantic tokens, the gift of a pig – yes, real in some cases, or alternatively in picture or statue form, is also sometimes exchanged between sweethearts on Valentine’s Day, the farmyard animal being a symbol of love and lust.

People in Argentina set aside a whole week in July known as ‘Sweetness Week’

to mark Valentine’s Day. During this week, sweet treats are traditionally exchanged for kisses. One particularly charming custom comes from Wales with lovers there demonstrating their affection for one another with the giving of ‘love spoons’. This now very old tradition, dating back to the seventeenth-century, involves the exchange of wooden spoons between partners that are often engraved with complicated patterns and symbols. Some people in Wales also choose to celebrate on 25 Jan instead of 14 Feb, in commemoration of Saint Dwynwen, patron saint of Welsh lovers.

In China, the equivalent to Valentine’s Day is the festival of love, known as Qixi, which usually takes place in August. This celebration has its origins in an ancient tragedy about the separation of two literally star-crossed lovers, a fairy named Zhinu and a mortal man called Niulang who have the opportunity to see each other just once a year at the Qixi Festival. It is customary for Chinese girls to pray to find love and happiness at this time and offer up fruits to Zhinu, as she is believed to be the goddess of relationships and love.

Clearly, what is demonstrated by the culmination of all of these fascinating and different Valentine’s Day traditions, plus the fact that many of these festivities have been taking place for thousands of years now, is a simple yet heart-warming reminder that, cheesy as it sounds, love really is all around.

14 ARTS

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

Alfred Munnings: Rediscovered Fourteen new drawings at Norwich School of Arts.

SUZANNAH BALL ARTS EDITOR

Fourteen new drawings are now on public display after having been discovered in the Norwich University of the Arts Archive. They are exemplary of Munnings’ brilliant technique; his ability to capture clear animal form with the most simplistic use of lines demonstrates his aptitude for drawing. These new sketches are an example of his work as his time as a student at Norwich School

'W

e must not forget Munnings’ pure talent and his profile as a key ancestral force in the traditions of European painting.' of Arts.

Sir Alfred Munnings was born in 1878 and was a student at Norwich School of Arts in the 1890s. Only a few years after creating these now exhibited drawings two of his paintings went on to be showcased at the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. He became president of the Royal Academy of the Arts in 1944 and continued to be so until 1949.

Curator Dr Caroline Fisher has praised the new discovery to be an ‘amazing collection’.

She has said Munnings, who was born at Mendham, would attend evening classes at Norwich School of Art after working a full day at Page Brothers, the printers, as a lithographer

and designer.

This exhibition should act as an important reminder to all students that work that is completed at all stages of our lives can have a momentous effect and will not be forgotten, regardless of for how long it may be lost or left alone. Munnings’ aim, and obvious success, to be a selfsufficient artist demonstrates the capacity and ability students hold to follow their dream, and the immense amount of work that is put in behind the scenes in order to achieve this. However, regardless of Munnings’ obvious success from a young age, he became somewhat irrelevant in the eyes of the art world as he was reluctant to accept the introduction of Modernism.

English Art critic Brian Sewell captures the fault of Munnings, stating how he was ‘at once transformed from worthy but irrelevant painter of horse portraiture… into silly old fool and fascist reactionary’. Yet, regardless of his inability to accept the rapidly changing art world, we must not forget Munnings’ pure talent and his profile as a key ancestral force in the traditions of European painting.

The drawings are in desperate need of conservation as if left in place on their acidic mounts they will gradually erode. Once the drawings have been conserved they will be remounted, framed and presented as a part of a new major exhibition in 2019 to honour Munnings and mark the 60th anniversary of his death.

You can donate to the project through the website Photo by Suzannah Ball. www.nua.ac.uk/munnings.

ARTS 15

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

[Review]

Autumn

Ali Smith's eighth book the first in a season inspired series.

NUR AYOUBI STUDENT WRITER

Photo via Goodreads.com [TOP], Photograph by Felicity McCabe in February 2015 for the New Statesman [BOTTOM].

Ali Smith, the author known for her novels How to Be Both and The Accidental, released her eighth book, Autumn, in October of 2016, the first in a quartet inspired by the seasons. The novel, termed ‘A Post-Brexit Masterpiece’, was published less than four months after the EU referendum. In it, the story of the comfortable friendship between the characters Daniel Gluck and Elisabeth Demand is framed by the emergence of postBrexit Britain from the point of view of the latter.

The phenomenon of this novel comes from the fact that it was published so quickly after the referendum and yet Smith was able to capture the picture of British society post-Brexit in a way which rings true even now, more than a year after the vote. ‘Here’s an old story so new that it’s still in the middle of happening, writing itself right now with no knowledge of where or how it’ll end.’ This Meta statement which comes about two-thirds of the way into the novel is staggeringly poignant in that it highlights a key theme of the book: the battle of oppositions, here being the old versus the new.

This theme is initiated by the novel’s very first line ‘It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times’, a reference

to Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. Smith’s choice of intertextuality is substantial. It is reminiscent of the idea of polarities: the two cities, the divided nation.

An idea which the effects of Brexit are perpetuating. The brexiters; the remainers, the British; the Europeans, the whites; the foreigners. We

'I

n a time of confusion and exhaustion via the seemingly never-ending Brexit rhetoric, Smith’s Autumn is comforting.' are all familiar with such dualities, having had them drilled into us by the media.

The most staggering aspect of the novel comes from a chapter I regard as so brilliant and so accurate that it has created a clarity which seems strange after all the political confusion.

Smith dedicates an entire chapter to statements about the effects of Brexit, each followed by a mirror image. For example, ‘All across the country, people felt it was the wrong thing. All across the country, people felt it was the right thing.’

The whole thing is power-

ful. The short sentences all of which have essentially the same structure, are striking. The words illustrate the reaction to Brexit in a way which the media and politicians always seem to skirt around, in a way that is so close to the truth, even now that it is refreshing but also very chilling. Considering this novel was published so quickly after the vote, Smith has encapsulated so expertly the exact personal effects of the Brexit vote.

Smith said during a radio interview ‘you’ve got the mass division of 65 million people crossing the world from parts of it which are untenable, unliveable and in flames. And what’s left of the world deciding whether or not to open the gates or the walls or to build more gates or walls. How can we live in the world and not put our hand across a divide? How can we live with ourselves? ‘ In a time of confusion and exhaustion via the seemingly never-ending Brexit rhetoric, Smith’s Autumn is comforting in that it reassures us that we don’t have to make sense of all the noise. But, just as someone in the novel writes over a painted ‘GO HOME’ sign in bright colours with the words ‘WE ARE ALREADY HOME THANK YOU’, we have to make the best of a startling situation through solidarity. In Smith’s words, ‘It isn’t either/or. It’s and/ and/and, that’s what life is’.

16 18 ARTS: 16 ARTS ARTS FILM In Defence of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child [FilmOpEd] The Hollywood Witchhunt ABBA: Much More Than Just Cheese THE FOUNDER January 26, THE FOUNDER November 30, 2018 2017 THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

doing little to hide plot representatives, has thedisapholes and inconsistencies pointed the audience, again.

Smith remarks on how ‘Abba Almost a century ago, in 1921, with the books’ universe. songs…are constructed, technically and outright harmonicalHollywood faced its first, maMany fans rely, so as to physically imprint jor scandal: Roscoe “Fatty” Ar‘History repeats itself twice, first book from its first print run of ject the Cursed Child. It Confession time: we. The una- buckle, the human brain if biting who always played the as tragedy, second as farce’ wasn’t written byas Rowling, 4.5 million copies.

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And, ifopening you’re aswish long-term fan, that Dancing We time, wereRowling’s lucky enough to the audience was are quickly leading to of a film in- the first As over my copy in you’re aware of gives the shocked Queenprobably and that nothing head to the arrived Southbank at the realization that dustry where it is impossible its cardboard sleeve, I comthe motivation to from power their criticisms.

Centre their idolsand wereexperience not like the jolly toyou distinguish paranoia pared its first scene to the through a library sesh quite like new exhibition first hand.

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Thus, ber of assertions increases, as year-long wait to actuscript is a limited firstasformed in the experience earlymarks seven- a the through rooms by the centre’s hundred years later, did we well the exclamation ally watch it.

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Benny, recording where you itamong that Jack and demand the most normalan apparently obliviBjorn, Freda and Agnetha have canWhen remixyou thelook band’s hits through Thorne’s writingIt style is quite slickly sweet behaviour in ous audience. seems that ized, truly left a lasting impression to forest scenes mimicking the first pages of the prodifferent to Rowling’s. plot this unequivocally desecrated the charming, doomedThe dream on the world of music and pop- gramme, the festivals wherenotice they first a too is lacking, its script-form today, you’ll frivolous by defifactory of Hollywood, with itsAli world ular culture.

Even the writer formed, every room is truly somehow coherently depraved nition?

EMILYSALVADORI MARKHAM JACK STUDENT WRITER FILM EDITOR ROSIE LANE must have heard of it. & You HOPE PURCELL According to Karlhouses Marx,a STUDENT WRITER Your shelf probably

quick of against the series Thesummary allegations iland a small glossary, so poor lustrious representatives of the a surprise. Memorabilia lines industry such as Spacey, the walls of these rooms, rangold grandad canKevin familiarise Dustin Hoffman Louis ing fromwith handwritten lyrics to himself what a and ‘muggle’ is C.K. swell day by day, pushing musical instruments, not to again. As you watch the play, the superstars towards their mention many of thenot band’s you’ll realise it does add “Sunset Boulevard”: accurate iconic costumes.

Well, they any major new characters or couldn’t make seem an exhibition stories which to have plot development. Instead, it dedicated to ABBA without a come out from a melodramatic returns locations, few pairstooffamiliar flares, could they? screenwriter’s pen in the 1950s. exploring Since thefamiliar trip we’vethemes both Nauseating descriptions of with familiar characters. had Spotify’s is: ABBA’ the stars who ‘This attempted toThe sereason for is simple.

The playlist onthis repeat and our duce young, innocent victims Cursed Child is a story to reobsession has only definitely who, however, todaybeen have rekindled.

If, world liketous, you’ve visit a decade foundHarry’s the courage offer their watched the Mamma Mia 2 vicissitudes to the hungry apafter his final book was pubtrailer too many times, dispetite of thetime, progressive goodlished.

This however, we cussed the distinct lack thinking movement.

Mirroring return to a totally new form of of Meryl and wondered the fearStreep of a hunted animal with storytelling – the stage. what hits they possibly noHarry escape, the could accused Potter and icons the add in the sequel, then we’ d ultimate,Child desperate attempt to Cursed is a nod to the recommend you check the save their reputation and career fans who still crave more from exhibition out for a new peris only to release humiliating, the wizarding world. is not spective on the bandItand ex-a miserable and unrealistic statesequel Rowling has made perience it apology. for yourself! ments –ofJK Obviously, The ABBA exhibition is ittheclear that Harry’s story has post-dated scandals induce running at the Southbank finished – but a stage play a cynic suspect of hypocrisy Centre, Royal Festival Hall, that encompasses its alleged seven and exploitation for the until the 29th of April 2018. victims, but everyone can make

predecessors.

On stage, Jack existence, because sheown acprogress, but which, for its their own opinion regarding paradoxical nature, exThorne’s style fades away and knowledged the coincidental convenience it wouldcould require tend like an oil stain and bang and perfect timings of such reit’s Rowling’s characters who specific experience of the on theand frontpossibilities page other of ‘monports. the limelight. The ef- limits inhabit the sters’ .

Yet, as usual, we can seek It is not possible, or correct, fects are so seamless that I stage. With enough knowlan answer in History:world, the Arto ignore,there but itwas is necessary to edge thought real magic of the wizarding it buckle scandal led to the estabreact against the neopuritan before my eyes (until one of is possible to smooth over the mincer, upon lishment of the dishonourable the crew and madetoa reflect split-second plot holes using details that each case individually with- Production Code, enduring a mistake and I realised how it would too clunkycensorship to fit into self-purifier out prejudices. Those who rub long, be was thethefive(if you care, aiming dialogue get the audience trust theirdone). hands During at hearing al- spoken hour run time, the audience you could read fans’ censorleged private vices of their idols, back. An aggressivenarrative is transported fromenvy, the Hogplay ship to convince of the the everyday who they intimately enjoy reconstructions warts Express, to the Forbidthat do exactly this). the spectacle of watching them man that, after all, the virtuous den Forest, to the Ministry of Hollywood The Cursed Child creates is an example of reduced at their same rank: no and it does belong more stars commonHollow. human amorality, Magic and but to Godric’s new Hogwarts, onenot updated to a its different planet. Are the beings, noblemen stripped for It’s a playlike about acknowledging twenty-first-century ridiculously extreme off from their titles and conthe past and moving forward. students with a newmeasures school undertaken the production ducted thefinal gallows front crest It’s abouttothe pushinHarry and anby entirely different companies to punish the sinof a mass angry free plebeians. needs to beofa father from soundtrack.

It is free from the ners (such as reshooting all the It is not our task to express abthe weight of memory, and the darkness that the generation stract, moral judgements, but it scenes with Kevin Spacey from push his son, Albus, needs to before lived under and it’s obseems to be back to McCarthy- a completed movie) the identilearn thatthe hewitch-hunts can tread aof sepathat won’t change anycal, cathartic manoeuvres emism and that vious rate to his family ahistory. soon.

The story is over ployed last time?

It seems the time,path where a gossip, rumor time JK Rowling did not give but the Cursed Child shows – or a ‘tweet’ – is enough to case to say, ‘After all, tomorrow the story toaJack Thorne be- that sometimes it isthe valuable is another day’; yet, allegadisintegrate respected career. cause she disapproved of the its to return. tions will not be gone with the It is difficult to foresee how Photos via The Times [TOP] and Visit London [BOTTOM]. abnormal wave of scoops will wind.

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

ARTS: FILM 17

[Review]

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Masterful actors ground McDonagh's newest film.

ALEXANDER HANCOCK STUDENT WRITER

An unresolved rape and murder of a teenage girl, a revenge-seeking mother and a violent policeman - all ingredients for a compelling thriller. Yet, in his newest film, British director Martin McDonagh also blends in elements of comedy and drama by satirizing American culture and exploring the tensions of a dysfunctional family. With the Academy Awards just weeks away, ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, is dubbed as one of the top contenders for the ‘Best Picture’ award – and deservedly so.

The dark comedy follows the story of Mildred Hayes, a grieving mother who seeks to find justice in the unsolved murder of her daughter.

Following a seven-month drought with no leads in the case, Mildred takes matters into her own hands by setting up three billboards with bold messages that target the seemingly inept police force.

The provocative signs plastered on the towering billboards cause uproar in the town, leaving the head of the police, Chief Willoughby, enraged. Now at odds with her fellow townsmen and the police force, Mildred’s pursuit for justice poses the question of whether her journey to find answers is merely a distraction from her eternal suffering following her daughter’s death.

‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ is a great film, mainly because of the fantastic actors that anchor it.

Frances McDormand gives a memorable perfor-

mance as a mourning and vengeful mother, characterized by her deep and inherent flaws. It would have been easy for McDonagh to write a character who is fragile and hopeless in such a situation, but Mildred is anything but.

She’s explosive, vulgar and at times unsympathetic – but it’s these qualities that make her character both captivating and believable.

This film also has a distinct look – Ben Davis’ cinematography depicts the sparsity and emptiness of the small town of Ebbing, while also capturing its natural beauty. In particular, the opening of the film is a beautiful sequence of clouds of mist, rolling off the mountains and tumbling into Ebbing –hinting at the turmoil that is about to stun the town. My one, personal criticism of the film lies in its inconsistent and at times distasteful use of comedy in moments that really do not need it. Yes, McDonagh is known for fusing comedy and drama, but with this film he crosses the line to a point where scenes of rich sentiment – for instance right before a character tragically commits suicide – are injected with humour, resulting in a jarring halt in the film’s emotional story. That being said, this film is definitely worth watching - its gripping plot, wonderful performances and stunning visuals help craft a well-rounded story of revenge. But at its core, this film is about a mother’s unrelenting longing to right her past wrongs, encouraging the viewer to consider whether or not solace is found in the Photos via www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk [TOP], www.vox.com [BOTTOM]. act of letting go.

18 ARTS: FILM

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

BAFTA’s New Policies

The Death of the 7th Art. JACK SALVADORI FILM EDITOR

What is “Art”? What does this short, three-lettered word really mean, and how do we determine what is defined by it? According to some people it’s any form of representation, while for the Oxford English dictionary it is the application of human creativity and imagination. But according to Picasso, one of the most acclaimed artistic icons of the 20th century, “art” is no more than a lie, that makes us realize the truth. The truth is that there is no universal definition of art, and this abstract concept is as immortal as it is subjective, capable of assuming any shape. Yet, for the British Academy Film and Television Awards, it has recently acquired a new, unconventional, alternative meaning: for the BAFTAs, art means diversity.

The independent organization announced its innovative regulations, some strict, 1984-ish protocols which wink to the ridiculous. BAFTAs have published a list of diversity standards to be applied to the eligibility criteria for next year’s film contenders, hoping that ‘the whole industry can adopt them as a shared language for understanding diversity’. In order to meet the standards, productions will either need to be conceived and realised by creative practitioners targeted as “diverse”, or to represent on screen themes and narratives dealing with diversity. ‘This significant change’, as their website proudly states, demonstrates BAFTA’s commitment to diversity in the long term, and the intention to take a leading role in this cause. Indeed, this is a drastic change.

An organization which is supposed to have no preferences nor prejudices, is now clearly outlining its bias towards

specific tendencies. From now on, one day a film is considered worthy, and the following day it’s not good anymore, it becomes rotten as expired milk, for the superficial reason that it doesn’t contain the message they want to see.

Under this new regime, Citizen Kane, Pulp Fiction, Taxi Driver or The Godfather, for example, would not be taken into consideration by the BAFTAs. And in this hypocritical, self-cathartic and sad attempt to be progressive, these standards end up contradicting the BAFTAs’ mission statement, ‘to bring the very best work in film, games and television to public attention’. The very best work, is now only the very best diverse work. ‘By announcing this change now, we’re giving notice to films not yet in production, as well as putting measures in place through our events and initiatives to help productions meet the Diversity Standards’. The BAFTAs are like a spoiled kid opening presents on Christmas’ day, explicitly requesting what they want, and not accepting what the industry will bring them.

They are warning the industry, blackmailing artists by exploiting their social impact. Inexorably, the audience goes to watch films with nominations, trusting a tasteful selection from experts. And yet, if you want to receive a nomination from now on, you need to abide, and accept to convey their message. A potential innovative masterpiece—one that does not mirror BAFTAs’ political and sociological statement—will from now on not deserve to be made, and to be recognized as a good film. A disagreement, or a simple manifestation of true diversity from these policies, will end up in the disqualification of the film.

Thus, how can an organization estab-

lish what is the best film of the year, bearing in mind that it’s not employing art as part of their selection criteria anymore?

Maybe the nomenclature of their awards should undergo a change as well, and be properly renamed “Best Diverse Film”, or perhaps “Best Film Which Fulfils the New Bafta Regulations”. Surely, the winner is not the best artistic expression… not anymore. With changes like this, with a silent publication on a website, with deep and necessary consequences in the film industry, cinema loses its connotation as the 7th art and slowly gains the one of social commentator.

Art, once immortal, is now becoming undistinguishable with present-day matters. Cinema turns from an artistic expression to a social tabloid where, if it doesn’t conform to the news’ relevant topics and tries to be fresh, and thus truly different, it is discarded. No more freedom of expression, means no more art. This wave of diversity will end up crashing on the shore of art, making films that share the same, conformed narratives and look colorless and equal, just like sand grains.

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

ARTS: MUSIC 19

[Column]

Not A Valentines Column ELE WALTON MUSIC EDITOR

Valentines Day can have the playlist this month, but it can’t have the column. I have no great wisdom on love so the only topic I could go for would be a scathing open letter to anyone including Ed Sheeran in their playlists for the big day. Instead, lets chat something a little more interesting, and something everyone could enjoy, regardless of their relationship status: Festivals.

It’s Festival line-up season.

Whilst I’m not claiming to be any kind of expert on the topic, having been to a total of one festival thus far in my life, I have been looking at the line-ups and wishing I could go for a fair while. My total festival experience has been latitude, held in Suffolk, which is peak aesthetic and brings in some top-quality acts from music, comedy, theatre, film, literature and poetry. Also, pink sheep. If you’re into that.

In 2016, the year I went, it pulled in acts like The National, Chvrches, Chet Faker, The Lumineers, Father John Misty, Daughter, Micheal Kiwanuka, Grimes, Aurora, Of Monsters and Men and Marlon Williams. That’s naming only a fraction of the acts I was excited for. 2018 looks set to be another incredible year with The Killers, Alt-J and as Solange headliners and acts

like The Vaccines, Wolf Alice and Rag’N’Bone Man already announced too.

It’s an incredible festival but at 39,999 capacity it’s a fraction of the size of other festivals such as Reading and Leeds meaning you get that much closer to the acts you really want to see. Latitude proves that bigger isn’t always better.

And as a side note: though you missed Louis Theroux in 2016, for any fans of the social issue documentary genre you can catch Stacey Dooley in Conversation about her recent work in the Speakeasy this year. It’s not music so it’s not technically my area but she’s one of the acts I’m most excited about, I’m not gonna lie.

Sales pitch aside if anyone needs me I’ll be in the corner lamenting the fact that didn’t go in 2017 because of ‘graduation’ and missed Mumford and Sons performing songs from their Johannesburg album with Baaba Maal.

Khruangbin Electric Brixton 08/02/18

Photos via https://latenighttales.co.uk/products/aln40.

CHARLIE HILL STUDENT WRITER

They walked out in matching haircuts. Flat-ironed long bobs that hid their eyes and framed their mouths. He wore a grey suit and cowboy boots. She looked as if she had skinned a disco ball and turned its pelt into a playsuit.

They spoke in short, sarcastic sentences, but only said the bare minimum. There were no awkward one-liners while they killed time tuning or tried to find out which pedal was causing their guitars to cut out.

They were cool. They were in control. They had synchronised dance moves that said - even though they spoke like late night pirate radio DJs from the 70’s - they weren’t too cool to goof around. In that way, their stage presence was the perfect representation of their sound.

The guitar and bass lines in-

tersect and interlock, moving from unison, to harmonies, to call-and-response passages where the riff is created in the space between the two parts and couldn’t exist without either. It’s the aural equivalent of finishing each other’s sentences, and that conversational quality raises the question of which band member is composing it all. If either one is writing for the other then they do such a good job of making those parts their own. It would seem more likely the band has jammed together to the point that they have established a telepathic link. This is just the way they speak to each other now.

And there is such a vocal quality to their melodies.

For the most part their music is instrumental, but just as evocative and memorable as the words of a singer. That’s why the crowd attempted to sing along in a strange foot-

ball chant, similar to the mob yelling of the riff to Seven Nation Army, but much more relaxed. Their sound is like the soundtrack to a movie set on a beach, entirely at sunset.

They work hard at presenting that chilled, organic sound as something that requires no effort at all, but they are masters of what they do. Mark Speer’s guitar tone is balanced on the threshold of distortion, giving a pleasing fuzz when he hits hard, but clean and crisp when he uses his fingers. It washes over you in caramel richness, never jarring but always engaging and with melodies getting stuck all over your brain to fill you with a lasting sense of wellbeing. With musical influences from across the globe, and a deep focus on synchronicity and chill, the most appropriate way to summarise the feeling of seeing them is the title of their first album: The Universe Smiles Upon You.

20 ARTS: MUSIC

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

[Playlist]

Loves Me/Not

For your bleeding/healthy heart.

ELE WALTON MUSIC EDITOR

This one’s for anyone, whether you’re with someone this Valentine’s Day or not because writing a full list of love songs or breakup songs seems a little bit too indulgent either way.

Paradise – George Ezra Northern Boy – The Academic Bloodsport – Raleigh Ritchie Don’t Delete the Kisses – Wolf Alice Heartbreak warfare – John Mayer Love – Lana Del Rey Go your own way – Fleetwood Mac Post breakup sex – The Vaccines Angela – The Lumineers To build a home – The Cinematic Orchestra Young Hearts – NoMBe I need my girl – The National

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk

SPORTS 21

#FemaleIsFierce Makes Waves

Women’s Football Raise £109 in Charity Tournament HELENA KEEBLE SPORTS EDITOR

On 21 January, Royal Holloway’s Women’s Football Team hosted a Charity Tournament, welcoming teams from Goldsmith’s, Imperial, SOAS and Brunel to raise money for Girls United Football Association, and to raise awareness for their #FemaleIsFierce campaign.

Girls United Football Association is a charity with a vision for ‘girls around the world to have equal access to sport and to provide them with skills and abilities that will broaden their opportunities to participate in education and in the economy’. They work hard to set up football academies in low-income areas in South America, promoting gender equality and improvement in physical health.

The RHUL Women’s Football Team were driven to create the #FemaleIsFierce campaign due to the discrimination and inequality each member has experienced being a woman participating in a male-dominated sport. This campaign aims to raise awareness for the sexist and offensive comments that the team are subjected to. Laura Vinton, President of the Royal Holloway Women’s Football Club claimed that these belligerent comments range from ‘being described as “manly” or “tomboys” to being asked if we really know the offside rule.’

Due to the nature of the Girls United Football Association charity and the team’s campaign they decided to host a tournament for teams in the local area. With over fifty participants the five clubs kicked off in the fresh snow.

The teams were split into two

groups. Group one consisted of Holloway A, Imperial A and SOAS and group two, Holloway B, Imperial B, Goldsmiths and Brunel.

The tournament ended with £109 fundraised and Imperial B coming in first place, shortly followed by Holloway A. Romina Calatayud, a representative from Girls United Football Association, informed RHUL Women’s Football Team that ‘through the entry donation alone each team that had competed had raised enough to provide girls’ team in Mexico with a kit to play in.’

Photos courtesy of Royal Holloway Women's Football.

22 SPORTS

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk

[Interview]

RHUL Cross Country Competes in 2018 BUCS Championship

Photo courtesy of Joanna Hutler [BOTTOM ROW, SECOND FROM THE LEFT].

Photos courtesy of Royal Holloway Cross Country Club.

Meet The Captain: RHUL Netball

HELENA KEEBLE SPORTS EDITOR

Name: Joanna Hutler Sport: Netball What made you start playing Netball?

I was really tall when I was younger so my teachers made me play netball.

How long have you been playing Netball?

Since I was about 8.

How does Netball benefit your academic life?

It enables me to let off steam playing Netball? and take time out from stud- Team work, leadership, perseverance and communicaies. tion.

What is your most memorable moment from play- Why would you encourage people to join the ing Netball?

Playing at the Copper Box Netball team?

Arena in my first year at Roy- It’s like being part of one big family and you make some al Holloway. very special friends.

What is your favourite What would you say is position?

Goal Defence – I’m useless the best part of being in the Netball team? anywhere else.

Playing the sport you love What life experiences with people who share the have you gained from same passion.

HELENA KEEBLE SPORTS EDITOR

On 3 February, seven members of the Royal Holloway Athletics team competed in the 2018 BUCS Championship in Uxbridge.

Their president Tom Sanders accompanied the team, supporting them through the cold and rainy weather.

Anastasia Stone, Charlotte Newell, Eliza Jenkins, Emma Schrod and Catherine Lee competed in the woman’s 6.88km race, with Anastasia Stone finishing as the first RHUL girl with a remarkable time of 37.43.0.

In the men’s race Alex

Nicholson completed the 9.92km as the top RHUL male with a time of 47.53.5, followed by team member Harry Clayton.

Race Captain of Royal Holloway Athletics and Cross Country Club, Charlotte Newell, stated ‘the race was the muddiest we have ever ran and extremely difficult, involving a steep hill and a ditch full of water, but we all still had a fun day with impressive scores.’

Royal Holloway Athletics now have one more cross country race at Varsity held at Royal Holloway next month before they begin their track competitions in the summer.

SPORTS 23

THE FOUNDER February 23 , 2018

Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk

Royal Holloway BUCS Scores American Football RHUL Mixed 1st 9 – 7 City University London Mixed 1st Badminton RHUL Mixed 1st 9 – 0 Imperial College Medics Mixed 1st Imperial College Men’s 1st 8 – 1 RHUL Mixed 1st RHUL Men’s 1st 7 – 1 University of Sussex Men’s 1st RHUL Women’s 1st 8 – 0 University of Brighton Women’s 1st Basketball RHUL Women’s 1st St Mary’s Men’s 1st RHUL Women’s 1st

66 – 32 100 – 91 56 – 47 S

UCL Women’s 1st RHUL Men’s 1st St George’s Women’s 1st

Fencing RHUL Women’s 1st 135 – 54 University of Sussex Wom en’s 2nd Queen Mary University Men’s 1st 135 – 115 RHUL Men’s 2nd RHUL Men’s 2nd 134 – 78 University of Sussex Men’s 1st Football RHUL Women’s 1st 6 – 0 London School of Economics Women’s 1st University of West London Men’s 1st 5 – 0 RHUL Men’s 2nd Queen Mary Women’s 1st 4 – 0 RHUL Women’s 1st RHUL Men’s 1st 3 – 0 Imperial College Men’s 5th Golf RHUL Mixed 1st 3 – 3 Reading University Mixed 1st RHUL Mixed 1st 3 – 3 University of Essex Mixed 1st RHUL Mixed 1st 5.5 – 0.5 Portsmouth University Mixed 1st Hockey RHUL Women’s 1st 5 – 1 Reading University Women’s 3rd Reading University Mens 3rd 2 – 0 RHUL Men’s 1st RHUL Women’s 2nd 5 – 1 Imperial College Women’s 4th

UCL Women’s 6th

20 – 0

RHUL Women’s 3rd

Lacrosse Kingston University Women’s 1st 9 – 6 RHUL Women’s 2nd RHUL Men’s 1st 15 – 4 Kingston University Men’s 1st RHUL Women’s 1st 15 – 5 Portsmouth University Women’s 1st RHUL Mixed 1st 28 – 0 St Mary’s Mixed 1st Netball RHUL Women’s 2nd 53 – 31 Imperial College Medics Women’s 3rd Portsmouth University Women’s 4th 74 – 24 RHUL Women’s 3rd RHUL Women’s 2nd 52 – 22 Imperial College Women’s 2nd RHUL Women’s 3rd 31 – 26 King’s College Women’s 2nd Imperial College Medics Women’s 3rd 53 – 21 RHUL Women’s 4th Rugby RHUL Women’s 1st 17 – 0 King’s College London RHUL Women’s 1st 26 – 10 University of Chichester Women’s 1st RHUL Women’s 1st 20 – 0 King’s College Women’s 1st Squash University of Surrey Men’s 3rd RHUL Men’s 1st

2 – 1 RHUL Men’s 1st 5 – 0 LSE Men’s 2nd

Table Tennis RHUL Men’s 2nd 13 – 4 Anglia Ruskin University Men’s 2nd Tennis RHUL Men’s 2nd 12 – 0 Brunel Men’s 2nd RHUL Women’s 1st 10 – 2 University of Hertfordshire Women’s 2nd Kingston University Mixed 1st 10 – 0 RHUL Mixed 1st Volleyball University of Hertfordshire Women’s 1st RHUL Men’s 1st

3 – 0 3 – 0

RHUL Women’s 1st University of Essex Men’s 2nd

Student accommodation on the doorstep of Royal Holloway, Uni of London

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A range of room types

Communal areas

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From En Suites to Two Bedroom Apartments, we have a room to suit everyone at The Pad and Podium.

With space to study, a games and comfy seating area, the communal areas have everything you need.

All En Suites and Studios have their own en suite bathroom, to make sure your day gets off to a flying start.

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3 minute walk to campus

Whether you are at The Pad or Podium, there is always someone on hand to keep you safe, happy and taken care of.

The Pad and Podium are only a short walk away from RHUL, which means you will be right in the heart of the action.

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