Issue 98, The Stag (University of Surrey Student Magazine) by The Stag

THE Issue 98. Freshers Ed

STAG Sept 2020

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S N O T E

‘new normal’; a phrase that has been passed back and forth so frequently over the past three months that it truly has lost any real meaning. As the world recovers from the pain and heartache of the past year, now more than ever it is important to establish your own boundaries which will offer comfort at this strange time. Whether you are shielding and still battling the threat of COVID-19 or you find yourself anxiously counting down until you can hold your friends again (preferably in Rubix screaming along to Angels by Robbie Williams). The new term can be an anxious time for many students, and we want to recognise the struggles our readers may be battling with. I can only hope that The Stag is both a place of reliable news and

important investigations but likewise, a place to escape to and feel lost in the words of your peers; many of whom are also finding their feet at this uncertain time. The Stag is your platform. We want to hear your words and promote your voice. The new committee has worked tirelessly over the summer holiday and I have been blown away by their creativity and commitment. Every single setback has been handled with humour and humility. Our writers, our editors, our designers and every helper in between; they simply radiate talent and I can’t wait to show you all what they are capable of this year. Finally, my partners in crime, Peter Ferguson and Charlotte West; I am so lucky to share this adventure with you both. It is very easy to view a signatory society role as just an extracurricular, but I know for the three of us it has been so much more. The Stag is and always has been a team effort and I will never undervalue how integral every member is in creating the content we do. Here’s to an incredible year!

Yasmin Norvill Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL T E A M Editor-in-Chief: Yasmin Norvill

Artists:

Deputy Editor: Peter Ferguson

Niki Jones

Deputy Editor: Charlotte West

Kaiwen Khoo Bethany Stone

Features Editor: Hannah Gravett Culture Editor: Lily Pearce

Writers:

Sports Editor: Clarisse Fullerton

Alana Bradshaw

Politics Editor: Russell Sherrard-Smith

Alice Brooks

Science and Technology Editor: Patrick Hope

Lisa Cosham

Sustainability Editor: James Woolgar

Olivia Dodge

News Editor: Irene GarcĂa Mir

Sophie Dudman Cora Dunne

Head of Design: Darcey Cleary

Betsy Goodfellow

Head of Marketing: Leon Lynn

James Harvey

Webmaster: Francis Cousins

Kirstie Lardner Peter Neave Lucy Smith Jordan Richardson Ana-Maria Tudorache

Instagram @thestagsurrey Facebook @thestagsurrey Twitter @thestagsurrey https://www.thestagsurrey.co.uk Pitch us an article at ussu.thestag@surrey.ac.uk with PITCH in the subject line.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CULTURE

FEATURES

SPORTS

POLITICS

SCIENCE & TECH

SUSTAINABILITY

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Of course it is not just freshers that are at risk of this feeling of uncertainty this year, as the potentially unfriendly and anti-social behaviour encouraged by social distancing measures will have an effect on later years too. The Office for National Statistics surveyed people throughout lockdown, and found that young people aged 16-24 were more than twice as likely to experience loneliness than older people aged 55-64. This showcases just how vital support systems are for all university students, as they

// C

oving to university is a turbulent period of life at the best of times: a new place, a new routine, new friends - it can often be overwhelming. Yet now, with social distancing measures and protective mitigations in place, it is likely to feel all the more daunting. It is important to be aware of the support services in place, particularly as Freshersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Week is when students are at their most vulnerable.

are most at risk with their mental health. his summer, he Stag caught up with VP Support, Aaron Seabrook, to chat to him about how he had been planning for the new semester.

daily routines are constantly disrupted. is particularly true for many Sabbs across the country working in different Student Unions, whose manifesto points may have had to be changed or altered due to social distancing measures. Even as I write this today, who knows if the Support Zones’ plans will look completely different in six weeks’ time, as you read this. However, looking over Aaron’s manifesto points from February’s Surrey Decides election, I can see that the coronavirus pandemic has made his policies all the more important. he key one being on improving bereavement support, with the likelihood that a large increase in students will have experienced the death of a loved one during this tragic time. “I have met up with the chaplaincy to talk about the bereavement support group that was set up and potentially using a peer-to-peer support group with the chaplaincy facilitating it, just in case someone was to get too upset, there’s someone there. As I have mentioned with Pulse it showed that 51% of students undergo bereavement, b fore COVID - I can only expect that’s going to rise.” Aaron explains, “the other thing I want to make clear with this is that although it will be facilitated by the chaplaincy, it’s by no means enforcing a religious expression to this. Not to be associated the chaplaincy with religion they’re just a really good place to go to get support and it just happens that because they have a variety of differ-ent religions there, they can give different perspectives, and I think this is something that students would be really advantageous to them. Especially because death is such a certain thing in our life but such an uncertainty for what happens about it that I think regardless of religion, I’m agnostic, even when I’ve lost someone and I find myself talking to myself, or talking to them after-wards, or hoping, as I’m sure a lot of people do in a very similar state of mind and I think it’s a way of comfort as it is such a bizarre thing to cope with.” Aaron has already been taking strong steps towards fulfilling his manifesto point on bereavement. A priority of his was to change the university’s policy on the number of certificates needed to

Unlike the other Sabbatical Officers (Sabbs) this year, Aaron had no real handover period due to the previous VP Support ending her role early. his, combined with the Work From Home lifestyle, meant that much like the first years joining us at Surrey, Seabrook was thrown into the deep end. Nonetheless the passion he has for keeping students safe, both physically and mentally, shines through. When asked about his plans for Freshers week, Aaron told us his initial ideas: “T he main thing I want to be doing across the board is about COVID anxiety, which will apply more to those with higher severity and risks. Just sort of developing a little workbook, depending on printing costs, or making it accessible online and readily available so that it’s not just hidden somewhere on the USSU website. here will be information on what to do if there’s things going on in your accommodation that you’re uncomfortable with, and where to seek help. Especially for those shielding and how they’re going to be able to access things on campus”. “Most people are in the same situation where we’re not sure what’s going to be available on campus. he government’s starting to think about what they are going to put in place be-cause obviously they do really need to think about universities now. Some universities will have nothing on at all, this university (Surrey) is trying to make the campus be as normal as possible, and I think that is a really wonderful thing. It’s always ever-changing at the moment.” he uncertainty caused by the coronavirus has been a constant presence in our lives for the past six months, which is heightened particularly by the fast-paced changing of regulations - with local lockdowns being put in place overnight, or quarantine measures for returning travellers being changed, meaning that our normal

FE EA AT TU UR RE E SS F

apply for Extenuating Circumstances (EC) because of bereavement. Aaron explained the change: “What happened in the past, say for instance you had your maternal nan die, usually in that case you wouldn’t share her last name. So, you would have to supply a death certificate, a marriage certificate and two birth certificates to prove that you are your mum’s daughter, to prove your mum’s exchanged name, and then to prove that your mum was your nan’s daughter. Then a death certificate to prove she died. That is obviously a typical circumstance assuming marriage is involved. “My point was to remove this, because it is excessive. It’s like if you took the average price of evidence to be £20, that’s £80 just to get proof that someone’s died, let alone even get the EC approved. I mentioned that and said it should only be a death certificate because why are we putting this much stress on students especially when, as I mentioned before, over 50% of students at the University of Surrey experience bereavement whilst studying. We have to support them with that, particularly in the case of if your best friend on your course dies and you’re sat in lectures because you cannot get an EC, and then you fail your exam. That’s changed, now you just need a death certificate.” Aaron is showcasing a very proactive attitude towards his initial months as a Sabbatical Officer, which is encouraging for a student body in need of increased support. However, it is important to recognise that the university has been struggling to cope with the demand for support services across the last couple of years, and that is only set to increase under the new circumstances. We asked Aaron whether he felt these services, such as the Centre for Wellbeing, that already have long waiting lists, would be capable of dealing with the change.

“I do think there are changes being made that can certainly help with this. At the start we’ll just have to see and play it by ear. I do think long term I’m confident, but at the end of the day this is such an uncalculated situation - I mean our government doesn’t know what to do, other governments don’t know what to do… I think it’s fair to say that universities are doing the best they can. I don’t think any university knows what they are actually going to do, because you’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t.” In terms of the Union, Aaron was positive, “I think we’ve got a very strong team of Sabbatical Officers, a very strong team that cares about wellbeing. I think, nonetheless, with COVID, whether it’s your safety or your mental health, they’re key aspects of your life and they intertwine together. They’re very involved with each other. “I just hope I can do the best I can, support students the best I can.” If you need to contact any of the support services, or are unsure of who to turn to, Aaron can be contacted by email on ussu.vpsupport@surrey.ac.uk Interviewed by Peter Ferguson and Charlotte West

What Surrey Bar Are You? // Darcey Cleary

START

It’s Wednesday evening, what do you and your friends plan?

just the one

Cheap drinks only.

Keep cosy inside with a cocktail or two, or outdoors keeping it cool...music on.

Pls.

WHERE’S THE MUSIC?

FIVE & LIME

Anything with Vodka.

The iconic university club Rubiza has now converted to your day-night bar, including a 2am close on Wednesdays and Fridays. Welcoming the new Citrus’ and Flirt’s, hopefully we still have the sweet sounds of DJ Leroy and 4 VKs for a tenner. No matter what mood you are in, Rubix is always a go to.

Just me, my cocktails and I

If you want to show off your knowledge of Guildford bars, bring your pals here. Offering the best vibes on a night out, especially with Wednesday’s drink deals nobody is leaving sober! Step outside to the heated area and be wlecomed by the finest tunes of the evening.

What’s the go-to drink of the evening? One Cocktail

RUBIX

Let me celebrate

Yes, taking it easy

No, get me to town

BAR CRAWL Are we splashing out? Or budget drinks only?

Do you like the idea of staying on campus?

WETHERSPOONS

WATES

is your shout! Ideally located on campus, dangerously two minutes away from the library. Wates is the perfect place for a catch-up, warm up drinks before the craxy nights out or even a bite to eat and a coffee in between lectures. Home to the best milkshakes and cocktails as well as pool tables and tunes all day long

The Rodboro Buildings Spoons will always have a special place in my heart. Whether you and your mates are just going for a ‘couple’ or a warm-up for the night ahead. Spoons has and always will provide the cheap drinks and fun times.

TURTLE BAY

Home to Guildford’s most popular happy hour, the cocktails are never ending. The 2-4-1 pornstar martinis are usually accompanied with a following ten other cocktails. A perfect night out for the girls and boys of course!

POPWORLD

Providing the cheesiest tunes of the evening, Popworld is a guranteed fun night out. Covid may mean that the dancing remains seated, but that doesn’t stop the party. Also home to the biggest pornstar martins in guildford, prepare for a energy filled night out. 9

FÊÄTÛRÊS

SURREY

AS A TRANSFER STUDENT:

or as long as I can remember, I was excited to move away from home for university. I had never been a child prone to homesickness and found myself keenly awaiting independence. I felt assured that university, as I was regularly promised it would be, was going to be the Time of My Life. Eager to leave the same town that I’d always lived and to start my next chapter, in the lead up to A Level result day, I dreamt of making a big group of friends for life, whilst simultaneously indulging in nights out and being titillated by my course all at the same time. I was well and truly convinced that I was not only ready for uni, but made for it. But what happens when your dream university experience doesn’t go to plan? From the ages of eighteen to twenty I spent two whole years torturing myself at Cardiff University, excellent in its own right and one adored by the friends I made there, but ultimately wasn’t right for me, before enrolling here at Surrey in September last year. Moving away from this destiny, which I had been so convinced was a given, was a devastating blow. I had set myself high expectations, so quitting felt like a crushing failure of my personhood, and the confidence I once had seemed to slip through the cracks along with my sense of self; I viewed my decision to leave Cardiff as a huge personal defeat.

// Hannah Gravett

Despite making the difficult decision to transfer to Surrey, my final term at Cardiff breezed by; this crippling weight now lifted off my shoulders enabled me to enjoy my final few months, safe in the knowledge that I would soon have my fresh start. This was exactly what the University of Surrey represented to me: a completely blank canvas on which to rewrite the narrative I’d created in my mind of my university experience. At Surrey, I was able to make the decisions that as a seventeen-year-old I hadn’t taken the time to truly consider, as a result of ruthless exam pressure and my blinding obsess with getting into a Russell Group university. I found relief in moving from Wales’ capital city (home to 40,000 fellow students, of which all seemed to 10

How I got my Second Chance at University. be having the time of their lives, co-existing in a manic flurry of undergraduates around me - the stampede scene in The Lion King comes to mind), to a town and a university campus that felt cosy and welcoming. The familiarity that Guildford offered, along with a mere two hour commute home, was much appreciated. Suddenly I was closer to extended family, had friends at nearby universities and personal links in Guildford that elevated me from the stark feeling of isolation I had felt in my previous university city that I had no real connection with. I soon found that the previously never seen before homesickness, which paralysed me in those first two years, had faded into a mercifully distant memory. Finally, in Surrey, I began to feel at home.

I don’t wish to leave anyone quaking in their fresher’s boots, nor would I encourage dropping your degree willy-nilly if you don’t love your course in the first few weeks of Semester One. I was unusually unlucky and have since rectified my grievances with my circumstances. I simply want to urge new students to take university as it comes and embrace your own experiences for what they are. Like everything else in life, uni may not always be perfect and we shouldn’t punish ourselves if it isn’t. Hindsight can be a cruel thing, but I am glad I got a second chance. My two very tough years ensured that when I arrived at Surrey I had experience and maturity under my belt, which allowed me to learn from my mistakes and take steps to ensure that my time here was successful. I’m relieved to say that as I enter my final year that, so far, it definitely has been.

Starting an undergraduate degree at university, whilst being a time of excitement, can also be a period of immense pressure. For many, this might be the first experience of a total upheaval of life, and expectations for your new surroundings may well be ambitiously high. If Instagram feeds are anything to go by, it will at times appear that your friends and peers are smashing uni out of the park, having mastered the tricky social nuances of Freshers’ Week and subsequently been rewarded with a quintessentially good time. Comparisons and envy might be hard to avoid and you may feel intimidated when reflecting on your own personal experiences. Despite this, at the grand old age of twenty-one, I have come to realise that a 100% perfect university experience is actually surprisingly rare.

Regardless of whether you’re fresh out of school or a uni veteran trying again, be kind to yourself in this time of new beginnings and make conscious efforts not to become withdrawn when things feel overwhelming. Knock on the doors of your flatmates’ rooms, attend Freshers’ events (no matter what form they may take this year) and, crucially, join societies in order to establish a sense of community and routine early on. Good luck this year to students old and new, and remember that even if things don’t go entirely according to plan, it’s never too late to rewrite your Surrey story and turn what goes wrong, into rights.

A R Y E ER A UND N DOW her in ot our only any e f i l out ften om us ab ws are o create s I had // L o i r u sho en c t hen d can ys be s and TV styles an ike, so w stralia, i a w l a u l e m f l A e i s i F n I’v n l untry i life i tries. oreig coun ence of f what a co niversity u ri f expe ations o perience ely t x c e e . solut ar at exp ance to rue b t a e m h and d ye the c dream co cited le secon ave it all x e y a b l i le l was equa n incred a risk to nknown s a w a had king eft I lete u lly re I l had just I was ta he comp ite litera o f e B y t u I l ed. den re; q into ve terrifi , and sud blindly n to befo w that I’ k and y g c o e Surre d, walkin never be down. N to go ba g n e ’d i n I i d psi beh untry yth o an rld u co of a g my wo would d I in turn enced it, i r expe gain. a do it

osha isa C

DOWN UNDER AUSTRALIA [ aw-streyl-yuh ]

NOUN 1. a continent southeast of Asia, be2,948,366 sq. mi. (7,636,270 sq. km). 2. Commonwealth of Australia, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, consisting of the federated states and territories of Australia and Tasmania. 2,974,581 sq. mi. (7,704,165 sq. km). Capital: Canberra.

In July 2019, I boarded my 22-hour flight to Melbourne, Australia, where I lived in one of the seven campuses of La Trobe University. Despite La Trobe being double the size of the University of Surrey, it felt welcoming and homey. The Agora, full of various cafes and takeaways, was a treat, and the Wildlife Sanctuary and moat surrounding the campus put the scale of the university into perspective, making our geese and lake on Stag Hill suddenly seem very small. When I saw the cockatoos, parrots and possums roaming the grounds, the road signs for kangaroos, and vending machines with flip-flops inside, it really hit me that I was on the other side of the world. Melbourne itself is huge; so much so that you have to use buses, trams and trains to reach different parts of the city, including the beaches. Depending on where you were, the beaches varied in personality: some were bordered by indigenous Australian greenery, some by vast rocks, which were perfect for climbing and fulfilling your childhood dream of becoming a mermaid! What they did share were the white sands and clear water, a typical characteristic of Australian scenery, in an array of blue hues depending on the weather, which was not the all day sun I had been expecting. It could be up to 30 degrees in the morning, hailing by the afternoon, and thunderstorms in the evening - the unexpectedness simply adding to the excitement of being abroad. I was also fortunate enough to travel to other places in and

around Australia – meeting up with international friends from Surrey in Bali, driving around Tasmania with other students originally from America and Canada, and spending a week in the South Island of New Zealand in an old campervan. As Melbourne is such a huge place, we didn’t see all of it, but we were able to go on a Great Ocean road trip with other international students studying at La Trobe. We went surfing on our first weekend in Australia, and we got to see ErskineFalls, the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, and wild koalas. In the summer, we spent a weekend on the Mornington Peninsula, experiencing the hot springs and trekking Millionaire’s Walk - all in my very first semester. In semester two the adventures continued with hiking up the Grampian Mountains, climbing 2,245 feet and one night even touring the abandoned Aradale Lunatic Asylum. During all of these trips we found ourselves amongst wildlife: feeding kangaroos, wallabies, deer, donkeys, monkeys, and parakeets. Despite the sheer size of Melbourne and La Trobe’s campus, I didn’t feel overwhelmed. In fact, in many ways it felt very similar to home – ironically, the state of Victoria has its own Brighton, which is my home city, as well as their own Surrey Hills! I was also lucky that I got to go with my best friend, so I wasn’t completely alone during the first few weeks in Australia.

Now we look back at our life there together and are still amazed that it was something we were able to experience, especially just before the global pandemic. We often talk about future plans to return and make up for the time we lost from having to return home for lockdown. It’s inspired us to consider exploring America and going on a road trip with our friends. Australia made us push and support each other to experience new things – now we have the itch to do it all over again. Studying abroad was undoubtedly hard and intense at times, but I’m grateful for the experience. I was able to meet amazing people, make friends from all over the world, and go to countries I thought I would only visit far off in the future. Looking back on it now, it feels like it was necessary for my personal development to move across the world and out of my comfort zone. Not to sound too cliché, but my time abroad bettered me as a person. If you ever have the chance to travel, whether it’s through university or work, this year or later in life, I would encourage you to do it. It really is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

ga urin e: nlin in D E g O erta t n vin R oE U Mo T wt L Ho

CU I

dem

n addition to affecting our work life, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to transform how we spend our down time. Global Web Index found over 80% of consumers in the UK and US say they have consumed more entertainment content since lockdown; as we all attempt to fill the empty void of our social lives with Netflix shows and TikTok dances, that we secretly despise ourselves for actually learning, and enjoying. Within the industry itself, filming for TV and film content came to a screeching halt, music concerts were cancelled, and the doors of theatres still remain indefinitely bolted.

Pan

// // Lily Lily Pearce Pearce

ce e

Throughout this unprecedented period of time, people have been in dire need of entertainment and are consuming more than ever. Yet there is a decided discrepancy between the increased demand for new content, and the production progress. We have been blessed with some remarkable shows filmed pre-apocalypse, such as Hulu’s Normal People and Netflix’s Tiger King. Shows whose releases were timed disastrously from a press perspective, but truly captured our desire for escapism. The industry has also adapted to the ‘new normal’ by producing creative and new entertainment that reflects the impact of the pandemic. Watching shows that acknowledged the nightmare of lockdown, illness and worry has also provided more comfort than witnessing the parties, social activity and hugging that we could no longer access. ITV brought out a new series of short dramas, Isolation Stories. They were the epitome of pandemic production: filmed in actor’s homes with their own families incorporated into the cast; directed over zoom calls.

“Thêrê îs ä dêcîdêd dîscrêpäncý bêtwêên thê încrêäsêd dêmänd för nêw cöntênt änd thê prödûctîön prögrêss“ While many aspects of society have been able to gradually reopen, albeit in a new and not necessarily improved pandemic model, the theatre and music industry have undoubtedly been the hardest hit. The live music scene has suffered with the cancellation of all concerts and music festivals. There doesn’t appear to be a simple resolution, the live music experience cannot be replicated online and attempts at drive-in concerts have been thwarted by local lockdown risks. However, progress has been made in the form of socially distanced concerts. The UK’s first was recently held in Newcastle, with Sam Fender playing to 2,500 fans sat on 500 distanced platforms, which do look remarkably like animal pens. While this future of live music doesn’t appear hugely riveting, it is absolutely better than nothing.

BBC One released the ingenious series ‘Staged’, starring David Tennant and Mi hael Sheen in a self-parodying version of them elves. The series was filmed in the style of zoom calls from their own homes and is exactly the comic relief needed during these times. It has been trickier for the film industry, as the lack of safety, resources and large budgets mean we are still eagerly waiting to watch films produced pre-pandemic. The post-pandemic filming landscape may be unrecognisable; with budgets, sets and casts having to adapt to safety regulations. Many movies will likely skip a cinema release in favour of on-demand services. It may be of greater financial security, and mean we no longer have to consider selling a kidney on the black market for cinema snacks, but it will likely signify the closure of many cinemas. Yet another point scored by the internet.

The theatre world is facing a similar state of affairs. The National Theatre began releasing their most successful NT Live performances on YouTube, with a free show live streamed each week on YouTube. The ‘At Home’ series of 16 performances received an incredible total of 15 million views, yet the donations received is considered to be remarkably low considering the astonishing viewing figures. Live music and theatre have had to accept the limits of digital viewing on audience experience, but we must all hope they aren’t resigned to the fate of permanent closure. 17

CÛLTÛRÊ

THE LOCKD T

// Hannah Gravett

he COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown that soon followed has been a tough time for everyone, but as a firm believer in there being a silver lining to everything, I decided to make the most of my newfound time at home to sink my teeth into a new good book. I have always considered myself a bookworm but juggling studying and a part time job usually puts hobbies to the bottom of our priorities; so finally, being able to read in tranquillity was a well-deserved treat. The book I had been most looking forward to reading was Margaret Attwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, which had been sitting desolate on my shelf beneath an ever-growing layer of dust. I was instantly enticed by its captivating plot and found that I couldn’t put it down. Handmaid’s Tale surpassed every expectation and left me eager to know more about the influences behind Attwood’s writing, due to the controversial elements of the novel. The story is set in a dystopian society called Gilead and follows the protagonist, Offred, who loses her civil rights and is forced to become a handmaiden to reproduce for an elite couple amidst an infertility pandemic. The unusual and harrowing subject matter of The Handmaid’s Tale may discourage some people from reading. But I believe that the book holds the strong moral message that defiance isn’t easy, but that we must use our voice to stand up for minority groups and those who are systematically discriminated against in society. This message has never been more important than now, and I would encourage everyone to read the novel and be inspired by Offred’s story to use their voice; because in an unfair society, everyone loses. I was intrigued to research more about Margaret Attwood and her personal inspiration behind the morals in The Handmaid’s Tale and was amazed to find out that the shocking events in the novel were all inspired by historical events. Attwood took inspiration from religious and political conflicts surrounding America and the rise of Christianity in history to give subliminal messages that encourage acceptance and equality. Although the feminist movement has progressed rapidly in the last

v st m g

// Cora Dunne

KDOWN BOOK

That Changed Me.

“Wê m ûst ûsê ö ûr vöîcê tö stän d ûp f ör mînö rîtý gröû ps“

century, there is still further progress to be made. I believe that Attwood’s literature can inspire young readers to become more aware of current feminist issues, such as the gender pay gap in the western world and the restricted rights of women in other countries due to misogynistic law and leadership; through the depiction of subservient Handmaidens and their lack of voice in The Handmaid’s Tale. I couldn’t have found a better time to read such an incredible book, as I found that I could access a deeper level of understanding due to the current pandemic and civil rights movements such as Pride month and the Black Lives Matter Movement. The story only strengthened my drive for equality, by giving me a glimpse into an extreme version of reality that could become possible if we continue to allow politicians and society to discriminate against minority groups. All in all, not only have I taken away a strong moral message from The Handmaid’s Tale, I have rediscovered the importance of reading and the sense of enlightenment that a good book can have on the soul. I am so thankful that lockdown has allowed me to be inspired by books once more- and I encourage everyone to start a new book- whether you identify as a reader or not. Most importantly, I believe it is important to always find the light in tough situations and find inspiration in new things.

d’s

How TikTok Became the Tumblr of Gen Z // Yasmin Norvill

AA CW: Eating Disorders, Drug Use

disturbingly self-deprecating sense of humour, an admiration for aesthetic and an arguably traumatic early exposure to pornography; welcome to the generation raised by Tumblr. They live among us, often found sporting exquisite eyeliner and quoting 1975 lyrics. But slowly and surely a new species is asserting its dominance; the TikTok-ers. They can dance, they can paint, and they are single-handedly responsible for the global shortage of blush and pastel-coloured hair dye. And while the residents of Tumblr loved nothing more than a picture of an edgy teen flashing two middle fingers to the camera, the TikTok clan will always be telling you to put a finger down. If you listen closely you can hear their mating call “hey baby, hey baby, hey baby, here’s twenty dollars.” The internet, for all its pitfalls; namely Karens on Facebook and Trump’s Twitter account, has consistently offered a space for adolescents to explore their own self-expression and creativity, and these two sites are home to it all. For every Tumblr fanfic, there is a TikTok painting and young creatives populate these sites in great numbers; with the hashtag #art on TikTok being viewed over 90 billion times, at time of writing. Of the 800 million

active users of TikTok, 41% of them are TW: Eating Disorders, between the ages of 16-24, proving that Drugcool Useby the standards TikTok is officially of Gen Z. Now, some may say Vine walked so TikTok could run. And while I respect that opinion and will undoubtedly say “I sure hope it does” every single time I see a road works sign, for the rest of my life. I think the community spirit of TikTok aligns far closer with what was once found on Tumblr, particularly for young adults exploring their identity for the first time. In January, The Washington Post interviewed Trevor Projects’ CEO, Amit Paley, who shared “We see a lot of examples where, on TikTok, LGBTQ youth are getting support [...] and that is so important because there are many LGBTQ youth in this country who are not able to get support where they physically are.” The hashtag #LGBT has a staggering 42 billion views on TikTok, demonstrating how large the community is on the app. However last year, TikTok was caught censoring pro-LGBT content due to a change in guidelines; which sparked great controversy. This state of affairs is very reminiscent of the outrage caused by Tumblr a matter of years before, and suggests both platforms still have improvements to be made to their regulation systems. In 2018 Rewire News reported that Tumblr’s ‘Adult Content’ ban was having an unintentionally negative impact on young LGBTQ+ teens, after same sex sexual content started to be removed from the site. Just like its big brother, Tumblr, TikTok could be seen as silencing the LGBT community while appearing to encourage it at the same time. Another controversy the platforms share is the apparent promotion of drug culture. Arguably, any internet space dominated by young people emerging into adulthood will acknowledge the existence of drugs, but both Tumblr and TikTok have been criticised for their lack of regulation. On Tumblr, we reblogged photographs of typically 21

attractive men smoking weed, or pictures of pills. But on TikTok, creators have been seen to actively try and teach their viewers how to find a ‘high’ in regular everyday items found in the home. The nutmeg trend is particularly damaging, whereby the creator tries large amounts of nutmeg in order to hallucinate. TikTok’s obliviousness to this content could be interpreted as the app promoting drug use to its noticeably young demographic. Though TikTok has banned the usage of specific drug names on the app, many individuals are bypassing the restriction by using their own nicknames; which is extremely reminiscent of tactics once used to promote harmful eating behaviours on Tumblr. Namely, the frequently populated ‘ana’ tag on Tumblr which was painfully triggering and harmful to those exposed to the content. Tumblr has historically been criticised for it’s glamorization of eating disorders and TikTok is closely following suit. The 2010s dored the ‘grunge’ aesthetic and Tumblr was the home of it all. But what started out as a love of the Arctic Monkeys and trendy edgy outfits, soon spiralled into a feeding pit of insecurity. Pro-anorexia content littered the site in 2012 and Cassie from Skins was soon nominated as the poster girl for ‘thinspiration’ blogs. On the surface, TikTok’s weight loss content appears far less suffocating, but after watching different creators’ ‘What I Eat in a Day’ videos it is very easy for TikTok’s clever agriotherium to start pushing more harmful content. And yet, for all their dangers and extreme issues; these social media sites have served as a home for young people, and have the potential to act as a support network for millions of people navigating the obstacles of new-adult life. Their cultural impact is undeniable and only time will tell if Tik Tok is destined to meet the same fate as its predecessor.

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n March 20th 2020, Boris Johnson announced the closure of all gyms up and down the country in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 and subsequently, flatten the curve of the virus. The announcement received mixed reviews. Some humorously cheered in the knowledge they could no longer feel guilty for missing their weekly spin class, others feared how the closure of gyms could affect not only their physical health but their mental health too. In the age of technology, fitness fanatics (or those just feeling a little guilty after indulging in too much banana bread) took to their phones to devise a new routine that would maintain their desired fitness levels throughout lockdown. But, with the abundance of apps and YouTube workouts now on offer, where does one even begin? 22

SHREDDY Created by internet superstar: Grace Beverl y (formerly known as gracefituk), Shreddy has quickly become a fan favourite amongst the followers of the famous fitness influencer turned entrepreneur. Grace announced the launch of the app last year after creating two successful businesses: Tala, a sustainable workout clothing brand and B_ND, a resistance band and work equipment retailer. Shreddy users can choose from 5 different plans: Home Fat Loss, Home Tone Up, Gym Fat Loss, Gym Tone Up and Gym Lean Muscle as well as a range of recipe ideas to complement the work out routine. Despite all it’s pros, it is important to remember that Shreddy is a paid subscription service either costing £9.99 per month, £24.99 quarterly or £79.99 a year depending on your choice in payment so it might not be the perfect fit for every student on a budget. Shreddy’s most notable feature is the online community it offers, there is a community section within the app which allows subscribers to talk to one another and share their experiences, give support and trade tips for the programme.

SOPHIE Anyone who knows me will inform you that exercise is my archenemy, if you told me before lockdown that I would stick to a workout programme I would have laughed in your face. Shreddy allows you to select a guide that suits you, whether you want to lose weight or tone up and whether you choose to work out at home or the gym (not that we’ve had a choice recently…) But I think what makes it so appealing to me is not the guides themselves but the “community” section of the app which encourages you to interact with people who are doing the same guide as you, view their progress photos and seek advice on anything you’re struggling with. The delicious all-vegan meal plan is a bonus too!

ALANA After hearing glowing reviews from my friends about Shreddy (and given the whole global pandemic situation) I decided to sign myself up and despite being a novice of all things fitness, I am loving the app. Shreddy has a very accessible user interface providing you with a weekly schedule where you can preview each daily workout and the circuits entailed. For each workout you are presented with live footage of each movement, a three second countdown (very handy for when you’re trying your best not to die doing Commandos) and timed breaks. The workouts evolve alongside your fitness level, becoming more intense but not unmanageably so. There is also a library available which provides you with a plethora of targeted or real time workouts if you’re looking for an extra challenge. The only catch I’d mention is that Shreddy does have a subscription fee but this can be paid monthly, quarterly or annually.

CHLOE TING Chloe Ting is a YouTuber with a staggering 12.8 million subscribers, widely known for her YouTube workouts and free online fitness plans. Participants can independently jump between different video workouts or actively follow the guides created by Chloe which typically suggest following 2-4 videos a day depending on your own goals. Her videos cover every focus area you could ever want. Whether it’s leg day or you want to focus on abs; there truly is a video for everything. One of Chloe’s most popular programs is her 2 week shred challenge which encourages you to participate in workout videos lasting between 20-50 minutes a day for 14 days. A huge highlight of Chloe’s guides is they don’t ask for any equipment; all that is needed is your own body weight.

Clarisse Despite the fact that the intro music makes my intestines physically recoil in disgust, I became slightly addicted to these workouts over the two weeks- endorphins are WILD. If you want a rewarding routine with quick progress in both stamina and strength or the ability to hold any kind of plank variation, Chloe Ting is for you. I loved that the 20-50 minutes were broken up into separate videos with different physical goals in mind (although some days I took the videos as more of a suggestion oops). I’m definitely planning on redoing this challenge or mixing the workouts into my own routine; however, I will forever condemn the spiderman into mountain climber combo, those were not ok.

Yasmin Though I remain bewildered by the fact anyone could obtain enough core strength to hold a sideways plank while simultaneously raising their leg, I have really enjoyed following the Chloe Ting workouts over lockdown. They first appealed to the broke student within me who ideally did not want to spend extra money on a subscription, or a resistance band for that matter. 99% of Chloe’s programme only asks you to use your own body weight which I found super useful. The set programmes include both HIIT (high intensity interval training) and muscle building routines. I find that when it comes to working out, variety really is the spice of life (especially when you dread doing it).

Couch to 5K Created by the NHS, Couch to 5k is a running app and guide sweeping the nation. Aimed at beginners hoping to unlock their running potential, the program gradually builds over 9 weeks to help users train towards successfully running 5 kilometres or 30 minutes non-stop. The app’s ability to build in intensity over time reduces the threat of feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by the prospect of running. While on your run, the app works like a podcast, instructing you when to run and when to slow your pace into a walking speed in order to retain stamina. Users can play their own music on Spotify or Apple Music whilst still listening to the podcast, and are also able to choose who they’d enjoy instructing their run; featuring the famous voices of Jo Wiley, Sarah Millican, Sanjeev Kohli and Michael Johnson.

Charli Like many couch potatoes, my unfitness was always an element of my personality that I liked to joke about; last year I could barely run for a minute, which is definitely funny, and not at all concerning...! The Couch to 5K app was made for potatoes like me, as it starts from the very basics and slowly builds up. The app also provides the right amount of flexibility and structure to keep you on track while also fitting around a busy schedule. Rest assured, I didn’t complete the app in the nine weeks, nor am I able to run 5K, but I have been running regularly for 20 minutes over the past eight months, and for that I am thankful.

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As many turn to social media to document their amazing success with at home workouts, it is very easy to feel overwhelmed and pressured into exercising for the wrong reasons. Though these apps and programs do note ways in which to lose weight or gain muscle; it is imperative to remember that this is not the primary goal for exercise. Like painting, baking or singing; exercise offers another outlet to reduce stress and anxiety at such an unknown time. Whether hopping into the Get Shreddy challenge, following guides from Chloe Ting or starting to enjoy running for the first time with Couch to 5K; make sure to reach out and find the communities of individuals taking part so you are able to share your experiences and document both the highs and lows. While lockdown has lifted and our gyms have reopened their doors, remember that your exercise routine is for you and you alone and sometimes that is best enjoyed in a familiar and safe environment. There truly is no place like home, particularly when attempting commandos or a superman plank.

SPÖRT

Will COVID-19 Affect University Sport and BUCS in Semester One?

140

days. The period of time between Delon Wright scoring the

last point of the game, sinking a free throw, as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Denver Nuggets 113 to 97 right before the NBA was suspended on March 12th, and the first game back on July 30th between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Utah Jazz … I’ve missed sports. Fortunately, the slow reintroduction of sport back into our lives over the summer has been underway. Cricket is in swing, F1 has come crashing back and Liverpool are champions of the Premier league for the first time in 30 years, as I’m sure your unbearable mates - who claim their grandparents are Liverpool fans have made you fully aware. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier, but the return of sport has shifted my attention to what’s going to happen at a level closer to home. Will sporting events continue to be a large part of university life come semester one?

// Peter Neave

If you’re new to Surrey, regardless of whether you’re on the verge of turning pro or just deciding to give something a go, there are many sports clubs and teams which provide an excellent place to get involved with university sport. You’ll be able to find your niche whatever your level or interests are, be that competing, officiating, volunteering or just going along for the socials. If you’ve been involved in spo t at uni before, you’ve most likely encountered BUCS (British Universities Colleges Sport). BUCS is the governing body of university sport in the UK that has aimed to provide the best possible sporting experience for students and has played a part in the triumphant victories, bitter losses, heated varsity rivals and nail biting finals for over 100 years. However, with the unprecedented situation the world finds itself in, is it still a priority? The COVID-19 pandemic has turned all aspects of modern life upsidedown. The future has become incredibly uncertain with no existing protocols on how to deal with a situation of this scale. Since the outbreak, the World Health Organisation and governments of countries around the globe have put plans into action to contain and prevent the spread of the virus. These rules and regulations are beginning to ease as the world 26

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struggles to return to some sense of normality, but with over 250,000 cases in the UK, resulting in over 40,000 deaths at the time of writing, it’s still vital that everyone follows the guidelines set in place to keep us safe.

to provide testing for every sport at every level. The chance to spread COVID-19 by cross contamination of teams travelling to games and events is not worth the risk. In my experiences with BUCS the majority of your time is spent within your teams; once the match is over, there has been little interaction with opposition. Hardly any uni has provided after match teas, and if you’re travelling far everyone is mostly keen to get back home to go out and celebrate or commiserate the day’s results with other people from your club. Regarding the argument for elite or specific sports, this goes against the core principles of inclusion BUCS is founded upon and the suspension of promotion/ relegations makes league matches more or less irrelevant. Ultimately, a medal or a trophy isn’t worth putting people at risk.

There are universities planning to reopen at the start of the new academic year, Surrey is one of them.This brings up the question on whether or not university sport and competition should be going ahead. As far as team sports go, competition shouldn’t even be considered an option, it’s impossible to fully comply with social distancing in a competitive team sport environment. Professional sport may have returned, but this is only due to the rigorous administration, thorough testing and funding these organisations have at their disposal. As demonstrated in the return of the German football league, the Bundesliga. Empty stadiums, teams not shaking hands, the balls are even disinfected on the side lines - so far so good. Then Mats Hummels crunches into a tackle and the opposing player is sent sprawling. Examples can be made in the majority of team sports with players striving to win making contact inevitable.

Nevertheless, I believe sport can still be practiced recreationally. Within university teams, as long as the guidelines set out by the government are followed, sport could still be used to keep fit and socialise. That being said, health should maintain the priority. If you have any symptoms or live with anyone who is at risk or vulnerable it is best to limit interaction with others. Since coming to Surrey, the best memories of my first year have come from being part of the hockey club. As much as I love away days and competing, it’s been the people that I’ve met that have really made the experience so memorable. Removing the competitive element from university sport does hamstring the overall experience, I’m not denying that, final years have and will miss out. Despite that, it must be taken into consideration we are in unprecedented times and sacrifices have to be made. You are much more likely to remember the people you play with, than the wicket taken, basket or tries you score. Ultimately, sport can make a comeback, BUCS isn’t absolutely necessary and until the future is more certain it should be put on hold. The competition will return one day, until then people need to come first.

BUCS have set out their strategy in a statement for the “Return to play”, which can be found on the BUCS website. In summary, the majority of BUCS leagues will take place between January and April 2021; a calendar is planned for events due by the end of August. Promotion and relegation aren’t happening, but winners of leagues, knockout competitions and events will still receive medals and trophies. Now, it’s important to make plans for the possible scenarios that may arise. There is also an argument to be made that BUCS could run events at the elite level or for certain specific sports that cater better for social distancing, such as cricket where almost no contact between participants ever occurs. However, BUCS does not have the funding 27

Surrey Sports Club’s MOST ICONIC SOCIALS.

// Clarisse Fullerton

f you want to achieve full student status whilst at university, themed nights out are a must. Although all societies host events, sports clubs have long since held the title of most iconic fancy dress ideas, perhaps because there’s no better way to bond a team than to see each other in your most ridiculous. Let’s take a nostalgic look back over some of Surrey’s prime sports themes that have graced the Rubix dance floor – whether they’re going ahead this year or not, these inventive themes prove that this year’s social secretaries will be sure to get creative in a socially distanced campus.

Surrey Dodgeball, arguably one of the most energetic and welcoming of sports, is never one to miss out on a fresher’s social. Every year Dodgeball invites new recruits to take part in their yearly tradition ‘Tight & Bright’ (be prepared to don that niche neon item of clothing hidden at the back of your wardrobe). The social is organised around a ‘buddy system’ in which freshers are paired off with an ‘elder’ by a piece of string- resulting in some entertaining (and optional) partner drinking games. After messily navigating bars in the town centre the night finishes in our very own Rubix with some questionable and synchronised dance moves. Good luck with going to the toilet though; if there’s one night not to ‘break the seal’ early, it’s this one. Dodgeball is not the only team to entice sporty freshers with the promise of a few VKs; Surrey Dance also has their own freshers and returners system of ‘angels and devils’ or ‘princesses and pirates’, *insert gratuitous pirate booty joke. As has been scientifically proven, the amount of effort someone puts into their costume is a 100% accurate way of judging who you should be friends with (the answer is always the person dressed as a parrot). If you’re more of the laid-back fancy dress type then the dance squad’s Mean Girls social is for you, because on Citrus Wednesdays we wear pink (duh).

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Other sports teams take advantage of seasonal holidays to inspire their socials, such as Surrey’s cheerleading team, Surrey Angels with their ‘Nativity Night’ theme, which took place for the first time last year. The event groups off members to recreate their own nativity scene: sheep and baby Jesus included. The winning team is awarded with a boozy prize (although if you can still pull dressed as real life contraceptive then you’re the real winner here). Expect kitchen tea towels and robes made out of Tesco’s bedding to feature heavily in group photos for this social. Whatever team you decide to join this year you can predict the most iconic themed socials once restrictions allow it. If there’s anything the recent months have taught me, it’s not to miss out on any opportunity- sports socials included.

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Some students entering first year may understandably be disappointed by the most recent drop, worrying that it might make them less employable, but also because some, myself included, chose the University of Surrey at least

// B

hen beginning to consider which universities to attend, many of us have found ourselves turning to The Complete University Guide as our very first point of call. But do rankings actually have a significant effect on student life? According to The Complete University Guide, The University of Surrey has fallen 23 places from 11th nationwide to 34th since 2017, a fact that might be disappointing, especially for students who applied when Surrey was ranked much higher than it is now. However, it is possible that this drop in status is not as negative as it first may seem.

partly based on its position in the league tables. There are obviously many factors that go into choosing which university to attend, and the league table ranking is but one of them. For example, I had five offers from universities I loved, and I settled on Surrey in part because of the offer I received and partly because it was ranked highest for my subject out of the universities I was deciding between. It is understandable that students are disappointed and annoyed that Surrey has once again fallen in the league tables. That said, I do love my course, student life in Guildford is good, and I have enjoyed my time at Surrey so far, I don’t regret my decision, though perhaps the drop in rankings would be more worrying to students aiming for careers in highly competitive industries, such as law or finance. Also, given that there are subject specific league tables, is the overall position of the University truly relevant or should students be focussing on the position for their subject? Surrey holds a top ten position for a handful of degrees, perhaps students in these subjects wouldn’t mind that the overall position has fallen as they know they are receiving a good education in their chosen subject. I asked fellow students at Surrey to share their thoughts and if they thought it reflected their experience at university. English Literature and Film student, Tyrone Marsh said, “It’s not about the rankings of the uni, but definitely what you get out of uni – personal and academic experience – that will impress employers!” If a student is involved in societies, volunteering, or fundraising alongside their degree, they may appear more employable. Personally, I am the current President of LitSoc and a Course Rep for my department, which will be mentioned on my CV when I start job hunting. Similarly, Law student Dan Wilson told me “The position of the University doesn’t really affect the way I view my uni experience, but I am disappointed at how many places it has fallen since becoming

university of the year a few years back.” This raises the question – are league tables important or is personal experience actually what matters? If a student is receiving a good education, enjoys their course and likes their university then does the University’s position on a league table impact their university experience? Most students would agree that personal experience (both the academic and social side of university life) is more important to their time at university than any league table position. Adult Nursing student Harriet Reed said that “it hasn’t affected me at all, I don’t think it matters once you’re at uni”. She values her own experiences more than the ranking of the University, although it is interesting to note that Nursing is one of the courses for which Surrey is ranked in the top ten. If anonymous Facebook confessions page, SurreyFess, can be taken as representing overall student opinion then it seems that a lot of students want to know why the University keeps dropping, as well as questioning what the University and management are actually doing about it. A lot of students question whether Vice Chancellor, Max Lu, is trying to improve Student Satisfaction and the overall ranking; he didn’t even mention the fall in League Tables in his end of year message to students. This is reminiscent of the 2019 Vote of No Confidence against the Executive Board and the Vice Chancellor in which both students and staff overwhelmingly voted against the University’s leadership. Students would find it very reassuring to hear what our Vice Chancellor is doing about the downward trend. On the whole, it makes sense that students are both irritated and worried about the further drop of the University of Surrey in the League Tables, as well as wanting to see some action from the University’s management. However, student experience and student life in Guildford is still objectively ‘good’, and many students would agree that personal experience is more significant than position on a league 31

How Universities Are Implementing Online Learning.

ike most of us lately, UK universities have been wondering a lot about the future. The rapid imposition of lockdown in March over a virus we didn’t fully understand then (and still don’t know everything about) has left students, academics and university administrations scrambling to establish at least some certainty for the next year, and it will be impossible to behave as if nothing has changed. Thoughts of ‘university’ conjure up images of hundreds of people being next to each other indoors, whether in lectures, the library or on nights out- if COVID-19 had a Christmas list this would be somewhere near the top.

// Russell Sherrard-Smith

Surrey, announced intentions to pursue a hybrid model of teachingpart online, part in person. Lectures, in general, will be held over Zoom (other video-conferencing applications are available), whereas smaller-scale teaching in the form of seminars, tutorials and lab sessions will be held in person. One exception, Cambridge, briefly announced that it planned to conduct the entire 2020-1 academic year online, before falling in line with the others some weeks later. The hybrid model assumes that the pandemic will be largely under control by late September and that in-person teaching on this scale won’t contribute significantly to the spread of the virus. Whether this will be the case or not is unclear (especially since a winter second wave would be somewhat inconvenient), and it is likely that these plans will vary by time and place as the outbreak progresses- it is probably not a coincidence that all university communications word themselves quite cautiously. That said, it is a more coherent message than the government is presenting, and this approach aims to provide certainty and assure students and university workers that there will be at least some normalcy in the new year.

In the pandemic’s early stages, most administrations waited for government advice before making any concrete decisions- how long can we expect this to last? Is it safe for physical teaching to take place in any form? What about our finances? Virtually everything about university life has been affected by the pandemic, and the government needed to provide some guidelines. They weren’t much help though. By May, universities were drawing up their own plans. Most, including

“ärê thêý bêîng mötîvät êd mörê bý mönê ý thän pûblîc hê älth?“ Alongside these measures, many universities (Surrey included) have introduced a ‘safety net’ policy for assessments during this year’s second semester. Since a large number of students lack easy access to the library, their lecturers, a comfortable working environment and other important resources, their performance is likely to drop through no fault of their own. The safety net attempts to offset this problem by ensuring that each student’s average mark for the year will not be decreased by poorer results in assessments during the pandemic (provided they are passed)- the average can only be increased. This is a welcome move for students, especially those who have been disproportionately affected by the sudden shift to remote learning, but it has not been implemented across the country. Whilst virtually every university has some form of ‘no-detriment’ policy involving less stringent terms for extenuating circumstances, changing the format of exams and other physical assessments and more relaxed marking procedures, the safety net does not apply universally. Portsmouth in particular has received attention for resisting calls to implement a safety net despite urging by the Students’ Union and a petition with over 8,500 signatures, indicating that not all administrations are overly concerned with addressing the pandemic’s effect on academic performance. Alongside health and academic concerns, universities have been grappling with how the pandemic affects their finances. More students mean more money- students deferring or

dropping out because the restrictions lock them out of the full ‘university experience’ is bad from an economic perspective. Of even greater concern, for Surrey at least, is the hit to the intake of international students. The proportion of overseas students in UK universities has skyrocketed in the last few years- 19% of students at Surrey are from outside the EU and they pay such absurdly high tuition fees that they are now vital to the University’s finances. Getting around travel restrictions is slightly beyond their capabilities, but Surrey and others have been quite firm in attempting to retain their international students by introducing ‘Late Arrival Points’ up until January and making their presence on campus necessary with few exceptions. It is natural for universities to want a return to normal if this leads to student retention and higher intake, and this likely explains why many were quick to announce their plans of hybrid teaching (about as close to normal as you can get without arousing suspicion) when it was clear the government didn’t feel like being helpful. But are they being motivated more by money than public health? Clearly, administrations are making significant efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, and they are also trying to ensure students and workers don’t fall behind too, but stuffing several thousand people from across the world into a mid-sized town and then moving some teaching online may be pulling the trigger a little early.

Pölîtîcs

BARCLAYS’ ATM

A monument to Union inaction and To this year’s cohort of freshers, the absence of a Barclays ATM on campus might seem undeserving of their attention. A more experienced student however, may remember the fight to remove Barclays’ from Surrey and the motion to rid us of the cash machine outside Rubix. The story of how Jacob Allen, former Community Zone Officer 2018-19, campaigned to divest Barclays and passed his motion successfully. It was difficult but the Students’ Union listened to the student body and carried out its will. Only there is one small problem with that narrative… We are two years on and still the Union hasn’t acted on any of the five resolves of the motion:

// Peter Ferguson

1. To boycott Barclays in all its forms until it stops financing fossil fuels and extraction projects. 2. To replace the Barclays ATM with a more environmentally friendly and sustainable bank. 3. To introduce an ethical banking policy including a focus on environmental sustainability. 4. To install a plaque close to the ATM informing students of USSU’s commitment to environmental sustainability and explaining why the SU replaced Barclays. 5. To establish a working group of USSU officers to draft the wording of the plaque.

Of course we must be fair to the Students’ Union here. They aren’t magicians, expected to perform the impossible. The impossible in this case being to commemorate removing an ATM which after two years is still standing. Now that would be absurd! It is quite obvious to most people that resolves four and five of the motion are impossible to carry out without fulfilling resolves one and two. I don’t demand the impossible, only the idea that USSU (University of Surrey Students’ Union) carry out its own policy and For those that are of why Barclays needs boycotting, Jacob summarised it simply: “At the time, they were the single largest funder of fossil fuel extraction . Barclays had financed projects that were 34

saviours. Unfortunately, as is shown by the continued existence of Barclays on campus, those that keep quiet are to justice in the context of climate change. Those silent types residing in the SU offices as we speak. When asked for comment on why the ATM was still in place despite the motion to remove it being passed, former VP Community 2019-2020 and current Union Chair, Amina Nagwamma provided the following response: “While there was a motion to change the supplier from Barclays because they are an investor in fossil fuels, students currently rely on using cash and without interest from other providers it will mean we either have the Barclays ATM or no cash point at all.” Amina was not VP Community when the motion was passed through the zone at the time but was elected to her position afterwards. The job of a VP is not an easy one and any former VP will tell you of the sheer workload that is expected of them each day with little recognition from students. To their credit, the SU did try to find alternative providers to use instead of Barclays but as Amina pointed out, it was either Barclays or no cashpoint at all. Without a Barclays cash machine there would be no ATMs on campus at all. Well, except outside of Simply Fresh where there is a free to use ATM, notably not one from Barclays. With only slight sympathy for the logistical issues faced with abiding by their own passed policy, Jacob had only this to say in response to their statement: “It is a disappointment that not as much action has been taken as I would have liked to have seen taken by now. Although there are understandable obstructions in achieving the resolutions of my motion, it is quite frankly their job to find their way around the difficulties and put into place the wishes of their elected officers and the students body at large.” When asked about what has happened regarding the ethical banking policy mandated by Jacob’s motion, Alan Sutherland, Union CEO, provided the

antithetical to the direction that our society should be taking and the USSU needed to be on the right side of history. No more coal, no more oil, keep that carbon in the soil.” Barclays have put more than $ billion into fossil fuel projects . In the age of environmental awareness, supporting Barclays should be regarded with the same disgust as supporting dog fighting or anything equally as repellent. I mean seriously, they even financed the companies behind the infamous Dakota Access Pipeline. You know, the one that sparked a movement of resistance

protesters and native americans who wanted to protect their sacred land. The one that has been leaking large amounts of oil in frequent spills since its construction, despite its creators assuring everyone that this exact scenario wouldn’t happen. Barclays’ record is hardly defendable once you know the sheer scale of its unethical financing. Except to those hellbent on fighting for climate destruction and the hastening of hell on earth. I’m sure we all know the type; comes from extreme wealth, loves to play the devil’s advocate and wants to be a banker. Or more simply put, a tory. If you are fortunate enough to have avoided this person as of yet, don’t worry, give it time and soon enough you’ll find yourself drowning in the incoherence of a fool with more money than sense in a lecture, seminar or lab. Give it a month or two and you will know exactly what I mean. Anyway, I lose myself in the that is and the insufferability of its vocal defenders when really the point of this article is its more silent

following statement: “We were grateful to the University who made efforts to persuade NatWest to retain the ATM in Union House, but sadly NatWest could not justify the continued maintenance. Prior to the pandemic, we had begun work on long term deposits with ethical investment funds – however our current situation requires us to have more unrestricted access to our reserves. Many other Student Unions bank with Barclays, and we are one of the few who bank with NatWest. We have complex banking arrangements, particularly with integration of Club and Society own funds, and therefore require advanced banking solutions which are generally only available from High Street business accounts. As custodian of own funds from clubs and societies we do have a duty to ensure the safe deposit of this money, and currently taking all these factors into account NatWest remains our preferred option.” It is some relief that despite maintaining an ATM from Barclays, the Union do not themselves bank with them. This is some small solace. As explains, there have been some efforts to move Union money into more ethical funds but current events have made it no longer viable to be as selective in our investments. Any critique of how the Union uses its finances in 2020 should certainly take into account the predicament of a global pandemic and national recession but it’s been two years since this motion was passed. In those two years,

Sadly, these issues have not been overcome. The Union still does not properly boycott Barclays as it is mandated to do by its own policy, the Union is unable to commemorate its commitment to sustainability via a plaque at the Barclays ATM location and the Union is unable to properly invest its reserves in fully ethical funds and banks. any VP

It is not the fault or sole responsibility of

ri ar A B here –W N

. And as Jacob pointed out, difficulties in achieving results are understandable, but it is the job of the Union to overcome these issues.

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“Space: The Final Frontier.”

Following that milestone journey, a further five Apollo missions brought the total number of ‘Moonwalkers’ to 12, culminating in the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. The Space Race arguably came to an end around this time, and with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and with it NASA’s competition, funding was drastically reduced, along with the frequency of space missions. No human being has walked on the Moon since - meaning there has never been a woman on the Moon... It was almost 20 years before another woman flew in space. In 1978, NASA allowed women to apply for their space program as a result of new anti-discriminatory laws. Sally Ride was selected to be the first American woman in space. During the press conference, she was asked if she would cry if things went wrong whilst on a mission. At the time of writing, 566 people have been to space. Of those, only 64 are women, slightly more than 11%. At first glance, this is clearly wrong, but the root stems much deeper. At present, the only regular crewed missions into space are crew transfers with the International Space Station, a collaborative effort between the United States and Russia. For the most part, American astronauts are members in active service for the US military. As of 2019, women make up around 10-15% of the various branches of the US military. If the pool of women making up eligible applicants is only 10%, then it makes sense that 11% is the number of women in space,

When William Shatner first uttered these words in the introduction to Star Trek in 1966, the Space Race was in full swing. With the full might of Cold War Era USA and the USSR driving innovation, not even the sky could be said to be the limit. The race began to heat up in 1957 when the USSR successfully launched the first human-made object into space, the satellite Sputnik 1. The two superpowers continued to one-up each other with progressively more complex satellites, some even carrying animals, until the USSR made history with the launch of Vostok 1, carrying Yuri Gagarin. On 12th April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, completing just one orbit of the Earth. It was a milestone that humanity would never forget. Not even a month later, the United States launched astronaut Alan Shepard on a suborbital flight around the Earth, a mission in which he controlled the spacecraft himself and landed back on Earth still inside. Officially, this was the first true human spaceflight, the US once again trying to one-up the Soviet Union. In 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, a mere two years after the first man. Unfortunately, this was not a trend set to continue. As we continue along the Space Race timeline we arrive at July 21st 1969, when Neil Armstrong uttered his famous epigram: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

that does not make the gender gap acceptable; either the military needs more women, or the eligibility criteria need to open up. Thankfully, the latter may be the key. On May 30th 2020, SpaceX became the first private company to launch astronauts into space. Whilst the two members on board were American males (an on-going theme), the launch has profound implications for the future of space travel. The cost of space travel is constantly decreasing, with the Space Shuttle launches costing $214 million per seat, Soyuz around $80 million, and the SpaceX Crew Dragon reportedly costing only $55 million. Before we know it, it will be possible for the ultrarich to purchase a ticket to space as an attraction, and it won’t be long before it’s available to the masses. Whilst it’s unlikely that the US military will make drastic changes to their admission criteria any time soon, perhaps the privatisation of the space industry will kick-start a new Space Race, in which women are more equally represented. More and more companies and institutions are pushing for greater representation for women. There are many initiatives to get more women involved in STEM fields. In 2014, the Women’s Engineering Society launched the National Women in Engineering Day, and participation has been growing in schools ever since. Despite this, we still have a long way to go as a society in normalising and encouraging women in STEM fields. I’d wager that most of you reading this won’t have realised you missed this year’s Women in Engineering Day, on June 23 rd . Even as a member of the IET and the Electronics Skills Foundation, companies who both strive for these changes, I was completely unaware the day had come and gone. These companies and participating schools have made some great first steps towards increasing representation for women – but the giant leap is still to come.

“Thê gîä nt lêäp îs stîll t ö cömê“ 39

The Effects of Lock Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understandable, given the unnatural circumstances we are currently living in, that anxiety has been reported to have increased by an immense level. I wanted to share some information on anxiety disorders in relation to COVID-19 and lockdown, as well as some useful tips and anecdotes to support those still struggling.

of socialsituation or it can be so severe that a person experiences symptoms almost any time they are around people. Unwanted changes to routine and everyday life has caused a disruption in people with OCD, as reported by the Centre for Mental Health. When compulsions cannot be performed to ease the anxiety of the obsessions, anxiety levels will increase as a result. Some OCD sufferers use routines made up of compulsions and rituals, so a disruption to this can cause a great deal of distress and often a correlated decrease in coping with their mental health.

Recent studies and articles have shown several links between COVID-19 lockdown and reported levels of anxiety. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America looked into the effects of social distancing on anxiety and found that mental health in many people has worsened as a result of the sudden change to life around the world. Also, due to lockdown causing many businesses and organisations to shut, it is not as easy to get appointments with counsellors/support workers. Therefore, those who regularly received help are finding it harder to control and cope with their mental health issues.

Alternatively, some have reported that lockdown has actually improved anxiety, especially in those with pre-existing social anxiety disorder, creating a lockdown-anxiety paradox. During lockdown there are fewer triggers and stimulation, so that individuals are not as stressed out by the environment and are also able to focus on self-help and self- worth. However, since lockdown measures have eased up over time and life has slowly been returning to normal, this means these individuals are having to now deal with post-lockdown anxiety. For most people, the gradual easing of lockdown is a positive thing, but for some it is introducing a whole new wave of anxiety.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are 5 main types of anxiety disorders. The first is Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which involves chronic anxiety, worry and tension, even when there is little to provoke it. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), is where sufferers experience recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions). These compulsions are performed to attempt to prevent the obsessions or make them go away, but it only gives temporary relief. Panic Disorder is where the sufferer experiences unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear. Another is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which develops after exposure to terrifying ordeal where grave harm occurred or was threatened. The last is Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder. which involves overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. This can be limited to one type

Post-lockdown anxiety has become a huge focus in the mental health field of psychology research. Anxiety UK found that those with social phobia/anxiety disorder are experiencing higher stress levels due to the fears and worries of reconnecting with the outside world, especially with lockdown having loosened up over the summer. I spoke to several University of Surrey students on any stresses and anxiety they have been feeling due to lockdown and COVID-19. I wanted to share some of these experiences to

ckdown on Anxiety // Lucy Smith

demonstrate just how widespread the effects of lockdown were on people, and to remind people not to be ashamed of any difficulties they have been facing because of the current situation. Students have been kept anonymous and responses have been shortened: • “I tend to have a cycle of mental exhaustion. I’ll spend a day really kicking the anxiety I have about lockdown, find things to channel it, and have a week or two of ‘yeah I can do this’. But then I start to get anxious again, everything I put in place to manage it starts to crumble and I wallow in the anxiety and depression until I feel like I have to kick it again.” • “At first not seeing anyone and knowing you couldn’t do anything about it really had a knock-on effect. One day I took a step forward, and the next two steps back.” • “Lockdown riled up my anxiety about how I look at my friendships and productivity. If my friends didn’t reply I would fret, and I almost began ‘testing’ them. Also, many have taken up new hobbies or being productive. My friends helped me learn that this pandemic is not the time to be testing people’s loyalties or rebranding yourself, we are all trying to survive.” • “Boredom has been a big problem. You even start to lose interest in the usual fustuff you do.” • “Being isolated from people for so long has increased my social anxiety. I sometimes get nervous before starting a zoom call with my friends. I feel I’ve become more introverted; I feel a lot less motivation to socialise than I would have normally.” As you can see, there have been a wide variety of experiences students have been dealing with throughout lockdown. Here are some of my tips for dealing with these issues raised above: • Dealing with stress - plan your days, evaluate your priorities, focus on what is doable, don’t overwork • Dealing with worries - make a list of

• •

worries, decide what you can do. If you can’t do anything, throw it away and think about next steps Importance of self-care - take time for yourself, be positive and productive not negative and destructive Panic attacks, what to do - keep your breathing long and steady, remind yourself it will pass, sip or run cold water on inside of wrists, if you tend to self-harm then sit on your hands, if panicking is unavoidable then just ride it out

Supporting someone with anxiety - ask if you can help and how, let them know you can listen, remind them it will pass. Despite life seeming to have gone back to normal, there are still so many alterations in place, so you cannot expect your mental health to be “normal”. This pandemic will pass eventually, but in the meantime there are great support networks available to everyone who needs help. Stay safe Surrey. For urgent support, call the Samaritans helpline on 116 123. If you prefer not to call, text “SHOUT” to the Shout Crisis Text Line on 85258. If you are in danger and in need of medical attention, call 999 or go to your nearest hospital. For non-urgent support and Surrey students, contact Nightline by emailing https://www.ussu.co.uk/wellbeing/nightline The Centre for Wellbeing are also available by phone on 01483 689498 or email on centreforwellbeing@surrey.ac.uk.

SCÎÊNCÊ & TÊCH

WOMEN IN ENGINEERING:

THE GENDER GAP The University of Surrey’s MechSoc Committee Discuss By Ana-Maria ‘Ami’ Tudorache (President), James Harvey (Vice President), Olivia ‘Liv’ Dodge (Treasurer), Kirstie Lardner (Social The gender gap is a controversial, highly debated concept, and questions such as “Is it even real?” are often raised. As members of the MechSoc 2020/21 committee, we feel that in STEM fields, especially Engineering, the gender gap is all too real and needs to be addressed. To explore this, we have discussed our experiences as women studying Engineering. Why is there a gender gap in Engineering? We believe that the gender gap in Engineering stems from the traditional outdated view that Engineering is a masculine career choice and is not widely appreciated as a conceivable option for a young woman to embark on a career in. This stereotype, we believe, is the main contributor discouraging young women to pursue a career in STEM, even though statistically in school women outperform men in these subjects and have the potential to become great contributors to the field, as outlined in reports from the Department for Education and the Higher Education Research Institute at University of California. We feel that at a young age, girls aren’t encouraged enough into these disciplines, and additionally aren’;t made aware of all the diverse fields of Engineering. Furthermore, girls have fewer wellknown female role models in STEM – not because they do not exist, but because historically the spotlight shines stronger on successes achieved by men. This leads to girls questioning their abilities and wrongly underestimating themselves early in education.

// Hannah Gravett

Do you see the gap improving in the future? We truly think and hope so. To be able to do this, attitudes need to change, because the current traditionalist view will only be a barrier to the gender gap improvement. In particular, the school curriculum needs to be more directional for girls in these fields. As women entering Engineering fields, at times we’ve all felt discouraged. Our treasurer, Liv, writes: “I was set on a career in Engineering during school since it played to my strengths in STEM subjects, and while my school was very encouraging, seeds of doubt were planted by my parents who had concerns about my choice of going into such a male dominated field, as they worried

that my gender would put me at a disadvantage as I try to progress though the field. Originally I had dismissed this as an outdated view, but as I’ve grown older and have experienced my own difficulties, these concerns have become my own. As fellow women in Engineering, we are committed to contributing to the reduction of this gender gap and do what is in our power to help engineers have equal chances and opportunities regardless of their gender or background. What is being done to close the gender gap? As attitudes gradually change, steps are being taken to address the gender gap issue, such as female-targeted outreach at all grade levels, an increased push for STEM equity legislation and active action to reduce the gender pay gap. Meanwhile, a bit closer to home, we believe “change starts with you”. We feel that the women making up our MechSoc committee are at the forefront of changing attitudes, working towards closing the gender gap. We are part of the new generation entering this field and we use our platform as a departmental society to showcase that women are good leaders, they are intelligent, and are more than capable Engineers. To our colleagues of the future we are demonstrating that women are on a level playing field and are highquality Engineers. For this reason, the work we do with MechSoc is a very proud achievement of our time at university. What can men do to support women in engineering? Be an ally, for real. To support women in Engineering and all STEM fields, men need to continue to always treat women as their equal, like they would any other colleague in a professional environment. Additionally, stepping in and learning to be comfortable tackling inappropriate conduct; sexist behaviour or toxic assumptions and stereotypes make a huge difference. Calling out bias when witnessed helps to dismantle the preconception that this field is a masculine space. Using positions of power and their voices, men can improve women’s visibility and help their voice be heard in the field of Engineering. As the only man on committee this year, our Vice-President, James thinks: “Through having this conversation with the rest of the committee, it was a real eye-opener into a world that I do not see. As a male in Engineering, I am not personally affected by the negative stigma that my female colleagues face, but that doesn’t mean that I, nor anyone else, can turn a blind eye to the situation. I fully support the growing diversity within Engineering, and echo everything my fellow committee members have said, and would love to see our field further develop and adapt as a new wave of young Engineers encroach and push out the old traditional views from years gone by.” Moreover, as women, we think it is essential that we continue to stick up for ourselves in the face of this adversity, and continue to take the opportunities we have a right to just as much as any of our male counterparts.

“Mên nêêd tö cöntînûê tö älwäýs trêät wömên äs thêîr êqûäl“ 43

non fe oom r haecnt nde emPp Ge e l T :dthI a I m egree hnadn enFgee IL teGce s tha B A imhae gteet C r a a ClT N m T i l I t A thaC

ST O

ver the past century, the scientific understanding of climate change has improved greatly.

lice oks Bro

The next generation has a huge problem to face. Not only do they have the uphill battle of fighting global warming, but they must also face social injustices such as gender inequality. Surprisingly, these two problems are heavily interlinked. Mary Halton reported for the BBC that women are more likely to be impacted by climate

// A

Organisations like NASA have been able to create records dating back 800,000 years, documenting changes of temperature and highlighting the impacts that these changes have had on the biological world. These records have made it clear that a rise in global temperature has occurred rapidly over the last decade, with multiple record highs being acknowledged.

change than men, especially in countries that are less economically developed. Even more so, the larger the climate disaster, the more pronounced the gender disparity is. change, there are notably more natural disasters occurring around the world than ever before. Once more, this heightens the disparity between men and women. For example, in 1991, in Bangladesh, a cyclone killed over 140,000 people. Unsurprisingly, around 90% of the deaths were females. In poorer nations, women regularly receive less access to emergency response information, especially in marginalised and isolated communities. So, when there is a sign of natural disaster, it is the women who are impacted the most because they stay to help the elderly and the children, not knowing the full extent of the crisis. In comparison, the men flee. This is often the case in lesser economically developed countries as traditional gender roles continue to be rigid. Men persist as the more valued gender in society and as a result, communities aim to protect them first and foremost.

In Africa, women tend to rely on the land, walking miles every day in search of freshwater as well as growing crops for their families. With western nations pumping more and more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the average global temperature has risen, leading to freshwater drying up and farmland becoming unsuitable. These women are being forced to walk further to find resources, leaving them more vulnerable to climate change than their male counterparts. Eventually, many women move to accommodate themselves and their families elsewhere. This has already resulted in a large number of displaced people, of which the United Nations (UN) has indicated 80% are female. This has caused many impacts on women; the upheaval and separation from family and friends can cause severe mental health issues. Data published by Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH) show that women are twice as likely to develop anxiety to men and four times as likely to experience depression.

Not only do women feel the impacts of climate change more often than men, but they also have less of a say in how our planet tackles this crisis. In the UK, women are underrepresented in parliament as female MPs currently account for 34% of the seats. This is the case with most countries around the globe: the global participation rate of women in national-level parliament was 24.5% as of October 2019. With the lack of female representation globally, it raises the question: if we had a balanced government, would we have a balanced planet?

In Kenya specifically, women make up the majority of employees in the flower industries, which have been affected by climate change for decades. They rely on surface water stores, such as lakes, however, after years of global warming, the Horn of Africa is experiencing serious water scarcity. It receives less than 250mm of annual rainfall, meaning water sources are unable to replenish themselves. Therefore, industries are having to downscale, and employees are let go, leading to a disproportionate number of women finding themselves unemployed. In fact, figures by The World Bank’s Participatory Poverty Assessment in 1995 show that in Kenya, there were twice as many female-headed households below the poverty line as male-headed households.

According to the organisation ‘Women Deliver’, it has been proven that by having a larger female representation in parliament, it is more likely that the country will ratify an international environmental treaty. Perhaps, this is because women are typically more nurturing and sensitive characters who focus on creating a balanced environment whereas men tend to focus on competition and success. Although opinions are subjective and not everyone adheres to gender stereotypes, it remains vital that we achieve equality

As well as the on-going effects of climate

for the sake of women and the rest of humanity! Yet, women remain an untapped resource in this fight for climate control. By attaining UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) ‘achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls’, we could find a solution to climate change. With more people having access to education, more study and research could take place regarding global warming and its impacts. So, it can’t be long before we can find innovative solutions to climate change. The key to fixing the climate crisis may lay in the hands of the girls who do not have access to the education that we take for granted in the West. With each Sustainable Development Goal, there are sub-goals that will contribute towards the bigger picture; SDG5 has sub-goals that include the elimination of forced marriage, access to healthcare, education on reproductive rights, and access to contraception. Women will gain control over their bodies, having the ability to choose whether or not to start or expand their families. Therefore, women will have fewer and fewer children causing the population to gradually decline. With this, consumption would be reduced and there would be less pressure on services and resources; in turn, fewer fossil fuels will be burnt. To put this into perspective, a typical person consumes 15,000 pounds of coal per annum so, with a shrinking population, our greenhouse gas emissions would also reduce, and thus, the global temperature will cease to rise. So, by gaining equality, we can slow the process of climate change and remain under the 1.5-degree target. Both climate change and gender equality are issues that threaten the next generation immensely. However, they are struggles that go hand-in-hand and in some ways, we are lucky that by fixing one, we have the ability to improve the other. In order to meet the Paris Agreement target of a 1.5- degree increase in global temperature by 2030, we must strive for a planet where we respect the environment in which we live and the people with which we share it with.

“Îf ä wê bä h gö lä äd v wö êrn ncê ûl mê d hä d w nt vê , ê bä ä lä pl ncê än d êt ?“

d t,

Sustainability in a Plastic Pandemic Lockdown and the coronavirus are beginning to gradually ease their grip on the world, and as a society we have realised that life will ultimately be different when the pandemic’s reign of terror comes to a painstaking conclusion. Our lifestyles, routines and behaviours have completely changed. But are these changes beneficial to the climate crisis, or will they hinder the sustainability train that was finally gathering steam? Back in the pandemic’s early days, the press and media were flooded with positive news stories proclaiming the happy announcement that COVID-19 had miraculously resolved the climate change conundrum singlehandedly. Venetian waters ran clear, mountains emerged from a veil of air pollution and transport emission levels were down. However, as expected, hiding behind these stories are a plethora of concerns. It’s a hard pill for activists to swallow, but single use plastics are an unfortunate necessity in the midst of a health crisis such as this. As the pandemic’s impact was swift and devastating, disposable PPE was essential to the protection of staff and successful treatment of patients. In Wuhan, where the initial outbreak began, hospitals generated 6 times as much medical waste at the peak of the outbreak than before. Of the greatest concern are disposable masks, branded “ecological time bombs” by politician Éric Pauget in an open letter to Emmanuel Macron. Due to the polypropylene particles in the fabric, masks are now estimated by scientists to take up to 500 years to degrade, as published in the Telegraph. Between 25th February and 18th April in the UK, some 748 million items of PPE were distributed; almost all of which would be immediately disposed of for safety reasons, or discarded on

the streets. Global estimates currently rest at 129 billion face masks and 65 billion plastic gloves being used in each month alone. And the fish certainly aren’t fans. Though ocean conservationists haven’t yet unveiled disposable PPE in the stomachs of poor sea creatures; it is a bleak, yet completely realistic expectation for the future. While the increase in disposable PPE is a recent issue, plastic bag use has been a contentious topic for decades; and the saga continues. Here in the UK, shopping delivery slots have become like Glastonbury tickets, as they provide a safe and convenient alternative for shielding families. MPs lifted the plastic bag charge for these deliveries, to heighten efficiency and safety. Due to this, supermarkets are ignoring requests for paper or no plastic bags for deliveries, lumping families with hundreds of plastic bags, returns of which are not accepted for supermarkets to recycle. The Guardian recently documented how scientists have already proven via multiple studies the low risk of catching the virus through food packaging, yet understandably people feel reassured when a barrier is present. The government has further delayed voting on a landmark law to ban plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, which we will be extremely lucky to see passed in October, if at all in 2020. Meanwhile, Wales is also under pressure from the Foodservice Packaging Association to delay their plastics ban in mid-2021 amid warnings that it may come at the expense of hygiene. The effect of lockdown on mental health was blatantly obvious when the warm weather drove thousands to beauty spots across the country, as people desperately grasped for a sense of normality and above all, freedom. The British public were not, under any circumstances, going to miss out on enjoying the heatwave. However, it’s important to remember that during

times of crisis in Britain, people also cannot be trusted, under any circumstances. Bournemouth saw crowds cover the full 7 miles of beach, and the resulting littering was quite frankly nauseating. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council were forced to declare a major incident after the heatwave weekend saw over half a million visitors, more than their total population. The BBC reported how volunteers collected 41 tonnes of waste along the Dorset coastline over 2 days. Finds at beaches across the country included broken glass, bed sheets, face masks, disposable gloves, table tennis bats, kites, broken chairs, candles and excrement hidden in takeaway boxes. This may sound like one hell of a party to some... but certainly not to a turtle. Clean Up Britain raised a valid question after the nationwide marring of beauty spots: “What sort of mindset allows people to enjoy the beauty of Britain while at the same time trashing it?”

plastic cutlery, bottles, cans and cups, as well as plastic bags. With the rise of takeaway popularity, we will certainly see a rise in this sort of waste, if innovation into biodegradable alternatives doesn’t prevail. Half a billion plastic takeaway boxes are already used across the hospitality sector every year, imagine the implication of the coronavirus. In the wake of the pandemic it is vital we tread carefully and prioritise the climate. Freedom from the virus should certainly not be a convenient excuse for inaction and the return to unnecessary plastic use that’s harmful to our environment.

Single use takeaway packaging has certainly made the matter of littering worse. Takeaways are lucrative for food outlets, but they are contributing to a large proportion of litter with polystyrene packaging, cartons,

Pete’s Vegan Mac ‘n’ Cheese

S E RV E S 3-4

300g Dried Pasta 50g Vegan Butter 50g Flour 300ml Non-dairy Unsweetened Milk (I prefer Oat but any works) 100g of Vegan Cheese 2tbsp of Nutritional Yeast 2 Vegan Sausages Salt Pepper Chili Flakes Parsley Garlic Powder Breadcrumbs

Mac and Cheese, a comfort food staple. With the possibility of local lockdowns and the threat of increasing restrictions on socialisation, it’s safe to say that you might be staying in and cooking a lot more than usual this year. For some, cooking is a delight and university is an opportunity to hone their culinary skills and experiment. For others, cooking is a complicated nightmare to be avoided at all costs. Regardless of which camp you fall into, this recipe is simple to follow and requires no previous experience. Making a roux might sound daunting to the unfamiliar, but the technique is easy and gives fantastic results. This Mac and Cheese is perfect for having guests round (within COVID guidelines of course) but also for a night in with a film and glass of wine.

Optional.

All you need for this recipe is a baking dish, two pots, a wooden spoon, an oven and some hobs. This will serve 3-4 or 2 hungry people!

- Cook 2 vegan sausages in the oven according to the package instructions. - Boil a pot of salted water to cook the pasta according to the package instructions (a general rule of thumb is 8-12 mins but just taste it towards 8 mins to check). Once Pasta is mostly cooked through with some bite left to it, drain it and put to one side. - While the pasta is cooking add your butter to a pot to melt over a medium heat. - Once butter is melted, add your flour and stir in to create a roux. Allow the mixture of butter and flour to cook out for 2-3 minutes while stirring occasionally. - Slowly add your milk to your roux whilst stirring constantly. This can be done with a wooden spoon but a whisk may be easier. As the roux thickens to incorporate the milk, keep adding more milk gradually and stirring until a sauce has formed.

- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste as well as your vegan cheese and nutritional yeast.. You can add any flavours you like here but i personally use chili flakes, dried parsley and some paprika. - Once the ingredients are stirred into the sauce, stir in your cooked pasta and chopped vegan sausages. You can eat this as is or for some extra flavour and texture you can pour the mac and cheese into a baking dish and bake in the oven for an extra 15-20 minutes at 200 degrees. For a flavoursome crunchy top, you can add breadcrumbs, more vegan cheese and seasonings of your choice. I would recommend garlic powder and more parsley! - Take your dish out the oven and serve!

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Thanks to the Community Zone for their generous funding that allowed us to produce this magazine.... VP Community - Izzy Watkins RAG Chair - Adesuwa Obasohan Commuinity Zone Offier - Nathaniel Nelson-Williams Community Zone Officer - Philip Efthimiou Community Zone Officer - Rachel Christenson Community Zone Officer - David Dobrotvorskij

THE STAG ISSUE 98 // SEPT 2020

‘For Students, By Students’