The University Paper March 2015: Birmingham

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March 2015

Outlook festival tickets P23

CATFISH STAR NEV: HOW HEARTBREAK SET ME ON THE TRAIL OF IMPOSTERS

P11

FURY AT FAB ‘N’ FRESH ‘FIASCO’ Students hurt in party night crush NATALIE WELLINGS, CLAUDIA KNIGHT and JESSICA ENNIS

have also complained that the amenities inside were not up to dealing with the number of people in the venue. Queues were said to have ran the length of the upstairs corridors as people tried to enter the men’s and women’s toilets, several of which were said to have been blocked.

There were also reported to be no attendees at facilities and no attention paid to hygiene issues.

A guild spokesman said: ‘We have a team of security student staff who work the guild club nights. Some

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SHOOTING FOR THE STARS: Meet Maggie Lieu, the University of Birmingham astrophysicist who is on a shortlist of candidates to join a mission to colonise Mars. The 24-year-old says she would like to be the first human to have a baby on the planet full story p3

PARTY-GOERS have blasted the guild of students’ security after clubbers were allegedly injured in a crush at a Fab ’N’ Fresh night.

University of Birmingham students, who attended the event last month, were reportedly left unattended by staff to force their way through uncontrolled queues into the club night.

People were said to have been pushed by the mob, forced into barriers and walls and there were also reports of fights breaking out

between those waiting to enter the venue.

A second-year undergraduate, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I’d never seen a queue like it – even during the first and last events of the term.

‘At some points, my feet weren’t even touching the floor as I was carried by the mass of people.’

Another student reported injuring her hip that left her limping for days.

Revellers reported seeing stewards checking tickets and student IDs at the entrance of the venue but no security controlling the hostile mob in the line. Students

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Maggie hopes to be first mother on Mars

Life on Mars: An artist’s impression of the proposed Mars One base where student Maggie Lieu could spend the rest of her life

DEVON SMITH A DARING student is hoping to become the Eve of Mars and help establish a human settlement on the red planet.

University of Birmingham astrophysicist Maggie Lieu has made the final 100 contenders to go on a one-way journey to Mars.

She was one of five Britons to be whittled down from 202,586 hopefuls to take part in the Mars One mission. If successful, she will

spend the next ten years in training, learning all the jobs needed to survive, including plumbing, medicine and construction.

Maggie, 24, shrugged off fears the astronauts would die within days, insisting it was an unmissable chance to further science.

The aim is to colonise Mars by sending groups of four people every two years beginning in 2024 – costing around $6billion each time.

Maggie said: ‘It would be

incredible to be the Adam and Eve of another planet.

‘Because it is a colonisation programme, it’s inevitable that eventually someone will procreate and it would be incredible to be the first mother on Mars.’

In total, 50 men and 50 women were chosen, of whom 39 came from the Americas, 31 from Europe, 16 from Asia, and seven each from Oceania and Africa.

Bas Lansdorp, co-founder and CEO of Mars One, said:

‘The large cut in candidates is an important step towards finding out who has the right stuff.

‘These aspiring martians provide the world with a glimpse into who the modern-day explorers will be.’

To help fund the project, the training will be aired as a reality TV show, where viewers will make the final decision on who will be

shuttled into space first.

Maggie (pictured) added: ‘Just going to Mars for the fun of it, or a TV programme, which is what they’re trying to make it out to be, would cost a lot for not very much.

‘Even though we’re not expected to do science, it would easily be possible. Once you’re on Mars, they can’t make you do what they want.’

What a blow... club-goers could be breathalysed CLUBBERS could be breathalysed before entering Broad Street’s bars and clubs in a bid to curb alcohol-induced violence.

The new strategy, backed by Birmingham City Council, will see party-goers blow into an AlcoBlow detector – if they have

had double the drink-drive limit they may be refused entry.

However, the scheme has attracted criticism from students who fear it will hit them in the pocket.

Birmingham City University journalism student Gemma Humphrey said: ‘I think that being

breathalysed is a ploy to exploit students for more money. Drinks are expensive as it is and now it will cost even more for a night out.’

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: ‘When people are heavily drunk, they are a danger to themselves and

more likely to get caught up in fights. People who pre-drink are no benefit for clubs as shortly after being allowed in they are likely to be drunk, not spend money and are more likely to get into trouble.’

More than 40 clubs have signed up to the scheme.

Sophie Hack

March 2015

3

Mexico is a turtle-y excellent trip for Savannah A CONSERVATIONIST will be going on the trip of a lifetime... as part of her dissertation.

Savannah Fradley, a second-year geography student at the University of Birmingham, will travel to Mexico to research the effect tourist behaviour has on green sea turtles.

She said: ‘I’m looking forward to seeing the turtles in their natural environment and also seeing some of the other fish species found in the Caribbean Sea. It’s an area with a wide range of biodiversity.’

She will jet off with conversation management organisation Operation Wallacea for six weeks in the summer and needs to raise £4,000.

She added: ‘The Caribbean Sea is home to four different species of sea turtle – all of which are endangered or critically endangered – so it’s a key area in which conservation and management is needed.’

Georgia Tindale

4

March 2015

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We’re living in fear after string of burglaries LOUISE DEAN STUDENTS say they are living in fear after burglars and thieves targeted their halls.

One flat in Tennis Courts had its window smashed, while another was targeted by a burglar posing as University of Birmingham maintenance staff and offering to vacuum.

Brittany, a first-year student living in the block in The Vale village, said: ‘There has been a fear that something could happen – and in the area where I’m supposed to feel safe.’

She said one of her flatmates had not slept properly after the burglaries.

Although The Vale’s managers set up an emer-

gency hotline following the break-ins, Brittany said she was worried burglars could strike again.

Bikes and laptops have been the main targets.

Curtis, a Mason resident, said he had started keeping his bike in his bedroom after his old one was stolen.

‘It’s irritating,’ he added. ‘It’s so much more effort.’

Another Mason student, Katie, said: ‘If the doorbell rings, we do check that we know who it is. I definitely feel nervous after recent events.’

Some residents have called for increased security at the student village, which has secluded courts and walkways.

Sarah, a first-year student

living in Maple Bank, said there should be more security patrols by UoB to try and prevent more burglaries.

‘I’m glad I’m not on the ground floor,’ she added.

Police said they had arrested unemployed Ricky Target: Mason halls, which have been targeted by burglars PICTURE: EMILY HUGGARD Woolaston, 34, on January 30 after investigating burglaries at UoB accommodation.

He appeared before magistrates and charged with five burglaries the following day. look elsewhere. It’ll prevent Birmingham The Vale management said A PILOT scheme forcing landlords in the from becoming more diverse.’ Head of accommodation managers West Midlands to check the immigration NUS Black Students Malia Bouattia said: were working with the stu- status of tenants has been branded racist. dents to raise awareness of Right To Rent means anyone letting a home ‘We have anecdotal evidence landlords will be more likely to pass over “foreignsecurity issues. It added: ‘We must ensure tenants have the legal right sounding” or “foreign-looking” people.’ would still advise that stu- to stay in the UK or face a £3,000 fine.

The government claims it will ensure illegal dents need to report any sus- One international student at Birmingham immigrants are not exploited by landlords. picious persons or activity to City University said: ‘It’s not welcoming at all for international students so they’ll Adrienne Watson security control.’

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inBRIEF

Clubbers injured in line ruck from p1 of them manage the queue, while others have to be inside to make sure that the rest of the venue is safe.

‘If you have issues in the queue with people pushing, being aggressive, harassing or any other behaviour that is not acceptable, let a member of security staff know immediately and they will do their best to deal with the situation.’

To compound clubbers’ misery, at about 12:45am a fire alarm saw all students evacuated into Mermaid Square.

They were allowed back into the venue about ten minutes later after the venue had been checked out.

March 2015

Name of our game is crossing boundaries WITH a passion for magazines but little prospect of an internship, Keisha FraserBruce decided to create her own. The second-year English and American literature student, from the University of Birmingham, published the first edition of NAME after four months’ work. With the help of other students, she sourced features on fashion, art and politics that she hopes will focus on individuality and cross

gender, age and cultural divides.

She said: ‘I was looking for work experience one morning and it was all so difficult. The majority of places offered either graduate positions or summer internships and, because I’m a second-year student who’s travelling over summer, they were both out of the question.’ The magazine is available online at www. namemagazine.co.uk.

Filipe Batista

Got it covered: Keisha FraserBruce with the first copy of NAME, which she created with other students

Eco-officer quits ‘lone battle’ to save planet NATALIE WELLINGS

Pounding the streets for job WHEN it came to looking for a job, Reece Enfield wore his CV on a sandwich board rather than walk around handing copies out. After finding his film production course was not for him and sending off 50 unanswered job applications, the former BCU student set off around the city centre advertising himself. He was offered work after a day but carried on for a week to see what else was out there.

Hardeep Kaur

Take Me Out (to Nando’s...)

IT was less a case of ‘no likey, no lighty’, more ‘if he doesn’t make you swoon, pop your balloon’ during a low-tech version of ITV dating show Take Me Out at a packed UoB Avon room on Valentine’s Day. Six eligible bachelors showed off to 20 single ladies with skills such as magic tricks – but rather than Cyprus, the four matches had dates at Nando’s. Contestant Bethany Kitchener said: ‘It was hilarious.’

Sarah James

5

Taking a hike: Chis Jarrold resigned as environment officer at UoB PICTURE: FACEBOOK

AN environmental officer has resigned after claiming there was a lack of support for green issues at his university.

Chris Jarrold stepped down from the University of Birmingham’s guild, saying in an open letter that ‘little is actually achieved’ in tackling issues such as air pollution.

He also complained of a ‘lack of involvement from senior staff within the guild’, claiming he suffered from a lack of resources.

‘Unlike the sabbatical officers, who are paid £17,500 a year and have a team of experienced staff members at their disposal, the ethical and environmental officer has no experienced or dedicated staff,’ he added.

Despite praising the guild’s ‘friendly’ feel, he told TUP: ‘Changes are happening far too slowly for the university to cut down its portion of pollutants before it exceeds the quota for contributing to excessive climate change.’

UoB was criticised by stu-

dent group People and Planet earlier this year for failing to hand over details of its environmental work for a nationwide assessment.

Chris said that while Aston and Birmingham City did well, they could still do more.

‘Unfortunately, I don’t think Birmingham is a green city,’ he added.

The guild thanked Chris for his work and said: ‘We are very aware of our environmental impact and we make a concerted effort to ensure that environmental and ethical issues are factored into every decision we make.

‘We have been awarded the NUS Green Impact gold award for several years and are this year working towards an excellence award.

‘Part-time officer roles are hugely important to the guild.

‘Whilst full-time officer positions by their very nature benefit from additional time and staff support, part-time roles remain central to our representative structures.

‘We aim to take Chris’s feedback on board.’

Push starts to get more voting in elections IN the first general election year that will see potential voters face a fine if they fail to register, students have been finding out about party policies.

The Electoral Registration and Administration Act lets councils issue £80 fines to anyone who fail to register to vote despite being asked

repeatedly, as part of a law that will also mean many students must resister themselves for the first time.

While Birmingham City University credited the policy with a 50 per cent rise in its students signing up, others said it would be better to get them fired up about politics instead. BCU

undergraduate Laura Peberday said: ‘It’s more of an issue that it’s resorted to people being fined for not choosing to register. Whose fault it is that people don’t care enough to vote?’

The Leaders Live debate at the ThinkTank science museum on February 5 took a different

contactUS EDITOR: GEORGIA TINDALE Email her at birminghameditor@unipaper.co.uk.

approach, offering the chance to quiz politicians on issues including housing and safety.

Avneet Chauhan, also of BCU, said: ‘It’s good to have a clear overview from each party on what their stance is on issues that matter to us.’

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March 2015

focusPOINT

7

Our monthly in-depth look at the issues on campuses across the country

Well, these girls can Ad aims to shake up views on doing exercise NORA SELMANI IF you’ve turned on the TV lately, you may have noticed a load of sweaty women working out.

But rather than airbrushed, toned types with thigh gaps, this lot look pretty normal, wobbly bits and all.

That’s because they are part of This Girl Can – a campaign aimed at breaking down the barriers that stop women getting involved in sport and �itness. Adverts and a YouTube video show all sorts of women exercising to the soundtrack of Missy Elliott’s Get Ur Freak On. The �ilm was created by Sport England after it found just eight per cent of women and girls aged 14 to 40 did regular exercise, It said fear of being judged on their appearance, ability and weight was stopping women and girls from getting active.

The campaign has been taken up eagerly on campuses across the country.

Emily Cole, a secondyear English student at the University of Bristol, is right behind the campaign, saying she hoped it would help stop women feeling unwelcome at uni sports facilities.

‘In a society where I often feel intimidated at the university gym and where Setting the pace: London student Grace, 22, who was filmed climbing a hill on one of her regular bike rides for the video

Aspire to perspire: Victoria, a 29-year-old children’s nurse, appears at a spinning class in a shot aimed at making sweating acceptable the simple exercise of squatting has now become something so sexualised I daren’t do it in front of people, this campaign struck a chord with me,’ she said. ‘When I �irst saw the campaign advertised before a YouTube video, I had to stop and re-watch it.

‘Finally, after so many “new year, new me” magazine covers and gym wear advertised on incredible models, someone understood that it all comes down to being healthy and, most importantly, having fun.

‘Many girls I know forget that exercising isn’t just to get a “bikini bod”. I think this is only the beginning of a wider movement to encourage girls

that yes, we can go to the gym, sweat it out, have our wobbly bits on show and embrace the strength and beauty of our bodies.

‘I’m thankful that it’s �inally being addressed.’

Sinead O’Grady, who recently graduated with a business management and information systems degree from Swansea University, said she hoped the campaign would build on the work of women’s sports teams.

‘It is essential for bringing the issues that surround women in sports to the forefront of university policies,’ she said.

‘Swansea University has some incredibly talented female

players and teams, so it is not discrediting what they already have but encouraging others to be inspired and get involved.’

But Stuart Wilkinson, a lecturer in sports coaching at the University of Central Lancashire, said it was a problem that many of the women pictured in the campaign were still slim and conventionally attractive.

‘It hasn’t considered how such symbolism might have the opposite effect to what was intended – normalising the slender body, accentuating the desirable and undesirable,’ he added.

‘Unfortunately, while brave and bold, it will for these reasons come under scrutiny.’

what they say ‘This is a brilliant campaign. It sends a message to the nation that defies the assumptions about being feminine. I would love to know how impactful it will be in future.’

Jasmine Pokuaa, vice-president for health and social care, University of Salford

‘Netball is extremely important to girls as it not only helps us physically but both socially and mentally also. It gives me structure in my daily life, helps with my fitness and it’s something I love.’

Sam O’Connor, netballer, Northumbria University

‘This Girl Can is a really inspirational campaign and has used targeted messages that I think other women in sport campaigns have failed to address; it’s not about the way you look when you exercise, it’s about the way you feel.’

Alyx Murray-Jackman, sport development of�icer, University of Bristol

‘Most girls on our team have never touched a rugby ball before they come to uni, so playing a male-dominated sport is taking girls out of their comfort zone.’

Megan May Stammers, women’s rugby union social secretary, University of Liverpool

‘Being a woman in tennis has never stopped me from being my best. Mixed doubles shows our potential. I love playing against people who challenge me and, at times, it’s the women who do more.’

Sophie Brazell, tennis team captain, Cardiff University

8

March 2015

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The hunt for the one true hipster JOE EVANS COOL, ladies and gentlemen, is no longer cool.

The hipster trend has become something of an epidemic.

Now, bespectacled men in cardigans and Zooey Deschanel lookalikes roam our streets.

Hating Coldplay but adoring Bob Dylan, loving coffee but scoffing at anything nonorganic, they have conquered whole portions of our cities.

Bookshops and vinyl outlets have been colonised.

Love or loathe the trend, it appears to be flourishing.

But, like punk before it, hipsterism, so to speak, is deeply

Dodging the label: Hipsters PICTURE: STEWART HONEYMAN

flawed. There is nothing a hipster hates more than the label.

‘I’m no hipster,’ they shriek.

‘So what if I love the works of Jack Kerouac and Bret Easton Ellis?’ The individualism that

defines the movement is the thorn in its side.

Now let’s take a glimpse into the dystopian future I envisage.

Brothers turn against brothers, girlfriends against boyfriends, in the name of finding the one true original hipster.

Their hair will get messier and the clothes more and more ill-fitting in the name of becoming the one true individual.

The coffee shops will turn to slaughter houses as the fight for non-conformity spirals out of control.

Then Shoreditch, Digbeth and the Northern Quarter will fall silent as the hipster trend finally breathes its last.

If you spot an error, we are committed to putting it right. Contact us at corrections@unipaper.co.uk.

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talkingPOINTS TASTY PROSPECT: University students are like caterpillars. After we gobble up GSCEs and A levels, we get an appetite for degrees. We are cocooned for three years until we transform into beautiful butterflies and land graduate jobs.

But in an increasingly competitive market, chancellor George Osborne wants to make it easier for us to stay cocooned. He has proposed a new postgrad loan of up to £10,000 to benefit an intended 40,000 students. As someone who worked through both masters degrees, I applaud this idea. It would make the lives of working class students much easier Thomas Dowling

STRIKE A BALANCE: News that size 24, 5ft 5in model Tess Holliday had won a professional contract was met with a mix of triumph and outrage. Holliday’s unapologetic bikini-clad poses have won her a strong Instagram following and she should be commended for challenging the way unhealthy size zero figures are promoted in the modelling industry. However, her success does pose a question: is the promotion of an exceedingly overweight woman the right type of replacement role model? We need a middle ground Ellie Connell

PICTURE: STEWART HONEYMAN

LIT US BE: Dear students of the UK: When you ask us to explain our literature degrees, we prepare for questions that will make us want to blind ourselves with our Biros. Here are just a few examples: ‘So you want to be a teacher?’ Because that’s our only prospect – never mind media, PR or business. ‘It’s a pretty easy degree, right?’ Contrary to the myth that all we do is sip lattes and partake in an unrequited love affair with Mr Darcy, it’s actually a pretty tough subject. Unless you consider being assigned novels, poems and Foucault’s History Of Sexuality in the same week easy. ‘Why not maths or engineering?’ We don’t question your love for equations of a Tolstoy-esque length, so don’t knock our book fetish Ellie Tindsley

UNFAIR STEREOTYPES: As far as the media is concerned, us students should either be fun, carefree and innovative, or sheep following the system.

Films like American Pie and Bad Neighbours are fun but show us drinking an excessive amount of alcohol and barely doing what we’re supposed to be doing – studying. Yes, we do like to go out and have fun – who doesn’t? But this distorted perception in film blows it completely out of proportion. We need to be taken more seriously in the media Emma Adams

DIVERSITY LACKING: Because the curriculum is heavily based on white culture, certain students from ethnic backgrounds are at risk of under-achievement.

These students learn nothing about the role their culture plays in the world they live in but are taught that civilisation and knowledge are the product of white predecessors. Ensuring education is racially inclusive and gives an unbiased representation of ethnic minorities is not only essential to achieve equality but also quality – the history, culture and literature of non-whites cannot be accurately represented by white people alone. Students from ethnic backgrounds cannot be taught material that only talks about their culture in a direct comparison with Western culture, in a way that shows it to be relatively subordinate. It is imperative that contemporary literature taught to young people reflects the multicultural society we live in Yashi Banymadhub

MATTER OF OPINION: When you have thousands of young, opinionated students on campus, claims of censorship are bound to pop up. Students should, of course, have the right to express all manner of opinions – but perhaps not those that are detrimental to others. The prohibition of material such as that from extremist groups could be perceived as patronising. While the right to express individual opinions is paramount, it is also vital that everyone feels they have the opportunity to do so without being harassed Beth Sexton

PIC: WIKICOMMONS/EVA RINALDI

NO CONFIDENCE: ‘Political apathy’ has been a buzz phrase during the run-up to this year’s election, describing a conscious lack of engagement with democracy, including the decision not to vote. Its most famous proponent, Russell Brand, has called for revolution. With students bearing the brunt of many cuts imposed by the current government, it’s easy to sympathise. But apathy highlights a problem without offering a solution. The revolution Brand describes is an event, not an outcome. Wherever you stand, it’s worth registering to vote before the April 20 deadline.

It’s always nice to have the option Lindsey Coombs

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talkingPOINTS

March 2015

9

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

I regret lecturer sex for cider bet JOSIE WALKER

Grey area: Powerful men, such as Christian in Fifty Shades Of Grey, might seem attractive – but reality might not live up to the mental image

WALKING into my first lecture of my first year, I thought I had hit the jackpot. A young, good-looking guy stood at the front of the hall, wearing a close-fitting suit.

All the girls around me excitedly whispered to each other that this gorgeous man would be teaching us for the next 12 weeks.

As time progressed, my fascination became stronger and, by reading week, I realised I could not recall a thing that had been said in any of the five lectures. The only notes I had taken was on the first day, where I had written the title and his name, dotting the ‘i’s with hearts like a lovesick primary school pupil.

My preparation for lectures

was not completing seminar tasks or preliminary reading but, instead, making sure my hair was perfectly curled, my top enhanced my best assets and my skirt showed just enough leg to be suggestive but not slutty.

In lectures, note-taking was shelved in favour of hair-flipping, pen-chewing and short, seductive glances.

By this time, my friends had cottoned on and they made me a bet. If I got a snog, they would each buy me a pint of my favourite cider. Getting a snog AND free booze – what girl could refuse? So, in week nine, I made my way to his office in an outfit so tight I worried that if I ate anything I would burst out.

Once there, I cut to the chase. Instead of sitting across

from him, I slid my chair next to his so he could ‘explain’ the problem I had brought to him. When in place, I leaned in close, breaking the distance barrier that kept our relationship professional. He noticed – and it didn’t take long for him to give me what I wanted.

It was at that moment I realised my mistake. It felt the same as when my dog licks my face. I felt a trickle of something wet run down my chin and recoiled – but he got up to lock the door, and I knew what was about to happen.

But, even though I was repulsed by his kiss, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to know what it would be like to go all the way.

So I did.

He wriggled around on top of me like an excited puppy,

arms flailing and not knowing where to put (or what to do with) his hands. My bum was numb from being squashed on to the solid wood desk and my legs dangled awkwardly off the side.

When it was over (which didn’t take long), he rolled off me and sat in his chair, panting, leaving me sitting on the desk completely naked and questioning what I had just done.

It felt like the worst mistake of my life, and in that moment I wished I could go back in time and take it back. I felt dirty and guilty, swearing I would never agree to a bet with my friends again.

The one perk is that I got very drunk that night. But the worst part? I found out he’s my lecturer next year, too...

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March 2015

theINTERVIEW: Nev Schulman

Being lied to takes its toll but I enjoy it W

HAT started out as a story of modern-day romance turned into a strange and twisted tale of deception and heartbreak.

Photographer Nev (pronounced Neev) Schulman fell in love with Megan after talking online.

However, after she avoided meeting up, he did some digging and discovered Megan didn’t exist. She was, in fact, the invention of a manipulative housewife called Angela. Nev had been catfished.

His story was turned into a documentary – something he is unsure about to this day.

‘If I had been asked at the beginning if I would like to make a documentary about my life that would end up in movie theatres and exposing this embarrassing period in my life, I don’t know what I would have said. I can’t say I would have said yes or no. It happened by accident,’ he says.

Then, after it aired, others started to turn to him for help.

He explains: ‘People started emailing me saying: “Can you help me? I haven’t talked to anybody about this but I saw your story and now I feel like I’m not crazy and not alone.”

‘Very quickly, it became apparent to us that what we thought was an odd experience was much more common than we would have ever expected.

‘We wanted to continue the conversation – and a TV show

The Catfish host chats to JOSHUA EVANS about being manipulated by strangers, seeing your life turned into a TV show and getting back on the dating scene... was the best way to do that.’

That TV show became Catfish, which sees the 30-year-old weed out other web tricksters.

So, which one was the worst?

‘The person I found the hardest to stomach was Kidd Cole, the one who pretended to be a producer and a recording artist,’ Nev says. ‘He was manipulating people for huge monetary purposes without remorse – it was just for fun.

‘He was trying to prove something to the people who never thought he’d amount to anything by taking advantage.

When we confronted him, he was so cocky – that was why I threw his phone into the river.’

Nev shares the screen with friend and cameraman Max Joseph and claims it’s their relationship that keeps the show from getting too heavy.

‘He is so straight up with me,’ Nev says. ‘There are very few people who can really say anything to me and be totally honest, and Max is one of them.

We give each other advice – he helps me and I help him. When we’re not filming, we’re usually so busy doing other things, we don’t spend a lot of time together.’

The pair are often lied to by the fraudsters in the show. How does that feel?

‘I think people forget Max and I are people,’ Nev adds. ‘We’re

not trying to win people over, we’re just trying to tell good stories and I think people forget that. They just see us as cardboard cut-outs.

‘So, it does take its toll – but I mostly enjoy it.’

And what about the rumours of a UK version of the show?

‘We’ve been talking about it,’ he says. ‘There was a time when we were very close to putting together a pilot. I was very excited – but for now it’s all on hold. I would love to come over as it’s fun to go to places I’ve never been and have people recognise me.

Sometimes it’s weird and I don’t like it but it’s mostly fun and pretty wild.’

Now the pair are filming series four, Nev is ready to get back on the dating scene.

‘It’s been a while since I was really dating. I recently broke up with a long-term girlfriend,’ he explains. ‘I’m just starting to reconsider how I want to re-emerge and put myself back into the single world.’

So, any dating advice for us?

‘It’s important to be straight up with people and tell them how you feel even if you are unclear about what you want,’ he says.

‘As soon as you open that door for an honest exchange with someone, it just makes it nicer to be around them.’

NEV SCHULMAN is the face of Rocawear. Visit the website: www.rocawear.com

INSIDE: Fat Boy Slim speaks to us about his life on the road and the people he has met

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March 2015

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We didn’t expect it...

Surfing, sun and beers set Sons off

clubs

MONDAY Ultra, Gatecrasher, £5 Monday Club, The O Bar, free Party Animalz, Bar Risa, £1 Monday Madness, The Hub, tickets £5+ Twisted Mondays, Electric, £4+ TUESDAY Amnesia Tuesdays, Indi Vidual, free before 11pm, £3+ after Frat House, Bar Risa, free before 10pm Supa Fresh, Gatecrasher, £5 Alt Tuesdays, The O Bar, free before 11pm, £1 after WEDNESDAY Zoo, Popworld, free before 10:30pm I Love Tom’s Mom, Walkabout, £4 I Love Risa, Bar Risa, £3 The Reflex Factor, Luna, free Hooch, Mooch Bar, early bird £3

Speaking from Nashville in the US where the band are recording their new album, Sunset Sons drummer Jed talks to SHANICE ABBOTT about the Anglo– Aussie quartet’s rapid rise to the top and how fate brought them together

H

OW did Sunset Sons get together?

I was travelling round the south of France teaching surfing. I had a friend who had just opened a bar and one day I went to see him.

Rory, our singer, was in there playing a set on the piano in the corner of the bar. I thought ‘he has a great voice’.

Afterwards, we got chatting and decided we were going to make a band. Bass player Pete was there at the time and then we drafted in Robin as we needed a guitarist. It was basically fate, surfing and a couple of beers.

Did you ever expect your music career to take off like it has?

No. At the moment it’s just so exciting – it’s going to take some getting used to. At the moment, we’re in Nashville in Blackbird Studios, which is the greatest studio in the

what’sON

THURSDAY Get It On Thursdays, Gatecrasher, £4 before midnight, £7 after Pounded, Nightingale Club, £5 Minted, Mechu, £5 Social Thursdays, The O Bar, free Cheeky Disco, Bar Risa, free with guest list

Life’s a beach: Sunset Sons (l-r) Jed, Rory, Pete and Rob formed after meeting in a bar in the south of France world. We’re with the best producer and always giggling about how it’s going – it’s lots of fun.

How did it feel when you got signed?

It was great but it all happened very quickly. It was complete madness because we met so many labels and stuff – we just didn’t know what was going on. Once it was over, it was more of a relief. A couple of months later it really sunk in for all of us – like, this is really

happening, it’s just amazing.

Do you feel more pressure now that you’re signed?

Pete has all these unusual Australian sayings and he says ‘pressure makes diamonds’, so not really.

Everything’s just going on like it was before. Being signed is like having a big brother by the side looking after you, so it’s good.

Will you be playing at any festivals this summer?

I’m pretty certain we will

be doing quite a few – we already have a few confirmed for Europe. We are going to try to perform at as many as possible because we did a couple last year and it was so good, we just want to do it all over again.

What inspires you musically?

We all like totally different stuff. Rory really likes Motown and singer– songwriters like Adele, and then Pete is into heavier stuff like punk Springsteen.

Café talks stirring up debate WHAT happens when the sciences and the humanities intersect? How can science shape our society? Can science unravel the big questions of our time?

The answers to these big questions and more will be debated at Birmingham’s first discussion café, Café Culturel.

Every month of the academic term, a guest speaker will give an informal talk on a topic of their choice. Then, after a drink, it will be over to the audience to discuss the

ideas and grill the speaker.

Dr Emil Toescu, a neuroscientist at the University of Birmingham, said: ‘What we will be trying to do is attempt to bring science into a wider cultural discourse. In effect, bringing science back into culture.’

Nathanael O’Neill, one of the students leading the café, said: ‘It is hugely exciting to be able to bring cutting-edge academic research to the people of Birmingham.

‘The recent interest in TED

talks show a real desire from people to think about the world in different ways – Café Culturel takes it one step further by allowing the audience to engage with the speaker’s ideas.’

The next talk is scheduled for March 18 and will take place at Cherry Reds, on John Bright Street.

The speaker will be Prof Barbara Sahakian, from the University of Cambridge, on smart drugs. The free event has limited spaces. Sam Forbes

Rob likes all sorts of stuff. I think that’s what helped us to shape our sound – pretty much anything goes.

Where do you hope to be in five years?

Hopefully, we’ll have quite a few records out. We want to keep putting records out and doing exciting gigs and shows where everyone feels like they’re a part of what we’re doing. n Sunset Sons play Institute Temple, Birmingham, on March 14.

Drugs talk: Prof Sahakian PICTURE: BARBARA SAHAKIAN

FRIDAY Click, Snobs Nightclub, £5 Blklst, Myyst, £5 Propaganda, O2 Academy 2 Birmingham, £5 Fresh, Rumor, £3+ Boutique, Nuvo, free Circus Fridays, Bar Risa, £4+ SATURDAY Pulse, Arca Bar, free Throwdown, Subside Bar, free before 10pm Spin, Bambu, £5+ Loaded, Snobs, £5 Bhangra Night, Aura, £5+ Electric Project, Electric £3 SUNDAY Glam, Bar Risa, free before 11:30pm, £5 after Zinc, Island Bar, free Industry Sundays, The O Bar, £2+ Replay Sundays, Luna, £1 SPECIALS Tuesday, March 3: Omarion Live, Gatecrasher, tickets £7+ Friday, March 6: Just Jam: DJ Russke, Bambu, tickets TBC Seedy Sonics, Rainbow, £15+ Saturday, March 7: Drum & Bass Awards 2015, Gatecrasher, tickets £25+ Saturday, March 7: Cream Birmingham, Rainbow, £26+ Saturday, March 28: Charli XCX Live, The Nightingale Club, tickets £7+

www.unipaper.co.uk

what’sON

March 2015 Our comprehensive guide to entertainment in Birmingham. If you have an event you would like included, please email us at whatson@unipaper.co.uk

pick of the month COMEDY HE COULD have stayed in the cushty (and lucrative) world of presenting – and who would have blamed him?

But former The Xtra Factor host Matt Richardson has decided to pursue a career in stand-up comedy.

The 23-year-old took major steps last year, performing in his first solo tour, along with some of the nation’s biggest festivals, including V and Reading Festivals.

The man from Didcot is performing at Jongleurs Comedy Club, in Broad Street, on March 27 and 28.

He will be joined by comedians Mickey D and Adam Bloom.

Tickets cost £14.

Matt Bullin

CRAFTS FOR those in dire need of creative inspiration, there will be three days of craft at Birmingham’s NEC. Sewing For Pleasure, Fashion Embroidery and

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Stitch and Hobbycrafts will bring an extensive variety of creative workshops and exhibitors to those interested in learning a new skill to while away those rainy, hungover Sundays.

The event will host over 80 exhibitors ready to impart advice and will give tutorials that challenge both novices and experts within their respective crafts.

Tickets for each day cost £10.50 in advance or £12.50 on the door.

Karanpreet Kaur

THEATRE LOOK out for Shrek – he’s going to be all ‘ogre’ Birmingham. He, Fiona, Donkey and Puss In Boots will be starring in Shrek The Musical at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Coming straight from Drury Lane, London, it will be directed by former star Nigel Harman, who won an Olivier award in 2012 for his portrayal of the ruthless Lord Farquaad.

‘This show is very special to me, with its dizzying blend of great characters, a hilarious script and sublime music,’ he said.

Shrek The Musical runs from March 31 to April 26.

Tickets are available from £18.50 plus booking fee. Get them at the box office or online.

John Shaw

THEATRE

MUSIC MULTI-instrumentalist Kiesza blends house, dance, hip-hop and pop with a big dose of ’90s nostalgia.

She broke through with No.1 hit Hideaway last year, while her album, Sound Of A Woman, which earned critical acclaim for its mix of grunge, rock and folk influences in addition to her usual dance style, made it into the top 40.

She describes her style as ‘steam-pop’ – a blend of bold, boisterous music and the occasional tongue-in-cheek lyric.

The Canadian has covered Haddaway’s 1993 dance anthem What Is Love but started her career as a folk singer before

Multi-talented: Singer Kiesza going more up-tempo.

If her Capital FM Summertime Ball performance was anything to go by, fans will be in

PICTURE: CHUFF MEDIA/RENEE COX

for a treat. Expect soaring vocals and dance beats galore when she hits the O2 Academy on March 24.

Jessica Syposz

IF YOU were to watch all of Breaking Bad in one sitting, it would take you nearly a whole weekend.

That’s with no sleep, no tea breaks and no going to the toilet.

But if you haven’t seen it, then you are definitely missing out.

Thankfully, comedian Miles Allen has come up with a solution – his One Man Breaking Bad takes the audience through all 60 episodes in just an hour.

The performer tells the story of teacher-turneddrugs manufacturer Walter White, aka Heisenberg, who develops and distributes a pure form of crystal meth with his partner in crime, Jesse Pinkman.

As the business develops, the pair have to make harder and harder decisions – dealing with drug lords, crazy dealers and a rogue lawyer.

Los Angeles-based YouTuber Allen brings his hit show to Birmingham Town Hall on March 11.

Tickets cost £18.50.

Joshua Evans

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March 2015

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theBEAT

I’m diving a little deeper... I’m a little darker

Experimental: B.Traits is pushing her musical boundaries

Brianna Price, aka B.Traits, 28, was a regular on Canada’s rave scene at the tender age of 14. She and MORGAN HINTON chat musical influences and the UK’s drug problem

S

INCE moving to the UK, what have you found to be best and worst about the rave scene?

The rave scene here is incredible – unlike anywhere else in the world. Even just the sound of the style of music stands out to me – it’s the main reason why I didn’t move to the US instead.

The worst? Probably similar to my documentary How Safe Are My Drugs? I feel like the authorities are

not doing enough to create safer raving environments.

Have you found the drug problem in the UK more prominent than Canada?

Yes, particularly with legal highs. They scare me most as they are so unpredictable and there’s no history to tell us what the side-effects could be.

What is your favourite non-electronic musical act?

I listen to a lot of rap, like Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar.

But then, I have a massive

love for Alabama Shakes!

What can we expect from you musically this year?

I’m not exactly sure myself!

I’ve gone into the studio with the idea to only create and experiment. It’s been really interesting – for the first time

in my life, I believe I really know what my sound is.

What kind of listening experience does your Friday night slot on Radio 1 offer?

I represent new talent for the underground dance scene. After Annie Mac and

Pete Tong, my show takes you a little deeper, a little darker.

Since coming to the UK, who has had the most impact on your music?

Probably Shy FX, as he’s stuck with me since the beginning. I remember the

first time I played him my more experimental stuff, I was convinced he’d hate it.

But he didn’t – he loved it and pushed me to dive deeper.

B.Traits plays Manchester’s Sankeys on March 21 as part of its 20th anniversary.

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March 2015

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theBEAT The ‘people’s tenor’ prefers tennis and his Xbox to plugging in the headphones Love your music? So do we! Tune in here for all the latest interviews, previews and reviews

I love the sound of silence Y

OU’VE had �ive top ten studio albums and worked with artists from Pavarotti to Shaun Ryder – but what music inspires you?

You’ll probably be surprised by this, but when I’m going about my daily business I actually don’t listen to much music. I try to avoid it. I’m already in the industry and music is my life, so when I don’t have to listen to it, it’s like, ‘aww, bliss’.

When I do I listen to music, it’s artists like the Black Eyed Peas or James Brown.

When I’m touring, I’ll refresh my memory by listening to recordings of the tenor singing repertoire that I do – listen to the different in�lections they use.

We hear Katherine Jenkins refuses to speak the day before a performance. How do you look after your voice?

Well – Jacuzzis, lots of booze… no, I’m just joking – that’s a normal night!

Your voice can be a bit of a pain in the a**e sometimes.

If you are a guitar player and the strings start to wear out you can simply replace them, whereas it’s not so simple to repair your voice. When I �irst starting singing as a young chap, I used to go watch Manchester United and if something happened I’d be shouting from the stands, but I can’t do that anymore.

What collaborations will stick in your mind for years to come?

Of course it has to be my performance with Luciano Pavarotti. He was amazing and totally lived up to his diva reputation. One of the most amazing days I’ve had was when we did a concert in

Tour: Cook PICTURE: FUTURE MUSIC

Singer Russell Watson tells REBECCA THOMAS about his battle with cancer, strange rehearsals with Charlotte Church and Pavarotti and being made to rock by Meat Loaf Hyde Park where I was told I would be performing in front of 75,000 people. Charlotte Church was also performing alongside Pavarotti and we were waiting what felt like forever to rehearse with him.

We walked into the rehearsal room, where he was sat on this long arm chair.

He put his hands together as if he was going to say a prayer and then took a massive inhalation of air before pointing to Charlotte and saying (cue dodgy Italian accent) ‘When I point to you, you sing’ and looks at me and says the same thing and then goes: ‘End of rehearsal’ – and that was it. That was the rehearsal! We got outside and Charlotte looked at me and went: ‘What the f**k was that all about?’

Another amazing person I performed with had to be Meat Loaf up in New York. I ended up in fact singing Bat Out Of Hell with him, which was incredible. We were in rehearsal once and he asked me: ‘Are you ready to rock?’ and me, being the typical English boy, said: ‘Yes, I am.’

He replied: ‘No, I said… ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?’ and he wouldn’t let us continue until I screamed out ‘Yes!’ It was surreal.

You found out your brain tumour had returned while you were recording your 2007 album Outside In. Has anything positive come out of your illness?

The �irst one was bad enough. I had that operated on and thought it was gone but 12 months later it wanted to do a comeback tour. I

basically ended up back in hospital and was very poorly for a long period of time.

You can look back at instances like that and think I was very unlucky to get that and ‘why me?’ but these things happen and it’s how you deal with them that is crucial. An illness like that stays with you. Before I was constantly planning, whereas now my philosophy is live for the day.

What has been your biggest achievement so far?

Overcoming the illness and coming through the other side – being able to sustain my career through it all. My career highlight is de�initely performing for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. He passed away not long after.

What advice would you give to an aspiring singer?

There are four things I feel are important if you want to pursue a career in singing.

No.1 is always con�idence – it’s is a crucial part of the make-up of a singer.

But the biggest factor of all for any new artist starting out in the business is to have a plan, a good business accruement and to have a good team of people who you can trust.

On your upcoming tour, you’ll be playing at your birthplace, Salford. Is there anywhere else on the tour you’re particularly fond of?

I’m actually a big fan of Wales and so was my gran, she always used to take us on day trips there. As a child, it was the one of the only places I really visited outside of Manchester, as we couldn’t

Tough industry: Watson will wait before making another album

tourDATES

; March 22, The March 10, Brangwyn Hall, Swansea , Leicester; May atre The e Lowry, Salford; May 5-6, Curv rter Theatre, Cha 19, May h; burg Edin , Hall 11, Queen’s ton; June 16, Grand Theatre, amp verh Wol , atre The d Preston; June 4, Gran dule at www.russellwatson.com sche tour full ; Leeds; June 26, The Forum, Bath

afford to go away abroad or anything, so I spent most of my time holidaying in Wales as a child.

What do you do to relax between gigs?

I like to exercise a lot. My favourite thing to do at the moment is play tennis. I’m

playing about four times a week. I love my physical �itness, including boxing.

My biggest form of escapism, though, is my Xbox One – quite sad for a man of my age (48).

Do you have plans for a new record soon?

The music industry is tough.

It got to the point when I was getting fed up and it almost felt like a factory churning out song after song, so I’m waiting until I’m ready to produce something that I believe in before I release anything else.

A long way from the gutter but dreaming of stars FATBOY SLIM has made some pretty extreme venues his own, from a igloo to the Great Wall of China. Over the past 19 years the DJ, real name Norman Cook, has produced some of the biggest dance anthems to date and sold 8million albums. But with an international tour coming up, he is showing no signs of slowing down. Reflecting on his rise to DJ stardom, he says: ‘I

remember the first time I heard one of my tunes on the John Peel show. It felt like the pinnacle of everything I ever wanted to do.

Over the years, all these things ascend, from hearing your music being played on the jukebox at the Queen Vic to ending up at the Olympic Games closing ceremony. Every time you think you have reached a pinnacle, you find another.’ Now 51, Cook

lives with wife Zoe Ball and their two children in East Sussex. He says he would do it all again, but has one regret. ‘I never had my photo taken with Madonna,’ he says. ‘We met the first time she came to England and shared a dressing room. It was the time she had the string vest, you know, classic Madonna.’ But that’s far from his only celebrity run-in. ‘The weirdest thing to

happen to me while DJing was Kevin Spacey coming up to me heavily disguised at Glastonbury.

We had a chat right in the middle of a set and nobody else realised. I can’t even remember what we chatted about. It was Glastonbury; everything was a bit of a blur. No-one else will ever know if it really happened.’

Fatboy Slim plays Common People in Southampton on May 23.

At Specsavers, if you are an easycare direct debit customer you can get an even better deal, including a free pair of glasses, free delivery.

Your eye test and aftercare are also included in the price.

Voted the UK’s most trusted optician Need an eye test? Visit specsavers.co.uk or call 0800 0680 241

Cannot be used with other offers or exchanged in part or whole for cash. Initial 3-month payment required from new easycare direct debit customers. One free pair of £45 range glasses with scratch-resistant PENTAX single vision lenses every two years. Current prescription required. Alternatively, an eye test will be required at our standard charge. easycare benefits are redeemable only by named scheme member. Source: YouGov Plc online survey, 2014. ©2013 Specsavers. All rights reserved.

704376-1_SD_UniversityPaper.indd 1

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inSTYLE

March 2015

17

Want to look great and stay up-to-date with the latest trends ... all on a sensible budget? Check out our monthly guide to the best buys for students

How to be chic at a snip

B

EING a student means learning many new skills – not least the art of budgeting.

But despite being able to get by on £10 of food a week, some of us find it harder to rein in the spending when it comes to keeping up with the latest trends.

So, how can you be fashionable while sticking to a student budget?

Go for investment buys.

This does not mean blowing your entire loan on one Michael Kors bag – it’s about being clever with your spending and splurging on key pieces that will last, rather than the buying expensive ‘on-trend’ items that will soon look dated.

A good pair of jeans or a quality coat can be investment buys – just keep them simple and classic.

Don’t go mad at the sales – just because individual pieces

are cheap does not mean the cost won’t add up.

Most shops list sale items online before they appear in store, so make a list of what you want before you go bargain hunting.

Embrace recycling. Many people think charity shops are just full of old people’s clothes but among the knitted tank tops and pleated woollen skirts, you can find some real bargains. I recently picked up a Topshop skirt for £4 while it was still being sold new for £26.

Many stores offer multibuys on things like socks and underwear which can be great – as long as they actually save you a reasonable amount of money.

But beware – anything less than a £1 saving is a bit pointless, unless you really need to stock up.

Finally, don’t forget to wave that NUS card. Many high

Wearing very Lidl clothing

Bargain buys: English students Beckey Bulman (left) and Ally Head model charity shop finds PICTURES: DAISY HOLDEN street chains offer a discount of ten per cent or more on full-price items.

Daisy Holden

WE all know it does cheap food – but now supermarket chain Lidl is branching out into the world of lingerie too. For £7.98, you can now pick up a matching set of lacy underwear similar to the one pictured while you shop for your groceries. There are bras and knickers for £3.99 and a silky wrap will set you back less than a fiver.

The supermarket not only offers a no-frills approach to frilly undies – it has also launched a fashion range.

But will it be enough to tear us away from our beloved highstreet brands?

Aliya Hussain

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March 2015

hiTECH

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

Get screws in a spin to bust out of the prison

F

ANCY yourself as the next Michael Scofield or Andy Dufresne?

Well, with Team17’s The Escapists, you can test yourself against the system without going through all the hassle of committing a crime.

The indie puzzle game, released last month on PC and Xbox One, uses the film and TV cliché of breaking out of prison but puts you in control of the story.

Developer Chris Davis told the University Paper: ‘I’ve always been a fan of prison films – Prison Break and The Shawshank Redemption – but there have not really been that many games that take place inside.

‘So, I thought maybe this will be good – the big build-up and the suspense.’

The game lets you go through day-to-day prison life – including meals, workout time, roll call and even jobs such as laundry duty – so as not to arouse the guards’ suspicion, all the while coming up with an escape plan.

Want to beat a guard to death with a soap bar in a sock? You can do that.

Want to dig a tunnel underneath the prison? You can do that, too. There are no instruction manuals or tooltips – how you escape is left entirely up to you.

Chris said: ‘The games I grew up with when I was younger, from the 16-bit era – they never had these handholding aspects and I guess that’s what I’m used to.

‘I remember when I used to

Bloodborne, March 24 SEARCH for answers in the creepy streets of Yharnam – an ancient city hit by a gruesome plague.

Fight off the violent, deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures that lurk around every corner using weapons such as guns and saw cleavers.

Players can also use holy chalices to gain entrance to a network of vast underground ruins filled with traps, beasts and rewards.

The game will be coming exclusively to PS4 from Dark Souls developer FromSoftware.

Jake Clothier Dark Souls II, April 7

Hell in a cell: The Escapists on PC (£12.99) or Xbox One (£14.99) achieve something in a game back then, I felt a sense of accomplishment that I don’t feel you get these days with games, because everything is sort of way-pointed.’

Alex Jolly

n FOR a chance to win one of three The Escapists goodie bags, email us at win@unipaper.co.uk with your name, age, university, telephone number and address.

THE innovative fantasy series returns, remastered and reimagined, in Dark Souls II: Scholar Of The First Sin. The next-gen and PC re-release comes with a new playable character and enemy placements, which will change the way levels are handled.

There are also new items

out soon available, including the ‘agape ring’, which absorbs souls collected from online kills.

The developers have also enhanced the graphics and increased the player count in online play.

Ben Chuter Mortal Kombat X, April 14 WE all know the format by now – two players fight against each other using an array of attacks, special moves and brutal fatalities.

So, what’s different about Mortal Kombat’s latest offering?

Well, new ‘living towers’ game mode allows players to fight to the death in everchanging conditions, forcing gamers to adapt their technique.

Four new characters have also been added to the roster, while all the old favourites have been brought back, bringing the number of playable characters up to 24.

Matt Bullin

www.unipaper.co.uk

March 2015

onSCREEN

19

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...

The quick quip comedy It’s war: Shailene Woodley takes the fight to the elite in Insurgent

The Divergent Series: Insurgent THE latest film in the series based on Veronica Roth’s best-selling science fiction trilogy sees Shailene Woodley’s character Beatrice ‘Tris’ Prior go to war against the leader of the corrupt elite, Kate Winslet’s Jeanine, while Theo James plays love interest Four. Tris and Four must search for allies and unlock the answers to seemingly impossible questions.

The film is set to be released on March 20 and is yet to be rated.

Daniel Williams Furious 7 FASTEN your seatbelts for the latest lap of the Fast And Furious circuit.

The franchise was rocked last year by the death of Paul Walker, who played Brian O’Conner, in a car crash – but the latest instalment was finished after his brothers Caleb and Cody stepped in to help. In a strange twist, the film sees Ian Shaw, played by Jason Statham, seek revenge for the death of his brother at the hands of a rival crew. The film is due for release on April 10.

Zahra Faqir Child 44 ANOTHER Tom Hardy film, another accent.

After sporting a southern drawl in Lawless, going Welsh for Locke and using a somewhat unplaceable tongue as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, the Londoner goes Russian to play Leo Demidov. The secret policeman is troubled by the mysterious deaths of boys in this thriller, based on the 2014 novel.

Joel Kinnaman, Noomi Rapace and Gary Oldman also star. Out April 17.

Seamus Mcginley-Hughes Avengers: Age Of Ultron IRON Man, Thor, the Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye are back – and this time they’re joined by X-Men twins Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen.

The peacekeeping tool Ultron, created

by Tony Stark – aka Ironman – backfires when it decides the human race must be wiped out and the heroes unite to stop it. Out April 23.

Zahra Faqir

app. Laura Barns (Heather Sossaman) kills herself after finding someone has posted a drunken video of her online, before one of her ‘friends’ sets out for revenge via Skype and the dead girl’s Facebook account. Due to be released May 1.

Antoniya Gerimpapazi The Salt Of The Earth THIS documentary sees Juliano Salgado follow in his famous father Sebastião’s footsteps, as he uses images to tell the photographer’s life story.

His father, now in his 70s, has witnessed the major conflicts, mass exoduses and human tragedies of the late 20th century, and this film calls on the viewer to think about what the human race does to the planet. Due for general release on July 3.

Antoniya Gerimpapazi

Unfriended A MIX of horror classics Carrie and I Know What You Did Last Summer, this film, directed by Levan Gabriadze, uses social media to make you think twice about opening that Facebook

Going east: Tom Hardy

S

TAFF Room has trodden the rocky path from disastrous pilot to internet hit.

The comedy series is squeezed into eight-minute episodes that follow two teacher friends as they skip classes, nurse hangovers and discuss everything but work.

Its co-writer, Ryan McDermott, collected ideas while working in schools and teamed up with old friend Adam Brown to create it.

But the pair failed to get funding for their first pilot.

‘Nobody wanted to make it, which is usually a sign not to do it,’ McDermott admitted. ‘So we said, “OK, we’ll make a pilot of this ourselves”.’

They raised just over £1,000 on crowdfunding website Kickstarter.

‘It wasn’t a lot of money but it was enough to get us going,’ said McDermott. ‘But then the pilot was a disaster. My agent

told us we needed to bury it in a time capsule so that nobody would ever find it.’

Determined not to bin the project, McDermott, who started making films when he was given a video camera aged 14, cut a three-minute trailer from the pilot footage, which got 25,000 hits online.

It attracted the attention of Comedy Central, which funded the team and now hosts the series on its website.

McDermott (pictured second from right with fellow cast members Zoe Lister, Adam Brown and Brian Capron) also stars in the series, filmed in Salford, Manchester.

It is aimed at people watching on their mobiles while travelling to and

from work and uni. ‘We had to learn how to be really serious writers,’ said McDermott.

‘We had to deliver these episodes that were really halfan-hour’s worth each and put them into eight minutes – and that was a challenge.’

An added pressure has been filming each episode in a day. ‘Nobody does that,’ said McDermott.

‘It was like a military operation to get it all done but at the same time we were literally having the best time – we became a big family.’

To anyone hoping to film their own comedy series, he said: ‘Know exactly what you are and exactly what you want to be.’ See Staff Room at www. comedycentral. co.uk.

Christina Sims

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March 2015

yourNIGHT

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foodBREAK

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

The magic of mince...

pepper. Scrunch together well with hands 3. Divide into 24 small balls.

Put them on a plate and coat with olive oil 4. Heat a large frying pan on a medium heat and add two tbsp olive oil. Stir in the onion until softened and colouring.

Then add the other clove of garlic and the chilli. When they colour, add several large basil leaves, tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Bring to the boil, season to taste and leave to simmer 5. Heat another large frying pan on a high heat and add two tbsp oil. Cook the meatballs for eight to ten minutes, frequently turning them until golden brown.

Check they are cooked by making sure there is no sign of pink inside. Once cooked, add to the tomato sauce and your choice of pasta Jes Needham-Bennet

IT IS the essential student ingredient – cheap, filling and easy to use. But, if all you can think to do with mince is to rustle up a spag bol, then think again...

Chorizo, beef and bean stew

Ingredients: 500g minced beef, 225g chorizo, can of red kidney beans, can of chopped tomatoes, two cups of beef broth, one large onion, four cloves of garlic, one large carrot (chopped), one potato (diced), one tsp smoked paprika, one tsp black pepper, half a lemon, salt to taste Method: 1. Heat the oven to 180C. In an oven-proof pot, heat the chorizo with a little bit of oil so it doesn’t burn.

When it starts sizzling, add onions and garlic and fry.

Once browned, add the beef

and chopped tomatoes 2. Cook in oven for one-anda-half hours 3. Add the beans, spices, carrot and potato. Continue cooking for one-and-a-half hours 4. Serve with boiled rice and green peas Jit Pal Meatballs

Ingredients: One heaped tbsp rosemary, one heaped tbsp oregano, one heaped tsp thyme, 12 cream crackers (smashed until fine), two tsp Dijon mustard, fresh basil, 500g minced beef or pork, one egg, olive oil, one medium

Tasty and quick: Chorizo, beef and bean stew and, inset, spicy south-west burgers

Spicy south-west burgers

PICTURE: BLYTHE LEWIS

onion (finely chopped), two large cloves garlic (crushed), half a red chilli (finely sliced), two cans of chopped tomatoes, one tbsp balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper

Method: 1. Put crackers and one clove of garlic in a large bowl with oregano, rosemary, thyme, mince and mustard 2. Crack an egg into the mix and season with salt and

Ingredients: 500g minced beef, one onion (diced), three mixed small peppers (diced), one small red chilli pepper (diced), one clove garlic (crushed), one tsp cumin, one

tsp coriander, ground black pepper to taste, two tbsp vegetable oil, two avocados, four burger buns, cheddar cheese (sliced), hot sauce Method: 1. Mix the mince, onion, peppers, chilli pepper, garlic, cumin, coriander, and black pepper in a large bowl. Knead with hands until all the vegetables and seasonings are incorporated into the beef 2. Separate the mixtures into four even pieces and roll each into a ball. Put on a plate, pressing on each with palm to flatten. Leave in the fridge for at least 15 minutes 3. Heat two tbsp of vegetable oil in a pan over high heat. When oil begins to shimmer, add patties to the pan. Cook for two to three minutes on each side 4. Remove patties from the heat and place on kitchen roll to remove excess oil. Transfer to buns 5. Halve the avocados and remove pits. Use a fork to crush half of the flesh while still in the skin, then transfer to the burger, using half an avocado for each burger 6. Top with hot sauce and sliced cheese Blythe Lewis

Download the GBK app to unlock your 30% Student Discount gbkapp.co.uk/uni

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competitionCORNER  YOU can win one of four Bulldog Skincare For Men kits – jam-packed with enough product to scrub yourself from head to toe. Each kit includes original shower gel, aftershave and moisturiser, all made from natural ingredients and no man-made chemicals

 TO celebrate the DVD release of WWII epic Fury, we are giving away copies of the film, along with a Fury T-shirt, tankard, hip flask and a special Sherman Tank Haynes Manual. Fury is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and for digital download

To enter these competitions, email your name, university and year of study to win@unipaper.co.uk

March 2015

23

Your chance to win fantastic tickets, trips and treats

tickets to N I W Outlook festival To enter, email your name, university and year of study to win@unipaper.co.uk

In the groove: Outlook festival takes place in a 2,000-year-old Roman fort

F

ANCY sailing around the Adriatic coastline and partying in a 2,000-year old amphitheatre in Croatia this September?

All you need to do is grab your bestie and some cheap �lights, and we’ll provide you with two tickets to Outlook festival in Stinjan.

The prize includes access to the festival’s camping area – so don’t forget to pack your tent pegs.

You’ll also get two tickets to the opening concert and a boat party of your choice.

Guests so far include Run The Jewels, Wiley, Boy Better Know, Goldie and Pete Rock. The event runs from Wednesday, September 2, to Sunday, September 6.

For all the details, take a peek at www.outlookfestival.com.

www.unipaper.co.uk

let’sTALK

March 2015 Relationship trouble? Sex worries? Feeling low? We’ve got wise words to set you right

Alice ask

treatment being a syringe to drain blood, I’d suggest you are better off sticking to your guns on this one, Aaron.

Danger: Taking tablets to boost your sex life can be risky

S

O... Student Finance doesn’t cover the summer. How have I only just found this out and what am I meant to do?!

Pia, Bristol Your final instalment will be slightly higher to account for the summer; however, you still have five months to get through between April and September. So, start applying for summer jobs now – and we aren’t talking about shelf-stacking. Go to Glastonbury with DC Site Services or head down under with Get Australia. If you want to stay closer to home, how about becoming a mentor with The Challenge or even staying in halls?

Most universities open them up as hotels during the summer and need all the hands they can get.

A

FTER Easter I have just two months left at university... need I say more.

Tom, Preston If there is one thing worse than the dissertation, it is the constant ‘so, what are you going to do when you finish university?’ – and this is before you’ve even got through finals. But, having said that, you need to start looking at graduate schemes and postgraduate bursaries now, or maybe even the possibility of extending your tenancy just a month or two longer to avoid a bout of graduation blues.

Graduating can be just as good as freshers was those three short years ago... but only if you have a game plan.

S

INCE when did Viagra become the one? Even my girlfriend is keen to try it out but I don’t see

the point in either of us taking it.

Aaron, Cardiff One in five 18- to 25-year-olds is necking the infamous blue pill but not for the reasons for which it

was originally intended. Much like poppers, Viagra has strayed into the recreational category. However, if you take it without prescription or purchase it online, you are

opening yourself up to a number of life-threatening and long-lasting complications – not to mention priapism. (That’s a persistent erection to you and I).With the

Struggling with your studies, wrestling with a relationship or is your social life at a standstill? If you need advice, email our agony aunt on askalice@unipaper.co.uk

Looking for a date?

Try this cheeky app Founder and director of CheekyBoo Ben Mitchell, 30, used to work at Barclays before an idea came to him about simplifying the online dating process. Thus, almost two years ago, the idea for the app was born. AYNSLEIGH HOLLYWOOD asks him whether we are losing the art of meeting Mr or Miss Right in the real world

E

VERYTHING happens online now. Do you think that enhances or diminishes real-life interactions?

It’s just the way of the world. It’s the reason for CheekyBoo and other likeminded apps – people don’t have time to go out and meet people as much as they used to. It’s handy to meet online and it’s only going to increase as technology advances.

Do you have any personal online dating experience?

I’ve been on dating sites in the past and I think CheekyBoo was born from the fact that I didn’t like what I saw. I wanted to strip out what I considered as gimmicks and simplify the process of online dating.

25

Where did the idea come from?

Just being out and about and thinking about new ways of meeting and interacting with people, rather than having to go through the awkward ice-breaker.

What work goes in to making an app of this sort?

I had to come up with design images to show how I wanted the app to look. You also have to do what’s called wire frames to design the actual pages themselves and work out how one page feeds into another page.

If you were explaining CheekyBoo to someone who hadn’t used it, what would you say to convert them?

I’d say the biggest selling

Date night: CheekyBoo and, inset, founder Ben Mitchell (left) point is its simplicity. There is no matching of databases behind CheekyBoo. There is no Facebook account needed so it is a standalone app.

With so many other dating apps, how do you stand out?

The fact that it is localised and the radar cannot be restricted or expanded – it is set to ten miles. We match people depending on whether you like their pictures or whether you like their bio. You only upload

nine photos and the bio is 140 characters.

Where do you see both the company and yourself in ten years’ time?

I would hope CheekyBoo would go global with millions of users worldwide.

Coming out can still be a concern I WOULD never tell you I’m gay unless you asked me.

In fact, I’m not even 100 per cent sure – but I can say I’m probably more gay than I am bi.

The thing is, you don’t just come out of your teenage years ‘knowing’ –you come out in stages. From there, you could say I’m coming out daily to people who are yet to ‘know’ me.

I have to trust someone before I tell them.

Safety is always my biggest concern in terms of what could happen if I show my affection to someone of the same gender.

You shouldn’t have to care what other people think – but, unfortunately, people resort to extreme measures of showing their disapproval.

Bobby Atkinson

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March 2015

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yourSPACE

Home or away? It’s up to you

L

IVING at home while studying certainly has its benefits. But will you be missing out on the full university experience?

There’s no right or wrong answer, so check out our pros and cons to help you decide.

Advantages of living at home 1. Lower costs – You will probably not be paying for rent, bills, food and other expenditures, so that gives you a little bit more spending money.

2. Good grub – If you aren’t much of a chef, home-cooked

meals are a luxury that you won’t have to give up. It’s much easier to concentrate after a good meal rather than beans on toast.

3. Peace and quiet – Unless your parents are party animals, it is unlikely that you will be woken up at 3am with a fire alarm going off or hearing drunk people in the street when you have a 9am lecture the next day.

Disadvantages of living at home 1. Distance learning – Travelling can be a pain and could stop you from going

Be close to those near you

Train in vain: Commuting to uni can make you late thanks to delays to lectures. If a seminar is cancelled or plans are changed at the last minute, it can also be tough to change your schedule.

2. Social cost – It can be hard to maintain friendships. By living at home, you are excluded from the student lifestyle, so trying to meet up with mates

outside of the university day can be a bit tricky – and getting home after a night out can be a total pain.

3. Over-reliance on parents – University is not all about your degree... learning life lessons is just as important.

Without having your parents to rely on, you

PICTURE: DAVID ROBINSON

quickly learn how to look after yourself.

4. Missing out – Being on campus is a great way to get involved in other university activities. From pop-up shops to job fairs, the campus has it all and you will probably miss out if you are stuck in the house.

Daisy Holden

GOOD neighbours can become good friends. So don’t ruin it by making their lives a misery.

Here are a few tips to maintaining a good relationship with those who live next to you.

1. Be considerate – Just because you enjoy singing along to loud music at 4.30am doesn’t mean your sleepy neighbours will.

2. Get to know them – A family with young children is likely to need peace at night, while if you live next to other students they will probably be more understanding.

3. Be friendly – A little kindness goes a long way, so offer to sign for parcels or even invite them round for a barbecue and drinks.

Laura Harcombe

student living the way you want it book your tour today!

expect more from your student accommodation Living at CLV Birmingham you’ll enjoy: > a great location with easy access to campus and city centre > on site facilities such as free gym and music practice rooms find out more or book a tour at:

> all inclusive rates – no need to worry about utility bills and council tax > choice of rooms – all with ensuite bathroom

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March 2015

yourSPACE

27

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

Ratting to ratings...

OWEN DIXON, who founded website Rate My Roof to identify good and bad student landlords, tells LUCY ROGERS how it all sprang from a run-in with a rodent

F

OR students across the country, the spring term is dominated by the scramble to secure a home for the following year.

But, in the rush to get somewhere with the right number of rooms, in a location that won’t mean an hour-long bus ride to lectures, many end up living in crumby conditions.

This is a problem business graduate Owen Dixon is aiming to tackle.

The 22-year-old set up Rate My Roof, a website that lets students review private accommodation, after a run-in with a rodent during his time at Durham University.

‘One time my housemate had to hit a rat with an umbrella in the living room,’

he said. ‘I was frustrated at all the bad student houses.

I wanted to make the market fairer and put the power back into student hands.’

Tenants can add properties to the website, listing whether utilities such as wi�i or bills are included and giving their own comments, as well as a star rating.

In the interests of fairness, the site also has a section that allows landlords to respond.

And, since setting it up, Owen has heard from students with even worse experiences than his rat battle.

One, from the University of Leicester, described how a tree blocked the entrance to his home. He claimed he also had to report the property to environmental health over a

faulty air �iltering unit, as well as serious damp and mould issues.

But Rate My Roof is more than just a collection of horror stories.

One student describes their home in Bristol as a ‘lovely, quirky �lat in an ideal location for Clifton Triangle and the

university’, while another writes: ‘Any problems we have had have been sorted straight away with the landlord.’

Despite facing problems with the original web developers when he started the site in 2014, Owen – who deferred his masters for a year to work on it – sees it

going from strength to strength.

‘I aim to have thousands of reviews from students all over the country, so that people are aware of what they are getting for what is one of their largest �inancial commitments at university,’ he added.

Calling out bad landlords: Owen Dixon

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March 2015

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studentLIFE

The best, the worst and the down-to-earth of being at university

Must-haves to make life a little bit easier FOR some, it is a well-stocked food cupboard – for others, a comfy bed and their favourite stuffed toy from home...

We ask what one item you need to survive life at university

A

PHONE: ‘It’s my alarm for early lectures – and my distraction when I really don’t want to be in those lectures.’ Jack, �irst-year history University of Leicester student A memory stick: ‘After losing a memory stick, I realised my life was over. Nothing backed up anywhere. I even contemplated moving out I was so devastated.’ Paul, third-year computer science University of Leicester student Caffeine: ‘If I didn’t have caffeine, I would never �inish my deadlines. In the week leading up to a deadline, I can drink a six-pack of energy drinks a day – not that I would recommend it!’ Katie, thirdyear pharmacy student at De Montfort University A microwave: ‘I tell my parents I cook all the time but sometimes I just want a cheap lasagne or something I can cook in under ten minutes.’ Eloise, second-year business management student at De Montfort University A bottle opener. ‘The most annoying thing is taking beer to a house party and not being able to �ind a bottle opener. I chipped my tooth in �irst year trying to do it with my teeth – it is a bad idea.’ Amy, second-year mathematics student at De Montfort University A dishwasher: ‘It saves time, effort and keeps the kitchen tidy – no arguments about washing up.’ Alex Jubb, University of Birmingham The clothes horse: ‘Simple, cheap and effective.’ AB Net�lix: ‘Great when you have done all your work and

exams are months away.’ AB Local off-licence: ‘Out of alcohol? Pop to the shops – problem solved.’ AB A greasy spoon: ‘Essential to help defeat the dreaded hangover.’ AB A multi-tool: ‘From the emergency bottle opener to the emergency furniture �ixer – it has it all.’ James Williams, University of Liverpool A multi-coloured pen: ‘Great for de�ining different notes and colour-coding your planner.’ JW A voice recorder: ‘Attend a lecture and fall asleep? Now you still have the notes.’ JW A tablet: ‘They’re more portable than laptops and just as handy.’ JW A �lask: ‘For the emergency hangover coffee and the get-me-through-this-essay friend.’ JW Tupperware: ‘Leftovers survive better in Tupperware than squeezed onto a plate and badly balanced in the fridge. Take lunch with you into uni – it is so much quicker and cheaper.’ Jes Needham-Bennett, University of Manchester Alarm clock: ‘Get an alarm clock – a loud one. Alarms on phones and watches can be unreliable, so it’s nice to have a back-up.’ JNB Berocca/Lemsip: ‘Berocca to make hangovers in 9am seminars more bearable, Lemsip for freshers �lu.’ JNB Blankets: ‘Heating a house through winter is expensive.

Throw some cheap blankets on your bed instead.’ JNB Deodorant: ‘When you’ve overslept after a party or from

Indispensable: (clockwise from top right) The stress can be taken out of university life with the help of a clothes horse, an off-licence, Netflix, a flask and a phone workload-induced exhaustion and don’t have time to shower before lectures, invest in industrial-strength deodorant.’ JNB First aid kit: ‘You never know when disaster will strike, so it’s handy to have a �irst aid kit on hand. Include things like paracetamol and don’t forget the usual bandages and plasters.’ Daniel Williams, Swansea University

Quick-�ix food: ‘Good examples are Pot Noodles or instant soups, which can help you when time is of the essence or you just want a break from cooking.’ DW Emergency money: ‘Try to keep some money aside for times of crisis. Even if you keep a �iver stuffed in a longlost part of your wallet or in the back of a drawer, you can always make sure you have

enough for a taxi or some emergency food.’ DW Memories: ‘Bring plenty of photographs of family and friends to keep yourself from becoming too homesick. Maybe even bring your favourite teddy bear from your childhood, or anything that you think will help you get through those long terms without seeing anyone from back home.’ DW

Take a Time Out or Boost your studies over Easter?

EASTER’S here and it’s time to relax and indulge in chocolatey goodness – but the break does mean the �inal deadlines of the semester are looming.

With this in mind, it’s natural to assume your

university commitments will have to take some sort of priority over the holiday period.

But there is no reason you can’t have a good time and get your work done, too.

Spend the �irst week

chilling and put work to the back of your mind.

Let yourself unwind and you’ll feel ready when the time comes to start your studies again.

Use the next couple of weeks to knuckle down

but don’t forget to give yourself a break.

Limit work time so you don’t stress out and make sure to see your friends – it is your holiday and you deserve it.

Kelly Smith

Where do you �it into the uni family?

YOUR housemates are your surrogate family, and although at times they make you want to pull your hair out, you couldn’t survive without them.

Everyone has their role in the house – so check out our guide to the university family and see where you and your friends fit in...

The mummy: Normally found cooking, gathering mould in her bed and singing Taylor Swift at the top of her voice when the rest of the house is hungover.

Quick to disapprove but always there when you need her.

The dad: Handy with a tool kit and happy to help out – not great on the dance floor though.

The twins: They could have been separated at birth.

They are scarily similar and have the same sense of humour.

The noise levels shoot up when these two go on a night out.

Younger sibling: Wants to be the centre of attention and can annoy the house a lot.

Makes a lot of noise when they don’t get their own way.

Crazy aunt: Always ready to party and gives good advice when you need it most.

Charity case: You’re not too sure where they came from but, after a few nights out in first year, they seem to have stuck around and become a permanent fixture on the sofa.

Quiet cousin: The one you’ll find in the uni library at 9am. They are timid and dedicated to their course but can help out when you are struggling with your coursework.

The pet: The most demanding of your housemates. Who said it was a good idea to get a pet? They moult, scratch the sofas and climb the curtains.

Lauren Knight

Student lettings and property management

Something to shout about

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Accredited / reputable landlords

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30

March 2015

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sportNEWS

Lions maul their city rivals in Lockdown MICHAEL WHYNOT and ALEX JUBB THE University of Birmingham Lions basketball team thrashed rivals University College Birmingham 74-45 in the first-ever Lockdown.

A fiesty first quarter saw both men’s sides clock five fouls after just five minutes of play. The Lions’ fast pace frustrated the opposition, with point guard Andy Salmon consistently finding gaps in the UCB defence.

The Lions’ superior fitness levels saw them dominate the first half – taking a 44-27 into the break.

This continued into the sec-

ond half and, despite assaults on both baskets near the end of the match, the Lions secured victory.

The second game of the event saw Birmingham Lionesses beaten by Loughborough II 75-68.

In the first quarter, Birmingham drew plenty of fouls, picking up points with a decent free-throw percentage.

But this was overshadowed by their surprisingly low accuracy within two feet of the basket.

The second quarter saw Birmingham adopt a full court press, which raised the energy in their favour.

Leading the way: Above, the UBSport Pussycat Cheerleaders and, right, Birmingham’s mascot In the third, the same struggles around the rim were compounded by sharp shooting from Loughborough, who increased the points gap to ten.

By the middle of the fourth quarter, the game was decided, as Loughborough continued to swing the ball

What a ball... sports societies celebrate THEY are usually found caked in mud and sweat – but Aston University’s sports teams scrubbed up well for the Aston Athletics Union Ball.

This year’s event was attended by both traditional teams and emerging groups, including surfing society Aston Wave and the Pole Dancing Society. The largest society, Aston Snow,

were there in force, taking up numerous tables and enjoying a steady flow of Prosecco.

The night ended badly for one Aston Bears Waterpolo member, who managed to rip his trousers during an enthusiastic dance move – leaving him with one trouser leg for the rest of the evening.

Elizabeth Couves and Joshua Benjamin Smart: Aston Snow

around the three-point line and nail open shots.

The two games formed part of Lockdown, which also included performances from UBSport Pussycat cheerleading squad and the University of Birmingham dance squad, all attended by a packed-out crowd.

Netball coming on leaps and bounds

PICTURE: SUNNY UBHI/FB

NETBALL is on the rise at Birmingham City University, according to society president Katie Andrews.

Speaking to TUP, she said: ‘We’re in a better place than last year. Our thirds are now in a better-suited league, the seconds have been dealing with a lot of injuries but are giving it their best and the firsts are enjoying great successes.’ The

top team is in a title fight against University College Birmingham, while the seconds are battling for fourth place, also against UCB. The thirds are sitting comfortably above relegation, a progression from last term.

First team captain Khadija Pemberton said: ‘I think we’ve had a great season, only losing two games in the league.’

Jonathon Russell

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March 2015

31

sportNEWS

Hopes for bigger varsity crowds as matches staggered TEAM BCU are con�ident of holding on to their varsity title as they prepare to face local rivals Sport Aston. The competition between different sports teams from the

Gold: Ashe Morgan

Archer shoots through record BREAKING a record made up for one or two broken bows for UoB’s archers. Ashe Morgan broke the BUCS record with a score of 594 out of a possible 600 at the BUCS indoor championships at Telford International Centre last month.

With large crowds, the venue became hot and many competitors struggled with dehydration.

However, Morgan seemed unaffected and his efforts won him gold in the men’s experienced category.

Team captain Sam Rees suffered a temporary setback at the start of the competition when his bow came apart, while novice Denver Barnett was also hit with an equipment failure halfway through the tournament. But his team did not suffer too much, winning a silver medal in their competition. The men’s and women’s experienced teams both came fifth, bringing home the BUCS points.

Bryony Peters

two universities will take place from March 23 to 25 – and this year matches will be staggered to encourage players to cheer on their fellow teams. Katie Andrews

of BCU netball gave a rallying cry, saying: ‘We won last year and we’ll win again.’ BCU football’s James Martin was less certain, however. ‘This season has been

great for both sides. The main thing is that both sides enjoy incredibly competitive matches against their rivals,’ he said.

Jonathon Russell

Victory at last... but it was muddy hard work

Double victory: Winner Jonny Hay

PICTURE: MORGAN BROWN

IT was a tough slog through the mud but the University of Birmingham men’s cross country team �inally beat rivals St Mary’s at the championships in Brighton.

Jonny Hay also won the individual gold, �inishing fractions of a second ahead of teammate Jonathan Davies on the demanding course.

Hay said: ‘Winning the men’s team title has been our main aim ever since I arrived at the university in 2011 – each year we have come second to St Mary’s. So, to win this year was a massive success – and a lot of teamwork went in to making sure it happened.

‘We knew our team was in serious form this year, with both myself and Jonny having run at the European Cross Country Championships in December.’

Tom Jervis, who �inished 15th in the individual race, said the team success was ‘probably the best feeling I’ve had from running’.

He added: ‘There are not many competitions in running where the team is the most important factor.

‘It was unexpected as I thought we were underdogs going into the race but in the end we won by a long way – the �irst male team victory in four years.’

The women held on to

UoB’s cross country runners enjoyed a gold medal rush, , including the men’s A team and women’s titles, at the BUCS Cross Country Championships, hosted by the University of Sussex. GEORGIA TINDALE speaks to team members Jonny Hay, Tom Jervis and Tessa McCormick the team gold, putting in a good all-round performance and swiping fourth, seventh and 12th places.

Tessa McCormick, who took the 12th spot individually, said: ‘Our rivals, Loughborough and St Mary’s, had strong teams this year, so it was our title to lose.

‘I was happy with how I performed. It was a tough, muddy and hilly course and not one I’m usually suited to.

‘Unfortunately, I fell during the �inal straight, losing three places, but I was thrilled to be a part of the winning team.’

This was chemistry masters student Hay’s last BUCS cross country event and he said winning the A team race was a great feeling.

‘Not having won the title since my �irst year made it even more special,’ he added.

The results at the January meet came after a lot of hard work. ‘Training is very intense,’ said Jervis. ‘But with a great group this year it makes things much easier.’

He is hoping to transfer his cross country form

to the track at both the BUCS outdoor track and �ield and the UK championships, while McCormick will be competing as a senior in the cross country inter-county championships for the �irst time.

The English nationals are also coming up.

attention all students

don’t assume you

you need to register yourself in order to be able to vote...

are registered

a

TE O V O RT

h c s ha

d

e ng

E

w o h

to

IST G RE

The new system is called individual electoral registration. it means: everyone has become responsible for registering themselves. you need to provide a few more details to register - your national insurance number and date of birth. this is to make the electoral register more secure.

register online now:

www.gov.uk/register-to-vote