WessexScene.co.uk
University of Southampton’s Student Magazine
MARCH 2016
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+ EIGHT INSPIRING WOMEN 04
After International Women’s Day, take a look at eight inspiring women we don’t often hear about.
+ A GUIDE TO THE US PRESIDENTIAL
+ THINKING OF GOING
As if it wasn’t exciting enough already, we have a huge infographic to wet your appetite...
A guide to one of the most rewarding trips you can ever take.
ELECTIONS 18
INTERRAILING? 24
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
Happy Easter to all our readers! The start of this year has been hectic for all of us here at Wessex Scene, on top of all our regular content we’ve been busy preparing for our 80th Birthday celebration, SUSU elections, the Student Publication Association National Conference, and more. It’s been incredibly hectic, but definitely worth it. We’ve been nominated for five student publication association awards, covered the SUSU elections and of course, turned 80. The coverage of our 80th birthday has been picked up by the Daily Echo, so we’re not only covering the news, we’re making it! This issue covers an incredibly diverse range of topics, from freedom of speech, youth voting, mental health, presidential elections, #relationshipgoals, to ice hockey. Although, perhaps the most important article is the one you’ve all been waiting for - how to be a BNOC. Since our last issue, we’ve also launched www.lgbtmonth.co.uk with Surge, SUSUtv and The Edge, where we’ve been uploading special multimedia LGBTQ+ content.
Opinion FREYA JEFFRIES
As Easter comes around, it is bittersweet for the editorial team here at Wessex Scene. Spring, is of course associated with new beginnings - and of course we’ve not got much longer left in our roles. However, that means you can run Wessex Scene next year! Whether you want to be editing, writing, designing or fixing the website, we have dozens of roles up for grabs. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details of our AGM, any queries drop an email to any of our current committee.
Travel NUALA MCBRIDE
So, for now, that is all - we’ll see you next during exams.
Lifestyle Laura Cox
Bridie
features@wessexscene.co.uk
Science and Environment TRINA DAVIES science@wessexscene.co.uk
Politics SAMUEL WILLIAMS
politics@wessexscene.co.uk opinion@wessexscene.co.uk travel@wessexscene.co.uk 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 SAMMIE BURSTOW WELCOME
OPINION 10 Climate Change: Will We Ever Successfully Adapt or Mitigate? - Matthew Norman. Image by Tara Shore
ISSUE 5 march 2016
FEATURES
LIFESTYLE
Eight inspiring women
04
Breaking the Idea of the “Perfect Couple”
06
OPINION
The Ugly Truth of the Beauty Industry Climate Change: Will We Ever Successfully Adapt or Mitigate?
08 10
12
21 22
TRAVEL
Thinking of going Interrailing?
24
the usa’s hidden gems
26
‘El Chapo’ and Sean Penn
28
SPORT
POLITICS
What Can Candidates Do to Get Young People To Vote? A Guide to the US Presidential Elections
20
INTERNATIONAL
SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
Do fish have feelings?
Chocolate and Spice Hot Cross Buns spring home updates Common Gym and Diet Myths
16 18
Ice Hockey Heating up in the UK
31
the year of the little fish?
32
PAUSE
how to become a bnoc
34
wessexscene.co.uk @wessexscene fb.com/wscene WELCOME
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Eight Inspiring Women WORDS BY NATALIA JOPLING TANSER IMAGE BY CHARLOTTE RICHARDS The 8th of March marked ‘International Women’s Day’. This day celebrates and recognises inspiring women around the world. The achievements of formidable women such as Malala Yousafzai, Katie Piper, Aung San Suu Kyi and Mother Teresa are often referred to, but we often overlook some other female success stories. So take a look at these eight inspiring women we don’t often hear about…
ADENIKE OGUNLESI In 1996 Nigerian Ogunlesi found she needed pyjamas for her children. The result was that she founded what is now known as ‘Ruff ‘n’ Tumble’ clothing. Using local materials, Ogunlesi began selling her handmade children’s clothing from the boot of her car. Fast-forward 20 years and Ogunlesi’s company has expanded to having over 50 employees and 15 branches in Nigeria.
elizabeth cochrane Also known as “Nellie Bly”, Cochrane is considered to be a founding figure in a new kind of investigative journalism. In the late 1800’s, a time in which women were still socially considered of infinitely less significance than their male counterparts, Cochrane bravely undertook an undercover assignment. This involved her feigning insanity and being sent to a mental asylum in order to expose the brutality and neglect the female patients were suffering. Her exposé led to a grand-jury investigation and an overhaul in patient care at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum in which she was detained.
erin brockovich Some may have heard about Erin Brockovich through the eponymous film, ‘Erin Brockovich’. Despite her lack of formal education and 4
being a single-mother, struggling to feed her three children under the age of 10, Brockovich transcended her surroundings and gained a job at a Law firm. In a David and Goliath style challenge, Brockovich took on PG&E, who had been knowingly poisoning residents with contaminated drinking water. The result was that she was responsible for the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in US history.
geronima pecson In 1947, Pecson was elected to the Philippine senate, earning her the title of first women senator of the Philippines. But Pecson represented so much more than just her political achievements. She was the first woman elected to the male-dominated executive board of UNESCO, as well as being a suffragette, social worker and a leader in Philippine nation building and an avid reformer of the Philippine education system.
lili elbe The story of Lili Elbe, formerly known as Einar Wegener, is quickly gaining recognition due to the release of ‘The Danish Girl’, showing how Elbe paved the way for transgender women today. Shunned by many of her contemporaries and branded by many doctors as ‘insane’ for her desire to fully transition to a female, Elbe refused to be defeated. Elbe then underwent a series of operations, as part of gender reassignment surgery, which was still in the early stages of development at the time. Her death, caused by organ rejection, reminds us all to be thankful for scientific progress.
FEATURES
the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, following her death from ovarian cancer at the age of 37.
sarah breedlove yoani sanchez Breedlove overcame every single hurdle that life threw at her. Born to recently freed slaves in 1867 in the racially segregated Deep South, she overcame poverty and illiteracy to become the first self-made female millionaire in America. Orphaned and widowed by the age of 20, Breedlove suffered from severe dandruff and scalp eczema and eventually baldness. Inspired by her skin related struggles, Breedlove began making skin-friendly shampoo and pomades, which proved to be immensely popular. The rest is history!
rosalind franklin An astoundingly clever female, investigating the field of DNA pioneering scientific research at the time, Franklin survived in what is now still the male-dominated sphere of science. Her X-Ray photographs of the molecular structure of the double helix revolutionised science. Unfortunately, her accomplishments are often overlooked due to her research being overtaken by 3 males, who eventually went on to win FEATURES
Despite living under the Communist Cuban regime, which has never tolerated dissent, Sanchez has achieved what other journalists in her country have not: freedom of speech. Her blog, entitled ‘Generación Y’, covers topics such as the population’s deprivation of food and extinction of the Cuban railroad. In spite of Cuban censorship, Sanchez emails her blog entries to friends outside of Cuba, who then post them online. Her efforts are globally recognised, with Barack Obama stating that her blog “provides the world [with] a unique window into the realities of daily life in Cuba”.
Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes and from all 6 (or 7) continents , but the one defining factor between these eight women and the millions of others worldwide whose achievements have not yet been recognised, is that every victory is a victory, no matter how small.
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Features
Breaking the Idea of the “Perfect Couple” The Rise of #RelationshipGoals WORDS BY ELLEN JENNE
With the ever-increasing surge of social media, and overwhelming influence of the internet consuming the everyday lives of the modern adolescent, a phrase that’s become popular amongst the rose-tinted and blissfully naïve minds of young romantics, has been the overly used thread of #relationshipgoals. This trend allows those who dream of being loved to expect certain aspects of a relationship. The overload of photos on Instagram, depicting teenage and young adult couples engaging in acts of playful affection, with their surroundings
almost as beautiful as the photo’s intended focus. Whilst these various depictions often show off both the “simple” pleasures of intimacy, and lifestyles only a fraction of the globe enjoy, you always manage to catch a glimpse of that caption#relationshipgoals. We, as a generation, have become obsessed with finding happiness and love, influenced by displays of affectionate strangers. We try to imitate what they consider to be the “ideal” relationship. This might include exotic travels to wonders of the world, excessive demonstrations of wealth with lavish gifts, and experiences some of us may never be able to have ourselves. These vain and materialistic ideals which some have immersed themselves into, can be fractious and poisonous. These ‘goals’ imply a set of guidelines, for both boys and girls, to achieve this narcissistic perception of ‘love’. For example, quotes that claim girls should be treated like princesses, and showered constantly with gifts consisting of branded clothes or extortionately priced make-up; boys as misunderstood beings that are besotted with their partner, living with this reoccurring thought of self-deprecation, fuelling the need to be constantly reassured by their other half.
@jayalvarrez
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These ‘goals’ can manifest into frustration and discontent when FEATURES
Features someone doesn’t treat you the way you think they should. Perhaps they don’t share sympathy for your moodiness, or look after you when you’re on your period. Girls, it’s nothing new, it happens to the rest of us. When the behaviour of your partner doesn’t match your expectations, you feel let down and look for love elsewhere, in the hope that you’ll be one step closer to those ‘goals’. We grew out of idolising fairy tales, happy ever-afters and finding Prince Charming. We now tend to focus on a more ‘realistic’ depiction of what love and relationships seem to be. But, is this rise of #relationshipgoals having the opposite effect on our sponge-like minds, being more detrimental that helpful to achieve happiness, making us resent what we’re presented with in reality? We have to be wary of the photos we like, or the tweets we retweet, taking them with a pinch of salt. Photos are only a snapshot of someone’s day. Do the photos many aspire to, really depict the reality of a relationship? What about the other 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds of the day? Just because a fraction of someone’s relationship is publicised, it doesn’t mean that it’s an accurate account of their feelings. It merely captures the optimistic, note-worthy parts, evoking the idea that their relationship is flawless. We have to ask ourselves whether such displays of adoration are actually declarations of love. Do the three dozen red roses or the six foot teddy bear, or the grossly romantic trips to Paris really constitute what it means to be in a relationship? Do we crave their actual relationship, or the materialistic attributes that seem to come with it? Is it really love and happiness the next generation are searching for, or is it the gluttonous need to fill their materialist desires? Are we really that unhappy with what’s brought to us in the reality that we escape to social media to fuel our superficial desires? It’s important to remember that we’re human, we all want things, and to feel what we have never felt. But we don’t have to aspire to others, and plague ourselves with the damning #relationshipgoals. Every relationship is unique. When we believe we should behave in a certain way, it enforces the idea of a relationship as an accessory, becoming about what people gain, rather than about each other. Expectations of #relationshipgoals can be shattered within an instant, when emotions fuel our passion. A relationship becomes centred around the little FEATURES
things, not grand gestures, all their quirks and tiny details no one else notices, which makes your relationship your own goal. The conversations until unholy times in the morning, fuelled by alcohol you consumed only hours before. The effort you put in to get to know each other is important; knowing that his favourite colours are orange and black, or that she prefers drinking tea to coffee, that he switches the song playing through your speakers, and it’s always the same one. Appreciate moments like breaking the speed limit on country lanes listening to rock music; just the simple pleasures in life between the two of you, no one else. You become your own goal, your own adventure, your own Romeo and Juliet (without the morbid ending), and the author of your own story. #Relationshipgoals no longer matter, and shouldn’t be the influence for the “perfect” relationship. We should realise that no two relationships are the same. Don’t worry about replicating the relationship of strangers, because it doesn’t guarantee happiness. Embrace the unexpected love and opportunities that come your way, because in the end, your own adventure is more important than any #relationshipgoals will ever be.
Are we really that unhappy with what’s brought to us in the reality that we escape to social media to fuel our superficial desires? 7
The Ugly Truth of the Beauty Industry
WORDS BY HAYLEY ANDREWS IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART
Opinion Animal testing, otherwise known as ‘vivisection’, still plays a large part in the beauty industry, with over 100 million animals being exposed to horrific experiments every year in the US alone. This definitely needs to be stopped, but what are the facts, and what can we do to stop this form of animal cruelty?
A
lthough it was made illegal to sell animal-tested products in the EU in March 2013, animal-testing is still a prerequisite in order to sell cosmetics in countries such as China. Following the European ban, Gavin Grant, chief executive of the RSPCA, made this statement:
There are still many animals being used across the world to develop cosmetics products that will be sold outside of the EU. We will now be taking our message to these countries and companies to ask them to follow our lead and end this suffering.
This means that if companies wish to sell their products abroad, they will have to conduct animal tests, preventing them from being cruelty-free. Whilst several companies, such as MAC and Avon, suggest that they generally “avoid” animal testing, they also state that they cannot guarantee that their products are 100% crueltyfree. Avon’s website includes this statement:
Unfortunately, a few countries require [...] animal testing. Avon, in partnership with other organizations, works to help advance government acceptance of alternative non-animal testing methods. But if a compromise cannot be reached, we must comply with the testing required by local law. Therefore, despite the EU ban, animal testing is still a large problem in the cosmetics industry, and statements such as these simply appear to be a device to distract people from the fact that they still test on animals. Additionally, many companies have found a loophole to refer to themselves as ‘cruelty-free’, since they continue to release products that have previously been tested on animals, as the 2013 law states that only products that have been newly tested in this way are prohibited. Below is a list of a few companies that either sell in countries that require animal testing, or continue to sell products that have been previously tested on animals:
OPINION
The greed of these companies is the root of the issue; they only continue testing on animals so they can make more profit in countries that require this form of experimentation. In buying cosmetics and household products that are cruelty-free, we can show our support for companies that don’t try to make money at the expense of animals’ lives. But it’s not all bad! Many organisations are taking action to eradicate animal testing around the world, such as the Leaping Bunny Program, which companies can apply to in order to become certified as cruelty-free (you can find their logo on the back of cosmetics and household products). Just by conducting a quick search on Google, you will be able to find an extensive list of companies that don’t test on animals, and even some, such as Lush and Barry M, that are 100% vegetarian! Lush states on its website that they ‘work collaboratively with forward-thinking scientists and animal rights groups to create alternative long-term solutions to animal testing for the global cosmetics industry.’ Below is another list which includes a few companies that are cruelty-free:
According to the Humane Society International, more than 40 tests have been validated as safe alternative methods to animal testing which are, in fact, more cost-effective. It has also been suggested that these methods are also safer for humans, since we are not relying on the tolerances of other species to certain chemicals. This is a step in the right direction, which hopefully means that eventually all products will be tested using alternative methods. And by becoming cruelty-free consumers, we are helping to put an end to animal abuse in the cosmetics industry. 9
Opinion
Climate Change Will We Ever Successfully Adapt or Mitigate? WORDS BY MATTHEW NORMAN IMAGE BY TARA SHORE
Climate change should be the spurring, quickening time bomb that calls us all into collaborative action. Instead, it tends to foster a sort of hopeful expectance of others to act on our behalf.
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OPINION
W
hen asking somebody’s opinion on climate change, you often hear “well someone else will sort it out for us” – a textbook case of ‘lack of autonomous thinking’ and a primary exhibit of ‘the sleep of responsibility’. What chaos would we live in if we gave such little effort to other responsibilities? Luckily, it’s just the destruction of the only inhabitable planet in our solar system that people lack responsibility for; at least we adhere to our ‘responsibility’ of consuming unnecessary, uninteresting, unsustainable products. International committees and national governments can create laws, sign treaties, provide guidelines and invest in sustainable development. To a degree, this is progressive. The IPCC, UNFCCC, UNEP and more locally, DEFRA and DECC are all informative bodies that release important data and guidelines to help inform policy makers. But when we hear that fossil fuel companies are not paying the costs imposed by governments, for the burning of coal, oil and gas, or indeed that governments are still subsidising the exploration and use of fossil fuels; it becomes apparent that we - the ‘consumers’ - must act. Fossil fuel companies benefitted from global subsidies of £3.4 trillion in 2015, more than the entire health spending of all the world’s governments. At the same time, we hear that Cameron has cut subsidies to households that want to install rooftop solar panels, just days after announcing a hasty move to a low-carbon energy future. On top of that, the renewables obligation subsidy scheme was also cut. Did you OPINION
also hear that London reached its legal limit for air pollution, for the whole of 2016, in just seven days? And this is not wholly due to ignorant governance; it is mostly due to all the people driving their cars through London at the height of the morning rush hour. Although it is however, the responsibility of the government to quicken the introduction of alternatively-fuelled public transport, and to invest in cycle lanes. Regardless, the “well someone else will sort it out for us” isn’t looking so great now is it? The responsibility is with us, the consumers. The changes in lifestyle and attitude that are required to mitigate climate change are vast. I believe climate change is mostly fuelled by our tendency to over-consume, and I rather doubt our ability as a species to conquer that urge. There is a strange motivation in all of us to acquire ‘stuff ’, a motivation that warns us when something is no longer stylish or useful, a motivation that drives us to get rid of the old and bring in the new. It especially warns us about the consequences were we not to avail ourselves with lots of new ‘stuff ’. We are all slaves to the psychological influence of advertising and peer pressure. Unfortunately, with the acquirement of stuff and the demand for stuff, comes the production of stuff. And as we all know, the production and transportation of stuff requires natural resources. People will say, “It’s fine, I don’t eat meat” or “it’s fine, I don’t have a car”, but those people probably like apples, or bananas, or cotton T-shirts or plastic water bottles, or any of thousands of things produced somewhere else, shipped across oceans, and offered for sale where they live. All of these things are
commodities we buy and consume on a daily basis. So even if you don’t eat meat, or you don’t drive a car, you are still part of a complicated global system of politics and economics organised around trade, and the environmental degradation and destruction associated with it. In other words, we are all implicated in the condition and fate of our good planet, through the system we call capitalism. But it’s not anybody’s fault particularly; we just need to learn to consume responsibly, and realise that the only reason there is such a vast supply of stuff, is because we create a great demand for it – that is why I say that we, the ‘consumers’, hold the power to partially mitigate the effects of climate change. To overthrow or change a global system is not easy. I would instead propose that ‘sustainability’ is taught in primary schools, in secondary schools, as a compulsory module in universities and as a legal requirement within business. If we wish to escape our potential catastrophic fate, we need to educate others on what it means to live under this particular global system, and teach the younger generations to appreciate the larger, environmental implications of their everyday actions, so that they may pass on the message to their children, and so on and so forth. If we begin to and continue to do this, we may stand a chance of not reaching the 2oC threshold, and stand a chance of surviving as a species. Borrowing from Dr Seuss’s ‘The Lorax’ – “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” 11
Science & Environment
DO FISH HAVE FEELINGS? There is a specific name for every diet that is based on principles; positioned on a sliding scale from pescatarians to vegetarians to vegans. Out of the three, the pescatarians are probably the most confusing to wrap your head around. Fish are definitely not vegetables. If you’re cutting out all the other animals, why pick on the fish? WORDS BY TRINA DAVIES IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART
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SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
Science & Environment
I
t can be argued that there are undeniable health benefits associated with eating fish and if you’re avoiding other meat it’s a good source of protein for when you need a break from munching down Linda McCartney Vegetarian Sausages. But why are fish the compromise? Why not drop all meat except rabbit? Or chicken? Or cow? It certainly can’t be argued that fish is the more sustainable choice, with 85% of the worlds fisheries pushed to their biological limits by overfishing and exploitation. Hal Herzog, a scholar of human-animal relations claims “most of our meat choices are determined by cultural habits and things that get simply passed down from generation to generation,” So is it just more socially acceptable to eat fish? Perhaps a lot of people do view fish as vegetables; swimming, gulping mobile vegetables. Most people presume fish are quite stupid. Or maybe they don’t think about it all that much. But either way; to most of the population its okay to farm fish in little pens, fish them recreationally, take half of the fish out the sea to sell commercially, keep them in little bowls on windowsills and slap people across the face with them. Of course I don’t mean to generalise- but these are all things that happen and every time you buy a tin of tuna or forget to feed your suicidal goldfish, you are silently agreeing that it is all okay. Recent research found that fish are not as stupid as everyone thought. The findings of Calum Brown, a professor at Macquarie University in Sydney, suggest fish have feelings and should be treated better! He argues there is as much evidence that fish feel pain and suffer as there is for other vertebrates. Studies even show that fish can become ‘depressed’ after exposure to chronic stress. Neurobiologists are actually using fish to test the link between stress and depression, so as to develop better anti-depressants. It has also been suggested that fish and lower vertebrates may in fact feel things stronger, as after all feelings drive behavior in order to survive. If a fish sees a predator, it gets scared and swims away. Fish are controlled by basic more primal instincts so may ‘feel’ things deeper. Or given the vast difference in sensory systems between fish and human, they may feel in a way humans can’t even comprehend. It is hard to find evidence for consciousness in non-human animals, as researchers are limited by only being able to recognize consciousness from the basis of human experience. SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
So it is hard to say what defines which animals have a ‘mind’. However, evidence from behavioural studies suggests many fish lead complex social lives and are even capable of Machiavellian intelligence. Machiavellian intelligence is by definition, to capacity to have successful political social interactions. Fish display interactions of these sorts by cooperation and reconciliation. An excellent species to demonstrate this kind of intelligence is the cleaner fish. Cleaner fish are famously known for removing the parasites of larger fish, who come to visit specific cleaning stations. However, cleaner fish often cheat and instead eat the much more tasty and nutritious skin of the large fish. The larger fish will then chase after the cleaner fish and punish it. Amazingly, the cleaner fish will then show reconciliation, by riding its offended client around, rubbing its fin on the larger fish’s back. This behavior is continued until trust is regained and the client and cleaner regain a bond. The client will then allow the fish to clean its mouth once more.
“Perhaps a lot of people do view fish as vegetables; swimming, gulping mobile vegetables.“ Even goldfish have proven to have the capacity to learn, suggesting a higher cognitive ability than previously considered. Fish have even been trained to associate the pushing of a lever with the release of food. It can therefore be assumed people underestimate fish, almost as much as we underestimate anything. There is a reason people find nature documentaries so entertaining. As humans we are so terribly surprised to find that any living thing aside from ourselves is capable of any complexities, struggles and adventures. It is perhaps time we included fish in our moral circle and questioned not only our consumption habits, but also our methods of consumption. There are often debates over whether methods of aquaculture and various fishing methods are sustainable. But if fish feel pain as strongly as research suggests, cruelty is another factor to add to the endless growing list of problems with fisheries. 13
Politics
What Can Candidates Do to Get Young People To Vote? WORDS BY JACK DAVIES IMAGE BY OWEN WEBB
Since the 2001 General Election, the key issue when it comes to elections is undoubtedly turnout. The falling percentage of those venturing out to vote (59.4% in 2001) compared to older elections (77.2% in 1992, just nine years earlier) has now seen society polarised between those who vote and those who choose not to. Falling voter turnout has also seen the rise of a new kind of politics directed towards the elderly population, as they are statistically more likely to vote.
I’m
not going to bemoan why political parties announce policies mostly aimed at maintaining an unbalanced status quo of financial perks for the retired population paid for by the young and in work. One side must take the first step on their own. That side has to be the politicians that are looking for young people to vote for them. Too many politicians take the easy path to electoral success by targeting only those who currently vote. As Barack Obama showed in 2008, if you want to make a real difference then you have to take the hard path sometimes. There’s one very obvious thing that candidates can do that top-level politicians have only recently began to use: social media. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others are a perfect tool for politicians to communicate with young people. In my constituency of New Forest West, our MP has a Facebook page and twitter profile but fails to use them to effectively communicate with young people - if young people are to feel engaged then politicians must use social media effectively. Another MP has conducted a live question and answer session where he would answer questions posed by Facebook users and it was streamed live to his Facebook page so people could watch. It is tools like live Q&A’s that candidates and politicians must use. Not only did I feel like I had a say, I could see that many others felt the same way too. But social media is just the start. It will take political parties and governments to enact policies that are targeted at helping young people get on in life. Recent government policies such as removing housing benefit for those under twenty one 16
years of age and scrapping University maintenance grants and transforming them into loans surely will only add to the growing apathy amongst young people. Candidates that want to help young people should start by pushing within their parties for policies supporting greater funding for Further Education, apprenticeships, and in affordable housing. The last election was dominated by issues that affected predominantly older members of society with immigration, the NHS and the European Union all being among the top of the agenda. If the political parties adapted their strategy and fought the election on issues such housing, the economy and education then I am certain that young people would be much more likely to vote. We can’t just expect young people to vote in the hope that one day a political party that gets into power will do what is needed to ensure young people thrive in jobs and education. Young people care about their future. We won’t get anywhere if the lack of young people voting is blamed on the young being uncommitted to their future. If we want young people to be involved, every candidate that cares about our future must set the agenda. Whether a candidate in a local election or a party leader, by setting the agenda and getting the issues young people care about widely discussed in the media in addition to using social media to get their message across, you can then start to engage young people in their future. Most of all, I think it’s time that politicians gave sixteen and seventeen year-olds the vote - but that’s affirmative action that will have to be discussed at another time. POLITICS
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Young people care about their future. We won’t get anywhere if the lack of young people voting is blamed on the young being uncommitted to their future. If we want young people to be involved, every candidate that cares about our future must set the agenda.
A Guide to the US Pr The American Constitution specifies that the President must be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old and been a resident within the US for at least 14 years, and indeed the first requirement was famously used by some figures against Barack Obama, however Hawaii was definitely still a US state the last time I checked. Similarly, in the current election Ted Cruz is also seen as not meeting the requirements due to him being born in Canada, but again, this is false as he was entitled to American citizenship at birth.
Primaries are conducted in each state individually, with Iowa traditionally being first up in early February. The last states tend to hold their primaries in June, with many prospective candidates often not making this date due to a high rate of dropping out if one does poorly in earlier primaries - Senator Rand Paul was one such candidate this year. Similarly, if a candidate does well it can be a boost to the overall campaign - see Bernie Sanders as an example of this. Primaries are indirect elections however, meaning that people are not actually voting for their candidate. Instead, they are voting for a delegate, or number of delegates, who will vote on behalf of the people. There are two types of delegates within each party: pledged delegates, who have to vote the candidate chosen by the people they represent, and unpledged delegates, who are allowed to vote for any candidate.
Caucuses
A caucus is a physical vote where a head count is taken, and therefore is a longer process than a traditional vote. Only 14 states have Caucuses with most opting for a proportional system to encourage greater participation.
Primaries
A conventional voting system with a ballot paper is used. Primaries are either open, closed or semi closed. Open primaries mean that anyone can vote. Closed primaries only allow registered party members to vote. One of us! One of us!
Semi Closed primaries allow for independent voters to vote in any primary, but registered party members can only vote in their respective party.
The National Convention
The National Convention, usually held between July and September, is when the candidate representing the given party is announced. Historically, the winner of the primaries is announced here, but due to the way recent elections have unfolded the winner is often already known. In addition, the prospective Vice President is announced. It is a chance to boost awareness of the candidates and signals the final stages of the presidential run.
residential Elections WORDS BY RAJ MAJITHIA IMAGES BY SEBASTIAN STEELE
Candidates usually declare that they are running for President many months in advance of the actual date. This is a big declaration by the candidate and is the official start of their campaign. Their announcements have generally been made earlier and earlier in recent elections - In 2016 Ted Cruz was the first major candidate to announce his candidacy on March 23rd 2015, whereas John F Kennedy, for the 1960 election, announced his candidacy on January 2nd 1960, emphasising how the sheer scale of campaigning that is now done for this election.
Funding is one the most important elements of any election. Between them, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney raised more than $2billion in 2012 with most of the money going into advertising, raising awareness for their respective campaigns and travelling across the country. Money can be donated by individuals, through optional federal funding, via party conventions or from public action committees (PACs). However, there are limits on how much each source can donate to the candidate.
Debates
Between the convention and the election, which is constitutionally set to the Second Tuesday in November, the two candidates have many debates and try to increase support in States they feel will be significant in the election, the so-called Swing States.
Finally! After almost 18 months of campaigning the election takes place. Similar to the primaries, it is an indirect vote through the Electoral College. Each state has a number of delegates which is decided by the amount of senators and representative each state has. Every state has two Senators and at least one Representative. Eight states have the minimum of three and California has the most delegates with fifty-five. All states except Maine and Nebraska have a winner takes all format and a candidate needs 270 delegates to be declared the winner and the President of the USA.
Chocolate and Spice Hot Cross Buns Method
Ingredients
1
Make the dough first. Heat the milk in a pan until steaming. Remove from the heat, and drop in the butter. After a couple of mins, beat in the egg and half the orange zest. The liquid should be just warm.
•zest and juice 1 large orange •sunflower oil, for greasing
2
•225ml semi-skimmed milk •50g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing •1 large egg •450g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting •2 tsp fast-action yeast •50g golden caster sugar
Mix the strong flour, yeast, 1 tsp salt and the sugar in a large bowl, then tip in the liquid and stir to make a soft dough. Flour the work surface and your hands, then knead the dough for 5-10 mins until smooth and elastic. Oil a large bowl, sit the dough inside it, then cover with oiled cling film. Rise in a warm place for about one hour or until doubled in size.
3
Cut the raisins and half the orange juice in a small pan or covered bowl, and simmer for a few minutes until hot. Cool completely. Break the chocolate into a food processor with the cinnamon and 2 tbsp sugar, then pulse until very finely chopped. Mix in the rest of the zest. If you don’t have a processor, chop it by hand or grate it, then mix with the other ingredients.
For the dough and crosses
For the flavouring and glaze •140g raisins •100g chocolate, 70% cocoa solids •1 tsp ground cinnamon •4 tbsp golden caster sugar •100g plain flour
4
Turn the risen dough onto a floured surface and press it out to a large rectangle, around A4 size. Scatter it evenly with the chocolate mix and the raisins, which should have absorbed all of the juice (drain if not). Roll the dough up around the filling, then knead it well for a few minutes until the chocolate and fruit are evenly spread.
5
Grease then line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape into buns by pinching each ball of dough into a purse shape, concentrating on making the underneath of the ball (which will be the top) as smooth as you can. Put the buns, smoothside up, onto the baking sheet, leaving room for rising. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and prove in a warm place for 3045 mins or until the dough has risen.
6
Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. To make the paste for the crosses, gradually stir 6-7 tbsp water into the plain flour to make a smooth, thick paste, then put in a food bag and snip off the end to about 5mm. Pipe the crosses, then bake for 20-25 mins until the buns are risen and dark golden brown.
7
Mix the rest of the orange juice with the remaining sugar and let it dissolve. Brush the syrup over the buns while they are hot, then leave to cool. Eat on the day of baking.
Enjoy! 20
LIFESTYLE
Spring Home Updates IMAGES BY SOPHIE FELL
Spring is just around the corner and there’s no better way to get yourself ready for the sunnier months than with some home updates. Here Lifestyle Editor Laura Cox shares her pick of the best items to get your home ready for spring.
Woven Throw This cute check throw in spring-like shades of yellow and green is the perfect way to disguise a less-thanperfect sofa. If you’re in rented accommodation, the furniture you’re given isn’t always ideal! However, you can cheer up your living room with this throw and use it to cosy up on colder evenings. Plus, at just £10, it’s a bargain!
Bunting What better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than with some cute bunting? It might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s cute, colourful, and fairly inexpensive. This paper bunting is from Asda and is £6.75, and would look great across a wall or doorframe.
Colour Pop Rug
Again, it can be quite tricky to cover up a floor or carpet you don’t like if you’re living in private rented accommodation. However, a rug is an easy and affordable way to cover up a floor you don’t like and make the room feel much more cosy. We like this Argos rug, which comes in a range of colours and is just £14.99.
Copper Candle Holder A beautifully scented candle can be the perfect finishing touch to many rooms. This Instagram-worthy copper tealight holder is £6.99 from H&M home. If you’re already a fan of copper home accessories, this statement tealight is the perfect piece to update your collection. If you’re in halls and some private rented accommodation, make sure you check the rules about candles first!
Bloomsbury Cushion Cushions are a great way to change the feel of your bedroom or living room for the new season. Mixing and matching different prints and textures will create a unique yet stylish look. We love this embroidered Bloomsbury cushion from Sainsbury’s, which is priced at £16. LIFESTYLE
21
Lifestyle
Common Gym and
Diet Myths As we have well entered the New Year, I bet many of you have made resolutions to work out more, lose weight, tone up, or something along those lines. But, before you go on any further, here are just a few gym myths you should know about…
Myth One
The more protein shakes, the better.
Many so-called ‘gym freaks’ do consume protein shakes regularly. However, it is not healthy to use these as a meal replacement. Because the shakes isolate compounds, they lack other compounds and essential vitamins that real food provides. They are often processed too. Professional athletes tend to use protein shakes, but they key word here is ‘professional’. They also either have a personal nutritionist, or they are a nutritionist themselves. Whilst protein shakes are effective and do show results, you shouldn’t solely rely on them for your intake of protein. Nothing beats the real thing.
Myth TWO
‘Because I go to the gym, I can eat what I want.’
It is no lie that abs are made in the kitchen. Whilst cardio does help you lose weight, and doing weights does help you build 22
WORDS BY NICOLE KALINOWSKA IMAGE BY SAM PENNY
muscle, your diet is essential. Working out is no excuse to eat what you want and have an unbalanced diet. If you take this approach, you will not see results. You don’t need to go on a ridiculous diet or cleanse. Small and gradual changes make a difference. If you normally skip breakfast, wake up half an hour earlier so you can allow yourself time to eat in the mornings. If you snack throughout the day, limit yourself to one snack a day between lunch and dinner. Another misconception people have is how little they believe they need to eat, compared to how much you really need to eat. If you eat tiny portions and find you are hungry constantly, you are starving your body, which means you cling on to more fat and won’t actually lose the weight you want to. In terms of counting calories, they are always guideline daily amounts, not rules. Your body is unique, so you should listen to it and how it reacts.
Myth THREE
Machines are more effective and safer than weights.
This is not the case at all. You can still injure yourself on machines for a number of reasons. Although they are assisted, and have resistance, you can still use a weight too high for you and tear muscles. They aren’t always effective either. You could be using too much momentum, rather than your muscles. Maybe you aren’t engaging your core enough in the exercise. For example, if you squat 60 kilograms on a smith machine, and then try the same weight on an unassisted bar, you will struggle more because it takes more balance and core engagement to free squat. If you ever come across a machine that you are unsure how to use, you should ask someone for assistance to prevent any potential injury.
Myth four
Your cardio machine is counting the calories you are burning.
The machine tells how many calories you are supposedly burning per hour. But, is this accurate? No. If your machine does not ask you for your age, height, weight, BMI, and body fat percentage, then ignore the calories you have burnt, because it will not be accurate without that information. LIFESTYLE
Lifestyle
Myth fIVE
‘No pain, no gain’
If you are ever in pain, you should stop. There is a difference between an ache and pain. If you back hurts when you squat, then maybe you need to work on a better everyday posture, and fix your form during your squats. If leg press hurts your knees or ankles, then you may have a problem with your joints that need some attention, or you may be placing your feet at the wrong angle. You do not need to sweat to show that you are working hard either. Sweat is just the way which your body cools itself down. Just because someone else might be drenching in sweat and you are not, it does not mean you’re not working hard enough. Your body is different, it will react differently to everyone else.
Myth six
Crunches and ab-curls will give you abs.
through. This means doing cardio, HIIT exercises, and full body work outs. Swimming will not help you lose weight either. Whilst it is a great sport and does strengthen and tone your body, it will not actually help you lose excess body fat.
lift weights, they Myth If women will become bulky and unfeminine. SEVEN The high levels of testosterone in the free weights section is intimidating, do not let this put you off. Women are allowed to lift weights too. Naturally, females do have more fat than males, so your bodies find it more difficult to build muscle. You will not become bulky and ‘manly’. In fact, lifting weights is encouraged. Typically, you lose 10% of your muscle each decade once you hit your thirties, so lifting weights regularly is a great way to ensure you keep as much muscle as possible and stay strong as you age.
While crunches do tone your stomach and strengthen your core, they alone will not give you abs. You need to lose weight around your stomach before your abs will start to come LIFESTYLE
23
Travel
Thinking of going Interrailing? WORDS BY ELLIE WERMTER IMAGE BY OLLIE SILVESTER
Interrailing around Europe is one of the most rewarding trips you can ever take. Why? It’s cheap, it’s crazy amounts of fun and it’s one of the best ways to see so many countries and cities in just a few short weeks.
Y
ou begin by purchasing a rail pass at www.interrail.eu for anything up to 1 month of continual travel. This then gives you access to most rail networks across Europe, and the pass comes with a map in which you can plan your route. Last summer, I went interrailing with my best friend from uni for five weeks and it was honestly one of the best times of our lives. However, if the idea of embarking upon an entire continent with nothing but a rucksack and a rail pass is somewhat unnerving, here are a few tips which will hopefully alleviate some of those nerves: A one month continual railpass is roughly £400. After that,
we were spending an average of €30-40 a day - €15 a night each for a hostel and €15/20 on food/activities. No, that’s not a lot, but over 30 days, €30-40 per day amounts to a grand total of €1050! So, budgeting is of the upmost importance. We managed to stick to this budget and do everything on a shoestring and yet still had a great time.
Know who you’re travelling with. Could you live with one
person 24 hours a day for 31 days? Can you sit through elevenhour train journeys with only them for company? No? don’t do it. The nature of this trip is very intense, so make sure you have a solid friendship before embarking on interrailing. Use the Hostel World App. We didn’t book all of our
accommodation before we left England but we made a rule that we would book accommodation up for two cities ahead of ourselves. So, if we were in Amsterdam on Monday but knew we’d be in Berlin by Friday, we would utilise the Hostel World app to book some accommodation for ourselves. This app will save you so much hassle, and by a few hostels in, you’ll be a pro at finding a good bargain. Try to stay a few days ahead of yourselves so that you always know where you are staying that night. Try to be flexible. We arrived in Vienna and realised very
to such a budget is to buy the majority of your food at the local supermarkets, and the European ones are GREAT. Buy a few crossiants for breakfast, a baguette and some slices of cheese for lunch and a banana each and you’ve had two meals for under €3.
quickly that we didn’t need the five days we’d previously set out for it as it was a much smaller city than first anticipated. We pulled out our maps, saw what cities were nearby and caught a train the next morning to Krakow, where we managed to book a tour to Auschwitz- something that had been on my bucket list for years! By being flexible we had managed to squeeze in a bonus country into our original route. Try to keep your options open as much as you can.
Have something to snack on in your rucksack at all times.
Most importantly, get out there and have fun! There are so
Utilise the supermarkets! One of the only ways you can stick
When you’re running for trains or enduring long waits at tourist hotspots, the last thing you want is to get hangry with your travel partner. If you always have a cereal bar on you, then a food crisis will never emerge. I’m certain that this small trick saved us from a lot of arguments. 24
many young people out there doing almost identical routes to you, so sieze every opportunity. Explore, dream and discover.
TRAVEL
Travel
The USA’S HIDDEN GEMS There’s more to the USA than California, Florida and New York - this country has something for everyone…
New Hampshire
Located in the North East of the United States. New Hampshire is rich in beauty, culture and history. For those who enjoy embracing the world’s natural beauty, White Forest National Park is a must. With wilderness spanning nearly 800,000 acres, the park boasts not only spectacular natural scenery but also offers a range of outdoor activities such as kayaking and rock-climbing. For those who enjoy learning about history and experiencing culture, then the city of Manchester is the place to visit. Manchester, New Hampshire is home to the Currier Gallery of Art, which boasts works by a variety of classical and contemporary artists such as Matisse, Monet and Wyeth. A key time to visit New Hampshire is autumn with fabulous photo opportunities to be had of the annual changing of leaf colours, a riotous display of yellow and orange mixed with maroon and crimson. 26
TRAVEL
Travel
WORDS BY NATALIA JOPLING TANSER IMAGE BY SAMMIE BURSTOW
Tennessee
With diverse landscape and topography and rich cultural heritage, the Southeast is another hidden gem. Chattanooga, located on the banks of the Tennessee River provides a great opportunity to learn about the battles of the American Civil War. The Chattanooga Regional History Museum also offers an interesting insight into Native American history and culture, focusing on the original Cherokee inhabitants of the area. Well known but rarely visited by non-Americans, is Nashville, Tennessee. Home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and known for its contribution to country, gospel, blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll music, Nashville is a fantastically fun place to visit. For those wishing to experience some truly American live music, the Ryman Auditorium’s 2,000-seat theatre has seen country stars such as Sheryl Crow perform there, with fantastic line-ups offered all year round. Finally, the Belle Meade Plantation gives fantastic guided tours of its spectacular grounds, including a tour of a Slave cabin, dating back to 1832.
Alabama
Multiethnic inhabitants and a warm semitropical climate, Alabama certainly gives an introduction to Southern charm. For those interested in the historical aspects of the American Civil Rights movement, Selma, located high above the Alabama River, was the scene of one of the most notorious events in Civil Rights history, known as “Bloody Sunday”. The National Voting Museum beautifully encapsulates the story and annually presents a reenactment of the event as a tribute to the lives lost. Literature lovers are sure to love Montgomery, which in 1931 was home to F. Scott Fitzgerald as he was writing his novel, ‘Tender is the Night’. His house is now a museum and welcomes visitors from all over the world. St. Louis, known as the ‘Gateway to the West’ for its steamboat voyages, offers a real mix of activities for any tourist. The Gateway Arch, a symbol of the city’s role as a commercial and cultural gateway is a key part and possibly the most memorable feature of the city skyline, providing some fantastic views at night when the city comes alive. The Kansas City museum (surprisingly, not in Kansas), located in one of the city’s most exclusive neighbourhoods provides visitors with a time warp. Exhibits in the museum include a 1910 drugstore with an original and working soda fountain, a fantastic opportunity for any fizzy drink lover or those interested pre-technological life. Montana, home to the Glacier National Park, is truly a state of epic proportions. Nature lovers will be captivated by the Glacier National Park, which is spread over nearly a million acres and includes the famous Rocky Mountains. The park isn’t only glaciers! It also boats many waterfalls, lakes and limestone cliffs and if you’re lucky on a walk through you might spot some of the many moose, wolves and bears that call the Park their home. Finally, if you’re interested in the environment and stopping forest fires, then Missoula is the place for you! Home to the Smokejumpers Base, which is national centre for stopping forest fires, you could find yourself learning about fire-fighting techniques and even meeting some of the fire-fighters themselves. Offering scenic beauties and cosmopolitan treasures, Oregon is a state that truly has it all. Known as ‘The City of Roses’, Portland’s downtown and old town are evidence of fantastic urban planning. On a regular basis the Portlanders flock to the heart of the city, in particular to the Pionner Courthouse Square which offers free lunchtime concerts, flower shows and other events. For those wanting to try something new, why not take a ride on a sand dune buggy along the Oregon coast? At the Oregon Dunes national Recreation Area rides on dune buggies are available to help explore the vast and spectacularly towering sand forms.`
Missouri Montana Oregon TRAVEL
27
International
‘El Chapo’ and Sean Penn What Is The Nature of The Drug Dealer’s Interactions with Celebrities? WORDS BY CAMERON RIDGWAY IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART
28
INTERNATIONAL
International
The recent
arrest
of Mexican drug baron Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman was lauded by the US government as a ‘victory for both citizens of Mexico and the United States’, but the announcement that authorities wanted to speak to Mexican and US celebrities who had met with the drug dealer on a variety of issues was perhaps a bit more of a bone of contention.
Kate del Castillo, who formerly played a drug baroness in Mexican telenovela La Reina Del Sur, have also come into question. In 2012 Castillo publicly questioned the record and reputation of the Mexican government headed by president Enrique Pena Nieto, saying she had more trust in the Sinaloa drugs cartel which led to her being contacted by a representative of ‘El Chapo’.
Notable personalities who have had contact with the re-captured fugitive and ringleader of the Sinaloa cartel, deemed the ‘most wanted man in the world’, who escaped from the top security Altiplano prison in Mexico through a two metre long tunnel before being recaptured by the government, include Hollywood actor Sean Penn and Mexican actress Kate del Castillo.
The fact she helped broker the interview between Penn and ‘El Chapo’ has served to further the scrutiny of her links with the drug dealer, with Mexican authorities eventually issuing an order to question the actress (who has dual Mexican-American citizenship). Castillo has so far stayed in America and refused to comply with the order (which is valid in Mexico only), claiming through her lawyer in the US, Harland Braun, that she ‘is not hiding anything’ and will co-operate with authorities if ‘proper information and credentials’ are received.
Penn met with the fugitive Guzman to conduct an interview for Rolling Stone, which he said was intended to create a ‘conversation’ surrounding the ‘War on Drugs’. He later admitted on US TV Network CBS’ 60 Minutes programme that the 10,000 word article had ‘failed’ as it ‘ignores its purpose, which was to contribute to this conversation on the war on drugs.’. One of the Sinaloa car lawyers has since made accusations that the article contains ‘falsities’ which are ‘absurd speculation’ about the Sinaloa cartel leader. Mexican authorities placed Penn under investigation soon after the interview. The interactions of the Mexican actress INTERNATIONAL
the recaptured fugitive, despite the Mexican authorities claim that the Penn interview helped lead to the capture of ‘El Chapo’. Many expressed surprise at the fact that Penn did not turn El Chapo in to the authorities after interviewing him, instead saying that he did not want to betray the drug baron’s trust. Guzman was reportedly caught through his contact with various actors and directors about plans to make a biopic of his life similar to the Netflix original drama Narcos, which was based on the life of Pablo Escobar, although it remains unclear whether Penn or Castillo were among those contacted about such a project.
Castillo publicly questioned the record and reputation of the Mexican government headed by president Enrique Pena Nieto, saying she had more trust in the Sinaloa drugs cartel The question of whether celebrities should be investigated has created a wider debate about how responsible they should be held for their actions and whether their interactions with Guzman broke laws or have been of benefit to 29
Sport
Ice Hockey Heating up in the UK WORDS BY JAMES MOSELEY
I
ce Hockey is always going to have tough competition in the UK, being under the shadow of the more traditional and far more dominant sports such as Football and Rugby, but recently it has been able to edge its way onto the scene. Since its inception in 2003, the Elite Ice Hockey league, EIHL, has made great strides to not only provide a spectacle for fans but also to prove itself as a financial model. Now in its second decade of operations it looks like the dream of a competitive professional league with financial stability has been achieved. The Sheffield/Nottingham derby on Boxing Day drew a record crowd of over 9000 fans, a figure which rivals those across leagues in Europe where Hockey is far more popular, a testament to how far the sport has come. That isn’t to say that there aren’t struggling teams, just this off season the Hull Stingrays went into liquidation after failing to secure financial backing and there are worrying signs starting to emerge for the struggling Edinburgh Capitals who are the only team to not draw an average of at least 1000 fans per game. However, most teams have a secure future and are expanding their sphere of influence gradually which is now providing the league with a solid foundation for future endeavours.
IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL EIHL back in 2010. Even with these expansions the South Coast would still be left without a team in either of the top two tiers of UK Hockey, which definitely opens up an opportunity for a businessman willing to take the risk of getting a franchise off the ground. With a proof of concept in local teams such as Basingstoke and Guildford showing that there is a potential market, Southampton could have been an ideal location for such a venture if Sport England had backed plans for a £10million rink back in 2012. It still could if a new investor could be found to back the plans, which had a location and had gained planning permission from the council. With the recent success of the Saints in the English Football Premiership, now would be a great time to take advantage of the city’s interest in sport and reap the benefits.
Currently with ten teams, the league has matured enough that many think that it should look to continue to grow the sport and attempt to reach new markets. Tony Smith, chairman of the league, reflected this sentiment when he announced that London would be allocated a franchise in the future, playing out of Wembley stadium, although further plans have yet to be unveiled. This would be a smart move for the league as it will start to fill the void of teams in the South East due to the imbalance caused by the far more numerous northern teams currently competing. But to really exploit this untapped market, a second team in the south in the near future is a viable possibility. The Telford Tigers, a team in the English Premiership Ice Hockey League, EPIHL, the tier below the EIHL, has expressed an interest in making the jump but with a rink capacity of just 750 and past financial difficulties this seems unlikely. Another candidate could be the Basingstoke Bison, who have competed in the EIHL in the past, and while they are currently topping the EPIHL standings, they have a winning product on the ice. However the Bison might feel uneasy about re-joining the top tier as they struggled with problems on and off the ice last time they competed in the SECTION
31
Sport
The Year of the Little Fish? WORDS BY RHYS JACKSON
L
ong gone are the days of the hegemony of the ‘Big Four’ in the Barclay’s Premier League – Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool. Of course, one cannot
come to this conclusion on the basis of a single season thriving with uncertainty, but the expectations and norms of the top flight are tangibly eroding.
The success of a football team is constantly fluctuating, such is the mechanism of the league structure, but not as dramatically as this season. In October I wrote that the 2015/16 competition will be incredibly unpredictable, and week after week it is excitingly shaping up that way. I also recall hyping players that have underperformed and overlooking ones that have shined. Leicester City, who only a year ago were battling relegation under Nigel Pearson, have showed a remarkable string of performances that gives them a genuine shot at lifting the Premier League trophy. Tottenham have fought their way into the title race, too, finding form that has eluded them as seasons have gone by. The top-table positions of Chelsea, and arguably Manchester United are no longer guaranteed. Punters are left scratching their heads at accumulators; it hasn’t been like this for years.
earlier in the season broke Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s previously held feat of 10 goals in 10 games was personally congratulated by the Dutch forward. His climb from grassroots football to Fleetwood Town striker to helping Leicester clinch promotion to the Premier League extends beyond commendation . He cost The Foxes a mere £1 million. The partnership with the bargain £400,000 Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has championed all this season. If one was to say 12 months ago that Leicester would lift the trophy, you would most definitely be met with delusion.
The financial inflation of modern football is difficult to accurately assess, but the money involved in securing the televised rights for future matches beginning in the 2016/17 season seems exorbitant at first glance - Sky and BT Sport have paid £4.2 billion and £960 million respectively. Swamping figures aside, it simply generates more capital for every club in the competition, opening up the possibilities of transfers, training facilities and more comprehensive scouting networks. Teams that vary on their goals and objectives for the season have more opportunity than ever to add strength to their squads. But it isn’t all about the money. The fairy-tale story of the season has to be Leicester, whose actual value of their regular first-team costs less than £25 million, or an Adam Lallana, Pedro or Memphis Depay. It is comprised of players who have put in solid performances week after week, taking immense pressure in their stride and turning the odds after a pivotal 3-1 win at the Etihad in January. Jamie Vardy, whose string of goals 32
Tottenham are breathing down Claudio Rainieri’s side, and that in itself is another story. Bitterly headlocked with Arsenal, Spurs have showed consistent displays, although these performances are not as surprising given their familiarity with Europa League ground. The recognisable efforts from Harry Kane and Dele Alli look promising for the future as English youngsters, but I’m carefully avoiding the malediction here. Newly-promoted Watford have aimed to cement their position at the top half of the league, and West Ham have a look convincing for a finish in the top six. Crystal Palace and Stoke City fans have been excited by the development in the attacking aspects of their playing style. The ‘Big Four’ have lost their unwieldiness at the top. Manchester City have evolved and taken Liverpool’s place for the time being. At least Arsenal can claim true a continuation in this territory. Anfield no longer hosts the world-class quality flaunted under the Rafael Benitez era anymore. Chelsea have to prove that they can bounce back next time round to winning ways or risk stagnation. Manchester United lack the creative edge that teams anywhere in the continent feared, leaving Old Trafford goalless on too many occasions. The smaller fish of the pond are putting up a worthy fight, and the waters of the Premier League are tremoring. SPORT
Pause
So you want to become a Big Name on Campus? You want the wide-eyed freshers to be told tales of your deeds and escapades from the paternalistic and not-at-all-irresponsible halls reps in between vaguely sexual drinking games? [Maybe the latter part was just me - Ed.] It’s a difficult path to take in life but has rewards at the end, namely selling out completely and making it harder for those following the path you hewn through the granite rock of university and balancing the different aspects of campus life.
You need to start small -
Scrawl your name with a sharpie all over the walls in Jesters so everyone knows what a sick bloke you must be because you go to Jesters. In an age of instant communication, misuse of the greatest technological advance in history for the purposes of making yourself better known is what everybody is up to from your aunt’s moderately homophobic facebook rants to the media campaigns of the multinationals and governments. Snapchat and Whatsapp are invaluable tools in your campaign to become known as a true madman. The Facebook pages 34
WORDS BY TOM RANDALL IMAGES BY SEBASTIAN STEELE dedicated to the goings-on of students are about as active as an English Literature student so don’t be too reliant on someone taking a photo of your misdeeds and sending it into Tell Him/ Tell Her. However, that’s not to say that Facebook pages dedicated to airing dirty laundry in public won’t ever come back or be significant. Yet, going to clubs a lot and acting like an absolute madman isn’t exactly a unique or niche activity. Sooner or later you’ll PAUSE
Pause
need to expand your audience. This is where student media comes in. There are several magazines and online print media to really get people to know you through. The radio and TV is perhaps a less sure shout for the aspiring ego but worth a shot always. Do you prefer writing film reviews, about obscure political issues or simply how you can tell what someone is like by which kebab they order? Maybe your idea of fun is writing unfunny satire? Give it a think and get stuck in. Join a committee as a section editor and further enforce your name on the poor innocent magazines. Snarky comments on articles are good, with some work you eventually become the story they are talking about. Controversial articles are of course the best way of courting BNOC status. Generally speaking, the more self-indulgent the better. You matter more than the plebs below you and they, quite frankly, don’t appreciate what a privilege it is to hear your views. Even better, how are students at a relatively middle of the road Redbrick university quite literally demi-gods in a world of mortal people who read the Sun and do anything quite so vulgar as working in anything other than media or finance? Write a nice self-congratulatory article for the views and notoriety. There is no such thing as bad publicity, unless you’re a BBC presenter from a bygone age. Not content with this, have you also considered taking a parttime elected post? People really love pro-active course reps who send out daily emails so everyone can keep up on their progress. This is just the run-up to the campaign for a more substantial role such as being a departmental or faculty-level student representative. Having your picture on the faculty noticeboard might not be as impressive as it sounds but more important is the endless opportunities to invite coursemates to non-events on facebook and to play up in lectures. Everybody sells out one day. One day you will be a final year student and not quite made it into the premier leagues of BNOCs. It’s time for Sabbatical Elections. Fear not the threat of doing anything, being a Sabb is a great way to cement that status as a name on campus everybody knows, and in many ways is the final stage of a natural cycle. Imagine it, your face on posters all over campus and everybody hears you so much they just want it all to end. This is the BNOC dream. It also postpones your imminent departure for the Real World for another precious year. A year in which you can truly savour the fruits of your hard work to become well known. While everyone else has swanned off to work soul-destroying jobs or eke out a living as an artist, you have the influx of thousands of Freshers to influence. Just be warned, they don’t know who you are. A neo-Stalinist cult of personality might come in PAUSE
“Everybody
sells out one day.” OG Randall
handy here. There isn’t particularly much for you to do here but it’s a nice little way of ensuring that your name is known by all. The politically inclined could take BNOC status into the real world by attempting to become an MP, which provides a lot of opportunities for self-promotion. Otherwise it can be hard to ensure enough people know your name for you to be truly content. This is the curse of the BNOC, driven forever by the desire to be known. It can be hard to make friends when all your energies are spent on self-promotion, this is why BNOCs tend to be friends with each other as they need to interact with people who understand the unique pressures of trying to be a big name on campus.
Try to picture yourself in the Wessex Scene election coverage next year
35