The University Paper January 2015: Cardiff by The University Paper

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January 2015

CLEAN BANDIT NEIL ON STUDENT LIFE AND THE LONG SLOG TO SUCCESS

PAGE 9

THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS Justice is served: Students and staff from Cardiff University celebrate their successful bid to overturn Dwaine George’s conviction

ALEX NORTON

Innocent: Dwaine George

A FORMER gang member has had his murder conviction overturned after a group of campaigning Cardiff law students took up his �ight. Dwaine George served 12 years behind bars for the murder of Daniel Dale, 18, in 2001, before being released on life licence last year. But thanks to the Innocence

Students win murder appeal Project, a Cardiff University initiative that investigates miscarriages of justice, the Court of Appeal declared it was ‘no longer safe’ to assume he committed the crime. Law school innocence of�icer Bethan Gwillim-Thomas said she was ‘very pleased’ with the

result. ‘We are glad all the work students put in to the case over the years has in some way been rewarded,’ she added. ‘While we all have to remember someone was murdered and nothing will ever change that, it’s a good result for Dwaine and I’m very proud to

be a part of a project that has helped this to happen.’ Mr George has always denied any involvement with the killing of Mr Dale, who was shot days before he was due to give evidence at a friend’s murder trial. The 30-year-old, who was

PICTURES: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY/BBC

convicted on the basis of a small amount of gun residue, made a failed appeal in 2004. But students called on US-based �irearms expert Dennis McGuire, who submitted new technical evidence to show the residue was too small to have evidential value. About 30 students and staff members attended the appeal

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January 2015

The glamour geek Multi-talented: Alice Ford took the Miss Wales title while studying for a molecular biology degree

SHE is back in the laboratory after rubbing shoulders with the most glamorous women on the planet. Miss Wales Alice Ford, 22, a molecular biology student at Cardiff University, was whisked away to London last month to represent her country and vie for the Miss World title. The second-year from Cardiff, who hopes to follow a career in medical research when she graduates, took on

Alice back to her studies after shot at beauty title more than 120 beauty contestants representing all four corners of the globe. The participants battled it out in six challenges – beach fashion, beauty with a purpose, multi-media, sports, talent and top model – with points handed to the winners. Although the title went to

Parties to mark 150th birthday CELEBRATIONS will be taking place all this year to mark the 150th anniversary of Cardiff Metropolitan University. Highlights include a cathedral service and lunch, which will take place next month, and an alumni v students sports day in May. The institution has also invited current and former students to share their memories with the hashtag #CardiffMet150 or on by emailing 150years@ cardiffmet.ac.uk The institution started life as Cardiff School of Art in 1865, rebranding several times before settling on the name Cardiff Metropolitan in 2011. Alex Norton

Miss World whirl: Alice leaves home, arrives at her hotel, attends a Bond event and lines up with the other contestants

JOHN SHAW

South African, Rolene Strauss, Alice put in a strong performance in the sports category, where she placed fourth. The round saw the participants tested in a series of events, including the long jump, 60m sprint, bleep test, tug of war and relay race. Alice told TUP: ‘It was an

empowering, overwhelming, once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will remember forever. ‘I made friends with loads of girls from all over the world that I still keep in contact with and can say will be friends for life. It was South Africa who walked away with the crown, who thoroughly deserved it.

PICTURES: FACEBOOK

However the experience of the competition and spending four weeks with 125 strong, driven women from all over the world I, personally, think is the best prize.’ Now Alice, who describes herself as a blonde, blue-eyed, ambitious science geek, has returned to the realities of university. Spending up to eight hours in the laboratory plus hours of revision each night she tweeted to her followers: ‘Stuck in the library all day when all I want to do is go home and bake cakes.’

Guitar hero gets honour LEGENDARY rocker Roger Glover was recognised for his achievements in music by the University of South Wales. The bass player from Deep Purple was made an honorary fellow during graduation ceremonies last month. F1 engineer Dick Glover and Cardiff Blues chairman Peter Thomas were also recognised.

January 2015

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We’re hot on the heels of Oxford and Cambridge ALEX NORTON CARDIFF University is mixing with the big boys after celebrating a meteoric rise in the standard of its research. It was ranked fifth nationwide, climbing 17 places to break into what it called the ‘golden triangle’ of London, Cambridge and Oxford, in the latest Research Excellence Framework assessment. It was also the fastestimproving Russell Group university, with 87 per cent of its research achieving the gold standard of internationally excellent or higher. Vice-chancellor Prof Colin Riordan said: ‘This achievement marks us as a world leader and puts Cardiff on

the map. We are an extremely ambitious and innovative university and we are not afraid to set challenging goals.’ There was more good news for Cardiff with the city’s Metropolitan University seeing 78 per cent of its submitted work deemed internationally excellent or higher. It pushed the institution up 62 places in the ranking, making it the highest-rated post1992 university in the UK. Prof Sheldon Hanton, pro vice-chancellor for research, said: ‘At Cardiff Met we have a long history of close links with industry sectors and other stake-holders in the wider community. ‘The REF 2014 results for the impact of our research

outside academia are a ringing endorsement of these partnerships, and of the excellence of this aspect of our work.’ The University of South Wales doubled the amount of its research that was rated as world-leading since the last exercise in 2008 – with 12 per cent awarded the top mark. ‘This is a credit to our talented and dedicated researchers,’ said Prof Helen Langton, deputy vice-chancellor for academic development. ‘It demonstrates that USW is more than holding its own, and has maintained its position as one of Wales’s five major research active universities.’

GREEN ARMY: The Celtic Dragons netball team pose in their kits after the University of South Wales announced it was renewing its sponsorship for the 2015 season. Trish Wilcox, Welsh Netball’s head of elite performance, said: ‘To have a new, forward-thinking university supporting the Celtic Dragons is very exciting.’

contactLIST Email us at cardiffeditor@unipaper.co.uk EDITOR: JADE ATTWOOD News editor: Alex Norton Your place: Kirsty Fardell

Comment: Caroline Hodges Sports editors: Alex Miarli, Mustafa Hersi

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Head for this haven of cool A

MONG the endless charity shops and bargain stores of Cardiff’s Albany Road lies a hip hop lover’s paradise, Head Threads. It started as an online store in 2009 – but now creator Imran Bashir has finally bought his dream to life, securing a full store holding all of his hand-picked casual goods. Tucked away in Cardiff’s student-saturated Roath, the store has one of the widest and most exclusive ranges of caps and underground hip hop clothing in the city. As well as stocking the favourite brands every hip hop head or skater yearns for, such as New Era and Crooks and Castles, Head Threads also plays host to some fresh upcoming labels. Promoting homegrown UK fashion forerunners such as

Urban hip: Head Threads East London’s King Apparel and Jilted Royalty, the store offers Cardiff punters a unique opportunity to sample the best in current trends. Flicking through the racks, rare and one-off items are aplenty. This season sees the store offer Marvel-themed threads as well as exclusive babysized caps – a great gift for any super-fly youngster. On the endless snapback wall alone, every pattern,

style and colour combo is covered, complementing any hip hop casual wearer’s gear. Far from being a simple one-shop brand, Head Threads is also set to push its name farther afield, sponsoring the Welsh Beatboxing Championships. With the brand’s creator having ties throughout the music scene, the store is set to unite all elements of the underground culture. Pulling in the best in beatboxing and MC talents from across the city, the shop itself will become a place to showcase the cream of the hip hop crop. So if you want to avoid the crazy crowds of the city centre or are sick of trawling through online-only brand hauls, get yourself down to 32 Albany Road for the freshest and flyest urban fashion in Cardiff.

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January 2015

inBRIEF

Students serve up justice

Divisive issue: Students voted to reject a motion that would have meant a pro-choice union and a ban on members staging rallies outside abortion clinics

from p1 in London. The case was one of six submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission by the Innocence Project. Although this was the first where a conviction was overturned, other cases remain under legal consideration. Prof Julie Price, of Cardiff law school, said it was ‘a significant day’ for innocence projects. Mr George added: ‘I hope the Cardiff Innocence Project will get the recognition it deserves for this. I want to thank all those who helped me.’

Start-up boss to give advice A BUSINESSMAN who developed spelling software after living with dyslexia has a new role helping students. Cardiff University graduate Neil Cottrell, who started work on his product Global Autocorrect while still at university, will mentor students for the Entrepreneur In Residence scheme.

Rising stars of cosmic study EXPERTS from Cardiff University’s school of physics and astronomy have been honoured. Prof Steve Eales was awarded the Herschel Medal for helping solve the mysteries of far-off galaxies and Dr Haley Gomez got the Fowler Award for her work on space dust. Both are part of the Herschel Space Observatory.

PICTURE: CARDIFF SU

Union refuses to back abortion campaigner ALEX NORTON A BID to align a students’ union with a pro-choice stance on abortion has been thrown out. Women’s officer Rachel Melhuish campaigned to ban societies from protesting at abortion clinics or pro-life rallies under the Cardiff University Students’ Union banner. Rachel also proposed in a motion to the CUSU’s annual meeting that the union should establish itself as explicitly pro-choice. Her motion also said information on abortion given out on university or union grounds ‘must be unbiased and not shame those who choose to have abortions’. But those against the motion argued it would threaten free speech and political expression. The Catholic Society

threatened to leave the union if it was passed. The anti-abortion group Students For Life also spoke out against it. President Jonathan O’Connell said: ‘There are huge implications in enforcing a single ideology or political viewpoint across the whole student populace.’ Vice-president of education at the union, Ollie Wannell, said while he was prochoice, those on both sides of the argument should be heard on an equal basis. The motion was voted down by a clear majority at the meeting in November, although the exact numbers were not recorded. Rosie Inman, women’s officer for NUS Wales, said on Twitter: ‘Sad to hear Pro-Choice motion fell at #CardiffAGM, but incredibly proud of @RachMelhuish who spoke brilliantly and stood up for her beliefs.’

Mother: Turn yourself in

Victim: Nadine

THE mother of an ex-student found dead in a hotel room has pleaded with a man police are hunting to hand himself in. The body of Nadine Aburas, 28, was discovered at the Future Inn hotel in Cardiff Bay on New Year’s Eve and detectives are treating her death as murder. They want to find American

Sammy Almahri, who was with the former Cardiff University student at the hotel but is now thought to be in Tanzania. Addressing Almahri, Nadine’s mother, Andrea Aburas, said: ‘Please hand yourself into the authorities.’ She added: ‘Nadine was my baby – she was such a beautiful and kind-hearted girl.’

January 2015

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Big-name bands ALL IS HOKKEI AFTER TOUGH START embrace change and sign for gigs FOLLOWING a multimillion-pound refurbishment and rebrand, Cardiff University students’ union club is pulling in the big names. Y Plas, formerly known as Solus, now has a mezzanine balcony and a staircase from CF10 to the club to increase capacity, while the outdoor space has also had a redesign. In addition, the Taf has been refurbished. After controversial comic Dapper Laughs’ booking was cancelled last year

following a student-led protest over his material, which appeared to promote rape and sexual harassment, acts at the new venue have received a better reception. Indie rockers Embrace were met positively by critics last month, while metal band Enter Shikari’s show next month is already sold out. The venue is also due to host 1970s punk band The Stranglers and pop punks Four Year Strong in March. Alex Norton

They’ve got that One Thing THE world’s biggest boy band, One Direction, has added an extra tour date at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Delighted 1D fan Nadja Pike, a third-year English literature student at Cardiff University, managed to get three tickets to the show in June. She said: ‘It was like getting tickets for Glastonbury all over again. I had several tabs open on my phone, iPad and laptop.’ Lucy Guy

Back in business: Larkin Cen and Dale Williams PICTURE: ALEX LLOYD JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY

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Victory in battle to save campus ... well, kind of MEGAN DESMOND

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and high demand forced the pair to close the doors and regroup. Larkin said the issues have now been fixed and they can feed their eager customers. He added: ‘It was a heartbreaking decision to close temporarily but it was the right

A CAMPUS earmarked for closure has been given a stay of execution – allowing students to finish their degrees. The Caerleon campus, at the University of South Wales, was due to shut in September. But after protesters met university bosses, the date has been moved to summer 2016. Alex Heywood, a second-year music student, said: ‘I believe that the university agreeing to delay the

move for another year is a good thing. Existing students made a lifestyle choice moving to their area and its location is an important decider when choosing universities.’ Students reacted with anger in November last year after USW published a list of courses that were to change location over the next two years. Those based at the Newport, Caerleon and Treforest campuses held a meeting with university bosses to fight the decision. A protest march over the

closure of the century-old campus was also held. Drew Burman, student union president for Caerleon, said: ‘To hear that the university has finally taken students’ views and opinions into consideration by allowing them to finish at Caerleon is a great success. ‘It’s by no means the end of the battle, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.’ No new 2015/16 students will be starting their courses at the campus and current students will continue to fight to save Caerleon.

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January 2015

Denied a No.1 but tops for charity ALEX NORTON AS WITH so many musical dreams, it was shattered by the X Factor machine. Music lecturer Robert Molcher was longing for a Christmas No.1 if only to raise money in memory of a former bandmate. But the part-time lecturer at the University of South Wales and his band, The Scooters, had to settle for hitting No.2 in the iTunes rock charts. Top spot in the charts, as in

so many years, went to an X Factor winner, Ben Haenow. However, Robert and his band raised £3,000 for South Wales bereavement charity 2 Wish Upon A Star. Bass player Robert enjoyed success on both sides of the Atlantic with The Scooters before the band broke up in 2004. However, they were brought back together by the death of former guitarist Anthony Carey. They re-released early single Paperback to raise funds

On song: Robert Molcher, inset, and his band The Scooters released singles for charity for the charity, receiving plaudits on social media. It sold well, reaching No.15 on the iTunes rock charts. This success convinced the band to reissue a 14-yearold single, Bones 2 Ashes, on December 15 and they saw it

JOSH PITCHES UP Hain: We

peak on its day of release at No.2 on the iTunes rock chart. Mr Molcher told TUP: ‘Anthony’s nephew died when he was only two-and-a-half and his family found it really hard to cope as there was no place for bereaved parents

of young children. When Anthony died in August, although we hadn’t played for ten years, a way to cope with our loss was to do something to keep our minds off it and re release a record. ‘We did have aspirations to

get back together and record something this year, we were in the process of writing new material. But Anthony was the centre of attention in The Scooters so it’d be silly to do anything under that name without our main man.’

will never beat ISIS

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Attacked: Francesca was depressed for a week after the incident PICTURE: CRAIG LEIPNER

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have more mess. We and see the homes being behind the and more family (multiple who was against into HMOs student the Player, said she was not converted and a year for motion, the current occupancy houses) courses. but said ‘We pay £9,000 students doing our are going up. on any privilege of to suggest that we system was unfair. the students blocks a big loophole and making they will pass or It is time lodgers. the fear is, ‘It is people of It’s ridiculous cost to their ‘Either landlords the councillor, landlords a lot of money. additional student said: are somehow depriving ’ said nd. should pay, tax in One 20-year-old Westmorela to have a debate.owners not being exempt money.’ bills of to pay council asset to students areand land- who represents are facing ‘If you have no council tax in ‘Why are the a valuable Full-time tax STUDENTS £2,000 a year after ‘Students are ward they do not versus choose to from paying council turn to p5 inves- Bath one will more than paying business Bath but in my of that contribuagreed to Bristol, no into also escape in Bath. landlords Bath councillors see the bene�it a year lords on properties converted hear the noise can chase come to university rates to pay £2,000 dwellings. instead they tigate if theyrates. ‘We’d have as a household, just multiple occupancy June tion; stubusiness for t councillor plan to pursue in council tax,student house.’ Independen Although a for council tax was to live in our Spa student added: dents directlycouncil seems likely And a Bath And defeated, the their landlords. target to

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Dreams: Final year law student Rebecca Edward, 22

worse. ‘I proceeded to push CRAIG LEIPNER him off and told him not to me,’ Francesca said. A STUDENT has spoken of touch ‘He then asked me if I was being sexually ordeal at ‘I proceeded to push with a CRAIG LEIPNER her worse. of Edinburgh’s foreign and I replied assaulted him in offone and told him not tart to “No” and reiterated that I hangouts. popular A STUDENT has spoken ofmosttouch me,’ Francesca said. me alone. Penny, who is wanted him to leave her ordeal at being sexually Francesca ‘He then asked me if I was‘This seemed to enrage him English at Napier assaulted in one of Edinburgh’sstudying foreignwas andattacked I replied with because a the next thing I knew in the University, most popular hangouts. tart “No”while and reiterated I had me in a tight bearhug celebratingthathe hours move, and he Francesca Penny, who isearlywanted him to leave me alone. a friend’s birthday at the Hive. so I couldn’t tell me that I to studying English at Napier ‘This seemed to enrage him The fourth-year student proceeded University, was attacked in the because next thing I knew “Should be foreign because I nightclub’s in the was dancing the early hours while celebratingalternative he had room me inatathe tight bearhug was f***ing hot”.’ time. man then told Francesca a friend’s birthday at the Hive. ‘Itsowas The I couldn’t move, and he so pretty crowded The fourth-year studentit wasn’t proceeded to tell me that he I hated her before physically for people unusual her. to attacking was dancing in the nightclub’spushing “Should because I the crowd pastbeinforeign ‘He let go and I turned round alternative room at the time. accidentally was f***ing hot”.’you,’ said touch ‘But said. she ’ him, confront to waived ‘It was pretty crowded so Francesca, The man thenhas told Francesca who my it wasn’t unusual for people herhe hated her before physicallyhe aggressively groped to anonymity. right pushing past in the crowd to ‘While attacking her. with a group right breast and proceededI dancing club when a white accidentally touch you,’ said of friends, I noticed ‘He let go and I turned roundto run out of the he‘Butlunged after him. I had to leave me, Francesca, who has waived male to confront him, ’ shebut said. push past liking. mythe Hive after that because I too close for my her right to anonymity. hefaraggressively groped was small was so distressed.’ on the hand and ‘While dancing with a group Heright had his breast proceeded felt ‘quite Francesca said in I EDWARD andofwas JONES backout myrun of friends, I noticed a white of to thepushed club when afterthe north-east for a ’ I had to leavedepressed for a week few exposed both me. against male push past me, but he right lunged after him. weeks when were put on reported the assault’ but were theuniversities manTWO thebecause askedthat at with a fever she went down alert, although was far too close for my liking. Francesca the Hive after theI centre of a meningitis no other and vomiting. her alone’ but his leave cases have been reported. He had his hand on the small towas so distressed. scare after a studentturn to p5Her brother, Jeffrey the situation Elvin, made said Newcastle of my back and was pushed in reaction Francesca felt ‘quite from the infection died claims the 22-year-old University Nor- said every within thumbria right against me.’ depressed for a week after year meningitis days of being taken Uni law degree ill. awareness events Francesca asked the man the assault’ but reported the student was sent Nine people who were held home came from to leave her alone but his into contact with hospital with only for new students. Rebecca turn toEdward p5 Housemate reaction made the situation Venothani were offered anti- medication to treat �lu. She Rajagopal was dead within two said: ‘Rebecca biotics in case they days. had had many dreams With large numbers tracted the condition. conand one of of them was students and staff Ms Edward, from at both icient money to save suffMalay- Northumbria sia, had only been to get an air and Newcasback in tle universities potentially

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Attacked: Francesca was depressed for a week after the incident PICTURE: CRAIG LEIPNER

FORMER Welsh Secretary Peter Hain used a visit to the University of South Wales to warn that the West cannot beat ISIS. Speaking at the school of humanities and life sciences, he said only regional governments in the Middle East could find a solution to the Islamic fundamentalists. The MP for Neath also advised against Western intervention without careful consideration of the long-term consequences. Alex Norton

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January 2015

Caught by curse of social media BEN SAUNDERS-COURT SOCIAL media is as much a defining characteristic of our generation as the ‘war on terror’, Banksy and X Factor. In 20 years when you’re watching Liam Payne and Alex Turner on I Luv 2017, reminiscing over the birth of Facebook you will understand its scope. Your grandchildren will look up at you with their cherubic faces and ask: ‘Nana, did you really store all your personal information in the cloud and willingly put your photographs, birth date, phone number and address on a public forum?’ and you’ll reply, ‘Yes my little love’. ‘But why Nana?’ they’ll ask, and you’ll think about it and sigh, ‘because they told us it

would be fun’. That’s the truth, isn’t it? We post our most personal secrets online for everyone to see because we believe it is fun. We are told that it is the future. But this idea has worked a little too well. It has become ingrained in us. A couple of years ago people would talk about how beneficial it was to leave your phone off for a few days and have a little technological holiday. Nobody says that any more. We panic if they we haven’t checked Facebook for a couple of hours. Factor in Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp and you realise that something fundamental about our relat ionship with social media has changed. We have lost our sense of perspective. We have

closed off the emergency exits and wholeheartedly bought into the information age. We can’t even pin the badge of blame on the anonymous ‘they’. If ‘they’ jumped off a cliff would you follow? Maybe if it would get you a couple of extra levels on Angry Birds? The truth is that ‘they’ are, in fact, us. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram is all just software. We have lapped it up. You use these sites because your friends do. You got rid of Myspace because your friends did. We are changing our own constitutions, altering our physiology. That’s why you panic when you can’t feel your phone in your pocket or Instagram won’t refresh. We have blinded ourselves into believing that this is for the best.

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

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talkingPOINTS WRONG IMAGE: How much of your food intake is dictated by how it makes your body look? How many desserts do you dismiss because they’ll only taste like guilt? How much of your time and energy is taken up thinking about what you look like and how you can change it? This attitude has become the infectious disease in our society that the NHS has yet to immunise against. It is the black plague of the 21st century Kathryn Thomson

JOIN THE FRAT PACK: Many of us have heard of frats and sororities through films such as American Pie. They have mad names such as kappa phi delta, throw toga parties, cause havoc across the campus and drink beer like it’s water. The bit the movies leave out is the good that fraternities do for their universities. Members have to do at least ten hours’ charity work, they need to get above-average grades and the fraternity is expected to compete in a sporting league. Fraternities are much more than just parties – they are a way to make great contacts and, once you are in, you are in for life Elliot DaCosta

WHY BORING IS BAD: The great Marilyn Monroe once remarked that ‘it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than boring’. This is a lesson every student should learn. By now your flatmates probably reckon that they have a pretty good idea of who you are. Frankly, this is not acceptable. They should not feel safe or comfortable in your presence; they should feel nervous excitement whenever they see you Jack Meggitt-Phillips

PICTURE: JESSICA LAIL

MEDIA MYTHS: Being a media student is tough. It really is. There’s this stigma with being a media student because people think it’s a joke subject where we are ‘glorified camera operators’. It’s as if we all congregated together to do a media degree for lack of something better and that we probably wouldn’t be intelligent enough to be lawyers, doctors, teachers or physicists anyway Anna Landi

DASHED DREAMS: Every year the job market is flooded with graduates, fresh-faced and full of ideas about changing the world. ‘I want to be an environmental lawyer’ they cry; ‘I’m going to work with under-privileged kids,’ they shout. Check back three months later. Living back at home, their driving desire is just to find a job… any job. Sporting an ill-fitting Marks and Spencer suit they join the line of other graduate interviewees, beginning the process of becoming dead behind the eyes. They join the world of the depressed office worker, living for the increasingly s*** weekend in which cool uni friends have been replaced by bloated fortysomething colleagues promising a long and fruitful career in paperwork management Joe Evans

LACK OF RESOLVE: We’ve all done it. We’ve all had the thought: ‘This year I’m going to be different’. We will try to convince ourselves that we’ll change in the new year. Resolutions about being focused at university, making more effort with friends or changing our lifestyle are made, and broken, at the year’s end. Let’s be honest – we all stick to our resolutions for about as long as it takes for the new year fireworks to finish Kelly Smith

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January 2015

theINTERVIEW: Neil Amin-Smith Uni survivors: Clean Bandit members Neil Amin-Smith, far right, with Luke and Jack Patterson and Grace Chatto

Rather talented N

EIL AMIN-SMITH has to apologise for being late. It is the day after the night before, when Clean Bandit proved one of the highlights at the BBC Music Awards, winning another legion of fans with an orchestral version of Rather Be and breakthrough hit Mozart’s House. All is forgiven, though, as he laughs it off, explaining he was at an afterparty in Mayfair: ‘Sorry about that – I’m actually usually really good at getting up.’ We feel his pain. After all, he’s talking to students; we’ve all tried this little white lie when we’ve stumbled into a lecture an hour late smelling of the SU. Amin-Smith, 25, is still on a high after being nominated for song of the year, despite being pipped by Pharrell Williams’ ubiquitous

THEY are the breakthrough act of 2014, a year crowned with No.1 hit Rather Be. Clean Bandit’s fusion of classical and electronica has won them adoring fans worldwide and a nod at the BBC Music Awards. Violin player Neil Amin-Smith tells CAVELLE SIMPSON and JOSHUA EVANS about the slog to the top and surviving university ditty Happy. ‘It was amazing to be nominated,’ he says. ‘The list of songs and the list of artists to have been nominated are so huge.’ Since entering the spotlight with Mozart’s House, his band – Jack Patterson, 28, on beats, synths, and midi-saxophone; his little brother, Luke, 22, on drums; and Grace Chatto, 29, on cello – have been unstoppable. The story of the Cambridge undergrads who went from classical quartet to dance floor darlings is becoming familiar as they sweep up the accolades, including for their No.1 hit Rather

Be, featuring Jess Glynne. But how did the partnership come about? Amin-Smith says: ‘We actually had the whole song finished for a long time. It was just looking for the right vocals. Our label played us a track that Jess was on and we thought we’d give it a go with her because she was on our level.’ It proved a wise choice, hurling the four-piece to the top of the charts. But fame took time. ‘It was kind of a long slog,’ he adds. ‘The thing that really made a difference with us was when we started making music videos and posting them online.’ His group

INSIDE: What’s on in your city P10-13

are known for drawing on genres from classical to deep house. ‘Jack listens to a lot of jazz,’ Amin-Smith goes on. ‘We all listen to different kinds of music, like garage. In terms of how we present ourselves live, people like Rudimental are influencing us a lot.’ They are also the ultimate university survivors, having formed at Jesus College, where Jack would record then-girlfriend Chatto’s recitals and remix them. Any advice on how to get through university? ‘Don’t see it as something you have to “get through”,’ Amin-Smith smiles. ‘It’s over far too quickly.’

Did they have their wild moments, like the rest of us? He pauses for a second, before chuckling: ‘Grace and Jack once got caught… um, together… in a cupboard at our college library.’ Most of us have our favourite uni party venues. Amin-Smith prefers a more intimate set-up: ‘I like small clubs. I’m not really into massive super-clubs.’ For Clean Bandit, life after uni has been pretty sweet – and they’re not slowing down. ‘We’ve come to the end of a really relentless touring period,’ Amin-Smith says. ‘In March, we’ve got our biggest-ever UK tour. We’re really looking forward to that.’

Clean Bandit play 02 Academy, Birmingham, on March 9, 02 Academy, Glasgow, on March 10 and Apollo, Manchester, on March 11

Rae Morris: Don’t be shy, chase your dream P14

January 2015

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clubbingCALENDAR mon, jan 19 Bump and Grind, Buffalo, tickets £3 MNT, Tiger Tiger, tickets £3-£5 The Fest, Glam, tickets £3 This Is Bass, Pryzm, tickets £2

tue, jan 27 Sync, Revolutions, tickets £4 Knee Socks, Buffalo, free No Dange, 10 Feet Tall, tickets £5

wed, feb 4

tue, jan 20 Sync, Revolutions, tickets £4 Knee Socks, Buffalo, free The Scoundrel Club, 10 Feet Tall, tickets £5

Hullabalooza, The Full Moon, free TNT, Walkabout, tickets £4

Shotgun Rules, Revolutions, tickets £4

Trend, Glam, tickets £4

thurs, feb 5

Stylish upgrade: Ladybird has moved to a smart new basement location

WTF, Retro, tickets £4

Best beats go underground

Shotgun Rules, Revolutions, tickets £4

Trend, Glam, tickets £4

thurs, feb 12 TNT, Walkabout, tickets £4 Trend, Glam, tickets £4

thurs, jan 29

WTF, Retro, tickets £4

TNT, Walkabout, tickets £4

Hullabalooza, The Full Moon, free

Shotgun Rules, Revolutions, tickets £4

Yolo, Y Plas, tickets £3

Hullabalooza, The Full Moon, free

Mary’s Street is the latest home to celebrated electro dance night C-Y-N-T, which has moved to Fridays,. Or, if hip hop and r‘n’b are more your thing, give C.R.E.A.M on Mondays a try – it serves up the best old-skool hits and garage anthems. Jade Attwood

WTF, Retro, tickets £4

wed, jan 28

Yolo, Y Plas, tickets £3

BORED of the same old club nights? Looking for the best in techno, trance and drum ‘n’ bass? Then head underground to the relocated Ladybird, one of the capital’s favourite independent clubs. The new basement venue, with its edgy, exposed decor in St

wed, jan 21 Yolo, Y Plas, tickets £3

fri, feb 6 Smack, DC, tickets £4 C-Y-N-T, Ladybird, tickets £4 Studio, Soda, tickets £4 Antisocial, Glam, tickets £4 Zerox, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £4

fri, feb 13 Smack, DC, tickets £4 C-Y-N-T, Ladybird, tickets £4 Studio, Soda, tickets £4 Antisocial, Glam, tickets £4 Zerox, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £4

sat, feb 14 Flux, Y Plas, tickets £4 SOS, Bunker, tickets £4 Solution, Ladybird, tickets £5 Dirty Pop/Mr Potter/Vinyl Vendettas, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £5

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January 2015

clubbingCALENDAR thurs, jan 22 Hullabalooza, The Full Moon, free TNT, Walkabout, tickets £4 Trend with Wretch 32, Glam, tickets £4

fri, jan 30 Smack, DC, tickets £4 C-Y-N-T, Ladybird, tickets £4 Studio, Soda, tickets £4 Antisocial, Glam, tickets £4 Zerox, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £4

sat, feb 7 Flux, Y Plas, tickets £4 SOS, Bunker, tickets £4 Vice, Ladybird, tickets £5 Dirty Pop/Mr Potter/Vinyl Vendettas, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £5

sun, feb 15 Sunday Project, 10 Mill Lane, free Soda Sundays, Soda, tickets £4

fri, jan 23 Smack, DC, tickets £4 C-Y-N-T, Ladybird, tickets £4 Studio, Soda, tickets £4 Antisocial, Glam, tickets £4 Zerox, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £4 Abyssal Audio & Friends, 10 Feet Tall, tickets £tbc

sat, jan 31 Flux, Y Plas, tickets £4 SOS, Bunker, tickets £4 Vice, Ladybird, tickets £5 Dirty Pop/Mr Potter/Vinyl Vendettas, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £5

sun, feb 8 Sunday Project, 10 Mill Lane, free Soda Sundays, Soda, tickets £4

sat, jan 24 Flux, Y Plas, tickets £4 SOS, Bunker, tickets £4 Vice, Ladybird, tickets £5 Dirty Pop/Mr Potter/Vinyl Vendettas, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £5

sun, feb 1 Sunday Project, 10 Mill Lane, free Soda Sundays, Soda, tickets £4

sun, jan 25 Sunday Project, 10 Mill Lane, free Soda Sundays, Soda, tickets £4

MNT, Tiger Tiger, tickets £3-£5 The Fest, Glam, tickets £3 This Is Bass, Pryzm, tickets £2

MNT, Tiger Tiger, tickets £3-£5 This Is Bass, Pryzm, tickets £2

mon, feb 2 Bump and Grind, Buffalo, tickets £3 MNT, Tiger Tiger, tickets £3-£5

tue, feb 3 Sync, Revolutions, tickets £4 Knee Socks, Buffalo, free

The Fest, Glam, tickets £3 This Is Bass, Pryzm, tickets £2

mon, feb 9 Bump and Grind, Buffalo, tickets £3 MNT, Tiger Tiger, tickets £3-£5

tue, feb 10 Sync, Revolutions, tickets £4 Knee Socks, Buffalo, free

tues, feb 17 Sync, Revolutions, tickets £4 Knee Socks, Buffalo, free

wed, feb 11 Yolo, Y Plas, tickets £3 WTF, Retro, tickets £4 Shotgun Rules, Revolutions, tickets £4

This Is Bass, Pryzm, tickets £2

Bump and Grind, Buffalo, tickets £3

Bump and Grind, Buffalo, tickets £3 The Fest, Glam, tickets £3

The Fest, Glam, tickets £3

mon, feb 16

mon, jan 26

weds, feb 18

thurs, feb 19

Yolo, Y Plas, tickets £3

Hullabalooza, The Full Moon, free

WTF, Retro, tickets £4

TNT, Walkabout, tickets £4

Shotgun Rules, Revolutions, tickets £4

Trend, Glam, tickets £4

January 2015

www.unipaper.co.uk

what’sON comedy January 16: MARK MAIER + DANNY MCLOUGHLIN + DANIEL SLOSS, Glee Club, tickets £5-17.50 January 23: ROB HUGHES + OWEN O’NEIL + DARREN HARRIOT + CARL HUTCHINSON, Glee Club, tickets £5-15 January 23: HENRY WIDDICOMBE, tickets £6 January 24: ROB HUGHES + OWEN O’NEIL, DARREN HARRIOT, CARL HUTCHINSON, Glee Club, tickets £5-17.50 January 29: COMEDY CAROUSEL + CLINT EDWARDS + PAUL THORNE + MATT REES, Glee Club, tickets £5-17.50

others January 12 to 18: ICE STORM EXHIBITION, Millennium Centre, free January 14 to 24: TOP HAT, Donald Gordon Theatre, tickets £18-45 January 20: STORYTELLING IN THE YURT, Milgi, free February 2-11: FAULTY TOWERS: A DINING EXPERIENCE, FFresh Restaurant, tickets £45-55 February 7-22: ONE MAN, TWO

DO YOU

January 30: ERIC LAMPERT + MATT RICHARDSON + PAUL THORNE + MATT REES, tickets £5-15

Cheer up your new year with a chuckle

January 31: ERIC LAMPERT + MATT RICHARDSON + PAUL THORNE + MATT REES, tickets £5-17.50 February 8: RUSSELL KANE, Glee Club, tickets £13.50 February 10: JOSIE LONG, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £12 February 16: NICK HELM & DAVID TRENT, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £10 February 17: CAPTAIN HOTKNIVES + COSMO, Moon Club, tickets £5 February 21: OMID DJALILI, St David’s Hall, tickets £23 GUVNORS, New Theatre, tickets £11-33 February 9: WELSH NATIONAL OPERA CHORUS, Donald Gordon Theatre, tickets £5-40 February 10-23: RICHARD III, The Void, tickets £9-12 February 13-28: WELSH NATIONAL OPERA: THE MAGIC FLUTE, Donald Gordon Theatre, tickets £5-40 February 19 to March 7: CROUCH, TOUCH, PAUSE, ENGAGE, Sherman Theatre, tickets £12-25 February 21-27: WELSH NATIONAL OPERA: HANSEL AND GRETEL, Donald Gordon Theatre, tickets £5-40

Cheeky chappy: Russell Kane is set to brighten up a grey February

KNOW

THE INSIDE

T R AC K O N

CAMPUS?

FEBRUARY seldom brings a smile to anyone’s face. But one man who could help you beat that depressing ‘new year’s over’ feeling is Edinburgh Comedy awardwinner Russell Kane. Following a string of TV appearances, including Live At The Apollo, the cheeky chappy from Essex has become one of the nation’s most recognisable comedians. His latest tour sees him share the stage with some of the finest up-and-coming performers. Joining him at The Glee Club in Cardiff Bay on Sunday, February 8, will be Scottish funnyman Iain Stirling and queen of circuit comedy Suzy Bennett. Tickets cost £13.50, or a mere tenner with an NUS card.

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

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January 2015

what’sON music

January 13: PAOLO NUTINI, Motorpoint Arena, tickets £25 January 14: J MASCIS, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £11 January 15: FIRST AID KIT, St David’s Hall, tickets £25 January 17: THE SMYTHS (TRIBUTE), The Globe, tickets £22 January 18: MOOSE BLOOD, The Plan, tickets £7 January 20: B. TOMMY ANDERSSON, BBC Hoddington Hall, tickets £10-12 January 21: THE WEEKS, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £12.50 January 22: PAUL CARRACK, St David’s Hall, tickets £28.50 January 22: WITHIN THE RUINS, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £8 January 23: T’PAU, The Globe, tickets £17.50 January 24: BLOOD LIPS, Dempseys, tickets £4 January 24: SLIPKNOT + KORN, Motorpoint Arena, tickets £10 January 24: JULIAN COPE, The Glove, tickets £9 January 25: NAZARETH, The Globe, tickets £17 January 25: GERAINT JARMAN + PLU, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £12.50 January 26: NECK DEEP, Motorpoint Arena, tickets £10.50 January 29: KIZZY CRAWFORD, The Plan, tickets £5 January 30: SAVE YOUR BREATH, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £7 January 31: SAM BAILEY, St David’s Hall, tickets £29.50 January 29: BIG MAC’S WHOLLY SOUL BAND, The Globe, tickets £10 February 3: CHARLIE SIMPSON, The Globe, tickets £15 February 4: COLLABRO, St David’s Hall, tickets £19.50 February 4: SONGHOY BLUES, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £6 February 4: ASWAD, The Globe, tickets £20 February 9: YOU ME AT SIX + ALL TIME LOW, Motorpoint Arena, tickets £29 February 11: JACK SAVORETTI, The Globe, tickets £13 February 12: THE WAVE PICTURES, The Moon Club, tickets £8 February 13: KERRANG TOUR 2015, Cardiff Students’ Union, tickets £16.50 February 13: THE CRAIG CHARLES FUNK AND SOUL CLUB, The Globe, tickets £14 February 13: SUMMER GHOST, HONISTER PASS, LOAM FIELDS & HORSES, Dempseys, tickets £4 February 14: TOYAH, The Globe, tickets £17

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

Market stalls to turntables Off Piste Cardiff Winter Festival, Splott Warehouse

FULL of rowdy market traders during the day, Splott Warehouse is usually the place to find locals hunting for a bargain. But after filling it with ravers and setting the stage with a host of star names, the transformation into alpine ski resort for the Off Piste festival was complete. The day of dance began with Cardiff favourite Gavin Woo and charttopper DJ Fresh. As night fell, the lasers descended and the bass was cranked up a notch to welcome AlunaGeorge to the stage. The electronic duo, made up of Aluna Francis and George Reid, crammed in every one of their

Fresh to the market: Headliner DJ Fresh had the crowd jumping PICTURES: JOSHUA ROWLANDS

hits and collaborations, finishing on their most famous offering, White Noise – much to the crowd’s delight. Next came Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe. Known for his versatility, he didn’t hold disappoint, jumping seamlessly from genre to genre. Rounding up the night was Lewis Jankel, aka Shift K3Y. His selfproduced tracks were further enhanced by his live vocals in an incredibly smooth set that attested his talent. With a final flourish of fake snow, the speakers dulled and the lights went up – but it was clear no-one wanted the night of incredible music to end. Jade Attwood

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Hiting the high notes: Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge February 15: BEAR’S DEN, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £12 February 16: THE STAVES, Glee Club, tickets £12.50 February 17: ENTER SHIKARI, Cardiff Students’ Union, tickets £19.50 February 17: 10CC, St David’s Hall, tickets £29.50-32.50 February 17: CHELSEA GRIN/ VEIL OF MAYA, CF10, Cardiff Students’ Union, tickets £11 February 17: TOUNDRA, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £9

February 19: FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £9 February 19: MONOMYTH, Moon Club, tickets £4 February 21: CLOUDBUSTING (KATE BUSH TRIBUTE), The Globe, tickets £10 February 21: SIMIAN GHOST, Clwb Ifor Bach, tickets £6 February 22: KING CHARLES, The Globe, tickets £12

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A full version of our interview with Rae Morris appears at www.unipaper.co.uk

I took opportunities... even the bad ones M

OST people were �irst introduced to Rae Morris as the ethereal voice on Bombay Bicycle Club’s single Luna last year. But her loyal fans have been appreciating her music since she set out on the road to stardom three years ago. The 22-year-old’s debut album, Unguarded, will be released later this month before she heads out on tour. TUP caught up with her to �ind out more. Is there a different process when producing an album, as opposed to working on EPs and singles? Mentally, I knew I had to create a whole body of work. So, I was quite nervous at �irst, but the producer just said: ‘Look, don’t be scared – because what’s the

worst thing you can do?’ Would you say your hometown of Blackpool has been a positive place for you as an emerging artist? Absolutely. I think the good thing about Blackpool is that because it’s so small, it makes you stand out a little more. I realised at the time that if I was in London coming on to the scene and playing open mic nights, it’s musically so vast and such a big city that it’s easy to get lost. Does the media compare you to your contemporaries and do you �ind that a problem? I’ve never really had a problem with being compared to the people I’m in a peer group with. I’m a massive Kate Bush fan,

so often people say about my music, ‘that sounds a bit like Kate Bush’. And obviously that’s not true. I am inspired by her – but I don’t sound like her. What would be your advice to young artists struggling to get their music heard? Take the opportunities. I don’t mean be desperate or sell yourself or anything like that – I just mean never say no to anything just because it doesn’t sound great. I took a lot of gigs where I was like, ‘Oh, gosh, I’m not sure – I don’t think it’s going to be a good one’. And then you get there and it happens to be the best gig you ever played. Mollie Carberry

theBEAT Star in the making: Rae Morris has her ﬁrst album out this month

tourDATES Catch Rae on tour: February 1, Kazimier, Liverpool; February 3, King Tut’s, Glasgow; February 4, The Wardrobe, Leeds; February 5, The Institute, Birmingham; February 6, Gorilla, Manchester; February 14, The Thekla, Bristol; February 15, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

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theBEAT

January 2015

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

Inspired by dad’s wisdom I

T’S a mantra we would all do well to follow: Always do what will make you happy. For rising star Billy Lockett, the words of his late father, John Luce, have underpinned his determination to forge a career in music. And, so far, it is paying off. Lockett, 22, is climbing to the top despite having yet to sign a record deal. He has supported the likes of Lana Del Rey, Birdy and KT Turnstall, most recently touring with Scottish songstress – and Ed Sheeran protégé – Nina Nesbitt. In March, he embarks on his own four-date headline tour, while his latest single, Old Man, is a beautiful tribute to his father, who died earlier this year from prostate cancer at the age of 62. ‘I sort of hated him sometimes,’ says Lockett. ‘We had a lot of fights but a lot of laughs. Overall, it was great to have someone that cared

How rising star Billy was urged to follow his dream so much about me and about what I do.’ His father, a well-known artist in his home town of Northampton, was constantly pushing Lockett to follow his dream and his words have stuck: ‘Make sure that whatever you’re doing you’re enjoying. Make sure you’re constantly doing something that makes you happy.’ It’s hard to pinpoint Lockett’s musical style, as each song varies from soothing melodies to more upbeat rhythms, all intertwined with charming piano and guitar. Raw emotion can be heard in his soulful, expressive voice as he reminisces on his life. So it’s odd to hear his love of music grew from a childhood

obsession with Eminem. He says: ‘I love his lyrics and everything about him really. I wouldn’t really say he inspires me, because he’s nothing like me, but he was one of the first people that really got me into music.’ Lockett knows he has yet to crack the music business. ‘It’s great knowing that everyone’s there to see you when they’ve bought tickets for your gig,’ he says. ‘But I also love trying to win people over as a supporting artist.’ And despite admitting that ‘things could be easier’, he declares: ‘I don’t want to do anything that’s going to make me depressed in the long run.’ Clearly, he’s been listening to his dad. Eloise Vanstone

KNOW THE INSIDE

DO headline tour: Where you can catch Billy on his nge, Manchester Lou y Rub The Sunday, March 22: gow Glas s, Monday, March 23: King Tut’ tol Bris kla, The 25: ch Mar Wednesday, , London Thursday, March 26: Bush Hall

tourDATES

Boys find a fresh voice... with a little help from their friends THANK heavens! The Bastille boys are back and they’re mixing with some of the best in the business. The indie four-piece have returned with their second album and have invited the likes of Haim, GRADES and Rag ’N’ Bone Man to join them. Although Dan Smith’s haunting vocals still

YOU

T R AC K O N

CAMPUS?

Bastille in VS. (Other People’s Heartache Pt. III)

dominate, the band explore new genres and styles, finding fresh inspiration while playing around with their old sound. It’s the perfect mixtape for the walk to lectures or revision – a chilled offering you’ll find yourself singing along to

without even realising your lips are moving. If you’re going to spend your student loan on one CD this month, make sure it’s this one. Trust me – you won’t regret not having spent that tenner on vodka trebles for this. Henrietta Painter

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

January 2015

hiTECH

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

It’s war but not as we know it

XAMS are over and you’re looking to treat yourself to a �irst-person shooter, packed with cinematic explosions and futuristic weapons. Look no further than the latest offering from the Call Of Duty series. Advanced Warfare is set in the battle�ields of the future, providing combat in an age of robotic exoskeletons and private military contractors. The setting has had more

Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare

than just a super�icial lick of paint, with both weaponry and mechanics getting an overhaul. Double jumping, lasers from space, arm-mounted grenade launchers – they’re all here. The campaign mode has all the �lair you’ve come to expect of a high-budget �irstperson shooter. And with its

Glimpse into the future: The game offers all-new tech

Rating: 4/5

Hollywood explosions and Kevin Spacey taking on the role of lead protagonist, the game’s storyline is grand in scale. Advanced Warfare is the most signi�icantly changed Call Of Duty since Black Ops 2 – it represents a genuine departure from the morose battle�ields of the past, bringing something a little

fresher and more exciting to the table. Like other titles in the series, you’ll be �ighting in locations around the world, such as Argentina and Antarctica – but the real draw is the multiplayer mode, and that you’ll �ind as thrilling as ever. Developer Sledgehammer Games has tweaked the winning formula – but don’t worry, you can still

build up your player and unlock new kit. The only issue comes to the fore over long periods of game play, with online play stuttering on occasion for little discernible reason. Even so, Advanced Warfare is heaps of fun and comes highly recommended for anyone with some downtime and the desire to score a few headshots with friends. Michael O’Connell-Davidson

out soon Dying Light HORDES of flesh-eating zombies are everywhere and it’s down to you to stop them. During the day, you traverse the virtual world, helping survivors and picking up supplies. By night, as the infected grow stronger, you change from hunter to prey. New enemies, such as the Predators, will only appear at sundown – meaning you must find safety. The game’s RPG element allows you to build your own style of playing. But will you go for silent killing or all guns blazing? James Williams Rugby 15 WITH the World Cup just months away, a rugby-based video game was inevitable. However, such games are notoriously difficult to produce because of rugby’s intricate rules. HB Studios’ attempt allows you to play in the world’s top leagues or for your country – but the game looks similar to any other, except for a new rucking feature that adds a real-life element. With average graphics and game play, you’d be better off stepping back in time and getting EA’s Rugby 08. Matt Bullin Saints Row IV: Re-Elected

Pass it on: Play friends as though you’re in the same room

Share a journey back to the ’90s FOR twentysomething gamers, childhood evokes memories of basking in the warm glow of a TV at a friend’s house, rejoicing in the multiplayer nirvana of GoldenEye 007 and Mario Kart 64. It was an era when split-screen reigned supreme. But the popularity of the ‘couch multiplayer’ dwindled with the advent of online gaming. Now, with Sony’s latest system software update on the PlayStation 4, the couch is back. Introducing Share Play – the ability to play games online with a friend as though you were back on that patterned ’90s

couch once more. Share Play lets you effectively ‘pass’ your friend your controller, allowing them to take control of your game as you see it on your screen. Alternatively, you can pass them a second controller and play local multiplayer online. Buzzwords such as ‘game-changing’ and ‘revolutionary’ are industry prerequisites for marketing campaigns nowadays – but this really is the next level for gaming. With all the releases January has to offer, Share Play is the console exclusive worth having. All hail the couch! Graham Wardle

PICTURE this: you’re president of the US and aliens invade, intent on enslaving humanity. What do you do? Well, in Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, you go out and kick some ass. The game is a revamp of the excellent Saints Row IV for the new generation of consoles. If you ﬁnd Grand Theft Auto too stuffy, you’ll enjoy the unique humour of this series. In GTA, you can break the law; in Saints Row IV, you can break the laws of physics. If you’ve got an appetite for the ridiculous, it’s a no-brainer. Michael O’Connell-Davidson

Menaces: Destroy aliens

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January 2015

onSCREEN

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

How they saved our Saul Return of Breaking Bad rogue

Flying high: Channing Tatum with heir to the Earth Mila Kunis in Jupiter Ascending

out soon Wild (Jan 16) AFTER a series of tragic events, Cheryl Strayed embarks on a gruelling quest — hiking 1,100 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail. Based on a true story, Wild sees Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) come to terms with the death of her mother, using heroin and getting divorced. The film is adapted from Strayed’s autobiography by screenwriter/novelist Nick Hornby and director Jean-Marc Callée, who mixes scenes from the lead character’s turbulent past with challenges from her journey. Emily Lewis Kingsman: The Secret Service (Jan 29) SMALL-TIME crook Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin (Taron Egerton) is taken under the wing of gentleman spy Harry Hart (Colin Firth). Unwin’s tough first assignment is to deal with global threat and mad techterrorist Valentine (Samuel L Jackson). Armed with innovative weaponry, such as Oxford Blades and the Gunbrella, can the pair save the day? Kate Johnson

ENT lawyer Saul Goodman reached cult status in hit show Breaking Bad. Now, the lovable rogue is back in the muchanticipated spin-off from creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. Better Call Saul sees Bob Odenkirk reprise the role of Saul, real name Jimmy McGill, as he struggles to make his name as a lawyer six years before the events of Breaking Bad. However, rumour has it the prequel will also deal with events during and after. Although RJ Mitte, who played Walt Jr in Breaking Bad, has said the new series

Spin-off: Bob Odenkirk is back as bent lawyer Saul Goodman has ‘nothing to do’ with the Emmy award-winning show, its success should guarantee Better Call Saul a global audience. Despite funnyman Saul taking the lead, the show is set to be just as gritty as its big brother, with Odenkirk insisting it will be ‘85 per cent

drama, 15 per cent comedy’. With Jonathan Banks also returning as ice-cool hitman Mike Ehrmantraut, Breaking Bad fans will be able to sate those withdrawal symptoms. The show is to premiere in the US on February 8 and will hit UK Net�lix shortly after. Josh Mcloughlin

New look: Spy Colin Firth. Below, Reese Witherspoon Inherent Vice (Jan 30) PRIVATE detective Larry ‘Doc’ Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) investigates the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend’s (Katherine Waterson) new lover, Mickey Wolfmann (Eric Roberts). This drama-comedy, also starring Owen Wilson and Reese Witherspoon, is adapted from the Thomas Pychon novel of the same name by writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson. Rebecca Cattell Mordecai (Jan 23) ENGLISH gent, debonair art dealer and part-time rogue Charlie Mortdecai (Johnny Depp) wants to get his hands on Nazi gold. Standing in his way is an international terrorist, the MI5, angry Russians and

almost everyone else. The ﬁlm’s trailer offers cheap laughs, poor English accents and the same post-Jack Sparrow Depp that lost its charm a long time ago. Gwyneth Paltrow plays beautiful wife Johanna Mortdecai and Ewan McGregor, investigates as Inspector Martland. Morgan Hinton

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Jupiter Ascending (Feb 6) AN ALIEN life force plans to wipe the planet clean, keeping only the humans it deems worthy. Enter down-on-her-luck earthling Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), who also happens to be a potential heir to the Earth. Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered interplanetary warrior, is sent to tell Jones she is royalty and protect her from the bounty put on her head by evil alien Balem. Daisy Edwards

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January 2015

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Fashioning their future with words

Lauren Kelly

inSTYLE

Julia Ward

Four student fashion bloggers give ELLA ROSE POYZER advice on how to dress with style for lectures and reveal how blogging has changed their university experiences

HAT is your go-to outfit to wear for lectures? Lauren Kelly: Skinny jeans for comfort and I always have a blazer on to smarten everything up. If anything is scruffy, it’s my hair – never my outfit. You can’t tie that up in a bun with it still looking presentable. Julia Ward: I like to dress smart-casual. A pair of highwaisted jeans with a cami-top

and a kimono or cardigan is just the right amount of smart and comfy. Eleanor Danks: I tend to stick to jeans, a top and my trusty leather jacket. Aisling McGarrigle: Always some sort of jersey skirt and a casual top or jumper, some tights and usually brogues. For a typical university night out, what kind of outfit is always your first choice?

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R O F F ITY PAPER OF S IVER S UN

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Eleanor Danks Eleanor: My disco pants or velvet leggings, a bralet or crop top and heeled boots. I prefer boots to heels – heels hurt so bad! When on a budget, what shops are your favourites? Lauren: H&M for basics,

Aisling McGarrigle New Look for jewellery and pumps. Both give easy ways to make a simple or recycled outfit look new – and without breaking the bank. Julia: One of my favourites has to be Primark. I can guarantee I will find

something I love in there every time I go – and, of course, it’s great on the purse strings. I also love Matalan. You’d be pleasantly surprised at the number of great quality pieces and accessories you can find in there. Do you feel as though blogging has enhanced your university experience? Julia: Life at university isn’t all about getting your degree. Granted, that is important – but it’s also important to have something extra that makes you stand out from the rest. For me, that something extra is blogging. It’s the perfect escape from university work and something I look forward to doing after a long week. Aisling: I studied zoology, which is a far cry from make-up and beauty, so I feel like my blog has opened doors for me that wouldn’t have been an option normally. I recently got a job in The Body Shop and I feel my blog had so much to do

with it, as it was clear I was passionate about the brand and products. What advice can you give for any student thinking of starting a blog? Julia: I’d say to just go for it. My blog is for me, not to impress anyone. It’s a way of expressing my passion. If people read it and love it, then that’s an added bonus. Eleanor: Have a good think about what your blog content will focus on – start planning and scheduling your posts, research the best photo editing software and look at other blogs for inspiration. Don’t forget to network – it’s a great way to build connections and friendships with other bloggers to increase your readership. Aisling: Plan your time and posts effectively. When I started, I was just posting whenever I felt like it – but I wasn’t happy with my posts. Now I have more structure, I feel my blog is much better and is well put together.

Follow Julia at www.blondeambition13.tumblr.com; Lauren at www.laurenmariesreveries.blogspot.co.uk; Eleanor at www.dreamlovelivefashion.blogspot.co.uk; and Aisling at www.rosysmiles.blogspot.co.uk

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

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

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

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inSTYLE

January 2015

News and views from the world of fashion... all with a student budget in mind

Reem: Towie’s Joey Essex takes time out for a snap, right. Above and left, faux fur and flowing skirts steal the show at CSL

Dozy Joey heads fashion followers at annual style fest

Glitz with a ditz

HEY gave us neon and New York; they had the greats and not-so-greats of the fashion world; they even had Joey Essex. Now in its 26th year, Clothes Show Live arrived at Birmingham’s NEC with all the hoopla and celebrity endorsements you might expect of an event that launched the modelling careers of Erin O’Connor, Holly Willoughby and Nina Porter. It attracted about 100,000 visitors between December

A star-struck SHANICE ABBOTT sneaks a peek behind the scenes as Clothes Show Live rolls into town for its 26th year

5 and 9, with the 500,000 sq ft-plus of the NEC transformed by 400 stalls, each plying every kind of clothing from cheap and chic to vintage. There were complaints this year about the lack of bigname stars – but Amy Childs, Joey Essex, Millie Mackintosh, Lauren Goodger, Peter Andre, Henry Holland and more were in attendance. Cheeky Towie star Joey Essex,

who was there to meet fans and sign his 2015 calendar, said: ‘I’m looking forward to meeting the models.’ Flashing his famed Rolex, the fashion fan said that, while he loves his bling, he remained unable to tell the time. As though to prove his point, ever-ditzy Joey finished the conversation by asking what day it was. When informed it was Friday, he laughed: ‘Oh, my

watch says Tuesday – I don’t know where I am in the world.’ Fellow reality star Amy Childs could be spotted selling her stunning women’s clothing collection, while Peter Andre was there to sign bottles of his latest perfume, Scarlet. House Of Holland founder Henry Holland presented a heavily choreographed catwalk show, with themes including neon, winter and New York. And headliners Neon Jungle kept the crowd entertained as celebrities mingled with fans.

Chelsea boy: Spencer Matthews of Made In Chelsea fame shares a hug with our reporter, middle. Left and right, bold prints dominated the catwalk at this year’s CSL

PICTURES: SHANICE ABBOTT

yourNIGHT

Enjoyed a big night in Cardiff? We have all the pictures from the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest nightspots... see if you can spot yourself.

January 2015

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mealBREAK Our fantastic selected recipes are tried-and-tested favourites among students who want to eat well on a budget but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. So, get cooking and enjoy

Top chocs: These iced treats are great to share with friends

Chicken arrabiata

Ingredients: Chicken breast, sliced; three rashers of bacon; tin of chopped tomatoes; half a pepper; whole chilli; two tbsp tomato purée; chilli powder; garlic powder; mixed herbs; salt and pepper; low-calorie spray Method: 1. Spray a pan with low-calorie spray and wait for it to heat. Add the sliced chicken and cook on a high heat until golden 2. When the chicken is almost cooked, add the bacon 3. Meanwhile, chop the peppers and chilli, adding to the cooked chicken and bacon 4. Stir in the tinned tomatoes and tomato purée 5. Add the chilli powder, garlic powder, mixed herbs, and salt and pepper 6. Simmer on a low heat for ten minutes 7. During this time,

breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon zest and herbs and season well. Pour in the butter and mix with a fork or your �ingers, until combined 3. Cover the �illets with the crumbs, pressing down on each 4. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the crust is golden Aramide Pearce Vanilla cupcakes with chocolate icing

cook the pasta 8. Once cooked, combine the pasta and sauce 9. Add grated cheese to the top to enhance the �lavour Tip: If you’re feeling brave, try adding two chillis to the sauce Shannon Barrett

Herb-crusted ﬁsh

Ingredients: Two �ish �illets; two garlic cloves, crushed; 10g butter, softened; one tbsp fresh basil, chopped (dried is �ine, too); lemon zest, grated (juice is �ine, too); breadcrumbs (made

by grating two slices of toast); salt and pepper Method: 1. Heat oven to 200C. Place the �ish on a large greased baking tray and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper 2. Combine the

Ingredients: For the cupcakes: 100g unsalted butter; 100g sugar; 100g �lour; two medium eggs; one tsp vanilla extract For the chocolate icing: 100g unsalted butter; 260g icing sugar; 40g cocoa powder; four squares of baking chocolate; three tbsp double cream Method for the cupcakes: 1. Preheat the oven to 180C and line a baking tray with cupcake cases of your choice 2. Cream together the sugar and butter in a mixing bowl until light and �luffy 3. Crack both eggs into the bowl and add two tbsp of �lour, plus the vanilla extract

4. Fold in the remaining �lour until combined. Do not over-work the mixture as you will extract all the air and the cupcakes will not rise 5. Divide the mixture evenly between the cake cases 6. Bake for 15 minutes – they should be golden on top and spring back into place when you press down on them. Wait until the cupcakes are cool before you attempt to ice them Method for the chocolate icing: 1. Beat the butter until light and �luffy; it should turn a very pale colour, which is key to getting the perfect icing 2. Add the icing sugar, 100g at a time 3. Add the �inal 60g of icing sugar along with the 40g of cocoa powder 4. Melt the four squares of baking chocolate and add to the mixture 5. Next, add the double cream until the icing is light and �luffy 6. Place the icing mixture into a piping bag and ice the cupcakes 7. Sprinkle with decorations of your choice and share with friends Shannon Barrett

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January 2015

mealBREAK

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

Go global with your grub Y

Finish off with fudge

LET’S face it – running to the shops and satisfying your sweet tooth is easier than cooking yourself. However, nothing beats homemade treats. Check out this easy, inexpensive chocolate fudge recipe that will sate those cravings. Ingredients: 450g caster sugar; 50g unsalted butter, diced into small cubes; 170g can of evaporated milk; 150ml milk; 150g plain chocolate Method: 1. Grease a square tin, roughly 18cm by 18cm, with margarine 2. Gently heat the butter, sugar, evaporated milk and milk, until the sugar has dissolved 3. Bring it to the boil

Fine ﬁnish: Satisfy your sweet tooth and stir for 30 minutes 4. Remove from the heat 5. Break the chocolate into pieces and melt in the microwave

PICTURE: CLARE HORRIGAN

6. Stir the chocolate and fudge mixture together, and pour into a tin 8. Leave to set overnight Clare Horrigan

OU’RE on a budget, you can’t afford to travel. But that shouldn’t stop you from getting a taste of the exotic straight from your very own kitchen. Why not invite your friends over and treat them to the �inest cuisines from Guadalajara to London via Barcelona? Mexico: Tacos Pockets of happiness you can �ill with anything. Popular �illings include fried meats, cheese and sour cream – but why not try something more unconventional? Raid the cupboards and give whatever you �ind a try. For drinks, you are spoilt for choice — margaritas, mojitos, Sol or even tequila! Sombreros are optional. Italy: Pasta There are endless choices. Tomato Neapolitan sauce, creamy carbonara or,

Get a taste of the world without leaving home of course, spag bol. To save cash, make loads and keep some in the fridge. There’s a bonus, too: it may be the only legitimate time to consume gallons of wine while staying in theme. Spain: Tapas The ultimate sharing food – little plates of nibbles, be they hot or cold, that you can throw out in large quantities safely knowing there’s something to tickle everyone’s fancy. Excellent for get-togethers and nights in with the television. Drink whatever you fancy – but sangria is always a start. Thailand: Green curry Subtler than its Indian cousin, this still goes in the comforting, cheap

and easy-to-make category. All you need is some chicken, green beans and a jar of paste. Pour in some coconut milk and lime juice and you’re almost in Bangkok. Feeling adventurous? Then make your own paste; it’s only ground up garlic, chilli, spices and soy sauce, after all. Eat with rice and sink with Singha beer England: Casserole Leave the meat and veg to cook in wine and stock at a low heat in the oven. It will �ill you up for ages and leave you with a warm glow like proper comfort food should do. Drink tea and listen to the gasps of joy that echo all around. Lauren Bailey

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January 2015

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

A: ‘I have this weird thing that, if I sleep with someone, they’re going to take my creativity from me through my vagina.’

B: ‘First, my mother was Spanish. Then, she became a Jehovah’s Witness.’

C: ‘I definitely want Brooklyn to be christened, but I don’t know into what religion yet.’

D: ‘I just want one day off when I can go swimming and eat ice cream and look at rainbows.’

E: ‘I created punk for this day and age. Do you see Britney walking around wearing ties and singing punk? Hell no. That’s what I do. I’m like a Sid Vicious for a new generation.’

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

Who said what? 1 Paris Hilton, 2 Mariah Carey, 3 Gwyneth Paltrow, 4 Geri Halliwell, 5 Chris Brown, 6 David Beckham, 7 Avril Lavigne, 8 Ashton Kutcher, 9 R Kelly, 10 Lady Gaga

F: ‘I think every decade has an iconic blonde, like Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana and, right now, I’m that icon.’

G: ‘Can I get your number? I promise I won’t beat you!’

ANSWERS

2 8 5

2 8 3 8 9

J: ‘All of a sudden, you’re like the Bin Laden of America.’

6 3 4

4 1

3 2 5 9

1 9

5 4

H: ‘I’d rather smoke crack than eat cheese from a can.’ I: ‘The number of lines in your forehead tells how many lives you’ve lived.’

6 1 9

1 8 6 4

2 5

8 9

5 1

3 6

Can you unscramble these singers’ names?

1. MURY OLLS 2. WHEN BOARD 3. WARGER DAY 4. WACK JHITE 5. EJJE SIS 6. ZAKIES

2 8

3 8

in a

muddle

7. LEEK 8. LOIN PAIN OUT ANSWERS

1 Olly Murs, 2 Ben Howard, 3 Gerard Way, 4 Jack White, 5 Jessie J, 6 Kiesza, 7 Kele, 8 Paolo Nutini

brainTEASE

A10 B4 C6 D2 E7 F1 G5 H3 I8 J9

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January 2015

competitionCORNER

Your chance to win fantastic tickets, trips and treats

WIN pizza for a year Great prize is worth a lot of dough

WIN

Hoping for an excuse to stay in?

IZZA? Free? For a year? What more could any cash-starved, deep crust-loving student want? We’ve teamed up with Pizza Hut to offer one lucky reader a £30 voucher for every month of 2015. The winner can pick from a menu featuring the �laming hot blazin’ inferno or famous deep-pan meat feast, each accompanied with unlimited salad and soft drink re�ills. You can even add a pudding from the selection of warm cookie-dough desserts. Or what better way to keep the hunger pangs at bay by heading for the unlimited buffet every weekday?

ARE you dreading stepping outside into the winter weather? Thanks to HBO UK Home Entertainment we are offering the perfect excuse to stay indoors. We have a haul of hit series up for grabs including Band of Brothers, The Paci�ic, True Detective and Boardwalk Empire seasons 1-4 to keep you and your housemates entertained.

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

Slice of luck: Why not use your winner’s voucher to treat your friends to a spicy blazin’ inferno or tuck into unlimited salad?

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Gateway Programme Terms and conditions: Offer finishes on the 20th February 2015. Emails received before 20th February will receive the eLearning course. By emailing us for this promotion you agree for your email address to be added to the Uni Paper database and the QA Gateway Programme database.

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

To receive your FREE eLearning course worth £99 go to: https://kvgo.com/qa/ learn2code

January 2015

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

Horoscope 

What’s written in the stars for you this month

ARIES: MARCH 21APRIL 19 January is not a time to sit still, Aries. The new year will bring exaltation and energy but don’t get too carried away. Pay particular attention to �inances and relationships TAURUS: APRIL 20MAY 20 Luck will be on your side this month,Taurus. The world is your oyster this year and it will feel as though you have just hit the jackpot. Just remember to trust your intuition GEMINI: MAY 21JUNE 20 The new year is an exciting time for you, Gemini. It will

be as though a veil has been lifted and for the �irst time you are seeing everything from an entirely new perspective CANCER: JUNE 21JULY 22 Have you been thinking of changing something up for a long time, Cancer? Now is the time to do it. Currently, you have everything you need so what are you waiting for LEO: JULY 23AUGUST 22 Time to focus on yourself, Leo. The new year will enable you to discover talents you didn’t even know you possessed. And, you know what they

say, practice really does make perfect

VIRGO: AUGUST 23SEPTEMBER 22 The new year brings positivity for you, Virgo; however, an unthinking step could land you in trouble, so stay in control and you will make great changes

LIBRA: SEPTEMBER 23OCTOBER 22 Don’t jump the gun, Libra. Stay a few steps ahead and consider all possibilities. Complicated situations will arise but stay in control and they can be solved with ease SCORPIO: OCTOBER 23NOVEMBER 21 You are going to have to

take responsibility for the actions of others this month, Scorpio. Even if you are not in the driving seat, be ready to accept the consequences SAGITTARIUS: NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 21 Those around you may be shrouded in negativity, Sagittarius, but don’t let this throw you off. Don’t be afraid to �ight back as it is best to trust your intuition right now CAPRICORN: DECEMBER 22JANUARY 19 There is no time like the present, Capricorn. A goal you have been working towards for a



long time is beginning to manifest and you will have luck on your side like you never have before

AQUARIUS: JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18 You are about to enter a very content phase, Aquarius. You have been working very hard of late and everything is about to fall into place, so why challenge fate for more? PISCES: FEBRUARY 19MARCH 20 You are responsible for every aspect of your life, Pisces, so if you are unhappy with certain aspects now is the time to make change. Don’t doubt your inner strength

Rock it... but ditch the booze In his latest column on LGBT issues, masters student FILIP BIGOS argues you don’t need to drink or take drugs just to conform to a hard-partying stereotype

E Go online to: www.unipaper.co.uk for more quizzes.

VERYBODY likes a good party. The music, the rush, the heat… When the beat drops, alcohol starts pouring and we get going. Especially the gays. Everyone knows gay clubs are the best – we know how to rock it. Fun, alcohol and drugs is pretty much what the gay community is all about. Or, at least, seems to be. Wherever we go, whatever we do, people always drink. And with age (and depending on how rich their sugar daddy is) they move on to drugs. To switch off. To loosen up. There is an awful lot of pressure on us to drink,

let’sTALK

and very often to do chems and slam. Yet owners of gay venues don’t tend to think about alternatives for people who don’t want to get wasted every day. I apologise for targeting gay men but they are the group most guilty of this. It damages our reputation and shames our community. It is possible to party without alcohol. I am a 22-year-old gay man – I don’t drink, yet I still date and have a great time. Most importantly I will remember it from start to �inish. This requires a real pair, because although I am gay, I am still a man and I am myself.

Little and often: Short bursts will help you focus

Festive fun is �inished, now get revising

CHRISTMAS is over and the exam period is back with a vengeance. Before you start panicking, take a deep breath and check out these �ive revision tips. 1. Write it all down: It may be a pain but it is guaranteed to help you remember all those facts and get them imprinted into your brain 2. Start with the tricky bits: It’s only natural to go for the stuff that we �ind the easiest but consider how stressfree the last few days of revision would be if you were working on the stuff you already understood the most 3. Try short, sharp bursts: Two to three hours of revision each day should do the trick. Accumulated over January (and hopefully some of December, too), that’s a lot of study time 4. Colour-code your notes: Research shows that a splash of colour can make all the difference 5. Reward yourself: Whether it is your favourite chocolate or a night out with friends once you’ve �inished a topic, you deserve a treat. Ellie Connell and Kelly Smith

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January 2015

let’sTALK

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

Alice ask

getting on with life – and so are your family and friends – but they will always be there for you. That much will never change.

Y STUDENT loan didn’t come in on time so I took out a payday loan. I thought I wouldn’t have to admit it to anyone – but I’m still waiting on student finance and now I owe double the amount I borrowed in the first place. Josh, Bristol

Y BOYFRIEND dumped me on New Year’s Eve... over champagne, no less. If that wasn’t bad enough, I tried so hard to make him happy. I often put him before studying. Now, exams are just weeks away and I feel like I’m drowning. I’m starting to wonder whether I should continue with my course. Rebecca, Liverpool Exams are exactly what you need right now, Rebecca – hear me out. Throw yourself into revising, not re-reading every text you ever sent each other. Break-ups take time to heal. Nothing can beat a night in with the girls right now – but you also need a distraction. Before you know it, you’ll be back on your feet. Besides, let’s be honest – a guy who breaks up with you on New Year’s Eve isn’t worth your time. Your course, however, is.

Lovers’ tiff: But revision can provide the perfect distraction

OME isn’t home anymore. When I went back for Christmas, my parents showed me to the guest room – which was, in fact, my bedroom until four months ago. But the biggest

shock is my friends. I don’t feel like I’m part of their lives any more. I spent so much of the first term feeling homesick – and now it’s as though I don’t even have a home. Tom, Birmingham

Club drugs... why the song and dance? T

HE drugs market is changing fast. Traditional substances, such as heroin, are in decline, while newer, synthetic chemicals are flooding the market. Last year, 81 new psychoactive drugs were detected on the European market – the highest number on record. Many of these substances are virtually unheard of. What’s more, many are entirely legal and can be bought via the internet. Probably the best-known legal high is mephedrone, or ‘meow meow’. Many others are known by their brand names, or simply as ‘research chemicals’. But are they safe? It’s a difficult question to answer.

We’ve all been there, Tom. As much as everyone loves living in halls, it isn’t home. But, as you said – go home and you feel like a teenager again, having to tiptoe around. Do you know what, though? You are

DR OWEN BOWDEN-JONES founded the Club Drug Clinic, a London NHS service aimed to inform young people about the effects and dangers of new substances Because they have been manufactured to mimic the effects of drugs such as cocaine and cannabis, these new substances can be stimulants, sedatives or hallucinogens. There is no doubt that some of them are extremely powerful and, when substituted for drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), the effects can surprise the user and even lead to overdose. In the long term, some legal highs cause similar problems to more traditional drugs – dependence, psychosis and depression have all been seen in users. So, despite being cheap and legal, there

is no doubt that at least some are really harmful. If you do decide to take a chance on a research chemical, take care of yourself by starting small and telling your friends what you are using. If you run into trouble, they can tell the ambulance crew. Don’t mix – this includes alcohol. The more types of drug you take at the same time, the bigger the risk. Stay hydrated by taking regular, small sips of water. Don’t drink more than one pint in an hour, otherwise you might over-hydrate. For more information, visit www.clubdrugclinic.com.

Submit us your questions and get the answer in next months issue

Don’t sit on this any longer, Josh. Head straight to your university and talk to someone in student services or the students’ union. There will be a support fund for people experiencing financial difficulty. The amount awarded will depend on your assessed needs and you will not have to pay it back. In future, steer clear of payday loans – the interest rates alone will leave you in much worse position than you were in before. Struggling with your studies, wrestling with a relationship or is your social life at a standstill? Contact our agony aunt on alice@unipaper.co.uk

January 2015

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off MESSAGE

Our occasional offering of things that are... just interesting but not entirely sensible

I smell an idea: Who hasn’t overslept and found themselves at lectures without having had time for a shower? What you need is the Axilla Scrubber. At the touch of a button, it will wash those whiffy pits discreetly for you...

Some are bonkers but some of them are absolute gold Colin Furze has built everything from a 70mph mobility scooter to magnetic boots. The inventor tells CHARLOTTE ARROWSMITH about his search for Britain’s next eccentric bofﬁn...

Who left the loo seat up. Again!: Is your student house the scene of regular arguments about bathroom etiquette? The Handy Toilet Seat Lifter is here to put an end to the bickering by automatically putting the seat down after use...

Dozy parka: Fed up with missing your stop for the umpteenth time and having to trudge through the rain to get to your lecture? The Commuter Coat can be pre-programmed to shake you awake at your stop

OU’RE young and gifted... you should probably be trying to come up with an invention that will change the world for the better. But maybe during that particularly dull lecture you have come up with ideas that are, well, a little less grandiose in their scope. What about a toilet seat that lifts and closes by itself? No more arguments in the student house about who left the loo seat up. Or a commuter coat that shakes you awake from your slumbers on the bus so you never miss your stop again? Too late, because other students thought of them �irst and submitted them to the Odd Invention Challenge. Madcap inventor Colin Furze is a judge. He has more

What next: Colin Furze at work in his lab (garage) than 750,000 YouTube fans and a number of world records for his inventions, which range from a 70mph shopping trolley to Wolverine-style claws. ‘We’ve had a lot of entries, and some of them really are quite bonkers,’ said Colin. ‘The great thing about these competitions is when you ask thousands of people to come up with something, you end up with some absolute gold.’ He has been impressed by the left-�ield thinking. ‘I like making the things that other people might think are not worth making, and that

seems to have driven me in the direction of making weird and crazy inventions which has obviously led to this competition,’ he said. As for his own inventions, Colin says the mobility scooter edges it. ‘It was good – it was proper smart and everyone loves it,’ he said. The Odd Invention Challenge was designed by �lavoured spirit brand ODDKA. The shortlisted �inalists will be put to the public vote to win a top prize of £4,999. See www.oddinvention.com for the entries.

The shower of love: Everyone loves singing in the shower, so what better than the Karaoke Shower, featuring a waterproof touchscreen control panel, a disco ball shower head and big speakers...

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January 2015

moneyMATTERS

We’re all on a budget... here are our ideas on how to make it stretch as far as possible

£10,000 masters stroke? caseHISTORY

Worth it: Faye Saville worked more than 70 hours a week, juggling a job with her studies

My 13-hour days for an MA IF GETTING a masters wasn’t hard enough, imagine having a fulltime job on top. But that’s exactly what recent graduate Faye Saville did to avoid exorbitant debts. Juggling a PR role with 30 hours of weekly study towards her MA in strategic communication at the University of

Central Lancashire, Faye found herself working up to 13 hours a day. ‘It’s a mental test,’ the 28-year-old said. ‘You have to push yourself to the limit – but you do amaze yourself with how mentally strong you are.’ Her friends, family and employer backed her over the three years it

took to complete the course – and she said she would do it that way again, rather than take on the proposed loan. ‘Of course, there are always times when you think, “Can I really do this?”’ she added. ‘It was hard. I didn’t go out much and socialise – but I got there in the end.’

superSCRIMPING IT’S a new year, so the partying is over and, predictably, you’re broke. After chucking away all of your money over Christmas, here are some apps that will help you keep hold of your cash in 2015...

 Organise your

outgoings: If 2015 is the year you have decided to get organised with your outgoings, then the Goodbudget app is for you. Splitting your spending

between different categories, this free app allows you to easily keep tabs on your expenditure. It can also be synced with other mobile devices – perfect for splitting household bills

 An eye for a bargain:

Your bank balance may have taken a hit over Christmas but that doesn’t mean living like a hermit in January. Offering discounts at retailers such as H&M, Pizza Express and Tesco, VoucherCodes

uses GPS to ﬁnd the best deals closest to you

 Get cash quick: Why

not make some money out of your unwanted Christmas presents? While eBay is the obvious choice, there’s a cheaper auction site out there – eBid. The app allows you to ﬂog your stuff and for a fraction of the price. With more than 3.5million bids last year, there’s a good chance someone will bite

OR many masters students, their degree has been a battle of survival. They have had to �ind ingenious ways to fund their extra year or two of studies. Some borrow money from their families, while others take on a part- or, even, fulltime job while keeping on top of their course. Now they have an alternative after the government announced a funding scheme that will allow those aged under 30 and studying towards a masters degree to get a loan of up to £10,000. The plan, which is planned to come into force in the 2016/17 academic year, will replicate the undergraduate model, where students only start paying back their loans once their earnings reach above a certain level. James Coe, vice-president of University of Liverpool’s students’ union, said: ‘I am

Loans ‘will help more than 40,000 students’ pleased the students’ movement won this. We must continue to �ight for these loans to be extended for students over 30 and an education system that does not force such high levels of personal debt on to our student members. ‘Postgraduate loans are an important step in widening access to this type of study.’ The government predicts the loans will help more than 40,000 students and enable about 10,000 more individuals to undertake postgraduate study each year. Sam Smith, a third year at the University of Liverpool, praised the proposal, despite masters degrees being funded on his

course. ‘To become a chartered engineer, a masters degree is needed,’ he added. ‘In the long run, the loan will be bene�icial to others, as it allows people to get further in their job.’ However, students could leave university with debts of more than £60,000, while undergraduate and postgraduate loans will be paid off at the same time. Luke Stevenson, a Liverpool John Moores University English graduate, said: ‘It’s a trap – a pathetic token measure by the Tories to attract gullible students. ‘Forget loans – we want no tuition fees. Education is for everyone, not just the elites.’ Charlotte Seddon

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January 2015

beyondUNI

Strike a balance between study and job

MANAGING deadlines can be hard enough without having to work as well. For some students, though, money can be tight and a parttime job is required. Unfortunately, there can be a down side to having a job while studying – trying to balance everything. Here are some useful tips on how to keep on top. 1. Planning: When it comes to writing an essay or preparing a presentation, knowing where you are going to start saves lots of time. Try writing ideas in your phone, so you can add to it on the move 2. Plan your diary: When deadlines are approaching, it is great to know when you have free time. For example, if you work nights and have a couple of spare hours before a shift, you could spend that time researching your masterpiece 3. Release that stress: Juggling everything can take its toll, both physically and mentally, so take time to relax. Find what works best for you and incorporate it into your time 4. Remember: A parttime job is only for now. Make university work your priority. After all, that’s what you’re there for Jasmine Martin

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

Rising star: YouTuber Alice Taylor discusses her life

More vlog, less slog

Want to earn money sitting on your sofa? Just talk and upload

MAGINE sitting in front of a camera and filming yourself taking on stupid challenges or capturing everything you do throughout the day, from what you eat at lunch to what you watch on TV. Now controversy last month after imagine getting paid for it. admitting her book (which It sounds too good to was the fastest-selling debut be true, but that is exactly novel ever) was ghostwritten. what vlogging is all about. Looking to recreate her With audiences of between 2 and 6million, the best vlogs get thousands of views each day. Perhaps the most famous vlogger is fashion and beauty adviser Zoella, Go for it: You could earn cash from vlogs who caused

success is 18-year-old Alice Taylor, an up-andcoming YouTuber who creates comedic videos about her day-to-day life. Speaking to TUP, the former student, who now works in TV and film, said: ‘If you are lucky enough, then vlogging can compete with conventional careers. ‘Digital content is becoming more prominent, so there’ll be jobs popping up all over for it.’ With its rise in popularity, vlogging has become a job

for many of these big-name content creators. Top brands are approaching YouTube stars to reach younger audiences and are offering large sums of money for an advertising opportunity within their videos. With a sizeable income (let’s just say enough to cover the rent… and then some), these internet sensations can afford a luxury lifestyle without a nine-to-five job. However, Alice added: ‘YouTube can be seen as both a hobby and a job – but

Spot the spelling errors and count the cash

PROOFREADING is a necessity of university life. We have all had to do it for stressed-out flatmates or ourselves. But proofreading is also big business. There are a number of online proofreading agencies – and most will pay students to work for them. Such agencies look for neat handwriting for hard

five to try

n www.proofreadingagency.co.uk n www.freelance-proofreaders.co.uk n www.globalproofreading.com n www.academicword.com n or why not offer your services via Gumtree.co.uk?

copies, methodical readthroughs and, of course, excellent English. It is

also advantageous to be a graduate or undergraduate in any discipline, as a

technical knowledge of a specific subject can help. The benefit of proofreading professionally is that the work is freelance, so you can work from home and choose your hours. With different payment methods and variable salaries, it is best to find a legitimate, well-established website to work for. Charlotte Pick

if my channel ever got to a level that it supported me, I still probably wouldn’t quit my current job.’ So, does the rise of vlogging mean we should we all quit our degrees, rush out to buy cameras and start filming our beans-on-toast dinners? Fraser Green, an Australian YouTuber with more than 4,000 subscribers, said: ‘YouTube is a new creative platform that the majority of society still doesn’t understand, mainly due to ignorance.’ The point is, do your research, build a following and, maybe, one day, you can make your money by sitting at home, eating food in front of the computer. Ryan Lynch Eagle-eyed: The only tools you need are an eye for detail and a pen

January 2015

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yourSPACE

Beat the chill with a freeze on spending T

HE summer has gone, leaves have fallen from the trees and winter is upon us. Of course, you cannot afford to put the heating on full-time, so how can you stay warm without busting the bank balance? 1. Layers are important: No wonder you think the house feels like the North Pole if you’re only wearing a vest and shorts. Wear jumpers – even put on your �luffy onesie. By now, I’m sure your housemates have seen you at your worst. 2. Shut the door: This

insulates the house and stops cold air creeping in. There is no point in putting the heating on only for all that lovely warm air to escape through the gaps, so make sure you shut your windows, too! 3. Get a hot water bottle: Who needs a partner to keep your bed warm in the winter? It’s as simple as boiling the kettle, �illing it up and, as if by magic, you instantly have something warm you can

Spare yourself pipe pain

Keeping snug: To save cash and stay warm, why not put on some layers, invite your friends round and watch a movie, huddled up under a duvet? spoon to sleep. Better still, there are no strings attached. 4. Pour a hot drink: They work as a perfect hand warmer and take the chill off your body, too. Also, who

can honestly say no to a hot chocolate? Furthermore, there isn’t any chill that a hearty meal can’t banish. 5. Huddle up like penguins: Invite all your friends round and make sure they bring duvets, sleeping

bags and blankets. Bundle together in front of a good �ilm and order a takeaway! 6. Use heating sparingly: An hour in the morning and at night on those really chilly days won’t break the bank. Hannah Southern

A BURST pipe is an all-too-commonplace winter hazard. Freezing causes the water to expand, leading to a rupture. Here’s what to do if you suspect this is happening to one of your internal pipes: 1. Turn off the water supply immediately 2. Ensure all cold taps are turned on. This leaves room for the thawed water to escape 3. If you ﬁnd the frozen pipe, try warming it gently with a hairdryer 4. Remove anything from the room or area where the frozen pipe is, in case it bursts 5. If you ﬁnd a leak, contact a plumber as soon as possible Hannah Southern

When you move to study in a fantastic city, your expectations shouldn’t drop when it comes to your student accommodation. In fact, your property should be perfect. At Moginie James our award-winning team of student property experts are on hand to make your time in Cardiff even better by finding the perfect property for you.

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January 2015

yourSPACE

Finding the right place to live, choosing the right people to live with and keeping your place right

Graduating? Do it all again Y

OU’RE graduating in a few months. Your parents and lecturers go on about you finding a job. But, first things first, where are you going to live? Moving back home is the obvious choice after university – but after three years of freedom, it will be difficult to take orders from your parents again. You might begin to wonder what all that maturing and independence at university was for. Of course, moving back isn’t the end of the world; it’ll only be a year or two and you’ll be able to save up, find the right place and get the best job. The classic five-year plan. But that’s not the only option. University has taught you the basics about renting and the costs, so why not do it for real? If, for you, it’s about employment, then let the job lead you – apply everywhere and be prepared to begin an

In it together: Living with other people makes life fun – and cheaper

It should have been done in December but there is never enough time to clean the fridge. Now, the dire consequences face the house. Mouldy carrots left from Christmas dinner and grease on the oven tray that may never be the same again Rebecca Solomon

ALPHA housemates are the organisers who everyone listens to and everyone aspires to be. They’re the kings and queens of halls. So how do you go about usurping them? With sabotage, naturally Hannah Froggatt

For fuller versions of these go to www.unipaper.co.uk

PICTURE: LAUREN KNIGHT

Wise steps that will help you buy WE LEAVE university with tens of thousands of pounds of debt so, to most of us, buying a first home seems like an impossible dream. With house prices spiralling and banks refusing mortgages and restricting the amount you can borrow, it is easy to feel condemned to years of living at home or in shared rented living. But there are ways in which graduates can make themselves more attractive to lenders. First, show lenders that you are ‘stable’. Let them know you have held down a steady job and that you have regular income. Try to limit your student finance. The thought of

having £7,000 put into your bank account every year sounds great – but added to the £9,000 tuition fee, you could end up saddled with £48,000 of debt. Make an effort to clear your student overdraft and credit card debts. If lenders see that you have too much credit available that you do not use, this could affect your credit rating. Finally, and most crucially, start saving for a deposit. Even without student debt, lenders will still expect you to pay a percentage of the house costs. That may mean working through uni, saving your student loan or moving back in with your parents for a few more years. Nakita Capp

Up sticks instead of heading for home adventure into the unknown. You’ve moved to a new city before; you can do it all again. Another fresh start can be scary but your new workmates will be able to recommend places to live and perhaps introduce you to your new city. When you get round to looking at your new rented home, remember the basics. Do you need a parking space? Can you make it a home? Can you afford the rent? Have you got the best deal with your bills? Remember, too, you’ll have to pay council tax. It may also be time to find some new housemates. You’ve had your first taste of community living in halls and in your shared student home,

so why not carry on? We need company. Humans are not the kind to sit alone doing our own individual things. As students, it is the reason we get so little work done when we need to. Companionships and friendships are what we strive for, so why neglect our natural instincts when we move away from the safe haven of the university campus? Besides, rent is cheaper when the cost is spread out – as are utility bills, food shopping and the TV licence. They say university opens doors; this may be literally true when you leave and start looking for your first home. Lucy Robinson and Megan Haddaway

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January 2015

yourSPACE

Finding the right place to live, choosing the right people to live with and keeping your place right

Choice is hall yours ... but pick who you live with carefully

HAT time of year is upon us again – househunting season. No matter how long you’ve been at university, choosing next year’s accommodation is a big decision and one that tends to weigh people down for a few weeks every year. Many students look back on their first year in halls – the glory days when heating and electricity bills were still a problem only for grown-ups – fondly, while others love the independence and maturity that comes with their freezing cold eight-bedroom house, complete with mould spreading across the walls. University-owned accommodation is, in the main, fantastic. Most flats come with

en-suite bathrooms and cosy bedrooms. The tightly packed layout of halls means that there’s always a buzzing atmosphere at home and you never feel lonely – something you may suffer when treading the numerous narrow corridors of student housing. However, the relatively peaceful atmosphere of a suburban neighbourhood triumphs every time over the constant loud noises from surrounding flats in halls. University accommodation is usually far more hygienic and attractive, while private

HALLS v houses: Liverpool students offer their views to SOPHIE CORCORAN Emma Jones, 19, has stayed in halls for her second year. She said: ‘It is a lovely place and is nice and secure with friendly staff. The flat is really nice and I am sharing with lovely people.’ Emma Keeley, 19, lives in a rented student house. She said: ‘I love the house we live in but halls were better. Ours was homely and we socialised with neighbours a lot more. It felt safer and it also meant we didn’t have to spend a fortune on taxis.’

Best of both: Halls are cosy, a house can be peaceful accommodation can fit the grimy, dingy student housing stereotype. Whichever option you choose, remember that

a great group of friends can compensate for those stained curtains and cracked windows. Don’t rush, and

choose your housemates wisely – finding a place to live will seem easy after that. Harriet Stevens

David McLaughlin, who also lives in a student house, said: ‘As much as I loved halls last year, I turn 21 in April and next year will be my last studying at university. Halls were a really good way to meet people and have fun – but the workload wasn’t as high as it is now.’

January 2015

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researchROUND-UP

Our flick through the most fascinating findings from universities around the country

They can tell us a moo-ving story...

Space race: The cold atomic hydrogen gas (blue) is ripped out of the main galaxy PICTURE: NASA/ CAROLE MUNDELL

In a galaxy far, far away, cannibalism is at work IN a galaxy far, far away, something rather sinister and disturbing is being recorded. A mere 50million light years from Earth, a cannibal is at work. A system dubbed Arp 94, in the constellation of Leo, is locked in a gravitational struggle with its

Owzat for the end of dodgy decisions IT’S a bugbear of weekend cricketers up and down the country: dodgy LBW decisions given by the home umpire. Now a new study shows clear evidence neutral umpires do make fewer decisions in favour of home sides. Economists reviewed leg before wicket decisions in 1,000 Test matches that took place between 1986 and 2012. It wasn’t until 2002 that both umpires were neutral. One of the lead authors, Dr Abhinav Sacheti from Nottingham University business school, said: ‘Our results suggest that when two home umpires officiated in Test matches, away teams were likely to suffer on average 16 per cent more LBW decisions than home teams.’ That bias disappeared when neutral umpires were appointed. Bias had been particularly strong in Tests played in Australia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

neighbours where it rips material out of the interacting galaxies and hurls it far into intergalactic space. This fascinating cosmic laboratory is giving astronomers, including Liverpool John Moores Astrophysics Research Institute, tantalizing clues as to how galaxies have evolved

since the beginning of our universe. A major unanswered question in astronomy is how gas-rich spiral galaxiessuch as our own Milky Way evolve into the ‘red’ ‘dead’ elliptical galaxies, somehow switching off their ability to form stars in the process. Galactic ‘cannibalism’, where one

galaxy consumes another- as in Arp 94 – may provide an answer. Scientists, working with Nasa and the European Space Agency, have combined multiple images taken of the galactic event from telescopes such as Hubble and Spitzer to create the image above. Bryony Holloway

Kama Sutra sex life of the moth I

High wire: The male hangs like a trapeze artist

T’S enough to make a butterfly blush. And if Channel 4 ever get wind of the antics of the gold swift moth, they’d probably make a steamy late-night series about it. Biologists have described the sex life of the rather dull-looking moth as a ‘veritable Kama Sutra’. Prof John Turner, Emeritus professor in the University of Leeds’ school of biology, said: ‘With most insects, you expect to find a fairly set mating process. ‘The love life of the gold swift moth is a veritable Kama Sutra of mating patterns and positions.’ Unlike most insects, which stick rigidly to a single position, the gold swift moth had two approaches: n The male hangs facing the female and reaches over to connect his abdomen to hers. Once they connect, he lets go, falling like a trapeze artist so that he is hang-

ing upside down from his mate. He stays in this position until the following sunrise. n The male hangs with his back to the female and bends his abdomen backwards. They twist round to connect their bodies and then untwist as he falls into the mating position. The twilight courtship rituals of the gold swift moth can be seen in June and July in forest glades and bracken patches all over Britain. Prof Turner observed ‘fighting dances’ between males and occasional ‘homoerotic’ courtships, where males embark on mating procedures with their own sex. He conducted the study during holidays in the north of Scotland. He said: ‘I was doing the washing up and I looked out of the kitchen window to see all this happening in the vegetation in front of me.’ Jenny Monahan

IF I could talk to the animals and they could squeak and squawk and moo to me… Researchers spent ten months eavesdropping on ‘conversations’ between calves and their mothers. They identified two distinct maternal calls. When cows were close to their calves, they communicated with them using low-frequency calls. When they were separated – out of visual contact– their calls were louder and at a much higher frequency. Dr Mónica Padilla de la Torre, of the University of Nottingham’s school of life sciences, said: ‘Each calf and cow have a characteristic and exclusive call of their own.’

Placebo works for runners

PERFORMANCEenhancing drugs can help athletes run faster – even when they haven’t taken them. Endurance athletes who injected a fictional drug called OxyRBX improved their 10km race time even though in reality they had only taken saline, a study on the placebo effect by the University of Glasgow showed. The runners improved their race time by an average of 1.2 per cent – a small but significant margin after taking the placebo.

Ants always turn left, right UNLIKE Derek Zoolander, ants don’t have any difficulty turning left. Most rock ants instinctively go left when entering unknown spaces, research from the University of Bristol, shows. PhD student Edmund Hunt and colleagues studied how ants explore nest cavities. He said: ‘The ants may use their left eye to detect predators and their right to navigate. Also, their world is maze-like and turning one way is a good strategy to search.’

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January 2015

wellFIT

Advice for a healthy lifestyle and staying in shape

Get buff...but on a budget Shape up when funds are thin

Cut-price weights: Why bother reading a book when you can use it to keep ﬁt?

F THERE’S a time of year when you’re most likely to join a gym, it’s January. After eating, drinking and making merry for most of December, you might be ready to ful�il that new year resolution to get �it. There are some great deals for joining gyms – but, if your budget won’t stretch to a membership, then here’s our guide to keeping �it for free… High-intensity interval training: A great way to burn fat, especially if you’re short on time. HIIT focuses on short bursts of intense exercise, with a less intense rest period. Head to the park with a mate and sprint

– make it into a race. If you don’t feel like leaving the house, try running up and down the stairs. Circuits: You don’t need a lot of space to set up a minicircuit in your living room. Use a chair to do arm dips, lean on a wall to support yourself in a handstand

position and clear a space for burpees and planking. Weights: If you want to use weights but can’t afford any, make the most of what you already have. If you have a particularly large book from your course, use it as a weight to hold to your chest when squatting. Use tins of

baked beans for bicep curls and hold your full laundry basket while lunging. Run: It may seem obvious, but go for a run. If you’re feeling the pressure of coursework deadlines, getting outdoors can relieve stress and help restore your focus. Samantha Coles

How to stay focused 1. Be realistic: If running for the bus leaves you gasping for breath, it’s probably not a good idea to sign up for a marathon. Set yourself reasonable goals 2. Fuel: Unfortunately, going for a ﬁve-minute jog doesn’t give you an excuse to have two pizzas for dinner. You can’t out-train a bad diet 3. Mix it up: Never do the same workout. Increase your speed, weights or reps each time you train to challenge yourself 4. Rest: It can be tempting to go hell-for-leather in the ﬁrst two weeks. Don’t push yourself too hard to begin with, as this can result in injury 5. Stay positive: Bad training sessions happen. Don’t let them get you

down – acknowledge that you know you can do better next time 6. Moral support: It’s natural to feel selfconscious about exercising alone. Why not get a running club together with your housemates? Having a training buddy can help you push harder 7. All the gear: It’s important to have good training shoes. Any new kit can boost your conﬁdence 8. Remember why you started: When you’re tired and it’s freezing, staying indoors in your onesie is often more appealing than training. Remember why you started – visualise your goals and think how much better you’ll feel afterwards SC

January 2015

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Golden girl Frankie is aiming to inspire ALEX MIARLI WHEN gymnast Frankie Jones tweeted at the end of 2014 she couldn’t believe the year she’d had, 140 characters was never going to do it justice. The Cardiff Met student’s gold in the ribbon and �ive other medals at the Commonwealth Games saw her become Wales’ most decorated gymnast and athlete at a single games. She helped Team Wales to

36 medals in total and went on to �inish runner-up in the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year awards. And to cap it all, having retired from competition at the tender age of 24, she was appointed athletes adviser to the Commonwealth Games Wales board until 2018, when the games move to Australia. Quite some year, which she tried to describe on December 31 with the tweet: ‘Can’t sum up this year in words but

sportNEWS High ﬂier: Frankie Jones with the gold medal she won in Glasgow, inset PICTURES: MATTHEW HORWOOD/ FLICKR/BRITISH GYMNASTICS

it’s been more than I could have imagined. So lucky to have amazing memories with some amazing people.’ Frankie, who studies sports conditioning, massage and rehabilitation, said: ‘During

my competitive career, I have had the honour of representing Wales at three consecutive games. I can honestly say they are the competitions that hold the strongest and most amazing memories of my 18

years of participation in gymnastics. Being athletes adviser will allow me to continue to inspire younger athletes to follow in my footsteps, overcome adversity and win for Wales.’ The move into coach-

Past, present, future: Frankie Jones, Jo Coombs and Welsh gymnast Laura Halford PICTURE: BBC WALES/SPORT WALES

PART OF A SPORTS TEAM? Get a write-up in this month’s paper.

Contact: editor@unipaper.co.uk

 ALL Blacks coach Nic Gill passed on some of the secrets of what makes the Kiwi outﬁt the best in world rugby during a visit to the University of South Wales. The strength and conditioning coach gave students a rare insight into the mentality of the world champions. ‘The key thing for us is that we don’t have a permanent base, so everything must be portable. Everything I need is carried around in six suitcases and that makes us focus on the important things,’ he said.

ing will see her team up with another Cardiff Met old girl, Jo Coombs, who is head of performance and excellence at Welsh Gymnastics. ‘I have known Frankie for a number of years. We have done three games together and so it was just great to see her achieve what she did in Glasgow,’ said Jo. ‘I’m glad that Frankie’s chosen to go into coaching because she’s got so much knowledge, having been involved with the sport for a number of years. Hopefully, she will bring a few more of the future through.’ Frankie will focus on developing the talents of former teammate Laura Halford, among others. ‘I’d love to stay involved with her journey because it is a special one,’ she said. ‘It’s a very big step to go from competing over to coaching but I’ve got some very good people around me.’

Lacrosse women carrying the ﬁght CARDIFF’S lacrosse women carry the hopes of the university into the new year. A solid league showing could be eclipsed by a strong run in the cup, having stormed to a 17-5 win over Loughborough University II. The women sit third in the league mid-season, having lost narrowly to Exeter and league leaders Bristol but with �ive wins from seven.

The strength at attack has really shone through so far, with 105 goals scored and only 39 goals conceded. The men, however, are enduring a case of ‘second season syndrome’. They swept to promotion last season and fell just short in the cup. But this year, they face a real �ight to hang on to their hardfought top division status. Alex Miarli

www.unipaper.co.uk

January 2015

sportNEWS

Down but not out: Cardiff Cobras succumbed to a narrow loss at home to bitter rivals Swansea Titans but remain in the hunt for a play-off spot

Cobras stung by home loss to the Titans ALEX MIARLI REMEMBER the Titans. And the Cobras will certainly not forget their demoralising home defeat to their Swansea rivals. Cardiff went into the last game of 2014 full of confidence, having played four and won four previous league games. But Swansea University’s Titans proved a challenge too far. In an often dour encounter, the sides were locked 7-7 going into the last two-and-a-half minutes, when the Cobras fumbled the football. The Titans managed to move the ball from deep in

High stakes: The Cobras their own half to find the winning play from 12 yards. A last-ditch play from the Cobras ended with the quarterback being sacked. Swansea move to four and zero, leapfrogging the

Cobras at the top of the league. Cobras line-backer Jason Roberts said: ‘We’re in contention for the only play-off berth but our loss to Swansea before the Christmas break has taken things out of our hands. ‘We just have to hope that our loss against Swansea won’t come back to haunt us at the end of the season. ‘Whatever happens,we’ve already got one eye on varsity.’ The Cobras had previously beaten Exeter, UWE, Bristol and Plymouth. They now have a lengthy break before their next home game against the Falmouth Tridents on February 8.

Our thanks for the pictures to Craig Thomas of Tallboy Images. Visit his site at www.tallboyimages.co.uk

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