Birmingham March 2017

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CHARLOTTE OC On the power of the mic

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RINSE FM’S EMERALD Lists morning priorities

Art is on track

Designs announce arrival of high speed line at city station Full story P3

Call to wind back tuition fee clock will get MPs debate  FAEEZA JABEEN

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BUCS SHOWDOWN Records tumble in comp

Supporters of a petition to lower tuition fees have claimed the current system creates ‘an atmosphere of financial stress and uncertainty’.

More than 5,700 people in Birmingham have thrown their weight behind the campaign by signing the petition, started by student Zahra Walji, which calls for fees to be reduced to

the £3,000-a-year mark they were at before top-up fees brought them to £9,000 in 2010.

Zahra, a graphic design student, told TUP: ‘Raising fees is not helping individuals progress further, it’s pushing them away because of the fear of debt. What about families that need financial support? They can’t even get a grant anymore.’

In her petition, hosted by an online

Raising tuition fees is pushing people away because of the fear of debt

Zahra Walji, tuition fee campaigner

government portal, Zahra argues the current cost of university fees is too high and ‘the stress of being in debt is what puts individuals off applying for degrees’.

The petition has nearly 160,000 signatures, taking it well over the 100,000 needed for a parliamentary debate.

Adam Dyson, a sound engineering and production undergraduate at

Birmingham City University, agreed £3,000 a year was a good balance to strike for tuition fees.

‘It is high enough to encourage students to work hard and low enough to be accessible to the maximum number of citizens, maximising the prosperity of a country and its economy,’ he said. ‘Education is the driving force behind a country and Continued on Page 3

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March 2017

Colourful poster to announce arrival of new HS2 train line

design has taken influence [from] the illustrator and art director Kate Moross. Using a serif font and reforming the elements of a steam locomotive to represent the 19th century, I have merged elements of both traditional and modern styles, allowing audiences to understand Sarina Kaur, how art has been influenced over design student the years.’

Competition judges, including Bright future: Design Council chief executive Sarina and Sarah Weir, praised Sarina’s design her posters for its ‘thoughtful combination of on the station, graphic and artistic style, which which is being references both the beginning and revamped, end of Curzon Street’s previous and her poster incarnation.’ design, inset The station was opened in 1838 and trains carried passengers from there to London, Liverpool and Manchester until 1893. It was only used as a freight terminal after that, until its closure in 1966.

The new high-speed rail station at For more Curzon Street will encorporate the Birmingham historic building. The journey time news, go to www. between Birmingham and London unipaper.co.uk Euston on the new line has been estimated at 49 minutes.

I have merged traditional and modern styles to show how art has been influenced

The arrival of a new high-speed railway line in Birmingham will be heralded with posters designed by a student.

Curzon Street station, which was one of the first in the world to open, in 1838, will be used for the HS2 link between Birmingham and London due to open in 2026.

The line’s arrival at the station is being publicised using 8m by 4m banners in between the station’s columns.

Visual communications student Sarina Kaur’s design will feature in the high-profile spot after she won a competition.

The Birmingham City University student said: ‘I never expected to win, but I am delighted to have done so.

‘The inspiration behind my

‘I will never pay it all off’ « Continued from Page 1

its economy,’ he added. ‘To invest in education is to invest in the future of a country and is therefore the most valuable investment a government can make.

‘Higher tuition fees act as a deterrent, discouraging people from further educating themselves, reducing their contributions to the country.’

Kachina Gosling, an English and media student, also at BCU, said: ‘The rising living costs, in addition to the removal of student maintenance grants in favour of student loans, creates an atmosphere of financial stress and uncertainty.’

These sentiments were echoed

by Heba Iqbal, an early childhood studies undergraduate, who has chosen to stay home to try and ease the financial cost of her education.

‘I wanted to enjoy the university experience, but there is no way I

to plan for my future, buying a house, paying bills, it all adds up.’

The current rate of tuition fees is £9,000 per academic year in England.

If that is trebled, as it would be

£30 a month may seem like a small amount but I also have to plan for my future, buying a house, paying bills – it all adds up Heba Iqbal, early childhood studies undergraduate

would risk taking out another loan to pay for accommodation away from home, which on top of my tuition fee loans, would put me heavily in debt,’ she said.

‘I’ll never be able to pay it all off.

It may seem like a small amount – £30-odd a month – but I also have

for students on a full-time, threeyear course, the tuition fee bill after an undergraduate degree is £27,000. That is before you count the cost of a maintenance loan.

In her petition, Zahra also mentions maintenance grants, which offered less well-off students

about £3,500 debt-free, until they were scrapped last year.

‘Now that grants have been removed it makes it difficult for families who need financial support but can’t get that,’ she said.

The government has responded to the petition, saying: ‘All eligible students can apply for an upfront tuition fee loan to meet the full cost of their tuition fees, as well as loans for living costs.’

It added: ‘Graduates with post2012 undergraduate loans pay back when they are earning more than £21,000, and then only nine per cent of earnings above that threshold.

‘After 30 years any outstanding

debt will be written off with no detriment to the borrower. This is entirely different [from] a commercial loan.’

The government’s statement, which it had to make after the petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures, also said returning tuition fees to a previous level could mean more financial strain on universities. It claimed this would lead to ‘additional demands on public spending, which would be met through higher taxation, including on those who have not benefited from university’.

A date will now be set for the petition to be debated in the House of Commons.

IN BRIEF

Guild: Sport is not just for the boys Free sports sessions will be offered to help women and non-binary people get into athletics.

An evening of free activities will be held at the University of Birmingham this term, followed by hour-long drop-in sessions at sports facilities every week.

Guild of students sports officer Georgie Freeman said: ‘Every woman and non-binary student should be confident in the fact they can and should participate and feel like they belong in the university’s sporting culture.’

She said the guild plans to build on the success of recent This Girl Can events and would also run ‘inclusivity training’ and expand their programme to encourage participation in sport. The sessions are being funded by national organisation BUCS.

More help for helpers Volunteers will get more support and recognition following a survey for the NUS. Student groups will get ‘thank you’ cards and small gifts from Birmingham’s guild of students, to help recognise the volunteers they work with following the results of the Volunteer Engagement Survey last year.

A ‘spotlight’, to let students know about volunteering opportunities, has also been set up.

The guild is also offering more training for volunteer groups this year, including workshops on safeguarding.

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How do we rebalance the scales in our labs?

Engineers reveal what it’s like to be one of a few female students

@ Henry Edwards ‘Science needs women’ the UN declared earlier this year as its chief slammed the ‘discriminatory stereotypes’ stopping female students taking on male-dominated subjects.

Secretary general of the global organisation, António Guterres, said

Employers want women because we think differently

Abbey Frasi, civil engineer

PICTURES: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX/US ARMY

Employers and universities fighting to close gap between numbers of women and men studying science

the idea that women and girls were not good at science and tech was ‘flat wrong’.

With the stories of female scientists – such as those featured in the film Hidden Figures who fought racism and sexism at NASA and played key roles in the space race – gaining publicity, there is an increasing awareness of the need for more women to study the field.

But in the UK, far fewer women than men are entering degrees in science, technology, engineering or maths, known as STEM subjects.

Nearly twice as many men as women were accepted on to maths courses in 2015, according to UCAS. When it came to subjects such as engineering however, the difference was even more pronounced, with about five times the number of men enrolled.

Abbey Frasi knows what it’s like to be one of a handful of female students on their STEM course.

She studied civil engineering at the University of Brighton and now has a graduate job at a highways company.

‘I think there were only ten girls out of 85 on the course,’ she said.

‘It was very hard, in a way, to make friends because some of the boys just wanted boys to hang round with.’

Despite being good at maths and physics at school, Abbey said she Female flair: Two scientists and, right, Taraji P Henson as a NASA mathematician in Hidden Figures still needed a little persuasion to

5

March 2017

Some people said ‘I wouldn’t get in a plane with you’ but they’re in the minority

Ghada Al Rousi, pilot

apply to her course.

‘If you think of an engineer, you think of the old white guy in a shirt with a tie,’ she said. ‘I was worried that I was going to walk into a room and be the only woman there and it be assumed that I’m not going to know anything because of that.’

She said it was hard to tell if her coursemates treated her differently because she was a woman.

‘There was one incident where we had to work in a group,’ she said.

‘I expressed my concerns over what we found in an experiment.

‘One guy very explicitly beat me down on the subject and I found everyone else took his side.

‘They were all guys in the group but I don’t know whether or not that was because I’m a woman or if it was just what they thought.’

Abbey said she had always been among the minority in her subjects and was the only student at her all-

YEARS OF IMBALANCE These are UCAS’ latest figures for the number of men and women accepted onto STEM courses, compared with the same statistics from ten years ago.

Physical sciences 2015: Men 12,225 2007: Men 9,205

Women 8,720 Women 6,270

Mathematical science 2015: Men 5,595 Women 3,135 2007: Men 3,485 Women 2,345 Engineering 2015: Men 25,810 2007: Men 18,530

Women: 5,045 Women: 2,570

Computer sciences 2015: Men 22,380 Women 3,560 2007: Men 14,700 Women 2,580 Technologies 2015: Men 1,855 2007: Men 2,050

Women 525 Women 545

Biological sciences 2015: Men 21,220 Women 31,030 2007: Men 12,695 Women 19,495 Veterinary sciences & agriculture 2015: Men 2,035 Women 5,510 2007: Men 1,340 Women 2,985 Medicine 2015: Men 3,840 2007: Men 3,930

Women 5,125 Women 5,130

girls’ sixth form studying her area of maths at A-level, while she only had two physics classmates.

She believes many girls drop maths when they can because they do not have a natural aptitude for it.

‘Many of my friends hate maths,’ she said. ‘That’s not an uncommon thing for women – it’s the way we think. We find maths more

Everything we do should be based on some kind of evidence

Caroline Dessent, University of York

challenging and English easier.’

Electrical and electronic engineering student Kristina Grigorjeva is one of three women out of about 50 students on her course at the University of Derby.

‘The fact that I’m a female doesn’t matter to my coursemates,’ she said. ‘We still communicate, joke and have a good time together. It’s a really good environment.’

She believes between school and university, many women lose the confidence or willingness to challenge themselves by studying science, tech or engineering.

‘I used to study in a school where it was at least 50/50,’ she said.

‘Lots of females think it’s quite complicated for them to do something like that and it’s easier to do medicine or management.

‘Not everybody wants to take a challenge, for example in electrical and electronic engineering, you need to go into the field and it can be quite hazardous.’

The second-year has not started to look for a graduate job yet, but said meeting women working for Rolls Royce and Land Rover had been encouraging.‘It’s quite nice to meet other women engineers because you start to feel more confident that you’re going to the right place,’ she added.

Abbey, who is already in the word of work, said when she was searching for a job, being a woman was seen as a benefit. ‘The employers wanted women because we think differently,’ she added.

‘They were encouraging.’

However, she said once she was in the job it was clear some male engineers were uncomfortable working with her.

‘Especially the older gentlemen, people who have been doing it for 40 years – they assume that you

Does it matter whether or not more women go into STEM subjects? Email your thoughts to editor@unipaper. co.uk

When you’re flying, gender doesn’t matter Ghada Al Rousi flies Airbus A320 airliners for Air Arabia. The aviation school graduate is determined to challenge the idea that a woman from a conservative background in the United Arab Emirates cannot be a pilot. She tells us her story...

The first time I entered a cockpit, I just had a sense that I could do this – become a pilot. As soon as I felt that way, it became my target to undertake a pilot training course.

I have to say piloting was not something I was dreaming of when I was a child. I studied tourism management in the UAE and the feeling I wanted to become a pilot came a few years ago. Before aviation I worked for one of the UAE government ministries.

I considered the different training options available for pilot training and settled on the Alpha Aviation Academy in Sharjah (a city just north of Dubai). Once I had sat and passed the exams and interviews, I was accepted and started my training.

For the entry requirements, I was assessed in English, maths, physics and motor skills, and given

don’t know anything,’ she said.

‘It’s just little things like they’d rather talk to a male member of staff. I don’t take it personally because I know it’s how they’ve always been.’

However, at recruitment level, many have noticed a demand for female STEM graduates.

This was one of the reasons job site STEMgraduates.co.uk launched STEM Women.

Marketing executive Sophie Chadwick said: ‘We noted the increased awareness among employers of gender imbalances in STEM, including events they were running specifically for women.

‘We developed content relating to gender issues within STEM. This content was popular with students, graduates and employers.’

The battle to get more women into tech and science and improve working conditions for those already there has also been taken up by

psychometric tests.

At the end of the assessment I had a personal interview with management.

The course at Alpha Aviation took 20 months. Everyone at the academy was also always very supportive.

After I graduated, I felt so proud to have done it, for all the people who said ‘Ghada will do it’, who had been waiting for me to pass.

Alpha Aviation Academy was always very supportive. When I moved from the academy to training at Air Arabia I also had a high level of support. The government supports women like me a lot.

I have a big family – my siblings are all working in different careers and I am the only pilot. We are a typical and proud Emirati family.

My family have been very supportive, especially when sometimes I was at school and I didn’t do well in exams. They told me I could still do it.

When I came back tired, they tried to have everything ready for me, like

university departments.

Many institutions are using the Athena Swan Charter. By signing up to this, they commit to tackling the gender pay gap and any imbalance of men and women in senior roles, as well as fighting discrimination.

Dr Caroline Dessent chairs the equality and diversity group within chemistry at the University of York.

my meals. They spoiled me.

Some people are so happy I’ve become a pilot, asking me about my experiences.

Some people in the beginning said: ‘A woman becoming a pilot? This is man’s job – I won’t get in the plane with you!’

But people with these attitudes are very much in the minority.

My mum of course worries about me but she has never wanted to stop me doing this job.

The Airbus A320 generally seats around 150 to 180 passengers.

When you enter the cockpit, you are not thinking about anything else in the world – you are just thinking about your flight.

Your mind is focussed on doing your job, which is to safely fly the aircraft.

It doesn’t matter what mood you are in because when you enter the cockpit, for a few hours you enter a different world.

The most important thing to remember is that being a good pilot

Swan puts procedures and monitoring systems in place so that if good practices were to slip, senior staff would be made aware.

Keeping the gold standard includes monitoring student and staff numbers at every level, as well as representation on committees in the department.

Dr Dessent said it was hard to say exactly what would open science Many of my friends subjects up to more women. hate maths and that’s not ‘Everything we do should be uncommon for women based on some kind of evidence or Abbey Frasi, civil engineer data,’ she said.

‘If we think there might be a This includes making sure the problem with one group of staff, we department retains its gold Athena will form a focus group.’

Swan status.

The department also asks students She said leaders who were very and staff to rate areas such as access supportive of women in science had to promotions and raise any issues. helped create a culture of equality.

‘The goal is to have a more ‘It can be quite difficult to put your representative workforce and that’s finger on but often it does come important not just for gender issues down to the heads of department,’ but also that’s the way organisations she added. She explained Athena work the best,’ Dr Dessent said.

doesn’t depend on being a woman or man. What matters is how much you love your job and how hard you are willing to work.

I fly with both male and female pilots and the only thing that is important is their professionalism, not their gender.

The same rule applies for any career, whether it be a pilot or another profession in a maledominated environment.

As long as you believe in yourself, are confident and are willing to work hard, you can succeed.

Would it matter if no more women became pilots? Yes, it would matter hugely.

Currently there are approximately 130,000 commercial pilots in the world, but only around three per cent are women.

By 2035, Boeing predicts 617,000 more pilots will be needed.

If this increasing demand for more pilots is to be met, we must ensure more women have the opportunities and confidence to enter the cockpit.

Despite its work there are still more male undergraduates studying chemistry at York and a ‘fall-off’ of women in more senior positions.

‘We’re probably a little bit better with our graduate students and our researchers,’ Dr Dessent said. ‘We’re ahead of the national benchmarks there, and also at lecturer level.’

She said promoting gender equality among staff in the department provided students with good role models.

‘Two academic male staff work part time to look after young children, one of whom is a professor and that’s something you wouldn’t probably have seen ten years ago,’ she added.

‘If you can demonstrate that it’s possible to have a really good career and also have other things in your life, that’s something students appreciate and it probably does mean less people are put off.’

6|Research

March 2017

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Athletes reluctant to blow whistle on sport cheats Sportspeople favour confronting mates  Amy Denman Doping is a sporting scandal that has hit the headlines plenty of times over the years.

However, uncovering cases where athletes are taking performance enhancing drugs may prove to be difficult, as sportsmen and women are reluctant to blow the whistle on the act, according to a study.

Researchers from Leeds Beckett University who interviewed student athletes from the US and UK found in most cases, they would confront someone using performance enhancing drugs directly before telling an authority about their wrongdoing. However, only one

Not starting: Athletes reluctant to expose doping

Cats ‘not at fault’ over psychosis

person out of 28 interviewed said they would never expose another sportsperson for cheating, arguing it was ‘an athlete’s way of thinking… you’re willing to do anything to beat the other guy’.

Dr Kelsey Erickson said: ‘Individuals are increasingly encouraged and expected to blow the whistle.

‘In response, this research set out to discover individuals’ thoughts, feelings and anticipated behaviours in reporting wrongdoing around performance-enhancing drug use.

‘During the course of the research it became apparent that addressing doping presents a true moral dilemma and is not as simple as athletes simply reporting doping or doing nothing.’

Many participants in the study also said they would approach a sportsperson they suspected of doping differently if they were a friend or team mate.

Dr Erickson added: ‘The evidence collected here suggests encouraging and empowering athletes to confront doping could reduce the prevalence of doping in sport.

‘This research should encourage anti-doping practitioners, policy makers and researchers to explore the feasibility of designing and implementing education interventions that equip and empower athletes to effectively and safely confront doping behaviours.’

The full research paper is published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise.

Eating ten a day will keep the doctor away

 Tom Gellatly

The good stuff: Fruit and veg

There has been a lot of talk in the media over the link between an infection primarily hosted in cats and mental health issues.

Researchers from University College London have explored the link between cat ownership during pregnancy and childhood and youth mental health.

Cats are primary hosts of the toxoplasma gondii parasite, which has recently been said to cause schizophrenia, suicide and intermittent rage disorder.

Therefore, it was suggested that cat owners were most at risk of developing those mental health disorders through their feline friends. However, the researchers have proved this to be untrue.

Lead author Dr Francesca Solmi said: ‘The message for cat owners is clear: there is no evidence that cats pose a risk to children’s

 Amy Denman

Clear kitty conscience: Cats not to blame for conditions

mental health. In our study, initial unadjusted analyses suggested a small link between cat ownership and psychotic symptoms at age 13, but this turned out to be due to other factors.

‘Once we controlled for factors such as household over-crowding and socioeconomic status, the data showed that cats were not to blame.

‘Previous studies reporting links between cat ownership and psychosis simply failed to adequately control for other possible explanations.’

The pair conducted a study using data from around 5,000 children who were part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in 1991 to 1992.

If you found eating you five-a-day hard, this new research will make your health goals even more unattainable.

Research from Imperial College London scientists reveals we should eat double the current recommended serving to lessen the risk of deadly conditions.

Scientists assessed around 43,000 cases of heart disease, 47,000 cases of stroke, 81,000 cases of cardiovascular disease, 112,000 cancer cases and 94,00 deaths and found approximately 7.8 million premature deaths could have been prevented if people ate around 800g, or ten portions, of fruit and veg per day.

Dr Dagfinn Aune, lead author of the research from the School of

Public Health at Imperial, said: ‘We wanted to investigate how much fruit and vegetables you need to eat to gain the maximum protection against disease, and premature death. Although five portions of fruit and vegetables is good, ten a day is even better.’

Researchers found even a smaller daily intake of fruit and vegetables could reduce risks.

It was found eating two and a half portions per day was associated with a 15 per cent reduction in the risk of early death.

Further benefits were observed with higher intakes. Eating up to 800g of fruit and vegetables a day was associated with a 24 per cent reduced risk of heart disease and a 31 per cent reduction in premature death. These stats are compared with not eating any fruit and veg.

Lusty stick insects fall in love at first smell, not sight Research reveals a breeding preference For humans, attraction tends to boil down to looks, but stick insects use a different sense to attract a mate, according to research.

The findings were part of an 18 year research programme and saw scientists from the University of Sheffield and Royal Holloway, University of London examined

PICTURE: MARTIN BRIGDEN

 Amy Denman

Picky sticky: Stick insect

stick insect populations in California, US. Scientists wanted to find out how distinct sub-species of stick insect were formed and maintained.

Natural selection will weed out some individuals with undesirable features because they will be eaten by predators, but others might make a lucky escape.

The researchers wanted to learn more about how the insects choose the best parter to ensure the survival of their particular sub-species.

The team studied more than 100

groups of stick insects, including 11 sub-species, over nearly 20 years.

The researchers noticed when different species of the insect were placed together they were unwilling to mate with one another.

They discovered the preference of mate was based on chemicals on their skin, which differed between different sub-species.

Dr Patrik Nosil, from the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield said: ‘Species formation generally takes place over huge

timescales and it’s very difficult to observe directly – mainly we just get snapshots of what’s happening at a particular moment in time.

‘What we’ve done is taken many snapshots and started to reconstruct the evolutionary process to build up a picture of what might be happening across these different populations and moments in time.

‘We think these skin chemicals are the next step in speciation.

‘The chemicals on their skin provide the next barrier to (stick insects) mixing their genes.’

IN BRIEF

Maps make you tense?

It’s genetic Thanks to Sat Navs, gone are the days when people are frantically fiddling with a roadmap while the driver is demanding instructions before they miss the turning.

However, it has been proven butterflies in the stomach when trying to read a map or tackle a maths problem are in fact caused by genetics.

Kings College London researchers have made the initial steps in identifying specific genes which make people more anxious about being faced with science, technology, engineering and maths problems.

It is believed people are put of studying STEM subjects because of their anxiety.

The KCL scientists believe genes and environments that cause the anxiety are different from those caused by other types of anxiety, such as spatial anxiety, and need to be managed differently.

The researchers identified several things people were anxious about, including maths, navigation, rotation and visualisation, as well as general anxiety.

Each form of anxiety showed a substantial genetic component, with DNA explaining over a third of the differences.

However, twins who shared genes but took part in different activities such as driving developed different forms of anxiety.

Margherita Malanchini from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at KCL, said: ‘Our results have important implications for finding specific genes which contribute to differences in anxiety between people, as they suggest some of the same genes contribute to anxiety in several areas, but that most of them are specific to each domain of anxiety.’

The study also found women showed higher levels of anxiety across all areas than men.

Researchers said this could be because women are more willing to disclose their feelings of anxiety or because of worries STEM subjects are catered to men.

Ms Malanchini added: ‘Pinpointing specific genes for anxiety could help in identifying children who are most at risk from very early in their lives and subsequently to intervene and prevent the development of anxiety in these different contexts.’

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RECORDING ROOMS, BIRMINGHAM

The Radio 1 presenter tells us about trusting her

The Mac I

 Elliott Mills

F there is one thing DJ Annie Mac knows how to do, it’s throw a party. She has been hosting Lost And Found Festival in Malta’s St Paul’s Bay for three years, bringing in performers from her enviable list of music industry mates each time.

I ask why she chose Malta as the setting for the three day party.

‘The people mainly,’ she says. ‘And the fact that the Maltese government and tourist board were so behind the project from the get go.’

The warm weather also makes Malta an attractive place to party,

Jamie Jones, MK and Andy C have been handpicked by the Radio 1 presenter to perform and of course she will be putting in a set of her own.

She takes me through some of the other acts to look out for.

‘The Black Madonna is an amazing selector,’ she says. ‘Also, Giggs and D Double E for being absolute cornerstones of the UK hip hop and grime scenes, and the six hour extravaganza from J.E.S.u.S – made up of Jackmaster, Eats Everything,

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I love the feeling of going somewhere I’ve never been before. I don’t do it as much as I used to so when I do it’s still exciting especially in contrast to the muddy fields that provide the backdrop to many a UK festival.

I ask if the sun is a must-have for festivals. ‘It’s not essential but it definitely helps,’ she tells me. ‘The main thing is that it feels warmer than the UK, especially in the daytime when you put on pool, boat and castle parties.’

However, she does urge festivalgoers to pack a hoodie for the chilly summer evenings. Artists including

Seth Troxler and Skream – will be a must-see experience.’

Inspired by the lineup and tempted to get myself a ticket for Lost And Found, I wonder how she manages to confidently select such an exciting list of performers.

‘Conviction and knowing your s**t,’ she tells me. ‘Not booking people because you feel pressure to book them from other people. You have to believe in it yourself.’

Although the pressure to organise a successful festival is high, the job does have its perks, travel being one.

‘I love the feeling of going somewhere I’ve never been before,’ the Londoner tells me. ‘I don’t do it as much as I used to so when I do go off

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Comment

25 9 March 2017

Readers and writers have their say on controversial topics. Want to get your point across? Email your comment to editor@unipaper.co.uk

Big waist of NHS cash  Alice Ball

Self-care is just another factor that becomes part of the balancing act.

There are many healthy and affordable options on the market. A bag of frozen chips may cost £1, but so does a bag of frozen vegetables.

It’s no longer realistic to suggest government intervention is enough to reduce obesity. They can try to discourage consumers from buying fizzy drinks by introducing the sugar tax, but it is still down to us whether we buy them.

Most of us understand the advice that tells us to be more active

instincts, practising her DJ skills in the garden and catching all kinds of travelling bugs

is back in town

As I stand in line at a global cuisine restaurant, I notice the man in front of me piling his plate with a bizarre combination of chicken korma, stuffed potato skins and Singapore noodles.

There’s something vomit-inducing about consuming as many calories as humanly possible to get your money’s worth.

I’ve realised these disturbing behaviours are not confined to buffets – the grazing, lack of portion control and unequal balance of food groups epitomises a growing issue There’s something with weight gain. vomit-inducing about According to the Health Survey consuming as many calories for England, 27 per cent of adults as humanly possible to get are obese. Obesity increases the risk your money’s worth of developing type two diabetes, and make healthier choices, but cancer and high blood pressure, which could lead to heart disease, a we choose to ignore it, believing a healthy lifestyle requires an heart attack or stroke – a giant yet excessive amount of effort. avoidable bill for the NHS. Money saved from treating When starting at university, students gain a lot of independence, obesity-related diseases could be spent on scientific research for from deciding where to go out incurable diseases. to what goes into their mouths.

It is ironic so many people are It’s easy to fall into the trap of quick to criticise the state of the unhealthy eating because of a new public health system despite being hectic lifestyle, the cost of living or at risk of the many conditions the availability of fast food. associated with obesity.

But it’s time to stop with the Essentially, the only way to save excuses and take responsibility for Let’s our be honest, most of us go to your favourite artist.

Whyisnot our health service to take stop making growing waistlines. excuses. It’s to us to find the time festivals for the lineup. there isuni the opportunity to up discover some Everybody has But to balance to exercise it’sare upour to us what we always the potential for a clash that new acts instead?and Here work with extra-curricular activities, put in our mouths. has you frantically running fromlife. recommendations to check out while jobs, family and a social

In response to Stripping pays my way as a student on p11 of The University Paper’s February edition

 Aneeka Hussain

Misha sharing her story is not just brave, it is vital in taking a step towards abolishing a fallacy somewhere it’s still really exciting to around strippers. me,’ she says.

‘I don’t feel empowered by my The 38-year-old tells me about job, but then I don’t think you her favourite places to spin the should have to,’ she said while also decks, reeling off a list of enviable comparing stripping to working at destinations.

‘I was going home to spend the first Tesco.

‘I love Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow night in my new house. I rang the Not all pole dancers (or women for the spirit of the people,’ she says. doorbell at 2am and my boyfriend working in other areas of the ‘However, I love Miami for the fun, opened up. sex industry) are doing it for food and the adventures I’ve had ‘The first thing I did was fall down empowerment. there. Sonar in Barcelona is always on my hands and knees in the hall I feel the term is used to contribute amazing. Toronto crowds are always and throw up,’ she laughs. ‘Such a to a glorified ideal of how we wish super open minded and progressive.’ nice start to a new home.’ to see strippers when actually they But she doesn’t just travel for work, She had her second child with just see it as any other job. and names Jamaica and Mexico as partner Toddla T in January after This uninformed perspective stems Annie Mac her favourite places to kick back. revealing the pregnancy in a low-key Presents: Lost from the desire to sexualise women’s She also loves New York, where reply to a tweet from a fan asking And Found bodies. she worked in a vegan coffee shop why she was not on the lineup for Festival takes place from This is why I’m glad Misha April 13 to 18 at I came home from Ibiza with food poisoning. My boyfriend emphasises how it is just like any Numero Uno in opened the front door and the first thing I did was throw up another job.

Malta It involves juggling commitments, one stage to another, trying to see at Lost And Found Festival. perks and annoyances. Her for a summer when she was 19 – a September 2016’s Bestival.

Pregnant experience also proved there should time she has described as a rite of MistaJam has been covering the pause: harder. admire strippers to be a clear distinction between ability to balance reality makespassage. the path‘New to erasing York City is very closeWe should mother-of-two’s Radio 1 slotwork whileethic and Peckham rapper Giggs has had an incredible Annieand Mac for taking ownership of their bodies between education business and personal life. other the entrenched objectifi of that changed to my heartcation as a place she has been away. year so far, touring the UK and collaborating Allowing idealised views to cloud women in our but also commend them forof their obligations. is preparing that little bit mysociety life,’ she adds.

After a couple months’ leave

The naked truth: It is just another job

Find the finest performers

Despite visiting some amazing places across the world, the Dublinborn DJ reveals she has had some travel disasters, namely ‘various bouts of aggressive food poisoning over the years’.

‘One came on just as I was boarding a plane home from Ibiza,’ she adds.

with Drake on a new song. His tunes, including to get back the presenter is looking forward to Lock Doh, Whippin Excursion and Who’s Dat? are on the decks returning to the decks. guaranteed to get the crowd proper gassed – as for her Lost ‘I’m glad I have been through this one might say.

And Found before,’ she says of the return to Festival after work. ‘I know it will feel really nervehaving her wracking and really amazing.’

He calls himself the sexiest fat man in the secondmentally.’ child student is struggling Despite being away from DJing, she universe Charlie Sloth is a master at selecting January How do youintell the difference the finest tunes. If his popular Radio 1Xtra slot is has found a way to keep on top of her skills at home in Notting Hill.between a student that has pulled anything to go by, you’re guaranteed to go from and one suffering two stepping to dabbing and slow whining all in ‘I enjoy practising in my offian ceall-nighter at from insomnia? Or between the end of the garden and catching one glorious slot. anxiety and healthy nerves? up with all the music I’ve missed.’

She may have been DJing forIt13can be difficult to spot the Dubstep DJ Skream is travelling all the way from years, but the nerves are stillsigns. there.However, when a student is the outskirts of south London to St Paul’s Bay ‘I’ll probably be a little selfconsistently distressed or absent, to bring some seriously danceable tunes your shouldn’t be ignored and if conscious but will absolutelyitlove it way. He hasn’t released anything of his own for a In response to Student’s petition matter – his petition shouldn’t have once I’m up and running,’ shethey says.confide in staff, it should be while, but he knows how to get a crowd bopping to remove abortions from NHS been about removing the option ‘That buzz you get when youfollowed move a up. To assume they can by selecting the latest jams. sparks social media outrage found of abortion altogether, but rather handle their problems themselves crowd never grows old.’

Could lecturers do more with mental health issues?  Tianna Graham We know there is a mental health crisis when it comes to university students across the UK. Despite the widespread statistics, there hasn’t been a conversation about staff intervention.

As editor of the mental health section for Epigram at the University of Bristol, I regularly receive messages from suffering students. A common grievance is that students believe their anxiety or depression is visible, yet professors don’t notice. If a student is un-focussed, they are perceived as lazy, if they are falling behind, it isn’t followed up with concern.

A second-year student, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: ‘I confided in my tutor that I had been diagnosed with PTSD because of trauma in my childhood and it was having a negative impact on my uni work.

After explaining this and breaking down in front of her I didn’t return to uni for weeks. I didn’t receive a single email of concern. ’ The counterclaim is that staff aren’t trained to counsel students and shouldn’t try to play agony aunt. Stephanie Codsi, a tutor of English literature at the University

Who would pay to abort?

Want your opinions heard? Email editor@unipaper. co.uk with your thoughts

of Bristol, said: ‘It is always necessary for a tutor to direct the student towards some professional help or to their personal tutor.

‘It is not recommended that the academic tutor get involved in personal issues, nor give advice, but should demonstrate a professional concern and, if necessary, follow up with the personal tutor on the student’s wellbeing.

‘At the same time, it should be understood that it is not always easy for a tutor to recognise when a

Staff aren’t trained to counsel students and shouldn’t try to play agony aunt

Tianna Graham, University of Bristol

on www.unipaper.co.uk removing the public funds that pay is to dismiss them. for abortion (though this does raise Mark Ames, director of student Listening to dance music in the Maltese warmth like Samuel Davies sounds a dream come true. And what some questions about equality, and services at Bristol, said: ‘The artists to university takes student health andbetter I won’t beprovide signingthe thesoundtrack petition. to a whether it should be a privilege for evening thanchoice, Dusky? but The duo will those who can afford it). wellbeing very seriously and wouldMediterranean Not because I’m pro tracks from album urge any students who are feeling bringbecause thetheir logiclatest behind it isOuter, whichWhat would have been more Wiley, Gary Numan and Solomon Grey.feasible for Emanuel would be to anxious, depressed or lonely to features misguided. seek support.

[Petition creator] Emanuel makes petition for an ‘opt-in system’ that ‘We will continue to work with a valid point: ‘Why should I pay for would potentially have more of an Catscontrary and dogs areimpact, known for not taxpayers getting on.can choose where students to improve our support for health procedures that are Pets Recordings owners Catz ‘n they want to contribute their wellbeing and mental health.’ to my personal values?’Polish producers whether Dogz are known for gettingthis theprocedure catchiest tunes towards (though Many students feel defeated, as if Not only is it a valid question, onaand producingagain, some the electrifying cuts.

Grab aneeded logistical process they are to suck up their feelings to but it’s one that deserves serious Sex On The Beachtoand along tovery the setwag thatyour up istail probably prioritise their grades. But the truth answer. house duo’s tracks. is, grades are achievements you However, his argument about thebestunrealistic).

It’s an interesting thought to earn in a short space of time – your right to life, which he presents as the imagine who, once a choice is mental health is for life. raison d’être behind this petition, is available, would consciously pay Let us hope universities follow irrelevant to this issue and has only towards abortion. suit and perhaps someday succeeded in fuelling the atrocious After all, where people spend depression, sleepless nights online dialogue over abortion. their money shows what they truly and breakdowns will be seen as What the focus should have been on is the financial aspect of the legitimate concerns. value.

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11

Your Life

March 2017

Students reveal their unique experiences at university. Email editor@unipaper.co.uk to tell your story

We should all do our prison time Edinburgh Napier student Ryan Kay expected ‘rowdy inmates’ when he went behind bars but he found something different...

T

HE placement idea came from a module we were offered on my English and film degree, which explored the intricacies of crime in text and film.

I was intrigued by the thought of the placement at HMP Edinburgh. It seemed like a unique opportunity to learn about the way a prison works and gain hands-on experience working with the inmates, although the nature of the setting made me a little apprehensive.

Through my constant watching of documentaries, like the ones by Louis Theroux, I sensationalised what I thought the experience would be like. In

Do you have a story to share? Email editor@unipaper. co.uk

A O-Kay: Napier student Ryan enjoyed his time teaching at HMP Edinburgh

reality, it felt more like a primary school classroom than Miami Mega Jail.

Inmates choose whether they want to attend class or not, so everyone was there because they wanted to be. I’d expected rowdy inmates vehemently opposed to learning anything – something like my bottomset maths class in high school but full of murderers.

On reflection, this was a narrowminded view to have, but this is the image of prison contemporary society is presented with.

I understand the idea of prison is endlessly fascinating – it is a world alienated from everything we know, where we house the most feared criminals who are deemed unsuitable for life within society.

While this can be the case, TV documentaries show the extremities in the system to create excitement or fear in viewers.

My experience was the antithesis of the situation I had in my head: every inmate I worked with was respectful, willing to learn and genuinely a pleasure to teach.

Upon entering the facility you are met by airport-level security. The

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education section is located in the centre of the compound and it takes almost ten minutes to get there from the main entrance. Although I’m aware of the naivety of this statement, I was shocked at how often the doors had to be locked. Considering this is the integral part of what keeps a prison secure, it was strange how jarring it was to constantly wait on every door you pass to be checked and checked again.

It felt more like a primary school classroom than Miami Mega Jail

Ryan Kay

Everything seems to be timed to the second, with every effort going into moving around the inmates’ tight schedule. The regimented protocol did not help with my initial anxiety but as soon as the inmates arrived I was weirdly at ease.

The group contained about six people who mostly attended every class in my two-month placement.

I became close with one particular inmate, who I worked with on his literacy. What I empathised with most was how low this man’s literacy levels were and I couldn’t shift the

feeling that he had been lost and abandoned by the system.

The constant focus on positivity throughout my experience was enlightening and challenged the view I had before entering – fundamentally these people are still citizens and deserve the basic human right of an education during their time in prison.

I would like to see more focus on this positive rehabilitation in the media and pop culture but our constant need to be shocked has lead us to both sensationalise and demonise most prison narratives we are presented with.

Placements like mine should be more prevalent in our education – not only was I able to share knowledge with the inmates, but I was able to learn numerous skills myself: removing the stigma of what a prison actually is, challenging the representation of criminals and allowing for a positive focus on education and rehabilitation.

Interaction in such an unfamiliar setting taught me skills I never could have learned in my uni classroom and I would urge anyone to do the same.

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Jobs

March 2017

My tough Root to success

ALSO ON JOBS. UNIPAPER.CO.UK

Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden reveals how you can survive a tough interview

Reggae Reggae Sauce’s Levi Roots reveals how he stayed strong while building his business...

15% STUDENT DISCOUNT IN-STORE Ann Summers CEO Jacqueline Gold talks about being the perfect job candidate

S

 The University Paper COUR any kitchen in the UK and, chances are, you’ll find the name Levi Roots somewhere.

The Jamaican-born millionaire has turned his recipe for Reggae Reggae Sauce into a huge, profit-making brand through a mixture of determination, perseverance and charm.

His journey to success was not an easy one.

In the early 1990s, Levi would make the sauce in his Brixton kitchen with the help of his seven children and sell the product from a bag on his back.

But after securing an investment on the popular TV show Dragons’ Den, Levi’s life changed forever.

The University Paper sat down with him to talk about his path to glory.

size? Birmingham 1-2 Lower Temple I live in the same flat I’ve Street, always lived in – it keeps me rooted now and gave me B2 4JD strength when I needed it in the past

Levi Roots

He’s got bottle: Levi Roots, above and far right, has created some of the best-loved sauces in the United Kingdom

Former Dragons’ Den investor Kelly Hoppen speaks of her incredible journey

Fancy more interviews with industry titans and business magnates?

Head on over to jobs. unipaper. co.uk where you will find heaps of great articles on offer

Your story of success is a long one and took many years of perseverance – it must have been really hard, after so much rejection, to keep going. What helped you stay strong?

Staying in Brixton has helped to keep me grounded along the way.

I live in the same flat I’ve always lived in. It keeps me rooted now and gave me strength when I needed it in the past.

What always helped to keep me focussed was looking at the end of my business plan.

When things were tough, I’d look at the last page and remind myself what the end result would be if I stayed on track.

the end of my business plan. I’d also remember my grandmother and my desire to make her proud.

You went to Dragons’ Den and although you didn’t get the deal you wanted, you got something – how did it feel when people finally had faith and invested in your sauce?

it was Peter Jones telling me it was OK to be myself and the audience at home taking to me in the way they did. It felt amazing.

When you first saw your sauce on the shelves at Sainsbury’s how did that feel?

Raising the bar-becue: Levi Roots, left, has built a food empire

Your story is about pursuing your dreams and going with what you know. Would you say this is key to success in any industry?

Absolutely, never lose focus!

*Discount only redeemable in size? stores until 30th April 2017 when purchasing full priced Looking for a graduate job? Go to product and accompanied with a valid student ID. Full Terms & conditions apply.

Again, this was an incredible jobs.unipaper.co.uk

Did you ever get to the point where you wanted to give up?

Sometimes, but I’d just flick to

where thousands are available

Dragons’ Den was a turning point for me. It wasn’t just the investment,

moment. I’ll never forget the call I received to say I’d outsold Heinz Tomato Ketchup!

The University Paper has launched its new jobs site, with thousands of roles on offer. Just go to jobs.unipaper.co.uk and get started today.

What’s On

13

The Lowdown

March 2017

P16

FINEST FESTIVALS We pick the best fests from around the world

P23

RINSE FM’S EMERALD On early mornings and her ski slope party plans

Charlotte OC tells TUP about her most terrifying moment so far

C

 Tom Gellatly harlotte Mary O’Connor, better known by her stage name Charlotte OC, is telling me about the unique kind of fear a solo acoustic performance can inspire.

‘It was the most daunting thing I think I’ve ever done,’ she says when I ask about her intimate performance of dramatic single, Darkest Hour, for Sofar Sounds.

‘It’s a moment where you just figure out if you’re actually good at

P27

NEW LUNA The student band of the month talk melodies

When fear takes hold

ANNIE MAC Talks refining her DJ skills in the garden for her Maltese festival

PICTURE: JAY MCLAUGHLIN

P24

what you do. There’s no microphone and you just sing. I was running on pure nerves.’

I’m surprised she still gets nerves after her extensive experience of performing at huge festivals.

‘You’ve got a microphone at a festival, and no one else does!’ she laughs when I say this.

‘There’s a little bit of a power thing going on there. But when you don’t have a microphone, you think “s***, I’ve really got to pull this off”.

‘Solo acoustic performances are

new tracks. Singles Blackout and Darkest Hour are huge soul songs with sumptuous arrangements, anything but stripped-back.

‘The album is quite cohesive, and it’s got a similar vibe to Darkest

how I started in music. It’s only later on I had more musicians around me like I do now.’

And if the first snippets we’ve heard of her debut album Careless People are to be believed, we’re in for a fully fleshed-out sound in the

Out soon: afds fad sfad sfad sfad sfad Charlotte OC releases sfda sfdaher sfad fifsda rst album, fsd afsd afsd afds fad Careless People, sfad sfad onsfda March 31

Hour,’ the Lancastrian says.

The track’s soaring vocal melodies and dark musical tones have earned the singer comparisons to artists as varied and revered as Lana Del Rey and Joni Mitchell, comparisons which understandably have fans

clamouring to hear her full debut record, which will be released on March 31.

‘There are songs in the album which are poppier than others. Some are bit more left field and some are more universal. That’s where I kind of lie in music, I’m sort of one or the other. The album is very emotional, too. It’s quite soul-based. All the songs will sound different but they’re all of the same world.’

And O’Connor’s world is about to get a lot bigger, as she will be touring a full album’s worth of songs for the first time. Having been gigging with a limited amount of material for so long, she’s excited for her fans to finally hear the album they’ve been anticipating for so long.

‘People who have been coming to my shows so far have been waiting for me to play for so long I think they’re just happy to see me on stage at all,’ she laughs. ‘I think they’re just like, “thank God she’s actually doing something!”

‘There has been an almost homely feel to my gigs up to now, like these people have known me for ages. I can’t wait for them to hear the whole album.’

Study abroad

March 2017

 Alice Avis

W

drug cartel-related, so walking alone at night is a no-no. Mexico as a whole is scattered with UNESCO world heritage sites, so there’s always something new to discover.

HETHER you’re inspired by the great views and cool cafes in your uni city or can’t wait to get away from its dreary grey buildings, location plays a big role while you’re studying.

With the expense of both globe trotting and higher education welldocumented, many would expect to be forced to choose between jetting off and going into higher education.

But thanks to some universities’ connections with foreign institutions, and schemes such as Erasmus, this doesn’t have to be the case. Here’s our to picks of places to study overseas.

Korea University South Korea If you want to party in real-life Gangnam-style and appreciate a work-hard-play-hard culture, Seoul could be the city for you.

Korea University, is just outside the capital and allows you to experience both campus and city life. The Anam campus is a short stroll from a vibrant mix of shops, bars and temples.

Seoul, home to the Gangnam district mentioned in the song, is forward-looking, but has not neglected its history, as old temples, ancient palaces and royal shrines sit next to glittering skyscrapers.

The student area of Hongdae is home to boutiques, pop-up shops, karaoke bars and clubs.

Although you may want to learn a few local words, you needn’t worry if your Korean is a bit rusty because all classes at the institution are taught in English.

University of Warsaw Poland

Change of scenery Our top cities for adding a spot of travelling to your degree plans

University of Bologna Italy

Broaden your mind and horizons: (l-r) University of Sydney and Tecnológico de Monterrey

Just because we speak the same language doesn’t mean it’s just like home University of Sydney Australia Sydney is the perfect place to escape the miserable UK weather – even in winter, the average temperature only gets as cold as 13 degrees. If that isn’t enough to entice you, a campus next door to Bondi Beach, with its flat white sand and surf schools, should get you searching for flights.

The New South Wales capital is home to the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and an observation tower to take in the stunning views, while new shops and bars are popping up all the time.

Sydney also hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year including the film festival, the Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras and

Warsaw has acted as the crossroads of central Europe for centuries and as such has a wonderful mixture of eastern and western culture.

Despite its troubled past, you won’t be able to escape the infectious energy and optimism that runs through the city.

The main campus, which is in the city centre, is made up of several historic palaces, meaning you will be studying in the cultural heart of Warsaw. You will be surrounded by an impressive number of churches, museums and palaces to explore whenever you fancy.

But it’s not all cobbled streets and historic buildings – Warsaw has embraced modernity and is quickly becoming the coolest kid on the European block.

It has a night life that could rival Berlin and is constantly growing, with new bars and clubs opening every week. The prices are also incredibly student-friendly – a pint of beer costs around £1.70, so you’ll always have enough change for some chips on the way home.

Studying in Canada has been brilliant. Even though classes are taught in English and most things are similar to being at home, there has been a lot to adjust to.

One thing I’ve had to get used to is the style of teaching. Back at home modules are usually divided into lectures and seminars, with some set reading, and a lot of studying to build up to the one or two assessments at the end of term.

But it’s completely different here.

Wrap up: Isobel keeps warm in the snow

Lectures and seminars are combined – class usually consists of an interactive lecture with a discussion.

The teachers write on whiteboards or chalkboards (remember those?) and occasionally have PowerPoint presentations.

Our classrooms look similar to the ones you see in US TV shows such as Glee, with individual desks.

However, the biggest difference is the in-class assessments. Sometimes the first part of a lecture is devoted to

RadLivin Festival. However, it was ranked Australia’s most expensive city, so you will need a strict budget.

in Mexico and is not far from the centre of Monterrey, the country’s third largest city.

Residents enjoy one of the highest standards of living in Mexico and education is highly valued.

Monterrey is surrounded by national parks and nature reserves, including

part of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. The trendy old town area of Barrio Antiguo is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars and on Sundays the Corredor del Arte, provides a hub for street art, flea markets and live music.

However, the city is plagued by

Tecnológico de Monterrey Mexico This is one of the best universities

a quiz on the reading, and on some days I’ll be writing essays in class.

This is because Canadian universities use assessment throughout the term – meaning no skipping lectures, making sure you always do the reading, and participate in class to earn up to 20 per cent of that module’s grade.

It’s hard work and I’m always busy, but I’m still enjoying studying here.

Still, I can’t wait to go travelling in summer.

Isobel Sheene

For more travel ideas and features, head along to www. unipaper.co.uk

You will quickly feel like a local if you choose to spend a year abroad at the University of Bologna.

The institution has been part of the city for nearly 1,000 years and claims to be the oldest university in the world, so the city has a pretty student-friendly vibe.

Bologna is very lively and is filled with theatres and music venues, as well as having a year-round calendar of arts festivals, exhibitions and concerts.

Like all great Italian cities, there is also the relaxed café and restaurant scene to indulge in.

If you’re not too distracted by the delicious food and wine the city has to offer, there is plenty to explore, such as the Piazza Maggiore, San Patronio Basilica and the Fountain of Neptune.

And you won’t just be surrounded by culture and history in the city centre – many other Italian cities are easily accessible from Bologna.

With Venice and Parma to the north and Pisa and Florence to the south you will have the perfect chance to travel around Italy.

The Lowdown

15

March 2017

Hello

FOUR COUNTRIES EVERY TRAVELLER SHOULD EXPLORE

sunnier climes instead.

If you’re stuck for inspiration and are seeking something which will give you the experience of a lifetime, then look no further.

This edition is packed with heaps of travel advice and inspiration for places to visit.

A round-up of weird and wonderful festivals across the world, from the traditional Tomatina in Spain to the cutting-edge World Club Dome in South Korea, should inspire you to start signing up for cheap flight alerts.

If it’s not good enough coming from us, then perhaps you will listen to Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac as she reveals her favourite countries to visit and the art behind being a successful disc jokey, even after two kids – that is pretty impressive if you

ask us. If you’re more of an underground radio fan, we’ve got you covered as we speak to Emerald who, among many other ventures, hosts the breakfast show on Rinse FM. She admits her early starts have given her a preference for a lie-in over most other

From the snowy mountains in the Golan, to the vast deserts in Eilat, Israel really does have it all. The rich history of Jerusalem is indescribable, but nothing is more surreal than floating in the Dead Sea. Rebecca Lewis

Destination DJ: Annie Mac tells us her favourite places

things, even oral hygiene, and reminisces about her days in a hula hooping dance squad.

Long story short, she’s incredibly cool and you will fall in love with her as soon as you’ve read the interview – that’s what happened with us, anyway. If all this talk of travel

is too much and all you’ve got the energy for is a quick browse through some holiday property porn, fear not – we’ve picked out some dreamy places for our Digs section.

Much love

The TUP team

PICTURE: AHU AKIVI

Guten tag, namaste, salaam, bonjour, marhaba, jambo!

If you have no idea what we’re saying, it’s time to educate yourself on the world’s many beautiful languages, especially if you’re planning on travelling across the globe this summer.

You may also want to brush up on how to make a good impression in your chosen destination, which is where our international student writers come in – they’ve given us some handy tips on what to do and what to avoid when visiting their home countries.

With temperatures creeping up, it’s tempting to dip into our summer wardrobes and start sunbathing in the (probably damp) park.

However, we urge you to keep the flip flops hidden for a couple of months and head to

PICTURE: BERTHOLD WERNER

from The University Paper

A journey through the long sliver of land that is Chile reveals its colonial past and indigenous societies plus you can catch a flight to the still-mysterious Easter Island.

Charlotte Mitchell

PICTURE: TERRY GOSS

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A visually stunning country with friendly people, unique culture and some of the world’s most interesting wildlife. Also if you like great white sharks then definitely go to South Africa.

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Head to Serbia for EXIT festival at the Petrovaradin fortress and do not to miss out on the ćevapi, delicious traditional meat-balls, in Belgrade’s bohemian quarter of Skadarlija.

Ognjen Milicevic

jessjenkins.co.uk

Travel

Continental part Bass to bodypaint – these festivals have something worth leaving the UK for

La Tomatina

La Tomatina

Bunol, Spain (August 30) from 50 Euros

Bodypainting Festival

Horizon Festival

Electric Castle

Dodge, duck, dip and dive as a volley of tomatoes rains down on you in this eccentric annual tradition. La Tomatina, a huge food fight using only tomatoes, has been running since 1945 when (allegedly) a local festival got a bit out of hand and the locals started lobbing fruit and veg at each other. However, there are a number of other theories which include a bad musician having objects chucked at him and residents making the most of an accidental lorry spillage. It was banned in the early 1950s and

again in 1957 but was brought back to the delight of (presumably now rich) greengrocers across Valencia.

Now, tonnes of the fruit from the less expensive area of Extremadura are hauled into the town square of Bunol by trucks. The firing of water cannons marks the beginning of the event although, technically, the festival is not meant to begin until someone has climbed a two-storey high greased pole and reached a ham at the top. After an hour it’s all over. Fire trucks are brought in to hose down the streets, with water collected from the local Roman aqueduct. And while the streets are clean afterwards (thanks to the acidity in the

missiles), the participants aren’t, so many head to Bunol River for a good wash. All this may sound a bit random – particularly the greasy pole with a ham on top – but it’s in honour of the town’s patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Virgin Mary, so it’s all good.

Horizon

Andorra (March 26 to April 2) full week ticket from £119

Get ready to be taken on an adventure starting in Barcelona and ending on

mountain tops in Andorra. Close to the Spanish border, Arinsal is a tiny skiing village, which comes alive in the winter for skiers and reincarnates into a bike park in the summer, so the village is used to a lively atmosphere. The weeklong event isn’t for the faint-hearted, as it’s packed full of snowsports and avalanche-inducing music acts including AJ Tracey, Ben UFO and Josey Rebelle.

Away from the main

 John Shaw

organisers couldn’t have picked a better spot. Set in the grounds of the 15th century Banffy Castle, EC2017 will be as much a treat for the eye as it is for the ears. The stunning fortress was inherited by 12-year-old Count Dénes Bánffy in 1735. After spending his youth in Vienna, the Count returned home and started a Baroque reconstruction in 1747. The last owner of the site was Miklós Bánffy. But this year it will be home to some truly special guests. Art-rockers alt-J will headline the four-dayer as well as Moderat, Noisia and Nero.

Also on the list are Dixon, Crazy P Soundsystem and A-Trak. Let’s just ho pe they take care of their temporary accommodation. stages are a range of activities on offer including clubs, bars, a snow park, a secret forest rave, paintball and the hostel, which is filled with DJ sets in different dorm rooms.

Also, if you can join the fun a day early, there will be a launch party in Barcelona with warm-up sets from both local Barcelona DJs and artists playing at Horizon.

Electric Castle

Cluj-Napoca, Romania (July 12 to 16)

weekend ticket from £60

Location, location, location. It’s as true for festivals as it is for house buying and the Electric Castle

Sziget

Budapest, Hungary (August 9 to 16)

325 Euros for a seven day pass

If you like the idea of travelling – meeting people from different walks of life, trying out a new language, partying – but can’t be bothered with the actual moving around bit, then Sziget is the place for you. It’s like a microcosm of the whole world. Just fewer than 500,000 people (that’s more than the population of Malta or Iceland) from 100 countries all converge on Óbudai Island, dubbed the Island of Freedom. The 2017 edition sparkles with music from every genre you can think of. For indie lovers there’s Kasabian, Two Door Cinema Club and The Kills.

If pop is more your thing you’ll probably want to catch Charli XCX and Clean Bandit. For everyone else there’s Major Lazer, Jamie Cullum, Tom Odell, Billy Talent and way, way more. But if you find yourself needing a break from the hustle and bustle of the festival you can explore

VERYONE loves watching their favourite artists in the flesh. But festivals offer more than just live music. Be it

the wonderful city of Budapest, which has many beautiful historic buildings, spas and pubs and clubs inside converted ruins.

Way Out West Gothenburg, Sweden (August 10 to 12) £129.17 to £200.94

What started life as a festival-come club night ten years ago has now evolved into a three day party with a wide range of music. This year the main acts include (but are far from limited to) Lana Del Rey, The Black Madonna, Chance The Rapper and Frank Ocean. The main stages are in Slottsskogen, a park in Gothenburg, but there are also performances in clubs dotted around the city and a number of cultural activities to enjoy including art exhibitions and film screenings. The organisers of the festival are incredibly keen on being environmentally friendly and have in the past only offered vegetarian food – so meat lovers might want to stash a few Peperamis in their bags just in case.

Labyrinth Open

Omis, Croatia (July 8 to 11) 129 Euros

If moshing in muddy fields isn’t your cup of tea, how does sunning yourself in a marina town in Croatia

Glastonbury or Wireless, there is nothing better than getting out into the great outdoors, getting drunk, moshing to some live music and taking part in all sorts of random activities.

Although these great British

sound? Labyrinth Open is a brand new festival which is getting ready to shake up the tiny town of Omiš. The four day saga refers to itself as a summer music conference which is perfect for music enthusiasts, sun seekers and skilled swimmers. It’s packed full of DJs, boat parties and sunshine.

A small selection of DJs has so far been announced, including Amelie Lens and Guy J, but there are another 50 names to be added to the bill so if house, techno and dance music are your kind of jams, this is the perfect setup for you. Tickets for the event alone cost around 129 Euros, although there is the option to rent some beautiful beach houses, which will give you a discount on your ticket, so it’s worth having a gander.

World Bodypainting Festival

Carinthia, Austria (July 28 to 30) 69 Euros for a three day pass

We all like a bit of fancy dress at festivals but this really is something special. The annual shindig, which started in 1998, attracts artists from 45 different countries and around 30,000 intrigued spectators. The event has a pre-week filled with workshops from leading artists to help you prepare for the final event.

All the excitement and rather strange events lead up to three main days in Klagenfurtat the lake Wothersee, which is fittingly known as bodypaint city, where competitions are held.

In the main trial, artists are given a theme and compete in different categories such as brush and sponge, airbrush and special effects.

World Club Dome

events hold a special place in all our hearts, there is nothing wrong with wanting to venture further afield.

Let’s be honest, it would make a nice change to pack a swimsuit instead of wellies and come back feeling sun kissed and refreshed

itself will be a sight to behold. The Incheon Munhak Stadium was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and hosted the Costa Rica vs. Turkey, Denmark vs.

France and South Korea vs.

Portugal games. For the festival, it will be transformed into ‘the biggest club in Asia’ with 20 floors to explore. You’ll also be able to see a majestic skyline on one side and magnificent views of green hills and beyond, or an ocean vista on the other. Also, if you’re looking for love then you could turn to Korean shamanism for a spiritual boost. You can pick up a dehydrated fox vagina which has been blessed by a shaman for the modest price of $300, according to an Al Jazeera report. No guarantee it will work but it’s got to be better than Tinder. Making the long flight out to South Korea will be Afrojack, Robin Schulz, Steve Aoki, W&W and Sven Vath.

rather than drained and hungover.

If that alone isn’t enough to coerce you, we have kindly put together a collection of the finest festivals from across the globe. From Spain to Korea, the choice is yours – just see which fest you fancy the most.

Way Out West

sziget

Korea (June 2 to 4)

119 Euros for a three days

You might look at the European festivals and shrug. Yes, they’re great but you’re a true adventurer – you want something different. Fair enough, try out World Club Dome Korea.

The venue

World Club Dome

Labrynth Open

FREEPIK.COM

tying E

17

March 2017

Travel

How to be a tactful tourist Want to get more out of your travels?

Note down our correspondents’ do’s and don’ts to help you party like a local

W

 Amy Denman

WWW.FREEPIK.COM

HEN it comes to embarrassing yourself in a country that’s not yours, MP Boris Johnson’s gaffes, such as rugby tackling a schoolboy in Japan and having to let an Australian official sort out his tie, often come to mind.

But not all faux pas are as easy to spot, which is why TUP have asked these international students for their tips on what to embrace and avoid when visiting their home countries, from advice on picking up litter to when and how visitors should tip.

Yana Milcheva

Cardiff University Asenovgrad, Bulgaria

Ana Iliescu

University of Salford Bucharest, Romania

Jessica Ginting

University of Bristol Jakarta, Indonesia Do Take your shoes off when

visiting someone’s house. It’s a common custom in most Asian countries and Indonesia is no exception as it shows respect for one’s home.

Don’t Eat any street food without

consulting with a local or the internet first. You might end up with an upset stomach. However, if that’s a chance you’re willing to take, be prepared with charcoal capsules to fight tummy pain.

Dimple Meera Jom University of Salford Kottayam, India

Do Have a trusted local person

as a guide to accompany you while you explore India’s sights.

Tourists are prone to being pickpocketed or ripped off with more expensive prices at shops and resutrants.

Don’t Be afraid to try on local

styles of dress. It’s amazing to experience how a six metre long sari cloth is draped around your body. And if you are man, try wearing a Lungi.

Do Accept an invitation to a meal

or take food if it is offered to you. In Romania, offering food or inviting someone for a meal is a sign of affection and people will feel offended if you refuse.

However, the food is amazing so you are in for a treat.

Don’t Get nervous if someone

looses their temper in front of you. As a Latin nation, Romanians are short-tempered and can be very vocal, but they will calm down just as fast and act as if nothing was ever wrong – it’s the way they are, so don’t panic.

Do Learn how to say ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in Bulgarian. Those small gestures make a good impression on the locals and it shows that you have made an effort to research and get familiar with our language. Winning your hosts over is surely going to make your stay a lot more pleasant.

Don’t Just stick to the party

seaside resorts. Despite what some people think, especially the students who are looking for a cheap summer getaway, Bulgaria has much more to offer than party resorts such as Sunny Beach. Our country is home to some incredibly beautiful natural habitats, from the snowy mountains to the beautiful lakes, as well as numerous sightseeing spots, such as the Roman ancient amphitheatre.

Bryce Mills

University of Strathclyde Los Angeles, US Do Tip every time you go to a

resturant – 15 to 18 per cent of the bill is standard. You can also expect the waiter or waitress to check on you plenty of times throughout a meal. This also happens in retail shops, as customer service is a big thing in the US.

Don’t Smoke. Smoking is not as

socially acceptable in public as it is in the UK. Be mindful of your surroundings as other people, and especially children who may be nearby – people will get offended if you light up a cigarrette near them if you don’t check to see if they mind.

Yung Lin

SOAS, University of London Taipei, Taiwan Do Smile whenever you meet people in Taiwan. The Taiwanese people are very friendly and welcoming to foreigners.

Engaging with and getting along with local people is a first step towards understanding Taiwanese culture.

Don’t Destroy the natural

environment by leaving rubbish at the beach, or throwing everything in the bin without checking if it can be recycled because the environment is very important to the local people, so you must respect this.

19

March 2017

Unnatural setting: An elephant painting

Stories of tourists being injured by captive elephants and documentaries telling the stories of sea park killer whales have sparked debate recently over wild animals being used for entertainment.

But it is not always obvious when a tourist attraction is unfairly taking advantage of the creatures in its care.

TUP asked Dr Ros Clubb, a senior scientific officer at the RSPCA, how to show compassion while globetrotting.

‘The concern is about animals being exploited and tourists not realising what goes on behind the scenes,’ Dr Clubb explained.

‘It’s about making people aware and trying to look behind the veneer of the show being put on.

She said tourists often unwittingly fuelled animal cruelty by paying to interact with creatures.

‘If you pay for an attraction it stimulates the demand for more of these shows – it feeds into the whole economy of it,’ she added.

But she said it was not necessary to completely avoid animals while on your travel. ‘There’s no hard and fast

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rule,’ she added. ‘If you can handle a wild animal or take a selfie with them, or if there is an unnatural show – such as dancing bears – those are the red flags to steer clear of.

‘I would say elephant rides are a definite no-no, and they’re really dangerous as well.’

Going to a zoo or aquarium seems harmless, and when visitors discover something is not right it is often after they have paid their entry fee.

But Dr Clubb said there were still ways to take action.

‘If there are concerns, they can report it to the tour operator or there are authorities in the country they can report it to,’ she said. ‘Also, World Animal Protection are very active on preventing animal attractions.’

The charity WAP runs a campaign called Wildlife. Not Entertainers. Some of the activities it lists as cruel include walking with lions, holding sea turtles and watching performing dolphins.

‘Dolphins and whales are definitely a massive concern because you know there are a lot of welfare issues involved – it has been widely

INCLUDING

PICTURE: VISNU PITIYANUVATH

Show the critters some compassion: Animal expert on avoiding cruel wildlife photo ops If you can handle a wild animal, a red flag should be raised

Dr Ros Clubb, RSPCA

Have you been on an elephant ride on holiday? Tell us what you think at editor@unipaper. co.uk

publicised by Blackfish.’

The documentary, released in 2013, told the story of Tilikum the orca and his life as a captive show whale at Sea World. Since the release of the film, the park has stopped breeding the sea creatures and reported a decline in visitors.

But some cruel attractions do not get such a high level of publicity.

‘Animals being used as photo props happens regularly in Europe and Asia,’ Dr Clubb said. ‘That’s always a no go because often they’ve been removed from the wild and their mother might have been killed.’

She said it was better to take photographs of animals in their natural surroundings ‘If you can visit sanctuaries or reserves, that is definitely better,’ she added.

Conservation: Dr Ros Clubb says stick to seeing animals in wildlife reserves or sanctuaries

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22

Music

March 2017

TOM N A N N E R G Proving them right

T

 Lily Winter OM GRENNAN is munching on crisps and hummus when we meet backstage as he prepares for one of his UK tour performances. I go to shake his hand but he goes in for the hug and already I feel more comfortable.

The singer-songwriter has been putting in the work, touring tiny shows with just his guitar at the end of last year and is playing sold-out dates in the UK before travelling to the US and Europe.

When I catch him at The Louisiana in Bristol he tells me crisps and hummus is about the only meal he’s had time for because of his packed schedule.

The 21-year-old is overwhelmed by the massive response he’s had to his live shows since releasing his first EP, Something In The Water, in October.

‘To have only released like three or four songs and to have a UK sold-out tour is f*****g mad,’ he says. ‘It’s wicked though. And it’s just humbling.’

The graduate started writing songs in his hometown of Bedford, a year before he left for St Mary’s University Twickenham, in London, and not long ago he was performing for small crowds of his friends and housemates there.

‘I just tried to learn my craft at uni,’ he says. ‘That’s how I got into it.

‘My aim was to get signed before I left uni. Man, I thought that was an impossible thing because to be

Tom Grennan on getting signed at uni and how he’s stepping up

honest with you, I’m still pretty s**t, you know what I mean?’ He laughs.

Many in the industry disagree with Grennan’s self-deprecating evaluation of his abilities.

He was tipped for greatness this year on the BBC’s Sound Of 2017 alongside artists including winner Ray BLK, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man and The Amazons.

‘To be recognised on that scale is wicked,’ Grennan says. ‘It is amazing and again, it’s humbling.

‘I’ve just got to do my job now and prove them right, and that’s

what I’m going to do.’

Success has been somthing Grennan has had to get used to since he featured on Chase & Status’ single All Goes Wrong, which became one of Annie Mac’s hottest records. Touring with the drum ‘n’ bass duo gave him his first big gig, in front of 55,000 people at Wireless

Stepping up: Tom Grennan’s new EP has a bigger sound than his debut

festival. ‘It was wicked – I’ve been a fan of them from early,’ he says on working with Chase & Status on the single.

‘I was listening to them in school.

And then yeah, to get the call was a bit of a shock, but the song kind of happened naturally. I had the seed of a song and then we kind of built it together.’

He describes his second EP Release The Brakes, released on March 10, as ‘a step up from Something In The Water’.

‘It’s more production, more instruments and just kind of a bigger sound,’ he adds. Something In The

I thought this was impossible – I’m still s**t

Tom Grennan

For more music interviews and reviews, go to www. unipaper.co.uk

Water showcases Grennan’s soulful, gravelly voice, which delivers his heartfelt lyrics in a style that can go from smooth and melodic to direct and cutting.

I ask what he wants his fans to take from his music and what inspires him to write.‘Just real life,’ he replies. ‘I’m writing about what’s happening in my life. People have gone through the same stuff but in different ways, but then can relate to what I’m saying in my songs.

‘I write songs because I’ve gone through it and then (I want) people to take that song and make it their own. That’s why I do music.’

23

The Interview

March 2017

W

 Lucy Robb

For more music and entertainment interviews, go to www.unipaper. co.uk

n a e b o t n r r o e B n i a t r e t n e

out b a s k , tal ing, s i w e e L ding DJ s o R rald er inclu ping... e m E nter a perform hula hoo e s e r FM p lents as rmer life e s n i ta her fo R y n a her m lling and mode

HEN Rinse FM radio presenter Emerald Rose Lewis picks up my call, it seems she isn’t expecting our chat, which is booked for 10.30am.

Nonetheless, after explaining who I am, she is welcoming and says with a laugh: ‘I am ready, I am here.’

I’ve caught her just after she has finished her 7am to 10am breakfast show on Rinse FM – a radio station based in East London that focuses on getting underground music on the airwaves.

The DJ is used to interviews (but is normally on the other end of the questions).

I ask who her favourite interviewee has been so far: ‘Oh 100 per cent, without a doubt, M.I.A. ‘I’ve loved her since I was 13. She was the first person I went to see live so having a chat with her was literally a dream come true for me.’

This morning she interviewed rapper Yxng Bane, whose remix to Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You is track of the week on the station.

She tells me her plans for the rest of the day: ‘I’m off to a house viewing.’

I feel slightly embarrassed as she tells me how much she has done already – I have barely managed to drag myself out of bed by 10.30am while she has already fronted a three-hour radio show.

However, I feel slightly better about my laziness when asking her about her morning routine.

She admits: ‘I should get up at 5.15am, but I actually get up at about 5.45am.

‘It’s kind of luck of the draw, but I usually get to work for around 7am.’

She admits with a laugh that her mornings can be so hectic that sometimes she even forgets to brush her teeth.

Let’s hope she remembered to when she appeared in Diplo and Autoerotique’s music video for their track Waist Time, in which she and three other women break into a warehouse and cut some impressive shapes with light-up hula hoops.

I ask her if she has ever hulahooped before and she surprises me by saying: ‘Yeah, as a job.’

She goes on to tell me how she was part of a dance group called Marawa’s Majorettes, who tour the world performing and teaching people how to hula hoop.

The troupe is lead by Marawa who was Emerald’s hoop and roller-dance teacher.

Emerald seems very fond of her tutor as she tells me: ‘She holds the world record for most hoops spun by one person and fastest mile run while hooping – basically she’s amazing.’

Emerald seems to have explored a lot of avenues in the entertainment industry, as she is also a DJ, a dancer and a former model.

‘I think that gave me the confidence to be in front of a camera,’ she says.

She tells me she stopped as she felt

it didn’t give her the opportunity to showcase her creativity.

Throughout her many roles, Emerald has managed to do a fair bit of globetrotting.

‘I feel very lucky to have travelled around so much with work,’ she says.

‘I did Soundwave Festival in Croatia last year and a couple of things in Belgium and Ibiza, I also did something in India last year actually.’

Her next destination is Andorra, where she will be playing at Horizon Festival in March, which is described as Europe’s greatest ski party.

‘It’s gonna be so much fun, there’s some really exciting acts. It’s gonna be great,’ she says.

I ask if she plans to hit the slopes, she says: ‘I’ve been skiing and snowboarding since I was two.

‘I’m really looking forward to snowboarding again.’

She also tells me she is looking forward to playing a greater variety of music at the festival than she is able to in her day job.

I ask her what she plans to play during her set.

‘Maybe a bit of house, maybe a bit of disco,’ she says. ‘I don’t really get to play that sort of stuff anymore in London.’

While partying on the slopes of Andorra’s ski resort of Arinsal, she also plans to see some acts as well, and tells me: ‘I want to see everyone.

I wanna see Bahia Haze.’

The female duo combine their DJing and vocal skills to create some seriously smooth music.

Emerald mentions that one of the pair is, in fact, her housemate.

What an incredibly cool house that must be to live in.

Feeling slightly envious of her career and living situation, I ask how she landed herself such an amazing job.

‘I was one of those people who really didn’t know what I wanted to do, which is why I didn’t go to university,’ she admits.

‘I didn’t wanna make a decision when I didn’t know what I wanted to do yet. I knew I wanted to be some kind of entertainer. I did a lot of dancing and I loved that.

‘It took me a few years to work out what I wanted to do. I’m still not fully settled and there’s more things I’d love to try.’

She seems to have it sorted now though. The thought makes me briefly tempted to quit university and pursue a career as a globetrotting DJ and radio presenter.

Horizon Festival takes place from Sunday, March 26 to Sunday, April 2.

For tickets go to horizonfestival.net.

The Interview The Radio 1 presenter tells us about trusting her

The Mac I

 Elliott Mills

F there is one thing DJ Annie Mac knows how to do, it’s throw a party. She has been hosting Lost And Found Festival in Malta’s St Paul’s Bay for three years, bringing in performers from her enviable list of music industry mates each time.

I ask why she chose Malta as the setting for the three day party.

‘The people mainly,’ she says. ‘And the fact that the Maltese government and tourist board were so behind the project from the get go.’

The warm weather also makes Malta an attractive place to party,

Jamie Jones, MK and Andy C have been handpicked by the Radio 1 presenter to perform and of course she will be putting in a set of her own.

She takes me through some of the other acts to look out for.

‘The Black Madonna is an amazing selector,’ she says. ‘Also, Giggs and D Double E for being absolute cornerstones of the UK hip hop and grime scenes, and the six hour extravaganza from J.E.S.u.S – made up of Jackmaster, Eats Everything,

I love the feeling of going somewhere I’ve never been before. I don’t do it as much as I used to so when I do it’s still exciting especially in contrast to the muddy fields that provide the backdrop to many a UK festival.

I ask if the sun is a must-have for festivals. ‘It’s not essential but it definitely helps,’ she tells me. ‘The main thing is that it feels warmer than the UK, especially in the daytime when you put on pool, boat and castle parties.’

However, she does urge festivalgoers to pack a hoodie for the chilly summer evenings. Artists including

Seth Troxler and Skream – will be a must-see experience.’

Inspired by the lineup and tempted to get myself a ticket for Lost And Found, I wonder how she manages to confidently select such an exciting list of performers.

‘Conviction and knowing your s**t,’ she tells me. ‘Not booking people because you feel pressure to book them from other people. You have to believe in it yourself.’

Although the pressure to organise a successful festival is high, the job does have its perks, travel being one.

‘I love the feeling of going somewhere I’ve never been before,’ the Londoner tells me. ‘I don’t do it as much as I used to so when I do go off

25 March 2017

instincts, practising her DJ skills in the garden and catching all kinds of travelling bugs

is back in town somewhere it’s still really exciting to me,’ she says.

The 38-year-old tells me about her favourite places to spin the decks, reeling off a list of enviable destinations.

‘I love Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow for the spirit of the people,’ she says.

‘However, I love Miami for the fun, food and the adventures I’ve had there. Sonar in Barcelona is always amazing. Toronto crowds are always super open minded and progressive.’

But she doesn’t just travel for work, and names Jamaica and Mexico as her favourite places to kick back.

She also loves New York, where she worked in a vegan coffee shop

‘I was going home to spend the first night in my new house. I rang the doorbell at 2am and my boyfriend opened up.

‘The first thing I did was fall down on my hands and knees in the hall and throw up,’ she laughs. ‘Such a nice start to a new home.’

She had her second child with partner Toddla T in January after revealing the pregnancy in a low-key reply to a tweet from a fan asking why she was not on the lineup for

I came home from Ibiza with food poisoning. My boyfriend opened the front door and the first thing I did was throw up for a summer when she was 19 – a time she has described as a rite of passage. ‘New York City is very close to my heart as a place that changed my life,’ she adds.

Despite visiting some amazing places across the world, the Dublinborn DJ reveals she has had some travel disasters, namely ‘various bouts of aggressive food poisoning over the years’.

‘One came on just as I was boarding a plane home from Ibiza,’ she adds.

September 2016’s Bestival.

MistaJam has been covering the mother-of-two’s Radio 1 slot while she has been away.

After a couple of months’ leave the presenter is looking forward to returning to the decks.

‘I’m glad I have been through this before,’ she says of the return to work. ‘I know it will feel really nervewracking and really amazing.’

Despite being away from DJing, she has found a way to keep on top of her skills at home in Notting Hill.

‘I enjoy practising in my office at the end of the garden and catching up with all the music I’ve missed.’

She may have been DJing for 13 years, but the nerves are still there.

‘I’ll probably be a little self conscious but will absolutely love it once I’m up and running,’ she says.

‘That buzz you get when you move a crowd never grows old.’

Annie Mac Presents: Lost And Found Festival takes place from April 13 to 18 at Numero Uno in Malta

Pregnant pause: Annie Mac is preparing to get back on the decks for her Lost And Found Festival after having her second child in January

Find the finest performers Let’s be honest, most of us go to festivals for the lineup. But there is always the potential for a clash that has you frantically running from one stage to another, trying to see

your favourite artist. Why not take the opportunity to discover some new acts instead? Here are our recommendations to check out while at Lost And Found Festival.

Peckham rapper Giggs has had an incredible year so far, touring the UK and collaborating with Drake on a new song. His tunes, including Lock Doh, Whippin Excursion and Who’s Dat? are guaranteed to get the crowd proper gassed – as one might say.

He calls himself the sexiest fat man in the universe Charlie Sloth is a master at selecting the finest tunes. If his popular Radio 1Xtra slot is anything to go by, you’re guaranteed to go from two stepping to dabbing and slow whining all in one glorious slot.

Dubstep DJ Skream is travelling all the way from the outskirts of south London to St Paul’s Bay to bring some seriously danceable tunes your way. He hasn’t released anything of his own for a while, but he knows how to get a crowd bopping by selecting the latest jams.

Listening to dance music in the Maltese warmth sounds like a dream come true. And what better artists to provide the soundtrack to a Mediterranean evening than Dusky? The duo will bring tracks from their latest album Outer, which features Wiley, Gary Numan and Solomon Grey.

Cats and dogs are known for not getting on.

Polish producers Pets Recordings owners Catz ‘n Dogz are known for getting the catchiest tunes on and producing some electrifying cuts. Grab a Sex On The Beach and wag your tail along to the house duo’s best tracks.

26|On Campus: Nottingham Trent www.unipaper.co.uk | t @TheUniPaper | f TheUniPaper | 020 7580 6419

March 2017

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Student band of the month

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March 2017

relationships. Some of the romantic songs are about subliminal thoughts, feelings and actions in relationships, whereas other songs are scathing of human shallowness.

Society and politics are important – we believe the personal is the political. We deal with what society does to relationships in terms of social alienation, indifference and destruction of community, because real social change will only happen once enough people have dealt with their social and spiritual emptiness.

Each month we introduce you to the best new musicians from the UK’s campuses.

This time we chat to New Luna from Manchester

Where do you want to be in ten years’ time?

We love a pretty melody

Tommy and Zack are in the same class at uni. Toby and Luke both joined later through online adverts.

intertwined guitar patterns leading into fuzzy drops with the vocals moving around with the music. We use a lot of guitar effects to fill out space, though underneath we’re a pop band who like pretty melodies and beats.

How would you describe your music?

Who are your major influences?

 Tom Gellatly How did you meet?

Alternative rock with post-punk and dream-pop influences. Dreaminess is key to what we are – lots of floating,

Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins and Joy Division have the dreamy, otherworldliness we’re

For more from other student bands, go to www. unipaper.co.uk

Interview

Anything is possible...

Britain’s Got Talent winner Richard Jones reveals the magical tale behind his incredible rise to success

 Emily Whitaker Many children know what they want to be ‘when they grow up’, but few succeed.

However, soldier-come-magician and Britain’s Got Talent winner Richard Jones has pulled off the seemingly impossible and landed two dream jobs.

‘I used to learn card tricks as a child,’ he tells me.

‘But my magical career really kicked off when I joined the army in 2010. Since [then] all I’ve ever done is that and magic.’

His slight of hand made him a popular figure with his fellow troops, initially in the Parachute Regiment and then, after a transfer, in the Household Cavalry.

‘You go through times of extreme adrenaline and excitement, and then long periods of having little to

Talented troop: Richard Jones embarks on a magical tour in April

For more entertainment interviews go to www.unipaper. co.uk

do,’ the London-born entertainer reveals.

‘I would always put on a show for troops – including those of other nations.’

Last year, his audience grew significantly from a few colleagues to millions of BGT fans, when he auditioned on the ITV show.

The military magician, who was labelled a wizard by Simon Cowell, showcased his mind-reading abilities in his second audition.

In his performance, Jones handed judges Amanda Holden and David Walliams a notebook each.

Holden’s was filled with celebrity names and Walliams’ with names of drinks.

He asked the pair to select one name from their book and dramatically revealed their choices – to the delight of the audience.

‘I gained a lot of respect from the

into. Tommy and Zack got talking over Nick Drake, and other singersongwriters such as Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. They have a big impact on how we write – their lyrics carry a powerful, often hardto-find meaning. We’re also big fans of Grimes and Bonobo.

If you could collaborate with one artist, who would you pick?

Working with Grimes would be brilliant. She’s a genius at putting together colourful, expressive pop songs. It would be interesting to see how her voice would fit with our style and how we’d sound with synths and beats.

Dreamboys: (l-r) Tommy Deedigan, Toby Duncan, Luke Moloney and Zack Bamber

What are the main themes or topics for your songs?

A lot of what we write is about

magical community for taking the risks I did, especially when reading people’s minds,’ he tells me.

‘But that’s what makes it exciting.’

To prove that point, Jones has been promoted to Member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, one of the highest accolades granted by highly-secretive society The Magic Circle.

However, despite this achievement, I discover his telepathic abilities don’t work as well over the telephone.

‘It’s difficult to do over the phone,’ he laughs.

‘I’m not a psychic or anything like that.’

However, he reveals the army has helped him to develop his abilities.

‘I do incorporate mind reading techniques within the magic that I do on stage,’ he says.

‘I have specialist training in how to read people really accurately.’

Part of the prize for winning BGT was the chance to appear at the Royal Variety Performance.

The lance corporal explains the premise behind his act on the 2016

BGT WINNER

RICHARD JONES

We want to be enjoying ourselves and to have contributed something progressive to music and the world.

Hopefully we’ll still be learning and not be too comfortable with where we’re at. Travelling the world will help, so it would be good if music gives us the opportunity.

What does success mean to you?

Appreciating what we’ve done while staying motivated. New things are happening all the time and we must enjoy it, from having our first fan to playing a festival, but no matter how far we go we’re never going to sit back and go ‘right, we’ve done it’ because that’s when it ends. You have to look around yourself and enjoy where you are because you never know when it’s going to end.

version of the show.

‘I much prefer magic that has a message and a true story which affects people emotionally,’ he says.

‘At the Royal Variety Performance I told a story about my brother and his team, who are bomb disposal experts, who once found themselves in a difficult situation.

‘Right at the end of my performance they joined me on stage and we gained a standing ovation from the thousands of people there, including from Prince Charles and Camilla.’

After the whirlwind that was BGT, the soldier returned (almost immediately) to duties, looking after the horses and playing in the military band for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

I ask how he manages to balance the two jobs.

‘The army label me as a positive ambassador,’ he says.

‘They are keen to allow me to go on tour.’

Taking that to heart, the 26-yearold is taking his show on tour in April. I ask what the audience can expect.

‘I am trying to make sure there is a story and a message,’ he says.

‘It is not just a magic show where you come to watch tricks – every piece of magic is in there for a reason.

‘When you are a child, you have no limits – in your mind you can do anything.

‘As you grow older you build more limitations within your own mind. But the beauty of magic is the breakdown of these limitations.

‘For a split second, anything is possible.’

"AN EMOTIONAL POWERHOUSE OF A DOCUMENTARY" Variety

"A BREATHTAKINGLY UNSENTIMENTAL EMBRACE OF LIFE AT ITS LosMOST CHALLENGING" Angeles Times EDITED COAMAZON STUDI O S PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH IMG FILMS AND DEAR RIVERS PRODUCTIONS A SETH GORDON PRODUCTION A FILM BY CLAYTWEEL “GLEASON” BY CLAYTWEEL EDITOR BRIAN PALMER MUSIC DIRECTORS OF COEXECUTIVE

BY DAN ROMER SAUL SIMON MACWILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID LEE TY MINTON-SMALL PRODUCERS SHANNON E. RIGGS JUSTIN BERGERON TENNY PRIEBE PRODUCERS MARK SHAPIRO WILL STAEGER PAUL VARISCO SR. PRODUCED

BY SETH GORDON P.G.A. KIMI CULP P.G.A. PRODUCERS SCOTT FUJITA P.G.A. MARY RY ROHLICH P.G.A. TOM LALAVIA THOMAS MCEACHIN KEVIN LAKE STORYBY SETH GORDON CLACLAY TWEEL DIRECTEDBY CLAY CLA TWEEL

Digs

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March 2017

Say aloha to blissfulness

Get the flower garlands ready and dig out your sunglasses – once you see this property you’ll want to pour a Blue Hawaiian and take in the vista from its terrace.

The ten-person Ocean View Kahala house is close to Waikiki beach and its stunning view of Diamond Head volcano is best appreciated from the hot tub (which glows purple at dusk, if a mountain-view hot tub is not already impressive enough).

You’ll want to get a group of friends together though, as rent is £504 on average per night.

Homes in heavenly hideouts Why not get your mates together to book somewhere a step above your term-time abode, like these rentals on HomeAway.co.uk?

Rustic retreat way up north

Nestled on a hillside right next to a Norwegian fjord is this wooden three-bedroom home.

The property is on the island of Mageroya, which is nearer to the

North Pole than Norway’s capital.

It’s a great place to explore the natural wonders of this stunning island and surrounding sights, including Europe’s most northerly

point and an island bird colony. But you may want to rent a car, as the nearest restaurant is 11km away.

The house, which sleeps up to five, costs around £74 per night.

Pink palace to captivate you

If water sports, bike rides and bright colours are your thing, this is the perfect place for you to holiday.

The detached house has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and its

own private dock. Located on Captiva Island, off the Florida mainland, this home is a good base for exploring inland and the beach.

But the island has a dark history

– it is said to be named Captiva because a pirate captain kept his prisoners captive there.

A stay in the house will put you back about £412 per night.

10151 CRM - Birmingham Uni Paper Advert Update_Layout 1 28/02/2017 16:31 Page 1

Sport

Thank BUCS for that...

Thousands flock to Sheffield for tournie

R

 John Shaw

Dixon looks beyond uni after gold

Card’s tricks seal victory I love BUCS Nationals, it falls in the middle of an intense period for everyone so it is a crucial meet

Ross Murdoch, Stirling University and Team GB

Rifle Range ahead of Glasgow and Edinburgh, who finished second and third respectively.

It was a golden night in the pool for Ross Murdoch as he added two BUCS Nationals titles to his evergrowing collection on Saturday night.

Stirling University student Murdoch, who represented Team GB in Rio, clinched the gold medals in the 50m and 200m breaststroke.

‘This is my first long course meet of the 2016/17 year, and I’m delighted to have achieved this at this point of the season,’ he said. ‘I love BUCS Nationals – it falls in the middle of an intense period for everyone so it is a crucial meet.’

Elsewhere, a new championship

record was set by Loughborough’s Charlotte Evans in the 200m backstroke heats, before teammates Sarah Vasey and Jocelyn Ulyett broke their own 50m and 200m breaststroke records, respectively, on their way to taking gold.

The third day brought 22 athletics finals on a stunning day for Loughborough.

The Midlands uni walked away with both the men’s and women’s team titles once again as the final day of athletics concluded with relay drama.

Bath overtook Brunel in the final metre of the 4x200m women’s race to snatch victory in a photo finish, before the men got revenge and overtook Bath on the final lap

to take victory for Brunel – with Loughborough being disqualified from second place, meaning Cardiff Met took the bronze.

In the field events Northumbria’s Charlie Myers set a new personal best of 5.40m to win the pole vault, while Edinburgh’s Che Richards did the same to take the men’s long jump, leaping to 7.46m.

In the men’s 200m there was defeat for two-time defending champion Omololu Abiodun, as he was beaten into second place by UEL teammate Kyle Ennis.

And one of the loudest cheers was for the University of Sheffield’s David Dempsey, who took his first BUCS indoors gold at the eighth time of asking, winning the 800m.

Photo finish: Hannah Brier (right) claims gold in the flat sprints ahead of Adeline Gouenon (middle) and Diani Walker

For more sport, go to www.unipaper. co.uk

Change of event secures triumph for sprinter Jones Cardiff Met athlete delighted after PB  Katie Falkingham Cardiff Met sprinter Morgan Jones was left jumping for joy after clinching 60m ambulant gold on day one of the BUCS Nationals.

The 22-year-old clocked a new personal best of 7.66 seconds to become the first ever BUCS champion in the event as it made its debut at the national tournament.

Jones, a T47 athlete, crossed the line ahead of Sheffield Hallam’s Matthew Hamilton and Brunel’s Ryan Raghoo, in second and third respectively.

And the sport and exercise science masters student couldn’t be prouder to have earned his place atop the podium. ‘It feels really good to get

IN BRIEF

Oxford University fencer Harriet Dixon says she is leaving her student days on a high after clinching gold in the women’s sabre at BUCS Nationals.

The 22-year-old almost saw the title taken from her grasp when opponent Emily Ruaux, of Surrey University, staged a late comeback in the gold medal match.

Her opponent came from 8-4 down to bring the match to 14-13, only for Dixon to take the next point and with it, the win.

And despite graduation looming, Dixon insists she will take fond memories of BUCS Nationals away with her.

‘I’ve been away for a year and a half, so to come back and win an event is really positive.’

PICTURE: BUCS/SPORTSBEAT

ECORDS tumbled as 6,000 students flocked to Sheffield for the fifth annual BUCS Nationals.

The first day saw Rio 2016 Olympian Tim Shuttleworth ensure a blistering start to proceedings in the pool, breaking his own 1,500m BUCS long course championship record in the first session of the weekend.

Loughborough University and Team GB’s Shuttleworth touched the wall in 15:08.88, ahead of Tony Robinson (Loughborough) and Tom Derbyshire (Bath) in second and third respectively.

‘I’m really happy with my performance. I set the previous championship record last year, but to go faster this year feels really good,’ he said.

‘It’s especially because I’m doing a lot of training at the moment. I’m swimming 80,000m a week, so to come here after a hard week and swim fast is just fantastic.’

On the track, six gold medals were handed out at the Sheffield English Institute of Sport as Loughborough dominated the 60m sprints with wins for Hannah Brier and Adam Thomas.

Appearing in their first Nationals, they both walked away with the gold medals as Brier clocked 7.31s in her final – equalling the championship record – to beat St Mary’s Adeline Gouenon into second by 0.09s, with Middlesex’s Diani Walker just 0.01s further back in third.

Day two saw a number of medals handed out across nine different sports. The University of Cambridge bagged themselves a gold in the team event of the short range rifle shooting at Staveley

31

March 2017

Out on his own: Morgan Jones takes the gold

the win. I didn’t expect to win at all,’ he said.

‘There was a false start, which threw it all up in the air, so after that you never know what can happen.

‘Coming into the event I just wanted to run a good race and to execute what we had been practicing in training, and then let whatever happened, happen.

‘And I ran a PB so I can’t complain – I was quite shocked.

‘Training has been going really well leading up to this but this year has been a big change for me.

‘I’ve changed coach and changed my event, away from jumps and looking at sprints more, but obviously it seems to be working.’

BUCS Nationals welcomed more than 6,000 students to the Steel City across the weekend.

And for Jones, the introduction of disability events to the programme

has made the event even better than it was before.

‘You get an atmosphere like nowhere else here,’ he said. ‘I thought the race wasn’t actually that good, I felt I didn’t execute as well as I could have, but I was really pleased with the result.

‘But I think BUCS Nationals is a great opportunity for anyone to come and compete, and especially now there are disability events in it, it really allows us to perform on a good stage.’  BUCS is the national governing body for Higher Education sport in the UK, organising leagues and competitions for more than 150 institutions across 52 different sports.

BUCS Nationals is the UK’s largest annual multi-sport event, bringing over 6,000 athletes to Sheffield to compete in nine sports.

Glasgow’s Matthew Carder won the men’s singles badminton title with a thrilling victory over Bath’s Alex Lane at the English Institute of Sport.

Carder, ranked number one in the tournament, faced the number two seed and had to put in some of his best badminton against last year’s winner, to leave him delighted with his victory.

‘It was always going to be tough,’ he said. ‘But it means so much to me and it’s nice to take something back to Scotland as well.’

Loughborough’s Greg Mairs and Jenny Moore won their third mixed doubles title in succession, beating a brave challenge from Matt Clare and Viki Williams in the final.

Hattrick for Edinburgh Edinburgh University took home three titles on the last day of karate action, with teammates Chloe Maclean and Denisa Gombaldua going head-to-head in the kumite under-50kg final.

Maclean prevailed, while fellow Edinburgh students Iona Frost and Jay Hogg took the women’s under68kg and men’s under-60kg titles.

Rebecca Burnett of Kent was victorious in the women’s under55kg division, while Madalina Sterpopa (Middlesex) and Victoria Ogunseitan (Kings) won the under-61kg and 68kg+ categories, respectively. In the men’s, there were wins for Adil Mehmed (Manchester) in under-67kg, Curtis Harvey (Aston) in under-75kg and Jamaal Otto (Coventry) in under84kg, while Bath’s Luke Williams won the 84kg+.

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