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Royal Holloway’s Independent Student Newspaper
VOLUME VIII, ISSUE V • WEDNESDAY, 22 MARCH 2017 • Royal Holloway, University of London • Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX
FOI Request Reveals Monkey’s Purchase Price DANIEL BRADY CO-EDITOR
A Freedom of Information Request made by The Founder has revealed that the price paid by Royal Holloway to purchase the lease for The Monkey’s Forehead was £277 000. The pub, to be renamed The Packhorse, has been a popular destination for students for years and the change in ownership has caused much speculation about the future of the venue. Little has been revealed since an announcement early in January, however, an update given at the recent Students Union Annual General Meeting did shed some light. SU Chief Executive Tom Flynn stated they are in the final stages of planning and the venue will hopefully reopen for third term, under its original name, The Packhorse, which dates back to 1855. He also added the plans included
Index
three bookable rooms for students above the premises. The Chief Executive quashed ‘nonsense’ rumours suggesting the college had forced the owner into the deal; he instead suggested the opportunity presented itself as the owner wished to move to Thailand. He also suggested the college ‘stepped in’ so students did not lose out on a local venue, referencing the possibility of property developers buying the plot. The purchase emerges amongst the release of the SU Annual Report and Accounts, which revealed a payout of £175 000 to repair the damage and make up for business interruption from the flood which occurred in Stumble Inn. Flynn also mentioned that discussions surrounding the future of Medicine Bar were in ‘early stages’. Describing the current space as ‘dreadful’, he mentioned the prospect of turning it into a ‘multi-function space’,
Indifferent Photo by Thomas Hawkins.
Student Poll
Are you excited for Continued on p. 2 The Packhorse to open?
News..............................................................................1 Opinion And Debate......................................................6 Lifestyle.........................................................................10 Features........................................................................12 Arts...............................................................................14 Arts: Film......................................................................16 Arts: Music....................................................................19 Sports...........................................................................22
Big Sleep Out p. 2
No
Airways p. 20
HARBEN LETS Your oldest and largest private landlord www.harbenlets.co.uk 07973 224125
33%
Yes
46%
21% Alice Lanham p. 23
HL
2 NEWS
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
The Big Sleepout
Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk
Students Raise Thousands for Charity
Photo courtesy of Laura Hellon. ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR
A group of students from Royal Holloway raised £2160 for homelessness by participating in The Big Sleepout on the 27th of January, an event that was part of the Labour Campaign Against Homelessness. The event was organised by English PEN’s Rebecca Wilson, who is also an outreach coordinator for Labour Campaign Against Home-
lessness, and Sarah Newell, Women's Officer at SURHUL. The money raised by the group will go towards a hot food stall run by Rebecca outside Zimbabwe House on The Strand in London. The stall feeds more than 100 people a week, as well as paying for clothing and toiletries. The team originally had a target of £500 to raise but quickly surpassed that, reaching a staggering total of £2160. Around 25 students slept in cardboard boxes on the tennis
courts on campus to experience the realities of sleeping outdoors. Laura Hellon, a second year English and Creative Writing student told The Founder about her experience of sleeping out: ‘It was about 5 degrees, which was really warm since it was in the minus numbers up until then, which was lucky. However, it was still very difficult because it was freezing cold and the floor was hard and it rained, but it was definitely a worthwhile cause and gave me real insight into the realities of homelessness. ‘Obviously I had guaranteed food and safety and the ability to go home in the morning made the experience much easier, and it is just heart-breaking that this is someone's lived reality, day in day out.’ The Labour Campaign to End Homelessness has been running for a year, and was founded with the aim to influence governmental policy and demand The Labour Party pledge to end homelessness in their 2020 manifesto.
Continued from front page whilst making more storage room available for student groups. The Founder spoke to students about whether they were pleased Royal Holloway had purchased The Monkey’s Forehead. Second-Year student Olivia Earnshaw said: ‘I think it’s a good thing. The SU is cheap compared to typical Surrey prices, so hopefully products will be subsidised and more affordable for students.’ University spending is under scrutiny across the UK as
speculation surrounding rising tuition fees and chancellor salaries have caused divisive debates. Last year, Royal Holloway was one of the first universities in the UK to go public on their plans to raise tuition fees in line with inflation - if they can prove they provide high-quality teaching standards. Excited for the re-opening of The Packhorse? Would you rather see funds diverted elsewhere? Tweet us your thoughts @rhulfounder.
The Founder Board 2016/17 Co-Editors Daniel Brady & Lilia Vargas Costello News Editor Rosa Smith
Film Editor Ryan Nair
Deputy News Editor Suzannah Ball
Lifestyle Editor Emily May Webber
SU Election Sees Record Votes
Opinon and Debate Editor Amanda Hudson
Sport Editor Elizabeth Silverberg
filled by the re-elected Pippa Gentry and Steff Milne respectively. The election night also saw Clement Jones become the first Vice President Education, whilst Willow Wong was elected into the competitive role of Vice President Welfare & Diversity. This year, 2556 students voted, casting a staggering 14, 953 individual votes. The turnout this year was 25.35 per cent, closely beating last year’s record 24.6 per cent, a triumph for Royal Holloway’s SU. For the six part-time roles, three Student Trustees were elected
Features Editor Thomas Hawkins
Music Editor Sam Barker
Arts Editor Gemma Tadman
Designer Lilia Vargas Costello
ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR
At midnight on Saturday, March 11th, the SU election results for the forthcoming academic year were revealed, with a third record turnout of voters in a row. After months of closely run campaigns, five sabbatical officers and six part-time roles were elected. Re-elected as the role of President was Natasha Barrett, with the roles of Vice President Societies & Media and Vice President Sport also being
as follows, Josip Martincic, Rachelle Jiongco and Luke Tibbets. Emilie Ancelin and George Lawley took the roles of NUS Delegate’s, with Emilie Ancelin also elected as College Council Rep. During the election period this year, a referenda was also run on two motions from this year’s Annual General Meeting: to boycott the NSS and to campaign against the turning off of street lights in Egham. Both motions were carried and will now become RHUL SU policy.
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. THE FOUNDER is printed in Cambridge by Iliffe Print
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk
Royal Holloway Socs Ball Students celebrate at the Thistle Hotel. DANIEL BRADY CO-EDITOR
This month, students from societies across campus descended on the Thistle Hotel for the Student Union’s annual Societies Ball. The event, which celebrates various successes throughout SU media outlets and societies, featured
an awards ceremony which gives credit to groups and individuals for their contribution and skills. The biggest award of the night, Society of the Year, went to the Politics and International Relations Society, who also won Society Challenge with RhubardTV. The History Society won the Community Shield, which
recognises contributions to the wider community, whilst the Conservation and Animal Volunteer Society won the Raising and Giving award. The English Literature Society was announced to be the most improved society, whilst the Diplomatic Society was recognised as being the best new society.
NEWS 3
RHUL's Got Talent
New Leisure Centre? Photo via of https://www.facebook.com/rhulsgottalent. This was Royal Holloway’s Got Talent’s second event this academic year. SUZANNAH BALL DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR
Photo via http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/12443132. SUZANNAH BALL DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR
Runneymede Borough Council is currently looking into the possibility of building a new leisure centre in Egham. The new centre will include a health spa, pool and outdoor synthetic turf pitches. The council are looking to build the new centre upon the old one, currently situated on Vicarage Road. The current building will remain open until work is complete.
Hannah Wilcocks, President of the Royal Holloway Swimming Club, commented that the new swimming pool will be ‘a viable host for galas, so it’s a great opportunity for both leisure and competitive swimmers. The swimming club are very excited about the prospect of a more accessible pool.’ Places for People, a property leisure management, development and regeneration company, are finalising the details. The council is looking to discuss other town centre
developments when a legal agreement has been reached for the new leisure centre, which is its main priority at the moment. Paul Turrell, chief executive of Runneymede Borough Council, stated that the new centre ‘will see the council deliver on a longterm held promise to bring a swimming pool to the town.’ The council is currently holding a consultation in order to make plans for the new facility.
Students showcased their talents in a night of entertainment at Royal Holloway’s Got Talent on Saturday the 18th of February. The night highlighted the vast talent that the University has to offer, including singing, dancing and various other acts. This was Royal Holloway’s Got Talent’s second event this academic year, with the previous show held in November 2016. The event’s proceeds were given to Action against Hunger, a charity which aims to provide children with food and care in aid of a better future. In 2015, the charity helped 14.9 million people around the world. The talent show raised over £500 for the charity. The event was run by the Student Union with vice chair of RAG, Mahmoud Zayat, as head organiser. A fundraiser for the show took place at the Foresters Arms pub in the form of a quiz night. Mahmoud was very proud of
the event, stating ‘this time we promised bigger, bolder and better than last time and we really pulled it off.’ The University’s Rhubarb TV was also live-streaming the show which was hosted by budding comedian Toby Mugford. Alongside Mahmoud, the panel of judges included the Student Union’s very own President Natasha Barrett, Grace Almond, who guest judged as the President of Women of Colour Collective, and Dana Hudson. Becky Maddocks, events manager of Royal Holloway’s Musical Theatre Society, went to the event in support of MTS’s President, Stephen Johnson, who ultimately won the competition. Stephen has taken part in multiple MTS productions including this year’s autumn term musical Bring It On. Becky commented that there was some ‘absolute talent’ during the night, although the event did not go without some minor technical difficulties.
4 NEWS
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk
Global Women’s March: A Force That Cannot Be Stopped
AMANDA HUDSON OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR
In the wake of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, much of the world was left in complete shock. America’s decision to place reality television star and businessman, Donald Trump, into the highest seat in the country’s government was undoubtedly an unexpected outcome. Trump’s election instilled concern and apprehension in some of America’s closest allies, while sparking the revival of hate groups such as the KKK and the American Nazi Party, and inciting nearly 1000 reported incidents of hate crimes within the first two weeks. However, the election results did not exclusively spark hatred; it acted as a catalyst for one of the largest public demonstrations in history, and along with it, a movement that was dedicated to love and unity. On the 21st of January 2017, just a day after Trump’s inauguration, an estimated five to seven million protestors across the globe took to the streets to participate in the Women’s March. However, the Women’s March wasn’t only about the rights of women. As with the commonly known Feminism movement, the march was coined ‘Women’s March’ as a broad umbrella term that would cover a number of social categories including gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and class. The mission statement for the Women’s March – which can be found on their website at www.womensmarch.com/ mission - states: ‘We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families - recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.’ What started as one protest planned for Washington D.C.
that would take a stand against the rhetoric and ideals of the new government, turned into 673 marches in 82 different countries. The day before the march saw more than 1000 buses and planes carting teems of pink-clad women and men into the D.C. area alone. The crowd size in D.C. became so large that the organisers had to change their route in order to accommodate for the 500,000 people who showed up to make their voices heard. Cities such as Chicago, Illinois were forced to host a rally in lieu of a march because the city was unprepared for the staggering crowds. There was even a march held in Antarctica by the team of researchers and scientists who work there. Here in the U.K., marches took place in 15 cities with more than 100,000 protestors showing up to London’s planned two-mile march from Grosvenor Square to Trafalgar Square. Royal Holloway’s own Feminism Society was able to participate in the historic event in London, as well as other groups of students who wanted to demonstrate their support. Grace Emmett, a second year Drama and Theatre student, was able to participate in her first protest at the Women’s March in London. She called the experience ‘unforgettable’ and gave The Founder some insight as to why she marched: ‘The call for women to take part in the movement was too loud to ignore. I knew I couldn’t allow myself to stay silent and not let my voice be heard.’ Emmett, a Lancashire native, said she felt humbled to have taken part in such an important event, and that the stories from individuals she met was the most inspiring part of the experience. ‘I met an elderly woman who’s first march was in the 1950s,’ Em-
Photos by Amanda Hudson.
mett told The Founder. ‘It’s so inspiring knowing that she has been fighting for so long, but it’s also painful that these issues, the rights of women and other marginalised groups, are still debatable.’ And as for the newly inaugurated American President? All Emmett had to say about him was, ‘We marched to let Trump know that we are not happy, and we will continue to march to remind him that we will not stop until we are treated equally and fairly.’ Second year Drama and Creative Writing student, Ansley Echols, attended the march with a group of friends. When asked about the importance of the march, Echols (a San Francisco native) said, ‘When Trump got elected, a lot of people felt unsafe. Not just in America, but everywhere.’ America has proven to be one
of the world’s most influential military and economic powers. So it is no wonder that Trump’s election would ignite fear on a global scale. ‘I think marching was the first step towards uniting everyone and moving away from fear, towards hope, together.’ Echols also commented on the diversity of the posters she observed during the march, stating that while there were many posters advocating for women’s rights, religious rights, racial equality and LGBT rights were in amongst the prominent groups calling for change. ‘That was the moment, I think, that a lot of people realised they weren’t in this alone, and that they could make a difference,’ Echols said. ‘It was the first step of many in rebuilding faith in democracy and humanity. As we can see from the marches that took
place all over the world, it has started a force that can’t be stopped.’ The Women’s March movement has indeed not stopped marching. Currently on their website, they’ve initiated and featured a ‘10 Actions in 100 Days’ campaign to keep up the momentum fuelled by the post-inauguration day demonstration. The campaign aims to give supporters one action to complete every ten days for the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency, which is conceivably the most important time period of a president. These actions can be anything from writing a letter to local legislators or engaging with Members of Congress in a series of protests and meetings, but they all seek to counteract the policies that have already been implemented by the Trump administration.
NEWS 5
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk
The 'C' Word
Fundraising, and the Importance of Cancer Awareness CHARLOTTE RUBERY STUDENT WRITER
7.6 million. The number of lives claimed by cancer every single year, with a heart breaking 4 million of those being premature deaths in young people. These statistics should be a wake-up call to us. Cancer is happening and is not going away. I have had many conversations with people whom cancer has affected, in fact, an estimated 1 in 3 people will be affected by cancer, to some degree, in their lifetime. It’s so easy to feel helpless against such an aggressive and unpredictable disease, which is why fundraising is key; these statistics should serve as a mechanism to highlight why fundraising is so important. Cancer Research is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research, and the work it does is simply remarkable. Personally, I believe everyone has something to offer in terms of fundraising. Whilst the budding athletes would favour a physical challenge, others may prefer to bake, sing, dance or party, and commit themselves to a range of other activities or personal challenges which will fundraise for the researchers who work tirelessly to beat cancer. Whilst fundraising is crucial, awareness is a huge part of the issue, with many people falling victim to ignorance of the severity of some cancers, whilst others can be negligent towards their own bodies. Surprisingly, many people do not seem
to be aware of the screenings and tests that they are entitled to. There have been many well publicised cases of people who find out they have cancer when it’s too late, or of those who simply did not take up the offer of the medical testing that they are entitled to. This raises the question – are we not educated enough about our own health and our own national health system, or are we simply in denial? I will readily acknowledge the fact that health is a personal issue and a topic many people find awkward and embarrassing to broach, yet I cannot help but question, why on earth is this the case? Surely our health should be our main priority? However, for many, personal pride coupled with an underlined fear of what we may find, should we delve into the unknown, foils our attempts to take our health seriously. Cancer does not see wealth, nor race, nor gender or sexuality and, as negative as it may sound, it can affect anyone and everyone. This fact, whether we like it or not, should act as a preventative measure of our ignorance. A topic that concerns me, in particular, is men’s health. Male pride can be a dominant and obvious feature in society and, though harmless in some instances, is overwhelmingly dangerous where personal health is concerned. Movember, a leading global organisation who are committed to, ‘changing the face of men’s health’, have done fantastic work every November for the past fourteen
years to fundraise and, crucially, raise worldwide awareness of men’s health issues, include prostate cancer. This is not gender exclusive, with ‘Mo Bros’ and ‘Mo Sistas’ all taking part in fundraising activities and events; a perfect example of an inclusive organisation whose work is allowing us to talk openly and confidently about health issues, of all kinds. The destigmatisation of these uncomfortable topics is vital to the progression of fundraising, awareness and research. Cancer Research UK are fantastic at promoting the health screenings available to us. Take a look at the age specific guidelines on their website, in order to make sure that we are all informed and aware of the issues surrounding our own health: https://www.cancer.org/ healthy/find-cancer-early/ cancer-screening-guidelines/ s c re e n i ng - re c om m e n d a tions-by-age.html Should you wish to donate to Cancer Research UK, you can do so through their website, which also details fundraising opportunities you can actively get involved in throughout the year: ht t p : / / w w w. c a n c e r r e searchuk.org/ With World Cancer Day having taken place at the start of term, this is a particularly topical issue, and one we must all take note of. Whilst we ordinary people may not hold the cure for cancer, we certainly can bring it one step closer with active fundraising and the consistent raising of awareness. Together we can beat cancer.
Where Students Live Affects Uni Apps ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR
A new study by the Press Assoication news agency showed that teenagers’ likelihood of applying to university is heavily dependent on where they live. The study showed that London had the highest application rate of 47%, while the South West had the lowest at 32%. Some statistics showed a huge leap, with four times as many teenagers in Wimbledon applying compared to Havant in Hampshire. Sir Peter Lampl, chief executive of the Sutton Trust education charity, said the ‘massive difference... reflects the fact that the chances of
getting to university are very much dependent on where you live and where you go to school’. The research was carried out using data from UCAS of students applying this year. Social factors affect the likelihood of teenagers applying for university. The research showed that in general, young people in Conservative seats are slightly more likely to apply than those in Labour seats, with the average application rate in 328 Conservative seats being 38%, compared with 34% across 231 Labour seats. However, England's Department for Education said applications from 18-yearolds, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, were at record high levels.
RHUL Teams Up With The Tate SUZANNAH BALL DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR
Royal Holloway has teamed up with Tate as an associate of the Tate Exchange programme for a week long interactive programme titled ‘Theatres of Exchange’. The programme acts as a platform for sharing ideas across subjects such as art, performances and environment. The programme took place between the 13th and 17th of February, where various departments from the University’s faculty of Arts and Social Sciences held classes involving performances and interactive workshops. The drama department’s involvement was surrounding the second year module Theatre for Young Audi-
ences. As part of a formative assignment students had to create an hour long workshop presentation for children ages three and above. Hayley Atkinson, second year drama student, stated that the event was very popular and enjoyable for both the students and the children and parents who got involved. She told The Founder ‘I was pleasantly surprised. I walked in intimidated by a five-yearold and came out feeling like a five-year-old, I loved it.’ Hayley’s own group produced a series of workshops inspired my Monet’s waterlily painting, with each section having a different workshop aspect such as creating lily pads. Professor of Drama Matthew Cohen also took part in the Exchange Programme, leading a puppetry workshop.
6 OPINION AND DEBATE
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk
[Debate]
POINT And
Zoos For Aid and Education: A Preferable Solution AMANDA HUDSON OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR
When I was little, one of my favourite outings to take with my family was a trip to the local zoo. My brother and I would run up to the lion enclosure, imitate the lion’s roar, and climb up onto one of the many aesthetically placed boulders to re-enact the scene from The Lion King where Scar dramatically throws Mufasa into a stampede of wildebeests. We’d press our faces up against the glass of the marine tanks to see the graceful beauty of the enormous manatees, or the playful torpedoing of the bottlenose dolphins. Since the most exotic animals native to the wilderness of North Carolina (where I’m from) are among the likes of flying squirrels and beavers, going to the zoo was an irreplaceable educational experience that my brother and I would never forget. However, as I grew older, I came to realise the potential problems that zoos raised for animals. While many will claim that one of the main purposes of zoos is to keep certain species from going extinct, this is certainly not
the case for every animal held in captivity. Many animals in zoos are held in enclosures that stray far from their natural environment, and exhibit physical and psychological signs of stress and other health issues. Circuses are arguably one of the cruellest forms of animal captivity. Animals are trained to expect pain if they disobey their human instructors, made to perform tricks that are highly unnatural and even dangerous, and given appalling living conditions. Although they continue to become less popular than their peak day in age, they have yet to be banned completely. But unlike zoos, circuses offer no educational aspect and use animals purely for the purpose of entertainment. There is something to be said for educating the masses about the animals that live on our planet in an interactive way – but at what cost? Condemning zoos entirely would mean to condemn those whose main mission is, in fact, to provide aid for endangered or injured animals. But perhaps there remains a better solution that sits nicely between banning zoos entirely and keeping animals in captivity away from their
natural environment. In Sarasota, Florida, there’s an aquarium called Mote Marine that is home to exclusively endangered or injured marine life. If an aquatic animal is found injured, it can be brought to the aquarium where the staff will nurse it back to health and release it back into the wild. My grandmother volunteers at Mote, and every time we make it down to Florida we always pay a visit to the aquarium. Mote continues to be one of the most harmless educational experiences about animals (apart from watching Animal Planet) that I know. While aiding endangered species is certainly a noble effort, we are forced to consider whether or not endangered species would even be endangered at all if not for humankind’s continual destruction of wildlife and carelessness when it comes to nature. After everything we’ve done to destroy it, we should feel obligated in the modern day to change the way we regard nature and the wildlife that live in it. If more zoos changed their mission to help aid endangered or injured species, instead of spouting a thinly veiled disguise about education in order to turn a profit, this would certainly be a preferable solution.
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
OPINION AND DEBATE 7
Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk
COUNTER-POINT Zoos: Happy Façades, Not Worth the Price MEGAN CARDY STUDENT WRITER
Zoos do not necessarily meet the eye as being problematic. They come armed with a friendly mascot in the shape of a ‘killer whale’, feature educational and interactive video zones for children and never fail to include the obligatory gift shop peppered with glittery giraffe shaped keyrings. The internal décor of the majority of commercial zoos continues to accommodate the family day trip; with large, colourful murals and walls of glass enclosures filled with snakes and insects to entice children along the ‘boring bits’. This happy façade is a lie. Even the best, most updated enclosure featuring a man-made river and a selection of artistically placed trees cannot provide the animal with anything like the true habitat to which it is suited. On their website, The Captive Animals’ Protection Society published the findings from a study of UK Elephants which found that a mere 16 percent were able to walk correctly as a result of poor conditions. Tigers and lions reportedly suffer in conditions that are 18,000 times smaller than what their species is naturally accustomed to in the wild. More worryingly, there are far more detrimental effects to this lack of space than sim-
ply discomfort – which, of course, is upsetting enough in itself. Animals displaying abnormal repetitive behaviours (such as head-bopping, repetitive pacing etc.) are often suffering from serious psychosis. If the only justification offered is that zoos ‘contribute to saving animals from extinction’, it must be asked if there is not a better way to do so. Alternative methods such as open, protected sanctuaries in the animal’s natural habitat would fundamentally cater to their quality of life; even if that action would remove them from the entertainment sector. Animals are rarely treated with dignity even if they display signs of mental instability. As a result of the tragic death of his trainer Dawn Brancheau, Tilikum, the orca, was punished with solitary confinement in a ‘kennel’ of a tank, according to The Humane Society of the United States. That there were no alternatives to this living arrangement is certainly not the case. Tilikum could have been transported to an open sea enclosure, a move that The Loneliest Orca in the World documentary claims SeaWorld failed to act upon. For those who claim that zoos offer protection to endangered species, surely it would be more beneficial to
aid them within their natural habitat through conservation projects than to spend huge amounts shipping them overseas and building enclosures that guarantee a life of purgatory for the animals in question, alongside any descendants. This argument barely scratches the surface regarding the inhumanity of the modern day zoo. The killing of surplus animals combined with the reports of the provision of animals for circus acts by modern day zoos would have even the most ardent supporter question where the money from their entrance fee is going. In many cases, it certainly isn’t contributing to animal welfare. Inhumane practises surrounding the exploitation of animals will not be addressed without the boycotting of those businesses which prioritise capital over care. If zoos were disbanded, profit from the sale of premises combined with any leftover profit could surely be reinvested into suitable conservation projects and local animal sanctuaries away from the distressing influence of the public eye. For those who advocate zoos for the educational benefits – would it not be more beneficial for a young child to realise that it is highly unnatural to see a lion in London?
F
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8 OPINION AND DEBATE
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at comment@thefounder.co.uk
The Royal Navy:
The vitality of independent defence to a sovereign nation.
PETER LATHAM STUDENT WRITER
Modernity – at whichever point in the past – has an arrogance that it, and it alone, is special. It is this mindset which may be to blame for the denial present amongst large portions of the Remain camp. On reflection, it would be foolish to suggest a European modernity constructed in 44 years could so easily overthrow a British heritage coppiced over a millennium. The British are an island people, and it is this which has defined them – Europe is their neighbour, but Poseidon is their partner. Yet, it’s often when the British forget this that they endanger themselves most. The Ten Year Rule, assuming no major war in the next ten years, continued to 1932 – a decade later, Europe had fallen. Again, John Nott judged in 1981 that there was little threat to the British territories in the South Atlantic; the withdrawal of the last British patrol in the region was announced. A year later, the Falklands had fallen. Today, the situation is delicate again. Britain, many would say, is in need of friends. Yet friends are not, and never should be, the determiners of national sovereignty. It’s necessary that Britain must be able to defend its freedom – to defend its freedom alone. As many of the (younger) British public may have felt secure in their liberal European future, politicians worldwide have reaped the ‘rewards’ of the end of history through the peace dividend. If Ukraine did not wake them from their slumber, a volatile United States and a flexing China absolutely must. An independent Trident system is the bedrock of this defence. The conventional
Photo via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Royal_Navy_(8658940106).jpg
forces of the Royal Navy must not, however, take secondplace. 95 percent of our trade and 35 percent of our energy is dependent on the sea, as German seamen were once quick to recognise. Yet, although the RN remains one of the few navies to possess bluewater capabilities, it is frankly too small. Despite this, the RN has the ability to be arguably the second most capable navy worldwide. The benefits of a capable, well-funded navy are manifest; most prominent the ability to act independently and avoid defence dependence. Diplomatically, British influence would be considerably increased, the RN asserting British interests in the key strategic regions of the twenty-first century, particu-
larly East Asia. Such influence creates leverage – something the British government is realising can be very useful. The RN also contributes towards soft power; British military personnel conduct humanitarian and disaster relief operations, boosting the argument that a portion of the foreign aid budget should be diverted towards defence. Economically, British shipyards provide a key industrial opportunity, particularly relevant if Britain is to lead the advocacy of free trade. British shipyards will only benefit from increased defence spending; increased order numbers equate to lower unemployment, economies of scale and increased potential for foreign export. The Ministry of Defence,
however, must make changes, including the formulation of a long-term schedule and costing for future naval procurement. To do otherwise, as is currently the case, results in severe problems: the loss of skills; the necessity of costly time-fillers; the aging of vessels; the overrun of costs and over-specialisation; the procurement of inappropriate vessels; the dependence upon allies to fill the gap; and the disappearance and unreliability of equipment. Despite these problems, it seems to be the norm that articles demonstrating the failings of the MoD end with a conciliatory tone. It’s true that the Royal Navy remains one of the most advanced and capable navies in history. Yet, this conclusion must also be can-
did. The liberal West has experienced peace, and this has allowed your social advances. The equality of sexes, genders, the freedom to debate, to move and to vote without query, the democracy which allows the opposition to oppose these ideas has become the norm. Change, however, doesn’t change. It moves relentlessly: backwards, forwards, sideways. Defence provides an insurance – it provides a chance to retain our values. Not our individual values, but our national value of democratic and judicial self-determination as a United Kingdom, irrespective of outside pressures. Thus, together, it is necessary to support a stronger Royal Navy – for who are so free as the sons of the waves?
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
OPINION AND DEBATE 9
Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk
White Feminism: Far From Equality MICHELE THEIL WEB EDITOR
The feminist movement has gained a lot of traction in the last few years, particularly through the medium of social media. There are constant significant debates between feminists and meninists and sexists and abstainers. Debates always draw attention to this movement for equality. However, there’s one thing that hasn’t been talked about as much as it should be: white feminism. White feminism is a term used for the brand of feminism focused on the issues and struggles primarily affecting white, straight, able-bodied women. This is a movement that doesn’t recognise intersectionality as an important part of feminism.
White feminism is when a white celebrity, such as Miley Cyrus, is celebrated for her sexuality and risqué outfits, while a black celebrity, such as Nicki Minaj, is criticised and condemned for it. White feminism is perpetuated when celebrities like Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer and Taylor Swift are regarded by fans and the media as feminist icons whilst overlooking the numerous problematic statements they make. Personally, I believe none of these women deserves the title ‘feminist icon’. Both Amy Schumer and Lena Dunham often tweet ‘jokes’ that offend and insult minorities when they, as privileged white women, have no authority to do so. The jokes in question were
about racial stereotypes, and when people pointed out the racist connotations behind them, the women didn’t see a problem. The strange thing is that many people took Schumer’s and Dunham’s sides, and did not recognize that what the women said in their tweets were, at best, problematic; and, at worst, slightly racist. Taylor Swift’s negative reaction to Nicki Minaj’s tweets questioning the Video of the Year nominations at the 2015 VMAs was another example of white feminism and its harmful effects. In one fell swoop, Swift effectively changed the narrative from a discussion about racism and anti-black misogyny at award shows like Minaj originally intended, to how Nicki was
‘attacking’ Swift through these tweets (even though Swift was never mentioned). As Zeba Blay of the Huffington Post stated, Swift ‘dismissed [Minaj’s] experiences as a black woman, a classic example of the way white feminism works to undermine women of colour.’ The fact that Swift does not recognise her privilege or that she could use her power, celebrity and privilege to speak up on issues that affect people of colour and other marginalised groups is a clear sign that the pop princess is not, in fact, a feminist at all. Swift, Schumer and Dunham are not the only people that are guilty of White Feminism. Selena Gomez, a
close friend of Swift, posted on social media telling people to use their voice for something that matters rather than drawing attention to the supposedly trivial argument involving the mention of Swift in Kanye West’s song ‘Famous’. This blatant attempt to sweep everything under the carpet could be seen as hypocritical due to the fact that Gomez has never spoken up about issues in the world regarding race, and particularly because Gomez herself is Latina. All of this enshrines an overwhelmingly larger problem, wherein people believe that the advancement of white women in the world is the same as the advancement of all women, regardless of their race, gender identity, sexuality or disability.
10 LIFESTYLE The Birth Of The Middle Aged Student EMILY MAY WEBBER LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Disclaimer: I am writing this drinking a cup of Tesco Finest tea on a Saturday night. The student. A being that involves surviving a week off a tin of beans, crawling into bed at 5am on a weekday, and going to edgy house parties, well, just because they can. However, whilst feeling a sense of sorrow over the lack of pesto in the fridge, I realised how middle aged the millennial student
'W hy are
we becoming more inclined to staying in than downing a dirty pint...' had actually become. With a campus university, in the sleepy town of Egham, could it just be part of the Royal Holloway experience? Is there such a thing anymore as partying all weekend whilst crashing on your mutual friend’s sofa, or have we become that person sipping loose-leaf tea whilst watching a 2007 episode of ‘Escape to the Country’? So, why are we becoming more inclined to stay in rather than downing a dirty pint in the back garden of a run down student abode? Yes, Royal Holloway is not exactly the most upbeat place to student, yet even on a Friday night, the effort, cost and hangover of Saturday is something most of us can only stomach once a week. It may just be a stereotype at-
tached to the ‘student’ persona. Yet, with houmous becoming an essential and delight in freshly washed sheets becoming something of a weekly pleasure, are we destroying what it means to be a true student? Or are we just bored of overpriced drinks, sticky dance floors and cheap cider? With this in mind, I decided to do my own research to see how many of us have turned into our mothers, or could there be some die-hard students still out there. A poll was put on the main Royal Holloway message board. The question was: ‘On a typical Saturday night, what are you most likely to be doing at Royal Holloway?’ A. Partying at Medicine or in the London area B. Drinking with friends or in a pub C. A quiet night out e.g. a meal or cinema trip D. Film, duvet and a cup of tea Of those who answered, 74% are sporting their best pyjamas with a very British cup of tea on a wild Saturday evening. The even spilt of 13% goes to the ultimate middle-aged night out, of a civilised meal, with the likelihood of being home by 9pm. The other half is drinking with friends, most likely a glass of Merlot or for the true students out there, a can of Strongbow may be present. Not surprisingly, the classic student Saturday night out is a very poor 0%. As Royal Holloway’s main student night out, it is likely that most go out on a Wednesday or Friday. However, is the Saturday night something of the past? Where have the days of wild house parties, and a Pot Noodle for Sunday lunch gone? A healthy lifestyle is not something to be ashamed of, yet, let go of the perfect and embrace the student you are.
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
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Horses: The Best Medicine TEGAN BAKER STUDENT WRITER
I have been an avid equestrian all of my life. As I learnt to walk, I learnt to ride. I was that pony-mad kid who wore tops with My Little Ponies proudly printed on the front and was glued to reading the stories of K.M Peyton and Lauren Brooke. From the age of ten, I volunteered at local stables and worked my way up to be a riding instructor at age sixteen. At this time I was blessed to have my own pony with my mum, a New Forest called Storm. To say he changed my life would be an understatement. No matter what stress I faced with both my personal and university life, he was always there to comfort me. When I became ill with a chronic illness in 2014, I worried about how I would cope with my university work, yet he was a constant source of relief and support. The bond between horse and rider is based on a mutual trust that is incomparable to any human bond. Whilst many are incredibly lucky to have their own horse, there a lots of ways to get involved Photos courtesy of Tegan Baker. and experience their calming aura. Tamsin Doar, Vice Holloway Riding gives you There are also an abunCaptain of Royal Holloway the opportunity to experi- dance of free opportunities Riding said, ‘Riding is about ence both lessons and com- for students to be involved the relationship between you petitive riding at affordable with horses. Some riding and the horse. The only time prices. Tamsin said, ‘A lot of schools and rescue centres that you can be truly success- people assume that to be able will willingly take volunteers. ful is when you are solely fo- to join Riding you have to Despite not being able to ride cused on working as a team have an endless pit of money. this way, just surrounding to achieve that aim. For that However, it is nowhere near yourself with these calm and reason, riding completely as bad as it seems - our club intelligent animals is stress erases any other stress you lessons are brilliant value for relief in itself. Whatever your have. A horse can't judge you money. You are grouped in budget or situation, I believe for how you look, how you're terms of ability so everyone everyone can enjoy the benefeeling or your plans after is working towards common fits of interacting with horses graduation.’ aims. We're really proud of and I hope you are encourYou may be thinking, how affordable we've made aged to give it a go. ‘Isn’t horse riding expen- our lessons.’ The Club rides at To find out more about sive?’ This is where the riding Super Duper Farm in Chob- Royal Holloway Riding, club comes in. Similar to all ham, which means it has ac- check out their Facebook sports, riding can be costly to cess to the essential benefits page or contact riding@ partake in. However, Royal for first timers and novices. su.rhul.ac.uk
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
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LIFESTYLE 11
[StudentRecipe]
Easy Peasy Chorizo Chilli EMILY MAY WEBBER LIFESTYLE EDITOR
If mum’s homemade chilli results in an endless amount of washing up and time consuming simmering, here is a no fuss chilli that will taste just like home, in half the time. This recipe serves two, so you could double up for a housemate feast, or freeze half to have a tasty meal waiting after your lectures.
Ingredients: 100g of Chorizo 350g of Fresh Tomato and Chilli Sauce 400g of Kidney Beans 400g of Chickpeas 1 Red Pepper 1 Red Onion 100ml of water
Photo by Emily May Webber.
Rice, Jacket Potato or Natural Yogurt to serve 1.
Slice the chorizo into small discs, and dry fry over a medium heat.
2.
Drain the chickpeas and kidney beans and add this to a saucepan along with the fresh tomato sauce
and the water. Leave to simmer as the chorizo cooks.
3.
Add sliced pepper and onion to the chorizo and gently sautĂŠ for a few minutes.
4.
Drain away the fat from the pan, and add the chorizo, peppers and onion to the saucepan.
5.
Lower the hear, and simmer for 10 minutes
6.
Serve over rice, jacket potato, or with a scoop of natural yogurt and enjoy!
12 FEATURES
MAKING THE
MOST OF IT
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
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RHUL
TEN THINGS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN YOUR LAST TERM THOMAS HAWKINS FEATURES EDITOR
As we get ever closer to the last term of the year, Third-Years may be panicking about how little time you have left at Royal Holloway. In four month’s we’ll be leaving the bubble of Egham (or staying on as a postgrad) to make our way in the world. Why not make the last 11 or so weeks of the academic year (and that’s INCLUDING Easter break) the best.
food at the market on a Tuesday Careers 1. Hot 4. If you’ve never tried it, not only is there a fruit Royal Holloway’s careers department is a and vegetable market inside the SU every Tuesday that’s superb value but there are also stalls selling cooked food just outside.
Having all your friends relatively nearby 2. Why not organise a ‘Come Dine With Me’ experience to take away the stress of exams and deadlines? Or just pop round for a cup of tea and a biscuit? When Dan or Laura go back to Manchester this summer it’ll be so much harder to see them – Make the most of all your friends living in the same town, even if they are all the way in Nightingale Shott and you’re deep in Englefield Green.
to the Summer Ball 3. Going If you haven’t been to one in either First or
Second Year, what better way to end your final term and celebrate the end of exams than with a fancy PARTY in the Founders quads. There’s food, rides, and so many moments for a good Insta’.
hidden gem. If you haven’t already been to have a CV checked or just to sort out a mild panic attack when you have no idea what you’re doing after you graduate (guilty) I wholly recommend it.
building 5.Founders Not every university student can say they have a palace on campus (or chateaux, but unless you’re telling someone who knows the ins and outs they won’t know different, just say Hogwarts). Ready your cameras for the signature Dissertation photo on the Founders steps.
comparatively cheap rent 6. IfThe anyone has checked the price range
when living in London you’ll see that £400 a month is nothing. Somewhere in London you’ll be looking at around £600-800 a month, so make the most of all your expendable income while it’s there.
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
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Water 7. Virginia This is the perfect spot to go for a walk, or grab
a picnic, or buy an ice cream only for the heavens to open, leaving you to eat it while staring at a BP garage from the only source of shelter. On a sunny day you can walk to the ruins, or all the way to Saville Gardens where it’s truly beautiful.
days out in London 8. Have We’re part of the ‘University of London’ for
a reason; it’s only a 45 minute journey from Egham to Waterloo. Take some friends to the Tate or the Natural History Museum for a fun and cheap day out.
Imagine 9. The only place in Egham to sell bubble
tea, and a pretty good place to not only socialise but to work and arrange group projects..
10. Toast When will you get £1.50 drinks again? Unless you’re from the north…
FEATURES 13
14 ARTS [AGuide]
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
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Museums of London
AMANDA HUDSON OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR
The urge to go into London can often be a force of nature for those of us who live in little ol’ Egham. Unfortunately, even the cost of a coffee in the city can be a detrimental blow to your wallet. While you can always head to one of London’s many beautiful parks for a free day out, there’s no guarantee for perfect park-friendly weather. A rainproof option is available to those who are willing to set aside free time for intellectual stimulation - and it won’t cost you a penny. London is famous for its free museums, and though tourists flock to them in rubber-necking gaggles of pavement-hazards, sometimes it’s not such a bad thing to be a tourist in your own city. Of course, seeing everything there is to see in any of these places would easily take an entire day from opening to closing time. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of highlights from each museum for your consideration:
The British Museum When you step into these extraordinary galleries, it is an entirely different experience from looking at an artifact behind a sheet of glass. For a few moments, you are literally stepping into a different time and world. While looking at artifacts might tell a story of history, the architecture and interior design galleries of While also famous for its im- The V&A will put you directly mense collection of ancient in the middle of it. sculptures and paintings (that are certainly worth a visit if you get the chance), The V&A hosts a unique aspect in the world of museums: architecture and interior design.
The Natural History Museum aesthetics of a fantastic Instagram photo. However, there are many delights in store for the museum-goer through the baroque iron front doors. In fifteen corridors of interactive scientific wonders, this museum offers insight into earth, environmental, oceanic, and evolutionary sciences that will tickle your curiosity taste buds. If you’re up for paying a Easily the most impressive small fee, I highly recommend building I have ever set foot in, visiting any of the excellent The Natural History Museum exhibitions the museum has could be visited purely for the to offer.
The Victoria And Albert
Photos by Amanda Hudson.
Having just celebrated its 263rd anniversary last year, The British Museum holds the title of the first national public museum,
and is home to thousands of historical artifacts from all over the world. The building itself is a breathtaking mix of modern and classical architecture, sewn seamlessly together in 89 rooms and galleries. However, the objects in the rooms are what take the spotlight. Walking through the Ancient Greek galleries was akin to travelling in time in just a few curious steps. The sculptures and paintings told a story of human history that simply cannot be achieved by opening a textbook. Similarly, in the Asia galleries, not only did I feel like I was travelling in time by perusing through ornate jewelry and vases, I was also travelling to what seemed like a separate world.
ARTS 15
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
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Selfishness: The Cost and Value
Photo via https://www.flickr.com/photos/paoletti/31816406 CONOR DEITH STUDENT WRITER
Ayn Rand was the enigmatic Russian-American writer-philosopher, behind two of the twentieth-century’s most ostentatious and lengthy novels: The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. Rand has also been the subject of criticism for her dedication to her ideological views. Through a carefully estimated sum of around 1921 pages, Rand’s Objectivism is introduced to her helpless victims. Upon conducting an unashamedly swift glance at Wikipedia, Objectivism is, ‘the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.’ The philosophy is of course, more convoluted, but, keeping this definition in mind, one is struck by this most intriguing philosophy at every page. While I’ve completed Fountainhead, and am halfway through Atlas, I couldn’t help thinking: what am I supposed to take from these novels? How far do I agree with Rand’s philosophy? Is there any virtue in being selfish? That’s what the philosophy boils down to: an ev-
ocation of man’s own desires taking precedence over the public good; of the ends justifying the means, if it brings profit or personal benefit. Take Rand’s Howard Roark from The Fountainhead, a genius architect whose wacky concepts prove unbearably daunting for the members of the Architects’ Guild of America. Roark, the epitome of Rand’s egoistical fantasies, is her first attempt at constructing the “ideal man”. He is Objectivism incarnate; his only purpose in life comes from the value of his work alongside his desire to do things his way. Roark’s stalwart demeanour means he’d rather suffer through poverty than bend to the will of others. He is by no means an honourable character; not when he dismantles the lives of ex-colleagues, and especially not after his hardto-read and morally questionable escapades with the novel’s Dominique Francon. Similar traits are found in Atlas Shrugged. A veritable slew of characters are in the running for the title of, ‘most blatant representation of Objectivism.’ Hank Rearden, a ‘man of achievement’ and wealth, becomes acquainted with Dagny Taggart. They share a bond, both professionally and romantically, that once
again hopes to dominate the world of industry against all odds. Like Roark, the pair are dedicated to their work and leave others to wallow in the wake of their achievements. In Rearden’s words: ‘I work for nothing but my own profit. I do not produce it for their benefit at the expense of mine’. Why then, have these novels remained popular among students and industrious entrepreneurial types alike? I suppose there’s some admirability, in the way that Objectivism has implemented the lives of Rand’s characters. Surely, it is good for productive achievement to be one’s: ‘noblest activity’. If man’s greatest efforts were directed towards less constructive activities, it’d be hard to imagine the society that would emerge from a citizenry of unproductive people. Then, there’s the issue of one’s happiness as the primary source of moral purpose in life, in other words, stressing individual gain over collectivised effort to promote the wellbeing of society. It would be great to have the wealth and reputation of Rearden, but then there’s the sense that what these characters are in possession of, has failed to make them ‘happy’. Rearden has this goal in mind, that of being the greatest metallurgist the world has ever seen, and to be the sole leader among men. But, what else does he have? Arguably, nothing. I believe Rand fails to recognise that a society containing these sorts of people, would collapse under the weight of its own brute force. Happiness can be found in innumerable places, and to imply that it can only be granted through individual effort is a gross misunderstanding of the value of selfless behaviour. The lesson I’ve learnt from Rand’s work is that, whilst it’s vital to encourage productive behaviour, it’s just as important to show compassion.
Student's Say What's the best book you've read this year?
"Nutshell by Ian Mcewan." Gemma Tadman, Third Year
"Harare North by Brian Chikwava." Imogen Trinder Third Year
"What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi." Amanda Hudson Second Year
16 ARTS: FILM [Debate]
#OscarsSoStupid JACK SALVADORI STUDENT WRITER
Once upon a time, the Academy Awards used to be a valuable and historical establishment - the film of the year was publicly acknowledged as the one award that attained the Oscar, and it would be remembered as such in the future because of its prestigious recognition. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore, as the Oscars chose to lapse their status in favour of mere socio-political stanzas. Last year, the media boycotted the ceremony using the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, tackling the diversity issue in Hollywood, and particularly attacking the lack of black nominees. A movement that soon became a fashion, involving hundreds of celebrities who proudly shared the phony contempt. Only three years ago, Nyong’o, Ejiofor and Abdi all won acting nominations, and in the past couple of decades, Foxx, Freeman and Whitaker have won Best Actor. According to The Economist, during the current century, 10% of the Academy’s acting nominations have been awarded to black actors, and 13% of the US population are African-American, Therefore, it has been balanced so far, and if last year Will Smith and Idris Elba did not deserve the nominations for their mediocre interpretations, it is not a case of racism. The Academy’s choices have been limited, because if there are not many good films with a minoritiesformed casting, it is not the Academy’s fault, but rather the film industry itself. However this year, in order to avoid another controversy, the 89th Academy Awards pandered to the public misinformation. A ceremony unjustifiably apologizing for last year’s accusations, and robotically forcing at least one black nominee in every single category, reaching
its peak having 4 out of 5 documentaries about black-related subject-matters. And in the end, after the pitiful staging of the wrong envelope, the Oscar went to… Moonlight, the greatest Oscar-bait in history. A poorlyrated movie carefully designed to get the award, about the story of a young, black, gay man, struggling with poverty and drug addiction, told across three decades and based on a play. What a surprise that it gained the Oscar for ‘Best Film’. However, the greatest winner of the night was La La Land, the nostalgic musical that - out of the record-tying14 nominations – managed to achieve 6, almost 7 awards, considering that the Oscar for Best Film was wrongly assigned to it for a few minutes. Referencing romantic musical icons of the past to create the illusion of charm, Damien Chazelle, the youngest Oscar winning film director, made a film about egoism, where love is sacrificed for aspiration. It must have been a comfort for the Academy’s voters to see the characters’ selfish choices, as many of them will have followed a similar path, and that is possibly the reason why they felt so connected to the film. When ‘art’ is sacrificed for politics, it is no longer worthy of attention. When cinema is turned into an ephemeral message, art does not belong to it anymore. It is the praise of commercialism - it’s transforming a potential art into a money industry. I personally wonder how it can be taken seriously as an institution that snubbed the real best films of the year, arrogantly excluding Martin Scorsese’s Silence, Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals and Park Chan-Wook’s The Handmaiden, as they were not conformed to the message they aimed to spread.
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
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#OscarsSoRight In the last few years, the best picture win at the Oscars was met with a shrug as most people returned to their daily lives, content in the knowledge that some multimillionaires in California handed some other multimillionaires a statue for their efforts, saying, ‘This film - yes, this film - is the best film.’ And so the world continued to turn. This year, however, Moonlight's win over La La Land has caused quite a stir, in both critical and general circles alike. After the boycott last year, the Academy strove to change up their board to better reflect the increasing diversity in recent films, which would appear to have had a positive effect. Films which - though critically acclaimed - would have been overlooked by the Academy finally got the nominations they deserved. Films like Hidden Figures, Fences and obviously, Moonlight were up for awards this year, and though they didn't sweep the awards they definitely took their due. Almost immediately after Moonlight's win was announced, views emerged on both sides of the polarising lens. Half of the world loved the win and the other half absolutely hated it. Those who hated it had fewer issues with the actual quality of the film than they did with what the film's win could possibly represent - that Moonlight's win could be - gasp! - pandering to a demographic to win an Oscar! To that I say: obviously. Every film from the last decade which won best picture was in some way pandering to the Academy's taste. The leading narrative is that the win was a way for the Academy to showcase their 'not racist' views towards films, and apologise in some sense for last year. It seems hypocritical to say first that the Oscars are won based on the merits of a film and then to say that certain films only won because they were specially selected, and to place the blame on identity
F
politics. It's certainly hypocritical to one year say: ‘Well, the reason that there aren't any black nominees this year is because there simply weren't any performances which were good enough’, and then say: ‘There are only so many black nominees this year because they're fulfilling a political agenda.’ People who are thinking in that way are assuming that the system is only objective when it suits them. The truth is that the system is always as objective as possible with regards to performances. Swallow your pride, follow your own narrative, and accept that this year there were a number of black nominees because they all gave stellar performances and produced excellent films. More to the point - why are we still taking into account the skin colour of performers as if that's a factor that affects their ability? Best Picture isn't about the film that looks the prettiest, has the best story, or acting - that's why those categories exist as separate nominations. Best Picture is - and always has been - about the film which encapsulates the spirit of the time perfectly and reflects the society it exists in. La La Land is far too fantastical, too optimistic, to be that film. Moonlight, the first LGBT Best Picture and the lowest budget winner; a film about issues faced by black people, by gay people, by people who feel governed by standards of masculinity - is that film: a landmark of current culture. I'm neither black nor gay, but even I could see the importance of a film like Moonlight in a society currently dominated by the politics of fear, division, suspicion, prejudice and exclusion. In times like these, Moonlight reminds us that the most important thing, above all, is humanity. HARRISON MAJITHIA STUDENT WRITER
Weigh in on Twitter with the hashtag #oscarssostupid/oscarssoright. Find us at @rhulfounder Graphic via clipartfest.com
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
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ARTS: FILM 17
[Review]
Split: An Edge Of Your Seat Experience RYAN LEWIS NAIR FILM EDITOR
When I initially saw the trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller Split, I thought that the American director (The Visit, The Village, Unbreakable) had simply concocted another hostage-themed flick with albeit, an intriguing twist. After having seen the pseudo-horror, how wrong I was. Split, arguably the best film of 2017 thus far, adapts one of psychology’s most fascinating disorders, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and delves deep into the nitty gritty of the illness, and the devastating effect it has on an individual. Led phenomenally by James McAvoy (Trance, Filth and Wanted), Split explores the concept of a man, Kevin, who has twenty-three separate, distinct personalities, unique in nature, gender and even age. Having kidnapped three girls and now keeping them hostage in an undisclosed location, the captives must utilise Kevin’s personalities to escape. With talk of one of his personalities, ‘The Beast’ being ‘on the move’, there is also the pressure of a time scale to the film which makes the tone increasingly tense and adds a sense of impending doom. Constructed cleverly with regular scenes centred around Kevin’s therapy sessions (in which he acts under the guise ‘Barry’ – an artist and another personality), the audience gain an authentic insight into how DID manifests itself, the interconnectedness between personalities, and the underlying damage done to the host. In a nutshell (spoilers ahead), Kevin has developed twenty-three personalities
with certain ones - Dennis, Patricia and Hedwig – taking what is called in the film, ‘the light’ (Kevin’s primary consciousness) more often than others. Marvellously played by James McAvoy, the actor should be up for an Oscar after this performance as his transformations are astounding. Switching from an OCD sex offender, to a psychopathic mother figure, to a deluded child of nine in a matter of
'T here is also the pressure of a time scale to the film which makes the tone increasingly tense '
minutes, is unrivalled talent. Critically what it displays is McAvoy’s underrated ability as an actor and marvels the likes of Tom Hardy’s Legend, in which the A-lister similarly plays two personalities at once. As the story progresses, we learn of Dr Fletcher’s risky obsession with DID and her view of the defect as a benefit (almost like a superpower) rather than an illness which needs to be treated. Leaning more into the realm of the supernatural (archetypal M. Night Shyamalan), the film does have its deviations from reality, but what do you expect from a psychological thriller? Regardless of the film straying somewhat from its own scientific basis -especially towards the end when
‘The Beast’ is revealed to be effectively a super-human, feral and cannibalistic manmonster - the film is truly edge of your seat cinema. Buried beneath the main story of Kevin and his DID is another intricate tale which I found particularly moving in light of the events of the film. One of the female captives, Casey, played by actress Anna Taylor-Joy (The Witch), is revealed in a series of flashbacks as abused by her uncle. Similar to Kevin, the notion of abuse is detrimental to Casey’s life as she is singled out as an outsider immediately from the film’s opening. Throughout the film, Casey notably remains on the peripheries of the other girls’ naïve plans to escape and is the lone survivor by the horrific conclusion. Understanding Kevin’s trauma as an abuse victim, she becomes the heroine of the story and almost saves the antagonist from himself. In one particular scene, Casey utters Kevin’s full name and momentarily we see the real Kevin (realising the horrors he has committed) beg for Casey to kill him before his malevolent personalities set in again. Thinking that the end is nigh, one breathes a huge sigh of relief, but Kevin then glitches sporadically between multiple personalities, suppressing his natural self indefinitely. In the end, The Beast chooses not to harm Casey and leaves because she too, like Kevin, was abused but has survived, meaning she is inherently stronger for it. Casey is eventually found by the police in an abandoned zoo (where Kevin used to work) and it is inferred she chooses to confront her own demons when the police say her sole guardian, her uncle, has arrived to take care of her.
Photo via http://cdn3-www.comingsoon.net/split.jpg
Ultimately, Split possesses the flashiness of a horror and has its anxiety-inducing moments, but intelligently woven between the surface fabric is the taboo of mental health and abuse. Concluding the film with Casey’s redemption is arguably Shyamalan’s
Final Rating:
genius at its finest and a powerful moment for modern cinema. Elsewhere, hinting at a sequel-crossover film with both McAvoy’s role and Bruce Willis’ from Unbreakable, is an intriguing proposition, and one we will have to watch out for.
18 ARTS: FILM How To Sneak Onto A Film Set
(and get away with it.)
Photos courtesy of Jack Salvadori JACK SALVADORI STUDENT WRITER
Have you ever dreamt of entering a big-scale film set? Wandering amongst famous actors, directors, and watching the movie as it comes to life? Well, let me tell you how to make that dream come true without being hired and 100%
illegally. What you will need is determination, guts, and very good improvisation skills. When I read the news that Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson was about to try to change the history of cinema forever in London I knew I had to be involved. The actor aimed to write, direct and per-
form in a feature film about a misadventure that happened to him in London, 15 years ago. Since its birth, cinema belonged to the past. It relied on images that were shot months or years earlier. And this is exactly the convention that Harrelson decided to break: he broadcasted his directorial debut in more than 500 cinemas in the United States as it was being filmed in a single take on the streets of London at 2:00 AM. For the first time in the history of the seventh art, cinema was ‘live’. After recruiting a group of four friends on a Thursday night, we headed into London in search of the secret filming location. One of the first things to look at is the presence of huge, white trucks - every production employs them as they are essential to carry all the equipment and crew. Security, police officers or closed streets are also a red flag, but we could not find any of these after wandering around Soho for about an hour. The internet was not helping us either, keeping any details a secret for safety reasons. Luck always plays a big role, and we found a random pedicab that was aware of the filming location, and thus he
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk brought us on set. Here is the scene: Woody Harrelson desperately running, fake police officers chasing him, and about twenty crew members following them holding microphones and cables, swinging among the traffic. What could we do? We ran after them! Not only did we manage to watch most of the film, but we even ended up in some shots. Once the actor was brought away in a police car, we knew that we could not run enough to follow him and so we continued to shadow the crew. Walking next to them with nonchalance as they entered the set (a night club reconstructed inside an abandoned building), we pretended to be extras and assistants and had the chance to explore the complexity and charm of an active film set. In these cases, it’s always better not to stand still and try to imitate the actions of the crew, so we moved around some boxes. After a while, we realised that the actor was not coming on set anymore, and so we decided to continue our street chase. We rushed towards Waterloo Bridge where we spotted the spectacular ending of the movie. However, we really wanted to get closer
to the actors, and as we heard that there was the possibility of a Q&A with them after the film, we searched for it in all the cinemas we could find. From Southbank we reached Piccadilly Circus, where we luckily found the only picture house in the country that was showing the film. After persuading the bodyguard at the entrance, we hurried towards the screening room… only to find that the Q&A was not happening there, but was broadcasted from the set. We all knew what to do, and at 5:00 AM we rushed out of the cinema and back to the set. When we arrived, we entered without problems as all the security were listening to the live Q&A. Once it was over, we personally celebrated the success of the film with Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson. I had a long chat with them and they told me that when they'll be back in London, they might come and visit us! We were even interviewed by BBC1, thinking that we were members of the production team. It was one of the most satisfying nights in our lives - a dreamlike adventure that we will never forget, as well as a game changer in the history of cinema.
Always A Pleasure: Saturday Night At The Movies JACOB JEWITT-JALLAND STUDENT WRITER
Cinema-goers are facing difficult times; we are constantly faced with a slew of wretched ‘octequels’ (a word I just made up to describe the forthcoming 8th 'film' in the Fast and Furious series), Michael Bay outings and liveaction reboots of classic animated film which, if we are honest with ourselves, were perfectly charming originals. Now, they have mutated into a hideous Disney cash cow milked until its bleeding udders have dried, and the whole beast has toppled under the weight of so many sneering student reviews).
On top of this, cinema prices have sky-rocketed to such a level that having a burly gentleman hoist us by our ankles and shake us until the coins fall from our pockets into a giant sack marked ‘swag’ would actually be preferable (at least it would add a little excitement to the procedure). Perhaps to cut costs they could employ the same person to perform the cavity search we now have to endure in case we have managed to squirrel away even a single morsel of food (on my most recent trip to the cinema it was paprika cashews which I defiantly munched in front of the attendant after she found them, which
I immediately regretted as I had to sell my car to buy the small one gallon drink I then needed to quench my thirst). Piracy is clearly to blame for the infuriating destruction of such a sacred pleasure, though I must admit as I sat through the yawn-inducing first half of Hacksaw Ridge, I did wonder why I hadn't simply searched for the inevitably leaked online version. That is until the battle of Okinawa began and I was thrown headfirst into one of the most intense and frightening war films I have ever seen. Don't get me wrong, this film is no masterpiece, Andrew Garfield is good and Vince Vaughn's
horrendously humorous drill sergeant is the perfect antidote to the otherwise hackneyed boot-camp sequence; but it is still a Mel Gibson film, and therefore about as deep as the puddle of sick I nearly left in my seat after the hideously trite final sequence. But as I sat, or rather cowered, back in my seat and took a quick scan across the sea of awe-struck, horrified, gleeful, emoting faces around me lit only by the terrifyingly incessant flashes of constant artillery fire, I realised that this was why I came to the cinema - why anyone comes to the cinema. The excitement and terror induced by a film like this comes only
from the cinema, that special place that, through its immersive, aggressive, beautiful presence left myself and my fellow cinema-goers sweating right through our seats. My father told me recently that when I was a child, every time I came out of the cinema I would claim the film had been the ‘best I've ever seen’ despite that film often being something as awful as Dinosaur. That is the magic of the cinema, for all the sticky floors and noisy kids, expensive tickets and stripsearches, nothing can damage the exhilaration of seeing a film in the cinema, even if that film is utterly pants.
ARTS: MUSIC 19
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk
[Column]
What I Don't Know
THAT ONE DEAF MUSIC CRITIC
Upon reading my five-hundred and seventy-fifth article about Sonic Youth, I realized something: I’ve never actually consciously listened to anything by them. Anything. At all. I listen to plenty of bands that cite them as influences, I read plenty of articles about their influence on certain genres and musical movements. I read articles that are specifically about Sonic Youth, and aren’t even about their influence, just about the band itself. But I have never, ever, consciously listened to any of their music. Now, no doubt after this revelation a coup will be staged by the music writers of The Founder, and next month there will be a new, more qualified editor for the music section, but what won’t they have listened to? I guarantee that every single music writer out there, regardless of how well-established and respected and knowledgeable they are, has at least one, if not a couple, of iconic bands that they’ve somehow never listened to. They might know facts about the band in question. They might be able to talk comfortably about them as a band and as an influence, but they’ve never listened to any of their songs. Now, I never try to pretend I’ve listened to things that I haven’t. Too much of my life was spent not listening, or being able to listen, to music for me to bother trying to pretend I heard everything. If someone had ever asked me if I had ever listened to Sonic Youth, I would have answered honestly: ‘no.’ So, of course, I had to download something by them. Maybe I’d get their
[Review] SAM BARKER MUSIC EDITOR
March Singles From Boring To Brilliant
At the time of writing this, thankfully, Ed Sheeran’s new album is no longer entirely dominating the charts. He only has 14 songs in the global top 50 according to Spotify. He is, nonetheless, nigh on inescapable. So much so that an argument could be made that it’s hard to find anything else to listen to. Well, here are some other songs to listen to – or not listen to for that matter. Also at the time of this writing, one of my hearing-aids had decided to stop working, so the below is the opinion of ‘That One Half-Deaf Music Critic’ really.
3ww – Alt-J That One Deaf Music Critic, Sam to those who know him, can be reached for bookings at Samuel.Barker.2013@live.rhul.ac.uk complete discography. Maybe they were like all the other ‘hugely influential’ bands that only ever released one or two albums before all the members died or became members of a monastery. Maybe I could listen to their whole discography in one go and appreciate it all immediately. Nope. They released a lot of albums. And they went through phases. And there isn’t one obvious album that says everything about the band. And that’s how I found myself reading my five-hundred and seventy-sixth article about Sonic Youth, an article expressly aimed at people who, like me, didn’t know where to start. I downloaded ‘Goo’ and ‘Closer.’ Maybe I should have downloaded something else instead. Maybe I should have downloaded more. I don’t know. They’re good though. Now to listen to that Joy Division album as well… and find another publication that will allow me to edit their music section when I’m fired from this one.
An almost completely uninteresting song that creeps along, only to never actually go anywhere. You would be better off listening to almost anything else by the band, frankly.
Channel – Frank Ocean
Regardless of whether or not I think Frank Ocean can do any wrong, which he can’t, everyone should be listening to this song just so they can get another brilliant dose of Frank Ocean’s lyrics and vocal delivery. Want something more upbeat? Listen to ‘Slide’ by Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, and Migos. What other songs could you possibly need right now besides these two?
Pork Soda – Glass Animals
Stupidly fun, stupidly catchy, and stupidly weird. ‘Pork Soda’ is a song full of strange images and noises that can successfully make a half-deaf man dance around on his bed. Don’t listen to it without the left-hand channel, though, as you may wonder – as I did – where the vocals went.
Liability – Lorde If Lorde’s previous single, ‘Green Light,’ had been injected full of emotion and stripped back to the most basic instrumental possible, it might have sounded a little like this. A gorgeous slow-building vocal melody leads to Lorde drawing out the word “everyone” in such a way that is sure to get stuck in everyone’s head, leading them to wonder a few months from now what that song is that goes ‘a-na-na-na everyone’. It is a lot better than that description makes it out to be, I promise.
20 ARTS: MUSIC [Interview]
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk
A I R W AY S Camden Assembly • 9/2/17
Jamie Reynolds Bass
Alex Ruggiero Guitar
Brian Moroney Drums
Jake Daniels Vocals and Guitar
Photo via http://4.bp.blogspot.com.jpg CHARLIE CATMULL STUDENT WRITER
Q: So how did you guys meet? Jake: I went out to America in 2015 to do some song writing and stuff and at my managers house I met Brian and then we just clicked. He said he played the drums, so we decided to form a band and he moved to Peterborough. Bit of a downgrading really (laughs). And then we recruited Alex who was at uni in Nottingham at the time. Q: What was it like juggling this and uni? Alex: Well I didn't really juggle it. I literally dropped out. Jake: We hadn't even played our first show by the time he dropped out. Alex: I got offered this placement at fucking Peterborough city council to do f*cking mar-
keting, like f*cking hell I have to do this for a year. I had just split up with my girlfriend as well so I was like ‘f*ck it, I'm gonna do it’ and I just joined the band. Q: What was it like when you started out at first, when you first all got together? Jake: It was terrible (whole band laughs) Brian: Me and [Jake] were wondering how we were going to teach these guys how to play guitar. Q: They taught you how to play? Brian: We spent a lot of time in the rehearsal room. Jake: 9 to 5. We made my garage into a rehearsal space and just annoyed the neighbours. Q: When did you do your first gigs and stuff, what was that
like? Jake: October 2015 I think it was. Jamie: We booked a ton of random shows
first big support tour, which was with this band called the Hunna. It was really good for us as we got to play the Electric Ballroom. Alex: 14 shows in 3 weeks. It Q: What was that first gig like? was like a crash course. Jake: It was scary. we'd never played a gig before and we Q: You were flung straight into were sh*tting ourselves. it I guess. Brian: But you have to get it Brian: Yeah we played with out of the way. We just did a Sunset Sons on tour and they bunch of those shows to kind heard our music, so some of of get us in to it. it's been word of mouth and Jake: We were sh*t for a while. some of it’s through a booking Brian: But it just takes time agent. It's an amalgamation of and we just kept practicing both. Alex: We still are sh*t (laughs). Brian: - and we eventually got Q: What's it like discovering a few support shows. people that know your stuff already? Q: How did you land that sup- Jamie: It's a really cool feelport stuff? ing. Brian: After we released our Brian: Especially with how first song, ‘Ghost Town’ we got much time and money we've picked up by Matt from Pri- put in to the process, anyone mary Talent, and he got us our that comes up to us and is ex-
cited about it is just the best thing. It's the only thing we can ask for really. Q: What's the reaction been like so far on this mini tour? Jake: Yesterday was mental, we didn't expect it on our first headline show, we sold like 180 tickets! I think because we only have 2 songs out, obviously we only have an 8 song set, so it's still like no one knows the songs. It's almost a bit weird as we are still trying to win them over with the songs. But it was a really good reaction, for 'One Foot' it was really cool. Q: Have you got anything coming up? Jake: We are releasing a single at the end of February and we are going to America, to South by South West, and a lot more to come!
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk
ARTS: MUSIC 21
Laura Marling: Student Press Conference
Photos Courtesy of Laura Marling Publicity HELEN WALPOLE STUDENT WRITER
On Monday the 13th of February, Laura Marling gave a press conference to student journalists from all over the UK at Goldsmiths Student Union, ahead of the release of her new album, ‘Semper Femina’. The nu-folk singersongwriter performed four of her new tracks and took questions from the audience. The Founder sent two student writers to find out more. The Interview: An Exploration Into Womanhood Laura Marling reached womanhood in the public eye, releasing her first album at the age of 18. With her sixth effort, ‘Semper Femina’, Marling muses further on what it means to be female. The title comes from a Latin poem by Virgil, and reads in full as ‘varium et mutabile semper femina’, or ‘fickle and changeable always is woman’ – Marling shortened the quote to its last two words, ‘always a woman’. She used the same phrase for a tattoo when she was 21 – in her own words, ‘a good age for making permanent errors on your body.’ The lead single from the album, ‘Soothing’, was released in late 2016, and the music
video marked Marling’s debut as a director. ‘I’m more comfortable talking about the directing than I am the music!’ she remarks. ‘I’ve never been inclined to give visual representation to my music personally, but to give form to my lucid dream was an amazing experience.’ Marling received great critical acclaim for the video, a minimalist and abstract portrayal of female sensuality that manages not to overstep the mark into objectification. ‘Semper Femina’ was written during Marling’s stint in L.A., in Spring 2015. This was a time in her life when she was experiencing doubts about being a musician, which she describes as ‘my own constant inner tussle – is it indulgence or is it compulsion? America gave me a lot of freedom to express myself, without selfcriticism that I should be doing something more important or useful.’ The album comes off the back of a series of ten podcasts called ‘Reversal of the Muse’, which explore the relationship between women and creativity, and the lack of female representation in the music industry. ‘I’d like to continue having that conversation with as many people as I can,’ says Marling, ‘but I want to go in next time with less of
an agenda. It’s so much more complex than I’d thought – often the answer is, “there is no answer”’. When talking about her process, she admits to a ‘little stumble’ in deciding whether to write about women from a male or female perspective: ‘We’re somewhat accustomed to seeing women through men’s eyes, so naturally it was my inclination to try and take some power over that – but very quickly I realised that the more powerful thing to do was to look at women through a woman’s eyes.’ ‘Semper Femina’ promises to be a thoughtful and detailed album, as fans have come to expect of Marling. Released on the 10th of March this year, Marling will be touring it from March to May. Quickfire Questions What song do you enjoy playing the most? Rambling Man, it’s satisfying to sing and fun to play. What would you be if not a musician? I think about it constantly! A chef or a writer. Who are your literary influences? Anaïs Nin, Joan Didion, Lou Salomé. Especially the poetry
of Rainer Maria Wilker. How was it collaborating with producer Blake Mills? My guitar playing improved a lot – I was inspired to practice to be as good as him! The Songs: Previewing the New Record We were lucky enough to preview a couple of songs from Marling’s new record, which acted as a bit of relief from the rapid Q&A taking place. Switching between two guitars, Marling’s voice seeped sweetly into the minds of the audience like caramel, glazing nonchalantly over bitter lyrics– ‘You always say you love me most, but I don't know I'm being seen, maybe someday when God takes me away, I'll understand what the f*ck that means.’ It was quite enough to just close your eyes and take in everything she sang about, and yet, I couldn’t help but gaze at the slightly shy (or awkward?) figure onstage. Dressed in a white blouse, white trousers, and brown suede boots, Marling fixed her eyes on a spot right at the back of the room and it stayed there whilst she sang, which meant there was hardly any audience interaction. While in prior interviews she has stated her discomfort
with performing onstage, it was still fascinating to watch her as she ‘bared’ all, so to speak. I was struck by one line in ‘Nothing Not Nearly’, a slightly more upbeat song – ‘The only thing I learnt in a year, when I didn’t smile once not really, is nothing matters more than love’. Confessional, if not slightly cheesy, Marling delivered it with as much passion as she could muster. Her voice shifted into a higher octave and it was hard not to be reminded of Joni Mitchell - the comparisons over the years have been endless but there’s no escaping it. During the folky ‘Noel’, we got to hear the Virgil verse from which her album’s title originates– ‘Fickle and changeable, semper femina’. Quite ironically, the sometimes witty personality we see during the Q&A turned into a reserved character who seemed to go off into her own world whilst performing. It was as intriguing as it was humbling. Although it is too early to gauge what the entire record will sound like, based off of 3 songs, there is no doubt this album will be just as interesting to analyse and listen to as her past records. The press conference was also livestreamed and can be viewed on Laura Marling’s Facebook page.
22 SPORTS
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk
Colours Ball 2017
ELIZABETH SILVERBERG SPORTS EDITOR
On March 18th, the Thistle Hotel, Heathrow, saw over 550 students, athletes, committee members and coaches swap their kit for black tie, and celebrate the sporting achievements of the teams and individuals. Steff Milne, started the awards night presenting the individual awards, these included; Collussus Sports Personality of the Year – Robert Mosley Coach of the Year – Georgie Wood Frank Grimes Cup – Chloe Longdon Sportsman of the Year – Troy Hirst Sportswoman of the Year – Lauren Hawkins
The night continued with the team awards Skills & Employability Shield – Basketball Community Plaque – Swimming Sophie Christiansen Shield – Riding RAG Outstanding Contribution – Women’s Football Be Active Club of the Year – Swimming Team of the Year – Golf Meanwhile the award that every club wanted to win, the club of the year award went to Women’s Football for all of their outstanding work and commitment throughout the year. Congratulations to everyone who won an award and for all their hard work over the year.
(ABOVE) Sports Personality of the Year Robert Mosley celebrates his win with a bit of cake. (BELOW) Students dress to the nines for the ball. Photos courtesy of Ben Jones and Joanna Hutler.
SPORTS 23
THE FOUNDER March 22, 2017
Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk
[Spotlight]
Meet The Captain: Royal Holloway Lacrosse
Royal Holloway BUCS Scores
This season (2016-17) we have entered 66 teams into the BUCS league. In each monthly issue there will be an overview of the results for the Bears.
Photo courtesy of Alice Lanham. ELIZABETH SILVERBERG SPORTS EDITOR
freshers from this year join the club again this coming September.
Name and Year: Alice LanWhat would you say is ham, 2nd Year the best thing about Sport: Lacrosse sport at Royal Holloway? How was last year for The atmosphere around camyour sport at Royal Hol- pus on a Big Bear’s Wednesday is always amazing. Also loway? Last year was incredible being the friendships between clubs a part of the Lacrosse team is an excellent trait about here at Holloway. I joined a Sport at Holloway, especially sport I had never played be- when other sports support fore which is quite scary, es- pitch side at other teams pecially when other members home games. of the club have been playing for 10 years+. However, it What do any new memwas the best decision I made bers have to look forin my first year as I now love ward to when they join? the sport, have been a cap- A great year of some imaginatain for my second year and tive socials, both clubbing and have made all of my strongest non-clubbing events such as friendships from the club. It paintball, laser tag and others. was a tough year in terms of Also the opportunity to be in playing matches as we were a team with some of your best the only second team in our friends, which is something league, but the team spirit was I have definitely experienced always high and every game since joining. enjoyed. What is the best/funniest What are you aiming for thing that has happened to you while playing at this year? This year I am aiming to uni? improve my left hand skills The funniest might be the and to encourage one of the time in first year we were freshers on my Mixed 2nds travelling to an away match team to take over my role as and our mini bus driver alcaptain next year. We have most took us into the Dover some excellent players on the Channel Port to get on a ferry team and I will feel like I have to France. Needless to say we succeeded as a captain if the were late to the match.
Badminton RHUL Women’s 1st 8 – 0 University of Chichester Women’s 1st Basketball RHUL Men’s 1st 72 – 74 University of Surrey Men’s 1st Fencing RHUL Women’s 1st 116 – 135 University of Sussex Women’s 1st Football RHUL Men’s 3rd 1 – 7 University of Chichester Men’s 6th RHUL Men’s 1st 2 – 1 University of Brighton Men’s 3rd
Golf RHUL Mixed 1st
Hockey Portsmouth University Women’s 3rd RHUL Women’s 1st Imperial College London Men’s 5th
Lacrosse RHUL Women’s 2nd
Netball RHUL 2nd Portsmouth University 5th UCL 7th (RUMS) Squash Portsmouth University Women’s 1st
3.5 – 2.5
University of Chichester Mixed 1st
4 – 3 10 – 1
RHUL Women’s 2nd Reading University Women’s 3rd
8 – 0
RHUL Men’s 2nd
7 – 6
Kingston University Women’s 1st
47 – 31
University of Sussex 2nd
45 – 40 54 – 22
RHUL 3rd RHUL 3rd
4 – 0
RHUL Women’s 1st
Table Tennis RHUL Men’s 2nd 9 – 7 London South Bank University Men’s 1st
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