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SIMON AMSTELL: HOW I DEALT WITH PROBLEMS OF BEING A HUMAN BEING

DAUBS OF HATE THAT SCARE US Islamophobic and anti-Semitic graffiti found on campus

United: A protester holds up a placard at a UoB demo following the spread of racist graffiti

PICTURE: GEORGIA TINDALE

MUSLIM and Jewish students say they are increasingly fearful of being attacked after a wave of hate-filled graffiti on university buildings. Students have found a swastika with the words ‘Islam must die’ written on a wall, a message left in a toilet block said ‘kill Islam before it kills you’ and another Islamophobic insult was daubed on the wall of a girls’ toilet. The incidents, at the University of Birmingham, came shortly before a YouTube video was uploaded showing a member of far-right group National Action spraying anti-Semitic graffiti in the student-heavy area of Selly Oak. Police are investigating and examining CCTV on campus and elsewhere. However, many Muslim and Jewish students are concerned for their safety around campus. Humma Mouzam, a second-year English student,

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said: ‘The recent events on campus have been devastating to both the Muslim and Jewish community at UoB. ‘The graffiti was a highly public display of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism and the effect on students has been serious. ‘I think the graffiti has made many Muslims feel unsafe, myself included. ‘University campuses are supposed to promote security and solidarity for all students, showing recognition and support to all racial and ethnic diversities.’ Humma went on to criticise the ‘silence’ of the university in condemning the incidents which, he said, was not helping to ease the ‘shock and fear’ among Muslims and Jews. The graffiti, discovered as students returned in the new year, was found on the walls of a psychology building, in the girls’ toilets at the Guild of

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February 2015

TV fashion favourite tells of struggle with ‘parasite’ anorexia

Gok: My battle to beat my demons LAURA PEBERDAY FASHION guru Gok Wan revealed some of his most harrowing life experiences in a talk to Birmingham City University students and staff. The TV presenter, who has an honorary doctorate from BCU, spoke out about his struggles with anorexia and obesity as part of the 2015 City Talks Series. He told interviewer Mark Williams-Thomas: ‘I struggle with anorexia every day – it’s like a parasite that won’t go away. ‘Realising it doesn’t go away is the biggest weapon. ‘To get through the dark times, you need to remember that life is short and therefore you really need to focus on the good stuff. ‘The little things that worry you are those that will ultimately fuel your success. One day when you’re lying on your death bed, what will you be thinking? Worrying about how you look – or whether you made the most out of life?’ He also discussed his childhood troubles, telling the audience: ‘I grew up on a tough council estate.

We were the only Asian family on the estate. I was fat, half-Chinese and camp… yeah, it was great fun. ‘When you’re told repeatedly you’re fat, you’re gay, you’re this, that and the other, you start believing it. Instead of hiding away from the bullies, I became loud and used my size and big voice to attack them back. I became really naughty and got kicked out of school at 15.’ The floor was opened up to audience members and BCU’s Kerry Gough, a senior lecturer in media and communication, asked what advice he would give to students struggling with deadlines. Gok replied: ‘Who here genuinely likes what they are doing? It’s got to be about whether you enjoy it, whether that’s fashion, or being a student, a friend or a neighbour. ‘Even embrace the stress and the taking too many Pro Plus to get your essay done, and the late nights. All of that negative is your strength – it’s your tool. It powers you and keeps you moving. ‘Be grateful – count yourself lucky you’re doing something that Smiling through: Gok Wan spoke to Mark Williams-Thomas, inset, about exhausts you.’ his childhood and his career in a talk at BCU PICTURES: GARRY KNIGH/TAINE TAGON

We are equals in his eyes n In the audience was Aine Tagon, fashion business and promotion student at BCU. This is taken from ainetagon.blogspot.co.uk BEING called fat, faggot, among others, destroyed Gok Wan’s self-esteem and put him in a bad place. Struggling with not fitting in is something we can all relate to. Having to overcome obstacles like coming out and beating anorexia – it wasn’t the road to stardom everyone dreams of. One thing he said, however, played on my mind over and over. He said all the things they picked on him for is what makes him unique and what played a massive part in him in the job he loves so much. I agree... sometimes what makes you different is the best thing about you, and that’s what you take forward to create your selling point. He doesn’t feel the need to put anyone down and he is all about making others believe they are beautiful. He clearly appreciated and respected everyone as an individual, which is something I feel some people in today’s society need a lot more of. Gok believes that ‘as a stylist I have to enjoy every facet of fashion, be it tracksuits or rock chic – it all has a place in fashion’.

February 2015

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Three in four ‘unaware of voter changes’ LAURA PEBERDAY THOUSANDS of students in Birmingham are unaware they may be unable to vote in May’s general election following a change to the registration system, a TUP survey has revealed. About 75 per cent of undergraduates said they did not know the system was changed last summer, meaning those living in halls will no longer be automatically registered. Daniel Gray, a computer science student at Birmingham City University, said: ‘I am not sure whether I am registered to vote or not. ‘To say the change in system was introduced months ago... no-one has been told any-

Have your say: A student votes PICTURE: FRANSISCO OSORIO thing. I like to keep up to date with the news and regularly read the news online but this hasn’t been covered or discussed anywhere. It is like we are being ignored.’ Richard Davies, chairman of

the BCU students’ union student council and a member of the democracy committee, said the student vote was ‘vitally important’. He added: ‘Students tend to be densely located within certain regions and constituencies, which will then influence the vote and act as swing constituencies. ‘If more students are registered to vote, politicians will lobby student issues more, thus benefiting students in the long run and allowing them to have a say on environmental, economic and foreign policy.’ The deadline to register is April 20 and can be done online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

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MURDEROUS THOUGHTS: Criminologist Prof David Wilson is delving into the warped minds of serial killers for a new TV series. The Birmingham City University academic is looking at seven notorious cases for the Channel 5 programme Killer Psychopaths which begins this month. However, he will also ask why some psychopaths go on to kill but others become successful in business and politics

contactLIST Email us at birminghameditor@unipaper.co.uk EDITOR: GEORGIA TINDALE News editor (UOB): Ellicia Pendle News editor (BCU): Laura Peberday News editor (ASTON): Hannah Shepherd Comment editor: Keisha Fraser-Bruce

What’s on editor: Shanice Abbott Accommodation editor: Jakub Szweda Sports editors: Yashi Banymadhub and Ross Watson

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February 2015

Religious societies rally against racists

Far right rejects a mythical mosque THOUSANDS of people have signed a petition against the building of a ‘mega-mosque’ – despite the fact the plans do not exist. Almost 5,000 supporters of the Britain First campaign are fighting against a new mosque in the Acocks Green area of Birmingham. But local councillor Roger Harmer said no proposals have been submitted. Rachel Mengham, a second-year geography student, said: ‘Campaigns like this show that Britain First are desperate to rile people up in their crusade against Islam, even going to the lengths of creating protests against issues that don’t exist.’ The far-right political party Britain First declined to comment on why they had reported construction of a new mosque in the area. Sarah James

All rainbow colours here THE University of Birmingham has been named as one of the nation’s top gayfriendly places to work. It was ranked 79th in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers 2015 list. Vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Eastwood said: ‘I am delighted Stonewall has recognised our commitment to equality and fairness for LGBT staff.’

from p1

Sickening: Swastikas and ‘Islam must die’ are sprayed on a wall. Left, a toilet is shut off after graffiti is found

Students and in toilets at the arts building. The UoB Jewish Society and the Islamic Society released a joint statement condemning those responsible. ‘These intolerable smears and destructive vandalism violate our common values and commitment to respect and tolerance of different cultures and beliefs,’ it said. ‘Let this message be clear: while we do not agree about everything, our communities will stick together and defy any

racist and xenophobic attempts to intimidate us, both at the University of Birmingham and further afield.’ A UoB spokesman added: ‘While we respect the right of all individuals to the freedom of speech, we strive to ensure vigilance against extremism or discriminatory behaviour.’ In response to the graffiti and to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, a Solidarity Against Fascism demo was held outside the Main Library, where students carried placards and chanted for diversity.

Cut-price booze night is axed after backlash 306_129.5x162.5_StudentOffer_312768.ai

JAKUB SZWEDA A CLUB in Birmingham ditched its bargain booze night after being condemned for promising to sell drinks for less than £1. Electric, in Hurst Street, faced criticism over plans to sell drinks for 80p at its Twisted Mondays event on February 2. The night, which coincides with the end of exams, also offered £4 entry. But despite the backlash, students from Birmingham have come out in support of the club night. Kristian Baycroft Willmott, a student at Birmingham City University, said: ‘If the council sees nothing wrong with the promotion, then this should not be an issue.’ Fellow BCU student Rhys Williams added: ‘I understand that irresponsible drinking should not be promoted – but people should be able to make their own

choices.’ Birmingham City Council, which controls licensing, also stated that the event did not appear to contravene Home Office guidelines. However, Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Edgbaston, said the club was promoting ‘utterly irresponsible and heavy drinking on a Monday night’. She also questioned whether the cheap drinks night would overload A&E departments, adding low prices encouraged quick consumption of large amounts of alcohol. And Debbie Bannigan, chief executive of alcohol charity Swanswell, said: ‘It is not just about the consumer taking responsibility. ‘It is also up to clubs, pubs, and bars to sell alcohol responsibly and play their part in minimising harm.’ Electric did not respond to The University Paper’s request for comment.

Ex-footie boss donates £1m

Gift: Sir Doug

FORMER Aston Villa chairman Sir Doug Ellis has donated more than £1million towards two University of Birmingham buildings. The entrepreneur is helping to fund the UoB School and the Institute of Translational Medicine. The school, which is set to open in the summer, will tutor

GCSE and A-level students, while the ITM centre will aim to cure disease and save lives through pioneering science. Sir Doug said: ‘As a cancer survivor myself, I felt compelled to support this exciting new approach that will touch the lives of so many patients.’

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February 2015

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Lad culture is stopping women in uni politics MATT BULLIN WOMEN are being scared off university politics by sexist behaviour, a students’ guild leader has warned. Speaking ahead of this year’s officer elections, women’s officer Nora Selmani, from the University of Birmingham, said: ‘Lad culture permeates all aspects of student life, meaning it can be especially difficult for women to put themselves forward. ‘Often it is their personal lives rather than their policies that come under intense scru-

tiny. This is something that their male counterparts simply don’t have to deal with. ‘The guild’s officer team is around 50/50 for this academic year but this should be the norm, rather than being an exception.’ She added she was proud to be at the university when a female guild president was re-elected for the first time. Her remarks come after the university sent an open letter to its 30,000 students encouraging young women to get involved in university politics. UoB’s letter said: ‘Women

inBRIEF

Doubt is cast on killings by nurse

Reclaim the night: Nora, right, and previous women’s officer Mae Rohani should not miss out on the opportunity to be a sabbatical officer, simply because the stats are against them. ‘Running to be a guild officer can be a bit of male-dominated affair, and year after year, a significant majority of candidates are men. We

can’t help but think that it’s because we don’t see women in positions in power.’ Natalie Wellings, an English literature and creative writing student, said: ‘Lad culture is an issue we can’t ignore as it not only strives to be overtly sexist but also trivialises

a serious issue that many young women are facing.’ The vote, on March 2, will fill the seats of seven full-time and 11 part-time officers for the 2015/16 academic year. Posts up for grabs include president, education officer, sports officer and welfare officer.

Bid to end the sexist conduct on our campus A JOINT campaign has been launched to eradicate lads culture on campus. Not On, by the Guild Of Students and the University of Birmingham, will tackle harassment following growing concern over sexist behaviour. Under the initiative, staff are being asked to challenge sexual harassment and report inappropriate conduct. People can show their support by signing the Not On pledge.

In a joint statement, the two groups said: ‘Sexual harassment constitutes behaviour that is unwanted and sexual in nature. Sexual harassment is not only physical behaviour but includes anything that is sexual in nature and leaves another person feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, humiliated or offended.’ The project was launched with a film featuring GB Paralympic gold medallist Pam Relph – a former Birmingham student.

Not On: Great Britain Paralympian Pam Relph MBE

TWO criminologists have thrown doubt on the case of convicted murderer Colin Norris after the trial jury foreman said he did not believe he was guilty. Birmingham City University’s Prof David Wilson and Dr Elizabeth Yardley found that Norris did not share the usual nine characteristics of serial killer nurses. They examined nurses convicted of serial murder between 1977 and 2009 using a criminological checklist of 22 factors – red flags – and found a cluster of between five to nine indicators of behaviour. Norris, from Glasgow, was said to have killed four elderly patients in a Leeds hospital but met just two of the red flags – the lowest of all those studied. He was convicted in 2008 but the jury foreman now says he does not believe any murder was conmmitted at all.

Just honour for activist AN inner-city campaigner has received an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University. Communist activist Salma Yaqoob has tirelessly campaigned for equality and justice in the city, focusing on local issues, including reducing education gaps. She is aso a former integrative psychotherapy and counselling student at the university.

Praises sung of composer A CELEBRATION of one of the greats of Russian music is being held this month. Birmingham Conservatoire, which is part of Birmingham City University, will mark the centenary of composer Alexander Skryabin’s death with its Skryabin And The Russians Festival. Events are running from February 11 to 22.

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February 2015

HE’S ELECTRIC... DESIGNERS FACE OFF

In the fast lane: Team Mo’cedes test out their electric car design, which took them ten weeks to build IT WAS more Wacky Races than Formula 1 when engineering students from Aston University went wheel-to-wheel at the annual Electric Car Race. Crazy inventions by the first years

had everything from speakers on the cars playing Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball to wing mirrors and party poppers as accessories. Teams were challenged to build a single-seater electric car during

their first semester, then assessed on criteria including style and build quality. Ben Rahimi, of team Mo’cedes, said: ‘After weeks of planning and building, to finally see it around that track is amazing.’

Want cash? You’re in the right place... CATHERINE THICKETT GRADUATES from the University of Birmingham are in the top ten earners in the nation, new figures show. UoB alumni get paid, on average, £46,500 within five years of leaving, according to research conducted by wage analysts Emolument.com. Rachel Helfer, an investment helpdesk consultant and history graduate from UoB, said: ‘Birmingham is an excellent university which attracts a wide range of students with many interests. ‘As a renowned red-brick university, it appeals to many top graduate employers and provides its undergraduates with the skills required to

In work: Rachel Helfer thanks UoB for her role succeed in many sectors. Birmingham has given me the confidence in both the value of my degree and the activities I undertook to excel and enjoy my job. Although I didn’t do a finance-related degree, the transferable skills I picked up during my time helped me to succeed in the working world.’ Eluned Jones, the univer-

sity’s director of employability, said: ‘We are delighted that this survey reinforces the benefits of studying at Birmingham. ‘More than 84 per cent of our 2013 graduates were in professional employment or graduate-level further study within six months of graduating. ‘This is a strong basis on which to improve their salary earnings.’ The top earners were London Business School leavers who, on average, brought in £69,000 a year. Data was collected anonymously from more than 35,000 individuals spread across hundreds of different professions, sectors, locations and university courses.

Eco exam fail for not giving in homework THE University of Birmingham has scored a big fat zero for failing to co-operate with a test of its green credentials. It flunked after studentbased charity People and Planet rated universities for their environmental achievements based on factors such as ethical investment, workers’ rights and sustainable food. People and Planet said it was unimpressed the uni failed to provide any details. It added: ‘When students ask their universities what they’re doing to meet the biggest challenges of our time, we would expect them to answer.’ The UoB’s environmental and ethical officer, Christopher Jarrold, said: ‘The university has missed out on a great opportunity to show nationally and to its own students its progress

n WANT to find out more about wildlife on campus or cycling, go on a wellbeing walk or visit an ‘eco-market’? Aston University is holding a five-day programme of free events for its Go Green Week. The activities run from February 10 to February 14 and a full list of events can be seen at www.aston. ac.uk/go-green-week.

towards an absolutely zerocarbon institution. ‘In 2014, the university managed to exceed its 2020 target of a reduction ahead of schedule, reducing carbon emissions by 20 per cent compared with the 2006 baseline levels.’ Aston won a first-class rating and Birmingham City University got a 2:1. Natalie Wellings

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February 2015

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talkingPOINTS

Comment, opinion and the occasional wild rant from our student writers across the country

Top dog Farage will get my vote MANDY FULLER ‘WHO are you going to vote for?’ is one of the most-asked questions at the moment. With the general election in May, the major parties don’t have long to win us round. Personally, I’d rather have a tea party than the Labour Party... but I can’t see the Great British public voting for that. However, I am genuinely tempted to vote Ukip. No, I haven’t lost my mind. I believe every dog has his day and, let’s face it, Nigel Farage is a bit of a dog – in that bloodhound, jowly cheek look he wears so well. As a student, I

Future PM?: Ukip leader Nigel Farage PICTURE: TWITTER often have to work long hours for s*** money, so any man that promises I don’t have to pay tax because I’m on the minimum wage is the man for me. I don’t

care if he’s branded a racist misogynist – and, as a black girl, that should really bother me. I want to keep more of my hard-earned cash. The main reason I’m going to vote Ukip is because of their pledge to remove tuition fees for university students on certain courses, based on academic performance. Let’s face it, the political party that allows me to take home more of my wages and cuts tuition fees – allowing me to spend more on my alcoholic, party-animal lifestyle – is definitely the political party for me. Nigel Farage for prime minister!

If you spot an error, we are committed to putting it right. Contact us at corrections@unipaper.co.uk. If you do not wish to receive a copy, then email us with your address at nothanks@unipaper.co.uk. We print 200,000 copies in 16 university cities. The University Paper is published by The UniPaper Ltd, in association with Simian Publishing, 23-24 Margaret Street, London W1W 8RU. Printed by Newsquest, Oxford.

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PARTY POOPER: The words ‘house party’ and ‘danger’ go hand in hand. Waking up in a bleary-eyed haze to find someone has scrawled rude drawings in permanent marker on the kitchen walls or to discover vomit that hasn’t quite made the toilet bowl has to be among every host’s worst nightmare. So, is that ‘small gathering’ that you were about to publish on Facebook (accidentally without the ‘invite-only’ setting) worth it? Michael Quinn

PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/KF

EXAM STRESS: We are constantly being told that today’s youth has it far too easy when it comes to education, so there is now a demand for exambased learning. Surely it is counterproductive to only be tested on less than ten per cent of what you have learnt in the space of a couple of hours while under intense pressure? Students should be encouraged to exercise their skills about the subject thoroughly and this is best achieved through coursework. It also allows a student to choose their own question, encouraging them to pursue and expand their own ideas which they are passionate about Natalie Wellings

I HEART VALENTINE’S: Whatever complaints the anti-Valentine’s brigade has, no-one can resist the excitement of knowing someone out there holds a special place for you in their heart. Regardless of the tacky merchandise of February 14 and the 11million additional texts sent on the day of love, the simplistic act of giving an anonymous card will undoubtedly bring a smile to anyone’s face Lucy Kehoe

PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/ FLICKRLICKR

LOVE SICK: Whether you’re single or taken, Valentine’s is utter tripe. I just don’t think a heart-shaped box filled with cheap chocolates picked up from Card Factory for 99p, or an over-sized teddy bear that will ultimately be abandoned once the endorphin-filled day loses all its glory, class as romance. Watching couples flap about confessing their undying love for one another because they are compelled to do so really does have me contemplating shooting a fat little Cupid’s arrow through my own head Ema Brewer

COST OF EDUCATION: Students shouldn’t get a free ride – but getting a degree surely isn’t a free ride? The truth is – as if you hadn’t noticed – the economy is on the fritz and paying for higher education seems to be a knee-jerk reaction. Instead of genuine economic pragmatism, paying for education is yet more evidence that austerity is ruining people’s outlook. Saddling ambitious, forward-thinking students with debt – or, worse, making further education unavailable to some – is regressive in the most devastating way. Student Loans has already lost a load of tuition fees, the rest won’t ever get paid back – why not just scrap them altogether, George? Joe Evans

DIS-MAY: I agree with chancellor at the University of Birmingham Lord Bilimoria, who has attacked Theresa May’s plan to clear out non-EU international students from the UK. Closing Britain off to foreign students would damage its reputation as a nation that attracts talent from all over the world and cut off important cultural ties. Every international student pays thousands of pounds more than any British student each year and they do not get a loan like home students. It seems like Theresa May’s plan doesn’t have either economic reasoning or support behind it Natalia Alyukova

You can read fuller versions of these pieces at www.unipaper.co.uk. Then, let us know what you think; email us at comment@unipaper.co.uk

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February 2015

theINTERVIEW: Simon Amstell

The journey to a comedy awakening S

IMON AMSTELL is delving into his psyche. Describing his �irst taste of the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca during a trip to Peru – the inspiration for his latest stand-up tour, To Be Free – he says it failed to transform his thoughts in the way locals and gap year truth-seekers had claimed. ‘I imagined afterwards I’d have the feeling of total peace and serenity and I’d no longer feel stuck or limited,’ he says. ‘But despite this life-changing, profound, unexplainable experience, I’m still imprisoned by my own various insecurities.’ These stubborn doubts seem to be almost an asset for the 35-year-old, who does not shy away from letting his �laws take centre-stage. ‘My last tours were both quite… sad,’ he laughs. ‘Loneliness and the feeling of disconnection were big themes. However, this one is about me trying to �ind total freedom in my life. ‘I no longer feel as broken or troubled, so I think there’s generally more joy in this show. Although I’m still dealing with all the various problems of being a human being, they’re not quite as tragic as they were in previous shows. ‘I think I’m now closer to a fully functioning

TV presenter-turned-comedian Simon Amstell talks to CASSIE DONEY about psychadelics, clowning, Buddhism and the struggle to become a functioning human being human being than I’ve ever been.’ But the trope of the troubled comic has endured, partly through 2012 sitcom Grandma’s House, where his drifting ex-TV presenter character’s situation seemed to mirror his own life following Never Mind The Buzzcocks. He sees his ability to turn pain into humour as a survival skill. ‘If I didn’t have comedy as a career, I’d be desperately trying to �ind some other way to cope,’ he says. ‘I’d probably be in therapy full time.’ Although his stand-up show touches on the politics of the meat industry and the ‘absurdity’ of having a royal family, Amstell is not mounting a Russell Brand-style call for revolution quite yet. ‘I think the best thing for me to be doing is to retain the mask of the clown, where the clown is cheekily questioning things around him,’ he says. ‘I think the moment you become the politician, you lose the clown. And I feel like the clown is freer than the politician.’ The role of clown is one Amstell takes seriously. He

studied at Philippe Gaulier’s prestigious clown school in Paris – an experience he likens to an aspect of Zen Buddhism, where young monks are given puzzles to solve. ‘The reason they’re so tricky is that the mind can’t solve these puzzles,’ Amstell says. ‘The solution was to throw away rational thought – to be instinctive and childlike. And I wasn’t good at any of those things.’ Not all clowning around has been worth it, though. ‘I learnt to juggle as a kid,’ he says. ‘It doesn’t get you sex. It gets people to look at you for about 30 seconds, and then they go and look at something else.’ Watching acts at the Edinburgh Fringe, things �inally clicked, however. ‘The performers I found funny were the ones who had a sense of childlike wonder,’ he says. ‘Because everything is essentially ridiculous – and, through comedy, you can express that ridiculousness of everything we experience being an absurd illusion created by our ego monkey minds.’ He pauses. ‘There’s a quote for you.’

SIMON AMSTELL plays Liverpool on February 12, Bristol on February 26, Coventry on March 5 and Glasgow on March 18 and 19

Long trip: A Peruvian drug inspired Simon Amstell’s tour

INSIDE: Toddla T looks to lose his mind, The Wombats go wonky and Sigma make a racket

February 2015

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clubbingCALENDAR monday, feb 9 Loaded, Gatecrasher, £5 Monday Madness, The Hub, £5 Jam Jah Sound, The Bull’s Head, free Room Service, Mooch Bar, free before 10pm MotoMo Mondays, The Lord Clifden, free

tuesday, feb 17 Milkshake, Gatecrasher, £5 Stupid Tuesday, Bliss, £4 90s Night, Tunnel Club, £10 Frat House, Bar Risa, free before 10pm

wednesday, feb 25 Big Wednesday, Snobs, £5 Hooch, Mooch Bar, early bird tickets £3 Uncle Zubo’s Student Party, Rainbow, TBC I Love Tom’s Mom, Walkabout, £4

thursday, mar 5 Get It On Thursdays, Gatecrasher, £4 before midnight, £7 after Pounded, Nightingale Club, £5 Minted, Mechu, £5 Miami Thursdays, Bliss, free before midnight House Party Thursdays, Bambu, £3

tuesday, feb 10 Milkshake, Gatecrasher, £5 Stupid Tuesday, Bliss, £4 90s Night, Tunnel Club, £10 Frat House, Bar Risa, free before 10pm

wednesday, feb 18

wednesday, feb 11 Big Wednesday, Snobs, £5 Hooch, Mooch Bar, early bird tickets £3 Uncle Zubo’s Student Party, Rainbow, TBC I Love Tom’s Mom, Walkabout, £4

thursday, feb 12 Get It On Thursdays, Gatecrasher, £4 before midnight, £7 after Pounded, Nightingale Club, £5 Minted, Mechu, £5 Miami Thursdays, Bliss, free before midnight House Party Thursdays, Bambu, £3

thursday, feb 19

friday, feb 20

Get It On Thursdays, Gatecrasher, £4 before midnight, £7 after Pounded, Nightingale Club, £5 Minted, Mechu, £5 Miami Thursdays, Bliss, free before midnight House Party Thursdays, Bambu, £3

Propaganda, O2 Academy Birmingham, £5 Lush Fridays, Sense, free before midnight, £5 after Infusion, Nightingale Club, £2 VIP Fridays, Mono Bar, free before 10.30pm, £5 after Billionaire, Players Bar, £4

thursday, feb 26

friday, feb 27

saturday, feb 28

Get It On Thursdays, Gatecrasher, £4 before midnight, £7 after Pounded, Nightingale Club, £5 Minted, Mechu, £5 Miami Thursdays, Bliss, free before midnight House Party Thursdays, Bambu, £3

Playhouse, Karma, free before 12pm, £5 after Sobar Saturdays, Sobar, free before 10pm Face, The Rainbow Venues, tickets vary CoCo, Chi Bar, £5 before 10pm Bhangra Night, Aura, free before 1am Elegance, Sense, free before 10pm

friday, mar 6

saturday, mar 7

sunday, march 8

Big Wednesday, Snobs, £5 Hooch, Mooch Bar, early bird tickets £3 Uncle Zubo’s Student Party, Rainbow, TBC I Love Tom’s Mom, Walkabout, £4

Propaganda, O2 Academy Birmingham, £5 Lush Fridays, Sense, free before midnight, £5 after Infusion, Nightingale Club, £2 VIP Fridays, Mono Bar, free before 10.30pm Billionaire, Players Bar, £4 Nineties Disco, Red Lion, free

Playhouse, Karma, free before 12pm, £5 after Sobar Saturdays, Sobar, free before 10pm, £2 after Face, The Rainbow Venues, tickets vary CoCo, Chi Bar, £5 before 10pm Bhangra Night, Aura, free before 1am

The Sunday And I, Suki10c, free Confidential Sundays, Mooch Bar, free RLA Sundays, Revolution, £5 Cream Sundaes, Sense, £5 Sin Sundays, Bambu, £10 guest list

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February 2015

clubbingCALENDAR friday, feb 13 Propaganda, O2 Academy Birmingham, £5 Lush Fridays, Sense, free before midnight, £5 after Infusion, Nightingale Club, £2 VIP Fridays, Mono Bar, free before 10.30pm Billionaire, Players Bar, £4 An Evening with Spinx, Bull’s Head, free

saturday, feb 14 Playhouse, Karma, free before 12pm, £5 after Sobar Saturdays, Sobar, free before 10pm Face, The Rainbow Venues, tickets vary CoCo, Chi Bar, £5 before 10pm Bhangra Night, Aura, free before 1am The Valentines Ball, O2 Academy 2, £19+

saturday, feb 21 Playhouse, Karma, free before 12pm, £5 after Sobar Saturdays, Sobar, free before 10pm Face, The Rainbow Venues, tickets vary CoCo, Chi Bar, £5 before 10pm Bhangra Night, Aura, free before 1am Pleasure Ladies Night, The Hub, £10+

sunday, feb 22 The Sunday And I, Suki10c, free Confidential Sundays, Mooch Bar, free RLA Sundays, Revolution, £5 Cream Sundaes, Sense, £5 Sin Sundays, Bambu, £10 guest list

sunday, mar 1 The Sunday And I, Suki10c, free Confidential Sundays, Mooch Bar, free RLA Sundays, Revolution, £5 Cream Sundaes, Sense, £5 Sin Sundays, Bambu, £10 guest list

monday, mar 2 Loaded, Gatecrasher, £5 Monday Madness, The Hub, £5 Jam Jah Sound, The Bull’s Head, free Room Service, Mooch Bar, free before 10pm MotoMo Mondays, The Lord Clifden, free

monday, mar 9 Loaded, Gatecrasher, £5 Monday Madness, The Hub, £5 Jam Jah Sound, The Bull’s Head, free Room Service, Mooch Bar, free before 10pm MotoMo Mondays, The Lord Clifden, free

tuesday, mar 10 Milkshake, Gatecrasher, £5 Stupid Tuesday, Bliss, £4 90s Night, Tunnel Club, £10 Frat House, Bar Risa, free before 10pm

sunday, feb 15 The Sunday And I, Suki10c, free Confidential Sundays, Mooch Bar, free RLA Sundays, Revolution, £5 Cream Sundaes, Sense, £5 Sin Sundays, Bambu, £10 guest list

monday, feb 23

Loaded, Gatecrasher, £5 Monday Madness, The Hub, £5 Jam Jah Sound, The Bull’s Head, free Room Service, Mooch Bar, free before 10pm MotoMo Mondays, The Lord Clifden, free

tuesday, mar 3 Milkshake, Gatecrasher, £5 Stupid Tuesday, Bliss, £4 90s Night, Tunnel Club, £10 Frat House, Bar Risa, free before 10pm

wednesday, mar 11 Big Wednesday, Snobs, £5 Hooch, Mooch Bar, early bird tickets £3 Uncle Zubo’s Student Party, Rainbow, TBC I Love Tom’s Mom, Walkabout, £4

monday, feb 16 Loaded, Gatecrasher, £5 Monday Madness, The Hub, £5 Jam Jah Sound, The Bull’s Head, free Room Service, Mooch Bar, free before 10pm MotoMo Mondays, The Lord Clifden, free

tuesday, feb 24 Milkshake, Gatecrasher, £5 Stupid Tuesday, Bliss, £4 90s Night, Tunnel Club, £10 Frat House, Bar Risa, free before 10pm

wednesday, mar 4 Big Wednesday, Snobs, £5 Hooch, Mooch Bar, early bird tickets £3 Uncle Zubo’s Student Party, Rainbow, TBC I Love Tom’s Mom, Walkabout, £4

thursday, mar 12 Get It On Thursdays, Gatecrasher, £4 before midnight, £7 after Pounded, Nightingale Club, £5 Minted, Mechu, £5 Miami Thursdays, Bliss, free before midnight House Party Thursdays, Bambu, £3

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February 2015

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what’sON pick of the month

CLUBBING AS A student, I have come to know it as Props or Ganda – names acquired through numerous group chats over the years. But every Friday, Birmingham’s O2 Academy, in Bristol Street, opens its doors for what is generally known as Propaganda. The main room, the life of the party, is adorned with an array of swirling light projections, headed by the trustworthy stage, a podium for the DJ. If you can remember a time when My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy were musical gods, then Propaganda is the place to go for a spot of nostalgic revelling. Crowd-pleasers such as FOB’s Sugar, We’re Going Down and Arctic Monkey’s R U Mine? blast through bass-tastic speakers, giving the room an electric atmosphere. But if all the headbanging and foot stomping becomes too strenuous, there are two other rooms offering pop and

Rock steady: Claudia Knight (far left) and her mates having a Propa good time PICTURE: PROPAGANDA

house alternatives... for those in the know. If you ask clubbers who don’t frequent the venue often, you’ll find this is not common knowledge. I didn’t discover them until

COMEDY IT’S not easy to say... but Omid Djalili’s new tonguetwisting stand-up show, Iranalamadingdong, is coming to Birmingham. The British–Iranian comic burst on to the comedy scene in 1995 with his hit show, Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner’s Son, at the Edinburgh Fringe. Since then, he has gone on to star in box office smashes, including Gladiator and The Mummy, and win a number of awards for his subversive comedy. On February 13, at the Symphony Hall, he discusses getting over your fears, the perils of celebrity and getting older. Georgia Tindale

mistakenly wandering off to find the girls’ toilets one night. The rooms could be advertised better by the owners to attract a more diverse crowd. Despite

this, you will undoubtedly enjoy a night reminiscing about the days when your skinnies cut off your blood flow and you face was mostly fringe. Claudia Knight

defies this old adage by retelling Tim Burton’s classic tale – solely through dance. The dark fantasy follows the story of Edward, who has to carve out a life for himself in a strange suburban world after his creator dies, leaving him with scissors for hands. The unlucky boy struggles with a community who find it difficult to see past his abnormalities. The Bourne version has been touring the globe, from Plymouth to Tokyo, since 2005. It will stop off at Birmingham’s Hippodrome from February 10 to 14. Tickets start from £22.50.

THEATRE AT SCHOOL we were told never to run with scissors – it was too dangerous. Choreographer Matthew Bourne’s adaptation of Edward Scissorhands

Cut up: Edward Scissorhands

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February 2015

what’sON

Our comprehensive guide to entertainment in Birmingham. If you have an event which you would like included please email us at whatson@unipaper.co.uk

Olden... but still Golden Punk’s ‘old farts’ hit the road again The Stranglers are back in Glastonbury’s good books and still bringing the house down with Golden Brown. Now, they are happily hitting the road again after 41 years together, as frontman Baz Warne tells SHANICE ABBOTT

OW does it feel to be back on tour together? It always feels special. We feel proud of what we’ve achieved and that we’re still able to go out there. Birmingham’s O2 is one we always look forward to because of its size. Did you ever think you would be so successful in the business for so long? No – I don’t think any of us thought we’d be in it for 40 minutes, never mind 40 years! How important is it that your fans have stayed loyal to you? We would not exist without the fans coming to see us and buying our music. Now, because we’re such old farts, they bring their children – and, sometimes, their children’s children. It’s been 41 years since the band formed. What’s been your highlight? One was when we played Glastonbury in 2010 because they’d said ‘over their dead bodies’ would they ever have The

Stranglers on. There was some trouble back in the early days when we were less than complimentary to the people. But 80,000 people came out to see us anyway – it was fantastic. Can we expect a new album this year? We have been knocking ideas around and emailing each other snippets of music. But these days we live spread out across the UK from each other. I wouldn’t totally say there will be an album this year – but there could be one next year. What inspired you to re-form for your 40th anniversary last year? We’d never really broken up. We were just on a break. We all have our own lives now – but it doesn’t matter how old you get or how successful you are, you always want to go back. What’s the one song that gets the crowd going? I would have thought the obvious – Golden Brown. I mean, our audience is built with some very die-hard fans, so they’re probably

Back in black: (l-r) Baz Warne, Jet Black, JJ Burnel and Dave Greenfield

sick to death of hearing that song. But that’s the one we perform and the place just blows up. Where has been your favourite place to tour and why? We did a memorable tour in Australia with Blondie and David Bowie. I mean, we’ve toured with them lots of times over the years, so we know them quite well. But these big tours we always look forward to. n The Stranglers play the O2 Academy in Birmingham on March 14.

Next on my list? America

On tour: Saint Raymond

SAINT Raymond has already ticked a fair few items off his bucket list at the age of 19. Sell-out solo tour? Check. Appear in a film soundtrack? Check? Feature on Fifa 15? Check. So what’s next for the guy that’s pretty much covered it all? ‘I want to spend some time in America – but you have to go out there for a good while and I’m not doing that soon,’ he told TUP. ‘Right now, having a good time and getting my album out are my priority.’ The Nottingham-born

singer had a big year in 2014, touring with Ed Sheeran, and looks set for another. Ahead of his sold-out gig at Birmingham’s The Library this week, he told us: ‘I’d like to do Glastonbury again, as last year I only had a day’s notice – and a few European dates would be cool.’ So, where does the up-and-coming star get his inspiration from? ‘Sometimes, I just sit and write, sometimes it comes from a single idea,’ he says. ‘But I always write about experiences I’ve had – it’s personal.’ Jade Attwood

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We need a scene where we lose our minds On the verge of dropping a new mixtape, Toddla T chats to MORGAN HINTON about DJing at the age of ten, promotional politics and being proper s**t at school

hen did you discover your love for music? I got heavily into music aged about nine or ten. When I was ten I had turntables but they were unusable – all you could do was select tracks. Anything else and the needle would snap. What moment did you commit to being a DJ? I’ve got a bit of a weird mind in that I can’t concentrate on things I’m not into. At

school I was proper s**t – not because I’m thick, I just didn’t give a f**k. Music was one of the only things I could really focus on. With raves now promoting unknown line-ups, would you play at an event that wouldn’t advertise your name on the bill? One hundred per cent – I think that’s a really good idea. If you can sell tickets with the night being the

FO F F O RSITY PAPER E UNIV EADERS R

In the mix: Toddla T has been in the studio with singer Protoje focus over the DJs, that’s the ultimate winner. How do you feel about the underground scene in Britain? Dance music has got so popular over the last few

years, with so much money in the industry, you get all the bulls**t that comes with it. It’s necessary to have underground nights, now more than ever. Dance music has become new and shiny,

whereas the underground scene should be somewhere you go to lose your mind. What are your aspirations for this year? I’m doing a mixtape with a Jamaican artist called

Protoje. We’re blending his instrumentals and trying to merge the Jamaican sound with the UK sound. Toddla T and Protoje’s mixtape is due for release this month.

Little White Lies is a British, London based brand bringing timeless quality pieces to the 18-35 year old fashion conscious women. Little White Lies creates exquisite collections, each piece has a unique point of difference- a trim, beautiful buttons or hidden pockets. Every garment has been thought about in detail from beginning to end creating contemporary modern pieces with a nostalgic retro charm.

We use the highest quality fabrics to create soft dresses and separates; with the use of delicate velvets, vegan leathers, silks and georgette overlays. Attention to detail is what makes this brand so charming. This is carried throughout all designs, giving a feeling of femininity with an urban edge keeping Little White Lies in touch with premium fashion trends. The brand is stocked across the UK, Europe and the USA making a name for itself as Drapers Young Fashion Brand finalist. To celebrate the growing success, Little White Lies would like to offer University readers 25% off their next shop online at www.littlewhitelies.com

Go to www.littlewhitelieslondon.com and enter code LWLU25 to claim your discount Can be used on full price items only, cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons.

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theBEAT

February 2015 Love your music? So do we! Tune in here for all the latest interviews, previews and reviews

It all got kind of moody Record pushed us to edge of reason

They’re back: (l-r) Tord, Murph and Dan have been working on their third album

The Wombats frontman Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy tells PORTIA FAHEY about pouring his soul into the new album, what it’s like having LA as your fantasy girlfriend and his new-found fondness for dogs

HE Wombats have ‘pushed themselves to the edge of the human soul’ to create their latest album, Glitterbug. ‘The back end of the recording process was nuts for me,’ according to the band’s lead singer Matthew Murphy, aka Murph. ‘I was back and forth between London and LA. It was very exhausting and it all got kind of moody towards the end. All I know is that I’m incredibly proud of the album.’ And so he should be. The new record, due out in April, has taken four years to complete and Murph – along with bandmates Dan Haggis and Tord Øverland Knudsen – is about to embark on a 26-date European tour in March to promote it. ‘We’re all perfectionists and a lot of the songs have been through heavy critiquing by myself before the others get to them, or they’ll send me a backing track and I’ll work on it and rewrite and rewrite and then it goes back to them,’ he says. ‘We are all definitely guilty of over-analysing things.’ ‘I’m not saying we’ve had

to go down the mines every morning. I’ve certainly put a lot of myself into this album emotionally, psychologically. ‘It’s hilarious – I’m only starting to realise now that when I was in it, I actually had no idea what was going on.’ Thankfully, the band had Bastille’s producer, Mark Crew, on hand to guide them through some of the darker moments. Murph, 30, says: ‘Mark was unbelievable and would take the p*** out of us so much, which is something no one’s ever done before – well, not to our faces, anyway!’ The Liverpool-born singer has also found three new loves in his life: LA, his girlfriend and her dog, Daisy. ‘Daisy’s awesome and I’m completely obsessed with her,’ he laughs. ‘I spent the majority of yesterday just staring at pictures of her.’ And his obsession with LA has become so strong, the city is the main focus of the new album. ‘I’d stay over in LA and I fell more and more in love with the city,’ he explains. ‘I got to know it a lot more

Rising star: Laura Welsh

LAURA WELSH entered the mainstream last year when she featured on Gorgon City’s top ten hit, Here For You. Now, the singer is looking to cement her place there. She spoke to TUP ahead of the release of her debut album, Soft Control, in March. What was it like working with Gorgon City? Musically, it’s completely different to what I do but it was an amazing experience – and to play festivals with them gave

Catch The Wombats on tour during April in Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Liverpool and Newcastle. Visit thewombats.co.uk

and then, suddenly, it was this person that I’d written the songs about. I’d created this non-existent person in my head and thought about what it would be like having a long-distance relationship and dealing with jealousy and things like that.’ But most of all, his love is for the fans. ‘It means f*** all if you don’t have some fans that care about you and we’ve always been very lucky in that our fan base is strong but they’re also obsessed with us,’ he says. ‘Everything else is just background noise.’

Singer without compromise me the opportunity to play in front of much bigger audiences. How was the recording process for the album? It was incredible to have it finished and mixed for me. The most important thing was that I’d made the record that I wanted to, without compromise. What do you like to do in your down time? I love photography. I’ve got a Canon film camera so I like shooting on that. Edward Jones

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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

February 2015

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theBEAT

Together... because we loved to make a big old racket

Passion: Cameron Edwards (left) and Joe Lenzie scored No.1s with Changing and Nobody To Love

ISTENING to drum ’n’ bass duo Sigma chat about getting soaked in champagne and downing trebles, you would think life was just one big booze-fest. But Joe Lenzie and Cameron Edwards have been working hard, releasing four EPs and �ive singles since 2010, two of which – Changing and Nobody To Love – made it to No.1 in the charts. They have also collaborated with the likes of Paloma Faith and Labrinth, who features on their forthcoming single. Catching up with them on their way to the studio as they take a break from live shows to work on debut album Life, due out later this year, I ask how they felt about Kanye West’s track Bound 2, which they reworked for Nobody To Love. ‘Overall, it sounded like someone was having a musical heart attack but we really liked the d’n’b part, so gave it a mix,’ says Edwards. Kanye’s management contacted the duo about playing at Wireless Festival last summer but they declined, preferring to ‘do our own thing’. The pair met at the

They have gone from two mates who fuelled their passion for drum ‘n’ bass with nights out to professionals with two UK No.1s under their belts and a single with Labrinth soon to be released. HENRIETTA PAINTER speaks to Sigma about champagne, doves and staying healthy University of Leeds, where going out three or four nights a week together fuelled their passion for drum ’n’ bass. Those nights were ‘without a doubt the best places to go’, claims Edwards, a former events student. They formed Sigma out of ‘a mutual love for making a racket together’ and were originally going to be called Lesbian Doves. Can I ask why? ‘One night a pair of lesbian doves �lew down from Joe’s shed,’ Edwards explains. ‘So we wanted to call ourselves that – but it sounded too r’n’b for us.’ Twelve years on, and do they still feel Leeds has a healthy d’n’b scene? ‘It’s changed a lot now, but then again all scenes have,’ says Lenzie. ‘We love to go back to Leeds whenever we play there. The d’n’b scene has become really healthy.’ It is clear the duo are not shy of a party or four. ‘I can’t remember my best memory from uni – it all seems like a constant haze,’ says

Edwards. So, what are their other favourite places for a night out? ‘We played at HAU5 festival in Newcastle last year and ended up at an afterparty in Tup Tup,’ says Lenzie. ‘I can’t tell you all the details but we were covered in a lot of champagne that night.’ He confesses he’s never had a treble, though – at which point, Edwards proudly announces that he has. ‘Cam’s still a student deep down,’ says Lenzie. Making music has always been on the cards for them, although Edwards once had a yearning for the army. ‘It’s weird,’ muses Lenzie. ‘When you’re growing up, you don’t realise that music is this whole massive industry.’ It is one they’re getting stuck into and life at the moment is a mixture of touring and studios, fuelled by beer, their PlayStation and vitamins. ‘On tour it’s great to have each other,’ says Lenzie. ‘And the vitamins keep us healthy.’

Sigma will perform at Future Music Festivals across Australia on February 28 and March 1, 7, 8 and 9, and Germany’s Sputnik Springbreak Festival from May 22 to 24. Higher, featuring Labrinth, is released by 3beat records on March 22.

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February 2015

onSCREEN

Love a good night at the movies? Or perhaps you need a quiet night in front of the TV? Read on to find out what’s on...

out soon

Just mates: Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan in What If?

Predestination (Feb 20) A TIME-travelling agent (Ethan Hawke) working for the ‘temporal bureau’ is sent on his final assignment to stop an infamous terrorist who has eluded him. He is forced to hop between the years to prevent a major crime, picking up a new recruit in John Doe (Sarah Snook) along the way. Jakub Szweda Kill The Messenger (Mar 6) REPORTER Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) exposes the shocking truth of the CIA’s role in importing cocaine into America and using the profits to arm Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Despite threats from drug lords and CIA operatives, Webb keeps on digging – endangering his career, life and family. Antoniya Gerimpapazi Chappie

(Mar 6)

UNNATURALLY clever robot Chappie (Sharlto Copley) is kidnapped at ‘birth’ and later adopted and raised by a dysfunctional family. Director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) is known for addressing big issues such as race, discrimination and freedom – and this latest outing looks set to do the same. Aaron Lembo X+Y

(Mar 13)

NATHAN ELLIS (Asa Butterfield) is no normal child. While others play, he hides away and solves problems. When his teacher Martin Humphreys (Rafe Spall) finds his rare gift, he sends him to the International Mathematics Olympiad, where Nate realises there is more to life than maths. Antoniya Gerimpapazi

In the friend zone? DANIEL RADCLIFFE, star of What If?, out on Blu-ray and DVD this month, tells TUP about friends he doesn’t want to sleep with, correcting pronunciation and banter

OES sex always get in the way of a good friendship? Daniel Radcliffe explores the thin line between friends and lovers in What If? What were your first conversations with director Michael Dowse? He was referencing movies like It Happened One Night and When Harry Met Sally. They were big touchstones for us, because it’s all about how relationships are built through banter and taking the p***. When the script came to you, what shape was it in? It was pretty much as it is now. The moment I knew I was going to do the script was on

n TINA FEY’S latest comedy offering, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, sees Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) escaping to New York after spending 13 years in a doomsday cult. She is determined to start her life again, finding work as a nanny for a wealthy Manhattanite (Jane Krakowski) and friendship with Titus (Tituss Burgess), a larger-

page two, when Wallace is correcting Chantry on her pronunciation of a word, and I was just like, ‘Ah, I’m that guy.’ The film seems clear men and women can be friends. How does it strike that balance? I’m friends with lots of women who I have no intentions to sleep with. There is also the question of whether men and women who are incredibly sexually attracted to each other can just be friends. That’s the issue that is present in the film. What’s Toronto like to work in? I had a great time there. I ate really badly – lots of poutine, which is chips in gravy, cheese and bacon. It was a really fun.

tvPICK

than-life singer who works as a robot in Times Square. Created by Tina Fey, the show has signed up to two seasons on Netflix, with the first coming out on March 6. Rebecca Thomas

February 2015

hiTECH

www.unipaper.co.uk The latest in everything gadgets and gaming

Ambitious street car racer is bit of a drag The Crew (Xbox 360) Rating 3/5

LUNGING gamers into the heart of Detroit’s illegal street racing scene, The Crew is looking to redefine the open-world racing genre. Players will attempt to infiltrate and take down the 510 gang that pulls all the strings in motor city. But the action isn’t limited to Detroit, as the massive game offers coast-to-coast, online-only action from LA all the way to New York. The best thrills emerge in the vast, inter-city stretches that perfectly capture the experience of the great American road trip. Unfortunately, that ambition leaves the gameplay

Resident Evil Revelations 2 ONE of the great horror series returns with some familiar faces. Fan favourite Claire Redfield stars with Moira Burton, the daughter of the legendary Barry Burton. The two women, who are working for antibioterrorism organisation TerraSave, are captured at the start of the game. What follows is a gory quest for survival and answers. Fans can expect better gameplay from the previous outing, while features such as raid mode allow players to fight through a map without following the main storyline. Out on March 2. Aaron Lembo Project CARS

On the road: The Crew takes you on a high-octane journey into Detroit’s illegal racing scene feeling stretched. The immense landscape gives a poor frame rate, causing lagging, dubious graphics and sketchy audio. The AI isn’t

quite right either, veering from erratic decisions to outright cheating in a bid to ramp up the tension in what is a flat driving experience.

Added to this, online matchmaking is a work in progress – a serious issue for the online-only campaign. Josh Mcloughlin

THIS is the racing simulator that gamers have been waiting for. The highly ambitious racer, which has been in production since October 2011, lets players take control of a huge variety of motors, from karts to supercars. They can also take on real-life race tracks, such as

out soon Donnington, Silverstone and Brands Hatch. Everything from the nuts and bolts up has been wonderfully recreated to replicate their real-world counterparts, with the game also boasting fully dynamic weather systems and a competitive online feature. Released on March 20. Umar Hassan Battlefield: Hardline ARE you going to be a cop or a criminal? Choose your side in this highspeed multiplayer mode. There are seven online games to choose from, including rescue, a tense five-on-five match in which the police have to save hostages before time runs out, while the perps do everything they can to stop them. In the single-player campaign, gamers can now use nonlethal force takedowns to gather intel on criminals. There are also a number of new weapons, cars and bikes to keep seasoned fans entertained. It’s out on March 20. Matt Bullin

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theTRIP

February 2015

Every journey begins with a single step... take the first one here, with our look at great places to go abroad

Foster far-flung friends Get travel ideas off pals from overseas

So, where should you go? Our favourite getaways

ESPITE tough talk from the government about international students, our campuses hold a wealth of people who have come from overseas to study. The diversity of the university population is an indication of how enlightening travelling can be, with the melting pot giving undergrads an insight into a host of different cultures – so why not get inspiration on where to travel from global friends? The cost of a trip abroad can put many off but if you stay with an international friend, you can reduce the cost considerably, as well as get off the tourist trail and find out what living in the country is really like. Study leave and the Easter holidays provide a perfect opportunity to get away for a few nights. If you’re looking for something more than a quick break, most universities offer the chance of studying at campuses across the world at summer schools and as part of the Erasmus scheme. This allows you to study abroad for between three months and one academic year, with no extra tuition fees. You can also apply for a grant under the programme to cover any extra costs of studying abroad. Andrew Griffiths

ISTANBUL: East meets west in this city, where the Galata Bridge offers views over both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean and you can find Christian art in the Hagia Sophia mosque, which was once a church. The Blue Mosque (pictured), with its awe-inspiring dome, is also worth a visit. As a

student on holiday with friends, I found it affordable – our student discount cards were taken at the huge imperial Dolmabahçe Palace and we filled our backpacks with beautiful food – in terms of taste and colour – at the spice market while sticking to a tight budget. Anupama Subramaniyam PICTURE: AS

NEW YORK: The Big Apple, the ‘city that never sleeps’ – New York City has many affectionate nicknames. And for good reason. It is home to some of the most famous landmarks in the world – the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and glittering Times Square, pictured. If you usually prefer beach resorts or countryside estates to

city breaks, make an exception for New York. Aside from feeling as if you have stumbled on to the set of a film or TV series, the city has something to suit everyone, whether you want to sample some culture at its museums and galleries, catch a musical in Broadway or wander through Central Park. Adiba Khatoon PICTURE: FRANCISCO DIEZ

FINLAND: When people ask me about my favourite holiday destination, they don’t expect me to say Finland – the Nordic country can sometimes fall off the getaway radar. But in Helsinki, you can sip an espresso in an ultramodern coffee shop surrounded by hippies, while being haunted by

the city’s Soviet past and inspired by its neo-classical cathedral (pictured). The street food festival, in March, involves talks and parties as well as delicious meals – while a traditional Finnish sauna followed by a run through the snow is not to be missed. Mane Grigoryan PICTURE: TAZRIAN KHAN/FLICKR

KEFALONIA: Nicknamed ‘the jewel in the Ionian crown’, this western Greek island is home to the soft white sands and the turquoise waters of Myrtos, widely thought to be one of the best beaches in the world. You may recognise the island from the film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, which was set and filmed there and took much of

its mood from the surroundings. You can take a yacht from Argostoli, the island’s main working port, which has a natural sheltered harbour, to explore the coastline. If you want a break from the beach, there are plenty of villages and medieval castles to explore. And keep a look-out for the island’s famous turtles. Charlotte Seddon PICTURE: CS

Signs of trouble: Yellow flowers, feet and thumbs SNOG someone outside a chicken shop on the way home from a night out in the UK and you could find a compromising picture posted on Facebook of you and your ‘friend’. But in the Middle East or India, it could land you in serious trouble. A smooch between a British couple in Dubai in 2010 led to a prison sentence – and, while PDAs between your housemate and their

‘significant other’ sometimes put you off your beans on toast, you probably don’t want anyone to end up behind bars. Here are some other faux pas to avoid while on your travels. 1. Learn your left from your right. In many cultures, including the Middle East and parts of Africa, people eat with their right hand and find using the left disgusting –

it is reserved for more, er, intimate acts in the bathroom. 2. Avoid pointing the bottom of your feet at anyone if you are in a Muslim country, as they are considered the lowest and most unclean part of the body. 3. If you think about getting a bouquet of flowers for a Ukrainian friend, never bring an even number – and avoid yellow. This

may appear to be odd but the colour is considered impolite, while even numbers of blooms are associated with funerals. 4. A thumbs-up is interpreted by most Brits as a sign of approval or thanks but if you are travelling around Afghanistan, Iran or parts of Italy, it takes on a whole other meaning – think middle finger. 5. In Japan, when you are out

with your drinking buddies, it is traditional to pour beer for one another as a gesture of companionship and respect. 6. In Nepal, it is thought to be ill-mannered to open a gift in the presence of the giver, to avoid offence – so don’t take it personally if your hosts leave your offerings unopened on the side. Joe Taylor

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foodBREAK

Save dough with these budget eats

A fast �illing �ix for a night out... Chilli, artichoke and cheese dip

A GOOD host knows that food should be on offer if guests are coming – especially if you are about to head off together on a big night out. But, with limited amounts of time and cash, what’s the best way of feeding your friends without breaking the bank? For ease and speed, it doesn’t get much better than a chilli, artichoke and cheese dip. For just under £15 you can create a taste sensation that will have your friends praising your culinary skills for years to come. All you need is 250g of grated mozzarella, 50g of grated parmesan, three cans of artichoke hearts, two to three chillies (a combination of red and

green for colour) and 325g of mayonnaise. Finely chop the chillies and either half or quarter the artichoke hearts (depending on how chunky you like it). Next, combine the ingredients together and stir until well mixed. Pop your concoction into an oven-safe dish, about an inch-and-a-half to two inches deep, and stick it in the oven at 200C for about 15 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve with tortilla chips and voilà... your guests will think you put a lot of effort into making a tasty treat, while you will have time to get ready and a bit of dosh left in your pocket. Aria Dixon

Cheap treats: Baked beans and Dolmio sauce

TUDENTS are masters of scrimping – especially when it comes to food. But what should every undergraduate’s cupboard contain? Check out TUP’s top ten bargain bites. 1. Garlic bread – This family favourite will cost you less than a quid and it couldn’t be easier to cook. Stick it in an oven and come back ten minutes later. 2. Rice – There is barely a country in the world that

 HUNTING for a student-friendly shop? Look no further than Aldi. If you can keep up with the lightning speed of the cashiers then this is where you should head for a bargain. Pick up frozen tuna steaks at a decent size and price (400g, £2.99) or take advantage of their weekly ‘super six’ deal, where all the fruit and veggies are just 59p Cheryl Culliford-Whyte

doesn’t have a rice dish. From Spanish paella to Jamaica’s rice and peas, it can be added to most meals and doesn’t cost the earth. 3. Noodles – A packet of

simple noodles can cost pennies but are perfect for adding bulk to stir fries. Mix them with a spicy sauce and a load of your favourite vegetables for a healthy,

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February 2015

foodBREAK

We’ve all got to eat. So whether you fancy preparing something at home or popping out for dinner, we have the recipe for a great meal

Economic edibles: Filling up on noodles, garlic bread, cereal or rice is a tasty way to save some cash PICTURES: ZOE MACNAUGHTON PHRAWR/HAT M/ MAMMA MIA/FLICKR

quick and, most importantly, cheap meal. 4. Ready-made tomato sauce – While making your own is undoubtedly better, there’s no reason why a ready-made tomato sauce can’t be used when time is short. Throw it together with some pasta or even in

a ratatouille to add a bit of �lavour. 5. Cereal – Start the day with a delicious and quick snack. Add your fruit of choice for some much needed vitamins, or try some yoghurt and honey. 6. Baked beans – Although they taste great on a baked

potato or over toast, why not use them in a stew? They make a great addition to a sausage casserole – and, let’s not forget, they are a vital component for a Sunday morning fry-up. 7. Crisps – Not healthy – but everyone deserves a treat every now and then. They

can be eaten as a snack but also used for a quick-�ix meal, such as nachos. 8. Potatoes – They can be roasted, baked, mashed, fried or boiled. In fact, the ’tater is an extremely versatile ingredient. If you are feeling adventurous, you could even cook a gratin

dauphinois to add sparkle to the humble spud. 9. Bread – Obviously useful for simple sandwiches or toast in the morning. Add butter, raisins and an eggand-milk mixture to make a marvellous bread-and-butter pudding. 10. Rolled oats – During

the cold of the winter months, there aren’t many other dishes that warm you up better. A bit bland on their own – but add some milk and jam, and you have a wonderfully �illing way to begin the day. Antoniya Gerimpapazi and Zoe Macnaughton

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brainTEASE an you match the quote to the well-known person?

A: ‘I love the smell of diapers; I even like when they’re wet and you smell them all warm like a baked good’

B:‘At the end of the day, I just know I’ll probably have the worst, spoiled little kid ever’

C: ‘I’m not that good-looking. I think I’m a pretty weird-looking guy’

D: ‘In an action film you act in the action. If it’s a dramatic film you act in the drama’

E: ‘Being a Scientologist when you drive past an accident… you know you have to do something about it because you know you’re the only one that can really help’

Who said what? 1 Tom Cruise, 2 Lindsay Lohan, 3 Kristen Stewart, 4 Sarah Jessica Parker, 5 Eminem, 6 Jay Z, 7 Ryan Gosling, 8 Dennis Rodman, 9 Jean Claude Van Damme

F: ‘How come when Kanye acts like an idiot he gets a gold record but when I act like an idiot, I get a police record?’

G: ‘Don’t be an asshole. That’s my relationship advice.’

ANSWERS

H: ‘Chemistry is a class you take in high school or college, where you figure out two plus two is ten or something’

I: ‘I’m stupid, I’m ugly, I’m dumb, I smell. Did I mention I’m stupid?’

Can you unscramble these singers’ names…

1. MR SOON RANK 2. ROHANN MAIGRET 3. THIN L BAR 4. RENE HONDA SELL 5. SIR THIN MARC 6. NEW HO BEAN

in a

muddle

7. KIN P 8. GLAZES ME ONE ANSWERS

1 Mark Ronson, 2 Meghan Trainor, 3 Labrinth, 4 Ella Henderson, 5 Chris Martin, 6 Ben Haenow, 7 Pink, 8 Selena Gomez

Take a break and put your grey cells to work with our selection of puzzles

A4 B6 C7 D9 E1 F2 G3 H8 I5

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February 2015

competitionCORNER

Your chance to win fantastic tickets, trips and treats

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ANCY dancing away on the party island of Mallorca by night before kicking back on a water park all day with a group of your best friends? All you need to do is grab three mates and some cheap �lights and we’ll provide you all with a four-star suite at BH Mallorca for �ive nights. You’ll get unlimited access to its water park, beach club and open-air festival gigs. With meals at buffet-style restaurants included, plus free wi�i, all you’ll need to worry about is which dancing shoes to bring...

NO cash? Don’t let that take away your right to a proper coffee. Win one of eight Breville Coffeexpress machines and �ilter your morning �ix straight into a takeaway bottle on your way to a lecture, or just make a cuppa at home. It’s easy to use – just add water and your favourite ground coffee, �lick the switch and go.

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Non-stop party: Explore Mallorca’s clubs and chill at the beach on this ﬁve-night holiday

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February 2015

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

Horoscope 

What’s written in the stars for you this month

ARIES: MARCH 21APRIL 19 Your social life might seem scrambled, Aries. However, this is a blessing in disguise, as you will be able to see people’s secret agendas. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind

TAURUS: APRIL 20MAY 20 Take control, Taurus. Your workload has signi�icantly increased since the new year but this shouldn’t be a challenge. If you do not have enough time, simply say so GEMINI: MAY 21JUNE 20 Don’t lose track of your �inances, Gemini. A matter will arise early on in the

month. You are more than equipped to deal with it; just do so swiftly, or you will be in a vulnerable situation CANCER: JUNE 21JULY 22 Now is not a time to shy away from the world, Cancer. Stand tall and you will surprise yourself. Someone may even catch your eye who will inspire and improve your world

LEO: JULY 23AUGUST 22 You need to make some changes, Leo. Rediscover some of your sparkle that for some reason has fallen by the wayside recently. This month, you can be the life and soul of the party

VIRGO: AUGUST 23SEPTEMBER 22 Take this time to take a long hard look in the mirror, Virgo. You have been doing more than enough for everyone but yourself. Take some well-needed time out or you will burn out

LIBRA: SEPTEMBER 23OCTOBER 22 This month is full of temptation, Libra. Don’t get carried away. You need to put someone at home �irst – but that doesn’t mean you should put your social life on hold SCORPIO: OCTOBER 23NOVEMBER 21 You have been yearning for something out of the

ordinary, Scorpio – and now is the time to realise it. Right now, it seems as though anything is possible – and, if you focus, it is SAGITTARIUS: NOVEMBER 22DECEMBER 21 Respect yourself, Sagittarius. Someone in particular might be calling in favours left, right and centre – but what you don’t realise just yet is that they do not need the help as much as you think

CAPRICORN: DECEMBER 22JANUARY 19 This month is all about patience, Capricorn. You are about to hit the jackpot but

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

if you rush the decisions along the way, all you will be left with is fool’s gold AQUARIUS: JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18 Stay focused, Aquarius. There is an important opportunity coming your way but you will miss it if your eyes aren’t wide open to everything that is happening around you

PISCES: FEBRUARY 19MARCH 20 You have immense in�luence, Pisces. Use it your advantage and you might just break through the solemn secrecy surrounding a certain situation. Take action to regain the reins

Be careful which pal you ditch OUR �irst semester ended in a blaze of glory. Surrounded by new friends, you drank your way into the holidays, safe in the knowledge that a month separated you from deadlines and exams. This is where the gloves come off. You return after Christmas, brimming with con�idence after a month with your adoring ‘home friends’, and decide to trim the fat in terms of misguided friendships. But tread with care: ditch the wrong acquaintance and you could �ind the hands of friendship withdrawn left, right and centre. While it’s unlikely every pal you made was a wise choice, considering you were drunk half the time, it’s worth remembering you

let’sTALK

came to uni to get a degree (well, that’s one reason). The coolest friends may not be the ones who will stick around when you’re knee-deep in 17th-century politics – and they may not be the kind of people you want to live with next year. So use your common sense and judge kindly. Moving away from home and being doused with cheap alcohol doesn’t bring out the best in many people – second semester could be the time for second chances. That homesick girl who invited you round for a cup of tea every �ive minutes? She could be a mate for life. The dubious conquest who kept in touch via occasional creepy Facebook messages? Not so much. Lindsey Coombs

Equality: Gay marriage PICTURE: PARGON/WIKICOMMONS

Let’s focus on people, not the masses

THE new year is a time to look back at our achievements – and 2014 was a big milestone for the LGBT liberation campaign. Yes, I am talking about marriage equality. The fact it was passed in the UK gives an example to many other countries. And, of course, anyone can now get married – we are all equal. You may wonder what else there is to do. LGBT activists could give you a list: trans* equality and health services, integration in workplaces, tackling homophobia… all important things. Yet I think something is missing. Something very important. And that is people themselves. Activists tend to look at problems as applying to groups. But what if we made a new year resolution to focus on individuals, rather than the masses? What if we started to listen to what minorities need and want, as opposed to ignoring the details of the mosaic we are a part of? Let’s listen to those who struggle with their sexuality – because unless we do, nothing can be changed. Filip Bigos

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February 2015

let’sTALK

Relationship trouble? Sex worries? Feeling low? We’ve got wise words to set you right

Alice ask

Tough time: Cancer can devastate families PICTURE: ANNETTE/FLICKR

Y mum was diagnosed with breast cancer at new year. I’m devastated. We are at opposite ends of the country and the train fare alone is more than £100. I feel so guilty for not being there. Sophie, Edinburgh

I’m so sorry to hear that, Sophie, but try not to feel guilty. Find other ways to be around her. Right now, she needs you to bring her some light and joy – and even if that’s just a phone call every night, she’ll know you are there for her. And don’t suffer in silence. As much as your mother needs support, so do you. Request a pastoral tutorial. You can apply for extenuating circumstances for your coursework and, if you decide to, you could also apply for a leave of absence. This is an authorised break from your studies that would allow you to go home and return to university next academic year.

WAS doing drugs in digs and I’ve been issued with a 28-day notice to quit. I didn’t go to the disciplinary meeting and now I don’t know what to do. Aaron, Warwick

If you have broken your tenancy agreement, it is unlikely that you will be able to argue your case successfully. However, just because you have been given a notice to quit doesn’t mean the university won’t

Separate but together... is it possible?

ONG-distance relationships are always controversial. While some believe that absence makes the heart grow fonder, others think it can only lead to break-ups. Of course, every couple is different – but there will always be ups and downs when your other half is living in a different city. But doesn’t every relationship have good and bad moments? Being a student who has experienced a long-distance relationship throughout university, I can say – it is not easy. A lot of people think that students can’t hold down relationships at the best of times, so one with the added pressure of distance – no chance, right?

Miss you: Time apart is hard PICTURE: ANGELA MARY BUTLER/FLICKR

Wrong. While it is tough to spend long periods away from your partner, seeing each other after a busy few months can be more than rewarding. Spending time getting to know each other at a steady, slow pace can work

wonders. On top of this, when you’re in the middle of a hectic semester and all you have time for is research and essay-writing, it’s probably a good thing your other half isn’t around. If they were, you would want to spend every waking hour with them – and that’s time when you should probably be doing work. At the end of the day, it’s simple: distance alone can’t destroy a relationship. In some cases, in fact, it can even help to strengthen it. If they’re ‘the one’, they’ll wait for you. And if they’re not, they won’t. Semesters aren’t that long – and you can always visit home in your reading week or at the weekend to see them. Kelly Smith

continue to support you. Go in person to your hall residence manager or accommodation services team. Although you might not be able to stay in halls, they will be able

Submit us your questions and get the answer in next month’s issue

to help you find private sector accommodation or extend your notice until you have found alternative digs.

FLUNKED January exams and now there is a real possibility I might have to re-take first year. I like my course but I haven’t been keeping up with reading or essays, which makes it even easier to skip class. James, Manchester You will be entitled to funding for the duration of your course, plus one extra year, in case you have to repeat – and repeating a year isn’t the end of the world. But, first of all, you need to identify why you haven’t been keeping up with your coursework. Whether it’s time management or you need someone to do your reading with, head to academic support for some advice – otherwise, this time next year, you will be saying exactly the same thing. Struggling with your studies, wrestling with a relationship or is your social life at a standstill? Contact our agony aunt on alice@unipaper.co.uk

February 2015

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researchROUND-UP

Our flick through the most fascinating findings from universities around the country

What a melt... ice cap is vanishing from view ALARMING satellite pictures have uncovered the melting of an Arctic ice cap. The observations were made by a team of scientists from the University of Leeds who noted that, since 2012, the ice cap has thinned by more than 50m – about one sixth of its original thickness. The study also showed that over the past two decades, ice loss from the south-east

region of Austfonna, in the Svalbard archipelago, has increased significantly. There is evidence that the surrounding ocean temperature, which has increased in recent years, may have been the original trigger for the ice cap thinning. Melting ice caps and glaciers are responsible for about one third of recent global sea level rise.

Hang on, I feel I’ve read this before...

Thawing out: The red regions show where ice loss has taken place

PICTURE: CPOM/GRL

Losing streak? Blame it on your body clock

S NOTHING going right for your team? Every shot going wide? Every tackle a foul? Well, don’t call in the ringers just yet – it could be that the timing of the games is out of sync with your body clock, research shows. An athlete’s performance can vary by more than 26 per cent depending on what time of day it is, according to a University of Birmingham study. And early risers perform best in the afternoon, while night owls are at their best later at night, they say. Dr Roland Brandstaetter explained: ‘If a one per cent difference in performance can make the difference between first place and fourth place in a 100m race and actually winning you the gold medal at the Olympics, then imagine what a 26 per cent difference in your performance could give you. ‘Our research takes us away from the idea of “time of day of the race” and directs us to internal biological time.’ Dr Brandstaetter and co-author Elise Facer-Childs studied 20 sportspeople with different sleeping patterns, testing their cardiovascular

IF YOU feel as though you’ve already seen that TV programme, then you are probably watching Dave... But one unfortunate man had to stop watching telly, listening to the radio or reading newspapers after he started experiencing persistent déjà vu, stemming from anxiety. The 23-year-old said his episodes made him feel as though he was ‘trapped in a time loop’, according to a report from Dr Christine Wells, a psychology lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University. ‘Rather than simply the unsettling feelings of familiarity, our subject complained that it felt like he was actually retrieving previous experiences from memory, not just finding them familiar,’ she said.

Praise fathers from the past FATHER’S Day may be ages away but dads from the 19th and 20th centuries deserve a pat on the back, say Leeds and Manchester historians. British fathers were more involved in their children’s lives than previously believed, their research showed. Dr Julie-Marie Strange, from the University of Manchester, addded: ‘Since the Victorian era, men seem to have been just as hands-on as they are today and equally as affectionate.’

Learning the tools to talk On the ball: The University of Birmingham’s Emily Defroand (l) and Holly Payne, who participated in the study PICTURE: ANDY SMITH endurance at different times of day. They found subjects who were early risers were best in the early afternoon, while those who slept later were at

the their best later at night – contradicting the previous belief that all athletes were better in the evening. It means managers or coaches who want to find

out an athlete’s personal best performance should consider a number of factors, including testing them at different times of the day. ‘Obtaining a personal best

performance is on everyone’s agenda – but how to do it? Now, that is a different question,’ Ms Facer-Childs added. John Shaw

Bored of the same old football shirts? Blame capitalism CASH looks to have another victim in football – the lairy kit. Although new shirts have become more frequent, their designs have become more traditional, analysis

of home kits since 1888 shows. Dr Chris Stride, a statistician from the University of Sheffield, put the trend down to plainer strips offering a less intrusive

background for sponsors. ‘Though most clubs now change their home shirt design every season, changes usually consist of just minor details

– small flashes, collar styles or trim. The innovation in football shirts has shifted from design to marketing tactics,’ he wrote in Sport In History.

CAVEMEN did more than just grunt and wave clubs at each other, it seems. Our early Stone Age ancestors had a more sophisticated language system than previously thought, according to researchers from the University of Liverpool. The team studied the way tools developed in the Oldowan period and how the techniques to make them could have been passed on. The increasingly complex nature of the tools means it is likely a proto-language was used, they found.

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February 2015

beyondUNI

Need a job? Considering a gap year? Graduating and struggling for inspiration? Then read on...

What jobs work for you? Don’t just RETAIL? YOU’RE TWIXT A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE wait for right role

VERYONE knows someone with the worst part-time job in the world, be it dodging �lying plates in a pub kitchen or serving screaming children from an ice cream van. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some ideas for jobs to suit all schedules and personalities. 1. Cafés and restaurants – waiting staff have the option of working during the day or evening. You can add tips to your wages if you’re good with customers and maybe even pick up free food. 2. Fast food chains – places such as McDonalds or Burger King may sound less than glamorous but many big companies offer training opportunities and good terms for part-time staff. 3. Pubs and clubs – if you have no time to work during the day or you are simply a night owl, you might consider applying for a job at a bar or club. Bar and door staff alike have a great social life together after work. 4. Supermarkets – you can apply online for a wide

Breaking point: A Twix-related customer complaint added drama to one worker’s shiftPICTURE: SCOTT EHARDT I WAS funding my way through a media and communications degree at Birmingham City University with a job at a well-known supermarket chain. During one evening shift, a man came in threatening to sue the store because of the price of a Twix. He

range of roles at superstores. The applications will take you through a couple of tests, including on your numeracy and literacy skills, as well as a behavioural test – but don’t worry, they’re not too tough. 5. Universities – from bar-tending at the union to designing a website, a job at your university can offer some of the best opportunities to develop your skills. 6. Newsagents – if you

then proceeded to state his interpretation of consumer rights law at me. I said: ‘For 60p, you’re kicking up a fuss?’ He then unwrapped the Twix and ate it in front of me, saying between chews: ‘Consumer rights my a**e.’ Greg Edwards

like cycling and are good with directions, you could become a paper boy or girl. The job is not the best paid but at least you get to be the �irst to read the papers. 7. Manual note-taking – many universities get temporary workers to take notes for students who need support with their work. You will need to be able to write clearly and quickly and be understanding of the people you help. Antoniya Gerimpapazi

Good, bad and the messy BUSKER

THE grind of long shifts or having to get up for work while suffering with a hangover can make that part-time job an extra drag. If, like Glasgow Caledonian University student Stephen Mars, you can sing or play an instrument, being your own boss and taking up busking could be the answer. Stephen, who can make up to £100 a day busking on the city’s streets, says: ‘It’s doing what I love, when I want. What could be better?’

Aynsleigh Hollywood

CHUGGER

I ONCE spent a long summer working as a professional fundraiser – otherwise known as a charity mugger, or chugger – to help me through my studies at the University of Central Lancashire. I went from door to door asking people to support charities like the British Red Cross. My colleagues were fantastic but this did not make up for the commission-only pay or the abuse, which was so harsh you would think I was the one causing the humanitarian crisis. Luis Sanchez

SHOT GIRL

SHE patrols the club selling dubious-looking spirits from a belt to boozed-up, over-excited punters until the wee small hours, wearing less to sell more. The job of shot girl is not enviable. One past owner of this title is Raisa Begum, who once worked the sticky ﬂoors of Liverpool’s clubs. She says: ‘They were awful shifts. Bosses would often ask workers to stay past their ﬁnishing time.’ Sophie Sear

WHEN it comes to jobs, I have the best of both worlds. I work as a part-time sales assistant at Debenhams while studying at Swansea University. While it means being on my feet for ten hours during a shift on a Saturday, it brings with it the beneﬁt of the ‘travel transfer’. During term time, I can ﬁt work around my lectures in Swansea – then, when I go home for the holidays, I can move seamlessly to a branch in my hometown of Cardiff. My student loan covers my tuition fees and rent but for nights out, food and textbooks, I’ll use my wages. It means I’ve never had to touch my

overdraft – and, if I did, I would be back in the black as soon as my pay came through. Working on a shop ﬂoor may seem pretty simple but you will be gaining essential life skills – such as customer service – that your university course will not teach you. These can really make you stand out on a job application form and you never know who you’re going to meet – one of your colleagues could end up helping you get a job in your chosen career after graduation. So, even something as seemingly simple as retail work could really make an impact on your future. Rebecca Thomas

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February 2015

beyondUNI

Need a job? Considering a gap year? Graduating and struggling for inspiration? Then read on...

Big nights out are off the cards for aspiring teacher and mum

When story time meets deadlines

HILE many students would only be up at 6.30am if they were crawling into bed after a night out, Gabby Rea is already up and about, getting her son ready for nursery. The 20-year-old juggles the duties of being a mum to twoyear-old Teddy with studying English at Birmingham City University. She has just over an hour in the morning to get them both ready and fed, before leaving the house to drop Teddy off at nursery and heading to lectures herself. ‘It’s all about balance and organisation,’ she says. ‘I try to make sure I have a routine that sticks, for Teddy’s best interests as well as mine.’ Fitting Teddy around student life is tricky, however. His dad, from whom Gabby has separated but remains on good terms with, is in the army, based in Chester and can only see his son every other weekend. Nursery charges are £150 a week and, although Student Finance England pays 85 per cent of Teddy’s fees, it all adds

When English student Gabby Rea has an essay due in, first she has to think about caring for her toddler, Teddy. MEGNA FARMAHA finds out if you can still have a social life while mixing tantrums and tutorials up. With limited choices for childcare, Gabby admits there can be a conflict between studying and spending time with Teddy. ‘It’s hard to distinguish between the important tasks,’ she explains. ‘It’s a constant battle knowing whether a bedtime story is more urgent than the assignments I have due soon. ‘Sometimes I may miss out on a field trip because Teddy needs new shoes. But he is my priority and I’m totally willing to give things up so he has the best.’ She aims to become an English teacher after she graduates, to try and build a better life for her and her son. ‘It’s all about the bigger picture,’ she says. ‘I may feel guilty sometimes but there need to be sacrifices for the future and, one day, my boy will understand I did it all for him.’ Being a single parent

means Gabby has to forgo the wild nights and drinking sessions many associate with student social life. ‘I do miss out to a certain extent,’ she admits. ‘I want to be involved but having a child means this is put on a kind of back burner.’ But it’s not all work. ‘I do get to socialise,’ she adds. ‘Just not in the stereotypical student way. My social life is much more relaxed, rather than alcohol-fuelled.’ She has support from family at home, as well as the university’s student parents and carers’ association, which organises social lunches and coffee mornings. She says the responsibilities of motherhod have taught her a lot. ‘It’s quite clear, to me more than anyone, that I’ve matured since being a mum,’ she says. ‘I feel like I have an older perspective on

Tiny housemate: Gabby Rea with her two-year-old son, Teddy things compared to my peers because I’ve experienced a lot more. ‘To be honest, it can make me feel slightly alienated – my peers don’t understand

my situation, which can be a little frustrating. I live in a whole other world to them.’ So, does she have any advice for others in the same situation? ‘Balance all your

PICTURE: MEGNA FARMAHA

responsibilities,’ she says. ‘It’ll make things ten times easier. ‘And never forget to leave time for yourself, to unwind and de-stress, before it all gets too much.’

Tarot cards showed me the way to ease cash woes AS A journalism student at De Montfort University in Leicester, I wanted to avoid struggling for money but I didn’t fancy facing angry or drunk customers at a takeaway. So I decided to work from home doing something that I am passionate about – tarot card reading. Most of my work is done online. I passed some initial tests and have been working for two websites over the past few years.

The first benefit is being able to work from home and sit, warm and toasty, in front of a laptop. Having said that, however, it’s a difficult profession. You are revealing information to someone that could seriously challenge their

emotional well-being. Learning the strict boundaries needed took me a while. I always used to get too connected to clients and you can’t always afford to do that. I have had negative experiences, such as trolls coming into my chatroom, and that

can be horrible. I have had to learn to brush it off. It has also taken a lot of time to build up clients, meaning I’ve had to spend vast amounts of time online just to make sure I’m earning enough money. I get irritated by many of the popular psychics. Many are said to be fake and use psychology as the basis for reading people. They tell the clients what they want to hear, just to keep their likeable image. Life isn’t always

going to be OK and, sometimes, these psychics give us honest clairvoyants a bad name. While you must be careful not to get ripped off working online, if you find a reputable company, it can solve many of the problems of having a part-time job, such as spending money on travel and having to deal with people face-to-face if this isn’t your thing. And it doesn’t hurt to earn some extra – life is expensive. Emma Thompson

February 2015

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When they’re sharing the love a bit too much

HETHER they are gazing longingly into each others’ eyes or in the middle of a blazing row, couples can be a nightmare. There are ways to make your life easier, however, without trying to break them up. 1. Invest in ear plugs: Whether it’s love-making or shouting, ear plugs will help you get on with work. 2. Establish boundaries: The last thing you want is for the person who doesn’t pay rent to be drinking your milk, so draw the line. 3. Make friends: Getting to know your flatmate’s partner will make you feel more comfortable around them and it won’t be awkward when you’re left alone. 4. Remain respectful: Remember what it’s like to be

yourSPACE I LIVED with a guy in second year who had his girlfriend over all the time – to the point where she had practically moved in. The worst part, besides the baby talk, was how selfish they were. Her laundry was everywhere and they’d take over the living room for days, leave the heating on for hours – even in warm weather – and basically disregard the rest of us. We eventually confronted them and the short story is that it got ugly. He didn’t even say goodbye when we moved out. James King, University of Birmingham

LIVING with others is difficult enough at uni – and then some of them couple up, making life a special type of hell. Sleep is almost impossible because 4am is obviously the ideal time for the world to hear their bedroom activities… normally bickering over trivial matters. Natassia Tang, UCLan

Get a room: Living with a coupley couple can be awkward PICTURE: FLICKR

head-over-heels for someone. Sometimes it’s better to keep your cool and just have a laugh with them.

5. Communicate: If their relationship is making you uncomfortable or they’re distracting you from your

work, make sure you talk to them or to someone you can trust, such as a residential mentor. Olivia Clark

I LIVED with a girl whose boyfriend visited so frequently he should really have paid rent (or at least offered us some beer). Instead of cosying up on the sofa, they insisted on spending every minute together... cooking. I’m talking MasterCheflevel cooking, with huge carving knives and meat mallets. They took up the entire kitchen, chose really awkward times to cook and left heaps of washing up for us while they indulged in their Michelin-standard cuisine. And we didn’t even get a nice meal out of it. Mollie Carberry, University of Sheffield

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February 2015

yourSPACE

How to find the right place to live, the right people to live with and how to keep your place right

We uncover the spookiest student homes in the nation... with terrifying results

Homes with the wooooo factor

Spine-chilling: Students have reported ghostly sightings and strange sounds in their homes

oooo

BUMP in the night, a creaking floorboard, a tap that drips no matter how many times you turn it off... Surely there is a logical explanation for what you just heard – or is there? I am convinced a ghost haunts my house in Leicester. I have called her Harriet, in the hope that will stop her from harming me. I think she lives in my attic – but, unfortunately, I don’t have a ladder to get in and reveal the truth. Sam Rose, a games WHEN viewing the house, we never asked what was in the room – we were only told not to go in there. On the top floor of our six-bedroom property is a battered doorframe, chipped and cracked, with thick, rusted double locks. It was through collective fear that, on hearing a shrieking female voice, we did the unthinkable. With a little manual labour, we managed to wrench the door open. Among the rubbish that filled the room, there were some interesting photos, along with letters from a past generation. We fixed the door – but every now and then we hear that same blood-curdling shriek and can’t explain why. Tom Bean, Bath

programming student at De Montfort University, has also had an unwelcome guest. He says: ‘The front door was being knocked on but no-one was ever there. We stood by the door and waited for the noise and found no-one. It freaked the s*** out of one of my housemates.’ He says he

was so scared some nights, he would play movies constantly with the lights on until he could get to sleep. Unbelievers will say there is an explanation – but what if there isn’t? Hannah Louise Wilson, creative writing and journalism student, De Montfort University

‘MY FRIEND was talking and joking that there might be a ghost in our house,’ says one University of Strathclyde student who lives in a spooky 200-year-old property. ‘Then the lightbulbs in the chandelier above her popped and all the lights in the house went out.’ Things got even creepier in the haunted house after the friend went home, as the doors were opening and closing all night long. Zahra Faqir, Glasgow A HOUSE near Swansea’s city centre had a ghostly woman who stalked one room. She did no harm – but in this house there was a room that was never opened. It had always been locked and gave the students living there a weird vibe. Even more surprising is that, when the room was opened by the landlord, it was spotlessly clean. Another house nearby has experienced something similar. The housemates heard footsteps coming from above. One went outside, looked up and saw an unknown woman peeping through the bedroom window. Anupama Subramaniyam JAMES ARMSTON, 21, a Liverpool John Moores University student, rented a house that came with a rocking chair in the corner. He thought no more of it until, dead in the middle of the night, the residents of the Cretan Road house walked into the room to find the chair rocking back and forth as if someone had just stood up from it. Sophie Sear

I STARTED worrying about ghosts in Constantine Court after following a shadow into my bathroom. I’ve also seen lights flickering around my room. I didn’t believe it at first, so I recorded it on my phone. You can shrug it off but one thing’s for sure – these happenings seem to be a bit more than just a coincidence… Abigail Gillibrand, Manchester I BEGAN to notice things move places. We would also hear noises coming from rooms that were empty and locked. Then we were told that students had reported seeing a young girl. Apparently, a children’s hospital used to be where the accommodation is now. Emma Brooks, third-year media and communication student, BCU As told to Jakub Szweda

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yourSPACE

February 2015

How to find the right place to live, the right people to live with and how to keep your place right

Avoid a flap over a fill-in

Hunt down a housemate before it costs you dearly

Box clever to brighten your room

IF YOUR bedroom looks like a bomb site, you will probably find it difficult to get on with that important coursework. Keep it clutter-free with these top tips. Beautiful boxes: Pick up some quirky, patterned boxes that fit with your decor. They will also act as a good footrest when you’re studying. Out of sight: You’ve bought the new season’s fashion trends, only to realise your wardrobe is ready to burst. Store clothes in a suitcase and slide it under your bed. Hang it up: Dangle jewellery from hangers. Not only will this add a bit of colour to your room but it will remind

Neat solution: Stash junk in boxes to keep it tidy you to wear accessories you have forgotten about. Rack ‘em up: Get a shoe rack that hangs from a door and you won’t have to sacrifice

PICTURE: CHARLOTTE SEDDON

any footwear for space. Look high: Take advantage of dust-filled spaces by hiding junk on top of your wardrobe. Charlotte Seddon

OU’VE sorted who you’re living with, found a house and paid your deposit – then, out of nowhere, someone drops out, leaving you with a room to fill and bills looming. You need to get someone in as soon as possible but how are you going to do it? Here are a few steps you can take to make sure the house – and, more importantly, your bills – are shared by the right number of people. 1. Out and about: There’s no point hoping someone will come to you. Be proactive and ask people on your course. Sometimes students who live at home might want to move out in second or third year. 2. Spread the word: You could try advertising the room on your university’s noticeboards or website. Sometimes they have a

page where fellow students can advertise spare rooms. International students or people who start later in the year may be looking for a room for six months or under. It’s worth bearing this in mind if you want to get that room filled. 3. Get web smart: Websites such as student.spareroom.co.uk allow you to advertise your room, flat or house to potential tenants all over the country. It is designed specifically for students and allows you to advertise spare rooms based on your location or university campus. 4. Post it: Get on social media and post statuses and tweets with photos of the bedroom you need to fill. Get help from your friends by asking them to share your work. Gemma Sargent

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February 2015

wellFIT

Advice for a healthy lifestyle and staying in shape

Go online to get in shape

IKE CHANG, CT Fletcher, Furious Pete and the Hodgetwins may sound like obscure DJs – but they are part of a fast-growing breed of internet fitness gurus with a combined YouTube following of more than 6million. Health, fitness and workout channels have gained mass popularity as people turn to social media personalities for advice and motivation on training, diet and even the best gym apparel. Mike Chang, owner of the Six Pack Shortcuts YouTube channel, currently has more than 3million subscribers to his high-energy workout and weightlifting guide, which is thought to be one of the biggest workout channels. Online fitness coaches have the benefit of being accessible anywhere, thanks to smartphones. And, while apps and videos offer something magazines cannot, Men’s Health still boasts more than 13million readers worldwide. Anthony Gilmour

our pick of the YouTube work-outs

chosen by Samantha Coles

Blogilates

Subscribers: 1,894,736

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCg_gh_fppI

THE detail that sprightly host Cassey goes in to makes these pilates videos perfect for beginners. Along with working the abs, legs and arms, she also explains the principles of lateral breathing, posture and form, ensuring you get your technique right. The clips are 15 to 30 minutes long and vary in difficulty, so you can increase intensity as your confidence builds, while the energetic tracks will keep you moving. Cassey also offers sound advice on ‘cheap, clean eats’.

FitnessBlender

Subscribers: 1,712,910

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-5VTmZYDko

MOST of these workouts, created by friendly husband and wife duo Daniel and Kelli, need no equipment. If weights are required, they will suggest a household alternative – and even perform one routine lifting their puppy. With more than 300 videos ranging from four minutes to half-an-hour and more uploaded every week, you can mix it up and find something to fit every schedule and ability level. The pair also offer meal plans and nutrition advice, and post FAQ videos.

BodyRock

Subscribers: 851,909

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjU6NVAyvs0

IF YOU’RE a fan of high-intensity impact training or have a hectic schedule, BodyRock is ideal. Offering a wide range of vids featuring some of the more unusual moves, instructor Lisa-Marie will have you sweating in less than 15 minutes. If her impressive physique isn’t motivation enough, the channel has a great community, with ‘BodyRockers’ sharing their before and after pictures. The real-time daily workouts make you feel like you’re all in it together.

February 2015

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sportNEWS

Marching on: Birmingham Medics steamrollered Swansea Medicals in the NAMS rugby union cup

Flying Wrights help Medics on to semis BIRMINGHAM Medics secured a semi-final spot in the National Association of Medical Schools rugby union cup with a 28-0 win over Swansea Medicals. Winger Ben Rowlett scored the first try of the match, while Joe and Thomas Wright went over the

line in the second half to wrap up the game. Birmingham No.10 Sam Bourke picked up the rest of the points, hitting three penalties and two conversions. The Midlands side will take on Manchester this month for a place in the final.

Our thanks for use of these images to Peter Saxon. For more, visit his website at www.yellowdogphoto.com

Derby victory sets up run for the league title CALUM SEXTON

PART OF A SPORTS TEAM? Get a write-up in this month’s paper.

Contact: editor@unipaper.co.uk

AN UNBEATEN season is still on for Birmingham City University men’s football II after a one-sided local derby against University College Birmingham III. BCU ran out 6-1 winners in the first game of the year. They sit on top of the league with Nottingham Trent V behind them. BCU men’s III team had their first fixture of the year, against University of Leicester, II cancelled. Both are fighting for second spot – with Newman I out in front. BCU III vice-captain James Martin said of their season: ‘I can’t be too disappointed to see the title slip out of our hands but, at the same time, it hurts knowing this is

Tight spot: BCU III defend a corner PICTURE: JONATHON RUSSELL my last year to win silverware with the lads at BCU. ‘I can only hope that whoever takes on the mantle from captain Robert Lopez Da Silva and I next year will be able to go one step further.’ BCU men’s I are floundering near the bottom of the Midlands 4A table, while the women’s I are fighting for the title after a 3-0 win against Staffordshire I.

n JONNY HAY recovered from an early tumble to lead a University of Birmingham one-two as he landed the BUCS cross-country title. He overhauled teammate Jonny Davies, who fell over himself with 400m to go on the muddy course in Brighton. UoB also took both team titles.

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February 2015

sportNEWS

Lottie: I’m riding high Golden girl helps GB to world title Lottie Kennedy and her teammates won gold at the student dressage and showjumping World Finals in Florida last month, as well as the President’s Cup. The University of Birmingham sport and exercise sciences student tells YASHI BANYMADHUB about her motivation... HOW does it feel knowing Great Britain won the President’s Cup for the first time in ten years? It is amazing to think GB are world champions and unbelievable to have been part of the team. As a squad, we had a good year; however, being in the gold league for the world finals, we knew the competition was going to be really tough. We never in a million years thought we could win it. What was the highlight of the competition for you? It had to be the moment we looked through the scores and saw we were in with a real chance. Also, the brilliant team spirit in the squad made for a really fun week and really aided our performances. What is your ideal career? It would be being a fulltime equestrian, eventing and producing horses.

How long have you been riding? Can you remember your first riding experience? No, I can’t remember as I was too young. I started riding literally before I started walking. My mother used to ride and kept her horses at a livery yard with lots of little ponies, so as soon as I could sit up I was sitting on a pony! What is your training schedule like? The university team trains fortnightly every Wednesday and then at the weekends, I ride multiple horses. In the holidays, I ride six or seven horses a day. When I’m unable to ride because I’m at uni, I do strength and conditioning with the high-performance coaches and cross train for fitness. Who is your inspiration? My biggest equestrian inspiration is Mark Todd. He has such an amazing way

Win: Lottie Kennedy, centre, with GB team-mates

Dressage to impress: Lottie Kennedy demonstrates her concentration and confidence at the World Finals with horses and his ability to get on an unknown horse and win one of the hardest fourstar events in the world was remarkable – a sign of a truly extraordinary horseman. When you are having an off day, what gets you motivated to train? It is knowing that for every day I am not training, one of my competitors will be. Equestrian is also a team – you and the horse. Even if you are having an off day, the horses still need to be worked, looked after and have your full attention. Have you got any targets or anything you hope to achieve in relation to riding? My aim is to gain a place on a senior GB squad and ultimately win gold. It’s every athlete’s dream.

We’re fighting to turn around fortunes on the playing field CLUBS are aiming to lift Birmingham City University’s reputation for sport after it was found lagging behind the pack. Just 41 per cent of BCU students described the uni as sporty, a Which? poll showed. President of women’s hockey Charlie Potter said improving

social activities had helped boost interest. ‘Our society has grown hugely over the past two years,’ she added. ‘Women’s hockey also takes advantage of the university’s open days.’ Jonathon Russell, president of the football society, said the students’

union was helping to push sports clubs and had organised a refresher of the welcome fair. ‘We are keen on promoting ourselves as athletes and portraying the very best the university has to offer,’ he added. Jakub Szweda

PART OF A SPORTS TEAM? Get a write-up in this month’s paper.

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Student lettings and property management

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