WessexScene.co.uk
University of Southampton’s Student Magazine
JANUARY 2016
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US Presidential Election 2016 A Preview Page 29
+ REVAMPING NEW YEAR’S
+ How has instagram changed
+ how to start a travel fund
10 realistic resolutions to help you make a change to your lifestyle
Is social media making fahion more inclusive?
Tips and tricks to make every penny count...
RESOLUTIONS 08
the fashion industry? 22
26
Welcome
BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES Editor
WESSEX SCENE TEAM Want to write for us?
Get in touch with a section editor. Editor BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES editor@soton.ac.uk
Deputy Editor MICHAEL OLIVER
deputy-editor@wessexscene.co.uk
Head of Design SEBASTIAN STEELE design@wessexscene.co.uk
HEAD OF IMAGERY JORDAN STEWART image@wessexscene.co.uk
Features ELLIE WERMTER
features@wessexscene.co.uk
Features ALICE HEARING
features@wessexscene.co.uk
Science and Environment TRINA DAVIES science@wessexscene.co.uk
Politics SAMUEL WILLIAMS
politics@wessexscene.co.uk
Opinion FREYA JEFFRIES
opinion@wessexscene.co.uk
Travel NUALA MCBRIDE
Hello, hello and happy (belated) new year! Now that January exams are over, and semester two is about to start you can all sit back and relax with the latest edition of Wessex Scene. Why not have a read of some of our favourite new years resolutions? Or read about how to solve the winter blues or how to keep up that ‘health kick’. 2015 was the best year Wessex Scene has every had, we’ve hosted the Student Publication Association South West training day, and the national conference, we’ve won ‘best department’ at the SUSU media awards and we’ve been nominated (and won) dozens of nationally recognised awards. We have a very exciting year planned. This month, we’re launching a special website for LGBT history month with Surge Radio, SUSUtv and The Edge. We’re really excited to announce this exciting multimedia platform as one of our many projects this year. 2016 is a special year for Wessex Scene, as in February we’re turning 80! Keep an eye out online for all our throwback pieces and come along to the Bridge on 5th March where you can celebrate with us and our alumni. Globally, there’s so much going on this year, we’ve given you a preview of everything and our writers have shared their thoughts on the 2016 US election. We’ve also explored the dreaded question all finalists hate to hear “what’s next?”, if, like most of us you’ve got no idea what’s going to happen after graduation we’ve even given you ideas of how to make a travel fund. Whatever your plans are for 2016, we hope all our readers and happy and healthy - and as ever, if you’d like to get involved with us drop me or any of our committee and email, we’d love to hear from you!
travel@wessexscene.co.uk
Lifestyle Laura Cox
lifestyle@wessexscene.co.uk
International CAMERON RIDGWAY
international@wessexscene.co.uk
Sport JACK PETHICK
sports@wessexscene.co.uk
Sport SEAN O’BRIEN
sports@wessexscene.co.uk
News REBECCA LAKE
news@wessexscene.co.uk
News TOM MORGAN
news@wessexscene.co.uk
Pause TOM RANDALL
pause@wessexscene.co.uk
MARKETING DAN LINSTEAD
publicity@wessexscene.co.uk
VP DCI KERRY SCLATER vpdci@susu.org
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FRONT COVER IMAGE BY TARA SHORE WELCOME
FEATURES 06 It’s Not All Bad News - Alice Hearing. Image by Ollie Ray
ISSUE 4 JANUARY 2016
FEATURES
LIFESTYLE
Winter Blues: It’s A Real Thing
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It’s Not All Bad News
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Revamping New Year’s Resolutions 08 OPINION
So What Are You Doing After University?
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Consent Lessons - Yes or No?
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SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
VEGANISM is environmentalism
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POLITICS
Corbyn Is Right To Make Waves on Mental Health When A Tory Disagrees With The Conservative Government
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The New No Time, No Effort Plan To 20 Get Us Healthier and Fitter Antioxidant Supplements: Worth 21 the Hype? How Has Instagram Changed The 22 Fashion Industry? TRAVEL
New York City Vs. Southampton: A Student’s Experience How To Start A Travel Fund
24 26
INTERNATIONAL
US Presidential Election 2016: A Preview The International Headlines in 2016
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SPORT
wessexscene.co.uk @wessexscene
2015 in British Sport
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The Premier League: Who Dares to Win?
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PAUSE
Jesters Nature Spotting
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fb.com/wscene WELCOME
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Features
Winter : it’s a Blues real thing WORDS BY ALICE HEARING
IMAGE BY CHARLOTTE RICHARDS
It get’s dark about 5pm, it rains a lot, it’s cold and Christmas is over but it’s still Winter. It’s only natural that you’d get the Winter blues. But, some people get it more than others. Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D is a very real thing. It’s not a particularly unknown mental illness but sometimes it needs a little more recognition. It can be a difficult thing to notice in a person, especially when they often seem so happy to you. Their happiness seems to depend on the sun and the winter months can be a really difficult time.
What is it really?
It’s a type of depression that can be caused by a lack of exposure to the sun. In the winter months, not only are we affected by the shorter days but by how much time we spend inside. Lack of sunlight affects a part of your brain that controls your body clock, your mood, appetite, sleep patterns and your sleepiness (caused by a hormone called melatonin). S.A.D is probably more common than you think. A lack of sunlight can affect everyone, just to different degrees... hence the term ‘Winter Blues’.
What are the symptoms?
Well, S.A.D tends to come with typical symptoms of depression such as reduced appetite, libido and lack of sleep. It’s also associated with our desire to hibernate. It means a tendency to crave carbs, sweets, comfort food. It could mean weight gain. I guess that explains why Christmas dinner is so satisfying.
How do I deal with it?
Unfortunately, S.A.D is a recurring thing due to the recurring of winter itself. For those affected a little more seriously, there are some measures you can take such as light therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or taking medication such as anti-depressants or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. 4
However, for those who don’t want to go to the trouble of medication and therapy, here are a few ways to make yourself a little cheerier during the winter months:
Exercise.
We always hear that exercise is the key to everything from exam stress to feeling a bit down, but, honestly, there is a reason why we hear it all the time
Make like a cat and find a sunny spot in your house. Sit
there with your phone, a book, your laptop and let yourself absorb the warmth. If a lack of sunlight is the cause, finding sunlight is the obvious cure. Try and go for a short walk when it stops raining to grab the rays of sun whilst you can. Too cold? Grab a hot chocolate and wrap up warm. Take a friend.
Do what your body is telling you to do and go to sleep. Stop waiting for notifications or emails. Turn off your phone and nap in the middle of the day. Cut yourself some slack.
Treat Yourself. It’s cold and you’re really feeling those
winter blues so you have the perfect excuse to grab some retail therapy, make yourself a hot chocolate, binge watch your favourite show. And if none of that works, go to the Stags, have a pint and wait for it all to blow over. FEATURES
Features
IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS In 2015, it sometimes felt as though the world had reached Dystopia, with what seemed like endless violence, shootings, attacks, and the unfortunate rise of Donald Trump. Awful events filled our headlines. However, it’s not all bad news. Despite the tragedies of the previous year, there were some good things that happened in 2015 and some fantastic things the world has achieved.
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Gay marriage legalised in 19 countries
On 26th June 2015, gay marriage was legalised nationwide in the United States. Soon after, and a little closer to home, Ireland legalised gay marriage on 16th November. Now most of Europe and the United States have done this, hopefully the rest of the world will follow in their footsteps.
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Water found on Mars
Last year, NASA confirmed that liquid water flows on Mars. This is an incredible discovery and one which bares incredible significance for the future of science and space. Not only this, 6
but NASA also confirmed that there has been a discovery of an earth-like planet orbiting a star similar to our sun. This could be the beginning of something huge. Perhaps we are one step closer to finding other forms of life in the universe. With Tim Peake blasting off into Space too, as the first ever Brit to go to the international space station, it was a good year for space discoveries and exploration.
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A step forward in tackling climate change
The COP was a huge diplomatic success last year. Finally, decisions have been made about really tackling climate change. Whilst climate change has already taken some effect, the very fact that nations have come to an agreement for action is fantastic. FEATURES
Features WORDS BY ALICE HEARING IMAGES BY OLLIE RAY & KATHRYN SMITH
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Amazing musical comebacks
Adele, Justin Bieber, Craig David all made smashing come backs in 2015 with bangers such as ‘Sorry’ and ‘Hello’. Not only this but Busted announced their comeback tour. So, 2015 meant it was suddenly acceptable to like a Justin Bieber song, and not surprising to see someone crying to Adele’s soulful voice.
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Achievements for women
The tampon tax outrage grabbed the attention of the British government who have said that they will lobby the European commission, the BBC got its first ever female political editor, and The Sun scrapped page 3 in their printed newspaper.
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Solidarity
2015 also saw the world unite in Solidarity, especially after the Paris attacks. This was demonstrated by countless vigils, French flags projected onto buildings, French flags on Facebook profile pictures, you name it. Solidarity was also
FEATURES
achieved following the refugee crisis. The protests demanding that the UK welcome refugees is just one example of this.
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Azeem’s flute recital
50,000 Brit’s watched a live stream of Azeem Ward’s flute recital in May last year from across the pond simply because the event went viral on Facebook. 104,000 people clicked attending. Using his fame, Azeem raised more than £5,000 to go towards the victims of the earthquake in Nepal. If that isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.
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Transgender equality
Again, there’s still a long way to go but great things happened this year for Transgender equality. Caitlyn Jenner forced the issue into the mainstream. Not only that, but members of Westboro Baptist Church were chased out of a high school in Missouri after they protested against the first transgender student becoming homecoming queen. There is still hope for humanity yet. Let’s hope 2016 is better!
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Features
Revamping New Year’s Resolutions WORDS BY ELLIE WERMTER IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL
After an emotional and somewhat discombobulated rendition of Auld Lang Syne and simultaneously hugging and kissing everyone within a ten-foot radius, there comes an inevitable lull in time when we reflect on the lessons we have learnt from the year gone by and what we hope to do differently in the new year.
It seems
that we are a culture are defined by these New Years Resolutions, and judging by social media platforms between Christmas and New Year featuring the obligatory, ‘New Year, New Me’ posts, or Flipagram montages of the past year, it seems we’re obsessed just as much on reflection as we are on the the idea of a fresh start. These promises we make on New Years’ Eve are not a modern concept, the Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, after whom the month of January is named, whilst The Babylonians made promises to earn the favour of the God’s at the start of each new year. Back in the 21st century, in order to ensure a successful year ahead, we often resolve to do something that will make us a better person. This can take form in a variety of resolutions including, going to the gym more, eating heathier and drinking more water. (Fiji water, anyone?) According to a recent study by YouGov, two-thirds of British adults will make a New Years Resolution this year. 40% of participants aged 18-24 vowed to get fitter in 2016, 29% said they wanted to lose weight, and 25% said they wanted to take more care of their appearance. Surprisingly, only 5% vowed to quit smoking in 2016 and 11% wished to stop drinking or reduce their alcohol intake in the new year. Shannon Clark, an English Student at the University of Southampton says of the findings; ‘I’m not surprised by the uptake in fitness and healthy eating as these changes are relatively easy to implement in relation to something difficult like trying to give up smoking. But the fact that people aren’t more concerned with their health in the future relating to their drinking and smoking habits is really concerning. It seems that people are more concerned with their appearance than their health.’ 8
Significantly, a quarter of participants aged 18-24 said they are not planning to make any new years’ resolutions this year. So despite the buzz on social media, we may not be that obsessed with New Years Resolutions at all, and instead, we’re disillusioned with the idea of making a lifestyle change every 1st January. This really comes as no surprise, as according to the YouGov study, 32% of New Years Resolutions are broken before the month of January is even up, with the average length of time a person can expect to keep their promise at about three and a half weeks. A confident 10% of selfassured participants stated that they never break a new year’s resolution. These statistics don’t give a great outlook for those wishing to make a change in the new year. So here are 10 good New Years Resolutions that we as students should be striving to stick to in 2016;
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Smile.
Get up in the mornings! Carpe Diem. Seize the day! You know the score, you’ll end up feeling more productive and subsequently, happier.
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Celebrate your friends’ successes. Whether that be a first in an essay or a grad job, let them know that you’re just as chuffed as them at what they’ve achieved.
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Turn off your IPhone when you’re out for dinner, or at least turn it face down on the table. Be present in the moment.
5
Rid yourself of frenemies. There’s no point in entering a new year with people you actually cannot stand.
FEATURES
Features
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Stop procrastinating. Work for three straight hours then break for half an hour. Do that in three segments throughout the day and you would have done the equivalent of a shift at work.
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Don’t beat yourself for eating that slice of cake. We are all entitled to a treat every now and again.
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And on the note of eating cake, aim to support local businesses or cafes as much as you can. In the hustle and bustle of Southampton, it can be easy to be distracted by the lights of the big chains and ignore the hidden, independent gems. Get yourself on trip advisor and check out the privately run bars and restaurants and support a local family whilst you’re at it!
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How many times have we seen a homeless person on the streets of Southampton and said that we’d rather buy them a sandwich or a hot drink than give them money? Well, do it! Pop into Greggs and make a homeless person’s day with a sandwich and a smile.
10 Finally, allow yourself to feel things. Be that angry, or sad.
It seems that people are more concerned with their appearance than their health. Perhaps we would be more likely to stick to resolutions like this that make us better, more-rounded people, than vowing to go from coach potato to gym junkie overnight. When thinking about New Years Resolutions, we should challenge ourselves to refrain from unattainable resolutions based on some unfounded personal insecurity but think about what can be an easy, positive change to bring into our life. So, despite the relieved and expectant Instagram posts on the 31st December from intoxicated individuals, ‘Bye 2015! I can’t wait to see the back of you! (feat. fitting waving hand emoji), unfortunately 2016 isn’t going to stop awful things happening. It may just be the best year of your life, but unexpected things are always going to happen. The only choice we have is how we handle these difficulties. In 2016, the true resolution we should all be making is to handle whatever life throws at us with grace, humour and courage.
It’s okay to feel your feelings.
FEATURES
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Opinion
WORDS BY ELEANOR MEIN IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART
Who hasn’t been asked this question, whether first, second or third year, this seems to crop up in every conversation. It might be your New Year’s resolution to discover where you want to take your life. But should we be expected to know what we want to do? Some of the lucky few know exactly what they want to do after university. But for most of us it’s the quick planning in the head, to calculate an answer that doesn’t sound too flimsy. Or perhaps you use the go-to answer that most of my friends do; ‘I’m thinking of doing a masters’, an expensive way of extending university life. I would love to do a masters that would expand my prospects, but the reality is I have no idea what I would do or how it would aid my unknown career path. Isn’t University an extension of school life without the clear guidance? We are ‘independent adults’, expected to make these decisions ourselves. No word of a lie, it once took me half an hour to choose a chocolate bar for my mum, and in the end I bought both options just to ensure I wouldn’t get it wrong. But this is no decision between dairy milk and a galaxy. This is the future, and with four months until my dissertation is due, the reality of real adulthood is just around the corner. Speaking from the limited experience I have had so far, work experience or internships have to be one of the best things you can do. Unlike job fairs, they give a real insight into what you would be doing. Although the graduate schemes provide the glossy, well worded descriptions allowing you to believe ‘brilliant, that’s right up my street’, the reality is that you won’t know until you are sitting at that desk, being given real 10
work. However, I am well aware that internships and work experience do not always pay unlike graduate schemes, and when it comes to summer and you haven’t got two pennies to rub together, paid work in any industry (whether you want to be in it or not), is often the more viable option. Before you make that leap, consider asking yourself some questions, what has interested you throughout your time at university, do you like working/mixing with people? Or would you rather work with numbers? Would you want to travel with work? Do you like lots of change? How important is it to you who you work, for rather than what you do? Even if you don’t know the answer to these questions, the job you end up in after university it isn’t the be all and end all. Without sounding deeply cliche, life is about taking risks so apply for an internship or scheme you think you might not get, because you just might! Think about this; when you ask your parents or friends whether they enjoy their job or, if they had their time again what would they do, how many of them reply with ‘not really’ and ‘if I had my time again I would do something totally different, something I enjoy for a start!’. This leads me back to my original point, which is that the majority of us don’t know what we want to do and, let’s face it the ‘real’ adults asking you what you want to do after university, probably still don’t know what they want from life either.
OPINION
Opinion
Consent Lessons - Yes or No? Back in October we all read that article called ‘Why I don’t need consent lessons’ by George Lawlor, a sociology and politics student at Warwick. You might have heard of it or seen it pop up on your Facebook timeline or Twitter newsfeed. Consent lessons were introduced by the NUS (National Union of Students) in 2014 to try and tackle rape and sexual harassment in universities. WORDS BY MICA DICKSON IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART
T
he article was an interesting but shocking read because, although Lawlor constantly asserts that he knows what is and isn’t consent. It seems that he sees the invitation to a consent class as an attack on his character. Underneath this was a picture of Lawlor holding up a sign saying ‘This is not what a rapist looks like ’. I rolled my eyes and thought ‘what’s a rapist supposed to look like then?’ 12
I’m guessing Lawlor thought he didn’t fit the traditional rapist mould because he looks like a ‘nice guy’. This perpetuates a dangerous myth that rapists are people who look ‘shady’; there is no such thing as a typical rapist. People who commit acts of rape and sexual harassment can look and seem ‘nice’. For instance, 90% of those who are raped know the perpetrator prior to the offence. So it is not right to assume that all rapists OPINION
Opinion
Although I did not agree with Lawlor’s article, it triggered a debate in which sexual harassment and rape were discussed more openly. A debate about issues like these leads to more awareness;
hide in dark alleys waiting for unknowing victims. One of the aims of the consent lessons is to dispel myths surrounding rape, which makes Lawlor’s argument ironic and highlights the need for consent lessons. Also, if university students, and ‘Russell Group’ university students in particular, knew all there is to know about consent, then why is sexual violence and harassment still a problem in many UK universities? Rape culture thrives in universities, which also highlights the need for consent lessons. Rape culture can manifest itself in anything from sports chants about rape to rape jokes which are disguised as ‘banter’. Victim blaming also perpetuates rape culture. Women who act or dress in a certain way are seen to be ‘asking for it’; all the blame and responsibility is placed on victims who should have ‘known better’. Rape culture serves to empower perpetrators and belittle victims. Consent lessons may be what universities need to rid themselves of this damaging culture once and for all. University shouldn’t be the only place where consent is taught and discussed. Consent lessons should start earlier. I agree with Rebecca Reid who wrote in The Independent that ‘If you don’t start consent education in childhood then you end up with young men, like Lawlor, who whether they understand consent or not, believe themselves to be above even having a conversation about it at all.’ At the moment consent isn’t taught as part of sex education. Sex education in the UK has already been criticised for being limited in its scope. Young people need to learn that consent is not as easy as saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, but that there can be what Josie Throup - Women’s officer at Warwick University - describes as a ‘spectrum of misunderstandings in between and that consent can only OPINION
be an enthusiastic yes’. Learning about the importance of consent from an early age could lead to more positive sexual relationships. Consent lessons can also make young people aware of both ‘slut shaming’ and ‘prude shaming’; both of which are used to police women’s sexuality. Slut shaming is linked to victim blaming because, if a woman acts in what is seen as a sexually provocative way, she was ‘asking for it’. If a woman rejects unwanted sexual advances, she’s called a ‘prude’, which can be used as coercion. Terms such as ‘slut’ and ‘prude’ cripple female sexuality. From a young age, girls are taught these terms and are pushed into acting like ladies who must worry about their sexual reputation. Popular culture reaffirms these notions of female sexuality. Consent lessons can be empowering for young girls as they can learn that the way they express their sexuality doesn’t mean that they’re ‘asking it’. Girls should be able to learn that unwanted sexual remarks and advances are not acceptable, and that they are not ‘overreacting’ if they speak up about it. Although I did not agree with Lawlor’s article, it triggered a debate in which sexual harassment and rape were discussed more openly. A debate about issues like these leads to more awareness; it’s an issue that should not be ignored or downplayed. Some may find discussing issues like this uncomfortable and even offensive, but it’s the first step in eradicating the problem. In a recent BBC newsbeat article Lawlor said he would attend consent classes. I look forward to reading another article in which he expresses what he made of them. 13
Science & Environment
Veganism is Environmentalism WORDS BY MIKE OKEOWO IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART
‘Veganism is a fad for hipsters and overly health conscious’. Until now, these have been the archetypal images of those who adopt a vegan diet. However, this is not the true image of veganism, the heart of which acknowledges our relationship with the environment and desires to live harmoniously with the world. It is a movement towards immediate, effective action to save the environment. Veganism is environmentalism.
At
current, it is estimated that we could have fishless oceans by 2048. Up to 137 plant, animal and insect species are lost every day due to rainforest destruction. Our natural resources, a once abundant treasure chest, have been left completely spent due to our consumption. What would drive us to act so recklessly and unsustainably? The way the ocean is being pillaged suggests we have no knowledge of how this affects us, yet currently 82% of researchers agree that climate change is strongly linked to human behaviour but we ignore them. Why? What are we trying to keep ourselves ignorant of? Our current actions suggest that we think we won’t be affected by environmental damage and climate change, we think the environment is a cheap resource that can be carelessly consumed like fast food. Our irresponsible behaviour is rooted in our collective delusion of being separate from the environment. Our first step is to wake up to an environmental consciousness. Ecologically speaking, we are not an organism in an environment but organismenvironment - we interact with the environment. Our skin and every other orifice connects us to the environment like a bridge, and therefore the destruction of the environment is the destruction of ourselves. We already know fresh air is good for the brain, clean water is good for the body and rainforests help your lungs. So why are we destroying these resources? Environmental damage 14
is tantamount to self-harm. Our collective hallucination of separateness from the environment is driving us to act in destructive ways. We continue to fund animal agriculture despite it being responsible for 91% of the destruction of the Amazon, but would we change these habits if we were conscious that the rainforest plays a much more important role? In something far more important than the burger which merely appeases the habits of our tastebuds, rainforests clean the air and thus help us to breathe. It is vital for the saving of our species on this planet that we acknowledge our relationship to the environment. Next, we have to know the main source of the problem and take immediate effective action. We all know greenhouse gas emissions must be cut - we’ve been told this many times by enthusiastic science teachers, politicians and our hippie friends. Amongst other things, we’ve been told to drive less, recycle, and to spend less time in the shower so that we pollute less, waste less and save water. It has been tedious, monotonous and annoying, and even more so when predictably the following year we are told that we need to do a whole new host of things differently as emissions are still rising. We therefore need a more effective approach to reduce the harm we’re doing to the environment and ultimately humanity. What have we not been told? We haven’t been told that animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
Science & Environment
emissions which is more than the combined exhaust from all transportation. We also haven’t been told that a farm of 2, 500 dairy cows produce the same amount of waste as a city of 411, 000 people or even that in the West, agriculture is responsible for 80-90% of total water consumption.We definitely haven’t been told that reduction in animal agriculture is by far the most expedient, easy and manageable way for us to save the environment and eventually the future of humanity. The power is in our hands, mouths and stomach. The easiest action we can all take to start saving the environment is to change our diet. The vegan diet is the most effective means to live harmoniously with the present state of the environment. The less animal agriculture we use up, the more progress we make in saving life on this planet. Currently we’ve allowed livestock and their by-products to account for 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. We’ve allowed livestock to cover over 45% of the earth’s land despite it being a large source of pollution, and by collectively ignoring our relationship to the environment we’ve allowed animal agriculture to be the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution, and habitat destruction. However, there is a solution. By changing our diet to a vegan diet we would each produce the equivalent of 50% less carbon dioxide, use 1/11 of oil, 1/13 of water and 1/18 of land compared to the current average meat eater’s habits. SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
Furthermore, by changing our diets, we as the West can stop exploiting starving children for the benefit of our stomachs. Currently 82% of starving children live in countries where food is fed to animals, and the animals are generally eaten by those in western countries. Immediate effective action cannot be avoided. In the past when groups had been continuously subjugated, we’ve created movements to overturn the tyranny and we’ve fought to integrate these groups into our social conscience. We’ve had the suffragettes, black civil rights movements and LGBT movements to help bring equal standing to oppressed groups. Now it’s time to stand up for our environment and the future of all humans on earth. It can’t wait any longer, we desperately need to become conscious of our relationship to the environment and take action to save it. The first step we can all take is to adopt a diet which takes into account our current situation. Veganism is environmentalism; change your diet and help change the world. Join the movement and start by going vegan for February!
Sources of facts and statistics can be found at: http://www. 15
Corbyn is Right to Make Waves on Mental Health WORDS BY MEGAN SHERMAN
B
oth as politician and person, Jeremy Corbyn stitches together controversy with such speed that his policies and achievements can acquire an almost background quality to the tabloid fare around him. Nevertheless, since his election to leader of the opposition, there have been serious and piecemeal and progressive changes to the Labour agenda - not least in regards to the issue of mental health which are deserving of more consideration. Lots of politicians think mental health matters; inevitably their own lives will have been touched by it, as 1 in 4 people will have had first-hand experience. But Jeremy has been making waves by being the first leader to prioritise a long-term strategy for mental health, appointing a shadow minister especially dispatched to develop Labour’s policy on the issue. Together they are advocating a progressive policy aimed at reducing disparities between physical and mental health - inequalities in provision of care which have become deeply ingrained - as well as demystifying the negative narratives that often plume around the complex and sensitive issues of psychiatric illness. The profession is privileged to have the kindness of so many human beings helping one another, but psychiatric care can’t just run off the kindness of strangers. In the UK mental health accounts for only 13% of NHS funding, despite accounting for around 24% of illness. Rethink say the number of people who get the support they need for depression is 25%. The stats stack up and the essence of the problem is simple: there are not enough resources to provide adequate mental health support for everyone who needs it.
IMAGE BY CHESTER FRAMPTON Launching his policies, Corbyn said: Britain has a mental health crisis, and this government is making it worse. The Tory rhetoric about improving mental health provision has been accompanied by cuts in funding, services and support for people with mental health needs. Everyone knows someone who is suffering or has suffered from mental illness. The economic costs of mental illness are huge, and the personal costs are incalculable. I am committed to a holistic approach that sees emotional wellbeing as fundamentally connected with a society less atomised and individualistic and more socially connected, more caring, more inclusive and more equal. We need a Labour government that will bring this negative narrative on mental health to an end. That a 21st century state with pretensions to being an equal society can sustain such blatant inequalities in the provision of care is strange. It is holding us back; we have to move on. Hollow rhetoric from the incumbent government is pointless. This is a challenge to cuts; a call to compassion and sensible, level-headed policy. In recovery, I am still scared by some of my symptoms, but with the resources provided by the NHS I know I have the tools I need to succeed. But without fair funding, it is obvious how far we have left to go.
Professionals and patients have long campaigned for parity of esteem for physical and mental health. Psychiatric medicine is underfunded. People don’t understand the basics of mental health first aid. And though there is more tolerance and understanding today, the way we think about mental illness is still ingrained with stigma, after centuries of being conditioned to believe it is wrong. Jeremy Corbyn has said he wants to create a society where inequality and intolerance are no longer tolerated. He wants mental patients to have unrestrained access to medical care. He has proposed to increase budgets; challenge stigma; fund more staff; increase investment in children’s mental health; improve mental health education; undertake a national study in to young people’s mental health; support people out of work due to illnesses, and better understand the disparities in mental health between demographics, and I’m a believer. POLITICS
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Politics
When a Tory Disagrees With The Conservative Government WORDS BY TOM MORGAN IMAGE BY CHESTER FRAMPTON AND JORDAN STEWART
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POLITICS
Politics
I’m
a firm believer in the prosaic method of writing an article that relates directly to the title. So yes, I’m a Conservative party voter. And it won’t surprise you to discover that I’ve got a bit of an issue with them at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, I still quite like George Osborne and I’ll still be bowing my head past 90 degrees in front of the Cenotaph, but their new ‘living wage’ is really giving me a headache. As a student who works alongside my degree, I like to think of myself as fairly productive; perhaps vainly so. According to Matt Hancock though, I’m quite simply not. At least, not compared to people approximately five years older than me. Apparently, the accumulation of wisdom and clarity that one attains in the years leading up to 25 and beyond is a rite of passage and insurmountable without the slow procession of time. To give this all some context, the new living wage that the Conservatives are proposing will not be made available to under 25s. The reason for this, according to Hancock, is that we aren’t as productive as the rest of the working population. Strange that; Mark Zuckerberg became a billionaire at the age of 23. That’s political activism for you. In objection to Mr Hancock’s statement, I actually feel my generation are being given more and more power in the working environment. I work as the editor of a globally distributed magazine and one of my closest friends has worked for Ernst & Young, one of the world’s largest consultancy management firms, since he was 18. As much as we’d love to be different, we’re just two guys in a generation of driven individuals. Across the board, it’s a kaleidoscope of ambition. Those who attend university are realising that their 2:1 in English from Sheffield will not guarantee them a job, whilst others are bravely starting their own business ventures in the wake of trailblazers like Zuckerberg and Spiegel. This all sounds like a pretty mediocre script for a rallying march against institutionalised aristocracy, but it’s really not. I actually believe the Conservatives are leading us down the right path that’s a pretty good stick to beat me with, isn’t it? According to recent research, the number of under 35s starting businesses has risen by more than 70% since 2006; in the wake of an alltoo-recent recession, that’s a promising sign.
as highly as paid positions were ten years ago. The game is changing, but employers trust young people to do a job and do it well. Even within the confines of journalism, it is apparent; the current editor of the Independent, Amol Rajan, is 32. It’s too subjective to say that all these people are isolated incidents - under 25s are leaving education systems well drilled and ready to attack the big, bad working world. To state something as naïve and out-of-touch as Mr Hancock did is both insulting and fundamentally inaccurate. It won’t sway my political allegiances because, in a spirit that Mr Hancock failed to respect, I won’t judge a whole batch on one bad egg or in this case, one ill-judged comment. It’s tough to be a young person in a world of unpaid internships, zero-hour contracts and 50p pints, but it’d be a whole lot easier if government criticism didn’t add itself to the list of woes. First published in the Huffington Post.
To state something as naïve and out-of-touch as Mr Hancock did is both insulting and fundamentally inaccurate. It won’t sway my political allegiances because, in a spirit that Mr Hancock failed to respect, I won’t judge a whole batch on one bad egg - or in this case, one ill-judged comment.
How do you measure productivity? Naturally it’s challenging to become the manager of a firm at a young age, particularly in light of the fact that certain unpaid internships are rated POLITICS
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Lifestyle
The New
No Time, No Effort Plan To Get Us Healthier and Fitter For most University students, it is often very difficult to maintain a healthy diet and find the time for regular exercise.
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hose busy timetables with back to back lectures, constant deadlines and partying and raving til the early hours of the next morning can really take their toll on that calorie counting diet you set yourself for the New Year. You desperately want that chiselled and toned body ready for the summer ahead, but you know it will be a struggle to find the time for those gym sessions. You’re hungry and wish you could cook up wonderfully healthy Instagram-worthy meals that would make any nutritionist proud. However, you haven’t got the time because your essay is due tomorrow. So it seems more convenient to order a Dominoes, or pop out for a quick visit to the Golden Arches before guzzling down a stupid amount of Red Bull for your all night-er at Hartley Library. Such situations may be all too familiar for some students. However, the Instagram sensation that has taken the fitness world by storm, under the name the Body Coach, may be the solution we have all been looking for. Joe Wicks, otherwise known as @theBodyCoach to his 548 thousand Instagram followers, is offering the public an easygoing lifestyle plan that consists of 20 minute exercises and quick, easy-to-make, healthy 15 minute meals. Wicks is telling us to ditch the juice diets, consume healthy fats and reassures us that eating carbs after 6pm is okay. His 15 second video 20
WORDS BY TAHMID CHOUDHURY IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART recipes hashtagged #Leanin15 aim to show that anyone, of any culinary ability, can create healthy and tasty meals within 15 minutes. As well as this, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts are heavily encouraged as Wicks states it cuts hours in the gym but still melts fat away. Joe Wicks and his team can provide you with a 90 day ‘Shift, Shape and Sustain’ food and fitness plan that takes you step by step in a tailored plan consisting of three cycles which will get you the results you desire. All this seems a dream come true, a plan that will get us eating more healthy and nutritious foods that is easy to prepare and regular exercise that can be done almost anywhere, even in those study rooms in Hartley. Wait a minute, although the plan is glorious and seems like the fundamental key to our quest in achieving the beach body we have been longing for. The plan is £147, which may not be an obstacle for all of us students but certainly is a lot of money to pay for a three month plan especially when there is rent and bills to pay. Many of the recipes and work outs are accessible through Wicks’ instagram page. The Body Coach’s page has got me, originally an inept cook, creating appetising and healthy meals with little effort. Whats more, Wicks has shown me how to put my body through various intense workouts, leaving me feeling less sluggish and much more energetic. LIFESTYLE
Lifestyle
Antioxidant Supplements Worth the Hype? As the new year begins, we are all bombarded with information about improving our health and getting fit as part of our new years resolutions. With the huge platform of social media being used to share useful as well as false information, it can be difficult to distinguish what is actually going to improve your health. WORDS BY CHARLIE KING
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hen investigating whether the claims we have seen about a food are true, we often look to see an endorsement from a medical or nutritional professional and to see for ourselves whether it makes a difference to the way we look or feel. However, sometimes looking at scientific trials can give a better idea of the facts. This can be done with antioxidant supplements, which are a top seller in health food shops, especially around the new year. Antioxidants are compounds which ‘mop up’ free radicals in your body by reacting with them, the idea that antioxidants can help prevent illness is therefore based upon the theory that free-radicals damage DNA which leads to cancer and ageing. However, are free radicals in the body always a bad thing? Free radicals are vital in the body to kill off bacteria in phagocytic immune cells, and therefore aren’t necessarily something to hugely worry about. Two large trials of antioxidants were conducted after initial antioxidant trails showed positive results. These and others since have illustrated the ineffectiveness of antioxidant supplements. One such trial was conducted in Finland where 30,000 participants at hight risk of lung cancer were recruited and randomised to receive β-carotene (an antioxidant) vitamin E, or both, or neither. In this trial both the groups LIFESTYLE
IMAGE BY SOPHIE EDGERLEY receiving the vitamin supplement and the β-carotene had more deaths overall than the placebo group from lung cancer and heart disease. Another trial, (the ‘Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial’), conducted over a decade ago, studied two groups of people at high risk of lung cancer, half were given β-carotene and vitamin A, whilst the other half was given a placebo. 18,000 participants were due to be recruited throughout the coarse of the trial and their progress studied every 6 years. However, the trial was terminated early due to the people taking the antioxidant tablets becoming 46% more likely to die from lung cancer than those taking the placebo. The most up-to-date Cochrane reviews of the literature collect the data on antioxidant trials, assess the quality of the data and trials and then put them onto a spreadsheet to show the most accurate possible conclusion. This has shown that antioxidant supplements are either ineffective or actually harmful. So, when people are raving about ‘super-foods’ and health shops are pushing their supplement pills, don’t forget to look at what the studies actually show! It’s best to have a varied diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, maintain a healthy weight and not to drink too much alcohol.
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Lifestyle
How has Instagram changed the fashion industry? In recent years, fashion has undergone a revolution which can be viewed in both positive and negative ways. Lifestyle Editor Laura Cox takes a look at the ways in which social media, with a particular focus on Instagram, has changed the way the fashion industry functions.
IMAGE BY SAM PENNY
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Is fashion becoming more inclusive?
ith the rise of social media platforms including YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, fashion has, in a way, become open to everyone with a smartphone. London Fashion Week shows aren’t closed off from the public anymore; you don’t have to be an A-list celebrity or a hotly-tipped blogger in order to view the newest collections at the moment they emerge onto the runways. Topshop, in particular, is known for the ways in which it invites those from ‘outside’ the fashion industry to access its shows. In February last year, its Unique A/W 15 show could be streamed, for free, from the Topshop.com website. In this way, the exclusivity of the show is reduced; by watching a live stream , industry insiders and fashion fans alike view the new collections at the same time. Print publications used to be the first way for the public to view the new season’s collections. 22
Similarly, Instrgram has a huge part to play in opening up fashion to the public. Still images, not only from fashion shows, but also from press days, offer potential buyers the chance to view pieces long before they hit the shop floor. This can be an important way of securing interest and customers for when the pieces do drop; however, Josh Newis-Smith, fashion editor at Grazia, also warns of the risk that Instagram can make trends seem outdated when they reach stores, if customers have interpreted them independently six months’ previously. Newis-Smith, speaking to the BBC, suggests that customers “don’t want a trend six months down the line anymore, they want it at their finger tips. [F]ashion editors can no longer expect customers to be interested in something they saw on Instagram six months ago.”
LIFESTYLE
Lifestyle
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In a way, the roles are gradually being reversed; designers must be able to keep up with quickly emerging trends, rather than having the exclusive power to dictate exactly what those trends are.
How has Instagram impacted on fashion blogs?
The visual nature of Instagram makes it a perfect forum for fashion fans and trend seekers. Jess Cartner-Morley, fashion editor at the Guardian, claims that “Instagram sets the fashion agenda.” While, in recent years, the rise of bloggers has impacted hugely on the fashion industry, it could perhaps be suggested now that Instagram is overtaking personal blogs as a source of fashion inspiration. It provides access to a huge wealth of images, the ability to search for particular trends (for example ‘#Victoriana’) and allows users to connect with one another by becoming part of a global fashion and photography community. However, although it could be seen to detract attention from the more traditional blog format, Instragram can also be seen as beneficial to bloggers, as it provides them with a vast platform from which they can attract new followers. The visual nature of Instagram means that it can move much more quickly than traditional blogs; while a blog post might take a few hours to write, edit and format, a snap can be edited, uploaded and ‘liked’ within only a matter of seconds.
Is social media pushing fashion to move too quickly?
It’s true that social media has revolutionised the way we live, and the fashion industry is no exception. Newis-Smith says that we are living in an age of “fast fashion and it’s only getting faster. Fashion changes are going at a relentless pace and at some point it needs to slow down.” There’s also potentially the risk that fashion might become more disjointed, with no place for defined trends within a season, if the work of designers has already been interpreted a few months back. However, this could also be seen to be liberating; with the importance of Instagram-led trends continuing to rise, there is no need to depend on magazines to provide the latest trends, or even any necessity to follow trends anymore. Instagram trends can begin much more quickly than a traditional designer-led trend. In a way, the roles are gradually being reversed; designers must be able to keep up with quickly emerging trends, rather than having the exclusive power to dictate exactly what those trends are. LIFESTYLE
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Travel
New York City vs Southampton A Student’s Experience WORDS BY GEORGIA DUDMAN IMAGE BY SAMMIE BURSTOW
Growing up, I always had the ambition to study abroad. New York City is my long-time favourite city, but studying there challenged this.
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went to study in NYC, expecting to stay for four years. I went through the arduous US application process and completed the SATs several times (timed tests in maths, reading and writing). It was no easy task, especially with my dream university (NYU) being hit with 50,000 applicants and accepting less than 10%. It was a culture shock when I arrived - even though I had lived in different countries before. I was 18 and not being allowed into bars, clubs or to purchase alcohol was a constraint for student life. I wasn’t a party animal; but what else were students to do if they couldn’t go down to the local bar on a Friday night? The phenomenon of fake IDs came into play, along with a lot of not-so-legal alternatives to alcohol, which just seemed to be a norm for American kids. Maybe, I’d spent too long in the UK but (if you pardon the pun) it wasn’t my cup of tea! When I arrived the following year at the University of Southampton, I opted for halls. It is commonplace in the US to have a roommate, but at Gateley Halls I had my own bedroom and bathroom. Southampton still has the industrial, city aspect (albeit not the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple), which I prefer over countryside. Three years on since I applied, I have truly grown to love this place as home. I enjoy how specific UK courses are compared to the US system where you have to complete general courses. It was no fun having to do subjects I’d dropped at GCSE. I also find it far easier to meet people in Southampton: its smaller size means you can easily find like-minded people and you’ll often have mutual friends. It was a common saying that you could live in a city of 20 million (or a university of 50,000) and not find your niche. 24
Of course, there are perks of living in the city that never sleeps, from the smell of street food to having the tip of the Empire State Building in your view. There is no shortage of students with the city’s numerous colleges (NYU, Columbia, Barnard, Pace plus many more), but this means competition is fierce. The summers are hot but the winters are freezing - I stuck through Hurricane Sandy and Storm Nemo! I went to a few gigs (the highlight being when my roommate got VIP tickets to Jay-Z in his neighbourhood of Brooklyn) and discovered my love for Hispanic food (NYC has thousands of eateries). I could hang in Central Park and people-watch (New Yorkers can be very interesting and you might even spot a celebrity!). However, the NYC I fell in love with was not the one I got at NYU. I didn’t see a show on Broadway or visit the Statue of Liberty, yet on a 5-day vacation I packed in heaps of memories. You might have Starbucks on every corner, but it’s only because you need that coffee! Perhaps my reason for seeing Southampton as home over what I see as the most epic place in the world is similar to why you choose Jesters over Oceana most night. You’re happy there, with the great atmosphere and great people.
However, the NYC I fell in love with was not the one I got at NYU. I didn’t see a show on Broadway or visit the Statue of Liberty, yet on a 5-day vacation I packed in heaps of memories. TRAVEL
Travel
How to Start a Travel Fund WORDS BY NUALA MCBRIDE
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he main thing that holds us back from travelling as student is money. But, coincidentally, the time when you are a student is the best time for travelling. As students, we have no ties (e.g. mortgages, jobs etc.) and extremely long vacations; so really there’s no excuse. In addition, Europe is so close and affordable! With five months until the summer: there’s a lot of time to save. Here’s five steps towards creating that travel fund, so you can have the holiday of your dreams this summer.
PLAN PLAN PLAN Instead of watching a movie or another episode of a series, use this time to research and plan your next adventure – the key to cheap travel! The biggest expenditures on a trip is accommodation and travel to, from and around. So, by doing a little bit of research you can scout out the cheapest accommodation and flights / train / bus /coach travel. Use sites like skyscanner for flights; which looks across all the flight providers and you can compare different days to fly to spot the cheapest option. For rail fares (if you want to stay in the country), look at splitting the journey into different single journeys, as this can sometimes work out cheaper than buying a return.
SACRIFICE Get a piggy bank. I know they are for kids; but trust me, the simple action of putting money into it is very rewarding and even more so when you see it start to accumulate! If you sacrifice one or two things each week and put the money into the piggy bank, the money will soon add up! Sacrificing two coffees or two packed lunches a week for 5 months could save nearly £100; which could get you flights somewhere in Europe.
BANKING Lloyds bank have a great scheme called ‘Save the Change’. Whenever you make a purchase with your debit card, it rounds it up to the nearest pound and puts that money into 26
an e-savings account. Say you spent £2.54, then 46p would be automatically transferred into your e-savings account. It sounds like small amounts; but it will all add up. Another, option is to transfer to a different bank as many offer cash incentives or vouchers if you open an account with them – perfect for your travel fund. For instance, M&S offers £100 in vouchers if you open up an account with them.
TAX BREAKS If you have a job and earn under £10,000 a year, you do not have to pay tax on your salary. Check that you aren’t due a tax refund as this could be money that could go straight into your travel fund!
REWARD SCHEMES They may seem insignificant; but they do offer some good deals. Sign up for things like a Nectar Card, Boots Advantage Card or a myWaitrose Card as even though the rewards are small, they can be big if you are smart. Boots Advantage card offer 4 points for every pound spent; so buy all you toiletries there and see the points stacking up. With a myWaitrose Card you can get a free teas or coffee every time you shop in Waitrose – that’s £2 you can put straight into your travel fund! My final piece of advice is to set a goal, stick to it and track it!
TRAVEL
International
US Presidential Election 2016 A Preview
WORDS BY FRAZER LOVEMAN IMAGE BY TARA SHORE
With the start of 2016 comes the proper start of the US Presidential race, with the Iowa caucus (a meeting which selects the state’s candidates) less than a month away.
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or those unfamiliar with the US Primary election system, each state votes for a candidate (like the Presidential election) and their electing delegates are designated to that candidate at the party nomination conference, where the candidate with the most delegates nominating them is designated the party’s candidate. Some states have a winner-takes-all system where all delegates are all assigned to one candidate; other states distribute them among all candidates gaining votes, based on proportion of the vote won. Normally, it becomes clear fairly early in the race as to which candidate in the field will win, so the others withdraw in order to allow the candidate to begin fundraising. This is likely to be the case in the Democratic primary, where it is fairly obvious that no one will beat Hillary Clinton. Bernie Sanders may mount a challenge in the liberal north-eastern states, but as soon as the race heads into the conservative southern states, the more moderate Clinton will become insurmountable. Martin O’Malley is already an afterthought. Sorry, Mr O’Malley. So who will challenge her? The Republican race could last far longer but we already know that it’s probably not going to be Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, Jim Gilmore, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, George Pataki, Rand Paul or Rick Santorum - which leaves businessman Donald Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Florida Senator Marco Rubio as the likely contenders. INTERNATIONAL
Trump has been leading in all the early polls, despite some statements which you may have thought would make him unelectable. Cruz has however mounted a challenge as the establishment candidate with broadly the same conservative views as Trump, and is actually leading Trump in Iowa. He is also far less liable to insert his foot in his mouth. Rubio is the least conservative of the three (though Trump holds quite liberal views on abortion, which could hurt him in the Southern states) but has run an odd campaign based more around raising money and national attention, rather than focussing on key primary states. This is both confounding and frustrating for the Republicans, Rubio is seemingly the candidate best equipped to beat Clinton, a good debater with moderate right-wing views and the ability to exploit Hillary’s many skeletons. Polling shows that both he and Cruz could beat Hillary, whilst Trump is always behind Clinton, by up to 11 points in a FOX News December Poll. Whether Cruz’s more conservative ideology would enable him to win swing states in November is questionable, especially with Clinton being less liberal than her two predecessors as Democratic nominee. Hillary is not an exceptional candidate by any stretch of the imagination; both Rubio and Cruz present themselves more effectively and don’t have the negative history, so she’d best be hoping that the divisive Trump can pull off an upset. 29
The International Headlines in 2016 2016 is shaping up to be an incredibly important year across the globe. A new commander in chief in the United States and the continuing crises in the Middle East and Europe will dominate the headlines, though whether an end is in sight for these global events remains to be seen.
WORDS BY ELLIOT GRATER
The US Presidential Election When candidates were put forward for the 2016 US Presidential election the news was primarily concerned with the possibility of a female Democrat nominee, Hillary Clinton, and the return of a Bush to the GOP race. However over the year the race has developed. On the Democrat front Hillary still strongly leads the pack, but with VP Joe Biden retiring his campaign and former independent Bernie Sanders continuing to close the gap, Hillary’s position is not as certain as it once was.
the migrant crisis
2015 saw the growth of what some have called the greatest migration crisis of all time. Over 1 million migrants entered Europe over the year and tragically over 3,800 lost their lives doing so. These men, women and children who are fleeing conflicts, destabilised regions and economic hardship have divided a continent. Some nations have refused to take in the numbers others say they should, whilst others have been more accepting. Chancellor Merkel has stated ‘the influx of so
In Republican territory we have seen the rise and fall of several candidates including Jeb Bush and Ben Carson, and now business tycoon and controversial figure Donald Trump has taken a clear lead with only Senator Cruz’s gradual rise in the polls threatening his position. With the Primaries in the spring, and the elections in November, this election will be fiercely fought by all involved, and will dominate headlines throughout.
many people will still demand more from us’ but has stressed ‘mutually respectful coexistence’. In amongst all the debates over the economic benefits or detriments caused by the migrants, we must remember these are all people, and the fate of their futures and possibly even their lives hangs in the balance as the debate rages hotly on.
syria What started as government protests over 4 years ago has turned into one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 21st century. As a result of the civil war we have seen the rise of the Islamic State militant group, the expansion of the conflict into Northern Iraq, and the intervention of both local and international powers. 250,000 people have lost their lives, 11 million their homes. 30
In 2016 the conflict will rage on. Russia and Iran back Assad, Western powers and Turkey the rebels. The end of 2015 did see the creation of the Combined Joint Task Force backed Syrian Democratic Forces, comprising of Kurdish and other tribal groups united against the Islamic State. They alongside the Iraqi army have made progress against IS but with the rest of the world throwing its power behind all sides involved it is unlikely this conflict has a quick or clean end in sight. INTERNATIONAL
2015 in British Sport WORDS BY XAVIER VOIGT-HILL
We take a look back on British Sport over the past year, reflecting on the sporting highs and lows of 2015.
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hree years on from London’s Olympics, its centrepiece stadium finally began regular operation in preparation for West Ham United’s impending tenancy, playing host to five Rugby World Cup games, a rugby league clash between England and New Zealand, and England triumphing in the Race of Champions. The athletics world, meanwhile, headed to Beijing’s Bird’s Nest for the IAAF World Championships, where Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Greg Rutherford all added world titles to their 2012 gold medal collections. London, which had bid for those very games, will welcome them in 2017. Perhaps the greatest triumph of all was saved for the end of the year, as Andy Murray defeated David Goffin of Belgium in straight sets to seal Great Britain’s first Davis Cup title since 1936. Having almost single-handedly guided the side to the title, winning all eight of his possible singles ties and the three doubles rubbers alongside brother Jamie (the pair becoming the first siblings to secure the three points to win a Cup encounter since 1998), Andy lifted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy for the second time. Sure, the Davis Cup may no longer hold its previous lustre, but as recently as 2010 the side were one lost tie away from the bottom rung of the pyramid. A staggering achievement. Tyson Fury, who seized most of the hubbub approaching the gala with his did-he-didn’t-he-oh-yes-he-did homophobia and sexism after defeating Wladimir Klitschko in their WBA/ IBF/WBO/IBO/The Ring heavyweight bout, argued that he had more personality in his little toe than the other shortlisted candidates put together. Despite his continued pantomime, the public disagreed. A rematch awaits later this year, with a pair of British contenders in Anthony Joshua and David Haye both eager to fight furiously for the belts. Another multi-title winner with an upcoming defence is Lewis Hamilton, who sealed a dominant third Formula One crown. His Mercedes package, built in Northamptonshire, once again proved dominant, with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg combining for 16 of a possible 19 race wins. Jenson Button, the only teammate who has ever beaten Hamilton in the championship, had a torrid year with the McLaren Honda, picking up fewer points in the entire season than Hamilton averaged per outing. Of course, it wouldn’t be a summary of British sport without some underwhelming performances to boot. The main culprits were the World Cups of cricket and rugby union, SPORT
where no British sides progressed even past the quarter-final stages. Ireland in the cricket and Scotland in the rugby came closest to glory, falling agonisingly short of progressing to the next rounds. England’s rugby team, however, reached the low ebb of becoming the first World Cup hosts to fail to escape the pools, launching countless inquests and leading to the appointment of former Japan coach Eddie Jones. Some British teams did, however, truly capture the imagination with their success over the summer. Cycling outfit Team Sky, though saying goodbye to Bradley Wiggins in preparation for the upcoming Rio Olympics, shone yellow on the ChampsÉlysées as Chris Froome won his second Tour de France - the success was Sky (and Britain’s) third in their history and all came in the last four years. This came in the face of persistent allegations in the French media (and golden showers on the mountains) surrounding his integrity, which continue to lack substantial supporting evidence. England’s women did not suffer the same fate as their male counterparts in recent World Cup competition, actually managing to progress from their group stages. Furthermore, they began to win and attract the attention of a nation. Ultimately they fell in the dying light of the semi-final, as a 92nd minute own goal saw Japan through to face (and lose to) the United States in the final. Third place, however, belonged to England thanks to an extra-time penalty in the playoff against Germany in Edmonton. The cricketing men were ultimately able to salvage something from the year. After the second dismissal of coach Peter Moores in barely over six years, Australia’s Trevor Bayliss led the developing English to victory in the most outstandingly mediocre Ashes series in history. Though the 3-2 scoreline may suggest otherwise, not a moment of it bore any real competitiveness, as the sides hit their highest and lowest points in parallel throughout. Not a single test went to a fifth day, and the main outcome of it all was an excuse for a clearout of the Australian ‘Dad’s Army’ ranks. Certainly, there were some moments of magic. Stuart Broad segmenting Australia with eight wickets in an hour at Trent Bridge was nothing short of mesmerising and, by the end of the series, Joe Root had become the top test batsman in the world according to ICC rankings. As the Bayliss regime develops, so too it seems does the team, with subsequent performances against Pakistan and South Africa hinting at a somewhat triumphant national stride being met. 31
Sport
The Premier League Who Dares to Win? WORDS BY JACK PETHICK IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL
As the Premier League teams enter the second half of the campaign the race for the title is still well and truly open, with just a mere 12 points separating 1st and 8th place. We evaluate who we think will pip the rest to the post, in what has been one of the most open and ridiculous title races yet.
At the time of writing this article, the transfer window has just begun, and of course the title race could be decided with the events that unfold in the next month or so. This article is therefore only a prediction of how the top teams will fall with the fixtures left remaining, including those in January.
Arsenal
Arsenal will never have a better chance of winning the Premiership than this season, and Arsene Wenger knows it. For the first time in years Arsenal look relatively solid defensively, this on the most part has been due to the addition of Petr Cech in goal. Cech’s calming presence has spread right through the Arsenal defence meaning that defensively Arsenal can finally compete with the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United. Going forward, Arsenal have arguably some of the best players in the league in the form of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, with striker Olivier Giroud finally proving his worth to the Arsenal fans. Now, if I was an Arsenal fan, I would have seen getting Barcelona in the Champions League as the best thing that could have happened for their title chances. If they can keep their best players fit and make one or two additions over the transfer window then Arsenal will almost certainly be kicking themselves if their not lifting that trophy in a few months time.
Position: Winners
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Leicester
There can be no doubt that what Leicester City and Claudio Ranieri have done up to this point has been nothing short of a miracle. Going from bottom of the table this time last year to being within a shout of the title race is truly phenomenal. It has not been just the fact that they’re still in with a shout that is arguably the most impressive thing but rather the style of football they have implemented. However, it appears slowly but surely that (relatively speaking) the wheels are starting to come off for Leicester. In some respects there are parallels with that of the way Southampton’s season finished last year, with Southampton not quite having the squad depth and quality to pull off the impossible.
Position: Europa League Place
Manchester City
It appears that City possess the same old problems seen in previous seasons, despite the colossal amount of money that they spent in the summer. If their key spine of Hart, Kompany, Toure and Aguero aren’t all fully fit and on song, City look distinctly average and shaky at the back. Without doubt the additions of Sterling and particularly De Bruyne have made them look more dynamic going forward, but without those key players mentioned they just aren’t the same team both defensively and in an attacking sense. If they can get and keep these players fit for the rest of the season- particularly Aguero SPORT
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and Kompany, then they probably would storm to the league. However, at the time of writing this, Arsenal just have the edge on them for me.
Position: 2nd/3rd
Tottenham
Tottenham have impressed me more than any team this season. Pochettino has built a young English squad who all buy into what he’s trying to do. They work incredibly hard off the ball and play some great stuff with it. The likes of Harry Kane, Delle Ali, Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld have been phenomenal for them, they really look the complete team. I think Tottenham have been incredibly unlucky at times this season and deserve to be a bit higher up in the table than they have been in recent weeks. If Spurs make a couple of additions to their squad to maintain their momentum and keep key players fit, they’ll be right up there if they continue the way they are currently.
Position: 2nd/3rd
Manchester United
It’s undoubtedly been a torrid season for United. But given the money they spent in the summer and the array of experience Louis Van Gaal has at the top level, it’s hard to see on paper why they shouldn’t be a shoe-in for a top four place come SPORT
the end of the season. But the way United have been playing over the course of this season makes it particularly hard for anyone to say they are definitely guaranteed a top four place. There have been some signs that a more attacking style might be employed for what remains of the season, so there could be some positives yet for United fans. United have too much quality and experience in their squad to not be finishing in the top four, particularly if they add one or two players in this window.
Position: 4th
West Ham/Liverpool/ Chelsea/Crystal Palace
For me these teams can be bundled together as they share some of the same problems when it comes to the title race. All of these teams at the time of writing this either still have a shot at the title or at least gaining a top four spot, but for me I don’t think any of them will achieve this. They all lack either the quality and squad depth or time to achieve a top four finish. Palace and West Ham have done a fantastic job to still be in with a shout at this late stage, but like with Leicester I think they will lack the quality and depth to sustain their efforts. For Liverpool and Chelsea, it’s more a matter of a lack of time rather than quality so much. But who knows! There’s still plenty of time left in this race so I could be proven wrong! 33
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Jesters Nature Spotting By Tom Randall Pause Editor, WS News 21 January 2016 | Pause
Jordan Stewart
In previous episodes we looked at the many subspecies of Homo undergraduatus that can be seen in the Southampton ecosystem. In tonight’s programme we will be looking at how these wonderful creatures interact and socialise in one of the most violent and uninhabitable ecosystems on the planet.
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he environment in Jesters is one of the most hostile to life known to modern science, yet a teeming ecosystem. Many of the most devastating plagues known to man such as the Black Death, Smallpox and Chlamydia began their life as mutations in the primordial sludge of urine, alcohol, vomit and ruined dreams that exists on the walls and floor of the toilets. Yet the organisms found in this place survive, and indeed thrive. The mould on the walls feeds off the spilled drink and bodily fluids of the larger animals present who in turn use the environment as an important part of their mating ritual. The bar and large space surrounding it fulfil many important needs of Homo undergraduatus, with the drinks at the bar quenching the thirst of the animals with mysterious and sugary cocktails. The dance floor provides an 34
important open space for socialisation and interaction. Many different groups come to use this space and the many forms of intraspecies interaction that take place is remarkable. Of great interest is the bonding that the male members of the Neanderthal ruggerius subspecies take part in. Whether they come as part of the rugby team or on a Management Soc social, this bonding invariably takes place in the same way. After the rapid consumption of sugary and brightly coloured fluids, the call of some tune or another by various groups such as One Direction positively compels these fellows to begin to ‘grind’ up against each other in a crude mockery of the mating rituals that they saw normal people do from within the confines of their all-male boarding schools. PAUSE
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But they are not the only species to practise homosociality (we wish to point out that this is a family magazine and we would never print a word that sounds like something we found on tumblr). Homo nursicus is also notable for the socialisation process taking place in single-gender groupings - be sure to compare the all-male softcore homoerotica of ruggerius to the all-female social rituals of nursicus. Spending all day everyday surrounded by fluids of varying levels of disgustingness while on placement makes this a hardy breed adapted to the conditions in which we find them. They tend to stick to their own, because of the backstabbing that would follow any individual who left the pack to interact with a member of another subspecies. An important part of the ecosystem, although not nearly as important as he (for it is always a he) would have you think, is the DJ or Homo headphonensis. With an ego approximately the size of a small country, this strange creature uses remixed music to signal his presence and gain attention from the rest of those in the area. Unfortunately this rarely works as not only is the booth impossible to see in and the plumage of one member of this breed being hard to tell from another’s (questionable shirt, holding onto headphones and jeans) but the other creatures in the area simply don’t care. All they want is for the signals of their social rituals to come on at the right time, not for any actual skill, talent or ability. Elaborate music is best saved by this group for other environments, but only some have really learned this. No matter how excellent their dubstep/jazz/techno/dance mashup of a Finnish pop duo from the 1980s might be and how much it might be appreciated in the right place, they soon recognise the supremacy of a certain Taylor Swift for this ecosystem. Student media types, the Homo egotisticus, are best avoided by members of all other groupings and breeds. There are two dominant sub-breeds who have a bitter and unexplainable rivalry, some say that a pint was knocked over in 1873 by their predecessors, others that the rivalry is simply an explanation of very different characters being unable to get on. One group is likely to bore all others with a debate at 3am on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict or maybe feminist interpretations of Chaucer before being picked up by mother, the other simply refuses to accept a world outside of themselves. Both groups would quite literally sell their souls for a media internship in charge of writing articles about crap on twitter for a soulless online ‘news’ site, and this is probably their main similarity. Nonetheless, best avoided. PAUSE
Jordan Stewart
Following this period of watering and socialising in this most magnificent of locales, the animals spill out and towards the eating areas. A debate eternally rages between the cheap and not-so-cheerful prospect of deep fried meat-based-matter or a slightly more time and money-consuming curry or shish kebab. The sustenance is not appropriate for the delicate constitutions of those we see tonight, yet they continue to feast upon it every week. The journey back to their various habitats are dark and full of terrors, whether they’re drunken freshers wearing far too little or just the constant drizzle. None of these put off the many creatures we see, and we can be sure of the same spectacle tomorrow night.
Tom.Randall-Pause@wsnews.co.uk Follow me on Twitter: @PauseWS
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