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PICTURE: BHAGESH SACHANIA
SIMON AMSTELL: HOW I DEALT WITH PROBLEMS OF BEING A HUMAN BEING
MY £25k ‘SUGAR DADDY’ PAYDAY MEGAN ROLFE
GREEN GIANT: A green glow is cast over the gothic exterior of the Wills Memorial Building at the University of Bristol. The lighting effect marks the launch of the city’s year as European Green Capital full story p6
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A STUDENT has told how she earned £25,000 dating ‘sugar daddies’ who dote on her. The 20-year-old University of Bristol student even admitted to sleeping with some of the men who helped fund her education and lifestyle. The second-year law student said she never saw the men as clients but that they were in a ‘mutually beneficial, brutally honest relationship’. She is one of at least 67 students to have joined a website that puts so-called ‘sugar babies’ in touch with sugar daddies. The site introduces benefac-
tors willing to fund a lifestyle of young people in return for date nights and more. One, SeekingArrangement. com, claims to have 1.4million students worldwide on its books and hundreds of British students – mainly women – have joined in the past year. The Bristol undergraduate we spoke to said she joined ‘as it sounded interesting’. She said: ‘I’ve not been one for “normal’’ relationships, so it sounded like a good way of both having the benefits of a relationship – someone to dote on you and take you out, look after you and vice versa – while avoiding all the downsides I see to it personally.’
She estimates she has earned more than £25,000 through the arrangements, including gifts and trips. She confessed to sleeping with some of the sugar daddies although ‘none that I didn’t fancy’. The site defended itself against allegations of facilitating prostitution, insisting: ‘Sex is never a part of the arrangement, just like a traditional relationship.’ A University of Bristol spokesman said: ‘If our students were using websites like these, it would be of concern. Those facing financial difficulties or any other issues can access support confidentially.’
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February 2015
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Eureka! I’ve got a name for role
Helping others: Louis Thomas will release How To Choose A University – a guide for prospective students
Louis looking to take pain out of choosing LUCY ROGERS AFTER a hellish time applying to universities, Louis Thomas has written a book to help others in a similar situation. The third-year University of Bristol student penned How To Choose A University to give guidance to people looking to go into higher education. The law undergraduate
said: ‘I was the first person in my family to attend university, like thousands of other people in this country. ‘And if you’re from a small town or village, it can be really hard to find people who you can receive great advice from about choosing a university.’ The 21-year-old read extensively into current advice handed to prospective stu-
dents and filtered out the information he believed was irrelevant or misleading. ‘Essentially, I read through all of the information that these sources were providing, and I was judging them retrospectively in terms of what I considered to be true and useful,’ he said. ‘For example, I’ve made the claim that the six-month
employment rates are a waste of time to pay attention to, because the employability of an individual comes down to their own personal skills and experience, rather than the university they attended.’ Louis took to crowdfunding site Hubbub, as it specifically caters for students, to fund the digital formatting, proofreading and marketing
of the book. The campaign raised just £120 of its £500 target but it did attract the attention of an editor who offered to support him with the proofreading of the book for free – saving him a lot of money. The guide will be available as an e-book for Kindle in the coming months after it has been formatted.
IN a moment of brilliance Archimedes would have been proud of, the University of Bristol has renamed a role to catch the attention of job hunters. It is now looking for an associate dean of eureka moments – which was previously given the snoozeworthy title of associate dean of social and clinical medicine. The prospective employee will be expected to support the delivery of a new medical undergraduate curriculum and should have an extensive track record in research and teaching. Jack Dowling, 20, a second-year dentistry student at the university, said: ‘I think it’s good that the university has tried to be inventive and funny with this job title. ‘I don’t really think it is that high-profile among students, however, as the gimmicky title is not really something we care about.’ Megan King
Genius: Archimedes PICTURE: WELLCOME TRUST
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We will change contracts that ‘cheat’ students LUCY ROGERS THE University of Bristol says it will review its policy on changes to courses after a consumer group accused it of bad practice. It gave students too few rights when their courses were changed after they had signed up, said Which?. UoB, along with 40 other universities, was guilty of ‘bad practice’, claimed the consumer rights group, which used Freedom Of Information laws to look at contract terms and conditions. A spokesman for UoB said that when changes such as location and content were made to courses, it tried to minimise disruption and give
as much notice as possible. ‘Our student agreement is under continuous review and we will revisit our terms in light of the opinions expressed in this report,’ he added. The University of the West of England was criticised by Which? for not giving it enough information to judge whether changes to courses were reasonable and fair. One second-year English student at UWE, who did not want to be named, said: ‘One of the things that drew me to my English course here over say, Bath Spa, was the option of a Shakespeare module in the second year. ‘When it came time to pick our second year modules, we found that it wouldn’t be run-
ning and no similar alternative would be offered. ‘To be honest, had I known this in advance, I may have chosen a different university. I felt cheated.’ Similar experiences were shared by the one in six students who spoke to Which? and said their courses had been changed. More than a third of these students said at least one of the changes made was unfair and nine per cent said they would have considered a different course if they had known about the changes. Which? said: ‘We want the higher education sector to consider a standard, consumer-friendly format for student contracts.’
PRETTY SCIENTIFIC: This captivating picture is the winning entry in a University of Bristol competition to find beauty in research. It was taken through a microscope by earth sciences PhD student Emma Liu and shows a tiny glass droplet that has a strong head but a brittle tail, which causes the whole thing to shatter if snapped
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inBRIEF
All colours under our rainbow... UWE is the nation’s top university for supporting gay rights. It was ranked 11th in Stonewall’s top 100 gay-friendly organisations in Britain, a climb of 24 places. ‘We were aware of the greater challenge of this year’s submission due to a revised set of criteria established by Stonewall, so are especially pleased,’ said pro vice-chancellor Prof Ron Ritchie. ‘We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and know it helps make the university a creative, dynamic, inclusive and innovative institution.’ Olivia Mason
February 2015
Transgender poster parody ‘fuels hatred’ AMBER ROBERTS GAY rights campaigners are fuming after a poster mocking the transgender community was slapped on a university building. The poster – put up by a fake society calling itself Menz+ – suggests women are at risk of being sexually assaulted by transgender men. It features the hashtag #whataboutthemenz and was put up on the Wills Memorial Building at the University of Bristol. Jess Sartanaer, 19, a member of the Feminist Society, said: ‘The fact somebody has put in time, presumably money, and a lot of effort to mimic the LGBT+ sign for a tasteless ‘‘joke’’ is ironically almost laughable – especially since all it has done is attracted hatred towards these anonymous cowards.’ The poster seemingly pokes fun at the University of Bristol LGBT society’s poster, aimed
Late flurry sees Challenge falter VICTORY slipped away from the University of Bristol at the quarterfinal stage of University Challenge. A flurry of late points saw them fall to a 175-115 defeat against the University of Liverpool, having led going into the closing stages. UoB will have another chance, though. ‘We had a bit of an off day,’ said geology PhD student Benjamin Moon.
Engineering a bright future BRISTOL engineering students Tom Bewley, Charlotte Levett and Jerome Wynne have been awarded Diamond Jubilee Scholarships, worth £1,000 a year. The trio were among 69 to receive scholarships from the Institution of Engineering and Technology. They all study at the department of engineering.
Fire disrupts library studies KEEPING your focus during library days is tough enough without fire alarms going off. Dozens of students twice had to leave Bristol Uni’s Medical Sciences Library as a small fire was dealt with. Jodie Collingridge, a secondyear biochemist, said: ‘I’d left all of my notes inside, so was worried I would lose them all!’
Follow my lead: Matthew starts strumming before Steve, inset, goes down on one knee to propose
Busker Matthew plays TV cupid... NOW, this will make a great little story… Firstyear journalism student and part-time busker Matthew Baron has told how he played cupid on a TV dating show. Matthew, who studies at UWE, helped Steve Carruthers propose to his girlfriend on Channel 4 show The Undateables. The 20-year old, who taught himself to play guitar in 2007, said: ‘Steve wanted to propose to her by singing her favourite song to her. ‘He wanted me to look like a busker and when they walked past he would
turn and start singing ‘‘Come to Me’’ by the Goo Goo Dolls as I started playing it on guitar. ‘After he finished singing, he proposed.’ Matthew spent about five hours on set and added he was ‘really happy with the final cut’. Mr Carruthers, 32, from Sunderland, has Crouzon syndrome, which causes his skull to grow up instead of out. He met now-fiancée Vicky Matthews through Twitter and said it took three months of planning to pull off the TV moment. The couple plan to marry in August. Lucy Rogers
o.uk
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0117 9511 711 250a Stapleton, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0NT On camera: Girlfriend Vicky watches as Steve begins to sing
at creating trans-awareness. It stated: ‘If you’re in a public bathroom and think a stranger’s gender does not match the sign on the door, follow these steps: Don’t worry about it, they know better than you.’ The parody poster urges women: ‘1: Kindly ignore the fact that men including transgender males rape women every 9 minutes 2: Kindly surrender your boundaries.’ Jamie Cross, president of the LGBT society, said: ‘I think the author of the parody poster has seriously misinterpreted our original campaign. ‘I believe everyone has the right to both be safe and feel safe in a public bathroom. I’m saddened that anyone has felt we haven’t thought thoroughly about the essential safety of all women in bathrooms.’ The university said it was working with students to identify those behind the spoof.
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Campuses at heart of capital year BRISTOL’S universities are to play key roles over the coming year as the city takes up the mantle of being Europe’s Green Capital. From students becoming green guardians, to introducing tens of thousands of honey bees on campuses, they will be setting the agenda. The University of Bristol will be lighting the gothic exterior of the Wills Memorial Building green for the remainder of 2015. The eye-catching beacon of light is created by placing green filters over low-energy LED lights, illuminating the historic building as it towers 68m above Park Street. Meanwhile, the alarming decline of the honey bee is to be addressed by a taskforce comprising Avon Wildlife Trust, Bristol City Council,
Bristol Friends Of The Earth, Buglife, South Gloucestershire Council, the University of Bristol and UWE. The Get Bristol Buzzing initiative has already seen 60,000 bees introduced to hives on the UWE campus. Laura-Kate Howells, coordinator of the Green Leaders for the UWE students’ union, said: ‘We are inspiring change through promoting re-usable tote bags on campus, designed by student Maelle Falguieres, and we have successfully campaigned for a reduction in the number of disposable plastic cups used on campus.’ Tony Juniper, leading environmentalist, campaigner and Bristol 2015 ambassador, said: ‘Bristol has the chance to play a leading role on the world stage by showing how it is not only
Get the message: The Victoria Rooms is lit up as Bristol takes on the Green Capital standard PICTURE: BHAGESH SACHANIA/UOB possible but highly desirable to close the green gap. ‘I am looking forward to Bristol providing the kind of inspiration needed to shape a different future than
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it seems. The People & Planet green league table ranked Bristol 56th out of 151 universities with a 2:1. It scored 100 per cent on environmental policy and
staff but zero on ethical investment. UWE scraped a third in 105th place, with 100 per cent on policy but zero for energy source and carbon reduction.
Students ‘hold key to party’s Green dream’ KATE DICKINSON
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the one we are presently heading toward.’ While both universities are committed to the Green Capital year, they both need to do more work at home,
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STUDENT power could hold the key to election success in Bristol. And it could be the Green Party that scores a surprise victory in the key seat of Bristol West at the upcoming general election. A recent poll suggests almost one in two students intends to vote Green in May. Natalie Bennett, Green Party leader, visited Bristol and the student heartlands of Clifton, Cotham, Redland and Bishopston. One student present for Ms Bennett’s visit told The University Paper she was going Green after voting Lib Dem in 2010 and subsequently being ‘very let down’ by their U-turn over tuition fees. James Throup, a student who also signed up to join
Green: Natalie Bennett and Darren Hall with students the party during the visit, said he believed the Greens had ‘the best vision for the future’. Free education, a £10 minimum wage and the re-nationalisation of the railways have been highlighted as key manifesto pledges. Darren Hall, the Green candidate in Bristol West, told the students about some of his plans for the city. He spoke of his commitment to improving public
transport, developing safer cycle paths and tackling Bristol’s housing issues, including looking at rising rents and unscrupulous landlords in the private sector. Mr Hall stressed the importance of every student registering to vote. ‘It’s one chance every four or five years, so don’t ignore it and then wonder why things stay the same or get worse,’ he told them.
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I woke to find raider by bed STUDENT Alex Wilson has told how he came face-toface with a burglar in his bedroom – at 3am. The 20-year-old said he became aware of faint light and muffled sounds beside his bed. ‘I woke up and he was literally right beside my bed rummaging through the pile of revision notes and folders,’ said the University of Bristol second-year maths student. ‘My laptop was underneath and the charging light was on so he must have been going for that.’ Alex, who shares a four-bedroom house in the Cotham area, added. ‘I could see his silhouette since he’d gone into the lounge and turned that light on before he came into my room. As I sat up, he turned and ran out the front door which is right by my room as I’m on the ground floor.’ The burglar took Alex’s wallet and pencil case – which was found on a nearby driveway. Lucy Rogers
February 2015
‘Unsafe’ Charlie Hebdo magazine banned AS THE world debates the rights and wrongs of publishing inflammatory cartoons, one place you won’t see them is on University of Bristol campuses, it appears. Student union education officer Alex Bradbrook believes publications such as French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo – the scene of a mass shooting in Paris that left 12 staff members dead at the hands of Muslim extremists – breach the
uni’s safe space policy. Olly Toomey, a third-year English student, said: ‘It’s not really fair, is it? There are thousands of people reading Charlie Hebdo in the country but the union is saying it’s unsafe for students. I don’t know why they think students couldn’t handle something like that.’ Alex later clarified his stance, saying no-one had asked the UBU for a copy of the ‘survivor edition’ and that
the UBU did not sell any print media. ‘UBU’s safe space policy was developed by students to ensure that everyone can operate within UBU safely and without threat,’ he added. Meanwhile, about 500 people attended a vigil in Bristol in memory of the attacks in Paris. Many held signs reading ‘Je Suis Charlie’, while others raised pencils as a mark of respect. Gabriel Dorey/Amie Marshall Respect: 500 attend a vigil in Bristol
PICTURE: TWITTER
Holding the fort in fight against ebola ADITI VERMA
Legal highs are seized CAMPUS police have issued a warning after a number of Bristol University students were caught carrying legal highs. ‘The university has no way of telling between legal and illegal drugs so will seize them and analyse them,’ said police. They said students had been caught in possession of ‘pills and powders’. Amber Roberts
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Back in the day job: Laura Holding
GRADUATE Laura Holding has spoken of her fear as she spent five weeks at the forefront of the fight in Sierra Leone to halt the spread of the deadly ebola virus. The former UWE medical microbiology student recalled the daily routine of suiting up in her protective equipment, respirator and face mask as the real and constant danger of working in such a hazardous environment hit home. Laura, who graduated from UWE in 2013, worked in a treatment centre in Kerry Town alongside workers from Save The Children. Her normal job is working in a food, water and environ-
mental lab for Public Health England, which granted her paid time off for her trip. ‘Like most of my colleagues here, I wanted to use my training and education to help a genuine cause,’ she said. ‘Studying exotic pathogens was my favourite topic – but I didn’t ever envisage I’d have to use the knowledge first hand! ‘I was scared at first because you just don’t know what to expect but we have the training and proper equipment, and a team of experts, which is reassuring.’ Her work at the treatment centre involved setting up the lab and disinfecting the surfaces, to performing laboratory tests on patient samples to find out who was infected
with the virus. ‘Obviously, there are good times, too – for example, when a very sick patient makes a full recovery and can go home,’ she said. Staff dealt with up to 150 patient samples a day. Authorities in Sierra Leone, say there have been 8,152 confirmed cases and almost 3,00 deaths in the country since the outbreak last year. ‘Before I arrived, I imagined a broken country so, initially, I was surprised at how life was carrying on as normal – on the surface, anyway,’ added Laura. ‘However, there are a lot of other consequences of the outbreak, such as economic impact, hospitals and schools closing, and various other projects coming to a halt.’
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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
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!
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
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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
A4018
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 first 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 flaws 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 find 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 find 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 finally 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
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clubbingCALENDAR monday, feb 16 Bed, Bunker, students £5 Student DJs, The Big Chill, students £1 House Party, Mbargo, students free Waved, Thekla, students £4
tuesday, feb 24 Mojo Tuesdays, Java, students £5 Wide Eyes, Lakota, from £4
wednesday, mar 4 Killa Disko, Syndicate, students £3 Sports Night, Bunker, students £5 Cheapskate, Molloy’s & Popworld, £1 Walkabout Wednesday, Walkabout, free
thursday, mar 12 Pressure, Thekla, students £3 Mi Casa Thursdays, Java, students £2
tuesday, feb 17 Mojo Tuesdays, Java, students £5
wednesday, feb 25 Killa Disko, Syndicate, students £3 Sports Night, Bunker, students £5 Cheapskate, Molloy’s & Popworld, £1 Walkabout Wednesday, Walkabout, free
thursday, mar 5 Pressure, Thekla, students £3 Mi Casa Thursdays, Java, students £2
friday, mar 13 Eden, Syndicate, students £4; Ramshackle, O2, students £5; Thank Funk Its Friday, Mbargo, free before 10pm/£3 after; Looney Tune, Lakota, £6 Friday Series, Thekla, students N/A; Ramjam, Motion, from £12; Popalicious, Popworld, free before 10pm; Project W, Walkabout, free; Bristol Love, Doho, free before midnight Friday Club, Vodka Revolution, free
wednesday, feb 18 Killa Disko, Syndicate, students £3 Sports Night, Bunker, students £5 Cheapskate, Molloy’s & Popworld, £1 Walkabout Wednesday, Walkabout, free
thursday, feb 26 Pressure, Thekla, students £3 Mi Casa Thursdays, Java, students £2
friday, mar 6 Eden, Syndicate, students £4; Ramshackle, O2, students £5; Thank Funk Its Friday, Mbargo, free before 10pm/£3 after; Friday Series, Thekla, students N/A; Tremor, Lakota, from £9 Popalicious, Popworld, free before 10pm Project W, Walkabout, free Bristol Love, Doho, free before midnight Friday Club, Vodka Revolution, free
saturday, mar 14 Higher Ground, Mbargo, free before 10pm/£3 after; Pop Confessional, Thekla, students £5 before midnight; Project, Syndicate, free before midnight; Bangers and Mash, Lakota, £21; Bring on the Night, Vodka Revolution, free; Lush Saturdays, Walkabout, TBC; Deepmasters, Dojo, TBC
thursday, feb 19 Pressure, Thekla, students £3 Mi Casa Thursdays, Java, students £2
friday, feb 27 Eden, Syndicate, students £4; Ramshackle, O2, students £5; Thank Funk Its Friday, Mbargo, free before 10pm/£3 after; Friday Series, Thekla, students N/A; Skyline, Lakota, from £12; Popalicious, Popworld, free before 10pm; Project W, Walkabout, free; Bristol Love, Doho, free before midnight; Friday Club, Vodka Revolution, free; Adaptive V Foundation, Basement 45, £6
saturday, mar 7 Higher Ground, Mbargo, free before 10pm/£3 after; Pop Confessional, Thekla, students £5 before midnight; Project, Syndicate, students free before midnight; Cubana 7, Lakota, from £10; Sai + Special Guests, The Big Chill, free; Bring on the Night, Vodka Revolution, free; Lush Saturdays, Walkabout, TBC; Deepmasters, Dojo, TBC
sunday, march 15 Reggae DJ, Elbow Rooms, free
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February 2015
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clubbingCALENDAR friday, feb 20 Ramshackle, O2, students £5; Thank Funk Its Friday, Mbargo, free before 10pm/£3 after; Eden, Syndicate, students £4, Friday Series, Thekla, students N/A Krankbrother, Motion, from £12.50; Rumble In The Jungle 3, Lakota, from £10; Popalicious, Popworld, free before 10pm; Project W, Walkabout, free Bristol Love, Doho, free before midnight Friday Club, Vodka Revolution, free
saturday, feb 28 Higher Ground, Mbargo, free before 10pm/ £3 after; Pop Confessional, Thekla, students £5 before midnight; Project, Syndicate, students free before midnight; The Blast X Black Butter, Motion, £18.50; Bring on the Night, Vodka Revolution, free; Lush Saturdays, Walkabout, TBC
sunday, mar 8 Reggae DJ, Elbow Rooms, free
monday, mar 16 Bed, Bunker, students £5 Student DJs, The Big Chill, students £1 House Party, Mbargo, students free Waved, Thekla, students £4
saturday, feb 21 Higher Ground, Mbargo, students free before 10pm/£3 after; Pop Confessional, Thekla, students £5 before midnight; Project, Syndicate, free before midnight; Total Rampage, Lakota, £10 Dusky, Motion, from £18.50; DJ Khalil and Friends, The Big Chill, free; Bring on the Night, Vodka Revolution, free; Lush Saturdays, Walkabout, TBC;
sunday, mar 1 Reggae DJ, Elbow Rooms, free
monday, mar 9 Bed, Bunker, students £5 Student DJs, The Big Chill, students £1 House Party, Mbargo, students free Waved, Thekla, students £4
tuesday, mar 17 Mojo Tuesdays, Java, students £5
sunday, feb 22 Reggae DJ, Elbow Rooms, free
monday, mar 2
Bed, Bunker, students £5 Student DJs, The Big Chill, students £1 House Party, Mbargo, students free Waved, Thekla, students £4
tuesday, mar 10 Mojo Tuesdays, Java, students £5
wednesday, mar 18 Killa Disko, Syndicate, £3 Sports Night, Bunker, students £5 Cheapskate, Molloy’s & Popworld, £1 Walkabout Wednesday, Walkabout, free
monday, feb 23 Bed, Bunker, students £5 Student DJs, The Big Chill, students £1 House Party, Mbargo, students free Waved, Thekla, students £4
tuesday, mar 3 Mojo Tuesdays, Java, students £5
wednesday, mar 11 Killa Disko, Syndicate, students £3 Sports Night, Bunker, students £5 Cheapskate, Molloy’s & Popworld, £1 Walkabout Wednesday, Walkabout, free
thursday, mar 19 Pressure, Thekla, students £3 Mi Casa Thursdays, Java, students £2
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February 2015
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what’sON pick of the month REVUE TOGETHER they have launched the careers of Alexander Armstrong, Dudley Moore and Olivia Colman. On top of those, we can thank them for Monty Python, Blackadder, That Mitchell And Webb Look and A Bit Of Fry And Laurie – the list goes on and on. Now, world-famous comedy society The Oxford Revue and Cambridge Footlights Dramatic Club will join with the Bristol Revunions for a night of laughter to christen the refurbished Winston Theatre at the University of Bristol students’ union. The evening will provide a chance to see the rising stars of British comedy – who will follow in the steps of John Cleese or Rowan Atkinson? Having only been set up in 2009, the Revunions its playing catch-up to its Cambridge counterpart, which started life in 1883, while the Oxford
MUSIC THE 1990s saw the rise of rap, modern pop and grunge. But one of the defining bands of the era was found in US hip hop stars Arrested Development. If you missed them the first time round, they will be bringing their classic tracks Tennessee and Mr Wendal – as well as some more recent offerings – to Bristol’s Marble Factory on February 24. Tickets start at £20. Olivia Hains
group was founded in the 1950s. However, to its credit, Bristol has already produced comic talent such as Fresh Meat’s Charlotte Ritchie and the university has also seen Simon Pegg and David Walliams pass through its doors – proving it is a fertile ground for comedy. The Revunions And Friends show takes place on March 2 from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6. Will Blok
THEATRE
FESTIVAL IF YOU venture out of the library or students’ union this month, you might notice a dramatic change in the weather. For ten days, from February 13, you can take a walk in the clouds thanks to artist Fujiko Nakaya, who will be making Pero’s Bridge in Bristol Harbourside disappear behind a changing veil of fog. The installation forms part of IBT15: Bristol
Blast from the past: Relive the ‘90s when Arrested Development play the Marble Factory International Festival, which runs from February 12 to 15. Art pieces will be popping up all over the city, with indie singer Patrick Wolf joined by a host of performance artists
to occupy the National Trust’s Tyntesfield on February 14 to 15. The official festival party on Saturday, February 14, promises to deliver a hurricane of sound and light displays, with
performances from FK Alexander, Joe Evans, Rummage Orchestra and David Hoyle. The night at The Old Fire Station, in Hollywood Road, costs £15. Ben Saunders Court
WHAT does it take to get into the most powerful seat in Britain? Political drama Absence Of War by David Hare documents the fight of the leader of the opposition to get into No. 10. Based on behind-thescenes observations of Labour’s unsuccessful general election campaign in 1992, the play will show at the Old Vic from March 10 to 14. Tickets start at £10. Ben Saunders Court
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February 2015
what’sON
Our comprehensive guide to entertainment in Bristol. If you have an event which you would like included please email us at whatson@unipaper.co.uk
She’s got The Voice Emmy is ready to hit the big time
Coming soon: Emmy J Mac has been working in London, putting the final touches to her self-titled EP into the industry is so difficult and offered to help me finish my EP.’ Emmy also featured on Louie Anderson’s One For Me, which appeared on Pure Deep House 3. While it seems that the singer, who was born on the Isle of Wight but calls Bristol home, has started making waves in the industry, she insists she has a long way to go. ‘I definitely haven’t made it. I am right at the beginning,’ she said. Bristol remains a special
place for her and forms a huge part of her plans for the future. ‘I feel like I haven’t really done Bristol properly yet and I love it here – it is where I live.’ She added that she feels she has been ‘hidden away’ from the Bristol music scene because of her studio work in London. For 2015, Emmy is just planning on ‘gigging, gigging, gigging’, having pulled together a new band, and wants more people to hear her work. Lucy Rogers
Slow-burning masterclass GAPS, The Birdcage
THE latest in a long line of artistic talent to come out of Brighton is GAPS. The electronic duo kicked off their first UK tour at The Birdcage, with its candlelit atmosphere perfect for their haunting electronic folk landscape. Armed with a new comprehensive set list and stunning visual accompaniment, they let their eerie melodies ebb through the strings, loops and even the glitches. The set was a slow-burning masterclass – cerebral and engaging. Subtle and
Figar out whether opera is for you...
IF YOU want to see a high-brow show without breaking the bank, check out Bristol University Operatic Society’s version of Mozart’s The Marriage Of Figaro. It tells the story of the bullying Count Almaviva, who fights to delay the marriage of his servants Figaro and the maiden Susanna, whom he wants for himself. Musical director Matthew Olyver said: ‘It is exciting to work with some of the best singers and instrumentalists in the university on such a huge work of art.’ The show will run at the Winston Theatre from February 25 to 28. Chloe Cooper
S
HE impressed will.i.am, Danny O’Donoghue and Tom Jones on The Voice and, since then, Emmy J Mac has been grafting away on Bristol’s music scene. The artist, who draws inspiration from electronica and folk music, appeared on the BBC show in 2012, coaxing all three judges to swivel their big red chairs. But the 24-year-old told us that it was not until 2014 that everything seemed to come together. It was the year she hooked up with producer Guy Katsav, who had previously worked with The View, David Guetta and Akon, to put the final touches to her self-titled EP. ‘It has been such a dream to work with Guy,’ she said. ‘I respect and admire him so much and now I finally feel that it is all coming together and I have the right sound for my EP.’ She added: ‘I’d been working on the record for a while but just couldn’t get the right sound. Guy understands how getting
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Bridging gaps: Rachel Butt and Ed Critchley immediate, the conflict in their hypnotic, electronic, Eastern folk opened up into a beautiful sonic landscape of melody. Lead singer Rachel Butt said after the show in January: ‘We love Bristol. It has such a distinct vibe and that really chimes
with what we are about. It has been like a second home to us over the past few months. We were thrilled when we found out we were starting the tour here. We hope to be back soon. We always get great support here.’ Ben Saunders Court
PICTURE: DIEGO CARVALHO
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February 2015
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theBEAT
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
W
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
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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
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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
T
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
For a longer version of this interview, log on now to www.unipaper.co.uk
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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
L
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
D
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
www.dukeandscarlet.co.uk info@dukeandscarlet.co.uk Centre Gate, Colston Ave, Bristol BS1 4TR
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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
P
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
www.unipaper.co.uk
theTRIP
February 2015
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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
D
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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February 2015
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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
S
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
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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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February 2015
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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
C
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
Have a party on us! WIN
WIN
Walk away with a real caffeine �ix
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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...
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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.
To enter, email your name, university and year of study to win@unipaper.co.uk
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
Y
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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
M
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.
I
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?
L
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?
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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.
I
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
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THURS 12 FAST & LOOSE PRESENTS... THE BIG SWING Monthly night of Swing and Electroswing.
DJ Neckbone plays forgotten classics and future faves.
THURS 26 LICKED Last Thursday lands a night of upfront and emerging House, Bass & Garage talent. See online for guests.
FRI 6 TUN UP! Booty Bouncin', Dancehall Destroyin', Block Rockin,Dutty Skankin, Blazin beats… inna Tropical Dancehall, Soca Jamaican, Bass style with Duchess DJs, Dub Boy & Titan Sound. IN THE STUDY w/ DJ SKINT
FRI 13 SCRIBBLE & SCRATCH Monthly illustration battle and turntabalism event, with live Hip-Hop acts and DJs into the night. IN THE STUDY w/ E-ROY
Festival favourites from Boomtown and SGP, swap the boxing ring for blind date dance-off, break dance dating and more antics in a Lover’s special. IN THE STUDY w/ LORD DUBS
FRI 27 FRONTIN' Straight tropical misbehaviour! Expect anything from Trinidadian Soca and old skool Ragga, to classic 12" Funk and Soul. J Rus and guests on the 1's & 2's 'til the early hours. IN THE STUDY w/ SOULWORKS
SAT 7 BEDMO DISCO #011 INKSWEL Melbourne-based beatmaker Inkswel joins Bedmo Disco to join the dots between Boogie, Disco, Hip-Hop, Deep House and modern Soul. IN THE STUDY w/ ROCKIT SCIENCE
Record Label, Boogie bangers, Soul Starters, Disco cuts and the off tipple of vintage Garage. IN THE STUDY w/ SISTA PLEASE
SAT 21 MOJO John Stapleton and Steve Rice return for a night packed with vintage vinyl – from rockin’ Blues to Funk with maybe a hint of Ska on the way. IN THE STUDY w/ AVOCADO & MITCH
SAT 28 45 LIVE BRISTOL Ollie Teeba (Herbaliser) with host Boca 45 spinning Hip Hop, Disco, Funk, Soul, Latin And more all on 7”. IN THE STUDY w/ CLEANCUT COLLECTIVE
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February 2015
beyondUNI
29
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
E
VERYONE knows someone with the worst part-time job in the world, be it dodging flying 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 first 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
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31
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
W
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
8
February February 2015 2015 32
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talkingPOINTS
yourSPACE
Comment, opinion and the occasional wild rant from our student writers across the country
Top dog Farage will get my vote When they’re sharing the love a bit too much
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
MANDY FULLER
I LIVED with a guy in second year who had his girlfriend time – tobeing the point where EXAM STRESS:over We all arethe constantly told that she had practically moved in. The worst part,to today’s youth has it far too easy when it comes besides the baby is talk, was how selfish they were. education, so there now a demand for examHer learning. laundry was everywhere and they’d take based Surely it is counterproductive to over the room for days, leave the heating on for only beliving tested on less than ten per cent of what hours even in in the warm weather – and basically you have–learnt space of a couple of hours disregard the restpressure? of us. We Students eventually confronted while under intense should and thetoshort storytheir is that it got ugly. He be them encouraged exercise skills about the didn’tthoroughly even say goodbye moved out. subject and thiswhen is bestwe achieved Jamesallows King, University of Birmingham through coursework. It also a student to choose their own question, encouraging them to pursue and expand their own ideas which they are passionate about Natalie Wellings
care if he’s branded a racist misogynist – and, as a black girl, that should really bother ‘WHO are you going to vote me. I want to keep more of my for?’ is one of the most-asked hard-earned cash. questions at the moment. The main reason I’m going With the general election in to vote Ukip is because of May, the major parties don’t their pledge to remove tuition have long to win us round. theyhave are gazing know your flatmate’s partner fees will for university students Personally, HETHER I’d rather longingly into each others’ make you feel more comfortable on certain courses, based on a tea party than the Labour eyes see or inthe theGreat middle of around them and it will make it lessperformance. PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/KF academic Party... but I can’t awkward when you’re leftLet’s aloneface in it, the political party a blazing couples can be a British public row, voting for that. communal areas. nightmare. I LIVED with a girl whose boyfriend visited so that allows me to take home However, I am genuinely Future PM?: Ukip respectful: leader more 4. Remain Remember There are ways frequently he should really have paid rent (or at of my wages and cuts tempted to vote Ukip. to make your life least offered us some beer). Instead of cosying what it’sPICTURE: like toTWITTER be head-over-heels however, tryingNigel to Farage tuition fees – allowing me to No,easier, I haven’t lost without my mind. I HEART VALENTINE’S: Whatever complaints the anti-Valentine’s brigade has, up on the sofa, they insisted on spending every for someone. Sometimes it’s better break them up. no-one can resist the excitement of knowing someone out there holds a spend more on my alcoholic, I believe every dog has his day often have to work long hours minute together... cooking. I’m talking MasterChefto keep your cool and just have a 1. Invest in ear plugs: Whether special place for you in their heart. Regardless of the tacky merchandise of and, let’s face it, Nigel Farage for s*** money, so any man that party-animal lifestyle – is defilevel cooking, with huge carving knives and meat it’sof love-making or screaming February 14 and the 11million additional texts sent on the day of love, the promises Ilaugh don’twith havethem. to pay tax nitely the political party for me. is a bit a dog – in that blood- at mallets. They took up the entire kitchen, chose Communicate: If theirNigel Farage for prime eachjowly other, cheek ear plugs willhe help you to I’m5. on simplistic act of giving an anonymous card will undoubtedly bring a smile to because the minimum hound, look really awkward times to cook and left heaps of anyone’s face Lucy Kehoe relationship is making getso onwell. with As work. minister! man for me. I don’t you wears a student, I wage is the washing up for us while they indulged in their uncomfortable or they’re distracting 2. Establish boundaries: The last Michelin-standard cuisine. And we didn’t even get a thing you want is for the person who you from your work, make sure you nice meal out of it. Mollie Carberry, University of Sheffield If you spot an error, we are committed to putting it right. Contact us at corrections@unipaper.co.uk. talk toyour them or someone you can doesn’t pay rent to be drinking your If you do not wish to receive a copy, then email us with address at nothanks@unipaper.co.uk. trust, such as a residential drawcopies the line. Wemilk, print so 200,000 in 16 university cities. The University Paper is publishedmentor. by The UniPaper Ltd, in PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/ association with Simian Publishing, London W1W13:39 8RU. Printed by Newsquest, Oxford.Coupley couples Bristol newspaper advert_v1_bleed.pdf 1 08/01/2015 Olivia Clark 3. Make friends: Getting to23-24 Margaret Street, FLICKRLICKR Get a room: PICTURE: FLICKR
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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
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DIS-MAY: I agree with chancellor at the University of Birmingham Lord All non-EU Free Bilimoria, who has attacked TheresaLocated May’s plan to clear out international students from the UK.opposite Closing Britain offinclusive to foreign students Wi-Fi would damage its reputation as a nation that attracts talent from all over the UOBEvery international bills student pays throughout world and cut off important cultural ties. 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
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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
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February 2015
yourSPACE
33
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
Rooms with a woooo
A
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
Spine-chilling: Students have reported ghostly sightings and strange sounds in their homes
oooo
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**t 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 ghostly goings-on in Constantine Court after following a shadow into my bathroom in the middle of the night. I’ve also seen circular lights flickering around my room. I didn’t believe it at first, so I decided to record it on my phone. You could shrug it off to be anything you like 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 in our kitchen and bedrooms. We would also hear noises coming from rooms that were empty and locked at the time. 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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February 2015
yourSPACE
35
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 Y
QUIET OF THE CAMPUS VERSUS BUZZ OF THE CITY WHEN moving out of your home you have two choices – city centre or campus digs. Both have their pros and cons but which is the one for you? When living in town, shops are a walk away and there will be lots of pubs bars, restaurants. Returning home after lectures also gives clearer boundaries between academic and social life. Anjali Vaswani, a
University of the West of England business management with marketing student, said: ‘I love the city because it’s a lively area, there’s a lot to do and other places are easily accessible.’ However, the city is not without its difficulties. Commuting between home and university can mean a reliance on buses – and waking up earlier. The noise can also get overwhelming at times,
especially come exam time. Living on campus means no hassle during those hectic work periods. There’s also no danger of reaching the exam hall late owing to a bus delay and late nights in the library become easier. It is generally accepted that campuses provide a safer environment while allowing friends to mingle in union bar. UWE mechanical
engineering student, Waleed Khan, said: ‘Living on campus makes life a lot easier as I can wake up a few minutes before lectures and pop back home between classes.’ Ultimately, it comes down to the type of person you are. If you are easily distracted plumping for the quieter campus might be a wise choice and could save your degree. Aditi Verma
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. 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. 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 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
STUDENT S
A huge thank you to all those who attended the UWE student fair. If you find yourself in a hole with your student property needs, contact CJ Hole the student property experts.
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February 2015
37
wellFIT
Advice for a healthy lifestyle and staying in shape
Go online to get in shape
M
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
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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.
38
February 2015
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sportNEWS
Alec’s future is fit as a Fiddes... Football at Bristol University is taken seriously at all levels but one player has gone beyond, helping the first team to promotion and a cup win. Second-year philosophy student Alec Fiddes played in the notoriously demanding Spanish League One. TARUN NIJJER talks to the 20-year-old about his career thus far and the university team’s prospects HOW did it feel to play in the Spanish League for Lleida Esportiu? It was an unbelievable experience. It took me a while to get used to as it is so technical but I learned a lot. Also, we
got to the play-offs that year and were nearly promoted, so it was a good year. That’s impressive. Was it difficult readjusting to English football after your stint in Spain? At first, it was
recent move to Weymouth FC? Yes, very happy – it was the right move for me at the right time. Weymouth is a big club and I’ve gone there to
win the league and achieve promotion. Also, my manager from last year is there and I have a very strong relationship with him. What was your greatest achievement of 2014? I’d have to say winning the double with UBAFC... Doing as well as I did with WestonSuper-Mare AFC was also a big achievement. After promotion to a tougher league, what are the chances of UBAFC 1st XI staying in the division? There’s still a chance and we’ll keep fighting to the end. It’s taken us time to re-adjust and start playing our best but I believe we can stay up. We’ve been very unlucky in important games this season. We are also in the national cup, which is another positive. Do you plan to attempt to further your footballing career after university or will an alternative profession be your focus? I think my plan is to hopefully go into full-time football. There are a few clubs keeping tabs on me... However, you never know – having a degree will certainly open up my options!
BRISTOL’S water polo team live by their motto ‘One Team, One Dream’. And the dream this year is to make it four BUCS league titles in a row. ‘Winning that title means everything to the boys and me,’ said captain George Mack. ‘There’s a certain sense of pride among members of the club in knowing that we are the best, and we don’t intend to let that record drop.’ The Bristol team has a vigorous training plan each week that includes three 90-minute polo sessions and a two-and-a-half hour swimming session, as well
as having to maintain their own gym programme. ‘Lifting the trophy every March makes all the work worth it,’ added George, a 21-year-old chemistry student. The team has made a flying start to the defence of their title, winning all seven of their games in the first round. But they are keen to promote the status of the club and encourage new players to join. George said: ‘Although we are the most successful team, we are still overshadowed by the ‘‘big Rachel Bilson sports’’.’
Spanish eyes: Alec Fiddes wheels away after bagging another goal PICTURE: WEYMOUTH FC
tough but I was lucky enough to have a full pre-season and I’d gone to the right club. It has definitely benefited me, as I can combine the two styles.
What takes priority, football or your degree? If I’m honest, football, but I try to work hard for my degree, too! Are you happy with your
Skipper Scott eyeing success
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NEW University of Bristol cricket captain James Scott is quietly confident of delivering a good season. He says the society, which now has 80 paid-up members, has been training hard during the winter, with a view to putting out a fourth team this year. After missing out narrowly on promotion last year, Scott said the first team was focused on getting into the MCCU league. There is one player that stands out for the history student. Luca Illien is a tall, pacey seam bowler, the only first year in the firsts. ‘He has been bowling beautifully in the nets,’ said Scott. Andy Stovold, an ex-professional Gloucestershire cricketer and cricket coach at the University of Bristol, will lead the troops into battle for a fourth year this season. Sam Linney
One Dream...to win four in a row
One team: Bristol water polo
PICTURE: TRISTAN BRADSHAW
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February 2015
39
sportNEWS Quarterback hero JJ hails toughest-ever Cuda challenge but revels in victory
I was too nervous to eat IS the team pleased with the final score? That was by far the toughest Bristol Barracuda team we have faced over the many years I have been a Bullet. To come away with another varsity victory to keep the undefeated streak alive was very important. How did you feel going into the match? This was the most nervous that I have been for a game in a very long time. I couldn’t sleep at all the night before and was too nervous to eat in the morning! Normally, the nerves settle down after the first snap but they stayed with me until the final whistle! How did you prepare? We didn’t change anything in particular, really. We scouted the Barracuda
Bite the Bullets: Jubilant UWE players celebrate their victory PICTURES: JEFF STANFORD/SAM ATKINSON/KOD NGUYEN
Barracuda’s varsity hopes turn to Rust IN the end, the Cuda varsity dream turned to Rust. After matching the muchfancied UWE Bullets blow for blow for much of the game, Bristol Barracuda ran out of steam down the home stretch to succumb 34-25. This was despite a gritty, often inspired display by American quarterback import Clay Rust, hailed by his opposite number JJ Davies as the pick of the Cudas. But the pattern was set in the first few plays of the game. While Rust pulled the strings, his Cuda team could not turn possession into points. Meanwhile, with their first drives of the game, the Bullets offence quickly got
into their stride, through the ground threat of Jamiel Tinto, Jordan Crouch and QB JJ Davies. They were able to post the first score with Tinto crossing the goal line for his first TD of the day. Cuda responded quickly, Rust finding wide receiver Alex DeCaro for the TD. The hundreds of fans were treated to a spectacle under the bright lights of the 4G AstroTurf pitch at SGS College Filton Wise Campus. JJ Davies then hit Andrew Sutton in the end zone as both sides exchanged scores. Only a brave two-pointer separated them at half-time, with the Bullets holding a 21-19 lead. Into the second
half, and the combination of JJ and Tinto continued to work on offence as Tinto ran in his second TD of the day to make it 28-19. JJ connected with UWE’s own American connection Charlie Thomas, who caught the ball 30 yards out, made his defender miss, before sprinting away and highstepping into the end zone. After another failed conversion, the score was 34-19. Bristol rallied for a consolation score but the Bullets ran down the clock to seal the varsity win. The University Paper and Plead The Fifth MVP of the game was awarded to Bullets QB JJ Davies. Unkle Tass
LUCY ROGERS talks to UWE Bullets quarterback JJ Davies following the team’s thrilling 34-25 win over Bristol Barracuda. In this exclusive interview, JJ, who was made MVP, gives an insight into the man behind the face mask, and explains why this game was tougher than most... defence in our film class, looking for anything we could try to exploit, any weaker defensive players. Our own defence even mimicked the way the Cuda defence would play in order for us to have a look at what we would be facing prior to the game. How did the game go? It was a battle from start to finish. UWE vs Bristol has been pretty one-sided for the last few years but this was the most competitive the game has been in a long time. We managed to edge the upper hand in the fourth quarter and held strong for the win. Were there any plays
that stood out for you? All three of my touchdown passes, haha! I’m just happy I managed to keep my cool. What about Barracuda? They had a well-drilled and hardhitting defence, which took parts of our game plan away, forcing us to adapt our game on the sideline. W h o impressed y o u most? It would
have to be Clay Rust, Barracuda QB. The guy was legit – he made a lot of impressive plays and has proved to be the key guy in the Cuda team this year. And your own team? I couldn’t actually give you one player. It was the truest team win we have had in my time. Did you enjoy the Super Bowl? Definitely not! I’m a New Orleans Saints fan, who had a miserable year. What does it mean to win? Winning is everything.
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