EXCLUSIVE: WATFORD GOALKEEPER HEURELHO GOMES SITS DOWN WITH THE QH
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ACCIDENTALLY VEGAN
IS LONDON’S BEST STEAK REALLY JUST £10?
TRUMP VS. CLINTON: THE REPORT
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10TH OCTOBER 2016 | ISSUE 31 | FREE
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STUDY HARD, THEN GO HOME?
• NEARLY HALF OF ALL GRADUATES MOVE BACK HOME • 62% STILL IN NON-STUDENT DEBT BY TOOBA HAQ Unrealistic living costs, high student debt and a lack of government support has made a generation of graduates move back in with their parents, a major NUS study has revealed. The study has shown that thanks to student loan debt, nearly half of all new graduates move back home. The students living at home are either unemployed or in some sort of part-time work 6 months after their course ends. According to the research, graduates feel that the fees
they paid for their course are not worth what they got out of it. Up to 52% of students in 2015 felt that their course was not worth the money they paid and 72% of students were concerned about their level of student debt. More than three quarters of the participants in the study were worried that the government might change the terms of the loans they had taken out to make they pay more. NUS vice president, Sorana Vieru said; “Jo Johnson’s reforms cause more harm
than good.” “The majority are in debt, not to the student loan repayments, but they also owe money to banks, credit care companies and loan sharks.”
“JO JOHNSON’S REFORMS CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD” 62% of graduates still had other debt unrelated to
government tuition fee loans left over from their degree. 46% had accumulated further debt since finishing their studies. Furthermore, three times as many full-time working men than women graduates were earning over £30,000. From the University of Westminster, survey showed 64% of undergraduates were in work, 16% were in further study with 2.8% of respondents working and studying at the same time. However, when postgraduates were taken into account the number decreased to 2.1%. MORE ON PAGE 3...
EXCLUSIVE:
MIND BEHIND TUBE CHAT BY RITUJA RAO Charming and bright, Jonathan Dunne sounds as excited as one can be, “I am talking to journalist from around the world”. The QH spoke to Jonathan, the man that got London talking. Originally from Colorado, he brought this idea to the London tube to get more people talking to each other when travelling. “The Tube chat badge in a way is a
permission for people to talk to you”, he said. It obviously comes as a challenge given the current taboos of talking to people Tube chat went viral and also saw a huge backlash on social media. But this has not discouraged Jonathan at all, “In fact, loads of people are contacting me, congratulating me, it’s great!”, However, it has not all been rosy beds for him, he humbly recalled, “It has been much harder than I thought it would be. It’s difficult to get people talking”. He distributes these batches himself, and Londoners can be very difficult to persuade. His inspiration was his mundane journey on the tube with everyone transfixed on their smartphones Jonathan Dunne, 42, has been funding this initiative on his own, paying for each badge he creates. He said, “Logistics are the biggest problem in my endeavour. My first goal is to manufacture more badges because I’ve run out of them!” It has been a rollercoaster ride for him, but it is mostly good things among loads of funny memes. When quizzed about any other ideas in the pipeline, he enthusiastically replied, “You never know.”
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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
jack.cummings@smoke.media
Aylin Paula Karanis 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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Bekeowei Okoro, Robert Walker, Andrew Scarborough, and Ethel Tam.
We are back with more exclusive news and features to kick-start your Uni life. We hope you’ve recovered from Fresher’s flu, but don’t worry, the fun does not stop here! The QH October issue brings you all the spooky news this season with some only QH Exclusive. The man behind the ‘Tube Chat’ opens up to QH and talks about his idea that is getting London talking. Our sports team bagged a major page-turner interview with Heurelho Gomes, Watford F.C
Goalkeeper, a first for student media here at UoW. For all you vegetarians out there, we bring you two features on the occasion of World Vegetarian day. Our lifestyle section helps you get assimilated into the London way of life. With the best and arguably the cheapest steak deal and a quick glimpse into the theatre scene, you can now experiement with your night outs. We also cover some burning issues among students such as Storage troubles over summer, graduate debt, sexual abuse and more. As a student, you interact with so many people and engage in so many activities, little do you realise, everything around you is a potential story. This issue is all about stories from your daily lives. Your story could be the next big thing, we let’s face it we are all in the same boat. We aim to bring you more such unafraid and bigger than life stories in upcoming issues. For now, inspire and be inspired.
LONG TERMS BUT NO CONDITIONS LETTER FROM FOR LIBERATION THE PRESIDENT OFFICERS BY LAUREN WAUGH This November will see the return of the Winter elections, but may well not include the re-election of Liberation Officers. On the 16th of September the University of Westminster Student Union sent an email to all students to consult on the idea of extending the terms of office of the current Liberation Officer team. This would mean Bekeowei Okoro, Ethel Tambudzai, Robert Walker, and Andrew Scarborough would hold their current positions until July 1st 2017. This would bring Liberation officer re-elections in line with the Sabbatical Officer Elections in February. This would allow the part-time Liberation Officers to train alongside the Sabbatical Officers and create a sense of a one officer team, but it would also mean students wishing to run for these roles
would have to wait until February before they are given the opportunity. November’s elections would see this year’s team of six NUS Delegates be elected for the conference in April. NUS Delegates attend a twoday conference with delegates from across the country and vote to decide the policy and goals of NUS for the next year. They also elect the new NUS officer team. This is important as it impacts the work of our Sabbatical Officers working on campus as well as how NUS represent students to the government, and nationally. Delegates can also submit and present papers on what they feel NUS policy should be. The consultation around Liberation Officer terms office closed on the 30th of September at 6pm. The results of which will be taken forward in the decision as to what roles are open for nomination in the Winter Elections.
BY FREYA THOMPSON Wow! What an incredible whirlwind of weeks it has been! Welcome to our fresh faced first years, our determined postgraduates, and our empowered researchers. I still have that ‘first day of school’ buzz in my tummy, and I hope you do too! Last week our Dragon’s hosted their annual sports trials, with reams upon reams of students heading out to Chiswick and Harrow to showcase their sporting prowess. These students are now building on our
impressive sports family, and are now preparing for their BUCs (British Universities and Colleges Sport) league fixtures. Every Wednesday is Dragon’s Day! Keep it free! This week societies are hosting meet and greets for the students that joined at during our Welcome Weeks. Whether it is Politics, or Business, or Faith, or you just love Pokemon (!), joining a society is a great way to meet and socialise with new people and share your common interests. Don’t forget, you can join any sports team or society over the year so visit UWSU. com for the full list! October is Black History Month and we have choc-ablock schedule for you over the course of this month. Keep your eyes peeled for all the things the Students’ Union are running this month, and pop in to one of the campus based SU offices for a natter between lectures! See you on Campus! Freya
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Vireo claims that students are facing a double jeopardy. “They enter a world of work having paid far more for their education, with debts hanging over them.” She also adds in that the benefits of entering the labour market as a graduate are a lot less than that of previous generations.
“THEY ENTER A WORLD OF WORK HAVING PAID FAR MORE FOR THEIR EDUCATION, WITH DEBTS HANGING OVER THEM” Graduation Cap. IMAGE: Circe Denyer
NUS SURVEY CALLS OUT CRIPPLING GRADUATE DEBT BY TOOBA HAQ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A week before this study was released Jo Johnson, the
Minister of Universities, wrote an open letter to students that their investment of higher education will “set you up for life”.
However, the NUS study questions this, suggesting that the reforms will actually worsen the financial situation for many students.
“Instead of waiting to fully assess the impact of the 2012 reforms, the government has already sped into a new stage of marketisation with the higher education and research bill, and is forcing students to foot the bill through even higher tuition fees.” However, even after this study was released the University of Westminster statistics show that the number of postgraduates studying and
A BRISK BREXIT, SAYS THERESA • ARTICLE 50 TO BE TRIGGERED BY APRIL • PM ADDRESSES PARTY CONFERENCE IN BIRMINGHAM BY BEN WALTERS AND ADAM KIRKMAN Prime Minister, Theresa May, said on The Andrew Marr Show this Sunday that the government would trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal two-year negotiation process of leaving the European Union, by the end of March 2017. Speaking at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, May took a firmer approach to Brexit and signalled a ‘hard Brexit.’ The UK would officially be out of the EU by the end of summer 2019. May highlighted that she
wanted Britain and the EU to work together on crime and intelligence, free trade, and as part of the single market. She did however say that “we are not leaving the EU only to give up control of immigration again and return jurisdiction to the European Court of Justice.” However, many key EU figures argue that freedom of movement is an unavoidable cost to having access to the single market and to free trade. She denounced the idea that the referendum could be overturned, as some have suggested, by re-assuring Britain that “the referendum result was clear, it was legitimate”. May also accused
those who opposed the result of “insulting the intelligence of the British people” and “trying to subvert” democracy. May also announced her plans for a “great repeal bill”, to remove the European Communities Act 1972, which would incorporate existing EU law into UK law once Britain has left the EU. What is ‘Article 50’ and why does it matter? Well, Article 50 a part of the Lisbon Treaty and outlines the process for a member state leaving the EU. So far, no country has ever left the EU. Once Britain triggers Article 50 then the negotiating teams from Britain and the EU have two years to make a deal. Prime Minister Theresa May.
working at the same time was at a low 2.1% compared to the NUS study. Destination of Leavers for Higher Education (DLHE) survey 2014/15 says that 85.6 per cent of undergraduate respondents and 86.7 per cent of postgraduate respondents went on to work or further study. In the light of information provided by the university, the NUS survey comes as a surprise.There is a lot of disparity between the cumulative NUS study and independent universities’ studies which outline different figures. This creates obvious doubt, confusing graduates as the numbers point to two completely opposite directions. This widening gap between university figures and public, national figures is concerning. The QH strives to bring you more investigative reports from Westminster’s gradutes in its further issues.
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CHAT-UP LINE: MYSTERIOUS BADGES APPEAR ON TUBE BY CHARLOTTE RACHER
Newly refurbished first floor of the Harrow Library. IMAGE: Lauren Waugh
HARROW LIBRARY REOPENS, SORT OF BYLAUREN WAUGH The £2 million refurbishment remains incomplete, despite partially re-opening to students this week. All floors of the library have partially opened, with access to books, Macbooks, software and study space, though both the ground and first floor are still undergoing work. At press time, only the second floor was fully complete. The new library boasts a new design, more group study space and self-service Macbooks which students can access any time. In a statement, the University said, “The new library comes as a result of continued investment in the state of the art facilities in Harrow.”
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“It is a vibrant, modern and interactive learning environment which further cements the School in being an innovative place to study.” The areas yet to open include group study zones, Mac computer zones and the new on-campus binding service. The library was shut completely during freshers’ week, with students sent instead to Marylebone campus library.
“IT FEELS LIKE AN EXHIBITION” Marylebone Library, which is an 18-minute tube ride away, has 24-hour access, but doesn’t provide books for the courses studied at Harrow. For students, the best feature
Newly refurbished first floor of the Harrow Library. IMAGE: Lauren Waugh
of the revamped library seems to be the new toilets. Stephen Mitchell, a MA Radio student, said “it’s about time they got toilets though.” Not all students are happy with these changes. Third year Television Production student Alicia Wilson-Fraser said, “the see-through glass in some sections is going to take awhile to get used to. Feels like an exhibition.” Dominika Wojciechowska said, “It’s all looking very cool, I wish there were more places to sit on the 2nd floor though because it’s already very busy.” Jack Cummings says “still looks like a work site to me.” The library is now accessible directly from the Forum, instead of via J block. Some students will be given tours of the new space, as part of their course, seeing new features firsthand.
A new badge has been introduced, aiming to break conversational boundaries on the Underground. Tube Chat, launching their brand on twitter, say “Have a chat with your fellow travellers. Wear this badge to let others know you’re interested,” as part of their bio. They can be followed on their handle @tube_chat. The first batch of badges were handed out on the 28th September and mixed opinions have been received since. Transport for London has stated they only distribute badges to pregnant women and people with hidden disabilities, clearly distancing themselves from the campaign. The badges have been met with horror from some commuters.
Via Twitter, the public have cited many problems with the badges, from a desire to be anti-social to issues with language barriers stopping conversation. However, the badge may help those wishing to interact in a tube-world of buried heads into smart-phones and Metro newspapers, as only those who desire will wear these badges. An overwhelming majority of Westminster students surveyed said they wouldn’t wear the badges. Wabi, French and International relations student, said “I’m never going to wear a badge like that. What are you going to chat about?” Benni, a BA International Relations student, agreed “I don’t think I would either. If the badges take off, the Tube could well become the best place to strike up a chat with a passer-by.
Newbury Park station. IMAGE: Mathijs Lemmers
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AROUND YOU WE ARE WESTMINSTER Geared up to celebrate diversity and culture on all campuses this Autumn, ‘We are Westminster’ is a SABB initiative for everyone. With a two-week festival of food, culture, dance and music set to hit all campuses from the 31st October until the 13th November, organised events include a language lunch and drinks from around the word and networking. The main aim of the ‘We are Westminster’ initiative is to celebrate and embrace our student population, create a greater awareness of how diverse our student population really is,” says Vice President of Regents and TLS, Tasawar Khurshid.
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EXPLOSION IN HACKNEY CAUSES PANIC
WESTMINSTER AT THE SMITHSONIAN BY TOOBA HAQ On the 24th of September, the Smithsonian’s newest museum opened its gates. The institution’s founding director, Lonnie G Bunch III was found at the ceremony alongside Barack Obama as they gave opening speeches for the main night. Lonnie Bunch has worked very closely with Alan Morrison and The University of Westminster as a part of the WestminsterSmithsonian Colloquium era the 1990s. They work alongside museums in London by delivering public lectures, seminars and collaborations with the University. A day
before the ceremony Alan and his wife, Wendy Morrison were given a private tour of the museum. Alan said, “It was great honour to be a part of this historic event. The museum tells a powerful story about power and resilience. The University of Westminster has a long-established history of collaborating with the Smithsonian museums. They include, the Lemelson Centre at National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum. In spring of 2017, the University of Westminster is planning a London festival programme to celebrate the opening of NMAAHC.
IMAGE: Taequin Binary.
“We are celebrating 23,000 + students which include undergraduates and postgraduates.” The Project began last year under the supervision of previous UWSU Vice President Lauren Waugh, which saw the creation of liberation officers at the university. By Jennifer Scherer
RELIGION VS. LECTURER In a Theories of Media Communications lecture a lecturer made a comment about religion, stating how the universe being made in 7 days is not true with new scientific research. The lecture theatre following the comment was in upheaval. Shortly after, one courageous voice from the back of the room spoke up. The creationist questioned how the lecturer had the audacity to put her own opinions in a hall filled with people from different ethnicities, cultures and religions. She argued that even though we were in a lecture, the lecturers comments on the creation of the universe weren’t addressed properly. After this, the lecturer said that any discussion about the matter should be left for outside the classroom. By Tooba Haq
BY TOOBA HAQ Explosions in London’s Hackney district caused panic and confusion to commuters coming to and from work. The explosion took place outside the Hackney Town Hall at 9:30am as people were walking around the area. Social media was flooded with images and tweets about an attack but this was later proven that it was an electrical failure. The electrical failure
was at a place underground causing a manhole to explode onto the street. A 25-meter safety cordon was set up with road-blocks in place. This extended from Mare Street, Morning Lane to Paragon Roads. Emergency services said that nobody was harmed. Hackney council told people to avoid the area for the rest of the day just as a precaution. London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police were on the scene at the time.
Alan Morrison at the Smithsonian.
LONDON DOUBLE-DECKER BURST INTO FLAMES BY MICAELA KOLISCHER On Sunday, the 2 October, at approximately 10 a.m. a London double-decker bus burst into flames in front of Liverpool Street station. This route 26 hybrid bus exploded in front of terrified bystanders due to still unknown circumstances. Transport for London (TFL) confirmed that no passengers were on board at the time ad the driver had safely escaped. Tony Akers, TFL’s Head of Bus Operations, said, “There will
be a full investigation into the accident.” London Fire Brigade and police were on the scene almost immediately. The fire brigade cleared up the fuel spillage and put out the flames. A video from an eye witness went viral on social media and the seriousness of this incident was evident from the degree of chaos at the scene. The London fire Brigade, said, “50% of the energy efficient hybrid bus was damaged by the horrific fire.” IIMAGE: Moyan Brenn.
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SEXUAL ABUSE STILL NOT A PRIORITY AT UNIVERSITIES FOR , UNIVERSITIES TALK BIG, BUT THE STATS DON’T BACK THEM UP
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n early September Brock Turner, an ex-Stamford University student and convicted rapist, was released after serving only half his sentence. Unlike many
similar cases, Turner was actually convicted for his crimes, as statistics by RapeCrisis show only 15% of cases end in conviction. Both Gigi Hadid and Kim Kardashian were degraded
for defending themselves from violent situations. These headlines show an inconsistency between the way young men and women are reported in these cases. This is particularly an issue on
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university campuses. On UK campuses 1 in 3 girls will be sexually abused, with 90% of victims knowing their perpetrator. What makes university cases more complicated is the fact that most cases go through student misconduct procedures as well as criminal convictions. They look to have zero tolerance to sexual abuse on campus and more active bystander programmes brought into university education. Active Bystander programmes look at students finding a comfortable way for them to call out other student’s unacceptable behaviour. This is similar to the Green Dot programme in American universities, which promotes on campus culture change through peer-to-peer intervention.
‘‘ON UK CAMPUSES 1 IN 3 GIRLS WILL BE SEXUALLY ABUSED, WITH 90% OF VICTIMS KNOWING THEIR PERPETRATOR’’
IMAGE: Naomi August.
The government is currently looking at bringing more consent and sexual harassment education into schools as 59% of girls aged 13-21 have been harassed in the past year according to Rapecrisis Statistics. This is a big project for the Women’s and Equalities Select Committee. ” While currently the process of dealing with sexual abuse on campus is the responsibility of each individual university, the government should take more responsibility for students being safer on campus.
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SYRIA DECODED: WAR AND CEASEFIRE LOOKS AT THE SITUATION IN ALEPPO
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n the 12 February 2016, a partial yet fragile cessation of hostilities in Syria occurred at midnight. The 97 groups including the US, Russia and the Syrian government adhered to this ceasefire, and according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, no civilian deaths occurred in the first 15 hours of the ceasefire. There had been a number of sporadic attacks on Monday, after the ceasefire was agreed to. The attacks had been carried out by both rebel forces and government forces meaning that both parties, though previously having agreed, went ahead and broke the terms without fear of recrimination from any higher authority. According to reports from the Syrian Observatory aerial bombardment in Hama and in some villages near Damascus was witnessed. In response to these reports, the Syrian government maintains that the ceasefire should last for seven days, although they reserve the right to respond to any attacks by rebel forces. This ceasefire should allow aid and supplies to get through to the worst hit areas of the country, including Aleppo. However, before any aid is allowed to pass through, the UN stated that there should be a ‘laying down of weapons that satisfies us.’
The US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that the US would coordinate with the Russian forces in order to carve a clear path of ‘demilitarized’ zones, thus helping aid to flow through unhindered.
‘‘ATTACKS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT BY BOTH REBEL FORCES AND GOVERNMENT FORCES’’ Since the partial truce lapsed on 19 September, fighting has returned to its usual ferocity and there are reports that the use of barrel bombs by Syrian forces has forced the closure of the largest hospital in Aleppo. Ground attacks have also been renewed against the rebel forces in Syria. The mounting death toll has sparked international outrage and the US claims that Russia is forcing moderate rebels into the hands of IS and their ilk.
IMAGE: Christiaan Triebert. Flikr: Azaz, Syria
According to the UN, at least 400 civilians have been killed in the past week due to fighting. On Saturday, the main trauma hospital was bombed by a combination of cluster bombs, barrel bombs and a chlorine bomb and according to Dr. Muhammad Abu Rajab; the hospital is completely out of service and in total darkness. During the attack on the hospital, two patients were killed and ten people were
STUDENT STORAGE WOES TACKLES A TROUBLING TREND
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tudents often travel back home during summer, storing all their things barring a few clothes with self-storage company that offer lucrative prices and promise good service. However, the summer of 2016 proved to be nightmarish for some students at the University of Westminster. I stored about 4 boxes with SpaceWays and after requesting a return for over 3 weeks, only one box was delivered back to me without any explanation. After many emails, I was told that the rest of my boxes are missing and might be found after a month or two. Hanging on to the might, I am now surviving without plates, pillows and freezing to death without my winter gear. Upon further investigation, I found more students who had similar experiences. Costanza Cerioni, a second year student of Interior Architecture got no response whatsoever until she contacted the police! She said, “I called SpaeWays everyday and they said they would come the next day but never did. I went to the Wembley Central Police Station and they contacted them for me.” She received all her six boxes within the next two days, lucky for her. Tristan Alexis Prawl, a
Journalism student called LoveSpace repeatedly without any response for over a week, until one day they showed up at 8.30 a.m. on a Monday morning.
She recalled, “I had to sleep in layered clothing with aeroplane blankets because my duvet was in my storage!” Another LoveSpace client, Tooba Haq,
injured. This was the third attack on the hospital in a matter of days. Other casualties being treated in the hospital were moved to other medical facilities, and the US President, Barack Obama said that this was more evidence of the lack or regard for human life demonstrated by Syrian forces and the Russian forces.
second year student, received broken plates and wine glasses without being compensated for damages. She said, “I drink my wine out of beer glasses now”. Many other stories of damages, loss and delay have been reported across all campuses. It is very unfortunate to return to such conditions after a long happy summer. Students don’t just lose their things but also suffer major emotional damage.
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ACCIDENTALLY VEGAN
KATE KULNIECE OPENS UP ABOUT VEGANISM...
“N
ah, I could never go vegan, like what do you eat? Just fruit?’’ And don’t even get me started on salad. Plant-based cafés and restaurants are slowly conquering streets worldwide – and thankfully because now I don’t have to ask for ‘just salad, please’ with a fake smile on my face. Nobody gets excited over salad. Vegans eat a whole lot more than just hard-to-chew kale. And you do too, aware of that or not.
crisps without any trace of beef and prawn-infused potato snacks absent of prawns. You’re welcome!
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Oreo. Yes, you read it correctly. Although the world’s favourite cookie’ hasn’t announced their product is veganfriendly, be sure to check their ingredient list (well, don’t, I’ve already done it for you). However, only the classic and the chocolate ones can be devoured whilst watching Bridget Jones over and over again.
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Full of nature’s goodies, such as trisodium cirate, thiamine mononitrate and hydroxylated soy lecithin, McDonald’s Apple Pie is not necessarily the healthiest, protein-packed or calcium-rich item you could note down in your food diary. But once in a while when loudly wandering around the streets, and/or throwing up after those tequila and vodka shots, this crispy pie can comfort you in tough times.
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A special occasion or not, cake is always a good idea. The not-so-fun part, unfortunately, includes finding a recipe, grocery shopping, struggling with the consistency of the batter and loathing yourself for not investing in a dishwasher (or not having children to do it for you, right mom?). When feeling like having some cake (which is always) but not feeling like doing the dishes, boxed cake mixes is the answer. On Tesco’s finest, Betty Crocker’s and Duncan Hines’, the list at the back of the box doesn’t show any presence of eggs, dairy, honey or any other animal containing ingredient. Nonetheless, what makes this dessert potentially dangerous and lethal for those switched to veganism are the steps you have to follow in accordance with Betty Crocker and the rest who tell to use eggs and decorate yourtriumph in your chef career with whipped cream. But vegans have found the solution. May I present, my dear fellows:
from
As a student, you barely have the time or energy to cook. Or money, in most cases. This is where Pot Noodles come in handy. Cheap and time-saving, these instant noodles also happen to be vegan. 8/11 flavours, such as Brazilian BBQ Steak, Piri Piri Chicken and Sticky Rib, their range are animal-free.
Lazy is the best way to go! Now excuse me while I’m getting ready for some important grocery shopping!
Summer is over, well at least in the UK, where it never started. You can finally put your bikini away in the drawer and pull out those packets ofcrisps you’ve been sneakily having anyway. Don’t worry, we all did. Along with the presupposed flavours, for instance, Sweet Chilli and Original or Salt&Vinegar, some come as a surprise. In the world full of chemicals, stores now abound with beef flavoured
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“VEGANS EAT A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN JUST HARD-TO-CHEW KALE. AND YOU DO TOO, AWARE OF THAT OR NOT”
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IMAGE: Leonie Wise Unsplash.com
READY TO VEG OUT? KIERA CHAPMAN ON THE RISE IN VEGETERIANISM
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magine for a moment that you’re a vegetarian (if you aren’t already). Now imagine it’s the 90’s and you’re a vegetarian going out for a social/ pre ‘whoops we’re hammered’ meal. One friend licks their carnivorous lips and orders a steak whilst another plumps their more petite pescatarian set and orders the niçoise. Eyes narrowed, you desperately seek the vegetarian option. Ah. Found it. There’s only two dishes to chose from, if that: macaroni cheese or the beloved spinach and ricotta cannelloni. Now fast forward two decades and you’ll find the UK splaying vegetarian delights on their menu fast approaching in double figures. Vegetarianism is on the rise as a dietary choice, political statement and social trend. Whatever the reason for it’s increase, it’s worth noting: It’s estimated that around 2% of the UK population is vegetarian, which is more than 1.2 million people. Teenagers make up the highest proportion, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, which compiled 4 years of research from 2008 to 2012. For Bucks student Joanna Chidgey, 21, her meat free diet is a result of the farming industry brutalities being more and more exposed. “I do not want to partake in the unnecessary, horrific torture and murder of innocent animals.” She continues to explain passionately regarding an animals right to live, mentioning them “feeling emotion, just like us.” Her choice to eliminate meat from her diet started off only for Lent, April 2010 but she soon realised how easy it was to live without it. “I also think a lot of students unintentionally become veggie as it’s cheaper and safer. The risks of food poisoning are lower and a tin of beans costs little to nothing.” The media questions the vegetarian diet however, over the glamorisation via celebrity bloggers and the portrayal of it existing as a social trend. Being a vegetarian can often be misconstrued as a fashion statement; an avocado and egg on toast can rack up over a thousand photo likes on Instagram if it’s garnished in photogenic manner. Chidgey dismisses this as negative. “If it’s raising awareness to the
horrors of the meat industry then it can only be a good thing.” The vegetarian shift is mainly down to the fact that western meat eating tendencies are unsustainable, as research conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows. A meat-based food system requires more energy, land and water resources than a vegetarian one. On the other hand, farmers will argue rearing animals for slaughter to be simply part of the food chain, as well as a way of life.For those living and running these types of farms, it’s how they earn their living. Similarly, the RSPCA is not a vegetarian or vegan society. “We always encourage people to choose ‘higher welfare’ products. As more and more people become aware of these issues, we hope that they will be able to make betterinformed decisions about the food they choose.” I have been a vegetarian for four years, my reason being similar to Chidgey’s (with a mixture of having a childhood stuffed lamb and copious vicious threats about it being sent to the
slaughter house). My sister,Sophie, has recently made the decision, similar to Oliver, to reduce her meat intake. She points out that “human’s must’ve all been vegetarian at some point throughout our evolution. We are
the only mammals that cannot digest raw meat so before the discovery of fire, we must’ve survived off of something substantial enough to get us to where we are today.”
“I DO NOT WANT TO PARTAKE IN THE UNNECESSARY, HORRIFIC TORTURE AND MURDER OF INNOCENT ANIMALS” Yet, like all trends and movements there exists those who refuse to succumb to them. Head of Music at Proud Camden Danny Whitehead, 25 hardly eats anything other than meat. “It’s my main source of food. Even when I’m getting pizza, I’m like: give me ALL the meats.” This is also coming from a man who has only recently had his first ever fish and chips, branching outside the world of steak, steak and more steak. Musician Harry Manton, 18, also adores a slab of similar grub. “I love a good sausage” he pipes, “who doesn’t love a good sausage.”
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WHY SO MANY HOLLYWOOD RELATIONSHIPS END MIKI QUDDUS EXPLAINS THE SOCIAL EPIDEMIC...
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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. IMAGE: Georges Biard
any famous relationships ended this past year, with the shocking latest news of the termination of “Brangelina”, but why more and more celebrities are calling it quits? Hollywood couples are often seen as the portrait of a perfect relationship. Fame, money, looks, two perfect people united in a perfect relationship. They are seen as the emblem of love and this is one of the main reasons why many were left heartbroken by the news of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Pictures and news of celebrity couples are plastered everywhere providing a source of entertainment to people. Chartered clinical psychologist Jessamy Hibberd says that people “love the idea of love itself”; she continues: “a celebrity marriage or breakup is almost like a soap opera playing out”. Being surrounded by paparazzi, constantly under the public’s gaze, does not leave famous people much privacy. Hollywood relationships become almost fictional. Stars are only characters acting the role of being in love, being part of the perfect couple and living up to public’s entertainment’s needs. The public tend to forget that celebrities are also people and, like
everyone, they encounter obstacles in their relationships, sometimes leading to breakups. Social media is also considered a big factor not only in celebrity breakups but in non-celebrity couples. Everything is monitored through pictures and posts.Lately, there have been divorce cases fought using evidence from social media.
“CELEBRITIES ARE ALSO MORE INDUCED TO BREAKUP WITH THEIR OTHER HALVES BECAUSE OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES” Celebrities are also more inclined to breakup with their partners because of busy schedules. Breaking up is not always a negative thing. Divorce lawyer Lloyd Platt sustains that “divorce is no longer a disgrace”.
WOMAN IN RACE FOR £10,000
RITUJA RAO TALKS TO DIANA FLORESCU ABOUT TAKE ME OUT
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iana Florescu, 21, a former Marketing Communications Bachelors graduate has recently started developing a new app called ‘Take Me Out’, which is a food ordering app that has many discounts and tackles the food wastage problem in many little restaurants. Take Me Out is currently in development and will launch its official prototype in January. Diana, along with her business partner created this app to help you and I connect to small family-businesses who have amazing restaurants but lack the promotional abilities. In this process they found out that almost £760 million of food waste in generated a year in the UK. To tackle this problem, through their app they will have offpeak hour flush sale and end of the day flush sales to help restaurants get rid of all their leftover food for extremely reduced prices. Take Me Out is in the race for £10,000 at the NACUE Varsity Pitch and been shortlisted for Shell Wire prize of £5,000. Diana herself has applied
to the Women in Focus initiative of the UK Government. What started out as ‘technically bootstrapping a whole business’, Take Me Out is competing and even won many such events. Diana Florescu worked with many Tech start-ups before she realised that she wanted to have her own business. Originally from Romania, she said, “I have put my own money into this venture and have enjoyed every moment of it.” She is currently pursuing her Masters in Technological Entrepreneurship in UCL while balancing work, her business, networking and recruiting restaurants for her app. She added, “I am thankful to everyone at Westminster for their support. The WBS registry, Holly at NACUE and even the Westminster News helped me get out there.” Diana is optimistic about her entrepreneurial career but only has one small regret, she said, “I should’ve started earlier.” She currently speaks at many university events and entrepreneurial societies and her advise to other students is, “When you have an idea, just start.”
IMAGE: Diana Florescu at her graduation.
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FAREWELL FABRIC
REACTIONS TO THE CLOSING OF LONDON’S MOST POPULAR CLUB
WESTMINSTER VOICES
YOU CAN’T BLAME POST-BREXIT ATTACKS ON THE REFERENDUM BY BISHAKHA DUTTA
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Fabric’s main dancefloor. BY NICOLE EL-HELOU
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hat was once a lively and busy nightclub, always full to the brim with people enjoying their nights out, Fabric is now another added to the long list of closed clubs. London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has since criticised the decision, saying this will decrease London’s “status as a 24-hour city with world-class nightlife”. And with Islington council’s firm decision to keep the club closed, what else is in store for Britain’s nightlife? The genres of music they played ranged from hip-hop and rap, to dubstep, bass and electro. There were themed nights as well as popular resident DJ’s. However, the club was racked with bad press after a number of deaths in the club were reported, most recently two 18 year olds within a six week period in July and August. These deaths were drug related and police were called to the scene immediately, resulting in permanent closure. The public reaction was one of shock and sadness, with many high profile individuals expressing their feelings. One of the key campaigners to keep Fabric open, London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has since said “no single organisation or public body can solve
#SAVEF A
these problems alone”. He urges the London community, especially Islington Council, to keep Fabric open but also requires help to stop the drug problem from continuing. Closing the club is not the solution to this problem. With a long list of supporters, a petition was made called ‘Save London’s nightlife. Stop the closure of Fabric.’, and was addressed directly to the Mayor of London. The petition has since received over 159,000 signatures with many famous DJ’s signing like Fatboy Slim and Nick Grimshaw. The club has released a statement after its 28-day review ended on 6th September, thanking its fans and promising a future where it would work with the police for a safer environment for their customers. As a high profile club with an exciting scene, our Student’s Union had booked the venue for an event during Freshers week. Speaking on behalf of the SU, University of Westminster’s Student Union’s President, Freya Thompson said that unfortunately, “the student union can no longer use their facilities, but this gives the SU the exciting opportunity to explore other London venues”. But while we are looking forward to these new venues, Fabric will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we hope that one day, we will see Fabric’s doors reopened.
ver since Britain voted to leave the European Union the number of xenophobic attacks has grown in many parts of the UK. However, is it right to use Brexit as the scapegoat for the increase in hate crimes? Bartosz Milewski, a student at Portsmouth University, was visiting his friends in Donnington, near Telford, on Thursday night, when he was stabbed in the neck by three men for speaking in Polish. This is not the first incident of its kind and certainly won’t be the last. European embassies, according to the Guardian, have reported an increase in xenophobic violence towards their citizens. The majority of these are targeted towards eastern European nationals such as the Polish — who reported the highest number of post-Brexit attacks. However, western European embassies have since reported no assaults on their citizens. On 23rd June 2016, almost 52% of UK citizens voted to leave the European Union. One of the main reasons why brits voted for Brexit was immigration. The number of different nationalities in the UK has increased massively in the past few years which lead to controversy around the topic of immigration control. It comes as no surprise then, that there has been an increase in hate crime ever since the referendum.
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Polish flag. IMAGE: Pexels.
But is it right to justify the increase in racial attacks with Brexit? Let’s say, for instance, Brits did not vote to leave the European Union. Would we have seen a decrease in racial attacks? Would people have stopped protesting had the nation voted to stay in? Have the results evoked racism? I feel the answer is no. Blaming the leave voters would be wrong since it is a certain type of people that are projecting this kind of behaviour. Over 17 million Britons voted to leave the EU, and to claim they’re responsible for the rise in attacks is to reject this country’s biggest ever political mandate. Immigration isn’t necessarily a left or right topic, and whilst the free movement of people has been incredibly beneficial to the UK economy, it has put a strain on members of the working class. Exploding house prices, lower-end competitiveness in the wage market are just some of those problems — both of which generated a feeling towards the immigrants. Inevitably, since Polish immigrants are amongst the largest groups coming to the UK, they become a target for a small minority who felt victimised by their arrival. Certainly, this is no reason for such violent acts, but neither was the referendum. Those who have hatred in their hearts will find reason to display their feelings. I believe that referendum or not — the stabbing of Bartosz Milewski would’ve taken place.
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LIFESTYLE
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FOOD
LONDONS BEST STEAK FOR £10?
BY JACK CUMMINGS
Flat Iron 17, Beak St, Soho, WIF 9RW
IMAGE: Taraji p. Henson supporting no fur in a campaign by PETA
FASHION
FUR-IOUS FASHION BY OMAR BALDE Don’t worry it is not Cruella Deville who is back (unfortunately. She is my favorite villain), but the fur is, and that’s scary! The number of designers using fur is now between 400 and 500, and this is a devastating situation, “Fur farms dominate the trade, and production has more than doubled since the 1990s, to about a hundred million skins last year, mostly mink and some fox.” says the National Geographic. The real question is, how did this happen? Even though the big fur coats are not back - at least not in a big scale, due to the economy recession - the accessories, like shoes, hats, bags, and little details in bomber jackets and other clothes are now back in trend. Plenty of high end designers are using it such as; Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Dior,Balenciaga, and these are just a few of them.
“KILLING ANIMALS FOR THE SAKE OF FASHION IS UNNECESSARY” The reason why this vicious trend is back is the same old reason; fur shows power and money, which creates a social hierarchy. The new generation of celebrities
has started using fur, such as Kim Kardashian, Amber Rose, Kanye West, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Beyoncè (well she can’t be perfect) and many more names to follow. All of these people show up in events with their fur, and make it seem like an acceptable trend. They are unaware (As was I but I have some insiders) of the animal rights movements in the 80’s and 90’s. It was violent, the manifestants used to throw red paint to the people that were going to the fashion shows. It was crazy, but it worked. In the 00’s there was just 4 designers using it, that number grew by hundreds in the last 15 years. Taraji P. Henson Naked Anti-Fur Ad: Actor Taraji P. Henson would rather go naked than wear fur in this sexy ad for PETA in the early 2000’s. But there’s still hope, there are a lot of designers against it and one of them is Stella McCartney “It’s completely Barbaric.” says the designer to The National, “We have captured a luxury and richness with our fur-free fur, which is proof to the fashion industry that killing animals for the sake of fashion is unnecessary,” Next to her there’s a lot of other designers like Vivienne Westwood, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and others. There’s a lot of celebrities that are against fur as so Khloe Kardashian (interesting, as her sister Kim, isn’t ), Taraji P. Henson, P!nk, Pamela Anderson and countless others. The big question is do you really want to use something that was made by the suffering of an animal? I let you think about it.
The flat iron steak is a mythical cut of meat. During the golden age of sirloin, ribeye and fillet it was mostly ignored — then Jamie Oliver came out and said it was better than all three. It’s so good in fact that Flat Iron have built a godly reputation around serving this namesake cut. Join the waiting list in Soho on any given night, and you’ll almost certainly be waiting for an hour amongst other pilgrims. What’s unusual here is that no one is sourfaced at having to stand in the London drizzle. Flat Iron takes no reservations, and that’s considered a fair wait for great reward. Inside is a no-nonsense shrine to the flat iron cut. Guests fortunate enough to get in are crammed on to wooden benches in an open brick eatery, armed with mini-meat cleavers and passed a pot of popcorn. The dim lights and uncomfortable seating make it feel like a basement gathering of revolutionaries — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Everyone inside is more passionate about steak than Marx ever was about communism. The reason for that revolutionary feel comes from the relative newness of the flat iron steak. Until a few years ago, it didn’t technically exist. Instead the meat — which hails from the chuck — was cut horizontally and known as the blade steak.
In this form it contained a piece of gristly connective tissue and was mostly unmarketable. Then, through a miracle of butchery the feather blade was cut vertically, removing the gristle and giving birth to the flat iron steak. Beyond Marxist meat lore, Soho’s Flat Iron restaurant is by all means nononsense. The tables don’t have menus because there is no need. Instead a menu-poster is pinned on the wall. Like a manuscript from god, it offers a single main item — the flat iron steak — and when the inevitable order arrives, it doesn’t disappoint. Flat Iron cook their steaks meat sous-vide at a temperature you could bathe your baby in, and the result is the most even medium-rare sheen you’ll ever see. Thin in appearance, the steak arrives sliced on a great stone palette, glistening in its own juices and seasoned with rock salt. Tender but textured, the cooking process renders the fat in the meat down into liquid flavour — and the result is orgasmic. It’s as rich as any good rib-eye, and eats as well as any fillet. Each bite results in the diner emitting a melting, eye-closing, stressreducing sigh of awe. And it’s £10. Ten f**king pounds.
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IMAGE: Flat Iron’s signature steak, served at their restraunt in London
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A YEAR IN THEATRE
SARAH LOUHICHI EXPLORES THE WORLD OF DRAMA AND EMOTION IN FAST-PACED LONDON...
When coming to university, every fresher is excited about all the possibilities that living in London entails. The different clubs, with student parties, the bars with 2-for-1 cocktails and the endless pubs in the city. One thing that barley any student thinks about when coming to London is the theatre. Yes, the theatre. London is the home of the West End, famous for its countless plays and musicals. Before you think, “I’m a student, how am I supposed to afford a theatre ticket?” Don’t worry, as a theatre lover and blogger I have perfected ways of getting cheap tickets. There are many options that make being a student and going to the theatre a mission that is not impossible. One of the most convenient ways is an app called TodayTix. Just download it and you have access to heavily discounted tickets for almost any show in the West End. One other really great thing about the app, for some shows you can enter a lottery for cheap front row tickets. The most affordable option to get tickets for a show or a musical is day tickets. They usually cost between £10£30 for a ticket that you have to get in
person at the box office on the day of the performance. The only downside to this is, usually it means getting up early and queuing outside the theatre of your chosen show. However, all this is definitely worth it if you get amazing front row tickets to your desired show for a fifth of the price that people two rows behind you have paid.
“I’M A STUDENT, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO AFFORD A THEATRE TICKET?” If you’re still not sure if you want to spend money on any show in London, then you should go to West End Live! That is a weekend, usually in June, where Trafalgar Square transforms into Musical heaven. Most shows in the West End come and perform their best and most exciting songs throughout the two days. The best thing about this is, it’s completely free. All you have
to do is turn up! We all know that no student can say no to free stuff. Who knows you might be so impressed by a performance that you go and book your ticket for it on the same day. Once you’ve been to a few shows and you got infected with the theatre bug (don’t worry, we all do), the biggest night in British theatre awaits you in April. If you want to experience a bit of glamour and attend a red carpet, then the Olivier Awards are perfect for that. London’s best shows and actors will be honoured in an extravagant event at the Royal Albert Hall. Fans are free to wait at the red carpet for a chance to meet their favourite actors. This year’s attendees included Uzo Aduba , Amber Riley, Cindy Lauper, Alfie Enoch and Zoe Wannamaker. So, if you ever get bored of all the clubbing and parties, feel free to check out the theatre. Especially, if you want to see one of your favourite stars in action. Many shows have very well known actors in their production. Last year alone, Bradley Cooper, Kit Harrington, Richard Madden and Rebel Wilson were only few of the many familiar faces in West End shows.
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HEURELHO GOMES
FROM HIS CHILDHOOD MEMORIES IN BRAZIL, THR LONDON TO REJUVENATING
BY DAMIAN BURCHARD
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hat a result that was for Watford. Beating star-studded Manchester United on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. For the first time in more than 30 years. A great achievement for the side that two years ago still played in the Championship. Yet: “It was big for them, not necessarily for me”, says one of the heroes of that memorable day. We sit down with 35-year-old Gomes in his beautiful, newly built house in Borehamwood. Housekeepers wander around the property seemingly wiping away every single piece of dust. “Dele Alli and Kieran Trippier live just over there”, he says, pointing at the neighbouring houses. They are Tottenham players; the same club that gave Gomes his first Premier League experience. The club that he played Champions League football with. And, where he experienced what it is like at the very top of the English game, having broken into the top four. Gomes’ journey however, has not been a simple one. “We didn’t have so much news about England when I was young. My dream was to play football and help my family; but England wasn’t my focus.” After breaking into the Cruzeiro side in his native Brazil, it wasn’t long before Gomes got his big move, “I started understanding football better, I moved to Holland. An offer from Europe is always a big thing for a Brazilian player. A huge thing.” His move to PSV in 2004 was to be a successful one. Domestic dominance followed with four league titles,
The QH’s Étienne Fermie in comversation with Heurelho Gomes
HEURELHO GOMES AT TOTTENHAM GAMES PER SEASON:
2008-09: 34 2009-10: 31 2010-11: 30 2011-12: 0 2012-13: 0 2013-14: 0
as well as an incredible run to the Champions League semi-finals. It wasn’t long before the Brazilian goalkeeper was attracting interest from the Premier League. “I did win everything with PSV. It could have been easy to stay; but I wanted new challenges.” And Tottenham wasn’t his only possible destination. “Chelsea showed some early interest but I didn’t want to be a second choice, Petr Cech was playing at that time. Then the offer comes from Tottenham. It was a great opportunity to play for a big English club.” But the first few months in England weren’t easy, with the Brazilian making high profile errors against Aston Villa and Fulham. “When I arrived in England it was a tough time,” the £7.8 million signing admitted. “Also I played so many games injured, it was a very big mistake because the people that are watching you, they don’t care, if you are playing, it is because you are able to play.” Gomes’ arrival came in a challenging period for Tottenham. Juande Ramos had overseen To t t e n h a m ’ s worst start to a Premier League season, sitting bottom after eight games without a single victory. “It was tough for him because he couldn’t speak the language well. The players found it very difficult in that situation.” Despite this start Gomes never lost belief in his ability and the arrival of Harry Redknapp in October 2008 sparked an upturn in the team’s fortunes; and after climbing the league to finish comfortably in mid table, the following season was to be a special one, as Tottenham qualified for the Champions League for the first time.
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S: A MAN OF FAITH
SPORT
ROUGH SWEET AND SOUR EXPERIENCE IN NORTH G HIS CAREER AT WATFORD
DT AND ÉTIENNE FERMIE
“It was great, I believe I was part of one of the best times Tottenham ever had.” It was a period of Gomes’ career that he remembers with great fondness. “It was their first time in the new Champions League, that was great, great players, great time, I really enjoyed it.” After a magnificent 2010/11 campaign for Tottenham, reaching the Champions League quarter finals, Gomes never featured for Spurs in the Premier League again, despite remaining at the club for another three years. “It was very hard for me. All the times I tried to leave they blocked it.” He knew he had to leave for first team football but “they would say ‘oh we might need you around the club, we still need you around the club’. After those great years that we had together I believed I needed a little bit
more care.” There’s a second of hesitation. The tone of Gomes’ voice changes. “They almost killed my career and that was a very difficult time for me”, he adds with a discernible shade of disappointment. Then his chance finally came, with a loan move to Hoffenheim guaranteeing the regular football that Gomes so craved. What’s more, he became the club’s captain after just a few games played. “I have never worn an armband but this is
One armband, two captains. Source: wdsport.co.uk
not important. I have always felt like a captain of my teams”. But the true place of resurrection for Heurelho Gomes was to be found at Watford. The club’s owner, Gino Pozzo, convinced the player to join the Championship club after sharing his ambitious plans for the near future. “At our meeting he said straightaway I would have to drop my wage. Before this, however I needed him to explain to me what his
“Why not? I don’t think I have many years of playing left. After my retirement I’m thinking about moving back to Brazil, though. It’s great to be here and I respect England for the opportunity given. But I miss my family. And, to cope with this weather… It’s not easy.” The greatest hits? The biggest moments? Gomes doesn’t let us drag him into a nostalgic journey back into memories.
“THEY ALMOST KILLED MY CAREER” Gomes on the end of his Tottenham spell focuses were. After that I just said I wanted to be a part of those plans because I knew we were going to be back in Premier League again.” And so they are. Since their promotion in 2015, Watford have also been to the semi-finals of the FA Cup. And, having recently José Mourinho’s Manchester United, Gomes has vowed there is more to come from the Hornets. “This season we have more talent in our squad. The face of Watford, Troy Deeney, has rejected a betterthan-just-a-few-quid-more offer from Leicester. This shows how far we can go. How far we want to go.” Watford has been the perfect environment for Gomes to thrive again. Now edging towards the end of his career, could he spend the rest of it at Vicarage Road?
“My friend, there’s so many! For a young boy born on the farm to come all the way from Brazil to the best league in the world; I’m just glad to be here talking about this. But I always try to look ahead. I don’t just look back.” An enormous amount of experience. Tremendous faith. And, self-belief that you have after true hard work done. This is why a win over Manchester United could be just another good day in the office for somebody like Heurelho Gomes. All that stemming from an extremely professional work ethic that is expressed in a short text message sent to us by Heurelho when arranging details of the interview. “When I say yes for one thing, I do it a hundred percent”.
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FREYA TALKS UP NEWLY INTRODUCED EXHIBITION GAMES
The QH: What’s the expectations of the team for this year’s competition? Charlotte Longhurst, the captain of the equestrian team: This year is the first year we are entering two teams into BUCS. Our expectation is for at least one team to qualify for the regionals and potentially the nationals. The QH: How huge accomplishment was winning the UWSU awards for the most improved team and captain of the year at the Awards Ball?
UWSU Dragons men’s basketball team in action.
BY ASLLAN GECAJ
Charlotte Longhurst in Dragons’ kit
CL: Running such a huge and complicated club isn’t easy, and it meant that our work was recognized and we were heading in the right direction to achieve even greater things. The QH: What’s the biggest challenge in doing sport like equestrian? CL: The biggest challenge in equestrianism is that your horse is your partner. They have their own mind and their own mood swings. You could have trained and trained but if your horse says no, you’re going nowhere! The QH: Are all the equestrians animal lovers? CL: Of course! The QH: How big influence on the team members and recruits have had the medals of Nick Skelton or Charlotte Djuardin during Rio 2016? CL: It is always great to see what you can achieve if you work hard enough. We are looking forward to training with some of the Olympic riders and trainers. Our success in the Paralympics has also sparked a lot of interest from para riders which is fantastic.
Freya Thompson, the new President of the Student Union, aims to “make our sports teams bigger than ever” with the
addition of Exhibition Matches that will run on a weekly basis on Wednesdays. However, the competition is set to take place on the same day as BUCS fixtures, it will not clash with any academic
timetables. The games are set to be given some excitement by introducing half time shows as well as the cooperation from the team behind Smoke Media. “Ultimately, as a Union, we strive for engagement and
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enjoyment in all of our student lead extracurricular activities, which includes our ambitious Dragons Sports teams”, Freya told the QH. “This year we want to make our sports teams bigger than ever, starting with the newly designed Exhibition Matches.”
“THIS YEAR WE WANT TO MAKE OUR SPORTS TEAMS BIGGER THAN EVER” “These will be chances for students to watch and support our sports teams, with the essence of a miniature Varsity”, she added. The Students Union’s President believes that the games will offer fans a greater chance to engage with our university teams’ life. “Don’t forget, you don’t have to play a sport to be a part of the Dragons. Support at games, or celebrating on a Wednesday night can go just as far.” Thompson, who represented the UWSU Dragons for three years prior to the victory in SU’s election, therefore fulfils one of her campaign promises regarding introducing Exhibition Matches.
GOMES: WEMBLEY MATCHES A DISADVANTAGE FOR SPURS BY ÉTIENNE FERMIE Playing European matches at Wembley will be a disadvantage for Tottenham, according to Heurelho Gomes. The former Spurs keeper believes that “because it is more neutral”, opposition players will find it easier to play them. The Watford goalkeeper, 35, was keen to point out how the Tottenham fans can affect the opposition. “I believe at White Hart Lane they have an identity”, the Brazilian told the QH. “I played there against Tottenham as well; I know how difficult it is to play there.” Gomes made 130 appearances for Tottenham between 2008-14, including representing them in their maiden Champions League campaign in the 2010-11 season. Tottenham have already
The new home of Champions League football for Tottenham.
lost their opening Champions League encounter at Wembley this season, going down 2-1 to AS Monaco in front of a record 85,011 crowd, and Gomes feels
they will have to improve fast if they are to achieve better results against Bayer Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow at the national stadium.
“They will try to adapt quickly or it will be very difficult for them.”