York Vision Issue 224 by York Vision

GUARDIAN STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR 2011-2012

YORK VISION Wednesday May 9, 2012

Issue 224

vision@yusu.org

WWW.YORKVISION.CO.UK

DAVID ATTENBOROUGH INTERVIEW - SCENE -

WILLOW KING TOMMY FONG INTERVIEW -NIGHTLIFE-

HES EAST BAR PLANS EXCLUSIVE - PAGE 3

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ON CAMPUS -FEATURES-

ROSES GO RED

> LANCASTER DEFEAT THE WHITE ROSE 156.5 - 131.5 > YORK'S VALIANT EFFORTS AWAY FROM HOME THWARTED COMPREHENSIVE 16-PAGE PULL-OUT INSIDE SUMMER BALL AND BIG D ACTS EXCLUSIVELY ANNOUNCED - PAGE 3

2 NEWS

YORK VISION Wednesday May 9, 2012

PIGEONS DETECTED! mess was unbelievable." "I told the porter and initially he didn't believe me, but I managed to convince him. He'd never seen anything like it. "To be fair, I've had some pretty filthy birds in my room before, but this was just ridiculous." The student was made to leave his room and was relocated to other James accommodation for the remainder of the weekend, until wildlife services could be called. The removal of an active birds nest is prohibited by the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, with a minimum sentence of up to six months imprisonment. Vision contacted the James College Porter's office about any further incidences of bird nesting in student rooms, but they refused to comment.

BY JOE SOFTLEY A JAMES resident has been forced out of his accommodation for four days, after his room was taken over by a family of pigeons. First year Josh Spurling was surprised to discover a nest, complete with two chicks, hidden underneath his bed after leaving his window open during the Easter break. However, once he informed the porter of his new roommates, he was shocked to be told it was not the birds that would be making way, but him. "When I got to my room there were feathers dashed about, but I thought nothing of it. However, I heard some squawking, pulled away the bed and saw the rest. The

YOURWEEK

Good Week for third years finishing their dissertations!

WHICH FOR TH SPORTS CLU B E ROSES FIRST TIME WON TH EV A DRAM IS WEEKEND ER AT W ATIC LA TE SCO ITH RE?

Bad Week for Charlotte Winter - injures her ankle, can't play and we lose Roses!

Photo: Adam Green

YORKVISION

Guardian Student Publication of the Year 2011-2012 Editors: Helena Kaznowska Oliver Todd

Deputy Comment: Leon Morris Anmoli Sodha

Sports Editors: Jack Bradshaw Sally Dolton

Deputy Editors: Alex Finnis Fred Nathan

Satire Editors: Nicholas DunnMcAfee Leon Morris

Deputy Sports: Will Cooper Charlotte Ferris

Scene Editors: Alysia Judge Jordan Lloyd

Photo of the Week: The Roses torch reaches the opening ceremony at Lancaster this weekend. Photo: Oliver Todd

53%

The number of York students who don't feel their degree is 'value for money'.

York's embarrassing position in the recently published Student Experience Survey.

61st

The number of consecutive years York's rugby union team has won at Roses - get in!

Got an opinion? Get involved at www.yorkvision.co.uk Or contact us at vision@yusu.org

Features Editors: Georgina Strapp Sarah Cattle Deputy Features: Bella Boman-Flavell Ben Dilks

News Editors: Helena Kealey Harry Pick Deputy News: Judith Marzo Bethany Porter

Lifestyle Editors: Nicholas DunnMcAfee Sine Bakumeni

Comment Editors: Max Sugarman Olivia Head

Deputy Lifestyle: Rachel Longhurst Malek Murison

Chief Sub-Editor: Sarah Cattle Rachel Longhurst Photo Editor: Vivan Jayant Ellen Rawlins Webmaster: Magnus Tripp Web Editor: Vivan Jayant Advertising: Anmoli Sodha Rebecca Ojumu

Scene Editorial list in pullout Opinions expressed in York Vision are not necessarily those of the Editors, senior editorial team, membership or advertisers. Every effort is made to ensure all articles are as factually correct as possible at the time of going to press, given the information available. Copyright Vision Newspapers, 2012. Printed by Yorkshire Web. Cover Photo by Oliver Todd.

NEWS

YORK VISION

Wednesday 9 May, 2012

VISION EXCLUSIVELY ANNOUCES THE FIRST ACT PLAYING AT THIS YEAR'S SUMMER BALL

FEEDER ARE PLAYING! PLAYING! PLAYING!

BY FREDDIE NATHAN

THE FIRST act playing at this years Summer Ball has been announced as Welsh alt-rock outfit Feeder, who will headline the end of term event held annually at York Racecourse. Now classed as veterans of the indie music scene, having been around since 1991, they are most well known for their 2001 pop-punk classic 'Buck Rogers' and their slower 2005 stadiumrock number 'Feeling a Moment.' Having sold over 1.5 million records in their career, in late April of this year, they released their eighth studio album, Generation Freakshow to positive reviews from critics, happy to see the band back on the music scene. With their main body of success between 2000-2006, they have slipped under the radar in recent years, splitting with long-time drummer Mark Richardson and going as far as changing their name to Renegades for the vast majority of 2012.

Indeed, front man and band founder Grant Nicholas expressed disappointment when Renegades became more well known and were asked to play at larger venues. Their biggest hits are instantly recognisable and Nicholas is convinced the songs on Generation Freakshow, some of which will no doubt be exhibited at the ball, will rival the likes of 'Buck Rogers' and 'Borders' for commercial success. L a s t year's Summer Ball headline acts were The Subways, Darwin Deez, dubstep act Nero and Amy

Winehouse's goddaughter Dionne Bromfield, all of whom turned up and proved popular, which was a relief after 2010's debacle when N-Dubz pulled out at the last minute. YUSU President Tim Ellis is absolutely delighted with the act they have secured. Speaking exclusively to Vision, he said: "we are extremely pleased to announce that Feeder will be headlining this year's Summer Ball at York Racecourse. This is the biggest act that has

performed at a York event in recent times and it will provide an amazing end to the year for York students. We will be announcing more acts over the next few weeks." York Racecourse will once again play host to the traditional end of year formal event on the 20th June, attended mostly by graduating third-years. The £35 ticket will include free transport to the out-of-town venue, where revellers will be treated to such delights as a giant funfair, complete with dodgems, inflatable games and "white knuckle rides," and of course famous names from the world of music. Five bars, free candy floss and chocolate fountain to supplement the numerous food stalls, a portrait artist, a casino, silent disco and massive dancefloors will accommodate up to 2,500 students. Once Feeder and the rest of the acts have long packed up and gone home, completing the night will be the famous "survivors photo", for those hardy enough to be still going strong at 4AM.

GO EAST: HES EAST BAR PLANS REVEALED BY HARRY PICK & BETHANY PORTER VISION CAN exclusively reveal the plans for the Heslington East Bar, which after considerable controversy is set to open in October 2012 this year. The bar, which will be located in the new Langwith hub but will serve both Goodricke and Langwith Colleges, will be YUSU's third licensed venue. The proposed bar will serve food from 11am-9pm everyday, similar to current YUSU venue The Courtyard. Tim Ellis, YUSU President, speaking to Vision, hinted that the current plans were for the venue to be a noodle bar, a move that will undoubtedly be popular with students looking for a cuisine different to that currently offered on campus. It will also have capacity for 200 students and an external seating area for the warmer months. Other features include soft seating, pool tables and widescreen TVs showing Sky Sports. Crucially, the new bar will have an ATM machine outside, which will be the very first cashpoint on the Hes East campus. This is a huge victory for the Goodricke JCRC who have been campaigning for an ATM ever since the college moved over to the new campus. Jack Baker, Langwith JCRC

Chair, expressed his delight at the bars opening. "It will finally give the residents, staff and students who work [in Hes East] a chance to eat and drink in a relaxed social space." However, it hasn't always been plain sailing. The bar will just be a temporary measure until a new social and catering space is opened in 2014. The venue will then be converted into the Langwith JCR. Until then, they will share their JCR and social spaces with Goodricke. Problems first emerged with the bar when, in an exclusive interview with Vision in May of

last year, the residents of Heslington East were told by Director of Commercial Services Jon Greenwood that "lack of student demand" meant a bar venue may not be created on the site for up to 20 years. Despite this, after campaigning by Cem Turhan (ex-Langwith Chair) and Nacho Hernando (exGoodricke Chair), in October 2011 YUSU formally decided to create the venue - and they have now finalised plans for its internal structure. Baker was full of praise for the hard work of the JCRCs before him in securing the bar against the initial opposition, "It was the

hard work of last year's JCRCs of Langwith and Goodricke, along with the provosts who achieved this great feat." "Cem and Nacho pushed hard against the University to get the bar and get it they did." When Vision spoke to Turhan, he emphasised the work current Langwith and Goodricke chairs Jack Baker and Emily Miller have put in. “I know Jack and Emily have had a lot of say in the design aspect and the noodle bar idea seems fun, like ‘Go East on Heslington East’, plus with the alcohol bar like in other YUSU venues it’s going to be brilliant.”

Nacho Hernando also expressed his pleasure at the development. "Goodricke JCRC had been campaigning to secure a cash point and a bar for the past 3 years. As a result of this campaign, Jane Grenville met with us on a single occasion. She told us that the university was willing to create a bar on Hes East." "It is great to see that the work that both Cem and I initiated, with the help of Tim Ellis and our Provosts, will be able to tackle the lack of social and catering space on Hes East." The proposed bar is also set to create 20 new part-time jobs for students. Tim Ellis told Vision that he was happy the union would be able to provide job opportunities in the current economic climate. “We presently employ more than 70 student staff across our commercial outlets. We are always looking at ways to increase employment opportunities for York student and the Heslington East venue allows YUSU to do just that.” The new venue comes in the wake of the extremely successful YUSU bar, The Lounge. Since opening in October 2011 The Lounge has hosted numerous prestigious events, including the National Darts Final, Live and Loud and an Indonesian Shadow Puppet Extravaganza and has served over 10,500 cocktails.

4 NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF STUDY SPACE SHUT COMPLAINTS HAVE been voiced by students that the university is not providing enough study spaces, as it emerged the Brian Blessed Centre for Quiet Study has been closed for a number of days during the busy exam period. During the first weeks of term the JB Morrell Library and Harry Fairhurst building have often been completely filled before noon, leading students to look for other study spaces. However, students have reported that the Brian Blessed Centre was closed at least last Tuesday and the following Thursday when they went to look for places to study. David Duncan, who is line manager for Library and campus study services, said the centre was being used as "decanting space" for Chemistry students following the fire last term. "I have contacted the Head of Campus Services and it will reopen for quiet study as soon as possible." The centre was christened after Brian Blessed following an overwhelming mandate at a Union UGM in January 2011. Usage of the facility has been criticised as consistently low since it opened in 2010.

DATA LEAKED THE BIOLOGY department has been criticised for revealing the confidential details of two rejected students in an email to third year undergraduate students. The emails were written after two students requested detailed reasons as to why they were rejected. The attachments included details of the foundation courses they were on, full names, addresses and dates of birth. The university apologised for the incident, saying "information about the applications of two individuals was inadvertently sent by email. We have contacted all those students instructing them to delete the email and attachments. We have also apologised to the two individuals concerned." "All staff are currently undergoing data protection training but we recognise that it is impossible to eliminate human error." The data breach is not the first of its kind for the university, which suffered controversy in 2010 when an email leaked the details of 70 Archaeology students' exam grades and highlighted students with learning disabilities. In July 2011, the university was reprimanded by the Information Commissioner’s Office for a mass data breach that enabled outside individuals to access the addresses, phone numbers and A-Level results of many students for a period in excess of a year.

YORK VISION Wednesday May 9, 2012

FAIRFAX ON FILM BY BETHANY PORTER ADDITIONAL CCTV has been installed in Fairfax House following a spate of thefts over Easter. University Security Services are extending the campus-wide CCTV as part of a series of reforms after serious complaints were made about the facilities at the housing block last year. Two additional CCTV cameras were installed at the entrances to Fairfax House last week. Unlike other university accommodation, Fairfax House does not have a Porter’s Lodge and relies on nighttime security patrols. Fairfax residents have reported food thefts, parcels going missing and even strangers walking in off the street in recent weeks. First-year student Leon Morris said that he was happy with the changes that had been made. “The fact that CCTV has now been installed will make a great deal of residents feel a lot more comfortable. “I have just left Fairfax due to the happenings during Easter and this term. And, as for internal thefts, I doubt very much that any improvements would progress this term. Welfare discussions should really commence immediately.” Previously when students had complained and requested CCTV,

their demands were not met, and students were told by the university to be more “aware of the importance of vigilance about security.” Last year Vision reported that a man impersonating a policeman even broke into Fairfax in the early hours of the morning and attempted to enter student bedrooms.

SPATE OF THEFTS Vanbrugh College Chair Matt Stephenson told Vision the cameras have been placed “to increase the security and safety of the residents and to make sure that complaints from nearby houses regarding inappropriate behaviour from Fairfax residents [are dealt with]."

Photo: Adam Green

HOLIDAY HOPES SLASHED BY JOSEPH GIBBONS INTERNATIONAL STUDENT Volunteers, a California based volunteering agency operating on campus, has come under fire for not revealing the true cost of its programmes until after the deposits are paid. International Student Volunteers advertise on campus and have been allowed to give out application forms during lectures. Second-year student Alysia Judge attended an International Student Volunteers pitch in the hope of going to Ecuador this summer. The ISV representative told Judge that the programme would cost £2035. However, the actual cost would later turn out to be almost twice that amount, at £3857. Judge told Vision, “The woman who gave the talk didn’t say anything about these extra costs. She simply stated that the cost was £2035. There was no implication that the cost could double!” International Student Volunteers reportedly did not allude to these extra costs until after the £350 deposit had been paid. The ISV website gives no indication of how much these extra costs, including airline tickets and taxes, are, simply restating that the cost of the programme is £2035. Two of the additional charges, an adventure tour and Span-

YORK VISION

ish lessons, had been described by the ISV representative as an integral part of the programme. In addition, all these extra costs were to be paid through the company itself meaning that ISV had organised the extra expenses and knew exactly how much the true cost of was but decided not to inform applicants until after deposits were paid.

HIDDEN EXTRA COSTS Unable to afford the previously unmentioned extra costs, Judge was forced to drop out of her summer programme, losing her £350 deposit in the process. “Before this they had been sending me emails pressuring me into signing onto extra programmes during my stay in Ecuador and to start paying for the trip in monthly installments rather than a lump sum on the due date. If I had agreed to this I don’t know how much I could have lost!” Judge clearly had a lucky escape, and she isn’t the only person who has had difficulties with ISV. The Los Angeles Business Bureau has recorded complaints being filed against the company. Numerous websites, including TripAdvisor and The Student Room, chronicle the bad experiences that students have had on the International Student Volunteers scheme.

WANTS YOU!

THIS TERM’S ELECTIONS ARE WEDNESDAY, WEEK 3 AT 7PM IN PT/006 Editorial positions in every section are up for grabs, from News to Nightlife. Just come along to elections with a few ideas for the section - no previous experience necessary! York Vision is the Guardian Student Publication of the Year and has the most read student newspaper website in the UK. We're also the UKs most awarded student newspaper of all time. If editorial isn’t your thing, we’re also looking for writers, columnists, reporters, sub-editors, designers, photographers, managing editors, reviewers, bloggers and people who are web-savvy. Just come along to elections! More information available at: tinyurl.com/visionelections

COME AND JOIN OUR AWARD WINNING TEAM!

NEWS

YORK VISION Wednesday May 9, 2012

NEW YUSU SURVEY REVEALS SHOCKING LEVELS OF DEGREE DISSATISFACTION WITH STUDENTS ASKING:

WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR?

BY JUDITH MARZO

STUDENT DISAPPOINTMENT over the cost of their university education has come to light in a recent YUSU survey. Only 47% of the survey respondents felt their degree was worth the money they were paying. Students also highlighted their distress at the additional hidden costs of their university experience at York.

"I AM ESSENTIALLY PAYING FOR A LIBRARY CARD" The survey demonstrated that within every degree the most important variant in determining value for money has been the number of contact hours received by the student. 80% of students with 16-20 contact hours felt their course was good value, but only 40% of students with 0-5 contact hours could say the same. The response, unsurprisingly, was particularly damning from students studying History, Archaeology, History of Art, Politics and those studying at the School of Social and Political Sciences as these d i s ci-

"It is completely unacceptable"

"Each lecture costs me £25"

plines have pitifully few contact hours, some as low as three to four hours a week. A second-year English and History of Art student commented: "I have exactly four hours of teaching time-tabled over the next 10 weeks. I appreciate it is exam term, but with only one exam, I really don't understand where's my money going?!" In contrast, students studying Biology and Biochemistry, at HYMS, and those studying Chemistry and Electronics, with their relatively good number of contact hours (between 16-20) were the most content and felt they had the best value for money. The report was completed by over 1146 students, having launched on week eight of the Autumn term and running for seven weeks. The report came at this time because of the rise in tuition fees from £3,375 to £9000 this coming academic year. The rise in tuition fees is predicted to see students demanding more from their university experience than they currently are. As it is, Sally Hill, a second year History student, commented; "each lecture costs me £25, I am essentially paying for a library card.” On top of tuition fees, the survey also asked students about the extra-curricular and unexpected costs that they had been made to pay. The report revealed that the most widely shared extra cost to students was textbooks with a total of 59% of the respondents saying they had bought them. Numerous students commented that they were frustrated by the library's inability to provide essential course textbooks. One such student commented; "I find that the books that we are expected to buy for English incur outrageous costs. It is at least £60 per term, and that is because there is usually only one copy of the book needed

in the library, if there is even one." Other costs included printing credits, course materials and course trips, for which undergraduate Environmental Studies students spent an average of £351. Printing is the second highest extra cost for students after text books, and a total of 43% of students reported that they had paid for additional printing credits as part of their course. Of these, 23.5% stated that they had not expected to pay, and 25.9% paid more than expected, which is the equivalent of 3,644 students at York. Tim Elllis, YUSU president, commented to Vision that he believes, "in light of the £9000 fees next year, this dissatisfaction is only going to worsen. Departments and the library need to invest in more key text books and core texts so that students aren't having to fork out huge sums for a book they may only use for one term." One of the other hidden costs of university life with which students were most dissatisfied was the expense of joining societies and playing sport. Of those who had paid for York Sport membership 30.9% had not expected to pay and 37.9% had paid more than expected.

"WHERE'S MY MONEY GOING?!" One student commented in the survey that, "of all the extra costs, York Sport annoys me the most. The sports club I wanted to join did not use university facilities and I have my own private insurance in case of an accident, so I really shouldn't be required to pay as I am not getting anything for my money. I don't mind paying club membership of £25, but pay-

£351

- the average amount

undergraduate Environmental Studies students spend on course trips.

ing double that to York Sport for nothing in return other than the University's permission to participate is a massive rip-off." Additionally, students wanted to see parking, food on campus, and accommodation costs reduced. One student gave the following comment,"the accommodation is ridiculously priced and shabby. The whole application process was unfair and allowed a situation where the only accommodation left is more than I can afford." Ben Dilks, YUSU Campaigns Officer, commented; "It's completely unacceptable that, having already paid thousands of pounds in tuition fees, students are expected to dig even deeper into their pockets in order to participate fully in their courses.

s ' t a h W The Quack?

y Which York rugb the d ce en ri pe ex player as at fe de bitter taste of his of re lit a ed he down £50 bet own urine for a at Roses?

"YORK SPORT ANNOYS ME THE MOST" "This year the NUS has set out to tackle the problem by encouraging institutions to get involved with the NUS program 'Come Clean on Hidden Course Costs'. We want to raise the same issues with departments here at York, which is why we're launching an 'Out of Pocket' campaign this term." John Robinson, the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, responded saying; "YUSU has been involved in drafting the new policy on student representation in academic departments going to the next meeting of the University Senate." The full report is available at www.yorkvision.co.uk Neither the University nor specific departments with low student satisfaction rates as revealed by the survey have yet released information about how they will tackle these issues in the future.

Only

47%

of students feel their degree is value for money

Which York Spor t club attempted to en force a masturbating ban on its members as part of their Ro ses preparation?

R are Which college JC unusual an wn do g in go of route in terms sting in ve in d an ch er m branded their very own s? condom

Which sports clu b were bombarded by cheeseburger s in the lecture ha ll accommodation in Lancaster?

ub Which Sports Cl up d de en t en id es Pr ge ca a in stripping ght on a raunchy ni r? te as nc out in La

6 NEWS

YORK VISION

ACCESS DENIED

Vision's Helena Kealey grades other universities on her LAD scale...

student press SURELY ALL students despise spring. Don't we all feel instantly nauseous at the sight of a duckling? Nature's reminder that there is only one month left until our exams? Apparently not. It seems a great number of students aren’t spending the month of May in a blind panic, cramming for their degrees. Well, enough is enough. If you’re not going to do any work, I will take it upon myself to grade you on what you are doing. The following degrees will be awarded to the most ‘laddish’ universities. 1st class honours go to: Manchester University: Students at Manchester acted so badly with their “drunken loutish behaviour” on a “naked ferry” ride, that even journalists at The Sun were disgusted. The article entitled "Drunken students trashed a £180 million ferry as they ran around naked and had a mass brawl" described with horror the “females” that were “exposing themselves”. If you're upsetting The Sun it's time to get your act together. Exeter University: For the conviction of Laura Johnson, an English Literature and Italian student, for burglary and participation in the London riots, driving looters to electrical goods stores in South London. LAD. 2:1s go to: St Andrews: For the fourth year student who was caught on CCTV drunkenly ripping the head off a pigeon on a night out. He’s going to be fined £750 for “brutally decapitating” the bird. Warwick University: For the mission-impossible break-in on their medical centre. One boy “disguised in a stolen lab coat spent several hours examining animal research facilities” before security saw through his cunning disguise, asked him for identification and then chased him from the building. Dr Doo-Bond will, I imagine, be featuring in the next Avengers film. 2:2s go to: Durham University: Where students called police to spend precious time “investigating” a man in the girls' toilets. Oxford University: For hosting an “Alpaca Conference” for Alpacas and their enthusiasts in Keble College over the Easter Holidays. The Alpacas grazed outside whilst hundreds of Alpaca fans celebrated “the versatility of the Alpaca.” Puts our campus horse to shame, as no one has ever celebrated its versatility. 3rd class degrees go to: Cambridge University: for the outrage and upset over a “vicious swan” that wasn't relocated over the Easter holidays, and is therefore continuing its “reign of terror”. Really? Big problems in Cambridge with “psycho swans” are there?

BY BETHANY PORTER A NATIONWIDE FUND providing emergency aid to students is set to be cut by £10 million under coalition reforms, drastically reducing the university’s share. The ‘Access to Learning Fund’ has been the principal hardship fund for students studying at the university and can provide support with living costs and financial problems. The university’s share has already been slashed by 40% since 2005, whilst York St John’s has been cut by 60%. The fund is easily accessible and is on occasion used to cover exceptional payments for students with health problems who are in the process of applying for the Disabled Student’s Allowance, which can take months to come through. The cuts have meant that the university has had to crack down on the support it provides for students, restricting financial support to students from low income backgrounds. YUSU Welfare Officer Bob Hughes told Vision; “it is incredibly disappointing to see such a cut happening nationally, par-

Photo: Adam Green

The Sally Baldwin building, which houses Support Services. ticularly with many of the other pressures on students and the large issue of the many student drop-outs caused by issues out of students' hands.” One example of where the cuts are hitting students the hardest is in provision for official dyslexia testing. Students who suspect they have dyslexia are required to take a £300 psychological assessment in order to qualify for support. Generally students have had it paid for out of the university’s ‘Access to Learning Fund’ alloca-

tion. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, was told that it wasn’t worth applying for financial assistance, as she was unlikely to receive anything given her background. “I paid for the test out of my own money in the end, but I had to extend my overdraft to do it. I think it’s really unfair.” Emma Hersey, the YUSU Disabled Student’s Officer, said “YUSU is against students having to pay £300 in advance for dyslexia screening as we feel it limits

Wednesday May 9, 2012

students’ access to the assessment, as not everyone can afford it. I am meeting with Disability Services soon and will raise this issue with them.” As part of their commitment to educational access and to cover the cuts, the university is planning to put together a new "hardship fund", targeted principally at students in financial difficulty who are not in receipt of the main bursary/fee waiver packages. By 2012/2013 there will be £60,000 in the fund. Steve Page, the Director of Student Support Services, told Vision he hoped the new support package would provide sufficient coverage for new and existing students. “It is very disappointing that the ‘Access to Learning Fund’ (ALF), which has been a financial lifeline to many students over many years, is being cut significantly. It remains to be seen whether a greater proportion of students previously helped through the ALF will have adequate financial support. " "At York our hope is that the support packages we have put in place will be of sufficient assistance to those who could not otherwise afford to study here.”

SKY HIGH SOCIETY PRICES BY NINA PULLMAN JAMES COLLEGE has come under fire for being the only college still to demand a £100 deposit from student societies and clubs before booking out their JCR. As clubs and societies are insured by YUSU, any misuse during an event in a JCR which results in damage or replacement costs, will be covered by the union. The insurance covering the clubs therefore renders a deposit null and void. Despite a statement from the YUSU Finance department declaring, “a club or society should definitely not have to pay a deposit for any JCR booking”, James College has continued to enforce payment. Lisa Griffiths, Treasurer for the University Netball Club spoke to Vision about the complications she has faced with regard to booking out JCRs. In her experience, although some colleges may still ask for a deposit out of hand, they have abided by the YUSU ruling and insurance policies. YUSU Finance told Ms Griffiths that, “the club is insured by YUSU and we [the netball club] don’t have to pay”. Only James College is still refusing to comply. The James College Lakeside JCR was refurbished at considerable cost almost seven years ago,

and is a stand-alone building at a distance from the James College porters. The college gives these as reasons for the compulsory deposit.

DISMAY Retrieving money from a club or a society fund is an inconvenient process, requiring either a cash withdrawal or a signed cheque requested by the treasurer. Many clubs have found that the freedom from having to supply a deposit has allowed clubs to make last-minute arrangements for events. Sadly this flexibility cannot be extended to the use of the James JCR, which is leaving clubs confused and frustrated. Chris West, YUSU Student Activities Officer elect, said that, “from previous experience on society committees, I know that at certain points in the year, such as when booking trips or merchandise, societies do not always have a spare £100”. In the case of a James College JCR booking this would either result in a club or society member having to cover the deposit at their own costs, or the event not being able to be booked. YUSU Finance commented that, “we are in talks to try and resolve the issues with the James College administrator.”

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COMMENT

YORK VISION Wednesday May 9, 2012

>Comment BENJAMIN DILKS

esults from the most recent Student Experience Survey, published last week, will have made grim reading for outgoing Vice-Chancellor Brian Cantor, after they revealed that The University of York has dropped almost 30 places, coming in at a dismal 61st in the rankings. The university was not only trounced by its traditional competitors, including Warwick and Lancaster, but for the first time came in lower than local rivals York St John, who came 58th. The survey, commissioned by Times Higher Education, is designed to compare feedback from students about the quality of many different aspects of university life, rather than simply measuring academic standards like the more traditional league tables. As well as reviewing course structure and facilities, students were asked more general questions regarding 'social life' and 'community atmosphere'. But need we take seriously a poll topped by The University of Dundee, who came in well ahead of worldrenowned institutions including Oxford and Cambridge? The answer is yes. At a time of economic instability, the first and foremost priority of many will be the employment prospects a degree can offer. But when they are now being asked to pay £9000 per year in tuition fees, prospective students also deserve to

KIERAN GENNOY

n just 78 days the world will be anticipating the start of the 2012 London Olympic Games, the planet’s greatest sporting event and the only time any country has hosted the games for a third time. 17 days later most Britons will be wondering how it managed to pass them by so quickly, virtually unnoticed. For many, the location of the games isn’t enough to qualify an involvement, and it’s very hard to get excited over something you’re not involved in. I doubt there are many people who look forward to a party they’re not invited to and it seems the invitations to the Olympics of those not living in London might have been lost in the post. With the cost of the games expected to rise to nearly £12billion, there is no underestimating the individual burden to the tax payer of the Olympics. Yet with as many as 60% of tickets at big events going to corporate sponsors, who themselves are just paying £1.4 billion towards the games, it appears that the ideals of broad participation and legacy that the bid was based on may have been swamped by a desire to please the wrong people. Residents of London will of course be able to enjoy all of the free events, such as

CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION

AS YORK PLUMMETS TO 61ST FOR 'STUDENT EXPERIENCE', THE UNIVERSITY CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE IGNORING US.

know more about the university experience they can expect and not simply the comparative worth of the piece of paper they will receive at the end of it all. The Student Experience Survey has been rightly criticised for its small and unscientific sample size, having only taken into account the views of around one per cent of students. It is not, however, the only

Need we take seriously a poll topped by The University of Dundee? comparative measure of student opinion. For the last seven years, the government funded National Student Survey (NSS) has offered a far wider picture of students' views on their own institutions. The questionnaire, which all third years will have been asked to complete last term, ranks universities based on students' opinions of teaching, assessment, learning resources, personal development opportunities and numerous other factors. The NSS has, however, also been widely criticised since its introduction. Most recently, it came under fire at last month's NUS National Conference in Sheffield. Delegates from the far-left condemned the poll

as "a key element of neoliberal proposals to transform higher education into a marketable commodity" and called for a boycott. It was argued that the survey "naturalises the idea of students as 'customers' and staff as 'service providers'". In a world where tuition fees are a reality and universities are actively engaged in attempts to attract the brightest and the best, surely any measure that gives prospective students power similar to consumers should be seen as a positive influence? Problems have also been identified with the way the NSS, conducted by Ipsos MORI, is administered. Earlier this year, Vision called into question the apparent ease with which institutions could potentially fabricate results by impersonating students who failed to complete the survey and entering positive feedback on their behalf. Cases have also come to light where there have been blatant attempts by institutions to persuade students to artificially inflate their approval ratings; in one particular instance, a lecturer at Kingston University told students that "if [we] come bottom ... no one is going to want to employ you because they'll think your degree is shit". The survey is also subject to manipulation by universities who incentivise an extremely high turnout. This waters down the impact of so-called 'complainers', who are far more likely to complete the survey out

of their own volition. Despite these apparent flaws, the NSS should be embraced as a useful tool for engaging with students on the elements of their degree that need to be improved. Proponents of the survey note that, as a direct result of its introduction, many institutions have introduced measures to constantly review student feedback. Regardless of any imbalances in the ways the survey is conducted between different universities, it allows them to effectively monitor areas where they have improved year-on-year or where standards are falling within institutions or from the perspective of students. The survey forces institutions to be more accountable to students and serves to identify key weakness that students' unions can then campaign on to see addressed. Recent improvements of the library and of campus accommodation, along with the expansion of Heslington East campus can be seen as attempts by the university to improve the student experience, but York is still woefully under performing in this area. Cantor's replacement must focus on delivering for existing students rather than on constant expansion, so that the university's placing in the various student satisfaction tables does not undermine its strong academic reputation.

A UNITED KINGDOM?

THE COUNTRY SHOULD COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE OLYMPICS THIS SUMMER the marathon, as well as the live sites and the buzz of a city hosting the Olympics with millions of visitors from around the world experiencing the city. For those living outside the capital however, there is much less to offer, aside from a few football group matches dotted around the country. Though it wasn’t just London that footed

All this may seem to suggest that far from embracing London 2012, we may be expected to show ambivalence towards it, but this would be exactly the wrong attitude to take the bill for the games, it appears it might just be London that gets to benefit from them. All this may seem to suggest that far from embracing London 2012, we may be expected to show ambivalence towards it, but this would be the wrong attitude to

take. The Olympics are always hosted by a city, not an entire country, so there should be no surprise in the fact that most of the venues are situated in the capital and the South East. But the athletes are competing under the name Team GB, not Team London, and we should come together as a country to support them. The Gaskell-esque divide between the north and south of this country has gone on for far too long. Instead of being unsupportive of one another, with southerners complaining about the High Speed Railway and northerners about the Olympics, we should instead try to come together to celebrate an event which has the idea of unity at its core. If the world can come together to join in such a fantastic sporting event than why can't our little island do the same? This is an exciting year for the UK, with both the Olympics and Queen's Jubilee and we should take advantage of it. Being involved in the Olympics isn’t necessarily about being at the events themselves, there were never enough tickets and most of them are outside of our student price range. When Lord Coe spoke about the legacy of the games he was talking about the continuation of the Olympic spir-

it, of increased participation in sport, not just about the venues that will be around for public use for generations. There are live sites situated in every major city in the UK, areas where thousands of people can come together to enjoy the best and most exciting events on offer. The organisers of the games have done everything possible to give everybody a chance to feel involved, it is just up to us whether or not we choose to make the most of that opportunity. Hosting the Olympic Games is about home advantage, national spirit and showing the world what a great city we have to offer. Victories at home are always sweeter than victories abroad, and we should make the most of what is likely to be the only Olympics we’ll see in Britain in our lifetime. Admittedly, some will feel like they have paid for something they will never properly get to enjoy, and a balanced ticketing system could have helped to correct this perception. Nevertheless, there is no better chance to enjoy the Olympic games than when they are being hosted by your home nation and we should make sure that we do not let those 17 days pass us by.

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8 COMMENT

THE VOICE OF

YORK VISION

Vision Says...

t's about time... Way back in May 2010 we revealed how York students were effectively footing the bill for University Vice-Chancellor Brian Cantor's lavish lifestyle, with our fees contributing to such needless expenses as a £90 limousine trip from campus to Heslington East. On 1st May however, it was revealed that Cantor is to step down from his position at the end of the 2012/13 academic year. With his departure, we will hopefully gain a replacement who is less inclined to spend university money on extra bubbles for his jacuzzi and more study space for his own personal library and will actually bother to turn up to take part in the annual Roses croquet match (thankfully Deputy Vice-Chancellor Jane Grenville more than capably stepped into his beautifully handmade brogues on this occasion). Despite his status as a universally hated man however, we can't help but feel that, in a strange way, he will be missed. Cantor has been at the university since 2002 and when he leaves after over a decade in charge, we're going to have to find someone else to blame for our slide down the university rankings and a new butt for all of our jokes. Let's be honest here though, as soon as we find out Brian's replacement, I think we know who that person is going to be. Who'd be a VC?

Thumbs up to...

e hate to say it, but the University of Lancaster, for putting on a fantastic Roses tournament, and also to York's sportsmen and women who got very close to victory considering we were playing away. The Lancaster sports facilities were exceptional; not only were all the pitches in immaculate condition but they even had a climbing wall and a pool that was able to cater for the likes of canoe polo. Of our white rose heroes, special mention must go to the York Centurions and the men's hockey thirds who won at Roses for the first time in the history of the tournament, the Centurions with a dramatic touchdown in the game's final stages. The men's rugby club continued their history of domination by once again coming away with a whitewash, whilst some unexpected gems came in the form of the men's darts and water polo, at which York were inspired to victory by some extremely vocal support. Our loss overall just proves that us Yorkies are too loyal to play away...

Thumbs down to...

he York men's football club. Despite what we said above, this was one club who did not do their university proud. Several members of the club were spotted out drinking in LUSU nightclub Sugar House the night before their big fixtures on Sunday, and it was perhaps fitting that Roses was won by Lancaster when they defeated UYAFC 1st XI by three goals to one after they fell away towards the end of the game. Not only did the club harm their own chances of winning in the tournament but their behaviour on returning to the lecture hall-cum-bedroom in the early hours also woke up many members of clubs who decided to take their games a little more seriously. For some reason, our football club don't seem to care about the largest inter-university sports competition in Europe, and, you never know, had they managed to win their matches we could be celebrating an unlikely rare away victory. Let's hope the College Cup makes up for it.

FAILURE TO FAIL

YORK VISION

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

WILLIAM LAWRENCE

THE FEAR OF FAILURE IS CRIPPLING BRITISH EDUCATION AND KILLING CREATIVITY

new study published by the American Psychological Association has shown that children perform better in school if they acknowledge failure as part of the learning process. On tasks such as anagram problems and reading comprehension, researchers found that children who were told it’s normal to fail and tried again did better than those not receiving this pep talk. “Fear of failing can hijack the working memory resources, a core component of intellectual ability,” the researchers said. “Fear of failing not only hampers performance, it can also lead students to avoid difficulty and therefore the opportunities to develop new skills.” Yet Britain’s education system is fuelled by this fear of failure. Lurking around every corner is the threat of an Ofsted inspection. Students are burdened with a crushing routine of assessment after assessment: back in 2008 an international report revealed English children were tested more frequently, at a younger age, and in more subjects than children from any other country. Public education here seems fixed on the same goals as when it was created back in the 19th century: to create effective workers capable of meeting the needs of industrialism - that is, risk-averse and targetmeeting drones. The rise of academy-status for schools under Michael Gove, far from

relieving this fear, is aggravating it. By encouraging more competition between schools, academy-status furthers the pressure for attractive pass rates and positions on league tables. Academy-status advances the culture of schools being run as a business, where all staff are accountable for results under pressure from a management team bidding to push the school’s reputation. The better the pass rates, the better the reputation and so the more students; and the more students, the more money.

Students must be given the space to imagine; a space insulated from timelines, targets and expectations All this fear in schools completely kills any creativity or ingenuity and can only serve to create blank generations incapable or unwilling to adapt and innovate in a rapidly changing world. Imaginative activity which the government clearly sees as a waste of time, as is evident in massive cuts to arts budgets, is actually what can best propel Britain into the future. As William Blake wrote, “What is now proved was once only imagin’d”. Students must be given the space to imagine; a space insulated from timelines, targets and expectations;

a space free from the fear of failure. So where can space be found for this in schools? With schools being run like businesses, perhaps they can learn from the real business world. 3M, a multinational corporation now with over £20 billion in annual sales, launched a program in 1948 to promote creativity and innovation within its workforce: ‘15 percent time’. 15 percent time allows 3M’s employees 15 percent of their working week to work on their own individual projects. Many of the inventions the employees came up with are well known household products now: post-It notes, masking tape, clear bandages and are generating real profit for the company. Many of the projects failed and yet, importantly, that failure was accepted in the company culture. Why not, then, allow teachers the room to let students loose on their own curriculum-based personal projects? With no anticipated outcome or predetermined answer there could be no fear of failure. Without the confinement of the four walls of a sports hall and a ticking clock for an hour, insights would be allowed to surface anywhere. Teachers could teach to engage interest and enquiry. Rather than teaching for the test, teachers could teach to engage interest. This is what the world needs: not people who are prepared for their exams and work, but people who have come alive.

IT'S JUST NOT KOSHER

MAX SUGARMAN

uring the Easter break, the National Union of Students held their annual conference in Sheffield, an event where hundreds of delegates from around the country flocked to decide the policies, elections and stance of the NUS in the coming year. When the conference came to a close on the 29th April, it was seen to have been mostly successful, with only one incident tarnishing a generally well planned meeting. That incident was the vandalism of a Union of Jewish Student’s (UJS) stall by Pro-Palestine campaigners. The stall, which represents thousands of Jewish students across the UK, was covered with ‘boycott Israel’ stickers, a move which has once again thrown the Israel-Palestine debate into the student political sphere. Like an unwelcome guest at a party, the act tarnished the NUS Conference, leaving a bad taste in everyone’s mouths. Of course, the incident quickly entered the blogosphere, where the debate became centred on whether the vandalism had been an act of anti-Semitism. As the issue became viral, the arguments on each side became more emotional, and, as often happens with such disagreements, reason swiftly picked up its bags and left. The claims of anti-Semitism arose from the fact that some stickers were placed on top of the Star of David, a holy symbol in the Jewish religion that

ANTI-ZIONIST PROTESTS MUST BE CAREFUL TO NOT BE SEEN AS ANTI-SEMITIC adorns the UJS logo. As the Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sachs aptly put it, the act was ‘an indication of the increasingly blurred line between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism’. Sachs has managed to articulate the problem particularly well; that the fragile line that separates a form of racism from a political outlook is not one that is very well defined, a problem we undeniably have to sort out if we ever want to make any headway on the issue.

The vandalism of the stall was unquestionably unwarranted. The NUS Conference is far from the place to try to score political points As always, pointing the finger does little to help. Both the Pro-Palestine groups and the UJS should be striving to make it harder for such confusion to happen. Before any political demonstration or protest, anti-Zionist students should think about who they are aiming at. Boycotting a Jewish event without inquiring as to whether it has anything to do with Israel will do little to help your argument and will only make Jewish students feel victimised and discriminated against. Yet, the UJS must also try to make its stance clear. As an organisa-

tion with close ties to pro-Israel groups, it must realise that if it wishes to keep these links it must be prepared to see at least some political opposition, political opposition that it shouldn’t try to muffle by simply branding as anti-Semitism. The UJS needs to make it clear whether it is a non-political group that supports Jewish students across the UK, or whether it is also a group that wants to advocate on behalf of Israel. The vandalism of the stall was unquestionably unwarranted. The NUS Conference, a time for students to come together as one cohesive group, is far from the place to try to score political points. The act will only divide and anger people and will do little to help the antiZionist movement. Still, the issues it has brought up over the relationship between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism should not be ignored. Was it an anti-Semitic attack? I would like to think not and that the people who covered the UJS logo with stickers simply saw the Star of David as part of the logo of a Zionist organisation, and not as a symbol of the entire Jewish people. Yet, I hope those people learn that while the Star of David is on the Israeli flag, it is not a political emblem, but one that encompasses an entire group of people across the world. If we can managed to separate acts of anti-Semitism from acts of anti-Zionism, the debate amongst students may become a lot less heated, and hopefully more productive.

YORK VISION

COMMENT

Wednesday May 9, 2012

DON'T SAY BI CHRISTOPHER PEAKIN

Olivia Waring

BRIAN CANTOR PREPARES TO BOARD HIS ALL EXPENSES PAID HELICOPTER FLIGHT OUT OF YORK

SHOULD SECOND AND THIRD YEARS HAVE PRIORITY SEATING IN THE LIBRARY? STEPHANIE ZENA CROWE JARJIS

s a third year student currently facing the daunting prospect of the rapidly approaching end of my undergradate degree, I have a lot of work to do right now. I’ve always found myself getting more done in a day spent studying in the library than I ever could in one spent ‘studying’ (i.e. expertly procrastinating) at home. Despite the increased availability of course and wider reading material online, a project such as a dissertation still requires the use of quite a few actual books. However, I have recently come to think of the library as a last resort, visiting only to grab the books I need and make a swift exit. Despite the library now being open 24 hours a day, unless you’re willing to start work incredibly early in the morning or become nocturnal, you’re highly unlikely to find a study space in there. Considering all the work that has been done to expand and improve the library over the past two years, it seems unfair that there still isn’t room for all of the students who would like to work there at normal times in the day. Based on my experiences, the problem seems to worsen when exams and deadlines are on the horizon. For the majority of subjects at York, the first year of study only ‘counts’ to the extent that students must pass it in order to continue with their course. Surely this means that their need for library resources and a quiet, comfortable space is not nearly as pressing as that of a student whose grades in

YES NO

upcoming assessments will actually have a significant effect on their final degree classification? If the library can’t provide study space for all of us, it should at least prioritise those of us who have the greatest need for its facilities. First years: I’m sure most of you have been sleeping soundly at night (or perhaps through the morning and the inevitable hangover) since October, safe in the knowledge that the work you’ve been doing ‘doesn’t count anyway’. Everyone else: when you think back to your first year, can you honestly remember any of the finer details of the stuff you studied? Probably not. You’re much more likely to remember the madness of Freshers’ Week, meeting the people who are now your best friends and the celebratory nights out after your exams, than anything you might have written or studied. This summer will be a crucial time for students whose exams count towards their degree, namely second and third -years. Those who only need to get 40% should realise that we are working not only to pass but to find a job and leave York with the best prospects possible. I’m sure you’ll agree that first year is for being sociable, getting to grips with a new way of life and enjoying yourself in the process. Yes, you came here to get a degree but you might as well make the most of the relative lack of academic pressure in your life while you have the chance. Now please take your ‘whispered’ conversation somewhere else so this old woman can study…

ith summer exams fast approaching, first, second and third year students everywhere have been flocking to libraries in search of a quiet place free of distractions to revise. Competition for seats is increasing, which has led to stressed and frustrated second and third year students pondering the idea of a complicated priority seating system in the library. Anyone who wants such a system underestimates the importance of first year exams as well as the amount of effort and money required to establish priority seating. The main problem with the introduction of priority seating in the library is the difficulty of implementing such a system. New university cards which specify whether a student is a first, second or third-year would have to be issued, which would be costly and difficult to organise, as would the establishment of a special area which first-years would be forbidden from entering. The replacement of thousands of university cards and the refurbishment of the library is far too disruptive a measure to go to just for the sake of ensuring that second and third-years have somewhere to sit. Further, the proposed system would be almost impossible to monitor. What would stop freshers from taking seats intended for second and third years regardless? How would a students in the latter years go about identifying a first year and asking

them to give up their seat? This is not as simple as giving up a seat on the bus for an elderly, pregnant or disabled person. To argue that second and third years deserve priority over first years in the library is to argue that the first year of university is not as important as the succeeding ones; a misjudged generalisation made far too often. For first year students applying for summer internships, achieving good exam results is crucial. Similarly, a medic's first year is just as important as any other. Many first years rely on library resources just as much as second and third years. While these first years could be given priority too, this would result in complicating the system further and would create inequality amongst freshers. Even if second and third years were no longer competing with first years for seats, they would still be competing with each other. The library simply is not big enough to ever ensure that every single student will be able to find a seat, regardless of whether or not first years are excluded from the establishment. Priority seating will not make the library any bigger. It would be ridiculous to give further priority amongst students already given priority over first years and even amongst the reserved seats, students would have to revert to the current first come, first served system. There is no point in disrupting this current fair, simple system for a completely unnecessary cause.

ecently, an unauthorised biography of singer Jessie J claimed that she was lesbian, despite the fact that she had come out as bisexual in 2011. The biography dismissed Jessie J’s sexual identity as something music executives thought would be trendier, and less alienating to male fans than a lesbian identity. The problem with this, aside from the fact that Jessie J denied the claims and said that she would be upfront if she were a lesbian, is the attempt to explain away bisexual identity. Other celebrities such as Harry Potter stars Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe have gay rumours following them. Emma Watson said that her short hairstyle lead to the press speculating that she was a lesbian. Daniel Radcliffe has had similar rumours, despite his relationships with women. No one considers for a second that they may be bisexual. The fact that the media only seeks to separate people into either gay or straight shows how bisexuality is not even considered as a viable option; a fact that has serious effects on the bisexual and LGBT community. The lack of attention that bisexuality receives, especially with respect to the LGBT rights movement, can have negative effects on those who identify as bi. People who identify as bisexual can be dismissed as confused, undecided, greedy, homosexuals in denial, or attention-seeking heterosexuals. All of these slurs have one thing in common: they attempt to forge a flimsy argument against the existence of bisexuality. This idea of attempting to shrug it off is known as bisexual erasure, which is linked with the strange idea that if a bisexual individual is in a relationship, they become either gay or straight, depending on the gender of their partner. If the existence of bisexuality, and with it the sexual orientation of bisexual people is denied, this can have profoundly negative consequences for those affected. If it is not discussed, then how can we deal with problems that are unique to them? Do we lump them in with gay issues, and add further to the belief that bisexuality doesn’t exist? How do we help people who want to come out as bisexual to their family, friends, and their straight/gay partners? If it’s not seen as even possible, never mind acceptable, to be bisexual, this can lead to massive amounts of confusion amongst questioning youths. This is highlighted by Evan Rachel Wood, one of the stars in True Blood. Wood came out as bisexual in 2011, and she had to stress that her identity was real, rather than a one-woman phase, knowing that she had been attracted to men and women for as long as she can remember. Wood also said that no one explains bisexuality to children. Young people who think they are bisexual may grow up being scared of it, similar to young people who think they are gay. If bisexuality gets the attention it deserves, and a consensus that it is just as valid as any other orientation is formed, then this can make things easier for all those in the ‘bi closet’. Furthermore, Wood’s co-star Anna Paquin, who also came out as bisexual in 2010, said that biphobia needs to be addressed. It seems incredible that we have to go to extraordinary lengths to merely acknowledge the existence of bisexuality. Whilst doing this won’t necessarily eradicate all the stereotypes and doubts directed at these individuals, it is a good first step. If society and the media were more willing to talk about bisexuality, negative stereotypes about it can be tackled head on. It can also help to make sure that bisexual individuals are allowed to have their say in the fight for LGBT liberation.

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10 SATIRE

YORK VISION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

THE SKETCH By Nicholas Dunn-McAfee and Leon Morris

CVs FOR VC

Following Brian Cantor's resignation, Vision assess the biggest contenders for York Uni's top job:

NAME: TIM ELLIS CURRENT ROLE: CROQUET HERO LOOK-A-LIKE: RUPERT THE BEAR

Tim Ellis has recently secured an ATM for Hes East several years after proposing the plan. Generally inoffensive. Looks jolly friendly when he's smiling. Mums would love sending their children here.

NAME: SAM ASFAHANI CURRENT ROLE: SPORTS PREZ

ALLERGY: SHAVING

Some say he was blessed by the bear spirit in his youth. Others claim he has been the Sports President since the 1960s in different disguises. We're not sure he's ever leaving York...

Dear University Management,

NAME: KALLUM TAYLOR CURRENT ROLE: PRES ELECT ENJOYS: SMASHING CAPITALISM

Kallum is the outsider for the job. He's popular, charismatic and hands-on - everything a VC isn't. Apathy and a sense of entitlement would help his bid for Hes Hall/The World.

NAME:

CURRENT ROLE:

BRIAN GOODRICKE CAT AGE: 54 CAT YEARS

Everyone's favourite campus feline, Brian is no stranger. A strong candidate, Brian's fatcat status and love of student subsidised foot and accommodation shows he's more than able to fill Cantor's shoes.

CANTOR LEAK:

so I'd like to clarify a few of the main reasons I know my initial resignation might have been a shock to you, for me leaving this university: ersity. Yes, I realise that the fear that a duck is univ this at ing start since ia phob idae anat with gled strug I've seen them in the full fury of mating, you know watching me all the time sounds irrational, but if you've ever us, I just don't feel safe. Being the Vice-Chanwhat I'm on about. With birds breaking into everywhere in camp Europe, I obviously have outstandingly low excellor for an institution with the largest plastic bottom lake in to make my soul curl up and die. If they'd just pectations for this university. Still, students have still managed ning myself. Even with the 24 hour library, manage to actually achieve decent results, I'd feel less like drow ents seem to think their course isn't value for stud these of all Now ce. ligen intel basic lack to seem still they money! What more do they want?

FEATURES

YORK VISION Wednesday May 9, 2012

>Features

COURSES FOR HORSES

GEORGINA STRAPP on the changing course and danger to the horses at the Aintree Grand National track

ince its introduction in 1839, The Grand National has been at the pinnacle of Steeplechasing in England. And yet despite its prestige or perhaps because of it, the race is under more scrutiny than ever from animal rights activists after, for the second year in a row, two horses never made it off the course. John Farrant, an owner and trainer, has been involved in racing all his life. He has seen first hand the changes to the Aintree track between 1985,

on after watching his horse this year at Aintree is how "looking at the photos afterwards it was clear from his expression that [Herecomesthetruth] had thoroughly enjoyed himself.” Before City Boy’s success on the Aintree track he had in fact had very little racing experience, with most of his jumping experience coming from novice eventing (the three-phase competition with dressage, cross-country and show jumping). Despite the fact that City Boy went on to win over the same formidable jumps

"Looking at the photos afterwards, it was clear from his expression that [Herecomesthetruth] had thoroughly enjoyed himself" when he helped his wife Anne train her own City Boy, winner of the Aintree Foxhunter Chase, through to this year when the horse he owns in a syndicate, Herecomesthetruth completed the course in the Topham Chase. Many of those arguing against the race's existence at all would say that the horses ‘have no choice’ in competing and that is therefore only for the sake of the humans they are exerting themselves and putting themselves at risk. However Farrant disagrees: comparing the size and weight of a jockey with that of the horse, he says: “You can never make a horse do anything.” I don’t need to finish

seen in the Grand National, today’s horses must have a certain level of experience before they are allowed to compete. This is just one of the many measures introduced to ensure today that horses are safe to compete. The horse must now be at least 7 years old, have finished in the top four in a steeplechase of three miles or more, pass a rating system and panel assessment. The rider must also have won at least 15 races over jumps, and 10 steeplechases. As well as this a lot more care is taken, as research and technology has improved over horses’ health, both at the National and every other race throughout the year, on top

Neptune Collonges and Sunnyhillboy were neck to neck

the phrase that ‘you can take a horse to water…’. The refusals, as well as the horses who never make it to the top because they don’t want to put the effort in, make the figure of speech ring true. If they did not enjoy it they wouldn’t do it. One of the touching things Farrant commented

of care at home, to ensure that horses are physically capable of competing without harming themselves. Since City Boy jumped Becher’s Brook in 1985 the jump has been significantly altered. The most famous jump on the course, fourteen horse deaths have been

recorded as being known to have been as a result of Becher’s- compared to a maximum of 7 known at any other fence; it seems to deserve its reputation. Originally in 1839 there was an 8ft drop after the 5ft jump (so the landing side of the fence was 13ft) and nigh on every year since slight adjustments have been made. In 1989 there were 6 falls at the fence and so the remaining 1ft of water was reduced to one inch, and the v-shaped ditch on the landing side was altered so horses could not be trapped in it. In this year’s race the drop was reduced again to just 10 inches on the inside of the track and 6 inches on the outside. 1990 National winner Marcus Armytage told The Telegraph that no more changes should be made to the fence: “It is already a much safer obstacle than it was. If you are going to change that let’s have the world mountaineering championships in Norfolk” He also draws attention to the fact that there are not any drops

Becher's Brook with its ditch

behind the Cheltenham fences and yet there are still “plenty of fallers there”. Alterations have been made to the course ever since its conception where the obstacles, which were on ploughed land rather than turf, included a formidable 4ft 8ins high stone wall which was removed after two horses crashed through it in 1843. Farrant is of the opinion that overall improvements have been good. For him the best improvement has been making sure the ground is on the soft side; "it slows horses down and makes it slightly softer for falls." However making the ground any softer than 'good to soft', could easily have more negative effects. In 2001 the ground was very heavy and only four horses finished the race. It makes the fences more difficult and tires out the horses a lot faster, pulling on their joints and ligaments. On top of this it discriminates against those

horses that run better on firmer ground. As an experienced racing presenter, Claire Balding has been involved in racing from an early age as her father was a trainer. On her Twitter after this year’s Grand National she declared

are less resilient. Farrant also draws attention to the statistic that overall, 60% of injuries to horses occur when they are in their fields rather than when they are being ridden. Despite the drastic changes to the course at Aintree in the

Synchronised (number one) fell at Becher's Brook this year

that the horses are now "going too fast, and there are too many runners." She specifies fields numbering between 27 and 37 between 1994 and 1999, compared to the limit which is set at 40 today. Whilst her argument that “when fields were smaller, horses had more room to land” may be justified there are other factors reducing the horses’ room to land and therefore their safety. This year the field was down to 20 by the time According to Pete fell, and the limit of 40 is already significantly safer than the 66 runners that went in 1929. Farrant says that they have “reduced the field to a safe number for such a wide track, without

last few decades to make it easier and theoretically safer, since 1990 (inclusive) there have still been 21 horse deaths at the Grand National. Whilst earlier records may not be as reliable, the first 22 years, by contrast, had just 12. This is the period where the jumps were at their biggest and most difficult, and the safety precautions such as space for jumps to be bypassed and large groundlines for horses to judge the jumps were minimal. It might just be bad luck, or bad record keeping, but the figures nonetheless suggest that the argument that making the course easier has lead to increased speed and therefore more danger to the

"It was in fact whilst running riderless that Synchronised broke his leg, causing him to be euthanised, rather than in his fall" reducing the spectacle." He says that the problems arise more from how today the horses are encouraged to crowd the inside track, as the jumps are no longer significantly easier towards the outside of the track and it is this that creates the danger. Furthermore today's horses are bred more for speed and therefore have lighter frames, making their bones not much bigger and stronger than those of a human. Therefore now they are more prone to injury as their frames

horses, has a strong basis. Furthermore, flat races also sometimes result in horse fatalities and it was in fact whilst running riderless Synchronised broke his leg, causing him to have to be euthanised, rather than in his fall. These factors combined suggest that the sizes of the jumps are not, and should not, be taken to be the main issue when it comes to horse welfare throughout the horse racing industry, and especially at the world-famous Grand National.

12FEATURES

YORK VISION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

PUMPING F

CAITLIN GREEN examines the disastrous effects of the Niger Delta oil spill on the l

n 2008 two large Shell Oil spills in the Niger Delta leaked around 4,000 barrels a day for ten weeks. This was larger than the 1989 spill in Alaska by Exxon Valdez. As they have not cleaned up these spills and continue to pump for profit, Shell Oil repeatedly violates human rights and environmental standards in the Niger Delta. It has been reported that after Shell learned of the spill, it was decided that it was less profitable to close the pipelines and clean up, so operations were kept open. I was first drawn to this issue at the Amnesty International Student Conference in 2011. Two speakers came to the conference and gave an in-depth presenta-

Amnesty International stresses that Shell must “Own up, Pay up, Clean up”. This campaign falls under a wider umbrella of corporate accountability. Amnesty UK defines this as “a responsibility which all companies have to respect human rights in their operations”. Human rights abuses are particularly high in the extractive industry which is to be expected, considering the impact that such operations have on land and water resources. The region that we are specifically talking about it called Bodo in Ogoniland. We are finally at a point where Shell had conceded that it has some responsibility to clean up the area, yet we must continue to push for a compre-

The region needs the world's largest ever oil clean-up, which will cost an initial $1 billion and take 30 years tion on what is happening in the Niger Delta. One was a lawyer from a human rights law firm based in London. The other was a specialist on the Shell Oil in the Niger Delta case. Both had been to the area and seen the widespread impact and devastation to the communities living there. It is not just the water that has been ruined by Shell’s carelessness: the ecosystem suffers and trees are covered in the black sticky substance. It has become a place where grass, animals and people are struggling to survive.

hensive cleanup and adequate compensation to the Bodo community. According to the United Nations the region needs the world's largest ever oil clean-up, which will cost an initial $1 billion and take 30 years. There was recently a report conducted in Nigeria based on two years of in-depth scientific research. It found that oil contamination in Ogoniland is widespread and severe, and that people in the Niger Delta have been exposed to this contamination for decades.

Amnesty International Society's recent protest on campus

The report provides irrefutable evidence of the devastating impact of oil pollution on people’s lives in the Delta. This area is one of Africa’s most biodiverse regions and the report examines the damage to agriculture and fisheries. It has destroyed the livelihoods and food sources of 69,000 people. The level of contamination in the drinking water in the Niger Delta poses serious health risks. This pollution has exposed these communities to an appalling human rights violation. A doctor in the Bodo community has been tracking the advancing cancer rates in his population for the last few years. Shell refuses to accept responsibility for these statistics yet people in this community are dying because of its corporate mentality. In one case, water was found to contain a known carcinogen at levels 900 times above World Health Organisation guidelines. The UN report has recommended emergency measures to alert communities to the danger. This problem is not solely related to the two spills in 2008. The UN Development Program (UNDP) says that more than 6,800 spills were recorded between 1976 and 2001 in the Niger Delta. Many experts believe that due to under-reporting, the true figures may be far higher. Under Nigerian regulations oil companies must clean up all oil spills. However, these regulations are not enforced. In an Amnesty International interview with a local fisherman, he said: “If you want to go fishing, you have to paddle for about four hours through several rivers before you can get to where you can catch fish and the spill is lesser… some of the fishes we catch, when you open the stomach, it smells of crude oil”. This situation is affecting a population that survives on fishing and farming. The water has been polluted by the leaking oil for miles out of the Niger Delta. Pictures of fish have been shown with tumours and other deformities caused by the toxins in the environment. It is inconceivable to think about the toxins that Shell Petroleum Development Company is knowingly exposing these people to. We have come to a point where they are breaching basic human rights and they are getting away with it. Overall, there seems to be a simple and clear message which has repeatedly stemmed from this situation in the Niger Delta. The people in Bodo can no longer create a livelihood out of fishing. Subsequently, they cannot subsist by growing and catching their own food.

The oil spill has had harmful environmental effects, making

These oil companies are getting away with gross violations simply because they are not being held accountable. According to Forbes magazine, Shell is the fifth largest company in the world (and the second-largest energy company) and one of the six oil and gas 'supermajors'. Although there are other companies drilling in the Niger

We must demand that Shell pay an initial $1 billion to start cleaning up. This issue and oil leakage with Shell is clearly an ongoing problem. On a positive note, the publicising of this knowledge has finally started to gain momentum and attract recent press coverage. On the 10th of November 2011, The Guardian ran an arti-

The UN Development Program ( spills were recorded between 1976 a experts believe that due to under-r far hi Delta, Shell is responsible for the pipelines and maintenance of the oil extraction equipment. As Shell is a UK based company they care about what we in the UK think. Therefore, Amnesty UK can effectively apply pressure on a company which wants support within the UK. According to the UNDP, more than 60% of the people in the Ogoniland region depend on the natural environment for their livelihood, which underlines the gravity of this situation.

cle addressing the issue, with the headline “Shell must pay $1bn to deal with Niger Delta oil spills, Amnesty urges”. Our Power as Students Overall, student involvement is key as we are Shell’s potential work force. Not only does Shell feel uncomfortable in the face of increasing student antagonism, but it has actually gone so far as to threaten students involved in Amnesty International societies

YORK VISION

FEATURES

Wednesday May 9, 2012

FOR PROFIT

local people, and the vital role of students in pressuring Shell to compensate

g fishing and farming practically impossible for the locals

by saying that they were “impacting their future job prospects”. Obviously, Shell is a company which aims to achieve its goals through force and intimidation. University of York Amnesty International Society has just completed an action on campus and we will be doing another action at the Shell Petrol Station on Hull Road. Here we will dress

into investment policies of the University to see if they have any connections with Shell. Amnesty doesn’t actively encourage disinvestment but it is interesting to question why the University is investing in Shell or perhaps why certain departments have funding from Shell. Another type of effective action is targeting careers fairs at

(UNDP) says that more than 6,800 and 2001 in the Niger Delta. Many reporting the true figures may be igher up in our white boiler suits and hand out leaflets, pretend to clean the petrol station with brushes and brooms and force customers to rethink the company which they are supporting. It is not surprising that Shell boasts one of the lowest petrol prices in York if it cuts costs through the violation of indigenous communities. However, we have the power to effect change within Shell and stand up to corporations who do not respect basic human rights. It is also worthwhile to look

which Shell representatives are present. Amnesty points out that we are not necessarily challenging Shell employees about why they work for Shell, it is more a question of getting them to think about Shell’s actions and encouraging them to think about Shell as a company. There are not any planned careers fairs at York at which Shell representatives will be present, however, other Universities have used them as opportunities to express their disapproval of Shell’s actions. It

is these events which instigated Shell’s meetings with two Amnesty international chairs at other Universities in the UK. To put things into perspective, The Guardian has broken down Shell’s annual earnings of £18 billion to £2.2 million every hour. It wouldn’t take more than two weeks of profit for them to clean up their act in the Niger Delta but, instead, human rights violations grow bigger every day and it is a struggle to get Shell to admit accountability. This is not just a question of Shell Oil in the Niger Delta. It is also a larger statement of corporate accountability and the way in which we, the public, maintain control over what happens to our environment and the way in which people can be treated. Although Shell has admitted some responsibility for the oil spills which have taken place, it has been four years since the large spill in 2008. Unfortunately, the total impact of the spill has never been thoroughly assessed and the Bodo people are waiting for Shell to clean up and compensate them. Amnesty reports that one fisherman said: “They keep telling us, ‘Shell is coming soon’, but Shell has not come. I have not seen anyone from Shell”. There are many cases where corporations abuse their power and their ties with the government to destroy local communities either directly or through exploitation of their resources. The Monsanto Company in the USA sues organic farmers whose crops they ruin. It is a company which genetically modifies corn, contaminates crops and is wiping out indigenous corn varieties in Mexico with their GMO corn and low corn prices. Veolia, a French water company, has exploited local communities bordering the Great Lakes on the East Coast of North America, and Foster Farms, a company which produces poor quality chicken meat, is abusing the tenant farmers who supply them by keeping them in a cyclical state of debt. This isn’t just an issue about Shell Oil in the Niger Delta. There is a wider message to be delivered here as the individual voice stands up to the corporate voice.

Please type in the link below to add your name to a petition to Peter Voser, Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell: www.amnesty.org.uk/ shell/

AMNESTY ON CAMPUS

This term we will be focusing on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Currently there is a big push for a global and comprehensive treaty that regulates the arms trade. In July, world leaders will meet to discuss and create the first International Arms Trade Treaty. We are calling for the UK Prime Minister to support a Bulletproof ATT at this conference. Amnesty International calling for a Treaty that:

>“Protects human rights by guaranteeing that any transfer of arms is stopped if there is evidence that they are likely to be used in violation of international human rights or humanitarian law. >Is comprehensive so as to include all types of conventional weapons and equipment and all transfers and transactions, including those undertaken by middlemen. >Is enforceable and transparent to ensure all governments must adopt strong national rules and regulations and publicly report on their arms sale so they can be held accountable for their actions. >Enters into force because, believe it or not, even once the Treaty is agreed it will only be binding if a set number of states introduce national legislation to ratify it. This number is to be determined at the final negotiations in July.”

There are treaties which regulate the exchange of bananas and dinosaur bones, and yet there is nothing to regulate the arms trade at this point in time. Currently at least 1,500 people die every day as a result of armed violence and conflict. For more information, go to the link below and add your signature to this petition to David Cameron: www.amnesty.org.uk/arms/

Amnesty in Schools We will be beginning a new campaign this term to go into local schools in York and set up Amnesty International groups. Personally, having an Amnesty International group in my school is how I became involved and Amnesty has lots of materials available for us to use in schools to get children involved. We will be starting with Millthorpe School and we will go into the assembly for years 9,10 and 11 to tell them what Amnesty International is about. We also have a teacher on board who will make sure the group continues long after we have set it up. Anyone who is keen to get involved is welcome to come to our Amnesty International group meeting every Monday, or email us on the address below. If you cannot make the meetings, let us know or find us on Facebook and see how you can get involved.

Interested in joining University of York Amnesty International Group (UYAI)? Search for us on Facebook or come to one of our meetings on Mondays at 6:30pm in Wentworth: Room W/222. We also have a weekly Amnesty Radio show called Jamnesty. Listen to us at www.ury.york.ac.uk. on Tuesdays 6-7pm for some groovy tunes and human rights talk. In the last few weeks of every term we have a music event called Jamnesty. Keep your ears and eyes peeled for information about the date, time and theme. If you are interested in joining the group, have questions about the article or would like to be a guest speaker on our radio show, email us at: amnesty@yusu.org

14 FEATURES

YORK VISION Wednesday May 9, 2012

THIRTY YEARS ON

JOE GIBBONS on the ongoing Falkland Islands controversy after 30 years of peace

hirty years ago from the start of our new term, a hastily assembled British task force was sailing towards the Falklands. The 14th of June, during which many of us will be working for our exams, will mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the war. In the Falklands this day will be celebrated as liberation day. For the Falkland Islanders this is more than a commemoration. They live with the ever-present reminders of the war; 117 minefields are still scattered across the islands and their nearest neighbour and former occupier commemorates not the end of the war, but the beginning. Today the Falklands are a prosperous community of just over 3000 people who fully support themselves in all areas bar defence (which costs 0.5% of the UK’s defence budget). After the war in 1982, Westminster provided the support the islands needed to develop. The economy, once dominated by wool, is now based around fishing, agriculture and tourism. Soon oil and gas extraction may join the list. It is not a coincidence that hydrocarbon exploration (with reserves worth £115bn in taxes and royalties) has coincided with increasingly punitive actions and hysterical rhetoric from Buenos Aires. Argentina continues to claim the islands as part of its own territory. In her speech during Argentine commemorations of the Falklands war on the second of April, the Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner called the islands ‘a colonialist enclave’. These commemorations took place in the city of Ushuaia, the city Argentina has

The Falkland Islands: 4700 sq miles of international tension

determined and angry with Argentina” though “the recent denial of access to cruise ships which had called into Stanley (The Falklands capital) to Ushuaia (the capital of the Tierra del Fuego province), if it forces operators to stop calling at Stanley could be very damaging as many islanders make a nice living in the summer from offering trips, tours and gifts to the still 40,000 annual cruise ship visitors”. However this policy has also caused heavy monetary losses and opposition in Ushuaia itself. Currently Argentina is aiming at companies involved in oil and gas production in the Falklands, recently threatening them with legal action if they are involved in ‘illegal’ (without Ar-

"It seems unlikely that Brazil would alienate large international companies and damage herself just to placate her annoying little neighbour..." named as the capital of the Falklands despite the city being 482 miles away. The ‘recovery’ of the Falklands has even been written into the Argentine constitution as a "permanent and unwavering goal of the Argentine people", and recent polls suggest that the overwhelming majority of Argentines view it as such. The measures Argentina has taken to force the islanders to cede sovereignty (such as the banning of charter flights across Argentina’s airspace) have been counter-productive. As John Foster, the Group Managing Director of Falklands Islands Holdings told Vision “it has made them [the islanders] even more

gentine permission) drilling in the Falklands, even doing as little as providing banking services for extraction companies. Fortunately the development of this sector requires no Argentine support. As Foster explained “even if Argentina was the friendliest country in the world there would be very little need for any production company to look to the mainland for logistical or technical support. Oil would be collected in huge tethered floating tankers and decanted straight into tankers for shipment to distant refineries; it would not go to shore. A gas discovery would require a giant liquifying plant on shore and a pipeline and ar-

guably this might be cheaper to build if South American infrastructure was available but this is not essential”. Additionally the Falklands Islands Government is seeking to build a deep water port in support of the developing hydrocarbon industry. As for the recent actions announced by Argentina against companies involved in Falklands oil exploration Foster told Vision that “If legal action only took place in Argentina then it would be less problematic but if Brazil recognised the validity of Argentina's claims to damages then the impact would be more far reaching. The UK government has been working overtime on maintaining good links with Brazil and it seems unlikely that Brazil would alienate large international companies and damage herself just to placate her annoying little neighbour to the South and her pet, mad cap claims”. Despite the best efforts of the Argentine government the Falklands has maintained links to the rest of South America. There is a regular flight each Saturday to Chile (which Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has threatened to stop but has so far been unable to) and a private cargo flight from Uruguay is being established. However the once twice-weekly supply boat run to Chile has been disrupted by Argentine pressure and the Falkland Islanders “wait to see if this once very active link will re-establish itself ”. For the moment the measures of the Argentine government seem to have been largely ineffectual and mainly aimed at pacifying a domestic audience. Regional support for Argentina’s claim has been lukewarm at best; when Falklands flagged vessels were banned from entering Mercosur ports, Mercosur members

quickly pointed out that there is no such ban against boats flying the red ensign (which all Falklands flagged vessels have the right to do) and neither would there ever be. The Argentine attempt to drum up support at the United Nations over the UK’s militarisation of the South At-

which recognise the Falklands as British territory. The UN has not published any resolutions on the Falklands since 1988, which called on the two parties to resolve the conflict peacefully (essentially a plea for neither country to start a war). Additionally Argentine trade policies are alienating much of the international community; the USA, the EU and a number of other countries, including Chile, Peru and Mexico (who support Argentine sovereignty over the islands) are considering WTO sanctions against Argentina for its protectionist practices. As a coherent campaign to gain the Falklands, Argentine policy makes no sense. However, the policy does make sense when we consider that independent reports put inflation at almost 30%, figures the government has made it illegal to report, insisting that inflation remains at roughly 10%. Argentina is heading for economic collapse, with capital fleeing the country and increasing import restrictions; the Falklands issue make a nice distraction. While currently there seems to be little threat to the sovereignty and rights of the Falkland Islanders, I feel we should not

"As a coherent campaign to gain the Falklands, Argentine policy makes no sense" lantic proved to be a farce, with photos of Britain’s advanced military radar proving to be of a radar station operated by the University of Leicester to study the ionosphere. There is little international interest in the conflict; however in terms of at least nominal support, while Argentina has Mercosur, Britain has the EU and the Commonwealth, both of

forget our fellow citizens who live at the edge of our territory and who everyday demonstrate very British virtues of resilience and ingenuity. Attempts by the Argentine government to harm them and their way of life must be resisted. This is not just because they are British but because they are entitled to universal human rights which we and the world claim to uphold.

The Argentine Claim Argentina claims that she inherited the Spanish claim to the Falklands via the principle of uti possidetis juris, that the British renounced their claim in the Nootka Convention, that Britain illegally removed the Argentine colony in 1833 and that Argentina has protested this continuously. However the argument is problematic: • Uti possidetis juris is not an accepted principle of international law. • Whether Britain renounced its claim to the Falklands in the Nootka Convention is disputed. • The majority of the colonists were removed by the USA. • The remaining colonists were urged to stay by the British and the majority did so. • In 1850 Argentina and Britain signed the Convention of Settlement “putting an end to existing differences”. After this sovereignty of the Falklands was not protested for 91 years.

YORK VISION

PROMOTION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

>Lifestyle

In this issue:

P 16 - Agony Uncles P 17 - Opulent Orient P 18 - Festival Culture P 19 - Frolics and Fitness P 20 - Future Thoughts

L T U O R E N G I S E THURGLEN D

cAR

M K R O Y T A G N I SPR

is spring

trends th r fo e c la p t s e b the cAfee looks at

-M

Nicholas Dunn

THE ENGLISH RIVIERA BEN SHERMAN NOW £52

GAP NOW £14.99

pring has finally arrived, and I think you'll agree it's been far too long since we last saw it. We can finally enjoy the outside, but most importantly we can finally look forward to summer! This transitional stage doesn't have to be a mish-mash of winter and summer however; we can finally embrace the warmest trend to hit our fair shores. Coming out of catwalks is a lovely combination of the staple naval trend with the brighter, more glamorous St Tropez trend. You don't have to be a celebrity to look like one, and you don't have to be basking in the warm rays to look just as hot. GAP are leading the way with their reliable everyday staples, with these wonderfully understated women's navy pattern shorts (top right) a red hot steal at £14.99. For chaps, we can always trust the chino to steers us through, with subtly tailored ones again from GAP for only £29.99. For layers, think light and bright for the occasional windy nighttime get-togethers: this Ben Sherman red knit, with its double breasted nod to the naval (left) guarantees you stand out from the crowd and is only £52. For a touch of glamour, Armani have these show-stopping white skinny jeans (right) for women at just a snippet at the original price for £106.25. Stay light, bright and on the right side of your student finances!

ARMANI NOW £106.25

SUITED AND BOOTED THE KOOPLES NOW £200

ow we all know that British springtime is a wonderful thing. No other nation quite does the season like us; Pimms, quintessential sports and the standard down-pour. For this season's most dapper trend however, we've got to give a nod to the French - their spring tailoring and evening wear will keep you cool. With Summer Ball, college balls, graduation, end of year socials and probably a few events when you need to look nice for your parents, there's never been a better time to invest in a suit by The Kooples. This suave grey number (left) is available now at a fraction of its RRP. You don't need to always look your best, you can liven this look up with a paisley shirt, or tone it down with a mid-washed denim shirt, sleeves rolled up, finishing the look off with some brilliant brogues. Girls won't be left behind by this continental brand, with this vintage-inspired lace number (right) guaranteed to offer you a spring alternative to the LBD.

THE KOOPLES NOW £90

THE KOOPLES NOW £80

FLORAL FANCIES

LK BENNETT NOW £50

pring floral trends are as predictable as flowers themselves popping up, and is just as widespread! Nothing says summer more than a perfectly worn floral piece, and the trend is so versatile. You can either go all out and wear floral mixed with similar tones from head to toe, or you can take a more selective approach to the trend and opt for blossoming accessories to liven up your favourite wardrobe staples. York Designer Outlet certainly doesn't disappoint us this season; if you love these easy to wear designs that are gracing the cat walks, then you can guarantee the McArthurGlen York Designer Outlet will have plenty for you! . Known for his perfect prints, this red tonal piece helps to keep you looking immaculately fashionable even in the bedroom! Floral definitely isn't limited to warmer climates, you'd be a pretty bad student if you didn't treat yourself to a few new floral fancies. Try these delicate floral flats from LK Bennett (above) for only £50. Add these to your favourite skinny jeans to rejuvenate any outfit, or you can throw them on with a casual dress to look like the darling bud of May!

TED BAKER NOW £37

LOVE WHAT YOU SEE? Student shopping night Thursday 17th May will run from 4pm-8pm. Free shuttle buses will pick up from York University (Student Centre at James College) and York St John's (Student Union, Clarence Street) at both 3:45pm and 5:15pm returning from the outlet at 7:15pm and 8pm.

Website: www.yorkdesigneroutlet.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/yorkdesigneroutlet

16 LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION Wednesday May 9, 2012

AGONY UNCLES

Dying from deadlines, Nicholas Dunn-McAfee and Jack Knight still find the time to sort out your entire future, which is looking bleak...

Q: How do you think I should Q: Help! I’ve got nothing sorted Q: How do I avoid moving back celebrate graduation? for after I leave uni! to my hometown? Nicholas - You should end this chapter of life just as you began it - a bright eyed, confused, awkward wreck. Remember when you first turned up, young, dumb and uneasy? Well, university has eradicated youth, but we're no Oxbridge and you're still not a fully functioning human being, so we'll work with the last two. Spend your last few weeks trying to enjoy what might have been. That short girl in your seminar you always thought looked attractive when you were sloshed? Try that chatup line you attempted in first year - the shock of having to leave the university womb has probably lowered her self-respect. Ask directions to everything. Finally, give your oldest and dearest chums the five most devastating words for any friendship: "Hello! Nice to meet you". They'll never forget you...

Nicholas - I can only assume you're the spitting image of Mary Bale (she put that cat in that wheelie bin AND THAT'S CLEARLY WORSE THAN MURDER) or you're a History of Art student, because the current job market means there's a job for everyone! Anyway, have you considered some of the most attractive jobs available to graduates at the moment? Firstly, there's a wonderful scheme at News International, as in telemarketing and if you're lucky, you might even avoid the Leveson Enquiry. Secondly, Greggs are hiring shop managers, but the government now takes 20% of your wage. Finally, you could just go back to working in your summer job, when your entire degree amounts to "Would you like fries with that?" and your self-respect will be lower than your wage packet. ENJOY.

Nicholas - Having to go back to the metaphoric nest is perhaps more uncomfortable than having to spend a month living in an actual bird's nest. Not only do your family think you're a failure, but they're probably right (we understand an agony uncle is probably meant to be supportive, but my opinion of you is rock bottom if you have to ask us for advice). To avoid all of this, just stay here. Firstly, you could become the Student Union President, a notoriously easy job to get (judging my this year's elections, you simply need some tight trousers and a regional accent - a winning combination). Secondly, you could just keep turning up for lectures and seminars, because no one really knows anyone. Thirdly, why not pretend you have amnesia and need to repeat your degree? Having to lie for life is better than going home.

Jack - If you seriously have to ask this question you are obviously so mentally backward that you are either not going to graduate or you are a Politics student. (1) Finish your last exam and feel like you have actually worked really hard, even though you know you haven’t and frankly, you have been winging it for the past three years. (2) Celebrate an awkwardly drunken evening with your fellow coursemates, because your actual friends haven’t finished yet. (3) Have a proper drunken evening with your mates. (4) Repeat step three numerous times. (5) Tell that person that you always hated that you always hated them. (6) Repeat step three numerous times. (7) Realise that you are essentially now an unemployed drain on society. (8) May I suggest you do a master's?

Jack - Not having anything sorted is by far, the best option. Look at the people who actually got on to the graduate schemes they wanted. They are dull looking fellows, aren’t they? A whole race of slack-jawed mindless saliva swallowers who are still impressed by different flavours of hummus. It's true that no one in sixth-form or the careers service ever told you this because it is slightly worrying, but no one actually plans their life. Life is like falling down the Willow stairs. You can’t stop it; you can only let it happen. If you plan your life you are only organising your own disappointment. Alternatively, you could just apply to do a master's?

Jack - The United Kingdom is famed for its convenient and commercial transport networks, so here are a range of options. STA Travel is currently offering a very reasonably priced plane ticket on Kuwait Airlines flying from Heathrow to Mumbai for just over £400. Alternatively, if you wanted to stay on this sceptred isle you could use the horrendously privatised rail service. I see a ticket from York to the lovely Scottish town of Oban will set you back £70 and only take seven hours. If you are trying to run away on a budget, how about the under a tenner bargain of a one way coach ticket to Middlesborough? The possibilities really are endless. If neither Mumbai nor Oban and not even Middlesborough take your fancy, you could just do a master's?

NICHOLAS DUNN-MCAFEE

JACK KNIGHT

VANITY FAIR

Helena Kaznowska asks: should we feel the benefits of a bare face?

do not wear make-up. Nor do I straighten or curl my hair. And, I'm pretty sure I'm the only 20-year-old female I know who can say this. Tom boy I ain't, slob I most certainly am not and, while this might surprise you, it seems like people do still want to spend time with me.

ryone I meet secretly considers my face to be bland for the lack of pink blusher, orange foundation, red lipstick and black eyes, and one day they will just explode, crying out: “You're horrendously ugly! Put some slap on!” after years of suppressing the want to tell me so.

Don't worry – I am not pulling a Samantha Brick-style stunt; neither this article nor my 'nudity' has anything to do with abnormal levels of body confidence or flaunting a self-confessed 'natural beauty'. After all, it could be that eve-

Nor can this long-serving habit of mine be blamed fully on raging feminist ideals. More than a third of women said they wear make-up because they were worried about looking good for other women, rather than impressing the opposite sex or wearing it for personal reasons, according to a QVC shopping channel poll. While it's hardly likely that collectively, women-kind decided: “let us put dyes and chemicals on our faces from this day forth!” it would seem that women bring this make-up obsession upon themselves as there is the expectation from other females to wear it. A survey published in The Daily Mail claimed that women “spend over £100k on make-up in a lifetime”, meaning that on average, “£2,000 a year [is spent] between the ages of 16 and 65 on products women are convinced will make them look prettier” while 57% “would rather

dump their boyfriend than go barefaced”. I think it's time to re-evaluate our participation in this vanity fair. There are, of course, health benefits to facial nudity (primarily, better skin) as well as saving the time wasted with every application. The money spared on makeup removal products, as well as the products themselves is another plus. Surely sexier than any slap, whether that's worn as decoration or disguise, is the freedom to feel comfortable and confident in your own skin? This must be a feeling worth pursuing. Even if my pores remain un-clogged, my eyelashes a normal length and colour, and, while my lips are treated to the occasional Chapstick application (I can honestly say I don't own a lipstick, gloss or liner), I still doubt whether my bare face is something worth being bold about. Increasingly, I feel more self-conscious about not wearing makeup - more so than if I were to wear it. This is because the unnatural look has become natural. So now the faces of those who, like myself, reveal freckles and more, are becoming anomalies amongst

the masses of made-up 'perfections'. This is the problem, expectations are high. But, regardless of the decreasing size of my fellow facial naturists' population, I do not believe that people who wear make-up are any happier than those who don't. Still swayed by the 'volume gazillion XXXL false eyelash effect' mascaras, the 'will give you super plumped lips like Angelina Jolie' glosses, women are constantly dissatisfied with their slapcovered faces and continue to buy a 'better' magic lotion with even better magical promises. Not only this, but the fact that nearly one in four reapply within just two or three hours of being out, according to the QVC survey, shows women are dissatisfied with the makeup they already have on. We are becoming dependent on something that doesn't make us happy, and now, tragically, one in three women have admitted they would “never” leave the house without wearing makeup. Not wearing make-up, or wearing it, doesn't seem to be our choice any more. It seems to be expected of us. But clearly, more often than not, the slap just doesn't cut it. So, please, just consider it: will you get your face naked instead?

LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

Hitchhiking Back in Time Sine Bakumeni stumbles upon hidden humanity...

very time I hear statements such as “I’ve been on an eye opening trip” or “My trip to (insert country) was a life changing experience” I always smile politely and nod, but inside I’m rolling my eyes and puking in my mouth. That was true, until I became one of those nauseating people who went on a journey which completely changed my perspective on human nature. In my defence, I didn’t mean to, I just stumbled on the experience. It all started in December when I hit 22 and realised I had done nothing I had intended to do by this age, apart from inventing my own cocktail. I wanted an adventure and stories to tell in the future and I wanted all of this now. On any other day I’d have rang a girlfriend, gone out for some wine and concocted a scheme of how I could spice my life up, only to decide to delay that plan upon the visit of the following day's hangover. Not this time! This time I decided to sign myself up for a charity hitchhike to Morocco with Link Community Development. I convinced myself I would never raise the total amount needed to go, but how wrong I was. The generosity of friends, family and strangers was overwhelming; the donations just kept coming in. I’m not going

ways remember it like that and my hitchhike was the wake-up call I needed. Growing up with my family, much importance was put upon being responsible members of the community, helping people where they could and vice versa. My mother once sent me to our local shop for a carton of milk and I didn’t have the correct change. The shop keeper said to just bring the rest in at a later date and gave me a sweet. Nowadays if you’re a penny short on the bus you’re forced to find that penny before you’re allowed to travel.

to lie, I enjoy being cynical and masking that as being a 'realist', so when people gave so generously I was taken off guard. I soon realised that I had always made harsh assumptions about human nature; I was a firm believer that most people only cared about themselves and would sacrifice you like a cheap lamb if it benefitted them. I’m not quite sure why, maybe one day I’ll pay someone £150 an hour to find out why but that’s beside the point. It would be difficult to ignore that cynicism appears to be the general attitude of our generation. However, I don’t al-

When I started the hitch hike I was extremely concerned we would never get out of England as it’s not every day you pick up hitchhikers. There are constant ‘stranger danger’ warnings about picking up unfamiliar persons. I went on the hitch hike with two lads, so you can imagine how intimidating that might have been for people. We made it from York to Morocco in eight days thanks to the generosity of strangers who had nothing to gain, people went out of their way to drop us off at the next best place to hitchhike from, told us whereabouts to find food and hostels should we fail to get picked up again.

even those that couldn’t give us lifts to our final destination would pull up to tell us we were in the wrong place to hitchhike for lifts and offer to take us to the next best place. I realised humanity wasn’t dead; I was just shielding myself from it with my cynical attitude. I’m sure this is something that we’ll all have been guilty of at one point or another in our lives. It’s not rare to hear people who are only 20 years older than us talk about how different things were when they were growing up. I don’t think people all of a sudden became bad, I think people became scared of being taken advantage of.

In France we were often invited back to people’s houses for food and shelter,

Summer on the Slopes T

he words ‘skiing’ and ‘summer’, to the unacquainted ear, do not belong together in the same phrase. However peculiar an oxymoron, summer skiing has become a popular holiday option in the past decade, with thousands of skiers and boarders heading out to the mountains from June onwards for another dash down the slopes, to catch snow both above and below the southern hemisphere. You may have skipped this season’s huge snowfall, or could be craving more alpine action: either way, all hope is not lost. Summer skiing is an action break with a twist, with activities such as mountain hiking or paragliding available in resorts to accompany your skiing time. Ranging from big resort names in the Alps to some much more unusual locations such as New Zealand, there’s something out there for any type of traveller. Plus it’s not as costly as you think, with adult lift prices for Grande Motte Glacier in Tignes starting from around 150 euros for six days – almost 75 euros less than a winter Tignes lift pass. So instead of stashing your gear away for the rest of the year and heading for heat, check out these resort picks and quirky alternatives, and prepare to come back with more of a tan than just round your goggles.

Sarah Cattle gives the lowdown on out of season skiing... Beginners

Thrill Seekers

Travellers

Tignes, the destination for this year’s YUsnow trip, is a fantastic place to start lessons or set ski on freshly pisted snow after indoor lessons in the UK. The Grande Motte Glacier is one of the highest spots on the Espace Killy ski area at 3550m high, and with 25km of blue and red runs open from 7:15am to 1pm, the resort is perfect for a combination of early skiing and afternoon activities, which vary widely, from tennis on the numerous courts to sailing on le Lac de Tignes. Glacier conditions are great for carving and sharp turns. A little limited for those first-lift-to-last-lift advanced skiers, but for new riders, this is a perfect low intensity training ground.

New Zealand skiing is at its prime during our summer, as conveniently it’s their winter season, and the country features a wide range of ski areas and some of the most scenic heliskiing to be found. Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano in the heart of North Island, hosts Whakapapa, the largest ski area in New Zealand with 24 black and black diamond runs for the risk takers, and access to the back country. If you’re craving more kicks, Whakapapa also offers sky diving and bungee jumping. For a longer summer on the mountain, season work is plentiful and locals welcome overseas workers, whether it’s bartending you’re looking for or an instructor course.

When planning a trip to South America, skiing in Argentina is not usually the first must-do that springs to mind. However, skiing at Las Leñas resort makes for an experience that is so different to the French Alps: for one, the lifts are named after Romans and Greek Gods rather than surrounding mountains. Local skiers head to the resort during the weekend so weekdays are the best time to be in Las Leñas, with low lift queues. There are round-trip packages from Buenos Aires, located east of the resort. Much of the back country is unexplored and the area receives good powder, so if off-piste and hiking are your fortes, prepare to be first tracks.

Want to write for Lifestyle? Email us at lifestyle@yorkvision.co.uk and join the team

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YORK VISION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

Dining For Two Made Easy

Georgina Strapp gives Nigella Lawson a run for her money...

f you’ve managed to get a date to trust your cooking, or a friend has paid a small fortune to get the train to visit you, then I have some ideas that are quick and easy, relatively cheap, and are slightly more interesting than beans on toast. Also, all have ingredients that can easily be substituted if you are relying on what your friend has as you forgot to go shopping. If it is the date option there are a couple of rules to stick to: 1) No Oysters; you can’t pretend you had them lying around, making your ulterior motives very clear. 2) Avoid spaghetti; contrary to what The Lady and the Tramp would have us believe there is no sexy way to eat it. 3) Avoid cabbage; the smell of nursing homes or school canteens is not hot. Instead, dazzle your date with a simple meal which (if prepared and presented properly) gives the illusion of a "master chef" at hand. My personal favourite is the scrumptious red wine chicken with mushrooms dish consisting of a few pieces of bacon, two skinless chicken breasts, 255g of any kind of mushrooms you can find or a mixture of types, one large glass of red wine, or any wine you happen to have around (you’ll need some tonight regardless of what you’re cooking), a large tablespoon of butter, one teaspoon of dried rosemary and two large cloves of peeled garlic. All you have to do to prepare is preheat the oven to 220°C, then put all ingredients into a small roasting tin and mix together. Then cover the whole tin in foil. Turn the hob on for one minute at a high temperature

before putting the ingredients in the centre of the oven for 25 minutes. Serve with mashed potato (boil potatoes, strain and mash up with milk, butter, salt and pepper), carrots and peas. It's that simple to

have; onions, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, a little chilli are all good, and always garlic. Follow directions given on the couscous packet to cook that in vegetable stock dissolved in hot water. Mix the couscous and vegetables together with some salt, pepper and dried herbs, e.g. basil, and some cheese. Put this mixture into the peppers, cover in cheese and cook it all together for another 10-15 minutes.

forge culinary skills on a student budget. However, if you have never actually paid attention to what the person you’re cooking for eats then a veggie option could be a good (safe) option. A standard pasta bake is a safe bet, but then I expect you can’t remember the last time you went more than a few days without pasta. A more sophisticated dish which is just as easy to make is stuffed peppers and couscous, plus you might earn extra brownie points as it'll look like you’ve tried a little harder. You'll need peppers, a couscous mix, garlic bread, vegetables of your choice, dried herbs, cheese and vegetable stock. Simply halve some peppers through the stalk, scoop out the insides and place them on a lightly oiled baking tray. Put the ingredients in the oven (180°C throughout) for about 25 minutes. Whilst they’re in there, chop up and fry any vegetables you

use half a teaspoon of very strong coffee instead (make a little paste) and a small handful of half glazed cherries (optional). Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a small baking tin (approx. 20cm diameter) with grease-proof paper or old butter wrappers. Slowly melt the butter and chocolate together, add the cherries and coffee/ vanilla. Separately mix/sift the other dry ingredients. Add these to the butter and chocolate mixture stirring it all in well. Lastly beat the eggs in. Pour into the baking tin and put in the oven for about 20 minutes. If the brownies feel springy when you press the top lightly but cracks start appearing they are finally ready to be taken out. Leave to cool before removing and cutting into chunky sections. To serve sprinkle some icing sugar over them and serve with an ice cream of your choice, we recommend vanilla. It really is that simple to go from a kitchen disaster to a culinary triumph... Bon Appetit!

Serve with some salad and garlic bread. Finally, finish the night off with a brownies and ice cream dessert. Let's face it, you can't go wrong with chocolate (unless your guest is lactose intolerant, in which case stick to a fruit salad). This easy to follow recipe will leave you the talk of campus: 100g packet of dark chocolate, 175g unsalted butter, 175g sugar, four rounded, not too heaped, tablespoons of cocoa powder, three tablespoons of plain flour, half a teaspoon of baking powder, two eggs and a few drops of vanilla extract. Alternatively

MORE THAN JUST THE MUSIC

Rachel Longhurst looks at festivals a little further afield than Reading and Leeds

espite predictions of the Olympics and the recession dampening the success of this summer’s music festivals, 2012 still sees an inundation of new and established events dominating every summer weekend - it almost seems like every spare field has something to offer in the summer months. The market for festivals offering more than just a pure musical experience is expanding, with comedy and drama tents being added and extended across almost all major festivals. Alternative events offering a varied and cultural experience as an equivalent, if not superior, to music have also begun to spring up over recent years. Stepping away from the well publicised big names of this type of cultural-festivalexperience, Bestival and Latitude, Vision gives a rundown of five less well-known festivals that offer much more than just music.

Blissfields - Winchester, Hampshire

Blissfields has been on the festival radar for some time yet its Sports Day and schoolhouse style events offer a more collective atmosphere than other festivals. Offering a great middle ground, Blissfields places this, alongside craft stalls and a comedy stage, opposite an extensive DJ range and several up and coming music acts (Guillemots, Spector, Patrick Wolf). Straight out

of week 10, it is also a bit friendlier to the bank balance, at £79.45, being less pricey than many festival weekends.

Lounge on the Farm – Canterbury, Kent

Based on a working farm, Kent’s best offering to the cultural-festival scene has a brilliant range of comedy, spoken word and poetry, theatre and dance. The festival, on the 6-8th July, also promotes an extensive range of world food on offer which is, unfortunately, additional to the £111.50 weekend price tag. With The Charlatans, Emili Sande, Roots Manuva and the Mystery Jets playing alongside the varied attractions, music lovers and haters alike are sure to find something to occupy them at all times.

Øya – Oslo, Norway

European festivals are slowly becoming commonplace on the British youth's summer timetable, but away from the bright lights of Benicàssim or the German Love Parade is Øya, a weekend festival on the 7-11th August in Oslo, Norway. Described as a boutique festival, the medieval park in which it is held, including 11th century ruins, was the original founding site of Norway’s capital itself. Whilst the festival does focus on music - The Stone Roses, Florence and the Machine, Bjork, Bon Iver, The Black Keys - the proximity to Oslo’s city centre and to a genuine fjord adds the cultural dynamic of a different sort. Weekend tickets are almost sold out but you can get day tickets for roughly £88.

Electric Picnic – County Laois, Ireland

A self-titled “multi-sensory experience”, Electric Picnic truly lives up to its description. With comedy, spoken word, workshops and art displays alongside a circus from 31st August – 2nd September, the event offers one of the most varied cultural-festival line-ups. If that wasn’t enough, the musical side of things looks promising with The Cure, The Killers, Ed Sheeran, The XX and Elbow (amongst many others) performing. Unfortunately all this varied festival goodness comes with a hefty £188 price tag (alongside flights) but regardless it remains my top

pick for the ultimate all-round festival experience.

Wilderness – Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire

For this festival the clue is in the name. A “celebration of the arts and outdoors”, Wilderness really does embrace a very varied festival spirit with daytime events ranging from notable speakers, talks and debates (from astrophysics to a ‘Literary Death Match’) to outdoor sports, theatre productions and the creation of a floral boudoir. Music plays second fiddle to the evening events – extensive banquets and a Midnight Masked Ball sit alongside musical acts Rodrigo y Gabriela and Stornoway, amongst several others. The £119 + booking fee price for the 10-12th August weekend seems pretty fair for this escape to the outdoors.

19 LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

Stretch for Success

Frances Jennings challenges you to find your inner health freak...

t’s that time of year again – we’re arriving back to term three armed with crippling workloads, replenished funds and the last packet of mum’s favourite M&S biscuits, promising ourselves that this term will be different; we’ll swap Tatler for textbooks, crisps for apples and Facebook for the gym. As far as diet is concerned we’ve already covered the Protein Shake hype along with high-protein low-carb diets such as the Dukan Diet (followed by the royal Middleton), but there are other ways to eat well without blowing your loan on Maximuscle and expensive fish dinners. Quick

and easy changes are the key to a healthier student diet; brown bread instead of white, swap full-fat dairy products for semi or fully-skimmed alternatives, and let’s face it: cornflakes are a LOT cheaper than bacon sandwiches. Loads of student calories are a product of laziness, it’s just as quick to prepare your own pasta sauces using tinned tomatoes and puree as a base, but we’re avoiding all the artificial preservatives as well as impressing your friends with culinary genius. We’re famous for grabbing calorific snacks from vending machines, snacks that can easily be swapped for freshly-made

options from any of the campus cafes. If getting sweaty in a room full of strangers isn’t your thing then you’ll be pleased to hear that the latest health crazes are Yoga and Pilates. Exercises that work on strengthening the core muscles, mind and body rather than pure fitness. Stretching on a mat for an hour might be your idea of hell, but with ambassadors such as Pippa Middleton (and THAT bottom) and the Victoria’s Secret Angels it’s easy to see why people are jumping on the bandwagon in an effort to attain the perfect summer body. Yoga is credited with an improvement in the mind as well as body and regular practice can lead to improvements in muscle-tone, stamina and flexibility, increased relaxation and even relief from chronic pain. Although it’s typically taught as part of a group class, with the instructor encouraging a state of tranquillity, the postures and sequences can be performed solo and in the comfort of your own bedroom with a yoga mat. Pilates is a modern and aerobic alternative to yoga, although it is still centred on improving core-strength and flexibility. Pilates consists of six principles – concentration, control, ‘centre’ (Americans!), flow, precision and breathing – and all are designed to encourage a state of balance between body and mind. Classes

are widely available both privately and at most gyms in the city. The University even has its own society dedicated to the ancient practice of Yoga – YogSoc is open to everyone and offers twice weekly sessions with an external instructor. If you’re still lazy and unmotivated then start small; even fifteen minutes of stretching in the morning can be beneficial and can improve day-to-day focus. The best thing about these exercises is how quickly you begin to see benefits when compared to other exercise and diet plans, try classes with friends or even try internet classes such as ‘POP Pilates’ if you’re truly too inflexible to show yourself in public, but there’s no excuse not to be a yoga bunny when it’s this easy to change.

Let's Get Physical! Katherine Birdwood and Bella Boman-Flavell discuss fun fitness ideas for 2012...

o I don’t want you to lose weight!... We didn’t say lose weight… I might say tighten – Knocked Up

For the credit card: Yearsley Swimming Pool (7/10) As summer approaches we feel an increasing desire to go for a little swim. And why not? No one can deny the way it tones muscle! We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally visit one of the city’s many pools. Yearsley Swimming Pool seemed to be our best option. A little off the inner city ring road, it's open during the student friendly hours of 7am-10pm with free lockers. Positively, we were faced with a cornucopia of options – you can have an open swim, or in the useful lane system divided into slow, medium or fast pace. The staff were, on the whole, very friendly and the venue was (thankfully) immaculately clean throughout. However, although they claim to offer a student discount at £3.20, University of York students are not eligible because ‘our student cards lack an expiry date’. Disappointingly, this meant we had to pay the unfriendly price of £4.55. It is definitely not a cheap option for anyone wishing to do multiple sessions a week (necessary for your hopes of a hot body). At that price, we’d also expect some more up-to-date facilities, such as better hairdryers.

For the debit card: Tracy Anderson’s Mat Workout DVD (9/10) Celebrity trainer Tracy receives mixed press and we weren’t sure whether we would become a Gwyneth or a Madonna. She starts the video by talking to us. We were convinced. She promises to "reengineer your muscular structure" so

as to get rid of all those problems areas. Anyone who has ever felt self-conscious about saddle bags – Tracy is your fairy godmother. The DVD is easy to purchase off Amazon, starting from £5.99, so shop around for the best deal. Although upfront it is more expensive than swim-

ming, a DVD is for life, not just for Christmas. Also, if you do it four to six times a week (as she recommends), you’re going to get your money’s worth very quickly. On the upside, it is possible to do it in the privacy of your own home (we close our curtains to avoid random onlookers/ our friendly neighbourhood stalker) and

you don’t need a lot of space or expensive equipment. Be warned – the video is hard. It really hurts. And if you veer towards uncoordinated, you might need a few practice goes before really mastering it. Tracy aims to exhaust your larger muscles so your smaller accessory mus-

cles kick in and pull everything together. You will find muscles hurting you didn’t even know you had. But come on kids – bikini season is just around the corner. The steal: Caledonian Society (8/10) Let’s put some preconceptions about Cal Soc to rest. You don’t need a double barrelled surname to go (although Bella has one). You don’t need to have gone to a Public School (although Katherine went to one). It’s for everyone, really! And you most certainly don’t need a kilt, or any Scottish blood or really any dancing ability. All you need is the ability to release your inhibitions a little. Get your freak on. Firstly, you’re going to have to adopt a more formal approach to dance (Willow this is not). You might feel a little ridiculous curtseying/bowing to each prospective partner as if you’re on the marriage market in the 19th century. Take it as a chance to step back in time and have a little fun with it. For although some may find husband hunting a form of exercise, we do not. For each dance there is a demonstration and then you split up into groups with your own personal advisor. This is really cardio at its best - fun, energetic, a good laugh and alcohol is only just around the corner. It’s not really for those wanting an intense experience, as there are no real opportunities to tone, but perfect for the casual or reluctant exerciser.

20 LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

FUTURE THINKING

Malek Murison thinks about robot sex and cheating death

he year is 2035. Jeremy Kyle is still going strong, but the headlines are different. No more ‘Who is the real father of your baby, me or my dad?’ Don’t be silly, incest is so noughties! Aside from the more unfortunate members of society still being paraded on television for our entertainment, everything has changed. Think more ‘Who’s the father of my baby, my husband or the Robot Butler?’ Okay, a little farfetched I’ll admit. But this kind of scenario, according to futurist Raymond Kurzweil, is a genuine possibility. In his documentary Transcendent Man, Kurzweil makes a series of predictions about how the advances in science and technology will shape our lifestyles of the future.

ing death may be a step too far for most of us to embrace, there is no doubt that medicine and genetics will dramatically improve in the years to come. Will it reach the point at which parents-to-be are able to ‘design’ their unborn baby, deciding on its looks and personality traits through the click of a button? Is that even a choice we want to be able to make? As well as introducing new ethical debates, these questions go to show just how different life will be for our generation. We cannot know for certain the choices we will have to make in the future, but what is definite is that technology will give us the opportunity to make the most of our lives, and even extend them.

Kurzweil’s vision of how the world will change in our lifetime is a radical one. Not only does he believe that the current rate of scientific progress will lead to us becoming physically integrated with computers (we’re talking USB ports in our foreheads) he also suggests that a point will come when we will be able to cheat death. As most of his work is inspired by a burning ambition to bring his father back to life, this should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt, but, having said this, there is no doubt that there are foundations to his claims. The rocket which took the first men to the moon had less processing power than a Nokia 3310. Admittedly, that’s an unfair example, as that particular phone was a masterpiece in engineering, but it proves the point that as technology continues to rapidly advance, so does the potential for us to do things that only a few years ago would have seemed outrageous and impossible. So what implications does this view hold for our lifestyles of the future? While the prospect of cheat-

But is the possibility of eternal life even an appealing one? Surely a normal lifetime is enough to fulfil all the ambitions that we may have? Personally, I think that living too long would begin to get a tad tedious. I would be forced to spend my days doing nothing but watching Jeremy Kyle. Who knows, I might even make an appearance: ‘128 years young and desperate to be a father for the ninth time’.

SEX & DRUGS & BACON ROLLS Sam Sackville has some hangover cures you might even enjoy

ou wake up, the morning light hits you like a train. You’re a feeble, pathetic wreck of your former self and you wonder whether you’ll achieve anything today. But don’t worry, help is at hand; read on to find out how to ease the hangover pain. The technical term for the way you’re feeling is ‘Vesalgia’, from the Norwegian for “uneasiness following debauchery”, which is usually an appropriate description.

But why must we endure such “uneasiness”? The answer, of course, is that we’ve drunk too much alcohol. When you delve a little deeper into

the science involved, the consequences of this aren’t exactly surprising. The active ingredient of alcohol (the bit that gets you drunk) is ethanol. This small molecule is essentially a mild sedative, although it is extremely toxic to humans. To put it into perspective, ethanol is seven times more toxic than morphine and 1000 times more toxic than cannabis. In fact, it is the most toxic drug available in the UK, and yet on average we each drink a gallon of the stuff every year. The first thing you need to do to combat your hangover is to drink water. Dehydration is the most prolific symptom you will be experiencing, causing headaches and a dry mouth. It happens because alcohol is what’s called a diuretic; it messes with the kidneys, causing them to stop reabsorbing fluids and instead sending everything to the bladder. This effect is so severe that for each unit of alcohol consumed you will expel four times as much liquid in urine, leaving you feeling like you’ve spent the night chewing sand. So get some water down you, preferably with an effervescent vitamin tablet in because you will also have lost many important nutrients as a result of your kidney's night off. Next, take no more than 400mg of ibuprofen with a regular coke. This will offer

some temporary relief to your pounding headache, and the coke contains sugars which need to be replenished, and phosphoric acid, which will quell feelings of nausea. Resist the temptation to take lots of painkillers, it may seem like an easy way out, but excess consumption while alcohol is still in the body can have some nasty effects. Moving on, make yourself a nice and greasy toasted bacon and egg sandwich. In its attempts to detoxify the body, the first thing the liver does is to break down ethanol into ethanal, which unfortunately is ever more toxic than ethanol. Eating eggs can help with this as they contain the amino acid cystiene, which is used by the liver to break down the ethanal. Bacon is good for replacing lost salts, and the toast contains carbohydrates which will raise blood sugar levels back to normal, which should improve your mood. Now, brace yourself, because this step is not for the faint hearted; go and do some exercise. A good half hour should do the trick. When you get home have a long hot shower or a bath, as hot as you can stand. Both of these will cause you to sweat out many of the toxins your liver is struggling to deal with, and exercise speeds up your metabolism, reducing the duration of your hangover. If

you’re really not feeling up to exercise, at least get some fresh air; oxygen is proven to speed up your body’s recovery. If you are still feeling hungover at this point then we’re down to last resort tactics. If you had a really good night, you may not be waking up alone. A bit of morning after nookie can work wonders on your hangover, releasing endorphins that work as natural painkillers, and let’s face it, it will probably take your mind of things. So hopefully having completed the above steps to the best of your ability, you are no longer hungover! If you are, go back to bed and have a think about how much you actually drunk.

YORK VISION

SPORT

Wednesday May 9, 2012

>Sport

WHEN DAVID BEAT GOLIATH

AFTER CHELSEA'S HEROIC VICTORY OVER BARCA, DAVE WASHINGTON LOOKS AT OTHER REAL LIFE UNDERDOG STORIES AFTER 43 minutes at the Nou Camp it seemed all over. Iniesta had slid a second Barcelona goal past Cech, and Barcelona seemed to be cruising into the final. Chelsea’s task seemed impossible: a man down and a goal down on aggregate against the best club side in the world. I even stated on Twitter, “Game over, bye-bye Chelsea's Champions League hopes. More millions are needed Abramovich”. How wrong I was. The odds were stacked against the London club, yet they never lost belief. Ramires’ beautiful lob restored hope, and 43 minutes of outstanding defending led to an unforgettable victory. Fernando Torres’ injury time goal rounded off the night; it really was the success of the underdog, but football isn’t the only sport with remarkable shock stories. Here is the top five countdown of sport’s biggest shocks: 5) Foinavon: 1967 Grand National With odds of 100/1 Foinavon was the rank outsider to win the Grand National. But rode by John Buckingham, it did, even though three other jockeys turned down the opportunity to ride him. In what seemed an ordinary National, the Irish horse was at the back of the race in the approach to the 23rd fence. Then chaos arose. A loose horse, Popham Down, felled almost the whole field at the 23rd, causing carnage. Foinavon avoided the drama and managed to streak into an unassailable 30 length lead. The no-hoper was winning, and despite the desperate efforts of the chasers, sailed to an heroic victory. The 23rd fence was later renamed after Foinavon, in 1983.

4) Goran Ivanisevic: Wimbledon 2001 The 30- year- old and three time runner -up at Wimbledon only competed in the 2001 competition by virtue of being a wildcard. Renowned for his powerful serve, Ivanisevic was then ranked a lowly 125th. However, he defeated Pat Rafter in five sets in the final to claim the prestigious Wimbledon title. His journey to the final had been challenging, as he was called upon to beat former and what were to become future number ones. Victory over Tim Henman in a rain-affected semi-final secured his passage through to the final, and the rest, as they say, is history. Goran won the final set against Rafter 9-7 to claim the title. Wimbledon proved to be Ivanisevic’s last title, and it was attained against all the odds. Nobody tipped him for victory, and he became the first wildcard entry, and lowest ranked player, to ever win Wimbledon. 3) James “Buster” Douglas v Mike Tyson; 1990 championship

In Tokyo, on 11th February 1990, James Douglas stunned the boxing world by knocking out Mike Tyson, who was two years unbeaten. Everybody assumed the result would be a foregone conclusion, with Douglas given odds of 42/1. Underestimating Buster turned out to be Tyson’s downfall, as the Ohio born boxer gave the fight of his life. Douglas dominated, landing counter-punches and inflicting serious punishment on Tyson, who somehow managed to survive a brutal ninth round. Tyson’s corner had no counter plan, and in the 10th round, Douglas delivered the final blow, leading to the biggest shock in boxing history. Douglas became WBC and WBA Champion, before being knocked out in his first title defence by Evander Holyfield, eight months later.

2) Newport RFC v All Blacks 1963 In 1963, the All Blacks toured Britain playing 37 games, and losing only once. This New Zealand team was one of their best, but against humble Newport they

came unstuck at Rodney Parade on the 30th October 1963. There were over 25,000 spectators, who watched the action unfold on a sodden pitch, which hampered the accustomed playing style of the visitors. The game was by no means a classic; with the boot dominating, and a single drop goal by John Uzzell giving the Welsh side a memorable 3-0 victory. The scoreline didn’t do Newport justice, as they dominated the game, missing other attempts, whilst nullifying any attacking threat from the All Blacks. It truly was an outstanding performance, as Newport fly half David Watkins recalls; "It was a momentous day, to defeat the best rugby nation in the world." 1) 'The Miracle on Ice', 1980 At the New York Winter Olympics, the American ice hockey team pulled out the greatest shock of sporting history, defeating the dominant Soviet side in the semifinals before going on to win gold. The Americans, a team of amateurs and collegiate players, went into the Olympics as complete underdogs. Reaching the semi finals was a success and there they faced the Soviets, a side of professionals. They had dominated the sport since 1950, winning nearly every tournament. A close first two periods resulted in the Soviets leading 3-2; even then victory for the USA seemed highly improbable. But in the final period the unthinkable happened, as the Americans overturned the deficit to record a stunning 4-3 victory. The success was labelled 'The Miracle on Ice', and Sports Illustrated named it the top sporting moment of the 20th century.

STARS OF CAMPUS: MATT BOWMAN AND TOM EAMES THE ROWERS TALK TO AMY BALLARD ABOUT THEIR GB DREAMS AND SCHOLARSHIP SUCCESS

BY AMY BALLARD Matt Bowman and Tom Eames are quite the double act. Both their sporting journeys led them into GB rowing territory and after a winning grant, the boys are determined to fulfil their rowing dreams. How was this morning’s cycle? Tom: Very wet. The flooding river is a shame as we need to train for BUCS (where the men’s squad is hoping to medal). Land training and getting on an erg (a rowing machine to everyone else) seems harder, although cycling is good preparation for summer - we are cycling to Barcelona for Teenage Cancer Trust. Awesome. Are you excited for the term ahead? What key races should Vision look out for? Tom: (jokingly): The sky is the limit! (An attitude clearly drilled in by men’s captain Sam Agass…). But seriously there are six races this term. The big race is the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta, on (27th June 1st July). Last year the men’s squad were the fastest non–qualifier. This year we want to change that. Matt: Agreed. We hope to pre-qualify for

Henley Training camp, where we were coached by Olympians, and the way Sam has reshaped the men’s squad should increase our chances. I’m really interested in the grant you have recently applied for, can you elaborate? Matt: We got it! Well, we both filled out separate applications for a sports scholarship, but because we were both asking for the same thing - a pair (a two man boat), as the boathouse doesn’t have one, our applications were treated together. We have been given £4000 to look for a pair.

"I won three gold medals and one silver which is pretty awesome" Congratulations, so how will the pair help? Tom: Being in a double will enable us to focus on our technique as mistakes are more obvious! It will help the club too - giving us a platform to work off so that we can get better and trial for GB. Obviously a full time coach would be amazing too… (some-

one call the alumni?) Is that your aim then for the next couple of years? (They nod in unison) Matt: Yes, I would love to trial and represent GB under 23. What would you say is the highlight of your rowing career thus far? Tom: Representing Great Britain at the under 16 tournament in Cardiff in a quad. Matt: The Coupe European Championships, Great Britain under 18s. I won three gold medals and one silver which is pretty awesome. Impressive stuff, so is this what motivates you to get out of bed at 6am? Tom: Haha, yes. Plus there is always a decent chance you'll have a good day. We also get Thursdays off - post Ziggy's. Matt: And you do it for your squad, they all have a 6am start too. UYBC is a great club to be part of, it pulls together in and out of the boat. How do you feel about protein shakes? Tom: Never taken them. Matt: Same, and I never will. I eat every two hours, which is enough carbs to get me through the six days of training a week!

MATT & TOM

22 SPORT

YORK VISION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

THE

TIPSTER

SHORTLISTED BY THE UNIVERSITY TO REPLACE BRIAN CANTOR

sure thing thing sure ROBERTO DI MATTEO TO BECOME PERMANENT CHELSEA MANAGER

Initially stating that he’ll only be in charge until the end of the season, RDM probably surprised himself with how well he has done at Chelsea, a difficult club to manage at the best of times. Just ask the seven others that have been in charge at Stamford Bridge in the past nine years. In a little over two months, he has taken his side to the Champions League final in Munich against all the odds, the FA Cup final against Liverpool, and most crucially, has made the players with their giant egos respect him – the same players who, if you believe the reports, mocked RDM’s predecessor Villas-Boas. He has a good relationship with the press and presumably Mr Abramovich – at least, while there’s a possibility of winning the European Cup, anyway. That trophy is the one the oligarch has wanted since he took over. If Chelsea beat Bayern, the job is surely his.

TIPSTER'S ODDS:

SPORT SPOTLIGHT

CHARLOTTE FERRIS AND AMY BALLARD ENJOY THROWING MEN AROUND AT JUDO AB: THIS week, Fez and I took a break from our mundane library lives as second year historians and popped along to judo. I don’t really know what I was expecting; it is safe to say neither of us had much knowledge about the sport, Fez even referred to it as karate – a massive no-no in the judo world. CF: As I am known to be a bit feisty in Ziggy's, the Vision editors thought it would be funny to send me and Ballard to Judo training. After spending ten minutes in the changing room applying makeup, we were finally ready. We were greeted by Jambo, the captain, who handed us our

4/6

THE OUTSIDER BLACKPOOL TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFFS

Of course, the overwhelming favourites are West Ham, who so narrowly missed out on promotion automatically. Yet of the Hammers’ rivals, I feel that it is the Tangerines who could really spring a surprise. Exposed to top flight football last year, Ian Holloway’s men played gung-ho football, which unfortunately was not enough to ensure survival, but was very entertaining nonetheless. They continued that philosophy in the Championship this season, and have standout players in Tom Ince, Matty Phillips and the ancient but still very effective Kevin Phillips. It’s a tough ask for them to even get past Birmingham in the semi-final over two legs, Chris Hughton’s side being tough to beat, before they come up against (most probably) West Ham. Yet it is worth a few quid on a very entertaining side.

TIPSTER'S ODDS:

7/2

ABSOLUTE MADNESS ROY HODGSON TO WIN EURO 2012 FOR "OUR BOYS"

The odds read more like a credible outsider, but let’s be honest here, the Three Lions ain’t gonna be lifting the trophy in Kiev on 1st July, even with the recent appointment of the most amusing lisp in sport since Chris Eubank, Roy Hodgson. Strangely, I haven’t really got the impression this time of any standard fare English delusion before a major tournament. Nobody is going wild with anticipation, proclaiming that “THIS IS OUR YEAR.” The “30 years of hurt” that Baddiel and Skinner sang about have turned into 46, and there is no evidence that anything is being done differently by the Football Association to rectify this. People realise that Spain, Germany and Holland are all better than us and that the foreign players overwhelmingly provide the excitement in the Premier League. Hodgson has had some international success and he has the experience and the respect to tame the egos, but while the problems remain in our game from grassroots level upwards, we will continue to be trophyless.

TIPSTER'S ODDS:

12/1

Photo: Oliver Todd

uniform and white belt. He then tried to teach us the basic moves and to our surprise we actually enjoyed throwing ourselves on the floor and making noises. AB: The first thing I saw was Rebecca Ingle, the only girl at the session, pick up and throw on the floor a boy that was double her size, which was very impressive.

The judo overalls and white belts were somewhat different to our usual sporting attire, seeing as I row and Charlotte's a netball firsts player. CF: We were then introduced to the coach, Charles Ashby, who agreed to teach us how to throw six-foot boys over our shoulders. We were then shown how to throw our partners over our back. After a few unsuccessful tries, I looked like Dr. Jigoro Kano (The inventor of judo), Ballard, on the other hand, still looked like a firm beginner. She showed her considerate side as she insisted on placing Robert gently on the ground. AB: The first thing we learnt was how to fall; this was pretty important as Jambo explained you needed to fall in the correct position in order to avoid injury. It sounds simple, you had to squat down and roll on your back whilst slapping your hands flat on the floor; but it definitely took more than a few goes for the pair of us to perfect our technique. CF: After we had succeeded in throwing our partners on the ground with some force, we were then introduced to Jonathan, the tallest member of the Judo club. Ballard and myself fought over who was to go first, as the prospect of throwing this man on the floor seemed miniscule, however we both pulled it off skilfully. AB: Fez and I were then paired together and taught how to hold onto your opponent. Once we got over the initial struggle, and inability to tell left from right we were deemed worthy opponents. The coach, Charles Ashby, patiently taught us the basic judo moves and how to position your body weight so that we could pick people up and throw them over our shoulders. CF: I thoroughly enjoyed judo and it was surprisingly quite easy to pick up. I would recommend it to everyone, boy or girl, sporty or non-sporty. Jambo, the captain, also plays hockey for the Univer-

Photo: Oliver Todd

sity; so it is definitely something you can partake in along with another sport. The whole of the judo club were welcoming and it was not daunting in the slightest coming in to training as a beginner. Rebecca, the only girl at the training urged more girls to get involved and I would certainly recommend it. AB: I definitely wasn’t a natural at the sport! Although Fez was easily the smallest person in the room, she picked it up quickly, and for once was praised for being so feisty. By the end of the session even I had managed to grasp the basics. Judo was a really fun experience; it was a completely different type of exercise to what I am used to, but as a rower the skills that we were taught in how to use your body weight and core strength would come in handy. The club were very welcoming and friendly, and I would encourage others to have a go. Thanks to the club for having us two novices and going gently on us, although Fez may not have needed it!

ON COURSE FOR GREATNESS YORK'S GOLFING STAR TO REPRESENT GREAT BRITAIN IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

BY JACK BRADSHAW CHARLOTTE AUSTWICK has been selected as part of the Great Britain team competing in the World University Games Golf Championship in July. The golfing star will be one of seven golfers representing Britain at Liberec, in the far north of the Czech Republic, between the 2nd and 7th July. Austwick qualified for the event thanks to her stunning performance in the BUCS Strokeplay Finals at West Lancashire Golf Club last month. Finishing fourth with a score of 306

after the four rounds, she confirmed her position as the best female player from an English university. Austwick said: “It’s the first time I’ve been selected for a national team and I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to play.” “It’s going to be only the second time I will have played golf abroad so I’m really looking forward to it and will be working hard to be at my best for the tournament.” Three female and four male players will be participating, five of whom are from Stirling University, one from Plymouth University and Austwick from York. The news caps a marvellous season for Austwick. In March, she won the BUCS South Easter Qualifier in Kent by a comfortable two shots, followed by a runnerup position at the BUCS Northern Qualifier at St Anne Old Links in Lancashire. These successes meant that Austwick qualified in joint first place on the Women’s England Universities Order of Merit to get through to compete in the prestigious BUCS Strokeplay Individual Finals. She continued her remarkable vein of form by finishing fourth at the difficult Formby Leveret National Ladies’ championship, carding a remarkable hole-in-one

in the process. This was followed by a fifth-placed finish in the R&A Scholars Tournament in April, confirming her status as the best English university player. The result was all the more impressive given the treacherous conditions. In the meantime, however, Charlotte says her golf will have to be put to one side for her degree, a familiar story for many this term: “For now my focus is on my studies until the end of May when I will be able to play full-time golf through the summer months.”

YORK VISION

Wednesday May 9, 2012

SPORT

COLLEGE CUP

JAMES 1STS POWER THEIR WAY TO A 3-1 VICTORY OVER THEIR ALCUIN COUNTERPARTS BY ALEX FINNIS [continued from back page] of the match. Kanonis found some space after being fed through on the left and he slipped the ball to Brown on the edge of the area. The Alcuin striker turned sharply and struck a powerful snapshot past Bradley to make it 1–1. A stunning save from Marshall stopped Alcuin from relinquishing their lead almost immediately. James forward, Tom Clarke, broke through on goal and got his shot away only for the ‘keeper to save superbly low to his left, tipping the ball around the post. James kept up the pressure as Burling sent an ambitious long range half volley. A few minutes later, a jinking run from James Davies allowed him to feed Clarke in a decent position, but the ‘keeper was once again level to his effort. Marshall comfortably stopped another long range effort from the same player a minute later and it appeared Clarke had found his nemesis in the form of the Alcuin goalkeeper. James had dominated after conceding the goal and ended the half completely in the ascendancy despite it being 1–1. They were able to continue their supremacy into the second period regaining the lead early on. Clarke broke free down the right hand side and put a low ball in from the byline and the onrushing Ferrao tapped in simply to make it 2–1. The black swans kept pushing and Clarke was once again denied by Marshall from what would have been a superb goal. Some excellent work from the James striker on the edge of the box allowed him

to weave his way into a shooting position, but his effort was parried away. Ferrao hit the rebound but the ‘keeper again made the save. James were looking very dangerous around the edge of the area, with the forward players working well and creating opportunities but their next chance came from range, as Richard Baxter struck a powerful drive which was acrobatically tipped over. St. George headed the resulting corner over the bar. James were starting to lose their earlier bite yet remained in control. Another Clarke strike was kept out and Davies nodded the rebound over under pressure. James goalkeeper Bradley was momentarily worried when Alcuin’s Brown stroked an effort from the outside of the area

rolled harmlessly wide of the post. Alcuin ‘keeper Marshall was forced to make yet another top class save from Clarke as he fired in an effort from outside the area before James managed to secure a much deserved third. A trip from Marshall on Davies gave James a penalty and Clarke made no mistake with his spot-kick, finally finding the net as he rolled the ball into the bottom right, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way in the process. The game finished with the 3–1 scoreline intact, and James captain Richard Baxter, said that he was “delighted with attitude in the second half. We really came out and controlled the game, looked dangerous going forward and tight at the back as well. It went exactly how I wanted it to."

HALIFAX 4THS 3-2 VANBRUGH 2NDS, WENTWORTH 2NDS 3-0 GOODRICKE 3RDS BY JONATHAN BARRON THE HALIFAX 4ths overcame a twogoal deficit to record a stunning 3–2 win against Vanbrugh 2nds to get their campaign off to a flying start. A header from Max Brewer and a penalty from Callum Woodall put Vanbrugh in the driving seat and, leading 2–0 at half-time, they looked on course to take all three points. However, a goal from Graham Jones gave Halifax hope, then supersub Alec Rieck scored twice from two shots on goal to snatch victory for Halifax in what was an enthralling contest. Vanbrugh looked the better team early on, and a good spell of pressure was rewarded with a goal, as Callum Woodall’s cross was met by Max Brewer, who found space to loop a header over a helpless Connor Tait.

BY SALLY DOLTON CAPTAIN HARRY Shaw was confident of Goodricke's chances before the match but it wasn't to be, as they lost 3–0 to a more organised and communi-

Photo: Ellen Rawlins

Not long afterwards, Vanbrugh found themselves two goals up, when a perceived push by Raj Bains on Tom Parish gave away a penalty, which Woodall converted, to douse Halifax spirits before the break. However, Halifax started the second half more brightly, and a series of brilliant saves from Vanbrugh’s Tom Williams kept Halifax at bay. But when what looked like a poor Halifax corner was not cleared, Graham Jones was quickest to react, and rifled a shot into the bottom corner. Alec Riek came on in an inspired substitution, and after Halifax won a freekick on the left wing, he sidefooted the dead ball past Williams, making it 2–2. Seconds later, the ball broke to Rieck on the right wing; he drove in his second and Halifax’s third to spark scenes of jubilation and seal a spectacular comeback. cative Wentworth side. Wentworth scored minutes into the game. After a quick attack, Murray for Wentworth ran on the left post to send the ball towards the opposite post. Goodricke's Joe Smalley made a desperate attempt to clear the ball, nevertheless, the ball was chipped into the net. It was a similar story for most of the match; Wentworth proved very strong on attack, with Murray consistently finding himself in space between the overwhelmed Goodricke defence. That is not to say Goodricke did not have their chances; goalie was forced to pull off a spectacular save, pumping the ball over the crossbar to prevent Goodricke equalising. Wentworth claimed their second through good play by Beacham who slotted the ball past the keeper in great style. The second half was characterised by

SPORTS NEWS IN BRIEF THE UNIVERSITY of York has launched its support for the 'Our Greatest Team' campaign. The campaign aims to get people to make a pledge to do something active in 2012, be it running a marathon or trying out a new sport. So far across the UK, over 131,000 people have signed up on the Our Greatest Team website and a total of almost 1,400 "Community Hubs", including York, have confirmed their participation. Technogym, the Olympic equipment supplier, is driving the initiative through its new social media tool, Movergy, which allows users to describe their sporting passions, and share their progress via Facebook and Twitter. Head of Sport at York, Keith Morris, insists the campaign is “not a sales thing”, but is solely geared towards improving the overall wellbeing of communitie. Each hub contains experts who will be able to guide you through your new exercise routine, whatever that may be, which in York’s case includes Health and Fitness manager Chris Carling. You can get involved with this unique movement by joining the Movergy website at www.movergy.com and clicking on the “Our Greatest Team” link. THIS SEASON has produced some amazing sport successes. In the BUCS Cup the men's table tennis 1sts, women's squash 1sts and the men's lacrosse 1sts all reached the final. However, one club that has reached the pinnacle of success is the ladies side of the hockey club. In BUCS, both the 2nds and the 1sts have gained promotion. The 1sts are moving into the Northern 2B league while the 2nds have climbed into the 5th. They have also, excitingly, were both promoted in the Yorkshire league the sides play in on the weekend. For the first XI this means they have reached the Premier. league- in itself a worthy feat. Double promotion is a first for any university club. Another first was achieved when the women's 1sts reached the semi-finals of the cup. They lost to a strong Durham 2nds side who sit in a higher BUCS league. The highlight of the 2nds season must be their massive 29–0 victory over Hull in the Yorkshire league. A good score for rugby and an inconcievably high one for hockey. As of last week they have also been awarded 'club of the year from the Yorkshire league'

Photo: TK Rohit

persistent Wentworth attacks which were kept at bay by the Goodricke defence. Goodricke's bursts forward failed to win them any supporters, and chances were squandered, including one memorable shot which arched high into the sky and over the pitch. Murray claimed his second of the match with a great run on to a through ball under pressure to curl it round the 'keeper Rogers just off the post. Goodricke had the last meaningful contribution to the game, Youssefi powered a shot to the goal but it rebounded square of the crossbar, followed by the final whistle. The Wentworth captain declined to comment on his team's success but Goodricke's Shaw commented he was "disappointed the slow start to the game filtered to the rest of the team" but predicted "good things" for the future.

ANOTHER COLLEGE rugby tournament is being arranged for later this term which is due to include UYRUFC players. The University players do not have fixtures in the summer term and are therefore available to play for their college in a tournament that is likely to take a much different shape to earlier competitions. Colleges such as Goodricke and Halifax will be must strengthened whilst champions Derwent will gain very little. Also this term is a possible hockey college cup. The hockey college league is fiercely competitive and features an epic rivalry between Halifax and James. In the league, the only university players banned are the men's 1sts. This will impact some teams such as Vanbrugh who rely on university players to fill the team. Contributors: Jack Bradshaw, Sally Dolton and Alex Finnis

Wednesday May 9, 2012

sport@yorkvision.co.uk

Issue 224

VISIONSPORT

STAR OF CAMPUS: MATT BOWMAN AND TOM EAMES

P21

YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR ALL UNI SPORT

BLACK SWANS TAKE OFF

ROSES 2012: 16 PAGE PULLOUT

WORLD SPORT:

UNDERDOG STORIES

P21 SPOTLIGHT: JUDO

Photo: Oliver Todd

> JAMES TAKE FIRST STEP TOWARDS REDEMPTION

P22 ALL THE COLLEGE CUP ACTION

P23

> HALIFAX 4THS COME BACK TO BEAT VANBRUGH 2NDS

Photo: Oliver Todd

BY ALEX FINNIS JAMES 1STS started their college campaign in positive fashion, overcoming Alcuin firsts 3-1 in the biggest game of the tournament so far. The men in black, who won last term’s college league, were desperate to atone for the disappointments of last year when they failed to even qualify for the cup, and they were far superior here against an Alcuin side

who struggled to create many real, clear cut chances. It was a tight opening to the affair, with both sides feeling each other out and the ball being stuck in midfield, but everything changed after James took an early lead courtesy of James Davies. The midfielder latched upon a loose ball and caught his volley sweetly from the edge of the area, sending the ball high into the net past David Marshall in the Alcuin goal.

James’ goal looked to have settled the men in black and they began to take control of the game, stringing some passes together along the floor, whilst Alcuin were struggling to get any kind of move going and were resorting to longer struck balls towards striker Alex Brown which Lynch and St. George were comfortable in dealing with. However, against the run of play, Alcuin levelled the scores with their first good move Continued on Page 23

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