Alex Guttenplan on University Challenge victory, Emmanuel College and the Guild of Assassins >> exclusive interview, page nine ISSUE 4 21 July 2010
T H E I N D E P E N D E N T H I L L S R O A D S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R
Hills Road’s Got Britain’s Talent
Oscars Evening Ceri Roberts
>> Eight piece Hills Road group The Arrangement make it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent
The Upper Sixth media studies
Will Simmons Editor
the Hills Road Oscar Evening
Eight talented Hills Road musicians who make up The Arrangement have made a name for the college and themselves by reaching the semi final of ITV’s talent show Britain’s Got Talent (BGT). The group, which consists of Jono Miles, Tom Curran, Nathan Rasdall, Joe Chivers, Ellie Davies, Hannah Godfrey, Amy Dickens and Lara Le Court De Billot, who are all in their last year at Hills Road, have wowed audiences up and down the country with their unique act. The Phoenix was lucky enough to talk to The Arrangement.
Cambridge. With around 70
Fo l l ow i n g t h e i r a u d i t i o n , T h e Arrangement shot to immediate fame. They soon became a talking point around college, and the video of their audition has since received over 1,500,000 views on YouTube.
and families, were invited to
at the Arts Picture House in
guests, including Principal Linda Sinclair, students were given the opportunity to see their work on the big screen.
The Arrangement, all of whom are Hills Road students, made it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent On Facebook, dozens of fan pages sprung up within days, and the official Arrangement Facebook site has amassed over 3000 fans. When asked about the support they have received, The Arrangement responded, ‘We have received fan mail and have all been recognized – especially our frontman Jono. It’s been really crazy – it’s so surreal walking down the street and someone you don’t know recognising you.’ However, it was not just support from the British public that The Arrangement received. Superstar Beyonce is also reportedly a huge fan of the group, and in particular of the lead singer, Jono Miles; she supposedly called him ‘adorable’. Such praise from one of the most successful female artists of all time can only boost the confidence of the lead singer and the rest of the group.
The group managed to get all the way to the semi final, and narrowly missed out on the final, despite the mass of support that they had acquired. Although they did not make it all the way to the final, The Arrangement told us, ‘Being on BGT was a great experience. It was disappointing not to make it to the final, however we are still grateful for all the amazing things we were able to do and people we were able to meet.’ To make it into the semi final of such a large competition is a monumental achievement, and something that they should be very proud of. As they put it, “We were never expecting to be as successful as we were … we are so grateful for all the support we received.” Their progress through the competition
Photo provided by Lara Le Court de Billot
Their act involves a rendition of modern music from popular artists such as Lady Gaga and Beyonce, but with an added twist; they use classical instruments. In their audition on Britain’s Got Talent, which aired on ITV1 earlier this summer, the group earned a standing ovation from the audience, as well as three ‘yes votes’ from the judges. Amanda Holden, one of the judges on BGT, referred to the act as ‘genius’, although the notoriously harsh Simon Cowell was less easily convinced, stating that it looked as if ‘somebody had spiked their drinks’ before they performed. Simon did, however, yield to the majority, as the crowd urged him to put The Arrangement through to the next round.
students, along with their friends
appears even more impressive considering that they were preparing for their A2 exams at the same time. As they had to juggle work and exams with rehearsals, fame and newspaper interviews, it is remarkable that The Arrangement have been able to hold themselves together and deliver such polished performances.
The ceremony celebrated the students’ work, and everyone received their own little golden Oscar statue. Awards were given for Best Camerawork, Best Editing and, the main event of the evening, Best Film. This was awarded to the drama ‘3 Doors’ created by Cat Dye, Kay George, Sophie Brown and Megan Green. It told the story of a young girl who had to decide what to do take after becoming pregnant. Runner up for Best Film was a tongue-in-cheek comedy called ‘Bed Making’, which was
So, what next for The Arrangement? Well, since competing on Britain’s Got Talent, the Arrangement have performed at the Upper Sixth Leavers’ Ball, which they tell us they ‘thoroughly enjoyed’, and they hope that ‘it’s not the last college event’ they perform at. As for the future of the group, they informed us, ‘We are all doing different things next year but we’d like to think we’ll stay together, playing shows at weekends and over holidays when it’s convenient for the whole group. We
cleverly edited to show the tale of a three-timing man getting his comeuppance from his angered girlfriends.
The judging panel consisted of both college members and local professionals, including filmmaker Simon Mullen.
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COLLEGE NEWS
21 July 2010 | The Phoenix
College News
Britain’s Got Talent (contd.)
Editorial
It’s finally the summer; the season of
We also have an exclusive interview
ice cream, beaches and relaxation.
with Alex Guttenplan, who led
But it wouldn’t be right to leave you
his team to victory in University
without providing one final copy
Challenge. This edition’s features
of the Phoenix. We hope that this
also include a commentary on
term’s edition (online and slimmed
university applications, and advice
down for ease of reading) gives an
for unsuspecting travellers.
interesting, accurate and amusing account of what’s been going on at
A printed, full-length Freshers’
Hills Road over the last couple of
edition of the paper will be
months.
distributed in early September. We will also be at the societies fair,
The college has been participating
giving out cake to encourage people
in events at an international level;
to join us, so do come and visit our
trips to China and Geneva have
stall. New contributors are always
taken place, and students have raised
welcome; just send an email to
money to further our partnership
thephoenix@hillsroad.ac.uk. Here’s
with the Ndamase school in South
to a great summer – happy reading!
Africa. Many thanks to everyone who has The Arrangement gained national
supported us this term.
recognition when they reached the semi-finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got
Harriet Allen, Jodie Baker and
Talent last month. Look out for an
Will Simmons
exclusive interview with them in the September issue of Fawkes, the Phoenix magazine.
(continued from front page) have lots of dates lined up over the summer so at the moment it seems we are planning to stay together.’ The Arrangement also reserved special praise for Hills Road, stating that they have ‘all really enjoyed [their] time at Hills Road, [thanks
to its] great atmosphere [and] great people’. They also acknowledged the support they received from the college during their time on BGT. We will all be keeping an eye out for any upcoming events, and wish the group the best of luck for the future. It has certainly been very enjoyable watching their progress through the
competition.
(See the September edition of Fawkes, the Phoenix magazine, for the full text of our exclusive interview with the Arrangement)
One World Day
Sharon Stannett College News Reporter
On the 6th of July Hills Road held a One World Conference day. The aim was to look at three different topics: local citizenship; international citizenship; and learning a new skill. The day was organised by students and teachers. Students gathered research as part of the Student Voice programme; questionnaires were sent out via email, and a focus group was held to gauge the types of activities that people wanted to do on the day. This information was then passed on to Kirsty Bray who sent out emails to staff and outside speakers to ask for people to volunteer to help run sessions. The day was then put
together, and each student chose three activities that they wanted to do. It was all systems go! The day started off with a bit of a buzz, with teachers coming to collect the outside speakers, and then showing them to the correct rooms. After this it was time for a quick break and a nosey around what everyone was doing. First stop was the Army Command Tasks; everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and developing their teamwork skills. Next stop was the wheelchair basketball; this was action-packed, and there were smiles all round! We then glanced into a session called ‘A Taste Of Hinduism’. Everyone was having fun, trying new foods, and dressing up in
different clothes. The second round of intense activity was fast approaching, and it was back to handing out registers and greeting new guest speakers. The day continued in much the same fashion, and there were plenty of smiles in all the sessions that we looked in on. During lunch time, we heard everyone talking about the morning sessions, and looking forward to what was to come. I feel that the day was very successful; it would not have happened without a lot of work from Kirsty Bray and everyone involved. Thank you to all who helped to organise it, and also to those who replied to student questionnaires.
Equally, the student body has engaged with the local community. See the ‘Local News’ section for our response to Mrs Catherine Tosko’s complaints about the number of teenagers using the bridge on Hills Road, and suggestions about what could be done to resolve the issue. As ever, there have been numerous activities going on within college itself. These range from the HR4.5 Run, which raised over £10,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust, to plays, gigs and trips.
Teambuilding challenges were just one of many activites on offer as part of One World Day (photo by James McCann)
Editors: Harriet Allen · Jodie Baker · Will Simmons · College News Editors: Jodie Baker · Alice Moden · Local News Editors: Heather Butler · Jacob Dunlop · Features Editor: Tom Oliver · Science Editor: Phoebe Sharratt · Comment & Debate Editors: Alex Stannard · Neil Chauhan · Reviews Editor: James Pritchard · Magazine/Lifestyle Team: Ella Funge · Natasha Kelly · Paoula Sobanda · Becky Wilkins · Kirsty O’Connor · Sports Editor: Amy Ditton Advertising Manager: Maddie Hickish · Layout & Design: Ollie Kane · Sam Esgate · Photography Editors: Melinda Barbi · Jasmine Whiteside Reporters, photographers, and other contributors: Ritwika Sengupta · Sharon Stannett · Paoula Sobanda · Rosalie Love · Alex Tyndall · Jamie Smith · Ella Gough · Sarah Moore · Sarah Gashi · Tom Oliver · Carrie Finnerty · Yee Rou Quah · Stephanie Emra · Ruth Slattery · Natasha Kelley · Joe Keeley · Lucy Palmer · Kirsty O’Connor · Alix Palmer · Simon Murfitt · James McCann · Michelle Janssen · Nei Chauhan · Emilie Murray · Alice Campbell · Sam Esgate · Reuben Cohn-Gorden · Tony Gearing · Tom Clarke · Geoffrey Kirby · Apologies to anybody we may have missed! To advertise, contact: thephoenix@hillsroad.ac.uk
COLLEGE NEWS
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
A Snapshot of China >> Geography students get a taste of China Paoula Sobanda College News Reporter
that was exuded by the inhabitants
teas for our travel-weary group. The
and by the structures themselves.
spectacle of tea preparation was
Tea drinking is undoubtedly an es-
The architecture was based on the
spellbinding. As we watched, flower
sential British activity, and whether
principle of feng shui, whereby
buds bloomed under streams of
it’s strong black tea, milky and
the buildings are designed to align
hot water, magic tea cups changed
sugary, or garnished with a slice of
with the laws of Heaven (astrology)
colour before our eyes and clay (an-
lemon, tea is the UK’s prevailing
and Earth (geography). In practical
atomically correct) ‘pee-pee boys’
panacea. Thus, after a parching
terms, this meant that doors and
squirted metre long fountains over
day in the Chinese ‘Hutongs’, the
windows were constructed to face
the glass table. The exotic jasmine
knowledge that we would attend a
the correct direction for supreme
and ginseng teas greatly surpassed
traditional tea drinking ceremony
harmony, statues warding off evil
the conventionally comforting na-
significantly brightened our already
spirits peppered the homes, and
ture of a ‘cuppa’, with purifying and
flushed faces. The ‘Hutongs’ are the
steps bordered every doorway to
cleansing benefits that helped the
labyrinthine old areas of the city,
prevent ghosts (and tourists, as
kidneys, eyes, circulation and skin
where even locals would get lost
many bruised shins resulted from
(to name a few) with one tea even
after a few minutes of wandering
these subtle steps) from entering
claiming beautifying properties.
if not accompanied by a seasoned
the houses.
Thus the tranquil tea ceremony pro-
The ‘Hutongs’ in Beijing (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
vided an overwhelming experience
guide. Thankfully, after only a few hours in Asia and a limited knowl-
However, despite the wonders of the
of traditional Chinese culture, and
edge of Mandarin, we explored the
Hutongs, the tea house felt like a
the magic of the tea-drinking ritual
winding alleyways on chaperoned
calm, air-conditioned oasis, neatly
will long-remain in our memories of
rickshaws and on foot, even visiting
hidden in one of Beijing’s numerous
an enchanting land.
a habitual courtyard residence of a
concrete high rises.
family that had been living in the same house for four generations.
The ceremony was conducted by
A novel aspect of the neighbour-
silk-clad ladies who delicately
hood was the sense of belonging
poured all manner of perfumed
Summer Ball
>> Ice cream, candyfloss and a bouncy slide - what more could we possibly want? Rosalie Love College News Reporter
– what could they possibly add to
in the hall, there was really no excuse
this college event? I am happy to
for not getting onto the dance floor
say I wasn’t disappointed – I take
and making an utter fool of yourself
Let’s face it; we deserve a break. All
my metaphorical hat off to everyone
(and completely enjoying it in the
those long gruelling hours spent
who managed to engineer such a
process, of course). And if you
cooped up in the Cambridge Central
fantastic evening. How the student
wanted a photo of a slightly higher
Library, desperately trying to cram
council managed to get unlimited use
calibre than from a fuzzy camera
our saturated brains with just that
of an ice-cream van and candyfloss
phone, there were professional
little bit more information - we
machine (those things are normally
photographers in the cafe who
definitely need to take it easy for a
£3 a time!) I will never know. From
were more than happy to take your
while! So that’s why the Summer Ball
the Rodeo Bull (bet that produced
picture. And if the dancing, rodeo
was the perfect chance for everybody
some flattering photos!) which was
bull and bouncy castle slide had
to enjoy the glorious weather (at long
entertainingly impossible, to diving
given you an appetite, free bags of
last), the freedom of no exams for at
down the bouncy castle slide (let’s
Walkers crisps were being offered
least a year (okay, until retakes...) and
face it, who doesn’t love a bouncy
around left, right and centre.
to really ‘let our hair down’. Which is
castle?), there was never a dull
exactly what we did, of course.
moment. And not to forget the music – from the DJ in the recital room
After forking out my £12, I hoped
belting out everything from the
that I’d get my money’s worth –
latest Dizzee Rascal to some good ol’
after all, Freshers’ was only a fiver
Bon Jovi, to the rave with Matt Bartle
So, the morning after the night before, exhausted with blisters from high heels and friction burns, I can honestly say it was all completely worth it. Bring on the next one!
Students enjoy the entertainment on offer (photo by Michelle Janssen)
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COLLEGE NEWS
Morte D’Arthur Tom Oliver College News Reporter
On the 24th June we went to see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte D’Arthur in Stratford upon Avon. This was a unique experience in itself, as for once the play was not written by Shakespeare but by a 15th century trouble maker, who wrote most of it whilst in prison for various crimes such as tax evasion, cattle rustling and assault. The book is based on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and the well known tales of the quest for the Holy Grail and the pulling of the sword out of the stone. We set off towards Stratford early in the morning. On the way we were given our tickets for the show, a process that took the better part of twenty minutes or so. After all this had been straightened out, we settled
in for a journey of over two hours!
21 July 2010 | The Phoenix
twenty minutes to make our own way to The Courtyard Theatre in which
When we arrived, we had about half
the production took place.
an hour to see all the sights that Stratford afforded us: a river, some
The play is so long and intricate that
shops and a hint of an old town
even a synopsis would not be brief,
square, with many establishments
but I will try to give an impression
holding references to the many works
of it. At over three and a half hours
of Shakespeare, such as the Rose and
long - including a twenty minute
Crown (Richard III), the Globe (the
interval and a small five minute
theatre in London) and so on. When
break - were it not for the excellent
our visiting time was finished, we
acting and gripping plot, there would
moved to the Riverside Theatre, where
have been a serious danger of falling
we were given a forty minute student
asleep. King Arthur was played by
introduction. The assistant director
Sam Troughton of the BBC’s Robin
of the production, Justin Audibert,
Hood series and the rest of the cast
held the session, outlining why they
were also established Shakespearean
wanted to do a production of a novel
actors. The acts themselves appeared
that is longer than The Lord of the
almost as separate stories, especially
Rings and which aspects they chose to
the second act, which was mainly
dramatise, as well as how to set up the
concerned with the grail quest. In
beginning of a play effectively. With
any case, it was thoroughly enjoyable,
the help of volunteers, we saw how
marred only by the very long journey
five people could make the opening
back to Cambridge.
of a play highly dramatic. After this
English students outside the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford (photo by Emilie Murray)
introduction we were given about
CERN Trip Sam Esgate College News Reporter For those of you who have no idea what CERN or the LHC is, you may remember some time ago there were many stories in the media saying that the world was going to end because of what was described as the black hole machine. That machine is the LHC, or Large Hadron Collider. Situated at CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research), Geneva, the 27km circumference ring accelerates particles to near light speeds and then collides them together and records the havoc that takes place. The aim of the experiment is to get a further understanding of how the world around us works. Big questions like, ‘What is dark matter?’ or ‘Does the Higgs particle really exist?’ could be answered thanks to the massive technological and scientific achievement that is the LHC. For the past three years the college has brought a group of students to visit the site at Geneva to see what it
is all about, and this year I was one of 22 students that had the privilege to visit the site and witness the place where high energy modern physics happens. About half of the time we spent on the trip was at CERN, and the other half was exploring the lovely city of Geneva. The trip began when we met outside the college at 3am. This was definitely the worst part of the trip, but it meant that we got to spend a lot of time in Geneva on the first day. The city is picturesque, the lake and the mountains combined with the beautiful architecture make it an ideal spot to travel to. Our visit to CERN itself began with a talk by a physicist who had been working at CERN for many years. He explained what was happening and what experiments were currently running. We travelled around the large site by minibus, visiting many of the key sites that we were allowed access to. The first stop on the tour was a
seemingly mundane warehouse near the edge of the site; the first sign that confirmed that looks can be deceiving was the radiation warning on the side of the building. This site contains machinery critical to the operation of the LHC, specifically the point at which the protons, which are to be accelerated to near speed of light, start their journey. We also had the privilege of visiting the CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) control centre and observed data being drawn from the machine to the screens and scientists working and monitoring the status of the machine. The favourite location for me was visiting the facility where they test the individual components tirelessly to ensure that they are fit for use and in working order. Arguably the most interesting part of the trip was when the LHC projects were explained to us. The four main experiments were mentioned which are fairly familiar, ATLAS, CMS, Alice & LHCb, which are all detectors situated in the tunnel iself. However CERN also has experiments such as CNGS (CERN
Neutrinos to Gran Sasso), which sends neutrinos through the earth, from Switzerland to Gran Sasso in Italy. It is the scale of these projects and international collaboration that is most impressive, requiring dedication and organization from different teams around the globe. We also visited other sites, such as the Microcosm, (a collection of demonstrations, exhibits and presentations about the science and engineering behind all of CERN’s projects), the Globe (this featured a light show which introduced some of the background science of CERN and an interactive globe which gives information on all the key locations across the world for CERN), the gift shop, the Atlas visitor centre (where we watched a 3D film about the
creation of the LHC) and more. While we were not visiting CERN, we had the freedom to explore the wonderful city of Geneva and were able to visit the UN building, the Red Cross building, Lake Geneva, the Chapel, and various restaurants. The best non-physics part of the trip for the majority of the group was visiting the swimming section of Lake Geneva. Fortunately the weather was gorgeous while we were there and relaxing on the beach was a good way to get to know the group and have a brilliant time! It seems only right that we thank Mrs Wieser for organising the trip, as without her this would not have been possible.
The group gathered at the airport (photo provided by Sam Esgate)
COLLEGE NEWS
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
Mock Election >> Students engage with politics outside of the classroom
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Multikultura Language Project Jodie Baker Editor Hills Road’s Modern Languages department is currently collaborating with Cambridge University’s Modern and Medieval Languages Faculty on an exciting new project. They are in the process of producing a ‘Multikultura’ web-based resource, which both students and adults will be able to access in order to improve their language skills. The project aims to enable people to discover, under stand and connect with foreign languages. It is based around the idea that effective learning must be driven by a strong sense of curiosity. With this in mind, the materials available draw out unfamiliar – and
Politics Society students meet Cambridge City candidates at the Hills Road hustings (photo by Alice Campbell)
Alice Campbell College News Reporter For the adult population, it was time to vote for a new government. But even for the dedicated politics students of Hills Road (who quite frankly know more about politics than most of the electorate), there was no chance for those under 18 to voice their opinion on the 6th May 2010. For the first time, however, the Hills Road Politics Society opened its ballot boxes to the new constituency of Hills Road Sixth Form College.
often unusual – aspects of the target language and its accompanying
533 students, or 29.3% of the college
Again mirroring the official election,
culture. Examples that have already been uploaded include an
population. Despite this, further
the Conservative Candidate Nick
introduction to clothing in 17th century Germany and an exploration
analysis of the figure is encouraging,
Hillman was in second place, with
of regional culinary specialities. Interactive online activities test the
as it is above the percentage of politics
19.5% of the vote. Tony Juniper, the
learner’s understanding of the content. The entire process provides
students in the entire college. It would,
Green Party candidate, achieved
students with the opportunity to connect with their chosen language
therefore, seem that the political bug
at the Hills Road Election what he
does extend beyond the classroom!
did not in the general election; he
outside of the prescriptive examined syllabus.
stormed to third place with 18.1% of
Students have been asked to produce modules for the French,
The results of the Hills Road Election
the vote. Labour candidate, Daniel
bring further intrigue, as the winner,
Zeichner, was left with just 16.7%.
Liberal Democrat candidate Julian
The remaining votes fell to UK
are working to create reading and listening materials as well as
Huppert, won not only the Hills Road
Independence Party candidate Peter
grammar exercises. The finished materials should be of particular
Election with an enormous 41.1%
Burkinshaw, who had a mere 4% of
interest to students at Hills Road looking for ideas for independent
of the votes, but is now the Right
the vote.
or extension work, as they will be relevant, topical and produced by
Honourable MP for Cambridge City.
Spanish and German areas of the website. A number of groups
other teenagers. The mock election, organised by the
The candidates on the ballot were
Hills Road Politics Society, proved to
in fact the actual candidates for the
be a major success. Witnessing the
Cambridge City constituency, having
voting station opening disproved
previously voiced their views at the
the stereotype of all young people
Hills Road hustings, which were held in February. With polls opening at 8.45am,
The materials available are suitable for anybody studying a language at GCSE, AS or A level. The project consists of a bank of modules designed to challenge and extend both linguistic and cultural
being politically apathetic. Students
knowledge. There are six key themes: art and culture, sport and
were queuing along the G-Block
leisure, geography and society, history, science and technology,
corridor to cast their votes. For the
and literature.
unlucky generation who missed out
hundreds of students cast their
on a real vote by a year or two, the
votes. However, the apathy of the
mock election allowed students to
nation appeared to be mirrored
actively participate in modern day
in the turnout, which was only
‘Lysistrata’ is a success
politics.
To access the project, please visit www.multikultura.org.uk. To find out more, or to get involved with producing resources, please contact Ms Cordula Körner, or another member of the languages department.
>> Student production of an ancient Greek comedy is well received
‘Lysistrata’, performed two weeks before the end of term by students from Hills Road, is an ancient Greek comedy. That might conjure up an image of dull dialogue and obscure jokes, but if you’re at all familiar with its author, Aristophanes, you’ll know that this isn’t the case. In fact, the play revolves around sexual humour, ranging from double entendre to
more visual and risqué comic scenes.
and a fantastic sense of physical
The eponymous Lysistrata is a Greek
comedy. The play was accompanied
woman who convinces a whole group
by short songs, performed in a
of wives to take action to stop the
fittingly exuberant manner and had
ongoing Peloponnesian war. They plan
a brisk pace. In comparison to other
to do this by withholding sex from the
plays it was quite short, lasting only
men until a peace is declared, while at
an hour, but this meant that the
the same time tempting the men as
comedy never started to wear thin.
much as possible.
Altogether it was a great production and confirmed my opinion that
The quality of the acting was very high;
Hills always succeeds in producing
the whole cast had great comic timing
excellent plays.
Logos taken from organisations’ websites
Reuben Cohn-Gorden College News Reporter
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COLLEGE NEWS
21 July 2010 | The Phoenix
College Construction Alice Moden College News Editor Over the last few weeks it has become evident, even to passers-by, that the landscape of Hills Road is changing dramatically. The college population will benefit immensely from the programme of rejuvenation that is now well underway. The aim of the building work is to establish a better working environment for students and teachers. This includes creating a new multi-purpose atrium, refurbishing the library and creating a much improved student social area and library. Work is also taking place to expand the space available for history of art and textiles. Major construction work is being undertaken at the front of college. In response to the student ‘bottleneck’ that appears during rush hour, the main entrance is being altered. The pavement will be widened to make space for the hordes of students that congregate there. In addition to this, cycle storage
next to the science building should be upgraded with CCTV monitors, meaning that fewer people will chain bikes to the railings along Hills Road. This will effectively widen the pavement even further.
As you enter the college, the entrance corridor has been taken over by builders, who are constructing the new bursary, resources office and assistant principal’s rooms. The old spaces are being used for a new examinations office and meeting room. These areas of the college will be easily accessible, and should make these administrative departments feel more open and friendly. An extra entrance from the quad to the basement area has been created, and the removal of layers of multi-coloured paint has exposed original brickwork. Reprographics and the Student Council offices will be relocated, which should mean that the basement is larger, lighter and more open-plan. The basement shop is being refurbished, and will provide high quality food and drink at affordable prices. A new cyber-
café will provide access to social networking and games websites, which are not accessible from college computers situated in study areas. Changes have already taken place in several departments, including biology and psychology, as classrooms have been relocated. New windows in MA6, 7 and 8 should provide classrooms with improved ventilation. Constructing a new psychology base room and re-wiring cabling in the maths department has been particularly difficult work. This was necessary in order to accommodate the new multi-purpose atrium, which will be the size of three classrooms, and will contain around 30 computers. This work should be finished over the summer holidays. Currently, the target date for the end of construction is 20th August. We will all look forward to coming back to newer, more spacious, and better-equipped facilities in September.
A builder works on the new atrium (photo by James McCann)
LOCAL NEWS
Young People of the Year Awards Alex Tyndall Local News Reporter The main thinking behind YOPEY (Young People of the Year) is to reward young people within the community for volunteer work that they’ve done to benefit society. Its founder, Tony Gearing, was frustrated at the amount of bad press young people seem to get from ‘the bad guys – the media’ and did something about it in 2005 when he held the first YOPEY awards ceremony. Five years later and the YOPEY, pronounced ‘yoppee’, is now a national event with awards ceremonies from Scotland to
fellow reporter Will Simmons had
hell and managed to turn their life
to do was interview the finalists
around. Tina Mogg, nominated
when they arrived at the venue, the
for her extensive youth work in
Hemingford Abbotts golf complex.
Duxford, said, ‘I’m feeling nervous
So, in the four hours between our
but excited – I think everyone is!
arrival and that of the finalists, we
I was so excited when I found out
slumped on comfy chairs munching
I was nominated – Simply being
Yorkie Bars and commenting on the
nominated is fantastic.’ When we
performance of the presenters who
asked her about her motivation for
were with their vocal coach. Tricky
her youth work, she told us, ‘I don’t
stuff to coordinate, all in all, but we
like the image of young people in the
handled it expertly. When the event
media. It’s completely wrong. In our
itself did kick off, with the volunteers
village we had someone beaten up,
all suitably togged up in suits and
and then everyone seemed to think
our official-looking purple lanyards,
[all] young people were like that.’
we took the opportunity to have a chat with some of the finalists.
were provided largely by four Hills
Suffolk. The assorted Hills Road volunteers had jobs ranging from setting up chairs and filling envelopes to presenting the entire ceremony in front of 300 dignitaries and the finalists’ families. All I and my
The speeches in the ceremony itself
The finalists were 14 people, or groups
Road students - Katt Smith, Louis
of people, who have been nominated
Goddard-Stark,
for being a positive young role model.
and Anna Gammans - who told the
This could mean they’ve been doing
audience the stories of the finalists.
volunteer work to raise money for
During the interval, Anna told us, ‘It
charity, working to fix inequality in
went so fast, I kind of want to do it
society, or that they’ve been through
again.’ Louis added, ‘I was really
Ravneet
Minhas
YOPEY award winners pose with their prizes (photo by Tony Gearing)
LOCAL NEWS
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010 (continued from previous page)
work as a UK young ambassador,
nervous, but getting through that
said, ‘I was up against really hard
first speech kind of gives you more
competition – they were all great.
‘oomph’.’ Special praise was given to
I’m humbled to be on the same
our presenters by one of the judges,
platform as them.’ The overall
the managing director of Spicers in
winner, Edward Williams, who
Cambridge, who stated that, ‘the
raised £70,000 by swimming Lake
presentation skills here could outdo
Windermere and the Channel for
some of my management teams’.
East Anglia Children’s Hospice, told
7
us happily, ‘I don’t know what to say. Once the speeches were done and winners were presented with their enormous cheques, we went to interview the four winners.
I’ll probably give all the money away. I don’t really know what to do with it and it’d be better off going to a good cause.’
Unfortunately the Junior YOPEY wasn’t
Obviously this is a shortened version
available for comment. We did,
of events and many of the finalists
however, catch up with the first,
haven’t been mentioned. If you are
second and third place winners. 12-
looking for more information, the
year-olds Molly Hares and Holly
YOPEY website (www.yopey.org)
Lane, who had single-handedly
has some interesting links and gives
raised £1060 for the Haiti Earthquake
a clearer idea about what the scheme
appeal, told us, ‘We’re not sure what
set out to do.
winner,
Lauren
Wright,
to spend the prize money on. Half of it’s going to the Haiti Earthquake appeal, but the rest we don’t know about.’ Zain Awan, second place winner, who was nominated for his
YOPEY award winners receiving recognition for all their hard work (photo by Tony Gearing)
Hills Road Bridge Jacob Dunlop Local News Editor
Mrs Catherine Tosko recently complained to Hills Road Sixth Form College about her treatment at the hands of students whilst walking across Hills Road Bridge. She claims that as she walked over the bridge her bag was knocked from her hands, her ‘hands-free’ device was broken and she received no apology. She describes the college’s response as ‘immensely poor’ in which it apologises – if indeed the students were from Hills Road. The action she took therefore was to create an ‘e-petition’, which proposes that the college provides stewards to monitor the students crossing the bridge and to ensure that they walk in an orderly manner in single-file. This petition has been the target of many abusive and mocking posts by anonymous users of the site, but is it really as ridiculous a suggestion as it sounds?
Hills Road Bridge (photo from Google Maps)
At a glance, the footpath in question seems reasonably wide. Demanding a military-style, single file march seems unnecessary and there are no laws prohibiting students from walking in groups of four or five, providing they are not walking onto the road. Is the problem then the
attitude of the students walking, rather than the number of students?
grown members of the public – to monitor their own behaviour.
It may well be the case that students from any college could be unruly, misbehaved or rude in public places. It’s a possibility that the problem for Mrs Tosko is therefore the way in which she was treated, not the system designed for people or students in general to walk on the bridge. Stewards provided by Hills Road would therefore be ineffective as there is nothing legally empowering them to instruct people how and where to walk on public property. As we don’t have a uniform at Hills it would be hard for such stewards to know who is and is not from our college and they certainly couldn’t just begin to instruct people who look as if they might be a student. Manners are something you learn at home or from an early age – it is not the role of an institute of further education to instruct students on manners, let alone the way they walk on public walkways. They can advise and request students to behave respectfully and considerately but ultimately it is down to students –
Therefore it would appear that the problem lies, potentially, in Hills Road students lacking conscientiousness whilst walking from the college to the train station. Even if these students are from Hills Road, the college using its state funding to pay for stewards in public places is, unfortunately for Mrs. Tosko, ridiculous. The announcement of a potential 25% budget cut for schools will hamper spending potential as it is, so the suggestion that members of staff who are employed to teach their specialist subjects at a high level should take part in the stewardship of Hills Road Bridge is foolish. As members of the community we may lack politeness at times, unintentionally, but it is not the responsibility of the college to fund staff members to monitor us.
| The Phoenix 8 INTERNATIONAL NEWS The First World Cup in history to be staged in Africa 21 July 2010
>> Jamie Smith considers the location of one of the world’s greatest sporting spectacles Jamie Smith International Reporter It’s a world cup which has been plagued with talk of a badly designed football, lack of ticket sales, poor officiating, poor organisation and a whole host of other topics targeted to criticise the decision to award it to South Africa. It was hoped, that the inevitable problems that come with hosting a World Cup could be overshadowed by the warmth and excitement that a World Cup brings to a host nation. However the sheer volume of highly publicized issues investigated by the media has meant that the decision bring the World Cup to African soil for first time in its history has been brought into disrepute, and has undermined the integrity of what looked to be a risky move by FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the first place. When it was announced back in May of 2004 that the World Cup would be coming to South Africa, a number
of serious concerns underpinned the decision, with the completion of certain stadia being one of the main questions surrounding the bid. Potential back-up host nations such as England were already lined up, and to add insult to injury, Sepp Blatter drafted provisional plans to hand over the tournament to Morocco, just months after awarding it to South Africa. Blatter would have hoped that as soon as the tournament had started, the original fears over the safety of supporters could be allayed, and other concerns over the infrastructure of the country could be over shadowed by the wonder and intrigue the spectacle of a World Cup brings. Sadly for the FIFA president, that hope could have never been a reality. Coupled with off the field issues, a number of criticisms were also made with arising problems on the pitch. The ball was called into question when a number of competing nations complained over the inconsistency
of its flight in the air. “Tested and perfected” at Loughborough University, a number of high profile counties criticised it for being unpredictable when struck, and combined with the differing terrain the matches would be played at, the ball was more suited to being played at sea level. Despite the fact that a lot of the games were being played at altitude. Ticket sales were also a huge problem, and pictures of empty stadiums with seats aplenty beamed across the globe, with the local people complaining of extortionate prices that left the majority of the South African public unable to afford a ticket. When people were actually able to get in the stadium however, poor officiating at a global level highlighted the need for video technology in sport, despite strong opposition from big movers at FIFA for its introduction. Frank Lampard’s goal that never was for England against Germany in the last 16 was not only a prime example of inept
officiating from Uruguayan assistant referee Mauricio Espinosa, but also the affirmation of the stubborn and backward characters that sit at the top of the FIFA hierarchy. The call for goal-line technology by the global football community was met with vehement opposition within the FIFA ranks, despite compelling evidence that video technology can help root out poor officiating on the big decisions at the highest level.
The debacle that surrounds this whole World Cup is not only compelling considering the evidence, but tragic at the same time. Tragic in the sense that a move which was supposed to unite a country behind the Bufana Bufana, whilst allowing it’s people to bask in the grandeur of such a monumental global sporting event, was instead a tournament which will be remembered for the failures it failed to prevent.
Fans watching the World Cup in South Africa (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
An Audience with CJV Digital ARC Projects >> Ricky Sengupta interviews Andy Cummins of CJV Digital, one of the local companies that is sponsoring the college’s Africa Link project Ricky Sengupta Africa Link Correspondent CJV digital is one of the companies that sponsors the college’s Africa Link charity. I interviewed Andy Cummins, the consultant of CJV Digitals. He has been helping Africa Link to gain more publicity and thus more sponsors.
Q. How did you help this charity? A. I provided them with information on digital marketing. I also gave them provisional services for free and offered to produce their digital newsletter for free. I also advised them on marketing – how to promote themselves and in developing marketing communication. Basically implementing digital technology.
Q. How did you find out about the charity? A. Well, my son goes to Hills Road Sixth Form College. I heard that they were looking for parental supporters for this particular charity. I decided to give them a call, to offer them services of my company.
Q. How has your sponsorship helped the charity? A. They have been noticed by bigger organisations. Digital marketing is more effective and my advice is being used by the charity to gain additional support. Through this Africa Link has been noticed by other organisations such as ARM and, I believe, Virgin.
Q. Why did you decide to support this charity? A. I work with a number of charities but I decided to support this charity to show my support for Hills Road in general, as a parent of a pupil.
Q. Have you been involved with any of the events organised by Africa Link? A. No, not yet. It’s only been around two months that I have been involved with Africa Link. It is a very recent thing.
>> Students raise money for the Africa Link Project Harriet Allen Editor
such as an Easter raffle organised by
Since January, 12 groups of lower sixth
and a paintballing expedition,
students have been busy organising
organised by Geoffrey Kirby and
fundraising events to support the
Jonny Littlewood, which raised an
college’s Africa Link project with the
impressive total of £320.
Phoebe Sharratt and Jacob Dunlop,
Ndamase school as part of their level 2 or 3 ARC (academic research course)
Kayleigh Hubbard, Charlotte
projects. A multitude of brightly-
Simpson, Binu Kularatne and Char
coloured posters have advertised
Edwards raised £375 from their
events from cake stalls and raffles
Concert for Cause at the Soultree, and
to dress-up days, sports events and
combined this with two cake stalls to
charity gigs. The locations for these
raise a grand total of £525. ‘Pirate vs
events ranged from college itself,
Ninja’ day, organised by Harriet Allen,
to venues in Cambridge, such as
Zheng Ng and Steph Atkins, brought
Soultree, and places further afield,
in £160, along with unleashing hordes
such as Apocalypse Paintball in
of students dressed as pirates and
Royston.
ninjas into the college. Students were also treated to a couple of very
Students participating in the paintballing event (photo by Geoffrey Kirby)
The projects were completed by the
successful ‘Live Lounges’ and a gig in
end of March. They included events
the basement that raised over £200.
9 Guttenplan on victory, Cambridge University and the Guild of Assassins FEATURES
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
>> Ella Gough conducts an exclusive interview with Alex Guttenplan at Emmanuel College Ella Gough Features Writer I don’t even have a television, but this winter I was hooked on the 2010 series of University Challenge. The final took place on April 5th between St John’s College, Oxford, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, with (naturally) the Cambridge team storming to victory.
The
captain of the ‘Emma’ team was Alex Guttenplan, who impressed audiences, including me, with his Wikipedia-sized brain. Amazingly, although he has refused to talk to any national newspaper, The Phoenix has pulling power, and so I found myself biking up to interview him at Emmanuel College.
As
I
approached
Guttenplan
carefully avoided my gaze – perhaps a little too used to being stared at by fans of University Challenge? In fact, he admits that after their stunning victory the Daily Mail ‘did turn up at my house ... But we shut the door on them’. Being stalked by the tabloids hasn’t fazed him though; as we walked through the college he seemed talkative and friendly.
Guttenplan clearly enjoys life at Cambridge, despite having ‘quite a lot of work in his first year’. I
“
The Daily Mail did turn up at my house ... But we shut the door on them.
”
don’t lose marks if you get them
jacket, he’s greeted by the people we
offers some words of advice – ‘they
wrong’ which means that when
walk past, and even the undergrad
don’t want to know what you can
asked ‘Disenchantment Bay, Glacier
who is intently typing on his laptop,
remember about a course’ but rather
Bay and Pavlov Bay are among the
his enormous headphones sending
how you can apply that knowledge.
numerous bays on the coastline
out a message of ‘Do Not Disturb’,
Should you get past the intimidating
of which US state?’ he knew it was
manages a nod and a smile.
Alaska. Now at the end of his second year,
“
Students compete to ‘assassinate’ each other in inventive ways
Having put Cambridge down first
Guttenplan has just finished six
on a formidable application list
exams and is finding that ‘you are
that included ‘Cambridge, Durham,
both more and less busy after exams’.
Imperial, UCL and St Andrews’,
He admits he’s not the most avid
Guttenplan then had to decide
fan of Cambridge’s nightlife, but
whether to opt for ‘sciences or
that might be partly because ‘after
classics’, but chose to study Natural
11 o’clock the prices [of drinks] go
Sciences in the end because it would
from reasonable to robbery’. Instead,
give him the chance to ‘discover
you might find him out on the river,
Oxbridge interview, you can look
something new’ (he is considering
which he declares is the best thing
forward to the Freshers’ events laid
becoming a research scientist and
about Cambridge. He punts, and
on. When asked for tips for surviving
is looking forward to spending July
‘[rows] quite a lot too’, and also finds
Freshers’, he considers for a while;
‘in a lab at Imperial’). His choice of
time to take part in the Guild of
‘well, it is possible to go for four
doesn’t
college wasn’t set in stone either, he
Assassins, a society in which students
days without sleep’, but he wouldn’t
enjoy a challenge. He and the
‘was actually considering Downing
compete to ‘assassinate’ each other
recommend it. What he does
Emmanuel
team competed in
[College]’, but having gone ‘to a
in inventive ways (let nobody ever
recommend is ‘time alone’ to take it
University Challenge without any
lot of colleges at open day’ was
say Cambridge is all work no play).
all in. I can only speak for myself, but
revision except ‘reading the Bamber
then dragged to Emmanuel as ‘my
His personal favourite assassination,
I’m sure I’d need time to take in the
Gascoigne Quiz Book on the way
parents thought [it] looked nice’. He
by the way, was when ‘someone once
enormity of studying at a university
to Manchester’, when all around
says the best thing about ‘Emma’ is
dropped a big polystyrene ball with
with 800 years of history, where (at
him other University teams were
that ‘everyone is really friendly’, and
‘six million million million kilogram
least some) of your peers can tell you
swotting up – he saw ‘I think it
these don’t seem to be empty words
planet’ written on it’ onto their
that nyctalopia is a sign of Vitamin A
was Loughborough, reading the
- as we pass the queue for formal
unsuspecting victim.
deficiency and that parasympathetic
Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
dinner he stops to compliment a
nerves are in control during periods
in the green room’. Impressively,
Asking about the application process,
fellow student on their velvet dinner
he admits that he was very surprised
of relaxation. We’d best be dusting
that ‘they didn’t question me at all
down our Bamber Gascoigne Quiz
on my personal statement’. He also
Books, then!
pointed out that a friend claimed he had to read 30 books in a week whilst studying at Cambridge – ‘well perhaps 30 parts of books’ comes the reply. That’s all right then ...! He also warns that ‘everyone comes to Cambridge getting 90%’ and is then taken aback when ‘70% is a first at Cambridge’, because the work is so much more challenging.
Not
that
Guttenplan
he also ‘only guessed the answers to bonus questions [because] you
”
Emmanuel - Guttenplan’s college (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
10
21 July 2010 | The Phoenix
FEATURES
Take heed, travellers ...
>> Sarah Moore looks at a number of unusual laws that might be worth observing if you are going on holiday this summer Sarah Moore Reporter It is with great misfortune that tourists often find themselves breaking the law with out even realising it, but what laws should you be aware of when travelling abroad? From the life threatening mistakes to the laughable blunders, several foreign countries have laws that would be seen as ridiculous to the UK eye. As humorous as they maybe, or in some cases downright worrying, here are the laws you should make a note of before you go on your summer travels. Remember that the more ridiculous laws are generally not enforced. Mexico There are no trials in Mexico. Neither is there open court. If a person is arrested, the district attorney “Ministerio Publico” has up to seventy-two hours to make a prosecutorial decision, and if the decision is made to prosecute, then the defendant is taken to prison. However do not panic, as eventually a court is held and you do get your say, but best to steer clear of trouble and you will not find yourself in this tight spot.
Thailand Thai people hold their King and Queen and the Royal Family in great reverence, and so won’t tolerate foreigners showing disrespect to them. So be careful what you say. Indonesia There are three regions in Indonesia that you cannot visit without special permission and approval; these are Aceh, Maluku, and Irian Jaya. If you plan to enter one of these restricted regions, you must obtain special authorization from Indonesian authorities. America And here come the crazy ones… In New York, the penalty for jumping off a building is: death. In California, it is illegal to set a mouse trap without a hunting licence (clearly this is where Stuart Little is hiding). In Florida, you’re not allowed to break more than three dishes a day, or chip the edge off more than four cups and/or saucers. Miami: Illegal to go around imitating animals. Sarasota: Illegal to sing while wearing a bathing suit. In Wichita, Kansas: A father cannot frighten his daughter’s
boyfriend with a gun. In Kansas City, Missouri: Minors are not allowed to purchase cap pistols; they can, however, buy shotguns freely. In Washington, all lollipops are forbidden. France It is illegal to buy or sell an E.T. doll. Yes, that is in reference to the movie as they have a law against selling dolls that do not have human faces. Athens, Greece A driver’s licence can be taken away if the driver is thought to be either ‘poorly dressed’ or ‘unbathed’. Samoa It is a crime to forget your own wife’s birthday - (they should make it illegal not to buy her anything for it too). Switzerland It is illegal for a man to relieve himself while standing up after 10pm. And Finally, England It is illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas day.
Exams: why?
>> Tom Oliver contemplates whether testing is really necessary Tom Oliver Reporter Exams; do they ring a bell? Those in the lower sixth had better get used to it, as there are more to come next year, whether it be retakes or the A2s. I have yet to meet anyone who would willingly admit that they were looking forward to their exams, yet grudgingly we accept it as a part of life, no different to taxes and school bills for our parents. The question is, why all the fuss? There are the obvious answers. We need them to get a place in University, where we meet new people, have the best three years of our lives, and at some point it is hoped that we learn something to pass - guess what - even more exams at the end of each year. After that, even then there is no guarantee that there will be an end to them, as some demand tests to be taken either at the start or part way during the beginning of your career. Since ancient times,
especially in Imperial China, exams have been used to sort the good from the bad. I don’t speak for all, but this is truly a frightening prospect, as adults still have nightmares about exams! Of course, they are useful in assessing your abilities. At least, that is the excuse anyway, with horribly prescriptive marking criteria for GCSEs, which require as much hoop-jumping as a dog at a pedigree show. Sometimes, this is the only way for an external invigilator to have a grasp of your abilities, as they are unable to look into your mind and see how (and what) you think. Essentially, short of breaking an essentially unwritten human right and delving into the domain of the mad scientist, it is all they can do to see if you fit the bill. But, cry some, surely there are other ways, such as interviews, coursework etc. Indeed, these are very good methods for demonstrating ability (or lack of it).
There are, of course, difficulties with these too. For those who have trouble vocalising ideas, or lack the ability to speak coherently, interviews could be unfair for the brilliant minds that aren’t good with words. Of course, if this is the case, then applying for university or jobs is the least of their worries. As for coursework, it would be a perfect idea, as it provides enough time to plan a coherent argument, word it correctly and correct any errors that would otherwise cause embarrassment in an exam. It also gives enough time to find an excellent essay online and tweak it to look like yours. In the end, it looks like exams are all we have. In conclusion, exams are unfortunately a necessary evil. That, or get Dr. Evil to use a large ominous device that beeps a lot to take a look into your most private thoughts. Personally, I would go for two hours in a stifling hot room scratching my head in vague panic.
When parents are students Sarah Gashi Former Editor
>> 22% more over-25s applied for University places in 2009 than in 2008. Past Phoenix editor Sarah Gashi reminisces about the complications of parents being students. After L6 exams and those tedious first weeks of the U6, your mind turns to university open days and writing your personal statement. Usually, either your parents take part in the sense that they drive you to campuses and proofread your attempts at humble boasting, or they just leave you to it. Infinitely more complicated is the situation in which a parent applies to university at the same time as you, goes to Open Days with you for both of you, and asks you to read over his or her personal statement while she or he reads yours. In the summer of 2009 my mum and I applied for degree courses at the same time. We did at least apply to different universities for different courses, but the overlapping of our application processes caused a hectic oscillation between cooperation and competition, between the deepest sympathy and moments of callous indifference. At first I was certainly indignant at her timing, choosing to apply for a degree the very year I do (I’m the student here, you’re the mum, so let me whine about the misery of having to condense all my capabilities into that awful 47line advert for myself without you insisting that ‘it’s not that hard’ when I know that you know it is, etc.) When the simultaneous UCAS applications were finished and the dreaded ‘Pay/Send’ button clicked, we had to apply to the Student Loans Company together as well. Complications arose in abundance. See, when you and a parent apply to student finance in the same year, that parent is ‘supporting your application’, while creating their own independent application. Your parent has a Customer ID and so do you, but your parent also has an Alias ID for you which is different to your customer ID. Student finance sends emails meant for you to your parent and emails meant for your parent to you. You send and resend photocopies of passports and tax forms and birth certificates, and for some reason it is impossible for them to apply this information to both applications, so you have to send everything twice. Finally you receive a notice of entitlement, with the grants and loans you most definitely need when your parent is also living on a student loan. Then, in my case, a month later Student Finance ‘corrects’ my notice of entitlement, inexplicably
removing all my grants. £15 of waiting on hold later, I discover this is because my mother’s financial status is being reassessed and therefore I may not need grants. No. Excuse me. My mother’s financial status is being reassessed because her income will now be halved because she is a poor student like me. And you thought you’d just take away my grants? I am assured that as soon as my mother’s financial status is fully assessed and she receives her notice of entitlement, my application will be reassessed. So it becomes necessary to wait for two months for mum’s notice of entitlement to arrive. A further two months after that, my application remains grantless with no sign of change. Panic sets in - one week until the deadline for student finance applications (I didn’t think they’d care that I originally applied in January). Thirty minutes on hold ensue. ‘Oh, sorry, the system is down today. You’ll have to call again later or tomorrow.’ Thirty minutes on hold the next day. Finally: breakthrough. Apologies received for the complications arising from mine and my mother’s decision to apply for student finance simultaneously. I ignore the subtle implication that the havoc has been my fault, my fault for - shock horror - wanting to be able to eat while I’m furthering my education. So, mother and daughter prepare for university together. I look at the cost of rooms at my College. Mum examines the difference between the rent for our house and the depleted child benefits following my imminent departure. My younger brother gapes in dismay as mum asks us both for tips on essay writing, a skill she hasn’t exercised since before my birth. Textbooks begin to appear in the house that are neither mine, nor ones I recognise from the GCSEs which my brother is now taking. A labcoat materialises in the wardrobe, glaring at me with a precise immaculate whiteness which I have not yet learned to associate with my mother. I fight back on behalf of humanities, filling up the space for recorded programs on our TV with documentaries from the History Channel which I may or may not actually watch. Mum disappears for a week for work experience, which is apparently still a necessity even when you have twenty-four years of employment under the belt. Interestingly, the whole process tweaked the relationship I have with my mother, to make it a little less provider-dependent and a little more in the genre of student housemates. This change comes in tandem with my 18th birthday, passing my driving test and finishing at Hills Road, and ultimately it’s a change that I welcome as a part of the process of becoming an independent adult while still staying close to my mum.
POLITICS
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
When Facebook gets boring, stalk politicians instead
11
>> Sarah Gashi checks up on our local MPs Sarah Gashi Former Editor In the dying wake of the General Election, it is easy to slip back into the political apathy that engulfed most of our generation before election fever took hold. The ongoing toddler steps of a very interesting coalition probably should be enough of a motivation to follow politics, but let’s be honest: sifting through Hansard is just way too much effort. But there is a solution – anyone can ‘track’ their MP, and the MPs of other constituencies, at www.theyworkforyou.com. For example, I can see that Julian Huppert, Lib Dem MP for Cambridge City Constituency, spoke this June about a selection of issues including alternatives to child detention, the availability of human tissue in medical research, and the Cambridge guided busway project. I can also see that 132 people
‘track’ Mr Huppert, along with some other trivial items. Interestingly, his speeches (as written in Hansard) are apparently readable by an average 1617 year old, according to the FleschKincaid Grade Level score. Now, Parliament is a world where MPs still generally address each other as the ‘honourable member’. only the Speaker may use an MP’s name, and people still talk like this: “Before Opposition Members start chortling away, let me say that my honourable Friend makes a very good point. I would merely remind Opposition Members which Government raised council tax so steeply” (Chris Huhne, 24th June 2010, Hansard). Now Julian Huppert fits right in with the crowd with the whole ‘talking to people by referring to them in the third person’ thing, but it’s still quite comforting to know that both his choice of vocabulary and the length of his sentences are considered intelligible to sixth form
students. TheyWorkForYou also enlightens me that Mr Huppert has used 3-word alliterative phrases in Parliament only four times, which, it seems, is below average for MPs. Goodness knows what that is supposed to mean about his performance as a politician (the website defends its inclusion by saying “we’ve added the silly statistic to catch your attention”), but apparently Tony Blair’s usage of alliterative phrases was copious, and David Miliband and Andrew Lansley are also rather fond of them. It’s a little embarrassing to think about. Unfortunately, as Mr Huppert has only been a Member of Parliament since 6th May this year, he has not yet voted on enough proposals for www. theyworkforyou.com to be able to organise a comprehensive picture of his voting choices by issue. Andrew Lansley, on the other hand, has been a Member of Parliament since 1st May 1997. I admit that earlier today
Politics: banter or passion?
I turned gleefully to his profile on the website, eager to find a record of snobbery, scandal and political dirt, and found myself faced with a healthy dose of realism. Now, I was already aware that it’s really quite unlikely Andrew Lansley is even half as bad as my somewhat anti-Tory upbringing has made me inclined to believe. It’s hard not to pick up on your parents’ and peers’ opinions of the Conservatives (fox-hunting, EU-hating rich elitist ancient fuddyduddy twits), but Lansley voted strongly against introducing student top-up fees, voted very strongly for laws to prevent climate change, and while he did originally vote for the Iraq War he also then voted strongly for an investigation into it.
he’s pro-green and sympathetic to students – and as I’m at a time in my life where my waitressing job earns me £5.63 an hour, my university room will cost about £100 a week, and student finance is proving to be a beacon of incompetence, Lansley’s opposition to top-up fees takes him a long way in my good books. And I got all of this from www.theyworkforyou.com.
Okay, he did vote strongly against the hunting ban, vote strongly against EU integration, and vote strongly against removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords. (Foxhunting EU-hating elitism?) But hey,
Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
Neil Chauhan Reporter
to illuminate growing affirmation
new revelations on how many
attention to assess the issue. The
of political events that are mainly
of and interest in Britain’s leading
members of the Conservative party
Telegraph’s apocalyptic discovery
underlined by scandal, rumour and
Staying up all night couldn’t have
political parties.
are Oxbridge graduates, and is
“
gossip.
classing them as living in a fool’s
reduced the cheeky banter of the UK 2010 election in May. Either caffeine
Speaking to one person before
managed to fuel souls for original
election time: ‘Who is David
election jokes or, alternatively, Britain can be pleased to hear that its younger generation’s interest in politics is disproportionate to its interests in
Cameron?’ and the reply was: ‘um...isn’t he in that show The F Word?’ Several weeks later and that same person is poking fun at
paradise for claiming to represent the working population. In an ideal world, the assumption could be
Politics should be fun
”
made that expansion in that person’s wealth of political knowledge was
Therefore politics cannot just be consumed by the economic plans developed by the parties. It cannot revolve entirely over the budget deficit. Nor can it focus meticulously
contingent on the extra political
and perpetually on nitty-gritty details
booze and clubs. But the question
info fed through newspapers, TVs,
of the MPs’ expenses scandal took
of bills and legislation. Indeed,
still stands: was enthusiasm for this
radios and teachers. Should this
front page headlines in nearly every
politics should be fun; it should
have been the case, this is surely
newspaper.
Nick
be a discipline allowing students
encouraging for politics, economics
Griffin’s Holocaust denial in October
to design caricatures of political
and history teachers. But what if this
2009 sparked considerable fervent
leaders. Yes - students will continue
particular interest was dependent
protest, debate and discussion
to read articles on politics often
on the prospect of waking up the
amongst students at Hills Road. There
deemed ‘boring’ but the comical
next morning to ridicule and taunt
appears to be legitimate curiosity
banter that follows it is simply a long
the Conservative supporter in your
and concern over these ethical and
tradition in culture adding laughter
History class?
political issues. Conversely however,
and amusement to the framework
there is an argument that might
of national political events.
year’s election sustained through genuine passion and excitement for politics? Or was it a showcase of a momentary period of spasmodic ambitious ridicule? Should it be the latter then congratulations are due to Hills Road’s witty and humorous characters (who won’t be named). But the former seems even more intriguing, since it appears
“
Who is David Cameron?
“
”
... Isn’t he in that show The F Word?
”
Additionally,
We could look at previous events
suppose this intellectual inquisition
catching
is a spur-of-the-moment exploration
the
national
media’s
12
21 July 2010| The Phoenix
COMMENT AND DEBATE
The Budget - ‘The Only Way’?
Yee Rou Quah Features Writer It seems that the Lib-Dems and the Conservatives are acting in a way which I don’t quite understand, or we, if I am speaking for us as a collective whole. How does cutting the budget improve the economy? Not only does the announcement of the Emergency Budget dump many people into a deep, dark hole with a feeling that the future does not look too optimistic or bright, it also contributes to social problems, increasing unemployment and making people on average worse off. So what is the logic behind it? My understanding of economics renders this idea of less consumption as making no sense, because stimulating consumption is useful as it has an important multiplier effect. With more people spending, firms are likely to see a revenue increase, which prompts them to produce more, meeting the demands that are increasing. In order to do that, firms will have to employ more workers, create more jobs and thus people have more income and they are more likely to spend. And so the circle goes round. By cutting the budget and announcing to us how bad the economic situation is, the Conservatives and the Lib
Dems are showing us an austere future, which bears no glimmer of hope. This will most certainly affect consumer confidence - people will be less willing to spend when they are uncertain about the future. As unemployment rises, there are increased social problems that are linked—higher crime rates for example, and higher NHS spending. However, you could say that at least they are showing us reality instead of wrapping us in a warm, comfortable bubble of fantasy that will eventually burst. The government is £166bn in debt and to put off stabilising this debt could lead to even worse problems in the future. George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer explains why the current Government has come to this decision, ‘…by increasing the personal income tax allowance for people on the basic rate what I have done is tried to protect low and middle income earners, people who are in work, I wanted to reward work.’ He is confident in his ambition to ‘reward work’ which he feels is a stark contrast to the Labour Party’s rewarding of those on benefits which the Conservatives are ideologically opposed to. But what about the short term,
negative effects of this decision? Osborne admits, ‘I’m not claiming that people are immediately better off as a result of the Budget - I have said that everyone is making a contribution.’ Studies have shown that the vast majority of the British Public will not be better off. On the 2nd March 2010 the Mail Online published an article claiming that 25,000 council jobs would be cut as a result of the Budget. Reporters have interviewed various people who are directly affected by the freezing of different kinds of benefits; many believe that they are going to have to rethink their spending decisions. Perhaps however all these are short term effects, perhaps in the long term the Government will be able to increase supply-side policies, which would increase unemployment as they have forecasted. By increasing tax revenue the government will be able to repay its debts and improve Britain’s current account position. It would be very damaging for foreign investment for our credit rating to plummet. It will also allow the Government to invest and create jobs; establish policies of education and training which will all lead to a prosperous future once the recovery is underway. The question is, ‘Can we trust the Coalition?’
George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
Proud to be talentless? Alex Tyndall Comments Writer The people in charge of thinking up new programmes for ITV have possibly the easiest job in the world. Take the bare bones of X-Factor and insert ‘general talent contest to attract people not quite stupid enough to admit they can’t sing but who still entertain the delusion that burping on cue will somehow end up on the Royal Variety Performance’. It’s a guaranteed hit. What followed is unquestionably the worst thing that has happened to television since Channel Five. Britain’s Got Talent seems to unify the country in a sense of endearment towards the incurably talent-free. Days after the punishment begins,
the London Metro starts spill-
platform for talented people to gain
they’re not willing to try and do it
the insidious thinking behind the
ing secrets about the “difficult life
recognition that they wouldn’t oth-
themselves: if they did, they’d only
idea – you sit average people down
story” of another random woman
erwise have. I appreciate that find-
have themselves to blame if they
in front of a television and make
towards whom Simon Cowell, in his
ing a way into the upper echelons
failed. This way, the public makes
them feel better about themselves
infinitely dislikeable bad-guy role,
of, for example, the music business
the final decision so the British part
watching another Elvis imper-
spewed his usual clichéd, dream-
is difficult, but that’s a good thing.
of the brain, which always seeks
sonator who sounds like he uses
crushing put-downs. So? How is
Without it, you end up as we have;
to make bad things someone else’s
gravel as a mouthwash, then give
this person any more deserving of
with about fifty different female
fault, is satisfied.
them something to aspire to with
pity than a person who didn’t spend
singers who all sound exactly the
5 minutes embarrassing themselves
same, partly because the same per-
At the other end of the spectrum
songs and adds violin and a classi-
in front of 6 million people? It’s a
son is writing songs for them. You
are the people who discuss the idea
cally trained opera singer. Has our
demonstration of just how desper-
end up with groups like Jedward or
of auditioning the night before in
collective self-esteem dipped so low
ately we as a nation are clinging to
JLS infiltrating adolescent girls’ bed-
the pub. The way the programme is
that we need to watch two women
some way of relating to celebrities.
rooms faster than Taylor Lautner’s
set out, you’d think that everyone in
with tambourines getting bullied by
We care about the intricacies of
abs. You end up with Susan Boyle as
Britain was either chronically stupid
three cosmetically perfect celebri-
the life of a person who had a quick
a national treasure. Again, I accept
or naturally gifted; the people who
ties to feel good about ourselves?
chat with Ant and Dec before get-
that the people who end up win-
don’t quite get to the next round
ting taken off the stage screaming at
ning are talented individuals, but in
or those who are bad, but not in a
The entire concept is utterly despi-
Piers Morgan.
these cases it’s the ‘quick fix’ attitude
way that makes them funny, don’t
cable. But the worst part about it
which frustrates me. They want to
get a look in. That’s odd in a nation
is that it suits our national psyche,
I don’t buy into the suggestion that
end up as nationally recognised
which has always prided itself on
and there’s no escaping it.
Britain’s Got Talent is offering a
dancers or something like that but
being perfectly average. Therein lies
a musical act which takes modern
COMMENT AND DEBATE
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
Do men make better Prime Ministers?
13
>> Carrie Finnerty claims that women are less suited to national leadership roles than men Carrie Finnerty Features Writer In 1972, Sheridan and King asked students to shock a puppy with increasing voltage up to a level which they believed was fatal. The majority shocked all the way to maximum voltage. What is most interesting however, is that out of the male participants 50% shocked up to maximum voltage. It is clear that if a woman was Prime Minister we’d all be electrocuted: darn PMS! Yet out of the female participants 100% obeyed completely. Of course a great deal of research has failed to find any gender difference; much agrees that any variation is down to social conditioning. However, as a result of centuries and centuries of social conditioning, men and women are very different. This is something we must accept, but it is not necessarily a negative. To argue that men and women are different is not to say they are
unequal. However, it is to say that
between the two genders. Indeed
sense – she always wore a skirt and
they exist for individual purposes
Eva Burrows, an influential leader
was never without a handbag. Yet,
and roles. It is clear that women are
in the Salvation Army, said, ‘We
during her years there was only one
extremely capable and successful in
have to be careful in this era of
female Cabinet minister and much
high power jobs and to restrict them
radical feminism, not to emphasize
that Thatcher did undermined
entirely to the home seems wrong.
an equality of the sexes that leads
women rather than helped them.
Yet, there are still professions, such
women to imitate men to prove
She contradicted herself in arguing,
as being Prime Minister, which
their equality. To be equal does not
‘why not a woman chancellor? Or
require very masculine qualities. A
mean you have to be the same.’
foreign secretary?’ yet then left tal-
Prime Minister needs to be strong
Of course, it is impossible to discuss
ented female MPs loitering outside
and to have a significant presence
the ability of a woman to be Prime
of the Cabinet.
on the international stage. They
Minister without considering
In modern society it is still viewed,
need to be able to make decisions
Margaret Thatcher. As one of the
rightly, that men are better leaders.
based purely on facts and ignor-
most influential and debated Prime
A study in 2007 found that 33% of
ing emotion. Most importantly,
Ministers of the United Kingdom
women believed men to have better
it is necessary for them to inspire
she surely seems to be proof that
leadership qualities. This belief ex-
confidence from the people. Of
women can be Prime Ministers.
plains the behaviour of women- at-
course I’m far from suggesting that
Thatcher was ruthless and she
tempting to behave as men in order
women have no managerial skills-
became one of few to stamp her
to succeed in a male dominated
they manage the kitchen perfectly
own ideology, ‘Thatcherism’, on
world. However, if in order to be a
and they’re usually pretty good at
Britain. However, it is notable that
leader women must act like men
leading the cleaning. By attempting
in order to be so successful she was
it is implied that women are not
to attribute women with the same
largely required to behave as a man,
right for that role. Of course women
qualities as men, we undermine
to the extent that she even lowered
have many important leadership
their unique abilities and suggest
her voice. To her credit, Thatcher
qualities of which men are lacking,
there is nothing different or special
maintained her feminine dress
they are better able to emphasise,
often better at languages, better at persuasion. Yet, they lack the most fundamental quality necessary in order to be Prime Minister – confidence from the people. And yes, by the way, I wrote this from the kitchen.
Thatcher - not suited to leadership because she is a woman? (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Science & Technology SCIENCE
Physics Successes Jodie Baker Editor
A prize giving evening was held on Wednesday the 19th May to celebrate successes at all levels of the British Physics Olympiad. In the lower sixth, entrants participate in a single national contest, The AS Physics Competition. A total of 19 Hills Road students received awards. Doug Buisson and Regina Lio both earned gold awards. Doug came second out of all UK participants. Those in the upper sixth face a more complex challenge, and must battle their way through both a local and a national round. Hills Road students gained 11 awards in the regional heats, and had
two gold medallists in the national
competition. Frodi Markan-Jones and David Mestel both scored in the top 20 of over 1000 contestants.
Entrants from Hills Road also earned two bronze medals and one
“
received certificates for attending Villiers Park courses on engineering and cosmology. These successes are the result of the hard work of both individual students and the Physics Department; everybody involved ought to be proud of such impressive achievements.
Phoebe Sharratt Science Editor
”
commendation at national level. In addition to this, four students
OU Biology
Doug came second out of all UK participants
“
Everybody involved ought to be proud of such impressive achievements
”
The Biology department currently offers two Open University courses. These are ‘Human genetics and health issues’ and ‘Molecules, medicines and drugs: a chemical story’. Hills students have had the
on both courses if there was space. The courses did not involve much additional work. The genetics course was really helpful for a later A2 Biology topic. The final assessment of the course was not too hard.
chance to participate in these.
All in all, students who attended
The trips and lectures organised
recommend them as a brilliant
by the school were ‘fantastic’. This year students have visited
the courses would definitely way to expand your biological knowledge.
the Sanger centre (which was involved in sequencing the human genome) and Glaxo Smith Kline (a pharmaceutical company). The genetics course involved some really interesting sessions on the ethics of genetics, all of which covered up-to-date topics. The trips and lectures were open to students
© Wikimedia Commons
14
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
Solar powered computers
SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY
>> Phoebe Sharratt investigates whether solar powered computers could facilitate communication with our partner school in South Africa Phoebe Sharratt Science Editor This year, many lower sixth students decided to organise a fundraising event as an alternative academic research course project. The money raised was to go towards our South African link HIV/AIDS orphanage and school. The money raised for the school was to help them to buy solar powered computers, to enable the students to have more interactive lessons and to ensure that students and teachers of the school could keep in regular contact with us via e-mail. The major benefit of purchasing solar powered computers for their school is that in many remote areas of Africa, the electricity supply is unreliable, some areas have no power and in areas with power, there is regular disruption due to power cuts and other faults. The fact that the solar panels provided to run these computers are powered by renewable solar power is not only
environmentally friendly but also means that the electricity supply provided by them will be constant. When solar panels were installed to provide power for computers in Nigerian schools, the project was a great success. The reliable power supply meant computers could be used by students during school hours and the wider community when the school day had finished, providing information technology education for a whole range of people, who may not have had access to these facilities at home. The solar panels proved more effective than generators used to power computers in other schools in Nigeria. The generator powered computers went out of use soon after installation due to lack of a sustainable energy source or generator breakdown, unlike the solar powered computers which remained functioning reliably for several years afterwards, even with no maintenance.
However there are some disadvantages to buying computers to facilitate better communication with our partner school by means of the internet. The national telecoms operator in South Africa (Telkom SA) has struggled to provide broadband in remote and rural areas of the country, meaning that dial up is still the main way of connecting to the internet in many areas of South Africa. Dial up relies on telephone access being available and is affected by being many kilometres from the exchange and other interferences even, for example, electric fences. Also, an increasing amount of internet content such as streaming media is not compatible with dial up connections. This means the students may not be able to make the most of their new computers as they may encounter problems when trying to use the internet to keep upto-date with our communication, as well as events around the world. Another disadvantage is that a solar
The OLPC XO-1, an example of a solar powered computer (photo from Wikimedia Commons) power station to provide energy for a computer can cost as much as £1,300. This means we may not be able to buy enough for a whole class to use. However, if the opportunity to fundraise as part of an ARC project is continued for new students, and
we all contribute generously to these fundraising projects, then perhaps we can raise the money which would enable us to develop an even stronger link with our partner school.
Obesity: nature or nature? Phoebe Sharratt Science Editor Obesity (having a BMI (kg/m2) over 30) has become increasingly common during the 20th century. In 1997 the World Health Organisation recognised the condition as a global epidemic. Though it was originally considered a problem of highincome countries, obesity has risen globally with sub-Saharan South Africa being the least affected area. What is causing this escalation in the prevalence of obesity? Many of us would assume that becoming overweight is a person’s choice, influenced by modern eating habits; a person can choose to eat cheap palatable food, which is abundant, whilst taking little exercise and so not burning the calories they consume. However, a talk by Stephen O’Rahilly that I recently attended disputed this idea and attempted to remove the stigma associated with being overweight. Generally we consider our physical traits to be primarily caused by genetics; it has been observed that our
height is, so why do we not think of our weight as being influenced in the same way? Evidence suggests that would not be wrong to assume our weight is inherited. A study by Dr Albert Stunkard, a psychiatrist, looked at identical twins that were separated at birth and raised by adoptive parents. He found that each twin’s weight had zero correlation with their adoptive siblings whereas there was a high correlation (0.6-0.8) of weight between the identical twins. This shows that the weight of each twin was not caused by their different environments and was instead heavily influenced by genes, which are identical in monozygotic (identical) twins. This evidence raises questions about how these genes express themselves in the body in a way that influences our susceptibility to obesity. In 1901 Alfred Fröhlich, an Austrian neurologist, wrote a paper on a form of obesity which became known as ‘Fröhlich’s syndrome’. It is characterized as feminine obesity and sexual immaturity and results
from tumors on the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, thirst, fatigue, our body clock and, most importantly, hunger by secreting and receiving many different chemical signals. In 1973, Coleman experimented with ob/ob mice (meaning they had been bred to be obese). He conducted a parabiosis; the creation of synthetic conjoined twins, using one ob/ob mouse and one normal sized mouse. He found that the obese mouse returned to normal size, indicating that there was some signaling molecule circulating from the normal sized mouse into the obese mouse which was received on the hypothalamus and decreased its weight. It was discovered that this molecule was leptin - a protein hormone produced by adipose (fat) cells, which controls energy intake and expenditure including appetite. The absence of leptin or receptors for leptin in the brain can lead to obesity. Complete leptin deficiency causes
obesity; fat cells do not secrete leptin and the hypothalamus does not receive the signaling hormone which tells it to lay down fat and causes the person to feel the need to compulsively eat. Proteins are coded by genes in our D.N.A.; a mutation in a gene can lead to a malfunctioning or absent protein. People with leptin deficiency have been treated by administering the leptin molecule into their body and in all cases the obesity was reversed and they maintained a healthy weight. This suggests that their obesity was caused purely by internal factors and that their eating habits were no more down to choice than our automatic reaction to touching something hot. Though the leptin gene is known to directly cause obesity, there are at present around 40 different genes which are known to have an affect on our weight, a vast majority of which are expressed in the brain. One of these is FTO which also affects appetite. Around 40% of the population has one copy of a particular FTO allele (a variety of a
gene) and, research has shown, on average they are 1.5 kg heavier than controls (those of normal weight). About 16% of the population has two copies of this allele and in the same research were found to be on average 3kg heavier than controls. This evidence suggests that obesity is unlikely to be solely a lifestyle choice as it is influenced by many different genes in our D.N.A. It indicates that the increase in obesity is partly due to food being cheaper and more readily available, so those who have a predisposition to weight gain are more likely to become obese as they have the resources and spending power to do so. There is evidence to suggest that physical activity does reduce the effects of a predisposition to weight gain. However, the fact that the tendency to gain weight is primarily due to our genetic make-up illustrates that negative stereotypes about overweight and obese people may be unfair and that we can use a greater understanding of biology and genetics to help those who struggle with obesity.
Fawkes
15 The Phoenix Magazine
T4 On the Beach
>> Natasha Kelley describes the highs - and lows - of this year’s festival The sun was shining for the tens of thousands of music fans who made their way to Weston-Super-Mare in the early hours of Sunday morning, all excited about seeing their favourite artists perform, while soaking in the exhilarating atmosphere. This was the seventh T4 on the Beach, and it certainly did not disappoint fans this year. With acts such as JLS, Dizzee Rascal, Kelis, Jason Derulo, Alexandra Burke and Plan B, it was no surprise that tickets had sold out months beforehand, and 46,000 people visited the seaside town for the event. With the gates opening at 11am, the majority of the crowd had arrived hours beforehand, some even camping overnight, in order to be at the front of the queue. While DJs warmed the crowd up before the main acts came on, fans had the chance to look around the site, with fairground rides and various stalls selling an assortment of food, drink and souvenirs all around the beach. In addition to the main stage, the T4 Sessions stage was also very popular. Although smaller in size, the big acts were keen to perform here too, with Plan B, Diana Vickers, Example, The Hoosiers and Tinchy Stryder entertaining the crowd throughout the afternoon. Another addition to the event this year was that of the Rimmel London Celebrity Disco arena. This played host to a number of well-known performers, actors and presenters all day, while they tried their best to take control of the decks. The casts of Skins and Hollyoaks did their bit, as did Gok Wan. A few of the more musical acts joined in too, with Scouting for Girls, Ellie Goulding and Basshunter to name but a few, spending time pleasing the audience. Back on the main stage, Dizzee Rascal opened the festival with his best known songs, and definitely set the standard for the day. Ellie Goulding followed him, singing ‘Starry Eyed’ and ‘Guns and Horses’ and then Tinie Tempah took to the stage. In between several of the acts were the annual competitions between two of the T4 presenters, Steve Jones and Rick Edwards. The ‘Penalty Shoot Out’ game was played, in celebration of the World Cup, where balls were launched into the crowd, only to be thrown back into goals, with the presenters doing their best to save as many as possible. This was slightly unfair, as Rick turned up dressed in a huge goalkeeping glove outfit, which received many laughs from the crowd. As the afternoon continued, many more acts came to the stage, such as Pixie Lott, The Saturdays, Chipmunk and Iyaz, all performing throughout the day. Even Jedward made a surprise appearance, to the delight and dismay of many people. Unfortunately, (or not, according to some), one half of the act, Edward, managed to hurt his leg dancing and limped off the stage at the end. With the headliners JLS, came the dedicated followers of the group, the girls who cannot control their screams when the group’s name is even whispered. The group were set to be the last act to perform, and they took to the stage, accompanied by those expected shrieks from the girls who had waited all day for this moment. Unfortunately, the weather failed to hold out for them, with the rain that had been threatening all afternoon suddenly pouring out of the sky. Yet, a considerable number stayed to watch the boys end the show. Whatever the weather, T4 on the Beach has an amazing atmosphere every year, and the acts are always thankful to the crowd, and very happy to be there. Kelis was even said to have cooked a BBQ backstage, to help celebrate Independence Day with her fellow Americans. The event was a definite success this year, and is set to continue this way for years to come (although hopefully with better weather).
(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)
16 FAWKES Horoscopes Album Reviews
Peggy Sue: Fossils and Other Phantoms
By Stephanie Emra and Ruth Slattery
by James Pritchard
Aries: 20 March – 20 April Mercury is ascending, your stocks will plummet. Now is a good time to add a ball pit to the castle.
Taurus: 20 April – 21 May The moon glows red. Pancakes will be your fortuitous food for the month.
Gemini: 21 May – 21 June Jupiter is waning. An old friend will visit and his large dog will pee on your bonsai tree.
Cancer: 21 June – 22 July Temperatures are rising. A man named Cuthbert will come bearing shoelaces and great tidings from the east.
Leo: 22 July – 23 August Finances will trouble you. Investing in jelly beans or Disney would be a mistake.
Aryno: hmm... You are going to *cough*sarcasm*cough*.
have
21 July 2010 | The Phoenix
a
great
week!
Virgo: 23 August – 23 September You may feel that everyone is staring at you this week. It’s true, they are.
Libra: 23 September – 23 October Stressful times lie ahead. Taking it out on the amphibious population of your porch is not the solution.
Scorpio: 23 October – 22 November Pluto has been de-classified. There is a better than average chance of your pet mongoose being hit by a motorcycle driver wearing a false moustache.
Sagittarius: 22 November – 22 December Guilt will consume you (literally), until you confess to your friend that it was you who ate the last of the Pringles.
Capricorn: 22 December – 20 January Saturn is in alignment. It would be a prudent time for a visit to the doctor concerning the orange growth on the sole of your foot.
Aquarius: 20 January – 18 February The stars indicate that now is a good time for a grand gesture of love. We recommend Soy sauce.
Pisces: 18 February – 20 March Venus moves towards Neptune so your love life will flourish. You will not be heartbroken, but your liver is another matter.
Fossils and Other Phantoms is the debut album release of Peggy Sue upon signing to Wichita Recordings in 2010. After four years of battling to become known on the indie-pop scene, with small-scale gigs and several single/EP releases, Peggy Sue collectively wrote a themed handful of new material, as they felt that an album ‘should be a proper album, not just a collection of songs’ – separating them from any other contemporary indie-pop artists in the charts today. Peggy Sue now, though, are so much more than just indie-pop. Fossils and Other Phantoms holds a gripping theme throughout; Katy Young and Rosa Slade express their grief over the misfortune of their experiences of love and the shattering of their hearts by men. With stunning vocals and folky harmonies, this is a thrilling album. Leading single Yo Mama sets the scene, boasting lyrics such as ‘Found someone new to make me blue, Now that we’re done,’ before sobbing, ‘I won’t say a word, and we can go our separate ways,’ in the song Watchman. It would appear that the pair have been tragically bruised by love. Peggy Sue give us an enlightening view of their fascinating perception of the world. In I Read it In The Paper, the philosophical meaning behind something so simple as the clocks turning back an hour is considered. In Yo Mama the two women cry ‘I’m praying to Gods I don’t believe’, conjuring up how we can find comfort from religious practices in times of despair, even if we are non-believers. There’s no doubt that Peggy Sue are extremely talented in their use of such a wide range of musical instruments – from drums to keyboards to accordions. The pair’s stunning lyrics and voices are often complimented by beautiful harmonies created by instruments. It may seem, however, that the instruments can sometimes drag out the album, disguising its true brilliance. Despite this, Fossils and Other Phantoms really is a flawless album. Commercial success may not be on the way, but that’s not what this album is intended for; the duo simply make a point and tell of their unluckiness in love; tell their fascinating tales, so sweet and charming throughout. So the fact that every song is a killer track is simply a bonus. Peggy Sue are certain to continue making fantastic music.
Delphic
by Alex Tyndall
At first glance, Mancunian act Delphic’s debut foray into the world of big-label albums doesn’t look promising. The song titles are pretentious and the album cover…well, I’m trying hard to find a more encouraging colour than beige. However, if you persevere as far as listening you are rewarded with a sound which bursts with electronic originality and vibrance. The songs are characterised by no-frills drum beats which contribute hugely to the pace and energy present throughout the album. The melodies are supplied mostly by keyboards with rhythms provided by guitar, underpinned by simple yet prominent basslines which give the songs great depth of sound. Delphic top off the combination with hypnotic lyrics and a variety of computer-generated sparkly noises for which I haven’t managed to find a function other than that they sound cool. The resulting sound couples the gentleness of an indie album with the simplicity and intangible compulsion to listen of dance music. The effect of Delphic’s efforts is most visible in the track Acolyte. Longer songs can seem strained and disjointed efforts but this soars and pulses its way through its nine minutes with an effortless smoothness. The song feels like a coherent whole and not a note is wasted. Ethereal voices and a myriad of glossy keyboard tones mean the track can be listened to again and again without the sound becoming wearing. Other notably brilliant tracks are Counterpoint and Red Lights – both energetic offerings which flow seductively. Of course there are disappointments on the album. Doubt, released as a single earlier in the year, feels comparatively minimal when compared with the rich sounds of other tracks. Lead singer James Cook’s singing, here better described as talking loudly at different pitches, jars with the flowing style present everywhere else on the album. The result is that the song seems unfinished and dull. Equally disappointing was Halcyon, which again digressed from the simple sound which makes the rest of the album so good. All in all, it’s a promising start for Delphic. This album is very good, but it could so easily have been brilliant. Delphic are a group who know where their strengths lie. If only they acted on that knowledge, we’d have an exceptional album on our hands.
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
Film reviews
FAWKES
17
The Bounty Hunter
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
>> Yee Rou Quah
>> Joe Keeley
Regardless of what ‘Rotten Tomatoes’ says, I really like this! And that’s not just because of Jennifer Aniston (…well, maybe a little); I thought it was funny, thrilling and romantic. It’s a triple-threat! Isn’t that what they would say in showbiz, no?
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a film based around the 2003 video game of the same name, but the marketers won’t let you in on that. Truth is, most games adapted for the big screen have always turned out to be complete rubbish. So to say that The Sands of Time is an enjoyable watch is an achievement in itself. With Mike Newell (director of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – you may once have heard of it) in the directing seat and some fairly competent acting chops behind it, Prince of Persia is a decent standard action-packed viewing.
Well, maybe the film is not so realistic after all. Would this happen? You were madly, deeply, inexplicably and completely in love with your boyfriend and dated for six months, then marry him for the next nine months and then get divorced? Months after (or wait, or is it years? I can’t tell! Celebrities don’t age!) you meet again because you jumped bail and your ex-husband lost his job, and is now a bounty hunter. So both of you go on a journey that makes you fall back in love again, mainly because you realise how much you understand each other, and partly because your ex-husband decides to take you to your honeymoon suite for a hide-out. And people are trying to kill you - now that I think of it, not likely? What was realistic about James Bond? A guy who sleeps around and shoots people? Nothing - point proven. But one of the best moments, and one that I always think back on, is a genuine one where Aniston and Butler are having dinner, wearing granny clothes (literally!) and, out of no where, they started admitting their own flaws. Aww, isn’t that sweet? After years of insisting that their failed marriage was neither of their faults, this is such a true moment when it suddenly becomes so clear that they are still in love with each other. In granny clothes. It must be true love! Moreover, the action parts of the film are just the icing on the cake. Or maybe it’s the romance that’s the icing…and the action is the cake. Well, either way, it involves a drug-dealer, the police force, golf clubs and tattoo parlours. The scriptwriters did make Peter Greene, who really looked like a very bad guy, and I would say highly dangerous (not someone you would want to hang out with because…well, you don’t wanna die?), a very bad shooter. Oh wait, he did kill people - but I bet they were standing still then. What about the not-so-good parts of the film? I managed to deceive myself into thinking that the real reason Gerald Butler gambles in the film is because he was hurt and upset over his divorce with Jennifer Aniston and thus uses this as some sort of get-away. You see, he still loves her and he didn’t want to get a divorce but he couldn’t do anything about it because of his huge ego that just won’t let him say sorry. But if not, then maybe all those bad reviews on ‘Rotten Tomatoes’ are true, what did attract our dear Jen to this junk? The film then becomes closer to a thumbs-down for me. Men who gamble are just so off-putting. And, what’s worse, men who gamble and manage to make women like Jennifer Aniston, as beautiful and lovely and genuine as she is, to fall in love with them. Come on, what world are we in? Pluto? That’s not even a real planet!
When framed for the murder of his father, Prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) runs off with the princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton). It’s from here that he begins to get hold of a sacred dagger, the wielder of which can turn back time. The plot sticks to the destiny formula and holds to it well throughout, but it doesn’t break any new ground. If you’ve come into it expecting some superb character development then you’ll be sorely disappointed. Dastan and Tamina’s dialogue exchanges are usually cringeworthy, and it’s fairly obvious that Arterton’s role is just an excuse for her to stand around, look pretty and spout mythological blather. The acting isn’t bad by any means, and there are indeed some memorable moments within – Alfred Molina as a shady sheik with a love for ostrich racing is the particular highlight and provides some amusing comedic relief. The only quarrel would be with Ben Kingsley, the evil father, who never really comes across as entirely convincing. He meanders a bit, and it would have been better just to see him go full out backstabbing villainous rather than the composed method he takes for most of the film. The big action scenes aren’t overused and are paced out to give the film some breathing space. When they are, they’re done well and are memorable sequences. From invading the city at the beginning to leaping from collapsing rocks near the end, all of these parkour-esque scenes are thrilling to watch and downright entertaining. Although the dagger’s time-turning abilities do take away the suspense if you think about it for a moment, the chances are you’ll be too caught up in the Prince’s wall hopping and roof jumping to care or notice. Ultimately, Prince of Persia is a popcorn film. You don’t need to be paying much attention to get a grasp of what’s going on, and the real draw here is the visual spectacle rather than a beefy script. Fans of the video games will appreciate the occasional nods, but I forgot I was watching what I’d played on screen back home. See it, enjoy the romp and be entertained for what it is.
I would say that there are mixed opinions about this film. I fell for the romantic parts of it. And, if you’re like me, I think you might like it. Otherwise, watch it and decide what you think for yourself!
Crowds gather at the Prince of Persia premiere (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
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FAWKES
FASHION
A tribute to Alexander McQueen
>> Lucy Palmer
If ever there existed a fashion designer who could call his work ‘art’ without sounding egotistical or pretentious, it was the late Alexander McQueen. Indeed, his designs were often better suited to a museum than everyday life, with catwalk shows more like elaborate plays than simple showcases of next season’s looks. Yet beneath the extravagance and bizarreness, there lay the work of an impeccable tailor who understood fashion to be just as much about the quality of the designs as the shock factor. McQueen was born in East London in 1969 and quickly discovered his talent for fashion, escaping from the bullies at his all-boys school by designing imaginary collections. In 1986 he gained a foothold in the industry when he became a tailor’s apprentice on Savile Row, and in 1992 he launched his eponymous label after graduating from the renowned Central St Martins College of Art and Design. However, it wasn’t until 1994 that McQueen began to receive the accolades he craved, after the notorious Vogue fashion editor Isabella Blow (who committed suicide in 2007) watched a graduate collection in which his work featured. Blow was so entranced that she bought the entire collection and became both a muse and mentor for the young designer. It has been remarked upon that Blow’s death came as a great shock to McQueen and perhaps even inspired his own suicide. From 1996 until 2001, McQueen acted as creative
director not just for his own label, but also for Givenchy, a French label best known for dressing Audrey Hepburn. Unsurprisingly, the traditional elegance for which Givenchy was known did not correspond with McQueen’s experimental aesthetic and his appointment was generally viewed as a failure. Conversely, McQueen’s own label moved from strength to strength, often shocking (his 1995 ‘Highland Rape’ collection was much criticised for its connotations of violence) but always undeniably imaginative and beautifully constructed. McQueen is perhaps one of the few who truly ‘pushed the boundaries’ of fashion, sending models out in 2005 onto a human chessboard dressed in outfits inspired by the Edwardian novel ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, and streaming his show in 2009 (which, in the l words of The Guardian, featured “holograms, sea aliens and robot cameras“) live across the internet. The fact that the website crashed due to the level of demand speaks volumes about the compelling nature of McQueen’s vision. Yet despite the awards and critical acclaim (he was named British Designer of the Year four times), McQueen was far from precious about his designs, famously commenting that ‘at the end of the day it’s just clothes’. Whilst others may have called his work art, the notoriously shy and modest designer would have shrunk away from such a description, and perhaps it is this realism that allowed him to be so daring. Would any other designer have had the vision to spray beautiful chiffon gowns with paint live on the catwalk? Who else would have thought to use Paralympic athlete Aimee Mullins (who has both legs amputated from the knee down) as a model?
21 July 2010 | The Phoenix
Armadillo Heels: How high is too high? >> Kirsty O’Connor The 10 inch heels to die for. It may be more literal than you think. Does anyone actually want to buy them? The 10 inch ‘Armadillo’ heels that McQueen sent down the runway during his Spring 2010 collection have apparently been innovated with success. And why not we say? Although our first thought was probably somewhere along the lines of ‘what?!’ it was shortly turned into ‘wow’ Whether they were bought to actually wear (and I take my hat off to those courageous enough to even consider it) or whether they were purely purchased as a piece of artwork, the alien-inspired shoes are certainly not to be sniffed at. The collection, inspired by Charles Darwin’s ‘The Origin of the Species’, includes heels made from materials such as animal skins and sequins. It’s no surprise that our favourite stunt woman, Lady Gaga, was first spotted wearing these awe inspiring heels in her recent video ‘Bad Romance’. Not particularly striking then that shortly after she took a tumble at Heathrow airport in another pair of 10 inchers. Although we were glad she didn’t break an ankle, the fall bears a caution to all other woman wanting a cut of the flourishing fashion trend. Three models, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Natasha Poly and Sasha Pivovavrova were cut from McQueen’s runway after refusing to wear the heels over safety concerns. Indeed model Abbey Lee Kershaw had already tempted fate with McQueen’s famous designers after collapsing wearing a tight corset in one of his shows last year. It shows that sometimes, you just have to put your foot down. So are the Armadillos to die for? Or could they actually kill you?
With the death of Alexander McQueen, fashion has lost someone who forced a rather serious industry to laugh at itself, someone who injected humour into seemingly basic items such as jeans (who could forget the 1996 ‘bumster’ trousers), and someone who refused to follow the rules of decency or conventionality. He will be much missed. 2008 McQueen design Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26611992@N02/2533625070
Armadill0 heels on the runway (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
SPORTS
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
Sports
19
The World Cup comes to Hills >> Will Simmons reports on the showing of the England vs. Slovenia match at college Will Simmons Editor Despite a truly awful showing from the England team in South Africa this year, I was lucky enough to witness England’s high point of the campaign (though this itself says a lot about the campaign), a 1-0 win over Slovenia, in a showing at Hills Road. About 30 people crammed in front of a small, lowquality television (we had had difficulties streaming the match on the internet through the projector), Hills Road England fans turning out to show their support for their national team. Even with the bad quality of the TV in the science classroom making it difficult to keep up with the play at some points, it did nothing to spoil the atmosphere in the room. With faltering England needing a win over Slovenia to progress through group C, the tension was unbearable. Every shot on goal by either team met with an ‘ooh’ or an ‘aah’, and occasionally even a ‘Thank God for that!’ Though I am in no way inept in my football knowledge, I am not exactly a football nerd, and not the one to shout at the TV at every poor pass and missed tackle that England make. But
this game was different. Along with the other spectators, I found myself on my feet having to hold on tightly to the nearest object to prevent me throwing something at the television. It wasn’t that England were not performing well; they did, after all, get the job done. Unfortunately, the performance was the best England performance of the entire World Cup. I am, however, always struck by the fact that England can never just perform better. Take teams like Germany, Argentina and Portugal, for instance, who have all recorded big wins in this World Cup. When they get themselves ahead in a match, they continue to push and look for more goals, but England simply decide that enough is enough and sit back. I sometimes wonder whether the England team, that has performed so badly in almost all major international competitions since 1990, always faltering and going out when we meet the first challenging team, actually deserves the ardent fans that come out in numbers to support them. The support that the Hills Road spectators offered, unlike the England team, never faltered. With our England shirts on, willing our players to do well, we were finally rewarded by a Jermain Defoe goal half way through the first half, and then forced to sit through an
agonising 60 minutes while we waited for the final whistle to be blown. Though when that goal went in, the mood in the room was suddenly lifted. England just had to hold on, and everyone knew that if we could beat Slovenia, we would win the World Cup. Even dismal misses from Wayne Rooney, and last-ditch tackles from Terry and Upson as Slovenia piled on the pressure, couldn’t lower our moods. When the whistle was blown, there came a huge roar followed by a sigh of relief. We were told that England had qualified top of group C, and would probably not have to face the dreaded Germany. The two Slovenia fans behind me were also happy, seeing their country qualify from the group. That was of course until Gary Lineker then announced that we had actually finished second, thanks to a Landon Donovan goal in the last minute for the USA that also knocked Slovenia out. Unfortunately, despite the Hills Road support, all England could muster up in the World Cup was a 1-0 win over Slovenia, before crashing out to Germany in a crushing 4-1 defeat. A devastating loss, though I am happy that the Germany game was on a Sunday, as, had I watched that performance at college, I may now be having to fork out some money for a new TV in the science block.
Sports Awards Evening rugby table... As the presentations began, the intense rivalry between teams became apparent – not one speech escaped the raucous, mostly derogatory, comments made by Advertised as the event of the year for members of other teams – although the Hills Road sportsmen and women, the ensuing banter proved to be possibly Sports Awards Evening 2010 at the Roy- the most entertaining component of the al Cambridge Hotel proved to be both evening. Sadly, the majority of it was unexcellent entertainment and an oppor- suitable for print but it takes little imagitunity to catch up and socialise with nation to comprehend the nature of the members of the various teams repre- comments made! sented. Ranging from the major teams For most teams, both a Player’s Player and such as rugby and hockey, to the far Coach’s Player of the Year were awarded, smaller squash and badminton teams as was both Sportsman and Sportswom(plus the lone individual representing an of the Year. The most coveted prize, the Hills Road cross-country team!), it’s the Hills Road Team of the Year, was fair to say that the evening highlighted awarded to the rowing team, followed by the diversity within the sporting com- cries of outrage from the rugby boys, who munity at Hills Road. stressed their unbeaten record to no avail The evening began slowly, with many – the decision was final. people choosing to make a fashionably In conclusion, an enjoyable evening late arrival. Despite the sparse quanti- was had by all who attended, and many ties of food on offer, the drink flowed thanks to Jaclyn Lai of the badminton freely and levels of inebriation were team, who managed to organise the rising rapidly as the awards presenta- entire evening, on behalf of the sports tion approached – particularly so on the teams of Hills Road!
Alix Palmer Sports Reporter
The Men’s rowing team, this year’s winners of the Hills Road Team of the Year. From left to right: Douglas Buisson (bow), James Haynes, Sandy Perkins, Charlie Rutter, Matt Meissner, Ben Adey-Johnson Admiral), Thomas Cooke (Rear Admiral), Seb Perkins (stroke) and Bee May (cox).
Review of the sporting year >> A run down of Hills Road’s sports achievements Information taken from the Hills Road Sports Bulletin This year has been a very successful year for sports at Hills Road. Hills Road prides itself not only on its academic prowess but also its sporting ability, and this year’s Hills Road students have proven just why this is. The college was one of 250 affiliated colleges which took part in the prestigious British Colleges Sport Competition organised for a total of 35 different sports. Each of the nine regions included are represented by just one college team, and the finals were held at the
end of the Easter holidays at Loughborough University. Once again, Hills Road students were winners in badminton, hockey, squash, tennis, swimming, trampolining and cross country (our chosen sports) and became representatives for the East against eight other regions. The East finished second overall, and our students contributed significantly to this success. Elsewhere, there was no stopping the men’s rugby squad who managed to stay unbeaten and were named champions of the British Colleges East Premier League and Knockout cup. They were also winners of the Cambridgeshire 10s, as well as becoming East Region Finalists.
Congratulations also go to our mixed doubles teams in badminton and tennis, who both won gold this year. Sam Pickup and Jaclyn Lai won gold in badminton while Robin Goodman and Amanda Black also won the mixed doubles tennis tournament. It was also a very successful year for other sports, with numerous medals in swimming, trampolining and cross country, national finalists in women’s football, and a strong performances from the rowing and netball teams. The Annual Sports Award Evening was again held at the Royal Cambridge Hotel on 14th May and was well supported by the various teams and individu-
als that have represented the college in the numerous different sports. This was an evening of celebration, promoting the achievements of the year by each team nominating a ‘Player of the Year’. The evening also saw the presentation of the female and male sports personalities of the year award. Sam Pickup was awarded the male personality of the year for an unprecedented second year running. Kayleigh Hubbard was the female to pick up the prestigious prize for her excellent performance in the women’s football team, as well as in basketball and table tennis. All in all, it has been an incredibly successful year. Congratulations to students and staff alike for all the work they have put in to make these achievements possible.
SPORTS
The Phoenix | 21 July 2010
Sports
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HR4.5 raises £10,000 >> Amy Ditton reports on this year’s charity run Amy Ditton Sports Reporter A fun run like no other took place on Wednesday 21st April. The HR4.5 run raised over £10,000 and allowed participants to miss their last lesson of the day (in the name of charity). This year’s chosen charity was the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) which is helping to build the new Teenage Cancer Unit at Addenbrooke’s hospital. They are ‘devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer’.
chose to run traditionally, some went for a more unique approach. Steph and Ruth chose to do the whole route on space hoppers. However, the madness didn’t stop there; there was also a Morris dancer, two people carrying someone else around on a pole, and a juggler. As with any fun run, there were plenty of three-legged and four-legged runners. For those that chose a more traditional approach to the event, there was strong competition for first place. John Baslington came first by some margin at 14 minutes 59 seconds, followed by Chris Butterworth at 16 minutes 20 seconds, and Samuel Pickup
at 16 minutes 25 seconds.
and badges were sold to help with the final fundraising total.
As if the participants didn’t stand out enough, they all wore luminous green t-shirts. These were sponsored by Napp Pharmaceuticals Limited. Local companies were also very generous; Bella Italia, Cineworld, Core Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, Iceni Waters, Jordans Cereals, Pizza Hut, Savills, Subway and Cambridge Tenpin Bowling all provided prizes and donated to Teenage Cancer Trust.
And of course, we cannot forget those that helped with the organisation of HR4.5 2010. Particular thanks g o t o To n i a S c h o f i e l d , L e e Steele, Rob L eslie and Sarah Buckley. Unfortunately, Tonia Schofield and Sarah Buckley were unable to attend the actual event;the volcanic eruption left them stranded on holiday. Nevertheless, HR4.5 ran as smoothly as ever, and raised a grand total of £10,059.
For those not directly participating in the run, charity bands, T-shirts
So congratulations to everyone that took part in such a worthwhile event; we raised an amazing total, and had a great afternoon.
In addition to building specific cancer wards for teenagers, TCT are also dedicated to providing a family support network for those affected by cancer, helping research into the causes of teenage cancer, and educating teenagers about the best possible ways to prevent cancer.
Simon Murfitt Tournament Organiser Copa Del Hills was a five-a-side football competition held last term. The tournament involved over 300 players in 36 teams, as well as over 200 spectators. The tournament uses a UEFA Champions League style group and knock-out format. The group stages began on the 12th February, and the final was held on the 26th March. After the group stages the tournament split into two competitions; the cup and the shield. Throughout the duration of the competition, ‘Copa’ became the word on everybody’s lips. This was furthered by the Facebook groups that teams created in order to reach prospective fans. The Copa Del TV group also emerged, which gave people the chance to relive their favourite Copa moments by viewing matches on YouTube. The Copa Del Hills final was a breathtaking encounter between last year’s winners, the Roos, and the highly talented Sclungethorpe United side. It was the latter who came out on top in a 3-2 win, with Tofael Hussain scoring a hat-trick. After going a goal up, the Roos were expected to go on and retain the trophy. But Sclungethorpe had other ideas and hit back with three well taken goals. The shield was won by Athletico Potato after they won 1-0 against Sammy’s Asian Babes to win the game 1-0.
To help motivate everyone for a great afternoon there was a six minute warm up, organised by five students on a stage in the Quad. This was followed by a countdown to the start, and then they were off ! The event attracted more than 450 students and staff, including the Hills Road Principal, Linda Sinclair. Although many pupils
Copa del Hills
Runners gather in the quad before the race (photo by Alice Kelley)
Interview with George White: HR4.5 Cyclist Tom Clarke Sports Reporter How did you come up with the idea of cycling the HR4.5km and doing 45km instead? Me and my mate David Collett decided that we didn’t want to run so picked to do cycling instead, as it’s one of our hobbies.
We decided that 4.5km on a bike was a bit pathetic so we scaled it up so it was relevant to the HR4.5km but a bit more of a challenge! So what route did you take to make up the 45km? We cycled out to Willingham, going through the city centre and then out to Fen Ditton, Waterbeach and then on to Cottenham. This came to roughly 25km so then we turned around the same route back to college.
Copa Del Hills 2010 was a very successful event, with some great football. There were also the big shocks and underdog stories which all great cup competitions offer. The tournament was a fun event; many teams took a light hearted approach from the start. Team names such as Urine Trouble, and the feminine kit displayed by Acceptable in the 80s, will never be forgotten.
Who completed the cycle with you?
Are you glad you did it?
David Collett, Matt Moore, James Deering, James Walker and Tom Cooke. There were a couple more of us but due to punctures couldn’t join us.
I am; I did it because it was a challenge but it was definitely fun as well, especially the start. We all got a rush but towards the end when we were all quite tired it wasn’t as great.
How much did you raise, personally?
Anything to add?
I raised around £120 from my sponsorship.
We want to do something different for the next year’s HR4.5, if anyone has any ideas it would be awesome to let us know. If not we will just cycle again. More people are welcome to join us too!
How long did it take you? About half an hour I think.