Sheffield November 2016 by The University Paper

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SHEFFIELD EDITION November 2016

SAUL MILTON: We’re working with the best of British artists

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KERRY GODLIMAN On what home means

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SLAVES We kill with kindness

Bus blaze won’t halt our teams

ROMESH RANGANATHAN On his pirate radio days

COMPETITION Win a Lenco L-85 player

Supporters step in after club’s kit burnt @ HENRY EDWARDS

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Student hockey teams who lost their kit when a fire engulfed their bus are on track to play their next fixtures after supporters donated more than £6,000. All five teams from University of Sheffield men’s hockey were on a coach driving along the M62 when smoke started to fill the bus on September 28. ‘It started towards the back,’ club secretary Alex Eyre told TUP. ‘As it got further and further towards the front, some of the lads

told the driver.’ They pulled over to the hard shoulder and all 68 players on board got out as the fire got worse. ‘We could see some little bits of flame,’ Alex said. ‘At that point we thought: “We really need to get a bit further away,” so people on the committee marshalled everybody away. Then the whole thing was up in flames. We were quite far away, but we could still see it because of the scale of it.’ While flames reached nearly twice the height of the coach, the players

The whole bus went up in flames – we were quite far away but we could still see it

Alex Eyre, club secretary

waited on an embankment for just over an hour for another bus. ‘We were singing songs and people were beeping their horns in support,’ Alex said. ‘None of us were hurt.’ Once the blaze was out, some of the students returned to the burned-out bus and realised nearly everything on it, including club kit and personal belongings worth about £70,000, had been destroyed. ‘At that point we thought: “This isn’t looking very good”,’ Alex said. The club started an appeal to raise Continued on Page 3

SPORT Super League heralds new era in uni rugby

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November 2016

Club ‘grateful’ for support of other sports teams and business

VC renews support for global unis

Without these donations there was no way we’d be able to play our first games

The University of Sheffield has renewed its support for international students. The institution has pledged its support for the newly relaunched #WeAreInternational campaign, which aims to ensure universities remain diverse following Brexit. Professor Sir Keith Burnett, Sheffield's vice-chancellor, said: 'Our teachers and students are from many nations. Education is, and must remain, without borders.' He said the government should also welcome overseas students.

Alex Eyre, club secretary

For more news on Sheffield and sports, go to www. unipaper.co.uk

PICTURES: JAMES EARLEY

« Continued from Page 1

£10,000 on Just Giving for emergency kit to play their first three fixtures on October 12. In a week, they have raised over £6,700. ‘It’s been an incredible response,’ Alex said. ‘I had no expectation that we’d get anywhere near what we have. We’re so grateful to everyone. ‘Without these donations there was absolutely no way we’d be able to play our first three games.’ As well as money, the club has had offers of help from Hallam hockey players, Sheffield’s American football and the women’s hockey teams. Suppliers have also offered discounts. The club is unsure when its insurance will be paid out and wants to raise another £4,000 to cover costs in the meantime. To donate, visit www.justgiving. com/fundraising/SheffieldUniversity-Hockey-Club.

Lucky escape: The team's bus as flames took hold, left, and the shell left behind, right

Help fight disorder Sister's plea after student's death @ John Shaw

The family of a student who died suddenly – days after being dropped off at uni for the new year – are raising awareness of the condition that killed her. Sheffield Hallam second-year Olivia Mae Woodward, 19, was found dead at the Exchange Works halls, where she lived, on September 25 – a week after her parents helped her move in for the second year of her international events management course. Her heart stopped as a result

IN BRIEF

‘Beautiful’: Olivia

of sudden death syndrome – an umbrella term for the often previously undiagnosed causes of fatal cardiac arrest in young people. Her sister Annabelle has set up

an appeal, along with Olivia’s boyfriend Charlie Gilbert, to raise money for the charity Cardiac Risk In The Young, or CRY. On the appeal’s JustGiving page, Annabelle said: ‘My beautiful big sister and also Charlie’s beautiful girlfriend passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. ‘No one got to say goodbye and so Charlie Gilbert and myself would like to help this charity to prevent this from happening to any other families.’ They have raised more than £3,800 for the charity, which offers support to families of young people who have died suddenly, as well as promoting heart screening

and supporting research. Olivia was described as caring and kind by her mother Lisa. ‘The overriding comment people have been saying is that Olivia was just beautiful inside and out,’ she said. A Sheffield Hallam spokeswoman said the university was ‘deeply saddened’. ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Olivia’s family, friends and fellow students at this very difficult time, and we have provided support for those affected by this tragic incident,’ she added. To make a donation, visit www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ Annabelle-Woodward.

SU rep tells fees TEF-off Students’ unions are calling on bosses to resist plans for new rankings and possible fee hikes. They have spoken out against the Teaching Excellence Framework, which will classify universities as bronze, silver or gold, allowing those rated top to raise fees. Hallam SU’s education officer, Luke Renwick, said in a statement: ‘We are not your customers. F**k fees, and f**k the TEF,’ after vicechancellor and TEF chairman Prof Chris Husbands told Times Higher Education TEF would ‘build on the existing high standards of learning’. Sheffield SU will soon deliver an open letter to VC Prof Sir Keith Burnett, calling for a TEF boycott.

Influence for researchers

Historians at the University of Sheffield could have the chance to influence government policies. They will be part of the new group History And Policy, which links researchers, policy makers and journalists, from next year. The group aims to avoid repeating society’s past mistakes.

Team gives patients lift A bra to help with cancer treatment is being designed at Sheffield Hallam University. The garment, also being worked on by the NHS and Panache Lingerie, holds breasts in place for radiotherapy and could be worn throughout, meaning patients would no longer have to bear their chests and be tattooed with marks.

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Cash-strapped mums and dads hit by costs of university life More than two thirds have to cut back on luxuries to help out their children Parents forced to take out loans and go into debt to help their child pay for studies

@ Tom Gellatly It can be shocking to discover how quickly your student loan runs out. Once you’ve bought your books for the year, splashed out on freshers’ week, joined a load of societies and replaced your holefilled socks, there isn’t loads left. And when times are tough, for many of us, the bank of mum and dad provides a quick and easy get out, which by-passes expensive payday loans or other potentially risky methods. But, while the ever-increasing costs for students are well documented in the media, the effect this has on their parents is less well covered. A recent poll has found 68 per cent of British parents have had to cut back on luxuries to help pay for their children’s higher education. The Nationwide Building Society survey of more than 1,000 students and parents also revealed 15 per cent of parents borrowed money or went into debt to ensure their children were able to go to university, with 14 per cent taking a second job or delaying early retirement to provide extra funds. The parents of Justine Jones, a Swansea University medical science and humanities student, found they had to make some small adjustments to pay for their daughter’s education. Her father

University can be an extremely expensive time for parents and students alike

Dan King, Nationwide

Trevor told The University Paper: ‘We’ve had to reduce the amount of holidays and spending money on meals out and clothes but they are luxuries you can live without. ‘We’re in a lucky position that we haven’t had to give up any essentials to allow her to go to university. ‘It’s worth it because I’m supporting my daughter’s education and she understands that.’ Why, though, have thousands of parents had to shell out to fund student life? Dan King, Nationwide’s head of FlexStudent Current Account, said: ‘University can be an extremely expensive time for parents and students alike and often parents are expected to cover the shortfall, putting them under increased pressure and resulting in tightening their purse strings. ‘For students to manage their own financial situation effectively, they need to understand how finances work and learn to budget, so they can stand on their own two feet.’ In the company’s poll, 30 per cent of students admitted they would rather ask their parents for money than make changes to their lifestyle. Five per cent would rather withdraw from the bank of mum and dad than sacrifice a night out, and five per cent asked their parents for money rather than spending less on food – but that’s a relatively small number. Justine’s parents

November 2016

I don’t think the student loan is enough to cover all aspects of university life

IN NUMBERS

Henri Lawrance, University of Edinburgh graduate

per cent of parents have to sacrifice other spending to give their children a higher education

Does more need to be done to help students fund their own way through university? Email your comments to editor@unipaper. co.uk

per cent of parents with under 18 year olds prioritise their children’s university fund, coming above home improvements, cars and hobbies

COLLAGE ILLUSTRATION: MATT WARD

pointed to cuts to benefits and the rise in tuition fees. Trevor said despite having two daughters who had gone through higher education before Justine, the cost of sending her to university was unexpected. ‘We have two daughters who didn’t need as much support, as more money was available when they were studying, but I didn’t realise how much more my youngest would need with cuts to benefits and it saddens me that she is paying £9,000 a year in fees.’ He added: ‘There is hardly any information available to give an accurate estimate of how much daily living as a student would cost.’ Henri Lawrance, a recent University of Edinburgh graduate, said he sometimes needed help to cover his rent, despite having a parttime job alongside his studies. He said: ‘I did get a regular small allowance on top of my student loan – I don’t think the student loan is enough to cover all aspects of university life, so I needed a bit of help for rent sometimes.’ Despite this, he is only treating the extra money he asked for as a loan, and was careful to ask for it only when necessary. ‘I do think socialising should come out of your own money,’ he explained. ‘And I also plan to pay all of these cash injections back. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have the parental bank, as obviously not everyone is.’ Despite Henri’s insistence he would pay back the money, 68 per cent of parents said they would not ask for their loans to be repaid, whereas only three per cent of parents said they would not give their children money while they were at university, as they wanted them to be independent. Like the majority of mums and dads, Justine’s parents do not expect her to pay them back. ‘It’s our contribution to her education and she pays it back in other ways by always being there for us,’ her mother Joyce said. ‘I do think the government should have a different way of assessing a household’s income as she does not receive enough support and wouldn’t be able to go to university without our help.’ Joyce and Trevor’s prioritising of Justine’s education, and their belief in the importance of being able to help their child go to university, is still an opinion shared by many. In a recent survey conducted by financial services company Hitachi, 39 per cent of parents with children under 18 years old prioritise their son’s or daughter’s university fund above home improvements, cars and hobbies. The research, which surveyed 2,325 British parents, also found, while 77 per cent of parents thought university was expensive following the tuition fee rise, 45 per cent would encourage people they know to attend anyway. Seventeen per cent also felt you cannot put a price on education. Gerald Grimes, managing director of Hitachi, said: ‘Sending children to university is one of life’s big milestones, so it is fitting that a large number of people with children

PARENTS OF SHEFFIELD HALLAM STUDENT JESS SAID

PARENTS OF SWANSEA STUDENT JUSTINE JONES

Were you worried about the financial pressures of your children going to university?

Have you had to make savings in other areas to fund your children’s studies?

We knew she’d be able to look after herself. If she needed any help we would help her. If not, she’d be having Pot Noodles!

Not really, she’s sensible with her money and we’d all pull together if she was really struggling. Every now and then we cut down on the food shop but that’s about it.

Do you know what the money you lend is going towards?

Whatever she said it was for, we know that’s what it’d be for. She’s reliable for her age!

Did you know before your kids went to uni you were going to have to help them out?

We expected it might be tough

think that it is important to save. ‘On average, parents whose kids have been to university gave them £2,000 a year to help them manage university life. ‘University is an investment – you spend now for a payoff later. Parents who lack the income or

Trevor – I wouldn’t say worried, I’d say anxious about how much it would actually cost me. I didn’t know the cost implications.

Jim and Sue on her and she might need some help. We were never given the opportunity to go to university so it was wonderful to see her excelling and getting a place at university. We knew we’d do anything it took to help out. Do you expect the money back?

Any money we give to Jess is a helping hand from us. As her parents, it’s our responsibility to make sure she has the best life we can provide. And if university is going to provide that then we’re happy to help whenever we can.

savings to support their child shouldn’t be at a disadvantage or have to worry about getting into heavy debt.’ But after the news that many universities will be raising their fees to £9,250 for the 2017-18 academic year, the financial strain

Joyce – We were ready, my daughter had said since she was in primary school she wanted to go to university but we didn’t know then how little she would receive from the government. Do you know what the money you lend is going towards?

J – Yes, make-up, clothes and alcohol! No, she does use the money towards bills and food and also towards coming home – the train from her university to here is very expensive. Did you know before your kids

of putting a child through higher education might be about to get even greater. And the most recent fee rise is only the beginning. Projections for the near future suggest that fees could reach as high as £10,000 per academic year

Joyce and Trevor went to university that you were going to have to help them out financially?

J – Yes, but I agree with my husband that we didn’t expect it to be so much, I just wish we could support her more.

per cent of parents think university is expensive

Do you expect the money back?

T – No, I expect her to succeed and gain knowledge in the field she is interested in. I wish I had been able to afford to have the university experience she is having but I came from a time and family where money was scarce and university

within the next few years. Considering what many parents are already having to give up with fees as they currently are, the bank of mum and dad may become unable to deal with the cost of sending a child to university for too much longer.

per cent of parents would discourage their children from aspiring to university because of the high costs

|Research 6The Interview www.unipaper.co.uk | t @TheUniPaper | f TheUniPaper

Rome Rude boy do November 2016

Worm big family: Pambdelurion and the penis worm, inset

Expedition finds ancient beast’s phallic relatives

Hunter ‘had Star Wars monster mouth’ like a penis worm

@ Amy Denman

School of Earth Sciences said: ‘The mouth is a spitting image of the The Cambrian period was a scary Sarlacc from Star Wars.’ time. The sea 520million years Scientists examined new fossils ago was full of creatures such as they found during trips to Greenland the pambdelurion, with its metre- as part of their study, published in long spiky body. the journal Palaeontology. But just how terrifying things They referred to molecular were for this ancient beast’s prey evidence showing the pambdelurion has just been revealed, as scientists and the aptly-named penis worm have discovered pambdelurion had are both related to modern-day a round, tooth-filled mouth like that arthropods, which include insects, of Star Wars monster Sarlacc. spiders and crabs. Researchers at the University of Greg Edgecombe, from the Bristol, who teamed up with the Natural History Museum said: Natural History Museum, found ‘What we see in these arthropod the creature had the same mouth as ancestors is the same kind of mouth the modern-day penis worm, which as in penis worms – right down to also lives in the sea. Like Sarlacc, details of the rings of teeth.’ which inhabits a giant, sandy pit and Fletcher Young, who also worked is used by Jabba the Hutt to devour on the study, said: ‘It seems as his enemies, the pambdelurion used if nowhere was safe back in the its tentacles to push prey towards its Cambrian. No matter whether you mouth, which was filled with spiky lived in the water column or on the teeth so nothing could escape. seafloor there was a big, ugly beast Dr Jakob Vinther from Bristol’s that would devour you.’

Tuna are more than a match for the sharks

Self-clean surfaces are on their way

Wiping down kitchen surfaces can be a chore. How great would it be if your kitchen cleaned itself? Luckily, researchers from Northumbria and Nottingham Trent universities have taken the initial steps towards making selfcleaning surfaces. They were the first to capture what happens when a spilt liquid retracts into a bead or drop, known as ‘dewetting’, by sending electrical impulses through liquids to change how they behaved. They hope their observations will lead to new lines of research on self-cleaning surface coatings.

Lungfish Universe has no direction leaves its mark

Scientists from Imperial College London and UCL have found it is highly probable that the universe is the same wherever you go. Researchers used cosmic radiation to compare the shape of our universe to how it would look if ititwas washorrendous.’ spinning on several axes or Once out in ofone uni,direction. and presumably stretching with hisfound Run-DMC lookjust behind They there was a 1 in him, he put his degree to use,was first 121,000 chance the universe going into finance (which he didn’t not uniform.

Romesh Ranganathan remembers his student days listening to rap and MCing on his pirate radio show

@ Amy Denman

The image we have of sharks as fierce predators is vastly different from the image we have when we think of tuna, which is usually seen as a yummy sandwich filler. Despite these differences, research from Imperial College London shows the two have much more in common than we might think. Scientists showed that despite evolving separately for about 400million years, tuna fish and the lamnid group of sharks share a number of similar predatory traits. These characteristics include their style of swimming, their ability to stay warm and a high metabolism, all of which give the creatures an advantage when it comes to survival. The researchers said the advantages may be the reason these characteristics had been passed down through the creatures’

IN BRIEF

A fish out of water is not always a bad thing – one species has even been found to leave ‘footprints’. really examining the underlying Lungfish are known for genetics and understanding their land-dwelling abilities, @such John Shaw the relationship to physical traits.’ as being able to breathe a proper wannabe The gene found in both types air WAS and move on land, but a rude boy,’ of fish that causes their high study hascomedian shown theRomesh fish could Ranganathan tells me, metabolism and an ability to create have more in common with chucklingthan at himself. energy, was said by researchers to landlubbers previously TheThe 38-year-old be identical. thought. species, is which reminiscing The team of researchers said evolved toabout movehis ontime landstudying more maths economics at Birkbeck their findings about the shared thanand 360million years ago, uses in London throughout our to metabolism traits between the its body and to crawl from pond conversation hedry is self-deprecating, two species of fish could help pond during seasons. almost to a fault, considering future studies to understand the Research conducted by he is onelecturers of Britain’s in-demand relationship between genetics and frommost Liverpool John comics. physical traits. Moores and California State ‘IUniversity was reallyproves pathetic,’ Currently it is difficult for the he lungfish continues. scientists to link a single gene such can leave tracks when moving, ‘Isimilar did MCing and we ran a pirate as metabolism to physical traits to land animals’ radio station from bedrooms. because gene expression can vary footprints. Theseour tracks would ‘You peoplebeen trying to be within different individuals. haveknow previously mistaken rebels? It was sortanimals. of like that, we By looking at examples of the for that of land thought we were cool. same gene used in two different Dr Falkingham said: ‘I‘This reckon we could must have had about animals, scientists will be given study four listeners before we disbanded.’ important clues as to how the much broader implications Still laughing, he tellsand me he expression of a gene links to a for palaeontologists hadbiologists.’ posters of rappers on his wall, physical trait. adding: ‘I had a Nike cap on, Jordans. ‘Obsessed with trainers, baggy clothes. All that crap.’ But, unfortunately for him, his gangster style didn’t protect him against the odd prank. shows other factors are likely to be He me: ‘When I was in first ‘Ourtells findings suggest the cause involved, such as chemical reactions year waslinked in halls of residence. couldI be to the length of in cells. ‘You know youappears have a shared telomeres which to be Lead author of the study, bathroom toilet? different inand acne sufferers and Dr Simone Ribero from the ‘Some of my in and means their cellsmates may came be protected Department of Twin Research put curry sauce down the inside of against ageing. and Genetic Epidemiology at the‘By toilet so it looked someone looking at skin like biopsies, we King’s said: ‘For many years, had wereused ableit.to begin to understand the dermatologists have identified the ‘Then they knocked onto thethis. doors gene expressions related skin of acne sufferers appears to age of‘Further everyone elseisand told everyone work required to more slowly than in those who have that I wasifthe one who it but was consider certain genedid pathways not experienced any acne. too to say. mayembarrassed provide a base for useful ‘While this has been observed in ‘So when I came out and saw it, interventions.’ clinical settings, the cause of this I said didn’t know how this had The Iresearch was based on female was previously unclear. happened, twins only.but no-one believed me –

Something fishy: Sharks share genes with tuna

generations. The researchers looked at muscle samples from three species of lamnid shark and six species of tuna to examine the genes. Study co-author Prof Vincent Savolainen from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial said: ‘Lamnid sharks and tuna both have stiff bodies and tails that allow them

to swim in bursts. They can also keep their temperature up in colder waters. ‘Both of these things make them more effective predators, allowing them to snatch prey in usually inhospitable waters. ‘These are simple traits, and ones that have evolved twice. They give us a great point to start

find rewarding enough) and then into teaching secondary school children, which he looks back on with fondness despite some challenging circumstances. ‘I taught at two schools,’ he tells me. ‘I taught at a really nice school and I was headTrent of sixth form there A Nottingham University and I thought I wanted to do PhDthen student has created a cloth something bit moreclothing challenging. that couldaadvance ‘So I went to a school that had just technology. come outReynolds of special measures and Sonia invented took over thethe sixth there. Zephlinear, firstform non-woven ‘It was really The kids material made difficult. of yarn, which is were reallyon hard even get sat interlaced thetosurface so the down buteach theyother. had fibresindolessons, not cross really difficult backgrounds Its structure means it couldsobeyou couldn’t really blame embedded with scentthem. or medicine, ‘They suchLEDs. difficult home or usedhad to carry lives so isif athey playing up ‘This realwere breakthrough forat school the textiles you’dindustry,’ think “ISonia totallysaid. get it – they’ve not got any structure at home”. ‘It was difficult and challenging, but you wouldn’t get upset about it because you’d think “I’m glad you’re at school in the first place”.’ He describes himself as being Linguists from of ‘OK’ in front ofthe theUniversity children but York ‘Every have predicted accents we job adds: other aspect of the withat,today will die out. I are wasfamiliar appalling it was pretty bad. in ‘IThe didreport reallyshows like it the but rise I was interaction with machines through terrible at paperwork and staying speech willThey change way in organised. arethe constantly which we 2066, moving thespeak goal by posts of meaning what is ‘th’ as in ‘the’ will be one of many expected.’ sounds to disappear. While still teaching maths, he Changes overhis the next 50at years would test out material his also include the shortening dad’s pub, where he ran a monthly of wordsnight. and simplification of stand-up pronunciations. Once the children heard about it though, they flocked to watch Mr

Cloth of the future here

Acne could make sufferers look younger for longer ‘Th’ to vanish Test shows people with spots age better @ Amy Denman

If being a spotty teenager has ever had a positive outcome, this is it. Acne sufferers’ skin will more likely take longer to age, a King’s College London study has found. Researchers tested 1,205 twins from the TwinsUK register, a quarter of whom had reported experiencing acne in their lives. They used statistical analysis

Zit zap: Spots defeat age

to look at the length of telomeres – compounds at the end of chromosomes which break down and shrink as cells age. The results showed of those who reported experiencing acne had longer telomeres in their white blood cells. The longer the telomere lasts, the longer your skin wards off signs of aging, such as wrinkles. The theory has long been noted by dermatologists, but it was suggested this was caused by increased oil production. However, the study

from speech

esh done good

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Ranganathan practise his ten minute the world,’ he explains. ‘My dad had his contrary view on life. routines. eight brothers and they all emigrated ‘When I started writing the show it ‘Some months it was like an to different countries and my dad was sort of like my take on different assembly,’ he finishes. was the only one who decided to things,’ he explains. I ask whether, rather that going settle in England. ‘I found I disagreed with what my straight into work, he considered ‘My mum had always wanted to friends thought or what my wife the seemingly compulsory gap year get to know our relatives in North thought about things. It’s my look experience, but he admits he is a America but doesn’t like travelling at the world – oh god that sounds so man of creature comforts. on her own – she won’t get on a w**ky but yeh that’s it. While his brother and friends went plane on her own. ‘When I was expressing a view, travelling he didn’t fancy it. ‘So she had this idea of us going invariably the audience didn’t agree ‘Backpacking never really together. So you do a trip across with me so it’s sort of pushing interested me,’ he says. America, which is great, but the logic on different things. For ‘I like the idea of going to different you’re doing it with your mum. I example with Starbucks, everybody countries [but] if I wanted to do understand that if you’re like 11, but is anti-Starbucks now and I’m pro it it I would want to stay in the best I’m an adult.’ so it’s sort of things like that.’ places. I’m pathetic when it comes He admits to me he has some I ask him whether he’s been to slumming it.’ regrets over not learning more about getting free lattes for praising the I did MCing He adds: ‘When I was at his heritage when he was younger company. and we ran a university they sent us to Hungary and says his family around the ‘No,’ he says in mock anger. pirate radio for a European student festival. world are ‘better, almost universally, ‘That’s the main reason I talk about station You must be in Higher Education in receipt of ‘We ended up staying in a at being in touch with their Sri anything really. I try to mention from our Student Finance, 18+ only. YMCA in Budapest and I was Lankan heritage’ than he is. various bits and pieces on TV and bedrooms utterly miserable. I had to share He isn’t exactly sure why that is on shows but so far I don’t get Romesh a room with some t**t who was but says: ‘We are the only ones who anything free. It’s a joke. Ranganathan unbearable.’ settled in England. My mum and ‘I’m not one of those people Ironic then that a show about dad didn’t want to teach us Tamil, who’s ethical about it, I will exploit him travelling around Sri Lanka to and when you get older who the hell the situation as much as possible learn more about his heritage would wants to learn another language? It and get as much free s**t as I can.’ prove such a hit – partly thanks to just fell by the wayside. The tour, which has already been Ranganathan, partly because it is a ‘Because we didn’t need to learn running for some time as we speak, good travel documentary and partly about the culture we didn’t but then will mark his first foray into the down to his hilariously straightlater on you realise it would have lucrative DVD market. I ask him talking mother. been nice to have been more in whether he is excited. A second series of the show, Asian touch with it.’ With his ever-preset honesty and Provocateur, has just been shot and So what did he learn on his sixbluntness he says no. this time, mother Shanthi has come week trip with his mum? ‘It’s nice to do it and I hope people along for the ride. ‘I thought I was somebody who like it,’ he adds. ‘Basically she was in the first one doesn’t like being taken away from ‘With things like that it’s not and unfortunately people liked her,’ creature comforts and that is still excitement, you just want it to be Ranganathan jokes. true... so I haven’t learnt anything good. So as soon as someone says ‘I think if I had done the second about myself, it’s just confirmation “You’re going to do a DVD,” you Loans subject to Credit and Affordability. series without her it would have of what I already knew,’ he says. think “Great” and you start thinking been a nightmare and, I suspect, if ‘It was nice to get to know family “Oh god, I hope it’s good”. I had decided to do it without her, members and it was a massive test ‘Then I started visualising one-star they would have said “We’re going of my relationship with my mother. Amazon reviews saying “I hope this to do a series just with her”. ‘If you can imagine six weeks is the end of him”. WARNING: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk ‘I feel I’m riding on her coat-tails.’ non-stop with your mum, that is Asian Provocateur begins This time round, the pair will going to push the relationship to the Octobermay 12 on BBC andto theoffer financial support and advice. Your University beThree able travel further to speak to even absolute limits.’ Irrational tour runs till December 8. Rep Example APR based for 111 £50.00 at fixed rate: 292% pa. Total to repay: £150.00 more relatives, including some Now279.35% back in England, he has on: £100 For a chance to win days. a copy ofInterest: the Ranganathan didn’t know existed a returned to his day job, touring his Irrational DVD, out November 21, year ago. ‘We’ve got family all over live show, Irrational, which explores turn to p33.

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November 2016

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It would be tough to get through uni without taking part in a secret operation or two to protect the integrity of yourself, and the housemates you actually get on with, from ‘the others’. Here TUP reporters and editors reveal their secrets...

This month’s question:

What are the biggest cover-ups you’ve had between your mates? I’ll be honest... it was all my faulty Rachel Foy, University of Salford

You’re taking the p**s! Rosie Davidson, University of Sheffield editor

What a melon my housemate is Anna Harrison, Cardiff University

My bin raiding housemate Immy White, Newcastle University editor

We had been living in our accommodation for about a week and a half and everything seemed fine... until I got a case of the ‘dropsies’. I had already broken a dish and a plate of my own, but when I decided to do use the iron I dropped that as well and frayed the wire. I decided not to tell my flatmate and went along with her assumption that the iron was just faulty. Luckily, at the end of the year when we moved out, we got our full deposit back and she still doesn’t know how the iron actually broke.

We were forced to hide girlfriend from landlord

My friend Alice was visiting her boyfriend in Leeds for a night out at a pub, which as we all know can end up being a heavier night than expected. The contactless cards were being swiped and the pints were flowing, but before they knew it, the time had come to call it a night. So they all stumbled home to their new student digs. At her boyfriend’s new student house, Alice proceeded to get absolutely birthday suit fabulous naked in a bed, which was fine, but it was not her boyfriend’s bed, it was Alex’s. Alice was later retrieved by her boyfriend and put back into the correct bed. The next day, Alice got a text informing her there was a p**s-drenched towel on the floor of Alex’s room. The house and most importantly Alex will never know who the culprit was.

An extra furry housemate

A very tolerant friend

Shona Nicholson, Northumbria University

Student halls are notoriously small. Usually you get a room you can hardly move in and the kitchen is big enough for two people, not eight. So when my flatmate consulted the flat about having ten guests over for a weekend, we were apprehensive. The rule in our halls was one guest per student a month and they had to be checked in at reception, so we all had to keep the gathering a secret. The guests were loud when they were sober and they became even worse once they’d had a few. Crockery was broken, a window handle came off, blinds were ripped off the wall and our iron was thrown out the window. A watermelon was kicked from one end of the corridor to the other and smashed all over the wall and carpet. It wasn’t cleaned up until weeks later.

Midnight snacks at our roomies’ expense

My housemate once had the late night nibbles, so she decided to go on the hunt. She sniffed around her room but she couldn’t find anything. An old packet of crisps was not up to scratch and the lingering taste of cheese and onion left her wanting more. Later that night, I found her sitting in the dark corner of the kitchen scoffing down a pizza which she had salvaged from the depths of our kitchen rubbish bin. I turned the lights on and I had caught a rabbit in the headlights, mid munch. She stopped and suppressed a giggle. The episode has yet to be mentioned. I am waiting for the moment when the pizza hunter strikes again. Hopefully next time she will be caught by one of our eight new housemates.

He needed toilet off some steam

Louisa Kendal, University of Bristol editor

Sam Nathan, University of York

My housemate moved his girlfriend into our house until she found a new place. However, she never moved out. We had to hide it from our landlord. It caused so much friction we would avoid each other and would often be confined to our bedrooms as we felt we were living in their marital home. We brought up the idea of his girlfriend moving out as she didn’t contribute to the rent but unfortunately we were made to look like horrible friends, so we never brought it up again. The estate agents found out after an inspection of the property and told us we were liable for a hefty fine. We risked a lot, just so we could keep our housemate happy. Despite this he wasn’t very appreciative of what we did for him. We no longer live or have any contact with him. Despite the fact our tenancy agreement clearly stated we were not allowed pets under any circumstances, one of my housemates decided to buy a hamster. However the hamster wasn’t a cute hamster, it was a huge, fat, ginger hamster which absolutely stank and used to wee all over the living room when she let it roam around in its little hamster ball. She even used to let it wander freely over the sofas while we were eating. We had to pretend to the landlord that we didn’t know about the hamster for ages, until we came up with a plan to get someone else to tell the landlord on our behalf. The worst part was, when the landlord came around to confront her, she completely flipped out and hid the hamster at her boyfriend’s. The running trend throughout my second year was drunkenly eating leftovers and leaving suspiciously emptier Tupperware boxes for the owners to find in the morning. In our drunken state, my housemate and I thought we had eaten the optimum amount so they wouldn’t notice. However the angry messages on the group chat which greeted us the next morning proved otherwise. Our way of denying the accusations would be to vouch for our attempts to be vegetarian. We would say: ‘Of course we wouldn’t eat your beef bolognese, do you not know how bad meat is for the environment?’ To be fair, we were actually trying to be vegetarian at the time so the alibi was foolproof. But who can resist a bowl of chilli and cheese at 4am after a long night on the tiles? My friend got back from a night out and he was drunk, angry and needed a wee. Our toilets didn’t always work because we lived by a river, so they often overflowed, and he couldn’t use it that night as it was broken at the time. This made him angrier, so he stamped on the lid until it broke into pieces. He left the pieces on the kitchen table, and when we all woke up we were really baffled. We soon realised it must have been him because it’s the kind of thing he always does. We knew we had to hide the evidence so our landlord didn’t find out, so we hid all the toilet lid pieces in cupboards around our house for the rest of the year. We got our deposit back.

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Your Life

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

Club glassing ripped my eyelid Hannah Wood, 22, had her life changed after a bottle hit her on a night out and now wants glass to be banned from clubs

Y friends and I don’t like to get involved in trouble when we go out. It was the same that night when an argument started in a club, near where we were standing. I had just started my first year at Edinburgh Napier University, studying product design. I was on a night out with friends near my home town of Livingston. A group of people were arguing next to us and at one point, one of them pushed me out of the way. We all thought that was the end of the hassle. Next thing I know I was knocked to the ground and it felt like I had been elbowed in the face. But then I put my hand up to my face and realised I couldn’t open my eyes. My finger went into a cut on my face and the blood was pouring down my arm. I thought to myself ‘oh my god this is actually quite bad’. I was concussed at this point and finding

Recovery: Hannah in hospital

it hard to stay conscious, but my friends hadn’t seen what had happened to me. My body started going into shock and it was dark and confusing. I think people around me thought I was drunk and struggling to get back up – my friend was kicking my leg and telling me to get up. I couldn’t speak to ask for help so I started pulling at her leg. When she saw my face she was shocked. She managed to pick me up and walk me over to a nearby bench.

The DJ called first aid to come and check me over and they put a bandage around my head to stop the bleeding but I began to pass out. The next thing I know I was carried into a room in the club. At this point, every time I tried to open my eyes it was unbearable because the glass has punctured my left eye and there were still pieces of glass stuck in my eyelid. About 20 minutes later I was in an ambulance and I was taken to St John’s A&E. At the hospital they tried to take the glass out of my eye while I was awake by holding me and using tweezers. The specialist came to visit me and told me the muscle in my eye had torn in half. I was taken to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for an emergency operation. I spent a week recovering in the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion – one of my lecturers had found out what happened and contacted my parents. My lecturer reassured

November 2016

I was angry I had no justice

Hannah Wood

Do you have a story to tell about your time at university? Email editor@ unipaper.co.uk

Grit: Hannah got through uni despite her injuries

me that I didn’t need to drop out of university. I loved my degree and I was so proud that I managed to secure a place, so I wasn’t going to miss out on the opportunity to study there. It didn’t settle in my mind what had happened to me for a while, I took things day by day. I would go to uni with stitches in my head and a big plastic shield over my eye. There were days when I would sit and I would ball my eyes out. I felt it looked like I had a dead fish eye. While I was studying I had operations and the court case to juggle too. There was CCTV of what happened, but it was poor quality and it was dark in the club. There were bottles thrown by different people and you couldn’t see who threw the bottle that hit me. I was angry I had no justice. When I was doing my final project I realised I had symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and started to get counselling. Now I’ve graduated I want to start a campaign to get glasses banned in clubs, because you are essentially putting a weapon in someone’s hand when you hand over a glass in a bar.

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What’s On

The Lowdown

November 2016

@ Henry Edwards

P18 & 19

CHASE & STATUS Share exciting new acts

SLAVES Show their wild side

P23

ROMESH RANGANATHAN On travels with his mum

ERRY GODLIMAN is questioning her place in the world. In her new stand-up show Stick Or Twist, she ponders relocating, as well as life’s other big decisions – and it’s led to some soul searching. The lifelong Londoner started off asking whether she should leave the capital and live somewhere else. ‘That’s the starting point, but it’s interesting how a show evolves,’ she tells me. ‘It expands to more than geography. ‘It’s about whether you should stick or twist with anything – does your geographical identity carve your own identity, am I a bit wedded to living in London? I grew up in London and

enjoyed it, but I don’t know anything else. You think “are my kids going to grow up here?” ‘It’s the time to consider it because my daughter’s going to high school and I’ve not lived anywhere else.’ But she’s wary of being drawn into property websites where you can fantasise about potential new lives just by typing in a postcode. ‘One minute you could be living in a super-urban home and another minute you could be in a yurt in Wales,’ she says. ‘You’re having to wrestle with whether something is a true desire.’ As an actor, Godliman is probably best known for her roles in Derek and Our Girl. She had the chance to move away from London for her training, earning a place at drama

ON TOUR Oct 15 Glasgow, Oran Mor Oct 26 Edinburgh, The Stand Oct 27 Leeds, The Wardrobe Oct 29 Newcastle, The Stand

school in Scotland, but the relative ease of finding parts in the capital kept her there. ‘I bottled it,’ she says. ‘I realised if I wanted to have a go at being an actor, I’d have to live in London.’ She ended up at Rose Bruford College in south east London, which she describes as ‘a lovely college’. ‘I really enjoyed the course and the group of friends I built up,’ she says. ‘I was also really enthusiastic about socialising,’ she adds wryly. ‘I think when you’re doing something in the arts you can justify it – it’s all networking and character development.’ She has stayed friends with many of her coursemates into their 40s. ‘It’s interesting watching how people go into different branches of

the profession,’ she says. ‘There are people I went to college with who are children’s entertainers or work in teaching – different things open up, not just acting.’ She chose her course partly because it was a BA, which back then meant a student grant – she describes the financial burden of university now as ‘terrifying’. ‘At some point I want my kids to be students and for all kids to have that opportunity,’ she adds. It’s not a fear her latest character is likely to share – she has finished filming for Sky 1’s Carters Get Rich, due on screen next year, in which she plays the mum of an 11-year-old who sells his app for millions. ‘It was a lovely job – a really warm script and very funny,’ she says.

Should I stay or go?

Comedian Kerry Godliman talks roots, property porn and tuition fee injustice

P26 & 27

P30

P25

HONNE Discuss on-tour beds

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Gaining status: Saul, left, with Will Kennard, right, and Tom Grennan

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to Future Cut, who at the time had just recorded this song called Smile with this unknown girl called Lily Allen. It was a great place for us to learn what we are doing now.’ The name dropping doesn’t stop there, as the duo have worked with plenty of big acts, including Plan B, Rihanna and Example. In their latest collection of tunes, they continue the trend by collaborating with the freshest faces on the British music scene. ‘We’ve been working with lots of new, exciting talent – the best of the British, as we like to do,’ Milton says. Their new single, When It All Goes Wrong, features promising new talent, singer-songwriter Tom Grennan. ‘We’re really excited to let the world know

was quite left-field to have spoken word over our music, but it was different and that’s what we strive for,’ Milton says. ‘There is too much music out there that sounds like other stuff, so we try and avoid that and hopefully do things our own way.’ I ask which of their many collaborations with other artists Milton has most enjoyed within the past year. ‘It’s impossible to pick – also I’ll get beaten up if I do,’ he laughs. ‘They’ve all been amazing. Slaves are very interesting, intelligent guys, and their music is so 1970s punk. ‘They’re the loveliest boys ever – they’re vegans and they’re really into this new health and environment wave, which you wouldn’t necessarily expect after

in Glasgow on November 19 and ends in London on November 26. WAPPING books for ‘What’s nice about this one is we basslines may have usually go on really long tours, like paid off for Chase & three weeks, with 20 dates and no stand people who don’t Status’ Saul Milton, but sleep,’Can’t Milton says. ‘We’ve brought know how to order in Subway. he’s trying to persuade it back a little on this one. Stop trying to get for salad cracking open a tin of Heinz’s me this is not always a great idea. ‘We’re really excited theat the cheese station. FFSin London, finest to pour on a slice of ‘Don’t necessarily do what we Alexandra Palace show University of Manchester white bread from Warburtons? did, which was drop out of uni which we’ve sold out, and we’re and pack it all in,’ he says. ‘That excited to go back to Manchester.’ I doubt it. you clean a vacuum worked for us but it might not work The When sold out hometown date Mostly, it’s the difference cleaner, you become a vacuum for everyone.’ shows how popular Chase & between everyone that defines cleaner For those who do decide to Status have remained through their university life. University of London, Birkbeck sacrifice their degree in favour shifting musical style – their sound If you’re into rugby, of a music career, Milton has was grimier than ever on their 2015 I’ve got bruised rubs from great. If you prefer battle this advice: ‘It’s mainly about EP London Bar and Milton tellsmy me mattress University of Liverpool reenactments, great. self-belief – believe in what you’re their fourth album contains ‘loads doing, be genuine about it, make of stuff across the board’. When you’re living with The moment in between music from the heart and don’t Some fans have even labelledNetflix the people from all over the episodes when you see your make music by numbers to try and duo pioneers of d‘n’b and dubstep. country, with different reflection in the black screen ‘It’s flattering,’ Milton says. backgrounds and stories to get it on the radio.’ what f**k you’re If anyone knows best it’s Chase ‘How and couldwonder I not say thatthe means a tell, you mature into a well- & Status. Milton (Chase) and Will yourto lifebe spoken lot? It’sdoing a realwith honour We like to work with people who sound like no one else and University of London, City rounded person. Kennard (Status), who tour with of like that. have a real original flair – that’s what we love In this house hunting special, frontman MC Rage, have been at ‘The scene we’re from has been When a girl we’ve got loads to offer, no Dynamic duo: We to Slaves about throwing the forefront of innovation on the about him,’ Milton says. ‘Tom is atalked hearing their raucous music. partiesbubbling over for introduces many yearsherself and as ‘Ketty Katie’ know she’s a drum and bass and dubstep scenes really interesting act – he’s up for ‘Novelist, too. He’s only 19, it is incredibly strongyou – we couldn’t matter what you’re into. keeper #KeepItClassy forlife more than ten years, and show whatever, he’s really open-minded but for me he’s a real voice of the be more passionate about it.’ We’ve chatted to drum lovely chicken and mushroom the exciting new university gap year experience – with Northumbria University signmum of slowing down. which goesleague a long way in this youth, a real street with poet for and bass pioneers Chase & no his Pot Noodle thisthem. month’s ‘We’re incredibly fortunate in rugby which will (pp26-27). ‘The fact we are where we are industry.’ ‘He’s a really important artist, that we’ve been able to take it to Status about their own uni paper... or maybe not. be hitting our screens and Elsewhere, we guide you An octopus is justtoaawet spider. right now, with all our fans, we Grennan is one of a many just how Dizzee Rascal was in the the masses and appeal wider experience (pp18-19), punk duoknow campuses soon (p31). though the house hunting OMGI’d be remiss Swansea University we’re very blessed and we collaborators to feature on the new early 2000s, and I think Novelist audience. if I told you love put on the kettle, fill the will speak to his generation inMuch process with tips from Slaves about shaving heads don’t take that for top granted,’ Miltona album,So, Milton reveals. a all of it was planned, because it Rating an Uber driver one star water towork the line, a sachetsimilar way.’ expert (p23) and comedian Romesh tellshousing me. ‘We’re very(p29). honoured to ‘We like to with add people definitely wasn’t,’ he laughs. because he spent whole soy sauce enjoy Plus we we’ve Ranganathan about his mid- be where are.’got the latest on whoofsound like no and one else anda I ask which of the artists on the ‘I do believe if an artistthe makes he was a Milton reflects on their time have a real original flair,’ he adds. More Than Alot label Chase & music journey with theexplaining purpose ofwhy charting Trump supporter in Manchester, which continued ‘That’s what we love. Status founded in 2009 Milton is or getting on the radio then it won’t Leeds Beckett University after he left Manchester Met ‘When we worked with currently most excited about. work. You’ve got to be authentic and Kennard dropped out of the Maverick Sabre in 2011, I was like 'Dimension and 1991, who I’d and genuine. I think if you do that The first rule of iPhone 7 owners’ University of Manchester. “I’ve heard no one like him, we’ve say are two flagship artists for us. as an artist in any field then, please club is: Tell everybody ‘We’ve been friends since 1997 got to get him in the studio!” It was ‘They’re both making some of god, you’ll be successful.’ that you’re a member University of Warwick but we met up again at uni,’ Milton the same with Tempa T, and now the most exciting d‘n’b out there But he adds it’s not just about says. ‘Then we dropped out of with George The Poet.’ ‘Also, Will and I would be lost fervour and talent, but persistence. Freshers tip – just pee in your sink what we were doing to pursue this. Spoken-word-meets-rap artist without our frontman MC Rage.’ ‘Good music will prevail, and so you don’t have to walk down ‘But we still liked the student life George The Poet features on one MC Rage will, as ever, be with that’s all everyone wants to hear,’ the hall in your underwear in the in Manchester. We lived there for of Chase & Status’ new singles, the duo on their six-date he says. ‘These days the door is night Bath Spa University six years, and our studio was next fittingly titled Spoken Word. ‘It UK tour, which starts wide open.’

from The University Paper You will have heard a lot of patronising rubbish about being a “typical” student. We don’t all wallow in our own filth, unable to pick up a pair of socks without mum and dad around to nag us. We don’t all get so drunk we can barely see. We’re not all lazy and, my god, we don’t all survive on a diet of baked beans on toast and Pot Noodles. There are no “typical” students. Yes, a lot are messy, yes a lot get drunk and, yes, a lot of us eat beans on toast and Pot Noodles. But just as many are health conscious, loads clean up and millions are excellent chefs. Take a look at the societies on offer. Is a person in the baking society, rustling up a Croquembouche during the day before heading home and

19 15

November 2016

@ Tom Gellatly

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OVERHEARD ON CAMPUS

TEN MINUTES WITH TOM GRENNAN As Tom Grennan greets me I instantly recognize his voice from the gruff, soulful vocals on Chase & Status’ single All Goes Wrong. The 21-year-old was thrown in the deep end by his collaboration with drum and bass duo Will Kennard and Saul Milton. ‘My first show with them was Wireless, which was 55,000 people – I hadn’t done a show with bloody more than 200 people before that,’ the singer-songwriter laughs. Despite Grennan's initial nerves, the performance proved a success as fans praised the set, with many saying on Twitter that it made the festival. However, the indie-soul singer also credits BT Sport's use of When It All Goes Wrong for contributing to the warm reception. ‘When it hit the BT Sport advert it got big,’ he says. ‘I could hear people in the crowd singing it back to us at that point, and hopefully now it’s out, the response at gigs will be mad.’ It wasn't long ago the artist from Bedford was performing to housemates in his uni halls. ‘I was at St Mary’s in Twickenham and I was just doing my bit, just going around with a

guitar and trying to do as many gigs as possible,’ he tells me. ‘In my third year I ended up getting a bit of interest from different labels, and my publisher sorted out a session with Will Kennard, AKA Status, because the pair heard one of my songs. And from then we just vibed out and created All Goes Wrong – it was a bit mad.’ ‘At first, obviously I was, not scared exactly, but I was like “s**t!”’ Grennan laughs. ‘I was going in to make music with people I was listening to when I was in upper school and I

Cardiff Metropolitan University

You can tell they’re first year when they’ve got their uni pass around was a big fan of them. To work with them their about to ON TOUR in a studio was mad. But nah,f*****g it’s all like they’re it University of Birmingham worked out well nowlose at least.’ Nov 19 Glasgow, Although the Chase & Status 2 Academy my gap year IOwent to Malawi collaboration has“On helped Nov 20 and it completely changed my to launch Grennan into the Newcastle, O2 profile Academy limelight, the singer nowpicture” plans Nottingham Trent Nov 22 University to fly the dubstep duo’s nest Manchester, O2 to pursue his solo career. ‘It’s Apollo how many really exciting,'Sometimes he says. 'I’m I wonder Nov 24 people so far have seen me O2 Birmingham, not sure whether I’m gonna myAcademy windows. Then do a couple of naked EPs first,through and Nov 25 I wonder then obviously an album asif I care Portsmouth, University of Bristol well, but it’s exciting. ’ Guildhall

Nov 26 London, Grennan is releasing his first EP Justto made a pie and ate the entire Alexandra Palace on October 28 and plans singlething. Now all I can taste is regret, handedly take on the open road. loneliness, and a good deal of ‘I’ve got my first headline show on November 10 at Theself-loathing Slaughtered Napier University Lamb in London and a fewEdinburgh other dates,’ he says. ‘Hopefully after For more music Christmas I’ll be going out on the news, go of to social Comments are courtesy road, just me and my guitar. I’ll www.unipaper. media app Yik Yak, available on play every little show I can get co.uk iOS and Android really.’ Tom Gellatly jessjenkins.co.uk

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THEATRE Catherine Tate is bringing her comedy to the stage. ‘Am I bothered?’ I hear you ask, well yes you are in fact, because The Catherine Tate Show and Doctor Who star is pretty hilarious. From her racist granny with the shrieking cackle and south London accent, to her incompetent Irish nurse who has been close to getting the sack on more than one occasion, all Tate’s best known characters from her award winning television series will be reincarnated in brand new sketches. See The Catherine Tate Show Live at the Memorial Hall on Thursday, November 3.

COMEDY Comedian James Acaster enjoys pointing out the funny things in everyday life. His comedy takes a hilarious twist on situations we have all found ourselves in at one point or another, from having to share a bed with your mate to getting a telesales call. This comedian is not shy of rejection – before he was noticed he showcased his comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe three years in a row in an attempt to get seen, so

he won’t let you down. The dull, everyday situations you encounter will suddenly seem hilarious as James talks you through his daily quibbles in a surprisingly funny monotone. Catch him at the Memorial Hall on Sunday, October 23.

THEATRE

November 2016

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

Circus tricks and martial arts: Sounds like a dangerous mix, but no stunt or trick is too daring for the Chinese State Circus. The new production Dynasty will bring 30 aerial artists and jugglers who have honed their superhuman martial arts skills to wow their audiences. The show mixes traditional Chinese culture with daredevil stunts from balancing on a tower of chairs to parasol spinning, you will be amazed at the talent and strength of the acts. See the circus at the Memorial Hall on Tuesday, November 1.

COMEDY

THEATRE Have you ever wanted to trek through the Amazon or climb Everest? Globetrotter and survivalist Bear Grylls has conquered these formidable habitats and more. He

even took on Piers Morgan when the early morning chat-show host jokingly jumped up and started attacking him. Now Grylls is bringing his exotic adventures to the stage. Using special effects, the occasional pee drinker tells his stories of survival in the most extreme of conditions. From climbing mountains to swimming in shark-infested waters, you will be taken on a worldwide adventure for just 25 quid. Catch Bear when he parachutes into the Sheffield Arena on Sunday, October 23 and Sunday October 30.

Wild thing: Bear Grylls visits Sheffield this month

He’s charming, funny and has fantastic hair – what more could you ask for in a comedian, or a boyfriend for that matter? Dreamboat Seann Walsh is taking his observational comedy across the UK on his tour, One For The Road. He’s also a busy guy – as well as the show, he has been performing at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and even working with The Big Issue to encourage people to pick up a copy – the brownie points just keep on adding up. And he plans to tell you all about his latest quibbles and hilarious observations in his gag-heavy live standup show. See him at The Leadmill on Tuesday, October 25.

Student band of the month If you would like to write for The University Paper, please email editor@unipaper.co.uk

November 2016

Glastonbury is the target Each month we introduce you to the best new musicians from the UK’s campuses. This time we chat to tropical rockers Voodoo And The Crypts, who met at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute... s**t really: Break-ups, being happy, getting f****d over, How would you describe bit of everything. Our music your music? has a positive, chilled vibe, We would say it has a pretty but with sort of darker tones. tropical vibe. Easy to listen to, indie, sort of jangly riffs How did you come up with and music that just makes your name? you want to dance. It took us a while to find something that stuck. We Who are your major liked the ‘And The’ idea, it influences? sticks out a bit more. The The 1975 are a big influence Voodoo part came from for us, they’re a huge band. Voodoo Ray, the acid house But The Stone Roses and tune by A Guy Called Gerald. even some Latin music at the We listen to that before nights moment. out quite a lot. Crypts was just from a list Who are your favourite of words that we thought artists right now? sounded cool. It sounds a It would have to be Tame bit dark when you hear the Impala, Disciples, Disclosure name and not the music but and dance music in general. people who have seen us live often point out our lyrics are If you could do a quite dark like Joy Division collaboration with one and The Cure, but the music band or artist, who would is very melodic and hooky you pick and why? which gives it that contrast. It’d be great to get in the The name suits that. studio with someone like Chet Faker – we listen to his Where do you want to be in album a lot, he could bring ten years’ time? great harmonies and that Hopefully headlining crisp production. It’d also Glastonbury, or something on be mad to get legends like that level. We guess just still Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry or Paul together, doing what we’re Oakenfold who’ve remixed already doing and selling loads of the bands that we great records. like. Where is one place you’d What are the main topics of really like to play live? your songs? That’s a really good question actually. Well... Rio de Girls! Haha, just normal life

@ Katura Barrows

Doo-ing it: Voodoo And The Crypts (l-r) guitarist Jordan Woolnough, drummer Sam Webb, singer and guitarist Matt Mitchell and bassist Rob Davies

Janeiro would have to be up there! Tokyo would be pretty cool to play, but really like most people we’d just like to play everywhere and have fans all over. What are you working on right now? New music all the time. Our songwriting is getting a lot better. We’d say our output is more than the average band, we’re always practising and making new music. What do you enjoy to do as a band outside of music? We get up to all sorts. We love throwing shapes at 80s club nights in Brighton – you can’t beat vibing out to some 80s classics! If we’ve got nothing to do we’ll go for a kick about or have a game of FIFA. A lot of the time our main focus is on writing new tunes though.

We love throwing shapes at 80s club nights in Brighton

Voodoo And The Crypts

If you had one philosophy your band lived by, what would it be? We don’t really have a philosophy or a band ‘code’, we just get a massive buzz off writing tunes together and then showing other people. We have loads of faith in the stuff we’re writing so it’s just getting it into people’s ears, making ‘em wanna dance and have a good time.

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The Interview

We nurture the best Brit talent Chase & Status’ Saul on ditching uni, new artists and linking up with Tom Grennan

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Gaining Gainingstatus: status:Saul, Saul,left, left,with withWill Will Kennard, Kennard,right, right,and andTom TomGrennan Grennan

November 2016

@ Tom Gellatly WAPPING books for basslines may have paid off for Chase & Status’ Saul Milton, but he’s trying to persuade me this is not always a great idea. ‘Don’t necessarily do what we did, which was drop out of uni and pack it all in,’ he says. ‘That worked for us but it might not work for everyone.’ For those who do decide to sacrifice their degree in favour of a music career, Milton has this advice: ‘It’s mainly about self-belief – believe in what you’re doing, be genuine about it, make music from the heart and don’t make music by numbers to try and get it on the radio.’ If anyone knows best it’s Chase & Status. Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status), who tour with frontman MC Rage, have been at the forefront of innovation on the drum and bass and dubstep scenes for more than ten years, and show no sign of slowing down. ‘The fact we are where we are right now, with all our fans, we know we’re very blessed and we don’t take that for granted,’ Milton tells me. ‘We’re very honoured to be where we are.’ Milton reflects on their time in Manchester, which continued after he left Manchester Met and Kennard dropped out of the University of Manchester. ‘We’ve been friends since 1997 but we met up again at uni,’ Milton says. ‘Then we dropped out of what we were doing to pursue this. ‘But we still liked the student life in Manchester. We lived there for six years, and our studio was next

We like to work with people who sound like no one else and have a real original flair – that’s what we love about him,’ Milton says. ‘Tom is a really interesting act – he’s up for whatever, he’s really open-minded which goes a long way in this industry.’ Grennan is one of a many collaborators to feature on the new album, Milton reveals. ‘We like to work with people who sound like no one else and have a real original flair,’ he adds. ‘That’s what we love. ‘When we worked with Maverick Sabre in 2011, I was like “I’ve heard no one like him, we’ve got to get him in the studio!” It was the same with Tempa T, and now with George The Poet.’ Spoken-word-meets-rap artist George The Poet features on one of Chase & Status’ new singles, fittingly titled Spoken Word. ‘It

hearing their raucous music. ‘Novelist, too. He’s only 19, but for me he’s a real voice of the youth, a real street poet for them. ‘He’s a really important artist, just how Dizzee Rascal was in the early 2000s, and I think Novelist will speak to his generation in a similar way.’ I ask which of the artists on the More Than Alot label Chase & Status founded in 2009 Milton is currently most excited about. 'Dimension and 1991, who I’d say are two flagship artists for us. ‘They’re both making some of the most exciting d‘n’b out there ‘Also, Will and I would be lost without our frontman MC Rage.’ MC Rage will, as ever, be with the duo on their six-date UK tour, which starts

in Glasgow on November 19 and ends in London on November 26. ‘What’s nice about this one is we usually go on really long tours, like three weeks, with 20 dates and no sleep,’ Milton says. ‘We’ve brought it back a little on this one. ‘We’re really excited for the Alexandra Palace show in London, which we’ve sold out, and we’re excited to go back to Manchester.’ The sold out hometown date shows how popular Chase & Status have remained through their shifting musical style – their sound was grimier than ever on their 2015 EP London Bar and Milton tells me their fourth album contains ‘loads of stuff across the board’. Some fans have even labelled the duo pioneers of d‘n’b and dubstep. ‘It’s flattering,’ Milton says. ‘How could I not say that means a lot? It’s a real honour to be spoken of like that. ‘The scene we’re from has been bubbling over for many years and it is incredibly strong – we couldn’t be more passionate about it.’ ‘We’re incredibly fortunate in that we’ve been able to take it to the masses and appeal to a wider audience. I’d be remiss if I told you all of it was planned, because it definitely wasn’t,’ he laughs. ‘I do believe if an artist makes music with the purpose of charting or getting on the radio then it won’t work. You’ve got to be authentic and genuine. I think if you do that as an artist in any field then, please god, you’ll be successful.’ But he adds it’s not just about fervour and talent, but persistence. ‘Good music will prevail, and that’s all everyone wants to hear,’ he says. ‘These days the door is wide open.’

was a big fan of them. To work with them in a studio was mad. But nah, it’s all worked out well now at least.’ Although the Chase & Status collaboration has helped to launch Grennan into the limelight, the singer now plans to fly the dubstep duo’s nest to pursue his solo career. ‘It’s really exciting,' he says. 'I’m not sure whether I’m gonna do a couple of EPs first, and then obviously an album as well, but it’s exciting. ’ Grennan is releasing his first EP on October 28 and plans to singlehandedly take on the open road. ‘I’ve got my first headline show on November 10 at The Slaughtered Lamb in London and a few other dates,’ he says. ‘Hopefully after Christmas I’ll be going out on the road, just me and my guitar. I’ll play every little show I can get really.’ Tom Gellatly

ON TOUR Nov 19 Glasgow, O2 Academy Nov 20 Newcastle, O2 Academy Nov 22 Manchester, O2 Apollo Nov 24 Birmingham, O2 Academy Nov 25 Portsmouth, Guildhall Nov 26 London, Alexandra Palace

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The Interview Slaves’ Isaac Holman on loyalty, Twitter trolls and why he doesn’t host parties

@ Amy Denman

S TWO animal lovers from ‘the garden of England’ who follow the cricket and enjoy a bit of vegan sushi, Slaves may not sound like the wildest of guys. But co-frontman Isaac Holman is telling me how the Kent punks gave their lighting guy an impromptu head shave at a party for their latest music video. Holman, with singer and guitarist Laurie Vincent, who makes up the other half of the band, roped the roadie into the stunt for The People That We Meet. ‘We were at Laurie’s house for a barbecue and our lighting guy Francis just doesn’t really give a s**t what he looks like and his hair was getting pretty long,’ Holman tells me. ‘Laurie said to Francis “It’s time for your annual haircut” and then we just said “Let’s shave his head”. ‘Then while Laurie was getting the clippers he walked down and said “Why don’t we film it? You can just sing the lyrics and we can just make it our music video” so we just did it. ‘I don’t think Francis minds to be honest but we like it – he looks handsome.’ But Holman claims they normally get up to more hardcore stuff at barbecues (which are presumably Quorn-heavy, as neither of the duo eat meat) and house parties. ‘It’s just shaving somebody’s head, I don’t think that’s crazy,’ he says. ‘Often when we think of things like that we just do it.’ He finds it hard to single out anything much more wild though, and despite loving a party, he shies away from hosting. ‘I don’t really throw house parties,’ he says. ‘I’m always too scared to have one in my house. ‘I’ve thrown a couple before and it always gets out of hand. ‘You end up with people you don’t know in your house and that’s not very nice.’ I wonder if the singer will be more forthcoming with wild stories from gigs. When the band played at Reading this year, a group sat down in the middle of the mosh pit and sang Row Your Boat while rocking backwards and forwards. ‘I had no idea!’ Holman says. ‘But I like it, yeah. I don’t really know what goes on down in the crowd. It’s hard to see, especially on those big stages. ‘But I’m sure there have been some crazier things that have happened than that. ‘We had a nice young man crowd surfing with all his clothes off the other day in Oxford, which is quite

o t n a f a f d r e u r s a d d w e W ed cro k a n

November 2016

good. He kept on crowd surfing and it seemed like every time he came over more clothing was coming off and then Laurie just said “We’ve never had a naked crowd surfer before – just saying” and then before you knew it, there he was in all his glory.’ But Holman tells me his wild side is more of an alter-ego. ‘I think when you get on the stage a different side of you comes out,’ the 24-year-old says. ‘I still think it’s me but it’s a different me.’ Despite the wild stunts and antics, he says himself and Vincent are very down to earth people. ‘We’ve had good solid upbringings and a good set of mates,’ he adds. ‘I think it would be hard for us to not be humble.’ Luckily, Beastie Boys’ Mike D, who features on new album Take Control, has done some of the boasting for them, telling NME: ‘I feel right now the world needs an album like this. Something that is more raw, more alive and less polished.’ Slaves’ wildchild ways have helped them build a substantial fanbase. They have even turned to their Twitter followers to help them stock up on food, Gaviscon and shoes for previously mentioned lighting guy Francis, as well as for answers to life’s big questions. ‘I was just in a hotel room with somebody and we were talking about nipples and if male animals had nipples,’ Holman chuckles. ‘They said to Google it and You don’t I said “No I’ll need to prove ask the world” you don’t so I wrote it on care but Twitter. Someone sometimes it’s checked within quite funny to the first 20 show it seconds and got Isaac Holman, back to me.’ Some loyal fans even Slaves ran and checked their pets’ bellies for nipples. But as well as messages from fans, social media also brings trolls. Punk The band, who pranksters: control their own Isaac Holman accounts, have (left) and retweeted their Laurie Vincent critics, even when their songs have been labelled ‘shite’ or they’ve been called ‘as punk as Dot Cotton’. ‘It’s funny to do things like that to people who are trying to have a go at you,’ Holman says.‘We don’t really mind what anybody thinks about what we do. ‘You don’t need to prove you don’t care but sometimes it’s quite funny to show it. We’re not bothered – carry on doing it ‘We don’t row on Twitter, we kill with kindness always. ‘Those people have obviously got issues that they’re dealing with so let them crack on.’ Slaves’ UK tour runs from November 10 to 30 and Take Control is out now.

24|Your Night

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November 2016

Music

November 2016

@ Tom Gellatly

LEEPING like a vampire may sound pretty grim, but Honne’s Andy Clutterbuck is telling me bedding down on a cramped bunk during their US tour was some of the best kip he’s had. ‘It was our first tour where we’ve been on a tour bus,’ he says. ‘It was quite exciting. ‘We thought it was going to be awful – there were seven of us on this bus with little bunk beds that were more like coffins. But actually, I don’t think any of us have ever slept better in our lives.’ He and the other half of Honne, James Hatcher, travelled across America this summer. I ask how it differed from touring in the UK. ‘It was really cool to do a gig, have a few drinks afterwards, get on the bus and then wake up and you’re somewhere completely different,’ Clutterbuck tells me. Another highlight of the American road trip was Honne’s driver, Ray. ‘He was amazing,’ Clutterbuck laughs. ‘He’s 69 which is mental in itself and he absolutely loves driving. He was out there fixing the bus when the generator broke down, and it was extremely hot – like 40 degrees. ‘He was just working on the van like it was nothing and before that, he had taken the Rolling Stones out on a holiday, rather than a tour – Ray’s great.’ The duo have been touring pretty much non-stop since March this year, performing at festivals and gigs in the UK, Europe and America. I ask Clutterbuck if the touring is taking its toll. ‘I’m not too bad, I’m alright,’ he says. ‘At the moment it’s festivals during the weekend and then time to readjust during the week. ‘We’re doing a lot of bits and bobs. Touring kicks back on again in America soon.’ Honne’s international fanbase is rapidly growing, as fans from abroad ask them to come and perform in their countries via social media. ‘It’s strange, our international picture is a bit weird,’ Clutterbuck says. ‘It’s going really well in America and weirdly South Korea – it’s quite strange. ‘We’d put pictures on Instagram and we’d have people going “Come to Korea”. ‘We’re going there for the first time in November, and we’re doing two 2,000 capacity shows back-toback. We’re not sure what’s going on, but it’s great.’ I ask how it felt to finally release the full album Warm On A

I love waking up in new landscapes Honne’s Andy Clutterbuck talks touring America, hometown gigs and a fanbase further afield

Cold Night in July, after making numerous tantalising EPs since they began producing music as a duo two years ago. ‘Yeah, it’s really great to have it all done,’ Clutterbuck says. ‘We’re so proud of it. It’s nice to go and play a gig and you’re playing music where people have heard all of it,

rather than some brand new ones people don’t know. ‘It’s nicer to have people singing along to everything.’ I wonder what is next for the band’s sound, as they have begun to incorporate more experimental sections into their music, such as on FHKD, which breaks with the conventional form many of their other tracks take. ‘We want to do more of that,’ Clutterbuck confirms. ‘In terms of musicality, and exploring ourselves and what we can do, we’ve got so much more to offer. ‘Even though we still want to write songs which are accessible and reach a wider market, one of our priorities is writing some stuff that takes it as far as we can in terms of different instrumentation. What will be really nice for the next

Road junkies: (l-r) James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck

record is it’ll be a bit of a surprise. ‘The next thing we put out will be a single from the new album.’ I would not dare to ruin the surprise the duo have in store for their fans, so I change the subject and ask what show from the winter leg of the tour they were most looking forward to. ‘The London show is going to be crazy,’ Clutterbuck says. ‘We’re really, really looking forward to that. The London duo find playing in their home town the most

intimidating. ‘For some reason we’ve always been very nervous to play in London, because all your friends are there, all your family come, but everyone in London is so nice,’ Clutterbuck says. ‘Afterwards we’re always like “Why were we worried? That was amazing”.’ ‘But this time after all the other touring we’ve done we’ll come out and hopefully it won’t be nervewracking at all, and it’ll be a really special night. However Clutterbuck says the duo are also looking forward to performing in new places.’ We’re excited for Japan and for South Korea too,’ he says. ‘Every gig is different.’ Honne’s UK tour starts in Bristol on October 23 and finishes in Birmingham on November 1. See hellohonne.com for full dates.

The Interview

Rome Rude boy d Romesh Ranganathan remembers his student days listening to rap and MCing on his pirate radio show

@ John Shaw

WAS a proper wannabe rude boy,’ comedian Romesh Ranganathan tells me, chuckling at himself. The 38-year-old is reminiscing about his time studying maths and economics at Birkbeck in London and throughout our conversation he is self-deprecating, almost to a fault, considering he is one of Britain’s most in-demand comics. ‘I was really pathetic,’ he continues. ‘I did MCing and we ran a pirate radio station from our bedrooms. ‘You know people trying to be rebels? It was sort of like that, we thought we were cool. ‘I reckon we must have had about four listeners before we disbanded.’ Still laughing, he tells me he had posters of rappers on his wall, adding: ‘I had a Nike cap on, Jordans. ‘Obsessed with trainers, baggy clothes. All that crap.’ But, unfortunately for him, his gangster style didn’t protect him against the odd prank. He tells me: ‘When I was in first year I was in halls of residence. ‘You know you have a shared bathroom and toilet? ‘Some of my mates came in and put curry sauce down the inside of the toilet so it looked like someone had used it. ‘Then they knocked on the doors of everyone else and told everyone that I was the one who did it but was too embarrassed to say. ‘So when I came out and saw it, I said I didn’t know how this had happened, but no-one believed me –

it was horrendous.’ Once out of uni, and presumably with his Run-DMC look behind him, he put his degree to use, first going into finance (which he didn’t find rewarding enough) and then into teaching secondary school children, which he looks back on with fondness despite some challenging circumstances. ‘I taught at two schools,’ he tells me. ‘I taught at a really nice school and I was head of sixth form there and then I thought I wanted to do something a bit more challenging. ‘So I went to a school that had just come out of special measures and took over the sixth form there. ‘It was really difficult. The kids were really hard to even get sat down in lessons, but they had really difficult backgrounds so you couldn’t really blame them. ‘They had such difficult home lives so if they were playing up at school you’d think “I totally get it – they’ve not got any structure at home”. ‘It was difficult and challenging, but you wouldn’t get upset about it because you’d think “I’m glad you’re at school in the first place”.’ He describes himself as being ‘OK’ in front of the children but adds: ‘Every other aspect of the job I was appalling at, it was pretty bad. ‘I did really like it but I was terrible at paperwork and staying organised. They are constantly moving the goal posts of what is expected.’ While still teaching maths, he would test out his material at his dad’s pub, where he ran a monthly stand-up night. Once the children heard about it though, they flocked to watch Mr

esh one good

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Ranganathan practise his ten minute the world,’ he explains. ‘My dad had his contrary view on life. ‘When I started writing the show it routines. eight brothers and they all emigrated was sort of like my take on different ‘Some months it was like an to different countries and my dad things,’ he explains. assembly,’ he finishes. was the only one who decided to ‘I found I disagreed with what my I ask whether, rather that going settle in England. friends thought or what my wife straight into work, he considered ‘My mum had always wanted to thought about things. It’s my look the seemingly compulsory gap year get to know our relatives in North at the world – oh god that sounds so experience, but he admits he is a America but doesn’t like travelling w**ky but yeh that’s it. man of creature comforts. on her own – she won’t get on a ‘When I was expressing a view, While his brother and friends went plane on her own. invariably the audience didn’t agree travelling he didn’t fancy it. ‘So she had this idea of us going with me so it’s sort of pushing ‘Backpacking never really together. So you do a trip across the logic on different things. For interested me,’ he says. America, which is great, but example with Starbucks, everybody ‘I like the idea of going to different you’re doing it with your mum. I countries [but] if I wanted to do understand that if you’re like 11, but is anti-Starbucks now and I’m pro it so it’s sort of things like that.’ it I would want to stay in the best I’m an adult.’ I ask him whether he’s been places. I’m pathetic when it comes He admits to me he has some to slumming it.’ regrets over not learning more about getting free lattes for praising the I did MCing company. He adds: ‘When I was at his heritage when he was younger and we ran a ‘No,’ he says in mock anger. university they sent us to Hungary and says his family around the pirate radio for a European student festival. world are ‘better, almost universally, ‘That’s the main reason I talk about station You must be in Higher Education in receipt of anything really. I try to mention ‘We ended up staying in a at being in touch with their Sri from our Student Finance, 18+ only. various bits and pieces on TV and YMCA in Budapest and I was Lankan heritage’ than he is. bedrooms on shows but so far I don’t get utterly miserable. I had to share He isn’t exactly sure why that is Romesh a room with some t**t who was but says: ‘We are the only ones who anything free. It’s a joke. Ranganathan ‘I’m not one of those people unbearable.’ settled in England. My mum and who’s ethical about it, I will exploit Ironic then that a show about dad didn’t want to teach us Tamil, him travelling around Sri Lanka to and when you get older who the hell the situation as much as possible and get as much free s**t as I can.’ learn more about his heritage would wants to learn another language? It The tour, which has already been prove such a hit – partly thanks to just fell by the wayside. running for some time as we speak, Ranganathan, partly because it is a ‘Because we didn’t need to learn good travel documentary and partly about the culture we didn’t but then will mark his first foray into the lucrative DVD market. I ask him down to his hilariously straightlater on you realise it would have whether he is excited. talking mother. been nice to have been more in With his ever-preset honesty and A second series of the show, Asian touch with it.’ bluntness he says no. Provocateur, has just been shot and So what did he learn on his six‘It’s nice to do it and I hope people this time, mother Shanthi has come week trip with his mum? like it,’ he adds. along for the ride. ‘I thought I was somebody who ‘With things like that it’s not ‘Basically she was in the first one doesn’t like being taken away from excitement, you just want it to be and unfortunately people liked her,’ creature comforts and that is still good. So as soon as someone says Ranganathan jokes. true... so I haven’t learnt anything “You’re going to do a DVD,” you ‘I think if I had done the second about myself, it’s just confirmation Loans subject to Credit and Affordability. think “Great” and you start thinking series without her it would have of what I already knew,’ he says. been a nightmare and, I suspect, if ‘It was nice to get to know family “Oh god, I hope it’s good”. ‘Then I started visualising one-star I had decided to do it without her, members and it was a massive test they would have said “We’re going of my relationship with my mother. Amazon reviews saying “I hope this is the end of him”. to do a series just with her”. ‘If you can imagine six weeks WARNING: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk Asian Provocateur begins ‘I feel I’m riding on her coat-tails.’ non-stop with your mum, that is 12 on BBC andto theoffer financial support and advice. This time round, the pair will going to push the relationship to the Octobermay Your University beThree able Irrational tour runs till December 8. travel further to speak to even absolute limits.’ Rep Example APR based for 111 £50.00 at fixed rate: 292% pa. Total to repay: £150.00 For a chance to win days. a copy ofInterest: the more relatives, including some Now279.35% back in England, he has on: £100 Irrational DVD, DVD,out outNovember November21, 21, Ranganathan didn’t know existed a returned to his day job, touring his p33. year ago. ‘We’ve got family all over live show, Irrational, which explores turn to p30.

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November 2016

Dodge those dire house traps

Secure the ultimate accommodation with these top tips

TUP Top Tip: Don’t be shy to grill potential housemates (not literally)

@ Amy Denman

Have you had any digs disasters? Send your horror story to editor@unipaper.co.uk

OUSE hunting tends to be a long and stressful process. Understandably you just want to get a place for next year secured sooner rather than later. However this sense of urgency can be taken advantage of by sneaky estate agents and landlords, which is where some students come unstuck. TUP have devised a selection of tips for savvy students to bear in mind during those viewings.

before Christmas, as the likelihood is that students will end up paying more with less choice.’ Has your landlord been checked?

Most university towns will have an organisation similar to Unipol which helps students choose a good standard of housing, you can speak to your student union about your local housing body. Nicola said: ‘Students should look for an accredited property.’

Choose your time wisely

Timing is almost as important as the place itself. Nicola Brown from Unipol, a charity which helps students rent accommodation, said: ‘When searching for houses with friends we advise not to rush into anything

Full house: Pick housemates carefully, you’ll have to live together

‘Writing for

laid the foundation for my career’ Elizabeth Calow journalist If you want to write for The University Paper email editor@unipaper.co.uk

Don’t play housemate bingo As you’ll know from the game of luck, picking something at random is never the quickest way to a full house. Nicola said: ‘Think carefully about who to share with as friendship groups can change in the first few months of uni. A friend to

party with might not make the best housemate.’

VIEWING ADVICE

Know your mould

Nicola Brown from Leeds-based charity Unipol shares some tips on what to do when viewing a potential property. It’s all about the confidence Be confident when you go on a viewing, don’t be shy to ask questions and challenge fees – it’s their job to negotiate. Check they are reputable Are they members of the Unipol Code or an equivalent code in your city? Speak to your student union about how to go about checking this. Pick your priorities Decide beforehand on the essentials and where you are prepared to compromise. Play the field Compare prices and standards by viewing a few properties with different landlords and agencies. Chat to tenants If the existing tenants are there take the opportunity to ask them about the property, if the property is poor, they will be honest.

It’s good on blue cheese but bad on windows. Mould and damp are common occurrences in student houses, however this does not mean you have to tolerate them. When viewing a potential pad keep an eye out for any signs of damp or mould these include, stains on walls, condensation on windows and peeling wallpaper. Mould can be very hard to get rid of, it can also spread on to shoes and clothes and be very bad for your health. So if you spot any sign of it during a viewing, it would be best to scratch that one from your list. Is the house well kept?

We have all been to house viewings where the current tenants are slightly relaxed when keeping up appearances. However, it can be a big issue if your landlord takes the same attitude. Look out for small things such as broken draws and loose wires to avoid lazy landlords.

CHRIS@UNIPAPER.CO.UK 020 7580 6419

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