CARDIFF NOVEMBER 2014
ED SHEERAN ON THE RECORD
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TALYBONT GATE OPENS AS ASBESTOS CONCERN GROWS HENRIETTA PAINTER
AROUND FIFTEEN hundred students Cardiff University students are set to remain in accommodation affected by asbestos, with the institution hinting that it will not seek to address the issue. The material, prolonged exposure to which has been linked with the prevalence of diseases such as lung cancer, has been located in rooms at Aberconway Hall, Cartwright Court, Roy Jenkins Hall and Talybont North. Furthermore, the University’s Asbestos Management Plan (last amended in November) suggests that any facility constructed prior to the turn of the century could incorporate the hazardous material. The versatile mineral has largely been outlawed in the United Kingdom by a series of legislative measures introduced between 1985 and 1999, meaning that it does not feature in newer residences such as Talybont Gate. However, nearby Talybont North is – by population - the largest site at risk from the hazard, which the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 makes clear that the University’s Asbestos Management Group has a “duty to manage”. Cardiff University guidelines state that any work to remove the asbestos must be undertaken by licensed contractors and is likely to require a risk assessment, making any potential operation a drawn out and expensive process. However, the institution insists that any remaining asbestos “does not present a risk” if it is left undisturbed - and appears to be intent on leaving
the material “in situ”, in line with recommendations published by the Department of Health in 2011. The perceived lack of urgency in addressing residual asbestos has not been received well by those unknowingly exposed to it, with some suggesting that they should have been informed prior to their residency. “Endangering our health is one thing, but not even telling us about the asbestos is something else. I would say that’s almost unacceptable,” a former Talybont North resident told The University Paper. In response to the reports, Cardiff University issued a statement in which it claimed that asbestos is present in “ceilings and some walls” but insisted that it is “securely sealed” and therefore does not pose a direct risk. However, the University added that it “will now review its policy with a view to making this information available to students in advance.” Amidst the concern brewing over the presence of asbestos at other residences, Cardiff University has opened the doors to a new multimillion pound residential block known as ‘Talybont Gate’ A total of 179 single occupancy rooms have been made available at the site, which is equidistant between the Main Building and the Heath Park campus and enjoys greatly improved facilities compared to older developments. Students – who had previously been expected to buy their own television
» CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY ALLEGEDLY INSTALLS “ANTI-HOMELESS CAGE” MICHAEL O’CONNELL-DAVIDSON
Cardiff University has attracted national criticism after installing what has been described as an “antihomeless cage” over a hot air vent adjacent to the School of Biosciences. The installation, which the university describes instead as a “safety grille”, was erected during the summer months when the City’s homeless were least likely to be using it. The hot air vent was previously used
PICS: GEORGIA HAMER
by various rough sleepers, especially during colder periods of the year. A blog written by Cardiff University student Lewis Hopkins brought the grille to national attention, describing it as something that “sickened him to the core.” Cardiff University acted quickly to dismiss these claims, releasing a statement in response to various media inquiries.
“The decision to erect grilles was taken in the interests of health and safety. The safety grilles were not erected to deter homeless people from sleeping next to the vent. Any suggestion would be wholly inaccurate and misleading.” The statement instead implied that this had simply made it safer to sleep next to the vent, but did not acknowledge that there was much less of a reason for
W W W.UNIPA PER.CO.UK
anybody to do so now that they were unable to position themselves next to the hot air. While University spokespeople described suggestions that the “cage” was erected to deter the homeless as misleading, it did not stop the university’s security department from claiming that this was in fact the case.
» CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
3
NOVEMBER 2014
L CAL NEWS
FLUX LAUNCH GETS HEATED GEORGIA HAMER
PIC: MICHAEL O’CONNELL-DAVIDSON
THE LAUNCH night of ‘Flux’ in Cardiff Student Union’s new nightclub, Y Plas, was clouded by criticism from hundreds of sweaty unhappy students due to the lack of air conditioning. Over 4,000 people attended the sell-out event in celebration of the club night’s ‘1st birthday’, many of whom were reportedly seen leaving the club and warning others not to enter what was described as the ‘Flux sauna’. The highly anticipated opening night was advertised online by Flux Cardiff as ‘legendary’, and, ironically promised to feature ‘a lot of happy students’. A number of not-so-happy students took to social media to express their discontent. One tweet read: ‘millions of £££s spent on a refurb yet clearly none on a half decent air conditioning system #YSweaty.’ In response to criticism Flux maintained that the issues were ‘out of their control’ and that the club was not over capacity. Other comments from students described the club as a ‘sweatpit’ and ‘hotter than the sun’,
another stating that they were ‘sweating like a dyslexic on Countdown’. Flux themselves joined in with the jokes via social media, tweeting that they were ‘sweating like Neil Lennon’s postman.’ The following day Flux Cardiff issued a public apology on their Facebook and Twitter pages which read: ‘So here we go, we’re issuing a public apology. Suck it up.’ ‘We are sorry for the lack of aircon last night, it was out of our control and we have been assured it will never be like that again. Pinky promise.’ The statement went on to apologise for the lack of cash machines - another complaint made by students on the night – before assuring students that they are doing everything they can to ‘iron out the kinks’ to ensure they ‘don’t ruin your Saturday nights’. In response to the post, which received over 120 likes, student Matthew Peach commented: ‘Don’t worry, it could be worse. At least you haven’t been renamed YOLO.’
CLIMAX ‘SHAGCHART’ OUTRAGE ALEX NORTON PIC: GEORGIA HAMER
CARDIFF METROPOLITAN University’s Student Union continues to stock products originating from controversial nightlife promotions company Climax despite continued controversy. Climax (which last year provoked outrage with a t-shirt featuring a joke about rape) this year introduced ‘the shagchart’, which encourages male students to write down names and notes regarding their sexual partners. On the other side of the object is a ‘chunderchart’, which acts as a diary for alcohol induced bouts of illness over the course of the Fresher’s Week period. Although Cardiff Met’s Student Union had claimed to have ended their relationship with the company over their provocative material, students reported the continued presence of Climax offerings on-campus. Yet the former University of Wales Institute, Cardiff is not the sole entity to have been linked with the company. Dozens of students at Cardiff University’s Cathays campus have reported encounters with Climax representatives, who are tasked with distributing promotional material and selling tickets to revellers. The aforementioned material has provoked various allegations, including the suggestion that the company has contributed to the objectification of women and the prevalence of a drinking culture amongst students. However, others didn’t appear so concerned – one second year student at Cardiff University told The Uni Paper that the material was “a bit of banter” and in line with “standard night out
discourse” in the Welsh capital. Another expressed doubt that something as simple as a “light-hearted poster” required any serious scrutiny, adding that the material in question “probably isn’t going to turn students into monsters”. The relaxed response amongst the student community doesn’t appear to be shared by Cardiff University Students’ Union, which - unlike its Cardiff Metropolitan counterpart - does not have links with Climax. Vice president Faraz Alauddin noted that the company had been active on Cardiff University premises “without consent”, adding that the Student Union “would not consider a relationship with the company in question”. Climax are not the only company to have come under fire for the reported sexualisation of university nightlife in Cardiff, with Varsity Leisure Group achieving notoriety for their “Pimps and Hoes” themed events in 2012. Such promotions have met with international media attention, forcing many of the establishments involved to distance themselves from the literature and merchandise produced by third party organisations.
LFRESHERS CAL NEWS GUIDE 4
NOVEMBER 2014
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
Bittersweet honour for Cardiff Met as NATO Summit comes to Wales ALEX NORTON
PIC: : ALEX NORTON
CARDIFF METROPOLITAN University has praised a team of hospitality students that were tasked with catering for world leaders at last month’s NATO summit. Chef and honorary fellow Stephen Terry handpicked twelve undergraduates to assist him in catering for world leaders including David Cameron, Angela Merkel and Barack Obama at Cardiff Castle on 4th September. The dinner – a working occasion that marked the midpoint of the two-day Wales summit – was the scene of high level talks over events prevailing in Ukraine and Syria, and was held amidst pressure to both sanction Russia and act against the threat of IS. Yet the somewhat pivotal nature of the gathering was put to one side by the International Hospitality, Management and Event Management students, who served leaders Welsh variations of dishes including smoked salmon, roast beef and Brecon Beacon lamb. Those involved were subsequently given the opportunity to greet the twenty world leaders present at the event. Senior lecturer Lisa Wright labelled the occasion a “once-in-a-lifetime night”, adding that the Cardiff Met team were “fantastic, professional and represented the university perfectly”. Prior to his departure, Obama (the first serving US president to visit Wales) thanked the people of
the country for “a wonderful time”. However, the summit – for which a ‘ring of steel’ had been erected around the Celtic Manor and Cardiff city centre – provoked anger amongst locals and was the subject of near-continuous demonstrations. A mix of organised protest groups and concerned individuals gathered in Newport and Cardiff respectively to protest against what they perceive as warmongering on the part of the US-led military alliance. Cardiff University took the unprecedented and somewhat puzzling step of advising students and staff in attendance to carry ID cards at all times. The evening of the Cardiff event saw several thousand locals gather behind crowd control barriers on Castle Street, with groups such as No to Nato, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Welsh Communist Party represented. There were also a large number of people who were simply attending in the hope of catching a glimpse of the many world leaders in attendance, with an international summit of this scale unprecedented in Wales. Although the huge police presence – part of the largest security operation in British history – and peaceful nature of the protests meant that the evening ended without serious incident, a Uni Paper reporter did witness several arrests.
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THE UNIVERSITY of South Wales has performed badly in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015, ranking a lowly 114th in the United Kingdom and making it the worst university in Wales. The list, one of three national guides for prospective undergraduates to be published annually, sees the recently formed institution performing the worst of Wales’ seven featured universities – falling a single place below Glyndwr University. Having been established by a merger between Glamorgan University and the University of Wales, Newport in May 2013, the University of South Wales was not expected to impact the upper echelons of the
table upon its maiden appearance. However, its classification as one of the worst institutions in the UK as a whole has lead to suggestions that a “two tier” university system is emerging in Wales. Of those in Wales, Cardiff University led the way in twenty-seventh-place – backing up earlier figures from QS World University Rankings that saw the Russell Group member return to the world’s top 125. Swansea University and Bangor University also crept into the UK’s top fifty, but Aberystwyth University and Glyndwr University fell dramatically whilst the University of Wales, Trinity St. David was not included.
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
5
NOVEMBER 2014
BAFTA Cymru unveils university partnership
ALEX NORTON
PHOTO CREDIT: ALEX NORTON
Cardiff University Freshers Wristband most expensive in United Kingdom
MICHAEL O’CONNELL-DAVIDSON
PIC: MICHAEL O’CONNELL-DAVIDSON
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY’S VIP Wristband was the most expensive Freshers Wristband in Wales and the United Kingdom, a University Paper investigation can reveal. Collating the data of over one hundred universities in the UK, At £80, Cardiff Students’ Union’s premium offering put it well ahead of the competition. By contrast, Cardiff Metropolitan sells wristbands for £25, and £35 for two weeks at the University of South Wales. Over the last two years, prices have increased by £10 each year, far ahead of inflation. The VIP wristband includes a branded yoyo and two t-shirts, as well as admission into the Union’s ‘live free for a year’ competition. The wristband also includes a “free” pint, despite being included in the initial cost. Students have raised concerns that the Wristband - which at time of writing was the only one still on sale - would exacerbate student poverty before freshers even arrive. Student poverty was a key issue for candidates who ran in Students’ Union elections in the year prior, and REDHOT_StudentUniMag_Ad_129.5x162.5.pdf 1 both the Students’ Union and Universities are seeking to expand financial support and advice
available to students. A fresher, who purchased one of the VIP wristbands as they were the only ones still on sale, told the university paper that they could no longer afford to go out without endangering their finances. One student, speaking to the University Paper called the wristbands “really expensive,” and said that she “didn’t expect anybody to buy them.” Another said that the wristbands “weren’t of any value.” There is interest surrounding the Students’ Union’s upcoming financial results. The Students’ Union has already lost a sum reported to be in the region of £20,000 in staging the 2013/14 end of year ball despite advertising it as “the greatest show on earth.” In addition, the recent redevelopment of the third floor cost approximately £3 million.
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Head of the School of Media, Jane Davison, said: “Here at USW we have a fantastic reputation for Visual Effects, so we wanted to be able to represent Wales in this area.” Her comments were echoed by BAFTA Cymru director Hannah Raybould, who noted that “SW graduates are just the type of new blood that the creative industries in Wales need in order to build on the success the sector has enjoyed over recent years” in an official statement. Last year’s ceremony was attended by the likes of Masters of Sex star Michael Sheen, comedian and actress Ruth Jones and singer Charlotte Church.
✁
THIS MONTH’S BAFTA Cymru awards will feature an award sponsored by the University of South Wales, the culmination of a new partnership between the two institutions. The Welsh arm of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts enjoys its own annual awards ceremony, which this year is to be held at the Wales Millennium Centre on 26th October. The Academy currently has twenty-eight categories in which the stars and producers of Welsh-made television and film are recognised, with Special, Visual and Graphic effects to be awarded in conjunction with the University.
COMMENT FRESHERS
6
GUIDE WHERE ART THOU
NOVEMBER 2014
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
SPECIAL
We confront the issues that ma er to you, right here on campus. Have an opinion? Contact us at: editor@unipaper.co.uk to have your say
THE BIG QUESTION
BY CAROLINE HODGES
CARDIFF STUDENTS’ UNION DEVELOPMENT: IS IT REALLY FOR STUDENTS?
IN APRIL, Solus closed its doors and the Cardiff University students’ union began an extensive renovation costing £3.4million. The new club, Y Plas, which opened at the end of September, has been fitted out in light colours and now boasts two levels with a glass roof so that the space can be naturally lit during the day. New food outlets have been installed, including dubiously-named salad bar ‘Toss’d’, and some much-needed extra seating has been provided. Although the renovation looks very impressive, and doubtless students will enjoy getting sloshed in the shiny new club at least marginally more than the dingy old one, questions have been raised as to whether all that money went into doing something purely for Cardiff University students or whether the renovation was really for the sake of the union itself. The renovation follows the union’s controversial decision in 2013 to close the Union Shop, previously run by the union itself, and rent out the space to WHSmiths. As well as resulting in the job losses of several staff including students who worked at the Union Shop, something which was promised would not happen in the original proposal, the take-over by Smiths has seen a steep rise in the prices of the food and Cardiff University merchandise that is sold there meaning that the only real beneficiary of the change was the union. On the 11th of March the union released some potential looks for the new space on its facebook page, describing it as ‘a multi-purpose venue’, inferring that Y Plas would not just be used as a night club. With 100% of the money used on the
new development coming from the university itself rather than the union, and therefore the possibility that it was at least partly funded by student tuition fees, the union stands to benefit hugely from the new space which can now be rented out for functions and used to host student events which would usually have required the union to pay for another venue. Not to mention the money it’s bound to make from opening a Starbucks franchise and from the numerous new food outlets. Like most other organisations, the union is run like a business and it would be somewhat unrealistic to expect anything else. However, when there is the possibility that student money is tied up in the extortionate development, it begs the question how much have the students really gained from it? Solus, like the union shop, was perfectly functional as it was. Time will tell whether the money was put to good use, or whether it could have been better spent on brainstorming a name for a club night that wasn’t ‘YOLO’.
SPARE COMPUTER?!
LIZZIE LONGLEY
COMPUTERS ARE an everyday necessity for people around the world and without them we would be lost. People have become so dependent on computers, whether it’s for browsing random things on the internet, online shopping or studying for a degree, computers are constant in many people’s lives. So why is there never any available to use in the university library? The library is always full to the brim of students on the computers, but very rarely are they doing work. I’ve seen people watching funny videos on YouTube or listening to the latest Number 1 in the music charts. The amount of girls that use the library as a room to online shop is endless and I wouldn’t be surprised if you caught boys having a cheeky look at porn and giggling to themselves. I don’t condemn these people for using the computers for these things because like them I online shop and endlessly watch YouTube videos (minus the porn) but when they are taking up a computer that is needed for educational use that’s when it starts to get irritating! It’s not just the students that take up all the computers for unnecessary use, it’s the random astray of baggage and jackets that claim a seat. So many times have I gone over to what I thought was a spare computer to find a jacket taking charge of the seat without a body in sight.
Whoever it is that leaves their stuff there for hours must be a very trusting person. But, when a jacket is taking over the chance for you to work you know there is an issue. I say all this but I’m sure I’m probably guilty of all these things (again minus the porn) so I don’t really have room to talk. I don’t believe there are enough computers in the library to accommodate to the vast amount of students, whether doing work or not there still should be enough computers on campus for the students to use. We are spending £9000 a year after all….
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7
SPECIAL
THE UNIVERSITY OCTOBER 2014
Indepth, Insightful, & uncompromising: Interviews by ANDY WELCH
A Good Ed On His Shoulders Ed Sheeran is sitting in his dressing room in Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the background, Tom Jones can be heard soundchecking. “WE’RE SINGING the Prince song, Kiss, together,” says Sheeran, “but we’ve already rehearsed that.” The night before, Sheeran and his new pal Jones - who performed together in Australia last week went out for a few glasses of wine, and 74-year-old Jones regaled 23-year-old Sheeran with stories of appearing in The Simpsons and hanging out with Elvis Presley in Las Vegas back in the day. This is the world in which Sheeran now lives, where rather than him seeking out the biggest names in music to learn from, they request an audience with him. Elton John asked to perform with Sheeran at the Grammy Awards in 2013, and Paul McCartney, after the special concert earlier this year, marking the 50th anniversary of The Beatles landing in America, invited him to his trailer for a margarita. “I wasn’t expecting that one. I was with my parents and ready to go home for the night, and the next minute, that happened,” he says, like it was no big deal. He counts Taylor Swift and Harry Styles among his closest showbiz friends, and while recording his second album x last year, Friends star Courteney Cox let him stay in her Malibu home. Sheeran had been performing in LA when Spin City and Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence, and his actor wife Christa Miller, asked if their daughter could have her photo taken with him after the show. “The next night, I was having dinner in Malibu and Bill and Christa were in the same restaurant. They came over to thank me for being nice to their daughter and then invited me to a house party.” “I thought, ‘Why not?’ It turned out to be Courteney’s house party. It was miles from anywhere, and I’d sent my driver home so I had to stay over, and that’s when we became friends,” the singer explains. He’s a long way from Framlingham, the Suffolk village where he grew up, but spend any amount of time with Sheeran and it’s not hard to understand why so many A-listers want to hang out with him; he’s impeccably mannered for a start, and down to earth in a way most multi-million-selling artists just aren’t. Unassuming isn’t the word. He admits he’s changed a bit, though, since his first album was released and worldwide fame followed. He’s a bit more paranoid, and wary around new people, he says, but he’s generally much happier with his lot than he was three years ago. “I was quite well known among people my age, from the mix-tapes and YouTube videos that were doing the rounds, so I would get stopped and asked for photos and things,” he says. “That still happens, although back four years ago, I was broke, so there wasn’t the upside. Now I’m financially comfortable, and I’ve made my family financially comfortable, so I can see the rewards.” Other musicians seek him out too, including Pharrell Williams and producer Rick Rubin, who both went to Sheeran offering their services on a collaboration. The track with Williams, Sing, resulted in a No 1 single, while Rubin produced two tracks on x pronounced multiply - Don’t and Bloodstream. Of Sing, he says it was the first time he’s tried to write a song without a deep, emotional meaning. “Going in with Pharrell, I knew I wanted to
“I knew I wanted to make a bona fide pop song ”
make a bona fide pop song and we were just trying some things out. It’s just me explaining how I had fun on a night out, had a drink and had a dance with a girl, and that’s it.” “I’ve never really done that before, and it was nice to do it and to not worry about how it would make people feel, and whether it was me opening up enough. I just wanted to write a song that was fun.” He says if the aftermath of his debut + taught him anything, it was that his songs were being used as emotional crutches by his fans. “I’d get people talking to me saying they’d listened to my record on their own in their bedroom, while eating ice cream and crying, or that they’d listened to my record after they’d broken up with a partner, so it was a very melancholic album.” “I learned I need to give people some fun here and there. I am not a hugely depressed person, I like to have fun and the melancholy doesn’t reflect who I am. Sometimes, it’s just good to sing about stuff that’s pointless. Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo is not a song that comes from a lot of heartbreak or upset, but it is a great pop song, and I want to do that too.” Despite the success of his first bona fide pop song, he still doesn’t see himself as a pop singer, however much he’d like to be “I really want to be in that world, among those big pop singers,” he says, referring to the likes of his friends Taylor Swift and Pharrell Williams. I think I am placed in that world when it comes to award shows and things, but I don’t get mentioned
in the same sentence as those stars when it comes to music.” If he’s not seen as a pop singer yet - he’s more your little brother’s scruffy mate who plays the guitar - it won’t be long. So far, x is the fastest-selling album in the UK this year, having sold 180,000 copies during its first week, beating Coldplay’s Ghost Stories, which had previously held the record, by around 15,000 copies. “Yeah, but,” counters Sheeran, “that Coldplay album is the only one they’ve not really promoted, so they could still beat me if they wanted.” His grasp of the way records sell is second to none, and some might accuse him of careerism. It’s simply not the done thing for an artist to admit they’re so acutely aware of how their music is selling, or how many tickets have sold for a forthcoming tour. Of course, Sheeran’s not really an exception here - almost every artist is just as aware of this stuff as he is, he just talks about it in interviews, while they feign ignorance. After the UK leg of his tour, he’s off around the world again, due to finish up next August, when he plans to take a break and write some more songs. “This is the first tour I’ve ever done where I set off on one date and know when I’m going to finish. All my other tours have started, and then 30-date tours in other countries keep getting added as we go along,” says Sheeran. “This time, it’s structured, and if there’s one thing I’ve been lacking for the past few years, it’s structure.”
8
NOVEMBER 2014
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
WHAT’S ON
The BEST nights this Freshers week & throughout the month
THIS MONTH MONDAY 20TH OCTOBER
● CREAM @LADYBIRD ● Bump and Grind @ UNDERTONE ● Vinyl @ Y PLAS ● Jagerfest @GLAM ● The Big Reunion Boyband Tour @ MOTORPOINT
Antisocial @GLAM ● Zerox @ CLWB IFOR BACH ● Koosday @TIGER TIGER SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER
● SOS @ BUNKER ● Amore @ LADYBIRD ● Flux @Y PLAS
TUESDAY 21ST OCTOBER
● Sync @ REVOLUTIONS ● Hashtag @ TIGER TIGER ● Knee Socks @ BUFFALO
SUNDAY 26TH OCTOBER
WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER
MONDAY 27TH OCTOBER
● YOLO @Y PLAS ● WTF @ RETROS ● Shotgun Rules @ REVOLUTIONS ● Uptight @ CLWB IFOR BACH THURSDAY 23RD OCTOBER
● Thursday Cake Thursdays @ PRZYM ● TNT @WALKABOUT ● Hullabalooza @ MOON CLUB
● Sunday Project @ LADYBIRD ● SODA Sundays @SUNDAY
THURSDAY 30TH OCTOBER
● Thursday Cake Thursdays @ PRZYM ● TNT @WALKABOUT ● Hullabalooza @ MOON CLUB
● YOLO @Y PLAS ● WTF @ RETROS ● Shotgun Rules @ REVOLUTIONS ● Uptight @ CLWB IFOR BACH
FRIDAY 31ST OCTOBER
● Studio @ SODA ● CYNT @ LADYBIRD ● Smack @ DC ● Womp @ MOON CLUB ● Antisocial @GLAM ● Zerox @ CLWB IFOR BACH ● Koosday @TIGER TIGER
● CREAM @LADYBIRD ● Bump and Grind @ UNDERTONE ● Vinyl @ Y PLAS ● Jagerfest @GLAM
SATURDAY 1ST NOVEMBER
TUESDAY 28TH OCTOBER
MONDAY 3RD NOVEMBER
● Sync @ REVOLUTIONS ● Hashtag @ TIGER TIGER ● Knee Socks @ BUFFALO
WEDNESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER
● SOS @ BUNKER ● Amore @ LADYBIRD ● Flux @Y PLAS
THURSDAY 6TH NOVEMBER
● Thursday Cake Thursdays @ PRZYM ● TNT @WALKABOUT ● Hullabalooza @ MOON CLUB FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER
● Studio @ SODA ● CYNT @ LADYBIRD ● Smack @ DC ● Womp @ MOON CLUB ● Antisocial @GLAM ● Zerox @ CLWB IFOR BACH ● Koosday @TIGER TIGER
● CREAM @LADYBIRD ● Bump and Grind @ UNDERTONE ● Vinyl @ Y PLAS ● Jagerfest @GLAM
SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER
TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER
SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER
● SOS @ BUNKER ● Amore @ LADYBIRD ● Flux @Y PLAS
WEDNESDAY 29TH OCTOBER FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER
● Studio @ SODA ● CYNT @ LADYBIRD ● Smack @ DC ● Womp @ MOON CLUB ●
● YOLO @Y PLAS ● WTF @ RETROS ● Shotgun Rules @ REVOLUTIONS ● Uptight @ CLWB IFOR BACH
● Sync @ REVOLUTIONS ● Hashtag @ TIGER TIGER ● Knee Socks @ BUFFALO
● Sunday Project @ LADYBIRD ● SODA Sundays @SUNDAY
MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 15TH NOVEMBER
TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER
SUNDAY 16TH NOVEMBER
● CREAM @LADYBIRD ● Bump and Grind @UNDERTONE ● Vinyl @ Y PLAS ● Jagerfest @GLAM ● Sync @ REVOLUTIONS ● Hashtag @ TIGER TIGER ● Knee Socks @ BUFFALO
● SOS @ BUNKER ● Amore @ LADYBIRD ● Flux @Y PLAS
● Sunday Project @ LADYBIRD ● SODA Sundays @SUNDAY MONDAY 17TH NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER
● YOLO @Y PLAS ● WTF @ RETROS ● Shotgun Rules @ REVOLUTIONS ● Uptight @ CLWB IFOR BACH THURSDAY 13TH NOVEMBER
● Thursday Cake Thursdays @ PRZYM ● TNT @WALKABOUT ● Hullabalooza @ MOON CLUB FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
● Studio @ SODA ● CYNT @ LADYBIRD ● Smack @ DC ● Womp @ MOON CLUB ● Antisocial @GLAM ● Zerox @ CLWB IFOR BACH ● Koosday @TIGER TIGER
● CREAM @LADYBIRD ● Bump and Grind @UNDERTONE ● Vinyl @ Y PLAS ● Jagerfest @GLAM TUESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER
● Sync @ REVOLUTIONS ● Hashtag @ TIGER TIGER ● Knee Socks @ BUFFALO WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER
● YOLO @Y PLAS ● WTF @ RETROS ● Shotgun Rules @ REVOLUTIONS ● Uptight @ CLWB IFOR BACH THURSDAY 21ST NOVEMBER
● Thursday Cake Thursdays @ PRZYM ● TNT @WALKABOUT ● Hullabalooza @ MOON CLUB
Y Y H F S W
TO T Y A TO
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
9
NOVEMBER 2014
FOR THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:
Get the party started!! Student Lock in: A Night to Remember
-
FIND US ONLINE
AND IN LOCAL NEWS:
ASHLEA HILTON-WILLIAMS
THE JAW-DROPPINGLY gigantic queues of young people waiting outside St. David’s shopping centre on Tuesday 7th October could only mean one thing… They were waiting to enter the exciting madness that was this year’s Student Lock-In. Year after year the events success has been incredible, attracting around 25,000 students each time. It really is no wonder that it has expanded in other cities such as Swansea and Bristol since its launch in St. David’s only four years ago. Free nachos, free shots (if over eighteen), jager sweets, competitions, appealing advertisements, DJ’s everywhere (even in stores!) and that is not the best part… Discounts in the majority of shops including River Island, John Lewis and Topman and going up to as much as 25% off. Some stores even give out goody bags like Superdry. A lot of the club night promotional staff also hand out bags full of stickers and posters which you can decorate your room with to make it more ‘stereotypically studenty’. If you end up getting peckish from all the walking around and queueing you also get money off a lot of restaurants such as Yo Sushi!, Gourmet Burger and Krispy Kreme. St. David’s Centre Director, Steven Madeley, said: “The Student Lock-In is a great way to kick-start the new term, and the event is established as a must-do on the student social event calendar”. When you see the queue at first, it can make you question if it is worth it but trust me – it is! The atmosphere is always incredible. It helps us youngsters get the most out of living in such a great city and also gives us the opportunity to see what is going on around the city that appeals to our age group in an entertaining and fun-filled way.
U T h
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£5
Club of the Week: Ten Mill Lane
NESTLED AMONG student favourites Soda and Retro’s and just a stone’s throw away from Cardiff’s infamous Chippy Alley is a new jewel to the city’s nightlife. Ten Mill Lane has only been open a few months, but it’s quirky atmosphere combined with a 6am (!!!) closing time has attracted both students
ALEXANDRA CHAPMAN
and locals alike for a stylish night out. The bar staff are on hand to create incredibly intricate cocktails, and if it’s quiet may even let you shake up your own! The underground rooms are chic and sophisticated, and forget renting a booth for your birthday, book in advance for your own room with private bar.
Shhh hh ... It’s only for students - Sunday to Thursday only -
CARDIFF HIGH10ST1AW
6 High St, Cardiff CF
Available to students only with a valid NUS or student card. Bella Italia reserves right to withdraw the offer at any time and without notice. bellaitalia.co.uk
10
NOVEMBER 2014
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
YOU AND THREE OF YOUR MATES COULD BE HEADING TO AMSTERDAM FOR VALHALLA FESTIVAL SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
FOLLOWING TWO SOLD OUT FESTIVALS, VALHALLA IS RETURNING ON DECEMBER 20TH FOR AN EVENING OF ACROBATICS, CLOWNING, FREAK AND PEEP SHOWS TO WIN FOUR FESTIVAL - NOT TO MENTION TICKETS SIMPLY EMAIL LIVE SHOWS FROM YOUR NAME, UNIVERSITY JORIS VOORN, KOLSCH, AND YEAR OF STUDENT BODDIKA, AMINE EDGE TO WIN@UNIPAPER.CO.UK AND DANCE. ENTRIES CLOSE ON DECEMBER 12TH GOOD LUCK!
VALHALLAFESTIVAL.NL
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
NOVEMBER 2014
11 Need a little something to spice up your pre-party? Check out Mindbenders
» MINDBENDERS ON PAGE 28
13
THE UNIVERSITY OCTOBER 2014
BY PHIL HAMILTON
PICTURES: BANG SHOWBIZ AGENCY
NUDE PHOTOS OF KELLY BROOK have been leaked online
The 26-year-old model - who recently split from her fiancé David McIntosh - is the latest star to have intimate images of herself, which include her lying naked on a bed, posted online and she is said to be “very upset” about the leak.
A FRIEND of Kelly told The Sun newspaper: “She is naturally very upset. “She may have profited from images of her body in the past, but these were private images pumped out to the world. She’s horrified.” The brunette beauty was previously named in a list of celebrities whose private photos had been targeted by online hackers - which is also said to have included stars Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Kardashian and Kate Upton - but denied the existence of the stolen images. She said at the time: “The only nude photos that you’ll ever see of me are the ones that I ‘leak’. And the ones that my head are superimposed on.” Fellow victim Jennifer Lawrence - who was targeted for the second time last month when trolls released a further 55 x-rated images of the star on websites 4Chan and Reddit has spoken out for the first time following the scandal and has defended her decision to take the nude shots. She said: “Just because I’m an actress does not mean I asked for this. I was in a loving healthy relationship for four years. It was long distance and either your boyfriend is going to look at porn or he’s going to look at you.”
Ed Sheeran listens to Britney Spears and N-Dubz’s greatest hits albums when cooking. THE FLAME-HAIRED singer likes to rustle up his own meals when he is not busy touring the globe and he can’t get enough of the 32-yearold singer’s successful songs because he is a “big fan” of both her and the pop trio. He said: “I’m a big Britney fan! I’ve actually got her greatest hits, I cook to it. I cook to Britney’s greatest hits and N-Dubz’s greatest hits - what does that say about me? Seriously, I’m not joking.” Ed also admitted he would love to write a song for Britney one day but insists it would resemble her slow song ‘Everytime’ rather than her more fast-paced effort ‘Work Bitch’. He added: “She’s had consistent hits for a while but I wouldn’t write ‘Work Bitch’. It’d be something a bit more like ‘Everytime’. Remember that one?” When Ed isn’t penning tracks for pop superstars he could be found performing at his fans’ weddings after he accepted a supporter’s
PROFESSOR GREEN SLAPS CONCERTGOER PROFESSOR GREEN slapped a concertgoer on Friday night (03.10.14). The 30-year-old rapper was caught on camera getting into a scuffle in the middle of his gig at Durham University’s Student Union Welcome Ball after a member of the audience shouted abuse at him. However, the scrap didn’t last for very long as the ‘Remedy’ hitmaker - whose real name is Stephen Manderson - returned to the centre of the stage to explain why he ended up swinging his arms at a fan. He told the audience: “That’s what happens when you call me a c**t. Are we going to have a f***ing good time tonight or what?” A representative for Pro Green, who is
married to reality TV star Mille Mackintosh, confirmed that the star had got into an altercation with a fan during his set and the student was later escorted off the premises. The spokesperson told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “During Professor Green’s live show at Durham University on Friday night, a student verbally abused Green repeatedly and then went to strike him. Green reacted. The student was subsequently escorted out from the venue for being too drunk. Green carried on the show to perform his full set.” Pro Green then appeared to reference the aggressive situation on Twitter after the show but later deleted the post from his social networking site.
JENNIFER LAWRENCE SAYS SHE FELT SEXUALLY VIOLATED AFTER HER NUDE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE LEAKED ONLINE.
invitation to perform at her nuptials in February 2016. After being asked by the lucky fan at an #AmazonFrontRow Q&A in central London yesterday (30.09.14) whether he would play on her big day, he replied: “That’s actually a possibility because I’ve got nothing booked in February 2016. It’s not on my birthday either. “We should talk. Do you have a card? Give me your work card. I’ll drop you a line. If I’m not working then it’ll be cool.” Ed Sheeran performed live for customers at the #AmazonFrontRow event at the Amazon London office roof top. For more information on Amazon Music visit www.amazon.co.uk/music
The 24-year-old actress, who is dating Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, admits she was very upset and angry after hackers stole dozens of private images from her iCloud account and posted them on websites in late August. The Oscar winner told Vanity Fair magazine: “It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime. It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change.” The ‘Hunger Games’ star also hit back at critics for suggesting she shouldn’t have taken or stored the intimate images in the first place, insisting they were only meant to be seen by her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Hoult, whom she split from earlier this year. She said: “I was in a loving, healthy, great relationship for four years. It was long distance, and either your boyfriend is going to look at porn or he’s going to look at you.” The blonde beauty initially planned to apologise for the photographs because she was worried about her career. But she said: “Every single thing that I tried to write made me cry or get angry. I started to write an apology, but I don’t have anything to say I’m sorry for. Just the fact that somebody can be sexually exploited and violated, and the first thought that crosses somebody’s mind is to make a profit from it. It’s so beyond me.” She added: “Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this. “It does not mean that it comes with the territory. It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting. I can’t believe that we even live in that kind of world.”
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NOVEMBER 2014
MUSIC LITTLE
SIMZ LAURA RAPHAEL
ALREADY A hip hop heavy weight, there is definitely nothing pint size about Little Simz. Having been picked up at the tender age of 16 by Radio 1Xtra’s DJ Semtex, she has gone onto receive critical acclaim from superstars such as Jay-Z, headline a gig in Times Square, not to mention she has just been nominated for two MOBO awards. The MC honed her craft at St Mary’s Youth Club in Islington, alumni to stars such as Alexandra Burke, and if 2014 is anything to go by Little Simz will be another name to add to the roll call. So remember you heard about her in The University Paper first.
LIFE OF THE PARTY? ALWAYS OUT AND ABOUT? Did you catch up with our snappers? Check out pages 10 and 11 to see if you made the cut.
2014 has been quite the year with the release of E.D.G.E and your Madia Vale session with Huw Stephens, how has it been for you? I didn’t expect for my EP to do that well which is always good to exceed your expectations. And to be like the first unsigned rapper to do Madia Vale is a good achievement in my eyes. Huw has heavily championed me throughout the year so for him to give me that opportunity was crazy. How was it playing the BBC 1Xtra stage at Reading and Leeds this summer? I felt it was inevitable that it would happen but when it actually did I was like “shit this a surreal” but it was sick and hopefully I can do Glastonbury and Wireless next. I was actually meant to play Glastonbury this year, but I was in New York and our flight got oversold so we were stuck in the airport. I felt like it happened for a reason, I don’t think I was supposed to play this year, but at the time I was so annoyed. You have received a lot of underground acclaim through SoundCloud, that and for recording in your bedroom, do you prefer the stripped back approach? Where I am not signed everything has to be done myself and it is hard to get a big push especially releasing music, there are only so many outlets. It is not conscious decision, it is just me having freedom for now.
me a lot, but I have comes to terms with it now. There isn’t an easy way to describe it, but I feel that this is bigger than me being a female or even a rapper. I want to be an entrepreneur and a humanitarian and I hope music is going to take me to those place in life. Considering you are only 20, how does it feel having been championed by the likes of Zane Lowe? I feel like I have a long way to go. I’m studying Music Technology Specialist in West London and learning how to balance things. I was thinking of dropping out because the last year has been so crazy. But I want to challenge myself, to break barriers and prove that it is possible to have a degree and be unsigned, instead of say having a particular look. What’s next for Little Simz? I am going to be working on new tracks and doing a collaborative project that I can’t name just yet, but it is going to be exciting. But right now? I am just trying live to be honest. I have done a lot musically, there was a point where I was writing everyday and it was getting repetitive as I was talking about the same things. So I am just trying to be 20 and live this uni life and be me in order to have more to write about.
Have you been approached by any labels yet? I have been approached by everyone, but I don’t feel like I want to be signed right now. I’m in no particular rush or eager for a deal. I would like to more business minded before signing away a lot of my power, especially when I am an up and coming artist. I feel like I have worked too hard to hand my music over to a group of executives, they need to understand me, my music and my vision first. What is it like being a female rapper? I’ve tried not to let that phase me and look at myself as an artist regardless of gender or age that instantly categorises me. It used to bother
How to become a hipster in 400 words
PICTURES:OLI POULTER
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
OLI POULTER
THE RISE of hipster culture seems to have emerged through the amalgamation of the nerd and the suburban street wise kid, giving birth to this cross hybrid contradiction. After the drug crazed intensity of the rock and roll era, it now seems to be classed as cool to use big words like ‘idiosyncratic’ and talk about Avant guarde films with apparent ‘deeper symbolic meanings’. We’ve been observing these fascinating creatures and have come up with a few simple steps to show you how to jump on the bandwagon and become as edgy as ever. A fixed gear bike is key to any kind of success in the hipster arena. Weird wacky colored wheels are only the start of your newly found creative lifestyle. Fixies are limited to 1 gear only and are commonly ridden without brakes, to slow down you must reduce your pedal rate. You can design your own fixie with infinite combinations of crazy colors at http://www. mangobikes.co.uk.
Music is a large part of anyone’s life and when it comes to embarking on your new expressive lifestyle, weird music is a must. Your ITunes must be packed to the brim with undiscovered tunes comprising of odd distorted bass lines and un-quantised beat loops that no one really enjoys to listen to let alone dance to. It’s real easy to let yourself go and dance to Jason Derulo in Forum on a Friday night, but we suggest you maintain your hipster front by seeming unimpressed and make a request to the disc jockey for some unknown music group that may not even exist. Check out the boiler room for some outstanding role models in the hipster music scene. When it comes to clothing anything goes. From bomber jackets with deliberately tasteless color schemes to ridiculously long silk shirts, it’s all good stuff as far as the hipster assemblage are concerned, just make sure the clothes you buy are vintage to really enhance the bohemian theme you’re looking for. Be
sure to check out Wavey Garms on Facebook for more ideas. Finally on to the gratuitous additions. From the research we’ve undertaken it seems compulsory to wear some kind of overbearingly big glasses whether you need them or not. Facial
hair for the guys is optional, but we think it really adds that edge. Unfortunately the plight of the dreaded top knot still seems to have a firm grip upon the hipster community but we advise against it, quite frankly it looks like a cry for help.
16
NOVEMBER 2014
TECHNOLOGIC PHIL HAMILTON
TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
GADGETS
GRILLING MACHINES
GAMES
MOBILES
COMPUTERS
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
TABLETS
APPS
BEAT YOUR MEAT
Remember George Foreman? Here are two of the best machines out there giving the boxer’s grill a hiding.
REVIEWS BREVILLE HALO+ HEALTH FRYER RRP: £169.99
I CAN remember a time when most households in Britain had a deep fat fryer. What could be better of an evening than crispy chips and fried sausages all cooked in the same pan of oil which could catch fire at any moment and burn down the house in minutes? Then the health police told us it was bad for our hearts and arteries and everyone got rid. Now I have the Halo+ Fryer in my life, the fryer for the “health conscious”. You only need to use half a tablespoonful of oil to cook 1kg of chips in this one. And if you have any doubts that they won’t come out delicious, think again. My first attempt produced a plate of golden brown, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the
TEFAL OPTIGRILL BLACK DO YOU like eating mouth-watering steak but don’t have the energy or will to turn it over mid-cooking? Do you like chicken but don’t have the attention span to watch it to make sure it’s cooked and won’t give you salmonella poisoning? Do you enjoy the delicious taste of lamb chops but can’t be bothered to fry them in a pan? Well now you don’t have to with the Tefal OptiGrill Black. It is the Rolls-Royce of grills, making the George Foreman grill look like a Robin Reliant. Everything about it is automated. Plug it in, choose the type of meat you’re cooking and then wait for it to heat up. Once it’s ready, slap your meat on and the grill’s in-built technology automatically measures its thickness and starts cooking it, both sides. The LED display tells you what stage it’s cooked at (with rare, medium and well done settings) and an alarm goes off at each of those. I tried an aged rib eye steak on it and it
RRP: £149.99
“IT IS THE ROLLS ROYCE OF GRILLS, MAKING FOREMAN’S KIT LOOK LIKE A ROBIN RELIANT” was seared, juicy and took less than five minutes to cook. This is a top bit of kit that sorts out all your meat needs and gets it to the plate without you having to do much actual cooking. Luckily for your wife, girlfriend, significant other it still needs cleaning so they’re not redundant just yet (I know - ho, ho, ho.) Available exclusively at Argos.
HEALTH GIZMO OF THE MONTH
BREVILLE BLEND-ACTIVE NO-ONE will ever accuse me of being a regular gym goer, cycling enthusiast, ardent jogger, yoga stretcher or a follower of any currently popular fitness fad. Rest assured I’m not turning into some huge lump of lard like Katie Hopkins. I still regularly drag my body round the football pitch and then complete my workout with a couple of nutritious pints. For those of you who do partake in regular sports, I’m assured the Breville Blend Active is perfect.
inside potato goodness. Just add the salt and pepper and ketchup and you’re away. I haven’t tried making Crème Brulee in it – the manufacturers say you can – but I did cook sausages, chicken and battered fish in it and it was top notch. The parts can go in the dishwasher and there’s grill and roasting options. Yeah, it’s a bit pricey but is well worth it. And for the cash you can fry a whole meal in one again, with much less chance of torching your gaff.
Like all good gadgets the beauty of the Blend Active is in its simplicity and practicality. Before this bit of kit you had to make up your protein shake and then pour it in your sports bottle. What a pain in the arse eh? With this product the sports bottle is the blender chamber – you pop on the blade cap, put on the base unit and blend your drink. Take it off and replace with the drinking cap and you’re ready to head to the gym with your refreshment in hand.
RRP: £25 If you’re not a fitness freak you can use it to make a fruit smoothie for the train in the mornings, or an iced coffee, or a milkshake. You get the picture – it blends stuff and you take it with you. I still prefer to just pay £2 for a ready blended drink before I squeeze myself onto the packed Tube with a bunch of ‘hipsters’ whose religions are obvious through their skinny jeans. But that’s just me. I have more spare cash these days because I don’t actually pay for these gadgets.
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THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
17
NOVEMBER 2014
TRANSFORMERS
TOASTIE MAKERS
HEADPHONES
SPEAKERS
GAMES
LAPTOPS
NIGHT VISION GOGGLES
DRONES
VUVUZELAS
REVIEW: DIABLO III: ULTIMATE EVIL EDITION
SO IT’S finally made it to consoles. Blizzard have brought Diablo III to those of us who mainly use PCs for work... and other extra-curricular pursuits of course. The good thing about playing on a console is multiplayer is much better. And the thing practically everyone loves about Diablo is it involves exploring, crafting and killing together - or killing each other. The game is addictive with friends (if you have any.)Unless your improvisation skills are great you will get bored playing alone. Without friends the game feels like repetitive button smashing to
hack’n’slash and that isn’t always enough. But with friends in the co-player modes it comes alive and you start feeling like a true basher-smasher-lasher-dasher killing machine. The graphics are nothing to shout about. They keep the look of the series but you’d think on a nextgen console Blizzard would at least brighten its different worlds and improve the artwork. Unfortunately it is dull and boring and the best thing about the artwork is the crows that decide to sit on the lamps, because, well, I like crows. Problem? However, at the beginning the intro is surprisingly amazing, the faces look real, the people act real, it feels real and I’m disappointed they couldn’t achieve that in-game. I’m torn about Diablo III. The main character is unappealing and hard to understand. The storyline is very linear; the plot is dull and could do with a more interesting twist. In summary, this edition is only made for multi-player.
PREVIEW: ALIEN ISOLATION
“YOU’VE ALREADY PAID £44.99 FOR THE GAME. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A GAME-PLAY OPTION TOO? IT ANGERS ME ME”
REVIEW OF THE MONTH MADDEN NFL 15 EVERY YEAR the FIFA franchise gets an update that gets us more excited than a vodka/Red Bullfuelled Geordie in a tanning salon. This is basically the American football version of the legendary soccer title. It’s been going strong since 1990 and the original Sega Mega Drive introduced a lot of British kids (including me) to the bonesmashing sport of the NFL. Despite never being a fan of NFL either on TV or live – although the beer and snacks they serve during a gridiron marathon numbs the boredom – I’ve always been a big fan of the Madden games. This latest edition doesn’t disappoint. The graphics are brilliant. Players, commentators and coaches all look ultrarealistic and we’re now starting to see what these next-generation consoles are really capable of. Its biggest improvement gameplay- wise since the last edition (Madden NFL 25) is in the defensive play. Before, you felt like an onlooker when your team was defending, but in this game you’re encouraged to get fully involved in the tackling. I recommend you use the Hit Stick in order to sack a quarterback in the same way a
school bully crushes a nerd. Offensive play has been tweaked for the better. Your runners speed through the opposition defence like a fatty running for a finger buffet and when you’re passing as the quarterback you’ve got more options than a customised Domino’s pizza. Purists will complain there are too many interceptions and all those NFL intricacies which hold up play. But Madden NFL has always eradicated some of the more boring aspects of the real sport (how many fucking time-outs do they really need?) in order to make a video game that is more fun and has plenty of flow. There are loads of game modes including Connected Franchise where you get to choose to be a player, coach or owner to try and take your team (it’s got to be the Miami Dolphins for me) to Super Bowl glory. The Ultimate Team option is great but you have to pay extra for it. You’ve already paid £44.99 to play the bastard game! So it makes me angry you have to pay extra for a gameplay option. It’s still a must-have for gaming American football fans.
THIS IS the game I’m most excited about getting my hands on this year. It’s just you – as Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Sigourney Weaver’s character Ellen Ripley from the 1979 Alien film – with one of the alien creatures (known as a Xenomorph to movie gimps) and you’re determination to find out what happened to your hard-arsed mum. It’s a survival horror and you only get a tracker and whatever you can get your hands on to protect yourself. The game is set in 2137, 15 years after the events of Alien. It sees Amanda flown to the space station Sevastopol to find the flight recorder of Nostromo, but an alien is already there. It’s your job to find out what happened to your mother and the people who were living on the space station – which has been painstakingly recreated in the
style of Ridley Scott and late surrealist artist H. R. Giger’s work on the original movie.\ From what I’ve seen of the title there’s a lot of detective work to do all while trying to avoid attracting the attention of the Xenomorph – which is set to be one of the most intelligent AI characters in video game history if it lives up to Sega’s hype. I cannot wait for this game. Alien is my favourite film of all time, survival horror is my favourite video game genre and this title puts you firmly in those two settings. I really, really, really don’t want this game to be shit. Next issue we’ll know.
Coming soon for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
KNOW THE INSIDE
DO YOU
T R AC K O N
CAMPUS?
IF SO THE UNIVERSITY PAPER WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. We are scouring the UK for student journalists, so whether you are looking for work experience or simply spending too much time in the SU, get in touch today. We are on the look out for opinion leaders and change makers who can write engaging copy. Your pieces will be printed in The University Paper which is read by thousands of students across the UK and you will get that all important byline - perfect if you are looking to build a portfolio. Not to mention that age old adage, it will look great on the CV. So if you would like to be an influential voice for the student community or just have a strong front page tell us what is going on - pitch your ideas to The University Paper, email: editor@unipaper.co.uk
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THE UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 2014
CURRENT
» CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER
TALYBONT GATE OPENS AS ASBESTOS CONCERN GROWS expected to buy their own television licences at a cost of £145.50 – will benefit from a communal Freeview TV, although they must share it with five to nine other occupants. Residents have paid a higher than average rate of rent to stay in the complex, with the basic September-June package available for £4,645 – marginally more than the fee paid by those residing in nearby Talybont Court. However, it is significantly more expensive the equivalent offerings at Talybont South (£3,927) and Talybont North (£3,363) over the same nine month period, with all the fees quoted including utility bills. Despite paying hefty rates of rent relative to their immediate neighbours, students who had just moved in to ‘the Gate’ told The University Paper that it was worth it for the standards of living on offer. “I would say a couple of hundred quid more per year isn’t too bad considering what we’re getting,” said one student, adding that “I’ve visited a couple of mates in different buildings and I was pretty surprised with what they’re putting up with.” Another said that he was “enjoying the benefits of being this close to McDonalds” but that he wasn’t likely to put on any weight as “it’s a pretty long way to campus from all the way down here”. The expansion sees the Talybont complex – already the largest of Cardiff University’s residential sites – increase in capacity from 2,735 to 2,914, with that figure expected to rise further in future years as further developments are made. However, there are concerns over the ability of the wider complex to handle a rise in student numbers, with the Talybont Social Centre and the Talybont Sport Centre both put under strain by the complex’s rising population. Furthermore, there are day-to-day practicalities to consider, amongst them the workload of the site’s maintenance and security team, the limited dry cleaning facilities and the lack of car parking space for new residents. However, the development marks a welcome step forward in the standard of living afforded to students at Talybont, which has come under criticism for its small rooms and ageing infrastructure in recent years.
» CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY ALLEGEDLY INSTALLS “ANTI-HOMELESS CAGE” Documents obtained by the University Paper show that the university was aware of the homeless in the area, and this motivated the decision. One of the organisation’s security officers responded to queries, acknowledging that the “area has attracted persons who have located themselves on the vent […] causing a risk to their own health and safety,” and claimed that this had “generated complaints from University staff and members of the public.” Mixed messages from various university departments have lead to ‘omnishambles’ claims. “It’s clear that the University’s spokespeople want to file the edges off a story which doesn’t reflect well on them,” said one student who spoke to the university paper. “What evidence is there that there have been complaints on behalf of the public about the health and safety of the homeless in the area? They’re largely ignored.” One Cardiff Metropolitan student speaking to the University Paper responded with derision. “Cardiff University students always act like they’re superior, but at least Met doesn’t install inhuman cages like that!” Cardiff University has a good track record when it comes to working with various community groups, and has done a great deal to support
vulnerable students with getting into further education. Gair Rhydd reports that the university offers funding support to the Big Issue. Delving into the science of the situation, University spokespeople described why such measures were necessary. “The area covered by the safety grilles are not hot air vents but boiler flue vents that can potentially produce products of combustion diluted amounts of carbon monoxide being one of these - as part of the diluted boiler flue gases. “The two vents in question are boiler flue dilution and combustion air intake and extract grilles. These vents are considered safe in normal use due to the type of flue dilution system being used but there could potentially be an increased risk if people are sleeping right next to the grilles for very long periods. “The University has been working with security to reduce this potential risk to people sleeping directly in front of the boiler flue outlets and, in the interests of health and safety, the decision was taken to install a set of safety grilles. “These safety grilles allow even more air diffusion than normally required and therefore further reduces any risks to anyone who may choose to sleep in this vicinity.”
Students at the school of biosciences have largely corroborated these claims. One Genetics graduate took to Facebook to defend the university. “There are labs in the basement, animal labs. Even then this is an outflow from a building designated for scientific experiments. They’re safe to walk past but they are not safe to live next to. It’s a question of denying the homeless a place to sleep or causing them harm through negligence and the answer is a no brainer.” In response questions as to why the ‘vents’ at street level in the first place, he added: “It’s more dangerous (and more expensive) to run the outflow up 6 floors. That side of the building is an extension that opened two years ago, running it up the existing architecture would have been needlessly expensive. All outflow is filtered so anything that can cause acute harm is removed but low levels of that which can be dangerous when exposed to chronically won’t.” This has not done a great deal to deflect criticism from the university, with various mainstream news organisations such as The Independent and Buzzfeed have produced editorial on the subject.
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NOVEMBER 2014 THE UNIVERSITY
Fashion
Whether you want to dress up or down, we’ve picked the top ten buys for guys and girls out this month. From cosy faux fur and parkas to striking sequins and suits, make this your shopping tick list.
n e m o W
FURBULOUS
ANIMAL PRINT
Wrap up in a little bit of luxury with this faux fur coat.
These leopard print block heeled boots are the perfect day to night number.
£89.99, ZARA
SHOWPIECE
Julian MacDonald gives the pencil skirt some of his signature sparkle.
£149, M&S
£40, DEBENHAMS
STATEMENT SLACKS Beautiful winter florals with a splash of this season’s teal.
POWER PRINT
This geo print pelmet skirt packs a stylish punch.
£28, DOROTHY PERKINS
£36, TOPSHOP
JUICY JEWELS
Add these colourful gems to upgrade any outfit.
£17.99, NEW LOOK
CUFF IT
This pretty Perspex number is part of Accessorize’s Christmas collection.
£12, ACCESSORIZE
HAT TRICK
Top off your winter look with a floppy felt hat.
PETAL POWER
Daisy print + navy + ruffles = the perfect playsuit
£46, TOPSHOP
£8, PRIMARK
PRETTY KNITS
We love the floral detail on this charcoal sweater
£69, MONSOON
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THE UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 2014
N E M BUCKLE UP
This smart backpack in grey will go with any outfit.
TOP TEE
Idle Man has collaborated with streetwear label Hype resulting in this exclusive range.
£69.99, H.E AT MANGO
£25, HYPE X AT IDLE MAN
BUTTON UP
This cosy parka will keep you warm and look good while it does it.
SEEING SPOTS
£65, NEXT
Forget winter brights, statement prints are the way to get spotted this season.
£28, RIVER ISLAND
BLACK AND BLUE
Be bold and put some animal in to your outfit.
WINTER WOOLIES
£79, REISS
This bright beanie hat will keep you toasty.
£12, NEXT
SUITED & BOOTED
A simple, no frills suit to smarten up your party season look.
JACKET £79, BURTON TROUSERS £40, BURTON
CHECK MATE
This style staple will look great under 6 and 7.
£16.99, BLUE INC
FANCY FEET
Pull on these bargain Chelsea boots for an instant feel/look good factor.
£29.99, NEW LOOK
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ADVICE
NOVEMBER 2014
NO-NONSENSE ADVICE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
A word of advice
Know when to quit
BY THIS point, you’ve almost certainly had all sorts of people ambushing you about how to make the most out of university. Interested in your course? Become an academic rep. Student journalist? Get work experience, and write for as many places as possible. Human being? Join a society filled with other human beings who may or may not share interests with you. There’s some truth in the phrase that university is what you make of it. But it’s a big commitment that costs nine thousand pounds - with the cost of living added to that - and graduate employers aren’t just going to disregard you because you didn’t join four sports clubs and a
tea appreciation society. If universities offered nothing more than your local sports centre or church hall, there wouldn’t be any point going. So it is, then, that you need to know when to quit. Yeah, nobody likes a quitter - but you’re more likely to find a job at the end of your degree if you’ve done one thing and you’ve done it well. By all means, join all the societies you want, but unless you want to become an all-singing alldancing Swiss Army Knife of a person, know when to say: “I’ve done enough to be proud of myself.” That’s all anybody can ask for, and anybody who wants more isn’t worth it.
you can do to make yourself easier to live with Hey, we’re all guilty of this. But if you’re a big fan of neo-classical folk rock or melodic doom metal, there’s a smidge of a chance that people in your household won’t share your enthusiasm. Start quiet and slowly turn the music up as the days go by, rather than starting loud and waiting for them to complain.
Come on, we’re adults. You probably know this one. But I lived with a guy who would use all his stuff, refuse to wash it, and then start using everybody else’s. He was about as popular as diarrhea, and almost as inconvenient. Don’t back up the sink with plates that have last week’s food on it, as it’s only going to make everybody’s life harder - especially your own, if you have to scratch dried leftovers off a plate with a fork.
3 4. PAY THE BILLS, ON TIME
Compared to the other things on this list which are just conveniences, this one is essential as not doing so might land you in court. If you leave your housemates in the lurch, you can damage their credit rating (or your own), and you’re not going to avoid paying the cash - so pony up sooner rather than later. That goes for damage, too. Don’t be the guy who sets a fire extinguisher off and makes the whole flat pay for it. Nobody likes that guy.
STUDY ESSENTIALS
Feeling productive? With the right equipment, you can always get more out of your time. Try the following if you need a little something extra
2
2. DO THE WASHING UP. NOW.
Do the cows a favour: buy 4 pints for the house rather than a pint each. It’s more economic in terms of space, and certainly more cost effective. And that goes for more than just milk - share pasta, rice, and even toasters and other general equipment. If you’ve got multiple smoothie machines in your house, you’re either working for innocent or you’ve got too many.
8
1
1. KEEP THE MUSIC DOWN
3. SHARE!
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
4
A GOOD CALENDAR APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE.
5
GUM.
6
Google Calendar is great and even syncs across multiple devices, so you can always stay on schedule. The reminders are fantastic, too!
Yes, it’s the bane of every cleaner’s life. But chewing (“mastication,” for those inclined towards funny sounding words) has been shown to improve learning and your ability to recall details. Just don’t stick it under the desk!
USB STICK KEYCHAIN.
Always be able to say “yes” if someone asks if you have a memory stick by attaching one to something you can’t leave home without: your keys.
7
A VACUUM FLASK.
Sometimes, water isn’t enough (although a bottle of water is another great thing to keep on you). A Thermos full of coffee is a great thing to keep on you for a day of lectures so you can stay focused while saving time and money you’d spend on trips cafés.
8
DROPBOX.
Ok, so it’s not a thing per se - it’s a service. But Dropbox and services like it provide a space for you to backup essays in case your computer dies. Like the keychain, it’s also accessible from home.
TABLET COMPUTERS.
Yeah, iPads and kindles cost a lot of money. But it’s an investment: digital books can save you lugging course reading around all day, making trips to the library less painful.
A GOOD DATA ALLOWANCE ON YOUR PHONE.
I’m lucky enough to have unlimited 4G, meaning I’m never without an internet connection. Perfect if you need to access resources such as timetables on the move - because who doesn’t forget where to go on the first day?
POST-IT NOTES.
Chances are you’re not actually studying a degree if you haven’t felt the need to put sticky notes on absolutely everything. Indulge and buy a stack before long, you’ll be hooked.
The
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
23
NOVEMBER 2014
Homesick? FRIENDS ARE NEVER FAR AWAY PIC: SHUTTERSTOCK
IF YOU’RE feeling the burn of being away from home, chances are you’re not alone. Not everybody is rushing away from the creature comforts that come part of living with your parents. Home cooking is effort free, and as the good book says: Man cannot live by Instant Noodles alone. But jokes about microwave food aside, many complain that a real sense of loneliness sets in once the novelty of halls wears off. Even people in second year and beyond find themselves missing home, sometimes without warning. Yet take solace: we live in a hyper-connected society. It’s a bit of a trite phrase, but it’s absolutely true. Almost every laptop and tablet PC has some sort of webcam, so if your parents don’t use computers, keeping in contact with Skype or FaceTime is a great incentive for you to teach them. And while adding your parents on Facebook is a generally big no-no, adjusting your privacy settings so they don’t see the worst of you but can like the odd results post you make is a great way to keep them updated without expending too much effort. Distance is a horrible thing, and it can affect you profoundly when you’re in no position to travel. But the internet has made the world feel a lot smaller. Even if it’s too late at night for you to turn to someone from college or your family, listening services such as Nightline are never far away and deal with problems like this on a daily basis.
FRESHERS:
There’s life outside of halls. LAURA RAPHAEL PIC: SHUTTERSTOCK
What’s the best hangover cure? The answer might surprise you. PIC: SHUTTERSTOCK
YOU’VE HAD a heavy night. You and your mates said “just one more” quite a few times, and you’ve woken up feeling like you’ve been hit by a car made of pure vodka. What do you do? Spoilers: there’s no such thing as a hangover cure. A greasy breakfast? A myth. Aspirin? It’ll help the headache, but not the dehydration. Another drink? Don’t be crazy. They say time heals all wounds. In this case, they’re right: there’s no doubt that drinking water helps (and if you can do it on a night out, then all the better), but you should be drinking water anyway given that it’s a big part of staying alive.
Buying a huge breakfast isn’t going to do anything for you except hurt your wallet and leave you feeling bloated. And while fry-ups are nice, nobody’s ever been prescribed fried eggs and bacon. (If you have, please get in touch. That’s one hell of a story). Of course, I’m not going to tell you that the best cure is not to drink. It’s hard to avoid a night out at university. What I can tell you that if somebody’s selling a miracle remedy, then chances are, it won’t work, or it will make you feel worse. Save your money, nurse your head, and brace yourself for the next time you have one too many.
M
eeting new people is terrifying. There’s no doubt that once you’ve settled in with your flatmates and all learned how to get along you probably won’t be rushing to repeat the experience. However, beware: good housemates are a blessing and a curse. Too many people spend their first year with housemates they were randomly allocated. Seeing as relationships generally don’t rely on random chance, rushing into a house with those in your hall can lead to disaster once you realise that you’re all significantly different people. And while you may not realise that during the second semester, chances are you will by the end of year two. That goes the other way, too. Making a single group of friends outside of your house - a society committee, for example - isn’t going to do you any favours either. Life as the absent housemate will only alienate you from people you can’t really avoid, especially if you’re not lucky enough to stay in an en suite room. Remember: there are thousands of people at university. You’re doing yourself no favours by limiting yourself to a certain group. Step outside, breathe the air, and find some people without being grouped together by chance.
24
NOVEMBER 2014
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
MY MONEY IMPARTIAL, EXPERT ADVICE BY: LAURA RAPHAEL
THE MONEY LIST
Get paid for your opinion Ge ing paid to lie in bed on the internet might sound too good to be true when it comes to making money, but thousands of students diligently fill out online surveys every year. So if you are a sucker for BuzzFeed quizzes this might just be the perfect job for you. Here are The University Paper’s top three sites:
The OpinionPanel Community
The Opinion Panel is the largest youth and student research community in the UK with over 120,000 members. What’s even better as a student you get paid a tenner simply for signing up. You can take part in surveys and online focus groups for big brands and get paid for writing for their website opinionpanel.co.uk.
YouGov
This one is a little different to the rest as the surveys focus on social issues from politics to public affairs. The results are then used by clients such as The Economist, so if you have strong views yougov. co.uk is for you. Also you’ll be quids in if you get your friends to sign up too.
Toluna
One of the best perks of being a student is the freebies right? So what could be better than Toluna sending them directly to you to road test. You don’t even have to send them back afterwards. You can also fill out surveys on their website uk.toluna.com in return for Amazon vouchers.
Don’t sell yourself short Out of 2,300 students 80% do not have enough money to live on and what’s more one in four would even considering selling their body in order to stump up some extra cash. The students questioned as part of a survey conducted by Save the Student said they would either turn to the adult entertainment industry or medical trails. WITH AN estimated £600,000 to £3m per institution going straight into higher education from the sex industry this is nothing new. But even less is know about students undertaking medical trials. However it is not as simple as turning up to hospital, popping some pills and receiving a cash injection. First you have to go through initial assessments to make sure you are fit for the trial, followed by a hospital stay and follow-up sessions that can last months. However you do receive food and board while staying in hospital.
There are also different types of trial, the best paid being a phase 1, as these drugs have never been tested on humans before and for this you can expect daily rates of £120. All clinical trials are run by a regulatory agency and ethics committee to ensure that they are in the interest of the public and medical profession. However this does not safeguard you from side effects and in the extreme have results in death. Volunteers are contributing to medical science but it is best to arm yourself with the short and long-term consequences before committing.
ENTREPRENEURS
MOVE OVER GANDHI, HERE’S ROB AND PAUL
Changing the world one flipflop SUPER at a time… SCRIMPING LAURA RAPHAEL
Freshers has been and gone, along with your student loan. Sure your first payment for halls took a chunk out of it with the rest falling somewhere between your local boozer and Perfect Fried Chicken. use these apps to make up the rest.
» REDLASER
Want price comparison at the click of a button? While you are out and about simply scan the barcode of the product you want to purchase and it’ll find you the cheapest store both online and offline. You can then purchase items through the app and have it delivered right to your door.
» METER READINGS Ok, so this one will set you back £1.49 but it could save you hundreds over the course of the year. As we head into autumn it is all too easy to whack the heating up or spendfive more minutes in the shower: Meter Readings however will allow you to keep a track of how much you are spending before you go over budget.
» 0800 WIZARD
So you’ve got unlimited minutes on your contract but ironically calling the bank of all places is costing you a small fortune. Calling 0800 numbers can be as high as 20p a minute but 08 Wizard replaces the 08 with a 01 or 02 landline number and you won’t face a charge on top.
This year will mark the tenth anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami that claimed 230,000 lives. A poignant anniversary for brothers Paul and Rob Forkan who lost their parents that day, and only narrowly survived themselves. However out of tragedy is where Gandys flip flops was born. The brothers began the social enterprise out of their bedroom in Brixton to now with a growing team behind them in their London HQ. CO-FOUNDER Paul Forkan says: “the idea is to give back to those less fortunate - profit for purpose”. With 10% of all profits going into the Gandys Foundation, towards their mission ‘Orphans for Orphans’. The brothers have been able to fund children’s homes in Sri-Lanka and India, giving underprivileged children access to basic essentials such as housing, healthcare and education. Paul says it has been: “Exciting as well as a challenging journey... You are basically just a flip flop to people, so when you are competing against big brands who have been going 50 odd years you have to think outside the box and Gandys is proving to deliver this success through our new ever changing designs and prints. ” The brothers have already been invited to don their signature flip flops at Buckingham Palace and Number 10, even flying to Sri-Lanka with David Cameron in 2013. Rob laughs: “The only place we’ve actually been turned away from for wearing them was our local pub a couple of months ago”. And the future is set to be even brighter with the brothers vision to open children’s homes all over the world.
“The only place we’ve actually been turned away from for wearing them was our local pub a couple of months ago”
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
25
NOVEMBER 2014
YOUR QUESTIONS: ANSWERED Yo ho WHAT? It’s only November!!!
FORGIVE US for mentioning the c word but with Christmas fast approaching it is time to start applying for seasonal jobs. And what with the festive period rearing its ugly head earlier and earlier every year, it is time to start handing out your CV already. Christmas creates new jobs as companies employ extra staff to see them through the festive period. What’s better there is even the lure of time and a half over the bank holidays. But if you fancy a job a little out of the ordinary here are jobs for you. Just like marmite - some people love them and some hate them but with £50 million spent on sprouts alone in the UK someone has to pick them! However, if you want to get your hands dirty but sprouts aren’t your thing then how about becoming a professional present wrapper? Or even a Christmas cracker joke writer, we kid you not. Although with this comes great reasonability in beating “what is brown and sticky”. And finally what a better way to get into the Christmas spirit than being an Elf or even Father Christmas himself at a department store or garden centre near you.
How not to get ripped off as an intern PIC: SHUTTERSTOCK
IF IT isn’t bad enough you are having to fork out £9k a year for tuition fees alone now you are expected to work for free? Ah yes, internships. Some have even gone under the hammer at Christie’s, with a week’s worth of experience at GQ finishing up at an eye watering £3k. However, it is not all bad news. Internships can set you apart
from the crowd, get you valuable contacts and sometimes even paid work. And considering Simon Cowell started out in the EMI post room you might not want to scoff. However a recent Inland Revenue crackdown on unpaid internships just goes to show you need to know your rights. If you are doing an internship as part of a higher education course, the company are not
entitled to pay you, but you should receive a reasonable allowance to cover your travel and lunch. However if you undertake an internship outside of your course you may qualify for “worker” status, which means national minimum wage and no more than 48 hours a week. What’s more if you are promised future work from the offset you immediately qualify for worker status.
NOT ALL DEBT IS BAD
Did you know there is such as thing as good debt and believe it or not your student loan is just that. Considering we’ll be paying it off way into our 50’s with the average debt totaling £44k it is hard to believe, I know. So what exactly is good about that?
PIC: SHUTTERSTOCK
It’s basically an investment, as it will increase your potential future income and it has lower interest than other loans. So now that you have invested wisely, here is how not to get into all sorts of bad debt. The worst offenders of bad debt are payday and cash advance loans. Why? This is not a long term investment and whatever you squandered it on has probably already lost its value. Many student unions have even banned payday loan companies from even advertising on campus as they believe they target vulnerable students. Not only will you have to pay back the original sum borrowed but also interest incurred, with some starting at 300% annually. Credit cards are another to watch out for. So your bank have just given you a shiny new piece of plastic and it’s contactless to make paying even easier. Fantastic. Until all those clothes from Topshop have been sitting on your statement for three months and the interest you are
It’s basically an investment, as it will increase your potential future income and it has lower interest than other loans. paying on them is making them even more expensive than they were in the first place. Sometimes dipping into the red might be unavoidable that’s what your interest free overdraft is there for, but reserve it for emergencies.
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NOVEMBER 2014
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
STUDENT CHEF
TOP
5
PICTURES:SHUTTERSTOCK
EASY STUDENT
MEALS
STIR FRY 1. CHICKEN
4. RICE (MIXED WITH WHATEVER)
Quick, simple and easy to make! This dish work can work as a meal for the whole house or just a couple of meals for yourself throughout the week. Using some of the easiest ingredients to get hold off, meat, vegetables and noodles, this dish can be whipped up in just 10 minutes. It also an easy dish for any cooking novices as well, with the recipe relatively easy to follow. Cut the chicken, fry for around five minutes, and then add the other ingredients including sauce to have a perfect little healthy dish. A further bonus is the use of pots is kept to a minimum meaning less washing up to do after you have finished eating.
Ever wanted the perfect way to get rid of a number of leftovers in the fridge? Then look no further than this tasty little dish. All you need is rice and whatever else you want but it is recommended to mix some meat and vegetables in throughout. Cooking the rice is simple, boil a pan full of water and add the rice which will be ready in around ten minutes. In a separate pan, fry whatever it is you want to mix in with the rice and when both pans are finished, mix the contents and there you have it, a perfect little dish which has used up a number of leftovers.
2. HEALTHY PIZZAS Pizza is an essential part of any student diet but normally Dominoes is the first port of call. That was until now! With this cheaper take on the classic spinach and egg ‘florentine’ pizza, the healthy alternative will also work out as the most rewarding. Using flatbread instead of traditional dough, you will have to spread 1-2 tbsp of passata over each one. Next you need to get as much water out of the spinach as possible before scattering them across the top. Baking two pizzas at a time, you will have to crack an egg in the middle of each before seasoning with nutmeg. Bake until the cheese is melted and the egg is cooked to how you would like, approximately seven minutes.
PASTA BAKE 5. TUNA
1.
Another simple dish and one that always seems to be a winner amongst housemates, if you like tuna that is! Easily made from an assortment of ingredients that should be found in many student houses (even if you have to raid the other cupboards in the house). Start off by boiling pasta but the sauce is a key ingredient! To start you need to melt butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour, cook for one minute and then add some milk to make a thick white sauce. Moving back to the pasta, drain it before adding the white sauce, tuna and sweetcorn before putting it in to a baking dish and topping with grated cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes and you have yourself a perfect meal.
2.
CHILLI 3. TURKEY JACKET POTATOES Jacket Potatoes are staple food in a student household, with a number of different options for toppings. This version incorporates a Mexican-style twist and the best thing about it is turkey mince is cheap and quite easy to get hold of. Whilst the potatoes are cooking in the oven, prepare the chilli with the mince, onion, garlic being cooked before the spices are added towards the end. An easy meal to make for one or more of your friends, depending how many potatoes you have! When everything is ready, cut a cross at the top of the jacket and add chilli before sprinkling with cheese.
5.
4.
3.
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NOVEMBER 2014
3
ESSENTIALS TO HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE
Different type of cooks in the household FRUIT
It might seem obvious but having any amount of fruit in your room, draws or just in the general household is a must. Takeaways and fast food won’t ever be far away, but when you are looking for fruit, the healthy option can sometimes go amiss so make sure you have some in.
PASTA/RICE
This ingredient will probably make up 50% of your meals at University! Pasta and rice are key ingredients to have in your cupboard as they go with whatever you would want to cook of an evening. Both also provide quick and easy meals aplenty when you are looking to maximise your pre drinking time.
JACKET POTATOES
Just think of the endless possibilities that can be had on top of a jacket potato. Beans and cheese? Chilli? Coleslaw? Whatever you want, as long as you have something to put them on, you can create many weird and wonderful toppings for your tea.
There you have it, all the food you need to move yourself away from having McDonalds every day.
PICTURE:SHUTTERSTOCK
THE UNIVERSITYPAPER
Moving into University is a great experience for many reasons, but what really brings many first year (and second/ third) students down to earth is cooking for themselves. EVERY STUDENT will learn to get by but it is the different ways in which young people look after themselves that differs from house to house. You have the people who think they are professional chefs. These students get every ingredient they need (not easy on a student budget) and make some wonderful dishes that everyone wants to try. However, by the time they have finished cooking the meal it has taken them a number of hours to prepare, not good for nights when you want to start pre drinking early. You can also have the people who are reliant on readymade meals and takeaways. Hardly a ‘cook’, this student has every takeaway menu in their room and on
the odd occasion they do use the kitchen, it is normally to microwave a Tesco’s own lasagne or chicken tikka masala. And then you have the student who falls in the middle! Not quite able to prepare the meals associated with the ‘professional chef’, this person still knows how to look after themselves even if the takeaway menu is lost. They are more at home if they can just put something in the oven, but if a tasty meal needs preparing then they don’t mind putting in a little bit of work. So which category do you fall in to?
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NOVEMBER 2014
HOROSCOPES ARIES
MARCH 21 - APRIL 19 The beginning of the month is big for you Aries with the Full Moon on October 8th. It is a time to indulge yourself and a time for high romance too. On October 23rd during the New Moon you may well feel the weight of the world on your shoulders but this will soon pass on October 26th when Mars enters the sign of Capricorn. ST
TH
TAURUS
SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22 Sparks will be flying during the Full Moon on October 8th Libra and you are the one they will be shooting off. When Mercury and Venus conjoin on October 17th, your heart and head will be perfectly in tune. Expect this to be a period of productivity. You will find some relief from finances during the New Moon on October 23rd you will finally be free from that nagging debt.
APRIL 20 - MAY 20 The Full Moon and Luna on October 8th will be a time of intense introspective soul searching for you Taurus. Take some time to be alone and you will learn lots about yourself. When Mercury enters Libra on October 10th you will be at your most peaceful with a generous air of give and take. Expect a shake up on October 23rd when The New Moon will hit you hard.
SCORPIO
GEMINI
SAGITTARIUS
TH
TH
MAY 21ST - JUNE 20TH On October 4th Mercury goes retrograde and to avoid chaos, patience and organisation is key for you Gemini. But you will soon reap the rewards on October 8th when your social life is in full swing. During the New Moon on October 23rd you will get an awakening which will remind you to take care of your heart, head and soul
CANCER
JUNE 21ST - JULY 22ND It’s time to show everyone what you are really capable of Cancer and during the New Moon on October 8th your potential will only be too apparent. On October 14th be aware of people spending time with you who may have alter motives. You will be at your most in tune and creative on October 23rd with the New Moon these memories will last a lifetime.
LEO
JULY 23RD - AUGUST 22ND Be ready to be the go to person for help, advice and favours Leo during the Full Moon on October 8th. And if you’ve been waiting to meet that someone special October 17th could just be it when Mercury conjucts Venus. The New Moon on October 23rd will be a productive time and you will feel at ease if you finally get down to your finances
VIRGO
Who Said What?
MATCH THE QUOTE TO THE CELEB...
AUGUST 23RD - SEPTEMBER 22ND You will be all about goodwill and getting problems solved during the Full Moon on October 8th Virgo. When the moon is in Virgo on October 20th you will enter a period of stability and sensibility and you will be awash with good feelings. The New Moon on October 23rd will be a time to celebrate and you will be even closer than usual to your friends.
AGONY AUNT :
ASK ALICE
LIBRA
RD
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
ND
(WE DON’T KNOW ANYONE CALLED ALICE, BUT IT SOUNDED BETTER THAN ALAN)
CONTACT ALICE: editor@unipaper.co.uk
OCTOBER 23RD - NOVEMBER 21ST Take care during the Full Moon on October 8th Scorpio, you are craving something reckless and you are not entirely sure why. Be careful what you wish for. Come October 23rd, you softer and sweeter side will be flourishing, so express to impress. This will boil over on October 25th when Mercury goes stationary - say what is in your heart to be accepted.
NOVEMBER 22ND - DECEMBER 21ST Your inner child will run riot during the Full Moon on October 8th Sagittarius. It will be all fun and games as long as you don’t gamble. October 23rd will be a quiet time of reflection, especially of those around you. If there has been a secret or two lurking among friends now it is the time to get it out into the open. Come October 27th, you will be feeling fabulous, enjoy it
CAPRICORN
DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19 At the start of the month you may be feeling paranoid or on edge Capricorn, relax your sign can handle this better than most. Come the Full Moon on October 8th your family and home life will be the centre of attention. On October 23rd you are bound to feel under pressure at work. Don’t let your public image slip now is not the time to be insecure about your accomplishments. ND
TH
AQUARIUS
JANUARY 20TH - FEBRUARY 18TH Don’t expect a bump free ride on October 4th Aquarius, even the best-laid plans are bound to go awry. During the Full Moon on October 8th you will enjoy a small social gathering with a select group of friends. Prepare for a spiritual insight during the New Moon on October 8th. Your heart and head will be open and you will connect with others on an entirely new level.
PISCES
FEBRUARY 19TH - MARCH 20TH Your finances will be fruitful this month Pisces, money is the name of the game. This will trigger a new found independence, be proactive and not reactive and you will reap the rewards. The New Moon on October 23rd will draw you close to those around you, their concerns and how to approach them.
I’m loving everything about university except for the lectures. It’s not that I’m in bed with the hangover from hell compulsively watching catch up, I just don’t think a degree is for me. I can’t see myself making it to the end of the year let alone three. Everyone was so proud when I left for London and I’m the first in my family to go to university. How do I break it to them? Tom, London At some point every student has questioned whether they are on the right course, I even had moments right up until I graduated. But believe me this is all part of being a student and finding your feet. Not everything works out in life how you had imagined but it is best to consider your options before you act. Give your course a chance or look into transferring. But first of all, book a tutorial with your course leader. They will have seen many students over the years in the same situation. Whatever you decide, good luck. Freshers week was a blast, so much so I haven’t exactly stopped and I’m downing jager bombs on a daily basis. All my flatmates have started to settle into their courses but I’m worried that my focus is going to Sainsburys for their £4 bottle of Soave. Sarah, Falmouth
“I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right.”
You’ve moved to a different city, met a load of strangers and had information overload in lectures, so sure a glass of white has helped you along the way but don’t let this become your crutch. Keep drinking to the weekends, it’ll keep you and your bank balance healthy. If you find that scaling back your drinking is taking its toll then head to your SU for some confidential support. My neighbours in halls are doing my head in. I can hear them having sex what seems like 24/7 and to make it worse did I mention I am a virgin. I think I’ve managed to get through freshers unnoticed as a sexual novice but this constant daily reminder of what I’m missing out on is not helping. Cherry, Leicester You are not the first and definitely not the last student to arrive at university a virgin, and you know what some even leave with their flower still intact - so don’t worry. Concentrate on your course, and if the time is right it will happen. But don’t make it your mission or you might live to regret it. As for your noisy neighbours I suggest on investing on some ear plugs, hopefully they will soon tire each other out.
There are four basic human needs: food, sleep, sex and revenge.”
I’m Crazy, I’m nuts. Just the way my brain works. I’m not normal.
I won’t go into a big spiel about reincarnation, but the first time I was in the Gucci store was the closest I’ve ever felt to home.”
I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart; I got tiger blood, man.
We are going to turn this team around 360 degrees
Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost an important part of your life
Predictions are difficult, especially about the future.
Brooke Shields
Yogi Berra
Charlie Sheen
Britney Spears
Kanye West
Banksy
Justin Beiber
Jessica Simpson
George Bush
Jason Kidd
Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it says ‘Chicken by the Sea.’
I’ve never really wanted to go to Japan. Simply because I don’t like eating fish. And I know that’s very popular out there in Africa.
est
dd
THE UNIVERSITYPAPER
29
NOVEMBER 2014
MENTAL AGILITY
AND IN LOCAL NEWS:
Students out in force at Cardiff Half Marathon ALEX NORTON
STUDENTS FROM all of the Welsh capital’s higher learning institutions took part in this month’s Cardiff Half Marathon, which was entered by around 16,000 participants. The race, which is the second biggest event of its kind after the Great North Run, is held on closed roads and takes in the sights of Roath Park, Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay along its popular 13.1 mile route. Race organisers recently launched a successful bid to hold the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Champions, with double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah expected to participate. But whilst that race – which will be held in spring as a warm up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro – may hold a more competitive element, this year’s was an occasion for more amateur competitors. Ben, a twenty-year-old who studies at Cardiff Metropolitan University, was one of hundreds of students who celebrated the start of the academic year with a gruelling race. He told The University Paper: “I’ve never done a race of this length before, I usually stick to Parkrun. But I’m glad I did it and to finish in under two hours is a decent achievement I think.”
KNOW THE INSIDE
DO YOU
T R AC K O N
CAMPUS? IF SO THE UNIVERSITY PAPER WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. We are scouring the UK for student journalists, so whether you are looking for work experience or simply spending too much time in the SU, get in touch today. We are on the look out for opinion leaders and change makers who can write engaging copy. Your pieces will be printed in The University Paper which is read by thousands of students across the UK and you will get that all important byline - perfect if you are looking to build a portfolio. Not to mention that age old adage, it will look great on the CV. So if you would like to be an influential voice for the student community or just have a strong front page tell us what is going on - pitch your ideas to The University Paper, email: editor@unipaper.co.uk
32
NOVEMBER 2014
Picking the right part time job
HOW THE “SOCIAL YOU” CAN SCUPPER THE “REAL YOU” I guess now’s the time the more forward-thinking of you third years are starting to think about applying for jobs... constructing your CVs, agonising over the wording of your covering letters, completing endless online application forms and, if you’re lucky, being called for interviews and assessments. The rest of you are either panicking about impeding exams or are sitting in a pub with your heads firmly stuck in the sand. However all of you, unless your parents are very generous, will have to, at some point, bite the bullet and seek employment. Not just employment… a ‘real’ job… the first step in your career. Over the next few issues I’m going to be offering you, hopefully, helpful hints and tips on the practicalities of how you go about this, e.g. where to look for jobs, what employers are really looking for, interview and CV preparation and how not to shoot yourself in the foot before you even get started.
Maintenance loans only go so far. If you want to socialise, stay entertained and still have enough money for books, you’re going to need to budget like an accountant or get a job. HELP IS AT HAND Thankfully, most universities have job boards and employment centres associated with them. These may offer jobs in the local community, or even within the university itself. But you may end up employed by people who perhaps aren’t as understanding when it comes to working with students. As such, picking the right part time job is important. So what should you be looking for?
LOOK AT HOW THEY OPERATE f they presently employ a large number of students, that’s normally a good sign as they will be used to dealing with the needs of those in study. Casual shifts, freelance work and remote work are great as they allow you to set your own hours - but these opportunities can be hard to come by.
PLAN AROUND YOUR DEGREE Avoid taking hours which are too close to scheduled study periods. If you don’t have the time to talk to staff after lectures, it may damage your degree in the long run. And remember: no job is more important than your degree, as it’s what you’re trying to fund in the first place.
That’s where we’re going to start – have you any idea how many employers ‘google’ you before they’ve properly read your CV masterpiece? Lots I’d guess, I know they shouldn’t – I bet they do. With social media becoming arguably the primary method of communication for Generation Y (that’s you), it has now become an instant snapshot of your life, your friends, your actions, your habits, your likes, your hates… in short – you. Whereas in my day, with a well constructed CV, a cleverly placed phone call or a good recruitment agent, I could make my first real impression with an employer at interview – now it’s likely to be your 5am shenanigans in Magaluff or your nek nominate in the ladies loos. So before you even put yourself out there in the job market – clean up your online self. Take down those Twitter rants rivalling James Arthur, set your privacy settings to maximum on Facebook, replace your profile shot with something innocuous and think carefully before you Instagram anything from last Friday night. The very proactive of you might even set up a LinkedIn profile – this is pretty much Facebook for business people and we’ll talk about it in coming weeks. In the meantime, take my advice and make the ‘social you’ a complementary façade for the real you. Sara Sainsbury is Group Talent Director for RSG Plc. RSG is an independently owned, and Bristol based specialist recruitment business, with over 35 years of trading history, operating across the U, and recognised as one of the Sunday Times “Top 250” fastest growing organisations in the UK, with a current turnover in excess of £170m.
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT :
ACE THE INTERVIEW So, you’ve filled out a 1000 online applications, you’ve spoken to every recruitment consultant from here to Lands End, you’ve written more covering letters and emails than you can shake a stick at – now you’ve got it….finally…an interview. APPROXIMATELY 60 minutes to launch your career trajectory, to make/break/change your life forever. No pressure then.
START WITH BASICS – this might seem blindingly obvious but you’d be amazed how many people fail at the first hurdle. Where is the interview and how do you get there? Check the date, time, location; which bus to catch, where’s the nearest car park, how long can you park there, how much change to have ready. BE ON TIME. Do not, EVER, be late for an interview, you might as well not bother showing up at all. Don’t be ridiculously early either – anything more than 10 minutes early makes you look, at best, like you’re confused between the big and the small hand, or at worst, like you’re just a little bit obsessive. WHAT IS THE INTERVIEW FORMAT? Establish in advance what the interview format will be e.g. Q&A, competency based, one to one/group/panel and how many stages there are? Who are you meeting, what is their role?
RESEARCH THE COMPANY thoroughly and make sure it’s the right company – don’t start reciting the mission statement and values of Bloggs & Co when you’re interviewing for Blaggs Plc. Look into their history, nature of business, USPs, competitors, success, values – all the information you need is just a Google search away, and interviewers know that. If you don’t demonstrate a good knowledge of their business it’s insulting to them and lazy of you. Most interviews these days are competency based, meaning the employer has a set of core competencies that are required in all their jobs. Again, you may be able, through the power of t’interweb to find out their specific competencies or you could just assume they will be along the lines of the generic e.g “team working”, “problem solving”, “taking initiative” “results driven” etc and be prepared with examples of when you displayed these traits. This is worth quite a lot of thought at this stage in your career, as whilst you may have a number of vacation or university jobs under your belt, you may not have a vast array of examples from a professional sphere. So be prepared to use examples from your school/university/ sporting/extra curricular activities.
KNOW YOURSELF. It’s a clichéd and dull interview question but the less creative interviewers amongst us could well ask “What are your weaknesses?” - do not at this point say “I’m too much of a perfectionist” unless you’re happy to receive a punch in the face – even a metaphoric one. Know your weak points but also how they can be improved with training and commitment – dwell more on your strengths.
DRESS SMARTLY. If in doubt wear a suit – preferably in a dark colour, keep the cream linen number for Hawaiian theme nights; gents wear a tie – a normal one, not a bootlace/kipper or comedy tie. Lose the facial piercings/flesh tunnels and hide all tattoos. Have normal hair – don’t overgel it/crimp it or decide to try out that crimson rinse the day before. In short, do not try to express your personality through your wardrobe on this occasion – let the employer know you are a blank canvas….a smart, respectable, well groomed blank canvas. RELAX, maintain eye contact, have a firm handshake (practice this, preferably with a friend rather than yourself), be positive and enthusiastic, keep to the point and listen. Have prepared some relevant questions – NOT “what time is lunch?” more along the lines of “what are the company’s plans for expansion”, “what’s been your progession at XXX” or “I’ve read your blog on blah blah blah, what led you to write it”? The last couple are good ones – you should’ve fully researched the interviewer so you know who you’re meeting, but everyone loves talking about themselves. THIS WORKS TWO WAYS. Finally, remember this is a two way process. You are meeting them ostensibly to “sell” yourself, however, you need to be completely comfortable with what they are describing in terms of the role, the company, the opportunity and a good interviewer will want you to “buy”. It’s your life and your choice…..there is a chance that you’ll be offered a job but you decide it’s not the one for you. That’s fine, don’t be pressurised by anyone: friends/parents or the company themselves into accepting something that doesn’t feel right for you. Just identify what you didn’t like, change the focus of your search and commence the hunt for your new opportunity with renewed vigour. Good luck!
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THE UNIVERSITYPAPER
33
NOVEMBEBER 2014
OPPORTUNITIES
Graduate Technology Consultant
Graduate Graduate Graduate HR Assistant Tech support PHP consultant Developer (permanent)
(permanent)
(permanent)
Graduate Scheme Audit
Location: London Salary: £32,000
Location: London Salary: £20-£24,000
Location: Harrow Salary: £21-£23,000 D.0.E
Location: Nationwide Salary: £18,000
Job ID: UP25728050
Job ID: UPHR2201
Job ID: UPTS6505
Job ID: UPAD01
Location: Nationwide (several locations) Salary: £20-£25,000 Job ID: UP25534475
Description: My client is looking for an ambitious graduate to join a growing team. Minimum requirements: 2:1 degree, 300 UCAS points and knowledge of at least one programming language. You must have real drive and a thirst for learning. For more information and to apply please email london. graduates@reedglobal.com quoting the Job ID above.
My client is looking for intelligent, hard working graduates to their company at an entry level HR position, candidates must be keen to advance as progression will be available and you must have a good understanding of HR. Candidates must have a 2.1 and 300 ucas points. For more information and to apply please email london. graduates@reedglobal.com quoting the Job ID above
Our Client is a leading email marketing software and services provider. They are looking for an ambitious IT graduate to join their expanding technical support team in Harrow. The candidate must have a Computer Science degree and must have achieved a 2.1 or above from university. For more information and to apply please email london. graduates@reedglobal.com quoting the Job ID above.
My client is looking a graduate in a computer related degree to go into PHP developing. They are looking for someone with good knowledge in PHP, Javascript, CSS3 and HTML along with SQL. This would be ideal for someone looking to get into the software side of IT.
Graduate Web Developer
Graduate Training Managerial
Graduate Graduate Recruitment Research Consultant Associate (permanent)
(permanent)
Graduate Finance Assistant
Location: Nationwide Salary: £18,000
Location: Nationwide Salary: £25,000 Job ID: UP25690464
Location: London Salary: £25-£28,000 + discretionary bonus Job ID: UPDTR2528
Location: Nationwide Salary: £18,000 - £22,000
Job ID: UP6491746
Location: Nationwide Salary: £18-£23,000 + uncapped commission Job ID: UPDTR7698
My client is looking a graduate in a computer related degree to go into PHP developing. They are looking for someone with sound knowledge in PHP, Javascript, CSS3 and HTML. You will be involved in the development of websites for the company and their clients. For more information and to apply please email london. graduates@reedglobal.com quoting the Job ID above.
My client is looking for ambitious graduates to join a management development program. Minimum requirements: 2:1 degree, 280 UCAS points, geographically mobile around the UK. You must be able to demonstrate leadership skills or potential. An interest in transport and logistics would be beneficial. For more information and to apply please email london.graduates@reedglobal. com quoting the Job ID above..
My client is looking for an ambitious graduate to join a growing team. Minimum requirements: you must be ambitious, money hungry and willing to put in the time for big reawards. For more information and to apply please email london. graduates@reedglobal.com quoting the Job ID above
My client is looking for intelligent, hard working graduates to join an elite company based in the city of London, you must have at least a 2.1 and 320 ucas points. For more information and to apply please email london.graduates@reedglobal. com quoting the Job ID above.
My client is looking for a ambitious graduates to join their expanding company. Although they are currently based in London they are looking to open additional offices over the UK due to a continued aggressive growth plan. You must be ambitious, have ay eye for detail and passionate about a career in finance ideally with a 2:1 from a related degree. For more information and to apply please email london. graduates@reedglobal.com quoting the Job ID above
(permanent)
(permanent)
(permanent)
(permanent)
My client, a top 4 accountancy practice have a few spaces left on their 2014 graduate scheme - 3 year program. Minimum requirements: 2:1 degree, 300 UCAS points, English/Maths GCSE A or B. You must have an interest in Audit, study support for ACA qualification available. For more information and to apply please email london. graduates@reedglobal.com quoting the Job ID above.
(permanent)
Job ID: UPF521698
To find out more and apply please visit http://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/graduate
WWW.CV-LIBRARY.CO.UK
SPECIAL
34
NOVEMBER 2014
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
ACCOMMODATION
Four housemates you WILL live with
A list of people you are most likely to share a house with By Chris Durston PHOTO CREDIT: SUM SZE TAM
FINDING PEOPLE to share a house with isn’t easy. In fact, it’s so difficult that, this year, I’m eschewing the pernickety process of picking people with whom to purchase property and instead living alone, like one of those weird fish that sort of pokes its head out to go to lectures but otherwise spends its time hidden under the sand doing whatever fish do. Wanking, probably. However, since I’ve already done the shared-house thing, here’s a quick rundown on optimising your chances of enjoying student cohabitation. You’ll need the following people: 1. THE LEADER Probably the most valuable person, since they should minimise your chances of being kicked out of your lovely grimy new student house without undue cause, Housemate #1 is the person who’ll take charge of sorting bills, utilities, talking to the landlord; he or she will be the one who knows which companies are owed what, and when. 2. THE CLEANER Let’s face it, only one person per house ever bothers doing any cleaning. And trust me: you’ll need that person. They’ll never admit to it, but the person easily swayed into doing everyone’s washing up is a valuable ally indeed. 3. THE COOK Everyone likes to eat, but who has the time and money to prepare decent food? Only The Cook: the sole housemate who knows their way around a recipe book. They’ll be invaluable at times, albeit annoyingly kitchen-hogging at others. 4. THE FUN And finally, do make sure there’s at least one person you’ll actually enjoy living with – otherwise, you’ve basically filled a house with assets and unwitting servants, none of whom you can potentially stand. It’d be a bit like being the president (but of somewhere really dull. Like Swansea).
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
35
NOVEMBER 2014
A GUIDE TO RENTING A GOOD PROPERTY
DISPELLING THE NOVEMBER MYTH: WHEN YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO SIGN
KIRSTY FARDELL
STEPHANIE POWELL
PHOTO CREDIT: CAROLINE HODGES
PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL O’CONNEL DAVIDSON
SPEAKING FROM experience, the letting agencies of Cardiff want your money (/student loan) and they want it NOW. This is why the famous ‘November myth’ came about. Agencies want to convince you that you’ll be rendered homeless if you haven’t signed for, paid your letting fees and put down a deposit before Christmas. This simply is not the case. With students making up over 20% of Cardiff’s population (and keeping a large proportion of take-aways and pubs going strong) you can bet the city has enough accommodation to keep you housed throughout your studies. While it may be true that cheaper and larger houses tend to go first, this doesn’t mean you will be left with an extortionately priced penthouse for one if you wait until Easter. When I was in halls last year I remember the majority of us falling for the ‘housing-rush’ trap, despite the fact that myself and my 3 housemates were given 7 pages of 4 bedroom houses to look through from just ONE agency. A group of 8 boys, however, had a much more relaxed approach and still landed an 8 bedroom house in a central location despite not signing until late February. I signed in November, hastily, and soon found we had been manipulated into a cheap house that was 25 minutes from campus. So, I warn you, take your time and make the right choice. It’s location, location, location NOT November, November, November.
WHEN LOOKING for a house in Cathays, you are inevitably trying to pick the best of a bad bunch. But there are some ways to difficult that, ensure you won’t be living in totally dismal e with whom conditions. Firstly, look at the front door’s eird fish lock, make sure its not flimsy – burglaries nds its time of student houses are rife in Cathays so y. knowing you have a decent lock will help to ere’s a quick put your mind at rest. Check the corners of bitation. rooms for damp patches, small patches can be fixed if you like the house and you can sign an agreement based on the landlord imise your fixing the issues. Turn on the shower to ent house see how powerful it is. There is little worse ake charge than moving in and finding out you have a will be the shower the equivalent of a drip. n. Ask about what belongs in the house – often students bring their own chest of any drawers or TV’s, so find out what will be ever admit there when you move in so you know what ashing up is to bring. If you’re viewing a house and the current occupiers are in, ask them about the house. They will know the ins and outs of prepare the place since they will be using all of the ws their way amenities. No house will be perfect, and if annoyingly it needs some things fixed then knowing about it before you sign the agreement is the best way to ensure the work gets done l actually before you move in. You can have certain se with conditions in your tenancy agreement that entially the landlord must do before you start living here really there, so get advice and take advantage of that when you can.
YOU AND THREE OF YOUR MATES COULD BE HEADING TO AMSTERDAM FOR VALHALLA FESTIVAL SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
FOLLOWING TWO SOLD OUT FESTIVALS, VALHALLA IS RETURNING ON DECEMBER 20TH FOR AN EVENING OF ACROBATICS, CLOWNING, FREAK AND PEEP SHOWS TO WIN FOUR FESTIVAL - NOT TO MENTION TICKETS SIMPLY EMAIL LIVE SHOWS FROM YOUR NAME, UNIVERSITY JORIS VOORN, KOLSCH, AND YEAR OF STUDENT BODDIKA, AMINE EDGE TO WIN@UNIPAPER.CO.UK AND DANCE. ENTRIES CLOSE ON DECEMBER 12TH GOOD LUCK!
VALHALLAFESTIVAL.NL
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
37
NOVEMBER 2014
SPORT
THE AMERICANISATION OF SPORTS AT UNIVERSITY ALEX MIARLI
NEW HOCKEY FIELD FOR CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY HOCKEY TEAM
PIC: CARDIFF UNI ICE HOCKEY
MUSTAFA HERSI
PIC: JOSEPH KIFF PHOTOGRAPHY
AS WE enter the 2014-15 hockey league season, Cardiff Metropolitan University have dedicated their ambition to replicate the success of the institutions other sports teams by investing in a state-of-the-art hockey field. The crisp, evenly laid surface allows for players to move the ball around with consummate ease, fizzing in a pass to a team mate or going for glory from distance. Cardiff Met boasts three women’s teams and one men’s team making it one of the most popular sports at the university.
In the 2013-14 season, two of the women’s hockey teams enjoyed success as they won their respective divisions. The triumph proved to be the start of a fantastic summer at the Cyncoed campus, where the majority of the universities hockey teams are based. And with the recently designed hockey field, the sides aim to build on that success and excel on their new stage. The new season begins this month and will end in February allowing for a season of ecstasy, joy and agony.
VARSITY 2015 ALEX MIARLI PIC: CARDIFF UNI RUGBY
WHETHER WE like it or not, we pride ourselves on our appearance and identity; the way we look, act and interact with each other is a trait we’re obsessed with. Stuck on the perpetual island that is Great Britain, generally speaking we like to stick with tradition and stay close to our British, Welsh or Scottish roots more than we think. Our national identity. But change is inevitable and change is constantly happening in this overlysaturated media-centralised world that we now live in. In recent years, the traditional face of British sports, such as Rugby, Football or Cricket is beginning to take the backburner, perhaps thanks to the recent poor performances of our country’s national teams or it could be other factors. This has begun to seep through to our youth to maybe look for other alternatives to spend their time, effort and money on.
Enter American sports. Across the pond lies the land of opportunity and the dawn of a new age of sport. The sporting scene in America is continually expanding, reaching out to all corners of the globe, whether it’s American Football, Lacrosse, Basketball or Baseball. Through the aid of globalisation and entities such as the internet, American sports are starting to cultivate a passionate fan-base here in the UK. By the time you reach university, there are hundreds of sports available for you to commit yourself to, including staples from the American sports diet. At Cardiff University alone, some of the biggest and fastest growing sports clubs that are available to everyone are those of Lacrosse, American Football and Ice Hockey. These clubs see annual recognition in terms of publicity, commitment and awards, with the Lacrosse club
running away with the Club of the Year award last year. Either way, the awareness of American sports continues to grow on a national level and sport governing bodies such as the NFL recognise this new demand; every year, certain teams contribute to the International Series where three NFL games are played in the UK at Wembley Stadium every October. These events continue to attract big crowds and it displays the support of American sports from all ages. Of course, American sports have not taken control or in fact the lead over the likes of Football here in the UK, but their presence is finally being noticed from a national aspect all the way through to a school level. It might take a while before a legendary QB such as Joe Montana will be as revered among students as renowned footballer George Best but perhaps a hostile takeover is imminent.
ON EVERY university calendar, the biggest event that everyone waits for is of course the illustrious affair known as Varsity. The heated showdown between Cardiff and Swansea every year is of course no exception. Over the course of a day, the two universities battle it out over an array of 30 different sports, from football to fencing that all culminate into one grudge match of epic proportions; the men’s rugby match. Thousands of students every year take the day off to enjoy the atmosphere,
experience the assortment of sports on display all while trying to demoralise the opposing team. But you all know that… What you may not know is that for the Varsity 2015, the location – which has found itself nestled nicely in Cardiff for the last four years straight – has just been uprooted and moved to Swansea for the second time in the last ten years (not counting the “neutral” Brewery Field in Bridgend). The legendary game of rugby that has been in the
open and spacious Millennium Stadium has just seen a shift to the up close and personal Liberty Stadium; closer to the action, closer to the trophy, closer to the blood, sweat and tears of the victors… and conquered. Does this mean that Swansea has the advantage? Of course not. When it comes to Varsity, there are no advantages. The location does not matter. All that matters is the overall result at the end of the day. So game on, Swansea.
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THE UNIVERSITY PAPER
NOVEMBER 2014
SPORT
PEAK PERFORMANCE
JASON ROBERTS
39
CARDIFF MET LADIES FOOTBALL TEAM PREPARE TO DEFEND FOUR TITLES MUSTAFA HERSI
PIC: JOSEPH KIFF PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO CREDIT: CARDIFF UNI AMERICAN FOOTBALL
BEFORE THE new season kicked off, the Cardiff Cobras tackled the Welsh Three Peaks challenge to raise money for Dorothy House Hospice On September 21st at 4:30am, a group of players from the Cardiff Cobras American Football Team began a grueling journey to the foot of Mt. Snowdon. Their aim was to climb Snowdon, Cadair Idris, and Pen Y Fan inside 24 hours, conquering the three highest summits in Wales. It was the first of many challenges that the Cobras will face this year. The Cobras will be pitted against UWE Bullets and Swansea Titans who were both leading teams in the division last year. But the Cobras have begun to climb in more ways than one, though.
IN THE world of football, a trophy is often a highly cherished and sought after commodity. A trophy win can bring elation and joy to the winning team but also can be a burden for the following season in which the team have to defend their trophy. This is the case for Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Ladies football team, however the task they face is not to defend just the one trophy, but four. After a magnificent season in the Women’s Welsh Premier League, the Welsh Women’s Cup, the Welsh Premier League Cup and the British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league, the team aim to fend off worthy competitors and repeat their past success in the 2014-15 football season. But how do you prepare for a season in which there can be no improvement in terms of trophies? Manager Kerry Harris spoke about the pressure and the expectation placed on her side. Harris states “for us, it’s about getting minor details right...if you get those right, on and off the field, often the other things will follow.” This may prove to be the ingredient to maintain an ever impressive ladies football team continuing to improve and welcome UEFA Women’s Champions League teams to the ground in the coming season. When asked about what the team looks for in recruiting new players, Harris says “we look for girls who show potential (and) are willing to commit fully to our programme”. This comes as no surprise as the fitness level of last season proved to contribute significantly to the team’s quadruple winning campaign. Frequent tactical changes and substitutions aided the Archers, the team’s nickname, in securing a number of vital wins. With such an impressive season, Cardiff Met Ladies F.C look to be going from strength to strength and encompass the rapidly developing status of women’s football. Harris goes on to comment on the status of women’s football and describes it as “constantly developing and evolving” but argues that “there is always room for improvement”. Though it may not have reached the dizzy heights of men’s football, in terms of global appeal and financial strength, there is no argument that women’s football is stronger than ever – and at this moment in time, Cardiff Met Ladies F.C can be seen as the Vanguard of university women’s football.
YOU AND THREE OF YOUR MATES COULD BE HEADING TO AMSTERDAM FOR VALHALLA FESTIVAL SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
FOLLOWING TWO SOLD OUT FESTIVALS, VALHALLA IS RETURNING ON DECEMBER 20TH FOR AN EVENING OF ACROBATICS, CLOWNING, FREAK AND PEEP SHOWS TO WIN FOUR FESTIVAL - NOT TO MENTION TICKETS SIMPLY EMAIL LIVE SHOWS FROM YOUR NAME, UNIVERSITY JORIS VOORN, KOLSCH, AND YEAR OF STUDENT BODDIKA, AMINE EDGE TO WIN@UNIPAPER.CO.UK AND DANCE. ENTRIES CLOSE ON DECEMBER 12TH GOOD LUCK!
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