The Founder, October 2017

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Royal Holloway’s Independent Student Newspaper

VOLUME IX, ISSUE II • FRIDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2017 • Royal Holloway, University of London • Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX

Princess Royal Opens £57M Davison Library ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Students, staff, and members of the local community turned out to welcome HRH The Princess Royal, Chancellor of University of London, who officially opened the Emily Wilding Davison Building last week.

After bad weather meant her helicopter was unable to land on Founders Field, Princess Anne was welcomed by cheering students in Founders Square, as well as Royal Holloway’s Principal Professor Paul Layzell, Runnymede Mayor and Councillor, Iftikhar Chaudhri, and the High Sheriff of Surrey, Robert Napier.

The Princess Royal, who opened Bedford Library in 1994, then enjoyed a tour of the new building, and later made a speech before unveiling the commemorative plaque and signing the guest book.

Of the new building, Princess Anne stated: ‘This site has its interests and limitations, so to find the space to build a building of this size

is extraordinary, but then in a way to have the nerve to create a building that is going to be face with the history behind us, is equally as pioneering and adventuresome.

‘I hope this reflects all that the founders would have expected as a modern university in terms of access and inspiring the next generation of students, and I hope that all of you will find that the facilities here in this very modern environment will do exactly that, that they provide a stronger base for students to both live here and to find out what happens next, and answer some of those problems that come with starting university and the first time away from home, but also to support the learning process in the best possible way, with access to all the information and knowledge that is out there.’

After the speeches, students from Royal Holloway’s Community Action volunteering group were presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The

achievement recognises their work in helping build strong communities by inspiring students to volunteer and lead projects to support local organisations.

The Emily Wilding Davison building comprises of the library, student services centre, SU shop, café, and Santander branch, all of which are open to the public as well as students.

The Founder sat down with Professor Paul Layzell to speak about the event and how he felt about the naming of the building and Emily Wilding Davison’s legacy: ‘It’s a feeling of pride I think that its named after somebody who is recognised and associated with this place, and is a symbol of what we believe, that everybody who passes through this place has a role to play in society.

‘Probably most of us don’t know what it is when we come, hopefully some get a sense of what they want to achieve in their lives whilst here, and even if they don’t, I hope we prepare them on the journey that they go on Photo via https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/newsandevents. to work that out.’

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

Facebook.com/HarbenLets Twitter.com/HarbenLets

Coppafeel On, p. 9

Coffee Quest, p. 10

BUCS Scores, p. 22

2 NEWS

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

Essay Mills Clampdown Investigations prompt action against countless essay writing companies.

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

The universities watchdog has revealed plans for a clampdown on companies who profit from helping students cheat to gain their degree.

An investigation that was conducted last year by the Quality Assurance Agency discovered hundreds of companies, known as ‘essay-mills’ were producing written work that students could submit as their own.

Pricing varied drastically depending on the nature of the assignment, starting for as little as £15 to almost £7,000 for a PhD dissertation.

The Universities minister, Jo Johnson, has called for new guidelines to be introduced by the QAA which will urge universities to ban essay mills from advertising on campus and block their websites. Universities will also be urged to use software to spot changes in their students’ writing style, as well improving the help and support available for students who are struggling with academic writing.

Last year, posters advertising writing services outside underground stations near London universities were reported, whilst another company was reportedly distributing leaflets to students at Queen Mary University.

The National Union of Stu-

dents has also decided to launch their own campaign against cheating when it comes to assessed work.

Amatey Doku, NUS vicepresident for higher education, said some students were turning to these unscrupulous companies because of the pressure they face to succeed when faced with such high levels of debt.

‘Many websites play on the vulnerabilities and anxieties of students, particularly homing in on students' fears that their academic English and their referencing may not be good enough.

‘Making money by exploiting these anxieties is disgusting.’

Uber Appeals Licence Uber files papers against TFL decision.

DANIEL BRADY CO-EDITOR

Uber has filed papers to appeal against Transport for London’s decision not to renew its ‘private hire operator licence’ after expiry of its current licence on September 30.

As the regulator of London's taxi and private hire trades, TfL outlined their role to ensure passenger safety, which TfL claimed Uber was in breach of, announcing that Uber London Limited is not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence.

The short filing to Westminster Magistrates’ Court on the 13th of October was a

notification of appeal, indicating that Uber disagreed with TfL’s decision. The bulk of the paperwork outlining Uber’s grounds for appeal will be filed later in the process, sources close to Uber said.

Uber’s chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi wrote to Uber staff on Friday confirming the companies appeal, saying he said he disagreed with the decision but it was based on past behaviour. ‘The truth is that there is a high cost to a bad reputation,’ he wrote. ‘It really matters what people think of us, especially in a global business like ours.

‘It’s critical that we act with integrity in everything we do, and learn how to be a better partner to every city we operate

in. That doesn’t mean abandoning our principles – we will vigorously appeal TfL’s decision – but rather building trust through our actions and our behaviour. In doing so, we will show that Uber is not just a really great product, but a really great company that is meaningfully contributing to society, beyond its business and its bottom line.’

While the appeal is pending, Uber can continue to operate in London—where it has 3.5 million users–until it has exhausted the appeals process, which could take months. A representative said the company hoped ‘to continue having constructive discussions’ with TFL.

The Founder Board 2016/17 Co-Editors

Daniel Brady & Lilia Vargas Costello

Managing Editor Daniel Brady

Designer

Lilia Vargas Costello

Sub-Editors

Kia Clark Kyle Hoekstra News Editor Rosa Smith

Film Editor Jack Salvadori

Deputy News Editor Iffah Ahmed

Lifestyle Editor Emily May Webber

Opinon and Debate Editor Amanda Hudson

Sport Editor Helena Keeble

Features Editor Laren Tayyip

Music Editor Ele Walton

Arts Editor Suzannah Ball

Web Editor Kyle Hoekstra

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

NEWS 3

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

Future Of Founders Library Confirmed

NEWS BRIEFS Grant Service Held ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

A night of singing, poetry, and discussion was held at Tommy’s on Tuesday 11 October, World Mental Health Day, in memory of Cameron Grant.

A student at RHUL, Cameron took his own life in November 2014 after battling with depression.

The event began with a moving video of photos and

Photo via https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/newsandevents.

DANIEL BRADY CO-EDITOR

Speculation surrounding the future of Founders Library has now been put to rest by the Library Services, who have confirmed the reopening of Founders Library as reading rooms.

With the academic year now in full swing, the new Davison building has been under increased pressure from students and academic staff. As the main area for study has now shifted from Founders and Bedford, students have taken to social me-

dia to express their disgruntlement with issues ranging from temperature problems to noise complaints, as there had been no designated silent section.

Whilst the issues are expected to subside as the new building and AC settles in, questions regarding the future of Founders have been raised.

With little ground being made since over 4000 people signed the ‘Save Founders Library’ petition last year, The Founder approached the Library Services for comment: ‘Founders is a glorious space to work in and so un-

derstandably students will still want to use the space.

At the moment the building is closed for renovation and refurbishment, however, once this is completed First Floor West of Founders will be opened again as a reading room and study space for students. It is also likely, although not certain, that First Floor East will be renovated for the same purpose.’

With the re-opening date expected to be sometime in 2018, students should expect the Davison building to remain as their study home for the indefinite future.

memories of Cameron’s life, supplied by his parents.

The evening then included a selection of musical sets, poetry, and an open mic, all by students at RHUL, organised by the Mental Health Society.

Music student, Adam Wallace, who performed a 20-minute guitar set, said ‘performing and raising awareness for such a worthwhile cause was a privilege.’

Smith Spotted Again roundabout in June, leaving the staff star-struck.

The actor is reportedly being sighted whilst on lunch The acclaimed Hollywood breaks as he films Guy Ritchie actor, Will Smith, has been and Disney's live action intersighted in Surrey once again – pretation of Aladdin, which is this time at curry house, The being shot at Longcross stuMogul, in Bagshot. dios, exactly 4.1 miles from The news comes after the campus.

Fresh Prince stopped for a We wonder if he’s heard bite to eat at Prezzo on Egham about The Packhorse…

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

First Ever Interfaith Service Takes RHUL Rises In Ranks According to the complete Place At Royal Holloway Chapel university guide, Royal HolIFFAH AHMED DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Runnymede made history at the beginning of October by holding its first ever interfaith service at the chapel inside Founders Building.

Around 200 people attended the service, where prayers were said from a variety of faiths and with readings from the Bible, Quran and Torah, followed by re-

freshments in the picture gallery.

Along with mayors from various Surrey boroughs, attendees also included the Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, Reverend Cate Irvine, Chaplain at RHUL, the Sheriff of Surrey, Robert Napier, and members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, Pirbright.

The event was thought

of and organised by Runnymede mayor, Councillor Iftikhar Chaudhri, the borough's first Muslim mayor.

The High Sheriff of Surrey, Robert Napier, described the service as ‘wonderful and meaningful.’

‘A very big well done goes to Mayor Iftikhar Chaudhri for organising such a service. The message was that we're all here together, as one community.’

Royal Holloway has risen six places in the new rankings released by The Times and the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, placing it within the top 30 universities in the country.

The rankings included a further 130 universities, and explored the universities performances, results achieved from degrees, as well as employment outlooks and prospects.

loway is described as ‘a leading, research-intensive university.’

Professor Paul Layzell, Principal at Royal Holloway, stated that dedication is imperative for ‘inspiring our students to succeed through our high-quality teaching and world-class research’.

Furthermore, the university also achieved for the third year running ‘the highest overall student satisfaction’.

4 NEWS

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

After The Las Vegas Massacre

UNiDAYS Says U.K. Heinous shooting prompts gun law talks.

Students Struggling IFFAH AHMED DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Photo via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Las_Vegas_Strip_shooting_site_2017_4948.jpg.

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

The National Rifle Association has called for ‘additional regulations’ on bump-fire stocks, days after the deadly shooting in Las Vegas at the beginning of October.

The deadliest mass shooting in recent US history claimed the lives of 58 people, with 546 left injured.

The gunman, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, was found dead in his suite in the Mandalay Bay Hotel, where he carried out the attack. A total of 28 firearms were found in his room, 12 of which were fitted with bump fire stocks, enabling Paddock to convert his semi-automatic rifles into rapid-fire weapons.

Bump stocks were originally designed to help people

with limited hand mobility fire a semi-automatic weapon without the individual trigger pulls required. However, firearm enthusiasts have claimed they have no real self-defence value, and make guns harder to fire accurately. Yet, Since the possibility of a ban looms, bump stocks have sold out across the US. ‘The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations,’ Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox, the group’s two leading figures, said in a joint statement.

The NRA pair blamed the Obama administration for approving the devices for sale ‘on at least two occasions’, and called on the

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ‘to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law’.

However, the NRA also controversially suggested that it was time for further relaxation of laws allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.

They claimed that control laws would not prevent further attacks happening, and called on Congress to pass a law that could eventually result in tourists being able to carry their firearms on the New York City subway.

The White House welcomed the NRA’s statement, but earlier the press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said: ‘The president’s a strong supporter of the second amendment. That hasn’t changed.

At this point in the process,

I think we all need to take a step back. We’ve had one of the most horrific tragedies ever on US soil. I don’t think we’d want to go out and make rash decisions while we’re still having an investigation.’

The minority leader, Chuck Schumer, said on the Senate floor: ‘I say to President Trump: come out and say that you support and would sign a law to ban bump stocks, the modification used by the Las Vegas gunman to make his weapons automatic.

That’s small, and it’s the right thing to do. Don’t wait for the NRA to make up their mind.

Do it.’

Donald Trump visited Las Vegas on the Wednesday after the attack, but when asked about gun control measures, said: ‘We’re not going to talk about that today.’

UNiDAYS, the popular world leading app for University students, has recently revealed the struggles pupils are facing with finances.

New research gathered from the company reveals that across the UK students are financially struggling to cover the costs of accommodation, travel and utility bills.

Following expenses on these factors, 24% of 2.2 million university students in the UK are shown to remain with balances equating from £25, to as little as £3.57.

Alex Gallagher, the Chief Marketing Officer at UNiDAYS, stated that due to this shortage of cash flow, it ‘emphasises the need for smart decisions and savvy budgeting whilst at university.’

It has been recorded that after eight weeks of term, 36% of students appear to have used all their financial aid and find themselves relying upon other methods to pay for external costs. It was discovered that 44% of students depend on their parents for help, whilst 18% of students are contingent on going into their overdraft. Furthermore, 4 in 10 students get part-time jobs to help cover the costs of their spending.

With tuition fees rising above £9000, according to Student Affinity Network, who polled 4000 students, 45% believed that the payment does not equate to its worth for money. 27% of students, however, appear to be unsure.

70 Egham Hill

71 Egham Hill

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

What a journey it has been for us!

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

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

www.danehurst.org

6 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk

[Debate]

Point And

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Weigh in on Twitter with the hashtag #tooyoungfortech.

Find us at @rhulfounder

Counter-Point

Make Memories Not Megapixels JAMES HAMMOND STUDENT WRITER

Firstly, a confession – I’m no ‘Into the Wild’, bathing in a reservoir hero. I’m guilty. I know well the demeaning effect time wasting has upon my mental health. As adults, each of us experiences the self-loathing which comes from a wasted night looking at student memes, whilst coincidentally doing nothing to prevent the problems we are laughing at. Technology has us, the ‘educated’, the ones who should know better, in its vice grip. And if we are so susceptible, then what hope is there for children?

One study showed that children are spending less time outside than prison inmates. The same study says they are reading less than ever. My little sister would rather spend the evening on her iPad than reading a book or leaving the house, and if she does leave the house, you best believe the iPad goes with her. A large fraction of her time during a family event is spent on games or on social media.

Would we have had the Brontës if their lives were spent in such a manner? Charlotte ignoring Anne whilst she stalks some Yorkshire lad on Facebook; Emily only occasionally gracing the moors to take a quick picture for Instagram.

If this continues, or—as is most likely—worsens, there’ll be no new Brontës. The argument is frequently made that smartphones and tablets offer many educational purposes. They do. But those academic benefits can be found elsewhere.

It is nonsense to pretend that education is what children mostly use this new-found technology for. Instead, smartphones and tablets deprive a

growing mind from the education of life. Their experiences are being built upon the strange gratification of likes and apps which serve no worthy purpose beyond the glass.

Are we the last to have childhood memories not composed of pixels? Sure, we had vices. Our MSN. Our Xbox. But they were stationary. They didn’t follow us around, niggling at our very being.

Whilst still under parental guidance, before the terrors of adolescence, it is a parent’s duty to remove the cotton wool – and the iPad – and encourage their children to develop the intuition, tact and toughness they will need to make it through existence. The lessons of life are best absorbed without the weight of a screen in your hand.

Now, onto the most important issue. As a young lad, my abilities to make my future self cringe knew no bounds. I know I’m not alone there. And although the memories still haunt me, they are just that, memories. I will be forever thankful that those excruciating moments aren’t eternally embedded online. It is for this reason that I implore the new generation of parents to stop letting naïve children make fools of themselves on the internet.

Those memories are going nowhere. They haunt the entire world, and your child’s life, forever.

The days of nostalgia induced by nature are dying. Dying, right before our 12 megapixel lenses.

Am I being a little dramatic? Probably. Nonetheless, a depressing amount of a child’s time is spent glaring into that glass abyss. Technology is unavoidable, but its consuming powers can be mitigated. Before the robots take over, before Tesco employees are a thing of the past, let the children experience what it means to be human.

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

OPINION AND DEBATE 7

Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk

The Question: Should primary school aged children be allowed smartphones?

The Digital Generation Arrives AMANDA HUDSON OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

It’s only within the last decade or so that owning a smartphone has become the norm; even more recently, tablets. This technology has creeped its way into our homes, schools and businesses, and made itself a keystone species in our environment.

Some might consider this to be a hostile takeover. However, we are experiencing the same sense of crisis and doom as the Victorians felt at their turn of the century as they attempted to resist the industrial revolution. And if we learned anything from them, it’s that we should welcome and embrace change instead of holding onto a nostalgia for the past.

I come from a generation that has the unique experience of being born on the cusp of the digital age. This means that our childhoods were filled with afternoons spent outdoors playing with the neighbours, or curled up in our beds with a good book when it was raining outside. Our teenage years, however, were full of new technological innovations that became more and more accessible and user friendly. In some ways, we had the best of both worlds.

Children born in the generations following mine don’t have the same luxury. They were born in an era that requires them to have an expert knowledge in all things concerning technology. With the introduction of social media and entertainment platforms on portable electronic devices, kids have a new way to occupy their time that is practically attached to them at the hip. And are family dinners really

family dinners if everyone is glued to their phone screens, scrolling their lives away?

This then begs the question of whether or not it is acceptable for young children of primary school-age to own smartphones and/or tablets.

In my opinion, yes.

Apart from the potential educational benefits of providing students with a more efficient tool for note-taking and essay writing, easy access to the internet through smartphones and tablets allows in-class communication to people across the world who can share their views and opinions. This not only supplies a unique experience for kids growing up in the 21st century, but it also opens up a world of opportunities for school curriculums.

As well as this, new generations now have a new set of skills that previous generations lack.

With societies’ continuing reliance on this new technology to progress, any job opportunity that the kids of today will have access to in the future requires a sufficient knowledge of the internet and, in some cases, an expertise in certain computer programmes. Therefore, it is not only beneficial for children of this era to be exposed to portable devices, it is essential.

Many fear that children are not getting outside enough, and have an increasing lack of interest in reading and the arts. But if one looks around, there are still kids riding their bikes through the neighbourhood; there are still children who are avid readers, and ones who become prodigies in specific fields of art. The only difference between the past and now is that they have a technologybased skill set that coexists with their other hobbies and interests.

8 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk

To The Bone: A Different Type Of Discourse AMANDA HUDSON OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

There are many factors that weigh in when it comes to the development of an eating disorder. External factors such as social media, exposure to ‘serial dieters’ and sexual abuse; or more internal factors such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Body Dysmorphia can effect a person’s predisposition towards developing an eating disorder.

As well as this, out of any psychiatric disorder known to man, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate, outranking even depression.

It is for this reason that the discourse surrounding eating disorders is so imperative.

With social media and easily accessible entertainment on the rise in a digital age, big entertainment com-

panies such as Netflix hold an enormous responsibility in their creative freedom when they release content.

I’ll admit, when Netflix announced its release of their original film To The Bone, I was a bit skeptical. It’s one thing to start a discourse on a mental illness but entirely another to make entertainment out of it.

This is what many thought went wrong with their series 13 Reasons Why; that while it started a conversation about the effects of depression and suicide outside of the show (which is something we need more of in today’s society), it didn’t do much in the way of actually bringing these topics up within its scenes, choosing to focus more on drama and shock factor.

Personally, I didn’t have too much of an issue with 13 Reasons Why. I thought there were things the show

did well and things that it didn’t do well. It certainly was a frank and honest look into the mind of someone suffering from depression, which is refreshing for Hollywood.

However, when I first heard about To The Bone, I feared that the film could easily slip into just another story about the manic pixie dreamgirl archetype who meets a boy and is instantly ‘cured’ of her eating disorder because he shows her how to love herself. Unless, of course, Netflix did something right.

Despite many critics who vehemently oppose this view, I thought that To The Bone was one of the most raw and accurate depictions of eating disorders that I’ve ever seen onscreen. The film delves into the life of Ellen, a 20-year-old girl with anorexia, who has a dysfunctional home life and a cynical outpost atop a heavily guarded wall that could put

Jon Snow’s to shame.

Sure, on the surface the ‘cynical and heavily guarded’ trope might be a bit cliché. But the film takes specific care in showing the moments where Ellen is most vulnerable. It shows that she’s also silly, sarcastic, and full of vibrant life.

This, I feel, highlights a few important points: that her tough exterior is a result of her illness and past trauma, and that her eating disorder is not how she should define herself.

Through the use of Ellen’s setting in an in-patient home, the film informs its audience of the numerous signs and symptoms of eating disorders, as well as the brutal hardships sufferers go through on a daily basis. In this way, To The Bone does far from romanticise eating disorders. It communicates the idea that anorexia is not about vanity, nor is it an aesthetic that one can

phase in and out of whenever they please. It’s not a choice, and it’s certainly not desirable: It’s an illness as insidious as they come.

On top of my general enjoyment of the film, I was pleased to learn that the film was written and executed under entirely different circumstances from 13 Reasons Why. The director, screenwriter and many of the cast and crew involved with the making of To The Bone have been directly effected by eating disorders, making this film a reliable and genuine narrative.

While any form of entertainment that deals with serious topics such as eating disorders come with their potential triggers for viewers, I would highly recommend that anyone of ready mind give To The Bone a fair shot before judging it for what they think it might be.

Gender De-transition: Bath Spa’s Liberal Inversion NICHOLAS ROSS STUDENT WRITER

‘Love endures by a bond which men, being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves their advantage to do so; but fear is supported by the dread of pain, which is ever present.’

An optimist may hope Niccolo Machiavelli’s book The Prince to provide only an obsolete commentary on the prevailing influence of fear in society. But a recent decision by a Bath Spa University ethics committee demonstrates the accuracy of Machiavelli’s claims to an unprecedented extent.

A psychotherapist who began a Master’s degree at the university recently had his research project proposal on transgender reversal procedures vetoed. This was the result of fears that social me-

dia forums might criticise the institution as a sanctuary for politically-incorrect students.

As FDR said, ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ In the past, there have been left-wing submissions to threats such as armed attacks on Charlie Hebdo and a homicidal fatwa extending to Salman Rushdie’s cohort, due to which many refused to publicly defend the satirical magazine and novelist. The latent dangers of Twitter and Mumsnet presently grind the academic faculties of a university to a halt.

James Caspian noticed a lack of research on transgender people who regret their transitions and seek either to reverse the effect of their surgeries or simply identify as the genders assigned to them at birth. Since Caspian had encountered people who told

him about traumatising and isolated experiences of detransitioning, he was further motivated to conduct the research.

However, alongside a subordinate ethics committee, Professor Kate Reynolds—Executive Dean of the Institute for Education at Bath Spa University—was evidently under the impression that preventing research might keep secure the university’s reputation.

Scholarship apparently has no place there. Interestingly, the university website states that ‘Kate has a continuing interest in gender and education’.

The event has a complex background and inconspicuous consequences. In the last few years, debates surrounding gender dysphoria have become a part of quotidian politics. Liberals argue that gender is a choice and sex alone is

determined by chromosomes.

People ought to have the freedom to identify in whichever way they please since doing so causes no harm to anyone else. Social Conservatives argue that self-labelling is relativist nonsense capriciously entertained with indifference to alarming statistics of associated depression and suicide.

Regardless of political stance on the issue, Bath Spa made the wrong decision.

An activist for the transgender community has appeared in most coverage of the ‘Bath Spa v Caspian 2017’ story. Riki Wilchins criticises de-transition studies which may have a ‘political undercurrent’. She told BBC Radio 4 that they ‘undercut transgender people's access to surgery’.

Unfortunately, Wilchins and Reynolds form an alliance of quasi-liberal facade.

Wilchins is hostile to research like that proposed by Caspian, since it may reveal supporting gender transition without caution and confidence of lifelong commitment is a dangerous moral fallacy. The Bath Spa decision-makers have succumbed to apprehensions that they may be lampooned for in the future, due to their deviation from the de rigueur leftwing positions on gender.

Any true egalitarian would protect innocent, vulnerable minorities such as those who de-transition. Instead, Wilchins and Reynolds have contributed to a stigma that not only hinders intellectual inquiry on the sensitive subject of de-transitioning, but ostracises people who do. Preventing important research to appear politically fashionable is, needless to say, not progressive.

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

LIFESTYLE 9

Coppafeel On Campus The Power Of

Switching Off

Why digital detox is on the rise in the U.K. EMILY MAY WEBBER LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Photo courtesy of Royal Holloway Uniboob Team.

CHARLOTTE RUBERY STUDENT WRITER

As breast cancer awareness month is underaway, you may have noticed a wash of pink around campus. During your twenties, the idea of being diagnosed with breast cancer is not something that is necessarily considered.

However, for Kris Hallenga, 31, this experience too soon became very real. Having been diagnosed with incurable breast cancer aged just 23, Kris knows all too well that self-examination could be the difference between life and death.

Currently, women are booked in for mammograms shortly after their fiftieth birthday. However, Hallenga’s diagnosis taught her that there is very little information for young people about breast cancer. With this realisation, Kris and her twin sister founded CoppaFeel in 2009. The focus of their campaign was to promote the idea of women, ‘getting to know their boobs’, as early diagnosis could make all the difference to a successful recovery.

CoppaFeel aims to educate and teach women that the power is, literally, in their hands. Using our hands to check for and notice chang-

es in our breasts could save our lives. CoppaFeel has, particularly in recent years, achieved a much larger presence on University campuses, fulfilling one of its aims to educate young women. The Royal Holloway ‘Uni Boob Team’ (UBT) are working hard to promote CoppaFeel on campus. Amongst a range of initiatives and fundraising events, the CoppaFeel committee are working with some of Royal Holloway’s sports teams. Women’s Football and Rowing are the most recent examples to fundraise and raise awareness of the cause.

The sports teams have been extremely keen to embrace this, with one of the Women’s Football goalkeepers wearing the infamous ‘CoppaFeel Boob’.

Whilst these pictures are somewhat comedic, the sentiment behind them is far from it. These are fun and inclusive ways of promoting CoppaFeel at Royal Holloway, and the willingness of sports teams to get involved is absolutely fantastic.

What is Coming Up? • December Glitter Party in Medicine – CoppaFeel takeover.

• Manicure Tent – have pretty hands to ‘CoppaFeel’ with! Planned to be in Febru-

ary 2018.

• Future sports team collaborations.

Getting involved: Getting involved couldn’t be any easier. Search ‘UBT Royal Holloway’ on Facebook and drop the team a message. Once you’re added to the team chat, you’ll see that there are numerous fun and engaging opportunities to get involved with on campus. The team are incredibly welcoming and approachable so don’t be shy in getting involved and supporting what really is a fantastic cause on your University campus.

Don’t Forget!

Sign up to CoppaFeel’s free text service to get monthly reminders to check your breasts – text ‘UBT RHUL’ to 70500 to get your monthly reminders. Royal Holloway’s ‘Uni Boob Team’ will really be pushing the text initiative over the coming months.

Should you wish to find out more about CoppaFeel, you can do so through their website, which also details fundraising opportunities you can get involved with. https://coppafeel.org/ Don’t forget to support the Royal Holloway ‘Uni Boob Team’ on campus over the course of the coming months!

Have you ever found yourself with the television on and your phone in the palm of your hand?

Firstly, it is likely no fault of your own - many careers depend upon you always having your finger on the pulse. For many students, the pressure of keeping up with social media and an overflowing inbox leads to feeling like you’re swimming against the tide. Rewind to a decade ago: once the working day was over, you could close the door on the outside world. But now, the constant need to connect, refresh and re-tweet never rests - and neither do you.

The term digital detox is fast becoming a trend in the U.K, as screen time is reaching an unhealthy high. The trend outlines that participants take a break from their devices, and aims at encouraging people to interact with the physical world, subsequently reducing their stress levels. The consumer market has also taken to cashing in on this trend, with many luxury retreats rolling out across the country. However, the price of logging off to the world does not come cheap.

Prices for a long weekend can set you back over £500.

Time To Log Off, based in Somerset, state ‘we believe technology should serve us, not enslave us’ with the emphasis on ‘balance’ taking centre stage on their program.

So how is this digital consumption affecting our well-

being? The Telegraph reported in 2015 that young adults now spend a staggering 27 hours a week plugged into their devices, which has almost tripled from 2005. Studies show this rapid increase correlates with the drop in attention spans, and more worryingly, the rise of anxiety and mental health issues.

It is inevitable that we cannot fully escape from our online bubble. It seems you only put your device down for an hour, and are welcomed with a stream of messages, notifications and alerts upon your return; all of which are enough to combust not only your phone, but also your mind. However, setting a cut off point in the day where devices are switched off could be the key to slowing down the mind, and metaphorically closing the door on the online world.

If you are unable to fork out for a detox retreat, or are struggling to stop tapping at the keyboard, here are some ways to switch off, unwind, and boost attentiveness: 1. Set a bounce back email: after a certain hour set an automatic email stating you are offline. This means you have acknowledged the email, and will reply within office hours.

2. Tea: not only the drink, but also the method of boiling the kettle, and slowly sipping away can be the key to relaxing your mental activity. Choose chamomile or peppermint for that extra boost.

3. Walk: 15 minutes outside per day. Whether that be walking to the office or University. Take time to breathe, without the guilt of not checking your phone.

10 LIFESTYLE

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

Best Cup On Campus: An Investigation

Star reporters go in search of the ultimate cafe experience.

AMANDA HUDSON OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

A cup of coffee can work miracles in the life of a student. It’s for this reason that I began to wonder where on campus was the best place to get a fix of caffeine. To put this to the test, I’ve gone around to every coffee vendor on campus to try their best cup of joe, and brought Founder Editor and coffee aficionado Daniel Brady with me to get a second opinion for a more unbiased review. During our excursion, we considered three things: quality, ambiance, and service. These things we felt were the most fundamental parts of the whole experience of coffee drinking. Below are our findings.

Cafe On The Square

Order- Cappuccino and Latte Service- The opening of Café on the Square in the new Emily Wilding Davison Library seems to have drawn quite a crowd.

When we arrived at half one, the queue extended well into the atrium. Despite being incredibly busy, the staff were amicable and attentive.

Ambiance- The combination of a light colour scheme within the café and the natural lighting from the glass walls (as well as the sleek ring lighting fixtures) made for superior ambiance.

We had little to complain about in Café on the Square other than the fact that most of the tables are wobbly and the electrical sockets on the bar seats don’t work. However, if you’re looking for more of a social setting rather than a work environment, this is the place for you.

Quality- Lived up to the Starbucks standard. My cappuccino was average but did the job. Quite unexpectedly, Dan thought his latte was the ‘best cup of coffee so far’. Perhaps it was the maker of the coffee, or the particular day at Café on the Square that led to the latte’s superior taste. Or maybe this would serve as an unprecedented standard for the new coffee shop.

Overall Review- 4/5 coffee cups.

Tommy's Order- Cappuccino and Americano Ambiance- Tommy’s isn’t a place you’d usually think of to get a caffeine fix. But here at The Founder, we are nothing if not thorough. Club music plays in the background, various music videos are displayed on the restaurant’s TV screens, and the lighting ranges from fluorescent to natural, creating a discordant clash for the paying customer. The seating was claustrophobic, rendering it difficult for staff to run food out to students.

Service- Satisfying considering how busy Tommy’s was at the time we arrived. In spite of it being clear from the bar staff ’s hesitant operation of the coffee machine that not many people ordered coffee from Tommy’s, our coffee was served quickly.

Quality- Neither of us were happy with the quality of our coffee. In fact, I would even hesitate to say it deserves the name, as it hardly resembled coffee at all. It provided neither a kick nor a satisfying taste, and left us underwhelmed.

Overall Review- The underwhelming quality of coffee combined with the unappealing atmosphere only brought us to the conclusion that Tommy’s is not a place we would want to go for a coffee run. 1/5 coffee cups.

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

The Boilerhouse Cafe Order- Cappuccino and Flat White Ambiance- Surrounded by a brick courtyard and brick chimneys that are part of one of Royal Holloway’s original buildings, The Boilerhouse Café is one of the university’s newer additions to the on-campus coffee experience. On the interior, exposed brick, wooden flooring and ceiling beams lit by natural lighting from two glass walls creates a rustic atmosphere for the working student. The added touch of hanging wire clouds is simple, yet adds to the relaxed environment this coffee shop adheres to.

Service- The staff were very friendly and swift to manage a long list of orders from people in the queue. When the coffee machine broke down, delaying certain orders, the staff were apologetic and professional. Considering all of this, we didn’t have to wait long for our order to arrive.

Quality- Out of all of the places we visited, this was by far my favourite coffee. Both the cappuccino and the flat white had a well balanced caffeine kick and taste. Commenting on the differing cup sizes in comparison to other venues on campus, Dan said, ‘The small doesn’t get you much coffee, but it’s stronger than a Starbucks coffee so it evens out’.

Overall Review- We enjoyed this venue the most. From the coffee taste, to the atmosphere, to the friendly staff, The Boilerhouse Café provides the whole package.

5/5 coffee cups

LIFESTYLE 11 8Bar9 - Kingswood Order- Cappuccino Ambiance- After consuming a hefty amount of caffeine in a short span of time, we decided to walk off our bottled up energy by trekking out to Kingswood to visit the much overlooked 8Bar9. Being a former Kingswoodian, 8Bar9 provides for me a certain nostalgia. We both appreciated the natural lighting and the overlook onto a green courtyard, but Dan thought the seating was a bit clunky and the colour scheme of primary colours harsh, something I hardly noticed until he pointed them out.

Service- Speedy service was offered at 8Bar9, due to the fact that apart from one group who’d already ordered their beverages, the bar was empty.

Quality- This is yet another branch of Starbucks on Royal Holloway’s campus. We split a cappuccino for fear of giving ourselves a caffeine induced heart attack. It was mediocre to say the least and seemed to be more foam than coffee.

Overall Review- Considering the remote location, the average coffee, and the unpleasant décor, we gave 8Bar9 2/5 coffee cups.

Imagine Crosslands Order- Latte and Cappuccino Ambiance- Located in the heart of Royal Holloway’s oldest building, Crossland’s gives off an old pub vibe. Full of dark wood and leather seating, the coffee shop/on-campus bar provides a relaxed environment that is suitable for both work and leisure.

Service- While our orders were taken fairly quickly, it took a while for the staff to actually make the coffee and a group of people who were waiting on their coffee orders had gathered by the till by during the whole ordeal.

Quality- My cappuccino was aromatic and had a nice kick.

About his latte, Dan said, ‘Not as good as the one from Café on the Square, but still a solid 3/5 stars”.

Overall Review- Considering the unique experience Crossland’s offers in having a cup of joe in the middle of a Victorian castle, and the above average quality of coffee, we gave Crossland’s 3.5/5 coffee cups.

Order- Cappucino and Caramel Macchiato Ambiance- In the deep underbelly of The Hub lies a quirky space known as Imagine. The harsh fluorescent lighting mixed with the chaotic jumble of seating and décor makes for a ‘preschool nuclear bunker feel’, according to Dan. Not to mention the music that plays in the background can range anywhere from show tunes to R&B in a matter of minutes.

Service- There was hardly a queue and we were served immediately by friendly staff. There is something to be said about Imagine’s options. If you’re not a coffee lover, bubble tea and sushi are also on the menu. Our orders came quickly and we had our choice of seating from the mostly empty café.

Quality- We had fairly high hopes for the quality of coffee served at Imagine since it’s a branch of Starbucks. However, when it came to my cappuccino, the taste was average and it didn’t give me the kick that I expected. About his Caramel Macchiato, Dan said, ‘Based on taste it’s nice, but it’s more like drinking warm sweet milk than coffee’.

Overall Review- Imagine seems to be more of a social, relaxed setting than one equipped for a study session. Though the staff were friendly and the service was quick, Imagine has little to offer if your main goal is a good cup of coffee.

3/5 cups of coffee.

12 FEATURES

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at features@thefounder.co.uk

Holloway Histories Thomas Holloway: the man with more money than sense?

ELENA ROSSI STUDENT WRITER

An Introduction As part of the 2016 Play!

Festival and Royal Holloway Fresher’s Week, the History Society put on Holloway’s Hidden Histories Tour. The tours took people all over campus and characters from the university’s past told a variety of fantastic stories about Holloway. As well as painting myself white to be one of the statues telling Holloway’s tales, I also visited the archives to find the information for the tours. There were so many fascinating stories and facts that I had never heard of before, and I am sure you haven’t either.

So, I thought it would be a good idea to take all the interesting information and turn it into a monthly feature for The Founder.

The Holloway Coin My first hidden history for you is the Thomas Holloway coin. Used as small change in British colonies, they demonstrate Holloway’s ambitious marketing success. In his article, ‘The Tokens of Thomas Holloway’, R. C. Bell highlights that while some regard these pieces as medals, they possess the qualities of a coin, including the name of the issuer and their dating. Bell also states that the coins were used as actual currency in London, although the majority of them were sent to Australia and formed part of their

currency. Atkin, in The Coins and Tokens of the Possessions and Colonies of the British Empire, states that the tokens were used as small change in the colonies. Whilst these pieces were not the dominant coinage of the British Empire, their presence as small change in Australia illustrates Holloway’s vision. Thomas Holloway was notorious for his pills and ointments, but these coins show that their success also depended on a grand advertising scheme, which broadcast his products across the world.

In 1857, Thomas created these coins, including a penny and a half-penny. The coin features Holloway himself, on the obverse. Thomas is depicted as a Roman emperor, Roman nose and all. Interestingly, many monarchs and leaders throughout history have used this Roman aesthetic to portray their power and influence. The Holloway empire was so impressive, it only seems fair for Thomas to adopt the image of the mighty Romans.

Despite having no qualifications, Thomas adopts the title of ‘Professor’ for the coin.

Considering this was before his decision to found a college, it is ironic Holloway decided this was a fitting entitlement.

The name of the craftsman of the coin is also included on the piece, below Thomas Holloway’s neck, ‘J. Moore’. Although Moore is far from the royal mint, he must be credited for his art.

On the back of the coin,

there is Hygieia, the goddess of health, cleanliness and hygiene. She is also the daughter of the God of Medicine, Asclepius. The presence of Hygieia is extremely fitting for Holloway’s coins, especially considering the reverse of the coin includes ‘Holloway’s Pills and Ointments’.

Although the coins were never the mainstream currency, their presence in Australia as small change stresses how successful Holloway was in being present across the world. We may not consider the founder of our university a well-known name to all, but Thomas Holloway definitely made a name for himself throughout the Victorian empire.

I found out about this fantastic item at a talk at the picture gallery by Harriet Costelloe, the archivist at Holloway, and Laura MacCulloch, the Picture Gallery curator. There are regular talks throughout the term

by Laura, who gives a really interesting insight into the collection, which are absolutely fantastic and I would recommend them to everyone. You can find the dates for these talks under Royal Holloway Events on the university website If you have had any questions about Royal Holloway or Bedford College’s History, feel free to email me and I will see if I can find any answers for you. Email: Elena.

Rossi.2015@live.rhul.ac.uk

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at features@thefounder.co.uk

What Week Two Taught Us OLIVIA ATKINSON STUDENT WRITER

As some of us enter third year, breaths are taken in, library spaces reserved, and summers are ruined over dissertation preparations. To all first and second years, this is your guide to survival in your final year. So far, the workload has certainly increased and library bins are littered with Starbucks coffee cups. My personal favourite? Caramel Macchiato - would highly recommend. I won’t deny it, Fresher’s week led us into a false sense of security and rekindled our romance with an immense number of VK’s, and then week two opened our eyes. The campus is finally starting to look less like a building site, but we’re all still getting used to the Windsor building being painted orange.

First and second years might not be as disturbed by the upcoming stresses of real life, but I urge you to double check your emails. As our campus visually gets a makeover, the careers centre has also moved to the Davison building, and are hosting many events already. Check out the micro-placement project aimed at helping second years gain an internship or work experience in the summer before third year.

If you’re a third year like me, perhaps in need of a rain check on careers, consider these options. Masters and employment seem to cloud our vision as the only possibilities after graduation. However, there are ample other options that demonstrate different and innovative ways to kick-start your next chapter. For example, taking a year out allows more time to decide where to go next, perhaps what course to study, and most importantly, increases finance, unless you’re a shopaholic, like me.

You will also find that com-

panies commonly search for work experience in your CV, and without it, your degree can mean next to nothing.

In this way, postgrads are cleverly cushioning the transition and easing the jump from the mirage of university into a nine to five reality by applying for internships post-uni.

When you do come head to head with the big cheese, it’s important to accept early on a simple fact.

Starting salaries will more than usually be low. Don’t be disheartened. Climbing the metaphorical ladder into success, fortune and perhaps fame is not a quick process.

Start thinking about what you’re interested in. Ditch the dreams and turn them into legitimate goals. Search for what you want on the internet. Sites such as: Graduatejobs.com, Linkedin.com, and Targetjobs.com are extremely useful in getting that first leg up. Create a profile and see what responses you gather. After asking around, I found that most second and third years felt strongly that a legitimate plan with realistic goals provided comfort for the looming shadow umbrella term, ‘the future.’

Now, let’s live in the present for a moment. My first, (or third) impressions so far this year accumulate to: stay organised, manage your time and don’t say no to societies just because it’s third year. Try something new, join a team and don’t feel pressured to stick to what you know, you’ll have plenty of time to do that when you graduate into a monotonous job. Don’t say no to nights out, you’ll find it’s an easy way to see all those people you promised to stay in touch with. Plus, don’t forget to try the new red VKs.

FEATURES 13

Your Housemate Survival Guide What to expect and how to deal with it.

Photo via http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1687360/images/o-HOUSEMATES-facebook.jpg.

LAREN TAYYIP FEATURES EDITOR

Living with housemates may be a new and exciting experience for some of us, and a less exciting experience for others. I certainly remember driving to Royal Holloway on the first day of second year ready to move in with my new (hopefully) best friends. This is every girl’s dream since they’re about 12 years old. The excitement was overwhelming.

A few of the perks included: one big sleepover for the rest of the year, no rules in the house, no parents to listen to, and parties every night. Even though it has been six weeks since being back at university, I am sure some of you second years are still holding out hope for these wishes to come true.

Or maybe your house dynamics are perfect, in which case your twelve-year-old selves couldn’t be happier.

It’s normal, on the other

hand, to experience some tension or to fall out and make up again with your housemates from time to time. Rest assured, this happens to everyone. Arguments can range from who was meant to take out the bins or replace the toilet paper, to not being able to sleep because people are being too loud before a night out. We have all been there.

Group chats on Facebook or Whatsapp quickly turn from including your besties to actually including your enemies. It’s a matter of time before Jemima plots her revenge against you for not switching the lights off after you went to bed, and therefore raking up the electricity bills for the month. Living at home with you parents and annoying brother doesn’t seem so bad after all now does it? At least back home your parents loved you unconditionally and fed and watered you.

Fear not - these are typical problems which we all experience, even if you are all the best of friends. Some say you will make friends for life and

ultimately grow even closer.

It’s like living with five annoying siblings who you love and want to kill at the same time.

My top five tips for survival would be: 1) Learn everyone’s personal irritations and try not to set it off.

2) Clean and tidy after yourselves, don’t fall into the trap of thinking how nice your housemates are for cleaning after you as they probably hate you right now.

3) Replace things when they are used up, there’s nothing worse than realising the toilet paper has run out and no one has ordered any more.

4) Try and keep the music down if other people in your house aren’t going out and have a 9 a.m. the next morning.

5) Finally, remember your keys on a night out. No one’s going to get up at 3 a.m. to let you in after a heavy night at the SU. Good luck second years and first years, you have a lot to look forward to.

14 ARTS

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

The World Of Damian Hirst ANNA LUCCHINETTI STUDENT WRITER

Venice, 2017. Imagine a wreck discovered at the bottom of the ocean with treasure five times more valuable and richer than Tutankhamun’s. This is what Damien Hirst has created in his latest exhibition, Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable. However, Hirst has not only imagined it - he created his own treasure and presented it for the first, and last time, in Venice in occasion of the Venice Biennale.

The ‘treasure’ is so large that it had to be shown in two major exhibition spaces in Venice; the Palazzo Grassi and Punta dellaDogana. When entering the first venue the spectator sees one of the many monumental pieces that characterised Hirst’s latest work; a bronze statue of a demon whose height is just over 60 foot. This is merely a taste of what the spectator is to experience as both spaces are completely filled with breathtaking artworks , the dimensions of which are nothing less than colossal.

The real inventive aspect of this work is the story constructed behind it. Indeed, it took Hirst over ten years of work to complete this project. He fabricated a whole story surrounding the treasure, the wreck and the history of its shipwreck.

According to this tale, in 2008, sea divers found the wreck of a ship named Unbelievable that once belonged to the freedmen who lived between the first and second century. The legend tells that the collection was being transported to a temple for safe keeping when the Unbelievable wrecked due to the weight. The wreck resulted in the loss of all the treasures which have since laid at the bottom of the ocean for over two thousand years.

It is clear that Hirst aims to persuade the audience of the authenticity of this legend as every artwork is presented with specific information and historical context. Hirst also made his bluff more convincing by creating sculptures with coral incrustations, labelling them as ‘not yet restored’.

The artist’s commitment to create a credible story is demonstrated by the ‘photographic evidence’ exhibited, showing the statues at the bottom of the ocean. These pictures weren't edited, Hirst actually hired sea divers to take pictures of his artworks underwater.

Nevertheless, it is impossible to believe the authenticity of this exhibition as the collection presents artworks that remain obviously separate in historical cultures.

Hirst plays with the audience’s mind as he is determined to make them believe his story; however, he is the one who makes the legend even more unbelievable, as within the collection the spectator sees statues that figure Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Walt Disney.

Hirst tells the audience a fairy tale which we are initially more than likely to believe. He knows that the audience wants to believe that something so marvellous can be true; Hirst bases his experience on human’s two opposing instincts - believing in what one is told and not believing in things too good to be true. However, to have a full experience of Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable we need to put prejudices aside and let Hirst convince us. Let’s believe whatever Damien Hirst Photos courtesy of Anna Lucchinetti. says.

ARTS 15

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

[Review]

Living Histories

Acquired works on paper by contemporary Arab artists.

ELIZABETH JONES STUDENT WRITER

Upon entering Room 34 of the British Museum, it is not immediately apparent that this extraordinary collection of contemporary art is in the room at all – tucked away and surrounded by centuries-old artefacts of the permanent Islamic World exhibition, this collection of artists’ insights into conflict and identity crises in a variety of Arab countries is certainly worth seeking out.

One of the most successful elements of this exhibit is the range of media engaged in a relatively small space. Heba Y. Amin’s archival pigment photograph of two men on a motorcycle in the Fayoum region of Egypt is contrasted with a limestone panel from an Iranian frieze of the late 18th century; the curators’ presence here is strongly felt as they immediately seek to highlight one of many forms of displacement felt within Arab countries’ conflicts, and the juxtaposition of artefact and artwork is striking in the opening presentation of Arab heritage and contemporary history. This concept is further explored in Issam Kourbaj’s depiction of the perilous journeys undertaken by Syrian refugees through boats made of burnt matchsticks, with the works combining to present the current journey of many cultures and peoples from their homelands, from centres of rich cultural Arab heritage, towards a future of uncertainty.

Crucially, the thread that connects these installations together is language; communication and free speech characterise the sentiment behind ‘Living Histories’, featuring bold text quotations in Ara-

bic, such as (translated) ‘Prepare for rebellion’ and ‘they struggled for our freedom’, superimposed onto anonymously collected poster prints from Syria to demonstrate the ways in which art in conflict can communicate specific and hard-hitting messages in everyday scenarios. ‘Communication’ is further explored through Jaber Al Azmeh’s greyscale photographs in his Resurrection series (2011).

In each of these portraits, a member of a network of Syrian journalists, poets, artists and actors pose with a newspaper marked with their own unique message to highlight the differences between mainstream media and individual perspectives on the conflict in Syria. This effect is compounded by the exhibit’s use of these photographs next to symbolist paintings such as Youssef Abdelke’s Sardine, using multiple media to engage with the observer about issues of isolation felt in conflict.

Furthermore, the exhibition’s layout is both engaging and challenging; the proximity of the different artworks (both on the wall and in the display cabinets) necessitates several trips around the exhibition to fully appreciate each of the works individually, yet the curator’s creative decision to display the work in this way does create the sensory overload of the everyday life scenarios presented in the art, rendering a visit to this exhibition a true experience of contemporary Arab artwork and its underlying message.

The British Museum’s ‘Living Histories’ is a notable preservation and promotion of contemporary Arab artwork, and is testament to the role of art as a vehicle of free speech, and as a unique view into others’ experiences.

[Review]

WINGS:

Soaring Near Success

Photo courtesy of The Young Vic. SUZANNAH BALL ARTS EDITOR

Wings, a terrifying and truthful play by Arthur Kopit, was a masterpiece of sorts.

The main character, an ex pilot named Emily Stilson and played by Juliet Stevenson, was artistically dangled above the stage for the play’s entire 75-minute run. Stevenson’s performance, bar her interesting American accent, was harrowing. Stevenson’s character has to battle the aftermath of a stroke, and is now unable to form correct or meaningful sentences without great difficulty and intense therapy. The audience is allowed into her fragmented and struggling subconscious as she attempts to regain her previous self.

The play, which was initially conceived by Kopit for radio, is, at the very least, elaborate in its staging. The director, Natalie Abrahami, clutches on the fact that Kopit’s heroine was an aviator pilot, and as a result flies Stevenson merci-

lessly above and around the stage. Alongside the dangling star you also witness a very mobile platform stage which swings from right to left with extras chasing after the swiftly moving storyline. If it weren’t for the dark undertones of the play it would be funny to watch these characters rush after a floating Stevenson (and to be honest, it sometimes was laughable).

The play tries hard to narrow the gap between reality and Stilson’s mind. The sweeping scene changes and the introduction of melodramatic curtain projections, which somewhat resemble the efforts of an A-level art project, skewer one’s ability to comprehend what is really happening and what is within Stilson’s own mind. However, when Stilson is quite literally floating above the other cast members it would be offensive to think the audience is swept up enough to believe this as truth.

Although the play is a prin-

cipally short piece, you get a distinct feel for Stevenson’s character. There is a pleasing scene where her therapist, Amy, attempts to get Mrs Stilson to name the object she used to fly in, to which she rapidly replies ‘Planes!’. The glee with which she remembers an aspect of her previous life gives the audience hope for her recovery. It is like watching a child gain its first words.

Yet a true recovery is never shown and will most likely never happen. There is an obvious dark light which shines upon the play in its entirety as it finds itself very close to reality and the saddening truth of stroke victims. For anyone who has had experience in this area I would recommend avoiding this play, while it may be endearing for some to witness the attempted rebuilding of an obviously strong and previously quick witted female pilot, for others it may be a hard tale of misfortune which hits too close to the hard truth of mortal life.

16 ARTS

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

[Review]

Naughty Comedy for Naughty Boys Royal Holloway Comedy Society presents a night of stand-up previously performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

NICHOLAS ROSS STUDENT WRITER

On 28th September, Royal Holloway’s Comedy Society set up in Medicine to put on a spectacle of hysterical standup in which audiences of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival had previously basked. Having left the venue at ‘Stumble Out’ (Medicine), I navigated the dim paths of forestry behind Founders eavesdropping on other audience members walking in the same direction. ‘Oh my God; he was actually so funny!’ remarked one enthusiastic silhouette to its friend. Unusually, popular opinion was in tune with my own.

‘They could be p r o f e s s i o n a l ,’ said another shuffling figure.

Everyone indeed had intact the conviction of their earlier cackles.

For an event free-of-charge, leaving with any resentful notion of diminishing returns was an unlikely prospect.

However, given the title of the show, Naughty Comedy for Naughty Boys, I departed a couple of hours prior to the eavesdropping from my innocent student abode through a gleaming aperture with misgivings that I might be subjecting myself to an evening of tedious Jimmy Carr one-liner bombing and political-incorrectness for its own edgy sake.

The show ended up surpassing anything I could have imagined. Four performers were

introduced by an MC who interacted with the audience between acts. The first performer, Archie-Brooks Watson, began with a protracted ‘prank’ in the form of a reimagining of the history of Stand-up. Implied to be a non-comedic lecture, the segment was, perhaps unintentionally, entertaining (its comedic essence appearing like an analogue of Stewart Lee’s). After that section he conjured an impressive intimacy with the audience and shared his brilliant, quirky creativity. He performed some of the least formulaic comedy I have seen, a captivating concoction of hilariously shocking punch lines and build-ups peppered with dark humour.

K i e r a n Salmon followed, proving himself an amazing storyteller and astute observer of the gritty realities of young adulthood and the soul-destroyed among us by acting as if fuelled by some boozed-up nihilistic void: He spoke of physiques spiralling into dilapidation; our futile romantic efforts including banal and superficial dating apps; and our innate inability to control laughter at sources of amusement in inappropriate contexts (like grandma’s cremation).

After the interval, Guy Cole ruminated on the subject of Islamists’ everyday

Some of the least formulaic comedy I had ever seen...

Photo Compilation courtesy of Royal Holloway Comedy Society.

lives including their motivations and logistics through a geopolitical lens tinted with satirical obscurity, providing amusing solutions to the problem of terrorist threats.

Treating the audience to the weird and wonderful destinations of obsessive meditation, Cole demonstrated a hilariously inventive imagination.

Finally, the Comedy Society’s President Philipp Carl Kostelecky took centre stage.

The macho English student in me hates to admit that during this performance, I cried with laughter. Some

of Kostelecky’s impressions and accents were pitch-perfect like those performed by a young Jim Carrey. While hostile to racism, he demonstrated certain phrases and circumstances incongruous to particular cultures. White people’s assiduous fear of incurring odium by being accidentally racist led to a humorous adventure of international commentary. His performance was the perfect end to an extraordinary night of comedy.

As mentioned above, the MC played a vital part in the evening. Before every act,

James Butler intermittently stole the show. In the possession of a genius control over call-back jokes, he developed a relationship with some individuals from the audience.

He had complete command over this audience participation even when one member attempted to outsmart the comedian’s audacious interrogation.

The Comedy Society evidently allows uniqueness to flourish in the club. The performers were a charming cacophony of personality swimming in a vat of wit and humour.

ARTS: FILM 17

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

[BFI2017Review]

Photo via http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3262342.

JACK SALVADORI FILM EDITOR

‘The predictable film is flatter than its central character’s perspective’Despatches from the 2017 BFI London Film Festival One of the most distinctive features of the London Film Festival, which took place all over the city throughout October, is quantity over quality.

True, this peculiarity allows many more movies to be screened, possibly satisfying a wider range of viewership.

However, at the same time, the festival cannot possibly present a clear direction, and it seems like a hotchpotch only interested in its excessive and impractical high figures.

The endless programme of the 61st edition gives the impression that the more movies there are, the greater the festival is: a festival with no selection, which proudly accepts

films as if in a scoring game.

But it should not be forgotten that most of these motion pictures had their premieres already, opening in other more important film festivals, such as Cannes, Toronto and Venice.

Moreover, having all these films in just 10 days denied the sharing experience; the most charming characteristic of film festivals is in fact the irresistible share of thoughts, impressions, reviews and opinions: everybody watches everything, at the same time.

Of course, this is possible when a programme lists 20/30 films in competition – and not more than 300, like the London one!

This is the reason why a variety of movies which do not share any common line of thought were piled up within the festival’s programme: from critically acclaimed masterpieces such as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, to

purely plotless artistic pieces like Manifesto, passing from banal commercial flicks like Battle of the Sexes and Breathe.

The latter, which was selected to open the festival, recounts the biography of Robin Cavendish, a polio-affected man who spent his life fighting for disabled rights. Andrew Garfield, who plays the tetraplegic protagonist, might well run for this year Oscars, considering the Academy’s fond appreciation for characters with a disease. However, the predictable film is flatter than its central character’s perspective.

Sometimes, a great life does not mean it will turn out to be a great film.

On the other hand, there were pleasant surprises on the commercial side too. Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories might look like the classic, chewed-up American comedy, while it is an irresistible original piece, simultaneously hilarious and touching.

Legendary Dustin Hoffman stars next to the often underrated Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler, who are both capable of dramatic performances too.

Moving towards a more authorial branch of the festival, Richard Linklater presented his latest work, Last Flag Flying. It is hard to classify this intense film into a single genre, a road-movie reflecting upon war, containing several comical scenes which perfectly combine with the overall dramatic tone. Moreover, it is finally possible to watch Bryan Cranston in a proper lead role, after his television successes.

The strangest – but yet extremely entertaining – film of this edition is definitely How to Talk to Girls at Parties, mixing 1970s British punk culture with aliens visiting planet Earth. What happens when an extra-terrestrial and a punk fall in love? It seems like the beginning of a joke, but it is actually a romantic comedy

destined to be a cult.

There was also the chance to commemorate the recently passed away Harry Dean Stanton, who stars in his latest work Lucky, an almost autobiographical confession of an old man questioning himself about the significance of life and death.

But the true discovery of the festival is a film that changes forever the history of motion pictures, being entirely hand painted; no computer graphics or special effects were employed for Loving Vincent, showcasing 65,000 paintings commissioned to more than 100 painters. The film investigates over the mysterious death of Vincent van Gogh, exploring his difficult existence and paying homage to the genius artist by representing the movie in his own unique style. A true delight for the eyes, and the work of art of the 61st BFI London Film Festival.

18 ARTS: FILM [Review]

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

[Review]

Flatliners The Golden Circle Kingsman:

Not worth a cinema ticket.

Photo via https://vimeo.com/238419854.

AIDEN BAYFORD STUDENT WRITER

Film director Matthew Vaughn presents his first cinematic sequel in the form of risqué spy-thriller: Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle. The Secret Service was a pleasant surprise: parodying and shamelessly exaggerating bare Bond tropes. By comparison, The Golden Circle is just slightly pale.

The Golden Circle sees the Kingsman, a proper classy spy agency inspired by Arthurian legend, annihilated by the American drug lord Poppy [Julianne Moore].

Gary Unwin [Taron Egerton], or Agent Galahad, is reunited with Kingsman tech genius, Merlin [Mark Strong]: the pair follow a lead that takes them to the “American af ” Statesmen, a similar spy agency brewing whiskey in Kentucky. However, Poppy has ensured all her drugs cause certain paralysis, followed by eye melting. Once Galahad’s girlfriend, Princess Tilde [Hanna Alstrom] becomes a victim, the rogue London youth becomes quite the chivalric knight – in orange. It’s a buff story, that re-

produces that same swift pacing its predecessor displayed, but at times it’s a little dry.

Vaughn’s pulse-racing fight sequences make a very welcome return, but never out-do the beloved church scene from the first film.

Vaughn opens with one such scene, a car chase through London that sees Eggsy thrown around a taxi; it’s very exciting, funny, and over-thetop. I just felt myself eagerly waiting, and waiting for the speed, the savagery - for the sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd - of another church scene, and it just did not come. And yet, Vaughn manages to squeeze in ten minutes of Elton John.

John’s cameos are appreciated, but this might have intensified the film’s pacing issues.

The Secret Service is a very tight film, moving from significant scene, to significant scene. In comparison, The Golden Circle has ten minutes devoted to getting John in. Yes, John is funny, but, he does put the story, or fight sequences, on pause. As far as celebrity cameos go, it’s one of the better ones; eat your heart out McCartney – Pirates 5, you’re a disgrace. However, Vaughn does not bring

these same compromises to the more intimate scenes. At Glastonbury, the scene requires Eggsy to rather literally, ‘tap that’, and place a mic ‘inside’ Clara Von Gluckfberg [Poppy Delevgine].

Egerton makes a first-rate ‘Eggsy’, or Agent Galahad, capturing perfectly the elite, classy gentleman, whilst also being recognisable as a London youth. Agent Galahad, or Harry Hart [Colin Firth] is equally as charming to watch.

Mark Strong, RHUL’s finest (’85), portrays tech geek Merlin delightfully, giving a subtle and yet highly charismatic performance, which results in an emotional solo towards the film’s climax. On the other hand, Channing Tatum’s involvement is disappointing: I was very excited to see what Tatum would bring to the film, but his Agent Tequila is down and out after five minutes.

The Tomatometer stuck the film with a harsh 50%, and, whilst The Golden Circle does not quite capture the tight thrill of its predecessor, I think that’s slightly unfair. It’s certainly not as excellent as the first one, but a damn good time will certainly suffice.

Photo via https://www.empireonline.com/new-flatliners.

LAUREN JOHNSON STUDENT WRITER

I am not a fan of remakes.

They are worse than sequels of poorly-made originals. But we all know how Hollywood works, and its ethos ‘to make films to make money’, so here we are, as avid film lovers exposed to one of many of 2017’s revivals of loved classics. Now, one of my all-time favourite cult-classics has been brought back to the silver screen: Joel Schumacher’s Flatliners (1990). It makes me feel a little indifferent, like replacing a relative with a robot version.

The plot entails five medical students endeavouring on the unknown by inducing ‘neardeath’ experiences, which are subjective to each character.

However, in the harrowing sense of horror, there is no action without punishment, and unfortunately, messing with mortality has severe consequences. Flatliners is based on the success of the original flick, but plagued by an overall idea of wealth, whereas the first seemed to subtly insinuate this theme. For instance, the experiments in

the original were undergone in a much-left-to-be-desired run down building, while the remake sees state of the art equipment as the unlikely experiments are being funded by their university.

While the new version takes a different path from its predecessor, the plot is mostly loyal to the original and so preserves the fascinating story concept. It also has a very pleasing style and aesthetic, in line with current trends in Hollywood. But it focuses on the cast and not the narrative, and its problems mean watching this film is like listening to a music artist murdering a classic.

In Flatliners, you will endeavour on a journey that merges realism and fantasy into a narrative masterpiece, with the plausible and the irrational coming toe-to-toe with one another in a battle of thought. Although I don’t believe Flatliners is worth a cinema ticket, if you should go I recommend watching both versions to fully allow your opinion to form upon the necessity of remakes in today’s film industry.

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

[Column]

Christmas Is Coming

ARTS: MUSIC 19

Mystery Jets: Review The 'Jetrospective' Tour delivers to fans.

ELE WALTON MUSIC EDITOR

Call me crazy for mentioning this now, but the John Lewis Christmas Advert drops in early November each year, and as such we are mere weeks away. It’s (usually) the best Christmas advert out there and a large portion of the credit must go to the music. The formula is

I'm thinking

puppets, full on Pinocchio style. simple, take a big classic song like ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ or ‘The Power of Love’, slow it down, soften it a little and voila! Beautiful. Instant.

Christmas. Classic.

So here are some recommendations for this year’s John Lewis advert song.

The Beach Boys – God Only Knows (Recommendation Nick Mulvey to cover) When you Google ‘classic love songs’ Elton John's ‘Your Song’ is the first result, but they already did that one.

So ‘God Only Knows’ is number seven. It does what it says on the tin: it’s a classic love song, a softer slower rendition could be nice over some CGI animals and a small child.

Wooden Heart – Elvis (Recommendation Johnny Flynn to cover)

I’m thinking puppets, full on Pinocchio style, and then at the end he’s not a puppet anymore and thus he doesn’t have a wooden heart.

Literally anything by Abba I think part of the magic comes from the slow recognition of the song which you hear in a totally new way to how you’ve heard it previously. Even original Abba songs are somewhat surprising. Be it ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘S.O.S’ or ‘Chiquita’ many of their songs could bring an interesting twist to the advert and a bit of a shake up to the traditional format.

Scarborough Fair/Canticle – Simon and Garfunkel (Recommendation Birdy to cover) It’s a classically gentle song with a good message routed in British folklore, and in the hands of a modern artist it could be revitalised. Picture it over sweeping shots of a family at a Christmas market.

And if all else fails…

My final option relies on the fact that both ‘Your song’ and ‘One Day I’ll Fly Away’ were featured in Baz Luhrman’s ‘Moulin Rouge’. In keeping with this theme; ‘Lady Marmalade’.

CHARLIE CATMULL STUDENT WRITER

When asked by my housemate what gig I was going to a couple of Friday nights ago, I was met with a blank stare when I replied with the band Mystery Jets - a look which could only be translated as meaning 'Christ you're indie aren't you Charlie'.

This is probably a commonly expected but seriously undeserved response for a band who are now celebrating 5 albums and over 10 years of, well... being a band. And a very recognisable band, at that. For me, Mystery Jets are a group which fits into that frustrating gap in popular memory that some artists can't help but fall in to, wherein everyone will know or recognise their songs when played out loud, but the song and the name of the band who produced it don't align.

At this point in their career, the tunes they have produced—such as the pop

gem ‘Two Doors Down' or 'Young Love'—surely should have put them on the popular culture map. But, maybe that’s the whole point of their retrospective, or as they title it, 'Jetrospective' tour (great pun by the way) which features the band playing all 5 of their albums to date in full on a different night at the Garage in Islington, London. As student budgets don't stretch that far I wasn't able to go to each night, but, the impression I got from the night I did go—the night they performed their 2012 Americana influenced LP 'Radlands' –was one of a self-indulgent fan service in an atmosphere where every punter absolutely knew who made these songs, unlike my housemate.

The Garage is a small venue with around a 600-person capacity, so the sweaty intimacy between fans and band was clear. With every song receiving a perfect shout of call and response, the introduction of collaborators and ex-band members such as

Tribe's Johnny Lloyd gained equally as much fanfare.

Overall, the night was a celebration of their history.

Though enjoyable, it was quite a short experience - the album length is only around 45 minutes, followed by an encore of 3 of their hits, such as 'Serotonin'. The tour itself does beg the question: where do Mystery Jets go now?

Seeing a band perform to a crowd who are all explicitly fans can't be beaten, but with the shows being so small, it remains to see what the direction is next. Does this retrospective moment signal the beginning of a hiatus for the group, or merely a looking back at their sometimes overlooked achievements before they 'take off ' (knew I could get a jet joke in there somewhere) in a direction that finally puts the band firmly on the map? But, will this compromise the intimacy of their fan service and interaction?

I guess all can only be answered when they decide their next venture.

20 ARTS: MUSIC

[Playlist]

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

Autumn Acoustics

Tempted though I was to create a Halloween playlist consisting of Andrew Gold’s ‘Spooky Scary Skeletons’, Marilyn Manson's ‘This is Halloween’ and Michael Jackson's ‘Thriller’, it seemed a touch cliché. Not that an autumnal playlist is any less so, but it allows for a little more variation. And so I’ve put together a list of songs for listening to inside, whilst it pours down outside.

ELE WALTON MUSIC EDITOR

1.

Mess is Mine - Vance Joy

9.

Life Worth Living - Laurel

2.

Byegone - Volcano Choir

10. Raising the Dead - Johnny Flynn

3.

About Today - The National

11. Bird - Billie Marten

4.

Fangs - Little Red Lungs

12. God and Satan - Biffy Clyro

5.

Mykonos - Fleet Foxes

13. I’ll Never Forget you - Birdy

6.

Blush - Wolf Alice

14. Holocene - Bon Iver

7.

Wild Fire - Jonathan Jeremiah

15. The Lion’s Roar - First Aid Kit

8.

Looking too Closely - Fink

16. Husk - Dry The River

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

ARTS: MUSIC 21

An Interview With Flawes The band sits down to talk touring, Big Weekend, and more. get to properly talk to them and to see Katy Perry and all those great artists and to properly talk to them, some really cool bands. We saw London Grammar. It was really nice to share a bill with people of that calibre.

Photo via https://www.fluidmastering.com/portfolio-posts/flawes/.

ally fast. We did Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May which was a really cool experience. We just did a tour supporting Maximo Just over a year ago you Park in Germany which was signed with Red Bull Re- definitely the highlight. Really cords - how has this year good fun. We did a few festibeen for you? vals so it’s been busy

BETHAN SPROAT STUDENT WRITER

It’s been pretty crazy, we’ve done a lot of writing music.

When we’ve finished the Coffee House Sessions tour we'll go back and finish our album, so we’re in the studio straight away. It’s material we’ve been writing, all three of us all over the world which is pretty cool.

The whole year has gone re-

What sort of thing do you prefer – tour or festivals?

to stop so I ended up liking it from there. I got surprised with a guitar for Christmas one year and it just clicked and I wanted to continuously practise and get better. You meet lots of people along the way, try lots of different bands, learn what works and what How does it feel that Ra- doesn’t and go from there. dio One think so highly of the band?

What are your musical influences?

Yeah it feels great, they’re a big part of the journey, they’re the We all bring something differright people to get on board. ent to the table and share a lot They’re the reason we actu- of different music between us. ally got signed to Red Bull We listen to loads all the time, Records – we got picked up within FLAWES we tend to as track of the week on BBC like Bruno Major, London Introducing, Red Bull heard Grammar, Everything Everyour song, shazamed it, and thing, and Half Moon Run. that’s how they discovered it so if it wasn’t for BBC One we How did you come up probably wouldn’t be touring with your name? the world.

We’ve all played in bands How do real life expe- and had things go wrong, so riences influence your FLAWES is celebrating all songs? those things that went wrong and learning from it. It’s all It’s a mix. Some songs will be about embracing your misabout previous relationships takes and learning from them. and scenarios within those There’s a flaw in the spelling relationships, and others will of our band name, so it’s just be like friends or stories we’ve about thinking that everyheard about a certain position thing happens for a reason. somebody has found themselves in, and we go off on a What’s next in your catangent and dig deep. reer?

bands equipment off stage, turn arounds can be crazy. I probably prefer a proper tour set because you have the full day to prepare and get used to What got you started in the venue, but both are great. music?

How was performing at Big Weekend?

It was an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend. BBC Personally, playing live any- Introducing have been rewhere is the best feeling, it’s ally supportive of the whole the whole reason we do it. I FLAWES journey, and it’s just think festivals can be quite awesome to be invited to perstressful in terms of getting form. It was great to meet all your bands equipment on of the DJs, like Greg James stage while getting the other and those people, and actually

We have a single coming out in November, and then finishing the album that will be We've played in bands and released early to mid-next wanted to play instruments year. When the album is resince we were kids so we sort leased, we’ll be doing quite a of stuck at it. We’ve all been in lot of gigs around the UK and quite a few bands and all done Europe, hopefully getting as different kinds of music. My many gigs as we can. sister got piano lessons when I was five and she was eight, For more information, find and I remember wanting les- Flawes on: sons too just because she did, Facebook: @FlawesBand it went from there and I hated Twitter: @Flawes it at first, but I wasn’t allowed Instagram: @FlawesBand

22 SPORTS

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk

Royal Holloway BUCS Scores Badminton RHUL Women’s RHUL Men's

5 – 3 6 – 2

Essex 2nd Hertfordshire 2nd

Basketball

RHUL Women’s

58 – 43

Middlesex

135 – 98

RHUL Men's 2nd

9 – 0 5 – 1 5 – 1 3 – 0 5 – 1 5 – 3

RHUL Women's 1st RHUL Men's 2nd LSE RHUL Men's 1st Portsmouth RHUL Men's 4th

Fencing

Reading 1st

Football

Canterbury Christ

Church 1st

RHUL Men’s 1st

RHUL Men’s 1st

Portsmouth

RHUL Men’s 2nd

RHUL Men's 3rd

Hockey RHUL Women’s 1st RHUL Women’s 1st RHUL Men’s 1st

5 – 0 7 – 2 3 – 2

Epsom Brunel Surbiton

Lacrosse RHUL Women’s 1st RHUL Men's 1st

37 – 0 14 – 2

RHUL Women’s 2nd Chichester

Squash RHUL Women’s RHUL Men's

3 – 0 2 – 1

Essex Brunel

0 – 0 22 – 19 3 – 2

Reading RHUL Men's 1st RHUL Men's 2nd

Rugby

RHUL Women’s 1st

UCL Photos courtesy of Harry Newcombe and Fencing Club.

Reading

THE FOUNDER October 27, 2017

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SPORTS 23

Meet The Captain: RHUL Trampolining HELENA KEEBLE SPORTS EDITOR

Name: Olivia Tonkin Sport: Trampolining What made you start trampolining?

I used to do it in school P.E. lessons and I have always preferred gymnastics based sports compared to the normal sports, like netball and hockey. When I came to university I always knew I wanted to be part of a sports club but wanted to do something a bit different. I’ve never liked ‘normal’ exercise like running or going to a gym, so bouncing on a trampoline, learning cool moves and feeling like a kid again is the best form of exercise for me.

How long have you been doing trampolining?

I did it for a couple of years at school, but I’ve been doing it properly since November 2016 at Royal Holloway.

How does trampolining benefit your academic life?

Photos courtesy of Olivia Tonkin.

Going to training once or twice a week really takes my mind of everything else going on. We train for two hours, have music playing, and you get a chance to chat whilst not bouncing so it’s a really good distraction from the drone of typing up notes

and writing essays.

What is your most memorable moment in the Trampolining Club?

Probably going up to Sheffield for the BUCS competition, my first trampolining competition.

The arena it held in was actually a covered ice rink so it was huge and pretty scary but the buzz of excitement was awesome. We spent two days there, I competed on the first day in the BUCS 6 category, entry level, and came 36 out of about 150 girls, which for my first competition I was pretty happy with.

What is your favourite move?

Well I’m not that advanced yet, so probably just a straddle jump, which is a bit like a box splits in the air – super satisfying!

Can you do a somersault?

If so, how long did it take you to learn how to do it?

Yes! Just your average front tuck somersault, nothing fancy.

The basics probably took me about one training session, so two hours, but building confidence to do it without support and refining it to look good probably took about 4 weeks.

What life experiences have you gained from trampolining?

Being part of trampolining is fairly unique in the sense that you are part of a close-knit

team but essentially you’re competing for yourself.

Therefore, you have no one to fall back on if you mess up.

This has taught me to be confident in my own abilities, to put myself out there at competitions but to also support my fellow team mates in their routines and help them find confidence in themselves.

Why would you encourage people to join the Trampolining Club?

It’s such a fun sport and so beneficial for your health as well – not only is it a great cardio workout but it also helps tap into certain muscles of the body to perfect each move.

What would you say is the best part of the Trampolining Club?

There’s too many! I think that for me, trampolining was one of the most welcoming clubs on campus. I was made to feel part of the family as soon as I arrived and everyone was so keen to help with routines or chat. We have such a welcoming and friendly team that anyone who joins would be immediately welcomed in – no matter what level of trampolining you are, whether you’ve bounced your whole life or used to have a trampette when you were a toddler, everyone is welcome!

Email: trampolining@su.rhul. ac.uk | Training every Tuesday, 8pm to 10pm Strodes College

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