LEEDS EDITION February 2015
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HOW I DEALT WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS OF BEING PAGE 9 A HUMAN BEING
Graduate found dead on same Thai island where student was murdered
ANOTHER DEATH IN PARADISE HENRY EDWARDS
A FORMER University of Leeds student died on the same Thai backpacking island where another city student was murdered. Political activist Christina Annesley was found dead in her Koh Tao holiday bungalow bed. The 23-year-old is believed to have been suffering from a chest infection and was taking prescribed drugs. There has been no suggestion of foul play but her family are increasingly anxious to have a post-mortem examination carried out in Britain to stop any talk of a cover-up. Thai police have come under pressure following the murders of David Miller, 24, (inset)
who also went to Leeds University, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on Koh Tao. Two people arrested and charged over the deaths have claimed they were bullied into confessing. Tributes have �looded in for history graduate Christina, who was instrumental in setting up the Leeds Liberty League while at university. ‘Christina was a big positive in�luence on many lives, including my own,’ said Liberty League regional director Daniel Pryor. ‘The more I got to know her, the more I saw her as a genuine role model and a true friend.’ Christina’s father even tipped her to become a future prime minister. She
turn to p5
Role model: Christina Annesley was a big influence on many people. Right, one of her last tweets of the holiday island
SIGMA: WE GOT TOGETHER JUST BECAUSE WE LIKED MAKING A RACKET
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Put your shirt on these for success THESE young designers will be big names in the future – you can put your Shirt on it. The Leeds Beckett first years, all on a new fashion degree course, hosted their first public exhibition, The Shirt. Their brief was to create a white shirt that contained a two-piece collar, pockets, plackets, a yoke, sleeves, cuffs and tucks. Sehar Hussain, 20, who hopes to work with a design house, said: ‘The best thing about the course is it covers various aspects of fashion – hand-designing, pattern cutting and computeraided design. The tutors have first-hand industry experience.’
February 2015
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Statement: Sehar Hussain (l) with her batwing-sleeved shirt, Emily Isherwood and her two-piece collar shirt, and Jessica Barker-Gilholme’s shirt, inset
Dozens sign up to site to find a sugar daddy OLIVIA BLAIR ALMOST 100 struggling Leeds University students have turned to ‘sugar daddies’ to help fund their education. In return for their time – and sometimes affection – students can ‘earn’, on average, £3,100 a month. Of the 2,000 students across the nation to have joined one
online site last year, 96 are said to be Leeds students – most of them women. They join in search of a rich benefactor who can help them with money – with, perhaps, more than just a financial arrangement as part of the agreement. The site, SeekingArrangement.com, seeks to hook up ‘sugar babies’ with ‘sugar
daddies’. It claims to have 1.4million students worldwide on its books, with Leeds coming in sixth behind the universities of Westminster (180), Kent (134), Cambridge (127), Nottingham (116) and Exeter (106). A spokesperson for the site said: ‘Sugar Daddies get non-traditional relationships that are not intended
to lead to marriage. They can structure each relationship based on their lifestyle requirements. ‘The relationship itself is very pragmatic and straightforward, with the man and the woman deciding the rules and boundaries.’ Women who join can agree to exchange their time and affection for lavish dates,
expensive shopping trips and, in some cases, regular cash allowances. The average age of the older benefactors on the site is 39. Founder and CEO of the website Brandon Wise said although the student involved used the money primarily for tuition fees, many used the relationship as an opportunity after education.
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Student exodus hits landlords in their pockets IAN LIGHT GREEDY landlords have been left with thousands of empty flats following a mass migration of students into purpose-built accommodation. Leeds is estimated to have up to 5,000 more student flats than it needs as they flee the rental heartlands of Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall. And with universities reluctant to commit themselves to how many applicants there will be in the future, councillors are now facing a dilemma. Developers are still keen to build halls near the city centre but traditional student areas farther out could become ghost towns. Leeds has a student popu-
lation of about 59,000 – and a report for the city council’s housing scrutiny panel estimates there is a surplus of some 4,700 beds. Landlords had been left with high-value property unsuitable for families. Many, confident that the rents would keep rolling in, had also neglected the maintenance of many properties, the panel was informed. ‘To some extent, the landlords of LS6 are reaping what they sowed,’ said Cllr Peter Gruen, the council’s executive member for housing. He said there had been a ‘flight of students’ from areas like Headingley, adding: ‘We don’t want people putting up massive speculative develop-
ments when we are being told already they won’t be filled.’ Kirkstall councillor John Illingworth added: ‘I am more worried that houses will be left vacant. We should be vigorously encouraging reducing the house prices and rents and we should glory in the fact that prices are coming back to a level that is affordable by families.’ The council is to look at making it easier for landlords to flip the use of houses in multiple occupation to make them suitable for families. n PROPERTY company Rushbond has sold Algernon Firth, a complex for 111 students, next to the General Infirmary, to Empiric Student Property in a £7.2million deal.
ASH TO ASHES: A figure lies on red-hot coals, marking 30 years since the miners’ strike split communities and families in Yorkshire. It is part of Song For Coal, an audio-visual work by Nick Crowe and Ian Rawlinson in collaboration with Leeds Met music academic Kingsley Ash. They use cannel coal carving to create objects and figurines. The work is on show at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton
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February 2015
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inBRIEF
Parents: We fear a cover-up from p1 was a young Conservative but had recently ‘defected’ to Ukip. Political blogger Guido Fawkes wrote: ‘A sad day in libertarian circles.’ Her mother, Margaret, 55, said: ‘We are worried they could cover something up – especially after the murders last year. ‘Christina did not have a pre-existing medical condition. She said she took antibiotics for a chest infection, so it could’ve been a blood clot. We just don’t know at this stage.’
Job prospects ‘looking good’ THE University of Leeds has again been placed in the top ten British universities most targeted by top employers. The Graduate Market in 2015 also shows graduate salaries are expected to rise for the second year in a row. Jane Campbell, head of the careers centre at the University of Leeds, said: ‘This news is really promising for our students and graduates.’
Sex attacker strikes on train POLICE are hunting a man who sexually assaulted a Leeds University student on board a train. They said the 20-year-old victim was pushed up against a window as the man rubbed himself up against her. The incident took place on the train between Leicester to Derby. The victim was left crying after the incident on November 5.
BLOODY AMAZING: This stunning microscopic image is a picture of a killer. Taken by Fraser Macrae, a researcher at the University of Leeds school of medicine, it shows the thick grey mesh of a blood clot – the chief cause of heart attacks and strokes. The Clot Thickens won the British Heart Foundation Reflections of Research competition. ‘I am an artist as well as a scientist,’ said Fraser
Sambuca night ignites fresh rape joke storm NATASHA PILLING A NEW venue is facing a student backlash after relaunching a club night seemingly echoing one that used jokes about rape in promotional material. The SYN nightclub announced it was to hold Sambuca nights using #WhoNeedsTequila. Students believe this is a direct reference to the club it took over, Mezz, and its infamous Tequila night – and a promotional video it produced where clubbers joked about ‘violating a fresher’. Mezz was subsequently closed down and SYN took over the venue. But now SYN is courting fresh controversy. Leeds University Union’s Feminist Society tweeted: ‘We’re disappointed that not only is Tequila making another appearance but they’re still making jokes about rape.’ Nancy Grealey,
21, an astrophysics student at the University of Leeds, said: ‘It’s a shame that “lad culture”, in which jokes about rape are deemed acceptable, hasn’t completely gone away with the closure of Tequila. ‘Sambuca will probably be just the same – but with a (barely different) name.’ However, SYN insisted there was no link between the Thursday night themes. General manager Andrew Scott said: ‘There’s no connection whatsoever between us and Tequila. ‘It’s a new club, with new management and a new promoter. ‘The video was terrible in my opinion and it’s not something we’ll be encouraging. I’m quite upset that people are making this connection.’ Kate McDermott, a student at Leeds University, added: ‘If you don’t like it, then you don’t have to go there.’
Footballer scores award
Achille Traore
FORMER professional footballer Achille Traore was among those to win yearlong support for fledgling businesses. Traore, who is the chief executive of Leeds Digital Hub tenant TopScreen Media, will receive one-toone enterprise mentoring
support, IP protection, business structure and taxation advice and legal support. The Business Advantage Awards are run by Leeds Beckett University in partnership with Lupton Fawcett Denison Till Solicitors and are open to students, graduates and clients of the university.
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February 2015
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Setbacks drove me to winning mentality JACQUI AGATE TWO rugby league legends have revealed the agonising setbacks that pushed them to succeed in the game. Leeds Rhino greats Jamie Peacock MBE and Jamie Jones-Buchanan spoke to audiences about what inspired them to play firstclass sport as part of Leeds Beckett University’s annual Carnegie Conversations. Talking to the crowds, Peacock said: ‘I was playing when I was 14 and a firework went off on my foot. So I quit rugby
inBRIEF
First-class rating for eco team
for about a year. All the hardships I had along the way – all the knockbacks and all the setbacks – just made me more determined. ‘I’m eternally grateful now for the grounding it gave me and the bounce-back-ability.’ Jones-Buchanan revealed his own torment, saying: ‘Every time I got a loser’s medal, I used to tape it up in black isolation tape and put it outside the trophy cabinet. Never inside. ‘I never threw them away – I kept them as reminders. You want to remember how
Tackling questions: Rugby aces Jamie Peacock MBE and Jamie Jones-Buchanan much it hurts. You use that as motivation and energy to win it next time.’ Peacock added: ‘A winning mentality is a lot of small areas – you want to beat everyone else, you want to be
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the best at what you do and you want to beat your teammates. The more team members you have like that, the more it creates a competitive environment.’ The talks formed part of the
university’s annual collection of talks from notable guest lecturers in a number of different fields. Speakers this year also included Great British Menu judge Oliver Peyton.
Bird on hand to give advice STARS of the cricket world gave tips on how to cope with pressure as part of the Carnegie Conversations series. Yorkshire captain and England player Andrew Gale and former umpire Dickie Bird OBE dished out the advice to an audience at the Leeds Beckett University lecture. Gale said: ‘It is important not to get too caught up in what you do. ‘We play cricket because we love it. Sometimes, when you get caught up in the day-to-day of playing and training, you start putting
pressure on yourself and forget why you’re actually playing.’ Bird added: ‘When I was a player I was a big worrier, and that affects your game. So, when I became an umpire I said I was going to enjoy it – and once I crossed that rope, the world was mine.’ The pair answered the crowd’s questions, which saw Bird hitting out at the use of technology in cricket. ‘I never thought I’d live to see the day when technology would take over the umpire,’ he said. ‘I don’t think Hawk-Eye is correct.’
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We’ll put testers to the test SPORTS and exercise science students from Leeds Beckett University have been picked for a select group to tackle doping in sport. All level-four undergraduates will take part in the University Anti-Doping Project – a curriculum developed by antidoping agency WADA and the International Federation for University Sports. The students will undertake five antidoping units, such as the history of doping in sport and health and social consequences of doping, and give their feedback on how the course can be improved before it is rolled out.
Dancers sing praises of uni DANCE students represented Leeds Beckett University at the nation’s largest performing arts event. The undergraduates hosted a stall at Move It – which attracts 50,000 visitors over three days – in a bid to spread the word about the course. Academic Sarah Roe also performed.
EDGAR TORRONTERAS PETR PILAT FABIEN IZOIRD THOMAS RAMETTE DANIEL MCCOY ADAM CHATFIELD HARRI KOULAS STEVEN CLARKE ELLIOTT BANKS BROWNE
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THE University of Leeds has been named as one of the nation’s greenest institutions after it was awarded a first-class degree in a test of its sustainability. It came 30th in People and Planet’s league table, which rates universities on their ecological credentials. Leeds scored full marks on environmental policy and environmental staff but got nothing for ethical investment and water reduction. Leeds Beckett got a 2:1, putting it 45th in the rankings. It scored 100 per cent for auditing but received zero per cent for ethical investment and sustainable food.
Fielding queries: Dickie Bird OBE and Andrew Gale
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Self-confessed cerealholics hope to shake up mornings with new restaurant
Brekkie café ...it’s grrreat JACQUI AGATE A SHARED love of a breakfast classic inspired two best friends to open the North’s first cereal café. Leeds Beckett University graduates Zoe Blogg and Jen Gibb, both 23, have set up Moo’d, in Headingley, where customers can choose from more than 100 different types of cereal. Zoe said: ‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We never want people to miss it again. ‘We want Moo’d to be a place where people can go and enjoy cereal at all times of the day in a relaxed environment. ‘We use a bar concept, where milk is our average pint and our cocktails are not alcoholic but cerealholic.’ The pair decided to set up their Milkin’ it: Café owner Jen Gibb behind the counter
Flying the rainbow flag for LGBT rights LEEDS Beckett University has been named as one of Britain’s most gay-friendly places to work. The university made the top 100 in gay rights charity Stonewall’s annual Workplace Equality Index, which rates companies based on their inclusivity. Beckett vice-chancellor Prof Susan Price said: ‘This reflects a sustained programme of work around the LGBT agenda at our university. ‘Achieving a place in the Stonewall top 100 will
Signing up: Prof Price further promote our profile as an inclusive place to work and study.’ The university was presented with a certificate
for its achievement by Stonewall’s group manager Sarah Foster at a presentation ceremony at the university’s Headingley Campus. Prof Price also signed the No Bystanders Pledge – Stonewall’s campaign to tackle bullying. Simon Feeke, director of workplace programmes, said: ‘Beckett performed remarkably this year. Competition has never been fiercer and the new criteria this year has pushed all of the top 100 to work harder than ever before.’
Healthy eating talks are on the table GUEST speakers will be raising awareness of body image issues at Leeds Beckett University. The experts will also host workshops, including a craftivism event to transform Barbie into a superhero, as part of
Eating Disorders Awareness Week, running from February 23 to 27. A number of free events, which are open to the public, will take place across the campus. Guests can also contribute to a fat-talk free pledge board.
cereal business, where a bowl can be bought for £2, after making their way through university on the meal. Zoe said: ‘We munched on a heck of a lot of cereal. It kept us going during long hours of studying. ‘It is a simple, quick snack – and, also, we admit we aren’t great cooks. ‘We noticed the lack of places where you could sit and order cereal at breakfast time – it’s always fry-ups or bacon sandwiches – which meant our cupboards were always full of cereal.’ The pair also offer cereal cakes, coffees and a range of milks, so that
customers can customise their meal. Zoe added: ‘We want to create a space where people can not only go and enjoy a bowl of their favourite cereal with their friends and family, but also mix their favourite brands together without having to go to the supermarket and buy lots of different types. ‘We are still as excited, if not more so, than when we begun. ‘We have had a lot of positive feedback and really appreciate everyone’s kind words and interest.’ The restaurant, in Otley Road, is open from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday.
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talkingPOINTS
Comment, opinion and the occasional wild rant from our student writers across the country
Top dog Farage will get my vote MANDY FULLER ‘WHO are you going to vote for?’ is one of the most-asked questions at the moment. With the general election in May, the major parties don’t have long to win us round. Personally, I’d rather have a tea party than the Labour Party... but I can’t see the Great British public voting for that. However, I am genuinely tempted to vote Ukip. No, I haven’t lost my mind. I believe every dog has his day and, let’s face it, Nigel Farage is a bit of a dog – in that bloodhound, jowly cheek look he wears so well. As a student, I
Future PM?: Ukip leader Nigel Farage PICTURE: TWITTER often have to work long hours for s*** money, so any man that promises I don’t have to pay tax because I’m on the minimum wage is the man for me. I don’t
care if he’s branded a racist misogynist – and, as a black girl, that should really bother me. I want to keep more of my hard-earned cash. The main reason I’m going to vote Ukip is because of their pledge to remove tuition fees for university students on certain courses, based on academic performance. Let’s face it, the political party that allows me to take home more of my wages and cuts tuition fees – allowing me to spend more on my alcoholic, party-animal lifestyle – is definitely the political party for me. Nigel Farage for prime minister!
If you spot an error, we are committed to putting it right. Contact us at corrections@unipaper.co.uk. If you do not wish to receive a copy, then email us with your address at nothanks@unipaper.co.uk. We print 200,000 copies in 16 university cities. The University Paper is published by The UniPaper Ltd, in association with Simian Publishing, 23-24 Margaret Street, London W1W 8RU. Printed by Newsquest, Oxford.
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PARTY POOPER: The words ‘house party’ and ‘danger’ go hand in hand. Waking up in a bleary-eyed haze to find someone has scrawled rude drawings in permanent marker on the kitchen walls or to discover vomit that hasn’t quite made the toilet bowl has to be among every host’s worst nightmare. So, is that ‘small gathering’ that you were about to publish on Facebook (accidentally without the ‘invite-only’ setting) worth it? Michael Quinn
PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/KF
EXAM STRESS: We are constantly being told that today’s youth has it far too easy when it comes to education, so there is now a demand for exambased learning. Surely it is counterproductive to only be tested on less than ten per cent of what you have learnt in the space of a couple of hours while under intense pressure? Students should be encouraged to exercise their skills about the subject thoroughly and this is best achieved through coursework. It also allows a student to choose their own question, encouraging them to pursue and expand their own ideas which they are passionate about Natalie Wellings
I HEART VALENTINE’S: Whatever complaints the anti-Valentine’s brigade has, no-one can resist the excitement of knowing someone out there holds a special place for you in their heart. Regardless of the tacky merchandise of February 14 and the 11million additional texts sent on the day of love, the simplistic act of giving an anonymous card will undoubtedly bring a smile to anyone’s face Lucy Kehoe
PICTURE: WIKICOMMONS/ FLICKRLICKR
LOVE SICK: Whether you’re single or taken, Valentine’s is utter tripe. I just don’t think a heart-shaped box filled with cheap chocolates picked up from Card Factory for 99p, or an over-sized teddy bear that will ultimately be abandoned once the endorphin-filled day loses all its glory, class as romance. Watching couples flap about confessing their undying love for one another because they are compelled to do so really does have me contemplating shooting a fat little Cupid’s arrow through my own head Ema Brewer
COST OF EDUCATION: Students shouldn’t get a free ride – but getting a degree surely isn’t a free ride? The truth is – as if you hadn’t noticed – the economy is on the fritz and paying for higher education seems to be a knee-jerk reaction. Instead of genuine economic pragmatism, paying for education is yet more evidence that austerity is ruining people’s outlook. Saddling ambitious, forward-thinking students with debt – or, worse, making further education unavailable to some – is regressive in the most devastating way. Student Loans has already lost a load of tuition fees, the rest won’t ever get paid back – why not just scrap them altogether, George? Joe Evans
DIS-MAY: I agree with chancellor at the University of Birmingham Lord Bilimoria, who has attacked Theresa May’s plan to clear out non-EU international students from the UK. Closing Britain off to foreign students would damage its reputation as a nation that attracts talent from all over the world and cut off important cultural ties. Every international student pays thousands of pounds more than any British student each year and they do not get a loan like home students. It seems like Theresa May’s plan doesn’t have either economic reasoning or support behind it Natalia Alyukova
facebook.com/TheUniPaper 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 16 MiNT Mondays, The MiNT club, £6 Monday Night House Project, Mission, £5
tuesday, feb 24 Little Miss Tuesdays, Tiger Tiger, £6
wednesday, mar 4 Move On Up, HiFi, free Wednesday Antics, Pryzm, £5
thursday, mar 12 Entourage Thursdays, Rock Bar, £6 Mint Sessions, The MiNT Club, £6 Fuzzy Logic, Wire, £2 Full Moon, Mission, £4
tuesday, feb 17 Little Miss Tuesdays, Tiger Tiger, £6
wednesday, feb 25 Move On Up, HiFi, free Wednesday Antics, Pryzm, £5
thursday, mar 5 Entourage Thursdays, Rock Bar, £6 Mint Sessions, The MiNT Club, £6 Fuzzy Logic, Wire, £2 Full Moon, Mission, £4 Swimming In, Belgrave Music Hall, £4.40
friday, mar 13 Chaos Fridays, Space, £6; Agenda Fridays, Pryzm, £5; Funk Soul Nation, HiFi, free Freak, Mission, £5; Fruity, University of Leeds SU, £4 Bump ‘N’ Grind, Syn, guest list £2 Garage Nation, 02 Academy, £8
wednesday, feb 18
thursday, feb 19
Move On Up, HiFi, free Wednesday Antics, Pryzm, £5 Rhythm Control Launch, Wire, £4
Entourage Thursdays, Rock Bar, £6 Fuzzy Logic, Wire, £2 Full Moon, Mission, £4 Darius Syrossian, MiNT, £8
thursday, feb 26
friday, feb 27
Entourage Thursdays, Rock Bar, £6 Mint Sessions, The MiNT Club, £6 Fuzzy Logic, Wire, £2 Full Moon, Mission, £4
Chaos Fridays, Space, £6; Agenda Fridays, Pryzm, £5; Funk Soul Nation, HiFi, free Freak, Mission, £5; Fruity, University of Leeds SU, £4; Live On Air, Musiquarium, £3; Joy Orbison, The Mint Club, £10; All Gone Pete Tong, Control, £12; Slapfunk Records, Wire, £9; Bump ‘N’ Grind, Syn, guest list £2
friday, mar 6
saturday, mar 7
Chaos Fridays, Space, £6; Agenda Fridays, Pryzm, £5; Funk Soul Nation, HiFi, free; Freak, Mission, £5; Fruity, University of Leeds SU, £4; Bump ‘N’ Grind, Syn, guest list £2; DS8, 02 Academy, £28.50; Back2funky Fifth Birthday, Oracle, £10; Young Marco, Wire, £7
TheLOCKin Saturdays, Space, £6 Playground Saturdays, Pryzm, £5 Bugalu, HiFi, free Insomnia, Mission, £5 Hot Flush, The Warehouse, £9
saturday, mar 14
sunday, march 15
TheLOCKin Saturdays, Space, £6 Playground Saturdays, Pryzm, £5 Bugalu, HiFi, free Insomnia, Mission, £5
Sunday Joint, HiFi, free
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February 2015
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clubbingCALENDAR friday, feb 20 Chaos Fridays, Space, £6; Agenda Fridays, Pryzm, £5; Funk Soul Nation, HiFi, free Freak, Mission, £5; Fruity, University of Leeds SU, £4; Bump ‘N’ Grind, Syn, guest list £2; Hospitality Leeds Warehouse Special, Canal Mills, £12 Good Life: The Fiesta, Beaver Works, £7
saturday, feb 28 TheLOCKin Saturdays, Space, £6 Playground Saturdays, Pryzm, £5; Bugalu, HiFi, free; Insomnia, Mission, £5 Rejuvenations third birthday, Beaver Works, £16.75; Wavey Garms, The Warehouse, £5 What Hannah Wants UK Tour, Canal Mills, £15
sunday, mar 8 Sunday Joint, HiFi, free
monday, mar 16 MiNT Mondays, The MiNT club, £6 Monday Night House Project, Mission, £5
saturday, feb 21 TheLOCKin Saturdays, Space, £6 Playground Saturdays, Pryzm, £5 Bugalu, HiFi, free Insomnia, Mission, £5 Sunrise, Leeds West Indian Centre, £15 Retro, Chilli White, £6
sunday, mar 1 Sunday Joint, HiFi, free
monday, mar 9 MiNT Mondays, The MiNT club, £6 Monday Night House Project, Mission, £5
tuesday, mar 17 Little Miss Tuesdays, Tiger Tiger, £6
sunday, feb 22 Sunday Joint, HiFi, free
monday, mar 2
MiNT Mondays, The MiNT club, £6 Monday Night House Project, Mission, £5
tuesday, mar 10 Little Miss Tuesdays, Tiger Tiger, £6
wednesday, mar 18 Move On Up, HiFi, free Wednesday Antics, Pryzm, £5
monday, feb 23 MiNT Mondays, The MiNT club, £6 Monday Night House Project, Mission, £5
tuesday, mar 3 Little Miss Tuesdays, Tiger Tiger, £6
wednesday, mar 11 Move On Up, HiFi, free Wednesday Antics, Pryzm, £5
thursday, mar 19 Entourage Thursdays, Rock Bar, £6 Mint Sessions, The MiNT Club, £6 Fuzzy Logic, Wire, £2 Full Moon, Mission, £4
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February 2015
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what’sON pick of the month MUSIC ONCE every couple of years, a band comes out of nowhere and captures the imagination of everyone from humble fans to radio bosses. It seems that Lonely The Brave may just be that band. The Cambridge quintet – David Jakes on vocals, Andrew Bushen on bass, Gavin Edgeley on drums and guitarists Ross Smithwick and Mark Trotter – are winning rave reviews from the rock music press. Their first album, The Day’s War, was a critically acclaimed hit. Off the back of a huge run of co-headline dates with alt-rock band The Marmozets, Lonely The Brave will play The Key Club, Leeds, on March 16.
THEATRE LIFE’S a bitch for Uncle Vanya. He works for a professor who doesn’t pay him anywhere enough, he’s fallen for the professor’s hot new, young bride and
supporting Neil Young in Hyde Park and playing the second stage at Glastonbury in 2013, where she was singled out as one of the festival’s rising stars and labelled ‘the stand-out female vocalist of the weekend’. Catch Lucy at the Brudenell Social Club.
she doesn’t want anything to do with him. And his mother and niece are giving him grief. It couldn’t get any worse… until the professor announces he’s selling the house and moving to Finland, potentially leaving Vanya homeless. Anton Chekhov’s play is a dark, funny and romantic exploration of cross-purposed love, bitter jealousy and a totally dysfunctional family stuck deep in rural Russia. See it at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from February 28 to March 21. Tickets from £12.
COMEDY
MUSIC FOLK songstress Lucy Rose is back on the road. Ahead of an eagerly anticipated second album slated for release in the summer, Rose is playing a countrywide tour, stopping off in Leeds on March 15. She will be supported by The Half Earth, aka singer–songwriter Conor Stephenson. Tickets are selling fast. Rose tweeted
Making a return: Lucy Rose is on tour again and is set to play Leeds next month last month: ‘Jeeeezz, looks like the second London show in march is also sold out, can’t tell you how
excited I am to be playing live music again x.’ Her follow-up to her 2012 debut album Like I Used To
has been a long time coming. She has stepped out of the studio for rare live shows, including
THE UNIVERSITY PAPER NEEDS YOUR HELP! If you’re in the know about student life, outgoing and keen to work with a fantastic team of people, we’re on the lookout for new recruits to help with Distribution, street teams, promotions and more. Fantastic rates of pay. If you’re up to the challenge, please contact: editor@unipaper.co.uk
JOSIE LONG is back on tour with new material that shows her softer side. She leaves the politics and cynicism behind to embark on an introspection of herself. With a new niece on the scene, the three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee opens herself up to her audience as she dissects a year in which her heart was broken. Cara Josephine earned rave reviews after it debuted at the Edinburgh Festival last summer and the Evening Standard describes it as ‘an endearingly funny show that leaves you with a warm glow even on the coldest nights’. Josie plays The House of Fun Comedy Club, in Leeds, on February 25. Tickets are £12.50.
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February 2015
what’sON
Our comprehensive guide to entertainment in Leeds. If you have an event which you would like included please email us at whatson@unipaper.co.uk
13
Olden... but still Golden Punk’s ‘old farts’ hit the road again The Stranglers are back in Glastonbury’s good books and still bringing the house down with Golden Brown. Now, they are happily hitting the road again after 41 years together as frontman Baz Warne tells SHANICE ABBOTT
H
OW does it feel to go back on tour together? It always feels special, we feel proud of what we’ve achieved and that we’re still able to go out there. Did you ever think you would be so successful in the business for so long? No, I don’t think any of us thought we’d be in it for 40 minutes, never mind 40 years! How important is it that your fans have stayed loyal to you? It’s a cliché but I mean it – we would not exist without the fans coming to see us and buying our music. Now, because we’re such old farts, they bring their children and sometimes their children’s children. Now in your 41st year, what’s been your highlight? One was when we played Glastonbury in 2010 because they said that ‘over their dead bodies’ would they ever have The Stranglers on. There was some trouble back in the
early days when we were less than complimentary to the people. But 80,000 people came out to see us anyway, it was fantastic. Can we expect a new album this year? That’s an interesting question. We have been knocking ideas around and emailing each other snippets of music. But these days we live spread out across the UK from each other. I wouldn’t totally say there will be an album this year but there could be one next year. What inspired you to get back together for your 40th anniversary last year? We’d never really broken up, we were just on a break. We all have our own lives now but it doesn’t matter how old you get or how successful you are, you always want to go back. What’s the one song that gets the crowd going? I would have thought the obvious Golden Brown. I mean our audience is built with some very die-hard fans so they’re probably sick to death of hearing that
Back in black: (l-r) Baz Warne, Jet Black, JJ Burnel and Dave Greenfield
song. But that’s the one song we perform and the place just blows up. Where has been your favourite place to tour and why? We did a pretty memorable tour in Australia with Blondie and David Bowie, I mean we’ve toured with them lots of times over the years so we know them quite well. But these big tours we always look forward to. n The Stranglers play the O2 Academy in Leeds on March 17
Black Keys hit Blue notes
Gripping: The Black Keys are chasing major awards
GLOBAL superstars The Black Keys are riding high. The duo – Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney – have been nominated for a Brit Award for best international act, put forward for three Grammy awards and are embarking on a world tour. The latter showcases their eighth album, Turn Blue, which went straight to the top of the US charts and hit No.2 in Britain. Rolling Stone described it as ‘the best, most consistently gripping album the Keys have ever made’. The Black Keys will bring their blend of blues and garage rock to the First Direct Arena in Leeds on March 5. Tickets are on sale from £27.50.
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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
25
%R
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
15
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
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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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February 2015
hiTECH
www.unipaper.co.uk The latest in everything gadgets and gaming
Ambitious street car racer is bit of a drag The Crew (Xbox 360) Rating 3/5
P
LUNGING gamers into the heart of Detroit’s illegal street racing scene, The Crew is looking to redefine the open-world racing genre. Players will attempt to infiltrate and take down the 510 gang that pulls all the strings in motor city. But the action isn’t limited to Detroit, as the massive game offers coast-to-coast, online-only action from LA all the way to New York. The best thrills emerge in the vast, inter-city stretches that perfectly capture the experience of the great American road trip. Unfortunately, that ambition leaves the gameplay
Resident Evil Revelations 2 ONE of the great horror series returns with some familiar faces. Fan favourite Claire Redfield stars with Moira Burton, the daughter of the legendary Barry Burton. The two women, who are working for antibioterrorism organisation TerraSave, are captured at the start of the game. What follows is a gory quest for survival and answers. Fans can expect better gameplay from the previous outing, while features such as raid mode allow players to fight through a map without following the main storyline. Out on March 2. Aaron Lembo Project CARS
On the road: The Crew takes you on a high-octane journey into Detroit’s illegal racing scene feeling stretched. The immense landscape gives a poor frame rate, causing lagging, dubious graphics and sketchy audio. The AI isn’t
quite right either, veering from erratic decisions to outright cheating in a bid to ramp up the tension in what is a flat driving experience.
Added to this, online matchmaking is a work in progress – a serious issue for the online-only campaign. Josh Mcloughlin
THIS is the racing simulator that gamers have been waiting for. The highly ambitious racer, which has been in production since October 2011, lets players take control of a huge variety of motors, from karts to supercars. They can also take on real-life race tracks, such as
out soon Donnington, Silverstone and Brands Hatch. Everything from the nuts and bolts up has been wonderfully recreated to replicate their real-world counterparts, with the game also boasting fully dynamic weather systems and a competitive online feature. Released on March 20. Umar Hassan Battlefield: Hardline ARE you going to be a cop or a criminal? Choose your side in this highspeed multiplayer mode. There are seven online games to choose from, including rescue, a tense five-on-five match in which the police have to save hostages before time runs out, while the perps do everything they can to stop them. In the single-player campaign, gamers can now use nonlethal force takedowns to gather intel on criminals. There are also a number of new weapons, cars and bikes to keep seasoned fans entertained. It’s out on March 20. Matt Bullin
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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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yourNIGHT
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February 2015
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foodBREAK
Save dough with these budget eats
A fast �illing �ix for a night out... Chilli, artichoke and cheese dip
A GOOD host knows that food should be on offer if guests are coming – especially if you are about to head off together on a big night out. But, with limited amounts of time and cash, what’s the best way of feeding your friends without breaking the bank? For ease and speed, it doesn’t get much better than a chilli, artichoke and cheese dip. For just under £15 you can create a taste sensation that will have your friends praising your culinary skills for years to come. All you need is 250g of grated mozzarella, 50g of grated parmesan, three cans of artichoke hearts, two to three chillies (a combination of red and
green for colour) and 325g of mayonnaise. Finely chop the chillies and either half or quarter the artichoke hearts (depending on how chunky you like it). Next, combine the ingredients together and stir until well mixed. Pop your concoction into an oven-safe dish, about an inch-and-a-half to two inches deep, and stick it in the oven at 200C for about 15 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve with tortilla chips and voilà... your guests will think you put a lot of effort into making a tasty treat, while you will have time to get ready and a bit of dosh left in your pocket. Aria Dixon
S
Cheap treats: Baked beans and Dolmio sauce
TUDENTS are masters of scrimping – especially when it comes to food. But what should every undergraduate’s cupboard contain? Check out TUP’s top ten bargain bites. 1. Garlic bread – This family favourite will cost you less than a quid and it couldn’t be easier to cook. Stick it in an oven and come back ten minutes later. 2. Rice – There is barely a country in the world that
HUNTING for a student-friendly shop? Look no further than Aldi. If you can keep up with the lightning speed of the cashiers then this is where you should head for a bargain. Pick up frozen tuna steaks at a decent size and price (400g, £2.99) or take advantage of their weekly ‘super six’ deal, where all the fruit and veggies are just 59p Cheryl Culliford-Whyte
doesn’t have a rice dish. From Spanish paella to Jamaica’s rice and peas, it can be added to most meals and doesn’t cost the earth. 3. Noodles – A packet of
simple noodles can cost pennies but are perfect for adding bulk to stir fries. Mix them with a spicy sauce and a load of your favourite vegetables for a healthy,
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February 2015
foodBREAK
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We’ve all got to eat. So whether you fancy preparing something at home or popping out for dinner, we have the recipe for a great meal
Economic edibles: Filling up on noodles, garlic bread, cereal or rice is a tasty way to save some cash PICTURES: ZOE MACNAUGHTON PHRAWR/HAT M/ MAMMA MIA/FLICKR
quick and, most importantly, cheap meal. 4. Ready-made tomato sauce – While making your own is undoubtedly better, there’s no reason why a ready-made tomato sauce can’t be used when time is short. Throw it together with some pasta or even in
a ratatouille to add a bit of �lavour. 5. Cereal – Start the day with a delicious and quick snack. Add your fruit of choice for some much needed vitamins, or try some yoghurt and honey. 6. Baked beans – Although they taste great on a baked
potato or over toast, why not use them in a stew? They make a great addition to a sausage casserole – and, let’s not forget, they are a vital component for a Sunday morning fry-up. 7. Crisps – Not healthy – but everyone deserves a treat every now and then. They
can be eaten as a snack but also used for a quick-�ix meal, such as nachos. 8. Potatoes – They can be roasted, baked, mashed, fried or boiled. In fact, the ’tater is an extremely versatile ingredient. If you are feeling adventurous, you could even cook a gratin
dauphinois to add sparkle to the humble spud. 9. Bread – Obviously useful for simple sandwiches or toast in the morning. Add butter, raisins and an eggand-milk mixture to make a marvellous bread-and-butter pudding. 10. Rolled oats – During
the cold of the winter months, there aren’t many other dishes that warm you up better. A bit bland on their own – but add some milk and jam, and you have a wonderfully �illing way to begin the day. Antoniya Gerimpapazi and Zoe Macnaughton
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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
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 THE UNIVERSITY PAPER which pal NEEDS YOU! you ditch The University Paper is looking for a talented editor to take charge of our Leeds edition.
This is a paid position and a fantastic opportunity for a student at Leeds or Leeds Beckett University to take their first step on the career ladder into journalism. You will be responsible for producing the content of our Leeds news, what’s on and sports sections, as well as contributing material to our national feature pages and our website. You will also need to recruit, lead and manage a team of volunteer writers to help you, as well as
being in frequent touch with our central production team. This is not a position for clock watchers but you need to commit 30 hours a month to this role. Your main focus will be to deliver original, accurate copy and pictures within deadline every month.
However, you also will need to be an ambassador for our publication in the city, helping to raise its profile on campus and beyond. Up for grabs is a generous monthly payment and a chance to work for the best-produced and most exciting national newspaper in the student market.
Please apply to Kirstin Knight, Editor, TUP at: jobs@simian-publishing.com
Y
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
beyondUNI
29
Need a job? Considering a gap year? Graduating and struggling for inspiration? Then read on...
What jobs work for you? Don’t just RETAIL? YOU’RE TWIXT A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE wait for right role
E
VERYONE knows someone with the worst part-time job in the world, be it dodging �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
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Need a job? Considering a gap year? Graduating and struggling for inspiration? Then read on...
Big nights out are off the cards for aspiring teacher and mum
When story time meets deadlines
W
HILE many students would only be up at 6.30am if they were crawling into bed after a night out, Gabby Rea is already up and about, getting her son ready for nursery. The 20-year-old juggles the duties of being a mum to twoyear-old Teddy with studying English at Birmingham City University. She has just over an hour in the morning to get them both ready and fed, before leaving the house to drop Teddy off at nursery and heading to lectures herself. ‘It’s all about balance and organisation,’ she says. ‘I try to make sure I have a routine that sticks, for Teddy’s best interests as well as mine.’ Fitting Teddy around student life is tricky, however. His dad, from whom Gabby has separated but remains on good terms with, is in the army, based in Chester and can only see his son every other weekend. Nursery charges are £150 a week and, although Student Finance England pays 85 per cent of Teddy’s fees, it all adds
When English student Gabby Rea has an essay due in, first she has to think about caring for her toddler, Teddy. MEGNA FARMAHA finds out if you can still have a social life while mixing tantrums and tutorials up. With limited choices for childcare, Gabby admits there can be a conflict between studying and spending time with Teddy. ‘It’s hard to distinguish between the important tasks,’ she explains. ‘It’s a constant battle knowing whether a bedtime story is more urgent than the assignments I have due soon. ‘Sometimes I may miss out on a field trip because Teddy needs new shoes. But he is my priority and I’m totally willing to give things up so he has the best.’ She aims to become an English teacher after she graduates, to try and build a better life for her and her son. ‘It’s all about the bigger picture,’ she says. ‘I may feel guilty sometimes but there need to be sacrifices for the future and, one day, my boy will understand I did it all for him.’ Being a single parent
means Gabby has to forgo the wild nights and drinking sessions many associate with student social life. ‘I do miss out to a certain extent,’ she admits. ‘I want to be involved but having a child means this is put on a kind of back burner.’ But it’s not all work. ‘I do get to socialise,’ she adds. ‘Just not in the stereotypical student way. My social life is much more relaxed, rather than alcohol-fuelled.’ She has support from family at home, as well as the university’s student parents and carers’ association, which organises social lunches and coffee mornings. She says the responsibilities of motherhod have taught her a lot. ‘It’s quite clear, to me more than anyone, that I’ve matured since being a mum,’ she says. ‘I feel like I have an older perspective on
Tiny housemate: Gabby Rea with her two-year-old son, Teddy things compared to my peers because I’ve experienced a lot more. ‘To be honest, it can make me feel slightly alienated – my peers don’t understand
my situation, which can be a little frustrating. I live in a whole other world to them.’ So, does she have any advice for others in the same situation? ‘Balance all your
PICTURE: MEGNA FARMAHA
responsibilities,’ she says. ‘It’ll make things ten times easier. ‘And never forget to leave time for yourself, to unwind and de-stress, before it all gets too much.’
Tarot cards showed me the way to ease cash woes AS A journalism student at De Montfort University in Leicester, I wanted to avoid struggling for money but I didn’t fancy facing angry or drunk customers at a takeaway. So I decided to work from home doing something that I am passionate about – tarot card reading. Most of my work is done online. I passed some initial tests and have been working for two websites over the past few years.
The first benefit is being able to work from home and sit, warm and toasty, in front of a laptop. Having said that, however, it’s a difficult profession. You are revealing information to someone that could seriously challenge their
emotional well-being. Learning the strict boundaries needed took me a while. I always used to get too connected to clients and you can’t always afford to do that. I have had negative experiences, such as trolls coming into my chatroom, and that
can be horrible. I have had to learn to brush it off. It has also taken a lot of time to build up clients, meaning I’ve had to spend vast amounts of time online just to make sure I’m earning enough money. I get irritated by many of the popular psychics. Many are said to be fake and use psychology as the basis for reading people. They tell the clients what they want to hear, just to keep their likeable image. Life isn’t always
going to be OK and, sometimes, these psychics give us honest clairvoyants a bad name. While you must be careful not to get ripped off working online, if you find a reputable company, it can solve many of the problems of having a part-time job, such as spending money on travel and having to deal with people face-to-face if this isn’t your thing. And it doesn’t hurt to earn some extra – life is expensive. Emma Thompson
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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
33
How to find the right place to live, the right people to live with and how to keep your place right
We uncover the spookiest student homes in the nation... with terrifying results
Homes with the wooooo factor
Spine-chilling: Students have reported ghostly sightings and strange sounds in their homes
oooo
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
programming student at De Montfort University, has also had an unwelcome guest. He says: ‘The front door was being knocked on but no-one was ever there. We stood by the door and waited for the noise and found no-one. It freaked the s*** out of one of my housemates.’ He says he
was so scared some nights, he would play movies constantly with the lights on until he could get to sleep. Unbelievers will say there is an explanation – but what if there isn’t? Hannah Louise Wilson, creative writing and journalism student, De Montfort University
‘MY FRIEND was talking and joking that there might be a ghost in our house,’ says one University of Strathclyde student who lives in a spooky 200-year-old property. ‘Then the lightbulbs in the chandelier above her popped and all the lights in the house went out.’ Things got even creepier in the haunted house after the friend went home, as the doors were opening and closing all night long. Zahra Faqir, Glasgow A HOUSE near Swansea’s city centre had a ghostly woman who stalked one room. She did no harm – but in this house there was a room that was never opened. It had always been locked and gave the students living there a weird vibe. Even more surprising is that, when the room was opened by the landlord, it was spotlessly clean. Another house nearby has experienced something similar. The housemates heard footsteps coming from above. One went outside, looked up and saw an unknown woman peeping through the bedroom window. Anupama Subramaniyam JAMES ARMSTON, 21, a Liverpool John Moores University student, rented a house that came with a rocking chair in the corner. He thought no more of it until, dead in the middle of the night, the residents of the Cretan Road house walked into the room to find the chair rocking back and forth as if someone had just stood up from it. Sophie Sear
I STARTED worrying about ghosts in Constantine Court after following a shadow into my bathroom. I’ve also seen lights flickering around my room. I didn’t believe it at first, so I recorded it on my phone. You can shrug it off but one thing’s for sure – these happenings seem to be a bit more than just a coincidence… Abigail Gillibrand, Manchester I BEGAN to notice things move places. We would also hear noises coming from rooms that were empty and locked. Then we were told that students had reported seeing a young girl. Apparently, a children’s hospital used to be where the accommodation is now. Emma Brooks, third-year media and communication student, BCU As told to Jakub Szweda
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yourSPACE
February 2015
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
Hunt down a housemate before it costs you dearly
Box clever to brighten your room
IF YOUR bedroom looks like a bomb site, you will probably find it difficult to get on with that important coursework. Keep it clutter-free with these top tips. Beautiful boxes: Pick up some quirky, patterned boxes that fit with your decor. They will also act as a good footrest when you’re studying. Out of sight: You’ve bought the new season’s fashion trends, only to realise your wardrobe is ready to burst. Store clothes in a suitcase and slide it under your bed. Hang it up: Dangle jewellery from hangers. Not only will this add a bit of colour to your room but it will remind
Y
Neat solution: Stash junk in boxes to keep it tidy you to wear accessories you have forgotten about. Rack ‘em up: Get a shoe rack that hangs from a door and you won’t have to sacrifice
www.dividabill.co.uk
PICTURE: CHARLOTTE SEDDON
any footwear for space. Look high: Take advantage of dust-filled spaces by hiding junk on top of your wardrobe. Charlotte Seddon
OU’VE sorted who you’re living with, found a house and paid your deposit – then, out of nowhere, someone drops out, leaving you with a room to fill and bills looming. You need to get someone in as soon as possible but how are you going to do it? Here are a few steps you can take to make sure the house – and, more importantly, your bills – are shared by the right number of people. 1. Out and about: There’s no point hoping someone will come to you. Be proactive and ask people on your course. Sometimes students who live at home might want to move out in second or third year. 2. Spread the word: You could try advertising the room on your university’s noticeboards or website. Sometimes they have a
page where fellow students can advertise spare rooms. International students or people who start later in the year may be looking for a room for six months or under. It’s worth bearing this in mind if you want to get that room filled. 3. Get web smart: Websites such as student.spareroom.co.uk allow you to advertise your room, flat or house to potential tenants all over the country. It is designed specifically for students and allows you to advertise spare rooms based on your location or university campus. 4. Post it: Get on social media and post statuses and tweets with photos of the bedroom you need to fill. Get help from your friends by asking them to share your work. Gemma Sargent
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February 2015
37
sportNEWS
Halfpipe hero James lands a top ten finish JACQUI AGATE DEEP in the Alps, a ski champion took on 20ft walls of ice and gave the best performance of his career. Leeds Beckett University graduate James Machon came eighth in the finals of the FIS world skiing halfpipe championships in Austria – and followed that up by landing an invitation to Buckingham Palace. The 24-year-old sports performance graduate from Sheffield travelled to Kreischberg, two hours from Salzburg, with his family, including brother Rob Machon, who studied sports
coaching, also at Beckett. ‘When we arrived, there was no snow in the village – just a patch where the event was,’ he said. ‘There were very icy, fast conditions. It took me the whole session to adjust to the shape, which was a little different from the US halfpipes I’d been training on. ‘I had the support of the GB park and team coach and physio, as well as my brother, Rob, at the bottom getting me in the zone and telling me to step it up each run.’ When it came to the January 22 competition, Machon upped his game in each run, scoring 62 on his first outing, then 65 and 67,
putting him in eighth place. ‘I was really pleased to have increased my score on each run and skied consistently in the final,’ he said. ‘It is the best result of my career so far. I had a similar run to the winner – I just didn’t quite get the amplitude and execution. So, I have to work on this in the next few weeks.’ His next competition is the World Cup in Park City, Utah, which should be familiar ground as he has been training there. He will be taking a break and coming back to England at some point, however, as the Queen wants to meet him. ‘Very exciting No half measures: James Machon, who got the best result of his career news’, he tweeted.
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February 2015
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sportNEWS Flying Scot wins first cap SPEEDY winger Jenny Maxwell made her international debut for Scotland’s women’s rugby union team. The sport and exercise physiology student, from Leeds Beckett University, was part of the Scottish team defeated 42-0 by France in Nantes in the Six Nations. She said: ‘To get my first cap was a real privilege.’
Slipping to defeat: Leeds Beckett
Beckett blow cup opener LEEDS Beckett’s bid for cup glory ended in abject failure after a numbing 26-0 whitewash at the hands of Elland. The writing was on the wall only three minutes into this Ladbrokes Challenge Cup clash as Oliver Fairbank touched down in the corner. Not long after, Chris Dyson picked up the ball on his own 20 and set off on a mazy run to grab a superb try. There looked no way back from being 18-0 down at half-time and Elland ran out comfortable winners.
Writing her own story...
No way through: The Leeds Beckett players manage to stop a marauding Elland forward... for once
JOURNALISM student Fontaine Chapman could have one hell of story to tell next month. The Leeds Met student will be part of the 12-strong England squad at the European Mixed Team Badminton Championships in Belgium. Seeded England, who won bronze two years ago, face the hosts and Ireland in the group stages.
Lauren hopes to prescribe Jets a winning season LAURA RAPHAEL
PART OF A SPORTS TEAM? Get a write-up in this month’s paper.
Contact: editor@unipaper.co.uk
MEDICAL student Lauren Potter is the new captain of Yorkshire Jets netball team. The University of Leeds star, in the fourth year of her studies, will lead the side through the eight-team Superleague, which gets nationwide TV coverage on Sky Sports. And Lauren is delighted to have been appointed skipper. ‘It is really important to me as I have been Yorkshire-based in netball all my life,’ said Lauren, who began playing for the Leeds Carnegie team at 14. ‘To play for the team for six years, build up through the stages Honour: and then progress to the Lauren captaincy role – it’s an Potter PICTURE: honour.’ She is hopeful of CHRIS securing a play-off spot MIDGELEY
with the Jets. ‘Once you’re at that stage, it’s anyone’s game, so we’ll see from there,’ she said. The 22-year-old also plays for Leeds Athletic and University of Leeds netball – and somehow finds time to train five times a week and fit in her studies. ‘There has finally been a recognition that netball is the most popular female sport,’ she added. ‘There was the Commonwealth Games last year and the Superleague this year, which Sky Sports have been massively behind. The profile has been driven high and people are starting to cotton on to the standard.’ And she urged fellow students to come for a try-out. ‘The universities in Leeds are massively behind the sport, so to anyone looking, you should sign up,’ she said. The Jets are next at home to Manchester Thunder on February 13.
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February 2015
39
sportNEWS
Carnegie demolition levels the varsity field JOHN SHAW THE Leeds Beckett American football team thrashed their cross-city rivals 55-0 in the annual varsity match. Leeds Carnegie shut out University of Leeds outfit Leeds Celtics in the game, played at West Park on Superbowl Sunday, after freezing conditions forced a change in venue from Weetwood Playing Fields. Carnegie started slowly, only taking a 2-0 lead into the second quarter – but, picking up the tempo, they ran in two touchdowns with one conversion, making it 15-0 at half-time. The second half saw Carnegie run away with the game with a hat-trick of touchdowns from Luke Campbell, two from Gene Lock and one each from Liam Austin and Spencer Hind. There was a final passing TD from quarterback Aliko Mwambingu to Rob Pygott. The varsity most valuable player award went to running back Campbell, who crossed the line five times – although two were called
back for penalties – and kicked the conversions. The game also raised awareness and funds for the Marie Curie Cancer Care and Candlelighters charities, with £130 raised through a raffle and programme sales. The win for Carnegie levelled the Varsity 2015 score to 1-1, with the first fixture of the year – cross country – taking place on Saturday, January 17. The women’s race was first up on a challenging two-lap course. Leeds triathlete and sports scholar Sarah Hodgson cut out the early pace, taking Susan Partridge (UoL) and Samantha Johnson (LBU) away from the rest of the field. Partridge fought hard and finished in the lead, holding a ten-second gap on second-placed Johnson, with Hodgson in third. The women’s team race was keenly fought but the UoL had more strength and took the win. In the men’s event, Beckett graduate and international athlete Dan Garbutt stormed ahead. First-year UoL athlete Joe
Chilled out: Leeds Carnegie relax after beating Leeds Celtics 55-0 at West Park
Cargill puts the boot into Portugal as trio triumph shortly after half-time as England triumphed over their Portuguese counterparts 32-16. Fly-half Cargill shone, scoring ten points with two conversions and two penalties as England ran in four tries. The No.10 also received plenty of praise from England head coach Aaron
ATHLETES from the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University have been announced as finalists for the Leeds Sports Awards. Nominees from UoL include Beth Pidcot for the special contribution category and table tennis player Kim Daybell for disabled sportsman. Finalists from Beckett include athletics coach Andy Henderson in coach of the year, the hockey club in special contribution, Antony Cotterill in disabled sportsman and Penny Andrews in the disabled sportswomen category. Sport Leeds will reveal the winners on March 5.
Steward was neck-and-neck with Callum Johnson of Beckett – but Steward got the edge by two seconds at the end of the three-lap course, finishing second behind Garbutt. In the men’s team race, the UoL finished ahead of Beckett, starting the year with a great win.
Out in front: University of Leeds students push through the mud
THREE rugby union players from Leeds Beckett University men’s team starred as England Students beat a Portugal XV in Lisbon. Sports coaching student Will Cargill and sports marketing student Lewis Jones were named in the starting XV, while quantity surveying student Luke Peters came off the bench
Hopefuls set the pace in awards
James for dictating the game. Director of rugby at LBU, Colin Stephens, said: ‘To have the three in that England side is a great honour for Beckett, as it is the first time we have got three players in the team at the same time. ‘I think they could all be looking at careers in the game.’
PART OF A SPORTS TEAM? Get a write-up in this month’s paper.
Contact: editor@unipaper.co.uk
www.avtar.co.uk
leeds favourite student lets now Letting for July 2015 -16
Renting to students for over 40 years · Established 40 years · Specialise in student & professional accomodation · One of the largest landlords in Leeds · Hyde Park, Headingley, University & Burley · Bills inclusive deals available · Deposits from as little as £100 (t&c) · 1 – 9 Bed properties All of our current properties can be found online at www.avtar.co.uk
University Branch 26 Blenheim Terrace Leeds LS2 9HD Opp. Parkinson steps
call 01132 456 567 or email info@avtar.co.uk