The University Paper February 2015: Coventry by The University Paper

COVENTRY EDITION February 2015

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

RID US OF THIS KNIGHTMARE! Student anger at Sir Nigel’s honour CATHERINE LYON

PARTY ON: Two revellers enjoy the atmosphere at The Shake Up, a new Warwick University night launched by the students’ union last month to replace Extra Time turn to p3

Student lets for Coventry and Warwick students

PROTESTERS have voiced their digust after controversial University of Warwick vice-chancellor Prof Nigel Thrift was knighted. Campaign group Warwick For Free Education called the honour for services to education ‘an insult’ after Sir Nigel was given a £16,000 pay rise – taking his yearly salary to £332,000. The group threw a party on January 15, the date by which he had earned more in 2015 than the lowest-paid employee would for the rest of the year. They then marched on University House carrying free education banners. Protester Jessica Glass said: ‘The knighthood is a �inal insult to the staff working for minimum wage after years of pay rises and bene�its for Sir Thrift. He is unapologetic – direct action seems to be the only thing the uni notices.’ In a video posted on the WFFE’s Facebook page for the event, one member con-

fronted Sir Nigel and asked whether he would attend the party – to which he replied: ‘Absolutely not.’ A petition launched on the 38 Degrees website asking prime minister David Cameron to rescind the knighthood has already gathered more than 500 votes. A motion was also put forward by the students’ union declaring a no con�idence vote in the vice-chancellor. Sir Nigel, who will be leaving his post in 2016, was heavily criticised by WFFE after failing to condemn police who used CS spray on student campaigners during a protest in December. The conduct of of�icers at the demo is currently being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission following allegations that ‘inappropriate force’ was used. West Midlands Police said the CS spray was used ‘when it was felt a group was

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February 2015

Hush is silenced but... ...a new party night is shaking things up JOHN SHAW THERE was a stunned silence when Coventry University students’ union revealed its nightclub, Hush, had closed its doors for good. The announcement marked the end of Wednesday night’s Extra Time – a mainstay for the university’s sports teams. But, CUSU has returned with a bang – launching The Shake Up at JJ’s nightclub on January 21. Alex Taylor, who plays football for Coventry, said: ‘It’s a shame Hush has had to close as the Wednesday nights there were always the highlight of my week and I was always looking forward to going there with the football society.’ The closure came as a costcutting measure but the new event will ensure Wednesday night is still party night. Coventry undergraduate Jordan Littlewood added: ‘It’s a shame Hush has closed down as it was in a great location and became a part of the university.’ The Shake Up will run from 10pm to 3.30am. Entry costs £4 before midnight and £5 after, or free before 11.30pm with a Hush Card.

Our thanks for the launch pictures go to James Ho. For more, visit www.whoisjames.co.uk

February 2015

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A £43,000 legal bill...now that’s a reason to sigh HANNAH FROGGATT A BILL of almost £100,000 has been run up by both sides fighting the ‘sighing professor’ legal case. While the University of Warwick has not disclosed the cost of defending its actions in suspending Thomas Docherty, Times Higher Education understands it has spent in excess of £43,000. It is believed the professor of English and comparative literature has spent at least £50,000 fighting his corner. One third-year student said: ‘The university’s treatment of Thomas Docherty’s case has proven nothing except its slavish dedication to neoliberal ideology. The legal

Vindicated: Prof Docherty fees incurred show just how far they were willing to go to repress anyone who spoke out against them.’ Another added: ‘The university basically wasted our tuition fees on a completely pointless legal case.’ The professor was sus-

pended for sighing in meetings and allegedly undermining the authority of Catherine Bates, the former head of English. A tribunal cleared him of all allegations. In a joint final statement, the university says it ‘acknowledges there are lessons to be learned’. It adds: ‘The university would, however, like to place on record its public denial of previous reports in the media that the case was related to Prof Docherty’s academic work or the important principle of academic freedom.’ Prof Docherty, the statement continues, is pleased with the outcome but ‘remains of the view that they (the proceedings) should never have been brought’.

HI-TECH: Coventry University has awarded the £37million contract to build its flagship science and health building, above, to BAM Construction. Work is set to start on the ‘superlab’ this month and to be completed by 2017. A mock operating theatre, fully equipped ambulance and state-of-the-art labs will be among the features

contactLIST Email us at coventryeditor@unipaper.co.uk Editor: Josh Payne News editors: Christine Braganza and Hannah Froggatt Comment editor: Ben Philpott Accommodation editor: Jack Meggitt-Phillips

What’s on and entertainment editor: Samantha Campbell Sports editor: Owen Hall Photographers: Lee Morely and Emma Axelsson

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February 2015

Knighty knight, Nigel 5

Troubled VC set to step down in wake of protests CATHERINE LYON HE HAS been pilloried over protest violence and pay rises – now the University of Warwick has announced vice-chancellor Sir Nigel Thrift will step down. Sir Nigel, whose knighthood was announced days after police cracked down on anti-fee protesters on campus, is expected to leave in 2016, after one of the longest tenures in the job. University registrar Ken Sloan wote to students telling them a replacement was being sought. He went on to praise Sir Nigel, who has been in the job since 2006, making him the university’s second longest-serving VC ever, adding: ‘Warwick has enjoyed an enviable track record of achievement and success under Nigel’s leadership.’ Mr Sloan also pointed to Warwick’s Research Excellence Framework rating – which put it joint eighth in the nation – as evidence of

the VC’s achievement. But Cedric Conboy, of Warwick For Free Education – which led a sit-in after last year’s clashes between police and students – disagreed. He said: ‘It is a wise decision for the VC to stand down. In my opinion, it should have happened a long time ago.’ He described the university’s response to December’s protests, which was to call police after an alleged assault on a security guard, ‘undemocratic’, adding: ‘It shows how fearful the university is of change.’ Sir Nigel has also been criticised for accepting first a £24,000 pay rise in 2013 then a £16,000 increase last year, bringing his salary to more than £300,000. Protesters held a ‘payday party’ on January 15 – the date by which he had outearned the university’s lowest-paid staff member’s income for the entire year. Cedric added: ‘It seems ludicrous that Nigel Thrift

Not so thrifty: An invitation to the ‘payday party’ emblazoned with Sir Nigel’s face should be paid little under £1,000 a day when some students have less than that to live on for the whole year.’ The VC’s previous contract expired this year but the university council decided to extend his term until early next year.

He’s worth it

Unrepentant: Students confront Sir Nigel on video over his pay

THE chairman of the University of Warwick renumeration committee, which sets vicechancellor Sir Nigel Thrift’s salary, defended its decision to award him the £16,000 pay rise. Sir George Cox said: ‘Under Nigel Thrift’s leadership, Warwick has made outstanding progress on delivering its strategy to be a globally connected university. He has been central to Warwick’s successful strategy of seeking, and forming, close and effective international partnerships.’ He pointed to links with Monash University in Australia and the Center for Urban Science and Progress in New York. ‘During that time, Warwick has also seen significant increases in income and the delivery of the largest capital programme in the university’s history, with many new facilities for students and staff,’ he added. ‘That success is bringing real benefits to Warwick’s staff and student community.’

Protest police under investigation from p1 advancing on officers’ and admitted a Taser was drawn ‘as a warning’ but not fired. But Warwick students’ union said: ‘We

absolutely believe that disproportionate force was used against protesters.’ An IPCC spokesman confirmed it was looking at the interaction between the officers

and students but added the investigation was in its early stages. The university said it was aware of the inquiry but would not comment until the IPCC’s review was complete.

PICTURES: WARWICK FOR FREE EDUCATION

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February 2015

Missing hiker survives on bugs A STRANDED hiker was forced to survive by eating insects when he got trapped in a cave for eight days. David Mackie, 21, an aerospace engineer student from Coventry University, was hiking in the Antalya region of Turkey with two friends when bad weather hit. The trio sought shelter in a cave but got cut off by flooding. Poor signal rendered their phones useless, so they had to survive by eating grubs and drinking spring water. They were eventually found when, five days later, they got signal and made an emergency call for help. Hundreds of locals joined in an emergency rescue effort and a helicopter lifted them to safety. David said: ‘I was thinking, “I’m 21 – I can’t die in a mountain”.’ Fiona Smith

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Fail in green exam as bosses say ‘it’s too hard’

Bleak: Little evidence of green thinking can be seen at the University of Warwick PICTURE: JEZ SUTTON/WIKICOMMONS

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BOSSES at the University of Warwick have scored a big fail on their green credentials because they couldn’t be bothered to hand their homework in. Warwick scored zero per cent on issues such as ethical investment, workers’ rights and carbon reduction in the review of 151 universities. It was awarded the ‘fail’ grade in a sustainability assessment by campaign group People And Planet, which ranked it equal 129th nationwide. But the university shrugged off the flop, claiming the survey on which the assessment was based had become ‘so over-ambitious and complicated’ it was ‘no longer willing to assist’ in providing

information. ‘We are far from alone in this view,’ it said in a statement. People And Planet submitted Freedom of Information requests to try to get details of how the universities rated on sustainability. Hannah Smith, spokeswoman for the group, said: ‘When students ask their universities what they’re doing to meet the biggest challenges of our time, we’d expect them all to answer. ‘The progressive universities at the top of our league – like Nottingham Trent and Worcester – are proving their ability to change their impact on communities and the wider world. ‘These are the universities equipping their graduates with the skills they need to tackle the threats of cli-

mate change and global inequality.’ Warwick was among 69 universities that refused to answer the FOI. Others included Oxford and Cambridge, while Goldsmiths moaned it would involve a month of work. Coventry achieved a firstclass degree in the assessment and was ranked 25th. Farrah Burke, a second-year theatre and performance student at Warwick, said she was ashamed of the university’s stance. ‘We’re encouraged to attend these leading universities to become “leaders of tomorrow” – but what is it all for if these very real ethical issues aren’t addressed and the accountability of those in power is not enforced?’ she asked.

WHILE it failed its green assessment, the University of Warwick produces some of the most employable graduates in the country. Employers rank Warwick students behind only those from Manchester and Nottingham universities for the skills they bring to the job market. Warwick has risen four places from its position in last year’s High Fliers Research survey. Second year Carmella Lowkis said: ‘I think that Warwick being so high

in the employability charts is somewhat reassuring – but with such a competitive job market, I don’t feel this means I can afford to relax!’ And first year Simran Kaur Sandhu added: ‘All my hallmates are quite proud of what our uni has come to achieve but we feel it puts extra pressure on us to achieve higher as well.’ However, not everyone was so enthused by the report. ‘I have attended careers talks and appointments but

for those who don’t know what’s available at Warwick, it is useless,’ said Rhiannan Falshaw-Skelly, a final-year student. ‘We need to be told how Warwick being No.1 for employability can be used in our favour in interviews and applications.’ Lucy McCarthy, also in her final year, added: ‘It’s nice for my dad to brag about but the practicalities don’t seem to be followed through by Warwick itself.’ Hannah Froggatt

...but you may land a job

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inBRIEF

Charity is a Wonder for meals A CHARITY led by Coventry University is helping to feed some of South Africa’s poorest people. Tabeisa handed out 300 Wonderbags – insulated bean bag-style sacks that act as slow cookers – to families in Cape Town. Jane Conlon, director of Tabeisa, said: ‘They’re simple and safe to use and can really help cut the costs of meal-times.’ Meanwhile, a team from the University of Warwick are working with the University of Venda in South Africa on a project that aims to transform the quality of education in Limpopo, one of the country’s most impoverished regions.

February 2015

Job hunter becomes the hirer, one year on JOSH PAYNE A RECENTLY employed graduate’s career has turned full circle in a matter of months. Alfred Ajani has returned to the London train station where, last year, he stood holding a sign looking for work – only this time, he’s doing the hiring. The Coventry University 2:1 marketing graduate said: ‘Recently, I’ve been handing in marketing PR projects at the Asoria Group and we’re looking to grow the company with 20 new consultants. ‘So, I thought how I came into the business is what they loved and that’s what they’d like to see more of. ‘Not necessarily people going down to stations, but students taking the initiative.’ Alfred made the news last summer after standing at Waterloo station with his sign inviting business people to ask

Pro Green no show mystery MYSTERY surrounds why singer Professor Green pulled out of a gig at the University of Warwick at the last minute. He was scheduled to perform on January 24 but cancelled owing to ‘unforeseen circumstances’. The students’ union said it would look to book the rapper for another date in the future.

£13m plan for new housing A NEW £20million development housing 280 students could be built in Coventry. Plans have been submitted by Unite Students, which already runs two accommodation blocks in the city. Unite said the ﬂats, in Far Gosford Street, would be open to students in time for the 2017/18 academic year.

Welby: Can we talk trust? THE issue of whether trust and peace is a realistic goal in today’s fractured society will be explored by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in a public lecture at Coventry University. The Most Rev Welby, who was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university last year, is due to speak on February 3.

Initiative: Alfred’s CV sign for a CV. Now he’s back, with a sign saying: ‘I’m hiring.’ The 22-year-old, who had applied for 300 positions without success, eventually struck lucky and is now a key part of the recruitment and interviewing process with his new employer. ‘I knew I wanted to give something back to those who supported me and bring

back the importance to a degree again,’ he said. ‘A lot of people end up graduating and moving back to working in a café or a restaurant but I want a degree to mean something again, so we are working on a few projects to bring graduates to the company.’ Alfred said he had settled in well at the recruitment consultancy and had taken on some big projects. ‘I knew eventually the right opportunity would come along and this company was that opportunity,’ he added. ‘Not all of the 300 applications were rejections but I thought I could do better. ‘I thought to myself, I’d been at university for three years, I don’t want to just settle for anything. I wanted to go into marketing and eventually that was the role I got for myself – so, in the end, I was relieved.’

Enjoy free wine when you dine with us*

I’m back: Alfred Ajani is now hiring

PICTURES: TWITTER

Trip to the dentist sparks brainwave A TRIP to the dentist didn’t prove to be painful for a former Coventry University student – instead of a �illing, he left with an idea for a new business. Syed Sha�iq-UrRehman was chatting to his dentist about the disposable instruments he was using and, as soon as he left, he put the wheels in motion. ‘Dentists use disposable medical equipment because

of hygiene reasons. They want sealed products but bespoke kits were not available,’ he said. ‘I thought I could give dentists the opportunity to select their own products and make their own kits.’ The 27-year-old, who completed a degree in international business and an MSC in international human resource management, has launched www.avantsurgicals.com.

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February 2015

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talkingPOINTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/KF

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

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

PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/ FLICKRLICKR

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

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

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

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February 2015

theINTERVIEW: Simon Amstell

The journey to a comedy awakening S

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

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

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

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

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

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

February 2015

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clubbingCALENDAR monday, feb 2 Bubbleluv, Kasbah Nightclub, £4 students Déjà vu Urban Nights, JJ’s, £5

tuesday, feb 3 I Love Smack, Smack, £5

wednesday, feb 4 Pop! , Warwick SU, £5 The Shake Up, JJ’s, £4

MUSIC: Rökkurró, Coal Vaults at Tin Music & Arts, Coventry, tickets £4 concessions in advance or £7 on the door

tuesday, feb 10 I Love Smack, Smack, £5

wednesday, feb 11 Pop! , Warwick SU, £5 The Shake Up, JJ’s, £4

thursday, feb 12 Jager Nation, Club M, students free Fly, Smack, £5 Go 4 It Thursdays, Altoria, free

MUSIC: Huffy Acoustic Punk, Roadhouse, Coventry, 8pm

wednesday, feb 18 Pop! , Warwick SU, £5 The Shake Up, JJ’s, £4 MUSIC: Tuff Love and The Jacarandas, Coal Vaults at Tin Music & Arts, Coventry, tickets £4 concessions or £7 on the door

thursday, feb 26 Jager Nation, Club M, students free Fly, Smack, £5 Go 4 It Thursdays, Altoria, free

thursday, feb 19 Jager Nation, Club M, students free Twisted, Smack, £5 Go 4 It Thursdays, Altoria, free

friday, feb 27 Peaches and Cream, Iglu, £5 before 1am Pounded, JJ’s, free; SuperBad Moo, Moo Bar, £5; Free Entry Fridays, Rainbows, free Jagermonster, Neon, £5 Kinky, Kasbah Nightclub, £5 students Bootsncats, Zephyr Lounge, £5 BOOM Fridays Just Got Bigger!, JJs, £4.50

friday, feb 20 Peaches and Cream, Iglu, £5 before 1am Pounded, JJ’s, free; SuperBad Moo, Moo Bar, £5; Free Entry Fridays, Rainbows, free Jagermonster, Neon, £5 Kinky, Kasbah Nightclub, £5 students Bootsncats, Zephyr Lounge, £5 BOOM Fridays Just Got Bigger!, JJs, £4.50

saturday, feb 28 The Saturdays Sensation, Iglu, £3 before midnight; Your Big Saturday Night Out, Rainbows, students free before 11pm Tricky Disco, Kasbah Nightclub, £5 Double Up Saturdays, Altoria, free Saturday Rocks, JJ’s, £3 online, £5 on door

thursday, feb 5 Jager Nation, Club M, students free Twisted, Smack, £5 Go 4 It Thursdays, Altoria, free

friday, feb 13 Peaches and Cream, Iglu, £5 before 1am Pounded, JJ’s, free; SuperBad Moo, Moo Bar, £5; Free Entry Fridays, Rainbows, free Jagermonster, Neon, £5 Kinky, Kasbah Nightclub, £5 students Bootsncats, Zephyr Lounge, £5 BOOM Fridays Just Got Bigger!, JJs, £4.50

saturday, feb 21 The Saturdays Sensation, Iglu, £3 before midnight; Your Big Saturday Night Out, Rainbows, students free before 11pm Tricky Disco, Kasbah Nightclub, £5 Double Up Saturdays, Altoria, free Saturday Rocks, JJ’s, £3 online, £5 on door

sunday, march 1 Sunday Sessions, JJ’s, £1

MUSIC: Quireboys, Zephyr Lounge, Leamington Spa, 7pm

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February 2015

clubbingCALENDAR friday, feb 6 Peaches and Cream, Iglu, £5 before 1am Pounded, JJ’s, free; SuperBad Moo, Moo Bar, £5; Free Entry Fridays, Rainbows, free Jagermonster, Neon, £5 Kinky, Kasbah Nightclub, £5 students Bootsncats, Zephyr Lounge, £5 BOOM Fridays Just Got Bigger!, JJs, £4.50

saturday, feb 7 The Saturdays Sensation, Iglu, £3 before midnight; Your Big Saturday Night Out, Rainbows, students free before 11pm Tricky Disco, Kasbah Nightclub, £5 Double Up Saturdays, Altoria, free Saturday Rocks, JJ’s, £3 online, £5 on door

saturday, feb 14 The Saturdays Sensation, Iglu, £3 before midnight; Your Big Saturday Night Out, Rainbows, students free before 11pm Tricky Disco, Kasbah Nightclub, £5 Double Up Saturdays, Altoria, free Saturday Rocks, JJ’s, £3 online, £5 on door

COMEDY: Stephen K Amos, Warwick Arts Centre, 7.30pm, £18

Bubbleluv, Kasbah Nightclub, £4 students Déjà vu Urban Nights, JJ’s, £5

monday, feb 16

Bubbleluv, Kasbah Nightclub, £4 students Déjà vu Urban Nights, JJ’s, £5

monday, feb 9

MUSIC: Scattering Ashes and Children Lost In Time, The Arches, Coventry

monday, feb 23

tuesday, feb 17 I Love Smack, Smack, £5

tuesday, feb 24 I Love Smack, Smack, £5

wednesday, feb 25 Pop! , Warwick SU, £5 The Shake Up, JJ’s, £4

LIVE MUSIC: Rumer, Warwick Arts Centre, 7.30pm, £23.50

monday, mar 2 Bubbleluv, Kasbah Nightclub, £4 students Déjà vu Urban Nights, JJ’s, £5

Sunday Sessions, JJ’s, £1

sunday, feb 15 Sunday Sessions, JJ’s, £1

sunday, feb 22 Sunday Sessions, JJ’s, £1

sunday, feb 8

tuesday, mar 3 I Love Smack, Smack, £5

wednesday, mar 4 Pop! , Warwick SU, £5 The Shake Up, JJ’s, £4

thursday, mar 5 Jager Nation, Club M, students free Twisted, Smack, £5 Go 4 It Thursdays, Altoria, free

KASBAH PRESENTS

IntheLeftWing:

February 7th

HODOR

(RAVE OF THRONES) DJ SET

February 14th Kasbah Nightclub presents

All House Spirits & Carlsberg Bottles

LIVE

KINKY FRIDAYS EVERY FRIDAY!

House Spirits £1

(Vodka, Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Brandy & Peach Schnapps)

Carlsberg Bottles £1.50

All VK’s 3 for £5 / J-Bombs £1 Time: 10pm till 5am / Every Monday Entry: £4 Entry: £4 (£1 off with Cov / Warwick Nus)

BLOSSOMS

All VK Bottles £1.50 / Corky’s £1.50

J-Bombs £1

Time: 10pm till 5am / Date: Every Friday / Entry: £5 (£1 off with Cov / Warwick Nus)

February 28th

BLONDE DJ SET

Carlsberg {£1.50} J-Bombs / Vodka Energy / Tequila Slammers {£2.50} All VK Bottles {Any 3 for £7} Budweiser Bottles {£2}

Buy one get one free on ALL Cocktails!

Time: 10pm till 5am / Date: Every Saturday / Entry: £5

WEEKLY CLUB NIGHTS // LIVE MUSIC // SPECIAL EVENTS // 3 ROOMS 2 FLOORS // BEER GARDEN, BBQ & SHISHA LOUNGE Find us on Facebook “Kasbah Nightclub” / Twitter “@kasbahcoventry” / More info on all events: www.kasbahnightclub.com / info@kasbahnightclub.com / Primrose Hill Street, Coventry

February 2015

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what’sON pick of the month COMEDY THE man who made a career out of telling people how he’d ﬁx ‘broken Britain’ while holding a pint in his hand is challenging another fella who’s been doing exactly the same for a seat in parliament. You couldn’t make it up. With a possible career in politics on the horizon, Pub Landlord Al Murray could be forgiven for leaving the jokes to someone else. But his One Man, One Guvnor tour has been bringing blokey, ‘guvnor-ment’ solutions to the country’s ills in a fashion that is everything Russell Brand isn’t. Murray will be performing in the Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre, on February 12, with tickets costing £26.50.

MUSIC GARAGE punk-blues duo The Bonnevilles are on the up. The Belfast-based pair are bringing their Tape, Saturation, Overdrive tour to Leamington Spa,

are unable to live the lives they wish. However, when Tom’s old schoolfriend Jim arrives, life starts to change. With a gripping storyline and ﬁne acting performances, this could be the theatre trip you were looking for this month – and for only £7. The play starts at 7.30pm in the Studio Theatre in Warwick Arts Centre.

riding a wave of growing followers. ‘It was pretty empty ﬁrst time we played in London but last time it was pretty much sold out,’ says singer and guitarist Andrew McGibbon Jr. ‘It’s building every time.’ He and drummer Chris McMullan got together in 2009 and have caught the attention of Mojo, which described them as ‘stunning, off-the-wall, twisted punk-blues’. They are using the tour to road-test new songs and will have their live album, vinyl-only release Tape, Saturation, Overdrive, on sale. Catch them at The Assembly on February 7, £8.

CLUBBING

THEATRE GIVEN the University of Warwick produces some of the ﬁnest student theatre in the country, what better way of celebrating that tradition than by pointing you in the direction of WUDS’ new production of The Glass Menagerie? Running from February 4 to 7, Tennessee Williams’

beautifully written classic underlines the importance of memory

D U T hh

A triumph: The Bonnevilles are getting noticed for their ‘off-the-wall, twisted punk-blues’

£5

and invites us to step into a family’s past. Under the suffocating mothering of

the extravagant Amanda, narrator Tom and his sheltered sister, Laura,

THE ever-popular Smack nightclub in Leamington Spa will be hosting four top DJs on its Cut club night. The headline act will be the Radio 1 DJ Phil Taggart, who is well known for ‘future music and bold banter’ on his Monday-Thursday night show with Alice Levine. Other DJs will include P Money, Preditah and Nitenoise on a night that is already almost sold out. So, keep February 13 free, as you can enjoy this great line-up for the standard ticket price of £6. Doors will open at 11pm and the club will shut at 3.30am. Joshua Payne

Shhh hh ... It’s only for students - Sunday to Thursday only -

COVENTRY

4 Belgrade Plaza, Upper Well St, Coventry CV1 4BF Available to students only with a valid NUS or student card. Bella Italia reserves right to withdraw the offer at any time and without notice. bellaitalia.co.uk

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February 2015

what’sON

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

I knew you’d ask that Magician gets inside your mind

Now that’s magic...: Illusionists Richard Young (l) and Sam Strange also feature as part of the Champions Of Magic show where I got people to think about facts or secrets about themselves. And there was one student, from Swansea University. Basically, her fact was that she was on holiday. While on stage, she blushed and I think she knew I was about to guess something embarrassing. The end of the story was that, basically, she pooed in the sea. So, how did you get into the field of mind-reading? Most kids get into magic when they are given a magic kit and that’s what happened to me. When I was about 13 or 14, I was quite into psychology and memory tricks, and I saw Derren Brown on television.

I thought, ‘Wow, that looks amazing! I want to do that!’ How does your magic act appeal to students? It’s the fun of secrets being revealed and I think students, in particular, really appeal to it. Are student minds the easiest to read? No, actually, because they are bit more sceptical and wise to it. Are you allowed to use it for your own personal gain? I would never do something like that – but I have been with my partner, Daisy, for nine years and people always assume that I have persuaded her. n See Champions Of Magic at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre on February 27.

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On song: Travel back in time with Arrested Development Grammy’s coveted best new artist award, Arrested Development are unique in more ways than one and this will be a rare opportunity to

listen to some old-school, yet timeless, hip-hop. Arrested Development play The Assembly, Leamington Spa, on February 20. Olivia Hains

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Return for hip-hop veterans GRAMMY award-winning Arrested Development are playing their first British dates in decades, promising to combine classic hits with their latest material. The alternative hip-hop band found fame in the 1990s with a string of hits, including Tennessee, People Everyday and Mr Wendal. Rolling Stone magazine named them band of the year in 1993. As the first (and last) rap group to win the

Long and the short of it, Josie is back...

JOSIE LONG is back on tour with new material and showing a softer side. She leaves the politics and cynicism behind to embark on an introspection of herself. With a new niece on the scene, Long opens herself up to her audience as she dissects a year in which her heart was broken. Cara Josephine earned rave reviews after it debuted at the Edinburgh Festival last summer and the Evening Standard describes it as ‘an endearingly funny show that leaves you with a warm glow even on the coldest nights’. Josie Long plays The Coal Vaults at The Tin on February 12. Tickets £10/£8 concessions.

Magic has come a long way since the days of Paul Daniels as the likes of Dynamo and Derren Brown make it trendy again. REBECCA THOMAS tries to learn the secrets of mind-reading from Alex McAleer, one of the Champions Of Magic... ELL me a bit about the magic company... There are five of us. Edward Hilsum, he’s the sort of manipulation magician, and uses things such as doves, where they appear out of nowhere. Then we have Fay Presto, who is a close-up magician. Young & Strange are two grand illusionists – the type of magicians who do the crazy, insane things – and then there’s me. I’m the mind reader. What does your magic entail? What I do is mindreading – however, I’m not psychic! Think Derren Brown. So what elements of psychology are involved in your magic? I put ideas in people’s heads. It’s presented as where I can look at someone and read their mind, knowing everything about them and persuade them to do certain things. Ever embarrassed a student? There was a bit

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

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

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

FO F F O RSITY PAPER E UNIV EADERS R

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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theBEAT

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rising star: Laura Welsh

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

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

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

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

For a longer version of this interview, log on now to www.unipaper.co.uk

tourDATES

KNOW THE INSIDE

DO YOU

T R AC K O N

CAMPUS?

IF SO THE UNIVERSITY PAPER WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. We are scouring the UK for student journalists, so whether you are looking for work experience or simply spending too much time in the SU, get in touch today. We are on the look out for opinion leaders and change makers who can write engaging copy. Your pieces will be printed in The University Paper which is read by thousands of students across the UK and you will get that all important byline - perfect if you are looking to build a portfolio. Not to mention that age old adage, it will look great on the CV. So if you would like to be an influential voice for the student community or just have a strong front page tell us what is going on - pitch your ideas to The University Paper, email: editor@unipaper.co.uk

February 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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February 2015

onSCREEN

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

out soon

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

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

(Mar 6)

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

(Mar 13)

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

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

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

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

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

tvPICK

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

February 2015

hiTECH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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theTRIP

February 2015

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

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

So, where should you go? Our favourite getaways

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

Cheap treats: Baked beans and Dolmio sauce

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

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

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

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

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February 2015

foodBREAK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ANSWERS

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

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

Can you unscramble these singers’ names…

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

in a

muddle

7. KIN P 8. GLAZES ME ONE ANSWERS

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

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

A4 B6 C7 D9 E1 F2 G3 H8 I5

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February 2015

competitionCORNER

Your chance to win fantastic tickets, trips and treats

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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...

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

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

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

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

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

let’sTALK

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

Equality: Gay marriage PICTURE: PARGON/WIKICOMMONS

Let’s focus on people, not the masses

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

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February 2015

let’sTALK

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

Alice ask

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

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

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

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

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

Separate but together... is it possible?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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February 2015

beyondUNI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good, bad and the messy BUSKER

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

Aynsleigh Hollywood

CHUGGER

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

SHOT GIRL

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

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

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

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February 2015

beyondUNI

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

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

When story time meets deadlines

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

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

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

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

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

PICTURE: MEGNA FARMAHA

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

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

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

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

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

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

February 2015 February 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

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 selﬁ shexamthey were. education, so there now a demand for Her 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 �latmate’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 de�ilevel 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 Shef�ield 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, Printed by Newsquest, Oxford.Coupley couples Clark 3. Make friends: Getting to23-24 Margaret Street, London W1W 8RU.Olivia FLICKRLICKR Get a room: PICTURE: FLICKR

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February 2015

yourSPACE

How to �ind 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

BUMP in the night, a creaking �loorboard, 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

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 ADVERTISING FEATURE: FINDING THE PERFECT HOME LOOKING for a student property can be a difficult, time-consuming and confusing task, so here at Nicholas Humphreys we have put together a top five list of the key aspects to consider when searching for a student home. 1. Location: Find out how close the property is to the university, bus stops, hospital and local supermarkets. If you have a car,

confirm with the agent or local council whether a parking permit is required for the property to avoid any unexpected fines. 2. Budget: Decide and agree on your budget with your potential housemates before starting your property search. Things to consider include agent fees, bills, deposit, weekly shopping allowance, general

maintenance of property and travel costs. 3. Tenancy agreement: Ensure you read and understand the tenancy agreement and the term agreed fully before signing any paperwork. If you are in doubt about any clauses within the agreement, ask the agent to clarify before you sign. 4. Utility bills: Bills to expect should be gas and electricity, water, broadband and TV licence.

ON THE LOOK OUT FOR THE PERFECT STUDENT HOUSE?

5. Damage: Note all damage such as damp, broken furniture and exposed wires to the agent before moving in, to avoid any disputes. Please also consider any unexpected costs that may incur while you are living at the property – for example, lock-out/lost key fees, early termination costs, increased rates of energy supplier and installation charges for broadband.

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

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Complete the Personal Detail form either at your viewing or via email. Now we have yours and your guarantor’s details, we’ll send the guarantor form straight to them. Once we’ve received all guarantor forms back from your guardians/parents you can sign the tenancy agreement and pay your deposit. We can come to you to sign the agreement! *viewings 8am-8pm

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February 2015

sportNEWS

They truly disgust us With this year’s varsity getting under way as we go to press, TUP editor JOSH PAYNE catches up with Coventry footballer Dami Salami to see what he thinks of Coventry University’s chances of recording a rare upset

13-1 thrashing gives us belief we can win THE Coventry women’s lacrosse team has come a long way over the last two terms but is it far enough to beat Warwick? Sarah Tweddle, Rosemary Freij, Nadia Leher, Amy Ince and Courtney Hall tell us what they think of Coventry’s chances. What has been your favourite moment so far this season? We were involved in a tournament at Nottingham Trent which we managed to win. The thing that made the win even sweeter was that we beat the University of Warwick

team 13-1! It was such a great day to be involved in and it was amazing to win the whole thing. What’s the best thing about being a Coventry lacrosse player? We are a very social club. Between our team and the men’s, we have around 50 players and we socialise with each other all the time. We have themed nights out, such as the toga night we had at the start of term. Everyone is very friendly and all years can get involved, which makes the freshers feel very welcome. Do you think you can beat

Warwick in the upcoming varsity matches? I think we have a very good chance of doing that. We have an excellent squad and I think we will have just about enough to win. Our captain, Kelsey, is a fantastic player, which gives us a great advantage and I think we will have enough to beat Warwick. Coventry’s mixed team will take on the Warwick mixed lacrosse team on February 5 at 6pm. There will also be friendlies for both the women’s and the men’s teams on February 7. Look out for coverage in next month’s paper.

Confident: The lacrosse team

WHAT’S the feeling in the Coventry camp ahead of the varsity matches? The feeling is one of excitement and eagerness to get involved. There is desire to get to the match, to get one over the arch-nemesis. We feel contempt and disgust towards Warwick. I assure you it’s not hyperbole – this is completely honest. We genuinely don’t like the Warwick team. How do you rate your chances? I am confident. This year, our football teams are doing incredibly well in terms of league positions. Our other sports teams, in particular rugby, basketball, netball and hockey, are all doing quite well. Also, last year’s rugby union and the unlucky late defeat in the ice hockey inspire me with confidence that we can definitely beat them. Do you have any particularly good memories from varsity last year? The rugby union game was

the best experience due to our brilliant performance in awful conditions. Also, the atmosphere at the ice hockey was amazing, too. Watching two out of the four football teams win was also awesome. Unfortunately, I was part of the two teams that didn’t do so well – I had a poor performance but we won’t dwell on that! What can we expect from Coventry in this year’s varsity? What you can expect from Coventry this year: giving 150 per cent; jumping/running/tackling/throwing/hitting for every point possible; leaving every single blood, sweat and tear on the court/pitch; giving Warwick the hardest possible game they will have in their university lives. You can expect that, when we are finished, no-one – including ourselves – can fault our commitment, effort or desire to win. In all, expect a Coventry win.

KNOW THE INSIDE

DO YOU

T R AC K O N

CAMPUS?

Time for talking is done THE waiting is over, the trash talking is done. It’s time to walk the walk. Varsity 2015 was already under way as we went to press, with the University of Warwick looking to maintain the bragging rights it has held for the past ten meetings. With more events than ever last year, Coventry posted its highest points total but it still could

not get near Warwick, who triumphed 63-37. That was the second-widest winning margin, behind only 2013’s 70-20 thrashing. Coventry will be looking to make up for ten years of hurt in the remaining events which include, on February 2, the men’s snooker and mixed equestrian. February 4 is a packed day of action, featuring athletics for

both men and women, motorsport, men’s squash and women’s swimming. And February 7 sees volleyball, badminton, women’s squash, lacrosse, both codes of rugby, and ice hockey, among others, take centre stage to bring Varsity 2015 to a climax. Check out the University Paper next month for a full round-up on the glory and the heartache.

February 2015

www.unipaper.co.uk

sportNEWS

Meet the world in week of sport and fun IT’S not often Warwick can claim to be at the centre of the world. But One World Week, held at the end of last month, pulled together sports, arts and culture from across the globe to give students a taste of life outside middle England. Basketball, five-a-side football and badminton tournaments were held on the first two days of the festival at the University of Warwick. Isaac Leigh, SU societies officer, said: ‘One World Week is undoubtedly one of the greatest things about Warwick. It might sound a bit cheesy but the campus really does feel like

Culture club: Basketball and football collide with food and dance at the festival a big international family, and this annual festival is a spectacular recognition

of what the university is all about.’ More than 200 students volunteered

at the event, which also included a fashion show and closing night party.

Pyschology is the Key to my cricket success PART OF A SPORTS TEAM? Get a write-up in this month’s paper.

Contact: editor@unipaper.co.uk

IN THE latest of our interviews with Warwick’s elite athletes, OWEN HALL talks mind games and bouncers with first team cricket captain Henry Hayes. A former Somerset youth team player, he also captained the South & West of England side from under-13 to under-15 level WHAT is your favourite thing about cricket? The psychological battles you have with the opposition and with yourself. It’s a game that depends on mental strength and patience. Favourite moment of university cricket so far? Personally, scoring 100 in a warm-up game against Birmingham last year – although I didn’t go on to do well in BUCS, which was pretty gut-

Key to success: Henry Hayes channels his Rob Key ting. Our results in the indoor BUCs league this year offered some redemption, though. Favourite aspect of being in UWMCC? Bouncer Nominations. [When asked for expansion, Henry says: ‘If I expand, it ruins it.’]

Sporting hero? Rob Key. First time I went to an England cricket game I saw him hit a double hundred. After that, I began to realise I had started to morph into a younger version of him, so he obviously had an impact!

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