SPAM MISSING ATTENDANCE EMAIL
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FABRIC TO RE-OPEN AGAINST ALL ODDS
STUDENT MUGGED ON BAKER STREET
£50 GETAWAY EVERY STUDENT MUST VISIT
NEW YEAR LOOKS FOR A GREAT NIGHT OUT
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12TH DECEMBER | ISSUE 33 | FREE
ELECTION SPECIAL WINNERS DAB TO VICTORY
• RECORD HIGH IN LIBERATION OFFICER VOTES • 7 ELECTED STUDENT POSITIONS, 2 TO GO
PLUS: HUGH GRANT AT WESTMINSTER
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
TEAM Rituja Rao Editor rituja.rao@smoke.media
Tooba Haq Deputy editor tooba.haq@smoke.media
Joshua Hackett Managing editor
j.hackett@su.westminster.ac.uk
Micaela Kolischer Production editor micaela.kolischer@smoke.media
BY RITUJA RAO
Leanne Hall Online editor
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Cameron McIntyre Online editor cameron.mcintyre@smoke.media
Lauren Waugh News editor lauren.waugh@smoke.media
Nicole El-Helou News editor
nicole.el-helou@smoke.media
Jack Cummings Features editor
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Aylin Paula Karansis Lifestyle editor
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Francisco Gimeno Societies editor
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Damian Burchardt Sports editor
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ABOUT THE QH The QUINTIN HOGG is produced monthly by a team of student volunteer editors and contributors. All students can get involved. No experience is needed and full training is provided.
The QH published by the University of Westminster Students’ Union, but views presented do not necessarily mirror those of UWSU or the editorial team. If you would like to make a complaint or comment about our journalism, please contact the managing editor, Joshua Hackett, in the first instance.
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The Swipe Engage Achieve system recieved complaints
Hello Westminster and Happy Holidays! This is the last issue we are going to print before the winter break and I have never been prouder of the amount of hard-work and dedication every single person puts into this newspaper, whether that be reading it or writing for it. Our front page story is all you need to know about the Winter Elections. Dive into our special elections spread to know-it-all. A massive congratulations to all the winners! The Winter Elections were a grand affair and the QH has all the inside
about your new NUS delegates and the Liberation officers. In the middle of the paper, we have a spread about getting to know your candidates and who you voted for. The holidays are rolling around, and we have a very festive QH issue. In our lifestyle section, we have the never ending debate of Christmas; love or loathe? Also, we have you covered for your New Year look! Inside, we have a story about the SEA mess up, resulting in hundreds of students thinking they had low-attendance. Other stories include the celebration of the 22 new PhD scholarships that the University has to offer from next year. Our sports section is just as lively this issue, we have our Equestrian club for Dragons Corner and a big piece on world superstar Andy Murray securing being number one in the world along side his brother. Have a great holiday season, and a happy new year. We’ll see you in 2017!
UNI SENDS SPAM MISSING ATTENDANCE A WORD FROM EMAIL YOUR SU PRESIDENT
BY TOOBA HAQ
On the 21st of November students from across the University of Westminster wrongfully received emails informing them of poor attendance which is recorded by the Swipe, Engage, Achieve (SEA) attendance system. The University later sent out an apology email for the confusion and they said that they were investigating why the mistake had happened. These emails were sent due to a fault with the system, despite the fact the affected students had been swiping into classes. The offending email suggested support and guidance to help students resumes their studies, despite having attended classes. The same day, Jackie King, The Associate Director Academic and Student Admissions, emailed students to inform them of the error and apologising for the previous emails. One affected student said, “I’ve never missed a day of university this term, I really hope that it’s a mistake.” Other students such as Brenda, laughed the matter off
by saying “I do forget to tap in sometimes, I’m a late person, mistakes happen.” The Swipe, Engage Achieve system was implemented last summer, costing the University £270,000 to install. While over the past year the equipment has faced much criticism for causing delays to the start of classes, broken readers and overcrowding at entrances to lecture halls. A University official has said, “A technical error with the Student Engagement System caused a large number of students to receive an incorrect email regarding missed attendance on courses. As soon as the issue was noticed a follow up email was sent out on the same day the advising students that the email had been sent in error and to ignore it if their calendar was correctly showing attendance. We have since worked closely with the system supplier to identify the cause of this error, which has now been rectified and we have also established protocols with them to minimise the risk of future system errors.”
BY FREYA THOMPSON Merry Christmas, Students! Sleigh bells are ringing, turkeys are roasting, snow is falling (well, not yet) and Christmas is just around the corner! I hope you are all looking forward to your well earned breaks, and for those with January exams, good luck! The Winter Election results are out and congratulations to our new Liberation Officers and NUS Delegates! NUS delegates will travel to Brighton next semester to give the Westminster view on National policy. Whilst our Liberation
Officers will work hard, when they start in June, to represent the Liberation groups across each Westminster campus. From 12-16th December, your Sabbs will be travelling across each campus to chat to you about TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework) which is a government initiative being brought in next year. It promises to raise student fees, reduce our International Student capacity, and grade each university across the country as Gold, Silver or Bronze. Westminster needs to talk about TEF, and it needs to happen now. Nevertheless, please enjoy your time off. If you’re interested in running for a SABB position, nomination dates can be found at uwsu. com. Next semester has exciting campaigns such as Consent, Employability Month, International Women’s Week and LGBTI History Month. I can’t wait to welcome you all back in January!
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WHAT’S ON?
WESTMINSTER ALUMNUS ILLUSTRATES HARRY POTTER NOVEL BY ZAINAB DAWOOD University of Westminster Illustration BA Honours alumnus Jim Kay has had the honour of illustrating the new edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, published by Bloomsbury this October. Kay also illustrated the Philosopher’s Stone which was released in October 2015, and he is currently working on Prisoner of Azkaban. The original novel was first published in 1997. Kay initially had fears about “ruining the most popular children’s book in history,” but he need not have worried as author J.K. Rowling praised his work.
City University, London
CITY UNI BANS DAILY MAIL AND EXPRESS BY MIKI QUDDUS
The Students’ Union of City University has decided to ban The Sun, Daily Mail and the Express from their campuses as they “fuel fascism, racial tension and hatred in society.” Less than 200 out of the
over 19,500 students of City University attended the yearly SU meeting where 15 proposals were passed. One of them was “opposing fascism and social divisiveness in the UK media”. City University is home to one of the most prestigious journalism courses in the UK. Many graduates go onto being
employed by these newspapers and many alumni already work there. One of the City students, who wished not to be named, said even though newspapers have freedom of press “I think it’s good that the university is standing up against up biased journalism. But at the same
time it doesn’t mean they don’t have access to it off campus”. Nonetheless, is censoring a handful of newspapers the right way to fight against hatred and racism. Debating and writing against hatred would be a better way to deal with it and universities are the perfect place to have voices heard. City university alumnus Fred Nathan, and currently sports journalist at The Sun, tweeted “No words for their stupidity” in reaction to the ban. It is undecided whether the lecturers and students will be able to reference the Sun, Daily Mail and Express and how the ban will affect the future relationship between the university and the three newspapers. The head of the Journalism department at the university, Professor Suzanne Franks, reassured that, despite the ban, the students will still have access to the banned newspapers. She said, “Students on our journalism courses value being able to access the views of publications and broadcasters across the industry and the department will continue to enable all these opportunities”. No statement has been made on how the ban will be enforced, as there are no shops selling newspapers on campus.
NUS DEMO TACKLES THE TEF THE BIG DEBATE RETURNS BY AMY AVENT
Smoke TV’s Big Debate has returned to our screens after three years. The first episode aired on Monday 14th November, where five current students and an alumnus had the opportunity to discuss and debate ‘What’s Next for The USA?’. The debate allowed room for audience engagement and raised some interesting points from an array of students. Students found out more about the candidates who are running to be elected as an NUS delegate and as a liberation officer. The Big Debate will be aired live on Facebook and YouTube monthly, with a different topic each episode.
BY LAUREN WAUGH The National Union of Students ran a national demonstration through the streets of London, campaigning for numerous reasons, all surrounding the Higher Education Bill, on 19th November. According to the NUS press statement, the demonstration, ran by both NUS and UCU (The University and College Union) called for “free, accessible and quality further and higher education across the UK, and to demand an end to the marketization of university and college education”. It would also “represent a call for international solidarity and opposition to all forms of racism and xenophobia,” asking “for government to ensure that universities and colleges remain open, accessible and inclusive following the Brexit vote.” The demo has been criticized by students for not holding one clear aim,
especially since NUS spent £100,000 on organisation of the demo. NUS’ funds come from membership fees of affiliated Student Unions, which in turn comes from student tuition fees. 15,000 people attended the demo which began at Park Lane and finished in Westminster with a rally. Speakers at the Rally included NUS President Malia Bouattia, NUS VP HE Sorana Vieru, Reporter Owen Jones and Black Lives Matter supporter Darletta Scruggs. It was expected that both Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbot would speak, but neither did. Following the Demo changes were made the Higher Education Bill in the House of Commons, publishing protection plans for students whose University closes due to The TEF (the Teaching Excellence Framework) and creating a student seat in the Office for Students. However, the link between ‘quality’ and increased fees remained in tact.
Student protests in Oxford
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FACEBOOK HQ OPENS IN LONDON BY TOOBA HAQ
BY NICOLE EL-HELOU
HRM The Queen is having Buckingham Palace refurbished
A REFURB FIT FOR A QUEEN BY MIKI QUDDUS
NIGHT CZAR ARRIVES IN LONDON BY NICOLE HELOU Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has appointed Amy Lamé, London’s first ‘Night Czar’. Lamé now has the job of making London’s world famous nightlife even more successful and form a key part of the city’s identity. Amy, an American living in London since 1992 is known as a broadcaster and the host of Duckie at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Saturday nights. Her appointment comes just months after the now overturned decision to close Fabric. With the growing number of Night Tube lines, this move might add to the night-time economy of London, which is worth £26.3bn and supports 1.25 million jobs (1 in 8 jobs in London)
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FABRIC MAKES A COMEBACK
LONDON
Social media giant Facebook is set to open a new headquarters in London creating 500 new jobs and will employ 1,500 people in 2017, by an increase of 50%. Facebook’s European head Nicola Mendelsohn announced the plan at the CBI conference on Monday the 21st of November. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan praised the move. He said that “London’s vibrant tech scene is the envy of Europe and Facebook’s continuing commitments is another sign that London is open to talent, innovation and entrepreneurship from all four corners of the world”
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Buckingham Palace will undergo a £369 million refurbishment over the next ten years. This has been made possible due to an increase in the Sovereign Grant, an annual allowance provided by the government to the Royal Family. This money is from the profit of the Crown Estates and The Queen usually receives 15%. She will receive 25% until 2027 for the repairs. The refurbishment is the biggest planned since the aftermath of the second world war and will take ten years to be completed, with work planned to start in April 2017. During the period, the Queen will remain in the palace while 125 of the 300 staff members will move to temporary accommodations in the garden. At the same time, MPs are considering a £4bn plan on renovation and repairs of the Palace of Westminster, which is a controversial plan. While the place is over 300 years old and is in need of a refurbishment, many have joined an online petition for the Royal Family to pay for the costs. The petition was started by Mark Johnson and was signed by over 50,000 in 24 hours. The petition reads: “There is a national housing crisis, the
NHS is in crisis, austerity is forcing cuts in many front line services.” “Now the Royals expect us to dig deeper to refurbish Buckingham Palace. The Crown’s wealth is inestimable. This is, in a word, outrageous.”
On the 21st November 2016, Islington Council came to an agreement with Fabric nightclub to reopen its doors for business. However, the reopening will be under strict rules, including a ban on under 19’s. The clubs official reopening will be on January 6th. Fabric closed its doors in early September due to drug misuse and multiple teenage deaths. The strict conditions under which Fabric can reopen were released to the public in a transparent statement on Fabric’s website. The conditions in the statement included “surveillance inside the club, a new ID scanning system and a lifetime ban for anyone buying or in the possession of drugs”. The University of Westminster’s Student Union had an event planned at Fabric for an infamous Freshers event. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, the event was cancelled and planned at a different venue. The QH reported this back in
“THIS IS IN A WORD, OUTRAGEOUS” Earlier in 2016, grants for students coming from a lower income family was scrapped in favour of loans. The Sutton Trust found students graduating from England are the most in debt among the English speaking countries. London is one of the most expensive capitals in the world for students. Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell defended the spending “It’s a national monument [...]. It’s going to be treated that way, in the same way as the House of Commons. When you have these old buildings they have to be looked after”. Chancellor Philip Hammond also stated “we have responsibilities as a government when it comes to heritage assets”. Fabric will repoen in time for Refreshers
October 2016. Now with Fabric’s reopening agreed, The University of Westminster is making up for a lost event. An event during Refreshers week in January will be hosted at Fabric. Wicked Student Nights representative Jason Malia “I think the reopening of Fabric is vital for the nightlife Community in London. It has been a staple of Nightlife in London.” “We missed out on two shows at Fabric this Freshers so we’re very much looking forward to coming back in 2017!”
“SOMETIMES HAPPY ENDINGS EXIST” The music industry is ecstatic. Fabric tweeted out the hashtag #yousavedfabric after marketing #savefabric when its doors were closed in September. Happy fans tweeted their relief. Celebrations have even been happening as far away as Ibiza.
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LONDON
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON BY SONAKSHI SHARMA The light switch-on event at Oxford Street was held on Sunday November 6 with closed traffic from 12pm-7pm. The sparkly glowing orbs are back for a fourth year- with a brand new addition- the 1700 snowball-like decorations and 750k LED light bulbs lit up once again for what is the 75th year the road has been decorated for the festive period. Craig David was in charge of the moment of truth this year. Plus, this year the charity partner: NSPCC celebrated the launch of Little Stars campaign.
SU CAMPAIGN TO BOOST YOUR CAREER BY LUDOVICA SINISCALCHI BEERNABO Employability month is the answer to all questions you may have on life after university . Get ready for Employability Month by the end of which that dream job you have won’t be a dream anymore. In February 2017, across all Westminster campuses, The Student’s Union will be holding Discussions, networking, panels, fairs, industry professionals and career paths. Myself and UWSU President Freya Thompson together with the Career Development Centre, the University Alumni team and Nacue (organisation which supports studentled enterprise societies amongst college and universities in the UK) are working hard to ensure you get the most out of your university journey until it lasts. We’re also really excited to be launching Vlogs with outstanding academics/ alumni/staff aimed to inspire students with career tips.
IMAGE: Joanna O’Brien
22 NEW PHDS AT WESTMINSTER BY TOOBA HAQ The Quintin Hogg Trust has funded 22 new PhD scholarships at University of Westminster Graduate School. The new scholarships are going to be available in each of the five campuses across London. They are aiming to develop research that is internationally recognised and contributes to practice and public engagement. Professor Simon Joss , the Director of the Graduate
School explained “Doctoral Researchers at Westminster are highly valued and are a key part of a research culture that is growing in size and reputation, with a strong commitment from the University as part of the Westminster 2020 plan.” He also mentioned.
“INNOVATIVE EARLY CAREER RESEARCH”
“These scholarships, funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust, will support high-quality, innovative early career research and enhance our research environment for the next REF submission” The 22 PhDs will be available in September 2017, offering students each year an annual tax-free stipend of £16,000 plus the payment of home or EU tuition fees. Some examples of the Quintin Hogg Trust Scholarship are in: Media and Communication,
Climate change and religion, Investigating the molecular basis of invasiveness in salmonella Dublin. The Quintin Hogg Trust is a charity, set up by the family of The Polytechnic founder’s family. It is there to provide money to all departments of the University to improve facilities and education. The University of Westminster has a vibrant learning environment with more than 20,000 students from over 150 nations.
HUGH GRANT ON CAMPUS BY RITUJA RAO The fourth Annual Levenson Lecture by Sir Vince Cable was held on 6th December, 2016 at the Little Titchfield campus of the University of Westminster. Delivered by Sir Vince Cable and other key speakers, the event attracted many politicians, journalists and thinkers from the city. One such surprise guest was Hugh Grant who walked into the lecture unattended. The event hosted by the university was a lectured delivered by Sir Vince Cable about the far-reaching implications of the Levenson Enquiry, the balance between privacy and the public interest, and the need to uncover the extent of corporate cover-ups in the press industry. Hugh Grant has been politically active in press matters and his presence wasn’t a huge surprise. Many in the audience
were shocked and stared in disbelief. Nafeesa Shaikh, an attendee and MA Media and Development student from the university told the QH, “He came and sat right in front of us. I was in complete shock and couldn’t say anything”. Slowly, just as Nafeesa, many started recognising him and the sound of phones snapping pictures became louder. Everyone murmured, “Is it Hugh Grant?”, “It can’t be,” “But it is!” Having drawn sudden attention to himself, Mr.Grant quickly moved to the back rows, cleverly seated next to the exit. He left right after the lecture, skipping the networking session where the audience was really keen to interact with him. Nafeesa said, “His presence added to the importance of the event and showed how important the lecture was. As a student, it was a great experience to be there among important people.”
Actor Hugh Grant
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ELECTIONS
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YOUR WINTER ELECTION
WINNERS
AROOJ AMJAD, FURQAN FAISAL AND MAMUNA AKHTAR NUS DELEGATES
The QH: Describe what you’re feeling in one word Arooj: Pretty excited! Furqan: I’m just happy its over Mamuna: Elated!
ASHLEIGH AGJEIAGEKYUM WOMEN’S OFFICER
Ashleigh was not present at Results Night or the Big Debate, so we don’t know much about her!
THE QH BRINGS YOU THE FIRST INTERVIEWS WITH YOUR NEW NUS DELEGATES AND LIBERATION OFFICERS...
The QH: What do you plan to do before going to Brighton for the confrence? Arooj: Keep talking about relevant things Mamuna: Keep discussing about what will happen in confrence, and just prep ourselves to go into the roles Furqan: Keep communicating manifesto points and sorting stuff out before we leave The QH: What are you planning on taking to Brighton with you? Arooj: Food! Mamuna: The controversy with the NSS and preperation to go into our roles Furqan: Making sure my manifesto points are heard like prayer rooms for the university The QH: What can we expect from you in your year? Arooj: Working on putting my manifesto together, and doing what the students want Furqan: A lot of team work and student activities Mamuna: Yeah, I agree. Just student engagemnt and more activity The QH: Where can students find you now that you’re elected? Arooj: Find me on Facebook! Its my full name, Furqan: Find me via email Mumna: I’m on instagram as Mamuna95, and Facebook and gmail
NAILA ALI BAME OFFICER
The QH: Can you sum up your current feelings in one word? Naila: Ecstatic. The QH: What do you plan to do before starting in July? Naila: I want to make myself known on campuses, so they can bring in new ideas. I also want to start my plans and get things going, like start contacting people. The QH: How are you feeling about working with your new team? Naila: I’m really excited, I know Simran and I’m excited to get to know new people, their roles, and what they’re going to do. The QH: Is there anything your team should know about you before starting in July? Naila: I’m hyper. I’m approachable, you can talk to me, I’m caring and all ears. The QH: In one sentence describe what we can expect from next year’s BAME Officer? Naila: I’m your girl.
EDWARD CLAYDON
SIMRAN TIWARI
The QH: Sum up your feelings in one word? Edward: I am very excited! The QH: What do you plan to do before starting in July? Edward: Getting things prepared for the new years and making sure there are no clashes and just kind of getting myself mentally prepared The QH: How are you feeling about working with you new team? Edward: ’m very excited, looking forward to working with all of them. I know all the candidates and they are all wonderful people The QH: Is there anything your team should know about you before you start working in July? Edward: I’m very honest, like you’ve seen in my interviews. I like to speak my mind as much as I can. The QH: In one sentence, what can we expect with next years LGBT campaign? Edward: More events hopefully! I hope to make it far more diverse and get to all parts of the community (at least I hope!)
The QH: Sum up your current feelings in one word? Simran: Overwhelmed The QH: What is your plan before starting in July? Simran: Plan what i’m going to work on and give myself minimum time. I am going to plan my work and work on my manifesto points. The QH: How are you feeling about working with your new team? Simran: I feel great. Naila Ali is in my class. She is so cool and Edward is an amazing person. I have known him for a week and I think we can do some really good work together. The QH: Is there anything your team should know about you before starting in July? Simran: I really believe in work ethic and if I want something to be done I like it to be done. The QH: Can you tell us what we can expect next year from your campaign in one sentence? Simran: You can expect improvement from me. I am ready to do whatever it takes for this job.
LGBTI OFFICER
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OFFICER
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New winners alongside the Sabbs after their election win. IMAGE: Amy Avent.
SEVEN NEW LIBERATION OFFICERS TAKE CHARGE BY LAUREN WAUGH Westminster has elected seven new student representatives, in the form of NUS delegates and liberation
officers. After a delayed period, during nominations had to opened after a poor of responses, Arooj
election which be renumber Amjad,
ELECTIONS
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Furqhan Faisal and Mamuna Akthar were elected NUS Delegates while Ashleigh AdjeiAgyekum, Edward Clayton, Simran Tiwari and Naila Ali make up the Liberation Officer
Team. The total voter turnout of this election was 305, which is 68 votes less than last year. This is approximately 1.3% of Westminster’s total student body. However, more votes were cast for the liberation officer positions, which were introduced last year. NUS delegate Arooj received 84 votes, while Furqhan received 60 votes and Mamuna received 184 votes. Arooj said she was”pretty excited” and Furqhan said he was happy and Mamuna was elated about gaining the role. Ashleigh was elected Women’s Officer with 155 votes, beating RON by 51. She did not attend the results night. This was presented by VP Harrow, Dan Seamarks, who told The QH,“Women’s liberation is really important to UWSU.” “With the first female President in 15 years we’re really looking forward to continued passion behind our female students ensuring they have a voice at every level in the Students’ Union and University.” Next, Edward was elected LGBTI Officer with 135 votes, beating RON by 29. Edward said, “I’m really surprised and very excited.” VP Regents and LTS,
Tasawar Khurshid, said “Shout out to all the candidates, well done for standing. Best of luck with the jo” New BAME officer Naila beat Ibrahim by 99 votes. 173 to 74 respectively, with RON getting 20. Naila was clearly excited as she dabbed on stage celebrating her victory. VP Marylebone, Salsabil Sila, said “The BAME liberation officer is important to have so they can represent students of that community The current BAME officer is doing a great job, I’m so proud.” Simran beat Pranav by 59 votes to become the new International Officer, 173 to 74 respectively with RON getting 16. Simran said she was “overwhelmed” about her victory and “feels great.” VP Cavendish, Ludovica Sinichiscali Bernabo said “This role was introduced to ensure International students are represented in these hostile times for higher education.” Your new NUS Delegates will begin their roles immediately, prepping for the conference in Brighton in April. The newly elected Liberation Officers will begin their roles in July alongside the new full-time Sabbatical Officer team, who will be elected in February.
UWSU TAKES AIM AT NUS AWARENESS BYLAUREN WAUGH Over the course of these Winter Elections both candidates, students and the Students’ Union have raised the issue of poor awareness around the National Union of Students and the role NUS Delegates play in its democracy. All this year’s running NUS delegates mentioned a lack of knowldge about NUS in their manifestos. This was backed up by Liberation Officer Candidates, some even admitting they needed more information on NUS themselves. The National Union of Students passes policy on national issues from Education to citizenship and law. NUS also provides Student’s Unions with training for staff and sabbatical officers, as well as cheap prices for food and drinks for shops, bars and
café’s. NUS delegates are elected from all 600 affiliated Students’ Unions in the country. The amount is decided upon by the size of your university, with bigger universities having more delegates. NUS also states that 50 per cent of each delegation must be selfidentifying females.
“NUS DELEGATES EXPRESSED A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE” At Westminster we have 6 positions for NUS Delegates. The incoming and outgoing presidents of the Students’ Union are automatically invited, but all other officers need to run for seperate election as NUS delegates if
they wish to attend. NUS Delegates vote on policy from all categories of NUS, such as Citizenship, Welfare and Union Development. University students can also vote in The Further Education policy, which will affect colleges and visa versa for college students. Particular policies relating to “liberation” is voted on at seperate liberation conferences, rather than at the main event. The liberation officers we’ve just elected go to these conferences. In last year’s conference, students voted policies such as whether to boycott question 23 of the National Student Survey, the question in the survey which explores how students feel about their Students’ Union. The conference is also where the president and vice-presidents of NUS are elected, as well as the national
Mamuna, NUS delegate winner gives an interview. IMAGE: Amy Avent
committee known as Block 15. These are 15 students who advise and help the work of the NUS leaders. UWSU has identified lack of NUS awareness as a problem;
launching NUS: Educate and Engage campaign this month. This campaign will run into the next semester, with more events coming in 2017.
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OFFICER ROLES FAIL TO ATTRACT NOMINEES
Several officer positions went unfilled at this year’s winter elections.
BY LAUREN WAUGH This year’s Winter Elections found student representation short of one NUS Delegate and one Disability Officer.
Originally the role of NUS Delegate had six candidates, but incumbent sabbatical officers Ludovica Siniscalchi Bernabo, Dan Seamarks both dropped out, along with Oriana Pundt. This left only three candidates for the position, while the University
of Westminster is expected to send six delegates to the national NUS conference in the spring, two of which must be the incoming and outgoing Students’ Union president. The NUS also requires that each delegate team must be half composed of self-defining females. At the time of print, The QH was not able to confirm what action the Students’ Union will take to fill the missing NUS Delegate spot. When candidates were released online last week, none were listed for the Disability Officer role, despite the nomination period being extended by an extra week. The Disability Officer role is currently filled by Andrew Scarborough, but will now likely become vacant in July. A spokesperson for the Students’ Union said, “We received applications to fill every post, although some candidates later withdrew or applied after nominations had closed.” This is the second year Winter Elections have been run at Westminster, and they ran closer to Christmas this year than in 2015. Prior to the start of Winter Elections, NUS Delegates were elected alongside Sabbatical Officers in the spring. One student, who wished to remain
anonymous, said, “The Winter elections were poorly advertisied to both Students and Candidates.” “It was clear some candidates were not entirely sure what role they were applying for or what it entailed.” At the election results, held on the 8th December the roles of BAME Officer, Women’s Officer, International Student’s Officer and LGBTI Officer were announced.
“THESE ROLES HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED” Ashleigh Adeji-Agyekum and Edward Claydon ran for the positions of Women’s officer and LGBTI officer respectively, unapposed apart from the option of R.O.N (Re-Open Nominations).
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FEATURES
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MUGGED ON BAKER STREET AT 7’O CLOCK
INTERVIEWS SHABNAM ABOUT HER STORY...
H
ave you ever felt unsafe at 7 p.m. on Baker Street while on your way home? Perhaps, you must be. Shabnam Firdousi, a first year student on Cavendish campus was attcaked and mugged at 7 p.m. on her way back home. She was on her way to the International Students House when three men followed her into a street behind Madame Tussauds, opposite Marylebone campus. They snatched her phone while violently twisting her arm and then pushed her onto the street. Shabnam, fortunately, did not hit her head on the pavement but was injured and mentally scarred. She walked herself to the Baker Street police station but was directed back to the British Transport Police to file a report. She said, “I felt so lost. I was in shock and didn’t know what to do.” After registering the complaint, Shabnam was dropped at her accommodation by the police. Life suddenly changed after that day. She was tormented by the thoughts from that night and did not fully recover from the shock. She is still scared to walk alone on the streets. As an
IMAGE: Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz
international student, she misses her family and has limited support, “I am scared all the time and still cannot believe that something like that could happen in London at evening on Baker Street,” she said. Shabnam contacted the Student Affairs at the university and was directed to the counselling services who helped her deal with the post-traumatic stress. The university offered to allow her to go back to India and rejoin her course as and when she felt appropriate. “The university was very helpful and gave me a leave of absence, but I decided to stay. I don’t want to change anything in my life due to one incident,” she said confidently. She is however, still pestered by calls from investigators who ask all sorts of details about her phone. “I don’t want my phone back, I just want them to do something and find out who these people were, so that other people can be safe on that street”, Shabnam remarked. She also feels that the university needs to improve its emergency services as she couldn’t get in touch with them directly. “I think the university should have someone designated to deal with criminal cases or police matters”,
she added. “Student affairs kept transferring me across departments but no one had direct contacts with the police or any sort of collaboration”, she recalled.
“LIFE IS SLOWLY COMING BACK TO NORMAL” “Life is slowly coming back to normal”, she said with a smile. “I wish the process was smoother but then again, I also wish it never happened”, she sighed. The QH applauds Shabnam for speaking to us and bringing this to light. We are sure this incident will make students more wary and perhaps, help the university improve its services.
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ON HARROW CAMPUS
TALKS TO VP HARROW ABOUT FESTIVITIES...
Dan Seamarks, VP Harrow, is playing Santa Claus on Harrow campus running a ‘12 days of Christmas’ campaign. With 12 days themed around Christmas festivities, he has tied up with the Dean, Aramark, SU Shop, Undercroft and UWSU to bring in the festivities with joy. “We never really think about holidays and semester ends. This is sort of an extra reward to the students during stressful times”, said Dan. As a part of the campaign, Dan has been able to give out 300 Christmas cookies from the office of the Dean, popcorn from Aramark catering services, candy canes, discounted lattes at campus cafe and the upcoming Monday Madness Christmas edition at the Undercroft. Secretly playing Ellen DeGeneres, Dan says that the idea just come to him as he really wanted to engage the student community and make them feel warm and cared for while they are bogged down with submissions. “I love it when students call out my name from across the campus with a cheeky grin on their face,” he laughs. “I go home feeling extremely de-stressed these days, as the festive feeling is back on campus.” It has been merry in Harrow, as students are delighted to find candy canes and cookies after a long day in
the library or a intense class. Dan said, “This is my way of giving something back to the students for their hard work through the semester.” You can find these gifts on the Harrow Campus until the 16th of December and is great way to motivate you through those final deadlines.
THE FESTIVE FEELING IS BACK ON CAMPUS You can also find out what is happening through Social Media, where you can involved in too. Be sure to tell other people what they are missing out on. The QH agrees, what better way to wrap up the semester? As the 12 days continue, look out for Christmas treats and goodies around you. Spread the joy!
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INSIDE THE MINDS OF THIRD YEARS ALEX CLEMENT DECODES THE FINAL YEAR MYSTERY...
I
t’s been two years since you got accepted into university and you were heading on your way to becoming a first year fresher. Alex Clement gives an inside look in the minds of third years. No doubt you have changed and you might feel stressed. You know how the engine of the university runs and the pressure is on.
“THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE DEVELOPED ME INTO A PERSON WHO COULD GO OUT INTO THE WORLD” You’re no longer running home crying about the possibility of failing your degree before you even had your first lecture. Reminiscing previous years, you begin to realise how astonishing the difference two years can make. ‘A lot can happen in a year’ they say. Well that is definitely true. But what goes on inside the heads of students going through the upgrade to, ‘soon to be graduates’? When you go back in September, you feel accomplished. You haven’t dropped out, failed and gone back a year. You walk around with a sense of relief; you’ve almost made it to finishing a rite of passage to most millennials. Final year Television Production student at Westminster, Jessica Mitchell says “This is the final year, the one that destines whether I complete my degree or not. The last three years
have developed me into a person who could go out into the world. If I compare myself now to first year, I’m a completely different person, in terms of confidence.” Thrid year, Fine Art student from Plymouth College of Art, Cynara Wilson says “When I went into first year I felt vulnerable, scared, excited and terrified. I was finally thrown in the deep end. Looking back over the years, I can truly say that going to university was the best and worst decision I’ve ever made”.
IMAGE: Joanne O’Brien
“WHEN I WENT INTO FIRST YEAR I FELT VULNERABLE, SCARED, EXCITED AND TERRIFIED.”
IMAGE: Joanne O’Brien
Public Relations & Advertising student at Westminster, Marcel Klebba says “In the first year, the educational system might be a bit of a shock. Second year is a bit like being a teenager, you’re not really a kid any more, but you still haven’t become an adult. I’m extremely excited about the final year, but a bit sad. These are the last months before I’ll hopefully land a job and stop being labeled as a student”. Transitioning into your final year might seem like the end of the world. Don’t panic, it really isn’t. Remember, plan ahead. Think of what comes next; a job or a possible postgraduate degree? Who knows, the possibilities are endless. IMAGE: Joanne O’Brien
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4 OF LONDON’S SWEETEST SPOTS
MEET WESTMINSTER’S RLF FELLOWS
BISHAKHA DUTTA GOES TO MARK DAVIES SITS DOWN CHOCOLATE HEAVEN... WITH ALI KNIGHT...
“W
ise men say, only fools rush in... But I can’t help, falling in love with you...” If there is one thing (or three things) to which I would dedicate this song, it would be chocolates, coffee and desserts. For those who love desserts made fully out of chocolate – or hot chocolate for that matter – Choccywoccydoodah is the place for you. Sounding like a spell you would use in Hogwarts, it’s a colourful boutique shop by Carnaby street advancing chocolate into an art form. Just as you enter the shop, you will find yourself surrounded by a number of sculptures and houses made out of chocolate, and they sure cost a lot. The cafe on the first floor serves delicious cakes and hot chocolate. The chocolate cake comes with milk and dark chocolate drizzled over it with a scoop of ice-cream at the side. The cake is so big, it will certainly make Joey Tribbiani happy. If you are not satisfied with just the cake, order the hot chocolate. You can choose from white, milk and dark chocolate. No hot chocolate is complete without whipped cream over it and a side of wafer. Another place to try hot chocolate at is SAID, an Italian cafe. This place serves you amazing thick hot chocolate with triple chocolate oozing out onto the cup and plate - heaven for those crazy chocolate lovers. They also have some really good cakes and coffee. It is a small cafe that will offer you a triple chocolate with anything, which means a layer of white, milk and dark chocolate on your cup. Talking about sweet dishes and not mentioning pancakes and waffles is like
SAID’s famous hot chocolate speaks for itself.
eating oreo biscuits without the cream. There are many places you can go for pancakes and waffles but one place that is my all time favourite is The Breakfast Club. You get everything here, from pancakes with berries to waffles with chicken. But the best thing in this place, without any doubt would be the salted caramel shake. The milkshake, as the name suggest is made of salted caramel, topped with some cream, sweet and salted popcorn with chocolate syrup. If you are an absolute foodie, you won’t mind the wait for this deliciousness.
‘‘NO HOT CHOCOLATE IS COMPLETE WITHOUT WHIPPED CREAM OVER IT AND A SIDE OF WAFER’’ If you feel a bit fancy and have just received your salary, then go to La Duree. They are famous for macaroons. Choosing from the variety off the menu is like choosing which the next TV series to binge watch. Only a food-lover will understand that queueing up for two hours to get into a restaurant is nothing but sign of pure love, dedication and passion. It is almost the end of semester and it is only fair to treat yourselves at one of these places with amazing desserts. You managed to get through the semester without murdering anyone and submitting all your coursework – that’s reason enough.
Ali Knight. Credit: Rankin
I
t can be difficult to know how writers actually work. What does their day consist of and where does their inspiration come from? For Ali Knight, who has recently been appointed Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund, being a full time writer is a wonderful experience but she admits that is does have its tough moments. Together with Caitlin Davies, Knight is supporting Westminster students by offering one-to-one sessions to give advice on their academic work from all faculties and subject areas. Knight is a fictional crime writer, specialising in a genre that is dubbed ‘Crime Noir’.
‘‘THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THE SCHEME IS THAT YOU’RE HERE TO HELP STUDENTS’’ Her plots are all set in London, something that Knight feels is crucial to the impact of her novels, “To me, it’s actually really important to be in London, and all my books I set in London. I think it’s very important to be a London writer”. Coupled with this factor that gives her fiction its edge, Knight was also a Fleet Street journalist working for The Guardian and The Observer in a sub-editing role, as she explains, ‘A re-write job, or editing other people’s work, is a great foundation for being a novelist. I spent years cutting out all of the extraneous stuff that I don’t think needs to be there’. The skill applies to both academic and creative writing and is one of many aspects of writing that both Knight and Davies want to help students with.
Despite being a full time writer, Ali Knight states that she loves the balance that the RFL fellowship has brought to her schedule but writes every day, even when she is based in Harrow for her consultation sessions. ‘What’s interesting about being at the university as a Royal Literary Fellow and the wonderful thing about the scheme is that you’re here to help students (…) and also to have another interest outside of your writing life.’ Knight confidently admits that she sees a great deal of potential in the next generation of creative and academic writers but also acknowledged that every writer, new and seasoned, can enhance their skills, as she explains, ‘writing is a craft and you can definitely be taught to do it better and so that’s partly our job.’ The fundamental aim of the service is to focus on improving the skills students already have and ultimately enabling them to produce more fluid and concise academic work which is something that Knight in particular wants to achieve. And, for anyone who is thinking of writing as a career choice, Knight offers this advice,’ just do it! You need to start and you need to finish. Just give it a go! It’s fun.’ so there’s no excuse for any aspiring creative or academic writers out there who wish to pursue this option as a career! Ali Knight is available, by appointment, to see students from all faculties on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Harrow and you can book an appointment via the ‘Study Support’ page on the university’s website. Knight’s latest book, The Silent Ones, is out now and more information can be found on her website: www. aliknight.com or on her Facebook and Twitter pages (facebook.com/ aliknightauthor and @aliknightauthor) respectively.
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THE SUPER-CHEAP GE
TAKES A TWO DA
T
he fifty quid holiday starts with a flippin’ cheap flight, and to find that, you need the greatest invention in contemporary aviation. It’s not the Airbus or Virgin Galactic, nor is it the jetpack or hoverboard. Quite simply – it’s Skyscanner. The flight comparison website doesn’t offer space travel, but instead presents users with an opportunity the cosmos never will – a £15 return flight.
Nuenen village, windmills and all. Image: Jack Cummings
You heard that price right, and finding those aerospace gems on Skyscanner is a relatively simple affair. Unlike other flight comparison websites, it allows users to search ‘destination everywhere’, on an ‘anytime flight’ basis. This means that the cheapest flights in the world are aggregated before your eyes. Presuming time is flexible, it’s the modern day equivalent of throwing a dart at the map and travelling to the destination. Enter the £50 getaway. The place in mind? Eindhoven. The budget for this dalliance? Fifty quid. Fifty-flippin-pounds for a two day European getaway. It’s a holiday that’s more student-friendly than Sainsbury’s Basics alcohol. The beauty of Holland’s fifth largest city is that it’s unequivocally imbued with Dutch culture, but lacks the stag-holiday tourism of Amsterdam. Buses from the city’s airport into the centre cost a couple of euros, but it’s far more rewarding to walk in. The stroll takes a couple of hours, but on a crisp, clear-skied autumnal day is second to none. As soon as Eindhoven’s tiny airport is left, signs point walkers along the Beatrix Canal and into the city. The walk takes runs over flat, Dutch woodland, etched with waterways overlooked by great cormorants. You’d never know that half an hour earlier you were sat in a plane. Considered a village in 1900, Eindhoven grew exponentially thanks to the electronics manufacturer Philips. Since then, it has become the Silicon Valley of the Netherlands and one of Europe’s technological hubs — all whilst retaining its original beauty. The old streets which converge at St. Catherine’s Church house artisan cheese-mongers, strange boutiques and enshrined cafes. Arguably the best of the latter is Lucifer Speciality Coffee, which serves up an unbeatable flat white. That rich, deep and velvet-light cup of heaven will cost you €3 – the same price you pay for a cup
of dirt at any of Westminster’s cafes. Airbnb is simply the only route to valueaccommodation in Europe. With the rise of sites like Hostel World, humble dorms that were
Genneper Parken, a free bike, and a mighty fine bobble hat. Image: Jack Cum
once reserved for poor travellers are now part of the ‘buy-a-gap-year’ experience – charging upwards of £20 per night. Meanwhile, the advent of Airbnb allowed anyone to rent out a room or property on a night-by-night basis, and with it came a flood of cheap, quirky and unique accommodation. For the same price as a hostel in Eindhoven, you can get a private room in a big, beautiful Dutch home. My accommodation of choice was filled with the Low Countries warmth, and its host – a single, elderly woman – couldn’t contain her excitement at having visitors. There was no check-out time presuming she didn’t have any guests the following day, and for a modest £15 PP, myself and my girlfriend were treated like royal dignitaries. From biscuits and juice in the bedroom to uninterrupted use of our host’s facilities, living space and bikes, we were well looked after. The availability of free bicycles is also a big plus in many of Eindhoven’s Airbnb listings, as rentals will cost around £10 per day.
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ETAWAY: EINDHOVEN
AY TRIP TO HOLLAND... FOR £50
EXPENSES BREAK DOWN
ACCOMMODATION
£15 FOOD/DRINK/ LEISURE
£20
mmings.
If the plan is to keep to a £50 budget, most importantly you’ll need access to a kitchen. Eindhoven hosts a lot of beautiful eateries, whose prices mostly range from €8-€25 PP. Eat out once for the experience by all means, but avoid unnecessary costs by utilising a host’s kitchen and nearby supermarkets. There’s no need to go down the commercial fast-food route for cheap meals either. Eindhoven is a hub of street food, from giant Vietnamese spring rolls, deep fried before your eyes at €3, to blistered, meaty Dutch sausages (known frikandel) served from shop windows. It’s a savoury scented affair that pierces the cold air with a festival of flavour, and renders the local McDonald’s mostly redundant. Street grub in hand and bikes in tow, Eindhoven is filled with many cheap sights to more than satisfy a trip. Green spaces such as Genneper Park are picturesque, vibrant areas complete with old water wheels and wildlife in abundance, whilst the village of Nuenen is an hours bike ride away. It’s immortalised for the
‘‘THAT RICH, DEEP AND VELVET-LIGHT COFFEE WILL COST YOU €3 time Van Gogh spent there in the 1880s, and the house in which he stayed is a well preserved museum to the artist. Beyond that, Nuenen’s wider municipality is as idyllic as they come. For those who crave the visual highs of Low Country windmills and waterways, you’ll get your fix here. Back in the city, some of the most popular attractions in Eindhoven are its various museums. These include the Philips and Van
FLIGHT
£15 TRANSPORT
£4
BIKE HIRE:
£0
Abbe, but on a £50 budget and with a penchant for experience, it’s actually worth saving those entry fees for a night on the Stratumseind. Affectionately known as ‘the street of a thousand bars’, it’s a homage to the drinking culture of the Low Countries. Patrons bounce between small, dimly lit bars drinking fine Dutch lager. The prices are often premium, but well worth it the splurge. For a younger crowd, the night then leads on to one the strip’s eurodance clubs. Most are free to enter, and that’s certainly reflected in their dingy, eurodance aesthetic. Regardless of the night however, it always ends with a stop at one of Stratumseind’s iconic kebab stalls. These aren’t the dilapidated London kind, and all claim to be the best on the strip. Meaty pitta in hand, it’s a good time to head back to your private room – yet another moment to be grateful you’re not in one of Eindhoven’s hostels. Of course, for those who are used to visiting the Netherlands for one herbal reason only, there are a couple of ‘speciality’ coffee shops in the city. They aren’t particularly touristy either, so patrons can enjoy the night without the cast Skins sat opposite.
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GRINCH VS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE AND THE NEVER ENDING DEBATE BETWEEN THE LOVERS OF THIS SEASON AND HATERS ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE QH...
BY JACK CUMMINGS Christmas is stupid. Sure, I like the festivities, cheer and food, but beyond that the holiday season is a horrific mess that makes me want to go after Rudolph with a hunting rifle. Here’s 5 things I hate about Christmas: THOSE STUPID CHRISTMAS ADVERTS Whether it’s a dog on a trampoline, a penguin who wants a friend or an old man on the moon, these adverts all have one thing in common — they make me want to vomit. I’ve nothing against an emotive short film, but there’s something nauseating about a Sainsbury’s logo appearing at the end of something that made my Mum cry. SEEING FAMILY YOU’D RATHER AVOID If Christmas is a time to be around the people we love most, why o’ christ must ugly uncles, smelly godparents and offensive cousins come pouring through the door? Worse still is when you actually have to make the effort to visit them — only to be offered one of their disgusting mince pies. Begone weird, distant family! I much rather hide in my room and binge watch shows on Netflix.
PEOPLE WHO TRY TO MAKE CHRISTMAS RELIGIOUS Anyone who tells you Christmas has anything to do with little baby Jeewee is lying. Christmas is about CocaCola’s fat Santa. Christmas is about stuffing one’s face until cardiac arrest is imminent. For anyone who tries to bring up the Nativity, hit them over the head with a turkey leg. STINKY CHRISTMAS CANDLES Why does every non-chain store always have a Yankee Candle burning away? As if Christmas shopping wasn’t bad enough, patrons are now fumigated with hits of ‘Christmas Gingerbread’ and ‘Eve of the Yuletide’. Did it ever occur to smelly candle companies that we don’t need ‘Scentof-Cinnamon’ to know it’s Christmas? CHRISTMAS SONGS THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL It is said that the CIA once used heavy metal songs during interrogations at Guantanamo. If it’s any consolation to to those unfortunate prisoners, I feel the same way about Band Aid. Worst of all the musical offenders is Noddy Holder of Slade, whose been yelling “it’s Christmas” for 43 straight years. Lock him up.
IMAGE: Flickr
BY MINA MADDY This is by far the best season of the year, and to prove my point here are my five reasons. DECORATING The Christmas tree. There is possibly nothing more exciting than decorating the Christmas tree with your family or friends. Trying to detangle the lights from last year without cursing 50 times and hanging up the ornaments whilst attempting to unwrap yourself from the tinsel is possibly the best part of Christmas. Just seeing the Christmas tree in Regents campus makes you feel a million times better especially because your Christmas holiday is on its way.
IMAGE: Flickr
SNUGGLES AND FILMS Watching Christmas movies on Netflix or even on Christmas 24 channel (Sky 327- if you’re interested) one after the other without feeling guilty because Christmas technically starts the beginning of December. Nobody could ever judge you for watching four Christmas movies in a day. A few favorites: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and obviously A Charlie Brown Christmas.
STUFFING YOUR FACE WITH FOREVER LEFTOVERS Christmas food! What is better than homemade Christmas dinner? Nothing… well maybe some things, but we must have all missed our mums cooking. REASON TO GET DRUNK Christmas parties like the amazing ones hosted by Crique Le Soir. Everyone is in the Christmas spirit- possibly the reason why they are there. We are finally able to enjoy ourselves after having to endure first semester. SONGS THAT MAKE YOUR DAY Michael Buble’s Christmas album and Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas album is one of the greatest things we were given. During Christmas there is no shame in singing any of their songs at the top of your lungs. Go wild; sing them on the public transport. But let’s admit that the ultimate thing about Christmas is Christmas designed toilet rolls!
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NEW YEARS EVE LOOK BOOK
AS THE END OF 2016 IS APPROACHING WHAT WILL YOU WEAR TO CELEBRATE THE END OF THIS YEAR? STYLISH AND SPARKLING. HERE ARE SOME IDEAS THAT YOU CAN USE... Sparkling Christmas Tree
This look could work for family gatherings or parties with friends. Either way it is elegant, sparkly and very thematic with its subtle green colour. If you are convinced that you will freeze in this dress (which is very possible) you can wear it with a black turtleneck underneath. Healed boots are the only way forward. They will define the entire look, plus I can assure you that they are much warmer and comfortable than a pair of heels. Now my favourite part, makeup. Obviously you don’t need any makeup but it does add a sparkle to the look. A glittery cut crease eye shadow will steal the spotlight. For this look you would need white or silver glitter, dark green, brown and black eye shadow, black eyeliner and of course, mascara. For hair I would recommend giving it a nice, natural looking curl. You want the hair and the glittery makeup to steal the show.
Sparkling Christmas Tree Look, Dress by Urban Outfitter
BY AYLIN PAULA KARANIS
Girl in Gold
Now this look is perfect for a party or night out but would not recommend it to a family dinner. You can never go wrong with a gold sparkling body suit that has the most wonderful back cleavage. As the top is a bit over the top you want to wear black trousers or jeans to balance it out. And black heels. Black heels are always a good idea. Again a glittery cut crease eye shadow is the way forward (very original, I know…). This time use black, brown, nude, copper eye shadows and gold glitter. For hair go all Kardashian. Sleek hair will turn all the heads to you. You can achieve this look by straightening your hair, brushing it backwards and use pins and hairspray.
Skin make-up routine for all of these looks: -Priming my face with Nivea After Shave for Men. Colour corrector for the under eye and the red parts of the face. Foundation from Giorgio Armani that is applied with a beauty blender, and concealer on all the places I’ve used colour corrector. Laure Mercier translucent powder to set the face and bake the under eyes, laugh lines. Smashbox cream contour and Benefit hoola bronzer. Nars blush. Eye makeup style for all of these looks: Glittery cut crease eye shadow: Nude eye shadow all over the eyelid so the rest of the colours could blend in perfectly. Black eye shadow over your lash line stretch it out and make a soft line on your outer crease. Put brown on the inner line of the black eye shadow. Put the base colour you want on your middle and inner lid (if silver glitter, cream colour eye shadow, if gold glitter light brown/copper eye shadow). If you are blessed with the eyeliner applying talent then it will be a nice finish, if not better safe than sorry.
16
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DRAGONS’ CORNER
The QH: How is the team feeling so far this season? Shannon Ince, women’s football team captain: The team is feeling great this season! All the new girls that have joined the team are really lovely people and we’ve had loads of fun getting to know them all! The QH: There have been a few heavy defeats and high wins too for the team… SI: I thought this would be a question! I can only assume you’re referring to the 25-0 cup defeat to Sussex university... all I can say is that we were going up against a team looking to win the league above us and you could tell. As for the other games we have only been playing together as a team for around 2 months; we are still getting used to how everyone plays and finding people’s positions within the team. Currently we are 3 points behind the top 3 teams in the League with a game in hand, so I am confident we can do Westminster proud this season!
Both Murrray brothers top ATP rankings at the end of the 2016 season: Andy in singles and Jamie in doubles
ONE IS THE NUMBER MURRAY IS THE NAME BY ETIENNE FERMIE
I
t has been an extraordinary year for Andy Murray. An Olympic gold medal, a third grand slam win at Wimbledon, and a remarkable winning run that saw him become the year end world number 1 in the Emirates ATP World Rankings. It would be harsh to suggest that 2014 and 2015 weren’t good years for Murray; he did reach a grand slam final and
semis after all. But it felt that after the ecstasy of claiming his first two majors previously, he could have been winning more. And boy was that to be the case in 2016. Twice he beat his previous record for consecutive victories. Winning 22 consecutive matches in the summer, before finishing the year on an astonishing 24 match winning streak that saw him make up a staggering
8,000 points in the rankings to overtake the previously seemingly untouchable Novak Djokovic. This year has seen Murray add more consistency to his performances. Other than a slight dip in March, he has time and time again been if not winning tournaments, at least getting very deep into them. Of course he is capable of breath-taking demolitions, take his 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 trouncing
The QH: We can say that women’s football is on the rise, isn’t it? SI: I’ve been playing football since I was 6 years old. When I started there were hardly any girls teams and none where I lived. I was lucky that I had parents that would drive me up and down the country 4 times a week, giving up weekends to take me to games. In the past few years women’s football has become so much more accessible and I think this accounts for the increased popularity for the game. My flatmate works for London FA and they now have a great focus on improving women’s football across the country, with huge amounts of funding going into grass roots clubs and putting girls through coaching qualifications. The QH: Dragons men’s team versus women’s team. What would be the results? SI: We’d beat them of course! Bring it on!
Dragons equestrians exhausted but still smiling before the take-off
FROM TENERIFE WITH LOVE BY DAMIAN BURCHARDT
D
ragons Equestrian team, represented by Charlotte Longhurst and Georgia Brouard, has won Jailbreak Challenge organised by the UWSU
Raising and Giving Society. The Westminster’s equestrians managed to get to Tenerife, nearly 3 000 kilometres away from London. Jailbreak Challenge is a charity event in which participants have 36 hours to
travel as far outside London as possible, without any costs. RAG’s edition of the challenge was fundraising for Action Against Hunger. The other UWSU teams, The Spinning Spoons and Los Ibericos, finished their journeys
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of Grigor Dimitrov in the US Open 4th round. But Murray has also added more of a steely resilience, being able to turn around matches that he seemed certain to lose, his comeback from a set and a break down against Milos Raonic in the Queens Final back in June being a perfect example. A perfect blend of these two traits is what has made the Scot the greatest tennis player on the planet. Having claimed the world number 1 spot in Vienna, all eyes were on the ATP World Tour Finals, as Murray met Djokovic for the first time since the Roland Garros final back in May. Murray’s critics argued that he had to beat Djokovic to truly justify being labelled the world number 1. And beat him he did. 6-3, 6-4, in a final that was much more comfortable than anyone had imagined it would be. Even Djokovic himself admitted “there was no serious chance for me to win today’s match”, going to say, “He was just a better player all in all.” Murray will now be looking ahead to a 2017 season where he will have a serious chance of adding to his three grand slam titles. The question that can now seriously start to be asked is, could Andy Murray be the greatest British athlete of all time? If he can add to those three slams, it will be difficult to say no.
in Budapest and Brussels accordingly. The equestrian team set off by catching Heathrow Express, but at the airport all the companies refused to help. The girls decided to try again at Gatwick Airport and after 24 hours from the beginning of their mission, having been offered a choice between flying to Spain or Gambia, they finally managed to get discounted tickets to Tenerife. “Thomas Cook said they will give us tickets for less so we had to collect some money. We stood in the arrivals with a sign: ‘Can you help us?’ and our Jailbreak t-shirts on, running out of time. After eight hours we got £150”, says Charlotte. The equestrians spent an hour on the island; going as far outside the airport as the local Burger King was, taking a picture by a palm tree and then missing their flight home; ending up in Birmingham – the only UK destination planes from Tenerife were flying to later that day. “We laughed a lot and it was great. I hope more Dragons teams will do it next year. Good memories”, Charlotte adds.