Issue 149 by The Rabbit, The University of Essex Student Newspaper

3 U N I V E R S I T Y

O F

E S S E X

S T U D E N T

N E W S PA P E R

NEWS

COMMENT MUSIC FILM TV BOOKS

NEWS

ARTS SCIENCE

Quayside stabbing and robbery

LIFESTYLE SPORTS

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

FILM

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Join us on

LIFESTYLE

Managing deadlines

Essex SU set to overhaul in January 2014

Full story on page 2

News

Roxy Mason, Editor Andrea Pavón-Guinea, Deputy Editor Nisa Khan, Deputy Editor

Editorial As we come to the end of another term at The University of Essex, we can look back and observe that the past ten weeks have been pretty political. The debate on Page 3, The Starbucks Referendum, and most recently, the decision not to display the British Flag on campus, have all raised strong opinions and caused a plethora of debate. On November the 8th 2013, news hit of Thyphoon Haiyan in the Philipphines, a tropical cyclone that has claimed over 5000 lives so far. The death toll of this natural disaster is a clear and sobering reminder that a world exists outside of the University Bubble that should not be ignored. Whilst it is important to stay politically aware over what may affect us as students on campus, it’s worth recognising the bigger picture, and what can be done to help those desperately in need. As fun as it is to get into debates abouts boobs and coffee, time should also be dedicated to the work students at Essex do to affect change for good causes. Just recently the University Rag Week raised over £1,300 for a number of charities, including Children in Need and Breast Cancer Awareness. This follows on from the constant work many charitable societies in the SU do in dedicating their time and goodwill to help others. The fantastic achievements of students should be recognised, and as a University it is clear that we can be proud of the generosity and heart of our fundraisers and activists. It is important to take the time to shed light on the good as well as the controversial, and emphasise the amount of relief which has now been distributed to the Philippines and other people and places in need. It is on this note that The Rabbit would like to wish everyone at Essex a very merry xmas and happiness to all in the New Year.

Eleanor Brimelow Editor of The Rabbit

STUDENT

The SU set to revamp in 2014 Do you feel like you’re part of your Students’ Union? If you feel like you don’t, then you’re with the 56% of students who also don’t class themselves as a member, despite 100% of students actually being a member.. This is one of the reasons why the Students’ Union are planning a major re launch which is set to come in to fruition in January 2014. They have set themselves the task of reimagining everything to do with the way they run the SU, from a major visual rebrand, to increased support in helping their members’ ambitions and dreams become a reality. Why the change? The SU don’t see themselves as a poor organisation, but they want to make themselves the world’s best Students’ Union. They are going against the grain and voicing what students want and making it happen, instead of following what other University Student Unions’ are doing. “The Students’ Union at Essex is well known as one of the best in the UK, but we feel like we have an opportunity to go beyond this and create something better, something that Essex students can be really proud of” said Becky Fisher, SU President. “So we’re aiming high, from January we’re setting out

on a mission to become the world’s most studentcentred organisation, an organisation that is 100% built around students’ needs and one that’s good enough to make anyone who’s not at Essex jealous”. The SU rebrand is based around four promises, which were informed by students over a six month research period. The promises are to; “1. Help me get an amazing degree and job, 2. Give me a kick ass membership, 3. Shape everything around me and 4. Benefit all students”. The rebrand will take place across all platforms, uniforms, signage. They are reforming their identity which is based around a family like atmosphere, reflected in the visual re branding and in what the SU does to help students, giving them all of the tools to make the most of their time at University. They’re also planning to be a positive platform for whatever students want to do, whether that’s to start a band, join a hockey team or to help them find a career via their work in the SU, they want to help make it happen. It is an ambitious and daring move made by the Students’ Union, (the last re brand was eight years ago), the visual re brand is set to take place in the four weeks break for students, and is expected to grow and change throughout 2014. Naomi Jeffreys, Deputy Editor

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

LOCAL

Essex student stabbed in Quayside Burglary On Friday the 29th of November, a Mature Student at The University of Essex was beaten and stabbed in a break in at his home in Quayside Drive, Colchester. A Man has been beaten and stabbed in a bur- student welfare specialists at the university to glary at his Colchester home in Quayside Drive, support the victim and to warn other students located closeby to The University Quays Ac- against this sort of crime.” commodation. Mr Harris said that four black men aged in their The victim is said to be in his 30’s and is a ma- late teens to late 20s were involved in the crime. ture student at the University. Police reports reveal that he was dealt a blow to the head and The University Press office released the followstabbed three times in his legs. ing statement on Monday the 2nd of December. The man was forced at knifepoint to hand over his iPhone, laptop and £600. The attack took place at 11pm on the Friday, when the four men broke into his home at Quayside Drive. Suffering serious injuries, the man was then taken to Colchester General Hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. Detective Con Tim Harris told the BBC, “This was an appalling assault and we urgently need to trace and arrest the people involved. “The victim is a mature student at The University of Essex and we have been working with

Although the likelihood of violent crime is very low, students are urged to be mindful of safety, including keeping their rooms secure and not leaving valuable items clearly visible, and not carrying or storing large quantities of cash.

Safety advice and information is available on the Student Support and University Security Team websites, or you can contact Student Support on (01206) 872366, the Students’ Un“The University is working closely with Colches- ion Advice Centre on Square 3, or the Police ter police, whose priority is to trace and arrest Community Support Officer for the University, the people responsible. Serious crimes of this Louise Neville, by emailing: pcso@essex.ac.uk. nature are very rare and police believe they are unlikely to be randomly targeted. Please be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour on campus to the Security Team in Any students who saw anything suspicious in the 24-hour Information Centre on Square 3 the area or who might have any information (01206 872125), or, off campus, to the police which could help the police investigation are on 101”. urged to call Colchester Police on 101, asking for DC Tim Harris, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously (you do not have to give your name) on 0800 555111.

Lights out after 12 am Street lights will be switched off overnight in From now on, between midnight and five Colchester from November onwards. am, we shall have to walk around Colchester and literally not be able to see any potential Part-night street lighting is already in place in threats that may be lurking round the corner. some parts of Essex, but Essex County Council plans to extend it to Colchester from November How are members of this crime ridden area 1. The scheme will see street lights being meant to feel now that the council has all switched off between 12am and 5am every but turned a blind eye to these incidents? night, following a pilot of the scheme in Maldon This is a joke. People shouldn’t have to feel and Uttlesford. threatened at night anyway, however now it’s Essex County Council says the pilot almost a pairing factor of leaving the house. demonstrated no negative impact on crime statistics or road collisions as a result of the Luckily at the University of Essex we changes. Town centres, key road junctions have the odd person who actually thinks and accident black spots will be exempt from things through, and hence, we have the plans. The Rabbit’s comment Editor, Jake the fantastic services of the safety bus. It Stones, had the following to say on the matter. still remains though, that not all will have this option, for example, the members of “It’s an amazingly impressive and bold the general public who aren’t students” decision for the local government to decide that we no longer need the gift of sight during the dark and dangerous hours of the night.

Eleanor Brimelow

NEWS

STUDENT

Career Cafe invites The Rabbit The Pop-Up Career Café pressented by the University Employabilty and Careers centre took place on Thursday the 28th of November in the Blues Cafe and was a success for both students and speakers. The event was run by the LIFTS (Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies) Department but was welome to everyone. Amongst those at the events givind advice to students was Angela Clarke, author of Confessions of a Fashionista, who gave students advice on finding a literary agent and the route to publishing. The Rabbit editors were also there to talk to students about

student journalism and opportunities with your student newspaper. The Rabbit is always welcoming new writers, and will be looking for more in the coming term. The full Rabbit team can be found on the SU website. If you wish to get in contact with the section editors or propose an article idea, do not hesistate to contact them via email. http://www.essexstudent.com/media/rabbit/ Writing for The Rabbit is an excellent way to gain transferrable skills and put something extra on your CV, So get involved today!

Fire Safety at The University Here are some tips from John and Graham, the University’s resident fire safety experts. Don’t be left out in the cold. Last year there were over 400 false fire alarms in the University’s residences. These were caused by everyday tasks such as cooking (or should we say burning) food, showering with the door open and using hair straighteners and aerosols close to a smoke detector. If you accidently set off a fire alarm, it’s going to be pretty embarrassing and you are also going to get on the wrong side of your housemates after forcing them out into the cold or the rain. If this is not enough hassle, there could be disciplinary consequences for students who have been found to have set off fire alarms, with possible fines of £100 or more. Following these tips will help you avoid setting off overhead smoke and heat detectors:

• Never leave your cooking unattended. • Keep grill pans and cookers clean and free from fat and food debris • Keep kitchen and shower doors closed • Do not use aerosol sprays near the overhead heat or smoke detectors • Do not smoke or use candles, tea lights, Jos sticks or aromatic burners. These are all prohibited in the residences. • Watch our short video clip on how to prevent false alarms. This can be found online at http:// vimeo.com/72345509 Remember when the fire alarm sounds you must Get Out of your residence and Stay Out until you are told it is safe to return. If you are thinking about getting into the Christmas spirit and decorating your accommodation, please follow these festive fire tips: • If buying a Christmas tree, avoid live ones, as these present a real fire hazard (and make a mess of your room) after they have dried out.

Make sure artificial trees make are flame retardant. Try googling Christmas Tree Fire if you want to see how quickly they go up in flames. • If you buy Christmas lights, choose low voltage ones. • Do not wrap Christmas tree lights in flammable material such as cotton wall. Whilst this looks pretty and festive, there is a high risk of fire. Also avoid putting decorations close to lights or other sources of heat. • Do not place Christmas trees or other decorations in designated escape routes. More information on fire safety can be found here http://www.essex.ac.uk/support/emergencies/Default.aspx If you have any questions about fire safety please get in touch. John Crust and Graham Joy University Fire Safety Officers Email: fire@essex.ac.uk

STUDENT

Theatre Arts Society Pantomime cancelled It is with great sadness that we must announce that TAS’ annual pantomime (‘WONKA’ this year) has been cancelled. Due to an oversight from the production team we recently found out that we are unable to put on the show, due to the fact that it is currently being performed in the West End, and by continuing the production we would be breaching copyright. Now that the bad news is out of the way, onto the good stuff. We are still putting on a show on the 11th, 12th and 13th December, and we are sure it’ll still be just as good. The show we are now putting on is an original piece ‘Once Upon A Pantomime’ which stories the quest of a group of children attempting to put on a pantomime in 3 weeks,

when everything seems against them (can’t imagine where they got that idea from...). This show promises to be a very fun and enjoyable show for all, so make sure you don’t miss out. Whether you’re a fan of traditional pantomimes, or dislike the genre, I can guarantee you will enjoy this farcical take on the take on the subject. We are sorry that this situation has arisen but we’ve all pulled together to put on another great show. If you had previously booked tickets for the previous show, the Lakeside Theatre will have been in touch with you regarding what happens now. Adam Clow

Recent Immigration Bill Causes Controversy The recent immigration bill, published by Theresa May in October, aims to make it increasingly difficult for illegal immigrants to remain in the UK and to claim healthcare benefits, and incur other such costs which are deemed detrimental to the economy. There is a plethora of financial research available which can be used to argue either for or against this case. Turn to the Financial Times and you will hear that “immigration brings economic and fiscal gains to the UK”. Read the Daily Mail and the statistics will have been interpreted differently. Alongside the failed pilot experiment of the “Go Home or Face Arrest” vans being driven around areas of high immigrant population, the immigration bill demonstrates a less tolerant attitude towards illegal immigration, which has sinister implications for the treatment of asylum seekers in the UK. One such is 45 year old Isa Muazu. Muazu came to England from Nigeria in 2007, after several members of his family were killed by the terrorist organisation Boko Haram. After his visa expired in 2011, Muazu applied for leave to remain in the UK. He was refused. In July 2013,

he claimed asylum seeking to remain in the UK, and was immediately detained in Harmondsworth Removal Centre. In a desperate attempt to avoid return to Nigeria, Muazu has been on a hunger strike for three months, and, having lost vision in both eyes, being unable to sit up unaided, and having difficulty breathing, he is unlikely to survive much longer. On Wednesday 20th of November, the high court judge ruled that home secretary, Theresa May, was not holding Mauzu unjustly, and that “It is important to appreciate that those who use a hunger strike to manipulate their position will not succeed in doing so provided they have mental capacity.” A source at Harmondsworth has revealed that staff have been warned to expect prisoners who are on hunger strike to die. Suffering from Hepatitis B and stomach ulcers, medical staff at Harmondsworth informed the Home Office that Mauzu is unfit to be detained. The Detained Fast Track system, which rejects 99% of applications for asylum, and holds many victims of torture in hostile conditions, has long been protested against by the charity Detention Action as inhumane. The full brief can be found

on their website, which details the failings of the DFT system to prov,ide adequate care and support for asylum seekers in the UK. Meanwhile, speaking on Radio 4’s Today Program, Theresa May has defended the “hostile environment” for illegal immigrants in the UK. Audiences of the BBC’s debate in July over immigration may also recall Minister of State for Immigration Mark Harper telling an asylum seeker, on live television to “go home”. Immigration has always been a controversial issue that has attracted much debate. There are financial concerns that must be taken into account, and this is what Home Secretary Theresa May aims to address. However, should there not be a point when immigration is discussed in relation to people like Isa Muazu? People who seek, not to exploit and undermine the taxpayers’ money, but simply to find, in this country of supposed morality and justice, an escape from terror? Jasmine Crellin

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Comment

Jake Stones, Editor Philippa Dobson, Deputy Editor

Everybody Love Everybody I write this article with sadness. Sadness, because I feel it necessary to write this article in the first place, as the message which I wish to convey isn’t the adopted view. I am trying a new journalistic style by telling you simply how it is and how it is meant to be. Writers tend to do this anyway, however there is a great deal of in between which clogs the point. How it is: people are simply too nasty to one another. We are human each and every one of us. We discriminate, procrastinate and most of all, we hate. How it’s meant to be: Humans seeing other humans as humans. Feeling nothing else but appreciation for the magnificent fact we are alive and together. Not letting the little things block our view of the big picture. The principle ‘learn from your mistakes’ is about as strong and important as they come. I wish to apply this to the whole of humanity and ask what humanities greatest mistakes are so far... Genocide? Nuclear and atomic munitions? War? Prejudice? Racism? Money? There are too many, and each one causes more and more realisation of the sadness of our situation as a species. Each of these mistakes has been bred not necessarily out of

hate, but from a lack of love. Why is love such a radical idea? Look around. There is love, but there is nowhere near enough of it. This is why I adopt a maxim of “ELE”, Everybody Love Everybody. If you’ve ever seen the movie Semi Pro then you will know that Will Ferrell does a much better job of explaining this than me. If you haven’t seen the film then just YouTube the scene, it’s hilarious (of course it is, it’s Will Ferrell!) Next time you’re looking at someone struggling with their identity and classification let them know they are human and that is enough. To degrade one human is to say that you have an issue with humanity, which also means you have an issue with yourself, and that’s not good, is it? To show love to another human is to show your acceptance of our species, and hence, acceptance of yourself, which is a good line to be on. Now this has all been very embarrassing and I am sure that the ridicule will come in abundance once this little pup gets published. Nay danger though, everything worthwhile takes a while and I still love you all the same, insults or no.

Jake Stones

Let’s Chat Politics According to Boris Johnson and David Cameron the pinnacle of human development was reached in 2010 with the conservative’s ground breaking radical idea of the BIG SOCIETY. Instead of socialistic forms of organisation, millions of Tory and Liberal voters would flood the streets of the deprived areas of the UK handing out free food, coco and copies of the Daily Telegraph (or Mail depending on their levels of racism).

Radical ideas that have truly changed the world of politics have always, and will always, come from the left. By the left I mean democratically organised groups of people dedicated to progressive policies of a socialist nature. The idea of someone from the status quo coming up with a progressive policy is a self-defeating statement. Of course, political leaders throughout the past have denounced each new step toward progress as “utopian” or unrealistic. For example, campaigners for the NHS in the 1930s were often accused of being utopian and clearly that wasn’t such a mad idea (unless you work for one of the private health companies that bank rolled the Tory’s in 2010). For an idea to truly be progressive it is within its nature going to be “radical”. The idea that the only way to progress is through steady middle ground politics is something that up and coming Labour or Tory MPs probably love telling themselves in the morning but it simply is not true.

Meanwhile still racing to find the nearest hooded youth for a heartwarming hug. Yes, it was the new tax saving, high earning, Range Rover driving, hummus eating, banker loving population of this country that was going to come to rescue. Who needs a library when you have the Nigel Farages of this world swooping down from the home county’s donating their 4th spare copy of Mrs Thatcher’s bibliographies to the schools? Now apparently 10,703,654 people voted for this idea in 2010, and I have a funny feeling most of them probably didn’t intend to run around looking after the poor. Sam Gleaden

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

COMMENT

Feminism is still relevant “Radical feminism is a perspective within feminism that focuses on the hypothesis of patriarchy as a system of power that organizes society… based on the assertion that male supremacy oppresses women”. Feminism supports women’s rights and aims for women to be equal to men. Radical feminism blames patriarchal societies for the lack of equality between the sexes and oppression of women. Vast improvements in female equality in the western world have been made in the 20th century causing our generation to question whether feminism is still relevant. Of course, feminism is very relevant in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Congo, Nepal, Guatemala, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Mali, Somalia, etc. In these countries little progress has been made to improve traditional patriarchal views, there are high counts of rape and forced prostitution, sex trafficking, a lack of opportunities and a lack of laws supporting women. I have noticed at university there seems to be a small minority supporting feminism, as most of our generation now see feminism as irrelevant in Britain. This could be because feminism is needed

in countries that are extremely anti-feminist where women need drastic help. However, this does not mean that we should ignore the patriarchal issues still prevalent in British society today. Discrimination against women takes on many forms, for example sexual objectification, such as appearance and body image being more important than other attributes. Therefore, women are exploited socially and in the media, as this is the norm the high numbers of sexual harassment and rape also become normal which is very worrying. Women’s sports are less important and anti-feminist humour and insults are widespread. Educationally, women are still mentally and socially discouraged from traditional male fields e.g. maths, sciences, politics, etc. Women are still paid less than men and a successful career can make a woman less desirable, as some men feel they must be the breadwinner so they do not feel emasculated. The whole idea of emasculation is that a man feels more feminine, which is strangely thought of in a bad light. Feminism is still relevant; although British women may not be as oppressed as women in other countries it should not be dismissed.

Philippa Dobson

BANG! (White Able Bodied Men Only) So this time I’ve been asked to write an article about radical ideas, and the idea I want to talk about is one that has been mentioned quite often in the good ol’ US of A over the past year. Of course, I’m talking about the amazing 2nd amendment of the US constitution which is often shortened to ‘the right to bear arms’. As you all know this means that if you are a US citizen living in America you have the right to own a firearm; but does it really mean that? So, I decided to look into this on a Thursday afternoon (nursing my Sports Fed hangover) to see what the actual US constitution says. The first shock for me was that not everyone has the right to bear arms in America. First, you have to be an able bodied white male, which already means that 64% of the entire population doesn’t have the right to own a gun. So with this fact you can conclude that this amendment is racist, sexist and anti-disabled.

Obviously, at the time it was written, this was considered the norm, but at the time of writing, slavery was also considered the norm and that got taken out of the constitution so why haven’t guns? Also, after researching a bit more I understood that the purpose of the law was to allow for citizens to be as armed as highly as the military so that the government would never be a tyrannical one. A good idea on paper, but when you think that this means that every able-bodied white male has the right to own a predator drone or nuclear missile, then you’ve got to start asking questions. So, maybe my idea to get rid of that line in the US constitution isn’t too radical but just common sense, because if I was living in a little town in Kansas I wouldn’t want my next door neighbour to own a nuclear submarine. What if I annoyed him? He could blow up half the state just to get back at me!

Anik Hassain

Shaunism Far left wing does not work. Far right wing is greedy and naughty, and all the other directions are simply silly. So, let’s try Shaunism. Shaunism Here are the foundations: 1. Continuous hyperinflation 2. Continuous mass imports 3. Equal distribution of wealth How it works The government continuously prints money and distributes wealth evenly to the citizens of the state. In return people have to work normal jobs in order to receive these benefits from the government. Money is worthless internally so people get paid in other ways such as housing, internal travel and access to free health care. However, by bribing other nations to accept the printed money, known as Quilts Quids, then the value of the money will be worth something abroad. This means mass imports of goods will flow into the UK, where items will be stored in huge containers. Food will be stored appropriately such as in big refrigerators. The idea is that everyone will be equal and not have to worry about unemployment. The will to work hard is based on the incentive of gaining the benefits that the government offers. Government officials would be placed in each work place to keep track of work flow. Summary Yes, this is a radical idea, and yes I’m sure there are flaws, but it’s about trial and error. People would not be able to travel abroad, but why would someone want to leave paradise? Yet, the government would run a free ferry service from mainland UK to the Isle of Wight for those wishing to leave. They would then have to make their own way to Europe from there. Why not give it a go? If it fails then the UK can become a state of America. It is always a good idea to have a backup plan.

Shaun Quilter

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FRIDAY 8TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

Arts

ART

Jennifer Draper, Editor Amy Bater, Deputy Editor

The Art of Fashion You’re an artist! You may have never felt like one but be assured, you are. In the world of interactions we live in, expressing yourself has never been too easy. And what is art if not the result of the feelings expressed by the artist? Every one of us can dress and just as the painter chooses different paintbrushes, you pick different clothes, you match a shirt with trousers, selecting the right colour for the right mood.

Fashion isn’t just about choosing what clothes to wear, or deciding what top goes with what skirt. Fashion is a recognised art form which has changed the way we dress throughout history. For over a century various designers and Couture Houses have captured the essence of art and transmitted it through their creations. With haute couture now becoming potentially recognised as the ‘eighth art’, we are seeing more extravagant and arguably odd pieces on the catwalk.

You get dressed every day in your own style, and every day you find new ways to express yourself, your body being the display of you. Fashion embodies this sense of self-promotion even more accurately, from a fashion show in Milan to the hipster you pass in the street, everyone is sharing its tastes, and even its opinions. You are a blank canvas; you just have to choose your style!

With so much thought going into each piece and the many factors which are so important, such as the shape and symmetry, how different materials will look side to side and also the way in which the colours balance each other out, it is very hard not to agree with the fact that the pieces we are currently seeing on the catwalk are very similar to majestic paintings, and are in their own right, works of art.

Jeremy Martin

Jessica Bradley

To this day, the fashion world keeps on changing every day. The idea that fashion is not something we are all a part of is absurd. Every one of us has our own style, something that is our own that no one can take away from us. Whether you are the quirky bright coloured outfit type of girl, or the dress in black type of guy, you are all artists in your own right. You create your look, you make the decision to buy that top and wear it with that jacket. You are your own person, you have your own style. Not all of us can be crazy designers, like Alexander McQueen. We don’t all have the imagination that he had to create works such as his Savage Beauty collection, but one thing we all share is that we are artists, we all have a fashion style that is personal..

Jennifer Draper

Music Tom Odell, UEA LCR In our contemporary age, it’s not commonplace for an artist to occupy a grand piano stool for the duration of a live set. Perhaps Sussex singer Tom Odell’s unique concentration on pseudo-classical key solos is the reason for him winning a BRIT award back in January. Odell, having confused and irritated music critics nationwide, delivered an unexpectedly emotional performance at the darkened Norwich venue. Equipped only with an ebony piano and a microphone, Odell wailed his way through his new material. Vocally sulky, his heartfelt lyrics scattered awestruck sighs across his female fan base. Serenading a sell-out crowd, Odell’s material was explosive with feeling, although his performance fell short of the charisma and lighthearted talent you might expect from a young vocalist. Often criticised for his abandonment of audience interaction, Odell almost silently crept his way through the set, as if ticking off a list of bad nightmares or affecting breakups. Despite the lack of theatrical performance, with the help of an aesthetically pleasing set, Odell did manage to command his audience’s attention. Nonetheless, Odell did prove himself worthy of his chart success – the technicalities and intricacy with which he graced his piano keys was extraordinary. His overcompensation of passion made the performance unbalanced – though impressive in instrumental interludes- his burdening lyrics and dense verses made the set complicated and hard to follow. Tom opened with his newest and best single, ‘Grow Old with Me’. The only carefree track of the set, its softer vocals and contemporary piano riffs can be compared to early Mumford and Sons. The distinctive folk song ‘Another Love’ also shows a lighter side to the dusty blonde singer in terms of symphony, yet his lyrics remain bleak. Though, Odell’s ability to craft music is showcased poignantly in both tracks, proving his melodic aptitude and flair. Although Tom isn’t the most theatrical of performers, his piano-playing talent impressed his listeners. Atmospherically, UEA’s LCR was alive – not with ecstasy and thrill, but with intellectual gratification and silent appreciation of Odell’s quietly idiosyncratic show.

Deborah Findlater, Editor Dragos Ion, Deputy Editor

SX Soundtracks – share your playlist! Coming to Red Radio this academic year, SX Soundtracks is a new show where the student playlist is in the spotlight. Music is part of university life for many of us and we are exposed to it in different ways – studying, socials, parties, concerts etc. In the past, cassette tapes/ CD-Rs were used to create playlists full of tracks recorded from the radio/records/ CDs so people could share with friends. With music streaming services available such as Spotify, Grooveshark and Deezer, the concept of shared playlists has come back for good. Even TV channels (e.g. BBC Three) have been putting online playlists with the songs played on their shows. Another feature of shared playlists is the discovery of new sounds or even the rediscovery good old ones. Everybody has different tastes in music and it’s a good opportunity to find out about from different parts of the world or genres you’re not used to it. The idea of SX Soundtracks came over the summer while I was looking at university friends’ posts on Facebook with what they’d

been listening to. For the very first show, I picked tunes that have been relevant to me during my time at Essex. It had a bit of everything: indie, 80s, electronic, progressive rock and Brazilian music. Then I had playlists from two friends from my department, which were very rich and diverse. One of them came to the studio to go through together her playlist and it was a lot of fun! If you want to have your playlist featured on the show, send an email to essexsoundtracks@gmail.com with your favorite 10 tracks (all genres welcome!) and a small paragraph on why you’ve picked up each one of the tracks. If you want to come over to the studio and go through your playlist with me, feel free to join! You can catch up with past playlists and more on the SX Soundtracks on Red Radio Facebook page at www.facebook. com/SXSoundtracks Don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday from 5-6pm!

Tatiana Oldfield

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

Album Reviews

ONES TO WATCH: Artisfiction

Tink

Artisfiction are a Welsh experimental band who mix together a concoction of rock, eccentric live performances and synths. Formed in 2012, they have toured across the UK (including London) on numerous occasions. With critical acclaim coming from the likes of BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Wales, Global Metal Apocalypse and Skindred’s vocalist Benji Webbe, Artisfiction are poised to be on everyone’s lips in 2014. Currently in the studio recording their debut album and haven recently released their latest music video ‘Aminordelay,’ this quintet is certainly poised to make a lasting impression on the music scene.

In the midst of alarming rates of violence, the south side of Chicago has recently spawned a number of talented young artists. At just 19, singer and rapper Tink is one of them. Last year she released two mixtapes, the R&B affair Winters Diary followed by the more rap orientated alter Ego. Effortlessly switching between singing and rapping, Tink toys with both the soft and harsh sides of production. 2013 has seen Tink feature on Future Brown’s ‘Wanna Party’ and will end on a high for her with mixtape Winter’s Tale 2 coming out on December 24th.

MUSIC

Katy Perry- Prism HHH Katy Perry goes soft on her new album Prism, the fourth of her career. A brilliant sequel to Teenage Dream, she retains the same powerful and hopeful messages in her songs. Instead of going dark after her break-up with husband Russell Brand, her new album is full of positive energy as demonstrated in first single ‘Roar’. With an ethereal and vulnerable sound, she draws on influences from 90s club music to old romantic ballads, blending everything together for the perfect modern pop album. Full of mainstream songs, it seems that Perry is attempting to break her record of number 1 singles that she achieved with Teenage Dream.

Luiza Sandru Rhys Stevenson

Deborah Findlater

SCNTST- Self Therapy HHHH

Gig Previews Colchester

Norwich

London

DJ EZ

White Lies

Xenia Rubinos

If you’re a garage fan then you’re in for a treat as the legendary DJ EZ is coming to Colchester. With DJ’s from Tribal’s various residences warming up, the night is a perfect way to end the term.

London band White Lies are on tour in support of their latest album Big TV, released in August this year. American punk singer and instrumentalist Frankie Rose opens for the group.

Experimental vocalist Xenia Rubinos plays her first show in the capital, showcasing tracks from debut album Magic Trix.

Tribal Nightclub, Friday 13th December. Advanced tickets £12, £15 on the door.

UEA LCR, Thursday 12th December. Tickets - £20 http:// www.ueaticketbookings. co.uk/events/white-lies--uea-lcr--14-12-13-1.aspx

Shacklewell Arms, Wednesday 11th December. Tickets - £6 http://www.shacklewellarms.com/listings/ eventdetails/11-dec-13-xenia-rubinos-the-shacklewellarms/

Just three years after first deciding to learn how to produce using Ableton, 20 year old Bryan Muller impresses with debut album Self Therapy. The BoysNoize records signee combines a remarkably mature approach to techno with Hip-Hop particularly in the vein of legendary producer J Dilla. ‘Chilliger Track’ featuring up and coming German rapper Jean Bordello, sees this influence fully realised as well as channelling the progressive jazz vibes of Flying Lotus. SCNTST proves himself to be truly versatile, going from a low-fi take on trap with ‘Waves Change’ to the pulsating, club-ready techno banger ‘Park By Night.’ Self Therapy is an exceptional, genre blurring debut from an artist ahead of his years.

Deborah Findlater

Film

Charis Lynch, Editor Katie Clark, Deputy Editor

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Modernist writer J.R.R. Tolkien is considered the King of the fantasy novel, with his best-selling work The Lord of the Rings having sold approximately one hundred and fifty million copies to this day, making it one of the most successful novels in history. This popularity has carried on through to our present day, with the majority of western societies not only recognising the title, but also noting how it refers to Tolkien’s great fantasy tales. However, this contemporary success has been heavily influenced by the limitless film genre, with this epic adventure being reimagined back in 2001 by director Peter Jackson. With this adaptation, Frodo’s story went on to achieve even greater success, with the series winning a total of seventeen academy awards, as well as carrying on the novel’s tradition by becoming one of the highest-grossing film franchises to date. However, as many fans know, Tolkien’s reign did not begin with The Lord of The Rings. Instead, the tale of another hobbit lurked in the shadows of its successor. The Hobbit, Tolkien’s original best-seller, was the first edition to the epic Middle-Earth tales, telling the story of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins; (the original ringbearer who took kinsman Frodo under his wing and sent him off on his fantastical journey). However, our sheltered predecessor underwent his own rather com-

ically unexpected adventure, having been persuaded by the wizard Gandalf to venture forth with thirteen dwarves to reclaim their homeland from the conqueror dragon Smaug. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released last year, with the first part to this trilogy receiving similar praise among fans and critics alike. But, one criticism highlighted in a handful of reviews, was the overall pace of the narrative. Although visually enthralling and warmly reminiscent, the series would seem, understandably, drawn out. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was originally a single text, and Jackson returns to direct this tale across a series of three films. This decision allows the creative team to explore and develop the backstory of the ring and Middle-Earth’s characters, including the majority of informative and exciting events described in the novel. Be that as it may, the incorporation of minor events possibly distracts us from the main narrative, leaving the audience wondering when the next big plot twist is going to reveal itself. Yet with the series already having a firmly established narrative and world through The Lord of the Rings films, it treats the fans by remaining ever more faithful to the original work, including the subordinate scenes which other directors may have de-

cided to cut. Not only does it give depth to the tale of lovable hobbit Bilbo, but it gives the fans exactly what they want: more Middle-Earth adventures. So after the great success of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Jackson once again guides us forward to explore Bilbo’s next challenge in the sequel The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Bilbo and the dwarves continue their venture towards Lonely Mountain, encountering many hardships and founding new allies along the way. Bilbo must now face the mighty dragon Smaug to claim back what was stolen from the dwarves: their homeland and rightful treasures. Martin Freeman’s performance as the timid, homely hero has been particularly prominent thus far, and his skill at portraying this entertaining and heartfelt personality was explored in previous success A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Overall, the next edition to the franchise is looking promising, as to be expected from the successful directing endeavours of Peter Jackson. This epic adventure of Middle-Earth continues on the 13th December 2013; just in time for the end of term. So congratulate yourselves on surviving the start of your own adventures by treating yourself to a trip to cinema to watch this red-hot film!

Katie Clark

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

FILM

HOLIDAY FILMS

It’s that time of year again. Christmas is just around the corner, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to publish people’s holiday recommendations. Whether it’s a comedy like Four Christmases or a tear jerker like Jack Frost, there’s bound to be at least one Christmas film for each of us to enjoy. If there’s a Christmas film you want to share, feel free to post on the Facebook page..

It’s a Wonderful Life

Jingle all the way

Miracle on 34th Street

Home Alone

Forty words are not enough to describe how much I love this film. It’s a Wonderful Life is not just the best Christmas film ever made, but one of the best films ever made. Essential viewing every year at Christmas.

My family and I have been watching this every Christmas since I can remember, what makes it so hilarious is everyone, at one point in their lives, has been that person desperately trying to find someone the perfect present on Christmas eve.

My Christmas is not complete without this feel good film. Packed full of Christmas spirit, cast with the most perfect Santa, and with decadent Christmas decorations from start to finish, it’s sure to make you smile. Get ready for the “miracle.”

The “Citizen Kane” of Christmas films, it plays out to every child’s fantasy of the fun they’d have if they were left home alone and features a truly badass kid! Quite honestly, no film will put you in a Christmassy mode faster.

Jack Fryer

Amy Horsfield

Charis Lynch

Amy Horsfield

UNTRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS FILMS

For those of you who aren’t fans of the usual Christmas favourites, here are a couple of alternative ideas

Die Hard

The Golden Compass

This may not appear to be a Christmas film at first glance, merely an action film set at Christmas. However, once you start analysing the film, it is an exciting story true to Christmas, a story of a family rekindling their love with one another, whilst fighting Alan Rickman. Merry Christmas indeed.

Action, great cast and snow, what more can you ask for in a Christmas film? It may not be the typical viewing option, but it still gets you in the spirit of things. If you haven’t seen it, try it this Christmas.

Jack Fryer

Charis Lynch

Kirsten Alexander, Editor

Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary Special Everybody’s favourite Timelord returned to our screens recently to celebrate an incredible fifty years of the TARDIS, Daleks and Sonic Screwdrivers. It was the event Whovians across the world had been waiting for and was finally broadcast worldwide, in both 2D and 3D (in some cinemas) to great anticipation. Thanks to this, The Day of The Doctor broke the record for being the largest ever simulcast of a TV drama, as well as managing to accumulate over ten million viewers (incredibly, not as many as celebrity sequin-fest Strictly Come Dancing) and half a million tweets during its initial live broadcast. Not bad, eh? Here are just a couple of the five hundred thousand tweets from some familiar Whovians: David Walliams @davidwalliams: “#DayoftheDoctor It was very moving seeing

Tom Baker return to ‘Dr Who’. He has cast a spell over me for as long as I can remember. #legend” Billie Piper @billiepiper “This is it everyone, today is the day. Enjoy it, I really hope you do. You’ve waited and waited and now it’s here. #Happy50th #DoctorWho!” But let’s see what the real fans think. Catalin Voinea shares his view on Doctor Who: “This episode is remarkable due to the on-screen presence of so many doctors. Matt Smith and David Tenant share a nice chemistry, providing a slew of witty and funny moments. Unfortunately, however, John Hurt’s War Doctor is neglected, he lives as a spectator, allowing the outcome of this adventure to affect his life-altering decisions. The plot unfolds across three temporal realms:

contemporary London, the future on Gallifrey and in the year 1562. The Zygons - shape shifting aliens - were brought back as the show’s antagonist. The companions, Rose Tyler and Clara return, and their performances are definitely worth noting. The episode provides fan-pleasing homages and delightful surprises: a brief appearance of The Doctor’s thirteenth incarnation, Peter Capaldi, coupled with the sighting of Tom Baker’s fourth Doctor as a familiar curator. Hilarious moments, an interesting plot and memorable sightings amount to a classical and charming Who adventure, catering to past and present Whovians alike.”

Kirsten Alexander

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

: r e n r o C Comedy e h t f o t h Flig s d r o h c Con Flight of the Conchords tells the tale of “New Zealand’s third most popular comedy folk duo” as they attempt to find success in New York, and their numerous failings along the way. The delusional pair are joined by Murray, their bumbling manager and Mel, their obsessive stalker (as well as their only fan), as they repeatedly stumble from inept social interactions to painfully under-attended gigs. Each episode is interspersed with the bands idealised rock-star alter egos internally performing their ridiculous and yet madly catchy songs. Definitely a unique and worthwhile watch.

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Whitechapel

Every storyline features elements of gore and psychotic creepiness, inevitably not designed for the fainthearted. Each series has a factual foundation for the episodes and it is these facts which tie each episode together in the series, from Jack the Ripper

N: TV Turn O cklist stars The Bla er nse thrill

Jack Fryer

Roman Wilson

Through their infinite wisdom, ITV has decided to axe one of the most popular drama series of the past four years. Set in the dark and grisly setting of Whitechapel in East London, the series follows key characters DI Joseph Chandler (Rupert Penry-Jones), DS Ray Miles (Phil Davies) and Edward Buchan (Steve Pemberton) on perhaps what could be dubbed, ‘the closest to Ripper reality as you can get’.

to the Kray twins. Its notable success is proven through its award nominations, having been nominated for ‘Best Television Episode Teleplay’ at last year’s Edgar Allen Poe Awards and nominations for five categories at last year’s Monte-Carlo TV Festival awards. Recently a petition was setup to challenge the ITV commission’s decision to axe the show. You can sign the petition at: www.change. org/en-GB/petitions/itv-don-t-cancel-whitechapel

Rhys Stevenson

Books Editorial Me, Myself and I The biographical genre has always been a popular one. In a culture where celebrity tweets are analysed and dissected into feature length articles in the tabloids, it is no wonder, that when one of these Olympian Greats of the media condescends to write, or have documented, an actual book about their lives, we are hooked. For the dreamy- eyed fan, to have their hero share the secrets of their success, to allow the public into their private lives, in, typically, at least three hundred pages of detail, is a very appealing prospect. Whether we are watching ‘reality’ television coverage of D-list celebrities, devouring magazine ‘interviews’ that consist of a couple of sentences borrowed from a more expensive journal, or whether we are scouring YouTube for full-length interviews, the superclass of the celebrity never ceases to amaze. In this issue, we explore the autobiographical genre, from the glamorous memoir of the iconical Morissey, to the harrowing accounts of racial discrimination given by Maya Angelou in I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings. One thing is certain about this most flexible of genres, is that there is something for everyone.

Jasmine Crellin, Editor Jessica Houlihan, Deputy Editor

John F. Kennedy: An Unfinished Life The 22nd November marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, America’s thirty-fifth President. Considering the scandal and conspiracy theories provoked by his murder, it seems fitting to review an objective and comprehensive biography of his life and career. Robert Dallek’s An Unfinished Life is as rich and complex as the life of the man it describes; it is immensely detailed, chronicling Kennedys birth, his remarkable and marginal ascension to Presidency, his tumultuous tenure as leader of the free world and his ultimate demise at the hands of Lee Harvey-Oswald.

Dallek utilises the latest historical research and superb writing to get us closer to the mind of JFK than has been possible before. In doing this, Dallek poses a question to which it is left up to us to decide: JFK, the hero of his time, or the epicentre of political scandal?

For me, this text stands out because whilst it portrays Kennedy’s political dramas, it also presents both the flaws and virtues of his personality. It intimately documents his charm, wit and his notable ability to make light even in times of crisis, whilst never masking his incessant infidelity and the health problems that plagued him through his life.

David Havis Jasmine Crellin

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story D. T. Max’s biography of David Foster Wallace is a thorough, fascinating, account of the life of a brilliant writer and troubled man. Max, a journalist by profession, writes in a terse, understated style (a style positively antithetic to Wallace’s signature sprawling maximalism) which makes the three-hundred-or-so page chronicle an effortlessly engaging read. The book follows Wallace’s life from infancy to his eventual, untimely suicide in 2008, probing all, including, his prodigious precocity (he was a literary success by his mid-twenties with the publication of The Broom of the System), his addictions (TV, marijuana, alcohol, women), eventual general rehabilitation, and almost lifelong struggle with depression. All of which has profoundly pervaded his work, in particular influencing his literary quest for sincerity in a culture that, he feared, was increasingly falling vic-

tim to the seductions of nihilistic irony. But Max’s biography is clearly not a work of idolatry. Wallace is not portrayed as some Jesus-figure who selflessly suffered so he could gift us with great fiction. He, for example, was very anxious to ensure people knew he was a genius, he prided himself on it. Max was conscious to show this side of Wallace for it was this need to impress, combined with his cultural despair, that drove him to write his best work. And this is important, because now, five years since his suicide, and almost twenty since the publication of his gargantuan magnum opus Infinite Jest, Wallace’s oeuvre is a more potent and impressive critic of our culture than ever before. Many have begun to recognise this, as what simply began as the inevitable media-review

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird is the first in a seven part autobiographical series by Maya Angelou, in which she describes life as a poor black girl growing up in Arkansas in the 1930’s. Abandoned by her parents at a young age, Maya and her brother Bailey are sent to live with their grandmother and crippled Uncle Willie. Facing racial prejudice daily and living under the omnipresent threat of the ‘Klan’, the story follows Maya’s quest for a coherent sense of self in a world intent to define her by the colour of her skin. In many respects it can also be seen as a ‘coming of age’ story, which not only deals with the trials of female adolescence, but specifically those of a black female living under Jim Crowe.

As Maya herself says: “If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat.” Often described as a work of autobiographical fiction, Angelou’s prose is refreshing as it reads more like a novel than a piece of nonfiction. She expertly writes in an anecdotal yet deeply personal style, while tackling the traumas of neglect, rape and a damaging inferiority complex. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a troubling yet beautiful story, and, despite the horrors it narrates, remains both inspirational and uplifting. A fantastic read!

Jessica Houlihan

BOOKS

B RE OOK VIE WS

of a recently-dead writer’s work and its influence has become something else entirely. It has introduced a new generation to his work, sparking a Wallace renaissance. More of his work, fiction and non fiction, is now available in print than ever before, which has, in turn, fuelled a demand for books like Max’s. Despite its preoccupation with facts and detail, Every Love Story is a Ghost Story is one of the most viscerally sad books I’ve ever read. Max’s clarity and subdued suggestiveness – a ‘see for yourself’ approach, only adds to its poignancy. Yet I can’t quite imagine it having the same effect on those unfamiliar with Wallace’s writing, seeing as his work is so bound up with how he chose to live. All-in-all a worthy read, especially for the initiated.

Dylan Parrin

Levels of Life by Julian Barnes Recently included in Waterstones’ Book of the Year shortlist, Julian Barnes’s Levels of Life is a deeplypersonal weave of memoir and fiction, written after the death of his wife. It is a haunting and sad demonstration of how, as Barnes himself writes, ‘every love story is a potential grief story’. The book is divided into three sections, with the first section looking at the history of hot-air ballooning and the second part exploring the fictitious love affair of one ballooning history’s pioneers. It is the third part that packs the hardest punch, however, where Barnes revisits the aftermath of his wife’s death, literary agent Pat Kavanagh.

There are aspects of Levels of Life that make it genuinely frightening. Its ultimate consideration is of the interplay between love and grief, emotionally and mathematically, asking the question of whether love is really worth the grief that resides with the survivour. What this book really demonstrates is the sense of clarity Barnes has earned through his grief, delivering through this objective analysis of the nature of love and loss a desperate yet illuminating memoir.

Jordan Lees

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

Science

SCIENCE SCIENCE

Ben Gregson, Editor Emily Pearlman, Deputy Editor

De-extinction: righting our wrongs? Most life forms that have existed on Earth are now extinct. The vast majority are extinct because of mankind, including aurochs (wild cattle, the last one died in 1627) and passenger pigeons (1914). Two different techniques are now being used to try to bring these animals back from the dead. Aurochs have disappeared due to hunting and were slowly replaced by their domesticated relatives, the types of cattle you see today. This legacy, according to the TaurOs Project, is what will bring this bovine back. By selectively breeding the closest living relatives (a process called ‘breeding back’) the universities involved hope to be able to create a wild animal that not only looks and feeds like the extinct auroch, but is as genetically similar as possible. Once this process is completed, the ‘new aurochs’ will be reintroduced in the

wild, as they are ecologically important. The second technique uses the latest advances in genetics. Humans were directly responsible for their extinction of passenger pigeons for cheap meat. By sequencing the genome of one specimen in high quality and then comparing it to eleven different specimens, Revive & Restore hopes to have enough information to convert band-tailed pigeon DNA into passenger pigeon’s. They can then breed this bird in captivity until a flock large enough to be reintroduced into the wild is formed. Revive & Restore hopes this technique to be the new frontier in conservation of biodiversity. If either project succeeds new interesting ethical questions will need to be faced.

Simone Ramacci

Why no Y? If most of you girls are ever looking for a good reason as to why we are better than the vast majority of men, this is it. Our ‘X’ chromosome which makes us special has not been touched. The ‘Y’ chromosome, which only those born male or intersex can carry, however, could eventually become extinct. Performing experiments on mice, scientists were able to condense all genetic information in males in to just two genes. The ‘Y’ chromosome in mice normally has fourteen genes. These genetically modified mice can fully develop, have a normal life span and even reproduce. Professor Monika Ward of the University of Hawaii said “These mice are normally infertile, but we show it is possible to get live offspring when the Y chromosome is limited to just two genes by using assisted reproduction.” This method are infertile some in the ments these

could be used to help men who due to a damaged Y chromofuture. With the use of IVF treatmen could soon father children.

This really does show that X marks the spot!

Gina Dedman

Science of Caffeine

STUDENT SCIENCE

Caffeine is a stimulant drug, associated with a number of different plants with two distinct purposes. The first purpose is a natural pesticide to prevent valuable areas of the plant (such as the beans) from being ravaged by pests. The second is to stimulate the memory of pollinators so that they will return in future.

term users effectively having to redose to return to ‘normal’ levels due to caffeine crashes.

Caffeine is better known for helping us to wake up in the morning, with tea or coffee. Like other drugs, caffeine is a double edged sword, the supposed positive short term effects of increased concentration and decreased fatigue generally last five hours in moderate doses and is a valuable resource depending on the situation.

Reliable sources on the relationship between alcohol and caffeine are difficult to come by, due to studies being refused licenses for ominous reasoning such as ‘huge dangers to participants’.

The negative effects are less documented, unregulated sleep patterns are a common side effect. Other short term side effects include anxiety, headaches and vasoconstriction (blood vessels constrict, increasing blood pressure). One study even suggests caffeine having a placebo effect with chronic long

Interestingly, during the study, no group beat the non-user category in alertness tests suggesting the perceived short term effects of caffeine are exaggerated.

However, scientists have postulated that caffeine’s stimulating effects reduce and postpone intoxication. This cocktail could lead to serious consequences and therefore caffeine is not recommended till the strong tea the morning after.

Luke Coomber

Lifestyle

Claudia Degli Alessandrini, Editor Luiza Sandru, Deputy Editor

Managing the stress of deadlines: Six Top Tips It is that busy time of the year again: Do not panic and follow these tips for acing all your deadlines on time. When it comes to the busy end of term, everything can feel quite overwhelming. Assessments pile up, deadlines stand looming over us, and there exists a never-ending feeling of anxiety that takes up residency in our stomach. While you sit there and stew over all the things you have yet to finish, let me assure you that you are definitely not alone in this period of unease. Below are my six top tips that are sure to help you manage your stress levels, keep panic and exhaustion at bay, and motivate you to knock out each deadline one dreaded paper at a time! So, here we go:

#1. Work out your best study time. Breathe. We have twenty-four usable hours in every day; we can use any of these if we wanted to. For some, productiveness is a matter of hour. Some students are more productive in the morning, others in the afternoon or evening, others at night. Whatever the time your buzz comes out, figure out what works best for you and use this time to your best advantage; be methodical.

#2. Multi-task. Cut down procrastination time

by socializing, fitting in exercise, or watching your favourite TV shows during your study break periods. This way, instead of stopping to take separate breaks for every mealtime, gym, or social session, you will have succeeded in guaranteeing more time to finish off that essay.

#5. Kill Caffeine. Rid yourself of all these studying myths. An overload on caffeine and energy drinks will only leave you a nervous ball of energy and will rot your insides. Eat healthily, drink lots of water, and keep munchies or a stress ball within reach to help with the excess energy you will have by over-exerting yourself.

#3. Have a routine. You are not Superman or Wonder Woman – regardless of how shattering it is. Make time to sleep, but be consistent with your routine. Bed at 10pm and wake at 6am is always a classic and great example. Do not waste time by kidding yourself that all-nighters and sporadic daytime naps do anyone justice, they only affect your focus and leave you feeling haggard. Solid sleep equals solid focus!

#4. Get it out. Quiet the worrisome chatter in your head by getting your thoughts out on paper. Make a study plan – as time consuming it sounds (but really it’s not) – map out your entire essay points, ideas, time schedule and to-do lists, on paper. You will clear your head and love yourself for it. Cross off tasks as you go. Seeing your progress in front of you will inspire you to keep going.

#6. Get Motivated. Have motivational quotes, pictures, intellectual or inspiring DVDs on hand, to bring yourself up when you are feeling rock bottom. Remind yourself why you are doing this, and think positively. For concentration while studying, online study music can be a fantastic method of stimulation. Although it is common to doubt yourself at this time, I am here to remind you that stress affects everyone. Remember that you have the support of many others around you – so throw away all negativity and selfdoubt, utilize these simply steps to conquer this exam period, and get cracking!

Monica Gifford

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

LIFESTYLE

Party in Safety A guide to safe- partying and enjoying your well-deserved night out. Partying, clubbing, pubbing and hanging out with friends is the fun side of student life. Thank goodness. If university life was all about sitting in your room and revising, you would go crazy or gradually lose your eyesight like that Italian poet (Giovanni Pascoli). What is not fun is going out and being mugged, threatened by a knife and all the negative variations to the case. The Rabbit Lifestyle provides a safe-guide to going out so you can truly take that well-deserved break from university work and live to celebrate it. PRECONDITIONS TO SAFETY. All safety guides rely on the precondition that you are mentally lucid. In other words, if you cannot stand because you have been drinking too much, there is no way you can protect yourself from others( not even from yourself for that matter ) or be aware of your surroundings ( who you are hanging out with- do you know the dude?) What road are you walking down by yourself? Who is that person following me in the dark…You get the idea. We are university students so there is not much bling to our £10.00 jewelry but we do get parent’s love for Christmas and birthdays- I-pod, that expensive watch, Kindle, I-touch, I-stroke, I-Press- You name the technological varieties you hold dear. Now, if you take these with you while you are reaching your friend in the Meadows at 22:00 p.m. and hold them in perfect visual so planet Mars can see it, chances are you will be waiting for next Christmas. Given the financial crisis, parent’s love might be reflected in a pair of new socks instead, or bread on the table...very inconvenient. Wear comfortable shoes: if you need to run for any reason, heels will not help. Pack those fancy shoes in a bag and wear your gym shoes (heels can only be useful to pluck someone’s eye out- not recommended). Dresses do not help either, unless you plan hopping all the way to safety…unlikely. Walk in groups: Walking at night with your friends makes you a harder target. Even so, do not make the mistake of relying on your friends for safety. Some ill-intentioned people travel in gangs and they are much more aggressive, threatening, and weapon-equipped than you are. Be well aware of the situation before your guy friend puts on his macho-show and is leveled. Also, is your ‘’friend’’ the person you met 5 minutes ago? If you need to walk alone because your friends all suffer from amnesia or the boy you are with is allergic to being a gentleman, try to avoid that little shortcut in the dark- Halloween style at midnight with no trace of human life surrounded by fields. Take a cab/ bus. They may be the best £8.00 you have spent. Share a taxi to spend less.

4 Additional Notes Note 1.: Pepper spray is illegal in the UK.

Bring a small bag/purse where you put all your useless items in, and keep your credit card/ money/ identity card/keys and phone in your pocket (or somewhere else). If somebody mugs you, they will steal a bag full of superfluous things and you can keep what is yours. Also, take the essentials. Do you need your passport when you are going to predrinks?!

Note 2. By law, UK citizens are not

‘‘Hey pretty girl, I can give you a ride home since we have chatted all night ’’ Reply: ‘‘Stun-gun yourself’’Not: ‘‘Sure, thanks’’. That is the formula.

Note 3. I am not being sexist, but

Looks can be deceiving. People are not who they seem; so, before sharing your personal information with anybody, get to know him/her first. Sadly, that includes students. When walking alone at night, even for just a few minutes, avoid walking on the side of the road where the cars are parked. It is so easy to open the car door and throw you in while you are knocked out. Most importantly, if you are being attacked/ mugged/ harassed DO NOT react with violence or pose resistance. Unless you are a black-belt karate fighter or Jackie Chang, you do not stand a chance against the ill-intentioned. Surrender whatever is asked for, and then get the hell away, call the police or pray ( depending on the situation).

required to assist you if they see you are being attacked.

females are in greater danger than males because we look so attractive and have no muscles. Guys, take your girlfriends home! They will thank you instead of dumping you.

Note 4.

Travel with money. Money is safety sometimes (not £500.00 but at least £20). You do not need to spend them on drinks but having them when in need is reassuring!

Mental Wellbeing: No need to suffer in silence The University of Essex provides support for mental wellbeing, even if caused by pure stress. An information pamphlet on this extraordinary service. If you have mental health issues, you are in great company… Stephen Fry, Mike Oldfield, Lenny Henry, Alastair Campbell, Ruby Wax and many other public figures do too. Your mental wellbeing is not something to sweep under the carpet. You deal with it on a daily basis, so why not share the load? There are many kinds of issues that may affect mental wellbeing; not just the headline grabbing Bi-Polar or Manic Depression, Schizophrenia etc. Students are likely to suffer transient impacts on mental health in the form of stress and depression associated with events in our lives, which, if dealt with promptly, can be largely resolved in a short time. I wonder if you have seen any of the many posters and leaflets around the campus inviting you to use the Wellbeing Service. Looked at them but do not have a clue what the service is or what they offer? Then read on… The Essex Wellbeing service is based in Greenwood House, near to the Health Centre although it also of-

fers a drop-in service in the Student Support office (Room 4N.6.2). All contact is confidential and happens in a private space. No one will spread rumours that you asked for help (unless you want to tell someone) and no one will judge you for seeking help. I met with Jo, one of the staff members of the service this week and asked her who might be a typical client. She says that although more women than men consult the service, users are drawn from across the student body, of all ages and across all disciplines. This mirrors the general population, where mental health is of concern across the board – it knows no boundaries and makes no discriminations on age, gender or nationality. Jo talked me though a typical initial consultation. Usually first contact is made through the drop-in service, but students may also contact her team of qualified and accredited professionals via phone or email. The initial contact gives you an opportunity to talk about what problems you are having and how they

are affecting your day to day life as well as your studies. From this, you may be offered an appointment with a counsellor or given the chance to meet with a mentor or even a therapeutic group. Sometimes the Wellbeing Service will refer you on to another professional or another service if the team member feels that is more appropriate for your needs. The service has links with some eminent local organizations as well as access to NHS help when needed. If you have already had a mental health issue diagnosed, you might even be entitled to further support through DSA (Disabled Students Allowance), with study aids and mentoring for instance. Wellbeing staff can help you with this too, if you are eligible. The message is – do not suffer alone or in silence, there is a listening ear and lots of help you can access, right here on campus…just ask.

Ruth Raymer

Caught the cold? Beat it naturally Winter often leads to colds. Avoid the doctor if you can, and look at what nature has to offer to get rid of those germs. Winter is upon us and so is the common cold. This condition affects everybody at one point in their lifetime. Many of us have dealt with feelings of tiredness, coughing, fever, dizziness, drowsiness and a general sense of malaise. The hospital or the physician`s office is not the only place to look for a solution. The answers might lie closer than you might expect, in your cupboard or in your pantry. A solution made out of honey, lemon, ginger pieces, cayenne pepper and warm water is known to aid a sore throat. Honey coats and soothes an irritated throat. Beside this, it helps you sleep better at night. Cayenne pepper is good for breaking up congestion and sanitizing your entire system. Garlic and onion are probably the most known and used assistants in dealing with colds. Both help in combating the condition at its core. Garlic cleanses the system. Onions attract and destroy bacteria, viruses and mold. An ancient practice had the caretaker slicing an onion and putting it near or beside the pa-

tient to capture the germs and relieve the condition. The air needs space in order to flow and become electric. When windows are closed shut, the air has no space to move and becomes heavy, static and begins to irritate our lungs. Simply opening your windows just a little helps the air regain its natural flow and your condition will start to improve. In order to relieve body aches and soreness, next time you have a bath, fill your bath with Epsom salts. Probiotics or friendly bacteria keep the colon clean and ward off un-friendly bacteria. Fermented vegetables are a time-tested tool; they provide us with friendly flora. An easy recipe would require chopped cabbage, cauliflower and carrots submerged in brine solution for a few days. Hydration is key no matter the condition. We are 70% plus constituted of water and we must stay hydrated all the time by drinking water and flushing unnecessary substances from our body. Furthermore, a warm salty broth has been

traditionally used as it thins mucous and provides a feeling of warmth and mental comfort. Aromatherapy is definitely an area worth mentioning. Tea tree and eucalyptus oils help with stuffy nose and head congestion. Ginger, rosemary and black pepper oils offer relief for achy muscles. The wonderful herb known as Tulsa makes a delicious tea great for overall fatigue and drowsiness. Coconut oil removes the unwanted bacteria and rebuilds your tissue. The bitter gel of Aloe Vera delivers sweet results, as it improves your immune system and cleanses the tissues. Cinnamon has anti-bacterial properties and cleanses all the glands. Turmeric is a very powerful anti-inflammatory substance helping with every aspect of the flu. A cold is not hard to deal with. Look around and help yourself. The solutions are much closer than you might expect. Sometimes, they are literally under your nose or in your hands.

Voinea Catalin

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

LIFESTYLE

Sports Editorial New Writers and More Sports! I am happy to announce that we now have a few more writers at our disposal, this is great news because it means we can now try and cover a wider variety of sports whilst also keeping you up to date on match reports for certain teams and clubs. I again will say that if you have a sport you’re involved or interested in, feel free to contact me on cgrahaa@essex.ac.uk to discuss about possibly writing for a club. If we have it covered already but you’d still like to write, there are plenty of opportunities to do so! We hope you enjoy the latest issue. Thanks for reading!

Carl Graham, Editor

One to watch – James Quigley James is a first year who joined the men’s rugby team during fresher’s week and he now plays Flanker for the men’s 2nd XV team. He is the top try scorer at the moment and was awarded man of the match in his first two appearances for the Essex Blades. This is why The Rabbit met up with him to have a chat, we think James is a player to watch! Did you play much rugby before you came to Essex? I played all the way through school since the age of eight, so I have been playing rugby for ten years now; including some fantastic tours abroad. I have always loved the sport, and I knew it was something that I wanted to commit to during my time at Essex. What made you choose rugby? I have always loved the sport ever since I was a small child and the team atmosphere and camaraderie between players is second to none. The social aspect on Wednesday is also great, it allows you to relax after a game and have a good time with the lads. I tried a number of other sports societies and rugby was the most welcoming and friendly. Do you think that joining the rugby club has helped you settle in to university life a lot more quickly and easily?

“I think sport is an important part of university life that everyone needs to experience”

Definitely! Once you join and go to the training sessions and a social on Wednesday you have an instant new group of friends. I can walk around campus now and see a number of people I know from the rugby club, it’s nice to see friendly faces around. Being a fresher, were you nervous about joining a sports society at university? I always knew that I wanted to play a sport at university, so I knew I was going to go for it regardless. It wasn’t nervousness it was more I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know what the standard would be like and I didn’t know how welcoming the club would be! As a fresher you are instantly accepted and despite year differences we all get on with each other. Do you get nervous before every game? It is more a sense of anticipation in the build up to a game. I start to prepare myself a couple of days before; eating the right foods and getting plenty of sleep. But right before kick-off you always get a rush of adrenaline. Having experienced a term with the rugby club, what would you say to others that are thinking about joining? I would definitely say to fresher’s that have not signed up to a sports society yet to give everything a go and see which one suits you the best. I think that it’s an important part of university life that everyone needs to experience. Also the bond that you develop with the guys that you play alongside every week is different to a friend that you make around campus – it’s almost like being part of a family.

Harriet Troddan

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 149

SPORTS

MATCH UPDATES

Essex Lacrosse Girls Fight for the League The pressure was on for the Essex Lacrosse Girls this week, they needed a win to secure a place in the league above their current one for next year. However; Kingston, currently with the highest goal average in the league, proved a challenging obstacle. However, the match didn’t get off to a great start. A pre-match battle over the number of players Essex could have on the pitch developed as Kingston had only rounded up ten players. Once underway, Essex found it difficult to settle their defence, allowing Kingston the majority of the possession, ending the first quarter 7-1 in their favour. Disputes arose again concerning the centre draw, with Captain Nikoline being proven right the intensity of the game continued to rise. Essex stepped up their game in the second half; with more possession they scored five goals in the last quarter alone. The Essex defence remained strong too, resisting Kingston’s relenting attacks. The match ended. 19-7 to Kingston was the final score, which meant disappointingly, Essex would not be moving up the league this year. Afterwards, they were consoled by Kingston captain, tipping Essex as their toughest competition they expect to see this season. The goals for Essex scored by Nikoline Eide Torlei, Jess Miller and Ciara Nolan.

Essex Lacrosse Boys aggression match Having lost many of their established players this year, Essex Lacrosse boys found it challenging to be up against London 1st team. After London scored from the fast break straight away, due to an unsettled defence, Essex hit back by gaining more ground balls. Even when playing a man down at times the defence still held their own, ending the first quarter just 3-0 down to London. The second quarter was demanding, poor marking and lack of aggression from Essex meant London was able to score another 5 goals. Although by half time Essex had fought back; stopping goals, regaining more possession, enabling them to have some shots to goal. Tensions rose in the fourth quarter, where Essex defence were repeatedly winning the ground balls. Unable to break Essex’s defence, London started carrying out some brutal tackles which Essex took, head on. The referee was forced to end the game two minutes early due to the illegal tackling, making the final score 12-0. Although Essex lost, their defence proved to be strong with their defender Layth Saadi being awarded Man of The Match and goalie Josh Whitrod standing out with some good saves.

Fiona Watkinson

Essex Ultimate Frisbee: Dagenham Tournament Essex Blades open team ventured once more to the mean streets of East London: Our first game saw us up against Portsmouth 3rds. We sailed to victory with a beautiful 8-0, the final point being scored by a double assist from Jiyaad to Tom H and finally being received by Adam with an incredible layout. A fitting way to end a match dominated by Essex. The second game was against Surrey 3, who were seeded somewhat misleadingly at 30th. The first fifteen minutes saw us trading points, until finally we managed to pull away. The point of the match was a tunnel of beauty created by Jiyaad, Toks and Tom H, which gave Tom his first point in an official game. Next game was against Brunel 3. Our third game against Brunel went off to an unfortunate start. Lunch seemed to slow us down a little, and they had a long game that stumped us somewhat. However, once we’d been for a team talk, we brought it back and put up a good fight, with some immense grabs from Adam C. Unfortunately though we were a little too late to get into it and were beaten 8-5.

We knew for our next game we needed to up the anti, so we came in ready to give it everything. Kings Thrown could see this and worried themselves into playing poorly. We had control of the game and scored some magnificent points ending the game with a respectable 5-3.

us reached the pitch at half past and were overjoyed to hear the five who’d gone ahead to play the match had arrived thirty seconds before the game started and were winning 3-1. With the full team there we continued to pull away and finished the game with a respectable 6-1.

Now, with three out of four games won, we figured we were a shoe-in for second in the group, and prepared for a crossover. This is when things took a very unexpected and heartbreaking turn. It transpires that somehow Brunel got slammed by Surrey. This meant that all three of us were tied for top spots. It went on point difference. We missed out on second in the pool by one point. So our hugely successful day of ultimate has left us with a rather sour taste in our mouths.

After such a magnificent beginning to the day we were ready and pumped for our next game at 12:34. Or so we thought. It turned out that we actually had another game starting at 11:25 that hadn’t been written on the schedule and we hadn’t been told about.

We began our second day at open regionals seeded 28th and the highest we could come was 25th. A team we beat went into the crossover game instead of us, which has led to a lot of questioning. The next day, with an hour long train ride ahead and a game at 10:22, we needed a plan of action. Seven of

When we finally were told we were running eight minutes late and the other team (Kent 3) had been awarded two points. We played hard and brought it up, but some unlucky drops left us finishing the game 3-2 down, meaning we only conceded one point, but scored two. Needless to say we were not happy. That ended our tournament in Dagenham! Two days which saw both the highs of winning; and the lows of poor judgement on everyone else’s part other than ours. We were happy with our performances, but certainly not with the outcome.

Frazer Merrit

Sports Essex Blades Men’s Football 1st’s Hold Double Promotion Hopes First team captain, Charlie Goodlake named Nyasha Majorne as his man of the match as he helped his side to a thumping 4-1 win over Brighton 1st’s, maintaining their 100% record at home. Majorne’s dominance in midfield helped the Blades take an early lead following Aden Kendirci’s excellent run was finished by winger Gary Percy inside ten minutes, his fourth in three games. Kendirci’s consistent form was clearly exhibited against Brighton, with two goals in quick succession in the first half alone. The Blades are still waiting to hear on midfielder Jim Lelliot who had to

come off with a suspected shoulder injury before half-time. Despite Brighton coming back with a penalty and a higher tempo game in the second half, the Blades kept a strong defensive line, especially from the centre-half partnership of Troy Norbert and Matt Sadler. The game was dead and buried after the fifty-two minute after the goalkeeper miscuing his clearance towards Ali Awil, whose deflection crawled into the net.

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The win now sees Essex 3rd in division 1A with a game in hand over and three points behind St Mary’s and Kent but when asked about double promotion, Goodlake is keeping his feet firmly on the ground but holds some optimism. “[We are] taking each game as it comes as after being promoted last year the realistic aim was to stay in tier 1a, but after how we have played then promotion is definitely on the cards”.

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