www.wessexscene.co.uk
SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT MAGAZINE
www.wessexscene.co.uk
///
ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 2013
1 / WS / Editors ///
EDI TOR S PAG E
/ Editor / Sam Everard
/ Deputy Editor / Amy Sandys / Head of Design / Amy Harwood
/ Online Manager / Jake Sharpe
/ Imagery / Sasha Spaid
/ Features / Tahlie Cooper / Kerry Sclater
/ Science and Environment / Johanna Blee
/ Politics / Victoria Low
/ Lok Yan Patrick Leung
/ Winchester / Diogo Lopes
/ Opinion / Isabella HunterFajardo
/ Xanthippe Waldron
/ Travel / Tayler Groom / Lifestyle / Konyin Aromolaran
/ Emma Hobbs
/ International / Dimple Vijaykumar
/ Sport / Adam Jones / Joe Taylor
/ News / Emma Cheshire / Shaun Harvey
/ Pause / Andy Haywood / Publicity / Jack Kanani
E D I TOR’ S LE TTE R Welcome to the first Wessex Scene issue of the year! For us, the first one is always like the pilot of a TV show. We’ve got one chance to sell you on our concept, to getyou interested, and that, potentially, is it. Only instead of charismatic leading actors, we have my talented team of editors. Instead of explosions and brief nudity, we have interesting articles. And we’ve got six more issues regardless of whether you hate us or not. Ok, that analogy was thin at best. But the sentiment behind it is the same: we want you to take notice, and we want you to take part. The Wessex Scene is run entirely by students, and anybody can write for us, regardless of experience. Whether you want to be a journalist, love writing, want to be part of a fun society, or just want your opinion heard for ego reasons, we’re here for you. In this issue, we cover a huge range of topics relevant to Freshers. Inside you’ll find ways to avoid the dreaded Freshers’ Flu, some clues as to what you might experience in your first few weeks, and even an interactive Freshers’ bingo sheet to tick off as you go along. Our website, www.wessexscene.co.uk, publishes new content on a continual basis, and we’re always looking for new writers to join our enthusiastic, ever-expanding team. I couldn’t be more excited for the coming year, and I can’t wait to meet you all. Hey, you might even have my job someday and you don’t even know it yet. Sam Everard Editor Front Cover by Hamish Dinsdale
/// Publicity/ WS / 2
KEEP IN TOUCH Keep up to date with local, national and international news, feature-length pieces, as well as university-specific information all about the University of Southampton and Winchester School of Art.
www.wessexscene.co.uk FACEBOOK
facebook.com/wscene
@WessexScene @WessexScene_WSA
@wessexscene
@WessexScene_WSA
JOIN THE TEAM WRITERS
Want to join our team of writers? Get in touch with the Editors of your desired sections! Their contact details can be found alongside their section’s articles throughout the magazine.
IMAGERY
Fancy contributing your artwork or photography for online and print? To join the imagery team, contact the editor at editor@soton.ac.uk to find out how to get involved.
Image by Jasmine Cooke
3 / WS / Features ///
Freshers’ Tales:
THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
/ Kerry Sclater / / Tahlie Cooper /
///
So you’ve begun your tentative first steps as a fresher, and no doubt your expectations so far will have been composed by a medley of horror stories from family and friends. Well, we’re here to tell you this: they are all true. The highs, the lows, the humiliation: they all form a crucial part of what it is to be a Fresher.You may be in for one hell of a ride this year, but the memories you’ll make will remain cherished and formative experiences in your life. Here are a few of the best we collected. Enjoy!
THE GOOD For many students, coming to
university is the fresh start they need in life, with opportunities of freedom, independence, as well as meeting tonnes of new friends. Although, be warned: in first year ‘good’ is not always as innocent as you would expect!
“I was drunk and stranded in Portswood after being kicked out my cab after being sick. A postgrad guy from our uni found me and walked me all the way back to Glen while I was being sick.” “I met my lovely boyfriend in Jesters” “I met so many new friends and like minded people- first year was really the fresh start I needed, best decision ever!” “I thought freshers was pretty good, even though we all lived at home! People always assume that you don’t get any of the fun experiences if you don’t move into halls, but I Image by Nancy Luong
still enjoyed it and managed to make friends easily, and I think overall SUSU did a really good job of making sure there was still lots on for those in private rented accommodation”
THE BAD Perhaps reassuringly, it proved really difficult to find bad freshers’ memories, but homesickness, lack of funds and actual sickness (freshers’ flu) are likely to form a few of your not-so-positive memories from your first year at University. Judging from our poll though, it seems that these were overshadowed by the good and (more worryingly) the ugly times!
“Perhaps one of the first nights I had out, I went to Provenance...bad mistake. I stepped on a shard of glass which cut right through my shoe and into my foot. The girls in the toilets helped me along with my friends and the security patched me up and sent me home. Never been there since” “I was ill pretty much continuously throughout the first semester, ending up in a horrible bout of tonsillitis- my grandparents had to come and rescue me!”
THE UGLY Along with the no-holds-barred thrills of first year, there are sure to be a few colourful memories. And by that I mean a type of sickly greeny-browny colour. These just speak to themselves...
“My first memory on waking up is someone defecating into what was probably a stolen blender. This rather hazardous cocktail was spilt on the stairs on C block (I didn’t go near it but still felt my shoes needed to be disinfected) and suitably chucked into the outskirts of Bencraft where it remains today...” “I got with a guy the night before who decided that it would be a good idea to put the used condom in one of the Tesco bags I had packed my stuff in. A few days later, my mum used the bag to go food shopping and found the condom whilst packing in front of the check out lady and the rest of my family.” “I took a guy back from jesters, I went to my bathroom for about 10 seconds and I walk out and he’s being sick all over my carpet. He then proceeded to throw up all over my en suite for half an hour, naked.” “I puked into my bedroom sink which then blocked it for like a week.”
In a year’s time, you will all have your own stories to pass on to the next batch of wide-eyed freshers, but hopefully the lasting experience you will have gained will be a positive one: one in which you take your first steps on the way to the future. Don’t ever look back- unless it gives you a laugh of course!
Email contact: features@wessexscene.co.uk
THE REAL COST OF BEING POOR Toffs, Posh boys, snobs- call them what you will, you still can’t deny the existence of the great ‘rich-poor divide’, which for centuries has existed as a means of promoting elitism and discouraging social mobility. The purely academic advantage provided by a private education is undeniably concrete, with independent school pupils three times more likely to achieve top grades at A levels. From a university perspective, it’s easy to be drawn into their impressive resumes and prestigious line up of extra curricula activities- the likes of which could not be afforded in state education. Similarly only 24% of state school pupils gain entrance to the most selective universities, proving there is still a long way to go for equalised footing. Nevertheless, compared with the top jobs that once came guaranteed with a silver spoon, the playing field is slowly becoming levelled. In comparison to the rigid structure of private schooling, the rich ‘life’ experience of-
fered by state schools is clearly becoming a valued currency , as UCAS data shows record numbers of disadvantaged 18 year olds applied to higher education this year. Southampton in particular was praised for its ever increasing proportions of disadvantaged students. Surprisingly, the drastic tuition fee rise may have also proved beneficial to the poorest of students, with universities charging over £6000 being forced to sign an agreement to spend a proportion of their income on financially supporting them. Although obviously a step in the right direction, there is perhaps an undercurrent of bitterness from some of those who are now shunned for their state educated counterparts, a decision prob-
/ Kerry Sclater/
ably encouraged by positive discrimination. Whilst the debate of the quality of private vs state education continues to elude a resolution, the cost and pay-off of social class teeters on an unstable equilibrium. Yes, private schoolers get better A-levels, but those with a state education tend to go on to get better degrees. And yes, the Times recently issued statistics suggesting 80% of key positions in Britain are held by those with a pricey education, but elsewhere there is little concrete evidence to suggest that a state education leads to poorer job prospects. In fact, once admitted to university, it becomes almost impossible to distinguish between state and private schooled individuals. So what does this mean? Perhaps the cost of being poor today is less than that of being privileged, with universities being urged to accept disadvantaged students, and a more ready source of financial aid available. The moral of the story seems to be that, ultimately, your educational background will have less to do with your future than your individual credentials, making it down to each individual to make themselves shine - whether that be because of or despite their upbringing.‹
Image by Lizett Villalon
/// Features / WS / 6
SHOULD STUDENTS PLAY
THE DATING GAME?
/ Tahlie Cooper/ When we are presented with the term ‘online dating’ we immediately think of young professionals who simply don’t have the time to find romance. But it seems that in recent years the online dating platform has become more appealing to students. With 1 in 5 relationships beginning online and an apparent 20% of online beginnings ending in marriage…should students be playing the online dating game?
The online dating industry is worth in the region of approximately £2 billion, with the average cost of a membership being £20 per month. So why should students sign up at such a cost? New dating sites are now being created for students. ‘Freshmeet’ (excuse the pun) is said to be the most popular among students! Director of the site, Anthony Purkiss believes this to be the next step in finding love for students: “Students don’t have to date someone within their clique anymore; they can meet someone new and exciting that they never knew existed…you never know, they might even live on the same street!” Online dating is taking the world by storm with 2/3 Britons signing up. With student sites such as dateatuni.com and uoldating.com, is a digital relationship the best beginning for the end of singledom? Or could it drive a social wedge between us? New VP Welfare Beckie Thomas shares her opinions: ‘‘I think the best way to meet people, whether that be as friends or something more, is to get involved in something you love! There are hundreds of societies to choose from, so it makes sense to get stuck in and meet people with similar interests! I can’t speak for everyone, but too
/ Image by Katie Chisnall /
much socialising happens online now, so I wouldn’t be a huge fan of anything that adds to this!’’’ Not only could online dating act as a social barrier, but could it be promoting the wrong mentality? Sat at the computer scanning through numerous profiles; is it no different to online shopping? Only in this case we may not be getting the exact product we are presented with. University of Rochester US, Professor Harry Reis, explains the shopping mentality: ‘’ Skimming over hundreds of potential mates can promote a
‘shopping’ mentality, resulting in single people becoming excessively picky. Singletons who spent weeks or months emailing a potential mate before meeting them often had unrealistic expectations when they finally went on a date.’’ Some of us may be too busy falling out of the Jesters’ door or burying our heads in a textbook. But for those who want to find someone, friend or maybe more, it seems that the success of student dating sites could be a simple solution. Email contact: features@wessexscene.co.uk
7 / WS / Opinion ///
A FRESH TAKE ON FRESHERS Wild nights out, staying in bed all day, doing no work and cruising through your years at university. Unfair perceptions perhaps, but they’re often the norm in today’s society, enhanced by the media’s sensationalisation. Alexandra Cole examines this stereotype, and explains why the student lifestyle is not quite how it seems. The media is known for stereotyping. Any news outlets, whatever the medium, are almost guaranteed to be parading a new view on a certain group of individuals who share a certain group of traits. It doesn’t matter which group it is – to varying extents, the media will manipulate the few common features of that group into a grotesque monstrosity which could quite easily serve as an antagonist in a summer blockbuster. The student population is an easy target, labelled constantly as either drunken partygoers who are lazier than the previous generation, or just as a simple statistic to be used in the exaggerated and incessant yearly analysis of Results Day. This is the problem with the general attitude towards students. Not only does it make the newly-fledged student feel like they have just joined the Dark Side, it segregates an entire group of people – the people who will shape tomorrow’s society. The media fails to understand what it truly means to ‘be a student’, as they focus on the figures and data that make up their psychedelic coloured pie-charts around results time. University is not about grades, it is a time of new challenges and
/ Alexandra Coles /
new adventures, and it is a time of find out who you really are as a person. If the media continues to lump every student together, they quash the spark of individuality in those who are walking through the proverbial university gates for the first time and handed the score card for freshers’ pub golf. Of course, student life does in-
volve parties and getting drunk, but that is part of the experience. This media seem to fail to understand that it is just that – part of the experience, an experience which also involves finding and challenging your limits (alcoholic or otherwise). However, because the media is such a powerful force in this day and age, it manages to warp perceptions of what student life
is about to the point it is unrecognisable to anyone at all. For those of us who are already students, we understand what student life is about. We have worked out that the system isn’t as it is portrayed, and that there is far more to get involved in than just going clubbing (which of course is still important in many students’ lives). However, for those joining the system it can be very disconcerting to have the media’s negative and twisted views on student life, with horror stories of halls and nights out – forced down their throats with the hashtag ‘#thisisthetruth’ scrawled after it. As the new academic year begins, it would be nice for the media to take a more positive stance on students. Maybe they could widen their range of stories from permanently disgusted headlines about alcohol consumption, and show a truer picture. For once, they should take a step back and realise that today’s students are achieving far greater goals than their predecessors, and show the true values of the student lifestyle; the values which tell every student that university is the beginning of a wonderful and exciting journey and that they should enjoy every minute of it.
Image by Anna Stachtiari Email contact: opinion@wessexscene.co.uk
Student Journalism:
/ Isabella Hunter-Fajardo /
WHAT IS THE POINT? As a green young fresher way back in 2011, I wasn’t keen on the whole student journalism thing. I thought it was for bored, pretentious English students with nothing else to do. But then, in the summer between my first and second years, I did an internship in PR. It was in fashion PR, so the opposite side to the magazine world – the world I wanted to break into. After doing this, I realised that unless I started practising my writing, on a platform open to criticism, and started beefing up some kind of writing portfolio, I really had no chance. Every other intern, both in PR and in the magazine world, had some platform to showcase their writing or photography – from Tumblr, through blogs, to student journalism. Still hesitant though, I shelved it while I left for Seville, Spain on an Erasmus Exchange semester. Whilst there, the Faculty of Humanities at Southampton awarded me a blogging scholarship to promote the Erasmus scheme. The blog I wrote was literally “this is what I did this weekend, here is a photo, bye” – nothing special, funny, or in my view, particularly interesting. I was in it for the money!
less daunting. I realised that people were actually reading what I wrote, and not everyone hated it, and a sudden feeling of “hey, maybe I can do this” surfaced. Because that’s what it boils down to. I was scared of the criticism and hate (and believe me, you get it), the trolls and the overall dicks on the Internet. I was also being a snob and thought it was beneath me. So, hello, Wessex Scene. I emailed in once back from my semester abroad, and joined all the Facebook groups. I started writing a few random pieces about stuff going on at Uni. Then all of a sudden, I got the balls to voice my opinions, which got some nice hits, both good and bad. But I think if you’re writing stuff that can make students give a shit about something, enough to argue about it on the Wessex Scene comment section, you’re doing something right.
Here I am now, on holiday, in an internet café in Guatemala, writing to you, the Freshers of 2013, to tell you if you have any interest in the media industry, be it in publishing, journalism, arts, or even just want a place to practice to writing and thicken your skin a bit, then join the Scene. The Scene isn’t just for students to read, it’s for students to participate in. Also, as I happily discovered, it’s not full of bored, pretentious English students, but very nice, welcoming, people from a range of disciplines. While humanities are the majority, this should not be, and is not, a hindrance. Join the family! Fancy giving student journalism a go for yourself ? Email editor@wessexscene.co.uk to get a writers’ account, and look for the Facebook groups!
Weirdly enough, however, some people actually liked it, and began following me. This tiny, irrelevant blog got so much attention that the idea of student journalism began to seem a bit Image by Tara Shore
DELIVERING UNTIL
5AM
DELIVERING UNTIL
Everyday
ONLINE SPECIAL
10 OFF 1
Call Avenue store or order online when Shirley closes for deliveries until 5am!
1
£
When you spend £25 or more online Online Code: SOTONMAG COLLECTION OR DELIVERY
COLLEC
TION SPECIAL
Buy One Pizza, Get One
FREE
2
Available on medium and large pizzas COLLECTION ONLY
313 Shirley Road, Shirley, Southampton SO15 3HW
65 The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XS
Opening Hours: 10am to midnight Sun-Thursday, 10am to 1am Fri & Saturday.
Opening Hours: 10am till 5am everyday.
023 80777333 /DominosPizza
@Dominos_UK
Call Call Call
023 80233633 Like us on: Facebook.com/Dominos.southampton
dominos. co.uk Pop in Pop Tap the app dominos.co.uk Pop Tap app dominos.co.uk in in Tap thethe app OPEN
OPEN
1 Excludes drinks, and ice creams. Valid on delivery or collection orders over or to the value of £25. Not valid with any other offer. Valid at participating stores only. Available online only at dominos.co.uk. 2 At regular menu price. Free pizza must be equal or lesser value than the first. Available on medium and large pizzas only. Premium bases, crusts and additional toppings charged as extra. Not valid with any other offer. Collection only. Offer expires 31/07/14.
11 / WS / Science and Enviroment ///
HOW TO BEAT THE DREADED FRESHERS’ FLU
/ Johanna Blee /
It is incredibly likely that over the course of the first few weeks at Uni you will experience some symptoms of ‘freshers’ flu’ in fact it’s estimated that about ninety percent of students suffer from it in one form or another. We take a look at how you can increase your chances of avoiding it. Freshers’ week is rated by some as the best week of their lives, and so it’s a shame for it to get tarnished by illness. Heavy partying, a poor diet and stress put a huge strain on our immune system, which is then bombarded by new germs. Freshers’ week is all about meeting new people, but an unfortunate by-product of meeting new people from all around the globe is that you are exposed to a large range of new germs that you have no immunity to. Finally, as if all that wasn’t enough, October is already known as a month with a large amount of seasonal illness. So, it sounds like you’re doomed. Is there even any point trying to avoid it? The good news is, it has been shown that with a little effort you can avoid being ill and fully enjoy your first term. The basic idea behind the prevention of freshers’ flu is to boost your immune system as much as possible to increase its chance of fighting infection.
PREVENTION & CURES
help you stay healthy.
- The first thing to do is eat as healthily as possible. It may be tempting to live off purely pizza, crisps and ready meals, but try to eat vegetables and fruit too. Just adding frozen peas to a ready meal can make all the difference. Cooking with new flatmates, although sometimes disastrous, can also be a lot of fun and a great way to make sure you eat some proper food.
- Exercising, whether it’s jogging, swimming or playing a sport, can help boost your immune system.
- Although still debated by some, many scientists believe vitamin C can help decrease your chances of getting ill. It has also been shown to shorten the length and severity of colds. - As well as taking supplements, you can get vitamin C from a wide range of foods, hot chilli peppers and broccoli being two surprising examples. - It is also worth staying hydrated. As well as preventing a hangover in the morning, a pint of water after a heavy night can
- Although the first few weeks can go by as a mad blur, it is worth snatching all the sleep you can get. If you’re too busy to sleep at night than catch up with a daytime nap. - Finally, it’s worth noting that you should register with a doctor. If you are worried you have caught something serious than definitely consult them. At the end of the day, it is down to compromise and it may be worth eating some soup and letting yourself have the odd night in. If, however, you do decide that you’re not willing to sacrifice the constant partying and junk food and do end up running yourself into the ground, at least you can rest assured that you are not alone. Many other freshers all over the country will be recovering with coughs, colds and fevers. Good luck to you all and I hope you make the most of it!
Image by Anna Stachtiari Email contact: science@wessexscene.co.uk
Britain’s Non-Inter ventionist Stance: PRUDENT OR SHIRKING INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITES? / Victoria Low /
Victoria Low looks at Britain’s decision to not intervene in Syria and the consequences of a growing isolationist stance with regards to foreign affairs:
On Friday 30th August Britain said NO to military intervention in Syria. It was a momentous day for Britain as well as for the rest of the world; although many Britons breathed a sigh of relief at the verdict, it came as a defeat to David Cameron’s authority, a significant blow to the Obama
administration, and has put a strain on Britain’s relationship with the US, not to mention undoubtedly good news for Assad and his regime. Many Britons may feel proud of a parliament who actually voted to reflect the current mood of the British people, but why have we chosen this isolationist
/// Politics/ WS / 14
stance? Furthermore, do we not feel some international responsibility to protect any country suffering from a breach of humanitarian law? In answer to the first question, maybe because you don’t launch a punitive strike until you have cast iron guarantees that chemical weapons have been used? The Telegraph stated, and rightly so, that the first condition for approving military action is that it be legal and legitimate, which means the evidence must be unassailable. Surely this is just political common sense, and especially important now since it turned that back in 2003 Iraq didn’t have nuclear weapons; two wrongs don’t make a right after all. However British-Syrian novelist, Robin Yassin-Kassab, was abhorred by parliament’s decision, saying ‘In a decade we have gone from a situation where they rushed at the gleam of their leader’s mad eye into a criminal war [in Iraq] to not even being able to join a symbolic strike to deter a genocide…It has been going on for two and a half years and they still do nothing. The left have it all wrong. This was not an imperial war.’ We all remember the illegality of the war against Iraq and it has certainly helped shape our decision to not intervene. However, we must realise that we are in a different situation to that of Iraq, and if the UN reports back that chemical weapons were used to kill over 1000 people, it will be the first confirmed incident of this kind of weapon in
the 21st century. We will not know the results of the UN’s investigations for another two weeks and even when the report is published it is unlikely that, if chemical weapons were used, we will know who is culpable. With this in mind, the US’ request for a coalition with the UK to intervene in Syria seemed very hasty. The motion in the Commons on 30th August did make clear that, before any direct action in Syria, there would be a further vote to decide exactly what action should be taken. But the bottom line is this: Britain was asked to join an international coalition led by the US to take action against a flagrant breach of international law and parliament said no. Britain’s decision has made it more difficult for Obama to act and has no doubt given succour to President Assad’s regime. But now that Britain has chosen non-intervention, we must make sure we do not close our eyes to the thousands of victims suffering under Assad’s dictatorship. It is frustrating to not know how to act in such a scenario, but failure to acknowledge and punish the perpetrator of an atrocious breach of humanitarian law may only encourage more of the same. Of course we are addressing a specific event here and the real questions we must now ask ourselves will have much wider implications. After all, the reason Britain was put in the position of voting on whether to support
US military action was because of the inability of the UN (the organization borne out of the Second World War with the aim of protecting human rights and preventing war and acts of genocide) to come to a consensus on action to be taken by a wider coalition of nations. Is this an acceptable position for the UN to take as a fit-forpurpose force for international good, or is it just another vehicle for global brinkmanship and self-interest among competitive nations? Furthermore, is it an appropriate stance for 21st century Britain to have a cultural obligation towards international intervention, or is it more realistic for us to accept that our days of empire and global influence are in the past and we would be best served by focusing on internal issues? These are difficult questions and ones that can only be adequately addressed with objective pragmatism rather than emotion or political agendas. But as a democratic and western nation and one that will not stand for any such breach of humanitarian law, we must not let the decision taken on 30th August allow us to turn a blind eye to the atrocities that are happening in Syria as well as the rest of the world.
Image by Rebecca Hopkinson Email contact: politics@wessexscene.co.uk
15 / WS / Politcs ///
EGYPT:
ONE STEP FURTHER FROM DEMOCRACY
/ Lok Yan Patrick Leung /
The Egyptian riots originated from a fundamental problem. The Muslim Brotherhood insist that their ruling has a strong basis of public approval and the military claim that the Muslim Brotherhood are acting against the public’s wishes. Democracy is a tricky thing. Mohamed Morsi, as the first democratically elected president of Egypt, has hardly contributed anything to democracy in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi’s party, refused to infuse western democratic elements into Egypt’s politics but continued on the idea of “Sharia’s supremacy”: that religious ruling is supreme. The term “Islamic Republic” refers to these Islamic law governed countries. The Muslim Brotherhood upheld their “moral ground”, which was hardly a solid foundation as the election was held shortly after Hosni Mubarak, the fourth president of Egypt and a well-known dictator, was deposed and before the public could made up their mind. The Muslim Brotherhood is a multi-national Islamic group: the only thing they abide by is Islam, but never the country they occupy - Egypt, in this case. It is fair to say that the Muslim Brotherhood has never planned to integrate western democracy into their governance. Politics is a tricky thing. Morsi was conferred presidential power by the public through an open and subjectively constitu-
tional election, but was deposed only by the military force and a short speech delivered by Abdel El-Sisi, the command-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Even if the Muslim Brotherhood agrees to another open and considerate election, is it possible to ensure that similar incidents will not arise again? In Egypt, legality appears to be fragile. After all, Western democracy is not something for everyone and, at present, Islamic countries. It is not always black or white. Morsi was objectively a whiteterrorist and terrible president. Nevertheless, was the protest that imminent and dangerous that the massacre against
Image by Rebecca Hopkinson
Morsi’s supporters was necessary? The military force even classified the protest as “preparation for a terrorist attack”. In order to prevent disastrous consequences, the forces in charge think the sacrifice of blood is inevitable. Algeria’s coup d’état led to its seven-year civil war in 1992, and the situation in Egypt is looking scarily similar. Algeria’s outbreak of civil war was because of the fear of an Islamist government, and that was precisely why the public in Egypt were against the Muslim Brotherhood. Analysts predicted that Egypt will repeat Algeria’s history, and now it seems more likely by the day.
Your path to a successful career Look out for the DLHE Survey 6 months after graduation and engage with our alumni services Research postgraduate pathways and support
Prepare for Assessment Centres* and Interviews by attending the Career Destinations Boot Camp and interview workshops
Login and go through our jobs vacancy portal*, exclusive to students at the University of Southampton
Be aware of application deadlines
FINAL YEAR
Attend the June Employability Festival* and get a head start on your final year
Consider global opportunities, working or volunteering abroad with our Global Advantage and Volunteering Weeks Check out the Excel Placement Programme* for Easter and Summer paid internships
FRESHERS
Check out the Career Destinations Events Calendar
Attend skills workshops* and prepare/update your CV ready for applications
Volunteering or part-time work help boost your CV and let you try out areas of interest
Get actively involved in University life by joining clubs and societies
PENULTIMATE Start building your network by YEAR participating in Insider Mentoring and learning from a Career Mentor
Attend careers fairs* and network with employers
www.southampton.ac.uk/careers
* Open to all years of study Career Consultancy A 1:1 meeting with a Careers Practitioner to discuss a specific application for jobs/ internships, further study courses and PhD positions.
Boot camp A day-long event of workshops based on assessment centre exercises and tips on how to excel in the selection process.
TOP TIP All appointment slots are bookable on the day of the session and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
TOP TIP Remain focused and motivated at an assessment centre: you may be observed at any point.
Careers panels Subject or sector-specific events: Meet alumni and employers from your faculty to find out where your degree could take you. TOP TIP An ideal opportunity to ask questions and get ideas of potential careers.
Student Enterprise Considering starting your own business? Take advantage of the Student Enterprise offering of workshops, start-up competitions and much more.
Employer Presentations and Skills Workshops Interactive exercises with graduate employers or Careers Practitioners. Perfect your CV and get to grips with the job selection process.
TOP TIP To generate contacts and get involved in fantastic projects, join a Student Enterprise society like Enactus Southampton or Fish on Toast!
TOP TIP You can gain valuable skills from employer workshops even if you have no interest in applying to that particular employer.
Careers fairs These allow you the opportunity to speak directly to a range of top graduate employers. TOP TIP Attend the ‘Prepare for the Fair’ session for hints and tips on how to make the most of those few minutes at the stand.
Job Vacancy Portal Graduate vacancies and work experience opportunities are available through the Job Vacancy Portal. Employers from over 20 sectors target University of Southampton students and these roles cover diverse industries and locations. TOP TIP Access this resource by logging in to your Student Portal.
Social Media Interaction Keep up to date with events and opportunities or ask us your employability questions on Facebook or at our Twitter handle @UoS_Careers.
FRESH OUT OF NEW DELHI Travel Editor Tayler Groom reflects on Freshers’ culture in India. Freshers’ Week has become an integral event in the university calendar for new undergraduates, as well as second and third years longing to preserve their youthful and carefree ways. It gives students the opportunity to make new friends, establish themselves and, more often than not, lose both their memory and dignity to a drunken blur of nights which, for better or worse, seems to be what Freshers’ now represents. I recently had the opportunity to experience another culture’s take on our infamous Freshers’ Week. During the UKIERI Study India Programme, students from around the UK joined together with their peers at Delhi University, for the Freshers’ Party at Maitreyi Women’s College. Refreshingly, scattered bottles of beer, hangovers, and walks of shame remained absent from their unique Freshers experience. Instead, the students welcomed the new cohort with a celebration of talent and beauty. The girls took part in three rounds – a fashion show, speeches, and a question and answer session – to compete for the prestigious title of Miss Maitreyi 2013. Although beauty pageants tend to be considered rather superficial in the West, it was a very different story at Delhi University. The girls’ pride in being selected
to represent their college was clear, and it became apparent throughout the day that the girls’ talents and opinions were genuinely valued. Maitreyi College had postponed the event specifically so that the Study India participants were able to attend, in a display of the warmth and hospitality which pervades Indian society. Both staff and students alike demonstrated a heartwarming eagerness to welcome us to their university, share their culture with us, and learn about our own in return. It’s fair to say that any British institution postponing their main Freshers’ Week event by over a week to include a group of 200 foreign visitors is unthinkable, and would be met with great protest from the Freshers themselves. Alongside the Miss Maitreyi competition, the college was running a Freshers’ Fair. It largely resembled Southampton’s Bunfight, with a variety of societies competing to recruit the new students, with the addition of a photobooth, where students could ‘click’ with their new friends. The societies available mainly revolved around the arts – drama, dance, music and photography – as well as sports, fashion, and community work and volunteering. I was incredulous that Indian students found the time to play such active roles
/ Tayler Groom /
within their societies: when I asked a student undertaking a Masters degree in International Business & Commerce at the Sri Ram College of Commerce what she liked to do in her spare time, she replied that she had none – that her days were full to the brim with assignments, projects, presentations and group work, along with lectures and self-study in the library, and that it was not uncommon for her and her peers to operate on just two hours of sleep (and not because they had spent their night ‘post-lashing’ after being kicked out of SoBar at 2am). At first, the whole concept of the Miss Maitreyi competition made me slightly uncomfortable. Considering Delhi University is one of the more prestigious state universities in India, it seemed surprising that the new academic year was opened with an event which judged what are clearly very able and determined young women on how well they danced, or how attractive they were perceived to be. The longer I spent with them, however, the more evident it became that the emphasis was not on the physical beauty of the person. Unlike the “brainless beauties” that so many subjectively associate with our pageants, these women aimed for world peace and bringing an end to hunger and poverty. They have experienced a culture different to the one
/// Travel / WS / 18
Westerners project upon India: theirs is one that emphasizes the importance of your beautiful self in a non-judgemental environment. The Maitreyi ladies were incredibly enthusiastic about the event, and appeared to thoroughly enjoy getting up to sing or dance in front of a large audience, without the aid of inebriating
substances. At the most basic level, the event was wholesome good fun for everyone involved, and it was wonderful to see the Indian students taking so much value from the opportunity to interact with foreign visitors. Although the whole concept of a beauty pageant as a university’s main Freshers’ Week event seemed bizarre and somewhat
amusing at times, upon reflection it did in fact bring to the fore many aspects of Indian life and culture which we would all do well to take lessons from.
Image by Anna Glover Email contact: travel@wessexscene.co.uk
FRESHERS:
/ Emma Hobbs /
A GUIDE TO CLUBBING & CLOTHING For veterans of the student clubbing scene in Southampton, what to wear in certain places on a night out has been ingrained in their memory forever. From Jesters shoes to fancy dress, drunken youths can be seen stumbling around Portswood and Bedford in a whole array of clothes. However, don’t be put off! The Wessex Scene is here to give you a low down on what to wear, and more importantly what not to wear, in your Freshers’ Week and for the rest of your time at Southampton.
Pulse
Pulse is your Student’s Union club and will most definitely be a popular watering hole in your Freshers’ Fortnight. With several organised events being held there, including your Welcome Party and Freshers’ Ball, it’s the best opportunity to impress. With regards to clothing, it’s a chance to dress up a bit, especially for the Freshers’ Ball. Dresses and suits are often worn for the ball, but smart-casual is probably best for the year round. Having spent the majority of my summer before first year celebrating my freedom from school in teetering heels, I was so ready for my first night out at university to involve my highest pair. However, when I saw that I was miles taller than everyone else I rushed back upstairs and changed to flats. So ladies, even if you are used to walking in heels, stick to flats. It’ll be the best decision you ever made.
Oceana
Situated near the train station in the centre of Southampton, this is a chance for you to dress up. Suits, dresses, heels, the lot! As it is further away from most student areas, the opportunity to ruin outfits or fall over in heels is taken away with the use of taxis. Also, as it is not a student specific club, most attendees will take the opportunity to go formal. Smart-casual at the very least, but no trainers allowed!
Bedford Place
This is a selection of bars and clubs only 5 minutes from the city centre and accommodation Liberty Point. I would say this is somewhere in between Sobar and Oceana in terms of dress-code, with many people choosing to use taxis or buses to get there. However, there are a few clubs that will allow trainers. It’s safe to wear heels, but, depending on how drunk you get, you might struggle getting to and from each bar (or Subway).
Image by Hannah Reed Email contact: lifestyle@wessexscene.co.uk @WessexLifestyle
Sobar
Ah Sobar, one of the classics. Only a few doors down from Jesters, this establishment is an improvement on its neighbour. Being a popular place for faculty and society socials, there is rarely a week where you won’t see people dressed up as animals, army people or even someone as a lone banana. Feel free to experiment with fancy dress in this place, they’ve probably seen it all before. If you want a normal night out here, it’s a little more upmarket than Jesters but casual is probably still the better option.
Pitcher & PIano – Winchester
For those of you who are part of the Winchester School of Art, the Pitcher is a popular joint in Winchester that I’m sure you will get to know in great detail. Our Head of Design, Amy Harwood, suggests you go casual or smart-casual. Girls, you can get away with heels, and they’ll even let you in with jeans and trainers. As Amy said, “my ugly shirts have made many appearances there,” so feel free to go casual!
/// Lifestyle / WS / 20
Jesters
I’m almost 100% certain that many of you would have heard of the infamous Jesters already. Known for its own cocktail the “Jesticle” and for the ridiculous amount of hidden steps inside, it is certainly a must see in your first week! If you have heard of it before then you will know its notorious reputation for being – how to put it discreetly – the less formal establishment of Portswood. For this reason, as far as clothes are concerned, pretty much anything goes as long as you don’t mind getting beer, Jesticle or sick chucked over it (personally I haven’t experienced sick…yet). Casual attire is usually best, with the addition of sensible shoes. Even so, I’ve seen someone wear a suit there once. Suffice it to say, it did not end well.
LET’S PAINT IT RED: MY CONFESSION
/ Konyin Aromolaran/
I have a confession. I am an introvert. I don’t particularly like clubbing or any crowded social situation where I can’t sit and talk to the person next to me. I drink, but not to get drunk, as the idea of not being in control of my body or my tongue is frightening to me, to say the least. Although my best Friday nights are spent tucked up with a good book/ movie, I do like going out and experiencing new things. But Jesters is my worst nightmare and Oceana nights fill me with dread.
For some of you reading that confession, your hand would’ve flown to your chest and your jaw may have dropped open, as you have never heard of anybody whose absolute dream night out isn’t spent off their face with Jesticles and a pair of old gym shoes, ready to dance the night away.
the second batch, but I sincerely believe that there is an introvert in all of us; one who prefers the soothing music that accompanies fine dining to the headache-inducing bass that comes from hours of house music. But often, the problem comes in finding something else to do.
But for the rest of you, and don’t deny that you’re out there, a small feeling of resonation and just started in your chest and the tingles are spreading from the tips of your fingers as you excitedly realise you are not alone.
But guess what? As well as the dozens of societies (Skydiving, Picnic, Comedy etc) in Southampton university, that cater to practically every interest, there is so much to do in the city of Southampton itself. I have to say, even as a Londoner, I was never lost for activities. There is a large wealth of culture in
I guess this article is more for
this ol’ town such as the large Odeon cinema, the Mayflower theatre for all those play/musical enthusiasts, the New Forest for breath-taking views of nature, restaurants which serve every type of cuisine imaginable and places like museums with pieces from the titanic and malls and markets that stock anything you could ever hope to buy (before your student loan runs out, that is). So for those of you who say parties are the only available social outlet here, I’m here to tell you, you couldn’t be more wrong. Emma and I (your trusty Lifestyle editors) will be here every week to let you know exactly how much there is to do in and around your university, with society events, local shows and sightseeing and dining ideas for those unimaginative daters. So put down your Jesters shoes, pick up a camera, and let’s paint the town red!
Image by Jordan Stewart
/// Winchester / WS / 24
UNIVERSITY LIFE IN HAIKUS University A new start, new me, work hard! ....where is the party?
Why bother with work? It’s not like we have deadlines. Wait. We have deadlines!?
Like a hot desert after long harsh rainless months... Bank account is dry.
What’s your name, neighbour? Tomorrow, we will be friends... soon as I unpack.
Ugh, what should I eat? There is nothing in the fridge, let’s get domino’s.
Tall piles of old clothes. The never ending cycle, washing and drying.
Student loan’s gone through... YES! Now I can buy those shoes! Shall I take them back?
Going out again. Being young won’t last that long, nor will the finance.
Five thousand words, right? We have a month to do it? Bleurgh... time for a nap.
It is at two pints that he feels himself transformed, from shy, to THAT guy.
Oh hey, how are you? She has boyfriend, go away. Should have stayed quiet...
Really... No more milk? How can this be possible? I hate black coffee.
Rent hasn’t been paid. The internet’s not working. Mum, I need money.
/ Hamish Dinsdale / Diogo Lopes /
Image by Jake Sharpe
Email contact: winchester@wessexscene.co.uk
25 / WS / International ///
FOUND IN TRANSLATION As of 2012, there are more than 1 million words in the English language. And yet, we still haven’t found a phrase for the frustration we feel when we come up with the ultimate comeback only after an argument has ended.
/ Dimple Vijaykumar / / Hanna Jade-Bee / Email contact: international@wessexscene.co.uk
The French, however, do: l’esprit de l’escalier, which literally means ‘stairwell wit’. Its unofficial definition is ‘the feeling you get after leaving a conversation, when you think of all the things you should have said.’ A simple phrase to denote a frequent occurrence, and one which tragically doesn’t have an English counterpart. Like l’esprit de l’escalier, there are countless examples of foreign words and phrases which help explain certain concepts or certain feelings that can be felt by everyone, regardless of cultural background. We’ve compiled a few of them here in an attempt to flesh out their meanings.
Saudade (Portuguese)
Definition: A powerful longing, missing. Hanna Jade-Bee It seems life is getting faster and faster, or rather, we attempt to pack more and more things into one day. Do we ever have nostalgia for a peaceful past, our uncomplicated childhood, our native land, or perhaps the university holidays…? We have all missed someone or something, felt the emptiness of their absence. We have all longed to be back on that sunny beach during that holiday, or in that one place where our problems couldn’t trouble us. We have all had desires for the future, sometimes for things that cannot even exist, things for which we have a wistful longing for, as if we already miss not being able to experience them. Saudade is the perfect and poetic expression for this vague and indescribable feeling, which was made particularly famous by the Portuguese music genre, fado or ‘fate’, whose mournful tunes and melancholic lyrics express its complex definition.
Ilunga (Tshiluba, a Bantu language spoken in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo)
Definition: Someone willing to ‘forgive any abuse for the first time; tolerate it the second time, but never a third time.’ Dimple Vijaykumar To ‘be’ an ilunga, you are essentially someone Image by Tara Shore
who is willing to give three chances. The first time someone upsets you, you are ready to forgive them. The second time, it is harder to forgive but you do it anyway. The third time, it’s over. But the definition itself has more depth. Back in 2004, the BBC published an article stating that ilunga was the world’s most difficult word to translate, and it’s easy to see why. The term does not merely signify a person who operates under a crude ‘three strikes’ policy. Rather, it is also meant to document how emotions tend to change while going through each stage. The surprise you feel when they make the mistake for the first time, the
sinking feeling when you realise they’ve done it again and the final realisation that it can’t go on. In essence, it marks the progression from acceptance to intolerance, the journey one goes through when trying to forgive those who hurt us and those who we also hurt. Deciding to end a relationship is not a snap decision but is made after a series of difficult emotions; this is exactly what being an ilunga tries to encapsulate.
Taarradhin (Arabic)
Definition: Similar to the English word ‘compromise’, but does not involve reaching a reluctant arrangement via struggle or disagreement. The
word implies a solution that is a definite win for all involved parties, suggesting a way of complete reconciliation. Hanna Jade-Bee Civil wars are raging around the world whilst we sit rather safely in the West and view the reports from the comfort of our living rooms. What we do hear can shock us and, unless we’ve become numb to the pain reported by journalists from our television screens, the daily news is undoubtedly brutal. Over 100,000 people have died in the distressing violence between President Bashar al-Assad’s government and the rebel forces in Syria. Protests began peacefully but were met with a fierce government crackdown, and now countries around the world are being forced to stand up and take action, especially after suspected use of chemical weapons. Meanwhile, fleeing refugees are hoping for shelter in the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq until the crisis has settled. Is it our priority to take care of these people? Should we support the rebels? Or indeed attempt to overthrow the government? We make a subconscious decision to listen, to act or to ignore, whilst we filter the information that we daily receive from news reports. Yet as members of the UN, we have a responsibility to protect other member nations and after all we are all still human. We all have a right to democracy. Unfortunately at present, there seems to be no taarradhin in sight. Photography by Gabriella Mazowiecka
An Interview with
SUFC’s RICHARD AMOFA On the eve of the new football season at university, Sports Editor Adam Jones met up with Southampton University Football Club first-team player and promoter Richard Amofa to preview the upcoming campaign. How would you sum up last season’s performances? I think we could have done a bit better. It was definitely a season of ups and downs. We have a talented squad with a lot of quality and we showed that at times, but at others wefell short. Nevertheless, there are a lot of positives from last season that we can take intothis one.
I do pre-season with a local semi-pro team. They play at a decent level, a few leagues away from the conference prem so it’s pretty intense and quite demanding. I played a few games for them against strong opposition too (including a few pros) so hopefully when I get back to uni I’ll be fit and ready & raring to go.
What are your own personal expectations for the season ahead? I’d like to try and get on the scoresheet a bit more. I weighed in with a lot of assists, but for an attacking midfielder I’d like to score a few more and take the pressure off the front three.
What is the rivalry like with Solent/Portsmouth, particularly around the varsity game? The rivalry is very strong to be fair. They’re a few leagues above us so we respect their qualities. They’re technically astute and very well drilled, but whenever they come up against us we make sure that they’re in for a real game. It can get a bit heated sometimes; tackles flying, etc. – I’ve been kicked about a few times! - but that’s just an expression of everyone’s desire to win. I’m lucky to be involved in such an event.
What is your best memory of playing for the university? I’d say Bournemouth away in my 1st year. I scored from the halfway line. Bournemouth had just scored and their spectators were going wild. There wasn’t long left in the game so from the resulting centre I thought I’d have a pop. Luckily the keeper was off his line and I was able to lob him. My teammates went mental, it was the best way to silence the home crowd. How do you keep yourself fit during the off-season?
Outside the game, what can players expect from socials/tour? The socials are brilliant, it’s a great way for the boys to bond off the pitch and see if people are as good at drinking as they are at talking! It’s definitely become a main part of my life at uni. Win, lose or draw there
/ Adam Jones /
is a good turnout, and we can all have a laugh. You’ll never forget going on tour either, it’s incredible! What advice would you give to any freshers starting this year? Just be yourself ! Don’t be shy to express yourself on the pitch and play to your strengths. Work hard at training and you’ll see the rewards on the pitch. Unlike other unis who may choose based on who they’re mates with, we choose positions on merit. Also, attend every social! SUFC is a massive club and you’ll make 50 mates straight away. You’ll also get to know loads of the other members of other sports clubs too.
Wessex Scene Sport is sponsored by
Email contact: sport@wessexscene.co.uk
/// Sport / WS / 28
AN ODE TO
SOUTHAMPTON FC Gareth Bale’s world record transfer to Real Madrid is testament to the club’s tried and tested methods of producing young talent.
/ Joe Taylor /
It only seems right for Tottenham manager André Villas-Boas to pay tribute to the education of the club’s top scorer last season and the most expensive player in history. Speaking to the media earlier this year, Villas-Boas compared Southampton’s traditions of nurturing young players at all age groupsto those of Catalan giants and current La Liga champions Barcelona.Southampton was one of the first clubs in England to implement an academy system in the early 1990s. Since then, players educated at the club have generated over £180 million in transfer fees. Despite relegation to League 1 when the club entered administration, the board of directors insisted that the academy was vital to the regeneration of the team and its future. Bale’s own education at Southampton came about due to the extensive scouting network used by the club to find young talent. Having excelled at many sports while still at school, Gareth Hale first spotted Bale playing and invited him to a trial with the club at a training camp in Bath. Four days per week were spent in Southampton, with Wednesdays spent in Bath, and at the age of 16 he moved permanently to the south coast. Southampton’s commitment to education doesn’t stop on the pitch,however, and like most scholars with the club, Bale
league games this season.In an era where money and transfer fees are at the root of most fans’ complaints about the game, the pursuit of developing encouraging players is a refreshing and welcome alternative. Few things will delight fans more than to see academy graduates make their first team debuts and thriving alongside players worth millions of pounds. Academy director Les Reed has spoken of his ambition for the club to field a Premier League XI made up of at least 5 homegrown players in the future. It’s an ambitious goal, but one that is backed whole heartedly by the club and its staff. As it stands, the club may not be too far away from it.
earned 6 GCSEs during his time there (obviously with an A grade in P.E).Even after the Saints have spent more than £35 million in transfer fees on new recruits this summer, manager Mauricio Pochettinho still continues the groundwork laid by his predecessors. Midfielder Adam Lallana has stayed with the club he loves through both League 1 and the Championship, and is now revelling in the Premiership. Luke Shaw has been touted as the most promising English left-back since Ashley Cole and has already committed his future to the club he joined as a 9 year old. Likewise, James WardProwse has already managed 24 first team appearances, despite being only 18,and has completed 90 minutes in all three
29 / WS / Pause///
! O G N I B S R E H S E FR
Pause Presents:
/ Andy Haywood / The easiest game you’ll ever play!
Hangover From Hell
Email contact: pause@wessexscene.co.uk
Traffic Cone
@PauseWS
A Fake Accent
Unicycling to Lectures
A Girl Using the Boys Loo’s
Barman/maid Who Hates Their Job
A SHARK
Flirting with ChicoLand ‘Chefs’
First Timer to Jesters (eg High Heels)
Memory Loss
Someone With No Idea What To Order
Bumpin’ and Grindin’ on Da Floor
/// Pause / WS / 30
Fancy Dress Walk of Shame
The Recovery Position
Unreasonable House Fire Alarm
A First Time Drunk... Who Can’t Handle it.
Vomit
Someone Re-inventing Themselves
Someone Lost
“OOOH THIS IS MY SONG”
Fresher’s Flu
Unnecessary Nudity
SHOTS
Awkward Photo Poses with Strangers
Burnt Pasta
Non-Drinker Who Wants Everyone to Know
BNOC Wannabe
A MASSIVE Love Bite
A Mankini
Amazement at £1.50 Triples
Extreme PDA
Gangnam Style
Hilarious Toilet Attendant
Speedos at Bunfight
BBFs Who Have Literally Just Met
Someone Crying in Public