Issue 3 – 2011/2012 (Wessex Scene)

Southampton University’s Student Magazine www.wessexscene.co.uk

HOUSING

Landlords

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Agencies

8

Housemates

14

Plus: Chavs; Veganism; Iran; The Politics of Football; Peer Pressure; Bangkok; Sports Supplements & More.

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Editor

Mike Fisher

editor@soton.ac.uk

Graphic Designer

Aaron Bali

design@wessexscene.co.uk

Image Editor

Nicola Manuel

image@wessexscene.co.uk

Features

Nile Davies & Charlotte Harwood

features@wessexscene.co.uk

Opinions

Samuel Gilonis & Fouad Al-Noor opinions@wessexscene.co.uk

Politics

Richard Windsor & Luke Goodger

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

n order to compensate for being the most stressful stage of your degree, your final year does provide one little nugget of relief: you don’t have to join in with the annual hunt for housing.

The pressure on Freshers to leave the sprawling metropolises of Halls and split into their own little families can turn even the most placid and popular students into scrunched up balls of paranoia. Having over a thousand friends on Facebook is of little help when you’ve got to find five people to live with; if anything it’s a hindrance.

And once the social politics have been navigated, the actual property must be found. There are agencies, fees, landlords and contracts. The process can be time consuming and complicated.

But the end result can be a lot of fun. And even when we encounter problems to resolve there is a pleasure to be had in standing up for ourselves. We’re being dragged kicking and screaming into adulthood so you may as well enjoy the kicking and the screaming.

This issue takes a frank look at many aspects of housing, as well as the wide variety of other topics you’ve come to expect from us. Enjoy the read.

Mike Fisher, Editor

politics@wessexscene.co.uk

Winchester

Emily Cotton

winchester@wessexscene.co.uk

International

Maja Hultman

international@wessexscene.co.uk

Lifestyle

Jo Fisher & Yara Silva

lifestyle@wessexscene.co.uk

Science & Environment

Alex Williams

science@wessexscene.co.uk

Travel

April Foot

travel@wessexscene.co.uk

Sport

Will Handley & Ellie Sellwood sport@wessexscene.co.uk

News

Emma Chappell & Ashleigh Cowie

news@wessexscene.co.uk

Involvement and Publicity Officer

Ciarán McManus

publicity@wessescene.co.uk

Pause Editor

Becci Ford

pause@wessexscene.co.uk

Online Manager

Sam Whitehall

online-manager@wessexscene. co.uk

Sub-Editors

Andrew Trigg Marcus Burton Editor-in-Chief

Joseph McLoughlin vpcomms@susu.org

Illustration: Thomas Fummo

Libyan students partied on the concourse following the news that Colonel Gaddafi had been killed.

Southampton university scientists made a major discovery about chlamydia the students’ union took part in the november 9th demonstration as part of the ongoing fees battle Two students were caught engaging in sexual activity in Southampton General Hospital. their antics were reported nationally

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

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COLD, RANCID AND DESPERATELY IN NEED OF ATTENTION. And the houses aren’t great either.

Housemates can be your best friends or your worst nightmares. You can discuss the good ones in Christmas cards and loving texts. We’re after the horror stories.

Send us your tales of the very worst experiences you’ve had with housemates and we’ll publish them (anonymously) on our website. The most entertaining entry will win a night of FREE PIZZA for your whole house. See page 14 for some examples.

Email editor@soton.ac.uk with your story by 4th December.

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

Dear Southampton Landlord (You know who you are),

Seeing as you are not responding to any of my many texts, phone calls and emails, I thought that maybe writing a passive aggressive letter to the student newspaper would work. Who knows? You must have a busier social life than I do, and I’m a Jester’s gold card holder.

I’m one of your tenants in Portswood. Yeah that’s right, I live in one of the “period” houses that you split into more rooms than is feasible in order to turn the greatest profit.

Oh that doesn’t narrow it down? Come on, you must know, the one you didn’t bother cleaning or even looking at before the new tenants moved in. Still no? We’re the guys with a shed made out of asbestos.

Yeah, that’s the one.

I’m not sure when exactly you graduated from the School of Landlordery, but I’m guessing it was before Portswood was upgraded from ‘slum’ to ‘student area’. A small distinction I know, but one that seems to have slipped past you. So I’m afraid that yes, you do have to make sure the slugs stay in the garden and don’t move through the hole in the wall into the living room, and that our fire hazard of a front door can be opened from the inside without a key.

I’m sorry if the blu-tack I put on the walls leaves marks on the industrial beige you presumably coat all your houses in. It’s just that I’d rather live in a place where I can express my individuality through putting up the same Che Guevara poster as everyone else, instead of Southampton Young Offenders’ Institute.

I’m assuming you’re out there somewhere, spending your days tending to the needs of the one student house you truly care for, but if every once in a while you could nip round here and sort our boiler out when it dies in the middle of December, we’d be ever so grateful. We might even make you that cup of tea we half-heartedly offered when you turned up three hours late to give us the keys.

Oh and if you bump into the lettings company on your travels (although I don’t see why you would– you don’t seem to have had any dealings with them before) could you politely enquire as to what precisely it is they do after taking our agency fee. We’d be thrilled to find out.

You must have thought it was such a laugh to come up with a contract that means you’re not legally obliged to do anything if we don’t submit our request in writing two weeks before. I’m sure there’s a funny side, but it’s probably over there with you and all the rent money.

Now, it might seem like I’m not altogether happy with our relationship, but there are definitely some aspects that I’m all for. I like knowing that we can have a quiet night that turns into something much louder and messier, and not for a second worry that you’re going to turn up in the morning demanding we clean the place up.

I do also like the family touches, like that time we told you that one of us had been electrocuted when the pipes leaked into the living room, and you sent your brother around to agree that, yes, the shower was indeed broken.

It’d be foolish of me to think you’ll ever change, especially since I’m never going to kick up an actual fuss about anything you do. Whatever you decide to do though, don’t worry about me - I’m planning on moving back to halls.

Haven’t had a good fire alarm in ages...

Yours sincerely,

Paul Kilgarriff

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

10 things to avoid

1. Dodgy contracts

These do exist and it is vital that you avoid them. Try to use the Univeristy’s approved contract, or get your landlord’s one checked by a lawyer or the uni before you sign it. Your landlord should give you a copy and be happy for you to get it checked.

If they are not, be suspicious and definitely get it looked at.

6. Not enough bathrooms

If your landlord does not put your deposit into the Deposit Protection Scheme, do not take the house - they’re acting illegally.

7. Looking too late

2. No deposit protection

3. High agency fees

Agencies often charge extortionate amounts of money for their services, called agency fees, which generally just include showing you around properties.

Ask the agency outright how much they charge, and ensure you look at other options.

4. Mould!

Unsightly, looks incredibly unhygienic and is best removed: no one wants mould! Poor ventilation in your bathroom and damp all contribute to the fungi’s growth and once it is there, removing it permanently is very hard. When viewing any house, ask if there is a substantial mould issue, and who is responsible for its removal. In most cases, landlords cannot be held responsible for mould and it will be down to you to remove it. If you don’t want that task, don’t take a mouldy house!

5. A tiny box room

Houses with one smaller bedroom often lead to arguments over who gets it. A good way of solving the issue is to adjust that person’s rent to a lower sum and to increase the rent of the person with the largest room. The situation is best avoided unless everyone is happy with the arrangement.

Choosing you

We’ve all been there. You oversleep after a heavy night out and only have ten minutes to get ready for your lecture. And there’s a massive queue for the bathroom. Annoying but avoidable. Check carefully that there is a good bathroom to bedroom ratio; using your halls as an example is a good starting point.

It’s easy to put off house searching until right at the last moment. However, this will mean that you are left with everyone else’s rejects, and may panic and not decide properly.

8. Rushing into a contract

For students renting a house is at hand in mor Run by second and th volunteers, the Southamp Clinic is an big part of offered by t

The clinic, with assistance Chambers’ in Southampton, advice-style” housing clinic, p any University of Southampton prope

Founded in 2009, each year the issues involving private rented a searching for alternatives to h their current house

On the other side of the coin, it is also vitally important that you don’t just agree to the first house that you see. Have a look at a few houses quite early, so that you have a good idea of what is on the market and for what price.

Then, when you are ready to look seriously, you will be in a much better position to choose the perfect house.

9. Bad landlords

Unsurprisingly, many landlords live up to their reputations and are not all that concerned about their tenants. It is therefore vital that you check with the pervious tenants that the landlord is reliable, quick to fix anything that goes wrong and honest, in both the contract and with your deposit.

10. Sharing with people that you don’t always get on with...

Sharing a house is very different to halls. You don’t have a cleaner and there are bills that need to be sorted. Think hard about how personality dynamics might play out.

With appointments held mo on Highfield Campus, clin work of a select group o particular lecturer Liz W ensure things keep ru

Alternatively, it’s po turn to the internet if you some advice on your housing The website Student Property compiles reviews of student ho Southampton from the people who year, with informal, down-to-earth they’re actually

Free to use, and written by student appear instantly on the website, he make better choices when looki

The list of properties included is sm well as an invaluable font of know for a house, it’s also a perfect f about sub-standard accommod landlords.

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

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1. Location, location, location

There are two main areas for student housing, behind the library, which means you are only a ten minute walk to your lectures, or in Portswood, where you are only a ten minute stroll to the clubs. The choice is yours.

2. Security

Be aware that student houses will be targeted by thieves, so ensure that your house has decent security measures. Make sure that windows are all lockable, rooms have a separate key and any perimeter fencing is well maintained.

3. Furniture

It’s important to ascertain what comes with the rental and what does not. The last thing you want is to turn up and find that a bed wasn’t included! Ensure that you check with your For advice on landlord, and when you first move in, complete housing or more an inventory so that you information email cannot be accused of stealing or damaging housingclinic@ anything.

soton.ac.uk

ts for students, comments elping prospective tenants ing for good housing.

mall, but growing, and as wledge if you’re looking forum to vent spleen dation and difficult

4. Utilities

Does your house have its own washing machine? If not, is there a laundrette nearby?

How much does it cost? Do you want a dishwasher? Is your oven in good working condition? All good questions to consider when viewing property.

5. Rent

Landlords will not be happy if you cannot afford to pay your rent, and you can be evicted if you fail to pay it. Make sure that you settle on a price that you will able to pay every month, even over summer and other holidays.

Planning on bringing your car to uni? Check the parking provisions for your road – are there any restrictions or permits?

7. Communal areas

The kitchen and lounge are important areas in any student household, as the locations for parties and gatherings. It is therefore important that they suit your needs, space and furniture wise. A large room with no chairs is great for a party, but not so good for a film night.

8. Fire alarms and carbon monoxide testers

It is compulsory by law that your house has some form of fire detection and fighting equipment. It is suggested by the government and the Fire Officers Association that every house has at least one smoke detector, a fire blanket in the kitchen and a fire extinguisher.

9. Double glazing

It may seem trivial but double glazing will not only help keep your heating bill down, it will also prevent outside noise interfering with your sleep, and noise from parties getting out.

10. Garden

Great for BBQs and other social gatherings, a large garden can be a real asset to any house.

However, the larger they are, the more work that will need to be done to keep them usable, so it is a good idea to check with your landlord if he has any provisions for the upkeep, or if it is left up to you.

Kirsty Hough

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

Letting Agencies: The Great Con

Words by Lewis Wedgewood // Artwork by Rosie Brown

You pay up to £150 per person if you rent your housing through a letting agency. Is it worth it?

As a private Southampton landlord told us, letting agencies “cost me and the tenants a fair bit of money”. So why do most students use them? Is it possible to rent housing without them?

Even the agencies admit: yes, it is. Tenant Direct told us, “you can [rent directly]. There are a few private landlords, and they do things very well”, whilst Lettings Direct conceded that, “there are very good private landlords”.

These can be easily found on sassh.co.uk, a database of student property in Southampton.

One student who had found accommodation through the website told me “it’s a bit of effort to arrange the viewings, but at least you don’t have to pay agencies”.

What’s more, direct contact with the landlord will be useful once you’ve moved in.

Tenant Direct told us: “There are a few private landlords, and they do things very well”

So why do lettings agencies exist?

Ask them, and they have two justifications. Firstly, they claim to be more trustworthy than private landlords. Lettings Direct told us they offer “peace of mind” and “the security of knowing you’ve gone through a lettings agency”.

But explore this claim, and the only substance to this is that they are “registered with RLA” – the Residential Landlords’ Association. But RLA, with over 10,000 members, could be used to check out private landlords. So “security” can be achieved without agencies.

Their second justification is that they save clients time. Tenant Direct speculated that with a private landlord, you could “go out 6, 7 times a week [to viewings] and still not find the place you’re looking for”.

True, but this overlooks the fact that you can waste plenty of time with agencies, too. Many of the students we spoke to who had

used agencies still found it timeconsuming to find anywhere they liked.

Agency fees can thus appear not only avoidable, but excessive.

Tenant Link, for instance, charge a £30 ‘contract fee’ which they can only explain by saying, “it’s for the contract: to write the contract, get the landlord to sign it and get you to sign it”. On hearing this, one student commented, “it’s not really worth it, they don’t really do much”.

Finding housing without agencies requires initiative and time, and it must be said that lettings agencies will almost certainly provide a wider choice of properties. But the university’s law school offers legal advice on renting houses and sassh.co.uk is a very useful database. Landlords themselves are also keen to find and co-operate with independent tenants. So for the ambitious and enterprising student, avoiding agencies can be a surprisingly easy and very economical alternative.

Even a ‘reputable’ letting agency cannot guarantee a problem-free property...

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

Know your rights

Multiple Occupancy

The rules of this depend on whether your house is rented out as a whole property, or by room. If it is rented in the first instance, then only one TV licence is needed, but if it is let by room, each person will need one.

You do not need a TV licence if you do not watch live television, which does include online live TV.

A House in Multiple Occupation is one which is occupied by three or more people from multiple families. When the household is bigger than five people or spreads over three or more floors, it requires the landlord to hold a special licence, whereby the local authority has decided that the house meets the minimum standards for the number of bathrooms, toilets, washbasins, showers, cooking and laundry facilities, and that the landlord is capable of looking after such a property.

Council Tax

Contracts

Anything that is written in the contract must be carried out, for example if a landlord promises to refurnish one of the rooms over summer, this must be done. If it is not, you can take the issue to the council.

Getting things fixed

Landlords are bound by law to fix any problems in your house within a reasonable time. This is vague, but a general rule is the bigger the job, the longer they have to do it. However, if you have waited three months for a window to be fixed, ensure that you have written evidence that you have asked and then take the matter to the council.

If you think your house is not meeting these requirements, contact the council.

This is a legally binding document, so be very careful when you sign it and make sure that you have read it thoroughly and understand it. You are free to ask your landlord to make alterations, although he or she is allowed to refuse.

TV Licence

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If the house is wholly occupied by students, it is exempt from paying council tax. However, you will need to submit a letter, available from your subject’s school, to the council. They will send you a letter about this and it is vital that you do send off for exemption, or you will have to pay the tax.

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

Terrified of Tehran

Those who demand that there should be no military intervention in Iran must provide a realistic alternative.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s release of a report stating that Iran has accelerated the conversion of its domestic energy projects into a nuclear weapons programme tells us nothing that Ahmadinejad hasn’t accidentally blurted out in one of his apocalyptic rants on the subject of Israel, but it has made it clear that we are soon to be dealing with a nuclear armed Iranian state. Israel has urged its allies not to delay in taking military action against its neighbour.

There are several excellent reasons to not do so: Iran may never utilise its nuclear arsenal and a policy of containment or deterrence (as proposed by Kenneth Pollack in The Persian Puzzle) may be effective in preventing Iran from using its nuclear muscle to intimidate its neighbours, although it will obviously do nothing to prevent the awful (and worsening) human rights situation in the country.

Iran also has a population three times the size of Iraq’s and maintains what has been described as the most powerful military in the Middle East. It also maintains the support of innumerable terrorist organisations including Hezbollah and Hamas, whilst the defence budgets of both the UK and the US, who are already involved in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, have recently been slashed. Unlike the Osirak nuclear facility in Iraq that the Israelis destroyed in a swift bombing mission in 1981, the Iranians have multiple nuclear facilities that are embedded underground and in the sides of mountains (notably the facility in Qom). This makes tactical airstrikes upon them a non starter;

military intervention in Iran means moving in ground forces.

Of course this must be weighed against the increased dangers of an atomic Iran, a country that has only become more belligerent and more radical in the face of global condemnation. In reviewing the last year we will see Iran allegedly attempting to suborn a Mexican drug cartel to murder the Saudi ambassador to Washington. This comes very shortly after Iran held two US hikers hostage, under the ludicrous charge of espionage, to use for diplomatic bartering.

There seems to be an enormous amount of misplaced optimism that Iran will never use its nuclear arsenal (or furnish one of its proxy terrorist groups with WMD) and that Ahmadinejad and the clerical elite will act as we expect we would in their position. Given Ahmadinejad’s self professed belief in the second coming of the Prophet Muhammad in the form of ‘Mahdi’ and how his return will be accelerated through warfare, this seems an incredibly dangerous gamble. Although the Ayatollah Khameini does not share this messianic vein, his apocalyptic vision of martyrdom provides little reassurance. It would not be the first time that the theocratic regime has fought in the face of WMD. During the Iran-Iraq war the Iranians sent endless ‘human waves’ in a remarkably successful effort to combat Saddam’s use of chemical weapons in almost every battle.

The human rights record of the last few years is also worth bearing in mind and there are few atrocities that you could think of that will not have been committed (although

there will certainly be some that you couldn’t.) Torture, rape and murder are commonplace in and out of the Iranian prison system, public hangings, including those of minors, occur frequently (Iran has the second highest execution rate in the world after China) and is a popular punishment for the charge of ‘sodomy’. The regime brutally crushes any dissent as evidenced in 2009 and in the February uprisings in 2011 in which the state employed child soldiers to help swiftly crush protests. Trying to contain Iran through nuclear deterrence will not help the Iranian people and economic sanctions are likely to increase their plight as has been seen before.

War with Iran could be calamitous and it is often speculated that a war between Christian West and Muslim East would begin this way. John Stuart Mill said that war was ‘an ugly thing, but not the ugliest thing’, however, war with a nuclear backed Iran really may well be the uglier thing that it is necessary for us to fight to prevent. A decision must be made in this slim opportunity and if there is not to be a military intervention then a serious alternative must be put forward. This must not be based on the suicidal naivety of those who assume that Iran will never employ its nuclear arsenal and it must be formed with the realisation that this is a decision that will impact the entire world for decades to come.

Samuel Gilonis

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

‘Chavs’ Are Citizens Too

Lewis Wedgwood

Britain casually stereotypes its poor, urban youths as a criminal underclass, but this damaging act of alienation should not go as unchecked as it currently does.

One of the strangest features of our society’s enourmous, expanding middle-class - which the majority of us now see ourselves as part of - is its bizarre attitude towards Britain’s poorest citizens. It seems to be acceptable in an unsettling number of circles, publications and people’s mindsets to stereotype poor, inner-city dwellers as ‘asbos’, ‘hoodies’ or ‘chavs’.

This outrageous offence implies criminal activity on the part of people who are not convicted, and is highly alienating. The middle class was utterly dumbfounded that some of their fellow citizens could be so alienated that they Image: Eleanor Longhurst could enact chaotic Our Express printed vandalism during a picture of If comedians mocked the unusual society seems to this summer’s Mark Dug- dress and strange mannerisms of riots. But this have become gan’s mourn- African immigrants, we would same class has ers reaching not be so acquiescent in their use structured so that a spent years alienating them, comfortable majority re- out in prayer of discriminatory humour. So why t o w a r d s are we happy to mock the poor? by enforcing his coffin. sents and mocks a poor both explicitly A Tory-led government seems and implicitly minority.

Their inflam- likely only to reinforce the di- the pernicious matory caption vision. In a shockingly dividivision that has was “in chilling sive statement after the riots, been developed bescenes, youths... lined Ken Clarke did not condemn tween our poor, urban Tottenham’s streets with criminals specifically, but Britfamilies and the rest of society. their arms outstretched in a ain’s “feral underclass”. No If ethnic or religious groups ‘gangsta salute’ to ‘fallen sol- government should ever be alwere treated with a fraction of dier’ Duggan”. A measure of the lowed to alienate its citizens. the negative assumptions and success of these newspapers’ stereotyping that poor, inner-city smear campaign is that Britain Our society seems to have beyoung people are, there would now thinks David Cameron, who come structured so that a combe outrage. Just because a preju- insists that our society is ‘bro- fortable majority resents and dice is less familiar, this does ken’, is the best man to lead us. mocks a poor minority. If we allow it to continue, we should not make it any less obnoxious, dangerous, or socially divisive. In everyday life, our nation also expect to see more of the crime, tolerates mockery of its poorer political apathy, dissolution of Unfortunately, Britons tolerate citizens: an equally discriminat- communities and spectacular the propagation, by certain news- ing and alienating offence. Comic vandalism that this unhealthy papers, of an unremittingly nega- characters such as Vicky Pollard division has already caused. Altive depiction of inner-city youth, make us laugh at poor, uneducat- ternatively, we could stand up based loosely on few facts. In an ed, ill-mannered people for the to this prejudice and tackle it. awful example of newspapers’ ir- sole reason that they are poor, responsibility, this summer The uneducated and ill-mannered.

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

HOUSEMATES FROM HELL?

Yara Silva

This is the time of year when you start to think about what’s coming next. Moving from halls into houses, or from one house to another, or moving back into the same house for another consecutive year. Either way, there is one thing which is more important than where you live: who you live with.

Choosing your housemates:

unfriendly towards us, on one occasion spitting at me and another female housemate, because we told them to ‘get a room’. Incidents like this, however, are generally rare.

Jacob Coy: Graphic Arts

ences of uni life so far. We In halls, I lived with a group hadn’t decided on a budget of 11 friends, and we all before going to find a house, wanted to live together in meaning various disputes the second year. Of course during the house viewings this was not possible, so about what we could and we divided into two houses couldn’t afford. We finally of 5 and 6. Doing this was settled on a 7 bedroom house a group decision. Certain in Portswood, with a reasonpeople wanted to able rental price. live with specific “since others; the girls first year there’s Choosing your all wanted to Then came live together been actual police room: the room choosing. (as there were charges brought We decided to be only 3 of us), against my exdemocratic, and I didn’t want so we wrote everyhousemate” to live with my one’s names down boyfriend (as I on a piece of paper, and knew I would strugpulled them out of a wok gle to get any work done if (we couldn’t find a hat), in I did), and others had their order to decide who got first own feelings about other choice of the bedrooms. I got people. first choice.

My housemates ended up comprising 3 boys, 3 other girls and me. One girl hadn’t been in halls with us. She moved in without us knowing her, because she had had a problem with her friends from halls and didn’t have anywhere to live. We met her once before she signed the contract. Risky move, but luckily it worked out fine and we all got on well.

House hunting: House hunting in first year was one of the most stressful experi-

We had a cleaning rota that we all stuck to, meaning that the house maintained a reasonably decent standard of cleanliness for a student house. Socialising was a big thing in our house. We had numerous house parties and went out multiple times per week (uni work permitting, of course!). However, not everyone in the house always went out, which led to a few ‘KEEP THE NOISE DOWN!’ squabbles. The noise wasn’t just confined to night times, my housemate in the room above me liked to wake up early every morning and play Lionel Richie’s ‘Dancing On The Ceiling’. I could hear him singing along. At first, it bugged me, but then I learnt to enjoy my wake-up calls.

At the end of the year, I decided to move out. I had become good friends with my neighbour who was on the same course as me, and thought that living with her may help me to keep focused on my studies for third year.

Arguments: I was quite lucky with my housemates, there were rarely any serious arguments. One of my housemates, how“At the My new houseever, vanished from end of the mates consist our lives after findyear, I decided of 3 boys and ing a new girlfriend.

3 girls, myself to move out” We never saw him included. This alone again, and he time we picked our has now left uni to be rooms out of a plastic with her. This caused a bag. We found our house bit of a stir in the house, as and signed the contract last we were annoyed that we February. never got to see him. When we did get to see him he was Living with couples: At the

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

time of signing the contract me too much. There are of the new house, I was the minimal public displays of only house member who affection, which is much was in a relationship. Durappreciated. ing the Easter holidays, two You may think that all the couples formed out of my tough decisions will come future housemates. once you move into your When we moved into new house, but the “He reguour new house in difficulty really lies September this larly told us in choosing who to year, I moved in that we were all live with for the next with two couples going to end up year of your life. Find and one singleton, the right people and in hell” who has now found you can all put your himself a girlfriend. combined anger that would have been spent Obviously, I didn’t sign up bickering with housemates, to live with two couples. I into being annoyed at your assumed it would change landlord. the atmosphere of the house, as they would always be together. They are – but I’ve found that it doesn’t bother

Your Nightmare Housemates

“Our housemate and his girlfriend used to go to the toilet together every single time either of them needed to go, and saw no issue in this - this was one of the many things they used to do that made the house a very awkward place to be when they were in!”

“In halls, I had a housemate who was exceptionally Christian and regularly told us we were all going to end up in hell”

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TSSL

Things Soton Students Love SoBar: The classier Jesters (marginally). SoBar is much cleaner, but wearing heels is still thoroughly frowned upon as the floor tends to be very slippy and the stairs outside are lethal even in trainers. The famous QuadVod was banned last year but drinks are still very cheap as long as you like vodka. Nonvodka lovers will probably prefer to go elsewhere, as other drinks can be fairly pricey.

Chico-Land: Situated perfectly between Sobar and Jesters, the ChicoLand takeaway gets a lot of business from students wanting cheesy chips at 2am - it is always packed, noisy and full of hungry drunks.

Societies: Sports, charities, languages, religions… the uni has a huge variety of different societies which you can usually join at any time, it doesn’t have to be at the beginning of the year.

Yara Silva

“Whenever me and my housemates made a meal, we had one guy who would always say something about how delicious it looked or about how hungry he was, forcing you to offer him some of it; the same guy would go through the bins and eat discarded food he found...gross!”

“In my first year we had a flatmate who would deliberately try and stir arguments with the female housemates in a very misogynistic way. Then he was actually stalking and harassing one of the girls to go out with him, but still believed himself to be the epitome of man and God’s gift to women. Well, since first year there’s been actual police charges brought against him and he was eventually kicked out of uni.”

“My housemate in second year stopped talking to us, moved out without telling us, left us with £200 of water bills to pay, deleted us all on Facebook and stopped answering our calls. Then he was surprised when we gave him the cold shoulder in our shared lectures next year!”

Marco Borromei

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

The Vegan Challenge Alice Porter explains her decision to turn vegan, and why, despite the challenge, it was worth it.

A year ago I tried veganism for a month. November being World Veganism Month, it seemed like a perfect opportunity. There were plenty of stumbling blocks, but now I can proudly say that I have never looked back.

didn’t expect them. Quorn, that favourite meat-alternative of vegetarians, contains milk and egg powder. The Body Shop, surely a safe haven that eschews animal testing, right? Not since L’Oreal bought them out, one of the biggest animal-testing companies in Europe. It frustrated me to see how many companies felt the need to use animals unnecessarily.

Like vegetarians, vegans don’t eat meat or fish, but they go further and choose not to consume or use ANY product that in some way requires an animal. This means Then there was my catered Vegans avoiding dairy, eggs, hall, meaning that my aim to live a honey, wool or silk, first memories of veganhumane and ism consist mainly of as well as not using ethical products tested on potatoes and baked lifestyle. animals. This may beans. Sigh. However, seem restrictive, but these setbacks are a real it’s a positive and eneye-opener; it takes a lot lightening experience and of courage and effort to really one of the best decisions I’ve look at all the products you take ever made. for granted daily. A little bit of research and label-reading can The most obvious reason for make you highly aware of the going vegan is for the animals. complexity of being truly ethical.

It is argued that veganism does It seems a setback, but I found more than vegetarianism to this a very liberating journey, prevent animal cruelty, and that and it’s satisfying to know that in the developed world we are you can change your mentality able to survive without aniand lifestyle. mal products. There are many other reasons to try veganism; The mention of veganism around industrial animal farming is one students often brings up the of the biggest contributors to question ‘Isn’t it more expenglobal warming and pollution, sive?’ My response is that, like so a vegan diet is automatically any diet, it can be made affordmore environmentally friendly, able with a little effort. If you’re whilst replacing animal foods on a budget, avoid specialty with plant-based nutrition is products with several labels much healthier. Overall, vegans such as ‘organic’ or ‘super-food’, aim to live a humane and ethical and instead re-evaluate what lifestyle. you already buy. Choose non-egg based pasta, and even small Admittedly, it’s not always easy. ‘extra’ supermarkets stock milk When I first tried veganism, I alternatives such as soya milk. was astounded by how many Replace meat with beans and everyday products contained pulses; dried or in a can they are animal ingredients where I a lot cheaper and far more ethi-

cal than cheap battery chicken. If you’re feeling brave, try something new like tofu, and investigate international food stores for inspiration. Buying fresh fruit and vegetables from markets and independent grocery stores is a cheaper option than supermarkets, and buy pasta, rice etc in bulk. Many supermarkets have ‘free from’ ranges which have various egg and dairy-free products, and some supermarkets like The Co-operative and Sainsbury’s have own brand vegan products.

For affordable cosmetics and toiletries, all of Superdrug’s and Co-op’s own brand products are vegan too. The number of ethical alternatives to animal-products is surprising; vegan milk, chocolate, cheese, sausages, icecream...it goes on! I am a sucker for chocolate, so I was overjoyed to find that vegan milk chocolate buttons taste no different. Over the summer I began vegan baking, which is not much different and will change any sceptic’s opinion!

Of course, going vegan isn’t easy, and many decide that it is not appropriate for them. But even if you make mistakes or find it difficult, veganism is an interesting topic for discussion, and trying out a more ethical lifestyle can only be a positive experience.

Background graphics: Lily Rossiter: Graphic Arts

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

One Week Without

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Make-Up Emma Hobbs

It is my lucky job to live without… drum roll please…make-up! ‘Good lord’ is a phrase that springs to mind. Nearly every woman feels the pressure of looking presentable and attractive to some extent and a staggering number can’t even leave the house without splashing on some cosmetics. So how will one week without makeup affect my life?

Friday 21st October, 8:00am: So. Day One of not wearing any make-up begins. And I feel awful This may be because I have been ill with a horrific cold/ cough for over a week now, but I feel the whole not-wearingany-make-up experience may have contributed to my feeling rubbish. The fact that I probably look horrific doesn’t even bare thinking about.

However, things are on the up because my only lecture of the day isn’t until 5pm. That’s only for an hour, so I can cope with minimal sightings of me in this state.

Saturday 22nd October, 5:06pm: What a palaver.

Not only do I go out shopping without make-up AND having forgotten to straighten my hair, I start having a coughing fit on the bus. So naturally, I turn even more red when the guy in the seat next to me offers me some water…needless to say my colour corrective foundation would have come quite in handy. Another day and I’m really rather missing my make-up.

Sunday 23rd October, 4:28pm: Today I’m begining to feel somewhat liberated without my make-up. I have decided that the ability to rub my eyes without the worry of panda eyes

is a great feeling. Maybe this is a breakthrough!

However, I fear that this feeling will evaporate when it gets to my 9 o’clock lecture tomorrow morning…

Monday 24th October, 7:20am: I’m still feeling like rubbish, and am still yet to be convinced that abandoning my foundation was a good idea. I’m not sure if my attitude will change for the better after all.

Tuesday 25th October, 9:30pm: So I’ve just got in from Strings, and I catch a glimpse of myself in the lift mirror. It surprises me how quickly I forget that I don’t have make-up on. However, that makes the realisation that I am bare faced an even bigger crash down to earth, and that people aren’t actually looking at my

fabulously long lashes, but the massive shadows under my eyes.

Wednesday 26th October, 10:03pm: This whole not-wearing-anymake-up thing is starting to get me down. I want my mascara back! But tomorrow is the real test: the big night out…which I am NOT looking forward to. The best part of a night out is getting ready! This doesn’t seem fair.

Thursday 27th October, 7:30pm: So it’s the big night. And also the last day of not wearing make-up!

I may be a little too excited about the prospect of getting to wear it all again. Even though technically it’s a Histsoc Halloween social, I don’t have the energy to dress up, therefore I am taking some fake blood with me and that will have to do.

Friday 28th October, 2:33am: Such a good night!

Although I did feel the need to tell every person I came into contact with that I was taking part in a week without makeup…not that I was self-conscious at all…

So that’s that. I successfully completed my week without make-up.

And you know what, it has actually taught me something...I now know NEVER to go out without make-up again! I suppose it goes to show just how much one tiny bit of mascara makes a difference to how you feel. I think for some, it might have been a liberating and eye-opening experience, proving that make-up isn’t everything, but that wasn’t the case for me. It totally depends on the person. For now, though, I can’t wait to go out without worrying about looking tired - where’s my concealer?

Image by Abigail Moore, Fine Art Painting

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

The Algorithm Stick

Software is the eternal, disposable soul of modern technology.

But is it becoming threateningly complex? Sam Whitehall gets his own CPU around software and algorithms It’s almost a sci-fi cliché: a planet watched over by unloving machines; a planet whose citizens’ every moves are calculated and planned by these silicon Gods – but to what extent does this merely lie within the confines of fiction? This sort of technocracy is clearly a long way off or may never happen, yet there are already many hidden ways that decisions are being made for us by computer algorithms.

In essence, an algorithm is nothing more than an unambiguous set of instructions for solving a problem or performing a task, without the need for any ‘creative’ input. Algorithms allow computers, which can only really perform only a few fundamental tasks, to do useful things. Early algorithms were written to solve problems that computers are naturally suited to – such as sorting a huge amount of numbers.

Alongside raw computing power, algorithms too have grown much more advanced over the decades and are beginning to take over human jobs – a prominent example being market trading, where roughly a third of all trades are conducted by computers without human intervention. This offers the clear advantage of being able to analyse and respond to market events in a short amount of time, whilst being theoretically being immune to irrationality, greed and exuberance.

However, despite being fundamentally deterministic and predictable, it’s often deceptively difficult to ensure they’ve been told to do the right thing.

A humorous example of algorithms behaving badly took place on Amazon Marketplace, when two algorithmic sellers set their prices for a copy of the obscure biology textbook The

Making of a Fly: The Genetics of Animal Design. The two computers, unquestioningly running their respective algorithms continuously outpriced one-another, resulted in a steady, lockstep arms race, culminating in the book being offered for $23 million, before manual override.

respond ‘no’, but does the apparent success of such ‘algorithmic dating’ suggest otherwise – i.e. can the quality of a decision be judged purely by its result? Can algorithms really predict such inherently personal and subjective judgements as artistic value?

The UK-based company EpaWhile this may seem like an gogix certainly believes this inconsequential irrelevance, is possible, and works with the trend towards algorithmic Hollywood studios to try and alcontrol of more critical systems, gorithmically predict whether a like algorithmic stock script will become a successtrading, can lead to ful blockbuster. Many similar events would agree that “If you don’t happening Hollywood plots there too. are formulaic, know anything about Such an but is there computers, just remember event literally a did mathematithat they are machines that indeed cal formula do exactly what you tell them; that defines happen, at but often surprise you with the how good a 2:45pm film is? result” on 6th Since the May most critical2010 to Richard Dawkins ly-acclaimed be precise, films tend to when the break the mould, Dow Jones is increasing reliance Industrial Averon algorithmic analysis age plummeted by culturally dangerous, by leading more than 600 points in five to more predictable, unoriginal minutes – temporarily wiping $1 rehashing of clichéd genres? Or trillion off the market value. is that an antiquated, elitist view of culture – a culture about to In addition to this, they’re also be democratised by algorithms beginning to be used within a that produce the content that the social context – whether trying to predict which films you may masses desire? enjoy, suggest people you may Despite such leaps in its usage, know or helping you find a suitit’s still unclear what the limits able partner on an online dating of artificial intelligence are. One website. The popular dating of the big issues at the present website Match.com uses psychois that computers lack ‘common metric data to try and mathsense’ knowledge. An ordinary ematically match you to your ‘optimum’ partner – but blurring person encounters an enormous quantity of objects, and knows the line like this raises several about the many relationships important philosophical quesbetween all these objects, the tions. Can such fundamentally majority of which is learned in a human qualities such as love couple of years of development be calculated by an algorithm?

– yet this is difficult to collate Most people would intuitively

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

and imbue into a computer.

This may simply be a result of millions of years of evolution enabling sophisticated ‘learning’ systems, but it may turn out that the nature of our consciousness is fundamentally different to computer architecture.

Regardless, without such common sense, an algorithm cannot critically analyse what

it is doing, which is why the algorithmic sellers didn’t stop when the price of The Making of a Fly reached $23 million – if an algorithm receives nonsensical input, it will blindly respond nonsensically.

It’s likely that through breakthroughs in research on our own brains, we will be able to develop more and more intelligent

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algorithms that will doubtless be employed more and more in our everyday lives. Although an overly-dystopian mass enslavement of humanity (á la Matrix) is fairly far-fetched, it can’t be doubted that we’re slowly relinquishing control to the unfeeling automata. Would you put your trust in HAL to open the pod-bay doors?

A Peek At Peer Pressure

A study led by Georgio Coricelli of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences has looked into why we take more risks when we are with friends.

According to the results of the study, it all lies in the way our brains are wired.

In the study Coricelli and his team measured activity in the brain associated with social reasoning and rewards while participants in the study entered the lottery. The results of brain activity showed more activity in the striatum, the part of the brain that is associated with rewards, when beating a peer in the lottery than when they won alone.

It was also noted that those whohad won in a social setting were more inclined to take greater risks and become more competitive.

Coricelli explained these results with an idea from evolutionary history: those in lone environments taking risks are more likely to face a life-threatening consequence of the risk they have taken. In a social environment, the rewards of taking these risks can be great: they can improve social standing; further an individual’s chance of finding a mate; and help to secure vital commodities such as food.

With our brains associating so much potential benefit with risk-taking in a social surround-

ing as opposed to when alone, it becomes clear why peer pressure among groups of individuals isn’t a rare occurrence. Many of the risks we take are an attempt to raise our social standing, so that we are noticed and not left behind by our peers. Those that are more susceptible to peer pressure are teenagers and young adults - us - where pressure is applied by both the media and others to minds often lacking the maturity to fully understand the risks they are taking.

Taking into account Coricelli and his team’s findings, everyone can take some solace in knowing that if you have ever succumbed to peer pressure, more often than not it is largely down to the wiring of your brain.

Olivia Duff

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

When Politics Meets Football

Politics and football. Two worlds that sound light-years apart, yet since Association Football’s inception in England during the nineteenth century, politics has become intrinsically involved with the workings of football.

This is predominantly down to the social influence of football, its use as a cultural identity to the masses, as well as strong influence on supporters.

Some of the examples given in this feature present the use of football by fascists during the twentieth century, an area which has been extensively studied and written about by academics.

Rulers such as Hitler, Franco and Mussolini all used football as a means of oppression. This was particularly true in Spain, where football teams represented the only remaining independent organisations of Spain’s varied regions. But as checquered as the history of politics and football is, it can also be used as a token of peace between nations.

In today’s society, politics uses football - and sport in general - as a method of diplomacy in hostile or formerly hostile nations. Its symbolic use epitomises its role (other than entertainment) in post-modern society.

It plays as big a part in many people’s lives as politics, if not bigger in some cases, because it represents their identity, their culture and their heritage.

England’s Darkest Moment This is perhaps British politics’ most notorious intervention into football. In May 1938, England was to play Germany in an international friendly match in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

At the time, Britain’s Prime Minister and his government sought to avoid the ever looming threat of war with Nazi Germany.

After the annexation of Austria in March that year, Chamberlain was desperate to prove that Germany was anything but a pariah state, thus the England national team were sent out on a mission to show the world the mutual peace between the two nations.

What happened on that day quickly became England’s darkest moment. The players, including the legendary Stanley Matthews, were ordered by the Foreign Office to perform the Nazi salute in the pre-match line up as a sign of respect to Germany’s leaders (Adolf Hitler didn’t even attend) - an act which undoubtedly bore heavily on the shoulders of those players during the atrocities that were to unfold over the following years.

The match itself ended with England winning 6-3. However, the score mattered not. Chamberlain had achieved ‘peace in our time’ and Hitler had achieved the show of propaganda that he desired.

Politics and football should of course mix, because the work they can do together can bring change and promote a vast array of better causes throughout the world. Even if you don’t like football, there’s no doubting it has played a major role in world history.

Real Madrid is often referred to as the ‘regime team’. Though it did appear that the team was somewh football. It’s only use was its vast influence on society; another method of control and propaganda. Fol Catalonia) of Spain became oppressed and rid of anything that separated them from Castilian culture. ish. The continuation of football clubs however, such as FC Barcelona and Athletic Club of Bilbao, becam time and therefore became the symbol of the fascist regime and the oppression of Franco.

A Copa del Generalismo semi-final tie in 1943 between Barcelona and Real Madrid is one occasion of Fr ated, especially considering the name of the tournament itself. Prior to the kick-off of the second leg in what was said. The fear of death led to Barcelona being behind 8-0 by half-time, eventually losing 11-1 though, they lost to the Basque team Athletic in the final, much to the displeasure of Franco.

THE REGIME TEAM

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

The El SalvadorHonduras Football War

In 1969, a four day war broke out after a football match between El Salvador and Honduras. The football match was just the catalyst however, igniting the spark caused by the socio-economic tensions between the nations, particularly regarding immigration. By 1969, Honduras had received over 300,000 immigrants from El Salvador due to its mass over-

Armenia V Turkey

During a 2010 World Cup qualifier, these two nations with a more than hostile history played in Armenia. The presidents of both nations sat together (behind bullet proof glass) as a

population. The second leg of the 1970 World Cup tie between the two nations, played in Honduras, ended in enormous riots leaving many Salvadorans injured and sent thousands fleeing the country in fear. The post-match tensions rose and twelve days later diplomatic relations between the two had broken down. El Salvador launched military action against Honduras.

A ceasefire was called, and a treaty was signed four days later, after intervention from the Organisation of American States.

sign of diplomacy between the two countries. The fans were not so diplomatic though, with the Turkish national anthem being completely inaudible due to the booing of thousands of Armenian fans, a sign that relations were not entirely amicable between the two countries.

Turkey has never recognised the crimes of its past against the Armenian people.

Hillsborough

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English football’s greatest tragedy and one which is always remembered. Ninety-six Liverpool fans died at the away end of Hillsborough during an FA Cup tie in 1989 between Sheffield Wednesday and Liverpool.

The match was abandoned six minutes in, after officials noticed fans climbing the restrictive fences on to the pitch. The cause of this devastation was the uncontrolled attendance at the stadium. The Hillsborough Disaster Inquiry Report, also known as the Taylor Report, blamed police control for the incident.

The report recommended that all fences and standing accommodation in stadiums were a threat, so in 1990 the government implemented a rule stating no standing accommodation was allowed in any football stadium over a certain capacity.

The massive repercussions of that disaster still echo today The Hillsborough Family Support group have campaigned furiously for years in order to gain full access to all documents from the time of the tragedy. In October this year, after a fairly unanimous debate in the House of Commons, those files have become available to the public and provide the truth and some closure for the families of those killed. The release of those files is not just important for the victims of that disaster and their families, but also for democracy.

Richard Windsor & Luke Goodger

hat favoured by Spain’s ruling fascist party, General Franco himself was considered to be rather apathetic towards llowing the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s rise to power in 1939, the culturally varied regions (particularly Basque and All institutions that promoted regional identity were banned, as was the use of any language apart from Castilian Spanme beacons and symbols of Catalan and Basque identity respectively. Real Madrid was one of the best teams of the

ranco’s interventions in football. Barca was leading 3-0 after the first leg at home, something which could not be tolern Madrid, a representative of the regime visited the Barca dressing room armed with a loaded gun. It’s easy to guess 1. A capitulation of ridiculous proportions, but not at all a shameful one, except for Madrid. It didn’t do them much good

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

It’s All About The Journey: A Whistle Stop Tour of Central Europe

Southampton student Amy Bonifas explains how she survived two and a half weeks in Eastern Europe on a tight budget and with only a rough route in mind.

After a short flight, we began our InterRailing journey in Prague, with backpacks double our body weight in tow.

Luckily we found our first hostel quickly; it was near the Old Town, just off the beautiful main square. By lunchtime we were crunching Trdelnik, a rolled sugar pastry, having already marvelled atthe astronomical clock that required a PhD to read, and the Old Prague Castle, where we sniggered at the changing of the sternfaced guards. A man from our hostel recommended we visit the Jewish Quarter, where

we saw the Old Jewish Cemetery. We learnt that during WWII, the Jewish people were forced to bury their dead in one limited area, and so bodies were buried in layers. We hadn’t expected to learn about the treatment of the Jewish people on our trip, and it was a pretty remarkable experience.

After just two days in Prague, we were off on our first, five-hour train journey. Our seats were in an old-school carriage with sliding doors and curtains; think Hogwarts Express minus the chocolate frogs.

When we reached Vienna we decided that

we’d conquer the tram system. To us, the city’s many tree-lined avenues all looked similar, but after talking to some reps at the hostel we set out to find Freud’s house on the first day.

Half a kilo of Apfel strudel and four hours later, we arrived at the Freud Museum. The few wrong turns and strained conversations with locals in German turned out to be worth it – seeing Freud’s infamous couch and name plaque suddenly made our Psychology A-Levels feel more significant – although we’ll be taking the U-Bahn next time.

The two-hour train journey to Budapest was gloriously airconditioned. We caught up on the sleep we’d missed the night before at the Camera Club in Vienna, before dedicating a day to the Old Town across the bridge in Buda. For dinner

we enjoyed steaming bowls of extra spicy Hungarian goulash with dumplings. Back in Pest (pronounced Pesht), we had a peek in St. Stephen’s Basili“InterRai ca to see a bride and groom for the fain marrying at the altar, then but it will be most excit spent the afternoon at the you’ll eve Szechenyi Thermal Baths, where some baths were as deliciously hot as 38 degrees Celsius.

Having never heard of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, before, we were hesitant to change our route after a fellow traveller recommended it. It turned out to be the best decision we made all trip. A tour guide told us that the capital is referred to as the City of Love, and it was definitely one of the most romantic places, with many ornate stone bridges. At breakfast, a Canadian traveller in-

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

vited us to join him in a trip to Lake Bled. We seized the opportunity, and within ten minutes were sat happily watching the city fade into trees and mountains.

After marvelling at how stunning the Slovenian Alps were, we decided to swim to the church in the centre of the lake, where we watched a fisherman pull a fish the size of a cat out of the water - eliciting multiple shudders as we lowered ourselves into the lake for the swim back!

After the trip, I thought back to the concerns we had before leaving: it was definitely worth booking our hostels as we travelled, as it meant we could change and adapt our plans. We did party often and, for the most part, iling isn’t got up everyday nt-hearted, at eight o’clock, i.e. waved e one of the goodbye to ting trips sleep for the duration of the er take” trip.

InterRailing and hostel sharing isn’t for the faint-hearted, and you’ll need to stock up on Lucozade energy tablets and blister plasters, but it will turn out to be one of the most exciting and satisfying trips you’ll probably ever take. We paid £169 for our InterRailing ticket, which gave us five days of train travel within a 10 day period, with 30 countries to choose from.

To find out more, visit www.interrailnet.com

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Alexander Green’s Top Ten Things To Do In...

Bangkok 1. Have a beer on Khaosan Road

In many ways, Khaosan Road is everything wrong about travelling, yet this crazy, tourist-y road is definitely worth a visit. So grab a Tiger beer, sit down and observe the location that epitomises backpacking.

2. Take A Tuk-Tuk Ride

Yes, they are noisy, uncomfortable and chances are you will be clinging on for dear life whilst trying desperately not to be scammed, but no trip to Bangkok is complete without a ride on this unique form of transport.

3. Try Some Street Food

Food is a big part of travelling so be adventurous – Thai cuisine is both brilliant and cheap. Go for the delicious Pad Thai or, if you’re feeling really brave, try some deepfried crickets or squid.

4. Climb The Temple of Dawn The 80m tall Wat Arun dominates the skyline of the city’s west bank and is one of Bangkok’s most famous landmarks. Climb the extremely steep - close to 90 degree - steps at sunset for a fantastic panoramic view of the Chao Phra river.

Robin Celebi: Motion Graphics

5. See The Reclining Buddha

Travelling around the mainly Buddhist Thailand you’ll see many images of Buddha.

Trust me though, the one at Wat Pho, a large 150ft long gold Buddha statue with motherof-pearl feet, situated in a 20 acre temple complex, is particularly impressive.

6. Haggle at Chatuchak Market Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest in Thailand and sells everything from exotic pets to handicrafts and clothes. Try your hand at haggling and you’ll probably come home with a bag full of Thai treasures.

7. Take A Walk through Chinatown There’s no better way to experience a city than just strolling the streets. Head to colourful Chinatown; exotic, chaotic, full of gold shops; or Damnoen Saduak to visit the authentic, albeit tourist-y,

floating market.

8. Visit The Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew This complex is fairly expensive by Thai standards, and it has a strict dress code.

However, the palace is exceptional in its beauty, with stunning architecture covered with colourful mosiac tiles and ornate paintings.

9. Take A Boat Cruise

Chao Praya is the lifeblood of Bangkok, with canals running through the entire city, giving it the nickname ‘Venice of the East’. Take the normal riverboat taxi: it’s low-cost and an incredible way to see the city and observe how modern and old, rich and poor live hand in hand.

10. Don’t Go To A Ping Pong Show

I’m joking, of course; go if you want to, as it’s definitely an experience. Just be careful as there are often hidden costs. My friend saw one and reported that it involved birds, darts, balloons and full live sex. Not joking.

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

The Globalisation Maja Hultman

Over three million students study abroad at foreign universities. The mobility of students and faculties has become an international phenomenon. Usually driven by economic advantages, Western universities not only establish research and partnership contacts throughout the world, but also expand through satellite campuses. This academic globalisation can lead to deeper understanding, tolerance and integration. Universities gain international reputations and student opportunities increase. What about our university then? The Scene takes a look at how global the University of Southampton is...

World Wide University NeTwork

As one of the founding members of the WUN, created in 2000, Southampton partakes in an international collaboration focusing on research. 17 institutions are currently a part of the network, spread out in six different countries, including Norway, South Africa, and New Zealand. The CEO, Professor John Hearn, explains that the aim of WUN is to ‘solve global problems’.

MEXSU

A collaboration between 30 Mexican universities and the University of Southampton emerged to promote Mexican culture and language. Projects include research in Mexican immigration to the USA, and ‘Mexican-ness’ in contemporary tourism. In 2009, an MA in Spanish and Latin American Studies was created to further enhance the partnership between Southampton and Mexico.

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

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of our University Centre for Contemporary China

CCC was established in 2004 to pursue a collaboration between Southampton and Chinese universities in the fields of Economics, Management and International Relations. A Chinese National Library Collection has been set up at Hartley, and an MSc in International Relations focusing on China has been launched. Graduates can apply for a scholarship that allows up to one year of study in China.

Satellite Campuses

2011 has seen a riveting opening of two global campuses. Dalian Polytechnic University in China offers BA art programmes, while students at the Malaysian campus in Nusajaya can study engineering. Undergraduates have to complete at least 1 year at the main campus in Southampton. The study calendar will include both English and local holidays. Pro Vice-Chancellor Mark Spearing believes that the campus will add significantly to ’our international profile’.

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Finally it’s here. That beautiful, sought-after student loan. Your bank account has probably never seen so many digits. But what to do now? Jessica Taylor guides us through her top five tips: 1. Have a separate bank account for your rent, savings, parental contributions or bursaries and then another for your monthly allowance. If you don’t already have one, get a student bank account. You’ll be offered a low-interest (or free) overdraft, but only use if there is no other alternative.

2. Work out your expenses, sit down at the end of the day and add up all the teas or coffees, the sketchbook, sandwiches and bottles of alcohol. Not only will this help you work out how much to use as your monthly allowance (people range from £200 to £500 depending on what they can afford) but it will also highlight all the areas you can cut back to save on the pennies.

3. Learn to cook from scratch. It’s cheaper and makes food last longer. Why not make your lunches and use flasks of tea or coffee, instead of heading to the canteen?

4. Buy second-hand materials if possible and always look around for the cheapest places to buy.

WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

5. Four out of ten students have a part-time job, and the extra money is always useful.

It is recommended you don’t exceed 15 hours per week and in your first year, it’s easy to fit that in.

Just a five minute walk from WSA on Middlebrooke street is Poundland: the best place for pens, pencils and glue.

For sketchbooks head no closer to home than the Uni shop for those classic A3-, A4- and A5-sized books. You can also visit Paperchase on St George’s Street where they sell good quality sketchbooks for around £3.50. Fashion and Textile students should make their way down the bottom of the High Street to C&H where materials are sold for a reasonable price. Its highlight is the remnant table where small pieces of material are really cheap, and the bonus card gives an exclusive WSA student discount. A lesserknown shop for materials is the Fabric Warehouse behind Homebase where they offer a good variety of fabrics to choose from. And of course, the Internet is another great source for materials. For printing, visit sites such as eBay, Amazon and internet-ink. co.uk; they’re cheap and deliver quickly. They also stock various sizes that most High street stores can’t compete with.

Note that ink cartridges from internet-ink.co.uk usually offer

a 10-20% discount on products and delivery.

For a visit to the Highfield Campus you can either get the train to Southampton Airport Parkway and then catch the uni-link bus taking only half an hour in total. Or there’s the Blue Star 1, which goes between Winchester and Southampton city centres, stopping off near the Highfield campus. This is a bit more expensive at £6.30 for a return, but the buses are fairly regular and do run through the early hours of the morning on Fridays and Saturdays.

Evenings can require a bit more planning, but can be done relatively cheaply if arranged in advance. There are taxis floating about most nights of the week in the centre of Southampton and Bedford Place but you’ll find that these come with a hefty price tag of about £40. There are taxi companies which will charge £10 per person for transport both ways, guaranteeing you a way home providing you stick with your car of people.

Knowing about the travel options available will make taking the trip to Southampton less daunting and ultimately more enjoyable.

Sarah Benson & Ross Leachman

Image by Piero Regnante

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

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Eating Out

with blueberry pancakes for those with a sweet tooth. The burgers are, in true American style, extra large, as are the portions of chips.

Luckily this is not true of the prices, which are very reasonable.

Image by Eleanor Longhurst Winchester has a large variety of fine restaurants and pubs, but choosing where to eat can be difficult. When you do want to treat yourself with a meal out you want to be able to enjoy it, in order to justify paying the high prices.

Here are some of the better places I have experienced.

Buddy’s Diner is Winchester’s premier American food establishment. It serves great American food throughout the day in a vibrant setting. The breakfast is certainly good enough to tempt me out of bed in the morning,

Eating In

Bishop On The Bridge is an excellent place to while away a sunny afternoon. With a beautiful riverside beer garden, a hearty lunch and drinks only costing around £12, the Bishop On The Bridge has become my summertime pub of choice. The Bishop burger is particularly good, with options of Cheddar, mushroom, bacon or Stilton, for a cheaper and probably more healthy lunch, the sandwiches are equally delicious.

Royal Oak boasts the oldest bar in England, as well as an excellent menu and cosy interior. Situated just off the High Street, this classic pub does

Ingredients:

200g Dark Chocolate (broken into pieces) 125ml Warm Water 3 Large Eggs (separated) 40g Caster Sugar Place the chocolate and warm water in a heatproof

Dinner from Zizzi’s has an average price tag of around £25, but by searching online for vouchers you can fill your stomach without emptying your wallet.

Winchester is blessed with one of the better restaurants in the Zizzi’s chain, and with a stylish interior it attracts large numbers, it’s best to book in advance.

The Cornerhouse is a great place to drag the parents to. The food is always of a high standard and the lunch and evening menus boast some superb dishes, the slow-roasted pork belly, wood pigeon and chocolate brownies being my personal favourites.

This small, homely restaurant is probably one of the best in Winchester; you won’t have to fork out your whole student loan for it. The Cornerhouse is perfect for a special occasion or if you have someone in particular you want to impress.

Mike Thebridge

Whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl until soft peak stage.

Starting university can be incredibly daunting. It’s important to learn how to cook otherwise you’ll end up very hungry, or broke from all the takeaways.

Here is a chocolate mousse recipe, that tastes great and only costs 30p per serving.

Serves 6 (Perfect for making new friends

classic British food extremely well. The highlight of the menu is probably the burger platter, giving a variety of six mouth-watering burgers for only £10 – perfect for sharing.

Whisk the sugar into the egg whites gradually, continuing to whisk until glossy.

bowl and place over a pan of barely simmering water.

Let the chocolate melt slowly, stirring until smooth.

Once completely melted, leave the chocolate mixture to cool before slowly adding the egg yolks, mixing thoroughly.

Using a metal spoon gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Be careful not to knock any air out otherwise you’ll have rather flat mousses!

Spoon into ramekins or glasses and place in the fridge for at least two hours before eating.

Sarah Boxall

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

What’s in a Shake?

Alex Arnold looks at the pro(tein)s and cons of taking supplements The Supplements Industry is worth billions of pounds, which is no wonder when each company claims that their products will help you to train harder for longer with more reward.

But are supplements really the answer? Whey protein, especially, has been used for years by athletes and bodybuilders as it provides the body with the ‘perfect’ amino acid profile for muscle building, strength and recovery. But with so many student athletes from a broad range of sports now taking protein shakes can similar results be achieved?

Whey protein is the main component in most protein shakes. It is a byproduct of cheese-making and is typically a mixture of beta-lactoglobulin (~65%), alphalactalbumin (~25%), and serum albumin (~8%) in which there is a high proportion of branched chain amino acids such as valine, leucine and isoleucine.

However, scientific tests have shown that taking whey protein had a minimal effect on muscle gain for young adults (18-34) and no effect on older adults.

This test was conducted with adults on a healthy diet. If a person did not have enough protein in his/her diet (i.e. if they lived on chips), the protein shakes would have a massive effect on muscle growth.

In order for muscle cells to grow, they do not divide, they simply bulk up with muscle proteins.

The number of cells remains constant throughout training.

When undertaking resistance digestive tract without entering training, muscle fibres ‘spilt’ the bloodstream and will leave and the body fills this split with the body. muscle protein, a process which usually takes 48 hours. The There are studies that suggest branched chain amino acids whey protein may help prevent from the whey protein have certain types of illness and posbeen proven to increase sibly cancers by increasprotein synthesis, deing the production of Scientific creasing this time Glutathione, which slightly. However, tests have shown is an antioxidant when ingesting and can stop free that taking whey protein shakes, radicals from the body cannot protein had a minimal causing damage. distinguish beeffect on muscle gain Free radicals tween the shakes attack anything for young adults they come across, and a chicken breast, all protein such as DNA, causwill go through the ing mutation. A free same system (stomach, radical is an atom or molintestines). The protein will be ecule with an incomplete outer digested into its various amino shell of electrons, e.g. when a acids by enzymes in the stomach chlorine molecule has seven and intestines, then absorbed electrons in the outer shell. Sciinto the bloodstream. If there is entific studies have also shown a high demand for amino acids that regular supplementation (i.e. after resistance training), with whey protein can promote they will be absorbed by muscle a strong immune system. cells to begin repairing the damage.

FACTROIDS Muscle protein is constantly being cycled, Otherwise they will be delamiwith the body continuously digesting it and nated (amino group taken off) making more. This means that if you stop in the liver and metabolised for resistance training, you will quickly lose any energy. If you do not exercise, progress made. you risk putting on weight as the energy gained from delaminatPer gram, fat has more energy than muscle ing and metabolising the proso in periods of starvation, the body will teins will be turned into excess typically use energy reserves in the form of body fat. The amino groups will muscle protein before it uses fat. be turned into urine by the liver No foods contain actual whey protein. Many and filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys. Constant foods do contain high levels of protein. These are the most common types of high protein exposure to this type of protein will slowly cause a resistance foods: to it, much like the Adkins diet • Lean red meat (20% protein) where a lot of the protein will • Chicken/turkey (20% protein) eventually pass through the • Fish (20% protein)

•

Eggs (6-8% protein)

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

29

The Scene looks at three different types of commonly used legal supplements...

Whey protein shakes are perhaps the best known supplement. What effects does it have on performance?

• • • •

Increased lean muscle mass Decreased recovery times and faster muscle repair Reduced post-workout muscle breakdown Increased metabolic rate

Pre-workout supplements often contain a formula to provide an energy boost before exercise. However, some have been criticised for contents such as maltodextrin, which can cause increased fat storage.

Creatine Pills can be used to accelerate muscle growth and to offset the decline of muscle during injury recovery. However, the creatine monohydrate molecule may bind to water molecules which can lead to dehydration.

See Also Wessex Scene also work in collaboration with other Union media outlets such as SUSUtv and Surge Radio.

Whether you are an enthusiatic sports writer or a member of club looking to tell us a story, get hold of us at: sport@wessexscene.ac.uk

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WessexScene | Issue 3, 2011

University Sailors Fight to Fourth Place in the World Ed Dyer

The team found themselves spending many hours on Wednesday night making a series of protests concerning infringements on

Much of the night was spent protesting.

the race course. The French team disqualified them from one race!

Many of you may not know this but Southampton University are the current BUSA (British Universities Sailing Association) National Champions.

Ben Saxton, Andy Shaw, Ed Dyer, Aaron Cooper, Holly Scott, Cath Jordan, Ed Morris, Tim Goodhew and Phillipa Horne competed at the 31st Student Yachting World Cup held in La Trinite-sur-Mer from the 21st – 29th October 2011.

Each team competed in a 32 foot racing yacht from the national fleet of Archambault Grand Surprise. Prior to the event there were two days of training and practice racing for all 15 teams from across the globe.

The Southampton team were alongside

fierce rivals and defenders of the trophy, Southampton Solent

The Southampton team were alongside fierce rivals and defenders of the trophy, Southampton Solent University.

University. Many of the sailors race with and against each other throughout the year and a number of them are national and world champions.

There were strong teams from Switzerland, Ireland and a very well-funded American team from Maine Maritime College. The French team were formidable and used their home advantage to the full, with a

comparatively swift training time.

Despite having to overcome a last minute crew change, speed issues and a hard fought offshore race, the Southampton crew fought from the 14th place they started from to 3rd after five hours of racing which included a big Atlantic swell and then a night time finish in a disappearing breeze.

On the final day it was extremely tight.

However, it was virtually impossible to knock the French team off the top spot and Solent were looking comfortable in second.

The race for third was between the Irish Cork Institute of Technology team and Southampton.

But Ireland took it by three points leaving Southampton off the podium and reflecting on what could have been different, had more races taken place.

Issue 3, 2011 | WessexScene

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Fighting Fit

Adam Knight Speed. Strength.

Stamina. This is what it takes to step into the ring. Boxing is without a doubt one of the most physically and mentally demanding of all sports, teaching discipline, self-defence and the what it truly means to be fit.

Amateur boxing (a far cry from professional boxing) is an intense and explosive flurry of three 2 minute rounds, in which each athlete tries to score as many connecting punches as possible, while avoiding the attacks of their opponent.

2009 saw Southampton University Amateur Boxing Club (SUABC) hold their first fight night at the

Union. Training hard and sparring every week since, 2012 will be a big year for the club. SUABC currently consists of 50 members, of which 15 fight competitively in the squad.

Sunday 4th December 2011, where SUABC will take on Southampton Solent ABC at OCEANA

Perhaps the biggest event in the club’s history will take place on Sunday 4th December 2011, where SUABC will take on Southampton Solent ABC at OCEANA, guaranteed to be an explosive and entertaining night for boxers and spectators alike.

A huge event is set for the New Year where SUABC will be taking on another university followed by other bouts in 2012.

The club is open to male and female students of all ages and abilities. For those looking to improve their fitness or get involved in competitive bouts, SUABC has the facilities and coaching expertise to help you reach your goals.

Beginners are taught the basics of stance, foot work, jabs and straights. More experienced boxers are thrown straight in with advanced pad and bag work, and only when the coaches deem you fit and ready, will

you enter the ring and fight. The commitment needed is encapsulated in the club’s motto: “The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle”.

Getting involved Training is Mon 5 -7, Wed 5 -7 and Fri 7-8 (Squad Only) at Stoneham Tower (Opposite Wessex Lane.)

Circuits and run on Tues and Thurs.

The first session is free, after which you can pay per session (£3), per semester (£45) or annually (£70).

For more info find SUABC on Facebook or call 07926191438.