Issue 5 (March 2015) by Wessex Scene

MARCH 2015

WessexScene.co.uk

University of Southamptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student Magazine

FREEDOM FROM SPEECH CENSORSHIP ON CAMPUS PAGE 8 +

the art of bingewatching 04 Netflix vs. your degree

high end to high street 22 Get the designer look at student-friendly prices

MAGIC COMES TO VARSITY 32 An interview with the Southampton Quidditch Club

Welcome

TAHLIE COOPER Editor

editor@soton.ac.uk FRONT COVER BY JESS COX

WESSEX SCENE TEAM Want to write for us?

Get in touch with a section editor. Editor Tahlie Cooper editor@soton.ac.uk

Deputy Editor Kerry Sclater

A VERY HAPPY MARCH TO YOU ALL! This has probably been the most hectic month so far for the Wessex Scene editorial team but trust me when I say, it will all be worth it. It is with great delight for me to inform you all that this will not be the only issue we release this month. In the final week before Easter, the Wessex Scene will be releasing a student chic fashion supplement for you to enjoy! The team have collaborated with the SUSU’s very own Fashion and Style Society and our dedicated fashionistas and illustrators over at the Winchester School of Art. The magazine will reveal some of the newest trends for Spring/Summer 2015, along with some fabulous snaps we took from our photo shoot in the picturesque New Forest. And on top of preparations for that, of course, we are in the midst of the storm SUSU like to call ‘Elections’. This is a project that our editorial team and writers have been working hard at since last month, and we all look forward to unveiling the results at Elections Night Live in the coming days.

deputy-editor@wessexscene.co.uk

Head of Design Sam Bailey

design@wessexscene.co.uk

Image Editor Jess Cox

image@wessexscene.co.uk

Features Hebe Neate-Clegg

features@wessexscene.co.uk

Science and Environment Jennifer Allerton science@wessexscene.co.uk

Politics Bridie Pearson-Jones

politics@wessexscene.co.uk

Winchester Kalisto Bancroft

winchester@wessexscene.co.uk

Opinion Isabella Hunter-Fajardo opinion@wessexscene.co.uk

Just when you think we’ve done enough, we do more! Upon our return from the Easter holidays, all looking slightly more satisfied with our post Easter-egg weight, we will not only be bringing out Issue 6, but a very special issue on the 2015 General Election. As you can tell, there are lots of plans in motion, but there is still time to get involved. Please do email the editorial team if you want to seek an opportunity to help us out in any issues being released after Easter. Until then, please do enjoy the fantastic content we have lined up in this issue. We’ve got everything from our Features Editor confronting us about our guilty pleasure of binge-watching, one writer gives us his view on censorship and the lifestyle team continue to help us stay updated on the latest fashion and beauty trends, all at a student budget of course.

Travel Anna Jenkins

travel@wessexscene.co.uk

Lifestyle Laura Cox

lifestyle@wessexscene.co.uk

International ROSY HOWELL

Thank you readers and enjoy our March issue! Tahlie

international@wessexscene.co.uk

Sport Ross Wilson & Jack Pethick sports@wessexscene.co.uk

News Emma Cheshire & Chloe Fabregas news@wessexscene.co.uk

Pause Aidan Pittman

pause@wessexscene.co.uk

MARKETING Corinne Dugdale

publicity@wessexscene.co.uk

Editor-in-Chief Megan Downing vpdci@susu.org 02

WELCOME

POLITICS 12 Down with the kids - Bridie Pearson-Jones. Image by Jess Cox

ISSUE 5 MARCH 2015

FEATURES

TRAVEL

THE ART OF BINGEWATCHING: ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

YOUR TICKET TO THE PERFECT SUMMER

GOING IT ALONE

WINCHESTER

POETRY COMPETITION RESULTS

our place beneath the oak tree

OPINION

INTERNATIONAL

FREEDOM FROM SPEECH

400 days behind bars

eight easy ways to take feminist action

the keyboard is mightier than the sword

POLITICS

SPORT

down with the kids

MAGIC COMES TO VARSITY

a rocky road for europe

A LOOK AT ENGLISH WOMEN’S HOCKEY 34

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

MENTAL HEALTH: GO WITH YOUR GUT

PAUSE

LIFESTYLE

wessexscene.co.uk

IT’S TIME FOR TEATOXING

SKIN SAVIOURS

HIGH END TO HIGH STREET

THE 5 WORST TYPES OF CUSTOMER IN RETAIL

@wessexscene fb.com/wscene WELCOME

We’ve all been there. It’s 1am, the episode of Breaking Bad has come to an end and you have 15 seconds to decide whether you’re going to get 5 or 6 hours’ sleep before the dreaded 9am.

Binge w The art of

IMAGE BY ALEXANDER MAVRONICHOLAS 04

FEATURES

ou should get up, exit Netflix, shut your laptop and go to bed like a good little student. But once again Netflix’s ability to play the next episode without you having to lift a finger gets the better of you, and you settle down for another hour of bingewatching. Just one more hour though. You swear. Binge watching doesn’t do any harm though, right? Right? Binge-watching To watch multiple episodes of a television programme in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital stream – Oxford English Dictionary 2013 It all started when shows were brought out on DVD box sets, something which has obviously been happening for years. You’d wait a few months after the arduous episode-per-week stage for your new favourite show to be released in a box set so you could take it home and have a big marathon sesh whenever you felt like it. Then came Netflix, and the bingewatching game changed. The likes of Netflix is now synonymous with the image of a student curled up in bed, in an increasingly untidy bedroom, pizza at their side, probably nursing a hangover, and watching episode after episode of the new show they’d just discovered. And since it came around and people started to notice people’s obsession with being able to watch a whole series at once, other networks began to catch on. Since then it has ballooned, with shows like Orange Is The New Black being made solely for streaming services, while others, like Ripper Street, got picked up by these services after being dropped from broadcast television channels. It’s a new age, and it’s here to stay. Most of us would say it’s not doing any harm, that it’s a nice way to relax in the evenings, that we only do it when we’re bored or on our own. However scientists have raised concerns that that’s just it: those of us who binge-watch are “more

likely to be depressed and lonely”. This might seem like an overexaggeration, but after cross-referencing the frequency with which 316 18-29 year-olds binge-watch with how often they feel isolated and depressed, it was found that maybe they’re onto something. The clue’s in the name. “Binge-watching.” “Obsessed”. “Addicted”. They’re words we use to describe our favourite shows like House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Suits, as we devour the series from start to finish, sometimes in the space of 24 hours (don’t deny it, we’ve all done it). But these words are remarkably close to how we talk about binge-drinking, something else for which students are infamous. Maybe binge-watching is the newest way students are collectively lowering their attendance levels and IQs, and thus the expectations of society. Student life is jam packed with excitement, fun and opportunity, but we all have those off days, where all we want to do is stay in bed and watch TV, but it seems this might be just another excuse to put off that revision you’ve been meaning to do, or that lecture you really ought to go to. However, this is one of a long list of things proclaimed to adversely affect our health. The perpetual headlines claiming things like ‘drinking too much orange juice believed to increase a love of Justin Bieber’ are no more likely to convince us not to drink orange juice, so maybe this is just society fear-mongering and encouraging us to “get out of bed”, “do exercise” and “get some fresh air”, whatever these alien concepts mean. As Netflix itself has confessed, “bingewatching is the new normal”. It’s fun, it’s not doing anyone any harm, and it’s sort of cheap. Would we rather spend money on a Netflix subscription than vegetables? Yes. Is it easier to watch Sherlock running around than to actually get up and, like, move? Yes. Like takeaway, Xbox and clubbing, it’s basically a student’s dream. So go forth, binge-watch to your heart’s content, and remember, just one more episode…

watching Anti-social behaviour? Hebe Neate-Clegg FEATURES

Features

Going it alone Can we cope without our parents? Alice Hearing IMAGE BY SAMMIE BURSTOW

o, here I am, a little more than halfway through my first year and reminiscing on how far I’ve come as a person as a result of living almost entirely independently. After moving away from home this newfound independece probably came as quite a shock to most of us.

A CHANGE OF SCENE

Suddenly, you have to wash your own clothes, do all your dishes, buy groceries and cook for yourself. It’s not just something you can put off and there’s no one there to do it if you don’t. Managing finances is incredibly daunting and you sit at your desk procrastinating, afraid to view your bank account because you’re scared to face up to the realities of almost-adulthood. You still feel like you should be able to avoid all responsibilities and this is all a very strange dream. Yet, responsibilities build up into a small mountain which you’re convinced you’re too unfit to climb. It’s hard not to just focus on the peak and to realise that you’re really just climbing a slightly bigger hill than what you’re used to. Self-motivation was something I personally really struggled with. Sometimes missing a lecture and wasting a small sum of the £9,000 a year you’re spending is far more tempting than it should be because it’s so easy to sleep through your alarm. But, all decisions have consequences and I learned that very quickly. It recently dawned on me that in doing whatever you want, whenever you want, you are restricting the freedom of your future self and in order to maintain a happy and problem-free future, the decisions you make right now are so important.

THE TASTE OF INDEPENDENCE

But, remember when your parents dragged you along to horrendous events because they promised you’d be there, or forced you to sit through awkward dinner parties? That doesn’t happen in halls. Nor 06

does anyone complain about your poor nutrition values, the untidiness of your room or your regular, extremely late bedtimes. You suddenly have the freedom to binge-watch, sleep and drink what you like, as much as you like and whenever you like because you’re only a fresher once; you wake up in the morning, covered in your own sick with a hangover the size of Africa and no memory of the night before. You feel great. You’re living your university life to the full and you’ve finally broken from your parents’ reigns.

HERE COMES THE ENLIGHTENMENT

Your hangover is so bad that you vow never to drink again, but you still do of course. Perhaps that drunk feeling is worth it for the pain the next morning. Either way it is now up to you to make the decision as to whether you should go and get absolutely car parked the night before that all important 9am start or whether you should have a quiet night in catching up on some work. I’ve begun to observe the way many students are coping with their new found freedom. Some have got over the surge of mad decisions in first semester, but some are still damaging themselves in a desperate bid to maintain freedom. Self-motivation may be easier for some but for others there needs to be a downward spiral in order to get back on your feet again, but once you’ve mastered the art of self discipline, you are well on your way to achieving incredible things without being dragged down by others. It is incredibly hard to shift your dependence from teachers and family to yourself. You know what’s good for you, what you like and how far you can be pushed and that feeling is fantastic; in this way, the ability to do things independently, and to be in charge of your own decisions, is kind of liberating. Ultimately you should make the most of your freedom as a university student. This really is the best time to do as many things as you possibly can, because you now have the time. Whilst money is an issue for many students, with some financing skills and a little bit of help from relatives, you can have the experiences of a lifetime. Take it and make it your own. FEATURES

OVER E E V MO SPEAR KE SHA

POETRY COMPETITION: THE BEST ENTRIES Halls stole our dignity, Second year made us adults, Finals made us cry. University is a whirlwind, But who'd have it any other way? Anonymous A baby bird, pushed out of the nest. That’s what it felt like, Going to University. Wings beating frantically, Trying to stay airborne, Trying to survive in an unknown world. Voluntarily abandoned. Alone. Yet, eventually, you find that you can fly. And you soar with people, And the sun shines again. Laura Jensen Two weeks to blossom, frolic, romp; Pray peers alike see you delight. I was a ghost in this fragile city, and so were you. A black measure around my wrist, they called me master. We kissed between drinks, but by GodIt was you and I that were the Jesters. Jordan Mac Phee-Torres

The clichés are true You will stumble into university, scrawny, an ugly duckling, knees shaking, feathers not long or strong enough to fly. That’s not to say freshers aren’t glorious and beautiful, in their own bumbling, drunken way. Like over grown babies, like excitable puppies. Anonymous Part 1

But any graduate can promise you, the unassured chick that just fell from the nest is unrecognisable from the one that will soar out of their final year. There have been setbacks: coffee fuelled all nighters, hair pulling deadlines, screeching arguments with flatmates, unaccountable drunken injuries, but Each of these has allowed you to finish your journey To earn your feathers To fly out of university Anonymous Part 2 Being away from home, Always terrified me, What if I didn’t fit in? What if I couldn’t study? But when I got here my lectures were great! And living away felt so free I made a group of fab friends And now I have a second family Oh I never would have guessed How much I bloody love uni. Sian 07

FREEDOM FROM SPEECH Why Censorship On Campus Must End WILLIAM BROOKS s Theresa May’s controversial counter-terrorism and security bill fast-tracks its way through Parliament, it appears we can now draw a distinct line under the government’s short-lived love affair with freedom of speech.

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, David Cameron spoke passionately and at great length about the threat this attack posed to “our freedom of expression and our way of life”. And yet, in an ironic twist this bill contains (among many alarming and possibly illegal measures) an imposition on universities to ban extremist speakers on campus and root out would-be radicals through staff surveillance. This will only serve to further marginalize free debate in places where it is supposed to be sacrosanct. The response from students and academics to this latest instalment in ‘anti-extremism’ legislation makes clear that its injunctions are about as welcome on campus as an outbreak of smallpox or Nick Clegg. Student groups across the country have been submitting emergency motions to their unions recently, urging them to take a stand against the bill. OPINION

Opinion However, there exists a bitter irony in this sudden spirited and widespread campaign for the rights of students and academics to say the unsayable and think the unthinkable. Ultimately these words ring hollow. When universities take arms against the threat to free speech from without, this only obscures the defeat of free speech that has been perpetrated from within. You see, this flurry in defence of free expression and thought for students has rather conveniently coincided with the publication of the first ever Free Speech University Rankings by the online magazine Spiked, a survey that found 80% of universities, as a result of their official policies and actions, had either restricted or actively censored free speech and expression on campus beyond the requirements of the law. The scale of this problem is deceptively large, and it appears that we students are the ones leading the way. 37% of student unions still clutch to ‘No Platform’ policies, which officially ban all far-right and extremist speakers from campus. But now, Safe Space polices are becoming an increasingly popular alternative in students’ union politics, with twenty-two unions having officially adopted them. They look harmless enough on paper; Bristol’s says “we have the responsibility to create a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment”. While they sound commendable, they are, in fact, far worse than the implications of ‘No Platform’ policies: a blank cheque to ban anything students’ unions deem too offensive, or too hot to handle under the vague, inflammatory terms of “unsafe or unwelcoming conditions”. Student unions, it would seem, are only too happy to arbitrate what ideas we can and cannot be exposed to, leading to a growing sense of crisis around debate in British universities. In recent months, Oxford University cancelled a debate on abortion because protesters objected to the fact it was being held between two men; UCL dissolved the Nietzsche Club after it put up posters saying “equality is a false God”; the University of Derby has officially banned UKIP from its campuses in the lead up to the General Election and Dundee expelled the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children from their fresher’s fair last year. The Sun is not sold on dozens of campuses because of Page 3, and Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines has also been banned by many student unions. Explicit restrictions on speech, including, but not limited to, bans on political affiliations, religious sentiments, specific ideologies, books, opinions, words or speakers on the OPINION

grounds of their potential to offend are all deeply concerning to me, and I hope, you as well. We are rapidly descending into a generation that believes its self-esteem is more important than everyone else’s liberty. Freedom of speech is not an elastic term; it means tolerating speech you don’t like. Instead of shying away from real world issues like sexism, racism and homophobia we should be confronting them and contesting ideas on campus. I am offended when it is assumed that students are too fragile to even take part in reasoned debate nowadays – the true solution to bad speech is more speech, not regulated speech. How can we as young adults be expected to develop as truly autonomous beings if the paternalistic edifice championed by the NUS that we need protection from “harm from ideas” is something we are at ease with? Safety is now being equated with intellectual comfort, which is something no institute of learning should promote. “Real freedom of expression can hurt. That’s the price we pay,” says professor Bill Durodié, an expert in the causes and perceptions of security risk, at the University of Bath. “Is fostering empathy with other people’s feelings valuable? One hundred percent yes. Should it direct everything you do? No.” Everybody should have a platform. Words should be defeated by words and ideas should be defeated by ideas. Banning the bigots and the misogynists is not the end of the argument; it is by its nature an ongoing debate as long as serious social and cultural questions are left unanswered. Closing one’s eyes and ears to discussion instead of engaging issues with your own voice only serves to make the target of your censorship a martyr for free speech. We cannot allow politics and debate even at the student and informal level to be ruled by hurt feelings. It should be ruled by rationality, evidence, proper analysis, logic, and appropriate justification for every claim that follows the above. After more than a decade of encroachments on our civil liberties, we’ve begun to see through the governmentsponsored precept that safety trumps freedom, yet universities remain well ahead of the curve in implementing that logic. We students already ban far more groups than the government, and now students’ unions are seeking to protect us not just from the most pernicious and violent views in society, but also from the realm of ideas itself. It is clear that safety on campus need not concern Theresa May after all, we students are doing a fine job of censoring ourselves as it is. 09

Opinion

EIGHT EASY WAYS TO TAKE

FEMINIST ACTION How many times have you heard someone say ‘I believe in equality but I’m not a feminist’? A few too many I’m sure. Freya Jeffries IMAGE BY OWEN WEBB

any people are reluctant to brand themselves as a ‘feminist’ because of the past limitations associated with the label and its ‘negative associations’ with ‘feminazis’.

But these worn out conversations are holding us back. Rather than wasting energy skirting around feminism as a label, or constantly justifying its use people, we should be focusing on taking feminist action. Feminism is not just a word, and it’s definitely not about announcing to everyone you meet: ‘I’m a feminist!’ – it’s about actively trying to change the world for the better. So let’s stop agonising over vocabulary.

OPINION

Opinion Here are some ideas of how we can all incorporate feminist action in to our everyday lives...

Cut out sexist language

It’s time to think outside the box of ‘grow some balls’ or ‘cry like a girl’. We’re all guilty of using sexist vocabulary without thinking. Unfortunately, these aren’t just ‘harmless sayings’, they’re damaging, dull and serve to reinforce worn out patriarchal ideals. Let’s try our best to ditch them for good.

Bend the gender rules

Gender roles are constricting and nonsensical – the stigma attached to stay-at-home dads or ‘ice-queen’ female executives are just two examples. Instead of being pigeonholed by societies’ prescriptions, concentrate on expressing yourself and living your life your way.

Do some selfreflection

Don’t listen to anyone who says thinking isn’t active. Making an effort to unlearn our internalised sexist attitudes is absolutely crucial. We can’t strive for equality if we’re still believing patriarchal ideologies.

Call out sexism

This is such an important one and it’s actually very easy to do. It doesn’t mean getting angry or shouting. Rather, respectfully disagree with or question other people’s toxic views, and refuse to ignore active sexism. The first part of the battle is actually noticing sexism, as it has become so normalised, but I’ve found the more you think about it, the more that everyday sexism becomes glaringly obvious. OPINION

Be a ‘bitch’

This may seem controversial but hear me out. If you’re a woman you’ve probably been unjustly called a ‘bitch’ countless times. So let’s reclaim this word and start putting ourselves first more. Be rude and answer back to men who don’t respect your boundaries, put your welfare first and be as assertive as hell when shooting for your goals.

Love and solidarity

Remind your female friends they don’t owe men anything, that they can achieve great things and are gorgeous regardless of society’s impossible standards. And let your male friends know that it’s okay to show emotions, that they aren’t weak for needing to share their problems. The more you tell your friends these things, the more you will believe them about yourself too.

Keep on learning

I view feminism as a journey on which I never stop learning. So next time you’re stuck for something to do, perhaps consider researching an aspect of feminism you’re less familiar with. Of course, try to pay attention to the accounts of those less privileged than you in order to respect and understand their experiences, feminism is a global issue.

Talk!

This is an obvious one, but it really is important to continue having conversations with different people about issues of inequality. Discussion is invaluable and easy to fit in to everyday conversations with friends and family. These are all just ideas and the list is definitely not exhaustive. They are just some steps that anyone can take – regardless of age, gender, nationality and lifestyle – to fight for gender equality. 11

Politics

Down with the kids

Often weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re told this will be the General Election of health and wealth, with Labour fighting to save the NHS and the Tories vowing to save the economy. By and large, these are issues that effect the elder part of the electorate, and why? Because they turn out to vote. Bridie Pearson-Jones IMAGE BY JESS COX 12

POLITICS

Politics

ut it would be stupid to ignore the youth vote. There are around three million young people eligible to vote in May, which could easily swing the election. But in 2010, only 44% of 18-24 year olds voted, and only 29% are certain to vote this year, compared to 72% of those over 65 – according to Lord Ashcroft.

SO WHAT HAVE THE 5 BIGGEST PARTIES ACTUALLY PROMISED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?

Labour and Greens have recently announced plans to lower the voting age to 16, something Lib Dems supported in their 2010 manifesto. The Lib Dems have secured £10 million from the Cabinet Office to encourage students to vote. It’s no doubt they want to engage us youth. The post-grad loans promised by the Tories has won limited support for Cameron and Osbourne, but the lack of definition around the policy has meant this is limited. UKIP hope to reform further education, introducing an option for apprenticeship qualifications at GCSE, which can be continued through to A-level. They’ve also promised to remove tuition fees – but only for certain ‘approved’ degrees in science, medicine, technology, engineering and maths, and, only on the condition that students live, work and pay tax in the UK for five years after they complete their degree – aiming to lower the amount of University places, abolishing the target of 50% of school leavers to continue to University. Unsurprisingly, UKIP want students to pay the same student fee rates as international students. The Green Party have promised double spending on youth services, and would fight to end tuition fees completely similar to elsewhere in Europe. They also plan to reinstate the EMA for 16-18 year olds. Although plans are sketchy, it’s generally believed the Labour will reduce fees to £6,000 a year, and the Tories could allow it to be raised to up to £16,000 a year. Like UKIP, the Conservatives are also looking to invest in apprenticeships, spending £3 million on apprenticeships for young people by 2020. Labour too have set goals to get more people doing apprenticeships by 2025, such that every firm that wishes to gain a major government contract to offer highquality apprenticeships. The Conservatives and Labour have both pledged to reform zero-hour contracts, which could effect a lot of young people. POLITICS

Further, Labour have vowed to ban unpaid internships that last more than four-weeks, meaning they would need to be paid at at least the minimum wage. The Green Party have said they will spend £5bn on creating 350,000 training places, in particular to 700,000 unemployed people and the youth unemployed. Further, they’d make a £10 minimum wage. The Tories and Lib Dem have also pledged to raise the personal allowance to £12,500 which will help graduates on low salaries, this sounds great, but there are concerns it could favour the wealthy. The Starter Homes Initiative by the Conservatives could be hugely beneficial, it aims to give 100,00 first-time buyers, who are under 40 the opportunity to buy a new home at a 20% discount. Lib Dem’s are one of the only parties that have addressed the issue of the rising cost of public transport, offering a young person’s bus pass for 16-21 year olds, meaning fares would be reduced by a minimum of two thirds. So maybe this won’t be the election of health and wealth after all, and maybe, for the first time in years politicians are listening to 18-24 year olds. This will only happen if you turn out and vote. 13

A rocky road for Europe

The radical anti-austerity party Syriza swept to power in Greece last month. Michael Oliver looks at what this means for the rest of Europe. IMAGE BY GEORGE THOM

t cannot have been hard to miss – the Greek voters have spoken using the ballot, and their opinion was loud and clear. Syriza, more formally known as the Coalition of the Radical Left, were elected with 149 out of the 300 seats, two short of an absolute majority. Governing with the support of ANEL (another anti-austerity party), it is clear which intended economic direction Greece is taking.

– of measures determined in the boardrooms of Brussels, with anger particularly focussed upon the level of severity of these austerity measures. Certainly, it is unfathomable that the same (or vastly similar) deficit-reduction targets can be implemented on vastly different economies – one only has to look at the noticeable North/South divide within the Eurozone in terms of economic reactions to austerity to validate this point.

But what does this mean for the Eurozone, the EU, and, to a lesser extent, the world economy?

Protests in Madrid by supporters of an anti-austerity party similar to Syriza highlight the dissatisfaction with Brusselsimposed austerity acorss the Mediterranean nations, not just Greece. What is certain, as evidenced by the prevalence of anti-EU parties doing particularly well in last year’s European elections across the continent and the popularity of antiausterity parties (even within the relatively sheltered UK, and the rise of Green party), is that the current economic direction that the EU is encouraging has been increasingly unpopular. Syriza’s ascent into power can only act as an inspiration to other anti-austerity parties, and, depending on how negotiations unfold between Athens and Brussels, this inspiration could transfer to the European electorate to vote for these parties, thereby unravelling the austerity measures peddled by Brussels.

Well, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has made it clear that Greece will not be offered further debt ‘forgiveness’ by its creditor countries (nations that it owes money to). We should bear in mind that this situation has arisen due to Athens’ insistence in bypassing the so-called ‘troika’ (European Commission, European Central Bank & the International Monetary Fund). So for Merkel, who, in essence, constitutes a major role in the determination of the economic policy of the EU, to publicly deny that any leeway would be given to Greece due to the election of a new government is significant, and will only further cement the clear divisions between Brussels and Athens. Syriza themselves have described ‘austerity’ as a failed experiment,triggering an immense backlash against the path of action. It is clear in the eyes of Syriza and its voters that targets set by the so called ‘troika’ have been immensely unrealistic, especially considering the dire performance of Greece’s economy, coupled with the 27% unemployment rate. On the face of it, with Merkel’s public rebuttal, it is seemingly the case that in reality austerity measures in Greece won’t change considerably. However, Syriza’s election certainly demonstrates an insatiable appetite for reform – if not reversal 14

Regardless of the outcome of these negotiations, there will certainly be a wider impact on the global economy. The former head of the US Central Bank, Alan Greenspan, has predicted that Greece will leave the Eurozone, suggesting that any renegotiation of Greece’s bailout terms will only be resolved if Greece exits the single currency, which seems logical, considering Berlin’s unwillingness to alter any terms of Greece’s debt strategy. This prediction is further credited with the news that George Osborne is readying contingency plans for a potential Greek Eurozone exit.

OPINION

Politics It is clear that being in a position of power is fundamentally different to campaigning to be in one, and in many cases throughout history promises have been watered down or even ignored to reflect the realities of political office. It is none more apparent than with Syriza, who in face of opposition towards their policies from many in the European community, have promised to phase in their anti-austerity plan, rather than introduce it all straight away. This announcement is an obvious acknowledgement from Tsipras (the Greek Prime Minister) towards international creditors in an attempt to placate them – politics is all about compromise (or, more cynically, foregoing your principles) and, in winning power, Syriza have had to compromise, rather than idealistically introduce policies that may not be economically viable. Of course, if Greece were to be given leeway on its bailout conditions, there would be historical precedent. Ironically, the Germans under the rule of the Nazi Party have been claimed to owe Greece around 160 billion euros – or half of Greece’s debt – by Tsipras who, in his first speech as Prime Minister, claimed that the Greeks had a ‘moral obligation’ to actively seek reimbursement from Berlin for damages to the Greek economy caused by the Nazis, centred on a loan forcibly taken from the Nazi occupiers from the Greek Central Bank. This point undoubtedly will aggravate further the strained relationship between Brussels and Athens, and raises further questions over how long any potential reclamation of income can remain unclaimed, especially if they were, in this case, not included in any peace treaty of the time. In essence then, whilst the recent political developments in Greece may not initially seem too serious for the immediate future of the Eurozone, with Merkel’s refusal to compromise on any financial leeway for the stricken nation coupled with the level of compromise already conceded by Syriza, leaders in Brussels have to decide which scenario is more preferable: do they risk allowing an already beleaguered economy to slide further into trouble, especially with a lack of financial backing for Syriza’s sweeping policy changes, or do they achieve a compromise with Athens, but risk allowing renewed hope for other anti-austerity parties and their supporters across the continent, particularly focussed in the Mediterranean areas with its prevalence of large, fragile economies such as Spain or Italy? Whichever path European leaders & negotiators choose to take, one thing for certain is that there will be a highly uncertain immediate future for the Eurozone – a rocky road. OPINION

Mental health: go with your gut AMANDA HYNE IMAGE BY JOSHUA SPACKMAN

t has been established for many years that the brain influences gut function; this is why mood disorders such as depression and anxiety are often associated with bowel disorders. However, evidence has emerged substantiating what companies selling ‘probiotic’ foods have long claimed; bacteria in the gut, the so-called ‘second brain’, can influence mental health. Although the direction of causality is not ascertained, gastrointestinal abnormalities have been recognised for some time to be prevalent in an array of mental health conditions including Autism, child sufferers of which tend to have less diverse gut microbiomes. The microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract, i.e. the 1×1013 microorganisms that inhabit it, impacts cognitive function and fundamental behaviours such as social interaction and stress management. The exact mechanisms by which this occurs are still unclear but are likely associated with signalling to the brain via cells called neurons, chemical signals in the blood called hormones and the immune system which is responsible for recognising and destroying ‘foreign’ bodies such as bacteria. These collective mechanisms influence the brain’s signalling pathways, development, communication with the rest of your body and, thus, behaviour. Animal models have been used extensively to investigate the gut-brain link. It appears that the microbiome is particularly crucial during early development, impacting upon our behaviour and stress responses. Mice born and maintained

in bacteria-free environments were found to exhibit higher levels of risk-taking, elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as altered levels of the brain chemical BDNF which is involved in human anxiety and depression. Hsiao and colleagues demonstrated that mice with autistictype features had lower levels of the gut bacterium Bacteroides fragilis than normal mice, supplementing the levels of which reversed their behavioural abnormalities. This probiotic treatment has also proven to be efficacious in animal depression models. The evidence of probiotic supplementation’s influence on mental wellbeing extends to humans. Some bacteria that commonly colonise the human intestines including Bifidobacterium found in Activia® produce γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which, whilst a waste product for them, is a major signalling molecule in humans, involved in regulating many organs and bodily processes, dysfunctions in its signalling being implicated in many mental health disorders including ADHD, anxiety and depression. GABA is the major inhibitor of signalling cells in the brain called ‘neurons’, thus altering brain activity which promotes relaxation and diminishes anxiety in human subjects. Furthermore, an orally adminstered Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum combination probiotic has shown significant improvements in depression, anger and anxiety levels as well as reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol. However, this field is still in its infancy so don’t start stocking up on yoghurt thinking it’s the key to mental health; many scientists at the forefront of mental health research remain dubious in the face of minimal evidence substantiating the efficacy of oral probiotics in influencing human behaviour. Regardless, these findings should be considered in future experimental design, having found much intra-strain variation in gut bacteria of laboratory mice. New-found understanding of the gut-brain interplay may provide novel therapeutics in treatment and prevention of mental illness based on modulation of gut microbiota. SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

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Time for teatoxing Angel Seeboruth takes a look at the latest health craze...

IMAGE BY CHARLOTTE SCARROW

n our day and age, the fitness culture has risen to an all-time high, hosting a range of crazes from Zumba to 30 Day Squat challenges. Yet, recently, a slightly unusual trend has gone viral and dominated the scene. Every social networking or internet site remotely linked to the theme of weight loss and heathy living has been flooded with advertisements, photos and reviews of herbal tea concoctions that form part of a new and evidently popular trend called ‘teatoxing’. With one simple hashtag search, there is a plethora of weight loss advice and tricks deriving from drinking tea – who would say no to that?

‘teatox’ has been introduced as a way to avoid misconceptions over how to quickly lose weight, such as cutting out important food groups like carbohydrates or opting for the Caesar salad for dinner as oppose to the envied spaghetti carbonara your friend ordered.

WHAT ON EARTH IS A TEATOX?

FROM A MAGICAL CUP OF TEA TO A BIKINI BODY

This new ‘teatoxing’ obsession promotes healthy weight loss in the form of drinking herbal teas that have been intricately designed to rid your body of toxins and unwanted weight. The 18

Drinking green and herbal teas to detoxify your body have been suggested to inform consumers that ‘diets’ are a fad short-term fix that should be avoided. Instead, this craze promotes and encourages healthy eating as a long-term lifestyle, with ‘teatoxing’ aiming to kickstart this process into an active routine.

So what exactly is it that these teabags contain that contributes to this magical process of detoxification? LIFESTYLE

Lifestyle WEIGHING IT UP As is the same for every product, there are two sides to the argument over the benefits of this detox craze.

body to detoxify

WHAT’S GOOD?

Quick jump start on the track to weight loss Feelings of being less bloated

The Senna leaf is a natural laxative which works by irritating the bowel and can cause uncomfortableness, painful cramping and the constant need to use the loo!

Helps clear your skin as well as encourage your

It is not a long term solution

Uses 100% all-natural ingredients

Companies have stated that all the individual ingredients used are 100% natural health supplements and herbs in the form of loose tea leaves. Most of the ‘teatox’ brands include a mix of nettle leaves, lemongrass, Senna leaves and dandelion leaf, among other natural ingredients in their products. The teas have been produced by combining the appropriate ingredients to accord for the various purposes of each different teabag, i.e. detoxifying and cleansing. Bootea, a popular ‘teatox’ brand, states that “the ingredients used in our teas have been used for centuries for health and wellbeing purposes, but it is only now we have finally brought all these powerful ingredients into one perfect, rounded product”. The use of natural stimulants is undeniably appealing to the healthy-eating motivated individual, making these ‘little bags of love’ seem not only attractive but effective on the market of weight loss.

WHERE THERE’S TEA, THERE’S HOPE

The promise of 100% purity within these products is in itself a bold claim, and what many consumers would begin to question is exactly how this ‘teatox’ works and how it should be properly used. Most of the major brands have created two versions of the teabag in the form of a daytime detox and an evening cleanse to “get lean” and “get clean”. Both have indicated a boosting of your metabolism, an increase in your energy levels, a reduction to your cravings and the clearing up of your skin – claims that are evidently ideal alongside a healthy eating and fitness lifestyle. The main aim of these ‘teatoxes’, however, is to enhance your motivation to kick start a healthy lifestyle and achieve fitness goals; the body is encouraged to embark upon a process of elimination in which unwanted toxins are removed. LIFESTYLE

WHAT’S NOT SO GOOD?

The cost. As struggling students, it remains a question as to whether it is justifiable to spend no less than £20 on a 2 week detox

It is common among the various brands that the evening cleanse induces a laxative effect brought on by the Senna leaf, and should therefore only be consumed every two days, contributing to the cleansing and detoxifying purpose of the ‘teatox’. The ‘teatoxes’ are mostly available in 14-day or 28day packages, indicating that they should only be used as a short term encouragement to what should eventually lead to a healthier lifestyle.

IS IT ALL WORTH IT?

As a 21st century girl, the appeal of any new trend that promotes weight loss will immediately be attractive. ‘Teatoxing’ is appealing because of its natural component and the fact that it is something so easy to embark upon – drinking tea to lose weight, who would have thought? However, it could be argued that this ‘teatoxing’ phenomenon is simply a commercial stunt. What is stopping the generation of ‘detoxers’ from sticking to the traditional methods of healthy eating and daily jogs? It may be that simply going to the gym, eating fruit and drinking water has become too mainstream in the eyes of social media, and embarking upon these new trends is just a way to keep up to date with society. The popularity and presence of rising competitors in the ‘teatoxing’ world, including Bootea, SkinnyMe Tea, Skinny Teatox and Swami Mami Teas, however, demonstrate the undeniable evidence that this new trend has become a defining element of the modernised healthy lifestyle. Using a product so characteristic of daily life, such as tea, makes the whole experience seem so easy and practical in comparison to the dreaded walk to the gym. Who would say no to a fatburning cuppa anyway?

SKIN SAVIOURS TAMARA MANTON

e’ve all been there: it’s the morning after a heavy night in Jesters and you’ve got an hour to get ready for your first lecture. Even if you can’t remember, your skin knows how much you drank last night and how little sleep you’ve had, so I’ll be sharing some tips on how to banish dark circles, a dull complexion and imperfections, all on a student budget. The single best thing you can do for your skin after a night out is to drink a big glass of water; alcohol dehydrates both your body and skin so it’s important to rehydrate after a night of drinking.

UNDER EYE CIRCLES

There are many products on the market that claim to banish under eye circles, but before you splash out, try these free home remedies first. One tip to reduce puffiness under the eye is to place two used and cooled green or black tea bags under your eyes for five minutes. The caffeine in the tea reduces darkness and swelling. If you can’t get hold of any tea bags, another way of reducing puffiness is to place two cold teaspoons under your eyes. This may sound strange but the cold temperature reduces the size of the blood vessels, which in turn reduces swelling. Once the darkness and swelling is under control, go ahead and apply your usual under eye concealer, Rimmel’s Wake Me Up Concealer is a really good, affordable option. Placing a white eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eye also gives the illusion that the eye is wider, making you appear more awake.

DULL AND TIRED SKIN

Firstly, you should avoid drinking tea, coffee and sugary drinks as these all affect the skin’s appearance. If you have 20

IMAGE BY HOLLY LAWSON dull and tired skin you should invest in products that are illuminating. This means they contain particles that reflect the light, giving the illusion of an ‘inner glow’, for example, the L’oreal Paris Lumie Magique Light Infusing Foundation. One tip to prevent tired and dull looking skin in the future is to use an SPF every day, whether in your moisturiser or your foundation. This may sound pointless as we live in not-sosunny Southampton but it’s important to use sun protection even on a cloudy day. Clouds do not stop harmful UV rays that can cause premature aging to the skin, and your skin will certainly thank you for using SPF when you get older!

SPOTS AND IMPERFECTIONS

The number one tip to avoid getting spots is to take your makeup off and properly cleanse your face after a night out and before you go to sleep! I know this often seems like an impossible task, after you’ve eaten your Chick-oLand cheesey chips and walked home, all you want to do is to crawl in to bed, but try to remember to take off all the makeup and jesters grime, even if you only use a face wipe. There is a misconception that if you have oily, spot prone skin then you shouldn’t moisturise. Actually, not moisturising just encourages your skin to make more oil to compensate. Instead, try using a sebum-fighting moisturiser such as the Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion or, if you want to treat yourself to something more upmarket, the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo is amazing. You’ll find that your makeup goes on much better after moisturising too. To conceal spots, always use a non-illuminating concealer such as the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – this is so inexpensive and out-performs most of the high end concealers I’ve tried.

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High End to High Street You don’t have to splash the cash to get the designer look; I’ll show you some high street dupes for the high end pieces that we all lust after, but can’t afford! Tamara Manton

LIFESTYLE

Lifestyle NAUTICAL STRIPES

Nautical stripes are huge right now, with designers such as Saint Laurent showcasing nautical stripes in his Parisian Rock ‘n’ Roll catwalk collection, but you don’t have to pay a fortune to get the look.

HIGH END

This gorgeous striped silk-satin midi skirt from Tibi is effortlessly chic, slip on a black shirt and a pair of oversized shades for instant Audrey Hepburn esque glam. Unfortunately, this beauty also comes with an A List price tag of £665 from Net-A-Porter.

HIGH STREET

This monochrome textured midi skirt has the same, classic A-line shape and nautical stripes as the Tibi skirt above, but is an absolute steal at only £19.99 from Newlook. The midi skirt is a wardrobe staple for 2015, so make sure to invest in one, and this monochrome option is great as it’s so transitional – this piece can see you from work to drinks with just a simple switch of accessories.

70s FRINGING

Tom Ford, Prada and Gucci, to name but a few, have all been showcasing the ‘70s retro revival’ in their recent catwalks. Whether you’re a fan of the flares or not, the 70s is coming back with a bang so be prepared for suede and fringing on everything!

HIGH END

Fringing at its finest – this suede jacket from ThePefext at NetA-Porter epitomises everything that’s right about seventies style, this is definitely a head-turning piece, wear with aviators for the full 70s rock star effect. But this jacket comes in at an eye watering £1315…yes, more than most student loans for a semester!

HIGH STREET

So what if it’s faux suede, channel your inner hippie with this beautiful fringed jacket, costing a measly £30 from MissGuided.com. The fringed jacket is an absolute essential for spring/ summer ’15 and this one is effortlessly stylish and affordable.

HIGH STREET

DENIM

One of the biggest trends for spring/summer 2015 is denim, but we’re not talking your standard denim jacket here, this is denim as you’ve never seen it before, skinny jeans are out, being replaced with baggier styles like boyfriend jeans and mom jeans. Designers such as Burberry and Tommy Hilfiger have been showcasing denim with shearling, cutwork, extreme rips and crystals, and more is more when it comes to this season’s denim so don’t be afraid of layering! (Oh yes, think the double denim look favoured by 90s girl band Bewitched!)

LIFESTYLE

HIGH END

These distressed boyfriend jeans from Liquor & Poker at Asos come in at only £35, an absolute bargain for good quality jeans! If you only invest in one new item for your wardrobe, make sure it’s ripped jeans. They’re a huge trend right now and you’ll get so much wear from them once the weather gets warmer.

While these R13 mid-rise boyfriend jeans from Net-A-Porter are stunning, they will set you back a whopping £495 pounds; that’s a lot of money for something that’s already ripped!

Your ticket to a perfect summer NUALA MCBRIDE IMAGE BY JACOB HEPWORTH-WAIN

niversity summer holidays are often months long and leave many students wanting to do something worthwhile and rewarding. What better thing to do then au pair?

Au pairing allows you to go abroad and discover a new country cheaply, with all the local knowledge of the family. They can be an invaluable source of information about the country and how to get around it, and what to do and see, past the “Top 10 Picks” in the guidebook. And best of all, with the ‘pocket money’ you are given, it doesn’t break the bank either! A friend and I even organised it, so we were both in Rome last summer working as au pairs. ‘Au pair’ is from the French and means ‘equal to’ – you are part of the family as well as working for them (whereas a nanny or babysitter just works for the family). Your role is to look after the children in the family for a set amount of hours each day. You will live with the family, eat with the family, and they will pay you ‘pocket money’ each week (the amount varies country to country) and you’ll normally have the weekends off. Au pairing is now becoming easier than ever. In the past you had to register with an agency and then write letters between you and prospective families – to find the perfect one. Nowadays, you make a profile on a website (I used ‘Au pair World’) and then see what your ‘matches’ are. It sounds a little like internet dating; which I guess it is! Once your profile is up (this takes 24 hours), start messaging any families that suit, then if both parties like each other arrange a Skype interview (remember to have questions ready to ask the family as well as answers to questions that the family will probably ask). Usually the family and you will have time to decide (say 24 hours) and then you’ll let each other know, if you are both happy then it’s time to book a flight! Most families will expect you to self-fund a flight; but if you save some of the ‘pocket money’ from when you are au pairing you can make back the money.

TRAVEL

Travel they were still cute but mature enough to communicate with and teach English to.

84mm x 50mm Scene from Italy

HOW LONG?

This really depends on how long you have. one month in Rome, during the summer, was the ideal amount of time for me! I had enough time to explore the city properly, spend weekends at the beach, but any longer and I would have been at a loss of things to do.

PAY/WORKING HOURS

Last year I au paired with two different families. One in La Spezia, Italy for six months with three children and then again in Rome for one month with one child. They were both very different experiences. In La Spezia, I had to get the kids ready for school, then pick them up at 1pm, give them lunch and after help with homework, take them to their activities. Whereas in Rome, I would entertain the child for the morning (including giving a 1 hour English lesson) and be free in the afternoon to explore the eternal city. Don’t get me wrong, it is hard work! You have to be on the ball 24/7 and are living with a family so have to adapt to how they do things. I got paid €80 per week, but you’ve got to remember everything is paid for, so this money was really just spending money. When searching for your perfect match, there are many questions to ask yourself …

WHERE?

This is the biggest and hardest question to answer, especially if (like me) you just want to go everywhere! Most families will speak some English so you don’t have to know the language. I chose Italy as I had never been there and always wanted to. But, it’s also important to think about whether you want to be in the centre of a city, near a beach, or in a village. In my experience I would say to make sure there are things to do nearby; as sometimes you will want to have some space from the family. And part of the experience of au pairing is to be able to travel and explore the country.

THE CHILDREN?

The age, number of and gender of the children are all things you might want to consider. Babies and toddlers are a handful, but it does mean you have the freedom to take them where you want to go. I chose children who were between 8-11, as

TRAVEL

This is by far the hardest thing to negotiate. Many online au pairing websites have guidelines about how much an au pair should be paid in each country and how many hours they should work, but this can still vary from placement to placement. All food and accommodation is included though, so the allowance given is simply for you to explore the area with.

SAFETY

It seems like a bit of a risk going to a random family in a foreign country. But, with the internet you can find out a lot of information about the family – check out their Facebook profiles, Youtube accounts etc. Also, you can ask for the email address of previous au pairs to see how they found it. But most importantly, go with your gut instinct and remember you can always leave if it doesn’t work out! Au pairing is now becoming extremely popular and why not? It is such an amazing experience and opportunity for young people! Is it your ticket to the perfect summer?

84mm x 50mm Scene 25

Winchester

Our place beneath the oak tree Kalisto Bancroft IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART A story of love, loss and the fragility of life… I could feel him beside me, nestled in what could only be presumed as an act of burning desire and sentiment. He caressed my hair, mahogany curls twirling around my strained neck. It was cold. My nose was turning a rosy hue. But I did not care for physical warmth. I was too numb to feel the frost enveloping my knit- covered limbs. I couldn’t move myself. I was too enraptured in the incoherence of my thoughts, imagining, sensing, feeling a warm non-existent embrace around my arms and chest… I looked up from my patch underneath the tree. I gazed out across the meadows, covered in snow. This was our place, here under the oak tree; our little place hidden away from all the ridiculousness of life and its corporate giants. The serenity of the snow was calming. But not calming enough. Nothing, no level of family or material comfort would appease this emotional mess…

to understand from my perspective. This place meant too much. Especially after father’s dreadful passing… He glanced his eyes at me. They were welling up. “You need to let go! Let go of the past and just come with me. Please.” He collapsed into a chair, putting his head in his hands and whispered “I…I need you”. We all wish for a happy life, one with minimal pain and universal joy. We all hope to achieve wonderful things, be successful, even leave behind a legacy. But it doesn’t always work like that. We can’t always be content. I sadly discovered this for myself that one morning a police officer appeared at my front door. This was the morning after the argument. That stupid, nonsensical, hopeless quarrel. ” We need to leave” he had said. “This town isn’t good for either of us”…I should have agreed with him. There and then. Because I knew he was right. I was in a state of utter denial. I was not fine. I was holding on to something that no longer existed, and it was becoming unhealthy.

“I can’t take this anymore” This was the second time he had said this. “It’s just bullshit. Just….just crap. Utter crap!”. I couldn’t understand what he meant by this. I looked at him aggressively, defiantly. “Look, what do you want from me? You think you can just expect me to drop everything? My job? My home? I understand you want to leave, but not like this”. He glared at me, calculating his response. “That’s just selfish, and after everything I’ve done for you”. This had become a stupid argument. Stupid because it could be worked out. I knew it could, if only he would calm down and try 26

I wanted to run away…away to our spot beneath the oak tree… It was becoming colder. I could no longer feel my toes. I wanted to cry, but no tears flowed. Just anger, that was all that brimmed to the cold surface. ‘What am I to do’ I thought to myself, still feeling his breath brush my bony neck. A stupid quarrel. That was all it had been. I looked beside me. No one was there. Or at least no one visible. But I could still feel him holding on to me. In my eyes, my heart, he was still there…

WINCHESTER

Winchester

OPINION

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INTERNATIONAL

International

here were 221 journalists held in jails around the world on 1st December 2014, according to the US-based independent Committee to Protect Journalists. Among them was Australian journalist Peter Greste, who was detained in Egypt for 400 days before his release on 1st February this year. Greste was imprisoned on the 29th December 2013, along with his colleagues Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy. The three were charged on the 23rd June 2014 with “distorting the country’s image abroad” and “fabricating news to the Muslim Brotherhood”. The latter charge stemmed from the allegation that the reporters were helping the Muslim Brotherhood, who are blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by the Egyptian government. Greste was sentenced to seven years in prison despite his repeated assertion that he was innocent and that the trial was flawed. This sparked a long international campaign for the journalists’ release. The trial was called “laughable”; commentators pointed to evidence against the journalists which included seemingly irrelevant things such as a song by the Australian singer Gotye. Greste’s family spoke out against the ruling on the grounds that it was censorship of free speech, the central issue in many cases of journalists being imprisoned because of their work. Tanya Plibersek, the Australian Opposition’s Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, said, “The idea that a journalist would be jailed simply for doing his job… [has] been quite shocking”. INTERNATIONAL

According to the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Greste spoke to her over the telephone about how eager he was to return to his family and “be back on a beach and lying in the sun in Australia”. Still, he spent two days in Cyprus after his release with his brother Mike in order to recover and rest before finally completing his journey home. He was greeted with cheers at Brisbane Airport and the crowd held signs reading “journalism is not a crime”. Despite Greste’s release, both of his colleagues remain imprisoned in Egypt. On the 1st January their convictions were overturned, yet they are still being detained in order to go through a retrial. Greste’s family has stated that he will not rest until they are also freed because, as Greste himself said, “If it’s right for me to be free, it’s right for everyone else that was imprisoned in our case to be free”. Fahmy, who is Canadian, is also anticipating deportation in the near future. However, things do not look so hopeful for Mohamed who, as an Egyptian national, is not able to be deported. Mohamed has already missed his child being born and his family has stated their belief that he “will not be released” despite the fact that all three journalists were tried together. The retrial has been set to begin on the 12th February and this is seen by many as an opportunity for Egypt to show that their justice system is not dependent on nationality.

IMAGE BY JOE ATKINSON 29

International

THE KEYBOARD IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD An anonymous blogger in Tamaulipas, Mexico is fighting back against the cartels, crimes and corruption that this violent state faces. Alice Crichton

exico has notoriously acquired a negative portrayal in all aspects of the media. The Foreign Office offers advice to British tourists about robbery, assaults and how to avoid being involved in drug related violence. Current news headlines describe bodies being discovered, people disappearing and other examples of corruption; problems which Enrique Pena Nieto, the country’s president, must address. Protests and anguish remain prominent throughout the country for the 43 students that supposedly went missing in September 2014. While there is much fear for the safety of journalists and bloggers who express their opinions, in light of the events in Paris and committed by IS, there are individuals who still want to inform people of the truth. To protect their identities, they communicate with the world about the dangers, crime and corruption through blogging and other online resources. Valor por Tamaulipas (Courage for Tamaulipas) was founded on 1st January 2012 with aims of exposing the “real” Mexico which is often censored. It began as a Facebook page but now has Twitter and a website to inform hundreds of thousands of people about crimes in Mexico, ranging from cartel car-blocks to abductions and shootouts. The administrator, who remains anonymous, has been nominated for a free-speech award. A public vote to decide the winner is open until 15th February 2015. The site is supported by tip-offs and contributors who risk their safety to inform citizens of the dangers in Tamaulipas.

IMAGE BY JOSHUA SAMWAYS One of the consistent bloggers to Valor por Tamaulipas was killed in October 2014. The death of María del Rosario Fuentes Rubio was posted on her Twitter, as a threat and warning from the abductors. Bloggers such as Moises Sanchez, Marisol Macias and other individuals have been found decapitated and mutilated as a gruesome and horrifying warning as to the dangers of reporting on cartel activity. In 2013, cartel members handed out flyers offering the equivalent of £30,000 for the whereabouts of Valor por Tamaulipas’ administrator and his family. After the brutal murders of his colleagues, the administrator stated he would step down from the site, yet he has recently stated “Sometimes I’m not convinced I’m doing enough or that this is effective, but there are many people who believe this community helps… So I’ll have to keep going until I think of a better way of helping my state”. Other similar sites have been created, for example Blog del Narco, created by “Lucy” to expose the horrific violence censored by the Mexican media. Despite receiving comparable threats to that of Valor por Tamaulipas, this site aims to provide citizens and authorities with vital information and expose the corruption in Mexico. Although the dangers and consequences of freedom of speech seem terrifying, people from around the world are remaining courageous. Some blog, some write articles and some use social media to express their views, for example #YaMeCanse in light of the 43 missing students. Valor por Tamaulipas, for now, stays strong.

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Sport

Magic comes to Varsity

JACK PETHICK IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL

or the first time in the competition’s history, the Southampton vs Portsmouth Varsity tournament will host a Quidditch match. In fact, it will be the second ever Varsity Quidditch match after the Cambridge vs Oxford match which occurred just before Christmas. Sport Editor Jack Pethick interviews SQC Club Captain Simon Bidwell on his views for what will be an historic day for the club. Jack: So Simon, It’s the first time that Southampton and Portsmouth have held a Varsity Quidditch match and indeed it’s the second varsity game ever in Quidditch following the Oxford Cambridge game just before Christmas. You must feel both immensely proud yet nervous going into the game?

last year, he’s proving to be one of the best players in the UK and a potential team UK player for this summer’s European Games. Our fresher social-sec Fraser Posford can score hoops all day long, Aaron Veale is a Portsmouth boy, now playing for Southampton and Alex Carpenter is the fastest person in UK Quidditch. We’re pretty stacked. Jack: Sum up what Varsity means or represents to you in three words. Simon: Southampton crushing Portsmouth. Jack: Have you ever played Portsmouth Quidditch club before? And if so, what was the result?

Simon: I’m immensely proud of how far our club has come this year; before the start of freshers’ week we had at most 20 members and we’ve since grown to be the biggest club in the country. We’re now just about to take part in our very first varsity match, but nervous? Not a chance. Portsmouth won’t score a hoop on us.

Simon: No we haven’t! I am excited to see Portsmouth play actually, because this won’t just be the first time we’ve played them, it will be their first ever Quidditch match! Despite all of the bravado, I am extremely excited to welcome them to the community and I can’t wait for them to grow as a team and become a bigger part of Quidditch in the UK.

Jack: Will you prepare any differently for this game?

However, because this is Varsity, we won’t be going lightly on them and their introduction to Quidditch is going to be a crushing, demoralising defeat at the hands of their local rivals.

Simon: Our club features some members from Southampton Solent and also the community, so we will be missing some of our usual players but it won’t affect our preparation. If anything we might have a bit of a relaxing week before Varsity because it comes the week after our national competition, the British Quidditch Cup, in Nottingham. Jack: Who are the key players we can look out for on the day? Simon: Vice-Captain Ollie Craig is definitely one to look out for. Despite having spent a year out of Quidditch in France SPORT

SQC will be taking on Portsmouth in the Varsity tournament on Sunday 15th March at the University of Portsmouth. See the SUSU Box Office for details on how to get tickets and support Team Soton!

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A look at English women’s hockey Ross Wilson looks at the growing success of the sport in Great Britain and the desire to do even better. IMAGE BY SAM PENNY

ack in 2013 the International Hockey Federation announced that England would host the Women’s World Cup in 2018. As the EuroHockey championships take place here this coming August, not only does there appear to be an increasing amount of major hockey events in this country but at the same time a growing presence of elite level womens’ hockey. The word ‘legacy’ is fervently used throughout the world of sport, football pundits/coaches and chairmen in this country are often the major culprits in its frequent misuse. Cast our minds back to the thrilling London 2012 Olympic Games and it was the GB Women’s hockey team who could hold their heads proudly in being part of that successful sporting summer, with a more than respectable bronze medal. The development of the Lee Valley Hockey centre has indicated a level of seriousness to match the drive and determination to elevate the women’s game, particularly in England. Philip Kimberley (England Hockey Chairman) essentially echoed those sentiments by highlighting that ‘ (we) have an excellent track record of driving interest and participation through major events, and hosting world level events of such significance means we can continue our sustained effort to get more people playing and watching our sport, and in particular deliver a legacy of female participation in hockey’. Southampton Ladies 1sts (at time of writing) sit 4th in the BUCS Western 1A, only two points behind and with a game in hand of Gloucestershire in 3rd. With fixtures having to be wrapped up by Sunday 15th March, it will be interesting to 34

see if the team can produce a good run before the important matter of Varsity, held in Portsmouth this year. When I interviewed VP Sports Development Katie Lightowler, she talked about the development of the focus sports programme which ultimately has the aim of better training and regularity in team participation. I feel it is important the university seeks to encourage the best development of the hockey team as it begins to be more prominent internationally than ever before. The Investec Women’s Finals Weekend takes place on the 18th and 19th of April at Lee Valley. It will cover an initiative that seeks to allow ticket buyers to help raise money for their clubs. The BBC will broadcast the EuroHockey Championships in August which will surely be a further boost to the visibility of the sport and the high levels it can be played at. Without seeking to deliver an ill advised patronisation of female participation in sport, it is more apparent than ever that there is a desire for broader interest in women’s hockey. It should by no means be an attempt to pack in more and more sports with a superficial attempt to say how well the country is doing, but a way to display the importance of the game and its role in showcasing talent that often goes not so much unrewarded as widely unnoticed.

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JOEL DAVIS

University can be summed up in many ways: exciting, interesting, lifechanging, the list goes on. But the most honest word for it is expensive. With rent, food, books and those endless crucial nights in Jester’s, many students rely on part-time work in retail for financial aid. In 2010/2011, almost half of all students in the England were working in retail.

is the troll in this analogy, which is obviously incorrect as the troll, at least at first, had control of the bridge. Being shouted at because another company’s prices are cheaper shows a distinct lack of control. But that’s just this man’s opinion.

2. THE SNOB

4. THE CONNOISSEUR

The Snob sees a retail employee and jumps to one conclusion: bad grades. They may make remarks to their friends about how they “could never work in a place like this”, and those with children can often be heard saying “That’s why you have to work hard at school.” However, when given the knowledge that you are in fact a third year chemistry student at on of the country’s leading universities, they are often put on the back foot. They may attempt to recover their previous stance by starting a conversation about the drop in the number of post-grad students in work, despite the fact that they can clearly see that you actually have a job already.

5. THE HOUDINI

Possibly the most annoying of all customers, Houdinis are the classic hit-and-runners of the retail world. They have come to you, asking for your assistance, and you could have been gone for anything between 2-15 minutes. There is nothing more frustrating than taking the time to try and help a customer, only to find that they have disappeared without the apparently vital item they had you digging around the warehouse for. The worst bit is traipsing around the shop floor, holding an item, searching for your lost customer, knowing full well that they have probably already left.

However, to work in retail is to expose yourself to the general public, some of whom seem to leave both their manners and their brains by the door. As an employee of a rather large retail chain myself, I have come into contact with many a difficult customer of all different shapes, sizes and ages. These are the five worst types of retail customers I have ever had the misfortune of serving.

1. THE NEGOTIATOR

We all like to nab a bargain every now and then. As a student, I understand this as well as anyone. However, there is a limit to what should be expected from a supermarket. There can only be two implausible reasons for them to do this. One, they have mistaken the store for an auction, and are waiting either vfor another customer to call a price or, for me to bang a gavel and declare the item “SOLD!”. Or two, they have been out of touch with the world of retail for the last PAUSE

The Connoisseur takes great pleasure in discussing their chosen addiction with another. This pleasure is only heightened by the opportunity to seize upon another’s lack of knowledge in their chosen field. They do this simply by asking a question to which they already know the answer. For example, “Which wine would go best with fish?” At this point, your answer is completely irrelevant, as they will disagree with whatever you say. This particular type of customer is particularly dangerous, as there is no way of telling a Connoisseur trap until it has been sprung, at which point you can kiss the next half hour goodbye.

3. THE BILLY GOAT

These are customers that believe that the grass is greener elsewhere, and have no qualms in expressing this view to the lowly employee who’s trying to help them. This is annoying, as in the customer’s point of view the colleague

To be fair, the cases of the above customers are a minority when compared against the hundreds of polite and friendly customers that fill stores every day. However, it only takes one sour grape to ruin a bunch, and it only takes bad customer to ruin a shift.

IMAGE BY JESS COX

The

5 worst types of customer in retail

few hundred years, and are in fact more accustomed to swapping various items and/or livestock for their goods. Either way, they always seem to get frustrated that their method of shopping always ends the same way; with them paying full price.