Issue 7 (June 2015)

WessexScene.co.uk

University of Southampton’s Student Magazine

JUNE 2015

7

Top stories of the year The Wessex Scene’s top stories of 2014-15

+

KEEPING IT FOSSIL FREE 12

Universities around the world are under pressure from a growing campaign

+

WHAT IS ART ANYWAY? 20 Can this age-old question ever be answered?

+

THE WAIT FOR WIMBLEDON 24

A look forward to what’s coming up at the Wimbledon Championships this year

Welcome

TAHLIE COOPER Editor

editor@soton.ac.uk FRONT COVER IMAGE BY SAM BAILEY

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

deputy-editor@wessexscene.co.uk

Head of Design Sam Bailey

design@wessexscene.co.uk

DEAR READERS, The time has finally arrived. The end of an era. My final letter as editor of the Wessex Scene.

This year has come and gone so quickly but we as a committee and a media department have achieved so much this year. We have redesigned the magazine cover to cover, having even changed the size and upgraded to magazine gloss! Four extra issues have been produced this year on top of our regular monthly instalments: Freshers’ Issue, LGBT History Month (in collaboration with the LGBT Society and The Edge magazine), Fashion Issue (in collaboration with Fashion and Style Society) and finally, the recently released General Election Issue. The website recently had a makeover too, along with the launch of our brand new mobile site.

Such achievements, along with the many launch parties, Wessex Days and trips to visit contributors at Winchester School of Art – resulted in the magazine winning best department of the year at SUSU Media Ball 2015! This is an incredible success for everyone that contributes to the magazine, and although I have the trophy at home on my shelf – this award goes to every editor, writer, designer, illustrator and contributor to this publication.

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

Travel Anna Jenkins

travel@wessexscene.co.uk

Lifestyle Laura Cox

lifestyle@wessexscene.co.uk

International ROSY HOWELL

international@wessexscene.co.uk

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

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

Seeing as it is the final issue of the year, we have produced a round-up of some of our top stories of the year, specially selected by our news editors.

The team look back on the likes of Hollywood hitting campus, the marking boycott and the famous Orange Rooms fish. Not remembering these so well? Turn over a few pages to recall these stories from the 2014-15 academic year.

For one last time, editor out!

TRAVEL

TOP IMAGES OF THE YEAR

04

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR

05

MISTAKES YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY MAKE AT UNIVERSITY

06

THE SCIENCE OF PROCRASTINATION

08 10

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

12 14

LIFESTYLE

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

WHAT IS ART ANYWAY?

20

INTERNATIONAL

22

SPORT

THE WAIT FOR WIMBLEDON

24

FEAR AND LOATHING UPON TYNE

26

PAUSE

POLITICS

THE CALM AFTER THE STORM

18

WINCHESTER

WORRIED ABOUT A YEAR ABROAD?

OPINION

KEEPING IT FOSSIL FREE

THE TRUTH ABOUT TRAVELLING AS A WOMAN

THE TOP 3 WESSEX SCENE ARTICLES OF ALL TIME!!

27

16

wessexscene.co.uk @wessexscene

Tahlie

fb.com/wscene

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

FEATURES

AFRICA: THE FORGOTTEN LAND

And with that, I bid my readers a fond farewell. It has been an absolute pleasure to be the editor for the Wessex Scene this year. I am incredibly proud of every single contributor, especially my editorial team. I have no doubt that my successor, Bridie Pearson-Jones, will take this magazine to even greater heights in the months to come.

pause@wessexscene.co.uk publicity@wessexscene.co.uk

ISSUE 7 JUNE 2015

I will leave you now to explore the content of this issue. From the best mistakes of fresher’s, to the power of positive thinking, to building hype with the Wimbledon preview – this issue has some wonderful content to keep you calm before the exam storm and psyched for the summer sun.

Pause Aidan Pittman

MARKETING Corinne Dugdale

LIFESTYLE 16 The power of positive thinking - Siofra Donnellan. Image by Joshua Samways

WELCOME

WELCOME

03

Top stories of the year The Wessex Scene’s top stories of 2014-15.

Outrage as SUSU give precedence to ‘obnoxious money making scheme’ over Surge Radio’s 48 hour charity marathon

EMMA CHESHIRE & CHLOE FABREGAS

March 25th 2015, by Bridie Pearson-Jones

Marking boycott begins at University November 6th 2014, by Tahlie Cooper IMAGES BY JOSHUA SAMWAYS, MUSFIRAH WAJIHAH, SAMMIE BURSTOW, JOSHUA SPACKMAN, JORDAN STEWART, CHESTER FRAMPTON, PAIGE NICHOLAS, SOPHIE FELL, CHARLOTTE SCARROW, KATHRYN SMITH & JACOB HEPWORTH-WAIN

The marking boycott at the university was pivotal news for all students. This article, which was awarded Highly Commended for Best News Story at the Media Ball this year, outlines how staff who belong to the University College Union (UCU) stopped marking any assessments in protest against the proposals made to alter their current pensions. As students, it is important to be constantly updated on important issues that affect us directly, and a marking boycott like this, which affected 69 universities in total, is something that directly affects the progression of degrees, thereby making this a top story this year. Luckily, the boycott was eventually suspended.

12 Bakes of Christmas: the festive loaf December 3rd 2014, by Bridie Pearson-Jones

Christmas is always a very busy time for students with exams looming and imminent deadlines, and it is always difficult to find a nice, relaxing outlet for inevitable stress. The Wessex Scene responded to this with the ‘12 Bakes of Christmas’, providing delicious, easy-to-follow recipes for some special Christmas treats, which not only make great revision snacks, but also provide students with guidance on how to cook something half decent! The Festive Loaf encapsulates all things Christmas, and would be even tastier accompanied by a nice cup of tea.

Southampton students design first ever 3D printed, rocket-powered spaceplane December 11th 2014, by Chloe Fabregas

As a student publication, it is always with pride that we are able to write about the successes and achievements of our university. This article shows just how creative and innovative the students at the University of Southampton are. This year, post-graduate aeronautical design students, Amrith Surendra, Chris Dodd and David Cooper, designed the world’s first-ever 3D-printed, rocket-powered space plane. The space plane itself, named Vulture 2, will be launched on the Low Orbit Helium Assisted Navigator (LOHAN) mission, rising to an estimated launch altitude of 20,000m.

FEATURES

This year, our friends over at Surge Radio attempted a 48 hour marathon on the Redbrick to raise money for charity.

However, half way through the broadcast they were forced to abandon their marathon due to being drowned out by an ‘American Freshman’ bus. This attracted a lot of attention and Surge filed an official complaint to SUSU, accusing the Union of valuing the external company over the charitable efforts of its own students. This article, which won the Wessex Scene Best News Story at the Media Ball this year and was one of the highest read articles on the website, amassing over 1,200 views.

Hollywood comes to town: the facts, the gossip and the speculation October 21st 2014, by Hebe Neate-Clegg

It isn’t every day that Hollywood knocks on your doorstep.

However, in October, University of Southampton students were given an exclusive chance to appear as paid extras in a new Hollywood feature film which was to start shooting in the Southampton area the following month. Nearly 300 students were screened at the open casting held in the students’ union and the Wessex Scene even went along and tried our luck – our very own Editor managing to gain a spot on the set of the top secret film, later revealed to be Mission Impossible 5.

Online petition saves fish from mistreatment December 21st 2014, by Corinne Dugdale

This is a heart-warming success story. In December, University of Southampton student Corinne Dugdale was horrified after seeing the inappropriate living conditions of the Pacu fish, which had been living in Southampton nightclub Orange Rooms. Following this discovery, Corinne launched an online petition to relocate the fish that had been living for years in cramped water tanks and used inappropriately as a source of entertainment for the nightclub. The Wessex Scene tracked Corinne’s journey: after receiving over 100 signatures on the petition and attracting attention from the press, the fish were eventually rehomed a month later.

Thanks to all the editors, writers and illustrators who have worked hard to make this year so successful. We look forward to the Wessex Scene’s 80th birthday next year!

05

Mistakes you should definitely make at university ALICE HEARING IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART

Whilst Freshers is the prime time to make mistakes, in reality you should be making them the whole way through your university career. Why? Because you learn more about life from mad, brave, insane mess ups than you will during your whole degree. Of course, sometimes mistakes should be made

Get wasted and call someone you regret

Whether it’s an ex or the emergency services you will realise what you’ve done the morning after and you’ll swear to yourself that you’ll never get that drunk again. You will definitely get that drunk again. However, what you won’t do is call that number again on a night out because even your drunk self knows how bad it was.

Throw up somewhere you shouldn’t

Know how it feels to be that drunk early on. If you get to this stage you will chunder somewhere and one day it won’t be the toilet. It might be on your shoes, it might just be on the floor in your room, or in the nearest 06

just for the crazy stories and for those five second of fame on Southampton Tell Him/Tell Her. What will follow is a list of mistakes, taken from various anonymous sources, that I whole-heartedly encourage you to make.

bin. Either way it’ll be a pain to sort out. If you do this, not only will you be congratulated as an absolute legend for vomiting somewhere that stupid, but your future life may hopefully hold a lack of cleaning up after yourself.

Chundered somewhere utterly weird?

It’ll make for a cracking story.

Get with someone on your course

Confess your undying love for a course mate in Jesters through the power of making out. See them at your lecture the next day and cringe. It’ll provide endless teasing for your other course mates.

Try and fail to make food after a night out

Every student who has lived in halls knows the pain of having to wake up

at 2 in the morning because someone set the fire alarm off trying to make drunk chicken nuggets. You might have even been the one who did it. But there is truly no better feeling after a night out than tucking into some very undercooked wedges with your friends, and it is something you’ll miss when you’re older.

Live like a pig

You may tidy your room as if the Queen was coming round every time your parents come to visit, but you’d be lying if you claimed it was that good all of the time. It’s a time in your life when you can get away with a room piled high with pizza boxes, and it’s an important rite of passage – it teaches you the importance of a nice vegetable whenever you go home and eat actual food.

Go to bed at 4am for as many nights in a row as you can

No 9am in the morning? Why rush to bed when Netflix is so clearly calling to you. You won’t be able to do it when you’ve got a 9-5 job or a family to look after, so you might as well do it now – it’d be rude not to.

Start an assignment the day of your deadline

When you’re at the beginning of term and your lecturer is listing the assessments for this module, you’re sat there thinking “right, this time, this time I’ll start my assignment early, I’ll be really good and I’ll get it done with time to spare”. Fast forward to the week of the deadline and you’re still kidding yourself that you have loads of time. Then it’s the morning of, and oh dear, you haven’t started. This is an important life lesson – you can’t really get away with that when you’re older and working and have responsibilities and all that, so starting a piece of work the day it’s in is a valuable lesson about planning ahead and not bingewatching a new series the night before. If you didn’t do it at least once, how would you ever learn?

So don’t look back on your first year at university and feel embarrassed at the absolute drunk mess of a person you have become – be proud, wear it with pride. It’s what makes university so special, and you are not the first, nor will you be the last, to do all these things. These mistakes are what make you as a person and you need to make the most of them while you can.

07

THE SCIENCE OF PROCRASTINATION MOLLY EVANS DESIGN BY ED BAIRD

W

ith exams looming, no matter what subject you study, there is one thing every student can relate to – procrastination. But why does it happen and can we prevent it?

Procrastination, the act of delaying or postponing something for no apparent reason. Everyone does it – I even procrastinated whilst writing this article – but is it avoidable?

Turns out there is some science in procrastination, so you can no longer blame your sparse schedule, your star sign or the weather. In fact humans are almost hard-wired to do it due to chemicals in our brain.

It occurs when we relate the importance of a task to its imminence in what is called temporal discounting. Essentially we begin to deem a task more important as the deadline gets worryingly closer whereas its actually worth the same percentage of your degree from the beginning because we see aimlessly scrolling through social media or napping as more rewarding than a good mark, right up until the last minute when the good mark becomes more important. And so we begin to cram.

Almost as if your body is working against you, the prefrontal cortex, which is located immediately behind the forehead, is what allows you to integrate information and make decisions.

However, there’s nothing automatic about its function; you must kick it into gear by telling yourself you’re going to complete a particular task. And the moment you’re not consciously engaged in a task, your limbic system takes over.

You give in to what feels good—you procrastinate.

The reason for this is that enjoyable activities give your brain a dose of dopamine, so when you play a quick game on the Playstation or catch up on Instagram your brain is receiving way more dopamine than it ever would from reading a text book, due to the fact that these activities give your brain 06

frequent small amounts of dopamine, whereas the good mark on your coursework is a one-time future reward.

But how do you overcome this? Sadly there is no cure, but a few suggestions have been made to try and make studying as appealing as possible (as hard as that may seem to comprehend). One idea is rewarding yourself regularly with fun activities such as snacking or a quick browse of the internet. This is based on the Pomodoro technique which involves setting a timer for a set amount of time (for example 25 minutes) and then when it goes off rewarding yourself with a five minute break before setting the timer again. Each time it goes off you should increase the time by 5 minutes, until you’re doing longer stretches of work.

Another idea is to try and put a positive spin on what time you are using to study, so instead of thinking to yourself ‘only 25 minutes of torture left’ trying changing that to ’25 more minutes of being productive!’. You could even take 5 minutes to write a list of reasons to study which you can check to reinforce to yourself why you’re doing it.

In addition, experts suggest you should start your day again at 2pm. It’s easy to let the morning fly by without actually sitting down and completing anything and so you should take time at 2pm (extra strong coffee in hand) and evaluate what you’ve completed and determine which is the most pressing task to be completed next. If you wait until 5pm to evaluate your day then it is easy to convince yourself the day is over and that you would be better off tackling what is left tomorrow – hence procrastination ensues.

If you need to resort to urgent measures you should put obstacles in between yourself and the distraction such as turning off your phone, Xbox or the internet or even heading to the library.

Advert

Africa: the forgotten land With so much attention paid to the Middle East in the media, do we care about the people of Africa?

S

STEVE ADAMS IMAGE BY JESS COX

witch on your television and sit and watch the news, I imagine within no time at all there will be reference to a crisis in the Middle East, from ISIS to Iran to Israel and Palestine, perhaps Afghanistan will make an appearance? Who knows…

While the whole affair in the Middle East is controversial, with the absence of strategy, competence and a myriad of blunders, it has been maintained throughout, the good intentions that were in the hearts of our leaders. But you know what they say about good intentions? George Bush in 2003 spoke of the intentions of the US involvement in Iraq and the pursuit of ‘peace, security and stability’ in the region.

Peace, security and stability, something considerably lacking in much of Africa. The Second Congo War occurred directly before, during and after the events of 9/11 and the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. The conflict became the deadliest since WW2, claiming around 5 million lives, mostly civilian.

In 5 years, more people died in the Congo than those who have died in every single conflict in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2001.

The most horrific and commonplace atrocities during the conflict included; fathers being forced to rape their daughters, mass rapes, brutal vaginal mutilation and acts of genocidal cannibalism towards the pygmy population, of whom it believed upon consumption, magical powers were gained.

The scale of horrors committed during the short war is beyond horrific and it only takes a light exploration into the conflict to gain a picture of the real life nightmares mainly the civilians had to suffer.

Another example of conflict in Africa is the current conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR). Political turmoil and popular uprising has put CAR on its way to gaining the accolade of genocide, of which I’m sure it will enjoy putting 10

next to poverty, corruption and general misery. Much like the Second Congo War, the conflict has broken out over one ethnic faction taking power from another. The result has led to the formation of anti- Islamic Christian militia actively slaughtering the Muslim minority, and violence from the Islamic factions being returned in kind. French forces and now the UN are attempting to bring security to the region, but with relatively few troops, atrocities identical to those committed in the Second Congo War are all too frequent.

Now while the war in the Congo may have ended 12 years ago, brutal conflict has been continuous on the continent for as long as the West have been there to document it and the civil war in CAR is yet another notch being carved into the rotten stock of the rifle pointed at the head of Africa. Yet for the most part we as a people, the government and media seem completely oblivious.

You will find a lot of information on the ongoing conflict in CAR online, al Jazeera and RT to name a few, provide coverage, yet British national news is and always has been seemingly reluctant to focus on Africa. And our governments haven’t been much better either. For instance overall the cost for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have cost Britain around £40 billion. While Britain routinely struggles to hit its foreign aid budget of 0.7%, and out of that, in 2014, only £2.3 billion was allocated to the whole of Africa.

But why is this the case? Why is there such disparity between our actions in the Middle East and our actions in Africa?

The key argument is the conflicts in the Middle East are in our national interest, and indeed perhaps here it is worth mentioning the inclusion of North African states like Libya who also ‘enjoy’ our attention. By ‘national interests’ what is meant is oil. Instead of trying to outline the supposed reasons why we intervened in Iraq and Afghanistan we will go straight for the jugular, but instead of blood, if you pierce this particular OPINION

artery you will be covered in black gold. From Saddam to the Taliban, securing stability in the region meant ensuring the safety of the Gulf oil states and the continued supply of the world’s largest reserves of crude oil. Indeed that is what is driving our conflict against ISIS, a further push south by the group would once again threaten the Iraqi oil fields.

And this – ladies and gentleman – is where the sobering truth about our inaction in Africa lies. What is in CAR? Not a lot.

What is in the Congo? A massive abundance of minerals, worth potentially $24 trillion. However in both cases, despite conflict, the minerals still flow from the mines and to the West, if anything we in fact profit from conflict, as it is the companies that deal with these corrupt African states and local warlords that are able to dictate the price of these minerals. Compared to the Middle East it doesn’t matter that people are being slaughtered in mass and the nations are riddled with corruption and poverty, we still get what we want regardless. Why would we intervene? What would we get out of it? Morality and self-righteousness do not pay for all the luxuries we enjoy in the West.

And for the media, for the most part there are those who believe it is not focused on simply because it is just too complex. Aside from having no impact on our society the OPINION

conflicts are difficult, with no clear good or bad side and atrocities committed all around. How could we set our moral clocks when both factions act so ‘barbaric’?

An important lesson here should be learned, not only by us as the public to try and coerce our governments into action but more importantly for the oil rich states of the Middle East.

Our attention comes with an expiration date. Back when the resources of Africa were crucial to our economies during imperialism we committed considerable resources. However, as time has progressed and our dependence has waned, we have left the continent of Africa to rot. With the advent of a shale revolution, and with America set to enjoy the lions share, our complete betrayal of the people of Africa may serve as a chilling prophecy for the Middle East. If we did not need to protect the oil rich states would we truly bother with ISIS? To answer the question of do we care about the people of Africa, yes, of course we do. I doubt anyone will read this with a smile on their face. But angle it differently, do we care more for the people of the Middle East than we do their oil?

The answer to why our government and media seem to lack interest in the affairs of Africa is found within that question.

11

KE FOS EPI SIL NG I FRE T E

A UN GRO IVE WI I N FU VE RS NG EL ST ITI CA IND ME ES MP US NTS TO P AIG TR IN UL N Y T T L UR RIN HE OUT GES A D F OS OF AV SIL IES

Science and Environment

F

ossil Free UK is a divestment movement which aims to cut off the fossil fuel industry at its source.

By this, I’m not talking about destroying drills or factories. I’m talking about the real source. The project aims to encourage big organisations and cities to quit investing in fossil fuel companies and invest more considerately.

from the future employment of students who are studying subjects along the lines of geology and geophysics. The Fossil Free UK campaign suggests students should be encouraged to look for employment in more ethical organisations.

One of the movement’s biggest targets for divestment is universities and academic institutions. Through endowment funds and pension investments, it is estimated that the total investment wealth of universities is £62 billion. To put that figure in perspective, the London 2012 Olympics cost £9.3 billion and the much huffed about annual bill for jobseekers allowance comes to £4.9 billion. With high end universities sitting on this money, Fossil Free UK believes universities hold ethical and environmental responsibility over how they spend it. Campaigners find the large amounts that universities across the UK currently invest in the fossil fuel industry deeply worrying, with the most conservative estimates set at £1.9 billion, but thought to be probably up to £5.2 billion altogether.

What progress has there been across the country, and in Southampton?

Research shows that in order to stay below a 2°C rise in global temperatures, 80% of currently known carbon reserves must be left in the ground. A lot of people see fossil fuels as the only realistic option and consider that alternatives are too far in the future to be of use now. But whether you are an environmental warrior or an economic pundit, we can all still agree that it is not the best idea to invest in a limited resource.

Sarina Singh-Khaira, marine biology masters student, said in response “I learnt today that oil and gas is due to run out in 34 years, which is sooner than I thought. To imagine oil and gas runs out in our lifetime is almost crazy – given the fairly placid responses of governments in finding alternate sources.”

What is the other side to the argument? …

“There’s two ways of looking at it,” economic graduate Matt Turner said when questioned, “I’m sure you’ve looked a lot at the climate change, and general environmental aspects of it.

But if you take away investment, potentially the price of fossil fuels will rise, which most people think will be a good thing.

But this could end up just being another tax on the poor.”

If decent alternative investments can not be found, there is fear that the pension funds of university staff may be jeopardised.

Progress has been made internationally and is happening slowly but surely in the UK. In October 2014, University of Glasgow became the first university in Europe to commit to divestment. SOAS in London has committed to divesting over the next three years and in January 2015 the University of Bedfordshire committed to divestment, claiming they wanted to “take seriously the threat of climate change”.

The University of Southampton has so far failed to provide answers to People and Planet, so it cannot be told exactly what their investment is. Southampton are keeping their investment information private. The University of Southampton claims to have a mission to “change the world for the better” but at present does this seem like empty words?

A Fossil Free Southampton campaign is being run by Green Action Southampton, who are gathering student signatures for their petition for the University to divest from the industry as well as raising awareness of the campaign on campus.

They have also sent a letter to Vice Chancellor Don Nutbeam and other heads of the university advising them to consider divestment from fossil fuels.

Aidan Starr, president of the university’s Marine Conservation Society stated: “The Southampton University Marine Conservation Society were specifically interested in this campaign due to the significant links to marine environment.

The effect of fossil fuel use ranges from oil spills to sea level rise. The release of carbon dioxide associated with fossil fuel combustion also drives ocean acidification (often dubbed the evil twin of climate change). I personally don’t want to be part of a generation that sits back and watches our planet destroyed through human activity.”

When running the campaign at Highfield campus, petitioners were also faced with the challenge of trying to divest investment 12

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

13

Have young people really become more engaged with politics this general election? OLIVER BARRETT

Politics, whether we like it or not, is everywhere

the calm after the storm

IMAGE BY SOPHIE FELL

14

I

t’s been encouraging for me as a young voter to see the debate going on all around me between my peers regarding the General Election. A large topic of discussion in the recent past has been of political apathy amongst young people; “a disengaged generation”. In the last few months this image has begun to shift.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that MPs are evil, corrupt psychopaths, but like most people in most jobs, if they’re not kept on their toes and constantly hassled by their boss, then they’ll likely take short cuts. It may sound cliché, but one of the fundamental aspects of democracy is that, in effect. We are their employers, we’ve merely delegated the responsibility of governing the country to them, we have the capacity to hire and to fire and we need to start acting like it.

Apathy amongst our generation is not surprising, as we’re growing up, the majority of us don’t really notice the effects of policy on our lives. Therefore, there seems to be less incentive to participate, but besides that, they do make it hard for us.

Everything about politics in Britain is boring: the politicians, the language, the tradition, the media, the processes. It’s incredible how, intentionally or not (I won’t tread into conspiracy theory territory right now), the governance of this country has been warped into something so mundane.

Then again, on the surface at least, maybe it never was exciting.

Needless to say, our whole political system is broken, and often at times the mere acknowledgement of that can be depressing. Our electoral system, the political debate that takes place in the commons, political and economic transparency; it all needs reform.

What politics should be is an election of individuals from within our communities, whose general interests are the same as those who elect them. However, what we have in reality stands in stark contrast. We have a political leadership that is so far out of touch that they have to be coached in how to lie, how to avoid the question, and simply; how to seem like a normal human being.

It’s striking that politicians don’t yet understand that people would respect them much more if they told the truth (even if it wasn’t what we wanted to hear) than so transparently employing some textbook PR techniques to swerve in POLITICS

between. It is also striking that many things that should outrage us just don’t. Because outrageous things happen all the time it has become commonplace, and perpetual outrage is too hard to sustain.

Despite all this, and all of the reasons not to participate, and the temptation to not care, there is an incentive for the contrary that is more compelling and more important than all of those mentioned previously combined. Politics, whether we like it or not, is everywhere.

The political debate that has occurred during this election campaign has been great for British democracy and long may it continue during campaigns to come. Having said that, it’s all well and good for us to take notice now, when the politicians want us to, when they can entice us with promises and pledges and commitments and guarantees and assurances and all these other words that sound great and give us hope for the future, but we need more than that.

What really matters is what we do now the election is over. The next five years are about one thing: accountability; something that has been lacking for quite a while. We, as stakeholders of this country, have a responsibility to hold our representatives accountable, as much as they have a responsibility to act in our best interests.

POLITICS

Representing your peers is a privilege, not a burden. Of course it’s a difficult job, that’s because it’s an important job, and for the same reason, we expect certain standards of performance, and if they are not satisfactory there needs to be a proportional reaction.

I’m not demanding that we all start emailing our MPs every day asking for updates – but instead – suggest that we become conscious of the potential of our actions and for us to all do our part, whether that’s scrolling through your Twitter feed in the morning and catching up with the latest headlines, writing a blog, watching the news whilst eating breakfast, listening to the radio, discussing issues with friends, signing a petition, watch Newsnight every now and again, hey, maybe even read Wessex Scene when you get the chance!

Especially with the advent of social media, political engagement has never been easier, so we really don’t have much of an excuse. If we all start doing this consciously then maybe it will become habit, and habit does lead to change.

Forgive me if I’ve been stating the obvious throughout the whole of this article but there’s always something extra that we can do that will be to the benefit of the individual, and society as a whole. Ultimately, if we continue to turn a blind eye to the activities that occur in those offices in Westminster, where the future of our society is decided, as a generation we can only have ourselves to blame if things continue to turn sour.

15

Appreciate the smallest of things. Absorb them. You will notice that there are more things to be grateful for in a day than you originally thought

but rather small things, like meeting friends for food, baking, planning a trip to the cinema or deciding to call an old friend and meet for coffee. Having things to look forward to will really help in getting past any negativity you may be facing.

Plan things that you know will make you feel better.

Talk

The power of positive thinking

If something is bothering you, talk about it. No good ever came from allowing something to build up inside and not expressing it to anyone. Talk to a friend, partner, family member or even a stranger if that is easier. There are over seven billion people in the world – you are never alone in how you feel and there is always somebody willing to lend an understanding ear.

SIOFRA DONNELLAN IMAGE BY JOSHUA SAMWAYS Life often throws us curveballs. Some we are equipped to deal with promptly and efficiently, others, not so much.

These things can often cause us to form a negative outlook on the situation, and often on our lives in general – without us realising this is happening. This article will help some of you in getting out of this negative place – no matter what the cause or situation – and aid you in changing your mindset, as well as seeing and feeling positivity in a negative or less-than-ideal situation.

Gratitude

Remember this when you find yourself in a negative mindset.

Write down the good things that happened during the day and the things you are grateful for – no matter how small they may seem, even when it seems nigh on impossible to find something good in some days. It could be something simple like a friendly smile from a stranger or getting out of a lecture fifteen minutes early or the sun shining in your window when you wake up. Appreciate the smallest of things. Absorb them.

You will notice that there are more things to be grateful for in a day than you originally thought.

16

Eat and drink well

Write it down

No matter what has happened during the day; how horrible your boss was or the looming assignment deadline, if you keep it bottled up it will only be at the peril of your own sanity.

Whenever the mood strikes, simply scribble down whatever is in your head, – good, bad and indifferent. Don’t be worried that others will see it – write exactly what you feel. Afterwards, put the notebook in a safe place or get rid of the pages. The bulk of the negativity associated with these thoughts will be down on the page, making it easier for you to get through the day with a calm mind.

Get some air

Go for a walk, it really does clear your mind. Light exercise will also aid an anxious or negative mind. Allow yourself to breathe in the fresh air and breathe out the negativity, anxious thoughts, or whatever may be bothering you. Breeze into a lighter mindset.

Plan things to look forward to

This doesn’t have to be something extravagant like a holiday,

LIFESTYLE

What we put into our bodies genuinely affects how we feel – both physically and mentally. We all comfort eat junk food (if someone tells you they have never done so, they are lying), but for the most part try your best to eat well. Filling your body with fruit, vegetables, water and the nutrients it needs will not only make you feel better physically, but will also improve your mental health, as well as keeping your immune system strong – instantly perking up your body and mind.

Smile and laugh

Even if you don’t feel like it, laugh at the small things, smile at people you pass in the street. The muscles in your face that are used when you smile and laugh have been proven to trigger a happy feeling in your brain, even when the smile is forced!

Crack a smile and notice how you instantly feel a little bit better.

Meditate

Meditation can have amazing positive effects on an anxious or negative mind. Try calm.com, they have a website as well as an app, which I have found to be incredibly helpful and easy to incorporate into my everyday life, either during the day or before going to sleep. Don’t knock it ’til you try it!

LIFESTYLE

Surround yourself with positive people

Ensure you are around people who are largely positive and encouraging and bring positivity into your life. Granted, everybody has their off days and not everyone can be 100% positive at all times, but choose people who make you feel good and who try their best to look at life optimistically and positively for the most part. Eliminate negative people who bring you down. These people will not help you grow. Do what is best for YOU.

Celebrate every tiny victory

Some days this victory may simply be getting out of bed and dragging yourself to work or University or finishing an assignment before the deadline. Whatever it is, celebrate it.

Congratulate yourself. Even the small things are victories.

Sometimes it’s okay if all you do that day is get out of bed and breathe. When things feel like too much, just put your feet on the floor. That is an accomplishment in itself. Allow it to be.

Don’t worry about the future too much

For some this may seem harder than turning lead to gold, however it can be done. Live in the moment. Focus on right now and take each day as it comes. Nobody benefits from worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet – and may never happen – it just stops you enjoying the now, the present moment. The future is unwritten. Let it surprise you.

“The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things. Look inward, learn to enjoy whatever life has. Transform greed to gratitude.”

“Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.”

17

Travel

The truth about travelling as a woman A continuous supply of news stories documenting the unequal and sometimes down-right horrific treatment of women abroad can make it scary booking that flight, but taking the plunge and exploring the world can be the most rewarding experience of your life.

ANNA JENKINS IMAGE BY SAMMIE BURSTOW

I

t can be an absolute joy travelling as a woman. There is an unspoken, automatic and very natural connection between women around the world, meaning that you can be invited into local family dinners or asked to hold a stranger’s baby on the bus. Women are rarely seen as threatening so relationships can be formed quickly, and I have never experienced such warmth and openness from complete strangers. Older women you meet may take you under their “mother-hen” wing and force their husbands to carry your bags for you. Men often treat you with respect and chivalry, in a manner . Drivers will pick you up in an instant if you are hitchhiking, not wanting to drive by a “vulnerable young woman” on the side of the road. All this is so different for men travelling, who often are treated with more suspicion and much less sympathy.

However, it is true that this vulnerability works both ways.

You can, and most likely will experience some form of prejudice. Not just segregation (although being shepherded into the top of a Mosque to watch over the men below did leave me questioning), but also the everyday prejudice of being overlooked because you are a woman. Men do not ask

TRAVEL

your opinion on things and women only will if it’s beauty related. You are constantly asked when you are expecting to be married and how many children you would like. Having grown up in the UK, and been given every opportunity to do whatever I want with my life this might seem patronising, but in some countries woman do not have, or are not expected to want the same things in life as men, and indeed many do not.

Increasingly, in Central and South America, the influx of Western media (in particular porn) creates a stigma around young white women. During my time in Central America, I cannot count the number of times I was heckled “puta”, a prostitute, or asked how much I charged for an hour. This, other than being incredibly degrading, can really knock your feeling of security, especially if you are going to be in one place for a while.

You find yourself becoming stronger, more self assured and at the same time more relaxed and open minded But all of these differences just stem from the difference in cultures and need to be respected. Some retaliation may be necessary, for example I found answering the heckles in Spanish, rather than just keeping my head down really stumped the men, and pretending to have a husband so that my taxi driver didn’t take me home to marry his son really was necessary. For other more background things however, there is nothing more to do. You have decided to immerse yourself in another culture and that is what you are getting. One of the hardest things about experiencing sexism when travelling is knowing that there’s not much you can do about it, and in fact in some situations doing anything could make things a lot worse.

Travelling as a woman (especially if you are alone) is a journey all in itself. You find yourself becoming stronger, more self assured and at the same time more relaxed and open minded.

It will make you value the society you have been brought up with for giving you freedom, whilst admiring a new one and it’s traditions. It will make you realise that amongst these few differences there is a whole hoard of similarities. It will also make you question your home country, it’s culture and maybe most of all it will make you question yourself.

19

Advert

What is art anyway?

So what is art art gradua anyway? Coming from a te and out on the young artist just sta fine scen rting knowledg e, it’s time to share th e of what art is all ab e out.

Kalisto B IMAGE B a ncroft Y ALEXA NDER M A VRONICH

OLAS

T

his speculation emerged after very recently watching footage of a debate at the Turner Contemporary. It was a discussion with a panel of contemporary artists, critics and fine art curators upon the age-old question ‘what is art?’ A ‘Question Time’ sort of affair, really. The audience threw questions at the panellists , one of which commented on whether art can re-invent itself when “everything in art exists already”. I must admit I do get her point. It seems as if everything has already been ‘done and dusted’ as it were.

You sit in the library, burying yourself in artists’ research wondering ‘why am I doing this? What can I possibly do that hasn’t already been done before?’, and you walk home with a sense of disgust for subjecting yourself to such a practice.

Believe me, it’s happened to the best of us. But hey! It’s not about ‘doing something that has never been done’ but rather how creating a work of art brings fulfilment and joy to your life; and besides, there can always be something innovative that has never been approached before artistically. A panellist from the debate very confidently mentioned that “you can’t control imagination”. She’s right, you know. Our imagination is constantly alive, so inevitably new forms of art can be processed. It is just about finding the right approach, the right moment.

20

But back to the original question – what is art? Well, from my experience (not decades of experience but it’s still something) art is a substance that requires attention from drawn life experience, an expression of a particular concept deemed reminiscent to the artist whom feels said concept must be shared and invigorated by members of the public (OK, I’m getting all philosophical here, but hey, I’m an art student) or rather the entire human condition. Art is a visual, verbal and/ or musical depiction of aspects of life that we either embrace, revile from or experience with an aura of acceptance. We cannot turn away from life if we want to carry on ‘living’ so how can we turn away from art? (ok, so my philosophical side just went up a notch) because if art and design did not exist then what would? Art and design is all around us. We live and breath it. The design of the clothes you were, the architecture of the home you reside in, the ceramic style of the cup with which you sip your daily cup of tea, were all possible with artistic creativity and imagination. Art is life itself in a sense (I just dropped a massive ‘hippie bomb’ with that one).

Whether or not you agree with me, art is all around us and you cannot deny it. Art is what you see, what you live through.

There can be no specific definition of ‘what art is’ but rather our own depictions of it. Art is what it is and that’s that I guess.

WINCHESTER

Social life

d Worrite abouar a ye ad? abro

My current concern is that I’ll be sat on an isolated farm with only a little old Spanish man and his goat for company. This, I’ve been assured, will not be the case. There’s always ways to meet people so don’t stay in and worry about it. A problem shared is a problem halved. If you’re feeling lonely, you can guarantee that someone else is too. Take advantage of being new: throw yourself into as many activities as possible to meet a wide spectrum of people. If you’re a little quieter, use the beauty that is social media.

IMAGE BY KATHRYN SMITH

As a languages student, a year abroad is obligatory for my degree: AKA there’s no going back now! So, after speaking to a variety of students, I’ve compiled the 10 biggest concerns we have about living abroad and offered some solutions too.

Different systems

Are you a self-confessed control freak or just like to have a grip over your life? If so, living, working or studying in another country may seem daunting. You’ve only just grasped how to navigate round Hartley library, Blackboard and E-Assignments but now comes the next challenge. My advice: don’t be afraid to look like a tourist and plan things in advance. As a foreign student to that country, you have automatic allowance to look like a fool and ask as many (subordinate seeming) questions as you want. The two minutes of awkwardness it takes to ask for help might save you hours in the future.

Language barriers

“Err…err…errr…” is a language student’s biggest fear. Think about when you’ve been spoken to buy a foreign student: all they want is a bit of patience and perhaps to speak a little less fast so have the courage to ask. Also, after exams, spend a bit of time researching basic, conversational phrases and words.

Being able to discuss the current economic crisis seems very intellectual but ensure that you know how to ask for a cup of tea. If in doubt, language-charades could be fun.

22

Television

One girl on her year abroad stated that she missed M&S more than her family: Percy Pigs vs nagging parents is a tough one. Foreign supermarkets are becoming more globally standardised every day but accept their gastronomy as a challenge. You won’t get many frogs legs in Portswood and you could return to England with a new-found talent.

If you’re like me and have your favourite shows set to record, don’t panic! There is still a way, using network connections, so you don’t have to miss out on the essentials. Perhaps you’ll indulge into the most current German soap opera or catch English shows with the foreign subtitles or dubbing. Maybe a lack of television will promote a new-found hobby. Why watch others on a screen when you could be living the dream outside?

Relationships

Homesickness

Lack of multicultural food Preparing for a semester or year abroad can be an exciting and exhilarating time, but many have a few uncertainties that are burdening the build-up.

Alice Crichton

and who knows, a beret may suit you perfectly. If you’re not quite ready to abandon the British High Street, parents can always send over treats in the post.

“Will my relationship survive?” is a big worry for many people whether you’ve been coupled up for years or recently found your new Romeo. Technology means that keeping relationships alive is much easier and most places are easily accessible. But take each day as it comes. Don’t be swayed by other people’s anecdotes as you’ll know what’s right for you.

Getting around

“I’m lost” seemed to be my most commonly used phrase when recently in Barcelona. See it as an adventure and you never know, you might find something hidden away. Getting around is a great way to boost confidence in talking to people and may improve navigational skills! If the “Dora the Explorer” approach isn’t quite your style, thoroughly research maps, timetables and transport systems and it’ll sink in before you know it.

Money

All you hear regarding money on a year abroad is “budget”. As practical and constrained as that may seem, it’s wise advice.

Research what grants and loans you’re entitled to and consider picking up a part-time job out there: it’s another way to gain new experiences, meet people and fund travelling in free time.

There’s loads of advice online, for example with Third Year Abroad about how to survive financially.

Shops

The ease at which we can buy whatever we want (thanks to certain student online deals) means we’re spoilt for choice in England. Embrace the cultural styles in your host country

INTERNATIONAL

If you’re thinking that this applies to you, you are not the only one. Moving abroad is a daunting process for many but don’t be afraid to miss your home comforts. I know for a fact that being over 1,000 miles away from my dog will be more difficult than coming out of Jesters with clean shoes. However, we’re very fortunate that we have technology that allows us to make contact with those at home. If you do feel homesick, don’t ignore the symptoms as it can have real negative repercussions. Speak to someone.

Some concerns may seem more trivial or important than others. Be aware that your time abroad will throw obstacles in your path but accept them as challenges. If you have any concerns, talk to someone: your tutor, someone in your host country, friends, family or do online research. But fundamentally, make the absolute most of your time abroad.

“There are no regrets in life, just lessons.”

– Jennifer Aniston

INTERNATIONAL

23

Sport

Advert

The wait for Wimbledon A ban of selfie sticks and a £1.88m reward for the two singles winners - Ross Wilson looks forward to the Wimbledon Championships. Ross Wilson IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL

S

ince 2011, the overall prize money has almost doubled and arguably tennis’ most historic competition is showing more than ever it is becoming increasingly powerful for both tennis supporters and top players. The king or queen of grand slams has seen other major tournaments react to its financial dealings in its funding of the game at the top level, and of course the amount it pays the elite players. Even first round losers will exit the competition to the sound of £29,000 whereas in 2010 the figure rested at £11,250. In a particularly significant move, wheelchair doubles competitors will see a rise of around 28%. A clear aim to target the best whilst signalling the importance of equality and diversity in the competition. It’s a move that is hard to criticise.

The charismatic British number 1 (indeed that was a petty sarcastic remark) Andy Murray should be an interesting watch this year. Jonas Bjorkman is Murray’s new full time coach, replacing the well regarded Dani Vallverdu who departed a year ago. This time round the tournament starts three weeks after the French Open, giving Murray an extra week to adapt from clay to grass.

6-2 in the space of 75 minutes. Given the extra week and somewhat of a new start, a win in the competition would seemingly aid his chances of success in Wimbledon, giving a much needed confidence boost. It should however be noted that Murray has never reached a final on the clay surface, he has lost to nemesis Novak Djokovic in one semi final and been handed a four game losing streak against Rafael Nadal.

Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, del Potro and Murray are all seen as the most likely contenders, one to look out for could be the impressively strong Grigor Dimitrov, who is not too far down in the bookies’ eyes either. Jo Wilfried Tsonga will look to the Aegon Open in Nottingham as a warm up act for Wimbledon, as the 30 year old seeks to reignite his previous finalist reaching days at the championships. Tsonga, it must be remembered, ranks very well at No 5 in the world and will join a line up in Nottingham which includes Feliciano Lopez, and notably the rising British player James Ward.

The build up to the tournament differs for each player and it will be intriguing to see how their respective preparations impact on the grass between the 29th of June and 12th of July.

The Scot recently began his clay-court season with a skilfully executed win over the German Mischa Zverev, winning 6-2 24

SPORT

Sport

Explosion at Local Invisible Ink Factory 2 9th July 1986, by John Goodengon A terrible explosion ripped through the Now You See MeTM Invisible Ink factory, killing 136 of its workers.

Fear and loathing upon Tyne

The company had filed for bankruptcy a year earlier due to the decreased demand for invisible ink, ever since the Nazis invented lemons during World War 2.

“I just don’t understand it,” mused the manager Craig Cranckyskanckle, ‘There should not have been anyone inside. We sent urgent written memos to all workers regarding evacuation!’

Sport Editor Ross Wilson looks at the dismal plight of Newcastle United.

No bodies have ever been found.

Found Dead in Graveyard 3 Man No Fake News Happens

IMAGE BY JESS COX

I

am heavily biased here, in so much as I have been a Newcastle United supporter since the age of 7 years old.

It is a club that as of the last three or four years, is an especially difficult one to espouse support of. Hopefully the article will provide a short but fair evaluation of the club from a fan’s perspective but one that looks at the wider issues of ownership in football.

Mike Ashley, Newcastle United and Sports Direct owner, is an astute businessman who has on the whole managed to balance the financial margins at the club, and in April announced a healthy profit of £18.7m for the 2013-14 season. He is also a man of questionable character and who is continually exposed by reports and documentaries on his running of Sports Direct.

The fact at this time remains that the Tyneside outfit are outearned by Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur but are valued as the 20th richest club in world football.

They may not be able to outspend these clubs, but on the whole are richer than the Southampton’s/Swansea’s of this world, clubs who are increasingly comfortable financially and growing campaign on campaign. That said, they are cities with teams who I would say are nowhere near as big as Newcastle commercially and in terms of support. 50,000 being the average attendance at St James’ Park.

Those are some brief facts that aim to show where the team sits in comparison with others in a successfully marketable and hugely respected football league. Yet through lack of communication, largely irrelevant re-branding of the stadium for a period of time and refusal to spend the profits on better players, the club has become a symbol of mediocrity. At the 26

32nd March 2014, by Claire Madeupname Southampton and the entire country was stunned in March of last year, when no fake news happened at all.

time of writing, this mediocrity amongst managerial unrest and the rest of the problems on the field, threatens the club with surprise relegation. I will not begin to cover my opinions of the Alan Pardew/John Carver situation as that would require too many words unfortunately (perhaps fortunately for the reader!)

The Magpies’ initial stabilising back to the top tier (largely through Chris Hughton and not Pardew) came as a welcome relief to supporters, but with increased wealth and the ability to attract big name players, the board and Mike Ashley refused to listen to experts and fans who could see Newcastle’s seasons fade somewhat disgracefully season after season from 2012 onwards. Nothing was done to correct this. Marginal balance sheet improvements have been put before on-field success, which for a club of such stature should include a decent FA/ League Cup run and a top 8 finish. It would be unfair to label the majority of supporters as believing the club to be as big as Manchester United/Arsenal etc.

With a team of players on extortionately high wages and lack of championship experience compared to the perhaps less talented but gutsier relegated Newcastle side of 2008/09, the realistic possibility of sinking to the depths of Leeds United and even Portsmouth exists. Ambition alongside financial fair play can be married with economic balance, and talking to supporters isn’t too much to ask of an owner or board. Apathy could sink a long standing member of football’s top flight and the example of Leeds is perhaps the strongest case in point.

Failure is not the issue. Lack of direction and being able to enthuse about who your support is, and many of the Geordie faithful are beginning to lose that sentiment.

SPORT

Daily Mail reporter Dianne Slowly complained, “It’s awful, we’re having to report on actual facts and figures, this type of reliable journalism is not what the public have come to expect!”

As we near the Wessex Scene’s 79 year, 3 month and 12 days anniversary it seems like the perfect time to look back at some of the best articles the Scene has ever produced, all written by some of the most talented student journalists in the world. So without further ado, here are our top 3…

of Breakfast 1 Hundreds Atheists Converted

20th December 1968, by Steve Omelette

With Breakfast Day fast approaching, considered by Breakfast Believers to be the most important day of the year, Breakfast atheists all around the world were shocked when a Jesus was discovered that looked like a piece of toast.

The Church of Latté Day Saints welcomed the miracle and proclaimed that it was a call for peace between the Full English Followers and believers from the Continent.

The waves of new converts were welcomed into the church in a special ceremony held by Pope Benedict. This angered the Right Reverend Florentine and Friar Up who believed this privilege should have been given to them.

Experts believe that the lack of fake news has been caused by an overuse of the Absurdity Budget by the government.

In a memo leaked to the Wessex Scene from the Department of Light-Hearted Propaganda, it was revealed that, in order to bump the story concerning the 20% rise in house prices down the news pecking order, the government spent the rest of the Absurdity reserve, leading to the coronation of His Majesty Dick Dastardly and 5 separate news stories involving breakfast based religious events.

However, the same memo claimed that the: ‘Psychotic Clown kills 13 in Custard Pie Massacre’ incident was not the government’s doing and was in fact, a tragic (but completely real) event.

So there you have it, we hope you agree with our countdown.

Commiserations to those that didn’t make the cut; better luck in the next 79 years, 3 months and 12 days!

AIDAN PITTMAN IMAGE BY EMILY SPITTLE

If you would like to know more about the Holy Toast, you can visit the Breakfast Union or Text-A-Jesus every Wednesday, from anywhere on campus (Ham filling not available).

PAUSE

27