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Tuesday 2nd December Volume 23, Issue 5 TridentMedia.org
Elected officers host Student Ideas Forum and Annual Members Meeting News • 10,000 students march for free university education | Page 5
Features • Introducing the new Mixed Bag Society | Page 15 Jennie Couling | UniVerse
Jennie Couling | Contributing Writer Thursday 20th November saw students attend this semester's second Student Ideas Forum in Hutton Hall. As the final part of the annual members meeting, elected officers gave an overview of what the Students’ Union has been up to in the past year. Gurpreet Singh (President) and Jack Amos (Vice President Democracy and Services) gave a roundup of the Hertfordshire Students’ Union accounts from July 2013 to July 2014 showing that over 87% of the Students’ Union money was spent on services for students.
Joined by Bella Colafrancesco (Vice President Student Activities) and Rana Omer Farooq (Vice President Education and Welfare) and Shannen Rock (Vice President Communications & Media), the elected officers celebrated the students’ successes last year including: £92,850 saved by students through their letting service, £78,533 raised by Raise And Give, a 38% increase in voter turnout, £130,742 won for students by the Advice and Support Centre, a 42% increase in the number of societies and successful lobbies for a multi faith space, better use of the Weston Auditorium and against the proposed marking boycott in April.
The floor was then opened to students to voice their concerns. Here are the main topics discussed:
Unexpected rise in tuition fees Second year law students reported that their fees had been increased without warning and the only notification they received was earlier that week. Students from Biosciences and Business also reported their fees had been increased. The issue of notification will be looked into and the officers will raise this through the right channels to achieve an explanation (cntd. pg2)
Health • Myths about winter flu - fact or fiction? | Page 20
Sport • Malaysian students gather for Nottingham Games | Page 20
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Editorial • Written, designed & edited by UH students, and provided by Hertfordshire Students’ Union
Student Ideas Forum cntd. Difficulty getting popular Amos explained that the books from the library reason that shuttle buses have A number of students reported problems with people repeatedly renewing core textbooks leaving others to struggle without them or being forced to pay large sums of money for their own copies. Singh reassured that the issue has been raised to the Chief Information Officer and is something that they will be looking into.
Uno bus service Many students raised concerns about the shuttle bus service. Complaints of buses being overfilled were common, with one student reporting that one was so full a bus driver had to ask her if it was safe to pull out of a junction. Others reported drivers missing stops, driving past or never turning up.
been particularly busy this week is that the normal bendy buses were replaced with smaller silver buses for graduation. He went on to say that Uno “are aware of the issues” and that he and Colafrancesco had a “productive” meeting with Uno the previous week but what they need to know is specific incidents. A reporting system on the Students’ Union website was suggested and will be looked into.
Oval staff and post handling
Print Editor
able to collect items. Colafrancesco explained that a new company Derwent Living has been contracted for security work around campus and the “issue has actually been raised with the Campus Life group” and other relevant groups where the issues have been raised and are being addresses by the university. The next Student Ideas Forum isn’t until the 27th January but before then, any concerns you have can be submitted on hertfordshire.su, tweeted with the hashtag #UHideas or by talking to one of your elected representatives.
Students expressed dissatisfaction with security staff at the gym not knowing about procedures such as signing guests into the gym, post being opened by staff or delays between parcels being delivered, Amazon lockers not being used correctly and students being
Recent research published by Endsleigh has found that 2014 graduates expect to have brought their first home by the age of 30, and also to be married, established in their career, and to have a child by this time. The survey, conducted by NUS Services Research Department, included 1,423 university leavers across the country ahead of their graduations. From those surveyed, over a third expected to move back home after finishing university, and only 11% planned to move into their own home. The reason for this was attributed to the cost of rent, bills and food, which 51% considered to
be only just affordable. Many thought that their social lives would become a luxury they would no longer be able to afford. According to the findings, university-leavers expect to pay on average £499 a month for rent after they graduate. “For many graduates, the post-university world can be exciting and daunting in equal measure,” said Julia Alpan, Student and Graduate Marketing Propositions Manager, Endsleigh Insurance. She noted the many 2014 university leavers are clearly “ambitious in their hopes and expectations for the future,” but said: “It will be interesting to see how these expectations might shift as graduates get older.” There is often a focus on completing your degree and
Welcome to the fifth and final issue of UniVerse for this semester. We’ve brought you all the latest campus updates including the Student Ideas Forum, Give it a Go events, and career conferences. Our writers tackled the question, ‘Does sport Kealie Mardell | Print Editor help employability?’ and
Deputy Editors
Brad Johnson Laura Noakes deputy.print.editor @tridentmedia.org
Sub Editors
Emma Langschied (Design) Shelby Loasby (News) Mercedes Brazier (Sports) Taveena Atsu (Features) Krystyna King (Events) Rebecca Harding (Photos)
Contributors
What does life after graduation hold? Kealie Mardell | Print Editor
Kealie Mardell print.editor@tridentmedia.org
preparing for the professional world ahead, while many students may overlook other goals and financial considerations. It’s easy for students to live in the bubble of university life, but don’t forget about what happens after you graduate! “The overall feeling is that the Class of 2014 is positive about moving to a new stage of their lives as they leave their university years behind them,” Alpan said. For more information and advice from Endsleigh, the insurance providers for students, graduates and young professionals, visit hub. endsleigh.co.uk. You can also get careers advice from the Careers and Placements office, located on both campuses, for up to two years after you graduate.
we’ve got interviews with lecturers, Students’ Union staff, and one of our Elected Officers. If you’d like to share your views and opinions on any of the articles featured in UniVerse you can get in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter @TridentMediaUK. There’s
also even more great content online at tridentmedia.org. Finally, a big thank you to all of the Trident Media members who have contributed this semester, and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy the holiday break and we’ll be back in Semester B!
Jennie Couling Alex Jungeling Linu Peter Bryony Wharfe Oliver Price Aiden Perrins Ellie Pilcher Sophie Patten Ferdouse Akhter Lashara van Heerden Aimone Sharif Saachi Lulla Gina Wong Imogen Wallis Feyi Taiwo
Editor in Chief Shannen Rock
Copy Editor Sean Howlett
Contact Us
vp.comms@hertfordshire.su VP Comms & Media Hertfordshire Students’ Union College Lane Hatfield Herts, AL10 9AB Published by Iliffe Print Cambridge Winship Road Milton Cambridge CB24 6PP
tridentmedia.org @TridentMediaUK
• Editorial 3
Photography: Oliver Price
What do you think about tuition fees? Have your say @TridentMediaUK!
10,000 students march through London for free university education
Oliver Price | Contributing Writer Wednesday the 18th of November saw around 10,000 students and supporters parading from Malet Street to Westminster in the name of free university education. Police liaison officers said that a good outcome would be “peaceful protest”, and apart from a minor scuffle at Parliament Square by a fringe group where 11 arrests were made, the protest was largely non-violent. The march was organised by the University College London Union, and had various groups participating, including but not limited to, the National Campaign Against Fees & Cuts, the student wing of The People’s Assembly, The Student Assembly, UCLU Labour, The Green Party of England and Wales, The Socialist Workers Party, and various students and students’ unions from across the UK. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, Professor Quintin McKellar CBE said in a recent speech that: “In the short term the £9k fee should be indexed [raised] according to inflation.” Or that alternatively, the fee cap could, “...be lifted altogether creating a true market in Higher Education...” resulting in, “...real competition.” If Professor McKellar’s second suggestions were implemented, it would mean that universities would be able to charge whatever they wanted in fees, potentially giving
the opportunity for universities to compete against each other for students by changing their prices for their courses. In response to Professor McKellar’s comments, Dr Shahrar Ali, one of the two Deputy Leaders of the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW) said that: “People are going to flee, they’re going to have to go elsewhere even at the cost of mobility,” and that it would be a, “very short sighted move.” He said he was fighting for, “fair education, access to education for all; even in higher education in the universities. We rely on those people... to pursue the goods of humanity and at the moment they are being priced out of those options so we are doing ourselves a disservice.” He made a comparison to Germany and other European countries with free education saying that, “even on economic grounds, [free university education] pays for itself.” He went on to disparage the current government saying that “education for its own sake is a value to be reckoned with, and that is something that is systematically downgraded by this government.” Amelia Womack, the other Deputy Leader of the GPEW said that we have seen universities be, “operated more like a business than an institution for learning.” Regarding the cost to the taxpayer she made the claim that, “economists have predicted that these tuition fees
are going to cost the taxpayer more than the old system, because they are so extortionate that most people will be unable to pay them in their lifetimes.” She said that there is an, “intergenerational inequality,” because those politicians that introduced fees and subsequently raised them went to university for free and also got maintenance grants to supplement their education. Individuals paying off their education will have difficulty investing in their future, with a pension or a mortgage for a home, due to the sheer size of the student loans. Regarding the government she said that their policies in regards to education were “hedonistic policies, thinking of the short term and not the long term.” Nathan Steele, the President of UCLU Labour argued that he doesn’t “believe that education should be something that you have to pay for; it should be accessible for all no matter what background you’re from,” and that you shouldn’t, “have to pay to get a good education, there should be a good education that everyone is entitled to.” “Due to the current job market, people are unable to repay those debts,” he said. “So you’re winding up with system that you’re raising tuition fees in order to put people into more debt that they can never pay back. All you’re going to do is cause the government more debt in the long run.”
Romayne Phoenix, Co-Chair of The People’s Assembly, expressed worry that students are “not only are coming out of college with these great debts around their neck, but with the housing crisis and the cost of living crisis, how are they supposed to make their way forward in the world… and build a decent life?” She also criticised the Liberal Democrats as they, “reneged their promise…” to oppose any rise in tuition fees. While not part of their manifesto, there are rumours in the political world that if the Conservatives get in again that tuition fees will increase yet again. Labour have also yet to make a commitment, but Ed Miliband, the leader of the Labour Party, has made speeches claiming that he would lower tuition fees to £6,000 a year if elected as Prime Minister. The Liberal Democrats haven’t made any official statement, but many students feel burned by them after they promised to vote against any rise in tuition fees in 2010, and then did the opposite once they got into power in the coalition. The sheer number of students at the protest, and the amount of people that support free education, demonstrates that the cost of education will be a key point of contention in the 2015 General Election amongst young voters.
Give it a Go! Media Takeover
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Kealie Mardell | UniVerse
Linu & Bryony in the Crush Radio studio
Linu Peter & Bryony Wharfe Contributing Writers The Give it a Go! Media Takeover was on Tuesday 18th November from 12-5pm, with a 12-3pm session on radio and a 3-5pm session with print.
After 20 minutes of asking around and walking into random lectures, we found the Trident Media Suite which was nicely tucked in the corner of Hutton Hall above the Student Union. It consists of a group area and two studios (Crush Radio and
Cocktail Making
Crush Underground) where we learned the basics of how to use the software and what is involved by being a radio presenter/DJ. We also got to experience being on the radio ourselves when we joined a show hosted by Louis Reader and Joash Jarrold. After
getting our own radio slot (Crush Radio, Tuesdays from 2-4pm, don’t miss out!) we moved onto look at print. One of the activities we were able to do was conduct an interview with Carly Benton, the Assistant Student Activities Manager of Hertfordshire Students’ Union. Benton talked about the exciting events that are happening with the Give it a Go! programme and the Media Takeover itself. “This year, we wanted to kick start our new media suite,” said Benton. “There is lots of great stuff in media that we wanted to showcase and get other people involved.” The Give it a Go! programme, which was previously only available for two weeks last year, has now been extended throughout the whole year. Events such as the Harry Potter World trip, cocktail making sessions, trips to Birmingham, and ice skating are just some of the events for this week! To find more, and to see what other events are available this year, visit the Student Union website under Give it a Go! or email giveitago@ hertfordshire.su
Brad Johnson | Deputy Editor Give it a Go! really had a busy day on Wednesday 19th November. Not only did they run the very successful trip to Harry Potter World near Watford, following the event they had a cocktail making session! This saw the Style Bar taken over by the team to run a very special event where, for one time only, students got to take on the role of being a cocktail bartender and to create their own cocktails. A demonstration was given by one of the Forum Hertfordshire’s fantastic bar crew and then the students got the opportunity to have a go at all aspects of cocktail making, from crushing ice to shaking all the spirits, and of course finishing their drinks.
Did you attend the cocktail making session? Let us know what you thought and send your photos to @TridentMediaUK
For just £5, a bargain price, students received four full sized cocktails that they made themselves. The evening ran in two sessions with all participants getting free entry to the Forum Hertfordshire’s mid week party, Bonk! From Mojitos to Purple Rains, the evening was a roaring success and brought to an end a very successful Give it a Go! day. For more events like this, visit hertfordshire.su/giag or email giag@hertfordshire.su.
• News 5
Harry’s Wondrous World
Alex Jungeling | Contributing Writer I am not going to lie to you, on the 19th of November, I woke up very over excited. It was the day of the Harry Potter Studio Tour. I obviously had other things going on that day related to uni work and assignments, but that whole day was taken over by the prospect of this trip. I’m not going to spoil it for those who haven’t been, as I wouldn’t want to ruin the magic for anyone, but I am going to tell you just how good a trip it is. If you didn’t know, the studio is where they filmed a great deal of the films, and contains many props, scenes, costumes and more, that they used and have put together for our enjoyment. We happened to go during ‘Hogwarts in the Snow season’, and this was a very good time to go. Having been once before, around the time it first opened, they have already made many improvements, adding more exhibits and improving the layout and general experience. If you haven’t been yet, the tour is made up of two large
warehouses, with an outside middle area for the larger things they built outside. In this outside bit, for ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’, it was...well... snowing. This was a fairly warm day in November and they had decided to make it snow. I don’t want to tell you anything specific about what they have in the tour, but the parts they have outside looked even more spectacular with the snow falling over them. The exhibitions, just as the snow and dark arts they have at the moment, vary throughout the year, sometimes having the animals from the films on site. A few other parts I will tell you about, that I feel don’t spoil it too much, are the fact they have a green screen area, where you can have a go at flying on a broom or in the Weasley’s Ford Anglia, and you can also get a picture. In case anyone doesn’t know, this means that in your picture there is a landscape different to the green behind you in real life. So you look as though you are flying through midair, or being chased by the Hogwarts Express. Another more interactive part
is spell casting, where the person who trained the actors in how to cast spells, has created a video teaching you to do the same. You are given a wand, stood in front of him and a mirror and away you go. You can do this in a group too, so you don’t need to feel quite so silly if you were worried. There are a few different ticket prices; just the tour for £29 and the Complete Studio Tour Package which also includes a Digital Guide and Paperback Souvenir Guidebook for £33.45. I would highly recommend the audio guide, it is less than a fiver and gives you a full guide of the tour, read by Tom Felton - Draco Malfoy for those of you that aren’t so good with actors names. It includes extra videos, behind the scenes interviews, shots of them filming and picture galleries. It is a good few hours of extra information and good value, or at least I think so! Overall the tour is worth the trip and the money, but there is just one issue that all of us there had with the experience. The shop. It is right at the end of the tour, and knowing
you are giddy with excitement and overwhelmed by everything you have just seen, you have the need to buy EVERYTHING they have on offer! You go between clothes, scarves, wands, books, mugs, stationery, soft toys and practically anything else you can think of. And you want to buy all of it. The only problem with this is that every item in the shop is very overpriced. You could easily spend double or even triple the price you paid to get into the tour in the first place! I was very proud of myself for this time not buying anything whilst ‘high on Harry Potter’ but they do have an online shop, and I don’t think I can hold out forever. I could go on and on about how amazing the whole thing is, but I wouldn’t want to spoil the almost staggering thrill when you see it all for the first time, so you’ll all just have to see it for yourselves, and, without sounding too cheesy, it truly is a wondrous place with a magical feeling. The trip was part of Give it A Go Week, which will run next semester from 16-22 of February.
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Operation Christmas Child Aiden Perrins | Contributing Writer On Wednesday 19th November students came together to help out with the Operation: Christmas Child wrap up, otherwise known as the Shoebox Appeal. Operation: Christmas Child is an appeal set up by the Christian charity, Samaritan’s Purse. The students assembled shoeboxes from folding flat pieces of cardboard, following the instructions provided, and then wrapping up presents to put in them. The shoeboxes will then get taken to a convenient drop-off point and then sent to less fortunate children all over the world. There are different reasons that students want to be involved with the project. Committee member, Holly Parsons, said she likes to get involved because “my brother was in
hospital, for quite a while, when he was a young kid. I remember there was a man that came round dressed up as Santa and gave presents to all the little kids in the hospital ward. When I was looking at the student volunteering page, this was the one that meant the most to me”. Whereas participant Lacey Puls simply said: “I love wrapping Christmas presents, I really love it”. But whatever the reason for volunteering, everyone who helps out with this great cause contributes to making a difference to a child’s festive season. To raise the money for the presents, various fundraising events were held. Masters student Ade Adesina, who has been in the Operation: Christmas Child committee for the previous three years, went into
more detail: “We did a cake sale, a pub quiz, and we got Krispy Kreme donuts and sold them. We raised about 400 pounds”. To make it more impressive he then went on to add: “We didn’t start fundraising until about two weeks ago.” Each shoebox costs approximately £3.30 to pack when the presents have been bought in bulk. They all contain at least a flannel, some soap, a toy, a pair of gloves or socks and some sweets. As well as this, the boxes contained some other bits and bobs such as bouncy balls, hairbrushes and hairbands, colouring books, pens and notepads. These sorts of gifts will be greatly appreciated in third world countries and will mean so much to the children and families receiving them. Operation: Christmas Child
was set up in 1990 by relief and development charity Samaritans Purse. Since then it has blossomed to now being the UK’s largest children’s Christmas appeal. Across the UK there are thousands of schools, churches, universities and other organisations getting involved with this project, and making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. If you have missed the opportunity to build a shoebox you can still do it online at shoeboxworld. co.uk. Here you can build your own shoebox by dragging items you want to include into the box and then all you have to do is make a donation towards the items and the shipping cost. You too can make a difference in the life of a child.
• News 7
Ellie Pilcher | Contributing Writer On Thursday 13th of November, the Weston Auditorium was full of movie-lovers and Hertfordshire residents eager to watch the fall and rise of the beloved Elstree Studios. In a documentary of interviews, spanning four years of work, Barbara Windsor narrated the tale of the studios from its changing-hands to its part in the creation of Star Wars and now as the home of BBC and ITV productions such as ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Dancing on Ice’. The Documentary itself shows the 100 years of filmmaking that has been done on the University’s backdoor step. It was a memorable evening for all those that attended, and all those that took part in the production of the documentary, which includes several Film and Television students as well as the University’s very own Howard Berry, Bob Redman and Paul Welsh MBE of the volunteer group Elstree Screen Heritage. Following the two hour long film, in which Simon Pegg made us laugh, Stephen Spielberg inspired us, and Brian Blessed boomed with pride at the time he raced to Elstree Studios on his bike, came
an interesting Q&A with some of Elstree’s most prestigious workers: • Jan Harlan, executive producer of Stanley Kubrick’s feature films Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jack, and Eyes Wide Shut, and Spielberg’s Artificial Intelligence A.I. • Emmy Award winner Martin Baker, floor manager for The Muppet Show and producer of The Great Muppet Caper, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Yonderland BAFTA nominee Ray Merrin, post-production sound for for Alien, Return to Oz, Chariots of Fire, Batman and one of the first people to use Dolby sound. The Q&A gave the audience the chance to ask their questions on what it was like to work at Elstree Studios in its hay-day, with directors such as Stephen Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick and even with the Muppets! When asked about some of their favourite memories of Elstree Studios, and working with Stanley Kubrick, Jan Harlan described the time when Kubrick and he had taken some establishing shots of a small hotel in Oregon, for The Shining, but when it came to creating them in Elstree Kubrick added a rather large
ballroom. Harlan said to Kubrick “These really wouldn’t fit in the hotel’ and Stanley’s answer was “It’s a ghost film.” As the film and the Q&A progressed it was clear that Stanley Kubrick, the incredibly talented and precise director of The Shining, was not to be messed with, but nonetheless a truly respected artist. Baker was much more poetic, unable to pinpoint a favourite memory with his experience in the film industry he declared: “It was an extraordinary career. One week I’d be walking down the hallway with John Wayne, the next its George Burns, and we saw Liberace, it was just amazing period of growing up and learning television and film.” Ray Merrin had a great answer when asked who his favourite actors were, describing the time that he and Barbara Streisand had a duet together: ‘I just sang the first line, then she sang the next, which reminded me of the third line which I sang and she sang the fourth. I said now stop: ‘nobody’s gonna believe I’m singing a duet with Barbara Streisand’ Finally all three of the gentlemen offered some advice to any students or people who wanted to start in the film industry. Merrin stressed the point
that if you want to do it, to do it. To climb the ladder, to learn to make the perfect cup of tea, to not get to the top too quickly or you’ll upset a lot of people. To work for it and earn what you get. Baker advised to stay with it and to never give up. Stressing that opportunities are hard to find as everything is fairly freelance: “Sometimes people want to be there, not want to get there.” Whatever job you get at the beginning is part of being in the industry, even if it is about fetching tea or getting mail. It can lead to bigger and better things, as it did for him. Harlan finished by saying that ‘it is very easy to make a film, it is very difficult to make a film other people want to see. To make a great film, it is almost a miracle – it is like a great painting or a great symphony or a great novel – it is very difficult. [But] most importantly for young filmmakers you have to be in love, you have to be passionately in love with a story to see it through.’ A highly inspirational, fascinating and enjoyable evening. If you are interested in learning more about ‘Borehamwood to Hollywood’ visit the webiste: theelstreeproject. org and check out UHArts website for more details on the event.
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Humanities Careers Conference 2014
Emma Langschied Design Sub Editor The Careers Conference 2014 was another success, with students being offered internships and advice from six speakers in the Weston Auditorium. The companies represented included John Lewis, Tesco, and the NHS, which all offer positions that a humanities degree could lead to. University of Hertfordshire graduate Calum DiLieto was amongst the speakers, representing Executive Grapevine as Vice President, Editor and Head of Content. Hosting the event was journalism professor Sharon MaxwellMagnus. She introduced DiLieto as “perhaps one of the youngest magazine editors.”
“I know you’re probably wondering why there’s a fresher on the stage,” began DiLieto as he took the microphone. He then went on to explain all the opportunities he had taken alongside his degree in order to make contacts and break into his career. Ultimately, DiLieto describes himself as “a yes man,” after the 2010 MTV award winning film Yes Man, with Jim Carrey. “If you say yes to opportunities you’re going to be better off,” said DiLieto. “Sharon sent an email in 2010 with a work experience opportunity. I said yes. Now I run it.” DiLieto was Head of Music at the Union’s radio station, Crush Radio. He even pitched the need to create a new role of Head of Interviews to Sabbatical Officer Thom Palser, who
approved of it and appointed DiLieto to liaise between student journalists and acts at The Forum Hertfordshire. “Take the time that you’ve got now whilst you’re in university,” advised DiLieto. Fame Magazine was thriving during DiLieto’s time at university. Regrettably, in 2012 the founder of Fame Magazine, Deji Osobukola, passed away. DiLieto described Osobukola as “probably one of the most inspiring people I’ve met. Invaluable.” DiLieto co-edited the final issue of Fame, dedicated to Osobukola and he believes that it was taking the initiative with Fame that opened career doors for him. “Now imagine your dreams are inside a castle,” said DiLieto. “This is a serious castle. When the door
opens, grab it. Run in. Really, really push and collect as much experience as you can.” “Make sure that you’re employable by the time you leave,” said DiLieto. “Be a yes man.” You can find out more from DiLieto on Twitter @CalumDiLieto.
The final year and beyond: Preparing for Life After Graduation Sophie Patten and Ferdouse Akhter Contributing Writers A ‘Preparing for Life After Graduation’ workshop was recently held for final year students in order for them to understand the variety of skills which they can bring to the workplace. With presentations from a range of speakers, the session prepared students for the process of applying for jobs and graduate schemes, and gave them an insight into the minds of employers. Speakers stressed the importance of good communication skills and for candidates to highlight these when applying for jobs. When completing any degree, there is a breadth of opportunities to develop one’s interpersonal skills, and these should be emphasised in your application. These skills can be gained from many aspects of study, for example group projects enable one to work cohesively with other members
and even take leadership of the team, both of which are valuable assets that can be highlighted when applying for jobs. Helen Meyer, Careers Advisor at the University, gave a variety of tips to enhance candidates’ applications, including mirroring the language of the job description in order to associate yourself with the recruiter. Some pointers which attendees found useful included a range of websites suggested by Helen in order to kick-start searching for a career. The websites (listed at the end) were recommended alongside completing career quizzes in order to help students find the ideal careers for them. Although many of you may want to jump into the world of work, it is worth bearing in mind the other options available such as Masters and PGCE courses. It was also advised in the workshop to keep your career options open, by not singularly applying to graduate schemes. Many
companies offer internships and graduate jobs that are not necessarily part of a scheme, yet can offer similar opportunities, and can be an effective method of bypassing mass graduate recruitment processes. Alongside academic achievements, other activities that can enhance your application process include: • Seizing voluntary opportunities that the Student’s Union organise (hertfordshire.su/activities/ volunteering) • Having a professional online presence. Linkedin allows you to build a profile and offers an insight into career paths of graduates with the same qualifications as you • Contributing to societies and extracurricular activities to show engagement and commitment Help with starting your career can be found at the Careers and Placements office at LB416, Hutton Building, College Lane or at M018,
The Atrium, de Havilland Useful Websites: prospects.ac.uk/ prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_ planner_login.htm milkround.com targetjobs.co.uk graduate-jobs.com jobs.theguardian.com
• News 9 Give a Spit, Save a Life Marrow Donor Event Alex Jungeling | Contributing Writer
UH Lecturer completes three marathons for diabetes awareness Lashara van Heerden | Contributing Writer Lecturer Simon Vinnicombe is setting the bar high for dads by having recently run not one, but three marathons back to back to raise awareness for his son, George, who has Type One Diabetes. Between writing a play, working on his upcoming film, teaching Creative Writing and being his son’s hero, Vinnicombe would also like to help raise awareness about his son’s disease. On Thursday 12th of November, the day before World Diabetes day, Vinnicombe started the first of his three marathons at 3am and finished at 3:30pm, having completed a whopping total of 78.6 miles in 12.5 hours. It all started when George, now three and half, was six months old and went to A&E for what was assumed to be a chest infection, only for Vinnicombe and wife Tracy to find out five hours later that George was in critical condition. He recalls the ‘unreal’ and ‘awful dream’ of watching his son in the ambulance and the ‘realisation’ of what it could mean if they lost him. Vinnicombe lost two and a half stone in five days from all the adrenaline and stress, and recollects being ‘in fight mode all the time’. There was a danger of brain damage and George had been unconscious a few days. Vinnicombe recalls that
whilst holding him George ‘looked at me’ and Vinnicombe knew immediately the look of recognition and the feeling of knowing ‘it was him’; there was no permanent damage. George is just like any normal three year old, except he has a mini computer, which looks a bit like mobile phone, attached to his body that regulates his insulin. The cannula, which is a needle tube, needs changing every three days. Diabetes for George means a lot of needles. To be exact it means 10,000 finger pricks and 350+ cannulas. In order to regulate his blood sugar levels regular blood tests are done. There is ‘nothing he can’t have’, but they do have to be ‘smart’ about what they give him. It can be quite ‘frustrating’ as a parent having to ‘hover over him’ while he is playing a game to check his blood levels. George is ‘very good’ about it all as he ‘understands’, but things that ‘get him down’ are changing the
needles every couple of days as it hurts. Vinnicombe humbly boasts that George is ‘incredible’ and that he is an ‘extremely bright and sensitive boy’. Vinnicombe thinks George is a ‘much, much better version’ of himself. It is not surprising then that the concerned father was determined to do something to help his son. Diabetics that have poor control of their blood sugar are at a high risk of damaging their organs or losing their sight. Vinnicombe believes that ‘if people shout loud enough’ then the world will listen and find a cure. His ambition is to be a part of helping that happen sooner. Through social media, blogging and video Vinnicombe has tried to get Diabetes the attention it needs. He knew that ‘a bake sale’ or a marathon wouldn’t be enough and that it had to be ‘extraordinary’ to get the public’s eye. That’s when he decided three marathons would ‘grab peoples attention’ and it did. Vinnicombe and George are very close. When George explains who his list of friends are like ‘Charlie and William, and Mummy’ they are all his friends, but ‘Daddy is my hero’. Vinnicombe says being George’s hero has nothing to do with the running, but rather that he has been lucky as a writer to be able to spend time with him and form that bond with his son. George ran the last 30m with his dad at the end of the tri-marathon.
Every 20 minutes someone in the UK finds out they have blood cancer. All the more reason Trident Media are pleased to inform you that Hertfordshire Marrow have just held their second event of the year. It was the Donor Recruitment Event on Monday 17th November in the de Havilland Atrium, and it was a great success. There was a high interest and 52 people signed up to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Donor register. This meant the target of 150 donors for the year for Herts Marrow has already been surpassed, with the 111 people who signed up at the first event earlier in the year, at the Forum Hertfordshire. This means that, statistically, someone we have signed up to the donor register, from these two events combined, will hopefully go on to be a match for someone with blood cancer, and donate their bone marrow, potentially saving a life. There will be more events throughout the year, based on donor recruitment, volunteer campaigns and fundraising. Getting more people on the register, asking anyone to join who wishes to help take part in such an important cause, and raising money for these life saving transplants, continues to take place. It costs around £100 for a person to just be put on the register, and once on the register the average person has a 1 in 1200 chance of ever being called upon to donate. If you are interested in donating, volunteering or finding out more, please send all questions and comments to herts@ukmarrow.org. We would love to hear from you and continue to share the importance of donors and the charity.
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Does sport help employability? YES
NO
Taveena Atsu | Features Sub Editor
Brad Johnson | Deputy Editor
Sport helps people to channel excess energy, aggression and stress through controlled activity. The fact that sports are universal, and encourage different types of people to come together means they are able to show potential employers that they can be a committed team member and work with a diversity of characters to achieve a common goal. It pushes people to be organised, as a schedule is needed if one is to balance numerous training sessions with studies, society meetings, and all the rest of it! People of all abilities can take part in most sports a university has to offer. Often, people feel unenthusiastic about taking part in other extracurricular activities as they are worried about the pressure that may come with it. Taking part in sports can be an easy and fun way for all types of people to improve on transferable skills such as timekeeping, commitment and tenacity, which every employer is after. These are all valuable things to learn, which can all be put on a CV and be developed as a result in participating in sports. If employers aren’t looking for these in their potential employees, what are they looking for?!
Although there is a lot of research that would suggest that sport does aid your employability, I believe that to solely say sports can make you more employable can often overlook many other extra curricular activities that can also improve your employability. Getting involved with activities such as the creative arts, media and even volunteering in local community projects can enhance your employability the same if not more than being involved in sport. Creative and performing arts are often overlooked as employability skills but in more ways than one, they can help develop presentation skills and build confidence in those who often lack it. By stepping out of your comfort zone and having to deliver either performances or information to large groups of people, some that you may never have met, can develop skills that are directly transferable into the workplace. Although many would argue that this is the same in sport, for many sport is a very comfortable place for those involved and doesn’t require them to take risks or experience new things due to how it is governed and ruled over.
The opinions expressed in this debate are of the contributors are are not endorsed by UniVerse, its editors or Hertfordshire Students’ Union
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ESN goes to Edinburgh Krystyna King | Events Secretary ESN Hertfordshire took 100 students to Edinburgh, where they joined a further nine hundred ESN participators from across the UK. After an early check in, a walking tour around the city was the first item scheduled. According to ESN Herts- there are a ‘lot of hills’ in Edinburgh! There was so much to see in the capital city of Scotland that everyone split up and visited the things they most wanted to see. After spending the day sightseeing and visiting some of the historic attractions, everyone met up for dinner and shared stories about their day. The evening, consisted of a bar crawl which finished in the City Nightclub, reserved for ESN members only. “I loved exploring Scotland, and got around pretty easily and I really loved seeing the castle and the elephant house where the first Harry Potter [book] was written,” said Brittany Jarnot. After a long party night and little rest, Saturday commenced with Ghost tours, Whiskey experiences and Castle events all planned throughout the day. The Castle has encountered
battles, royalty have lived and died there and there has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the 12th Century. This alone inspires generations and has approximately a million people a year visiting this iconic attraction, so this was one of the most anticipated sights for the travellers. The second night meant attending two nightclubs, City again and CAV, which saw the large group into the early hours of the morning. Brittany from America added: “The club was amazing, I had a great time. We literally danced for 6 hours straight. It was also pretty cool to share the hostel rooms with so many people because you got to meet a lot of people that you didn’t have the chance to know before. It was a great experience and I’m very glad I was given the opportunity to be a part of it.” Although the trip was ending and the long return to Hatfield was inevitable, a reminder of the other ESN trips were advertised, including The Lion King Musical in the London West End and the excitement already beginning for the next international trip to Amsterdam in March. “I had an amazing weekend, said Martine Kleuver. “I did not expect it to be this much fun,
and would love to this again next year; ESN really helped us integrate into this culture and helped us learn a lot more about British culture in general with amazing trips in our short period of our exchange semester.” For more information about upcoming trips, check out ESN Hertfordshire on Facebook or follow @ESNHerts on Twitter.
Cedric Kunia | ESN
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Meet your Elected Officer: Bella Colafrancesco Taveena Atsu | Features Sub Editor In this week’s Meet your Elected Officer, we have Bella Colafrancesco, Vice President Student Activities! Here to represent your views when it comes to student activities, Bella looks after students involved in activities and around campus. From sports, societies, volunteering and charity to Herts Halls League and training opportunities, she’s here to help with it all. “One aspect of the role is to develop initiatives to ensure that the activities and project the Students' Union run are relevant and appeal to the variety of students we have at our institution. With the Elected Officer we will direct and set the objectives and strategy of the Union to ensure it is the best it can be for our students.” Throughout her undergraduate degree, Bella was involved in various activities. She was a member of the Athletics Union as well as the Hockey Club. She is extremely passionate about student activities and finds it rewarding to know that she can support the maintenance of activities on campus. “In my final year I started with work with the Active Students project when it first started and I loved being an activator,” Colafrancesco said. “I decided to run in the election as I really wanted to be a part of ensuring Active Students continued past its three year funding cycle and I knew that by going for the Vice President Student Activities role I would be able to be a part of the sustainability of the project.” Nonetheless, getting involved in things around university can have some fantastic benefits for your studies too! Bella thinks that: “The main reason why I think some students might be reluctant to sign up to extra-curricular activities is because they don't see the benefit to their education.” As well as this, a lot of students are hesitant about signing up to do activities outside of their studies as they might be shy or anxious to meet new people. “On the other hand, extra-curricular activities are great for graduate employability!” she said. “They teach skills that employers
value which I think is forgotten, or not thought about sometimes.” By promoting the advantages of participating in extra-curricular activities, Bella feels like students will see that they really are worthwhile. “You can choose anything you're passionate about, and then you can develop the skills the academics won't teach or allow you to practice.” Studies carried out by Sheffield Hallam found that students who took part in sports and volunteered are earning about £5000 more than students who didn’t. “The skills that are learnt are all transferable. Things like resilience, organisation, time management, communication and leadership can all be developed and it's these attributes that employers are screaming out for from graduates!” Signing up for extracurricular activities can be extremely worthwhile, but it’s important to remember how to manage your time well too! Bella admits that her diary was her ‘best friend at university.’ Organisation is an essential aspect of Isabella’s success, as well as the support from her fellow club members. “It was ok to miss the odd training session or ask a colleague to cover me if I needed some extra time to study,” she said. “Your support network is always something to remember too, as they will help you if you need it - you're never alone when you're in a team or part of a student activity group.” Bella advises that: “Students should be open-minded. On face value you might not think you will enjoy something but it can open up a whole new world in trying something new.” She believes that getting a break from your studies through extra-curricular activities can be a productive way to spend your time. “We all reach that point where we can't stare at that textbook anymore, so by having something else in your life you at least have that release when you need it.” And if you haven’t discovered how you’d like to spend your spare time, don’t forget you can set up your own society too at Hertfordshire.su.
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Meet your Students’ Union: Advice and Support
Aisha Kasmani | Contributing Writer We spoke with Faith Goligher from Hertfordshire Students’ Union Advice and Support Centre about her experiences and the services they provide. UniVerse: Tell us about you and what you do for the Students’ Union? Faith Goligher: Well, I have been here for just over two years and I am a Student Welfare Advisor and as a service we provide free and confidential advice and support about basically anything. We like to consider ourselves as the frontline for students. So if they are unsure of anything, if they are worried, if they want to ask any questions OR sit down and have a cup of tea with someone that’s impartial, independent to the University and who would just listen. Just a one stop shop really for student queries. UV: Is there a large number of students that come in to use this service? What is the turn-up like? FG: The numbers have just been increasing and increasing. It has been really good. This may have possibly happened because we have started campaigns and awareness events for the student population. We have
lots of people coming in for tonnes of different things; no day is ever the same, incredibly varied. UV: When students come by and speak to you about their problems, how do you feel about this? FG: I just try my best to first of all, listen. Because sometimes people don’t necessarily want guidance, sometimes they just want someone that they can talk to, just someone who will just listen. It’s like “a problem shared is a problem halved” just getting things off your chest. UV: have you got anything you could share with us? FG: If they’re feeling lonely for example, here’s a classic example, at the beginning of the year when students joined, they haven’t necessarily found the friendship they gel with, and we just talk to them about how they can get out there and meet new people. Obviously from the Students’ Union’s perspective, there’s lots of things they can get involved in to meet new people. UV: We have heard about your advice clinics, could you tell us more about this? FG: We do actually hold advice clinics for three afternoons a week at the de Havilland Campus. It’s 1:30 – 4:00pm,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. We have started doing campaigns at both College Lane and deHav trying to stretch what we do. UV: What inspired you to do this? FG: It’s really cliché, I have just always wanted to help people. It is wonderful meeting different people from around the world and its fantastic to just be there for someone when they need it most. Especially if they come to you feeling down and they leave your office with a smile on their face, it makes me feel worth being here and making a difference. UV: So you’re doing what you enjoy? FG: I do! I love this job! UV: Did you ever do this before or is this your first job as a Student Advisor? FG: I did actually do volunteering, pretty much throughout my life, lots of peer mentoring, supporting and guidance. UV: Did you go to this university? FG: I did actually! I did psychology, which also kind of ties in to what I do now. You can actually see some of what you learn in action, which is very interesting. UV: What are some of the major
queries that people come with to you? FG: The most common ones are about education; it could be anything, issues with their course or support and guidance. Educational queries are the most popular. Closely followed by housing queries, a lot of the times this is the first time students have lived away from home and it’s scary. No one teaches you how to understand a tenancy agreement or how to talk to your landlord and deal with disputes. This is the second biggest query. UV: What would be the best way for students to contact you? FG: There’s basically a few ways, you can drop in, give us a phone call or drop an email. There’s no best way, whatever is easiest for them. We are happy to advise students over the phone or email that are long distance, because we understand that sometimes if students are on placement, they still need advice and guidance. So we are happy to help them anytime, anywhere. We just want to make it really accessible to everyone. For student advice and support: Call: 01707285022 Email: advice@hertfordshire.su
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Meet the lecturer: Dr Brilliant Sigabade Mhlanga Aimone Sharif | Contributing Writer For our second edition of “Meet the lecturer” we met Dr Brilliant Sigabade Mhlanga, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and an internationally renowned researcher. Dr Mhlanga is an exciting, eloquent speaker whose passion for teaching can be seen in the captivating way he delivers his lectures. We caught up with him as he was preparing for his presentation due to be delivered in Geneva, Switzerland where he would address the 7th Session of the United Nations’ Forum on Minority Issues. He is also an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow. When we asked how Dr Mhlanga would describe himself, he replied “a rural African academic with a very strong passion for fighting for social justice, especially the oppressed of this world, in particular, the minorities, and also African issues; i.e. political issues.” He also emphasises that he has a history with issues linked to civil society activism. Mhlanga takes his time to make his lineage and history clear; he is descendant of Zulu warrior, Gibide. His forbearer was a confidant of the Zulu monarch, who then migrated to present day Matebeleland, in Zimbabwe, and was part of the arrangement of the Ndebele Kingdom (founded in the mid-1820s) under King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana; which gives Dr Mhlanga a direct link to Royalty. Brilliant refers himself as a Sigabade (pronounced S’ga-ba-de), as he points out, linking it with Zulu short stabbing spear, the assegai.” I am sure you noticed my name ‘Brilliant Sigabade Mhlanga’ that name defines who I am, it defines who we are…it defines our source of origin, as people of eMhlangeni”. Brilliant then resumes his history by saying “I am a Mthwakazian who has a very strong natal link with the Zulu nation given my identity and the fact of my
belonging to a chieftaincy familythe Sigabade family. I can proudly proclaim that I am a Mthwakazian”. From a young age Brilliant was an activist; coming from a warrior background, with his parents, the Sigabades also having participated in the anti-colonial liberation struggles. However, Brilliant was quick to mention one very sad chapter in his life - as a victim and a survivor of the Gukurahundi genocide (1983-1988), meted on the people of Matebeleland, targeting the Ndebele people by the 5th Brigade led by Robert Mugabe, the then Prime Minister of Independent Zimbabwe. He lost a number of family members throughout those five years. He was quick to point out that a father that fought against colonialism raised him. Early on in his life Brilliant had a desire to see justice done following the genocide and so made it his life’s purpose to fight against any kind of injustice and oppression against minorities. Even at high school, Dr Mhlanga used his energy to fight against oppression in Zimbabwe. When he reached university that passion did not fade, he became the Secretary General of Student Representative Council (SRC) (the equivalent of our Students’ Union) at the University of Zimbabwe and still fought radically against the government of Zimbabwe’s oppression. Due to his strong opinions Brilliant was suspended four times from University and expelled twice from the University of Zimbabwe. He was able to successfully fight all the suspensions and expulsions through the High Court. Dr Mhlanga comes from a family of academics, with his father, Mgqhwetha Sigabade having been a teacher. After obtaining two undergraduate degrees from the University of Zimbabwe (a BA General degree and a BSc Honours in Sociology), he studied for his
Masters degree at the University of Natal (South Africa) in 2005, and was offered a scholarship to go to the University of Oslo’s Department of Media Studies as part of a sandwich program. He then completed his Master of Arts in Cultural and Media Studies with a cum laude (first class) in 2006. Dr Mhlanga later completed his PhD at the University of Westminster and started working as a Lecturer there until 2011 when the University of Hertfordshire offered him a position. Since 2011 he has been able to grow academically with the help of the School of Humanities and the university. “I am very grateful for the help I am getting here”, he states. When asked why media is a passion, he describes media as the fulcrum which social representation and mediation processes take place, and is quick to point out how politicians have been able to abuse the media. Media is a platform of communication; it is an important public sphere. Dr Mhlanga is a sociologist by training. He teaches Media, Cultural Studies, Research Methods in Social Sciences, Politics and International Relations. Teaching is very important for him; he enjoys communicating his ideas with others and sharing knowledge. He accentuates the importance of teaching; “I believe there is a strong connection between knowledge and power”. When we ask him what he thought he would be when he was younger he explains that at the age of seven or eight he read a book with the word “sociologist” in it and thought it sounded nice and decided that he wanted to be one, even thought at the time he was ignorant of what it meant. As he grew up and time passed he did not see himself being a teacher anymore, but more of a leader following the different
leadership roles he held. Eventually teaching opportunities arose he describes teaching as a calling that he could not run away from. “When teaching, I feel free, I feel like I am in my own bubble, away from the troubles of this world,” he explains with a passion. Even after all of that, he spends quality time with his two children, instructs Karate and writes and publishes; two disciplines that enable him to get away from the world for a while. Brilliant describes teaching freshers as a privilege as they come thirsty for knowledge and with expectations from university. He describes the process of adaptation to university life and willingness to move forward in life interesting and is honoured to be seen as a helper not only academically but socially through pastoral engagement with students. As we ask Brilliant for some tips for first years, his first response is surprising, “If you drink, make sure you drink 100 per cent and if it is time for doing school work, ensure that you work 100 per cent.” He would advise a student to balance their life well, socially and academically. He also advises students to manage their time properly and to have an open mind about everything, and he describes the university as a “market place of ideas.” Brilliant announces a very close departure from the University of Hertfordshire to go back to South Africa. He is still unsure when he will be leaving but he seems confident that within a short period of time he will be gone.
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Introducing: The MixedBag Society Kealie Mardell | Print Editor This year has seen the launch of many new societies, with over 140 running in total. We caught up with the brand new Mixed Bag Society, following their work with Raise and Give and first society meeting. The society secretary, Darshaalini Nadarajan, filled us in on what MixedBag is all about! UniVerse: What exactly is the MixedBag Society? Darshaalini Nadarajan: We are a group of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We would like to provide a platform for students to showcase their talents in various forms by running events throughout the year. UV: When did the society start and how did the idea come about? DN: We came up with the idea one month back. The society was founded in November with five people from different backgrounds who were sharing the same concepts and ideas.
We were a bunch of people from different student societies, so we thought it would be a great idea to collaborate with other societies to do events without narrowing them down to one area, like most of the other societies do. This will give a wide range of events and opportunities for people who are interested in making a change!
the upcoming year.
UV: What have you been up to so far? DN: We had the official kick off meeting on 21st of November in Hutton Hall. Also, we raised funds for RaG and were able to sum up £88 in one day. We have our ‘’Go Nutz with Donughtz’’ Krispy Kreme sale happening on 24th & 25th of November on both campuses. On 5th December we have planned Crab football as another fundraiser for RaG. Reason behind all this small scale events that we have done so far is to raise awareness about our society and also to raise funds for the big events that we planned for
This will be the biggest event which is happening for the first time in the University’s history. This will choose two contestants as the social face of the university. Alongside these big events we will be carrying out workshops and fun activities to engage with students. The workshops include dancing (Breakdancing, Salsa, Jazz, etc), Music (Guitar and acapella), photography (by professional photographers) and handcrafting (Origami, etc). There will be at least one workshop every week. We will also be having a cricket festival and an adventure trip in summer 2015.
UV: What have you got planned for the future? DN: We are planning really big events for the coming year. The main ones will be: • MixedBag Talent Night • MixedBag Sports Day • Mr and Miss Hertfordshire
UV: Why should people join the society? DN: Everyone can achieve good grades in their studies. But by joining the society you will be able to gain exposure and recognition for your talents. We also give you a chance to run your own events that will allow you to develop your soft and interpersonal skills as required by employers or as an entrepreneur. Such skills include Leadership skills, Communication skills, Event management skills, Networking skills, Teamwork and Organisation skills. And most of all you will be able to make new friends and great memories! You can find us on: Facebook: facebook.com/ UHMixedBagSociety Twitter: @uhmixedbag Instagram: @uhmixedbag Email: uhmixedbag@hotmail.com Have you been involved with any MixedBag events? Let us know what you thought @TridentMediaUK!
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St. Albans Literary Festival packed full of writing tips Krystyna King | Events Secretary St. Albans had their first Literary Festival from the 6-9th November. It was presented by local newspaper, the Herts Advertiser and sponsored by The Book Midwife. The weekend was filled with talks, workshops and interviews, all showcasing and celebrating a diverse range of Literature. For those that missed out, here are two of the events that were available during the festival: Travel Writing Workshop Six travel writers shared their work in Dagnall Street Baptist Church for the St. Albans Literary Festival on 8th November. The writers were; • Matthew Teller (Journey to the Mountain): How marking a historic anniversary at Jordan’s ancient city of Petra turned personal. • Amy Guttman (Yom Kippur in Iran): Observing the Day of Atonement with Tehran’s Jewish Community. • Steve Keenan (The Worst Rail Journey Ever): Recalling a less than perfect train ride from Venice to Belgrade. • Gillian Thornton (France at my Feet): Exploring a lesserknown corner of Europe’s most popular holiday destination.
• Ben Lerwill (Cities in the Clouds): A 9-day journey on foot through the Peruvian Andes, following one of the alternative Inca trails to Machu Picchu. • Andy Jarosz (To Central Asia with a box of soil): Travelling through Uzbekistan to deliver a very special gift. All of them had undergone a different experience, in varied places across the globe. Andy Jarosz’s article, ‘To Central Asia with a box of soil,’ stood out for his sentimental personal attachment of finding where his Grandfather was buried. The Writers transported 20 or so listeners from the Transhuance Festival, with lots of cows, the worst railway journey to Serbia to above the clouds through Peruvian Andes. Questions and answers revealed these writers really were well-travelled and although the majority had families, they still had the burning desire to do, see, and write more. Travel writing seems like an idyllic career, for those budding writers or explorers, especially a those who have thought about travelling after graduation. Lead by journalist Steve Keenan, the writers discussed the limitations of being a Travel Writer. Although enjoyable, it is highly competitive and struggles to maintain a liveable wage. Amy Guttman gave an
Grumpy Corner Mercedes Brazier | Sports Sub Editor As students, fast food is a necessity sometimes; we all know it, there is no point in denying that you don’t sneak to McDonalds after a heavy night out, or nip to KFC when your housemates don’t want to cook. That’s fine - it’s not the end of the world. But when you go to an event; which could be a music gig, a theme park, a fair etc., you’re not given a choice as to whether to eat the junk food or not. Junk food has become a part of our culture, where other countries think our national dish is fish and chips and where battered Mars bars are a delicacy. We moan about how obesity in young children has risen drastically due to lack of exercise and junk food, but as a nation we aren’t doing much to stop this rise. Theme parks are a major contributor
example of how she wrote five stories a month, for a top selling magazine and received approximately two hundred pounds. Guttman added, ‘There are many opportunities but are economically problematic.’ Blogging is free however, so all of the writers encouraged the audience to write whenever we are able; in our own country, in our town, even down our own road. They agreed that life is too short, so write what you love. With reference to how the digital world has evolved rapidly over ten years, it was suggested that the printing era was the prime time, the golden age of writing. But Matthew Teller stated, ‘There are many golden ages, and will continue to be.’ So, if you have a travel writing story let us know! How to write a GOOD book FAST I wasn’t sure what to expect from this workshop. At first I thought it would be tips and advice how to create your characters and paint a scenario for them. However, it was aimed at how to get published and the real reasons why we write. According to Mindy Gibbins-Klein, founder of The Book Midwife and our host for the hour workshop, people write for three reasons: Fame. Fortune. Fulfilment.
Fast Food: It’s fast but is it worth it?
to this with fast food restaurants and vans selling greasy food and fizzy drinks with no alternative, some have sandwiches and hot drinks but when there is junk food available young teenagers are hardly going to choose the healthier option. I’m not a crazy healthy eater, and do not pretend to not eat junk food, but when it’s not your health you’re looking out for its different. I recently took my 13 year old sister to a theme park and was not happy about having to feed her junk food for lunch and dinner. She wasn’t too bothered, and probably saw it as a treat, but being the protective sister that I am it would not have been my prefered meal for her. Bringing your own lunch seems the most reasonable thing to do; however when you are at any event, whether it be a Theme Park or music event, carrying around a bag becomes a pain; you can’t dance,
move around, and it can become heavy. Schools are doing more to combat obesity in young children and teenagers by providing substantial lunch options that are basically mini dinners, with the option to bring in fruit snacks for breaks. Our University also has a range of hot and cold food available, and there has been a rise in students who participate in sports due to The Oval’s Gym and the Active Students sessions that are available. It’s a shame that junk food is associated with having a treat at events, junk food makes you sluggish and bloated and does not give your body the nutrients it needs. So why do we eat it? Convenience? Cheap? Society norms? Either way, every now and then isn’t a problem, but when it’s your only option at events that’s when it becomes a problem.
Gibbins-Klein stated, “Your reason for writing is valid. Don’t let anyone tell you different.” After writing a fiction novel about epilepsy, something she was desperate to raise awareness, despite years of rejection letters. It was after ten years that she finally got her book published, and she decided to help others publish their books, who desperately wanted their stories to be heard. Advice that could be carried for all writers, even students writing their essays: ‘WRITERS BLOCK IS A MYTH!’ The reason for thinking we have Writers Block is because we have NO plan or a POOR one. Ideally you need to filter your ideas. More of Gibbins-Klein’s advice for writers included: • Complete a first draft • Without a first draft, there are no other drafts • Write it FAST • Keep it all in one style • Find test readers, ones you trust to read your work and can feedback to you If you want more advice on writing and publishing check out midwifebook.com, @MindyGK and @bookmidwife Did you attend any of the St Albans Literary Festival Events? Let us know what you thought!
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Hatfield House Frost Fair
Photography: Emma Langschied. With thanks to Natalie Jane Gifts Emma Langschied | Design Sub Editor Rain did not dampen shoppers’ spirits at Hatfield House’s Frost Fair last weekend. The Stable Yard, marquees and some of Hatfield House itself provided a festive sanctuary for visitors from Hertfordshire and surrounding counties. 200 stands, adorned with Christmas, gifts filled the area with a sweet Christmas scent to accompany the busy browsing of everything from ornaments, to cheese boards and fluffy hats to Indian scarves. One stall featured “smoke your own snowball” with e-cigarettes. Choirs sang outside as well as
entertainers, whilst visitors enjoyed mulled wine and Hatfield House gift shop. Festive food on offer included popular turkey and cranberry sauce baps among other hot food, and of course, as many cheese samples as visitors could handle. Indoor places to dine included The Coach House Restaurant and the Coach House Marquee, and also the Fine Food Fair marquee which hosted teas, coffees and an assortment of festive alcohol and Christmas treats. There were workshops throughout the three days, including creative Christmas decorating with flowers and other plants. Father Christmas even came to town, thanks to the Hatfield Rotary Club.
Next to the Christmas tree, inside the main room in Hatfield House was David Millman, who is becoming a regular stall holder at the Frost Fairs. “We’re very happy in this spot,” said Millman. “It’s lovely, and Cliff is a very nice organiser.” Millman has been in the fashion business since 1970. “I spent many years in India doing tiedyes and I got fed up of getting my hands dirty,” said Millman. “So now we do all of our own printing.” The weather raised concerns over the number of visitors who may be put off of attending the event. By Sunday, a message was posted on the Hatfield House website saying, “Due to the recent weather conditions parking for the Frost
Fair may involve a walk which is approximately 15 minutes from the car park. Suitable footwear would be advised.” However, the vast amount of smiling faces alone suggested that it was yet another Frost Fair success. If you missed the Frost Fair this year don’t panic, there are plenty more Christmas events throughout December: Christmas banquets, a vintage collectors’ market, a farmers ’ market and Christmas “battles of the decades,” to name a few. To find out more visit hatfield-house.co.uk/ events.
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Features •
Children in Need proves power of the public Chloe Burrowes | Contributing Writer This year’s Children In Need proved again what the public can do when they all unite. After a glitzy and star studded TV event on the 14th November, the charity managed to raise a staggering £32.6 million for children here and abroad. There was a wide array of celebrity hosts ranging from CiN’s Life president Sir Terry Wogan to The Saturdays’ star Rochelle Humes spanning over the seven hour star spangled marathon. Stars also joined in various performances and skits to raise money for the charity, from a reunion of S Club 7 to the Eastenders changing to the Greaseenders for one night only! However, minus all the
celebrity antics, there was also a lot of fundraising going on a bit closer to home. Two people who took fundraising for Children In Need very seriously are Robert Gammon and Joe Magin, two University of Hertfordshire students who were willing to go to any lengths to raise money for Children In Need. By setting cash goals, the pair gave themselves a task for each milestone ranging from eating Tabasco sauce to shaving all of their hair off – some which have already been achieved. I spoke to Gammon and Magin about their efforts to raise an impressive £200 between them. Gammon said: “We had a set of challenges that we mainly did on our show on Crush Radio. Depending
on how much money we raised, we would do a challenge. They ranged from back waxing, to shots of vinegar, shaving our heads, ice cubes down our pants and eating a hot sauce hotter than Tabasco.” Behind all the comedy and Magin even saying he only did it because Gammon said so and for a free haircut… there was a more heartfelt reason for putting themselves through these challenges. Magin added, “We felt that wasn’t much going around Children in Need at the university, so we decided to do something.” Gammon also added that he loves charity, and Children In Need is such a respected one that he loves to get involved in. They wouldn’t have been
able to meet their target without the generosity of people on and off campus; the duo raised an impressive £50 in just half an hour whilst broadcasting their show, ‘Gammon and Joe’s Notorious Show’. With the help of a Pudsey onesie and some Pudsey ears, they also walked around campus with buckets collecting money, people in the EleHouse being the most generous of them all! Comic Relief is next with a plan for all Crush Radio to get involved to raise as much money as possible. They are both incredibly proud of their achievements, Magin admitting, “I didn’t even think we’d get £100!” They also urge you to donate until December and follow the links at facebook.com/GamJoeNotShow.
• Health 19
Movember is back! Matt Creasey
Kevin Kuranyi
Shelby Loasby
Abi Perry
Bethany James
Tia Marsom
Get your ‘tache on! Movember is back and is as hairy as ever! Shelby Loasby | News Sub Editor The Movember movement is back for another year, hoping to raise awareness and money for men’s health. The charity is saving and improving the lives of men affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems. Last year the Movember Foundation managed to raise a staggering £87 million, with the UK alone raising £20.4 million. This year, they are hoping to beat their record and are continuing to encourage men and women to take part in the movement. The foundation challenges men to grow moustaches (and beards) during November, in the hope that
people will start talking about the cause, spread its ideas and donate. At the start of the month, men can sign up with a clean-shaven face and then attempt to grow a moustache for the next 30 days. They are then ‘talking billboards’ for the month, and can receive sponsorships and donations through the Movember website. Hertfordshire student Matt Creasey has taken up the challenge and Trident Media checked up on his progress half way through the month. He claims he is attempting to grow a moustache like footballer, Kevin Kuranyi. Whilst Creasey is not raising any money this time round, mainly due to the fact that he doesn’t think he can grow facial hair,
he strongly supports the cause and is keen on “the concept of making the private, public.” Creasey believes that Movember is a way of making “men’s health more visible to the world, in the same way that the Breast Cancer campaigns and Tickled Pink bows do for women.” He also said that by supporting the ‘mo’, he feels like a walking advertisement for the charity, spreading the word and making others think about doing it next year. Women can also get involved with Movember by becoming Mo Sistas. Unfortunately women can’t grow awesome moustaches, but this doesn’t stop them from signing up, donating money and helping
to spread awareness. Recent social media frenzy saw women getting creative and taking selfies of themselves with their hair across their face or a mini moustache drawn on their finger. Trident Media promoted this idea around UH, and quite a few female students joined in. Many students, lecturers and staff at the university are involved with Movember this year. Make sure you support them and donate to the Movember website uk.movember. com/donate Are you doing Movember this year, or helping to support the cause as a Mo Sista? Send us your photos @TridentMediaUK
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Health •
Worlds AIDS Day Laura Noakes | Deputy Editor December 1st marked World AIDS day, a day that raises awareness for those affected by HIV and AIDS. First established in 1988, this year’s theme was “Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation”. HIV is a virus that attack a person’s immune system, weakening them so they are unable to fight infections adequately. It is primarily transmitted through unprotected sex, but can also be spread via contaminated blood transfusions and needles and from mother to child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. AIDS is a progression of HIV, and happens when a person’s immune system is so weak they are unable to
fight infections any longer. Although there is currently no cure for AIDS, over the last twenty years there have been massive developments in treatment for those who suffer from HIV and this allows those affected to live much longer. However, there is still a great deal of stigma attached to AIDS sufferers. Many people are still confused about how HIV is passed on. To bust some of the myths: You cannot become HIV positive through saliva, flea bites or fish pedicures, and HIV does not only affect gay men - more HIV diagnoses in 2010 were acquired heterosexually than homosexually. The World Health Organisation is encouraging to people to take a selfie to reduce the stigma
attached to those suffering from HIV and AIDS. To join in the #facingaids campaign simply download the app, take a selfie, write a message saying why you are facing AIDS and share on social media. If you are sexually active it is important to practice safe sex and to have regular testing for HIV. The finger pricking test allows you to get your results in a minute. The Advice and Support Centre on College Lane, and Students’ Union on deHavillance offered free and confidential HIV testings on the 24th and 27th of November and can provide further information if needed.
Myths about winter flu: fact or fiction? Emma Langschied Design Sub Editor Colds and the flu are already beginning to creep into classrooms and with an “arctic freeze” forecast by scientists, it seems appropriate to filter out the fact from the fiction when it comes to tackling winter illnesses. Over-the-counter cold and flu medicine company, Theraflu, conducted some research to discover whether any advice passed down through generations about winter colds and flu actually relate to any scientific fact. “Feed a cold and starve a fever,” is a saying most people like to make the most of – well, when they have a cold that is. Unfortunately, the research concluded that it was little more than a saying. Eat healthily to become healthy again, is the advice experts offer. A balanced diet full of all the nutrients your body needs to recover will be far better than depriving it of that, or from eating too much and adding bloating and feeling lethargic to your list of symptoms. “Eat chicken soup,” is another tradition that seems too
good to be true. This one, however, is very beneficial, and it applies to all types of soup. The steam from the soup helps to reduce congestion and the soup itself will help to keep you hydrated. “Hog the pillows.” As enticing as this one sounds, it seems a little bit random. Surprisingly though, an extra pillow at night helps by elevating the head slightly, which can make it a bit easier to breathe. “Drinking milk produces more mucus,” – wrong. There is no evidence of this. In fact, milk is full of vitamins and minerals so it does a lot more good than it does bad for colds and flu. “Antibiotics cure colds and flu.” Colds and flu are viruses and antibiotics are for treating bacterial infections. So no, it’s not going to work. “The flu vaccine can give you the flu” - so send all of the elderly, pregnant and people more prone to medical complications to get flu vaccinations? Medical professionals know what they are doing here; the virus in the vaccine is inactive so it cannot make you ill. “Gargle salt water,” gross yes,
but brilliant, also yes. Salt dissolved in warm water can sooth a sore throat when gargled, but no, do not swallow it. “Sweat it out.” Wearing extra layers, going to the gym and steaming for long periods of time, are all more harmful than good. You cannot sweat out a virus; the only difference it could make is to cause you to feel more unwell by becoming dehydrated and exhausted. Instead, try to maintain a constant comfortable temperature. If you have
a fever, try putting a cold damp piece of cotton wool on your forehead to cool you down. Otherwise, just treat your body normally. If you have concerns that your cough, cold or flu could be something more serious this winter, then do not be afraid to make an appointment at the Medical Centre at College Lane by calling 01707 284444.
Shelby Loasby | UniVerse
• Health 21 Everything you need to know about diabetes Sachi Lulla | Contributing Writer The term ‘diabetes’ refers to a group of metabolic disease in which there is high level of blood sugar (Glucose) for elongated time, medically known as Diabetes Miletus (DM). There are three basic types of diabetes: Type I, where body fails to produce insulin, commonly referred as Juvenile Diabetes, Type II, in which cells of the body are not properly responding to insulin produced and sometimes pregnant women possess high glucose level without any history. This condition refers to the third form of diabetes, which is called gestational. Diabetes is traditionally overseen through glucose monitoring, and treated by various applications
and dosages of insulin. Research into treatment of diabetes is leading to new forms of medications and delivery systems. Glucose meters have evolved from large, painful devices to sleek styles that barely prick the skin. According to a 2013 survey, approximately 382 million peoples are being affected by diabetes worldwide, and the disease has emerged as the eighth leading cause of death among adults. Numbers of people affected are expected to raise to 532 million people by 2035, emerging as a serious health challenge for the future. Obesity is one of the major causes of adult onset diabetes, and this is something that students can control to reduce their risks. Diets that are heavy in highly
processed carbohydrates can be modified by selecting whole grain products instead. Along with diet modifications, a steady exercise regimen can also help. Physical exercise reduces the blood sugar level and is an important tool to keep diabetes at manageable level. It is good to burn the excess calories of our body most recommended is the healthy mix of cardio and balance/ flexibility exercises. As our society becomes more and more sedentary, obesity is becoming more pervasive. It is also suggested that students quit smoking. Smoking cessation is a wise idea to aid in prevention of a variety of diseases, and diabetes is among these. And last but not least, an occasional drink may help.
Numerous researchers have found that moderate alcohol consumption can help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes. Moderate alcohol intake helps to increase the efficiency of insulin being absorbed by glucose cells. Insulin is administered to diabetic patient subcutaneously; novolin, novolog, lentus, levemir, lente and Humalog are the commercially available insulin that acts rapidly. Nowadays there are many antidiabetic agents having lower risk. After diagnosis of diabetes patient should follow the proper medication and should routinely monitor their blood sugar level.
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Sport •
Malaysian students gather for Nottingham Games Gina Wong | Contributing Writer
Activator Interview: Annabel Mabin
It’s the season again where all Malaysians gather for a competitive sports competition.. Nottingham Malaysian Games (NMG) is an annual event and was created in 1985. It is also one of the largest student-led events at the University of Nottingham and in the UK. Approximately 6,000 Malaysians turned up for this huge event on the 22nd November, organised by the President of Nottingham Malaysian Society, Ashley Leong Pik May. There are a total of 14 games in the event with some of the most
popular being Volleyball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Football, Basketball, Netball, and some of Malaysia’s traditional games, Batu Seremban and Congkak. “The aim is to gather all Malaysians around the UK and develop the sportsmanship among students and promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Pik May. This year’s Nottingham Games was overall a success and received many positive comments. “The planning was good,” said Mark Low, Champion of the Men’s Singles Squash. “No chaos and all instructions were clear.”
A conjunctive event, the Malaysian Food Festival had a huge response and most of the Malaysians were happy and excited to have the chance to enjoy their national food. There are many varieties of traditional foods sold at the event such as Nasi Lemak Ayam Rendang, Fried Kuey Teow, Kuih Melayu, Ayam Perchik and many more. “The food is great,” said Chong Seng a student from Hertfordshire. “It’s also a good opportunity to introduce some of our traditional food to the locals.” During the Nottingham Games, committees encountered
problems that any event might face. Wei Han, Secretary of Nottingham Malaysian Society said: “The biggest problems that we had this year were the crowd control methods and the registration in the morning. As we have spent six months preparing this event we managed to minimize the problems, and the event went well.” So many Malaysians across the UK are away from home, it was heartwarming to see such a successful event and get to see old friends.
Mercedes Brazier | Sports Sub Editor
happy for them!
UV: Does it interfere with your studies?
Annabel is a final year student studying sport and exercise science; she has been involved in sports since her Year One Games Club in Primary School, and now plays for the 2nd Netball Team. She has been able to answer some questions for us about being an Activator!
UV: Do you get a chance to take part in some of the sessions as a normal student?
UniVerse: What made you interested in becoming an Activator? Annabel Mabin: I like to take part in most sports and do it with enthusiasm. Being an activator has allowed me to take that a step further and pass on my passion and excitement to other students, and get them involved in activities. It’s a career I’d like to follow and I think it’s a great experience that I can reflect on and use for the future. UV: Do you have to have any past experience in teaching sports? AM: Teaching sport to others started in Secondary School where I would help my peers and the younger year students. Since then I have always been assisting and helping others with the delivery of lessons, clubs and training sessions. UV: What do you enjoy most? AM: I like the interaction with the students and coaches who come to the sessions and chatting with the players. I enjoy the fun that comes into sessions run by Active Students and the role I play in that. I also like it when a new student starts to get the hang of a sport, I get far too
AM: I try and take part in all of the sessions I have done, except football, I just can’t get the hang of it, I’m a better spectator! I may not be able to throw a dodgeball or Frisbee very well but I give it a go! UV: Have you taught any sessions that you have never done before? AM: I haven’t had to do that yet. I’ve participated in sessions I’ve never done before and so now I think I have the basics covered. UV: What do you hope to get out of being an activator? AM: As much as I can! There are lots of components to this role that most people won’t see, being at the session stamping and scanning is the easier part. The role will give me experience in the work that goes on in the background. Being an activator is providing me with work skills and personal development that I wouldn’t of had without it! UV: What would be your dream sport/activity to put on? AM: I like inflatables, assault courses and trampolines so I think a combination of all of these into some sort of race or competition/game would be fun.
AM: It’s tough to keep an equal balance between running sessions, keeping up with assignments and lectures and then keeping an eye on those deadline days. It’s about being good with your time and making the most of the time you have to do coursework. UV: Do you see the same faces at every session? Or new ones? AM: I see similar faces in most sessions, there are always regulars but then there is always somebody new who arrives too! UV: Are the sessions you put on have the same routines and techniques, or do you change them around? AM: It depends on the session. There is a similar layout and I follow my own routine but it’s good to change what you do, it keeps things interesting and people engaged. UV: Do you take part in any other activities/volunteering outside of Active Students and your studies? AM: I play hockey outside of the university for Welwyn Garden City and I run the university’s HUCCS league on Tuesday nights. If you have any questions about Active Students get in touch with your student Activators!
• Sport 23 Shimmying away with Active Students Burlesque Workouts Imogen Wallis | Contributing Writer Keeping up with the latest fitness trends, Active Students are offering free Burlesque workout sessions for all students, a glamorous alternative to breaking a sweat in the gym. Held on Wednesday evenings from 17.30 – 18.30 at the RVC gym or at the Herts studio, Sports Village every Friday 11.00-12pm, ladies can try a new method of exercising, which many have never tried, whilst shedding the pounds to both 40’s style remixes and the latest tunes. There is no wonder as to why women (gentlemen are welcome too) are drawn to this type of workout as they twirl themselves into lean and toned bodies, and can feel attractive at the same time. Following the moves of a professional dance instructor, the class works at a medium pace for any level of fitness, working on core strength and flexibility using fun props to add glamour to the workout. “I cannot believe what a great workout
it was,” said Joint Honours in Business and Marketing Student Patricia Rooker at the end of the session. “It was so fun that it did not feel like we were really exercising. The time flew away.” Growing in popularity due to its sassy reputation, alternative view to other women targeted workouts, Burlesque Dance promotes positive body image no matter your size. After a long hard day attending lectures and tutorials, when you don’t fancy running on a treadmill, these sessions promote fun and enable you to shake away the stress whilst building muscle tone as you feel the cardiovascular burn. So for those of you aspiring to gain a waist like Dita Von Teese or want to experience a unique form of exercise that is completely outside the box, Burlesque workouts are a great option to experiment from the norm. But don’t forget there are plenty of other alternatives provided by Active Students to work on your health and fitness for free too! Find out more and sign up at activestudents.co.uk.
Active Students: Zumba Feyi Taiwo | Contributing Writer There is probably no better way to enjoy a workout than to get up and dance- Zumba style. Moving your body to music, whether its Hip Hop, Latin, Reggae or Salsa, never felt so effortless. While everyone loves music, no matter what genre it is, Zumba is just that activity that allows you to feel the music, inspiring you without you even knowing it. Last week’s Zumba session was held with Active Students, which allows students to attend classes for free and what’s more you can earn points in return for your fitness efforts that go towards different prizes. The Zumba session which was made up of
all girls, saw everyone come together at all levels of fitness. The great thing about Zumba is that it doesn’t matter if you can dance or not, no one held judgement, which seemed essential to its vibrancy, there is no such thing as embarrassment here. Encouragement was displayed, while everyone took part with the equal amount of passion and enthusiasm. “It’s my third time coming, and it’s fun, I’d like to burn off some fat (laughs) and I enjoy the music,” said Law Student, Jun. Each dance routine involved different exercise movements, high knees, isolating the core, boxing moves, crunches and what you know it, booty shakes and exercises, with glute exercises now being in trend. From the likes
of J lo, Beyonce and Kim Kardashian, everyone wants to be bootylicious. Besides this, Zumba does hold other benefiting factors and is ideal for weight loss. It improves the bodies cardiovascular systems and your body will begin to tone up as you use different body muscles in rhythm to the music. As with any other exercise, it is a great way to relieve the mind and body of stress. With exams coming up and deadlines approaching, take some time out to relax and get back on track. Qualified Zumba instructor since April 2012, Martine Noody said: “I’ve been here at Hertfordshire for two years and I’d say Zumba is exercise but in dance steps, I’d say the bottom line is that it’s energetic
and fun with the more effort you get in, and it doesn’t matter if you go wrong.” Taking part in classes is also a great way to make friends, seeing other people be just as enthusiastic as you are is a great way to motivate one another and boost in confidence. As always take time to look after yourself, it does not hurt to be aware of your body and your health, and in what better way but to do it to music and dance. If you’d like to see more information on Zumba or any other active student classes, visit activestudents.co.uk. You can also check hertssportsvillage.co.uk where there are loads more sports clubs and activities to partake in.
Herts Halls League Hall Fern Spalding Telford Court Hadham Bellingham Court Broad Coales Ashwell Lemsford
Points 13 9 7 6 5 3 3 3
Participation 46 37 58 39 29 60 60 21
Hall Butler Chapman Welwyn Shenley Watton Sandridge Sarratt Kimpton Redbourn Aldenham
Points 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0
Participation 31 23 11 18 14 18 18 11
Throughout the academic year, Halls will get points for either their success in competitions (such as Quiz Nights or sport competitions) and for their participation in events. Make sure you let us know loud and proud which Hall you are in. Not only will the winning Hall be crowned Hall League Champions at the Students’ Union Awards but they will also win an exclusive Hall Party in the Forum! For the all the latest from the league visit hertfordshire.su/halls
Correct at time of printing 27th Nov
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