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February 2015
SIMON AMSTELL: HOW I DEALT WITH
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PROBLEMS OF BEING A HUMAN BEING
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Knights slay the Predators
Party time: The triumphant Napier Knights celebrate lifting the varsity trophy after beating the Predators for the first time in five years
IT’S not quite the Super Bowl but the taste of victory is every bit as sweet. After four years of hurt, the Napier Knights earned revenge over the University of Edinburgh Predators to lift the American football varsity trophy. Battling bitter weather, the Knights won 16-0, courtesy of touchdowns from Ethan Walsh and Daniel Flannery and the boot of Declan McDonald. ‘To score a touchdown in the biggest game of the year was a great feeling, especially against my old team,’ said Daniel. More than 1,000 fans crammed into Meggetland to see the drama unfold. Knights running back Ryan Strachan said: ‘This was my fourth and final varsity game – I’ve been waiting a long time to lift that trophy.’
DEATH PLUNGE DRUGS CHARGE CASSIE DONEY
A TEENAGER has appeared in court accused of supplying drugs after a student fell to his death from a flat window. Alexander Baskhanov has
been charged with three counts under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The 19-year-old made no plea and was bailed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court while enquiries continue. Baskhanov was held follow-
ing the death of second-year medic Ben McLean. The 19-year-old University of Edinburgh student is thought to have fallen from a window of the flat in Newington during or after a party. His body was
found in the rear gardens of the building on January 15. Ben’s parents, Kevin and Tracey, released a statement through Police Scotland describing their son as ‘the smartest, funniest and most
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witty boy in all of our lives’. They said: ‘There are no words to explain how devastated we all are that this has happened. ‘Not only had he just passed his second year medicine exams but he was also the
life and soul of every party. Ben strived to please others and knew the perfect balance between working hard and having fun.’ The statement
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Every eye on the ball www.unipaper.co.uk
February 2015
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Stars of trail, ring and pool soak up the glory HILARY BELL OLYMPIC and Commonwealth successes as well as hard-working clubs were toasted at the University of Edinburgh sports ball. Swimmer Corrie Scott, who won bronze for Scotland in Glasgow last year, won the Eva Bailey cup for best female performance during the ceremony at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The 21-year-old chemistry student said: ‘It’s so lovely to get that kind of recognition from the university. ‘I swim nine times a week, with four gym sessions, which is a lot of early mornings and long days. But I love it and every time I stand up to race, I know it’s all been worth it.’ Cross-country skier and chemical engineering student Callum Smith, 22, won the award for best male performance after finishing 62nd in the 30km cross-country skiathlon at the Sochi winter Olympics last year. Club of the year went to swimming and water polo for the fourth year in a row. The club shared the title with women’s hockey. Swimming president Emma Bird said: ‘There are so many
Hair-down heroes: Sports players gather at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre to celebrate success high-performing clubs at Edinburgh that we knew it could go to a number of clubs. ‘Our club has a definite family feel to it.’ The cyclists won the Livingstone Trophy for best expedition after venturing to
the volcanoes of Iceland on a mountain bike trail. Welfare officer Adam Ramsay said: ‘We were rewarded with one of the best trails we’d ever ridden down, which ended at the bottom of the Skógafoss waterfall.’ The boat
club was named most-improved club at the ceremony on January 29, while the prize for best publicity throughout the year went to the women’s football club. Guests at the ball included Commonwealth Games box-
PICTURES: HANNAH HAWKSLEY
ing gold medallist Charlie Flynn, who spoke about his career. Edinburgh native and former world super featherweight champion Alex Arthur was also there, making the university boxing club a very snap-happy bunch. Stars: Corrie and Callum
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Flash mob will give protest the silent treatment DONNA FOULIS FLASH mobs are usually pretty raucous affairs, featuring mass pillow fights or scores of people dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. But the students of Edinburgh Napier University are going for the silent treatment to press their case for a quiet place to study. Many are upset to see the space in the Sighthill campus Message: The mob’s badges
PICTURE: DONNA FOULIS
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library – usually reserved for silent study – being booked for ‘noisy’ events. So a silent study mob is being organised to highlight the issue. Student Graham Napier told The University Paper: ‘The argument is that the fifth floor isn’t used that much by students. ‘What we’re trying to promote is for students to come together and make use of the space.’ He said an earlier protest threat at the end of last year had been taken seriously enough that events were can-
celled. But, come the new year, and more events were being planned for the space. Christopher Findlay, one of the students who was involved in setting up the original campaign, said: ‘The fifth floor is a valuable student resource that we should all be using and this student mob is a way to kick-start that.’ One of the aims of the study mob is to bring together Napier students from different campuses. Luke Power, also part of the organisation of the protests, added: ‘It was an attempt to engage and unite what may be described as a fractured student body.’ The latest silent study flash mob is due to take place on February 25.
OIL BE BLOWED: This image may look like dozens of balls of wool but it is in fact a picture of calcium sulphate crystals. It was taken at Heriot-Watt’s centre for environmental scanning which analyses water filter papers from the oil industry and won a monthly competition for best microscopic pictures PICTURE: DR JIM BUCKMAN/HERIOT-WATT
contactLIST Email us at edinburgheditor@unipaper.co.uk EDITOR: CASSIE DONEY Napier News: Donna Foulis Napier Sport: Kieran Scott UofE News: Francesca Street
UofE Sport: Hilary Bell What’s On: Louise Dickie Comments: Tilda Gregg-Smith
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My heart actually hurts... from p1 added: ‘He was endlessly remarkable, and it is reassuring to know a boy like that could never be forgotten.’ Friends flooded social media to pay tribute to Ben, who came from Barrhead. Paige Watson, his girlfriend, tweeted: ‘Why has this happened? Life is so evil. My heart actually hurts.’ His sister, Megan, posted: ‘Please let me wake up with this having been a twisted nightmare, Ben was too young, too smart and too brilliant for it to end like this. My best friend, I love you Ben, you deserved so much more out of life.’
February 2015
Website leak gives students access to results three days early A MYSTERIOUS link to what appeared to be the Edinburgh Napier University website allowed students to view class rankings and exam results three days early. The leak, with the tagline ‘get your exam results early!’, was
posted to Facebook and guided students through to their marks. One told The University Paper: ‘I thought being able to view results three days early didn’t seem particularly sensational – seeing your class ranking
A FORMER University of Edinburgh worker has died while ice-climbing in Canada. Neil Mackenzie, who worked at the university’s Roslin Institute until last year, was killed when he fell 2,000ft in the Pemberton area of north Whistler. The 31-year-old’s body was found along with two others – those of Elena Cernicka, 35, of North Vancouver, and Stephanie Grothe, 30, from Germany. n POLICE have said a body found on a beach in St Andrews is that of missing St Andrews University student Kieran McCann, 18.
was the interesting bit.’ It is not known where the link came from and, while students were able to see their own results, they could not see those of their classmates. Cathy Lambert, director of student
and academic services, said: ‘We conducted a full investigation and are assured there has been no breach of security or data protection. We are now addressing issues that have been highlighted.’ Luke Baker
Napier email blunder reveals private details CITY ART ATTACK
‘Brilliant’: Ben McLean
Climber plunges to death
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Heads-up: A piece by Lana Svirejeva on display EDINBURGH’S firstever student-run arts festival has hit the city. The Edinburgh Student Arts Festival is showcasing work from five of the city’s higher education institutes, including the University of Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University and Heriot-Watt University. Fourth-year UoE student
Zoe Vincent said: ‘I’m really looking forward to showcasing my art in a gallery but I’m also so excited to take a glimpse at all of the amazing art being produced around the city.’ The entertainment, runs until February 13 in a number of venues across the city. Francesca Street
Art attack: Work by student group NET WT
JAMES MCPHERSON AN email gaffe appears to have revealed the personal information of Edinburgh Napier University students. An advert for a part-time job was sent out to students by the international development and external affairs department – but instead of including information on the position, it seems a document containing private data was attached. A follow-up message was then sent to those who received the leak, reading: ‘The university
sincerely regrets that an email sent out today from International and External Affairs at 16.08 entitled “part-time job opportunity” contained a document which should not have been attached. ‘You are asked to delete this email immediately from your inbox and from the “deleted items” folder and not to read, copy, forward or otherwise process this email.’ The blunder has left some students feeling worried that their data is not safe. One, who wanted to
remain anonymous, said: ‘It definitely makes me feel a little uneasy to know that this happened and that the university had no control over the information once it was released. ‘I would love to know the whole story behind how this happened.’ Students who have questions or concerns about the email are being advised to contact the C & IT Support Desk. Edinburgh Napier was not available for response when contacted by TUP.
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February 2015
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Pay protest students chequed in their stride LILY SETTARI SECURITY staff blocked students protesting at excessive pay among university bosses from delivering a giant cheque to a vice-chancellor. Hundreds of University of Edinburgh students had gathered in Bristo Square to highlight the £286,000 salary of Sir Timothy O’Shea. They wanted to present the outsized cheque to the university leader but security staff at his offices in South Bridge forced them to leave it in the reception area.
Kirsty Haigh, former Edinburgh University Student Association employee and current NUS Scotland vice-president for communities, said: ‘Nobody needs this amount of money to live on. ‘To take this much money while we see staff having their pensions attacked and students not being able to afford their course material is simply unacceptable.’ Campaigners say Sir Timothy earns in just 19 days what the lowest-paid university worker earns in a year, assuming they work the same
inBRIEF
Work on £20m hub begins
Barred: Students with the giant cheque they could not deliver hours. UofE student Hannah Roques told us the aim of the protest was to demand ‘a 5:1 pay ratio at all universities, colleges and schools’. She said they wanted to see all in-house and outsourced workers paid at least the living wage and a radical overhaul of how universities, colleges and schools are managed so that students, work-
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ers and communities have a greater say in just how much bosses earned. The event in Edinburgh was one in a series of protests and similar ‘payday’ actions taking place on university campuses across the country. The first protest took place on January 12 in Oxford and was followed by others in Sheffield and Warwick.
PICTURE: HANNAH ROQUES
Boost for stem cell research Under fire: Sir Timothy
Fusion of art with fashion
ART and fashion students seem to be on the right track with this novel idea. A pop-up shop called RAIL that’s marketed as something between an art gallery and a retail store has been launched by three Edinburgh College of Art students. The clothes change on a weekly basis to transform the mood of the store and the interior is filled with art pieces by fourthyear ECA painting student Oisin Gallagher. Among his works is the centrepiece of the store, the Impractical Table.
‘Edinburgh is very lucky to be the first place to see the launch of its first collection,’ said James Knox, from The Art Newspaper. ‘Historically, artists and fashion go hand in hand and indeed, many of the greatest artists were the world’s greatest dandies. This show is absolutely in the artist dandy tradition – dashing, wearable and guaranteed to go down a storm at any Bohemian party.’ The store will remain in South College Street for a month before being taken to London in June. Amanda Ho
RESEARCH at the University of Edinburgh into developing stem cells for personalised medicine has received an £11.4million boost. The government cash, spread over five years, will go towards a new centre to advance research in synthetic biology. Scientists will also work on creating improved safety tests for drugs.
Architect gets gong 70yrs on A GERMAN-born architect has received a medal from Edinburgh College of Art 70 years after he was denied it during World War II. Antony Wolffe, 94, was awarded the medal for civic design in 1944 but it was rescinded because of his nationality. He said: ‘I am chuffed. I never thought this would happen.’
Top award for young scientist A YOUNG research fellow at Heriot-Watt has been awarded a prestigious honour for his work on hyperspectral imagery. Yoann Altmann, 27, received a Prix Paul Sabatier from the Académie des Sciences, in Toulouse, France. His work made a significant contribution to the remote sensing community.
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WORK has started on a £20million hub to study the impact of oil and gas exploration on climate change and marine life. The Lyell Centre at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus will be the Scottish HQ for the British Geological Survey. It will bring together experts seeking to provide evidence-based, informed and reliable opinions in areas of energy supply, environmental impact and global climate change. As well as new office and laboratory facilities, it will incorporate a 50,000litre climate change research aquarium.
Bizarre: The Impractical Table
PICTURE: AMANDA HO
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February 2015
A selfie worth £4,000 ABIGAIL WRIGHT FOR most students, the selfie is a way of life – a must-have memento of a great night out. But now it could be a way of saving a fortune. Edinburgh Napier University is going to put one student up in its new Bainfield Halls from September, potentially saving him or her £4,000 in living expenses. And all the student has to do it take a great selfie in one of their favourite places, holding a Napier prospectus. Dozens of people have entered already, posting images of them standing in front of pyramids, near temples and on sun-kissed beaches. Second-year English student Louise Dickie said: ‘I would take a selfie on the road bridge over the Firth of the Forth because the views are always amazing and you can see the rail bridge just behind it. ‘I’d use the spare cash to go inter-railing in Europe because I’ve never really travelled before.’ The competition has
Where’s the cream?: The cat sat on the table
Sitting comfortably: You share your Americano with a moggy
EVEN the most doting of animal lovers try their best to keep the pet cat off the table when they’re having a bite to eat or a cuppa. But now Edinburgh has joined a growing list of cities around the world by welcoming a cat café. Laura O’Neill, 27, launched Maison de Moggy to share her love for the friendly felines and it’s proving a big hit. Student Charles Eadie, 18, spent some time in the company of resident cats Jacques and Amelie. ‘It’s good to take a break from everything and actually relax,’ he said. ‘It’s rare to be able to have a conversation in coffee shops these days – it is a lot more laidback here.’ Maison de Moggy, in Stockbridge, is open from 11am to 7pm.
Fighting for the right to work MORE than 500 people have signed an online petition calling for foreign students to be allowed to stay here and work after graduating. Changes to the post-study visa system three years ago
made it more difficult for international students to pursue a career where they learned. Marianne, a second year from Hong Kong who is studying English language at the University of Edinburgh,
Students can win a year in halls for free
Smile, please: Two hopefuls share their selfies also caught the eye of some graduates and final-year students – even though they would not be able to take advantage of the free accommodation. Ryan Gill, an engineering graduate from Napier, said: ‘I would take a selfie out on a
rig because that’s where my degree has taken me and I wouldn’t have been able to get that chance without it.’ Students have until August 15 to enter, via Facebook or Twitter, using the hashtag #NapierCribs.
PICTURES: DOUGLAS JAMES GREENWOOD
A cat and a cuppa, please
said: ‘The restrictions build up a perception of the UK as a country which follows uncharitable policies against international students, despite the fact we know this not to be true.’
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talkingPOINTS
Comment, opinion and the occasional wild rant from our student writers across the country
Top dog Farage will get my vote MANDY FULLER ‘WHO are you going to vote for?’ is one of the most-asked questions at the moment. With the general election in May, the major parties don’t have long to win us round. Personally, I’d rather have a tea party than the Labour Party... but I can’t see the Great British public voting for that. However, I am genuinely tempted to vote Ukip. No, I haven’t lost my mind. I believe every dog has his day and, let’s face it, Nigel Farage is a bit of a dog – in that bloodhound, jowly cheek look he wears so well. As a student, I
Future PM?: Ukip leader Nigel Farage PICTURE: TWITTER often have to work long hours for s*** money, so any man that promises I don’t have to pay tax because I’m on the minimum wage is the man for me. I don’t
care if he’s branded a racist misogynist – and, as a black girl, that should really bother me. I want to keep more of my hard-earned cash. The main reason I’m going to vote Ukip is because of their pledge to remove tuition fees for university students on certain courses, based on academic performance. Let’s face it, the political party that allows me to take home more of my wages and cuts tuition fees – allowing me to spend more on my alcoholic, party-animal lifestyle – is definitely the political party for me. Nigel Farage for prime minister!
If you spot an error, we are committed to putting it right. Contact us at corrections@unipaper.co.uk. If you do not wish to receive a copy, then email us with your address at nothanks@unipaper.co.uk. We print 200,000 copies in 16 university cities. The University Paper is published by The UniPaper Ltd, in association with Simian Publishing, 23-24 Margaret Street, London W1W 8RU. Printed by Newsquest, Oxford.
PARTY POOPER: The words ‘house party’ and ‘danger’ go hand in hand. Waking up in a bleary-eyed haze to find someone has scrawled rude drawings in permanent marker on the kitchen walls or to discover vomit that hasn’t quite made the toilet bowl has to be among every host’s worst nightmare. So, is that ‘small gathering’ that you were about to publish on Facebook (accidentally without the ‘invite-only’ setting) worth it? Michael Quinn
PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/KF
EXAM STRESS: We are constantly being told that today’s youth has it far too easy when it comes to education, so there is now a demand for exambased learning. Surely it is counterproductive to only be tested on less than ten per cent of what you have learnt in the space of a couple of hours while under intense pressure? Students should be encouraged to exercise their skills about the subject thoroughly and this is best achieved through coursework. It also allows a student to choose their own question, encouraging them to pursue and expand their own ideas which they are passionate about Natalie Wellings
I HEART VALENTINE’S: Whatever complaints the anti-Valentine’s brigade has, no-one can resist the excitement of knowing someone out there holds a special place for you in their heart. Regardless of the tacky merchandise of February 14 and the 11million additional texts sent on the day of love, the simplistic act of giving an anonymous card will undoubtedly bring a smile to anyone’s face Lucy Kehoe
PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/ FLICKRLICKR
LOVE SICK: Whether you’re single or taken, Valentine’s is utter tripe. I just don’t think a heart-shaped box filled with cheap chocolates picked up from Card Factory for 99p, or an over-sized teddy bear that will ultimately be abandoned once the endorphin-filled day loses all its glory, class as romance. Watching couples flap about confessing their undying love for one another because they are compelled to do so really does have me contemplating shooting a fat little Cupid’s arrow through my own head Ema Brewer
COST OF EDUCATION: Students shouldn’t get a free ride – but getting a degree surely isn’t a free ride? The truth is – as if you hadn’t noticed – the economy is on the fritz and paying for higher education seems to be a knee-jerk reaction. Instead of genuine economic pragmatism, paying for education is yet more evidence that austerity is ruining people’s outlook. Saddling ambitious, forward-thinking students with debt – or, worse, making further education unavailable to some – is regressive in the most devastating way. Student Loans has already lost a load of tuition fees, the rest won’t ever get paid back – why not just scrap them altogether, George? Joe Evans
DIS-MAY: I agree with chancellor at the University of Birmingham Lord Bilimoria, who has attacked Theresa May’s plan to clear out non-EU international students from the UK. Closing Britain off to foreign students would damage its reputation as a nation that attracts talent from all over the world and cut off important cultural ties. Every international student pays thousands of pounds more than any British student each year and they do not get a loan like home students. It seems like Theresa May’s plan doesn’t have either economic reasoning or support behind it Natalia Alyukova
You can read fuller versions of these pieces at www.unipaper.co.uk. Then, let us know what you think; email us at comment@unipaper.co.uk
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February 2015
theINTERVIEW: Simon Amstell
The journey to a comedy awakening S
IMON AMSTELL is delving into his psyche. Describing his �irst taste of the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca during a trip to Peru – the inspiration for his latest stand-up tour, To Be Free – he says it failed to transform his thoughts in the way locals and gap year truth-seekers had claimed. ‘I imagined afterwards I’d have the feeling of total peace and serenity and I’d no longer feel stuck or limited,’ he says. ‘But despite this life-changing, profound, unexplainable experience, I’m still imprisoned by my own various insecurities.’ These stubborn doubts seem to be almost an asset for the 35-year-old, who does not shy away from letting his �laws take centre-stage. ‘My last tours were both quite… sad,’ he laughs. ‘Loneliness and the feeling of disconnection were big themes. However, this one is about me trying to �ind total freedom in my life. ‘I no longer feel as broken or troubled, so I think there’s generally more joy in this show. Although I’m still dealing with all the various problems of being a human being, they’re not quite as tragic as they were in previous shows. ‘I think I’m now closer to a fully functioning
TV presenter-turned-comedian Simon Amstell talks to CASSIE DONEY about psychadelics, clowning, Buddhism and the struggle to become a functioning human being human being than I’ve ever been.’ But the trope of the troubled comic has endured, partly through 2012 sitcom Grandma’s House, where his drifting ex-TV presenter character’s situation seemed to mirror his own life following Never Mind The Buzzcocks. He sees his ability to turn pain into humour as a survival skill. ‘If I didn’t have comedy as a career, I’d be desperately trying to �ind some other way to cope,’ he says. ‘I’d probably be in therapy full time.’ Although his stand-up show touches on the politics of the meat industry and the ‘absurdity’ of having a royal family, Amstell is not mounting a Russell Brand-style call for revolution quite yet. ‘I think the best thing for me to be doing is to retain the mask of the clown, where the clown is cheekily questioning things around him,’ he says. ‘I think the moment you become the politician, you lose the clown. And I feel like the clown is freer than the politician.’ The role of clown is one Amstell takes seriously. He
studied at Philippe Gaulier’s prestigious clown school in Paris – an experience he likens to an aspect of Zen Buddhism, where young monks are given puzzles to solve. ‘The reason they’re so tricky is that the mind can’t solve these puzzles,’ Amstell says. ‘The solution was to throw away rational thought – to be instinctive and childlike. And I wasn’t good at any of those things.’ Not all clowning around has been worth it, though. ‘I learnt to juggle as a kid,’ he says. ‘It doesn’t get you sex. It gets people to look at you for about 30 seconds, and then they go and look at something else.’ Watching acts at the Edinburgh Fringe, things �inally clicked, however. ‘The performers I found funny were the ones who had a sense of childlike wonder,’ he says. ‘Because everything is essentially ridiculous – and, through comedy, you can express that ridiculousness of everything we experience being an absurd illusion created by our ego monkey minds.’ He pauses. ‘There’s a quote for you.’
SIMON AMSTELL plays Liverpool on February 12, Bristol on February 26, Coventry on March 5 and Glasgow on March 18 and 19
Long trip: A Peruvian drug inspired Simon Amstell’s tour
INSIDE: Toddla T looks to lose his mind, The Wombats go wonky and Sigma make a racket
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clubbingCALENDAR monday, feb 9 Mixed-Up Mondays, Hive, free Nu Fire, Sneaky Pete’s, free Flare, Why Not?, £5 Rockeoke, Opium, free
tuesday, feb 17 Trash Tuesdays, Hive, free I Love Hip Hop, The Bongo Club, £4 Hector’s House, Cabaret Voltaire, £4 Soul Jam Hot, Sneaky Pete’s, free Deliverance, Opium, free
wednesday, feb 25 Tribe, Liquid Rooms, £5 Mansion, Opal Lounge, £4 The Gettup, Cabaret Voltaire, free Cookie, Hive, free Witness, Sneaky Pete’s, free Made of Metal, Opium, free
thursday, mar 5 Hi-Society, Hive, free Hullabaloo, The Bongo Club, £3 Mayhem, Opium, £tbc Temple, Silk, £4 Smash & Grab, Pilgrims, free
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tuesday, feb 10 Trash Tuesdays, Hive, free I Love Hip Hop, The Bongo Club, £4 Hector’s House, Cabaret Voltaire, £4 Soul Jam Hot, Sneaky Pete’s, free Deliverance, Opium, free
wednesday, feb 18 Tribe, Liquid Rooms, £5 Mansion, Opal Lounge, £4 The Gettup, Cabaret Voltaire, free Cookie, Hive, free Witness, Sneaky Pete’s, free Made of Metal, Opium, free
thursday, feb 26 Hi-Society, Hive, free Hullabaloo, The Bongo Club, £3 Mayhem, Opium, £tbc; Temple, Silk, £4 Smash & Grab, Pilgrims, free Juice, Sneaky Pete’s, free Moon Hop, Henry’s Cellar Bar, £3
friday, mar 6 F*** Yeah, Hive, £4; Broke, Cav, £5 Planet Earth, Citrus Club, £6 Propaganda, Liquid Rooms, £5 Jungle, Opal Lounge, £6; Lux, Why Not?, £8 Pandamonium, Opium, free Frisky Friday, Silk, £6; R&B, Shanghai, free Domino Club, Cabaret Voltaire, free
wednesday, feb 11 Tribe, Liquid Rooms, £5 Mansion, Opal Lounge, £4 The Gettup, Cabaret Voltaire, free Cookie, Hive, free Witness, Sneaky Pete’s, free Made of Metal, Opium, free
thursday, feb 19 Hi-Society, Hive, free Hullabaloo, The Bongo Club, £3 Mayhem, Opium, £tbc Temple, Silk, £4 Smash & Grab, Pilgrims, free Juice, Sneaky Pete’s, free
friday, feb 27 F*** Yeah, Hive, £4; Broke, Cav, £5; Planet Earth, Citrus Club, £6; Propaganda, Liquid Rooms, £5; Jungle, Opal Lounge, £6; Lux, Why Not?, £8; Pandamonium, Opium, free Frisky Friday, Silk, £6; R&B, Shanghai, free Domino Club, Cabaret Voltaire, free; Circus Lates, Electric Circus, £5
saturday, mar 7 Tease Age, Citrus Club, £5 Opal Saturdays, Opal Lounge, £5 Aura Saturdays, Cav, £6 Dirty Disko, Silk, £tbc; Bubblegum, Hive, £4 Dirty Deeds, Opium, free; WN Saturdays, Why Not? £8; Espionage, Espionage, free Stoli Saturdays, Shanghai, £6
thursday, feb 12 Hi-Society, Hive, free Hullabaloo, The Bongo Club, £3 Mayhem, Opium, £tbc Temple, Silk, £4 Smash & Grab, Pilgrims, free Juice, Sneaky Pete’s, free
friday, feb 20 F*** Yeah, Hive, £4; Broke, Cav, £5; Planet Earth, Citrus Club, £6; Propaganda, Liquid Rooms, £5; Jungle, Opal Lounge, £6; Lux, Why Not?, £8; Pandamonium, Opium, free Frisky Friday, Silk, £6; R&B, Shanghai, free Domino Club, Cabaret Voltaire, free; Wonky, Henry’s Cellar Bar, £5
saturday, feb 28 Tease Age, Citrus Club, £5; Opal Saturdays, Opal Lounge, £5; Aura Saturdays, Cav, £6; Dirty Disko, Silk, £tbc; Bubblegum, Hive, £4; Dirty Deeds, Opium, free; WN Saturdays, Why Not? £8; Espionage, Espionage, free; Stoli Saturdays, Shanghai, £6; Magic Nostalgia, Electric Circus, £8; Mumbo Jumbo, The Bongo Club, £5
sunday, march 8 The Club, Hive, free Week’s End, Cabaret Voltaire, free Coalition, Sneaky Pete’s, free Peace & Love, Cav, £tbc Fifty Fifty, The Bongo Club, £4
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February 2015
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clubbingCALENDAR friday, feb 13 F*** Yeah, Hive, £4; Broke, Cav, £5; Planet Earth, Citrus Club, £6; Propaganda, Liquid Rooms, £5; Jungle, Opal Lounge, £6; Lux, Why Not?, £8; Pandamonium, Opium, free; Frisky Friday, Silk, £6; R&B, Shanghai, free; Domino Club, Cabaret Voltaire, free; Confusion, Bongo Club, £5; Sure Shot, Electric Circus, £3; Unpop, Wee Red Bar, £5
saturday, feb 21 Tease Age, Citrus Club, £5; Opal Saturdays, Opal Lounge, £5; Aura Saturdays, Cav, £6 Dirty Disko, Silk, £tbc; Bubblegum, Hive, £4 Dirty Deeds, Opium, free; WN Saturdays, Why Not? £8; Espionage, Espionage, free; Stoli Saturdays, Shanghai, £6; Wasabi Disco, Sneaky Pete’s, £5; Pop Rocks, Electric Circus, £6
sunday, mar 1 The Club, Hive, free Week’s End, Cabaret Voltaire, free Coalition, Sneaky Pete’s, free Peace & Love, Cav, £tbc Fifty Fifty, The Bongo Club, £4
monday, mar 9 Mixed-Up Mondays, Hive, free Nu Fire, Sneaky Pete’s, free Flare, Why Not?, £5 Rockeoke, Opium, free
saturday, feb 14 Tease Age, Citrus Club, £5; Opal Saturdays, Opal Lounge, £5; Aura Saturdays, Cav, £6 Dirty Disko, Silk, £tbc; Bubblegum, Hive, £4 Dirty Deeds, Opium, free; WN Saturdays, Why Not? £8; Espionage, Espionage, free Stoli Saturdays, Shanghai, £6; Beep Beep, Yeah!, Electric Circus, £5
sunday, feb 22 The Club, Hive, free Week’s End, Cabaret Voltaire, free Coalition, Sneaky Pete’s, free Peace & Love, Cav, £tbc Fifty Fifty, The Bongo Club, £4
monday, mar 2 Mixed-Up Mondays, Hive, free Nu Fire, Sneaky Pete’s, free Flare, Why Not?, £5 Rockeoke, Opium, free
tuesday, mar 10 Trash Tuesdays, Hive, free I Love Hip Hop, The Bongo Club, £4 Hector’s House, Cabaret Voltaire, £4 Soul Jam Hot, Sneaky Pete’s, free Deliverance, Opium, free
sunday, feb 15 The Club, Hive, free Week’s End, Cabaret Voltaire, free Coalition, Sneaky Pete’s, free Peace & Love, Cav, £tbc Fifty Fifty, The Bongo Club, £4
monday, feb 23
Mixed-Up Mondays, Hive, free Nu Fire, Sneaky Pete’s, free Flare, Why Not?, £5 Rockeoke, Opium, free
monday, feb 16 Mixed-Up Mondays, Hive, free Nu Fire, Sneaky Pete’s, free Flare, Why Not?, £5 Rockeoke, Opium, free
tuesday, feb 24 Trash Tuesdays, Hive, free I Love Hip Hop, The Bongo Club, £4 Hector’s House, Cabaret Voltaire, £4 Soul Jam Hot, Sneaky Pete’s, free Deliverance, Opium, free
tuesday, mar 3 Trash Tuesdays, Hive, free I Love Hip Hop, The Bongo Club, £4 Hector’s House, Cabaret Voltaire, £4 Soul Jam Hot, Sneaky Pete’s, free Deliverance, Opium, free
wednesday, mar 4 Tribe, Liquid Rooms, £5 Mansion, Opal Lounge, £4 The Gettup, Cabaret Voltaire, free Cookie, Hive, free Witness, Sneaky Pete’s, free Made of Metal, Opium, free
wednesday, mar 11 Tribe, Liquid Rooms, £5 Mansion, Opal Lounge, £4 The Gettup, Cabaret Voltaire, free Cookie, Hive, free Witness, Sneaky Pete’s, free Made of Metal, Opium, free
thursday, mar 12 Hi-Society, Hive, free Hullabaloo, The Bongo Club, £3 Mayhem, Opium, £tbc Temple, Silk, £4 Smash & Grab, Pilgrims, free Juice, Sneaky Pete’s, free
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February 2015
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what’sON pick of the month THEATRE JOSEPH And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat continues its UK tour at the Edinburgh Playhouse until February 21. X Factor finalist Lloyd Daniels plays the title role in this classic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, while Matt Lapinskas – otherwise known as Anthony Moon from EastEnders – takes on the role of Pharaoh, who catapults Joseph to a top government position when the young man interprets his dreams. Packed with big musical numbers, including Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door, this production, which has sold an estimated 15million tickets since it was first staged, is a real crowd-pleaser.
COMEDY IMPRO FX are the comedy dynamos behind the show Men With Coconuts – a madcap troupe of actors, comedians and musicians who turn
audience suggestions into improvised shows using sketches and Broadway musical-style songs. They have been a Fringe festival staple since their debut in 2013 – and now you can catch them off-season with their new fortnightly shows. Bouncing around the stage, the performers use audience participation without making those watching the butt of their jokes – so even the shyest of comedy fans need not fear. They play Canon’s Gait on February 26 and March 12 and 26. Cassie Doney
MUSIC HEARTS Under Fire are four women out to prove punk is not dead. Well, pop-punk-rock to be more precise – although they defy pigeon-holing. Their fiery, intense riffs and moody vocals, written by singer and bass player Mary O’Regan, have earned them comparisons to the likes of Alkaline Trio. Their songs are much
Crowd control: Impro FX put the audience in charge while Hearts Under Fire, right, get angry PICTURES: IMPRO FX/DEREK BREMNER more sophisticated than the usual throwaway guitar band lyrics and their first single Knots, released in September, is an anger-filled anthem that is great both for
moping around or dancing to. They have played Sonisphere, Download, and T In The Park – and they hit Bannermans Bar on February 23. Cassie Doney
56,950 Students in Ediburgh enjoy themselves every month Make sure they know about your event
To place your listing please contact listings@unipaper.co.uk
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February 2015
what’sON
Our comprehensive guide to entertainment in Edinburgh. If you have an event which you would like included please email us at whatson@unipaper.co.uk
Big song and dance It takes a crowd to make us tango...
Festival puts Iran in a fresh context
THE Edinburgh Iranian Festival aims to show a different side to a nation more usually in the news for political prisoners and nuclear tensions. This year’s event, until February 16, includes an exhibition at Summerhall called Perception – 40 works of art that challenge beliefs about the country. Iranian films, lectures, music and fashion are also on show at venues across the city. The last lecture of the festival, on Iranian pop queen Googoosh, will be at the University of Edinburgh on February 16. For a full calendar of events, visit www. ediranfest.co.uk.
Mad Tango frontman Michael Dodds talks to LOUISE DICKIE about audience participation, getting a foot in the door and what we can expect from the band in 2015...
A
BAND of loyal followers has built up behind acoustic rock group Mad Tango since they formed under the name MDoddsMusic in 2009. Now, lead vocalist Michael Dodds, along with lead guitarist Rowan Wood, bassist Nikki Brunton and drummer Stefan Dillon, plan to take their hometown by storm. What’s the best gig you’ve ever played? There have been so many gigs that stand out for different reasons. The biggest and most exciting, though, has to be the finals of the Forth 1 One To Watch competition in 2013. We played alongside some excellent acts to an incredible audience. What do you think makes a gig great? The crowd. When you’re performing to an audience who want to dance, sing along and really get involved, then you automatically up your game
First steps: Mad Tango met at a youth music project and plan to hit the festival circuit this summer and give it your all. Those are always the best gigs. How did Mad Tango get together? We all attended a youth music project on Infirmary Street called Totally Sound. There, I was encouraged to write songs and perform publicly – something I’d never done before. I met some amazing people during my time there who played different instruments and had so many other ideas for the songs I had been writing, so naturally we decided to form a band – and we’ve been going strong ever since. What advice would you give to aspiring
musicians? For those who are still under 18, the best thing to do – in my opinion – is to check out the Totally Sound music project. To everyone else, experience is the best thing. Get along to open mic nights, perform your material and network. What do you have coming up in 2015? At the moment we’re working on our first EP, which we hope to have finished very soon. Then, come summer, we’ll hit festival season and it’ll be a couple of months of playing as many of those as we can. For details of upcoming gigs, see www.facebook. com/madtangoband.
PICTURE: MAD TANGO
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Poets out to prove a point
I HAD never thought of poets as horrible people – but then a group of them set out to prove they could be withering by desecrating classic works in the style of party game Cards Against Humanity. Host Andrew Blair, architect of the Alternative Edinburgh Walking Tour at the Fringe, fired verses at three contestants – slam master Miko Berry, comedy rhymer Suky
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Poets Against Humanity, The Banshee Labyrinth
Goodfellow and stand-up bard Siân Bevan – who had to answer using their pick of cards with witty lines on. This was only their second show and there were a few interruptions to sort out last-minute technical hitches – but the impromptu performances the contestants gave to fill the time were some of the evening’s highlights.
Bonus rhymes included verses on a burger horror story and an ode to David S Goyer – the screenplay writer for Superman film Man Of Steel – describing the poet’s desire to eat couscous out of his skull. By the end, I was convinced that poets could be at least a little bit mean. Lidia Molina Whyte
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February 2015
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theBEAT
We need a scene where we lose our minds On the verge of dropping a new mixtape, Toddla T chats to MORGAN HINTON about DJing at the age of ten, promotional politics and being proper s**t at school
W
hen did you discover your love for music? I got heavily into music aged about nine or ten. When I was ten I had turntables but they were unusable – all you could do was select tracks. Anything else and the needle would snap. What moment did you commit to being a DJ? I’ve got a bit of a weird mind in that I can’t concentrate on things I’m not into. At
school I was proper s**t – not because I’m thick, I just didn’t give a f**k. Music was one of the only things I could really focus on. With raves now promoting unknown line-ups, would you play at an event that wouldn’t advertise your name on the bill? One hundred per cent – I think that’s a really good idea. If you can sell tickets with the night being the
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FO F F O RSITY PAPER E UNIV EADERS R
In the mix: Toddla T has been in the studio with singer Protoje focus over the DJs, that’s the ultimate winner. How do you feel about the underground scene in Britain? Dance music has got so popular over the last few
years, with so much money in the industry, you get all the bulls**t that comes with it. It’s necessary to have underground nights, now more than ever. Dance music has become new and shiny,
whereas the underground scene should be somewhere you go to lose your mind. What are your aspirations for this year? I’m doing a mixtape with a Jamaican artist called
Protoje. We’re blending his instrumentals and trying to merge the Jamaican sound with the UK sound. Toddla T and Protoje’s mixtape is due for release this month.
Little White Lies is a British, London based brand bringing timeless quality pieces to the 18-35 year old fashion conscious women. Little White Lies creates exquisite collections, each piece has a unique point of difference- a trim, beautiful buttons or hidden pockets. Every garment has been thought about in detail from beginning to end creating contemporary modern pieces with a nostalgic retro charm.
We use the highest quality fabrics to create soft dresses and separates; with the use of delicate velvets, vegan leathers, silks and georgette overlays. Attention to detail is what makes this brand so charming. This is carried throughout all designs, giving a feeling of femininity with an urban edge keeping Little White Lies in touch with premium fashion trends. The brand is stocked across the UK, Europe and the USA making a name for itself as Drapers Young Fashion Brand finalist. To celebrate the growing success, Little White Lies would like to offer University readers 25% off their next shop online at www.littlewhitelies.com
Go to www.littlewhitelieslondon.com and enter code LWLU25 to claim your discount Can be used on full price items only, cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons.
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theBEAT
February 2015 Love your music? So do we! Tune in here for all the latest interviews, previews and reviews
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It all got kind of moody Record pushed us to edge of reason
They’re back: (l-r) Tord, Murph and Dan have been working on their third album
The Wombats frontman Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy tells PORTIA FAHEY about pouring his soul into the new album, what it’s like having LA as your fantasy girlfriend and his new-found fondness for dogs
T
HE Wombats have ‘pushed themselves to the edge of the human soul’ to create their latest album, Glitterbug. ‘The back end of the recording process was nuts for me,’ according to the band’s lead singer Matthew Murphy, aka Murph. ‘I was back and forth between London and LA. It was very exhausting and it all got kind of moody towards the end. All I know is that I’m incredibly proud of the album.’ And so he should be. The new record, due out in April, has taken four years to complete and Murph – along with bandmates Dan Haggis and Tord Øverland Knudsen – is about to embark on a 26-date European tour in March to promote it. ‘We’re all perfectionists and a lot of the songs have been through heavy critiquing by myself before the others get to them, or they’ll send me a backing track and I’ll work on it and rewrite and rewrite and then it goes back to them,’ he says. ‘We are all definitely guilty of over-analysing things.’ ‘I’m not saying we’ve had
to go down the mines every morning. I’ve certainly put a lot of myself into this album emotionally, psychologically. ‘It’s hilarious – I’m only starting to realise now that when I was in it, I actually had no idea what was going on.’ Thankfully, the band had Bastille’s producer, Mark Crew, on hand to guide them through some of the darker moments. Murph, 30, says: ‘Mark was unbelievable and would take the p*** out of us so much, which is something no one’s ever done before – well, not to our faces, anyway!’ The Liverpool-born singer has also found three new loves in his life: LA, his girlfriend and her dog, Daisy. ‘Daisy’s awesome and I’m completely obsessed with her,’ he laughs. ‘I spent the majority of yesterday just staring at pictures of her.’ And his obsession with LA has become so strong, the city is the main focus of the new album. ‘I’d stay over in LA and I fell more and more in love with the city,’ he explains. ‘I got to know it a lot more
Rising star: Laura Welsh
LAURA WELSH entered the mainstream last year when she featured on Gorgon City’s top ten hit, Here For You. Now, the singer is looking to cement her place there. She spoke to TUP ahead of the release of her debut album, Soft Control, in March. What was it like working with Gorgon City? Musically, it’s completely different to what I do but it was an amazing experience – and to play festivals with them gave
Catch The Wombats on tour during April in Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Liverpool and Newcastle. Visit thewombats.co.uk
and then, suddenly, it was this person that I’d written the songs about. I’d created this non-existent person in my head and thought about what it would be like having a long-distance relationship and dealing with jealousy and things like that.’ But most of all, his love is for the fans. ‘It means f*** all if you don’t have some fans that care about you and we’ve always been very lucky in that our fan base is strong but they’re also obsessed with us,’ he says. ‘Everything else is just background noise.’
Singer without compromise me the opportunity to play in front of much bigger audiences. How was the recording process for the album? It was incredible to have it finished and mixed for me. The most important thing was that I’d made the record that I wanted to, without compromise. What do you like to do in your down time? I love photography. I’ve got a Canon film camera so I like shooting on that. Edward Jones
For a longer version of this interview, log on now to www.unipaper.co.uk
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KNOW THE INSIDE
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T R AC K O N
CAMPUS?
IF SO THE UNIVERSITY PAPER WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. We are scouring the UK for student journalists, so whether you are looking for work experience or simply spending too much time in the SU, get in touch today. We are on the look out for opinion leaders and change makers who can write engaging copy. Your pieces will be printed in The University Paper which is read by thousands of students across the UK and you will get that all important byline - perfect if you are looking to build a portfolio. Not to mention that age old adage, it will look great on the CV. So if you would like to be an influential voice for the student community or just have a strong front page tell us what is going on - pitch your ideas to The University Paper, email: editor@unipaper.co.uk
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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
L
ISTENING to drum ’n’ bass duo Sigma chat about getting soaked in champagne and downing trebles, you would think life was just one big booze-fest. But Joe Lenzie and Cameron Edwards have been working hard, releasing four EPs and �ive singles since 2010, two of which – Changing and Nobody To Love – made it to No.1 in the charts. They have also collaborated with the likes of Paloma Faith and Labrinth, who features on their forthcoming single. Catching up with them on their way to the studio as they take a break from live shows to work on debut album Life, due out later this year, I ask how they felt about Kanye West’s track Bound 2, which they reworked for Nobody To Love. ‘Overall, it sounded like someone was having a musical heart attack but we really liked the d’n’b part, so gave it a mix,’ says Edwards. Kanye’s management contacted the duo about playing at Wireless Festival last summer but they declined, preferring to ‘do our own thing’. The pair met at the
They have gone from two mates who fuelled their passion for drum ‘n’ bass with nights out to professionals with two UK No.1s under their belts and a single with Labrinth soon to be released. HENRIETTA PAINTER speaks to Sigma about champagne, doves and staying healthy University of Leeds, where going out three or four nights a week together fuelled their passion for drum ’n’ bass. Those nights were ‘without a doubt the best places to go’, claims Edwards, a former events student. They formed Sigma out of ‘a mutual love for making a racket together’ and were originally going to be called Lesbian Doves. Can I ask why? ‘One night a pair of lesbian doves �lew down from Joe’s shed,’ Edwards explains. ‘So we wanted to call ourselves that – but it sounded too r’n’b for us.’ Twelve years on, and do they still feel Leeds has a healthy d’n’b scene? ‘It’s changed a lot now, but then again all scenes have,’ says Lenzie. ‘We love to go back to Leeds whenever we play there. The d’n’b scene has become really healthy.’ It is clear the duo are not shy of a party or four. ‘I can’t remember my best memory from uni – it all seems like a constant haze,’ says
Edwards. So, what are their other favourite places for a night out? ‘We played at HAU5 festival in Newcastle last year and ended up at an afterparty in Tup Tup,’ says Lenzie. ‘I can’t tell you all the details but we were covered in a lot of champagne that night.’ He confesses he’s never had a treble, though – at which point, Edwards proudly announces that he has. ‘Cam’s still a student deep down,’ says Lenzie. Making music has always been on the cards for them, although Edwards once had a yearning for the army. ‘It’s weird,’ muses Lenzie. ‘When you’re growing up, you don’t realise that music is this whole massive industry.’ It is one they’re getting stuck into and life at the moment is a mixture of touring and studios, fuelled by beer, their PlayStation and vitamins. ‘On tour it’s great to have each other,’ says Lenzie. ‘And the vitamins keep us healthy.’
Sigma will perform at Future Music Festivals across Australia on February 28 and March 1, 7, 8 and 9, and Germany’s Sputnik Springbreak Festival from May 22 to 24. Higher, featuring Labrinth, is released by 3beat records on March 22.
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February 2015
onSCREEN
Love a good night at the movies? Or perhaps you need a quiet night in front of the TV? Read on to find out what’s on...
out soon
Just mates: Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan in What If?
Predestination (Feb 20) A TIME-travelling agent (Ethan Hawke) working for the ‘temporal bureau’ is sent on his final assignment to stop an infamous terrorist who has eluded him. He is forced to hop between the years to prevent a major crime, picking up a new recruit in John Doe (Sarah Snook) along the way. Jakub Szweda Kill The Messenger (Mar 6) REPORTER Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) exposes the shocking truth of the CIA’s role in importing cocaine into America and using the profits to arm Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Despite threats from drug lords and CIA operatives, Webb keeps on digging – endangering his career, life and family. Antoniya Gerimpapazi Chappie
(Mar 6)
UNNATURALLY clever robot Chappie (Sharlto Copley) is kidnapped at ‘birth’ and later adopted and raised by a dysfunctional family. Director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) is known for addressing big issues such as race, discrimination and freedom – and this latest outing looks set to do the same. Aaron Lembo X+Y
(Mar 13)
NATHAN ELLIS (Asa Butterfield) is no normal child. While others play, he hides away and solves problems. When his teacher Martin Humphreys (Rafe Spall) finds his rare gift, he sends him to the International Mathematics Olympiad, where Nate realises there is more to life than maths. Antoniya Gerimpapazi
In the friend zone? DANIEL RADCLIFFE, star of What If?, out on Blu-ray and DVD this month, tells TUP about friends he doesn’t want to sleep with, correcting pronunciation and banter
D
OES sex always get in the way of a good friendship? Daniel Radcliffe explores the thin line between friends and lovers in What If? What were your first conversations with director Michael Dowse? He was referencing movies like It Happened One Night and When Harry Met Sally. They were big touchstones for us, because it’s all about how relationships are built through banter and taking the p***. When the script came to you, what shape was it in? It was pretty much as it is now. The moment I knew I was going to do the script was on
n TINA FEY’S latest comedy offering, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, sees Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) escaping to New York after spending 13 years in a doomsday cult. She is determined to start her life again, finding work as a nanny for a wealthy Manhattanite (Jane Krakowski) and friendship with Titus (Tituss Burgess), a larger-
page two, when Wallace is correcting Chantry on her pronunciation of a word, and I was just like, ‘Ah, I’m that guy.’ The film seems clear men and women can be friends. How does it strike that balance? I’m friends with lots of women who I have no intentions to sleep with. There is also the question of whether men and women who are incredibly sexually attracted to each other can just be friends. That’s the issue that is present in the film. What’s Toronto like to work in? I had a great time there. I ate really badly – lots of poutine, which is chips in gravy, cheese and bacon. It was a really fun.
tvPICK
than-life singer who works as a robot in Times Square. Created by Tina Fey, the show has signed up to two seasons on Netflix, with the first coming out on March 6. Rebecca Thomas
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hiTECH
www.unipaper.co.uk The latest in everything gadgets and gaming
Ambitious street car racer is bit of a drag The Crew (Xbox 360) Rating 3/5
P
LUNGING gamers into the heart of Detroit’s illegal street racing scene, The Crew is looking to redefine the open-world racing genre. Players will attempt to infiltrate and take down the 510 gang that pulls all the strings in motor city. But the action isn’t limited to Detroit, as the massive game offers coast-to-coast, online-only action from LA all the way to New York. The best thrills emerge in the vast, inter-city stretches that perfectly capture the experience of the great American road trip. Unfortunately, that ambition leaves the gameplay
Resident Evil Revelations 2 ONE of the great horror series returns with some familiar faces. Fan favourite Claire Redfield stars with Moira Burton, the daughter of the legendary Barry Burton. The two women, who are working for antibioterrorism organisation TerraSave, are captured at the start of the game. What follows is a gory quest for survival and answers. Fans can expect better gameplay from the previous outing, while features such as raid mode allow players to fight through a map without following the main storyline. Out on March 2. Aaron Lembo Project CARS
On the road: The Crew takes you on a high-octane journey into Detroit’s illegal racing scene feeling stretched. The immense landscape gives a poor frame rate, causing lagging, dubious graphics and sketchy audio. The AI isn’t
quite right either, veering from erratic decisions to outright cheating in a bid to ramp up the tension in what is a flat driving experience.
Added to this, online matchmaking is a work in progress – a serious issue for the online-only campaign. Josh Mcloughlin
THIS is the racing simulator that gamers have been waiting for. The highly ambitious racer, which has been in production since October 2011, lets players take control of a huge variety of motors, from karts to supercars. They can also take on real-life race tracks, such as
out soon Donnington, Silverstone and Brands Hatch. Everything from the nuts and bolts up has been wonderfully recreated to replicate their real-world counterparts, with the game also boasting fully dynamic weather systems and a competitive online feature. Released on March 20. Umar Hassan Battlefield: Hardline ARE you going to be a cop or a criminal? Choose your side in this highspeed multiplayer mode. There are seven online games to choose from, including rescue, a tense five-on-five match in which the police have to save hostages before time runs out, while the perps do everything they can to stop them. In the single-player campaign, gamers can now use nonlethal force takedowns to gather intel on criminals. There are also a number of new weapons, cars and bikes to keep seasoned fans entertained. It’s out on March 20. Matt Bullin
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theTRIP
February 2015
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Every journey begins with a single step... take the first one here, with our look at great places to go abroad
Foster far-flung friends Get travel ideas off pals from overseas
So, where should you go? Our favourite getaways
D
ESPITE tough talk from the government about international students, our campuses hold a wealth of people who have come from overseas to study. The diversity of the university population is an indication of how enlightening travelling can be, with the melting pot giving undergrads an insight into a host of different cultures – so why not get inspiration on where to travel from global friends? The cost of a trip abroad can put many off but if you stay with an international friend, you can reduce the cost considerably, as well as get off the tourist trail and find out what living in the country is really like. Study leave and the Easter holidays provide a perfect opportunity to get away for a few nights. If you’re looking for something more than a quick break, most universities offer the chance of studying at campuses across the world at summer schools and as part of the Erasmus scheme. This allows you to study abroad for between three months and one academic year, with no extra tuition fees. You can also apply for a grant under the programme to cover any extra costs of studying abroad. Andrew Griffiths
ISTANBUL: East meets west in this city, where the Galata Bridge offers views over both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean and you can find Christian art in the Hagia Sophia mosque, which was once a church. The Blue Mosque (pictured), with its awe-inspiring dome, is also worth a visit. As a
student on holiday with friends, I found it affordable – our student discount cards were taken at the huge imperial Dolmabahçe Palace and we filled our backpacks with beautiful food – in terms of taste and colour – at the spice market while sticking to a tight budget. Anupama Subramaniyam PICTURE: AS
NEW YORK: The Big Apple, the ‘city that never sleeps’ – New York City has many affectionate nicknames. And for good reason. It is home to some of the most famous landmarks in the world – the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and glittering Times Square, pictured. If you usually prefer beach resorts or countryside estates to
city breaks, make an exception for New York. Aside from feeling as if you have stumbled on to the set of a film or TV series, the city has something to suit everyone, whether you want to sample some culture at its museums and galleries, catch a musical in Broadway or wander through Central Park. Adiba Khatoon PICTURE: FRANCISCO DIEZ
FINLAND: When people ask me about my favourite holiday destination, they don’t expect me to say Finland – the Nordic country can sometimes fall off the getaway radar. But in Helsinki, you can sip an espresso in an ultramodern coffee shop surrounded by hippies, while being haunted by
the city’s Soviet past and inspired by its neo-classical cathedral (pictured). The street food festival, in March, involves talks and parties as well as delicious meals – while a traditional Finnish sauna followed by a run through the snow is not to be missed. Mane Grigoryan PICTURE: TAZRIAN KHAN/FLICKR
KEFALONIA: Nicknamed ‘the jewel in the Ionian crown’, this western Greek island is home to the soft white sands and the turquoise waters of Myrtos, widely thought to be one of the best beaches in the world. You may recognise the island from the film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, which was set and filmed there and took much of
its mood from the surroundings. You can take a yacht from Argostoli, the island’s main working port, which has a natural sheltered harbour, to explore the coastline. If you want a break from the beach, there are plenty of villages and medieval castles to explore. And keep a look-out for the island’s famous turtles. Charlotte Seddon PICTURE: CS
Signs of trouble: Yellow flowers, feet and thumbs SNOG someone outside a chicken shop on the way home from a night out in the UK and you could find a compromising picture posted on Facebook of you and your ‘friend’. But in the Middle East or India, it could land you in serious trouble. A smooch between a British couple in Dubai in 2010 led to a prison sentence – and, while PDAs between your housemate and their
‘significant other’ sometimes put you off your beans on toast, you probably don’t want anyone to end up behind bars. Here are some other faux pas to avoid while on your travels. 1. Learn your left from your right. In many cultures, including the Middle East and parts of Africa, people eat with their right hand and find using the left disgusting –
it is reserved for more, er, intimate acts in the bathroom. 2. Avoid pointing the bottom of your feet at anyone if you are in a Muslim country, as they are considered the lowest and most unclean part of the body. 3. If you think about getting a bouquet of flowers for a Ukrainian friend, never bring an even number – and avoid yellow. This
may appear to be odd but the colour is considered impolite, while even numbers of blooms are associated with funerals. 4. A thumbs-up is interpreted by most Brits as a sign of approval or thanks but if you are travelling around Afghanistan, Iran or parts of Italy, it takes on a whole other meaning – think middle finger. 5. In Japan, when you are out
with your drinking buddies, it is traditional to pour beer for one another as a gesture of companionship and respect. 6. In Nepal, it is thought to be ill-mannered to open a gift in the presence of the giver, to avoid offence – so don’t take it personally if your hosts leave your offerings unopened on the side. Joe Taylor
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foodBREAK
Save dough with these budget eats
A fast �illing �ix for a night out... Chilli, artichoke and cheese dip
A GOOD host knows that food should be on offer if guests are coming – especially if you are about to head off together on a big night out. But, with limited amounts of time and cash, what’s the best way of feeding your friends without breaking the bank? For ease and speed, it doesn’t get much better than a chilli, artichoke and cheese dip. For just under £15 you can create a taste sensation that will have your friends praising your culinary skills for years to come. All you need is 250g of grated mozzarella, 50g of grated parmesan, three cans of artichoke hearts, two to three chillies (a combination of red and
green for colour) and 325g of mayonnaise. Finely chop the chillies and either half or quarter the artichoke hearts (depending on how chunky you like it). Next, combine the ingredients together and stir until well mixed. Pop your concoction into an oven-safe dish, about an inch-and-a-half to two inches deep, and stick it in the oven at 200C for about 15 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve with tortilla chips and voilà... your guests will think you put a lot of effort into making a tasty treat, while you will have time to get ready and a bit of dosh left in your pocket. Aria Dixon
S
Cheap treats: Baked beans and Dolmio sauce
TUDENTS are masters of scrimping – especially when it comes to food. But what should every undergraduate’s cupboard contain? Check out TUP’s top ten bargain bites. 1. Garlic bread – This family favourite will cost you less than a quid and it couldn’t be easier to cook. Stick it in an oven and come back ten minutes later. 2. Rice – There is barely a country in the world that
HUNTING for a student-friendly shop? Look no further than Aldi. If you can keep up with the lightning speed of the cashiers then this is where you should head for a bargain. Pick up frozen tuna steaks at a decent size and price (400g, £2.99) or take advantage of their weekly ‘super six’ deal, where all the fruit and veggies are just 59p Cheryl Culliford-Whyte
doesn’t have a rice dish. From Spanish paella to Jamaica’s rice and peas, it can be added to most meals and doesn’t cost the earth. 3. Noodles – A packet of
simple noodles can cost pennies but are perfect for adding bulk to stir fries. Mix them with a spicy sauce and a load of your favourite vegetables for a healthy,
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February 2015
foodBREAK
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We’ve all got to eat. So whether you fancy preparing something at home or popping out for dinner, we have the recipe for a great meal
Economic edibles: Filling up on noodles, garlic bread, cereal or rice is a tasty way to save some cash PICTURES: ZOE MACNAUGHTON PHRAWR/HAT M/ MAMMA MIA/FLICKR
quick and, most importantly, cheap meal. 4. Ready-made tomato sauce – While making your own is undoubtedly better, there’s no reason why a ready-made tomato sauce can’t be used when time is short. Throw it together with some pasta or even in
a ratatouille to add a bit of �lavour. 5. Cereal – Start the day with a delicious and quick snack. Add your fruit of choice for some much needed vitamins, or try some yoghurt and honey. 6. Baked beans – Although they taste great on a baked
potato or over toast, why not use them in a stew? They make a great addition to a sausage casserole – and, let’s not forget, they are a vital component for a Sunday morning fry-up. 7. Crisps – Not healthy – but everyone deserves a treat every now and then. They
can be eaten as a snack but also used for a quick-�ix meal, such as nachos. 8. Potatoes – They can be roasted, baked, mashed, fried or boiled. In fact, the ’tater is an extremely versatile ingredient. If you are feeling adventurous, you could even cook a gratin
dauphinois to add sparkle to the humble spud. 9. Bread – Obviously useful for simple sandwiches or toast in the morning. Add butter, raisins and an eggand-milk mixture to make a marvellous bread-and-butter pudding. 10. Rolled oats – During
the cold of the winter months, there aren’t many other dishes that warm you up better. A bit bland on their own – but add some milk and jam, and you have a wonderfully �illing way to begin the day. Antoniya Gerimpapazi and Zoe Macnaughton
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brainTEASE an you match the quote to the well-known person?
A: ‘I love the smell of diapers; I even like when they’re wet and you smell them all warm like a baked good’
B:‘At the end of the day, I just know I’ll probably have the worst, spoiled little kid ever’
C: ‘I’m not that good-looking. I think I’m a pretty weird-looking guy’
D: ‘In an action film you act in the action. If it’s a dramatic film you act in the drama’
E: ‘Being a Scientologist when you drive past an accident… you know you have to do something about it because you know you’re the only one that can really help’
Who said what? 1 Tom Cruise, 2 Lindsay Lohan, 3 Kristen Stewart, 4 Sarah Jessica Parker, 5 Eminem, 6 Jay Z, 7 Ryan Gosling, 8 Dennis Rodman, 9 Jean Claude Van Damme
F: ‘How come when Kanye acts like an idiot he gets a gold record but when I act like an idiot, I get a police record?’
G: ‘Don’t be an asshole. That’s my relationship advice.’
ANSWERS
H: ‘Chemistry is a class you take in high school or college, where you figure out two plus two is ten or something’
I: ‘I’m stupid, I’m ugly, I’m dumb, I smell. Did I mention I’m stupid?’
Can you unscramble these singers’ names…
1. MR SOON RANK 2. ROHANN MAIGRET 3. THIN L BAR 4. RENE HONDA SELL 5. SIR THIN MARC 6. NEW HO BEAN
in a
muddle
7. KIN P 8. GLAZES ME ONE ANSWERS
1 Mark Ronson, 2 Meghan Trainor, 3 Labrinth, 4 Ella Henderson, 5 Chris Martin, 6 Ben Haenow, 7 Pink, 8 Selena Gomez
C
Take a break and put your grey cells to work with our selection of puzzles
A4 B6 C7 D9 E1 F2 G3 H8 I5
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February 2015
competitionCORNER
Your chance to win fantastic tickets, trips and treats
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ANCY dancing away on the party island of Mallorca by night before kicking back on a water park all day with a group of your best friends? All you need to do is grab three mates and some cheap �lights and we’ll provide you all with a four-star suite at BH Mallorca for �ive nights. You’ll get unlimited access to its water park, beach club and open-air festival gigs. With meals at buffet-style restaurants included, plus free wi�i, all you’ll need to worry about is which dancing shoes to bring...
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NO cash? Don’t let that take away your right to a proper coffee. Win one of eight Breville Coffeexpress machines and �ilter your morning �ix straight into a takeaway bottle on your way to a lecture, or just make a cuppa at home. It’s easy to use – just add water and your favourite ground coffee, �lick the switch and go.
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Non-stop party: Explore Mallorca’s clubs and chill at the beach on this five-night holiday
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February 2015
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Horoscope
What’s written in the stars for you this month
ARIES: MARCH 21APRIL 19 Your social life might seem scrambled, Aries. However, this is a blessing in disguise, as you will be able to see people’s secret agendas. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind
TAURUS: APRIL 20MAY 20 Take control, Taurus. Your workload has signi�icantly increased since the new year but this shouldn’t be a challenge. If you do not have enough time, simply say so GEMINI: MAY 21JUNE 20 Don’t lose track of your �inances, Gemini. A matter will arise early on in the
month. You are more than equipped to deal with it; just do so swiftly, or you will be in a vulnerable situation CANCER: JUNE 21JULY 22 Now is not a time to shy away from the world, Cancer. Stand tall and you will surprise yourself. Someone may even catch your eye who will inspire and improve your world
LEO: JULY 23AUGUST 22 You need to make some changes, Leo. Rediscover some of your sparkle that for some reason has fallen by the wayside recently. This month, you can be the life and soul of the party
VIRGO: AUGUST 23SEPTEMBER 22 Take this time to take a long hard look in the mirror, Virgo. You have been doing more than enough for everyone but yourself. Take some well-needed time out or you will burn out
LIBRA: SEPTEMBER 23OCTOBER 22 This month is full of temptation, Libra. Don’t get carried away. You need to put someone at home �irst – but that doesn’t mean you should put your social life on hold SCORPIO: OCTOBER 23NOVEMBER 21 You have been yearning for something out of the
ordinary, Scorpio – and now is the time to realise it. Right now, it seems as though anything is possible – and, if you focus, it is SAGITTARIUS: NOVEMBER 22DECEMBER 21 Respect yourself, Sagittarius. Someone in particular might be calling in favours left, right and centre – but what you don’t realise just yet is that they do not need the help as much as you think
CAPRICORN: DECEMBER 22JANUARY 19 This month is all about patience, Capricorn. You are about to hit the jackpot but
Y
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if you rush the decisions along the way, all you will be left with is fool’s gold AQUARIUS: JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18 Stay focused, Aquarius. There is an important opportunity coming your way but you will miss it if your eyes aren’t wide open to everything that is happening around you
PISCES: FEBRUARY 19MARCH 20 You have immense in�luence, Pisces. Use it your advantage and you might just break through the solemn secrecy surrounding a certain situation. Take action to regain the reins
Be careful which pal you ditch OUR �irst semester ended in a blaze of glory. Surrounded by new friends, you drank your way into the holidays, safe in the knowledge that a month separated you from deadlines and exams. This is where the gloves come off. You return after Christmas, brimming with con�idence after a month with your adoring ‘home friends’, and decide to trim the fat in terms of misguided friendships. But tread with care: ditch the wrong acquaintance and you could �ind the hands of friendship withdrawn left, right and centre. While it’s unlikely every pal you made was a wise choice, considering you were drunk half the time, it’s worth remembering you
let’sTALK
came to uni to get a degree (well, that’s one reason). The coolest friends may not be the ones who will stick around when you’re knee-deep in 17th-century politics – and they may not be the kind of people you want to live with next year. So use your common sense and judge kindly. Moving away from home and being doused with cheap alcohol doesn’t bring out the best in many people – second semester could be the time for second chances. That homesick girl who invited you round for a cup of tea every �ive minutes? She could be a mate for life. The dubious conquest who kept in touch via occasional creepy Facebook messages? Not so much. Lindsey Coombs
Equality: Gay marriage PICTURE: PARGON/WIKICOMMONS
Let’s focus on people, not the masses
THE new year is a time to look back at our achievements – and 2014 was a big milestone for the LGBT liberation campaign. Yes, I am talking about marriage equality. The fact it was passed in the UK gives an example to many other countries. And, of course, anyone can now get married – we are all equal. You may wonder what else there is to do. LGBT activists could give you a list: trans* equality and health services, integration in workplaces, tackling homophobia… all important things. Yet I think something is missing. Something very important. And that is people themselves. Activists tend to look at problems as applying to groups. But what if we made a new year resolution to focus on individuals, rather than the masses? What if we started to listen to what minorities need and want, as opposed to ignoring the details of the mosaic we are a part of? Let’s listen to those who struggle with their sexuality – because unless we do, nothing can be changed. Filip Bigos
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February 2015
let’sTALK
Relationship trouble? Sex worries? Feeling low? We’ve got wise words to set you right
Alice ask
Tough time: Cancer can devastate families PICTURE: ANNETTE/FLICKR
M
Y mum was diagnosed with breast cancer at new year. I’m devastated. We are at opposite ends of the country and the train fare alone is more than £100. I feel so guilty for not being there. Sophie, Edinburgh
I’m so sorry to hear that, Sophie, but try not to feel guilty. Find other ways to be around her. Right now, she needs you to bring her some light and joy – and even if that’s just a phone call every night, she’ll know you are there for her. And don’t suffer in silence. As much as your mother needs support, so do you. Request a pastoral tutorial. You can apply for extenuating circumstances for your coursework and, if you decide to, you could also apply for a leave of absence. This is an authorised break from your studies that would allow you to go home and return to university next academic year.
I
WAS doing drugs in digs and I’ve been issued with a 28-day notice to quit. I didn’t go to the disciplinary meeting and now I don’t know what to do. Aaron, Warwick
If you have broken your tenancy agreement, it is unlikely that you will be able to argue your case successfully. However, just because you have been given a notice to quit doesn’t mean the university won’t
Separate but together... is it possible?
L
ONG-distance relationships are always controversial. While some believe that absence makes the heart grow fonder, others think it can only lead to break-ups. Of course, every couple is different – but there will always be ups and downs when your other half is living in a different city. But doesn’t every relationship have good and bad moments? Being a student who has experienced a long-distance relationship throughout university, I can say – it is not easy. A lot of people think that students can’t hold down relationships at the best of times, so one with the added pressure of distance – no chance, right?
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Miss you: Time apart is hard PICTURE: ANGELA MARY BUTLER/FLICKR
Wrong. While it is tough to spend long periods away from your partner, seeing each other after a busy few months can be more than rewarding. Spending time getting to know each other at a steady, slow pace can work
wonders. On top of this, when you’re in the middle of a hectic semester and all you have time for is research and essay-writing, it’s probably a good thing your other half isn’t around. If they were, you would want to spend every waking hour with them – and that’s time when you should probably be doing work. At the end of the day, it’s simple: distance alone can’t destroy a relationship. In some cases, in fact, it can even help to strengthen it. If they’re ‘the one’, they’ll wait for you. And if they’re not, they won’t. Semesters aren’t that long – and you can always visit home in your reading week or at the weekend to see them. Kelly Smith
continue to support you. Go in person to your hall residence manager or accommodation services team. Although you might not be able to stay in halls, they will be able
Submit us your questions and get the answer in next month’s issue
to help you find private sector accommodation or extend your notice until you have found alternative digs.
I
FLUNKED January exams and now there is a real possibility I might have to re-take first year. I like my course but I haven’t been keeping up with reading or essays, which makes it even easier to skip class. James, Manchester You will be entitled to funding for the duration of your course, plus one extra year, in case you have to repeat – and repeating a year isn’t the end of the world. But, first of all, you need to identify why you haven’t been keeping up with your coursework. Whether it’s time management or you need someone to do your reading with, head to academic support for some advice – otherwise, this time next year, you will be saying exactly the same thing. Struggling with your studies, wrestling with a relationship or is your social life at a standstill? Contact our agony aunt on alice@unipaper.co.uk
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February 2015
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researchROUND-UP
Our flick through the most fascinating findings from universities around the country
What a melt... ice cap is vanishing from view ALARMING satellite pictures have uncovered the melting of an Arctic ice cap. The observations were made by a team of scientists from the University of Leeds who noted that, since 2012, the ice cap has thinned by more than 50m – about one sixth of its original thickness. The study also showed that over the past two decades, ice loss from the south-east
region of Austfonna, in the Svalbard archipelago, has increased significantly. There is evidence that the surrounding ocean temperature, which has increased in recent years, may have been the original trigger for the ice cap thinning. Melting ice caps and glaciers are responsible for about one third of recent global sea level rise.
Hang on, I feel I’ve read this before...
Thawing out: The red regions show where ice loss has taken place
PICTURE: CPOM/GRL
Losing streak? Blame it on your body clock
I
S NOTHING going right for your team? Every shot going wide? Every tackle a foul? Well, don’t call in the ringers just yet – it could be that the timing of the games is out of sync with your body clock, research shows. An athlete’s performance can vary by more than 26 per cent depending on what time of day it is, according to a University of Birmingham study. And early risers perform best in the afternoon, while night owls are at their best later at night, they say. Dr Roland Brandstaetter explained: ‘If a one per cent difference in performance can make the difference between first place and fourth place in a 100m race and actually winning you the gold medal at the Olympics, then imagine what a 26 per cent difference in your performance could give you. ‘Our research takes us away from the idea of “time of day of the race” and directs us to internal biological time.’ Dr Brandstaetter and co-author Elise Facer-Childs studied 20 sportspeople with different sleeping patterns, testing their cardiovascular
IF YOU feel as though you’ve already seen that TV programme, then you are probably watching Dave... But one unfortunate man had to stop watching telly, listening to the radio or reading newspapers after he started experiencing persistent déjà vu, stemming from anxiety. The 23-year-old said his episodes made him feel as though he was ‘trapped in a time loop’, according to a report from Dr Christine Wells, a psychology lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University. ‘Rather than simply the unsettling feelings of familiarity, our subject complained that it felt like he was actually retrieving previous experiences from memory, not just finding them familiar,’ she said.
Praise fathers from the past FATHER’S Day may be ages away but dads from the 19th and 20th centuries deserve a pat on the back, say Leeds and Manchester historians. British fathers were more involved in their children’s lives than previously believed, their research showed. Dr Julie-Marie Strange, from the University of Manchester, addded: ‘Since the Victorian era, men seem to have been just as hands-on as they are today and equally as affectionate.’
Learning the tools to talk On the ball: The University of Birmingham’s Emily Defroand (l) and Holly Payne, who participated in the study PICTURE: ANDY SMITH endurance at different times of day. They found subjects who were early risers were best in the early afternoon, while those who slept later were at
the their best later at night – contradicting the previous belief that all athletes were better in the evening. It means managers or coaches who want to find
out an athlete’s personal best performance should consider a number of factors, including testing them at different times of the day. ‘Obtaining a personal best
performance is on everyone’s agenda – but how to do it? Now, that is a different question,’ Ms Facer-Childs added. John Shaw
Bored of the same old football shirts? Blame capitalism CASH looks to have another victim in football – the lairy kit. Although new shirts have become more frequent, their designs have become more traditional, analysis
of home kits since 1888 shows. Dr Chris Stride, a statistician from the University of Sheffield, put the trend down to plainer strips offering a less intrusive
background for sponsors. ‘Though most clubs now change their home shirt design every season, changes usually consist of just minor details
– small flashes, collar styles or trim. The innovation in football shirts has shifted from design to marketing tactics,’ he wrote in Sport In History.
CAVEMEN did more than just grunt and wave clubs at each other, it seems. Our early Stone Age ancestors had a more sophisticated language system than previously thought, according to researchers from the University of Liverpool. The team studied the way tools developed in the Oldowan period and how the techniques to make them could have been passed on. The increasingly complex nature of the tools means it is likely a proto-language was used, they found.
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February 2015
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29
Need a job? Considering a gap year? Graduating and struggling for inspiration? Then read on...
What jobs work for you? Don’t just RETAIL? YOU’RE TWIXT A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE wait for right role
E
VERYONE knows someone with the worst part-time job in the world, be it dodging �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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beyondUNI
31
Need a job? Considering a gap year? Graduating and struggling for inspiration? Then read on...
Big nights out are off the cards for aspiring teacher and mum
When story time meets deadlines
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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
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February 2015
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When they’re sharing the love a bit too much
W
HETHER they are gazing longingly into each others’ eyes or in the middle of a blazing row, couples can be a nightmare. There are ways to make your life easier, however, without trying to break them up. 1. Invest in ear plugs: Whether it’s love-making or shouting, ear plugs will help you get on with work. 2. Establish boundaries: The last thing you want is for the person who doesn’t pay rent to be drinking your milk, so draw the line. 3. Make friends: Getting to know your flatmate’s partner will make you feel more comfortable around them and it won’t be awkward when you’re left alone. 4. Remain respectful: Remember what it’s like to be
yourSPACE I LIVED with a guy in second year who had his girlfriend over all the time – to the point where she had practically moved in. The worst part, besides the baby talk, was how selfish they were. Her laundry was everywhere and they’d take over the living room for days, leave the heating on for hours – even in warm weather – and basically disregard the rest of us. We eventually confronted them and the short story is that it got ugly. He didn’t even say goodbye when we moved out. James King, University of Birmingham
LIVING with others is difficult enough at uni – and then some of them couple up, making life a special type of hell. Sleep is almost impossible because 4am is obviously the ideal time for the world to hear their bedroom activities… normally bickering over trivial matters. Natassia Tang, UCLan
Get a room: Living with a coupley couple can be awkward PICTURE: FLICKR
head-over-heels for someone. Sometimes it’s better to keep your cool and just have a laugh with them.
5. Communicate: If their relationship is making you uncomfortable or they’re distracting you from your
work, make sure you talk to them or to someone you can trust, such as a residential mentor. Olivia Clark
I LIVED with a girl whose boyfriend visited so frequently he should really have paid rent (or at least offered us some beer). Instead of cosying up on the sofa, they insisted on spending every minute together... cooking. I’m talking MasterCheflevel cooking, with huge carving knives and meat mallets. They took up the entire kitchen, chose really awkward times to cook and left heaps of washing up for us while they indulged in their Michelin-standard cuisine. And we didn’t even get a nice meal out of it. Mollie Carberry, University of Sheffield
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February 2015
yourSPACE
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How to find the right place to live, the right people to live with and how to keep your place right
We uncover the spookiest student homes in the nation... with terrifying results
Rooms with a woooo
A
BUMP in the night, a creaking floorboard, a tap that drips no matter how many times you turn it off... Surely there is a logical explanation for what you just heard – or is there? I am convinced a ghost haunts my house in Leicester. I have called her Harriet, in the hope that will stop her from harming me. I think she lives in my attic – but, unfortunately, I don’t have a ladder to get in and reveal the truth. Sam Rose, a games WHEN viewing the house, we never asked what was in the room – we were only told not to go in there. On the top floor of our six-bedroom property is a battered doorframe, chipped and cracked, with thick, rusted double locks. It was through collective fear that, on hearing a shrieking female voice, we did the unthinkable. With a little manual labour, we managed to wrench the door open. Among the rubbish that filled the room, there were some interesting photos, along with letters from a past generation. We fixed the door – but every now and then we hear that same blood-curdling shriek and can’t explain why. Tom Bean, Bath
Spine-chilling: Students have reported ghostly sightings and strange sounds in their homes
oooo
programming student at De Montfort University, has also had an unwelcome guest. He says: ‘The front door was being knocked on but no-one was ever there. We stood by the door and waited for the noise and found no-one. It freaked the s**t out of one of my housemates.’ He says he
was so scared some nights, he would play movies constantly with the lights on until he could get to sleep. Unbelievers will say there is an explanation – but what if there isn’t? Hannah Louise Wilson, creative writing and journalism student, De Montfort University
‘MY FRIEND was talking and joking that there might be a ghost in our house,’ says one University of Strathclyde student who lives in a spooky 200-year-old property. ‘Then the lightbulbs in the chandelier above her popped and all the lights in the house went out.’ Things got even creepier in the haunted house after the friend went home, as the doors were opening and closing all night long. Zahra Faqir, Glasgow A HOUSE near Swansea’s city centre had a ghostly woman who stalked one room. She did no harm – but in this house there was a room that was never opened. It had always been locked and gave the students living there a weird vibe. Even more surprising is that, when the room was opened by the landlord, it was spotlessly clean. Another house nearby has experienced something similar. The housemates heard footsteps coming from above. One went outside, looked up and saw an unknown woman peeping through the bedroom window. Anupama Subramaniyam JAMES ARMSTON, 21, a Liverpool John Moores University student, rented a house that came with a rocking chair in the corner. He thought no more of it until, dead in the middle of the night, the residents of the Cretan Road house walked into the room to find the chair rocking back and forth as if someone had just stood up from it. Sophie Sear
I STARTED worrying about ghostly goings-on in Constantine Court after following a shadow into my bathroom in the middle of the night. I’ve also seen circular lights flickering around my room. I didn’t believe it at first, so I decided to record it on my phone. You could shrug it off to be anything you like but one thing’s for sure – these happenings seem to be a bit more than just a coincidence… Abigail Gillibrand, Manchester I BEGAN to notice things move places in our kitchen and bedrooms. We would also hear noises coming from rooms that were empty and locked at the time. Then we were told that students had reported seeing a young girl. Apparently, a children’s hospital used to be where the accommodation is now. Emma Brooks, third-year media and communication student, BCU. As told to Jakub Szweda
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yourSPACE
35
How to find the right place to live, the right people to live with and how to keep your place right
Avoid a flap over a fill-in 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.
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.
Y
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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February 2015
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wellFIT
Advice for a healthy lifestyle and staying in shape
Go online to get in shape
M
IKE CHANG, CT Fletcher, Furious Pete and the Hodgetwins may sound like obscure DJs – but they are part of a fast-growing breed of internet fitness gurus with a combined YouTube following of more than 6million. Health, fitness and workout channels have gained mass popularity as people turn to social media personalities for advice and motivation on training, diet and even the best gym apparel. Mike Chang, owner of the Six Pack Shortcuts YouTube channel, currently has more than 3million subscribers to his high-energy workout and weightlifting guide, which is thought to be one of the biggest workout channels. Online fitness coaches have the benefit of being accessible anywhere, thanks to smartphones. And, while apps and videos offer something magazines cannot, Men’s Health still boasts more than 13million readers worldwide. Anthony Gilmour
our pick of the YouTube work-outs
chosen by Samantha Coles
Blogilates
Subscribers: 1,894,736
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCg_gh_fppI
THE detail that sprightly host Cassey goes in to makes these pilates videos perfect for beginners. Along with working the abs, legs and arms, she also explains the principles of lateral breathing, posture and form, ensuring you get your technique right. The clips are 15 to 30 minutes long and vary in difficulty, so you can increase intensity as your confidence builds, while the energetic tracks will keep you moving. Cassey also offers sound advice on ‘cheap, clean eats’.
FitnessBlender
Subscribers: 1,712,910
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-5VTmZYDko
MOST of these workouts, created by friendly husband and wife duo Daniel and Kelli, need no equipment. If weights are required, they will suggest a household alternative – and even perform one routine lifting their puppy. With more than 300 videos ranging from four minutes to half-an-hour and more uploaded every week, you can mix it up and find something to fit every schedule and ability level. The pair also offer meal plans and nutrition advice, and post FAQ videos.
BodyRock
Subscribers: 851,909
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjU6NVAyvs0
IF YOU’RE a fan of high-intensity impact training or have a hectic schedule, BodyRock is ideal. Offering a wide range of vids featuring some of the more unusual moves, instructor Lisa-Marie will have you sweating in less than 15 minutes. If her impressive physique isn’t motivation enough, the channel has a great community, with ‘BodyRockers’ sharing their before and after pictures. The real-time daily workouts make you feel like you’re all in it together.
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February 2015
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sportNEWS
Are you looking for a cheap thrill? Try motor racing HILARY BELL RACING has long been associated with trips to Monaco, expensive yachts, wasted champagne and girls in skimpy outfits. But thanks to societies such as Edinburgh University Motor Sport Club, it is no longer the stronghold of the rich and famous. EUMSC captain Samuel Stein told TUP: ‘We’re all about getting people into motorsports through the grassroots. ‘Racing is an expensive sport to get into and EUMSC acts as a springboard so that students progress from well-known events, such as go-carting, to competing
In the hot seat: The EUMSC are bringing motorsport to the masses with their affordable approach to the racetrack PICTURE: SAMUEL STEIN
my lycra shrank in the wash #NoExcuses As a corporate partner of Edinburgh Leisure you are entitled to an exclusive discount on selected memberships, for more information visit: www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/memberships/ corporate-memberships
both internally and nationally in events such as go-carting, navigational rallying and autotesting.’ Thanks to the pocket-friendly club, you don’t need Red Bull or Ferrari’s annual income (of about £250million) to join – with membership starting at just £5. Like their Formula 1 counterparts, EUMSC members hang around with the globe’s finest drivers and have socials at ENZO, in the Quartermile, with director and former world champion rally driver Robert Reid. Rory Bryant, who currently holds two rookie championships and two Scottish championship titles, also drinks with the club.
We have our sights set on league glory THE president of Queen Margaret University women’s basketball team says they are fully focused on their push for league success. The side take on Scottish 2A leaders Heriot-Watt University on February 11, in a grudge match that could decide the title. President Keri Howe said: ‘We just keep encouraging the group to come to training and tell them not to give up.’ She said the
Samuel said: ‘The two are really happy to be involved with us – the first time they came, they put it on Twitter!’ For those thinking of getting involved but nervous about the dangers of the high-octane sport, the captain said: ‘I don’t know of any major accidents directly related to club activity. ‘We have a fire and safety officer, among other regulations’. EUMSC is the only university club in Scotland to be affiliated with the Motorsports Association, meaning racers from other instituations ask to join as it is the only way they can compete in national competitions.
team’s success was down to preparation and their motivation is unfailing. ‘We train every Friday for two hours and book the court for fitness, skills and running,’ she added. ‘We don’t really go crazy for matches, just a normal training routine.’ The side are also gearing up for a semi-final clash, in the BUCS conference cup, against Aberdeen I next month. Kieran Scott
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Aiming high: Title challengers
PICTURE: QMU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Hole-y moly: Pub golf
Whose round is it now? IT may be known as the University of Edinburgh Hockey Club but it does not allow itself to be limited by the name. As the sun set, players donned their visors and set out for a game of golf – pub golf, that is. It’s known that rules are made to be broken and where better to do this than in the quad of Old College? Playing the second hole here, they completed it with an elegant bottle of Pinot Grigio Blush. Tory Kirkwood, a fourth team player, said the next day: ‘Babe, I can’t remember a THING!’ Hannah Hawksley and Laura Henry
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February 2015
sportNEWS Boxing club sees sharp rise in female numbers after talk from belt-winner
Hard-hitting club saved by the belle ELISA CHIRICO
Here come the girls: A boxing photoshoot, above and inset, helped attract more women to the club PICTURES: EUABC
BOXING has long been a sport associated with hulking men beating each other to a pulp in sweaty gyms. However, a talk from a tough-hitting women’s boxer has seen female students pick up their gloves and join Edinburgh University’s amateur boxing club in their masses. Gardner Moore, a two-time middleweight Scottish female champion, gave an inspiring speech to the group – a group of 30 with only two female fighters – in October last year. Since that chat, and with the help of a ladies’ boxing day photoshoot, the number of boxers has shot up to 111 – more than half of whom are women. EUABC captain Iqbal Mohamed said he was overjoyed that ‘things are taking a change.’ He added: ‘EUABC is definitely benefiting from having more
females involved. There’s variety and we’re doing better than before. ‘However, the hardest part is yet to come. ‘We’ve boosted girls’ attendance – but maintaining interest is what comes next. ‘The organisation of socials is what we hope will help us build an ongoing relation with those girls.’ Alexandra Jaber, an Edinburgh student and member of the EUABC, said: ‘What I like about the training sessions is that there’s no discrimination
Title tilt for netballers THE unbeaten Edinburgh Napier University women’s netball I are set to play backto-back fixtures which will decide where the Scottish 4A title will be heading. Both Napier and Glasgow Caledonian are yet to drop a point this season, with the Edinburgh side on top having played one more game. GCU will play hosts first on
February 19, with the return fixture two days later. Elsewhere, Napier’s male badminton I have yet to grab any points in the Scottish 3A league but face two sides with a similar problem in mid-February. The Edinburgh boys travel to Glasgow Caledonian, then welcome University of the West of Scotland, in games that could decide who drops
out of the league at the end of the year. Napier men’s basketball I are fighting for title glory with Robert Gordon I and University of Edinburgh II in the Scottish 3A league. They play a double fixture with University of Stirling I and Robert Gordon I on February 18, before taking on UofE II a week later. Kieran Scott
– girls receive as much attention as guys do.’ The training sessions are now so popular with women that they are even starting to attract students from outside the university. Lyn Murray, a Edinburgh Napier University student who is actively involved in Dundee Mixed Martial Arts, said: ‘Although I’m not a University of Edinburgh student, I would love to join. ‘I’m looking for more girls to spar with and the EUABC is as close to a similarly appropriate
environment I can find so far.’ The rise in numbers has also seen the club fly up the university’s sports club rankings. In the sports union’s Club Scores – a rating that orders sporting groups at the university in a number of categories – the boxing group has shot up from 64th to the top twenty. With four training sessions a week at the Pleasance Sports Centre, EUABC is destroying the misconception of boxing as a testosterone-fuelled fight club.
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