2014
vote
Elections 2014 The Non- Sabb 3 Candidates make their cases
Fair is Fair 4 Jordan Mant tells us about the plans to make Heythrop Fairtrade
One Million Years 11 of The Human Story Megan Skingsley goes to an exhibition
The
Volume 4 Issue 5 19 March 2014 theheythroplion.co.uk
2014 Election Special
Lion
Basement Redecorated In Theme of Presidential Campaigns
Voting now open for the HSU Executive Election 2014/15 The Lion is Your Guide to The Candidates Fergus Cronin-Coltsmann Acting Editor-in-Chief On Friday the 7th of March, campaigns for the Heythrop Students’ Union Executive 2014/2015 began. Three candidates are running for the position of President: Heather Doon, Alex Jozsa and Chloe Westly. The candidates for the position of Vice President are Matt Holland and Dan Tripp. The Lion conducted interviews with the candidates,
which can be found on The Lion website and The Lion’s Youtube channel. Thus far, one of the main topics of the campaigns of the sabbatical candidates have been careers and the careers service. Jozsa and Westly, who both worked on the review and revival of the careers service this year, both mentioned it in their manifestos and Lion interviews. However, both candidates distanced themselves from certain parts of the Heythrop Careers Facebook page during their interviews,
after it’s value was questioned due to the large number of links to jobs for science graduates posted to the page. Both candidates explained that this was due to the feed for the page coming directly from the University of London, and that they had no control over it, though Jozsa said in his interview that he had just met with the College’s Careers advisor to correct the matter. Westly apologised about the lack of appropriate positions for Heythrop students, and pledged that, should she be elected, she would filter the links
more precisely. Doon and Holland have promised to continue and expand upon the work of the current Sabbatical officers on an internship scheme, with Holland mentioning the need for the College to increase the office hours of the Careers Advisor, who he claims currently is only on site half a day a week. Doon has said she will draw on her contacts in wider professional London networks. Tripp’s campaign focuses heavily on careers, he pledges to continue the work of the current Union but, more uniquely, promis-
ing to fight for an increase in scholarships available to students who wish to study at a post-graduate level. The provision of welfare has also received attention from candidates. Holland has called for the lift in the main building to either receive extensive work over the summer, or to be replaced entirely, to ensure that all lectures are accessible to students after it was out of order for parts of this year. In contrast, Tripp has claimed that it did not receive focus in his manifesto because he
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WENDESDAY 19TH MARCH | THE LION
NEWS The
Editorial Team
Acting Editor-in-Chief Fergus Cronin Coltsmann submit@theheythroplion.co.uk Managing Editor Faye West editors@theheythroplion.co.uk Copy Editor Rory Phillips editors@theheythroplion.co.uk News Editor Unfilled news@theheythroplion.co.uk Comment Editor Ben Mercer comment@theheythroplion.co.uk Culture Editor Robert Leftwich culture@theheythroplion.co.uk Sport and Societies Editor Nazia Begum societies@theheythroplion.co.uk
The
Lion
The Lion is the independent student newspaper of Heythrop College, University of London. We distribute at least 1000 free copies during term time around campus and to popular student venues in and around Kensington. The Lion is printed by Mortons Print Ltd. No part of this publication is to be reproduced, stored on a retrieval system or submitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher.
NEXT DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS
TBA
Please send your submissions to: submit@theheythroplion.co.uk NEXT ISSUE RELEASE DATE
TBA The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Editors or of the Heythrop Students’ Union. Every effort has been made to contact the holders of copyright for any material used in this issue, and to ensure the accuracy of this fortnight’s stories.
Vote RON - An Editorial Piece Fergus Cronin Coltsmann
Acting Editor-in-Chief Re-Open Nominations (RON) is the most important option on the ballot paper. Unlike in a General Election, you have the option to demand new candidates by re-opening the position to fresh nominations, should you be unsatisfied with the candidate/s. It grants you, as a voter, the chance to say that you deserve better. Every position on the Executive is important, both in their own right and as a member of the Executive as a team. No position should be left in the hands of an unqualified individual for any reason. This is why RON is on the ballot paper. There are three criteria which the candidates should fulfil to earn your vote. The first is their manifesto. They must illustrate that they are bringing ideas to the table, that they have better ideas than any other candidate running for that position. And the second criteria: they must be able to deliver on their manifesto. Anyone can write down ideas, but not everyone can/ will deliver upon them. And the third: they must be able to do the job as described in the Heythrop Students’ Union Constitution. Sounds obvious, but occasionally we seem to get a candidate who hasn’t read what they are signing up for. Heythrop is a small college with a small voting body, and this makes RON a legitimate option. There is no need to vote tactically to keep an individual out if it would leave you voting for someone who you did not have the fullest of faiths in. You do not have to pick between what you think are two or more bad options. RON gives you the power to stop that. Similarly, you do not need to vote for someone just because they are running unopposed. Voting RON is not saying that no-one is better than this person, By-elections will be held before any candidates take office to prevent a position being left unfulfilled, voting RON is saying that Heythrop can do better. Yes, the non-Sabbatical Officers are volunteers but the mere fact they are volunteering themselves does not qualify them to fulfil what role they
maybe volunteering for. RON is not a troll vote, RON is not a wasted vote. Voting to Re-Open Nominations is how you will ensure that the Executive is at it’s best and that is important, it will determine how much of your experience of Heythrop goes next year. I encourage all of the voters to not let any sub-par candidates gain a seat upon the Executive when they have a better option, RON. Q&A Q: But what if everyone is RONed? A: That isn’t going to happen. Q: But seriously, what if everyone gets RONed? A: The HSU constitution has provisions for emergencies, the current Executive isn’t going to let the Union fall. Q: Isn’t it a waste of a vote if no one else RONs? A: Only in the same way that a vote for a candidate who only got one vote might be considered one, which is not really anyway. No vote is wasted, be it for the winning candidate, losing candidate or RON. It is a part of the democratic process, and if nothing else provides information. If one candidate sweeps into Office on a clear majority, then they have a very strong mandate to enact their manifesto. If the race was close and RON got a lot of votes, then the winner should at least engage in further consultation with the Student Body about what exactly it is that the Union wants from their Executive. Q: Is RON a protest vote? A: RON could be considered a kind of protest, one aimed against the candidates, but in contrast to an intentionally spoilt ballot, which I consider to be a protest against either the position or the election, or the Executive and Union as a whole. Q: Should I RON positions which I believe ought to be filled- surely someone is better than no one? A: Yes you should RON. Someone
will almost certainly nominate themselves for the by-election, and often they are far better candidates than the people who originally ran. And they should not be discounted simply because they did not run in the first election. There are innumerable reasons why someone may not have run in the Elections but decided to in the By-elections. If nothing else, YOU could run for the position, and then the position will be filled. Q: What happens to unfilled positions on the Executive should RON win at the By-election? A: If the position is unfilled after the By-election, the President can appoint an individual to the Office. If you are unsatisfied by this individual, then reject their Officer Report at the next OGM and/or submit a motion of no confidence.
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WENDESDAY 19TH MARCH | THE LION
Continued From the front page believes it already to be a part of the job. However, he did say that he had begun researching the matter and that he wouldn’t be “just a letsthrow-ramps-everywhere kinda guy”. Doon has pledged to continue campaigning for better welfare provisions on campus and stated she would draw upon her networks with other London Universities to provide the best service possible; as well as organising drop-in session and planning new ways of contacting at-risk students throughout the year alongside the Welfare Team and Student Support. Doon and Westly both have focused upon the Diversity and Welfare Committees, Westly promising to appoint the members in conjuncture with the Welfare Team, while Doon promises to hold elections for the positions after the first reading week in the next academic year to engage with new students. Westly also stated she is to hold practise exams, help with extensions and deferrals and to attend the Undergraduate Student Staff Liaison
Committee (USSLC) in support of the Academic Affairs Officer to ensure academic welfare, though the Academic Affairs Officer currently has no candidates running for it. Jozsa has also cited his experience sitting on the USSLC and promised to communicate the Welfare provisions to postgraduate students, to which they are entitled. Regardless of who takes office, it is likely that we will see a shake up of the Union Executive and how it functions. Westly has said she will appoint a Masters student ex-officio officer to the Union, and cites the Presidential job description in creating and setting goals within the Executive, saying that she thinks it has been missing this year. Jozsa has stated the need for a Women’s Officer on the Union, describing it as “necessary”, and says on the matter “There’s been anecdotal evidence that we’ve seen over the last couple of year’s that the Union is a ‘little boys club’ [and] that’s completely unacceptable in a modern Union”. But
out of the Presidential Candidates Doon goes the furthest, stating she will trial an appointed Executive member to represent the needs and views of postgraduate, mature and part-time students and trialing appointed Executive members for protected Liberation groups, which would be reviewed at the OGM in the second term. However Doon did stress the need for continuity between Executives each year as one of the difficulties the HSU faces is that the goals it sets out to accomplish take a long time to come to fruition and that “if [she] came in and said ‘I’m going to scrap all these ideas that all these people have had and start afresh’ nothing is going to change”. Both the Vice Presidential candidates have also weighed in on how the Executive should function, Holland proposing the idea that the Vice President should head the events team, drawing on his experience last year as a member of the events team, and claiming that the idea has the support of the previous and current Sabbatical and Event Officers. He has also said that he would aim to manage Student Activities and potentially Welfare. On this year’s Executive Holland said that unclear leadership has “caused a lot of issues... [and] internal politics” with events as his main example. Tripp has said he wishes the Executive to work more as a team to prevent people from becoming isolated or “[having] the excuse ‘that’s not my job’”, saying that “if an event isn’t happening,if a week doesn’t happen, it’s the entire Union’s fault”. Tripp is referring to the absence
of RAG week, and Holland also highlighted that on campus events, such as the Comedy Central Live nights, “have been less frequent and poorly advertised”. The nature of the Presidential candidates’ campaigns has also been questioned. Jozsa has been particularly critical of the poster campaigns engaged in by the candidates for the majority of positions in the HSU basement, describing the state of the Common Room as “disgusting”, saying that he would “not fall into the trap of wasting paper, wasting College money and ultimately not doing good things for the planet”. Westly has received an verbal warning for breaching campaign procedures for placing some of her manifestos in the canteen, an action for which she apologised and said she corrected within two hours, after she was informed it was not against the rules. Doon has defended her decision to attend the NUS Women’s conference, which starts on Tuesday 18th and finishes the following day, saying that she thinks, as an elected member of a national committee, it is a part of her duty and that she will be representing Heythrop on a national level, stating that it “is hugely important [because] for years we didn’t attend these conference” and that she will be “[putting] Heythrop on the map as an inclusive uni”. The Lion’s interviews with the sabbatical candidates can be found on our website: theheythroplion. co.uk, on our Youtube channel and on our Facebook page. We encourage all voters to watch them and find out more about their potential Presidents and Vice Presidents.
NEWS
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Turn over to see the non-sabbatical candidates running for the 2014 elections
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Heythrop Students’ Union Election 2014 Events
Publicity
Campaigns
Web-Dev
Declan Barry & Jacob Tong
Magdalena McGilvrey
Eleanor MacIntyre
Erin Denny
Catherine Squibb
Hey, we’re Declan and Jacob, you may have heard of us. We’re running for Events Officer as a team. We love to party and we have a better time partying when you guys are happy. If you vote for us you should brace yourselves for a jam packed year of events. With our great ideas and just a dash of pizza we will be sure to smash next year’s party scene. Follow our twitter @votedj2014 and use the hashtag #votedj to ask us questions, we’d love to hear from you! VOTE DECLAN AND JACOB. WE’RE PARTY HARD
Hi everyone! I’m Magda and I’m running for publicity. I want to make more of what we already have here at Heythrop. I want to publicise societies more and motivate them to advertise themselves more openly. This would encourage more students to join societies through the year. On top of this, I would like to persuade more students of every year to attend events. I would do this with earlier advertisement and a Facebook page dedicated to events’ and societies’ photographs. I would be a publicity officer which is devoted and has the time to fulfil the role, as well as going to the events.
I want to take publicity beyond posters. Okay, I’m fluent in InDesign and make posters and leaflets for Heythrop and others, but I want to offer more than fancy graphics: I want to showcase our Union as something we can be proud of. How? By utilising photography (eg. flickr, blipfoto) to show the day-to-day workings of the Union, societies, events; by branding Freshers’ Week to make us feel part of Heythrop; by communicating - making publicity a resource. See my ideas and work at http://dft. ba/-VoteNori Want fab aesthetics, dedication, communication, merchandise, continuity, accountability, experience, visibility, and probably bad puns? Vote Nori.
With a zest for life, and a passion for making positive changes, by fighting for what is right, I feel I would be able to change, in some way, student life across Heythrop by being the campaigns officer. I strive to improve environmental issues in college, thus making a change for the world, I care about student, human and animal rights, welfare and charity. Listening to what students are passionate about and fighting for it is also important to me. I have experience working on a student body, and would strive to make positive changes for all
My name is Catherine Squibb, I’m a first year Philosophy student and I would like to be your next Web Development Officer. Along with my skills in coding and creating websites, I also learnt a lot through studying Computing at A-Level. I would like to improve, update and enhance the feature of the HSU’s current online presence by; improving the website and Facebook pages, creating a digital map of the college, enhancing communication to students and within the union itself along with many other things. Along with this, I would be a strong and enthusiastic union member.
Cast your vote for the candidate who you think can do the best job
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The Non - Sabbatical Candidates Female Welfare
male Welfare
Hannah Simpson
Stephanie Browne
Philipa Woods
Sam Sutton
James Leighton
As Female Welfare officer I plan on getting things done! I bring my competence, professionalism and communication skills to the role. I want to make people aware of the support they can get in the college. My aim is to empower students, by making student support more efficient, setting up talks for time/stress/ essay management and promote healthy lifestyles. I want to move Well-Being Week to the beginning of the year, as well as organising amazing SHAG and MHAW weeks. In addition, I want to make HSU events safer, by making people aware of the HSU emergency number!
Hi everyone! I’m Steph, and I’m running for Female Welfare Officer in the HSU elections because I want to create better facilitation for good sexual and mental health in Heythrop - building upon all of the sterling work the welfare team has done this year - and take a hands-on approach to the welfare of students by making myself personally available for anyone who feels at all mad, scared or stressed. I believe that I can do great work in this position, I’m enthusiastic, I’m hardworking, and I feel that I have the necessary experience to do this job well.
Hi! I’m a second year PRE student hoping to become your Female Welfare Officer next year. I am extremely passionate and enthusiastic about the role, and have loads of ideas! This includes a ‘settling in’ session for freshers, introducing them to living alone at university, a femaleonly forum once a month, increased office hours including a Saturday and an evening. I want to provide better mental and physical health provisions at Heythrop. I have experience of mental health issues whilst at university, such as stress, so feel I am well positioned to help others. Check out my video on facebook!
My name is Sam Sutton and I’m a first year Philosophy Student from Manchester. I am running for Male Welfare Officer as I have strong passion to provide new and existing students with a safe, friendly and welcoming environment within college and provide a support service to people with a whole range of problems. I think it’s really important students are able to identify with their union and its representatives so I will work hard to build relationships with students and be a friendly face around college. Details of my manifesto can be found on my facebook page facebook. com/Sutton4MWO.
What makes me a good candidate is my understanding of, and ability to perform, the job of male welfare officer as it is written in the constitution including confidential meetings with students. What makes me the best candidate is my experience on the union and proposed projects; a housing advice page, housing fair, housing booklet, a page for graduates to advertise their house, Alban halls contract review, list of local fitness resources, healthy eating information, more information about the canteen, a Heythrop eats menu and emergency transport provisions
Cast your vote for the candidate who you think can do the best job
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The Non - Sabbatical Candidates LGBT Officer Hayley Clark
Sports & Socs Keith Kalyen
Christopher Page-Tickell
Academic affairs
RON re open nominations
My passion for a positive, safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ students and allies at Heythrop is why I am running for the role of LGBTQ officer. Since joining Heythrop I have attended all Heythrop Pride society meetings and events including the Sports Gay protest, I have attended NUS liberation training and because of this gained great connections with exterior LGBTQ events which gives me the ability to keep Heythrop involved with national campaigns. I want to make sure Heythrop has a positive, welcoming and active LGBTQ society where people feel safe, have the ability to confide yet also have fun!
As a mature student I have lots of experience with LGBT issues. I come from an area that was unaccepting of LGBT persons, and have suffered from homophobic abuse and attacks , as well as seeing the devastating effects this has on others. I have first hand knowledge about intolerance, and am personally responsible for helping others deal with their sexuality and problems they have come across, such as victims of hate crime, struggling to “come out” to their family / friends, or different treatment that LGBT people faces in today’s world. I have years of experience as a support worker for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities and served two years as an executive members for a local charity.
My name is Christopher Page-Tickell and I’m running for Sports and Societies officer because having already spent a year as an Executive officer I want to continue working for Heythrop students in a fresh capacity. My manifesto can be found online and around college, but the essence of what I want to achieve can be summarised as seeking to augment new societies, continuance of societies throughout the year and student engagement in external societies. I also want better publicity with a centralised notice board for societies to advertise from and try to procure more rooms and facilities for societies to use. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me in person or at Hustings.
RON
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re open nominations
RON re open nominations
RON
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Voting ends 23/3/14 at 11 pm
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Comment.
Edited by Ben Mercer | comment@theheythroplion.co.uk
Fair is fair- Heythrop goes Fairtrade Jordan Mant
Second Year Undergraduate This year’s Fairtrade fortnight got consumers across the country going bananas for ethically-sourced produce. Fairtrade called for the end of supermarket wars on bananas and action by the government to evaluate retailer’s pricing tactics. Over the past two weeks, the college chaplaincy and a number of students have all been inspired to help make Heythrop a more ethical university and we have now set ourselves the aim of gaining official Fairtrade status for the college. One of the biggest sources of our encouragement to undertake such a product was a Fairtrade Fortnight celebration that Will Howard and I attended earlier this month. The celebration took place at the Holy Apostles Church in Pimlico
and the afternoon’s agenda was (Fairtrade) jam-packed with guest speakers, ‘blind’ taste-testing and a variety of stalls selling produce too. One of the main speakers of the day was Alexis Martinez; a worker on a banana plantation in Columbia. Alexis recounted the violence that was present in his local community before Fairtrade arrived. He told us of how the arrival of Fairtrade changed the mentality of those within the community as they had the guarantee that they were going to earn a fair price for their work with the promise of potential premiums that Fairtrade also feeds back into the local community. Such premiums can have such a powerful effect as Alexis described how some of the money went on building the neighbourhood a school block; previously the students had to learn in a pigsty whenever it rained.
Bishop John Arnold also spoke and emphasised that none of these producers want a ‘hand-out’ but instead want to create a sustainable living with the help of Fairtrade; to take control of their futures. We, the consumers, are part of this partnership whenever we go to the supermarket. The amount of Fairtrade alternatives are ever-increasing; bananas, chocolate, tea, coffee, cakes, biscuits, cakes, clothing and even alcohol can all be found in our local stores. Fairtrade is often branded as being more expensive than other brands. However, the celebration that we attended emphasised how the prices are not too dissimilar than other produce and the quality and value for money in Fairtrade products is often much better. Michael Gidney, the Chief Executive of Fairtrade, highlighted that ‘You are as amazing as your choices make you.’ Thus, next time
you do your food shopping have a look for Fairtrade alternatives and you could make a big change to the lives of producers like Alexis. At Heythrop, we now want to go one step further. We are aiming over the next year to make our college an official Fairtrade university. Admittedly, this is not an easy task and this is why we are giving ourselves time to begin this task. To gain the status there are a number of goals that we have to fulfil. We have to ensure that our canteen sells Fairtrade produce which thankfully it already does for a number of items. All of the refreshments served at university and HSU meetings will need to be Fairtrade. The HSU also needs to commit to merchandise and union clothing being made out of Fairtrade cotton and I was happy to find out, when speaking to Samuel English, that HSU produce is al-
Comment on our comment! submit@theheythroplion.co.uk
ready Fairtrade; so when you buy a Heythrop hoodie, you can be certain that it has been ethically produced. We will also be running Fairtrade events throughout the year to promote the cause and we already have contacts that can help us arrange for speakers to come into college. Plus arguably one of the biggest things is to set up a steering group made up of staff and students alike where we can discuss our progress and take action on making our campus more ethical. We are only at the very beginning of our journey but we are very excited to get this project up and running. If you want to find out more then please talk to us and attend our first Fairtrade committee meeting, details of which will be posted on our Facebook page shortly- facebook.com/HeythropFairtrade.
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COMMENT
On Opinion... Nicholas Harris
Second Year Undergraduate The knowledge we have on any subject is, generally, none certain. We come by knowledge based on one or two experiences in an area, and then extend this to all of that area. In most cases our knowledge is not even first hand, we hear it from sources we trust and then do not, or cannot, verify the experiences from these sources. When you consider something to be true you are not often aware of what led you to believe it as such; it comes from a lifetime of internalising
over heard conversations about other people’s experiences and opinions, half watched televisions programs, and generally passive observation. This way of generating knowledge is very useful. It allows us, as humans, to grasp a great many areas and to not limit ourselves to rediscovering everything that those before us have learnt; it saves us a lot of time, therefore allowing us to expand our knowledge in different directions. However, this sort of knowledge is not helpful when trying to have a reasonable conversation. It means that when
we present arguments we do it in ways that can easily anger people, instead of saying “I know of a case where X was the case, so I think it applies here” we say things like “X is the case, anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong.” You insult people you didn’t mean to because you sound more hostile than you intended too. At that point debates turn into shouting matches and no gains anything from it. This is most prevalent on the internet but also happens in real life. It would be nice to have the solution to this be “stop doing that” but it is how the brain works and
ible. If you get a tattoo indending to cover it, it is sensible to have a small tattoo on the arms, legs or back, so a shirt or dress easily keep it from view. Because here’s my point, when people see them they make a judgement of them, as you would for any picture. I take an issue with someone having a large and obvious tattoo and expecting people not to see it when making first impressions. Of course they judge you on it, there is a large patch of you in a different colour. I’ve been hearing a lot about tattoo acceptance lately and I have to say it’s bugging me slightly. As I said, I have no problem with a well thought out and coverable tattoo, anyone who has a problem isn’t being reasonable. It is not for me to dictate what someone can or can’t do with their body. However I can dictate how I want, for example, to represent my business. For anyone who thinks this sounds slightly familiar, I point you to a Facebook status I made some weeks ago. It said: “So watching this extreme body mod documentary on 4OD where a variety of people either regret or flaunt their tattoos. There is a guy covered in tattoos, unrecognizable to the person he was. He has his eye tattooed. His hair is shaved in patterns and dyed multicoloured. He states, rather angrily, that people should see past his tattoos to the person he is. NO. No. You chose to express your identity by paint-
ing yourself permanently blue. Any trouble you may face about not securing a regular job is something you should have considered. If I decided that I want to express myself by exclusively shouting, I wouldn’t find myself employed by a library. If you paint yourself blue, don’t ask for people to look beyond that and not see the blue. Because you’re blue.” Since I made that post, I have heard and discussed the issue further. I have been called a traditionalist, and I guess I am. I don’t have tattoos nor want any. Some situations were presented to me such as I am hiring someone and the best candidate happens to have an obvious tattoo. Never did I say I wouldn’t hire anyone with a tattoo, I would consider it based on their merit and overall appearance. But I have to say, unless I ran a business that was appropriate, I probably wouldn’t hire someone with a very obvious tattoo. As I said then, someone’s decision to have a tattoo DOES NOT nullify my decision not to like it. All decisions in life should be made by considering the impact. Tattoos are forever. It is my opinion that people change and develop. I have had a few discussions with friends planning to get a tattoo and my opinion has been to wait a year to see if it’s a good idea. It may require patience, but when it comes to having something emblazoned on your skin forever, it takes consideration.
it is difficult, maybe impossible, to change the way the mind functions. Luckily on the internet there are many fairly simple solutions; just do not reply at all or take some time to rephrase your statement so that it does not seem combative. Either of these would help to stop a debate devolving into a fight and would take little effort to achieve. In real life, however, the solutions aren’t so simple. I feel the main reason for this problem comes about when people are emotionally invested in what they are saying, when what they are saying is an opinion they feel obliged to de-
Tattoo’d Faye West Managing Editor Tattoos are becoming far more common place. I say this because a fair few of my friends have one or two when they didn’t before. They tell me that once they get it, the urge to get another springs upon them. However, I note that my friends who have tattoos rarely have more than two. I don’t know anyone who has a number or large ones in noticeable places. I think this is because my friends are aware of the problems with having large and obvious pictures drawn on them. Before I continue, I would like to say I really don’t have a problem with tattoos. I have some seen some wonderful tattoos, pictures which I think have a lot of significance as the are worn. Having such a connection with a piece of artwork as it is a part of your body, I think, is a beautiful thing. Tattoos often have a huge emotional significance to the owner, we all know that. The name of a lost loved one, a message to oneself, the pride of being at a certain place at a certain time, I can obviously see why you would want to treasure those moments. I haven’t even spoken about tattoos having a significance to identity, tattoos are certainly of heritage to people. I think any tattoo can be of any size. How much space you want your tattoo to take up is pretty flex-
Disagree? Write us a response submit@theheythroplion.co.uk
fend it because they don’t want to be wrong. If this is the case then a straightforward way of stopping the degeneration of the debate would be to put across the experience that led to the formation of the opinion, illustrating to the other participants how you came to your point of view, whilst being able to see theirs without the compulsion to defend your side, and allowing you to internalise what they have to say.
culture section ,
Film: 300 Rise of Empire or any kind of emotional depth,
it. I certainly hate what it repre-
the only female Persian general
film. Even during the sex scene,
this is not the film for you. Go
sents about the modern media,
as a highly stylised and sexed up
and whilst her back-story is very
300 Rise of an Empire is, much
see it in IMAX for the visuals if
but despite myself, I did enjoy
counterpart to the historical fig-
tragic and sympathetic I’d have
like its predecessor, a higly
you think pure visuals are worth
it, I would probably see it again
ure. She is portrayed exception-
liked to have some sympathy for
stylised and bloody adapta-
the price of admission, but if
in IMAX just for the visuals and
ally well by Eva Green and she
her motives, not just her his-
tion of a key period in the His-
you want to see a film of any
I would recommend it despite
gets a lot of focus. We see her
tory. Likeable Antagonists can
tory of Ancient Greece and The
substance or any kind of anchor
my more artsy complaints. Stop
back-story and it is explained
elevate a mediocre film into a
Achaemenid Empire. Although
in reality, give it a miss. Where
reading here if you wish to avoid
that she drove Xerxes to mad-
great one, see The Dark Knight
the first film romanticised the
the first film was at least loosely
spoliers.
ness and delights in pain and
as a shining example of this
balls off of the Spartans fighting
historical, this film abandons all
The Film follows the story of
torture because every film ap-
phenomenon. All in all, the sto-
the Batlle of Thermopylae, this
such pretence and just goes for
General Thermistacles (Sullivan
parently needs a straight up vil-
ry is okay, but some more, bet-
time its the Athenians getting
ticking all the modern film box-
Stapleton), and his well docu-
lain and complexity is so 2007
ter character based moments
a tongue bath as they “defend
es i.e. improbably badass su-
mented habits of fighting prac-
guys, so lets take one of the
would have been nice, and the
Democracy” at the sea battle
permodel, femme-fatale female
tically naked, from his killing of
most prominently intelligent
film as it stands in the story de-
of Salamis. However the His-
character?
Historical
the Persian King Darius many
female ancient historical fig-
partment is only any good when
tory is mostly pointless, this is
issues skated over? Check. Per-
years before the main events of
ures and make her all about sex,
it apes or refers to its infinitley
primarily a gore fest and the
sians portrayed as totally evil
the film, up to his victory in the
swords and sadism. Oh and she
better predeccesor. In summa-
historical figures as well as the
barbarians? Check. The film is
battle of Salamis with the even-
has to be crazy too, right? She
ry, go and see it if you want un-
inserted characters are entirely
a safe, designed by committee,
tual help of the Spartan Navy.
has some moments where they
complicated gore and spectacle,
forgotten in the action of the
blockbuster. It has no agendas,
The fact that these events even-
show her intelligence but the
forget about it within a week,
film. This is primarily about the
it pushes no envelopes, it takes
tually led to a unified Greece
way it’s presented just makes
then go and watch the vastly su-
gore and as pure spectacle it is
no risks and it’s a sequel to a
is also mentioned ion passing.
her come across as completley
perior original again.
very entertaining. If you are
much better film. Considering
It also prominently feautures
unsympathetic. I don’t think I
looking for realism, historicity
these criticisms I should hate
General Artemesia (Eva Green),
saw her smile once in the entire
Robert Leftwich Culture Editor
Check.
The culture SECTION IS EDITED BY Robert leftwich SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES TO HIM AT Culture@THEHEYTHROPLION.CO.UK
10
WENDESDAY 19TH MARCH | THE LION
Culture Film: Captain America Katherine Johnson
First Year Undergraduate Given the upcoming release of its sequel, and the electoral/ political theme of this edition of the Lion, I thought I’d look back at a strongly politically motivated film: Captain America. Set in the 40s, well into the Second World War (…already starting to look related), we meet scrawny and brilliantly VFX unenhanced Steve Rogers – the momma’s-boy of Brooklyn. This feat is immaculately done and utilised 13 different visual effects studios to complete – which makes it worth seeing for that alone. Mesh-warped Steve Rogers does look a little strange and what some may call ‘bobble-headed’ but the outcome is highly impressive and appreciated because it allows for us to see Chris Evan’s acting ability (outstanding) in full, instead of using a body double as originally planned. So, pining to join the army and being just too much of a patriotic hero at heart, Rogers manoeuvres his way into basic training where he proves his worth by jumping on grenades and tearing down flags despite his worthless exterior. Eventually noticed by the super-secret science lab where none other than Iron Man’s
dad cameos (part of a recur-
ply low frequency sounds which
in Indiana Jones and the Raid-
something together, Captain
rent theme Marvel employs for
are hardly audible to humans
ers of the Lost Ark where that
America was good, worth watch-
the comic fans [BONUS: Stan
but mess with your brainwaves
guy’s face gets melted off. And
ing, definitely sit-throughable…
Lee’s ever-hilarious cameo isn’t
to make you feel whatever emo-
then it gets really sad at the end
but those two are much better
excluded]).
qualifies
tions they’re gunning for in the
and stops being about World
as films by themselves (though
to become the world’s first en-
scene. (Here we note yet more
War Two, so I guess I’ll stop
neither of them had Chris Ev-
hanced superhero through sci-
politics: brainwashing and dirty
too. To remain in the position
ans – use that information as
ence and stuff. After becoming
propaganda tricks to watch out
of film-reviewer, if you want to
you will). Regardless, go watch
a lot more Chris Evans looking,
for in the upcoming election.
watch a totally rad action mov-
the second one coming out at
rippling muscles and gaining a
But, hey, this film is all about
ie about superheroes that can
the end of March because Se-
couple feet in height (yay), the
propaganda.
remember
do awesome stuff but also feel
bastian Stan gave up being the
Steve Rogers now redubbed
kids, watch out.) I digress; after
like you’re learning something
Mad Hatter for it and all the
Captain America spends a while
being reduced to a stage show
about politics and history (and
Once Upon a Time fans are
prancing around as the war’s
and moping around, the super-
that doesn’t hide the fact that
very sad. But finally, the moral
mascot (boo). A cute theme song
soldier finally makes his way
it’s main hero is a goofy, red,
of the story here, in reality, is
emerges for the star-spangled
into a worthwhile fight. Then he
white and blue, flag-waving
a forewarning that the person
man and Hitler gets punched
gets his best friend killed but, if
dork [of my heart])… I recom-
you vote for could turn out to
in the face a few times. (See,
you haven’t seen the trailer or
mend this film. If you’re looking
be hiding under an utterly con-
politics! I told you it was rel-
even heard the sequel’s subtitle,
just for a totally rad action mov-
vincing flesh mask ready to take
evant…). Talking of music, this
it’s okay, he comes back. Evil…
ie that has superhero stuff but is
over the world with ‘weapons of
does have a brilliant score; com-
but alive. Moving on, his faith
also really, really good, I recom-
mass destruction’ that vaporise
posed by Alan Silvestri (Forrest
gets restored, he jumps onto a
mend Iron Man or X2. Y’know…
people in sparkly puffs of blue.
Gump, Back to the Future, three
variety of moving aircrafts, he
for those of you who don’t really
No pressure.
episodes of Starsky & Hutch),
ends up unveiling the super-
care about the comic book char-
it’s very summer blockbuster-y,
evil plot by his super-evil arch
acter and have a boyfriend that
full of crescendos and leitmotifs
nemesis who has a super-stupid
goes on and on about Marvel
and deep rumbles overlaid with
red face prosthetic. It could be
vs. DC and you want to watch
violin screeching. However, it’s
worse and it’s a good likeness to
also abundant with brass play-
the original character but it’s all
ers and fanfares which not only
a bit reminiscent of that scene
Rogers
correlate with the wartime/ 40s feel but are awfully fitting to herald the arrival of the world’s first avenger. Considering this toy with emotions that helps you feel more comfortable and immersed in the film, here’s a fun fact: movies these days ap-
So,
11
WENDESDAY 19TH MARCH | THE LION
culture section Exhibition Review: One Million Years of the Human Story. Megan Skingsley
First Year Undergraduate This is the new temporary exhibition at the National History Museum, on until 28th of September. A team of 50 archaeologist have spent 13 years gathering the artifacts which are showcased in this exhibition. The exhibition has come to light after the finding of footprints on the coast in Norfolk. These footprints are dated at one million years old and are the earliest evidence of humans that have been found
outside of Africa. The exhibition
the species, as the hardships of
sapiens, are only one chapter.
mation. It was laid out so that
is designed so that as you walk
the environment changed, the
In all I thought the exhibition
you travel through the stages
through, you follow the pro-
changes between the species
was mediocre. It was very good
of evolution, which I under-
gress of humans until you arrive
were made apparent. The accu-
at being accessible to a range of
stood; but that prevented you
at the present day. The artefacts
rate representations of the Ne-
age groups, and the scientific
from comparing the evolution
on show are impressive, rang-
anderthals and modern humans
explanations of how scientists
of man. I think that had the lay-
ing from a skull showing indi-
and the differences between
have uncovered and dated some
out been different it would have
cations of cannibalism to the
them, I felt, are a highlight in
of the artefacts were well pre-
been even more fascinating to
world’s oldest spear. There are
the exhibition. It ended with a
sented. I would recommend it
see and compare how the tools
lots of bones from the animals
video on how scientists today
to students if you are interested
have changed over each stage.
of that era which illustrate the
are able to isolate your DNA to
in anthropology or history as
But in all it was worth a visit if
environment in which Homo
see which ancestors are shown
I think that the student price
you have any interest in the his-
heidelbergensis, homo nean-
in your genetic make-up. And of
of £4.50 is worthwhile, but I
tory of man.
derthalensis and homo sapiens
course it reinforced the thought
would not have paid the £9.00
lived. This helps you to under-
that we are not at the peak of
adult price. What let it down for
stand the differences between
our evolution yet. We, as homo
me was the layout of the infor-
The culture SECTION IS EDITED BY Robert leftwich SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES TO HIM AT Culture@THEHEYTHROPLION.CO.UK
12
WENDESDAY 19TH MARCH | THE LION
Culture
Video Games: DBZ: Battle of Zzzzzz Robert Leftwich Culture Editor Dragonball Z games are much like Star Trek movies in that their quality varies wildly in each incarnation. This one starts well by being based on the latest DBZ movie, currently only released in Japan, it continued to build hype by being very pretty and having an insanely huge roster of characters, but that’s about where the good stuff ends. Instead of being a 1 on 1 fighter as DBZ games traditionally are for rather obvious reasons, this is
a 4 on 4 strategy game whose
are 6 year olds who picked up
DBZ games like the Budokai
least half a barrel of monkeys.
combat reminds me of playing
the game last week. This leads
or Raging Blast series because
As it stands the game is uncom-
World of Warcraft of all things.
me to conclude that this game
its strategy elements will put
pletable by any but the most
You control 1 fighter in a team
is designed to be played with
fans of 1 on 1 fighters off. It also
ardent DBZ fans and I would
of 4 against an opposing AI
friends, and I should imagine
doesn’t seem to be for strategy
sooner recommend setting your
team in story mode (local co-op
that this makes for a better ex-
game fans because it has a co-
console of choice on fire and
games, or online games are also
perience once the fight over who
op focus where strategy games
hurling out of the nearest win-
options). The main problem
has to be the lame healer char-
have to be playable on your own
dow. If you’re looking for a DBZ
with this is that the (“friendly”)
acters is over, but me being the
so that you can learn the ropes
game for PS3 or X-Box 360, get
AI that controls the rest of your
jaded, friendless misanthrope
of the game before trying to get
the remastered Budokai collec-
team is completely and utterly
that I am, this comes as small
anywhere with other players.
tion or raging blast 2, give this
useless, doing little more than
comfort. I can’t really work out
In short, it tried to be different,
disappointment a wide berth at
using up your team’s shared
who this game is supposed to
if only it had gone the whole
all costs. I know the screenshot
lives and failing to notice that
be for. Its combination of fight-
hog and been a totally strate-
looks good, but it’s not. That’s
you need healing, so basically
ing game and MMO style strat-
gic game, or played it safe and
the trap I fell into. Don’t get it!
its like playing an MMO boss
egy seems ill fated. It’s not for
been a straight up fighting game
Treat yourself to a takeaway or a
fight where the rest of your team
people who enjoyed previous
it could have been as fun as at
lego set, it’s a better use of cash.
13
WENDESDAY 19TH MARCH | THE LION
The Creative Commons A Creatively Compiled Collection Desire’s spawn Wantonness within us, Desire is his name, He lies fat, glutted by Imagination’s art, Languid, putrid and yet revered by Lust His graceless mate Love She crawls forth from The tar-black mouth of Desire, Forming and shaping Out of clinging Stygian ooze,
Dark Anger pours from Love’s scaly skin, He twists his seething thoughts with hers, Red-lipped Jealousy flashes her joyfully sadistic smile From between Love’s fork-tonged mouth, Yet we welcome this Love and treat her well, Insist that Love, Desire’s progeny, Unlike her mother Lust Has a deeper mystery to tell, Thus I see Love in me sitting still, Shaped by Desire, Sharing with Anger and Jealousy Lust’s twisted home,
***** Yes Love is joy, and hope, true, Yet she is Desire’s spawn, Lust’s fettered daughter, Jealousy’s watchful sister, Anger’s joyous playmate, All! But in spite of this laden ‘All’, Love is life’s crowning jewe Adjust A. Poet
From Heythrop College
She lingers with Desire, Schemes with Lust, Fashions thick chains to Bind my heart and mind to you!
Poetry and creativity
This Love, Desire’s daughter, Is fettered in the incestuous Partnership of her mother, Lust; She sits, still full of cravings, Debauch!
Are you a poet and somewhat aware of that fact? If you have some poetry to share, send it to culture@theheythroplion.co.uk To have it published on this very page!
14
Societies.
Edited by Nazia Begum
societies@theheythroplion.co.uk
A Fine Day For a Run The Running Society On the morning of Friday 7th March, members of the Heythrop Running Soc discovered that a bear had been let loose in Kensington Gardens; confusing dogs on their walks, giving out free bookmarks to groups of school children and even giving out leaflets to a couple of hung-over students. I’m joking of course, well sort of. This was actually an initiative arranged by Heythrop’s Nightline Ambassador Ria-Elizabeth Savolainen who dressed up as Nightline’s mascot Neville the bear and asked the Running Soc to get involved in spreading the word of the cause during Well-Being week. We set off armed with Nightline bookmarks, leaflets, magnets and pens and went about the park spreading the word of where students can get advice on issues related and unrelated to their studies. We even managed to encourage the café hut in the gar-
dens to put some of our leaflets on their counter. If you need support you can visit nightline.org.uk for more info.
David Roberts The football society has enjoyed a mixed year so far this season, with some inconsistent performances leading to an unfair reflection of the team’s quality in the league tables. In the BUCS Saturday league, the side currently sits 3rd out of 10 in the league. Although teams below them have several games in hand to play, in the Wednesday league, Heythrop were 6th out of 12. The team is very hopeful of a long run in the Whittaker Cup, a competition set up by Captain Matt Holland which is contested by the smaller colleges of the University of London. Currently, Heythrop
Enter Now
This Sunday, 23rd March, we will also be taking part in a 6 mile run as part of the Sport Relief Games at the Olympic Park. The Games are a series of events taking place across the UK to raise money for the charity which helps change lives both here in the UK and abroad. Participants are required to run, swim or cycle either 1, 3 or 6 miles for the cause. There is still time to sign-up, just visit the Sport Relief website. Also you can sponsor your Running Soc in their 6 mile run by visiting my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/ HeythropRunning.
For more than 60 years, VOUGE has held its Talent Contest for young writes in order to uncover and nurture fresh talent. It has long been considered one of Britain’s most prestigious writing awards and has been the springboard for many a journalistic career; recent winners have gone on to become successful poets, playwrights, authors and members of VOGUE’s staff. We are looking for journalists under 25 years of age, who can spot a story and tell it with pace and creativity. The prize is £1,000, plus a month’s paid work experience at VOUGE, with £500 for the runner-up.
Now the weather is finally improving, why not come along and join us for a run? We meet every Sunday at 1pm and you can run as much or as little as you like. ‘Like’ us on Facebook for updates of where we’re running- facebook.com/HeythropRunning.
An Update on the Football Season Third Year Under-graduate
Vouge Talent Competition
have qualified from their group and have progressed to the knockout round. The big event upcoming for the football team is Heythrop’s first team tour, which will be on a location, yet to be confirmed, on the 21st March. The team will play 2 games over the weekend, as well as watch the top local club play. The six-a-side league has again proved a success, with weekly games on the college’s astro pitch. Although the current run will be the last for this academic year, this will continue from next year, and anyone can enter a team to this league so keep your eyes peeled in the coming months of how to join up.
Poetry Slam Nazia Begum Sports and Societies Editor With Lent term ending very soon the Literature Society will be holding their annual end of term Poetry Party before we all go home for study leave. It will be a night of Spoken word. Spoken word or Poetry slams have become a very popular method of expressing both poetry and many other forms of literature in recent times. Having hosted a few Poetry slams already at Heythrop, they have proven extremely successful nights with readings ranging from excerpts of Thomas Hardy to Arabic poems and of course great heart wrenching original content. We are looking for poets and readers alike, to help make this night truly spectacular. They do not have to be original poetry so any form literature
will do. Although the date is to be confirmed, keep your eyes peeled for posters soon to be placed around the college and emails will be sent to your inbox closer to the time. For now however we think it will probably be on Wednesday 26th March at 6pm. As usual, there will be plenty of free food and drink so come along to great night filled with fantastic company and amazing literature. Furthermore, elections for next year’s President and Vice-president will be taking place soon so watch this space! If you would like to get involved for the end of term Poetry party or would like to nominate yourself to be part of next years LitSoc team please send an email to Nazia at HeythropLitSoc@ gmail.com
If You are a society head then send us your news! SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES TO socities@THEHEYTHROPLION.CO.UK
To enter, you must: 1) Write about an experience you have had that you consider appropriate for the pages of Vogue (800 words). 2) Write a short feature article – a cultural or current-affairs review, or a fashion or beauty trend (500 words). 3) Write a short interview with a person who is not a member of your family (500 words). Accompanying your entry should be a passport-sized photograph of yourself, attached to a sheet of paper listing your name, permanent address, telephone number, date of birth and occupation. The judging panel will include Vogue’s editor, Alexandra Shulman, senior members of the magazine’s staff, guest editors and writers. Finalists will be invited to a lunch at Vogue with the judges, after which the winner will be decided. CLOSING DATE: April 9, 2014 For more details, please visit: www. vogue.co.uk/news/2014/02/11/voguetalent-contest-2014-applications-open
15
WENDESDAY 19TH MARCH | THE LION
Horoscopes
Mar 21 - Apr 19
Apr 20 - May 20
May 21 - Jun 20
Jun 21 - Jul 22
Jul 23 - Aug 22
Aug 23 - Sep 22
The Sky is a many things to many people. To you it is an unkind god. Watch your step this week, for an accident will befall you. However, perhaps it is really an opportunity in disguise. So maybe you shouldn’t watch your step.
The Sky, in it’s Terrible power, has blessed your fate. You will be lucky this week, capitalise on it, buy lots of scratch cards and lottery tickets! The Sky commands it!
The world is a strange place. Next time you walk down the high street, ponder for a second how many of the people you see have obscene tattoos in obscene places. No really, The Sky knows a guy who’s brother’s ex’s best friend’s had a tramp stamp of a David Camron throwing up. The Sky disapproves, and commands that all tattoos be of It.
The TRIANGLE is a humble yet Evil creature. Intent upon the consumption of all, it plots in the Not Space, awaiting it’s Now. The Ancient Stars shudder in their fiery sleep and the Planets cry. The Sky is not with you this week, pray to your god and find hope in ignorance, for the TRIANGLE will be blind in its thirst for delicious soulmea
Bloom! There is culture in your future. Be it watching a film, painting a landscape or musing a poem, you should embrace this. It just so happens that the Sky also tells of a play taking place in your proximity (Thursday 20th, 7:30pm in the HSU Bar). This could be your chance to witness something beautiful.
Change is not always a good thing, but sometimes it cannot be resisted. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE CASES! RON EVERYONE! KENGLISH WILL RULE FOR EVER!.
Sep 23 - Oct 22
Oct 23 - Nov 21
Nov 22 - Dec 21
Dec 22 - 19 Jan
Jan 20 - Feb 18
Feb 19 - 20 Mar
Fire your arrow, seize the day! It is the time for bold actions, The Sky favours your hunt. Be it fresh meat or fresh experience, this is your Now.
You want to ram with me? HMM! HMM! This is a showdown, a duel, rap battle, poetry slam and chess-boxing match all in one. It is coming your way, and you must prepare; will you rise to the challenge? Only you can decide that, only you can decide your fate. But it is rapidly approaching. Look up. See that person? It’s them. This is it. RAM! HMM! HMM!
The Lord Helix has been awakened. Bird Jesus is here and an All Terrain Vehicle just pulled up. But from the West a challenger approaches. No Gods, No Kings, only ‘Mon. You should get involved. Be a part of something bigger than yourself. Google TPP.
The Sky has been Merciful. In Its Wisdom and Its Kindness it will grant you three wishes. Quite how you are going to tell the Sky what you wish for is another matter. Shouting might work, or maybe crop circles.
The Sky is a fickle god. You It was cloudy. So I guess you’re have fallen out of favour with on your own? someone in your life, be it by your own fault or not. A show of atonement and flurry of activity may appease the dissatisfied, but your best bet is a human sacrifice. I recommend your first born.
HeADS Presents:
th Hsu bar Hall, Thursday 20th20March Loyola Thursday March7.30 7.30pmpm Free welcome Freeentry, ENtry,donations Donations Welcome