WesternEye issue 5

WesternEye w w w. we s te r n eye . n e t

UWE’s Student Voice - Issue No. 5 - February 2013

It’s the end of the world as we know it: Feature: The power of Grimm >> 12

The Mayan predictions did not come true, but do these ideas reflect on modern day issues? >> 11

Comment: Mid term coalition review >> 9

News: Smart drugs for students? >> 3

Sport: UWE Squash Success >> 23

News:

Council aims to tackle homelessness epidemic

Sean Vickers reports on the estimated increase in homelessness due to benefit cut backs. >> 5

Comment:

Should the US enforce stricter gun restrictions?

Phillip Mansell and Huw Armstrong consider the debate from all sides.

>> 7

Life & Style:

Tim Caynes

Valentines Special:

A problematic parking proposal?

 Cooking a Valentines meal on

student budget  Valentines for the sinlge pringle

>> 14

> A UWE parking proposal set for completion by September 2014 could cause unforeseen problems.

Arts & Entertainment: Oscar Nominations

Aminah Jagne news@westerneye.net

U

WE are working towards implementing a new parking proposal that is currently due to be completed by September 2014. Initially intended to be in full swing from the start of this academic year (September 2012), the parking structure could result in little to no parking for students and staff on campus.

Phase two of the proposal (currently behind schedule) would see all parking allowances for students and staff living within 3km of Frenchay campus completely withdrawn, whilst parking for all first year undergraduate students living in the ‘Bristol locality’ (what this constitutes is yet to be clarified) would also be revoked. In order to neutralise these constraints, a £1 flat

Including

fare would be introduced for any bus journeys that start or end within the 3km radius, and an inter-campus car-pooling system would be devised.

Phase three, which at present is set to be fulfilled by September 2013, would see parking withdrawn for all 2nd year undergraduates, once again living within the Bristol locality, whilst phase four (due to be implemented in 2014) would impede parking for 3rd year undergraduates.

The structure of the proposal itself raises a number of questions; ‘What will be done with the space currently being used for parking?’; ‘Will bus services be improved to account for the increased number of commuters’ and

What is the perfect body?

Physical image has become a key area of life, particularly for women, but is the pressure to ‘look good’ becoming too much? >> 8

WESTWORLD

Sophie Seddon dishes the dirt on the 2013 Oscar nominations

>> 20

Sport:

Growth of Sport in the UK post-Olympics

Will the Olympics have a lasting effect on sports participation?

>> 22

Arts, Culture, Music & Film Supplement

2

News

WesternEye February 2013

News

Continued from page 1 ‘What are the benefits of the proposal?’ WesternEye spoke to a number of students who are both drivers and frequent bus users, in order to gauge their opinions.

When asked if they thought the existing bus service would be able to handle the enlarged number of travellers, Zoe Cotton, a third year Health and Social Care student remarked “If the service were to stay as it is then no, I don’t believe it can handle the increase in users which will occur. At peak times buses are full, if not overcrowded, and if parking provision for students was withdrawn then there are obviously going to be more people needing to use the buses at peak times”.

Whilst Jacob Read, a UWE alumni student and current user of the Wessex Red service commented “Not in the slightest. The Wessex Red buses are already the most unreliable bus service I’ve ever used, especially at peak times, where it is not only possible but likely that a bus will not show up, let alone be on time”.

Tara Moxey, a student driver studying Business with Accounting and Finance declared “I would not be happy about being forced to use the Wessex Red service due to lack of

parking on campus as I believe that as the University is based out of the city centre they should be obliged to provide parking. I do not trust the buses to run on time due to stories I have heard, I have also heard several stories about the buses being full and driving past people waiting”.

There would be a number of categories that (as long as sufficient evidence is provided) would be exempt from the restrictions, including registered blue badge holders; those with reduced or restricted mobility; those who might have caring responsibilities (e.g. children up to the age of 11 that who may need to be picked up after work); anyone with regular appointments (health or business related) and finally, shifted staff who start work before 8:30 or finish after 20:00. However, a number of current drivers would not fit into these categories. Will reducing the fee for bus journeys within 3km of Frenchay and inter-campus carpooling be enough change to aide them in the transitions?

Jacob Read believes “The £1 flat rate is a brilliant idea, but the 3km range barely reaches St Matts Campus, and the city centre is around 6.5km away from Frenchay. Car-pool-

strongly considered before supporting this proposal” If the proposal does go ahead, more substantial measures may need to be taken in order to ensure that the bus service is able to handle the increased usage.

When asked what could be done to ensure a smooth transition a student who wished to remain anonymous commented “Drivers taking accountability for their timing, i.e. leaving when they’re supposed to, waiting at a stop if they arrive early and not leaving until they’re meant to, and figure out which routes/times will need increased capacity/double deckers”…“The buses would be more efficient if they were able to use the double deckers during busier times, or if more people will be catching the bus as the proposal states”.

A final concern might be the potential impact upon students’ academic studies. Would a lack of parking on campus render the 24 hour library times obsolete? Or perhaps reduce participation in sports and societies due to a lack of transport?

Tara Moxey believes “It might discourage me from attending university as much as it would seem too much hassle in comparison to

driving. I regularly attend dance rehearsals which sometimes do not finish until late, which would mean I would either have to leave rehearsals early or wait around for the next bus meaning I get home even later.”

Jacob Read concluded “The proposal seems like it’s only been half thought out, with only a passing knowledge of what the students actually require to get around.

Reports on the approved UWE Stadium have stated that out of the 1000 spaces in the car park that is to be built as part of the stadium, 900 will be available for use by UWE staff and students during the day.

This would allow for the land that is now Car park 20 to be redeveloped.

The construction of the stadium is set to begin this summer and completed by the start of the season in 2015, after the current parking proposal’s completion date.

WesternEye was unable to retrieve a statement from UWE in time for publication. However, a statement will be provided and posted on the WesternEye website when available.

The full proposal can be found at http://www.uwe.ac.uk/facilities/ transport/new-proposals.shtml

WESTWORLD

For advertising information please contact

BAM on 0845 1300 667 or hello@ bamuk.com

ing is a great idea, but people will be unwilling to use communal vehicles” Whilst Zoe Cotton added “The flat fare is a good idea, as it will provide especially for those who have to pay for parking 3km away and then catch the bus. Carpooling sounds good for staff, but more difficult to monitor with students”.

Reducing parking on campus may have several environmental benefits, but will it impair other areas?

Computer Science student Khoi Nguyen observed that “The proposal would obviously reduce traffic leading up to university which is normally quite heavy in the morning. But this would also mean that Wessex Red buses would be constantly overcrowded, with passengers nearer to university most likely be unable to board the buses due to there being no space. So if you’re living on Filton Avenue, the proposal pretty much throws you right into a Catch 22”.

Zoe Cotton acknowledged that “In all likelihood, traffic will be reduced, meaning in turn the buses could run more smoothly. However, there seems to be no provision for those who need to visit campus on weekends, when bus timetables are reduced. I would want this to be

Westworld is Western Eye’s primary supplement.

We operate as a platform for creative arts students at UWE to showcase their work in print, or via audio and video on the Western Eye website or on our weekly radio show, Western Eye Radio.

If you would like us to feature your work in our November issue, please email the Westworld team at westworld@westerneye. net.

For all enquires regarding online content, contact Liam Corcoran at headofonline@westerneye.net.

Art. Craft. Comedy. Creative Writing. Dance. Digital Media. Graphic Design. Film. Music. Performance. Photography. Theatre.

WesternEye

Have you got a story?

UWE’s Student Voice <<

Editor Aminah Jagne editor@westerneye.net Assistant Editor Tiffany Francis assistanteditor@westerneye.net News Editor Danielle Scregg Sub-editor Andrew Jay news@westerneye.net Life & Style Editor Olivia Garner Sub-editor Poppy Clark lifeandstyle@westerneye.net

Comment Editor Jack Brown Sub-editor Chloe Anderson-Dixon comment@westerneye.net Sport Editor Matthew Vicker Sub-editor Alice Lloyd sport@westerneye.net Arts & Entertainment Editor Georgia Boss Johnson entertainment@westerneye.net Head of Online Editor Liam Corcoran headofonline@westerneye.net

Graphic Designers Monica Giunchi Myrna D’Ambrosio design@westerneye.net Proofreaders Angela Atkinson Maryam Bham Amy Haines Christian Öhman Alexander Walls Fran Weatherall

The team at Western Eye are always looking for enthusiastic and self motivated individuals to help contribute towards the running of the newspaper and it’s online counterpart.

If you have an idea, please forward it to the editor at editor@westerneye.net

Western Eye is published by University of the West of England Students’ Union, 4th Floor F Block, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol. BS16 1QY. Some elements of this newspaper are distributed under a Creative Commons License; please get in contact for more details. WesternEye is printed by Mortons Ltd, Lincolnshire. We believe in making WesternEye as accessible as possible. You can access this publication in PDF format at www.westerneye.net. If you require a different format please get in touch with the Editor (below).

The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent that of UWESU. We are all human, and sometimes we make mistakes; any problems please contact the Editor at editor@westerneye.net.

News 3

WesternEye February 2013

Should students take smart drugs? > Alex Firth reviews the debate that took place at the Watershed regarding the ‘smart drugs’ some students use to increase concentration.

Alex Firth news@westerneye.net

W

hether students should take ‘smart drugs’ or ‘cognitive enhancement’ drugs is a question of immense importance, not only to the educational institutions of today, but also of course to the thousands of people across the country who would be most affected: the students.

The debate held on the 9th January at The Watershed tackled this very issue. Headed by a panel of experts in a format resembling ‘Question Time’, the debate included Dr Chris Alford (Professor of Applied Psychology, UWE), Michael Hauskeller (Exeter University), Alex McKeown (Bioethics Graduate, UoB), Sylvie Allouche (Professor, UoB), Ruud ter Meulen (Professor of Ethics in Medicine, UoB) and Pete Moore (author and futurist).

One issue was that despite the clearly very competent minds present, the debate suffered from a dis-

tinct lack of current students, arguably the most prominent stake in the whole field. Beginning with a short introduction from Ben Johnson (Graphic Science Ltd.) who explained the basic outline of ‘smart drugs’ and what their potential was, there followed a quick poll amongst the audience of whether they personally would take ‘smart drugs’ if they were available right now.

Displaying mixed results, it was clear any potential shortcomings created by a non-diverse audience would fail to pose a serious issue, as a wide range of beliefs and viewpoints clearly existed amongst the audience, and of course the panel members too.

The debate featured three main arguments: the advocation of student use of smart drugs, the ideas against student use of smart drugs, and finally the argument that in their current state they fail to pose a real

issue, meaning the argument is only hypothetical.

It was highlighted that a large ‘pro-enhancement’ community that supported the use of ‘smart drugs’ existed in the UK. With reference to Timothy Leary and his pioneering sale of ‘consciousness expansion’ in the 1960s, it was argued that the use of such drugs are viewed as part of evolution and the natural progression of humanity.

Audience members also raised ideas that if an anti-smart drug policy was fully enforced by the government in the UK, there would be a danger that in comparison to other countries advocating the use of them, our workforce and productivity would decline in the overall world standing.

This viewpoint of the argument ran throughout the debate but was, however, slightly overshadowed by a stronger case against the student use of ‘smart drugs’. The panel members against the idea sighted many studies in which they have proved to be

harmful, notably the idea that they raise dopamine levels in the brain leading to serious addiction issues.

One particular study involving the increased friendly fire deaths amongst pilots in the army that took Modafinil and suffered severe cases of paranoia. This led on to a very interesting aspect of the debate, that it wasn’t smart drugs that should be tackled but our education system on the whole: the idea that a great shift was necessary from the essentially Victorian model of education Britain still exercises – a model which, in an increasingly distracting and information filled world, is becoming more and more obsolete.

Sylvie Allouche (Professor, UoB) made the very clever connection of questioning the link between smart drugs and smart phones, bringing to mind the idea that as students find it increasingly harder to focus, anaesthetising them with ‘smart drugs’ just to make it through education is the wrong direction to be heading in.

Finally, it was decided that whatever the argument, the fact remains that UWE and UoB have been neglecting a clear policy regarding ‘smart drugs’ and their use, which needs to be rectified. Also despite the view held amongst some people present that ‘smart drugs’ don’t pose the same kind of threat as we imagine in their current state, it was agreed that even in a hypothetical sense the issue remained prominent.

It was also then decided that some form of government ban would simply be ineffective and instead, as the issue increases, the best form of pre-

vention would be some form of political boycott backed by the students. It was then outlined that calling them ‘cognitive enhancement’ drugs is misleading, because far from enhancing your brain and making you smarter, you simply gain a higher capacity to focus. This means your imagination and creativity is often dulled, leaving you essentially as a simple task performer.

The debate ended with the argument thoroughly discussed, but of course not completely decided. The question still remains now whether ‘smart drugs’ for students are a good idea as part of the natural progres-

Anders Sandberg sion of humanity, or if they are leading to something potentially a little more sinister.

This sort of policy allowing the use of ‘smart drugs’ may only be advocating the notion of an anaesthetised population, one that would begin to almost rely on the drugs simply to be at the same cognitive level as everyone else in this brave new world we are entering.

UWE Stadium gets the go ahead, but at what cost?

Approved plans for a new Sainsbury’s store will provide funding for the new UWE Stadium, but how will this affect local businesses?

Aminah Jagne news@westerneye.net Following what has been a lengthy process and despite concerns surrounding Bristol Rovers’ current league position (they are currently sitting at the bottom of league two), plans to build a new stadium for the Bristol Rover’s Football Club (BRFC) in collaboration with UWE look set to go ahead (subject to Secretary of State sign off).

On the evening of Wednesday, January 17th, councillors met and approved the building of a large Sainsbury’s supermarket on the grounds of the current stadium. The sale of this land to the supermarket chain was required in order to fund the building of the new stadium, which will seat over 20,000 and sit behind the current UWE Frenchay Campus.

Geograph

UWE Vice-Chancellor Steve West assures that “The benefits to our students and the local community will be immeasurable as the stadium will mean access to excellent sporting and community facilities.”

Apart from a stadium ground, the development will include a retail unit shop and a sports and bar club, as well as an onsite gym available for use by both the public and students.

Much of the stadium’s car park will be open to both UWE staff and students, and the university’s rugby and football varsity matches will be take place on the grounds. Furthermore, the stadium will create 270 jobs, with opportunities for students to undertake casual or part-time work as well as internships related to the

club’s operation.

However, despite the fact that it will be a mix-use development (encompassing housing and a retirement home), the act of erecting a new Sainsbury’s on the old memorial ground (which as mentioned previously is required to fund the new stadium) has raised numerous concerns.

An independent survey conducted by property adviser GVA revealed that Gloucester Road, a popular residential area for students that boasts a large variety of independent stores could lose up to 19% of its turnover by 2017, potentially resulting in a number of shops closing down.

Although it has been suggested that the free parking at the Sainsbury’s site will encourage more people to shop at Gloucester Road, the report by GVA indicates that there is indeed “The potential for linked trips between the store an Gloucester Road to occur”, however “The volume of these trips is likely to be constrained by the walking distances involved, the nature and character of the route and the wide product offer of the propose Sainsbury’s”.

Speaking about the developments impact upon local stores, Gus Hoyt, Cabinet Member for Food, Neighbourhoods and Communities declared: We must protect our valuable local shops if we are to thrive and survive as a city. Gloucester road is one

of the prime examples of a diverse high-street that is the life-blood of our independent traders. It is also one of the last streets in Bristol where there is a choice of grocers - a mega Sainsbury close by could destroy this precious resource, making local food even harder to come by.

In addition to this, the already often congested route from UWE Frenchay Campus towards Horfield could see a rise in traffic.

Considering the advantages that the stadium will bring to the university, the Social Secretary of UWE’s Rugby club commented: I think the stadium would be beneficial to UWE, not only in attracting sporting prowess, but a great number of prospective students due to greater recognition of the university.

Therefore I would welcome the development of the stadium to benefit UWE in the long run both on and off the sports pitches.

Whilst UWE Business Studies student and co-founder of Continuous Capital (www.facebook.com/ ContinuousCapital) Alexander Walls responded: I can appreciate the benefits that will arise from the new facilities, especially the sporting opportunities and new jobs that will be created, but I just can’t see why this new development is actually needed. The Sainsbury’s on Gloucester Road will do damage to the independent shops, which, due to their small na-

ture, employ a far greater number of people per square meter than bigger and more ‘efficient’ businesses, and to suggest that people will park in Sainsbury’s and walk the 30 minutes round trip to get to the shops seems unrealistic to me.

Not only will the new UWE developments destroy a large area of natural land at a time when environmental damage is at an all-time high, the £40 million used to build it, in my opinion, could be spent on far more important issues such as making higher education more accessible by not charging £9000 per year, the same amount as Oxford and Cambridge. The new developments will bring advantages, but at a huge opportunity cost to everything else that could have been done in its place, and the further cost to the environment and small businesses. I don’t think we have our priorities right here, and UWEs efforts at being sustainable are continually dwindling.

The new stadium will no doubt bring about advantages to the University, students and the surrounding community, but will this be to the detriment of the environment and independent shops surrounding the new Sainsbury’s? Perhaps it will be up to UWE and the BRFC to monitor and offset the potential side-effects of their joint venture in order to ensure that, whilst students reap the benefits, the local economy is not left to flounder.

4

News

WesternEye February 2013

Ferguson’s seven wishes for 2013

> Mayor, George Ferguson recently planned his wishes for the year ahead.

Andrew Jay

Carmen Rusu news@westerneye.net

B

ristol’s newly elected Mayor, George Ferguson, began 2013 by listing seven wishes he has for the city. His wishes cover public transport, job opportunities, policing, a diverse Cabinet along with making Bristol an internationally recognised welcoming city.

Public transport has been an issue for many students at UWE. Even with the help of the Wessex Red buses, the congestion on the roads at rush hour has meant that most of us have been late to lectures through no fault of our own. The Mayor hopes to reach an agreement with the bus companies in order to achieve a better and more affordable bus service.

Students spend approximately £3.80 per day for bus travel which includes a 20 pence reduction against the adult rate. In London, students are subsidised by 30 percent off the adult rate making a day bus pass cost £3.08. First travel have announced that the bus tickets have increased in price since December 30th, 2012, with between five to 25 pence per single/return journeys.

“

George Ferguson would like universities and students to work

I think he’s mainly going to get communication working between people to achieve his aims

closely with industries in order to create a high skill economy. He has vowed to bring new opportunities, connecting investors and businesses of all sizes to Bristol.

Unemployment in Bristol, according to the City Council, has increased from 4.6 percent in 2007 to 7.9 percent in 2011. With weak prospects of growth for 2013, this is not set to decrease. This leaves the 24,700 students in Bristol competing for an ever decreasing number of jobs.

The Mayor would like Bristol to become a more caring, welcoming and healthy city. UWE student, Beatrice Ubani agrees with this wish and said: “I very much hope that it will come true”.

Providing affordable houses to rent (and buy) is also on the Mayor’s wish list. Prices for a room in a shared house on Gloucester Road costs approximately £400 per month. This is similar to the cost of student accommodation on Frenchay campus which is in the region of £1900 per term.

Sue Mountstevens was elected by the Bristol public to take the position as police and crime commissioner last year. The police.uk website provides information about local crime, policing and criminal justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It

states that the level of crime in Bristol is at around 100/1000 citizens.

This is higher in comparison to the average in similar cities. The Mayor will be working closely with Mountstevens to make Bristol a safer, more welcoming and cleaner city.

The Big Green Week in Bristol is a UK annual festival of environmental ideas, art and culture. Last year it

“

There is already a great sense of community in Bristol

attracted more than 40,000 people and 2013 is estimated to be the biggest to date. The Mayor has mentioned it in his wish list, saying: ‘The

community fringe event attracts the largest audience during the Festival, we want to challenge event organisers to go that extra mile in putting on activities that are not just thought provoking, but which are also engaging and fun.’

George Ferguson wishes to make Sundays special days. In his wishes published in the Bristol post he said: “I would like to see the streets animated by children playing, pedestrians, considerate cyclists and rollerbladers, market stalls and all forms of artistic and family activity.”

Sarah Sandbrook, a UWE student, sees it as a great idea, she said: “There is already a great sense of community in Bristol, but this plan would bring people of all ages together and be more active.”

Another UWE student, Anna Sanders, said: “Well, George has got his work cut out! I like the no cars Sundays idea, not sure where he means though and it might be difficult to implement that without traffic chaos! I think he’s mainly going to get communication working between people to achieve his aims.”

News 5

WesternEye February 2013

Council aims to tackle homelessness epidemic > Homelessness is estimated to increase due to benefit cut backs, Sean Vickers reports.

Sean Vickers news@westerneye.net

I

n a recently commissioned plan adopted by Cabinet, Bristol city Council have announced that issues concerning homelessness are expected to increase substantially due to welfare benefit reforms and the lack of affordable housing in Bristol.

The plan states that last year 525 clients were placed into supported accommodation, which it expects to increase to around 720 per year.

However, Bristol Mayor George Ferguson expressed his commitment to the issue, saying: “Tackling homelessness and rough sleeping will be key priorities in the next three to four years and I am determined to build on the work which has been done to date and find more effective ways of helping people at risk of homelessness, or who have become homeless, to turn their lives around”.

Lower and floating support services are being commissioned throughout 2013 with a primary focus on getting people off the streets, and then keeping them off the streets. As more and more people are finding themselves homeless due to circumstances beyond their control, Bristol city Council are focused on getting these people into supported accommodation as quickly as possible.

Mr Ferguson underlined his commitment by announcing that he had made a decision to approve an extension to the contract currently held by St Mungo’s to run the Compass Centre in Stokes Croft, for a further 18 months.

St Mungo’s, who play a huge role in Bristol’s fight against homelessness have raised £250.000 over three years to deliver a ‘No Second Night Out’ service, which ensures that anyone who finds themselves without a bed for the night are given a temporary ‘crash pad’, or camp bed, and then referred to the Council immediately the following day.

The last St Mungo’s ‘hot spot count’ of people sleeping rough in the town centre was ten, which makes such policies particularly important in the winter. If the temperature is zero degrees or below for three consecutive nights, SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) is initiated and all people sleeping rough are offered a camp bed until the temperature rises.

When asked about any advice for students at UWE who might find themselves in a similar situation, a manager, who wished to remain nameless at the Salvation Army homeless shelter said: “One of our main priorities with young clients is to help establish contact with their family. However, this is not always possible, and in fact is sometimes the cause of the problem. In these circumstances it is important to understand that there is always somebody there to help, especially if you are young.”

The commissioning plan emphasized on its priority to help young homeless people after finding that nearly two thirds of residents in supported accommodation are under 25 and half are aged 16-21.

The plan said that the key challenge will be to meet future demand for these services within the resources that are available.

Changes to welfare benefits and a shortage of affordable homes in the City are likely to increase the need for help to prevent homelessness.

At the same time, the funding for homelessness support services is expected to be reduced by 20 percent by 2014.

Speaking about cuts and the availability of accommodation for homeless people, Richard Wadsworth, Homelessness Policy Officer for Bristol city Council said: “It is getting more difficult. There is still a reasonable supply but it

Cycle Safety

> The importance of cycle safety.

Zoe Hatziantoniou news@westerneye.net

I

n 2008 Greater Bristol was selected as England’s first cycling city, receiving an investment of 11 million from the Department for Transport for the transformation of cycling throughout the city. However, as the number of cyclists increase, so have the concerns regarding the safety of individuals and the security of their bicycles.

The most recent bicycle theft took place on the 14th January in Bridgeyate. Thieves broke into a house on Bath Road and also escaped with

jewellery and other valuable items.

There have also been various other incidents of bicycle theft at UWE. The worst cases of theft took place on the 13th October, 2009 from various locations across UWE. It was noted that at least seven bicycles were missing and perhaps more.

The advice that has been provided by the University of Bristol Estates Office Transport Plan aims to ensure the safety and security of individuals and their bicycles. This advice includes: appropriate training, ensur-

Amy Rance has become more difficult with the benefit reforms. It’s become harder to place larger families, as there is not much accommodation available larger than 4 beds, which is the maximum that housing benefit will pay for. More people are becoming homeless especially those staying in private tenancies. The demands for private rented property from tenants priced out of the housing market mean landlords see no reason to drop rent prices, making the property more unaffordable to those relying on benefits.”

The commissioning plan pointed out that a number of issues relating to the causes of homelessness were being addressed and that a range of social and practical skills were a necessary contributor to the prevention of homelessness. These include: - money management skills

- access to work, education or training - recovery from addiction - recovery from mental illness - developing more constructive lifestyles - improving literacy skills - building social networks and positive relationships - reducing offending behavior - physical and emotional health and well-being Those people who are moved from supported accommodation into a more permanent fixture are being offered floating support services in their homes. This enables them to develop the skills necessary to ensure that they are able to independently sustain their tenancy into the future. This has been named a ‘pathways’ approach, in which homeless people move step by-

step through the pathway towards independence.

However, the commissioning plan claims that this strategy is not working very well. HSR records show that a check of the latest known whereabouts of all those who left supported accommodation in 20102011 indicated that in March 2012, 22 percent were back living in a high level support hostel or in lower level supported accommodation.

The plan summarized its general objective by saying: ‘Effective work to prevent homelessness will often involve taking a holistic approach to enable clients to change their lives.

For example by enabling changes in behaviors and emotions, enabling clients to establish and maintain positive relationships, reduce drug and alcohol use and feel less depressed, isolated and fearful.’

ing that helmets are properly worn, being seen and heard at all times when cycling, being alert as well as knowing one’s route. Even though it is legal to cycle without a helmet, it is advisable to always wear one.

In 2009 the Avon and Somerset Police Neighborhood Team were at the Avon Valley Railway Station offering to security-mark bicycles. They were also providing information to cyclists. Even though the advice they offered may be considered outdated, it is relevant and outlines that it is sensible to: invest in a high quality lock, lock their bicycles to an anchor plate in a locked shed while not in use or to lock the bicycle to an immovable object such as a lamp post and ensure that the lock secures the wheel as well as the frame. Cyclists should also register the bicycle with www.immobilise.com. This could prove beneficial since bicycle theft is considered a severe problem on

Frenchay Campus.

Research has identified that since cyclists are increasing in numbers a bicycle is stolen every 65 seconds.

On the 3rd January, 2013 Avon and Somerset Police published advice aimed at the safety of young people as well as for the security of their bicycles. It advises that bicycles should be equipped with lights that are essential once dusk has fallen. A lack of lighting is illegal and will gain cyclists a fixed penalty notice (a fine). A cyclist should also be equipped with reflectors and fluorescent clothing, allowing the cyclist to be seen by other cyclists and vehicles.

It is also important for cyclists to register their bicycles on bikeregister.com. This is because once registered, if a bicycle is stolen, it is more likely that it will be traced. This registration will also act as a method of preventing the theft of bicycles.

Most importantly, the bicycle should be locked at all times preferably in a locked garage or a shed out of view. If possible, it should be parked in the sight of a CCTV camera and it is desirable to lock it in a specific bike park. Cyclists should avoid locking bicycles in the same place on a regular basis to prevent the possibility of the bicycle being stolen.

It is also advisable for owners to take a photograph of their bicycle and write a clear description of it for their own records.

If this advice is followed, cyclists should be able to cycle safely and maintain their bicycles securely. This could result in Bristol maintaining its reputation as a cycling city, attracting other cyclists to take on this enjoyable activity.

The best websites for cycling equipment include: www.britishcycling.org.uk or www.sustrans.org.uk.

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WesternEye February 2013

Comment 7

Comment

Will the restriction of Guns take the crime rate down in America, or will it cause more problems?

Phillip Mansell and Huw Armstrong consider the debate from all sides.

FOR

AGAINST

> One student analyses the effects of gun legislation on America in the aftermath of Sandy Hook.

>One student takes a different approach to the gun restrictions put in place in America.

Philip Mansell

Huw Armstrong

comment@westerneye.net

comment@westerneye.net

O

n the morning of December 14th 2012, Newtown, Connecticut was victim to a terrible tragedy. Lone gunman Adam Lanza opened fire at Sandy Hook elementary school, shooting and killing twenty-six victims, before taking his own life. Twenty of those victims were children; all aged either six or seven.

Six members of staff were also killed, and before travelling to the school, Adam Lanza also shot and killed his Mother at their family home.

Sandy Hook is the second worst school shooting in US history.

As a result of this shooting, the debate surrounding America’s gun laws has intensified.

It is a consistent debate in American politics; however it has largely been over-looked in recent years. Pro-gun groups, such as the National Rifle Association argue that to restrict gun ownership is to break with the Second Amendment, a crucial part of the American constitution. The Second Amendment states that ‘the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed’.

The NRA also believes that guns make America safer. In fact the Vice-President of the NRA, Wayne La Pierre, announced in a press conference responding to the events of Sandy Hook, that he believed there should be armed guards outside every American school. He argued that this would deter shooters from entering a place of education. He is, of course, in no way suggesting this so that his organisation would sell more rifles. The frightening thing is that since the shooting, rifle ownership has increased.

The New York Times reported that the number of background checks for firearm purchases in December was an increase of 58% on the same period in 2011. 2.2 million checks were made this December.

This would suggest a large support of the 2nd Amendment among the American people.

However, gun ownership could also be seen as a necessity in American life. If every household in your town or village has a gun,it is understandable that you yourself would want one for protection. La Pierre said in support of his idea to employ armed guards at every school that the only way to stop a ‘bad guy’ with a gun is to have a ‘good guy’ with a gun and this idea obviously resonates in American culture. However, remove guns from the scenario and it becomes an altogether safer situation.

According to current affairs website Slate. com, there have been over 1,000 gun deaths in the US since Newtown. This number seems extraordinary, but it is not a particularly high number in the American context. On his CNN show, Piers Morgan recently stated that

11,000 people have been killed by guns in the US in the last year. This show featured a debate between Morgan, who advocates greater gun restriction, and Alex Jones, a right-wing radio host, who is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. The debate was farcical, with Jones ranting at Morgan and imitating his English accent. The show gained a great amount of publicity, which I feel is worrying, as neither of these men really represents the mainstream supporters of either side.

Morgan, being British, immediately has his motives questioned, and comes across as preachy and snooty, whilst Jones is more renowned for his espousal that tyrannical governments want to take away American firearms so that the people are defenceless, heralding in a New World Order.

Jones has a huge fan base, but is basically a conspiracy theorist. The more divisive and crazy the characters involved in the American gun law debate, the easier it is to brush things under the carpet and leave the staKevin Dooley tus quo in place.

There has, however, been good news in recent days. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on January 15th, which is regarded by some as the toughest gun laws in the US. This includes re-registering all weapons in the state and the reduction of the number of cartridges allowed in a gun from ten to seven. President Obama and Vice President Biden announced their suggestions for new gun law the following day. The ideas include a universal background check for anyone buying a gun and a restoration of a ban of military-style weapons, as well as a ten round limit on magazines.

Obama ended his accompanying speech with a plea ‘to do the right thing’, and avoid tragedies comparable to Virginia Tech College, Columbine High School, and Sandy Hook Elementary School. The battle for new gun legislation in Congress will be long and fiercely contested, but there is hope yet.

F

ew public policy debates have been as dominated by emotion and misinformation as the one of gun control. Given the typically biased and incomplete information given out by liberal media, it’s not surprising that most people in the United Kingdom are against guns. In America, the Liberals are calling for more gun restrictions, as well as bans on certain types of guns altogether.

Banning guns is not only unconstitutional in the United States, but it is fundamentally wrong.

It is hard to conceive that banning all guns outright would decrease the rate of gun crime, as a black market for guns would certainly emerge, much like the market for drugs.

The Second Amendment guarantees gun ownership in the United States.

In comparison, laws and restrictions in the United Kingdom are designed to make acquiring a gun harder than our US counterparts; but gun crime still exists. The murder of Rhys Jones in Liverpool in 2007 shows that the illicit black market for guns is a problem across the world; it is not isolated in America.

In 1996, Britain faced the tragedy of the Dumblane massacre, where sixteen children were gunned down whilst at school. In continental Europe, Anders Breivik massacred sixty-nine people. Gun crime knows no boundaries. It can occur anywhere – regardless of what laws and regulations are in place.

When Adam Lanza fatally shot twenty elementary school children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, I was as disgusted and distraught as everyone else. But, there wasn’t one moment in which I thought about gun restrictions.

People are quick to jump on their moral high horse about the morality and danger of guns when such incidences occur.

The National Rifle Association (NRA), America’s most powerful lobbying group, has 4.3 million members. Yet, there are not 4.3 mil-

lion mass shootings throughout America. Gun ownership can be safe and enjoyable in the right hands.

In America, students are more likely to be beaten to death in school than to be shot by an ‘Adam Lanza’.

“

Isn’t it better to have one and not need it than need it and not have one

The argument of self-defence is probably the most coherent for gun ownership. Being able to protect yourself, or your family, from threatening situations is vital.

What if someone broke into your home and threatened you, or your family? Or what about a woman who was protecting herself from a rapist? How else would you stop this senseless person from harm? By having a gun, you take the power away from the intruder. Isn’t it better to have one and not need it than need it and not have one? There is nothing wrong with having a gun in your home.

In 1999, Tony Martin, a farmer from Norfolk, shot and killed a burglar breaking into his home. There was much sympathy for Martin, for the right to protect what is yours. David Cameron, in October last year described burglary as a crime of violence, and set out plans to give homeowners more rights against intruders who break into their homes. Your home is your castle, and it’s only right that you can protect it.

I am sympathetic to the idea of armed selfdefense, because it does often work, and because guns in America will remain no matter what. Maybe this is tragic, but it is also reality. Empirically true, is that the great majority of America’s law-abiding gun owners have not created chaos in the country.

The ideology of gun ownership doesn’t appeal to me, but people should be allowed to legally own guns. There seems to be no substantial evidence to suggest that guns should be completely outlawed.

8

Comment

WesternEye February 2013

Valentine’s Day: What to do at UWE > Why Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be a complete blow-out.

Emma Ryan comment@westerneye.net

Martin J-N

V

alentine’s Day has always caused conflict, there’s no question of that, but surprisingly not between couples and singletons. Some people just hate it, no matter how loved up they may be. One of my best friends recently got engaged but is still determined to shun the day because ‘it’s too expensive’ and ‘I don’t need a day to

express my love.’ Yawn.

As if any couple routinely showers each other with gifts and exchange personalised Moonpig cards. Let’s just for once, embrace it shall we?

You certainly don’t have to be in a relationship either. Here are a couple of suggestions of what to do in Bristol on Valentine’s Day - on a student budget of course.

At-Bristol are opening after-hours for a ‘heart-stopping’ evening of science attractions and budget food; because nothing says romance like an evening sat inside a mechanical womb with a loved one. In all seriousness though, it’s only £12 for a look around -with no annoying kids hogging all the good stuff- and a two course meal. Aalthough if you want a Valentines that is‘out of this world’ the planetarium is an extra £1. If you’re single, perhaps give

the traffic light disco a miss and go as a group, which will entitle you to extra discount.

Ok, so maybe after the chocolates and Prosecco, £12 is a lot.

Here’s a suggestion, go for a walk?

But seriously, Bristol is beautiful.

Pop to The Downs or Ashton Court with a homemade picnic and a blanket and explore what the city has to offer. No money necessary.

However, what if you’re one of those students that seem irritatingly well off? You know the ones, they always seem to get a bursary then spend it on shoes rather than food or the heating bill. Well in that case, why not treat your other half or a few friends to a meal at one of Bristol’s fine-dining restaurants.

The Glassboat Restaurant on Welsh Back offers quality food and a stunning view for £50 per person.

Cheaper restaurants are available but you get free cheese and it’s a boat.

For a less overdraft enhancing option, try Marco’s Olive Branch Restaurant on Victoria Street. Or if you just like the idea of boats, why not try an alternative Valentines night at Thekla with the Darwin Deez? Tickets start from £12 and are available on Thekla’s website.

Still not convinced? Shut the newspaper in disgust at the mere mention of £50? There are negatives to the day of course; £2.50 for a card or the feeling that everyone in the world is in a relationship but you. If you are in a relationship it can be expensive, especially being a student and being so soon after Christmas. It doesn’t have to be though. We don’t have to embrace the ‘Hallmark’ idea of the day

- weekends away to Paris aren’t a necessity. Also, there’s no point in feeling glum if you’re not in a relationship, you could go to the At-Bristol exploratory instead! I’m totally sold on this idea.

I’m currently studying a Masters so I have 3 years of student Valentine’s Day experiences, and honestly the best one I’ve had was when I was single and had no money.

My flatmates and I stayed in and played Super Smash Bros and whoever won got a Love Heart, it was great.

Why not use this day as a well needed distraction from coursework and revision, and concentrate on enjoying it with those you love.

Whether it be friends, a partner or Hugh Jackman.

What is the ‘perfect’ body? > Physical image has become a key area of life, particularly for women, but is the pressure to ‘look good’ becoming too much?

Chloe Anderson-Dixon comment@westerneye.net

T

he perception of body image has been an increasing debate amongst the public and the media for the past several decades, in particular the media’s perception of what is the perfect body.

But the question is, what is the ‘perfect’ body?

In the past 100 years, female models have been getting thinner and thinner. A century ago, the ideal body shape was a fleshy and full-figured woman. However, whilst models are getting thinner, more and more women and young girls are feeling self-conscious and unhappy with their own body shapes.

What most people do not realise is that models spend the majority of their days engaged in physical activities to manipulate and sculpt their bodies into the high-maintenance image we see in fashion magazines. Even so, photographers still always modify and enhance the model’s body in some way, to make it just that little bit more ‘perfect’.

Not even models look like their photographs.

The eye of the media has led to objectifying all of us. When we walk down the street, we automatically think how we appear to others. This is mostly due to pages in magazines which criticize a celebrity’s image and weight, such as ‘circle of shame’ in Heat when we see celebrities out and about and not looking their best. This has led to us feeling self-conscious and humiliated, and studies have shown that looking at a fashion magazine

for just three minutes can lower the self-esteem of over 80% of women.

Headlines such as ’10 Ways to A Beautiful Body’ with an image of a 5ft6, tanned, beautiful size 4 model next to it looking happy and completely flawless is enough to make anyone feel like heading to the gym and skipping lunch. The media has manipulated us into thinking that this is what a beautiful body is, and nothing else can ever compare to it. The reality is that these ‘perfect’ images to which we aspire are more often than not digitally enhanced and manipulated before final production. We are manipulated by the media to think that being thin or slender brings health, happiness and success.

However, misconceptions such as these can have serious consequences. Images like these lead to unhealthy dieting, taking drugs to lose weight, depression and most commonly eating disorders. A common misconception about eating disorders is that they stem from the desire to look more beautiful. However an eating disorder is a complex mental illness which arises out of severely low self-esteem and a negative view of the way the body looks.

Overall, we can see how the media objectifies and manipulates the images of the ‘perfect’ body, which, realistically, is unachievable when not even the models themselves in the photographs look like this in everyday life. The 2012 Olympics has however, brought toned and healthy looking women back to our

front pages. The Olympics put pressure on the mainstream media to change the way they show women.

The image of Jessica Ennis looking curvy, yet toned has created an entirely new image in which we call beautiful; healthy. We can see the way that Jessica has achieved her athletic form, through healthy and

dollsinc

sensible eating with regular exercise. We need to see images such as these as more prominent features in fashion magazines and advertisements, as this shows a much more realistic path in which we can achieve body confidence and happiness within ourselves.

UWE is hosting its own Body Im-

age Programme in which it explores issues such as these, helping to improve body image and reduce concerns about weight and eating behaviours. This programme begins on the 12th February on Frenchay Campus. Visit the events calendar online for more information.

Comment 9

WesternEye February 2013

Shark Fin Soup: ‘Fink’ Again

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> One student exposes the cruel torture of the shark fin trade, and the detrimental effects it has on our environment.

Hannah Owen comment@westerneye.net

Associated Press Fox News

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our hundred million years of evolution have crafted the enigmatic sharks that we know today. These highly specialised apex predators are an embodiment of nature working to biological perfection.

75 million sharks are killed each year by the process of ‘finning’. Typically a shark is caught, pulled aboard a boat and its fins are sliced off. Then still alive, its body is thrown back to sea to drown or bleed to death.

The shark fin dish is a prized delicacy in China. Steeped in cultural heritage, it is seen to symbolise wealth and success. Sales for an individual fin can reach up to £200, and depending on the size and thickness, soup prices range between £25-£90 – a heavy price to pay for a dish considered by many to be ‘bland and tasteless’.

Equivalent to opening a bottle of champagne for some and an act of

undeniable cruelty to others, the controversy of shark fin soup alone is symbolic of the cultural differences that encompass many of our world’s issues.

Gordon Ramsey revealed to the world in 2011 the extremities of the shark fin trade through his documentary ‘Shark Bait’. Upon witnessing the finning aboard a Costa Rican fishing boat he proclaimed, “without doubt the worst act of animal cruelty I’ve ever seen…what we do is for a purpose that bare[s] no relevance”.

Although in the past year there have been significant advances in the campaign against Shark Finning – such as the 566 to 47 vote in the European parliament to close a legal loophole and ban finning – a picture released by the Guardian last month has revealed that the trade is still very much alive, unlike many of the sharks. The picture showed 18,000 shark fins hidden from public view, drying out on a Hong Kong rooftop.

Originating during the Sung dynasty 1000 years ago, the dish was favored

by Chinese emperors for its rarity and apparent medicinal properties. Following China’s economic boom, the demand for shark fin soup has rapidly increased. The popularity has spread to other regions; Japan enjoys a flurry of shark fin sushi and in some countries it is even sold as cat food.

There is no scientific backing for the alleged medicinal uses of this age-old tradition. Yet, the longevity of the surrounding heritage is deep rooted and is proving hard to change, especially as the trade provides a healthy sum of money to individuals spanning a broad spectrum of professions and even countries.

NBA star Yao Ming and Jackie Chan, amongst other influential celebrities, have pledged never to eat shark fin soup in attempt to encourage movement away from the outdated tradition.

Having a diverse range of culture and heritage in our world is a wonder that we’d never willfully replace, however society is ever changing and this is just one practice that simply doesn’t run parallel with the global advances we’ve made.

We’ve learnt of the importance of biodiversity and how removing an apex predator can have detrimental affects on its environment, in this case our oceans. Let alone the waste involved of using only 5% of the shark and dumping the remaining 95%.

All who are involved are not committing an act of unprovoked evil; in many circumstances there is an apparent lack of understanding. When Gordon Ramsay showed a group of five China Town (London) restaurateurs the footage of his intimate ex-

75 million sharks are killed each year by the process of ‘finning

perience of finning, four of them were motivated to stop selling the soup and even joined his campaign by promoting the Shark Trust fund. You can follow, volunteer and campaign with The Shark Trust with an option to donate if you so desire.

The most powerful weapon that is emerging is to deem the dish as unfashionable. Without demand there’s no supply, so if you see Shark Fin Soup on the menu choose to make the fashionable unfashionable, and hopefully we won’t lose these wondrous creatures forever.

The Coalition Government: A Mid Term Review

> The Coalition has reached the half-time of their relationship, but have they achieved what they set out to do?

Jake George comment@westerneye.net

M

ay 2010 saw the ushering in of a new era in politics.

Or at least it saw the revisiting of an old one. The general election saw the Conservative Party join forces with the newer, smaller party, the Liberal Democrats, and create a hybrid leadership. This coalition government is the first of its kind for over thirty years, and two and a half years since that merger, much has developed in the social and political landscape of Britain.

The coalition has shown itself to be a catalyst of sweeping change, a beacon of stability and a charlatan, all at the same time.

The coalition’s primary aim is to reduce the budget deficit, which is the difference between government borrowing and tax revenue. Achieving that, and thus getting the total amount of debt under control, are the coalition’s biggest missions. By their rhetoric, the previous Labour government has a lot to answer for in terms of our present economic difficulties; the bank bailouts caused a massive increase in government borrowing, so now we must undergo a series of what are turning out be rather unpopular cuts.

Protests up and down the country have reminded us of people’s anxiety about their future, but if the co-

alition can prove that stable public finances will reassure and stimulate the markets – especially financial markets - that will count as a victory for both of the coalition parties. However, so far it’s not looking good for the cabinet, as they are set to miss their own budgetary targets.

For students and graduates, there are several interesting issues. Employment is on the rise, and talks are continuing about constant goal-post adjustments in the jobs market (in the 1960’s, all you needed were GCSE’S for an entry level position. Then it was A-levels.

Then a degree. A master’s degree is increasingly becoming the new prerequisite). But in an increasingly competitive jobs market, hard work is demanded by employers before young people even make it to the workplace. The news last year that less time for creativity and innovation is harming Britain’s enterprise should come as no surprise.

The outlawing of squatting under the coalition, a win for private property, will likely come as a blow to the unsheltered homeless. A student at UWE, who wished to stay anonymous, had themselves considered the outcast, bohemian method of setting up camp, rent free, in dis-

used housing stock. ‘It would be too much of a risk now.’ they said. ‘It would be nice to set up a community in one of Bristol’s abandoned corporate buildings, which is still legal, for now’. Another student suggested they might spend their last year at Uni camping in a tent, which even for Bear Grylls would be a bit ambitious.

From Theresa May’s recent tough-talk as Home Secretary, international students are being targeted by the coalition’s austerity programme. Numbers of foreign students will decrease under the new regulations, despite international students and their spending making up a substantial proportion of national income. Disabled students too, will be under more pressure because loans and grants are increasingly failing to cover essential costs like food and accommodation after specialist help. Of course, few will forget Nick Clegg’s unforgivable U-turn early on in his parties’ incumbency. That broken promise on tuition fees will hurt his party’s credibility when the next election arrives.

Coalition policies, namely those to do with welfare and the public sector, have so far been characterised by privatisation and austerity.

The coalition wants to scrap child benefit for high earners and administer the Universal Credit, a one-

The Guardian size-fits-all welfare scheme, aimed at improving internal efficiency.

Pensions, too, the once ring-fenced long term reward scheme, have recently lost their untouchable status, in an apparent dismissal of the ‘grey’ vote. Although it has been said this will work out fairer to women, some feminists have disagreed with the government’s assertion.

The Conservatives, the bigger, tougher coalition partner, are the party of independence, competition, hard work and reward. They are also the party of inheritance, private monopoly, corporate favours, and now, hypocrisy. Instead

of trying to distract the electorate with less significant issues, such as gay marriage and pasty tax, the coalition would be well advised to try some extroversion. Europe is struggling, and our leadership is struggling even more to capture a consensus on the continent. The rise of the food-bank is another reminder of a poorer society, and we’ve not even touched upon the well-underway NHS shake-up slash privatisation. The notion that ‘we’re all in this together’ points to a bitter picture that paints us as being less well off in the future.

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WesternEye February 2013

Feature 11

Feature

It’s the end of the world... as we know it

> The Mayan predictions did not come true, but do these ideas reflect on modern day issues?

Daniel Kiddle feature@westerneye.net

A

t the end of 2012 the Ancient Mayan civilisation had ‘predicted’ the end of the world. Unsurprisingly, we did not ascend to a new spiritual plain, get hit by another planet or turn into cannibalistic zombies.

Every few years there has been some sort of apocalyptic prediction, and every time nothing happens.

That isn’t to say that they are meaningless. People turn to mysticism to make sense of reality and, in the extreme, can become obsessed with an idea that seems appealing, in this case, the end of everything.

It is a new age version of Christianity yearning for a miracle to prove the presence of spirituality. It was pretty dark to think that such an idea was actually appealing to a lot of people, like a yearning for a mass suicide, ‘It’s all too much let’s end it here I am not going to get a job and the Panda is facing extinction’. The hard liners had some dangerous ideas about it, one disturbing idea centred on ‘enlightened, more intelligent’ people ascending, leaving the rest to damnation. That is, either religious fanaticism or fascism or both, I can’t make my mind up which one.

There are three types of these events: Religious; new age; and sort of technology based trans-humanism. These obsessions with an end to reality are indicative of some of the anxieties we face in society.

The psychological process that society went through in believing in this

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People turn to mysticism to make sense of reality

more recent non-apocalypse can be read as a displacement of pertinent problems we are aware of, but that are too uncomfortable to believe are happening. Another reason is that our sense of reality is continually simulated for us.

Technology has changed drastically to the point where, in the city, we are in constant contact with the media.

Many of us now carry the media with

us everywhere we go. It is a massive on-going spectacle with some positives but hugely influential in our lives and behaviour, even our political and philosophical beliefs are drastically affected, with small margins to choose from, as if you were choosing from a list of products. The apocalypse was one of these options for a belief system, picked from a collection of paranoid fantasies.

These are the really quite fascinating ways you can read emergences in our culture and society and how politicised everything really is. The news since the millennium (another non apocalyptic event) has been nothing but war, economic turmoil and natural disasters. You begin to understand why people turn to mysticism when reality is throwing that stuff at you.

The political criticism is also weak, and Lenin accurately theorised that this leads to mysticism and pornography becoming more popular.

There is a type of ‘soft’ apocalypticism, which is actually quite healthy and is the type I am experiencing.

Misanthropy is actually kinder to our society than being deluded that everything is fine. Being a left-wing undergraduate in a depoliticised world of apathy with sub-par employment prospects under a government of natural enemies is going to provoke a sense of bleakness.

Really you can’t help but press home that the apathetic depoliticised masses are sort of missing the opportunity for change by having their heads in some kind of disparate technological void. It isn’t to say that many people aren’t trying to make a difference by changing their consumption habits or giving to charity, it is just is just that it isn’t actually making any meaningful difference, so they may as well not bother wasting that money. Of course charity isn’t a bad thing to do, and does help something, but to do it and show off, as though you were some sort of twenty-first century Mother Teresa is not justified. Carbon offsetting your fourth long haul flight to Indochina on your fifth iPhone in as many years writing blogs in Starbucks on Saturdays on a tablet does not mean you have ‘done your bit’.

We need to try to sort out these sorts of environmental problems and the current status quo can’t do it. Recycling and buying from a local or ‘ethical’ source can’t do it on its own. Until the left-wing provides a solution that is new and isn’t stuck in love with the twentieth century, we are not going to make proper progress

Luke Carter on the issues; we will continue to be more isolated than we should be.

What those who believed in the apocalypse did was provide us with people that grant us some perspective, we need people out there to believe in these things and see it as enough. In the same way that don’t always need to be the person who has the good luck to feel good about

the event or, if we’re tired, that the canned laughter of an American sitcom relaxes us as if we had laughed ourselves. People liked the idea that some were preparing for the end of days, as if it is a more simple way of dealing with twenty first century challenges, such as food shortages, overpopulation and climate change. But really what we need is a change in

our system, one that provides us with a bit more hope for the longer term!

As predicted by science the apocalypse did not occur, but we shouldn’t give up on making progress and being sustainable as a species, you need only look at the breakthroughs in science recently to see what we are capable of, despite the crazy nature of the modern world.

12 Feature

WesternEye February 2013

The Power of Grimm > How Grimm’s Fairy tales shaped the world.

Tiffany Francis feature@westerneye.net ‘Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two children. The boy was called Hansel and the girl Gretel...’

Hansel and Gretel

L

ast year marked the bicentenary of the publication of Children’s and Household Tales, an eclectic, crude and witty anthology of tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in 1812. Revered by W H Auden as one of the founding works of western culture, the collection is more commonly referred to as Grimm’s Fairytales, and has since been cherished globally by young and old.

Born in the town of Hanau, Germany, the Grimm brothers developed a curiosity for folklore during their studies at the University of Marburg, which soon flourished into a lifelong dedication to the collection of German folk stories. They visited villagers and peasants, as well as middle-class friends and aristocrats in order to gather a wide selection of tales, most of which had been passed down through many generations to children at bedtime.

It is believed that the rustic appeal of these stories is rooted in the oral tradition, as the narrative would have been softly twisted in a new direction with each storyteller.

One of the most striking attributes of the tales is their bleak and

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“They appeal to our basic instincts”

barbaric display of violence in the name of education. UWE Graduate Jacob Read, who grew up on the candid Grimm tales, rather than the jolly, bubbly world of Disney believes that “The Grimm Tales are honest and brutal representations of the perils of the world, but at the same time always have an element of morality. They are cautionary tales that have lasted because they appeal to our basic instincts”.

LEENA7WhiteRabbit In celebration of the Grimm’s work, Bristol’s Tobacco Factory has been showing the New International Encounter Theatre Company’s gritty and humorous production of Hansel and Gretel, the well-loved tale of an abandoned child and his sister who find a gingerbread cottage in the middle of a deep, dark forest.

Starring Unai Lopez de Armentia as Hansel, and Stefanie Mueller as Gretel, the production not only

embraces the fierce hostility of the original tales, but also combines cultures of Spain, Switzerland, Norway and Germany in a truly European piece of theatre. The Tobacco Factory’s theatre-in-the-round was sprinkled with snow in a vibrantly Narnia-esque fashion, allowing the audience to feel wholly situated within the story.

For anyone wishing to experience the Grimm tales in their raw state,

this production was thoroughly satisfying. The acting was superb, the setting was enchanting and most importantly, the witch is burnt (not sent to prison or something awfully modern like that). If you’d like to see more Grimm-inspired theatre at the Tobacco Factory, Hiccup Theatre are performing their rendition of Rumpelstiltskin from 2-7th April.

Tickets are available at www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com.

WesternEye February 2013

Life & Style 13

Life & Style

What exactly is ‘the Bristol Pound’?

> A look at Bristol’s newly introduced currency, the ‘Bristol Pound’.

Alexander Walls lifeandstyle@westerneye.net

samantha_bell

T

he Bristol Pound was introduced last year in collaboration with Bristol Credit Union as an ‘alternative’ currency that is designed to be used alongside regular sterling.

The concept behind it has been in place for quite a while in many places, not just around the UK, but the wider world. The Totnes Pound, for example, has been growing in its usage since its inception in 2007.

When talking to people new to the concept, the most commonly asked question is: ‘What is the point?’

Without understanding or taking an interest in the dry economics behind the idea, many people struggle to immediately understand the point of such a scheme. I’m here to give a brief description of the new currency, and the benefits that it is intended to bring to the economy.

First and foremost, you cannot

spend Bristol Pounds everywhere in Bristol. Each store must first apply to be a part of the scheme, and on top of that, any business that operates outside of Bristol is unable to participate, so Tesco and other large businesses are unable to accept the currency.

The Bristol Pounds were designed with one primary objective in mind: to strengthen the local economy.

You see, in the fascinating world of economics, there exists such a thing as the multiplier effect. This is the effect that money has when it changes hands over and over again.

For example, when you buy a coffee, the coffee vendor spends the money elsewhere, strengthening each hand it passes. By having a currency that can only be spent locally, it ensures this multiplier effect can only stay in Bristol, thereby ensuring the local economy receives all the benefits.

This translates into a variety of effects that will surely excite any localist. Firstly, it encourages the sourcing of local goods and services.

More produce should be sourced locally such as meat and vegetables with less financial drain leaking to other parts of the country. This is not only better for the environment, but connects people on a local level and hopefully strengthens communities.

As most big businesses are

Body beautiful

Nina Gizzie

lifeandstyle@westerneye.net

T

his February sees the third year of the Body Beautiful campaign.

A month long campaign aimed at women of all ages, specifically those that get less than the recommended weekly amount of exercise of 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

Only 24% of women get there recommended activity compared to 37% in men according to government statistics. From this we can estimate that 76% of UWE students and staff also do not get the required amount of weekly exercise. This campaign brings UWE Students and Staff fitness classes, sports, workshops and activities over two of our campuses all free and just for women. This year we also have an addition of 3 sports that cater for those with alternate abilities, those with lack or no function in lower limbs and those

with sight impairment widening the inclusivity of our activities. This year, introduced into the campaign are the Body Beautiful Challenges, where you are required to complete a certain amount of activities from each category and completing them will win you either Bronze, Silver or Gold.

Gaining the awards gets you an Official Body Beautiful T-shirt designed by the winner of the Body Beautiful T-shirt design competition it comes printed with the award you gained.

With this month acting as a starter point we hope to encourage participation in activities on a full time basis whether through our 40+ UWESU student led sports or through the wide array of classes and sports at

unable to benefit from the scheme, this gives way to an advantage for smaller ones. It helps support and maintain our wonderful variety of independent businesses that exist around Bristol, especially along Gloucester Road. This is important to maintain diversity within society, and stop the proliferation of the ‘Clone Town’. More businesses means more consumer choice, ensuring there is no monopoly amongst them.

Talking in more economic terms, bigger businesses tend to be more ‘efficient’ (I say that with a negative tone), finding ways to pay employees less and use less of them. It also serves as a nice little promotional campaign for small businesses that accept them.

Contrary to popular belief, businesses are able to bank them, in a Bristol Credit Union account.

They can also be converted back to sterling (for a small fee to discourage businesses from doing so), and the council are starting to accept them as payment for certain taxes.

If you would like to exchange some of your sterling for Bristol Pounds and help strengthen the local economy, check their website (http://bristolpound.org/directory) for access points before going off into the (not so wide) world of localism to spend them again.

Presidents Elections Hi everyone!

A very happy New Year from your Students’ Union Presidents! Welcome back to another fun-filled term here at UWE. We hope you have all had a good break over Christmas and that all of your exams went well. There are many exciting plans being made across the board and I hope that you will all take advantage of the opportunity to get involved and enhance your student experience.

Are you graduating this year and lost for where to go from here? Wanting to do a year on placement before tackling your final year? Worrying about battling the job market in its current state? It is coming up to that time of year again when the Students’ Union Elections are fast approaching. If you fancy standing for the election then please take a look at all the positions we have available; both full-time and part-time, paid and volunteering roles. If you talk to any of the Presidents we will tell you how rewarding the experience is and how much you can gain from it. Please feel free to come and ask us any questions you have.

Campaign week will commence on the 8th March and continue until the 14th, between which dates you will all be able to vote for those who you would like to take on these privileged roles.

Nominations open on the 6th feb and close on the 28th, so if you’re considering it … Stop thinking and take action! Fill out a form, get involved and prepare to campaign for what could be the best job of your life.

Find further information here: http://www.uwesu.org/representation/elections/ We would like to wish you all the best for the term ahead and look forward to seeing those of you who are standing for election in the run-up to campaign week.

Here’s to another great term!

From your ever-faithful Presidents: Emmanuel – SU President @uwesu_president Olly – VP Education @vpeducation Louise – VP Community & Welfare @louise_gw Nina – VP Sports @vpsports Annie – VP Societies Communications @vpannabelle

Re-Freshers’ Fair ‘13 the Centre for Sport. We will monitor the amount of individuals we get in every activity and class and get feedback from each class to aim to gather how many individuals will go on and continue to increase their exercise load per week.

To get involved with this campaign simply go to www.uwesu.org/campaigns/body-beautiful where there are a number of resources for you to download, the body beautiful booklet with advice on food, healthy eating and exercise; the booklet also contains the full timetables of activities for both campuses and the achievement record card and information on how to gain them. The timetables and achievement card can also be downloaded individually. Once you have these essentials the majority of classes are run on a first come first served basis and require no technical ability, so why not get your gym clothes out and trainers on and we shall see you in February!

Annabelle Turner

lifeandstyle@westerneye.net On the 22nd January UWESU held their Re-Freshers’ Fair with many Sports, Societies and Networks present promoting their clubs and activities, and several commercial stalls handing out flyers and freebies! The event managed to grab a lot of peoples’ attention and we gained a lot of interest for sign-ups to various Sports, Societies and Networks.

This is a yearly event which is used to help increase participation and membership. It also gives those who join UWE in the January term a chance to see what we have available to students and how they can use their time to the maximum effect. We hold the country’s biggest Freshers’ Fair every September and this gives our new intake a piece of that cake, granted on a much smaller scale.

Being part of a Sport, Society or Net-

work holds great advantages both for your social life and your studies. It is a chance to meet people with similar interests and potentially gain some of the closest friends you will make whilst at university. There are many opportunities to gain coaching qualifications and hold committee positions, all of which will be invaluable to your CV! We have many course-based societies that will give you experiences that you won’t get from your lectures.

There are chances to get involved with work experience, volunteering and charity-based events.

If you are at all interested in getting involved in one of our clubs or activities, then please take a look at our website and sign yourself up. I promise you it’ll be worth it!!

Annabelle Turner VP Societies and Communications

14 Life & Style

WesternEye February 2013

How To: Cook a Valentine’s Day meal on a student budget > Is it possible with just £13.50?

Synne Vangen lifeandstyle@westerneye.net

Here is a Valentine’s Day guide to simple, student budget friendly food. Take a chance on someone, or at least start by giving these delicious recipes a try, and send your Mum a photo of you “cooking and being a grown up”.

“I’m Up For Anything” Coconut Soup Starter 2 Chopped tomato tins 300ml Vegetable stock 5cm Cream of Coconut 1 Crushed garlic clove 1 Large cubed onion 1 Tablespoon paprika

Fry the onion and garlic until golden and tender in a big pan with heated olive oil. Add all the other ingredients and blitz with a whisk. Heat and add salt and pepper until savoury satisfaction.

“Cheaters” Pan-Fried Paella 1 Large chicken breast coated in olive oil and one teaspoon paprika 2 Garlic cloves finely sliced 6 Spring onions, roughly chopped 300g Spanish paella rice, alter recipe according to preparation needed 1 Finely cut red pepper 650ml Hot vegetable stock 100g Defrosted frozen peas 50g Chopped cherry tomatoes Leave chicken to marinade for one hour with small incisions all over to ensure an even spice coverage. Then heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan, frying the chicken until golden and adding the garlic on a lower heat to also brown.

Add the red pepper and spring onions until softened, then add the rice. Slowly stir in the stock, and then simmer for 10 minutes until the rice is half cooked.

Drain and add the peas and tomatoes, heating the dish until the rice is fluffy and all ingredients are cooked. Serve with ground black pepper and poached eggs if desired.

back to the cutting board

“Marriage Material” Lime and Strawberry Ice Cream 1 Cup double cream 1 Finely grated lime zest 1 Pinch salt 1 Egg 1/8 Cup sugar One jar of any strawberry jam 1 Juiced Lime First start off with cream in a saucepan, adding the zest of the lime and the salt until thickened and bubbling. Remove briskly from the heat, adding the egg and cook over a low heat, constantly stirring until slightly thickened. Leave on the side for 2 hours. Meanwhile get your jam and add to your content in a separate bowl with the sugar and lime juice.

Transfer both mixtures into a mixing bowl, making sure it is at room temperature and freeze covered with aluminium foil. Stir every hour until served.

Approximate budget of meals depending on supermarket = £13.50 with free range chicken breast and value goods

Valentines for the single Pringle

> V-day or D-day?

Erica Toms

lifeandstyle@westerneye.net

A

comfort that love is out there, or is Valentines just a reminder that you are still single? Ignore those cat/bag lady references this February 14th, and in the words of Gloria Gaynor, you will survive.

Don’t wish to be your coupledup friends who sat and rowed in an overpriced restaurant over the fact that it only offers a “Valentines Set Menu”, this Valentines, there are countless reasons to celebrate being single and free. Being a student in Bristol makes the “single” status have countless advantages: Money: let’s face it, we’re all broke. Even if we’re not broke, we’re still not rich, and with so much demanding our coins throughout the year, another person can be a drain.

Guys: It’s the 21st Century, you don’t have to pay, but you should if you are any kind of gentleman, however you do want that new Xbox game...

Girls: Okay so material cost might be the same either way, but consider the physical and emotional

cost of waxing...

Your pals: they are amazing. They won’t be in a mood because their favourite team didn’t win; they don’t care if you smell or even if you can’t be bothered to shave your legs. Plus, there’s the added bonus of being

thepinkpeppercorn

able to sport your onesie.

Guys: Beer, pizza and films if you’re in, or pulling from a whole host of single girls out on Valentines, either way, make the most of it.

Girls: A night out with the girls having way more fun than you could

ever have with just one person, or a night in with good old Bridget Jones, the choice is yours.

Bristol: according to one recent survey, you are living in the city voted ‘best to live in’ - make a date!

Time: As the dedicated students we are, we can barely find the time to sleep, let alone make time for a relationship! Make Valentine’s Day like any other and continue to make yourself a success; work on your deadline or write that work experience application, you’ll feel better than anyone just going out for dinner in the long run!

Freedom: Any of the above. Knock yourself out. Literally, you can do whatever you want on this day, because you don’t have to think of anyone else.

If you’re still finding it hard to contemplate a “single” Valentines’ Day, remember that Valentines’ can also be awful for those in couples.

The pressure can outweigh the pleasure. Plenty of horror stories occur every year, and to help raise

awareness of this, here are a few: “My first Valentine’s Day in a couple was when I was fourteen. I bought him an awesome present and wrapped it, but the night before he turned up with a Valentines edition Toblerone and an “I’m sorry” written on the side of it. That was also my first break-up...” Anon “We had been one of those on-off couples. Finally, we were together and happy for a Valentines. We spent £250 each on Paris and jetted off for four days. We broke up when we got back.”Anon “We’d only been together three weeks, but he planned a massive Valentines. I was flattered yet suffocated. He took me to one of those posh restaurants that only serve food no one likes, and then his mum drove us to a hotel. The local Travelodge...” Anon

Happy Valentines!

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16 Life & Style

WesternEye February 2013

Alternatives to ‘Disco Pants’ > American Apparel’s Disco Pants are given a cheaper challenge.

Lauren Winney lifeandstyle@westerneye.net Fashion has recently taken a blast from the past, and the old is becoming the new need and want for fashion lovers. Taking you back to the late 70’s and early 80’s and with the iconic look of Sandy from Grease, the latest fashion craze to hit the shops are the Disco Pants.

The Disco Pants are high waisted with a zip and button. The nylon spandex material is great to suck you in, and in all the right places. It also adds great length to your legs. The good thing about the trousers is that they can be dressed up or down, and can be worn almost anywhere, except at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Although they look like that they have been spray painted onto your body, they are comfortable, warm and easy to move in. However, be careful from where you purchase your Disco Pants, as cheaper versions do not always have the same slimming, comfortable and retro effect.

The first shop to take on the Disco Pants was American Apparel, which is now a very popular, globally recognised brand. It is well known for its vintage and retro styles and selling clothes and accessories from the looks that ruled the fashion world from the 50’s right through to the

90’s. Most clothes in American Apparel are often shunned at first by mainstream high street fashion stores such as Topshop and New Look, but American Apparel always seems to be a few steps in front of the high street fashion world. Although the shop is very popular, they have a niche group of shoppers that are generally alternative and forward thinking with their fashion choices.

American Apparel shoppers were rocking the Disco Pants for a long time before other people started catching on to these new quirky trousers. They do them in a variation of colours from a dark blue to a sparkling gold.

The downfall of American Apparel however, is that the prices aren’t the cheapest, and with the Disco Pants being a whopping £74, not everyone was in a hurry to get a pair for their wardrobes.

I was put off by the price of the American Apparel Disco Pants and was on a hunt to find a cheaper version. However, due to the material and fit of the American Apparel Disco Pants, I knew it was going to be hard to find in a cheaper alternative. Friends have found second hand pairs in vintage fairs for almost

half price, however, with that kind of material it is safer to buy a new pair to get a long lasting colouring and shine to the trousers. Online fashion websites such as Missguided and BooHoo.com were soon producing Disco Pants for £15 but they looked more like leggings, with some not even having a zip or button drawing you in at the waist.

The best pair of alternatives that I have come across are from the shop BANK. Bank is a store offering shoppers selections of different designer clothing as well their own brand.

BANK’s Disco Pants come in a variation of different colours and are the exact same style as the American Apparel version. At only £30, and BANK offering 10% student discount, these Disco Pants are affordable and a cheap, cheating version of the luxury American Apparels.

If you have some left over Christmas money or want to treat yourself after a hard exam period then the American Apparel Disco Pants are definitely the best version to go for to get the desired look that Disco Pants create. However, don’t be afraid to search the cheaper high street fashion stores, and make sure you try them on and give them a trial run up and down the changing rooms as they will vary enormously. Avoid online as it is difficult to judge sizes, material and fitting from a picture.

love maegan

All the things you could eat instead of a glass or a bottle of wine > A calorific insight into your favourite Friday night drink.

Nicol Caplin lifeandstyle@westerneye.net

W

e have reached that time of year. Gym membership recruitment peaks just after the festive season, as we all struggle to do up that top button after a holiday filled with pies, pudding and plenty of mulled wine. New Year’s resolutions, to many, involve losing those last couple of pounds and once again fitting into those skinny jeans- but did you know that you might not be spending your calories wisely? Now that you’re back studying and the great social calendar takes off once again, it might be a surprise to find out just how calorific certain types of alcoholic beverages are. For the wine lovers out there here’s some perspective: the average bottle of wine contains around 750 calories. Due to the calorie content of sugar vs alcohol (4 kcals per gram vs 7 kcals per gram) the more alcoholic the wine, the more calorific. Other drinks also have hidden nutritional demons, especially if you order things on draught and cannot see any labelling information.

How better to spend these calories? How about some wholesome, nutritious food? You know, the type

of sustenance your parents brought you up on before your new life of studying and instant pot noodles (which are also stuffed full of calories and alarming levels of salt). A standard glass of dry wine with 15% alcohol has 175 calories. Below are some alternative ways to spend these calories that will have you satisfied in no time.

rob_moody

Popular alcoholic drink

Swap for

Small glass of Pinot Grigio (175 calories)

150g pot of strawberry yoghurt (159 calories) and a medium Satsuma (70g) (18 calories) Total: (177 calories)

Single vodka and regular cola (190 calories)

Medium banana (97 calories) a handful of grapes (50g) (31 calories) a serving of honeydew melon (28g) (8 calories) Total: (136 calories)

Pint of cider (260 calories)

Tomato soup (1/2 can) (108 calories) and crunchy croutons (35g) (147 calories) Total: (255 calories)

Pint of beer (230 calories)

Brown bread roll (118 calories) and slice of cheddar (113 calories) Total: (231 calories)

Bottle of wine (750 calories)

Greek feta and Tabboleh salad with lemon dressing (290g) (405 calories) and Grilled chicken breast fillet (125g) (170 calories) Strawberries (28g) (8 calories) and mini bar of dark chocolate (10g) (57 calories) Total: (640 calories)

Sources: winefolly.com, coca-cola.co.uk, waitrose.com, nutracheck.co.uk

Final Year Undergraduate Students

over

£1000 to of vouchers be won!

Scan me & complete on your mobile Respond to the National Student Survey before April 30th at:

www.uwe.ac.uk/studentexperience Complete it online before 28th February and you could win one of 15 prizes worth between £50 & £250!

18 Life & Style

WesternEye February 2013

Faking it!

> The dangers of buying fake branded make-up online.

Milenka Stevens lifeandstyle@westerneye.net Some sellers have been listing these dangerous cosmetics under descriptions claiming to be unwanted gifts, tricking the buyer into thinking it is a genuine product, (and to not appear suspicious).

Packaging is almost identical and would only be spotted by a dedicated user of the brand, with miniscule details such as incorrect fonts and colours being the only visible difference. Once opened, the contents can easily be identified as ““not the real thing”. For example, the Benefit

scripter81

H

ave you ever been tempted to buy a fake Mulberry bag online? For a fraction of the price it seems like the ideal way to keep up with ever-changing fashion – on a budget. Following such a huge success in designer clothes and accessories, it seems that the craze has now moved onto high-end make-up? However, buying counterfeit cosmetic products provides a far greater risk than just being caught out with a “fake” handbag by your friends…

Brands such as MAC and Benefit, whose products retail for around £22-£28, can seem out of reach for some – especially on a student budget. Despite having the reputation for the best make-up sold on the high street, opportunity has arisen to create imitations of the well-known cosmetics and sell them

online for what seems to be an incredible bargain, with counterfeits appearing to be discounted by at least 50%.

However, these fakes are filled with high/dangerous levels of arsenic and lead, which are extremely harmful to the human body in excess. Some consumers who have been unlucky enough to be fooled by exploiters have ended up with allergic reactions triggered by the unsafe levels of chemicals found in these fake cosmetics. These include mascaras, blushers and foundations among others. A Bad Gal mascara by Benefit sold on eBay for £3.99 contained traces of copper, mercury and cadmium, particularly harmful around the sensitive eye area. What may appear to simply be a fantastic deal can actually lead to some serious consequences.

“

‘What may appear to simply be a fantastic deal can actually lead to some rather serious consequences

Bad Gal mascara could have a sickly sweet smell and ‘gloopy’ texture and the Benefit Eye Bright pencil might be crumbly, chalky and pale.

Even someone who had not used the same product before would know that is not an acceptable quality from a well-respected brand like Benefit.

Those who have created a business out of this highly risky market, usually found on websites such as eBay and Amazon, have managed to earn thousands of pounds, and are indifferent to the harmful effects it can cause on the human skin. One lady, who sold counterfeit MAC make-up from her home, managed to sell £40,000 worth of products before being caught by Trading Standard investigators, who found her eBay page and decided to inquire. She had been selling Chinese copies of Bobbi Brown, Max Factor and Lancome for as little as £4.00 on eBay to unknowing consumers who were unaware they were purchasing counterfeit goods. Cheap copies, made in China, are then sold in the UK to unsuspecting women. eBay, a popular marketplace online, has been battling with sales of counterfeit products for years, with fears of diminishing the company’s reputation. It needs to be made clear that eBay has no association with sellers of fake branded products and does not tolerate such activity; when caught, sellers have had their accounts closed down instantly. On the website’s Review & Guides section, tips to spot fake MAC make-up have been created by a well-established seller has to outline the major differences between real and counterfeit MAC products.

Sellers of genuine make-up are wor-

ried their businesses are being tarnished.

Perhaps what is most worrying is just how many people have been fooled by this new trade. Internet forums are a great way of spreading news about this illicit activity and hopefully stopping women from purchasing counterfeit products which harm their skin and eyes. eBay and Amazon are also getting involved in trying to stop this trade, but it is

“

Perhaps what is most worrying is just how many people have been fooled by this new trade

likely it will take some time to eliminate it completely. Meanwhile, consumers should be particularly wary about purchasing make-up online, checking the details in particular, the barcode on packaging – and, if possible, try to only buy make-up from reputable retailers.

Be Enterprising – Be an InnovEnter > Your guide to becoming a student entrepreneur.

Alice Lloyd lifeandstyle@westerneye.net

L

loyds TSB Commercial recently revealed that 44% of students and graduates in the UK aspire to start their own businesses after graduation. This figure is unexpectedly high, but it seems to be part of the growing trend of enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Currently one in five graduates will not attain full-time employment upon completion of their degree, and those that do may be unsatisfied with the job they have managed to get hold of. With job prospects looking bleak for many graduates, there has been a rise in those seeking an alternative to employment, such as starting a business of their own, and the control, but also freedom that comes with it.

Many young graduates find the freedom and control of starting their own business extremely appealing, and they feel that it will allow them a more flexible work-life balance. The prospect of starting up a new business is exciting. One of the promi-

nent factors for entrepreneurs is the satisfaction and reward of seeing their idea and their business grow and succeed, where they could have been struggling through an increasingly challenging job market.

Perhaps as a reaction to the gloomy unemployment rates, Britain seems to be entering an ‘enterprise culture’. The change is visible in the BBC’s The Apprentice. Where before the candidates would compete for a desirable high-salary job, they now compete for investment in their business plan. We now have StartUp Britain, a government initiative which aims to support business from their conception through to their growth.

Within universities, there is a rapidly growing presence of student enterprise societies, both in the UK and abroad. The question you might ask is ‘why now?’.

New businesses are important during times of low employment because, quite simply, they create new jobs. It has been proven that exist-

ing companies such as corporates, on average create no new jobs in the economy, only changing existing ones .This growth in employment from new businesses rejuvenates the economy with increased public confidence in spending and more tax being paid. In short, new businesses are great!

Lloyds TSB also claimed that 83% of graduates and students believe that there is not enough support and advice on starting a business. There is now a wealth of information and support for starting a new business, but people often don’t know where to find it. There is an obvious level of risk in starting a business, but with some education on enterprise this risk can be greatly reduced. Companies such as NCEE, School for Startups and NACUE offer support in a variety of ways, from workshops and conferences to actual funding. NACUE have Start-Up Loans, a scheme offering a total of £1m in startup loans for people aged 18-24,

and there are many other opportunities available, particularly for young people.

Another increasing source of support for students are enterprise societies at university. For UWE students interested in entrepreneurship and developing into world changing people, UWE InnovEnterS are the people to speak to.

You might have no clue about what you want to do after university.

You might not have a business plan, a complete set of ideas, or even the daring to put your skills into action.

But you have something.

There has never been a better time to be a student entrepreneur.

If you’d like to get involved in any way, find out about support or simply learn more about UWE InnovEnters, check out our website at www.innoventers.co.uk, email us at enquiries@innoventers.co.uk or pop by to our next Start up Drinks on the 22nd of January, 6.30pm at The Big Chill bar on Small Street.

BIO Who: A lively group of UWE students, passionate about enterprise and committed to inspiring and helping all students to make the most out of themselves What: We hold different events throughout the year, such as competitions, workshops and speaker events.

Why: Every student has entrepreneurial value, and everyone brings to the table a range of different skills. Whether you’ve got ambitions to start your own business or to forge a truly impressive career, we want to provide the help and support for everyone to achieve their goals.

Arts & Entertainment 19

WesternEye February 2013

Arts & Entertainment

BBC Sound of 2013

nme.com

> Christopher Fear gives us the ins and outs of the UKs biggest music poll.

Christopher Fear entertainment@westerneye.net

P

ersonally, I tend to view polls of any kind with a healthy balance of suspicion and curiosity: another year, another music poll as the saying goes. On 4th January, the winners and runner-ups of possibly one of the most influential polls in the UK, the BBC Sound of 2013, were announced and the results generated no small amount of debate in the music press Genre-bending trio, HAIM topped the poll with their folk rock infused Americana, drawing the inevitable comparison to Fleetwood Mac from various critics and heralding the rebirth of the electric guitar. With their overall sound references to an eclectic range of influences, it is clear to see why so many critics adored them; HAIM manage to combine elements of genres that naturally oppose into perfectly crafted, infectious pop songs, where the sledgehammer rock of Bruce Springsteen sits happily with the folksy melodies of Teegan and Sara, and sultry R&B beats pummel relentlessly under-

neath. It’s a strange sonic combination, like peanut butter and jelly, that shouldn’t work, but really it does and that’s essentially the genius of HAIM. Second place was another unabashed nod to 90’s R&B in the form of AlunaGeorge; an electronica duo consisting of singer, Aluna Francis and producer, George Reid. Continuing the experimentation evident in this years poll, their sound fuses elements of R&B, House, Hip-Hop and even Dubstep together, creating a minimal soundscape, not completely unlike that of the XX. Third and fourth place went to New York rapper, Angel Haze and Birmingham R&B singer Laura Mvula respectively, and in fifth were my personal favourites, Scottish electro-pop outfit, Chrvches. Runners up included a slew of Indie-Rock acts such as Peace, Palma Violets, King Krule, and Little Green Cars, along with acts as varied in genre as A*M*E, Arlissa, Kodaline, The Weeknd, Tom Odell and the intrigu-

ing post-punkers, Savages.

Any poll, regardless of its content will generate some controversy and the BBC Sound of 2013 was no exception; with many critics arguing that it is an essentially undemocratic way of introducing new music and tainted by the personal interest of the ‘industry professionals’ asked to vote. Personally, I’m inclined to agree with them. It could be argued that the poll itself is a self-fulfilling prophecy; industry professionals such as music journalists and blog editors will always vote for the acts that they are currently involved with and actively promote, to make sure that they don’t compromise their reputation for scouting the best in new music. Referred to as ‘tastemakers’ in the poll’s rules, they choose the acts that they have a vested interest in and in the process compromise the entire ethos of the poll.

But then again, perhaps the British public can’t be trusted with polls.

Examine the Top 40 chart (the UK’s biggest weekly music poll) and the

Alt J: An Awesome Wave Sara Majhutiak

entertainment@westerneye.net

O

n November 1st An Awesome Wave was crowned album of the year at the Mercury Prize Awards. Its creators Alt-J beat off stiff competition from the likes of Field Music and Richard Hawley to win the £20,000 prize. Since then there has been mixed reviews in the response to Alt-J’s winning the competition with one critic in particular, whose name and publication we won’t mention, cruelly stating “the prize no one really cares about was won by a band no-one really loves”. I couldn’t disagree more; their album is a refreshing, vibrant mix of emotive lyrics interwoven with strong harmonies and addictive beats.

After five years touring and honing their unique sound, often described

clashmusic

as “folk-step”, the band released their debut album An Awesome Wave in May this year with their first single being “Matilda”. Alt-J were originally called FILMS and at first had the idea of basing each track around a different film, until fans began to confuse them with South Carolina band The Films. However, cinema and literature is still a big influence in the album particularly in this first single.

“Matilda” is based around the final scene of the 1994 movie Léon: The Professional, Natalie Portman debuts as a twelve-year-old seeking revenge on a corrupt DEA Agent who assassinates her family. Throughout the film Mathilda seeks comfort and guidance from hitman Leon and

the song parallels the final moment where Leon puts the grenade in the Agent’s hand killing them both, but setting Mathilda free. Whilst is may seem a strange idea for a song, the context of the film highlights the emotion in the lyrics, particularly significant is the repetition of “this is for Matilda”. The song is used as a metaphor for how far we go for the people we love. The music itself is quite stripped back compared to other tracks on the album, with gentle guitar picking allowing Joe’s distinctive vocals and lyrics to be clearly heard.

“Breezeblocks”, in contrast, has a heavier baseline and darker lyrics: “she may contain the urge to runaway but hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks”. Alt-J layer the track with electric guitars, harmonies and a glockenspiel to soften the tone at points and emphasise these lyrics.

Like most tracks on the album there is no specific chorus, instead their instruments and harmonies build to a crescendo in the second half of the track as they replicate the lines from Where the Wild Things Are. What I like most about Alt-J’s album is each song is a self-contained story such as “Taro”. You don’t need to research the context to enjoy their songs but it does show the talent and skill that goes into their songwriting. “Taro” is about the deaths of 20th Century war photographers Robert Capa and Gerda Taro who were engaged and both died doing what they loved most. The band

results are distressing enough to have you furiously plugging your ears with concrete. Collectively, as a country, we’d rather put the comically simplified, excessively autotuned styling’s of Will.i.am and Britney Spears at the top than we would something more genuine and relevant to human life. So while I may grumble at some aspects of the BBC poll unconsciously as a music lover, I support it. It recognizes that music exists outside of the X-Factor bubble and the confines of the i-Tunes chart, and that it is physically made by human beings: not by companies, and for that it should be lauded.

So how successful will the winners and runner ups be in 2013? That

question rests entirely on you, the music-loving consumers of Britain.

A prophecy I’m more than willing to make, based on the results of this poll, is that 2013 will see the resurgence of the guitar and a return to a lo-fi, D.I.Y ethos and a more organic way of making music. In short, synthesizers out, electric guitars in.

The BBC Sound of 2013 poll literally has something for everyone.

Can’t get enough of 90‘s influenced, Gallagher-esque Indie? Listen to Peace. A fan of post-punk like me?

Listen to Savages. Need your fix of transatlantic blistering Rap? Listen to Angel Haze. This year’s poll has everything. Listen, research and enjoy.

> Sara Majhutiak explores why the unique Alt J deserved to win the Mercury Prize and reviews their album. fuses the early finger picking of electric guitars with a genre we would normally associate with Bhangra or Indian music to create this moving track. It fades out leaving just the haunting violins. Alt-J is less interested in politics than with people’s stories and relationships, and this is a great example.

“Tessellate” may be the album’s most well-known track, released in summer this year it was Alt-J’s third single. Starting off with the low, ominous striking of a piano, the production on this particular track is so effective and almost sounds as though the track is playing in reverse. The guitar increases the speed of the track as Joe sings “3 guns and one goes off”, portraying a real contrast of imagery from guns, sharks and triangles to later flowers and hearts. This track is ridiculously catchy despite not having a properly structured chorus.

“Fitzpleasure” again is completely different in terms of style and despite its dark story it is actually one of the more upbeat tracks on the album. It begins sounding like an African chant with the “Tralala”, the first two lines are isolated on their own with a heavy synth baseline kicking in and taking the song in a new direction. Like their other songs there are moments of calm where we really hear Alt-J go back to their FILMS roots, telling the gritty story of Tralala from the novel Last Exit to Brooklyn. One of the things that stand out the most is the psyche-

delic guitar riffs and how successfully this blends with a baseline you would expect in a dubstep track.

Alt-J combine their songs with three interludes which bridges the gap and atmosphere between songs like “Fitzpleasure” and “Bloodflood”.

“Bloodflood” near the end of the album has only thirteen lines, one of which being the title “An Awesome Wave”. It has a relaxed vibe to it similar to “Dissolve Me” but slower its lyrics focusing on breathing, which is why the interludes play an important part. “Dissolve me” is a more upbeat track halfway through the album; a fast percussion beat makes it the most up-tempo out of all thirteen. Narrating about the separation of two lovers, it contains lots of sibilance in the lyrics giving it a dreamlike quality at points as the narrator struggles to sleep. Joe’s soothing tones in this track are reminiscent of Mumford and Sons but combined with a modern, electronic twist.

The final standout track for me is “Something Good” especially its piano melodies and honest lyrics about having fun and forgetting a past heartbreak, yet the whole album is a real treat.

It is rare to find an album where each track is unique and can hold its own but Alt-J’s album had me fascinated from start to finish. It is music that tells a story and perhaps instead of slating an album for experimenting and trying something new, we should praise it and be proud of the unique music the UK is producing.

20 Arts & Entertainment

WesternEye February 2013

And the Nominees are..

Sophie Seddon

entertainment@westerneye.net

indiewire

I

t’s that time of year once more, the deep ruby of the red carpet is rolled out, the glamour of the World’s stars grace the front pages, the champagne flows and the emotional, yet highly prepared ‘oh I am so surprised’ speeches are filmed for the rest of us to roll our eyes and go ‘not again…’

Yes, on February 24th, the Oscars will return in all their glory, with the gorgeous dresses, the shiny statuettes and the sunshine of Hollywood, all back for the 85th time.

The Best Film category is incredibly varied, and you’re certainly spoilt for choice. Firstly, there are the two big players; Lincoln explores the infamous story of President Abraham Lincoln as he aims to abolish slavery and bring an end to the

American Civil War. It’s a traditional historical and political drama in a style similar to that of the The King’s Speech leading critics (who adore it) to believe that its success at the Golden Globes will guarantee further achievements.

But the film that could just as easily take the gong is the highly anticipated Les Miserables. Beautifully filmed, with some acting prowess and a well-loved soundtrack, it would make a worthy winner. As a musical with a global cast it stands apart from most other Hollywood films, and has a good chance of winning Best Film. The last musical to win was Chicago back in 2002, and we have already seen several films similar to Lincoln win in recent times.

In addition to this you have your

> Sophie Seddon rounds up the nominees for the upcoming 2013 Oscars.

dark horses: Argo and Amour. Both are big hits with the critics, and I’d be pleased to see either receive the honour of the award. Argo is a thriller based on the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis; a refreshing topic that has been overlooked in the course of modern history. It is contemporary, stylish, gritty and tense, not forgetting that it beat Lincoln to success by winning Best Drama at the Golden Globes.

Amour, in contrast to Argo, could not be more different. A foreign film, which is a safe bet to win the Oscar’s foreign category, has been praised to the heavens, and some believe is supposedly the choice that deserves the big gong. It is a story about a husband caring for his wife after she suffers two strokes and is extremely moving. It focuses on a theme pertinent to director Michael Haneke; isolation, a part of life which will, at one point, affect us all; (the careful portrayal of which is used in Amour to devastating effect).

Following these are the films which have a good chance, but are unlikely to win. There is the controversial Zero Dark Thirty, which dramatizes the hunt for Osama bin Laden. It includes various torture scenes that have been a topic of much debate over whether Academy members should boycott it or not.

The light-hearted comedy Silver Linings Playbook, (also up for Best Film) is unlikely to win, as it probably won’t be considered as high a caliber as its counterparts, but it

definitely should not be ignored, especially with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper’s excellent performances. Django Unchained too, as a Tarantino film, should been in for a shout, with its quirky style, dark humour and star-studded cast.

Following this is Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, and the Beasts of the Southern Wild. Both are beautifully captured and are either heart-warming or heart-wrenching, but otherwise, I can’t see either of these being in the main running for the award.

As for Best Director, it would be refreshing to see a first time winner.

Spielberg has already won this award twice. One would have assumed that after his win at the Golden Globes, the favourite would be Ben Affleck; which makes his snub for the same award at the Oscars this year incredibly surprising.

The Oscars would do well to support up and coming directors, rather than going for experienced ones such as Spielberg, whom the world of film already knows to be talented.

I also found Tom Hooper’s snub for Les Mis surprising, having assumed that he was their golden boy after the beautiful directorship of The King’s Speech. It will then potentially go to either Michael Haneke for Amour, or David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook.

The Best Actor category this year has so much potential, with Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper and Joaquin Phoenix producing excellent perfor-

mances for their turns in Les Mis, Silver Linings Playbook and The Master respectively. However, it is likely to go to Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln.

The Best Actress category has been applauded as it has a fantastic range of actresses, with the eldest and youngest nominees of all time in the mix. However, I predict the decision will be torn between Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty, or Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook. Chastain has had some exceptional performances in the past for The Help and The Tree of Life. Her performance here is no different, and gained her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama.

But Lawrence won the same award for Comedy, and is a popular figure, beloved for her enthusiastic and quirky personality in her roles.

One category that I’d be willing to put money is that Anne Hathaway’s fallen Fantine in Les Mis will see her take the Best Supporting Actress role, as she is truly haunting, leaving the audience in tears. Best Supporting Actor however is a tough one, though many predict it will be Phillip Seymour Hoffman for The Master.

Finally we might expect Pixar’s Brave to take the gong of Best Animated Feature; Pixar have been very successful in this category for the past ten years.

The Oscars have always had their fair shares of shocks and surprises; this year will be no different. There are certainly no guarantees.

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1st Feb – 28th Feb 2013

Arts & Entertainment 21

WesternEye February 2013

An intense Flight > Nathan George reviews Robert Zemeckis’ engaging drama.

Limmy’s Show > A review of the popular and original Scottish sketch show.

Gwyn Thomas entertainment@westerneye.net

G

frontmagazine

Nathan George entertainment@westerneye.net

V

ery rarely does a film allow you to see into the world of such a tortured and self-destructive individual, one that in every waking moment of their life needs to escape for a brief time away from the painful reality they regretfully exist in. Robert Zemeckis’ Flight is a compelling drama that sees Denzel Washington at his best since his Academy Awardwinning performance in Training Day. It’s also a reminder of Washington’s extensive acting range in a film that only someone of his caliber could pull off so effortlessly.

Washington takes the role of Whip Whitaker, a veteran commercial airline pilot with a rock and roll lifestyle that is seemingly taking its toll on him. A regular drug user and an in-denial alcoholic makes Whitaker sound like the World’s worst pilot – however his raw talent and natural flying abilities have so far kept his head above water.

The film introduces Whip in a hotel room with his flight attendant Katerina (Nadine Velazquez) after an all-nighter spent drinking and taking drugs in quantities that could otherwise keep a whole party satisfied. After waking up and having a few lines of cocaine, Whip is straight back in the pilot’s seat for his 9am to Atlanta. Unlike anyone else would be in that situation, Whip enters the cabin as normal and walks through to the cockpit requiring nothing but a coffee and an aspirin to make him right as rain.

After some strong turbulence all seems well on board, however Whip is alerted to a technical malfunction by his God-fearing co-pilot (Brian Geraghty). Shortly after it seems the aircraft is doomed in an uncontrollable nosedive, resulting in the most intense flying scene in recent film history. Whilst all this is happening however, Whip is astonishingly ice cool with not even the slightest of concern in his voice. Denzel (doing what he does best) gains full control

of the aircraft and, more importantly, the people around him to command a flight maneuver that is borderline ludicrous. By literally turning the plane upside down, he somehow manages to perform an emergency landing in a scene that Zemeckis has incredibly orchestrated; with the wing notably brushes a small church highlighting that it’s nothing short of a miracle. Despite 6 people dying in the crash Whip is praised as a hero for preventing something that, arguably without him, would have been inevitably worse.

On the ground Whip begins to deal

“

Shortly it seems the aircraft is doomed in an uncontrollable nosedive, resulting in the most intense flying scene in recent film history

with the aftermath and the media frenzy that surrounds the accident.

After attempting sobriety at his grandfather’s farm, he is informed by his union representative (Bruce Greenwood) and lawyer (Don Cheadle) that blood reports showed signs of alcohol and cocaine in his system and that he was in fact high when flying.

After investigating it also comes to light that Whip drank vodka on the flight – a detail that is detrimental in his legal case.

It eventually becomes apparent that Whip drinks to forget the path

his life has taken. He had a wife and a child – he had a family. His reliance on alcohol has cost him a happy life, now he’s just a pilot by day and a junkie by night. When he befriends a woman named Nicole (Kelly Reilly) at the hospital, they form a unique relationship whereby they both suffer from addictions and therefore can empathize with each other’s predicaments. Although, the weight on his shoulders and the guilt he is carrying forces Whip’s hand closer to the bottle. With the potential risk of being imprisoned – in the end Whip must choose to either live free as a shameful man or behind bars with his dignity somewhat intact.

Flight is Robert Zemeckis’ return to live-action filmmaking after experimenting with animation in major titles such as Beowulf (2007) and A Christmas Carol (2009); however it certainly proves he hasn’t lost his touch. Zemeckis has created a character that has hit rock bottom and must finally face the truth of his actions. As an audience, we see in a brief period of time what his alcohol dependency has done to him, but more significantly we see what it has cost him.

The strong cast also includes John Goodman as Whip’s charismatic friend/drug supplier who turns up whenever Whip’s in need of a wakeup call. Kelly Reilly also gives an honest performance as a struggling addict who grows close to Whip and can see him for who he really is, even if he can’t.

The essence of the film, however, is materialized by Denzel Washington’s emotional depiction of a man evidently struggling to live. Similar to that of Nicolas Cage’s performance in Leaving Las Vegas - Whip starts to give in to the bottle despite the damage it has already caused him.

Zemeckis is often referred to as a director who is only interested in special effects; however Flight is a film that contradicts that entirely by showcasing that he can create an engaging and sincere story, in this case about a man’s battle for inner freedom.

ood sketch shows are in short supply. I’m not going to append that statement with ‘these days’, because it’s generally the case.

Even in the UK – probably the world leader at this sort of thing, since the genre exploded into brilliance with Monty Python’s Flying Circus at the end of the sixties, sketch shows that are original, funny and popular (without stooping to cheap or morally dubious laughs) are a rare thing.

And unfortunately they are rarely recommissioned for a further series or even repeated.

The nineties Armando Ianucci Show, starring its eponymous creator, was one such example of blindingly original, socially aware, modern comedy that few people know of due, in part, to its subjugation by the BBC overlords. Monkey Dust, again, was catapulted into the farthest reaches of late night programming.

Bearing this in mind, now in its third series, Limmy’s Show is still relegated to a regional channel (accessible to non-Scots on the web through BBC iPlayer). It is unsurprising, but nonetheless deeply stupid – a point that a recent Guardian article also bemoaned. OK, its characters speak with varyingly thick levels of Glaswegian dialect, but how better to understand the myriad cultural galaxies of the UK than through strikingly original and endearing comedic characters.

“

The programme’s style is immersive, playful, and lighthearted, and the humour is often of the darkest hue

The thick brogue of Jacqueline McCafferty, one of the many guises of the show’s star and creator Brian ‘Limmy’ Limond, is often completely

guardian

impossible to understand, even for an avid viewer of the series. However her satire of Glasgow heroine culture is hugely enjoyable.

The programme’s style is immersive, playful, and light-hearted, with the humour often of the darkest hue.

Limond often plays himself, as well as a multitude of deftly played char-

“

The comedy is often absolutely perverse, and unflinchingly dark, but full of warmth and pathos too

acters, and the subjects range from a charming and off the wall kind of surreal observational comedy – the kind of things you think no one else thinks about but you – to brilliantly realised satire. One fine example of this is the new character in series three: TV psychic, Raymond Day, who victimises his audience in a way that conjures up all the grossness and degradation of Jeremy Kyle and the culture that surrounds it, but Limond’s mannerisms and enthusiasm for the role make it wonderfully enjoyable.

The comedy is often absolutely perverse and unflinchingly dark, but full of warmth and pathos too. It’s impossible not to be touched by isolated waster Dee Dee’s fantasies, as he trudges through the Glasgow streets conjuring up a rollercoasting mental adventure when he finds a bag of exotic goodies in a black bag outside a charity shop. This is comedy that expresses a man’s attachment to his all too under represented culture next to the lowest common denominator laughs that dominate the primetime.

At the same time though, Limond artfully draws out the dramas and the confusions of modern life and office tedium that anyone could relate to.

Such bizarre brilliance as this deserves to be seen by all.

22 Sport

Sport

WesternEye February 2013

Growth of sport in the UK post-Olympics > Will the Olympics have a lasting effect on sports participation?

reevey (Matthew Reeve)

Nick Harland sport@westerneye.net

L

egacy was the word on everyone’s lips after the hugely successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games last summer.

The measure of its success is perhaps illustrated in a recent Five Live poll, which indicated that the Games inspired one in five people to play sport. But what measures will be taken to ensure that the Olympics have a lasting sporting legacy in this country, and how successful have they been so far?

Sport England has pledged to invest £493m in grassroots sports between 2013 and 2017 in order to construct new multi-sports facilities, upgrade the current facilities of local sports clubs and preserve playing fields across the country. Telford and Worcester are two places that have already benefited from this investment after the University of Worcester and the Dawley Sports and Learning Community both received £1.5m to build state-of-theart sporting arenas.

This example of commitment to a positive Olympic legacy is of stark

contrast to nations such as Greece and Portugal. A cursory glance at the poorly maintained and rarely used Olympic stadium in Athens suggests a distinct lack of forward planning, whilst cavernous football stadiums built for Portugal’s Euro 2004 bid have financially crippled Portuguese lower division clubs, including former top division champions Boavista. Both nations remain debt-ridden and in serious financial trouble, with the shadow of these sporting events still looming large over them.

But will the UK manage to avoid these troubles and deliver a lasting legacy? There are mixed signs thus far. In terms of participation of sport in the UK, figures released in December 2012 indicate that the number of adults playing sport once a week has increased by 750,000 over the course of 2012. Athletics and swimming both saw large increases in participation, but perhaps unsurprisingly, cycling saw the biggest increase. Participation rocketed by 200,000 after an unprece-

dented year of success for the sport.

After Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first ever British winner of the Tour de France in July, the cyclists of Team GB claimed 12 medals at the Olympics, including 8 golds. The meteoric rise of the sport’s popularity is also evidenced in the fact that the National Cycling Centre in Manchester has an incredible six month waiting list for use of the excellent facilities that it offers.

So the early signs suggest that interest and participation in sport is certainly growing in the UK. But what is happening to the sporting venues used for the Olympics? One example of a clever and positive use of a venue is that of the Beach Volleyball stadium on Horse Guards Parade.

The temporary arena has long since vanished, but the tonnes of imported sand used for it are to be redistributed to brand new beach volleyball courts throughout the country.

However, the biggest bone of contention was arguably the postOlympics use of the magnificent 80,000 seater stadium in Stratford,

East London. West Ham United have recently emerged as the preferred bidder to lease the stadium, beating off competition from Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur. But with the details of the agreement yet to be finalized, they have been given a three month deadline to confirm the arrangement and begin preparations to move into the stadium. In any case, the chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, Dennis Hone, has remarked that the earliest the stadium will be handed over by is August 2015, but with August 2016 being a more realistic date. Any further delays could subsequently hinder London’s prospects of hosting the 2017 World Athletics Championships, one of the sporting events earmarked by organizers as key in assisting in the growth of sport in the UK. Evidently there remains much work to be done on this front.

Continued success of British athletes is another factor paramount in ensuring sport maintains and improves upon its current popular-

ity. Newly-knighted Sir Bradley Wiggins is fast becoming a role model for budding sportsmen and women throughout the country. However he is unlikely to retain his 2012 Tour de France title, with the role of Team Leader likely to be handed over to teammate and fellow Brit Chris Froome. Diver Tom Daley has been criticized in some quarters for his role in reality diving show Splash!, but the programme can surely only help improve the popularity of the sport. Meanwhile, other Olympic stars such as Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis will be looking to build on their incredible gold medal successes last year.

Although the rapid increase in sports participation last year was a promising sign, there remains a lot of work to do to maintain this growth. The individuals responsible for delivering an Olympic legacy must do this by ensuring above all that sport remains in the national consciousness. Deciding upon a suitable tenant for the Olympic stadium will be a promising first step.

Sport 23

WesternEye February 2013

UWE’s Squash Success Stories!

T H E

‘ I N S P I R A T I O N A L F R I E N D S ’

U W E

v s .

> UWE’s Squash team goes from strength to strength.

B R I S T O L

VA R S I T Y S E R I E S

2 0 1 3

who said it’s the taking part that counts,

embrace the rivalry

Matt Vicker sport@westerneye.net

O

ne of the members of the UWE Squash team has recently become a runner-up in the Men’s World Open Squash Championships.

As of January 2013, Mohamed El Shorbagy, is currently ranked at no.5 in the world, and represents his country of birth, Egypt.

Mohamed turned professional in 2006, aged just 15, and previously was a double World Junior Champion before he progressed onto the senior circuit. UWE captain, Konrad Tyma has described Mohamed as ‘a great ambassador to our sport and to our University.’ Having just turned 22, and as his future looking bright, I would have to agree! His list of achievements will surely grow in the years to come.

The UWE 1st team is also looking good at the moment, winning all the BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) matches so far, as well as sitting in top of Division 1A. Last year they won the BUCS Cup finals and were the best University team in UK. Mohamed also became a BUCS individual champion, by beating his younger brother, Marwan El Shorbagy. Marwan is also in the UWE

mbevis 1st team. The third/fourth place play off was also won by a UWE squash player, Frenchman, Lucas Serme.

Over the years, many attempts have been made to make squash a sport at the Olympic Games. It has narrowly missed out on being included for the 2016 Olympics in Buenos Aires, with golf and rugby sevens

chosen ahead. Currently, a campaign is being run in order to include sport for the 2020 Games which will be held in either Madrid, Istanbul or Tokyo. If it is successful, I am sure the sport will benefit immensely from this, and we will see some of our very own squash stars from UWE competing on the biggest of stages.

January Fixtures Aminah Jagne

sport@westerneye.net

This table shows a selection of home matches featuring teams from UWE. There are some times still to be confirmed and there is a possibility that fixtures will be called off, re-arranged or the venue switched. For a more comprehensive list, please visit www.bucs.org.uk and click on fixtures & results.

TEAM

DIVISION

LEAGUE/CUP

OPPOSITION

VENUE

POSTCODE

TIME

DATE

Men’s Badminton

2A

L

Bristol

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

13:30

13th February

Men’s Basketball

2A

L

Bristol

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

13:30

13th February

Women’s Basketball

2A

L

Aberystwyth

Filton College WISE

BS34 8LP

00:00

13th February

Men’s Football

2A

L

Bournemouth

Almondsbury UWE FC

BS32 4AG

14:00

13th February

Women’s Football

2B

L

Gloucestershire

Filton College WISE

BS34 8LP

14:00

13th February

Men’s Football

3B

L

Gloucestershire

St Matthias Campus

BS16 2JP

14:00

13th February

Women’s Hockey

2A

L

Bournemouth

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

17:00

13th February

Men’s Hockey

4A

L

Southampton

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

14:00

13th February

Women’s Hockey

5A

L

Swansea

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

12:30

13th February

Women’s Hockey

4A

L

Winchester

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

15:30

13th February

Men’s Lacrosse

2A

L

Aberystwyth

St Matthias Campus

BS16 2JP

14:00

13th February

Women’s Netball

6A

L

Bath Spa

TBC

TBC

17:30

13th February

Women’s Netball

2A

L

Bournemouth

TBC

TBC

17:30

13th February

Women’s Netball

5A

L

Winchester

TBC

TBC

15:30

13th February

Women’s Netball

4A

L

Winchester

TBC

TBC

15:30

13th February

Men’s Squash

3A

L

Bournemouth

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

17:30

13th February

Men’s Squash

3B

L

Aberystwyth

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

13:30

13th February

Men’s Tennis

2A

L

UWE Bristol

TBC

TBC

00:00

13th February

Men’s Futsal

1B

L

Cardiff

TBC

TBC

00:00

17th February

Men’s Basketball

3A

L

Bournemouth

Filton College WISE

BS34 8LP

00:00

20th February

Men’s Hockey

1A

L

Cardiff

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

14:00

20th February

Women’s Lacrosse

1A

L

Bath

St Matthias Campus

BS16 1QY

14:00

20th February

Women’s Netball

1A

L

Bath

St Matthias Campus

BS16 2JP

17:30

20th February

Men’s Badminton

2A

L

Plymouth

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

13:30

27th February

Men’s Basketball

2A

L

Gloucestershire

Centre for Sport

BS16 1QY

13:30

27th January

24 Sport

WesternEye February 2013

Darts at UWE

> An update on UWE Darts Society’s promising year so far.

Nick Merrell sport@westerneye.net

W

ell, UWE Darts has certainly had an eventful first semester. Following last years efforts, we were runners-up in the University Cup. This year, we were determined to go one better. Before this though, in November, we were fortunate enough to have McCoys (the sponsor for Premier League Darts) to ask our society to host a sponsored night. This meant our society would host its own knockout tournament, with the prize being two tickets to the McCoys Premier League. It was a great turnout, with a healthy mix of existing members, committee members and debutants. One poignant highlight was postgrad newcomer Frances Bennett, who took out two existing members on the way to reaching the semi-final, only to fall to defeat to eventual runner-up, Josh Bryant.

Another potential upset was on the cards when, in the other semi-final, I managed to take a 2-0 lead in legs in a race to 3 against the in-form and

current society President, Paul Frost.

Unfortunately I was not able to close it out, with Paul winning the game 3-2 and going on to win the whole thing.

He was a deserved winner though, chalking up a huge eighteen 100+ scores on his way to victory.

The University Cup was underway in December. In order to progress into the semi-finals, UWE had to top the Southern group. Standing in our way were Exeter, Oxford and Kent. Despite UWE successfully defending the challenge trophy from Exeter last year, we knew they were a strong side. As for the others, we knew little about them. We started strong, dominating Kent to an 11-2 victory. The games would only get tougher from then on, as we only narrowly beat Oxford 7-6.

With Exeter pummelling both Oxford and Kent, it came down to a grudgematch against Exeter. A win would not be enough to see us into the Cup finals. With Exeter having a bigger margin of victory over Oxford than us, we

Amy Rance needed at least an 8-5 win to go top.

A win, but less than 8-5, would put us 2nd and into the Plate finals. Unfortunately, despite the momentum being with us, we couldnt manage either, being beaten 9-4 on the day. As a result, Exeter went through in 1st, Oxford in 2nd, UWE 3rd and Kent 4th.

It was a bitterly disappointing end to

what started out as a great day for UWE Darts.

So whats next for UWE Darts? Well thanks to our sponsor, Rileys, we were able to secure a great deal, resulting in some much-needed funding for two trips. One to the University Cup finals and a second to the Singles Championship, both of which are taking place

at York Uni. With the former no longer a possibility and chances of the latter dwindling, we may be looking at travelling to different universities across the country, playing against those who may not have been able to make the trips to the group stages, and a chance to visit new places and meet new people.

Check, Mate: Is Chess a Sport? > Is Chess merely academic folly, or much more?

Matt Vicker sport@westerneye.net

M

ore often than not, chess is referred to as being a board game that is commonly related with the nerds and geeks among us (as one myself, I can use these words). The idea of chess being a sport is something that has been debated many times. But is this past-time just a popular game that involves two players with 16 pieces each on a board? Or does it have the potential to be more?

Playing chess is often considered to be a mark of intelligence, although there is no scientific reasoning behind this. It seems to be a game that is good for keeping the mind active and working on strategy. ‘Exercise for the brain’ it could be argued. But does a sport have to include some sort of physical exercise?

When I brought this topic up in conversation, most of the people I know rubbished the concept of chess being a sport. It would seem that they would view sport as something that requires a physical element. Some of them were under the impression that real chess was not as fun as the magic chess from Harry Potter. In some respects I would have to agree – magic chess would certainly get the blood pressure up and heart racing with excitement. ‘Normal’ chess doesn’t often have that effect (not that many people would expect it to!).

However, chess is a recognised sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) even though there is no indication that it could become a part of the Olympics. Personally I think it would have made a very nice

touch to the 2012 Games. Would the inclusion of chess have sparked a mass uptake or a greater following, like some sports on show at the Olympics? Could it have been on par with cycling? The achievements of Bradley Wiggins have been recognised

-kC-

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Playing chess is often considered to be a mark of intelligence

by the nation. After the past sporting year, where he claimed Olympic Gold and won the Tour de France, he was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Is it too far-fetched to think that Viswanathan Anand (2012 World Chess Championship winner) could

be treated on a par as an inspirational figure with Wiggins? Probably, but some would argue that stranger things have happened - the invention of chess boxing, for example.

An opinion can be formed that the slowly emerging sport of ‘chess boxing’ is considered to be more of a sport than regular chess. This is probably because of the unique combination of brains and brawn – having a mental strength as well as a physical one. Personally I could not become a chess-boxer. Not only do I not have the required upper body strength required to get into a boxing ring (let alone to box!), but my chess skills are far from the standard required to challenge anyone.

In my opinion, I would not consider chess to be much of a sport. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a game every now and then, but realistically I feel that the lack of physical exercise is what breaks the classification of ‘sport’.

Perhaps a new classification of ‘Academic Sport’ would be a preferable term, with other games such as Scrabble and Backgammon included because of their brain exercise quality. Both are like chess in that they have a World Championship competition.

Students take notice! This year, a chess society has been set up at UWE. If you are interested in joining, or just having a quick game, I understand that the UWE Chess Society meets on Tuesdays at 17.30 in 2B028 on the Frenchay Campus.