The Gryphon Issue 1 2022/23

Landlord Issues Resurface in Leeds Student Areas

sneaky and unfair, and try to take advantage of students that don’t want to make a fuss or know what their rights are as tenants”.

A Landlord, who wished to remain anonymous, said the following:

www.thegryphon.co.uk Twitter: @TheGryphonLeeds Instagram: @thegryphon Issue 1 31/10/22

Best-Selling Author Talks Race and Accountability in Leeds

News editor Camila Ramos follows author Lee Lawrence as he talks about his book ‘The Louder I Will Sing’ (Page 4)

Any reliable landlord would hold themselves fully accountable for any damage. Most landlords own countless properties and would have no motive or need to exploit students for money.

Sai Balakrishnan discussses how Kanye West’s T-shirt is inspiring white supremacists. (Page 7)

Ada Dajani

Students living in Hyde Park are reporting a drastic increase in corrupt landlords.

With the start of the new academic year approaching, the Facebook student forum ‘Leeds Student Group’ is seeing an influx of posts detailing alleged nightmare renting stories.

Reports include unresolved vermin problems, landlords illegally entering houses, and unwarranted charges at the end of tenancies.

One tenant described her experience to The Gryphon, “Our landlord would come into our house uninvited and take pictures when the kitchen was slightly messy to send to our parents”.

“He falsely accused us of having parties during COVID and said that if we reported the illegal construction work that he was conducting in the flat under the house, he would report us to the police for breaking social distancing rules”.

According to the Housing Act 1988, a landlord entering a property without permission is considered trespassing.

Another tenant recounted her experience with a vermin problem in her university house. She complained to her landlord about holes in her kitchen cupboards, which she argued allowed for potential vermin to enter the property. The landlord replied by claiming that the holes were “intentionally placed there for ventilation”, the tenant recalls.

Neither student received their full deposit back at the end of their tenancy.

Renters have expressed concern that alongside the cost of living crisis, unfair deductions from deposits and extra charges, will become an everpressing problem for students.

One student told The Gryphon she felt that landlords were intentionally exploiting students: “They can be

Renters’ union ACORN is at the forefront of the fight against rouge landlords. In a statement for the BBC, The secretary of the Leeds branch of ACORN, Mick Haworth, argued that since ‘you need a license to drive a car or sell alcohol, you need a license to house dogs in a kennel”.

On August 24th, ACORN hosted a ‘renters forum’, encouraging tenants to voice their opinions about issues surrounding housing in Leeds.

Leeds City Council operates landlord requirement for landlords in two areas of Leeds, Harehills and Beeston. In these areas, landlords are required to pay a £825 registration fee for their rental property.

Speaking to the BBC, Leeds City Council issued the following statement: “The council has and will continue to use all the powers available to it and keep its options open as to how best ensure that they all have a good quality home in which to live.”

Whitewashing Black History

Writer Tharushi Wijesiriwardena explores how Black history in the UK has been whitewashed throughout the years. (Page 25)

The official newspaper of Leeds University

“ “Kanye West and ‘White Lives Matter’

Image: James Bosher

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The News team discusses landlord issues in the student areas of Leeds and a recent talk by an award-winning author on race and accountability.

Society writers introduce you to the new Activities representatives, the union’s feminist societies, and what LUU clubs are up to this month.

Contents News Society Features

Features talks about the rise in white supremacy, the debate surrounding Halle Bailey as Ariel and more.

Music

Our Music writers discuss music and ADHD, Steve Lacy’s rise to fame, Kendrick Lamar’s second album a decade later, and Loyle Carner’s newest release.

Arts & Culture

Our Arts & Culture writers guide you on how to diversify your reading, as well as talk about Leeds Globe Trail and creativity in Hollywood.

Lifestyle

The Lifestyle section recommends Yorkshire destinations and top study spaces on campus, and discusses autumn anxiety and inclusivity in Strictly Come Dancing.

Our Fashion writers talk everything fashion and celebrity culture, from Lil Nas and Harry Styles to Rihanna and Ye.

Enigma

A sudoku and two nonograms for you to complete. 25-27

Opinions on the whitewashing of Black culture in the UK, the protests in Iran, Labour’s committment to Proportional Representation, and actions taken to combat the cost of living crisis.

Business editor Alicia Kaye talks about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the corporate world.

Science

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Science writers highlight Black contributors to science, as well as discuss racial disrepancies in maternal care.

Fashion Views Business Sport

Sports discusses Qatar 2023, the best of F1 this season and Leeds United’s current performance in the Premiere League.

A Letter from Your Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Dear readers,

I want to make it clear that I am not writing as someone who claims to know what it is like to be Black or have any idea of how Blackness would affect me. Empathy tends to be, in my view, mistakenly described as walking in someone’s else shoes.

The reality is I can only walk in my own shoes, but what I can do is walk side by side with others, support and understand them. For me, this is where knowing their history helps, as it encourages me to reflect on my perceptions and biases, changing my own behaviour.

I first heard of Black History Month when my eldest child was in primary school. He came home to say he’d been learning about Martin Luther King. When I asked him ‘What about Malcolm X?’, he said he hadn’t. I find the inclusion of one and the exclusion of the other rather odd. Surely both have a place in his education. To me, it’s almost as if we aren’t allowed to celebrate those figures which are deemed too radical by those in society who want everything to be about politeness and civility, ignoring the real-life consequences that othering and discrimination have on those affected.

I grew up in Singapore, a former British colony, a few decades before Google, and when the internet was nothing more than an abstract concept I’d read about in William Gibson’s Neuromancer. What I knew about Black history and the experiences of Black people was through TV, film and books. It is fair to say my knowledge was, in a way, ‘curated’. Being in this position pushed me to look into how imperialism had shaped my views as a child growing up in a British colony. Take the Notting Hill Carnival, for instance. Most of us have probably heard of it or have participated in it. But how many people have heard of Claudia Jones, never mind know her story?

Black History Month is an opportunity for everyone to learn, to understand and be allies. It is a celebration of the human spirit. It is about dismantling narratives that perpetuate stereotypes and systems of oppression to keep a group subjugated. It is about the struggles of those who have come before,

those who are here now and those yet to be. It is about hope for a future that is liberated from racism.

However, we cannot let Black History Month be used by those who wish to exonerate themselves from committing real action that dismantle structures and practices that are racist and discriminatory. When activism is nothing more than a tick-box exercise, a free pass whereby institutions, corporations and people utilise inclusion and diversity for performative reasons, this is when we understand the importance of Black History Month.

Haryati Mohammed Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Leeds University Union

Sincerely,

Costa Book Award Winner Tells His Powerful Story in Leeds

Camila Ramos

The ‘The Louder I Will Sing’ author was in Leeds this past October 12th to share with the local community his inspiring story of finding justice and helping others find their voice to commemorate this year’s Black History Month. During the talk ‘Touching Ground Zero: Race, Policing and Public Accountability’ hosted by Leeds Trinity University, the author shared how his mother’s shooting impacted his life and led his family in a journey to pursue accountability.

Chapelton #Leeds and listening to #DetSuptTanyaWilkins talk about the new #PoliceRaceActionPlan”.

Lee Lawrence was 11 years old when he witnessed his mother, Dorothy “Cherry” Groce, getting shot by the Metropolitan Police. This house search that turned into the shooting of an innocent woman would lead to the Brixton riots in 1985, where angry crowds gathered around the streets of South London as they were already critical of the Brixton Police tactics against Black people.

Later that day he attended a community event in Chapeltown held at the Reginald Centre. It featured a panel talk, including Alison Lowe, the Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime, where members of the public were able to ask questions and engage in the discussion.

The Deputy thanked him via a tweet for his attendance and for listening the new reform of improving policing for Black people “Thank you for coming to

In 2014, three years after his mother passed away, his application for legal aid got denied, but he persevered and got around 133,000 signatures in support for that decision to be overturned. His right to get justice and accountability was granted and he received a full public apology from the Metropolitan Police. In 2016, the foundation for his mother ‘The Cherry Groce Foundation’ was set up as a memorial for her and as a way to help people pursue justice and support victims of injustice.

Since then Lee has worked with organisations, communities, institutions, and educational establishments as social change advocator and restorative justice ambassador. Lee shares his full story in his latest book ‘The Louder I Will Sing’ which made him win the Costa Biography Award 2022.

A week after his visit, he shared his gratitude towards the receivement in the city and their proactiveness to

eradicate injustice via twitter along a couple of photos of him to commemorate his time at Leeds. “I had a great time sharing my lived experiences with the community of #leeds @LeedsTrinity! It’s great to see that Leeds are being so proactive and forthcoming in challenging the issues around race, policing and accountability #togetherwerise”.

He also quoted some members of the public who mentioned him in their tweets thanking him for coming and for telling his inspirational story.

Sofia Cann, @SofiaCann1 on Twitter, posted a thread about meeting him “Today I met one of the most inspirational people ever. @MrLeeLawrence speaks openly & honestly about the day that changed his life forever”...“His family were innocent victims. You feel his pain, distress, loss and strength. He gives others hope, reminding us to never give up! He now works with the police & young people. Lee continues to promote inclusion and injustice for diverse audiences using his powerful story”. Lee thanked her for her support and kind words.

Image: LBTS_SCHOOL on Twitter

It’s great to see that Leeds are being so proactive and forthcoming in challenging the issues around race, policing and accountability.

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He gives others hope reminding us to never give up! He nows work with the police & young people.

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Lee Lawrence giving a speech at Lilian Baylis Technology School in London

Meet your Activities Executive Team

The Activities Executive Team is made up of ten students who meet weekly to discuss how best they can represent the views and interests of society members. Last week, English Literature and Theatre Studies student Ellie Gelber interviewed three Activities Executive Representatives.

Diya Mittal – Welfare Representative

My first interview was with third year psychology student, Diya Mittal. Diya is the Welfare Representative at the University of Leeds and works extensively with the Student Executive Team, discussing things such as how to provide funding for different societies. Not only does she help decide on the recipients at the annual Riley Awards, but she is also currently representing eight societies, all of which focus on the wellbeing of students.

According to Diya, societies are often not inclusive enough, and there is a greater need for non-alcoholic events, including painting, art, cooking and baking. As an international student herself, she hopes to encourage these welfare societies to create a safe space for the international student community in particular.

Here are some of Diya’s society recommendations: Ssafe (Suicide Support and Awareness for Everyone), LUU Mind Matters –which is making great strides in destigmatising men’s mental health – and Right To Walk. These societies are free, provide something for everyone, and are a great opportunity to form a fantastic social network of support. LUU Mind Matters and Ssafe run talks every week (dates and times can be found on their respective social media pages). In addition to this, most welfare societies are planning to host a collaborative event at the start of 2023. Diya encourages students to not be shy and give these societies a go!

Zoe Grey – Dance Representative

My second interview was with fifth year student Zoe Grey. Zoe is the Dance Representative and (like Diya) helps organise funding, specifically for dance societies. Zoe helps to delegate funding for competitions and costumes while also organising shows and events, such as the Riley Awards. She acts as the intermediate stage for new society approvals; as such, she is the voice of dance at Leeds.

A long-term member of Irish and Modern Dance herself, Zoe stated that there is a dance society for everybody, regardless of one’s interest and ability. The dance groups pride themselves on their level of inclusivity and wellbeing, with most societies having a Welfare Representative that provides support for students. As a ‘Teetotaller’ herself, Zoe has ensured that dance societies continue to host social nights in. For example, the Exposé dance group recently hosted a pizza and movie night, airing footage from their show last year.

Alex Boulton – Music and Performance Representative

In my final interview, I got the chance to meet sixth-year medical student Alex Boulton. As Music and Performance Representative, Alex helps decide on grants and funding for societies under his sector and is also responsible for welcoming new societies. He holds several other positions of responsibility: he is the treasurer of the LUU Musical Theatre Society and the President of Leeds Amateur Medics Musical and Performance Society (LAAMPS). Most notably, Alex oversees funding for societies wishing to take their productions up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In fact, during the summer of 2022, Alex and his colleagues took their selfcreated musical ‘A Wild Life’ to Edinburgh with Chevron Theatre and celebrated a completely sold out series of shows!

Alex recommends getting involved with societies “full stop”, and that doing so has enriched his time at Leeds considerably. Alex guided me through the following various musical theatre productions that will be taking place this semester:

· The Musical Theatre Society will be putting on a production of ‘RENT’ (17th – 19th November, at the Riley Smith Theatre) and ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ (December).

The yearly LUU Dance Competition is coming up in just a matter of weeks (24th November, save the date!). It is the first big event in the dance calendar in which all Leeds-based dance societies compete against each other. The competition is a brilliant event and promises to be very entertaining! Most dance groups put on a Christmas show as well – there is lots going on. They also work with charities too: Modern Dance works with Beat Society, the UK’s largest eating disorder charity.

Other examples of dance groups include The Bollywood Group Vibes, that host Bollywood nights that are open to all, and the Salsa Group, that host ‘open to all’ classes each week; more information can be found on their respective social media pages and on the LUU Website. Whatever your interest, Zoe urges students to come along and practice dancing!

· The Stage Musicals Society will be putting on a production of ‘Grease’ (8th – 10th December).

Alex has found the performance societies to be a great escape from everyday university life and a great way to build fantastic rapports with other students. Regardless of whether you’re interested in performing, backstage work, stage management, acting, or singing, there is something for everyone.

For more information about the Activities Executive Team, visit: https://www.luu.org.uk/ clubs-and-societies/activities-executive/.

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These societiesare free, provide something for everyone, and are a great opportunity to form a fantastic social network of support.

“ “ There is a dance society for everybody

Ellie Gelber

Calling All Feminists!

First year student and member of the Leeds University Union Feminist Society (LUU Fem Soc) Megan Shaw writes about the societies’ aims, projects and events.

If you believe that people of all genders should be equal, getting involved with one of the many feminist societies at Leeds University Union is a great way to voice your opinions, raise awareness about women’s rights and campaign for changes that you are passionate about.

Leeds University Union Feminist Society (LUU Fem Soc) is a supportive platform where all women’s voices are heard. The President of the society, Teesha, describes it as “a friendly, safe and inclusive atmosphere for women to share their concerns” with an opportunity to enjoy regular

socials, such as Bead and Booze and Book Clubs. It’s also a space to get angry about issues that women face. Winners of the 2019 Riley Award for Best Political and Campaigning Society, topics of discussion at their bi-weekly meetings range from perceptions around female pleasure to fast fashion. Their most popular social is the Period Party, which is their “biggest event of the year.” It aims to create awareness about menstrual hygiene and poverty, with entry allowed through a donation of a sanitary product.

An exciting project is in the works for Feminist Society and they need your help! They are looking for art to display at their interactive feminist art installation, called Create and Liberate: A Celebration of Feminist Art for Women’s Aid Leeds. Part of

Campus Live in November, they want to showcase Leeds feminist artists, including photography, paintings and poetry, based around liberation. Donation points will be available around, collecting sanitary products and unused makeup for Women’s Aid Leeds.

For more details and how to submit art, visit @ luufemsoc on Instagram.

The University of Leeds feminist scene is not limited to the LUU Feminist Society. For information about the Leeds Univeristy Union Black Feminist Society, visit their Instagram: @luublackfemsoc or their information page on the LUU Engage website. For more information about Leeds University Union South Asian Feminist Society, visit their Instagram: @leeds_southasianfemsoc or their information

What Are Societies Getting Up To?

Marta Lindsay-Perez

It is hard to keep track of what clubs and societies at the University of Leeds are getting up to when there are 300+ of them! In an attempt to answer your ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘when’ questions, the Society Section shares some information on some of the societies’ exciting events that are taking place in November.

1) University of Leeds Archery

Mondays: 20:30 -22:30pm

Thursdays: 20:30-2:30pm

Fridays: 17:30-19:30pm

Where: Hall 2, The Edge

2) Anime and Manga

Weekly chats at the Old bar at 5pm. Anime film screening from 6pm onwards.

Whether you’re Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, or you’ve never shot an arrow before this is the society for you!

Session times:

3) Leeds University Union Baking Society

Halloween themed baking session on Tuesday 1st November, at 18:00pm in the Library section of Common Ground (LUU).

4) Shodokan Aikido Leeds

Session times:

Fridays: 17:30 - 19:30pm

Sundays: 14:30 - 16:30pm

Where: Studio 2, The Edge

5) Film Society

Film screenings every Tuesday and Thursday from 18:30pm onwards.

1st November: ‘The Good, The Bad And The Ugly’

3rd November: ‘Your Name

8th November: ‘Queen & Slim’

10th November: ‘Buffalo ‘66’

Megan Shaw

Image: LUU Fem Soc

Image: LUU Black Feminist Society

Image: LUU South Asian Feminist Society

The biggest anime community in the UK!

How a T-Shirt is Inspiring the Next Generation of White Supremacists

Image: Peter Hutchins / Flickr

Sai Balakrishnan

Kanye West’s (who has legally changed his name to Ye) foray into politics has been a tumultuous journey to say the least. From labelling slavery as a choice in a TMZ interview, to donning a MAGA hat during Saturday Night Live, the influential musician has never been one to shy away from controversy. That said, he might have taken his antics too far this time. On 3rd October, he was caught donning a ‘White Lives Matter’ t-shirt, along with controversial political commentator Candace Owens, in a surprise fashion show held during Paris Fashion Week. This act has once again placed a spotlight on the rapidly growing White Lives Matter movement which has swept across the nation over the past few years. Kanye’s endorsement of this movement as a prominent black person only adds credibility to an organisation which is gradually inciting more and more violence.

White Lives Matter is a phrase coined by White supremacists in response to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which gained traction after the shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer. The BLM movement initially protested police brutality towards black people before becoming an allencompassing statement referring to the systematic racism present in the US. While the phrase ‘White Lives Matter’ was originally promoted by the Texasbased white supremacist group Aryan Renaissance, its popularity quickly spread across the plethora of white supremacist groups in the US, including the infamous Ku Klux Klan. The BLM movement sparked to life after the vile murder of George Floyd by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin, leading to wide-spread violence, looting and arson. Donald Trump was quick to condemn the violence, placing blame on the BLM protesters. However, reports show that most of the chaos was incited by white nationalists posing as allies. Vice News reported the prevalence of rightwing extremists encouraging their Neo-Nazi followers to infiltrate protests and carry out violence against Black people. One instance in San Diego involved white nationalists faking a protest in honour of George Floyd to entice BLM supporters to attend what was in fact a

white supremacist rally. Protestors also recognised the discrepancies of the demographic attending protests in places like Oakland where violence was generally induced by Caucasian men. These incidents have caused people to question the mainstream media’s reporting of the events and whether the violence was actually caused by right-wing extremists.

Ye’s public support of the WLM movement has made him a political icon in the eyes of some conservative racists, who see him as speaking the truth without the fear of being outcasted by the media. He has since gone on rampages against Jewish people, tweeting “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti-Semitic because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.” The phrase ‘Death con’ is actually a muddled reference to the US military term DEFCON 3, which is classified as an ‘increase in force readiness above normal readiness’. Ye’s usage of this term points to him declaring a metaphorical war on Jewish people, namely Mark Zuckerberg, who he harbours a grudge towards for ‘suppressing his right to free speech’. His Twitter account has since been locked, joining his previously banned Instagram and Facebook accounts. However, his de-platforming has had no effect on him whatsoever, with Ye blaming the tragic death of George Floyd on a fentanyl overdose instead of the vile actions of police officer Derek Chauvin on the Drink Champs podcast. The family of the victim plan to file a $250 million lawsuit against the rapper.

Tucker Carlson, notorious for his racist conspiracy theories and his extreme right-wing rhetoric, welcomed Ye to conservative news outlet Fox News for an interview that was littered with both blatant misinformation and racist propaganda. However, Ye’s true self was revealed in leaked footage that Fox News cut from the two-part interview. The footage contained various antisemitic rants with the singer stating that Planned Parenthood was founded to “control the Jew population”. He then proceeded to mention the belief that Black people were in fact the “real” Jews;

a conspiracy rooted in antisemitism. While these statements may not be instances of racism towards black people, Ye’s persistence in going after every race that is not Caucasian adds credibility to the white supremacy movement.

Ye shot to prominence making music about the typical hardships that black people face, but he no longer dwells on the financial problems that signify his early life. His detachment from the Black community is evident in his placing the blame on Black people for living in lowincome communities or being victims of racism, a trait common with Black conservatives. Most of his fans link his racist actions and remarks to mental illness which has inadvertently created an invisible shield around him. From selling merch featuring the infamous Confederate flag in 2013, to describing slavery as a “choice” during his presidential campaign, Ye’s racist undertones have always been present. Despite this, the attribution of these antics to his “unpredictable nature” or him being a “troll” has ensured his reputation goes unscathed. The American Psychological Association states that people with bipolar disorder may experience “extremes of happiness, energy, and clarity, to sadness, fatigue, and confusion.” While this is an unfortunate reality for the people with this condition, it has no correlation with political affiliation or world views, and a failure to hold Ye accountable is disrespectful to other people who live with the condition.

Ye’s anti-black prerogative has won him a lot of white supremacist support, whilst also influencing more Black men to adopt increasingly conservative ideals. The WLM movement has always lacked credibility due to its advocates lacking any form of diversity. Ye’s fashion week stunt gives white supremacists credibility as they can defend their xenophobic rhetoric as Ye is a prominent Black figure. In his infamous interview with Tucker Carlson, he defended his t-shirt saying he thought it was “funny,” but what is not funny is how many people the 45-year-old influences. Comments under his videos and interviews refer to him as some sort of beacon of light for free speech while actively condemning anti-racist movements, labelling them as “woke” or “blue pill nonsense”.

Kanye West has been part of many controversies in his career, from wearing MAGA hats to making ludricous statements in interviews. Sai Balakrishnan takes a deep ive into Ye’s most recent media controversy - ‘White Lives Matter’

The rapper has proceeded to combat his deplatforming from “big media” by purchasing the conservative social media platform Parler. Candace Owens, a cult hero of some sort in the conservative realm, was Ye’s accompaniment during the fashion week debacle, donning the same WLM message on her shirt. Owens has jumped to Ye’s defence multiple times during his anti-black and antisemitic rant, and her persistence seems to have paid off. Parler is owned by her husband George Farmer, and the company has been valued at 56 million dollars. In a press release by Parler, Ye stated: “In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial, we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves.”

While Parler may be a safe haven for white supremacists to spew their violent and unbiased theories, its impact on society could be severe if it reaches their target audience. Conservatives may be influenced to adopt more extreme right-wing views and it may play a large role in influencing the USA’s political landscape. With the country already reeling from the overturning of Roe vs Wade, any more restrictions on citizen’s rights may cause an alarming amount of unrest. Ye might not recognise the ramifications of his actions but he’s slowly nurturing the next generation of white supremacists and extremists.

It is unlikely that Ye will ever stop his inflammatory antics, with the rapper partnering with accused rapist and stylist Ian Connor to donate WLM shirts to homeless people. This is no doubt a calculated move to further his anti-black agenda. We as a society have been responsible for excusing Ye’s actions for too long. Now, we must face the aftermath of a man unknowingly plotting against his own race.

Coffey: Homophobic or Just Not a Hypochondriac?

In 2013, then MP, and current health secretary Thérèse Coffey voted against same sex marriage. Last month, Coffey claimed it was not a good use of tax-payer money to procure additional doses of the monkeypox vaccine. This statement lands hollowly for many after WHO declared monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern”. It is debated whether these two decisions are interwoven with monkeypox disproportionately affecting gay and bisexual men. Furthermore, it is questioned whether Coffey’s owns views, whether explicit or implicit, are preventing her from making equitable decisions for the UK’s diverse population.

With the recent Covid-19 pandemic still having rippling effects today, it is understandable why panic arises at the klaxon of buzzwords like ‘viral’, ‘concern’ and ‘emergency’. But is this panic justified? As of 17 October 2022, there have been 3,686 confirmed and highly probable monkeypox cases detected in the UK. Monkeypox itself is, as far as we know, far less contagious than Covid-19 and only contagious when the infected person becomes symptomatic – unlike Covid-19.

However, people are still being affected, and if the UK government has learnt anything it is that if we can be prepared for times of crisis, we should be. It is therefore unsettling that Coffey has rejected the advice from officials at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to procure additional doses of the monkeypox vaccine –with many officials left “in shock” at her decision.

Coffey’s decision to not purchase the 70,000 recommended doses has arguably left the UK at risk of further transmission in the future. However, it is not the whole of the UK at risk. Data from a global sample of 528 infections state that a mammoth 98% of those infected were gay or bisexual men. These mindboggling stats illustrate how the outbreak has almost exclusively affected the UK’s non-heteronormative population. In choosing how to deal with the virus, Coffey has chosen to prioritise money over the health concerns of a marginalised group that she has actively, and on record, stated she does not believe deserve equal rights.

In July 2013 Parliament passed legislation to allow same-sex marriage in England and Wales with a vote of 366 to 161 in favour in the House of Commons. Coffey was not in the 366 who voted ‘aye’. More notably however is her subsequent involvement in a 15 strong sub-group who signed a letter urging the House of Lords to throw the Bill out. In the letter the signatories

alleged that despite the vote being announced as “free” by the leaders of the main parties, “varying degrees of coercion and threats” were made to MPs in pursuit of support of the Bill. Coffey further cemented her views in 2020 adamantly insisting that she “took that view at the time [2013]” and still “hold[s] to that”. Coffey’s unwavering views stem from her Christian faith and it seems unpresumptuous to say that she still holds them today.

In a letter to Coffey’s predecessor, Steve Barclay, LGBT+ groups from five political parties illustrated how the lack of care for this issue demonstrated by the government’s actions risks monkeypox “becoming endemic in the UK” and “exacerbate[ing] the health inequalities already experienced by gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men”. Since this letter was sent to Barclay at the beginning of August the total number of cases has risen, but thankfully the rate of new cases has not. However, Coffey’s attitude is no improvement on Barclay’s and has done nothing to aid UKHSA’s concerns about a possible resurgence of the disease and the UK not having enough vaccines to be prepared.

Coffey has stated that her refusal to purchase the vaccines is purely a result of an economic deliberation. However, even if her choices have not come out of her professed, explicit bias against the LGBT+ community, they are arguably likely influenced by her implicit bias. Without knowing it, but because she is dealing with a matter pertaining to a group she does not believe are equal, Coffey has potentially made a different decision to one she would make if monkeypox affected the wider population as much as it affects gay and bisexual men.

This raises deeper questions of how in this modern age those who are in power are not held accountable for their prejudices, when their actions have the power to, and regularly do, widen the inequality gaps to minorities who suffer unfairly – whether through health, economic or social inequality. As the chief executive of British Pregnancy and Advisory Service Clare Murphy stated, it is “deeply concerning” for Coffey, as health secretary with a direct responsibility for the wellbeing of all members of the UK’s population, to “place personal beliefs above expert clinical guidance.”

Thankfully, monkeypox cases have declined from their August peak. However, Coffey’s disregard for queer men’s health brings back parallels to government’s responses to the 1980s’ HIV/AIDS epidemic – not in scale, but in attitude. The LGBT+ community are still not a priority to those in power and if there is a resurgence of monkeypox, as the UKHSA fears, it is the LGBT+ community that will suffer.

Alexandra Packer

Dr. Thérèse Coffey MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Image: Wikimedia Commons

Halle Bailey as Ariel: Outdated Debate Over Casting

of “The Little Mermaid”

Disney has faced after casting Halle Bailey as Ariel in the upcoming live-action “The Little Mermaid” movie. Debut writer Mayu Taniguchi shares some context behind the controvery, casting decisions, and debates some of the racially-charged criticisms the film has received so far.

Mayu Taniguchi

The pure excitement of little black and brown girls from all over the world might have captured your eyes. Halle Bailey, a 23-year-old American actress, stars as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” which opens on 26 May 2023. The news has a meaningful impact as there has only been one other Black Disney princess in Disney’s nearly 100-year history, Princess Tiana, in “The Princess and the Frog.”

The Little Mermaid’s one-minute trailer has brought smiles to millions of children and was praised by their parents; however, it was not without a significant amount of racist backlash. Disney had no choice but to turn off ‘dislikes’ after receiving 1.8 million on the trailer, and the hashtag #NotMyAriel has been bouncing around Twitter. Some attempt to be faithful to the original The Little Mermaid, where Jodi Benson played Ariel in 1989 (even though there is no typical type of “Mermaid”- it is fiction in the first place!) and express disapproval of Bailey’s casting. Even worse, a Twitter user has been suspended as a consequence of posting a remake of the trailer that has been whitewashed with AI, claiming to have “fixed” the original trailer.

Some might start to wonder if Disney was not expecting all the possible racist reactions and suppose choosing Bailey as Ariel was intended for political correctness. Is this casting politically motivated? If so, is that a bad thing?

According to an interview by Variety, Bailey grew up watching “The Little Mermaid,” and it was truly an inspiration to her - “Her [Ariel’s] sense of longing, her searching for herself, was something that I could resonate with,” looking back on her childhood. And her profound yearning gave her a way to play the character.

On a side note, Bailey is well-known as one half of Chloe×Halle, an R&B sister duo. Their path in music began by uploading Beyoncé covers on their Youtube channel in 2012 and blooming into the Best New Artist at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

Rob Marshall, best known as a director of “The Chicago” film version, firstly discovered Bailey’s exceptional talent for singing when witnessing the sister’s performance of “Where Is the Love?” on the 2019 Grammy telecast. He was mesmerised by her

voice; however, he was unsure whether her talent would transfer into acting. Marshall invited Berry to his audition for “The Little Mermaid,” asking her to sing “Part of Your World,” a signature piece for the film. Marshall recalled that Halle’s soulful vocal moved him to tears, convincing him she must have been made for the role. He added: “It’s the most chilling, and the most thrilling, film moment because it crystallises not just her incredible vocal ability but the emotional passion she has in singing it.”

As the above reveals, it seems reasonable to think that casting was not entirely motivated politically; rather, it was because of Berry’s extraordinary singing ability that drags the audience into the story. Even if this casting was intended for political correctness, is it something that has to be bashed so severely? Was the casting wrong because it broke a childhood image of Ariel? Or was it a one-step forward to realise inclusive media representation?

Unfortunately, as Stuart Heritage argued in The Guardian, many may predict that the ongoing turmoil over Bailey’s casting overshadows its beautiful story and might not be appreciated anymore. Nevertheless, it is still true that Bailey donning Ariel’s fins encouraged countless children. The actress has also acknowledged how significant her live-action re-imaging film will be to lift the hurdle regarding race, which has been laid for ten decades in Disney’s history.

“I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that they’re special and that they should be a princess in every single way… There’s no reason that they shouldn’t be. That reassurance was something that I needed.” Bailey said in Variety’s interview. As a coloured woman who grew up watching “The Little Mermaid,” Bailey added, “I know what it would’ve meant to me as a little girl to have been able to see a Black Ariel when I was younger.” Bailey recalled that during the shooting, she was passionate about conveying all the special feelings she cherished when watching the film when she was little. Her strong desire and soul are indeed passed onto the audience.

Sterling Shanks, one of the parents who recorded their children watching the trailer, shared his comforting feelings with the New York Times, saying that: “Seeing an actual manifestation of something you love and are passionate about makes that thing more realistic and makes you feel included; that’s my hope

for them.” Other parents also agreed that children have to have a representation that makes them feel proud of themselves and should be able to believe anything is possible.

If you step back and look around at the reactions from children in pyjamas, you will see how much this coming film meant to many people. Additionally, this is not only about black and brown communities. The release of this film may have forged a stepping stone for possible equal media representation.

Despite all the worldwide expectations toward the upcoming film, explicit racist comments are indeed prevailing. At the same time, some views are not necessarily based on racism but should be interrogated. It is an opinion from bystanders, commenting: “It is just a movie. I do not care whether Ariel is white or black.”

Stuart Heritage from Guardian is also among those who hold this perspective. In his article on 15 September 2022, he claims: “The boring spat over the Disney trailer makes idiots of us all –whether Ariel is black or white, it is clearly a film that should rightfully be ignored then forgotten forever”.

It might be true that the casting of Disney films seems trivial for many of us with seemingly more serious matters to deal with. Notwithstanding, as Bailey told in her interview: “Things that seem so small to everyone else, it’s so big to us.” Can we stand on the sideline with folded arms because it is just a children’s movie? Or is there something that we can and should do?

It might be fair to point out that people are sparking the same controversy on race over and over again. Moreover, as Nicky Lungaro expressed in the New York Times interview, Halle’s casting should not be regarded as epoch-making in the first place. The underrepresentation of coloured people in media reinforces people’s stereotype, assuming “princess should be white”. According to research conducted by McKinsey & Company, black actors play only 11% of main film roles, demonstrating the dominance of the white population in the American film industry. As such, people continue making racist comments without noticing their statement is such.

Reaction from the audience matters to the film industry. It can reinforce existing framing, however, it can also open up a path for diversified screens.

- “She’s like me!”

Hiding in Plain Sight: Britain’s first Black Circus Owner’s Final Resting Place on the University Campus

This is the first of a series of articles to uncover the hidden stories of locations around Leeds. This week’s first stop explores the Black history of Leeds General Cemetery (aka St George’s Field). The cemetery opened in 1833, as a result of the overflow at the graveyard in St Peter’s Church in Kirkgate. The University purchased a majority shareholding of the cemetery in 1965 and was granted permission to remove the headstones and develop the site as a public space. The cemetery was grassed over in the 1960s and opened to the public in 1969 as St George’s Field.

William Darby was the son of a White British woman and a Black African house servant. He was born in Norwich on 28th February 1796. After being orphaned at a young age, he joined the circus in 1810 and chose the stage name Pablo Fanque later in his career.

Illustrated London News in 1847, which wrote: ‘Mr. Pablo Fanque is an artiste of colour, and his steed, Beda… we have not only never seen surpassed, but never equalled... Mr Pablo Fanque was the hit of the evening. That the horse attracted so much attention was testament to Fanque’s extraordinary horse training skills’. This is a rare example of a quote that refers to Fanque’s skin colour. Several writers researching the circus owner’s life have found little evidence to suggest he faced racial discrimination during his career. Following Fanque’s death, the Showman’s Guild noted that, ‘In the great brotherhood of the equestrian world there is no colour line, for, although Pablo was of African extraction, he speedily made his way to the top of his profession’. He was also well-respected within the entertainment industry, and the press frequently praised him for his charity work.

By the mid-nineteenth century, the golden age of the Victorian circus, Fanque became Britain’s first Black circus owner. At its height, his troupe included 30 horses, a ringmaster, clowns, a band and even its own architect. Pablo Fanque’s circus toured for over 30 years across England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Leeds City Library holds several playbills advertising the appearance of Fanque’s Circus Royal in Leeds and are available for the public to view.

During one of Fanque’s circus shows on Saturday, 19th March 1848, his first wife, Susannah Darby, the daughter of a Birmingham button maker, was tragically killed while watching her son perform on the tightrope in the King Charles Croft Amphitheatre in Leeds. The gallery she was seated in collapsed, and she suffered a heavy blow to the back of her head from falling planks. A surgeon at the King Charles Hotel pronounced her dead. Several other people were injured by falling timber, but Susannah was the only fatality. She was buried at Leeds General Cemetery (St George’s Field) and was commemorated on an elaborate headstone decorated with fashionable Victorian funerary symbolism, an urn half draped with a cloth.

buried next to his first wife, Susannah, at Leeds General Cemetery, and the inscription reads, ‘Also the above named William Darby Pablo Fanque who died May 4th 1871 Aged 75 Years’. The headstone still stands next to the left side of the chapel adjacent to the path.

Fanque was immortalised in popular culture when The Beatles’ John Lennon used an 1843 playbill for Fanque’s Circus Royal, which he had bought in an antique shop, to compose the lyrics for The Beatles’ song, Being For the Benefit of Mr Kite! On the track, the line, ‘late of Pablo Fanque’s Fair’, gave the circus owner a place in pop history. The song featured on the band’s album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

This article has shed light on the Black history of just one of the sites on the University campus. There are several other locations around campus with connections to African history. Joe Williams, the founder and director of Heritage Corner and Leeds Black History Walk, offers walks around the University campus, celebrating long-forgotten links to African history.

In January 2021, I created an Instagram account highlighting the history and hidden stories of locations and buildings in Leeds. I write weekly posts, focusing on one location each week. If you enjoyed reading this article, follow @leeds_hidden_heritage on Instagram to uncover more about areas, including in Hyde Park, Headingley, Woodhouse and the City Centre.

Aged 11, he became William Batty’s apprentice at Astley’s Amphitheatre in London. Fanque’s first show was in December 1821, when he performed equestrian stunts and tightrope walking. He was billed in the press as ‘the loftiest jumper in England’. At different points in his career, Fanque became an acrobat, a tightrope walker, and a talented equestrian and horse trainer.

Fanque attracted the attention of several newspapers during the mid-nineteenth century, including The

Fanque later married Elizabeth Corker, a circus rider, and they had two sons, George and Edward Charles (aka Ted Pablo). Their daughter, who died in infancy, was buried in Leeds with Fanque’s first wife, Susannah. The couple reportedly lived in great poverty in a Stockport inn until Fanque died, aged 76, in 1871. A band led Fanque’s funeral procession, followed by his favourite horse and four coaches. Mourners were said to have lined the street in large numbers. He was

Sophia Lambert

Headshot of Pablo Fanque

Image: Wikipedia

Pablo Fanque’s headstone Image: Sophia Lambert / @leeds_hidden_heritage

FLAME FLAME

good kid, M.A.A.D city 10 years on

A cassette tape plays and voices murmur, “Lord God, I come to you a sinner”. From the moment you press play on Kendrick Lamar’s second studio album, good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), a narrative is established as we become privy to the semiautobiographical tale that is to be told throughout the LP. Subtitled on the nostalgic polaroid that acts as the album artwork is ‘a short film by Kendrick Lamar’ sprawled in messy handwriting. Ten years on, this short film has not been developed into a visual medium, but it is not required. From top music critics to hiphop heads, good kid, m.A.A.d city has proven its upmost importance in rap, and music as a whole. Profound, vulnerable, brave; these are just a few words to describe the record and that barely scratches the surface. On its 10th anniversary, we celebrate the excellence of good kid, m.A.A.d city, an album that propelled Kendrick to the throne and placed him in debates of the greatest of all time.

We are put directly in the shoes of a 17-year-old Compton native, with an insight to Kendrick’s mind state as he details his journey to visit Sherane, the love interest of the story. With ‘nothing but pussy stuck on [his] mental’, frivolous, immature thoughts are suddenly interrupted by one of many voicemails from his (real-life) parents. These voicemails both propel the narrative forward and act as the familial moral conscience that holds the conflicted youth from involving himself in the prominent violence that clouds Compton, California. ‘Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe’ is the first hit song that we are approached with. A classic track produced by frequent collaborator Sounwave, with insane replay value to this day.

We return to the story with Kendrick freestyling for his childhood friends, all disillusioned with the aspired gangster mindset that is instilled into them from living in the violently charged, erratic nature of Compton. Themes of sex, drugs, violence are prominent in ‘Backseat Freestyle’, with the most memorable lyric being the juvenile “I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower so I can fuck the world for seventy-two hours”. The nostalgic West Coast beat is as addictive as the lifestyle that Kendrick sees himself getting sucked into.

Hazy and infectious, ‘Money Trees’ presents one of many highlights from the album – Jay Rock’s legendary verse cannot be praised enough. The features that are sprinkled throughout the album are excellently executed – Drake’s verse on the radio hit ‘Poetic Justice’ is delivered with precision over the looped sample of Janet Jackson’s ‘Any Time, Any Place’. Another seamless feature, the subtle hints of Pharell’s overarching wisdom that are embedded into ‘Good Kid’, are as flawless as his production on the track.

The genius of ‘Good Kid’ is not to be ignored. The only song on the album without expletives, Kendrick is poised, intelligent as he juxtaposes imagery of ‘red and blue’ with him ‘walking home from bible study’. The greatest juxtaposition, however, is the following track ‘m.A.A.d city’. Voice frantic and modulated, the production is filled with invasive snares, bleeps, and gangsta-rap synths. The foreboding G-funk is an ode to Ice Cube’s ‘A Bird in the Hand’, as MC Eiht acts as the prophet to Kendrick’s hysteria.

Climaxing to the death of Kendrick’s friend in the closing of ‘Swimming Pools’, the album rolls into ‘Sing About Me, I’m Dying Of Thirst’; a 12-minute masterpiece. Not one for casual listening, the track is subdued, reflective and poignant, rid of the panicky anxiety that precedes this moment. Speaking from the perspective of three individuals living amidst the vehemence that looms over Compton, a maturity is established as Kendrick’s flow is clear and every word pronounced: he wants us to listen to these stories. Prostitution, gang-violence and conflict are detailed in vulnerability and the track evokes emotion to those who have no affinity to the lifestyle.

An ode to the city that Kendrick grew up in, ‘Compton’, is victorious: it only seems fitting that Lamar’s mentor Dr Dre assists in closing the album. There is an air of achievement here for Kendrick, being welcomed into the West Coast Hall of Fame by none other than the NWA member. good kid, m.A.A.d city is a concoction of the good, the bad, and the ugly that arises out of the city, peaking here as the chorus hails “Compton, ain’t no city quite like mine” over the Jus Blaze beat.

As the G-funk synths fade out, we reflect on the story that has unfolded before us. Though the subject matter of good kid, m.A.A.d city can seem heavy and hard to digest, this is far from the case. No matter your background or your appreciation for rap music, these tracks have stood the test of time, evoking empathy whilst providing tracks that will live on our playlists for years to come. It’s untainted, honest, raw and a true work of art that has set up Kendrick for a career of brilliance.

by Hemma Daddral

Photo credits (T-B): Rate Your Music, NME

ADHD, the best and worst thing about me.

As a writer with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I have found great solace in music that raises awareness about my disability. Many artists who have ADHD use their music as an outlet, often referencing the condition in their lyrics, and these songs have given me hope in some of my most difficult times. As artists with major platforms in such a popular industry, these discussions and conversations have paved the way for progress in education surrounding ADHD and the destigmatisation of the condition.

by

One artist who started conversations around ADHD is Will.i.am. The American rapper, singer songwriter and record producer, best known for his role in The Black Eyed Peas, has opened up about living with the condition, stating that “If I was stuck at a different job, I’d be horrible and wouldn’t survive. Music is my therapy and my straitjacket. Music keeps me sane and keeps my mind on something. It’s fragile up there.”

There are a great deal of studies linking creativity and ADHD. Previous research has established that individuals with ADHD are exceptionally good at divergent thinking tasks, and when considering this in terms of making music, Will.i.am explained that he “figured out a place for it [ADHD]” and that “music brings control to [his] thoughts. It’s not escape- it’s just order. I’m making order out of a disorder.”

When thinking about Will.i.am’s notion of the fragile mind created by ADHD, it is important to look at how SZA addresses the condition. She took to twitter to shed light on the difficulties of ADHD, suggesting that despite its advantages it can also be incredibly challenging. By choosing to write on social media, SZA paved the way for a discussion among others who deal with the condition and these conversations led to individuals feeling as though they were part of a community. SZA has mainly spoken about how being undiagnosed as an adult “is really fucking hard and absolutely nobody has empathy for it.” When artists speak about ADHD and mental health, they often speak about how it has helped them get to where they are today. Although this is inspiring and an important discussion to be had, I think SZA makes an important comment on how the reception of ADHD is not always so inspiring. People thanked SZA and requested she “continue to use [her] platform to help educate and advocate for and about ADHD. We (the black community) are in desperate need of awareness, diagnosis and treatment.”

artist and actress, has also been credited as

Disabilities, revealing she “was diagnosed with ADHD twice.” Through her platform, Knowles educates the public on the condition and her experience as a woman of colour who is also diagnosed with a disability which affects roughly 10% of the US population. She does a great deal in raising awareness and encouraging people to break down the stigma, especially in music, as she acknowledges, “the symptoms seem to apply to everyone around me in the industry.” The correlation between ADHD and creativity is gaining more traction and acceptance. As artists come forward and break down the preconceptions of what ADHD is believed to be, versus what it actually is, more people are beginning to understand the importance of a diagnosis and proper help. Allowing ADHD children, for example, to be creative and expressionistic in whichever way they like, is hugely constructive in their controlling of ADHD and will go on to support them later in life.

This type of support for young people has been advocated for by South London artist, Benjamin Gerard Coyle Larner, known as Loyle Carner - a musician who I have seen live countless times and whose discography I adore. Loyle Carner has always been open about his ADHD and how he “came to see [it] as a superpower.” As a child, he used cooking as therapy for his neurodiversity and is spreading the word on its benefits. The artist teamed up with social enterprise Goma Collective to open a summer school, teaching kids with ADHD the advantages of cooking, and giving “teens accustomed to a diet of failure and anxiety their first taste of sweet success.” Carner has often been associated with emotionally charged transparent lyricism, which is probably most apparent in his newest album hugo, (released October 21st, 2022). As someone with ADHD I find it incredibly difficult to mask emotions with metaphor and falsehoods, for this reason Carner‘s emotional and lyrical dexterity is especially therapeutic and refreshing.

A lyric which particularly resonates with me, and that I tend to think of in times of creative doubt, is the namesake of this article, “ADHD, the best and worst thing about me.” Anyone with the condition will understand this feeling. The happiness and joy that comes from an over-imaginative, stimulated mind, being consumed with emotions almost all the time and becomeing completely immersed in the things you love, offset with the pain and difficulty of ‘normality,’ and being unable to switch off. Loyle Carner addresses this feeling, saying that “the difficulty comes from having to fill my days. If I have nothing on that day, I can’t just sit and do nothing.” However, he also addresses that this downside (if it can be classed as such) is what birthed his cooking school, and above all, his music. In an interview with Metro he reaffirmed that ADHD is not a hindrance but a gift. He gave hope to readers who were struggling, expressing “I guess it’s just about showing that if you want to do it, you can do it.”

These artists are just a few of the many who have spoken openly about the struggles and perks of a life with ADHD. Discussions around the disability are still entrenched with outdated stigma and generalisations. Personally, I was diagnosed at sixteen, incredibly late in life for a condition I was born with. I was dismissed as a child, told that I was a distraction and I found the academic system infuriating. The artists that I have spoken about are championing the conversations around ADHD, especially in an industry as far reaching and influential as the music industry. There is still a long way to go regarding treatment, therapy, diagnosis and the understanding of ADHD, but I think that these artists highlight quite beautifully that there is no need to try and fix ADHD, because as Loyle Carner states, “it is not something that needs to be fixed.”

Solange Knowles, American singer, songwriter, performance

a role model for African American Performers with

Emie Grimwood

Photo credits (T-B): Forbes, Pitchfork, The Guardian, The Guardian

Steve Lacy’s rise; From The Internet to TikTok

Good or bad, Steve Lacy has certainly made a habit out of success.

Cool without trying and unapologetically himself, Steve Lacy is that rare brand of slightly weird that just works. From the music he makes to his side projects – see @fitvomit, his fashion focused Instagram account – Lacy consistently creates with ingenuity, while retaining an unmistakable personal brand. Never one to fit in, Lacy’s music lies somewhere in the space between alternative R&B, pop, funk, and indie rock. Yet, despite his genredefying MO, Lacy manages to produce and write songs that represent the zeitgeist again and again, having worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Steve Lacy’s rise to fame is the stuff of movies. Born-and-raised in Compton, Los Angeles, his musical career began at home. After Guitar Hero ignited a love of music, Lacy joined the high school jazz band as a freshman. This is where, at only 16, he caught the eye of Jameel Bruner, a senior who invited Lacy to join his band. And it wasn’t any old high school band but The Internet, the Odd Future affiliated collective, in their very early stages.

It was a whirlwind tale of success after their initial introduction. Lacy became guitarist and producer for The Internet, recording and producing Ego Death almost entirely on his iPhone. At 17, Lacy attended his first Grammy Award Show with The Internet, nonchalantly returning to high school the next day. And, unbeknownst to him, this invitation would become an annual one. Lacy started producing for Kendrick Lamar at just 18 years old and, by the time he could legally buy a drink in the States, he had already worked with the coolest of the cool: Tyler, the Creator, Solange, J. Cole, Blood Orange, Mac Miller, Vampire Weekend…the list goes on.

This time, though, it’s the serial collaborator’s turn to take centre stage. His song ‘Bad Habit’, a genre-bending end-of-summer anthem of youth and yearning, has been pretty much everywhere in recent weeks. The track has altered Lacy’s popularity from cult to mainstream, and the song’s earworm - ‘I wish I knew / I wish I knew you wanted me’ – has been stuck in heads all over the world.

Signing with RCA Records – also representatives of SZA, Kaytranada, Brockhampton, Childish Gambino etc. –was perhaps pre-emptive of Lacy’s newfound level of fame, as was the move from his DIY iPhone/laptop recording process (symptomatic of his early solo work) to a shiny new recording studio. That’s right, Gemini Rights (2022) is Lacy’s first solo album completely recorded in an actual studio, and it shows. It’s still a mish mash of genres, it still spotlights Lacy’s iconic slinky guitar riffs, and it still possesses his cuttingly witty lyrics, but as an album, it is altogether more sleek.

For all its gloss, though, Gemini Rights essentially remains a break-up album. In an interview with GQ Magazine, Lacy describes his most recent venture as a chance to ‘translate my personality into a record, which is what I’m super excited about: This is a conversation with me’. And despite the move to a more professional production process, the intimacy and personality which characterises Lacy’s work is a quality that he retains well into the depths of fame and success. Gemini Rights remains an album centred on the trials and tribulations of youth, and, in spite of his new stardom, Lacy is well on his way to becoming the voice of generation.

It would be impossible to talk about Lacy’s meteoric rise without addressing TikTok. No doubt the belated virality of ‘Dark Red’ on the social media platform in 2021 sparked an increase of Steve Lacy fans, and much of the mania surrounding the artist at the moment can be attributed to ‘Bad Habit’’s popularity as a TikTok sound. However, after a video circulating online that shows the audience failing to sing along beyond the hook of ‘Bad Habit’, many people have questioned the longevity of Lacy’s popularity.

But honestly? To have ‘fake’ fans (or at least ones that don’t know the words) is a symptom of a move into the mainstream. Having a name, or a song, that singularly sells tickets is testament to Lacy’s newfound rockstar status. The fickleness of the mainstream can’t be considered a measure of talent, nor of success. Lacy has been a legend in the background for years now and, now that he’s finally moved to the limelight, he shows no signs of going anywhere.

Bella Wigley

Photo credits (T-B): Paste Magazine, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify

Review: hugo

Fatherhood, Kendrick, and politics

speckle Loyle Carner’s most mature album yet

Known for his jazz-concocted beats and infectious flows, Loyle Carner (real name Benjamin Carner-Loyle) has returned after a long period of recording in the studio during lockdown. Throughout his career, he has established himself as one of the UK’s shiniest stars in rap music; his debut album Yesterday’s Gone (2017) exemplified a lo-fi hip-hop sound. Come 2019, his sophomore effort Not Waving, But Drowning saw him expand into the mainstream with collabs with Jorja Smith and Sampha - no longer just the bedroom classics, forged with the help of producer Rebel Kleff; Loyle Carner instead charted at Number 3 in the UK.

Beginning with appearances, Carner’s de-capitalisation of the title hugo offers a warmer and more affectionate side to the rapper. The cover, featuring a dummy and baby shoes out of focus, showcase the paternalistic side to Coyle-Larner that we continue to see throughout hugo’s ten-track, 34-minute runtime.

hugo begins with the lead singles released in anticipation of the album and these are antithetical to the persona he gained across the years as “the nicest guy in UK rap“. The initial tracks give a heavier tone to the first half of the album, pushing through newer sounds and Madlib beats. ‘Hate’ is frenetic yet has a certain maturity, and after listening to the full album, the line “the man that flew / all away from the sun [son?]” carries a deeper significance.

Track 2, ‘Nobody Knows (Ladas Road)’ was the final lead single in the build-up to hugo, accompanied by an extremely creative music video. Touted by many online as the follow-up to his 2017 smash hit ‘Isle of Arran’, its spiritual successor is laced with that same gospel emphasis. Here, the sampling selection and Kwes’ production shine thorugh, and this is key to Loyle’s progression. The rapper‘s conflicted identity is beautifully showcased and Carner tackles the personal with: “You can’t hate the roots of a tree,/ and not hate the tree./ So how can I hate my father/ without hating me?”, exploding with confidence in his delivery as he does so. This cathartic moment in the song is amplified by the choir in the background, which suddenly assumes the foreground in Loyle’s momentary absence.

Indeed, this is Loyle Carner’s most mature project to date, thanks in no doubt to his latest role as a father in 2020. Nevertheless, this maturity also stems from his noticeable association with poets across the years. ‘Georgetown’ and its music video see him return to his Guyanese roots, accompanied by seminal poet John Agard. Loyle Carner as an artist has dabled in poetry before - Not Waving, But Drowning itself was a Stevie Smith reference and the liner notes were written by Benjamin Zephaniah. This influence can be seen in the poetic hit ‘Speed of Plight’ which contains the syntactical solecism “Ayo I can’t tell if it be only me”, fleshing out on a chorus alongside a magnetically muted bass.

While the later songs signal a break from the maximalism created before, Loyle Carner isn’t afraid to wear his influences on his sleeve. ‘Plastic’, while not perhaps as catchy initially as ‘Speed of Plight’, sounds Thundercatian at times and is a track that listeners are sure to grow into after multiple listens. The slightly nasally chorus from Jnr Williams on ‘Homerton’ felt particularly Kendrick-inflected too (an influence hugo doesn’t shy away from). ‘Blood on My Nikes’ and its line “heart breaks, it was common sense” also harks back to one of Loyle Carner’s favourite hip-hop greats, Common. Again, the refrain “Mama, I lost a friend / … again” sounds like Kendrick on Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers and ‘HGU’‘s final line “hurt people, hurt people” seems to refer to Kendrick’s line about Will Smith on ‘The Heart Part 5’.

Photo credits: The Line of Best Fit

Owen Frost

After an ever-lasting summer, autumn has finally rolled around. Though it can be tempting for many of us to opt for that long list of dark academia fiction we never finished last year (or the year before), October is the perfect time to not only to broaden our horizons and begin reaching for books we might not have thought about reading before, but also to celebrate Black excellence in literature and art. This list is composed of several genres and books that celebrate Black writers, Black history, the Black experience and some amazing Black characters:

TheSecretDiariesofCharlesIgnatiusSancho Paterson Joseph

In TheSecretDiariesofCharlesIgnatiusSancho , Paterson

Joseph re-imagines the life and times of the excellent Black writer and composer in 18th-century London. Like many other Black geniuses, the maverick’s life has been a mystery to many due to historical erasure. This elegantly written book gives the recently named “Great Black Briton” new life, placing him on the pedestal on which he has rightfully earned a spot.

Paterson Joseph has in his historical novel and debut fully inhabited the slave-born Sancho, taking the few known facts and breathed life into him, finally immortalizing him among the stars of literature, language and music.

NotesofaNativeSon James Baldwin

“Black is a terrible color in which to be born into this world,” writes James Baldwin in his autobiographical collection of essays, Notes of a Native Son. The book tackles race issues in both America and Europe, such as traditions for the black man, his own strained relationship with his father, the search for identity and the isolation within the black community. It was his very first non-fiction book and remains, to this day, a modern American classic – deservingly so.

Baldwin is the perfect author to start with once you make the decision to decolonize your bookshelf. Though it’s been a good year or two since I read this book, I remember how his words moved me in a way I cannot describe. These essays allow you to crawl into his fascinating brain as he critiques and narrates his own Black experience during the 1940s and 50s. Be warned that this collection of essays cannot be rushed through. Every moment of bitterness, pain, and unfairness is piercing.

A creator of sympathy and emotion, I’m not entirely sure if Baldwin wrote NotesofaNativeSonas a form of empathic communication between the reader and himself, or if he simply sat down by the typewriter and bled his soul onto the pages. Either way, it is a beautiful book.

TheWomenCouldFly Megan Giddings

“This is the story of the witch who refused to burn. Some people said that there was power in her blood, a gift from her ancestors that she could endure.”

TheWomenCouldFlyis a dystopian novel about Josephine Thomas and her unbreakable bond with her mysterious mother. She theorizes that her mother was kidnapped, perhaps murdered, or that she was a witch. In Josephine’s world, the worst thing a woman, especially a black woman, can be accused of is witchcraft.

Megan Gidding’s novel reminds me of the works of Shirley Jackson and Margaret Atwood in its use of the dystopian in order to provide social commentary. It is a feminist epic that speaks to our current time, whilst also in many ways remaining timeless.

MeandWhiteSupremacy:CombatRacism,Changethe WorldandBecomeaGoodAncestor Layla F. Saad

In the summer of 2018, Layla F. Saad ran a month-long Instagram challenge that became a cultural movement worldwide. People from all over the world used the #meandwhitesupremacy challenge to examine and own responsibility for ways they keep White Supremacy alive.

Now, MeandWhiteSupremacy:A28-DayChallengeto CombatRacism,ChangetheWorldandBecomeaGood Ancestor is a book that takes readers on a journey through white privilege, white supremacy, and how to become a better ally.

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert describes Layla Saad as “…one of the most important and valuable teachers we have right now on the subject of white supremacy and racial injustice.”

The book engages and practically hands readers the right tools to change themselves, their communities, and in turn, the world.

TheyCan’tKillUsAll:TheStoryofBlackLivesMatter Wesley Lowery

TheyCan’tKillUsAllby Wesley Lowery explores the deaths of black men such as Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Freddie Gray at the hands of the police. Through hundreds of interviews over the course of a year, Washington Post writer Wesley Lowery uncovers life inside neglected and heavily policed parts of America in an effort to grasp the response to the brutal deaths of Black men in America.

The book features moments of joy as well as tragedy, but is a great way of learning about and understanding the historical tensions between law enforcement and those they are supposed to protect. It describes many of the key incidents that later led to the internationally recognized #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Babel R.F. Kuang

This one is for those of you who want to see characters of colour properly represented in both fantasy and dark academia.

Babel, the prestigious Institute of Translation at the University of Oxford, is the centre of the world and its knowledge. Robin, who was orphaned in Canton and brought to England like other students at Babel, believes the institution to be a paradise until his eyes are opened and reality is revealed. Should Robin, Ramy, Victoire and Letty, a band of misfits who will never truly fit into the white halls of English academia, defy the institution that has given them language, love and a second chance at life, or should they withstand the ever-growing colonial empire?

I was unsure of whether or not to include this in the list as the writer, R.F. Kuang, is a Chinese-American. However, I’m yet to find a piece of fantasy where the author has put this much effort, intent, research and dedication into getting her characters of colour right, so I will allow this book its own space on the bottom to not take away from the writers above. It is also home to some of the most amazing young characters of colour, which Kuang, with the help of her friends, wrote with detail and compassion. She is one of the few popular fantasy authors who I personally feel writes every character with unmatched intention. Kuang does not toss POC characters in because she feels like she should, rather she creates a setting which cannot exist without them. Babel , despite taking place during the Victorian era, would not be the same without Robin, Victoire and Ramy. In fact, it would simply not be.

Celina Tran

I wake early to sunshine - a perfect morning to complete the Leeds Globe Trail, a trail of ten globes spread across the city in celebration of Black History Month. Similar trails are happening across the country in places like Liverpool, Bristol, and London. Each of the globes represents one of nine themes of discovery, exploring the violent history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its continuing legacy today, as well as celebrating the resilience and achievements of black people across the world. While most of the globes can be found in the city centre and are easy to reach by foot, I decide to take my bike to see the first globe, which is up in Chapeltown’s quiet Norma Hutchinson Park. Rodell Warner’s Liberation is Now stands next to the playground and is painted in boldly in black and white, depicting Africa before the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

I glide down Clay Pit Lane towards Sheepscar, the skyline of Leeds city centre rising before me. The second globe is Earth’s Cradle by artist Mussarat Rahman. Using textured surfaces, Rahman’s work powerfully evokes the pain suffered at the hands of white colonialists, yet he includes, a flame, which in his words burns “eternally for Mother Africa.”

I also notice the inscriptions at the bottom of the globe, giving the name and age of different enslaved Africans, bringing this history back to the surface.

Down in the Merrion Centre, where a few morning shoppers stroll, I pass Marcia Brown’s Church Window of No Return. Using images of stain-glass windows, she highlights how British institutions such as churches benefitted from the exploitation enacted upon enslaved

Africans. Up by the noisy Clay Pitt Park stands Gherdai Hassell’s contrastingly calming piece, Children of the Enterprise, and down towards Cookridge Street, I find Shivanee Ramlochan’s globe, The Sea’s Lament Becomes a Battle Cry, which is covered in black webbing, like the veins of leaves. Her artist statement in form of an extended poem is worth listening to- see the link to the World Reimagined Trail Website at the bottom of the article.

The next three globes are scattered around the Leeds shopping quarterson Briggate, Victoria Arcade and finally Kirkgate Market, and so I park my bike and complete the last part on foot. In Larry Amponsah’s Hold the Line! figures and wound-like blocks of red paint emphasise the violence and systemic inequalities still enacted upon the black population today. The next two globes are celebratory--Kwaku Anokye’s And Into the Future is vibrant, showing people helping each other with yellow dots like suns for heads, and Rosanna Gammon’s Currents in Motion displays soft dapples of green and orange. They look like landscapes as seen from above, out of an airplane window, perhaps illustrating ideas of migration and movement around the world.

I make my way towards the Docks, passing first by globe number nine, Parallel Empires, Ancestral Kingdoms by Emannuel Unaji, honouring the cultures of the African diaspora and their influence on art, music and food around the world.

Finally, I cross the River Aire into Meadow Lane. Ali Elly’s Stitching and

Mending presents a colourful tapestry of different patterns being sewn together. This globe tells the stories of African quilt making in the US under the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and brings the trail to an end, hemming together the last pieces of this story.

The World Reimagined Trail aims to display how we understand the Transatlantic Slave Trade’s impact in the past and present, to create racial justice and stress that this is “not Black History, this is our history.” While the globes are here for a limited time only, the legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade is embedded in Leeds, British and World History must remain in our consciousness beyond this month.

From Monday 19th October, the globes will all be presented on Briggate, however there are still other points of interest on the map for you to discover, such as Equiano’s diary in the Leeds Library or Nesyamun, an Egyptian mummy, in the Leeds City Museum. There are also further globes to explore, designed by primary students from local schools.

Ysanne Cremer

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it:

‘Remake culture’ and the death of creativity in Hollywood

After the success of TheVampireDiaries and True Blood, AMC’s Interview withtheVampire is televison’s newest contribution to the supernatural scene. But the story isn’t, in itself, new. Adapted once already for screen – with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt as troubled plantation owner and anti-hero vampire respectively – this show takes subtext and makes it text; reimagining Anne Rice’s 1976 novel against a backdrop of 1910’s New Orleans debauchery whilst exploring sexuality in a way that the film was too afraid to touch.

This is only the most recent remake amongst a slew of others (but perhaps serves as one of the more rare success stories). It seems that, specifically in the past ten years, cinema and television have become so oversaturated with reboots, biopics and sequels that you’d be hard pressed to find anything that’s not an adaptation or expansion of pre-existing material. But why is Hollywood so obsessed with churning out this type of content? And why, more recently, does it invoke annoyance rather than enjoyment? Media is entirely subjective, and what appeals to one viewer may outrage another. But there seems to be an increasing (justified) frustration with big corporations such as Netflix and Disney, which prioritise profitability over creativity, leaving the state of the movie landscape as something to be desired.

Disney have released ten live-action remakes in as many years (with more to follow) – these just being the direct remakes of cartoons ranging from Alicein Wonderland to Pinocchio, and not counting all their spin-off or prequel concepts such as Maleficentand Cruella . What the latter movies seem to have that the former lack is their unique perspective – we get to see the villain’s origin story rather than the same narrative rehashed, just with people instead of animations. But there’s no doubt that this, too, could get very old very quickly.

Despite what the sudden influx of remakes seems to suggest, the concept of retelling a pre-existing story is not a new one. One of the most popular movies of all time, Brian De Palma’s Scarface(1983), is a reimagining of the 1932 movie of the same name. A Star is Born (2018) has not one, not two, but three predecessors, yet it was nominated for eight Oscars and won one. So, the problem is perhaps not just remakes as a concept –

but remakes for remakes’ sake.

What these aforementioned movies arguably brought to the table is a fresh vision: Al Pacino as the Cuban Tony in flashy 1980’s Miami, rather than the Italian immigrant making his way in post-war Chicago. With the rapid advancements in technology during the 20th century, movies that were originally black and white could be reimagined in vibrant new colour, and other elements such as sound and acting could be refined as the decades progressed. Lady Gaga as Ally was an unexpected move – whilst she briefly starred in American HorrorStory , this was her first major movie role – but one that paid off. The time between film releases could also be a factor – over 40 years had passed since the previous A Star is Born remake, and though there were undoubtedly critics of the newer Scarface when it opened, the issues were more to do with the violence and Cuban stereotypes than comparisons to the previous version.

One advantage of remaking content is the ability to reshape it in the context of a newer, more open-minded society, allowing for more explorative and diverse storylines. The choice of casting Jacob Anderson (most recognisable for his role as Grey Worm in Game ofThrones ) as a closeted Black brothel owner in Interview, was a clever one, as it allows the writers to explore issues of history, race and sexuality which adds an interest and depth that the 1994 film was never able to achieve.

Remaking old films is an easy way for film companies such as Disney to reap big profits without taking big risks: they capitalise off of nostalgia and pre-existing fan-bases without needing to start from scratch or invest in promotion for an entirely new story. They are, in a word, easy: for the corporations, and for us. In seeing a movie remade we are not challenged in any way: we know the plot, we know the characters, all that is asked of us is to sit down and detach for 90 minutes or so. But this, here, is where the danger lies. Not all media has to have a profound impact on our lives – but we should at least enter the cinema with the hopes that it might. And if all that’s being screened is remakes, because Hollywood cares more about income than innovation, we won’t even have the chance.

Florence Heaton

Photo: Everett Collection

TOP FIVE STUDY SPOTS ON CAMPUS

Struggling with productivity? I often find that I can accomplish more when I am studying on campus, away from all the distractions at home. Finding a place to study on a campus as big as the University of Leeds can be difficult, but here are my five favourite places to study on campus:

Common Ground

This is a great place to study in the student union. It has drinks and snacks available as well as charging ports and cute, cosy seating! I also like that it is close enough to the hustle and bustle of the Leeds University Union, whilst far enough away that the noise does not become a distraction when studying. This the ideal place to go if you fancy quiet but not silent studying!

Edward Boyle Library

The best thing about the Edward Boyle Library is the huge amount of seating it has inside. Studying in Eddy B means that you can choose from a wide range of study space options, from single desk spaces to comfy chairs, to group spaces! You are also surrounded by an extensive amount of library resources, Eddy B is filled with

books, computers and printers, so you have everything you need to study successfully.

You are also surrounded by an extensive amount of library resources, Eddy B is filled with books, computers and printers, so you have everything you need to study successfully.

The Edit Room

Attached to the Edward Boyle Library, the Edit Room is a lovely café that is the perfect spot to get some work done while grabbing a bite to eat. Located on the ground floor of the Library, this is a central and accessible space that benefits from all the library resources that make Edward Boyle so brilliant. The Edit Room is a livelier and more relaxed environment than being in the library itself.

Laidlaw Library

Laidlaw library is a great place to study for all the same reasons as the Edward Boyle. It has all the same resources: computers, charging ports, printers, a range of desk spaces and loads of books to choose from! As well as

this, Laidlaw Library also has a Café Nero located on the ground floor, so when you need a break from studying you can go downstairs and grab yourself a drink and a snack!

Balcony

This is my favourite place to study on campus! On the top floor of the LUU, this study space is the perfect balance of quiet and nosy as it overlooks the Refectory. Tucked away on the second floor of the LUU, Balcony is the perfect place to hang around campus and study between lectures! It also has charging ports and a cute cafe area where you can grab a drink and some food while you study!

So, whether you’re looking to smash out as much work as possible, or have a more chilled and sociable study session with friends, there are no shortage of spaces to help you on your way!

How progressive is Strictly really?

Strictly Come Dancing is back… and so are the controversies.

With all its glitz and glamour, Strictly Come Dancing has returned to cosily ease our passage into the dark, winter nights with a touch of sparkle. But among the sequins and the fake tan, is the ultimate Saturday night in escapism provoking some thought-provoking social commentaries?

Along with the heel leads, Strictly is making steps towards equality and inclusion showing that, as head judge, Shirley Ballas, puts it: “we can all do what we love”. Stars such as Paralympian, Ellie Simmonds, and deaf actress, Rose Ayling-Ellis, have captured the nation’s hearts. Ayling-Ellis’ success in winning the prestigious Glitterball trophy is proof that Strictly is moving towards offering more inclusive inspiration.

The recent inclusion of same-sex partnerships further demonstrates Strictly’s push for equality. Such partnerships are, in fact, a much truer reflection of the real world of Ballroom and Latin competitions. “Same-sex partnerships, particularly female-female pairings, are extremely common on the University Dance Circuit” says Ben Jones, President of Leeds University Dancesport Society. Due to the lack of male dancers, the encouragement of these partnerships means that women can compete when they would not have otherwise had the opportunity to do so.

“If Ballroom dancing is to survive,”’ he says. “it must be open and accessible to all. Its adaptation to the modern

age should not be feared, but rather embraced.”

An image Ben drew my attention to was that of Terpsichore, the Greek muse of dance whose name literally means: “Delight in Dancing”. I think it is worth reminding viewers that this is exactly what we have seen in Richie and Giovanni’s quickstep and in Jayde and Karen’s Flashdance inspired routine. Their dancing encapsulates what Strictly is all about: embracing the rhythm of the music, abandoning fear and leaving inhibitions at the door.

Unfortunately, this liberal mindset does not seem to extend to many of the young female contestants who possess the confidence to match their talent. Year after year, the voting public seem strangely disengaged with certain self-assured women and find their pride unappealing. Alexandra Burke, for example, consecutively found herself in the bottom two during the 2017 series and received harmful comments from online trolls, despite being a captivating dancer at the top end of the leaderboard. In 2020, Eastenders’ star Maise Smith, who was just 19 at the time, found herself in the same situation despite repeatedly receiving near perfect scores from the judges. This year I fear that we are to experience dancing déjà vu as performer Fleur East also found herself in the dance-off in Movie Week.

But isn’t being confident in our own abilities, to avoid losing ourselves in a spiral of self-doubt, exactly what we are trying to teach the next generation, whose low self-esteem we are already concerned about?

Of course, arrogance is certainly not what we are aiming for, but neither is the excessive praising of humility to the point of losing sight of our own self-worth. Why then, I ask, are we still criticising the women who show the very qualities that we are intending to endorse?

Notwithstanding these concerns, there is no doubt that Strictly brings a simple yet magical feeling of comfort and happiness to millions of viewers around the country each week with its sparkle, shimmer and smiles. It is a celebration of dance and the joy that it brings, and, I, for one, cannot wait to keep watching… and “Keep Dancing!”

Jessica George

Grace Patterson

Photo: Aliya Haciyeva, Freepic

A Grand Day Out in Yorkshire: The Guide

Starting my third year in Leeds, I know how easy it is to feel trapped in Hyde Park. With our busy schedules, we find ourselves never venturing further than Headingley Bakery 164. However, this year, I am determined to break out of the student bubble and explore more of Yorkshire.

It’s amazing what some fresh air and a few sheep can do for your mental health, so I urge you to explore a bit too! With that being said, here are three towns that are well worth a visit; all less than an hour’s train ride away from Leeds.

1. Firstly, Knareborough is the perfect destination for a day out. A return ticket from Burley Park station for £9.80 will get you there in forty-five minutes. A must-see is Knaresborough castle; a ruined Medieval fortress standing above the town. From here, you get a spectacular view of the winding river, which is overlooked by an impressive seventeenth-century viaduct. During summer, you can rent boats for only £8! Although, it’s entertaining enough watching everyone crash into each other as they learn to row for the first time. You could also factor in a visit to Mother Shipton’s Cave and her Petrifying Well if you fancy stretching out your day trip. And as a bonus, you might even get your fortune told! However, there is plenty to see in the town itself, including independ ent shops, art galleries, pubs and cafes.

HOW TO COPE WITH Autumn Anxiety

As the winter months draw closer, we start to lose some of the British summer sun. People begin folding up their sunbeds, packing up their barbecues, wrapping up warm, and spending a great deal of time indoors. Many experience a feeling of anxiety in the Autumn, which can be down to reasons such as: changing of the seasons, the loss of ‘summer,’ and nerves towards the festive season. You may feel anxious, irritable, and tired. Know that you are not alone, as these are all very common things felt by those struggling. These feelings often go unspoken about, as we only ever hear about seasonal depression in the winter and summer months. Here are a few ways that you can support yourself, and others, through this time (including some funky and creative ways to spend your time).

Getting more sun

Just because we are missing the warmth of the summer, does not mean that it is healthy to always stay inside. Even though it sometimes may feel difficult, exposure to sunlight or even fresh air throughout the entire year is one of the best ways to maintain mental and physical wellness. Sunlight boosts your serotonin and vitamin D, a lack of which has been proven to be one of the biggest culprits

2. Harrogate is an attractive Victorian spa town that is also worth seeing. It is only a 29-minute train ride away from Burley Park and so is perfect for a shorter afternoon out. The Royal Pump Room Museum is a beautiful building and offers a bit of history for those wanting to learn about Harrogate’s heritage. Harrogate also has a wide selection of independent shops to mooch around, with SPACE Vintage and Retro having a great selection of bric-a-brac, ranging from old DS games to vintage coats! Alternatively, my housemates and I found ourselves on an unintended café crawl on our last visit, which I would highly recommend!

3. Finally, Ilkley offers the opportunity for a superb Sunday day out: a hike up to Ilkley Moor followed by a hearty pub lunch. Ilkley is also easy to get to with an £8 return ticket from Leeds station. The hike up to the Cow and Calf Rocks is worth it for the scenic view over Ilkley and the rolling Yorkshire hills. Furthermore, Ilkley has a plethora of pubs to choose from to have a well-deserved Sunday roast that will put your flat’s Christmas dinner to shame.

While Hyde Park and its aroma of stale cigarettes and old beer holds a special place in my heart, a wholesome day out is always needed after a week of lectures and one too many nights out.

KATHRYN MEE

in seasonal ‘blues’. If you feel up to it, try and get outside today, even if it is just a walk to the shop.

Take yourself on a solo ‘date’

As the saying goes, you are often your own best company. If you’re wanting to spend some time alone, or your friends aren’t around, don’t feel like you have to stay indoors.Whynot grab a quick coffee at one of Hyde Park’s many cafes, buy a new book from Waterstones, or see a new film at the Hyde Park Picturehouse. If you’re short of ideas, the University of Leeds Union Instagram uploads places to visit around campus, daily. There are plenty of things to do solo!

Go Pumpkin picking!

What better way to celebrate autumn’s arrival and ‘spooky season’ than by visiting a pumpkin farm! Take a day trip to pick out a pumpkin, and return home for a night of carving, seasonal films, and your favourite snacks. Even better, it is often a relatively cost-effective day’s worth of entertainment, what a bonus!

Have a cosy movie night

Staying at home doesn’t have to feel sad. Grab yourself your favourite food, wheth er that be home cooked, ready made, or a takeaway, and have a cosy night in, Whether it be your favourite comfort films or listening to a podcast. Lift your spirits by taking some much-needed R+R.

Take a walk

It may sound simple but choosing to stretch your legs outdoors can really boost your mood. If you usually take the bus, consid

er walking instead. Some of my favourite areas include; Woodhouse Moor and Meanwood Valley Trail.

Enjoy a drink

If you’re a fan of a drink every now and then, consider going to a pub, or perhaps a winter beer garden. It’s a great way to socialise, meet new people, take off some tension, and relax.

Most importantly, do not feel afraid to reach out if you are struggling. Sometimes, it is not as simple as getting out of the house, even though the challenge may be beneficial for you. Speak to others about how you feel, and if necessary, contact professionals.

Never struggle alone.

MIA STAPLETON

Fashion Friends OR Fashion Foes?

Lil Nas X & Harry Styles

After serving look after look, night after night on his tour, the unforgettable and unmissable Vogue cover, and his partnership with Gucci, I think it’s fair to say that Harry Styles has been making pretty significant waves in the fashion industry. However, despite how good he looks (and boy, does he look GOOD), we must remind ourselves that he is not the only male artist who plays around with their masculinity through their clothing. Rapper and musician Lil Nas X has, if you look closely enough, a rather similar sense of expression as Harry. Both artists explore gender fluid fashion, not forcing themselves to conform to a specific style, and both understand that clothes have no gender. Unfortunately, and rather unfairly for him, the reactions from the public, from the internet, and from general passers-by have not been quite as welcoming and uplifting as the one Harry has received. And we can’t help but ask: would Lil Nas X’s fashion choices be more accepted if he was white?

Furthermore, both Harry and Lil Nas have their own collaborations with luxury brands: Harry leading his Gucci campaign and Lil Nas becoming the face of the new Coach collaboration. However, whilst Harry (and Gucci) were met with excitement, pride, and a dose of intrigue from the public, Lil Nas was met predominantly with talks of boycotting the brand, with upset from many people, and with nowhere near as much hype as Harry got. It would be unfair to say that Harry’s fashion choices and decisions have always been plain sailing, and it must be said that he has received his own fair share of backlash, but his race never played into the complaints and negativity. We all remember Candace Owens’ own ‘bring back manly men!’ complaint, but it is important to remember that whilst receiving the same sexist remarks Harry was receiving, Lil Nas X was also getting racist abuse hurled his way, along with unbelievably homophobic responses online. One scroll through TikTok comments will show how negatively people reacted, with people saying the collaboration had “dark satanic vibes” and questioning why Coach would choose “such a demonic person.” It is pretty clear that these comments were made solely due to Lil Nas’ race, as the teddy bear designs he has on select items of the collection are far from demonic or satanic.

One of the most interesting aspects of this, is that if you do even a little bit of research, you’ll find that Harry and Lil Nas have made more than one similar fashion choice. So, the question to be asked is: why do people act as if Harry is the first man to openly wear a dress? People like Billy Porter, and Lil Nas have been showing their ‘feminine’ and androgynous sides for a lot longer than Harry Styles, but their choices and their fashion statements appear to be overlooked, and all the credit, glory, and praise seems to have been credited to a white man. The nuances of the situation are, of course, slightly more complex than I have made it seem, but if you break it down, ultimately, part of the reason for Harry’s predominantly positive response is because of his race.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time the media response to a white person’s fashion choice has been vastly different to the response to similar fashion statements made by black people. It is also not the first time that white people have been awarded credit for ideas that were already executed by black people. There is still such a strong imbalance between media responses and reactions to black fashion and white fashion, and when you take a look at it closely, you can see that the similarities are often so strong, bordering on imitation. The backlash hurled at black communities, artists, models, and celebrities who generally take interest in fashion, mysteriously disappear when a white person decides it’s fashionable or trendy.

At the end of the day, both of these artists are revolutionizing the fashion industry, and are proving to people that they can wear what they want, however they want. It is just a shame that Lil Nas doesn’t get the same praise and positivity as Harry often gets, and can’t feel the pride he should feel for the difference he is making.

ANISHA THAKUR

Rihanna: Pop Princess to Fashion and Beauty Mogul

Rihanna. For most of us, the name triggers echoes of the iconic early 2000s songs that we all know and love. Her empowering pop music has an undeniable universality about it, guaranteeing everyone up and dancing at a party. But more recently, Rihanna has become known for much more than her brilliant music. Six years (and counting) without a new music release and Rihanna has still managed to remain hyper relevant. Becoming a pioneering figure in fashion and beauty, her empire has allowed her to maintain her space in popular culture.

Being surrounded by makeup throughout her career, Rihanna saw a huge gap in the market for base makeup which correctly matched deeper skin tones. The lack of products available for people of colour was problematic and astoundingly ignored. As a black woman herself, Rihanna was extremely aware of these issues, and so in 2017 Fenty Beauty was born. Priding themselves on inclusivity, Fenty Beauty released a foundation which had 40 different shades in their first drop, which has since expanded to 50 shades. Rihanna put long-standing, established beauty brands to shame, paving the way for inclusivity in the beauty industry.

Fenty Beauty completely changed the game, shaking up the beauty scene from their initial launch. The few cosmetic brands who continue to only stock a small shade range are simply regarded as tone-deaf and undoubtedly make fewer sales than those who followed in Fenty’s footsteps. This change was overdue. It would not be an overstatement to say that Rihanna single-handedly transformed the beauty industry. Using makeup, Rihanna addressed the deeper-rooted issues present within Western culture more broadly. She put a spotlight on the blatant exclusion of black people from the world of makeup, illuminating the fact that this acted as a microcosm for their dismissal from other realms too.

Following the complete success of Fenty Beauty, Rihanna’s mission of inclusion and black visibility didn’t stop there. In 2018, Rihanna announced the launch of her new lingerie brand Savage x Fenty. Recognising the unrealistic beauty standards upheld by the fashion industry and perpetuated by mainstream lingerie brands, Savage x Fenty was designed to make everyone feel empowered. The runway launch show at New York Fashion Week showcased a range of women which (unlike most runway shows) placed an onus on representation. When asked how she came up with the concept for the show, Rihanna said:

‘I wanted to include every woman. I wanted every woman on the stage with different energies, different races, body types, different stages in their womanhood, culture. I wanted women to feel celebrated and that we started this shit. We own this. This is our land because really it is. Women are running the world right now and it’s too bad for men.’

Rihanna’s mission to make beauty and fashion accessible to everyone is impactful and ongoing. She is using her platform to undo the damaging work of centuries of over-exclusivity in the fashion and beauty industries. She has redefined what it means to be an empowered woman. In 2021, Forbes named Rihanna the ‘wealthiest female musician in the world’, estimating her net worth at $1.7 billion. Rihanna has become a billionaire through her choice to utilise her fame to promote inclusion and include minority groups in conversations from which they have previously been ignored. Rihanna emulates a feeling that she is rooting for everyone. Regardless of your race, gender, sexual orientation or body type, you are never made to feel as though Rihanna’s products aren’t for you.

Image credit: Instagram @badgalriri

Does Ye have a way back?

It gets harder to defend Kanye West every day. This time, however, it would be wrong, and quite frankly impossible, to look to defend the off-kilter fashion and music mogul.

As the sun began to set in Paris on 3rd October, the pop-culture polymath, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) prepared to debut Yeezy Season 9 in Paris’ 8th arrondissement. However, the clothes, co-designed by Yeezy and Hood By Air founder Shayne Oliver, paled in comparison to what Ye had to say and wear to the show. The music and fashion tycoon turned up to the off-calendar runway presentation for his ninth Yeezy collection in a long-sleeve T-shirt; printed on the back were the words “white lives matter” – a hate slogan, used by the KKK, the Aryan Renaissance Society and other white supremacist groups to facilitate racial hate.

It seems to me that in undertaking this strange, political stunt, Ye has unashamedly turned his back on the disenfranchised black community, for whom he claims to be a voice – his music certainly speaks to the support of disempowered African Americans. Impact art also has itsplace within Ye’s music discography; most recently, setting fire to an exact replica of his childhood home on stage, to signify finally moving on from his late mother’s death…but this goes beyond that. There is a fine line between shocking people through the power of art and causing irreparable damage to various sections of society, and this seems to have only accomplished the latter. In the wake of the incident, past friend, and previous employee of Ye’s, Tremaine Emory (also the current creative director of Supreme) referred to the billionaire as a “Judas Goat” whose intention is to “lead sheep to the slaughter”. Emory is not wrong in the slightest – Ye is clearly abusing his enormous influence over the masses, a lot of whom are likely to be highly impressionable.

So, the question everyone had to ask was why? Just why would Ye, who does not struggle for relevance one bit, throw away his hard-won cultural clout for the sake of headlines being made about him? The obvious answer might be that “controversy sells”, and “bad publicity is better than no publicity at all”. This is something Donald J. Trump (for whom Ye has been a fervent supporter for some time) touched on in his book The Art of the Deal. Ye himself wouldn’t be blind to this notion, but he also wouldn’t have been oblivious to the damage that he was inevitably going to do through this feat. However, in a 20-minute interview with Clique TV, Ye’s explanation for the t-shirt was that: “at a certain point, it felt like I saw white people wearing Black Lives Matter shirts like they were doing me such a favour by reminding me that my life mattered […] so, I thought I’d return the favour to let white people know that their life mattered too”. Make sense? I thought not.

If the fact that Ye sported the t-shirt on the world stage wasn’t bad enough, it was also reported that the horrific shirts were being handed out by Yeezy to the homeless on Skid row, Los Angeles – North America’s biggest homeless village. Not only is this extremely exploitative, using those in need of clothes as the vessels for such an awful message, but it also puts the homeless in a position of danger and risk of harm. A bigger concern, though, is if Yeezy Season 9 goes into mass production, resulting in the White Lives Matter shirts being sold to consumers which then becomes a moral concern in itself. The very clothes that we pick out of our wardrobe in the morning are an expression of ourselves, however interested in the art of fashion one may be. Therefore, having the statement emblazoned onto a shirt cannot be understood in some sort of abstract, artistic sense or considered as an ironic, political declaration, like Ye supposedly intended. In the fashion industry, and the world more broadly, our words always have consequences, and evil utterances from hate groups should never be downplayed for the intention of so-called ‘fashion’ – especially during Black History Month, when the aim should be to elevate repressed black voices, not diminish them.

So back to the question – does Ye have a way back? The answer is yes, he does. Yeezy was last valued at around $4.7 billion, meaning the goliath company is not going anywhere anytime soon. Ye himself has also recently acquired the conservative social media platform Parler, which supposedly champions freedom of speech – meaning his extreme bigotry will be allowed a voice. In that case, this recent controversy begs the question: what would it really take to fully ‘quit’ Ye?

CHARLES LAKE

Enigma

Medium

Nanograms

The rules

Your aim in these puzzles is to colour the whole grid in to black and white squares or mark with X. Beside each row of the grid are listed the lengths of the runs of black squares on that row. Above each column are listed the lengths of the runs of black squares in that column.

These numbers tell you the runs of black squares in that row/column. So, if you see ‘10 1’, that tells you that there will be a run of exactly 10 black squares, followed by one or more white square, followed by a single black square. There may be more white squares before/after this sequence. If you see 0 (zero) it means - “I’m not telling you how many squares”, so a column/row can contain any number of squares or gaps.

Sudoku

By Eve Weisz

Britain and the Whitewashing of Black History

Tharushi Wijesiriwardena

As a society, our understanding and appreciation of Black history is often limited to discussions on slavery or the American civil rights movement. Particularly during this time of year, classrooms and media are filled with stories of black resilience: of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, or of Black suffering: Transatlantic slavery, or the thousands killed in mass lynchings. Though we should recognise the importance of such tragedies and acknowledge the personal impacts of systemic racism, it is important to broaden our understanding of Black history.

Black history did not begin with the transatlantic slave trade, and it did not end with the civil rights act, however, it is continually defined through a Eurocentric lens or referred to as something of a bygone era. Taking selfies with picket signs and posting black squares, though highly questionable, does represent a new era of activism. The murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement that ensued was for some, an enlightening reminder that racism still exists. Especially in the UK, education tends to promote the narrative that we are a homogenous group, a ‘melting pot of cultures’ in an era post-racism. But racial prejudice (and the classism closely intertwined with it) remains a huge obstacle.

In the UK, Black history is taught as a 20th Century American problem – generally failing to acknowledge the racial atrocities that continue to occur in America and neglecting the racial injustices that happen in our own country. Britain has never been an innocent bystander in colonialist history, but omitting our lived history prevents students from understanding the pervasive nature of class and race in British politics.

The Windrush scandal, the lack of investigation into Grenfell, and the recent police-murder of Chris Kaba in southwest London are all moments that continue to define Black history in the UK.

Today, in the UK, people that are Black, Asian or of minority ethnicities are twice as likely to die in police custody, five times more likely to die during pregnancy and over twice as likely to live in poverty when compared to their white counterparts.

Particularly in the US, the displacement of Black people caused by slavery has prevented many from knowing or appreciating their heritage. In recent history, African Americans have formed a culture of their own, which is in many ways sculpted through the prejudices and violence they have faced over the years. Reforming education and going beyond viewing American black history through a solely Eurocentric lens would be a step towards offering African Americans the rich and extensive history that they are entitled to.

The colonialist perception that the rest of the world lived in primitive mud huts with troglodytic customs, is wildly incorrect: architecture and culture in ancient Africa was extremely sophisticated, rich, and diverse; from the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, which were inspired by ancient Nubian architecture, to ‘Tichitt Walata’, the world’s oldest collection of settlements, predating the Ghanaian Empire. During the 13th century, the neighbouring Mali empire had several striking cities with palaces, mosques and universities that homed many renowned Islamic poets and scholars. The Dogon tribe in Mali had sophisticated and complex understandings of space: they knew of Saturn’s

rings, Jupiter’s moons, and the structure of the milky way as far back as 3200 BC, centuries before many of these discoveries could be confirmed by the west in the 19th century.

The NASUWT teachers union, advocates for such education on African history to be included when discussing black history in schools. Michelle Codrington-Rogers, the first black national president of NASUWT stated that they have a responsibility to “change the narrative that Black people only have a history of enslavement and colonisation”.

“We have a responsibility to be inclusive for all of our students and this starts with us ensuring that there is black visibility for our children and young people. Not just Black children, but all children. It is crucial to recognise that Black history is all of our history.” - Michelle Codrington-Rogers, first black national president of NASUWT.

In the UK, reforming education on Black history means actually including the (unfortunately quite large) segments of history where Britain was an active perpetrator. After the death of Queen Elizabeth, the media was filled with overwhelming praise for the monarch, with extremely little mention of her colonialist past. This whitewashing of history and culture of silence around racial issues further minimises the effect British history has had on the rest of the world. Cultures, economies, and geopolitics around the world are still reeling from the impact of colonisation, and the least that the British education system can do is acknowledge it.

Image: Unsplash.com

Writer Tharushi Wijesiriwardena explores the whitewashing of Black history in Britain and further.

Iranian University Students Start Nationwide Protests

Ada Dajani

died and countless injuries have been reported.

The UN and human rights organizations speculate that the number is likely far higher. Mere days ago, an Iranian school girl was beaten to death for abstaining from singing the national anthem.

The basic demands of the protestors are simple; women should have the right to choose whether they wish to wear the hijab or not. At a deeper level, protesters long for a regime change from the authoritarian, theocratic Islamic Republic.

Since the Iranian of 1979, is has been mandatory for Iranian women to wear the hijab. Iran’s ‘morality police’ enforce the regulations, being tasked with penalizing those who violate Islamic dress code.

support of Mahsa Amini even while donning a hijab”. With anti-Islamic sentiment becoming an ever-pressing problem, Muslim activists have expressed fears that the protests have been misconstrued in the west as statements against Islam and the hijab, rather than the Iranian regime.

In 2020/21 there were 830 Islamophobic hate crimes recorded in London alone. Roshan stated that she “worried that the focus has shifted from the actual issue to the unveiling of the hijab”.

We in the West must do all we can to support Iranian women, championing any woman’s right to choose.

On September 16th 2022, Mahsa Amini was arrested for ‘improperly’ wearing her hijab. Three days later, she died after being beaten into a coma by Iran’s morality police.

Iranian authorities have claimed that Mahsa Amini died from ‘natural causes’, publicly airing a video of her collapsing in a police station as ‘evidence’.

Shouting the words “Women, Life, Freedom” or the Kurdish, “Zan, zendegi, azadi”. Iranian women and men have taken to the streets in protest. Many women have burned their Hijab’s or cut their hair in an act of defiance against the regime. Burning images of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has also been a commonplace display of rebellion.

At least 40 protestors have been confirmed to have

Authorities have dismissed the protest, dubbing them ‘riots’. Iranian official Ali Khan-Mohammadi issued a statement, stating that the activists supported “the enemy” and “combatted the Islamic Republic’s hijab rules in various ways”. More than 300 activists have been arrested. Meanwhile, state-controlled media and internet blackouts desperately strive to quell growing discontent amongst Iranian people.

The protests have rapidly gained global traction. People across the globe have stood in solidarity with Iran, staging protests in their own countries.

Activists in India, where the hijab is banned in educational institutions, have been keen to voice their solidarity with Iranian women. President of the National Federation of Girls Islamic Organization in India, Sumaiya Roshan, explained how “[she] can still stand in

Should Labour Fully Commit to Proportional Representation?

Alexandra Packer

In blaring red, Labour’s manifesto is clear. Labour is ‘for the many, not the few’. Yet Keir Starmer has been clear that he will not back electoral reform for general election voting systems, despite delegates at Labour’s annual party conference voting in favour of a manifesto commitment to Proportional Representation.

The surge of support towards Proportional Representation (PR) could be credited to Labour supporters’ frustrations with the First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system. Since 1935, single-party ‘majority’ governments have governed near constantly, yet these ‘majority’ governments have never actually been voted for by a majority of the UK’s voting population. In this way, the FPTP voting system stifles the UK government’s democratic duty to reflect who has genuinely been voted for and chosen to represent the public in an accurate and politically diverse government. Furthermore, FPTP encourages voter apathy in safe seats where votes for anything other than the constituency’s traditional winner seem unlikely to count.

However, a more likely story for Labour supporters running to the call of PR is the 12 straight years of

Tory rule that has undoubtedly cast fears of a de facto one-party system. Labour no longer seems to have the pull on votes as it used to, and a switch to PR could be the right political calculation to put Labour seats in government. With over half of people in the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey recently voting that they want the electoral system changed and affiliated Trade Unions now supporting the motion, it’s clear Starmer’s opinion is the minority.

Starmer’s qualms may come from the disincentive of PR promoting coalition governments. However, with the Labour Party still split on what their aims truly are, the mass campaigning and tactical voting that could come about from a commitment to PR incentivising Green and Liberal Democrat voters could be exactly what Labour needs to win after their steady plateau in recent years (bar Corbyn’s rogue 2017 spike).

But, as the Tories sink further into the churning waters of a government embroiled in the Covid-19 scandal and economic chaos under Truss, it seems Starmer’s lack of commitment to PR comes from hopes that

Labour will sail smoothly into the rarely-sighted port of a Labour majority at the next General Election. Whether that’s as presumed in 2025 or sooner with a petition to remove Liz Truss recently reaching a sizeable 500,000 signatures. Starmer’s declared stance of a switch to PR not being a ‘priority’ makes it clear he believes Labour can achieve this without the last dash to a system that would transpose divided Labour votes into more seats.

However PR, in its nature, would decentralise what has been standard for UK politics in recent years and help to displace the powerful elites that have reigned under the FPTP system that fundamentally discourages change. By committing to PR, Starmer would show that Labour’s next manifesto is going to truly represent the UK in all its political diversity and vibrancy, and that Starmer himself respects the democratic rights of Labour voters. If he will not cooperate with the opinions of Labour delegates, it does not bode well for an already ideologically fissured Labour Party.

If Labour is ‘for the many’ – shouldn’t Starmer put that which ‘the many’ plead for into action?

Image: Flickr

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Enough is Enough: National Day of Action Protest in Leeds

Gabriel Kennedy

On the 1st of October, protesters nationwide braved the rain and took to the streets in a day of action organised by the Enough is Enough campaign to challenge the growing cost of living crisis. The rally marched from the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ (RMT) picket line at Leeds Train Station on to protest outside the British Gas offices. Later, protestors moved on to support the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) picket down at the Royal Mail Holbeck delivery office. The protest made a clear point of showing the interconnectedness of industrial action and the cost of living crisis, as well as the failures of national leadership.

Outside the British Gas offices in Holbeck, protestors symbolically burned energy bills, energy company logos and fake money. During their speeches, union representatives and protestors denounced profiteering by energy, rail and postal companies amid record profits. The Regional Coordinator for the campaign described the volumes of people they’d met struggling to meet their bills and put food on the table despite working 60-hour weeks. As energy companies continue to see high profits and shareholders rake in enormous bonuses, the Coordinator saw the causes of the cost of living crisis as very simple:

atmosphere was one of a shift away from complacency toward taking action after having put up with far too much. Saturday’s protest brought together a variety of people of different ages and from different backgrounds to challenge the status quo and fight for a better standard of living. One protester discussed how they hadn’t protested other issues they felt strongly about - such as Brexit - but that things had got so bad that they had no choice but to come out into the street. They described how the looming presence of the cost of living crisis had become unavoidable, and everyone had been affected by it – they themself having to seriously reevaluate their bills and cutting back on their spending. They felt shocked, coming from a line of union activists from the 1926 General Strike to Yorkshire miners in the 1980s, that today things would still be this bad.

Saturday’s protest emphasised the importance of solidarity and mutual support in the face of the growing crisis and its turnout across the country highlights the growth of discontent that only seems to be growing as we head into what will certainly be a difficult winter.

Strikers on picket lines at both the train station and delivery office were met with an outpouring of support and solidarity from protestors who came to lend their numbers to the picket and hear their grievances. At the delivery office in “Hellbeck” – so-called by Royal Mail management due to their total unionisation and refusal

picketers were cheered by the crowd in support of their fight for an inflation-line pay-rise and the continuation of their worker protections. This was emblematic of the nationwide wave of industrial action set to continue throughout the winter. The increased rate of striking and worker militancy, especially in the face of government threats against union organisation, has been clearly and deliberately linked to the fight against the cost of living crisis by this protest, with great support from its attendees. A regular chant from protestors throughout the rally was:

Gabriel Kennedy

Gabriel Kennedy joined the ‘Enough is Enough’ protesters demanding policy change in response to the Cost of Living Crisis.

It’s just putting profit above everything else isn’t it? It’s greed.

Every strike, every time, we’ll be on the picket line!

Image: Gabriel Kennedy

Improving Diversity and Inclusion in Industry

Alicia Kaye

In honour of Black History Month, I’m here to keep the conversation going surrounding diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Over recent years, this conversation has gained a lot more attention, but the more people that are talking, the better. People of the BAME community have been provided with less opportunities than those that aren’t of an ethnic minority. For example, in 2015 it was found that only 10% of the workforce were BAME individuals, and only 6% held top management positions (The McGregor Smith Review). Not only does a conversation need to be had, and awareness be raised, but actions need to take place to end this inequality.

I recently had the pleasure of having two guest speakers in a lecture, Ester Jamera and Tregson Davies, who came to discuss with us their experience in the workplace as part of the BAME community and how they had seen it change over time. Ester, a Senior Project Nurse at the NHS, qualified in 2009. In 2016, surveys identified that ethnic minorities were having a much different experience to others. Ester began to make a change by raising awareness of the issues in her workplace, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing as the challenges had gone unnoticed for so long.

After the the pandemic and the death of George Floyd, more people were able to see the reality of the inequalities being faced, and Ester was able to set up a group for black and ethnic minority staff - a safe space where they were able to share their experiences. This was a space where people could be heard, and being in a senior position allowed Ester to pass these messages on to management to ensure everyone’s needs could be catered for. On top of this, Ester wrote a book about some of the stories she was told, ‘Amplifying Voices, Mending Divides’. Ester described the stories as being ‘difficult and hard to hear’, but with her main goal being to raise awareness for the BAME community, she didn’t back down to the task; instead faced it head on to be the voice for people that were not being heard.

Tregson works for the RBSNatwest bank. He initially began working in insurance, followed by commercial banking and now has the position of Assistant Relationship Director in corporate banking. Tregson had a somewhat similar experience to Ester, when he joined the diversity and inclusion committee, so he too could speak of his experiences being part of the BAME community and also listen to others’ experiences.

In doing so, Tregson was able to help the bank understand more about diversity and inclusion and represent everyone that was a customer of the bank, rather than assuming all customers had the same background and didn’t have various needs that were to be catered for. In a business such as corporate banking, representation for all communities is is a necessity, as customers need to have trust in the people that are managing their accounts. An example of one of Tregson’s successes in helping the bank become more diverse was being part of a mentoring scheme where an individual from a minority group is partnered with a senior in the bank, allowing them a pathway into a higher role and the ability to expand their career. Schemes like this are powerful, and are what can assist in the increase of the low percentage of BAME individuals in top management positions, allowing everyone to have equal opportunities.

The moral here, and the message that both Ester and Tregson thought was important, is that anyone, from any background, should converse about equal opportunities for their peers, whether it be in the workplace, at university or just at home.

Celebrating Forgotten Scientists

Henrietta Lacks

The story of Henrietta Lacks and her family is unfortunately one of many accounts where science and medicine have disenfranchised people in ethnic minorities. Their experience is a reminder of the importance of ethics in science and to remember people who were key to progress, as well as the injustice they faced, to ensure such maltreatment is not repeated.

In 1951, 31-year-old Henrietta Lacks, a mother of 5,, was diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer (specifically an adenocarcinoma). She was treated in Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, one of the only hospitals nearby that treated black people. As was standard practice of the time, Mrs Lacks was treated with radium (brachytherapy) and discharged from the hospital, with instructions to return for later X-ray treatments.

During these treatments, her cancerous cells were taken and given to cancer researchers at Johns Hopkins, without her knowledge or consent. In the hospital labs, it became apparent these cells were unusual. Where other human cell cultures did not survive long in laboratories, Henrietta’s cells were ‘immortal’, dividing fast and capable of living in vitro.

These cells were named HeLa, after Henrietta Lacks and have contributed to numerous discoveries in biomedical research, including development of the polio vacine, HPV vaccine, IVF and COVID-19 Henrietta’s cells are estimated to have saved millions of lives worldwide. However, the use and sale of these cells has given mass profit to pharmaceutical companies, not a penny reaching her family who could not afford healthcare themselves, and only became aware about the existence of HeLa cells 20 years after her passing. Over the years, more recognition has been given to Henrietta and the circumstances around HeLa cells is becoming better known. Nonetheless, there have been many occasions where the Lacks family have been let down by science, or information has been published without consent and without consulting her family first. The family are still yet to receive any financial compensation from companies profiting off HeLa cells, and this is a central argument in the field of tissue rights. More can be learnt about this story in ‘The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks’ by Rebecca Skloot.

Onesimus

In 1721, after a ship from Barbados arrives with passengers infected with smallpox, the inhabitants of Boston, USA, find themselves in the middle of a smallpox outbreak. With almost half of the 11,000 people in the area affected by the disease, this rapidly became one of the worst smallpox epidemics the city had ever seen.

A breakthrough only occurred when physician Zabdiel Boylston introduced the idea of inoculation – achieved by introducing pus from an infected individuals’ pustules into a healthy patient to prevent future smallpox infection and significantly reduced the death rate. However, Boylston was not the one who came up with the idea of inoculation. He was introduced to the method of inoculation by a New England Puritan minister named Cotton Mather, who was himself introduced to the method by Onesimus – his slave.

African slave Onesimus was renamed by

Cotton Mather after his congregation had purchased Onesimus for him as a gift Unfortunately, much of what is known about Onesimus comes from Mather’s personal diary. Mather referred to Onesimus’s ethnicity as “Guaranmantee”. Whilst we will never know his true birthplace, it is likely that Onesimus was born in Western Africa, as he had been inoculated against smallpox in a way that is traditional for this area. Inoculation was already a relatively common practice in both Asian and African communities. It is believed that at some point during his enslavement, Onesimus informed Cotton Mather about this process of inoculation.

When Boston faced the smallpox epidemic of 1721, Mather recalled what Onesimus had told him and set out on promoting the method of inoculation within the community, but was met with resistance due to the suspicions people held

against African medicine. Eventually, the medical community took his advice, with Boylston first testing the method out on his son and two of his slaves, later inoculating 247 patients. This group of patients had a 2% death rate compared to 15% of people who died if they got smallpox naturally - a significant reduction in death rate.

These experiments were a stepping-stone for efforts in developing the smallpox vaccine. Fast forward to 1980 and smallpox would be declared officially eradicated worldwide. For a long time, Boylston was incorrectly credited as being the ‘first’ to introduce the practice to America, overlooking the fact that the idea originally came from Onesimus. Despite being the source of information that would ultimately save hundreds of lives, Onesimus remained a slave for many years before saving up the money to buy his freedom.

Alessia Stanistreet-Welsh

Frankie Brown

Black people have contributed tirelessly to advancements in technology, scientific discoveries and medical advancements, yet their contributions are too often overlooked. Here, we focus on two forgotten contributors to science, who have shaped the way we live today.

Image: Flickr

Racial Discrepancies in Maternal Care, Studies Show

Black women are three to four times more likely to die from a preventable maternal death than white women in the USA. This statistic encompasses the disparity in access and quality of care that women, especially those of black and minority backgrounds, face in today’s society. This heightened risk of death during and following pregnancy spans all incomes, educations and socioeconomic backgrounds for black women, and despite being the cause of media interest for many years, the trend continues to be seen. All women and their pregnancy experiences are unique. A major issue highlighted in the medical field is a failure to understand different women’s predispositions to complications in pregnancy. This is particularly observed in gestational periods, where Black and Asian women are the most prone to premature births. Black women are also more prone to complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Studies showed that black women are three times more likely to have fibroids, which grow faster and occur at younger ages than for other women, causing post-partum hemorrhaging if not detected or monitored. Similarly, these mothers-to-be suffer earlier on in pregnancy from pre-eclampsia, a severe and often fatal rise in blood pressure which causes around 40,000 deaths annually. Black women

make up the highest risk-group in mature pregnancies, a condition which has been linked to greater instances of chronic stress and cases of socioeconomic disadvantage.

with proper monitoring and care. Increasing the accessibility and the quality of reproductive health care, as well as educating women on early symptoms could actively reduce this disparity in maternal care.

Access to reproductive health specialists and reproductive education disproportionately affects black communities, meaning that complications such as fibroids, tumours and problems in fertility are often missed, only being detected when they present a fatal risk to the mother. However, these issues are entirely preventable

More must be done in the healthcare-field to provide safe, culturally respective care for any patient. Social factors, such as poverty, impact maternal stress and overall health dramatically, as well as other factors such as financial aid and access to mental-health care must be addressed in order to tackle the health care disparity. Mothers must be able to trust their doctors to provide them with the best possible standard of care, without the fear of debt deception and indifference to their needs. Laws need to protect mothers with increased maternity leave and job security to make changes possible. Above all else, systemic change needs to happen to protect all women equally pre, during and post childbirth so women can confidently choose to become parents, trusting that healthcare professionals will keep them safe.

Mae Jemison: The First Black Woman in Space

Some people dream of becoming successful actors, dancers, or choreographers. Others aspire to become doctors, astronauts, or successful entrepreneurs. Mae Jemison did it all – and more. Born in 1956 in Alabama, Mae Carole Jemison grew up fascinated by science and was greatly inspired by African American actress Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Lieutenant Uhra on the Star Trek television show. Jemison graduated from Stanford with degrees in both chemical engineering and African and African American studies, and later earned a medical degree from Cornell, whilst simultaneously choreographing a musical and dance production called Out of the Shadows in her final year. However, she is best known for being the first woman of colour to go to space when she served as a mission specialist aboard Endeavor in 1992. This joint mission by the US and Japan was commissioned to study how microgravity

affected materials (fluid dynamics, metals, alloys, and ceramics) and living things (the crew, Koi fish, plant and animal cells, frogs, and frog eggs) over 8 days in a sub orbit. Jemison logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, and 23 seconds in space, orbiting the earth 127 times in total, beginning every shift with the salute “Hailing frequencies open” – a quote from Star trek.

After the success of the mission, Jemison resigned from NASA to start her own company. She founded a consulting firm called The Jemison Group Inc, and the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence in (named after her mother), both in 1993. One of the foundation’s projects involves actively promoting the protection of our planet through a science camp for 12–16-year-olds called The Earth We Share.

Mae Jemison is an inspiring role model to young people all over the world, but especially to those with minority backgrounds and young women.

Rachel Murray

Zoe Parker

Image: Flickr

Image: Flickr

Who Should Gareth Southgate Take to Qatar 2022?

Ollie Beavan

It is just under a month until England kick off their World Cup campaign against Iran. Like every other major tournament, the people of England will be intoxicated with the incalculable tensions of football and, inspired by the lyrics of Skinner and Baddiel’s ‘Three Lions’, temporarily convinced that football may be (finally) coming home.

However, it is not all roses. After England’s disappointing Nations League campaign, questions have been asked about manager Gareth Southgate’s tactical credibility. Southgate’s famed back three has been useful in tournament football but, considering the abundance of attacking options he has at his disposal, does it really work to best serve our potential? I am not too sure. I would ask Mr Southgate to set up in a 4-3-3 formation, but I think consensus is that he will stick to his tried and tested methods and England will play 3-4-3 in Qatar.

Starting XI: Pickford, Trippier, Walker, Stones, Tomori, Chilwell, Rice, Bellingham, Sterling, Foden, Kane.

Keepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope.

England’s number one has to be Jordan Pickford. The Everton goalkeeper has proved himself in an England shirt on multiple occasions with the Colombia and Italy shootouts acting as perfect examples.

Defenders: Tomori, Walker, Stones, White, Dier, Maguire, Chilwell, Shaw, Alexander-Arnold.

In terms of defence, I think our best bet is a back three of Stones, Tomori and (assuming he

is fit) Kyle Walker. This would be an incredibly athletic back three, combining Walker’s pace with Stones’ acute tactical awareness and composure. The obvious wildcard here is Tomori. Hear me out. Free from the shackles of a rigid Chelsea developmental system, Fikayo Tomori has enjoyed an incredible season of football in Italy, and the Scudetto win speaks for itself. In the 27 matches Tomori started in the 21/22 season, Milan conceded just 0.7 goals per game; in the seven he missed that figure rises to 1.6. For me, this earns him a place in the team. A close second would be Arsenal’s Ben White. The revived Eric Dier also earns a place in my squad, and the dilapidated but experienced Manchester United captain Harry Maguire takes the last centre-back sport.

Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell beats Luke Shaw to a place at left wing-back and Kieran Trippier starts on the right. The injured Reece James might have made it, but Trippier has proved his quality this season at Newcastle, with the Magpies registering just one league loss when he has started. A hot topic of discussion is Trent Alexander-Arnold. Trent has got too comfortable with his place in the Liverpool squad and although he should be on the plane, his attitude could cost him.

Midfielders: Mount, Henderson, Grealish, Foden, Phillips, Ward-Prowse, Bellingham, Rice. A midfield duo of West Ham captain Declan Rice and Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jude Bellingham speaks for itself and the

pair will no doubt be starting most of the games in this tournament. Joining these two as midfield options should be: Chelsea’s Mason Mount, veteran Jordan Henderson, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips and dead-ball specialist James Ward-Prowse.

Forwards: Kane, Sterling, Toney, Rashford, Sancho, Saka England have so many options in the attacking department. Does Harry Kane go? Is the sky blue? I’ll leave that one there. Kane’s back-up should be Brentford’s Ivan Toney. Toney is a target man with lots of finesse and, considering the quality of the defences we will be up against, England needs this type of player.

Raheem Sterling has to start on the left, the Chelsea winger won Player of the Tournament at Euro 2020 and has an abundance of talent. Southgate will be given a headache over Phil Foden or Bukayo Saka but, for me, the Manchester City talent just nicks it. Foden’s nine goal involvements in eleven games might just give him the confidence to finally succeed in an England shirt, and Saka off the bench could cause problems for tired defences.

These are my Qatar Heroes. And, although I do believe Southgate will keep the handbrake on a little and stick to his usuals, I’m quietly confident.

Even though every four years I’m disappointed, I surely won’t be this time ... England will win the World Cup.

Image: Flickr

Sport Writer Ollie Beavan picks his team for next month’s World Cup.

F1: This Season’s Highlights

Mia Stapleton

Although we can’t exactly call this a ‘best bit’ of the season, Sebastian Vettel’s retirement news couldn’t go unrecognised without a celebration of his career. He broke the news through an emotional video release on Instagram. Vettel’s retirement means goodbye to one one of Formula One’s greatest ever drivers.

Vettel entered F1 in 2007 with BMW Sauber after being a test driver for them in 2006. He has driven for 4 teams in total, including: BMW, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, and Ferrari. The Aston Martin driver’s last race will commence in November at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. His 300th race will mark the end of his career.

Vettel achieved 53 race victories, 122 podium finishes, 57 pole positions and 4 World Driver’s Championship titles. Good luck in retirement Sebastian!

No highlights list would be complete without discussing Max Verstappen’s Constructors Championship win at the Japanese Grand Prix. This marked his second consecutive world championship as he tackled the rain on the Suzuka International Racing Course. Max is undoubtedly one of the most talented, dominant, and mentally driven drivers on the grid, this much was made clear last season when he secured his first title, but this year he did it again without disappointment. Despite 2021’s controversy with Lewis Hamilton, it was clear from the start of the season that Max was both a fan favourite, and most likely to win. We’ve seen the ongoing and ruthless battle between Verstappen and Ferrari’s #16,

Charles Leclerc. At one point having an 80-point lead over the title rival. With 4 races remaining, this made Verstappen the fourth driver in history to secure the championship this early on. ‘Max Verstappen, you are the world champion’. Congratulations Max!

Charles Leclerc also had a fantastic season, proving himself to be one of Formula One’s most promising drivers - this season has shown the Ferrari driver is now in a clear position to secure future world titles. We saw Charles secure his first victory of 2022 in Bahrain, followed by two more season wins in both Australia and Austria. Early on, it appeared that he had the potential to win the Formula One 2022 Championship. However, Leclerc has not had an easy run. From complications with Ferrari strategists, to not being able to push that final mile for race wins, the Monegasque driver has had a more disappointing end to the year. From achieving an astonishing 34-point lead ahead of Red Bull, Leclerc had several (three) unlucky experiences with DNFs.

Another highlight of the season has to be Lando Norris’ success in Imole. After a pretty tough season for the McLaren team, Lando Norris secured P3 in Imola, marking the second year in a row that Norris has placed on the podium at the track. Norris’ success has been one of the only midfield podium finishes this season, and the only driver who has not been a Mercedes, Red Bull, or Ferrari driver - we already know that the Briton is one to watch, but his performance

at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix cemented this for fans of the papaya team. McLaren teammate Daniel Ricciardo placed 11th and, like Vettel, his involvement with McLaren is sadly coming to an end. We are yet to hear any news about where Ricciardo will be taking his talent next, however he is expected to stay in F1.

And who can forget Silverstone 2022? Silverstone was welcomed back with open arms, as the real gem of the 2022 race calendar. With a win from Sainz, and an unforgettable (but thankfully not fatal) starting lap crash between Williams’ Alexander Albon and Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu, Silverstone never fails to bring tension and excitement to England.

And last but not least, another highlight has got to be Perez in Monaco. After heavy rains plagued Monaco, the race suffered a delay. Red Bull succeeded once again and gained an abundance of points following Chico’s move from third to first position. This was by far one of the most celebrated and emotionally intense race wins of 2022, following the over an hour-long delay. Perez described the race as a ‘dream come true.’ We agree Checo, we agree!

Are Leeds United and Jesse Marsch Back to Square One? Leeds Hit Rocky Form in the Premier League

Sam Stephens-White

Leeds United currently sit at 16th in the Premier League, registering two wins, three draws, and five losses.

Whilst this may not seem awful, compared with their start to the season Leeds’ form has nosedived massively. And while it may not be fair to say that Leeds are back to square one, as there has been evident progress over the summer, what the last few weeks have shown is that there is a clear need for Jesse Marsch to re-evaluate.

Leeds had an outstanding initial start to the season, first beating Wolves and then stunning everyone by beating Chelsea 3-0. Leeds fans might have thought they were in dreamland, with Marsch’s new summer signings (namely the midfield duo of Tyler Adams and Marco Roca) complimenting each other fantastically. Rodrigo also found his footing in the league, bagging four in his first three games. It all seemed to be going swimmingly for Marsch, he had a cohesive team and he had the points to show for it. By the time gameweek three came around, Leeds United found themselves in

third place. However, the subsequent games have been no reflection of this, as Marsch’s whites have failed to pick up three points since August. Things went from bad to worse for Leeds with back-to-back-to-back-back losses against Palace, Arsenal, and bottom of the table Leicester. And whilst they were praised for their performance against Arsenal, in which they fought for every chance against the league leaders, the Premier League is a harsh meritocracy and sadly only rewards wins and not heart. They now look like a shadow of the team we saw in August, with their motivation and morale clearly drained after failing to win seven games in a row.

Leeds currently find themselves in 16th place and fans are starting to fear that it’s going to be another season spent fighting for Premier League survival.

Marsch seriously needs to revaluate. Whether this means straying from his 4-2-3-1 formation, or dropping some out of form players, something needs to be done. They have some tough games coming up against Bournemouth and Fulham,

both outperforming league expectations, as well as trips to Anfield and White Hart Lane all before the World Cup break. If they pick up points from some of these games, Marsch may be able to mitigate the damage, however another four losses may put the American’s job at risk.

Qatar could therefore prove to be Marsch’s saving grace - with not many Leeds players likely to go to the World Cup, the team will be able to regroup and revaluate their strategy. They will have to do this soon though, when the league returns on Boxing Day they face Manchester City, with an Erling Haaland who has spent the last month resting and training. This should be enough to scare anybody.

So the next few weeks will be big for Leeds United. They need to build on the progress that has been made over the summer and not completely go back to square one. This first half of the season may have not gone their way, but in the Premier League anything can happen, and let’s hope, for Jesse Marsch’s sake, that they find their form soon.

With the Formula One 2022 season coming to a close, Mia Stapleton takes a look at the highlights of the year so far. From Verstappen’s early championship win, to Norris’ success in Imola, the season has once again brought twists