The Founder, September 2017

The Founder

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Royal Holloway’s Independent Student Newspaper

VOLUME IX, ISSUE I • WEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2017 • Royal Holloway, University of London • Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX

Fresh Term, Fresh Campus, And Freshers

Students met with multi-million pound campus transformation.

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

As the days grow shorter and the air gets colder, there’s only one way to stave off those end of summer blues – the big return to Royal Holloway.

The new academic year is already upon us, and at The Founder we’ve been dusting off our laptops and working hard to bring you a fantastic and informative September edition for the start of term.

For most of us, this week seemed a long way off whilst lounging in the south quad of Founders, enjoying the sunshine and a drink (or three) post-exams. But now we’re back, and ready to do it all again.

We return to find campus a somewhat changed place this September. With the longanticipated opening of the new Emily Wilding Davison Building there are new territories to explore for even the

most seasoned of RHUL students. The latest addition to campus will thankfully provide a huge increase in the number of study spaces available (we’ve all done that walk in the library), as well as a new student services centre, and a bigger and better SU shop.

Of course, returning students will be relieved at the completion of the building, not least as it marks an end to the construction site which campus morphed in to at the end of last year. The new fence-free and HGV-less space promises to shave at least ten minutes off every journey time to or around Founders Building.

First Years – we have suffered for you.

The other addition to Royal Holloway is of course the George Eliot halls. Their construction meant that the university could guarantee accommodation for the record-breaking number of applicants this year, a big step

Move in day is in full swing as new arrivals flood onto campus. Photo by Dan Brady.

forward. We’ve all seen the photos online, and if you’re reading this from your brandnew room or spotless kitchen, just to let you know, we’re not bitter - at all.

Which, of course, brings us to First Years! Welcome one and all! If this is your first

term at Royal Holloway, then firstly congratulations on getting here! Secondly, an even bigger congratulations on picking up your first copy of The Founder. As Royal Holloway’s independent newspaper, we have no formal affiliation with the Student’s Union,

or Royal Holloway itself, allowing us complete freedom in our opinions. The Founder is a monthly publication which aims to provide enriching and diverse content for our readers. We strive to bridge any gaps between the world of RHUL, and the outside world,

Library Opens p. 4

SU Playlist, p. 20

Steph Milne, p. 23

...Continued on page 2

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

HARBEN LETS Your oldest and largest private landlord www.harbenlets.co.uk T: 07973 224125

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2 NEWS

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Uni Costs Remain Uncertain ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Head teachers are concerned that their students are applying to university whilst ministers have not yet decided on the cost of fees.

With the first deadline for applications approaching next month, many teachers are claiming that it is unfair that students will be sending off applications unsure of how much they will actually be paying for tuition fees.

Ministers are currently undecided as to whether fees will be raised above

£9,500, and university websites claim that fees have yet to be decided.

Whilst fees are rising to £9,250 this autumn, there is also an inflation-linked increase planned for the beginning of the next academic year, which could raise fees by a further £250.

It is claimed that fees will be announced before the majority of students have applied, however, many students are currently in the process of applying without knowing what they could be paying.

The leader of the ASCL head teachers’ union said, ‘We

are also concerned that universities have been allowed to raise their fees, but that the government has frozen the £21,000 threshold above which graduates are required to start making loan repayments.’

The news comes amidst reports of debates within the Conservative Party about the value for money of many university courses—and whether fees should be allowed to keep rising—as well as controversy over the high levels of pay that some university vice-chancellors receive.

Egham Landlords Move In For BBC

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

The BBC documentary, The Week the Landlords Moved In, made a visit to a student property in Egham, to show what life is like living in a less than satisfactory student house.

The episode that aired on Wednesday 30 August introduced landlord Ben, who owns multiple properties in Egham that he lets to Royal Holloway students, to the problems that his own tenants have been dealing with.

Ben makes around £20,000 a month from rent, despite many of his properties having serious problems.

After giving up on trying to get issues with the house fixed through the letting agency, Theatre and Philosophy student Tilly Maher in-

vited Ben to come and live with her and her housemates in his property for a week.

During that week, Ben experienced the unbearably loud noise of the water pump, a ring on the hob that would overheat and not turn off, as well as an unusable garden that was promised to be sorted out at the beginning of the year.

Tilly and the other five girls she shares with each pay £433 to live in the property - that means they pay around £2,600 a month, but they still have basic problems with the home.

‘There's been such a shift in the university experience with tuition fees,’ says Tilly, ‘maybe the houses we live in should step up with that as well.’

Speaking to The Founder, Tilly said she hoped the programme ‘showed students in a different light.’ She says that because of the increasing stereo-

type of students showing little care for their properties, ‘we’re typecast and ignored when we have legitimate complaints’.

Ben, who lived on his tenants’ budget of £65 a week, said in reference to the faulty electrics that he was ‘concerned and quite angry with the letting agent for not dealing with something quite dangerous. This really worries me as if it's happening to you guys, it could be happening in other properties too.’

At the end of the programme, Ben had sorted out the garden for his tenants and replaced the hob, however, fixing the noisy pump looked to be a long and costly procedure.

The programme is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Continued From Front Page bringing a sense of inclusivity and belonging to our university community. We’re always looking for people who want to get involved, and if you like what you see and have a story, please contact the appropriate section editor.

So, as the new year be-

gins, this article draws to a close. Whether you’re anxiously entering you first year, are experiencing the more nonchalant second year approach, or are having a panicked it’s-myfinal-year third year moment, remember that whatever stage you’re at – you’ll be okay. The

year ahead will have ups and downs in store, but remember to enjoy it and work hard. Take every opportunity you’re given, and go out and find the ones you’re not, and remember to keep your eye out each month for The Founder!

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

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

News Editor Rosa Smith

Film Editor Jack Salvadori

Opinon and Lifestyle Editor Debate Editor Emily May Amanda Hudson Webber Features Editor Laren Tayyip

Sport Editor Helena Keeble

Arts Editor Suzannah Ball

Music Editor Ele Walton

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

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

THE FOUNDER is printed in Cambridge by Iliffe Print

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

NEWS 3

Health Centre Petition Garners Support ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Photo via https://www.change.org/improve-doctors-surgery.

An online petition to improve Royal Holloway’s Health Centre has gained over a thousand signatures, with many students sharing their bad experience of the university’s health care.

The petition, which will be delivered to Royal Holloway’s Principle, Paul Layzell, calls for a number of improvements to be made, including the response time when calls to the surgery are made, the lack of sympathy from some receptionists, being refused an appointment if you do not feel comfortable telling the receptionist what the appointment is for, and having only five doctors and one nurse to cover over 9,000 students.

The petition was started by psychology student Phoebe Dormand who states on her petition that ‘After speaking to many students about how the university surgery has failed them, as well as writing a formal complaint that was ignored by the surgery, I felt it was time to try to take further action.’

The treatment of mental health issues has also been identified has an area where the Health Centre needs to improve, with many students coming forward to reveal they don’t feel as if they have been taken seriously by all members of staff.

The petition currently has over 1700 supporters, with an aim of 2500. If you wish to sign the petition and get involved, visit https://www.change.org/p/ royal-holloway-university-oflondon-improve-royal-holloway-doctors-surgery

RHUL Added To Google Street View ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Royal Holloway is one of the latest universities to be added to Google’s Street View service, allowing everybody to explore campus from the comfort of their computer.

Google has added thousands of university campuses around the world to Street View, including over 75 UK university and college campuses. The addition comes just in time for the new academic year, making life a little bit easier for first years.

The update allows students to navigate campus online, something which could be very useful for finding car parks, cafes, buildings, and halls.

Detailed Maps directions to key locations and academic buildings on campus are also available– something which may be useful not just for first years, (Munro Fox Lecture Photos via https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4236098,-0.5665348,2a,75y,105.69h,88.2t.

Theatre, anyone?)

RHUL Best For Student Satisfaction DAN BRADY CO-EDITOR

In this year’s National Student Survey (NSS), Royal Holloway has retained its position as number one for student satisfaction among the non-specialist University of London institutions, such as Queen Mary, and the larger London-based universities, including Imperial College.

This latest independent survey, which takes its findings from third-year undergraduate students, also saw Royal Holloway stand out in the national ratings. An overall satisfaction score of 88% placed Royal Holloway 25 out of 145 institutions rated in the NSS. Professor Paul Layzell, Principal of Royal Holloway

'I am

delighted that we are a leader in London for overall student satisfaction...'

- Professor Paul Layzell

commented, ‘Our community of engaged students and inspiring academics makes Royal Holloway a very special environment in which to learn and grow.’

‘With superior teaching and highly rated academic support enabling individuals to succeed across a wide range of subjects, our students consistently rate their experience at Royal Holloway as above average. I am delighted that, once again, we are a leader in London for overall student satisfaction.’

4 NEWS

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

Davison Is Open For Business Egham Set For Change ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Full plans for the regeneration of Egham’s town centre have been revealed, including a performing arts academy with a 750-seat theatre.

The developer’s behind the plans, Places for People, have expanded their plans for the town centre, named Egham Gateway West.

The plans show a new entrance to the town centre from the railway station, as well as redevelopment of Station Road North, Church Road, and Grange Road. The streets will include new cafes, bars, and retail spaces, as well as squares and tree-lined avenues.

Taking pride of place will be the Italia Conti Academy

of Theatre Arts, which will be accompanied by a brand new 750 seat theatre. If the plans go ahead, 170 student accommodation units will also be built in the town centre.

The theatre and academy are promised to bring a ‘major cultural offering’ to the town.

John Rice, RBC director of commercial services, told GetSurrey: ‘What is being planned by the council in partnership with Places for People is a once in generation change to the face of Egham.

‘We want to retain the special characteristics of the town to further improve its economic viability and appearance.’

The complete planning application will be submitted to the town council in the Autumn.

Cycling Laws Up For Review ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

The building officially opened on 13 September. Photos via Royal Holloway Campus Life.

ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Royal Holloway’s brand new Emily Wilding Davison building opened its doors on Wednesday 13 September for the first time, ahead of the new academic year.

The huge building, which contains the new library, student services centre, shop, and careers and recruitment hub, has taken only 23 months to complete - although this may feel longer for students who navigated

their way around the construction site for the past year.

The first books were moved onto their new shelves on Monday 1 August, mainly consisting of music and drama. The collection was previously stored in the Depository, however, the new space means that the books are now directly accessible from the shelves.

The new Union Shop opened on Monday 11 September and sees a vast improvement on the old shop,

which is due to close on Friday 3 November. The shop is 2.5 times bigger, and stocks fresh meat, vegetables, and ready meals. A new dedicated vegetarian and vegan section is also available, as well as more Co-op budget items.

The shop also now stocks all RHUL clothing, and has new, extended opening hours - 8am – 11pm, every day, in and out of term.

The building will be formally opened by HRH The Princess Royal on Wednesday 18 October.

Theresa May announced that the transport secretary will be looking into whether cycling laws need to be changed given the number of reports of dangerous cycling.

Whilst cycling on roads has grown hugely in popularity over recent years, the government is now set to examine whether the offence of dangerous driving will be extended to cyclists after a case in which a woman died after being struck by a rider whose bike had no front brake.

Kim Briggs, aged 44, was left with fatal head injuries when she stepped into a road in central London in February 2016 and was hit by Charlie Alliston, then 18, who was riding a bike with only one breaking mechanism, and one that was illegal on the type of bike he was riding.

Last month Alliston was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted by a majority verdict

of wanton and furious driving, an offence falling under an act from 1861.

Many MPs and members of the public have been questioning the ethics of a Victorian law covering such contemporary issues. This has sparked a debate over whether the law should be updated.

May was asked by the Labour MP Heidi Alexander, in whose constituency Briggs lived, about the possible need to update laws on dangerous cycling. She replied: ‘She’s raised an important issue. I think we should welcome the fact that the prosecution were able to find legislation under which they were able to take a prosecution.

‘But the point she makes is a general one about ensuring that our legislation keeps up to date with developments that take place. I’m sure this is an issue that the secretary of state for transport will look at.’

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said this would mean a review of the laws taking place soon.

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

NEWS 5

6 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at opinion@thefounder.co.uk

[Debate]

Point And Counter-Point

With Knowledge Also Comes Truth AMANDA HUDSON OPINON AND DEBATE EDITOR

When I was in school, my peers and I were growing up on the cusp of the age of technology; we played our music out of CD players, most of the films that my family owned were on VHS tapes, and computers were big hunks of wheezing hot metal. These were the days of Friday night trips to Blockbuster to pick out a film for you and your family to watch, playing pinball and snake for hours on the computer and listening to every single ad that came on the radio because there was no such thing as music streaming apps.

It’s easy to romanticise all of this for nostalgic purposes. But when we compare that to what we have today, we realise just how far we’ve come. Now we have portable telephones that provide us with internet at our fingertips. We have speakers and headphones that magically connect to our smartphones to play music, and laptops and tablets as thin as a sheet of paper. Everything is accessible, and everything is easy. With more accessibility, however, comes greater responsibility.

If binge watching Netflix has taken the

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Weigh in on Twitter with the hashtag #foundertechdebate.

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place of reading a good book, and Twitter has become our new base for news, can we really say that technology has helped us more than hurt us?

While there are some things that technology has certainly changed for the worse, there are benefits to society. For instance, technology has had a massive impact on the classroom and how children are taught today.

Languages in the classroom have always been literacy based. You can read and write all you want, but this hardly ever translates to success in teaching students to be fluent in another language.

With access to technology, there is now a way to practice our language skills outside the classroom in a more immersive way.

Apps like Duolingo and Memrise work on verbal and written vocabulary using the phone or tablet’s microphone. You’re able to track your progress and advance to higher levels after completing games and quizzes.

Perhaps the best way that technology has helped teach language is through video and music streaming, and access to the internet. Many of my bilingual friends say that the best way to learn a new lan-

guage is through watching films, listening to music, and talking to the people in that language. Without the internet, this would never happen.

History has always been written by the victors. This is common knowledge; but it’s also an unfair truth, at least until recently. What most people don’t consider is how the internet has worked to break down this harmful truth. The internet doesn’t just provide information; it also provides a forum for people to share and compile their experiences as a human. In this age of digitization, instead of taking the words in our dusty old textbooks as solid facts, we know to take them with a grain of salt.

While the stories told in history textbooks might be one person’s truth, there is a whole other side to the story. This is what the internet provides modern students; a way to access other versions of the truth. Granted, this is just another form of information. But what we’re doing when we access other people’s experiences is learning what it’s like to be in another person’s shoes. We learn empathy. And that is an invaluable lesson to learn as human beings.

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

OPINION AND DEBATE 7

Email the editor at opinion@thefounder.co.uk

The Question:

Is technology helpful or hurtful to the modern student?

The Sacrifice Attatched To Scrolling VILDE WESSEL LJUNGBERG STUDENT WRITER

More or less every student at university today will have some kind of relationship with technology. Alongside Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media apps, technology is also having an impact in more academic contexts. Most students by now should be well acquainted with both Moodle and Turnitin – possibly their college emails (but not really using it). While this is all well and good, and technology surely has some positive influence on our daily lives, there seems to be a certain dark side to it all. With the exception of courses that focus solely on technology, or courses that require students to use certain software, there appears to be an increased amount of unnecessary technology being used at university. This has a detrimental effect on the student body, in my opinion.

The first thing that comes to mind is the countless issues with online teaching tools—such as the aforementioned Turnitin. Using such a volatile page to handle

time-sensitive things like essays is hardly ideal. When people have submitted physical copies with good margin, but the internet goes on holiday, or the page just stops working all together. This usually results in the essay being marked as late. Royal Holloway has also been quite good at shovelling the blame for this on the student, saying that we should have handed it in earlier. Maybe this is true; but had the requirement only been a physical copy, the problem would have been non-existent in the first place.

As well as this, the use of computers and tablets in class seems to cause a bit of a problem for everyone involved. For people with dyslexia and the like, using a computer to write is of course the easiest thing; but for everyone else it seems to become more a tool of distraction than anything else. The trend of writing on a computer has actually had the result of almost a whole generation with handwriting like chicken-scratch.

With readily available Wi-Fi in all academic buildings, it is not difficult to suddenly find oneself browsing through Facebook, or updating your Amazon Wishlist instead of

paying attention. This is not only detrimental to the student themselves, but also the other students. Not to mention, the teacher who has to deal with half of the classroom acting like apathetic vegetables, a drowsy smile paired with a vacant stare into the depths of their screen.

Scrolling through sites like Facebook has actually been found to alter your brain significantly. The action of scrolling induces production of dopamine, as well as shortens your attention span by bombarding you with countless small pieces of information that you don’t have to focus on for a long time. At the same time, this same device that can alter your brain on a concentration level somehow knows exactly what you’re interested in. It’s all pretty dark.

So, I find myself asking: Where are we headed? What are we sacrificing? I suggest we try to distance ourselves a little more from technology before we find ourselves to be completely dependent on it. Just take a step back, maybe sit down with real-life painting tools and watch some Bob Ross – it’s all on YouTube.

8 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at opinion@thefounder.co.uk

Salvage Only What's Left YOU-niversity The importance of self-care.

ELISE KANBER STUDENT WRITER

NICHOLAS ROSS STUDENT WRITER

History tempts the notion that the louder you are, the more likely to succeed.

Victories of the Suffragette movement, proletarian revolutions and pressure groups’ publicity stunts all confirm as much. However, in the ways they voice their ceaseless belligerent noise, the left put off many independent voters and other people unshackled by political polarisation.

Regardless of ideological merit, some of the loudest representatives of the left in public are hideously unattractive. It is clear who wins when self-proclaimed provocateurs like Milo Yiannopoulos are greeted on college campuses by tumultuous armies of shrieking students who try to prevent free speech in a country whose first codified constitutional amendment grants it. Gadflies like him, antifeminists, and other far-leaning hate groups are given plenty of evidence of stigmas to instance in order to rouse support and justify their own existence, when their arguments would otherwise be quashed. There is a common acceptance of egalitarianism in all its forms between us and many of the people manipulated by classical conditioning to feel nau-

seous hatred when they hear words like ‘feminism’.

Unfortunately, when ANTIFA brawls with neo-Nazis, or Black Lives Matter protestors destroy and pillage their own neighbourhoods—as occurred in Milwaukee last year—one struggles to fathom any explanation other than the satisfaction of a desire to act as social revolutionaries; they must think that doing anything is achievement and proof of their moral essence.

But they don’t resemble the Sierra Maestra guerrillas or any revolutionaries of substance. ANTIFA makes a spectacle of combating antiquated bigots who have been hitherto largely ignorable while BLM undergoes masochistic rampages. Videos show the former so-called activists beating up journalists and passers-by in Berkley last month. It is embarrassing, as well as uncalculated, that the left do not emphatically disassociate from this thuggish sub-culture whose collective impropriety and criminality has often proven worse than the decorum of neo-Nazis.

I hope not to sound pretentious in saying that if we are to become prisoners to our own freedoms, to those atavisms lurking beyond the zeniths of societal progress, let it not be the fault of the left. As mentioned above,

you become the authoritarians you abhor when you subdue law-abiding enemy expression. Noam Chomsky put it, ‘If you’re really in favor of free speech, then you’re in favor of freedom of speech for precisely the views you despise’. There is a similar issue on the minefields (I choose this term carefully) of sensibilities of feminism and LGBTQ+. Decades ago male chauvinism was ignominious, but now gallantry is too (a male RHUL student was called patronising for holding open a door last year).

Meanwhile, the London Tube has banned the phrase, ‘ladies and gentlemen’ since it is non-inclusive. Superfluous liberties, rights not to encounter what one dislikes, exist at the expense of others’ basic freedoms.

If you disagree with such views, know this article’s purpose is strategy, and the point is that they are held elsewhere. Left-wing argument is saturated with discussion of the things described which distract from more compelling debates. Given Trump and May’s Saudi-fraternising, DUP “investments” and fulltime nurses on food stamps committing suicide, the left have ammunition but must disown or at least calm their questionable and overpowering strains.

So, it’s your final year as an undergraduate. All of the deadlines and all of the exams so far have been leading to this point. It can feel like there are countless obligations to cram into this crucial year; studying hard to finish with your desired degree classification; figuring out life postgraduation (and the ‘what am I going to do once I leave’ crisis); gaining valuable work experience; all whilst ensuring you have fun and enjoy every single second of the last leg of your University ExperienceTM. Consequently, it can be hard to decide which ones to prioritise. What is selected as top priority will be down to the individual, and thus, everyone will have a unique university experience. Nonetheless, there is one fundamental responsibility (perhaps the most important) that rarely ranks highly on students’ lists of priorities – themselves.

Due to the pressures of the final year, it is often all too easy to choose to miss out on sleep to finish an essay, or to skip meals due to stress.

Whilst occasionally working overtime can be necessary to ensure you meet the deadline for a particularly difficult assignment, moderation is key. I like to think of it like The Sims – if you didn’t play enough air guitar at 2am to fulfil the ‘fun’ need, or socialise enough with Horatio from a few doors down, your Sim would get irritable and wouldn’t be ‘in the mood’ for studying. Likewise, consistently neglecting to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing can have a negative impact on your health, happiness and productivity. Recent research has found that self-care in students is positively associated with their ‘engagement, persistence, and success in higher

education’ (Moses, Bradley & O’Callaghan, 2016). Nevertheless, it is often the first practice to be abandoned.

A huge benefit to being at university is the range of opportunities and events available, especially those designed to aid your wellbeing. For instance, the Stressbuster events - such as puppy therapy – put on by the SU throughout the year are brilliant for taking short, productive breaks. Alternatively, taking up a new hobby, or joining a sports team can be a great way to practice self-care. Personally, I found exercise to be beneficial for my mental and physical health, and joining the Athletics and Cross Country team in my final year was perfect for taking some time out from my various responsibilities. Selfcare can even be as simple as cooking a proper meal, having an early night or taking a hot bath.

Whilst self-care practices can’t eradicate the workload and other responsibilities faced in your final year, they can make the process a little less stressful. Taking time out to do activities that help de-stress when you have been bombarded with deadlines can feel counter-intuitive; but taking a few moments to prioritise yourself, even if it just means going for a walk, will waste a lot less time than if you end up having to take time off because you let the stress build up and didn’t take care of yourself. In my opinion, university is about hard work, but make sure that disregarding your physical and mental wellbeing isn’t a by-product of that. So, ensure that you don’t end up asleep on the kitchen floor in a puddle of your own pee due to exhaustion, and meet your basic needs. You might end up making the game that is university your ideal real life, instead of just a simulation.

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

OPINION AND DEBATE 9

Email the editor at opinion@thefounder.co.uk

[Student Poll]

What Campus Change Are You Most Excited For? Davison Library

Union Square 2%

24/7 Back Gate 32%

36%

Contactless Bus 6%

New Union Shop 13%

Founders Square 11%

Is It Our Right To Claim The Davison Name?

ELENA ROSSI STUDENT WRITER

During this summer’s graduations, Paul Layzell made the mistake of implying that Emily Wilding Davison graduated from Royal Holloway. He stated: ‘since our foundation, we have produced distinguished graduates, like Emily Davison’. However, Davison did not graduate from Royal Holloway. Sadly, she had to leave the university after two years of studying there because she could not afford the fees following her father’s death. Davison is an alumna of Holloway, but since she did not finish her education at our university, it feels as if Holloway has little claim to her success. Therefore, is it right for us to name a building after her?

The students and staff of Royal Holloway chose Davison as the name-sake for the new library and student services centre. Davison was such a dominant figure within the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and the fight for women’s suffrage, that she became a martyr for their cause. Hence, her reputation has developed over the twentieth century to that of an idol.

Did those who voted for Davison know about her premature end to studying at Holloway?

Although Davison spent most of her time in further education at Holloway, it is debatable whether we have a right to attach ourselves to her fame. The university did not support Davison in continuing her education when she struggled for financial support. If she had been as valued

as she is now, then perhaps the university would have found ways to help continue her education.

Many consider Davison a fantastic inspiration for students; she fought for women’s political rights, something she arguably sacrificed her own life for. Yet, if we consider the actions that Davison took during the WSPU’s campaign for women’s suffrage, we might have a different perspective of the famous suffragette.

Today we almost condone the actions of the WSPU because we accept that their cause was just. How would you feel if people were damaging public property so close to you? For example, in 1913 the suffragettes set fire to the home of Lady White in Englefield Green. It caused significant damage, and even led to

the closure of the Holloway Picture Gallery. Although Davison was not involved in this specific attack, she participated in similar incidents which lead to her multiple imprisonments.

Interestingly, there is a continuing debate between Historians over whether the suffragettes can be considered ‘terrorists’. Their actions may fit within the definition of terrorism (using unlawful violence in pursuit of political aims), but the damage they caused did successfully promote women’s suffrage.

Ultimately, the name of our new library and student services centre has been decided. It will continue to be the ‘Davison building’. Democracy has prospered, and it seems people want to be associated with the famous

Emily Wilding Davison; but to what extent would she have wanted to be connected to the university?

The unfamiliar names who were also considered for the new building are as respectable as Davison. Sadly, we know little about their stories as they do not contain a tragic and highprofile event like Davison’s.

Whilst their names do not feature on our campus, they are a part of Bedford and Holloway’s history. They would be proud to see the university prospering, and would be flattered that we considered honouring their memory. Davison’s time at Holloway may not have been complete, and she may not have achieved the same academic accomplishments at our university as other alumni, but now she can continue her influence at Holloway through her legacy.

10 LIFESTYLE

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

Into The Real World

A Fresher Once More

Facing the fear of starting over.

SHANICE NATALIA STUDENT WRITER

Finding your place in today's job market.

EMILY MAY WEBBER LIFESTYLE EDITOR

As UCAS tots up a total of 532,300 people entering UK higher education in 2015, there is an increasing need to stand out. With student numbers rising, and interviews growing tougher, your experience in the working world is worth its weight in gold. So, after seeing the hour of 6am for 20 consecutive days, here is my experience of interning, and how you can get ahead of the game.

As first year swiftly came to an end, it was not long before my friends and I were thrown into second year. Life after halls was another step closer to adulthood. We were attempting to manage our reading lists, gas meter readings, and the prospect of a summer work placement.

I have always had an idea of what I would like to do after I graduate. Some of my friends have not a clue, others have a rough idea, and some are already working alongside their degree. All of that is OK. Personally, I like a plan. I kept seeing posters around advertising a ‘Micro – Placement Scheme’ offered by the Royal Holloway Careers Department. I knew as a small fish in the big pond of the working world, having a foot in the door through the careers centre couldn’t be a bad thing. Having successfully

gone through the process of CV training and interviews I was lucky enough to have been selected. Now was the waiting game.

After endlessly checking my emails throughout exam season, my advisor emailed me with a publishing company placement. It was with the publicity team at Simon and Schuster UK. For an English undergrad, publishing is competitive, and many have their eye set on a job surrounded by the scent of freshly bound pages.

For a month, I was thrown into the world of commuting.

It is not unusual to see grown men snoring up against the window, elegant women with their trainers on, and a fold down seat opposite the toilet never looked so appealing. But despite the rush of hopping off one train and sprinting for another, slipping into a world where I was not longer considered a student was rather exciting.

It was the ultimate first day of school feeling. Sometimes the stigma with an intern can be they are solely making tea and clearing up after their colleagues. However, this was not the case. It was only a couple of days before my colleagues were asking me, ‘how do you like your tea?’ A small gesture, yet the feeling you are part of a team and not just the ‘intern’

is something I didn’t take for granted. Yes, there are times when you are faced with a mundane task, but those few weeks folding boxes or sifting through emails could make all the difference in the future.

Here are some handy hints to get that work placement and how to make the most of it: 1.

If you are unlucky with a place on the University placement scheme, do not stress.

Do some research on companies you know of, and go from there. Find out who is best to contact, and send a polite and personal email outlining why you would like to work for them.

2.

Many of your friends’ parents, and course tutors may have connections. Chat to people on your course, and you may find a useful contact.

3. On your placement, make sure to make simple gestures. Say good morning, offer a cup of tea, suggest meeting for lunch? All of these have a positive impact and will help you build new connections.

4.

Get a LinkedIn profile.

After your placement, connect with your colleagues to stay on their radar.

5.

Thank you. A small thank you card or a packet of biscuits goes a long way.

YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE WON’T BE A STRAIGHT LINE, AND THAT IS OK. We are told change is always good, but it is also a daunting prospect.

I had to learn all about change the hard way this summer, where I learnt the importance of putting my needs first. It’s not selfish to prioritise your mental health and wellbeing, remember that.

This summer, I decided to follow my instinct, and took the plunge of changing university. It would mean starting life as a fresher again at Royal Holloway, University of London. This decision brought a lot of fear especially over the opinions of others, most importantly my family and friends – what would people say? However, I knew that I had to overcome these concerns and be courageous. It was time to pursue what I felt most inclined to do: change university.

I completed my first year from 2016-17 at another university where I studied Economics with International Relations. Unfortunately, my year centered around my academic timetable, with a lack of social interaction between fellow students and myself. The absence of extra-curricular activities to take part in outside of lectures left me feeling isolated, and not what I imagined as a first-year student.

The excitement I once had at the prospect of University soon disappeared, which led to a deterioration of my mental health and wellbeing. Life soon began to solely revolve around attending lectures and revising. A mistake I made when applying for universities is not carrying out enough research beforehand. Especially to what is available aside from

all the books and learning. I soon learnt that that this university was not necessarily best suited for me, as it may have been for someone else.

Although I struggled to achieve the ‘uni experience’ that all my other friends at various universities were achieving, I gave my university the benefit of the doubt, gave it my all, and despite the struggles of feeling somewhat alone I pushed myself to complete first year.

A weak attribute many students have is the inability to express their true feelings in order to avoid disappointing others - i.e. family. However, the thought of experiencing another two years of discontent was a much greater fear for me, so I was determined to change my university direction. I began researching what was available to me as a current undergraduate, and I was able to apply through UCAS. After successfully achieving a place at Royal Holloway through clearing, I was offered the chance to study Economics with Spanish BSc in September 2017.

Some may say that this year was wasted, but I would beg to differ. I have learnt so many life lessons, which have led me to become a stronger person and have ultimately shaped who I am today. I would say not to give up, but give yourself happiness in your environment.

Words of Wisdom: 1. Trust your gut. That feeling when you just know something is right or wrong.

2. Don’t be afraid if something is out of your comfort zone.

You will adapt.

3. Carry out research. Try to reach out to people who are already there. Social media can be a great platform.

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

LIFESTYLE 11

Banishing Back To Uni Blues EMILY HARRIS STUDENT WRITER

Photo by Emily Harris.

Sadly, the summer is over, and we are back at university. Ready to face deadlines, coursework and tears. Ah, summer days, where the evenings are light and the breeze is warm.

Where all that lies before us is the freedom to do as we please - even if that means tackling a vast reading list for the next year or working part-time to be able to afford the SU. Good times. If you, like many, shudder at the thought of no more weekend getaways until the following year, and the nights drawing in at 4pm leave you feeling blue. Then here is your guide to leaving the laptop behind and reaching for your passport. So, with a month off for Christmas, and reading week around the corner, why not plan your next night or weekend away? When Royal Holloway is only a stone’s throw from Heathrow, wouldn’t it be rude not to? Here are a few ideas on how to jet off somewhere without spending all your summer savings.

WHERE TO GO: Places like Vienna, Berlin and Prague with their cobbled streets, Christmas markets and baked goods all ooze with winter spirit.

Searching websites like Skyscanner for locations such as these is a good way to find reasonably priced, mid-week flights. Instead of flying, an easier (but sometimes pricier) option is the Eurostar, where you can visit places like Paris or Brussels. Booking this trip in advance will also save money.

Photo by Emily Harris.

WHERE TO STAY: I would recommend Air BnB if you want a city break or are thinking of somewhere with a group of friends. I am still a fan of hotels but Airbnb is another mostly cheaper and cooler option rather than a hotel stay.

Plus, if you are a new customer you can get £30 off your first stay if you have been invited by a friend, sorted.

WHAT TO DO: I’m a lover of reading blogs and watching YouTube videos myself but this is also a useful way to find out what cool things there are to do in your city of choice as well as nice restaurants to visit. A lot of places will still take our student discounts even when abroad!

OTHER TIPS: • Search with a # of the location on Instagram. This is great for ideas of where to visit/eat • Check out if the library has any books on travel. This could earn you extra points with your photography game.

• If travelling from Gatwick don’t be put off by large taxi fees or train journeys.

Research low cost B and B’s for affordable and convenient stays.

• Get Organised. Book in advance. Now schools are back, make the most of budget airlines with bargain flights.

12 FEATURES

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at features@thefounder.co.uk

The Devil Really Does Wear Prada

Photo courtesy of Laren Tayyip.

LAREN TAYYIP FEATURES EDITOR

As the new Features editor at the Founder, I thought I would introduce myself by sharing part of my summer holiday experience over the past few weeks. I am going into my third year of studying English Literature at Royal Holloway and got involved earlier this year with the English Micro placement scheme run by the Careers department. This was a great opportunity and I highly recommend getting involved in your second year. By going through the process, you are able to learn how to write a perfect CV, but also gain interview skills for the future. However, there is no reason to wait until your second year, an even better way to start would be to use the Careers services in your first year to get ahead of the game by organising your own work experience. In hindsight, my two-week placement this summer, although rewarding, was also probably pretty amusing to watch.

We have all watched Andy as Miranda Priestley’s new assistant in Devil Wears Prada. Waking up at 6 am to collect crazy amounts of Starbucks coffee orders, to picking up skirts from Calvin Klein, it would be an understatement to say that Andy ran around like a headless chicken during most of the movie. What more could you want though? Isn’t working for a fashion magazine in a glossy metropolis living the dream?

With the many struggles which Andy had to deal with, came a trip to Paris for Fashion week, fancy parties with famous designers and writers, and we can’t forget the Chanel boots, which left even Emily stunned.

I have probably watched this movie a hundred times and will most likely watch it another hundred times too. However, on each occasion, my inexperienced self has watched in awe and hoped for a similar future.

It wasn’t until my placement this summer with one of the most famous fashion and lifestyle publishers that left me looking in the mirror and thinking, have I become Andy?

This was ‘living the dream’ I thought. I would walk in and be the next top editor. Unfortunately, this couldn’t have been further from the truth. I spent the next two weeks fetching breakfast, collecting coffee and photocopying. These might seem like normal tasks for an intern, but for me, it was a shock to the system. I slowly started to understand what Andy had to deal with. As reality kicked in, I realised that I was the lowest form of life in the office ecosystem.

Although the circumstances were somewhat different, I felt like I was living in the movie. The top Director had an uncanny resemblance to Miranda Priestly with her Prada purse and grey hair. This was getting creepy.

Every morning I was sent to an exclusive café in Mayfair to pick up her coffee, an Americano with extra hot milk. I wouldn’t dare forget the napkin which had to be wrapped around the cup in case of an unfortunate spillage which would require having to go back.

It was in my second week when, as usual, I had turned up to the café and placed my usual order, when the person serving me looked at me with a puzzling expression. After a moment or two he asked me if I had ever watched Devil Wears Prada. He continued to tell me that my job and boss must be very similar to the movie. ‘Tell me about it’ was my response, as I let out a light-hearted giggle, while actually dying inside. No one quite seemed to understand the true difficulties

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

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of the job!

As if coffee wasn’t enough, I also had to run my boss’ personal errands too. This reminded me of the scene where Andy was being pulled through the streets of New York by Miranda’s dog, Patricia. I on the other hand, was sent to many different jewellery shops and brands, including Links to pick up her personal belongings and to Snappysnaps to develop her holiday photos.

This was a lot harder given that I barely knew central London. Let’s just say I was happy to make it back in one piece. I would also have to pay and collect the whole department’s breakfast orders every day. How hard could this be, right? Trust me, boy was it hard! Nine orders in total, five different sandwiches and four hot drinks.

How could one person deal with all that at the start of each day? This was a typical Monday morning break-

' I realised

that I was the lowest form of life in the office ecosystem...

'

fast haul when the employees came to work hungover.

After about two hours and multiple trips up and down, trying not to mix up the orders I collapsed in my chair ready for a break. This did not last long however, as I was quickly sent to the photocopier to photocopy three magazines in their correct orders. I remember thinking I would never leave the building again. Stuck photocopying, each and every page of not just one or two, but three thick magazines. I would truly be stuck here for the rest of my life. These tasks made up my typical day and I would eagerly wait until 5.30 p.m. so that I could collapse on the train home.

Visiting the mail room was a common task for me, and this I did three times a day. In one instance, I had to collect three Misguided and two Boohoo deliveries for the girls in my department. At least I could always tell when the sales had started. Using my little map which

FEATURES 13 told me who sat where, I had to put the right parcel in the right tray. This very stressful event took a turn for the worst when I had by accident mixed up two parcels. In hindsight, my response of ‘the parcel probably flew to the wrong tray’ in my desperate attempts to laugh it off was not all that funny. I was hoping not to be given too much responsibility from that moment onwards, but it only got worse. To my luck, both of the boss’ PAs were sent on errands out of the office at the same time, which left me alone to be in charge of three different phones. How unlucky can one person get? This was the longest 30 mins of my life. I sat on my desk staring at all three phones repeating to myself over and over again ‘please don’t ring’. I had no idea it was possible to sweat so much in just half an hour. Fortunately for me, the phones did not ring and it was the arrival of the PAs which allowed me to start breathing again. Don’t underestimate the art of being the voice that represents a company when first contacted by a customer on the phone, it’s tough!

Although my experience was not exactly how I imagined it would be, as I wasn’t serenaded with expensive designer gifts or given make overs in the beauty parlour, I still learnt a lot from my placement. It’s the little everyday people skills which carry the most importance and can make a huge difference. I think my skills may need some more practise though. As for the movie, I will never be able to watch it in the same way again. Instead, my own experience will loom large over me and continue to stress me out through every scene. The moral of the story here is, don’t be fooled

by Hollywood movies like me, dream big, but keep it realistic, no one will become the next top editor by just walking into the building.

14 ARTS

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

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The Student And The City - Art In Miami SUZANNAH BALL ARTS EDITOR

Travelling through America this summer gave me the opportunity to explore the world of street art, which, in recent years, has become a distinct form of art culture. In Miami, Wynwood Walls has become a wildly popular spot for tourists, giving people a chance to explore the more industrial side of the area.

Wynwood was initially an industrial, urban neighbourhood which had fallen onto hard times. Crime had become a major problem, while the failure of manufacturing businesses led to abandoned warehouses which, in turn, caused pedestrian activity to become non-existent. Luckily, family businessman Joey Goldman saw Wynwood as his next project. The Goldman family decided to develop Wynwood into a revolutionary town centre by highlighting its authenticity and providing a place for people of all walks of life to congregate and be inspired by diversity. The early 2000’s caused one of the largest art

Photos by Suzannah Ball.

movements in history as Wynwood caused street art became a genre of art respected by all, rather than being considered an act of graffiti. Wynwood has since become a focal point for what is happening in the world of street art.

This year I was lucky enough to witness a group exhibition which presented the artists who have contributed to Wynwood Wall’s past and present. It presented the art of over 30 artists from 16 countries. All the art was assembled into one room which you entered at the beginning of the centre - the room was bright and colourful with a huge range of styles and obvious differences in culture.

Looking around the room it was clear to see that the exhibition attracted a huge range of people; I was accompanied by an Australian, South African and Scotsman, as well as being English myself.

Some of the art ranged from $30,000 to $30 dollars (you could buy small examples of art within the gift shop), while the actual attraction was free. However, as you

explored beyond the official Walls you found yourself still surrounded by the art of Miami. Five blocks down, the sides of walls were still decorated with beautiful, original pieces of art. It was obvious that Wynwood Walls isn’t just an official gallery of art, but a demonstration of the art of Miami and the people who live there, regardless of their position in life.

Street art can be found throughout the world, with capital cities such as New York and London showcasing a huge range of talent. The website Global Street Art was set up in 2012 in an attempt to conserve the acts of expression which can only be temporality found on our walls. The founders believe the way our public space is painted reflects on how we, as humans, interact with each other and should be protected at all cost. They are a distinct echo of human nature.

Since the curation of Wynwood Walls took place they have shown over 70 artists representing over 20 countries, covering over 85,000 square feet.

What Makes The Classics Classics?

Defining the 'classics' is not always a straightforward process.

ROSEANNA LANE STUDENT WRITER

The term ‘classic’ is something which is often thrown around when it comes to literature. However, it was not until I recently started reading ‘classical’ texts for my course that I began thinking about why they are referred to in this manner. My family, peers and myself have all labelled my recent reads as this, but why? When put simply, they are branded

in this way as a reflection of their social impact or influence throughout history to the modern day. I have started to wonder why is it that the likes of Dickens, Alcott and Eliot still appeal to masses.

Firstly, if we think about why a text makes it into the literary canon, it is predominantly due to its social impact, often the first of its kind to explore a certain idea. For example, the way in which

Dickens deals with class politics is seen by most as a way for his work to qualify as part of the most elite in its field.

Some may question: what makes this appealing now? It seems that from a historical point of view, the fact that it's revolutionary. As well as being the first of their kind, they also carry moral and humanist stories which are still relatable to people today.

Equally, the ‘classics’ can be seen as traditional in their

style, structure and form.

Modern authors often find their appeal through bending the boundaries of genre or style in order to create something interesting. However, the ‘classics’ stick with a basic and traditional plot and often carry a moral message or lesson. I would argue that these ‘classic’ authors built the foundations which allow for the twenty-first century author to be more experimental in their work. Without the successes

of literature in the past, there would be no basis for this modern experimentation.

I’d like to leave you with the thought: what is a classic to you? If we step away from the rigmarole of the canon and the social labels that are connected to a text, then I think it is important to form a canon of your own. In Latin, it means 'rule', so instead of letting it rule your own thoughts on literature, try and decide on a rule of your own.

ARTS 15

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

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[Interview]

Author, Alumnus, Excursionist

J.D. Sumner talks Royal Holloway and writing.

DAN BRADY CO-EDITOR

This summer, The Founder spoke with J.D. Sumner, former Royal Holloway PhD student and author of The Excursionist. Sumner is also a former postgraduate student from The Oscar Wilde Centre, Trinity College Dublin and has visited 130 countries, making him well-versed in the workings of the world. Here’s what he had to say when we chatted to him: Tell us what readers can expect from your book, The Excursionist.

Jack Kaganagh wants to visit 100 countries before a landmark birthday and travels to Placentia, Kilrush and Fulgary in the fictional locale of the Coronation Islands, somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Placentia is an eco-resort, Kilrush is the world’s only Irish Protectorate and The Omanalak on Meelick Bay in Fulgary is a seven-star barefoot luxury resort. The novel takes a satirical look at the idea of luxury travel, the commodification of the travel industry and travellers themselves while exploring the themes of inequality, loneliness and materialism.

As to what readers can expect: reviews range from ‘a comical, light-hearted look at travel’ to ‘a meditation on loneliness disguised as a travel comedy’ and ‘laugh out loud…It may even result in letting out an involuntary wee’ to ‘a story of self-discovery and coming to terms with the past.’

How did Royal Holloway and the English Department help you to shape your ideas into a fullypublished book?

I was accepted by Royal Holloway College’s English Department (just writing that makes

me anxious about my spelling and grammar) to do a PhD in Travel Writing and Satire which involved both a critical component and a creative component. I was always obsessed about travel and have a mild form of dromomania, the compulsion to travel. I wanted to find out why I felt the need to travel. My thesis explored the history of British travel writing and my creative component was eventually to become my novel, The Excursionist.

tually knew what they were talking about they’d be far too busy to talk to the likes of you.

The writing industry is like the Klondike Gold Rush where the people who made the money weren’t the people digging for gold but the people selling the equipment. These days there is a better chance of supporting yourself if you are marketing writing services to writers than actually writing. Huge oversimplification but there is something in that.

What was the highlight of your time at Royal Holloway?

I had several highlights, being offered a place was one and getting my doctorate was another. My low point was some compulsory courses about something to do with a computer. I have never owned a mobile or sent a text so it was a bit of a struggle. On the other hand, I was very lucky with my supervisors, Doug Cowie and Professor Robert Hampson, who were both incredibly patient not once threatening me with violence. I have no idea what would have happened if I hadn’t worked with those two. I suppose I would have chucked it all in and I wouldn’t have published The Excursionist. I have wanted to write since I was 18 and reading Oscar Wilde on the tube which almost made me miss my stop.

Do you have any rituals to invoke creativity when you write?

When I write I make myself go to my man cave at 2 p.m. come hell or high-water. I read websites about a struggling lower league football club, check to see what the stockmarket is doing, answer any leftover emails, look out the window, tidy up my desk, shuffle some papers, clean my desk top, wipe my screen and make another coffee, I open my word document just to give it the once-over to see what garbage I wrote yesterday, begin to re-write it and start adding some more to fill out the gaps, writing is re-writing. And, by the way, I’m no expert… just a scribbler who was helped along the way by some kind people.

Any tips for current students hoping to publish their first book?

The cliche is don’t give up the day job…I would be very cautious about thinking you could ever support yourself financially. More people are writing than reading nowadays so getting onto a publisher’s radar is well nigh impossible. As to getting a book published, just keep going, ignore what the experts say because if they ac-

What's next for you?

I have a couple of ideas for a book which at some point I hope to write and to publish, one is a noir-ish tale of lower league football and the other about a young fella lied to on his adoption form by his birth mother who tries to contact his birth father with hilarious consequences...

Sumner’s book, The Excursionist, is available for purchase on Amazon and comes highly recommended from The Founder staff.

Photos Courtesy of J.D. Sumner.

16 ARTS

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

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Rushdie: A Brief Coup d’Œil New Art: The 57th Venice Biennale ANNA LUCCHINETTI STUDENT WRITER

Photo by Nicholas Ross.

NICHOLAS ROSS STUDENT WRITER

The partition of India in August 1947 emerged as one of last month’s topical subjects due to the event’s anniversary.

News outlets all over the world hosted interviews with eyewitnesses who had been involved in the pandemonium of violence and mass migrations in the Subcontinent following the switch to independence at midnight from the British.

One of the most important commentators of recent Indian history is the author and essayist, Sir Salman Rushdie.

I believe he is one of the finest and most intriguing living novelists, thus I intend to offer a selectively terse glimpse at his life and writing.

The death of the author is a literary phrase meaning a text should be analysed independent of its creative origins. Although writers naturally have misgivings about the death of the author, Salman Rushdie is remembered as the one who lived in fear of the phrase’s literal rendering. For in 1989, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Rushdie in protest of ‘The Satanic Verses’, a novel the embodiment of theocratic totalitarianism was almost certainly incapable of reading.

In his own name, he offered a bounty to anyone who murdered the novelist. This State-

sponsored death warrant was not portentous rhetoric.

The translator of ‘The Satanic Verses’ into Japanese was murdered, the Italian translator stabbed and one of Rushdie’s publishers shot multiple times. Rushdie went into hiding under protection funded by reluctant British taxpayers.

Although Khomeini died shortly after, the fatwa lived on. Rushdie was blamed as the source of rioting from London to Pakistan and even liberals said he should not have crafted the work of fiction containing references to Islam. Rushdie’s friend Christopher Hitchens and PEN America’s then president, Susan Sontag, struggled to rouse support for the novel as freedom of expression submitted to a new climate of fear. Some critics consider the affair a precedent of a movement to left-wing cultural relativism, whereby Islam is supposedly granted special privileges. A decade later, Iran lifted the fatwa for political reasons.

An anecdote Rushdie has repeatedly told is that of a word game played between himself and his friends. The game involved substituting words in titles for ruder ones like ‘dick’ replacing ‘heart’. For example, derivates included Joseph

Conrad’s ‘Dick of Darkness’ and Elton John’s ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Dick’. Rushdie states it was a stupid game but worth it when Woody Allen began a romance with his adopted daughter. Rushdie saw an interview in which Allen explained, ‘Well, the heart wants what the heart wants’. Despite willing to smirk at occasional schoolboy humour, the standards of his novels are high.

After working as a copywriter, coining slogans such as Aero’s ‘rresistibubble’, Rushdie wrote books of prose as melodious as poetry.

Magical realism denotes fantastical elements portrayed as banalities in otherwise realistic fictional universes. In a favourite novel of Rushdie’s, ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, Remedios the Beauty suddenly floats to heaven on her sister’s bed sheets. Her sister simply prays she gets back her sheets. The genre is rife in Rushdie’s literature in addition to stories within stories, unparalleled vocal mimicry, and observations of everyday phenomena in urban and rural settings possessing charms unfairly neglected by inhabitants like you and me.

Rushdie’s work raises interesting questions about the boundaries between fiction and realism, freedom of expression and libelous polemic.

Since May, when the 57th Venice Biennale opened, thousands of people have flooded to see the major contributions of various new artists to the world of art and expression.

The exposition is spread between two locations, Giardini and Arsenale, which together host over fifty pavilions. Each pavilion is dedicated to one country where different artists aim to show to the public the art that has influenced their national art production in the last two years. This year, the pieces of work presented are extremely experimental and interactive with the public. It is obvious to see that during the creating process the artists broke the conventions of what it was normative to show at the Biennale; if in the past, most of the art shown was constituted by paintings and sculptures, now the audience can assist to performances, videos and interact with the works of art. For example, Kirstine Roepstorff ’s performance influenza. theatre of glowing darkness for the Danish pavilion explores darkness as a condition of healing and reconciliation with the natural cycle of death and earth.

Influenza aims to immerse the spectator in an environment of total darkness where he or she can heal from his or her anxieties and become empowered to dream again.

Video also had a major role in the Biennale this year. Videos are often used as part of larger installations; however, some countries center their performances on a single film. One of them is Egypt, that staged its space to present Moataz Nasr’s film The Mountain, a fiction story that talks about courage and fear. Before entering the screening room, Nasr wrote on the wall ‘Life starts when fear ends’, which sums up the positive message that the artist is

trying to spread. The Netherlands was another nation that best embraced the use of video; the Dutch artist Wendelien van Oldenborgh created a video installation called Cinema. Cinema offers glimpses into the Dutch society, which is underpinning a fast transformation, and recalls to a conception of solidarity so that a better future together will be possible.

For what concerns interactive art, the Austrian pavilion created one of the most stimulating installation. Erwin Wurm explores the use of objects of everyday life and invites the audience to use those objects in an unusual way. For example, in the entrance, there is a truck put upside down and the spectators are invited to go up to the top and admire the view.

To represent the UK, Phyllida Barlow created an installation called folly. With her sculptures, Barlow explores the entire site, starting from outside until the very last room of the pavilion.

As the word ‘folly’ has an ambiguous meaning, so does the installation; Barlow displays a series of sculptures that, on one hand, are joyful, colourful and give a sense of happiness.

On the other hand, their height and immensity creates a sinister and claustrophobic feeling.

Overall, it is possible to claim that the 57th Venice Biennale’s success not only depends on the variety of topics that the artists treated, but also on the optimistic way the artists have looked towards the future. Now, art does not only denounce the problems of the contemporary world, but it drives the audience to look over the failure of the past and create new models to follow. For example, Hungary displays Gyula Varnai’s installation, Peace on Earth, in which the artist explores the necessity of utopias and invites the audience to keep believing in new ideas and better conditions, even though the past has disappointed us.

ARTS: FILM 17

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

74th Venice Int. Film Festival: Highlights JACK SALVADORI FILM EDITOR

The Lion roared again in Venice and, as usual, the 74th edition of the oldest film festival in the world shone the spotlight on the upcoming year’s cinematic panorama. A plethora of remarkable and yet very different motion pictures landed on the Venetian Lido, sometimes looking at the future, at other times casting a veil of nostalgia.

The Golden Lion for Best Film went to ‘The Shape of Water’, by Guillermo Del Toro.

The movie, which displays the visual director’s style at its best, stars Sally Hawkins as a mute janitor, who establishes an intimate bond with an aquatic creature imprisoned in the restricted laboratory where she works. Set in the American Cold-War era, the romantic-fantasy does really seem a fairy tale, reaching poetic peaks capable of moving both adults and children. For Del Toro, love truly breaks any possible boundaries.

The jury, featuring Edgar Wright and led by Annete Bening, awarded the Grand Jury Prize to the Israeli film ‘Foxtrot’. The original, three-acts narrative structure of the film ironically satirizes the usefulness of war – and its dramatic consequences. Mixing drama and humour, playing with faith and coincidences, the arthouse movie also presents iconic and soon-to-be-cult sequences that deserve to be in the hall of fame of the history of cinema. The Silver Lion for best director was awarded to the French Xavier Legrand for his ‘Custody’, a film about a troubled father facing the obstacles of a broken marriage that leads to a bitter custody dispute. The current-issue movie is exemplary in its slow but constant increase of suspense, culminating in a final burst of tension.

The Volpi cup for best ac-

tors were assigned to the stunning Charlotte Rampling for her astonishing interpretation in ‘Hannah’, and to Kamel El Basha for ‘The Insult’, one of the festival’s most pleasant new discoveries. However, what I personally consider to be the best movie of the festival, as well as one of the finest films I have seen in the past years, is ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, by Martin McDonagh. The film was awarded Best Screenplay, but it deserved higher recognitions. Featuring a furious Frances McDormand and an extravagant Sam Rockwell, the dark-comedy has been at the same time the funniest and the most touching of the festival. Exhilarating dialogues by uniquely provoking characters in unconventional situations almost seem like the movie could potentially be a Tarantino’s flick.

One of the most anticipated movies, Alexander Payne’s ‘Downsizing’ had the honour to open the ceremony. It is now a tradition that the opening film of the festival will collect several Academy Awards, as it recently happened with ‘La La Land’, ‘Birdman’, or ‘Gravity’. This year however, its presence at the Oscars is arguable, as ‘Downsizing’ disappointed both public and critics. Maybe the expectations were too high for the director that brought us masterpieces like ‘Nebraska’ and ‘About Schmidt’, or maybe the sci-fi is not really his genre, and he should not have left his “realistic” comfort zone… But the interesting concept of shrinking down humans to 6 inches – including Matt Damon and Christoph Waltz – as an environmental attempt to save the overpopulated planet, was certainly fascinating, but not developed enough. Matt Damon is also the protagonist of ‘Suburbicon’, George Clooney’s seventh directed film, which did not win anything

Photos by Jack Salvadori.

...Continued on page 18.

18 ARTS: FILM

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

74th Venice Film Festival Cont. From Page 17

at the festival. The captivating, anti-heroic black-comedy really gives the impression to be a spoiled Coen brothers movie (who wrote the screenplay in 1985), that could have been potentially hilarious, but is intensively cooled off by Clooney’s inappropriate direction: the humour fades away, leaving mostly visual and predictable gags. Sometimes, successful actors should stick to their profession without having the presumption to be on the other side of the camera.

However, what seems to be the greatest disappointment has been ‘Mother!’, by Darren Aronofsky, the acclaimed director of ‘Requiem for a Dream’ and ‘The Black Swan’.

An ostentatious remake of ‘Rosemary’s Baby’, the visceral

film is a nightmare for any agoraphobic. Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem’s plain acting is certainly required by the movie to reach its sophisticated level of chaotic disgust, but I wonder what is the ultimate point of reaching such results; true, a movie should not always be pleasant to watch, but why would you want the audience to run away from the theatre? Aronofsky’s stylistic power is out of question, but the predictable, foregone plot drags the movie down. Bardem also portrayed the drug lord Palo Escobar alongside his real-life wife Penelope Cruz in ‘Loving Pablo’, an unnecessary film which rides the trail of the extremely successful ‘Narcos’, recycling the same scenes, lines, camera

angles and even some actors from the series. If these films had the taste of something already chewed, an entirely original section of the festival was dedicated to the “newest”.

Venice has been the first International Festival in history to welcome a Virtual Reality competition, marking clearly that VR is not only an innovative spectacle, but approaches a more artistic side, just as happened with cinema 100 years ago. Between fiction, documentaries, interactive projects and feature-length slow movies, it was certainly awkward to walk around dozens of people wearing a funny pair of glasses and interacting with an invisible world only accessible to them. Among the most extreme experiences,

You'll Float Too [Review]

The Founder's Rating: Photo by Brooke Palmer - © 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc..

HARRISON MAJITHIA STUDENT WRITER

‘IT’ had huge expectations to live up to. Whether it was the 1990 cult classic starring Tim Curry or the original 1986 epic by Stephen King regarded as one of King’s best and my favourite book ever - this new adaptation, direct-

ed by Andrés Muschietti of ‘Mama’ fame, needed to deliver or risk being torn apart.

‘IT’ delivers and more.

The opening immediately sets the tone for the film; Georgie’s death is brutal, sudden and refuses to cut away.

From the outset, we know that there will be no pulled punches.

There was no doubting that everyone in the theatre had been drawn in. The whispering from the back rows of the midnight screening audience had stopped as abruptly as Georgie had been killed by Pennywise. Muschietti had us in the palm of his hand, and proceeded to keep us there for the entire runt-

a Swedish project required the “viewer” to lay down on a hospital bed to recreate the feeling of a coma, with real-life assistants waving air, caressing and making him/her drink water simultaneously to what was being shown in the VR. We currently don’t know if this will be the future of cinema yet, or just something else as with happened with 3D, but it is definitely a field full of opportunities that deserves to be explored.

If the VR could be considered the best example of cinematic future, the festival also paid respect the past, awarding the Golden Lions for Life Achievements to two legends of the big-screen such as Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.

This sense of nostalgia was

however best achieved by the documentaries: from a sentimental and deeply personal 50-years journey through the development of Cuba in ‘Cuba and the Cameraman’, to William Friedkin’s reportage of a true exorcism compared to his fictional ‘The Exorcist’, passing from ‘My Generation’, an excellent documentary about the Swinging London narrated by Michael Caine. After the inspirational screening, I felt the need to ask him how to go back to the 1960’s, attempting to restore that wonderful feeling of innovation and freedom he had just narrated; after briefly thinking about it, he wisely replied ‘go to London and make your own generation… but don’t forget to “swing”’!

ime. ‘IT’ never lets up in its pace, relentlessly keeping the tension turned up to eleven.

Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise is an unstoppable force, always within breathing distance of the kids he hunts down and as terrifying as a clown as he is in any of his other forms – if not more so. Even when he’s not onscreen, his presence is always felt – and you never know when he might turn up.

The Losers (our heroes) are all introduced to us one by one; as are their worst fears.

They’re all characters with their own distinct identities however there were a few sacrifices that needed to be made to translate them to film, and I wondered if I was only attached to every character because I had read the extensive detail that King loves to include in his character work.

Each Loser is given ten minutes of introduction versus the hundreds of pages in the novel, except Jaeden Lieberher’s Bill Denborough and Sophia Lillis’ Beverly Marsh.

Unfortunately, this has the effect of pushing the others to the sidelines in some scenes, as it begins to become more about them than the group.

However, The Losers are still a strong bunch of characters who all play off one another brilliantly, especially in today’s age of homogenous characters. In a film of flawless performances, ‘Stranger Things’ star Finn Wolfhard’s Richie Tozier still stands out above the others, bringing humour to the film as he did in the novel, and - in keeping with the lack of pulled punches – cursing and being as vulgar as any fifteen-yearold does when among friends.

The changes from the book felt like necessity, and I didn’t mind them – nor should any fan of the book. It was risky to change the time period to 1989 instead of 1957, however it becomes clear that the story is still intact enough to keep die-hard fans happy.

‘IT’ has already taken $179 million worldwide; its opening weekend hasn’t even ended at the time of writing and it’s already beaten ‘Deadpool’ as the highest grossing opening for an R rated movie ever. I can’t wait to see what Chapter 2 has in store. Head down to the cinema and float.

Because we all float down here…

ARTS: MUSIC 19

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

[Column]

What's On This Autumn

[Review]

ELE WALTON MUSIC EDITOR

I recently had the saddening experience of discovering simultaneously that The Killers were playing a gig in London this September and that all the tickets were sold out.

Consequently, my first column in The Founder seemed like a good place to draw eyes away from the stunning sights of Egham and Englefield Green, and back toward London which, as always, has some cracking gigs lined up for the next few months. It is a well-worn joke that Royal Holloway is “Just 40 minutes from central London by train” at this point, but all jokes aside London is too close to excuse missing your favourite acts in some fantastic venues. There are hundreds of fantastic small venues across the capital that are great to explore, but for now we’re going to indulge in some of the more iconic options.

So, let us start with Ally Pally. If you’re lucky you snapped up tickets to see Lorde there on the 27th of September. If not, never fear, Royal Blood, Wolf Alice, and Enter Shikari are all playing in in the later end of November. Alexandra Palace is enormous space with a great atmosphere, loads of food options and a fantastic view of London, all easily within your reach courtesy of Wood Green Tube Station.

Then there are at least 5 different O2 venues in London and none of them are hard to reach by tube. The O2 Academy in Brixton hosts the likes of Dizzee Rascal, MØ (Of Lean On - Major Lazer

and DJ Snake fame) and London Grammar this October, followed by Fleet Foxes and Rag’n’Bone Man in November.

There is something for everyone.

If you’re looking for something a little more folk influenced then look no further than South AfricanEnglish singer songwriter Johnny Flynn playing at the Roundhouse in October. If you were drawn to Holloway

by Founders, a grade I listed building, you’ll be pleased to find that the roundhouse also boasts a status as a listed building and what’s better than enjoying beautiful music in a beautiful place? If you want a blend of rock and folk then Icelandic band Kaleo will also be playing in November.

Of course, these are but a handful of venues and an even smaller handful of artists performing at them in the next few months. Take it from someone who’s been here for 4 years now; there are so many incredible nights out waiting for you, you just have to put in the leg work, and the 40-minute train journey...but it will be so much more memorable than a night at the SU.

Photo via https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1768/1701/products/QOTSA_ CHARLIE CATMULL STUDENT WRITER

'Villains' is Queens Of The Stone Age seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2013's critically acclaimed '...

Like Clockwork'. But instead of repeating or expanding upon the end-of-days gloom of the more expansive tracks of '...Like Clockwork' - take the title track for instance and its less than subtle wink to the doomsday clock, which is all the more relative these days. The band have changed things up for 2017, creating a body of work that is very current yet still undeniably their own unique rock sound, and is as Homme state's ‘here to do bad guy stuff ’ (NME) On 'Villains' Queens chose to bring in producer Mark Ronson in a move that may have scared their more hardcore fans, as the thought of a 'pop' record from the band who basically created 'stoner rock' may seem like a betray-

al of their legacy. But rather than remove the bands basis in hard rock, Ronson has worked with Homme and co. to add a new electronic edge to their music. Which gives a refreshing sonic bite to the expected bark of the riffs which first gave the band their fandom. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Homme stated Ronson was brought in to create a ‘friction’ to take their ‘old sound and screw it over’ and it is this screwing that makes 'Villains' such an enjoyable record.

I use the word enjoyable here strongly as this LP represents a perfect mixture of classic rock n roll and an infusion of Ronson's work in dance music and pop to create music that does not lend itself to the reflective, gothic nature of their earlier work.

Stand out single 'The Way You Used To Do' could easily fit in to any pre-drinks playlist with its bouncing rhythms

and fast pace, whilst second single 'The Evil Has Landed' builds in tempo throughout, until driving guitars burst in to a height that can only cause people to both mosh and dance at once, like a goth on ecstasy. An image only reinforced by the electronic whirls found all over 'Head Like A Haunted House' (not mention the track title itself).

Aside from the chop and changing of their heaviness, a collaboration does work two ways and the band do retain the deep existential themes they often delve into through their song writing, such as on 'Hideaway'. But this inclusion does not always gel amongst the rest of the tracklist. It is only the closer 'Villains Of Circumstance' and its discussion of fate, which comes as a welcome winding final word to an album that brings with it more highs than lows. To prove to fans the Queens they know so well are not gone but growing.

20 ARTS: MUSIC

[Playlist] ELE WALTON MUSIC EDITOR

RHUL Night Out Your definitive SU playlist.

The first playlist of the 2017 academic year had to be pay homage to the humble Student Union night out because it is among the first experiences many people have at Royal Holloway and for some in terms of nightlife the last. It starts with some bangers, ends with some classics as the night winds down and there are a couple of chill ones thrown in the middle in case anyone needs to chill out after all the VK’s and dancing.

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

5.

Galantis – U and I

6.

First Time – Kygo & Ellie Goulding

7.

Signs - Drake

8.

Turn up the Love – AlunaGeorge

9.

Unforgettable – French Montana

10.

What Lovers do – Maroon5

11.

Sleepless – Flume

1.

My Head is Jungle MK Remix – Wankelmut & Emma Louise

12.

Gold – Kiaara

2.

Disco Tits – Tove Lo

13.

Mr Brightside – The Killers

3.

Big for your Boots – Stormzy

14.

Chelsea Dagger – The Fratellis

4.

Gecko (Overdrive) – Oliver Heldens & Becky Hill

15.

Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

ARTS: MUSIC 21

[Interview]

Scratch: RHUL's Underground Music Scene An interview with Scratch DJ and founder Francis Woodcock.

Photos courtesy of Francis Woodcock.

DAN BRADY CO-EDITOR

Royal Holloway’s music scene hosts, to put it nicely, an eclectic mix of genres. Sometimes making about as much sense as washing a Runnymede Chicken down with 8 VKs and then jumping up and down aggressively to The Chainsmokers in the SU, RHUL’s tenuous links to London have made it a Grime hotspot whilst also being home of some of the country’s best young classical musicians.

Whilst some may see this as a confused yet tidy allegory of our mock-Oxbridge, mockUrban London lifestyle, such musical diversity should be celebrated. That being said, Royal Holloway’s musical medley certainly has room for more diversity.

I spoke with Francis Woodcock, founder of Scratch, about the club night that is providing something a little different across campus…

Scratch is a club night I started 3 years ago focusing on the underground dance music movement and the genres of house, techno and disco. We put on free parties at Medicine and events in Shoreditch and Dalston.

Why did you start Scratch?

I wanted to emulate the fabled Freakin nights that I frequented when I first started going to raves in York. For anyone not vested in that scene, it was a night run for 17 years by a group of local music fanatics. A real tight group of people who weren’t interested in the glamour and bullshit of most club nights, dance music culture was never supposed to be this commodified. Freakin's roots lay in the Northern tradition of losing yourself on a dance floor after the stresses of the working week. It was a refuge of quality house music, fiercely proud of its open-minded attitude.Within the underground dance music scene, the word For those that don’t know ‘vibe’ gets thrown around way much about Scratch, could too much, but to this day I’ve you sum up what you’re never experienced a better atmosphere than those parties. I all about?

felt if Scratch could fall somewhere in-between then we wouldn’t be doing too badly.

Why do you think a collective like Scratch is important at RoHo? It’s my opinion that the best student experiences happen when groups of people come together and create things and put things on. We’re a small, campus university in a rural Surrey town which makes it essential to allow students to have varied and authentic arts and nightlife culture in such a small microcosm.

Spotify revealed that we’re some of the biggest Grime fans out of all UK uni’s - what do you think about the music scene at RHUL? Royal Holloway has a rich history in the arts and music, I believe it’s the 5th best music department in the UK and we see a plethora of talented classical musicians, choirs and symphony orchestras putting on recitals and exhibitions on an almost daily basis within the university which is something to be proud of, however,

I feel we are lacking when it comes to nightlife culture. The SU have been supportive with our endeavours at Medicine, also putting on weekly events in the tent there for student musicians and bands to play out, yet I think it’s essential that we start to see a change in the programming and variety of offerings at the SU venue.

Whilst it would be naive for me to suggest that everyone should be exposed solely to our variations of weird dance music, I still feel like we should be seeing more of an artistic balance. I would love it if we started to see more independent bands and fringe genres on offer.

House party or club night?

We’re happy in any dimly lit room as long as we’ve got a decent sound system, a sound group of people and some banging tunes. We’re just as content playing the back room of pubs as we are at Summer Ball.

Do you think the scene at RHUL is a bit lacklustre, or just doesn’t have enough

recognition?

One criticism I always heard last academic year was that noone knew what was going on around campus. I know that most events are advertised actively on Facebook, however, the algorithm on there is gearing pages toward paying for visibility online so consequently people miss out. I thought if all the student groups worked collectively and have a centralised list of all alternative events then it at least takes the argument of ignorance out of the equation. You can find it by searching Royal Holloway Alternative Scene on Facebook.

For more information about what Scratch are up to this year, check out facebook.com/ scratchrhul. Their dates for autumn term are: Friday 20th September Founders Forest w/ DJ Society + Circus Society Thursday 12th October - Medicine Friday 13th October - Kamio, Shoreditch Saturday 11th November - Bar 512, Dalston Thursday 30th November Medicine

22 SPORTS

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk

From Grizzly To Polar: The story behind Royal Holloway's beloved mascot: Colossus.

HELENA KEEBLE SPORTS EDITOR

During your time at Royal Holloway, it’s hard to avoid our team mascot, Colossus - you’ll likely find him wandering around campus taking selfies and mingling with the crowds. However, our friendly white bear wasn’t always this way. Back in the 1950s Royal Holloway was desperate to join the trend of other University of London Colleges by attaining a mascot. So, one day in February 1956, a Royal Holloway student purchased a large stuffed grizzly bear called Colossus and transported him from London to our very own Egham. Colossus immediately became a prize to the campus and an item of envy to other local colleges. Due to this, poor old Colossus became subject to multiple thefts, and in one case a turn in a fumigation chamber in order to de-louse his fur. Like our Colossus today, the grizzly liked to travel around campus, often attending lectures and special events, or visiting students in their halls. The Queen Moth-

er was even given the honour of meeting Colossus in 1970, which called for him to have a re-vamp including a shiny new set of teeth.

To the sadness of every student, Colossus’s time at Royal Holloway reached an abrupt end in 1991 when he was kidnapped and held for ransom by Imperial College.

Unfortunately, the Students’ Union refused to pay for his safe return, so our lovely bear remained at Imperial until his tragic end in 1993, when his ashy remains were discovered, having been burnt to a smoulder by an animal rights protestor. As shown in the photo, his skull and metal frame was all that remained.

So, as a tribute to our long lost friend, we remember him in name through our snowy polar bear. From grizzly to polar, it is unclear why his species transformed over the years but todays bear has come to mean as much to Royal Holloway as our original Grizzly in the late 1900s.

So, next time you see Colossus on campus, remember this story and give him a smile so that we can protect him from the same fate.

Photos courtesy of Steph Milne.

Defence Against the Press: Nadal At The U.S. Open HELENA KEEBLE SPORTS EDITOR

Photo via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snLLb-Q8A4I.

It’s been a busy few weeks full of triumphs and disappointments in the U.S. Open this year. But one game caught the press’s eye – Nadal vs.

Mayer. Despite his overall victory, the press pounced on the World Number One’s unlucky first set in his game on 2 September.

Rather than focus on the victory of the 4 set win, questions were hammered about the 14 breakpoints in

the first set, (6-7 6-3 6-1 6-4). During the U.S. Open press conference, Nadal expertly changed the focus of the event entirely, making it clear that he saw the 14th breakpoint as ‘the 14th opportunity’.

Nadal’s attitude vastly contradicted that of the press as he emphasized ‘opportunity’, manipulating negative questions into positive responses, looking forwards rather than back; ‘opportunity to compete and try to compete better than what I

did [today]’. I found it shocking how the entirety of the press collaboratively decided to diminish Nadal due to an incident in the first set which he eventually triumphed over anyway.

Surely this proves that journalism needs to change its stance in all world sport and abandon the focus on negatives, instead celebrating victories. I think we should all learn from the Spanish champion and focus on our victories in the present and opportunities in the future – ultimately, the only way a champion can.

THE FOUNDER September 20, 2017

Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk

SPORTS 23

MEET STEPH MILNE

Our Vice President Of Sports HELENA KEEBLE SPORTS EDITOR

heart) What is your favourite workout song?

What is your favourite sport? / What team do you support?

I don’t have a favourite sport…

I love all sports equally (kidding at the moment I’m probably most into working out at the gym and lifting some semi heavy weights and building those gains :P)

Anything by Eminem!

What are your main aims this year for Royal Holloway Sport as VP? My main aims for the year are to investigate the options for a Bears Sponsor. I am currently in the process of writing up a sponsorship pack to send out to businesses. My other main aim for the year is to improve your sports centre. I want to empower students to make student lead changes to the services provided by the sports centre. If you want to get involved in this campaign please don’t hesitate to contact me on VPSports@su.rhul.ac.uk.

What is your secret to keeping fit?

Setting goals and having someone to work out with to keep you on track and motivated!

Photos courtesy of Steph Milne.

When you’re not doing sport, what are you most likely doing?

Shopping or watching Netflix… (I’m still a student at

What is the best thing about sport at Royal Holloway?

Our team spirit and the atmosphere when the bears are out in force!

What are you looking forward to most this year?

Home Varsity and Colours ball at our new venue!

Who is your biggest role model and why?

This is a really hard one… probably my nan because she is an absolute legend!

What is your guilty pleasure?

Marshmallows… I keep a bag in my desk at work for when I need a little snack!

When you were 10, what did you want to be when you were older?

When I was very young I wanted to be an architect – although I’m not sure I knew what one was…

Do you have any recommendations for our new Freshers this year?

Try something new. You only get three years here so try as many different activities as you can!

Still looking for a room or fancy an upgrade?

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