Issue 2 (November 2014)

WessexScene.co.uk

University of Southampton’s Student Magazine

NOvEMBER 2014

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A COUNTRY BUMPKIN’S GUIDE TO LONDON THE PIGEONS AND THE PEOPLE PAGE 4 +

WESTERN RADICALISATION 28

Why are so many young people joining ISIS to fight in Iraq and Syria?

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THE SAINTS GO MARCHING ON 32 How have Southampton FC got off to their best start for 31 years?

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#beenthere 08

Do some people go #travelling just to take #selfies?

WELCOME EDITOR'S LETTER TAHLIE COOPER EDITOR

editor@soton.ac.uk FRONT COVER BY JORDAN STEWART

And we’ve already come around to our third magazine this year... how time flies!

As always, the team have been working hard to get a fantastic issue together. We’ve got another diverse range of articles for you to enjoy; some may make you laugh, you may learn from a few and some may make you think a little harder about what’s happening in the world today.

Beyond this issue, the Wessex Scene team have been going through the motions of organising some fantastic opportunities for all you readers and writers out there. Everything from section meetings with our editors, to writer’s socials, we’ve got it covered!

The first weekend of November was a special event for us here at Wessex Scene HQ, and for other publications across the South-West of England.

We collaborated with the Student Publication Association to host a regional conference and writer’s weekend for all new and experienced student journalists. We covered everything from the relationships publications have with their unions, to magazine swap-shops, to interactive breaking news sessions. If you missed out on this whirlwind of a weekend…not to worry! We are always planning training sessions for you budding readers and writers to learn from and enjoy.

Wessex Scene Team Contact the team at wessexscene.co.uk/contact Editor Tahlie Cooper Deputy Editor Kerry Sclater Head of Design Sam Bailey Image Editor Jess Cox Features Shaun Harvey & Hebe Neate-Clegg Science and Environment Jennifer Allerton Politics Bridie Pearson-Jones Winchester Kalisto Bancroft Opinion Isabella Hunter-Fajardo Travel Anna Jenkins Lifestyle Laura Cox International Emma Clarke Sport Ross Wilson & Jack Pethick News Emma Cheshire & Chloe Fabregas Pause Aidan Pittman Publicity Corinne Dugdale Editor-in-Chief Megan Downing 02

So if we have all of these sessions taking place throughout the year, this means that you can sign up at any time. Let me de-bust a myth for you; you don’t have to sign up the very first week you arrive to become a writer for the Wessex Scene. Writers are more than welcome to join us at any time and can write as rarely or as frequently as they please.

Now I’ve said enough, time for you to enjoy this fantastic issue. So get stuck in and learn why having plants around can make you more productive, why this month of Movember is so important and indulge in the most mouth-watering food blogs.

Have a pleasant read.

Editor out!

WELCOME

LIFESTYLE 17 The Most Mouthwatering Food Blogs - Laura Ashe. Image by Musfirah Wajihah

ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER 2014

FEATURES

HOW TO CARE FOR DAMAGED HAIR

A COUNTRY BUMPKIN’S GUIDE TO LONDON

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whY WE REMEMBER ‘MOVEMBER’

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TRAvEL

OPINION

#BEENTHERE

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YES MEANS YES: A CHANGE FOR GOOD? 10 SCIENCE & ENvIRONMENT

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS IN SCIENCE

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PLANTS ENGENDER PRODUCTIVITY

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AN ALBANIAN ADVENTURE

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LEARNING TO TRUST ON THE ROAD

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WINCHESTER

A TRIP TO BATH

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INTERNATIONAL

THE LURE OF ISIS IN THE WEST

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SPORT

POLITICS

THE DANGER OF ANALOGIES

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MODERN WARFARE

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wessexscene.co.uk

LIFESTYLE

@wessexscene

THE MOST MOUTHWATERING FOOD BLOGS

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fb.com/wscene

AUTUMN/WINTER FASHION TRENDS FOR MEN

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WELCOME

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FEELING HOMESICK? THEN GET MOVING!

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THE SAINTS GO MARCHING ON

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PAUSE

STUDY HARD! EAT WELL! EXERCISE REGULARLY!

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LONDON A Country Bumpkin’s GUIDE TO

Hillbillying - hill.bil.ly.ing (verb) to act like a complete lunatic unable to behave like a normal human being when confronted with a city.

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L

ondon. One of the most beautiful cities in the world. I dream of a Victorian semi-detached house somewhere like Hampstead or Kingston, where I can power-walk to work, Starbucks in hand, stopping off to buy a vegetable-based energy vitamin concoction for lunch, bumping into my BFFs Fearne Cotton and Graham Norton on the way. I’m from humble Dorset (cider, tractors, all that stuff ), a world away from the buzz of the capital, but I recently got the opportunity to sample such an experience after a three-week placement at a publishing company. Much of this was as I’d hoped it would be – stressful commutes, always something to do, spending far too much money on food. However, life as a Londoner did come with a few surprises…

FEATURES

Thus the celebrities of London, these elusive creatures who seem to travel in the dead of night, must have all migrated for the summer Unfortunately, however much I try to fit in and be cool, crossing empty roads even if the light hasn’t changed, being able to answer tourist questions about the quickest way to whichever landmark, I can confirm that I am definitely not yet a Londoner, as my hysterical fangirling when walking down Baker Street exemplified. I might as well be wearing wellies and a flat cap, it’s so obvious, as I Google-Maps where I am standing, only to discover I’ve literally wondered into Hyde Park without realising.

Taking selfies in front of monuments is a bit of an alarm bell for people too. As you stand there, phone in hand, arm outstretched, looking like the naïve hillbilly you probably are, you’re essentially wearing a t-shirt that says “I’ve never seen Buckingham Palace before and for some reason thought my iPhone photo of it would be better than the professional one on the souvenir mug I just bought. Give me dirty looks and avoid me”.

I also smile at people. A lot. I began to come to terms with how socially unacceptable this seems to be on moving to Southampton, where a fair few strangers don’t like to smile back or respond when you walk past them. This obviously very horrific behaviour has left me on occasion feeling metaphorically slapped around the face at the blatant lack of friendliness.

THE LOCALS Because you see, the Londoner, as a stereotype, is not always the most friendly of people. Don’t get me wrong, polite bornand-bred Londoners do exist, those who are willing to help lost travellers, or offer recommendations for their favourite spots in London. They are out there if you can distinguish them from the eyes-down, blank-faced, fast-walking grumps.

Once, in a bid of madness after my phone ran out of battery, I dared to ask a woman at a road crossing what the time was.

FEATURES

She gave me what I considered a look of pure horror, as if I had just asked her to tear her own skin from her face. I will not make that mistake again in a hurry.

As you can see, I’m not being stereotypical at all – I am nothing if not thorough (and a little insulting – if you have been offended by anything which has or will in future appear in this guide, please bear in mind that my insults are more directed at myself than anyone else, due to my clear social ineptitude and metropolitan naivety.)

As I say, not all Londoners hold such callous indifferences towards outsiders. Plenty are lovely, more than willing to give you a hand with your bags on the stairs, or to let you go in front of them in a queue; indeed many have welcomed me into their midst and allowed me to actually feel like one of them, working, travelling, eating and shopping alongside them. However, I believe it is their environment which brings out the occasionally ferocious side of these individuals, and they call this the commute.

THE transport Let’s be honest, I don’t help myself in my quest to be welcomed into their collective bosom. For example, as I have learned from experience, you don’t need to actually say thank you to the tube. This is already earning me questioning looks from other passengers on the buses in Southampton as I bellow a farewell to the expressionless driver. So stepping off the stuffy District Line at 8:30 on a Monday morning and hollering a cheery thank you down the carriage is not exactly a sure-fire way to make friends in the capital.

Thus it is probably my hillbilly nature that incites such passiveaggressive intensity in some of the more temperamental commuters. A classic example of this is the notorious battle of Who Gets To Sit Down On The Tube.

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It is a very precise formula, somewhere between finderskeepers and musical chairs. There are of course obvious exceptions – it is universally understood that a seat should be given up for the pregnant, the elderly and those less able to stand. There is however one such assumption which I naively underestimated. In my ignorance, perhaps a result of being of the Disney era, I believed a dashing gentleman would be inclined to stand back for the sweaty, tired and book-laden damsel in distress, who elegantly launched herself onto the tube just before the doors shut, to have the chair near him which has just been vacated. In not all, but many cases, no such luck. Eyes down, newspaper in hand, many sharplydressed businessmen are more than happy to claim the seat for themselves.

This is but one problem with a newly vacated seat. On a very hot, very sweaty tube in the middle of summer, the general consensus is that it is acceptable to take the nearest seat to you once it’s empty, unless you are offering it to someone else. In the event that the only seat now available is quite far from the standing area, a Hunger Games-style battle of silent aggression ensues, in which no individual has the guts to assume said seat, thus resulting in a journey laced with icy stares and looks of longing. On one occasion, I took the ballsy move. Putting one cautionary foot forwards after a minute of waiting to see if anyone else would dare, I went over and slumped into the seat, feeling quietly satisfied, but then endeavouring to ignore the looks of loathing I left in my wake.

THE wildlife One of my biggest hopes during my stint in the capital, as a television, film and radio obsessive who spends an inordinate amount of time on social media, was this: see a famous person.

It’s not a big deal to some people, but to me, I somehow always seem to miss celebrities. I don’t have particularly high standards of celebrity, but I have never been one of those people who just accidentally walks into Phillip Schofield in Sainsbury’s, stands on Michael McIntyre’s foot by accident in a queue, or sits next to Steph and Dom from Gogglebox on the tube (Although I did see Ray Quinn buying vegetables in a Tesco Metro once.). I therefore hoped, nay expected, that living in Richmond, a borough supposedly bursting with slebs (I’m told actual Brangelina have a house there) to see at least someone, but no such luck. Thus the celebrities of London, these elusive creatures who seem to travel in the dead of night, when none but cab drivers would ever see them, must have all migrated for the summer. Or else they’re all just avoiding me, which is a bit rude.

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Another creature with which most Londoners are far more accustomed is also one of my sworn enemies. The Pigeon.

To most, this might seem a strange observation, but these feathery balls of malice have caused many an embarrassing public humiliation for yours truly. I’m already nervous enough about being in one of the biggest cities in the world without the impending threat of attack from these airborne horrors.

I’m not a fan of birds in general to be honest. Fine at a distance, pretty even, on occasion. But put one anywhere near me and I will quite probably scream in terror any time it so much as flaps its wings in my direction – as a matter of fact that’s actually the worst, wing flapping, like they want to assure me that they have the upper hand… or wing. And pigeons are the worst for this, as they seem to have sussed out humans as no threat, becoming more bold and even cocky as they strut up and down the streets, blissfully ignorant to the innocent bystander who just wants to stand up from her chair without disturbing them and thus unleashing The Swarm.

And so you can see that I, a headstrong, confident young person (or so I thought), am reduced to a quivering, selfhumiliating mess the moment I enter one of the most famous cities in the world. Nonetheless, London is one of my favourite places – maybe it’s because I’m not, (definitely not) a Londoner, that I love London so.

HEBE NEATE-CLEGG FEATURES EDITOR IMAGES BY JORDAN STEWART FEATURES

WHY WE remember ‘MOVEMBER’ TAHLIE COOPER EDITOR

What does Movember raise awareness of?

Movember raises awareness for three areas of men’s healthprostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. All of these issues concern a large number of men but not enough is known about them. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK; testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 25-49 years and 1 in 8 men are diagnosed with a common mental disorder at any one time. Men often do not discuss or know how to spot the symptoms for these illnesses, so Movember is vital in starting conversations about men’s health.

How do people raise money for Movember?

Ah November, I remember it well. Flowers may blossom in the April spring but November is the time for the sprouting of moustaches. You may wonder around campus, setting eyes upon those fellow ‘Movember’ members and think ‘Why do they grow it out?’ We interviewed Cora Philips, Movember ambassador at Southampton, to find out what lies behind the artistic facial hair.

What is Movember exactly?

The Movember Foundation is an international campaign which challenges men to grow moustaches during November to raise funds for men’s health programmes. Men sign up to the campaign and start on the 1st November with a cleanshaven face, committing to growing a moustache for 30 days.

The campaign is not just for men though, along with ‘Mo Bros’ there are ‘Mo Sistas’, who can get involved through fundraising and raising awareness about men’s health issues.

How Did Movember begin?

The campaign started in 2003 in Australia, when two mates were sitting talking in a bar about recurring fashions. They realized that the moustache had not come back into fashion and challenged each other to grow ‘mos’ for that month. Their friends got involved too and they quickly realized that they were receiving a lot of attention, people wondering why they were rocking some ugly facial hair. They decided to build on this attention and do it for a good cause- men’s health. Since then, Movember has grown to 21 countries and raised £346 million.

People can raise money for Movember by signing up either individually or as a team to uk.movember.com and joining the University of Southampton network. Once you have signed up you will have your own Mo page, which is your fundraising page where family and friends can donate. By joining your Mo page to the University of Southampton network, you will be entitled to free entry into the Southampton club, Switch, when you hit a fundraising total of £25. The Movember website is full of fundraising ideas so you will not be scratching your head wondering how to raise money.

What can students do to show their support for Movember?

Whether you sign up to the campaign or not, there will be events on campus which you can get involved with and attend. There will be a ‘Shave Off ’ in association with Shine hairdressers on 31st October in SUSU to get you clean-shaven for the beginning of Movember. There will be a Movember themed movie night at Union Films, a karaoke night at The Stag’s and the Mo Awards, as well special Movember refreshments in SUSU Bars.

To keep updated, like the University of Southampton Facebook page, facebook/uosmovember.

Now start massaging those hair follicles!

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h ut

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 FEATURES

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#BEENTHERE Most people love travelling, but has the experience become a domain of the ‘Facebook tourist’ and #hashtag bucket list?

ISABELLA HUNTER-FAJARDO OPINION EDITOR IMAGE BY SAM BAILEY

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OPINION

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ot all that long ago, travel for leisure was a luxury. A far-from globalised industry, largely restricted to the rich and upper classes. Being well-travelled connoted a certain level of learning totally unattainable to most: the world was an exclusive playground for princes, future rulers, wealthy intellectuals and other elite circles.

But times have changed, with an abundance of cheap flights, hostels, gap years, Erasmus exchanges, the possibilities are endless for a large number of people. Though in my view, I have increasingly seen these golden opportunities being squandered, and meaninglessly plastered all over social media.

I’ll give a home-country example: I was in the British Museum a couple of years ago, at an exhibition called ‘Ice Age Art’ which was truly incredible – these very fine pieces of prehistoric art were between 10,000-40,000 years old, with stunning detail. I was going round, really mind-blown by the collection, and trying to absorb as much as I could.

I found myself hindered though, not simply because it was crowded, as it was obviously a very popular exhibition (due credit should go to the British Museum curatorial team etc.), but because of people, armed with iPads and smart phones, continuously scurrying in front of me, going right up to the case, taking photo and rapidly moving on – without even looking past the screen. It infuriated me! You paid £15 to go to a groundbreaking exhibition in a leading global museum, and you’re just building a photo collection for Facebook, Tumblr or Twitter… #britishmuseum #iceage #omg. What did you learn? Did you even care? Or just hope other people will care that you seem to care?

This frustration grew when I went backpacking for the first time. I went to Mexico and Guatemala, a dream which started from when I had first studied the Aztecs in school. I’d also been fortunate enough to study pre-hispanic civilisations as part of my degree, so I was super – and often annoyingly – enthusiastic about the trip. The friends I went with had not had same academic background, but were definitely keen to know more. I feel this added so much more to our trip: when we went to the ruins of the Mayans/ Aztecs/Olemecs/ other pre-hispanic badass cultures, we could understand or at least try to understand what we were seeing. If we didn’t know, we read around online or in our guidebooks. This prior knowledge increased enjoyment: rather than staring blankly at piles of stones, you see a multitude of meanings, and are even more awestruck by the capabilities of these ancient peoples.

Similar to my crowd-jostling in the British Museum, I encountered those who were there, it seemed, just for the photo-op – like a lonesome politician without a party or campaign. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely took lots and lots

OPINION

of photos (and they sure found their way onto Facebook), but it was a vastly secondary activity to wandering around with my mouth open.

On this same trip, my friends and I of course stayed in hostels.

As most people I’m sure are aware, hostels are a fascinating hub of backpackers, travellers, hippies, inspirational people and some plain weirdos. In one hostel we bonded with the one other Brit; he was on a phenomenal trip which had started all the way south in the Patagonia, Argentina. We went out for drinks, and he talked about his trip. And talked. And talked. And talked. After a good couple of hours it dawned on me that neither me or my other two friends had actually said a word for a very long time: he had just been talking at us. We began to ask him some more ‘in-depth’ questions, his opinion on some of the things he’d seen, the peoples and cultures he’d interacted with. He promptly stopped having so much to say.

He’d done an enviable trip through 5+ countries in a totally different continent, and it seemed to me (from our albeit brief meeting) that he hadn’t really taken that much away from it.

How is this possible? It was like he had just travelled for the sake of it.

So the problem really hit me: we are so lucky to have the opportunity to go abroad and move about, and as a result of this accessibility it seems to have become a commodity, a fashion statement: “look what I’ve done/seen/where I’ve been. I’ve been to Machu Pichu, I’ve been to the Taj Mahal, well I’ve been Angkor Wat…” #onlysawitthroughmycameralens The recent case of a Dutch girl successfully faking a trip round south east Asia I think typifies this problem.

What I want to encourage here, is traveling with a willingness to understand. I was lucky in that I had prior academic knowledge on some of the cultures in the region I went to, and having it added value. Since then I’ve tried to read about the places I’ve been fortunate enough to go to. Of course getting wasted and lying on a beach is usually an inevitable and important factor too, but a ‘cultural’ approach and a ‘fun’ approach are not and should not be mutually exclusive. In fact, they compliment each other by drawing the most out an experience that does costs a fair bit of money. It’s like getting a good return for your investment.

For those traveling, or planning on traveling to Latin America for example, there are monthly research seminars ‘Latin American Studies Seminar’ on Avenue Campus. For China, head over to the Confucius Institute (58/4125) and have a chat (they will be happy to help). A simple google research, buying a good guidebook and chatting to people from the region you’re interested in, both there and before you go, will add that little bit more to what is sure to be a great experience.

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‘YES MEANS YES’ A CHANGE FOR GOOD?

IS IT NOT JUST COMMON SENSE THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY BE HAVING SEX WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO? ROSY HOWELL IMAGE BY HARRIET NORMAN-READE

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t seems fairly straightforward that you should only be having sex with people when you actually want to. You would think that consent really is a minimum requirement and California has introduced a new law to enforce this message.

This law is an attempt to counter the alarming figures of sexual assault in colleges: for example, according to the US Department of Justice one in five women are the victim of attempted or completed sexual assault while at college. This new Bill dictates the way in which California universities handle rape cases internally, rather than changing the criminal liability of the accused.

Bill SB 967, also known as the ‘yes means yes’ law, goes beyond the idea that you have to stop if your partner says no. Instead the focus is on active consent. This seems like an incredibly positive move away from any presumption that a person is ‘up for it’ unless they directly tell you otherwise.

Moreover, the law changes the burden of proof to reflect the lower standard of proof used in civil cases rather than the ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ standard used in criminal court.

This change is intended to make it easier for victims to ensure their attackers are punished since it is now more likely that the guilty will indeed be found guilty by their college.

At first glance this new law seems like a good step towards dealing with rape cases more effectively. The focus on making sure both partners actually want to have sex with one another seems sensible, if somewhat obvious.

However, many complaints have been raised against the introduction of this Bill. For one thing, some critics say that this change doesn’t really seem to make any real difference to the ‘he said, she said’ issue. It is just as easy to claim that the other person is lying as it ever was under the ‘no means no’ 10

approach. Are we left having to document all of the sex we have to ensure there is proof of consent?

In answer to this it seems necessary to point out that all sexual assault cases are going to require some level of judging who is telling the truth. As Rachel Van Cleave, Dean of Golden Gate University School of Law, said: “[Rape] always will come down to that” when there are only two people involved in what is a private moment. This does not mean you have to record all sexual encounters you have to prove it was consensual. The only cases in which this law comes into play are those which have been reported as assault. As long as you and your partner are happy there shouldn’t be any issue.

If anything, this bill simply makes communication vital – which can arguably only lead to better sex The criticism of the Bill that seems most bizarre are that it is impractical and misunderstands the nature of sexual encounters. It is unclear to me how, if both people are showing enthusiasm, this would ruin their experience. This bill simply makes communication vital – which can arguably only lead to better sex. If you see making sure your sexual partner is comfortable with what is happening as ‘impractical’, then something is fundamentally wrong. I’m not saying you should constantly stop mid-passionate moment to ask “is this OK?” because that would be a mood killer, but we read body language all of the time so why should this be so different? If your partner is not engaging at all – or worse, crying – then something is probably wrong. It’s in a case like this where the new bill will encourage better communication. Making sure everyone is happy can only be a good thing, right?

OPINION

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS IN SCIENCE 2014 HERE’S A look at the achievements of the winners in the three science categories OF the Nobel Prize.

JENNIFER ALLERTON SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT EDITOR IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL

PHYSIOLOGY

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine this year was jointly awarded to John O’Keefe and to Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser for their discovery of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain, helping to better understand how people orient themselves in space.

The first component was discovered in 1971 by John O’Keefe. He recorded signals from individual nerve cells in the hippocampus of rats and saw that certain cells were activated whenever the rats assumed a particular place in their environment. He was then able to demonstrate that the cells were building up an inner map of the environment, and that the hippocampus generates numerous maps and that the memory of an environment as a specific combination of activated cells in the hippocampus.

In 2005, a second component of the positioning system was found, another type of nerve cell they referred to as “grid cells”, which generate a coordinate system and allow for precise positioning and path-finding. They went on to show how the combination of place cells and grid cells allow the brain to determine position and to navigate.

PHYSICS

Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura received the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics for the invention of the blue light emitting diode (LED).

Having made their breakthrough in the early 90s, this may seem to us now a commonplace technology, but as Staefan Normark of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which determines the prize winners, explains, “Red and green 12

diodes had been around for a long time, but without blue light, white lamps could not be created”. The first practical visible-spectrum (red) LED was invented in 1962.

LEDs are made from layers of semiconducting materials.

These materials would traditionally be poor conductors.

Impurities can be added to the material, to modify the electrical properties of semiconductors. They will then have either an excess or a deficiency of electrons, and these materials can be paired up so that when a current is applied, the electrons can diffuse across the junction between the two materials and pair up with “holes” – in quantum physics, a space where an electron could potentially exists but there is none – and energy is released. In the case of LEDs, this energy is released in the form of light.

LEDs are many times more energy efficient than “regular”, incandescent light bulbs, which release much of their energy as unwanted heat. In terms of luminosity per wattage, the most recent record for LED bulbs makes them almost 30 times more efficient than regular light bulbs. Low power requirements mean they can be powered by cheap local solar power, creating potential for improving quality of life for 1.5bn people who lack access to electricity grids. Martin Poliakoff, Vice-President of the Royal Society, commented that these scientists “have given us a new energy-efficient light source that is transforming lighting technology and has the potential to make reliable lighting accessible to all.”

CHEMISTRY

The 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Eric Betzig, Stefan W. Hell and William E. Moerner “for the development of superresolved fluorescence microscopy”.

Traditional microscopes are limited in their resolution by the wavelength of visible light so aren’t able to see things SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

clearly that are any smaller than about 200 nanometres. The techniques developed by these three scientists have allowed scientists to see to the level of individual molecules inside living cells. They conducted their work separately, and developed two different imaging techniques.

Stefan Hell’s technique uses two lasers emitting a series of light pulses, one working to excite molecules over a large area, causing them to fluoresce, and the other extinguishing the fluorescence of most of the molecules within the same area, leaving just a tiny illuminated target in the centre of the field

of view. Gradually the whole desired area can be scanned in the same way to build up an image with very high resolution.

The technique developed independently by both Betzig and Moerner is known as single-molecule spectroscopy.

Essentially, it uses a pulse of light to activate a few flourescent molecules spread out across the sample, far enough apart from each other that they can each be resolved to create a high-resolution image. This is then repeated and all of the images are superimposed to create a complete set.

PLANTS ENGENDER PRODUCTIVITY

Those of us who wish to participate in the world tend to celebrate their release from compulsory education by either getting some sort of job-type-thing or going into the more pleasurable type of education where you come out bright eyed and ready for the world, with a shiny degree to stick on your old mama’s fridge. Unless of course you decide to dodge society’s well thought out paths and live in a comfortable looking bin, at some point your life will inevitably require concentration and a little bit of elbow grease.

Procrastination is a word that sends a sympathetic shiver down any students’ lazy bones. Symptoms of the procrastination condition include spinning round on wheely chairs, attempting to solve Rubik’s cubes and watching a whole series on Netflix about satsumas.

But how does one become productive and stay strong resisting various forms of technology’s beckoning screens? When you’re paying £9000 a year to study something you supposedly love, it helps to be able to get some work done.

TRINA DAvIES IMAGE BY CHARLOTTE SCARROW

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

So I present to you an easy solution. Get a plant. That’s right. A plant. Research from Cardiff University’s School of Psychology has suggested that having a plant in your office increases productivity by 15%, showing that plants in the office significantly increased

workplace satisfaction, self-reported levels of concentration, and perceived air quality.

Having a plant on your desk may not seem like the next scientific revolution. But the whole perception of working spaces is becoming rather bohemian. You no longer have to sit at an empty desk space with painfully organized pencils and labeled files to feel as if you can achieve anything.

Stockholm University scientists examined data from 2000 employees and found that those who worked in a more open-plan office took more sick leave. As Einstein said “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, then what are we to think of an empty desk?” Einsteins came up with the theory of relativity despite the fact a few empty tea cups and rogue pencils were running wild.

Studies conducted at the University of Minnesota agree with Einstein, suggesting that messier desks belong to more creative people.

Putting things in a place where they are not typically found encourages thoughts that are not typically found. Research also suggests that when surrounded by chaos employees find it easier to simplify their thoughts.

So maybe this year when you sit down at your desk, don’t spend half an hour of essential procrastination obsessively organizing it. Think outside the Ikea Catalogue. Put underwear in your pencil case and sprinkle your desk with rubber ducks. Or just get a plant. Maybe it will help you get that first which has become an abandoned dream since your discovery of Jesters. Or maybe your procrastination will now stretch to include obsessively watering your plant until your plant is no more.

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T D O A HE ANGER F NALOGIES WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MAURITANIAN SLAVERY? what about american slavery?

LAITH CAHILL IMAGE BY JOSHUA SPACKMAN

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n a recent article for the New Yorker, Alexis Okeowo writes about the fight for slavery abolition in Mauritania.

The act has been outlawed since 1981 but no provisions had been made to enforce the prohibition until 2007.

Out of 3.8 million people, one hundred and fortythousand are reported to still be enslaved. Slave owners face little punishment.

Mauritania itself was once part of the Almovarid dynasty; an 11th century Islamic empire which hugged the shoreline of Western Africa and absorbed large parts of Southern Spain. Though the empire was short lived, it controlled 3,000 kilometres of land from North to South. The country is now one of the poorest on Earth, igniting little interest from much of the world. Okeowo describes it as nothing more than “a vast, empty landscape of sand dunes that swirl down to ironore pits in the Sahara.�

Okeowo’s subject country then, is a geo-political snooze.

Given its distance from America as a political entity and given her target audience, she could be forgiven for lapsing into comparisons with America’s own slave-owning past.

From a human perspective though, it is a fascinating story.

And Okeowo treats it with the respect it deserves. The country is a hodge-podge of ethnicities: Berbers and Arabs who have mingled to become known as Beydanes and risen to elite status contrasted starkly against the African Haratin people. There are so many factors at play here: religion, ethnicity, tradition and they all set amidst the simple fact of real and experienced human suffering.

The article revolves around the efforts of Biram Dar Abeid, the founder of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement. Abeid is a Haratin man with “hooded, intense eyes and a warm demeanour” and the Okeowo follows him as he attempts to free those like him who are still subject to slavery. America is mentioned once; and only by a Beydane.

What gives the article a more general interest is the way Okeowo avoids what can be called the ‘danger of analogies.’

The American journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, having called the article the best he had read all year, complimented it for “letting a people and their history and their politics speak for themselves shows a respect for them and the reader”. Okeowo had avoided the trap of writing nothing more than “it’s just like America!”. She avoids, as Edward Said put it, “coming to terms with [Mauritania] based…on European Western experience.

There is an interesting paradox in journalism today – especially in writing on international affairs. Though the world is smaller than ever before, we seem just as unable to grasp and understand it as before. Mauritania is just hours away by plane but the language used to describe it is distant and the subject, at best, is treated as just a reflection of our own experiences.

This summer saw an explosion of international news: Ukraine, Gaza, ISIS, Boko Harem; the list goes on. How we write about the world around us, about different cultures and different peoples is more important than ever.

And yet we still restrict ourselves to mindless, lazy, analogies.

We can’t escape what Chimamanda Adichie calls “the danger of a single story”. If that single story becomes a shadow of our own, we lose the ability to consider, appreciate and digest the countless other stories that inhabit and effect our world. For Adichie “power is the ability to make [a story] the definitive story of that person”. Journalists today are imbued with that power. Where else can we form our opinion of Mauritanian slavery?

POLITICS

And so it is why writers must avoid too often leaning on analogies to explain a situation halfway across the globe. A space needs to be opened up where we can look more closely at how and when we use analogies. Otherwise, we are guilty of seeing everything as our own reflection. We see Mauritanian slavery as nothing but a mimic of our (Western) experience of slavery; devoid of its own rich history. The Mauritanian story of slavery starts with “secondly”; the fastest way to dispossess a people: removing from them any sense of narrative autonomy.

We need to understand peoples and movements, ISIS and Occupy Central with Love and Peace, in more complex, nuanced and deliberative ways than what they happen to resemble. Analogies can be a good starting point but they shouldn’t be the point. And that is an important distinction.

Though the world is smaller than ever before, we seem just as unable to grasp and understand it as before.

There is another potential problem with analogies. They become the weapon of fearmongerers. When Putin invaded the Ukraine and people rushed to say his actions were “like Hitler”, it incites fear. When you compare present events with moments in history, you don’t just link the comparable events. The present becomes unnecessarily shackled with the same historical coherency and progression as the past.

Suddenly, Putin’s Ukraine becomes not just Hitler invading the Sedatenland’s but the unbearable war that would follow.

In many ways, such comparisons are lazy. And while there may be comparisons to be made, the analogy becomes a loud, shouting thought at the centre of the piece. Nuance is lost to the winds.

Learning from history is still important. There should be a greater emphasis on the individuality of each case. The 14th century Arab scholar Ibn Khaldoun foresaw such a problem.

Writing in his seminal work, The Muqaddimah, Ibn Khaldoun warns of the “abyss of error” that awaits those who applies their knowledge of history directly, through analogies, to the present.

This is not to say that we should avoid analogies altogether.

Analogies by definition compare apples and oranges. A good, well thought out analogy is a powerful tool. But it is when such lessons are applied lazily, as tools to create fear or in concert with silencing a people that they become a danger.

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MODERN WARFARE TINDER AND #BOMBSHELTERSELFIES 16

POLITICS

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his summer’s news was dominated by the conflict between Palestine and Israel. Some incredibly striking images came of the atrocities in Gaza, children without homes, burning streets, and broken families. Yet these images were of Palestinians – at the same time Israelis were taking happy, posing and care-free bomb shelter selfies.

Residents of Tel Aviv, the second most populated city in Israel, set up the Facebook group “Bomb Shelter Selfies” which now has nearly 2,000 members. While not far away, Palestinians were struggling to survive. Is a bomb-shelter selfie a fun, lighthearted way to survive an air raid? Or an ignorant, obnoxious “eff you” to the dying people on the ‘other side of the war’?

Sarah Eisen, the creator of a page told the newspaper Haaretz “There’s a selfie for everything so I figured why not bomb shelters? It was a way of showing the world that we weren’t letting this get to us.”

House of Whores” or said they’d “never heard of Palestine”.

And of course, a lot just asked for sex.

The anonymous founders of Palestinder told the Huffington Post “The idea for the Tumblr was born out of the surprise and shock of the initial responses we had on Tinder. “Now there are two kinds of ridiculous things that we have seen. Some that are morbidly funny like those that will call us “terrorists” etc and then still ask if we want to sleep with them.”

It’s not the first time social media sites have bought problems with Tinder to the forefront. Instagram account @instagranniepants drew pictures of the men who sent her ‘objectifying’ messages on Tinder, naked, with the comment attached. This is one of dozens of examples of sexism and objectivism on dating sites – but Palestinder shows another level of problems.

‘there’s something menacing about smiling posing faces in a warzone at the same time thousands were dying.’

It would be silly to criticise Israelis for doing all they can to stay safe – and to keep spirits up. Yet there’s still something menacing about smiling posing faces in a warzone when at the same time thousands were dying.

This wasn’t the only example of modern technology and social media simultaneously being employed this summer. A group of 20-something Americans teaching Palestinian children in the West Bank started blogging their Tinder and Grindr conversations, mostly with Israelis. It would be nice to think these could lead to a beautiful, Romeo and Juliet story, but as Palestinder shows – that looks pretty unlikely.

Responses range from “Hey! What you doing in Ramallah this summer? Expect trying to stay alive?” to “In Ramallah there are only terrorists”. Others referred to Palestine as “The POLITICS

Now, while a Tumblr page of Tinder and Grindr screenshots cannot extensively, or credibly reveal any kind of real evidence of the huge social issues in Israel and Palestine or anywhere else, Palestinder seemed to reveal high level of racism in the countries. This is no huge revaluation, as anyone following the news this summer would know – yet seeing it expressed in this format – one so common to so many students, and, to so much of the Western world is striking. This could be an interesting, and innovative way to see future social issues, whether it be on as huge a scale as the Israel/Palestine fight, or issues we face every day in the UK.

BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES POLITICS EDITOR IMAGE BY JESS COX 17

THE MOST

MOUTHWATERING FOOD BLOGS If you’re anything like me, food will govern your every thought. From time to time, we’re all partial to a good browse through food collections, be it on Pintrest or a well-loved recipe book with glossy, high-quality pictures.

LAURA ASHE

IMAGE BY Musfirah Wajihah

I recently came across a good selection of food blogs and compiled a list of what, I think, are some of the best ones out there.

The Kitchn The Kitchn is a food blog and advice column, not only delivering fantastic recipes but also specialising in top kitchen tips and home design. With a range of articles from ‘Budget Friendly Snack Ideas for a Room of Hungry Students’ and ’10 Pasta Sauces to Freeze’ to recipes like ‘Lighter Baked Macaroni with Spinach and Red Peppers’, The Kitchn is excellent for those in the midst of a a quick craving. Look out for: ‘Cheater Nutella Sticky buns’.

Love & Lemons Sporting a more rustic range of recipes, Love and Lemons is a predominantly vegetarian blog featuring recipes for special dietary requirements such as vegan and gluten-free. With a special influence from seasonal produce, Love and Lemons consistently provides healthy and nutritious meals for nearly every palette. Look out for: ‘Grilled Eggplant and Pesto Sandwiches’.

Top With Cinnamon 18 year old Londoner, Izy Hossack, brings us an incredibly range of bakes from ‘100 Calorie Chocolate Cupcakes’ to ‘Pancakes for One’. Her recipes are beautifully laid out and with various gluten-free, vegan and full-fat options available, in addition to handy tutorials, there is bound to be something to get everyone’s tastebuds tingling. Look out for: ‘Perfect Lemon Muffins’ and ‘Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies’

John Whaite 2012 Great British Bake Off winner, John Whaite, boasts an incredibly elegant collection of bakes on his blog. But, with recipes such as ‘Tomato and Pesto Tarts’ and ‘Peanut 18

Butter and Jelly Cheesecake’, his food also scores points for its comfort. Look out for: ‘Cherry Pecan Pies’ and ‘Banoffee Cake’.

Do you read any food blogs? Which are your favourites? Let us know at www.wessexscene.co.uk LIFESTYLE

STUDENT TAXI SCHEME Don't be tempted to walk home alone, take the safe route

FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY Lost your cash? Unable to get home?

Follow these steps...

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Phone West Quay Cars quoting this scheme.

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Wait for your text message and check the taxi registration matches up before getting in.

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download our booking app

When you get home, sign the driver’s receipt and hand over your Student ID.

Wait 24 hours, collect your card from SUSU Reception Building 42, Please note a £2 admin fee will be charged to cover the drivers & time. and paypetrol yourmoney fare.

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STAY SAFE TAXI SCHEME

AUTUMN/WINTER FASHION TRENDS FOR MEN I caught up with GQ’s Style Editor Robert Johnson at GQ’s Style Night, held at London’s famously fashion focused Carnaby Street. Held in the final, dwindling days of summer the event truly kickstarted the Autumn/Winter season. Here, Johnson pinpoints the key menswear trends of the season, highlights investment pieces which are sure to make an appearance time and again and advises how it’s possible to dress well while keeping within your budget.

LAURA COX LIFESTYLE EDITOR

IMAGES BY ALEXANDER Mavronicholas

The Pea Coat

The classic coat is a go-to item for many men and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s dressed up or down, it keeps the wearer looking smart (and warm!) Johnson said: ‘Here at GQ, we think every man should have the perfect pea coat. It’s been around for hundreds of years and is now the classic casual men’s overcoat. What we’ve seen a lot in menswear recently is looking at the past to go forward. People have been taking heritage things and reinventing them – reinventing the classic.’

Check out High Street stores such as Topman and Asos for your perfect pea coat.

The Bomber Jacket

Johnson picked the bomber jacket as a key garment because it can be worn in a variety of different ways: ‘There’s the classic military inspired black bomber jacket – a brilliant winter piece. We’re talking about getting bang for your buck.

Wear when it’s warmer with a t-shirt and with a jumper in winter.’ You can also opt for a more casual look with a preppy varsity style jacket. Check out vintage shops for a unique and authentic item.

IMAGE 84mm x 140mm

Prints

The GQ Style Editor also encouraged the male audience to try something new when it comes to wearing prints. ‘There’s no point in wearing something you’re never going to wear because you’re not comfortable in it. Often it’s just learning how to wear a piece that suits you. Let’s take paisley trousers.

Some people feel nervous about wearing pattern, but the secret is to wear it right. With [a] statement pair of trousers, wear a white shirt, [or] a black tshirt. Keep it simple.’

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LIFESTYLE

Heritage Trend

The revival and reworking of vintage items into modern classics has grown considerably in the last few years. Johnson used accessories to highlight the rise of the trend. ‘A key item is the classic schoolboy satchel. It’s been reinvented and is relevant today. It’s a simple, instantly recognisable piece. We all need classics in our wardrobe and shoes are also getting back to the heritage trend. Take your classic tasselled loafer -[they’re] really cool, smart, look great with jeans. They’re one of great those pieces you can have forever. You might put them away and think ‘no, not right now’ and later on you’ll pick them out and give them a go again. Fashion today is easy in the respect that anything goes. Pieces can be worn in different ways, so you’re getting value from your investment.’

The Parka

The ultimate casual coat, the 60s inspired parka was also highlighted as a wardrobe essential.

‘You have the pieces which were once associated with a trend but have survived the test of time and become staples. Take the classic Mod parka.

It’s as modern now as it was then. You don’t have to wear it and look like a mod – you dress it up!

What we’re seeing now is mixing things up. Look at people like Kanye West, who have that sports luxe feel. Take an expensive piece and dress it down. You can mix things up and wear them in a casual or smart way.’

The Chinos

The ever – popular trousers can be notoriously tricky to find. Johnson offered tips for scouting out the perfect pair. ‘What could be more classic than a pair of chinos? It’s really difficult to get the ones you love first off because we’re all different.

There are as many cuts and styles of chino as there are stars in the sky! It’s just trial and error and once you’ve found what you want, and know where to look, you’re set. Fashion may change, but what suits you doesn’t.’

After the style talk, I asked Johnson the ultimate question: is it possible to dress well while on a student budget? Fortunately, the answer is yes!

‘The secret with budget is to make every purchase count. You could go to a vintage shop and grab a patterned scarf which you can dress up and down with a white t-shirt, a denim jacket LIFESTYLE

The secret with A budget is to make every purchase count or a smarter jacket and it changes, so you’ve got one piece which can be worn in many different ways. Always look for quality; quality and price aren’t the same thing. You can get expensive things which aren’t great quality and reasonably priced things which are!’

He also offered some tips about finding the right items and how to make shopping easier in general. ‘It’s just about going out and feeling the garments. Sometimes you’ll see something you love and then not love the fabric! It’s nothing to do with the cost, it’s what it feels like to you and whether you’re going to get the wear out of it. If you don’t like it, you’re not going to wear it. If you’re on a limited budget, you don’t want to waste your money. But it doesn’t mean you have to be boring. Take the paisley trousers – they’re not the most outrageous things ever, but there will be a certain number of men who will love them but don’t know how to wear them. If you don’t feel comfortable, it won’t be an investment.’

GQ’s Autumn/Winter Style Night was held at London’s Carnaby Street. For more style advice from Robert Johnston, visit his Style Shrink page at www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/style-shrink.

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HOW TO CARE FOR DAMAGED HAIR If your hair is damaged, from heat styling, colouring or a long summer spent in the sun, there are steps you can take to restore its condition. You don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive products – everything you need can be found on the High Street.

LAURA COX LIFESTYLE EDITOR

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Morroccan Oil

There are many brands of Argan Oil around, but they vary in both terms of price and quality. A reliable brand is Organix Morroccan Argan Oil can be found in Boots and Superdrug for around £7. That might seem quite pricey but one bottle is enough to last you a long time! After washing, distribute a small amount through the ends of your hair. It helps with detangling and leaves your hair super soft!

Deep Conditioning Treatments

If your hair is in need of some care, make sure you use a deep conditioner or mask at least once a week. After washing your hair as normal, leave the conditioner on for five minutes and rinse thoroughly. Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner smells amazing and provides your hair with instant softness!

Wide toothed comb

Damaged hair is often prone to tangles. Instead of tearing your hair with a brush after washing, spend some time to gently combing through with a wide toothed comb to ease out any knots. This wooden comb from The Body Shop helps to remove even the toughest tangles in a mild manner.

Step away from the straighteners!

Using heat on your hair, especially if its coloured or highlighted, can be particularly damaging. Appliances such as straighteners and hair dryers may help you to cut down on styling time but in the long run, your hair won’t thank you. Allowing your hair to air dry, even if only once a week, can help to reduce further damage. If you can’t imagine life without your styling tools, make sure you use a protective heat spray before use, like this VO5 spray.

Consider a trim

If the ends of your hair are severely or noticeably split, consider getting a trim.

You don’t have to dramatically change your look; even having half an inch cut off can make your hair feel instantly thicker and healthier.

LIFESTYLE

AN ALBANIAN ADVENTURE an adventure to a countrY knoWn for being unknoWn ANNA JENKINS TRAVEL EDITOR IMAGES BY zOE COLLINS

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lbania has been plagued with bad press for years.

Having only thrown off its communist colours in the early 90’s, many still see Albania as the self secluding, Stalinist country that it once was.

When planning to travel there many friends looked confused: “Albania? Why would you want to go there?” Well, here are my reasons.

Albania is undiscovered. It’s true that the tourism trade has yet to take off in Albania, but that for me adds to the beauty of it. Mcdonalds have yet to make an appearance on every street corner and the gorgeous bays and ports that dot the Mediterranean coast are so far unclogged with cruise ships.

There are no tourism companies running air conditioned, leather-seated coaches from town to town, only individually run “furgons” (minibuses) with cracked windscreens and dodgy seats. The hordes of Roman, Greek and Byzantine ruins that Albania hides are unadvertised and mostly unexcavated.

There isn’t even a Lonely Planet guide! Albania is yours to explore and make what you will of it.

beaches to rival any in the Mediterranean. The mountain ranges in the North, nicknamed the “Albanian Alps” are a vibrant collaboration of ice-blue glacial rivers, sheer rock faces and tiny secluded mountain villages. The south coast beaches could be from a Greek island if not for the lack of sunbeds and beach bars.

Albania is interesting. With so much history and culture it’s hard to be bored. Over 700,000 concrete bunkers dot the country, built by a paranoid leader for a war that never came, they are a reminder of the communist history of the country. Beautiful mosques and churches are features of even the smallest villages. Even the language is interesting! It has no relation to any other European language, only to ancient Illyrian – the language of a civilization that coincided with the Greeks, but of which we know very little.

Albania is welcoming. Despite the seemingly threatening looking flag, travelling through the country I couldn’t have felt safer. The Albanian people are so happy to meet and talk to foreigners. I get the sense that everyone is aware of how much potential the tourism industry has to make a big difference in Albania. From having an Albanian family “adopt” us on a bus to a camp site taking pity on our washed out tent and putting us up in a gorgeous yurt, we felt thoroughly welcomed.

So forget your misconceptions (they really could have used any nationality as the bad guys in Taken) and give this blossoming country a chance at a new life!

Albania is a gem. It is full of thriving cities, unheard of archaeological sites, breathtaking scenery, and stunning

imAGE 173mm x 45mm Cobbled street TRAVEL

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Learning to trust on the road 24

Jasmine Stockham reflects on her travel experiences, and explores how big the world becomes if you trust a little more.

IMAGE BY PAIGE NICHOLAS TRAVEL

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By freeing ourselves of mistrust’s narrow lens, the world is far bigger and more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.

or me, one of the most beautiful things about the experiences one has when travelling is the strangers they are shared with. In my experience, the path of the traveller is punctuated by kind individuals, ready to go out of their way simply to change the day of an outsider for the better. The only thing uniting these people, other than their disposition to goodness, is the fact that they are utter strangers, and more often than not have nothing to gain from their generosity. Be it the offer of a home cooked meal when all shops are closed, a mattress on the floor of a tumbled down building, or the compassionate rescue of four drowning travellers on a stormy day, wherever I have been the goodness of people has never ceased to shock me.

Going out into a world whose people the media paints with such suspicion, and finding that there are actually very few to be mistrustful of, is the most captivating discovery of all.

Over the last few decades, the media has created a world in which even the word stranger has negative connotations. As a little girl in my last weeks at nursery, a ‘Stranger Danger’ talk was given to my class. I can’t say that I actually recollect much of what was said, but what I do remember is clinging to a lamp post screaming as my parents attempted in vain to walk me to school for the first time, adamant that as I did not know the teacher it could not possibly be safe for me to attend. Fortunately this fear abated after a few days, and I am able to attend lectures without having to be dragged kicking and screaming by my housemates, but I do feel that this rather ridiculous scenario is a good example of the suspicious attitude which our society and its media so readily instil in even its youngest members.

Clearly there are dangers to be aware of, but as negative images dominate our screens, it is the millions of good deeds done every day that get lost and forgotten, creating a totally distorted image in which all that is obvious is the potential for evil. This air of mistrust is naturally amplified when abroad, especially when engaging in activities like hitch hiking and wild camping which clearly involve risk, but it is in these situations that gut instinct comes into play. My top priority

TRAVEL

hitch hiking rule is never to get into a car that doesn’t have roll down windows (in case I feel required to make a James Bond style escape), but there are of course plenty more reasonable pointers in which your gut would tell you to stay on the side of the road and wait for the next lift. I feel that trusting the pit of your stomach is an old fashioned method that should be given more credit: if it really feels wrong then it probably is.

However, it is important to find a balance and to differentiate between needing to quell the irrational fear of the unknown, and actually taking action to leave a situation when something really doesn’t feel right.

As my friend and I drove our quad bike down the road winding steeply towards the sea in the dusty light of a Greek sunset, I was silently struggling to find this balance. Pushing down the niggling doubt that the old man who had invited us for dinner had grand plans to drug our food, I allowed myself to accept what was far more likely to be the positive reality.

What that reality consisted of was feta salad, cold beer, and the smiling face of a man who had a million seafaring tales, and just wanted the chance to tell them. As we packed up our things the next morning after camping on his sands, he plucked two sprigs of basil from one of the bushes and, after crushing the leaves slightly release their scent, he tucked them into our bags expressing the hope that the smell would from now on make us think of him. Making our way back up the hill I thought to myself that the smell of that common herb should not only serve me as a reminder of lovely Yannis, but also remind me to trust in the inherent goodness of humanity.

One night on that same trip, we found ourselves on the yacht of a British couple, after being saved from what would have otherwise been a disaster. As we sat on deck admiring the lights of the far off harbour and sipping wine, Robert stressed the importance of kindness to travellers, and his hope that if his daughters were put in a similar situation they would receive the same treatment. The only thing that has the potential to stop us being the beneficiaries of such a circle of compassion is unnecessary suspicion, and therefore I am of the opinion that it is time that we all woke up and smelt the basil. By freeing ourselves of mistrust’s narrow lens, the world is far bigger and more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.

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A trip to Bath

Follow your heart and catch memories of Bath…

KAT LI IMAGE BY Musfirah Wajihah

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s you freshers begin your university adventure, have you also got plans for vast amounts of travelling? Sometimes you just need to leave your homework and assignments in your room and buy a train ticket to some new city. I took the opportunity to visit the Jane Austen Museum in Bath. I did not use travel tips advised by websites which have almost identical recommended routes.

I followed the exclusive guide from my heart and captured unique memories of Bath.

exploration of this historical city. As I walked along Green Park Road, I was attracted to the buildings with their stunning curved glass roofs, not too far from Royal Victoria Park. I found the delicate desserts, vintage tea pots, detailed fancy dresses and beautiful small accessories very much to my liking. The local residents recommended me that Bath Market was a fabulous place to explore and find surprises. I bought some postcards and sent them to my Chinese friends. The market also offered adorable hand-made toys.

A No-Tips trip is a revolution for foreign students, especially when you are terrible with directions. But you cannot imagine how much surprise you will get when you go to a place you know nothing about. A little vintage shop or a nice afternoon tea sitting by the window can make you feel different. That was the fun from my adventurous trip to Bath.

If you are big fashion fan just like me, The Fashion Museum must be on your schedule when you are travelling around Bath. You learn to understand why vintage style is always trendy in Britain. I saw the world-class collection of historical British dresses and found the inspirations for high-end brand designers from these old hand-made garments. There is a special ‘Corsets and Crinolines’ display were visitors can try on said garments. I in turn tried a beautiful dress and took a photo of myself. The best service is the “T” Switch attachment from the audio guide. You can choose any language! I found the Chinese introduction was really helpful for me to understand the history and technique behind the dresses.

Royal Victoria Park

I thought there was no difference between Royal Victoria Park and other normal parks. But when I arrived, I could not wait to run on its expansive lawn. I was really excited and felt so relaxed. I watched the children zoom along the zip wire, conquer the pyramid climbing frame, and I just wanted to join in the fun. I couldn’t tare myself away from watching their laughing faces. The park is named after Queen Victoria, who officially opened it in 1830. But now it’s the best leisure park for the residents and tourists of Bath. You can understand the expression ‘the best things in life are free’ when you are here. Royal Victoria Park is almost in the centre of Bath, and most locations are in easy walking distance from this beautiful place. Doing some shopping and having a nice afternoon tea would in addition be a good option for your next stop.

Bath Market

Fashion Museum

With only one day to explore, I could not walk around the whole city. I want to have the opportunity for more adventure next time. If you really have no idea about how to plan your trip to Bath, you can go to ‘Visit Bath’ which is directly next to Bath Abbey. The lovely ladies who work there can give you good suggestions about how to enjoy your day in Bath.

You can also pick up some great hand-drawn maps of this historical city. But don’t be lead away by those silly travel tips on websites, just follow your heart to capture your own memories of Bath. I bet you will love it…

I think Bath Market was a big discovery for me during my 26

WINCHESTER

WELCOME

03

THE LURE OF Islamic State in the west: why are young people becoming radicalised?

EMMA CLARKE INTERNATIONAL EDITOR

ISIS

If we were to look back on this year in a few decades’ time, 2014 would undoubtedly be remembered for the rise of Islamic State.

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uelled entirely by its hatred of the West and misguided religious ideology, Islamic State’s pervasive influence has shaken the world, not only because of the sheer brutality that it continues to display but because of the effect it is having on a minority of young Europeans, Australians and Americans. It’s a complex paradox – ISIS is stepping up its campaign of terror against the West while Western citizens themselves are turning their backs on the societies in which they grew up in to support and actively involve themselves in the offensive against them.

But what is the appeal of joining an Islamic militant group?

Rationality and Western thinking suggest that there is none; however, as more and more young people radicalise and travel abroad to fight for ISIS, participating in despicable acts such as beheadings and the inflicting of psychological torture, it is clear that there is a serious problem.

British student Nasser Muthana made the headlines back in June at only twenty years old. He was identified as one of the key individuals behind a propaganda video in which he appeared encouraging potential jihadist converts from the West to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Independent of anything else, the age of the young extremist is incredibly shocking because it begs the question: “how can a young man, barely out of school, be so conditioned into believing that terrorism is desirable?” What’s more, Muthana had just

been accepted at four UK universities to study Medicine, which is an indication that his radical Islamic beliefs were in conflict with his ordinary Western life and education.

Yet, instead of opting for a vocation dedicated to helping other people and saving lives, he was lured in to a world of religious radicalism – a terrorist ideology that condones cold-blooded murder for the sake of their cause.

Similarly, many Australian jihadists, notably young men, have gravitated towards ISIS. SBS Insight, a televised debate show in Australia, recently interviewed a father whose seventeen year old son wishes to follow in the footsteps of Muthana. “I’m worried … he wants to go to Syria and join those groups and he (might) die himself ”, he admitted, also explaining that his son has grown a beard, destroys “sinful” household items and is only interested in talking about Shias and Sunnis, the two main branches of Islam.

Other countries with a large number of young ISIS supporters include France, Belgium and the US. Social media has had a major part to play in the recruitment of young foreign jihadists so far. Twitter, especially, is a new and dangerous online platform that ISIS has been able to exploit: it is an effective way for them to disseminate their message to young Muslims worldwide and entice them into joining the terrorist group. It has turned into a terrifyingly well-oiled propaganda machine. While supporters of Islamic State contribute to their online campaign by

“He was lured in to a world of religious radicalism – a 28

INTERNATIONAL

Islamic State offers disillusioned youths a purpose to their lacklustre lives, or, in their eyes, a more attractive alternative.

retweeting hashtags, creating photo-shopped graphics and sharing official videos. Jihadist militants in Iraq and Syria are also participating on their personal accounts by sharing gory photographs from warzones, not only to shock and appall the masses but to capture the audience of young and budding Islamic extremists in the West.

In this way, ISIS extremists have proven their astuteness.

Their ability to flood the internet with pro-Islamic State propaganda, coupled with their deplorable video campaign of executions of Western journalists and aid workers, is indicative of their technological prowess, but also of their ability to win over the hearts and minds of young people. The use of a British militant as the executioner in the latter campaign was a clever tactic because it invited Western Muslims to join ISIS in a subliminal way; by using a Western jihadi in a position of power, it presented them as welcoming of international recruits.

Direct contact between terrorists supporters, thanks to social media, former, which is ironic considering beheadings of innocent people is the imaginable.

and young ISIS has humanised the that their ruthless most inhumane act

Another reason why young Muslims choose to radicalise is due to their impressionability. Islamic State offers disillusioned youths a purpose to their lacklustre lives, or, in their eyes, a more attractive alternative. They are

drawn in by the excitement of war, the idea of heroism or, more drastically, the dream of dying a martyr. To die for an ideology that they have been conditioned to believe in. Unfortunately, due to the perpetuation of extremist propaganda and ISIS’s strong online presence, all of these outcomes have been presented as desirable and achievable… and even for a twenty-something year old Westerner.

However, religious conviction – although foolish and barbaric- is undeniably one of the main reasons why young people from the West have chosen to radicalise. Otherwise, why would young men like Muthana, the medical student, choose to give up their reasonably privileged lives to move to a war zone? Islamic State’s extremist religious beliefs, which they insist are based on the teachings of the Qur’an (although this has been vehemently denied and condemned by moderate Muslim leaders all over the world), together with the aid of modern technology, has created a cult-like organisation that more and more radicals are flocking to.

Of course, I am not saying that Western youths do not have a mind of their own and that their actions are excusable – they are not. However, the emergence of ISIS as a dangerous and influential force is revelatory of a relatively new threat, which young people are increasingly becoming the victim of. We are entering into a new age of global warfare where the internet is being employed as a genuine weapon and it is arguably more powerful than physical fighting.

terrorist ideology that condones cold-blooded murder” INTERNATIONAL

29

FEELING HOMESICK? THEN GET MOVING! Sport editor Jack Pethick LOOKS AT the mental, as well as physical, benefits that exercise can GIVE, particularly in dealing with homesickness and anxiety issues.

IMAGE BY KATHRYN SMITH

W

ith all the fun and craziness of Freshers now at an end, many of you may be starting to feel the post-freshers blues sinking in, causing feelings of anxiety and homesickness. These are perfectly natural feelings to be having at this time, and it affects all whether you are a fresher or a post-graduate, everyone will experience such feelings from time to time. Starting a new life or returning to a life at university naturally generates excitement, anticipation and anxiety.

For many, this apprehension is quickly overcome as they adapt to a new environment, but for others the transition from home to university takes longer and sometimes emerges as homesickness. Many of these people will just want to get under the blankets and be upset over the loss of what is familiar and secure: most often it is about the loss of people – family and friends – but it is also about the loss of places and routines, and the realisation that family life continues without you. Obviously the extent to which you will be affected by homesickness will differ from person to person, and for those of you feeling especially homesick sport may be the answer in helping relieve some of these feelings.

In today’s society there is so much emphasis placed on the physical benefits of regular exercise, when in fact the psychological benefits are arguably much more important than achieving that six-pack. Research has shown that partaking in regular exercise gives us a mental and emotional boost. It improves your mood, bolsters your self-esteem and gives you the confidence to handle whatever comes your way.

30

As I am sure many of you are aware, chemicals called endorphins are produced in the brain and released into the body. The word endorphin is abbreviated from the phrase ‘endogenous morphine’ which means morphine produced naturally by the body. Endorphins are thought to relieve stress and pain naturally, giving you an euphoric and invigorating feeling - I’m sure many of you have had that buzzing feeling after a good work out at the gym or after a match.

Other theories focus more on the indirect effects of exercise.

Many psychologists find that exercise may create a distraction and provide an outlet from feelings of stress, anxiety or homesickness and therefore positively enhancing one’s mental condition.

Moving away from the scientific elements and benefits of exercise, there are also many social benefits that one can gain from partaking in exercise- particularly a team sport.

I personally have always found that the best way to make a friend is to go and play a game of football or another sport with them. The natural sense of camaraderie found in sport means that you will make lots of friends quickly, helping you to relieve some of those feelings of homesickness.

The important thing is to remember that such feelings are, most of the time, just a temporary thing, and soon you will feel like University is your home from home. Stay active and distracted and soon those post-freshers blues will be a thing of the past.

SPORT

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THE SAINTS GO mArChinG on

sport editor JACk pEthiCk revieWs southaMpton fc’s fantastic start to the preMier league caMpaign

no. team

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L

GF

GA

GD

pts

6

1

0

21

7

14

19

1

chelsea

7

Manchester city southampton

4

2

1

14

7

7

14

2

7 7

4

1

2

11

5

6

13

Manchester united 7 7 swansea city

3

2

2

13

10

3

11

3

2

2

10

8

2

11

3

4

5

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Gp

t

o answer your current thought: Yes, your eyes have not deceived you and this is indeed the current (article written on 13th October 2014) Premier League table, and incredibly our city of Southampton sits third in it. Manager Ronald Koeman has proved many doubters wrong and has thus far guided Southampton to their best start in 31 years. Following the summer sales of key players such as Adam Lallana, Ricky Lambert, Luke Shaw and Dejan Lovren, many felt that Southampton would struggle in the league this year. Fans and pundits alike felt that Koeman had not added enough players with Premier League experience, or even players that people had heard of. However, this doubt over Koeman’s transfer policy has been proven wrong, with players such as Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadiç, Sadio Mane and Fraser Forster all starring in Southampton’s blistering start to the season.

So, just why have Southampton been so good?

THE TADIÇ AND PELLE PARTNERSHIP

The front pairing of Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadiç has been crucial to Southampton’s flying start this season. Between them in the opening seven games they have produced four goals and five assists, a statistic showing that already they are working well as a partnership at such an early stage to the season. When you add to this that Southampton’s midfielders have also contributed six goals and three assistswith a significant mention going to Morgan Schneiderlin SPORT

who has scored three of those - then yet again, there are signs already that Koeman’s philosophy is already being implemented at such an early stage.

Defence

Although the combined stats of Pele and Tadiç are reasonably impressive, they are not that amazing when put in perspective.

If the Premier League was based solely on goals scored, then Southampton would sit joint sixth in the table, so clearly goals are not enough alone to make Southampton sit where they are now. Therefore, it has been Southampton’s defensive record that has arguably been the key factor in their success.

In a Premier League season that has been crammed with goals galore thus far, Southampton are leading the way in terms of defensive records. They are the only team this season in the Premier League who are on average conceding less than a goal a game (0.7) whilst other clubs, including league leaders Chelsea, are on average conceding a goal a game, if not more.

Notable stand outs include Fraser Forster who has kept three clean sheets thus far and also Nathaniel Clyne, whose defensive performances have seen him achieve his first England call up earlier this month.

Koeman

Undoubtedly Koeman had an incredible playing career, playing for great European clubs such as Ajax, PSV and Barcelona, and also being the top-scoring defender of all time, with 193 club goals throughout his illustrious career. At the time of his appointment, many pundits questioned whether Koeman was the right man for the job, a doubt that seemed ridiculous to me, when you examine the statistics of his managerial career. For example, Koeman averages a win ratio of 54% thus far in his 14 years as a manager, when the average win ratio of a Premier League manager is approximately 3540%.* Koeman has not exactly been managing mediocre sides either, he has been employed by the likes of Valencia, Benfica and Ajax (which he led to two Eredevise titles). Being a player who was part of the Johan Cruff school at Barcelona in the mid 90’s, Koeman was brought up on the importance of pressing as a team, retention of the football and the philosophy of ‘Total Football’. These teachings are reflected in Koeman’s managerial philosophy and such a style is evidently being seen in Southampton’s cracking start to the season.

Manager Ronald Koeman has proved many doubters wrong and has thus far guided Southampton to their best start in 31 years

*Statistics taken from a mixture of Wikipedia, Opta and whoscored.com

SPORT

33

Study hard! Eat Well! Exercise Regularly!

Well that was the plan anyway…

Tom ‘Pez’ Perry AND AIDAN PITTMAN IMAGES BY ELLIE MAN (BELOW) AND REBECCA MOORE (RIGHT)

PAUSE 02

WELCOME 34

EXERCISE HAS been done. occasionally...

DEAD LIFTS SOON TURNED INTO...

and PRESS UPS TOO!

tHE BICEP CURL HOWEVER...

HOW ABOUT THE STUDENT LOAN?

maybe not then...

PAUSE

35

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