The Knowledge Halloween Issue by The Knowledge

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The Official Student Newspaper of UPSU October 2014 Halloween Issue

News Science Environement Opinion Life Style Arts Entertainment Sports & Societies See whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on around Plymouth

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YOUR EXECUTIVE OFFICER TEAM facebook.com/execofficers

President | Sarah Bowman It’s been an incredible start to first term, students voted for the proposed changes to our governance review and we’ve had nominations for the large majority of our School Rep and Forum Chair positions, which is setting us up for an incredible year! As well as this I have been planning a campaign for the lead up to the General Elections, so if you want to know more, or to get involved, please contact me! @UPSUPresident VP Education | Ruth Titmuss Hello everyone. I hope you have settled well into your course and are enjoying your time at Uni with us so far this year. By now, you should have had your course rep elected and hopefully you know who they are. If not, find them! They are here to talk to you about what you want from your course and University so are really important. They have had lots of training and are raring to go so make sure you speak to them. Continue to enjoy uni and work hard. It will soon be Christmas! Do grab me for a chat if you want one. All the best! @UPSUeducation VP International & Outreach | Will Holmes Hello all! I hope everyone enjoyed Fresher’s as much as me, it was lovely meeting so many of you! This year I’m focusing on international integration and have set up an international mentoring scheme called ‘Hello Team’, hopefully you’ve noticed our new Oktoberfest event in the SU too. I’m also in the process of visiting every partner institution to gain more feedback and organising campus visits for them. Peace & love. @UPSUIntOut VP Societies & Sport | Emily Hamilton-Peach My role is mainly to come up with ideas to improve societies and sports and to implement any changes that students want and need. I am also a trustee of UPSU so oversee everything that happens within the Union. I am your voice, so anything that you think needs improving in the Students’ Union or the University then let me know! @UPSUsocsport VP Welfare | Rich Skipper I’m responsible for representing students on welfare issues which varies from finances to safety and health to accommodation. My aims are to make sure that your voice and feedback is heard, not only by the University but in the city too. To help build a student community and champion diversity. To empower and equip you with the information you need so you don’t get ripped off by rouge landlords. @UPSUwelfare

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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Hello and welcome to our Halloween-inspired issue. We’ve only just settled into a new year at Plymouth but already the SU have passed their referendum, RAG have raised money for charity and The Knowledge has been busy finding stories from various faculties across the University to bring you a diverse range of content. If you missed us at Fresher’s fair but have a story to tell you can still get involved by emailing contact@theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk. This issue carries the theme of Halloween with Environment taking a look at creepy crawlies, our Style team suggesting some budget-friendly costumes and Arts & Entertainment reviewing some of the greatest horror films to date. Our usual sections have also been busy representing hot-topics with News looking at the student protests taking place November 19th and Opinion discussing feminism and “slut shaming”. As well as this, The Knowledge has partnered with the Employability Service to bring you tips on everything job-related and with Crowdfunder to help you raise money and promote your projects this coming year. So, whether you’re hiding from the grim autumn weather or killing time in Costa, sit back and have a read because this issue has something for everyone.

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NEWS theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/news

Students to march in protest over tuition fees By Adam James On November 19th thousands of students will be marching in protest in an attempt to resolve the conflicts regarding tuition fees that the current parliament have controlled since 2010. Students will march the streets of Central London under the message “no fees – no cuts – no debt”. The demonstration will be aided by a number of local and direct actions in the weeks running up to the general election. The National Campaign Against Fees And Cuts and The Student Assembly Against Austerity are two examples of student coalition groups that will be taking part in the demonstration. Beth Redmond, from the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, said: “Four years on from the election of the Coalition, it is clear that fees have failed. Whole areas of higher and further education are now off limits to anyone without rich parents, and education workers are being squeezed, sacked and outsourced. We are calling this demonstration to take the fight to the government and to demand a public education system that serves society and is free and accessible to everyone.”

She then continued to say: ”With a general election in May, we will be putting free education onto the political agenda, not by softening our position but by making our ideas impossible to ignore”. Moreover, Clifford Fleming, Co-Chair of the Young Greens, said “We are sick of being marginalised by Westminster. With threats to cut young people’s benefits from both the Conservatives and the Labour Party, it’s time for a full-scale fightback. Years of tuition fees have lumbered millions with debt, and the system isn’t working. We need an open, accessible, free education system that supports those from all backgrounds.” If you would like to attend and assist the demonstration contact your student union.

Kirsty Haigh, NUS Scotland Vice President, added: “This year will see a major fightback against privatisation and attacks on living standards, the biggest since 2010-11. Millions of workers will be on strike this summer and into the autumn, and students will be a part of that fight.”

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SPOTLIGHT theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/features

Black History Month Black History Month was first proposed in 1969 by students at Kent University in America, and was officially recognised in February 1970. The event is seen to be a remembrance of important people and events in the history of African diaspora. Nowadays however, it is seen as more of a celebration of the many influential black people through time. The month is a good opportunity to look back and be proud of the works of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and the many more who faced hardships because of their race. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extremely hard to believe that sixty years ago the US supreme court had to be involved in aiding the black community in America, until the Brown c. Board of Education of Topeka, Kans, was ruled. This case saw that there would be no more segregation in American schools, and it the by far equal society we are blessed with today, it is something we all take very lightly in this generation.

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By Cynthia Dirisu

However, although looking back at black history gives somewhat of a glum reflection, it is refreshing and exciting to see the development within the black community in modern times, firstly starting with the huge success of seeing a black president in our lifetimes, something many black people would not have imagined experiencing. It is also uplifting to see the achievement of many other black people around the world, Lewis Hamilton, Sir Trevor McDonald, Usain Bolt and black women also; Oprah Winfrey, the Williams sisters, Condolezza Rice and Mary Seacole. And so as a celebration of black history month, the Afro-Caribbean society are holding a Black History Month debate to discuss past issues in the black community and current matters as well. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to invite you to come to the SU, and get involved.

SPOTLIGHT theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/features

Who is Crowdfunder and what do they do? Crowdfunder and Plymouth University – the UK’s leading Social Enterprise University – have partnered to introduce crowdfunding as an innovative entrepreneurial activity for students, staff, alumni, researchers and partners. Crowdfunder and Plymouth University – the UK’s leading Social Enterprise University – have partnered to introduce crowdfunding as an innovative entrepreneurial activity for students, staff, alumni, researchers and partners. The partnership will see Plymouth University provide an education in crowdfunding for clubs, charities, start-ups, events and research, creating a new source of funds for projects alongside building new communities and support. Plymouth University is one of the founding partners of Crowdfunder, having supported the digital startup from its launch in 2012. In 2013 the University sponsored the world’s-first regional crowdfunding campaign – Crowdfund Cornwall, which delivered over £170k of fundraising to the region and made countless grass root projects possible.

be a founding partner and excited by the possibilities of what we can together make possible for our staff, students and communities.” Most recently, Crowdfund have been used for the Marine Biological Association’s Batten Bay BioBlitz in which they held a race to record as much wildlife as possible in one area in 24 hours. The project began asking for £1,500 to help raise awareness and support for nature conservation but in just 17 days they overachieved and raised £1,779. Crowdfund raises money for everything from wildlife conservation to helping fund a postgraduate degree course. Even the Foo Fighters have a Crowdfund page, trying to raise enough money to arrange a gig to be played in Cornwall!

Managing Director, Phil Geraghty, said: “We have worked closely with the team at Plymouth for a while now and it’s an incredibly natural fit due to their position as the leading social enterprise university. The University sponsored the world’s-first regional crowdfunding campaign – Crowdfund Cornwall, which has already delivered over £170k of fundraising to the region and made countless grass root projects possible. “We are looking forward to strengthening the relationship and continuing to provide education, support and innovation from the crowdfunding sector.” Plymouth University Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Julian Beer said: “Our renewed relationship with Crowdfunder will see continued leading edge entrepreneurial support for the University and its partners, as well as unrivalled opportunities for our students to undertake bespoke placements with a sector leading digital high-growth business. We are proud to

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SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/environment

Weeing in the shower:

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By Hannah Milburn

Downright dirty or refreshingly liberating? This week, students at the University of East Anglia have been pushing an unusual new initiative to save water and money – wee and shower all in one. The idea of having pee running down my leg in the shower isn’t a particularly nice image, and I can’t really imagine my housemates agreeing to this, but it definitely has some big positives. The Go with the Flow Campaign created by Debs Torr and Chris Dobson wants people to start the day with a wee in the shower, instead of the toilet. It might sound gross, but it could save each person £7.30 in water bills per year, as well as 5-13 litres of water per flush. Taking the average of 9 litres per flush, if everyone got involved with the campaign for 12 months, we could each save 3,276 litres of water. If it just doesn’t sound healthy or clean to you, Chris Dobson, one of the founders of the campaign says ‘so long as the water is flowing, there is no hygiene risk

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because urine is sterile, but we would encourage that every person using the same shower consents to the challenge’. Plus, let’s face it, a bit of shower gel lathered up post pee and you’ll be fresh as a daisy. In a world where the population is rising and climate change continues to alter our environment, water is becoming increasingly valuable and important, so every drop really does count. If Bear Grylls can drink his own urine and not die, then we should all be able to wee in the shower without getting squeamish. I want everyone to have a go at this, even if you only do it once, it’s a time saver, money saver, water saver and bog roll saver.

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/environment

Brilliant, HannahByMilburn beautiful bats Bats, they’ve always had a bit of an image problem, seen as wild, screeching monsters sucking your blood and turning you into vampires. But these flying mammals are actually a lot smarter, cuter and more important than it might seem. Bats are the only mammals that fly, rather than glide. There are over 1,200 species across the globe (only 3 of which suck blood), and here in the UK we are lucky enough to find 18 different species. They are also protected by law, and in the UK there is a £2,000 fine for killing a bat. A lot of people see bats as pests, but many bats, especially in the UK are actually pest controllers, eating thousands of insects every night. UK bats won’t bite you or suck your blood – but they will munch on plenty of annoying bloodsucking mosquitoes and midges!

As the end of October draws nearer, and the colder weather starts to appear, bats are starting to get ready to hibernate in their roosts. They need warm, dark places protected from the weather. If you’re really interested in bats, buy someone at home a bat box for Christmas and see what turns up in the spring as it warms up. You’ve probably all seen a bat but you’ve probably never heard one. These clever critters use such high frequencies when they ‘talk’ that it can’t be heard by us without equipment. It’s called echolocation, and when heard on a bat detector sounds like clicks, squeaks, farts and in my opinion aliens. As for those pesky blood sucking vampire bats giving all other bats a bad name with their reputation as dark, they aren’t so evil after all, in fact, they are social animals willing to help a brother out in times of need. If a vampire bat returns to the roost without feeding, a friendly neighbour will regurgitate blood up for the less experienced hunter to feed on. A vampire bat can die within 3 days if they don’t feed, so this behaviour is truly altruistic. Bats have a bad rep, and it is undeserved. Take the time this Halloween to appreciate these little suckers.

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OPINION theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/opinion

“Slut shaming needs to stop”

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By Jessica Horner Slut shaming and victim blaming affect all types of women, from mega star Jennifer Lawrence having nude photos leaked by a hacker and then being branded a slut for taking them in the first place, to victims of sexual assault often finding the first questions they are asked are not about their attacker but about what they were wearing or if they had been drinking. Our culture places all the blame on the victim, if they were drunk, if they led the attacker on, if they were in a relationship with the attacker, if they wore revealing clothes, if they were promiscuous. This culture removes all blame from the perpetrators of sexual violence and places it squarely on to the victims. Women are constantly judged as sexual objects by society and often find themselves walking an impossibly illusive tightrope to appear just the right amount of sexy without being a “slut”. If they do not submit willingly to what is asked of them by their boyfriends they are regarded as “frigid” or a closeted lesbian, however when they comply, be it to sex acts which they are reluctant to undertake in or to taking naked photos, they often find that their trust is abused and they earn a bad reputation, with the blame being solely on their shoulders. This is an impossible double standard which no one can live up to and it damages the lives of many girls and young women. I remember in my sixth form a male classmate shared nude photos of his ex-girlfriend with the majority of the year group, she was so humiliated and ashamed that she left our school. The fallout from being the victim of someone sharing her photos without her consent massively altered her life – she was branded a slut and he was reviled as a lad. Women are not blameless in this either, I remember at the time being appalled when a close friend of mine blamed the girl and said she would never be so stupid as to let that happen to her, completely ignoring the fact that the girl had done nothing wrong whereas the boy had completely savagely ruined her reputation and her school life. I am sure my school was not alone in this. @PlymUniStuNews

This is the same attitude that was rife following the revelation that Jennifer Lawrence, and many other hollywood stars, had naked photos leaked. Rather than address the fact that this was a sex crime and the perpetrator is a low-life creep, many have taken to the internet to blame Lawrence and paint her a slut who deserved having her consent completely ignored and her privacy invaded. However Lawrence has now struck back stating “it is not a scandal. It is a sex crime, It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting.” She went on to add that it isn’t just the hackers themselves that she feels violated by but any website that allowed the photos to be posted and anyone who looked at them, explaining “I didn’t tell you that you could look at my naked body, you’re perpetuating a sexual offence.” So what can we do to stop slut shaming and victim blaming? The most obvious answer is we need to stop blaming the victim in any way, stop implying their behaviour was in any way responsible for what happened to them and face the reality of who is to blame. We can also call out slut shaming wherever we see it and draw attention to the double standard placed on girls, we can make sure the young adults in our lives learn about sex, consent and relationships properly through compulsory sex education in school rather than through viewing porn and when photos such as Lawrence’s are leaked we must recognise that it is not a celebrity scandal, it is a sex crime designed to humiliate.

OPINION theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/opinion

Why the greens should be invited By to the televised event Davide Bertelli This week the latest political debate was sparked off by the announcement to invite, quite rightly so, Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, to one of the televised debates hosted by the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Sky News in the run for the 2015 General Elections, as a result of “changes in the political landscape” since 2010. Hence the big question: why were the Greens ignored once again?

months before the General Elections, in a by-election (which is by nature a very peculiar kind of election). Even George Galloway, leader of Respect, was elected in 2012 MP for Bradford West in a by-election. Based on these premise, I cannot see how UKIP is more qualified to appear on a TV debate than the Greens, or Respect.

It cannot be ignored that some parties are on the rise and some others are declining in terms of affiliation. The political landscape has changed a lot since 2010 and The three main parties have been steadily shrinking indeed since the latest European elections in May and if their share of votes, quite simply because they are not there could have been any remote yet valid justification attractive any more. In 1950 (highest turnout in history, for the virtually inexistent coverage of the Green Party’s 84%) Labour and the Conservatives shared some 86% campaign, now there cannot be any excuse left. It is of the votes. In 2010, with some of the lowest turnouts fairly easy to grasp when we look at the numbers. since the 1920s, Labour and Conservatives together In fact, if we look at the polls that are published day plummeted to just 65%. The two combined together by day, we can see that the Liberal-Democrats are in represent now the minority of the British public’s views. deep trouble. Polls suggest that the LibDems and the It is worrying to see how many people are more and Greens are neck-and-neck. Even though Mr Clegg’s more disenchanted, disillusioned and not passionate. party seems to be polling slightly ahead of the Greens. The current stale system is to be blamed entirely, There is a huge difference between the two though: in together with the self-complacent blindness of the 2010 the LibDems scored a whopping 23%, presenting traditional parties. It is no surprise that memberships of a candidate in each of the 631 constituencies, the UKIP, Green Party, SNP and Scottish Greens are growing Greens scored a mere 0.9%, with just 310 candidates. by the day. If UKIP is to attend a televised debate, so The Euro Elections in May nearly swept the LibDems should the Greens in England, SNP and Scottish Greens away, with the party losing 10 of its 11 incumbent MEPs in Scotland, Plaid Cymru in Wales. and an overall percentage of 6.5%; the Greens gained one MEP (they now have three), scoring 7%. Last spring It is quite simply a matter of democracy and justice. If very few polls gave the Greens a consistent lead over the UK wants to live up to its principles of liberalness, the LibDems before the election. It goes without saying equality and plurality, if the UK wants to claim the that it would be unfair and undemocratic not to give moral high ground in the international sphere then the LibDems a voice in the cross-party debates, but the facts are needed. The electorate has the right to hear same applies to the Greens, if polls and projections are the broad spectrum (that certainly cannot be skewed to used as parameters. the right), different point of views and stances must be presented to the public. It could be argued that the difference between the two parties lies in the number of MPs and local councillors, If Nigel Farage is to take part in a televised debate, so where, in fact, the LibDems are much stronger (even should Ms Bennett. though they have been suffering severe losses every year for the past four years). But this also leads me to my next point. If the number of MPs is used as a parameter to identify which political party should be represented at the debates, then it could be reasonably argued that the Greens have a right to be there just as much as UKIP does. Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, has been sitting in Parliament since 2010. Douglas Carswell, MP for Clacton, was elected last week, only eight

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LIFE theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/lifestyle

I am! The one who knocks Staying ahead is important if you want to succeed. You only have to look lightly to the infamous Breaking Bad character Walter White to understand the advantage of declaring your importance in your desired profession. Perhaps not declaring yourself the most important person in Albuquerque, New Mexico’s methamphetamine operation (“I am!…the one who knocks!” states Walter White to Skyler as she doubts his competence at being a bad ass), but certainly, when looking to secure your-self a graduate job being the one to register and apply first is a definite benefit. Showing early concern for your future will show you are serious about your career, a character trait that springs the ears of; CEO’s, recruitment, and Gustavo Fring.

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By Genevieve Brophy

schemes are so highly sought-after for a reason. If you are accepted on to a graduate scheme then your career opportunities are huge. With a 1/10 applicant success rate your CV must be topnotch. Send it over to the Employability Service with Plymouth University (catalyst@plymouth.ac.uk) for support and visit the ‘Career Navigator’ site to: build the perfect CV, book workshops; discover career pathways and much more (www5.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/ employability/career-support).

First things first, realise you are not in over your head. Most graduate schemes have deadlines, with the majority of applications taking place between September and January to start the following September. To mention a few of the high flyers: JP Morgan’s application deadline falls in October, Nuclear Graduation in December, Sony in January, Freshfields in July and Capgemigni dates vary. So before your dissertation requires superlab standards, I recommend that you take some time to shop around at what companies would suit you, noting down deadlines so you don’t miss the deal. A successful application will take on a whole: 9 hours, perhaps even longer if you feel necessary. Bear in mind you have to give yourself time to; shop for roles; read the website (analyse, comment, decide if it is for you); register; enter your personal details, education, qualification, work experience, skills, achievements and most importantly write a personal statement. Be confident! Know that it is time well spent. Let’s get time into GAT perspective. That’s Graduation Application Time perspective. There are 10,080 minutes in a week. 1,440 minutes in a day. The average life expectancy in the UK is 4.26019e7 minutes. That’s 525,949 to the power of 82 years. GAT calculation recommends 9 hours (540 minutes) of focus to create a successful application. So 540 minutes out of 4.26019e7 minutes is not an awful lot in the grand scheme of things. Minutes spent wisely now will favour your future days. Remember – graduate training @PlymUniStuNews

LIFE theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/lifestyle

HALLOWEEN COCKTAILS Whether you love scary things or need the slightest excuse to dress up, Halloween is a great time of the year to go all out. People decorate their halls and flats and spend weeks planning their costume ideas. But why stop there? The best way to impress is through the details, so here are some small ideas to make a big difference at a party. Vodka slime shots Ingredients: 12 small plastic pots (think takeaway sauce size) 4x Lime Jelly 135g Bottle of vodka Selection of animal and bug sweets Optional: Oreo biscuits. Recipe: Make up the jelly following pack instructions. For every 135g of jelly, you should be using around 475ml of boiling water and then 300ml of vodka. Pour a third of the mixture into 12 small glasses or plastic pots. Add a couple of bugs to each pot, then leave to set in the fridge, keeping remaining jelly at room temperature. Once set, add more bugs to each container, you can lean some against edges so that they stick out the top too. Pour over some more jelly and leave to set in the fridge. Repeat with remaining bugs and jelly. For the soil topping, place cookies in a plastic bag and, using a rolling pin, bash into crumbs, then tip onto a plate. Just before serving, sprinkle a layer of soil over each set jelly.

Black cat Ingredients: 1 part vodka 1 part cherry brandy Cranberry juice Cola Recipe: This can either be done as a shot or a cocktail as before. Pour equal amounts of spirits into a glass, either a few cm for a shot glass or a shot each into a cocktail glass. Then fill with equal amounts of cranberry juice and cola. Stir if in a cocktail glass and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good to go.

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STYLE theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/style-beauty

Halloween on a student-friendly budget By Harriet Webber

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Velma and Shaggy For Velma, wear an orange turtleneck, red skirt, orange socks, and red shoes, as well as black-rimmed glasses. For Shaggy, wear a baggy green shirt and brown pants. Leave your beard unshaven for a couple of days.

Bag of jelly beans Get a clear trash bag, cut holes for arms and legs. Print the nutritional facts on the back of the costume, just like what you see on the backs of candy bags. Fill the bag with coloured balloons, and tie up the bag near your neck with a ribbon.

Minions Get a yellow top and overalls. You can make your own hat, and add eyes made out of cloth or eyes made from Styrofoam cups. You can also choose to paint your face yellow.

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STYLE theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/style-beauty

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ART & ENTERTAINMENT theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/arts-entertainment

Frantic Assembly’s By ‘Othello’ Ashleigh Howells As a self-confessed Shakespearean purist I was initially skeptical on a modern take of the tragic play, however; being a novice to Othello I decided to restrain my skepticism until proven otherwise. The set was a pub; large key props, a pool table, a slot machine and a pub bench made the set minimalist. However it seemed that Frantic Assembly’s version of Othello was intent one being loud and proud; celebrating difference, even if it had to throw it in your face. Prior to attending the show I didn’t know the story well and whilst there are still a few gaps for me it was very well executed and I really felt the intricacies of the plots conceits, manipulations and threats. Though I am still a little undecided about the choice of using movement; or let’s call it narrative dance, throughout the performance to aid the tale.

The character Lago was by far the strongest character on the stage. Steven Miller executed it brilliantly and spoke the lines as if they were his everyday colloquial language. He outshone the rest of the cast giving real reason, accurate tone and meaning to his words, effortlessly and strongly portraying the villainous manipulation and cruelty of his character. He adopted the title of villain perfectly, and his death was performed with a gruesome excellence that concluded the play seamlessly. In all, the performance was good. It was fluid as I have said and not once did I sit there and think ‘oh god when is this over’. However, the blend of northern chavs, tracksuit bottoms, graffiti, public toilets and 90s music doesn’t work for me with Shakespearian terms such as ‘my mistress’, ‘my lord’ and other antiquated terminology. I felt, a lot of the emotion was lost in the anxiety of ensuring the difficult Shakespearian words were properly executed and expressed. I judge a performance by how it moves me and when the brutal and tragic deaths of characters was shown to me I felt myself unmoved and instead wondering if I could still see them breathing. A great effort and an interesting concept, but for me, it didn’t quite do it.

The opening scene showed the cast performing choreography using the props onstage and, for me, it made the opening moments and indeed, moments that followed, quite confusing and distracting. It was well choreographed, effortlessly and energetically performed, flawless in this way, however for me it was unnecessary. The mix of contemporary dance and 90s rave music to accompany it didn’t blend will with heavy Shakespearian dialogue. In my opinion, if you are going to do a modern remake you have to go all the way. On the plus side though it did mean that transitions between scenes was effortless and the whole performance flowed with such fluidity that it truly avoided the clunky scene and set changes that many plays bring. A credit then to the set design that was utilized both in the choreography and the fluidity of scene changes. A moveable and adjustable set that worked fantastically well heightened the audiences understanding of how drunk or blown away in the sublime a character was; he literally sunk into the set which moved, again fluidly on his touch.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/arts-entertainment

10 best horror films of the past 10 years By Simon Stone

Recently, it’s become a bit of a trend to trash the horror genre; however there have been some very decent and original horror films over the past decade. Here are some of the best. 9 - The Orphanage (2007) A Woman and her son return to an Orphanage where she was raised. As the boy Simón befriends a masked ghost called Tomás, his mother tries to protect him against this unknown force.

10 - You’re Next (2011) During a family get together, a group of masked people begin to start picking them off one by one. The only downside is a twist that you can probably see from a mile off, which dampens the score somewhat.

8 - Martyrs (2008)

7 - Wolf Creek (2005) Ever wanted to go to the Outback in Australia? Well this film may make you think otherwise. It shows us that real horror can lie anywhere, but most importantly, in anyone.

6 - The Descent (2006) As a group of friends go spelunking underground, they find themselves trapped below the ground. In a bid to escape, they discover they are not alone.

4 - The Cabin in the Woods (2012) Don’t go into watching this film knowing what to expect; you’ll think it will be cliched and a stereotypical slasher, but instead it reinvents what horror is all about.

3 - Let the Right One In (2008) This Serbian horror film follows Oskar, a bullied young boy in need of a friend. When Eli, a girl of a similar age moves nearby, they strike a peculiar friendship feeling the need to protect one another. 2 - Saw (2004) Before the amass ‘Torture Porn’ and some pretty questionable sequels kicked in, the original Saw worked because of it’s likable characters, tense moments, and a fantastic twist at the end. Acting as more of a psychological thriller, it’s almost iconic, and a film that I return to each Halloween.

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5 - The Conjuring (2013) It’s clichéd in parts, it uses occasional CGI, but all of it together makes one of the best films for delivering quick scares. Hopefully the tepid response to this years prequel, Annabelle, doesn’t ruin its reputation.

1 - Rec (2007) This Spanish horror film uses the overdone “Found Footage” format, but instead of lessening the impact, it makes you feel like you are there. As someone who doesn’t get scared much by horror films, the last 10 minutes of Rec will have you on the edge of your seat.

What’sPlayingPlymouth Barbican Theatre Mama Tokus: Attack of the Killer Pumpkin Friday 31st October 2pm £8 standard £5 concessions Dumbwise: Faust Saturday 1st November 7:30pm £12 standard £9 concessions Company Chameleon: Beauty of the Beast Saturday 8th November 7.30pm £12 standard £9 concessions

Pavillions John Newman

Vue Horns

Monday 27th October

Wednesday 29th October

Example

Aliens

Thursday 30th October

Friday 31st October

Paloma Faith

Interstellar

Saturday 8th November

Friday 7th November

Noel Fielding

Third Person

Wednesday 12th November

Friday 14th November

Passenger

The Imitation Game

Thursday 13th November

Friday 14th November

A Day to Remember

The Hunger Games, Mockingjay (part 1)

Friday 14th November

Bellowhead Sunday 16th November

Lily Allen Sunday 29th November

Bombay Bicycle Club Thursday 4th December

Thursday 20th November

See whats going on Theatre Royal Shadows of War 28th-29th October

Showings 2.30pm and 7.30pm, £12 students Beauty and the Beast 30th-1st November

Showings 2.30pm and 7.30pm, £12.70 Edward Scissor Hands 10th-15th November

Showings 2.30pm and 7.30pm, contact for concession prices.

Sports and Societies 27th October

Halloween Creative Writing Competition LitSoc University of Plymouth Dance Club (UPDC) Performance Oceana

30th October:

Halloween Events Monday 27th October Oceana Fuzzy Logic

Haunted Funhouse 10pm-3.30am £3 in advance

Tuesday 28th October PL4

Who’s House 8pm-late £1 before 11 £2 after

Cake Sale Cheerleading - SU

Wednesday 29th October Walkabout

31st October:

9pm-late £2 before 10pm £3 before 11pm

Halloween High Society Ball University of Plymouth Big Band The Treasury

1st November: Man Drag Charity Fundraiser Burlesque Society Tikki Bar & Grill

Heroes

Thursday 30th October Revolution

AAA

10pm-4am Friday 31st October UPSU

Fright Fest 9pm-3am

halloween issue

SPORTS & SOCIETIES theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/sports-societies

Societies vs Work Experience For many students it is difficult enough to find a balance between work and leisure. So, it can be a struggle for a student to find time for society involvement. Work experience now plays a vital part within securing a job after you graduate. Because of this, many students believe that putting more of their time towards work experience as opposed to joining societies at university is a better and more productive use of their time. As a result of this, society involvement may be on the decrease. The Knowledge has spoken to a range of third year students from different universities in relation to the question ‘Do you believe that involvement in societies can be as valuable to an employer as work experience?’ and

By Emma Chappell curricular experiences. I believe that in relation to my own course, work experience is much more valuable than society involvement, but it may be different for students in other positions and on a different kind of course.’ Bex Wilcox | 3rd year, Mental Health Nursing, Oxford Brookes University ‘At our university there isn’t a very wide range of societies, and I wanted to dedicate myself solely to my course, and that is what I have done. Although, I have put a bit of my time towards looking for work experience, and I definitely feel that it is the main thing employers expect you to do with your free time at university now.’ Lucy Gazard | 3rd year, Theatre and Drama, University of South Wales ‘Being part of a society has without a doubt been best thing I have currently done during my university life. I have connected with so many people who have similar interests, and done things I never thought I could do at such an early stage. I definitely think having the grades and being involved in a society can certainly give you an edge in the eyes of future employers. So if you’re wavering, take the chance!’ Simon Stone | 3rd year, English, University of Plymouth Which do you believe is more valuable to employers? Do you think that there is a decrease in society involvement?

this is what they had to say: ‘The reason that I have never joined a society is because of the course I am on. It is very vocational, and I already gain plenty of work experience through the course, so I have personally never seen the need to look for any extra-

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SPORTS & SOCIETIES theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/sports-societies

Plymouth Sharks v UWE Match report

k By Rhi Squire

Plymouth Sharks' basketball mens 2nd team started the season with a fiery win on Wednesday, beating UWE's 2nds 58-44. Played in Nancy Astor sports hall, the game showed immediate favour to the home team, with the first quarter ending 16-8 Plymouth, and the scoring run continued throughout. Carlos Mora, later named as later of the match, scored the majority of Sharks' points, although this couldn't have been achievedÂ without the whole team's tactic of pulling together to show a full court press, seeming to overwhelm UWE's players. The second quarter saw Sharks' strongest plays, with each shot a success, and ending at half time 35-13. UWE gave their best in the third quarter bringing the score to 49-27, however their late run just wasn't enough to bring the game back to them. Second captain Ryan Penny said: "I was delighted with the result today, we made it our aim to be unbeaten at home, and this is a great start. Thank you to the fans who attended!" This game pushes Plymouth to the top of the Western 3A League; their next game will be on October 22nd, 1pm at Plymouth Life Centre, against University of Gloucestershire Mens 1st team.

@PlymUniStuNews

SPORTS & SOCIETIES theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/sports-societies

Plymouth Raiders vs Durham Wildcats - Match report

By Rhi Squire

The Raiders were facing off at home against the Durham Wildcats yesterday, looking for a powerful display that would bring their season back from a less than favourable start. With the stands getting more and more packed out it was quite the atmosphere as the teams tipped off and got the show underway. It was a slow start from the Raiders who seemed to lack a bit of confidence in each other, with a few early fouls being conceded. There was far too much time being given to the Wildcats’ players and as a result they took at the end of the first quarter 22-19. The beginning of the second period started much like the first, with the Raiders allowing too many Wildcat plays to go unpunished. The offensive plays of the Cats were starting to really do some damage to the Raiders and with the score board reading 48-38 at the halftime buzzer it was time for a break and a rethink. During the halftime to see the court filled up of the audience all landing a shot in the showcasing better myself. Although 20 some cases, there was no year old show me up.

show, it was refreshing with younger members having an attempt at basket, and subsequently shooting prowess than years their senior in way I was going to let a 4

As the teams reemerged for the start of the second half, the confidence that was lacking in the first half had been discovered. The Raiders came out of the gates hard and fast, and brought the scores back to 50-50 at one point, with their defensive frailties looking to be ironed out. Every free throw scored brought louder cheers and by the end of the 3rd it was 68-65 to the Wildcats. It seemed however that the Raiders simply ran out of steam towards the later stages of the match, with the Wildcats scoring unanswered points that took the game out of Plymouth’s hands. Final Score: Plymouth Raiders: 88 – Durham Wildcats: 101 MVP: Brent Benson After the game, Louis Sayers said: “We didn’t play too well to be honest, we just have to get much tighter as a team and move on from here. We forget this result today and we move forward as a team.” This game was another event in the partnership celebration between Plymouth University and Brain Tumour Research. The Raiders warmed up in BTR t-shirts, and were joined on the sidelines by members of Plymouth Storm Cheerleaders and the University’s Dance club, who both performed in timeouts, akin to the Raiders’ GHQ Training cheerleaders.

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