Issue 160 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

LIFESTYLE

Presidential Exclusive

SPORTS WEDNESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER | ISSUE 160

COMMENT

Stop Sexual Assault

BOOKS

Jodi Picoult Interview

LIFESTYLE

Veggievember

Free Education Motion Passed

Full Story on Page 3

News Editorial Every time I try to speak to a British person about the EU, the immediate response I get is “But we are not European”. From what I have gathered there is an overwhelming sentiment of not feeling part of the “continent” like somehow the rest of Europe is so distant and exotic. I’m not sure if this stems from perceiving Britain differently because at a time the country ruled most of the world, yet that doesn’t seem like a legacy all people are hugely proud of because of the connotations of colonialism and imperialism. Yet it seems to be a sore spot for the UK to be part of a Union where they are not the only people in charge. Recently there has been outrage over an 1.7 bn budget bill owed by the UK to the EU. David Cameron’s unwillingness to pay the amount escalated to a point where even Angela Merkel stated that if the UK refuses to pay there is a very real possibility that they will leave, or will be forced to leave, the EU. This issue is not the first in a series of UK politicians complaining about various EU regulations, directives, treaties and policies. I maybe slightly biased because I feel quite European, I am active in the European Youth Parliament and EU policy enables me to be here today studying and working. However I still have trouble grasping some of the rhetoric and ideological arguments touted by those so keen on leaving the EU. Especially as these same politicians seemed to be all for Scotland staying in the United Kingdom for a stronger Union. It strikes me as strange how quickly the tables have turned and when it comes to the EU the slogan “Better Together” has become a curse word. I am not making a judgement of whether Scotland should or shouldn’t have stayed in the UK, it is not my place. What I do find strange is how easy it can be in that case to find defences for how countries can be stronger united but with the EU a blind eye is turned. The evidence and figures are there, the UK benefits economically from being in the EU common market. But why sign up to the common values of the Union if you do not feel like that is something you identify with? The EU was founded four core freedoms; the freedom of movement of labour, goods, capital and services. Respect for these in non-negotiable.

Your Editor, Saga Eriksson

Ed Gove, Content Deputy Editor Emily Townsend, Online Deputy Editor Andrew Smith, Design Deputy Editor

Jake Stones, News Editor Fiolla Korenica, News Deputy Editor Shaun Quilter, News Deputy Editor

STUDENT

Essex Nightline: More Than Just A Drunk Tank During the University’s first Sports Fed, on Wednesday 8th October, during Freshers Fortnight, 89 students visited Nightline. This was the highest amount of students to have visited Nightline in one night, setting a new record. Out of these 89 students, only 8 students were in need of help due to being uncontrollably drunk. This of course is a great quality of Nightline, as those who volunteer are there to help intoxicated students, and help prevent students needing to attend A&E. However, this notion that Nightline is just a ‘drunk tank’, is far from the truth. In fact, Nightline’s main service is Confidential Listening. The remaining 81 students that attended Nightline on the 8th of October were there to have a chat with the volunteers of Nightline and to obtain beneficial freebies such as condoms, pregnancy tests and panic alarms. In fact Nightline is a social place where students can express and discuss whatever they choose to openly and freely without being judged. “Whether you’re struggling with work, having problems with friends, family or flatmates, if there’s something going on in your life, or even if there isn’t and you just need someone to talk to, we’re here to help. We are non-judgmental and won’t tell you what to do, and everything you say to us is confidential within the service.” Nightline offers a range of services such as: free tea & toast, social games and free emergency accommodation for all Essex students. Nightline is open from 10pm to 8am seven nights a week during term times, with the intention of providing students an opportunity to “unwind after a long day, night out or hard stint in the library!” Proper training is provided for staff in order for them to be more efficient. For instance, this November, in London, Nightline’s staff are being

given the opportunity to attend training in active listening techniques. This is the first time this will take place and is being offered to staff so that they can become better qualified in helping other students. The people to thank for this great service are the Committee and its volunteers. The Committee is made up of thirteen students who all have a different role to play in helping run and promote the services provided by Nightline. There are also 93 volunteers who all help in making sure Nightline runs smoothly and efficiently. Nightline’s Publicity Officer: Cristina Magder spoke of how those involved within Nightline are like a family, where everyone is friends with everyone. Cristina spoke of how Nightline is a real community where social activities take place, such as a visit to Go Bananas in Colchester that took place a few weeks ago. Volunteers also gain certain perks such as special training in how to write a CV and Cover Letters as a thank you for helping run Nightline. It should also be noted that Student Support provide Nightline with a £3000 budget per year, and if it was not for this financial support Nightline would not be able to provide the services that it does. According to Cristina, “Nightline teaches you how to behave outside of your comfort zone, due to the principles that you have to abide by”. These main principles, information about signing up to volunteer, the Committee members, and more about the services Nightline provides can all be found on Nightline’s website: http://www. essexnightline.org.uk.

Shaun Quilter

WEDNESDAY 12th NOVEMBER | ISSUE 160

NEWS

STUDENT

Essex Passes Controversial Motion on Free Education

While many things caused quite a spirited debate at the first Student Representative Forum on the 30th of October, not all subjects were as controversial as the Free Education motion by Adrià Porta Caballé, Campaigns Officer of the Students’ Union. As soon as discussions began, the atmosphere was quite tense as the room became divided between those for and against the motion and the free education campaign. The motion Adria put forward addressed the issues discussed in an NUS conference this year, where, among other things, it was voted to campaign for free education and taxing the rich, businesses and the banks in order to rebuild public services. The purpose of the motion put was for Essex students to campaign on these issues in a national demonstration on the 19th of November, taking place in London. The topic is a sensitive one for most people, as was seen at the SRF. Adrià’s main arguments in favour of the motion and of free education were to end tuition fees and debt, in order to create a fairer society and to end the situation students are faced with once they take loans in order to pay these expensive fees. The idea is to make education possible and accessible

to everyone. Those for the motion argued that student loans are not a solution, because they create fear and students are worried that they will not be able to pay the loan back, or that they will spend their entire lives trying to. Adria said that “maybe the next crisis in this country is going to be created by the immense education bubble, as a consequence of student loans”. Chantel Le Carpentier, President of the Students’ Union, was the main opponent to this motion, although she clearly stated that the issue is not simple and has many facets. She gave a number of arguments against the motion. She stated in her closing argument: “I would love it if we were in a situation where no one had to pay for anything but this is not the real world. Please vote this motion down because there are many other more important issues- homelessness for instance- so let’s not focus on taxing the rich who are already

privileged and do not need to be the focus point of this issue”. The motion passed and free coaches have been made available to students who wish to take place in the demonstrations in London and campaign for free education. Some other motions were also passed: a motion which extends the training period for candidates running in elections; three students were elected to the Rules and Revisions committee and all the Student Union officers presented their plans for this year. The next SRF meeting will be on 20 November, at 6pm in the Senate Room: it is a great opportunity for students to get more involved in issues that concern them and to meet those who represent their interests.

Andreea Ghita

Editors Note: In a statement made on the 6th of November the National Union of Students (NUS) has said they no longer support the demonstration taking place on the 19th of November in London.

Mexican Society celebrates Day of the Dead On Monday the 3rd of November, the Mexican Society celebrated Día de Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). A beautifully eye-catching stall was situated between Square 2 and 3. Octael Nieto, the president of the Mexican society, provided us with information about this event.

(cempasúchil), the flower used in Mexico during Day of the Dead celebrations. The flower itself is sometimes called flor de muertos, translated as flower of the dead.

The society’s stall was full of offerings for the dead, including alcohol, pictures and food. One of these was Pan de muerto, a type of sweet bread eaten on the Day of the Dead. There was also a dedication towards the 43 missing students in Mexico, the kidnapping of which was allegedly initiated by the mayor of the city of Iguala, and his wife.

It is said that the smell attracts the souls of the dead towards the offerings. A cross made of salt lay in front of the stall - salt having a purifying effect for the dead souls. A glass of water was also on the stall meant to quench the thirst and tiredness of the dead.

The stall was also covered with marigolds

Skulls scattered the stall, a widely-recognised symbol of death. The Mexican Society had also

stuck pictures of the dead on the wall, including famous Mexican poet and writer Octavio Paz and Albert Sloman. The aim of the Day of the Dead is to remember and pray for your loved ones - and the Mexican Society created a stunning stall in recognition of those who died. If you want to find out more about the Mexican Society, tweet them at @mexsocesex or search ‘Mexican Society of the University of Essex’ on Facebook.

Fiolla Korenica

INTERViEW

From College dropout to President The Rabbit (TR): What do you study, and have you finished your degree yet? Chantel Le Carpentier (CLC): My degree is BA Modern History and I’ve not finished. Yep, she may be our president, but she’s been so keen and focused on this task, that she’s actually put off finishing her degree. Chantel completed second year in 2013, and was VP for Welfare during the 2013/14 academic year. Obviously she’s now putting her studies off for one final year to take on the elected role of President. But will she finish her degree for 2016 then? CLC: Nope. I’m potentially going on my year abroad as well, which means further extending my degree to six years! Just to do a BA, yeah. TR: So you like campus universities: where have you lived while being at ours? CLC: First year I lived in the houses, second year I lived in Wivenhoe. What was technically my third year, when I was VP Welfare, I lived in Houses again, but now I live a bit into town. I thought this year I’d get a bit of distance away from campus, as I’m working here, have lived here and spend a lot of my time here; it’d be nice to just be a bit away for some of the time. TR: So where are you from and why did you come to Essex? CLC: I’m originally from Southampton, and stayed there for all of my life until I was 19, when I came here to begin my degree. TR: Southampton? So if you’re from Southampton, why did you come to Essex? Southampton has a pretty good university itself. CLC: Well it’s sort of a funny story. Originally I was going to study Chemistry at Southampton, as I was awarded a scholarship for an essay program I entered, which gave me an offer of BBB, instead of AAA; but I basically flunked all of my A levels! I’m a college dropout! However in the end I decided to give it another go, but doing sociology and history.

Realised the University of Essex has a good History program, so I came here for a visit and my Mum realised I liked it here, so she suggested I go for it, so I did. Now I’m here!

that. Working In Level Up, I see the Night Ninja’s shoot through and shoot out every night to get to their office. They’ve really taken off since their formation last year.

TR: There is a great deal of pressure on the SU President. Do you enjoy being President?

CLC: “Yeah, things are going so well for them. Their bid for Alumni funding was successful, so they had that to really get things rolling. Plus, they’re now a society, which means further funding.

CLC: Oh the good definitely outweighs the bad. For instance when doing the SU heirlooms on arrivals week, one of the first people we saw through was this guy who just had the best attitude and vibe I’ve seen from a student in ages. Like this guy was the epitome of who I wanted to represent as President. It was just awesome meeting him. That was one of the better moments, and it’s moments like that which make everything worth it. TR: You said that the good outweighs the bad. So there is bad? CLC: Yeah sadly it’s almost impossible to do any political role and not be overly criticised. The Sabbs (sabbatical officers) really do work non-stop to try and make the most out of their short time being elected. But obviously a lot of that time is taken up doing procedural things, such as meetings and committees, so it’s difficult to see overnight results from things, which is why I think that people get frustrated sometimes. You can have sat in meetings all day, and made actual progress on a matter, but then have someone come and criticise you for that very matter at the end of the day, and then it just spoils the progress made; you just have a crap day after that. TR: After seeing your post on the Freshers’ page about the Julie Bindel matter, and the fact that you’ve managed to get the University to freeze the rise of accommodation fees, it came to mind to actually ask you what you feel your proudest moment has been since becoming a Sabb. CLC: Interestingly, my proudest moment as a Sabb has been from when I was VP Welfare, and the creation of Night Ninja’s. TR: I was wondering if you were going to say

Night Ninja’s was such a big part of my VP Welfareship, and I remember when it first began, I’d have people inbox me the morning after I’d helped them, saying thank you. It was really cool and I love where it’s going now. TR: Okay, so what’s been your greatest frustration? CLC: I am really frustrated that people aren’t aware of all the work we do. But it’s a frustration mainly because it’s our own fault. I can’t blame people for not knowing what we do, if we ourselves fail to broadcast it. Like with the heirlooms the frustration is that students may not immediately see why we’re doing this. Its about making a connection with students like we never have before. I don’t want to see students graduating and then realising here were loads of things they could get involved in and didn’t know they could. I want students to come here and have a 1 to 1 interview with a member of staff and know that they are valued as a member of our community. The Heirlooms were an investment. A great deal of funding comes from the Essex Fund, which is a fund that comes from Alumni contributions. So if we create a stronger link with the Alumni, then it’s likely that the Essex Fund is going to increase, which means ultimately more benefits for students in the future. Also, the program actually gave us an excuse to have conversations with the students, and to personally inform them of what we are doing as a Students’ Union. There is something about Essex which makes people want to come back, but we need to keep a strong Alumni network. TR: What are you future plans for your presidency?

WEDNESDAY 12th NOVEMBER | ISSUE 160

CLC: I really want to try and combat the unbalanced representation of women in leadership. Only 35% of presidents in the UK are women, but there’s way more women in higher education than men, so this needs to change to be more representational. So the first thing I want to have a mentoring program where senior members of university staff can mentor undergraduate women. The second thing is a women in leadership program, which is couple of days long, which shall be delivered by two trained members of staff, to just give women more training in how to make an impact upon leadership. The third thing is going to be a series of talks, free for anyone to attend, which will be focused on outlining some of the difficulties faced by women in society. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great being a woman, but there are issues which need to be outlined and addressed. Another thing I want to make a change in, is

This is Chantel at Oxford at a chemistry summer school a year before she dropped out of college.

welfare issue in education. The main barriers to people in education are welfare related. So I want to build relationships with credit unions, rather than have our students going to payday lenders; which is something really common just now, and obviously doesn’t do the students a great deal of favours! Finally, I want to simply strengthen the relationship the Students Union has with the University. This is, quite simply, going to mean things will get done more quickly. And it means future Presidents, Sabbs, whatever, will be able to do more for those they represent. TR: Final question, if you had to resign from your role as president tomorrow, would you be satisfied? CLC: No. There’s this pressure all the time, which makes you realise that there’s so much more

NEWS

which could be done. In fact your question’s made me kind of anxious in realisation of the short amount of time we actually have as Sabbs to make a difference. TR: I’m glad I gave you a little bit of motivation. Now is there anything you’d like to say conclusively before we end this? CLC: Having this job has made me realise just how awesome students are. I want to work in education after all of this. I want to do a Masters in Educational Research, and start to give something back. I’m from a single parent family, working class, and Essex has just changed my life and made everything so much more available. I want to use that.

Jake Stones

Chantel being awarded the Labour “Student of the year”.

Chantel speaking at the NUS National Conference in 2013.

Chantel with the new Chancellor of the University Shami Chakrabarti, she described this photo as “one of my proudest moments at Essex”

RAG Week The University of Essex will be hosting RAG RAG WEEK TIMETABLE week from the 17th to 21st of November. RAG stands for Raising And Giving, with the aim Launch (Monday 17th November, 12-2) of the week being to raise money for charity. In previous years Essex has raised money for Glow In The Dark Zumba (Tuesday 18th November, £3 fee) charities such as Colchester Rape Crisis. Last year £18,000 was raised and this year the target has been doubled to £36,000. There will also be some friendly competition involved as it will be raise to see which can raise more money, the societies or the sports clubs. At the time of writing (6 November), £471.34 has already been raised in total with societies in a slight lead with £204.38 raised over the £195.06 raised by sports clubs.

Essex Blades vs Societies Guild Funfair (Friday 21st November) Sports Fed hosted by RAG Pub Quiz Fancy Dress Bucket Collection

Societies Guild Secretary Jess Rich urges all students to participate: ”RAG week is going to be great! It is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get have fun whilst raising money for worthwhile causes. One of the biggest events in the week will be Soc Guild Vs Essex Blades so get involved!”

Professor Pamela Cox Translating History for Television

To raise this money, various sports clubs and societies host exciting events, some of which are listed to the right.

Television history works hard to win mass audiences by combining pacey journeys through rich visual locations with the discovery of new artefacts and the telling of emotive stories. Professor Cox draws on her two recent BBC series to explore what is gained as well as lost in translating historical research for TV.

WIN: Free Cinema Tickets The Rabbit has introduced a new initiative to get readers more involved. If you contribute an article towards The Rabbit you will have a chance of being nominated by your section editor fir the best article from their section, out of which the editorial team will make a final decision on which article is the best. The prize is two Odeon Cinema tickets. To find out how you can get involved, join the The Rabbit Newspaper Facebook group: http://goo.gl/VHQhA9.

Upcoming Events

Date: 01/12/14 Time:6-7:30pm Location: Lakeside Theatre

50th anniversary event Regius Professorship Lecture The Reluctant Europeans: Britain and the EU, 1973-2015 As part of the University of Essex’s 50th anniversary celebrations, this event will celebrate Professor Sanders’ appointment by Her Majesty The Queen as the UK’s first Regius Professor of Political Science. This honour recognises fifty years of

excellence in research and education within the Department of Government. The Regius Lecture will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Rt Hon John Bercow MP, The Speaker of the House of Commons and one of the University’s most distinguished graduates. Book online at https://regius.eventbrite.co.uk to guarantee a seat. Date: 19/11/14 Time: 6-7:30pm Location: Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall

Comment

Philippa Dobson, Comment Editor

Editors Note: The views represented in this section are from those of the individuals and do not represent the editorial views as a whole. *Trigger warning* all content in the secton relates to rape and sexual assault.

With the prevalence of ‘lad’ culture and harrassment in a university environment The Rabbit thought it was important to discuss some of the concerns related to this theme in order to raise awareness and hopefully make for a safer campus. As ever, if you disagree with the content of an article you are free to write us a response at pdobso@ essex.ac.uk.

Daily Abuse Crime has decreased in the UK overall this year, however rape charges have increased. Official statistics are almost irrelevant when we consider the vast number of sexual assaults that are tampered with by those we believe are protecting us and the ones that are hidden behind doors unreported. It’s not hard to blame the victim in any situation especially when it’s the female, perceived, by some, to be the weaker sex, the more passive sex, the subordinate sex. We sometimes forget about the brave women who do report the crimes and are successful enough to have their case taken to court. We also forget how these women have to re-endure the traumatic events of ‘that night’ when explaining and defending themselves. We forget that there is a degree of embarrassment and fear to report the crime, and the struggle to not blame themselves. Yet, it is fair to say, that some would prefer them to blame themselves, because of the inadequate laws surrounding rape and sexual assault. Sadly, we all tend to overlook the different levels of harassment that occur on a daily

basis which can escalate to more extreme actions of the perpetrators. Whistling; sexist comments that are beyond inappropriate; derogatory names which dehumanise women, which marginalise them even more, as if her attire required an opinion, or her makeup a justification. She chose to drink and happened to be walking home late that night on her own - so what? Is that a reason to target her? To hurt her? She wasn’t “asking for it”, no one does! This is not acceptable. We don’t enjoy being yelled at across the street or treated like meat by the opposite sex. However, this sort of behaviour is not a new phenomenon and it’s definitely not a positive thing in any way, yet society permits it on a daily basis. It is alarming how many films and programmes contain some form of sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking etc. Surely we should all be doing something and everything in our power to rid humanity of these acts instead of waiting for the problem to miraculously fix itself.

Kathleen Bartha

Condemning a Rapist Ched Evans, the former Sheffield United striker and convicted rapist should be allowed to play football again. In the eyes of the law, he is a free man, and as a free man he can do as he so chooses. It is important before I progress, I want to note the fact that Ched Evans is not the victim in this case, and whilst most would struggle to sympathise with a rapist, hear me out. It is the belief of most people that those who commit crimes need to repay society for the criminal act and the cost of imprisoning them for it. What better way to repay this society than by providing joy for the fans of his new club by scoring goals (and in doing so, contributing to the most popular sport on the planet), and if Wales choose to cap him, he repays his country by scoring goals for them. Evans will be paid for any footballing endeavours of course, but in doing so he pays taxes and contributes to the economy that imprisoned him - and so begins to pay it back. This could be seen as a modest repayment for arguably one of the most immoral crimes one could commit, but the notes of the case are worth examining. Evans will be appealing his conviction, due to the fact he believes the sex was consensual. The news story is far from complete, but as to whether he should be playing football in the meantime, I believe he should.

Luke Smith

Wednesday 12th NOVEMBER| Issue 160

COMMENT

Oxbridge Reform The highly regarded universities of Oxford and Cambridge have launched a campaign against sexual violence in the form of compulsory sexual consent classes, which started in September. . The universities took this decision after irrefutable evidence of sexual harassment experienced by their students, and after an alarming survey conducted by the National Union of Students (NUS) in September. The survey showed that one in four UK students have been the victims of unwanted sexual advances, such as catcalling, groping or assault. The workshops are limited to 30 students at a time and will last 30 minutes. The aim is to make first year students aware of the issue of consent and to debunk myths or misunderstandings about rape and harassment. Rape should be a pretty straight forward issue. There is no question about who is to blame in a case of lack of consent to sexual activity. It was quite shocking to read one student’s story about being raped, and to find out drinking societies that host challenges which exploit women actually exist. A student at Oxford spoke out about being raped after a drinking game highlighting some

important issues about rape, blame and guilt. She said that she had passed out after a drinking game and was put into bed. When she regained consciousness she found a man was having sex with her and then passed out again. What astonished me about her story are a couple of things: according to her story the woman in charge of dealing with the case bullied her and convinced her that her case would not stand in court because she was drunk.

So, will the consent workshops at Oxford and Cambridge improve the situation? Maybe, as long as the people attending are willing to take the matter seriously, and listen to what they are being told, but that might not happen straight away. Rape culture has to be changed first, and rape has to become about shaming the perpetrator and not the victim; only then will consent be engraved in the minds of every young adult.

Andreea Ghita

She also said her college ignored her and gave her attacker only a minor reprimand even though the man who raped her continued to harass her. Students at Oxford and Cambridge have also started campaigning about drinking societies where lad culture persists. One example of the prevalence of this lad culture is a society at Cambridge where they started a challenge called “finger a fresher”. It is quite obvious that the environments in these kinds of societies are sexually aggressive to say the least.

Good2Go? Consensual sex should be a pretty straight forward concept in the 21st century. Increasingly, however, the seemingly simple message of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ appears to be getting lost in translation. Lee Ann Allman, creator of the student aimed app Good2Go, claims that the problem comes down to an inability to approach the subject. Good2Go therefore acts as a mediator in sexual proceedings. However, one of the biggest failings of Good2Go is that it removes the need to have a conversation about sex. Individuals are encouraged to seek a digital answer rather than judge and verbalise one for themselves. There is something highly disconcerting about young people deciding to have sex, but lacking the maturity to even talk about it with their partner in the first place. Should we really be encouraging people to have this conversation through their phones? The app also raises difficult questions when

considering how it might be used by individuals under the influence of alcohol. The premise behind a sexual consent app is that it can prevent instances of sexual assault and rape occurring. In light of the recent furore surrounding the release of former footballer Ched Evans who was convicted of raping a girl considered too intoxicated to provide sexual consent, you can’t help but consider how apps such as Good2Go might play a part in the consent giving process. Sex apps do have the potential to slow down the transition from cab ride to one night stand because they require both parties to stop and pull out their phones. However how effective can they be if an individual is too drunk to even work their phones? What if they do not have their phone with them? Will the app make

people more dependent on their phones? The app Good2Go is (unsurprisingly) no longer in business but it raises an interesting debate about sex and consent in the modern age. Sexual assaults and rape are a problem in society and eliminating the ‘blurred lines’ interpretation of consent would go a long way in reducing it. Furthermore, this is not a female targeted solution which is important because sexual consent is an issue that affects both genders. Ultimately, individuals need to be encouraged to use their voice to assert themselves and not rely on technology to do it for them. Certainly it is clear that this problem requires a conversation, the louder the better.

Ashleigh Hudson

Slut Shaming A quick definition of ‘slut shaming’ for those of you who are unfamiliar of the term. Defined as ‘a concept in human sexuality... It is a term used to describe the act of making a person, especially a woman, feel guilty or inferior for certain sexual behaviours, circumstances or desires that deviate from traditional or orthodox gender expectations’. So what does it imply? It is the act of actively shaming someone (usually a woman) for transgressing from the societal sexual norms placed upon them. Personally, what I find distinctly complicates the issue is this: what even are the ideal societal sexual norms for women? Jessica Ringrose states that slut shaming is admonishing women for ‘behaviour or desires that are more sexual than society finds acceptable.’ But what is defined as too sexual? Can it be seen as simply anything more sexual than the person doing the shaming finds acceptable? I certainly believe that there isn’t actually an ‘acceptable’ level of female sexuality that is

palatable and digestible in society. More often than not, it becomes apparent that you can either be a virgin or a slut, often both with equally negative connotations. It often seems that there are just a set of non-existent ideals that only come into play when you wish to criticise someone for not adhering to them.

and as recently as controversies, such as girls in the US experiencing dress code violations. Consider this, if you ever find yourself about to shame or judge someone based on their sexuality because they do not meet your ‘sexually acceptable’ criteria, there may be someone doing the exact same thing to you.

Slut shaming is a serious issue as it contributes to rape culture and damaging acts such as victim blaming. To assume that it is your place to judge how someone else conducts themselves sexually and then shame them for it is incredibly damaging. Sex is a basic part of natural life, yet slut shaming is a widespread issue that can clearly be seen as far back as The Scarlet Letter

There are honestly far more interesting things to discuss than that time when whatsherface had sex with whatshisface after one too many drinks in Sub Zero. Just leave peoples personal lives to themselves and let’s try make the world a slightly less negative place!

Toni Laporta

Sexual Prejudices I feel the word ‘slut’ is thrown around way too much. Let people do their thing. If you’re upset about someone and their standards, remember that they are their standards. It shouldn’t affect you: it doesn’t involve you. If the issue is fuelled in part by jealousy, then serious reflection is needed. What the hell is wrong with enjoying sex, exploring different sexual ideas or concepts, and experiencing sex with several people? Nothing. Keeping sex for marriage, or more commonly this millennium for relationships is fine. Absolutely

fine, whether it be for religious purposes or personal preference, it’s cool. Nobody has the right to interfere with that view, and nobody has the right to interfere with those who want to have sex with whomever they so choose (providing it’s consensual, obviously).

right to use their body as they see fit.

What one has to realise is that people who choose to have sex with whomever they want however many times they want are not “sluts”. They have no reason whatsoever to conform to your standards, and so you have absolutely no right to call them such an emotive label. A label which denies their personality, and denies their

There is an issue on who has had sex, who hasn’t, who has had sex with whom, what type of sex they had... yawn. Don’t place so much importance on sex in your life, and it won’t offend you when others have a different attitude.

Nobody should be shamed for having ‘too much sex’, the pressure around sex is so multi-layered, and can pull people in so many directions because of its multiple facets.

Luke Smith

Wednesday 12th NOVEMBER| Issue 160

COMMENT

Clear Lines:

Alcohol and Consent Contrary to popular belief (promoted in that ridiculously catchy but awful song) consent is NOT a blurred line. For many people alcohol and sex are two things that go hand in hand. Inhibitions are lowered, people become more confident, and suddenly everyone seems significantly more attractive. While alcohol can sometimes be seen as the key ingredient on a night out, it needs to be acknowledged that while your motor skills might become compromised and your vision may become blurred, the lines of sexual consent do not. Regardless of the way you attempt to make excuses or make light of the situation, to have sex with a person that is either unconscious or too drunk to knowingly consent to sex is rape. It is a criminal offence and you are committing

an act of sexual assault. Infuriatingly often, while discussing the issue of alcohol and consent, you may find yourself faced with someone who says ‘Well maybe they shouldn’t have got so drunk... they were asking for it.’ If you ever find yourself in this situation I implore you to do two things: please explain that categorically no one is ever asking to be raped. And the ask why we live in a society that finds it easier to blame a victim of sexual assault for not preventing the situation than to address the fact that the perpetrator should not have done it in the first place? Unfortunately such are the effects of rape culture. We live in a society in which rape is pervasive

and normalised due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality. I think it’s vital that people actively reevaluate what they consider consent to be. It does not suffice to blindly follow the ‘no means no’ only definition of sexual assault. You should not only be looking to see if someone is fighting back or resisting. Consent is the actions and words of actively, voluntarily and knowingly agreeing and positively partaking in a sexual act. Just because someone isn’t saying no does not mean that they are saying yes. Active consent is not just a bonus... it’s a legal requirement.

Toni Laporta

YouTube Scandals ‘Vlogging’ on YouTube has become a popular pastime for some, and actually made stars of others, bringing them loyal fans and followers. YouTubers like former Big Brother contestant, Sam Pepper, and vlogger Alex Day, have taken advantage of their stardom and the hold they have over their fans. Both YouTubers, among many others, have been accused of misconduct with their fans, including rape in the case of Sam Pepper, who uploaded videos online of him assaulting girls in the street for ‘laughs’. The atmosphere this creates among their viewers is that this type of behaviour is acceptable and that they can get away with it. The celebrity culture that our society is currently fascinated with allows notable members of the public to get away with the abuse of fame: the infamous Jimmy Saville scandal, for example, which lasted decades. It is disgusting that this is still ongoing, and so far, the only consequences faced are that these YouTubers may have their YouTube accounts

deleted. Whether they will actually be prosecuted is another story. This story was first brought to light to me by YouTuber Laci Green, who promotes sex positivity education, equality and consent, in a video confronting Sam Pepper. Since then, Channel 4 News have also addressed the issue and spoken with Laci, and victims of Sam. Other YouTubers have posted their own videos to share their stories and opinions. Unsurprisingly, Sam has dismissed the claims of assault and described his videos as “pranks”. Trying to pull girls into an unwitting kiss and sneaking up to pinch their bums, posting this all online, is just a prank? That’s actually assault. No one deserves to be grabbed or touched in the street or anywhere else against their will, male or female.

What I want to know is whether these claims will be taken to court or whether these people, who’ve taken advantage of their powerful position, will get away with what they’ve done and continue to post videos to loyal fans, whilst continuing to commit these criminal acts? Their victims being continuously harassed into silence by fans, and idol alike, are likely terrified of the public controversy that would surely follow speaking out. Look at the scrutiny and nameshaming experienced by Ched Evans’ victim not too long ago. It is little wonder, therefore, that these victims have not yet pressed charges. The backlash they fear is a crime in itself. When will justice be served?

Caelin Toms

Arts

Jess Rich, Arts Editor

The Trial: Student Production through the eyes of a producer and actor

Lakeside Theatre Studio, Friday 14th and Saturday 15th November. The Actor:

The Producer: When my friend Cathy asked me to produce her production of Steven Berkoff’s The Trial I agreed without having any idea of what I was letting myself in for! I had never even read the play and my only experience of Berkoff was reading Metamorphosis at GCSE. This was also my first experience of producing so to say I was throwing myself in at the deep end is an understatement. Producing this show has been a true journey; we are putting it on as a studio slot which means we have had the support of The Lakeside Theatre, which has been wonderful. Despite the inevitable casting issues, cast timetables and the fight for the best rehearsal rooms, I would not have changed this experience for anything.

with this amazing team. Everyone is working really hard to get the show ready for our opening night on Friday 14th November.

Performing in The Trial has been absolutely phenomenal. For such an obscure, and at times complicated, piece of drama you would think that taking it from text to stage would be very taxing, but it has been quite the opposite. Due to The Trial being a very chorus-centric play, all of us in the cast have been able to bond throughout the rehearsal process, which has proved to be one of the most enjoyable things about working on this production.

We had a huge boost to all of our self-esteem the other day when we discovered we have sold out the show three weeks before opening night, making us the fastest selling studio slot ever! Working with this cast and crew has been amazing and I would love the chance to work with them all again. Break a leg guys!

Unlike some previous shows, where some of us would dread going to rehearsal, everyone has been excited to meet and see the play continuously take shape. All other aspects of the production have been equally as pleasing. For her first time as a director, Cathy has done a fantastic job with this production. The time period and rehearsal schedules have been managed well, allowing us all to use them to full capacity. The creative inputs from not just the production team, but also the cast, have truly made me feel that what we have in an excellent piece of theatre.

Jess Rich

I have really enjoyed being a part of the whole production process, and even when I have to do the not-so-nice jobs like chase up late actors or call the director to tell them someone has dropped out, it has all been worth it. I have fallen in love with producing, especially

Alex Simpkins

Photo taken by Aurora Ricotti

Everyman: Christian Salvation Lakeside Theatre Studio, Friday 31st October and Saturday 1st November. Sitting within the performance space, the audience are welcomed with live musical accompaniment from Joe Lyndon on acoustic guitar. It is an intimate space, with quotes scrawled across the dark walls of the room, instantly asking questions – who/what is Everyman? Performing to a sell-out audience; the cast enter, all wearing the same, simplistic costume of white t-shirts and black trousers. This is with the exception of ‘Death’, dressed in all black and ‘God’, all in white. The show begins and it is evident the cast are all in tune with one another, opening with an extremely intricate physical theatre sequence,

reminiscent of the work of Frantic Assembly. Their moves are seamless, demonstrating a huge amount trust amongst them. They take us through the story of Everyman, who is summoned by Death who informs him of his passing, and that he must face judgement. However, Everyman convinces Death to allow him time to find a companion to accompany him on his pilgrimage. Cleverly, the ensemble cast alternate between playing the titular character, which also emulates that Everyman is a representation of the entirety of Mankind. We follow them through a narrative of friendship, family, loyalty, materialism and death. Incorporating the musical and

performance talents of the cast, treating the audience to even more physical theatre motifs. There was a particularly enjoyable sequence where Everyman succumbed to the realisation that too much of his love had been directed towards material goods. Directed beautifully by Harry Jordan, Sean Manning, Helen Aspach and Lorna Hale, the story of Everyman has been translated from a mass of Middle English words on a page to a tantalising and thought provoking feast for the eyes in this forty minute production.

Megan Sharman

Wednesday 12 november | Issue 160

ART

“Video games can never be art.” “Video games can never be art” wrote Roger Ebert. A statement refuted heavily by fans of video games but rarely ever refuted beyond pointing to examples that, for the most part, meekly attempt to emulate stories told by movies. A phrase too often used is “the Citizen Kane of video games”. It is a pointless comparison, which treats films as the benchmark when video games can be so much more on their own. This can be seen in small groups or frequently individuals, creating games that rely on experiences that only this medium could supply; games such as Proteus and Papo & Yo.

his fears and struggles. The power to effectively display the father-son relationship from within the wonderful visual metaphor of the boy’s mind, and being truly in his shoes, is unlike anything any previous form of art could do.

There is no story given to you, no reason or objective, no information of any kind. You simply awaken in a small but beautiful world with animals, rare abandoned constructs and strange rock formations. What you make of this place is up to you. A beautiful art style and original score help, as sounds swell and days turn to nights and the seasons change around you. This is an experience that will be unique to everyone who plays it, something rarely found in any other form of art.

Papo & Yo tells the story of a young boy, finding a fantastical yet bittersweet escape from his real-life alcoholic and abusive father. Similar stories have been told before, yet this does what no film or novel on the subject could: it puts you in the role of the main character. Rather than being shown the character’s struggles you must experience them yourself. You inhabit the beautifully realised world that Quico, the main character, has created for you to escape into and in there you experience all of

experience allowing the viewer to be part of the piece. Proteus is almost completely reliant on the player immersing themselves in what has been created.

Proteus takes the strength of audience participation even further. Many artists have attempted to make art a more participatory

This is a form in its infancy, and finding examples that don’t involve murder or an imitation of films is surprisingly difficult. However, these video games offer experiences not found in any other art form and the rare chance for people to completely participate in someone else’s creation.

Sean Murphy

Happy Birthday Sunita The Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Tuesday 21st October. As a typical Briton, I do love a good fry up, but when it comes to a Friday night takeaway you can’t beat a nice Indian. But for the Johal family, the debate of cooking rotis in butter or olive oil is the start of a spicy spillover! Happy Birthday Sunita will have your eyes watering like a Phaal curry, as you are taken through the hilariously portrayed conflicts between modern day British culture and the honoured Indian traditions. In an attempt to celebrate Sunita’s (Clara Indrani) 40th birthday and to show off her newly designed kitchen, Tejpal Johal (Shabana Azmi) throws a family party. As Sunita’s brother Nav (Ameet Chana) and sister-in-law Harleen (Goldy Notay) arrive, tensions start to rise. As do the giggles! Fashion, family values and sibling rivalry all come to head. Tejpal wants her family together for Sunita’s special day, Nav just wants to dance to Punjabi tunes, Sunita does not want a party and Harleen...? Well, Harleen works with someone who knows Gok Wan.

Director Pravesh Kumar and writer Harvey Virdi ingeniously bring to light the face-value differences between culture and generation. In a conventional sari, with an impeccable kitchen and cooking a family curry, Tejpal is the embodiment of a stereotypical Indian mother. Yet Harleen arrives on stage in a short, tight fitting dress full of excitement about her job in fashion, drinking champagne (Prosecco) and establishing an instant contrast between the younger and the older generations. Harleen refers to the family as “a modern family” which is resented both by Nav and his mother. Sunita, Harleen and Nav all seem to be an example of some modern social progressio:. education, career, religion. Yet it is the wisdom and experience of 57 year old Tejpal that leads the way into a much more modern way of life. Amongst the diverse languages, generations and nationalities one clear message was being sent out to the audience.

The way Virdi keeps the script flowing between Punjabi and English perfectly shows how the cultures are merging and working together. It delivers the message of community. One audience sit to watch a play about two cultures being respected and enjoyed. Adding the character Maurice (Russell Floyd), a good ol’ cockney builder who develops a special relationship with Tejpal, was a beautiful touch by Kumar. Our society attempts to abolish racism by teaching younger generations that it’s not right, yet Happy Birthday Sunita reaches out a hand to those that should be wiser than us. It is telling them to teach us just as Tejpal teaches her children. A very moving, very clever and very funny play that leaves you perhaps slightly worried about your cholesterol levels after an Indian takeaway that didn’t use olive oil...

Sarah-Louise Holloway

Music

Alex Driscoll, Music Editor

INTERVIEW

American Authors The Rabbit: You’re currently in the US after a with Paul McCartney or even Coldplay! huge tour – How did that go? TR: Of all these bands and artists you like so American Authors: It was amazing! All the sto- much, who would you most like to collaborate ries we collect on tour all really help with our with and why? writing, and seeing the growth of our fan base AA: We’ve not only been a huge fan of Coldis so inspiring! play’s songwriting, but their sustainability as TR: You’ve toured with some big-name artists; a band. If we could have a career like them, it Daughtry, One Republic and The Script just would be a dream come true. to name a few. What are they like behind the scenes and who did you enjoy touring with TR: What advice do you have for all the bands most? and musicians on our Essex campus hoping to take their music far? AA: One Republic and The Script were amazing! They were so humble and down to earth, AA: Keep writing. It’s all about the songs no and making tour like a family was important to matter what! them. TR: How do you think your music has evolved TR: How much of an influence have these since you first began playing together? bands had on you as you’ve developed – or is there any particular band you’d kill to go on AA: We’ve taken more chances recently. ‘Oh, What A Life’ was a big exploratory period for us tour with? and we were so happy with the final product. AA: We had a moment about 2-3 years ago This is the first time that we really feel our muwhen we were all sitting in a room talking sic as a whole is an expression of all of us. about how it would be amazing to tour with both of those bands. The fact that it happened TR: What has been your biggest challenge as a was mind blowing and has really influenced us band? How did you overcome that challenge? as far as taking our music and tour life as far as it can go. It would of course be amazing to tour AA: The biggest challenge has been letting go

and taking chances with our writing. We used to always talk about what we should be rather than just being who we are... It can be confusing in this industry especially since the pace that new artists or music comes out these days is so fast and you can get wrapped up in what you think is popular etc... We learned that being ourselves was really the best thing we ever did. TR: Your song ‘Best Day of my Life’ peaked at number 17 in the UK, and sold over two million copies in the US alone. Tell us how that feels? AA: It’s amazing! It’s so humbling and it truly is a dream come true. If anything though, it’s made us even more hungry to keep on growing as a band. We still have a long way to go, and hopefully we have a few more platinum records! TR: You can imagine how popular FIFA is with all the young people who attend the University of Essex. Many fans here call it “the best song on FIFA”. How did that opportunity arise? AA: FIFA approached our publishers about using the song. When they asked us if we were okay with it, we were ecstatic! It’s probably the biggest game in the entire world! Also, we love football!

Lena Dillmann and Mitchell Grant Jenkins)

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK (SPONSORED BY ODEON COLCHESTER)

Lower Than Atlantis Lower Than Atlantis’s self-titled new album is, in broader terms, a continuation of their move away from the hard-core punk that defined their earlier releases, toward a melted-down indie rock sound, with yet more left to be desired from the Watford four piece. This might be explained by the Sugababes-style member merry-go-round that they’ve experienced, which has evidently influenced their sound, and failure to stick to their roots has curtailed their development. In the song ‘Criminal’, they allude to their belief that they are “broke thugs getting major label love”, but there is nothing here that suggests anarchy, or disorder or even troglodyte football-chant unease. It’s a tepid song. They go on to say they’ve “taken this before”- in context to the grief they’ve

got for pandering to label requirements and not producing the music they could. It could be said the bland nature of the new material warrants this grief.

was broken long ago/ Can’t make a house a home” is neither wholly original or impactful. The song title, reminiscent of a David Brent joke from The Office contains a certain irony, as the dreary nature of The Office is the joke to some The potential is there though; opener ‘Here extent, and the dreary nature of this song will We Go’ is by far the best song on the album. probably not make one want to live slow and Reaching “Hottest Record In The World” status die old listening to it. according to Zane Lowe – Not quite that good, but it’s a start. An aggressive opening riff, com- The album feels stunted as a whole. Where their bined with exciting lyrical delivery serves to get competitors in the post-hardcore genre would the blood flowing. The excitement is sadly short add layers to guitar tracks, or reverb the drums lived though, with the following song ‘Ain’t No to a more impactful sound, Lower Than AtlanFriend’ starting with odd synth sounds, it’s a tis quieten it. The raw “this is what we wanted total opposite to the straight-up aggressor that to do, deal with it” nature of hardcore punk/UK came before, and is a backwards move. punk pop just isn’t there. It’s been produced to be radio friendly, and that just isn’t what these The over-production cannot hide the writing, boys are capable of. It’s just alright. though. In ‘Live Slow Die Old’ the repetition of the phrase “Home is where the heart is/ Mine Luke Smith

Wednesday 12th NOVEMBER | Issue 160

MUSIC

Interview

Steffan James It was a pleasant surprise to find that Steffan James’ set is male-female vocal oriented. Charley Blue came along for the set, and added a worthwhile extra layer to the acoustic guitar sounds. He also gently taps and bashes his guitar for a folksy percussion dynamic; it’s important that artists like Steffan James take steps like these to differentiate themselves from the rest of the acoustic singer-songwriter world, and it works well for him. The Rabbit: First of all, can you introduce us to your co-singer? Steffan James: This is my co-singer Charley Blue, from Tunbridge Wells!

like just sitting down to write a song every day. But you definitely cherish the big moments. They feel like they last for five seconds, but the awful tiny ones feel like they go on for weeks...

Charley Blue: Hello, hello!

TR: What are the best places you’ve visited with the Coffee House Sessions tour, excluding Essex of course?

TR: It’s a really nice surprise that you’ve brought someone along with you. It’s so much more interesting to spice up a performance, especially with fantastic harmonies.

SJ: I was never a student, so this is all a bit of a culture shock for me. Charley was a student... TR: Where did you attend, Charley?

TR: How much do you feel that the classics of California blues are relied on by the new artists, for example, ‘Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac? SJ: ‘Rumours’ is one of my favourite albums. Ever. I’m influenced a lot by them... James Taylor is pretty much my hero. I love John Mayer too, I know that they all have a big influence on me. TR: Do you both ever get comparisons to the Lindsey Buckingham/Stevie Nicks duo who later became part of Fleetwood Mac?

Both: Thanks so much! TR: You’re from South London. I have to ask because I’m from South London too... SJ: I’m from Woolwich Dockyards! TR: How long have you been playing guitar? SJ: Twenty years. I’m Twenty nine! TR: I’m nineteen so that seems crazy... How long into those twenty years did you decide it was what you wanted to do forever? How much of those dreams have you fulfilled so far? SJ: About three weeks. All my life it’s what I’ve wanted to be. But until you have that one big single, being a musician is mostly stepping around the country, getting people to listen to your songs. I’ve been doing that, I did the Isle of Wight festival, some great support slots like Madness and Newton Faulkner, which were all great, but also gigs in pubs with an audience of only three people. I take the rough with the smooth. TR: So after all those huge gigs, do you have a bit more of an appreciation for the smaller gigs? SJ: I think you do appreciate it more, even things

CB: I went to Liverpool! It was great, had an amazing time.

SJ: Yeah! Just musically... We are just friends... CB: Yep we’re not together! In your dreams...

SJ: The best place so far has been Winchester. Apart from Essex. TR: Your music has been described as music that makes you feel something. How does that make you feel, knowing that your music gets your emotions across to those who hear it? SJ: I’m glad people get off on what a miserable git I am... Well, everyone’s been upset, and that quote came from the first album. I’m glad everyone liked that. Now I’m a lot happier and I hope everyone likes it just as much. TR: We’re sure they will. There’s a lot of talk online about you having travelled the US, and in particular, your California blues influence. Is that just press, or is that how you feel as well? SJ: That is a bit of press, but I’m really into the singer-songwriter scene in the US. Wildacoustic. com said a couple of years ago that I had a voice for blues music, so that’s where that came from. There’s a couple of blues songs we have with the full band, but I’ll leave it to everyone else to decide whether I’m blues or not.

ONE TO WATCH:

SJ: Musically though, yeah, we bounce off each other a lot. But that’s where it stops! TR: Listening to your song “Already Dead To Me”, in places it reminded me of Biffy Clyro. What’s the process like, adapting songs like that for acoustic performances? SJ: I love Biffy Clyro, so thanks. I wrote that song really early on when I was probably trying to be more “rock” than I really am at heart. When I play live, I play acoustic guitar. It’s quite energetic though, I speed it up. TR: So what’s next for Steffan James and Charley Blue? SJ: Just gonna keep making albums and spreading the word. Would love to get a song on a TV show or something like that. There’s a new EP out around Christmas, with our single “Sleep Tonight”. I’ll also be doing more stuff in the states. Keep your eyes peeled!

Alex Driscoll

LOLO

Jackson, Tennessee-born Lauren Pritchard found herself homeless at fifteen after moving to Los Angeles with a dream. She was picked up from the street by none other Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis and ex-wife of Michael Jackson, who took her in and helped her to hone her talent. Reinventing herself as LOLO in 2013, her new tunes are punchy, piano-based funk pop, and her soulful vocals and sturdy instrumental sections are a perfect pair for memorable music. Few are as hotlytipped for success right now, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch her on the SubTV screens in the SU bar.

Alex Driscoll

Film

Edward Lincoln, Film Editor

Gone Girl After recently seeing Gone Girl, the new hit movie based on Gillian Flynn’s New York Times Best Seller, I was astounded. Whilst I haven’t read the thriller novel, I was sold by a trailer depicting an unapologetically exciting, twisted and agonising experience, and it truly lived up to these expectations. It’s hard to discuss a movie like Gone Girl without giving too many details away (although it seems everyone has read the book). Without revealing details, what I can tell you is that the reaction of the audience sat alongside me in the cinema

was a testament to the quality of this thriller, with gasps of horror, confusion and excitement echoing the room every time the plot took a surprising turn. The plot mainly focuses around the storyline of Amy and Nick Dunne, a somewhat fairy-tale couple whose marriage has crashed into a pool of bitter hostility and, quite possibly, domestic abuse and murder. Although the effortlessness of Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike’s acting in the central roles is what propels the plot forward, the film is filled with bursts of unquestionably amaz-

ing performances from the likes of Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry and in particular – Kim Dickens. However, the most striking thing about the film is the way in which it asks, how much do any of us know about the people we are surrounded by? Throughout the film we see the characters face this question, but on a wholly more dramatic and

Chloe Streets

Fury This autumn Brad Pitt is back on screen in another blockbuster war film, but unlike his performance in Inglourious Basterds (which brought a comic exuberance to Nazi killing), his efforts in Fury paint a truly brutal and desperate picture of the life of a soldier in the final months of the Second World War.

position in a war that is all but won.

Set in April of 1945, the film follows the struggles of one tank crew as they storm Germany in a final push to bring the conflict to an end, with the echoing words of Pitt’s Sergeant Collier being “It will end... soon... but before it does, a lot more people gotta die.’

Nonetheless, Fury includes an impressive lineup. Shia LaBeouf (Transformers), Logan Lerman (The Perks of being a Wallflower), Michael Pena (End of Watch) and Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) join Brad Pitt to make up the tank team, and the performances given by the five actors transform this story from an impersonal gun-fest into a gritty family drama.

What makes Fury interesting is that unlike other war films, it chooses the final chapters of the fight as its setting. This creates a noticeable atmosphere of weariness, frustration and desperation in the film, with the team trying to sustain morale as they are forced to confront more op-

However, whilst this is a refreshing angle to view the war from, it doesn’t really fit with the red-hot anger that the title inspires, leaving me wondering if a different name would serve the film better.

Particularly striking is the interplay between Pitt and Lerman, who do a fine job of recreating the father-son relationship between a veteran fighter and an innocent teenage tommy, with the direc-

tor using this pairing to remind us that the end of the war was just as gruesome as the beginning. Fury may not be as grand or epic as other serious war films, but then I don’t think it’s trying to. What you get with this movie is a more intimate, familial and therefore brutal perspective, as 5 guys and one tank try to fight their way home.

Edward Lincoln

Wednesday 12th NOVEMBER | Issue 160

FILM

Magic in the Moonlight In spite of being involved in fresh controversy, Woody Allen has managed to produce yet another timeless romantic comedy. We begin the story with Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth), the short-tempered, stubborn, and incredibly pessimistic magician attempting to understand the powers of the vibrant and beautiful spirit medium, Sophie Baker (Emma Stone). What unfolds is a truly delightful tale of Stanley rediscovering the vibrancy of life through Sophie’s deceit and manipulation. Full of the same delights as Allen’s other great romcoms, such as Midnight in Paris (2011) and To Rome with Love (2012), Magic in the Moonlight utilises 1920s charm to portray the bumbling yet blossoming love between this unlikely pair. However, this is not just a cute love story. It is contrasted by a darker subplot in which the viewer must journey with Stanley as he must decide whether to leave behind everything previously known to be true and fall into the clutches of Sophie and her secret accomplice. The dramatic twists and turns that make this film so captivating will probably only leave the viewer enthralled for the first viewing. Upon a second watch the surprise of the plot will have faded, and yet the story of improbable love is one that will draw an audible ‘aww’ from even the most cynical person.

Chloe Allcock

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The recent TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) movie makes a valiant effort of bringing one of my favourite childhood cartoons to the big screen, but despite many redeeming aspects, the film has clear flaws. Thankfully, the main characters are amazing; their animations are of a high standard, and really bring a sense of realism to the screen. I was also pleased to see the camera focus its attention on the turtles from the halfway point onwards, after much too long spent centred on Megan Fox. This, however, brings me to said side actors. They seemed just too cheesy or simply irrelevant to the core plot. The film even admits that Megan Fox is only there for her looks, and several of the things she does in this film just don’t make sense. On the other hand, kudos must be given to the actors voicing Splinter and the four turtles. Their energetic and witty performance alone make the DVD a worthwhile buy. The characters of the TMNT and the sheer intensity of the fight scenes redeem this film from its poor support cast and dull storyline, and I would still recommend watching this film, even just to see our favourite green ninjas in action.

Benjamin Williams

Amy Bater, TV Editor Nisa Khan, TV Editor

The Walking Dead Since its release in 2010, ‘The Walking Dead’ has been a thrilling spectacle which keeps the viewer at the edge of their seats, as it is a show where characters are dispensable. Not one person on ‘The Walking Dead’ is safe. Like ‘Game of Thrones’, it is not afraid to cut a few characters and replace them with new people, only for them to be gruesomely disposed of as well. Sometimes this can be tiresome and predictable, as just as a character is pushed to the forefront, they get bitten by a zombie or shot by another person, but there are definitely a few shocks and surprises that will leave you speechless. The main band of characters is a living organism in itself as it is constantly changing and reforming as

GLUE So I’ve seen absolutely nobody raving about this television series so far and as it comes to a close it’s about time somebody did. Brand new to E4 this year, Glue is the answer to all of our prayers, a replacement for SKINS, but worlds apart. It has the same adolescent-themed drama and yet it feels more mature. It is set in the middle of nowhere, with a countryside backdrop and heavy themes of drugs, sex and violence, which is exciting and strange in itself. The soundtrack is particularly great, which is something I always take note of; a good soundtrack can make a series.

they break up and find each other again, and the main cast changes season to season and few of the originals are seen. However these characters are not undeveloped and you’re left with an emotional connection with them, so when they do go it’s horrifying, even when you have become used to the flow of the show. It is not just the cast that have adapted since its start but the story arcs as well. In the first two seasons the group are surviving in the new world and the zombies are the main antagonists, but in seasons three and four, the zombies get pushed to the back drop and are more just a part of the setting, whilst humans become the antagonists, showing the depths humanity stoops to in times of desperation.

Now onto season five they have done little to change their winning formula. However, instead of plot arcs over the course of a series, in each episode the storyline changes drastically. Within three episodes there have been twists with each episode being more cinematic than the last. It is so much more than just another zombie show and is now becoming something you cannot afford to miss.

Aiden Mills

The cast are fresh faces apart from a very prevalent debut from Jordan Stephens, widely known as one half of the popular hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks. Being a big fan of their music I wasn’t sure what to expect in the crossover to acting but I must say I was smugly surprised - smugly because I was rooting for him to be good. The story itself follows a murder amongst a close set of friends, so a contemporary Cluedo designed to leave us all guessing. I really enjoy a show when I can’t figure out what’s going to happen and this has not disappointed so far. It concluded this week so if it sounds like something you could get into and you haven’t kept up already then check it out online at 4OD!

Glue sticks, so you won’t stop trying to figure it out. Aptly named, wouldn’t you say?

Lauren Betts

Wednesday 12th NOVEMber | Issue 160

Two Broke Girls vs Don’t Trust The B**** in Apartment 23 Both series feature a blonde fish out of water paired with a citywise brunette, both are set in New York City and both began to air at roughly the same time. There are however a couple of very important differences between the programmes, one is awful and the other has been cancelled. One relies on racial stereotypes and a constant barrage of crude jokes and innuendo, the other on snappy dialogue and great situations. I’ll cut to the chase, I hate ‘Two Broke Girls’ with a burning passion, from the unlikable leads to the obnoxious supporting cast, it may very well be the

worst thing I have seen on television in a very long time. This is why it hurts so much that Don’t trust the B**** was cancelled. It was a breath of fresh air, yes it was somewhat formulaic at times, but it didn’t rely on the cold lowest common denominator humour that was Two Broke Girls’ bread and butter. Two Broke Girls oozes cynicism and contempt for the viewer, it has no heart or soul. Don’t trust the B**** did, it wasn’t amazing but it was so much better. It’s incredibly refreshing for a show with two female leads to treat those females as people. The two main characters come across

as fully realized humans rather than stereotypes, and both are far better than the rich airhead and streetwise brunette shown in Two Broke Girls. It’s a genuine tragedy of television that Don’t Trust the B*** was cancelled, doomed to extinction while its knuckle dragging cousin lives on. If you get the chance, or if you spy Don’t Trust the B**** on E4 then give it a watch, you won’t regret it. If you see Two Broke Girls pop up on the guide . . . Well I can’t force you not to watch it, but if I could, I would.

Ross ‘Danger’ Homden

8 Out of 10 Cats does Countdown At first, it seemed an odd move by Channel 4 to hand the 8 Out of 10 Cats crew the reigns of Countdown, one of the channel’s most respected institutions and one of the longest-running game shows in the world.

survey-based questions lacked that play-along-athome factor. To contrast, I enjoyed playing both the numbers and letters games on Countdown, but watching dull contestants do the same was hardly riveting. Both lacked what the other show had, and in combining the two programmes, Channel 4 have created something greater than the sum of its parts.

The panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats, in which comedians attempt to guess the results of opinion polls, has always lived in the shadow of its BBC rivals, and host Jimmy Carr has ensured that it has always verged on irreverence. So to hand it to the Cats crew, was a novel decision. After a one-off special in 2012, though, the combination is still proving to be strong and successful, and its fifth season aired earlier this year. Host Carr is accompanied by Cats team captains Sean Lock and Jon Richardson, with Countdown’s Rachel Riley and Susie Dent also continuing their regular roles. Each episode sees four comedians

join the show: team partners for Lock and Richardson, a guest for Dent in Dictionary Corner, and Joe Wilkinson as Riley’s inept assistant. Despite having never been convinced by either show, I find this unique blend compelling. I’d enjoyed the banter of the teams on Cats, but the

In a time where comedy panel shows can often be intellectual, from QI’s factoids to Have I Got News For You’s political satire, and game shows are frequently hosted by comedians, Cats Does Countdown is a match made in heaven. Whether you want to engage your brain, or relax and switch it off, it offers the best of both worlds.

Andrew Smith

Books Interview

Georgina Dedman, Books Editor Correction: Regarding my ‘Did You Know’ section in Issue 1, apologies to anyone if I caused offence. This is in particular for the below fact that was written: ‘Despite claims of homosexuality, Wilde married Constance Lloyd and they had two sons together.’ This could have been worded better and was not meant to deny Wilde’s sexual orientation.

Jodi Picoult

There was also a layout mistake, stating Edward Said’s birthday incorrectly. His birthday is on the 1st of November.

Writing Tips:

You have written a variety of different books over the years, Leaving Time is different to what you have written previously. What inspired you to write this story?

DO IT. Many people have a novel inside them, but most don’t bother to get it out. Writing is grunt work you need to have self-motivation, perseverance, and faith... talent is the smallest part of it (one need only read some of the titles on the NYT Bestseller list to see that...)

Usually, a what-if question is the start of a novel: what if a boy left standing after a botched suicide pact was accused of murder? What if a little girl developed an imaginary friend who turned out to be God? What if an attorney didn’t think that the legal system was quite good enough for her own child? I start by mulling a question and before I know it, a whole drama is unfolding in my head.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

For Leaving Time I was thinking about how, if we do our jobs correctly as parents, we are supposed to get our kids to a point where they leave us behind. Then I learned that in the wild, a mother and daughter elephant stay together their entire lives until one of them dies. It just seemed, at the time, like a much better system! I really wanted to write about what it that we just recycle it...so when you feel like you’ve feels like to be left behind by someone you love, and broken new ground as a writer, it’s a big deal. For all elephants seemed a perfect metaphor for the story. those reasons, I think Second Glance is my biggest accomplishment to date. However, the twist at the Which, out of the books you have written is your end of Leaving Time is the best twist I’ve written ... so maybe because of the very careful construction favourite? of the novel to get to the twist, I should have a new I do have a personal favorite - Second Glance. I think favourite! it’s the most complex book I’ve written to date, and I am incredibly proud of the characters in there... Who is your favourite character? some of whom I’ve never seen in fiction ever before. Plus, it addresses themes and concepts that are rare- Jesse, from My Sister’s Keeper. I just love him – he ly discussed in fiction. There’s a real tendency when thinks he’s soooo tough, but he wears his heart on you write to think that Shakespeare did it all, and his sleeve.

If you don’t believe in yourself, and you don’t have the fortitude to make that dream happen, why should the hotshots in the publishing world take a chance on you? I don’t believe that you need an MFA to be a writer, but I do think you need to take some good workshops. You need to learn to write on demand, and to get critiqued without flinching. When someone can rip your work to shreds without it feeling as though your arm has been hacked off, you’re ready to send your novel off to an agent. There’s no magic way to get one of those - it took me longer to find my wonderful agent than it did to get published! Attend signings/lectures by authors, and in your free time, read read read. All of this will make you a better writer. And – here’s a critical part – when you finally start to write something, do not let yourself stop...even when you are convinced it’s the worst garbage ever. This is the biggest caveat for beginning writers.

Gina Dedman

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical story of a young woman, Esther Greenwood, whose life is just starting to take off. However, the story tells us a sombre tale as we watch her fall from a scholarship in New York, a medical student boyfriend in Yale and an opportunity to blossom in literature, to an unwashed skirt and a handful of sleeping pills in the basement of her parent’s house. On the surface, the book doesn’t sound particularly controversial. However, the concept of suicide and mental illness is still an uncomfortable, and sometimes taboo topic in today’s society. That is why this is a banned book. Those banning it say that it may inspire others to commit suicide after reading through Esther’s journey. However, the book never

glorifies the act of suicide; rather it presents a clum- Even the title itself, The Bell Jar, perfectly sums up sy, fear-filled decision that solves nothing. the claustrophobic feeling of being stuck in your own mind, breathing the same stagnant, soiled air, The story itself is incredibly well written, and I found and unable to truly see the world outside. It also its depiction of mental illness refreshing. Too often, combines a touch of dark humour, which keeps it the idea of depression and suicide is cast as a kind from becoming melodramatic. It’s a beautiful piece of romantic sadness, almost like a purifying fire to of brutal honesty that you can only get from someatone for past sins. one speaking from experience, rather than imagination. The Bell Jar gives us a girl who’s come from a fairly charmed life, to greasy hair and dark circles, unable The book ends on an uncertain note, leaving Esto decide how to kill herself. The book is awkward, ther’s journey full of opportunity. However, the fate dirty, and full of shame, and through this, it gives you of the author only a month after the book’s publicaa more realistic glance into the experiences of mention colours this slightly, leaving us with a dark retal illness. minder that not all endings are happy ones.

Lydia Pauly

WEDNESDAY 12th NOVEMber | ISSUE 160

BOOKS

Happy Birthday Mark Twain Born: 30th November 1835 As early as 1891, Mark Twain was credited with writing the “great American novel” with his work The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. His friend list included giants like Nicola Tesla and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and his face has been on a US postage stamp. Twain’s satire and fiction shaped American identity and gave names like “Huckleberry,” “Tom,” and “Puddin’head” to the spirit of expansion, exploration, and race struggle that permeated the United States in the late 1800s.

Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and ended with a posthumously-published compilation of manuscripts No. 44, the Mysterious Stranger, Twain is best known for his humor and personality. Upon hearing that he was one of three people to be honored by an organization in the United Kingdom, one of the others being the Prince of Wales, Twain remarked “Well, it must make the Prince feel mighty fine.”

Yet for his autobiography in the literary journal The Adline, he wrote “I was born November 30th, 1835. I continue to live, just the same.” The following, six-sentence summing up of his life fails to mention Twain’s past as a steamboat pilot, miner, typesetter, author, editor, husband, father, world traveller, speaker, anti-imperialist, and Confederate soldier in the United States’ civil war.

The memory of Mark Twain is more than a list of novel titles. We remember the figure he created of himself as compassionate, funny and bold. And in his creation of one of the most widely-enjoyed novels of all time, Twain’s legacy of wanderlust and questioning social construction will “continue to live, just the same.”

After his literary accomplishments, which began with a collection of short stories in The Celebrated

Abigail Tibbetts

Stephen King’s On Writing It’s hard to pinpoint where most of the influence for writing comes from, but it’s undeniable that there have been some true American Greats. Whether you’re a fan of Stephen King or not, his talent has earnt him the status of being one of these American Greats so it’s no surprise that his book On Writing is equally good as the man himself. This book can’t really be defined in any specific way because it doesn’t really focus all its efforts on being autobiographical, nor does it strive to simply be an advice book for writers. It’d be just as entertaining to a loather of fiction (if there is such a person) as it is to an avid aspiring novelist.

It gives us an insight into his life whilst also cleverly streamlining a series of useful tips. In books that help the aspiring writer, the one thing that the majority miss out is reality. It’s no secret that anyone hoping to make it in the creative sector has to be ready for rejection, it’s not a job that we do for security (at least not at the beginning) because it’s hard to get. A large handful of us will want to do it because, quite simply, writing is all we want to do and it’s what we’re good at (or think we are). So many books are afraid of telling the truth when it comes to this side of the sector, which is strange be-

cause it is probably the most important thing to know. Stephen King, the man so well defined by his works of horror is certainly not afraid of being honest in this respect, he knows the industry and this book allows us to understand this knowledge; which is obviously highly valuable. It is full of inspiring tales of a child trying to follow his imagination and passion for writing, to memorable little quotes such as “to write is human, to edit is divine”...which I realise is true as I’m writing this. Basically no matter who you are, you need to read this book.

Liam Xavier

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451, the temperature at which books burn. Ray Bradbury’s allegorical novel considers a future where firemen are the ones who start the fires rather than put them out. This gripping dystopian novel follows Guy Montag whose job is to burn books, and in turn to burn knowledge, to burn imagination, to burn creativity. He meets a peculiar teenager, Clarisse whose free thinking and spirited identity makes Montag consider his life and reconsider his happiness. Whilst on duty, he is jarred by a woman who refuses to leave her home and chooses to burn with her books. He furtively collects books out of curiosity, the tale escalates when he finally decides to delve into his collection and read the words others care-

fully left behind until he becomes a fugitive of the state and of his own mind. Bradbury’s novel plays on the concept of biblioclasm or book burning, a phenomenon, which has been around as long as words have been written on flammable material. This novel is a warning to the reader and in turn society that burning books isn’t the only way culture can be killed, it can also be murdered through apathy and ignorance. His message has become increasingly relevant as we take on the 21st century, we should take heed of Bradbury’s warning in an age where ignorance can only be optional.

Alice Vardy

Science

Alice Vardy, Science Editor

Die Another Day: A History of Vaccines The history of vaccines extends to the ancient times. In 429 BC a Greek historian observed that people who survived a smallpox epidemic didn’t become infected again. A long time later, around 900 AD primitive vaccines were used in China. Their aim was to prevent smallpox by exposing healthy people to scab tissues, which were caused by the disease. However instead of using injections they were inhaled through the nose or placed under the skin.

Yet it was Edward Jenner, a doctor from Berkley, who in 1796 successfully used cowpox to create immunity to smallpox, a disease with a 30% mortality rate that left survivors with various disabilities. His method spread quickly and by 1801 over 100 000 people were vaccinated. After this, support for vaccinations started to grow, but there was also violent backlash against them, because some people felt that compulsory vaccinations was a way of taking away their freedom.

In the 18th century it was observed that people who suffered from less dangerous cowpox were immune to the smallpox. The first recorded use of this idea was by a farmer Benjamin Jesty, who became infected with cowpox in 1774 and transmitted it to the whole family. When his sons were later on introduced to smallpox disease, no symptoms occurred.

Edward Jenner’s technique was further developed by Louis Pasteur in 1885, extending its use to be able to kill agents causing anthrax and rabies. Furthermore Pasteur started using agents, which were a less virulent form of the disease, to allow immunity to be developed with less symptoms.

OPINION: The Upon reading a Guardian Article I was struck with how there has been a dramatic rise in the number of measles cases in the US since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. The reporter attributed this to the amount of parents refusing the MMR Vaccination in the US. This is incredibly surprising as someone who has had the vaccination and knows only too well how important it is to prevent the spread of diseases like measles. There is some suggestion that many of the cases have been caused by someone who has traveled from another country and gone into the US whilst having the disease.

In the 1920s new types of vaccinations were developed and the first global vaccination programs started. In 1955 polio vaccinations were introduced to the public, rapidly reducing the number of cases. In 1980 World Health Organization declared that smallpox was eradicated. This was one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of medicine. In the 21st century, vaccinations are rapidly developing as new innovative techniques are used and some vaccine researches are beginning to focus on non-infectious conditions such as allergies or addictions.

Barbora Eliet Hrádecká

Ignorance Epidemic This news comes hot on the heels of the debate over whether or not a nurse who had treated Ebola victims in Sierra Leone should have been quarantined on her return to New Jersey. This is an interesting argument however you cannot escape the feeling that people would rather be safe than sorry, and if becoming immunized can prevent the spread of diseases it seems strange to me that people would not vaccinate their children. To me this is a foolish decision and people need to realise how lucky we are to have modern medicine to prevent diseases spreading and affecting others.

Jess Rich

Wednesday 12th november | Issue 160

SCIENCE SCIENCE

Dead Men Tell No Tales (but they can now give you their heart) A team in Australia have successfully performed a series of ‘dead heart’ transplants. This breakthrough in the medical field has been made by a group of doctors at St Vincent’s Hospital, and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney, Australia. This provides hope for patients waiting for heart transplants, due to the potential significant increase in the number of hearts considered acceptable for donation.

of time are safe and healthy enough for transplantation.

process by preventing the heart muscle cells from dying.

However thanks to the new revolutionary ‘heart in a box’ technique, which is the result of a research project that has taken 20 years, doctors were able to successfully transplant 3 hearts that had been resuscitated and transplanted up to 20 minutes after the donor hearts had stopped beating.

When placed into the machine, the heart is supplied with oxygenated blood during transport. Where the organ is usually transported on ice this presents the risk of damage to the organ. This device on the other hand helps keep the heart replenished with various hormones and nutrients as well as oxygen.

Traditionally, a donor heart is sourced from a person who is connected to a life support machine but is considered clinically brain dead with their overall cardiovascular function still remaining. This is a major factor in what contributes to a shortage in heart donors.

This ‘heart in a box’ procedure consists of a portable machine which the heart is placed into after the heart is injected with a preservation solution – which took 12 out of the 20 years to perfect, after initially being deprived of oxygen for 20 – 30 minutes.

The controversial nature of taking organs from listed donors whose life support is switched off makes it difficult for doctors to decide if hearts that have stopped beating for an extended period

According to TransMedics, the manufacturer of this machine, the solution consists of three different drugs, which aid in preserving the heart and increasing its resilience for the transplantation

The patients who underwent this surgery are delighted with the operation, the first patient, Michelle Gribilas stated that she “feels like a different person”. It is hoped that this pioneering surgery will extend across the globe and lead to an overall increase in successful heart transplants, thus enabling more people to lead longer, happier lives.

Nabia Shahid

Science Update: Don’t let the sun go down on me

Survival of the Laziest?

Scientists have created a new solar material, it is nanoparticle-based and absorbs and captures over 90% of sunlight. This material would be used to coat the towers at the centre of concentrated solar plants. However it’s greatest merit is not only its ability to capture more sun but its longer lifespan than materials currently being used which degrade after a year.

Scientists now believe that our mammalian ancestors may have very well survived the event that caused the end of the reign of the dinosaurs in the last way you’d imagine; by taking a nap. Yes, that’s right. It is now thought that the prehistoric mammals we evolved from began to hibernate when the world became cold, and slept through the most harsh period of time following the event that eradicated dinosaurs from the face of the earth.

Projectile Dysfunction Subzero A resupply shuttle headed for the International Space Station malfunctioned last week, and was intentionally destroyed by onboard systems prior to it entering any populated areas nearby. A United States space agency representative said that the malfunction was in the first stage propulsion system, which was one of two refurbished soviet models.

A 400kg copper block has become the coldest macroscopic object known to mankind. At -273.144°C it has come closest to reaching absolute zero (-273.15°C). This was achieved by using evaporative cooling and lasers. This experiment was not only done in the name of cool but will help detect uncommon forms of beta radiation.

Eau d’Comet

Talk dirty to me

According to the sensors on board a probe that is currently orbiting the comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko – or Chury for short - has picked up some very interesting scents as the comet begins to melt and release gases. The sensors detected a wide variety of fumes and according to the United States Space Agency, if we were able to smell them ourselves, we would likely describe it as a mix of vinegar, rotten eggs, alcohol, stale horse stables, with a dash of bitter almonds. Sounds like a lovely cologne.

Recent research has found that learning a new word activates the ventral striatum or the ‘reward’ part of the brain that is also activated by sexual pleasure. People who have more connections between this part of the brain and the cortical language regions of the brain were more likely to be fast learners, this research suggests that the learning of language is influenced by emotion.

Alice Vardy

Lifestyle

Luiza Sandru, Lifestyle Editor

Feeling the pinch? Veggie-vember is the answer! Has the party lifestyle left you feeling short of funds and possibly a little out of shape? Or perhaps (like me) you’ve fallen for the ingenious marketing ploy of Domino’s coupons a few too many times? Whatever your vice is, it may be time to make some cutbacks to your lifestyle as we hit the halfway point of term one and our student loans continue to shrink by the day.

This may seem an outlandish thought to the meateating community of Essex, and any skeptics might think I’m some vegetarian missionary seeking to convert people to my way of eating. Actually I love a good roast dinner as much as the next person, but here are three very good reasons why I am pioneering this animal-friendly copycat of Stop-Tober.

It’s common knowledge that home cooking is the cheapest way to survive, and this little tip might make all the difference between having a few quid to spare for Christmas time, or having to make an SOS call to Mum and Dad for an emergency loan. The intelligent reader will have guessed what I am about to suggest: Veggie-vember, a month of vegetarianism.

Firstly there’s the cost. Have you noticed how expensive it is to buy something as basic as beef mince? Try one weekly shop without meat and see how you get on, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Secondly, you might start to see some of that fresher’s flab (a phrase I’ve just made up, but I’m sure you instantly know what I’m talking about) start to miraculously disappear, as you avoid greasy fry-ups and fatty burgers.

Lastly, the environmental arguments for going veggie are hugely compelling. You probably already know that cows’ flatulence is majorly responsible for the world’s methane emissions. Did you also know that methane emissions alone cause more than half of the planet’s human-induced warming? I could go on about the environmental merits of a vegetarian world but I might take up the whole paper. If the thought of a month without bacon is too much to bear, just ration yourself to one or two meaty meals a week. What is there to lose?

Will Howard

Bacofoil Student Cook of the Year Forget beans on toast and frozen pizzas, today’s student has a more sophisticated palate. In fact, a 2014 survey of over 2,000 UK students revealed they spend more on food than clothes, travel or social activities. To celebrate our country’s culinary undergraduates Bacofoil has this year launched its first ever Student Cook of the Year competition and entry is now open. Until the 31st December 2014, foodie students can enter the competition by posting a picture on Twitter or Facebook of a dish they have created, along with its name and the hashtag #BacofoilStudentCook. Entries will be judged on their presentation skills and the creativity of the dish’s name. Once the finalists have been selected they will be invited to the final cook off, a high-pressure culinary contest, in which they will need to prepare their dish for the panel of judges. This year’s judges are celebrity chef and author Sam Stern, Masterchef Winner Steven Wallis, Bacofoil Marketing Manager Melissa Dickinson and Lulu Grimes, Deputy Editor at Olive Magazine. Lulu said: “Students have always been given a hard time about their cook-

ing skills, but the truth is many are hosting dinner parties in their university halls and know their way around a deli better than many from older generations. “This competition gives students a chance to break the stereotype, cook some good food and possibly win a great prize at the same time.” The winning cook, who will be chosen at Cactus Kitchens in London, will receive £1,000 worth of groceries. Melissa Dickinson, marketing manager at Bacofoil, said. “We’ve been producing foil in the UK for over 50 years and university life has changed a lot over that time. However, something that doesn’t change is that university is often the first place young people start to buy and cook their own food properly. We know that younger cooks tend to experiment more with equipment and techniques so we thought that, as a large producer of baking, roasting and food storage products, launching a competition like this just made sense.” Entrants can be of any age but must be currently studying at a UK university and have no professional

cooking experience. For more information go to www.bacofoil.co.uk or email student.cook@bacofoil.co.uk

@ilovebacofoil

/bacofoilstudentcook

Wednesday 12TH NOVEMBER | Issue 160

LIFESTYLE

Free From Recipes

Attention Students: Time to Swot Up on the Foods You Can! According to a recent survey* 46% of freshers miss their mum’s cooking more than anything else when they leave home, and instead of learning the basics are drawn to a quick pot noodle or a ready meal - with those suffering food intolerances and allergies facing extra challenges. Now, responding to concerns of worried parents across the country, Foods You Can, a leading ‘free from-’ advice website, has launched a student friendly recipe guide – taking budget, time and skill into consideration. Here, Foods You Can founder Bunmi Scott tells us about the project. “I used to think that ‘free from-’ foods were expensive, and making ‘free from-’ recipes was really tough,” she said. “Since I started Foods You Can in 2009 I have been contacted by a number of worried parents – as well as students themselves – wanting to get a little advice on how to manage the transition from home to independent living.” A 33 year old mum of two, Bunmi started the unique advice site after being diagnosed with gluten, wheat, dairy, soya and sugar intolerances herself. “Foods You Can, an online price and product comparison site for ‘free from-’ foods, is perfect for students on a small budget,” she said. In time it expanded to include a recipe section, which hosts a range of quick and simple ‘free from-’ ideas that are ideal for students who are a little apprehensive about cooking up their own meals.” Here, Bunmi shares her quick and simple recipes which are ideal for students with food intolerances and allergies. And the best part? They won’t eat up your student loan!

Wheat-Free Chocolate Brownie 1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. 2 Melt 300g of chocolate and set aside to cool slightly. 3. Whisk three eggs and 225g of Muscovado sugar with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy.

4. Fold in the melted chocolate and stir through a hand full of ground almonds and one tsp of baking powder.

Gluten-Free Wraps 1. Place gluten free wraps under a hot grill for 1 minute

2. Remove and on the untoasted side spread with gluten free pesto, evenly top with topping of your choice and sprinkle with cheese. 3.

Return to the grill for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown.

Wheat-Free and GlutenFree Courgette and Vegetable Lasagne 1. Simmer a can of tomatoes with a small amount of tomato puree. 2. Slice mushrooms finely and add them to the tomatoes, mixing in the herbs, ensuring the mixture is kept at a low heat. 3. Slice the courgette and place them to one side 4. Line the bottom of an oven proof dish with the

tomato based mix, and add a layer of cheese sauce.

5. Next, use the courgettes to create layers, like you would with pasta sheets.

6. Repeat this several times and top off with cheese. 7. Place in the oven at 200 degrees for 10 minutes

until golden and crispy.

5. Pour into a lined baking tin (I use a Swiss roll tin) and bake for approx 40 minutes. 6. Check it is firm to touch and leave to cool.

Christina Lewis

Best-dressed Couples As we all know, first impressions are everything and nothing catches our eye more than a well-dressed couple. There are many celebrity couples that look impeccable when stood together at red carpet events, however they don’t always follow through in their day-to-day attire. It’s not about a couple ‘matching’ their outfits, it’s about them being a united force and complimenting each other. From Posh & Becks to Kimye, here are some of my favourites:

Victoria and David Beckham

Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl

Good old Posh and Becks have been style icons since their relationship began in 1997. Since then they have become ambassadors of British fashion, with Victoria now owning her own designer label and David working alongside companies such as H&M and Armani. Becks is an all round style inspiration for men and fails to look bad in any outfit. He perfects the casual look, often in jeans and a t-shirt, layering with lumberjack shirts and beanie hats. On the other hand, Victoria is known for her paparazzi pout, big shades and killer heels.

Anyone that follows what’s hot in the fashion world will already be familiar with style goddess Olivia Palermo. She constantly manages to dress with immaculate grace and sophistication. Whether she is at LFW or walking her dog through the streets of New York, her outfits are always on point. Palermo recently married Johannes Huebl, a model from Germany, who’s dressing habits are no less stylish than his wife’s.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

A$AP Rocky and Chanel Iman

They are the couple the world loves to hate - rapper Kanye West and TV personality Kim Kardashian. The pair were featured on the cover of US Vogue despite outrage from readers worldwide. Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue, defended the decision to feature the couple and said that she wanted to “feature those who define culture” and she’s right.

Since rapper A$AP Rocky rose to fame with his album Long.Live.A$AP, he’s also been followed for his unique style. He regularly mixes urban fashion labels with street brands and is known for his love of bomber jackets, Timberlands and HBA. Girlfriend and Victoria’s Secret model, Chanel Iman, has worked with prestigious fashion houses all over the world including Versace, Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga. Off the catwalk, she has a casual style and with her killer legs she looks amazing in a vest and jeans.

Their influence in fashion is undeniable; Kanye himself has designed several collections with Nike, as well as his own APC collaboration. Particularly when on tour, Kanye is constantly influencing streetwear with his clever mix of urban and designer pieces. Kim’s style has created a niche for women with curves and along with her sisters Kourtney and Khloe she has released a number of high-street collaborations with shops such as Lipsy and Dorothy Perkins.

Olivia Corbin-Phillip

WEDNESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER | ISSUE 160

LIFESTYLE

Check out photos from the 50th Anniversary Fireworks on the SU Facebook page!

Sports BUCS Fixtures of the Week Women’s Rugby secure first win in two seasons! Essex 1st 36 - 0 LSE 1st Tries: Farrow; Wright (2); Davis (2); Sen Conversions: Farrow (3) Line up: Steward; Crawford; Patrick; Baney; Shaw; Scarth; Troddan; Farrow; Rondelli (VC); Ferrero; Ajao; Davis; Koledoye; Kvalvik; Suddards Subs: Pound; Conner; Wright; Sritharan; Mendez; Sarenas; Makomva After a league restructure at the end of last season, the University of Essex’s Womens Rugby Club (UEWRFC) were pushed up into South Eastern 2B, facing tougher teams than they have previously in BUCS. The Blades secured a 12-12 draw against Canterbury Christ Church away last week; a huge achievement in itself, and were pumped for another big push which led to them securing their first win in two seasons.

Shaw and Farrow well into the second half. UEWRFC remained cohesive, with vice-captain Rondelli directing play on the pitch. Injured captain, Maisy Adkins, led a strong team to a dominant performance from the sidelines. She notes “[The girls] have worked so hard to make the team stronger than it has been in previous years. Wednesday was a huge step forward for us and we are being taken far more seriously as a team”.

Strong winds and downpours of rain didn’t deter UEWRFC or the crowd gathered at the pitches, and Essex drove hard from the word go, with LSE barely able to push up past the halfway line for the entire first half.

Training from internationally recognised coach, Danny Ligairi Badham along with consistent support from the men’s squad has had a huge positive impact on the Blades this year.

Standing at 14-0 at half time, morale remained high and big hits were consistently made by

Ami Lake

Tom Phillips, Sports Editor

Wednesday 12th november | ISSUE 160

SPORTS

Match updates

A story of two halves! Essex vs. Medway Captain Ali Davis wins the first toss against Medway with a choice of heads and chose to bowl first in this new arena where new rules and playing conditions were a shock to the big hitters of UECC. Adam Nunn and Mark Hughes started off - a shock to many as Hughes comments “I’m not a bowler”. The opening pair bowled a very consistent line and length, which caused difficulties for the Medway batsmen. Pressure was building, then two wickets in one over, turned the game for the Blades. Hughes bowled a floaty half volley on leg stump, which was slogged six but made amends to a surprised Davis with a catch. Runs were still being scored at a good rate but the Blades kept on taking wickets and helping set a target of 100 to win the game.

Davis and Nunn were given responsibility of opening the batting and shall we say neither did so, after a wonderful cover drive from Davis got cleaned up second nut, much to his frustration. Hughes stepped up to the crease and few singles later, our scholar Nunn, the man who has the hardest hands ever to curse a cricket field, decided to snick off to leave us reeling at 10-2 off two overs. However, Talbot and Hughes formed a formidable partnership to rescue the Blades with some wonderful batting causing Medway to panic in the closing stages of the innings. After both retiring, in came Romit Patel and Vivek Rajan with over 20 runs still required to win. Medways bowling continued woefully with their next attempt providing an ac-

curate demonstration of Saeed Ajmal’s atrocious bowling. The Umpires were reluctant to address the issue but with the help of the Ajmal impersonator, Essex received 15 extra runs which helped succeed their run chase and win by 8 wickets.

Medway 99-2 Essex 101-2 off nine overs Hughes 27 not out Talbot 29 not out

Second Game Canterbury Christ Church Following the success of his first game as captain, Davis again wins the toss and chooses to bowl. Essex made one change to their winning squad against Medway with Tom Day making his debut for Vivek Rajan. Nunn and Day opened up the bowling in what was a frustrating spell. Canterbury responded positively to both bowlers and were 30 without loss to which Davis showed his frustration on the field.

target of 94 to win and finish the day with a 100% record. A grumpy Davis, during tea, saw a positive impact on the crease seeing every ball going either for a single or a boundary, which saw Essex get off with a great start in the first over, 12-0. Nunn’s dismissal, following hitting the roof of the University of East London Sports Hall, saw Hughes come in but was later dismissed.

Following Nunn’s only wicket of the game, Hughes and Patel stepped up the Blades’ bowling but, despite the tight lines, the wide balls were killing the consistency. However, with Patel picking up 2 wickets and Hughes bowling a beautiful in-swinging jaffer, Canterbury witnessed a dent in their batting rate, finishing the 8th over, 70-4. This was however only temporary following a poor over spell from Hughes, with Canterbury recovering from a top-order collapse of 88-4.

Davis came to Nunn’s defence regarding the incident: “That would have been a four if that was outside”. Following Hughes quiet batting displays, Dickers stepped up and delivered some wonderful three’s, something that was absent in Davis’ display. Davis’ innings continued with a vengeance and blood was drawn in the fight to chase the run total. A Canterbury fielder split his hand whilst trying to stop another Davis boundary, demonstrating the fierce batting Davis was displaying to chase the win.

This meant Nunn was required to bowl an impeccable over at the death receiving two wickets and conceding four runs, which saw Canterbury finish 93 all out giving Essex a

After a first aid break to attend to the Canterbury fielder, play got back under way. However Essex lost a solid partnership in Dickers and Davis with Dickers getting run out. Davis’

retirement to the sidelines was short lived as Patel’s innings were brief after being caught by the Canterbury bowler. With the Blades required to get 20 from 12 balls, it was a tough mountain to climb. Despite back to back boundaries by Davis, debutant Day was run out in an attempt to get another three runs on the board. Davis was last man standing and was dismissed in the final ball as the captain looked for the 6 to win the game but was caught by the cover fielder.

Canterbury 93 all out Nunn 3-16 Essex 88-9 Extras 48 Davis 40

U’s Through to Round Two Colchester United can hold their heads up high following a disappointing end to the league, with the excitement of playing in the 2nd Round of the FA Cup. Their positive form took a serious test with play-off hopefuls, Swindon Town playing the host in a 2-2 draw. Goals from Cardiff loanee, Rhys Healey and in-form Gavin Massey denied Michael Smith’s double for Swindon to earn a well deserved point. But it was against Port Vale where the U’s saw their unbeaten run come to an end with a 3-2 defeat at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. Col U regret missing out on a golden opportunity to take the lead with a penalty in the 30th minute but are denied by Vale goalkeeper, Alan Neal, making his third save from the spot. Vale capitalised on this opportunity with goals from top scorer Colin Daniel and Mark Marshall to provide Vale their path to victory. Sears tried to make amends with a tap-in from two yards with 10 minutes to go but Col U failed to find an equaliser.

Despite the defeat the U’s finish on a positive note from a gruelling two weeks with a win over nonleague Gosport Borough. The Conference South side played hosts to Tony Humes’ side at Privett Park. Tony Humes made just two changes to the team that lost to Port Vale and went on to be victorious against the Hampshire side with a rugby scoreline, 6-3. A double from Freddie Sears and goals from wingers Sanchez Watt and Gavin Massey helped Colchester confirm their place in the 2nd Round, one game away from playing against clubs such as Chelsea or Arsenal in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. They will first have to beat their opponents in the 2nd Round before hoping to play against the top clubs in England on the weekend of the 6th and 7th December. They now go on to face Barnsley away at Oakwell on Friday 14th November.

Tom Phillips